The Stetson Reporter

wed WHAT'S inside News 2a Technology 3a Opinions 4a Life ib Music 3 b Classifieds 3a Sports 5 b Etcetera 8a issue 16 volume 113 LIFE: How to create a special Valentine's moment page lb 1 OPINIONS: Columnists explore the pros and cons ofthe holiday page 4a Ministries Student organizations feel the squeeze raise funds for poverty By Jared Jennings guest columnist Students from various campus ministries are planning to go without food for 30 hours to raise money for world hunger and poverty relief. According to Jonathan Bailey, a member of the Student Religious Life Council planning committee for the fast, "1.3 billion or more ofthe world's population live on less than one dollar a day, and more than half of the world's population lives on less than two dollars per day. "By participating in the 30-Hour Famine, whether by sponsoring or fasting, we help to alleviate these needs by raising money that will be sent to the poor and hungry people through a nonprofit organization called World Vision," said Bailey. The 30-Hour Famine is slated to begin at noon on Friday Feb. 23, and continue until 6:00 p.m. the next day. During the 30-Hour Famine, the participants consume nothing but liquids (juice, water, etc.) while learning about world hunger and involving themselves in local community service projects. They ask family and friends to sponsor them with pledges as they fast. The money raised goes to World Vision, a nonprofit Christian relief and development organization which serves nearly 85 million malnourished, impoverished and suffering people through projects in 88 countries. "I think it's important for us as a whole to realize what's really going on," Bailey said. "There are so many religious _^_________i_>i—__ people in _«■««__■___■_ this country# I know they know that these issues are a problem, but do they really treat it like that?" Students participating in the 30- Hour Famine hope not only to see the existence of the problem of world hunger and poverty more clearly, but also to be part of the solution to that problem. "I mean, we're the most prosperous nation on the earth, and here I am griping about my $40,000 loans for school when many could live their whole life off of less than that," said see FAMINE, page 2a By John Mills ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR SAFAC determined the haves and have hots during its meeting this semester, and student organizations felt the squeeze from the lack of funding that plagues the groups every spring. A total of $16,004.71 was allocated ■to 25 different organizations, whose original requests totaled $32,132.71. Organizations ranging from athletic clubs to Greek organizations to religious clubs to service organizations made presentations to the Student Activities Fees Allocation Committee. The recipient of the most funding was the Panhellenic Council with an award of $2,000 that they will use for the hiring of bands for the Spring Fling events in April, according to Darald Stubbs, staff advisor to SAFAC. The Rugby Football Club was among the top recipients of funding with an allocation of $1,320 for the hiring of referees and medical professionals to come to games to treat injuries. The money will also cover travelling expenses that the team will accrue. Habitat for Humanity and Student Ambassadors were the only two organizations that did not receive money. Habitat applied for funding this semester, asking for money to put on one fundraiser this semester to repay debts accrued during the build last semester. President of Habitat for Humanity Kenny Tinkham was told that his organization did not receive funding "was because of the large pool of applicants and relatively small amount of money." Stubbs and the student members of SAFAC could not discuss what occurred during the meetings but Stubbs said that the students followed the guidelines placed before them on how to dispense funds appropriately. According to Brian Mistier, SGA President and Chair of SAFAC, Habitat did not meet the guidelines SAFAC follows for allocating its resources. The SAFAC guidelines include the stipulations that the funds be given to organizations that have programs or activities for all students. Tinkham suspects that the fact that Habitat did not use all of its funding last semester had something to do with their rejection this semester. A SAFAC member-also told him that SAFAC did not like giving money to support a fundraiser, as opposed to giving money to support an activity. According to Mistier, one of the criterions on which SAFAC bases its decisions is the number of people participating and the likelihood of the event actually taking place. Habitat did not complete all of the see MONEY, page 2a m-.'.'wmuwtum ll—MIHM— "By participating in the 30-Hour Famine, whether by sponsoring or fasting, we help to alleviate these needs" ^Reporter Corrections 1. "VICTORY!," News, Issue 15. We apologize for misspelling Andrew Fritz's last name as Andrew Fitz. 2. "Alternative Spring Break," News, Issue 14. Alternative Spring break is planned by the Chaplains's office not the Community Service Office. Contact Us Btolhjri__foM_J_MB__fl«__»_ 421 N. Woodland Blvd. #8409 DeLand, FL 32720-3751 904.822.7224 FAX 904.822.7233 [email protected] . [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ENVIRONMENTAL news Animals promote conservation By Teresa Schwarz NEWS EDITOR A n African leopard vis ited campus recently to celebrate the end of the week-long conservation effort held by the Continuing Education Department and the Elderhostel program. Amazing Exotics, a breeding and training program for exotic animals, located in Umatilla, Fla., brought the leopard Friday morning on Feb. 2. The-three and a half year old leopard, named Sirus, weighs over 3(J0 pounds and was transported in a massive cage in the back of a pickup truck. The cat was taken out of the cage for a short period of time in hopes of getting the animal to pose in front of the Holler fountain with the Elderhostel participants. Unfortunately, the feline found the sound of running water disturbing. The group ended up with a photograph of the leopard in the truck's cage with participants crowded around it. This was not the only time during that week that exotic animals were on campus. One day in the Carlton Union Building the animal trainers from Amazing Exotics let a small primate run loose in the 204/205 classroom. The reason for these unique happenings—education. The Continuing Education department planned a week-long program . for the university because of its relationship with Amazing Exotics, one of the world's largest exotic animal breeding and education facilities. The program focused on the issues of animal conservation. The classes that participants took included alternative and traditional MEOW: Sirus visited campus for a photo shoot for the Elderhostel Conservation program, photo by teresa schwarz medical care for animals, animal training, technology and animals, and animals and the law. The group took a total of 21 educational hours of instruction throughout the week. The group of 26 also spent two days in Umatilla, Fla., at the Amazing Exotics compound. While there, the group got to interact with the animals outside of their cages. Sirus was walking with the group on only a lead, according to William O'Conner, the director of Continuing Education. While the program was going on the participants ate in the Commons and watched the men and women's basketball games. According to O'Conner, the Elderhostel participants enjoyed spending time with the students around cam pus. The Elderhostel program is an international program that supports various educational programs around the world for people over 55. The animal conservation program will be repeated beginning on February 18. Teresa Schwarz is a communications major and a journalism minor. University creates new green position By Elizabeth Thompson NEWS WRITER Facilities Management hired John Jett as the first Director of Environmental Affairs to facilitate the university's efforts to help the environment. . Jett will essentially be writing his job manual as he goes along. Having a position specifically dedicated to environmental concerns is unprecedented at the university and almost non-existent at other institutions of higher learning across the country. Jett stressed that his work will stretch across disciplines into the university community, the DeLand community and eventually into the greater central Florida community. He also foresees creating partnerships with other universities in Florida to http://reporter.stetson.edu-talk/applaud/cri strengthen the push for environmental responsibility. Jett's strong background in the field of environmental sciences will help him attain the university's goals. He completed his undergraduate degree in environmental science at the University of Kansas and went on to Oklahoma State, where he completed his graduate work in the same field. ■ Jett's main objective during his first year at the university is to develop relationships with all the university players in the push towards greater environmental responsibility—students, faculty and staff. In addition, Jett would like to create an open dialogue on campus in order to share concerns and come up "I'm a scientist. It's obvious we're in a bind on this planet. Any truly objective human being can see that things are not A-OK." W s»(s*iu£.iai&inM.>*ji.v>M»Q was* MmiMMmm with possible solutions. He is also thinking long-term. His five-year goals include making progress on a university level towards environmental stewardship. About his passion for the environ- ment, Jett said "I'm a scientist. It's obvious we're in a bind on this planet. Any truly objective human being can see that things are not A-OK." Jett intends to tally up how much gas, water and electricity the university consumes. This data will be used as a predictive tool to determine where the university should allocate funding for energy-efficient technology. Jett reiterated the importance of having long term and short term goals, "I want to plan ourprojects carefully, T«l^i!3lf«l_MiiCTIf[ not just pick up random projects. The university needs to make investments and they want to do it in an environ-: mentally responsible way." Jett is especially excited about providing the tools necessary for students,- faculty and staff to become environmentally active. "I want to create a learning environment where issues are always in your face," Jett replied, "I want to make environmental stewardship the norm, not the exception. My ultimate goal is to produce citizens who will continue to-be-environmentally conscious outside of the university." As a focal point for environmental concerns at the university, Jett has already received emails from members of the university community concerning environmental matters. He has also" met with Roots and Shoots, the Green Team and the Environmental Response bility Council (ERC). : Elizabeth Thompson is a senior.",-