USM announced the 2008-2009 men’s basketball schedule. See who we play on pg. 10
TODAY
TOMORROW
Need something to do this weekend?
87 / 66
85 / 67
Check out pg. 5
S P The
Serving Southern Miss since 1927
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Volume 93, Issue 9
Legislature aims to decentralize college board Lesley Walters News Editor
State legislators met with university administration officials and representatives of Southern Miss faculty, staff and student body Tuesday afternoon to discuss a possible reconfiguration of the College Board. Chairman of the Senate Universities and Colleges Committee, Doug Davis began his statewide tour of Mississippi’s eight institutions of higher learning in the conference room of the Administration Building at Southern Miss. With a handful of fellow legislators in tow, he explained a bill he authored that aims to reconfigure Mississippi’s
system of higher education. The College Board, or the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, is the governing body that oversees all eight universities and colleges in the state. The IHL Board receives funding from state legislature in one lump sum, then allocates funding to each university and college, based on a formula. The College Board also has control over which degree programs a college can offer. The bill, which won’t be presented to the Senate until regular sessions resume in January, would make the current IHL Board a Board of Governors to oversee eight Boards of Trust-
I found out why, “it When just scared me so bad. I started praying for a lot of people my friends and I knew who were working in those buildings.
”
Candice White
sophomore forensic science major
ees, one for each university. The local boards would have control over what degree programs would be offered and state legislators would be in charge of creating a formula for funding. Davis said that part of the legislation would allow individual
boards of trustees some “sayso” over their funding, within certain parameters. To concerns that a funding formula set in place by state legislators would create an unfair dispersement of funds, Davis points to how the IHL allocated its funds to Mississippi universities this year, in which “five received a decrease in funding, two received level funding and one received an increase in funding.” Davis added that “you don’t have to look far” to find another similar set-up. Systems like the one he is proposing are already in place in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and Texas. Even the Mississippi State Board for
Community and Junior Colleges. “What I’m trying to do is ave what I did not have in my four years as a student, and that is a discussion about our higher education system,” Davis said. “What I am trying to do is make sure that at the end of the day, the system we have, or that we put into place, is the best system that the people of this state can have.” Rep. Toby Barker, R-Hattiesburg, was the only House member to attend the meeting Tuesday. He said that he appreciates that Davis is willing to take time out of his day to visit each college to consider their input as he proposes this bill. He added that
Davis has shown “a great deal of initiative.” However, Barker said he believes the legislation “would over-politicize higher education.” He added that while there is “always room for improvement,” he is unsure that the reconfiguration of higher education would create more benefit than complication. His primary concern is with the idea that legislation would create the formula for funding. “You can look at how the legislature handled medicaid this year, and see that probably won’t go over very well.” Barker added that since there are now three members of the College Board with degrees COLLEGE BOARD continued on page 8
Miss. politicians tailgate at USM Meryl Dakin Printz Writer
Though it may snag the big headlines, the presidential race isn’t the only one up for grabs this November. Mississippi’s US Senate elections are scheduled for this fall as well, with the rare coincidence of both seats being contested. Along with the regularly scheduled election for the Class II seat, currently held by Sen. Thad Cochran (R) and challenged by Erik Fleming (D), two Mississippi candidates are vying for Trent Lott’s recently vacated Class I seat: Roger Wicker (R) and Ronnie Musgrove (D). In December 2007, Senator Lott resigned, leaving his Class I seat empty in the fourth quarter of his term. Governor Haley Barbour appointed Roger Wicker to fill his place. Immediately after appointment, Wicker began gathering forces to regain the seat when his term ends this November. Among the candidates who announced their bid for the seat this January was Ronnie Musgrove. The former Governor has been the only candidate to prevail against incumbent Wicker. The latest Rasmussen Report indicates the two are running a close race so far. Conducted on August 21, the poll places Wicker at 47% among Mississippi voters and Musgrove at 42%. Neither candidate is ignoring the young adult demographic among Mississippi’s constituents. Though many students from USM are not eligible voters in the Mississippi election, these candidates have established quite a presence on campus. Among the non-natives is Emily Hoxie, President of the College Republicans, who is or-
ganizing tailgating parties for W i c k e r. “ We ’ r e g o i n g Ronnie Musgrove (D) to have a tent with a lot of bumper stickers and yards signs and we’ll be there to Roger Wicker (R) talk about Wicker if people have questions. And then Wicker will be here for some of the games as well.” Ronnie Musgrove is equally as active in Southern’s atmosphere. According to Ry Logan, president of the College Democrats, he’ll be attending the USM game against Marshall Saturday, September 20th. For the students who are eligible to vote in the Mississippi elections and those who are interested in the future of their college careers here, selection and support of one of these candidates is “very important,” says Logan. “After helping elect someone here, students can always go back to their home state and know how to campaign for someone there. Also, the senator we elect here will be working with home senators on bills and such, and we want to know they’ll be working together.” Hoxie added that her interest in Mississippi’s government officials is great despite her background in Louisiana. “Even though I go home to New Orleans during the summer and some weekends, my life is here: my school, my friends, my boyfriend…as of now Mississippi is my home.”
Maggie Sanford/Printz
The Trent Lott Center, a project of $22.8 million is set to open the first floor by December and will house the department of economic and workforce development. After delays due to lack of funding, the building is to be fully occupational by September 2009.
Lott Center to open in a year Bob Worth Printz Writer
After funding shortfalls and numerous delays, the first floor of the Trent Lott Center is expected to be completed by December. The remaining floors of the massive columned building should be ready for occupancy by September 2009, according to Rusty Postlewate, Director of Physical Plant. “Completed in about a year - that’s our goal,” he said. The University recently over-
News Editor
Three years after Hurricane Katrina wrecked the coastal sister-campus of Southern Miss, Gulf Park has recordhigh enrollment this fall. Preliminary figures show that fall enrollment is at its highest since it was opened 36 years ago. The number of students enrolled at the Gulf Park campus in Long Beach increased by 344 students, or 18.13 percent, from 2007. Shelia White, director of
marketing and public relations for Southern Miss Gulf Coast, said part of the increase could have something to do with recovery from Hurricane Katrina, but gives most of the credit to faculty and staff. “We’ve had some great efforts from our faculty and staff to both recruit and retain students,” White said. “We just have a dedicated team down here.” Pat Joachim, associate provost of Southern Miss Gulf Coast, said she was excited to see the high numbers. She also gave credit to the faculty, staff and marketing team for this
of Economic and Workforce Development, The Trent Lott Center of Excellence for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, and the University Foundation. The Department of Economic and Workforce Development, which was originally expected to occupy the second and third floors, will now occupy the second floor only, and the University Foundation will be housed in the third floor. The change has necessitated a new layout for the two upper
floors, which is further aggravating the delays. “We went back to those two activities, and asked how do you need them configured?” Postlewate said. The reconfiguration will add additional construction time, but Postelwate added, “It’s a commitment of the administration to complete the building.” When asked about the inclusion of the University Foundation in the building, Dr. Cecil Burge, Vice President for Research and Economic Development noted that “It is a very
TRENT LOTT CENTER continued on page 8
Enrollment figures break record Lesley Walters
came a four million dollar funding shortfall that was preventing completion of the project. The plan to construct the building, which was initiated during the administration of University President Horace Fleming, is being paid for by a combination of Federal and State funds, as well as private donations through the University Foundation. Delays in the project have prompted the withdrawal of some private donations. Once completed, the building will house the Department
year’s record-breaking enrollment. Joachim said professors are “doing a terrific job in their classes,” from content to instructional delivery. She added that advisement and encouragement have played a role in retaining students. Their recruitment efforts were amplified with help from marketing, which went to each college of study to find a degree program to highlight that would interest incoming students, Joachim said. She added that they are “aggressive” in their recruitment, making efforts to keep in contact with ENROLLMENT continued on page 9