Chicago: The Musical Get an inside look at the popular musical hitting campus this weekend.
Study Abroad | 3
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theSaint
Thursday, February 21, 2013 Volume 32, Issue 8
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>>NEWS Boy scout controversy | 2 The Saint has everything you need to know about the recent controversy involving homosexual participation.
Wildlife in CA | 3 Reporter Cait Hilton gives the insight to a reserve outside of L.A. that has recently been destroyed.
>>CULTURE Oscar Party | 6 Saint Reporter Brian Kalchik gives the details for this year’s fancy party full of movie stars and prizes.
Beasts | 6 Beasts of the Southern Wild makes a surprise appearance in the Oscar nominations. Reporter Ian MacNeil checks it out.
>>SPORTS Track and Field
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Aquinas’ teams look forward to the NAIA indoor championship.
Zach Eddy
Aquinas Hockey | 7
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Culture Editor Paris Close interviews the senior basketball standout as the season comes to an end.
Refresh yourself: Aquinas style Coca-Cola brings a new twist to an old favorite By Lianne Crouthers The Saint Reporter Over the last week, flyers and emails advertising Refresh Yourself peppered cork-boards and inboxes around campus. The event required extensive planning, was smoothly executed and intermingled a zerowaste, environmentally friendly atmosphere. Campus Life organized delicious food and beverages, door prizes and entertainers for the night. CocaCola sponsored the event, providing collector ’s cups and a fun, laid back atmosphere. Food contributors ranged from the iconic Yesterdog to Quaker Steak and Lube, serving up their tasty hot wings. Piles of Jet’s Pizza and various Creative Dining snacks showered partygoers with a ton of choices for after-dinner fare. Throughout the night, a massage therapist had her hands full with students eager for tension-melting chair massages. Four stylists from Panopolous Salon were clipping a wa y a ll e ve ning w hile c lus te rs of students waited in line for free haircuts and watched their friends get new do’s. Mascots cheered on participants during a Wing Eating Contest and were even caught dancing along to the energetic music of The Bergamot. The opening act of the evening, Audiobody, was a dynamic duo of percussionist jugglers. Lighting up the stage with neon drumsticks and slick juggling, the pair’s sensational choreography kept the audience engaged through their whole performance.
Tuition raises for coming academic year Aquinas not immune to annual price increases By Mayra Monroy The Saint Reporter Students of Aquinas should plan on seeing a 4.8% increase in tuition by next year. On February 4, President Juan Olivarez and the College Board of Trustees released an email stating that there would be an increase for the next year. This 4.8% increase is seen in tuition and room and board costs. Tuition will go from $25,070 to
were opened. “It’s something we’ll all have to accustom to,” said freshman Rachel Dormal. In recent years, tuition has risen, constantly increasing as the years progress. Wi t h a p p r o x i m a t e l y 9 0 % o f Aquinas students receiving financial aid, this spike in tuition might cause students to seek more aid. In 2011, Aquinas released a report on an estimate of the average debt of graduates. In this report, the average
<<THE 4.8% INCREASE IS SEEN IN BOTH TUITION AND ROOM AND BOARD COSTS>> $26,280, while room and board will increase from $7,810 to $8,186. A 4.8% increase in tuition is more than the approximate national average of tuition increase for the 2012-2013 year for private colleges. Last year ’s saw a 4% increase in private college tuition. In comparison, area colleges such as Calvin College have total tuition of $35,390, almost $3,000 more than Aquinas’ $32,880. Public universities such as the University of Michigan have a tuition cost of $25,848 for undergraduates living in state and $51,976 for out of state students. Reactions to the tuition increase were almost immediate, as the email and letters carrying the information
debt of a graduate was $20,695, the lowest compared to that of Michigan public and private colleges, and below the national average of $26,600. Despite a tuition rise, Aquinas College is never short on financial aid opportunities. A number of scholarships, whether they be from outside sources or endowed, are available to students through the financial aid office. Along with scholarships, students have access to grants as well as student loans.
The entire ballroom was p a c k e d ; e ve n the standing area was crowded. With every song, Audiobody b r o u g h t something new to their performance. The carefully timed light show and music kept the crowd excited as Audiobody performed their Blue Man Group-esque tunes. Chuckles, gasps and sighs could be heard in the crowd as the duo executed coquettishly COURTESY ANDRIS VISOCKIS c o o r d i n a t e d Partying the winter blues away: The Bergamot impressed Aquinas partygoers with their mix of original m o ve s . T h e i r songs and covers, keeping everyone on their feet and rocking out. performance ended with a undulating melodies and masterful almost relieved at not having a dance raucous, well deserved applause rhythms. The vocalists remained partner, the band was so engaging from the audience. charismatic and sassy while the rest that it didn’t matter the pace of the The next group to take the Wege of the band played their guts out. song,” said McKay. Ballroom stage was The Bergamot, an Overall, the evening kept Junior Kathryn McKay took alternative band that offered original part in the festivities and thought the partygoers on their feet, swaying to music and covers of classic hits. The performances were very entertaining. the music and mingling with their band immediately got the crowd on “ T h e B e r g a m o t g a ve a f a n t a s t i c friends. On a frigid Friday night in their feet, dancing and singing to performance. Even during the slow February, Refresh Yourself brought their jams. songs, when there may have been some heat to the AQ campus. Even though their songs were a few of us tempted to cower in the new to most of the audience, it was corner from the high school shame we easy to get swept away by their
Salary Debate Debate over teacher salaries continues at local levels By Lianne Crouthers The Saint Reporter On Monday, January 28, Michigan State Superintendent Mike Flanagan met with Michigan State University scientists. His main topic of discussion was a proposal t o i n c r e a s e i n c e n t i ve s f o r career mathematicians and scientists to enter the teaching profession. According to Tory, MIbased journalist Jessica Carreras, Flanagan reported, “When you ratchet-up teacher salaries to $100,000-plus, market forces will direct more mid-career changers and you’ll attract more math and science college students into our educator prep programs.” This would have long term impacts on both the teaching profession and its recruiting practices. During his presentation Marketable areas: Science and math teachers are Flanagan did not suggest and secondary levels. prioritizing the pay scales of certain teaching subject college credentials as well as their over others. Instead, he posited that years working in the district. the intent of the state should be to The same data from the State of continue to raise the average salaries Michigan reported that the minimum of all teachers to a six figure level. salary for districts in Kent and According to the State of O t t a wa c o u n t i e s i n 2 0 1 0 - 1 1 wa s Michigan, in the 2010-11 school $ 1 0 , 3 0 0 ( G r a n d H a ve n ) a n d t h e year districts in Kent and Ottawa maximum was $99,010 (Jenison). counties had average salaries ranging F l a n a g a n ’s a s s e r t i o n t h a t from $53,427 (Godfrey-Lee) to increases in educator salaries $70,212 (Wyoming). It is important will produce a boon in qualified, to remember that often teachers do dedicated teachers, however, is part not enter these districts making the of a minority in Michigan right now. average pay. Usually, they start on Last year, the Michigan Legislature the bottom of a complex step system voted to cut funding to state schools that takes into account both their
highly sought after at both elementary
by $1 billion dollars. This year, the city of Pontiac may have to appoint an emergency financial manager for its school system since Flanagan has cut off its funding. According to Lori Higgins, a reporter for the Detroit Free Press, “the district’s deficit increased from $12.2 million in June 2010 to $24 million in June 2011…The district received two advances from Oakland Schools to meet financial obligations, including payroll.”