Volume 33, Issue 18 - Jan. 27, 2011

Page 1

THE

THE

ETROPOLITAN METROPOLITAN

January 27, 2011, Vol. 33, Issue 18

Serving Auraria for 31 years

Online >> http://themet.metrostudentmedia.com

Welcome a-board Carroll Term-limited legislator appointed to Metro’s governing body By Caitlin Gibbons cgibbon4@mscd.edu

F

Former Colorado Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll Jan. 25 in a conference room at his law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP in the Tabor Center. Carroll was appointed to Metro’s Board of Trustees by former Gov. Bill Ritter. Photo by Floyd Brandt • fbrandt@mscd.edu

METROSPECTIVE Group pushing to own poutlry sans permits • 7

ormer Speaker of Colorado’s House of Representatives Terrance Carroll is trading his inside view of the capitol ­— for one of Metro. Carroll was appointed to Metro’s Board of Trustees Jan. 10 by outgoing Gov. Bill Ritter. “He was such a staunch supporter while at the legislature, and now as a trustee, that support will continue. He’ll provide an additional well-respected voice for the college with government and business leaders,” Metro President Stephen Jordan said. Keeping tuition affordable, increasing access to scholarships for students and ensuring equitable funding for the college are all on the new trustee’s docket. “One of the most important things that the board and the administration at Metro need do is to make sure the college has equitable funding compared to the other colleges and institutions in the state. I think we are still a little bit behind the ball,” he said. Metro receives $2,573 per pupil in state funding, leaving the college last in the state, whereas research universities receive an average of $5,200 per pupil, according to a Nov. 18 townhall meeting with Jordan. “One of the beneficial byproducts of having been a Speaker of the House is that you know how the system works and being able to manipulate the legislative system. I think that experience will help advance the ball a little bit for Metro,” Carroll said. Student Trustee Kat Cammack said she was really excited to hear Carroll was appointed to the board. “I think he’ll bring new and innovative ideas to the board, especially from a legislative point of view. We haven’t had a legislator on the board,” Cammack said. “It will be interesting to

get that perspective on in terms of our projects forward.” And although Carroll is physically removed from the legislative process, he still has a strong knowledge of the happenings under the dome. Sens. Angela Giron, D-Pueblo, and Michael Johnston, D-Denver, will introduce a bill in the upcoming weeks to give undocumented immigrant students in-state tuition. “I think it is a moral question that we have to address. One of my greatest regrets during my time in the legislature was that I was not able to cajole or influence or get enough votes to pass in-state tuition,” Carroll said. Metro continues to move toward becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution, a designation that would help bring in more federal dollars and serve a rapidly growing demographic in the state. “I think one of the most important things about the HSI designation, coupled with the instate tuition bill, cements Metro as a school of opportunity,” Carroll said. Carroll said he sees Metro becoming a topflight school, like Hunter College in New York. The Hotel Learning Center, offering graduate degrees and a number of other initiatives in the works will help Metro become a regional powerhouse. “From when I joined the legislature eight years ago to the time I left, Metro’s reputation has grown and improved tremendously. It is no longer seen as a school where kids go to that they couldn’t get in anywhere else,” Carroll said. “It is seen as a viable first choice.” Carroll joked if he could rename the college he would call it Terrance Carroll University. “I kinda like the name Metropolitan State College of Denver. It’s what we do — we are metropolitan; we are a metropolis. The greeks held a metropolis as a central of culture, a center of academics. It was a place where all roads met and there was an exchange of ideas. I like that as the basis for the name of the school,” Carroll said. The Board of Trustees next meeting is Feb. 2 in Tivoli 320. The meetings are open to the public.

SPORTS Men and women’s basketball break even while away • 11-12 Men’s soccer star practices with the pros • 13


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.