Bigger budget may bring better bodies
Madeline LaFave
Copy Editor
Erika Breese
Xavier students who use O’Connor Sports Center have expressed the need for improvements at O’Connor including new machines, expanded hours and available trainers.
Xavier University is trying to take steps to improve O’Connor Sports Center for 2008-2009 school year.
A student survey conducted last spring brought to attention a primary concern among students regarding the O’Connor Sports Center, which was built when Xavier was less than one-third of its current size.
With the projected enrollment coinciding with the upcoming campus expansion, Xavier is expected to more than double enrollment in the near future. Completely renovating the sports facilities at Xavier will take extensive planning and nearly $25 million.
An increase in the 2008-2009 tuition may help pay for improvement at O’Connor. Although nothing is set in stone until spring, when the Fiscal Budget for next year comes out, SGA President Maggie Meyer said that in addition to the increase and regulation of hours at O’Connor and an increase in funding for student wages, it is likely Xavier will hire personal trainers.
Two graduate-level, trained interns would be hired to work at least 40 hours per week in order to increase safety and educate the student body about personal health.
Largely advocating this idea, Director of Recreational Sports Jim Ray sees O’Connor’s dire need for a re-instatement of these positions. O’Connor has previously hired trainers.
Assistant Director Leslie Dulle stresses that the staff who run O’Connor work 100 percent for the benefit of the students. Budget ideas are constantly surfacing and being proposed in order to generate the funds necessary to better the facilities.
A $50 per semester gym fee for all students, for example, would allow for free fitness classes and personal trainers, increased hours and student-employee wages.
“While we love the outside memberships, if we could have it our way, we would love to have O’Connor be a student and faculty-only facility, but that is just not an option right now,” said Dulle.
Professor Profile: Dr. Mack Mariani
Michelle Rosemarin
Staff Writer
Dr. Mack Mariani is an assistant professor of political science. Though he has only been here since 2007, Dr. Mariani has positive things to say about being a professor, the students and, of course, the Ryan’s Pub hot wings.
What degrees do you have?
I have a Ph.D. and an M.A. from Syracuse University. I also have a B.A. from Canisius College.
What classes do you teach?
I teach American Political Institutions, Campaigns and Elections, and Introduction to American Politics. Basically, I teach American political courses.
Do you have any advice for your students?
Woody Allen said that “90 percent of success is just showing up.”
What is the best job you can get in political science?
A college professor probably! There are a lot of good jobs, I think political science prepares you to write, to think, to analyze complex relationships and teaches you to persuade and communicate. Many people go on to law school or to grad school, and it can help in the communications field. It really prepares you to be a good citizen and to succeed in a variety of professions.
What is your favorite thing about Xavier?
The real sense of community. The students are fun, they’re bright and hard working and they make me laugh all the time.
How about your least favorite thing about Xavier?
I can never get my printer to work.
Is there one movie you could watch over and over again?
“The Great Escape” with Steve McQueen. I could watch that every day and never get bored. A close second is “Superbad,” and also “Seems Like Old Times” with Chevy Chase.
What’s one place in the world you’ve always wanted to go?
Probably Washington, D.C. and I lived there for four years.
Which famous person would you most like to meet?
Fr. Michael Graham but I’ve already met him. I don’t know, I’m not really one for fame. I guess I’d like to meet Craig Ferguson, the guy on “The Late Late Show.”
What’s your favorite part about political science?
I don’t even know how to answer that, it’s really tough. Political science is always exciting; there are always issues and conflict in politics. It’s interesting to study the roots of that conflict and the reasons why people hold their views and how they work out their conflicts.
What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?
I like hanging out with my family. I coach my kids’ soccer teams and I love watching them play. I also watch a lot of TV.
If you weren’t teaching what would you like to be doing?
I’d like to be a writer. I worked in politics for years and I don’t want to do that. I’d like to try my hand at writing. There are a lot of good jobs available for people who know how to write well.
Is there anything else you’d like your students to know about you?
I’m the Xavier University wing-eating champion of 2007! That’s my favorite moment here so far— beating Bill Gorman in the wing-eating contest. I’m from Buffalo so it was a matter of hometown pride!
Police Notes
Feb. 5, 9:15 a.m.- Campus Police assisted a student whose vehicle had been broken into on Ledgewood Avenue near Victory Parkway. Cincinnati Police were notified.
Feb. 5, 2:48 p.m.- A car parked illegally in the C-2 lot was immobilized and the student owner was given a disciplinary fine. The student had 25 prior parking violations.
Feb. 6, 2:13 a.m.- Campus Police investigated a report of a suspicious subject looking for a student in the residence halls. Police were unable to locate the subject.
Feb. 6, 8:27 p.m.- Campus police investigated the report of a suspicious subject talking to students in the Gallagher Student Center and making them feel uncomfortable. The subject was found and escorted off campus.
Feb. 7, 7:58 p.m.- Campus Police and Residence Life investigated a report of the smell of marijuana in Husman Hall. A student admitted to smoking in the residence hall and was cited for drug abuse.
Feb. 9, 12:18 a.m.- Cincinnati Police asked Campus Police to transport a student to the residence halls after the student was cited for walking in the road at Dana Avenue and Victory Parkway while intoxicated.
Feb. 9, 1:05 a.m.- An intoxicated and disorderly non-student who was visiting a friend in Kuhlman Hall was escorted off campus.
Feb. 9, 1:09 a.m.- Campus Police assisted Norwood Police in breaking up a house party in the 3900 block of Ivanhoe Avenue. Norwood Police reported that three complaints had been filed about the residence that night.
Feb. 9, 1:55 a.m.- Two students observed kicking over trashcans on the residential mall were cited for underage consumption.
Feb. 9, 10:50 p.m.- An employee reported that his or her vehicle had been egged and the antenna broken in the Flynn Hall lot.
Feb. 10, 2:20 a.m.- A non-student acting suspicious in the Commons lot was arrested on an outstanding warrant.
Feb. 13, 10:56 a.m.- An employee reported damage to a wall in the ground floor kitchen in Brockman Hall.
Feb. 13, 10:18 p.m.- A non-student asking for money in and around Elet Hall was escorted off campus.
Feb. 15, 1:07 a.m.- Officers investigating a noise complaint in Husman Hall cited six students for underage consumption.
Feb. 15, 1:55 a.m.- Two students carrying a wet floor sign in the C-5 lot were cited for underage consumption. One student was cited for failure to cooperate with a university official.
Feb. 16, 12:57 a.m.- Two students observed urinating in the bushes outside the Village were cited for disorderly conduct.
Feb. 16, 7:41 a.m.- An employee reported that someone had attempted to break into the Residence Life house.
Police Note of the Week
Feb. 11, 8:44 a.m.- An employee reported the theft of two animal skulls from a display case in the Albers Hall lobby.
Meghan Berneking
Campus News Editor
Got Roommates?
Are you going to be a junior or senior next fall and looking for roommates? Whether you are looking for three people to live with or three people looking for one person, we may have the answer for you. Come to “Speed Roommating” at 9:15 p.m. on Wed., Feb. 20 in the first floor lounge of the Commons. Refreshments will be served. If you have any questions contact Angie Kneflin at x4998 or at kneflin@xavier.edu. You can also contact Vanessa Strickley at x3367 or at strickleyv@xavier.edu and Kara Jones at x3125 or at jonesk5@xavier.edu.
Club budgets
The Financial Affairs Committee of the Student Government Association is reminding all clubs/organizations requesting $2,500 or more for its 2008-2009 budget to sign-up for a justification hearing to take place on Feb. 23 and 24 in the SGA Office. The sign-up sheet is on Joanie’s desk in the SGA Office. Also, SGA Line Items must sign up and send a representative. Contact Corey Burton at 615-525-1614 for more information.
Free fitness classes
In honor of National Recreational Sports & Fitness Day on Feb. 22, O’Connor Sports Center is waiving the drop-in fee for all fitness classes on Thurs., Feb. 21 and Fri., Feb. 22. Come celebrate with us by getting fit for free. Contact fitness@xavier.edu for more information.
XU Christmas
Do you love Christmas and helping people? Did you have a blast at a “Xavier Christmas” last year? Here is the chance for you to help plan a “Xavier Christmas” 2008. a “Xavier Christmas” Committee applications are now available. Return your completed application by 5 p.m. on March 14 to the Student Involvement Office in GSC 320. Contact Lauren Jenny at x3754 for more information.
Hunger Banquet
Please join us for the annual Hunger Banquet from 6:30-8 p.m. this Sun., Feb. 24, in the Clocktower Lounge. The cost is $4 per person. This is an opportunity to learn about world hunger. Dinner will be served. Tickets on sale from 1-4 p.m. in GSC on Wed., Feb. 20 and Thurs., Feb. 21. They are also on sale at the AB Date Auction on Feb. 20. Brought to you by the Alternative Breaks Ukraine trip. Contact Neal Taylor at nealt1@xavier.edu for more information.
