MINARET UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1933
THE
Volume 78 Number 6
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October 6, 2011
Faculty Concerned About Their ‘Diminishing Role’ in Campus Decisions By MIKEY ANGELO RUMORE and RICH SOLOMON Asst. Opinion Editor and Opinion Editor
The letter drafted for President Ronald Vaughn last month by the University of Tampa Faculty Senate expressing concerns over rapid university expansion and the faculty’s relationship with the administration is not the first statement to address such anxieties. In October 2010, a letter on behalf of the faculty senators within UT’s College of Arts and Letters declared, “Of late, we have become more and more troubled over what we perceive to be the diminishing role of the faculty in the governance of our university. We often find ourselves at a loss to pinpoint the genesis of issues that reach the floor of the [faculty] senate, and we often find ourselves confronting problems for which solutions have been predetermined by others.” One example of administrators operating with little-to-no faculty input, according to the letter, was a Freshman Abroad Program to London’s Roehampton University. The program, the CAL faculty letter noted, was “presented to the faculty as a fait accompli [irreversible decision]” and was later a source of faculty contention. The program, intended to enhance campus internationalization, sent some freshman abroad to Roehampton University in London. The program was eventually eliminated. “In the case of Roehampton, those decisions were not made without faculty input,” said UT provost Janet McNew. “Because it was intended to be an academic program, [it] had involvement from the faculty members in charge of the affected programs from the beginning. But the faculty felt, and it was true, that that program got ahead of the faculty processes. And they were concerned about quality control with that program. And because they were concerned, so was I.” The 2010 CAL letter also voiced concerns about the university’s partnership with ELS Language Centers, a for-profit, private English-language service that provides academic programs for international students. The program is part of what McNew described as the “imperative and strategic plan to internationalize the campus.” The CAL letter described the partnership as having been “created without faculty input.” Tracy Morse, assistant professor of composition and rhetoric, said that controversy over the university’s partnership with ELS resulted from concerns “that we [would] not have enough places that are right for those students” and “that there was an admissions change to the catalog that the faculty had no input into and didn’t know about.” The 2010 university catalog included language referring specifically to ELS. The language has since been removed. However, ELS still operates using university space.
See FACULTY, Page 4
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Water, Water, Everywhere Storms leave students, campus soaked
By SHIVANI KANJI News Editor
On Thursday Sept. 22 a storm hit the Tampa area, flooding roads and portions of the University of Tampa campus. Three days later, streets were once again flooded, the effects of an afternoon rainstorm. According to Tampa Bay Online, the rain caused parts of Kennedy Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard to be closed due to flooding. On campus, many students trudged through high water on their way to class or through residence halls full of water. Although security reports have not recorded any injuries caused by the flooding, students reported seeing people slip and fall in different areas throughout campus. Freshman Ashley Singh was working at the Vaughn Center information desk on the night of the first storm. She said she saw people slipping and falling all over Vaughn throughout the evening. Although many students called the information desk, Singh and her team were unable to provide them with much information since Facilities Management was busy that night and could not keep them updated. Alireza Bahramirad reported that the tiles in the roof were leaking in the back of his classroom in the John Sykes College of Business. “I walked in and like three of the roof tiles were on the floor,” he said. Bahramirad’s class had to cram to the front of the classroom for their exam.
Channing Hailey/ The Minaret
Residents drain water out of their rooms in McKay Hall.
See TOP STORY, Page 5
P.E.A.C.E. Receives Philanthropy Award By DANI CARPENTER News Reporter
This upcoming November, University of Tampa’s volunteer organization, People Exploring Active Community Experiences (P.E.A.C.E) has been invited to receive a prestigious award at the National Philanthropy Day event in recognition of their dedication to humanitarianism and service worldwide. This event is scheduled to be held at the A La Carte Event Pavilion in Tampa. Every academic year, students complete approximately 100,000 hours of service within both the campus and various communities within and outside the Tampa Bay area. Last year alone, the P.E.A.C.E Volunteer Center contributed an estimated 25,000 hours of community service to that total with their philanthropy-based activities. Founded in 1994, P.E.A.C.E continually strives “to increase volunteerism at UT through direct service and advocacy.” Members participate in various activities, such 7 Going Unplugged with Rachel Brown 11 Japanese Eatery Prepares Sushi on a budget
as, volunteering frequently at local soup kitchens, visiting shelters for the homeless and cleaning up trash at coastal areas. Their latest service trip entailed an “alternative break” trip to Cayo Costa State Park to advocate towards a cleaner environment. P.E.A.C.E is considered as a widely diverse group as opposed to other clubs, teams and organizations ran by UT because the volunteers can be made up of students, faculty and staff members. Each semester, about 100 events are organized by students to help promote volunteering within the community. Typically, the P.E.A.C.E Volunteer Center’s charitable work is completed without outward recognition. However, this year, the center has been awarded the 2011 National Philanthropy Day Award. This accreditation is sponsored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) under the Florida Suncoast Chapter, which serves as the “world’s leading association for individuals and organizations that support charitable institutions.”
One member of P.E.A.C.E and a freshman at UT, Shane Autumn Nebbia, commented on her experience with the organization. “[Getting involved with P.E.A.C.E] is a really positive thing for everyone. For the environment, for the community, for me. Community service is something I just like to do.” When asked about her opinions of the National Philanthropy Day Award, she said, “I’m excited that the organization earned this award, maybe this event will cause more people to hear about it and encourage them become more involved.” Nebbia hopes more students, faculty and staff will become involved in the P.E.A.C.E movement and characterize the motives of other volunteers with the organization as well. On Nov. 16, P.E.A.C.E. will be presented the award at the National Philanthropy Day event, which focuses on celebrating the positive impact that philanthropy can have on lives of individuals and the community. Dani Carpenter can be reached at dani.carpenter@spartans.ut.edu.
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