The Griffin: volume 54, issue 05 - Oct. 28, 1983

              VOLUME LIV, NUMBER^s^ Serving The College And Community Committee Formed to Oppose Drinking Bill Friday, October 28, 1983 If the proposed New York State drinking age increase bill passes the State Senate and Assembly in January, it will certainly affect *hs Rathskellar. \< «» Stuff I'lu'luirra/i/ier 1M>H I II Hi The Commission on Critical Transportation Choices made He said, "From what we hear from our lobbyists is that there has been a strong push for the bill. This is an issue where state Senators and Assemblymen can look good in the eyes of their constituencies. They can yell alot, get on TV, and look good by passing a bill that appears to save lives. Burns also pointed out that recently one of the legislator's daughters was killed in an accident by a drunk driver. He stated this might have some effect. The hearings are set up so legislators can gain feedback from their constituencies on legislative proposals likely to be taken up during the new legislative session in Albany. One of the proposals (no. 14) was the possibility of "raising the drinking age from 19 to 21, said Mr. Burns. New York State Senator William J. Levy is currently holding a series of public hearings for the Legislative Commission on Critical Transportation Choices. According to Mr. Burns, "If the students in New York State are going to put together any type of lobbying effort, they will have to do it in a logical matter with letters, opposition, and being registered to vote. They will also have to act on it while it is in the committee stage. If they don't, it may slide through the Assembly in a matter of months. When most bills pass committee, they are generally passed." small colleges such as Daemen, Trocaire and Medaille. We have to be ready when the Assembly covenes." He stated, "Properly controlled, taverns offer an environment (cont'd on page 5) "More severe punishment would simply drive young drinkers underground, said James Alfieri, president of Liquor Licenses Association, who said bars a scapegoat in the issue. The Alcohol Council of Niagara County supported raising the drinking age to 21 and banning such bar promotions as "drink and drown" nights, ladies nights and "two for one cocktails," according to Thomas E. Miller who heads the Coalition. would not stop those in the 21-25 age group, who are the leading offenders statistically", he stated. Expanding on the new committee chairperson O'Donnell said, "In addition to efforts at Canisius, we are going to make an attempt to mobilize other The Canisius Committee met yesterday with members of local Colleges in an effort to begin lobbying organizations. Plans for future lobbying attempts include an effort during the first week of March by the independent student Coalition in Albany, and a similar effort by the Student Association of State Universities (UB). According to Lotempio, "The ISC (Independent Student Coalition) has expressed concern that the legislator will let the bill sit till summer, and then pass it with little or no student opposition".Asked about the current functions of the new committee, Lotempio responded, "We have been in touch with people in the Undergraduate Assembly at the University of Buffalo. Everybody appears to be worried about the bill due to Governor Cuomo being in strong favor of it. If and when we do lobby, we want to announce an organized plan to the student body." (A survey will follow in next week's Griffin). According to Mr. Burns, "It is felt by many members of the legislature and those in the licensed beverage industry that the raising of the drinking age is a distinct possibility for this legislative year." and the decrease in alcohol related accidents involving 18 years olds following the drinking age increase to 19. These factors will likely lead to increased pressure on legislators, said Keith O'Donnell, the Co- Chairperson of the Committee. The formation of the senate committee here on Campus has come about due to the pressure of the Reagan Administration for a nationwide drinking age of 21, According to Mr. Robert Burns, of Erie County Licenses Inc., a Tavern owners group, "If the bill passes the committee's chances are that they will move through the New York State Assembly with no major problems. The move to raise the drinking ages has been going on for several years, but achieved new momentum this spring after Reagan cabinet members urged all states to raise legal limits to 21 years of age. There is currently a pre-file bill in the New York State Senate Committee of Investigation and Taxation on the increase along with the assembly's commerce committee. Both will debate the issue when the Assembly convenes for the fall session in January. New York Governor Mario Cuomo has publicly stated that he would sign such a bill if passed. According to Committee Chairperson Maria Lotempio, "Basically, we want to gather an array of information on the bill, and be ready to move in a logical manner when they are ready to move on the proposed bill, if they actually move. We would like to avoid the situation last year when they slipped the drinking bill 18-19 right past us." A "Drinking Age" Committee composed of various student senators has been organizing on campus in an effort to lobby against a possible New York State drinking age increase from 19-21. by Kevin J. Smith "Raising the drinking age to 21 Mr. J.B. Walks, vice president of the council of licensed beverage industry and counsel of the Erie County Liquor License Association strongly opposed the bill. Sen. Levy opened the hearing by stating that "Alcohol related accidents kill more than 1,000 residents a year and are the no. 1 killer of New York Teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19." Reactions to the increase differed during the hearings held in Buffalo State Office building. their Buffalo appearance on Oct. 12, and included Sen. Anthony Masiello, D-Buffalo, and Assemblyman Vincent J. Graber, D-West Seneca. Parents of Missionary Discuss American Policy in El Salvador He is currently against President Reagan's call for more military aid to the government of El Salvador. The United States Senator is also widely known as the principal sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment in the Senate. The Massachusetts Senator is currently a member of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee, (cont'd on page 13) United States Senator Paul E. Tsongas from Massachusetts will speak on "The Crisis in Central America and American Foreign Policy" on Wednesday, November 2, at 8:15 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge. The lecture is under the auspices of the William H. Fitzpatrick Chair of Political Science. by John Burns Tsongas, a Democrat is an outspoken critic of President Reagan Administration's policies. tion is to maintain by force, an unjust political and economic situation." Narrowing the problems to El Salvador and the current policies of the Reagan administration," he stated. "The principle factors on with the growing numbers of Salvadorean ground are the rich, poor. The church called for moral the poor, the military and the action in working to develop Catholic Church. The rich are a social justice, and wider political very small group and consists of (cont'd on page 5) Senator Tsongas to Speak on Central America through the military. In 1968, the Latin American church gained strength in El Salvador and became concerned 14 families who control most of the wealth, and who have traditionally controlled the country Expanding on the role of the military, Mr. Donovan stated, "The Military establishments of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador do not exist to defend their countries. Their main func- "In looking at the situation in Central America, one thing must be kept in mind. It is not Russia, Nicaruagua or Cuba that are the causes of current revolution. It is injustice, brutality and murder. The military is representing the problem not the solution," he stated. Mr. Donovan strayed way from the individual brutality in the instance of his daughter to make his feelings known on the current political situation in Central America particularly in El Salvador. found the next day, and their bodies were discovered in an unmarked grave 20 miles from the van on December 4th. They had all been shot in the head, and there was evidence of sexual abuse. Pat and Ray Donovan are currently speaking on campuses across the United States, and were brought to Canisius under The parents of Lay Missionary Jean Donovan discussed the brutal murder of their daughter and three nuns by government security forces in El Salvardor before a student auditorium crowd Tuesday night. by Ron Bickelman & Kevin J. Smith Lay Missioner Jean Donovan who was brutally murdered in El Salvador, (see related story on pg. 13). Lay Missionary Jean Donovan, Urseline Sister Dorothy Kazel, and Maryknoll Sisters Ita Ford and Maura Clarke were last seen alive on December 2, 1980 in the San Salvador airport. Their burned-out Toyota van was According to Pat Donovan, "Never in the history of El Salvador has a military person been put on trial and brought to justice on a murder charge." "It has been three years since my daughter was murdered and the five soldiers who have been charged have not even been brought to trial. Close to 40,00 persons have been killed in El Salvador since that time and not a single person has been brought to trial." Mr. Donovan spoke first and expressed his frustrations with the government of El Salvador and the United States. the auspices of the Institute of Faith and Justice along with the Buffalo El Salvador Solidarity Committee. a&yg> imm mi i w ' • 1. — -  THE GRIFFIN "OVER A HALF CENTURY IN PRINT" '. ' . """" " ''' .. '■■■ '■■ i■■■■■* "' " -