VOLUME 84, ISSUE 1
“EDUCATION FOR SERVICE”
AUGUST 24, 2005
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Fall sports preview. See Page 3.
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UNIVERSITY OF INDI HA N NA AVENUE I NDI
Welcome Week schedule. See Page 4.
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■ NEW PRESIDENT
New university president, Dr. Beverley Pitts, begins term Valerie Miller Editor-in-Chief
Dr. Beverley Pitts EDUCATION: -B.A., English, Anderson University -M.A., Journalism, Ball State University -Ed.D., Higher Education, Ball State University
FAMILY: -Spouse William - president of United Way of Madison County -Son Rick - attorney -Spouse Kathy, Daughter Lizzy -Son Kevin - faculty member at University of Illinois -Spouse Toni, Daughter Shelby
HOBBIES: -Attending sporting events (professional and collegiate) -Reading -Travelling Photo courtesy University Publications
On July 5, a new era began at the University of Indianapolis, as Dr. Beverley Pitts became the university’s eighth president following Dr. Jerry Israel’s retirement. Pitts, who was the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Ball State University before coming to U of I, is the institution’s first female president. Pitts, was born in New York and reared in Pennsylvania, but has spent much of her adult life in Indiana. She received her undergraduate degree from Anderson University and her master’s and doctoral degrees from Ball State. Pitts also carries the title of professor of journalism, and although she has no plans to teach classes in the immediate future, she said she may teach a class at some point in order to “stay in touch with her academic background.” During 2004, Pitts was acting president at Ball State. “I found that I really liked providing presidential leadership,” she said. According to Pitts, she was offered a number of opportunities but decided to come to U of I. “The match here just seemed absolutely right,” she said. Along with her presidential experience at Ball State, Pitts also has administrative experience at Anderson University, which she compared to U of I in that Anderson is a smaller, private, church-related school.
So far, Pitts is enjoying her new position at U of I. “I love the people, I love the place, and I love the students,” she said. “I love the fact that students can know each other. There is a sense of community here.” Pitts also likes the service component of education that is stressed at U of I. “It marks the difference [between U of I and other schools]. There is a real commitment here to reaching out,” she said. During her first year, Pitts’ goal is “to learn a lot about the place.” One way Pitts plans to do that is to meet with students. “I want to be a president that students know and feel comfortable with,” she said. Pitts also has other goals that she would like to accomplish while she is here. “I want to help [U of I] move to the next level of planning,” she said. “[I also want to] tell the story of the university to the Indianapolis community and to the state. I want to help the citizens of the city and the state to see what a quality university this is.” While Pitts is focusing on her first year as president, she offers some advice to students focusing on their first year of college. “It’s a big change, so enjoy yourself. Make the decision to become part of [campus organizations] so you can become part of the community,” she said. “And just because the syllabus doesn’t tell you that you have to read the book every day, you probably do.” Pitts also wants all students to be proud of U of I. “I hope that students are very proud to be U of I students. They’re part of a great institution,” she said. “Wear those UIndy shirts and be proud!”
■ ESCH HALL
Esch Hall addition and renovation near completion Shelly Grimes Opinion Editor
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Ben Reed Online Editor
Students returning to campus this year will be welcomed by the university’s newest addition, an updated and expanded Esch Hall. The Esch Hall renovation, which cost $12 million, is expected to be completed by Aug. 29, the first day of classes for students. “We are shooting for the project to be finished in time for the start of school,” said Ken Piepenbrink, who oversaw construction as the director of the Physical Plant. “Of course there will be odds and ends that won’t be all the way completed, like some paint jobs and floors and stuff. It might not look like it’s completed, but we’re almost there.” Construction began in the summer of 2004. The goal of the project was to create a front door to the campus. The three-story, 50,000 square foot addition is the new home for several important offices, such as the School for Adult Learning, Office of Admissions and Office of Graduate Education. “This is a wonderful facility to service students,” said Laurie Daeger, admissions coordinator for the School for Adult Learning. “It is easy for students to find and there is more room for this department to grow.” The old section of Esch Hall has been renovated as well. This section now houses the Office of Financial Aid, Registrar’s Office, School of Education and College of Arts and Sciences. Other changes include new carpeting, floor til-
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Photos by Shelly Grimes and Katy Yeiser The addition and renovation of Esch Hall, which began in 2004, is nearly complete. The building now houses many different offices and departments. Pictured are some of the new updates to Esch Hall, including (1) the entryway in the building, (2) new and renovated classrooms, (3) the front of the building, which serves as a gateway to the campus, (4) the lobby area on the main floor, and (5) a lobby/lounge area in the basement. ing, fresh paint and new desks. “It’s been a tough summer, but everybody has worked together well,” said Mary Beth Bagg, Registrar. The Registrar’s Office and the Office of Financial Aid moved twice this summer. They had to move out of the old section
to allow construction, and then move into their final locations in Esch Hall during the first week of August. “As large a project as it was, it went really smoothly,” Bagg said. “The physical plant and construction workers were fabulous. The folks couldn’t
have been any more helpful, nice or more pleasant to work with,” Bagg said. Other departments that made the move to Esch Hall include the Center for Excellence in Leadership of Learning, English, Philosophy, Religion, Modern Languages and Communication departments and the
School of Business. “The end result is that we have an entryway to this university for the first time,” said Pat Jefferson, dean of the School for Adult Learning. “Students walk in here and know we value them and know they are important.”
■ ONE CARD
‘One Card’ offers convenience for students Crystle Collins News Editor
The University of Indianapolis recently implemented a system that allows students to buy meals, bookstore items and more using The One Card, which doubles as a student ID card. The One Card system will let U of I students, faculty and staff buy snacks and a la carte items, and can be used as a meal card for the cafeteria for those students who have a meal plan through the university. Residence Life & Housing mailed handouts to all on-campus residents for the 2005-2006 school year explaining the options the One Card system offers. The system is still in its early stages and will begin with the card serving primarily as a meal card. The cards also can be loaded with two types of credit, Dining Dollars and Crimson Cash, and will be similar in use to debit cards. “A student will swipe their card like a debit card or bank card, and a meal, or money for the snack items, will be deducted from that student’s account,” said Chris Brutcher, Polk Food Service assistant manager.
Dining Dollars are only added to the student’s account at the beginning of each school year, as a meal plan. Once the Dining Dollars are depleted a student must add Crimson Cash as additional funds on the One Card. Crimson Cash can be used to purchase food and soon to purchase bookstore and vending machine items across campus. The card must now be used in the library, to pay for copies, as well as to enter Ruth Lilly Fitness Center. The Dining Dollars can be used in the Marketplace, the traditional dining hall in the Schwitzer Student Center, or in Streets Corner, a non-traditional dining setting. Streets Corner or Streets offers grilled burgers, chicken, French fries and other items during and after the hours the Marketplace is open. “Streets is now a stand-alone option,” said Ted Polk, director of Polk Food Service. “It will no longer be dependent on the dining hall hours. It will be a separate option for students to purchase meals.” The new hours for Streets will be from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays. It will continue to be closed on the weekends, as in the past. “Streets will be open longer for the convenience of the students,” Brutcher
said. “I think the students will like this system better because it will be more convenient around their class schedules and part-time jobs. It gives them more options and less time restrictions.” Dining Dollars also can be used at the coffee shop formerly known as Hubbard & Cravens. The coffee shop serves coffee and specialty drinks as well as soups, sandwiches and other miscellaneous snacks. “We will be offering new items in the coffee shop this year such as ice cream and fountain drinks, but we will continue to serve Hubbard & Cravens brand coffee,” Polk said. “Dining Dollars is like having an a la carte option that students can use for snacks, a cup of coffee, an ice cream cone or other snack options that aren’t equivalent to a full meal.” Crimson Cash can be loaded onto the student’s ID/One Card in one of four locations on campus: the main dining hall entrance in Schwitzer Student Center, the Student Business Center in Schwitzer Room 207, the Accounting Office in Esch Hall and the Krannert Memorial Library. Once the transition to the One Card as a meal card is complete, the card may be used as a way to purchase more items on campus and as a key to doors, similar to
a hotel card key. According to a Residence Life handout mailed to all residents for the 2005-2006 school year, there are four types of meal plans available for students. The plans have changed, according to how the meals are distributed to students. In past years, students have a certain amount of meals allotted to them each week, depending on the meal plan they chose. “In the past students paid, for example, [for] 10 meals a week, and if they didn’t use the meals then it was their loss,” Brutcher said. “Now with the One Card system, students can eat 10 meals a day or no meals a day…either way, the meals belong to the student and they can be used however they chose.” The new meal plans, in conjunction with the One Card system, allot an amount of meals for the entire school year, which the student can use any way he or she chooses. The Level 1 meal plan includes 80 meals per semester, which averages five meals a week. This meal plan was specifically made for students who are commuters or live in Campus Apartments. This plan also is available to faculty and staff. It includes $25 Dining Dollars placed on the account annually. The Level 2 meal plan is available to
students who have lived on campus at least one year, commuters and faculty and staff. This plan has 160 meals per semester, about 10 meals per week and $25 in Dining Dollars on the account annually. The Level 3 meal plan is the most common. It includes 14 meals a week, 224 a semester, which is two meals per day and three meals altogether on the weekends. This plan is recommended for residential students and also available to faculty, staff and commuters. This plan has $50 in Dining Dollars on the account, added annually. The Level 4 meal plan is available to all students and has the most meals, 304 a semester. That averages to 19 meals a week. This plan includes $100 in Dining Dollars on the account, added annually. “A student can use the One Card as many times a day [as] he or she wants or needs and they can also use it for others,” Polk said. “If a student wants to bring 10 friends to dinner who do not have meal plans, and use his or her own meal plan to pay, the One Card system can do that.” “The One Card system is a great plan. I am really very pleased with it,” Polk said.