The Reporter

THE DRTER Seek'ing The Truth At Stetson University Volume CXIX Issue I Wednesday, November 22,200G :;ft,drnls;$ii)fv; 'Alumni ■ Aeafisrnid Altiistics : MiSrtnto ■ ifHryPit /Search r^V #T V Ci'atfuaticn iFal 20:- Bu*in6esCpatpeC mt9'uc m-v i *iithnr"'"a lOrBnnrh"***) j 51 u*« r i»i,rt«- ••■* J1 mllior 3iftto*_nd -<rt p *>- H^Tb.fer Vol1 T> '--in cliiij *'.{ -■ -..' j :\ erjie- cvi i>e:'el^ ir „'u ^ -i j ih^ swison university | <*<£ i in. vvuuuianu oivu. ueuana, norraa j^f ^j Phone: 386.822.71001 Toll-free admissions Informsitlon: 800.688.0101 Email: [email protected] 17. Website Revamped By SAMANTHA LANGE The university's public website has been, completely revamped. Thanks to the collective efforts of a web team comprised of students and staff from media services, and a Public Relations committee chaired by vice president" for Enrollment Management and Campus Life Deborah Thompson, the new website was launched October 1st, a month ahead of schedule. "I feel that our intense collaboration on every aspect of the project was crucial to meeting the launch date," said senior English major Daniel Quinn. Prior to the launch, the site had been left unchanged for three years. Changes had to be made to adjust to the reversal of roles in the student application process. In the past, the Office of Admissions would contact students to initiate the process whereas students are now contacting schools themselves after investigating university websites. Deborah Thompson attended a conference, in Arizona that revealed just how important the internet is for recruiting students. "Admissions used to seek out students over the phoned—she said, "but now "students are doing that legwork online." The main function of the new public website, therefore, is to serve as a key marketing tool to appeal to the interests of prospective students and their parents. "The goal is to have a website that Is fresh and attractive for high school students," said Director of Instructional Media Gerry Ewing. The three main components of the new website are: a new front page design, the 'We are Stetson' flash page, and a new look for the 'WebGarage' database pages. The image for the front page was produced with a lens valued at over $1,500 that was purchased specifically for the site's design. The page reflects a return to traditional university colors and features the landmark building Elizabeth Hall and Holler Fountain in a single photo. 'We are Stetson' contains an index of twenty-one university students, alumni and faculty, selected by the Marketing and Public Relations (PR) staff and interviewed by media services' student staff. IT Programmer Jason Williams, along with Daniel Quinn, created 'We are Stetson' in Flash 8, with contributions from sophomore math and computer science major Sam Romano and Stetson's webmaster, Gary Sipe. This particular feature was produced in response to a brand new study showing that the "Stetson Story" is best told by students, staff, and alumni. The page uses interactive props and objects to link visitors~to other Stetson sites. "I think the 'We are Stetson' site is most exciting by using Stetson students to make Stetson attractive" said Ewing. • Ewing personally explored two to three hundred websites of other schools before beginning the project of transforming the university site. According to his analysis, many websites looked as if they were designed by the same people and shared a common cluttered appearance. Putting the project into the hands of university students and staff rather than hiring an outside firm not only saved the new website from looking generic, but also saved the university a significant amount of money, "New web services like our new web site can cost up to $50,000 or more if developed by outside firms," said Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Terry Whittum. Additionally, the school will not have to depend on an outside firm for site updates to be refreshed every two to three years," said Ewing life @ stetson .".'JjiD'Ei-nCS ''As a group, the web team has determined that the site needs Work for the new website has continued since its launch. More interviews for 'We are Stetson' are being conducted by Senior English major Marie Franzman and the university's Harrison Pious is working on the creation of a new Residential Life page. The diversity of the team has been remarkable. Ewing said, "The exciting thing is that it's probably one of the best team efforts I have ever been a part of." Contact Samantha Lange at [email protected]. Safety In Jeopardy: Concerns Arise After Break-ins At University Apartment Parking Lot By JENNIFER HAYS Sunday, November 5th around 3 am, four cars were broken into at The Village Apartments overflow parking lot. Alarms brought people to the scene of the crime, but not quickly enough to prevent the burglary. Christine Sawyer, a junior and resident of The Village Apartments, was one of the victims. She was woken up at early hours of the morning by local police and public safety who informed her that her car had beerrbfoken into. Sawyer was taken to where her car had been parked, and saw the damage that had been done. "Approaching my car I knew it was serious when my window had been smashed and my back seats were down" she said. The offenders unwired Sawyer's entire radio system, stole the head unit, subs, and amps, as well as many items out of her center console. The police officers dusted for fingerprints and recorded the monetary loss on the items that were stolen. One officer admitted that this type of offense would have taken at least twenty minutes to commit. Because no one was patrolling the parking lot early that morning, the crime was able to take place. Unfortunately for Village Apartment residents, Sawyer is not the only ■ one who has had her car broken into. There have been a total of six break- ins this semester. It has taken this last one to motivate university action. Public Safety officials have recently started patrolling the parking lots at the University Village Apartments by the hour, and they offer a safe ride from the overflow parking lot if you call them. In response to the break-ins, students and parents are up in arms. Parents are afraid that something more serious could happen in the pverflow parking lot apart from the break-ins. "I am just concerned about my daughter and fellow students' safety when being in an unmonitored parking area with crimes like this occurring" said Christine's father, Scott Sawyer. Dean Espinosa has sent out a series of e-mails on the parking lot security and has mentioned "the option of installing security cameras in the near future." Until then, the university wants to assure parents and students that they are doing what they can to protect students at the Village Apartments and the parking lots surrounding them. Contact Jennifer Hays at jhays@stetson. edu. The Reporter Photo Archive Deborah Thompson Named VP of Campus Life By TORI GIBBS Deborah Thompson, who has served as Vice President of the university's Enrollment Management since its establishment in August of 2001, has recently assumed a new administrative position. She has now been appointed Vice President of Campus Life, after Senior Vice Presi7 dent and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Jim Beasley, chose to step down in order to concentrate more of his time on major university projects. Many large projects are scheduled to take place over the course of the next few years. "With all of the new construction and renovation that will start on campus this spring, it made perfect sense for Dr. Beasley to hand over Campus Life to Deborah Thompson," said Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management Terry Whittum. "I'm not sure everyone appreciates all of the responsibilities Dr. Beasley has or the amount of time he will have to commit to the new construction projects." In Enrollment Management, which is now in the division including the departments of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Campus Life, Thompson is in charge of student recruitment and retention, admissions, and financial aid programs. She is also responsible for designing enrollment strategies and leading the university's marketing and positioning efforts. Now, as vice president of Campus life, she will also be involved in students' initial recruitment process as well as students' activities and life on campus while attending the university. "Deborah Thompson was the perfect choice to lead Campus Life: she is a proven administrator, just look at the tremendous strides we have made in admissions and financial aid under her leadership," said Whittum. "Combining Campus Life under Deborah also makes sense from an enrollment management point of view. The quality of campus life once a student enrolls at Stetson greatly affects our ability to attract talented students. All in all, I think this was a great decision." "I'm grateful for the opportunity to work closely with students," Thompson said. "Student interaction is one of the most rewarding components of my position. I'm also very excited to join a particularly strong staff that's already in place." Thompson received her undergraduate 'degree in Business Management and Accounting from Emory and Henry College in Virginia, and received her Masters degree in Counseling, in Human Development with a concentration in Student Affairs and Higher Education Administration from Radford University, also in Virginia. She also worked for twelve years as Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Emory and Henry College before coming to the university. University President Doug Lee said Thompson has proven to be one of the most effective leaders and administrators at Stetson. "This expansion of her responsibilities aligns perfectly with our strategic goals to enhance enrollment, student retention and academic quality," he said. "We have absolute confidence in her leadership." Contact Tori Gibbs at tgibbs@stetson. edu. ■ Weaihe] (v. ..w Thursday Friday - Saturday Sunday Fiction in this Mostly Sunny Sunny Sunny Sunny movie review. High 66 High 71 High 71 High 70 Low 44 . Low 45 Low 46 Low 52 PAGE C2 life Blair Townley gives the scoop on Stranger Than Opinions This week in politics; Jacob Wagner's cartoon; Pat and Pat discuss Hugo Chavez. PAGE B1 Sports Katherine St. Clair prbfiles Gina lacona in this week's athlete profile. PAGE D1