The Reporter

'"■■ 1 't m p__«j '£z Si P —. i Seeking Th ■\ JN .// i*? ■sf V 1 1/ v\ * V1^ $ v^ ■4 \fc\ j,**""*!"*!*" X / ' ■";■ 1 -7 " ZHZ3 s\ i; • ^ k' i-' * ul *•' ; *•«/ j.. \-"\ '$ w us. '0 NIVE8SITY Volume CXIX Issue ID hursday, November IB, 2DDB By TORI GIBBS In early October, faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences approved a change in the natural science general education requirements for graduation. Current requirements demand that students either complete laboratory courses from two different programs selected from biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, and physics, or complete one two-course sequence in either biology, chemistry, or physics. With the change, the class of 2011 will be allowed to take newly created three-credit courses without required laboratory hours to fltlfill the requirement for non-science majors. The change still requires that the courses come from different disciplines, so there is no change in the breadth of course requirement and the classes will continue along the university's rigorous standards and high expectations. Also, while not requiring a separate laboratory experience, some of these courses may involve direct experience with hands-on science, such as laboratory sessions *or field observations. "It is anticipated that this change will result in a greater diversity of science courses available for non-science majors to choose from," said Dr. Cynthia Bennington, Associate Professor and Department Chair of the biology program. "Many liberal arts colleges that are considered Stetson's peer institutions have similar or less stringent requirements, and very few require two lab courses." The idea for this change prompted an extensive discussion in the Division of Natural Sciences and the Curriculum Committee. Following this, a formal proposal was presented in September to the College faculty who were satisfied that it was strong by national standards and approved the change. "In most cases, the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences respects the careful work of the College Curriculum Committee and approves their recommendations," said Associate Dean and professor of psychology Dr. Toni Blum. The new statement will be listed in the 2007-2008 bulletin for students entering next fall. "As space is available, we will consider waivers for continuing students," said Dean Grady Ballenger. "But it is important to note that new courses for this requirement will have to be developed over time. 150-level courses will continue to be offered in sufficient numbers to meet registration needs." A discussion in Dr. John Pusateri's English 121 class prompted a varying array of responses from students. Some thought that the required classes helped to give students a broader general knowledge which would help them form educated opinions about topics on which they might not otherwise have much information. "The more you know, the more well-rounded you are. Some of the classes I learned the most from were gen. ed. classes," said freshman biology major Shakira Stewart. "It just helps you make it in the world." However, others were of the opin- ion that general education classes were pointless, and that colleges should be run more along the lines of vocational schools. "I'm going to medical school, and I'll be in school eight to ten years. I'm taking a whole semester worth of classes I'll never use in my career," said freshman Aimee Shupe, who is majoring in Integrated Health Science on the pre-med track. Dr. Pusateri was of a similar opinion. "We learn the most effectively when we study things in depth. When you study things in fragments, you have a test and then you forget every thing two weeks later," he said. "If you think about it as something that you have to do, you are not. going to get enough out of it." The university itself strongly feels that all students, including those in Business and Music, should have a college-level experience of the experimental sciences, including a semester-long laboratory course overseen by a faculty member with a Ph.D. in that field. "Every twenty- first century endeavor—in the arts and sciences, business, or music—will be shaped by the methods and results of science, and we can't imagine a well- educated person becoming a leader in any career or profession without some direct understanding of the means and goals of contemporary science," said Dean Ballenger. "Nor can we imagine citizens making informed decisions on a variety of issues—global warming, embryonic stem cell research, prescription drug insurance—without an understanding of how the sciences interpret the world." Contact Tori Gibbs at tgibbs@stetson. edu. lesident Assistant Caught "Red-Handed" By MARYANNE WALDRON On Monday, November 8, Smith Hall residents were shocked to learn that Upper Eight's Resident Assistant (RA), Nick Cavallaro, had resigned. The formal announcement was made by Smith Resident Hall Director (RHD), Mel Sabo. When asked to explain the reason ing behind his abrupt departure, Cavallaro said, "I put pictures up on Facebook and in them I was out drinking at parties off campus. That would probably have gotten me a hall program and wouldn't have been enough to fire me as an RA. What forced me to resign was when I was in one of the pictures drinking in one of my resident's rooms. This picture was found in my resident's Facebook album and my RHD 'happened upon it' and I was pressured to resign." »v, *-■ Nick Cavallaro drinking with his residents in Smith Hall. COURTESY OF NICK CAVALLARO The reaction to Cavallaro's resignation has been mixed. Several residents felt that it was a "forced resignation" because of this incident was unwarranted. Many in Smith Hall feel that Upper Eight was specifically targeted due to previous incidents with the RHD and that as the RA, Cavallaro was held disproportionately responsible. Cavallaro stated, "I kind of feel that perhaps they were out to get certain people and were already looking on one of my resident's profiles who they thought was — suspicious. I don't think it's Stetson's job to go looking for people to get into trouble, when there are enough already doing it." ! Freshman Upper Eight 1 resident Eric Seidel said, ■ "An anonymous administra- J tor went onto Facebook | and typed in my name and [ was looking at my albums. In one of the pictures there were about five of us guys * | holding up cups doing ■ cheers. There was no sign of alcohol in the picture." With more than five , fire alarms this semester, several reports of vandal- i ism, two car crashes, and three incidents of room flooding due to maintenance problems, the overwhelming majority of residents feel that Smith Hall has bigger problems. Residential Life's concerns include questionable behavior of resident assistants. In the past, there have been reports of RAs drinking with residents and not enduring any repercussions. This incident has set a precedent with the administration's stance on the privacy of its students in regards to Facebook, as well the accountability of RAs. "I think, that even though people consider Facebook a social network, it is another way that they can be held liable for their actions" warned Cavallaro. When asked how the situation should have been handled, Cavallaro noted, "I felt that an RA should have a certain bond with his RHD where the two could talk through their problems before going straight to the assistant director. People need to understand that RAs are people too and make mistakes." In response, Patty Henke, assistant director of Residential Life and Mel Sabo, RHD of Smith Hall "had no comment other than "he resigned." Currently, the other RAs of Smith and Public Safety are keeping a closer eye on Upper Eight, due to the hall being without a Resident Assistant. "I'm not sure that Stetson did a service to my hall by removing an RA without a replacement; they should really try arid find some replacement. I believe that what happened to me with the drinking in one of my resident's rooms wasn't something that couldn't have been dealt with in another way and I think that perhaps some other repercussion would have been a better alternative for especially my residents more than anyone else" said Cavallaro. Regardless of their feelings about Nick Cavallaro, Smith Hall residents agree with finance major Lauren Lief that "Smith Hall won't be the same without him." Contact Maryanne Waldron at mwaldron@stetson. edu. Senator Wasser, Others, Expelled From SGA By CAITLIN HUGES The Student Government Association (SGA) did some house cleaning last Wednesday by expelling eighteen Senators. Prior to the mass expulsion, a total of twenty-one senators who had missed more than four of this semester's weekly Senate meetings were called to review hearings. "The basic reason behind doing review hearings is to make sure that the list of Senators we have is up-to- date with the people who actually want to be Senators. It may seem like a simple thing to do, but with over eighty members who often don't notify us when they no longer want to be a Senator, it is very difficult to keep an accurate record" said SGA president, Will Stoetzer. Of those twenty-one Senators called into question, two came to the review hearing to explain their absences, while a third member provided a written objection concerning his expulsion. All three members were voted to remain active members of SGA and of the Senate. Senator Nate Davis explains, "All we really ask is that you Due to technicality combined with the possibility of personal bias, the decision to expel Wasser was not viewed by all of the Senate as objectively driven as the other expulsions ofthe evening. come and express a sincere interest in staying involved. If you do so, then you don't get kicked out." Although review hearings are based around strict laws present in the SGA constitution, the expulsion of one 'Senator in particular resulted in the questioning of the aims of certain, unnamed Senators whose votes assisted in the expulsion. The expelled Senator, senior philosophy major Ian Wasser, failed to attend more than one Senate meeting (missing six meetings) as the attendance of his 6 - 9p.m. Wednesday evening class conflicted with the attendance of the 7 p.m. Wednesday Senate meetings. However, aside from missing more than the allowed number of absences from Senate, Wasser created an upheaval earlier in the semester when he authored an article for the Opinions section of The Reporter which he said brought "to light certain aspects of that organization [SGA] to call for change for the better." Due to technicality combined with the possibility of personal bias, the de- cision to expel Wasser was not viewed by all of Senate as objectively driven as the other expulsions of the evening. Senator Randall Judt stated, "Not all the people in SGA who voted to expel him [Wasser] are like this, I'm not criticizing everyone in SGA. A lot of people probably feel if he can't make the meetings then he shouldn't be here and you can't criticize that. But they [certain SGA members] simply wanted to find an excuse to throw him out and there it is - they threw him out." Senator Davis added, "The reason that it [Wasser's expulsion] See WASSER on Page A2 s i \i jo «n -j- cts rf»r» ■ss^/ "■■W "W Thursday Friday Scattered T-Storms Sunny High 74 High 70 Low 43 Low 45 Saturday Sunday Sunny Sunny High 72 High 70 Low 48 Low 50 Blair Townley gives the scoop on Santa Clause 3 in this week's movie review. PAGE C2 "^ L.j^^iJ»-^i?i.'a.*3 Casey Thomas gives Mike Hodges his due in a letter to the sports editor. PAGE B1 Sports Katherine St. Clair profiles Janene Maclin in this week's athlete profile. PAGE D1