Inside: UMSL's literary magazine, Litmag VOLUME 38 April 24, 2006 r: ISSUE 1184 Your source for compus news and information Interview with Reel Big Fish See page 9 THECURRENTONUNLCOM _1IIiiI_iiiiiii_iiiiiiliii.. _______ __IiI __ __.. _~----- ---------------. UNMRSITYOF MISSOURI-S1. LOUIS lEADslate wins top threep osts in SGA elecUons BY MELISSA s. HAYDEN after running unopposed, and Shanmt explaining budgeting- and helps stu­ Nick Koechlg, - ._ .. _- --- _... __ .._ - junior, political Staff Writer Carpenter, senior, mass communica~ dents understand SABC better. tion, will be SGA's next comptroller. ''I'hear the same questions and I feel science, hands ''I'm really excited to have Thomas that maybe we need to make (the pack­ out flyers on The LEAD slate swept the Srudent and Sharma on the ex,ecutive commit­ et) with more clear answers," she said. Thursday after­ Government Association elections and tee with me," Koechig said. Helton put his summer plans to noon on the has already hit the ground running. Carpenter beat out Joe Garavaglia, travel to Italy on hold to be the SGA MSC bridge. "We already have meetings sched­ senior, accounting and management, vice president, but he is excited about Koechig ran uled in May to start learning about for the position by orily 57 vO,tes. his new position. unopposed for what is going on in SGA," said 'The best part is that (thi LEAD ''It's a great feeling that other stu­ president of Thomas Helton, sophomore, political slate) all got elected and these are pe0- dents are behind my drive and ambi­ SGA. science and next year's SGA vice pres­ ple I was excited to get to work: with, tion," he said: ident and now I'm going to," Carpenter said. He said he thinks he won because · Helton ran against Danielle Bratton, Garavaglia said he would have liked people he talked to while campaigning senior, communication and political to win, but he congratulates Carpenter trusted what he said and he felt they science. He won the vice president on winning. He hopes that she will knew he was "dedicated to UMSL and position by 118 votes in the election make some changes to the Student SGA" However, he felt that problems held Wednesday and Thursday, but he Activities and Budget Committee. accessing the page to vote on through hopes the results will not "discourage "I would like to see some of the MyGateway hurt the voter tum out, her from wanting to make a difference transparency I talked about while cam­ something Garavaglia, Carpenter and and help UMSL students." paigning," he said. Koechig also agreed with. Nick Koochig, junior, political sci­ Carpenter already has plans, for the ence will be the next SGA president, summer, to put together a packet see LEAD, page 14 Nlirthday lives up to its name Competing MOHEU plans wind through Missouri Le · lature BY PAUL HACKBARTH The MOHELA Bills News Editor Senate Bill 1256: With the governor's Lewis and $229.75 million for capi­ Clark. Discovery initiative, Senate Bill tal improvements for 1256 and House Bill 1022, it is no state higher education wonder confusion surrounds finaliz­ institutions. ing a plan on how to allocate money from the MOHELA sale. Three different versions of how to House Bill 1022: divide the money from when the $165 million for capital Missouri Higher Education Loan improvements and money Authority sells its assets have srudents for health and senior ser­ and administrators at Missouri col­ vices, state debt reduc­ leges and universities . questioning tions and funding for the how much money they will receive Access Missouri scholar­ from the sale. ship program. ''That's the problem," SGA President D' Andre Braddix said. "Nobody really knows what's going to House Bill 1 968: happen. I still don't know what the $229.75 million for hell is going on." capital improvements for After the governor announced his state higher education initiative, which calls for $300 million institutions. for higher education capital improve­ ments, both the Senate and House worked on their own versions. Sen. Chuck Gross introduced SB nity colleges across the state. Matt Johnson! The Curren! 1256, which calls for $229.75 rnillion In addition, the House Higher Stephen Luehnnan, freshma.n, music perfonnance and Susanna Steimel, sophomore, international business enjoy a spin on a ride for capital improvements for state Education Committee approved Rep. during the Mirthday celebration on Wednesday. For a full page of photos, see page 16, and visit www.thecurrentonline.com for an higher education institutions. The Clint Zweifel's sponsored bill HB extended gallery of images f liOm Mlrthday. Senate's version is most similar to the 1968, which calls for an analysis of governor 's initiative, except that the the effect of the MOHELA sale on Senate's bill asks for more money to loan interest rates. The committee also be put toward health care components. unanimously agreed to delete a provi­ The bill also calls for $18 million for sion requiring the legislature to Bill to cap higher education funding passes in House Benton and Stadler Halls renovations approve the MOHELA sale. and $6.5 million for a life science Braddix said he liked the gover­ business incubator on campus. nor's proposal the best "As a student, BY PAUL HACKBARTH votes than required. 'The general message we got from dent enrollment, transfer, retention and HB 1022 calls for $165 million in I definitely would prefer all the money - --- --News Editor The bill revises current state Jaws many legislators was that they under­ graduate rates; srudent satisfaction and capital improvements, as well as go toward capital projects for four­ on how higher education institutions stood how this could be harmful to the performance after graduation; compar­ money for health and senior services, year instirutions," he said. are funded through state appropria­ universities and the students, but they ative costs and productivity data rela­ state debt reductions and funding the While Braddix concedes that Rep. Carl Bearden's bill that would tions and changes how scholarship wanted to make a point that universi­ tive to similar institutions; assessment new Access Missouri scholarship pro­ Missouri legislators want money for reshape how higher education is fund­ progra.ms are funded for srudent finan­ ties were inefficient," Johnson said. of quality of academic and vocational gram. In HE 1022, UM-St Louis is other projects in the state because of ed moved to the Missouri Senate last cial assistance. The perfected bill includes certain programs; and assessment of need for expected to receive the same amount scarce resources, '~ust because $4()() week, after the House of Scott Johnson, legislative director amendments from the special commit­ financial aid support as in the Senate bill. million frees itself doesn't necessarily Representatives approved House Hill for Associated Students of the tee's review. One of the amendments Johnson said he felt the House's While the Columbia Tribune mean everyone in the state should be 1865 by a vote of 84-7l. University of Missomi, said ASUM added is a set of guidelines or "perfor­ decision was disappointing because of reported April 18 that some money available to have access to that $4()Q After the Special House Committee lobbyists passed out fact sheets and mance measures" for universities and its effect on funding the University of from the MOHELA sale would be million. You have to look at Where on Srudent Achievement and Finance spoke to different members voicing colleges to fulfill in order to receive Missouri. used to build a women's prison in those funds are generated from" recommended approving the bill with their opposition to HE 1865. However, more state funding. Chillicothe, Mo., a House committee several amendments, House members he said the representatives' approval According to HE 1865, these mea­ deleted that proposal, but added $6 did so Thursday, April 13 by two more was not unexpected. sures include appropriate levels of stu- see HOUSE BILL, page 3 million for capital projects at comrnu- ]azzlegend INDEX Clark Terry ~lJlletin Board comes to the Roadtrippin' Touhill See page 6 See page 8 IPage 2 71w. Current April 24, 2006 '1ke Current Mike Sherwin • Editor-in-Chief Kate Drolet· Managing Editor Michael Pelikan' Business _~fanager Rob Borkin • .4tiverlising Director Judi linville' Adviser details Paul Hackbarth' Neu's Edilor Put it on the Board! Call 516-5174 for or email [email protected] Melissa McCrary' Feature.s Editor Cate Marquis· A & E Edilor lindsey Barringer' ports Editor Mon . Apri l 24 served at 3:45 p.m. The of the NoSe. Participants Call to Action." Visit dents who are presenting Adam D. Wiseman' Photo Director colloquium is free and open will be able to gain new http:/ /www.whiteprivilege- their thesis or research ! Christine Eccleston' Copv Editor I Ben Swofford • News Associate Monday Noon Series: to the public. Call 5311 for perspectives on different conference.com for a com- work in the form of a more information. cultures and countries. The plete list of activities, costs poster or oral presentation. Patricia Lee • Feahlres Associate Storyteller Karen Young Kevin Ottley' photo Associate program is free and open and registration informa- Go to Rudy Scoggin:;' Ganoonisl ~ Professional storyteller will 'Launch Party' to the public. Light refresh- tion. Call 4889 or e-mail http:/ /www.umsl.edu/ser- Elizabeth Gearhart· Cmtoonis! ments will be served. E- [email protected] for more vices/academic/urs/index. Miata Lewis-Harris • Page Design!?r share Celtic hero stories LaGuan Fn:;e' Sports Associate and King Arthur tales at LitMag, the UM-St. Louis mail [email protected] for information.