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dateline: UVI March 30, 2006, vol xii, number 3 Events Calendar March 30 Dookhan Lecture STT March 30 Motivational Speaker STT March 30 Theatre Colloquium STT March 30 Freshmen Meeting STT March 31 Dookhan Lecture STX March 31 TJF Talent Show STX April 1 Spring Ball STX April 1-4 Little Theatre Play STT April 1-8 Humanities Festival STX/STT April 3-6 Career Week STX April 5 Career Fair STX April 5 Financial Seminar STT April 7 TJF Basketball Jam STT The monthly newsletter of The University of the Virgin Islands The University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees ap- proved the Fiscal Year 2006 Compensation Adjustment Proposal for UVI employees at its quarterly meeting held March 11 on the St. Croix campus. The proposal was drafted by members of the UVI Compensation Committee, which is made up of UVI em- ployees who represented faculty, professional staff, regular staff and administration. “This proposal was a strong one because all of us paid at- tention to the details and the important elements that needed to be part of it. For that I say thank you,” UVI President LaVerne Ragster said in a March 13 telephone message to employees following the board’s approval. Dr. Ragster extended her grati- tude to the leaders and members of the Compensation Commit- tee for their hard work and attention. The compensation adjustment plan is comprised of three phases: Phase I involves a base salary increase of 1.5 percent for full-time employees for each full year of service starting October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2005, plus an across- the-board adjustment of $2000, and a 15 percent increase in the rate paid to part-time faculty. Phase I is expected to be imple- mented by April 14, 2006. “I’m glad that the board approved it,” said St. Croix campus Student Activities Supervisor Clint Ferris, who represented Compensation Plan Ignorance is Dangerous Compensation continued on next page When distinctive author and activist Randall Robinson lec- tured at the University of the Virgin Islands during Charter Week he heaped a great responsibility on UVI’s President Dr. Laverne Ragster. “You are in a very advantageous position,” he told her. As the president of a university Dr. Ragster has the power to shape minds and therefore bring about change, he said. The founder and former president of TransAfrica, the organiza- tion that initiated the movement to change U.S. foreign policy in apartheid South Africa, was the featured speaker in the Alfred O. Heath Distinguished Speakers Series. In his speech titled “Race and the Making of U.S. Foreign Policy,” Robinson spoke about everything from politics to AIDS, prisons, education, and the need for each of us to effect change. “We have to encourage in our young people a sort of inquisi- tiveness,” Robinson said. “Everything merits debate and ques- tion.” He learned that lesson as a college student, when after doing a report, his professor asked if the book’s author was Prot- estant or Catholic. It was the first time that Robinson had ques- tioned the biases of influential people. “Education is the business of causing young people to think and to think critically. For that thinking is liberating,” he said. “The key to all liberation starts all in here,” he said pointing to his head. “Once you are liberated here, there is nothing that is not possible.” He likened ignorance to a disease that must be cured, and peppered his speech with the phrase “what you don’t know will kill you,” telling the audience of little known facts that have the ability to shape perception. Robinson Lecture continued on next page Approved Speaker Says Author and activist Randall Robinson chats with President LaVerne Ragster, left and Deborah Fontaine, President’s Office chief of staff, before his lecture. dateline:UVI 2 John Brewer’s Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802 GET CONNECTED TO UVI news, activities and accomplishments at . . . www.uvi.edu dateline:UVI is a production of the UVI Public Relations Office. Contact us by telephone at (340) 693-1056 FAX: (340) 693-1055 GET CONNECTED TO UVI news, activities and accomplishments at . . . www.uvi.edu UVI professional staff on the Compensation Committee. “This is just the beginning. This is a small step towards a larger solu- tion,” Ferris continued. He said that the University still needs a compensation system that is proactive rather than reactive. “There are long-term fixes that we have to put in place.” By June 2006 a study will be presented to the Board outlin- ing Phase II of the Proposal, which will address internal equity and market salary analyses. Phase III will be committed to pre- senting a proposal on a performance incentive plan by Septem- ber 2006. “Phase I will be implemented by April, but there’s still much to do,” Dr. Ragster said in the recorded message. “I hope that this level of contribution and effort will continue as we develop phases II and III.” Fire female UVI to Bring the Energy for Carnival Water male Water female Sun female Fire male Wind female Robinson encouraged everyone to hold politicians account- able. “Responsibilities of democracies don’t end when you cast a vote; it begins there,” he said. “Democracy requires participa- tion. Participation requires information. Ignorance is dangerous in a democracy.” Compensation Continued The Alfred O. Heath Distinguished Speakers Series is the University’s way of recognizing and celebrating the outstanding person and accomplished citizen that is Dr. Alfred O. Heath. The lecture was part of a week of activities to celebrate the 44th Charter Day of the University. Robinson Lecture Continued Join the UVI Carnival troupe today. Costumes depict the four forms of energy: water, sun, wind and fire. Costumes range from $65 to $75 for students and $115 to $125 for the general community. Sign up in the Student Activities Centers on both campuses, and at Info Tech (Penha House) on the St. Thomas campus. A $20 deposit is due by April 7. For more information call 693-1672 or e-mail shakimastoutt@hotmail.com..