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Thursday, March 20, 2014
$10,000 to fund app Pg. 4 Bruce Pearl hired at Auburn Pg. 7
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Higher Ed Commission approves English MA
By Paola Marizan Staff writer
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education approved a Master of Art degree in English March 13. The program, which was proposed last year, will offer advanced studies in English for secondary education instructors, individuals who teach in two and
four-year post secondary institutions and professional writers in areas like business, industry and the non-profit sector. The curriculum is comprised of 33 semester hours - 30 of coursework and three of a capstone experience. “The fact the students can receive dual credits is what stood out the most about the proposal,” said Caren Whitehouse, 8th dis-
trict representative for the Commission. “It enables the student to have a step forward.” Whitehouse said the university put together an efficient presentation that was easy to navigate. “It is a multiple step process,” Whitehouse said. The program is targeted to a wide range of students. “Having a variety of degree
programs is a plus in every university,” Whitehouse said. Associate Professor of English Charles Conaway said most programs students apply for are limited to a specific curriculum, but what stands out most about USI’s Master of Arts in English is flexibility. “Students will have the liberty to shape the program to their needs,” Conaway said.
The program starts this Fall and will have two required classes - introduction to professional studies in English and an elective seminar on early American literature. “We’ll have an open house soon - before the semester ends,” Conaway said. He said the faculty is very excited about this and what it will
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SGA reps reapply EXPRESS YOURSELF Free speech zone confined to small area
for same positions
FREE SPEECH
By JAMES VAUGHN News editor
Free speech is confined to a small area on USI’s campus between the Orr Center and University Center East, but those boundaries, Public Safety Director Stephen Woodall said, have served the university well over the years. “We like it to be a great, educational experience here,” Woodall said. “But we have to make sure things are safe and secure, too.” Woodall said the Office of Public Safety would only call the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office for assistance if a display became disorderly or riotous.
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USI has always had a free speech zone The area was selected because it’s visible, accessible and doesn’t block people from coming and going It has been moved in the past due to construction The Dean of Students Office should be notified when it’s going to be used The Dean of Students Office notifies the Office of Public Safety when it is used The Office of Public Safety determines whether or not to break up a protest Solicitation is not authorized on campus, even within the free speech zone
Student Government Association ballots open Monday, but students who vote won’t have a lot of decision making to do – there are no contested positions. “I am disappointed,” said Adam Brothers, chief justice. “But I’m happy that we doubled the amount of people running… We have 21 people running in the election, and I’m stoked about that.” That’s up from 10 candidates last year. “The election will give us a full Exec. Board,” Brothers said. “It looks like the Exec. Board will have experience.” President Zack Mathis and Attorney General Ryan Hadley are rerunning for their positions. Students may have seen Mathis’s campaign cover of Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience album. “It seemed to mirror the work I’ve done and hope to do,”
Mathis said. “I’ll have 20/20 hindsight on my previous term, which isn’t something previous SGA presidents have had.” This year, SGA helped raise school spirit, solve issues in student housing and build relations across the state at the campusto-campus and legislative level, he said. They also sponsored the travel and events of student groups and individuals “We also had the honor of having Mayor Winnecke speak at one of our meetings,” Mathis said. “As well as having Attorney General Zoeller and Senator Merritt travel to USI to help students better understand the expansion of the Lifeline Law.” Some of Mathis’s goals for next year include implementing a campus-wide texting service, exploring options to expand and improve campus housing community space and promoting civic engagement by adding voter
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Quarry reason for theatre delay By RACHEL CHRISTIAN Staff writer Construction at the new USI Teaching Theatre is taking longer than expected, but it should be ready for the fall semester. The new building is still on budget, said Gary Burgdorf, the construction administrator at USI. The project was able to cut spending in some areas, while distributing those funds to others. The original budget for the theatre was $17.2 million. Burgdorf also confirmed that the project is behind schedule, which was brought up at the Board of Trustees meeting March 6. The stone quarry that supplies the project has had problems delivering stone needed for the exterior. The sidewalks and the building’s exterior and interior finished floors are all on hold until the stone masons can finish their work. He said it is unusual for a supplier to delay the building process like this. “The contractors and I have dis-
cussed this on several occasions and this is the first time in our collective memories one company has hurt progress so completely,” Burgdorf said. “We have all seen problems, but there are usually ways to work around issues. In this case, none of us have been able to suggest the answer to this one.” The architect is working on contingency plans in the event the quarry is unable to provide the supplies for the project, Burgdorf said. Despite this set back, progress continues to be made on other parts of the theatre. Assembly and installation of the elevators began this week and the auditorium seating is scheduled to begin April 1. The fire prevention, heating and air conditioning are already installed, while the drywall and painting are “going well.” Wasserman, chair of the performing arts department, said the new theatre was slated to open in June, but if it is not completed by that time, it should be ready for the fall semester. But Wasserman said the theatre program Photos by Blake Stayrook/The Shield
Workers persist on projects to meet Fall 2014 opening date.
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doesn’t mind waiting. “We all know that major buildings take time,” Wasserman said. “A few weeks one way or the other means nothing in the long term.” The hard winter was another reason for delayed construction, he said. Planning and design for the theatre began around five years ago and USI broke ground on the theatre in August 2012. Besides hosting plays and other performances, the theatre will act as an instructional tool to prepare students for work in the entertainment industry. Much like teaching hospitals are designed to prepare medical students for real-life work, the teaching theatre
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will give students hands-on experience. Wasserman wouldn’t say what the first production in the new facility will be, but he did say the comedy will be announced before the end of the semester.Burgdorf said there are other construction projects on the horizon. Plans for a new conference center are “nearing completion” and may go out for bids soon. There are also plans to remodel more housing and complete the renovations in the science center this summer. The theatre support building has also broken ground and is under way north of lot L, Burgdorf said.
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