2010-11-4

Page 1

Crew replaces golf See p. 16

Take a look inside President Fr. Bill’s house See p. 8 -9

The

BEACON

Vol. 112, Issue 09

The University of Portland’s student newspaper

Thursday November 4, 2010 www.upbeacon.net

GSP works with UP administration GSP continues to have a conversation with the administration to revise the nondiscrimination policy

GSP President Jayme Schroeder, senior Laura Frazier Staff Writer frazier13@up.edu UP’s Gay-Straight Partnership club is discussing with the administration the possibility of adding sexual orientation to the University’s nondiscrimination policy. Currently, the policy states: “The University, in its educational policies, programs, and procedures, provides equal

GSP Secretary Zack Muth, sophomore opportunity for all its students without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin or disability.” The fact that the policy does not include sexual orientation came to light last April. The president of Northwest Health Foundation, Thomas Aschenbrener, who was scheduled to be honored at the 75th Anniversary Gala for the School of Nursing, declined the invitation. In past years, the Northwest

UP President Fr. Bill Beauchamp, C.S.C.

Health Foundation had awarded the School of Nursing approximately $150,000 in grants. Aschenbrener said he decided to not attend the gala after he learned that UP had refused a student’s scholarship award from an organization that required the administration to sign a certification of nondiscrimination, which included sexual orientation. UP President Fr. Bill

Executive Assistant to the President Fr. Gerry Olinger, C.S.C

Beauchamp, C.S.C., explained that the situation was a misunderstanding. “It was unfortunate there was a miscommunication on our part,” he said. “There was no reason why we couldn’t accept the scholarship that was offered.” Beauchamp said that UP gave the student a scholarship of the same amount. Regardless, that situation prompted a serious discussion of UP’s nondiscrimination policy,

according to GSP president, senior Jayme Schroeder. “The reason the policy isn’t there is because there was no reason to change it,” he said. “Now that it’s getting attention, it’s our time to look at it.” As a first step, members of GSP spoke with Beauchamp last spring. Now, they are working with Beauchamp’s executive assistant, Fr. Gerry Olinger, See GSP, page 4

President addresses hot topics

Fr. Bill talks about sustainability, expanding the campus and newspapers at the Fireside Chat Elizabeth Vogel Staff Writer vogel11@up.edu “I’m sorry if you can’t understand me, I’m suffering from a cold,” warned UP President Fr. Bill Beauchamp, C.S.C. before he opened the floor for questions Tuesday night in The Anchor. There were about 20 students in attendance. Some hot topics at the semi-annual Fireside Chat were sustainability, the new Bauccio Commons, and the recent decision to cut the men’s and women’s varsity golf teams to add women’s varsity crew. The first question, and many more throughout the evening, regarded sustainability. Beauchamp said he envisioned UP becoming greener as time goes on, but he stressed that there are some things that are not feasible on this campus. “The only message I’ve given (to the sustainability committee) is ‘Let’s not come up with stuff we can’t do,’” he said.

An example he gave was composting. “It would attract rats and vermin and there’s just not enough space,” he said. “Sure, it’s a good idea, but it’s not something we can do.” Beauchamp asked the students his own questions about the functionality of the Bauccio Commons. Students voiced concerns about food service time windows, the layout and students stealing food. Beauchamp indicated that this first semester is a sort of test period to work out kinks in the way The Commons is run. “I see part of the ‘problem’ is this first semester we’re trying to figure out the schedule. It is a learning process,” he said. As for the layout, ASUP

Treasurer Ben Thompson brought up a concern about the location of drinks in a corner, and wondered if the open-air refrigerators were sustainable. Beauchamp said that an outside design company was hired to design The Commons and that there were problems with the refrigerators. “They were supposed to be designed to keep all the cool in,” he said. As for students stealing food, Beauchamp’s advice is

for students to police themselves. “If you see someone stealing, you don’t let them get away

with it,” he said. “We don’t want to have police all around The Commons.” Another hot topic was the expansion of UP’s campus to, the 35-acre “Triangle Park” property, See Chat, page 4

Kevin Kadooka | THE BEACON


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2010-11-4 by The Beacon - Issuu