The Stetson Reporter

WHAT'S News 2a Opinions 4a Life ib Classifieds 2a Sports 5B Etcetera 6a issue 9 volume 115 VALUES BUDGETED e SPORTS: Men's basketball wins against SGA requires organizations to participate misunderstood by editorial page 4* By Julie Farricker associate news editor During the spring semester of 2002, Student Government Association (SGA) Senator Ahmad Yakzan, as chair of Policy Reform Committee, proposed a bill to SGA requiring organiza- * tions that wish to receive SAFAC money to have a representative in SGA throughout the year. It also states that the signers, the various other senators' who support the bill, want to boost organization participation in SGA, and with the participation the productivity of SGA will increase. Its goal was to boost participation of the university's organizations, and since SGA is entrusted with allocating the funds coming from the Student Activities Fees. According to the bill, "organizations that work hard to gain the knowledge of the issues discussed by SGA and participate in the decisionmaking process." This fall the bill was re-proposed by Senator Yakzan. It had been referred to the Rules Committee, and amended to state that the department of Student Life should revoke the recognized status of an organization if a senator is not appointed to SGA within two educational terms, excluding summer terms. For smaller organizations that have had no prior participation in SGA, it might be difficult to secure members to volunteer for senatorship. Some organizations are so small that they might not see the point of the bill, but Chris Kopetz, a sophomore political science and history major and member of. Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, said, "I support the bill because it keeps organizations on the inside of what's going on. There's also a sense of unity around the university if the organizations are involved with SGA." A newer organization on campus, MedEx, which is not designated only for pre-med students, but for those interested in service as well, will be another organization on campus that needs a representative on SGA. "It's a good idea to boost SGA participation since SAFAC does aid many of the clubs and organizations here on campus," said MedEx President Dominic Mastroianni. "Since SGA ' is here to be the student-run voice of the university, it's important that those who want to partake in receiving money from them also know what's happening." Chris Smith, chair of the Residential Halls committee, has doubts "about the bill. "I feel the bill would just be forcing organizations to put people in the senate whether they are qualified or not, hence filling the senate with worthless votes and representation," said Smith. These possible problems will have to be discussed and worked out among the current SGA members in time for next semester. All organizations are not' required to receive SAFAC funding, but SGA still encourages those that do not wish , to receive it, to participate in SGA. Julie Farricker can be contacted at [email protected]. ^Reporter Contact Us 421 N. Woodland Blvd. # 8409 DeLand, FL 32720-3751 386.822.7224 FAX 386.822.7233 [email protected] [email protected]. [email protected] - [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] University reduces Values support By Amy Rigdon NEWS EDITOR Since the mid 1990s, the university has affirmed its commitment to values, particularly six values. In 1998 the university restructured its mission statement and created the Values Council to lead in values commitments down to the core of the university. Due to the financial difficulties the university is currently experiencing and the decrease in the endowment funds, the university's Budget Stabilization Program has decided to scale back positions related to the Values Council. "From my standpoint and issues I have had to deal with, in dealing with the economy, is to rethink a lot of things we are doing around here, including the Values Council," said President Doug Lee, chair of the Values Council. "Endowment returns are down, so adjustments, will be made, but we won't be getting rid of [the Values Council]." The Values Council is comprised of six sub-councils for each of the values: religious and spiritual life, ethical decision-making, diversity, gender equity, environmental responsibility, and community service. There is a chair for each sub-council, who report to a Values Council coordinator and a chair ofthe Values Council itself, and there is also a Values Council support staff of four members. Three of the four positions from the support staff are those that, due to monetary reasons, have been reduced by the university. The four support staff positions were* for the community service, religious and spiritual life, diversity, and environmental responsibility val-' ues. Two'of the three are being reduced to part-time positions: director of Community Service Office and the university chaplain. The third position, the director of Environmental Affairs, is being eliminated. These changes are going into effect by June, after the end of this academic year. "Most of the responsibilities are being combined. We are trying to redefine how to do changes most efficiently. The changes won't occur until next year, so we have got time to figure these things out," said Lee. "We feel confident that we can sustain this program in full force." "We do not anticipate the level ..of programming or emphasis [the Values Council is promoted] will change. It is true that in some cases it will be other persons leading. These values are not going away. We intend to find ways, as in the past to keep them at the center of the core curriculum education," said Dr. Jim Beasley, director of Campus Life. Some are concerned that scaling back these positions will be detrimental, or at the very least a ^Z>\^;-J\^ ■^U;^, UES COUNCIL STETSON UNIVERSITY PHOTO ART BY WILLIAM PHILLIPS SPLINTER: The hands in the Values Council logo represented a cooperative action between the six values programs united by a common commitment to community. challenge, for the university to uphold its commitment to integrate values as called for in its mission statement. According to the Values Council publication, the mission at the university "is to provide an excellent education in a creative community where learning and values meet, and to foster in students the- qualities of mind and heart that will prepare them to reach their full potential as informed citizens of lo- —" : cal communities and the world." "The mission statement has been rewritten around values," said Dr. Dixon Sutherland, professor of religious studies and Values Council chair for ethical decision-making. "The —.-^^ - reason is that we are trying as hard as we can to link values into academics so that there isn't two different worlds." Those in the positions that are being reduced feel the Values Council will change. "I think the elimination of my position and reduction of other positions sends a fairly clear message that perhaps the university wasnTt really ready to make the commitment to values. I personally think the whole values commitment will be adversely affected," said John Jett, director of environmental affairs. "One of my beliefs is actions speak louder than words, so as an institution, their choice to eliminate or reduce one of these values positions is a strong one...I can't help*but feel it's a short-term gain for a long-term loss," said Courtney Brown, director of the Community Service Office and Values Council chair.for community service. "That's why students come here. ^^l.^-»-ss— You can't put a price tag on values." Sutherland, who has been involved with the Values Council since its inception, said that the financial difficulties force the university to make hard decisions. The university needed someone to oversee that it was focusing its values on the environment, "so John Jett was hired. There wasn't even budget for "One of my beliefs is actions speak louder than words, so as an institution, their choice to eliminate or reduce one of these values positions is a strong one..." him, but Lee made it happen. The Values Council was an attempt to make actuality out of potentiality. It doesn't mean it was perfect or completely successful, but we were trying to emphasize the values," said Sutherland. "The ongoing budget problems we now have to rectify mean there are hard choices. to make. I don't like it but" when you look at a university that has to cut budget as deeply as we have to cut ours...we have to make hard decisions of what is less necessary than others. It's not that anything was unneeded or we wouldn't have it." Lee said that part of the reason the Values Council has experienced so much growth in the past five years is not only due to the council chairs and the support staff but also because the community and the students have a growing interest in it. "It is truly a grassroots effort and not a top-down effort," said Lee. "The Values Council has grown over five years. It has always been a breathing organism, experiencing highs and lows. It is at a high point right now and will stay there because we have passionate people. The passionate people are still here, so it will continue to grow. Almost every good thing that has happened on the Values Council is because an impassioned person wanted to see it done." The Values Council has grown in many facets since its inception. There is a Values Council lecture series, which includes the new Peace, Violence, and Religion lecture, series. The Values Council coordinated resources between departments, such as the Microcredit program and the Spring Hills Initiatives. The Values Council now is a selling point for the university to prospective students and has created its own publication and PowerPoint presentation. "I have seen the Values Council grow in vigor in its outreach. In my mind it seemed to be gaining momentum the -past couple of years. The feedback from some students is because [the university] is values committed they chose to attend it. I think the university will struggle in maintaining that as a selling point," said Jett. "I think Stetson University has come an awful long way environmentally speaking. There are a lot of great things that have happened in the past, and I hope things continue to grow in the future!" "The Value Council chairs made the ideas and the support group was hired to be the innovators and make the change, make the ideas reality. The support group has really made the tangible products—the brochure and the see VALUES, page 2a Site www.stetson.edu resembles brochures By Julie Farricker associate news editor Students who regularly check the university website noticed a difference Nov. 11 when the new webpage was released. Last year, the website changed with a few minor adjustments including various pictures with facts about the university. This year an outside company, Stein Communications, took charge of the website and also changed various literature that the university sends out to students including viewbooks and pamphlets. The project is a result of months of work from this group and the university's Web Team which was comprised of representatives from the office of Enrollment .Management, the Center for Information Technology, Marketing and Communications, the President's Office, and the faculty. The motto of the site and the school was "Florida's First Private University;" now prospective and current students who view the page will see "We Excite the Mind." Jon Gosnell, a junior physics major, thinks the change is nice but said, "It's something that wasn't needed during this time with the budget crunch going- on. The old website suited the students just fine." "This is an exciting milestone for Stetson University's student recruitment marketing efforts," said Deborah Thompson, vice president for Enrollment Management. "For the first time, we have a truly integrated and consistent look between our printed material and the website." The initial phase of the redesign primarily addresses the questions and interests of prospective students and their families. Templates and training will soon be available to individual departments and of- fices to update —!—-——---— their webpages and match the new look. Some students find ' the newer website more confusing due to the lack of an index bar which is where ..^Z.P.,^ ■....,... students would go to find Blackboard, Intranet, or just quick links to different departments. "I was confused where the link to Blackboard was located on the page, but after a minute, I found it and con tinued with my work. It's a nice site, but more variety on the students that were used for the pictures would have been better," said junior biology major Heather Brown. Her sister, —' --'—--- — Stephanie Brown, a "For the first time, we first-year English ma jor at the university, have a truly integrated and ' echoed similar senti- ^ i i u - ments but was satis- consistent look between fied with the result. "I can understand how an attractive website could interest „...: — more' prospective students, and the student stories on why they attended the uni-" versity added very nicely as well," said Stephanie Brown. Julie Farricker can be contacted at [email protected]. our printed material and the website." http://reporter.stetson.edu - ^■]in*Milirwd»Mi~~wjfeM*«T'airaa**mi«ti»i mm m WB^BS^m^mm^x^^M