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Show IE iff r: Jennifer Urson-A. L JL Cjl3lH.CG News Editor Phone: 626-7655 DON T .OU THiNK. we've H3D a Bsslejtf -1 , Owp, C. Iju a. J Grades scam found at College Two Florida Memorial College employees have been fired, three students expelled and 69 others face disciplinary action in connection with a cash-for-grade-change scandal at the private, four-year school in Northwest Miami-Dade, officials said. They also contacted the Miami-Dade state attorney's office. Barbara Edwards, vice president of institutional advancement, said Wednesday that this is the first time in recent history that the historically black college, which serves 2,300 undergraduate students, has been confronted with grade fraud. Students allegedly paid employees in the registrar's office to improve their grades in the school's computer system. The grade-altering was an inside job committed by people who had valid passwords to log into the computer network, school officials said. It was not the work of a hacker, they said. The transcripts of 12 students were "altered substantially," officials said, and as many as 60 others may have had lesser changes made to their grades. "The changes included everything from turning C's to A's to F's to C's," Edwards said. Most of the grade changes were made during the 2002 spring semester, but a handful were done as long ago as 1992. The wrongdoing was uncovered back in mid-May during a routine audit of grades. Registrar Lourdes Silva launched an internal investigation. -.. It was unclear how much money the students paid to the unidentified employees. The two employees terminated were let go for not following policy, Edwards said. Several other staffers originally suspended Nvith pay were cleared of wrongdoing and have teen reinstated, Edwards said. This week, the college began hearings for all students implicated. Disciplinary action could range from expulsion to suspension, loss of academic credit and criminal charges. So far, only three students have been punished. "We absolutely will not tolerate this assault on the integrity of Florida Memorial College," college president Albert E. Smith said. "Perpetrators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Corrections Letters & Submissions Please submit to The Signpost offices in person SUB 267 or e-mail devoncrus mail. weber.edu jnlars hotmail.com or call 626-7974 for more information. ( WlCKeP WITCH 3ND TM ) Colleges woo men to shrink gap An influx of female students is driving some private colleges in Washington state to recruit more male students by marketing traditionally male-dominated fields of study such as engineering and touting their athletic programs. Females make up at least 60 percent of the student population at many public and private colleges in Washington, and enrollment experts predict a larger gender gap by the end of the decade. At least two schools, Whitworth College in Spokane and Seattle University, have accepted more male students for the fall than in the recent past. And administrators at Gonzaga University in Spokane and Whitman College in Walla Walla say they may address the issue if the gender gap about 55 percent female and '45 percent male at those schools continues to widen.. In Washington state, female students make up 54 percent of the student population at public four-year universities and 57 percent at private schools and community and technical colleges, according to 2000 figures from the Office of Financial Management and the state Higher Education Coordinating Board. The gender issue is a big concern because many college administrators think a mixed stu dent body is crucial to a well-rounded college experience. Historically, public universities that have tried to close the gender gap have not been successful.Most notable was the University of Georgia, which used to give preferential treatment to males in admissions but stopped after getting hit with a federal lawsuit a few years ago. Men historically have had the advantage over women in society, said Michael McKeon, dean of admissions at Seattle University, and to give them-an advantage in admissions would be harder to justify. Tuesday, July 30 Retirement reception for Virgie Black, Miller Administration Building Boardroom, 2-4 p.m. Farewell reception for Ruby Licona, who has accepted the position of Associate Dean of Public Services with the Mississippi State University Libraries, 2-4 p.m., Stewart Library Special Collections. Student Support Services Seminar presents "GRE Study Strategies," 9-10 a.m., Student Support Services Center, Room 274, free, 626-7009.Wednesday, July 31 WSU Goddard School of Business and Economics presents an MBA information and advising session, 6 p.m., WSU Davis Campus, 9 1 5 W. 1 000 N . (Gordon Ave .) , free , 626-7545 . Student Support Services Seminar presents "Improve Your Memory," noon-1 p.m., Student Support Services Center, Room 274, free, 626-7009. Deadline to register for the Academic Leadership Fall Retreat, which will be held Aug. 13-15. Register in the Student Activities Office, Shepherd Union Building, Room 250,626-6349. Thursday, August 1 Student Support Services Seminar presents "Stress-busting Techniques," 1-2 p.m., Stu- . dent Support Services Center, Room 274, free, 626-7009. Tuesday, August 6 'Student Support Services Seminar presents "Overcome Test Anxiety," 9-1 0 a.m . , Room 274, free, 626-7009 Tuesday rl High: 92 tx Low: 67 Mostly Sunny Wednesday High: 90 Low: 56 Sunny Thursday VA High: 87 Low: 65 'Vy Sunny Crossword see Solutions page 3 ACROSS 1 Gullible dupe 4 Votes in 10 Perry's creator 14 Ruckus 15 Continue in existence 16 Quantity of ore 17 de plume 18 Actress Plummer 19 Frosted 20 Done up to the nines 23 Find a new tenant for a flat 24 German city 25 Tenth mo. 28 Hunk 30 T-bar 32 Group of secret plotters 36 Loudmouth 37 Early Peruvian 41 Island, NY 43 New Jersey team 44 Ranis' wraps 46 So long, Solange 48 Habituates 50 Active volcano 55 Newsman Donaldson 56 Hemlock homes 60 Great Lake 61 Take one's medicine bravely 64 Beer ingredient 66 Laundry worker 67 Taste 68 Guinness of "Star Wars" 69 Driving (a nail) at an oblique angle 70 Psychic's ability 71 Longing 1 2 3 ri4 5 pi p fa 9 r 110 11 12 ;3 20 21 22 "23 24 """l 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 ' 32 33 34 " 35 " 36 H 3d 39 40 42 43 44 45 " "473 4 "48 49 ' "50 51 52 53 54 755 56 5 58 59 """" 730 '-"-'' 61 62 63 64 65 756 67 68 759 75 71 75 75 72 Danish seaport 73 Shad delicacy DOWN 1 Actress Bullock 2 Idolized 3 Shaddock fruit 4 Stretchable 5 Gin-and-tonic garnish 6 Duck 7 Nickel parts 8 Commotions 9 Kraits and boas 10 Depravity 1 1 Change one's dress 12 Abandon truth 13 Finish 21 D.C.VIP 22 Jet-black 26 Old codger 27 Deuces 29 Pouch 31 Charleson or Carmichael 33 Long scarf 34 Moreover 35 Flowers to wear 37 Wifesister of Osiris 38 Granny 39 Breaks into fragments 40 Lung filler 42 Affirmative 45 Mailed 47 Groundswell 49 Takes care of 51 New wing on a plant 52 Newsman Cronkite 53 Greatly 54 Key in again 57 Endured 58 Strikes to strike out 59 Become permanent 62 Irritating tingle 63 Blue and Cross 64 Gullet 65 Baba |