Western Front - 1973 February 2

              the _ western front
western Washington state, college
Vol. 65 J
No. 3 /^
FRIDAY
February 2, 1973
Ten Cents
Bellingham, Washington
Vikings host
W ildcats tonight
story on page 10
ttMiJ
Fairhaven pig farm ordered to fold
Swines in violation
of city health code
by MICHELE RAYMOND
The Fairhaven pig farm is in
danger of extinction.
? Security has declared the pigs
; and chickens, that have resided
, for three months in an enclosed
; area between Fairhaven and
Buchanan Towers, to be in
violation of the City Health
Code,
Resident staff member Tim
Place brought his pigs on campus
last quarter as part of the
administration's new "self
sufficiency skills" program in
the residence halls. Its aim is to.
acquaint students with everyday
occurrences that most people are
alienated from in today's
society.
The area was eventually to
become a mini-farm, and garden,
complete with goats and rabbits.
Although campus security
warned Place last quarter that
the pigs violated a city
ordinance, no action was taken.
This week a directive was issued
to assistant dean Dick Norris at
Fairhaven, by acting provost
W. A. Bultmann, stating that the
code will be enforced by
security, and the animals must
be removed.
The Fairhaven Policy Board
approves of the farming activity
as an "educational endeavor."
Norris said that alternatives to
removal of the pigs are being
looked into.
"Other schools keep animals
a*s part of their academic
programs. Even though they are
against city health rules, the
colleges manage to modify
conditions in such a way as to
make them legal."
Security officer Charles Page
stated that domestic animals
other than "common household
pets" are strictly prohobited in
high density population areas,
such as Fairhaven. He added that
other schools who keep animals
probably* keep them in less
densely populated "suburban"
areas.
Norris says he intends to call
the City Health Officer in to. see
if the pig pen area could be
modified to make the pigs legal.
However, if the cost of
improvements is too high, they
would have to go. So far, the
cost of housing the pigs has
come to about $3.50.
Safety officer Charles Martin
said that Fairhaven could keep a
farm if the students could find a
suburban location for it, and
received permission from the
Planning Commission, County
Health Department, and City
Animal Control.
At the present, no such place
can be found, Norris said.
Student injured
in lab accident
A Western chemistry student
received sulfuric acid burns on
his face and arms as the result of
an accident that occurred while
he was doing undergraduate
research in a Haggard Hall
chemistry lab Wednesday.
James Larson was treated at
St. Luke's Hospital emergency
room where he had been taken
following the accident by
Robert Holland, of the
chemistry stock room staff.
After treatment Larson, a
senior chemistry major, was
released for further treatment at
the student health service.
Joseph Crook, chairman of
the chemistry department, said
that Larson had been wearing
protective goggles at the time of
the accident.
"The goggles were really a
mess," Crook said. If Larson had
not been wearing them the acid
would have undoubtedly gone
into his eyes, he added.
The accident occurred
"sometime during the lunch
hour" on Wednesday, Crook
said. Larson was released from
St. Luke's at 12:55 p.m.
following emergency treatment.
Inside...
Whatcom CC explored
The college has no large buildings; it prefers using
community resources. See pg. 7.
Reactions to cease fire
Howard Harris isn't happy yet: our war goes on in
Laos and Thailand. Vets are "hopeful but still
hesitant." See pg. 3.
Seattle women's clinics
A movement is underway to organize a special
medical clinic for women in Bellingham. See pg. 6.
PIGS OFF CAMPUS-Fairhaven staff member Tim Place visits resident pig. Security has declared that
the animals are in violation of the City Health Code and must be removed. The area occupied by the
pigs will eventually become a mini-farm and garden, complete with goats and rabbits.
Student government election
draws low voter turnout
Cathi Rafferty was elected AS Board of
Directors secretary-treasurer; and Heidi Henken,
Steve Mellroth and Duff Wilson were elected AS
Board of Directors at-large'in the special election
Wednesday.
Two hundred forty-two students cast their
votes in the election, which amounts to about
three per cent of the students enrolled at Western
this quarter.
Duff Wilson said the low turn-out at the polls
and the lack of campaigning exhibits "gross apathy
on the part of the students and the candidates."
The AS board needed a mandate from the
students, he said.
.Heidi Henken said the students do not feel
touched by student government. Students may
have complaints, she said, but they do not know
what channels exist for making changes; they do
not know what student government can do for
them.
Cathi Rafferty said students obviously are not
interested in student government. She said she ran
because she wants to learn how the college is run
and because she feels she can do a good job as
secretary and treasurer.
Lack of communication between the students
and student government was the problem most
often mentioned by the 12 candidates running for
the AS board positions.
Steve Mellroth's special interest has been the
establishment of an FM radio station at Western.
Although the election turn-out was small, 97 per
cent of those who voted were in favor of the FM
station.
Besides the survey question of the FM station,
students were also asked to answer a survey
question on bus service—whether every student
should be assessed $1.75 for free bus service, or
whether only those who want the service should
be assessed a maximum of $6. Sixty-three per cent
wanted only those persons who want the service to
be assessed.
The purpose of the AS Board of Directors,
according to its by-laws, is to have general charge
of the affairs, funds and property of the
Associated Students.
The board has delegated much of this
management to councils, such as the Student
Services Council. One board member sits on each
council.
The AS board is the official spokesman for the
Associated Students.