Volume 82, Number 23
Waiting for Jimmie Haha Since 1920
April 10, 2003
Budget Woes Force Longwood To Raise Tuition Ken Woodley Editor-in-Chief, Farmvillt Herald
Longwood University's Board of Visitors has formally approved tuition and fee increases for in-state residential and out-of-state students. In-state residential students will pay an average increase in total costs of 11.3 percent, with out-ofstate students paying 7.1 percent more. The increases are in response to state budget cuts and the General Assembly's decision to allow state institutions of higher learning to raise tuition. And both come on the heels of tuition increases approved in November for the current Spring semes ter30 percent for in-state and eight percent for out-of-
state students. The General Assembly allowed state-supported colleges and universities to annualize tuition based on the Spring 2003 charges and to increase tuition by an additional five percent on top of that. Also, the legislature authorized further tuition increases to cover non-general fund costs of employee raises and associated bene fi ts and health care increases. Tuition costs for the 2003-2004 year will be $3,046 for in-state and $8,972 for out-of-state stu-
dents. Room and board (for the most common-14 meals a week plan) will increase from $4,984 to $5,298. Longwood's comprehensive fee
Longwood's move from Division II to Division I. In its report recommending the action, the Board's Administration, Finance, and Facilities Committee explained the rationale in further detail. The proposal, the committee reported, increases tuition over the annualized amount by 9.1 percent. Of that, â– STUDENTS 2.9 percent is attributed to health care increases and 1.2 percent is due to salary increases. boost from $2,310 to The remaining five per$2,626 will help cover the cent, the committee reportcost of salary and fringe ed, will be used to benefit benefit increases, debt serv- Longwood through ice for recreation and fitness increased financial aid and facilities, a new parking scholarships, support of garage, and an increase in University work-study, and the athletic budget to cover increased faculty positions. costs associated with
The increase, according to the recommendation will also allow for a contingency for additional operating needs of the educational and general budgets of the university or to offset additional budget reductions imposed by the Commonwealth. Seventeen permanent wage employees lost their jobs at Longwood due to state budget cuts and another 13 full time equivalent positions were lost through lay-offs or attrition last fall, [representing] eight percent of the university's workforce. Longwood's president Dr. Patricia Cormier used the word "ghastly" in October to describe the additional $1.3 million on state cuts last year, with the university facing another $527,322 this year.
Bandlest 2003 Will Kick OH Spring Weekend Edwin McCain and Jimmies Cnicken Snack To Headline Scott Smith Staff Writer
This Fnday, April 11, will be the start of Longwood's annual Spring Weekend, the highlight of a student's spring semester. The main spotlight on Fnday evening will be Bandfest 2003, being played by seven bands from across the nation. The two headliners for this occasion are Edwin McCain and Jimmie's Chicken Shack. Some students may remember when Jimmie's Chicken Shack performed at Longwood in the fall of 2000. Other Bandfest artists include Woodburn Road and Chowderfoot, which are both made up of Longwood students. Woodburn Road was the first place winner of last semester's Batde of the Bands. This gives them the pnvilege of opening up for the headliners Fnday night. Another performer, the John Eddie Band, will be on stage at 4
p.m. They have been on tour with Edwin McCain recendy and have an acoustic rock sound. For students looking for a louder, harder sound, Bandfest will also have Jivestreet and Adara. Jivestreet is a band from JMU and Adara is a hardcore style band who will be on the Vans Warped Tour this summer. Bandfest is not an easy event to organize. It requires the participation of a number of different campus organizations. The main hosts are SGA and WMLU 91.3, the Longwood radio station. Bandfest is also co-sponsored by Aramark, the Student Union, Sunchase, and Longwood Village apartments. The brothers of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity are running the security. All of these organizations are working together to make sure that the students are able to have a good time on Fnday evening while watching bands.
The director of Bandfest, Bryan Lee, is a junior, and has put coundess hours into making sure this all runs smoothly. He commented, "We are trying to set a precedent here at Longwood to show that Longwood is capable of bringing in bigger bands. Along with Lancer Productions and Mortar Board, WMLU 91.3 holds the big events on campus, such as Oktoberfest and Spring Weekend. "As Longwood prospers into a greater university than it already is, so will these events in the future to satisfy not only current students, but faculty, staff, alumni, and the community" So this Friday afternoon when you are looking for something to do, don't forget to check out Bandfest happening behind the Student Union. No admission will be charged for this event.
Bus Trip Explores Southern Diversity Jenn Dize Asst. PR manager
Longwood's annual Diversity Bus Trip took place the weekend of April 28-30. A group of 30 students took the ten-hour trip to Atlanta, Georgia, with hopes of gaining knowledge about the new south and breaking stereotypes of the old south. In attendance were representatives from a variety of groups on campus, including: Community Advocacy Alliance, Commuter Student Association, Jewish Student Association, Unity Alliance, The Rotunda, Women in Leadership and Learning (WILL), Black Student Organization, and participants in the foreign exchange program.
The trip was sponsored by the Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs and was headed by Lonnie Calhoun and Katrina Stevens. The exploration of diversity began Friday morning at the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum. Despite the overnight trip and only an hour long break, participants were attentive to the tour guides, listening and asking questions. Many Jewish people who left countries such as Poland, Russia, and Germany in the late 1800's and eady 1900's landed and settled in Atlanta. Many of the families of these immigrants have donated clothing, pictures, and written documents to the museum.
See BITS p. 5