| Fee
increase proposed
Doctor offers advice for winter health |
In the News... | |
Fee
increase proposed
Beth Bliss
Staff Writer
Vice Chancellor for Student Development Gregory Blimling presented proposed student fee increases to the Student Government Association at its final meeting of the semester Tuesday night.
According to Blimling, it has been proposed that various student fees be raised for the 1997-1998 school year.
"We’ve tried to keep fees to approximately a 5 percent increase," Blimling said.
According to Blimling, educational and technology fees have a projected increase of $3. This fee, Blimling said, covers costs of computer technology and various science and lab costs.
Athletic fees may raise $10. Blimling said that this increase is due to personnel costs and to various "inflationary items."
Students may have to pay an additional $4 health services fee next year. Blimling said that there is currently a $41,000 deficit in this area and that a fee increase may be needed to amend this deficit.
The Educational and Recreational Programs fee has a proposed increase of $10. Blimling said this increase will also support a budget deficit in this area. This fee is used to support SGA, various campus organizations, the Center for Student involvement and Leadership, the Quinn Center, Outdoor Programs and A.P.P.S., Blimling said.
In addition, Blimling also said that students may have to pay an additional $4.50 Student Union fee. The Student Union, Blimling said, is currently experiencing a $74,000 per year deficit situation.
Subsistence charges (fees that provide a room with telephone and cable service and standard meal option) have a proposed increase of $168.00 for next year. Among reasons for this increase, Blimling said that heating oil prices are expected to increase, and this increase alone is enough to cost each ASU student approximately $30.
Blimling also said that some of this extra money will go to Food Services. According to Blimling, the department has tentative plans to renovate Welborn Hall and plans to fund the renovations by gradually collecting and saving money each year to avoid having to borrow money for construction.
Undergraduate book rental may increase by $3, Blimling said. In addition, the student transportation fee may be raised to $9 per year. Blimling said that this increase will help the university maintain current AppalCart routes, as well as to hopefully expand some routes.
According to Blimling, this money will also replace some of the funds that currently are taken from the parking and traffic fund to pay for such services.
Blimling answered questions from various SGA Senators concerning the proposed fees. When asked if student medical costs would continue to rise, Blimling said that increases can be expected. "(Appalachian) provides the most comprehensive medical program in the state," he said. "We spend (approximately) $160,000 per year on pharmaceuticals. There is an alternative; we can begin charging for (drugs), and we would come out ahead."
However, Blimling explained that concern has been raised that some students would simply go without medicine (due to lack of money) if they had to pay for it. In addition, the university would have to handle various insurance claims or find ways to bill student accounts for drugs.
Blimling also explained that many of the fee increases, especially the Student Union fee and the Educational and Recreational Programs fee, can be attributed to the rising costs of personnel. With the increase in minimum wage, personnel working in these various departments will need to be paid more. In addition, some facilities, such as the Student Union, have needed to hire more personnel to compensate for growth and increased use.
When asked if any alternatives to raising fees had been explored as possible means of revenue, Blimling said that the university already attempts to spend money "as efficiently as possible. We try not to spend more than we should," he said.
Blimling said the new coffeehouse being built in the Student Union will serve as a means of revenue for the university. The coffeehouse will pay a lease to the university, and Blimling projects an approximate gain of $12,000 per year.
In addition, Blimling said students already pay slight fees for some programs, such as dances and concerts, and that various fundraising opportunities have been explored.
After Blimling’s presentation, SGA President Kaye Cranford accepted comments from SGA Senators concerning the proposed increases. Cranford said she wanted input to take to the Board of Trustees, with whom she will discuss the proposed increases Dec. 5.
Senators recommended the board consider the use of generic drugs, a slight fee increase to allow faculty members to use the Quinn Center and Mount Mitchell facilities without charge, a revision of the hardback book rental fee for those who do not need to rent books, an extension of AppalCart routes to accommodate off-campus students and the fact that students may be more concerned with the quality of cafeteria food rather than the decor of the cafeteria itself.
Cranford also presented her State of the University address, in which she cited her pleasure with the accomplishment of several platform goals in the fall semester.
Cranford also commented on the success of Homecoming, Operation Outreach and the Student Discount Card.
"These are just a few of the accomplishments made this year, and they would not have been possible without the hard work of Todd (Poole, SGA Vice-President), cabinet members, and senators," Cranford said.
According to Cranford, despite the success of SGA, "we still have a long way to go. Working together, we can make this one of the best years in the student government’s history."
Poole echoed Cranford. "I’m proud of SGA’s accomplishments," he said. "We addressed student concerns and pulled out all the stops to get input from students. I look forward to a proactive second semester."
Following Cranford’s address, debate was heard on three proposed Senate Bills. The first, introduced by Senator Jo Lee, proposed that SGA "support the establishment of a special committee to make recommendations about academic integrity to the Office of the Chancellor."
An amendment to the bill was proposed and ratified. This amendment suggested that the Chancellor "present these recommendations to the UNC Board of Governors as a state-wide issue that should be uniformly addressed." The amended bill was voted on and was passed with a vote of 22-15-5.
The second bill, which was also passed, proposed official dates for the election of the SGA President and Vice-President for 1997-1998.
The final bill brought before the Senate, presented by Senator Dan Edison, proposed that SGA "request and support the transfer of Mountaineer Escort to the University Security Department, as well as the creation of a committee comprised of students appointed by the SGA president, staff, and faculty to advise and serve as a resource about Mountaineer Escort to the university."
The third bill was also passed by the Senate. The three bills will now be sent to administrators for their perusal.
The first SGA meeting of the spring semester will be held Jan. 21, 1997.
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Equity
office formed
Jennifer Sharpe
Staff Writer
Members of the ASU community who believe they are now, or have recently been, victims of discrimination have a place to turn for help.
The Equity Office was established in August as "a neutral starting place for anyone on campus to seek resolution for any perceived conflicts," according to the office’s Program Assistant Alexa N. Maddox. She said that the office’s director, Dr. Melissa E. Barth, has dealt with a wide range of issues emanating from various levels in the university since the operation began.
Maddox said the office hopes to provide assistance to students, faculty, staff, administrators and any other individuals associated with the university. She also said that the office was not created due to any increase in discrimination on campus, but was instead the result of Chancellor Borkowski’s 1995 commitment to continue Appalachian State University’s "tradition of fostering equal opportunities" for everyone.
An advisory board made up of faculty, staff, students and administrators contributed to the development of the office and are now instrumental in its ongoing operations. SGA President Kaye Cranford, who is a member of the committee, said the office offers "a good program that students, faculty and staff will feel comfortable with." Cranford also said that the new office "is going to be beneficial because it will give everyone equal opportunity and will be very confidential."
Maddox said the office will focus on "encouraging acceptance and diversity on campus" through various resources. Although Maddox said the office is still growing, interested individuals may now take advantage of "advocacy, information and referrals, a resource center, publications, programming and training, and information via e-mail."
According to Maddox, and also evident in the numerous pieces of literature cluttering the small space allotted for the Equity Office, issues appropriate to bring to these professionals range from racial, age and sex discrimination to hiring or promotion concerns and pay inequities.
Maddox said "the office just wants for people to know what their rights are . . . and to realize that we are neutral people who aren’t going to take sides and will keep all information strictly confidential."
The office is currently located in the basement of East Hall, but is preparing to move into a portion of the recently vacated I.G. Greer building. Maddox said that by fall 1997, they hope to double their staff to provide complete assistance to the Appalachian community.
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Faculty
form task force
Beth Bliss
Staff Writer
A recently-formed task force composed of members of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) seeks to make ASU faculty members aware of their rights as employees.
According to Howard Giskin, associate professor of English and chairman of the task force, this group was formed at the start of the semester at the request of the chairperson of the AAUP Committee on Academic Freedom & Tenure. The goal of the task force, Giskin said, is to give faculty members the assurance that they have "somewhere to go" if they feel they have been treated unfairly by a department chairperson or administrator.
"One very narrow focus (of the task force) has to do with any conditions that exist on campus in which faculty (members) feel they are treated unfairly, or activities that go beyond required terms (of contract)," Giskin said. "We’re looking at faculty relationships with department chairs and administrators."
Giskin said that the task force aims to have all faculty members at ASU, including professors and administrators, get along with one another. In addition, the task force wants to insure that "everyone is treated justly, fairly, and professionally," Giskin said. "In all likelihood, this is already the case in most circumstances."
According to Giskin, not only will the task force investigate and identify situations in which faculty members are treated unjustly, they will also serve as advisors to those who need to know what recourse they may have in the event that they have been harassed or treated unfairly by a supervisor.
"This is not a strike force," Giskin said. "We want to uphold standards (set) by society as a whole concerning treatment of employees by employers."
If a faculty member has a complaint of unfair treatment or harassment, Giskin said that he or she could either ignore it or attempt to resolve it on his or her own through the faculty grievance policies set by the university.
The task force, Giskin said, "maps out the middle ground between not saying anything and going all the way with the grievance process, which can be time-consuming and stressful." A faculty member may not be sure where to go or who to talk to if a problem arises, Giskin said, and here is where the task force hopes to provide assistance.
The task force is in its early stages, and Giskin said that currently the members wish to serve as facilitators and provide information to each individual concerning his or her situation.
Giskin also said that the task force welcomes suggestions and input from concerned or interested faculty members. "We’re in the information stage," he said.
The task force is only one part of a larger range of activities sponsored by the AAUP, Giskin said. "The AAUP chapter at ASU is engaged in a lot of activities which will, over time, make (Appalachian) a better working environment for faculty and administration," he said. "We want to make ASU a friendly and healthy place for everyone to work. "
"The happier people are, the more productive they will be, making them better colleagues and better teachers," Giskin said.
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ACC
forced to shrink
Laurie Lyda
Staff Writer
 |
The architectural exterior design of The Appalachian Convocation Center. (photo provided by ASU News Bureau) |
The original $40 million design for the new Appalachian Convocation Center has been reduced to fit a $35 million budget.
Despite the new budget constraints, university officials insist the convocation center is just being compressed, not short-changed. "We’re committed to not losing the integrity of the academic portion of the center," said Jane Helm, vice chancellor for business affairs.
The original 24.6 percent of academic space has been reduced to 24 percent of the total square footage. There will be 10 labs for the health, leisure and exercise science department, six to seven classrooms and 35 offices, rather than the original 41 offices. The academic-related sections will be housed on one floor and wrap around the building’s exterior.
Dr. Clyde Robbins, of physical plant administration, said that it was "necessary to redesign components" and that there are only "minimal reductions."
"We’ve condensed the building in such a way to preserve most program features and achieve the same goal of the initial design," said Mark Zack of the architectural firm Hawkin, Corley, Redfoot, Zack.
The overall building area was reduced from 226,334 square feet to 200,840. Seating has also been reduced by 14 percent, which reduces seating costs by 31 percent. The convocation seating was reduced from 10,300 to 9,034, and for basketball events, seating was reduced from 10,000 to 8,576.
Construction is scheduled to begin by spring 1997.
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Doctor offers advice for winter
health
Ric Beard
Staff Writer
With the arrival of cold and flu season at Appalachian, the director of health services has advice on what steps to take to avoid infections and frost bite.
Dr. William Derrick said that flu and viral infections are the major concern of the infirmary during the winter months. "Upper respiratory infections are overwhelmingly the most common things we see from now until March," Derrick said.
Derrick said that these infections are caused by the actual inhalation of other people's moisture. "A person could cough and someone else could walk through it and become sick," he said. The "droplet spray" that causes this sickness can also be transmitted by eating or drinking after someone or kissing. "We’re not going to tell people to stop kissing," Derrick said, "but they should know that it does transmit infection."
According to the director, the main idea in avoiding sickness is to maintain one’s immune system. He said that people should eat a well-rounded diet and try not to overload on vitamins. "Mega-vitamins" tend to overload the immune system and prevent its work against infection. Derrick also said that "[eating] something for breakfast is important because it starts the day with an energy source" to prevent illness.
The immune system also thrives on rest. College students have a tendency to try to "catch up on their sleep on the weekends." Derrick said that the immune system doesn’t like that schedule.
During exam times, students should try to avoid stress because it is also a major problem when it comes to keeping an immune system at work. Derrick said that people should exercise in moderation and avoid large crowds, "particularly during periods when a lot of flu is around."
Derrick said to remember that someone does not have to be sick to transfer a germ. People can pick up the moisture that could make them sick and their immune systems might fight it off, but it sometimes takes two to three days for an immune system to do so. These transient carriers can get someone sick while their body is fighting off a virus.
As far as frost bite is concerned, Derrick said that layers of clothing are the best solution. He said to protect the ears, cheeks, nose and hands from the mountain wind-chills.
Since skin is the regulator of body temperature, wind-chill is negated by having the body covered as much as possible. The layers of clothing tend to create air pockets that serve as insulation in which heat is kept. Derrick said that mittens are better than gloves because fingers warm each other more efficiently than the material between them.
Derrick explained that the myth about a wet head being cause enough to get someone sick isn’t true. He said that a wet head lowers the body temperature and makes a person more susceptible to infection but won’t get someone sick by itself.
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Appalvision forming campus news
program
Jay Konstantaras
Assistant News Eidtor
Appalvision students may be bringing campus news coverage to your television screen next semester.
According to Appalvision Executive Producer Kelly Reynolds, students have been developing a 15-minute news program which may begin airing sometime next semester.
"None of our programs are of broadcast quality just yet," Reynolds said. "We’re still using them as part of the learning process."
Throughout the semester, Reynolds and 15 additional students have taped several programs in order to learn more about the production process. She said they have been putting together a 15-minute news program which may begin airing Spring semester.
"We’ve been writing our own stories and conducting our own interviews and research," Reynolds said. Appalvision, currently in its second year of operation, was created to give students hands-on experience in all areas of television production.
"It’s a way for students to work with television and get some video experience," said David Spiceland, communications department professor and Appalvision advisor.
Although Appalvision welcomes students’ prgramming ideas, they are simply unable to accomadate every idea that is offered. "People have offered ideas before, but it limits what (the staff) can accomplish," Reynolds said.
"We’re just starting out, but there’s a lot of things we’’ll do eventually in time," Spiceland said.
Reynolds stressed that the finished product is not as important as what the students learn in putting the programs together. "We want it to be a learning experience," Reynolds said. "So far, those involved have really been sticking with it."
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Professor denied contract,
questions equality
Darin Glass
Staff Writer
Equal opportunity is supposed to be for everyone. That is what Bryan Hilliard, a professor for three years in the philosophy and religion department at ASU, thought. Hilliard was passed over for a one-year, full time contract to teach by a lesser qualified applicant.
One more thing: Hilliard is blind.
Hilliard is considered an excellent instructor by students and has been published in his field of work. He is also considered the leading medical ethicist in the region. "I consider myself a good teacher," said Hilliard.
Hilliard formerly had a one-year contract for a full-time position, but he had to go over his department chair’s head to get it.
The applicant that got the job this year will be paid $6,400 more than Hilliard was paid when he worked full time. This is where the equal opportunity issue comes in.
"I have turned the results of this situation over to the Office of Federal Contract and Compliance Programs. They think that two federal statutes, American Disabilities Act and the Rehibilitation Act, might have been violated," Hilliard said about what he thought about the situation. Hilliard declined any further comments about the situation.
It will be a long process, Hilliard said. Further reports on his story will be updated.
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Students who will be remaining in Boone this Thanksgiving are invited to participate in the annual community Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 28.
Dinner will be served from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church, located at 375 W. King Street. There is no charge for the meal and everyone is invited.
Volunteers are still needed Nov. 28 to prepare the fellowship hall, serve food and clean up afterwards. The shifts, which begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2 p.m., will be divided into two hour increments, but those who would like, can work longer.
If anyone is interested in volunteering, please contact the Watauga County Hunger Coalition at 262-1628.
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Hunger and Homelessness Week continues with a sleep out on Sanford Mall tonight at 7 p.m.
Sponsored by Community Action Corps, tonight’s events will include guest speakers, poetry readings and Imani drums.
Proceeds from this event will benefit the Habitat for Humanity, The Hospitality House, Hunger Coalition and OASIS. For more information, contact Jeannie Garber of the Community Action Corps at 262-5274 or contact the ACT office at 262-3032.
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In recognition of World AIDS Day Dec. 1, the Mountain AIDS Support Council, Inc. and the Metropolitan Community Church of the High Country is sposoring sections of the AIDS quilt to be displayed from Dec. 1 through Dec. 6 at the Unitarian Church, 381 King Street in Boone.
Volunteers are needed to protect the quilt while on display and to read the names of those who have died during this pandemic.
If anyone is interested in volunteering, please contact the MASC office at 265-4494.
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The Appalachian Cultural Museum at Appalachian State University will hold its Christmas Tree Festival Dec. 4-15.
Approximately 20 trees decorated by local artists and organizations will be on display throughout the museum. Decorated trees have been provided by the Hickory Ridge Homestead Living History Museum, Watauga County Public Library, Watauga County Girl Scouts, Kathryn Burrows, Arlee Main and many others.
The museum will hold free open house Dec. 7 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Activities will include a program on traditional Appalachian folk toys, a cup and ball toss competition, and entertainment from the mountain dulcimer workshop students.
The display will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $2 for adults, $1.75 for senior citizens and $1 for students ages 12-18. Children under 12 and anyone with a university identification card will be admitted free. For more information, call 262-3117.
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