2008 Woodie Awards
Q&A covers range of topics
Sara Wade
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Front Page
Questions about the new health center, campus diversity and new dorms dominated the Presidential Q&A, held Wednesday, April 2, at the Crimson and Gold Ballroom in the Overman Student Center.
Notably missing was President Tom Bryant, who missed the event because of scheduling conflicts with his trip overseas to recruit international students.
About 30 students attended.
Representing the president were Ron Womble, director of public relations; Howard Smith, assistant to the president; Darron Farha, university attorney; Joan Cleland, administrative assistant to the president; Steve Scott, vice president of academic affairs; Steve Erwin, associate vice president of campus life and auxiliary services; Bradford Hodson, vice president of university advancement; and John Patterson, vice president for administration and campus life.
"Bryant wanted to do three things when he became president," Patterson said. "He wanted to build a new health center, a new recreation facility and raise more scholarship funds."
Erwin says that a new dorm with 200 apartment-style rooms is in the works. Existing dorms will be renovated and modernized beginning in as little as a year, with the projects taking about three to five years to finish.
Patterson says that $4 million is being raised for parking expansion and $2 million for new housing and renovation of existing dorms.
The first question of the night was whether the new health center will have extended hours. Erwin says that that is always a possibility.
"We will have the opportunity to offer a wider range of services and a larger staff," Erwin said.
Concerning the health center, Erwin says that the longer the university waits to build it, the more it will cost.
"Students are either uninsured or underinsured," Erwin said. "If you're not healthy mentally and physically, then you're not going to be successful as a student."
Student fees will be increased next year by $12 to help raise at least $1.5 million of the $4 million needed to pay for the health center. The university has already raised $2 million from private donors.
Notably missing was President Tom Bryant, who missed the event because of scheduling conflicts with his trip overseas to recruit international students.
About 30 students attended.
Representing the president were Ron Womble, director of public relations; Howard Smith, assistant to the president; Darron Farha, university attorney; Joan Cleland, administrative assistant to the president; Steve Scott, vice president of academic affairs; Steve Erwin, associate vice president of campus life and auxiliary services; Bradford Hodson, vice president of university advancement; and John Patterson, vice president for administration and campus life.
"Bryant wanted to do three things when he became president," Patterson said. "He wanted to build a new health center, a new recreation facility and raise more scholarship funds."
Erwin says that a new dorm with 200 apartment-style rooms is in the works. Existing dorms will be renovated and modernized beginning in as little as a year, with the projects taking about three to five years to finish.
Patterson says that $4 million is being raised for parking expansion and $2 million for new housing and renovation of existing dorms.
The first question of the night was whether the new health center will have extended hours. Erwin says that that is always a possibility.
"We will have the opportunity to offer a wider range of services and a larger staff," Erwin said.
Concerning the health center, Erwin says that the longer the university waits to build it, the more it will cost.
"Students are either uninsured or underinsured," Erwin said. "If you're not healthy mentally and physically, then you're not going to be successful as a student."
Student fees will be increased next year by $12 to help raise at least $1.5 million of the $4 million needed to pay for the health center. The university has already raised $2 million from private donors.
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