Editoral: Thinking green is good for UTSA, Page 6
Softball: Scores big in SLC Page 12
Comic: Rowdy freaks over finals, Page 6
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio
Page 6
April 27, 2010 Volume 42 • Issue 14 • 16 Pages
Page 10 Story Updates
Photo Courtesy: UTSA SAE
Communication chair steps down
UTSA’s Society of Automotive Engineers has built a Formula Series race car. SAE will be taking the car to the Formula West Series Competition in Fontana, California, on June 16-19. The event will feature an acceleration competition. The students will also be judged on their business presentation as well as on the car’s design and cost.
Budget cuts threaten departments’ funding COLFA may face larger classes, fewer courses, less full-time faculty and heavier courseload for existing staff
Krystal Bordner
paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net
Some apartments pay $10,000 for shuttle Seven apartment complexes near the UTSA Main Campus have agreed to pay $10,000 to provide off-campus shuttle service for the 2010-2011 academic year. The agreement was reached with the Broadstone Ranch, Highlands, High View Place, Hill Country Place, Maverick Creek, The Outpost and The Reserve apartment communities. “UTSA appreciates their support, and we look forward to serving students who reside in these communities with reliable shuttle service in the coming year,” said Jane Wilcox, director of UTSA Business Auxiliary Services. “This strategic alliance is mutually beneficial for students, UTSA and the apartment communities. Chase Hill, Blue Bonnet Hills and Las Colinas did not pay the shuttle fee, so UTSA cut them from the shuttle routes.
Think Green Fund approved by 52 percent
COLFA majors are more likely to be affected by the budget cuts than Science, Technology, Engeneering and Math majors.
He has created the Spring 2011 schedule without any reduction in courses or staff. Several of the departments in COLFA will be left with little development. “What is certain is that we will not be able to hire any new faculty for next year,” Dr. Steven Kellman, English professor, said. “That will mean some combination of the following: larger classes, fewer course offerings, increased use of part-time instructors, heavier load by existing faculty for curriculum planning, dissertation supervision and other academic responsibilities,” Kellman said. “My department and a few others in COLFA are two or three new hires away from national prominence, and the freeze on new positions will delay UTSA’s elevation in accomplishment and prestige.” The music department, however, may grow. “Our department is getting this incredibly exciting degree proposal, and it’s currently being reviewed at the UT System,” Eugene Dowdy, associate professor of music and the conductor of the UTSA Orchestra, said. “It’s a doctorate of music; it’s a pioneering initiative of combining music and science in vocal health especially. “We’re proposing this degree, but we’re also being told at the same time no new music degrees are going to be approved right now.”
On the other side of campus, Dr. Robert Fuhrman, psychology department chair, has positive plans for his department as well. “We have the same number of sections of classes. In fact we’re expanding them a little bit, at least a little bit based on some of the non-tenure types of instructors,” Fuhrman said. It seems that all of the plans are still in place; some of them will just be delayed until the economy improves. Fuhrman doesn’t expect the hold to delay UTSA’s progress for more than a year, but without knowing the future of the economy and the toll it will take on the UT system, it is impossible to say for sure. “[Dean Gelo] is looking to not only not cut budgets but to expand. There is talk of having a dance program, and they are talking of hiring a few dance instructors. The other thing that everyone wants is a theatre department, which UTSA does not have,” Mark Brill, professor of musicology, said. UTSA is striving for tier-one status, and many universities in that catagory have a theatre department. However, the problem for UTSA is lack of space.
The Think Green Fund, a proposal for a $5 increase in fees, to support green initatives at UTSA, passed on the March 22- 23 ASAP vote. Of the 29,000 UTSA students only 980 voted. The proposal was supported by Young Democrats, Green Society, ReEnergize San Antonio and Students for John Sharp. The proposal was strongly opposed by UTSA Republicans and Young Americans for Liberty at UTSA. The resolution will now be sent to the UT System Board of Regents for approval. UTEP also passed their Think Green Fund on March 22-23. A student lead Bi-law committee will determine the distibution of funds. Students interested on being on the committee should contact Pardeis Heidari at pardeis.heidarisga@gmail.com
Students deliver 1000 cranes to hospital The UTSA Office of Student Activities will deliver 1000 Origami Cranes to the Children’s Hospital at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in celebration of Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month on Tuesday April 27. UTSA students will read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, a book that tells the story of a young girl who becomes ill, and is told that if she folds 1000 Paper Cranes she will be granted a wish for good health. The UTSA students will then teach the children how to make their own origami cranes.
Source: Associated Press, local interviews, UTSA Today and other sources.
Burk Frey/ The Paisano
UTSA’s College of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA) may experience tough times if an anticipated budget cut occurs. The UT System has recently proposed a five percent budget cut for its 15 institutions. If approved, $175.3 million will be deleted from available funds. The universities in the system are divided into two separate groups; academic institutions and medical institutions. The academic portion will lose $78.1 million, and the medical $97 million. The UT system employs over 84,000 people, as one of the biggest industries in the state. The budget cut will not only affect students and faculty, but a large percentage of those employeed by the state. Although the cut has not been approved, the institutions affected have already begun budget adjustments. UTSA is already reallocating funds that were originally planned for the Master Plan. If budget cuts continue, UTSA will have to halt construction projects slated for the next fiscal year. “We should be able to proceed without any noticeable changes. In the long run, some of the benefits that we would like, we will not get,” Dr. James Schneider, history department chair, said. Schneider made it clear that Texas, UTSA specifically, is experiencing minimal consequences as a result of the troubled economy. “The state government would say that we’re not facing the kind of catastrophic cuts that California and some other places are facing, precisely because they have been more conservative in their spending,” Schneider said. UTSA has been preparing for the budget cut. Schneider said that the university is striving to keep the students uninvolved, but will be demanding more of the faculty. Schneider also said that none of his budget for the next year will be affected.
At the end of the summer, Dr. Steven Levitt will step down as chair of the Communication Department after completing his third consecutive 3-year term. Prior to his role as chair, Levitt served four years as Assistant Division Director in the Division of English, Classics, Philosophy and Communication from 1997 to 2001. “In 2001, the Department of Communication became a seperate department when the university underwent its restructuring,” Levitt said. Levitt came to UTSA in 1991 from the University of Kentucky. “I am very proud of my accomplishments,” Levitt said. Levitt helped establish the new degree program in communication. Since its inception in Fall 1994 the Department of Communication has grown to over 1,000 majors and in 2005 added a Master’s degree program. Levitt said that 13 years is a long time to serve as head of a program, and it is now time for him to pursue other teaching and research interests. “I will be on research development leave during the next academic year working on projects in the areas of cause-related marketing effectiveness and international teamwork dynamics and networks,” Levitt said. During his leave, Levitt plans to publish in peer-review journals, write short stories and a cookbook as well as play his guitar. “I also hope to collaborate with colleagues from the department here and with faculty at other universities, hopefully from Eastern Europe,” Levitt said. Levitt will return to normal faculty duties in Fall 2011.
See COLFA, Page 10
Students at the Downtown Campus present their Design I final projects .
Paisano-Online com