I attended the memorial service that was held for Thomas Rouleau a few weeks ago. It is hard for me to express just how moved I was by everything that was said by both Tom’s friends and family; and also how in awe I was of his brilliant and creative artwork that was displayed throughout the forum. Sure tears were rolling down the faces of many throughout the memorial but smiles and laughs were also seen and heard.

Though lots of of us are still dealing with the sudden loss of Tom I was reassured that particular Sunday night that he would want us to continue to stick together during this difficult time and remember it is okay to laugh again. We lost not just a McDaniel Student, but a best friend, a boyfriend, a brother, a son, and the list could continue for lines and lines.

But I learned so many valuable lessons at that memorial service that will stick with me forever. One very important thing that Tom’s mother, Mary, pointed out to all of us is that we must live our lives the best way we know how and not waste time doing things we do not enjoy. That is the way Tom lived his life and we must emulate his attitude. We must continue to laugh often and spend time with the people we love most. Nothing in life is certain and we must live, as Tom did, to the fullest every day. We must remain optimistic. Remain spontaneous. Remain hopeful. Remain caring and loving towards others.

As I strive to keep a smile on my face every day and even laugh too hard at a bad joke that’s not even funny I will think of you Tom. I know your spirit will reside in me forever. Rest in Peace.

kate delenick
Co Editor-in-Chief

Kate Delenick
Co Editor in Chief

It has been just over month since the hit and run crash that killed McDaniel Sophomore, Thomas Rouleau. While family, friends, and the entire McDaniel Community continue to cope with their devastating loss, local police are still searching for Shawron Gabriel Bibbs, the man police identified as responsible for the fatal crash.

Westminster City Police Detective Jeff Schuster said the department is “currently working with all leads” in the search for Bibbs; but was “not at liberty to say” when asked whether he believed Bibbs was still in the Westminster or Baltimore Area.

A $1000.00 reward is being offered for any information leading to the arrest of Bibbs and anyone with information should call the Westminster Police Department at 410-848-4646.The last known address for Bibbs is: 9 Glouchester Rd., Reisterstown, Md.

Jen Noel
Staff Reporter

On February 26, 2009, a homeless man was apprehended by Campus Safety officers after entering the unlocked back door of a Pennsylvania Avenue house. The man in custody was later criminally charged by the Department of Campus Safety.

At around 2 a.m., a man was seen trying to enter the front doors of Decker Center. After watching the man, who was unaffiliated with the college, struggle with the locked doors, Campus Safety told him to leave the premises.

The perpetrator then walked down toward the Pennsylvania Avenue houses and tried to enter house where the back door was locked. He moved to the house next door, and found the door unlocked, and entered the residence. Campus Safety immediately took the man into custody.

This incident has sparked a cautionary message from Mike Webster, Director of Campus Safety.

“Each year we account for hundreds of incidents where we have to remove props holding doors open in residence halls,” said Webster. “I am certain that at least one third of Pennsylvania Avenue houses also leave their doors unlocked.”

According to the Office of Postsecondary Education, since 2005, McDaniel College has had 2 robberies and 16 burglaries on campus, and 16 burglaries in residence halls alone. In the year 2007, all 3 burglaries that occurred were without forced entry.

Although the incident that occurred this time did not end in theft, Webster warned that this occurence can be a lesson learned about the necessity to take precaution and lock doors when leaving a building.

“This is not a matter to take lightly,” commented Webster. “We need to be proactive in these situations, many times an incident like this could be prevented if doors remain locked.”

Katie Smith
Staff Reporter

Like colleges across the country, McDaniel is feeling the effects of the economic recession. Fortunately, McDaniel students will likely be shielded from the full force of these effects.

The economic recession has left its mark on McDaniel. The college’s endowment declined about 25 percent, state funding was cut twice this year, and donors are more cautious about giving, according to Dr. Ethan Seidel, vice president for Administration and Finance. At the same time, students need more financial aid, so the college spent $1.2 million over budget this year, according to a letter from President Coley to the McDaniel community in December 2008. Despite economic challenges, McDaniel remains committed to staying affordable for students.

“The college is wholly committed to providing the financial aid needed to help attract students and to keep our students here. The college has cut costs in all areas, except financial aid,” says Patricia Williams, director of Financial Aid. Currently, 80 percent of students receive some form of financial aid, according to Williams.

Seidel confirms the college’s commitment to providing students with financial aid. With more students likely to face financial challenges in the coming academic year, Seidel says that financial aid is a “certainty.” He says that maintaining financial aid is a top priority of the college, and he assures that there will be an increase in financial aid next year.

“One thing we are staying committed to is staying affordable?. I think if anything is maintained, it is going to be financial aid, absolutely,” Seidel says.

Along with an increase in financial aid, the college is also attempting to avoid a spike in the cost of tuition. However, according to President Joan Coley, an increase in tuition is unavoidable due to decreases in income elsewhere, but the increase is relatively minor.

“Because of our rising prices, we have raised tuition for next year, but it is the smallest increase in recent memory,” Coley says.

The current academic year’s tuition, including room and board based on a double dorm and 210 meal plan, is $36,880.00. Williams says this year’s tuition increased by about four or five percent from last year’s tuition. Tuition for the 2009-2010 academic year will be $38,600.00, an increase of just under four percent, according to Williams.

Remaining affordable will certainly be a challenge in this economic environment. Aid from the state has been cut twice this year, resulting in a reduction of over half a million dollars. In the past, much of that money has been used for financial aid.

The college’s endowment has declined approximately 25 percent as a result of the stock market, according to Seidel. As of June 2007, the endowment was $89,697,000. Now, Seidel estimates that it is approximately $65 million. According to Richard Kief, vice president for Institutional Advancement, each year, five percent of a three year average of the endowment is drawn to support the operating budget. When the endowment is smaller, as it is this year, “we draw five percent of a smaller number,” says Kief.

The McDaniel Annual Fund may or may not suffer this year, but Kief says that if it does turn out to be down this year on top of the decline in the endowment, it will be even more difficult to maintain a balanced budget.

The McDaniel Annual Fund is financed by financial gifts that go into the college’s operating budget.

“Right now, we’re ahead on pledges and behind on cash. I can’t tell you if we’re going to end up where the pledges are or if we’ll end up where the cash is,” says Kief. But along with the others, Kief says the college is committed to meeting the financial needs of students regardless.

Fundraising has slowed down in general, not only for the McDaniel Annual Fund. Brenda Dombroski, associate director of Major Gifts, says that monetary gifts to the college have slowed down. While Dombroski says the college still has some generous donors, many are more cautious to immediately say yes to giving.

Kief says that last year, the college raised $15 million, and the year before $16 million. “The outlook for this year is going to be less,” he says. Exactly how much less is yet to be determined. He says they are currently in discussion with people who could make significant gifts, but he will not know until they make their decisions.

It is uncertain what the future holds for the economy and exactly how McDaniel will continue to be affected. Seidel suspects that McDaniel, along with every other college, will be more affected by this economy in the coming academic year.
“I really think that next year’s budget is going to see more of the impact than this year’s budget,” Seidel says.
No matter what the future holds, it is clear that McDaniel is not the only college facing financial challenges.
“McDaniel is in a club with 100 percent membership,” says Dr. Kevin McIntyre, an economics professor and a faculty representative to the Budget Committee.

Despite the challenges, Seidel remains optimistic about McDaniel’s ability to withstand the recession.
“We’re not going to escape unscathed, but at the same time we’ll come through it and be okay in the end,” he says.

Jen Noel
Staff Reporter

The unpredictable weather of the past two weeks or perhaps a series of good television shows must have been keeping the students on campus occupied because this week’s blotter was definitely on the “lighter side.” The fact that students have been on their better behavior makes a good day for Campus Safety, but makes my job more difficult. But have no fear, no one is perfect, and the blotter still had plenty of mishaps.

In the weeks since returning to campus, there have been 99 documented incidents in the blotter, a number that is pretty high according to Mike Webster. A string of vehicle related incidents made up the latter part of that 99 this round.

On February 21, officers responded to a call that three cars had been egged in the North Village parking lot. The cars appeared to have no apparent connection to one another, but one thing’s for sure; someone on campus has a real aversion to omelets. The only tangible explanation for this incident is they must be trying to relive their high school days; I bet they went cow tipping afterwards.

Another student was also unfortunate enough to find an unwanted gift left on their car. On February 24, a student reported going to his car and discovering that someone had thrown up on his vehicle. Nothing like seeing that someone else had a better dinner in GLAR last night than you did. Clean up in aisle seven.

On February 15, I was a first hand witness to a report that Campus Safety filed in Hill Hall. A student must have forgotten that there is no bathroom on the first floor of the building as fecal matter was discovered in the hallway. Students using the computer lab were approached by the officer on duty and asked if they had posted the sign or knew anything about the incident.

Being a true reporter, I checked out the scene. It was disgusting, but it also proved that there are some considerate students on campus. After stepping in the remnants left behind by the poo bandit, someone posted a sign to beware of the droppings on the other side of the door. The cleaning staff really needs to get paid overtime for these past two weeks.

Of course the pages of the blotter were also filled with the expected incidents of alcohol violations and disturbances around campus; some just never learn from the mistakes of others.

If nothing else, a moral emerges from this week’s blotter: no place is safe from the sordid activities of students, so watch where you’re walking.