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Changes at DePauw reflect national trend Story by Peter Nicieja News Editor
During the 2018-19 academic year, DePauw University cut $700,000 in employee healthcare, raised tuition by 2.9 percent, laid off 56 staff members and offered a buyout to faculty in what it says was an effort to combat the university’s $193.5 million in liabilities and counteract the annual budget that is projected to operate at a $5 to $6.5 million deficit over the next several years. These changes have been controversial, engendering a faculty vote of no-confidence in President Mark McCoy in November, emotional faculty meetings and student protests. However, these financial issues are not unique to DePauw, as small liberal arts colleges and universities across the nation, but particularly in the northeast, are experiencing financial difficulties, and several of them, including Green Mountain College, Burlington College, and Saint Joseph’s College, have shut their doors for good. These shutdowns are a result of multiple factors including a decline in the college-age population and a shift in the perception of a liberal arts education. Nathan Grawe, a Carleton College social scientist, wrote in his 2018 book, “Demographics and the Demand for Higher Education,” that the population of traditionally college-aged students is set to decline in the Northeast and Midwest by about 5 percent by the mid2020s. He also wrote that the economic downturn of 2008 has led many to
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Little 5 course adjusted due to construction hazards Story by Katie Hunger Editor-in-Chief
Little 5 participants were informed earlier this week that the course for race day has been shifted due to unforeseen construction hazards. Riders, who were originally supposed to circle the GCPA in a clockwise fashion, are now preparing to ride around Lilly Fitness Center and Julian Science and Mathematics Center (S. College, E. Hanna, S. Indiana, and E. Olive streets) counterclockwise. Mason Seeger, co-chair of the Little 5 Steering Little 500 Committee, began in 1951 explained that when the race at Indiana was originalUniversity ly planned, to raise committee money for IU members were unaware that undergrad construction students would begin this semester and that the previous course was the best option. As for the changes, Seeger said, “Riders will have to practice left-hand turns and familiarize themselves with the new course, but this should not have any real effect on the race itself.” Participants, some of which have been preparing indoors since the start
April 10, 2019 Volume 167 Issue 21
Little 5 2019 Route
Cyclist will circle Julian and Lilly
E Hanna Street Bowman Park
Peeler
of the semester and outdoors with their teams since the beginning of March, are now tasked with adjusting to the new course. Rafael Robert, who has raced in Little 5 before for his fraternity Delta Upsilon, said “there’s a lot of little things” that riders will have to pay attention to with the course change. From where the potholes are to where it’s safe to make passes, Robert, senior, plans to use his remaining practice time to take note of these details. Despite being less than three weeks out from the race, Robert is okay with the changes if it means greater safety. “If that chain link fence is going to be there during that weekend, I don’t want to have to take a spill and get caught up in that fence,” Robert said. Drew Harris, junior, is frustrated with the recent change to the course. “With the old course, there was a small portion going right in front of the The first freshman dorms Little 5 at where you kind DePauw was of go downhill...I raced in 1956 would have been able to gain
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some speed on that portion. But with the new course there’s an uphill battle area,” said Harris, who is racing on the Kappa Kappa Gamma team for the second time. “It’s minor, but it still has an impact.” Emily Troyer, a senior member of Alpha Chi Omega’s team, said, “Safety and course practice have been so heavily emphasized for the last month, so I am surprised that this occurred at all.” Troyer is competing in Little 5 for the first time and is worried that the changes will add to the danger of the race. “Many changes to the course substantially vary the conditions of the race. This can not only be disconcerting, but it can be dangerous, especially for firsttime riders.” The races are scheduled for Saturday, April 27. The women’s teams will race first followed by the men’s.