Western Courier

Issue date: 9/6/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Adam Sacasa Joe Rives, assistant to the president for the Planning and Budget committee, said at Tuesday night's SGA meeting that a special committee was formed in response to the security breach over the summer.

Student Government Association confirmed Western Illinois University's big plans to improve the campus and student life for fall 2006 and beyond at Tuesday night's meeting.

Joe Rives, assistant to the president for the Planning and Budget committee, along with Garry Johnson, Vice President of Student Services, brought exciting news to the meeting. By donating $10,000 to Office of Family Assistance, Johnson hopes to improve the campus with late night non-alcoholic programs along with money for students with disabilities.

SGA advisor Ann Comerford has created a planning committee for programs potentially scheduled from 10 p.m. until 2 or 3 a.m. Some ideas for these events include bowling, billiards, karaoke, giveaways, a video game tournament, a casino night and some outdoor activities. Comerford hopes to hold a few events each month.

Western is slowly getting closer to its goal of having a nursing major along with many other additions to the undergraduate programs.

Rives spent a considerable amount of time noting Western's recent achievements of making the first tier in U.S. News and World Report's Annual College ranking, along with a declaration of Western being a "Best Value" institution, and recognition for the first year experience and student retention.

Rives also added that a special committee was formed this year in response to the security breach over the summer.

"There is no evidence that information was tampered with," Rives said, stating Western must take some security precautions. The committee is exploring the use of social security numbers, credit and debit cards, faculty and staff e-mails and keeping the information safe and contained under the university's control."

Rives added, "Western currently has a firewall but the technology planning committee is focusing on the future security problems it may encounter."

By updating the Web site, Western has already started that growth process. Kristin Dunstan, vice president for Advancement and Public Services, helped create the new Web design and hopes to debut the Web site in January.

"We are still figuring out what works and what doesn't, but we want to know what the students think," Dunstan said.

For the last year and a half consultant groups, focus groups, classes and students have all helped Dunstan and her team create a Web site that focuses on the students.

The "paper" materials or "view books" given to potential students have also been changed to resemble the site's new look. Dustan and Johnson both encouraged students to offer input and work together to improve the university.

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