October 12, 2012 theridernews.com Vol. 83, No. 4 DEBATE DISCUSSION NINE DEBUTS ON RIDER STAGE SAY HELLO TO MEN’S BASKETBALL Student weighs in on first 2012 presidential Dress rehearsal of the Italian musical sets the bar Midnight MAACness to officially introduce the debate page 11 high for the show’s three-day run page 8 new 2012-13 team page 16 Let’s Get Fiscal Unexpected budget shortfall leads to departmental cuts; 33 spring classes get bounced By Katie Zeck and Joe Petrizzo to capacity and beyond so that some IDER has quietly taken steps to students could not get the courses that deal with a $2.6 million budget they needed at the times that worked shortfall – about 1.4 percent of for their schedule,” he said. “We may the university’s operating budget expect that with some sections of R– and the blame is being placed on a courses being dropped that this prob- decrease in room and board revenue, a lem will be made worse. If this happens reduction in state funding and a lack of to any student I would urge that stu- enrollment. dent to voice his or her complaint not This came as a surprise to anyone with his or her faculty adviser but with who attended the Convocation on Aug. the university administration.” 30 when President Mordechai Rozanski Associate Provost Jim Castagnera announced that the university was tak- said that 33 class sections – about 2.4 ing the necessary precautions to repair percent of all planned class sections – a $1 million budget deficit. But less are going to be cut for the spring 2013 than a month later, the debt more than semester, but insists that the impact this doubled and the relatively manageable will have on students will be minimal. shortcoming became a web that is now According to Castagnera, the uni- spinning itself all over the campus. versity will save about $5,000 for every To compensate for this short fall, the course that is cut. university began making spending cuts “I want to emphasize that no in various departments and requested required classes have been cut, though that the academic chairs seek ways to in some cases where there was more reel in unnecessary spending by cancel- than one section of a required course ing under-enrolled sections for the and one of those had low enrollment, spring semester. only one section will run,” Castagnera Dr. Jeffrey Halpern, Rider’s con- said in an email. “Even after this mod- tract administrator and chief grievance est reduction, we will still offer more officer of the American Association of sections in spring 2013 than the last University Professors (AAUP) expressed time we had Maggie Sarlo/The Rider News his concern for the effects the cuts may a similar SEE BUDGET Classes have been cut for the spring semester because of a loss in revenue from a lack in enrollment of have on students. enrollment ➠ PAGE 3 freshman, transfer and continuing studies students and a decrease in students living on-campus. “Many courses in the fall were filled level.” Rider may reap bond referendum benefits By Dan Perez to 49 institutions in the state the bill Rider University officials have their would provide $300 million for public eyes on the $1 million that would allow research universities including Rutgers the school to build new facilities and University and Rowan University, Overall Likely Voters renovate existing ones if a ballot ques- $247.5 million would be divvied up tion passes next month. between the eight state colleges and The referendum would authorize universities, $150 million would go $750 million in state borrowing for towards county colleges and $52.5 mil- 11% building and renovation projects within lion towards private institutions. New Jersey’s colleges and universities. “The Secretary of Higher Don’t Know Rider would receive a portion of the Education, with approval from the Support $52.5 million set aside for projects at Legislature, would decide which New Jersey’s 14 private colleges and projects get the green light,” Ahearn universities if voters pass the Building said. “If the bill is passed, schools Our Future Bond Act on the Nov. 6 could receive money as early as next election ballot. summer.” 27% 62% “The state is losing jobs in the According to a recent poll conducted Oppose Support race to be competitive and this bill by the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Oppose could help reverse that,” William 62 percent of those surveyed are sup- Ahearn, vice president of University portive of the bond referendum. The Communications said. “This initiative poll states that 81 percent of people will help students to better compete in between the ages of 18 and 34 support a global economy and will attract busi- the measure while 12 percent oppose it nesses to New Jersey.” and 7 percent were undecided. Short-term benefits of the bill would “We don’t want the approval rating Don't include getting people back to work in to slip,” Ahearn said. “The question fields like construction and boosting may be near the bottom of the bal- the state’s economy while long-term lot and sometimes people ignore the know benefits would include bringing more things that are far down. Katie Rider Hambor/The News companies to the state and hiring New We are also The proposed bond referendum, if approved, would authorize $750 million in state borrowing for Jersey students, he said. encouraging SEE REFERENDUM building and renovation projects within New Jersey’s colleges and universities. The bond proceeds will be available every student ➠ PAGE 2 The Rider News Oct. 12, 2012 Page 2 SECURITY BRIEFS COMING UP... Water worries Classroom fall Memory card theft Friday, Oct 12 Two female residents came Public Safety responded to a On-campus computer hackers back to a wet surprise in their medical emergency call in the are sneaking their way into more Flute and piano gallery concert dorm room on Sunday, Oct. 7. Academic Annex on Oct. 5. than just software. 12:15 p.m., Art Gallery in BLC At 3:19 a.m., a female resident in At 4:43 p.m., Public Safety offi- At 10:34 a.m., on Oct. 3, Public Switlik Hall called Public Safety to cers met with a female staff mem- Safety was called to Sweigart Hall. Midnight MAACness help her with a layer of water that ber who said that she was injured Upon arrival, Public Safety met 10 p.m. to midnight, Alumni Gym was on the floor of her room. earlier in the day. She explained with a female staff member who Upon arrival, officers noticed that she was standing on a chair said that sometime between Oct. Monday, Oct. 15 that water was gushing out of the trying to open a window when 1 and Oct. 3 someone stole mem- air conditioning and heating vent. she fell backward and landed on ory cards from two computers in Andrew Jenks, star of MTV’S “World of The student said that she and her head and tailbone. The victim different computer labs within Jenks” Unity Day lecture her roommate left the room at 4 reported being in considerable Sweigart. The staff member stated 7 p.m., Yvonne Theater p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 6. Public pain, but declined the call for that neither computer was work- Safety helped the student remove medical attention because a fam- ing. After filling out a work order, Wednesday, Oct. 17 the belongings that were on the ily member was going to drive her she was informed that one had no floor and had been affected by to the hospital. memory card, and the other had Rush Holt keynote speaker the water. The officers contacted a memory card that had not been School of Education’s 100th Anniversary Facilities who shut off the water reinstalled properly. Additional 6 p.m., BLC Cavalla Room valve and used a wet vacuum to security measures have been put Thursday, Oct. 18 remove the rest of the water. The in place for these computers. The cost for repair and replacing the investigation for this incident is J. Cole Concert belongings is currently unknown. ongoing. Anyone with additional 9 p.m., Student Recreation Center information should contact Public Safety at x5029. CORRECTION After weeks of campaigning and flier-hanging by stu- dents hoping to become their respective class presidents, Senior Class President 292 students voted in the Student Recreation Center Class Christopher (Chris) Werner In last week’s issue, Dr. Myra Gutin was identi- atrium Tuesday and the results were released that night. Junior Class President fied as an associate professor in the Department of Fautmata Koroma is the new freshman class presi- Richard (Rich) Schmidt Communication. She is a professor in the department. dent, getting 46 percent of all freshman votes. For the president In the article “Clery Report Review,” the number of sophomore class, Allison Koury won with 46 percent of Sophomore Class President undergraduate students at Westminster Choir College Allison Koury the votes. Richard Schmidt was elected junior class presi- election (WCC) was reported to be 900. There are appori- dent with 39 percent of the junior votes. Chris Werner results Freshman Class President mately 375 undergraduates according to the WCC was voted senior class president, receiving 50 percent of Fatumata (Fatima) Koroma website. the senior votes. term 2013 Jwww.rider.edu/jterm Fast-track your studies this January! ■ Lighten your spring semester course load and still graduate on time. Focus on one course and explore a topic in great detail.