Homecoming flashback Take a look at homecoming through the ages
Special Inside Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012 | Volume 106, Issue 9 | the-standard.org
Briefs
Five people to join Wall of Fame Friday
Missouri State’s Wall of Fame, located outside of the PSU ballroom, will gain five new faces on Friday, Oct. 26 including: James Giglio, Richard Myers, James O’Brien, Bruno Schmidt and Carol Silvey. Being recognized on MSU’s Wall of Fame is “one of the highest honors an employee can receive from the university,” according to an email sent out by MSU’s Office of Publications. Individuals are selected based off of a number of criteria including student impact, demonstration of character and integrity, services that have resulted in meaningful change at MSU, and more. The ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. in the PSU’s West Ballroom.
MSU holds public forums in bookstore director search
MSU’s University Bookstore has selected four candidates to potentially take over former director Mark Brixey’s position. The university conducted public forums with two of the finalists. Forums for the final two candidates have not been announced. The search for the new director began after Brixey resigned in August. University officials say more than $500,000 went missing during Brixey’s tenure. The investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed.
Phi Delta Theta to break ground on new chapter house
In conjunction with MSU’s Homecoming, Phi Delta Theta will break ground on their new chapter house on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 10:30 a.m. The new chapter house will be built at the same location of the current home at 1107 E. Elm St. The new home will house up to 27 members beginning fall 2013. The chapter house will include “educational spaces, creatively designed sleeping quarters, incorporation of technology innovations, and rooms fittingly named in memory of members of the Chapter,” according to an Oct. 21 press release.
Calendar Tuesday, Oct. 23
Graduate Assistant and Teaching Assistant Mentoring, 11 a.m.12:15 p.m., Meyer Library 204 CHPA Research Forum, 12:301:30 p.m., Strong 350
SAC Meeting, 4-5 p.m., PSU 313 SGA Meeting, 5:30-7 p.m., PSU 313
Wednesday, Oct. 24 Study Away 101 Info Session, 10:30-11:30 a.m., PSU 315
The United Nations at 67: Is It Still Relevant? 4 p.m., Strong 1 Entertainment Management Association Meeting, 5-6 p.m., Glass 108
Study Skills Workshop Series: Rebooting After Midterms, 6-6:50 p.m., Meyer Library 101
Thursday, Oct. 25
Study Skills Workshop Series: Rebooting After Midterms, 2-2:50 p.m., Meyer Library 101
Students for a Sustainable Future Meeting, 4-5 p.m., Temple 105
Friday, Oct. 26
Class of 1962 50-Year Reunion, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Kentwood Hall Crystal Room
Board of Governors Meeting, 1-3 p.m., PSU 313 Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony, 4-5 p.m., PSU Ballroom West
Honors College Alumni Reception, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Meyer Alumni Center
Group asks universities to crack down on false rape claims across the nation Policy revisions spark claims of false rape, assault By Kris Collins The Standard
Stop Abusive and Violent Environments (SAVE), a nonprofit victim-advocacy organization, is asking colleges to crack down on false
accusations of sexual assault, citing a growing number of false claims. In a letter to the president of the University of Montana, a campus that had a recent sexual assault case involving an athlete, SAVE addressed the problem of false claims. According to the letter, “during the past year, falserape cases have been reported at the University of North
Dakota, Yale University, University of Connecticut, University of North Florida, Xavier University and elsewhere.” SAVE tries to broaden its argument by saying all false claims, not just claims of sexual crimes, are occurring, citing an article from the University of Northern Florida’s Spinnaker. According to the article,
police are now giving students citations for false claims to combat the increasing occurSahr rence. Though SAVE is adamant about addressing the issue, Jay Huff, Missouri
State’s Safety and Transportation assistant director, said false claims aren’t a new problem. “I spent 25 years in the Springfield Police Department,” Huff said. “That was something you occasionally dealt with.” According to Kim Sahr, coordinator of Student u See RAPE page 10
Meet the president C
By Dayle Duggins The Standard
lif Smart was named Missouri State’s 11th president on Oct. 16, shedding the “interim” title he received on June 27, 2011. Smart, the acting interim president of Missouri State since June 2011, was selected as a finalist for the position, along with Murray State University President Randy Dunn on Sept. 24, 2012. In a press conference on Oct. 16, Gordon Elliott, chair of Missouri State’s Board of Governors announced Smart would take over as president of the university and begin his official duties immediately. “Hiring the president is the most important responsibility a board has,” Elliott said, mentioning that both outstanding finalists were capable of doing the job. “Sixteen months ago, the board needed someone to step into a very difficult situation on this campus,” Elliot said before announcing Smart’s name. “We needed someone to restore confidence, to restore relationships and to restore the high standards we expect out of our leaders. In essence, this was a 16-month job interview and the results speak for themselves. Missouri State University is back on track, setting records and making progress in many areas. Morale is high and confidence has returned.” Smart, a lawyer by trade, graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law, with his Juris Doctor degree, in 1986, boasting the second highest GPA – a 3.95 – in the school’s history. Smart completed his undergraduate education at Tulane University while being involved in the U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. With two degrees under his belt, Smart started his law career as an attorney in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. After serving in that position for four years, he became active in The Strong Law Firm in Little Rock, Ark., until being named general counsel for Missouri State in 2007. When James Cofer, Sr. resigned as president Steph Anderson/THE STANDARD after less than a year on the job in 2011, a leader Missouri State University’s 11th President Clif Smart walks with his wife of 26 was needed to take the reigns of the university. years, Gail, and their three Yorkshire terriers on Wednesday, Oct. 17, in Roun- Elliott asked Smart to stabilize things for the tree Neighborhood. “She is a huge part of me and how we would do this job institution. Smart agreed and has been working to do just that ever since. together,” Smart said at his open forum last Wednesday. “I would not be here, u See SMART page 8 applying for the job on a permanent basis, if Gail were not all in.”
Skateboards not allowed
MSU alum runs for Congress
SGA looking to change campus skateboard and longboard policy By Anna Thomas The Standard
It’s not unusual to see a student traveling campus on a skateboard, but according to Missouri State’s policy, skateboarding is not allowed on campus. According to Jay Huff, assistant director of Safety and Transportation, skateboards have been prohibited because students tend to break the rule of acrobatics on campus. Student Government Association is currently in the process of creating a resolution to allow skateboards, longboards and inline skates as modes of transportation on campus. Jordan McGee, director of administration and information services for SGA, wrote the resolution in response to students’ wants. He said there has been an increase of users
on campus of self-propelled transportation devices. “Several students around campus use this (self-propelled devices) mode of transportation responsibly, who have been stopped by campus security, and they all stressed the need to pass a resolution in support of revising the current policy,” McGee, a sophomore political communication major, said. Riana Sears, a senior public relations major and SGA’s chief communications officer, said the current policy makes it difficult to have students reprimanded, considering the amount of students, who do skateboard, that are oblivious to the policy. Dakota Jones, a sophomore cell and molecular biology major, is one of these students. When
By Amber Duran The Standard
Evan Henningsen/THE STANDARD
Two students skateboard outside of the Plaster Sports Complex. Currently, skateboarding and inline skating is prohibited on campus.
asked about the policy on skateboards, he was surprised they are banned. “In my opinion, prohibiting anything from an adult is ridiculous,” Jones said. “As long as the school makes sure there is
an ‘at your own risk’ sign to cover itself from lawsuits, then there shouldn’t be a problem.” Currently, the resolution is in the preliminary
u See SKATE page 9
Everyone is talking about who will be the next president of the United States. It’s a big deal, but there is more to this election year than just the presidential race. On the ballot this November, your vote may be cast for congressman of Missouri’s 7th district, as well. Congressman Billy Long and Evans Democratic candidate Jim Evans are battling for your vote. Why is this just as important as the presidential race? The job of a congressman affects you! Congressmen are publicly elected officials of the United States government. They are responsible for making the laws that affect the lives of every citizen. Congressmen help decide many issues, including the rates, u See VOTE page 2