Oracle The
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2013
Running away with it Darius Davis contributed to the 66-24 win over SAU with 7 receptions for 232 yards. See the game story on page 4.
HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY
VOLUME 16, ISSUE 12
University police get ready for ‘Battle’ Maegan Estes Staff Writer While Reddies gear up for the biggest game of the season, the Battle of the Ravine football game against Ouachita, Henderson’s University Police Department has lots to do to prepare for the game as well. One week prior to the game, the department brings in extra officers to better look after the campus. The extra eyes and ears are mainly for the night shift, which lasts from dark until daylight. At least five officers are patrolling during the night shift to prevent any activity that would damage property on campus. Though most of the activity that occurs is harmless, occasionally things become serious and potentially dangerous. In the past, people have been hurt and property has been damaged. For example, Ouachita students poured acid on Henderson’s historic bell one year. The evidence of the OBU vs. HSU rivalry ranges from eggs being thrown to the Ouachita campus being coated in purple glitter. “We want everyone to have a good time,” Johnny Campbell, chief of University Police, said. “We know there is going to be soap in the fountain.” Last year, Henderson students did their fair share of
damage by breaking off the tail of the tiger at Ouachita. In the case of either university being caught vandalizing a campus, students can be charged with criminal mischief and may be arrested. Kappa Kappi Psi, a national honorary co-ed fraternity for college band members whose sole purpose is to serve the band, assists university police in protecting Henderson’s campus every year during the week of the game. They refer to this event as “OBU Watch.” It consists of Kappa Kappa Psi members guarding certain areas of campus, such as the fountain, the football stadium and the Centennial area. Beginning Sunday night before the big game, there are two brothers positioned at each station who stand guard every night leading up to Saturday morning. The two night shifts of duty are from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. and 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. Guarding members are told to contact campus police if any suspicious activity occurs during their watch. “We love doing OBU Watch,” David Goodwin, Kappa Kappa Psi president, said. “It has become a traditional event that we look forward to doing. It gives us the chance to not only build better brotherhood through service, but it also gives us the chance to serve our school.”
Photo by Alegra Parker
MCNAIR SCHOLARS The induction ceremony for the Ronald E. McNair
Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program was held last Tuesday in the Garrison Banquet Room. The 2013-2014 inductees are as follows: (Bottom row from left to right) Christine Dickson, Ungela James, Araseli Zarate, Logan Elmore, Olivia Green, and Claudine Carr. (Top row from left to right) Phillip Turner, Raven Lockhart, Randi Lovell, Jonathan Eagle and Jason Waller. The Battle of the Ravine will not take place at Henderson’s campus this year, but university police are still responsible for the multiple events occurring on the HSU intramural fields Friday night. When game time arrives, the department will provide officers to ensure the team makes it safely to OBU’s campus. “Then we will escort the winning team back across to our campus after the game,” Campbell said. Campbell has worked for
Henderson’s university police for 19 years. He has served as chief for six years. He worked for the Prescott Police Department for five years before coming to Henderson. Officer Keewyone Delaney, Reddie football defensive end from 2001 to 2004, has served as an officer at the Henderson Police Department for three years. Delaney reflects on how different Reddie football was when he played for Henderson nine years ago. “The recent success of the
football team has brought new life to the Battle of the Ravine,” said Delaney. During the game, campus police will act as a law enforcement presence for Henderson’s fans while on OBU’s campus. The department encourages students to have fun and be smart. “The department gets involved in all of the excitement and has a good time also,” Campbell said. “We get excited about football and excited for the team.”
Faculty Senate debates grade forgiveness, withdrawal policy Victoria Culliver Staff Writer Henderson’s Faculty Senate met on Wednesday, Nov. 6 to discuss several issues, two of which involved the Academic Committee regarding a revised grade forgiveness policy and withdrawal policy. The 26-member senate is made up of professors, deans, the interim provost and other important members of Henderson’s faculty. The first issue to call regarded the grade forgive-
Sarge and mom juggles school as well
Photo courtesy of Daphne Willis
MILITARY MOM
Britni Dumas with her son, Xander. Dumas divides her time between more than most students. Story on page 2...
ness policy which currently allows students to retake a class unlimited amount of time, the last of which being the grade that will appear on one’s transcript. However, a change is being made that will only allow students to have fifteen forgiven credit hours of grade forgiveness. David Evans, professor of music and director of bachelor of general studies, lead the Faculty Senate meeting discussion. “This policy is not limiting the number of time you take a class,” Evans said, “it’s numbering the amount of times you take it for no consequence.” The 15-hour forgiveness not only counts to retaking courses, but also helps those students who may suffer from one catastrophic semester. The change to add the fifteen-hour restraint only means that after fifteen hours of forgiveness, each class retaken will count towards the student’s GPA. Ingo Schranz, associate professor of chemistry, discussed the importance of the ruling for limitation. “GPA should mean something,” he said. Students were able to chime in on this issue as well. “Anybody, if you have the money, can take a class 20 times until you pass or get a 4.0,” Heath Hopfinger, junior English major, said. “Then it’s not fair on someone who took it once and got a 4.0 the first
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time.” Students agree with professors that this new policy will even the playing field for those students, and also not allow a student to be continuously stuck in a class till they feel their grade is what they want it to be. The Faculty Senate took a vote to change the original policy to 15 hours forgiveness with a vote of 19 for, 3 against, and 3 abstentions, or a decline to vote. Additionally, the issue was called into question where it will be further deliberated, fine-tuned and a decision will be made, as the Faculty Senate does not have the final say. “We need to further discuss it in the Academics Committee because there is more to it than just the forgiveness policy,” Schranz said. “There is more fixing we need to do.” The second issue discussed at the Faculty Senate regarded the prospective change to the withdrawal policy. The decision on the table was to change the date a student can withdraw from a class with a “WP,” withdraw pass, or a “WF,” withdraw fail, to 10 weeks into the semester, instead of the original 12 weeks. Some members agreed that by the 10 week period, “students should be making a commitment to the course, or, in extreme circumstances, that’s where the ‘I’ comes in.” Any student given an “I,” for
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Incomplete, means that the student will be given a later opportunity to complete remaining assignments for the course instead of facing a failing grade. This is only given in extreme circumstances, i.e., death in the family or injury. However, with a new change or not, students can be dropped from a class by their professor at any time if there is Academic Dishonesty, i.e., plagiarism or cheating. Some students do not agree with this proposed idea for the 10-week period. Kelli Sanford, senior psychology major, used one of her classes as an example, stating that they had recently had their first major grade assignment this semester, and a larger assignment would not be due until right before finals. Sanford referred this example to the fact that she, along with many other students, do not have enough major assignment grades before the cut off date, so it would be impossible to make the decision about whether or not the class should be dropped. “I think they have enough room in there where they can modify it to where it would be better for the student and the teacher,” Josh Lightsey, senior English major, said, “instead of just dropping it at 10 weeks.” Another argument that can be made regarding this new cut off date is the effect it will have on end of the semester Student
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Features: page 2 | Opinions: page 3 | Sports: page 4
Evaluations. Having the cut off at 10 weeks would not allow students who have dropped the class to evaluate their professor. Some members in the Faculty Senate meeting said that they “do feel it would be helpful for the students that did drop the class to be able to take the course evaluation,” to better help the professors understand why the students dropped. However, some professors and students feel that if a student decides to drop a class, the student no longer holds the right to rate the professor. “I don’t think they should have the right to rate their professor because they dropped,” Lightsey said. “They did not go the full length of the course, so they should not have the ability to rate that professor.” However, if students who decided to drop the class early are not able to send in an evaluation, they have the option to visit websites such as ratemyprofessors.com to air out their decision for dropping. The issue was called to question, as it will still be further looked into before it is officially decided. However, the Faculty Senate voted for wanting for change from 12 weeks to 10 weeks with 24 for, 1 opposed and 1 abstention. Students will be informed when an official decision on both issues has been reached and put into place for Henderson’s campus.
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