The Reporter

Seeking The Truth At Stetson University Volume CXIX Issue 13 Thursday, February 1,2DD7 BjajB-**"^^ No Final Decisions Made on F&^xpe Fraternity Hotisin CAMILLE "SILLY / The Reporter Students discuss the fate of fraternity houses with Dean Espinosa and Residential Life staff memeber, Robin Porter. By RACHEL HOLLEMAN An open forum was held to discuss the ongoing concerns with the fraternity houses being demolished during the summer of 2007. According to recent rankings completed annually at the university, the fraternity houses were ranked some of the poorest facilities on campus, and repairing the houses is not a financially feasible option. The Residential Life staff believes that the houses are too large for the low number of men who reside ih them and that the sorority house model, .which'houses approximately sixteen people, is a better accommodation. The present situation is not an efficient use of the nine acres of property fraternity row is situated on. Since the opening of Maxcy Hall, extra bed space has been created and should be used. The Residential Life staff is putting together a task force which will most likely consist of two or three alumni representatives from each fraternity, the president of each fraternity, and an active member from each chapter. There is also the possibility of an additional non-affiliated student who will serve as a representative of the remainder of the student body. This task force will meet in order to discuss options for future housing plans and possible ways to create a new fraternity row. The university does not currently have available funds to erect new buildings. The current financial options include: using privatized funding which includes the pressure of paying a monthly mortgage; using resources from a donor; and having the fraternities themselves'raise their own money in order to help pay for the costs of new housing. Deborah Thompson, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Campus Life, at a community forum in the Rinker Auditorium held on January 24th, said "The biggest question is how much this is going to cost and can we do it." Thompson also said that the men residing in the fraternity houses will not be moved until a final decision has been made. However, if the final decision is to demolish the houses, they will be relocated to Nemec Hall for one school year. The Residential Life staff believes that the "pod" framework in Nemec best fits the bill. "It is not ideal and we recognize that but surely for a short period of time it will work—we hope," said. Thompson. At the community forum, some fraternity members voiced their desire to have off campus housing if they were able to obtain a variance to do so. The Residential Life staff felt that it is important to have Greek life on campus because their leadership roles are important. Should the fraternity members end up residing in Nemec at any point, the university "will work with fraternities to keep the secrecy of their rituals by putting up window coverings, finding storage space for items of historical value and allowing the fraternities to reserve space for special ceremonies when necessary," said Michelle Espinosa, Dean of Students. Because this is most likely a short term situation, the university has consented to allow letters to be displayed. The consent to paint on the walls has not been granted. The facilities management group will make that decision if need be. The Residential Life staff understands that the fraternities will be living in very close proximity to one another and that there is a risk that Nemec Hall will be vandalized. A graduate student will most likely be hired as a hall director in order to keep things as safe and pleasant as possible. Thompson said, "We need to know that our time and money will be worthwhile and that the fraternities will act accordingly." Robin Porter, head of Greek life, feels that "having a graduate student as the hall director will take some pres- ~ please see FRATERNITY| A2 Student Struck by SUV on Campus Sidewalk By HEATHER MARTYN A university student was run over by an SUV on Monday, January 22nd while walking westward along the sidewalk of East Arizona Avenue. The victim, senior Kari Rodgers, was released from the Florida Hospital Deland the day of the incident, having suffered no serious injuries. The Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by freshman Kurt Frantz, was backing out of Public Safety's driveway and did not see Rodgers walking on the adjacent sidewalk. "He was backing out of our driveway and Kari was walking west on the sidewalk," said Director of Public Safety James D. Hess. "Sergeant David Damato heard a scream, looked out the window, and saw her lying under the bumper." According to an incident report provided by Stetson University's Public Safety Office, the vehicle's impact initially caused Rodgers to fall to the ground. The rear right wheel then continued to back over her, to what witnesses say was as far as the middle of her back. "She was lying facedown, literally under the rear bumper of the SUV," stated Hess. "The driver of the vehicle got out and he was almost in shock, he was very upset." After hearing the shrieks and seeing Rodgers facedown underneath the vehicle, Sergeant David Damato was first on the scene. On his way to assist, he radioed for both 911 and Public Safety Officer Cooper, who has twenty-five years of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) experience. "I laid right down in the street with her and I tried to comfort her," said Sergeant David Damato. "She was responsive and • she was-a trooper." Damato and Officer Cooper both comforted Rodgers, went through a question and answer process to asses basic injuries, and checked her vitals, all while making sure she did not move, in efforts to avoid further injury. Residential Life was contacted immediately and Rodgers' parents were notified. When ambulances made it to the scene, Rodger's vitals were checked once again, she was placed on a stretcher and put into the ambulance to be taken to Florida Hospital Deland. She was put under observation and then released several hours later with scrapes and bruises, but no broken bones. "This is the first incident in my ten years with the division of Public Safety that anything this serious with bodily injury has happened," said Damato, who works the day shift for the university's Public Safety. Incidents involving pedestrians and vehicles occur, on average, three to four times per school year, accord- please see SUV A2 Faculty Collaborate on Stetson's National Image By CAITLIN HUGHES Discussing dominant themes for the betterment of the university, numerous faculty members gathered together on Friday, January 19th, for the second Faculty Senate meeting of the school year. Led by Dr. Michael McFarland, Friday's meeting was meant for faculty discussion (rather than large presentations) on topics suggested by faculty. The two-page list of topics stemmed from the thirty- seven page original list of commentary generated by the latest annual faculty survey. The survey, consisting of four open-ended questions, addressed current key issues, and stated, "As the university moves out of budget stabilization, as we discuss the possibilities of enrollment growth, and as we prepare for the transition to a new presi dent, we focused on sampling faculty concerns and ideas in order to build a vision of Stetson's institutional future." The meeting began with discussion of two primary items: how to gain and maintain national recognition and how to define and acquire a "liberal arts focus", discussed were the issues of national recognition and how to gain/maintain it, and the definition of "a liberal arts focus" and how to acquire such a classification and focus. As one of "the two most reoccurring comments in the survey, the suggestion of returning to a liberal arts focus spurred numerous differing opinions on what such a suggestion entailed and how such an objective would be, or should be, acquired. Dr. Eric Kurlander expressed the appeal of the liberal arts classifica- tion-for institutions, stating, "We may not have as many programs as UCF please see IMAGE A2 Brand New Art Center to Permanently House Famous Bluemner Col lectio By TORI GIBBS Stetson trustee and alumna Dolly Hand and her husband, Homer, recently donated a $1 million gift toward the construction of an art center on campus between Sampson Hall and the DuPont-Ball Library. This facility will be used for holding the university's expansive collection of pieces by Modernist painter Oscar Bluemner. The Hands hope that it will increase recognition for both Bluemner's talents and the excellence of the university's art department. The Horner and Dolly Hand. Art Center .will occupy 5,000 square feet. It will contain one gallery to host assorted works from the university's Bluemner collection, arid another to display pieces from the per manent collection and for use in special exhibitions. .The center will also include a vault, a preparation area, and a room that will serve dually as an art study seminar room and as a reception area. "I think it's cool that Stetson students, are getting the opportunity to check out a famous early Modernist's work in their own backyard," said sophomore art major Kate Whittum. "Exposure to art.is never a bad thing." The university's Bluemner collection holds over one thousand pieces, and was given to the university in 1997 by Vera Bluemner Kouba, the artist's daughter. Works in this collection have been displayed at the university and at the Whitney. Museum of American Art in New York City. This is the first motion to make it continually accessible to both students and the public. "I think it is so wonderful that these people thought of our art department to donate such a generous amount of money, because the Bluemner collection is amazing and it should be displayed proudly," said first year humanities major Jamie Haugh. "I will definitely be sure to go see it when it opens." Dolly Hand graduated from Stetson's College.of Law in 1949, which, at the time, was located on the Deland campus. She was the only woman in her class, and the youngest student ever to complete the law program, at age 20. She has served on the university's Board of Trustees since 1994. The Hands provide an Award for Excellence in Faculty Research, given once a year to recognize faculty members doing important research, and also make donations for student scholarships. They have received numerous awards, including the Champion of Higher Independent Education in Florida (CHIEF) Award from the In- / think ifs cool that Stetson students are getting the opportunity to check out a famous early Modernist's work in their own hack- yard ... Exposure to art is never a had thing." KATE WHITTUM SOPHOMORE ART MAJOR dependent Colleges and Universities of Florida in 1996. "The Homer and Dolly Art Center will provide a worthy permanent home and new accessibility Stetson's extraordinary collection of works by American modernist painter Oscar Bluemner" said art history professor Roberta Favis, Chair of the art department and curator of the Vera Bluemner Kouba Collection. In the past, the works that will be housed in the new center have been sought for exhibitions in prestigious venues in Washington and New York. "The building will have state-of- the-art archival storage to preserve the delicate works on paper and historical materials that comprise the collection, which is the largest repository of his works anywhere" said Favis. The university is currently applying for supplemental grants necessary for construction of the Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center. Contact Caitlin Hughes at chughes@stetson. edu. »WEATHER »LIFE OPINIONS ^SPORTS —X, ,. V -4, ;" '? -'- '" *■ V '< s Emily Sawyer gives the scoop Students, faculty, and staff Katherine St. Clair gives insight '% $ & * -P k ®$ *./ \$*f:' on Pursuit of Happiness in this debate Greek Housing. on the sucess of Ainsley *"',~ ■s" "• 9 week's movie review. Wellinghoff. THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY Showers Showers Cloudy Showers High 77 High 68 High 66 High 71 Low 63 Low 55 Low 53 Low 51 PAGE C3 PAGE B3 PAGE D2