The Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 99, No. 2, Ed. 1 Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Page: 2 of 6
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Texas Wesleyan University.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
2 September 12, 2007
News
The Rambler
20 great years
Head cashier celebrates two decades at Wesleyan
Julie Davis & Shawn R. Poling
SI4FF WRITER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
She had a reason: to save money on her daughter's college tuition. That's why Jane
Mitchell applied to work at Wesleyan 20 years ago.
She and her husband had just finished paying for their daughter Carri's first semes-
ter at Wesleyan when a friend recommended getting a job on campus. After realizing that
working on campus would save money towards her daughter's tuition, she was sold.
Although the job she originally applied for, secretary to religion professor Dr. Glen
Ballard, was taken, she jumped at the
opportunity to work m the cashier's
office as the sole cashier, handling stu-
dent accounts. At that point the office
had a computer through which she could
look up accounts, but she spent most of
her time counting.
"I had to count everything back
then,"* Mitchell said. "I even had to bal-
ance money taken in by the university."
She recalls many mornings spent
unlocking and locking safes and earn -
ing drawers of money up and down the
stairs of the administration building.
"They didn't want me to take the
elevator because they thought someone
could attack me and take the money,"
she said. "In reality, they could have
thrown me down the stairs if they really
wanted it."
One of Mitchell's past jobs includes
sweeping floors at Alcon where her Jane Mitchell started working at Texas Wesleyan
mother worked. She and her sister spilt employed. Her daughter and son both graduated
the duty and were paid with a quarter. at Wesleyan for as long as she can.
After graduating from high school her parents offered to send her to college, but she
opted to work and helped to support her parents.
"It was amazing I actually got a job here," Mitchell said. "I'm not outgoing. I'm very
quiet, and the thought of something new scares me to death."
However, to talk to her, you would never know it. Mitchell is committed to working
with college students. Both her daughter, Carri, and her son, Chad, graduated from
Wesleyan.
"I love the atmosphere, and I've always liked getting to know everyone," Mitchell
said.
Mitchell never expected that she would stay at Wesleyan for as long as she has but
knows that if she retired, not only would she be bored, but she would miss the interac-
tion with the students.
"She's always so nice to me, and I'm sure she has to put up with a lot," said Ashly
Spencer, sophomore education
major.
After 20 years, Mitchell has seen
many changes, one being the online
technology available to students.
"As the years go on, they
improve things, and everything
becomes more automated," she said.
"I'm glad tilings are easier for stu-
dents, but I miss that closeness."
Mitchell is reminded of the times
when students had to come to the
cashier's window and she was able to
personally assist them and be a part
of their college experience. She said
she misses the pre-Interaet days
when her life intertwined with the
lives of the students.
Holding back emotion, she
recalls the numerous students who
have visited her after they graduated
to say thank you and give her a hug.
She calls her position more than
just a job, but rather a calling - one to
which she has now dedicated two decades of her adult life. And retirement? Who knows.
"I don't have a time frame," she said. "I'm 65, but I don't feel 65. There's just no
reason."
'l
Photo by Baryn Shephard
20 years ago when she was the only cashier
from Wesleyan, and Mitchell plans to stick around
Bruster, from page 1
Over the years, Bruster has served on the Advancement Committee and the Academic Affairs
Committee at Wesleyan. Bruster has helped officials to solicit money from individuals and foundations
to raise funds for the school and has helped work with the deans to review and evaluate policies and pro-
cedures in order to make recommendations in regard to the academic life of the university.
"I consider Wesleyan to be a very fine institution that [the Methodist church] can be very proud of,"
said Bruster.
He believes that the university has improved since he joined the board of trustees in November 2003.
Dr. Lamar Smith, also an alumnus and member of the board, has approached Bruster about the pos-
sibility of having an annual Texas Wesleyan University Sunday at FUMC. Bruster said the ties between
FUMC and Texas Wesleyan are primarily through trustees, such as Smith and himself. In addition, reli-
gion professors like Dr. Ron Ballard are encouraged to teach Sunday school.
Currently, the church allows religion majors to work or volunteer, and they plan to collaborate on
various types of internships in the future. As to a Sunday dedicated to celebrating Texas Wesleyan, the
future holds nothing but possibilities.
"It's a strong possibility that I would welcome," said Bruster.
Not to forget his religious obligations, Bruster is just as serious about his work as a Wesleyan trustee
as he has been in his work as a clergyman. He considers his appointment to serve as senior minister at
FUMC a high point in his life and has worked hard to bring the church community to the "next level of
effectiveness and service."
Bruster said he is thankful that he has been there to "help people grow in their faith," to be there for
them during their faith journey, to lead congregations to the next level of sendee and effectiveness and
to have had the honor of having served wonderful congregations.
"I feel blessed to have been involved with individuals and families at the most pivotal moments in
their lives," said Bruster.
Treasures, from page 1
Just this March the company received the Clear Channel Media Award for Excellence in Business.
"I am very humbled by these awards." Nelson reflects. "You cannot have pride, but that doesn't mean
you cannot be proud."
The business philosophy that Nelson follows is reflected in the company's mission statement noted
on the company's Web site, www.treasuresbyteresa.com: "To provide beautiful, high-quality gifts at a fair
price while exceeding our customer's expectations and to provide a Christian, uplifting work environ-
ment, in which our employees can grow and succeed We strive to earn the respect of our community
and colleagues through fair and ethical business practices, community involvement, and high moral stan-
dards, all the while, honoring the One who has honored us with this entrepreneurial opportunity!"
Nelson said the work ethic and high moral standards possessed by herself and all her staff have
proven to be extremely successful.
"You must have respect and commitment to service," said Nelson.
National college, political officials
call for private student loan reform
Matt Donnelly
mk
At
he ^R ambler
we pay
you to
urite
papers
www.txwes.edu/rambler
THE DAILY FREE PRESS/ UWIRE
Politicians, universities and loan companies are working together to restmc-
ture a shattered private student loan industry that has come under fire in previ-
ous months after reports that university officials have been fired for accepting
kickbacks for recommending specific lending companies to students.
U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha
Coakley and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo began investigations
in early May in Massachusetts to determine whether relationships between
schools and private lending companies in the state were improper.
In addition, Cuomo discovered during his investigation that some lending
companies were discriminating against applicants based on what school they
attend — some historically black schools were hit with higher interest rates —
and other factors not directly tied to their credit history, according to a June 6
New York Times article.
"We absolutely need to revamp this industry," American Association of
Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers spokesman Barmak Nassirian
said. "There needs to be a complete overhaul in student lendings — there is too
much stress and debt to approach this in a conventional way, and we need new
and innovative options."
Nassirian said that the industry's downfall stems directly from the "failure
of the government to protect students" and said there is far too little oversight
focused on the relationship between schools and lending companies.
"The ideal distance between the two should be arm's length," he said.
"Lenders should compete on the basis of service and what they offer to students
— not what they offer to a third party — the school.
"It allows third parties to have a say in who gets which loans, and that's a
decision the students should be making for themselves," he added.
Karin Pellman, a spokeswoman for the private student lending company My
Rich Uncle, agreed and said that students lose out when they are not given the
opportunity to choose.
"What we're seeing in the industry is fallout and conflict of interest," she
said. "Lenders are being viewed by admissions officers as customers of loans,
and the current direction is not in the best interest of students."
Pellman also agreed that more government intervention is needed to make
the student loan market safer and more cost-efficient for students.
"Since the investigations, the government has taken a much closer look.
They've come down hard on the Department of Education and they're coming
down to assist the borrower's right to choose," she said. "There are laws that
prevent these unacceptable relationships but they are simply not being
enforced."
Pellman said My Rich Uncle, founded in 1999, works with students and not
directly with financial aid offices. She said that financial aid officers complicate
the student loan process and the relationship between student and lending com-
pany would be "ideal" without them.
Illinois senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is one
politician that has recommended reforming the student loan industry by simply
relying on federal student aid and eliminating private subsidies — which he
called "wasteful and unnecessary" — he told The Daily Free Press in May dur-
ing a telephone conference with college newspapers.
Though Pellman agreed change is necessary and imminent, she believes the
step is overstated and unnecessary.
"We do need to open the road to banning the preferred lending list offered
by colleges to students," she said. "But the cost of education is rising four to six
percent each year and federal loans are not enough.
"The private student loan market is worth $18 billion; it's one of the fastest-
growing sectors of consumer finance, and it's a viable market"
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Poling, Shawn R. The Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 99, No. 2, Ed. 1 Wednesday, September 12, 2007, newspaper, September 12, 2007; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth201239/m1/2/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Wesleyan University.