f*\ TCU Daily A Step Of Equality The Predictions Are In As same-sex couples work to receive equal benefits, the With the 73rd annual Academy Awards being held at Skiff examines the steps TCU has taken to bring equality. 8 p.m. March 25, see who are predicted to win ISSUES, Page 10 and who should win. ServingSKIFF Texas Christian University since 1902 FEATURES, PageS Friday, March 16,2001 Fort Worth,Texas SGA budget cut causes changes in projects By Jonathan Sampson budget discrepancy, March 2. basis. plan for this semester. She said her something that students can see as administration should have helped STAFF REPORTER SGA Advisor Larry Markley Chelsea Hudson, Permanent Im- committee was originally planning a visible reminder of SGA on cam- out in some way with the budget, Student Government Associa- said the problem happened be- provements Committee chair- to do one large project and sup- pus. or at least have apologized for the tion members said they don't cause $40,000 that was supposed woman, said she was worried plement it with additional small Hudson said she was surprised mistake. know what the organization's to be allotted to the yearbook was when she first heard her entire jobs around campus, but now there was a problem with the Markley said that if this was a main improvements project is go- mistakenly directed into the SGA budget would be cut, but she said they'll probably just do the one budget, and she said she thinks situation where SGA had no ing to be, but they do know it's not account, causing SGA leaders to that now the cuts have been spread central project. that TCU needs to work on its fi- money to work with, he thinks the going to be as big as originally over budget by $23,000. throughout SGA in a way where Hudson said her committee is nances. administration would have planned. Markley said when they began everyone is feeling the affects. currently gathering ideas for the "To me. to misplace $40,000 stepped up and helped out, but The House of Student Repre- to cut the budget throughout SGA, "We're all taking this together project, and they plan to present sounds like a problem." she said. since SGA still has a good amount sentatives Permanent Improve- they first looked to areas with so it's not as bad," she said. the actual idea at the March 27 "We're losing money because it's of money in their reserve account ments Committee's budget went large amounts of remaining Hudson said the impact of the House meeting. She said in an ear- not being watched and that con- it was not a large concern. from $13,000 to $8,000 after TCU money. He said all other cuts were $5,000 cut to the committee's lier interview that the main goal of cerns me." administration discovered a then considered on a case-by-case budget will mean a scaled down this semester's project is to plan She said she thinks the TCU See SGA, Page 8 FrogFit costs THE COST OF LIVING Current dining Dining to raise plan options taking some Plan I — $400 + tax Plan II — $500 + tax Plan III — $650 + tax minimum $200 Plan IV — $850 + tax criticisms New plan in effect next fall By Alisha Brown 2001-2002 dining STAFF REPORTER Chrissy Braden plans Natalie Houston dropped off her student ID card at STAFF REPORTER Incoming students the front entrance of the Rickel Building in exchange Some students are going to be spending less of — $800 + tax for a sweat towel and headed down to an aerobics class their food budget at Chili's Grill & Bar and more Continuing stu- she never paid for. of it at The Main because of the changing dining dents — $600 + tax Sneaking into FrogFit classes is not difficult for the plan for next semester, said Roger Fisher, director Tom Brown-Pete adamant exerciser, said Houston, a sophomore speech of residential services. Wright Residential communication major. The minimum dining plan requirement, which all Community resi- The aerobics classes are provided by the Rickel for students living on campus must purchase, will in- dents — $400 + tax fees competitive to outside gyms, said Mary Ellen crease for some students by at least $200 next se- Milam, program director for recreational sports. mester. Source: Residential Services' handout Membership for one year is $120, $75 for one semes- Fisher said the increase asks students to spend and the Residential ter and $35 for classes after Spring Break. The Rickel more money on campus, but not more money on Services Web site offers 14 classes throughout the week. food. (www.rlh.tcu.edu). A sticker is placed on a student's ID card, indicat- "Most students probably spend between $1,200 ing which semesters they have paid for, Milam said. and $ 1,800 on food each year," he said. "We're not Rickel staff members are supposed to be stationed at asking them to spend any more than that. We're just the aerobics room entrance to check IDs. asking them to spend more of that money with us." Tim COX/SKIFF STAFF Milam said the towel trick doesn't work anymore He said the new dining plan would also keep stu- Jennifer Kom- because towels are located in the aerobics room, so dents who initially buy one of the lower dining plans sthoeft, a freshman members don't have to turn in their ID. from having to put more money toward their meal English major, eats But at a step aerobics class at 9 p.m. Wednesday, no plans during the semester. in The Main Thurs- door monitor was on duty, and no towels were in the This year, students have the option of purchasing day. The average aerobics room. a $400, $500, $650 or $850 meal plan. A minimum meal plan next se- Aerobics instructor Stephanie Tucker said that since of $400 must be spent each semester before students mester is schedule the fall semester, she has never had a staff member can be refunded remaining money on their accounts. to increase by at check IDs at any of her Sunday, Monday or Wednes- Next semester, only residents of the Tom Brown- least $200. Incom- day classes. Pete Wright Residential Community will be offered ing freshman will be Milam said the time Tucker's classes are offered a minimum dining plan of $400, according to the expected to pur- makes a difference. Residential Services Web site (www.rlh.tcu.edu). chase $800 meal "The classes during the day have someone moni- The site reported that incoming students will have plans. toring there," Milam said. "But it doesn't make sense to purchase an $800 a semester dining plan and con- to pay someone for that shift for an hour when they tinuing students will have to purchase a $600 or only check IDs for the first 20 minutes. Our other $800 a semester dining plan. classes are back-to-back." Fisher said the dining plan change would not af- Digging deeper to pay deposits Milam said it is the instructor's responsibility to fect most students, because they already spend at check IDs during those times. least $800 a semester on their dining plans. By Chrissy Braden "Students blow off $100," he said. has a $100 housing deposit, which Regardless, some students disagree with being Leigh Covert, a sophomore speech communica- STAFF REPORTER "If 10 students didn't make a reser- students pay as incoming freshman, tion major, said the new plan is ridiculous. charged for taking the classes. Houston said she thinks Parents and students have already vation because of the increase, then said Susan Hogan, market and as- "It's just another way for (TCU) to get more the classes should be open to everyone. started digging in their pockets for this is good because it's 10 more signments coordinator for Residen- money out of us," she said. "1 don't even use my When the program began in 1986, TCU officials the fall 2001 semester as they pay beds we can till." tial Life and Student Housing at $400 minimum right now." wanted to ensure the program would fund itself, TCU's highest housing deposits ever. Fisher said the high housing de- SMU. Covert agreed there was a need for a change in Milam said. Roger Fisher, director of residen- mand requires a housing deposit to "We're a little bit different than dining plans, but in the opposite direction. "We used to have student instructors, which lowered tial services, said the deposit, which eliminate students who aren't serious most schools in the fact that our de- "It should be on a need basis," she said. "There the cost," she said. "But we started to hire outside con- is required to make on-campus hous- about living on campus but make posit is a true deposit and not a pre- shouldn't even be a minimum requirement." tractors to come in and teach so we could increase the ing reservations, increased from reservations. Students who decide to payment," Hogan said. Fisher said most parents would like to have din- number and level of classes offered." $100 to $250 for the single purpose cancel their reservation have until She said SMU students' initial de- ing plans more than $800 for freshman. Mark Moreno, a fitness counselor for Q The Sports of getting students' attention. May 1 to get a full refund. posits are carried over each year they "Parents want to be sure their freshman son or Club, said it offers a monthly membership charge of $46, "We want students to be serious "If there were vacancies all over live on campus.