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Show Westminster College of Salt Lake City Newspaper Announces Major Expansion Forum Readers Increase, Spring Semester Issues Decrease The Forum has embarked upon a major expansion plan, according: to Kathleen Hammond, editor. Students will pay for the plan in terms of the number of issues theyll receive this semester, but not in terms of total dollars spent, and not in terms of the return on those dollars, said Hammond. The basic elements of the written plan are: To produce six, papers instead of the 11 weekly issues originally scheduled during Spring semester, 1984. ly To expand each issue to eight pages. To expand each page to four columns. To increase circulation to include more student and faculty drops on campus and distribution by mail to professional studies students, alumni, and Board members off campus. To solicit increased advertising on the basis of expanded space, circulation, and the increased quality and diversity of content To secure a larger staff for writing, layout sales, and photography work. To return to a weekly publication schedule with the support of a larger staff and increased advertising commitments by the start of the Fall, 1584, semester if possible. On-camp- us equipment is a change the Forum needs to consider and finance from its own earnings in the future, said Hammond. But less expensive changes are first needed to realize the greatest possible benefits from resources now available and familiar to existing staff members. Executive Cabinet members raised three issues regarding the Forums plan. Bob Schorr, treasurer, said they would like to see the return of bylines (writers names on articles) and that they would like to see all faculty members receive copies. The new plan deals with both of these concerns, said Hammond. Bylines will be used with all articles which are neither ghost written nor by editors. And papers substantially will be distributed to all faculty departments and en mail drops. Another concern raised by Leslie Horkan, ASWC president, was the use of student funds to mail the off campus. Hammond newspaper to explained that this part of the plan was an investment intended to make students far more money than they would spend. According to Hammond, a major reason for the Forums previous lack of advertising support was because not many advertisers would expect students to have the money to afford their products and services. The circulation is expected to considerably increase the Forums appeal to advertisers. non-studen- ts Forum staff members look at Circus Magazine with Publisher Gerald Rothberg during his visit to Westminster on Dec. 12. (See article on page 6.) Photo includes (left to right) Mike Moser, Forum managing editor; Rothberg; Kathleen Hammond, Forum editor; and Ray Oumbey, Forum adviser. full-tim- e, off-camp- This plan was supported unanimously by members present in meetings of the Publications Board of Governance on Nov. 16, ASWCs Executive Cabinet on Dec. 5, and the Legislative Assembly on Dec. 6. Hammond told Assembly members in the Dec. 6 meeting that without the planned changes, the 11 weekly papers originally scheduled during Spring semester would have cost students approxe copies. imately $1.50 each for 3,300 With the changes, students will pay for the six, four-pag- issues 8,500 eight-pag- e at the rate of 50 cents each for copies. Gary Kanski, legislative assembly member, questioned Hammond on Dec. 6 about the potential for cost savings by the purchase of typesetting and printing equipment. Hammond said that now the Forum lacks the money needed to make such a purchase as well as the people, skills, and time needed to operate the equipment College Plans Help for Learning Disabled Grant Pending Approval of Three-Yea- r Six percent of current students will benefit make "The Forum has done what it could with three columns and four pages, said Hammond. Still, we havent satisfied the diverse informational and entertainment needs of even our 300 to 400 students on campus, and we cant ask them for more dollars until we offer a better return. by Valerie Allison At the beginning of last semester, I hoped to sell e enough advertising in the paper to raise the money to afford eight pages weekly. But it couldnt work. The space and circulation limitations didnt appeal to advertisers. And when we ' did sell enough ads to generate extra income, we had to cut back on news and features which were being requested by student readers. four-pag- Hammond said students havent received the quality that they should receive in the content of Continued on page 8 Sheri Dearing A Westminster College of Salt Lake City opened its doors in 1984 with its books "in the black, according to James E. Petersen, president For the first time in eight years, the college is operating on a balanced budget Head count enrollment was up by 20 at the start of the Fall, 1983, semester, according to the Sept 23 issue of the Forum. Registrar Sheryl Phillips estimates that the head count from Spring, 1984, is equally encouraging. The excess tuition and fees for the year, according to Petersen, is like fully-accredit- money from heaven. We now have a structured, operational organization, said Petersen. But, the college is not yet completely on its feet Our development base is still narrow. Were too dependent upon a few big givers, he said. We have to be careful not to overextend ourselves. According to Learning Disability Project Director Lynn Hockenberger, the $45,000 requested for the first year will be used to begin a program to serve learning disabled students. A learning disability is defined by public law A specific learning disability means a physiological process involved in understanding or using language, spoken or written, which may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations. According to Glades Tucker, vice president of the Utah Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities, these problems do not include those that arise from physical handicaps, mental retardation, and mental illness. Director of Career Services, Esther Doherty said, The meet important thing is an acceptance of learning disabilities, and the realization that students with learning disabilities are just as capable as students without 94-14- Westminsters Books are In the Black by Approximately six percent of Westminster students suffer learning disabilities, according to a recent survey. The results of the survey were used to substantiate a request for a three year grant for students with learning disabilities. Westminster is promising to become a more stable institution. We have a simple, modest five-yeplan, said Petersen. Well have a better chance of getting into new foundations when were economically healthy. Westminster is accredited by the Northwest ar Association of Schools and Colleges. This organization has kept a close eye on Westminster in the past because of financial problems. Their concerns have never been about the quality of education, but simply about resources needed to improve and maintain the school, according to Craig Green, vice president for college relations. Theyve slapped our hands a couple of times . . . in 81, 82 and 83 . . . but theyve never removed our accreditation, said Green. Contrary to some beliefs, there is no such thing as probationarv accreditation for a school that is Continued on page 5 2. Learning disabilities are usually detected when a childs potential is not met by his performance. An example is a child with an above average I.Q. who is failing in school, said Tucker. When and if the grant is approved, services for students will begin Spring semester, 1985, according to Hockenberger. The grant request was designed to cover three areas of need: counseling, career services, and learning. The counseling center will provide sup port for students, and career services will students aware of demands made by employers, and help them find realistic employment, according to Doherty. The learning center will provide services for the disabled individual, including tutoring, word processors for help with spelling, talking text books, note takers, and possible classes in writing and mathematics. The first year of the program will be used to work with students already attending Westminster, said Hockenberger. During the second year, new freshmen students will be encouraged to enter the program. According to Hockenberger, two word processors were budgeted: one to be purchased during the first year, and one during the third year. The program is not designed to correct learning disabilities, but rather to help students make it through college by bringing together the areas where they need support, said Hockenberger. Doherty said, We are trying to provide a support system for students who do not have one. Five percent of the population has enough of a learning disability to require special help, according to Hockenberger. Three men to every one woman has a learning disability. According to Doherty, students with learning disabilities are in college because they have developed coping skills. For instance, a student may use bad handwriting to hide the fact that he can not spell. Students make it through the school system because their parents will not let them fail, and because they are bright and determined. Hockenberger encourages students who think they have a learning disability to contact the learning center to be referred to a testing center. |