INDEX
Emory Events Calendar, Page 2
Police Record, Page 2
Story Snippet, Page 9
Crossword Puzzle, Page 8
Staff Editorial, Page 6
OnFire, Page 11
THE EMORY WHEEL Since 1919
The Independent Student Newspaper of Emory University
Volume 94, Issue 6
www.emorywheel.com
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Every Tuesday and Friday
EMORY SHUTS DOWN DEPTS. Visual Arts, Journalism, Educational Studies, P.E. and Russian; Econ., Spanish Grad. Programs Suspended, ILA to be Downsized By Evan Mah Editor in Chief
James Crissman/Staff
Graduate students hosted a rally to protest the suspension of the Laney Graduate School Spanish and Economics programs. Administrators, faculty and hundreds of students attended the rally, which featured speakers in opposition to program suspensions and closures.
Undergrads Grad Students Host Rally in Protest React to Department Changes By Stephanie Fang News Editor
By Jordan Friedman Associate Editor When College freshman Brett Lichtenberg sent out his college applications last year, he knew he wanted a school with a journalism program. For this reason, Emory became the college of his choice. “I was looking forward to hopefully going to a school that’s tight-knit journalism program would allow me to flourish in a field that I felt so passionately about,” Lichtenberg said. But a year later, Lichtenberg said the University’s decision to “phase out” Emory’s journalism program has turned his attitude “completely on its back.” Lichtenberg trusts that administrators put considerable time and energy into their decision, but he now has to rework his academic outline for the next four years. Students like Lichtenberg are feeling the effects of College Dean Robin Forman’s decision to close the College’s Division of Educational Studies, the Department of Visual Arts and the Department of Physical Education, in addition to the journalism program. The University has also announced that it will suspend the Economics, Spanish and Institute of Liberal Arts (ILA) programs in the Laney Graduate School. Many undergraduate students have criticized Forman for what they say is a lack of transparency in the process that led to the departmental changes. In a series of interviews with the Wheel, undergraduates primarily expressed frustration with this lack of transparency, as well as concern for their academic futures. A few agreed with the changes or remained
See STUDENTS, Page 5
When Otto Lenhart opened his email last Friday morning, he saw a message he thought was so bizarre that it had to be a joke. The email — sent by Elena Pesavento, chair of the economics department — said the University planned to suspend the graduate economics program. For Lenhart, who had started his
second year of studies in the program just a few weeks before, this news came as a total shock. According to Lenhart, the graduate program in economics had improved its reputation significantly during the last five years. “A week ago, they announced that we had [our] highest ranking ever, in the top 50,” he said. “The weird thing was that we had a meeting of the [economics] department, and everyone was happy because this was
a really good development.” Edouard Wemy, a fourth-year graduate student in the economics program, also recalled the praise that the department received from Laney Graduate School (LGS) administrators for their recent improvements and rise in rankings by the Southeastern Economics Journal. “[The chair of the economics department] mentioned that [LGS]
The 46th legislature of the Student Government Association (SGA) convened Monday evening to hear Robin Forman, Dean of the College, present on the College’s recent decision to phase out certain undergraduate and graduate programs. After Forman’s presentation, legislators and spectators had the opportunity to ask questions. Forman, who assured students that he was “not trying to hide anything,” had given the same PowerPoint slideshow to faculty last Wednesday when he first announced these plans. During the presentation, Emory’s financials played an important part in Forman’s discussion with students. Some were looking for more specifics than what Forman provided. “Do you have a pie chart or anything?” asked one student who demanded to know exactly where Emory’s funds are allocated. Forman’s response elaborated that Emory’s operative budget, 80% of which is funded by student tuition, goes to three main areas: financial aid, salaries to faculty and staff and allocative costs, which are all the places that cannot sustain themselves
on their own revenue like campus life, the library and the communication office. The University, he said, has been running deficits since the financial collapse in 2008, specifically a deficit of $8.5 million in the fiscal year 2011 and a deficit of $9 million in the fiscal year 2012, excluding off-budget expenses like temporary faculty and start-up costs, which account for about $2 million. In light of the Central Administration clearing the university’s remaining debt from the 2012 fiscal year, Forman said that the University is predicted to break even for the fiscal year of 2013. Forman was adamant in emphasizing that the reallocation of funds is not about cutting costs. Students present were reluctant to believe him, especially after learning that numerous faculty positions would no longer exist as a result of the plan. Forman was quick to defend the decision, explaining that every faculty member has at least two years advanced notice for the changes. Forman said that when he refers to a “better future” or Emory’s “academic eminence,” he means a commitment to enhance what Emory students and faculty consider to be
See CHANGES, Page 5
SEE INSIDE Editorial reaction to Dean Robin Forman’s announcements. See Page 6. In the letter sent to students Friday, Forman wrote that while the University is facing “limitless opportunities,” resources are stretched and steps must be taken to ensure that said resources are being allocated “in the most effective manner to further our academic mission.” Forman said the plan is an effort to create “intriguing opportunities by renewing Emory’s commitment to academic eminence.” “Academic eminence means being leaders in all aspects of our academic mission,” Forman said. “The academic mission includes the educational mission … and it also means creating communities in which our faculty are leading conversations on issues of significance and relevance both nationally and internationally.” Re-allocated resources, Forman wrote, would go towards “core disciplines of distinction” and new areas of study such as contemporary China, the role of digital and new media and neuroscience as it relates to brain and behavior. While others might disagree, Forman is quick to note that the plan is not solely about departments. “Everyone is being affected. We’re a big college,” he said. “There are some departments that are being
New Directions See ONLINE, Page 5
See FACULTY, Page 4
RUSHING DOWN THE ROW
Students Pressure Forman at SGA Meeting By Rupsha Basu Contributing Writer
Emory College has announced plans to shut down or suspend various academic departments and programs. In a letter sent to all College students Friday afternoon, College Dean Robin Forman announced plans to “phase out” certain academic departments and re-allocate resources within the College. The University will close the Division of Educational Studies and the Department of Visual Arts, in addition to Emory’s journalism program, Forman wrote in another letter available on the Emory website. The Institute of Liberal Arts (ILA) will no longer house full-time faculty, and the economics and Spanish graduate programs will be suspended, according to a Sept. 14 University statement. The Emory Wheel has also confirmed that the Russian language program will be eliminated, a change not noted in Forman’s letter to students nor reported by the University. As a result of the changes, an estimated 18 tenured faculty will be offered “comparable positions in other academic departments,” according to the University statement. Three nontenured assistant professors and 19 lecture-track faculty will be forced to find jobs elsewhere, as the College will not be renewing their contracts when they expire. According to the University, approximately 20 staff positions will be eliminated in the next five years. Forman said in an interview with the Wheel that he is confident the University will find new roles internally for those whose positions are being eliminated. In the case of students currently pursuing majors in departments or programs that the University is eliminating, they will be able to complete their majors and graduate on time, according to the statement.
Robin Forman, College dean, announced his plan to “phase out” and remove several Emory programs Friday afternoon.
Jason Lee/Staff
R
un the Row, when new fraternity members run down Eagle Row to their respective fraternity houses, kicked off Block Party this year. In addition, the Block Party event was sponsored only by Greek organizations. See page 3 for full story.
CRIME
Police Officer Kills Emory Junior By Karishma Mehrotra Contributing Writer A Gwinnett County Officer shot and killed College junior Victor Vinh Charles Le, 20, last Wednesday night after Le allegedly pointed a BB gun at the officer, Gwinett police say. The officer — whose name has not been released — arrived at Le’s household in response to a domes-
tic dispute call from Le’s parents, according to a Gwinnett County police report. The parents were arguing with Le before midnight at the parent’s residence. The 911 caller said Le was threatening to commit a robbery. According to the report, as the police officer entered the driveway,
See OFFICER, Page 5
Victor Le, a College junior was killed by a Gwinnet County officer last Wednesday evening following a confrontation.
NEWS DUC TO UNDERGO
OP-EDS STUDENT RE-
A&E MUSIC MIDTOWN
SPORTS WOMEN’S SOC-
NEXT ISSUE ADMINS
MINOR RENOVATIONS WITHIN
SPONSES TO PROPOSED DEPART-
TO FEATURE HIT BANDS THIS
CER STILL UNDEFEATED AFTER
DISCUSS FINANCIAL REASONING
MENT CUTS...
WEEKEND...
THE UPCOMING YEAR...
PAGE 3
PAGE 7
PAGE 9
SIXTH GAME...
Back Page
BEHIND CUTS...
FRIDAY