2008-09 Issue 19 Loquitur

Page 1

Thursday, March 5, 2009

YOU SPEAK, WE LISTEN

Radnor, Pa.

CABRINI COLLEGE

Pacemaker Winner Vol L, Issue 19

www.theloquitur.com

Lady Cavs capture CSAC crown

Harsh economy impacts living off campus liz garrett news editor

egg722@cabrini.edu

crisis with success. She said that every student was contacted so that they could return. Lisa Plummer, director of Institution Effectiveness, was asked by George to talk about the college’s effectiveness to retain students. Plummer said that Cabrini’s fall-to-fall retention for the 20082009 year would be possibly in the range of 65 to 67 percent. The national average for comparison schools is about 70 to 72 percent. Plummer said that the college must improve its retention to bring it up to national standards. According to Stephen Lightcap, vice president for Finance

Despite the expectation for cheaper rents in the midst of this economic downturn, Cabrini students are instead finding their apartment rents to be on the rise. Angie Sheets, director of Residence Life at Bryn Mawr College, has noticed and says she is not surprised by the recent trend of increasing apartment leases. “High apartment rental costs have been a huge factor that has caused most of our students to live on campus,” Sheets said. Sheets has observed through talking with students that it is common for them to try to get at lease one or two roommates together to split the price of the rent. “This is such an expensive area to live in so it makes sense that students with transportation available may go further away off campus for less expensive rents,” Sheets said. Cabrini’s commuter students are experiencing apartment rents to be a challenge to keep up with. Christy Ross, senior English and communication major, lives in the Kingswood Apartments in King of Prussia, Pa. She has yet to see a break in her lease payments.   “I have to say I wish I never moved off campus,” Ross said. “It is cheaper than living on Cabrini’s campus but after you factor in the cost of food and utilities, it’s not much of a difference. I feel like I spend more money now.” This is Ross’ second year living in Kingswood and even though her lease will be ending this coming June, she says that it could not come soon enough. “Every year you live here, your rent increases 5-10 percent, which is not good for a college student,” Ross said. “You also have to consider that utilities are going to cost you at least $100. Right now my utility bill every

CAMPUS ADDRESS, page 3

HOUSING, page 3

Matt witmer/staff photographer

The Cabrini women’s basketball team celebrates following their 78-67 victory over Gwynedd-Mercy College in the championship game of the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Tournament. SEE PAGE 16

George sets path for college budget andy stettler

asst. news editor

ads725@cabrini.edu

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, in a time of great economic crisis and just four days after her return from Guatemala, Dr. Marie George gave her first State of the Campus Address to a staffpacked Widener Lecture Hall. George made it immediately clear that because Cabrini has a smaller amount invested in the stock market than many other colleges, Cabrini has not been as harmfully affected as big-name colleges due to the economic crisis. “We did not set off alarm bells in the fall when the economic crisis occurred,” George said in her address to staff and administrators. “We are in a position to move ahead with some caution-

ary notes.” In late January, The Loquitur reported that 371 private colleges were responding to the economic crisis by freezing hiring and eight percent were cutting financial aid. George said in her address that cutting financial aid is not the answer. In January the college put $150,000 more into financial aid to help students return for their second semester. Retention has always been a big issue at Cabrini College in George’s mind. In her first interview with The Loquitur, Dr. George made it clear that during her presidency, the college would see a rise in retention percentages whether it meant changing some residential life rules or a greater help in financial aid to students. After receiving information following the fall semester, staff

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“We did not set off alarm bells in the fall when the economic crisis occurred” -Dr. Marie George

at Cabrini worked hard to reach out to students who were planning to withdraw. A good number of those students returned for the spring semester. It is this sense of community that may help Cabrini make it through the economic


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