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Time, place and manner policy

Significant alterations to Towson's free speech policy prompted student unrest when administrators unveiled a set of proposed changes in February.

The first draft of proposed changes included more rules regarding how, where and when students could hold demonstrations and protests and the way literature is distributed.

The policy stated that the University's "free speech area" would be located at the Speaker's Circle outside Hawkins Hall. This area was chosen in order to minimize interference to classes and other campus activities. "No other locations on campus are designated as 'free speech areas," the policy stated.

Additional changes included renaming the Speaker's Circle the Democracy Plaza.

The original draft also included stipulations regarding sound amplification.

The policy stated no sound amplification would be allowed at Democracy Plaza during academic hours, unless approved by the University.

The policy included rules about how off-campus community members could act while at Towson.

Students were not involved in the initial free speech revisions and the policy was not originally brought before the Student Government Association.

In response to the proposed changes the SGA passed a resolution stating students needed to be involved in the drafting process.

Two student representatives were subsequently added to the drafting committee.

The policy underwent multiple revisions and the free speech policy was renamed the Time, Place & Manner policy.

Administrators said the biggest change to the policy was its clarity. The updated version of the policy clarifies that protests or demonstrations can be held in various locations on campus and divides the rules for students versus off-campus visitors.

The revised draft also includes the use of sound amplification at a certain decibel level.

Before the draft can become a policy, it was scheduled to go before the president's council, a group of high level administrators and Towson President Robert Caret.

--Sharon Leff

A disorderly and at times violent and even uncontrollable Homecoming tailgate in October prompted TU administrators to reexamine and alter the policies for the event.

Toward the end of the tailgate, beer cans were thrown at Towson University Police officers, some students refused to leave the tailgating lot and enter the game, and additional officers from the Baltimore County Police Department were needed.

To create a safer atmosphere for tailgating in the fall, a committee of administrators and students was formed to propose ideas for change.

Among the possible revisions was a more festival-like atmosphere with fewer cars allowed on Lot 14, where the tailgate takes place.

Other suggestions included a beer truck instead of a BYOB policy, and a three beer maximum. This concept was recommended to limit both underage drinking and over consumption. The committee also discussed fencing off the parking lot and only allowing one entrance to prevent the admittance of outside alcohol.

The original revisions went before the president's council and Towson President Robert Caret and they asked the committee to look at options, which would keep the BYOB policy.

Following that request, the committee has started to evaluate what a "reasonable" amount of liquor is. The amount of alcohol deemed as "reasonable" has yet to be determined.

The president's council also asked the committee to come up with ways for students to shuttle to the tailgate as opposed to parking there.

Committee members said they were looking at the possibility of additional shuttles from the core campus to Lot 14, as well as an express lane in order to avoid the traffic that builds up on Osler Drive prior to Homecoming.

The committee planned to have another set of recommendations to the president's council by the end of the semester.

--Sharon Leff

Construction of phase one of the College of Liberal Arts complex continued throughout the year and planning of phase two is already underway.

The 250,000 square feet project was budgeted at about $120 million and is the University's first new academic building in 30 years.

Currently the interior piping and mechanical systems are being installed and work is progressing on the exterior brick, according to David Mayhew, director of architecture, engineering and construction in facilities management.

"Over the summer the exterior of the building will be completed and closed in; brick should be completed, installation of windows will occur, roofing will be installed. Work will also continue on the interior including mechanical and electrical systems and construction of interior walls," Mayhew said. "We will also begin work on the realignment of University Avenue along the front of the CLA building and the Towsontown Garage. This road will be closed to through traffic for part of the summer while this work is completed."

Parking will also change because of the construction. Mayhew said Lot 5, located behind Linthicum Hall, will become a construction area to facilitate the road work and will allow for staging of materials and preparations for the start of phase two.

"This lot was originally scheduled to go away when the Towsontown Garage expansion opened (last January), but we were able to get an additional semester of use out of it. We will continue to maintain a small portion of the lot for handicapped parking," he said.

According to Mayhew, construction of phase two will start in Summer 2009, as soon as funding is available.

The University has also decided to make the CLA complex a LEED certified building. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to evaluate the design, construction and operation of buildings.

"The actual certification process has a cost associated with it due to additional paperwork and testing requirements, for both the architect and the contractor. Once the final cost of all aspects of the building was known (last December) we were able to confirm that the project could afford the additional certification costs. The CLA project committed to certification in January," Mayhew said.

The project is continuing on schedule and within budget.

The West Village housing complex, located between Millennium Hall and the Towson Run Apartments is on schedule to open in August 2008. The two L-shaped residence halls will hold about 670 beds.

"Completion of interior finishes is on going as well as completion of the exterior. Furniture delivery and installation is expected in July," Mayhew said.

Construction of phase 2 is scheduled to begin next spring. Depending on enrollment growth, the West Village could see up to five phases of housing.

The first phase of the West Village will only include current and incoming freshmen.

The extension of Emerson Drive is also continuning on schedule and should be complete sometime this summer.

--Sharon Leff

This year Gerald Intemann and Jin Gong resigned from Towson University, leaving two colleges without permanent deans.

Gong stepped down from the College of Graduate Studies and Research in August and Intemann left the Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics in October.

Gong accepted the position of associate provost and dean of the graduate school at the University of the Pacific in California.

A reason for Intemann's departure was never released. TU administrators said the decision was a personnel issue, and no details were given.

Acting deans were appointed in both colleges. The University is planning searches to find permanent replacements for both positions.

--Sharon Leff