First Place
begin work with Habitat for Humanity NEWS: Greeks Page 2 brings world-wide art to campus ARTS & LIFE: Program Page 3 conference cosponsored by gay group VIEWS: Conservative Page 5
Men’s basketball team wins sixth-straight game Page 4
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
News 1,2 Arts & Life 3 Sports 4 Views 5 Classifieds 6 Games 6
Volume 95 | Issue 21
Snowy 39° / 33°
ntdaily.com
The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas
Bataille discusses resignation, future plans Diebel to take office in five days BY LISA GARZA
Senior Staff Writer There are still no concrete answers about UNT President Gretchen Bataille’s resignation as the end of her term nears on Feb. 28. “People will have to draw their own conclusions,” she said. Bataille maintains that her decision to step down is in the best interest of the university. The president shook her head, deliberating before she spoke. “That’s all I can really, really say,” she said. Chancellor Lee Jackson stated at this month’s Board of Regents meeting and Wednesday’s Faculty Senate meeting that there were “internal communications and collaborations concerns among your leadership and Board that needed to be addressed internally.” “That’s from his perspective,” Bataille said. “I have not had any conversations or disagreements
informed him of their struggle to attorney, Bataille said. She is not legally bound from move on with no explanation. “I share that struggle,” Wilkins discussing the circumstances surrounding her decision to said in an e-mail. “[Bataille] is absolutely right that we must resign, Bataille said. “There is no non-disclosure carry on with the important work agreement,” she said. “I can say of the university.” There is a lot of unfinished whatever I want to say.” She understands the students’ business that will be up to the and faculty’s frustrations over interim presidents and the next being left in the dark, Bataille president who will come in, Bataille said. said. “It’s disappointing to me that I “That is the hardest part, frankly it is, leaving students, won’t be able to continue reprefaculty and staff in the lurch,” she senting UNT,” she said. “I was said. “This is a wonderful place, the chair-elect for the American and I gave it my heart and soul for Counsel of Education, the largest three-and-a-half years, and I’m higher education association in the country. UNT would have very sorry [to be leaving].” Provost Wendy Wilkins said had a presence there, but now PHOTO BY KAITLYN PRICE/PHOTOGRAPHER it is not her place to support or won’t be there because you have Phil Diebel will serve as interim president of UNT for three months starting March 1. not support Bataille’s decision to to be a university president on remain mum but she “respects the board.” Phil Diebel, who will become by e-mail of her intention to UNT System moving its offices her decision to be as completely with the Board of Regents.” professional as possible under interim president on March 1, A request for comment from resign on Feb. 10. Shortly after, to Dallas. said he is not expecting to make Under the terms of the tran- the circumstances.” Jackson was not returned by Bataille sent a mass e-mail. Various members of the UNT any changes during his tenure “It was their announcement sition agreement, the univerdeadline. sity must reimburse Bataille as community pressed Jackson for but is determined to keep the Bataille said that conversa- to make,” she said. While Bataille would not much as $20,000 for legal fees, answers during Wednesday’s initiatives currently in progtions between herself and the chancellor regarding her possible discuss the specific reasons which includes the costs of nego- Faculty Senate meeting and ress. resignation did not take place that led to her resignation, she tiating the terms. The universaid that she is not ill, does not sity attorney is for the Board until Feb. 7. To read the full version of this story, visit ntdaily.com The UNT System Office have another job lined up and of Regents and the chancellor, For the Daily editorial on this issue, see Page 5 informed the UNT community there was no clash over the so she needed to have her own
Student volunteers head up reading program in Denton Children benefit from UNT help BY K ATIE GRIVNA Senior Staff Writer
PHOTO BY REBEKAH GOMEZ/PHOTOGRAPHER
Rebecca Phillips assists her daughter, nursing senior Bailey Phillips, at the College Goal Sunday, a FAFSA workshop held Sunday in the Business Building. College Goal Sunday is also a nonprofit program that supports and provides information to families applying for financial assistance.
UNT hosts workshop for financial aid applicants BY STACY POWERS
Contributing Writer UNT students have filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for years. Still, Lacey Thompson, assistant director of UNT Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, said most new students don’t know where to begin. “The most common question I have been getting is basically how to start, what’s the school code and they want to know a lot about scholarships,” said Sarah Cheek, a student adviser with the Emerald Eagle Scholar program and volunteer. Students and their families had the opportunity to receive free help and information on applying for financial aid from College Goal Sunday, a national nonprofit program UNT hosted this weekend. This was UNT’s third year as a host site for College Goal Sunday, and attendance doubled from the previous year. The workshop had volunteers from financial aid, which included its director and many other individuals who were available as “FAFSA experts.” The workshop also had a group of Emerald Eagle Scholars who assisted with FAFSA and scholarship questions.
“My question was pretty much just how does it work and what do I do after I fill out the FAFSA.”
—Megan Hester, Undeclared freshman
The most difficult thing students and families wanted to know was how to fill out the application, Cheek said. What things mean, expected income and qualifications are the kinds of things most students asked about, Cheek said. She estimated she helped 15 families during the workshop. “I have worked with financial aid for almost two years now, and I still have questions with the FAFSA and I still get help with it,” Cheek said. “It is a very confusing process, but I am learning it. Basically I just want to make sure I am putting the right number in the right spot.” There were high school students and their families, and students who plan on transferring, along with students who already attend UNT. “I need money. That’s why
I’m here,” said Megan Hester, an undeclared freshman who attended the workshop with her father. “My question was pretty much just how does it work and what do I do after I fill out the FAFSA.” Hester’s father, Stephen Hester, did not know the scope of the workshop, but like most parents had questions about how to pay for college. Applying for financial aid can be an obstacle course, and it takes a couple times to figure out how it works, he said. “The U.S. Department of Education has been able to utilize technology to simplify the experience a student will encounter while completing a FAFSA on the Web,” said Thompson. The priority date for FAFSA submission is March 31 for the fall 2010 and spring 2011 school year.
W hen Jacy Rader, a psychology senior and student volunteer for the Success for Life Through Reading program, walked into a preschool classroom at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School on Friday, the children greeted her with enthusiasm. “They get really excited,” she said. “You can see it in their eyes.” Before long, Rader and the class headed over to an alphabet-covered rug and she began to read to the children about teamwork in the book “The Biggest Valentine Ever.” Rader is one of about 55 student volunteers involved in the Success for Life Through Reading program, a volunteerbased literacy program for lowincome preschool children that is almost totally student run. After she finished reading the book to them, the children worked together to make a valentine for their teacher. “I’m not a huge kid person, but this makes me be a kid person,” Rader said. Once a week, UNT student volunteers go into the various classrooms to read a book to the preschoolers. After reading the book, the volunteer participates in an activity with the children to reinforce the themes of the book, and afterward the preschoolers get to take a new copy of the book home with them to keep. Rachel Yedlowski, the literacy coordinator and a public administration master’s student, is paid by and works part-time for the program. Her duties include recruiting student-volunteers, training t hem, ma nag i ng t hem throughout the semester and assigning student volunteers to an agency where they will
PHOTO BY CRISTY ANGULO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Robert Serwetz, an interdisciplinary studies junior, is a weekly reader for the Success for Life Through Reading program. The “Clifford the Big Red Dog” series is his favorite series to read to the children, he said. read to children. “It’s just a way for us to show that UNT is not just about the academic side. It is this other service-learning aspect and encourage the students in the community to give back, and it allows us to be out there working with children in populations that a lot of these college students might not have had the opportunity to do otherwise,” she said. Last semester, the program’s 51 volunteers handed out 2,466 new books, the most books ever given out in a single semester, Yedlowski said. Caitlin Burton, an interdisciplinary studies junior and volunteer curriculum writer, works in the program’s office. Burton said she joined the program as part of a requirement for her Development and Family Studies class and found writing the activities is a lot of fun. “You get to be completely crazy, you can make whatever activity you want,” she said. “It’s building my creativity because I’m going to be a teacher, so I’m going to have to be able to think on my feet and
make fun activities for stories and just be prepared for anything they throw at you.” Robert Serwetz, an interdisciplinary studies junior and weekly reader for the program, volunteered at Denton County Day School last semester and hopes he will read there again soon. “There’s nothing else really that you can say is the foundation for every piece of education,” Serwetz said. “A lot of times, kids grow up in families who have less monetarily, they miss out on that a lot of times, so programs like this are incredible.” The program is part of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service and serves Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, the Ann Windle School for Young Children, Denton Christian Preschool, Denton County Day School, Fred Moore Day Nursery School, ABC Preschool and Child Care Center, Terry’s Treehouse Learning Center, and Tiny Tykes Learning Center. For more information, visit www.ecv.unt.edu/success4life. html.