The Reporter

1 t ' ■• ^^ c i? v 1 vv ,"v. ^i I J -' s *-\ www.stetsonr8porter.com V hlir-fiijfi) -tf. >. •• .», ''■>. .T '" "T' V. 'hursday, August 27s 2009 >* *• Ji I'; iTjl •■ ,4. ■ f?f •liv6 4. * *x •i?r I +%v^| ^*fc ^ ,,«! Jfe *•* . ''W $!«m %*»£* [JI Ji %r-*& 1 „ Jv> ■ |i t J" Sin " " "■ 4r v |.-*N "*$r 4.1 1 *K- I* I. > Aif^ "■"I _->H.". ,^.^ "'f' 'by Suzanne Reffel DeLand's new underage drinking ordinance takes effect Tuesday, September 1. The ordinance was passed this summer and instates more consequence*, for bars that serve underage drinkers alcohol. The ordinance was drawn up and passed this summer. "Basically [the creation of the new ordinance] was driven by complaints about underage drinking from people in and around the DeLand community, and also from the university specifically," says Bob Apgar, Mayor of DeLand. "The number of underage incidents had increased," said Michael Plcus, DeLand City Manager. "But also, there was a concern from Stetson professors. I went to Stetson for both undergrad and graduate degrees so I fee? a connection with the university. And I had a number of professors who were concerned about students coming to class hung over and unable to learn - so much so that it was affecting their grades." "Dunng the summer we had a meeting with Rina Tovar about how to help the situation," said Plcus. "It was a conversation that we've been having," said Rina Tovar, Dean of Students. "In most of our reports on underage drinkers who were taken to the hospital, the students received at least part of their illegally, obtained alcohol from downtown The ordinance specifically targets the bar owners. According to Plcus, before this ordinance, underage drinkers were found and arrested, but the establishment could not be punished unless an officer actually saw a bartender serving someone underage. Now bar owners face consequences for incidents of underage drinking in their establishment. Reactions from downtown bar owners are varied. Todd Carpenter, Owner of The Abbey, supports the ordinance. "My personal opinion is that it doesn't have enough teeth," said Carpenter. "It's a step in the right direction, but you almost really have to make an effort to be punished by this ordinance. We've been in business here for three years and haven't had any issues." However, when asked his position, Bill Jennings, Owner of Brickhouse said, "[I'm] against. For today's trying times I don't feel that the city of DeLand should do this and make times even tougher." He said that areas that used to be staffed by a few employees will have to be staffed more heavily to insure that minors aren't getting drinks. "I'm going to have to over staff, hire more staff to walk the floor, possibly hire a doorman. That will cost more." He says it will probably hurt his business. "I'll definitely have to raise drink prices to cover the cost of the extra labor." Additionally Brickhouse has made more changes to prevent violations. All of the 2 for 1 's now are served one glass at a time so that way customers can't get a 2 for 1 drink and share it with a minor who didn't show ID. "Also, we are of course going to be Pleas® See "DriitAiing,," P. 4 Madmen on the - Train, and a Letter from the . section editor y' ""Inglorious Basterds" and "District-g*- worth $8?? -Page Soccer kicks into gear - Women's and Men's previews. Page 8 Florida students will be charged for earning excess nag? credit hours This article reprinted from the USF Oracle. Permission through U-Wire by Jenna Withrow Freshman and transfer students enrolling for the first time in Florida state universities and community colleges beginning in the 2009-10 academic school year will be susceptible to a surcharge for extra credit hours. If a student exceeeds 120 percent of the number of credit hours required to earn their baccalaureate degree, then they are required to pay an additional 50 percent for each credit hour earned in excess. According to the [University of South Florida] University Controller's Office Web site, students will be charged an extra $44.29 per excess credit hour in 2009-10. Glen Bestcrfield, associate dean of undergraduate studies, said this number will increase as tuition rates escalate in the next few years. Besterfield said a typical degree is earned in 120 credit hours, so a student might pay excess charges if he or she were to earn more than 144 hours. "When you have students who ... are graduating in 170,180 hours, what they are doing is talcing seats in classrooms away from other students," Besterfield said. "So now we have an access issue — we can't admit more students if we've got students hanging around here longer than necessaiy to get their degree." Director of the Registrar's Office, Angela DeBose, said action will be taken if a student fails to pay the excess hours surcharge. "There would be a hold on fhe student's record that would prevent them from having certain privileges, like registration and the ability to obtain a transcript," DeBose said. "Their diploma could potentially be held if they're at the point of graduation or earning a degree until the payment is made." When calculating the amount of credit hours earned, all credits taken at the state university will be counted.— including failed courses, classes dropped after the add/drop deadline and repeated courses. However, classes repeated more than twice will be exempt because students are required to pay tuition at 100 percent of the PI@as® S@e ^Hoisrs,8* P. 2