The March meeting of the College Council was executed in a quick but thorough manner as many members of the board were not in attendance.

Administrators not present included Steven Kapelke, provost and senior vice president; Alicia Berg, vice president of campus environment; Louise Love, vice president for Academic Affairs and a handful of faculty members who missed the monthly meeting on March 5 in the 1104 Center, 1104 S. Wabash Ave.

Announcements to the council were made by David Flatley, executive director of the Center for Community Arts Partnerships,  Andrew Whatley, academic program manager for Academic Affairs, Norman Alexandroff, director of student communications and Thom Clark, community media workshop president.

Mark Kelly, vice president of Student Affairs, addressed the college’s recent loss of sophomore photography major Jay Polhill in his administrative report. He announced a vigil  that was held at 3 p.m. the same day in the Quincy Wong Center for Artistic Expression, located in the Wabash Campus Building, 623 S. Wabash Ave.

Kelly said there would be a digital remembrance wall through the Student Loop where Polhill’s photographs and thoughts from students and faculty will be posted.

Kelly also reported Warrick L. Carter, president of Columbia, will announce a tuition increase for the 2010-11 academic year.

“At the undergraduate level, the tuition increase is going to be 3.3 percent, at the graduate level, 5 percent,” Kelly said. “I believe the increase will be at the low end of what you’re going to see [of tuition at other] private colleges, but also the college has decided we have great needs.”

Kelly said Columbia had needs for faculty, staff, facilities, but the highest priority in making this decision was placed on the students’ affordability. The tuition increase will result in $15.5 million allocated to scholarships, which compares to the current $11.5 million budget.

Jessica Valerio, president of Student Government Association and student representative of College Council, announced the SGA is teaming with Campus Environment to decrease and possibly end student vandalism that occurs on campus.

“Each year, the college spends over $645,000 on repairs from vandalism,” Valerio said. “To give some perspective, that is about 260 presidential scholarships and about 31 four-year, full-time educations here at Columbia College.”

Valerio said the campaign would comprise posters, speeches and possibly an event as part of Manifest.