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THE DAILY REVEILLE
monday, august 24, 2009
ACADEMICS
University remains in top tier of ‘America’s Best Colleges’ Chancellor praises faculty, students By Kyle Bove Senior Staff Writer
LSU again landed in the top tier of the “Best National Universities” list in U.S. News & World Report’s 2010 edition of “America’s Best Colleges,” which was released Thursday. The University broke into the coveted top tier for the first time last year and is now in a six-way tie for last place in the top tier — the
No. 128 spot with the Universities of Arkansas and Kentucky, Colorado State University, Duquesne University and Missouri University of Science & Technology. Harvard University and Princeton University are tied for No. 1. U.S. News & World Report releases the Best Colleges list every year, ranking universities based on admissions standards, facilities, peer surveys and other criteria. Last fall, Chancellor Michael Martin hailed the University’s Flagship Agenda — a campaign to make LSU more nationally prominent — as the reason for the jump into the top tier.
He echoed the same sentiment Thursday. “The Flagship Agenda really was the culmination of things that were already happening,” Martin said. “We have great a faculty and great students.” Martin said it is important to remember this ranking doesn’t reflect the near $20 million in budget cuts the University is having to endure this year. He said the cuts could affect the University’s ranking next year. And while LSU is the only public university in Louisiana ranked in the top tier on the 2010 list, several of its peer institutions — universities that share the same
role, scope and mission — are ranked higher. The University of Florida tied for the No. 47 spot this year, while Auburn University and the University of Alabama tied for the No. 88 and No. 96 spots, respectively. Ohio State University tied for the No. 53 spot, the University of North Carolina tied for No. 28, and West Virginia University was ranked as a third-tier institution. Martin said LSU’s rating helps in continuing to break a stereotype some hold about southern public universities being subpar, athletics-focused schools. “People assume that’s all
we’re good at,” Martin said. “[But] our academics are on par with our athletics.” Martin said the U.S. News & World Report’s list is the most popular and referenced ranking out there, meaning the University’s ranking is great for its image and recruiting. “I don’t know any one ranking that characterizes what we really are, but it’s a good image perception to have,” Martin said.
Contact Kyle Bove at kbove@lsureveille.com
STUDENT MEDIA
KLSU broadcasting license in danger with $10K fine Public files missing from 1998-2002 By Kyle Bove Senior Staff Writer
The Federal Communications Commission is fining KLSU, the University’s student-run radio station, $10,000 for a record-keeping violation. KLSU must pay the fine by Sept. 7, or the FCC will not renew its license to broadcast.
John Friscia, faculty adviser for KLSU, said the radio station failed to keep track of certain public files needed for the station’s license to be renewed by the FCC. The station didn’t keep proper track of its public inspection file between 1998 and 2002, according to the FCC report. Former KLSU faculty adviser Raymond Bigalki filed a complaint with the FCC against the station in late 2003, Friscia said. Bigalki complained about KLSU’s missing data and suggested the station’s operating license not be renewed.
The FCC notified KLSU about the complaint in 2004, but it took about five years for the commission to formally charge the station for the violation. Friscia said he thinks some of the data might have been lost during the station’s remodel in 2000. “Somebody misplaced [the files],” Friscia said. KLSU is operating normally, but the station’s budget will be its biggest hurdle this semester, Friscia said. The University is having to endure about $20 million in budget cuts because of slumping state
revenue and the national recession, and the fiscal belt-tightening is being felt throughout its campus. With the $10,000 fee considered, the station’s budget situation looks even bleaker. “We’ll have to figure out how to absorb that into our budget,” Friscia said. “Everybody knows it’s been a tough year already budget wise.” Friscia wasn’t specific about how the fine will be paid, but said he expects KLSU to pay it and get its license renewed. Chris Normand, KLSU
station manager, said while he wasn’t a student at the University when the files went missing, he is confident the station will pull through this incident. “We’re definitely creative people, so I think we can find some creative ways to get around these budget issues,” Normand said. KLSU is owned by the University and broadcasts on 91.1 FM. Contact Kyle Bove at kbove@lsureveille.com