The Reporter

wed aug-03 i N S I D http://rapsrfr3r.stetson.edu iasSraamias;>,Jl^^ SPORTSi Men's soccer goes for NCAA bid page S's WHAT'S inside News 2A Classifieds 2A Opinions 4& Life is Sports 53 Etcetera 6a issue 1 volume 118 ■h wiw-'hil wnymiLM ■>■■ im ii mu i ■ mi rqyij n win 11 j m tu 1 ■ mmii» 1 nj .mmi IfM EqjHBTl'^r "■ mwi^l'JI OPINIONS: Professor responds to the Distorter controversy page 4a Campus Life employs five new members By Liz Erlenbach NEWS EDITOR In addition to the many new faces of freshmen around the campus this fall, returning students are likely to spot some new employees in the Campus Life department. Five new employees have been hired over the summer, in spite of a hiring freeze in effect for the university. The new hires include Rosalie Carpenter, assistant director of Student Activities; Shane Juntunen, assistant director of Student Activities and coordinator of community service; Patty Henke, coordinator of Residential Life; David Jenks, assistant director of Career Services; and Dr. Glenn Pack, director of the university counseling center. Three out of these five positions were held open through last year as a result of the hiring freeze, according to Michelle Espinosa, dean of students. "A hiring freeze does not mean that we're not allowed to fill positions. Rather, it means that we must get approval from the president's staff before we can fill a position, and we were unable to get approval to fill them throughout last year," Espinosa said. The responsibilities of these new employees have been redefined from previous years. "None of these are new positions," said Espinosa. "Rather, the positions have remained the same, while some responsibilities have been changed and combined to fit-the employee's experience." For example, the part-time position of coordinator of community service, which prior to this year had not been under the heading of Student Activities, has been combined with a part-time position of assistant director of Student Activities to create a full-time position with a manageable work load. The hiring process for the Campus Life department involves searches using various professional associations related to the vacant position. Candidates vying for these jobs send their resumes to Espinosa, and go through phone interviews and interviews at professional meetings before finalists are invited to campus for interviews. "When a potential employee visits campus, he or she will go through about five interviews, with students, university colleagues, and finally Dr. [Jim] Beasley or myself," said Espinosa. The final decision is made by Espinosa and Dr. Jim Beasley -University Chief Operating Officer. Espinosa also takes into account the opinions of other faculty and staff members. "It's a collaborative decision," Espinosa said. According to Espinosa, the Campus Life department is in the process of hiring another full-time counselor to fill a fourth position that was held vacant last year. Liz Erlenbach can be contacted at [email protected]. Contact Us 421 N. Woodland Blvd. #8409 DeLand, FL 32720-37S1 904.822.7224 FAX 904.822.7233 reporter^ stetson.edu reporter_news.^ stetson.edu opinions 'iCstetson.edu life's) stetson.edu ctcctera.^s tetson.edu sports® stetson.edu onlineSf stetson.edu advertisers tetson.edu FOCUS cm^-n-A-n: V ' : *?-• .:., A M?^. > *.- FOCUS: Freshmen students are led in an odd team-building exercise by FOCUS Leader Michael Davis, photo by dan puchalla By Dan Puchalla GUEST WRITER y the time most upper classmen were arriving on campus on Sunday, 17, this year's new students had already gone through their first day of orientation to university^ life. Over the next four days, ending on Aug. 19, approximately 650 first- year and transfer students participated in FOCUS, the university's fall orientation. The program is designed to introduce new students to university policies and procedures, to engage them in social relationship building activities, and to generally ease them into their new environment. The first major event in the FOCUS agenda was the opening Convocation held in the Edmunds Center on Saturday. President H. Douglas Lee welcomed the newcomers and their families to the university by encour aging them in the years ahead to "trust in God, yourself, and others," to "be an active participant and decision maker in life," and to "dream the impossible dream." Dr. William Nylcr., president of the Faculty Senate and associate professor of political science, addressed the students on the impor- -- tance of critically examining one's own beliefs as a key component of education. "We [the faculty] will not indoctrinate you," said Nylen, "We will give you options and then let you make choices." Remarks were also made by Alumni Association President Michael Fronk; Chair of the Council of Deans, James Woodward; Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Grady Ballenger; and Student Government Association President Michael Davis. Maintaining the format from previ- in ice-breaking games success ous FOCUS programs, the core of the orientation was the daily meetings of the FOCUS groups. In these sessions of about 20 students lead by an upperclassmen FOCUS leader, new students participated were able to ask questions about campus life, met with faculty members and organized off-campus recreational excursions. One new feature this year was "First Steps- Places You'll Go and Things You Should Know," which was lead by Dr. John Tichenor, University Registrar, and Michelle Espinosa, Dean of Students. "This program provided the students with valuable information about the process of registration, curriculum and transcript issues, university policies, procedures and resources," said assistant Dean of Students Darald Stubbs, who facilitates "During the actual FOCUS program, things ran efficiently with little, if any, conflicting matter. Everybody cooperated and was always willing *to help, and I think this is why FOCUS was such a huge » the FOCUS program. "The program also addressed the inauguration of the academic honor system and allowed the students to make a commitment by signing the pledge." Traditional events associated with FOCUS were part of this year's program, including PlayFair, the Values Council-sponsored community service outing, and the Dive-In movie on Tuesday night. "I didn't like PlayFair when we came in," said Andrea Hummel, a first-year general business major from Melbourne, Fla. "I didn't like people screaming and cheering like that as I walked in." Due to severe afternoon thunderstorms that rolled across the area, both the community service program and the movie were affected. "The community service activity and the dive-in movie were rained upon, but it's been an annual tradition of nature to have it rain on that particular day," said Jonathan Arteza, student coordinator for FOCUS. "We make due: those who participated in the community service activity had fun regardless of the weather, and the dive-in movie was again moved to the Rinker Field House." Arteza says that the weather was the worst problem the 43 member FOCUS staff had to deal with. "'Smooth' would have to be the word to describe this year's FOCUS," said Arteza. "During the actual FOCUS program, things ran efficiently with little, if any, conflicting matter. Everybody cooperated and was always willing to help, and I think this is why FOCUS was such a huge success." Arteza was also happy to see the FOCUS leaders themselves given 30 minute breaks during the four days, something they had not been given in the past. Assistant Dean Stubbs agreed with Arteza's first assessment of FOCUS' success. "Based on the feedback I have received from students, parents, faculty and staff, they all feel that orientation was extremely smooth," said Stubbs. "From my perspective, I would have to agree." "It's been a great experience getting oriented around campus," said first-year political science major Greg Nolan. "When I was driving down I had those usual fears that go along with the beginning of something new in your life, but those fears quickly dissipated as soon as I arrived on campus." Dan Puchalla can be con- tacted at [email protected]. By Jorge Andres Mondaca SENIOR WRITER Dr. Paul Dascher announced on Monday, Aug. 18, that he would step down from his position as dean of the School of Business Administration at the end of the current academic year in order to pursue other career goals at the university. The move, widely unexpected by both faculty and students, comes as Dascher celebrates his tenth year as dean at the University after arriving here from Drexel University in the fall of 1993. While the decision seemed as if it was a done in an off-the-cuff manner, as nobody within the S.O.B.A. seemed to expect it, it was one that Dascher had thought about for over a year. "Within the past year, I've had some good talks with my family about what I've wanted to do, so this wasn't a spur of the moment decision," said Dascher. "A few months ago, I reached the decision that this would be my last year. It is a selfish reason, but I want more time to teach." Reaction from the University community has been overwhelmingly sup portive of the projects Dascher backed during his time. "Paul Dascher and his faculty colleagues have led Stetson University's S.O.B.A. to a new level of academic quality," said University President Doug Lee. "The entire University is stronger because of his efforts." Dr. Greg McCann, business professor and director of the Family Business Center, a program supported by the outgoing dean, said, "If you look at all the programs the dean has supported, I think it shows that one of his strengths is that he sees, develops and supports the talent of the staff. He is a true teacher of teachers." Amongst the various accomplishments during Dascher's ten years of service to the University are the establishment of programs such as the Family Business Center and the JD-MBA Program, along with support of programs that began before he arrived, such as the Roland George Investments Program. Despite all this, there will more than likely be two accomplishments which will be associated with the name Dascher in the future. One achievement that will mark , page 2a GOODBYE: Former Dean Dascher addresses students, reporter archived photo