Find me a place to live

By Chris Miller
Editor in Chief

Placing students in dorms of their choice and fitting all the students in, while making all the on-campus residents happy, is one of toughest feats to accomplish at Ferris State University.

"In the past, we have had our problems with overbooking students in the dorms," Barb Spedowski of Residential Life said. Last fall semester, Ferris had approximately 200 students without room assignments.

"Our goal this year is to not only get rid of the overbooking problem, but we have to take care of the last minute walk-in students," Spedowski said.

"Ferris is doing a better job this year by being more prepared with housing students in dorms," sophomore Jessica Szczerowski said.

A total of nearly 3,900 students lived on campus last year. At the first count, a total of 3,712 showed up to live in the dorms. This figure was counted after the walk-in students and no-show students were accounted for.

"The extra 200 students were students that had been accepted to the college in mid-August," Spedowski says. After finding out how many extra bodies needed rooms, Ferris reacted quickly with solutions.

FSU's largest hall, and also the one with the most rooms, is Cramer Hall. In the past, there has been three people in each room in Cramer. For last fall, a fourth student was added to the rooms.

"For a while, we only had three people living in those rooms. Once the fourth person came in, it was a little bit crowded but only for sleeping arrangements," sophomore Lee Nash said.

"Students complained about the space, but they don't realize that when I first started here at Ferris, Cramer rooms had six students living in them," Spedowski says. With the addition of another student in these rooms, the overbooking was less of a problem.

Angela Stillman, former residence hall director at Pickell Hall, feels that it would be nice to have some of the rooms in Pickell doubled up with students.

"Even though I am located now only in Cramer, Pickell would be beneficial to have more than one student in each room. If they were all like that though, it could get crowded," Stillman said.

According to Spedowski, the biggest solution was to put students with Residential Advisors (RA's). A total of 100 students ended up living with RA's until a room was available for them. This gave Ferris 100 open spaces for students.

"This is not something that will continue though in the future. RA's will not have to worry about us putting students in rooms with them," Spedowski added.

The third solution to the problem was putting three students in some rooms.

According to Spedowski, FSU has changed the rules a bit to no longer accept students after the beginning of August.

"Hopefully, this will take care of the late students. There will probably be some exceptions to this rule, though," Spedowski said.

This year, the goal is to work with Pickell and make it a combination of both private and doubled-up rooms. Ferris plans on taking the extra students and putting them into Pickell rooms. Last year, Pickell was the non-traditional dorm. This year, it's North Bond Hall.

"We really have cut down on the problem, and hopefully the situation has been solved for the future," Spedowski said.

Seven to ten years ago, Ferris had no private rooms available on campus. A total of 5,400 students were able to live on campus at the time. Shortly after that, a dip in enrollment took place due to the smaller senior classes from high schools coming into the college.

"During this time, we could do renovations on some of the halls," Spedowski said. "We could also offer students private rooms." Last year, there was a total of 1,377 available private rooms on campus. The number has gone down a little, to 1,316 available rooms.

"We hope that things will go more smoothly this year. The problem will probably always exist in this school due to the rise in enrollment. We will be ready," Spedowski said.

Tuition increase balances budget

By Chris Miller
Editor in Chief

An increase in the cost of utilities, low state funding increase, inflation, the FLITE Building and the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MSPERS) are the reasons why students’ tuition and fees have been raised nine percent for the 2001-02 school year.

The FSU Board of Trustees along with President William Sederburg approved the new tuition and fee increases at their monthly meeting on July 13, raising the amount of money per credit hour from $180 to $196.

“Students realize the value of education they are getting at Ferris, and we feel that they will be more receptive towards the tuition increase,” Sally DePew, director of budgetary planning and analysis, said.

Ferris is among 15 other public schools in Michigan that recently approved tuition increases. The highest reported tuition increase in the state came from Michigan Tech University at 11%. Other schools with similar numbers to Ferris included: Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, Western Michigan University and Oakland University.

“Sure students can go down to Grand Valley and pay a little bit more, but we feel that Ferris gives students the opportunities when leaving here to have a good job,” DePew said.

This year, undergraduate students at Ferris that are Michigan residents will pay $4,670 per year ($2,335 per semester) when taking 12-16 credits. Last year, that rate was $4,284 for tuition. Non-resident students pay $9,890 per year instead of $9,076 from last year. Graduate tuition also increased by 9.2% from $250 per credit hour to $273.

Professional students in programs such as pharmacy and optometry have to pay $10,290 per year.

“Hopefully students will be understanding on the situation, we will see more reaction from the student body after school has started,” Assistant to the President Daniel Hurley said.

Along with tuition, the computing fee and regular student fees combined increased by eight dollars. All full-time students on campus, except students in professional programs, have to pay a $200 computing fee, $27 health center fee, $12 raquet and fitness facility fee and the $20 student activities fund fee. Part-time students on campus are charged $15 per credit hour for the computing fee.

According to DePew, the biggest reason why tuition increased is closely related to the small increase in state funding. Each year, Ferris gets funds from the state that goes towards tuition.

“We were expecting close to a three percent increase, instead we are receiving only a 1.74% increase,” DePew said.

Since the early 1980’s, FSU’s tuition status has had a inverse relationship with the amount money received from state funding. If state funding rises, tuition decreases, and students have to pay more money if state funding decreases.

“At one point, Ferris had stable tuition, but rates have been changing every year since 1986,” DePew said.

Other supporting factors of the tuiton increase have been the rise in cost of utilities and the usage of the FLITE Building.

“Ferris has to cover for gas, water and electricity that it uses each year. This year’s utility increase is going to be up between 18-28 percent,” President Sederburg said during the Board of Trustee’s meeting. Also pointed out at the meeting is the cost of running FLITE as a $438,000 increase.

In March, as Student Fees Committe was formed to propose to the President the tuition increase. The committee consisted of three members of Student Government and representatives from the Financial Aid Office, Business Office, Faculty Senate. Academic Affairs and off-campus FSU extensions.

“We proposed two rate changes of eight percent and 12 percent, but Sederburg passed the first offer off to the Board of Trustees,” DePew said.

“Students representatives that served on the committee were very helpful with our difficult task. They served as a student body voice and perspective on the issue,” DePew said.

Golfing equals hunger

By Oshotayo Adedeji
Ferris State Torch

When people go to Katke Golf Course, they have no way of relaxing after playing or while they are playing golf. The Founders Grille at Katke was built on June 15, 2000 to give a little satisfaction to the players or anyone that wants to eat.

“Founders Grille is a great little restaurant for players and FSU students to come down to Katke Golf Course and have some fun,” Brad Schmitz said, general manager at the Holiday Inn. “Along with the food, we also obtained our liquor license last October.”

The Founders Grille used to be the clubhouse where they sell snacks, pop and equipment for the players. The new grille was named by the management of the Holiday Inn, based on the founders’ reputation with Ferris State University.

The Founders Grille was built as an extension of the Holiday Inn food and beverage department. According to Schmitz, this is a vital part of the commitment to FSU.

“With a whole new managing staff at Holiday Inn, the restaurant is ready for business,” Schmitz said.

“We wanted to expand and have more options for players as they walk off the course. Ferris has really done a great job in renovating the golf course. Having a place to eat make this deal finalized.”

The main reason why the Founders Grille was built was to provide service to people playing golf or individuals that need food, to increase revenues for the university and to increase customer satisfaction.

The restaurant can fit 50 people inside and another 16 people in the patio.

“The patio area is a nice place to have private parties,” Schmitz said.

According to Kevin Tucci, assistant golf professional, the restaurant was built to enhance the facility and the university, and the new building has increased customer satisfaction overall.

The Founders Grille offers a wide selection of foods. Some of the items on the menu are chicken fingers, buffalo wings, hamburgers, barbecue burgers, chicken breast sandwiches and various appetizers like fries, onion rings and mozzarella sticks. They also serve beer and several varieties of wine.

“The new restaurant by the course has good food and a great staff, plus the view of the course is great to see,” Katke Golf Professional Mike Hodgins said.

The Founders Grille is a non-smoking facility. The restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10am to 6 p.m. For more information, contact the Holiday Inn or the Unit Manager Jerry Beneke at 796-4400.

Brady bunch coming for Homecoming

By Steve Cook
Arts and Entertainment Editor

With students' complaints in mind, the FSU homecoming committee went in search for clean entertainment this year. The answer they came up with was Wayne Brady, star of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?," on ABC.

Rocky Byington, president of Student Government, is one of many who are responsible for the upcoming appearance.

"It's very important (the cleanliness of the show). We are trying to show that you can have comedy and enjoy it without vulgar language," Byington said.

Byington believes that everyone attending can take something from the show.

"I think it will be an enjoyable show for all parties. The committee did its best to reach the widest audience possible," Byington stated.

According to Byington, Brady is one of the most affordable clean comedians available.

Homecoming Chairperson Sarah Johnson was another important person helping to bring Brady to FSU. She is anxious about what the show could mean now and in the future.

"He is a newer comedian that could help towards drawing a younger audience," Johnson said. "We are very satisfied with the choice."

According to Johnson, in the end everyone was very pleased with the final decision.
"He is more of a known face among the younger crowd. They might not recognize his name right away but they know his face from the television," she said.

"Everyone is also anticipating a sell-out crowd."

Johnson also has high expectations for the event and is confident for a positive outcome. "I expect a 100 percent success rate from this event," she said. "Lots of laughs and entertainment for the whole audience."

Brady began his career in the a central Florida theater community group, where he performed in several stage productions. Brady went on to perform in "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "I'm Not Rappaport."

Later, he went to Los Angeles where he made guest appearances in television shows such as "Home Court" and "In the Heat Of The Night." His next stop was hosting the VH-1 comedy series, "Vinyl Justice" during the late 1990's.

Currently, Brady is a regular on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". In addition to that, he has been working on a pilot show for ABC, "The Wayne Brady Show." Brady is slated to star and co-write the sketch comedy/improv show.

Originally, FSU had shown an interest in having Sinbad (who is known for his clean shows), but this changed when his agent upped his fee to $50,000.

There will be three different ticket prices for the show. Students will be charged $8.00 with an FSU ID. For alumni, the price is $15.00 (limit 2) and the general public tickets will be $20.00. The show will be held at the Williams Auditorium on Oct. 18 and tickets will go on sale in mid-September.

"Having Brady come to Ferris might entice a lot of alumni to make the trip for the homecoming festivities," Johnson said.

Students get cheap laugh

By Steve Cook
Arts & Entertainment Editor

A new series of comic proportions is coming to a Ferris State University Rankin Center Dome Room near you. Students looking to unwind after a rough day of classes can shake their booties down to the Rankin Center for some laughs.

Student Activities Coordinator Cara Baker seems to be optimistic about the upcoming series.

"We are hoping to provide an opportunity for students to attend a comedy club atmosphere on a regular basis," Baker said.

According to Baker, three to four years ago there used to be a comedy series at FSU. It was during Entertainment Unlimited's (EU) President Jason Johnson's freshmen year at Ferris.

"He (Johnson) wanted to bring it back," Baker stated. Johnson was away for the summer in Balitmore and Chicago and was unavailable for a comment.

Baker acknowledged that EU wanted to bring some comedy to campus.

The first show will be Sept. 5th and will feature ventriloquist Taylor Mason. Mason is a pro on the college circuit thus far. Over the course of his career, Mason has performed over 1,200 shows at college campuses. His act includes a mix of music and comedy as well as audience participation.

The second show will feature Eric Nieves, a New York comedian who got his start in 1994. Nieves is also known as one of the more sought-after Latino comics in New York. His skills include being a writer and a performer with a sketch comedy group "Nuyorican Rule."

Nieves performs a reality-based form of comedy with an upbeat delivery. He also had a guest-starring role in "NYPD Blue" as well as appearances on the popular comedy feature "ShowTime at the Apollo."

A third show is planned for Nov. 14th, with comedian Buzz Sutherland. Sutherland is possibly the most accomplished of all the comedians that will perform during the fall. He has won the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) "Comedian of the Year Award" from 1998-2001.

The last show will be held on Nov. 28th with entertainment from Alexandra McHale, the only female coming this semester. McHale is a bit of a newcomer on the comedy circuit. She didn't decide on becoming a comic till after she graduated college at Fairfield University in Connecticut.

The comedy series is a group effort. EU, Student Activities and the Rankin Center are working hard to put this series together. Originally the shows were to be held at the Pug. According to Baker, the Pug gave a comedy club feel, but it was filled up for the semester.

"We're looking for the acts to interact with the crowd and create an intimate setting," Baker said.

Baker acknowledged that the bottom line is that the students will be getting a cheap laugh. "There are a wide variety of comedians who vary in style," Baker said.

Currently, the plan is for the series to run throughout the semester and into the winter as well. There will be five shows for the semester, each with a starting time of 7:30 p.m.

Though plans are for the series to keep running, this is not set in stone yet. A couple more problems will have to be cleared up.

"The availability of funds from SAPC has allowed us to do this series," Baker added. "Series continuation is dependent on funding."

“Razzle dazzle, all that jazz”

By Chris Miller
Editor in Chief

With the success from last year’s productions of “Once Upon a Mattress,” “Minor Demons” and Agatha Christie’s “Go Back for Murder,” the Ferris State University theatre program set their 2001-02 schedule to include music, comedy and horror.

“Ever since (Katherine LaPietra) came to Ferris a few years ago, she has wanted to perform the musical ‘Chicago,” technical director Gretchen Potter said. “Chicago” will be the first show of the season, running from Nov. 1-3 at 8 p.m. and on Nov. 4 at 2:30 p.m.

“We had the an extremely hard time getting the rights to the musical from Broadway, but we are happy to finally perform this show,” Potter said.

“Chicago” is based on real events, mostly the murder trials in 1920s Chicago of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly. Two of the more popular songs from the musical are “Razzle Dazzle” and “All that Jazz."

The musical was penned by the writers of “Cabaret.” Auditions are Sept. 5-7 at 6:30 p.m.

“We are asking students to come to Williams Auditorium for the auditions. For this particular show, we are looking into needing approximately 40 students,” Potter said. Students that are interested in auditions are asked to come prepared to sing and be dressed for basic dance movement.

“Singing-wise, they could come and sing a line from ‘Happy Birthday’ if they wanted to,” Potter said. “We are going to need a good amount of students for our chorus section for this musical.”

The other two performances planned this year are a comedy called “Bedroom Farce” and the popular scary play, “Dracula.”

“Having a comedy during the middle of the year brings more of a balanced schedule this year,’” Potter said.

“Bedroom Farce” was written by modern British playwright Alan Acykbourn. According to Potter, this comedy tells the story of an estranged couple who invades the lives (and bedrooms) of friends and relatives while trying to avoid each other.

“This comedy was a popular choice among our staff because we wanted something that would be fun and humorous,” Potter said. “Bedroom Farce” will also play in Williams Auditorium on Feb. 7-10.

The character of Dracula is thousands of years old, but the theatre program plans on bringing the monster to Ferris on April 11-14. This version was written by playwright Stephen Dietz.

“Dracula is a well known name, and just hearing about Ferris performing this play should draw in more audience,” senior Chris Miller (not this author) said. “People are fascinated with this character. It will be interesting to see how they react to our performance.”

According to Potter, the theatre program at Ferris wants to get more audience members involved. During the performances of “Going Back for Murder” last year, audience members got the chance to participate by trying to guess the killer during intermission.

“Our last two performances last year brought in a larger crowd, and we are hoping to get the same response this year,” Potter said.

“A musical will always draw a bigger crowd, more then any play will, because an audience likes the music along with the acting,” Miller said.

“Along with printing out several flyers last year, we created a radio spot for WBRN to announce. Another good source to attract people to our shows is the Ferris Humanities Department,” Potter said.

“In the future, I hope that Ferris has the ability to bring in bigger name performances. With more well known plays, larger audiences will come see us,” Miller said. “I am big fan of Shakespheare, and it would be nice if we could do some of his work.”

For more information on production or audition schedules, contact Potter at 591-5325 or LaPietra at 591-2108.

Experienced Bulldogs ready to contend

By Nick Wasmiller
Sports Editor

With 16 returning starters from last year's team, Ferris State is again considered a favorite to win another GLIAC football title.

Lead by Associated Press All-America First Team receiver Clarence Coleman and 2000 GLIAC Freshman of the Year Derek Fudge, the offensive will try to regain their 1999 form when FSU lead Division II in total offensive and scoring. Kyle Park also returns for his second season as starter at quarterback, while losing only one starting offensive linemen.

"Our goal on offense is to be the number one rated offense in the country and to put enough points on the board to win," Park said. Other personal goals Park mentioned include winning the first game, the conference title and to be rated as the best passer in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).

The offense, averaging 27.1 points per game last season, should be greatly improved due to the addition of offensive coordinator Matt McCarthy. The holder of nine GLIAC passing records, McCarthy guided the Bulldog squad from 1996-1999.

"Having Matt as the coordinator has been very beneficial because he has been in the system and knows it inside and out," Park said.

With Fudge entering his second season at running back, the Bulldogs should also continue have a top flight running game. Fudge, who gained 1309 yards last season, enters the season as the one of the top running backs in the GLIAC conference. Although Fudge is early in his career with the Bulldogs, the running back out of Gibonston, FL is on pace to shatter the Ferris State career rushing record by over 1,000 yards if he continues at his freshman standards. Currently, Mo Harris holds the FSU record with 4,192 yards rushing.

Entering his seventh year at the helm of the Bulldogs, Head Coach Jeff Pierce ranks as the all-time leader in winning percentage (.627) and looks to improve that percentage this season. Pierce has previously led the Bulldogs to a 12-1 in 1995. That team reached the NCAA Division II Semi-Finals that season and achieved a number three national ranking.

The Bulldogs only lose three starters off last year's top ranked GLIAC defense that allowed only 307.2 yards a game. Leading the defense is junior defensive back DeRen Ellis, a 2000 All-GLIAC First Team selection. Ellis intercepted eight passes in 2000 and made 33 tackles. Also returning is 2000 FSU tackle leader Charlie Pierson (110 tackles) and 2000 GLIAC honorable mention defensive backs Alvin Grier and Ryan Hodges.

The Bulldogs also added some top quality recruits this season, led by six offensive linemen. The group of 20 also consists of four receivers, three linebackers and three defensive ends.

"An emphasis of ours was on the line of scrimmage," Pierce said. "To bring in a good, solid group of offensive prospects was one of our top priorities and we accomplished that."

Four members of the recruiting class, offensive linemen Mark Miller and Brian Timmer, quarterback Ryan Kaul and defensive end Kirk Long were all-state performers in high school.

"I would say on paper we have a excellent class, although it is hard to tell until they put a year in here and we find out the type of commitment they're going to make," Pierce said.

The Bulldogs were recently picked to finish fourth in a poll of GLIAC coaches at the annual GLIAC Football Media Day held on Aug. 7 in University Center, MI. Northwood University was chosen as the favorite to win the 2001 GLIAC title.

All signs look to a productive season from the Bulldogs this season. From experienced starters to star athletes on both sides of the ball, Ferris seems prime for a return to the top of the GLIAC standings.

Ferris begins its season on the road against non-conference opponent South Dakota State at 8 p.m. on Sept. 1. The Bulldogs then begin the conference schedule at home against Findlay on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.

"Our conference schedule will be a dogfight. If we're going to be successful, we must play at the top of our game every Saturday," Pierce said.

Photo by James Bednarick, Photo Editor

Third season’s a charm

By Kari Sederburg
Assistant Sports Editor

Just after two years of league play and finishing last year with a record of 8-7-1 overall and 3-5-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference (GLIAC), the Ferris State University women’s soccer team looks strong for the 2001-02 season.

A dueling grudge match with Grand Valley State ended last season as FSU standout Emily Rogers scored the winning goal to win 1-0 in overtime.

“This was huge for us,” Head Coach Pete Watkins said. “We lost to them our first year in the GLIAC 6-0.” Not only did the Bulldogs defeat Grand Valley, they also upset Gannon College 2-0. Gannon was ranked 14 in the nation at the time.

“That win was a big confidence booster for the team,” Watkins said.

This year, Ferris will bring back two key players on the team, along with a large group of incoming freshmen recruits. Last year’s Most Valuable Defensive Player of the Year, Connie Bigott, will again team up with Rogers, last year’s Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year, to lead the 18-player team. Rogers was also a member of the All-GLIAC Second Team.

Last year, Rogers led the way, scoring 11 goals on the year and accumulating four assists. Rogers also lead the team with 77 shots on goal. Christy White and Kim Touroo followed Rogers up with four goals apiece on the year.

“We have also brought in nine recruits that looked good as seniors in high school,” Watkins said. “Having both younger players and seasoned veterans shows that our team has depth and a lot of potential for the future.”

The nine new recruits are Kelly Flynn, Jennifer Gaylor, Lauren Hogan, Frances Kilbride, Kelly Kline, Danielle McAllister, Shawna Orcutt, Kathleen Rickertsen and Chelsea Rustin.

“All of these incoming players looked good as seniors,” Watkins said. “There will definitely be some competition for positions this fall.”

According to Watkins, one of the more versatile players coming to Ferris is Hogan. During high school, she played both forward and defense. Gaylor looks to be one of the top incoming offensive threats on the team. She totaled 33 goals during her senior year, placing her in the top 10 all-time goal-scoring leaders in Michigan.

Kilbride and Orcutt will also provide FSU with power on the offensive side. Kilbride was Lutheran North High School’s all-time leading scorer.

“We liked her speed on the field and her ability to setup teammates with timely passes,” Watkins said. Orcutt played both forward and midfield for Glendbard North High School. Even after a critical ankle injury kept her out for the entire senior year, Orcutt will play mostly forward and defense for Ferris.

The Bulldogs begin their season on August 24 as they travel to Indiana to take on St. Joseph. The first home game is on Sept. 12 against Aquinas College at 4 p.m. All home games are held at the West Intramural Fields.

“Our biggest game will come against Grand Valley again, they are always our top rivals in any sport,” Watkins said. Ferris travels to Grand Valley for the final game of the year on Nov. 3.

We know that the FSU soccer program is growing, and we are capable of winning against just about anyone,” Watkins said.

Goalie blues

By Nick Wasmiller
Ferris State Torch

Big Rapids-Senior goaltender Phil Osaer has left Ferris State University for the NHL, leaving the Bulldogs with a giant hole in front of the net. Osaer, a seventh round selection of the St. Louis Blues in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, was entering his senior season with the Bulldogs.

"This is a dream come true for me and an opportunity I couldn't pass up," Osaer said. "I'm excited about being able to chase a boyhood dream of mine although I'm going to miss everyone at Ferris State.

"[St. Louis] considers me a potential NHL prospect and that's what kind of sold me on signing. I figured if I didn't sign with them, then someone else might and the opportunity wouldn't be there next season," Osaer said.

Osaer is Ferris' all-time leader in both goals against average (2.18) and save percentage (.916).

"From a team standpoint, it's difficult when you lose one of your top all-time goaltenders at the end of the summer and it's an obstacle we will have to overcome,” Bulldogs Head Coach Bob Daniels said. “Unfortunately for us and others, events such as these are occurring more frequently in college hockey."

Replacing Osaer in goal will be freshman Mike Brown and junior Matthew Swanson. Brown played last season for the Crowsnest Pass (Alberta) Timberwolves of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). Brown posted a 20-12-2 record with the Timberwolves, and also recorded a 3.77 goals against average (GAA). The 2000-01 AJHL Second-Team selection finished the season fourth in save percentage and seventh in goals against average.

Brown previously played for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, winning the 1999-2000 Leading Goaltender award in the AJHL. He also was awarded with the Best Goaltending team award in the 1999-2000 season.

Daniels refers to Brown as a technically-sound goalie that should compete for playing time this season.

"He does a lot of things well," Daniels said.

Junior Matthew Swanson is entering his third season with the Bulldogs, but has never seen playing time for FSU. Swanson, from Clinton Township, Mich., previously played for the Motor City Chiefs of the Central States Hockey League. With the Motor City Chiefs, Swanson led the team to a third place finish in the Junior “B” National Championships.

With Osaer leaving Ferris early, Swanson has continued to work on aspects of his game in hopes of gaining the starting job for the Bulldogs.

“I've worked really hard this summer on my technical game and hopefully will get a chance to show what I'm capable of,” Swanson said. “I've really learned alot from Phil (Osaer) and Vince (Owen).”

Swanson has high hopes for the upcoming season. “I think we should have a pretty good run in the league this year.” Swanson said. “We did lose a lot of great players such as Osaer, Dube, Swider, and Owen, but our coaches have done a great job of recruiting and I think the freshman should fill those spots well.”

USCHO.com contributed to this report

Pay attention to students' needs

By Omar Ha-Redeye
Ferris State Torch

When it first started out in 1884, Ferris Institute was a privately owned and operated institution. All of that changed in 1931, when Ferris became a non-profit corporation and a state college in 1949, thus acquiring state funding. However, it seems the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

I endured a disturbing experience over the summer. Being overly confident in my abilities, I had registered for 14 credit hours. After the first day of classes on Tuesday May 15th, I felt the course load wasn't enough and contemplated a professor's suggestion to enroll in a sister-class that complemented one I was already taking.

Wednesday I found myself in classes from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and I came to my senses. My professor lived out of town, so I waited until Thursday night when the professor was available. Before class, I chose to drop both classes. The Dean's office assured me I had ample time to make the corrections.

Unfortunately, Friday was the drop date and neither of my two advisors (for my double major) were around. I did get the paperwork in as soon as possible the next week, but to my astonishment a month later, I was being charged $1,140 for the class, excluding late charges and fees. That's one expensive syllabus!

I don't blame the professors or the faculty for being scarce during the summer. They have their lives to live too. But you would think that the Business Office would be a little more lenient and understanding in this regard.

According to the Business Office, it was "University Policy" to charge me the full tuition. Thankfully, this entire situation was eventually cleared up, but the temporary holds for non-payment on my account prevented me from early registration.

All this incident did is remind me of the surroundings that I am in. Ferris is a business, out to make money. Why else would a university own a Holiday Inn?

How else do you explain half a dozen parking tickets in a single day? Students living in Travis Hall with five classes can spend up to two hours a day on foot commuting to Starr Building. Still, administration poses a deaf ear to the repeated appeals for additional parking, both within the Torch and in person.

How many students would rather have a five story parking deck in place of FLITE? Of course, the concrete block of a parking deck is not nearly aesthetically pleasing as a lopsided inverted pyramid. Though highly practical, it doesn't advertise Ferris as well or have any promotional value.

Supposedly Ferris is also planning a new, three-quarters of a million dollar greenhouse, contracted to someone connected to the board. I just hope the Business students don't learn from Ferris' example.

Ferris attempts to soften the financial blow by awarding "more than $43 million in total student aid annually."

This aid includes loans and student employment. In other words, Ferris acts as a financial institution like a bank making money off those who are less wealthy, and a minimum wage employer that hires a slew of students to wash dishes and mop floors.

I would have to work for The Torch for two years to make up for that single class. We don't do this for the money.

With tuition rates rising 9% this semester due to State cutbacks, I'm sure those who share my sentiments are similarly discontented. Here is a warning: pay heed to students' needs or Ferris will fail. Students will opt to take that Associates Degree instead of their Baccalaureates Degree. They will go to larger, cheaper and more prestigious institutions.

Don't get me wrong; I love Ferris and the educational opportunities it has provided me. This is just a reminder that it is we, the students, who keep Ferris alive. We are the customers and we are important.

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Photo by James Bednarick, Photo Editor

Bring back the Hideaway

By Chris Miller
Editor in Chief

It’s Friday night. Together with a large group of your friends, you venture out into the hopping town known as Big Rapids. Everyone in the group has dressed for a night of fun. The females have sprayed glitter all over their faces and have dressed in some pretty revealing clothes. Guys pound on the cologne in order to attract attention from the ladies.

The nightlife in Big Rapids for college students has evolved into one large nightclub. During the course of this past year, one fine establishment has been taken away from the over-21 population at Ferris State University. Casey’s Hideaway went out of business during last Christmas break. The restaurant in the front of the building, Casey McNab’s, provided a nice alternative to campus dining. The prices were reasonable and the service was good.

The main attraction to the complex was mostly not the restaurant—it was downstairs, called the Hideaway. This was a full bar that included televisions for sporting events, along with a wide variety of video games and pool tables.

The Hideaway lacked the dance-club atmosphere that has over the years made other places such as Star Shooters and Rudy’s Bar popular. The crowd that came to the Hideaway was a wide mix of personalities that came for a couple of reasons, to enjoy the company and have fun. Since the Hideaway was close to campus, students could walk to and from the bar.

Along with regular drink specials, bands often were found jamming in the Hideaway. Electric Violet was one of the more popular groups to hit the downstairs scene.

Admittingly, the Hideaway did have its faults as well. The bathrooms were not in the best shape. There were times when the toilet would explode in the men’s bathroom or the door to the women’s restroom fell down. Mysteriously, furniture would disappear from time to time.

Why is isn’t it possible for students to have a place to go and enjoy a nice atmosphere while sipping down some cocktails? Take a look around us. This town has a total of eight taverns currently. Shooters is a great place to go and meet people, but it can get crowded and it is hard to have a decent conversation with anyone due to the extremely loud dance music.

Rudy’s used to be a local country bar. Now it has turned into another hot spot for dancing into the night. The newly opened RiverRock Food & Spirits, formally known as the Riverside, is just located north of town. If you are under 21 though, don’t count on getting in with their new rules.

There are a few establishments that provide reminders of what the Hideaway used to be. Eastgate Bowling, the Scoreboard, Sawmill Saloon and Szot’s Bar and Grill are more places to hang out. These places all have individual advantages, but don’t posses all the features of the Hideaway.

Schuburg’s Bar and Grill, located in downtown Big Rapids, does have a nice atmosphere to sit and enjoy frothy ones while chatting with friends. Sawmill Saloon is an old-fashioned tavern bar that brings in bands a couple times per month. The Sawmill attracts the older crowd, but the live music rocks along with a great place to hear townie stories.

Plans for the Casey McNab’s/Hideaway building, between McDonald’s and the Ferris Inn, have not been announced yet. There have been rumors of the possibility of an Olive Garden taking over, as well as rumors about Ferris buying the land that makes up McDonalds, Casey’s and the Ferris Inn. McDonalds would move down the street towards Wendy’s and Burger King.

These are just rumors though. For now, an empty building that used to be filled with local Big Rapids folk and Ferris students reminds everyone who went there of the memories shared.

A tightrope act

By Brian VanSteenkiste
Opinions Editor

One of the first things any aspiring skateboarder learns is the importance of balance. Not everyone is instinctively blessed with the gift, but with persistence anyone is capable of capturing and possessing this important ability.

Achieving some sense of balance is key in life, for without balance, the elusive “success,” however one chooses to define it, will appear all the more disheartening to achieve.

College holds many similarities to skateboarding, and the necessity of balance also holds true in this environment. Without seeking a balance between the many elements that comprise the life of a student, aspiring scholars can find themselves on the five-, six- and even the seven- and eight-year plans (pharmacy aside) with car-crash-like suddenness. Even though these are the best years of your life, you don’t want them to comprise the majority of it, for financial reasons if not others.

University life presents new initiates with a barrage of opportunities, all unique to such a diverse environment, and one comprised of so many individuals with different interests. From the numerous cultural offerings put on by the school itself, to the plethora of clubs and organizations formed by the students, to the extracurricular social activities glamorized by our older brothers and sisters, college can be a little overwhelming to those discrovering it for the first time.

An easy mistake to make is to go for the gusto and to spread oneself too thin. Remember, balance isn’t second nature to you yet and maintaining it will require some amount of concentration. Without even realizing it, it can be easy to become so involved that you find yourself defeating the purpose of being here. You must ask yourself, “What am I doing here? What is my goal?” Don’t forget the phrase, “You can’t make a baby in a month by getting nine women pregnant.”

Conversely, it can also be detrimental to your objectives to become too focused. All work and no play is an easy recipe for dull boys. Behavior such as this can lead to alienation, not to mention squandering an opportunity as big as wading into the college social scene.

Somewhere in between these two scenarios is a delicate harmony that will let you be productive, self-fulfilled and at peace with your life’s course. You can’t study all the time without letting off a little steam, and you can’t party all the time and expect to get good enough grades to keep your scholarships. You have to develop a system of accomplishing school goals, and a system of rewarding yourself, in order to succeed.

Don’t get too frustrated if you don’t instantly master this new ability, or if balance previously held in life doesn’t transfer flawlessly to your new applications of it. While skateboarding and snowboarding may appear to have similarities on the surface, two entirely different balances are needed to succeed at each sport.

Good advice for the novice college student is to take it easy and not rush into everything at once. While it may not be the quickest way to get a degree, taking a light course load (12 credits) your first semester can help you acclimate youself to this new environment. Once properly established you can make up the lost time gradually over the rest of your college days.

In the process of learning balance, it is also important to realize that you will fall, and that you have to learn to fall properly. Instead of smashing squarely onto one’s face, it’s best to attempt to keep as much momentum as possible and to “roll with it.” This way, one may accomplish the ultimate goal of returning to one’s feet that much easier.