By Reagan Duplisea staff reporter Tuition, fees and housing will all increase in cost next year after the TCU Board of Trustees passed a motion Friday approving the change. A student taking 15 hours will pay $417 more per semester next year in tuition and fees alone. Students can also expect to pay more in housing, which is increasing by an average of 7 percent. The board met for its first meeting Thursday and Friday in the Dee J. Kelly Alumni and Visitors Center. Tuition will increase by $25 to $390 an hour, fees will increase from $1,300 to $1,385 per year and housing costs will increase 7 percent, Bronson C. Davis, vice chancellor for university advancement, said. However, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Don Mills said the percentage of what students are paying for their education has decreased. "Several years ago, students were paying 60 percent of their education, and now it's 51 percent," Mills said. "I think that's a pretty good deal." Student charges were increased because the school needs to upgrade technology, maintain the low faculty-student ratio and because of commitments to taking care of employees, Mills said. Ferrari said salary increases and the addition of more than 20 new faculty members were other factors that influenced the board's decision to raise costs. "We will not compromise the quality of the university," Ferrari said. "It would be far more damaging to the current students and others down the road." Interim Chief Financial Officer Ron Clinkscale said current students must invest in the future. "That's kind of the way life is," Clinkscale said. "We have to pay for things the next generation will benefit from." Ferrari said he realizes some students will have problems with the increase in tuition and fees. He said he also realizes this may hurt his goal of diversifying the campus. "In many cases, tuition increases can deter low-income groups from the university," Ferrari said. "Some of our minority students are coming from low-income families. This will be an important challenge." But financial aid will increase accordingly, administrators said. "Financial aid is a package designed to meet your needs, even if tuition is $390 an hour or $60 an hour," Mills said. While building projects are the improvements receiving the most attention, none of the additional tuition and fees will be applied directly to those projects, Clinkscale said. Instead, the money will go to upgrading teaching facilities and adding faculty. The board also voted to a decrease in spending the endowment for operating costs of the university, from 5.8 percent to 5.75 percent of the endowment. Clinkscale said the endowment is in the $850 million range. Ferrari said the board is reluctant to draw from the endowment. "They wanted to take a prudent position right now because of the volatility of the market," Ferrari said. "We're becoming very slightly less dependent on endowment." Clinkscale said other universities that have been able to develop such a large endowment use only about five percent of it. Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs William H. Koehler gave a presentation on the importance of the Tucker Technology Center. He said he remains optimistic that construction will start soon. "We have the plans," he said. "We're ready to start construction. We just need the money." Koehler said the funds will come from foundations and individuals. Mills gave a report on consultants' assessments of renovating the Student Center and Rickel Building. Board member Pat Schieffer said the two renovation projects are on the drawing board, and no decision regarding them was made. Associate Vice Chancellor of Communications and Public Affairs Larry Lauer presented the update on the Commission on the Future of TCU and its respective task forces. He said the board was excited and encouraged at the progress of the commission. Ferrari added a third meeting to the board's calendar to decide on student costs so that the admissions office could let prospective students know what to expect. He said he added the meeting of his own initiative, not as a response to complaints from admissions or students.
Reagan Duplisea
By Danny Horne staff reporter After the TCU Board of Trustees passed a $25-per-hour tuition increase, students were left with mixed emotions. "As long as the money is going toward making the university better, I do not have a problem with them increasing costs," said Bethany Mize, a freshman elementary education major. Reuben Reynoso, a junior business major, said he is concerned he will never be able to take advantage of the improvements his money is going toward. "I really don't see what they are doing with those fees except the renovations in the Student Center," Reynoso said. "I hope to see more of that before I graduate." Felicia Garman, a junior finance and accounting major, said she wants to see relevant improvements for herself. "We pay a lot of money, but we don't see where it goes," Garman said. "Where is our money really going?" Sandra Tobias, associate director of scholarships and student financial aid, said those students already receiving aid should not be concerned because they will receive funds in proportion to their increased costs. "I do not really see much change in financial aid because those students who are getting what they need will continue to get what they need, and those who do not need financial aid should still not need it," Tobias said. "The increase in costs is not that drastic, so the change should be proportionally slight." Don Mills, vice chancellor for student affairs, said financial aid is designed to meet the needs of the students whether tuition is $390 an hour or $60 an hour. Sandra Ware, dean of admissions, said administrators do not expect to lose prospective students or those already enrolled as a result of the changes. "Overall, the changes are not that devastating, so students should not feel as though TCU is any less a bargain than it always has been," Ware said. "TCU remains to be an affordable option in the grand scheme of higher education." But parents have also voiced complaints about the tuition increase. Deborah Ratliff, Garman's mother, said the increased charges will be a burden. "I have to sacrifice to give my daughters an education," Garman said. "TCU is already improved. I don't know what they need to improve. It's a hardship - that's what it is - on the parents." Chancellor Michael Ferrari said the increase is not big enough to hurt admissions or financial aid. "Students and their parents will make choices based on price," Ferrari said. "If they know SMU is $25,000 a year and TCU is $16,000 a year, then a couple hundred dollars won't make a difference." Jim Atwood, an associate professor of religion and assistant to the dean of admissions, said often times, tradition is a bigger factor for students than money. "Family tradition has become a leading factor in how prospective students choose where to attend," Atwood said. "If that tradition leads them to a private school like TCU, the money will not be an issue." Tobias said if students want a private school education, they will pay for a private school education, but if they did not want to pay that cost, they would have gone to a state school.
Staff reporter Reagan Duplisea contributed to this report.
Danny Horne
By Victor Drabicky staff reporter Smoke from a nearby fire filled the air around campus Monday morning as a five-alarm fire swept through the Air Controlled Self Storage Warehouse at 3614 McCart Ave. Fort Worth Police Lieutenant Kent Worley said the fire broke out around 10 a.m. "When (employees) couldn't figure out where all the smoke was coming from, they decided to evacuate the building and call the fire department," he said. "Because the inside of the building is separated by only chain-link fencing, there is no way to tell how long the fire will burn. But when the fire is put out, we will pass our information on to the investigators, and they will determine the cause." The smoke, visible from miles around, drifted onto campus and caught the attention of students. "It drifted into Ed Landreth Hall Auditorium when we were watching a high school choir," said Charles Abbott, a freshman international finance, marketing and voice major. "When we came out, it was hazy everywhere." Sophomore math major Amanda Knecht said she smelled the smoke in Winton-Scott Hall and thought it was a gas leak. Freshman biology major Alan Daniel said, "I thought it smelled like an electrical fire at first, and then I saw the smoke and wondered where it was coming from." Worley said the first fire units arrived quickly after receiving the call about the fire. "Our first units arrived on the scene within two minutes of receiving the call," Worley said. "In all, we had 18 units and about 80 firefighters working the fire." Units from as far away as Arlington were called in to help fight the blaze. TCU alumnus and Arlington Fire Department Battalion Chief Jerry Brooks said his unit was called in for backup. "Arlington and Fort Worth have a mutual-aid agreement, meaning they help us, and we help them if they need the help," Brooks said. "When the fire hit five alarms, we were called in to help fight the fire." Ruth Bogart, part-owner of the building, said the 100,000 square-foot building is old and not set up in the most beneficial way to fight the fire. "The north half of the building, where most of the fire is, was built in 1904 and doesn't have a sprinkler system in it," Bogart said. "The southern half of the building was built more recently and has a sprinkler system in it, but the fire hasn't reached that half of the building." Worley said the light breeze actually helped to contain the fire, although other structures had to be evacuated. "Since the wind is blowing out of the south, the fire remained mostly in the north half of the building," Worley said. "Just as a precaution, we evacuated the Martin Sprokett building just to the north, but there was no risk of the fire spreading to that building." As the fire continued to burn, onlookers began to line the streets to watch the firefighters work. Nearby resident Danny Hernandez said his curiosity got the better of him and brought him out to watch the blaze. "I had never seen anything like this before," Hernandez said. "After I heard all the sirens and saw all the smoke, I had to come see what was going on." Bogart said despite the damage to the building, customers will be more than accommodated. "We can move any of our customers' belongings that survive the fire to our new building which still has some extra space," Bogart said. "We just want our customers to know that we will do whatever we can to help them following the fire."
Staff reporter Priya Abraham contributed to this report.
Victor Drabicky
By Jaime Walker staff reporter President Bill Clinton focused on the accessibility of higher education during his State of the Union address Thursday. "To make the American dream achievable for all, we must make college affordable for all," Clinton said. Education should play a critical role in this year's political agenda, Clinton said. In his address, he outlined the New Opportunity Agenda for Higher Education. His proposal, which included a $30 billion college tuition tax cut, is designed to provide middle-class families up to $10,000 for tuition costs. Clinton also called for a $1 billion increase in funding for Pell Grants, more affordable student loans, Lifetime Learning Tax Credits and HOPE scholarships, which he said would help students across the nation. The Lifetime Credits provide up to $5,000, while HOPE scholarships provide up to $1,500. Both are eligible to families in the $40,000 to $50,000 tax bracket. TCU students, regardless of their political affiliation, said the idea of increased federal funding for college tuition is a good idea. Josh Wall, a sophomore political science major, said he supported Clinton's education reforms. "I am all for it," he said. "I can't tell you how much it would help out my family." John Miller, a freshman marketing major, said Clinton' s proposals could impact college affordability but is concerned about where the money will come from. "If they cut taxes for college parents, taxes will probably go up for people without college students," he said. "I just really wonder where he wants to get the money." James Riddlesperger, professor of political science, said American democracy is founded on the struggle to decide who benefits from legislation and who is going to pay for it. He also said Republicans and Democrats fight over how to fund education reforms and differ about who they think should get federal funds. "The desire to make education accessible to more people is important to both parties," Riddlesperger said. "Education is the cornerstone of the American concept of equal opportunity." In Clinton's speech, he praised the bipartisan effort toward education reform but said further support is necessary for reaching his proposed goals. "If we take all these steps, we'll move a long way toward making sure every child starts school ready to learn and graduates ready to succeed," Clinton said. Wall said college students should follow not only educational policy, but politics in general because legislators make decisions which will impact all Americans. "This is an exciting time for our country," he said. "What happens in politics today has the power to shape the country forever."
Jaime Walker
By Yonina Robinson staff reporter The M.J. Neeley School of Business hosted the Future Business Leaders of America - Phi Beta Lambda District 11 Conference Saturday. Alice Arredondo, district adviser, said FBLA is a nonprofit, educational organization of students preparing for careers in business. She said the association has three divisions: FBLA for high-school and middle-school students, PBL for postsecondary students and a professional division. Some of the program's goals are to develop competent, aggressive business leadership, create more interest and understanding of American business enterprise and assist students in the establishment of occupational goals. The conference included courses such as business law, speaking performance and communication service. "Each year we compete at the National Convention in July," Arredondo added. "Therefore, each state hosts competitions." Saturday, a few of the competitive events included impromptu speaking, job interview and entrepreneurship. Arrendondo said FBLA helps to build confidence and exposes students to actual business people. As an adviser, Gerry Skiles of Lewisville High School in Denton County, said his job is primarily to recruit the students and prepare them to compete. "I joined because the organization was popular on campus," said Amber Shumake, a junior at Lamar High School. "Membership in FBLA is second to Student Council," said Lauren Bair, a senior at Lamar. Once they are a part of the organization, Shumake said members plan concerts and raise money for FBLA and Lamar High School while getting managerial experience. "FBLA gave me more wisdom in business," said Nicky Garrette, a Polytechnic High School sophomore. Some minority students said they enjoy the challenge of having their backs to the wall. "It might not be easy, but this is a good way to start," said Bobby Smith, a sophomore at Polytechnic High School. "It makes you work harder." Garrette and Smith said their parents support their involvement in FBLA. Both students are also football players at Polytechnic. Smith also said he takes his involvement in the organization as seriously as his involvement on the football team. FBLA Texas President Kellen Vaughn, a senior at Paschal High School, said his involvement in the organization has not affected his GPA despite the demand of his position. He said he is also involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Eagle Scouts and spirit organizations on campus.
Yonina Robinson |
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