Kathryn Rosenbaum
Editor-in-Chief
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Editor-in-Chief Nathan Sergio
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Top 10 Stories of the Year
The brief rundown of the major events that happened in the 2008-09 school year—and what we learned from them.
Andrew Chestnut and Kathryn Rosenbaum
Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief
Newswire photo by Erika Bresee
1) Hiring Freeze
As economic concerns hit Xavier, a hiring freeze was instituted. Thus open faculty positions were not filled, and professors were forced to teach classes outside their preferred topics. Professors expressed concerns about long-term effects of the hiring freeze if unfilled positions remain unfilled.
The lesson: Faced with a budget crunch, administrators ignored student concerns and decided the best way to cut expenses was a hiring freeze that would prevent department heads from hiring new professors, even in situations where they were severely needed.
Apparently no money could be saved by delaying construction, increasing tuition costs, trimming some positions from the top-heavy administration, or not paying Sean Miller.
2) SGA apathy
Senate faced internal claims of apathy for lack of preparation at meetings and perceived lack of commitment to working to achieve senate projects. This apathy led Senate to discuss impeaching freshman Senator C.J. Moreland for accusations that included inexcusable tardiness, failing to complete or attempt a project in the first semester and behaving disruptively at the Emerging Leaders Retreat. Moreland was not impeached, but instead faced a formal reprimand. Furthermore, sophomore Senator Katie Bissell resigned in protest of the actions and behavior of Student Government Association. SGA also instituted a star board to reward senators for good work (see photo above).
The lesson: As far as anyone knows, the best way to get senators to pay attention and get things accomplished is with the offer of bright, shiny objects to put next to their name for all to see.
3) Budget cuts
As a direct result of the recession and a decreased enrollment for 2008-2009, which produced a budget shortfall of 1 percent, Xavier formed a Structural Task Force Committee. This committee made recommendations of $3.5 million in budgetary enhancement reductions including $1.3 million in personnel budget reductions, $2.1 million in operating budget reductions and $150,000 in non-tuition revenue enhancements.
The lesson: Everyone is feeling tremendous financial pressure these days. Let’s just be thankful that Xavier is applying for billions in federal bailout money, laying off half of its workforce and downsizing its operations until nothing but the Executive MBA Program is left.
4) Sean Miller
After the men’s basketball team made it to the Sweet Sixteen and finished the season 28-8, head coach Sean Miller left Xavier after five seasons to take the head coaching position at the University of Arizona. Xavier then officially hired assistant coach Chris Mack as the new head coach (see photo at right).
The lesson: Let’s face it. Xavier is the college coaching equivalent to a starter house. If the pattern continues, Chris Mack will lead Xavier to another Elite Eight in five years, lose to North Carolina, leave the next week to take the head coaching job at Villanova, and Xavier will promote Pat Kelsey to head coach. Don’t say we didn’t tell you so.
5) Outrageous Parties
Two off-campus parties raised concerns for the Xavier community. At one party, non-Xavier students dressed as slaves with black face and another non-Xavier student wore traditional Saudi clothing, dressing as an Arab at a Halloween party.
In November, students claimed their drinks were spiked at a party on 3901 Reading Road. No one faced punishment after either party.
The lesson: Clearly, the last thing Xavier students need is Greek life.
6) Norwood Relations
Norwood residents created the South Norwood Neighborhood Association to try to organize around their continued frustrations with students who host loud parties, throw trash around and disrespect neighbors. These are issues and have been raised year after year. Students, Xavier administrators and community members are trying to address these problems with the creation of the Xavier Advisory Board. The lesson: After students began moving into Southern Norwood in the ‘70s, Xavier has finally started to acknowledge the issue that some college students make worse neighbors than a hungry pack of wild boars. Clearly, the last thing Norwood needs is for Xavier to have Greek life.
7) Xavier construction
As construction continues for the Hoff Academic Quad and plans for the opening of the Learning Commons and new William’s College of Business in 2010, the Xavier Square project was put on hold until an undetermined date. An outside developer was in charge of developing the property. If the project is reactivated, the project will feature retail and office space, housing, a new bookstore and a new sports and recreation complex.
The lesson: As sluggish as the construction has been, we have a feeling that the above will not apply to any current students. In fact, the first students to reside in a completely constructed new campus are probably listening to Hannah Montana or playing kickball right now. When you’re done with this issue, put it in a time capsule for the next 12 years. Maybe then Xavier Square will be done.
8) Chartwells
As of June 1, 2008, Xavier switched food service providers to a 10-year-contract with Chartwells. Although Chartwells has made a number of improvements on- campus including opening Ryan’s Express in Gallagher Student Center and Outtakes in Hailstones Hall, Chartwells employees have raised allegations of harassment, a poor working environment and poor food quality. Chartwells management and employees are taking steps to address these concerns in upcoming union contract negotiations.
The lesson: We’re actually a little bit glad Xavier continues to contract its food service to questionable providers. What else would we talk about? Who won big at bingo night? The trees of Xavier?
9) SGA concert
Student Activities Council finally booked two concerts—Ben Folds and Jack’s Mannequin —for the 2008-09 year after facing difficulties in booking a concert in the 2007-08 school year. Ticket sales from Ben Folds’ February 19 concert exceeded expectations and allowed SAC to host Jack’s Mannequin and Matt Nathanson on April 20.
The lesson: Not everything has to be said in certain public meetings, and not everything has to be printed in certain newspapers.
10) Election 2008
In an election that focused on young voters, various student and outside groups and campaigns tried to engage student voters in Ohio. Republican John McCain hosted a town hall meeting at Xavier in June.
Although Democrat Barack Obama did not make an appearance on Xavier’s campus, his campaign hosted a campaign rally on November 3, 2008, on the soccer field. Over 3,000 people attended this rally featuring appearances by Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, P. Diddy and Beyoncé Knowles (see photo above).
The lesson: Although Xavier students certainly don’t need pop stars to motivate them to vote, it was nice to see our generation get some political attention this election season. In related news, PPP majors had the greatest year of their lives.
Professors bid final farewell to Xavier
Meghan Berneking
News Editor
Graduating seniors aren’t the only ones saying goodbye to Xavier in May. A number of faculty members will not be returning for the fall semester in order to pursue retirement or new career opportunities.
Dr. Jeffrey Cooley, a visiting professor in the Classics department, has accepted a tenure-track position in the theology department at Boston College.
Additionally, he and his wife are expecting the birth of their second son in June. After six years of teaching at Xavier, Cooley credits his development as a teacher and scholar to his experience at Xavier.
“Perhaps the most striking thing was seeing the freshmen students I had in my very first class at XU in the fall of 2003 graduate four years later and go off to their own graduate programs. This particular memory summarizes my overall experience here quite well. I will miss this place a great deal,” said Cooley.
As a three year assistant professor in the English department, Dr. Zak Sitter served as the department’s specialist in British Romanticism and taught other courses such as Rhetoric, Studies in Fiction and Literature and the Moral Imagination. In the fall, he will be a visiting professor at Deep Springs College (a two-year college and functioning cattle ranch in the California desert).
Sitter recalls being part of the team that took third place in this year’s WorldQuest, a trivia competition put on by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and scored particularly well on the “wines of the world” question. “I don’t know what that says about us,” he said.
Elisabeth Hasler served as an adjunct German instructor teaching first and second year German courses for over ten years and will be retiring in May. “She inspired many students to pursue their German studies at higher levels,” said Dr. David Knutson, chair of the Department of Modern Languages.
Krista Sigler, a triple-major graduate of Xavier, came back to her alma mater as a part-time adjunct faculty member to teach European history courses in the fall and spring semester. “Xavier is the friendliest campus at which I have worked,” she said.
On May 15, Sigler will officially defend her dissertation at the University of Cincinnati and has accepted a full-time job as an assistant professor of history at Raymond Walters College in Blue Ash (a branch of UC).
As a visiting theology professor, Lauren Durst, another former Xavier graduate, said that she has enjoyed working on “the other side of the desk.” Durst plans to enter a Ph.D. program in Religion and Culture at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
“I really loved working alongside my former professors and taking advantage of their experience and expertise and am looking forward to my future studies,” she said.
Another member of the theology department, Judy Muething, is retiring. Muething has been teaching and working with the graduate programs. “We are very grateful for the work of each and will them good fortune and good health for the future,” said Dr. Marie Giblin, chair of the Department of Theology, of both Durst and Muething.
Dr. Anthony Jensen of the philosophy department has taught German Idealism, Philosophy of History, Business Ethics, Philosophical Anthropology, Theory of Knowledge, and Introduction to Ethics. Jensen, a visiting faculty member, is moving to a tenure-track position in philosophy at City University of New York Lehman.
Dr. Scott Boyar, assistant professor in the Management and Entrepreneurship department, will be moving to the University of Alabama Birmingham “to pursue new and challenging career opportunities,” he said.
In his two years at Xavier, he has appreciated the community atmosphere and high quality students, staff and colleagues.
Police Notes of the Year
July 14 — Campus Police and Physical Plant assisted 18 people stuck in an elevator in Kuhlman Hall. The people were extricated and the elevator was put out of service.
Sept. 9, 1:11 a.m. — A tree at Loyola House was struck by a garbage truck.
Sept. 22, 7:12 a.m. — An employee reported a sink handle and a soap dispenser missing from a third floor restroom in Gallagher Student Center. Light bulbs were also missing from the first floor movie marquee.
Sept. 24, 2:07 p.m. — Campus Police responded to the caf for a student discharging pepper spray, which forced students to leave the building. The student was identified and referred to Dr. Luther Smith for possible disciplinary action.
Oct. 1, 1:29 a.m. — Campus Police and Cincinnati Police arrested two non-students for breaking into the old Music House in an attempt to remove copper and scrap metal. One suspect was bitten by a canine while attempting to leave the scene.
Oct. 9, 2:36 a.m. — A student observed pushing a newspaper rack around Buenger Hall was cited for underage consumption.
Oct. 21, 12:00 a.m. — Residence Life reported the theft of a “Welcome to Brockman” sign stolen from the lobby.
Oct. 21, 11:20 p.m — Campus Police and Residence Life investigated a dispute between students at the Village. During the investigation, two AirSoft assault rifles, a knife, twelve magazines for the rifles and a tactical vest were confiscated.
Oct. 23, 12:06 p.m. — A student parked in violation in the O’Connor Sports Center lot was cited for failure to comply with university officials. The student had 29 previous violations.
Oct. 29, 1:57 p.m. — While conducting a room search in Kuhlman Hall, Campus Police and Residence Life confiscated approximately 10 ounces of marijuana with a street value of approximately $1,200-$1,500.
Nov. 4, 5:30 a.m. — Campus Police and Residence Life investigated the report of an intoxicated student in Kuhlman Hall who had wandered into the wrong room and passed out in a bed with another student. The intoxicated student was awoken and relocated into the proper room.
Nov. 6, 12:29 p.m. — A student reported the theft or loss of a $3,500 hearing aid from the Student Government office in the Gallagher Student Center.
Nov. 11, 5:00 p.m. — An employee reported a cabinet drawer and brass tops for candles missing from the chapel.
Nov. 20, 2:34 a.m. – Norwood Police informed Campus Police that two students observed rolling a large wooden object down Montgomery Road were arrested for disorderly conduct and underage consumption.
Nov. 24, 1:58 a.m. – A student and a non-student engaging in sexual activity in a car in the Village lot were cited for disorderly behavior. A BB gun and knife were also confiscated from the vehicle.
Nov. 28, 11:20 a.m. – A student observed walking out of Logan Hall with no shoes on was given a trespass warning and sent on his or her way.
Jan. 1, 4:33 p.m. — Campus Police and Physical Plant investigated a water leak in Schott Hall. Water leaking from HVAC equipment did extensive damage to the second and third floor and minor damage to the first floor.
Feb. 2, 1:53 p.m. – An employee reported the theft of seven intertubes used for water polo from the O’Connor Sports Center.
Feb. 6, 10:45 p.m. – A student reported being struck by an egg thrown from a passing vehicle on Cleneay Avenue.
Feb. 17, 9:10 p.m. – Campus Police and Norwood Police received a report from a student that someone had discharged a bullet through the student’s vehicle windshield while parked in the 1900 block of Cleneay Avenue.
Feb. 18, 1:40 a.m. – Campus Police and Residence Life conducted a room search in the Manor House after smelling marijuana. Drug paraphernalia and 90 empty beer cans were confiscated. A student was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and underage consumption.
March 29, 3:32 a.m. – Campus Police cited a student for disorderly conduct. The student admitted to blocking the first floor lobby in Brockman Hall with vending machines, furniture, garbage cans, etc.
April 2, 7:07 p.m. – Campus Police and Residence Life conducted a room search in Brockman Hall after receiving a report that a student was producing and selling fake driver’s licenses and military IDs to underage students. A laptop, camera and IDs were confiscated.
April 14, 7:33 p.m. – A student reported witnessing an unknown subject wearing a paper mask and masturbating in the ground floor hallway of Hailstones Hall during class. Campus Police conducted a thorough search of the area but were unable to locate any suspects.
Police Note of the Year
Dec. 27, 9:00 p.m. — Between 9:00 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. during a boxing event at Cintas Center, Campus Police and Cincinnati Police responded to one fight on the floor, two fights in the stands, three fights on the concourse and six fights in front of the building. Fifteen additional officers were called in to handle the situation.