The Stetson Reporter

wed aug-02 http://reporter.stetson.edu R ,.,,,, j..,., eDorter WHAT'S INSIDE News 2A Opinions 4A Life IB Classifieds 2A Sports 4*3 Etcetera 6a issue 2 volume 115 e LIFE: First Patio Program runs smoothly page lb Crews remodel I Florida's First Private College Newspaper OPINIONS: Student resident complains about fraternity house page 4a fifty-two halls, other facilities By Dan Puchalla MANAGING EDITOR This summer saw several changes made to the infrastructure of campus. Facilities Management had completed work on 52 university buildings by the start of the semester. "We've had a lot of activity," said David Noyes, Vice President for Facilities Management. "What the student sees is some of the major construction, but there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes." One of the most involved projects this summer was Carson-Hollis residence hall. To repair water penetration damage to the foundation, the soil on the western wall of Carson Hall was excavated. A new drainage system was installed and the basement wall was waterproofed. Leaking hot water lines running from the Carson basement . boiler to Hollis were also fixed, along with a gas line that had developed a leak. The sod outside Carson has since been replaced. The exterior of the residence hall was also pressure washed. ^ The work on Carson-Hollis, plus a new air handler installed in Chaudoin Hall, completes the third year of residence hall renovation. - "We're in the planning stages of looking at the remaining residence halls, which ones and to what, degree they are to be renovated. We're looking strongly at Conrad and Carson/ Hollis," said Noyes. A new fast-pitch softball field is the latest addition to the campus. The playing field carried the price tag of $460,000, which came from donations to the university. The field itself was created using a laser grading system to determine the precise angle. The field is nearing completion with the backstop netting being installed within the next 30 days, said Noyes. He estimates that the team will be able to practice on the field as early as October and no later than November. No competitions will be held on the field this year. "This is a multistage project. The ■ first stage is to create the field so that it can be used as a practice field," said Noyes. The City of DeLand requires additional facilities, such as lavatories, to be installed before games can be played on the new field. Another stage of the project includes the putting in of lighting for night games. The other extensive project that is nearing completion is the restoration of DeLand Hall. Utilizing a $350,000 grant from the State of Florida, the exterior of the building has been refurbished to more closely match the original design. To comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, the university hired the historic preservation architecture firm Kennith Smith Architects. Plans for this project began in 1997. Once the construction documents had been completed, they were submitted to the state for approval. "As we implement it [the plan], we- submit quarterly reports to the state," see CONSTRUCTION, page 2a ^Reporter Contact Us 421 N. Woodland Blvd. #8409 DeLand, FL 32720-3751 386.822.7224 FAX 386.822.7233 reporter^? stetson.edu [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] CREDIT Student accounts refuses book sales By Julie Farricker associate news editor Students who would usually charge Bookstore purchases to their student accounts were affected this year by a change from the Office of Student Accounts that no longer allows these purchases to be possible. The policy was created near the end of the spring semester in order to give students ample time to find ways to purchase books and other supplies from the campus bookstore through use of credit cards, checks, or cash. The change originated due to students who did not pay the balance left on their accounts that accumulated into debt for the students as well as difficulty in transactions between Student Accounts and the Bookstore. "It just makes things more complicated and harder now that I can't put it on my account," said junior computer science major Colin Branch. Other than paying by credit card, cash, or check, a student with a credit on his account, or those who are waiting for loans to be posted, were given the option of paying with a voucher. The voucher is distributed from Student Ac- PAYMENT: Sophomore Crystal Smith buys her required textbooks with a credit card in the bookstore. photo.by shaun whalen counts and allows purchases up to the price of the student's credit in the Bookstore. If a parent paid over the amount —,„.... needed by the university, the student would be eligible for the voucher. Also, students who were accustomed to adding flex dollars to their "The problem is the books are so expensive, and some of us just don't have that kind of cash accessible at that time." meal cards on the student accounts can do it through the drop/add period that ends Sept. 5. After that date, students must purchase the flex dollars in $50 increments by cash or check in the Meal Card Office --•"— located in the Commons. First-year and transfer students were unaffected by the change, but many upperclassmen, who were accustomed to charging textbooks to „_^_ —— their accounts were distressed. "It would have been so much easier on the account because then my parents would not have had to give me separate checks for each thing," said Amanda Ford, who is a junior marketing major. "There was so much paperwork involved that it would have been better to pay it-all together." -■ "The problem is the books are so expensive, and some of us just don't have that kind of cash accessible at that time," said senior computer science and digital arts double major Adam Schwarz. "It is very unfair since many students do not have the funds up front," said John Peter junior biology and sociology major. Sophomore psychology and religious studies major, Liesel Winchester, echoed similar sentiments. "I think it makes it more difficult for students to purchase their books because it requires students to pay for all of their books at the same and not all students have the kind of money available," said Winchester. Some upperclassmen students said the change was not difficult to. handle since the texts must be paid for. "Yes, it was inconvenient to not charge books .to my student accounts, but either way we [the students] have to pay," said junior sociology and Spanish double major Melanie Jacobi. Students who have not purchased books yet or are unsure about the policy should contact the Office of Student Accounts to check the status either by calling extension 7050 or visiting the office on the first floor of Elizabeth Hall. Julie Farricker can be contacted at [email protected]. Best Inn accomodates university's overflow By Amy Rigdon NEWS EDITOR Due to the size of the incoming class and the number of returning students living on campus, the university was forced to use overflow housing in two open fraternity houses, a sorority house, and the Best Inn across Woodland Avenue. The in- coming class this year is approximately 11 students larger than last year's class and approximately 65 percent female. _ To compensate for the amount of students [ requiring housing, an entire floor- in Smith Hall that was male last year was switched to a female hall this year. Residential Life asked all returning students to notify the university if they decided not to return so the open rooms can be filled before students ar- BEST INN University RESIDENCE HALL rive on campus. There are a total of approximately 1,532 beds on campus, including the fraternities and sororities. "It is tough because you have to look at the numbers you are getting, and then there is a certain amount of guesswork," said Patrick Durbin, the assistant director of Residential Life. "Most of the time if [students] say they are coming, they come, but everyone or two that don't create, overflow problems." The university always reserves hotel rooms at Best Inn as a backup. Last year came close to using Best Inn, but avoided putting any students there. This year, four female students were initially housed at Best Inn. "We had four at one point but now only two. We were prepared to put an R.A. with them, but since they are up- '...It is more convenient i we don't have to put overflow out there on fraternity row, but it was our only option." , PHOTO ART BY AMY RIGDON perclassmen females, we did not see a need to put an R.A. with them," said Durbin. The manager of Best Inn has accommodated the university and the students residing there by offering house cleaning and putting desks in the rooms. "The girls have been very understanding of the situation," said Durbin. "They are anxious to get into traditional housing, but the accommodations over there are pretty good." In addition to Best Inn, two fraternities and one sorority are housing overflow students, which is an improvement from'last year in which nearly every fraternity house had overflow male students. "We are working as hard as we can to move guys out of [the fraternity houses] for both sides," said Durbin. "It can be rough for first-year students or transfers in the house and for the brothers of the house. It is more convenient if we don't have to put overflow out there on fraternity row, but it was our only option." According to Residential Life, the students in overflow housing should be moved out and into traditional housing by the second week of school. "Now that classes are starting, we are getting a good idea of who is not coming back and where we have open spots," said Durbin. "We will have a no-show report compiled by Friday of the first week, and -■■-"*-•"■— then we can hopefully move overflow into rooms by the next week." Many universities deal with overflow housing in the beginning of the academic year because they must meet residential quotas and many people, who initially say they are living on-campus, decide not to over the summer. This university is no exception. "We need to keep the buildings so filled to meet financial requirements," said Durbin. "In order to keep residential numbers where we needed and wanted them, [the university] instituted the policy that cuts financial aid for students who move off-campus." The first room change week occurs Aug. 27 through Aug. 30. Durbin said Residential Life expects a large number of requests, especially due to first-year students; however, there may be a problem with availability and spaces. A resident can obtain information from his or her resident advisor. Amy Rigdon can be contacted at arigdon@stetson. edu. http://reportenstetson.edu.i^talk/ Ej§«BJaESE^__l_-}_a|Ja^