The Rotunda Š February 8,2001
Being the Rotunda Since 1920
Volume 80, Number 11
Dean Farmer to Leave School of Business Longwood Student ALLYSON BLAKE Features Editor
At the end of this semester, Longwood will lose one of its most distinguished faculty members.Berkwood Fanner, Dean of the School of Business, has decided to take a job at Wrights State University in Dayton, Ohio after ten years here at Longwood. Dean Fanner was one of 150 applicants asked to apply for the position of the Dean of the Raj Sion College of Business and Administration. He was chosen to take the job and had this to say as to why he decided to take it. "It's a large urban university with an excellent opportunity for the business college to become actively involved in the business community in the state of Ohio. It was also an opportunity to expand graduate study programs in conjunction with the Medical College and Engineering College at Wrights State University."
As the Dean of Longwood's School of Business since 1991, Dean Fanner has seen the school of business accomplish many things including becoming AACSB accredited. "Only 25% of the business schools in the United States have this distinction," Farmer says. He. has also seen the business program gain many strengths since 1991. "The program has developed a distinct vision and mission. It is also supported with clear values. These values are the continuous quality improvement and the proficiency of students in computer and communication skills as well as team and leadership skills. This program also has probably the best internship program of any school in the country. Also when students graduate, they have many high paying job opportunities," Fanner says. While the program itself has many strengths, it would not have gotten to where it was without the faculty and the three busi-
ness boards. "The school of business has a faculty that is as good or better than any undergraduate school in the country could have. The school also has three strong and effective boards. The corporate advisory board, dean's student advisory board, and alumni advisory board are all key in developing and carrying out the school's mission," Fanner says. When he leaves at the end of the semester. Farmer said he will miss "the close association and work with the students in the school of business" the most Although he is leaving. Farmer feels confident about the future of Longwood's School of Business. "The total visibility and quality of the business school has increased tremendously and the business community in Virginia now knows that the business school at Longwood is alive and well and getting better everyday."
College Scholarships to Increase lion over Virginia's existing finanFor that reason. Governor cial aid policy. Not only does the "true Gilmore has put forward the The premier poet of the Higher Education Affordability need" model provide more finanHarlem Renaissance, Langston Act, which is being patroned by cial assistance to the aggregate, Hughes, asked the poignant ques- Delegate Paul C. Harris (R) and but it also better targets the most needy and disadvantaged stution, "What happens to a dream Senator Benjamin Lambert (D). This bill takes a two- dents. Supporters of HB2343/SB deferredr For many people, it is the pronged approach to addressing 1234 include President John dream of a college education that affordability by combining a Casteen of UVA, President Eddie must be deferred; all due to lim- need-based approach and a merit- Moore of NSU, President Marie McDemmond of NSU, and on based aid program. ited financial resources. behalf of President Eugene Trani. The need-based part of the However, a bill making its way through the Virginia General program provides $5.8 million in VCU Provost Roderick McDavis. The merit-based compoAssembly addresses this issue in additional student financial assisnent of the bill provides Virginia's tance as part of a three-year an innovative and timely fashion. In 1997, according to a re- phase-in to meet 100% of each students with an opportunity to port by the State Council for student's true financial need ac- earn New Century Scholarships in Higher Education (SCHEV), Vir- cording to a "true need" formula one of two ways. Fust, students who score at an advanced level ginia ranked as the third most ex- developed by SCHEV. When fully phased in this on a high school end-of-course pensive state for a college educa"true need" model will provide an Standard of Learning (SOL) test, tion. As a result of the combined additional $17.3 million in stu- will receive a scholarship of $500 effect of Governor Gilmore's 20 dent financial assistance for per test on up to six tests, meanpercent tuition reduction and the Virginia's students and their fami- ing a student can earn up to a total of $3000. current tuition freeze, Virginia has lies. The other way in which stu This "true need" model indropped to the tenth most expencreases student financial assissive. That shows positive moveSee MONEY p. 5 ment, but tenth place is still too tance by an additional $4.9 milWILBERT BRYANT VA Secretary of Education
high.
Sexually Assaulted Although the suspect was in custody, Dean Pierson said that sending the email was to "make During the early morning students aware that this kind of hours of Sunday, January 21, a thing could happen and what kind Longwood College student was of decisions [they] need to make sexually assaulted by a local resi- to lower their risks." Some email suggestions dent. The assault was on an up- were "walk in well lighted areas" perclassman on-campus resident and "secure your room door at all at the residence of an off-campus times." Dean Pierson added "you drink ten beers and go out in the student. The Longwood student was street your risk is high. Think taken to Southside Community about where you're gonna be, Hospital, where she was treated who you're going with, bow you're getting back. It's an awareand released. The suspect, a 36-year old ness thing." The email Kstedme forcible African American male Cumberland resident, was later sodomy and rape merely as a Apprehended and charged with sexual assault When asked about the difforcible sodomy and rape. Dean Pierson stated that the ferences in language. Dean suspect was not a future threat to Pierson explained that k was due the Longwood community. "This to a lack of information about the person has committed, allegedly charges and not an attempt to committed, this crime, was locked downplay the severity of the asup, and no bail was posted, so he's sault. Because the assault ocnot getting out of jail.'' On Friday, January 26, curred at an off-campus Ideation, Longwood College students wen Longwood's future involvement notified about the attack via in prosecuting the crime will be email. Included in the email were limited. Then is no court date scheduled. tips on crime prevention. BRYSON MINN1X Opinion Editor
No More Dead Air National Public Radio (NPR) programming is on the air in Farmville and the surrounding region thanks to a partnership between Longwood College's WLCX (91.3 FM) and James Madison University's WMRA. "Morning Edition," "All Things Considered," "Car Talk," and classical music can be heard over WLCX in a time-sharing arrangement that allows Longwood College students to continue their part-time operation of the station. When students are not programming WLCX, they will simply switch the transmitter over to relay the programming of WMRA from Harrisonburg. "For years, we've been receiving requests from Farmville
for a better signal," said WMRA General Manager Tom DuVal. "One person had wires strung around his living room, much to his wife's dismay. We knew people really wanted to hear NPR news and classical music." This partnership provides a 24-hour scedule for WLCX, to complement its recent power upgrade, and satisfies the desire of many residents for NPR programming The community will benefit from the increased services of a larger coverage area, more variety of programming, and a full-time scedule. During the academic year, WMRA's programs generally
See DEAD p. 5