Tuesday, January 12, 2010
www.msureporter.com
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Restructuring results in unexpected loss Michael Fagin’s diversity VP position eliminated Friday JOHN FRITZ
staff writer
Minnesota State President Richard Davenport’s administration is shaking up the division of Institutional Diversity, beginning Friday by replacing Vice President Michael Fagin with a newly created dean of diversity. This marks Institutional Diversity’s shift into the division of academic affairs, where it is overseen seen by Provost and Vice President Scott Olson.
Fagin will remain at the university, where he began in 1970 as the first director of the Minorities Groups Studies Center, to teach and take on special assignments handed down by Davenport. This restructuring, according to Davenport, is part of a wider effort by MSU to integrate the missions of academic and student affairs, providing a more comprehensive learning experience to students. That process began in March, when the division of student
affairs was also absorbed into academic affairs. “I’ve done the same thing with this,” said Davenport. “We have the dean of diversity sitting on the [President’s] Cabinet and on the [Academic Affairs] Council. … It’s really a lot about how we bring our forces together to have the greatest impact on students.” “I try to remind people: ‘It’s not about you, it’s about the students.’ How do we better address the
Loss / page 10
msu reporter archive photo It was announced Friday that Vice President of Institutional Diversity Michael Fagin’s position would be the second vice president position cut because of restructuring. Former Vice President of Student Affairs Patricia Swatfager-Haney’s position was cut in March.
Former MSU professor dies
A winter welcome
Dr. Truman Wood passes away at age 77 LYNN ZASKE
staff writer
wale agboola • msu reporter Minnesota State students bustled to and from classes in the snowy setting Monday, the first day of spring semester. To welcome students and celebrate the winter weather, various events will take place on campus throughout the week. Dog sled races and dodgeball are among the many festivities taking place.
index
See page 10
Editorial...................................6 Voices......................................7 Variety....................................13 Sports....................................17 Classifieds............................ 22
Longtime faculty member at Minnesota State Dr. Truman Wood died Dec. 21 in Mankato at age 77 after years of actively supporting young scholars throughout his career and in his retirement. Wood, a native of Delavan, Minn., taught political science at MSU from 1961 to 1991. He held a bachelor’s degree from then Mankato State Teachers College and a master’s and doctorate from the University of Iowa. Wood had been hospitalized shortly after Thanksgiving with complications from diabetes, which he had for 62 years. “My father valued few things more than his association with the university,” said Truman’s son, Jeff Wood. During
Track crimes in Mankato with new map See page 8
Go to: http://secure.mankato-mn.gov/maps/Police-Service-Calls.html
submitted photo Truman Wood taught at MSU for 30 years.
his father’s last days in the hospital, Jeff sang the university’s fight song to Truman, reliving the cold Saturdays they spent together in Blakeslee Stadium, wrapped in blankets and
Professor / page 11