President names new chief of staff
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
May 4, 2016
On Tuesday, May 3, University of Akron President Scott Scarborough appointed William Lyons as his interim chief of staff. Lyons has been a political science professor at UA since 1996, becoming director of the Center for Conflict Management in 2000. He also has led such campus programs as Rethinking...
Less confidence than before
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
May 2, 2016
The results of a survey released yesterday show that UA faculty have even less confidence in University leadership and direction than they did fall semester. “Approximately 9 out of every 10 faculty believe that the university is worse off than it was two years ago, that the public sees the Unive...
Fewer visiting, more full-time faculty
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
April 27, 2016
For next fall, The University of Akron administration is trying to cut back the number of visiting lecturers to make room for more full-time, bargaining-unit (union) faculty. There are about 100 temporary visiting lecturers (TVLs) at the University. Their jobs are designed to be for the short-term, w...
Exceptional people honored with LIFE awards
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
April 25, 2016
Many exceptional students, staff and faculty members were recognized with 2016 UA LIFE awards last Wednesday evening, April 20, at a large ceremony in the Student Union ballrooms. LIFE stands for legacy, integrity, fellowship and excellence; multiple awards with different titles and meanings wer...
The Sweet Swan of Avon; alive on the day of his death
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
April 25, 2016
William Shakespeare was quite alive last week when The University of Akron celebrated the 400th anniversary of his death. Last Friday, April 22, UA’s English and Archival Services departments teamed up to host an afternoon of all things Shakespeare and his works, which included two presentations...
Quiet meeting, quiet protest
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
April 13, 2016
Out in Orrville at UA’s Wayne College campus, it was a quiet day for both trustees and protesters. Yesterday, April 13, was the UA Board of Trustee’s last meeting of spring semester – its first meeting reviving the annual tradition, stopped eight years ago, of meeting at a location off...
Keep promises, because you said you would
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
April 13, 2016
Making promises isn’t difficult, but keeping them is. It’s also what makes a person stand out. On Tuesday night, a man best known around the world for keeping his own promises and inspiring others to keep theirs came to The University of Akron to share his story. Alex Sheen, founder of the...
Away from the main
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
April 11, 2016
Not since eight years ago has The University of Akron Board of Trustees held a meeting anywhere other than main campus. Yet the Board’s next meeting, slated for this Wednesday, April 13 at 10 a.m., will be at UA’s Wayne College, which is a 40-minute drive from downtown Akron. The last time a Board ...
Concerned students speak up
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
April 6, 2016
At a unique event yesterday in Schrank Hall South, a group of about 20 students were given free rein to voice their concerns to select University representatives, including two members of the UA Board of Trustees. The event, called “Join the Conversation,” was put on by the Akron chapter of the Oh...
Paintball team headed to nationals
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
April 4, 2016
You might not have heard that The University of Akron’s paintball team is headed to the national championships this April. The team, which was founded in February of 2011 and now has 15 members, is ranked 15th out 46 teams nationally in the AA class. Its most recent finishes include getting third pl...
Choose your leadership
By Logan Lane and Grant Morgan
March 31, 2016
UA’s Undergraduate Student Government (USG) is now holding elections for next year’s president, vice president, and senate members. If you are an undergraduate, you should have received an email this morning explaining how to vote. There is also a link to the bio page of the candidates. Voting...
What you missed over spring break
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
March 28, 2016
Kristina Aiad-Toss and Logan Lane contributed reporting While you were away on spring break, an update came about when and how students will be getting their fee refunds, UA’s faculty union and administration resolved their disagreements over contract negotiations, and two new members were appointed to th...
Survey captures student opinion of UA leadership
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
March 14, 2016
Just over 56 percent of undergraduate students say they have no confidence in UA President Scott Scarborough, a survey released last week by the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) shows. The survey, which was anonymous and included both multiple choice and open-ended questions, garnered respo...
Schedule an ‘un-class’ with EXL
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
March 9, 2016
In the print version of this article, Ian Schwarber was incorrectly quoted as writing "best rest assured," when really he wrote "but rest assured." After a successful opening week, UA’s new Experiential Learning [EXL] Center is taking submissions for its next initiative, the “un-class.” ...
EXL Launch Week day one: introductions, millennials
By Zaina Salem, Grant Morgan, and Dylan Reynolds
March 2, 2016
“The notion that you have to pick between what you love and paying the bills is absurd,” said Jeff Hoffman, co-founder of Priceline and founding director of The University of Akron’s new EXL Center. A series of events to launch the EXL Center — short for Experiential Learning Center for E...
Distinguished professors rebuke UA leadership
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
February 29, 2016
As the faculty union goes into emergency meetings today and tomorrow to discuss a strike-authorization vote, a group of distinguished UA professors has publicly declared their disapproval of the University’s direction under the leadership of President Scott Scarborough. The title of “Distinguish...
Q&A with Board Chair Jonathan Pavloff: rebranding, President Scarborough, faculty, more
By Grant Morgan and Kristina Aiad-Toss
February 18, 2016
In an interview with The Buchtelite last Monday, Feb. 15, UA Board of Trustees Chair Jonathan Pavloff gave responses neither supporting nor criticizing President Scott Scarborough. Asked if the board had unanimous support in Scarborough from all seven of its voting members, Pavloff said, “The...
Board responds to calls for change
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
February 10, 2016
In the printed version of the article, UA Board of Trustees Chair Jonathan Pavloff is introduced only with his last name, and without reference of what position he holds at UA. After the faculty senate’s near-unanimous vote of no confidence in President Scott Scarborough, and a more ...
Key issues on the table
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
February 8, 2016
According to University spokesman Wayne Hill, the "proposed course fees" mentioned in this article are for law students in the UA School of Law's international program in Asia, and for Fire and Hazardous Materials students for the purchasing of protective clothing. After an eventful week in which...
Faculty senate votes ‘no confidence’ in Scarborough
By Grant Morgan, Logan Lane, and Nick Peterman
February 5, 2016
By a count of 50-2, the UA faculty senate voted no confidence in President Scott Scarborough at its last meeting on Feb. 4, 2016. The no-confidence resolution cited reasons why the “University has been negatively impacted over the past year,” including declining enrollment, miscommunication of the ...
Fewer headed to UA?
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
February 1, 2016
Freshman applications to UA were down 6 percent in mid-January from the same time last year, as the number of admitted students who had confirmed their intent to enroll in fall 2016 were down 32 percent, University data show. These numbers, updated every week, provide only a snapshot of how the annual...
Chick-fil-A, Panda Express now serving
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
January 25, 2016
Last week on the first day of spring classes, Jan. 19, a few new and what are likely to be popular dining venues opened on campus. What was Ohio Burger in the Student Union is now a Chick-fil-A and a Panda Express, while in the Polsky Building, Summit Bistro and the Candy Bar are now a Chick-fil-A...
What you might have missed
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
January 25, 2016
Finals week is demanding, and it’s often difficult for students to keep up with anything other than studying, finishing final projects, and taking tests. Then, when winter break comes, many take full advantage of the respite from classes by directing all their focus to other aspects of their lives...
Ad campaign seeking reform in UA governance
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
December 15, 2015
A new campaign is in progress to reform the way top decisions are being made at The University of Akron. Paid for by “Advocates for The University of Akron, Students and Faculty,” the campaign has so far included five three-quarter-page black-and-white ads printed in the Akron Beacon Journal. “STOP”...
In June, a ‘literal political campaign’ to change UA’s name by January 2016
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
December 7, 2015
It started early this year as a post on a zipsnation.org forum. Since, the topic of a UA name-change — a rebranding, a new slogan, a marketing tagline, whatever one might call it now — has been persistently in the news. But last Friday, The Devil Strip released a story about an administrative email tha...
Business council formed to advise Scarborough and Board of Trustees
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
November 30, 2015
In spite of extensive dissatisfaction from other constituents, at least one group puts hope in the direction of UA: Akron’s business executives. On Sunday, Nov. 29, seven prominent Akron businessmen signed a full-page advertisement in the Akron Beacon Journal urging readers to give the University’s ...
Campuses confront race issues
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
November 23, 2015
Last week, The Buchtelite published a story about UA Black Students United’s rally in support of the protesters’ cause at the University of Missouri (Mizzou), held on Nov. 16 outside of the Student Union entrance doors near Starbucks. The rally story appeared on the top of the front page of The...
Many questions, few answers
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
November 19, 2015
“No topic is off-limits,” UA President Scott Scarborough told the crowd at yesterday’s Akron Press Club event in Quaker Square’s banquet hall, where nearly 175 educators, students, staff, alumni, administrators and community members came to hear him speak. But assuring that no topics are off-limits d...
Sexual assault survey responses released
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
November 4, 2015
Students received troubling, but important, news in a special edition of Zipmail yesterday. The letter was from President Scott Scarborough, and it highlighted some of the findings from the UA Sexual Assault and Violence Education Team (SAVE) survey from earlier this year. Unlike other universiti...
Whose ‘State of the University’ is correct?
By Grant Morgan and Kristina Aiad-Toss
October 21, 2015
UA President Scott Scarborough was not the only one to give his thoughts on the state of the university on Tuesday. Faculty did, too. One hour before the president’s first “State of the University” address, around 80 UA educators in academic regalia and black armbands gathered outside E.J. Thomas Ha...
Messina addresses USG senate
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
October 12, 2015
A special guest came to last week’s Undergraduate Student Government senate meeting to talk about, and perhaps clarify, recent changes at The University of Akron. The guest was John Messina, associate vice president of student affairs, who was also one of the panelists at USG’s Sept. 10 Town Ha...
New faculty, recalled staff
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
September 30, 2015
Not all employees whose positions were cut in July have left The University of Akron for good. “We’ve had a number of people who we’ve brought back because of bumping rights or [their] skill set and put in different positions,” UA Chief Financial Officer Nathan Mortimer said, referencing the retur...
Faculty in disaccord with University leadership
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
September 28, 2015
Faculty are not happy with the way things are going at The University of Akron. Yesterday, the Akron chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) released results of a survey sent out to assess opinions about the current leadership at UA. The survey results come after months of ...
Religious provokers return
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
September 16, 2015
Students react peaceably when told they are going to hell. At least they did on Tuesday, when three men from an independent Christian church in Ohio took up positions outside Leigh Hall to proselytize. Students might have found their faces familiar, as the men stopped at UA last year while on their month...
President says name won’t change
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
September 16, 2015
In the print version of this article, UA Student Trustee Darnell Davis' name is incorrectly written as Darnell Wilson. The Buchtelite acknowledges this mistake. “There are no plans to change the name of The University of Akron— now or in the future. Period.” This statement came from a ...
ASEC library could close
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
September 14, 2015
UA’s Science and Technology Library, located in the Auburn Science and Engineering Center, could close. The library’s operations—supporting students in the “health and life sciences, engineering and computer science, the physical sciences, and technology,” according to its website—would...
Dining Services, students’ opinions two weeks in
By Grant Morgan and Spencer Skolnick
September 9, 2015
Absent in the print version of this article is the acknowledgement of news writer Spencer Skolnick's contributions to this story. In early July, the Aramark Corporation arrived on campus to take over operations of UA’s dining services, the result of an administrative decision last spring to out...
What’s happening with Dining Services?
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
August 22, 2015
Students can expect a different dining experience this fall, as UA recently hired the Aramark Corporation to take over its Dining Services. Aramark is a big company—207th of the list of Fortune 500s—that provides professional services to communities and institutions worldwide. It operates on many ...
Upcoming campus protest against UA name-change
By Grant Morgan, Managing Editor
May 1, 2015
Seventeen students gathered in Olin Hall Room 124 today, May 1, to work out the details of a protest against a name-change for The University of Akron. The protest will take place next Friday, May 8, starting at 3:30 p.m. Students can join the protest at one of two meeting points on campus: in front...
Gun-rights advocates parade through campus
By Grant Morgan, News Editor
April 27, 2015
In the printed version of this article, which was published on April 28, 2015, Jeremy Krantz was referred to as an "ex-Marine." The Buchtelite recognizes this mistake—that "ex-Marine" is an incorrect term, and that it was unacceptable to be published. Jeremy Krantz is a Former Marine, not an ex-Mar...
Open carry walk on Saturday
By Grant Morgan, News Editor
April 22, 2015
Don’t be surprised to see a group of people openly wielding firearms on UA’s campus this weekend. Jeffry Smith, a National Rifle Association Certified Firearms Instructor and Life Member, organized an “Open Carry/Firearm Education Walk” for Saturday, April 25 on UA’s campus. Smith has do...
Update on name-change considerations
By Grant Morgan, News Editor
April 1, 2015
A name can tell a lot about a university. Or can it? What is now known as The University of Akron began as Buchtel College in 1870. Buchtel College and its assets were transferred to the City of Akron in 1913, when its name changed to the Municipal University of Akron. Then, in 1967, the Municipal...
USG presidential, vice-presidential candidates debate in Starbucks lounge
By Grant Morgan, News Editor
March 11, 2015
Students gathered in the Student Union Starbucks Lounge on Wednesday evening for USG’s presidential and vice-presidential candidate debate. The two candidates for president are Garrett Scherba and Taylor Swift. Their running mates are Brandon Genetin and Ricky Angeletti, respectively. The presidential...
Fair exhibits housing alternatives
By Grant Morgan, News Writer
March 5, 2015
UA’s Off-Campus Student Services held its annual housing fair in the Union on Wednesday, March 4, which gave students critical information on finding and choosing a place to live next school year. Around 25 tables, occupied by representatives from apartment complexes and housing companies, filled...
What to consider when renting or leasing
By Grant Morgan, News Editor
March 5, 2015
Students confronted for the first time with finding a place to live have many things to take into account, both when looking for and at a potential residence. Rentals and leases are nearly the same; however, rental properties operate on a monthly basis, while leases have a specified term length. Affordability...
Speech and Debate Team places second at state championship
By Sofia Syed, Arts & Life Editor
February 25, 2015
UA’s Speech and Debate (forensics) Team took second place at the Ohio Forensics Association State Championship on Feb. 21 and 22. The tournament was held in Kolbe Hall, beginning Saturday and ending with the award ceremony in Paul A. Daum Theatre on Sunday evening. Speech and Debate Team Captain Lauren Fowkes placed in the final round of ...
An argument for handwriting
By Grant Morgan, News Editor
February 24, 2015
To hell with practicality. Good handwriting, or “chirography,” is a dying art. Its decline began when that first email was sent in the early ‘70s. Since, the art has regressed continuously, disappearing from school curriculums and public attention alike. True, there is hardly a need for anything...
Rudy Francisco exposes social problems through slam poetry
By Grant Morgan, News Editor
February 12, 2015
Spoken Word Poet Rudy Francisco demonstrated his oratorical prowess for UA students in the Student Union piano lounge on Tuesday, Feb. 10. UA’s Residence Hall Program Board collaborated with Sigma Lambda, an honorary student service organization, to host Francisco. This event was one of t...
Kasich proposes changes for Ohio higher education system
By Grant Morgan, News Editor
February 12, 2015
Governor John Kasich’s recent budget proposal and executive order will change Ohio’s higher education system, and UA will not be excluded. On Tuesday, Feb. 10, Kasich signed an executive order to create a nine-member Task Force on Affordability and Efficiency. This group’s goal is to lower the...
Mentoring for any first-year students
By Grant Morgan, News Editor
February 11, 2015
There is a program at UA for both new students who need advice for college life and any experienced student who is willing to give that advice. The Office of Multicultural Development’s peer mentoring program has been around for more than 20 years, but recently has been growing and flourishing. “[Peer...
Knight Foundation funds free tickets
By Grant Morgan, Arts & Life Editor
February 9, 2015
There is an old venue using new means to promote art and culture near downtown Akron. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation recently awarded EJ Thomas Hall with $120,000. This money will be used for this season and next to give free tickets to young adults ages 25 to 40. ZipTix, the program...
