HOCKEY, PAGE 6 SPARKS, PAGE 4 RF HISTORY, PAGE 8 Falcon women to host Academy Awards, Looking back at the NCHA conference entertainment news of little history of River Falls, tournament interest to columnist from 1848 to today TUDENTUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN OICERIVER FALLS FebruaryS 27, 2009 www.uwrfvoice.com V Volume 95, Issue 16 UW-River Falls to increase tuition next semester Adrianne Patterson [email protected] Next fall, students at UW-River Falls will experience a guar- anteed increase in tuition. The specific increase each student will face is still unknown and will not be released until the school year is complete. “The Board of Regents will set and release the tuition amount in June,” Kristen Hendrickson, budget director of the vice chancellor of administration and finance, said. According to Lisa Wheeler, interim vice chancellor for administration and finance, the reason behind the increase is necessary for the experience of students and faculty. “We want to make sure we provide a quality education and for students to be able to afford that,” Wheeler said. One student said she feels education is worth a few more dollars. Sally King/Student Voice “It’s unfortunate, but if it’s needed to Sen. Matthew Dale addresses members of the UWRF Student Senate Tuesday night in the University Center. maintain our strong educational needs, Wheeler Dale said that he does not agree with the changes to Chapters 17 and 18 the Board of Regents has proposed. then it’s necessary,” UWRF sophomore Jaclyn Rehmke said. Before the specific amount can be decided, there are a few Senate previews changes to Chapters 17, 18 factors that will determine the outcome. According to Hendrickson, there are two basic factors that Ken Weigend meeting to a preliminary discussion pre- powers off campus. mold the final tuition amount. The costs to maintain the qual- [email protected] viewing the proposed changes to the two “These rules shall regulate conduct on ity of the University and the financial support UWRF will chapters. Sen. Matthew Dale led the dis- all lands subject to the control of the receive from the state. The UW System Board of Regents is cussion, stating forthright that he did not board of regents of the university of The support from the state and the annual costs of the in the process of reviewing Chapters 17 agree with the proposed changes. He Wisconsin system,” according to the pol- University continue to change. Therefore, the tuition needs to and 18. The chapters are part of the UW went on to say that his personal beliefs icy statement of Chapter 18. be altered. System administrative code; Chapter 17 would not influence his report of the sit- Chapter 17 follows the same principle, “The state will not be able to support us in the future like outlines the student nonacademic disci- uation, nor would it lead him to ignore stating that all students and faculty of a they have in the past,” Hendrickson said. “But unfortunately, plinary procedures and Chapter 18 the conversation from those in agree- university are subject to that university’s the costs [of the University] continue to go up each year as details conduct violations and sanctions ment with the changes. disciplinary procedures for violations well, and we need to cover those costs.” on University lands. Dale began his presentation by only on university property. According to Wheeler, until the tuition increase is The Board of Regents has proposed explaining the history of the proposal. According to Dale, there is a lot of stu- announced, students should trust and know the Board or updating the code, allowing provisions UW-Milwaukee has had a large number dent concern that the University has no Regents have their interest in mind. for UW System universities to issue of community complaints involving business punishing off-campus viola- “Board of Regents is concerned for the students and want to sanctions to students for nonacademic municipal violations towards UWM stu- tions. Proponents of the changes claim protect them,” Wheeler said. “It is a balancing act.” violations that occur off campus. dents who live off campus. The bulk of that they are needed to regulate student The definite increase is not only affecting UWRF, but all According to the Regents, the geograph- these complaints were noise related. to student interactions and bring sentenc- UW schools. ic boundaries for University sanction- UWM began to feel pressure from com- ing against those interactions that According to Wheeler, the Board of Regents will set the able violations is limitless, meaning that munity members to punish the students involve harassment. Opponents say that same rate for all of the Universities. Out of the total UW an infraction anywhere on the globe somehow. off campus sanctions should be handled System budget cuts, UWRF will only experience 2.83 percent could conceivably result in University The Board, who Dale described as the by the police, not school administrators. of the total deduction. action. “supreme power of academic decisions,” Guest Benjamin Plunkett expressed Through this tough economic phase, UWRF students will be The UW-River Falls Student Senate was not able to offer any support. dedicated the first hour of their Feb. 24 Chapters 17 and 18 allow for no explicit See Tuition page 3 See Senate changes page 3 Palascak provides comic relief to students Wednesday night Struggling economy affects River Falls, area businesses Tim Stanislav down 5.1 percent and 3.2 percent in December, [email protected] according to the United States Census Bureau Web site. Like a wounded beast, the U.S. economy is “In January, job losses were large and wide- struggling to survive, and local businesses are spread across nearly all major industry sectors,” feeling its death pains. according to data reported by the U.S. Bureau of Game Quest, a local video game store and Labor Statistics. Hotspot Coffee both reported a drop in sales. Measures are being taken by local businesses to “It’s definitely hurt. Video survive the economic reces- games aren’t high on the prior- “Corporate has put us sion. ity list when you can’t buy on a hiring freeze Latashia West, owner of food,” Game Quest store man- Hotspot Coffee on Main Street, ager Bryan Wallace said. because of the economy. said she promotes events and Though some local busi- Food costs change gives discounts on coffee. UW- nesses are struggling, month to month. I River Falls students receive a McDonald’s sales are up. 15 percent discount on any- Elizabeth VanSomeren, gener- noticed the price of thing in the shop when they al manager of the River Falls cheese and lettuce present their University identi- McDonald’s, said her family increased 17 percent fication card. can be used as an example for Mcdonald’s began a big a steady increase in sales. from January to push on specialty coffee with “As a family of five it’s February.” its McCafe and VanSomeren harder for us to go to a Perkins Elizabeth Van Someren, said that every Mcdonald’s or a nicer restaurant. People River Falls McDonald’s should have a McCafe by sum- want to go out that can’t afford general manager mer. it and McDonald’s offers a Wallace was not so opti- more reasonable option,” mistic. VanSomeren said. “It’s tough to do advertising. It’s expensive for Sales have increased at McDonald’s but the fast a small town business,” he said. food giant does have its own share of problems. Wallace said the store’s location near ShopKo “Corporate has put us on a hiring freeze on the outskirts of town makes it even more diffi- because of the economy. Food costs change cult to do business because local people don’t month to month. I noticed the price of cheese and know about the store. Sally King/Student Voice lettuce increased 17 percent from January to West said when she opened Hot Spot Coffee Comedian Michael Palascak entertains UW-River Falls students in the North February,” VanSomeren said. Hall auditorium Wednesday night. He was originally planned to perform U.S. total business sales in November were as part of the “Chillin on the Kinni” Winter Carnival week activities. See Local businesses page 3 Student Voice 2 NEWS February 27, 2009 ProfessorEric Pringle receivesthat over into his classes,” he highsaid. “He has a “honorThe level of involvement, [email protected] natural ability to relate to his students...I can’t commitment and rapport that quite explain it, but he’s just very natural in a he is able to build with his stu- In just eight years of teaching at UW-River teaching role.” dents is amazing,” Reich said. Falls, psychology professor Travis Tubré has Tubré, who received his Master’s and Ph.D. “He’s approachable yet still a already won one of the University’s biggest from Texas A&M University, said his “ener- demanding professor at the honors. getic enthusiasm” is part of why he is such a same time.” Tubré is the recipient of the Distinguished popular professor with students and faculty Petrangelo said she can Teacher Award for 2008, which gives alumni alike. attest to the level of involve- a chance to recognize the University’s most “I like what I teach and it shows,” he said. ment Tubré displays. outstanding and influential educator. “I try to incorporate real-life examples into “I believe that Travis has a “Winning the award is very meaningful my lectures so students are able to relate to the hands-on approach when it because it originates with student nomina- information better.” comes to doing research with tions,” Tubré said.