The Clarion Call, 2/2/2012

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Clarion Call THE

CLARION UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1913

FEBRUARY 2, 2012

VOL. 98 ED. 13

Few students attend Financial Aid Forum RACHEL FARKAS News Staff

CLARION, Pa. - A handful of students voiced their opinions about financial aid and other issues Tuesday night during an open forum organized by Todd Pfannestiel, the Faculty Fellow for Planning, Assessment and Improvement. The forum was held as part of an overall review of the Financial Aid Office and Division of Finance and Administration, which includes Student Accounts and University

Police. Although financial aid seemed to dominate the conversation, students also had other concerns, such as incorrect and insufficient signage in parking lots around campus. Madeline Robinson, a Clarion freshman, spoke about an incident in which she received approximately 15 tickets on her vehicle over the span of five days while she was away at a tennis tournament. She said she had unknowingly parked in the wrong section of an unmarked combined-use

parking lot. Her tickets were taken away after she explained her situation to University Police, but she wanted to make others aware of the issue. “It’s a problem for a lot of people,” she said. Another part of the review includes a survey, which was sent to students through their Clarion email accounts. The survey asks students to rate their experiences with the Financial Aid Office, Student Accounts, University Police and Parking Services, and includes a section for

students to write in their own comments about each office. Pfannestiel reported a large immediate response to the survey, about 300 people, which could explain the relatively low turnout at the open forum. He urged students to continue to complete the survey. Another email will be sent as a reminder to complete the survey before it closes on Friday, Feb. 10. Pfannestiel is responsible for gathering student responses as well as interviewing employees

working in various offices “in order for them to selfassess their strengths and weaknesses.” Once the information is collected, a review committee will evaluate and assess each office and make recommendations for improvement. The findings of this review will be published in a report that is expected on May 1. Pfannestiel said there was a combination of forces this year that made the financial aid experience unpleasant for many people, but admitted that

is not an excuse for poor customer service. “I certainly understand the students’ and parents’ dissatisfaction, and can assure everyone that the university takes their concerns very seriously, and will work hard to resolve these issues.” He hopes that through combined efforts of many, improvements will be made. “Although it will take some time, I am confident that the process will be better for students and parents this coming year.”

Clarion Borough Council struggles over winter break BRITTANY BENDER News Staff

CLARION, Pa. - With many students away from Clarion on their winter break, right down the road from campus things were heating up involving the Clarion Borough Council. During their Jan. 3 reorganizational meeting, two members of the council and the Clarion mayor resigned. Council members Jason Noto and Dr. Brenda Sanders Dédé and Mayor Andrea Estadt left the meeting and their positions after the renewal of the borough manager Nancy Freenock’s contract was voted down with a vote of 3-2. Attention was brought to the meeting after a video of what transpired was posted on Trubluclarion’s YouTube channel. Council held a special meeting on Jan. 6 to fill the open council positions, including the open mayoral seat and a position that was left vacant in December by council member Sue Leonard after her victory in November’s election for county auditor. At the 10 a.m. Saturday special meeting, Noto, Sanders Dédé and Mayor Estadt all rescinded their resignations. Many submitted applications for the three originally open council seats and mayoral seat. However, the council only replaced one position. A committee was formed to review all of the prospective council candidates. A meeting to review all of the applicant’s qualifications was set for Jan. 17. On that Tuesday evening meeting, eight candidates were interviewed. At this interview meeting, the media was prevented from attending. A

reporter from The Clarion News was prevented from sitting in on the interviews. This is a violation of Pennsylvania’s open meeting law that requires organizations’ elected appointment interviews and discussions be open to the public. The meeting was also not made aware to the public, which also violates the state’s Sunshine Act, which requires these meetings to be open and advertised to the public ahead of time. Legal counsel for the Borough Council, John Marshall, wasn’t present at the Jan. 17 meeting but agreed that the meeting should have been open to the public. In result of the meeting violating the Sunshine Act, the discussions and appointment of a council member are now considered null and void. At the Clarion Borough Council website, the only minutes available for the 2012 year are those from Jan. 3 and reorganizational meetings. The agendas for the Jan. 3 meeting, along with those of the Jan. 7 and 18, are available on the site. The agenda for the Feb. 1 meeting is also available. Videos of the Clarion Borough Council meetings are also available on the YouTube channel, Trubluclarion. The video of the Jan. 3 meeting that included the heated debate and resignations has reached more than 12,000 views.

- Editor’s note: A council meeting was scheduled as this issue of The Clarion Call went to press.

Catilin McGill / The Clarion Call

Brenda Sanders Dédé, associate vice president for academic affairs, hosts the 16th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Community Celebration in the Gemmell Multi-Purpose Room on Thursday, Jan. 26.

Students honor Martin Luther King Jr. ALIZAH THORNTON Copy Editor

CLARION, Pa. - Clarion University students, faculty and community members celebrated the 16th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Community Celebration last Thursday Jan 26. DaVaughn Copeland, president of the Clarion chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and Brenda Sanders Dédé, associate vice president for academic affairs, hosted the event held in the Gemmell Multi-Purpose Room. Dédé has been responsible for running the program the entire 16 years Clarion University has celebrated the MLK Holiday. “I love that there are no seats left here tonight,” Dédé said. More than 200 stu-

dents, faculty and community members gathered in the MPR for the event. Clarion students performed musical, poetry, mime and drill presentations during the celebration. Students from the MidAtlantic Youth Services program, located in Emlenton, Pa., also attended the event, sharing poetry inspired by Dr. King as he related to their circumstances and willingness to do better in their lives. Author, Fox News commentator and former I.T. professional with the Department of Homeland Security, Ron Miller, was the keynote speaker for the event. “I look forward to hearing your words of wisdom and inspiration,” said Tracy Becker, executive director of the Clarion Chamber of Business and Industry, as she wel-

He related this information to Dr. King by saying that African-Americans should keep moving forward, and one of the ways to do so is by knowing the potential wealth of the community. “It’s virtue that allows you to care for those who cannot care for themselves,” Miller said. The program was sponsored by: Clarion University Student Chapter of NAACP, Clarion University African American Caucus, Clarion University Office of Minority Student Services, Clarion University Center for Academic Achievement, Clarion University Foundation, Clarion University Office of the Provost, Clarion University Office of Vice President for Finance and Administration, Clarion Area Chamber of Labor and Industry and the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee.

INDEX

WEATHER

Opinion Features Classifieds Entertainment Sports Standings

Inside THIS WEEK’S EDITION

comed everyone to the event. Miller spoke to the audience about Dr. King’s dream, using war as a metaphor for society today. “Let there be no doubt that he [Dr. King] was a warrior,” Miller said. Miller referred to the struggles of the black community as a “battlefield” telling the audience what the community needs to do in order to grow. Miller cited three E’s as “the keys to ascendency in an opportunistic society—education, economic literacy and entrepreneurship.” Miller shared statistics with the audience from a report called “The Power of the African-American Consumer” from The Neilson Company. The report listed statistics about the buying power of the black community.

The Call explores the changes to food services.

“What Use Are Flowers?” holds auditions.

Features Page 5

Entertainment, Page 8

Men’s basketball beats Edinboro. Sports, Page 10

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