Monthly Archives: December 2007

The Corporatization of Higher Education

Posted on December 28, 2007 by | 15 Comments

MSN’s Encarta has a page up today looking at schools that have gone corporate – including branding campaigns.

It’s not the best written article out there – for one thing, it only pays lip service to the idea that this might not be the greatest model for education, and then the idea is refuted by someone who works for a research and consulting firm. Not exactly an impartial party to the situation. But it gives an overview of what other Universities have done in the face of dropping enrollment, poor alumni relations, etc.

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Posted in EMU Branding

Donald Anderson, director of Access Services, dies at 54

Posted on December 27, 2007 by | 4 Comments

The AA NEWS tonight contains an obituary for Donald Anderson, the Director of EMU’s office of Access Services.  He died Dec. 25 at his home in Ypsilanti. As the obituary states, “His life’s passion was working for full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society. His career involved helping to provide access to higher education for individuals with disabilities.”   Don was a terrific person – warm, goodhearted, smart and helpful.  Many times he helped students of mine.  He got around in a wheelchair. He was always a pleasure to talk to, and energetic and well informed.  I consider him one of the giants of our campus, and i am saddened by his death.  Far too young.  But without a doubt, Don Anderson made  a real difference in this world, and at EMU, and he leaves a record of accomplishments.  Accomplishments to remember, and to build on.    Farewell, Don!   

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Posted in Staff Life, Student Life

Coverup Fallout & the Company Fallon Keeps

Posted on December 26, 2007 by | 11 Comments

Sorry to break the holiday cheer with a nod to the often unwelcome news, but there is a good editorial in the Grand Rapids Press today, “Expensive Mistakes.” In it, the authors list the various costs of the Dickinson rape/murder cover up and then remark:

“Those are the bills that can be quantified. Other costs can’t be written in a ledger but are no less real. The treatment of Ms. Dickinson’s family evidenced a near-criminal lack of basic human concern. EMU’s bizarre decision to remain mum in the face a suspected sexual assault and murder left students exposed.

Revising EMU’s flawed policies and changing its culture should be the task of the Board of Regents, especially chair, Thomas W. Sidlik, as well as university Provost and Executive Vice President Donald M. Loppnow. Ms. Dickinson’s case is a reprehensible example of misplaced and forgotten priorities. That lesson should be clear. Now comes the test of the university’s resolve not to let something so costly happen again.”

I very much hope that our university passes this important test–our students deserve no less (or, actually much, much more) than not to be endangered or lied to a second time around. So far Loppnow and Sidlik seem to be very much doing their duty in this respect, and of course much depends on the new police chief who will assume office once the successful candidate is announced. Continue reading →

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Posted in Dickinson Murder

Happy Holidaze, see you next year!

Posted on December 19, 2007 by | 3 Comments

The sitedad (how I love referring to myself both by nickname and in the third person) will be leaving town for the upcoming holidays, pretty much until next year. I’ve decided to not take a computer with me, mostly so I can try to catch up on reading and just generally lay about and/or disconnect. So while I might check my email a couple of times and check in on things here just to make sure all hell hasn’t broken loose over the next two weeks, I am mostly unplugged until 2008. Oh, and PS: if your comments get held up and/or stuck in spam, be patient while I’m away.

May everyone enjoy the holiday season of their choice; in that spirit, let me offer this greeting from Tarzan, Frankenstein, and Tonto:

See you next year!

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Posted in EMUtalk.org News

EMU fined $357,500 for Clery Act violations

Posted on December 18, 2007 by | 18 Comments

The University website, as of sometime  this afternoon, contains a press release from Ward Mullins of the university public information office with the news that Eastern has been fined $357,500 by the US Dept of Education for violating the Clery Act. The press release does not specify which violations produced fines, or how much per violation; Eastern had already been found in violation of the law on multiple counts. What remained to be determined was the size of the fine.  Each violation could carry a maximum fine of $27,500.   The press release does not contain full details about this penultimate stage of the worst scandal in EMU history.  The statement also says that EMU will request a hearing, as part of the process, and that any appeal must be filed by January 4.  But why Eastern should appeal  this is unclear, as is any possible basis for the appeal.  When guilty, one should not draw out the process of justice by appealing technicalities.   Better to send the check, today. 

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Posted in Dickinson Murder, Security and Safety

The EMU Caucus is recruiting

Posted on December 18, 2007 by | Leave a comment

I (along with just about everyone else at EMU, I assume) received an email about a special message from Freeman Hendrix inviting me to join the EMU Caucus, essentially an organizational effort to get various EMU stakeholders together to help lobby Lansing and potentially beyond. Not a bad idea, but the music in the video gets a little sappy and loud in places.

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Posted in Faculty Life, Staff Life, State Government, Student Life

Christmas Present

Posted on December 18, 2007 by | Leave a comment

Time for a little Christmas present to the emutalk community.

Check out http://jremmers.org/Ragtime/ for emeritus EMU computer science professor John Remmers playing ragtime. Multiple selections. Do you think his mom was disappointed he became a computer science professor instead of a concert pianist?

Also see http://youtube.com/profile?user=EMUGuitar for EMU guitar students doing their thing. Pretty inspiring to this wannabe guitar player.

Feliz Navidad, Soorp Dznoont, Frohe Weinacht and Merry Christmas to all.

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Posted in Faculty Life, Staff Life, Student Life

Ypsi sledding report

Posted on December 16, 2007 by | 2 Comments

Today’s snowfall makes for good sledding conditions in the Ypsilanti area.  In the city, the two best sledding hills are probably those in Riverside Park, which is visible from the Cross Street bridge in Depot Town and very well used; and the hill behind and just slightly east of Ypsilanti high school (accessible thru the high school parking lot off Cross).  The Riverside Park hill has numerous obstacles, like park benches and trees and light fixtures, and they are not all easily visible.  The high school’s hill is a kind of local secret — can’t see it from any street, but it’s a local favorite.  And there are no obstacles in the hill, and it’s a wide hill, so there’s plenty of room for sledders and snowboard users.  Today before 11:30, only a dozen people had used the high school’s hill, and the snow was perfect for saucer sleds and long plastic sleds.  The snow is too loose for metal runner sleds, I’d say.    The school’s parking lot is already nicely plowed.   Riverside draws a more daredevil crowd, and they were out in numbers before noon.   An EMU student told me years ago about the high school’s hill — she took her kids there regularly — and I highly recommend it for families and everyone. 

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Posted in College Fun, Sports, Student Life, Ypsilanti

Student Leader Group Press Conference

Posted on December 14, 2007 by | 3 Comments

Today the Student Leader Group held a press conference and here are two articles that have been written about it so far.

EMU students optimistic about university’s future

Some quotes from the article:

“A group of student leaders at EMU conveyed a message of optimism Friday, saying the university has improved its security and communications procedures.”

“Chris Bylone, president of the Graduate Student Association, and Alli Sheppard, president of the EMU Residence Hall Association, noted that student government representatives from other universities praised the access EMU’s student leaders have to top administrators.

“Other schools’ students are astounded at the relationship we have with the administration,” Sheppard said.

The students stressed their own role in safety, urging their classmates to lock doors and not let unescorted visitors into residence halls. “The president is not going to be at every door,” said Student Body Vice President Josh Lyon.”

Student leaders say EMU safer, more open one year after student’s death

“On the security front, all campus residence halls now display signs explaining that non-residents need an escort for entrance and safety escorts have increased along with campus security hours being extended, said Alli Sheppard, president of EMU’s residence hall association.”

~~~~~

I have never been more proud to be a graduate student here at EMU and that is thanks to the great student leaders I work with every day. I hope we can move forward as a university community for a positive future.

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Posted in Security and Safety, Student Life

AANews article on Dickinson settlement

Posted on December 14, 2007 by | 3 Comments

“UPDATED: EMU to pay slain student’s family $2.5 million,” an extensive piece in the Ann Arbor News that I thought deserved a new post. Two (among many) things I think are worth noting in the piece: first, to quote directly, “Dickinson’s family had not sued EMU, but the settlement was reached to preempt any lawsuit.” Second, there’s no mention here about insurance; in fact, BoR member Roy Wilbanks is quoted as saying “The cost just continues to escalate.”

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Posted in Dickinson Murder