The FAMUAN: 03-28-2011

Page 1

The Student Voice of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

“The Number 1 HBCU Newspaper” According to the Black College Communication Association

66

www.TheFamuanOnline.com

Monday,March 28, 2011

Life gets better

Forum touts university adjustments

News Briefs Local

Ammons gives away $1.5 million in aid

Matthew Richardson School News Editor The campus community will have its last opportunity to hear about the university restructuring before the plans go before the Board of Trustees for a vote next week. During the course of the school year, focus groups have met and FAMU President James Ammons has addressed students and faculty members about his plans for the university. Some of the restructuring plans call for elimination of low-productivity programs such as programs with fewer students. Another big part of the plan is to outsource some university functions and trim clerical and administrative and professional staff. In one of the online documents about the restructure, it was stated that since 2007, the university has experienced a $35 million reduction to its budget. Now, the university must address the 15 percent projected cut, which could result in a $13.3 million reduction for FAMU in fiscal year 2011-12. This reduction will occur in addition to the loss of $7.9 million in stimulus funding. The campus forum, open to all, will be held today at the Al Lawson Center from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Most university officials will be in attendance to discuss updates about the proposal. The Board of Trustees will vote on the president’s recommendations April 7. When the board meets , it will include three new members: Kelvin L. Lawson, 47, Rufus N. Montgomery Jr., 39, and Belinda R. Shannon, 50. For more information about the restructuring proposal, visit http://www.famu.edu/ index.cfm?restructuring&Rep ortsandDocuments. Matthew Richardson Famuannews@gmail.com

VOL. 112 ISSUE 22

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The State Board of Education chairman has resigned in protest over Gov. Rick Scott’s ouster of Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith. Chairman T. Willard Fair’s letter of resignation blasting Scott was placed into the board’s record at his request during an emergency meeting Thursday that was called to launch a search for Smith’s replacement.

Famuan Staff Life got a little better for some of Florida’s best and brightest students as Florida A&M President James Ammons awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships during the fourth annual President’s Tour: “FAMU Up Close and Personal.” During his seven-city tour, Ammons visited The Villages, Leesburg, Winter Haven, St. Petersburg, Naples, Ft. Myers and Miami. “Our corporate partners provide the money for these scholarships awarded because they want FAMU talent,” Ammons said. “Our best scholarship, the LifeGets-Better Scholarship, is so good that life for the entire family

Source: Associated Press

Graphic by Jeffrey Morris

gets better.” For this tour, Ammons enlisted the help of university recruiters, administrators, student leaders and members of the FAMU Connection, a group of students who tell the university’s story through a theatrical production.

Every stop of the tour was opened with a student perspective. Breyon Love, vice president of FAMU’s Student Government Association and SGA’s president elect; Kindall Johnson, Miss Scholarship 3

State health services threatened Monet Fraser Staff Writer

The Senate has made a proposal to cut a total of $1 billion from Florida’s Health and Human Services programs. The cuts are expected to hurt hospitals and leave many people in the community without necessary funds for health care. This proposal will cut a slew funding from core programs

that some Tallahassee residents depend on. There will be a 10 percent cut from Medicaid and a 5 percent cut to state nursing home funding. The cuts do not stop there; the proposal also terminates funding for adults that require outpatient mental health and substance abuse services. Florida’s “Medically Needy” program is also up for elimination. This program gives people with

severe medical conditions that did not qualify for Medicaid funding to pay for hospital and drug bills. With the new proposed budget, doctor visits may also be cut. “A lot of families will be hurt by these budget cuts. It’s sad that our community has to deal with the repercussions of these cuts. I Health 3

Today’s Online Content: “State of Student Summit” by Ashli Doss

“Famuan staff picks favorite websites” by Famuan staff

Weather Today

83 57 Tuesday

77 61 Wednesday

78 61

Florida Legislature considers bills that would alter existing gun laws

Jason Lawrence Metro News Editor

Graphic by Jeffrey Morris

Legislation that could change Florida’s gun laws are being considered in the 2011 Legislative Session. Senate Bill 234 and the complementary House Bill 517 would allow citizens with concealed gun licenses to carry them openly. SB 234 would allow gun-licensed individuals to possess guns inside

elementary and secondary school facilities and on college campuses. The bill does prohibit firearms inside public elementary and secondary schools and administrative facilities. HB 517 allows the possession of properlylicensed firearms in specified locations. Like its Senate companion it grants possession inside vehicles for certain purposes. Both passed the House Judiciary Committee. Also on the table in the legislature is SB 402 and HB 155 which would fine doctors $500 or more if they ask patients about owning firearms in their homes. Both passed the House Criminal Justice Committee. SB 402 and HB 45 would restrict local governments from enacting gun laws

stricter than those of the state. HB 45 passed the House Criminal Justice committee. SB 402 passed the Senate Criminal Justice and Community Affairs Committees. SB 956 and HB 4069 would repeal laws prohibiting the purchase of firearms across state lines. SB 956 passed the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. HB 4069 passed the House Criminal Justice and Business and Consumer Affairs Committees. These proposed bills can be viewed on MyFloridaHouse.gov and FloridaSenate. gov. Once the bills pass the committees, they are up for final votes in the House and Senate.

Opinions

Lifestyles

Lifestyles editor Clarece Polke rants about seniors putting off work until the last minute.

Students joined together to raise money and walk for a cure last Friday during FAMU’s Relay for Life.

Opinions | 5

Lifestyles | 4

Jason Lawrence famuan.metro@gmail.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.