The Fountain

Campus administrators fielded a wide range of questions from students yesterday at a town hall meeting sponsored by the Student Government Association.

President Allen Meadors and Provost Lance Grahn were joined by Larry James, the UCA police chief, athletic director Brad Teague, and Shelly Mehl.  Kyle Boyd, junior class president, moderated the meeting.

Topics included the condition of campus sidewalks, parking, tuition increases, library fees and the police drill planned on campus next month.

Meadors said the work on the sidewalks was being paid for with federal stimulus money that had to be spent by May 25 or returned to the government. Replacing sidewalks was one of the projects that could be completed in that time frame. The same pool of money, about $3 million, is being used to replace roofs on several buildings. Other qualified projects, such as repairs and upgrades to residential halls, couldn’t be completed by the deadline, he said.

One student expressed concern about the police drill, which simulates a shooter on campus. James said that UCAPD is working along with some of Conway’s emergency services to assess how well they would respond to a crisis on campus.  The exercise is planned for 1 p.m., March 11. James said the activity is “in compliance with federal law” that there must be an emergency drill at least once a year on every university campus.

Police Chief Larry James

Grahn addressed a question about ways to make the university more competitive. Grahn said the university must hire the best faculty available and develop a “premiere library.” Meadors added that he wants to expand residential colleges, better integrate international students and hire a scholarship coordinator to work with students.

Here is a discussion about tuition and other money matters:

Don’t despair, Greeks.  Some of your issues came up as well.  The administrators said they are trying to do something about “deferred rush” and the possibility of establishing a Greek Row.