Akron follows trend with 5% tuition hike

In response to recently announced reductions in state funding and in concert with the actions of other public universities in Ohio, the University of Akron’s board of trustees Friday approved a 5 percent midyear increase in tuition and the general fee. Trustees also approved a corresponding increase in student financial aid and scholarship funding.

The actions were recommended to the board by University of Akron President Luis M. Proenza as part of a package of revenue enhancements and cost-containment measures that address a projected budget shortfall of $15.7 million for the university during the 2001-2002 fiscal year. The university’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30.

The 5 percent increase to tuition and the general fee will be effective spring semester 2002, which begins in January. It will apply to graduate and undergraduate students but will exclude undergraduates in the Community and Technical College and Wayne College, and students in the School of Law. For an in-state, undergraduate student who takes 15 credit hours per semester the increase will translate to approximately $120.

Fraternities try to clean up reputations

The greek community at Northwestern University is drying up and calming down.

According to the campus’ student newspaper, The Daily Northwestern, in the past seven years, five wet fraternities have left NU. In the past four years, five dry fraternities have recolonized or established chapters in their places.

The trend will likely continue because of a university policy that gives preference to fraternities that want to establish substance-free housing, said William Banis, vice president for student affairs. However, some say the push toward a substance-free system has changed students’ perspectives on fraternities and endangers students by forcing them to go to unsupervised off-campus parties.

For the university, part of the motivation behind substance-free housing is to prevent lawsuits stemming from alcohol-related incidents.

University of Utah gives to Olympics

With less than 100 days before the 2002 Olympic Opening Ceremonies, more than $1 billion has been spent by federal, state and city governments and other agencies, including the University of Utah.

The Salt Lake Organizing Committee has a $1.3 billion budget to use on the games. However, only $150 million of that money is insured. The university, like many agencies, has a contract with the SLOC and is waiting for reimbursements for money spent on facilities and Olympic preparations.

Years ago, university officials signed a contract with the SLOC for complete and exclusive use of Ric Eccles Stadium and the Heritage Commons residence halls during the Olympics. For this, SLOC agreed to pay the university $36 million.

According to the contract between the two agencies, SLOC will pay the university this money on certain conditions.

If the games don’t make money, or are canceled as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks, the university may be added to the list of Olympic losers with a $36 million bill.

Fraternities accused of racial insensitivity

Two fraternities at Auburn University are in hot water over photographs of racially insensitive incidents that took place at the fraternities’ Halloween parties.

Beta Theta Pi and Delta Sigma Phi have been suspended temporarily by the university and their national chapters. Delta Sigma Phi is also facing several charges including racial discrimination.

The discriminating photos included members of Beta Theta Pi dressed in Omega Psi Phi (an African American fraternity) jerseys and another man wearing overalls and a straw hat; each with their faces painted black.

Photos from the Delta Sigma Phi function included a brother dressed in Klan attire and a brother clothed in mock FUBU – a popular line of African American clothing – with a noose around his neck. Various members of the fraternity posed holding rifles to the “black” man, and a mock hanging was done for the camera.

-Compiled by Kimberly Brauning