Monthly Archives: August 2008

About the recent EMUTalk.org updates

Posted on August 31, 2008 by | Leave a comment

Much of this post perhaps falls into the category of “too much information” for most EMUTalk.org readers, but I have finished (for now) a series of updates and changes to the site, and I thought I’d take a moment to report on that to the curious and/or hardcore EMUTalk.org fan.
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Posted in EMUtalk.org News

Lots of stories about EMU in Sunday AAN

Posted on August 31, 2008 by | Leave a comment

Last week, it was the “M Edition;” this week, it’s “EMU & You” in the Ann Arbor News. Here are some links/quotes/brief thoughts on at least some of the articles:
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Posted in Academics, Ann Arbor, Board of Regents, College Fun, EMU Events, EMU President, Faculty Life, In the media..., Staff Life, Student Life, Ypsilanti

New year predictions, real and not

Posted on August 31, 2008 by | Leave a comment

I’m still trying to get the RSS feed stuff for the site together, and I came across this post on Eagle Talon’s blog, “Another Year is Here!” in which ET offers several predictions of the year to come.  Most are kind of funny; my favorite is “In an effort to increase the usage of technology on campus, Nintendo Wii’s will be installed in every classroom in Pray Harrold.”  This would of course be excellent, even better if it included the Wii Fit.

Anyway, check out Eagle Talon’s blog; any predictions here?

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Posted in College Fun

Check out Eastern Echo Beta

Posted on August 30, 2008 by | 3 Comments

Speaking of web site redesign, The Eastern Echo has a new web site layout that looks pretty nice. It looks like they are using drupal to power it, which is a software that has some advantages over WordPress (what EMUTalk.org uses), but it is just one or two notches too hard/geeky for me. Maybe I’ll have to see if I can’t get a drupal lesson or two from the Echo folks.

It looks good. And best of all from my point of view: this now means the Echo has an RSS feed, which I will soon be including as a link on this site.

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Posted in College Fun, In the media...

Another example of things at EMU improving: EMU wins a football game

Posted on August 29, 2008 by | 21 Comments

Not that I follow the EMU football team too closely (I wasn’t even aware they played last night, and at home no less!), but they had a very convincing 52-0 win against Indiana State yesterday. You can read the official story here, and/or you can read the local blogger take on it at from Johnny Action Space Punk of the Ypsi City Desk here.

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Posted in College Fun, Sports

So far, this president seems to do a lot of drinking and ice cream eating…

Posted on August 28, 2008 by | 2 Comments

Just kidding about that headline, though there was yet another “meet the new president” kind of thing sent around by Pam Young today:

Meet the new president and quench your thirst Wednesday, Sept. 3, noon– 1 p.m., in the Student Center lounge across from the EMU Bookstore. Water and soft drinks will be available. President Susan Martin will greet the campus community to kick off the start of fall classes. The bookstore will also be distributing coupons for discounted merchandise at the store.

Just to repeat– both water and soft drinks. It don’t get any better! :-)

In a slightly more productive and interesting vein, I also came across this article/interview with Martin in the Ann Arbor Business Review part of MLive, “New President Susan Martin: Eastern Michigan University will play a ‘critical role’ in Michigan economy.” Here’s a quote that rang true with me:

Despite a host of negative publicity, the university is positioned to play a “critical role” in helping Michigan’s economy get back on track, said new EMU President Susan Martin.

“Our graduates stay in Michigan, particularly in this region,” Martin said. “And if there’s anything the state needs right now, it’s a more educated workforce, getting jobs and staying in Michigan. Eastern is a critical player in that.”

That’s a good point, and it’s interesting that the previous three EMU presidents really seemed unable to make it as succinctly as that.

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Posted in Administrator Life, EMU President

Do not adjust your sets…

Posted on August 26, 2008 by | 6 Comments

… but EMUTalk.org might look a little different and confusing off and on for the next couple days.  At long-last, I am getting around to upgrading around here.  Be patient; all will be well….

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Posted in EMUtalk.org News

Congrats to Elvia Krajewski-Jaime as social worker of the year

Posted on August 26, 2008 by | 1 Comment

From my EMU news feed comes this, “Dr. Elvia Krajewski-Jaime Recognized as 2008 NASW Social Worker of the Year.” From the press release:

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is delighted to name Elvia Krajewski-Jaime, MSW, PhD, the 2008 Social Worker of the Year. Dr. Krajewski-Jaime is a dedicated advocate, committed to the needs of Latino and African American elderly and impoverished families with multicultural healthcare needs.

As president of the Organization of Latino Social Workers, she is a role model, standing up for Latino issues such as immigration and healthcare. In order for her students at Eastern Michigan University to understand poverty and health care issues first hand, she established an education exchange program taking social work students to Mexico. This provided them with an experience that will advance their work as social workers.

“Dr. Krajewski-Jaime has made contributions to individuals, families and communities and is an outstanding model for social workers whose commitment is to social change and social justice,” notes Dr. Elizabeth Clark, executive director of NASW.

After immigrating from Mexico, Dr. Krajewski-Jaime earned a Master of Social Work from Temple University and a PhD in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a professor at the Eastern Michigan University School of Social Work where she looks to the community needs to guide programming and outreach.

Congratulations, Elvia!

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Posted in Faculty Life, In the media...

Assistant professor/debate coach fired for crazy freak-out

Posted on August 25, 2008 by | 3 Comments

I posted about this on my own blog this morning, but I thought I’d post this here since it takes a slightly different approach to the matter: “University Fires Professor Who Mooned,” from Inside Higher Ed. Here’s the opening paragraphs, with various links:

Becoming a YouTube star by mooning a room of students and professors doesn’t exactly provide job security for a professor without tenure.

If there was any doubt about that, Fort Hays State University cleared it up Friday when it dismissed Bill Shanahan as assistant professor of communications and debate coach. The university acted after a video posted on YouTube showed Shanahan exchanging four-letter words, jumping up and down, and dropping his pants in an extended argument with a debate coach from the University of Pittsburgh. While the altercation took place in March, the video surfaced only this month — and it has attracted thousands of views, prompted debate, and inspired some to set the incident to music.

The video is worth watching, though it probably falls into the “NSFW” category because of the many f-bombs being thrown back and forth.

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Posted in EMU-AAUP, Faculty Life, In the media...

Don’t taze me bro, emu-style

Posted on August 24, 2008 by | 3 Comments

Regular EMUTalk.org reader/commentator Publius Crabgrass alerted me to this story about an emu (as in the big bird) out of control and brought down by a taser. As seen here on this link of quirky news stories:

PANAMA CITY, Fla., Aug. 21 (UPI) — Florida sheriff’s deputies say they had no choice but to Taser an escaped emu that was chasing cars.

The pet bird, named Plop-plop, had jumped a low fence days before she was finally cornered by Bay County Sheriff’s Deputies Randolph Grob and Derrick Groves. But she wasn’t ready to give up easily, the Panama City News Herald reported Thursday.

Whenever they moved within eight or nine feet, the emu would either charge them or ram itself into a fence, they said. They became concerned for the well-being of both Plop-plop and themselves due to the large bird’s sharp talons.

“I think we had exhausted the fact that we weren’t going to be able to just corral it up on our own without harming it,” Grob said. “I guess the point was made, ‘Well, what do we have other than shooting it with an actual gun to get rid of it?’”

Two jolts of a Taser were required to bring Plop-plop under control to a point where she could be taken to the local dog kennel. Her owners were then located, ending what Grob called one of the “stranger calls” he ever has taken.

First off, this is once again evidence to the fact that emus are tough and stubborn birds, more than a fitting mascot.

Second, I would post an emu story every day to EMUTalk.org if I could. Keep those big bird tips and links coming!

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Posted in Emus (the bird), In the media...