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Men’s basketball fall to Bradley 82-65, despite out-rebounding Braves » PAGE 1B
UPDATE: Anthony Michael Bennett to stand trial in death of 4-year-old Carnel Chamberlain » PAGE 3A
cm-life.com
Friday, Nov. 30, 2012
DISTRACTED DRIVING
GANGNAM STYLE
Study says more than 25% of teens text while driving, risk still concerning for students » PAGE 3A
Students are hooked on dance, create own versions » PAGE 3A
Questions unanswered over postponed search for diversity education director By Jackson Seedott Staff Reporter
It’s been nearly two months since finalists for the position of director of diversity education held open forums on campus. With a decision to postpone the search until May, questions remain regarding the current state of diversity education at Central Michigan University. The status of the previous finalists, who made the decision to postpone the search, how much money has the university spent on this search and whether a deadline on a decision went unanswered following inquiries Thursday by Central Michigan Life. “We have decided to defer this search until the spring semester in order to review and enhance the position responsibilities to better address the needs of the university,” Traci Guinn, interim associate vice president of institutional diversity and executive director for the Center for Inclusion and Diversity, said in an email Saturday. “Once the position has been updated, we will welcome applications at that time.”
Guinn did not respond to requests for comment Thursday, and it is unknown as to who made the official decision to postpone the search or when this decision was made. Questions also remain regarding the status of the three finalists announced earlier this year: David Smith of Georgia State University, Theodore Ransaw of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Velecia Humes from Scottsdale, Ariz., all of whom held open forums Oct. 9, 10 and 15, respectively, to discuss their vision for the job. Smith, currently the director of the Office of African American Student Services at Georgia State University, could not be reached for comment as of Thursday night. His profile on the GSU website listed only an email address. A search of the UNLV website and his personal website reveals that Ransaw is a doctoral student. The contact number listed for him, last updated in 2004, was disconnected. Upon calling the UNLV main phone line, an operator said Ransaw was not listed in the UNLV directory at all.
A DIVERSITY| 2A
ANDREW KUHN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Sophomore guard Jessica Green gets past Notre Dame guard Skylar Diggins during the second half of Thursday night’s game at McGuirk Arena. Green finished the game with a team high 19 points, four assists, six rebounds and five steals during Central Michigan’s 72-63 loss to the Fighting Irish.
Irish hang tough No. 5 Notre Dame holds off women’s basketball in a packed McGuirk Arena
Check out a photo gallery of last night’s game on cm-life.com
Matt Thompson | Senior Reporter
No. 5 Notre Dame women’s basketball team was on upset alert at McGuirk Arena before pulling away in the final minutes to beat
Sherry Knight named associate vice president of communications Ross: Campus can ‘focus now on building awareness’ By Aaron McMann Managing Editor and Neil Rosan Staff Reporter
Sherry Knight, tasked over the summer with leading damage control of the Central Michigan University image following a tumultuous 2011-12 academic year, was named Wednesday the university’s associate vice president for communications. In an afternoon release, University President George Ross conceded that CMU needed a “strong communications leader and strategist.” “Sherry has demonstrated her ability for building strong relationships for CMU, both internally and externally, with integrity,” Ross said. “Together, the entire campus can focus now on building awareness and support of the university
Central Michigan 72-63 Thursday night in front of 3,879 fans.
with positive energy.” In a phone interview with Central Michigan Life Thursday, Knight said she has plans Sherry Knight to improve the university’s marking, branding and student recruitment. “There’s a lot that can be done in terms of building culture and rallying the entire campus around Central Michigan University and its future,” Knight said. Knight said one of her focuses is defining CMU’s story to help create a brand for the university and showing how that brand sets Central apart from other universities. “We need to tell CMU’s story and we all need to be involved in expanding CMU’s profile around the state and beyond,” she said. “No matter where I go on campus, people talk about our academic leadership and experience behind the degree. It’s truly here at Central where students get personalized attention.” A KNIGHT| 2A
“We rattled the cage of the Irish,” CMU head coach Sue Guevara said. “They hit shots, rebounded and hung in there. It’s nice to know we can hang with them, but like I told our team, I don’t care for moral victories.” CMU senior guard Jalisa Olive hit a deep three-pointer to cut the N.D. lead to 64-60 with two minutes remaining. Skylar Diggins, N.D. ’s senior guard, responded, making four free-throws during the next three Irish possessions.
Diggins showed why she was an All-American last year and on the preseason list this season. She finished with 25 points, a block, four assists and six steals. She was also 12-for14 from the free-throw line. “I’m on the All-America committee and I voted for her,” Guevara said. “She takes games over. When she’s going to the basket, she’s going hard.” Sophomore guard Jessica Green led the Chippewas in scoring with 19 points, five
BETHANY WALTER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Sophomore guard Crystal Bradford runs up the court for a basket during Thursday night’s game against University of Notre Dame at McGurik Arena. CMU lost 72-63.
steals and four assists. CMU athletics threw out free T-shirts for every CMU three-pointer. Junior Niki DiGuilio shot 4-for-5 from deep for 12 points.
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Shapiro: Holiday break delayed academic calendar report By Alayna Smith Senior Reporter
A report outlining the impact and potential effects of the proposed academic calendar changes was pushed back from its original release date in order to give faculty a break for the holiday, Provost Gary Shapiro said. Following a vote in the Academic Senate last month, the provost was charged with creating a report giving the costs and benefits of the proposed academic calendar changes so senators would have more information to move forward with. Shapiro said although all of the information has been
collected, it is still being compiled into a comprehensive report. “All of the reports have been turned Gary Shapiro into (Director of Faculty and Personnel Services) Matt Serra. He is aggregating them and summarizing and categorizing them,” he said. “The reason for the delay, as explained at the Academic Senate meeting, is since the Senate would not be meeting until January, I did not find it necessary to have (the team categorizing the results) work over the Thanksgiving holiday.”
Letters were sent to 26 individuals on campus who were identified as someone who may be affected by the calendar changes, including areas such as the marching band and athletics, Shapiro said. Shapiro said the letters asked for information in three areas: possible impact of the changes, how to resolve potential issues, and the possible consequences, both positive and negative. “(The letters) basically say, ‘you have information relating to some important concern. Tell me about it,’” he said. Shapiro said he is not sure how many letters were returned with information, as the Office of Personnel and Faculty Services has entirely taken charge
of the report. “It was sent to (Serra) because this is a contractual issue between the Faculty Association and the university,” Shapiro said. “... Since his office talks with the union, his office was chosen.” Shapiro said he does not control the A-Senate agenda, but it is his understanding that the report will be presented at the first meeting of next semester on Jan. 15. The SGA House and Senate both voted on Oct. 22 to oppose changes to the academic calendar. Faculty Association President Laura Frey declined comment. university@cm-life.com
Presenter says comics portray women ‘as objects of desire and not desirable objects’ By Ryan Fitzmaurice Staff Reporter
CHARLOTTE BODAK/ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Western Michigan University Associate Professor of English Gwen Athene Tarbox smiles while speaking to students about 21st Century Comic Book Heroism Thursday night in the Rotunda of the Bovee University Center.
English Language and Literature Faculty Joseph Sommers described himself as near tears when the 21st century comic book heroism conference came to its end. Twenty-one students from HON 321: Seminar gave oral presentations over eight different sessions in the all-day literary conference held in the Bovee University Center Rotunda, sponsored by the English Language department and the Honors Program. Gwen Athene Tarbox, associate professor of English from Western Michigan University, gave the headlining address, “Tights Were Harmed in the Creation of this Comic: Surveying Female
Heroics in Contemporary Young Adult Graphic Novels.” Two hundred and sixty people attended the event in total throughout the day. “In terms of argument, in terms of composition, in terms of presentation, almost all of the papers were gobstopping,” Sommers said. “I’ve paid over $100 to see presentations by academic professionals, and these papers were equally as good. This is beyond what you would expect from graduate students.” Tarbox’s presentation focused on the presentation of women in modern young adult novels, particularly young adult graphic novels. Although many of the young adult graphics novels in this area were focused toward
pre-teen girls, she said mainstream comics have heavily impacted the visualization of the female in young adult graphic novels. “Very often, women are portrayed as objects of desire and not desirable objects,” Tarbox said, noting that female protagonist in young adult comic books often judge others and themselves in the context of societies expectations. Tarbox also highlighted what she deemed a positive trait in modern young adult comics, a shift from the focus of individual heroism to collective heroism. Also, instead of stressing individual strength has heroic, modern young adult comics, often portray empathy as heroic. A COMICS| 2A