Dale Denwalt II's Clip File

Budget ‘belt tightening,’ tuition jump follows dismal state returns - 2 July 2007

2007-07-02T23:33:00.000-07:00

FULL TEXT

The numbers are in, and tuition is up.

Following a less-than-expected allocation from the state government, tuition across the state has risen to offset mandatory cost increases and low enrollment.

At NSU, in-state undergraduates will pay $126.60 per credit hour this fall, an 8.9 percent increase over last year. In-state graduate students will pay $154.90 per credit hour.

The university’s increase is higher than the other state universities, which had an average of 8.6 percent, according to a report by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

OU and OSU raised tuition by 9.7 and 9.9 percent, respectively.

The rise at NSU is because of cost increases in mandatory spending, like insurance and utilities. The Regents gave the university $1.1 million and costlier bills totaled $1.4 million, said acting President Kim Cherry, forcing the tuition increase.
She also said the “very high-cost programs” of music, speech pathology and nursing saw tuition increases to more than $146 per credit hour.

The regents, after asking the state legislature for $170 million more than last year’s appropriation, received only $79.6 million in new money. About one-third was divided between the state colleges and universities, and the rest are earmarked for financial aid programs and special projects initiated by the legislature.

The total higher education allocation was about $1.1 billion.

All of this has caused a financial situation in Tahlequah, where cautious administrators have trimmed budgets. New hires under the prevue of Cherry’s Office of Administration are being considered carefully, and every department must justify filling those blank posts.

The ax has fallen on academics, too. The Office of Academic Affairs budgeted last year for six new faculty and the phantom positions have now been repealed because of lower enrollment.

“It was a pretty painless way to give up new positions,” said Vice President Dr. Dalton Bigbee. “If you never had it, it doesn’t hurt so badly.”

He said no job advertisements had been circulated and no one had expected to get one of these six positions, but one of the unassigned budget lines was being held for a vacancy in the English department.

Bigbee said adjunct faculty will now assume those teaching duties.

He said the cut freed up $300,000.By phone last week, Cherry strayed away from the assumption that the budget is rife with cutbacks.

“It is belt tightening,” said Cherry.

The school is not completely strapped, she said. There are still funds set aside for departments’ special needs.

There is also a silver lining for entry-level employees and staff grades one through five, who will get a pay raise this year. Student workers are included, and in July will start with an hourly wage of $6.15. The current wage is $5.60.

At that point, the federal minimum wage will be $5.85.

“We find it more and more difficult to keep competitive,” said Cherry, who noted the university is “trying to stay ahead of the minimum wage.”

She also said a proposed salary stipend is in the works and will be reviewed in November. It is tied to enrollment numbers and if the outlook is good, the stipend will be distributed in January.

Among the operating budgets being parsed by low revenue and high costs are those for equipment, the Physical Plant, Computing and Telecommunications and Business Affairs. The belt tightening has also affected the university-wide implementation of nFocus, a data interface software designed to facilitate easier information sharing between departments. Upgrades of the Oracle software are being delayed, said Cherry.

This is not the first time the university has felt the money crunch.

Major restructuring of the university’s academic programs followed a dip in state appropriations in 2002.

That year, the state cut funds to higher education by more than $36 million, which after an 18-month review led to the consolidation of several departments into four distinct colleges.

Shaffer reverses plea, seeks lesser sentence - 18 June 2007

2007-06-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

FULL TEXT

A former campus minister charged with soliciting sex from a minor has struck a deal with federal prosecutors, seeking a lighter sentence in exchange for a guilty plea.

In the eight-page agreement, Charles B. Shaffer pleaded guilty to sending an obscene photo across the Internet, specifically, a picture of his genitalia. According to court documents, Shaffer thought the recipient was a 13-year-old girl.

The plea, filed June 11, is a reversal from an initial "not guilty" plea. The original charge against Shaffer carried a maximum of 30 years in prison; the new charge has a maximum of five years behind bars, up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release.

Shaffer's attorney submitted instructions and questions to be used in determining a jury, typical in a criminal trial, just one week before the new deal. Shaffer also waived his right to a jury trial.

However, there is no guarantee that the court will accept the agreement.

Shaffer was an outreach minister for the South College Church of Christ and led the Redmen for Christ ministry, a component of the church. He resigned from his post after being arrested.

He was also a network manager with university technical services and is still employed on a technicality. Shaffer was placed on administrative leave, where he will remain until the court hands down a verdict. He is currently not receiving pay or benefits.

FBI agents arrested Shaffer Feb. 2 in a sting designed to capture individuals seeking to have sex with minors. An affidavit states an undercover agent with Perverted-Justice.com had chatted online with Shaffer at times during the January and February. Shaffer then traveled to Walters, Okla., to meet up with the undercover.

It is unclear what prompted the reversal. His lawyer, public defender William Earley, could not be reached.

President Larry Williams now in intensive care - 10 April 2007

2007-04-10T11:36:00.000-07:00

The president take a turn for the worse.

FULL TEXT

President Larry Williams had been moved to an intensive care unit for an illness unrelated to the heart attack he suffered last month.

He had been in physical therapy, but was taken to ICU with difficulty breathing, Neal Weaver, vice president of university relations, wrote in an e-mail to the faculty last week.

Williams, 62, is reported to be improving after recieving doctors’ care to stabilize an infection in his lungs, said Weaver.

The president was flown by helicopter to a Tulsa hospital March 3. Doctors diagnosed the heart attack as “moderate” and performed surgery to repair an artery. It was then that he was released to a rehabilitation center until March 30, when his condition turned.

The ongoing medical situation has cast doubts as to when Williams will return to work. His duties make little impact on the day-to-day operations of the university but as graduation and the budget cycle approaches, it seems his presence is essential.

The vice presidents of university relations, acadmic affairs and administration have taken their share of the work, making
the decisions with Williams in mind. However, said Weaver, what the administrators are doing now is not too far from their every-day jobs.

“I think we are very lucky to have a president that doesn’t micro-manage the instution and allows leaders across campus the freedom and flexibility to make decisions and solve issues related to their areas,” said Weaver.

Shaffer pleads not guilty; trial to begin next week - 3 April 2007

2007-04-03T11:45:00.000-07:00

This is a recap of a story we broke a while earlier.

FULL TEXT

A former university employee who also served as a Redmen for Christ minister has pleaded not guilty to charges that he tried to solicit sex from a minor.

The next phase of Charles Shaffer’s trial will begin about April 9 in Federal court, where either jury selection will begin or lawyers will ask for a continuance. Public defender William P. Earley represents Shaffer.

Shaffer was arrested in February, exactly one month after police say he began an online conversation with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl, an FBI affidavit states. The Walters (Okla.) Police Department coordinated with members of Perverted-Justice.com in an Internet sting that began in December.

According to the affidavit, a member of Perverted Justice had portrayed a 13-year-old girl and was in contact with an individual with the screen name “c_meandu,” who said he was a state employee and worked in the field of communications. Shaffer is on administrative leave from the university, and was network manager with the university technical services network.

Shaffer is charged with using the Internet in attempting to persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, he could face 5-30 years in prison.

Shaffer resigned Feb. 6 from his part-time post as a campus minister and head of Redmen for Christ, which is overseen by the South College Church of Christ.

President Williams suffers heart attack - 6 March 2007

2007-03-06T11:48:00.000-08:00

We recieved a tip on this story about one hour before the paper went to print, throwing my awesome page design into whack. I think the design turned out alright, though, and students were happy to know the story on their president.

FULL TEXT

President Larry Williams suffered a “moderate” heart attack over the weekend, the university announced Monday.

He is in stable condition in a Tulsa hospital, said Dr. Neal Weaver, vice president for university relations, in an e-mail to faculty and staff.

Williams was taken to Tahlequah City Hospital Saturday, and then was transported by helicopter to Tulsa. Doctors there inserted two stents to restore normal blood flow to a blocked artery, said Weaver.

More will be known later this week about when Williams can return to work.

He has no history of heart disease, Weaver said.

“The president and Pam [Williams] asked me to convey their sincere appreciation for all the positive thoughts and prayers extended for his quick recovery. He certainly looks forward to being back on campus soon and is grateful to the entire NSU community for your support and concern,” said Weaver.

FBI says campus minister planned sex with 8th grader - 20 Feb 2007

2007-02-20T12:04:00.000-08:00

This wasn't my first crime reporting story, but I was shocked at the things this guy allegedly said in the affidavit - I spared the details from the story.

FULL TEXT

A university employee who also served as a Redmen for Christ sponsor is scheduled to appear in federal court Thursday on a complaint that he attempted to solicit sex from a minor.

Charles “Chuck” Shaffer, 45, was arrested in Walters, Okla., exactly one month after police said he began an online conversation with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl, an affidavit states. A special agent with the FBI filed the affidavit in federal court.

According to the affidavit, Shaffer told FBI agents at the scene that he intended to engage in sexual activity and that he had made reservations at a Best Western in Lawton, 19 miles from Walters. Management at the motel found condoms, a digital camera and baby oil in the room after Shaffer’s arrest.

Since December, the Walters Police Department has coordinated with Perverted-Justice.com in an Internet sting.

According to the affidavit, a member of Perverted Justice had portrayed a 13-year-old girl and was in contact with an individual with the screen name “c_meandu,” who said he was a state employee and worked in the field of communications. Shaffer is network manager with the university technical services network.

Shaffer told the FBI he had traveled to Walters to have sex with what he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. The affidavit also states Shaffer planned to record the event with the camera.

He was aware of the child’s age, the affidavit states. According to the document, Shaffer asked on Jan. 2, “what grade are you in?” and the undercover agent replied, “8.”

He is quoted as saying, “I’ve dream [sic] about making love to an 8th grader!!!,” and then explicitly describes a sexual act.

Shaffer is charged with using the Internet in attempting to persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, he could face 5-30 years in prison.

University policy orders that Shaffer be placed on administrative leave until the completion of adjudication. He will receive whatever vacation and sick leave pay he has left, said Kim Cherry, vice president for Administration, and may receive job benefits until his pay runs out.

If the charges are dropped or he is found not guilty, Shaffer may return to work pending a review, but he will be terminated if found guilty.

Shaffer resigned Feb. 6 from his part-time post as a campus minister and head of Redmen for Christ, which is overseen by the South College Church of Christ. Church elders have asked the congregation to provide spiritual support for Shaffer and his family, and in a prepared statement, the church confirmed Shaffer’s resignation and asked for prayers.

Shattered Dreams - 30 Jan. 2007

2007-01-30T12:15:00.000-08:00

A simple break-in piece wouldn't be very interesting to our readers, so I wanted to explore what it was like owning a business while going to school. That angle came easily, and so did the awesome quotes from the husband and wife owners.

FULL TEXT

Joe Corn got the call in a hotel room. He and his wife Clara had rented the room because his home’s electricity did not work – a casualty of this month’s ice storm.

And if a week without power wasn’t enough, police were on the line.

A burglar had broken the 7 foot-by-6 foot storefront window of RPM Paintball with an apple-size rock.

By the time a patrol car had been dispatched, two paintball guns and the burglar were gone, leaving glass and debris on the redbrick sidewalk in front of his business.

“I was surprised, I wasn’t expecting it. I thought it was a prank call, actually,” said Joe, Tahlequah junior.

But when he arrived, reality set in.

“I was worried about what they took,” he said.

Luckily for the 1-year-old business, the burglar only took two cheap paintball guns, known by their trade name: markers.
His wife Clara, Tahlequah junior, was a little more upset about the Jan. 20 break-in.

“People should really think before they steal from someone,” she said. “When you steal from a small business, it hurts someone. When you first start out, your paying for it to be there.

“I just wish people would think more often.”

A few days after the incident, Joe purchased a security system and installed new locks on the doors.

A spokesman for Tahlequah Police said there are no strong leads in the case.

“We need a break on this one,” said Brad Robertson, public information officer. “We need someone to come forward.”

He said there have been no similar crimes in the area. Statistics show Tahlequah Police arrested and jailed 21 burglary suspects in 2006.

Few students run a full-time business while taking a full-time school load. The balance is stressful, said Joe, but his love of the sport helps.

“It is pretty stressful. You’re trying to organize and work with the schedule of the store,” he said. “On the other hand, I have my own life to take care of. School is what takes the most toll, so I put it in backseat a lot more.”

Playing paintball has exploded in Oklahoma, especially along the Arkansas state line, where the forest terrain supports “woodsball” weekends. Middle-class patrons fuel the sport’s commercial base, buying up markers, compressed air, paint, goggles and accessories at a fervent rate, sometimes building their own “hot-rod” setup.

And since a another business owner opened a paintball field near Tahlequah, those playing “speedball” run through paint and air about twenty times quicker with faster marker rigs.

But Joe seems to care less about the bottom line and more about enabling the love for a game, a love for the hobby he shares with his customers.

The burglary will not hurt his business too much, but if a suspect were caught, Joe said he would only ask for a monetary recoup of his losses.

“I just think they were being idiots. Everybody makes bad decisions,” he said.

And on the success of RPM Paintball, Joe takes a light-hearted approach.

“It was a chance on opening the business,” he said. “I’ve gone through my first year, which is always the roughest.

“Then I get broken into.”

Storm blasts through campus - 17 Jan. 2007

2007-01-17T13:02:00.000-08:00

There is usually a big lapse between semesters, so I had a while to get info on this story. Check out the other story I did, though, about the two students in a shelter.

FULL TEXT

The first big ice storm of 2007 hit Green Country with devastating force last week, immobilizing several communities and leaving a layer of thick ice on nearly everything.

University officials cancelled classes at all three branches scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Although the roads around Tahlequah were safe to drive Monday, conditions that commuters might face prompted the cancellations.

“A lot of folks don’t have electricity, no water,” said Neal Weaver, vice president of University Relations.

Administrative offices were open, however, including the essential services like campus police and food locations. The Muskogee and Broken Arrow campuses were operating on a “skeleton crew,” said Weaver, because of worse conditions in that part of the state.

“BA is not a safe campus,” he said.

Much of Muskogee faced power outages early this week, and by Tuesday that campus had minimal power resources.

Oklahoma Gas and Electric reported more than 9,000 customers without power in Muskogee, and as many as 24,000 across their system.

An automated message at Lake Region Electric Cooperative mentioned more than 9,000 without power in their system, and those with LREC might go without power until Wednesday night.

Residence halls still had electricity Tuesday, but Housing made plans in case the dorms lost power. Residents were encouraged to “evaluate other accommodations,” and the UC basement was set up as an emergency gathering point.

Emmanuel Griffin, Muskogee freshman, said he has a friend in town with an apartment, but he had planed to stay in the dorms and keep busy during the unexpected break.

“We’re gonna play spades - cards and some board games while the lights are still on,” he said. “We gotta make due with what we got.”
Several events scheduled for this week were cancelled, most notably the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. Organizers have not rescheduled a date yet. Also cancelled Monday was the Faculty Voice Recital.

Severe weather was not enough to keep away the Oklahoma Blood Institute or its donors - 38 showed up Monday - but the cancelled Battenfield-Carletti Distinguished Entrepreneur Lecture has not been rescheduled.

Families are first residents in new jail - 16 Jan. 2007

2007-01-16T13:05:00.000-08:00

This is why I love being a journalist. The story about the ice storm was OK, but it needed more. I had heard about a temporary shelter being set up in a brand new jail - just one day before all the county prisoners were to be transfered there - and wanted to see if there were any NSU students taking refuge. And between arguing with the Red Cross and jail workers over whether I could interview the refugees, and despite a little objection from the subjects involved, I finally got to sit down with them.

The interviewees were non-traditional students, both in their 40s and toting kids and grandkids, were a little afraid of being interviewed. These were poor folks, trying to make their lives better by going to college, and both had a past that they were somewhat embarrased about. The reason this made me love my job: ingenuity worked, perserverance paid off and the story turned out great.

FULL TEXT

Families are first residents in new jail

Students Judy Vail and Roberta Gilliam and their families have felt the crush of last week’s ice storm more than most. Both fled to shelters Sunday after the lights and heat went dead, leaving their homes cold and dangerous.

A tree fell outside Gilliam’s house and pulled the electric cable from its mooring on the outside wall.

“The police told us we had to get out. We had no choice,” said Gilliam, Tahlequah junior.

The risk of fire was too much for her two daughters and grandson, so the family gathered up and moved into the Cherokee County Detention Center, a temporary shelter set up by the Red Cross and emergency management personnel.

“I don’t have to worry about this place catching fire and burning up,” said Gilliam.

Vail left a family shelter, Hope House, with her husband and soon after their home lost power.

“No power, no heat, no nothing. We froze,” said Vail, Tahlequah freshman.

She first tried a hotel, but the electricity failed there, too. Vail said staying in the Detention Center is a little awkward, and that moving from the family shelter was hard.

“We had to take what we could and leave. It was too cold,” she said.

The refugees, who numbered more than a dozen, slept in jail cells that will soon house county detainees. Gilliam said the conditions were comfortable, even thought the lights remained on throughout the night.

“We’ve had almost no sleep,” she said. “At least we’re warm and we get fed.”

Neither Vail nor Gilliam know when they can return home.

“[Hope House] is home to me. I really want to go back,” said Vail.

The Detention Center officially opens Thursday, so the shelter is being moved to the First Methodist Church. President Bush ordered federal emergency resources to the hardest hit areas of the state, but it is unclear whether any federal help will come to Tahlequah.

Until then, or until the lights come back on at home, Vail and Gilliam will weather what’s left of the storm. A local emergency management official said jailers volunteered to watch over the refugee families - the first residents of the 150-bed jail intended to alleviate the strain on the current, overcrowded 35-bed jail.

Fire breaks out in Wyly - 14 Nov. 2006

2006-11-14T12:32:00.000-08:00

As luck would have it, I and a group of my reporter buddies were coming out of a meeting one night and saw fire trucks lined up outside a university residence hall. I grabbed one of them, a photographer, found a notebook and ran to the building. This was the most breaking news I had done - go adrenaline!

FULL TEXT

Wyly Hall was evacuated after a fire erupted in the men's quad Thursday night.

University Housing said Friday the cause of the fire was from a lit candle in a room on the first floor of the east wing. Officials were unsure if the resident was in the room at the time the fire began.

Don Weston, assistant director of Housing, said the dorm's fire alarm sounded automatically, prompting other residents to evacuate. Campus police then arrived and searched room-by-room until the fire was discovered.

The fire department contained the fire to one room in the men's quad.

Eli Rhoades, Sallisaw freshman, lives in Wyly.

"I came out because of the fire alarm and I saw my RA [resident assistant] running," he said. "Smoke was billowing from the quad."

Rhoades said he did not take anything with him during the evacuation. He said the fire department arrived about 10 minutes after the alarm sounded.

"We had very minor damage because of a fast response," said Weston. "We are very proud of that."

After the fire came under control, resident assistants allowed five residents at a time back into the building to gather linens and personal effects. Housing provided linens to those whose sheets were damaged from smoke. Students were also provided water, and the on-campus convenience store Essentials stayed open an extra hour.

About 30 RAs came on scene to assist with the logistics of supplying Wyly Hall residents with accommodations.

"We set up a big operation to make sure students had a place to go, linens and everything they needed," said Weston.

He said the evacuation "couldn't have gone better." Sometimes, he said, not all students will leave their rooms when an alarm sounds.

"In this case, it went great," he said. By Friday, risk managers and campus police were still investigating the fire.

One RA went to the hospital Friday complaining of an irritated respiratory system.

The dorm reopened Friday afternoon to most residents. Those living in the affected areas of the dorm will not return until Monday, Weston said. According to Housing records, 91 students live in Wyly.

Wyly Hall Manager Sarah Slott said Thursday that residents gathered in Leoser Hall until officials could secure other accommodations.

"All over, wherever there are spaces," she said of the effort.

Weston said the displaced residents were assigned to "empty beds" in the Housing system.

Housing policy states candles, incense, oil lamps and other open flame objects are prohibited from resident halls. Weston said the penalty for burning a candle in a dorm room varies by the situation. A resident could watch a fire-safety video or be assigned to counseling. One might also face counseling and a fine for leaving a lit candle unattended, he said.

"This situation really demonstrates how dangerous this really is," said Weston. "This could have been a tragedy."

Housing asked the resident's name and room number be kept confidential. Weston would not disclose any penalties levied against the resident, but according to Housing policies found online, burning a candle can warrant a $250 fine, cost of repair or replacement and being placed on Residence Halls probation.

A professional firm from Tulsa has been contracted to clean the quad and remove the smell.

With the Cards' win, does St. Louis stand a chance? - 31 Oct. 2006

2006-10-31T17:34:00.000-08:00

ST. LOUIS – Nothing brings home together like a World Series win.

Nothing like St. Louis’ underdog victory last week breaks down divisions of social status, race and wealth.

Nothing – because after the Cards won Friday, everyone in the streets not from Detroit celebrated with each other: businessman and bum, black man and white, paunce from the box seats and brasher from the bleachers.

Aside from living in the same city, they all had another connection of the heart; they were Cards fans.

Baseball’s popularity is declining, but everyone’s a fan when his or her team makes postseason play. It happened with the Sooners, the Red Sox and every major league football team who wins the Super Bowl. It happened with me last week, too.

The last time I followed baseball with any conscious effort, Nolan Ryan still played for Texas. For some reason, however, I watched St. Louis nearly sweep the Mets to win the National League pennant. Then, I realized the World Series would be in town during my visit to a journalism conference.

My hotel was within a few block’s distance from Busch Stadium and after Adam Wainwright struck out Brandon Inge in the ninth inning, fans poured out of bars, hotels and downtown restaurants to swarm the stadium. The game ended at 10:30 p.m., but five hours later, fans still shouted from the sidewalks, drivers still honked loudly and the Detroit Tigers had all but cried themselves to sleep.

Cards fanatics now know their team is the best. In some way, that means the city is best. It also means the citizens of this city are better than most. For a few hours that night, they were all equally better.

STL natives will be lucky if the cohesiveness lasts more than a week. Even though everyone here is on the same page now, the challenges of living their socioeconomic status will come creeping back soon.

Maybe too soon.

Numbers released yesterday rank St. Louis as the most dangerous city in the United States. The report, compiled by Morgan Quinto Press, looks at 371 cities and their crime data as reported to the FBI. St. Louis was at the bottom of the list of safest cities, Tulsa was 335 and as a comparison, Broken Arrow listed at the 20th-safest.

And according to USA Today, St. Louis has pumped millions of dollars into urban renewal projects – even the building of the Gateway Arch was hoped to bring the city together – and even still, crime keeps rising.

There is a lot of pride in this city, though. People here know who they are and what they want – probably from the Midwestern mentality dug deep into the slums that echo neighborhoods in New York and Chicago. To the west of St. Louis is conservative rural America, and towns to the east quickly become metros of the East Coast.

I guess expecting this city to now rebound and work together is pie in the sky. A simple sports victory, in all its complications, is still just a sports victory. A few people get richer, a few more get bragging rights. But the rabid crowd gets no substantive reward, no trophy to take home besides maybe a red hat. They have no reason to better their lives. And with no reason comes no hope.

Old Science Building renovation moves forward - 14 Aug. 2006

2006-08-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

This is a news/feature mix. The most important part is Board of Regents notes about the renovation, but I found an older gentleman walking around the science building snapping pictures, so I got his story, too. Great way to turn a dry-as-toast story into something significant.

FULL TEXT

Among the boxed-up chemistry experiments, empty wooden shelves and equipment as old as the old Science Building, Dr. Don Bowman walks through his laboratories with a digital camera.

Bowman taught chemistry here for 33 years and retired from the university in 1999.

The pictures, he said, are partly for personal memory and partly for a former student, who is now a college-level chemistry instructor.

“I wanted to show him the lab hasn’t changed much since he was here,” Bowman said before moving on to the next room.

It has not changed much at all. Vice President Kim Cherry said no record of any prior renovation exists.

And since construction on the new Science Building approaches completion and students prepare for classes there, the university will spend millions to renovate the 44-year-old facility.

The governing board for Oklahoma regional universities approved the renovation request in July – one day after Bowman spent the lunch hour snapping photos.

“I’m sorry it didn’t happen sooner, when I was here,” he said.

The board of regents, now known as the Regional University System of Oklahoma, met at the Branscum Alumni Center to weigh in on budget and project requests, and NSU brought two big items to the table. The first was a request to negotiate and make offers on three tracts of land near the university.

The second was the $6 million renovation project, which also includes a $100,750 line item for removing hazardous waste from the basement and tile flooring of the old Science Building.

Cherry said the waste removal has already begun and the renovation will include new paint, new flooring and furniture and an upgrade in technology.

The building will contain mostly classrooms and offices, with a few low-tech laboratories. She said about 85 percent of science labs are built into the new Science Building.

“A lot of this you couldn’t do in the old building because of the codes,” said Cherry.

By the week of the regents’ visit, almost all the classrooms and offices had been cleared out. The few that remained belonged to either summer classes or to the instructors teaching them. In some laboratories, boxes of equipment sat stacked on tables. Machines that looked decades old waited for relocation or, possibly, the trash heap.

In parts of the hallway sat empty shelving next to dusty and stale-smelling rooms while the steady hum of Coca-Cola vending machines remained.

All but four instructors had moved to the Annex on the last day of summer class. Classes this semester are spread across campus, with some even in the University Center.

The old building is expected to be empty by Aug. 18 and should reopen in one year.

Bowman said the science faculty tried for years to update the facility. However, he said, the money just was not there. With the passage of last year’s $500 million capitol bond issue and returns on revenue bonds, universities have garnered the resources to renovate old facilities and build new ones.

Mandatory compliance issues stretch university resources - 13 Dec. 2005

2005-12-13T14:11:00.000-08:00

This 1,500 word monster was the largest project I had undertaken, and I still consider it one of the best reporting pieces of my career. We had gotten frustrated about the university’s lagging compliance of a federal statute that required that they report crime stats, so I went to check it out. I worked on it for a month – mainly because the police chief and administrators were so tight-lipped about the issue. Eventually, about the time the article was ready to be published, they began to follow the rules better.

FULL TEXT

As an office worker with the NSU Campus Police Department, Billie Mills has more responsibilities than the typical university secretary.

For instance, Mills helps to ensure that NSU’s Department of Public Safety is in compliance with several federal and state regulations. One of those regulations, the Clery Act, mandates that a university and its public safety organ must publicly provide information about campus crime.

Among this is a crime log, which contains offences that happen on campus or are reported to the campus PD; it must be current to two days. Also, a university must keep three years of crime statistics and present them to the public by Oct. 1 of each year. The annual report contains statistics of select major crimes, some of which are broken down into subcategories.

However, for several months this year, DPS did not keep the daily log of crime reports current. Within the last month, the department has worked to bring that up to speed, and as of Dec. 8, the crime log updates met the 48-hour grace requirement. However, the annual statistics report was posted on the DPS Web site 18 days late and without the required subcategories.

The delays are due to the other functions of her job, said Mills. As a secretary, she works on the log and the reports while fulfilling other secretarial obligations. But because of her knowledge of the function of DPS and how to handle emergencies on campus, she sometimes puts the paperwork aside to handle those urgent police situations.

“Emergencies have to take precedence,” said Mills. “But we try to get (the daily log) out as soon as possible.”

Legislation for Jeanne

The Clery Act is an amendment to the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act. It is named in honor of Jeanne Clery, a Lehigh University student who was raped and murdered in her dorm room in 1986. After Jeanne’s parents found out that dozens of violent crimes occurred on Lehigh’s campus in the three years before their daughter’s death, they helped push the original bill through Congress.

NSU reports zero instances of criminal homicide since the year 2000, with a majority of crimes centering on theft-related occurrences. Although the law allows for public inspection of crime stats, the intent of the bill is to provide information to future NSU associates.

“It’s a tool that we have to abide by and that we use,” said Clint Vernon, chief of Campus Police. “I think it’s great as far as getting the word out … to the students, faculty and staff.”

He said compliance is an issue his office deals with daily, and because of a police officer’s role in protecting the public, he must sometimes gauge precedence.

“Different things take priority, but it’s some thing that we work with every single day,” said Vernon. “We dropped the ball, sure, but were not going to do it again, and were doing a better job at (complying).”

Vernon and Tim Foutch, assistant vice president for administration, acknowledge that a larger staff of workers might improve the university’s ability to meet regulations, but Foutch questioned the use of understaffing as a justification for non-compliance.

“We can’t use an excuse that we’re underfunded or understaffed as the reason why we don’t meet the requirements,” he said. “If people come and look at our compliance with the Clery Act, their first question isn’t going to be: ‘do you have enough staff to do it?’ They’re gonna want to know if we (comply) or if we don’t, and they’re going to investigate our non-compliance, if that’s an issue.”

He repeated that the department is staffed to “what we think is adequate to their obligations.”

“It might be cumbersome,” said Foutch. “It might be inefficient ... but the fact is that we gotta get it done; we don’t have a choice on that.”

The Process

To cut down on confusion and to create a uniform reporting style, only one student worker is assigned to type the crime log, said Mills. That student works just three days a week, so when a crime occurs during the weekend or late Friday, a lapse of three days is nearly assured.

But that’s not the only thing standing in the way of timely reports; the current process includes at least two stops before reports are made public. When an officer logs an occurrence with the department, that officer, or another full-time staffer must “break things down” for the designated student worker. Then, only after vital information such as personal ID numbers and other sensitive facts are filtered can the student type a short synopsis of each occurrence that day.

That, along with personnel shakeups in the last couple of years, has exposed a need for change, or said Foutch, a realization.

“We have to establish a responsible process (in compliance),” he said. “Now we know that process and we have since caught up.”

Chief Vernon said last week that his offi ce and university computer gurus are working together on a new program to facilitate easier public reporting.

Foutch likened the new technological advancement of police reporting to the budget-clashing notion of hiring or assigning one person to deal with Clery Act issues.

“We’ve got to be clever about how to create a process, regardless of what the staff has time to do,” said Foutch. “We’ll let that technology we have today be that other person. We’re going to build a process that is not determined by human error or human availability, to the degree that we can.”

As the chief of police, Vernon takes on the large role of protecting students, faculty and staff. As an employee of a government-funded university, he must also take steps to abide by regulations and mandates set forth by entities at the federal and state levels. But he said there is a priority in his work and if more money is budgeted to the DPS, major thought must go into where that money will go.

“The most important thing to me on this campus is to provide a safe environment. That’s No. 1 to me,” said Vernon. “Sure, I’d love to have more money, sure I’d love to have a bigger budget, sure I’d like to have more staffing, but I don’t. I do the best that I can with what I got.”

In agreement, Foutch said Vernon does very good job with the resources at hand. He also said that if DPS falls too far behind in its reporting duties or needs assistance with clerical work, trained personnel can be temporarily relocated handle the problem.

“If campus police doesn’t have the staff, (my) office will provide people to do it,” said Foutch.

Compliance in good faith, and what’s next for NSU

Observance of the Clery Act is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education. In cases where regulations are not met, the DOE may levy fines up to $27,500 per infraction and participation in federal financial aid programs may be invalidated. Of the 13 “focused program reviews” conducted by the DOE in the last 10 years, the most extreme case of violation was that of Salem International University. The school, facing a laundry list of charges, agreed to pay $200,000 in a settlement last April.

In interviews with NSU employees during The Northeastern’s investigation, a “good faith effort” was mentioned repeatedly in regards to the then-current situation and the possibility of action by the DOE. There may have been confusion, however, to the clause in the bill stating schools are required to make a reasonable, “good-faith effort” to obtain statistics from outside police agencies to supplement their own statistics.

Foutch cleared this up, saying that non-compliance in good faith still means non-compliance. It might minimize a fine or eliminate the need for a fine altogether, he said, but he is not worried about possible repercussions of tardy crime reports.

“If somebody came in here and said ‘you guys aren’t cuttin’ it,’ we can show them all the things we are doing and convince them that we’re trying to be responsible, that were doing our best to comply,” said Foutch. “And if we recognize that were not, we’ll do everything we can to get there.”

A university spokesman also said there is no danger of NSU being fined.

So, Mills continues to conduct her daily routine: answering calls, filing paperwork and assisting her police coworkers, all the while keeping regulations in mind. Although the Clery Act is just one of several, it still holds a lofty place in the litany of rules.

“It’s not just that it’s a federal mandate, but it’s also critical that we communicate vital data like that to everyone who interfaces with our campus,” said Foutch. “We can’t even image the value that it provides.”

Fall tuition hike to top 9 percent - 18 July 2005

2005-07-18T15:15:00.000-07:00

FULL TEXT

Beginning in the fall, tuition for undergraduate resident of Oklahoma will increase 9 percent.

The increase for non-residents will be 9.4 percent for undergraduates and 9.6 percent for graduate students.

NSU officials attribute the need for increase to mandatory fee increases that the university is responsible for paying, such as health insurance, liability insurance and utilities.

However, there are plans in place to ensure that students do not bear the full brunt of the budget appropriations.

“The University is working to maintain costs and keep them as low as possible, unfortunately the cost of many services and supplies external to NSU continue to rise,” said Vice President for Administration Kim Cherry. “We try to find ways to absorb these costs and not pass them on to the students.”

Ginger McClendon, a Tahlequah freshman, was unaware of the increase until last week.

“That’s just more money they are going to take from you. I don’t understand. Why are they not fixing all these old buildings on campus?” asked McClendon.

The increases were approved July 1 by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Neal Weaver, vice president of university relations, said the overall budget used by NSU is less than in 2002.

“That hole in our budget is what we’re dealing with,” said Weaver. “We do our best to keep tuition increases to a minimum, but we have an obligation to high quality and to serve as many students who want to come [to NSU].”

Tulsa sophomore J.P. Baker is critical of the tuition increase.

“It’s just another way for them to take our money and we’ll never see it again,” said Baker. “They are using it for other things besides maintaining the morale of the student body. I think they are using it for political reasons.”

Officials blame the need for higher student-paid revenue to lower state-paid appropriations.

The state has given NSU a total of about $1.6 million dollars less than the fiscal year four years ago. With the lower state funding, NSU must look to other avenues for revenue, including private funding.

The NSU Foundation currently has a $10.8 million pool to draw from.

“Private funding, grants and contracts are becoming more valuable,” said Weaver.

NSU is also increasing benefits to students in light of the necessary tuition increases. The Regents Tuition Waiver fund will be increased by 19 percent this year and the student employee wages will rise from $5.15 to $5.60 per hour.

For a student enrolled in 15 credit hours, the 9 percent tuition increase will translate to about $135 more dollars per semester.

Catron case ends in mistrial again - 11 July 2005

2005-07-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

FULL TEXT

The second trial in a first-degree manslaughter case against Trisha Denae Catron ended in a mistrial last month.

Catron was charged with the crime in July 2003 after a collision occurred on State Highway 51, east of Tahlequah. Catron’s vehicle collided with a vehicle driven by NSU senior Andrea Beth Doyle. Doyle later died from injuries suffered during the accident.

Prosecutors allege Catron was intoxicated while driving. The first trial ended in a mistrial after Doyle’s father spoke about evidence to an attorney outside the courtroom in a place where jurors could have overheard the conversation.

The second mistrial was declared by the judge after Catron’s lawyer asked for a dismissal. The lawyer, Stephen Fabian, asked for a dismissal because the state prosecutor failed to include audiotaped interviews of people who attended a party with Catron before the accident.

Fabian said the tapes were listed as evidence in the summary provided by the district attorney’s office, but were not part of the evidence available during the trial.

“I wondered, I asked and when I found out – it disturbed me terribly,” said Fabian.

Janet Bickle, assistant district attorney and prosecutor for the trial, said the tapes were something that “everybody was unaware of.”

“It was simply an oversight,” said Bickle.

Fabian disagrees, however, and claims the existence of the tapes was known and it was the state’s responsibility to provide them.

“Oversight? They send me summaries of the statements,” said Fabian. “The officer that made them said he told the DA there were tapes. The DA knew there were tapes. I think he testified there were tapes. He knew it – so is that an oversight?

“Under the law [the state] has to give everything up – all statements, all recordings. We filed motions months and months ago, and they just didn’t happen to make it into the file.”

Bickle anticipates a third trial to begin in September. Unsuccessful attempts were made to reach Catron’s mother by e-mail for a statement regarding her daughter’s trial.

Catron has been in the Cherokee County Jail since last November for an unrelated DUI misdemeanor. She was arrested for drunken driving while out on bond for the manslaughter case. Fabian said the officer who pulled her over had no probable cause to do so.

“The officer didn’t have probable cause to believe she was driving under the influence. His testimony, in my belief, indicated that what he saw was not justification to arrest her for driving under the influence,” said Fabian.

With the highly-publicized DUI possibly affecting the bias of jurors picked from Cherokee County, Fabian realizes he may be up for a challenge. He is also confident that the facts will prove worthy for his side, and his client will be acquitted.

“I guess I will let the evidence show what it shows and show what they did and how the did it – just the same as I did before,” said Fabian. “The government has to prove their case; it is the way the system works.

“But the media has been trying this girl in the paper. Sometimes it is hard to get a fair trial but we just have to deal with that the way we can.”

Fabian also said he has never been asked to comment for a news story in any newspaper regarding the Catron case.

Fite works to balance river preservation with recreation - 27 June 2005

2005-06-27T15:38:00.000-07:00

FULL TEXT

Ed Fite supervises 100 miles of river in three counties, as well as ten river rangers who provide assistance to the thousands of summer visitors to the Illinois River, east of Tahlequah.

Due to budget cuts, the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission has seen diminished funds from which to keep the river clean and safe.

With the enormous number of guests, Fite likens the weekend crowd to a "medium-size community," the banks and waters of this riparian waterway easily become clogged with garbage.

"We have gotten used to folks being critical of us just because they don't always see a ranger or there is a little trash. We can pick up an area and think its going to be clean when we come back in an hour and the next bunch comes through and they just throw their cans and their trash all over the ground," said Fite. "They have no consideration for others, and then were back picking it up again."

The confluence of holiday celebration and rowdy river-goers this Fourth of July holiday will undoubtedly lead to trash cans overflowing with the byproducts of a good time.

The OSRC is a step ahead though, allowing anyone to float the river without charge Friday, July 8 to help clean river.

The OSRC has three River Cleanups this year, one that was after Memorial Day, the cleanup next week and an event after Labor Day in September.

"We are trying to place the River Cleanups after the major holidays to clean up after all the tourists who come through," said Meredith Lee, education outreach coordinator for the commission.

Check-in for July's cleanup is that morning at nine, but volunteers are encouraged to sign up in advance.

"Give me a call and pre-register for it," said Lee.

Trash is not the only problem Fite and the OSRC has had to worry about lately.

Reports of above-the-limit phosphorous levels and squabbles with the entities that produce them, mainly poultry farms, have caused an intervention from Oklahoma's attorney general.

The state is also looking into a study released by the Cherokee Nation last year, which found on average, their testing suggested that the bacteria levels of the lower 111inois River exceeded the standards set forth by applicable law.

"In December of 2003, we entered into an agreement with Arkansas for all of the communities that discharge treated wastewater into the [l11inois River] basin to build better wastewater plants that will achieve a certain standard," said Fite.

Some Tahlequah resident have also taken a disliking to the way river management is handled.

Murv Jacob, a downtown artist, has heard many complaints from local- residents and has a few as well.

"People need a place to go swimming, like they always have," said Jacob. "We used to be able to go to the river any time. Now they're making it hard:'

His frustrations come from the sudden removal of camping and access privileges of the more popular places along the river.

The owners of "Boy Scout hole," the Welling Bridge area and the Sequoyah Club have limited the public usage or sites that have been open for years.

But last year the Army Corps, of Engineers, the landowners, realized there was no profit in keeping the favorite sites open due to vandalism and litter problems. In fact, said Fite, the three locations would be absolutely off limits if his organization had not stuck a deal with the Corps.

"A number of people have been upset at me particularly and the agency that I work for because those areas are being closed. I'm sorry that folks haven't realized that if it weren't for myself and the OSRC, those areas would be closed."

File said although he is used to criticism from Tahlequah natives, he was ruffled by comments made from a former NSU instructor and current publisher of "The Current."

"I saw an article by Tom Barlow, who thinks we have possibly too much of a presence along the river. I'm sorry Mr. Barlow hasn't been a resident of the river for as long as I have and seen the management issues we have been challenged with," said Fite.

"If he had to walk a mile in the moccasins of my staff, I think he would have a different appreciation for what we are trying to do."

Fans converge to watch Underwood - 1 March 2005

2005-03-01T10:34:00.000-08:00

At just more than 800 words, this was the longest story I had written. This was the breakout performance of Carrie Underwood, and the scene that night was exciting. I got to talk with an Access Hollywood crew that had made the trip to Tahlequah, and I think I captured the emotions felt by many of those in attendance. The most memorable moment that night was looking at the capacity crowd and spotting Kelli Doolen, Carrie’s music teacher, crying during the performance.

FULL TEXT

More than 200 of Carrie Underwood’s family, friends and fans gathered in the NET Building Auditorium last Tuesday night to watch her first live performance on American Idol. Many spectators cheered, cried and laughed, while all concentrated on her performance.

Underwood’s mother, Carol Underwood, was present and appreciative of the support from NSU.

We’re very proud of her and we appreciate everything that everyone is doing for her,” she said.

NSU President Larry Williams spoke to the audience before the show began and expressed his high regards for the younger Underwood’s success.

“We know absolutely for certain that she is going to win, because there is just no way they could pick anybody else,” said Williams. “You can see this is one of the most incredible young ladies that have been around in a long time.”

Fortunately, for Tahlequah and NSU, Underwood has been around for a while. She was a performer in NSU’s summer country music show beginning in 2000, when she was still a student at Checotah High School.

“I had the great honor of inviting Carrie, when she was in high school, to come over and be a guest artist in the Downtown Country show,” said C.H. Parker, former coordinator of Downtown Country.

Parker also commented on the support of Underwood’s parents throughout her career as a musician.

“It starts with a mother and a father who cares and doesn’t sit down at the breakfast table and say, ‘You better be a lawyer or you better be a doctor, because if you want the arts, you’ll starve.’”

Underwood performed “Could’ve Been,” a song made popular by pop artist Tiffany in 1988. After she finished, Underwood received a thunderous response from those watching in the auditorium, and compliments from the show’s judges ranged from “absolutely brilliant” to “beautiful” and “wonderful.”

Since she first auditioned in St. Louis, Underwood has been highly regarded as strictly a country singer, and even received praise from Simon Cowell, and “American Idol” judge. Kelli Doolen, director of Country Music and Downtown Country, said after her performance that Underwood had proven she was no one-trick pony.

“The thing I like the most [about the song] was that all the people online who have been saying,
she’s just a country singer,’ you got to see tonight, that that’s not the case at all, said Doolen. “She nailed that song.”

Students and Tahlequah residents were not alone in the auditorium Tuesday as Rowdy, the NSU mascot, showed up early in the night. Also present was a reporter from Fox 23 News in Tulsa and a film crew from “Access Hollywood.” For that show, the on-location shoot at the watch party was unique for NSU’s star.

“I think the decision was really made by ‘American Idol’ itself, because Carrie just pops onscreen with her performances,” said producer Bobby Singer. “You hear Simon, Paula [Abdul] and Randy [Jackson] raving about her; they never have anything negative to say. She’s far and away ahead of the field. She just stands out.”

The celebrity-oriented show has covered “Idol” since its inception and, said Singer, gravitates toward the obvious fan favorites.

“We’ve done quite a bit with ‘American Idol’ every year,” he said. “There is always one or two who you think have a really good shot, and Carrie is right there.”

Williams believes that Underwood is on the right track and all of her praise is justified.

“She is so richly deserving, she is a tremendous, tremendous young lady,” said Williams. “Someone asked me if I could think of a better person to represent NSU, and I said ‘absolutely not.’ Carrie Underwood is the personification of the institution.”

He also commended the school spirit, personified in the turnout at the watch party.

“I thought it was a good turnout,” said Williams. “Those who were here were very supportive of Carrie and excited, and want to help her.”

That help came in the form of telephone voting, either by cell phone or landline. Those with cell phones could send text messages to vote, thereby avoiding the busy signal that most others faced when calling the toll-free number.

From now on in the competition, fans will vote to keep their favorite on the show, with the performers who receive the least number of votes being sent home.

Mike Patton, Tulsa freshman, was present at the watch party and was amazed by Underwood’s voice.

“I was in complete awe and complete excitement. I was like, that was so good. I can’t put into words how good it was,” said Patton.

He is one of many viewers of the show who consider themselves more of an Underwood fan than an “American Idol” buff.

“I wasn’t a big fan of the first season, but [now] I can probably watch it all season long, until that last episode when Carrie wins.”

Underwood gaining momentum on 'Idol' - 22 Feb. 2005

2005-02-22T12:14:00.000-08:00

I began to think if I'd ever get on the front page without Carrie Underwood...

FULL TEXT

A local hero made one more move towards stardom last Wednesday night, bringing her a big step closer to being the next American Idol.

Carrie Underwood is one of 24 men and women who beat out 193 contestants during the three-day long auditions in Hollywood. The show will resume tonight with the 12 females who have been selected to perform live. During tonight's broadcast, viewers wi11 be able to call into the show and vote for their favorite performer.

Ever since Underwood first auditioned in St. Louis, her popularity has been growing across the nation and on NSU's campus. This, however, is not Underwood's first time being in the spotlight. She has performed several times with Downtown Country, a summer musical program put on by NSU's music department.

"Carrie is without a doubt, one of the most trouble-free full east members I have ever worked with. She always knew her material, was always where she was supposed to be when she was supposed to be there, and never complained," said Kelli Doolen, director of Country Music and Downtown Country. "Her attitude regarding song selection was, 'Just pick whatever you want me to sing and I'll !earn it.' She was an exemplary Downtown Country cast member."

Underwood is indeed a special talent, and Doolen is quick to point out her strongest attribute.

"Without a doubt, Carrie's strongest talent is her God-given voice. In addition to being one of the most powerful singers I have ever heard live, her pitch is always dead on," said Doolen.

During the past month, Underwood has garnered immense support from the Tahlequah and NSU community. In fact, for some who watch the show every week, this season of American Idol is their first.

Sarah Turner is one of those first timers. She watches the show weekly with her parents and is excited about the local star gone national.

"I'm watching it for her," said the Tahlequah sophomore. “I’m all about Tahlequah pride. You gotta show some hometown pride."

Hometown pride is one way to describe the atmosphere in Checotah, Underwood's own hometown. Fans gather every week with homemade signs to watch for her and celebrate her advancement in the competition. Similar "watch-parties" have sprung up across the area, strengthening Underwood's fan base.

"Some of the Downtown Country cast members, Downtown Country parents and I get together every Tuesday and Wednesday night for an American Idol watch-party," said Doolen. "In reality, though, it's a Carrie Underwood watch-party."

The NSU Carrie Watch Committee, a temporary committee created to publicize Underwood's appearance on the show, had its first meeting last week. The committee, made up of representatives from NSU public relations, the Office of Student Affairs and other relevant organizations are responsible for motivating the campus and community to support Underwood. Nancy Garber is the director of Public Relations and is also on that committee.

"The university has decided to host a watch-party for Carrie so we can celebrate her success," said Garber. "We want to encourage everyone to vote for [her] so she will be eligible to continue in the competition."

This Tuesday and Wednesday nights and throughout the remainder of the competition, NSU will be hosting the largest watch-party in the area with a live cable feed of the show and a phone-bank set up for those without cell phones to call in and vote for Underwood. Tuesday will be the first time that viewers will be able to vote for their favorite performer.

On Wednesday, the results will be announced and four contestants will be cut.

Doolen has been pulling for Underwood from the start.

"Even though we knew that Carrie just had to make it based on her talent level, it was still a little nerve-wracking waiting for the judges' decision," said Doolen. "I can't even imagine how she must have been feeling."

Turner said her family watches the show every night, and she is proud of Underwood's achievement.

"It's cool that she goes to this school and she's on TV, and people are going to know who she is," said Turner.

Underwood a hit on 'Idol' - 15 Feb. 2005

2005-02-15T11:34:00.000-08:00

Covering a fellow NSU student's trip through "American Idol" was the first big project my editors assigned me. I remember in my box every Wednesday, the assignment day, a slip of paper that read, "underwood recap. you know what to do." This was also my first Page One story.

FULL TEXT

Carrie Underwood’s success on American Idol has caused a buzz around Oklahoma, Tahlequah and the NSU campus.

"We're very excited around here," said Dr. Mike Chanslor, assistant professor of mass communication. "We've got a star."

Chanslor is Underwood's academic advisor, and is well aware of her singing talent.

"I'm really not surprised by the success. She has got talent and good work ethic,” said Chanslor.

The Checotah native and NSU senior has no doubt received many compliments over the past few weeks, but the most important probably came from an English record producer best known as a judge on the hit show.

"That was very good. Very good Carrie, great," was the post-audition response from Simon Cowell, who is infamous for his brutal honesty towards performers.

That was during the first round of auditions to determine who would go on to Hollywood for the second round. A week later, Underwood received a unanimous "yes" from the show's three judges to continue in the competition.

Ashlee Smith is a sophomore from Nowata and is a friend of Underwood's.

“I think she's going to go an the way," said Smith. "She's gonna be famous."

If the Internet is a good indicator of fame, Underwood could have it in the making. A search on Yahoo! returns several Web sites mentioning her as an American Idol contestant, and there are already two Carrie Underwood fan sites. "Carrie Fans" is a message board Web site with nearly 400 members, and "Carrie Underwood Online" is an unofficial site which includes photos, news and a biography.

According to site, Underwood has performed in many states and has even opened for the country/western powerhouse Diamond Rio. Singing is not Underwood's only talent. She has worked for The Northeastern and was a producer of NSU's student television program, "The Quah." She is majoring in mass communication and has been a student of Chanslor's in the past.

"She has always been a real good student, and responsible," said Chanslor. “Whatever level of success she achieves, she will be able to handle it well."

It did not take long for Smith to recognize Underwood's talent.

"I knew the day I met her," said Smith. "She sang in her room all the time."

Smith and Underwood belong to the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, and Smith often watches the show with her sorority sisters.

"We have a big group of girls [who watch the show]. We are all proud of her," said Smith.