July 12, 2010

Page 1

Vanguard The

Serving USA Since 1965

July 12, 2010

VOLUME 48, NUMBER 2

Med Students Spread Hope

Tuition Hiked 14%

Johnny Davis

COPY EDITOR jdavis251@gmail.com

Tuition at the University of South Alabama will rise 14 percent in the fall semester. University President Gordon Moulton cited a decrease in state funding and an increase in “uncontrollable costs” as reasons for the tuition hike. The move was approved at the June 10 USA Board of Trustees meeting. “A tuition increase is always painful,” Moulton said. “We don’t take it lightly, but we also have a strong responsibility to maintain the quality of University programs.” The Alabama Legislature’s latest education budget reduces USA’s state funding by $40 million from three years

Courtesy of Duane Baxter, Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama

This past June, first- and second- year USA medical students went with the Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama to Honduras in Central America where they set up free health clinics for the local residents. To read the full story, turn to page 3.

Exams to be Held on Saturday Matthew Peterson

MANAGING EDITOR mwp601@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

If you were counting on a few extra “dead” days to study for exams or spending Saturday, Dec. 11 watching cartoons, you’re out of luck – the academic calendar includes exams on that Saturday and no break days between the last day of class and the beginning of exams. Dr. David Johnson, USA vice president for Academic Affairs, said this was the optimal way to accommodate two changes to the calendar: the two-day fall break in October and starting classes a week later in August. “It all began with the request for fall break and to start the fall semester a week later to avoid the oppressive heat of August,” Johnson said. According to the published academic calendar, the last day of classes will be Thursday, Dec. 9, and exams are scheduled on Friday, Dec. 10; Saturday, Dec. 11; Monday, Dec. 13; and Tuesday Dec. 14. Exams

Inside

Police Blotter p.2

Be Sure to Pick Up the Orientation Issue on Newsstands Aug. 16!

for Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes at 8 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4:40 p.m. are scheduled for Saturday. “In short, [the changes] are intended to get grades in prior to the end of the calendar year, so the registrar can clear students for graduation and have transcripts finalized,” Johnson said, “so students can sit for licensure exams and not be disadvantaged in the job market.” The Deans’ Council, which is made up of the heads of the colleges on campus, approved the final academic calendar after the fall break and week-late start were proposed by the Calendar Committee. SGA President Kim Proctor, who represents SGA on the Calendar Committee, said having exams on Saturday was never discussed during Calendar Committee meetings, and she attended every meeting. “I’m not happy with the exam schedule,” Proctor said, “and I don’t like that there wasn’t a lot of student involvement in the

Johnny Davis

COPY EDITOR jdavis251@gmail.com

University of South Alabama student and football player Anthony Mostella died in a June 13 motorcycle crash. The onevehicle accident took place in St. Clair County, Ala., about 40 miles outside of Birmingham. Mostella, 22, was a junior running back on USA’s 2009 inaugural football team. He played in all seven games, rushing for 180 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass and made seven special teams tackles. He was voted a team captain and was also named to the Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll for the 2009 spring semester. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Anthony’s family right now,” USA football coach Joey Jones said. “I’ve been fortunate to have worked with Anthony at two schools. He was the epitome of a true student-athlete and a tremendous role model to his peers. “His character and leadership skills will always be an example for everyone in our program to follow.” Mostella played one season under Jones at Birmingham-Southern College. When

Arts & Entertainment p.6

Two Writers Trek to Bonnaroo and Live to Tell the Tale See Arts & Entertainment, p.6

see TUITION | 4

Football Team Mourns Loss

see EXAMS | 11

Day in the Life p.3

ago, a 29 percent decrease. In the same time frame, the University has incurred more than $23 million in “uncontrollable costs,” including increases in employee retirement contributions, health insurance premiums, and utilities costs. “While funding is going down, our financial commitments are increasing,” Moulton said. “We have to have a tuition increase to make up for the shortfall. … I think it’s sad that we’re having to do it.” An in-state undergraduate will now pay $227 per credit hour. (In-state undergraduates paid $162 per credit hour during the 2009-2010 academic year, but the new rate is also inflated by a restructuring of fees. See story, page 5.) That brings the new rate for a 30-hour

see MOSTELLA | 4

Sports p.7

Replacing Kit: Erdmann On Finding a New Baseball Coach See Sports, p.7

Opinion p.9

Vanguard Archives

Distractions p.11

Hiding Fees: What Can the Administration be Keeping from Us? See Opinion, p.9


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