SPECIAL GRADUATION ISSUE SEE YOUR NAME INSIDE
Thursday, May 1, 2014 ■ Vol. 44 Issue 32
THE
SHIELD www.usishield.com
Where are the cats? University slams TNR idea after cats go missing By JAMES VAUGHN News editor
environment from which they were collected.
After months of strenuous efforts to get the university to implement a Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR) policy for the feral cats on campus, administration brought down the gavel on Audrey Maxwell. No. TNR is a method of trapping feral cats, spaying or neutering them and returning them to the
The decision The final decision came from Vice President for Finance and Administration Mark Rozewski, but Maxwell was never told that he had the final say. “I have the greatest respect for her. She’s worked very hard. She’s done substantial work,” Rozewski said. “We just have a
different sense of what needs to be done.” Rozewski doesn’t think TNR is a good option for the university because he doesn’t think, from a business standpoint, it’s a sustainable program. Maxwell met with Rozewski and Associate Provost for Student Affairs Marcia Kiessling earlier in the semester. Rozewski said he would contact Maxwell after spring break with a decision. But when she returned,
Rozewski was avoiding her, she said. “I emailed him and he did not respond to me for over a week,” Maxwell said. “Immediately it was ‘no,’” Maxwell said. “Once I leave, he doesn’t trust anyone else to take over. He said, ‘There’s no possible way that you can assure me that it will be sustainable after you leave.’” But Audrey has received backing from the Student Gov-
Helfrich to retire after 36 years By PAOLA MARIZAN Staff writer The most challenging task Stephen Helfrich endured during his 36 years at USI wasn’t a construction project, but a fire in the Science Center in 1998. Electrical cables caught fire in the utility tunnel and smoke filled the building. “The biggest challenge was to get the Science Center clean and back in operation,” Helfrich said. The director of facility operations and planning will retire July 31. “I started as an engineer,” Helfrich said. “In those days, USI was ISUE (Indiana State University Evansville).” Helfrich, a graduate of Purdue University, was promoted to assistant director in 1978 when USI was smaller. From there, he has seen USI grow over the years. When he arrived, campus consisted of the Wright Administration Building, the Science Center and parts of the Physical Plant and Rice Library. One of his first responsibilities was overseeing the construction of the Physical Activities Center. “To see each building being constructed and open is very satisfying,” Helfrich said. He said he has been lucky to work at USI. He described his experience as “great” and USI as a “great place to work.” “I’ve always enjoyed the job,” Helfrich said. His predecessor, John, impacted his professional life.
A pouring in of support “If that’s their concern, she’s shown she has community support,” said Audrey Julian, ACA administrative director. “She has the backing of a tried and true rescue. When she leaves, we will help continue it.” Julian has been working close-
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Summer job market heats up By ARMON SIADAT Staff writer
Photo by BLAKE STAYROOK/The Shield
Stephen Helfrich walks around campus in late April.
“I respected him,” Helfrich said. “Each of my bosses here have had a positive impact as well.”
He said the staff he works with has also impacted his career in a positive way. “I wouldn’t be able to retire
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Community says racism still exists By ARMON SIADAT Staff writer A crowd gathered in the USI Amphitheater Friday for the 2nd annual Rally Against Racism. The event highlighted performances and speeches from student organizations and city leaders in an effort to raise awareness for racism. Attendees also took a spoken oath to help end racism by not participating in it and discouraging others from engaging in it as well. City Councilwoman Stephanie Brinkerhoff Riley issued a proclamation on Mayor Lloyd Winneck’s behalf because he wasn’t able to attend. “Friday, April 25, is Stand Against Racism Day in Photo by BLAKE STAYROOK/The Shield
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ernment Association and local nonprofits, such as Another Chance for Animals (ACA).
A crowd gathers during a rally against racism Friday.
The Shield is a designated public forum.
The student publication of the University of Southern Indiana
The summer job market in the Evansville area is brimming with opportunity, yet many college students are stressing over finding a part time job. Meliyah Harris, a freshman marketing and graphic design major, is looking for summer employment. “It’s so stressful,” she said. “I can’t find many places that are hiring.” Phil Parker, USI’s Office of Career Services and Placement director, said he feels the summer job market is “balanced.” “It’s not an overwhelming amount of openings that we can see through the Career Center,” he said. The Career Center, however, does not keep track of how many students take on summer jobs since the university does not require students to inform Career Services every time they take one on. “As with any job search, students are going to have to work to find them,” he said. Students looking for summer jobs may not have to look too hard, though. With only about 46 percent of working college students staying in their current positions and working through the summer, many Evansville-area businesses are looking for summer help. The West Side Buffalo Wild Wings has a staff primarily made up of college students. Of the 80 percent of its staff that are currently enrolled in a university, only 40 percent will stay on through the summer. Many other businesses, on both the East and West Sides of Evansville, are seeing similar trends. Dan Williams, AMC Evansville 16 manager, said he is currently hiring summer help to replace the 30 percent of his staff that will not be working at the theater during summer break. When hiring college students for summer jobs, the qualifications for the position and the qualities of the applicant that employers are looking for are unique to each manager. “We’re looking for someone who is going to be an asset to the company,” Williams said. “We look at how well you respond to interview questions and how well you retain information given to you.” He also looks at past work experience. Other businesses, such as Old Chicago on the East Side and Papa John’s on the West Side, also focus on an applicant’s past work experience. Both businesses are currently hiring summer staff. Nicole Clifford, manager of the east side Logan’s Roadhouse, focuses more on an applicant’s personality than she does on his or her past work experience when hiring new staff members. “We look for upbeat, positive and confident people that can walk up and start a conversation with guests,” she said. “You can teach someone to serve, but you can’t teach them personality.” While an applicant’s personality is also one of the biggest factors taken into consideration by the West Side Logan’s Roadhouse, the steakhouse is primarily looking for availability. Both Logan’s Roadhouse locations are cur-
SUMMER on Pg. A3 Additional copies of The Shield are 25 cents