NEWS
- Delaney: Budget cuts won't affect plans for growth Sarah Diener
- UPD imposters threaten students Tami Livingston
- Greeks grow by 300 Tami Livingston
- Eco-Adventure program to introduce ropes course Sarah Diener
- Fine Arts Center celebrates five years Ashley Beland
- Financial Aid to refund accounts this week Tami Livingston
Delaney: Budget cuts won't affect plans for growth
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University of North Florida President John Delaney delivered the annual "State of the University" address during the 36th annual fall convocation Sept. 7 in the Lazzara Performance Hall.
The convocation consisted of remarks by Dr. Mark Workman, provost and vice president for academic affairs, the address by Delaney, and an awards ceremony for faculty and staff.
In his address, Delaney spoke of a focus on celebration, as the university is celebrating its 35th anniversary this October. He touched on a broad spectrum of topics, including the ongoing budget issues influenced by state legislation.
The current budget cuts due to tax revenue shortfalls should not negatively affect UNF, because the school has set aside reserves to aid in bouncing back, Delaney said.
In fact, Delaney said despite budget cuts, the university has hired new faculty and continues with construction projects such as the Student Union building.
Delaney sees these developments as a way to keep up with the growth of the university and to help turn UNF into a more traditional "destination" college.
One new development is the acquisition of the Aucther Building on Kernan Boulevard. This building will soon be renamed "Alumni Hall" and will house various administrative offices of the university.
Delaney also shared the results of an assessment by Terry McTaggart, an outside consultant hired by the school to assess its current state of growth.
McTaggart referred to the situation of the university as a "sweet spot" with many opportunities ahead.
However, he felt that the university needed to work on "crystallizing" its mission, saying that would allow for better transitioning.
"I'm excited for the things to come, and believe that we have had impressive success as a university," Delaney said.
Workman's remarks addressed the university's many new initiatives, including graduate programs, the shuttle system, and buildings around campus. In addition to Delaney's address, members of faculty and staff were awarded honors in categories such as outstanding undergraduate teaching, leadership, counseling and service.
The day's biggest award, the Distinguished Professor Award, was given to the Department of Art and Design's Louise Freshman Brown. Freshman Brown won a plaque, $5,000, and a reserved parking spot on campus.
The mixed medium artist is the fifth woman and only professor from the Department of Art and Design to ever earn this award.
Following the ceremony, a picnic catered by Chartwell's served attendees on the Green.
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UPD imposters threaten students
Two University of North Florida students were robbed at knifepoint as they left the Crossings Sept. 9 by three males claiming to be criminal justice majors who were working for the University Police Department.
According to UPD Chief Mark Foxworth, the two students were walking to Lot 16 in front of the University Center at approximately 2:30 a.m. when three white males approached them on foot and asked for a ride to the Landing residential area. When the two students refused, one of the suspects pulled a knife and demanded both students empty their wallets.
After examining the students' wallets and discovering they only had $2 in cash on them, the suspects returned the wallets and claimed the incident was a joke, and that as criminal justice majors working for UPD, it was their job to educate students. The suspects then drove away. The students later spotted the suspects on another part of campus, but no further incident occurred.
"I will have been in police work for 27 years next month, and this has got to be the weirdest
thing I've ever heard of," Foxworth said.
Foxworth said his department believes the suspects are also UNF students because they used the terms "the Landing," "criminal justice majors" and "UPD."
"I can assure you these were not UPD employees," Foxworth said. "We would never put a student in fear for their life to teach them something."
While a campus investigation was completed later that day, it was unsuccessful, because the students did not report the incident until that afternoon.
UPD is searching for the suspects and encourages any other students who might have been approached by them and had a similar experience to come forward. UPD can be reached at 620-2800.
Foxworth said he is not sure what charges the suspects will face if they're caught, but UPD is consulting with the State Attorney's Office to determine the charges because the suspects committed all the elements of an armed robbery.
The victims of the potential robbery did not return calls for comment before deadline.
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Greeks grow by 300
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Students and Greek hopefuls meet on the Green for recruitment. Greek Life added 300 new members to the 22 active sororities and fraternities at UNF Aug. 29 - Sep. 4. |
Greek Life at the University of North Florida just completed its
fall recruitment period, adding more than 300 new members to
their rosters.
Sororities rushed the week of Aug. 29 and recruited 241 new members, while fraternities rushed the week of Sept. 4 and recruited 160 new members.
"The fraternities' numbers could've been a little stronger," said Greek Life Adviser Tyler Young. "[But] ith 22 organizations and over 1,000 members, this recruitment pointed toward signs of the Greek community becoming a united Greek community, and the best is yet to come."
Young said sorority recruitment was "in all, very smooth, no hiccups," and he attributes this to the fact that sorority recruitment was more organized this year. This resulted in more fun for the members recruiting, Young said.
"All the groups came together as one, and pushed the Greek initiative and the Greek opportunity as one group instead of a particular sorority," Young said.
According to Greek Life Coordinator Kelly Wood, all the women who went through the recruitment period were placed in a sorority, and this is only the second time in UNF history this
has happened.
"This was probably one of our most exciting years," Wood said.
Fraternity recruitment also went well, according to Young, who said the Interfraternity Council, the governing council of seven fraternities, had a "much stronger and visual presence at each chapter's functions." However, he said he hopes some chapters will continue recruiting throughout the semester.
The university has 22 active fraternities and sororities that have anywhere from nine to more than 100 members.
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Eco-Adventure program to introduce ropes course
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This is an example from Alpine Towers of the ropes course UNF hopes to bring to campus. It will join an obstacle course and an outdoor classroom. |
A ropes course, an obstacle course, an outdoor classroom and a gear checkout center are all things students can soon expect on campus, according to
UNF's Eco-Adventure program managers.
As part of the growth of the University of North Florida, the Eco-Adventure program is planning to add a high-ropes course to the nature trails of campus. AyoLane Halusky, Eco-Adventure program manager, said support for the program has been voiced by many other organizations like the Honors Program and Student Government. The course itself is in the planning stages and will cost approximately $150,000, Halusky said.
The course will be different than traditional ropes courses because more than one person can traverse the course and up to five people can complete the challenges at once. The "Odyssey II" model of the course, made by Alpine Towers, is what the program is considering. This specific course will include a zipline and will be constructed of telephone poles making it safer, Halusky said.
"This is not going to be your everyday ropes course," Halusky said.
Halusky is working in conjunction with Park Manager Ryan Meyer to develop team-building exercises for the ropes course.
"We want to tailor the experience to the individual or specific group completing the exercise," Halusky said.
Construction for the course has already begun on the island within Oneida Lake. The Parents Association has funded a low-ropes obstacle course on the ground, and sources for funding the high-ropes course are still being explored, Meyer said. If outside organizations and private companies
are permitted to use the course for team-building exercises, it may be a way to pay for the course,
Meyer said.
In addition, the university is in the process of installing the John M. Golden Environmental Education Pavilion. This will include an outdoor classroom for student organization meetings, classes, and Eco-Adventure Program meetings. The building adjacent to the classroom will serve as an "outfitting" center where students can come to check out camping gear, canoes, kayaks, backpacks
and coolers.
For more information on Eco-Adventure's developments, a schedule of events or gear checkout, call 620-1859.
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Fine Arts Center celebrates five years
The University of North Florida's Fine Arts Center will turn five this season with world-renowned performers and its first-ever benefit concert.
The anniversary will be marked by a grand opening with rhythm and blues artist Natalie Cole Oct. 20. A benefit concert with violinist Itzhak Perlman, is scheduled for March 8.
"Basically, what this benefit concert will do is support all of the programs and services that we've started here at the center in the last five years," said Dani Deyton, director of marketing and communications for the Fine Arts Center.
The $22 million Fine Arts Center opened January 2003 and has had a wide range of performers take center stage over
the years.
One of the most memorable performances for Deyton was the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert last season.
"There was such an energy and excitement throughout the concert," Deyton said. "We had 10 couples participate in the swing dance contest out in front of the center and over 100 people gathered around to watch and cheer on the contestants."
Deyton said the concert was a fun way to start the season, and the crowd enjoyed it.
"In curating the programming for each season, I always strive to achieve an eclectic roster of artists and entertainers that will have a strong appeal for a broad audience and provide a diversity of experiences," said Executive Director Sharon Papian.
"[This year] it's a sweet season that includes international attractions, outstanding American artists and, of course, two superstars: Natalie Cole and Itzhak Perlman."
One of the goals of the Fine Arts Center staff is for the programming to connect with the Jacksonville community as well as the academic community at UNF,
Deyton said.
"Some of the highlights that we are offering are multicultural performances," she said. "Something that will touch everyone, such as the Ballet Folklorico
de Mexico.
The performance offers something fun for the Hispanic community and celebrates Hispanic heritage month, she said.
Ticket sales and sponsorships are the driving force behind the types of performers the Fine Arts Center acquires,
Deyton said.
University faculty and staff receive a 10-percent discount on tickets, and student tickets range from $10 to $15, she said.
"With the type of programming we have this year, we really expect a great turnout at every show," Deyton said.
Papian said the administration is considering reorienting some of its goals this year to better serve the community.
Natalie Cole - 7:30 p.m., Oct. 20
Ballet Folklorico de Mexico - 7:30 p.m., Nov. 8
The Sleeping Beauty on Ice - 7:30 p.m., Dec. 13
Aeros - 7:30 p.m., Feb. 2
Take 6 - 7:30 p.m., Feb. 21
Itzhak Perlman - 8 p.m., March 8
HMS Pinafore - 7:30 p.m., March 27
The Tempest - 7:30 p.m., April 1
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet - 7:30 p.m., April 4
A Year With Frog and Toad - 3 p.m., April 20
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Financial Aid to refund accounts this week
Thousands of expectant University of North Florida students won't be waiting much longer for their refund checks, as the first disbursement of financial aid is scheduled to process this week.
According to the Controller's Office, financial aid refunds each semester are typically processed by the end of the second week of class; however, because of the Labor Day holiday and some waiting on final information from the Bookstore, the refunds have been delayed a day or two.
"We try to get it [the refunds] out as soon as possible, but the fall one [disbursement of funds] is hard," said controller Floyd Hurst.
Any refunds must be processed and released by the financial aid and other campus offices to ensure all fees are paid before they are sent to the Controller's Office to be disbursed, said bursar Margaret Partyka.
"Spring [disbursement] is a smooth, shorter process than fall, which is more drawn out," Partyka said.
Disbursement is easier in the spring because students have all the correct documentation filed with the university, and the controller's office doesn't have to compete with the holiday, Partyka said.
"We are processing now and direct deposit [refunds] should show up Thursday [Sept. 13], and the paper checks will mail out on Thursday," Hurst said.
Junior Joe Gaskin said he uses his refunds for something different each semester.
"Last semester, I used it to pay my rent for like five months, and this year I'm using my refund for a trip to Southeast Asia for two months," he said.
In order for refunds to be processed on time, both Partyka and Floyd encourage students to check their myWings account
weekly.
If students have holds or are missing documents, the processing and release of additional funds from financial aid will be delayed.
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