Glitches slow WSU library services

UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENTS AND SCHEDULES
ST. MARY'S	SOUTHEAST TECH	WINONA STATE

Anti-drunken driving program at SMU

Reinventing MSUSA to disperse the power

Dance innovators back for video clips

Hussein capture lauded, not war

WSU to seek funds to buy Lincoln

Miss WSU commencement? Try cable

VISIONING CONFERENCE Dozens of university volunteers in the New University project gathered in focus groups for "Think Big" brainstorming in November

WSU goal: New value for students

WINONA, Minn., Dec. 19, 2003 -- If students are going to pay steeper tuition, which seems a certainty, then colleges, including WInona State, must offer more to remain competitive, the president of Winona State University, Darrell Krueger, said. That's the impetus for a campuswide project he calls the New University. "I want to make this university and its education something students would be willing to pay for," Krueger said in an interview. Already tuition is $5,600 a year and fees generally an extra $2,000. Currently, focus groups and committees are working up a New University proposal to present to state-level authorities. The goal, in short, is to reinvent the university. "There are a lot of people working very hard on this project," said Krueger. It is not at all clear what shape the New University will take. One faculty member envisions "a freer environment with more thinking done outside of the box." Another sees "a school on the cutting edge of technology." Said Krueger: "We don't really know what to expect. That's why we have so many people involved in the focus groups. We want to create the best environment possible." How does Krueger see his role in the New University? "I'm not doing this for myself. I'm doing it for those that will come after me. I don't plan on being here a lot longer. I'm almost 62, and I have other things to do in life yet." Reporter: Patrick Walsh Background: Krueger: A unqiue WSU

KRUEGER WSU president

WSU again a Lincoln player -- the only one

Winona sex criminal up and moved

WINONA, Minn., Dec. 18, 2003 -- Convicted rapist James Warbington, whose parole terms require he keep police notified of his whereabouts, moved from Winona to Caledonia, 40 miles away, without telling. Police Chief Frank Pomeroy said Warbington is being held in Houston County pending a decision on whether to return him to prison. Warbington, 33, has served time for La Crosse, Wis., and Winona incidents in 1992 and 1999. In each case, he had earlier made an acquainance with the victim and then proceeded to take sexual advantage. He is classified as Level 3 offender. Background: Rapist changing addresses

WARBING- TON Now in new trouble Level 3 offender: Considered at highest risk for repeat offenses

Despins' impeachment: The whole story

WINONA, Minn., Dec, 18, 2003 -- The impeachment of Tyler Despins as Student Senate president at Rochester Community and Technical College remains a mystery -- a mystery that continues to haunt him even now, three years later, after being appointed to the state college board of trustees that governs not only the Rochester college but also Winona State and 30-some campuses statewide. "Honestly I’m not sure exactly what happened," Despins said in an interview. He acknowledged tensions: "They seemed to feel that impeaching me was the best way to deal with it." Despins remembers walking in late to a Senate meeting because he had been in a conference with college President Don Supalla. Somebody moved to impeach. It was done. He didn't protest. The principal players now all have left, which makes piecing together the details difficult. It was, though, a tumultuous and petty period. It was that year that some senators raided the Echo student newspaper to confiscate a pending article. About the impeachment, the editor of Echo, Adam Crowson, now at Winona State, remembers friction between Despins and the Senate's faculty adviser, Tony Peyla. "Peyla wasn't getting his way," Crowson said. "The two butted heads, and since Tyler couldn't be controlled by Peyla and other senators weren't happy with him there was some excuse made to get rid of him." It all might have ended there, but Despins flung himself into student politics when he transferred to Winona State, which bolstered his resume. That, plus his Rochester record, checkered though it was, figured into his appointment by Gov. Tim Pawlenty to the state college board.

DESPINS MnSCU trustee Despins chose to retreat from college politics at the Rochester college after the impeach- ment: "I probably could have run for president again the next year and been elected, but that wasn't the message I wanted to send." After impeach- ment he continued to serve out his term as an elected senator.

WSU recruiter: Be sure to visit campus

WINONA, Minn., Dec, 18, 2003 -- As much as Winona State touts its year-after-year rating as one of the nation's best buys for an undergrad education, the university's admission director, Doug Schacke, says students rely too much on guide books and the web. Also, he says, price shouldn't be the lone determinant. "Students look at the price of a college, but it shouldn't be the most important issue," he said. There is a growing array of guides that offer admissions advice and rate schools on almost any criterion. "Guidebooks and web sites all say the same thing," said Schacke. "They tell students that all campuses are beautiful and that they are the best choice." Students are lost "in a sea of choices," said Schacke: "A college visit is better than any guidebook." Reporter: Anne Lusic

SCHACKE Chief recruiter

Might Lincoln be offered to WSU?

Spring semester t'ai chi offered at WSU

Legislator proposes closing campuses

MICHEL Too many colleges

WINONA, Minn., Dec. 17, 2003 -- A state commission should be created to discuss closing some Minnesota college campuses, Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Edina, said. Michel said he will ask the 2004 Legislature to model a commission after a federal commission that closed military bases in the 1990s. It would have 13 members appointed by House and Senate leaders and the governor, he said. The commission would use operating costs, instructional costs as related to enrollment, geographic access and demographic projections as criteria for its recommendations, he said. Michel is a Dartmouth grad and holds a law degree from the University of Minnesota.

Holstad delays athlete misdeed report

WSU radio prof likely would be back

DANIEL Sabbatical rules require returning

WINONA, Minn., Dec. 17, 2003 -- Reports that Winona State radio prof Ajit Daniel is leaving the university are misleading, under terms of the master faculty contract with the university. Daniel is eligible for a either a one-semester or two-semester sabbatical leave next year, records show, and he has said he intends to apply. The master contract, however, would require him to return for at least year following a sabbatical or to repay the salary he was paid during the absence, which could be as much as $41,000.

Study: Greeks later ease up on booze

WSU prof: Keiko longed for human friends

WINONA, Minn., Dec. 17, 2003 -- A whale like Keiko, known for the "Free Willy" movie, never adjusted to freedom after years of captivity and human companionship, said Winona State Univerity biology prof Robin Richardson on learning of his death. "Keiko was so used to humans feeding him that he didn't know how to feed himself," said Richardson. Millions of dollars were spent trying to teach Keiko to survive, but it didn't work. Keiko, born in 1977 or 1978 off Iceland, was caught for the aquarium industry in 1979. The fame Keiko gained from the movies led to a $20 million drive to free him in real life. Once he was brought to Iceland, handlers taught him to catch his own fish and interact with wild orca, but once he was released into the wild, he didn't know what to do. "If animals don't learn to feed themselves from a young age, they won't know how to feed themselves when they are older," said Richardson. "In Keiko's case, he was captured at a very young age and he was around humans his whole life. He probably considered himself a human, and when he was in the wild, he didn't recognize his own species." After 25 years in captivity, Keiko appeared to prefer human companionship. "It is really sad when you see any animal die in captivity," said Richardson. "I really hope people learn from what has happened." Reporter: Anne Lusic

KEIKO Died off Iceland

WSU enrollment crisis hits nursing

KESLER Class squeeze

WINONA, Minn., Dec. 16, 2003 -- More than 50 Winona State nursing students cannot get into required classes spring semester, faculty President Mary Kesler said at a monthly showdown meeting with university administrators. Kesler wanted answers from university President Darrell Krueger, who has been told for years that a crisis was near because he has cut faculty positions and simultaneously continued aggressive recruiting that has swelled enrollment. Krueger conceded that his touted "enrollment management" plan had hit unexpected problems. For some reason, he said, enrollment is higher for this spring semester than fall. "We don't know where these students are showing up," he said. "It could be from transfer students, but it's a very rare circumstance." Academic Vice President Steve Richardson blamed students who withdraw from classes or get Ds and Fs and then hog seats the next semester, squeezing out other students who are progressing on schedule. Reporter: Britt Hoff

New flu strikes Winona

House leader to address WSU grads

WINONA, Minn., Dec. 16, 2003 -- The majority leader in the Minnesota House, Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, will be the guest speaker at the Winona State mid-year commencement, the university announced. Sviggum, a St.Olaf grad, was first elected in 1978. He's been recognized by Common Cause as Minnesota Legislator of the Year. The student speaker, chosen through a competitive process supervised by a Student Senate committee, will be Malaysia native Shereen Daniel, who herself is graduating in psychology and intercultural communication. About 450 students will participate in the ceremony. Date: Friday, Dec. 19 Time: 10:30 a.m. Place: McCown Gym

SVIGGUM GOP leader

DANIEL Psych grad

Class cancellation link posted, little used

WINONA, Minn., Dec. 16, 2003 -- A class cancellation link, Weather Watch, has been added to the Winona State University web site to inform students of weather-related class cancellations. So far there hasn't been much posted. The university's communication director, Tom Grier, said only three profs called in cancellations during fall semester. In the fall of 2002 there were 12. Cancelling classes is the prof's judgment and notifying Grier to post a cancellation is not required, said Grier. Most profs choose instead to post a note in classrooms when they won't make class. "Winona State currently keeps no record of which professors are canceling which classes," Grier said. Reporter: Gina Bonneville

GRIER WSU communi- cations director

WSU basketball season starts hobbled

Marshals named for WSU commencement

Police chief: FBI homeland tips -- why?

WINONA, Minn., Dec. 16, 2003 -- The FBI has sent 15 pages of strategies for homeland security to local police, including the Winona police, Police Chief Frank Pomeroy confirmed. The strategies include keeping tabs on war protesters, but Pomeroy said he doesn't see the need. Pomeroy said that he is not aware of any local threat. A few Winona State students from the Middle East were interviewed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. There is no reason to worry about them, said Pomeroy. Prof Ahmed El-Afandi at Winona State, a leader in the Muslim community, and Pomeroy talk frequently to be keep each op-to-speed, the chief said. The FBI sends weekly homeland security updates, but most of the information doesn't apply to Winona, said Pomeroy. Most of the FBI's advice, he said, is already in place -- staying proactive and keeping in touch with protest groups. Occasionally the Winona Peace Keepers assemble behind the Post Officer with about 50 people, but the leaders notify the police before they assemble. "If you know the crowd ahead of time everything stays under control," said Pomeroy. Winona hasn't had any problems with protesting since the Vietnam War, Pomeroy said. Gas was shot into an unruly anti-war crowd in the 1960s, he said: "No one enjoys doing that or wants to repeat that."

POMEROY Police chief EL-AFANDI Muslim leader

How about a table-cloth restaurant?

City to continue campus Booze Bus

Reed: Good vibes on WSU concert support

WINONA, Minn., Dec. 15, 2003 -- Winona State's reputation as a high-quality venue for college shows is the selling point that Joe Reed, director of student activities, is hoping will attract O.A.R. for a spring concert. In the 10 years Reed has been hiring acts to perform at Winona State, he has booked some big-name acts, including Live, Collective Soul, Goo Goo Dolls, Citizen King, Violent Femmes, Cheap Trick, Boudines, Nelly, Sugar Ray, and the Counting Crows. "Winona has a good reputation for doing college shows," Reed said. The university's list of past, big-name performers is attractive to an artist who is deciding at which venue to perform, Reed said. Reed, who also works backstage for shows at the La Crosse Center, hires his La Crosse colleagues for Winona State concerts. The experienced team of workers makes Winona an attractive venue for a concert because the performer does not have to worry about any of the backstage, technical aspects of the concert, Reed said. Reporter: Sara Ryan Background: Back to the long list?

O.A.R. Among singles: "Poker Song"

City hikes property taxes 11%

Boozing: Easy, common in WSU dorms

LAURA BURNS	ALI AL-AHMED	BRIAN KRANS	SCOTT OPFER	BRIAN GALLAGHER	NICK DIRCZ
TOMORROW'S GREATEST BYLINES TODAY

About that mean, mean scene at George's

Music fan leads CTN petition drive

Alert issued against dorm thief

WSU student creates text-swap site

Back to long list for WSU concert?

O.A.R. WSU-bound?

WINONA, Minn., Dec. 15, 2003 -- The process of lining up an act for the Winona State University spring concert began with a list of 89 music artists on tour during the spring. Although O.A.R. survived the winnowing process as the first choice, student activities Director Joe Reed said there remain many variables that could derail a deal, including availability. The student amusements committee, UPAC, may need to go back to the 89-act list, provided by a booking agent, if dates or other particulars with O.A.R. don't work out, Reed said. The univerity has bid $30,000 for O.A.R. Reporter: Sara Ryan Background: $30,000 offered for O.A.R.

Police hunt for Larow assailant "Bubba"

LAROW Before shiner

WINONA, Minn., Dec. 15, 2003 -- It was prominent student Republican Jake Larow of Winona State University who was socked in the face at Bulls-Eye Beer Hall on Dec. 11, police confirmed. He got quite a shiner, said Deputy Police Chief Andrea Essar. LaRow, 22, was punched in the left eye. LaRow told police that he knows his attacker only as Bubba, someone with whom he said he was only slightly acquainted. Investigating officers gave this reconstruction: Larow started bragging that he could beat anyone in Wisconsin at phoosball. Bubba became angry. Larow took the blow. Bubba immediately left. Both Larow and Bubba had been drinking, police said. The incident happened at 12:22 a.m. on a Thursday. At Winona State, Larow is a conservative columnist for the Winonan student newspaper and edits a GOP web site. Reporter: Alison Turner Background: Altercation at bar

Swap deal gives WSU free sports ads

Mayor concerned at East Lake traffic

WSU alums planning for homecoming

Where did all the great T-shirts go?

Study: Fewer frosh ready for college

Fifty wrong-parked autos towed

WSU negotiating for new cafeteria screens