The Reporter

wed 5_JLJILJLJ3L sep-03 i N S I D http://reporter.stetson.edu NEWS: Hurricane Isabel fails in its bid to terrify page ib Ji_JL_L_JLi™fi™S™LJLJf WHAT'S insi News 2a Classifieds 2a Opinions 4a Etcetera 6a Life 2b Sports _b issue 4 volume Florida's Eirsti (Jfivate 'Gplleqe;NewspapW3'||^g LIFE:' Citizenship ceremony occurs on campus page lb „_B3lf SAFAC issues funds to many organizations By Jamie Kinsley ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR The Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee, known as SAFAC, has helped student organizations become more active and more available to the students for years by providing funding for organizations. This year SAFAC allocated $14,047. This money was divided among many various groups on campus. The purpose of these funds is to provide activities that are open to all Stetson students. "We really appreciate SAFAC helping us financially, because it gives us a great opportunity to be more active and visible on campus. Overall our goal is to promote diversity and cultural awareness at Stetson University," commented International Student Association Vice President, Sunny Jandir. Each organization that wishes to receive SAFAC money must apply. They must also send a representative to present the reasons for why they requested funds. If the organization has a good history of providing campus wide activities, and they have well organized plans for this year, they may have a better chance of receiving the funds they request. Each semester the campus organizations have a chance to reapply for SAFAC money. The applications were sent out early this year in hopes of allowing the organizations more time to bring together their plans and thoughts to present to the SAFAC committee. This year, the SAFAC committee wanted to emphasize availability. The committee felt that the response to their efforts was quite rewarding; they felt that there was a great turnout and participation. There was a lot of controversy last year about the SAFAC allocations, centered around the belief that SAFAC had not allotted money in as fair a manner as all would have hoped. There were questions as to whether decisions had been made with complete fairness and unbiased intentions. The diversity of last year's SAFAC committee was also an issue, as well as complaints that the full, committee was not in attendance during the whole duration of presentations last year. Policy reform chair, Takeata King Pang said, "We made very sound decisions that were based on standards that were fair to everyone." "The SAFAC Committee did an outstanding job rectifying some of the past issues with the allocation process. I was impressed by the efficiency and professionalism the SGA board showed in carrying out the SAFAC process," said Chris Lumia, treasurer and applicant for both Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and Omicron Delta Epsilon. Jamie Kinsley can be contacted at [email protected]. Contact Us 421 N. Woodland Blvd. #8409 DeLand, FL 32720-3751 • 386.822.7224 FAX 386.822.7233 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] life(3jstetson.edu [email protected] [email protected] online!??; s tetson.edu advertise:25stetson.edu MEAL plans ■V? . _. *i-M =;■<-■ CARDED: A student uses her meal card to purchase a bowl of soup and a bagel at Einstein Bagels at the Hat Rack during her lunch break, photo by uz erlenbach By Jamie Kinsley ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR ue to a desire to in crease customer satisfaction, the food management at Stetson has decided to change the time restrictions on meal plans. Whereas before the students were allowed to use only three meals a day and those only during certain windows of opportunity, they are now permitted to freely spend their meals whenever and however they choose. "I thought it was ridiculous to have a three hour waiting period between meals, because it's our money and we should be able to do whatever we want with it, and that includes using as many meals as we want at any time," responded Ashley Kew, sophomore discovery major. Formerly, there was a time constraint on the students and they were not as free to use their meals where and when they pleased. This caused undue planning on the students' behalf as to where and when they would eat. ■ "As a freshman, I am required to have the twenty-one meal plan. Before, I would get a meal and then get hungry, but would not be allowed to get another meal. So I like the new plan," said Mike Rodriguez, first-year discovery major. Also, because there was formerly an allowance of "*"""*""" *"" only three meals a day and at. only certain hours for each meal, many students were forced to waste their unused meals. Students now have a greater freedom of choice as to how they wish to spend their meals. The overall response to this change has been one of extreme pleasure. "I think the new rules are fabulous and much more convenient than before. "Every time I make a decision it is a decision for the proactive. I plan for my decisions to be pleasant ones that make the students happy." this since I get hungry about every two hours. These new guidelines help me save points for ordering pizza; and it makes me happy!" said Janine Pate, sophomore English major. When asked what he thought of the new decisions, manager Dan Viti replied, "Every time I make a decision it is a decision for the proactive. I plan for my decisions to be pleasant ones that make the students happy. We are here to provide customer " " satisfaction." "Before the new plan was instated, I would see that the Commons was serving bagel pizza after my card had been swiped, and I would just go without. But now I can go back and get my bagel pizza as another meal on my card," said Christopher Kopetz, junior political science/history major Another part of the decision was allowing students to use meals at the I have always thought they should do Hat Rack. Because students were pre viously allowed to use only points in the Hat Rack, there had been a great demand for more flexible rules. "I enjoy the freedom to choose when I can use my meals. My appetite and schedule don't allow me to follow the three hour window imposed by the school. If only we had this option from the beginning, I could have saved a lot of points!" commented Adriene Zedick, junior religious studies major. The managerial staff has high hopes that the new rules will continue to make the students happy and content. However, they are in tune to change should the occasion arise. "As long as the plan is working and the students are satisfied, I will be happy and satisfied," said Viti. "We want there to be a freedom of choice for the students. As long as the interests of the business are not affected, however; for example, we cannot afford to serve the students lobster tail and filet mignon everyday," Jamie Kinsley can be contacted at [email protected]. By Liz Erlenbach NEWS EDITOR The university's board of trustees discussed new marketing initiatives at their meeting on September 4 and 5, according to President Doug Lee. The Marketing and Communications Committee, one of several committees for the Board of Trustees, approved a 125th anniversary campaign at the meeting. The goal of the six- year campaign is to raise $125 million for the university, with a large portion earmarked for student scholarships. "Fund-raising is so important for us that the approval of the campaign was a major step," said Lee. Jenine Rabin, Executive Director of Development, was appointed director ofthe campaign. The campaign focuses on raising money for various projects around campus in addition to scholarships, including a planned renovation of" Sage Hall. "There's a major, science, initiative to rebuild Sage Hall over a period of time, in much the same way that we did with the Lynn Center, and completely rework that as a science facility and put an addition on it," said Lee. Money will also be set aside for '" '" ' professorships, renovations in residence halls, and additions to the holdings in the DuPont-Ball Library, In addition to the 125th anniversary campaign, the Mission Marketing plan was also discussed by the trustees. "The Mission ,,..-.,,,.,,— Marketing campaign is designed to enhance student recruitment, enhance our capacity'to raise $125 million, and... help build up our regional and national image in the geographic target areas that we have cho- "The Mission Marketing campaign is designed to enhance student recruitment... and help build up our regional and national image in the geographic target areas that we have chosen." sen." The university's primary student recruitment markets are the 1-4 corridor, South Florida, Atlanta, GA, and Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia. Additionally, strong alumni exist in these areas as well. n_r^^m__i__^ Another aspect '" :'"'"""'" '"~=s of the Mission Mar keting plan involves the revamped website for the university, Lee said. "It focuses now on sixteen to eighteen year olds, not adults, which is a big difference." He additionally cited the addition of the people-centered "Stetson Stories" as ^2^;.^^ a large part of the refocusing of the website. "The change in the website was that it was really geared from a marketing standpoint to students and alumni, and talking about the institution's strengths from the stories. that students, faculty and staff told about their experiences here." Stories range in subject from an alumnus who is currently the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to a professor's involvement with the Alliance for International Reforestation, to a bilingual student who tutors women who wish to learn English. During a board of trustees' meeting, the various committees meet to discuss proposals. Then each committee presents proposals to the entire board. The committees for the university's board of directors include the Facilities Management Committee, Student life Committee, Audit Committee, Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Investment. Committee, Technology Committee, Athletic Committee, and Marketing & Development Committee. "They are most vitally interested in the financial health of the institution, and they are vitally interested in the quality of the academic program, and the image and reputation of the institu see TRUSTEES, page 2a