Final VP of Student Affairs Candidate Answers Questions at Student Forum

The second and final student forum for candidates hoping to become FSU’s next Vice President of Student Affairs (VPSA) was held on Thursday, Nov. 23 in the Lane University Center. Students present had the opportunity to meet and pose questions to candidate Dr. Artie Travis. Dr. Travis discussed his prior experience, goals, and ideas for Frostburg State during the open forum.

Introducing himself, Dr. Travis elaborated on his background and experiences at past institutions. Following service in the United States military, Dr. Travis has spent the remainder of his career working in the student affairs discipline. Currently, Travis has been serving for the past thirteen years as the Vice President of Student Affairs at Bowie State University. Citing a transitional period, Travis is seeking a new university to call home to allow the new president at Bowie State to choose his own administration. Making a reference to Frostburg State’s former Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Tom Bowling, Dr. Travis referred to FSU as an outstanding opportunity to attempt to fill the shoes of a mentor of his. Travis stressed the importance of always being open, available, and honest, saying he does not work “to his hours.”

All of the roughly 35-40 students in attendance had the opportunity to ask Dr. Travis questions at the forum. The first question posed to Travis was, “what are some of the things that drew you to Frostburg?” Dr. Travis responded by acknowledging the diversity on Frostburg’s campus, labeling it an “interesting makeup.” In doing so, he reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the needs of every student are met and provided with “help, guidance, and assistance.” Additionally, he highlighted the importance of “making sure that students on the margins feel supported and included so they can participate in the day to day activities on campus.”

In a follow-up question, the same student then asked what plans Dr. Travis has for marginalized students who wish to feel more included on campus. Dr. Travis then asked, “what do you think we need to do?” He said the first thing he would do is take student organizations, including those with marginalized students, to an off-campus conference to brainstorm what we can do to improve the campus experience and comfortability for students feeling marginalized.

FSU student Marilyn Gweh asked Travis for his thoughts on diversifying FSU’s Student Government Association as well as the path to the SGA’s executive board. Travis responded by asking “is there an opportunity to look at the [SGA] Constitution and make changes?” SGA President Jenna Puffinburger responded by informing the audience that the SGA is aware of campus concerns and is working to find solutions while adding that the SGA had a convention last week to address “internal work” within the organization. Puffinburger also mentioned that the SGA is exploring the structure of the executive board by considering the addition of a Diversity and Inclusion Chair to head an official senate committee of the same name. Travis acknowledged that adding a Diversity and Inclusion committee is a good start, while also asserting to tackle difficult campus problems, student organizations need to have open dialogue to ensure all voices on campus are heard.

Another student asserted that FSU has a high employee turnover rate and asked Dr. Travis if he planned to stay at Frostburg if given the VPSA position. Travis responded by saying “if I ever lose the confidence of the students that I work for, I would have to leave.” However, Travis also expressed his desire to stay at Frostburg for the foreseeable future if awarded the VPSA position.

A student member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity Inc. informed Dr. Travis of the removal of Greek life plots in order to construct the new residence hall in the Lower Quad. The student then asked Dr. Travis his thoughts on the matter. Travis responded by affirming that there must be a “process or policy” for Greek plots. Giving students responsibility for making policy on Greek plots, Travis confirmed that he would support Greek life plots if there is a definitive policy.

Candi Yenchenko, the SGA’s non-traditional senator, asked Dr. Travis about his thoughts on a non-traditional student program at FSU. In response, Travis mentioned the necessity of commuter services on campus. Additionally, Travis explored the possibility of creating a campus office for non-traditional students, citing the recent creation of the Office of Multi-Cultural Services at Bowie State University. Yenchenko asserted that students at FSU are currently in the process of creating a non-traditional resource center on campus, to which Travis affirmed his support.

Another student, citing a recent sexual assault on FSU’s campus, asked Dr. Travis what steps he would take to combat sexual assault if he were given the VPSA job at FSU. Offering several ideas, Travis said, “first and foremost, we need to make sure we have a responsive police department.” In addition, Travis noted FSU needs to invest in more emergency blue lights on campus. Travis also referred to the need of a “Victim’s Advocate” on campus in order for victims to have the adequate resources they need. Specifically, Travis said, “we would try to take serious efforts to make sure folks feel comfortable and that [sexual assault or harassment] is not accepted or permitted on campus.”

Another question was “how serious do you find student mental health and promoting it, what plans did you have?” Travis began by outlining two major priorities he has. First, he emphasized the importance of ensuring diversity and inclusion on campus. Second, he highlighted the necessity of ensuring a great living experience on campus for FSU students. On mental health, Travis said that mental health on campus is a priority and students cannot be successful when they are “struggling here because [they] don’t have the mental health support to make sure [they] are getting through the day.”

Danayt Teklu, a student senator on the SGA, cited wait times and understaffing as problems at the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Teklu then asked Travis if he planned to focus on CAPS and student mental health. Travis responded by saying, “that is going to be the first focus.”

Teklu then informed Dr. Travis of the recent incident involving FSU students and Frostburg city police in which tear gas was used. Teklu’s question concerned student relations with police and how to make students feel more comfortable in their interactions with police. Before Travis could respond, the question evolved into a discussion which led to Cassie Conklin, Managing Editor of The Bottom Line, bringing up the Frostburg City police’s temporary move to campus due to renovations. Addressing campus relations with police, Travis mentioned the possibility of creating a monthly town-hall meeting focusing on campus issues and transparency.

Following the student forums of Dr. Artie Travis and Dr. Kahan Sablo, held on Wednesday, Nov. 12, the decision for Frostburg State’s next Vice President of Student Affairs lies in the hands of the search committee and President Ronald Nowaczyk.