By Laura Head opinion editor Mary Volcansek, a political science professor and director of graduate programs in political science at Florida International University, will be the first dean of the new AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Volcansek said she was offered the position Thursday and accepted the job Friday morning. "I was not exactly long-time deciding about this," she said. "It just struck me as such an exciting place to be." Volcansek has been at FIU since 1973, after she earned her doctorate from Texas Tech University. She served as chairwoman of the FIU political science department from 1993 to 1995. She was also the associate dean of FIU's College of Arts and Sciences intermittently between 1976 and 1980. She said TCU is a place with potential, but she said it can get better with a more diverse student population. "I am a firm believer that students learn as much from who's around them as they learn from who's in the front of the classroom," she said. "TCU is trying new initiatives so it will allow students who are Hispanic and students who are African-American to come here."Jean Giles-Sims, a professor of sociology and member of the dean search committee, said Volcansek's personality adds to her professional qualifications. "She's extremely bright and energetic," Giles-Sims said. "She is very cosmopolitan and very global in her orientation. We think she will be a very good liaison to contacts outside of the university." Giles-Sims said Volcansek has the qualities that are necessary for a dean to respond to faculty and student needs. "She has a good perspective on how to involve the faculty in making decisions," she said. "She's also interested in study-abroad programs for students." Marshawn Evans, a junior political science major and member of the search committee, said Volcansek's communication skills will be an asset to students."I think she cares about the issues students have," she said. "She will energize the faculty, which the students will feel also." Alan Shepard, chairman of the English department and an associate professor of English, was the other finalist. "I wish the new dean a lot of success," he said. Don Jackson, chairman of the dean search committee and a professor of political science, said the AddRan dean search committee submitted a recommendation on Tuesday to Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs William Koehler. Chancellor Michael Ferrari then made the final decision on whom to appoint. "We were mandated to recommend all acceptable candidates to the provost," Koehler said. "We recommended both of them." Volcansek said she plans to begin her new duties as dean July 1.
Laura Head
By Jeri Petersen senior reporter In a ceremony Sunday afternoon in the solarium of the Nebraska Medical Center, Robbyn Kindle's parents and brother received her diploma from TCU on her behalf. Kindle is now officially a graduate of TCU with a bachelor of science degree in nutrition and dietetics. Kindle is awaiting a liver and small bowel transplant at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. William Koehler, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, said university officials had planned to present Kindle with her diploma in her room, but she was too ill to participate Sunday. "She had a good night but was not having a good morning," Koehler said. "Only two members of our party got in to see Robbyn, Evelyn Roberts and one of Robbyn's friends, Victoria Greer. We actually conveyed her degree to her family and left it with them so Robbyn will be able to hold and look at it when she feels better." Kindle is receiving anti-rejection medicine in anticipation of her transplant operation, which lowers the body's immunity and makes it vulnerable to infection. Kindle became seriously ill Thursday and was placed on a ventilator. Roberts said Kindle is on dialysis, but her lung capacity was twice as good Sunday as it had been two days before. "She was depending on the ventilator a lot, but today her oxygen is at about 50 percent," Roberts said. "Her family is very hopeful that in two to three days she'll be back to where she was. Her doctor said she was in serious but not critical condition." Roberts and Chris Kindle, Robbyn's brother, said they were encouraged by her continued show of spunk. "Yesterday she wanted pain medication, and when they said they would give her (a certain medication), she said no, she wanted something else," Roberts said. "That is so like her." Roberts said she was not allowed to stay in Kindle's room long enough to tell her about the private graduation ceremony. "We had been forewarned that her nurse was really strict," she said. "She ran us out before we could tell Robbyn what we were doing. When they told us to leave, we didn't know we wouldn't be able to go back in there." However, Kindle indicated that she knew who her visitors were. "I said, 'Robbyn, if you know that this is Ms. Roberts, squeeze my hand.' She just pumped it!" Roberts said. Koehler and his wife, along with Anne VanBeber (chairwoman of the nutrition and dietetics department), Roberts (an instructor in the department) and Greer flew to Omaha in TCU's plane Sunday morning. VanBeber said she first approached Koehler about getting Kindle's degree in January. "Robbyn's health was declining rapidly, and the fund raising was taking place, so I think Koehler saw an immediate need to do this," she said. "On Friday, I received an e-mail from Koehler saying he had a diploma and wanted to go see Robbyn. When the decision to go on Sunday was made, I decided I could go. I'm glad I went - for many reasons." Koehler said medical personnel at the hospital were expecting the party from TCU, but when Kindle failed to rally enough for the event, an impromptu ceremony was arranged in the solarium. "There were people looking at us like we were crazy," Koehler said. "As I recall, there were at least two family groups in there with us, and they were quite taken aback that people were standing there in full academic regalia." Greer, a senior dietetics major who will also graduate in May, said she found out Saturday that she would be allowed to go to Omaha for the ceremony. "It amazes me that I was chosen," she said. "I was very grateful to be there, and I know it meant a lot to Robbyn (to receive her diploma)." Roberts videotaped the ceremony for Kindle and her family. Chris Kindle said although his sister finally has her degree, he wants her to consider it a temporary bestowal so she still has a goal to work toward. "There was indeed a sense of accomplishment for that kid," he said. "She really earned it. She got her degree, but it's on loan until she gets back here to walk across that stage. She's got to bring it back with her in May." Koehler said Kindle has met all the criteria for graduation. "All students have to meet certain requirements for a degree," he said. "Her dean and I wanted to make sure this degree had been earned. When we were all assured that she had in fact completed all the requirements, we decided we better go ahead and do this. She is eligible to receive it, so why not do it now?" Sunday was also Kindle's birthday. Roberts said a box of birthday cards and letters from TCU sat in Kindle's room. "Along with the cards, a TCU baseball shirt signed by the team came and is taped to her window in the (intensive care unit)," she said. "Her dad and brother both said they thought that was the neatest idea." In one day, Kindle reached her 32nd birthday and received her diploma. "She worked so terribly hard under such difficult circumstances, I'm glad she achieved what was for her a very important goal," Koehler said. "To me, all of this has been a community effort, not of one any individual. We want to focus on Robbyn's extraordinary achievement." Now all she needs is a new liver and small bowel.
Jeri Petersen
By Omar Villafranca staff reporter TCU students who detest William Shakespeare's tragedy "Hamlet" should enjoy the play "I Hate Hamlet" being performed by the TCU theater department this week, the play's director said. George Brown, associate professor of theater, said the play, written by Paul Rudnick, is a comedy with a twist. "The basic premise is a Hollywood actor gets to play Hamlet," Brown said. "He goes through some trials and tribulations. The title of the play sums it up." Jenny Schmidt, a senior theater television major and director of the play, said the six cast members have been working hard on the play for the last five weeks. "Students should come to the play to relax," Schmidt said. "It's very entertaining. People will really enjoy it." Schmidt said she selected the play to direct because of its humorous subject matter and relevance to the students. "I picked 'I Hate Hamlet' because it is very relative to our department because we offer theater and (radio-TV-film) classes," Schmidt said. "It deals with being in theater and then being on camera. I thought of the audience, too, because I thought they would really like it." Chad Chaney, a senior theater television major and cast member, said the audience will enjoy the show because of its ability to make people laugh. "The audience should have a lot of fun with the show because the cast is having a lot of fun with the show," Chaney said. "The audience should expect to laugh until they can laugh no more." "I Hate Hamlet" runs today through Thursday in the studio theater in University Theatre. The play begins at 5 p.m. each day, and tickets are available at the University Theatre box office. Students can get in free. For more information, call the University Theatre box office at 257-7626.
Omar Villafranca
By Priya Abraham staff reporter Suicide prevention, an online clearinghouse for extra office supplies and vacation benefits will all be discussed at the Staff Assembly meeting today. Monica Kintigh, a licensed professional counselor from the Counseling Center, will give a presentation on suicide intervention. "It's something that's become a national concern over the past year," she said. "(We're trying) to establish a program on campus so people are equipped to see warning signs and can help." Mary Lane, chairwoman of the Staff Assembly, said because staff members see students every day in different settings, they could intervene when they see suicidal symptoms. The Staff Assembly will also discuss setting up an online clearinghouse, which would advertise a department's extra furniture and equipment on a Web site for other offices to use. Assembly representatives will also consider establishing a campus-wide suggestion program, where suggested improvements from employees are evaluated by a committee before being implemented. Reinstating vacation benefits for staff members who have left TCU and returned will also be discussed. Currently, employees who leave the university lose the vacation time they may have accrued over several years. If they return, they start over as new employees. In other business: n Nomination ballots for the election of new assembly representatives were sent out March 1. The ballots are due back Wednesday, followed by the final election in April, said Rebecca Glass, chairwoman of the Election Committee. Half the Staff Assembly is elected each year, with representatives coming from five divisions across the university. n Jean Andrus, co-chairwoman of the Resource, Insurance and Benefits Committee, will report on February's RIB committee meeting. Proposals for paid family leave for faculty and health care coverage for domestic partners were passed. She said recommendations for buying back sick leave and establishing a sick leave pool were postponed to make increasing staff salaries the first priority for TCU. "Just by tabling everything, it was very clear the salary issue was important," Andrus said. n The assembly will consider extending the staff award, which pays for books and fees for certain employees taking courses at TCU, to all staff. The award is need-based, and typically two or three staff members are awarded each semester. Currently, only employees who are paid hourly and are eligible for overtime pay can receive the award.
Priya Abraham
By Jaime Walker staff reporter Known as "Super Tuesday," today often marks a turning point in the presidential election. But, for TCU students such as David Elizalde, it's just another day. Elizalde, a sophomore theater major, said he did not vote by absentee ballot in his home state of California because he did not see the point. "I think the truth about the primary is that it's just a way for the government to make people think their vote is important," he said. "In the end, the guy with the most money and power will win, and there is not a thing we can we can do about it." Although the primaries may not be important to Elizade or most of his fellow students, they are crucial for the candidates. With more than half the delegates needed to secure both the Republican and Democratic nominations up for grabs, the matchups for November's election may be set at the end of the evening. In order for Democrat Bill Bradley and Republican John McCain to say alive in the presidential race, they need to win several of the 15 states holding a primary today, said Steve Wienberg, chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party. "Tonight can mark the end of John McCain and Bill Bradley," he said. "They know that, and the pressure is on." For students such as Jennifer Jost, a sophomore sociology major from Missouri, another "Super Tuesday" state, the pressure candidates are feeling just doesn't match up to the stress of upcoming midterms. "I am all about voting, but I just didn't have the time to get the information and then fill out the ballot," she said. "It just wasn't high on my list of priorities." Joanne Green, an assistant professor of political science, said students often do not take the time to vote because of the energy and responsibility it requires to obtain a ballot. "Voting, especially by absentee, requires individuals to bear the burden of responsibility," she said. "Students are often dissuading from participating because they can't see how it is going to benefit them." Allison Schmidt, a sophomore kinesiology major, who did vote by absentee ballot in today's California primary, said voting was important to her because it was her first time to vote for president. "I was just really excited I can finally vote for president, but I understand how some students can't find the time," she said. "If my mom hadn't reminded me, I might not have remembered to fill the ballot out and get it in." Weinberg said political interest has increased overall because Texas Gov. George W. Bush is in the presidential race, but he understands the challenge college students face when other issues bid for their time. "We have seen a higher interest not only in the presidential election, but also in local races," he said. "We are always trying to get people interested and keep them involved." As the March 14 Texas primary approaches, candidates and party volunteers alike are putting in long hours at campaign headquarters around the state. Weinberg said he hopes students take an interest and vote because their vote really does count. "Especially in some of the local races, every vote can have a huge impact," he said. Kelly Patek, a sophomore premajor, said the primary election did not interest her. "I might vote for president in November, but all the other stuff won't matter to me at all," she said. "I wouldn't know who to vote for anyway." Weinberg said students who will be out of the district for Spring Break can vote early until March 10 at the Muller Building located at 600 W. Weatherford St. in downtown Fort Worth. "If you are registered in Tarrant County, there is no excuse for you not to vote," he said. In an effort to inspire local residents, including TCU students, to get energized about voting, Ronald Zapeda and other local members of the Tarrant County Democratic Party have organized a neighborhood political rally from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The event, which will be held in the parking lot of the Club Pulse at 2217 Jacksboro Highway, will include everyone from precinct chairmen and women all the way up to state representatives, Zapeda said. "We want the voters to have a chance to get to know all of the people who are running for public office," he said. "If you meet the candidates face to face, you make a connection and will be more likely to take the time to vote. We want to help citizens of Tarrant County see the candidates as people who are trying to make a difference on a local, state and even national level." Weinberg said the Republican party plans to hold a similar statewide event because the state of Texas can play a crucial role in politics. "This year, Texas has a favorite son running for the highest office in the country," he said. "If we can't get excited about that here in the state, we need to do something about that."
Jaime Walker |
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