The Appalachian
TheAppalachianOnline.com
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Vol. 86 No. 33
Students protest Board of Governors meeting, board passes recommendation by HANK SHELL News Editor
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tudents from across the state showed up in force Friday morning to protest the UNC Board of Governors’ meeting on tuition and fee increases. Board members voted to uphold UNCSystem President Thomas Ross’s recommendation of an average tuition and fees increase of 8.8 percent across the system. That means resident undergraduate students at Appalachian State University will be paying another $506.26 next year, raising tuition to $5,962. Board members, student representatives and protesters filled the Spangler Center on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill. Association of Student Governments President Atul Bhula said the building was filled past its 110-person capacity, and that many protesters stayed outside – some banging on the walls while others chanted
slogans. Protesters were also inside the meeting room. “Outside was really where they were at, but inside the meeting room they were very respectful for the board and Chairman [Hannah] Gage and President Ross – they wanted to give them the opportunity to be heard as well,” Bhula said. “We didn’t kick them out or anything like that. We listened. We made accommodations for them.” Overall, Bhula said though most of the chanting was focused at tuition increases, much of what the protesters communicated surpassed tuition and fee increases. “It seemed like the overall economy is what they’re looking to voice their opinions about and how to help the overall economy ultimately,” he said. “I think that they should take that same energy to the General Assembly to express their opinions about how the university is very vital to North Carolina and to our country.”
ASG officially backed Ross’s recommendation earlier this month, and Bhula said he was content with the outcome. “I like President Ross’s proposal, especially in comparison to the proposals we saw from campuses, but I think that, moving forward, we really need to look at the overall budget for universities.” Student Body President Lauren Estes described the meeting environment as “incredibly tense” because of the large student presence outside and the noise of the protesters, but said she was proud of students for making their voices heard. “They were really, really organized,” she said. “They did a great job.” Estes said there was a large police presence at the meeting, and that police escorted her and other representatives out at the meeting’s conclusion. Andrew Payne, an N.C. State alumnus and onetime ASG president, was arrested during the protest.
TUITION INCREASE Q&A
Appalachian State University will sustain a 9.3 percent tuition and fees increase for the 2012-13 school year. Here’s what students think... “It is not really surprising that tuition goes up every year. I think that it’s unfortunate that it makes higher education less accessible for everyone.” Erica Mesnard, sophomore psychology major
“It will make things harder for people trying to get financial aid. It will also put a lot more people in debt.” Matt Sternlicht, senior communication major “I’m okay with it, if it’s what we need to get done and [they] use the money right.” Marque Lowman, freshman criminal justice major “I don’t mind paying more if the quality of my education and experience here is better.” Victoria Walters, freshman English major
“I think it’s frustrating. Part of the reason people come here is because of the price.” Lauren Marshall, sophomore elementary education major “I have been here for four years. When I first came here, it was the cheapest school.” Paul Philavong, senior chemistry major
Information compiled by Mark Kenna | Intern News Reporter
One student, one resident assaulted by REBECCA GITLEN News Reporter
An Appalachian State University student and another Boone resident were assaulted Saturday at approximately 2:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Brown Heights Apartments, according to a Watauga County Crimestoppers report. Sarabeth Nordstrom and junior exercise science major Erin Johnston were verbally assaulted by a man and two women from a drivethrough lane at Cookout, Johnston said. The three individuals were yelling the word “faggot,” Johnston said. “It’s almost crazy, because it’s like - is there any other aspect to the story?” Johnston said. “Like, what provoked him? But there’s not, so it’s really hard for me and Sarabeth to wrap our heads around.” The three followed Johnston and Nordstrom in a dark Honda to Johnston’s Brown Heights apartment, which is where the physical assault took place, Johnston said. Nordstrom and Johnston were taken to Watauga Medical Center in an ambulance. Johnston required stitches to her mouth and Nordstrom’s cheekbone was shattered, Johnston said. “A witness said even when I was coughing up blood, he kept kicking me,” Johnston said. The community, friends of the victims, the Women’s Center and others have reacted strongly to the attack, Johnston said. “Support is coming from every angle,” she said. “And I think it’s really awesome how our campus has already started to pull together.” Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Crimestoppers at (828) 268-6959. The primary suspect was described as a black male with shoulder-length dreadlocks wearing a white t-shirt.
Students concerned about overcrowding on AppalCART routes by REBECCA GITLEN Intern News Reporter
Some students, faced with packed buses that pass by their stops in the morning, are wondering why the $81 university transportation fee they pay each semester cannot fix overcrowding in the AppalCART system. “I get out here 15 minutes early because I know I’ll get left,” said sophomore child development Ann Vodicka, who rides the Express Route. “By the time you get left, it’s
too late to walk to class.” As buses are overwhelmed with larger numbers of riders, Vodicka is wondering just how much she can depend on the university’s public transit system. “The Express Route added the APH stop last week, but it’s not convenient at 55 after,” Vodicka said. “By that time, you’re late to class anyway.” Though AppalCART lost significant funding from the N.C. Department of Transportation this year, the system is doing
its best to accommodate Appalachian’s director of all who use public transit, parking and traffic. said Chris Turner, Ap“We’re going to continue palCART’s to address transportathese needs “But we’re runtion direcwhere we’re tor. ning out of colors. seeing them When a pop up,” We’re going to bus driver Sauls said. have to start nam- “But we’re sees that students are ing routes magenta running out not able to of colors. and lime.” fit on the We’re going bus, they to have to Barry Sauls, radio into Director of Parking and Traffic start namA p p a l ing routes CART to magenta get a temporary bus on and lime.” the route, said Barry Sauls, In addition to the new
Silver Route, which officials hope will be operational by August 2012, AppalCART will add one bus to the Purple Route by October, Turner said. AppalCART has ordered a longer bus that will accomodate more seats. AppalCART has also considered increasing the student transportation fee to increase bus frequency during peak periods of ridership and reduce overcrowding, according to its five-year plan. To support about 20,000 additional hours of AppalCART ser-
vice, AppalCART would have to increase the annual transportation fee by $80. AppalCART must also take into account operating costs, which it projects will rise at a faster rate than funding revenue. In the meantime, overcrowding is still an issue. “There’s a new apartment complex on the Green Route,” said Kate Davison, a senior biology major. “I’ve already noticed the bus being more full this semester. Next semester, they’ll have to start coming every 15 minutes.”
Music, Health Sciences deans detail continuing impact of budget cuts by KELLI STRAKA
Senior News Reporter
Editor’s note: This is part three of a four-part series exploring perspectives from the deans of Appalachian State University’s ten colleges. As Appalachian State University moves into the second semester of a year marred by large budget cuts, The Appalachian has continued to speak with the deans of university colleges about how their individual programs have been affected. So far, five deans have weighed in on cuts to the Walker College of Business, Reich College of Education, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Fine and Applied Arts and University College Now, the deans of the College of Health Sciences and Hayes School of Music have spoken about how they have handled losses in funding. College of Health Sciences The College of Health Sciences, Appalachian’s newest college, lost approximately $600,000 from its budget this year. “There is no question the budget issues have significantly increased the challenge for developing a new college,” Founding Dean Fred Whitt said. Despite cuts, the college has remained committed to providing seats for students in all of their required courses, Whitt said. “This has been a real challenge, but we grew over 3,500 student credit hours in [the] fall despite the budget cuts,” Whitt said. “This is good and bad. It is good that we remain committed to students, but it also takes a toll on faculty. They are teaching more classes and have more students in
class.” Several factors have combined to take a toll on the department’s instructors. Several years of decreased pay raises, lower funding for instructional equipment, fewer graduate students for research support, large numbers of students in some courses and heavier course loads have all negatively affected faculty retention. “I think what keeps me up at night is the long term effect this may have on the quality of the UNC System as a whole by losing high-quality faculty,” Whitt said. “We have very talented and student-centered faculty in the College of Health Sciences and throughout the university.” The college has been unable to fill several positions. It is still missing an associate dean, a director for the Institute of Health and Human Services, and two administrative assistants. Funding that supported three part-time teaching positions was cut as well. “These are real dollars and these cuts have been the most significant I have seen in 35 years in higher education and are very difficult to absorb,” Whitt said. Whitt said the college is working hard to cope. “We are working diligently to maintain our momentum and not let the budget issues deter advancing the new college forward,” Whitt said. “When resources are reduced, my general response is to find other revenue sources to keep moving forward rather than cut classes, reduce services for students and reduce support for faculty.” Hayes School of Music The Hayes School of Music lost approximately 40 percent of its operating budget in the past year. The operating budget includes basic office
Photos by Kelli Straka | The Appalachian
Pictured are (L) Fred Whitt, dean of the College of Health Science and (R) William Pelto, dean of the Hayes School of Music.
supplies, telephone and copying expenses, music purchases, piano tuning, faculty travel and any “day-to-day and month-to-month operations,” Dean William Pelto said. In the face of budget cuts, the school of music is most adamant about maintaining personnel, in the hopes of providing opportunities for students. “We’ve actually done a very good job and have been able to hang on to positions and retain class seats,” Pelto said. Faculty travel expenses were immediately and significantly cut, except for tenure-track faculty who are not yet tenured, Pelto said. Cuts on faculty travel have had two major effects. Faculty have had to cover their own expenses more often, despite not seeing pay raises for the past several years. And in the long term, faculty won’t have as much exposure to professional opportunities, Pelto
said. The Hayes School once employed a fulltime research development officer from university advancement. This position held the responsibility of evaluating external funding, including grants and private and corporate donors, but was cut due to budget reductions. “It’s essentially one less person to provide assistance and support when we do have projects and events,” Pelto said. “Long term, it will hinder our ability to develop outside resources.” Furthermore, external funds donated to the school for large projects and long term planning are now being used to maintain basic operations. “We’re very fortunate to have such funds,” Pelto said. “And it’s allowed basic operations to go on, but it’s been a setback.”