The Stetson Reporter

The StetsonilReporter ¥bridh,sOli£estCo(RaicLte.9\fe.wsvamr JL Florida's Oldest Collegiate 9{ezvspaper Extended Forecast Highs in . Ilv7%i^\i fhemid 7 - " 70$,k>ws in the mid 50s Tuesday. Wednesday Thursday Source: WggtfierChanncI March 18, 1997 Stetson University -DeLand, Florida Volume 1 ID, Number 19 This Week... Liquid Ecstacy New drug sweeping college. W$L campuses, & ^Pa8e2a Model Senate Democrats and Republicans square off in debate, page 3a Gort This week Roscoe discusses the "Bloody Tuesday" firings, page 6a '74 Circus The big top is back in town, page lb Private Parts This just in— Howard Stern's got a movie out! page 2b O'Gorman quits Crew coach's ship has sailed, page 8a 7 Basketball coach asked to resign by Davina Yetter the stetson reporter Hatter men's basketball coach Randy Brown was asked to resign last week, according to a member of the Stetson athletic department. , Brown's two-year record of 19-38 as Hatter coach was the main reason for the request for 5 ^ his resignation. The decision was made with input from a panel consisting of university administration, Athletic Director Jeff Altier and other coaches. " [College basketball] is a business," said one official, who. requested anonymity. "The bottom line is that you've got to produce wins or pay the price." Brown was asked to resign last Tuesday by Altier. A press conference was scheduled for the following day, but negotiations between Brown and the athletic department delayed the announcement. A "gag order" prevented athletic staff and players from commenting on the firing. Five leave after ' reorganization' by Davina Yetter the stetson reporter Five employees recently left Stetson's Business and Finance office as a result of departmental restructuring, according to Vice President Ann Graham. Four employees were asked to leave due to changes in job requirements and responsibilities. Assistant Comptroller Mack Wadsworth resigned shortly thereafter because of the changes, though he was not asked to resign. "My tenure [following the restructuring] would have been short-lived," said Wadsworth. "I would have been treated the same way—I wanted to walk away with my dignity intact." Wadsworth, an employee of 19 years, said he was "very disappointed" with the University's actions towards his coworkers. "I don't think my colleagues were treated professionally," said Wadsworth. "None of us had any forewarning." On Feb. 25, Wadsworth's four colleagues were asked to turn in their keys and arrange a time to remove their personal items from their offices. "There was no good way to do it [fire the employees]," explained Graham. "Having been on the receiving end in past jobs, I've found that looking for a job is a full time job. I'm totally convinced that we made the right decision." Graham added that she chose to fire all of the employees at once, rather than prolong the impact and have workers wondering who would be next. The affected employees were given severance packages and career counseling services. Human Resources Director See FIRINGS, page 5a Greek Week 1997 • Photo by JenniferGrillo Stetson greeks form a pyramid during last week's Greek Week celebration. See story, page lb. • Firings spark controversy by Davina Yetter the stetson reporter The reorganization of Stetson's Business and Finance departments has sparked controversy among faculty and staff.' The personnel changes, which resulted in the loss of five employees, have generated, discussion and accusations and from both anonymous and attributed sources. One anonymous individual called for faculty to "express your vote of no confidence in the tactics and administration of Dr. R Douglas Lee and Ann. Y. Graham" due to the dismissals. The message was distributed via campus mail and mentioned professors Dr. T. Wayne Bailey and Dr. Donald Musser, who have both denied any knowledge of or affiliation with the memo. ' In the Spirit newsletter' Mary McBride expressed her concern to Stetson faculty and staff that "We see others' worlds collapse around us, and though' we care, after a few brave jokes, we pick up our pencils arid con-. tinue, glad that it wasn't our world. Sometimes we feel like we are not being faithful to old friends, but we have fktnilies to feed and mortgages to pay." McBride noted in her tribute to the dismissed employees that while she wanted to include a "Roscoe T. Gort" contribution from English professor Di. MichaelRaymond regarding the reorganization, she feared that the Spirit would be shut down by the university in response. Associate professor of foreign languages Dr. Richard ■Ferland shared his concerns with faculty in "A Fairy Tale" distributed through e-mail, which paralleled the Business and Finance reorganization- In Ferland's tale, he described the actions of a King, Chancellor of the Exchequei and the King's Privy Council and the disappearance of his four "faithful servants and counselors/' The tale commented that the "clerics communicated among themselves and expressed their fear and disapproval of the actions decided upon by the King and his Privy Council/' adding that some wanted the King to quit and the Pri^ Council to: disappear. .. "The kingdom was in an uproar, and the good feelings of family/ of closeness and of shared vision were shattered/ concluded the tale. /'What would happen next?" Stetson receives Florida Leader Awards by Emily Eisenhauer the stetson reporter Stetson was recognized by Florida Leader magazine for having the best campus investment, the best criminology class (with criminals), the best fountain of youth, and one of the best newspapers in Florida for 1997. The Reporter was recognized with an Honorable Mention in the Best Private. College Newspaper category, tied with Embry-Riddle and second to the University of Miami. Florida Leader cited the .Reporter staff for making the most of its resources, considering Stetson's small size and lack of a journalism school. "People used to refer to us as the 'Stetson press release/" Editor In Chief Davina Yetter told the Leader. "We've changed that." The business school was awarded Best Campus Investment for its "three virtual reality workstations that allow students to buy, sell, and trade stocks and Public Safety Chief named bonds. Stetson is one of the only five schools nationally with the virtual environment that gives students current stock quotes, market news, and access to securities data." Florida Leader also mentioned the Roland George Investments Program, which allows students to manage a portfolio of nearly $1.7 million.' Also recognized by Florida Leader was Dr. Charles Vedder's criminology class. Vedder recruits crack addicts, prostitutes, and drug dealers to speak to his classes. As Florida Leader described the class, "With an undercover agent in the room, offenders answer tough questions like, 'How do you survive?' and 'What does your family think of you?'" Both Stetson and Rollins were recognized for celebrations of cultural heritage. The annual American Indian Festival, which gives students and community a chance to learn and participate in Native American culture, was commended, along with Rollins College's weeklong Africana Fest held in October. Stetson also won the dubious honor of "Best Fountain of Youth" for its birthday fountain runs, which began soon after Holler Fountain was built in the 1950s. Other questionable honors were awarded for "Best New Mascot," (Barry University's new gender- neutral parrot) "Best Life Preserver," (Florida Atlantic's "Safe Sex Fest") and "Best Spud Sculpting" (Valencia Community College's annual mashed potato sculpting contest). Some other honors: "Coolest College Town," (Gainesville) "Best Campus Architecture," (Rollins College) "Most Involved Greek Organization," (Florida Southern's Lambda Chi chapter) "Best Student Government," (University of South Florida) "Best School for Beach Lovers," (Horida Keys Community College) and "Best College Hangout" (the College Campus Cafe in Melbourne). by Tara Mitchell the stetson reporter Frank Mussoline recently accepted the position of Chief of Public Safety, a position he started on March, 10. Mussoline, who has over 25 years of experience, came to Stetson from the Central Florida Criminal Justice Institute, where he served as training coordinator. Mussoline has also done security work for Walt Disney World and served in various departments of the Metro Dade Police Department. His 21 year career with the Metro Dade Police Department culminated in his position as commander of the bomb squad. Mussoline, who has a B.A. and a teachers' certificate, has also had training with ihe FBI. Facilities Management Director David Noyes said he is "confident Frank's resourcefulness, broad experience within ihe criminal justice system and desire to provide a 'user friendly' support service will serve the University community well." Mussoline wants to "make this campus security agency the best in Florida," and will be considering ways to accomplish this goal. One current consideration for Public Safety concerns the now- vacant position of captain. Mussoline said he will be considering the necessity of the position over the next several weeks. If, after this consideration, he determines that the Stetson community could be better served in another way, he may do away with the position. . Over fifty people applied for the chief position. Senior named top student conductor by Stacey Bassett the stetson reporter Stetson University senior Jason Paulk was named the country's top undergraduate student conductor by the American Choral Director's Association at its national convention Mar. 7 in San Diego, Ca. Paulk, a music education major, was chosen as one of eight semifinalists last fall from 110 videotaped applicants from across the nation. Paulk entered a tape of himself conducting a 15:minute rehearsal with the Stetson University Concert Choir. This year marked the first time Stetson has had a participant in the competition. Other semifinalists represented the Eastman School of Music, Oberlin College, Stanford University, Washington State University, the University of Kentucky, Wilkes University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Each .semifi- nalist competed on Mar. 5 by conducting an eight- minute rehearsal with a 30-member demonstration See Conductor, page 5a Photo byStephen Vaii Jawn Paulk receives his national award.