Classrooms piling high

Administration searches for answer to tight classroom space in fall 2007

By Sarah Diener
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Jen Quinn

The University of North Florida's Space Committee is finding new ways to accommodate classes during the Student Union construction planned for summer 2007.

Currently, nearly 100 classes are in need of space for the Fall 2007 semester. Committee members said they are confident finding spaces for the classes will not be a problem.

"We're in as good of shape as we can be," said Joann Campbell, associate vice president for academic affairs.

Over the course of campus construction, which has included the demolition of Building 11 and future removal of the portables near lots 3 and 4, many classrooms have been eliminated or made unavailable for student use, said Shari Shuman, vice president of administration and finance. To compensate for the missing classrooms, the Space Committee has planned new areas of campus to be used for academic purposes.

At a recent meeting it was announced the east and west side rooms of the Robinson Theater have been reserved to hold classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The rooms hold 150 people each.

"The space was designed to be flexible," said David Crabtree, associate director of Student Life. "It only makes sense to use it for classes when it is needed."

Graduate classes, which tend to be smaller in size, will move into unused conference rooms in buildings around UNF. Deans of each college have been asked to suggest other places where they think classes can be comfortably held, the committee said. For now, class locations are marked as "to be announced" on course schedules.

The committee said construction of the Student Union is planned to last approximately 14 months and the new classrooms added during this time will be available for the displaced classes. Plans to purchase the AOL building on Kernan Boulevard are in the works, and there are plans to use the building for class space.

The Space Committee consists of faculty and staff from different departments who plan and oversee construction, renovations and projects at UNF.

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UNF faculty lowest paid in state

By Matt Coleman
FEATURES EDITOR

Robert K. Pietrzyk

Professors at the University of North Florida are the lowest paid out of all 11 public universities in the state, according to a study by UNF computing professor Dr. William Klostermeyer.

The study showed UNF ranked last among the other 11 schools with an average salary of $59,466, more than $10,000 below the state average of $71,994. During the Fall 2006 semester, 503 professors were employed at UNF, according to data from the Office of Institutional Research.

Klostermeyer said the lower salaries affect how the university builds its staff.

"It makes it harder to recruit new faculty and to retain existing faculty members," Klostermeyer said. "It's demoralizing that people at comparable institutions are being paid more."

Joann Campbell, associate vice president of academic affairs, and Rachelle Gottlieb, associate vice president of human resources, assisted Klostermeyer with the study.

Campbell, who does the budget and personnel work for the academic affairs division, compiled the UNF faculty salary information based on data from the State University System.

"The data was all public record," Campbell said. "It showed our salaries are not compatible to our sister SUS [State University System] institutions."

President John Delaney commissioned the study, and its information was obtained from the state of Florida, Klostermeyer said. He worked for more than two weeks to assess the data.

"We prepared the study at the request of the president," Klostermeyer said. "The information was given to him, and it was shared with the Board of Trustees [March 12]."

Klostermeyer said the importance of increasing faculty members' salaries includes easing the difficulty of hiring new faculty.

"We've got some catching up to do in terms of our salaries," Klostermeyer said. "It's a fairly urgent need, especially in terms of new faculty, because other universities can offer them $5,000-$10,000 more. We need to be caught up with our peers."

The average salary of SUS faculty was also computed after the University of Florida, the highest-paying college in the state at $81,645, was removed from the list of applicable universities. Klostermeyer said the results weren't skewed by the largest total, as the salary average excluding UF was $69,864, leaving UNF still more than $10,000 below the state average.

Klostermeyer said having average salaries below schools like the University of West Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University doesn't accurately reflect the current status of UNF.

"We should be above West Florida and Florida Gulf," Klostermeyer said. "At least, we need to catch up or surpass their levels. We're not looking to be at the level of the University of Florida, but we need to be caught up with our peers."

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What's going on in the state legislature?

A look at proposed bills that could affect you

Robert K. Pietrzyk

HB 905 Academic fee WHAT IT MEANS
- A new fee may be instituted at each university to support an academic enhancement program approved by the Board of Governors. The University of Florida has requested and been approved for one.

STATUS
- Similar bill filed in the Senate (SB 1710). In committee.

SPONSOR
- Rep. Charles Dean.

SB 228 Bright Futures
WHAT IT MEANS
- Students may apply Bright Futures Scholarship money to summer classes. - Students may use summer grades to raise GPAs for scholarship eligibility.

STATUS
- Identical bill filed in the House (HB 1067). In committee.

SPONSOR
- Sen. Evelyn Lynn.

HB 1063 Drug testing
WHAT IT MEANS
- Drug testing would be an initial eligibility requirement for Bright Futures scholarships. - Testing would be paid for by students or parents.

STATUS
- No companion bill.

SPONSOR
- Rep. Paige Kreegel.

SB 850 Technology fee
WHAT IT MEANS
- State universities may charge a technology fee to support technology improvements benefiting all students. The fee would not exceed more than $10 per credit hour in the first year and may increase up to 8 percent each following year.

STATUS
- No companion bill filed in the House. In committee.

SPONSOR
- Sen. Alfred Lawson Jr.

HB 1209 Financial aid
WHAT IT MEANS
- "Sure Futures Postgraduate Scholarship Program" would be created to connect private businesses needing employees with advanced degrees to students seeking advanced degrees and employment.

STATUS
- Identical bill filed in the Senate (SB 1222). In committee.

SPONSOR
- Rep. Kevin Ambler.

HB 289 Textbook pricing
WHAT IT MEANS
- Some textbooks sold in on-campus bookstores would be tax-exempt. - State colleges or universities would be required to notify students of books assigned for their courses by listing books and ISBN numbers on their Web sites no later than 15 days before the first day of classes. - The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability would conduct a study of the rising costs of textbooks and purchasing practices of postsecondary state institutions.

STATUS
- Numerous other bills filed which include different versions or parts of the bill (HB 215, SB 254, SB 1465 and SB 2492).

SPONSOR
- Rep. Anitere Flores.

HB 1507 Excess tuition
WHAT IT MEANS
- Students would pay 175 percent of in-state tuition for each credit hour in excess of those required to earn degrees.

STATUS
- Similar bill filed in the Senate (SB2862). In committee.

SPONSOR
- Rep. Thad Altman.

The legislative session began March 6 and continues through May 4. For more information about these bills and others the state legislature is considering, visit www.flsenate.gov.

Compiled by Tami Livingston

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Center celebrates women's history

By Ashley Cook
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rebecca Daly

Visiting professor Nancy Soderberg discussed the future of women in politics March 12 as part of the monthlong events hosted by the Women's Center.

The University of North Florida's Women's Center has filled Women's History Month with events ranging from book signings to student discussions.

The UNF Women's Center partners with other associations on campus every year to plan events honoring the roles women have played in the past and today.

This year's theme, chosen with help from Student Government, is "Future Trends: Women in Action," said Dr. Anita Vorreyer, director of the Women's Center. The theme differs every year and helps determine events and speakers, she said.

Events began March 5 with a kick-off luncheon and this year's winners of the Susan B. Anthony Award and the Women's History Month Leadership Scholarship were announced.

The Susan B. Anthony award was given to "someone on campus who is sort of like an unsung hero [...] for gender equity. Someone who doesn't really seek recognition," Vorreyer said.

Lindsey Morrison, program assistant of the UNF Writing Center Program, won this year's award.

The Women's History Month Leadership Scholarship was awarded to Melissa Bright, a psychology major.

"[The luncheon] is a fun time to come together and talk about women's issues," said Dr. Annabel Brooks, the events coordinator and a research associate for the Women's Center.

The luncheon was the first of nine events planned for the month.

Also on March 5, the Women's Center and the African American Student Union joined with SG and presented the "Dream Alive Program" at the University Center. The program was a dedication to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., featuring live commentary from Joe Rogers, former lieutenant governor of Colorado.

Nancy Soderberg, who served as the third ranking official of the National Security Council and as deputy assistant to President Clinton for National Security Affairs from 1993-1997, was the celebrity speaker of the month.

Presented by the Florida Center for Public and International Policy and the UNF Women's Center, Soderberg's March 12 lecture at the Fine Arts Center included the future of women in politics.

"It's just interesting to see a woman who made it that high up," said Jessica Grant, a senior English major. "And with the elections coming up, it would be interesting to find out her take on it all."

Soderberg's recent book, "The Superpower Myth: The Use and Misuse of American Might," was released in paperback April 2006.

"She's so low key, but so powerful, so unassuming, so classy," Brooks said.

The Women's Center mission statement says its goal is to eradicate "gender-based inequalities in a supportive atmosphere."

"Hopefully [these events] will get you to toss around some new ideas or maybe revisit some old ideas [regarding gender issues]," Brooks said.

A replay of a teleconference with Jack Canfield, author of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books, will be shown at 6 p.m., March 26 in the Robinson Theater. Canfield will discuss "The Success Principles," the topic and title of his best-selling book.

A student discussion tabbed "Is Rape a Weapon of War?" will take place at 6:30 p.m. March 27 Building 14, room 1602. The discussion is open to anyone, Brooks said.

"We are very inclusive and like to be mindful of multiple generations," said Brooks.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office will present a brown bag lunch featuring speaker Lieutenant Annie Smith from the JSO. The topic of discussion is "Human Trafficking: Slavery or Indentured Servitude? How do we Stop It?"

Smith, also a member of the Human Trafficking Task Force, will speak briefly March 28 followed by a question and answer session. The event starts at noon in the Robinson Center, room 1604-5.

The final event, presented by the Women's Center and UNF Irish Studies, is a poetry reading by Irish poet Eavan Boland at 7:30 p.m., March 29 in the Robinson Center. Boland. Boland, the director of Stanford University's Creative Writing Program, has won several awards for her poetry. A reception and book signing will follow the reading.

"I think [having a women's history month] is important because women are just so often left out of history," Grant said. "It's important to know what came before and what lies ahead."

The Women's Center's will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year. Students Shirley Webb and Elaine Fygetakis proposed the center, which officially started in October 1987.

Brooks said the Women's Center is already planning events for next year, but can't give away any of the details.

"It's going to be a blow-out. Just energized and a lot of fun," she said.

For information on more events for Women's History Month, visit www.unf.edu/dept/ womens-center/, or visit the UNF Women's Center in the Robinson Center, room 2623.

"We try to balance [the events] with fun and interesting, but also bold and serious," said Brooks. "You can't come to an event and leave the same person."

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Love/Hate forum wraps up monthlong campaign

By Brooke Rawson
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rebecca Daly

Panelists (from left to right) Ben Smith, Robby Angell and Steve Loy discussed sexuality, racism and religious tolerance with students at the Love/Hate forum March 8. University of North Florida student Jason Garnett (front left) moderated the event hosted by Baptist Collegiate Ministries.

To conclude its monthlong Love/Hate campaign, Baptist Collegiate Ministries played host to a Love/Hate forum March 8 in the Robinson Theater.

Participants discussed racism, religious intolerance and sexuality. Three panelists - Pastor Steve Loy from Terry Parker Baptist Church, BCM director for Jacksonville Ben Smith, and BCM vice president Robby Angell - answered student questions and led the discussion.

"We want to hear everybody else's side of the story," said BCM President Robert Ramirez, a junior psychology major.

Nearly 100 people attended the forum, which started with a discussion on racism.

One student wanted to know why races other than Caucasians can use derogatory terms. Some audience members wanted to know what the BCM is doing to help stop the spread of racism.

One solution suggested churches include more diversity in their leadership. One audience member said "everybody is responsible for themselves," and another member said "everything starts with bettering yourself." Everyone who spoke gave advice to cure racism, but one member said he was a racist and the utopia everybody was trying to achieve was unrealistic.

The discussion ended with the panelists giving possible solutions to the problems of racism.

Angell, a senior criminal justice major, said people need to "take a step out of their comfort zones," while others said people need to take individual responsibility.

Around 9 p.m., the discussion turned to religious intolerance. Earlier, Smith gave a definition of tolerance as "being able to respect each other's differences." Angell replied with what he thought tolerance had come to mean today. He thinks a tolerant person in the modern world not only accepts the ideas of others, but believes them, too.

From 9:35 to 10 p.m., the discussion took a turn to sexuality. Smith said "God loves everybody" and proceeded to tell the audience he did not agree with the lifestyle of homosexuals, but that doesn't mean he does not love them.

The students seem to have different opinions in this area. Some went with what the Bible said about homosexuality, and some agree the Bible might not be absolutely correct because man wrote it.

The forum concluded at 10 p.m., and people gathered in the lobby to wait for the panelists. The discussion continued on for some time before they groups began to disperse.

Chet's Creek Church helped fund the Love/Hate project by providing money for the signs on campus over the last few weeks.

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Students sort campus trash

By Tami Livingston
NEWS EDITOR

Rebecca Daly

Top: The waste audit sorted collected materials into categories including recyclables and actual trash. Bottom: Student projects from the Art and Design Department were on display during the event.

About 2,000 people attended the Garbage on the Green event March 8. The campus waste audit was the first event of its kind at the University of North Florida.

One day's worth of garbage and recyclables was collected from four places around campus.

More than 60 people sorted approximately 853 pounds of material during the event, said Stacy Wheeler, part-time political science professor and event coordinator. Much of the garbage found could have been recycled, she said.

"A lot of people who volunteered at the event told me they feel they've been so wasteful when they throw stuff away," Wheeler said. "This has changed their opinion about waste."

The event aimed to raise awareness about campus recycling and encourage more people to do so, Wheeler said. There are plans to institute an educational program about campus recycling and possibly make the audit an annual event, she said.

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