Volume 86 No. 1 1
University of Portland — Portland, Oregon
November 15, 1984
Seniors focus on job-hunt, not Senate
by Fred Lovell
Staff Writer
As in the past, seniors at the
University of Portland are not
getting involved in the student
Senate. This year there are
three seats that are not filled by
senior senators. So why aren't
seniors getting involved?
The attention of many seniors
is being focused on other things
outside of school.
ASUP President Kelly
Krautscheid said, "This has
been a problem in the past,
seniors are getting ready to
graduate, and are looking for
jobs."
"It's not that there aren't any
seniors in Senate. There's just
not any senior senators," she
said. "This is one of the most
important positions because
seniors are in charge of the
senior meeting, and are the
ones that choose the senior
gift." The senior gift budget has
been raised to $800.
If the the senior seats are not
filled, "I would probably step in
to choose the gift," Krautscheid
said.
At this point anything that
comes up that would affect
seniors, isn't really being
represented, she said.
Krautscheid said they are try¬
ing to reach people to find out
who is interested. The lack of
interest leads to isolation for
seniors.
ASUP Senate President,
Doug Trocinski said, "The
senior class tends to lose touch,
due to lack of involvement."
They are isolating themselves
for the future, he added.
"Seniors are thinking about
getting a job, to get out in the
so called world. But I think it's
important enough that they
should get involved," he said.
The main concern is the
senior gift, because without
seniors we cannot do much
about it, Trocinski said.
The problem of lack of in¬
volvement is not a new one at
the University of Portland.
Dr. James Covert, chairman
of the department of history,
said, "This is a problem that has
existed on campus since I was a
student in the 50's.
"Senate isn't a high priority
with seniors," he added.
"Seniors will get involved with
student government when they
do projects that really affect the
senior class."
He gave an example of a pro¬
ject that could involve seniors.
"Students are heading to be
alumni, and they should have
projects that help with the tran¬
sition from senior to alumni,"
Covert said.
He believes that student
government should develop
projects like a career day. This
would allow for career people to
come to the University and
meet seniors in their fields.
"Seniors need support on
two sides," Covert said. "The
Senate needs projects to help
the seniors, and the alumni
needs to help guide seniors
along, out of their senior year."
The problem is not student
governments fault, because
they have a number ot constit¬
uencies, he said. He added col¬
lege emphasizes bringing
students in, not helping them
adjust while going out. This is
where student government
could help.
"There is no conspiracy with
the senior class, just a blind
spot," he said.
Some seniors think that the
Senate concentrates on ac¬
tivities concerning the future
and on campus issues, which
aren't problems for seniors.
Dan Dugan, a senior in ac¬
counting, said, "Things that are
being done for the future
don't really affect seniors."
He also said, "The Senate is
more concentrated to on-
campus people, and most
seniors live off-campus."
Mike Covert, a senior in ac¬
counting, said, "Students are
now setting their sight on career
goals at this point in their lives."
Covert added, "In the Senate
they need leadership from the
seniors, because they've been
there in the past. Most of the
issues that are being decided
don't really affect seniors."
He cited the plus-minus
grading system as one example
that will not be dealt with by
this year's seniors.
A senior in accounting, Larry
Van Dyke, said, "There are a lot
of people who are content
about not being involved in
things. But a lot of students
have time constraints with
school, especially those seniors
looking for jobs."
Some seniors lack motivation
by the time they near gradua¬
tion.
Ed Zupcic, a senior in political
science, said, "When you get to
the senior level most seniors are
looking for jobs. That is what
their four years was directed
towards.
"I don't see a lot of things
happening here for seniors. I
don't think that there is
anything new to motivate
them," he said.
One past Senate member
feels disgust about his ex¬
perience in the Senate.
Joe Hauth, a senior in
political science, said, "I was on
Senate last year, and I was kind
of disgusted myself about how
little the Senate is listened to
regarding issues, such as ad¬
mission into the Dome."
He added, "The administra¬
tion comes to the Senate for
opinions, and then ignores
them. I found it to be like a rub¬
ber stamp."
Seniors aided by alumni
As seniors begin to survey
the outside world, the Univer¬
sity of Portland Alumni
Association would like to be
part of what they see.
Seniors are making career
plans, and in a sense beginning
a new life for themselves,
outside the college setting.
Tim O'Malley, associate
director of development and
acting alumni director, said,
"If seniors knew they would
automatically become
members of the alumni
association upon graduation,
then they may get more in¬
volved."
Some of the ideas that were
suggested in an October
Board of Directors meeting
were to give the alumni the
chance to subscribe and con¬
tribute to The Beacon: to let
alumni sponsor events on
campus more than in the past;
to increase communication
between students and the
association; to approach new
alumni before their gradua¬
tion; and to make alumni more
visible on campus, such as
guest lecturers.
Students called on to promote athletic spirit
by Jacque Drew
Staff Writer
A student-represented "spirit
group" has been created in
order to generate a new wave of
enthusiasm for athletic events
held in the Chiles Center.
With basketball in mind
specifically, the group's goal is
to improve student attendance
at games.
According to Buzz Stroud,
who is in charge of athletic
marketing for the university, the
group was designed to "pro¬
mote awareness and generate a
good turnout. The more
students, the more fun."
Stroud thinks that improved
student attendance will affect
the attendance of those outside
the university community as
well.
"The enthusiasm that accom¬
panies college athletics has a
magnetic effect. It draws peo¬
ple in," said Stroud. "Greater
attendance and enthusiasm is
better for the university
overall." He continued, "Out¬
siders view the enthusiasm and
come back, players are better
with the fans backing them, and
the students are brought closer
together through their participa¬
tion."
The ."spirit group" plans to
promote the upcoming basket¬
ball season through publicity
and attendence incentives.
Billboards and busboards
have been posted throughout
the surrounding counties, G.l.
Joe's stores are selling season
tickets, and basketball
schedules are being printed on
Fred Meyer shopping bags in
the Portland metro area.
Mugs and hats are slated to
be given to fans at different
games during the season and a
half-time contest, consisting of
a half-court shot awarded to a
randomly selected fan, could
win the contestant a trip to
Hawaii or a Caribbean cruise.
Stroud sees the promotion of
game attendance as being a big
part of his job as athletic
marketer. The "spirit group"
was an idea he formed in con¬
junction with the basketball
coaching staff.
Stroud has solicited student
representation for the group
from the ICC, the student
Senate and the residence halls,
but he admits that he "may
have overlooked a few con¬
tacts." He encourages all in¬
terested students to contact
him at the public relations of¬
fice.
The "spirit group" has been
designed with short term goals
in mind. If it is successful during
this season, it has the potential
to evolve into a standing com¬
mittee.
The test for success will oc¬
cur at the pre-season game
played by the pilot All-Star
Alumni on November 24.
