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Grads appoint by Elena Cacavas News Editor a committee Department, countered that Ketter is usually powerless with regard to important University budget allocations, which, she said, are decided in Albany. Explaining that Physiology works with a smaller budget than it would like, she noted, “We make up the deficit ourselves. He (KetterJ just doesn’t have control.” Although Finn repeatedly admitted that the President’s actual specified job duties are vague. Senate discussion turned to UB’s relationship with the Buffalo community. One senator maintained that the President was weak in his commitment to this area. In an effort to evaluate University President Robert L. Ketter’s achievements over the past 10 years—as compared to stated goals— the Graduate Student Association (GSA) formed a committee to study the President’s performances. The GSA Senate voted overwhelmingly to establish the six member committee Wednesday, after an hour debate showed uncertainty over the extent of Presidential responsibilities and power's. The statement on Ketter, GSA President Joyce Pinn said, would be relayed to the UB Faculty Senate. The committee is operating with a November 7 deadline to submit its recommendation, so the GSA Senate can form its position on Ketter prior to the outside evalution team’s visit to campus. to probe Ketter’s tenure Repealed pleas “There is just not enough to encourage a feeling of rapport with the community. The community still views the University as an antagonist,”he charged, alluding to what he claimed is the University’s poor community service record. Rapport with students, Finn claimed, is also lacking. Shuffling through the GSA records would show “a long list of requests denied or never really considered,” she said. While the GSA has repeatedly pleaded for increased participation in UB decision-making, Finn noted, “Ketter says he is sympathetic, but maintains he has no authority to suggest or mandate it. Now he refuses to speak on it.” Dissatisfied with the choppy debate, senators called for a review of UB’s master plans which outline the University’s future to see, “if Ketter has lived up to his objectives.” Pinn, reflecting the general uncertainty of the Senate regarding the actual responsibilities and power held by Ketter, could not state SUNY’s criteria for the President’s evaluation since, “It is unknown, and the condition of the campus not the man, is supposedly being considered.” Student involvement Much of the Senate’s debate honed in on whether many of UB’s maladies were traceable to SUNY’s lean budget or Ketter’s leadership. A representative from the Psychology Department charged: “The President has let a first rate department go down the drain.” While Psychology is normally a major part of “any university,” he said, “Ketter has made no attempt to stop pulling dollars away from us.” Another graduate, representing the Physiology The* GSA evaluation committee is comprised of six Senators working in conjunction with the association’s Executive Committee. GSA gave Kettcr a vote of “no confidence” in Spring, 1978. —Alan Krlmm Gradual* Student Aaaoclalion President Joyce Plnn Six member committee will examine Ketter's performance government has been considering reopening the West Valley waste storage site in Western New York to alleviate the shortage and avoid potentially hazardous long range hauling of the wastes. Waste site's shutdown threatens UB research Last August the UB Nuclear Safely Committee killed,.a plan to use an unoccupied room in Abbott Annex for storing wastes “because of intense community concern.” The committee found no apparent hazards in the plan, but bowed to pressure from campus groups and local politicians who feared the site would be unsafe. by Marc Sherman Environmental Editor Until the Hanford and Beatty sites are re-opened, the research world anxiously awaits a solution. NRC Public Affairs Director Clare Miles acknowledged the siteshutdowns are “going to cause a problem,” but could not speculate on the nationwide impact. “We’re trying to cooperate with the states,” she told The Spectrum explaining that NRC will meet with the appropriate Governors to discuss re-opening the facilities. Miles admitted that the Governor Ray’s criticisms —improper packaging and delivery—may have occurred for some time. UB research using radioactive material may come to a virtual standstill because of the Hanford, Washington nuclear waste burial site shutdown. UB relied on the Hanford site to dispose of liquid wastes. Washington State Governor Dixie Lee Ray recently closed the privately operated site —which researchers nationwide depend on—after complaining to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) about unsafe deliveries including faulty packaging of radioactive wastes and overloaded trucks. The UB Radiation Protection Department, which handles all radioactive low-level radioactive waste from campus labs and local hospitals is not culpable of such mishandling, according to Senior Radiation Safety Monitor Louis Henry. The Department began its waste handling service in 1976 to accommodate the growing volume of low-level radioactive waste. Many Chemistry and Biology labs on campus generate these wastes. A waste burial site in Barnwell, South Carolina formerly handled all of UB’s radioactive wastes. But last spring the Barnwell site stopped receiving liquid wastes, forcing UB to Send its low-level “nuclear cocktails” to Hanford. Barnwell continues to accept UB’s regular dry waste shipments, but South Carolina Governor Dick Riley announced that the site will not absorb deliveries targeted for Hanford. Earlier this month, the Radiation Protection Department informed researchers that campus waste storage and delivery service “could be terminated” because of the Hanford closing. Radiation Protection Mangager Mark Pierro estimated, the capacity at Howe Research Laborataory—the sole campus site for receiving radioactive wastes—to be 300 barrels. This capacity could be reached in about another six weeks, he said. Pierro speculated that a delivery to Barnwell could increase the storage capacity to 3 months. “Something could break by then at Hanford,” he suggested. Pierro explained that since all researchers nationwide face a similar storage dilema a solution must be found. Researchers concerned UB Biochemistry Professor Alexander Brownie echoed the sentiments of researchers who could be forced to forfeit current and future research grants. “All of us have to be concerned with the possibility that research will stop,”he said. Brownie explained that the biochemistry field draws million of dollars to UB for research in medicine, pharmocology, and molecular biology. —p.Stei -in wattes. Tht only remaining open la in South Carolina, and It haa refused to accept any mors deposits. Above, radioactive wastes stored In barrels on campus. Along with the Hanford site, a burial site in Beatty, Nevada was recently shut down. Only the South Carolina site remains open. The Federal ... AND NO PLACE TO QO: Now that tha Hanford alta In Washington has clossd, rssaarchars natlon-wlda—Including those st UB—are left holding the barrel of radioactive •*>>»' ,v,v- -v»v.v -erf*- cete* ••%!**&* v\w - *. * ' • • »'-'» * - *
