Happy New Year, everybody! I’ve made it back from undisclosed locations and the new year in one piece. I have a whole series of chores and resolutions to attend to, but I thought I’d start my day looking over the most commented on pieces here at EMUTalk in 2011. In brief, last year was the year of budget cuts and layoffs.
From February, “Snyder to EMU (and other state supported universities): Drop Dead.”
From April, “Did the Provost quit? Was he fired? What?”
Also from April, “Meanwhile in budget news: think scenarios and not cuts,” which actually turned into a “discussion” about the Bowen parking lot and the expense of sabbaticals and the like.
Then the end of May was pretty busy/popular, with three heavily commented posts right in a row: “Perhaps we can chant “Education First!” at the games…,” Administration asking for unions to give money back during a “fluid” situation,” and “Martin’s budget update, “givebacks,” tuition, and athletics.”
At the end of June there was “Thoughts as the dust settles on lay-offs.” That turned out to be the most commented on post of the year, by the way.
“Glad Ron English is having “fun” with the increased budget,” back in July. It seems to me that the Emus break-even season will save English for another few seasons, though I still don’t think the “fun” he had with the increased budget was worth it.
“EMU planning 9/11 memorial after receiving steel column from World Trade Center” back in early August.
“Pray-Harrold open–sort of,” which wasn’t necessarily the most commented on post of the year but it sure seemed like a big event for me.
“‘Which Core Matters More?’ (featuring Mark Higbee), an October debate on general education.
“Emus beat horses, 14-10″ in November, which kind of turned into a “discussion” about attendance at games.
“Kwame Kilpatrick is coming to EMU, causing controversy already” back in November, though it was pretty much a non-story in the end.
And then sadly (now), there was this post,“Greg O’Dell returns to Eastern Michigan University as executive director of public safety and chief of police.”
Okay, enough with last year and into this year– even though it doesn’t really feel like the new year to me because it’s really just the beginning of the next semester… you get the idea.
This might fall into the category of shameless self-promotion, but I’ll post it anyway: The 
