MAGGY PATRICK
Editor-in-Chief

As my goodbye to The Metro and to FDU in general, I wanted to write a love letter to the people who have made this experience the most rewarding of my college career.

See, even though many people have admittedly questioned the existence of the student newspaper, I believe that it truly is one of the most important organizations on this campus.

We might not run events and parties, but we do try to inform people on campus of things that are happening, and create a venue within every issue for students to publish their own work. Our Web site, themetrofdu.com, has become a framework for our entry into cyberspace – and my successors hope to create even more material in the coming school year that will attract student attention.

The hard work of the people who work at The Metro is not always shown, but the staff has always committed to giving the students information that is significant and timely, and most importantly, they have stuck by me through some really frustrating times.

Kayla Hastrup, the news editor, has been by my side the entire year collecting and editing information to fill the pages of the newspaper. As next year’s Editor-in-Chief, I know that she will continue to make the paper better and more pertinent to student life. I’ll miss her great sense of humor and our spirited conversations.

My friend and colleague Lorena Chouza, who has served as Executive Editor, was there to calm me down and listen to me every weekend – scratch that – every day when something wasn’t going my way. I owe her for dealing with my grouchy alter-ego several times throughout the years.

Our head of entertainment, Elyse Fetherman, has quietly been the backbone of the newspaper – always doing her part with her section and constantly improving throughout the three years she has served The Metro.

Dan Landau, our photo editor, contributed more than just his stunning photos – he also put forth his best effort to create spreads that would interest students and faculty, and has also written on several occasions.

The assistant editors, Angela Sparandera, Kristin Fulton and Samantha Boyce, all helped this semester with picking up extra assignments and supporting the editors with making changes to staff-written stories and taking responsibility for separate sections.

Although I owe a lot to the people listed above, the one person I couldn’t have done anything without would be our adviser, Sarah Latson. Twice nominated for a Maddy award, she has been one person who selflessly stood by me every weekend to support my decisions and to answer questions from a professional standpoint.

Instead of making The Metro just another student newspaper, she has truly made it a newsroom that mirrors some in the real world – and I couldn’t be happier. After so many discussions about ethics, ideas and attribution, I can’t see myself as being any more prepared for the ill-fated media industry. She is a gem among teachers – and I can honestly say that I am proud to be one of her students.

I will miss the paper more than anything else at FDU. I have had so many opportunities to meet new people and write about different subjects across the board. I’ll never forget the time I spent here serving The College at Florham, and only wish that I had one more year to do it all again.

Fairleigh Dickinson University’s 2009 commencement ceremony will be available live on the Web. For the graduating class, which represents 52 countries, this gives families and friends a chance to witness the event.

The live video will begin at 8 a.m. with a scroll of graduating students’ names. The complete video will also be available online on June 2, according to the FDU Web site.

A link to the page will be on the homepage of fdu.edu, according to a university press release.
Three thousand students will be receiving their degrees during the May 19 ceremony. University President J. Michael Adams will preside over the event, which starts at 10 a.m. at the Izod Center in East Rutherford.

Honorary degrees and Student Pinnacle Awards will also be distributed during the ceremony, according to the press release.

Congressman Steve Rothman, who represents the 9th congressional district in New Jersey,will receive an honorary degree during the ceremony. He has been able to gather $6 million in grants for schools for security improvements and serves on several committees in the House of Representatives, according to the press release.

Also receiving an honorary degree from the university is Enan Galaly, a Danish entrepreneur. He funded Helnan International, a chain that holds 15 four- and five-star hotels, according to the press release. He is also a representative of the Danish hotel and restaurant sector, and was named a Danish knight, according to fdu.edu.

Malaak Compton-Rock, a public speaker and upcoming author, will also be given an honorary degree at FDU. Compton-Rock served as a judge on “Oprah’s Big Give” and is an avid volunteer throughout the country. Her Web site, www.angelrockproject.com, showcases volunteer opportunities, according to fdu.edu.

Walter M. Berwick, an FDU alumnus, was a CIA operative and a station chief in several South American countries. He also trained young operatives after Sept. 11 and ran counter- terrorist assignments overseas, according to the FDU Web site. Berwick graduated from the Rutherford campus in 1965.

Student Pinnacle Awards will be given to two outstanding students in the FDU community. David Storicks, from the College at Florham, won because of his academic achievements and participation in several on-campus clubs and organizations.

Storicks was president of the SGA in 2006 and acted in several plays throughout his college career. Storicks is also a frequent volunteer in his hometown of Dumont, N.J., according to fdu.edu.

Sheryl Gauntlett won the award from the Metropolitan Campus. She was president of the Inspirational Gospel Ensemble, Student Body Liasion of the Communication Honor Society and the PR Chair for SGA. Gauntlett also has won several academic awards, according to fdu.edu.

MAGGY PATRICK
Editor-in-Chief

Two years ago, Fairleigh Dickinson University announced its plans for a new campaign to advance capital projects at both the College at Florham and the Metropolitan Campus. FDU Now, a $50 million enterprise, has several initiatives that will affect student life in the future, but for now, the plans have been put on hold because of the economic recession, according to Vice President of Advancement Richard Reiss.

As announced in the March 21, 2007 issue of The Metro, money from the FDU Now campaign will be put towards the Monninger Center for Learning and Research, a cutting-edge facility that will replace the current library at the College at Florham. The Monninger Center will include work spaces for both individuals and groups, brand new technological advances and an auditorium for large group presentations. The site for the center is currently marked by a sign by the library stairs.

Construction was set to begin on the center this spring, according to campus Provost Kenneth Greene, but the ground-breaking has been delayed, mostly because there have been stalls in fundraising over the past year. Reiss attributed the freeze to the worldwide economic crisis. He said bonds are a major part of the project’s financing, and there has been less lending reported in the past few months.

“The Monninger Center is being constructed through a combination of donations and borrowed money. The borrowed money comes from the sale of bonds,” he said. “The university was forced to delay the construction until the bond market opens up. This has affected not only FDU, but universities across the country that have had to delay major construction projects.”

The recession has also affected the donations that are fueling the campaign. While the goal for FDU Now is $50 million, the university has only raised $38 million so far, and fundraising was set to end in 2010. Individuals (mostly alumni), corporations and philanthropic foundations have all been giving to FDU, but donations have slowed this year.

“Sixty-five percent of the donations that come to the university are from individuals and the vast majority of those individuals are alumni. The university gets 25 percent of its gifts from corporations and 10 percent from philanthropic foundations,” said Reiss. “We still see some opportunities ahead but in general, people, companies and foundations are giving less. We have lost a few high-end donors but I believe that is only temporary. We are also seeing fewer gifts to the Fund for FDU, which is our unrestricted giving.”

Even though giving this year has slowed, donations that were promised in the past are still being sent to the university.

“Over the past few years we have received many multi-year pledges toward FDU Now,” said Reiss. “All of those pledges are being honored and paid on time.”

Other proposals that were included in the FDU Now campaign are a new student union at the Metropolitan Campus, several endowments – including scholarships for students – and updated facilities for athletics on both campuses.

The College at Florham in particular includes plans to build a new tennis complex and softball field, according to the campaign’s Web site on fdu.edu. A separate annual fund for athletics on both campuses will also make sure that facilities will be continually updated and maintained.

Along with new facilities, the Web site also promotes a plan for increasing the funding for the global learning initiatives program so the university’s mission can continue to grow.

To promote donations, FDU has created Leadership Giving clubs, as a way of getting donors to give more money to the university.

According to the Web site, club membership rates start at $100 (to join the Century Club) and end at an annual membership fee of $25,000 to join the President’s Circle. There are six other clubs in between that people of varying spending power can join.

Although each club has its own page on the FDU Now Web site, it seems they are just categories made to label how much people can donate any given year. According to Reiss, higher level donors are invited to special university events.

While plans for the Monninger Center and other projects have been put on hold, Reiss is still optimistic. Even though construction of the center has been delayed, it should start up again within a year. He hopes to still have FDU Now completed by 2010 and then to start another campaign for university advancement.

“Since the inception of FDU Now, giving to the university has quadrupled,” he said. “Our goal is to complete FDU Now in 2010 and prepare the university for its next major capital campaign shortly thereafter.”

MAGGY PATRICK
Editor-in-Chief

After a tough financial year for many colleges and universities across the nation, the College at Florham is beginning to plan the 2010 fiscal year budget.

According to Provost Kenneth Greene, the Florham campus is already in a $2 to $3 million deficit this year, and the main goal is to make sure that the 2010 budget is balanced.

“We’re making it up by spending about 95 percent of the current budgets,” he said. “Everyone has to cut back.”

In the next two weeks the first stages of the 2010 budget should be complete. The process began in January when departments throughout the school sent proposals to the campus provost. The proposals are then sent to the president in April, and then onto the Board of Trustees in May. The final budget should be approved in June.

As of March 26, the budget still has a “hole,” and according to Greene, the budget needs to be cut by an additional $3 to $5 million. The provost is looking into different ways to save money, including a limited hiring freeze.

“We will look closely at positions that need to be filled,” he said, meaning that there will be close speculation when hiring faculty members throughout the academic level. If a department can’t manage class coverage without an additional professor then it will most likely be filled. Greene also pressed that all positions having to do with student health or public safety would be immediately filled if there were openings.

The budget process is also more difficult because enrollment figures aren’t available until mid May.
“We should have a sense of enrollment by May 10,” Greene said. Without those numbers, all of those involved with the budget process don’t know if there will be an increase in revenue from tuition. As of right now, the acceptance rate for new students is up 17 percent from last year – without any decrease in the quality of applicants. The average SAT score is 1070.

Enrollment makes up 80 to 90 percent of the university’s income, and it pays “to run the place,” according to Greene. A tuition increase is planned for the fall, as mentioned in a Feb. 19 article in The Metro. Greene stressed that the increase is aimed at just paying for the necessities.

Next year’s budget won’t just be about cutting. Greene said that money will be set aside to help students financially, either through aid or scholarships.

The budget process won’t be complete until October – when the administration knows exactly how many students have returned to campus. Adjustments will then be made if needed.

While FDU is now slowing down its spending in the next fiscal year, not much should be changing for students on campus. Greene said that the students are his number one priority, saying that “reducing services is the last thing we want to do.”

MAGGY PATRICK
Editor-in-Chief

Even though spring break is officially over, some seniors (and underclassmen too!) are looking for grand getaways post graduation. After searching the Web for some fabulous finds last week, these Recessionistas are hooking you up with the best tips for May vacays that will get you started on your tan.

First off, surf the Web to check out blogs that may lead you to some great deals and travel advice. Jauntsetter.com lists travel deals of the week where the editors scout different Web sites for the best airline prices, hotel deals and great packages. This week Jauntsetter features deals for London, Costa Rica and some American destinations.

Want to jump start your tan? Costa Rican hotel Recreo (an all-inclusive resort) is booking villas for just $149 per person if booked by July 1. Students can also fly to Miami for $179 non-stop from Laguardia if booking a mid-week flight. If you’re planning a European excursion, you can book a trip to Rome for just $488 out of Continental if you search through Kayak.com.

Travelocity also has a great section of their Web site devoted to tracking the lowest fares. You can click on the Last Minute Packages to find hotel and flight deals for as low as $168 for Washington D.C. or $171 for Niagara Falls.

Another option to land your dream vacay is FareCompare.com.  Just as the name implies, the site compares prices from the top airlines, going through other sites such as Orbitz.com and Expedia.com to get you the best deal. Just plug in where you’re departing from, your dream spot, dates and ta-da! tons of cheap flights right at your fingertips!

As mentioned, Orbitz.com also has a Deals tab that shows hotel, flight and rental information. Flights here were featured to Hawaii for just $369!  

Lazy? Expedia.com does it all for you, from flight to hotel and activities to keep yourself busy. Scared of flying? Why not try out a cruise instead?  Expedia.com has a cruise tab, with cruises to the Bahamas starting at just $229.

If you’re completely lost and have no idea what to do when you get there, check out HomeandAbroad.com.  Click on Quick Planner, plug in your destination and fill out just a quick survey on your interests and an itinerary will be created for you, complete with free (yes free!) activities and sites to see.

Just because money is tight, doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in a little something-something for yourself. With prices this cheap, you won’t feel guilty about that gorgeous tan.
Check back next week for new advice for frugal finds. Happy travels!

LORENA CHOUZA AND MAGGY PATRICK
Staff Writers

Hey there fashionistas! Are you tired of pulling on sweaters and boots yet? Spring is officially here - and now it’s time to go on the hunt for the best deals on the cutest outfits.

What’s that? Don’t have much dinero to spend on a new wardrobe? Luckily, stores all across the U.S. have started to lower prices and create mega-deals to get you in their stores. Even discount doors like Target are offering designer duds for less than a whole month’s paycheck.

Target, known for its trendy Go International line, has debuted British designer Alexander McQueen’s “McQ” line for a limited time. Normally McQueen’s tops sell for a pretty $480 or more, according to his Web site - but on Target.com you can get a trendy t-shirt for $22.99. The line features everything from dresses to jumpsuits, all accessible on target.com.

Target is also featuring a handbag collection from designers Hayden-Harnett, whose leather Sonia Tote sells on the designer’s Web site for $548. If you find their line at Target, you can find something comparable (probably without the steel detailing) on clearance for $31.49. Target has also debuted a new handbag line from Felix Rey, online now.

Frugal favorite Forever 21 is also becoming insanely popular during these difficult times. Even though the clothes may not last you years of wear, the store has something for every trend setter - from jumpsuit shorts to flowing hippy dresses, at very reasonable prices.

Visiting the Forever 21 Web site has become easier now too - they have combined sister stores Heritage 1981 and Twelve by Twelve. The popular shop has now incorporated a shoe and bathing suit line, attracting us poor college students to their racks.

The Daily 21 Specials feature random outfits every day for the lowest of prices. Here, you can find a Knotted Front Tunic in red for $12.62, a pair of Grosgrain Pumps for $15.84, and a Glitter Clutch for $14.24. If you keep checking back, you are bound to find something that catches your eye.

Another option that’s pocket friendly? Why not take a peek at H&M’s spring line? With designer Matthew Williamson jumping on board to dish out deliciously cute pieces such as jewel-toned mini-dresses, buttery cropped leather jackets and retro-inspired clutches, what’s not to like? Bonus factor - H&M also has a surprisingly chic shoe collection to complement your spanking new outfit. We’re just dying to get our hands on the pair of cream colored, tie-up wedge sandals!

Want a shoe option with a little more bang for the buck? Steve Madden has been a recent fave of ours, ever since scoring a pair of leather ankle booties for under $100, and trust us, those babies have been put to good use. The store is known for its more than generous sales, with prices on their trendy styles being slashed at times up to 50 percent off or more.

Just browsing through their online store, SteveMadden.com, can turn up amazing finds. Click on the “Under $50,” “Sale,” or “Clearance” tabs and cha-ching! everything from versatile gold ballet flats to classic black pumps to comfy flat boots - right at your fingertips!

Shopping on the Web might be easy, but those shipping fees can really rack up the bill. To find some quick discounts for your favorite stores, go to Web sites like retailmenot.com or dealio.com. Sometimes the deals are magnificent (20 percent off my order from American Apparel!) and some are duds. It doesn’t hurt to try though, right?

Until next time, recessionistas! Bring your change to TD Bank and hit up the closest deals.
Happy shopping!

- The Recessionistas

LORENA CHOUZA and
MAGGY PATRICK
Executive Editor and Editor-in-Chief

The Institute of Sustainable Enterprise (ISE) will host a breakfast seminar on Friday, March 27, to discuss the importance and future of “green jobs.”

The seminars, held once a month in the Mansion, are meant to give people an opportunity to network and discuss topics within the business and educational communities. Speakers cover a range of topics, from business sustainability to human resources in a presentation format, according to its Web site on fdu.edu.

This week’s seminar is entitled “Green Jobs: Fueling the Green Economy,” and will feature three panelists.

The first panelist, Jennifer Cleary, is a senior project manager for the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, according to heldrich.rutgers.edu. With over 10 years of experience in managing social service programs, and five years coordinating events for non-profit organizations, Cleary’s experience with workforces throughout several outlets will give insight for the seminar.

Elizabeth Reynoso, the coordinator for New Careers at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, will also be contributing to the seminar. According to her bio on njisj.org, she is committed to healthier communities throughout New Jersey, and promotes food and environmental justice by working with Genesis Farm and Purple Dragon Co-op. She was also a co-chair for Newark’s Green Futures Summit in 2007, according to her biography.

The final speaker is Michael Winka, who is the director of the Office of Clean Energy. According to njcleanenergy.com, Winka created a presentation regarding the state’s involvement with clean energy. He manages the N.J. Clean Energy Program and the State Energy Plan, according to neep.org, and mainly promotes clean energy and energy efficiency within the state.

The presentation will include highlights on what individuals and businesses can do to help create and sustain a “green” economy, how to strengthen relationships and policies for said green economy, and preparing individuals to work for “green-collar” jobs.

New Jersey energy master plan goals, federal and state stimulus programs and changes in the N.J. clean energy program will also be presented, according to fdu.edu.

The seminar will begin at 7:30 a.m. and will end at 9:30 a.m., and will be held in the Mansion. Other breakfast seminars will be held April 17, May 15, June 19 and July 16.

MAGGY PATRICK
Editor-in-Chief

Fairleigh Dickinson University has been selected for a spotlight profile in “Internationalizing the Campus 2009: Profiles of Success at Colleges and Universities,” NAFSA’s new report, according to a press release posted on the FDU Web site.

NAFSA, known as the Association of International Educators, is an organization that promotes international education and professional development. FDU shares the spotlight with two other schools, the University of California, Davis and Berklee College of Music, according to the press release.

FDU was chosen because of its innovative international programming and initiatives, according to NAFSA. The organization was specifically interested in FDU’s global curriculum, faculty development and use of technology, according to the press release.

According to Jason Scorza, associate provost for global learning, FDU has embraced technology as a part of its global learning initiatives for almost a decade. U.N. Pathways, Global Issues Gateway and the Global Virtual Faculty program are all products of those advances, according to the press release.
These programs, as well as faculty workshops, virtual classrooms and even entirely online classes, will increase the advancements FDU has made in global learning.

“NAFSA: Association of International Educators is one of the leading international education organizations in the world.  To receive this level of recognition from them is indeed an honor,” said Scorza, in the press release.

MAGGY PATRICK
Editor-in-Chief

On Feb. 10, President J. Michael Adams sent a memo to the inboxes of students and faculty members to explain how the recent economic recession was affecting FDU as a whole.

In the memo, Adams reassures the community that the school is “far better positioned” than anytime in the past few years, and that there seem to be no immediate problems surfacing that may affect student life.

It seems that the major departments of the College at Florham have the same expectation. While slight changes in student life, residence life and admissions have occurred, nothing dramatic has set the school into a panic, unlike some others in the state who have been forced to sell properties or let faculty members go, as mentioned in the president’s memo.

After months of economic pitfalls, whether it be on Wall Street or in Congress, students have started to wonder if FDU has been affected, and what the higher-ups are doing to prepare for a sudden lack of funding that could occur in 2009.

According to Provost Kenneth Greene, there haven’t been any changes this year because FDU, like many businesses, works through a fiscal year system, which runs from July through June of the next year. This means that the budget for 2009 was prepared before any serious economic problems emerged, in January of 2008.

“We start planning the budget in January, it goes to the president in April, and then the Board of Trustees in May for final approval,” he said.

Although the provost is “not sure just yet” how the economy will directly affect FDU, he said that there are steps being taken to generate more income, including a five percent raise in tuition in fall 2009.

“The increase primarily goes to running the place; it’s aimed at paying for necessities,” he said. “We can’t raise it too much because of the families’ economic hardships.”

There has been some good news this year. Applications are up 18 percent from last year and acceptances are also rising, Greene said. But admissions won’t know until May at the very earliest who will be enrolling at FDU, causing a lot of monetary questions to be left up in the air.

Since student enrollment covers 90 percent of the necessary expenses to run the school, it’s a huge blank left in the equation. Without knowing how students and their families will react to the economy, whether people are still enrolling in school, will determine how big of a hit FDU will be taking in fiscal year 2010, Greene said.

As of right now, enrollment from fall 2008 to spring 2009 is down two percent, the provost saidthough it doesn’t seem like much, residence life is also seeing a number of empty rooms in the halls.

“We did see an increase in the number of students, not necessarily leaving the institution, but an increase in the number of students who chose to commute,” said Assistant Director of Residence Life Eric Range.

Compared to last year, twice as many students who decided to live at home cited financial reasons, according to Range.

Range also mentioned that although residence life is not facing a crisis, time will only tell if the economy will further affect life on campus.

“Because of the population’s proximity to FDU, we see more people commuting,” he said. “But we don’t want those students to lose the experience.”

Residence life has been working closely with financial aid to come up with a solution for students who need help, although the lack of corporate lending has attributed to the number of students who either can’t afford to live on campus or attend school at all, according to Range.

One aspect of the school that hasn’t changed is student life. Students have seen the new furniture in the Student Center and the significant changes to the Bottle Hill Pub that have helped to draw more people to utilize the space, causing some to wonder where the money was coming from.

According to Greene, the Dean of Students gets a budget every year that takes care of residence life, health services, and student programs. Dean Brian Mauro has full access to the money to allocate in any way he sees fit.

“The pot’s been growing the last few years,” said Greene, referring to extra money that has been in the Dean of Students’ possession for a few years, before Mauro took his post at FDU last fall.

Greene also said that there is always room in the budget for additional projects. The money is given to the campus provost, who then divides it up to different departments - sometimes to the Dean of Students, sometimes elsewhere.

One aspect that Greene does see suffering in the upcoming year is capital projects. Projects that make the campus more visually appealing, such as the plaza outside of the academic buildings, will be put on hold until there is extra money to be spent. Money will most likely go to maintenance issues that are bound to come up in fiscal year 2010.

Until the budget is announced in May, there is no way of knowing what exactly what will be changed, or how the school will react to any more economic issues. It does seem that all of the departments, the president included, are concerned with the experience of the students.

“My only concern is not to disrupt any service to the students,” said Sarah Azavedo, director of student life. Greene, Range and Adams all made similar statements when asked about the future of the institution. It seems that families are not the only ones being forced to reevaluate spending habits, but universities as well.

Adams said in his memo that he and Interim University Provost Joseph Kiernan will be holding town hall-style meetings in the near future on each campus to discuss the economy. Times and places will be announced soon.

BY MAGGY PATRICK
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

In January 2009, a new master’s degree in Sports Administration will be offered at Fairleigh Dickinson University, according to a press release on fdu.edu.

The 36-credit degree will be available to students starting Jan. 12, and classes will be held at both New Jersey campuses as well as in Eatontown and Trenton. Beginning Jan. 15, the program will also be available online to students who cannot make it to classes, according to the FDU press relase.

The program will be based around 15 credits worth of required courses, 15 credits in a specialization and six elective credits, according to the press release. Specializations include sports administration, coaching or recreation.

Also according to the press release, students who would like to specialize in sports administration will focus on those who want to work within the amateur or professional sports systems. These students would concentrate on marketing and promoting events, player interaction and operations, among other things.

Those who are interested in the coaching specialization will learn methods and theories on how to create an environment where a team and sport will thrive, regardless of age and fitness level, according to the Web site.

Lastly, the recreation specialization will teach students how to organize a range of sports activities within a community setting, according to the press relase. Students will learn how to operate faciltiies and develop programs for individuals of different ages and capabilites.

The degree was approved by the New Jersey President’s Council executive board in September. Charles R. Brown, the director of athletics, physical education and recreation at the University of Maryland in Baltimore said that the program is “contemporarily relevant, academically sound, intellectually rigorous and well structured,” according to the press release.