Volume 121 / Issue 5
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Communications Professor responds to staff editorial
p.3 p.2
Three new coaches join SHSU athletic department
p.3
Tuesday, July 17 HI: LOW:
87 74
LSC expansion, new health center on list of possible updates to university facilities
NATION & WORLD
Penn state denies decision over Paterno statue
GEORGE MATTINGLY News Editor Several possible updates to campus facilities at Sam Houston State University are in the preplanning stage, according to university officials who met with students last week. Associate Vice President of Student Services Keith Jenkins told members of the Student Government Association that potential updates to campus include an expansion of the Lowman Student Center, a new Health Center and updates to Pritchett Field and the University Camp. Jenkins told SGA that with the demolition of Smith-Kirkley the pre-planning to expand the LSC is in the works to address the growth of the student body. “Right now everyone knows that if you’re a student organization and you’re trying to get space in the LSC, it’s at a premium,” Jenkins said. “I would say that they turn down 35 percent of student requests for rooms.” He added that over the years, students have expressed interest in having carpeting in the LSC Ballroom, a bowling alley and an eating area in the LSC. The expansion of the LSC will be up for a vote in October. In the meantime, Jenkins said the university is going through what he called a “pre-planning” phase to meet with different departments on campus to get input about the expansion. However, Jenkins had concern about the time limit given for planning. He said that the university is being given three to six weeks of time for pre-planning for what would normally take three to six months. Other concerns were with the cost of the expansion. Jenkins said the estimated cost would be around $30 million, a price that might be difficult to cover. “The state legislature sets the cap [for the student center fee] at 100 dollars,” he said. “Our fee is at 60 dollars right now. If the students vote to go to the cap, it only gets us half way there.” With the challenges of the cost, he said planning could include contributions to cover the cost from donors and other departments involved in the expansion. Next, Jenkins discussed another item going on the student referendum in October. Another potential plan for university expansion is a new student health center. Originally, the plan was to use the existing site to expand the health center, but with King Hall also on the list of buildings to be demolished, Jenkins said it was a “strong possibility” that the new facility could be built on that site. Jenkins added that there were many
George Mattingly | The Houstonian
MOVING FORWARD. A group of about 15 students had a chance to give feedback about the LSC expansion in a focus group meeting with Keith Jenkins last Thursday.
female care issues that the university is not equipped to handle in the current health center and hopes the new center will help that. Jenkins said all research and student input have been gathered for the student health center and graphic renditions of what the building may look like will be available to students by August 22. SGA Treasurer Jimmy Williams expressed concern over congested parking around the areas of planned construction. While Jenkins could not give a definite answer, he said some ideas in discussions of the LSC expansion were to use the hilly topography of campus to build parking underneath the building to address parking issues, similar to the parking at Sam Houston Village. “There is no finality to any of these ideas,” Jenkins said. “These are just new ideas off the press.” Other proposed plans Jenkins discussed were of a new special event center near the coliseum to house the alumni center, parts of the academic advisement center and a new ballroom. While the special event center would have its advantages, Jenkins noted that the university would plan to use soft money such as outside contributions and grants, not student fee money, to fund the building on the new facility. As a result, he said the access of the building to students would be more limited. Other potential construction plans include a new dining facility and residence hall on the south side of campus with new property purchased by the university. Then, Jenkins updated SGA on other
smaller-scale updates to campus facilities. He noted that the university is installing artificial grass on Pritchett Field to combat previous problems with last year’s drought that caused an “unplayable” field. The field, which costs around $1.1 million, will accommodate club sports, intramural teams and intercollegiate soccer teams. He said it will be completed by September 1. Next, Jenkins confirmed the University Camp, the home of Bearkat Camp, will be under construction this fall to meet demand from student organizations to have a retreat site close to campus. “There will be overnight accommodations for 200 people, a swimming pool and one large meeting room and we’re expanding the dining hall all for student organizations to utilize,” he said. One big advantage he noted was that there will be no rental fee for students, only the costs procured on the site such as food. Jenkins said the estimated completion will be next spring or summer. Lastly, Jenkins said the Agriculture Facility in I-45 will be moving to Gibbs Ranch on 75 North. Once the move is complete, there will be more room for more sports fields on the I-45 spot. Jenkins seemed to have a positive outlook on the proposed plans for university expansion, and is hopeful the new additions will make the campus better for students. “When students take pride in their institution, it reflects in every walk of their life,” he said. “It’s something a degree can’t measure sometimes.”
Follow us today! @TheHoustonian
Ford recalls more than 10,000 Ford Escape SUVs Ford Motor Company is set to begin the recall of more than 10,000 Ford Escape SUV vehicles to repair paddng that could get in the way of braking. The company said that the padding, which is wrongly positioned, could limit the space between pedals and cause drivers to hit the side the brake pedal when switching from the accelerator. Ford said the recall covered about 8,200 vehicles in the U.S. Ford, about 2,000 vehicles in Canada and a couple of hundred in Mexico, according to a company spokeswoman. The recall is expected to begin July 23.
SAM Center celebrates 10 years of service to students MCKINZIE BROCAIL Senior Reporter A wide array of desserts and treats were laid out as members of the campus community crowded the SAM Center to celebrate 10 years of service to students at Sam Houston State University. As the name suggests, the SAM Center provides academic advising and mentoring to students, as well as time management and study skills sessions. The SAM Center has achieved some hefty accomplishments since opening in 2002. The National Academic Advising Association selected the SAM Center as a 2011 Outstanding Institutional Advising Program Certificate of Merit. Recipients of this merit are recognized for documenting innovative and/ or exemplary practices resulting in improvement of academic advising service. The SAM Center is accredited in much of SHSU’s increase in 4-year graduation rates, raising them from 17 percent of students
Stephen Green | The Houstonian
DECADE OF DEDICATION. Several other campus departments gathered in the SAM Center to celebrate its 10 year anniversary of service.
graduating in four years to the now close-to-state-average of 30 percent. “I’ve been in education now for 45 years, and I’ve seen students change through the years,” Bill Fleming, Executive Director of the SAM Center, told the Texas Tribune. “I really believe now that students need more nurturing by others than when I went to
school.” Fleming has been with the SAM Center since it began; in fact, many of the original advising faculty members are still working there. “I’ve been here the whole 10 years,” Wesley Boyd, Associate Director of Academic Advising, said. “We have a low turn-over rate for the people that work [at the center]. I think I have the best
job on campus, and that’s why: It’s fun.” When the SAM Center opened, it was made up of 12 chosen faculty members from various disciplines and two professional advisers. Since 2005, eight additional advisers have been added, including one who serves as a traveling adviser who goes to feeder community colleges to advise students transferring to SHSU. “It’s never a dull day,” Boyd said. “The freshman who just left my office with their mother has a different set of needs than the senior who is about to graduate that walked out moments before.” Since its establishment, 16 universities have visited the SAM Center and some have even patterned their own centers after the SHSU model. It’s also been recognized twice in the U.S. News and World Report College Edition. At the celebration President Dana Gibson spoke along with former university president James Gaertner. Neither could be reached at press time.
ENTER THE HOUSTONIAN SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST TODAY! Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and be entered to win one of five grand prizes! facebook.com/TheHoustonianSHSU
Many have called for the removal of a statue on campus of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno after an extensive report on the case was released last week. In contrast to recent reports that the Board of Trustees had reached a decision on the matter, the university released a statement on Sunday that denied any final decision had been made. “Contrary to various reports, neither the Board of Trustees nor University Administration has taken a vote or made a decision regarding the Joe Paterno statue at Beaver Stadium,” the statement said.
Visit our website! www.HoustonianOnline.com
Zimmerman accused of sexual assault of cousin A cousin of George Zimmerman, the man charged with killing a black unarmed teen, told Florida authorities that he molested her for 10 years when they were children, according to evidence made public on Monday. The release came after several attempts to keep it hidden by Zimmerman’s lawyer, Mark O’Mara. O’Mara believes the information is irrelavent to the case and should have been kept hidden because it could lead to “hostile publicity.” The cousin said the incidents began when she was six and Zimmerman was eight. She said the last incident occured when she was 16.
THE HOUSTONIAN
p.2 p.4
Viewpoints Arts&Entertainment/ Sports