Miami Hurricane, September 16, 1975

              METRIC? f
UM Prepares for Conversion
VICTORIA SIMON
Humean« Staff Wntar
Measure for measure, metric conversion is inevitable and UM intends to be ready for the transition
An eight-member Metric System Committee, constituted in March 1974, has been quietly preparing for the adjustments and researching the problems accompanying conversion
UM is staying alert and ready to move when the time comes said Dr Eugene H Man, chairman of the committee and Dean of Research Coordination
Awaiting Congressional cues before embarking on a specific action program, the committee has been collecting educational materials and reviewing the impact of "metrication" on all aspects of academic life, including revision of course materials and the need for instructing all segments of the University population
Already 25 states, as well as Departments of Interior HEW and Defense, and Federal Housing and Highway Administrations, have taken formal action in planning for conversion
Multinational corporations, recognizing the advantages of metric measurements in international transactions may prove to be the prime mover in pushing metrication as contractors and recipients of research grants find product design specifications in meters and grams
IBM, General Motors, Ford. Chrysler and Bethlehem Steel, among other industrial giants, have
already begun the conversion, according to the Metric Information Office Bulletin issued by the National Bureau of Standards
The bulletin lists Brunei, Burma Libya, Yemen and the United States as the only countries not already using or officially changing to metric Among those recently converted are Great Britain, Canada and Australia
Much of the resistance to the metric system stems from the expense of conversion Nationwide estimates range in the billions	*
“For the University the costs are impossible to predict," Dr Man said Everyone will be affected and education will be one of the biggest adjustment problems
Educational programs and materials — conversion charts, workbooks, movies, records slide rule convertors, thermometers, tape measures, measuring cups — are already being advertised and marketed
Until metric makes its mark on our daily lives however, UM intends to hold ofl on special training programs
"The information is too easily forgotten if there is no opportunity to make use of it. Dr Man said As the nation goes so goes the University We will simply follow the national movement
|ih page 2)	^
Miami Humcan«/9TFVF TlSTY
Security Officer Checks Parking Stickers in Crowded Lot
RA Pot Hearing Today
GUSPUPO
Editor
Despite claims from the defendants that he is prejudiced, Dr Nick Gennett, the dean of students, said he will preside over a closed administrative hearing scheduled lor today at 10:00 a m He will hear individual appeals from the four Mahoney-Pearson Resident Assistants (RA's) fired a week aao bv Area Coordinator Bill Bell for allegedly smoking pot in a dorm room while one of them was on weekend duty Scott Amsel, Rich Ruberti, George Sossi and lllene Tombank, In a letter to Dean Gennett, re-
quested that he disqualify himself from the case
"I went to Dean Gennett the day after we were lired and told him the whole story in confidence." Amsel explained
Amsel said he personally knows Dean Gennett from a Leadership Training Conferen e he attended where Gennett was an instructor
"I want this to be honest and straight,” Amsel said, and if we are personal friends it is impossi ble for him to be somewhat unbiased "
Dean Gennett said he disagrees Both Scott and lllene were warned when they came in to see
me that I might be the appellate officer in the case Gennett explained "I made it quite clear before they began talking to me
Undergraduate Student Body Government (USBGl President Aubm Hill said he is appalled at Dean Gennett for not opening up the hearing
Hill said the students are very interested in this case and have a right to know everything that is said at the hearings
This is not going to be a hearing but an individual discussion with each RA and I'm not going to open these discussions up Dean Gennett said
Extra Parking Is Not Available
ISIORO GARCIA
Humean« Staff Writ«»
Despite student complaints, future parking facilities that have long been promised by University officials, will not be available tor some time
"These areas will not be open in the near future because of the financial situation of the University.' Assistant Director of Security Vincent Anika said In the publication "Parking Map and Rules", UM officials point out that only 7,000 parking spaces are available lor the estimated 10,000 cars visiting the campus each day This semester 6.100 student and 1.200 faculty parking decals have been sold Added to this figure are the cars of night students, who are not required to purchase decals and staff employees, who purchase E decals With all groups in account, there is a total ol 10,000 cars for 7,000 ava able parking spaces
However. Anika claims the problem is not as bad as it seems Yes there are more cars coming each day than there are parking spaces available, but you have to remember that all 10,000 cars aren't on campus at the same time, he said
In spite of this, 200 vehicles are ticketed daily lor improper parking
"The problem is simply that everyone tries to find parking spaces right in front of their classrooms and at peak times this is |ust impossible So instead of using peripheral lots, many park illegally Anika said Traffic safety on campus is
"The problem is simply that everyone tries to find parking spaces right in front of their classrooms and at peak times this is just impossible. So instead of using peripheral lots, many park illegally."
—Assistant Director of Security Vincent Anika
another high priority item on the Security Department s agenda A meeting was held Thursday with UM administrators and city of Coral Gables fire officials to discuss traffic problems here
The Fire Department representatives praised UM on the maintenance of lire lanes
Anika said fire lanes are marked off to insure the safety of the UM population and usually do not affect the availability of parking spaces
At the meeting an area that was
previously a no-parking zone, was converted into a fire lane
The circle in front of the Aahe building and the area behind It, by the vending machines, is now a fire lane and signs will be erected there as soon as possible." Anika said
People who previously would have received citations for parking in that area will now be towed away
for obstructing traffic
Stanford Calls Play: Athlete Home Safe
DAVIO TBPP8
Assistant Sport« Editor
When a Miami Hurricane baseball player allegedly stole a text from the bookstore, he upset UM President Henry King Stanford's luncheon and Bookstore Manager George Mitchell's sense of propriety
The supposedly simple thelt last week turned into an extra-inning affair after the bookstore staff stopped a veteran ballplayer casually leaving the store with a required textbook He hadn t paid or signed for the book, Mitchell said
s-Rat Night— f a Wild Bash
Insanity was the name of the game laat Saturday night at the Rathskeller during WVUM's Endless Summer celebration.
During the event, the name of the winner of the Hurrlcane'a Great Get-Away Contest waa drawn. Bill Needed, a freshman graduate student who lives at 112 Camillo Avenue, will make the trip up to Walt Dianey World tor an all expense paid weekend. His trip courtesy of the Miami Hurricane and Walt Disney World.
STf Vf Tl»r*
Mitchell informed UM security and then started to look lor a bail bondsman lor the player Five other students needed such ser vice the previous week under the bookstore s new get tough" policy
However, in what a disturbed Mitchell said was a double standard. the player got off scot-free
"I work too damn hard here for the students to have something like this happen Mitchell said
But Mitchell didn't blame Stan lord, who eventually asked that the athlete be released That decision can be traced to an administrative triple-play
Mitchell had called Coach Ron Fraser to tell him one of his players might have to be bailed out of jail Fraser then according to Mitchell, called Stanford to ask him to Intervene Meanwhile Mitchell was making calls of his own. including one to his boss William McLaughlin UM business manager
McLaughlin flipped the ball to Student Affairs Chief William Sheeder Sheeder relayed to Sidney Besvinlck. acting vice president for academic affairs He called Stanford at lunch
Dr Besvmick interrupted my luncheon at the Faculty Club to ask (tea page 8)