The public relations manager position for Special Olympics Michigan is making a change, but former manager Vanessa Walsh has no regrets.

After three years, Walsh was faced with the tough decision of staying at CMU or leaving to Lansing to take a different public relations position.

“It was a difficult choice,” Walsh said. “I am still committed to Special Olympics. Personally and professionally, it was a good move for me.”

Walsh, former public relations director for Special Olympics Michigan, knows firsthand about the hard work that goes into it. Walsh also knows the benefits of being a part of such a program.

On April 20, Kimberly Purdy became the new public relations manager for Special Olympics Michigan.

“The position was intriguing and a growing opportunity,” Walsh said.

Special Olympics Michigan gives athletes all over, regardless of their ability level, a chance to train and compete in a variety of sports. It offers over 16,000 athletes a chance to compete in 23 different sports and events. Special Olympics occurs year round, several times a year.

Walsh was a part of Special Olympics Michigan at Central Michigan University for several years. Through her time working for Special Olympics she was able to make a big difference.

“I was there for just under three years,” Walsh said. “Not only was it a wonderful position, but I was involved in the Special Olympics movement to change lives.”

Walsh is not leaving Special Olympics behind, however.

“Anything I can do as a volunteer I will,” Walsh said.

Purdy spent 13 years as a news anchor and reporter for the 9&10 News in northern Michigan. She has been a part of Special Olympics since 2005.

“I had previously volunteered,” Purdy said, “and I was a MC (Master of Ceremonies) for Special Olympics in Traverse City.”

Purdy is stepping into the position with a lot already on the table. The summer Special Olympics are quickly approaching here at CMU. Purdy, however, is not worried.

“I think my background, experience and contacts will help me out a lot,” Purdy said. “I bring a lot to the table and I feel that’s helping me get up to speed quickly.”

Purdy is excited about her current position and said she hopes people will come out to the games and support those who compete.

“I encourage everyone to attend and become a fan in the stands,” Purdy said.

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The world becomes more and more of a global society every day, and Connie Watson, Faculty Center for Innovative Teaching director candidate, knows this.

“You can learn a lot from other countries and cultures,” Watson said.

Watson spoke about many of her own personal experiences with global education and how they have helped her to grow Friday at an open forum. She mentioned her trip to Costa Rica’s University for Peace, where she stayed with a family she had never met before. She said it was difficult for her because she did not speak Spanish, but she said that helped her grow even more.

“When you’re feeling uncomfortable, you can stop and take note that it’s a growing experience,” Watson said.

Watson talked about incorporating global education into all areas of educational discipline during her open forum on Friday in the Lake Huron Room of the Bovee University Center.

“Teachers can integrate global education into their classes in several ways,” Watson said.

Watson said professors could find ways to educate their students about global society in any class. One of the ways she recommended was teachers from different disciplines to work together and help teach each other’s classes.

Ulana Klymyshyn, the director of Multicultural Programs, was impressed with Watson’s ideas, but unsure how they would work.

“I think what she said was good,” Klymyshyn said. “It would take some thought on how they would be implemented outside of the social sciences though.”

Although Klymyshyn was unsure how global education could be implemented into all the different disciplines.

“I think she gave an excellent presentation,” Klymyshyn said. “She has a very dynamic style.”

The search for a new FaCIT director has been ongoing since January. Early on this semester, three potential candidates were brought in for open forum interviews. After the first three interviews, however, more applications came in.

“We had an ongoing search and we continued to get more candidates,” said Stephen Wagner, associate psychology professor and member of the appointment committee.

Though the committee is continuing the search, Scott Smith, a member of the search committee, said the first search was not a failure.

“The search was never failed and never closed,” said Smith, an assistant professor of physical education and sport.

The FaCIT search committee is intent on hiring only the best candidate possible. Smith said the FaCIT director holds a great deal of responsibilities.

“It’s a combination of things,” Smith said. “The job has a variety of roles. We are looking for someone with experience in faculty development.”

Wagner said the biggest quality is stated directly in the positions title.

“One of the primary qualities we are looking for is innovative teaching. We need someone who will bring innovative teaching techniques,” Wagner said.

Jame Terrell, the second of the three candidates’ will hold an open forum 2 p.m. today in the Strosacker Room of the Charles V. Park Library.

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Year after year, the same question gets asked: “Do we have classes on Good Friday?”

Faculty and administration across campus are bombarded with the question as soon as Good Friday is mentioned. It is a question that Registrar Karen Hutslar receives and answers at the same time every year.

“We tend to get questions like ‘Are there classes Friday’ each year,” Hutslar said.

While there are classes on Good Friday, and not everyone agrees with the decision, there are not usually many altercations, Hutslar said. She said most people are just curious and that for those students that do have an issue, there is a simple solution.

“We get very few complaints about classes not being canceled,” Hutslar said. “There is a policy in the handbook where students can work with the faculty if there is a religious holiday that conflicts with class.”

Livonia sophomore Andrew Clairmont supports the students who make the decision to take the day off class for their beliefs. He said it’s a good thing people are celebrating their beliefs.

“I don’t think there’s a problem if students skip class for Good Friday,” Clairmont said. “It’s a good thing that they want to celebrate their holiday.”

Mid Michigan Community College avoids any issues and conflicts all together by just canceling classes on Good Friday. The college has not had classes on Good Friday for several years now. MMCC spokesman Matt Miller admits that it makes things much easier.

“We’ve had that Friday off for years,” Miller said. “I would imagine it makes things easier.

The cancelation of classes on Good Friday at MMCC gives students some extra options for the holiday weekend, Miller said. It allows students who live far away the opportunity to drive home for the weekend, he said. The lack of classes on Good Friday also allows for family travel plans as well.

“It makes things less complicated for students with holiday plans,” Miller said.

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Sometimes a student’s biggest party fear is not watching a friend getting their stomach pumped at the hospital.

It is receiving a Minor In Possession and getting in trouble for taking their friend to that hospital.

However, some Michigan State University students are trying to change that.

During a conference call with other schools, Kyle Dysarz, MSU Student Assembly vice chairman heard about a unique bill that Ohio State University had in place. OSU created a bill that granted intoxicated minors amnesty when bringing in a friend in need of medical attention.

“OSU brought up the fact of medical amnesty,” Dysarz said. “We didn’t have anything official or judicial at MSU.”

Dysarz and other students at MSU immediately began working to implement a medical amnesty bill of their own. They quickly got the administration, faculty and local police on board.

“Almost every meeting we’ve had full support,” Dysarz said. “We’ve met with local police and the health department; they all fully support the bill.”

However, those working to approve the law ran into a roadblock. Due to state law, MSU could not approve the bill unless the law regarding underage drinking was modified.

“We found out (State) Sen. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor) introduced a similar bill a few years back,” Dysarz said. “We got in contact with her and asked her to reintroduce the bill.”

Currently, state law requires that the police be contacted when an intoxicated minor is brought in for medical attention.

Darcie Suderman, public relations director at Central Michigan Community Hospital said this procedure is standard protocol.

“An intoxicated minor brought in by a friend or an ambulance is treated first,” Suderman said. “But then the authorities are contacted.”

The first time Brater introduced the bill to the Senate, it received very little support. This time, however, the bill is receiving more support, Dysarz said. State Representative Mark Meadows, D-East Lansing, is currently working to introduce the bill to the House as well.

Dysarz is looking for support from more than just them. He is hoping other universities across the state will join in the cause and voice their support for the bill.

“We are trying to get other universities on board,” Dysarz said. “I would encourage your student government at CMU to get involved, too.”

Brittany Mouzourakis, Garden City junior and Student Government Association vice president-elect, supports the medical amnesty bill.

She said she has seen many instances as a resident assistant where students are too afraid of getting an MIP to take an overly intoxicated friend to the hospital.

“Students think it’s a bad idea to take their friends to the hospital if they have alcohol poisoning,” Mouzourakis said. “I think the bill is a good thing. I would be interested in having our Student Services look into the bill.”

The bill isn’t about trying to give minors an excuse to get out of trouble, Dysarz said.

“It’s about student health and saving lives,” he said. “Everyone should support this bill.”

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Two Central Michigan Life editors have been nationally recognized by the Hearst Foundation.

Online editor Brian Manzullo and Sports Editor Dan Monson each placed for “Personality/Profile Writing” in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program, which recognizes excellence in collegiate journalism. With more than 106 entries from 61 schools submitted to the competition, each student placed in the top 20.

Monson took 14th place for his story “Hidden Pain,” about a basketball player who has lived through the hardships of his father’s murder. The story published on Feb. 13. Manzullo tied for 18th place for “A Passer’s Perseverance,” which told the story of senior quarterback Brian Brunner’s chance at the spotlight and how he has coped with becoming a second-string athlete. The story published Sept. 18, 2008.

Director of Student Media Neil Hopp was excited about the news.

“It’s the first time CM Life has won an in-depth award from the Hearst Foundation,” Hopp said. “It’s very gratifying.”

Manzullo said there was a great deal of work that went into his football player profile piece.

“For a story like that, it takes a lot energy,” Manzullo said. “I had to interview Brian Brunner a full week before the story began. Then I had to play the role of the reader and ask myself ‘What do the readers want to hear?’”

Sometimes an intended story takes a turn that the reporter couldn’t have predicted. Monson learned that from writing about basketball player Jacolby Hardiman.

“I had no intention of writing the story like I did,” Monson said. “I didn’t really know the story behind it. I was originally going to do the story on Jacolby Hardiman and the other transfer student. As I was talking to him, he just opened up to me about what happened with his dad. It just developed into a more in-depth story.”

The story gave Monson the opportunity to enter the contest along with Manzullo.

Hopp was not shocked that either writer had done so well in the competition.

“They’re both very experienced CM Life journalists,” Hopp said. “They challenged themselves to write more in-depth pieces. I think it proves to other CM Life students that you can do this kind of work and hopefully be recognized for it.”

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Salma Ghanem cut her own introduction to the Central Michigan University community short Tuesday.

The chairwoman of the department of communication from the University of Texas Pan American decided to go right into the question-and answer session of her open forum Tuesday in Moore Hall’s Townsend Kiva. Ghanem is a finalist for the College of Communication and Fine Arts dean position.

The extended question session gave attending faculty and students a chance to interact with her.

During the forum, she impressed several faculty members such as Randi L’Hommedieu, chairwoman of the School of Music.

“I thought she was very personal,” L’Hommedieu said. “She listened to each person’s questions carefully.”

Ghanem’s listening skills were not the only thing to catch L’Hommedieu’s attention.

“I liked her emphasis on collaboration between faculty and administration,” L’Hommedieu said.

Ghahem also said she would look to compromise with problems that would occur in the college if hired.

She said several times that in many disagreements there is almost always a middle ground. She said that when there is no middle ground, faculty and administration have to decide which option will be more beneficial to the students.

“I tend to be very much a student advocate,” Ghanem said.

Her stance in keeping students actively involved grabbed Troy junior Brian Leonard’s attention.

“She seemed like she really cared about student input,” he said.

Ghanem touched on how important she felt student involvement is to a university.

“I do believe in an open-door policy,” Ghanem said. “The students are the closest to what is happening in a program. Their feedback is important.”

Ghanem was asked by a member of the forum how she would transition from being a member of faculty at UTPA to a dean at CMU.

She said that there is a vast difference between the two positions and that the position of dean comes with a new list of responsibilities.

She has served as chairwoman since 2001 and has taught at UTPA since 1994.

“They are different positions and require different approaches,” Ghanem said, “A dean has to be very careful that they don’t become too isolated.”

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Passion is just one of the things Jack Bowman wants to bring to Central Michigan University.

“In many respects, we’re here to help students find their passion,” Bowman said. “As a dean, I have a responsibility to the students.”

Bowman, dean of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, was a part of an open forum for the vacant position for dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts Thursday in Moore Hall’s Townsend Kiva.

Bowman explained that college is a place where students begin to explore their own desires, rather than their parents’.

Jill Taft-Kaufman, a communication and dramatic arts professor, said she was moved by his speech.

“I enjoyed it,” Taft-Kaufman said, “He seems to have passion for what he does.”

During the second portion of the forum, he kept an open ear to every question asked from both faculty and students alike, said Mary Ann Renz, another professor of communication and dramatic arts.

“He showed sensitivity when answering questions,” Renz said. “He seemed like he listens to what people’s needs are. He wanted people to ask questions.”

As soon as people began entering the auditorium, Bowman started wandering across the room, introducing himself to everyone individually.

“He had fine interpersonal engagement skills,” Taft-Kaufman said.

Bowman explained that students can’t be held to the same expectations today that they were when he went to school. He understands that times are changing and so are student needs.

“Students need flexibility,” Bowman said. “They need options in their programs.”

Bowman discussed topics ranging from student needs to the needs of faculty. He said faculty do not differ all that much from students. Both rely on assistance from higher-ups, he said.

Students need faculty, and the faculty need administrators. A student needs their professors to help them make it through the program and learn all they can, he said, the professor relies on the administration to give them the resources needed to help their students succeed.

“For faculty that have goals on what their programs can do,” Bowman said, “I can help them.”

As Bowman neared the end of the forum, he shared why he should be chosen as dean.

“I’m not a quitter,” Bowman said, “I don’t stop until we achieve what we need to do.”

The second and final forum will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Kiva for finalist Salma Ghanem.

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Sometimes a change in the way professors teach and assign work is what is really needed to improve student learning.

That was the viewpoint of Elaine Collins-Brown, the third and final candidate for the Faculty Center for Innovative Teaching director position.

“A lot of people have heard of Wikis,” Collins-Brown said. “Professors are often skeptical of them because they can be easily edited, but they have a lot of potential.”

Wikis are a collection of web pages designed to allow multiple users access to edit content. Collins-Brown explained a variety of advantages that both professors and students will gain from using Wikis for things such as papers and projects.

Wikis would allow for students to work simultaneously on a project or paper, but while in completely different places. Professors also could constantly monitor and evaluate the content and ensure student learning.

It would also aid students with the dreaded peer-review research papers, she said.

“Peer-review can be scary for students,” Collins-Brown said. “But Wikis allow students to put up part of their work or proposals for others to review.”

The worries about having a paper or project lost would also be mitigated by using Wikis.

“Instead of having students turn in a paper, have them work on a collaborative paper on Wiki,” Collins-Brown said.

The FaCIT board moved onto a series of questions for Collins-Brown after the first half of the interview.

Kathy Koch, associate dean of the College of Education and Human Services, was one of the board members present at the forum.

“What do you feel you can contribute to our FaCIT center here?” Koch asked.

When there is a problem, it needs to be addressed and taken care of right away, she said. Issues have to be fixed, or hopefully avoided all together, by constant evaluation.

Steve Wagner, associate professor of psychology and head of the FaCIT director search committee, asked Colins-Brown if Central Michigan University’s size would present a problem for her.

“How will you transition from a smaller school, like the Methodist College of Nursing, to Central Michigan University?” he asked.

Collins-Brown explained that, while not recently, she has worked at schools equal in size to CMU and is well prepared.

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