The University News Celebrating 90 Years as a Student Voice of Saint Louis University
unewsonline.com
Vol. XCI No. 20
Thursday, February 23, 2012
ACADEMY AWARD
WHO WILL YOU VOTE FOR?
SLU aims to call up veterans
Check out our SGA endorsements and voting handbook >> VOTERS GUIDE
Policies seek to improve safety and student workers’ hours By MARTINA BOYTER
Plan strives for 5 to 10 percent increase By JAMES MEINERS Managing Editor
See “Military” on Page 2
See who we predict to take home the Oscar >> ARTS
Residence hall front desk hours shift again Associate News Editor
Veterans are not often seen in Saint Louis University classrooms, and the Division of Enrollment Management and Retention is attempting to bridge that gap. “We believe that…any individual willing to serve in the nation’s military service deserves the opportunity to earn a degree at a top-tier university,” Vice President of Enrollment Management and Retention Jay Goff said, “and we want to find ways to expand those opportunities.” Caroline Rutledge, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, agreed. “As a student who has been fortunate to have several class with veterans, I am ecstatic SLU will be pushing to accept more veterans,” she said. SLU wants bring the number of military-affiliated students from its current number of about 180 to 5 to 10 percent of the total student population by 2018. Currently, SLU has 162 students receiving military benefits, including 113 undergraduates and 49 post-baccalaureate students. Online courses are more popular for veterans. As many of them are older than traditional students, the online courses provide a way for them to work on their degree when they have families or are working part-time. One of these degree programs is aviation maintenance, a collaboration between Parks College and the School for Professional Studies. SLU is also looking to bring on a new program director for military students. They would prefer to hire a veteran from a military background. This director would coordinate the various resources available to military veteran students. Some of the resources that SLU is looking to add include academic support and programs for faculty to discuss methods of teaching that are more advantageous for military students.
PREDICTIONS
Curtis Wang / The University News
Freshman Xavier Turner passes RA and desk attendant, junior Cat Costello, on his way into Griesedieck Hall.
Student voices were heard and confronted last week after much outcry against housing security policies. Student Government Association President Matt Ryan released a statement on Feb. 17 announcing reforms to the much-maligned security switch. On Dec. 5, it was announced that residence hall front desks would be monitored 15 hours per day, as opposed to the previous 24-hour protection provided by Whelan Security. The changes called for student workers to man front desks from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. The security changes did not affect the back door of Griesedieck Hall or the front
desk of Reinert Hall, which retained 24-hour, seven-day-aweek coverage. Students quickly objected to the changes, expressing concern that the buildings would not be covered by security 24 hours per day. Student desk worker Greg Bouche felt uneasy at the prospect of unwanted visitors accessing the dormitories. “This knowledge, if given to the wrong people, could quickly lead to having unauthorized personnel lurking in our residence halls,” Bouche said. A Dec. 5 statement issued by Saint Louis University’s Department of Housing and Residence Life attempted to ease the concerns of the student body. “Overall, the campus is patrolled 24/7 by armed and
well-trained officers,” the statement said. The message outlined the modifications that eliminated services from Whelan Security. The changes also heightened the responsibilities of student workers, which they had no choice but to accept mid-semester. In addition to apprehension of part-time security, other issues resulted from the changes in housing security. Without a desk worker available at all hours, obtaining a lockout key posed a problem. Unanticipated difficulties, such as an inoperative key, also became larger issues than under the previous system because of limited means of making contact with See “Security” on Page 3
Students to vote on activity fee increase Where does your fee go?
Concerts and entertainment
3.) Funds awarded to CSOs are used by the organization to fund expenses and events
Students CSO
Student
$ $ $ $
SGA
Activity Fees
1.) In 2011-2012, each student paid $90 annually to the fee
CSO
CSO Equipment
Travel Expenses
2.) Activity fees are pooled and used by SGA to allocate amongst Chartered Student Organizations through discretionary annual and spot funding.
By KRISTEN MIANO Associate News Editor
On this year’s election ballot, Student Government Association added a referendum to increase the Student Activity Fee by $10 a semester. The Student Activity Fee is a fee paid by every undergraduate student that is allocated by SGA to student groups during annual funding and spotfund processes. The goal of the Student Activity Fee is to work toward the betterment of the student body. Any student can apply for funds from the Student Activity Fee, and the money is allocated at the discretion of senate and the SGA Finance Committee. The proposed increase to the Student Activity Fee would increase the current semester fee from $45 to $55, increasing the total amount paid by each student annually from $90 to $110. At this point, the Student Activity Fee generates approximately $720,000 annually. Should the referendum pass, the dollar amount would jump to about $900,000.
The bill to propose the referendum, passed in the Feb. 8 SGA meeting, states that it is crucial that the budget available to the Finance Committee to allocate to Chartered Student Organizations grows in comparison to the last fiscal year. “Its important to have a vote on this because we have seen a doubling in CSOs since the last increase,” Financial Vice President Jonathan Serpas said. “I feel like there needs to be a little more money to provide funding for all these groups coming in.” The last time the Student Activity Fee increased was in 2004, with a previous referendum to increase the fee failing in 2009. Since 2004, the number of CSOs at Saint Louis University has amounted to approximately 150. According to SGA President Matt Ryan, SGA does not endorse the passing or failing of the referendum. He did acknowledge, however, that an increase in the fee would be beneficial when allocating funds. “If the referendum does not pass, SGA will have about $180,000 less to work with, which will require
Ash Wednesday leads to Lenten season
Competition highlights recent sustainability strides Senior Staff Wrtier
Students return from recieveing ashes at the 9 p.m. Ash Wednesday mass at St. Francis Xavier College Church on Feb. 22. Ash Wednesday marks the begining of the season of Lent, a 40-day period of sacrifice observed by Catholics to prepare for Easter.
See “Fee” on Page 4
SLU ready to rumble in ‘Recyclemania’ By MARK CAMPOS
Jennifer Wang / Photo Editor
greater cuts than if it is to pass,” Ryan said. CSOs that are allocated Student Activity Fee funds use the money to host events for the student body, including events like speakers, performances and concerts. Funds are also used for organizational and promotional needs, such as posters and travel costs. The Student Activity Fee can also be allocated for special projects on campus. For example, the hammocks in the SLU quad were purchased with the Student Activity Fee. In the 2010-11 school year, student groups requested approximately $1.3 million in funds. Through the course of the funding process, the amount allocated totaled to about $820,000. Vice President of Student Organizations Tyler Sondag said that he feels it is important that students understand the effects of the fee. “The fee affects CSOs,” Sondag said. “It’s what they want. Students need to be educated and informed what the decision means.” President of the Great
Last year, SLU participated in the nation-wide contest, “Recyclemania,” for the first time, reaching fourth in the “Grand Champion” category, which determines a SLU’s recycling rate as a percentage of its overall waste creation in comparison with six other Missouri universities. This year, the competition has returned to campus as a way to show that SLU is committed to promoting recycling practices, Student Government Association President Matt Ryan said. “I think having SLU participate shows that we are committed to promoting greater recycling,” Ryan said, “and to bring attention to the need that we continue to promote sustainable practices.” Recyclemania is an annual inter-collegiate event which takes place for eight weeks during the months of February and March, the official website reads. A not-for-profit organization, the competition
intends to get students and staff to recycle more often and reduce waste, and has operated since 2001. Ryan said that there is already a strong commitment to sustainability on campus, and that SGA can help empower these efforts. “I believe that if Student Government can continue to be a catalyst for these efforts, there is great power in that. You will see some strong promotional and tangible efforts in the coming weeks,” he said. On that note, water bottle filling stations have been installed around campus as part of an initiative by the SGA to reduce plastic usage and promote sustainability. Ryan said that the SGA wants to shift the SLU culture toward one that promotes reusable water bottles instead of the purchase of regular ones, he said. “[It’s] because we’re seeing trends in other universities where water bottles are actually banned from campus altogether, or, the sale of them is banned altogether,” said Commuter Senator and Civic Affairs Committee Chair
Elizabeth Alberty. In 2009, a soft ban of water bottles -no prohibition, but no sale- was ordered by the president of Washington University in St. Louis, but was received poorly by the campus’ students, according to Alberty. Instead, the SGA is taking a methodical approach to reducing See “Green” on Page 3
Blue the Billiken Happy Mardi Gras!
Read and Recycle The University News prints on partially recycled paper.