The Murray State News February 25, 2016
TheNews.org
Vol. 90, No. 20
‘EAT THINK TALK’ combines intimate setting, conversation Honors College brings learning outside of the classroom Abby Siegel
every Murray State student should have every once in a asiegel@murraystate.edu while,” said Kevin Binfield, professor of English, who at A handful of Honors Coltended the dinner. lege students and two Hon He said this was the closors professors ate from an est to the feel of a liberal arts extensive menu – roasted college he has seen at Murrosemary chicken, caramelray State, and he said it is ized onion mashed potasomething he believes should toes and cheesecake – in the expand to the residential colCommonwealth Suite. They leges. casually discussed gender Binfield said he was surstereotypes on Thursday prised how little talking he evening for no grade and no had to do, describing the conextra credit. versation as “self-unfolding” “EAT TALK THINK” is a with “no stakes, no grade and new opportunity for Honors free-range conversation.” College students that allows Marjorie Hilton, assistant them to continue learning outprofessor of history, was the side the other proclassroom fessor that with their attended peers and the dinner profesand prosors. It is posed the a topic-fotopic idea. cused, Schell exclusive said the dinner conversathat is tion was open to enlightthe first ening and 10 Honors her views students were chalwho sign - Emma Schell, senior from Madisonville, Kentucky lenged. up and “The two proprofessors fessors that were who have interest in the topic facilitating the discussions of the evening. provided a lot of scientific and “Education should not be historical insight about genconfined to the classroom ders that I had never considsetting,” said Carole Inman, ered before,” she said. Honors student development She attended the dinner becounselor. “It should be part cause she wanted to discuss of our everyday life and our gender stereotypes with studinner conversations.” dents with informed opinions Honors faculty members and open minds. propose their topic ideas to “If our beliefs are never Inman and Warren Edminster, challenged and we never director of the Honors Colchange the way we think about lege, and they chose the topic something, it is impossible to from those proposed. fully understand the issue,” “We keep it small on purSchell said. pose because we want an in Other high points, Schell timate conversation,” Inman said, included delicious, free said. food that meets dietary re Emma Schell, senior from strictions. Madisonville, Kentucky, said The idea came from Inshe loved the intimate setting. man’s research on other “Although most of us did university Honors College not know anyone at the table opportunities. She made a when we got there, it felt as if few tweaks and the dinner we were old friends casually became a reality for Murray discussing gender stereotypes State Honors students. around the dinner table,” she The next “EAT TALK said. THINK” dinner is March 29 The professors who atand Andrew Black, assistant tended also said they enjoyed professor in the College of Huthe evening. manities and Fine Arts is one “This is the kind of thing professor that is attending.
MARCH
Assistant News Editor
f o r
e d u c a t i o n
Bailey Bohannan
The resolution says the students participating in the March for Edubbohannan@murraystate.edu cation should be supported by their professors and faculty members by alMary Bradley lowing for the absence to be excused; Editor-in-Chief however, the resolution does not exmbradley9@murraystate.edu cuse students from their classes that day. The decision will come down to Hundreds of students, faculty and the professor and student coming to staff are expected to march to the an agreement about missing class. capital building in Frankfort, Ken “We are not advocating for a big tucky, to protest against the proposed skip day, but we are advocating for cuts to higher education. those students to feel comfortable The March for Education will begin asking their professors, ‘Hey, do you at 10 a.m. at the Kentucky State stacare if I go up to Frankfort and miss dium and end outside of the capital this day of class?’” said Clint Combs, building, where they will expect to president of the Student Government stay until 6 p.m. Association. Kaley Owens, an organizer of the Combs said he reached out to the event, said leaders of students the March from Kenfor Education tucky State, and asked Time: 10 a.m. University what the of Kentucky, Date: Feb. 25 SGA could University of Place: Kentucky State do to help. Louisville and Combs said stadium in Frankfort, other instituEmily FerguKentucky tions plan to son – another attend, along leader of this with faculty effort – said and staff. she was concerned about students not “The faculty and staff have been taking advantage of this opportunity wonderful,” she said. “They have supfor fear of incurring an unexcused abported us 100 percent.” sence that day. Last week, the Student Govern “I decided to draft this resolution ment Association passed a resolution short and to the point,” Combs said. to support excused absences for students participating in the March for see , 2A Education. Staff writer
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If our beliefs are never challenged and we never change the way we think about something, it is impossible to fully understand the issue
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MARCH
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STEM evolving into STEAM to support the arts Bailey Bohannan Staff writer
bbohannan@murraystate.edu
The strong support for STEM is evolving into a strong support for STEAM, where “A” is for arts. STEM is the common acronym used for science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines, but those disciplines are now including arts to transform the acronym to STEAM. “Embracing the arts as the country privileges the STEM disciplines would show creative students who love music, art, theater and dance some possible career options that combine the arts with science,” Staci Stone, interim dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, wrote in an email.
WHAT’S
INSIDE
One of STEAM’s biggest supporters is the Rhode Island School of Design. RISD began supporting this transition from STEM to STEAM in 2010. Since then, a campaign launched through the STEM to STEAM website where advocates can voice their support for the new acronym. Other acronyms have been considered including STEM+H where “H” stands for health and STEMM where the extra “M” stands for medicine or music and STREAM where the “R” and the “A” are added to represent reading and arts. However, STEAM pulled ahead as it was nationally recognized in December 2015 when President Barack Obama included supporting the arts to better enhance STEM into the “Every Student Succeeds
Act,” – an updated version of the “No Child Left Behind Act.” The addition of arts into STEM will not change the support of the STEM disciplines; instead, the arts will be supported to enhance the other STEAM disciplines. “The arts educate and train parts of the brain that may not be best served by STEM,” said Zbynek Smetana, chairman of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. “Essentially, I am not trying to take things away; I am trying to enhance the next thing.” Smetana said STEM gained support in the past because of the job opportunities today; however, the anticipated future job opportunities do not exist yet. Smetana said he believes the arts could play an
important role in preparing for the unknown. Elaina Barnett, senior from Shelbyville, Kentucky, and studio art major, said majoring in the arts has enhanced her education, not only in an artistic way, but in critical thinking and creativity. “Art is really essential just like any of the creative pursuits, it teaches you creative problem solving,” Barnett said. “It makes you think about the whole and not just yourself.” Steve Cobb, dean of the Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology said adding the arts to the STEM disciplines emphasizes the arts; additionally, he supports all other academic backgrounds, including the arts, to better enhance the
STEM fields. “I think everything can enhance the STEM disciplines, I am a proponent of broad general education,” Cobb said. Both Cobb and Smetana said adding the arts to STEM is a smart move to make economically. Art provides a more creative background to all students and better prepares students to think critically. “Doing things exactly the same way like we always did in science, doing the same experiment a thousand times over will not produce different results,” Smetana said. “We will not cure cancer without thinking about different ways on how to think about it.” “This is about being economically competitive,” he said.
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