page 2 • news • sept. 11, 2008
editors: abbie dunham and kelsey gustafson • amdunham@csbsju.edu; kjgustafson@csbsju.edu
New class brings new dynamic to campus
By Casey Wojtalewicz
cbwojtalewi@csbsju.edu
Who is the Class of 2012? What do they think of CSB/SJU? Brandon Kasper, a .rst year Johnnie from Becker, Minn., says he has no complaints. “(My experience) has been great so far. I can’t really picture myself being at another college.”
Any negatives?
Kasper offered a long pause.
“Maybe early classes,” he said.
The sentiments of Kasper are shared by his class: they seem to like it here. Miguel Pena, a .rst year from Dallas, Tex., said he likes the tranquility as well as the climate of central Minnesota.
“The temperature is nice,” he said. “It’s better than the humidity and heat of Dallas. It’s also more peaceful here, away from the big crowded city and violence.”
For Patrick Mader, a .rst-year from Rochester, Minn., the classes have been more enjoyable than in high school.
“(Professors) actually want to be here, and they’re enthusiastic,” Mader said. “It’s more work at a faster pace … but I like it because people aren’t holding my hand and constantly telling me what to do.”
Professors have good reason to be excited about the class of 2012. For one thing, they’re smart. The class pro.le of enrolled students flaunts a GPA of
3.6 for Johnnies and 3.8 for Bennies, as well as an average ACT score of 26. Additionally, they have undergone a more selective acceptance process than students of the past.
Of the record number of applicants last year, 74 percent received an acceptance letter, a contrast to the nearly 90 percent of .ve years ago.
The increase in selectivity has resulted in a slight decrease in enrollment from last year, which puts the current size of the .rst-year class at 519 Bennies and 461 Johnnies.
Michael Thorp, dean of admission and financial aid, indicated that the decrease is not a concern. In fact, for St. Ben’s admitting fewer students was a strategic decision, Thorp said. While St. John’s enrollment was slightly lower than expected, “Our total enrollment is right where it needs to be,” he said.
Besides their brains, there are several other distinguishing characteristics of the first-year class. They are diverse, with American students of color and international students comprising 12 percent of their class.
While the number of “legacy” Bennies, those who have former Bennies and/or Johnnies in their families, is up, the Johnnie legacy tally is down.
“This was … a good thing for both schools,” Thorp said. “At St. Ben’s we needed more legacies to establish alumnae relations, and while we value the connection with Johnnie alumni, the decrease in legacy students shows that we have expanded our market.”
Thorp said he is pleased with the first-year class. “This is maybe the fourth year in a row that we’ve had a group of really bright, nice students. We feel very fortunate,” he said.
Summer changes greet returning students this fall
By Chelsea Korth
clkorth@csbsju.edu
Sexton
Since its conception last May, the renovation of Sexton has been on the fast track. Completion is scheduled for winter, but students may have already noticed some signi.cant layout changes.
The driving factor for the renovation was a problem with student traf.c. Strategic rearrangement and more space should allow the facility to accommodate heavier student visitation during prime dining hours.
Contributing to the new Sexton blueprint were the President’s of.ce, the vice president of .nance, the vice president of the physical plant, the dean of students, the Monastic Design Committee and some student input.
“When we went into this endeavor, we empowered about .ve focus groups comprised of students, faculty and dining service employees to ensure the end result re.ected their wishes,” cash operations manager Tom Herges said.
Student reaction has overall been positive, Herges said, with some en-
Mary Lot
To students who have already received parking violations, and to those students who may still receive one, take note: Mary Hall Lot is now only faculty and visitor parking. The Flag Pole Lot, which used to be parking for faculty and visitors, is now for senior students. The Mary Hall Lot, which used to be parking for senior students, is now parking for faculty and visitors.
“Parking lot usage was reviewed over the summer and it was decided to switch the designation of the .ag pole and Mary lots between student and staff or faculty,” states Mike Conolly, SJU dean of students.
Be prepared for the downsize and steer clear of the yellow receipt by parking in the Flynntown lot adjacent to the senior-area student housing.
Student Activities
Based on an extensive programming survey given last spring, Student Activities and Leadership Development (SALD) have recognized the importance of scheduling events at a time in
.See CHANGES Page 9
Good Samaritan policy takes effect
Security log
Compiled by The Record staff
St. Ben’s Security
Aug. 26: Parking Lot 1, vehicle accident; Lottie, medical/fever
Aug. 28: Gorecki Dining, medical/cuts; Mary Commons, damage to property; BAC, damage to property
Aug. 29: East Apts., harassing phone calls; East Apts., .re alarm malfunction; Campus roadway, underage consumption
Aug. 30: Campus Roadway, underage consumption; Parking Lot 2, underage consumption; Aurora Hall, open house violation; Campus roadway, moving traffic violation; Regina Hall, underage consumption
Aug. 31: Campus roadway, underage consumption; Lottie Hall, open house violation; Smith Apts., medical/neck pain
Sept. 2: East Apts., fire alarm malfunction
Sept. 4: HCC, medical/cut finger
Friday: Gorecki Bus Stop, underage consumption
Saturday: Campus roadway, underage consumption
Sunday: Campus roadway, moving traf.c violation; Campus roadway, moving traf.c violation
Monday: East Apts.,physical assault report
St. John’s Security
Aug. 31: St.Thomas Hall, medical; St. Vincent Court, .re alarm; Quad, medical
Sept. 1: Quad, medical
Sept. 2: Quad, .re alarm; Campus, medical; Virgil Michael, medical
Sept. 3: St. Thomas Hall, alcohol violation
Sept. 4: Campus, animal complaint; St. Thomas Hall, fire alarm; St. Vincent Court, fire alarm; Campus, missing property
Friday: Quad, open door; Campus, found property; St. Thomas Hall, welfare check; Guest House, .re alarm; St. Thomas Hall, alcohol violation
Saturday: Campus, three alcohol violations, two medical, found property; St. Mary Hall, medical; Abbey, alarm; St. Maur House, medical; Sexton Commons, medical
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Next week’s
headlines
Re-accreditation
A look into the process that gives our diplomas value
CSB Capital Campaign
St. Ben’s raised $82.7 million, about three times more than the last campaign in 1996. The Record takes a look at what this means.
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-The Record staff
By Katie Ulrich
klulrich@csbsju.edu
Q: Why did the parking permits go from $75 to $100? Why is there so much construction in the parking lots? How are the parking lots chosen for students?
-Katie Beumer, CSB sophomore
couragement coming from alumni who straggled the .rst football game of the season Saturday.
Flynntown
Many students were away from campus on July 2 during the ground breaking ceremony for the Flynntown Community Center, which will be located between Seton and Metten Court apartments. Multiple rounds of reviews determined the .nal go-ahead by the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Saint John’s Board of Regents, while the Design Committee ensured that the aesthetic and functional layout of the building would be conducive to student use.
Construction is slated to begin at the end of Sept., with completion anticipated for July. The overall cost of the project is still being determined.
Following a meeting with the construction manager this week, the team will have more information on costs.
The center will serve upper-class residents on the lower campus, with the hope of enhancing the community atmosphere by creating a common space for students to gather.
“We believe that the community center will enhance the residential student experience,” said Mike Connolly, dean of students at St. John’s. “Community is an essential fabric to the Saint John’s experience.”
The center will include common dining and lounge space, study rooms, computer lab, a laundry facility and recreational space.
Parking
There are many factors that are evaluated when the cost of parking permits are decided for the year. Director of Security at CSB, James Schumann, calls the cost the “average of everything.”
Everything including: the cost at other private and state schools, as well as the spending fees and maintenance costs. One of the big factors is the increase in fuel costs.
CSB Interim Director of Security Darren Swanson said that CSB is not pro.ting from the cost of the parking permits, which is one of the reasons the costs can remain so low. Schumann said in regards to parking, CSB/SJU is the “cheapest college in the state.”
Construction
“Inconvenient” is how most drivers would describe the road construction on campus.
“(It) should have been done in the summer,” said CSB first-year Erin Berrisford. “It would have been easier on absolutely everyone.”
Construction was originally schedule for completion this summer. After the Midwest experienced bad weather, however, the contracting company got behind on their jobs. Schumann stressed that the construction was much needed and the parking lots and roads could not handle another winter.
Some students are upset about their parking spot locations. Spots are determined by their class status and the credits they hold. Schumann said students are given parking lots as close to where they live as possible. It is not always perfect due to the limited space, but Swanson says they do the best they can.
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