Issue 12, Spring 2015

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CATALYST

MIDEAST INTEREST CLUB pg.

WALL PREVIEWS pg.

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MAY 13, 2015 VOLUME XXXVII, ISSUE XII

WHAT’S INSIDE

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THIRD COURT DAMAGES

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TS A G

12 DOGS, DOGS, DOGS!

A student newspaper of New College of Florida

Special session for legislature delays New College budget drafting BY BIANCA BENEDI On April 28, the state legislature closed its regular session three days early, unable to come to an agreement on healthcare spending for the budget. A special session has been called for June 1 to June 20, during which the Senate and the House will attempt negotiations. With the budget currently left up in the air, however, New College’s operating budget planning has been put on hold. Normally the legislature ends on May 1, allowing the school to draft a budget before the June 12 meeting with the Board of Trustees (BOT). With the hold-up, however, the school is left in limbo. Several major budget requests are on the table for New College in this legislative session: a $500,000 increase that will go to the Center for Engagement and Opportunity office, a $720,000 increase that will allow the school to hire more police officers and enhance the police radio system, and an allotment for construction for an addition to the Heiser natural sciences building. “We may still get a lot of stuff,” Vice President for Finance and Administration John Martin said. There is also a possibility we will

photo courtesy of Wikimedia

Rick Scott’s demands for a multi-million dollar tax cut in the budget may force the legislature to keep New College’s budget lean.

not. Although the House’s proposed budget grants the school those increases, the Senate has a $220,000 cut to the school’s operating budget. The special session will attempt to negotiate these numbers, and a final decision will not be published until June 20. Martin cautions that even after that point, Governor Rick Scott could still veto the proposed budget, extending the budget discussion into

July. “Technically, passing a balanced budget is the only thing the state legislature is required to do,” Martin said. But he is optimistic about the results of the special session. “When all is said and done, I think the college will be getting new money next year.” In the meantime, the school has

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Students bind together to provide support in aftermath of tragedies BY SARA MINEO In the wake of last week’s tragedies, police cars, television stations and reporters have swarmed campus. Events, meetings and classes have been postponed or cancelled leaving many to wonder what will happen next. On Friday, May 8 at 3:16 a.m, the Campus Police, Sarasota County EMS and the Sarasota Police Department responded to a report of an unresponsive registered guest in Z Residence Hall. It was later released that the subject was 21-year-old Dylan Besser, a University of Central Florida student. This case is still under investigation. Two days later both police departments and the Sarasota County EMS responded to another report of an unresponsive male student in Pei Second Court Residence Hall on Sunday, May 10 at 3:18 p.m. It was reported later that night at the emergency Community Meeting that the subject was first-year Julian Toomsen-Hall, age

Colton Dodd/Catalyst

Over 300 students attended the emergency Community Meeting, a massive turnout for an emergency event.

18. The Sarasota P.D. is assisting the school in the investigation. President Donal O’Shea released an email update on Monday afternoon stating that the Sarasota County Police has confirmed that both deaths were

drug related. “We are all reeling with shock, and we join his family and friends in mourning his loss,” O’Shea said in an email sent out to the school on Sunday. “We need to be especially mindful and

supportive of each other as we complete this semester. This incident reminds us of how precious and fragile life is, and how important each of us is to our community. Please take care, and let us also agree to look out for one another.” The type and sources of the drugs have yet to be announced, awaiting the toxicology reports. The report could take anywhere between four and eight weeks and school officials will contact students over the summer with any updates. “I don’t think our drug and alcohol problem is any worse at NCF than it is at any Florida school or college,” Chief of Campus Police Michael Kessie said. The Sarasota P.D. stated in a press release that, “As a warning to students, residents and visitors, Officers with the Sarasota Police Department have received intelligence that suggests there is an increase of the pharmaceutical

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