Feb. 20, 2013 | The Reflector

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THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS

“I HATE HAMLET” REVIEW > See Page 6

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Graphic by Abby Gross Data compiled by Assistant Vice President for Institutional Planning and Research Patrick Alles

41.9

Tuition increases along with UIndy’s benefits By Abby Gross EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Full-time undergraduate tuition at the University of Indianapolis will increase 3.5 percent for the 2013-2014 academic year, according to a campus-wide email sent on Feb. 8, containing a letter from President Robert Manuel. Tuition for next academic year will be $24,420, an $830 increase from this year. In addition, room and board, with a standard room and 14-meal plan, will increase 2.5 percent, or $220. To make the decision, Manuel and other university stakeholders examined the university’s budget and needs, taking into account the students’ input as expressed through Vision 2030 conferences and other discussions. Manuel said the strategic planning process involved more than 1,600 students, calling this level of input unprecedented. “What we’ve done is an effective job of taking what’s coming in from the students and making sure that the largest percent of that [tuition increase] goes back to the student experience,” Manuel said. “... A lot of times people will think [we] raise tuition and we pocket that money somewhere. But really it [what we are doing] is raising it to keep up with the increase in the costs and to invest in the kind of priorities that we see.” According to Manuel, the increase ultimately depended on needing to balance costs while sustaining the university’s quality of education, competitiveness and strategic planning initiatives. Although tuition at UIndy has steadily experienced annual raises throughout the past decade, Manuel said that the raises have been relatively moderate, especially in comparison with other private colleges in Indiana. Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Mark Weigand attributed this statistic to the university’s responsible fiscal management over the past decade. “I think we’ve had a 10-year period where we have learned how to maintain costs that are reasonable and keep costs in check better than many other universities,” Weigand said. Tuition at UIndy has increased 41.9 percent over the past 10 years, while other private colleges in Indiana have seen increases as high as 154.3 percent, according to comprehensive data supplied by Assistant Vice President for Institutional Planning and Research Patrick Alles. UIndy boasts the third-lowest tuition increase behind Huntington University and Martin University, with increases of 34.4 percent and 29.1 percent, respectively. Weigand said the relatively low increases have been purposeful, and UIndy’s statistics reflect the university’s commitment to being an efficient steward of students’ tuition dollars. He also stressed that this year’s tuition increase includes an increased commitment to financial aid for students.

The Perk deal helps cup waste By Anna Wieseman MANAGING EDITOR

$23,590

$27,300

MARIAN UNIVERSITY

$23,164

29.1 INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

$23,780

$23,900

HOLY CROSS COLLEGE

$30,268

HANOVER COLLEGE

$26,895

FRANKLIN COLLEGE

$33,138

HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY

34.4

50

0

56.4

UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS

60.6

58.9

$13,320

56.2

MARTIN UNIVERSITY

100

49.4

A DECADE OF INCREASE AT INDIANA’S PRIVATE COLLEGES This graph reflects the percentage increase in tuition from 2003-04 to 2012-13, as well as the price of tuition and fees for the current academic year. It includes data from 10 of the 31 private colleges in Indiana.

105.9

BUTLER UNIVERSITY

In response to student requests during the Vision 2030 sessions, University of Indianapolis Information Systems is in the process of piloting a printing system in three residence halls: East, Roberts and Cory Bretz. IS plans to implement the pilot program over Spring Break and expand to all residence halls, including Campus Apartments, by Fall 2013. According to Associate Vice President of Information Systems and Instructional Tech Services Steve Herriford, this new printing system will be different from the systems in other buildings on campus.The residence hall system will accept print jobs directly from student laptops, and the jobs will be sent to the printer for release over each building’s WiFi network. IS is currently planning exactly how the printers will receive jobs. The current cost estimate for each residence hall is tentatively $4,500. However, Herriford said that total cost will depend on how much must be spent on the WiFi setup so the printers can receive jobs. Herriford said that the location of print stations will vary by residence hall but likely will be near the front desk. Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Kory Vitangeli said that resident assistants will monitor the printing process, so it may only be available during desk hours, at least, for the piloting stage. Vitangeli said that residence hall printing is something students have expressed a desire for in the past. “Printing in the residence halls has come up for years. There has always been an outcry from students,” Vitangeli said. “It came up again in the Vision 2030 sessions: students wanted convenient printing.” According to Vitangeli, recent campus improvements such as extended Perk and Streets Corner hours, the newly upgraded Greyhound Fitness Center and the forthcoming residence hall printing proves that students’ voices are being heard. “It’s something we can do to show students that we are listening and we want them to be happy,” Vitangeli said. Herriford hopes that the printing system is only the beginning of future advancements stemming from Vision 2030. “I hope this is the first step in new technology that will come from the president’s visioning process,” Herriford said. As a UIndy Alumnus, Herriford said that he remembers what a hassle it was to cross campus for printing and added that the goal is to make life simpler for students. “I lived in the residence hall when I went here. And I remember having to traipse across campus at night to pick up a print job,” Herriford said. “We just want to address student needs and do what we can to make life easier.”

154.3

$25,480

By Leeann Doerflein FEATURE EDITOR

200

ANDERSON UNIVERSITY

Dorms get ready for printing

reflector.uindy.edu

FEBRUARY 20, 2013

PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN TUITION

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“Part of the equation has to do with financial aid packaging for students. Last year, we awarded—of just our university financial aid—a total of over $28 million,” Weigand said. “So, that’s a big part of what we do with money.” Manuel said that this increased commitment to financial aid, specifically through institutional grants, is crucial because it increases access for qualified students with financial need. According to Weigand, UIndy’s record enrollment figures from the past decade have demonstrated the university’s competitiveness as an institution. He said that the current tuition increase maintains the appeal of quality and affordability. “A moderate increase [in tuition], when you already are near the bottom of the cost for tuition, compared to other private colleges, puts us in a competitive position, combined with our intent to put money back into financial aid, which means the total cost—the net cost—that students actually pay, will be competitive,” Weigand said. Manuel said this year’s tuition increase is designed to enhance the learning experience for students, in hopes of giving UIndy graduates a competitive edge in the workforce. “We’re promoting innovations in educational engagement, so new ways to teach, new pedagogies, new technologies inside of that area, which is a way to help our students become more competitive in the workforce,” Manuel said. “In order to really maintain your competitiveness and your relevancy, there has to be progress in those areas, and that requires some of these tuition dollars.” Manuel and Weigand said that UIndy is still planning future changes, through the Vision 2030 process and task forces. Both noted that many initiatives are already in place, including the extended hours for The Perk, Streets Corner and the library, the reopened weight room in Ruth Lilly and the addition of printers in residence halls. According to Weigand, these services are budgeted for next year, and the tuition increase helps offset the additional costs of these services. Manuel said students can expect to see additional improvements in the near future. Currently, the university is exploring research and advisement opportunities for students, as well as improvements in campus security. When budgeting and planning tuition increases, Manuel said that the university’s mission is to promote education by investing in students and faculty. “We continue to work to make sure we are being as productive as we can towards the goals of educating and creating citizens that produce,” Manuel said. Students who are concerned about the impact of the tuition increase are advised to make an appointment with the Office of Financial Aid. To be considered for federal, state and institutional financial aid, students must file the UIndy application for financial aid, as well as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before March 10.

The Perk has offered reduced-price drinks for anyone who brings a reusable mug since opening more than 10 years ago. “We do have a handful of students who are very conscious. They want to bring their own mug,” said Food Court and Perk Manager Lisa Jordan. Anyone can take a reusable cup to The Perk and get the coffee of the day for 99 cents plus tax, and The Perk staff also will fill hot and iced tea orders with the cups. Only specialty drinks remain as originally priced for reusable cups. Jordan said that using fewer cups does not benefit The Perk financially, but it helps the campus and reduces waste. In 2012, Polk Food Services used 20 cases of 16-ounce hot cups and 42 cases of 20-ounce hot cups, with 1,000 cups in each. The Food Court used 422 cases of styrofoam cups, with 500 cups in each. Together, 273,000 cups were used last year. Jordan said that The Perk tries to combat waste in many different ways. “The ones [cups] that we have now are biodegradable,” Jordan said. “There are days even The Perk, if you notice, will try to keep the lights down just to conserve energy.” Sophomore nursing major James Frawley said that he tries to conserve energy and believes that The Perk should do more to promote its reduced price refill. “The Perk could put up a sign, or we could just do things like: if you use a reusable cup five times, get a free drink—little things like that ... ” Frawley said. Frawley said that informing people about how to reduce waste is better than forcing them to do so. “I’d say that it comes down to the individual. If we can open their eyes about the impact that they’re having, they’re going to make the decision on their own,” Frawley said. Freshman theatre major Morgan Jackson visits The Perk at least twice a day to get specialty drinks. Although she does not use her own cup, she sees the benefit. “I mean, I could definitely get in the habit of bringing my own travel mugs with me,” Jackson said. Jackson said that reusable mugs are a great idea that more people should adopt. “I knew one woman who would be in line with me a lot that would bring her own coffee mug. They would fill it up for her,” Jackson said. “I knew it was possible if you wanted to bring your own mug, but she was the only person I ever saw take advantage of it.” Jordan said that The Perk asks customers to take the lids off their reusable mugs for sanitary reasons. But there is one problem. “The only drawback that we do see is people will bring us a dirty cup,” Jordan said. “They will hand it to us and say, ‘Can you fill this cup?’ You know, it’s always best to have that clean.”

Author of book about rock ‘n’ roll roots to speak By Kaitlyn Kopetski BUSINESS MANAGER Journalist Preston Lauterbach will come to the University of Indianapolis on Feb. 21 to speak about his book “The Chitlin’ Circuit and the Road to Rock ‘N’ Roll.” His talk, which is a part of the Sutphin Lectures series, will start at 4 p.m. in UIndy Hall A in the Schwitzer Student Center. Interim Director of the Institute for Civic Leadership and the Mayoral Archives and Associate Professor of History and Political Science Edward Frantz helped bring Lauterbach to UIndy after reading his book more than a year ago. “To be honest, from the time that I read that book about a year ago, I was trying to figure out, then saying to my colleagues, ‘We have to figure out a way

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to bring this guy to campus,’” Frantz said. “The Chitlin’ Circuit and the Road to Rock ‘N’ Roll” traces the music’s history, uncovering a connection to Indianapolis. “The book itself is a great read, and a surprising portion takes place here in Indianapolis,” Frantz said.“We thought it would be a great way to bring in somebody who’d written about a part of the city that a lot of people don’t even know about.” Assistant Professor of History and Political Science Chad Martin wanted to expose the campus to Lauterbach and his book, to show students how important clubs on Indiana Avenue were to early rock ‘n’ roll. “As soon as we read the book, we started talking about bringing him to campus.The Indianapolis connection is so interesting. It brings the avenue to life,” Martin said. “Now it’s all parking lots and the Madame Walker Theatre ... there’s nothing there to

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remind you what that life was like. This book just really makes it pop.” Lauterbach’s novel paints a picture of the Indianapolis black community in the 1940s. The chitlin’ circuit was a music scene that dipped down into the South, with small stops for early performers. “There were these little juke joints and out-of-the-way places throughout the South ... It was the place where James Brown learned his showmanship, where Little Richard perfected his act,” Frantz said. “That’s the birth of rock ‘n’ roll.” The story of rock ‘n’roll involves money laundering and con men, chitlin’ circuit clubs and a world that many people have never heard about. Lauterbach takes the reader through the roots of rock ‘n’ roll with this investigative story. Frantz is excited for students, faculty and music lovers to hear Lauterbach speak about his book. He emphasized

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that students from many different majors could enjoy Lauterbach’s exploration of the circuit. “Above all, I think it’s just great to see authors and people who have found a story. He tells a great story, but he had to find that story,” Frantz said. Frantz added that reading books outside of course-required materials is valuable to college students who are too often distracted by modern life. “It might be quaint. It might be oldfashioned. It might be a lot of other adjectives that you might ascribe to it, but I think it’s also illuminating ... for people to take time out of their busy schedule from the demands of our plugged-in lifestyles to appreciate a good book,” Frantz said. “I think there still is a place for stories and books. And I would like to think that we’re also telling people that a life without books is an incomplete one.”

Student athletes going pro > See Page 2

Photo Copyright Justin Burks, 2009

Preston Lauterbach will speak at UIndy about his book detailing Indianapolis’ tie to early rock ‘n’ roll.

Diving and roller derby > See Page 7


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