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By Darlene Schneider, Editor
The Pathfinder
Students and Faculty 'Dine with
Dene'
Last week’s “Dine with Dene” luncheon sponsored by the student
government started with a question about the theater program.
“Every division made suggestions. Then the strategic planning
committee took them and then made suggestions,” L-C President Dene
Thomas said describing how discisions were made pertaining to the cuts.
The proposed cuts for next year are around 11 percent after an
already 3 percent cut this year. The construction of the activity center
has been on hold because of the budget crisis.
Thomas admitted that the meeting with the theater department, faculty
and the students really opened her eyes. “I am really taking Cassidy’s
challenge to find theater a year of grace.”
She added that she had three incredible offers from people who would
teach for free and that she wants the division to figure out a way to
give credit to all the people involved in plays put on by the theater
department.
Christopher Oglesby, student vice president, asked Thomas about the
honors program and its phasing out.
Thomas said that typically honors programs thrive better in larger
schools. She gave an example of someone taking a chemistry class with
100 students and then being in the honors program and being able to take
a chemistry class with far fewer students.
“We already have classes that size,” Thomas said.
Prof. Dennis Held asked how cutting philosphy would affect social
work students who have to take philosophy as a requirement.
Thomas said the school was looking into working with the University
of Idaho and said that they would make sure the program did not lose
accreditation because of the loss of philosophy.
Held also asked about students who have scholarships and if their
funding would continue.
“Can’t say that yet,” Thomas answered saying each case would be
looked at and it would depend on how long each student will need the
scholarship.
An audience member asked why the athletic department is $150,000 in
debt from the bigger sports, yet rodeo and golf are being cut and they
are breaking even.
“If you’re basing cuts on reward and punishment,” Thomas said, “then
yes other sports would be cut. But base it on something else--student
involvement and sports in NAIA.”
She added that it looked out how much the sport cost versus the
benefit it brought back to students on campus.
Thomas said that most of the reason for the debt was the lack of an
athletic director. Last year L-C only had a interim athletic director.
When Thomas came to L-C on July 9 there was no director until October, when Kathy Noble
was hired. Most of the job requirements from an athletic director are intertwined with
fundraising, she said.
The NAIA World Series helps the athletic dpartment’s budget. She said
that last year the series brought in $25,000.
“Legally as an institution we cover it but we don’t forget it,”
Thomas said. Which the reason why some sports were cut and why all major sports are taking
a cut in scholarship money.
The next “Dine with Dene” meeting is Feb. 14 at noon in Jitterz.
Everyone is invited.
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