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SGA creates new positions, Team Tigertown wins first round of elections
The newly approved Student Government Association constitution created additional elected positions in the organization including a new executive board member, the chief of staff. The constitution also created a judicial branch, several new director positions and added senators to the legislative body.
In the first round of elections, Team Tigertown, led by Kristen Guy, swept the traditional four positions of president, vice president, treasurer and attorney general. During the second elections SGA director of University communications Ryan Assadi, who lost the race for attorney general, won the newly created chief of staff position.
-Kiel McLaughlin
Tobacco-free campus
The University has completed the drafting process of a policy that can potentially make Towson a tobacco-free zone. What began as an initiative from President Robert Caret to create a smoke-free campus has extended its reach to include smokeless tobacco.
Vice president of student affairs Deb Moriarty said the proposal has been sent to the University Senate, the Student Government Association, the Towson University Staff Council, American Association of University Professors and other organizations on campus. In it's current capacity, the policy would take affect Jan. 1, 2011.
-Kiel McLaughlin
Cherry Hill program receives federal funding
The University's work in the Cherry Hill Learning Zone will increase this fall after the federal government has provided $310, 479 for the program. Through the work of Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger and Senator Ben Cardin, the University will boost its presence in the community as well as the classroom. Dean of the College of Education Raymond Lorion said members of the College of Business, the College of Health Professions and other groups from the University would join the effort to support the citizens of Cherry Hill.
-Kiel McLaughlin
New building at Harford Community College
In an effort to provide four-year degree options for students in Harford County, Towson will construct a new building on the property of Harford Community College within the next two years. The complex will be owned by HCC but leased to the University to offer courses. The project will be funded through several sources including Towson, HCC, and the University System of Maryland. The financial means of the complex has not yet been finalized, but Towson President Robert Caret said he hopes to have the building operating in 18 to 24 months.
-Kiel McLaughlin
Towson to pilot trimester program
By targeting under-utilized classroom and lab space during the summer schedules, the University has received funding to pilot a trimester program beginning this summer. The 10-week session is a not a replacement for the traditional 5- and 7-week sessions, but an addition to the standard schedule. The program was developed in order to provide students an opportunity to take often-overcrowded classes during the off-months. Many of the courses being offered during the first year of the pilot include programs through the College of Health Professions and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects.
-Kiel McLaughlin
Forensics institute established
With federal funding, the University's two-year-old major in forensics chemistry received a financial boost. The creation of the forensics institute with the addition of $141,000 brings greater recognition to the program. Senator Ben Cardin, who was on hand for the announcement, said there is a national need for 10,000 forensic scientists and Towson's new program will help in the satisfying of the void.
-Kiel McLaughlin
TU athletes subject to drug testing
In response to a national trend, Towson University athletics has adopted its own drug-testing policy. Prior to the establishment of the policy, Towson was one of just 11 percent of NCAA Division I athletic programs to not have an in-house program from drug testing. The NCAA randomly tests student-athletes for recreational and performance-enhancing drugs along with standard tests prior to national championship competition. Towson policy focuses on the use of recreational drugs, such as marijuana, in its testing.
-Kiel McLaughlin
Two athletes arrested on drug charges
Baltimore County Police officers arrested Towson football players Eric Clark and Trent Covington at their Cockeysville apartment on Oct. 11 on charges of marijuana possession with intent to distribute. Both players were indefinitely suspended from the team immediately.
One month later, charges against Clark were dropped as the Maryland State's Attorney's Office found a lack of evidence against the Towson cornerback to continue with the case. Covington was found guilty on Feb. 21 and was sentenced to five years in prison, four suspended, and three years probation.
-Kiel McLaughlin
The provost's office found stability this year, when vice president for the division of economic and community outreach James Clements was named provost by Towson President Robert Caret.
No search committee was formed prior to the appointment.
Clements served as acting provost from April 2007 until November 2007. He replaced James Brennan who left the University in April.
Katherine Denniston, formerly the associate dean in the Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, became the associate provost. Catherine Horta-Hayden, artistic director of the Towson University Dance Company, became the assistant provost. Barbra Eckley, a senior policy analyst in DECO, became the assistant to the provost.
--Sharon Leff
Two students were isolated from campus after testing positive for initial tuberculosis screenings this year.
In September, the Baltimore County Health Department informed Towson about the first student who was on-campus resident. In response to the unconfirmed case students were alerted via the Daily Digest. The second unconfirmed case occurred in March. The student in that case lived in an off-campus apartment.
University officials said the Health Department contacted people who may have been at risk and needed to be tested.
--Sharon Leff
The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender student development director position, which was left vacant by Samuel Santos in October, will be filled by Maren Greathouse from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, this summer.
The director position was new to the Center for Student Diversity this year. Santos held the position for only four months before submitting his resume and taking another job at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
The position has been vacant since his departure. A search committee to find his replacement began in December. Candidates visited campus during Spring Break and Greathouse accepted the position in April.
--Sharon Leff
To efficiently alert the campus community in case of emergency, the University began installing a siren system this year.
The need for better communication in case of emergency was brought to the forefront after the mass shootings at Virginia Tech last year.
The siren system includes speakers for the inside and outside of buildings, including academic and residence halls.
The project was scheduled to take place in three phases. Prior to the siren installation, the University also introduced a text messaging system.
The Towson University Police said these additional safety precautions were always in the University's plans.
--Sharon Leff
At the start of the academic year, Campus Recreation Services banned people from wearing cut-off T-shirts, halter-tops and midriff-exposing tops in the Burdick Hall gym. The dress code policy was started in part, to cut down on the number of skin infections and germs transmitted from using the gym equipment. It was also created in order to reduce the amount of sweat on the machines.
Many students were unhappy with the policy prompting the Student Government Association to pass a resolution against the new dress code.
The policy was overturned about 10 days later.
--Sharon Leff
After failing to achieve successful retention rates, the University discontinued a program which enrolled students with lower grade point averages but higher SAT scores.
Students admitted into the program needed a GPA of 2.7-2.99 and a combined SAT score ranging from 1050 to 1600.
The University determined that GPA is still a better indicator of academic success.
The majority of students enrolled in the program were male, but Towson officials said the program was not gender related.
Students who participated in the program needed to attend proctored study hall sessions, take nine credits with at least a 2.0 GPA and complete personal development projects.
--Sharon Leff
Linthicum Threat:
In Towson's history neither the police nor faculty members could recall any harmful or explicit threats on the university. This year an anonymous threat received by Towson police said that harmful action would take place in or around Linthicum Hall. Students who enrolled in the emergency text message system received notification of the threat right away. An e-mail was sent out to all other students regarding the threat simultaneously, but were not immediately received. Classes were held following the threat despite uneasiness from students. According to administrators the investigation provided no credible information to validate the threat. Representatives from University relations, the Office of Student Affairs, and the President's office worked the phones answering questions after the threat was released.
-Ashley Rabe
One Card Off Campus:
Towson has expanded their OneCard services to use at some local businesses. In addition to Bill Bateman's Bistro at 7800 York Road, students will also be able to use their OneCard at Charles Village Pub and Ridgely & Ferrens Marketplace, according to James Sheehan, vice president for administration and finance. The participating organizations are being held to the honor system in regards to alcoholic beverages. If the University finds one of the businesses are selling these products to students they will be removed from the list. The expansion of the OneCard has been contracted with Off-Campus Advantage, the same organization that handles the current OneCard contract.
-- Ashley Rabe
Dance Team:
The Towson Dance Team won their 10th consecutive national championship this year. However, it all could have been over when the music stopped three seconds into their performance. The dance team continued, despite the hitch. The team completed the competition and was embraced by a standing ovation and a cheering crowd.
--Ashley Rabe
Fake ID's/ Uptown:
Due to persistent problems caused by college-aged people frequenting bars in uptown Towson, Baltimore County has added two officers to the patrol late into the evening on days when there is increased bar traffic. As a result of the increased patrols the number of Towson students caught using fake IDs have more than tripled since this time last year. Baltimore County Police have increased their presence at local bars and liquor stores and the University is implementing stricter policies including fines of students for the use of fake ID's. Local businesses also have to be careful of fake IDs as the consequences for local businesses are high.
Ashley Rabe
Condoms in Halls:
University Residence Government and the Queer Student Union made a combined effort to place condoms in the University's residence halls. QSU is using this program to increase the awareness of HIV/AIDS within the student body. Each residence hall will receive about 100 condoms per month. They are displayed in the community center in a glass jar and in a folder near the security desk at night. The first batch of condoms were taken quickly, and URG is in the process of seeking additional funds and grants to increase the number of condoms they provide.
--Ashley Rabe
Kevin Ryan:
Kevin Ryan had been at Towson for six weeks when an alleged intoxicated driver hit him off campus near Goucher and Loch Raven Boulevards.. The driver fled the scene and Ryan was hit by another vehicle whose driver proceeded to call the police. Ryan was pronounced brain dead at Sinai Hospital. Unbeknownst to his parents he was an organ donor. His father said he finds solace in donating Kevin's organs and that a small piece of Kevin will live on in future generations. Six months after his death his family is working on a golf tournament fund-raiser to support the scholarship recently placed in his name at Towson. The family hopes to have the scholarship available next semester.
--Ashley Rabe
Aramark
Ongoing salary disputes between Aramark employees and Aramark corporate led to a protest at Aramark headquarters and multiple Union meetings.
According to Charles Knox, an Aramark union representative, said he and other employees were promised a raise that never came to fruition.
Following the union meetings, the employees' demands rose to a dollar raise, plus a shift differential, meaning the three different shifts at Towson would collect separate varying wages and a pension plan.
To date, issues have not been settled.
--Nick DiMarco
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