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Dec. 8, 2010 | Vol. 83, Issue 14
Committee researches possible changes to smoking policy
MARLON SCOTT | SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Students smoke in a designated smoking area outside of Ann Ross Bookstore.
Staff Writer
Cigarette butts are being found in places outside the designated smoking areas at APSU. Those responsible are in violation of the student code of conduct.
Students, faculty and staff are expressing concerns about the current smoking policy at APSU. SGA meetings are being held to decide if the policy needs to be changed for the upcoming school year. The current policy has been in
Students voice concerns about lack of campus lighting
effect since Nov. 1, 2006. “We’re not sure if it’s going to change, be modified or remain the same as of right now,” said SGA advisor Gregory Singleton. According to Singleton, the biggest concern is students, faculty and staff
The cartoon depicts a student reading The All State about the recent attempted rape on campus. The students needs a flashlight to read the paper because it is so dark on campus.
By CIDNIE SYDNEYBREWINGTON Staff Writer
Two weeks ago, the lights went out on the sidewalk adjacent to Harvill Hall facing the parking lot. The Physical Plant explained the power outage was the result of a bad circuit breaker which has been replaced. According to David Lemons, director of Physical Plant, “Monthly, a lighting survey is conducted to detect any lights that are not operational. Any site that is not operational is reported and repaired.” “Early last year,” Lemons said, “a site survey was conducted by an outside agency, Stones River Electric, in conjunction with an Energy Savings initiative by Ameresco, when the university contracts with. “The site lighting was found adequate except for the north side of the Foy Parking lot. In this initiative, all outside lighting was upgraded to more efficient lighting, and all bulbs were
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changed or upgraded.” Despite this, students still complain the campus is not well lit at night, especially after the recent alleged case of attempted rape. In response to this claim, Lemons said, “The physical plant has not received any complaints regarding site lighting, other than an occasional work order that a light is out.” “Let your student government representatives know. Let us, Public Safety, know. By all means, shout it from the rooftops,” said Jason Morton, temporary director of Public Safety. “If there is an area not well lit, we need to know. Public Safety will not stand in the way of that.” SGA Vice President Luke Collier said the SGA also has not heard complaints about lighting but encourages students to inform the senators of areas that need more light. Collier said,“The first 10 minutes of each meeting is open for students to share their concerns.” TAS
to see what we can do to fix all the complaints and problems. “People are going to smoke regardless and it’s inconvenient for students to walk to a designated smoking area when they have little time before their next classes,” said freshman communication major Jamie Moses. Conversely, a large number of students still hope to see a smoke free campus in the near future. Sophomore married couple Ryan and Kayla Moore feel designated areas should remain because they don’t wish to be subjected to the smoker’s lifestyle everywhere on campus. The policy hasn’t changed in more than four years. Most university policies are eventually reviewed. Students are expected to follow the code of conduct and, if there are violations, be held accountable. Parties on both sides of this issue are waiting to hear the final decision. TAS
Students who fail classes have consequences, resources Students who fail too many classes could lose more than a good GPA By BRIAN BIGELOW Staff Writer
BRANON JAGGERS | GUEST CARTOONIST
charged with researching 76 comparable institutions and other TBR schools. The sub-committee will consider smoking policies at those institutions and the level of enforcement they apply. They are also trying to ascertain if universities nationally and within TBR are going to a smoke-free policy. Research by the subcommittee is still in progress and only preliminary reports are complete. The group will reconvene in January to make a formal recommendation. “It was originally a student initiative to set in place the current policy we have now for those to go to a designated smoking area. That was by student vote and referendum,” said SGA President Kenny Kennedy. Kennedy said that SGA is re-evaluating the policy because of complaints and violations. The subcommittee has been formed
Failing classes can not only hurt a student’s GPA, but can also jeopardize their chances to continue their studies. Students that don’t maintain satisfactory academic progress can become ineligible for federal financial aid and even suspended indefinitely. If a student’s cumulative GPA drops below a 1.5 for 12-29 hours attempted, a 1.8 for 30-45 hours attempted, a 1.9 for 46-59 hours or a 2.0 for 60 or more attempted hours, then that student will be placed on academic probation. Students with less than a total of 11 hours attempted in their college career Golson have no minimum GPA requirement. According to Telaina Wrigley, APSU registrar, there were approximately 449 students on academic probation during Fall 2009 and approximately 368 students on academic probation during Spring 2010. If a student on academic probation makes at least a 2.0 GPA during their probation period they can remain on academic probation during subsequent semesters until they are able to raise their cumulative GPA to the required minimum. However, if neither of those requirements are met, then a student will be placed on academic suspension. A student’s first academic suspension lasts for a single semester, not including summer semesters. A second suspension will result in a student being unable to attend for an entire year. A Hanson third suspension lasts indefinitely. Poor grades are often the result of extenuating circumstances and, for that reason, each academic suspension can be appealed through the office of the registrar. Each appeal is reviewed by an appeals committee, and one appeal can
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be made per suspension period. For indefinite suspensions, appeals can be made once per year. “There’s no formula” for a successful appeal, Wrigley said. “There are so many different extenuating circumstances. We have had people who have deaths of family and they didn’t withdraw like they were supposed to.” Other extenuating circumstances include serious illness or accidents and other “personal” complications.
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By KATHRYN RICHARDSON
violating the current policy and nothing is being done. Policies don’t just confine smoking to designated areas. The policy prohibits smoking in all university buildings and state-owned vehicles, and the policy includes most of the campus. APSU does have authorized smoking areas in certain parking lots. A total of 11 locations are listed under the current campus smoking policy. “We have also looked at modifying our current policy so that smoking will only be allowed in perimeter parking lots. This [policy] is already being done on some college campuses,” Singleton said. If a violation complaint is filed, the complaint goes to the office of Singleton. He then meets with the violator and can impose a fine, cite the person with a violation of the APSU code of conduct or both. Students on the Academic council sub-committee of the Academic Council have been
My job is to make sure you get the help that you need, not to shake my finger and say ‘You’re in trouble.’ Often [students] don’t know who to ask [for help]. This gives them a place to go that’s friendly.” Kay Hanson, director of the PASS program
Merit based grants and scholarships generally have minimum GPA requirements, but federal grants and loans also require a minimum level of performance. According to the APSU financial aid website, students on academic probation can still receive federal assistance, but, if placed on academic suspension, a student may not receive financial aid after they return to school until they have raised their cumulative GPA to the minimum for satisfactory academic progress. According to the APSU Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, “Neither paying for classes nor sitting out a semester affects a student’s academic progress standing. Therefore, neither, by itself or in combination, is sufficient to reestablish the federal student aid eligibility of a student who has lost his or her eligibility because he or she has failed to satisfy the standard for satisfactory academic progress. “Students will be expected to regain eligibility by improving their academics to meet the ... [satisfactory academic progress] standards.” APSU offers many opportunities to help struggling students avoid
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academic probation and suspension and to help students that are already on probation or are returning from suspension. APSU offers a “Promoting Academic Student Success,” or “PASS,” class to freshmen that have been placed on academic probation after their first semester and students that have successfully Haralson appealed a suspension. This non-credit class focuses on study skills, life skills and stress management among other areas where students need additional help. According to Kay Haralson, a Title 3 grant specialist and director of the PASS program, students who successfully complete the PASS course on average increase their GPAs by “80 or 90 percent.” “Academic Alert” is another tool used by APSU faculty to help ensure struggling students are able to succeed. One of the key messages that Barbara Hanson, Academic Alert coordinator, would like students to know is the office of Academic Alert exists to help students. After being contacted by a professor about a particular student who is falling behind in a class, Academic Alert then contacts the student to tailor a plan specific to their needs. Participation is entirely voluntary. “My job is to make sure you get the help that you need, not to shake my finger and say ‘you’re in trouble,’” Hanson said. “Often [students] don’t know who to ask [for help]. This gives them a place to go that’s friendly.” Academic Alert is not a disciplinary action, and doesn’t go into any of the Wringley student’s permanent information. It is a way for professors to put struggling students in touch with the services available to them so that they receive the help they need in order to be successful in their classes. According to the Academic Alert page on APSU’s website, professors contact the office of Academic Alert about a student for many reasons CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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