uiargonaut.com
Tuesday April 14, 2015
Impending increase administration
SBOE to hold meeting this week, vote on tuition Amber Emery Argonaut
The Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE) will hold meetings on the University of Idaho campus Wednesday and Thursday to set tuition and fees for Idaho’s public universities and weigh in on UI President Chuck Staben’s annual report. Wednesday’s meeting begins at 9 a.m. where the bulk of the agenda is
dedicated to setting next year’s tuition and fee rates for Idaho State University, Eastern Idaho Technical College, Lewis-Clark State College, Boise State University and UI. Staben asked the SBOE for a 3.5 percent increase in resident undergraduate tuition and fees for the 2015-2016 academic year — the lowest request on record in recent years. Staben will present to SBOE, and while he doesn’t know how the board will decide, he said he’s hopeful the board will approve UI’s request. “We feel that we’ve got a good, solid proposal,” Staben said. “(And) that stu-
dents have participated in the generation of that proposal.” If approved, Staben said the increase would be primarily used to fund salary increases for university employees as mandated by the state legislature. Staben said Trina Mahoney, budget director, and Nate Fisher, ASUI president, would accompany him during his presentation to the board. Fisher said he is looking forward to the meeting because he believes the proposal will be an easy pass due to its modesty and focus on salary increases.
Cost of attendance
$6,784
$7,020
3.5% is a
tuition increase resulting in
$2.7 million
in additional revenue
SEE impending, PAGE 5
Greek
Chapters aim to reclaim campus homes
Ryan Tarinelli and Jackson Flynn | Argonaut
Melissa Hobbs, next year’s Steel House president, works with House Administrator Del Hungerford to plan for next year. Steel House has preliminary plans to build a new home.
Delta Chi seeks its old house Graham Perednia Argonaut
After losing its charter in 2012, Delta Chi fraternity is making its way back to the University of Idaho. According to Delta Chi Vice President Austin Blacker, the fraternity in its current state is a colony, not a chapter. He said the categorization means the group is in the
process of becoming a chapter — recruitment efforts are in full swing, officers were elected into leadership positions and members have begun working with the national organization and the UI Office of the Dean of Students. “It is nice starting out new and help create the direction that they go in,” Blacker said. Delta Chi lost its charter in 2012 after an extended period of academic and behavioral issues, said Fred Jessup, secretary of building cooperation and organization of the Kappa
Delta Corporation and member of the former Delta Chi chapter. Steel House, a women’s cooperative, occupies the fraternity’s old house on Blake Street. Kappa Delta Corporation leased the house and lot to Steel House in 2012, through summer 2016. Before Delta Chi can move in, the fraternity has to prove to the national organization it can function as a chapter, Jessup said. The men have to show they have the membership, SEE Delta, PAGE 5
Idaho Legislature
ATO to spring back to campus Jamie Lunders Argonaut
The University of Idaho chapter of Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) has plans to reclaim its house on Greek Row in spring 2016, according to Jaden Brown, ATO national representative. The anticipated return comes after ATO left its house nearly three years ago due to a lack of membership following the expulsion of 22
members in fall 2012. According to Brittany Bowles, UI director of fraternity and sorority life, although ATO has been confirmed to come back in 2016, she does not yet know if the fraternity will move back into its house because it is up to the national organization. She also said hasn’t communicated with ATO national representatives about the fraternity moving into its old house. Lindsay Gorrill, UI student who was an ATO member and granted alumni status, said fraternity SEE ATO, PAGE 5
diversity
Way paved for transportation bill Wealth inequality transportation infrastructure within Idaho, but fails to address the $262 million in annual backlog of road and bridge mainGeorge Wood Jr. tenance projects by the Idaho Argonaut Transportation Department. “It’s a good bill, it’s not a perfect BOISE — After two amendbill, but it goes a long way,” ments, the formation of a said Sen. Bert Brackett, rare conference committee R-Rogerson and Senate and weeks of testimonies, Transportation Committee a comprehensive transchairman. “Doing nothing portation bill was sent to is not a good option.” the governor’s desk at 1:30 Multiple legislators ada.m. Saturday, effectively Brackett dressed the backlog shortmarking the end of the coming during both House 2015 legislative session. The bill would raise about and Senate chamber meetings. “I’ve been here seven years, and $94.1 million to support the ailing
Transportation legislation passed at end of session
Women’s Center to observe Equal Pay Day It’s a good bill, it’s not a perfect bill, but it goes a long way. Doing nothing is not a good option. Sen. Bert Brackett, R-Rogerson
this is the first time I’ve carried a piece of legislation that I am not comfortable with,” said bill sponsor Rep. Joe Palmer, R-Meridian. SEE paved, PAGE 5
Kelsey Stevenson Argonaut
Women would have had to work an extra 104 days this year to make the same amount as men did last year, said Mimi Price, a work study student at the University of Idaho Women’s Center. To recognize this wage gap, Equal Pay Day falls on the 104th day of the year, April 14. “It’s a day of recognizing that the gendered wage gap does
exist, really just taking a day to talk and discuss about ways to close the gap or why the gap is happening or how to encourage women to talk about money and to realize it’s happening to them,” Price said. The Women’s Center will host a booth to talk about the wage gap from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Idaho Commons plaza. The booth will have information and resources, including pamphlets about how to encourage employers to talk about money. SEE Wealth, PAGE 5
IN THIS ISSUE
Defense shines in second football scrimmage. sports, 6 News, 1
Sports, 6
Opinion, 9
Tuition increase is necessary for UI. Read Our View.
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Opinion, 9 University of Idaho
Volume 116, Issue no. 55
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