Tech consultant offers ideas for New WSU

WINONA, Minn., Feb. 17, 2004 -- An education consultant, Donald Hanna of the University of Wisconsin, will speak at Winona State as part of day-long visit for the New University project. His topic: "Visioning the University: Opportunities, Choices and Challenges." Hanna has written books on the subject: "Higher Education in an Age of Digital Competition" and "147 Practical Tips for Teaching On-line Groups." Date: Wednesday, Feb. 18 Place: Maxwell Leadership Center Time: 1:30 p.m. Contact: Carol Anderson at (507) 457-5019

HANNA "Visioning"

WSU child-help center opens Friday

Arrest witness charges police abuse

WINONA, Minn., Feb. 17, 2004 -- A Winona State University football player charged with assaulting two police officers was himself assaulted by the police, a witness said. Brandon Woody, a renter of the house where Carey Ian Rottman was arrested, said Rottman was struck in the throat twice and punched in the back of the head three times after being handcuffed. "I thought I was watching 'Cops' with the 'LAPD,'" Woody said in an interview. In a letter to Police Chief Frank Pomeroy, Woody said there were other witnesses too. Three people within 20 yards all were responding: "That's not right," "He's not resisting," and "You shouldn't be doing that." Woody, who said he comes from a police family, said what he witnessed was unbecoming police conduct. In the letter, Woody said that an officer was abusive to him too, "using his badge and work uniform to perform actions towards me that were completely unjust and unbecoming of not only an officer of the law but of a human being." Woody, who was ticketed for the loud party that prompted the police call, said an officer yelled at him while writing a noise violation ticket: "There will be no more fucking bullshit at this house ever again." "We have been called here so many fucking times." And "This is the fucking last time that I am going to deal with you fuckers. Get all those assholes out of here." Although the officers said they had been at the house multiple times before, Woody said it was the first time all year. Reporter: Emily Finley Background: WSU response to case Verbatim: Complete text of letter			ROTTMAN Police mug shot, enlarged and cropped, seems to show bruise on bridge of his nose 252 E. MARK ST. Party house In an interview, Woody acknowledged that Winona State football players besides Rottman were at the party but he said it wasn't a football party: "There were at least 10 football guys here -- not an overwhelming majority." Police said 70 to 80 people were at the party.

WSU faculty ponders next flag step

Ideas emerging in New University quest

NEW UNIVERSITY Project logo

WINONA, Minn., Feb. 17, 2004 -- The dialogue on re-engineering Winona State, called the New University project, has included a proposal to gear graduates more for advanced studies, said project Director Carol Anderson. She listed these among proposals so far:

WSU organizes search for lib-arts dean

WSU liberal arts dean moving on

WINONA, Minn., Feb. 17, 2004 -- The liberal arts dean at Winona State University, Joe Gow, known for his guitar-strumming and love of the blues, will leave after spring semester to become provost and dean of liberal arts and sciences at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Gow made the announcement in a message to department chairs. Gow arrived at Winona State in 2001 to take over the univerity's largest college. To his chairs, Gow said: "While I'm quite happy in my present role, the opportunity to take on additional administrative responsibility was just too inviting to pass up." Gow quickly became part of the Winona folk arts scene on arrival. He was a regular at the Acoustic Café and performed regularly in the Lourdes concert series. As dean of liberal arts, he was responsible for the largest cohort of faculty in the university, in fields including art, English, foreign languages, history, masscom, music, polysci, psych, sociology, speech and theater.

GOW Next stop: Nebraska Wesleyan Nebraska Wesleyan University, founded by Methodists in Lincoln, Neb., has an enrollment of 1,500. Wesleyan prides itself on "nurturing" a liberal arts tradition. The university has a 13:1 student-faculty ratio.

Fiscal shenanigans? Comptroller: No way

Budget-stretched WSU delaying sabbaticals

WINONA, Minn., Feb. 17, 2004 -- Although profs traditionally are due a sabbatical leave every seventh year, Winona State University administrators have gone to a 10-year interval. Despite the delays, academic Vice President Steve Richardson, who decides who gets sabbaticals and when, denies deliberate postponements: "We always look at sabbaticals that are not required by contract each on their own merit." The faculty's master contract with the university allows sabbaticals every seven years, as is the custom in academe, but it also allows administrators to put them off as long as 10 years. This year all 11 profs who were given paid sabbaticals for research and other activities waited 10 years or more. Profs see the delays as a policy decision to say money -- and nothing to do with the merit of projects that profs put forward when requesting a sabbatical Said English prof James Armstrong: "Last year with the budget crisis there was a ban on all sabbaticals that weren't mandated by contract." English prof Holly Shi was among those denied a sabbatical before the 10-year max interval Schi's department chair, Ruth Forsythe, said she felt that higher administrators denied Shi's proposal not out of merit but because it was not mandated by contract. Forsythe said that it is unfortunate that, right now, sabbaticals don't seem to be granted earlier. "The problem for the faculty or the department is that a lot of times there are projects that a faculty member wants to work on that don't fit the 10-year point," Forsythe said. "We are expected to do research and creative work and 10 years is quite a long time to go without a break to do that in." Richardson endorses the sabbatical concept: "Sabbaticals are part of the higher education tradition. It is an opportunity for faculty to be revitalized." Richardson, however, acknowledges the financial implications: "We have to pay whatever the cost is. We have to pay the person who is going on sabbatical and we have to pay to replace them." Forsythe said that administrators pressure department to eat the cost of sabbaticals. The department has to come up with a no-cost or low-cost proposal on how to handle not having that person on staff, said Forsythe. Richardson's response is that sabbaticals are worth the cost and inconvenience at the department level. Reporter: Mae Schultz Almanac: Sabbatical leaves this year

RICHARD- SON Criterion is merit ARM- STRONG FOR- SYTHE SHI Budget seems at least part of the mix in deciding when profs are awarded leaves According to the master contract between faculty and the state college system, profs on sabbaticals are paid different amounts depending on how long they have been at the university. For a first sabbatical, profs are paid full salary for a one-semester sabbatical or two-thirds of their normal salary for a full-year sabbatical. For subsequent sabbaticals, professors are paid full salary.

WSU students help in city survey

Ex-WSU coach pays drunkenness fine

WINONA, Minn., Feb. 16, 2004 -- Retired Winona State University baseball coach Gary Grob paid a $490 fine for drunken driving. Grob was pulled over the evening of Jan. 27 near Highway 61 and Huff Street for erratic driving. He tested as drunk, police said. His blood, at .12 percent alcohol, was 50 percent higher than the federal cutoff point for acceptablity, according to a test. Grob retired from Winona State in 2002 after a lengthy phase-down period with gradually fewer faculty responsibilities. His teams, with more than 1,000, made him the most winning baseball coach in the country. Background: Grob's blood tested at .12% Background: Coaches held to high standard

GROB Baseball legend

WSU assessment sum passes 3,200

Student lobbyists find resistance

MILLER "We aren't going to stop pestering." Was Lobby Days a success? Miller: "The legislators were kind enough. They did listen. Whether they took our issues to heart or not is hard to say. I think just going up there helps make a dent. There are a lot of bills that need to be passed."

WINONA, Minn., Feb. 16, 2004 -- Winona State University students are back on campus after Lobby Days at the Capitol. where they voiced support for state funding to renovate the Pasteur science building. About 45 students, who hit up almost every legislator, also stressed the renovation of the proposed Gateway dorm. Robin Miller, Student Senate treasurer, said the lobbyists found some opposition. Rep. Dan Dorman, R-Albert Lea, from a rural area without any four-year colleges, said he would vote against borrowing to fund campus construction, Miller said. There was also some resistance, Miller said, to the students' case that state tuition support helps the state in the long run by helping students into important service careers. "Some WSU students believe that nurses and teachers will help the economy, but Rep. Eastman said that people are better off opening up businesses to help jump-start the economy," said Miller. State Rep. Rob Eastlund R-Isanti. The students tried making the case for state student aid being geared to a student's income rather than how much college costs. "Fifty-five percent of grants go to 20 percent of private school students," said Miller. "This is a bad cap that we are trying to change." She acknowledged, however, that many legislators think that the current cap is fine. Reporter: Laura Gossman Background: More lobbying time

Rottman being handled "appropriately"

WINONA, Minn., Feb. 16, 2004 -- The athletic director at Winona State University, Larry Holstad, said redshirt football player Carey Ian Rottman has been disciplined under the student-athlete conduct code. He declined to discuss specifics. "I think we've handled things appropriately so far," Holstad said. Rottman, 19, remains living in the Morey dorm and works out informally with fellow players -- even as his court case continues on felony charges for the injury of two police at a party bust. Expulsion is among sanctions in the varsity student conduct code, as well as suspension from football and lesser sanctions. Holstad said that disciplinary decisions may be revisted: "We have done what we think is appropriate at this particular time, and I know we will do what is appropriate when it is all over." Rottman's next court date is April 8. "I don't know what is going to happen with his charges," Holstad said. Football Coach Tom Sawyer will make the disciplinary decisions after the court date and discuss them with Holstad. Holstad will either agree or disagree with the charges and, he said, make appropriate adjustments. About Rottman's arrest at a football party late Jan. 24, Holstad said he had no reason to expect the incident to happen. "You don’t know how people are going to react, when they're going to react and when they’re going to do things," Holstad said. Reporter: Anne Jungen Background: Coach: Rottman can play

HOLSTAD WSU athletic director ROTTMAN Charged with dragging a copy across icy street; 2nd cop injured in chase; marijuana, whisky possession also charged

Upside: More lobby time without rally

Charges filed in George's brawl

Teacher-prep reform proposed

Cops bust Fingall pair for pot

Report on jock troubles in progress

WINONA, Minn., Feb. 16, 2004 -- A report on athlete misdeeds and how coaches disciplined them is still being drafted by Athletic Director Larry Holstad at Winona State University. The report was ordered by university President Darrell Krueger in November after massive misconduct was reported in the Winonan student newspaper-- 25 football payers, 35 police offenses. Since November, the total has grown to 27 players and 41 offenses. Now, 3-1/2 months after being ordered to prepare the report, Holstad said he hasn't had time to finish. He said, however, that the report will review past offenses and discuss how the each was handled. He's not pleased to be doing the report, noting hr does not know why athlete offenses are being monitored when no other departments have been asked to do so: "I just don't understand it." Holstad said that he will compile of list of athlete offenses but will not release names. "I do not think that is part of my job description," Holstad said. Krueger has promised the campus chapter of the Society for Collegiate Journalists, the CyberIndee and the Winonan that the report will be made public. Reporter: Anne Jungen Background: Holstad: report still coming Almanac: Courthouse tally on WSU football

HOLSTAD WSU athletic director

WSU ready to map campus crimes

Lobbyist frets over campus closings bill

Recruiter: WSU ahead of the curve

Viggiano: Governor not our friend

Legislature may add campus projects

"TERI" Showcase photo by Lisa Gilbert

WSU photo showcase opens Thursday

Mydoom virus overcome at WSU

MEGAN DIAMOND JEFF GANSKE STEVE GROM- MESCH ERIN GERACE CHRISTINE AITKEN ERIN DOUGH- ERTY TOMORROW'S GREATEST BYLINES TODAY

Tips from WSU early- childhood expert

Rotation keeps WSU track on scoreboard

WSU Republican celebration delayed

Legislstors wrestle with gay marriage

Study: Aid key for third of frosh

Another view of Rottman arrest

League sees college location mismatch