The Stetson Reporter

Th Stetson Re Florida's Oldest Collegiate 9{ezvspaper rter '.iSkv.vjs' ;,y.yy y .-=: ®i!%li|Mi^1Sr .-■ •. ". y ^^^^^^^ty'^ O'.'si ,0£ £ <i 'c fey I For Your Information Continuing Education offers courses The GRE/GMAT Review, the LSAT Prep Course, the Weekend Reading and Study Skills Course, and the Reading and Study Skills Course are all being offered by Continuing Education. The costs for the courses are as follows: $275 for the LSAT amd $225 for the GRE/ GMAT Review, and $225 for the Reading and Study Skills Course. The Weekend Study Skills Course offers a discount to those who register before September 18 — the cost is $125. After that date, the course costs $150. Contact Continuing Education at 822- 7500 for more information. Calendar of Events Tuesday, September 5 Intramurals: Women's Basketball and Men's Flag Football Wednesday, September 6 Wesley House Fellowship Dinner 5:30 p.m. | Thursday, September 7 Flame Outreach Meeting (Night Lites) 6:00 p.m. BSU Vespers (Allen Hall) 6:30 p.m. Women's Volleyball vs. FIU 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 8 Women's Soccer vs; FIU 4:00 p.m. Shakespeare Scenes (Stover) 8:00 p.m. Saturday, September 9 Men's Soccer vs. Winthrop 3:00 p.m. Women's Volleyball vs. FSC 7:00 p.m. Music Recital (Elizabeth Hall Aud.) 7:30 p.m. Sunday, September 10 Women's Soccer vs. FAU 1:00 p.m. Wesley House Celebrates Life 7:00 p.m. CCM Mass (Night Lites) 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, September 12 Reporter issued Women's Volleyball vs. B-CC 7:00 p.m. Baptists take stand against alcohol policy Davina Yetter The Stetson Reporter^ The ties between Stetson University and the Florida Baptist Convention may soon be severed completely, announced Baptist officials this summer. The 110-year-old relationship has been reevaluated by a Baptist committee in response to the new alcohol policy, according to the Florida Baptist Witness. Stetson administrators expect the fate of the fraternal relationship will be determined by the Board of Missions later this week. Stetson risks losing the Baptist archives housed in the DuPont Ball Library and a $500,000 Endowment from the Baptists, which funds ministerial scholarships. The convention also forwards gifts from individual churches to the University. Super Summer, a Baptist youth camp held annually at Stetson, was also relocated because of the new policy. John Sullivan, executive director of the Florida Baptist Convention, said in an editorial to The Witness that although he understood the logic behind the decision, he did not agree with it. "Quitting or compromising on any social issue that destroys as many people as alcohol abuse is not acceptable as a spiritual model or positive adaptation," said Sullivan. President H. Douglas Lee told Sullivan that Universities are in a "no- win situation...one either claims an alcohol ban which is impossible to enforce or tells the truth about alcohol use and abuse on campus and tries to do something about, but in doing so opens itself up for criticism." In an open letter to the Florida Baptists printed in a July 13 advertisement for The Witness, Lee added that the University remains committed to its mission as "an independent institution with a Christian commitment and to our Baptist heritage." Lee cited examples including the Baptist Student Union, the Minister of the Year Program, the Winter Pas tors' School, the Program in Religion and Ethics, all of which Lee plans to continue regardless of the formal relationship with the Convention. Other Florida Baptists have openly protested the new policy. "There are no words to describe how irresponsible the Stetson policy really is," said C. Ben Mitchell, consultant on biomedical and life issues for the Southern Baptist Christian Life Commission. "The policy is simply murderous." "This so-called Baptist school has caved in to cultural pressures," Mitchell added. Hit-and-run accident occurs at main entrance Stacy Gum The Stetson Reporter. If you or your organization has information: fpr this column, send it to the Reporter at Campus Box 8409, attention News Department, The deadline for. submissions is the Thursday before the release is to appear. Photo by David Young Facilities Management worker Roger Noble cleans the fountain ofthe algae that has plagued it for over two weeks. See next week's Reporter for the story behind the slime. Hundreds attend 1995 Organizational Fair Over 500 students attended in Wednesday's Organizational Fair, student life administrators estimated. New and returning students were introduced to over 50 organizations at the Aug. 30 event held in the Stetson Room of the Carlton Union Building. "I think went really well," commented Dave Riveness, associate director of student life. "This year's new incoming class seems to be more ready to get involved," added Riveness, who said that there was more traffic at the fair for a longer amount of time, in comparison to years past. A hit-and-run accident on Friday left a visitor from Evansville, Indiana with no answers and a smashed up Chevy Beretta. Dena Thikodimitris was heading south on Woodland Blvd. when she attempted to turn into Stetson's main entrance on Minnesota Ave. According to Officer Demaster of the DeLand City Police Department, witnesses said Thikodimitris' car was hit by an older-styled, maroon-colored, 4- door car, possibly driven by a man, which should now have a damaged right fender. Thikodimitris said she has only had her car about four months, but would give no other information about the accident. "Unless someone saw the tag, I'm going to have to close [the case] out as an unknown vehicle," said Demaster. He added that witnesses thought the hit-and-run driver went through the yellow light but they weren't sure. Demaster also said "if he was trying to beat the yellow light, so was she." Norma Allen, a Stetson financial aid administrator said, "people run those red lights all the time." Steve Burley, director of personnel, and his wife were also in an accident at the samalocation less than a month ago. However, Officer Demaster said he doesn't consider the area a bad accident location..' ~" Stetson Public Safety refused to give any information about the accident even though it did not involve a student or faculty member. Dispatcher Joyce Baxter said, "we are not allowed to give out that information." Demaster believed that the biggest problem with the area is students who don't obey traffic lights. Although he said he understands that students do not want to be late to classes, he warned of the dangers of not obeying the walking signs. The officer warned that if motorists continue to routinely complain about students crossing illegally, the police will have no choice than to issue tickets to violators.. Demaster felt that Stetson should build a walking bridge for students to safely cross the street. Anyone with information about this case or knows the license plate number of the runaway car should contact Officer Demaster at the DeLand Police Department at 734-1711. Disney and Stetson to establish model school Andrew Dehnart The Stetson Reporter- The Walt Disney Company, in a venture with Stetson University and Osceola County School District, will launch a new school in the fall of 1996. The Celebration School and Teaching Academy will educate 1,400 students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. Stetson University will operate the Teaching Academy: a place for current and future educators to expand their knowledge. Dr. Larry Rosen, a Stetson professor, will serve as director for the academy. The Celebration School will provide education to residents and also serve as a magnet school for Osceola County. A board of trustees will supervise the school, and will include representatives from Stetson, the Osceola County School District, and the Celebration Company, a Disney subsidiary. "The eyes of the country will be upon this school, because whatever Disney does, they do very well," said Betty Brady, director of Stetson's News Bureau. In addition to providing training for current teachers, Stetson students will have the opportunity to utilize the school and Academy, for hands-on training and education. A grant of $9 million from the Celebration Company will help fund the Teaching Academy. Additional grants to Stetson have also been received to help back Stetson's support of the Academy. BellSouth gave $100,000, the MacArthur Foundation provided $75,000, and the Knight Foundation is giving Stetson $250,000 as part of its Excellence in Education initiative. Although owned by the Part 1 of 2 Celebration Company, Stetson will operate the Teaching Academy. It is supported by a group of other universities and colleges, including the University of Central Florida, the University of North Florida, the University South Florida, and Valencia Community College. Programs at the Academy will address integrated education, multi-cultural education, counseling, cooperative learning, technological applications in education, and other topics. The Celebration Company is building a 4,900 acre community in northwest Osceola County. It will feature places designed to represent small town America. Included in the town: town hall, post office, a cinema, restaurants and apartments. End of forensics leaves room for changes By David Young The Stetson Reporter Several changes in academic programs are currently planned following the end of the forensics program, according to faculty. New journalism courses, a technical director for the Theater Department, and additional support to the Gillespie Museum of Minerals are among the changes planned, Dr. Gary Maris, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said Friday. The forensics program, whose participants competed in a variety of public speaking tournaments, was ended last spring so that the money traditionally budgeted for it could be used for the new programs, Maris said. The use of available funds in new programs rather than forensics "is going to have a far greater impact in terms of the students," according to Maris. Maris said that four courses in "applied journalism" for students interested in journalism and applied communications will be added to the Communication Studies department by the 1996-97 school year. In the Theater department, Maris noted, a technical director has been hired to help theater profes sors and students set up sets, lighting, and other aspects of theater productions. All the funds that would have been budgeted for forensics will remain in "student-oriented" programs, Maris said. According to Dr. Michael McFarland, communication studies chair and former coach of the forensics team, much of the the money spent on forensics went toward travel to and from tournaments, often in other states. "Forensics is expensive...get ten, twelve students and fly them somewhere, you're spending a lot of money real quickly," said McFarland, who noted that the forensics program was "a large part" of the budget for the communications department. Another reason forensics was ended was that the hiring of a forensics coach would have been necessary to continue the program, rather than giving existing faculty the responsibility, Maris said. Senior Jessica Kirkwood, who participated in forensics for three years, said it was "a little sad" that the program has ended, but noted that "it was just a good time" to end the program, since most of the forensics team members from the last several years have since graduated.