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| Dec. 7, 2004 | ||||||||||
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Other sites of interest: Student Government Association Center for Student Involvement & Leadership Appalachian & the Community Together Multicultural Student Development |
Faculty Senate says no to text rental system Appalachian State University’s Faculty Senate passed a motion to abolish the University Bookstore’s textbook rental program at its monthly meeting yesterday. The approved motions will now be subject to approval by university administrators. Students paid $152 last year in student fees for the rental textbook program. Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Jane P. Helm asked for a $4 increase at Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting. “The worst thing about [the textbook rental program] is that it does in fact restrict a faculty member’s choice of textbook, and that’s really unfortunate that that should happen at a premier comprehensive university,” Dr. T. Patrick Rardin said. Rardin is chair of the Welfare of Students Committee, which made the motion. Rardin listed several other faculty concerns about the textbook rental policy. “The time for turnover is too long and textbooks are marked up from previous students using them,” Rardin said. Textbooks are changed every three years based on departmental decisions, Rardin said. If the majority outvotes one or two faculty members, they are then told what textbook to use, Rardin said. The policy mandates the selected textbook must be used, further limiting a faculty member’s choice of text, Rardin said. “The only people who benefit from this policy are the people who don’t want to pay for textbooks,” Rardin said. “I think it serves a very narrow purpose which is to keep a student who doesn’t want to spend money for textbooks happy.” There are probably students who would be willing to pay money for textbooks but do not know what textbooks they are being prevented from buying, Rardin said. Rardin said he was uncertain of how many faculty members support abolishing the textbook rental program. “The university has supported the rental program for the benefit provided to students making decisions about which college to attend,” the Web site states. “Over the course of four years the rental program saves students hundreds of dollars,” according to the Web site. A similar motion passed in Faculty Senate three years ago, but was not implemented, Rardin said. The Student Government Association (SGA) was present at the Faculty Senate meeting to oppose the abolishment of textbook rentals. SGA Director of External Affairs Jud Watkins spoke in defense of the textbook rental program. “Appalachian has a wonderful book rental program unique to this university and really appealing to progressive students,” Watkins said. “[Faculty Senate] needs to look at the costs for students,” he said. “At minimum, students save $300 a year with the rental system.” The committee also recommended terminating the current Bookstore Council and replacing it with a Bookstore Committee under Faculty Senate’s supervision. According to the University Bookstore Web site, the textbook rental program began in 1938 when Appalachian was the Appalachian State Teachers’ College. BOT approves tuition, fee increase The Appalachian State University Board of Trustees (BOT) approved tuition and fee increases Friday for the 2005-06 academic year. The BOT approved a $300 increase for tuition as well as a $135 hike in student fees. The board supported both increases unanimously. The fee increase stems from a recommendation made by the Appalachian Fee Committee to Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock in November. During the Business Affairs Subcommittee meeting, Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Jane P. Helm presented the committee’s recommendations and where the money will be allocated. According to the report, the biggest raise was a $100 increase for educational and technology fees. The money is expected to help support replacing computers in labs around campus, supporting technology staff, implementing a wireless network around campus and software licensing. Student Government Association (SGA) President Miriam N. Makhyoun said students supported the fee, but they also wanted to be kept up to date on how the funds will be used. “The student sentiment on this is students are concerned about this fee,” Makhyoun said in the meeting. When asked whether the university had developed a long-term budget for technology funds, Helm said: “We have developed a strategic long-term plan, but we haven’t put a dollar to it.” Another $10 of the increase will go toward the Renewable Energy Initiative (REI). The REI was supported by 81 percent of student voters during last year’s SGA presidential election. Housing and Residence Life will receive $50 per student to be used toward renovations for residence halls. The plan also called for $4 toward the book rental system. The increase comes at a time when Faculty Senate voted to abolish the system. “It’s a great deal for students,” Helm said in regard to the rental system. The tuition proposal equaled the same amount as last year’s proposed increase. The Board of Governors (BOG) reduced the $300 to $225 last March. The university has two plans on how to use the upcoming increases, both of which revolve around whether the BOG will support the Hold Harmless financial aid. In this system, students using Pell grants receive the amount of increases the BOG approves. For example, if the $300 gets approved in March, then those students would receive the same amount in aid. If the BOG doesn’t fund Hold Harmless financial aid, 25 percent of tuition will be used to fund it, according to the report. Both plans call for using the rest of the money for academic and student support and faculty salary equities. Funding for academic support includes hiring additional library staff, international support and the counseling center.
The University Bookstore opened its doors to students yesterday, three weeks after the opening of the Summit Trail Solarium. The bookstore addition is not completely finished, “We’re hopeful for looking at a six month project, so I’d say the end of June,” Ingram said. When the old bookstore reopens, the new facility will add 20,000 square feet to the entire bookstore. The bookstore opening was marked by discount prices on trade books and Appalachian State University merchandise. “There’s no comparison really,” senior finance and banking major Rob V. Martinad said when comparing the new bookstore to the old one. Martinad also works at the bookstore. “I don’t think it’s as drab as the other store was,” he said. “I like the setup and I like how the lights shine down on it,” Stephanie A. Johnston, a freshmen athletic training major from Winson-Salem, said. Bill Pillow, the trade book manager, said the bookstore was ordering much more materials to fill its new space. “We more than doubled our inventory and we expanded on some sections,” Pillow said. “We want to concentrate on having a really good education and business section because I think those are really big departments on campus.” Pillow also said student reaction to the new bookstore has been greater than their attention to the old facility, even during Family Day. “It’s completely different,” he said. “The flow of traffic is nonstop.” Feasibility study to determine use of land acquisition Appalachian State University has already expressed interest in, among other things, building a new off- campus football stadium. A feasibility test that will be conducted this week will show whether or not those plans could even work. Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock said Rick Webble, of Webble & Associates, will conduct a test of the 60-acre Edmisten property to determine if a stadium could be built there. Webble & Associates is based out of New York. Peacock said he is gathering input from the campus and the community, and opinions have been mixed. Other ideas for the land have included more housing for students or a new health care facility. Some students said the space could be used for purposes other than a stadium. “I personally think it should be used for something else,” sophomore public relations major Tim A. Bell said. Bell said Kidd Brewer Stadium was in a good location for students, and non-essential buildings for administrative purposes could be built instead. “I think they could put up apartments,” sophomore child development major Christine M. McGrath said. McGrath said an off-campus stadium could cut student attendance at football games since many freshmen would not have a way to leave campus. “If [Webble] comes and says, ‘This place is perfect for an athletic program for here,’ we still don’t know if it fits within Appalachian’s culture,” Peacock said. “The second part of it is, does it best meet the needs of Appalachian? It’s a two-part question.” “And if [Webble] walks out there and says [a new stadium would not be viable], that goes back to what we said before in terms of housing needs or economic development. Those things are still pretty much on the drawing board to be considered,” Peacock said. Appalachian State acquired the land earlier this semester from the Edmisten family. The land is located off State Farm Road. SGA Director of Student Affairs resigns Matthew D. Whisenant announced his resignation as the Student Government Association’s (SGA) director of student affairs Nov. 30. “[There are] personal reasons which led to the decision that, while I conceivably could continue, someone else would be better able to give their full attention to Appalachian students,” Whisenant said. Whisenant said he does not plan to cut himself off from the organization completely. He said he will continue working until his position is filled and will assist the new director of student affairs with the transition. Whisnenant will continue to work on issues he has been involved with on a limited basis, he said. “I respect Matt’s professional decision to resign his position,” SGA Vice President Nick V. Albu said. Albu said Whisenant added an aura of professionalism to SGA by forging beneficial relationships with the administration, the Town of Boone and Appalachian students. “Matt is truly an asset to Appalachian State University,” Albu said. “He loves his fellow students more than any other student on this campus, and this is displayed in all that he does.” As director of student affairs, Whisenant worked on off-campus housing, parking and traffic and school spirit issues. “The decision to leave didn’t come lightly,” Whisenant said. Whisenant was a senator in 2003 and ran for SGA president in 2004 along with vice presidential candidate Justin Moore. Whisenant and Moore lost to Miriam N. Makhyoun and Albu in a run-off election. Whisenant said he most enjoyed working alongside other hard-working, motivated leaders and seeking solutions to student problems on a daily basis. “Matt’s a really hard-worker,” SGA Director of Academic Affairs Thomas L. Shook said. “He’s definitely an asset to the organization, and finding someone to fill his shoes … will be difficult.” The position of director of student affairs is open to all undergraduate students of Appalachian. Applications are available in the SGA office on the second floor of Plemmons Student Union.
Solar tree lights up Jones House Christmas cheer, bluegrass music and the excitement of renewable energy filled the air Saturday night at the ninth annual Solar Christmas Tree event. The event, sponsored by Appalachian State University Sustainable Energy Society (ASUSES), was held at the Jones House on King Street. The Wee Huddie Mudd Puppies played live music, holiday refreshments were available and businesses from around Boone donated items for raffle. “There are way more people than we expected,” ASUSES Secretary Marci Leffingwell said. “We expected about 50 [people] and I think there were about 250. Everyone is having a great time.” ASUSES President Brent Summerville said the event has the biggest impact of the year for the club. “We build the system, party with the students and community and celebrate clean energy produced right on the lawn of the Jones House,” Summerville said. “It’s fun, informative and easy to demonstrate.” So far this year, the 25-member club has been very active. They made several field trips, including the annual High Country tour of sustainable living, a trip to Buffalo, Tenn., to see the only utility-scale wind farm in the Southeast and they also visited both Watauga High School and Bethel School to hold “Intro to Sustainable Energy” workshops for the students. ASUSES also held 10 workshops on the Appalachian State campus this semester, covering topics like “Big Wind in your Backyard,” “Intro to Biodiesel” and “Simple Home Energy Conservation.” The club will continue to hold workshops after New Year’s and into the spring. Their biggest event in the coming months will be an Earth Day celebration in April on Sanford Mall. The celebration will feature a solar powered music stage and hands-on sustainable energy exhibits. “It has been really great to be able to get the whole community so involved” ASUSES member Adam M. Sacora said. This year, ASUSES also received the Superior First Award for Community Development at the 49th annual Farm City Banquet. “ASUSES is here to inspire, enlighten and educate the school and community on the importance of sustainable energy technologies … we are truly thinking globally and acting locally to make it happen,” Summerville said. Freshman Seminar helps resident after floods Things weren’t looking too bright for Odell McCurry after nearly losing his home when Hurricanes Ivan and Frances swept through the High Country earlier this fall. The two storms resulted in flooding and damage across Watauga County. Power outages occurred throughout the area, and Appalachian State University canceled classes for a day. McCurry might have been one of the hardest hit. He was left with a wrecked house and no home insurance. But with the help of an Appalachian State Freshman Seminar class, he is back in his home. After the Freshman Seminar class decided to make McCurry’s home a class project, the goal was to get him back in his home by Christmas, Assistant Director of Operations at Plemmons Student Union and professor of the class Scott Cato said. Freshman Katie L. Roberts, a student in the class, said the group of Appalachian students was originally going to work one day and get as much done as possible to help McCurry. She said there was so much to do that after working all day, it seemed like nothing had been accomplished. The class then decided to go back and make a goal to get McCurry back in his home. “It feels great,” Roberts said. “It was awesome we had the whole class involved.” McCurry said he didn’t think he would be back in his home by Christmas after the storms first hit. “I couldn’t have done it,” McCurry said. “I was ready to give up and leave everything.” Cato said the class went to work on McCurry’s house several times. He said the house was in such bad shape that they had to almost strip it down to its frame. “It was a mess,” Cato said. Cato said the dry wall and sub flooring had to be stripped out, but the class has just recently put in new flooring and carpet. He said it was a slow process and took a lot of work. “It was just amazing,” Cato said. “They helped me so much,” McCurry said. The class was purchased new flooring and other materials through a silent auction held to raise money. Cato said the class was able to purchase a gift card at Lowe’s Home Improvement and got all the materials needed with the money raised at the auction. Cato said the class also gave McCurry a new bed and dresser. McCurry had been sleeping on an air mattress. Cato said the work and dedication the class showed was outstanding. “They were persistent to have him in by Christmas and they did,” Cato said. Roberts said when some things started to get done and the class could tell they were making a difference, there was a real feeling of accomplishment. “There’s not a way to describe what it means to me,” McCurry said. McCurry moved back in to his home on his 60th birthday. “I had 22 students out here at one time. They were great,” he said.
By land or by sea: technology students build watercraft While most students spend their days sitting through lectures and writing research papers for their classes, 11 students in the advanced wood technologies class are constructing a variety of projects. Some of the students are building furniture, canoes and spice boxes. “I’ve done some kayaking, but not a whole lot, and it is something that I have always really liked to do,” Copeland said. “But a kayak costs about $2,000, so I figured I would make one for a really cheap price.” Copeland said the idea started last year when his friend, sophomore industrial technology major Corey A. Lynch, was interested in building a speed boat. “He got me looking at plans online one day and he got me going; that was my start,” Copeland said. He started his research for the project in January, hoping to build the kayak over the summer. He searched online for plans and looked into the costs for creating such an elaborate project. When his summer plan fell through, Copeland decided to continue the project in his woodworking class. First, he outlined the boat on wood and cut out the different pieces. “It basically looked like a big jigsaw puzzle,” Copeland said. “You couldn’t tell what it was until I finally got it all stuck together.” The kayak is built from a variety of materials from areas all over the continent. Copeland ordered his wood from Canada, the glue, fabric and epoxy from Pennsylvania and West Palm Beach, Fla., and the letters for the kayak from Washington state. “This boat is built from things from all around the world, basically,” he said. “It wasn’t really hard, it just takes a lot of time and a lot of patience,” he said. “If you enjoy it, then you are going to devote that time and patience into it.” Other projects Copeland hopes to take on in the future are to build his own house, furniture and an airplane. “It would just be fun to build,” Copeland said. “If you really enjoy building things, just to see it come together is awesome.” After graduation, Copeland plans to move out west and get a job in construction management. Within four years he hopes to get his contracting license and soon after open his own small business. “It is something I really love to do, working with my hands and building things,” Copeland said. “It has just been a very interesting project because it’s something different that nobody else would have picked. It has been tons of fun." Diversity grows with semester's end Appalachian State University has taken initiatives to increase diversity and students’ awareness this semester. As the holiday season nears and the semester slowly comes to an end, the question is: how has the university done with diversity this semester and what is the plan for spring? “As I reflect over this semester and the university efforts, it makes me proud and pleased to see that we are taking some important steps on some initiatives that have been under way for a while, added some initiatives and are moving forward on some initiatives that people had started working on last semester,” Director of Multicultural Student Development Tracey L. Wright said. “I think there have been some important and significant strides made during the course of the semester.” Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity Dr. Harry L. Williams believes diversity has increased in the past couple of years and he feels the most important thing is the presence and constant visibility of diversity. “I think the one thing I would say about this semester that has been great is the attention focused on diversity has been really strong and positive,” Williams said. “There is no question that we have gotten better [in terms of diversity]. The reason why [this has occurred] is you can look at the numbers in terms of our level of interest and contact that we have.” “Five years ago, we didn’t program for Hispanic students. [During] multicultural perspective weekend we were busing students up here and three or four years ago, we didn’t have a faculty fellows program.” Williams said the plan for continuing to improve diversity next semester is simple. “The [overall] plan is to stay on course with what we’ve been doing and we are seeing the benefit of that and that’s coming in from admissions and faculty prospective,” Williams said. “We’ve got to keep pushing forward and not relaxing.” Students also think diversity has improved in the last two years. “I have only been here two years, but over time I feel like it’s [diversity] stayed pretty steady as a whole,” senior urban planning and geography major Joren W. Dunnavant said. “I guess I just get that impression from other students, professors and their comments, signs and activities I see around campus. I would like to see more racial diversity. I don’t know how you would go about doing that, but it would be refreshing for me to see that.” Students can look forward to several diversity activates next semester from the Multicultural Student Development Center. Wright said there will be a program discussing the hip-hop culture, a program discussing being Muslim in America after 9-11 and several other multicultural events. |
© 2004 ASU Student Publications
