northwest missourian
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012 | V87 | N23
nwmissourinews.com
BUDGET THE DECISION
Regents discuss University’s future
TREY WILLIAMS Editor-in-Chief
The Northwest Board of Regents is faced today with the daunting task of deciding the University’s future. Since Gov. Jay Nixon announced the cuts to Missouri’s higher education budget Jan. 17, the clock has been ticking for Northwest and the plan to make up the approximately $2 million deficit. The department realignment plan proposed by the University
that warranted mass coverage and chatter around campus is now in the hands of the regents. “(The regents are) going to be concerned, as we are, with trying to balance the fact that we have seen a decline for three budget cycles in a row for budget appropriations,” Provost Doug Dunnam said. “So, to date, we have seen a decrease of 12.2 percent; depending on what happens in the legislature this year, that’s gonna end up at probably 7.6 percent, an additional 7.6 percent. So, that’s a significant cut in state
appropriations, which means tuition becomes a more important source of revenue.” The regents met via teleconference March 15 to discuss the contracts with Barnes & Noble concerning the campus bookstore and Aramark. Northwest will enter contracts will both vendors. Each new contract will run from July 1 through June 30, 2015. The board will discuss proposals for new student fees, increasing tuition to the current consumer price index and the department re-
alignment plan. Again, the big news will be what the board decides to do in terms of realigning departments, especially after appeals by the reduction in force committee. “There are some concerns that the alignments don’t work, and as I said all along, we know that there are going to have to be some changes because most of those majors have FCS courses in them,” Dunnam said. In the weeks leading up to today’s meeting, the students in the
family and consumer sciences department have been aggressive in voicing their opinions when it comes to department realignments. “I don’t think that they’re going to notice a heck of a lot of difference. FCS students will notice the most because they won’t be taking FCS courses anymore. They’ll be called psychology courses, or they’ll be called something else,” Dunnam said. “But for the most part, students are not going to know except SEE REGENTS | A8
Annual event gives insight on Asian culture
TANNING LAWS
EMILY DEMAREA Chief Reporter
PHOTO ILLISTRATION BY LORI FRANKENFIELD | NW MISSOURIAN
Rep. Gary Cross is sponsoring a new tanning law is being proposed that could effect many tanning salons in Missouri. Maryville tanning buisnesses believe this proposed law will not effect their current or future buisness.
BILL ADDS RESTRICTIONS ON MINORS ASHLEY HERRING Assistant News Editor
Thirty million: the number of people who tan indoors across the country. Two million: the number of teens who tan indoors across the country. Seventy-four percent: the increase in the likelihood that those who tan indoors will develop melanoma over people who have never tanned indoors, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation’s website. These statistics represent some of the reasons why Rep. Gary Cross is sponsoring House Bills 1283 and 1475. If House Bill 1283 is passed, people age 16 and younger will be prohibited from tanning indoors, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. House Bill 1475 will require tanning salon visitors ages 16 to 18 to have a parent sign a consent form in person that allows them to use a tanning bed. “We want to educate individuals,” Cross
said in a Fox 4 News interview. “We want to help them make the best possible decision. We are not out here to put tanning beds out of business.” Cross’ daughter, who recently had precancerous moles removed, is in support of the proposals, and testified at the bill’s hearing, according to an article published in the University of Missouri’s newspaper, The Maneater. Like the sun, both UV-A and UV-B rays emitted in tanning beds penetrate both the surface layer of the skin and the layers underneath. Unlike the sun, tanning beds heat the skin at the same intensity year round and are not limited by the time of day, the season or the amount of cloud cover as the sun is, according to the FDA. Regardless of the source, exposure to UV light does increase one’s chances of developing skin cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.
According to NCSL, there are two categories of skin cancer: melanoma and nonmelanoma. Melanoma can be treated if it is caught early, but it is likely to spread to other areas of the body and has the potential to be fatal. NCSL predicts that 76,250 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in 2012, and the disease will take the lives of 9,180 people. Of the melanoma cases diagnosed, 90 percent appear in children ages 10-19. Local Maryville tanning salons, including Beach Tanning and JASS Salon, said they do not believe that their sales or customers will be affected if the bills are approved due to certain regulations already in place. Beach Tanning salon co-owner Barbara Weybreu said it is a primary business practice at Beach to not allow anyone under the age of 18 to tan. JASS Salon has a similar regulation in SEE TANNING | A8
The Asian Student Association will provide multiple perspectives with insight on the Asian culture at its annual ASA dinner Saturday. According to President Yujia Guo, the ASA currently has about 35 members. These members have combined to plan the event, including Asian dinner and entertainment. Saturday’s event will include Chinese food with silverware and chopsticks. The goal is for people to eat as if they were in an Asian environment such as a Chinese dinner banquet. Guo said this plan will add to the whole Asian vibe the ASA would like to give off at the dinner. “People can expect cultural fun with good food,” Guo said. Tianli Wi is the ASA vice president. She is also in charge of gathering the performers for the show. Wi said there will be three different ways students can become familiar with the Asian culture. “Along with the food, guests will be entertained by multiple performers at the dinner, including magicians, traditional dances and traditional instrumental performances,” Wi said. The Asian instruments being played at the dinner will include the zheng. This zheng is a Chinese-originated stringed board that musicians pluck. Along with the zheng, guests will hear an erhu. The ehru is also a stringed instrument and is similar to a fiddle. Nadig Chowdery will host the dinner. Chowdery is a Missouri Academy student involved with the ASA. She will also be joined by academy student Jojo Bhou. The dinner will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 31, in the J.W. Jones Student Union Ballroom.
Pressing issues on upcoming ballot ALEX RASH News Editor
Maryville citizens will get the opportunity to vote on pressing issues in the upcoming municipal election April 3. Voters will decide whether a $13.7 million revenue bond issue will pass. The bond will pay for state-mandated improvements at the municipal wastewater treatment plant. Public Works Director C.E. Goodall said that the current lagoon system that the city is using no longer meets the Department of Natural Resources’ requirements. The DNR has given Maryville until July 2015 to correct the system. Goodall said that using bonds to pay for the new system is the most cost efficient way for the citizens of Maryville. It would raise the cost of sewage on their water bill by 45 percent. “This does have to happen; it is mandatory,” Goodall said. If the proposal doesn’t pass, the city will have to look for alternative methods to fund the project, all of which carry higher interest rates, according to City Manager Greg McDanel. Regardless of the results at the poll, a new system will have to be implemented, or the city will be subject to fines ranging from
$5-20 thousand a day. Also on the ballot is one open seat on the City Council. Incumbent Shawn Wake, who has served the council since April 2009, will run against former council member Jeff Funston. Wake, who is the current mayor pro tem, also serves as performance facilities manager at Northwest. “Three years ago when I ran I said that I wanted to give back to the community because I grew up here; the community gave me a lot and I wanted to give back,” Wake said. “I still want to give back, but I’ve found that I really like the job, not a lot of people can say that.” Funston, a Maryville resident since 1954, previously sat on the council in two inconsecutive terms. He also played a major role in the construction of the Mozingo Lake Park. “My wife and I made the decision to make Maryville our home many years ago, and we have never regretted it,” Funston said. Whoever is elected will serve a threeyear term with the Council. Also up for a three-year term are two seats on the school board. Incumbants Elaine Wilson and James Beemer, along with Frank Grispino Jr. and Tom Spencer, are in the running.
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AMANDA MONROE | NW MISSOURIAN
Public Works Director C.E. Goodall speaks at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 27. Goodall proposed a “wastewater treatment plant improvement.” The improvement will cost nearly $13.7 million dollars for the city of Maryville.
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