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T h u r s d a y, J a n u a r y 1 2 , 2 0 1 7 | U s i s h i e l d . c o m | v o l . 4 7 i s s u e 1 8
From punches to pressure points
Welcome Center hits delays, still needs contractor
Campus self defense classes see low turnout
by Sarah Loesch editor@usishield.com @seloesch
Construction of the Fuquay Welcome Center is being pushed back after the initial bids for the project overshot the budget set forth by the university. Gary Burgdorf, a construction administrator with Facility Operations and Planning said the number the university had in mind for the project was $2.5 million. It was shown at the July 14 Board of Trustees meeting that $2 million of the budget would come from private gifts and the other $500,000 from the Special Projects Reserve. “We’re trying to pair it down into something affordable,” he said. “The first bids came back and it was more than we had anticipated. We’re not just one, big bag of money, we have parameters.” Currently, the university is working with DKGR Architects, a firm out of Indianapolis, to see how it can be made less expensive. The next meeting with the firm is planned for Friday. Burgdorf said some materials, like the concrete and finishes, have already been adjusted to help cut expense. Burgdorf said some of the local contractors have also been hesitant to dive in because of the uniqueness of the plans. The original plans for the building included a roof garden with walkways, patios and seating and Burgdorf said there are some “tricky” items inside as well.
Photo courtesy of Damien Burge
Kaylie Walbert-Henry, a member of the university Panhellenic Council, throws a punch at a bag held by another member of the self-defense class during a fall session.
by Damien Burge Special to the Shield
The students exchanged wide eyed looks when Sgt. Bobby Wood of the Princeton Police Department announced it was time to learn pressure points. No one stepped forward to get hands-on experience until the instructors became the test dummies. The students winced as they practiced on each other with thumbs pressing in the soft area behind the ear. The pressure-point technique was one of many taught this fall in a university session focusing on sexual assault prevention. Catherine Champagne, the assistant director of Student Wellness, coordinates the sexual prevention and awareness programs for university students. “I have seen more interests across the board in prevention,” Champagne said. Champagne assists in planning some of the sexual assault prevention and awareness pro-
grams, including the self-defense class. Throughout the academic year, the university offers nine programs related to sexual assault awareness and four dealing with prevention. Those four programs are bystander intervention training, self-defense classes, healthy relationship screening and the public safety escort service. Student turnout has been low with little advertising being done to promote the classes. The final exercise was the one which was most exciting for Champagne. The instructors taped all the student’s wrist and one after another they tried to escape. “It was really empowering to figure out that you can break out of duct tape,” Champagne said. “The class blew my mind.” Each student rose their hands up and thrust downward to snap the tape and all but one succeeded. “I loved every part of it,” Kaylie WalbertHenry said. “It was great to be able to come down and practice the moves. You really feel that you know it and are able to defend yourself.”
Walbert-Henry said she hopes to be able to do attend a class like this again. The bystander intervention training is offered by request only and the self-defense class operates once a semester, unless a further interest is shown. The self-defense class is held once a month but not enough students signed up Champagne said. She said she would like to bring more classes to campus if students show an interest in it. Last semester’s class contained twenty people, including both students and faculty. The class has a minimum requirement of 5 participants. Champagne said classes at the university have been canceled in the past due to low turnout. The Panhellenic council contacted the selfdefense instructor Wood about instructing classes for the fall. This isn’t the first time the Panhellenic council has reached out for a class and the turnout is usually around 20 people, Wood said.
Construction, PAGE 3
Self-Defense, PAGE 3
Three employees promoted by Riley Guerzini news@usishield.com @rguerzini
University President Linda Bennett announced the promotion of three administrative staff members at the spring semester faculty meeting Jan. 4. The changes will go into effect Feb. 1. President of the USI Foundation David Bower has been promoted to vice president of development while continuing to serve as president of the Foundation. “I am very grateful for the confidence that (University President) Dr. Bennett has in me,” he said. Bower said he will meet with Bennett next week to discuss the specifics of his new role and duties. Bower has been head of the Foundation for the past decade. He began as a special gifts officer with the Foundation 23 years ago. He said the foundation has grown over the past 10 years under his direction and attributes it to the work done by his staff. “It’s more about the work than it is about me,” he said.
“My hope is that the Foundation will continue to work as a team.” Executive Director of Planning, Research and Assessment Katherine Draughon was promoted to chief data officer. Draughon, who is now in her 11th year at the university, said she and Bennett had been talking about wanting to move the university forward with data and data security. “She is a very data-driven President,” she said. “We are a very data driven, decision making organization.” Working in secondary education since 1996, Draughon has served as the project director at the University of Illinois-Chicago and the assistant director of the survey research lab at the University of South Carolina. Draughon said she is currently working on data governance, which is the policies and procedures that both the IT department and the Planning, Research and Assessment department must have in place to make sure data is being used as an asset and that it is secure.
Promotions, PAGE 3
‘Fans in the stands’ Giveaway aims to promote game attendance
Photo courtesy of Photo services
Archie’s Army cheers from the stands at a women’s volleyball game during the 2016 season. The athletics department is currently working to provide cash giveaways that student’s who attend men and women’s basketball games will be eligible to win.
by Sarah Loesch editor@usishield.com @seloesch
Robbie Kent said he cherishes his memories of his time at USI. During his time at the university Kent was a member of the first men’s basketball team, which at
the time was still under the name Indiana State University East. This year, along with help from the athletic department, Kent has set up a giveaway for students who attend home basketball games. The Robbie Kent’s Sixth-Man Giveaway will award two $500 prizes, two
$250 prizes and one $1,000 prize. “It’s important to get people in the stands,” Kent said. “I think this might be a nice way to have kids go.” Kent said both the head coach of the men’s basketball team, Rodney Watson, and of the women’s basketball team, Rick Stein, have
done a wonderful job with their respective teams. When he was playing at the university Kent said former president David Rice and his wife Betty never missed a game. “That was important for us,” he said. Kent said the teams need more energy from the crowd.
Giveaway, PAGE 3