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Incoming students up, overall enrollment down

Written by Susan Welte
Thursday, 04 October 2012 16:30
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Source: KBOR

Infograph by Ellen Weiss

Last week, the Kansas Board of Regents released the current enrollment figures for the six regent universities. Emporia State experienced the first new student increase of freshmen, transfer, and graduate students since 2007.

But the university has not seen an overall increase in enrollment numbers since 2008 and remains the regent school with lowest student population. This year, ESU’s overall enrollment is down 1.8 percent – 109 students, according to KBOR’s documents.

“I would much rather look at how rates are increasing for incoming students,” said Brooke Schmidt, Associated Student Government president and senior Spanish major. “Clearly, we are doing something right if we are increasing our incoming population. This is a great opportunity for our campus to take note of things we are currently doing and also a chance for us to implement changes in the upcoming years.”

The number of new freshmen increased from 587 students in 2011, to 621 this year. New transfer students rose from a total of 409 to 455, increasing the total number of new freshmen and transfer students by 8 percent – 80 students. Schmidt said the enrollment numbers for this year are both challenging and exciting.

“We have a great group of freshmen students and a campus community that is yearning to hold their stingers high,” Schmidt said. “This is ESU’s opportunity to learn, assess and grow.”

According to an ESU press release sent to The Bulletin last week, one of the efforts taken to appeal to freshmen, transfer and graduate students was the launching of an “integrated marketing campaign that included billboard and television advertising in urban Kansas markets and high-energy events like Hornet Night in Overland Park and the Hornet Telethon on campus.”

The press release also stated that “scholarship opportunities for new and transfer students” were another factor that contributed to recruitment, which was due to a “$7.5 million commitment from the Emporia State University Foundation.”

“Our new recruiting strategies have been successful,” said Jim Williams, vice president of Student Affairs, in an email. “We need to continue this success and raise the bar on our efforts to retain those students we recruited.”

But Schmidt said that in the ASG campaign last year, she and Stuart Sneath, ASG vice president and senior sociology major, focused their platform on increasing school pride and support. This year, she said, they are focusing on current ESU students in particular and investing time in helping others support and foster a shared sense of pride for ESU.

“Most importantly, the campus has an understanding and a commitment to improve student retention,” Williams said.

ASG spices up Can the Bods

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 04 October 2012 16:30
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The annual Can the Bods competition between Emporia State and Washburn University began this week, and this year Associated Student Government is sponsoring an additional competition between the dorm floors. The Greek houses will also compete amongst themselves in their homecoming pairs, as will the RSOs on campus.

The dorm floor that collects the most cans wins a pizza party from ASG. The winning Greek house and RSO will each receive free color advertising space in The Bulletin. The winning house and RSO can design their own ads or have The Bulletin design them.

Can the ‘Bods runs through October.

ASG approves three new RSOs, appoints senators

Written by Luke Bohannon
Thursday, 04 October 2012 16:30
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“We can be mentors, we can be tutors, (and) we can be involved in what’s going on and share our experiences with younger students so that they don’t make some of the same mistakes we may have made as young adults.”
– Clarence Frye, Non-Traditional Student Organization

Andriana Flores and other members of the ASG committee enter their votes into a cup for Senator of the Month at last Thursday’s meeting. Senator of the Month will be a monthly occurrence.
Jenny Pendarvis/The Bulletin

Associated Student Government approved seven new student organizations at their meeting last Thursday, including Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), which was rescinded at the first meeting of the semester. BBBS is a non-profit organization that pairs children and teenagers with volunteers called “bigs” who spend time with them. The group was represented by Frank Cortez, senior recreation major.

The senate voted to recognize BBBS, 21-0-0.

President Brooke Schmidt made recommendations for two new senators at the meeting – Caleb Critchfield, senior elementary education major, and Samantha Beye, graduate student for school counseling, were sworn in. Critchfield was appointed as a senator for the Teachers College.

The senate moved to suspend the rules and move the recognition of BBBS and the Non-traditional Student Organization to general order, leading to a total of 14 bills on the agenda to be voted on.

Half of those bills were for the recognition of student organizations, including the Multicultural Greek Council, which was represented by its president, Doricka Menefee, junior secondary English education major.

“(The Multicultural Greek Council is) an umbrella organization for all the multicultural Greek letter organizations, so we would make sure all the organizations have taken care of their community service,” Menefee said. “We will be the voice to everything. So if you want to get into contact with any of our organizations, you can contact (us), and we can make sure you get the connection you need.”

Menefee said that there are currently three groups affiliated with the council and that she encourages any other multicultural groups that might start up in the surrounding area to join as well. The senate voted in favor of approving the group.

The Non-traditional Student Organization was represented by Clarence Frye, sophomore economics major and the vice president of the group. Frye said the group is designed to help unite the non-traditional students on ESU’s campus.

“We do intend to be involved in what’s going on on-campus, volunteer hours, all those kinds of things, and to be engaged in helping traditional students to continue their education,” Frye said. “We can be mentors, we can be tutors, (and) we can be involved in what’s going on and share our experiences with younger students so that they don’t make some of the same mistakes we may have made as young adults.”

Frye told the senate that the group has not had an official meeting yet and that he did not yet know exactly how many members were involved. The group was approved, 21-0-0.

Two bills for reserve fund requests by Sigma Rhomeo and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee were tabled due to lack of representation and will be on general order for the next meeting at 5 p.m. Oct. 11 in the Senate Chamber on the third floor of the Memorial Union.

Faculty welcome new second VP

Written by Hannah Thomas
Thursday, 04 October 2012 16:30
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Faculty Senate President Kevin Rabas speaks about a KBOR faculty of the year award and asks committees for recommendations. Awards will go to one tenured and one non-tenured faculty member at each regent certified school.
Jordan Storrer/The Bulletin

The Faculty Senate welcomed Manjula Shinge, associate professor of English, to her new position as Second Vice President Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s a pleasure and honor to welcome Dr. Manjula Shinge to her new role,” said Kevin Rabas, associate professor of English, co-director of creative writing and Faculty Senate president. “Manjula asks good questions, and she is a good listener. She is an amiable, responsible leader, and I look forward to watching her grow into the eventual role of faculty president.”

Racheal Countryman, junior communication major, spoke on behalf of Associated Student Government and discussed their plans for this year’s “Can the Bods” campaign.

“Can the Bods started this week (and) we should start seeing some drop-off boxes all around campus,” Countryman said. “We’ve actually even moved out into the community. We should have some in grocery stores, places like that. You can also drop them off at the Center for Student Involvement.”

Countryman also said that Lyon County will host political forums this month. Next Tuesday, local candidates will meet on campus, and on the 16th state candidates met on campus. Further information on these events is forthcoming.

The senate discussed Bob Driewer, CEO of Newman Regional Health, who will visit campus to interview staff and faculty and get an outside perspective of ESU. The possibility of viewing the report he will write on the various departments’ needs and wants was also put forth as a suggestion.

Rabas asked each of the committees to put together a paragraph answering two questions relating to student success – what are faculty members doing, and what can they do in the classroom to ensure the success of students? These questions were put forth by the Kansas Board of Regents at their September meeting.

The senate debated having the Faculty of the Year Award at ESU, which recognizes both tenured and non-tenure track members but does not have any monetary reward. The tabled the discussion until the next meeting.

Zeni Colorado, assistant professor of instructional design and technology and chair of the Committee on Campus Governance, reported on the developments in creating a new logo for ESU that will be used for academic purposes, whereas the Power E logo is used more casually.

Tanja Steigner, associate professor of business and education and chair of the Faculty Affairs committee, reported on developing a resolution to commend Carol Russell, professor of early childhood development, for her work with the Tuition Assistance Program.

The next meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Preston Family Room in the Memorial Union.

ASG looks to upgrade Corky’s Cab, not enough funds

Written by Susan Welte
Friday, 17 August 2012 10:21
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Evening driver, Wade Hale, gears up for a night of work at DZ Cab Company. Drivers at DZ Cab Company have been providing free rides for current students between 10 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. Corky’s Cab was created for students at Emporia State seeking a safe alternative to impaired driving at night. Jenny Pendarvis/The Bulletin

For Zane Brown, owner of D Z Cabs, being a cab driver is like being underpaid psychologist.

“(We’re) kind of like a bartender. People tell us all their problems,” he said.

Formerly known as Lot’s Cab, D Z Cabs is the company through which Corky’s Cab, Emporia State’s free “safe ride” student riding service, is run.

The company has been in business for over 22 years. Corky’s Cab is only in its third and was used by more than 900 students in its first year. But in the 2011-2012 school year, the number of riders dwindled to scarcely 600, said Stuart Sneath, vice president of ASG and senior sociology major.

“Overall, I think that it’s a great service,” said Marcus Hix, junior political science major, Associated Student Government senator and former sports editor for The Bulletin. “More students need to know about it and take advantage. I think if more students took advantage, it would be more reliable.”

One of the biggest complaints the service receives is the amount of time it takes to transport students. But Brown said he had to cut down on drivers, leaving them with only one night driver to adhere to Corky’s Cab. The contract between ESU and D Z Cabs says that the cab must be there within 20 minutes of a student’s call, Sneath said.

“We try not to let people wait over a half hour,” Brown said. “(The driver) averages about a 15 to 30 minutes.”

One of the time issues, however, can be related to students not adhering to the arrival of cab, Brown said.

“Sometimes when we come to get (students), they’re not outside the bar,” Brown said. “They’re inside the bar still drinking with their buddies. We have caller IDs for their phone, so we call them back.”

Sneath said that ASG has been looking into other alternatives for a safe ride service, but there are currently no other options.

Hix said there aren’t many alternatives because Corky’s Cab accounts for only a small portion of student fees.

“It’s very convenient for me,” Hix said. “If we wanted to spend more money on it, I can see it being better.”

ASG allocated $5,500 for Corky’s Cab this year, and upgrading to another choice such as the L-Cat would cost the school $38,000 for a 10-month period, Sneath said. He also said the goal of Corky’s Cab is to offer a safe ride home for students, and that the program ESU already has will do the job.

“We are still looking at other options in case something happens, like if the company shuts down,” Sneath said. “The contract we have has a 30 day clause if university can find something that would work better.”

Brown said that although they only have one night driver, they have been an “honest cab company” since the beginning and that they do everything they can to make sure students get home safe.

“We have literally picked drunks up and carried them,” Brown said. “I’ve thrown a couple people over my shoulder and walked them into the house. We take care of everybody.”

Corky’s Cab is available nightly from 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Call (620) 343-8310 to use the service.

Welcome to a BUZZTASTIC Year

Written by Bulletin Staff
Friday, 17 August 2012 09:49
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Schmidt

On behalf of Associated Student Government, welcome to a very buzzin’ 2012-2013 academic year!

Whether this is your first year attending Emporia State University or you are a seasoned hornet, we hope you are able to find and continue your passions here. Our university and our community offer a plethora of opportunities to foster your interests and ambitions. These include over 120 Registered Student Organizations you may become involved in, numerous community service possibilities and a variety of events and programs – all which cater to YOUR needs.

ASG is yet another organization that seeks to serve YOU, the student, in whatever way possible. We undertake the responsibility of representing each of you on campus. We provide services for the improvement of student life. And at our core, the members of ASG aspire to encourage and motivate students to attain their passions and interests. Please, take advantage of the fantastic year that lies ahead of you!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact myself or any other member of ASG. You can reach us at the Center for Student Involvement office located in the Memorial Union, by phone at 341-5481, or by e-mail at asgpres@emporia.edu.

Our priority is to make your experience here at Emporia State the best that it can be. Once again, welcome to another exciting year; it’s a great day to be a Hornet!

In Hornet Pride,

Brooke Schmidt

President

Associated Student Government

Schmidt puts own ambitions on hold

Written by Charlie Heptas
Thursday, 16 August 2012 17:32
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Schmidt

For Brooke Schmidt, senior Spanish major and new president of Associated Student Government, getting involved on campus changed her whole perspective of ESU.

“When I got here as a freshman, I wasn’t involved at all, and so I was kind of like ‘Eh, I don’t like it here,’” Schmidt said, “ but the second I got involved in an organization, it took off from there.”

Schmidt, an active student leader on campus, has held many positions, including being the president of her sorority, Alpha Sigma Alpha, and president of Alternative Spring Break.

“I have always loved being involved with campus life,” she said. “I’m in Greek life, I was a community hornet and I’ve been in Sigma Alpha Lambda, and those really just inspired me to grow my passion for student life and student involvement.”

She said that while participating in Day under the Dome last year she realized there was more she could be doing on campus.

Schmidt said her most important goal for her time as ASG president was to be an advocate for the students.

“I think it’s just really trying to feel for the pulse of what students want here on campus,” Schmidt said. “I’m not going to go out there and try to do my own goals and my own ambitions. I’m here to serve the students.”

Stuart Sneath, vice president of ASG and senior sociology major, who has previously been an ASG senator, said that he has been helping Schmidt with the day-to-day procedures of ASG, but she was already well-prepared in the area of leadership.

“The biggest thing is the procedure of ASG that people don’t understand, but we’ve worked on that a lot over the summer,” Sneath said.

Sneath and Schmidt both said that one of ASG’s top priorities was to get their name out to the students and get them more involved in student government.

“I think something that’s wrong is that we’re (students) not taking advantage of everything that’s offered. ASG is there to be your voice, and senators are there to represent you,” Schmidt said. “There’re a lot of awesome services on campus, and if you just try to go out there and find them you can make the best of your student life here.”

Sam Beye, graduate student in school counseling and returning senator, said that she liked the fresh take Schmidt has on student involvement and her style of leadership.

“She seems to be in it not just for the politics, like some are. She seems to be more in it for the students,” Beye said. “She’s more student oriented, I think.”

Beye said that her experience in ASG and in other positions of leadership throughout ESU help her to be a role model for other students.

Sneath said the senators are excited to be advocates for students and that the administration was one of the best advocates students have.

“Dr. (Jim) Williams has really encouraged us….Dr. Shonrock has been huge. He is the best advocate for students, next to Brooke and I, I would say, so that’s really what I’m excited for, the relationship students can have with the administration,” Sneath said.

Sneath said as a part of the plan to get the university RSO’s to work together ASG will be introducing Hornet Squad, which will be a monthly meeting of RSO presidents to improve communication between campus groups.

Vogts bids fond farewell to ESU, heads for KU

Written by Bulletin Staff
Friday, 27 April 2012 08:52
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Vogts

As the school year comes to an end, Emporia State prepares to lose another group of bright minds. As for senior occupational therapy major and Associated Student Government President Ashley Vogts, she will say goodbye to the school she has called home for the last four years.

“For the past 30-plus years, I have worked with many student government and campus leaders, and without a doubt, Ashley is one the most talented peer leaders I have had the pleasure of working with at universities in both Kansas and Texas,” said President Michael Shonrock.

After graduation Vogts plans to go to the University of Kansas to get her graduate degree in occupational therapy, a step for which she says ESU has prepared her.

“It is going to be interesting and fun,” Vogts said. “It is a three year program and is going to be a whole new chapter of my life.”

Vogts said she has made lasting friendships and still stays in touch with the girls she met in her first year while living in the Towers Residential Complex.

“I lived on an all-girls floor, and we became super fast friends,” Vogts said. “We still get together a couple times a month because we all kind of split into different departments. It has just been a great four years, and I tell people all the time if I could make a career out of staying at Emporia State I would.”

Vogts, a second-generation Hornet, said her mother’s stories about ESU helped make the decision to come here an easy one.

“I didn’t even look anywhere else, it just felt right,” Vogts said. “I have had so many opportunities and experiences here, and I know I couldn’t have done it if I wouldn’t have come to Emporia State.”

With all the added responsibilities of being a senior, Vogts still managed to take on the task of ASG president, a position that ASG vice president and senior marketing major Jennifer Cheray talked her into.

“She was supposed to go to KU this year, so her plans were kind of up in the air for a long time,” Cheray said. “We didn’t think it was going to happen, but we just rolled with it and it came together.”

Vogts said she is not worried about finding a job after finishing college with the education she has received from ESU and the career she has chosen.

“She is exceptional and will continue to excel in her graduate studies at the University of Kansas,” Shonrock said.

Rocky Robinson

New CSI facility opens with a bang

Written by Bulletin Staff
Friday, 27 April 2012 08:25
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Students swarmed into the first floor lounge of the Memorial Union for music, refreshments and a prize giveaway to celebrate the grand opening of the new Center for Student Involvement yesterday afternoon. There was a raffle for prizes such as an iPad and a 32-inch flatscreen LCD TV, plus gift baskets donated by eight Registered Student Organizations.

“This is basically a grand opening celebration for CSI,” said Union Activities Council President Eden Tullis. “The new Center for Student Involvement opened one week after spring break. We set the date for the event when we moved into our new location.”

The new area was opened up to students for tours. Tullis said that CSI started planning for the event in November and that UAC was “very excited” to host the event.

“The grand opening is just very exciting,” said Ashley Vogts, ASG president. “Students usually don’t get to know much about what CSI does. This gives them a better look at who they are and what they do.”

CSI member Enilisse Ortiz said they were not the only group participating in the event on Wednesday afternoon. The Office of International Education, Greek Life, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Associated Student Government, L.E.A.D., Community Hornets, P.R.I.D.E. and the Earth Science Club also participated, setting up booths or donating prize baskets for the raffle.

“ASG also has a booth there with fliers that have information about what ASG does,” Vogts said.

Ortiz said CSI wants to encourage students to come by and check out the new facility.

“It’s also an opportunity for students to find out information about groups relevant to their interests,” Ortiz said.

Tullis said that with the union renovations, she has noticed more people in the lounge area by the CSI.

CSI has also started planning another event for students next year. Tullis said CSI is getting ready to put together a time capsule in the fall and hide it within a recess in a wall in the newly finished Memorial Union, close to where the new CSI is located.

“We recently dug up a time capsule when the renovations to the Memorial Union started,” Tullis said. “We are really looking forward to doing the time capsule in the fall.”

Steve Edwards

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Stafford loan interest doubles, tuition may increase 6.5 percent

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 19 April 2012 15:59
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After meeting with President Barack Obama’s administration and other student body presidents in Washington, senior occupational therapy major and Associated Student Government president Ashley Vogts discussed the doubling of Federal Stafford loan interest rates at Tuesday’s Faculty Senate meeting. Vogts’ presentation was followed by the 6.5 percent tuition increase proposed by Emporia State’s tuition and budget committee.

“I don’t think students know about it,” Vogts said. “At this conference we just all kind of came to the consensus that we all want to take a stand. Maybe start doing some lobbying or writing to legislation and just saying as students we don’t think we can handle this double increase in student loans.”

Stafford loan interest rates will double July 1, raising them to around 6.8 percent, which will be an increased burden to the average undergrad who owes about $25,000 after graduation.

“Even with scholarships, college has become too expensive,” said Jake Snyder, freshman chemistry major. “If they keep increasing the cost of tuition and student loans, it won’t be long before kids won’t be able to afford to go to college, and the ones that do are going to spend their entire life paying off that debt.”

Kevin Johnson, faculty president, also discussed tuition increases for next year. Students can expect to pay about 6.5 percent more in tuition if the tuition and budget committee’s recommendation goes through. Before it can be approved, it must go through President Michael Shonrock and the Kansas Board of Regents.

“According to the information we were presented with at the meeting, it is a smaller dollar increase than the other regents universities will likely be recommending,” Johnson said. “We are still going to be about half the cost of KU and K-State and comparable to Pittsburg and Fort Hays.”

Half of the increase will go to paying utility bills, health plan costs and other mandatory expenses. The other half will go to a tuition assistance plan and a 1 percent pay raise for all ESU employees, depending on enrollment for next year.

“Nobody wants to pay more, but I don’t think the preliminary figures for enrollment next fall are much better than a year ago. Of course, we won’t know until the fall,” Johnson said. “I think based on that, I don’t think it is going to hurt enrollment and we are still one of the best buys in the state.”

The next Faculty Senate meeting on May 1 will be the last meeting of the term. Directly after the meeting, current and new members are invited to a reception at the Shonrock home.

Rocky Robinson