The Stetson Reporter

wed (t)) ^ xz,lP -ei-'' d e c ■ o i S T.E _T_S _D_N _._U._N_JL_VL.J_lR S IT _V D E ittp://s epos lGr.stetson.edu LIFE. Celebrity auction raises funds for charity page ib issue id, volume t Is-? Florida's Number One private College Newspaper Two more staff members leave the university By J. Mills and A. Rigdon NEWS WRITER.AND NEWS EDITOR The university lost two staff members, Annette W. Patterson from the Office of Development and James R. Barbour from the Registrar's Office,- over the past two weeks. Patterson had been the executive director of development for the university-- since July 1996. Before working in the Office of Development, she held positions in the admissions office and the alumni office over the past twelve years. According to. her job description, as executive director of development, Patterson organized fund-raising campaigns for scholarships and set direction for fund-raising techniques. Barbour had been working at* the university for the past three years as registrar. Prior to his work at the university, he had been registrar, at other universities. As registrar, Barbour made a significant contribution to implementing the Banner system for online registration. "While he [Barbour] was here, he helped us transfer to the Banner system, and he stayed as long as he did to help us get through that process— the first online registration. He also instituted the procedure of advising all students that had been admitted as transfer students, which meant a lot more work for the Registrar's Office, but it made it a lot more friendly," said Dean Jim Woodward, dean of the School of Music and chair of the Council of Deans. . - Barbour had also recently made the collection and recording of cultural credit the responsibility of the Registrar's Office rather than the responsibility of each school. "We were sorry to "see him go," said Woodward. .-'... Patterson also contributed much during her time at the university. According to a memo from the Office of Development, "For four consecutive years her [Patterson's] organization has raised over $1 million for the Annual Fund. In this capacity, she has accepted increased responsibilities see LEAVE, page 2a -^Reporter Corrections 1. "Psychologists explore careers in field," NEWS, Issue 11. In the article Dr. Ivan Fleishman's name was spelled Fleischman. 2. "Psychologists explore ca- reers in field," NEWS, Issue 11,, In the article the American Psy-' choiogical Association (APA) was called the American Psychology Association. 3. "Psychologists explore careers in field," NEWS, Issue 11. Dr. Richard Kindred was quoted as saying' that APA licenses, when it certifies programs. Licensing is done by each state. .! ■ 3. "Student initiative obtains safe rides," NEWS, Issue 9. In the article Shelley Stoops's name was spelled Shelly. 4. "Market solutions given for environmental woes," LIFE, Issue 11. Dr. William Nylen is an associate professor, not a professor. Contact Us 421 N. Woodland Blvd. #8409 DeLand, FL 32720-3751 * 386.822.7224 FAX 386.822.7233' [email protected] • rt'porter_ne [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ■ [email protected] [email protected] ^■[email protected] '• . [email protected] OPINIONS: Philosophy professors debate morality page 4n romotes academic quality By Amy Rigdon NEWS EDITOR The university has been known as Florida's first private university; however^ now faculty and staff are taking the initiative, to make it known' as Florida's best private school. The eight-year plan, outlined in a report titled "The Academic Quality'Initiatives," recommends that the university rededicate itself to enhancing aca demic quality and "that Stetson University establish a comprehensive and integrated student recruitment and curriculum improvement program." "Two things that concerned the faculty were, one, Stetson is not as good in college profiles now as it was 20 years ago,- and, two, state schools have made significant progress in student selectivity while Stetson, has not progressed and maybe even slightly decreased," said Dr. Eugene Huskey, professor of political science and a member of the committee overseeing • the Academic Quality Initiatives' implementation. "Academic quality is improving student selectivity and ensuring a framework exists to promote quality." According to the Academic Quality Initiatives, a framework already exists, including "a number of. key elements of ■academic quality, including a committed faculty teaching small classes, a wide-ranging traditional curriculum enhanced by interdisciplinary and special focus programs, and a community of scholars dedicated to teaching and research. But there is still significant work to be done...in the arena of student quality." To increase student quality through selectivity, the Academic Quality Initiatives report proposes that the university lower its admissions acceptance rate under 80 percent, which is where it now is. and that the university attract talented students with more and better see QUALITY, page 2a Profes By Julie Farricker ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR In the past, the martial arts sports of judo has been a popular student activity at:the university, but due to problems with the proper storage of mats, the activity's success and the regularity of practices could be in question. Judo is defined as a hand-to- hand sport, held between two competitors, in which opponents use movement balance, and leverage to gain advantage over each other. The sport emphasizes gaining an advantage by giving way to an attacking force. The name, which means "gentle way" in Japanese, is adapted from a traditional Japanese martial arts form known as jujutsu, and was developed in the 1880s. Dr. Robert Brady, a philosophy department professor, has taught a judo class in the past and instructs the current Judo Club. The class used to be held at Cummings Gym, but due to scheduling differences after Brady's two- year leave of absence,, another class has now taken judo's former time slot. ,' /. Cummings Gym, 'home to the . Hatters prior to the Edmunds, Center, is-now used for various dance classes sponsored by the Community • School Academy, of Dance, Army ROTC programs and tennis team offices. - Since'Cummings Gym was not a viable location anymore, Dr. Brady was urged to contact the Hollis Center for future classes. "The Hollis Center director told me there was'no place to store the mats and then, suggested that I try the Edmunds Center," said Brady. . The Edmunds Center is utilized for its basketball and volleyball courts and 5,000-seat arena, and is the primary home for the university's NCAA Division T athletic and sports administration programs. It also holds classrooms and recreation rooms, but it could not be a practice place for judo. ."I was told that the Edmunds Center is not a facility for use by students," said Brady. A possible solution to the prob- teaches judo techniques STRUGGLE: Sensei Rob Brady pins Calvin Whitten to the ground during the first Judo Club meeting, photo by julie farricker lem was to carry the mats back and forth from the Hollis Center to the Edmunds Center each time the club practiced. Last year, the Judo Club did have a few practices in the Edmunds Center, but the mats were not stored properly after usage. According to Brady, they were "just thrown behind the acoustic panels." - A new fitness program at the Hollis Center involves.aikido, a modem Japanese martial art that uses a system of holds, throws and locks as its principal movements. '. Many of the moves and disarming techniques resemble judo, but aikido focuses on controlling one's "chi," or vital energy that is centered in the abdominal region, in order to subdue an opponent. Aikido advocates self-defense, similarly to judo, and places emphasis on nerve points that,.when pressed, can bring down an adversary without risk of maiming or killing. The Hollis Center hired the aikido teacher from outside the university and provides the proper type of storage for the same type of mats that would be used for the Judo Club. Presently, the club practices in the Chaudoin aerobics studio, and held its first practice this past. Thursday at 4:30 p.m., but it had no mats to use. . '* "Dr. Beasley's office is able to obtain mats for us, and the dean of students, Michelle Espinosa, has been very helpful in trying to" make it possible for us to practice. I would also like to go back offering the judo as a credit course here at Stetson," said HOLD: Senses Rob Brady teaches Jennifer Driver to disable her opponent with an elbow lock, photo by julie farricker Brady. The club will have more practices in the spring. Hopefully it will also have the mats needed to practice judo. Students interested in the Judo Club should contact Dr. Brady at [email protected]. Julie Farricker can be contacted at [email protected]. Student opinions revealed by Res Life survey - By John Tichenor : GUEST WRITER ..'.'■■'' Students who live on campus were recendy given the opportunity to let the university administration know what they think about a variety of residence hall issues. Surveys, examining issues ranging from physical conditions of facilities to hall policies were distributed to all hall residents during the last week of October. • , , Nearly 55 percent of students living in residence halls responded to the survey. However, results are not pre sented for Emily Hall, the fraternities or the sororities because of low response rates in these facilities.. The survey results are currently being analyzed by the Institutional Research Office and highlight many concerns regarding residential facilities at the university. Residents were asked whether they were very satisfied, generally satisfied, neutral, generally dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with 27 different residence hall issues. ' /.-.■ ■ '- Survey results indicated that the three largest areas of dissatisfaction are laundry facilities, bathrooms and' vending machines. ■ Thirty-nine percent of the survey respondents reported dissatisfaction with laundry facilities, making this the single largest area of dissatisfaction. Based on this finding, Dean of Stu dents. Michelle Espinosa is planning to invite a representative from WEB Laundry Services, the vendor that provides and maintains the laundry facilities, to - meet a group of students early in the spring semester to determine how laundry services and facilities can be improved. Further, information from other areas of the survey will be used in decisions .regarding refurbishments arid improvements to residence halls in the coming year. The survey also identified the areas •of greatest satisfaction to the students living in residential life housing. The survey item "quality of roommate relationship" received the highest degree of satisfaction with nearly half (49.7 percent) responding they were very satisfied. Another 28.9 percent responded they were "generally satisfied" with their roommate relationship, while eight percent responded they were either'"generally" or "very" dissatisfied. Condition of residence halls has long been a concern. A $20 million renovation bond was issued by the university in 1999 to fund improvements to the residence halls. This money has been used to make improvements in the fraternity houses (summer of 1999), Smith and Nemec Halls (summer of 2000) and Gordis Hall (summer of 2001). The improvements made through these renovations are evident in the survey results. For example, in the fall 2000 residential life survey, 59 percent of the Gordis Hall respondents said they were dissatisfied with hall bathrooms. see RESULTS, page 2a to://^port^rjtete^^|i^|^ fj^if^flW^FmmBT^MS: fnpeflffai on area [click Shout]