In this Issue
9392 9055
Basketball Changes pg. 7
Applied Engineering pg. 3
Minority student population at 11.1%
Thursday, September 19, 2013
THE
SHIELD
-22%
650
637
Students by race/ethnicity
600
Vol. 44 Issue 5
Phil Lawrence pg. 5
www.usishield.com
550 500
496
Increased Asian Multiple Race
450
2012 data shows increase in minority students
Decreased African American Hispanic American Indian/ Alaskan Pacific Islander White Not Specified
400
By JAMES VAUGHN News editor
350
-11%
313
300
279
+19% 250
259
241
+740% % 210
200
-19% 159
150
128
100
The percent of minority students at USI is on the rise, climbing 0.5 percent in 2012. A multiple race option was added in 2011. In 2012, 210 students identified as multiracial, up from 25 the previous year. While the number of students in all race/ethnicity categories, except “Asian,” dropped in 2012, according to the USI Fact Book, the “multiple race” number pushed the percent minority up. Last year, 2.7 percent of the student population did not specify a race/ethnicity. When the Office of Planning, Research and Assessment calculate the percent minority, they do not include the “not specified” category in that percent or in total enrollment. Race/ethnicity numbers are not available for 2013.
-30% 50
Numbers for 2011
40
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*White student numbers exceed the scale. In 2011, there were 9,392 white students, and in 2012, there were 9,055.
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Numbers for 2012
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Gender-variant students lack housing options By SHANNON HALL Staff writer
Photo courtesy of SIGMA TAU GAMMA
USI fraternity ranks No. 1 nationally
By JAMES VAUGHN News editor
Sigma Tau Gamma was awarded the McCune Distinguished Chapter of the year award Aug. 3 - seven months after the fraternity regained its charter. “The fact that they went from a colony to being chartered to receiving that award shows that they are a dedicated group,” said David Stetter, student development program adviser. The chapter competed with more than 70 other Sigma Tau Gamma chapters from all over the nation and received the award at the fraternity’s Strategic Leadership Conference in St. Louis. “We knew that we had put in a lot of hard work and that we had a chance to win, but there was a lot of doubt,” said Christian Ely, Sigma Tau Gamma vice president. “We thought maybe we’d get runner-up, but we never thought we’d walk away winners.” Ely said “proud” is the best way to describe the moment the chapter’s name was called. “We were proud of all the brothers that were there and proud of all the brothers that
couldn’t make it,” he said. “It was an effort by everybody.” Ely said Sigma Tau Gamma wouldn’t be where it is today without the support of the university, other clubs and organizations and their alumni. “We couldn’t have made it this far if it was just us,” he said. Ely said most chapters focus on chartering with a long-term goal of winning the McCune. “That’s one of the things that made it more exciting for us – seven months after chartering, we won chapter of the year,” he said. “The national headquarters’ staff said that’s just something that’s not common at all.” Ely was responsible for compiling the McCune packet, which had to include a year’s worth of data and proof that each piece of data was correct. “It was a very tedious process,” he said. The award is based on the McCune Metric System, which the staff at the national headquarters takes seriously when granting the award. They look at a variety of factors, such as a chapter’s budget, overall grade point average, retention rate, philanthropic endeavors, fundraising events and community service.
“If you can think of something an organization might have to show, we had to show it,” Ely said. Sigma Tau Gamma received its charter Jan. 4, two years after returning to USI as a provisional chapter and 12 years after the chapter’s alumni decided to close its doors. A hazing incident in the spring of 1996 led to the chapter being placed on probation for four years. Sigma Tau Gamma fundraising chairman Zack Mathis said when expansion counselors came to USI in 2010, they had heard a little bit about the chapter’s history and looked for people who would start the chapter and keep it going in the right direction. “They made sure we wouldn’t fall back into old habits,” Mathis said. Despite more than a decade of rumors and modern myths surrounding Sigma Tau Gamma, Ely said it all comes down to values-based recruitment. “When we look for guys to join our fraternity, it’s ones that embody leadership and integrity and excellence,” he said. “We’re not the same Sig Tau that was here 14 years ago.”
When he came to USI as a freshman, like most USI students, he had three roommates. The difference – all of his roommates were female because USI does not have gender-neutral housing, and he’s transgender. The junior asked to remain anonymous due to safety concerns. On his records, his gender shows up as female, so he had to room with three other females. “All three of them knew and were fine with it,” he said. “Which was lucky.” He had two options his sophomore year – attempt to change his gender marker or room in a super single. “To get your gender marker changed is … a b***h, like no one knows how to do it,” he said. “And when you call the courthouse, they’re like ‘I don’t even think that can be done.’” His sophomore year he roomed by himself in a super single, which Housing and Residence Life allowed him to pay for at the normal price, as if he had three other roommates. He said he appreciated how USI accommodated his need, but there was a down-side. “It got so boring and lonely. You’re completely by yourself for that long,” he said. “Part of the college experience is having roommates.” Some of his transgender friends refused to come to USI because of the lack of genderneutral housing, he said. Housing and Residence Life Associate Director Amy Price said students do have an option
in the housing booklet. “If the housing application or roommate options do not support your gender identity, please contact our office at living@usi. edu to discuss a placement that is right for you.” Price said while USI offers an option, it’s not comparable to other universities who have established gender-neutral housing. “I was excited that we could offer this option to students,” she said. “I think it helps with student transitions and for students to feel comfortable and safe.” Earlier this year, Indiana University established genderneutral housing in a residence hall and a set of apartments, which allows the students to live with whoever they want. “That is a trend nation wide, and it’s based on student interest,” Price said. Price said there have been discussions about gender-neutral housing on campus. “But housing doesn’t always dictate housing policies,” she said. All housing policies have to go through the board of trustees. No one has formally pushed for a gender-neutral policy yet, she said. “It really needs to come from the students,” Price said. “If that’s something that our students want, they need to indicate it through SHA (Student Housing Association) and student government.” Senior psychology major Alex Kessler came out as transgender two years ago, and he was a resident assistant, which allowed him to have his own HOUSING on Pg. 3
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