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Major project to be completed, two to begin construction
By the end of the spring semester and beginning of the summer months, Towson is scheduled to complete one of its major capital projects in time to begin two others.
Phase I of the College of Liberal Arts complex behind Linthicum Hall is scheduled for completion by the end of the semester in preparation for Fall 2009. Once opened, the building will add 250,000 square feet of space to the University's academic core that has experienced a crunch for classroom space the last few years. Funding for Phase II of construction has not yet been secured, but vice president of administration and finance Jim Sheehan said that he expects it to receive the money despite the economy.
Early in the summer, the latest addition to the West Village is scheduled to begin construction. A dining facility is planned to accommodate the growing student population of the part of campus since the opening of William Paca and Harriet Tubman houses for the Fall 2008. The project is scheduled for completion by Summer 2011.
Finally, the new $45 million arena to be built adjacent to the current Towson Center is scheduled to begin construction following the spring semester.
The 5,000-seat facility is in the design phase. Athletics has scheduled to unveil the plans to the comunity on Wednesday, Jan. 21 in the Towson Center at 7 p.m..
--Kiel McLaughlin
USM, University cope with budget reduction, end of tuition freeze
The struggling economy has taken its toll on the state budget and has in turn lead to the University System of Maryland receiving a major funding reduction. In the fall, the USM faced a $16 million cut, $3 million of which was taken from Towson's budget.
On Dec. 16, the University will find out to what extent additional reductions will take place for the spring semester.
Governor Martin O'Malley has already announced a plan for two to five furloughs for all state employees before the end of the 2008 fiscal year. USM chancellor Brit Kirwan announced last week that he anticipates tuition to increase for the 2009 to 2010 academic year, ending the three-year tuition freeze. Following the Dec. 16 meeting of the USM, Towson will know whether or not the student population will grow in 2009-10.
President Robert Caret has said that if the University does not receive adequate funding, it will stop the major growth that it has experienced for the last half decade. Provost James Clements said that enrollment might flatten or grow by a small margin if significant cuts are made.
--Kiel McLaughlin
Debaters seek to defend national championship over Spring Break
Last semester, Dayvon Love and Deven Cooper were unknown in the debate community until they won a national championship - Towson's only team to ever achieve such recognition.
Over Spring Break, the pair will return to the Cross Examination Debate Association national tournament with hopes of defending their title. The pair also plans to enter the National Debate Tournament and add another trophy to their mantel.
Love and Cooper practice an unconventional, and at times controversial, style of debate focusing on topics of race, equality and domination against oppressed people. Their approach has been attacked by debate traditionalists, even provoking a column in The Wall Street Journal.
They take pride in being the first African Americans to win the competition.
The debaters are products of Baltimore's Urban Debate League and have spent time aiding and judging younger competitors in rhetoric.
Together, Love and Cooper are only ranked behind teams from Ivy League schools among the best in the nation.
--Nick DiMarco
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