UGF Handicap Accessibility

By HEATHER RADFORD
Has it ever occurred to you to inspect different facilities for their handicap friendly aspect?

Professor Tom Raunig teaches adapted physical education (HPE230) at the University of Great Falls and brings handicap accessibility to people’s attention.

Raunig tasks his students with the assignment to evaluate different facilities for their handicap accommodations which students complete by using a check off sheet of handicap necessities to determine whether the facility is updated or equipped to accommodate those with handicaps.

According to Raunig’s criteria, UGF is in need of updating its handicap accommodations.

After evaluation, UGF was found by Raunig’s students to lack Braille signage completely, as well as a severe lack of elevators for the multi-level campus.

Although most doors were wide enough for wheelchairs to enter, wheelchair mobility within the classrooms is difficult.

UGF does provide handicap parking, railings for the staircases, and automatic door opening mechanisms are provided at the entrance of every building.

Accommodating those individuals restricted to lower levels, phones are placed at a level anyone can reach, as well as the drinking fountains on campus.

The bathrooms include a larger stall, stall railing, and sinks low enough for anyone to their hands.

A student restricted to crutches said how uneasy it was for her to move around the campus.

She experienced difficulty with the stairs when she was either entering a building or going to a class.

If the university had elevators, she said, it would be a lot easier for a student on crutches to move around the campus freely.

If it is hard for someone on crutches to move around campus, imagine what it would be like to be in a wheel chair or to be blind without any braille inscriptions to tell you where you are she said.

New Meal Plan Policy in Effect

By VICTORIA MICHELETTI

The University of Great Falls has made some changes to the meal plan options that are offered to students this year in response to a high volume of complaints last year.

Dena Floerchinger works in the University’s business office, and says that like most universities, UGF has a “use it or lose it policy, meaning that if students do not use the amount of money allocated in their meal plan by the end of each semester, that money is not returned to them.

                                                               

A freshman student’s meal plan is built into their tuition, and last year their only option was to pay $1,600 for the University meal plan.

According to student senate’s President, Jenni Stewart, the student senate overheard a lot of complaints from students about the amount of money they lost at the end of the semester.

Stewart said, “We wanted to make sure people had a choice at least,” so the student senate worked for over two and a half months to try and bring about a change.

Stewart said they created a survey to administer to the student’s to better understand how everyone felt about the previous meal plan, then using those results, built a proposal to make a change.

The proposal was then submitted to Chief Financial Officer Peggy Board, who approved a new meal plan with two options.

Incoming freshman students and anyone else who is required to have a university meal plan now have the option of choosing either the “platinum plan” or the “gold plan”.

According to the memo describing the meal plans and located in the business office, the platinum plan still costs students $1,600, however, students can use up to $300 from those funds to purchase gift cards to off-campus food establishments.

Vicki Podvin, a Manager of the University cafeteria, said “gift cards in $20 increments can be purchased any time from the University’s cafeteria,” and are available for McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Subway, Burger King, and Albertsons Food Stores.

According to Podvin, students have responded well to the meal plan changes, and have already begun purchasing gift cards this semester, more frequently to Albertsons Food Stores then any other establishment.

The gold plan costs students $1,400 and does not include the option of purchasing gift cards as the funds in this plan are limited to use at campus food facilities only.

Regardless of which meal plan students are on, any meal plan cards can be used to purchase food at the cafeteria, the Argo café, the book store, and the McLaughlin Center.

Student life coordinator Lacey Spencer said, “Although it has not been advertised very well, any student who does not have a meal plan can still go to the business office and place money into their student account.”

Spencer said, “It’s a lot easier,” to deposit money into her student account each semester “so that [she] does not have to use [her] debit card” each time she wishes to purchase food.

Floerchinger said that any student who is not on a standard meal plan and wishes to put money into an account can rest assured their funds are not a part of the “use it or lose it” clause, and the money can roll over each semester or be refunded back.

Stewart said that although they “haven’t received feedback” on how students feel about the new meal plan, student senate is happy with their results, as they “got more than [they] expected.”

Studying Abroad - UGF Style

By Audrey D'Hooge

University of Great Falls (UGF) students are using their uncommon courage to explore the world via various study abroad programs.

Sonja Bickford, Director of Continuing Education at UGF, assists students to organize their studies abroad by helping the students find programs and ensuring things are in order while the student is abroad.

The 2009-2010 academic year was the first year that UGF had students go to other countries to learn.

Students traveled to India, Ireland, and Italy to further their education.

Senior Holly Robertson attended a university in Bangalore, India for the spring 2010 semester.

Audrey D’Hooge, also a senior this year, was accepted into the Irish-American Scholars Program in Northern Ireland, where she studied at the University of Ulster—Jordanstown during the spring semester 2010.

Milan, Italy was the destination for Santiago Busatto last spring semester.

Studying abroad opens doors to new and exciting experiences that are filled with memories that students will never forget according to Bickford in the Study Abroad Newsletter.

According to the study abroad students, studying in Europe exposes students to the rich history and inexpensive means of travel to over 40 different countries, providing the opportunity to enjoy weekend excursions all over Europe.

According to Bickford, the study abroad program is slowly growing at UGF as more students are expressing the desire to explore the world through their education.

UGF Education Program Continues

By Megan Hoyer

The stakes are high and students of all ages continue to enroll in the education programs at the University of Great Falls.

Students are accepted into the education program after six prerequisite classes are completed with a B or above, and the student has completed the application process.

 
Because UGF is a private facility, students must complete the application process as soon as or right before the completion of these classes takes place.

The application is then presented to a board of other educators and professionals who decide whether the applicant is accepted to complete the program and receive certification or if they are denied.

Angel Turoski is a member on the education team who places the same amount of importance on her classes as she places on the acceptance process.

Turoski says that the professional appearance students present each day is looked upon by the professors and educators that are evaluating the applicants each day before and after their acceptance.

Pressure and dedication weighs highly on all students, specifically on those students going through the application process who are dealing with many other aspects of life in addition to devoting themselves to UGF says Ann Bartell, a seasoned educator and a member of the board.

She says that students must have a great passion for the occupation or look into something different.  “The children are in the hands of others that need the educated, trustworthy guidance UGF wants to provide” said Bartell.

The application deadline for the fall semester was Sept. 30.  Currently the amount of applications sent in and those which will be accepted are unknown.

 
Students who are interested in education or would like more information are encouraged to attend the SMEA meeting held Friday on campus. 

Applications and fingerprint forms can be picked up in the education office.

The Apple Indian

By JASON PENCE

Native Americans have faced many challenges throughout the past decades that, according to some Native Americans, continue to exist.

According to Candice Hubbard-Blackbird, a University of Great Falls employee in the Trio Center, some Native Americans do not want to be what is referred to as the “apple Indian”, an educated Indian.

Over the past 20 years she says, many Native Americans never graduated high school.

Due to the negative experiences most Native Americans faced at American boarding schools more then 70 years ago, many Native American students today lack the reinforcement from their parents to get an education says Blackbird-Hubbard.

The Indian students that decide to further their education in college face many additional challenges. According to Hubbard- Blackbird, many students that go to school on the reservation lack basic social skills.

Many of these students have been sheltered on their reservation, having limited to no interaction with other ethnicities said Hubbard-Blackbird.

Native Americans have the opportunity to attend tribal colleges which prepare them for larger school settings. Many of these students are also first-generation college students which makes parent involvement or support very difficult according to Hubbard-Blackbird.

Avis Rock, a Native American “non-traditional” student at the University of Great Falls, attended a tribal college before she transferred to UGF to complete her bachelor’s degree in business administration.

According to Rock, although tribal colleges offer a good education, they lack the social interaction with other ethnicities.

Many state and private colleges around the country do not have Native American students or professors she says.

If a Native American student leaves the reservation for college, they tend to get ridiculed by their friends and other Native Americans according to Hubbard-Blackbird.

She says Native Americans feel nervous when other Native Americans are educated.

Another struggle Rock faces on campus is the lack of other Native American students.

According to Rock, Native American students struggle with fitting in with the college atmosphere and making friends can be difficult.

During an interview with Hubbard-Blackbird, she said that “it would be nice for Native American students to stay at host families in the inner city to help socially prepare them for their college experience away from the reservation.”

According to the Office of Public Instruction of Montana, the dropout rates in the 08-09 school year for Native Americans was 8.8 % compared to the dropout rate for white students which was 2.9 %, and the statewide dropout rate of 3.6 %.

Community Living

By Josh Holladay

Traditional University of Great Falls students are required to live on campus for at least two years of attending school according to school regulations.

The university requires freshmen to live in Emilie Hall, the dorms located on campus, but sophomores and upper classmen have the option of living either in the Villas, Sikora Hall, or the new apartments adjacent to Sikora Hall.

This type of community living gives students the opportunity to live and cohabitate with one another in an enjoyable setting, while simultaneously providing an opportunity for students to work for their degrees.

The community living staff works for the University, performing duties such as helping students become involved with projects, keeping the residents safe, and updating the residents on campus events.

According to Maria Ochoa, the Resident Director for the University Villas, there are several benefits associated with community living.  She says “upperclassmen learn to become more independent when living on their own away from home. They gain access to their own bedrooms, and they have the option to cook versus eating at the cafeteria every night of the week.”

Jocelyn Moore, a resident of the Villas, says that the benefit she associates with living at the Villas is “being able to spend time with others and socialize in a community where the people care about one another. The ability to be independent while making friends is also a plus.”

Although community living is beneficial to the students, issues still arise when a group of people live together agree Ochoa and Moore.

When asked about some of the issues, Ochoa and Moore both said, “sometimes the compatibility of the roommates are not as good as we would like them to be. Also some neighbors tend to be a little louder than others which causes a problem with some residents.”

Although there are some setbacks to living together, being able to bond and grow puts the negatives in the back of one’s mind.

The opportunity to share in one another’s experiences makes the ability to learn from one another a better experience than that of living on one’s own.

Through the community living option at the University of Great Falls, students gain new friends by interacting with the community of students living amongst them.

The Villas of UGF

By SARAH MILLING

Outdated and worn, the Villas at the University of Great Falls (UGF) are, according to student and resident Jeff Trafelet, the “black sheep of campus housing”.

The fully furnished two bedroom apartments are, according to Trafelet, riddled with maintenance issues and are downright dirty when compared to other campus living sites such as the newly constructed Sikora Hall.
Although the walls are periodically repainted says Trafelet, the carpeting is stained from semesters of student use.

From broken doorknobs and lights to leaking toilets, Trafelet said that if any improvement were to be made upon the Villas, he wishes it to be a speedier response to maintenance issues in contrast to the approximate two week time period it takes now regardless of need.

Maria Ochoa, Administrator for the Villas, says in response to these claims, "the Villas are professionally cleaned, and the carpets are shampooed every summer."

Periodic maintenance checks are performed throughout the year, and maintenance claims filed by the students are followed up on, says Ochoa.


Originally used as “low income housing”, the Villas housed at one time private residents as well as student body when UGF did not have enough students alone to fill the buildings Trafelet said.

Offering one of the largest on-campus housing sites within UGF, the Villas may not be “the best place on campus to live” according to Trafelet, but he says they provide a great opportunity for sophomores and above to learn what it takes to live on their own and take care of an apartment.

Students are expected to abide by University rules provided in a handbook, and the rules are enforced by hourly RA patrols of the complex.

Creating a community atmosphere says Trafelet, the Villas offer a large number of apartments which are separated into two blocks by a dividing alley:  the Ninth St. S. block which offers 31 units, and the 10th Ave. S. block which offers 28.

A recreation center/room, Trafelet said, is available to the students, providing them an opportunity to socialize with friends while playing pool or watching cable television on the high definition flat screen television.

Because housing requests are granted according to seniority Trafelet says, “the Villas mainly serve as a stepping stone for students who are living on campus.”

Despite the negativity Trafelet associates with life in the Villas, he says they provide the University of Great Falls an opportunity to offer housing to an abundance of students who are in need of a place to live for the semester.

The Trio Center

 By Justin Pizzo

Whether students are overwhelmed, confused, stressed out or just looking for a “caffeine fix”, the Trio Center at the University of Great Falls provides a little something for everyone.

Constant classes, homework, research projects, study groups, quizzes, test, mid-terms, finals are always on their minds. 

It is nice that at the University of Great Falls there is a place that is dedicated to making college manageable.

The Trio Center of Academic Excellence, located on the campus of UGF, is a place solely dedicate to the college student. 

The center offers free tutoring, free computer access, and free printing (which can get expensive through out the semester). 

Among many other opportunities the center provides to students, the Trio Center also offers free complimentary coffee throughout the day.

Providing an alternative to purchasing books, the Trio center allows students to rent their class books free of charge for the semester. 

The center has an extensive workshop schedule that is designed specifically for college students, which offers workshops designed to target skills such as "How to Write in College" and "Time Management". 

Occasionally the Trio Center provides free food to students depending on the workshops and events during the day.

In Sept. the Trio Center had a workshop focused on Native American heritage which provided Native American cuisine for free as well as live performances from local Native Americans.

With the hectic life of today’s college students, it’s good to know that the Trio Center is available as a place they can go that’s specifically designed to make their lives easier.

Katrina Stark: Active on the University of Great Falls Campus

By Jaclyn Thayer

Students agree, entrepreneur turned college professor Katrina Stark goes above and beyond in her commitment to her students.

Assistant Professor of Business and the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, Stark spent most of her life as an entrepreneur, operating a calligraphy studio.

She executed commissions and taught calligraphic arts locally and nationally.

With the huge success of Microsoft, and personal computers, her client base vanished within the first year, thus demanding that she find another career.

She moved on to spend 12 years as a manager and executive director, including a short amount of time in municipal government.

In the fall of 2006, Stark started as an adjunct at the University of Great Falls. 

She became a full-time professor in the fall of 2008.

Stark’s teaching philosophy is grounded in the classroom as practice for the corporate world.

She brings business alive in her classroom by engaging her students in active discussions on theories and methods for life after the classroom.

Several students were interviewed regarding their classroom experiences with Katrina Stark.

“I love the classroom experience she provides”, said Victoria Michelletti. “She is by far my favorite professor at UGF. I look forward to her classes. She makes me actually want to go to school!”

Jamie McFarland, a foreign exchange student from Ireland, said that “Her classes are fun. We do a lot of communicating. I like that.”

“She definitely has us all think outside of the box when we are in her classroom.” said
Daniel Evans.

“She makes every class enjoyable,” said Audrey D’Hooge. “I can honestly say that she can relate to almost every one of her students.” 

Stark and her husband have three children which she says, “does not hurt the ability to relate to the students.”

Not only can Stark relate to her students well, but she is very supportive too. While at sporting events, you can always spot Katrina Stark cheering on her students.

“I always see her and her husband at my soccer games. They are always so supportive. They even take pictures of our games and give them to us!” said Daniel Evans.

Even though Jamie McFarland has only been here a short time, he has noticed how active she is on and off of campus. He said, “She is very supportive. She supports all of her students in and out of the classroom. She goes to all of their sporting events.”

Stark said, “I love Argo Athletics! I truly wish we were more visible in the community of Great Falls, but I hope that will come.  If I were at a large school, I could not cheer on my students by their names or have them in class as I do now.”

When asked what her favorite aspect is of the University of Great Falls Stark said, “The students! We have so many genuinely nice students that I have hope for the future of the world.”

She really makes an attempt to know all of her students while at the same time making them feel welcome and wanted.

Jamie McFarland said, “She was so helpful from the moment I got here. She showed me around campus, and helped me pick out my classes.”

“Katrina Stark has more energy and the best attitude toward life than anyone I know. Stark has a huge heart and will go to the end of the Earth for any of her students,” said Audrey D’Hooge.

Her students agree, any university would be blessed to have a professor as active and supportive as Katrina Stark, and the University of Great Falls, they say, is lucky to have her as part of their faculty.