Keeping up with college A freshman survival guide, page B4-B5 FORTUNES, MkiSNl FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2007 Valparaiso University's An ACP Ail-American Student Newspaper Publication $1 million Local public transit was supposed to start this week, but instead it's been for FITT campaign Athletics to get big boost from record donation Dan Sipocz Torch Staff Writer Valparaiso University may start getting FITT sooner than expected. Thanks to a generous $1 million donation, the largest single dona­ tion ever received by the VU ath­ letics department, the multi-mil­ lion dollar initiative to upgrade the athletic facilities on campus could begin to take shape before the end of the 2007-2008 academic school year. "The most significant thing that has happened recently is the mil­ lion dollar gift we received," Mark LaBarbera, VU's athletic director, said. "That helped us move toward finishing the fundraising process." Even though fundraising is not yet complete, the athletic depart­ ment can now begin looking ahead to the next phase in the FITT proj­ ect - which stands for football, in- tramurals, tennis and track. According to LaBarbera, a de­ David Wright / The Torch sign firm has been contacted to dis­ cuss installation plans for the new New five-vehicle The city had planned to start been involved with the project since steps. football field playing surface and an running buses on the weekend of it was proposed to VU in 2006. "Ba­ The system will include two eight-lane polyurethane all-weather Sept. 8 during the Popcorn Festival, sically, we've agreed to the contract main routes. Students can board track. system now due to but that wasn't possible. and authorized Kretzmann (Hall) the buses at the Student Union The new playing surface at "We had some issues with Ford to go ahead and sign this memo­ for trips in small, 16-passenger Brown Field will be a synthetic sub­ start in October getting the chassis to Valparaiso," randum of understanding. The deal buses into downtown Valpara­ stance meant to play and feel like said Tyler Kent, an assistant city isn't technically approved." iso, or board weekend shuttles grass, something many other col­ Soren Nieminen planner involved with the project The contract, which will allow that run to the South Shore Line lege and NFL teams have installed Torch Interactive Editor since 2005. "As of now, there are students to ride the buses for free, train station at Dune Park. on their fields. five buses." is expected to be signed within the Fares for VU students will "We'll be making the turf field - It's been three years since the vi­ As for the university's involve­ next few weeks. cost $1 per ride until the univer­ bigger, making more room for in- sion of a public transit system was ment with the transit system, the "We're doing everything that we sity signs the contract with the tramurals and giving us a fall-back first introduced to the city of Val­ Valparaiso University Student Sen­ can to provide a collective public city. Once that contract is signed, field to play soccer on in case of in­ paraiso. That vision will soon be­ ate transit committee met Wednes­ transportation system," said Val­ fares will be free for the 2007- clement weather," LaBarbera said. come a reality. day to discuss a contract proposal paraiso mayor Jon Costas. "This 2008 academic year, funded by In spite of the recent $1 mil­ Beginning Oct. 1, the Valparaiso between the city and the university. has been one of the most ambitious senate rollover funds. However, lion donation, a large gap in fi­ Transit Bus System, or V-Line, will "We've agreed to a letter of in­ initiatives in our administration following years may bring a fee nancial support still needs to be open with routes all around the tent," said former student body pres­ and it's been very positive. It's an ef­ city. ident Brandon Tomlinson, who has ficient system and we're taking baby See Transit, Page A6 See FITT, Page A5 VU football player suffers broken neck was tucked Under was diagnosed with fractures in his Weakley, said earlier this week. Jaskiw will need and how long that Wide receiver takeshi s body when two C6 and C7 vertebrae, which are lo­ "The surgery on Wednesday is only therapy will last. TIU players landed cated in the neck. supposed to take two and a half "He has mobility everywhere, hard hit, fractures on top of him dur­ "This is the worst news anyone hours." although his right arm is weaker ing the tackle. could get," said junior Crusader Weakley said the first surgery than the left," said Weakley. "By two vertebrae VU trainer running back Mozale McHenry. cleaned up around the vertebrae next year he is expected to have a full recovery." Heather Dueball Nathan Twedt as­ "It's one of those things you never and doctors inserted titanium rods Trevor Jaskiw want to happen to one of your into his neck. During the second Jaskiw was removed from the Torch Staff Writer sessed the situation on the field and teammates." surgery, more titanium rods were intensive care unit on Monday and Valparaiso University's football decided the on-site ambulance was According to Patti Nemeth, ad­ expected to be put in. was put in a room to await his sec­ team took a hard hit Saturday dur­ needed. As Jaskiw was stabilized on ministrative assistant to VU's foot­ "His teammates have started ond surgery. ing their game against Trinity Inter­ the backboard and put into the am­ ball team, surgery went well on calling him the bionic man because Weakley said those who know national University in Deerfield, 111. bulance, the Crusader football team Saturday evening and Jaskiw was of his titanium rods," Weakley said. Jaskiw speak of him as a jokester Wide receiver Trevor Jaskiw suf­ circled around on the sideline, knelt expected to have a second surgery After all of the titanium rods with a light heart. fered two broken vertebrae in his and held hands to pray. on Wednesday. have been inserted, Condell doctors "One funny thing that did neck while returning a punt during Once taken to Condell Medical "His first surgery was a six-hour will be able to predict more pre­ the second quarter. Jaskiw's head Center in Libertyville, 111., Jaskiw surgery," Jaskiw's sister, Nichole cisely what kind of physical therapy See Injury, Page A5 Index Announcements A2 Comics B7 Flicker... A7 The Torch "We will strive increasingly to Calendar B2 Crossword B7 Sports ... A9 On Guard for 93 Years quicken the public's sense of Classifieds B7 Editorial A7 Weather, .B7 Volume 101 :: issue 2 civic duty." - The Athenian Oath The Torch | Friday, September 14, 2007 Campus News A2 Campus Announcements We've got Info meeting to discuss studying abroad VU covered. An informational meeting for study abroad programs in Cambridge, England; Reutlingen, Germany; Hangzhou, China; and Puebla, Mexico will be held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 5ii 19 in the Huegli Hall Lumina Room. General information .......... !l lis on study abroad will be provided, former participants from SB 1 these programs will give a brief panel presentation and af­ ter that, break-out sessions will be arranged for each pro­ gram. The application deadline for spring semester 2008 is Oct. 3; for fall 2008, it is Nov. 7. Study abroad applications now available Applications are now being accepted for spring 2008 study abroad programs in Cambridge, England; Reutlin­ gen, Germany; Kansai Gaidai, Japan; Puebla, Mexico; and Paris, France. The deadline is Oct. 3. Applications are also being accepted for fall 2008 programs in Cambridge, Eng­ land; Reutlingen, Germany; Hangzhou, China; Kansai Gai­ dai, Japan; Paris, France; Granada, Spain; and Windhoek, Namibia. The early application deadline is Nov. 7. Stop by the International Studies Office, Meier 137, or call ext 5333 for further information. The following study abroad scholarship opportunities are now available to students: the National Security Edu­ cation Program David L. Boren undergraduate scholar­ ships, for details, access www.iie.org/nsep; The Freeman- Asia Award Program for study in East and Southeast Asia, for details, access www.iie.org/freeman-asia. The Gilman International Scholarship Program for students receiving Pell Grants is also available For details, access www.iie.org/ gilman. VU Guild offers complimentary prayer book Students may pick up a copy of the Valpo Prayer Book, "Our Hope for Years to Come" at the chapel or the VU Guild office in Loke Hall. The book is a tool for students to connect their campus experience with spiritual teachings. Funds for the printing of this book come from the Guild. For more information, contact the Guild office at ext. 5315. The Guild is a national network of volunteers who seek to enhance the student experience. Indie filmmaker to speak of projects, career Former Valparaiso University student Kevin Palys will discuss his career as an independent filmmaker as part of the Christ College Symposium series, sponsored by VU's interdisciplinary honors college. "A Filmmaker Speaks: The Making of 'Flourish,'" begins at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 Dan Trubey/ The Torch in Mueller Hall and is free and open to the public. Construction workers tear up and replace a sidewalk outside Brandt Hall on Thursday. Starring Jennifer Morrison and Jesse Spencer, leading actors on Fox's award-winning medical drama "House," c<art///-e> nf Tha Tnrrh Palys' film follows a young woman who recounts an eve­ ning several years in the past when a teenager she was baby-sitting disappeared.