The Stetson Reporter

< a. O life | The ever-successful 'X-Files' movie made the leap to the big screen this summer and promises more mystery and paranoia. Stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson get closer to shedding those black.trenchcoats and jumping into bed then they have before. The Life section offers a review of this movie and other summer films. [ see Life page 3b ] wed augus' issue 1 volume 111 ONSTRUCTINTG [the library] visitation by andy dehnart In an long-awaited move, university administrators implemented 24/ 7 visitation in Emily Hall, approving a policy that will permit opposite sex visitors in the residence halls at all hours of the day. Michelle Espinosa, the director of Residential Life, said that the decision and implementation were-delayed to ensure that the residents were comfortable with the decision. "Once we had a group of students living in the building, it was going to be difficult to change it without some forewarning," she said. The Department of Residential Life sent a letter to Emily Hall residents about the policy early in the summer. Espinosa said that out of nearly 225 residents, "not a single" resident contacted her to arrange a move or comment oh the decision. "To me, that indicates that we have support for it," she said. Residential Life included room selection forms with the letters, so "if anyone chose to move out of the building, we would try to accommodate that," she said. Residents like "I think that the work student government did certainly kept it on the stove, maybe not on the front burner all the time, but at least on the stove." < w o z M & m UJ UJ I o Marie Bacon, a senior Who has been a resident of Emily Hall since she was a sophomore, are "ecstatic," even though the policy "makes something legal that has already been happening. As upperclassmen, you'd think we have the responsibility to de- -. cide for ourselves who, what, where and when." Espinosa said that "this is the third year that it's been on the table." During that time, SGA passed multiple bills in favor of the policy. Roman Rodriguez, the newly-elected SGA president, said, "Last year, it was to happen until administration had a change of heart. This year, we ensured the decision was carried out thoroughly." He credits "SGA's ongoing commitment to the issue and an open dialogue between its members and the administration" as the primary factors leading to implementation of 24/7 visitation. . Espinosa said that SGA was a factor in the change. "I think that the work student government did certainly kept it on the stove, maybe not on the front burner all the time, but at least on the stove." • She said that "a lot of it had to do with the timing of when we could make the decision, and [that and] the implementation are two very different things. We went ahead and did it this summer because we felt like.. .it had been on the table enough.. .[for] the students now living I in the building. [E]nough of them had been in the / .discussions...and so it wasn't as new to them, even 7 though we did it after they chose to live there," she said. 1, \ Some note that the current visitation policy is some- [ see 24/7, page 2a ] © Welcome to issue one, year 111 of The Reporter. As you can see, we've redecorated over the summer. The result, we hope, is an easier-to-read and access paper. Okay, now to the introductions. Sara Corner has made the leap from the 'net to the managing editor's chair. Jeff Hamrick makes the money we need so desperately. Julie Gowan chairs the news section. Jeff Hidek is back, keeping watch over your Life. Randi Duhigg is reigning over our sports empire. Jeff Casali is hauling the papers to your waiting hands every week. Jonathan Anderson keeps up the nation's #1 non-daily college newspaper web site (that's http://reporter.stetson.edu, in case you forgot.) Paul Davis is watching the world through a camera lens. Wendy E. Donna counsels us and makes sure we get paid. And Dr. Michael Raymond guides us through the often perilous waters of journalism. As always,-we need you to keep things interesting. Write for us: send stories about you and your organization. Give us your thoughts on anything for Forum, or write areview of that great book you justread. Our contact information is on page 4a. We. look forward to publishing and covering the things you are involved with. Andy Dehnart, editor [the Commons] ;/-*%* [the Peer Career Center] by julie gowan When entering the Commons and Hat Rack, returning students will see change. The cosmetic face-lifts are only surface changes compared to the in-depth analysis, planning and program development that has taken place. the cafeteria ) The dining services program has been evolving for the past two years. Student input has been the driving force behind the change. All surveys, comment cards,informal conversations-and" items purchased have had an effect on the program. In addition, a national data board that analyzes future students needs, eating habits and preferences has been used at Stetson University. New wallpaper, new upholstery, a new dining area set-up and Muzak are the sites and sounds students will be exposed to. More marche cooking, vegan/vegetarian selections, bundled meals, specialty salads and theme days will be supplementing the menu. ■•'.;■ The Sodexho-Marriott management staff has come up with many features to break up the monotony of the daily routine and grab the interest of students. These breakers include a sundae bar, perogie bar, taco bar and a specialty coffee bar. The staff has also incorporated many promotions and games throughout the year. In the first semester, the staff has planned a hot dog eating contest, a jump in the sac, a pizza eating contest, a raffle for Universal Studios tickets and many other activities. The team will also work with CSA to include possible dinner teasers of the feature act for the week. "Our Dr. Pepper breaker proved to be a success. Dr. Pepper sent us cups with soda plus with free soda coupons that were used at the Carnival of Fun at the Hollis Center," said Robert Rinaldo, assistant director of Food Services. "We'll be doing a lot more front-of-the-house cooking; Preparing foods in front of the students will increase to display the freshness of it," said Rinaldo. the hat rack | The Commons was not the only place under construction this summer. The Hat Rack installed a new air conditioning unit, new ceiling, new lighting: and the walls have been repainted. A new Hagen-Daaz dipping station has been added so students can create their own late night desserts. "We made the changes based on the students request, we're concentrating on the staff to keep up. the good customer service and working on certain menu requests like: chicken wings, hot hats, Howard's Barbecue and daily luncheon specials," said Rinaldo. "The program will continuously evolve into the program that meets or exceeds the expectations of students," said Paul Marcaurelle, director of Food Services. peer career center | Across from the Commons, another renovation has taken place to Qffer more advantages to the wandering college student who is undecided about a career. Assistant Director of Career Services, Toni Avant and Dr. Don Sanz, director of the Counseling Center and Career Services, are working in corporation'with student volunteers to get the Peer Career Center off the ground. "Across from the Commons is the most strategic place for the center. It's centrally located and visible to the students at all times," said Avant. The goal for the center is to help students find careers through a self-discovery assessment to find out what the individual is interested in and their various talents and an - exploratory opportunity for-students to go out and shadow their job interests. , , "We hope to help students make better decisions and introduce them to the actual career process," said Avant. Different programs the center will be offering include: different self pen and paper assessments, self directed searches and two computer software programs that focus on the second stage of the career process: exploration. The two programs are Discover and SIGI (System Interactive Guidance Information). SIGI is an interactive system with- information about financial aid, graduate schools and reviews of over 3,000 careers. Students from different majors will have an opportunity to earn internship credit through volunteering in the Peer Career Center. For example, "psychology majors will go through special training to prepare themselves to be an active counselor in the center, thus will earn some credit," said Sanz. Trained student counselors had to go through 50 hours of training in counseling and career service training. The center is expected to open the second week of school during peak hours of the Commons. k "This is a terrific opportunity for helping others through being a volunteer. We encourage students who are interested to come by the Counseling Center or Career Services to pick up an application," said Sanz. the duPont-Ball library | More opportunities for researching, studying and reading are all packaged into the new renovations going on now at duPont-Ball Library. A million and a half dollars was the cost of deferred library.maintenance, which does not include the newly laid plans set by the design advisory committee. Two members of the committee are Vice President David Noyse and Sims Kline, director-of duPont-Ball Libraiy. Noyse handles the construction and rebuilding concerns, and Kline is, in charge of the technological advancements of the library. "The library will have more power, improved lighting and ambiance. We're replacing the heating ventilating and air conditioning and redoing the roof and reconstructing the skylights," said Noyse. "We are planning to support the information futures required to help Stetson University students achieve a first- rate education," said Kline. "We're offering students two distinct libraries: the traditional and the virtual." With the Ball endowment and various grants given for the renovation project, the duPont-Ball Library will be brought up to speed. A new satellite farm will be standing on the roof of the library for enhanced technology. The current library building was built in 1964, and initial renovation work was completed on the main floor in October 1996. Renovation and construction began again in March 1998 and will cotir tinue until May 1999. The new renovation and construction w ill add 112 new seats for users and a large presentation room for students, faculty and the community Other renovations include: restroom lenov a- tions to meet ADA regulations, computer netw oik- • ing, for carrels so that students;can access the Internet via their personal laptop computers, a multimedia suite to support development of student and faculty computer presentations and a congressional research and reading room. The new library will be, "a cental resouice" and will help teach "effective research skills which will equip students to be resourceful, life-long learners," said Kline. COMMONS: Students eat at the 'new' Commons, photo by paul davis S is an idiotic . by michael w. Raymond A first-year Stetson "" student's efforts to commit suicide were thwarted - by university officials Tuesday night when he threatened to leap from Hulley Tower, A potential Russian studies major from Lakeland surrendered to Public Safety and the Office of Student Affairs after assurances were made that FOCUS activities had nothing to do with the reality of, I college life. Roscoe T. Gort, 18, of Smith Hall, agreed to come down off the roof of the bell tower after Associate Dean of Student Life , Darth Stubble apologized for the idiotic waste of time inflicted upon new Stetson students, reported Deputy Commandant Godzilla. Gort was given another FOCUS lecture and a pat on the head by Stubble's boss before being secured in a straight jacket. [ read this story in Forum, page 4a ] ashing f Psycho' has rGen X' theme by andy dehnart I'm standing on the T train, going into Boston, and to keep my balance I'm clutching a greasy pole that probably hundreds of people have touched before me. I glance around at the other passengers. A woman sitting near me is wearing a white, silk short-sleeved button-up shirt, probably from Express or Theiimited, a tight, short, black polyester and cotton skirt, and patent leather pumps. Designer sunglasses are perched atop her dyed blond hair, which shows brown roots. The strap of an alligator skin purse stretches across her body. Next to her, occupying a highly-valued seat on the rush hour train, is a crisp paper shopping bag from a major, high-end retailer. , [ read this story in Life, page 1b ] VOLLEYBALL: The team practices in the Edmunds Center, preparing for a new season, photo by caul davis