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Clarion Call THE
CLARION UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1913
OCTOBER 21, 2010
VOL. 97 ED. 6
President’s plan enters next phase KELSEY HUEBERT News Editor
Clarion, Pa. - President Karen Whitney’s 90-day “Hitting the Ground Listening” phase of administration has taken a new turn. This week Whitney’s online suggestion submission ends, and the analysis phase begins. Whitney estimates 2,000 people have contributed input since mid July. “The conversations have been very rich and interesting,” Whitney said, “and I think there are some themes developing.” Whitney uses three standards to categorize the feedback. Academic concerns include improving recruitment and retention of students, introducing new academic programs and enhancing the Clarion University experience. Fiscal matters focus on the university’s reaction to Pennsylvania’s decline in funding of public higher education. If funded at the 2001
Caitlin McGill / The Clarion Call
President Karen Whitney accepts input for her 500-day administrative plan from numerous sources at her office in Carrier Hall. level, Pennsylvania would allocate $704 million toward higher education. This school year, the state allocated $444.5 million, according to a study by the Pennsylvania As-
Student Senate News Editor
Clarion, Pa. - Student Senate voted unanimously to allocate $770 to the Clarion University chapter of the National Broadcasting Society from the supplemental account. Business manager Dave Tomeo hopes to have the pilot textbook rental program at the university bookstore up and running in January. It will include a customer rewards program. Tomeo plans to order surveys to determine the student community’s impressions of the bookstore. President Ben Sturtz reminded those in at-
Inside THIS WEEK’S EDITION
ition per student has risen almost $1800. Whitney said Clarion is very considerate of the cost of tuition for students. “That has created a stressful environment at
Clarion,” Whitney said. Maintaining CU’s mission of excellence is a standard the highest priority. Whitney said this must be achieved by balancing academic excellence with fis-
Financial aid adapts to new lending rules
WEEKLY REPORT
KELSEY HUEBERT
sociation State System of Higher Education. Within that 10-year time frame, enrollment has risen 21 percent, or about 25,000 students. The average cost of tu-
cal responsibility. Analysis of the surveys and suggestions Whitney has received will be instrumental in creating her 500-day plan. “I want to keep moving the university forward,” Whitney said, “and if there are things to change, we will try to do that.” After drafting her 500 day plan, Whitney will be soliciting input from the university and the community. When this second period of feedback ends, Whitney will present her revised plan to the University Trustees. “There is way more to be done at a university than one person can do,” Whitney said. “That’s why I invite people’s thoughts as to how I can best serve Clarion.” Whitney said she hopes to establish a cycle of efficient planning, action and reflection. This way, the university can accomplish goals and learn from the process, thereby improving efficiency.
KELSEY HUEBERT News Editor
tendance of upcoming events. PASSHE Chancellor John Cavanaugh will visit the campus on Oct. 22 at 10:30 a.m. in Hart Chapel. President Karen Whitney will hold her last public forum before writing her 500 day plan for the university. The forum will be on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. in Hart Chapel. Student Trustee Chris Myers discussed a trustee conference at Kutztown University, where those attending learned how to lobby in at the state capital in Harrisburg. Interfraternity Council reported half of the university fraternities will be attending the Oct. 29 volleyball match.
Clarion, Pa. - The 2010/11 year is the first to see student lending come directly from the federal government, instead of through the banks and credit unions. Ken Grugel, Clarion University’s director of
financial aid, thinks students have benefitted from this change. “The biggest change is that the students no longer have to pick a lender,” Grugel said. Now, lending is done “through the federal government,” Grugel said. As soon as the health care bill was passed, with
direct federal student lending added to the Reconciliation Act of 2010, Clarion University’s financial aid office began notifying students through e-mail campaigns, posters, flyers in residence halls and more than 7,000 letters. “Our biggest challenge was informing the students that we made a
change,” Grugel said. Even without the law, Grugel said CU was on track to make the switch. “Had the law not passed, we would have delayed changing to direct lending for one year,” Grugel said. See Loans, page 3
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Election Guide Who are you voting for?
Elora Walsh / The Clarion Call
Transitions and ALLIES present a documentary, “Out in the Silence,” in Gemmell Student Complex. Anyone signing a pledge to stand against intolerance of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Trans-gendered and Questioning community received a wristband.