THE
Thursday, April 11, 2013 Vol. 34 Issue 28
The three amigos pg. 4
SHIELD www.usishield.com
How to spend $50 million Enriching the student experiencE $10 million on building scholarship endowment $2 million on broadening student experiential learning $2 million on completing construction of the Teaching Theatre
Enhancing the academic environment
Elevating Athletics
Strengthening community partnerships
$2 million on creating faculty engagement fellowships
$5 million on scholarship support for student athletes
$1 million on endowing operation for the Applied Engineering Center
$4 million on endowing faculty professorships
$1 million on soccer stadium enhancements
$4 million on sustaining Historic New Harmony’s Living Classroom
$1 million on establishing the Innovative Thinkers Speaker Series
$1 million on softball complex enhancements
$2 million on expanding support for nontraditional students
Providing ongoing Annual support $8 million on the USI Annual Fund
$2 million on developing a center to welcome campus visitors $5 million on building a conference center with convenient parking
USI launches new capital campaign By JESSIE HELLMANN News editor USI announced it was moving into the public phase of a $50 million capital campaign called “Elevating Excellence,” and the university is already halfway to that goal. On April 4th Ron Romain, USI Board of Trustee member, chair of the campaign and 1973 USI graduate, announced the campaign and said it already had $26.7 million. “That’s a remarkable start,” Romain said. “We’re just now entering the public
phase of the campaign, and you can see the broad support we have.” He said the $50 million, which has a goal to be obtained by December 2015, will go toward a variety of things for the university, including completing its strategic plan. “The campaign is focused on scholarship endowment, completion of the teaching theatre, broadening student experiences such as travel abroad and internships, and expanding opportunities for our faculty to participate in activities that will positively impact teaching methods and scholarship,” Romain said.
a $2 million challenge To inspire gifts form USI Alumni, donors of the University has offered $2 million to match, dollar-for-dollar, first-time alumni donors who make a gift of $50 or more and any previous alumni donors who commit a minimum of $1,00 to the Greatest Campaign Needs. Alumni will be recognized for double the amount of the gift.
CAMPAIGN on Pg. 3
USI to hire assistant dean of students By ARIANA BEEDIE Staff writer
Photos By JIMMY PYLES/The Shield
Students participate in the annual events “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” Tuesday. The event raises awareness about sexual assault and domestic violence by asking men to literally “walk a mile” in women’s shoes.
One step at a time By JESSIE HELLMANN News editor Happy-go-lucky 15-year-old Chrissy Harris had everything she could ever want. A charming, cute, funny and athletic high school student swept her off her feet in study hall, and he became her boyfriend. Everything was great until three months later. He began to tell her who she could and couldn’t associate with and what she was allowed to wear. He checked on her in class and checked her phone, breaking it if he saw her texting another guy - or sometimes just other girls. Harris said she didn’t realize the danger she was in until March 2006, when her boyfriend hit her in the eye with a
softball for talking to another guy at a softball game her father umpired for. “I remember holding my face and crying,” Harris said to a crowd of around 400 people at USI’s annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” Tuesday night, a walk to raise awareness about sexual assault and domestic violence. Men and women donned high heels to figuratively “walk a mile in her shoes.” “I just wish I would have realized then that the sentence ‘I won’t do it again’ was just a lie,” Harris said. “The days grew longer, and the abuse got worse. I hid everything. I covered up visible bruises with makeup and long-sleeved shirts. When someone would notice a bruise, I would always have a story to tell.”
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She said she would pray every day for the abuse to stop. On Jan. 25, 2007, she was finally free. “Free from looking over my shoulder. Free from secluding myself. Free from black eyes and blue arms, but most importantly, free to become the woman I am today,” Harris said. “I thank God every day for giving me the strength to walk away and stay away from the person I thought loved me. Because I was able to, I am proud to call myself a survivor, not a victim.” “USI and the Albion Fellows Bacon Center organizes ‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’ every year to raise awareness about sexual assault, rape and gender violence,” said Christine Johnston, student wellness assistant
Because the dean of students position alone cannot meet the needs of all students on campus, the university is in the process of hiring an assistant dean of students. The assistant dean of students position is being planned by the previous dean of students, Barry Schonberger, said Shelly Blunt, the interim assistant provost for academic affairs and chair of the hiring committee. “I think we’re just moving forward with that plan,” Blunt said. The proposed candidates will travel to campus April 10, 12 and 15 so a large committee of university representatives and two students can conduct closed on-campus luncheons and judge the candidates. “The hiring process began February 1, and we began reviewing applications at the end of February,” Blunt said. “It is a national search and we pay for advertising and the candidate expenses.” Blunt said Dean of Students Angela Batista asked her to chair the committee. “My job as the chair is to essentially organize the search,” Blunt said. “My committee screens applications based on a criteria - we identify someone that best meets the qualifications.” The job description said the university is looking for “individuals who have outstanding interpersonal, presentation and communications skills, a dedicated student focus, a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and a working knowledge of behavioral intervention, threat assessment, and case management for students in distress.” The future assistant dean requires a master’s degree in student affairs, student personnel or a related area of expertise. Three years minimum of experience after the master’s degree is also required, and candidates had to include a letter of recommendation to be considered. “Once the person has been selected, we will make an announcement to the community,” Angela Batista said. The university needs more staff so it can better meet the needs of students - it’s not possible for one person, she said. “This person will be a key partner in advocacy - reaching out to faculty and staff,” Batista said. “We partner with the entire university.” The chosen candidate will assume the assistant dean position July 1. “The hiring process is typically a highly structured process that is confidential,” Batista said. Junior radio and television major Josh Alexander said he likes
WALK A MILE on Pg. 3
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