Florida’s Top College Paper
New TMA Opens Feb. 6
Vol. 76 No. 18
ut.minaret@gmail.com
By Charlie Hambos Editor-in-Chief
See “Hojo” [3]
February 5, 2010
SUPPORT
Hojo Residents Back to Campus Several residents of the Howard Johnson were furious after receiving an email from Residence Life on Monday night saying that they were being forced to move onto campus within a week. The email said that University of Tampa officials were “consolidating all Howard Johnson residents to campus” by Monday, Feb. 8. Students were given the option of participating in an open room change, but were informed that if they did not choose a room they would be given one and notified via email. “We were forced to form a community and they are breaking that up,” said Chris McEleveen, a transfer entrepreneurship major from Birmingham, Ala. “I feel like we’re inventory in a warehouse and there is nothing we can do about it.” Eric Cárdenas, director of Public Information, said that Residence Life is hoping to move all of the students out over the weekend. “It’s been the university policy to move students back on campus when rooms become available,” Cárdenas said. Currently, there are less than 50 students staying at the Howard Johnson, but there were 260 students that moved into the hotel at the beginning of the fall semester to compensate for the large incoming freshman class. Throughout the semester students were moved onto campus as rooms opened up. In fall 2008, 70 students started their UT career in the Howard Johnson and all were eventually moved to campus after the fall room change. In 2006, UT used the Hyatt Downtown to house students and many of them stayed there until winter break. According to Cárdenas, Residence Life has not received any complaints from students or parents, but regardless, the students certainly have an opinion on the matter. “I’m kind of pissed off about it,” Melinda Bellis, a transfer nursing major, said. Bellis and her twin sister were originally promised that they
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Haitians gathered for an outdoor prayer session.
Damon Winter/The New York Times
New Health Center to Open by End of Year
By Rob Stephenson Reporter
Five months after the H1N1 virus overwhelmed the 1,800 square foot Health Center with sick students, the University of Tampa is expanding the facility to five times its size. Officials announced Monday that the new Health Center would open by the end of the year. The UT Health Center saw the need of its expansion early last fall as universities across the country braced for the H1N1 virus. Students became frustrated and waits became longer as the facility took in a record number of students each week, but the need never met the demand. The former Health Center which was 1,800 square feet will begin its transformational upgrade to 10,300 square feet on Friday, Feb. 5 at noon. For the remainder of the semester, the Health Center will be moved to a modular facility on UT's new property by the former Valencia Gardens restaurant. The new facility will have a second floor, along with a larger waiting area, eight exam rooms for optimum patient privacy, staff offices, group counseling rooms and a pharmacy.
Acquired by the University in 1997, the old Health Center only had to accommodate about 2,800 students, but since the school now has a population of 6,300 along with a higher influx of student applicants each year, it has been decided that a new health center is needed. “Student enrollment was half of what it is now, so the school needs this sort of upgrade,” said public information Director, Eric Cárdenas. “While the construction is going on, students will be able to begin going to the new tempo-
Inside ...
rary Health Center modular at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8.” “We’re committed to provide top-level support for the wellness of all of our students, and this new facility will greatly help,” Dean of Students, Bob Ruday said in a UT press release. “The new facility will allow our staff to provide health services more efficiently and effectively and will enhance student’s overall experience at UT. We’ll be able to see more patients, and they’ll have much more privacy.” With the current Student
UT Professor Published [2] Cass Bridge Update [3]
RunwayRundown.com [9] Haiti’s Glorious Past [14] “What is Love?” [9]
Non-Violent Islam [13]
February Breakdown [17]
Double Trouble [18]
Courtesy of Public Information
Health Center seeing as many as 1,000 students a month for health and counseling services, an additional second floor and increase in the amount of patient exam rooms makes the most sense to meet the needs of students prone to illnesses, accidents or mental fatigue. “Our health center now resembles a trailer and if I were visiting the campus for the first time I’d never guess it was even a health center. It’s about time we get a new
See “Expansion” [3] News....................[1-6] Diversions..............[8] A&E....................[9-11] Editorial...............[12] Commentary....[12-15] Sports..............[17-20]
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