Serving James Madison University Since 1922 Mostly sunny n 46°/28° Vol. 86, No. 41 chance of precipitation: 10% Monday, March 1, 2010 FACULTY SENATE PART 4 OF A SIX-PART SERIES. Part 5 will run in Thursday’s issue. Part 6 will run Thursday on breezejmu.org. Parts 1-3, originally published in 2007, can be found online with this article. Rose Addresses Faculty TURNING LOSS INTO Concerns, Budget Cuts General Assembly Could Add Charge to Credit Hour By JOHN SUTTER and KATIE THISDELL The Breeze In-state students might have to pay $2.50 more per credit hour, according to what President Linwood Rose said at Thursday’s faculty senate meeting. Instead of taking money from auxiliary funds, as proposed by former Gov. Tim LIFE Kaine, the new Senate budget proposes the charge for in-state students to cover the costs of planned capital projects. Out- of-state students already pay this fee. Full-time students would face a fee between $30 and $45 per semester SETH BINSTED / THE BREEZE depending on the number of credit hours President Linwood Rose spoke to faculty senate members for more than an hour they take Thursday, addressing common themes from 33 faculty-submitted questions. “Of course, our objection there is that students and their parents, through the In Address, Rose Assures Faculty Layoffs Unlikely taxes that they pay, are already paying for capital facilities, and this is just kind of a By JOHN SUTTER “financial exigency,” which indicates double hit,” Rose said. and KATIE THISDELL severe budget problems, Rose said While Rose addressed the potential The Breeze the last place he would go to ease charge, he also discussed more than thir- the budget would be layoffs. ty questions in an hour-long presentation JMU’s faculty members should not “We’re not close to that folks,” Rose covering additional budget changes, job worry about their jobs, despite con- said. “I can’t say strongly enough, security and athletics. tinuing budget problems for higher don’t be concerned about security Rose explained that three years ago, education, according to President issues. We’re not going to go there.” JMU received $78.8 million in general Linwood Rose. He also addressed concerns about funds from the state; this year, it was $54.4 Rose addressed this concern and equipment and travel. million. The university used to receive others at Thursday’s faculty senate “Those are valid concerns,” Rose more than $6,000 for each in-state stu- meeting. Senators submitted a list said. “I’m not going to pretend that dent, but that is now about $3,900. This of 33 questions for Rose to answer, they’re not, but job security is not follows a national trend, Rose explained, and he grouped the questions togeth- something you should struggle of shifting toward private pay. er into a presentation lasting a little with.” Rose also summarized for the faculty more than an hour. Rose told the faculty he brags where the General Assembly stands in its In a frank manner, Rose told the about them whenever he can. discussions and budget proposals. faculty to focus on their research and “The success of this institution is Gov. Bob McDonnell’s budget propos- educating their students. not dependent on or driven by fund- al altered Kaine’s previous proposal by Rose told faculty they are the ing,” Rose said. “It’s driven by the addressing concerns about higher edu- “heart and soul of this institution.” work you do for our students.” cation cuts. McDonnell’s budget will not Unless the Board of Visitors declares Sen. Arch Harris, of the computer ROBERT BOAG / THE BREEZE cut higher education funding more than science department, said the meet- it already has been cut, and JMU’s auxil- “The success of this ing’s format worked well. SENIOR BASKETBALL PLAYER FINDS iary funds are safe from getting cut. “Given the amount of time, it did “They have seen the light and decided institution is not accomplish what we wanted,” Har- NEW PERSPECTIVE AS PROUD FATHER not to do that,” Rose said. dependent on or driven ris said. Both the House and Senate have He said Rose did not answer the By TIM CHAPMAN | The Breeze reported their budgets and will work on by funding. It’s driven first question on the list: “Do you compromises along with McDonnell’s by the work you do believe there is any objective more version. Completion for this is expected important than JMU being ‘best by mid-March. There are no increased for our students.” undergraduate institution in the It is a cold Wednesday night in early February and an all-too- cuts to higher education for the budget’s Linwood Rose country’?” familiar scene for Pierre Curtis. As the clock winds down on an first year, but there could be a $2 million university president Harris said many faculty hear this embarrassing defeat at home, he watches the lower sections of the cut to JMU during the second year of the phrase, but Rose does not commonly Convocation Center empty. proposed budget. say it. Season-ticket holders, disgusted and disappointed, leave the dim Sen. Tom Devore, of the chemis- arena as quickly as they can. A SENSE OF EMPTINEss, AS UGLY AND try department, thought Rose was not AS LONELY AS THE VACANT MUSTARD-COLORED, PLASTIC SEATS, as “ra-ra” as he’s seen him before but expenses such as faculty salaries and the moment. These include construction FILLS THE OUTDATED VENUE. answered the questions in a very direct academic affairs. Auxiliary funds are of the biotechnology building and reno- Pierre grew accustomed to this result in his first two years at JMU. manner. supported by university investments and vations to the hospital and Duke Hall. IT FEELS LIKE A MORGUE, HE THINks. “I don’t think he sugarcoated it a whole private donations and are used for athlet- The university continues to acquire He isn’t angry at the fan response. He is the first to admit that the lot,” Devore said. “We got a little more ics, capital projects, property acquisitions property because, according to Rose, it Dukes played terribly in the 68-48 loss to conference foe Hofstra. explanation of auxiliary and [education and emergency funds. maintains the quality and allows JMU to Pierre has experienced countless double-digit losses in his career, and general] budgets, which I expected.” have continued potential to grow. but this year his responses to these moments are considerably The education and general budget, Campus expansion Property acquisitions are purchased different. or E&G, is supported by tuition and Rose said JMU’s planned capital proj- There’S NO BROODING AS HE TRUDGES OFF THE COURT. state funds and are used for operational ects are still approved but are on hold for see BUDGET, page 3 Pierre doesn’t speak to the press in the standoffish attitude of his early career. He is composed and contrite. He answers the by now familiar reporters’ questions with refreshing honesty, acknowledging there is no excuse for losing that poorly at home. The pain of the loss will stop after the post-game press MEssAGE FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD conference, at least for the rest of the night. SOMEONE IS WAITING FOR PIERRE, AND HER PRESENCE REMINDS HIM IT IS JUST A GAME. His face glows as he makes his way along the concourse behind the home-end of the court. Waiting near the exits is an eight-month-old baby girl. She has wide eyes and adorably Opinionated? chubby cheeks. (Pierre doesn’t think she looks like anyone in the editorial board of a publication can one month to discuss topics and choose the board’s particular, but she resembles every bit of her father from the become institutionalized and opinions often grow stance on issues important to the JMU community. lively eyes to the ear-to-ear grin.) Sydney Denise Curtis half-smiles as Pierre bends down to stale. In order to gain a fresh outlook and better Each month we will select a new member. give her kisses. She is sitting in the lap of her mother and Pierre’s gauge thoughts and concerns of those on cam- To apply, give us your thoughts in no more than girlfriend, Rashonda Roberson. Sydney’s smiles aren’t as big as her pus, we would like to extend an invitation to all 250 words regarding what you think is currently daddy’s. IT IS LATE AND SHE WANTS A BOTTLE, NOT KIssES. students, faculty and staff to apply for a new guest the most important issue at JMU. Send submis- position on the editorial board. The position would sions to [email protected] by Thursday, see CURTIS, page 10 require meetings with the board twice weekly for March 4 for consideration. STUDENT GOVERNMENT 3/1 INSIDE NEWS Senators Fight Against Cuts to Higher Education 3 HART-warming Eight religious groups By STEVEN BUTLER SGA-specific event and was open to all students. work together to give contributing writer “These were just students talking about issues the city’s homeless that affect us, and I think they really appreciate a place to sleep. A group of 12 students went to Richmond on that,” Covall said. Friday for an SGA-sponsored lobbying trip to the One specific bill members advocated against OPINION Virginia General Assembly to fight for the higher was a Senate proposal to institute a $2.50-per- 5 Take a seat education budget. credit-hour surcharge to cover the cost of capital Seats aren’t assigned, “Our primary focus was trying to avoid any projects.