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2002 Summer in Review
 Media Credit: Jessica Tonsfeldt Anne Zemek de Dominquez is SCSU’s new Special Advisor to President Roy Saigo.
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 Media Credit: Jessica Tonsfeldt Children build and decorate a dinosaur at the Little Lemons Art and Entertainment Area, sponsored by the Paramount Arts District, June 27.
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 Media Credit: Jessica Tonsfeldt People pack the midway while waiting for rides at the Benton County Fair in Sauk Rapids Wednesday night.
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This past summer was a summer that ranged from negative to traditional. It was another memorable summer at SCSU.
JUNE
A new provost/vice president of academic affairs was selected. His name is Michael Spitzer, and he, as SCSU President Roy H. Saigo stated, “has the right mix of academic and administrative experience to assist me in guiding SCSU on its journey to become one of the Midwest’s finest comprehensive universities.”
Spitzer went through an intensive and extensive process in order to attain his position. The process included interviews and campus-wide presentations. His duties as provost/vice president include overseeing the five colleges of Business, Education, Fine Arts and Humanities, Science and Engineering and Social Sciences; as well as continuing studies, learning resources and technology services, curriculum, personnel, sponsored programs and international studies. He also oversees enrollment management, which includes records and registration, financial aid, retention services, advising and others.
Another element of positivity was added to SCSU’s repertoire when the then-threatened fate of theatre, film studies and dance department was granted its safety for another year. Incessant rumors about its downfall had been circulating since mid-April, which caused many students and staff to worry.
There are many issues within the department about which the dean of the college of fine arts and humanities, Roland Specht-Jarvis, was very vague. The troubles, however, are waning, and there are high hopes of strengthening the curriculum and other issues.
“Everything is looking up, right now, as far as I can tell,” Specht-Jarvis said. “But we can only be successful if faculty pull on the same end of the rope. Any inside fighting makes it hard to renew theater.”
Unfortunately, June had its share of problems. Parking was a major problem around campus. Having plagued the SCSU campus for countless years, many students, faculty and visitors were again aggravated by parking enforcements that confuse and frustrate many.
Most parking enforcements were quite unclear, including incorrect parking, boxing people in on the streets by being too close to the bumpers to people taking up more than one space so that others cannot park next to them, as well as where and when one can park in lots ranging from commuter to employee.
Another discouraging June event was the MnSCU approval of the increase in activity fees. The MnSCU board of trustees approved a proposed 13 percent increase in SCSU tuition and fees for the 2002-2003 school year in a meeting at the end of May. SCSU is one of the 34 institutions feeling the negative repercussions of the $22.7 million cut in appropriations absorbed by The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system as a response to the state budget deficit. The resulting impact was an unfortunate 10 percent increase in tuition and fees for the state’s colleges and universities.
JULY
A bit of June’s negativity was carried over into July when the sales tax took over campus. Unfortunately, lobbying of MnSCU was denied, and the legislature pursued a proposal which recommended previously tax-exempt public and private elementary, middle and secondary schools be subjected to the 6.5 percent sales tax. The amended law in the Minnesota Statute declares that meals served at colleges, universities and private career schools are subjected to the sales tax unless provided under a board contract, while meals served at public and private elementary, middle and secondary schools remain exempt from the sales tax.
The legislation also held that any food sold from vending machines is taxable at all schools including K-12 schools, effective for sales and purchases made after June 30, 2002.
July also experienced a controversial reduction in work study.
“The condensed version is that (the state) overspent (by) about $22 million,” said Diana Burlison, associate vice president of administrative affairs.
Many students and staff were upset about this fact, and the main conclusion was that there are many students who perform vital acts for the institution. In order to function, we need to provide proper funding.
A vital event that July displayed was the protesting of a plaque on SCSU. The commemorative plaque honors Jane Grey Swisshelm, who established an anti-slavery newspaper in St. Cloud in 1858. She was an advocate of women’s rights and was the first woman to sit in the Senate press gallery. Swisshelm’s newspaper was an effective vehicle for illustrating her beliefs about American Indians whom she accused of being “lazy, uneducated and unworthy to live.”
The controversy began when a letter signed by students Amy Bertrand, Voni Thorsten, Nikki Trutwin, Hali Johnson and Cheryl Pierce stated “honoring someone who held such beliefs goes against what our university stands for.”
Nathan Church, vice president for student life and development, found the protest experience to be a positive one.
“(Tuesday) was an example of students raising concern. That is good for the education process in the university and education is our primary mission.”
In more positivity, the Lemonade Art Fair took place on SCSU campus. Sponsored by the Paramount Arts District, the fair kicked off the Wheels, Wings and Water Festival. Everyone all over St. Cloud, young and old, came together for the unique blend of different cultures, crafts and foods. It was a celebration that dazzled all.
Bulimia researchers recognized that they are near the cure for the eating disorder that troubles many involved with the daunting disease. The St. Cloud Hospital Behavioral Health Clinic is joining forces in collaboration with Neuropsychiatric Research Institute (NRI) from Fargo, North Dakota in a research project to study the causes and contributing factors of what causes bulimia and how to help treat patients with this disorder. The study started September 2000 and will continue through August 2003. So far 87 people have already completed the study and another 106 subjects are remaining to complete it in its entirety. NRI has received a federal grant of $612,408 to continue help develop proper treatments for bulimic individuals.
University Organizations was successful in finding a new Director. Her name is Margo Thomas, and she is highly qualified and very enthusiastic about her position.
Thomas took over July 1, and with six plus years of experience in student activities, she is highly qualified to work with all the leadership programs and various organizations.
“We feel very fortunate to have someone of Margo’s caliber to work here,” said Ed Bouffard, Director of Atwood Memorial Center.
Thomas is just as enthusiastic.
“I wan to be a resource for all student groups on campus. I will point you in the right direction. I will give you an answer, even if it’s not what you want to hear.”
AUGUST
August was a month of preparation, celebration and renovation. The renovation part was mostly from Lawrence Hall, which began this summer, with plans for a lengthy, 12-month process to make the building back into a useable dorm and staff office.
In November of 2001, SCSU, the state of Minnesota and MnSCU agreed to make headway on the renovation of the nearly 100-year-old building. MnSCU provided $2.5 million and the state of Minnesota contributed at least $3.5 million. So far, the total bill for the complete makover is estimated to be at least $7 million.
Lawrence Hall was built in 1905 as a women’s dormitory after the original building, constructed in 1885, burned to the ground.
Despite many signs of wear, Lawrence’s foundations show the building’s overall stability; its original granite footings and the bricks have not moved, chipped or fallen.
Nordic ski team signed a new full head coach. Jeremy Frost, originally from Blaine, was first introduced to the team as a graduate student. Now he begins his fourth year with the team as the official head coach.
The season for the Nordic ski team begins in Jan. and runs through Feb., but training begins much sooner than that to prepare the team for meets that could qualify skiers for competition on the national level. While team members have yet to qualify for national meets, Frost is confident in the team’s progress.
“We’ve made steady improvements over the last several years and we are coming closer to sending someone to the nationals,” Frost said.
The 90th annual Benton County Fair was the best way to end the summer. It ran Aug. 6-11 in Sauk Rapids and was the center of diversity and fun for the entire community.
Vendors lined the streets with treats ranging from cheese curds to cotton candy. The midway was full of screaming and excited individuals withstanding heart-pounding rides such as the Zipper and the Tilt-a-Whirl.
Fair-goers could also see natural oddities such as two-headed snakes and two-headed turtles. However, other animals were seen, as well, but they did not have any oddities. Among these animals were rabbits and chickens.
It was another memorable fair for the surrounding communities; it was another memorable summer here at SCSU.
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