Volume 90, Issue 15

Page 1

temple-news.com VOL. 90 ISS.15

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

Provost outlines potential restructurings in White Paper Provost Englert has opened up talks for changes to cut costs, increase efficiency. BRIAN DZENIS Editor-in-Chief Prompted by the latest financial squeeze from Harrisburg and a desire to streamline various academic processes around the university, the provost’s office has released the White Paper on Restructuring, a 25-page document that covers

a wide range of topics, such as proposing measures that ensure students graduate in four years, restructuring schools within Temple in an effort to cut costs and revenue enhancement strategies for the university. “When we look at issues such as restructuring, one of the first things we look at is our administrative structures and our administrative organization and quite frankly, we want to make certain that we continue to streamline ourselves as much as possible,” Provost Richard Englert said. “When we can streamline operations, we can

save costs and we can keep tuition down at reasonable levels, so there are many things that are motivating us.” The White Paper is the product of more than six months of dialogue between the provost, the faculty senate and other members of the faculty. Four schools that were mentioned as possible candidates for restructuring were Tyler School of Art, Boyer College of Music and Dance, the School of Communications and Theater and the College of Education. Three of the four schools currently have interim deans and

the goal is to find a new way to better organize the structure of those schools before searching for new deans. “We have some schools that have interim deans right now, so what I wanted to do before we move forward with the dean searches is to make sure we’re organized the way we want to be organized, so I’ve raised the question that other universities have done certain things and what should we do,” Englert said. “Before we hire a new dean in a particular position, do we have that unit structured the way we want it to? Hiring a new

dean is a major undertaking and we need to be certain that we’re organized the way we’d like to be when we hire a new dean.” For Tyler and Boyer, there are two proposed plans in addition to electing to keep the two schools separated with two separate deans. One potential plan involves combining Tyler and Boyer into a unified college of fine and performing arts under one dean and one administrative office. The other involves Tyler and Boyer again being led by one dean, but the two schools would retain their distinct name and brand

and also have their own director. For SCT, there’s three proposals in addition to keeping its current format. SCT could report to the College of Liberal Arts, which according to the White Paper, could eliminate possible course redundancies across the two schools in social and behavioral sciences and the humanities. Another option includes making SCT part of a center for fine, performing and communication arts, where the school

PROVOST PAGE 2

Bridging Mountains

Pa. freezes funding to university

The Temple News examines mountaintop removal coal mining, a controversial practice that student activists have been challenging on Main Campus, and the environmental and health concerns associated with it.

Low state revenues leave 5 percent of Temple’s funding in question.

ANGELO FICHERA News Editor

T

here were no mountains in sight outside the windows of the mezzanine of Gladfelter Hall as a group of activists sat in a circle, the late afternoon sun pouring into the room. Even so, the foreign landscape was the purpose of discussion. The conversation moved swiftly as the six activists briefly touched upon state appropriations to higher education, before focusing their attention on the university’s relationship with PNC Bank. That relationship—and its far off tie to a specific form of coal mining—is the focal point of a campaign the group has been advancing for months. The discussion, among members of Temple Community Against Mountaintop Removal, was indica-

AMELIA BRUST The Temple News In light of disappointing state revenue, Temple is facing another cut in state funding. Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Daniel Meuser reported on Jan. 3 that the Commonwealth “General Fund collections total $11.6 billion, which is $486.8 million, or four percent” less than expected. Gov. Tom Corbett’s office anticipated $12.1 billion in revenue halfway through the 2011-12 fiscal year, according to the department. Keeping to state requirements for a balanced budget, the shortfall resulted in a nearly $160 million state spending freeze from Gov. Corbett’s Budget Office. Temple saw an estimated 5 percent reduction in state funding, equal to about $7 million. The freeze will remain in place “until revenue collections improve,” Corbett said in a news release on Jan. 4. “We have to look at how can we best structure and restructure parts of the university,” Provost Richard Englert said. Across Temple, financial aid, advising, counseling, security and public safety will not be affected, university communications announced. The univer-

tive of the group’s efforts to use the university’s prominence as leverage to achieve what they describe as social and environmental justice–or at least attempt to do so.

BLASTING MOUNTAINS

Mountaintop removal coal mining, also known as mountaintop mining, is a form of surface mining that includes blasting the tops of mountains with explosives in order to access coal seams underneath. The excess waste, topsoil and rock is often placed in adjacent valley fills. Since the process—practiced in the Appalachian region of states such as West Virginia and Kentucky—began, it has come under scrutiny by scientists and environmentalists. Dr. Laura Toran, a professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science, said mountain-

top removal coal mining has been known to be detrimental to the environment for years. “Sometimes we make mistakes [that cause environmental damage], and we can sort of fix them afterwards. It’s pretty hard to fix the damages by mountaintop removal,” Toran said. “Because they remove the materials from the mountains and dump them into the valley, there’s two different environments that are being impacted there.” “You’ve removed a lot of trees and disturbed an ecosystem on the mountain, but then you’ve dumped all this [material] in the valley,” Toran added, such as introducing chemicals into the streams. Estimates reported by the Environmental Protection Agency suggest approximately 2,000 miles of headwater streams have been buried by mountaintop removal coal mining.

In January 2010, an article titled “Mountaintop Mining Consequences” appeared in Science Magazine, outlining adverse environmental impacts, such as declines in stream biodiversity, flooding, sulfate pollution and human exposure to airborne toxins and dust. Although the mining process is regulated by the Clean Water Act, Toran and fellow experts contend that the “outdated” policy falls short of real oversight. “We don’t have a lot of political will to update [laws and regulations],” Toran said. “It has to be enforced and all states are cashstrapped.” The Science article, authored by more than a dozen scientists, recommended new permits for mountaintop removal coal mining not be

MOUNTAINTOP PAGE 3

FUNDING PAGE 2

OPINION CRIMINAL CHECK, p. 5 One out of three Americans are arrested before the age of 23. Daniel Craig argues this statistic shouldn’t be accepted.

LIVING GOING PRO, p.7 Former guard for the women’s basketball team, Fatima Maddox, recently joined the Harlem Globetrotters.

A&E PHILLY POET, p.9 TTN talks to Sonia Sanchez, a presidential fellow, who was named Philly’s first poet laureate by Mayor Michael Nutter last month.

SPORTS SCOUTING LA SALLE, p.20 The men’s basketball team prepares to face a balanced La Salle team at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at home.

Remodeled halls sport new basketball facilities Parts of the remodeled Pearson-McGonigle halls will open this week. CONNOR SHOWALTER Sports Editor The time for the men and women’s basketball teams to utilize the new, separate practice courts that were constructed above Pearson and McGonigle Halls as part of a $58 million project has arrived. Due to “added scope” and other details that were added to the courts last April, the 20/20 construction project was extended about three months, Facilities Management Director Bob Siegfried said. According to the university’s website, the project was

NEWS DESK 215-204-7419

estimated to be completed in September 2011. “I know that there were talks that we were moving in the fall, but because of delays I know our seniors were a little worried that they would never get in there,” women’s basketball coach Tonya Cardoza said. “So they are really excited about moving in and being able to shoot whenever they want.” Both teams said they will be able to use the new basketball courts and facilities starting this week. The third floor of the addition will consist of a new weight room, film study room, athletic training space and locker rooms, along with offices for the coaches. The teams currently share court space at Liacouras Center, the gym in McGonigle and room 100 in Pearson. “It’s awesome when you

have a bunch of baskets and it’s something that you can call your own and you can shoot anytime,” Cardoza said. “The most impressive thing is the courts. The courts both have windows that overlook the city, which is an unbelievable view.” Cardoza said the women’s basketball team will be able to spread out more in the new facility. “Right now we watch film in a conference room all up on top of each other [on a little television],” Cardoza said. “So now it’s like stadium seating, you feel like you’re in a movie theater. So that’s definitely a step up as well.” Men’s basketball coach Fran Dunphy said that his team is also looking forward to practicing on the team’s new court.

PEARSON PAGE 3

SAM LEVINE TTN

Pearson and McGonigle Halls, under renovations, will open its basketball practice facilities this week.

NEWS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Volume 90, Issue 15 by The Temple News - Issuu