The Xavier Herald
Xavier University of Louisiana
December 4, 2012 - December 31, 2012
New Orleans, La
Established in 1925
Happy Holidays from the Xavier herald staff
Fall 2012 had highs and lows
SGA President Ashley Trussell wrote a letter to the Herald criticizing the administration’s decisions and the lack of student involvement. The SGA then organized a protest rally and march, where students carried banners and signs with the theme “We Only Walk Once.” Xavier President Norman C. Francis responded with a letter of his own, reiterating the administration’s decision and assuring students this graduation homecoming will usher in a new Xavier tradition.
The Xavier Herald staff takes a look back at a semester marked by historical financial problems and historymaking openings.
XU lays off 38 workers In its Nov. 20 edition, the Xavier Herald broke the news story about the administration’s surprise announcement of immediate staff layoffs and a mandatory Christmas week closure that forces staff to use four days of accrued vacation leave or leave without pay. In an unexpected email to staff and faculty issued Thanksgiving week, the university also announced immediate salary and hiring freezes and a 10 percent decrease in the university’s contribution to health insurance premiums, effective Jan. 1, 2013. Some 38 employee positions wereeliminatedinthefirstround of terminations and notified by Nov. 30, Dr. Kenneth St. Charles, vice president for Institutional Advancement, said. “The university will continue to evaluate the cost of reduction measures that have taken place to date before implementing additional personnel reductions,” St. Charles said. Xavier President Dr. Norman C. Francis told the Herald that the administration will look at faculty numbers in March, after rank and tenure are decided and budget reviews are analyzed. In a Dec. 3 interview with
Obama moves forward Students from myriad majors helped to produce the Fall 2012 Xavier Herald. Pictured are: Row 1, l-r, Ashlee Hill, mass communication; Bianca Moore, political science; Ashley Brewer, managing editor, broadcast; Cortney Smith, graphics design, psychology; Cassie Smith, editor-in-chief, print journalism; Mia Ruffin, English; Asia Baker, chemistry/pre-med; row 2, l-r, Eric Craig, political science; Latifa Williams, psychology; Ruston Henry, broadcast; Briana Bell, biology/pre-med; Chelsea Stephens, biology/pre-med; Armond Collins, psychology/pre-med; row 3, l-r, Melinda Shelton, adviser, mass communication; Jimmie Johnson, political editor, broadcast; Michael Rauls, co-business manager, business; Anthony Lotten, A&E editor; English; and Cameron Franklin, mass communication. Not pictured: Kaylin McLeod, co-business manager, business; Alyssa Mercadel, photo editor, chemistry/pre-med; Amber Williams, Business; Rosalyn Kent, Chemistry; and Kenneth Norwood, graphics design, print journalism.
The Times-Picayune posted on nola.com, Francis said nontenured faculty positions in departments with low numbers of majors will be reviewed.
taken to avoid a $5 million to $7 million operational budget deficit. The administration attributed the looming deficit to
Education reversed its decision about the PPL criteria. St. Charles said Xavier’s financial aid office is contacting students whose applications were denied for the fall semester and who might now be eligible for financial aid during the Spring 2013 semester. New Arena, New Controversy
He told reporter John Pope that tenured faculty in small departments could also be in jeopardy, but that they would be given an academic year to apply for positions at other universities. The measures are being
low fall enrollment of new freshmen caused by the bad economy and the sudden change in Parent Plus Loan criteria. After a large decrease in enrollment at Xavier and other HBCUs resulted in financial crises, the U.S. Department of
xavierherald.com
On Nov. 3, Xavier opened its new Convocation Center, but not without a whirl of controversy. The 4,500-seat arena is not only the new home for Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets basketball and volleyball, but will also be home to Xavier’s graduation ceremony in May 2013. For many years, commencement was held at the more spacious UNO Lakefront Arena, where students were able to invite an unlimited number of family and friends. But since the Convocation Center offers less seating, Xavier’s administration decided to limit graduates to five tickets each.
Students celebrated the reelection of President Barack Obama at an election watch party hosted by the SGA in the UC on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Hundreds of students attended and shared in this historical moment of the re-election of our nation’s first African American president. Students screamed, hugged each other and danced in excitement as they watched the returns. The Xavier Herald joined the SGA and other organizations in holding voter registration events. For several hundred Xavierites, the historic election marked the first time they voted.
See Semester Review pg. 4