Web Exclusive: Students spoke with President Kwang-Wu Kim about the need for student space during the second coffee date with the president. For the full story, check out ColumbiaChronicle.com.
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Volume 49, Issue 21
Wearden named new provost Tatiana Walk-Morris Campus Editor Stan Wearden will take over as Columbia’s new senior vice president and provost starting July 1, according to a Feb. 26 emailed announcement from President Kwang-Wu Kim. After carefully considering Wearden’s academic credentials and feedback from the provost search committee and Columbia community, Kim chose him over Chris McCord, the other provost finalist, according to the email. In a Feb. 27 interview with The Chronicle, Kim said he made his decision based on the questionnaires the college community submitted following the candidates’ presentations. Based on the feedback, attendees questioned whether McCord’s mathematics background and lack of experience with an institution like Columbia would make him a good match, Kim said. “With Dr. Wearden, there was a much greater sense that … his approach would fit well,” Kim said.
“It really came down to a more gut level sense of which person would make more sense to our faculty and staff when they interacted with them.” Kim said Wearden’s experience with unionized faculty and his previous administrative experience would be valuable assets, adding that Wearden’s different area of expertise will make him a good partner for Kim. “He’s got lots of experience with faculty, [and] he brings experience with unionized faculty,” Kim said. “There were a lot of things about his experience that complement mine and make [us] a strong pair.” Wearden will leave his position as dean of the College of Communication and Information at Kent State University, where he doubled the professional advising staff and increased the freshman retention rate from 78 percent in fall 2011 to 81.6 percent in fall 2013, according to his curriculum vitae. Wearden holds a doctorate in mass communication research
xx SEE PROVOST, Pg.10
Administration announces new department, terminates employees Tyler Eagle Associate Editor The college fired more than half of the current employees in the Office of Institutional Advancement to make way for a new Department of Development. President Kwang-Wu Kim announced the terminations and restructuring in a Feb. 28 email to college staff and faculty. The new Department of Development will replace the current division of Institutional Advancement, which is the office responsible for fundraising and creating and maintaining connections in the community. In the email, Kim said the need for the new department required the termination of seven Institutional Advancement employees
to make way for an undetermined number of new positions. The department will see new positions and a new mission statement geared toward attracting more donations to the college. According to the college directory, there were only 13 employees in the Office of Institutional Advancement prior to the firing. The announcement comes a month after the Jan. 27 resignation of Patrick Sheahan, former vice president of Institutional Advancement, after he held the position for only four months, as reported Jan. 27 by The Chronicle. The statement said Kim and Warren Chapman, senior vice president and interim vice president
Carolina Sanchez THE CHRONICLE Stan Wearden, current dean of the College of Communication and Information at Kent State University, will begin his new job as Columbia’s senior vice president and provost on July 1.
Tax hike could fizz out soda sales Photo illustration Anthony Soave THE CHRONICLE Natalie Craig Assistant Metro Editor Trips to the vending machine between classes and frequent stops at gas stations will get more expensive if a new soda tax is passed in Illinois. The legislation would add a penny-per-ounce tax on sugary beverages sold in sealed containers to dissuade people from poor eating and drinking habits. If it passes, Illinois will become the third state to impose a tax on soft drinks, which could increase the cost of soda by up to 50 percent, said Mark Denzler, vice president of the Illinois Manufactures’ Association. Illinois Sen. Mattie Hunter (D3rd) introduced the proposal into the state legislature Feb. 14, claiming the measure would decrease child obesity. The tax is expected to
xx SEE BREAKING, Pg.10
generate more than $600 million, which would go toward funding chronic disease treatments, community nutrition and physical activity programs, said Sen. Heather Steans (D-7th), a co-sponsor of the bill. Soft drinks are the largest source of daily calories for children ages 2–18, and the caloric intake from soda contributes to rising levels of diabetes and obesity in children, Steans said. However, obesity rates have dropped 43 percent throughout the past decade in 2–5-year-old children, as reported by the New York Times on Feb. 25. According to a July 2012 Gallup poll, 48 percent of Americans drink at least one serving of soda per day.
xx SEE SODA, Pg. 40
FEATURE
SPORTS & HEALTH
CAMPUS
Ice artists frozen out as machines take over industry • pg. 22
Dishonesty, creativity linked in study • pg. 13
Joan Rivers cracks up Columbia • pg. 3