News in Brief: College newspaper subscriptions axed, suspect sketch released

3/19/09 7:00pm

Newspaper subscriptions cut for colleges

In light of economic difficulties, Dean of Undergraduates Robin Forman has cut college newspaper subscriptions out of the Dean's budget.

These cuts were made in response to a call from President David Leebron that all departments cut their A1 and A2 spending - funds covering salaries, expenses and equipment - by 5 percent without lowering salaries. Forman said these cuts were made to continue to give the residential colleges as much control over their spending as possible.

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"The decision is not that colleges will not get newspaper subscriptions," Forman said. "The decision is I cannot afford to pay for them."

Since 2004, the Office of the Dean of Undergraduates has spent $30,000, approximately $3,000 per college, on newspaper subscriptions. Forman said he had left the residential college budgets, which are also under his control, intact so that they could choose to use their own money to continue to provide newspaper subscriptions.

"I believe in the value of having students make these decisions, and my goal is to make as few of these decisions for them as possible," Forman said. "They have the responsibility to make important decisions that affect the future of their college experience. I'm hopeful that next year each college will continue to have newspaper subscriptions."

Forman said he would discuss how individual colleges could continue their newspaper subscriptions when he meets with the new college leaders after all changeovers have taken place.

- Jocelyn Wright

Suspect sketch released

RUPD released the above sketch of the suspect that assaulted a staff member in the Humanities building in January. The man is described as 5' 6", white, normal build. Any community members with information on the suspect are asked to contact RUPD immediately at 713-348-6000.

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