The Reporter

issue volume Lawson program inagural lecturer speaks on issues of postemodernism Brett Henson associate news editor The Lawson Endowment Program at Stetson University presented its inaugural lecturer, Richard Kimball on Feb. 21 in the Elizabeth Hall Chapel. The program commemorates the life and work of The Very Reverend Leroy Davis Lawson who erected St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in DeLand, founded the on-campus Canterbury Club, served as a visiting Professor in Philosophy for 14 years, and was granted a Doctorate in Divinity by Stetson University in 1985. Roger Kimball, the Managing Editor of the New Criterion inaugurated the lecture series, which seeks to address the relationship between faith and reason. Kimball received a M.A. in Philosophy and Classical Greek from Yale University, authored "Tenured Radicals: How Politics Has Corrupted Our Higher Education," and has served as a critic for art and culture reviews. Kimball, known for his traditionalist critique of modern intellectual movements, spoke on the ideas of the Enlightenment, and the effect of postmodernism and deconstruction on contemporary philosophy. "I think it is fair to say that the view [Mr.] Kimball presented in his lecture is a critique of Postmodernism and that this type of critique has been relatively common within academic circles for at least the past 20 years," said Dr. Gwynn Markle, associate professor of philosophy. Kimball's main objection to the post-enlightenment' tradition -was its treatment of traditionalism. "[The] grandiose hubris", said Kimball, of Nietzsche was his belief that man could rise above morality. While Nietzsche's main assault on tradition came in the sphere of morality, contemporary thinkers have taken the approach into reading, writing, and linguistics. "The real obscenity is practiced upon language," said Kimball, referring to the work of Derrida and Foucault. According to Kimball, the postmodern approach has become normalized and ingrained into the intellectual culture, which has lead to a loss of truth in philosophy. The type of destabilizing postmodernism is also evident in American intellectuals such as Richard Rorty, whom Kimball said, "is a coinsurer of contempt." For Rorty, truth is pragmatic rather than universal, and neither moral facts, nor sacred concepts actually exist. These types of approaches have created a sort of "radical secularism". "Institutions exist to nurture academic freedom," said Kimball, but that "you won't find people like me on college campuses." Some students disagreed with Kimball's critical stance towards contemporary philosophy. "I think he took See LAWSON, 2A Proposal for new housing presented to Trustee Additional housing to accommodate growing enrollment Billy Perry ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Last week a proposal was presented to the Board of Trustees concerning building new housing for student residents on campus. Additional housing is needed because of the University's growing enrollment. All first-year and sophomore students are required to live in on-campus housing for the full academic year. Currently, Stetson has ten resident halls, which house 1,313 students. Chaudoin Hall is the largest resident hall, which houses 230 women. Emily is a close second and houses 220 men and women. Fraternity and. sorority rows house-around 252 students, according to Dana Copes, director of Residential Life. Joseph Lapin, a Stetson junior, has lived in both fraternity and student housing, "at the fraternity the walls must have been made out of papier-mache. Once we were all hanging out in the hall and somehow I ended up putting a hole in the wall. Besides the paper thin walls we had to deal with mold, which hit you in the face when you slept." However, Lapin likes the residential halls a" little better, "the residential assistants that are placed in the dorms do a great job in building a better community." Steve Smith, sophomore and English major, has lived in the resident halls for four semesters. Smith said, "everything is taken care of for you in the dorm," when commenting on the positive aspects of dorm life. Stetson's website says all halls include, laundry facilities, lounges, cable TV access, and internet access. However, Smith said, "we don't have a lounge, rather, we have three guys in what used to be the lounge living as a triple." . Smith also cited the Internet as a problem, "but not a major thing." Both Lapin and Smith agree that overcrowding is a major issue. Lapin said he would most like to see new fraternity houses and singles for residential advisors. "The fraternity houses on campus are in horrible condition. Maybe because of the abuse of the fraternities in them or it is because instead of houses they are tree houses; they should be condemned." Director Copes agreed to provide The Reporter with more information once the proposal was either approved or denied by the Board of Trustees. Contact Billy Perry at wperry@stetson. edu. Lonetta Wilson metro editor The Faculty Senate, in its recent meetings, has tackled the issue of improving diversity on campus. Specifically, they are devising strategies that faculty members and students can do to improve the climate of diversity on campus. "We are working with the Diversity Council and Value Council to give charges to faculty to represent multiculturalism," said Michele Skelton, Chair of the Faculty Senate. Skelton stresses that the Senate is trying to promote discussion of all types of diversity, including issues of ethnicity, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, Body type, and disabilities. She stated, "There will be people who view one aspect more passionately and focus more on that but we are not targeting one over the other. Discussions at the Faculty Senate and Council level are not meant to segregate at avenues of diversity." Skelton cites last year's Town Meetings as an example but added "they were great because everybody hears everyone speaks, but change can't occur at that level alone." It is bringing diversity discussions to the next level that concerns Skelton and other Faculty Senate members^ "Like SGA," began Skelton, "we made it a priority and vve continue to devote discussions to it. During last Friday's meeting, we shared thoughts on what we could do as faculty." One of the suggestions presented was a pedagogical workshop, which would train professors to properly handle classroom discussion dealing with diversity issues. The aim of these workshops would be to "allow faculty to learn to properly moderate classroom discussions and lead by example," said Skelton. "We can't just say that the Administration or students should do it, make us do it, make us make minorities feel more comfortable." The Faculty Senate believes that this moderation would make for "a more diverse realm, which makes for a better classroom because the conversations would result in better sharing and learning in the classroom environment." Jamil Khader, a member of the Faculty Senate, and faculty advisor to the Muslim Student Organization agrees with Skelton. "The Faculty Senate is aware of the need for mediation in trying to understand diversity; bringing in experts who know how to lead and ask uncomfortable questions and deal with them to get positive effects from the discussion," stated Khader. "There are many issues to deal with in moderation," he adds, "how to deal with minority students in the classroom—should we depend on the minority student to represent their race, should they have to educate us?" The Senate hopes that these workshops would also be eventually made open to students holding leadership positions. The faculty suggests that student possessing leadership roles have inclusiveness training. "They don't know how to moderate diversity conversations, and'we need to equip them. Take whatever training they have now and take it a step further," state Skelton. She cites FOCUS leaders and RA's as examples of students needing this type of training. Another suggestion was to apply for summer grant money, which would be used specifically for faculty to implement culturally diverse courses. "Faculty could revise current content to represent more diversity or devise new courses which are more diverse," said Skelton. "We have to start somewhere with the faculty. The Administration should encourage faculty to teach courses with ideology and diversity," added Khader. CAROLINE JONES / THE REPORTER The Cross Cultural Center is the central hub of diversity awareness. This might affect newly created first-year curriculums, in particular, where diversity might be built into its course load. Khader suggests a first-year seminar to incorporate racial studies where students can address diversity issues critically. Both Skelton and Khader have advice' for students on furthering the cause of diversity on campus. First and foremost to stay engaged in conversation on diversity. "Delve deeper," encourages Khader, "people say they're not worried because they listen to hip hop music or eat ethnic food buts also about power and you can't reduce it to that." He encourages people to discuss their culture with each other and to seek out material to educate themselves about other cultures. He also stresses the importance of being politically active. "Different backgrounds should not inhibit alliances and working together to change things. You can't break the cycle of skewed diversity without breaking those thoughts," stated Khader. . "We need to stay involved in conversation. We need to make mistakes to help each other. If no one talks, it won't get done. Students need to talk and participate," stressed Skelton. The consensus seems to be that keeping communication lines open about diversity is the key to successfully promoting it on campus. Contact Lonetta Wilson at [email protected]. Faculty discuss possibility of seminars and study to the first-year curriculum Brett Henson associate news editor Many students might remember the beginning of their academic careers at Stetson University: visiting the campus during the summer months for SOAR, becoming oriented during FOCUS, moving in with his or her first roommate, and even the first few weeks of getting used to college classes. In order to unite these mechanisms for educating first-year students, faculty mem bers within the College of Arts and Sciences are discussing the possibility of First Year Seminars and a First Year Study. "We're trying to get students to become a part of a learning community," said Dr. John Tichenor, Director of Institutional Research and Registrar. A variety of professors within the College of Arts and Science have spearheaded the initiative, which seeks to include Discovery students and eventually those in the Business School. "The new Honors Program Curriculum already has the features we're proposing, ultimately, for all students within the College," said Dr. Grady Ballenger, Dean of Arts and Sciences, and chair of the program. The main goals of the program would be to increase the retention rate of incoming students and to create an appreciation for the liberal arts among new students. The central part of the See FIRST-YEAR, 2A Student charged with felon Involving drug possession ' Lonetta Wilson metro editor On Saturday, February 11, a student in Upper Main of Stetson Hall was arrested for the possession of narcotics. Two misdemeanors and a felony charge involving drug possession have been levied against the student. Public Safety was responding to noise complaints and discovered the al- Wednesday's Forecast Partly Cloudy High 63 Low Precip: 20% Humidity: 57% Sunrise: 6:49 a.m Sunset: 6:26 p.m CALENDAR 2B NEWSMAKERS 2 A LIFE IB OPINIONS 3A MAD CAMPUS 3A REVIEWS 2B METRO REPORT 2A SPORTS 1C NEWS 2A STUDENT GOVERNMENT 2A r, n -■? Reactions by students to the Vagina Monologues. STORY 1B The Lady Hatters faced Valparaiso in a heated contest. STORY 1C cohol and drugs. Residential Life was present for the confiscation of the alcohol. The DeLand police department is currently investigating the incident. In response to this incident, J.D. Hess stated, "Our job is to educate, discourage use or excessive behavior, and enforce the University's rules and regulations." Contact Lonetta Wilson at lwilson@stetson. edu. • „& *■?■ \ s Blair Townley reviews Tommy Lee Jones's "Man of the House" STORY 2B