05-30-2012

Page 1

Students turn storage into business. ARTS, pg. 4 Volume LXXVI, Number 130

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

www.mustangdaily.net

Summer school fees rise again

MERCEDES RODRIGUEZ

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Bayzha Gonzalez knew she needed the summer to take a general education astronomy course a few years ago, but cost was an issue. Poly’s summer classes were out of her price range, so the graphic communication junior decided to enroll in Cuesta’s summer session. “It was cheaper and easier to take it at Cuesta,” Gonzalez said. “It was one of the easiest classes I’ve ever taken.” Gonzales said in total, the

four-unit course cost her around $300. If she were to enroll in Cal Poly’s 2012 summer session, the same number of units would now cost her $1,156. With the California budget crisis putting pressure on students to pay more for their educations, schools are looking for ways to conserve funds during summer for the regular school year. This year, fees for the summer session have risen again. In 2010, undergraduates paid $130 per summer unit. In 2011, that amount was raised to

It was cheaper and easier to take (a summer class) at Cuesta ... It was one of the easiest classes I’ve ever taken. BAYZHA GONZALEZ GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION JUNIOR

$209. For Summer 2012, undergraduate student fees will be $289 per unit; graduate and credential student fees will be $319 per unit. There will only be one eightweek session offered to teach these classes, which are being offered in self-support, meaning there will be no state funding for students. Financial aid may still be available, but Cal Poly’s summer school website states that by asking students to pay out of pocket, they will be able to take in the same size freshman class in fall. A 2010 ruling by the Superior Court of Alameda County allows schools to offer special sessions in self-support, which eliminates state funding for that session. After the ruling, Cal Poly decided to use Continuing Education as the financial mechanism for summer sessions, according to a 2010 presentation to the

UNDERGRADUATE COSTS PER UNIT SUMMER SESSION (There will only be one eight week session offered.)

2010 - $130 2011 - $209 2012 - $289

SAN SJSU JOSE SUMMER STATE2012 $388 2012 SUMMER

FRESNO STATE SUMMER 2012 $315

CUESTA PER UNIT SUMMER SESSION

$388

2011 - $36 2012 - $46

GRAPHIC BY MELISSA WONG/MUSTANG DAILY

Academic Senate. Elaine Sullivan, the marketing director for Cal Poly Continuing Education, wrote in an email student fees provide the funding. “In the simplest terms, student fees for a class must cover all costs involved in provid-

ing that class,” Sullivan wrote. “No matter what term a student enrolls in: fall, winter, spring or summer, a student who does not qualify for financial aid would always pay whatever costs are required.” Cal Poly is not offering the most expensive summer ses-

sion, though: San Jose State undergraduate students can expect to pay $388 per unit, and Fresno State will cost $315 per unit. Patricia-Ann Stoneman, the director of Academic Programs see SUMMER, pg. 2

Poly Presidential house renovation costs top CSUs Two national sororities to join Cal Poly in fall MUSTANG DAILY STAFF REPORT

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Cal Poly spent more on presidential housing renovations than any other California State University (CSU) campus during the last decade, according to a report published Tuesday. The report, written for the investigative website CaliforniaWatch.org, said Cal Poly has spent $831,000 on renovations for the University House since 2004. This figure included $230,000 spent on new lighting, flooring and kitchen upgrades when Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong moved into the house in 2011, and the university converted the building into a private residence, according to California Watch. Vice President of Administration and Finance Larry Kelley wrote in an email that the figures in the report were correct, but California Watch blurred the line between what was normal maintenance and what was required to make the space livable. “Of the $430,000 reported as expenditures, roughly $200,000 was to help make the building a home for the Armstrongs,” Kelley wrote. “The balance was for a project that began before President Armstrong was hired and without any awareness that he would choose to live in the house. The expenditures were needed for such things as

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VICTORIA BILLINGS

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CHRISTIAN MILLAN / MUSTANG DAILY

The University House began undergoing necessary upgrades in early 2011 after being uninhabited since 2004. It was used mainly for events during that time. repairs to a leaking roof, repair of damage from termite infestation, upgrades to electrical service, replacement of rotted windows and replacement of the water heater.” Armstrong and his wife currently live in the four-bedroom home, which was converted for residential use in 2011. Armstrong’s predecessor, Warren Baker, lived in the house until 2004 when he chose to move off campus and took a stipend to cover his housing costs.

Baker’s situation was not typical, CSU spokesperson Liz Chapin said. It is a requirement of all university presidents, she said, to live in their campus house. The CSU provides housing for 12 of its 23 campus presidents, as well as CSU Chancellor Charles Reed. But special arrangements were made for Baker because Cal Poly needed a place to hold university conference and events — a role the University House fit well. According to California

SPORTS, pg. 8 Triple the trouble with football’s triple option.

Watch, the cost of conversion after Baker moved out totaled $21,000. California Watch named Cal Poly Pomona as the secondhighest spender on renovations, with $360,112 in state funds going toward its Manor House. The spending included replacing plumbing and electrical systems, remodeling the house’s kitchen and other renovations, according to the report. Armstrong could not be reached for comment.

Tomorrow’s Weather: high Sunny

73˚F

low 52˚F

Greek life’s Panhellenic (PHA) will have two new additions next year, in the form of sororities Kappa Kappa Gamma and Alpha Epsilon Phi. Kappa Kappa Gamma was invited to start a chapter at Cal Poly after PHA decided greek life needed another sorority due to high interest, while local Jewish-interest sorority Alpha Epsilon is joining the national sorority Alpha Epsilon Phi to become a full-fledged member of PHA, PHA president and business marketing senior Heather Hays said. “We’re really, really excited to have them coming,” Hays said. “They’re interested in Cal Poly with the caliber of students that we have.” PHA originally called for applications from national or international sororities interested in establishing a chapter at Cal Poly, a process called extension, Hays said. After sorting through the applications, the extension committee selected two sororities to present, and Kappa Kappa Gamma was chosen to join PHA and establish a chapter at Cal Poly. Kappa Kappa Gamma’s emphasis on academics and com-

INDEX News.............................1-3 Arts..............................4-5

munity building was a strong factor in the sorority’s selection, Hays said. “They were very enthusiastic about our community and really showed how they could be a perfect fit,” Hays said. Kappa Kappa Gamma will be working with PHA next fall to recruit and organize, and will officially begin operating in January 2013. The sorority will be looking for Cal Poly women that maybe never felt drawn to greek life before, but feel as if they want to get involved now, Hays said. Part of the goal of inviting Kappa Kappa Gamma to campus was to reach out to new women. “They’re looking for a sort of woman who maybe haven’t been discovered yet,” Hays said. Kappa Kappa Gamma will be recruiting women from all grade levels as well to have a solid leadership base, Panhellenic adviser Renoda Campbell said. The sorority doesn’t have a base of members at Cal Poly yet, so they’re looking for “instant leaders” to help guide the sorority, Campbell said. “Because they are looking for a well-rounded sorority, they are not just looking for students that are freshmen, but they are see SORORITIES, pg. 2

Opinions/Editorial...........6 Classifieds/Comics..........7 Sports..........................6-8


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