University Senate

Organizers of an emergency fund-raising effort to save Towson State football got what they wanted at a meeting of the school's University Senate yesterday.The University Senate had received from the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee a proposal to suspend football at the end of this season. Yesterday, however, that motion was withdrawn from the agenda at the request of IAC chairman John Connolly. He asked that his group be given a month to judge the feasibility of the fund-raising plan, but athletic director Bill Hunter said decisions can be made before then about the football program's future.

Towson University and its radio station, WTMD-FM, have withdrawn their proposal to turn Baltimore's historic Senator Theatre into a studio and performing arts center. The request to withdraw the proposal came from Towson officials shortly after noon Wednesday, said Kimberly Clark, executive director of the Baltimore Development Corp., the quasi-public agency that will decide who operates the 71-year-old movie house. The city took over operation in July after then-owner Tom Kiefaber could not keep up with mortgage payments and the theater was put up for auction.

Phil Albert has re-recruited every player in his football program, and not a one has told him they're going to leave. He has talked to 36 people with ties to the corporate community, enlisting their financial support. There are a half dozen or so junior college prospects he would like to give scholarships to in another two weeks.Now all he wants is for the University Senate to confirm that Towson State will play football in 1991 and beyond.When the possibility that Towson State football would be suspended arose in late October, Albert told the university he would like to know by Dec. 1 where he, his coaches and players stand.

The University of Maryland, College Park is seeking to expand its ability to discipline students convicted of misdemeanors for off-campus incidents, according to a report presented to the Board of Regents of the state's university system yesterday. The move comes in the wake of destructive bonfires after Maryland lost to Duke in the Final Four of the NCAA basketball tournament in March. After the game, several hundred students roamed the campus and the College Park area, setting numerous fires.

Robbie Jackson is a 5-foot-8, 180-pound tailback who has led the Towson State football team in rushing the last two seasons. He totaled 1,245 yards in 1989 and '90, and next fall, as a senior, he's going to get the chance to break the school record of 1,876 yards set by Dan Ricker in 1987.Three weeks ago, there was a roadblock to that goal, but Jackson and more than 80 other Tigers players got some very good news last night, when the college's University Senate voted down by a 12-6 margin a motion that would have suspended Towson State football.

The University of Maryland, College Park is seeking to expand its ability to discipline students convicted of misdemeanors for off-campus incidents, according to a report presented to the Board of Regents of the state's university system yesterday. The move comes in the wake of destructive bonfires after Maryland lost to Duke in the Final Four of the NCAA basketball tournament in March. After the game, several hundred students roamed the campus and the College Park area, setting numerous fires.

Dr. Hoke L. Smith, the president of Towson State University, said today that if he receives a proposal to suspend the school's football program, he probably will endorse it.Smith and athletic director Bill Hunter, however, both said that the proposal leaves open the possibility of Towson State's resuming a less expensive brand of football, possibly as early as 1992.The Intercollegiate Athletic Committee, which will hold an open forum tomorrow (University Union, Chesapeake Room, 2.35 p.m.)

When Towson State upgraded its football program to Divisio I-AA status in 1987, the Tigers had grand plans.They were going to expand Minnegan Stadium. Improved attendance would mean more scholarships and make Towson State attractive to the Yankee Conference. Athletic director Bill Hunter had a tentative schedule for 1992 that included Navy.It's safe to say those plans won't be realized any time soon.This is homecoming week at Towson State, but the Tigers aren't talking about Saturday's game against New Haven.

The Intercollegiate Athletic Committee at Towson State University, which voted last month to advise the University Senate to drop the school's football program, reversed itself yesterday and will recommend that the sport be continued.The IAC's action came after it heard a presentation from alumni and parents of current players who are seeking to raise sufficient money to continue the football program."We pretty much resolved things," said student Laura Hulse, a member of the IAC. "We will take a new recommendation to the Senate."

This could well be the beginning of the week that was for Towson State football.The school's Intercollegiate Athletic Committee will hold an open forum Thursday to discuss the budget for intercollegiate athletics. Increased interest has been shown because of the possibility the school's football program will be sacked because of budget deficits.Last week, Dr. John Connolly, IAC chairman, told the school paper, The Towerlight, "If we are to make an informed recommendation to the University Senate, it should be with the benefit of hearing from all those concerned from both internal and external communities."

Dumping Hoke Smith betrays the weakness of university system It is always difficult to understand a conflict if you're not directly involved, but Barry Rascovar's analysis of the University System of Maryland's (USM) battle with Towson University's President Hoke Smith was right on the mark ("The price of free speech," Opinion*Commentary, May 27). The contrast between Dr. Smith's integrity, foresight and accomplishment and the bulwarks arbitrarily erected by some in the USM and the legislature to stifle Towson's advancement reveals a prevailing bias against excellence.

Robbie Jackson is a 5-foot-8, 180-pound tailback who has led the Towson State football team in rushing the last two seasons. He totaled 1,245 yards in 1989 and '90, and next fall, as a senior, he's going to get the chance to break the school record of 1,876 yards set by Dan Ricker in 1987.Three weeks ago, there was a roadblock to that goal, but Jackson and more than 80 other Tigers players got some very good news last night, when the college's University Senate voted down by a 12-6 margin a motion that would have suspended Towson State football.

Phil Albert has re-recruited every player in his football program, and not a one has told him they're going to leave. He has talked to 36 people with ties to the corporate community, enlisting their financial support. There are a half dozen or so junior college prospects he would like to give scholarships to in another two weeks.Now all he wants is for the University Senate to confirm that Towson State will play football in 1991 and beyond.When the possibility that Towson State football would be suspended arose in late October, Albert told the university he would like to know by Dec. 1 where he, his coaches and players stand.

The Intercollegiate Athletic Committee at Towson State University, which voted last month to advise the University Senate to drop the school's football program, reversed itself yesterday and will recommend that the sport be continued.The IAC's action came after it heard a presentation from alumni and parents of current players who are seeking to raise sufficient money to continue the football program."We pretty much resolved things," said student Laura Hulse, a member of the IAC. "We will take a new recommendation to the Senate."

Towson State athletic director Bill Hunter said yesterday he was optimistic the school would play football in 1991 and beyond.Hunter and other Towson State administrators attended a meeting yesterday of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee at which football supporters outlined fund-raising and marketing plans. When the IAC reports to the University Senate Dec. 3, Hunter said that he is confident its report will involve maintaining football.The IAC, which in October voted 8-1 to suspend football, withdrew that motion from the University Senate Nov. 5.Yesterday the IAC heard from Jim Holdridge, an account executive for a Linthicum computer firm who played for the Tigers from 1973-76.

Because of an editing error, a story in yesterday's editions of The Evening Sun incorrectly stated that the Towson State athletic department faces a projected deficit of $2.5 million. In fact, the deficit is projected to be $257,000.The Evening Sun regrets the errors.Towson State football coach Phil Albert got a positive message from his team Saturday. He would like to receive another from the college's Intercollegiate Athletic Committee tomorrow night.The Tigers completed their most distressing season ever with a 21-14 victory over Northeastern Saturday.

Towson State athletic director Bill Hunter said yesterday he was optimistic the school would play football in 1991 and beyond.Hunter and other Towson State administrators attended a meeting yesterday of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee at which football supporters outlined fund-raising and marketing plans. When the IAC reports to the University Senate Dec. 3, Hunter said that he is confident its report will involve maintaining football.The IAC, which in October voted 8-1 to suspend football, withdrew that motion from the University Senate Nov. 5.Yesterday the IAC heard from Jim Holdridge, an account executive for a Linthicum computer firm who played for the Tigers from 1973-76.

Because of an editing error, a story in yesterday's editions of The Evening Sun incorrectly stated that the Towson State athletic department faces a projected deficit of $2.5 million. In fact, the deficit is projected to be $257,000.The Evening Sun regrets the errors.Towson State football coach Phil Albert got a positive message from his team Saturday. He would like to receive another from the college's Intercollegiate Athletic Committee tomorrow night.The Tigers completed their most distressing season ever with a 21-14 victory over Northeastern Saturday.

Organizers of an emergency fund-raising effort to save Towson State football got what they wanted at a meeting of the school's University Senate yesterday.The University Senate had received from the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee a proposal to suspend football at the end of this season. Yesterday, however, that motion was withdrawn from the agenda at the request of IAC chairman John Connolly. He asked that his group be given a month to judge the feasibility of the fund-raising plan, but athletic director Bill Hunter said decisions can be made before then about the football program's future.

The movement to save Towson State University football gathered momentum yesterday when the four student members the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee adopted new ideas to present to the University Senate on Monday and when former players and parents of current Tigers vowed to take their fight to the local business community in search of necessary funding.Amid impassioned and often-angry speeches, an open forum held by the IAC drew an estimated 700 people to the University Union four days before the Senate is to vote on that group's recommendation to suspend the football program after this season.