The Reporter

thurs E..T..S .O.a.N.,a.. y...N..l..¥, E, R S..I T Y Students participate Focus. in various activities as KIM LYLE / THE REPORTER part of the orientation for Chris Evans news writer This past Saturday a group of hopefuls vied for a chance to be on the 2006 staff of FOCUS, Friends On Campus Uniting Students. FOCUS leaders guide new students through their first steps as Hatters. Out of 60 new applicants and eight returning staff, only 36 will be selected (or will have been selected by the time this paper is distributed). "The majority of them are leaders on campus," says this year's FOCUS coordinator, junior health science major Jeff Cara. He said that narrowing down the field will be tough, but considers this a good problem to have. "Whatever group...gets in will be great." "I would be honored to be chosen," said first-year political science major Cory Suter. His reasons for applying are similar to many of the other candidates, not the least of which is his affirmation, "I enjoy people." He also has a deep respect for the university and sees the position as a way of giving back. New applicants went through a three part process comprised of a questionnaire and recommendations, an interview with the current staff, and participation in group activities. For the activities, applicants spent two hours on Saturday morning role-playing with icebreakers and other techniques they will potentially employ with their new "foci." While the staff selection process hasn't changed much since last year, there has been a restructuring of* the program's administration over the last year. Graduating this May, Heidi Reusswick became the first Assistant Director of First Year Studies when she started her full-time duties on January 3rd. In addition to odd jobs in the department, Reusswick's primary responsibility is to be the university administration's liaison for the FOCUS program. The Department of First Year Studies, headed by its dean, Dr. Leonard Nance, was created a year ago in an effort to create, as the department's website states, a "home-away-from- home" for first year students. This emphasis on supporting new students has been carried over into the FOCUS program. This past fall, two new programs were adopted. Staffers are no longer awarded a communication credit, but are paid. Instead of FOCUS lasting a few days at the beginning of the semester, leaders were encouraged to continue to meet with their groups through Parents' Weekend. "We had a good amount of success with that," says Ruesswick, "[so] we wanted to take that philosophy and apply it to the whole year." In essence the orientation will be extended, and instead of following up with their groups a few times at the beginning of the year, leaders will meet with their groups at least twice a month in the first semester and at least once a month in the spring. They will be encouraged to plan events akin to those. Contact Chris Evans at cmevans@stetson. edu. M n O i 5 \_^s_ a 1 Marie Villard news writer Hulley Tower has been missed since the Hurricanes of 2004. The bells inside have not been heard since the renovations began. It was a prestigious landmark" on "Stetson- University's brick laid campus, but the new temporary structure is a pleasant sight after the tower had been in ruins since October of last year. The temporary tower is functioning as a shelter for the mausoleum where Lincoln Hulley and his wife Eloise are buried. Hulley tower is listed as part of the Stetson University Historical District, and the future building will be erected to preserve the historic record. The original tower harbored a carillon, which is a musical instrument that consists of at least 23 bells that are tuned in chromatic order, with wooden ¥>Sp£3i& pedals to sound the bells. t'-'A. The chimes inside the tower were named after Lincoln Hulley's wife Eloise, and there were only 11 bells. The proposed structure will have 23 new bells to make it a true carillon. The bells that were in the original structure will be donated to various historic organizations, and bricks from the tower will be given to those who donated funds to rebuild it. None of the material from the original tower will be used in the new; however the mausoleum will remain intact. It is estimated that the New Carillon Fund will need to raise over $1.5 million and hopefully the new tower and carillon will be erected in time for Stetson's 125th anniversary in the 2008-09 school year. For more information on donating to this fund, visit https:// www.stetson.edu/external/forms3/ onlinegiving/alumni/. Contact Marie Villard at [email protected]. Photo taken by Leah Floyd, the Reporter. 0 ne nere © © © -i ne i nere^ Brings iioDe to students in Africa Cody Stapleton news writer You may have noticed something different this semester on your tuition bill that was not there last semester. Beginning this semester, Stetson University made available on its student billing statement the option of paying an additional twenty dollars on top of regular tuition to help sponsor a student in Africa for one year. This option came about as part of the One Here...One There program. One Here...One There is a charity that partners with universities here in America to generate funds for the purpose of promoting education in Africa. The way it works is that at the bottom of the university's tuition billing state- ment will be an option to donate twenty dollars to help educate a child in Africa. The twenty dollar donation each semester will pay for an African student's education for an entire year. A donation each semester will pay for two students' education for an entire year. If a student opts to donate twenty dollars then One Here...One There takes that money and distributes it to carefully selected non-governmental associations (NGOs) in Africa. The money raised will be given to the selected organizations who in turn distribute the funds to support qualified students, either by paying for tuition or buying books. According to the organization's website, www.onehereonethere.org. Africa was chosen as a focus because One Here...One There believes the greatest need per capita, as well as the greatest benefit for limited dollars, can be found in sub-Saharan Africa. There are 42 million school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa that do not have the privilege of education. The money donated through One Here...One There by students and families will help to educate these children. One Here...One There was developed mainly by the Alumni Association partnered with Student Government Association, Dr. Lee, and the administration. One Here...One There corresponds with the values of the Alumni Association and the mission of the university. Part of the educational mission of the university is "to foster in students the qualities of mind and heart that will prepare them to reach their full potential as informed citizens of local communities and the world," Peter Urscheler, Student Body President, senior marketing major said. "This program epitomizes what Stetson is about. Through education we can solve many problems throughout the world and break the cycle of poverty," said Urscheler. Stetson University is the pilot program for One Here...One There beginning the spring semester of 2006. The goal of One Here...One There is that through the success of the program at the university, the option to See AFRICA, 2A "GA introduces lonor Bike Program Cody Stapleton news writer From the increasing prices of petroleum products and demand for environmental-friendly transportation comes the inception of the Honor Bike Program. The Honor Bike Program provides free bicycles to the community as an alternative to the use of automobiles. The Honor Bike Program was designed by Stetson students and SGA members, Kevin Winchell and Ryan Hutson. "The program will ease traffic and parking challenges, be environmentally and wellness-friendly for the campus, while at the same time providing a new service to students, faculty, and staff," Dean of Students Michelle Espinosa said. The Honor Bike Program (HBP) would place brightly painted bikes around the community for public use. The bicycles would be unlocked allowing for anyone to take and use them at their need. After use the bicycles would be placed at the nearest bike rack to be made available for other people to use them. The Honor Bike Program is modeled after other similar programs that have had success across the country. Programs like this one exist at Eckerd College and in cities like Boulder, CO, Minneapolis, MN, and even in Kingstron, Ontario, Canada. "I've heard about bike programs like this in other cities. I think it's a good idea for Stetson to have one too," Neely Niemann, sophomore marketing major said." The availability of free bicycle transportation for students, faculty, and staff provides many benefits for both the campus population and the environment. The program will generate an enhanced community atmosphere, make people less reliant on cars, decrease traffic, provide health benefits, and cut down on pollution. "I would probably ride a bike to class instead of driving if I had one," said Chris DeLuca, sophomore International Business Major. "I don't live on campus so I probably wouldn't ride a bike, but it seems like a good idea for students who do live on campus," said Ashley Gray, sophomore marketing major. The initial supply of bikes would come from the confiscated or abandoned inventory maintained by Public Safety and Facilities. Bicycle donations will also be accepted from students, faculty and staff, and from the Deland community. Any bike donated that is considered to be a "high class" bike will be sold to make more funds available. Fund raising from other campus organizations is also another way to increase the supply of bicycles.and.to provide paint to brightly color the bikes. Many are tempted to ask about the possibility of bike theft. Winchell and Hutson allowed for this question in their proposal for the HBP. The bicycles will all be painted a uniform, bright color that indicates it as part of the Honor Bike Program. Unique ID numbers will be placed on each back to be used for inventory purposes at Stetson University and Deland Police Department. Also, a Stetson logo will be placed on the bicycles to further identify them as belonging to the HBP. These precautionary steps will decrease the chance that the bikes will be stolen. "Anybody who would steal one likely needs the bicycle more than Stetson students would," said Kevin Winchell, junior political science major and HBP program designer. With the program, however, comes a liability and insurance problem. The incidence of an accident or a damaged bicycle had to be taken into consideration. These types of problems can be averted by having riders sign a waiver at the beginning of each school year, attaching reflective plates on the bikes for rider visibility, and providing regular maintenance for the bicycles. The maintenance would be handled by Stetson students knowledgeable in bicycle repair, upkeep, and safety. The Honor Bike Program is backed by both members of the student body and faculty. It is supported by the Environmental Responsibility Council, SGA, the Honors Program and Dr. Paul J. Croce, American Studies Department chair and faculty advisor to the Honor Bike Program. Upon its implementation and success, the HBP hopes to continue its development by dedicating campus bike paths, integrating the HBP into campus programming such as organized bike trips, and creating a model system for other communities to develop similar programs. The Honor Bike Program provides a unique outlet for students, faculty, and staff that not only coincides with Stetson's commitment to the environment, but sets an example for other universities and organizations to follow. Contact Cody Stapleton at cstaplet@stetson. edu. Thursday's Forecast: Partly cloudy High 80 Low 58 ^> _-* >-~V CALENDAR 3B NEWS 2A CROSSWORD 2B NEWSMAKERS 3A HISTORY 2B OPINIONS 4A HOROSCOPE 2B RUMINATIONS 2B LIFE IB MOVIE REVIEW 3B METRO REPORT 2A STUDENT GOVERNMENT 3A MOVIE LISTINGS 3B Broadway Hevue Cristin Forrest reports on this year's "lovely" Broadway Review PAGE 1B Movie Review Movie critic Blair Townley writes how Harrison Ford saves the day in "Firewall." PAGE 2B len's am Burleson and Hodges report on this year's teams PAGE 1C