Vol82issue27

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M THE MANEATER

The student voice of MU since 1955

www.themaneater.com

Vol. 82, Issue 27

April 13, 2016

education

The Bridge helps educate students on social justice

College of Education Dean Kathryn Chval: “We’re preparing and trying to equip people to work with others that differ from themselves.” MEGAN DOLLAR Reporter

be recognized. The election will determine whether graduate workers support CGW as their future representative in collective bargaining. Then, CGW will look to the courts. Legal battle According to a contract obtained by The Maneater, the UM System has hired law firm McCarthy, Leonard & Kaemmerer, L.C. as outside legal counsel to provide

As the campus conversation on diversity continues to grow, the College of Education decided to create a space for its students to engage in conversations and expand their perspectives on social justice. In August 2015, the college launched a safe space in 220 Townsend Hall, known as The Bridge, to prepare students for a culturally diverse workplace. “The primary goal is to provide a space and an initiative that is geared towards equity, inclusion and diversity for the College of Education and all of its constituents,” said Tajanette Sconyers, one of two graduate assistants who work in The Bridge. The college hopes to fulfill many goals through its services. “We’re preparing and trying to equip people to work with others that differ from themselves,” Acting Dean Kathryn Chval said. The name was inspired by a poem published in The New York Times titled “To Become a Bridge.” The poem, written by a Yale student from Jackson, Mississippi, addresses the challenges faced by an underprivileged student at a privileged university and the emotions his situation evokes. The very first Bridge event involved a discussion focused around the poem, which reads, “For I am a bridge that connects places that are uncomfortable with one another, a bridge that says we won’t treat disadvantaged kids as the other.” The Bridge holds events such as movie screenings, book discussions, one-on-one conversations, research discussions and student discussions concerning topics such as race, gender and disabilities. During these events, students are invited to make themselves at home in the space that was designed to feel similar to a living

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ZOIE BROWN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Excellence and Discovery halls on March 30. Excellence and Respect halls are currently unavailable for the 2016-17 school year, and the floor staff members are not guaranteed their positions.

Housing

Res hall staff positions in limbo ALYSSA BESSASPARIS AND CLAIRE MITZEL of The Maneater Staff After it was announced Friday that students could not select rooms in Excellence and Respect halls for the 2016–17 school year, Department of Residential Life staff members and incoming freshmen have been left with questions about the sudden closures.

The decision to restrict access temporarily to the two residence halls, two days before ROAR opened and students could begin signing up for housing, comes from the expected decline in enrollment of about 1,500 students for the 2016–17 school year. MU spokesman Christian Basi said the decision was made in an effort to save money. Following a meeting on Friday with student staff members in

Respect, Excellence, Responsibility and Discovery halls to announce the restriction, one incoming student staff member said they were not guaranteed their jobs. Basi said that nothing has been finalized yet regarding staffing, but Residential Life is doing everything they can to make sure students keep their jobs. “Some of the effects we won’t see

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Graduate Students

Graduate workers plan for union election Outside counsel to help UM System determine graduate students’ employee status. KYRA HAAS Staff Writer An email sent by the Graduate Professional Council to students last Friday sparked an exchange between

graduate students and interim Chancellor Hank Foley, the latest in the effort to form a graduate worker union. Since September, CGW has collected signatures, campaigned on social media and met with MU and UM System administration regarding unionization and graduate worker issues. In February, Middleton said the administration needed legal clarity on the employee status of graduate students before the union could

‘Let’s Get Loud’ celebrates Pride Month Drag queens, kings and other performers took a packed Stotler Lounge by storm last Saturday. Take a look at our Hopefully you didn’t miss X photo gallery. Ambassadors last Friday. If you did,

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don’t fret. We’ve got a recap.

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Rio is within reach for national champion J’Den Cox.

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Vol82issue27 by The Maneater Student Newspaper - Issuu