NKU’s legal counsel met with a Campbell County commonwealth attorney on Nov. 3 to discuss a potential criminal investigation into the activities of former NKU dance team coach Jennifer Hilvert, according to an emailed statement from NKU’s Director of Marketing and Communications Chris Cole.

The legal counsel met with Michelle Snodgrass, but the university could release no further details at the time, according to the statement.

The possibility for an investigation comes after NKU announced they terminated Hilvert from her position in June after finding she misappropriated approximately $6,800 in charges using a university procurement card.

Kelly Martin, NKU assistant vice president for marketing and communications, said the university discovered the misappropriation of funds by Hilvert through a heightened financial review stemming from a previous case of misappropriation of funds from former NKU Athletic Director Scott Eaton.

“Through heightened attention to our review process, questionable procurement card use was discovered. This launched an immediate internal follow-up where we examined the five years of records we retained,” Martin said in a prepared statement.

Hilvert immediately repaid approximately $5,300 back to NKU, according to Martin. Hilvert also promised the university she intends to pay the rest of the balance.

Martin said NKU President Geoffrey Mearns was made aware of the situation early on in the process.

“While the President was made aware of a potential issue early on, the eventual resolution of this specific matter was managed without his knowledge,” she said in the statement. “While we are always improving our policies and procedures, this is an example of the process working.”

Mearns, however, told local news organization WCPO on Oct. 24 that he wasn’t “…aware of any incidents since March of 2013 where an NKU employee used a procurement card to steal $310,000… I’m not aware of any similar incident.”

Mearns also said it was possible an employee has misused a procurement card for a $5 purchase, but that he wasn’t aware of any incident “similar to the Scott Eaton matter.”

Regardless, Martin said this follow up process was handled business-as-usual by university human resources, legal affairs and student affairs.

Scott Eaton was terminated in March 2013 for inappropriate affairs with four university staff members and one student. His misappropriation of funds was uncovered later after an audit of the athletic department.

Eaton agreed to serve 10 years in prison, after pleading guilty to charges brought against him by the university in April.

The Northerner will continue to investigate this ongoing story. Check back to TheNortherner.com for continuous updates as they become avaialble.

See links to the local media reports here:

I-Team: Another NKU staff member fired for embezzling thousands of dollars in school funds

NKU fires dance team coach for theft

Check back to TheNortherner.com for continuous updates as they become available.

Also, see past Northerner coverage of former NKU Athletic Director Scott Eaton’s financial embezzlement at the links below.

• New athletic director replaces former AD Scott Eaton
• Former athletic director admits to embezzling up to $150,000
• Eaton used deceptive means to divert $100,000- 150,000 from university for personal use
• Eaton fired for “inappropriate” relationships with five women
• Campus responds to firing with mixed feelings, confusion
• Athletic director Scott Eaton terminated

EDIT: Kelly Martin, assistant vice president for marking and communications, released this statement:

“Through heightened attention to our review process, questionable procurement card use was discovered. This launched an immediate internal follow-up where we examined the five years of records we retained. The review found the employee, whose employment was terminated in June, had made approximately $6,800 in misappropriated charges to the University. She immediately repaid approximately $5,300 back to the University and has told us she intends to pay the balance. This follow up was handled as a normal course of business by human resources, legal, and student affairs, who worked quickly and closely to respond to the situation. While the President was made aware of a potential issue early on, the eventual resolution of this specific matter was managed without his knowledge. While we are always improving our policies and procedures, this is an example of the process working.”

“What do we want?”

“Justice!”

“When do we want it?”

“Now!”

The Student Union was filled with students lying down on the floor chanting every few minutes for equality in light of the recent Ferguson and Staten Island police brutality incidents. The protest took place Friday at lunch time when the Student Union is most crowded.

“I thought it was a sleeping flash mob,” Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero, junior theater major, said. “But I think it’s really beautiful. They are laying down peacefully and that’s really beautiful.”

Crowds of students surrounded the protesting group with cell phones and video cameras. Most of the chatter was confusion about the event while some expressed their opinions openly. Many students and faculty such as Jeff Iker took part.

One man was heard shouting, “White power!” as he moved through the protest.

“I hope the reaction is that it caught a lot of people’s attention,” Morgan Bell, an integrative studies junior who planned the entire event, said.

“Yesterday we had a moment of silence outside the SU and Brandelyn Tosolt mentioned a teach-in (a general educational forum on issues of the public interest). We’re doing a teach-in all next week,” Bell said. “And I was like we have to do something else.”

Bell then made fliers for the event and originally put that it was going to be a lay in.

“I sent it to one of the e-board members and they said that we should do a die in,” Bell said. “So I got it together real quick over… Social media.”

“It’s a human issue. It is about race , it is about  LGBTQ issues, it is about undocumented individuals,” Bell said. “It bothers me that some people don’t want to do anything about it… I’m still shaking. I just feel like it’s time for us to do something, especially our age group and everyone in general.”

Other students commented on the protest in support.

“I feel like it’s necessary,” SiennaMarisa Brown, sophomore psychology/sociology major said. “We can make a difference… I think it’ll turn into a much needed social movement.”

Autumn Boehmer, sophomore, doesn’t see these types of events stopping anytime soon.

“I think there’s a lot more to come,” Boehmer said.

The protest ended at around 12:50 pm.
“Why are all these people dying for being themselves?” Bell said.

Students and employees are concerned about the future of the Campus Recreation Center (CRC), the largest employer of students on campus. With submissions open for bid from private firms to take over management and operations of the facility, students and employees have expressed their discontent with the possibility of students’ jobs being cut.

SGA President John Jose held a public forum today to inform students about management plans for the newly renovated Campus Rec.

Jose wanted students to know how important of an issue the future of students’ jobs is to his office. He also wanted students to know how transparent he and his office are being with the student body.

“When you all elected me as student body president last year, that’s something I harped on [transparency to the student body],” Jose said. “No matter how tough the issue might be or what it will be, I still need to inform you guys of what’s going on.”

Jose’s purpose was to inform students of the facts surrounding the issue and of a petition SGA has created to keep staffing and management the way it currently is without a third party. SGA hopes to get 7,500 signatures on the petition.

“I want to suppress the rumors and what people have been hearing through the grapevine,” Jose said.

As of now, the university has submitted a request for proposal (RFP) for a private firm to come and submit a bid on how they would run the CRC.

He told students that President Mearns has assured him that this [a third-party takeover] is not a done deal.

“They would have to be in a far superior state than we are now [for us to pick a third party],” Jose said, quoting Mearns.

“We will still own the building,” Jose said. “This is just to see who will run the everyday logistics, operations, management and programming of the facility.”

Submission is open until Feb. 4th 2015.

The $45 million, student-funded project will continue to be paid off for another 16 years.

Current staff in the CRC have an opportunity to submit and they are currently making their own RFP to be submitted to the university according to Jose.

The SGA President wanted to be very clear that he has spoken to President Mearns, and nobody has been fired or lost their job.

In 2007, students started requesting additional space in the CRC, according to Jose.

“On Oct. 11, 2010, SGA passed a resolution for a feasibility study to make sure NKU was equipped to expand the recreational facility, and who was going to pay for it,” Jose said.

The findings from the study came back on March 10, 2011 and they gave NKU the go ahead to start building the new facility, but at the students’ expense.

SGA held open forums from March to April of 2011 to inform students of this proposed new facility and expenses.

“On the SGA ballot that same year, students could vote if they were agreeing to introducing the fees so that we could expand our rec center,” Jose said. “The majority of students said yes on the vote.”

SGA recommended the expansion to the Board of Regents and Council for Post-Secondary Education, which looks over all the public institutions in the Commonwealth, and they approved it as well, according to Jose.

At the end of the same year, the Board of Regents approved the proposed rates.

“Fifty-one percent of students have used the CRC,” Jose said. “Last year alone over 7,000 distinct users used the the facility. It was expanded because it was too small for the growing student population.”

“The rec center expansion is a $45 million dollar project that is nearing its completion by August 2015,” Jose said. “It is funded by all 16,000 students on this campus.”

Students who are enrolled in 12 credit hours pay $384 a year towards the building of the new facility according to Jose.

“We are still in the process of waiting to see who will submit bids for our rec center,” Jose said.

He empathized with current CRC staff and other student workers about how unsatisfactory this can be; how they have no idea whether they will have jobs in the next six months or not.

“I think student jobs are a very big part of this campus, I think that it is what feeds our campus and makes us very unique,” Erin Donohue, sophomore BFA musical theatre major said. “I think our students definitely depend on these jobs. I know so many people who work here and their rent depends on it.”

Jose stressed the importance of solidarity of students at this time, as well as arguing the case in the right way, should the bid be given to a third-party firm.

“We need to make sure that we argue this as a student standpoint, from student perspective,” Jose said.

He pleaded with students that they should not turn on the administration or President Mearns.

The current renovations will not be affected by the the RFP process.

Either way, Jose is confident that the number of jobs will increase with the expansion of the new facility.

“You shouldn’t hate President Mearns. This is not an NKU Administration versus students issue,” Jose said. “They are just doing their duty to see what could be most effective for our student population.”

“Obviously they’re looking at bringing on third parties to try and improve on some of the things that current students and leaderships are doing there,” Benjamin Reed, junior history major said. “I’d be pretty upset if students in management lose jobs. If a third party did come in and there were benefits to the students and the university such as financial or better leadership or better run rec center, then I’m okay with that as long as some of the standards are met, such as students keeping their jobs.”

On Feb. 4 when the submission is closed there will be a committee put in place to review proposals.

Jose stressed the importance and need for having a student on the review committee.

THE RFP can be found on the NKU website and shows what companies need to be able to do in order for their submission to be considered by the Board of Regents.

http://procurement.nku.edu/bid-quotes-rfps.html

Jose went through the RFP requirements in brief with students.

“It is the intent of NKU to enter into a five-year contract with the successful responsive and responsible bidder to manage that and will be able to help build and maintain a high-quality collegiate recreational program that will be operated in a student-focused, customer-focused, and financially responsible manner,” Jose said.

RFP Requirements

• Respondents must be qualified collegiate recreation management firms that provide comprehensive recreational sport and fitness programming to students, faculty, staff, and guests.
• Respondents must provide a student development model for recruiting, hiring, and training student employees.
• Respondents must provide learning outcomes and how these outcomes will be measured.

SGA Plan of action

• Inform and educate the student body. SGA will be presenting at student organizations’ meetings starting Monday Jan. 26.
• Social media campaign. #SaveOurRec. SGA encourage students to tag @PresidentMearns on Twitter.

Petition. SGA hopes to get 7,500 signatures www.petitions.com/petition.save-our-rec

NKU paid a former employee $200,000 to prevent sexual harassment lawsuits against the university, according to  a report from The Enquirer.

According to the report, the employee, NKU Associate Athletic Director for Compliance Chrissy Soards complained to NKU officials about former Athletic Director Scott Eaton’s behavior  in March of 2013. On March 16 Eaton was terminated from the university for ethical violations. Days later Soards signed the $200,000 settlement agreement.

Chris Cole, director of marketing and communications, said in a statement to The Northerner the school made the decision to reach the agreement with Soards so that they could focus on the investigation against Eaton.

In The Enquirer report, Dennis Repenning, Board of Regents chairman, stated that Soards and her attorney had threatened the university with a sexual harassment lawsuit, which began the initial investigation into Eaton.

“The Enquirer reporter suggested that I authorized the settlement in order to keep the Eaton matter secret,” NKU President Geoffrey Mearns said in an email sent to faculty and staff.  “That theory is counterfactual, given that I publicly disclosed the matter within 72 hours of authorizing the settlement with Ms. Soards.”

Mearns’ email further explained that the settlement with Soards was reached because after conferring with legal counsel Mearns concluded that Soards had a “potentially credible claim against the university.”

According to Mearns the settlement with Soards is the only agreement the school made in connection with the Eaton scandal. The university is looking to recover the cost through insurance claims and from Eaton himself.

Be sure and follow The Northerner for any further development on the story.

Other articles on the Scott Eaton investigation:

Investigation on Scott Eaton reveals over $300,000 ‘misappropriated’

“Closure” to Scott Eaton investigation

According to a press release from NKU Athletics Department, Dave Bezold will not return as the head coach of the men’s basketball team.

“This is difficult given Dave’s role in our university and our community,” Athletic Director Ken Bothof said in the press release. “Dave is a good man and has given much of himself to the development of the young men in our basketball program. I am grateful for his service and wish him and his family well.”

Bezold has led the team through its transition to Division I that began in 2012.

In his 11 seasons as head coach, Bezold amassed a 194-133 record.

According to the release a national search for a new coach will begin immediately.

 Continue to follow The Northerner for updates on the story.

Dean Waple announced he will be leaving his position as Dean of students at NKU for a position at Southern Illinois University this summer.

“I’ve accepted to be the vice chancellor of student affairs at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and that starts on July 1,” Waple said. “I’ve been searching for the last couple of months.”

The Dean told student government members that he and his family are excited for the opportunities ahead, but will also be sad to be leaving NKU.

“I wanted to let you know because you are my students and we’ve built a really strong bond in here,” Waple said. “I don’t know what this means for the interim plan.”

An official statement from the university will be released soon, according to Waple.

NKU Athletic’s announced late Monday that John Brannen would be the next head coach for the men’s basketball team.

“I am humbled and honored to be the next men’s basketball coach at Northern Kentucky University,” Brannen said in an official release from the school. “I want to thank President Mearns, Ken Bothof and the rest of the committee for their belief in me and giving me this opportunity to be a head coach.”

Brannen is coming to NKU after spending six years at the University of Alabama, where he served as associate head coach and interim head coach during which time he lede the team to a first round victory in the 2015 NIT.

Brannen is a graduate of Marshall University and originally from Covington, Ky.

Brannen already has high hopes for NKU’s program.

“Our program promises to bring great pride to the NKU community and we will strive for success on and off the court,” Brannen said in the statement. “ Our goal is to compete for Atlantic Sun Championships while ensuring our players graduate and represent NKU in a first-class manner. I can’t wait to start working and return home to embark on my head coaching career.”

 Athletic Director Ken Bothof wished a warm welcome to Brannen and his family.

“I would like to welcome John [Brannen], his wife Lisa and daughters Katelyn and Jaylee back home to Northern Kentucky,” Bothof said. “John brings successful experience at all levels of collegiate basketball, and I am excited about the future of the Norse men’s basketball program under his leadership.”

NKU will hold a press conference and celebration ceremony at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7 at The Bank of Kentucky Center.

President Geoffrey Mearns has appointed Kim Turner, current assistant vice president for student support and business operations, as interim vice president of student affairs after Peter Gitau’s resignation March 16.

“Kim is a member of the senior leadership team of the division, and she will provide steady and consistent leadership during the interim time,” Means wrote in an email to the division of student affairs April 1.

Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Peter Gitau resigned Monday, March 16 through an email for unknown reasons, according to NKU officials in the office of student affairs, 

In his email he reportedly stated that he would officially resign on June 30, 2015. Gitau said he would continue to work for the university until then but not be present on campus.

“I am grateful to Dr. Gitau for his service to the University, and I wish him success in his future endeavors,” Mearns said.

Gitau came to NKU on April 1, 2013 and was responsible for all student support services. He also serves on the president’s operations team, executive team and cabinet.

This story was originally published March 18.

Continue to follow The Northerner as this story develops.

Chief of Police Jason Willis announced he is resigning from NKU to pursue other opportunities in higher education. His resignation, effective May 29, comes after four years as head of the NKU Police Department.

Willis recently completed a doctorate in education and educational leadership with a specialization in business informatics. He plans to use the degree in his next career.

“I would like to stay with law enforcement, but maybe in a different role,” Willis said. “I’d like to do some teaching in criminal justice, there’s some consulting opportunities im looking at…and really use the things I’ve learned in the [educational leadership] program and really put those things into practical use as well as my 20 years of policing.”

Willis said he wants to leave behind a legacy of helping others and hopes the NKU Police Department will continue to hire officers who strive to educate and meet students’ needs.

“I’ve always been very community-oriented, very customer service-oriented  and I really want my legacy to be that we’re there for the students, we’re there for the community, we’re helpers,” Willis said. “I would hope that we would continue to hire officers and try to recruit the officers that really have that helping philosophy.”

Willis said he will always remember the relationships and memories he’s made with students.

“There hasn’t been really been any big incidents or tragedies, just a lot of good experiences with the students,” Willis said. “One thing I really appreciate about NKU is our students and how hard they work and how a lot of students have part-time jobs.”

Willis plans to stay in the Cincinnati area to pursue other opportunities and raise his young family.

“I have a very supportive, successful, understanding wife and came to the conclusion that after a lot of soul searching it was the best time for our family to pursue some other opportunities, both financially and just for the future.”

President Geoffrey Means has asked Vice President Ken Ramey to begin preparations for a small search committee that will determine the next chief of police, according to a news release sent to students. The administration hopes to have a new police chief by the Fall 2015 semester.

Northern Kentucky University announced Friday morning that Leslie Peter Kachurek will serve as the new Chief of Police.

Kachurek is currently the police chief at SUNY Alfred State University in Alfred, NY, a position he has held since 2013.

“My wife and I both feel very blessed to have this opportunity,” Kachurek said in a press release the university. “It’s truly an opportunity of a lifetime.”

A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Kachurek has 25 years of experience in the police force, and he will head all police department operations at NKU.

For more information on our new Chief of Police, continue to follow thenortherner.com.

Social media began buzzing Thursday morning after reports surfaced that a student had been taken into custody after being in possession of a gun on the third floor of Steely Library.

NKU’s official twitter account sent out tweets around 11 a.m. on Thursday alerting the university that campus police had responded to an incident this morning involving a student in possession of a gun.

In an email sent out to the university Thursday afternoon, Director of University Communications Chris Cole said that police officers questioned a female student who admitted to having a hand gun in her bag and immediately turned it over and was taken into custody. 

The student was charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon and lodged at the Campbell County Detention Center, according to Cole. 

According to Amanda Nageleisen, director of public relations for NKU, Campus Police received a call around 9:45 a.m. and responded to the library within 90 seconds.

Because of the event occurring so quickly, the university didn’t have time to send out the usual Norse Alert, a system used to notify students of potentially dangerous situations on campus, which many students complained about.

“We are receiving questions regarding the use of Norse Alert. Our policy states that the alert will be activated when the University determines that a serious threat exists and the campus community must take immediate action to remain safe and secure,” University officials announced Thursday afternoon via Twitter. “In today’s incident, campus police responded to the initial call within 90 seconds and the situation was diffused immediately. The police quickly determined that the incident was isolated and worked with campus communications to provide a subsequent statement.”

Many updates from the university stated that the gun was inoperable and the student was in custody. There is no present threat to anyone on campus.

Continue to follow thenortherner.com as the story develops.

This morning NKU President Geoffrey Mearns addressed over 150 students, faculty, staff and community members in the Student Union Ballroom to announce the university’s new partnership with St. Elizabeth Healthcare for the Health Innovations Center, which is set to start construction at the end of October.

The $8 million donated by St. Elizabeth is the second largest gift in NKU’s 48-year history; second to the $15 million gifted by the Haile U.S. Bank Foundation to the NKU College of Business in 2008.

“When I learned of the concept for the center I was struck by innovation and forward thinking,” Garren Colvin, CEO of St. Elizabeth Healthcare, said. “Their goals for this center are in line with the challenges that healthcare professionals face on a daily basis.”

In 2014, NKU received its first financial investment from elected officials of $97 million toward the Health Innovations Center.

Mearns is confident that the center’s initiatives will bring together disciplines and programs from all across the university, including nursing, psychology, data analytics and other programs.

“We’ll bring programs together to respond to the health and wellness challenges of the region and the commonwealth,” Mearns said. “There is a well-documented need to expand existing programs and to create new ways to educate our healthcare professionals.”

According to Mearns, the $8 million investment will directly support the design and construction of simulation facilities in the new St. Elizabeth Healthcare Simulation Center.

The simulation center will span two floors and function as a comprehensive virtual care facility providing a full range of training including simulation space, several clinical skills suites, nursing suites, imaging suites and several collaborative spaces.

The simulation center will be designed to support active learning through standardized patient encounters, outpatient scenarios, hybrid simulations, transitional care in the home or rehabilitation environment and high tech simulation equipment, which will provide students with vital exposure and training in a safe and controlled setting.

“The new cross-functional educational experience will undoubtedly be the best in class in producing health care leaders and providers of the future,” Colvin said. “The ongoing education and training for our staff and clinicians is of utmost importance to us.”

According to Mearns, it is the university’s hope that this innovative approach will become a model for other institutions and communities all across the nation.

“This concept is ambitious, and it requires a partnership and support of the community to achieve success,” Mearns said. “It is a gift that will benefit student, faculty, staff, most importantly, will provide a great benefit to the community we serve together.”

There were many students from various disciplines in attendance at Mearns’ address today.

“Eight million dollars is a great chunk of change; teachers have been talking about this forever,” Sean Cooney, senior nursing major said. “This will provide an opportunity for future works with St. Elizabeth. It’s a great contribution to the school and the Commonwealth.”

In the midst of positive changes and adjustments, Coordinator of New Student Engagement, Jeff Iker, said he is excited about the partnership.

“It’s a fantastic and obvious relationship,” Iker said. “I’m glad to see St. Elizabeth stepped up. It will benefit them in the future.”

The Health Innovation Center is expected to open in 2018. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Oct. 21. More information can be found at http://hicinfo.nku.edu.

Students stood in silence outside of the Student Union on Monday wearing targets on their chests. Their homemade shirts bore a black target on the front. Written on the bottom of the shirt was “#StudentsNotTargets.”

Propped against their legs were signs that called for awareness and solidarity.

The silent protest was organized by Students for Social Change, a newly formed organization.

Senior integrative studies major, Quinn Docter, helped start up the organization with student Morgan Bell. The night before, Docter and Bell spray painted the shirts for the silent protest. The protest was about gun violence and how people can work to improve campus safety.

“It brings awareness… It’s real,” Docter said. “It [the issue] usually gets pushed to the back burner.”

One student grabbed the hand of one of the protestors and stood with them. There were spectators in favor of the cause.

“I think it’s really powerful… It’s hard to watch,” Rae Loftis, coordinator of LGBTQ programs and services, said. “I don’t like to see my students with targets on them… It takes a lot of courage.”

Others had a different opinion on the situation.

“I think gun-free zones leave people vulnerable,” freshman Jonathan Mullins said. “It makes sense to be able to defend yourself. I think if somebody has a license to carry them, they should.”

Docter wants the protest to serve as a way to help make the campus safer; not necessarily take away guns.

“We gotta stop fighting each other,” Docter said.

Other students and faculty stopped to take note of the situation while taking photos. Norse Violence Prevention intern, Katie Herms sat by the protest in case anyone experienced any emotional distress from it.

“I think it’s an excellent way to get the ball rolling,” Herms said. “It’s an issue we aren’t talking about.”

During the protest, the students dropped to the ground, as if they had been shot.

“I hope it was impactful and made them think,” Docter said. “I hope it made people uncomfortable… That causes change.”

There will be a “Discussion for a Solution” on Monday, Oct. 26 in UC 414 from 5-7 p.m. The discussion will be where students and faculty can come together to work toward a safer environment.

While new systems have been installed in the parking garages, faulty barcodes on parking passes have caused further complications.

The masked barcodes will not properly scan, so permit holders must receive a new barcode- a sticker which will be placed on each parking pass.

Andy Meeks, director of business operations and auxiliary services, said the original barcodes were masked to prevent fraud.

Meeks said that while they were testing the barcodes, he noticed that the passes had to be scanned three to four times before the arm was lifted.

“That just was not going to be acceptable for a Tuesday/Thursday 8:30 a.m. parking rush,” Meeks said.

Parking services worked with their technology company and the IT department to create a new set of barcodes that can be easily scanned.

“We had to come up with a solution,” Meeks said. “We could not go with the solution that we did in the fall, that we were just going to leave the gates up and we were going to do the best we can. That’s okay for a bit, but you can’t just go on indefinitely like that.”

The barcodes were made into stickers, and they will be distributed to individuals with a parking permit at the entrances of every garage.

Sophomore Bridgette Gootee has received the new barcode, but she said that she prefers the way that the old permits were swiped.

“I like the sliding a lot better,” Gootee said. “I’ve been up here a couple of times with the pass, and for some reason it never likes to scan for me. I’ve found that a couple people have had the same problem. I don’t know if it’s just bugs in the system that need to get worked out or what.”

Despite the complications, Gootee said that she understands that glitches are simply a part of the new system.

Meeks said that there will be an attendant at each entrance from 7:00 a.m- 10:00 p.m., and they will continue this process until they feel like the majority of permit holders have received a barcode.

Junior Matthew Cantrill is one of these attendants. Bundled head to toe and armed with sheets of stickers, Cantrill waits near the entrance of the Kenton Drive Garage in a Parking Services vehicle.

“I just kind of chill in the car and if it looks like someone is frustrated or taking a long time I’ll get out to give them a sticker,” Cantrill said.

Cantrill began distributing stickers the week before class starts, and he said that the majority of people have been understanding.

Parking attendants were stationed at all three garages the week before school. Meeks hopes that this will allow the majority of faculty and staff to receive their barcode before class begins.

Meeks said that despite the barcode glitch, all three garages are equipped with the new parking systems, and that they are all functioning properly.

Despite the functioning systems in the garages, some students still struggle to find a parking spot.

Gootee arrived to campus nearly three hours before her first class on Monday. The visual communication design major said she typically struggles to find a place to park.

“I have class at 5, and it’s 2:30,” Gootee said. “That’s how early I come to fight for a spot.”

Gootee said she was surprised that she found a spot easily in the Kenton Drive Garage.

Meeks said that he thought that the barcodes would more simply solve the incompatibility issues.

“We just had to make this one alteration for the spring,” Meeks said. “We felt that that [the stickers] was the simpler of our options. We could have ordered all new hangtags, but I thought that would be more difficult than just issuing the new barcodes for the spring semester.”

Those who do not receive a new barcode within the first weeks of the semester can obtain one at anytime through parking services.

Meeks also said that Lot C, located between the Science Building and Griffin Hall. is now closed indefinitely. The lot is blocked off by a fence, and construction crews are starting to move in.

Lot C consisted of approximately 175 parking spaces which are reserved for faculty and staff, according to Meeks.

***Correction: This article originally stated that Lot F is closing indefinitely. It has been updated to state that Lot C will be closed indefinitely.

This story was updated on Jan. 22 at 7:08 p.m.

According to a Friday report from The Northern Kentucky Tribune, an NKU student, under the name of Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against the university on Wednesday, Jan. 20, accusing officials of mishandling her sexual assault case in a campus dorm.

The article states that her attorney, Kevin Murphy, filed a 19-page suit naming four university officials- President Geoffery Mearns, Kathleen Roberts, senior advisor to the president for inclusive excellence, Chief of Police Leslie Kachurek and Senior Associate Dean of Students Ann James.

The Northerner received the following statement from the university:

The Northerner will continue to follow-up with the story.

Editor’s Note: This story has been edited to protect the identity of the student involved.

With five slates running for the Student Government Association president and vice president positions, Will Weber and Ellen Wilshire came out on top, receiving a total of 291 votes from the student body. 

A group of 30 students cheered as Chief Justice Joey Smith declared the pair winners of the 2016 Student Government Association presidential election at 10:22 p.m. on March 31. 

Weber and Wilshire beat the nearest candidates, Katherine Hahnel and Kaitlyn Schaefer, by 73 votes. 

Abby Anstead
Vice President Ellen Wilshire, President Will Weber and their campaign manager Patrick Reagan celebrate as the pair is declared the winners.

Weber said he is ready to start putting the points of his campaign into action. 

“It is time to bring a new day for SGA,” Weber said. “We’re going to get down to work right away — learn, listen and act, focus on student success, community engagement, campus innovation, and we’re just getting started. We’re going to put NKU on the rise.” 

Vice President Wilshire, who is new to the Student Government Association, reiterated that they are ready to tackle their platform points. 

“This is brand new to me so I’m ready to dive in, get right into it, and do everything that we talked about in our campaign,” Wilshire said. 

Below is a complete list of votes.

The Board of Regents for Northern Kentucky University approved a 3 percent undergraduate tuition increase for 2016-2017 during today’s meeting in the Student Union.

There will also be a 3 percent increase in housing costs and a 3 percent increase in parking costs.

The plan approved was different than the one proposed by President Geoffrey Mearns. Mearns proposed a 4 percent tuition increase, but his plan would not have increased parking costs and would have increased housing by an average of 0.53 percent.

Undergraduate students will have their tuition increase as follows:

• For resident students, tuition will increase by $10.92 per credit hour (3 percent). This is a $131.03 increase in full-time semester rate.
• For metro students, tuition will increase by $16.50 per credit hour. This is a $198 increase in full-time semester rate.
• For non-resident students, tuition will increase by $21.84 per credit hour. This is a $262.08 increase in full-time semester rate.

Parking will increase by $3.93 for a semester pass and $6.60 for the full academic year. Parking rates for 2015-2016 were $131 for a semester and $220 for the full year.

Graduate students and Chase Law students will have their tuition increased as follows:

• For the Chase College of Law, resident rates will increase by $35 per credit hour (5.18 percent). This is a $455 increase in full-time semester rate.
• For nonresidents who attend Chase College of Law, the increase is $57 per credit hour (5.22 percent). This is a $741 increase in full-time semester rate.
• Resident graduate students will see an increase of $22 per credit hour (4.12 percent).
• Ohio/Indiana graduate students will see an increase of $26 per credit hour (4.04 percent).
• Nonresident graduate students will see an increase of $33 per credit hour (4.01 percent).

According to Amanda Nageleisen, director of public relations, the increase is consistent with tuition increases in recent years. Tuition increased 3 percent in 2014 and 4 percent in 2015.

Mike Hales, chief financial officer of NKU, said the increase was necessary due to the decreased state funding and the increase in the university contribution to the Kentucky Employees Retirement System (KERS).

Also, dining fees will increase between 3.88 and 4.06 percent.

Despite the tuition increase, Hales said the increased investment in scholarships has helped offset previous tuition increases.

NKU scholarship investments have increased from $6.9 million in 2008 to $17.4 million in 2015. It is estimated to be $19.3 million in 2016 and $21.2 million in 2017.

With scholarships and grants offsetting the cost of rising tuition rates, Hales said NKU is one of only two Kentucky public universities that have seen the net cost of an education drop over the last five years. 

This is a breaking news story. Stay with The Northerner for more updates.

According to WLWT, an investigation of a 63-year-old woman assaulted on Northern Kentucky University’s campus is currently underway by the NKU police department.

The woman, Jackie Bernard, related her story to WLWT News about the incident, which occurred on April 21.

Bernard said that a young woman was driving unpredictably and kept cutting in front of her each time she attempted to drive around her.

Bernard followed the woman to NKU in hopes of reporting the license plate number to the police. As the car pulled up to Lot E, Bernard reported that the young woman had already alerted others.

In a statement, Bernard said that she got hit in the head, her glasses were knocked underneath the car and was punched in the chest.

Police Chief Les Kachurek called the incident a fourth degree assault and is taking to social media to ask the public for help in finding the assailants.

According to Kachurek, there were reportedly people near the incident. Video surveillance that would help the case has not been found yet.

The assailants were reported as a white male with reddish hair wearing a blue t-shirt along with a black male wearing a denim jacket. It is currently unknown if the assailants are NKU students.

The Northerner reached out to the university and was unable to receive a comment at this time.
Stay with The Northerner for more information.

Provided by NKU Public Relations
Dr. Daniel Nadler was named the new vice president of student affairs at NKU.

Dr. Daniel Nadler was hired by Northern Kentucky University as the new vice president for student affairs, according to a press release by the university.

According to Wednesday’s release, Nadler will begin at NKU on July 18. He currently holds the same position at Eastern Illinois University.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Nadler to NKU,” NKU President Geoffrey Mearns said. “Dan has dedicated his career to teaching, research, and service. For more than 30 years, he has worked to build a rich and engaging experience for students at both public and private institutions. He brings an impressive depth of experience to our campus that will strengthen our student support and retention efforts.”

Nadler replaces Kim Turner, who was the interim vice president for student affairs. Turner assumed the position April 1, 2015, after the resignation of Dr. Peter Gitau on March 16, 2015.

“I also want to take this opportunity to thank Kim Turner who has ably served as the Interim Vice President for Student Affairs,” Mearns said in an email. “I am grateful to Ms. Turner for her advice and for her service to our University.”

According to the release, the vice president of student affairs provides direct leadership over various NKU departments, including student conduct and engagement and student inclusiveness.

“I am honored and excited for the opportunity to join President Mearns and the NKU leadership team,” Nadler said in a release. “NKU has a strong commitment to student success, as evidenced by the priorities set out in its strategic plan. I look forward to building and strengthening dynamic and innovative programs that will meet the needs of our diverse student body.”

Mearns said Nadler’s appointment is especially important considering the funding challenges facing the university.

“With state funding continuing to decline, student retention is more important than ever,” Mearns said. “We must do all that we can to recruit students who are prepared to succeed here and then give them the support they need to be successful at NKU and beyond.”

Nadler held several titles at Tulane University prior to joining Eastern Illinois. At EIU, in addition to his current title, he has held several positions including director of orientation and parent/family programs and assistant director of student life.

A 2000 graduate of NKU’s Chase College of Law has returned to NKU as the new vice president of legal affairs and general counsel.

University President Geoffrey Mearns announced in a press release Wednesday that Joan M. Gates has been appointed to the position. She replaces Sara L. Sidebottom, who retired after 20 years with NKU.

“Joan brings deep and vast knowledge of legal issues surrounding academic research, technology, healthcare, regulatory compliance, and employment law,” Mearns said in a press release. “Her experience will serve our university well during this time of growth and change, and we are pleased to welcome her to NKU.”

Gates currently is the senior legal counsel at Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She begins at NKU July 18.

“I am delighted and honored to return to my alma mater in this leadership role, and I look forward to working with President Mearns and his team to make a positive impact upon NKU’s future,” Gates said in the release.

According to the release, Gates will provide the university legal expertise and services, as well as serving on Mearns’ executive team and advising the Board of Regents.

In addition, Gates will oversee legal matters for the university and provide oversight for the both the Office of Financial and Operational Auditing and the Office of Compliance and Institutional Ethics, according to the release.

Prior to graduating from Chase, she earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of Kentucky, according to the release. She is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Cincinnati Bar Association.