From
left,
Assistant Administrative Supervisor Mary Stahowiak,
newly elected
SCG, Inc. Speaker Hillary Costa, Deputy Speaker Thomas Lima and President Travis Escobar Costa’s special election during last Wednesday’s Parliament meeting.
get right down to business following
President Carriuolo becomes SCG tackles broader ill during Mid-Year Review agenda
The speech, finished by Vice President Penfield, highlighted RIC’s accomplishments, future goals
By Nicholas J. Lima Anchor Editor
and
Sarah David
Anchor Contributor
Rhode Island College President Nancy Carriuolo began her Mid-Year Review in the Student Union Ballroom last Wednesday, but she did not finish it. During the annual speech, attended by many of the college’s faculty, staff and administration, Carriuolo stepped from behind the podium and asked Vice President for Student Affairs Gary Penfield to finish her remarks, before leaving the room with flu-like symptoms, it was later reported.
Week of February 20, 2012
Penfield, a veteran administrator who has held his post since 1979, stepped up to deliver the remainder of her address without hesitation. The speech boasted about the accomplishments of professors, students and athletes, announced the awarding of grants and hinted at a number of changes that could be in store for the college in the near future. The biggest announcement of all was Governor Lincoln Chafee’s recently released budget proposal that includes over $100 million in infrastructure improvements to RIC. Most of that funding – $65.2 million – is earmarked for a joint-nursing building with the University of Rhode Island, to be located off-campus. However, $44.7 million will go towards the renovation of two buildings nearly every student takes classes in – and which are often the subject of harsh criticism for their aging condition – Gaige Hall and Craig-Lee Hall. An additional $2.7 million will be
allocated towards improving building entrances, exits and pathways for persons with disabilities, and $1 million for infrastructure. However, there’s a catch – the funding in Chafee’s budget must still be approved by the General Assembly, and by Rhode Island voters through a ballot question. One new change Carriuolo featured in her Mid-Year Review was the general education program at RIC, which has been completely reconstructed for the first time since 1992. Instead of the usual lecture-style courses RIC students are used to, freshmen and sophomores will be enrolled in seminars that focus primarily on critical thinking and preparing students for the rest of their college journey. The class sizes will be smaller, with about 20 students per seminar, allowing for a better relationship between professor and
see
By Frank Wellington and Tara Lafond Anchor SCG Bureau
REVIEW page 5
www.theanchoronline.org
With mid-year officer elections finally behind them, Student Parliament resumed debate on a full agenda of issues last Wednesday, discussing a presidential veto, Greek life, Donovan food, academics and SCG’s budget. While no major initiatives were finalized, Student Community Government, Inc. members introduced four bills that could have long-lasting effects. The meeting was also significant because it marked the first for Speaker Hillary Costa, who was sworn in by President Travis Escobar during the three-hour meeting’s opening act. “Anyone filling into, for one, Aaron Buckley’s seat, and two, just the position of speaker, it’s a difficult task,” Escobar said. “I have confidence she will improve and she will get better as our meetings progress.” Costa was elected by an 18-3 margin in a race against Rep. Michael Hartley immediately prior to the meeting, succeeding two-term Speaker Buckley. While Costa had guidance from Deputy Speaker Thomas Lima, who is new to the Executive Council himself, and others in Parliament
see
AGENDA page 6
Anchor Photo // Angelica Dubois Vol. 84, Issue #21