Saturday, June 13, 2009
QUESTION:
Is it true there is going to be a new scoreboard with video screen at Houck Stadium this fall?
RATING:
more true than false
RESPONSE:
The Southeast Department of Athletics is looking into the feasibility of installing a scoreboard/video board at Houck Stadium. However, the installation of such a scoreboard will likely not occur in fall 2009.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
QUESTION:
Is it true that the University is planning to build a new science building? I remember reading that it is part of the State's available stimulus funds set aside for educational institutions, like Southeast. From what I remember, the cost of this new facility is $38 million.
RESPONSE:
There was a lot of discussion during the last legislative session about funding for various new facilities on college campuses. While many options were discussed from the use of stimulus funds to a bond program, ultimately no funding package was approved to build a new $38 million science building. We continue to pursue possible new funding for this and other facility needs. In the meantime, we are remodeling Magill labs with the funding provided by the fee increase a few years ago. We also continue to pursue grants to accelerate the remodeling efforts.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
QUESTION:
I heard that once the new building being erected currently at the old washington school is finished and moved in to, that there are plans to tear down washington school to make yet another parking lot. If this is true, what does the college intend to do about the storage needs for surplus and the many others who utilize that building? Why do they not do repairs on washington school instead of allowing it to fall to pieces?
RESPONSE:
The final plan for Washington School has not yet been determined. University officials say, however, that the cost to heat and cool the space is very high. Since the University has space available for the offices located in the building to move, Southeast is planning to move out of all office space currently occupied in Washington School. This is scheduled to take place this year, which should significantly reduce heating and cooling costs. The University continues to explore the remaining functions that will be left in the building (storage and a few intermittent repair activities) and how these functions can be addressed in another way. University officials say a significant amount of money can be saved by taking the building totally out of service. Spending money to continue to repair and upgrade the building is not prudent given the extremely high cost to operate the building, Facilities Management officials say. Once the building is taken out of service, the future of the site will be determined.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
QUESTION:
We know that the fist violation of an unregistered car on campus is $20 and the second+ is $40 dollars (you can find this on DPS parking website). But DPS has no way of knowing who the car belongs to because they can’t actually run the plates like the city of cape police can.
So you can keep parking on campus and getting tickets and never pay them because DPS will never know that it is your car if you never register it with the University. They only way they can find out that the car belongs to you is if they call the Cape police. These tickets will not stop you from graduating either. You also don’t have to worry about DPS towing your car because they don’t even write there own parking tickets; they have a bunch of college students doing it.
RATING:
false
RESPONSE:
This is false. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) uses several methods to identify unregistered vehicles, including towing and contact with registered owners.
When DPS identifies a vehicle that is not registered but has received a parking fine, DPS will load all of those charges, as soon as they're identified, to the student's University account. When the charges are loaded to a student's University account, they will be listed among any other balance they may owe the University and follow the same policy as any balance due.
These students will be:
1) Be billed in monthly cycles for any outstanding balance.
2) Receive late fees for any past due balance not paid by the due date
3) Risk cancellation of classes for any delinquent balance due if they are actively enrolled
4) Be unable to obtain a transcript or enroll in future semesters until or unless their balance is paid in full.
Additionally, these students can be referred to an outside collection agency if the balance remains unpaid.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
QUESTION:
What is going on the the fountian between rhodes and scully? Did the mess something up when they were building it, so they cant fill it?
RESPONSE:
Upon completion of the Scully Rhodes Plaza this past fall, it was decided that a sculpture should be incorporated within the planned water feature. After a number of design reviews, the sculpture is now under commission. The projected completion of the sculpture and installation of the water feature is scheduled for this summer.
Monday, March 30, 2009
QUESTION:
Is it true that nearly 3 million dollars in parking violations are issued per year, and there are over 40 paid workers issuing tickets, and nearly 2,000 students did not return to school because they cant pay for their tickets, why dont you slow down a bit
RESPONSE:
The University does not collect $3 million in parking violation revenue a year. Tickets written in fiscal year 2008 totaled $493,060. Fiscal year 2009 tickets to date total $375,640. Fiscal year 2009 budgeted revenue for fines is $470,000, which was reduced from fiscal year 2008 because of additional parking spaces made available.
In 2008, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued 33,461 tickets. DPS employs 29 part-time student ticket writers, working 20 hours or less a week, and 14 police officers who write tickets as well. DPS also has one security officer who writes tickets at night.
There are always a group of students from semester to semester who choose not to return to classes at Southeast. Their reasons for doing so are varied, thus we cannot comment on those who you say choose not to return because they cannot pay their parking fines.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
QUESTION:
Rumor or Question:
I know the college owns 828 and 826 broadway, as well as the building to the west of howards sporting goods...will these buildings also be torn down to make way for the future parking lots for the campus?
RESPONSE:
The Southeast MIssouri University Foundation has owned the properties at 826 and 828 Broadway, which formerly was a uniform shop, since 2002. In February, the Southeast Missouri University Foundation entered into an agreement by which properties located at 834 Broadway and 900 Broadway were transferred to the Foundation for use by the University. These properties include the former Howard's Athletic Goods two-story retail building at 900 Broadway and the former Sinclair gas station at 834 Broadway, both of which were owned by Dave Howard. Howard's Athletic Goods previously was located on the northwest corner of Pacific and Broadway, and the former Sinclair gas station is located on the northeast corner of that intersection. Howard's Athletic Goods, which had been located at 900 Broadway for 62 years, relocated Jan. 26 across the street to 835 Broadway. In addition, the Southeast Missouri University Foundation has owned 904 Broadway just west of the former Howard's Athletic Goods since 2004. This building was the former Beauty College.
Kathy Mangels, vice president for finance and administration, said the University is working on final design plans for parking development in this area and the demolition of all of these buildlings is being considered. A final design plan and budget will be presented to the Southeast Board of Regents for approval at their April 3 meeting.
If the Board approves plans to demolish these buildings, Mangels says the University plans to work cooperatively with both the City of Cape Girardeau and Old Town Cape to incorporate landscape features into these properties to make them aesthetically pleasing to the community while also meeting the future parking needs of Southeast.
University officials say additional parking is needed on the south end of the campus as it grows in that direction. The University is currently building a new residence hall at the corner of Broadway and Henderson, and the Wehking Alumni Center, the Student Recreation Center-South and the Southeast Innovation Center are recent additions to the stretch of Broadway between Houck Place and Pacific.
As the University continues to expand, the institution continually reviews its master plan and explores various growth opportunities.
Monday, February 23, 2009
QUESTION:
On Bid 5355 is it true that you are already working directly with the wardrobe manufacturer on this bid?
RESPONSE:
Bid 5355 is the wardrobe bid for the new residence hall.
A contract has not been awarded to a wardrobe manufacturer. Any vendor can visit http://www6.semo.edu/purchasing/bidboard.html to review the bid package and obtain information from the Purchasing Web site. Any vendor is welcome to submit a bid, but bids must be submitted by Wednesday, Feb. 25, by 3:30 p.m.
In the bid, line item 1.4 requires the wood and finish match existing furniture going into the building. We do not want wardrobes that don't match the other furniture. Vendors must submit a finished sample (12" x 12") for comparison.
Monday, February 23, 2009
QUESTION:
is it true that at the end of the semester when students are trying to use up their balance left on their food allowances, you are selling water for $20.00 + a case Date
RATING:
more true than false
RESPONSE:
Chartwells provides students with a variety of options at the end of the semester to use any flex dollars that have not been spent. Some of these options include cases of water, sports drink, whole cheese cakes, and most recently gift baskets that students can give to a parent or someone special. The pricing for these items varies, however, when someone buys a case of water or sports drink, the student is paying the normal retail rate multiplied by the number of bottles in the case. Another option students have is to donate some of their flex dollars to philanthropic flex that Chartwells sponsors the last two weeks of the semester. Through this program students have helped provide thousands of meals locally to members of the Cape Girardeau community.
Students are encouraged to check their flex balances online through the Southeast Portal. By paying attention to one's balance over the semester, a student can better make use of their flex dollars and avoid having large balances at the end of the semester.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
QUESTION:
I heard that the college is tearing down the Esquire Theatre, Graces cafe, and other buildings on Broadway to create more parking, is this true? Can you specify which buildings this could effect?
RESPONSE:
The Southeast Missouri University Foundation entered into an agreement Feb. 2 by which properties located at 834 Broadway and 900 Broadway will be transferred to the Foundation for use by Southeast Missouri State University.
The properties include the former Howard's Athletic Goods two-story retail building at 900 Broadway and the former Sinclair gas station at 834 Broadway, both of which were owned by Dave Howard. Howard's Athletic Goods previously was located on the northwest corner of Pacific and Broadway, and the former Sinclair gas station is located on the northeast corner of that intersection. Howard's Athletic Goods, which had been located at 900 Broadway for 62 years, relocated Jan. 26 across the street to 835 Broadway.
Kathy Mangels, vice president for finance and administration, said the University plans to raze the two structures to make way for future parking areas for Southeast. Mangels says the University plans to work cooperatively with both the City of Cape Girardeau and Old Town Cape to incorporate landscape features into the properties to make them aesthetically pleasing to the community while also meeting the future parking needs of Southeast.
University officials say additional parking is needed on the south end of the campus as it grows in that direction. The University is currently building a new residence hall at the corner of Broadway and Henderson, and the Wehking Alumni Center, the Student Recreation Center-South and the Southeast Innovation Center are recent additions to the stretch of Broadway between Houck Place and Pacific.
As the University continues to expand, the institution continually reviews its master plan and explores various growth opportunities. However, University officials say there are no specific plans at this time to tear down the Esquire Theatre, Grace Cafe and other buildings on Broadway.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
QUESTION:
Is it true that Henderson House will be torn down?
RATING:
false
RESPONSE:
The University has recently spent nearly $1 million to get the building renovated. This included major work to all rooms and common areas. Over the winter break, all the room windows and sink vanities were replaced. This coming summer, the University plans to install a common kitchen on the first floor, increase the electrical power to the building and replace a fan coil unit. The University also is exploring shower replacement for some rooms.
Bruce Skinner, director of Residence Life, says the University is planning on operating Henderson as an upper class student residence hall for the coming years.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
QUESTION:
I heard that once you graduate you can no longer retake classes to raise your GPA. For instance you graduate with a 2.8 but need a 3.0 for Graduate school, there is nothing you can do at SEMO to raise you GPA, because you already graduated, is this true?
RATING:
false
RESPONSE:
Students may repeat courses that were taken prior to graduation and the grade point average (GPA) will reflect the new grade, regardless if it is higher or lower than the first grade. The first grade remains on the transcript but only the second is calculated in the GPA. Southeast continues the GPA after graduation if the student continues taking courses; we do not start fresh as some schools do. Retaking courses after the degree has been awarded will not impact honors status, however.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
QUESTION:
So I heard that Kent Library throws away old books that they don't want anymore. I hope this isn't true, but is it?
RESPONSE:
As a last resort, Kent Library does discard some books. Books gifted to Kent Library are the major concern in this situation, according to Ed Buis, director of Kent Library.
We accept gifts, but do not promise to add all of them to the collection," he said. "When gifts come in, we select those to retain by condition (mold), title, and what we already have in the collection. The books we do not wish to add are placed on shelving while we contact public libraries, especially small ones, and see if they want them. We contact the donor and ask if they want the books back. If all of these avenues above fails to place the book in our collection or in another collection, we do throw it away."
When Kent Library staff members sift through books it has purchased for Kent, they often ask local nursing homes and other facilities if they could use them, he said.
"The local Missouri Veteran's Home loves to get our older encyclopedias," Buis said. "Just last week, we sent them some puzzles we had donated."
Buis added that as Kent Library purchases more full text journal titles online, some of the older bound volumes of those titles are thrown out. Also, some paper journals that are not bound are given to the local hospitals.
"A library is a constantly shifting resource base, and we try to donate material to others," Buis said. "But we do, indeed, toss some material -- not much, but it happens. We are in the business of supporting our students and faculty and the best way to do that is to select material which will do just that. Moldy books, older encyclopedias, keeping a third or fourth copy of a title, or older journal issues which are now online, are not the best way to support our patrons. We try to offer these items to others, but there are times when we have no luck in that endeavor."
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
QUESTION:
I heard that if a student also works at Semo, they can park in the faculty staff lots at any time of the day. Is this true?
RATING:
false
RESPONSE:
No, this is not true. Many full and part-time employees, whose parking priviledges are included in a benefit package, also take classes. But students who work in various university offices and departments are not authorized to park in employee parking until the time defined in the parking policy, which is 5 p.m.
Monday, January 12, 2009
QUESTION:
i already know the answer to this rumor i just wanted to clear it up for some people. could you address the reason houck stadium is named that? and are there any relatives of houck that currently attend semo?
RATING:
true
RESPONSE:
Houck Stadium was constructed in 1930 at a cost of $150,000 and remains today a beautiful and picturesque place to play football.
Houck Stadium is constructed on the site of a former rock quarry and was purchased in 1925 for $11,000 at the recommendation of then college president Joseph A. Serena. The stadium was dedicated on October 3, 1930.
An ad in the dedication program pointed out that 10,000 bags of Portland Cement, 23,000 feet of Oregon Fir seat lumber, and 150,000 feet of Yellow Pine Form lumber were used in the construction. The original stadium had 5,240 seats on the south side of the field.
The field and stadium were named in honor of Louis Houck who served for 39 years as a Regent for the University and as President of the Board for 36 of those years.
The opening game was against Southern Illinois-Carbondale and attracted a crowd of over 6,000. SIU won the game 12-6. The referee for the opening games was James T. Blair, Jr., governor of Missouri from 1957-61.
The first game under lights was also in 1930 and saw the Indians beat Haskell Institute, 12-6, for the first victory in the new stadium.
Seating on the north side of the stadium was added prior to the 1963 season and a press box was constructed on the south side in 1979.
Nearly 400 chairback seats were added in 1992 in a new center section on the south side.
The largest crowd to see a game at Houck Stadium was 11,015 for the 1999 Family Weekend game against Eastern Kentucky.
Improvements are currently under way that will dramatically upgrade the stadium. A new residence hall is being constructed at the corner of Broadway and Henderson that will include a ground-level locker room that will open to Houck Field that will be used for the University's football and soccer programs. Until now, the Southeast football team has used the basement in the Student Recreation Center South across the street from Houck Stadium as dressing facilities for games. The players take shuttle buses to locker rooms in the Rosengarten Athletic Complex after games. The new residence hall with a ground-level locker room is slated to be complete by the start of the fall 2009 semester.
In regard to your second question, there are descendents of Louis Houck who have lived in this region over the years and several have attended Southeast Missouri State University.
The improvements continue at Houck Stadium. A new Field Turf playing surface was added in 2000 and the exterior of the stadium has a new surface. Improvements have also been made to the press box.
Future improvements will include new home and visiting dressing rooms, a new press box and expansion of landscaping and parking around the stadium. The improvements are expected to add at least another quarter century of life to this historic facility.
The improvements are all a part of the current Capital Campaign at the University.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
QUESTION:
I heard that the new residence hall will have suites' bathrooms set up so maintenance can access and clean them.
RESPONSE:
This is false. While the building will feature a suite-style room design with double occupancy student rooms connected by shared bathrooms, the students living in each suite will be responsible for cleaning their bathroom. The location and layout of the bathrooms have been changed from our other residence halls to make the space more user friendly and easier for students to keep clean. We have also positioned the bathrooms near the hallway allowing custodial/maintenance to access these areas if repairs are needed without having to enter into the student room.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
QUESTION:
I heard that due to the lack of network capabilities, SEMO is on the brink of losing some of its Masters' Programs.
RATING:
false
RESPONSE:
We are unclear as to what you mean by "lack of network capabilities." If "network capabilities" refers to our University intranet and access to the internet, the rumor is false. The University's computer network infrastructure is very stable and effective. Second, the Information Technology staff are excellent professionals and do a first-rate job of maintaining and expanding the system and developing new programs for serving the campus. The University certainly is not at risk of losing graduate programs due to "lack of network capabilities."
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
QUESTION:
Semo will start a Veterinary Technician program (certified/accredited) in the spring 09.
RATING:
false
RESPONSE:
A Veterinary Technician program will not be launched in the spring, although Southeast's Department of Agriculture is considering investigating such a program for the future.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
QUESTION:
Is it true that we can use our flex money at the book store?
RATING:
false
RESPONSE:
No. Flex dollars that are part of a meal plan, Meal-to-Flex dollars, and Redbucks can only be used in a campus dining facility.
Monday, October 20, 2008
QUESTION:
Is it true that Sigma Sigma Sigma had their Executive board quit and then their charter revoked?
RATING:
false
RESPONSE:
This rumor is completely false. In fact, Sigma Sigma Sigma is doing quite well. Overall, the chapter is ranked among the top eight Sigma Sigma Sigma chapters nationally. This year, the sorority also received awards from its national organization in the areas of ritual and values, and the chapter president has been invited to participate in Sigma Sigma Sigma's National Alumnae-Collegiate Advisory Council in November. Tri Sigma's charter is not in danger of being revoked in any way at this time.
Monday, October 06, 2008
QUESTION:
Is it true that the campus shuttle does not go to Vandiver Hall? My daughter works nights at the River Campus and has to park pretty far away from her dorm due to construction. I would feel better if she could take the shuttle but she said at night it only goes to Towers. Why is this? Given the recent attack on campus I would hope the shuttle's would run everywhere.
RATING:
false
RESPONSE:
Your daughter may take the Blue shuttle route from the River Campus to either Towers Circle or Grauel. At either of these locations, she may then transfer to the Green route which will take her directly to Vandiver Hall.
Information about Southeast's shuttle service and a description of each of its routes is available at http://www5.semo.edu/dps/Parking/ShuttleBrochure2008.pdf.
If your daughter's work schedule presents a specific difficulty with her catching the shuttle from the River Campus at night to return to the main campus, please contact Beth Glaus in the Department of Public Safety and she will be happy to make special transportation arrangements. You can reach Glaus at 651-2215 or baglaus@semo.edu.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
QUESTION:
I heard that SEMO gives birth control to students either for free or for a discounted price since most students don't have health insurance. Is this true? If so, how and where?
RATING:
false
RESPONSE:
This is not true. Students may purchase birth control such as condoms and birth control pills with a prescription. The University does not subsidize birth control but rather makes a small profit to help offset the costs associated with the Campus Health Clinic.
Distribution of birth control by the Campus Health Clinic is, first and foremost, designed to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). STD rates at Southeast in 2007-2008 were remarkably low -- 7.2 percent tested positive for Chlamydia, 0.9 percent tested positive for Ghonorrhea and no one tested positive for Syphilis or HIV. These rates are significantly lower than those recorded at several of Missouri's other state supported institutions of higher education last academic year.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
QUESTION:
I just wanted to get an update on the various projects going on around campus. New residence hall, AC in a couple buildings, Houck Stadium work, etc. Many students aren't on campus and it would be nice to see what we've got to look forward to when we return in a few weeks.
RESPONSE:
A lot has happened with projects on campus this summer. Construction is underway for the new 82,000-square-foot residence hall between Vandiver Hall and Houck Field House on Broadway and Henderson Streets. Footings and foundation walls are currently being constructed, and construction on the main portion of the building will begin in August. Construction will continue throughout the year, with an anticipated completion date of July 2009. The new residence hall design includes a ground-level locker room that opens to Houck Field and can be used for the University’s football and soccer programs.
One hundred thirty-six portable, stand-alone air conditioning units also have been installed throughout Dearmont Hall this summer. Installation of the units in Dearmont’s D wing was completed last week. Fifty-one units were installed in A2 and A3 wings last summer. When the project is complete this summer, the building will have 187 portable, stand-alone units.
Renovations to convert Henderson House into a residence hall are nearly complete, with the finishing touches currently being put into place. Henderson House will be move-in ready for students when they arrive in August. For more information about the upgrades and renovations at Henderson House, please refer to the Rumor Mill question from April 24.
Additionally, the Scully-Rhodes Plaza project will be substantially complete and usable when students return to campus for the start of the fall semester. Final completion of the water feature and landscaping of the planting beds will occur later in the fall. The project is part of an effort to upgrade the central corridor of campus. For more details on the Scully-Rhodes Plaza project, please refer to the Rumor Mill question from April 30.
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