Volume 66, No. 20
THE PAN AMERICAN
March 4, 2010
Regents approve tuition-and-fee hike
President Nelsen informs Regents of complex problems ahead By Brian Silva The Pan American
AUSTIN - The University of Texas System Board of Regents unanimously approved a tuition-andfee hike for students during a Special Called meeting yesterday afternoon. Tuition will increase by the maximum amount allowed by the Legislature of $140 for each of the next two academic years, which equates
to roughly five percent each year. “The nominal increase in tuition UTPA President Robert Nelsen doesn’t truly make a dent in the total and student government President revenue deficit at UTPA,” Puttagunta Raghuveer Puttagunta presented the said, explaining to the Regents about Regents with a significant how the increase affects the and dynamic revenue university’s budget woes. problem. Nelsen addressed “We are trying to be lean, but potential losses in funding the state must assist in higher that may total $21.1 million education. The legislature must in the next biennium budget, hold fast to its responsibilities, while Puttagunta called for and just as much as revenue greater legislative support. Robert Nelsen relies on student and the
legislature, it is your responsibility as Regents to facilitate the process.” The outgoing student government president was backed up by Regent Karim Meijer, who said the state Legislature is not keeping up with its obligations; he urged stronger involvement in the legislative process. “When we fall short in appropriations, we owe it to our state legislature to get them up to speed,” Meijar said. Several Regents nodded
in agreement with his statement. Puttagunta mentioned during his remarks that the proposal was met with some resistance from students. He was the only student government president out of all institutions to mention resistance to tuition and fee increases. In a Cost of Education Committee report, 83 percent of 52 comments disagreed with the proposal. Most universities requested near
SEE TUITION || PAGE 6
Tower vandalism baffles UTPA police By Erin Menendez The Pan American
Alma Hernandez /THE PAN AMERICAN
PLIGHT TO PILLAR - A water tower belonging to Phi Kappa Theta stands at the corner of Sugar and Van Week. Omega Delta Phi, Phi Kappa Theta and Sigma Lambda Beta recently repainted their water towers after a sudden graffiti outbreak.
Campus water towers are usually colorful displays of sorority and fraternity pride, but recently a few of them were vandalized, with the feeling of school unity replaced by a sense of vulnerability. Members of Omega Delta Phi fraternity reported the graffiti to the Office of Student Development Feb. 12. “When I found out, I couldn’t believe we got tagged again. I was upset, it takes time to decorate a tower and some are more elaborate that ours,” said Michael Jacquez, president of Omega Delta Phi. “And for someone to just draw something obscene as a penis on the towers shows their maturity level.” Greek organizations apply annually
at The Office of Student Development to gain rights to one of the six towers on campus for a period of one year. The three towers belonging to Omega Delta Phi, Phi Kappa Theta, and Sigma Lambda Beta were quickly repainted after the graffiti outbreak. According to Jacquez, although Omega Delta Phi’s tower had technically been reassigned after the year was up, it still had the fraternity’s mark. The towers are a representation of pride and for this reason Omega Delta Phi covered the graffiti immediately until the next organization, Baptist Student Ministries, was able to repaint the tower with its design. Campus police made a report of the incident, but there have so far been no SEE GRAFFITI || PAGE 6
Pell Grant recipients prepare for banner year of financial aid By Sonia Leija The Pan American Though these might be trying economic times, a certain group of students has gotten some good news recently. Students currently receiving the Federal Pell Grant during the 2009-2010 school year also qualify for the grant during the summer, which wasn’t always the case. The Federal Pell Grant is
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for students who meet certain qualifications, determined by the Department of Education using the expected family contribution upon completion of the FAFSA. The grants received by students do not need to be paid back. Only undergraduate students can receive the Pell Grant. The Federal Pell Grant is unlike state grants in that, though the funds might differ from year to year, every student that qualifies will receive it.
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Students receiving state grants must apply as soon as possible, because the grants are usually on a first-come, first-serve basis. Before the legislation passed, students who qualified for the maximum Pell Grant that were enrolled full-time in a fall session and three-quarters in the spring session, could receive the remaining quarter of their award money and use it for the summer sessions. However,
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those students who used up all their Pell Grant money by enrolling fulltime both fall and spring semesters, wouldn’t have any money left for summer sessions. According to the new legislation passed under the Department of Education’s Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Federal Pell Grant has been extended to the Year-Round program, which means for students taking 12 hours in the
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summer of 2010, can get up to $2,675. “If a student is going to summer school full-time, they can get up to two years worth of the Pell Grant,” said Elaine Rivera, director for Financial Services at UTPA. “Before, students only received a year’s portion of the grant, leaving no money for the summer, but now with this new legislation, they receive it for the summer as well.”
SEE PELL GRANT || PAGE 6
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