GRINDLEY NOW EATING ON HER OWN Medical staff at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane removed Kristen Grindley’s feeding tube on Sunday.

Grindley, 23, is the WSU alumna who was found bloodied on Pullman-Albion Road the day after Veterans Day.

According to Facebook updates by friends and family, Grindley is eating on her own and has been more alert and talkative. She is also dealing with increased pain, and doctors are adjusting her medication to keep her comfortable.

One of her nurses wrote that she has been asking for family members and speaking more, and members of her family wrote that Grindley has been responding to questions and prompts.

According to the updates, donations for Grindley will be accepted at any Bank of America branch. An account number isn’t necessary.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office at 509-397-6266.

REGENTS OK UNIVERSITY COLLEGE On Nov. 20, the WSU Board of Regents approved the creation of a University College.

The college is aimed at new freshman and transfer students and will include New Student Programs, the Center for Advising and Career Development, Learning Communities, Undergraduate Research, General Education and the Writing Program.

The Faculty Senate approved the proposal the previous week.

Also at the Regents meeting, the board approved a change in the university’s supplemental budget request for a new student information system. The request was reduced from $22 million to $15 million, due to the recession.

The information system handles student records, registration, admissions, financial aid and other functions for all the WSU campuses.

The board also gave university officials the go-ahead to select a general contractor/construction manager for the first phase of the new biomedical and health sciences building at the Spokane campus. Construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2011, depending on funding.

Also approved was a new option for retirement savings. Currently, there is only a Washington State University Voluntary Investment Program in place, but the vote made available a new Roth investing alternative.

The next meeting of the Board of Regents is scheduled for Jan. 29 on the Vancouver campus.

OLYMPIA AVE DEDICATED Just before break, WSU dedicated the new Olympia Avenue Residence Hall in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“Universities and colleges must do everything they can to support sustainability,” WSU President Elson S. Floyd told those who gathered.

ASWSU President Derick En’Wezoh said the building’s state-of-the-art amenities and design have boosted WSU’s ability to recruit highly qualified students.

“My generation of students expects residence halls that are representations of learning communities rather than mere living facilities,” En’Wezoh said. “It is clear that Olympia Avenue satisfies this expectation.” Olympia Avenue Hall Council President Anthony Smith said there is a strong sense of community among residents, who are involved in the WSU community through university committees, outreach initiatives with other halls, sports teams and student groups.

“From what I have experienced, there is no other type of community like this, because through this community, we have become involved,” he said. “ We are proud to be Olympians, proud to serve our community and proud to foster community.”