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| Feb. 15, 2005 | |||||
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Other sites of interest: Student Government Association Center for Student Involvement & Leadership Appalachian & the Community Together Multicultural Student Development |
The University of North Carolina Board of Governors (BOG) voted Friday to freeze campus-based tuition increases for the 2005-06 academic year. The vote is the first in years in which the BOG voted not to authorize campus-based tuition increases. The BOG voted in November to not implement board-based tuition increases. “Obviously we thought [raising tuition] was the right thing to do, and the best thing to do for the university and the students, but we’re part of a system, so if that’s what the BOG does, then we’ll adjust accordingly,” Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Jane P. Helm said. The decision from the BOG came a month earlier than expected. There was concern the board would try to “slide in” a tuition hike, but the meeting turned in the students’ favor, Student Government Association Director of State and National Affairs Gary McCoy said. “Considering the past few years, with consistent raises in tuition … the [BOG’s] decision comes at a good time,” McCoy said. The Appalachian State University Board of Trustees (BOT) voted in December 2004 to raise tuition prices by $300 and fees by $135, but their proposal had to be approved by the BOG. “We hear a lot about the economic state in North Carolina, the state budget being out of balance,” Helm said. “If we were to take cuts as a result of this, which is not an unusual pattern, we don’t have anything to fall back on, for things we need to take care of.” The BOG freeze does not mean tuition may not increase at all. The North Carolina General Assembly retains the authority to move tuition prices up, regardless of what the BOG decides. Since the 2001-02 academic year, tuition at Appalachian has increased $599. Support rises for textbook rentals The Student Government Association Senate unanimously approved two pieces of legislation supporting the textbook rental system at Appalachian State University at the Feb. 8 meeting. The first bill called for a resolution of support for the textbook rental system at Appalachian. Senators Evan N. Moody, Amanda G. Zeddy, L. Steven Kennedy and Forrest S. Gilliam authored the legislation. The Senate also passed an enabling act for a student referendum on the textbook rental system. This allows students to vote to maintain or discontinue the textbook rental system during the SGA presidential elections in March. Moody authored this bill. “The textbook rental system is part of the reason why Appalachian is very affordable and such a good deal,” Zeddy said. Appalachian needs to stay affordable as college becomes more and more expensive, she said. Faculty Senate voted to remove the textbook rental system in December, arguing it restricts a faculty member’s choice of textbook and therefore his or her academic freedom. Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock waived the motion to remove the system, but charged a new University Bookstore Committee with researching the current system and its alternatives. Zeddy said she was not surprised there was no debate on the legislation. In a survey of almost 300 students last semester, SGA found that only 1.7 percent of respondents want to discontinue the textbook rental system. “I hope that administrators will listen to the students’ voice and not abolish the textbook rental system because faculty has misinformation,” Zeddy said. A mother alligator will hiss or roar to protect her young. The parents of Appalachian State University students will write letters. The Appalachian Parents Association fully supports the textbook rental system at Appalachian, Terri T. Tyson said. Tyson and her husband Paul, both from Mooresville, are presidents of the Parents Association’s Board of Directors. “It was a unanimous decision on the Board to support student government and their opposition to abolishing the textbook rental system,” Tyson said. The Parents Association has written a letter to the chancellor and provost voicing their support for the textbook rental system. The letter was mailed yesterday, Tyson said. “We felt [the textbook rental system] was something that made Appalachian different – special,” Tyson said. “It’s a big drawing factor for incoming students.” Everyone is worried about the bottom line: costs, she said. For students who pay for their own education, the price of textbooks may make a significant difference. “I don’t think faculty have taken into consideration how this can affect students,” Tyson said. Student Government Association Vice President Nick V. Albu met with members of the Parents Association at the Feb. 5 Board of Directors meeting. “SGA thought it was common sense to educate the parents of Appalachian on this issue since, financially, it could be a large problem for parents,” Albu said. Jim Perkins, a former SGA senator, and senior risk management and insurance major Matthew D. Whisenant, formerly SGA director of student affairs, secured the meeting with the Parents Association. Perkins’ parents, Tom and Peggy, are junior Board members in the Parents Association. “The Parents Association has shown obvious concern with what we’re doing and is very glad SGA is doing something about it,” Whisenant said. We appreciate the opportunity [the Parents Association] has given us and we appreciate their support on this important issue,” Albu said. “I think it’s real important as the university considers the textbook rental system that not just the faculty, not just the students, but all [parties] be aware, because it will impact everyone,” Greene said.
'Iron and Silk' chosen as Summer Reading Appalachian State University’s Summer Reading Committee has chosen “Iron and Silk” by author Mark Salzman as the summer reading book for incoming freshman. “Iron and Silk” is a memoir that reflects on the two years Salzman spent teaching English to students at Hunan Medical College in Changsha, China, in the early 1980s. The committee chose “Iron and Silk” because of Salzman’s writing style and the ability the book has to facilitate activities in many departments. “We always try to find a book that a lot of different units across campus can use and this was definitely a good choice in that regard,” Dr. Janice T. Pope said. Pope is co-director of the reading committee and a professor in the department of communication. Pope also said that Appalachian’s exchange program with Fudan University in Shanghai, China, as well as Salzman’s openness to a full cultural experience were additional factors in choosing the book. “In this time of a smaller and smaller world, it’s a lovely message,” Pope said. “We thought the book had a lot of potential to expose students to many areas across campus,” co-director of the reading committee Donelle O. Graham said. “There is a lot of discipline involved in the Chinese lifestyle and in college life as well.” Graham said Salzman will be at Appalachian State University Sept. 8 to speak at convocation, participate in the Hughlene B. Frank Visiting Writing Series and meet with students to answer questions and sign books. He will also speak at the Watauga County Public Library Sept. 9. “We have heard wonderful things about Salzman as a speaker,” Pope said. “He is engaging. We are very excited for him to come.” Pope said she hopes that students other than freshmen will read the book. “All students would profit from reading it and coming to hear him speak,” Pope said. The reading committee is made up of 16 faculty and staff members representing all of Appalachian’s colleges and many other areas on campus. There are also three student committee members. “The students are one of the most important parts of the committee,” Graham said. "We value their honest opinions and appreciate their willingness to take on additional reading,” “Iron and Silk” was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction. 'Count the Ways' of poetry night Two hours of original poetry along with the incredible voices of a number of different singers were accompanied by the smooth jazz of local band 4’Taye Saturday night. The event “Let Me Count the Ways” was held in the Summit Trail Solarium and was hosted by the Pi Nu chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, Appalachian State University poetry group Lyric and jazz band 4’Taye. A combination of efforts by all three organizations developed into an evening full of words and music that acted as the ideal prelude to Valentine’s Day. Each piece of poetry was in some way directed at lust or the quest for love and every song was a love song. Five Valentine’s Day oriented door prizes were given out, based on things like who was on a first date, which couple had been together the longest and who didn’t have a Valentine yet. Even though 4’Taye was short two of their regular performers, they managed to hold it together and accompany each and every performer that walked on stage. 4’Taye’s saxophonist Willie Lewis said he would be “most definitely be willing to do it again.” Last spring, Alpha Phi Alpha and Lyric hosted the first jazz poetry night, which was followed by a night of hip-hop poetry last semester. “I love being able to share my stuff (poetry) with people who might not normally get to hear it,” Lyric Vice President and performer Jocelyn M. Wyatt said. The main goal of Lyric, a group who wants to display their talent in the form of poetry, is to provide positive feedback and encourage the performers, Lyric President Sabriya D. Miller said. “Lyric meets ever other Wednesday in the Multicultural Room and 8 p.m.” Miller said. “Come out and have fun, Lyric is open to anyone, not just one race or one type of lyrical style.” A month of planning and hours of rehearsal by 4’Taye and the other 16 performers lead to two hours of a Saturday night, jazz filled entertainment. “I thought overall the night went well,” Alpha Phi Alpha Vice President and “Let Me Count the Ways” master of ceremonies Nate M. Kelley said. “4’Taye was amazing and the performers all did a wonderful job.”
Students live, learn under one roof The recently built Living-Learning Center may be a mystery to most students, but to a select few, it is a significant part of their lives. The Living-Learning Center provides a residence for Watauga College students, Teaching Fellows and foreign exchange students. Opened to students and staff in August 2003, the LLC took the place of the aged East Residence Hall. The LLC is not only a residence hall, it is also a center for Watauga College’s interdisciplinary studies classes. Through the LLC and Watauga classes, teachers try to enforce “the pursuit of knowledge from a variety of perspectives,” Director of Watauga College and Residential Learning Communities Dr. Lee B. Williams said. “The world can’t be understood from a single lens.” Former Vice Chancellor for Student Development Gregory S. Blimling initiated the idea of a Living-Learning Center to provide a more community-based learning environment. The LLC stands out from most of Appalachian’s residence halls in many ways, the most prominent being the way it tries to represent students. “We believe students should participate in the running of the college,” director of the LLC Dr. Joe J. Gonzalez said. “We’re trying to erase the boundary between student and RA.” But how exactly can that boundary be erased? The answer lies in the LLC’s many guides, who try to take a different approach from normal RAs. Guides exist to “facilitate the learning of students,” Gonzalez said. One such guide is junior philosophy and religion major Joanna L. Ball. “Being a guide means being in a position to be a community member on a higher level,” Ball said. “People see us as being so dedicated they think we volunteer.” Sophomore education major Kourtney D. Huffman is also a guide and said she, like Ball, said she sees herself as not an enforcer of rules, but rather someone to lead students in the right direction. The LLC still has to abide by all rules of the Department of Housing and Residence Life “If people break the rules here, it affects the entire community,” Huffman said. “They have to give back to the community since they took something away.” Huffman said violators are required to do service within the LLC, such as cleaning. A two-strike policy is enforced in the LLC. If someone violates any rule more than once, the resident will be asked to leave the LLC and Watauga College. “We want one community,” Gonzalez said, stating his belief that neighborhoods provide closer relationships between students. Each floor is co-ed and has a fully equipped kitchen. Rooms are also suite-style with four people to a bathroom. Some special amenities are a library where any student can leave books for others to read, a music room with numerous instruments and the “Great Hall,” a place where residents can eat lunch three times a week, as well as host special events. TO TOPArt & science, business dean search come to end The dean searches for the Walker College of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences are nearing their ends. Provost Stanley R. Aeschleman said he has not yet made a decision for the College of Business dean position because he wants to invite one of the two remaining candidates back to campus. The search committee for the College of Business met Friday to determine their final three applicants and recommend one, if not all three, of the candidates to Aeschleman. The search committee for the College of Arts and Sciences will bring their candidates to campus, starting today. Aeschleman said the decision for that committee should be made around the beginning of March. The three candidates for the College of Business dean position are Dr. Lynne Richardson of Ball State University, Dr. Nancy Merritt of Bowling Green State University and Dr. Rodney Alsup of Kennesaw State University. The candidates for the dean’s position at the College of Arts and Sciences are E. Lee Bernick of the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, David Haney of Appalachian State University, Robert Lyman of North Georgia College & State University and John Mateja of Murray State University. Dr. Lyle F. Schoenfeldt has served as interim dean of the College of Business since June 2003 and Dr. Neal G. Lineback has served as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences since May 2004. “I tell [the committees] that they should not make a recommendation just to have somebody,” Aeschleman said. “A failed search and looking again next year is better than hiring somebody and settling on, rather than feeling a lot of enthusiasm for the hire.” Both committees advertised the job openings in higher education publications and Web sites. The College of Business committee had approximately 60 applicants as of their deadline and the College of Arts & Sciences committee had 36 candidates. After the application deadlines passed, each committee began going through applications and deciding which applicants would get to remain on the list. “We got together and narrowed that short list down to four candidates that we believe are very strong potential deans for the College of Arts and Science,” Chair of the search committee Dr. Anthony G. Calamai said. One quality both committees looked for was the applicant’s ability to raise money for their respective colleges. “The one word description of the position is ‘external,’ so a lot of those qualifications will indicate fundraising, partnerships with the business community, those kinds of activities,” Edwards said. Other qualities included leadership skills and previous experience. “You need to be a personable individual,” Calamai said. “You need to have a sense of balance; you need to be a problem solver.” Members of both committees said the searches are something in which students should take an interest. “I think it should matter a great deal to students because the dean is essentially the captain of the ball team,” member of the College of Business search committee Dr. Richard W. Pouder said. “He picks the players, the key players and of course the players are very much important in the education of the students.” TO TOP |
© 2005 ASU Student Publications
