Journalism Project | Stories | Contributors | Journalism Links

Financially, Danahar says university will try to 'minimize the negative,' especially for students

MARSHALL -- Southwest State University faculty and staff jammed a meeting room at the Best Western Marshall Inn Monday afternoon to hear the latest information about what state the university is in.

President David Danahar and his administration have been scrambling to get the college up and running since Wednesday's fire at Food Service East.

Faculty, staff and a few students asked questions of Danahar according to what was important to them.

Education professor Linda Jagielo said one of her students was able to access her grades by using the campus Web site, while another could not. Danahar referred her to the Web master, Evan Carlson.

Services have been disrupted during winter break because of smoke and soot damage to most of the linked buildings on campus.

"I know that this is going to be a very big financial burden for the university. How much is SSU going to solve its financial problems on the backs of the students?" said Sarah Koob, a sophomore at SSU.

"If I had my druthers, I'm not going to put a penny on your back," Danahar said. "We're talking to (the Minnesota State Colleges and University system) and the Legislature about funding. Indirectly, it will go on the taxpayers of the State of Minnesota because the money will come from the State Legislature. We're trying to minimize the negative for everyone -- particularly the students."

After the meeting, Koob said, "I just got snow-blowed."

Koob thought the students would bear some of the financial burden.

"I've been on the student senate and I know how MnSCU works," she said. "There are other colleges that need money."

Koob said she already pays $400 a month for room and board for her dorm.

"If they raise it by $100, I will look at other universities," she said.

Koob echoed Danahar's concern for the students who are in wheelchairs.

"How are they going to get around?" she said.

During the meeting, Danahar said the "disabled/handicapped have lost the egress they are used to. We are working on an alternative access at the Individualized Learning Center. That should be up and running by the 28th, if we do open on the 28th."

Students in wheelchairs used Food Service East to gain access to the other campus buildings.

At the meeting's conclusion, Mike Munford, director of public safety, announced that 10 to 15 people were needed to help with traffic running through campus.

"You won't earn any kudos or slaps on the back, but we really do need it," he said.

After the meeting, Munford said only five people from the SSU campus community have signed up to help patrol the parking lots.

"Anyone who wants to get ahold of me should call me at the physical plant at 537-7138 and specify they are volunteering for traffic control."

Munford said it is possible that the extra people could get paid for their help.

"Traffic control is a vital mission," he said. "We need to keep the people out of those perimeters."

Tourists are driving by to see the wreckage.

"No. 1, it's a matter of safety," Munford said. "There's the heavy machinery that is moving on and off campus. No. 2, the traffic gets in the way of essential personnel. It slows down the recovery process."

Munford's staff of 25 will be mainly in charge of patrolling the buildings.

"There are areas open for cleaning," he said. "There is signage on every exterior door advising people not to come in and why. I will have a roving patrol inside our institution to keep those out who are not essential."

---

Journalism Project | Stories | Contributors | Journalism Links

ABOUT US | ACTIVITIES | NEWS | RESEARCH | TEACHING | CONFERENCES | LECTURES
PUBLICATIONS | FELLOWSHIPS | HISTORY CENTER | SEARCH | LINKS

BACK | CRRS Home | SMSU Home