Chapter 63
“Bottom of the funding food-chain”
2006-2008
Construction of the science laboratory building on
Northeastern’s Tahlequah campus, immediately east of the old
science building, which began in December 2004, neared
completion as the 2006 fall semester began. The new 61,127-squarefoot, three-story structure contained 26 labs, which could
accommodate 400 biology, chemistry, or physics students at one
time. The multi-level passageway connecting the new building to
the old received little use during the first year because the old
building had been vacated for a thorough renovation. Faculty
members were struck by the space available in the lab building and
the contrast to the old facility, which one student said, “was ancient,
falling apart.” A major difference between the buildings was the
internal air-handling system in the new facility, which was the most
complex on campus.1
Northeastern’s music department had a long-standing reputation
for its strength and balance. Its jazz program, summer reviews,
choral ensembles, band, and orchestra provided a variety of music
seldom available in a city the size of Tahlequah. The Northeastern
Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra, organized by Dr. Donald
Studebaker several years after he joined the music department in
1984, had grown to sixty-five musicians who presented four
concerts annually, frequently in conjunction with the university
chorus. A lack of funds resulted in the elimination of the symphony
in the spring of 2006. Studebaker expressed regret that students and
the public would no longer have the exposure to classical music
provided by the NEOSO during the past nineteen years. A lack of
funding also affected Northeastern’s band. The group’s practice
room was inadequate in size, acoustics, temperature control, and fire
safety. Its outdoor practice location had been preempted by the new
all-weather football practice facility behind Gable Field. The band,
1
Ashley Russell, “Science facilities not quite finished, still requires some work,” Northeastern,
13 March 2007, 8. Lacy Lewis, “New building to open,” Northeastern, 19 June 2006, 1-2. Emily
Mocha, “Faculty adjusts to new dig on campus,” Northeastern, 29 August 2006, 9.
which had grown from 60 to 115 since Dr. Jeff Bright assumed
direction in 1999, lacked sufficient uniforms and instruments.
Consequently, its members marched with borrowed instruments in
khaki pants and matching polo shirts the members purchased
themselves. The annual district high school honor band competition
sponsored by the university that had been conducted on campus was
transferred to the superior facilities at the Tahlequah High School
campus. A band the size of Northeastern’s would normally have had
several other faculty members assisting the director, but no one was
assigned to assist Bright. A retired member of the music department
expressed his frustration with the university for not providing
adequate support for the band after he watched them march in a
Tahlequah parade. The lack of support may have been a factor in
Bright’s decision to step down as band director. At the beginning of
the fall 2007 semester, Dr. Norman Wika, B.M., University of
Miami, M.M., D.M.A., University of Connecticut, was employed to
direct the band.2
The women’s tennis team under the direction of Coach Ron Cox
had an excellent 2006 season, winning 24 out of 28 matches, and
narrowly losing 4-5 against fifteenth-ranked Abilene Christian in the
finals of the Lone Star Conference championship. The Lady Reds
advanced to the second round of the NCAA, Division II, tournament
before a 4-5 loss to Tarleton State. The women ended the season
ranked 25th in the nation.3
Several key administrative positions were filled by the beginning
of the 2006 school year. Dr. Dalton Bigbee, formerly associate vice
president of Academic Affairs at Texas A&M at Kingsville,
assumed duties as Northeastern’s vice president of Academic
Affairs, July 1. 2006. The university’s new chief academic officer
earned his bachelor’s degree from Howard Payne College, his
M.B.A. from Texas A&I University, and his Ph.D. in finance from
Texas Technological University. Shortly after his arrival, he outline
the goals he hoped to accomplish, which included expanding
graduate programs, providing more research opportunities for
faculty, and continuing emphasis on undergraduate programs. When
2
Courtney Hancock, “NOSO cut from activities list,” Northeastern, 28 February 2006, 21.
Matthew O’Mealey, “NSU band lacks funds, resources and support,” Northeastern, 21 November
2006, 14. Unrecorded interview with a retired member of the music department, 2 June 2009. Stefanie
Anderegg, “New director leads band,” Northeastern, 25 September 2007, 14.
3
Sarah Stephens, “Lady Reds finish season strong,” Northeastern, 18 April 2006, 21. Sarah
Turner, “Lady Reds head for Division II championship,” Northeastern, 25 April 2006, 28.
63 “Bottom of the funding food-chain”
2006-2008
Ron Cambiano resigned as dean of student affairs in July 2006 to
teach in the education department, President Williams contacted
Laura Boren, a 1994 NSU graduate who had earned an M.S. in 1999
at the Tahlequah campus. She had been director of student activities
and special events at Northeastern from 1997 to 2001. Currently
employed at Texas A&M as a student development specialist, she
agreed to take the position of dean of student affairs on an interim
basis. About a year later, the president offered her the job
permanently without a formal search. When asked why the position
was not advertised, Neal Weaver, vice president for human
relations, claimed the university was not required to advertise the
position and the president had the right to appoint as he saw fit.4
In 2004 friends and family of Larry Adair, the retiring speaker of
the Oklahoma House who had earned a bachelor’s and master’s
degree at Northeastern, established a lectureship series in his name
to create an annual forum for addressing political, governmental,
and public policy issues. The first presentation in the Larry Adair
Lectureship series, on September 8, 2006, was a panel discussion of
the Supreme Court’s impact on America with a keynote address by
Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Jim Edmondson. Panelists
included two Oklahoma Supreme Court justices, the state’s attorney
general, the chief of the Cherokee Nation, a former Oklahoma
congressman, and a member of the NSU political science faculty.
The discussion was followed by a dinner and reception in honor of
Adair. Subsequent lectures featured former Oklahoma congressman
and ambassador to Mexico James R. Jones, who discussed
international free trade, and the executive director of the Energy
Acton Coalition, Jessy Tolkan, who spoke on global warming and
energy conservation.5
Adair was not the only retiring legislator whose name was
memorialized by NSU in 2004. The Senator Herb Rozell Scholars
Program was established to commemorate the contributions of the
former state senator, who served the people of his district for 28
years. Created in 2004 by Rozell’s friends and family on his
4
Krystle Holland, “Academic affairs position filled by Bigbee,” Northeastern, 2006 Welcome
Week edition, 11. Eric W. Bolin, “Interim dean settles in nicely to Student Affairs,” Northeastern, 5
September 2006, 8. Stefanie Anderegg, “Boren appointed Dean of Student Affairs despite no search,”
Northeastern, 9 October 2007, 9.
5
“Larry Adair lecture series begin Friday,” Northeastern, 5 September 2006, 30. “Former
ambassador speaks on international free trade,” Northeastern, 11 September 2007, 9. Jacob Briggs,
“Speaker shows students greener future,” Northeastern, 31 March 2009, 15.
retirement from the legislature, two scholarships were created for
NSU students who demonstrated extraordinary campus and
community leadership, outstanding scholastic achievement, and a
commitment to excellence for the future. Awarded annually to
students who would be in their final year of undergraduate work, the
first Rozell Scholarships were given to Mary Betancourt, a Tulsa
mass communication/public relations major, and Natalie Morris, a
Siloam Springs, Arkansas, biology major, in the spring 2005.6
For five years students had attended classes in Broken Arrow.
As more courses were offered there, interaction beyond the
classroom increased, clubs were formed, and activities planned, but
it was not until fall 2006 that a student government association was
introduced on the Broken Arrow campus. Like its counterpart on the
Tahlequah campus, the BA NSGA was a forum for members of
student organizations to discuss issues that affected them. The
association also appropriated funds to clubs and campus
organizations and served as a marketplace for information and ideas
at weekly meetings on Mondays.7
Ever since the passage of State Question 640 in 1992, a
constitutional amendment that required tax increases enacted by less
than a three-quarters majority in both houses of the legislature be
approved by a vote of the people, levying new taxes for education
became virtually impossible in the Sooner State. The same year
Oklahomans approved that state question, Colorado voters enacted a
measure called the Tax Payer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), which had
enormous appeal to those who supported the Oklahoma amendment.
TABOR stipulated that the disposition of tax revenue that increased
at a rate faster than the increase in population and inflation be
decided by a vote of the people. The prediction of opponents of the
measure that higher education in Colorado would be adversely
affected was confirmed. State support for Colorado colleges and
universities declined from 19 to 10 percent of the state’s budget, and
most other state and local services experienced similar declines.
Ultimately to restore essential programs and services, Colorado
voters agreed to suspend TABOR for five years. Despite the
problems it caused in Colorado, with the support of the Daily
Oklahoman, Republicans in the legislature attempted to enact
6
“NSU Seniors Receive Prestigious Scholarship,” 1 June 2005, NSU News, Northeastern State
University, http://www.nsuok.edu/news/story.php?1023 (accessed 15 August 2009).
7
LeaAnn Young, “More activities added to expanding campus,” Northeastern, 2 July 2007, 3.
63 “Bottom of the funding food-chain”
2006-2008
legislation presenting the issue to a vote of the people. When
proponents could not secure sufficient support in the legislature,
they drafted an initiative petition and sought enough signatures to
place the measure on a ballot. Their effort was frustrated by a
unanimous decision of the Oklahoma Supreme Court that their
petition lacked sufficient valid signatures. Although the campaign of
the proponents of TABOR had been frustrated, supporters of higher
education took seriously their pledge to bring relief to the taxpayers
of the Sooner State, a promise the majority of Oklahomans usually
found compelling.8
Planning for Northeastern’s observance of its centennial had
begun during the 2003-04 school year, and by the fall of 2006
details were beginning to take shape. A seventeen-month celebration
was initially scheduled to begin in August 2008 with the dedication
of a larger-than-life-size bronze statue of Sequoyah, the Cherokee
who developed a syllabary that enabled his people to write in their
own language. During the summer 2007, Daniel HorseChief, a
Cherokee artist and former NSU student, was chosen to sculpt the
statue, which was to be the centerpiece of a totally redesigned main
entrance to the campus that would be called Centennial Plaza. The
observance, designed to “embrace the past, enhance the present and
envision the future,” was to continue until fall commencement 2009
and feature presentations, reunions, and other events to bring
alumni, former students, and friends of the university to campus.
Members of the centennial committee hoped to fund other statues
for the campus, produce a history of the university, develop an
athletic hall of fame, and focus public attention on Northeastern’s
accomplishments over the century since its establishment in 1909.9
Several students expressed their belief that funds spent on
Centennial Plaza would have been better used to create adequate
parking on the Tahlequah campus. A reporter for the NSU
newspaper reflected the attitude of many of her fellow students
8
Marie Price, “Lawmaker plans taxpayers’ amendment” Tulsa World, 9 December 2004. “What
is TABOR?” Oklahoman, 19 January 2005. Marie Price, “Higher education officials assail bill to cap
spending,” Tulsa World, 4 February 2005. “Stop TABOR,” Tulsa World, 7 February 2005. Barry W.
Poulson and Brandon Dutcher, “ Let’s adapt Colorado plan,” Oklahoman, 15 September 2005. Dick
Armey, “It’s time for a state TABOR,” Oklahoman, 19 September 2005. John Greiner, “High Court
rejects TABOR—Petition aimed to place curbs on tax spending,” Oklahoman, 1 September 2006.
9
Dondra Collins, “Sequoyah statue deadline pushed back,” Northeastern, 10 October 2006, 10.
Sharry Mouss, “NSU centennial committees plan one year out,” Northeastern, 28 August 2007, 11.
“HorseChief selected to create centennial Sequoyah statue,” Northeastern, 4 September 2007, 9.
when she wrote, “Parking has always been a touchy subject with
students on campus whether commuter or resident.” The 4,500
spaces on the Tahlequah campus probably were adequate if students
did not mind the hike from Gable Field, but the inability to find a
convenient parking space just before class was probably the most
common experience shared by members of the Northeastern
community. The almost 12,000 tickets imposing fines totaling
$285,120 in 2006 did not deter many who felt compelled to park
illegally, but they certainly generated ill will among the group
school officials were determined to attract and retain. Efforts to
collect fines, including booting the cars of repeat offenders and
withholding grades, added to student frustration.10
Following World War II, Northeastern had a thriving Veterans
Club that waned as servicemen from that conflict completed their
education. Although the draft and Cold War meant that the school
had a substantial number of veterans enrolled throughout the second
half of the twentieth century, the diversity of their military
experiences did not develop the same type of bond created by
combat. As men enrolled at Northeastern after service in Iraq or
Afghanistan, their common experience prompted them to organize.
In the fall 2006, Kendall Kimber, an Air Force veteran from Oregon,
formed the NSU Veterans’ Association. He was motivated by the
need to provide a voice for former servicemen “on a lot of issues
that need to be addressed.” One of his specific goals was to increase
the number of parking spaces on campus for handicapped veterans.
Membership in the NSU-VA was not restricted to former military
personnel; interested students were invited to join. The members of
the organization also hoped to be a clearinghouse for information
useful to members and active duty personnel as well.
Veterans were not the only group that organized in the fall of
2006. Dejan Kezunovic, a junior from Belgrade, Serbia, established
the International Club to give members of Northeastern’s growing
community of foreign students an organization designed to help
them deal with homesickness and have a “place to hang out.” The
organization’s rapid growth surprised its founder. The largest
contingent of the new club’s students came from Japan, but it also
drew members from Brazil, Colombia, Serbia, Slovakia, Poland,
Honduras, Sweden, France, Egypt, the Dominican Republic, and
10
Ashley Russell, “Parkers fined more than 285K last year; a third went unpaid.” Northeastern, 3
April 2007, 8.
63 “Bottom of the funding food-chain”
2006-2008
Korea. Membership was also open to U.S. students. The group’s
representative in the student senate was a Stillwell sophomore who
joked, “I like it (the club) because you can meet hot foreign chicks.”
The club’s faculty sponsor, Dr. Ernst Bekkering, professor of
information systems, like most of the members was not a native
American. Born in the Netherlands, Bekkering immigrated to the
United States in 1985. The group became increasingly active,
sponsoring varying sporting events, international cookouts, and a
Miss International Pageant.11
Although winters in Oklahoma are mild compared to many other
parts of the nation, a January ice storm interrupted the academic
routine of all three branches of Northeastern as well as normal
activity throughout the region. From Monday, January 8, until
Wednesday, January 10, 2007, Northeastern classes were cancelled.
Roads around Tahlequah were open, but farther west, travel was
treacherous, and many communities were without electricity. The
Tahlequah campus resembled a war zone with large branches or
entire trees blocking roads, sidewalks, and parking lots.12
In February 2007, school officials announced a change in the
academic schedule. Beginning with the fall semester, two days
between the end of class and final examinations were set aside to
give students time to prepare for final exams free of the obligation to
attend class. The period, often called “dead days” at other
institutions, was designated as “study days” at NSU in the hope that
students would use them for the intended purpose. The chair of the
department of business and technology feared that they might
become “legendary party days” as they were at other places she had
taught. As the end of the fall 2008 semester approached, the faculty
council questioned the usefulness of the period set aside to prepare
for final exams. Dr. Craig Clifford, the council’s president, asked if
the two days had improved exam results. Noting that the faculty had
not been consulted in the decision to create the study period, he said
that he had not noticed improvement in the classes he taught.
Additionally, some faculty members expressed their opposition to
the lengthening of the semester caused by the addition of study days.
In an editorial, the campus newspaper claimed that students were
“quite happy” with the study days and urged readers to use them for
11
Amanda Stone, “International Club opens its doors for members,” Northeastern, 14 November
2006, 13. Gabriela Del Campo, “Club brings unity and diversity,” Northeastern, 26 February 2008, 7.
12
Dale Denwalt II, “Storm blasts through campus,” Northeastern, 17 January 2007, 1-2.
the intended purpose and oppose efforts to eliminate them. The
faculty council undertook a study of its impact, and Dr. Dalton
Bigbee, vice president for academic affairs, promised, “Unless there
are compelling reasons that come to light as part of the analysis (the
faculty council’s study), there are no plans to eliminate study
days.”13
On March 3, 2007, President Larry Williams suffered a heart
attack followed by complications that kept him away from campus
the remainder of the semester and part of the summer. In April, Kim
Cherry, vice president for administration, was appointed acting
president until Williams’ return. Although the president made an
appearance at Rookie Bridge Camp and the faculty and staff
meeting at the beginning of the fall semester, he announced that he
would not return to his duties full-time until January 2008. In
September, the recovering president promised, “I’ll be back in the
saddle very quick.” When Williams tried to perform some of his
duties, the regents ruled that he could not act in his official capacity
as president until his full-time return to work. In December Williams
informed the faculty and staff that he planned to retire on June 30.
Officials of the Regional University System of Oklahoma said
Williams would remain on medical leave until his retirement and
appointed Cherry as interim president of the university until
Williams’ replacement was selected. In reviewing his presidency at
Northeastern, Williams pointed to the transformation of an open
field west of Broken Arrow “to the beautiful campus it is today,” as
his greatest accomplishment. He predicted growth for all of
Northeastern’s campuses, and suggested that Broken Arrow could
double within a decade.14
The search for a new president began almost immediately. The
13
Ashley Russell, “University OKs two ‘dead days’ before fall finals,” Northeastern, 27
February 2007, 6. Melissa Pedersen, “Study days undecided,” Northeastern, 4 November 2008, 1-2.
House Editorial: Students can make a difference,” Northeastern, 4 November 2008, 5. Cassandra
Brubaker, “Study days offer alternative to cram sessions,” Northeastern, 9 December 2008, 7.
14
“President Williams suffers heart attack,” Northeastern, 6 March 2007, 1. Dale Denwalt II, “A
month later Williams still in recovery,” Northeastern, 3 April 2007, 7. Dale Denwalt II, “Pres. Larry
Williams now in intensive care,” Northeastern, 10 April 2007, 1. Dale Denwalt, “Cherry appointed as
acting president,” Northeastern, 17 April 2007, 1-2. . Dale Denwalt, “Williams moves out of ICU, into
physical therapy,” Northeastern, 25 April 2007, 3. “Cherry serves as acting president,” Northeastern,
25 April 2007, 3. Andee Barkley, “Weaver: Williams to come back,” Northeastern 11 Jun 2007, 7.
“Williams will return full-time in January,” Northeastern, 9 August 2007, 1. Lynne Jones, “President
Williams moves back into university home,” Northeastern, 18 September 2007, 1 and 3. Dale Denwalt
II, “RUSO says president not banned from university,” Northeastern, 25 September 2007, 1-2. Dale
Denwalt II, “Williams to retire,” Northeastern, 10 December 2007, 1. Heath Hamilton, “Dr. Larry
Williams retires June 30,” Northeastern, 29 April 2008, 16.
63 “Bottom of the funding food-chain”
2006-2008
RUSO board established an NSU Presidential Search Advisory
Committee, composed of all elements of the university community
from the university’s three campuses, which met initially on January
15, 2008. The function of the committee was to assist the regents in
identifying “a dynamic, articulate campus leader and team builder
who can execute a vision of academic excellence and enthusiasm
throughout the university’s numerous constituencies.”15
Phase II of construction on the Broken Arrow campus ended on
May 18, 2007, with the formal dedication of the library and science
building. An additional classroom building had been opened for the
beginning of the fall semester in 2006. The May ceremony marked
the completion of the six major buildings planned for Northeastern’s
Broken Arrow campus and provided facilities for as many as 8,000
students in a spacious, oval campus of interconnected academic
halls surrounding the administration building.16
As the centennial of the school’s establishment neared, work to
improve the appearance and safety of the Tahlequah campus
increased. Deteriorating brick planters, which had been placed along
the west side of Grand Avenue in the Robert Collier administration,
were removed, a new sidewalk laid, and the area landscaped. The
January ice storm had caused considerable damage across campus.
Many large, old trees had to be removed, and all the Bradford Pears
on campus were cut down. The number of trees removed prompted
concern, but Joe Spence, director of the physical plant, assured a
Northeastern reporter that only those trees that could not be saved or
posed an actual threat to people walking under them were removed.
After the completion of the Grand Avenue project, work began on
repairing the Harrell E. Garrison Memorial Fountain north of the
University Center. The $30,000 cost of the repair had been too much
for the Class of 2006 to raise, but school officials wanted to put the
fountain back in operation before the college celebrated its
centennial. The Class of 2008 pledged $5,000 to be supplemented
by funds from the university to restore the fountain.17
15
16
Carly Jones, “Search continues for a new president,” Northeastern, 22 January 2008, 3.
April Marciszewski, “New buildings double capacity for NSU-BA,” Tulsa World, 19 May
2007.
17
Jacob Unruh, “Why the trees are falling,” Northeastern, 2 April 2007, 1 and 30. Dale Denwalt
II, “Storm blasts through campus,” Northeastern, 17 January 2007, 1-2. Andee Barkley, “Storied
history keeps the fountain in mind,” Northeastern, 24 July 2007, 11. Meredith Hunt, “Beautification
plan continues with IA building remodeling,” Northeastern, 11 September 2007, 1-2. Daniel Thomas,
“Fountain renovation voted as senior gift,” Northeastern, 11 March 2008, 11.
In January 2008 work began on one of the centennial projects—
a Northeastern Hall of Honor to highlight the history and tradition of
NSU athletics and to focus attention on those chosen for the
university’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Housed in the Jack Dobbins
Field House, the hall provided a suitable setting for the two national
football and one basketball championship trophies won by Redmen
teams.18
Throughout all of Northeastern’s history the school had
experienced periodic budget crises. Most lasted several years and
were followed by longer periods of improved funding. The recovery
from the economic downturn at the beginning of the new century
was not complete in the spring of 2007 when Governor Henry
vetoed the budget approved by the legislature. The action forced
Northeastern’s Acting President Kim Cherry to implement a hiring
freeze until differences between the governor and the legislature
were resolved. She pointed out the higher education appropriations
in the vetoed budget were minimal and added, “higher education
seems to be at the bottom of the funding food-chain.” Supporting
her claim she asserted, “there are few states that put as little money
into higher education as Oklahoma.” She also mentioned that
slumping enrollment across the state, which she estimated to be
between 3 to 4% over the past two years, added to the problems
facing Oklahoma colleges and universities. In mid-May the budget
impasse was resolved with higher education receiving an increase of
$79.1 million, about half the increase of the previous year.
Northeastern’s enrollment continued to drop in the fall 2007, and by
mid-semester little more than half of the freshmen who had enrolled
in the fall of 2006 remained in school. The trend continued in the
spring semester 2008. Although enrollment continued to increase on
the Broken Arrow and Muskogee campuses, the Tahlequah campus
experienced a decrease of about three percent. Bill Nowlin, dean of
enrollment management, attributed the decline in Tahlequah to the
booming economy, the declining number of students graduating
from high school, and the increased competition for students. Paul
Westbrook, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, attributed it to the
number of students who did not return after the fall semester.19
18
Jacob Unruh, “Hall of fame to open Friday,” Northeastern, 29 January 2008, 1.
Eric W. Bolin,” Cutbacks cause hiring freeze,” Northeastern, 17 April 2007, 3. Michael
McNutt, “Henry vetoes budget,” Oklahoman, 29 March 2007. Michael McNutt, “BUDGET DEAL
REACHED—Lawmakers, governor agree on $7.1 billion in funding, but details must be worked out,”
Oklahoman, 16 May 2007. “Higher Education as a Percentage of Total State Appropriations, FY80 to
19
63 “Bottom of the funding food-chain”
2006-2008
Northeastern officials had no option except to increase tuition by
almost nine percent and order belt-tightening throughout the
university. Although the hiring freeze was relaxed, employment of
personnel was limited to those considered absolutely essential, and
some positions that had been authorized were remained vacant,
including six faculty slots that represented a $300,000 savings. The
number of adjunct instructors and graduate assistants was increased
to cover classes for positions left unfilled. Costly software programs
for upgrading the institution’s data processing capability were
postponed. Before the next legislature convened a nationwide
banking crisis, triggered by the collapse of the housing market,
produced a tax revenue shortfall in Oklahoma. The state’s colleges
and universities were forced to reduce expenditures for the second
time in the first decade of the 21st century, and as Northeastern
ended the observance of its centennial, the economic downturn
showed no signs of relenting.20
In spring varsity play four NSU teams had outstanding seasons.
The Lady Reds softball team, picked to place last in its division of
the Lone Star Conference, got off to a 24-5 start and rose to number
10 in the national rankings by early April. Late in the season the
team upset number four-ranked Anglo State and advanced to the
NCAA Division II south central regional before losing to Tarleton
state 6-1. The Lady Reds tennis team, rated 15th in the nation, won
its third LSC championship defeating number 6th ranked Abilene
Christian University 5-3. The women’s hope of winning a national
championship was dashed when they were defeated by number 5
ranked Valdosta State University in the NCAA Division II round-ofsixteen playoff at Altamonte Springs, Florida, in early May. Both
Northeastern men and women golfers enjoyed outstanding seasons
in 2007. The men captured a third straight LSC championship at
Bear Creek Golf Club in Dallas and the women finished the national
tournament in seventh place.21
FY09,” The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education Educational and General Budgets Summary
and Analysis Fiscal Year 2009, 6. “Studies show decrease in higher education enrollment,”
Northeastern, 9 October 2007, 3. Meredith Hunt, “Help available for freshmen in maintaining
enrollment status,” Northeastern, 16 October 2007, 13. Cassandra Brubaker, “Tahlequah enrollment
numbers on the decline,” Northeastern, 12 February 2008, 1-2.
20
Dale Denwalt II, “Budget ‘belt tightening,’ tuition jump follows dismal state returns,”
Northeastern, 2 July 2007, 1-2.
21
Clark Davis III, “Lady Reds softball receives national ranking,” Northeastern, 10 April 2007,
24. “Lady Reds Fall to Tarleton State in Season Finale,” Northeastern State University news release,
12 May 2007. “Lay Reds bring home LSC championship title,” Northeastern, 25 April 2007, 27.
Enrollment continued declining in the summer despite efforts to
offer “a complete and flexible summer schedule.” Bill Nowlin, dean
of enrollment management and registrar, suggested the strong
economy and increasing tuition rate as factors influencing students
to take summer jobs rather than enroll in summer school.
Northeastern’s tuition had increased 8.9% over the previous year.22
As the percentage of state aid decreased and the university
became more dependent on tuition, enrollment and retention
assumed more importance. After implementing multiple programs to
attract and hold students, school officials took measures to provide
food students liked, at the
times they preferred to eat.
Taking a cue from the private
sector that understood that
many customers preferred junk
food to nutritious meals,
Sodexho launched a multi-year
overhaul of its food service
operation. The director of
Sodexho
Campus
Dining
explained that the “changes
allow the dining program to
continue to evolve along with
the tastes and desires of
today’s students.” Designed to
provide “individuality and
diversity,” one of the initial
changes was to replace the
Sub-Connection at Essentials
in the Leoser complex with a
Pizza Hut Express, which
opened in January 2008. Future
plans called for a “World of
Wings Café and Wingery” in the UC food court. To “appease”
students the Market Café offered ice cream and burgers every day,
and its evening hours were extended until 8 p.m. Patrons who
“Early Exit for Lady Reds ,” Northeastern State University news release, 5 May 2007. Clark Davis III,
“Golf teams end regular season with positive drive,” Northeastern, 25 April 2007, 28. “Golfers Finish
Seventh,” Northeastern State University news release, 11 May 2007
22
Andee Barkley, “Summer enrollment numbers down from last year,” Northeastern, 16 July
2007, 6.
63 “Bottom of the funding food-chain”
2006-2008
preferred a later evening meal could get a pizza until midnight.
While students appreciated the Pizza Huts’ late night hours, a few
complained that the Essentials/Pizza Hut did not open early in the
morning as Essentials had. To give students a voice in the
formulation of food service policy a Student Board of Directors was
established.23
Not everyone considered the efforts at improving the quality of
food served on campus a success. A former instructor in the English
Language Institute said the quality of food served at the Market Café
“has always been poor.” Specifically, she complained about a meal
that included a French-dip sandwich that had a large patch of very
thick mold on the bun and a lemon bar with metal shavings on the
bottom. She referred to the university’s contract with Sodexho
Marriot as “a blight on this university since the moment the deal was
signed.” Sodexho personnel investigated the complaints, found that
they were caused an equipment problem and a breakdown in
procedures, issued an apology to the student body, and took
measures to prevent recurrence. The quality of food may have
improved following the incident, but after the Pizza Hut Express
opened a Salina freshman called it “way better than the caf.”24
Efforts to improve food quality and service at the Market Café
had prompted Sodexho to restrict access to the dining facility to
those eating. In the past students had used the cafeteria as a
gathering place. Sofas and chairs placed outside the Market Café
had drawn students whose conduct had provoked widespread
criticism, which prompted officials to move the furniture to the
basement of the university center. On May 2, 2008, the food court in
the UC basement was closed for a complete remodeling in phase II
of a multi-year, three-phase plan to restructure Northeastern’s food
service operations. Scheduled to reopen at the beginning of the fall
semester, the remodeled food court was designed to make the
facility “a more comfortable place students can come to between
classes and eat and hang out with their friends.”25
23
Andee Barkley, “Sodexho to change up eatery options, offer Pizza Hut,” Northeastern, 24 July
2007, 3. Melissa Pedersen, “UC, food services ongoing changes,” Northeastern, 25 September 2007,
10. Jonna Gordon, “Pizza Hut opens in Leoser,” Northeastern, 22 January 2008, 8. Kimberly Hunter,
“Pizza Hut lacks in the morning,” Northeastern, 4 March 2008, 6.
24
Melissa Harper, “Sodexho quality falters, questioning safety of food” [letter to the editor],
Northeastern, 22 January 2008, 5. Lynne Jones, “Sodexho and NSGA meet to fix misunderstanding,”
Northeastern, 29 January 2008, 2. Gordon, “Pizza Hut opens in Leoser,” 8.
25
Lynne Jones and Nate Hale, “Food Court to close for remodeling,” Northeastern, 29 April
2008, 3.
Members of the science and math faculty returned to the old
science building in September 2007 after a thorough renovation of
the forty-five-year-old building. The facility was reconfigured to
provide better lighting; the heating and cooling systems were
replaced, energy-efficient windows installed, and the electrical and
plumbing systems brought up to code. With the exception of a few
labs on the top floor, the remainder of the building was devoted to
classrooms and offices. The seven-million-dollar project took over a
year to complete. Several months before the faculty returned to the
building, Dr. Martin Venneman was appointed to head the College
of Science and Health Professions. The new dean who had retired in
2003 as associate dean of the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse’s
College of Science and Allied Health, had earned his B.S., M.S., and
Ph.D. from Ohio State University.26
While lack of convenient parking may have produced more
student complaints than any other subject, the quality, quantity,
price, and availability of food may have catapulted students into
action faster. In September the majority of the student senate voted a
non-binding resolution of no confidence against Acting President
Cherry. Accused of lying because she did not respond to questions
about implementation of the meal-plan system and other issues by
the beginning of the fall semester, Cherry explained, “We will be
looking at things to address some of the specific meal plan issues.”
The issue soon faded.27
Cherry was not the only Northeastern official under pressure;
football coach John Horner, who had been told by President
Williams that “we’re with you win or tie,” was probably feeling
abandoned at the end of the 2007 season. In his five years as head
coach, his teams had compiled a 12-38 record, including a winless
0-10 season in 2004. In November Horner submitted his letter of
resignation as head coach, but remained at Northeastern as an
assistant coach. In early November Kenny Evans, a 1982 NSU
graduate with wide collegiate experience as an assistant coach was
selected to replace Horner. The new coach did not immediately
reverse the fortune of the hapless RiverHawks, who ended the 2008
26
Ashley Russell, “Science facilities not quite finished, still requires some work,” Northeastern,
13 March 2007, 8. “New Science dean arrives,” Northeastern, 24 July 2007, 7. Anne Jungen, “Former
UW-L dean alleges age, gender bias in lawsuit,” La Crosse Tribune, 18 September 2007.
27
Dale Denwalt II, “Senate: ‘No Confidence’ in Cherry,” Northeastern, 27 September 2007, 1.
“Rumblings hangs over Senate vote,” Northeastern, 2 October 2007, 1-2.
63 “Bottom of the funding food-chain”
2006-2008
season with a 1-9 record. In its centennial season, the RiverHawks
improved to 2-9.28
Before the beginning of the fall 2007 semester a constitutional
convention was called by members of the Northeastern Student
Government Association to revise the organization’s constitution
and bylaws. At meetings in early and mid-August, delegates
convened to address several concerns, the foremost of which was the
issue of separation of powers. The age of the constitution was also a
factor; the group’s attorney general explained, “There are certain
aspects that need to be changed just because it’s so old.” Revision
required more time than expected. A September meeting bogged
down over the powers of the president of the NSGA. Not
surprisingly, much of the discussion concerned the president’s
power to allocate funds to organizations. The work of revising the
constitution continued until early December when a draft was
approved by the convention and submitted to the student senate.
Many of the changes were designed to make the document more
coherent and logical. The vice president was made the presiding
officer of the student senate, and his financial responsibilities were
transferred to a newly created office of the treasurer. The president’s
authority to appoint committee chairmen was shifted to the NSGA’s
legislature. Although the constitution was overwhelmingly approved
by the students early in the spring semester of 2008, the vote of 1067, in a school with an enrollment exceeding 9,000, suggested that
their government was irrelevant to most of Northeastern’s
students.29
Northeastern’s Greek community also felt it was time for a
change. A Multicultural Greek Council was established in 2007 with
representatives from the four active multicultural (Native American
and black) fraternities and sororities on the NSU campus, Alpha Pi
Omega, Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, and Phi Sigma Nu. At
a summer retreat of all the school’s social fraternities and sororities,
extensive changes were approved to make the Greek system more
28
Jacob Unruh, “Horner resigns candidates already being interviewed,” Northeastern, 4
December 2007, 30. Jacob Unruh, “Alum named new football coach,” Northeastern, 10 December
2007, 30.
29
Keshia Whitelaw, “NSHA Constitutional Convention half done,” Northeastern, 28 August
2007, 1, 3. Stefanie Anderegg, “Constitutional Convention III, Northeastern, 11 September 2007, 13.
Keshia Whitelaw, “Constitution rewritten,” Northeastern, 10 December 2007, 2. Daniel Thomas,
“NSGA Constitution Vote,” Northeastern, 5 February 2008, 1-2. Carly Jones, “Simple majority passes
new constitution,” Northeastern, 12 February 2008, 1-2.
unified and to stimulate interaction and community involvement.
Rush, which had been conducted around homecoming, was moved
to the beginning of the fall semester, and fraternity members were
asked to respect Panhellenic recruitment by not wearing T-shirts
promoting a specific sorority. These and other rules, implemented
throughout the remainder of the school year, left some fraternity
members “in shock.”30
In discussing the new rules, the president of the Interfraternity
Council mentioned that men’s rush had always been relaxed except
for alcohol, girls at formal events and trash-talking. He was
immediately proven correct when Cherokee County sheriff’s
deputies arrested the president of Tau Kappa Epsilon and three other
members of the fraternity at a bid-day beer bust north of
Tahleqauah, which put a TKE pledge in the hospital.31
Fraternities did not have a monopoly on problems involving
alcohol. In early October members of the RiverHawk football squad
were involved in a brawl at the Big Whiskey Saloon on north
Muskogee. Apparently sparked by spilled beer, a confrontation with
racial overtones resulted in the arrest of two Northeastern players
who were charged with aggravated assault and assault and battery.
Both men were suspended from the team while the confrontation
was being investigated.32
In December 2007, about the time President Williams
announced his plans to retire, Dr. Allen McKiel submitted his
resignation as director of libraries, to accept a position as dean of
library and media services at Western Oregon University. Tom
Messner, director of the Broken Arrow library, was appointed
interim director of libraries until Dr. Sheila Collins, who had been
director of the library at Minot State University in North Dakota,
was named executive director of libraries at Northeastern and
assumed the position in September 2008.33
In the early years of the school, Northeastern officials had
assured parents that their children were safe from the unsavory
influences that students in larger communities encountered. That
30
Stefanie Anderegg, “OSA pushes for new organization,” Northeastern, 28 August 2007, 8.
Meredith Hunt, “Greeks ‘in shock; over new rules,” Northeastern, 28 August 2007, 9.
31
Dale Denwalt II, “One hospitalized, four arrested in party bust,” Northeastern, 4 September
2007, 1-2. Keshia Whitelaw, “At-risk Greek organizations observe rules,” Northeastern, 2 October
2007, 7.
32
Jacob Unruh, “Big Whiskey brawl lands three in jail,” Northeastern, 9 October 2007, 1-2.
33
Kara Keathey, “NSU has new executive director of libraries,” Northeastern, 11 November
2008, 16,
63 “Bottom of the funding food-chain”
2006-2008
assurance has not survived World War I. If the campus had ever
been a sanctuary from worldly dangers, it no longer was. A robbery
and mugging on campus prompted the student newspaper to explore
measures taken to increase security. Campus police patrolled
Northeastern on foot, bicycle, and squad car round the clock,
security cameras monitored many campus locations, and most dorms
required electronic ID cards for entrance. Nonetheless, thieves still
managed to get into dorm rooms, and walking alone across campus
at night was not advisable. A freshman coed reported that she felt
safe on campus, but added, “On nights that the fraternities are
partying I make sure I’m not walking anywhere by myself.”34
Although Northeastern never achieved the racial balance
advocated by the civil rights division of the federal Department of
Education, the university, like the nation, had made considerable
progress in removing barriers to black equality. Complete
integration, however, had not occurred. While prejudice may have
been concealed rather than eliminated, a major barrier to complete
integration was rooted in the reluctance of blacks and whites to
abandon traditional relationships. While cross cultural associations
occurred, many black and white students seemed more comfortable
in the company of those like themselves. A member of
Northeastern’s Association of Black Collegians, an organization
committed to bringing all races together, explained, “one benefit in
ABC is the fact that I’m around people that have the same views and
feel the same way I do about school and other matters.” A white
coed stressed the persistence of segregation when she protested the
exclusion of whites from the Miss Black NSU Pageant. She insisted
the contest “just causes a segregation that African Americans fought
so hard to end for many years and seems to me like a step in the
wrong direction.”35
Not long after the arrival of Dr. Dalton Bigbee, the new vice
president for academic affairs ordered a study of the university’s
general education requirements, which had not been changed for
almost twenty years. A task force assembled to review the
requirements was directed to determine if the general education
courses remained relevant and provided tools necessary to the
34
Keshia Whitelaw, “NSU campus appears safe,” Northeastern, 4 September 2007, 10.
Clark Davis III, “ABC continues to voice the concerns of black college students on NSU’s
campus,” Northeastern, 2 October 2007, 11. Jennifer Huggins, Miss Black NSU Pageant is racist
against white women” [letter to the editor], Northeastern, 13 November 2007, 4.
35
students’ future and to make recommendations for revision, if
necessary. The process began with a survey of students, faculty, and
alumni seeking their views of the status of the school’s program. In
the spring 2009, proposed revisions were circulated among members
of the university community, and after further consideration in open
forums and focus groups in October the curriculum and educational
policies committee approved a new general education curriculum,
not dramatically different from the current requirements. If approved
by the regents, the revised sequence would be implemented in the
fall of 2010 and allow students more flexibility and increase
emphasis on global perspectives.36
Northeastern was not only reviewing the content of its general
education program, it was also investigating improvements in the
delivery of information. For the past six years the use of Blackboard,
a program that allowed professors and students to interact over
networked computers, had been growing steadily. During the 200607 academic year 2,135 students enrolled in 90 online courses, and
the use of Blackboard to supplement face-to-face instruction had
also increased. The university’s single Blackboard server was no
longer adequate to meet the school’s growing demand, and the
version of Blackboard used by the school was out of date. Initial
studies of the Learning Management Subcommittee suggested that
other programs might serve the needs of Northeastern as well or
better for less money. Further investigation indicated that
comparable service from other vendors would not produce much
savings, and many faculty members expressed reluctance to adopt
another service after investing so much time and effort learning how
to operate Blackboard. In the spring of 2008, committee members
voted unanimously to remain with Blackboard. At the beginning of
the spring semester of 2009, the university migrated from
Blackboard 6.3 to Blackboard 8 with greatly enhanced server
capacity37
As Northeastern’s centennial year approached, a campaign to
expand and improve the campus moved into high gear. In addition
to the construction of the new science laboratory facility, many other
buildings were refurbished with funds from the Higher Education
Bond Issue of 2005 and other sources. Northeastern’s education
36
Lynne Jones, “General Education surveys out today,” Northeastern, 22 January 2008, 1-2.
Lisa Hooper, “NSU looks for better option than Blackboard with subcommittee input,”
Northeastern, 22 January 2008, 6. Email message from James “Jym” Brittain “Learning Management
System Announced,” to the NSU community, 2 May 2008.
37
63 “Bottom of the funding food-chain”
2006-2008
building underwent a $2.8 million renovation, which included
restoring the third floor and gabled roof removed when the building
was remodeled in 1974. In addition to improving the building’s
appearance, workers installed an elevator, made the restrooms ADA
compliant, replaced the old heating and cooling system, put in new
windows, and made other improvements. Work, which began in
January 2008 was supposed to be completed by August 1, but
problems with the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system
delayed the opening of the building until later in the semester.
Haskell Hall and its annex were re-roofed, the bricks were repointed, windows replaced, and a new heating and cooling system
installed. In a ceremony in the fall semester of 2009, Bagley
graduates watched as Northeastern’s president formally restored the
building’s original name, “Bagley Hall.” When the Bagley Training
School closed, the official name of the building gradually faded
from use as students and faculty referred to the structure as the
“education building.”38
The industrial arts building, constructed during in the late 1940s,
had been abandoned in the mid-1990s and had been vacant or used
for storage most of the time since then. Its location in the center of
the campus had prompted several suggestions for its use, but
consolidating and streamlining the varied aspects of the enrollment
process in one facility not only made sense from the standpoint of
efficiency, it also was regarded as an asset in the process of
recruiting and retaining students. University officials favored
converting the building to an enrollment management center by
1997, but funds were not available until 2007, when work began on
the remodeling. The $4.5 million project provided 22,400 square
feet of space for the offices of Admissions and Records, College
Relations, Student Financial Services, First-Year Experience,
Enrollment Services, I.D. Services, and a small Business Affairs
Office with a cashier and bursar. To increase parking space adjacent
to the building, the Health Services, housed in a WPA building
dating from 1939, was razed, and the university’s health center
relocated in a new modular, prefabricated structure east of Wyly
Hall on Crafton Street. Remodeling of the industrial arts building
was scheduled for completion shortly after the beginning of the
38
Chris Augerhole, “Construction continues across campus,” Northeastern, 29 January 2008, 7.
Liza Posson, “Education building remodeled,” Northeastern, 23 June 2008, 10. Melissa Pedersen,
“New roof gives the Education Building a facelift,” Northeastern, 14 October 2008, 3.
2008-09 school year, but delays pushed the opening to the summer
of 2009.39
About three months after President Williams announced his plan
to retire, Neal Weaver, vice president for university relations,
resigned “to find new challenges and opportunities.” Williams had
brought Weaver to Northeastern in 1998 and appointed him vice
president in 2005. Interim President Cherry decided not to fill the
position so that the new president could appoint a replacement or
eliminate it as he saw fit. In the meantime personnel who had
reported to Weaver were instructed to deal directly with the
president. Directors in the three areas supervised by the vice
president of university relations agreed that his sudden departure
would not have a negative impact on their areas.40
In early April, members of the Board of Regents of the Regional
University System of Oklahoma elected Dr. Donald Betz, chancellor
of the University of Wisconsin—River Falls, as Northeastern’s
seventeenth President. Betz, who earned his Ph.D. from the
University of Denver, began his academic career at Northeastern in
1971 as an assistant professor of political science. He remained at
the Tahlequah school, serving in a variety of capacities including
Vice President of University Relations, until 1994 when he accepted
the position of provost and vice president for academic affairs at
Palmer College, Davenport, Iowa. In 1999, he moved to the
University of Central Oklahoma as provost and vice president of
academic affairs until 2005 when he accepted the Wisconsin
position.41
Frequent personnel changes in the university bookstore
contributed to increasing problems in providing the correct
textbooks at the beginning of each semester. Renaming the
bookstore the RiverHawk Shoppe in the spring 2008 did little to
address the store’s inability to deliver the correct books in a timely
fashion. After years of growing criticism, in the spring 2009, Tim
39
Michele Schmidt, “Preparation for renovations begin,” Northeastern, 21 February 2006, 1-2.
Gini Miller, “Industrial Arts gets vamped up in new year,” Northeastern, 7 December 2006, 8.
Elizabeth Miller, “Health Services to be razed,” Northeastern, 24 July 2007, 7. Elizabeth Miller,
“Dormant structure to get $3.8M facelift,” Northeastern, 24 July 2007, 1-2. Melissa Pedersen,
“Student health center relocated near Wyly,” Northeastern, 4 September 2007, 12. Meredith Hunt,
“Beautification plan continues with IA building remodeling,” Northeastern, 11 September 2007, 1-2.
Kara French, “Enrollment Management Center slated for August opening,” Northeastern, 8 April
2008, 9. Liza Posson, “Enrollment made easy fro incoming students,” Northeastern, 23 June 2008, 8.
40
“Vice President Neal Weaver resigns,” Northeastern, 4 March 2008, 1. Kara French, “Position
to be decided by incoming president,” Northeastern, 11 March 2008, 3.
41
Jacob Unruh, “Betz named university president,” Northeastern, 8 April 2008, 1.
63 “Bottom of the funding food-chain”
2006-2008
Foutch, vice president for administration, announced that providing
books and supplies to students would be outsourced to Barnes and
Noble beginning with the fall semester. Foutch claimed the decision
was “all about cost.” Citing growing competition from online
vendors and off-campus competition, Foutch suggested that Barnes
and Noble’s size provided a competitive advantage that could result
in savings passed along to NSU’s students.42
42
“RiverHawk Shoppe officially opened,” Northeastern, 29 April 2008, 1. Jacob Briggs,
“RiverHawk Shoppe seeks outside assistance, Northeastern, 10 February 2009, 3. Daniel Thomas,
University outsources bookstore,” Northeastern, 5 May 2009, 1.