The Technician Magazine - Summer 2011

The

Technician

Magazine TALKING TO KETTERING’S PRESIDENT KSG ELECTION RESULTS AND ANALYSIS CALENDAR CHANGE OPINIONS THE MOVE TO GMAIL

YOU’VE NYANED FOR

11 WEEKS

Summer 2011

A Letter from the Editor-in-chief At The Technician, we are dedicated to expanding knowledge across both our campus and the community, entertaining students, facilitating the spread of opinions throughout the Kettering community, and most critically, raising the power of the student voice. Over the past two years, I have been excited to participated in this endeavor, as the automotive columnist and previously as Online Editor. This term, I was honored to begin my term as Editor-in-chief of The Technician at such a critical point in Kettering’s history. Amid the fire storm of controversy over proposed changes to the very heart of Kettering’s identity, we welcomed a new president to campus and elected a new student government. As we return to campus in the winter, we look forward to continuing to document these exciting and occasionally controversial developments.

I would like to offer my personal thanks to many this term who have helped The Technician report on these developments, and to those who assisted us in generating new content. I offer my thanks especially, however, to The Technician’s newest members: Jessica Bruce, Marie Klosowski, Kaitlin Solovey, Joseph Stevenson, and Alan Xia, all of whom joined this term as Freshmen. We welcome their contributions and dedication to the paper. I would also like to extend a special thanks to Alan and Kaitlin, both of whom stepped forward and joined The Technician’s editorial staff, as Distribution Editor and Layout Editor, respectively. I would also like to thank Allen Hillaker and Matthew White, our assistant editors, for their continued labor to ensure The Technician remains a quality publication we can all enjoy.

Thank you.

Robert Hayes Editor-in-chief

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The Technician Magazine

What’s Inside

The

Technician Magazine

Page 2

Page 16

A Letter from the

Editor-in-chief

KSG Enacts Changes

Page 4

Term Recap

Eli’s Corner Grocery Kettering Marks 9/11 Kettering Named Best College

Page 5

Mott-Warsh Art Exhibit

Page 17

Kettering’s Google

Transition Page 18

Calendar Change Faculty Thoughts Greek Life Why We Care

Page 20 Page 6

KSG Election Winners President Vice President Administrator Class Representatives

Page 10

KSG Election Analysis Page 12

Photo Recap Page 14

Hail to the Chief Page 15

KSG Enacts Changes

The Technician Staff Page 22

The Daily Bulldog

Gas Prices Challenge Arsonists Why Kettering Was a Good

Choice for Me Students Aim to Paint New

President

Ed ito r-i n-Ch i e f R ob er t Hayes A s s i sta n t Ed ito r s A l l en Hi l l a ker Matt he w W hite L ayo u t Ed ito r K a it l in S ol ov e y C o p y Ed ito r Ty l er Van Ec k D i st r i bu t i o n Ed ito r A l an Xi a P h oto g r a p h e r s Matt he w Hol l and Jos eph Ste vens on Sta ff Wr it e r s De v in Ar yan Jessi c a Br uce Cy nt hi a D iS arno Domini c Jand ra in Is a ac Mead ows Ad l a i Mi l bit z John O l i ver Ca rto o n i st Mar i e K l os ow ski Facu lt y Advi s o r Dr. Chr ist ine Le vecq Sta ff Advi s o r B et s y Homsher T h e Te chni cian Ketter ing’s Stud en t Voi ce E-ma i l us at: atec hni c i an@ketter ing.ed u Onl ine at: bul l d o gs.ketter ing.ed u/tec hni c i an and

issuu.com/t hetec hni c i an © T h e Te ch ni c ia n, 2011

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Eli’s Corner Grocery Kettering Marks 9/11 Anniversary Still Up in the Air Matthew White Conveniently placed across from the Campus Center and Academic Building is Eli’s Corner Grocery, affectionately known by Kettering students as the “Stop-and-Rob.” However, recent murmurs within the student body speak of the potential closing of the store. While the store may seem to be opposite of campus, Kettering Un i ver s i t y in fact owns the land. The Technician talked with Mrs. Susan Bolt, Kettering’s Vice President for Administration and Finance. In the lease, she said, there are options to extend the term for five additional years; all of those options have since been used. Mrs. Bolt estimates there to be a year remaining on the lease yet, and does not expect any action from the University for some time. With the installation of a new President, the future of the store—among other things—must be charted anew. Previous versions of the campus master plan did not call for Eli’s Corner Grocery’s continued existence, although its services would be provided elsewhere. As the President continues to shape his vision, a new campus master plan will be formed. Only time will tell if Eli’s Corner Grocery is part of that plan.

Photo of Mrs. Bolt courtesy of Kettering Communications

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Matthew White Ten years ago, terrorists struck America in a way that shook the nation to its core.

The images of the twin towers, ablaze, looming tall over New York City for just a moment before falling to the ground below are burned into the minds of those who witnessed the horror of that day.

The lone piece of steel hanging at ground zero, the gaping hole in the Pentagon, and the wrecked mess of an airplane in Pennsylvania are all part of that day, and it will be long before they are forgotten.

Today, we have experienced much change since that time. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attacks, Kettering University held a program including remarks by Dr. Steven L. Winter, a professor of C o nsti tuti o na l law at Wayne State University.

Dr. Winter give a lecture entitled “Democracy: Ten Years After 9/11,” in which he explored the meanings of freedom and the nation’s reaction to the attacks. Following the lecture, the Kettering University choir sang a piece. A reception was held in the Faculty Senate room afterwards.

Photo of Dr. Winter courtesy of Wayne State University

Kettering Named Best College Again Patricia Mroczek Kettering PR Kettering University is highly ranked nationally in the 2012 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges edition.

U.S. News released its 2012 annual Best Colleges report on September 13.

Kettering’s overall rankings in the 2012 edition are: #1 In dustri a l / Ma nuf a c turing

Engineering #2 Mechanical Engineering #16 Best Regional Universities:

Midwest #27 Best in Undergraduate Engineering

(without a doctorate): National Programs to Look For: Internships/Co-operative Education Kettering Provost Robert Simpson said the Best Colleges list is a moving target year by year. “This Best Colleges ranking edition is controversial at best, relying so heavily on peer review from around the country. In spite of that, Kettering fared well this year. I applaud the faculty, staff and students who retained their #2 national ranking for Mechanical Engineering.

Their efforts bring national recognition to our largest program. And special congratulations to #1 ranked Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. Kettering has led the country in this discipline for more than a decade and it’s gratifying to see U.S. News restore the category to the respect it deserves,” Simpson said.

For more, go to http://bit.ly/ncHd84

Mott-Warsh Art Exhibit Liam Graham Guest Contributor August is the heart of the summer season; for a lot of people, summer signifies the liberty to relax after a hard year’s work, to take a vacation to escape the monotony of life, or simply to enjoy some “fun under the sun.” For African Americans living in the 19th and early 20th centuries, this was often not the case.

A few Sundays ago, I took a trip to Flint’s Olive Missionary Baptist Church on Kennelworth Avenue. In the midst of a lively and uplifting sermon given by Reverend Emil Thomas, I was fortunate enough to observe an exhibit of paintings belonging to the Mott-Warsh Art collection. The Mott-Warsh Art Collection, based in Flint, contains a wide variety of artwork depicting both the African diaspora and African Americans throughout history. The Olive Missionary Baptist Church exhibit displays the latter, and focuses more particularly on images of labor. It encourages its viewers to reflect not only on the physical and emotional impact of hard manual work, but on its nobility and its beauty as well. The workers depicted in these paintings were exploited to some extent, but often, the art suggests, they maintained their dignity and their humanity.

Elizabeth Catlett’s painting Sharecropper portrays a woman who is sun beaten and overworked as a result of sharecropping, an economic system in which people would rent land and use their crops as payment. Sharecropping, despite providing work to recently emancipated African Americans, was a con-

Mott-Warsh Art Exhibit fining economic system that kept them in poverty. The toil of sharecropping is made evident by Catlett’s use of angular black lines on the woman’s skin as well as the effect of linoleum print making.

Despite the physical wear and tear of the woman in the portrait, her demeanor suggests she is full of pride rather than being victimized by the oppressive aspects of sharecropping. This same element of pride can be found in the man portrayed in Ron Adam’s Profile in Blue. Although the man appears to be a victim of poverty, the picture suggests he is a very hard working individual. Under his thin blue jeans are bones made completely visible by the absence of muscle or flesh, but despite his skinless legs and his tattered clothing, he holds his rolling pin with pride as light shines on him through his window.

Both Coal Breakers and Launching, two of artist Dox Thrash’s mezzoprints, illustrate the dangerous work African Americans had to perform year round.

Coal Breakers depicts four coal carts and their tracks leading into a despondent mining site. The building’s structural integrity is in question due to a number of broken windows, which illustrates the danger of coal mining. Many African Americans during the 20th century often had little choice but to work in mines; by 1930, there were 55,000 African American coal miners employed nationwide.

Launching, unlike Coal Breakers, explicitly depicts African Americans working.

However, Dox does not give the laborers any physical detail; the workers all look simple and identical, and resemble spirits or appear to be ghost-like. This not only gives evidence to how the labor performed by African Americans was strenuous to the point of death, but how they

were also regarded as “disposable;” if one was to perish, he could be easily replaced with another person, and work would continue as if nothing had changed.

Although I enjoy relaxation during summer as much as the next person, I encourage anyone in the Flint area to visit Olive Missionary Baptist Church’s Mott-Warsh Art exhibit. If nothing else, the illustrations of African American labor give us a peek into our history, and in the process, they make us stop and reflect about our present.

Photograph: Patron Saint of Middle Passengers, 2000 by Mark Steven Greenfield. Currently on display in the Mott-Warsh Collection.

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KSG Election Winners President Bryan Coburn

What can be improved?

One of the biggest problems facing our university today, is the low number of student enrollment. Kettering, one of the top engineering universities in the United States, struggles to attract new students.

It seems that the university has taken an impressive step forward with their new open house, Dog Days of Summer, and the fact that they are in the process of revising the website to make it more attractive to potential students. I see potential in making an effort to recruit students in the same region as Kettering and start by making Kettering more well-known.

What is your motivation?

My interest in running for Student Senate began with the proposed calendar change. Like many of the students I was quick to see many problems with it. After speaking with many of the involved faculty and staff I have a better understanding of their overall goal of increasing numbers and retaining students. It seems to me that there are other options that deserved to be explored and researched more. I think that through this position I can help the faculty investigate these alternatives and ensure the student voice is heard and acknowledged.

Platform and Biography I don’t want Kettering to change for the sake of change. I want Kettering to have change that yields lasting results.

Bryan Coburn is an involved and active student. He has experience dealing with the administration and is a familiar face on campus. His knowledge and presence on the campus would be an asset to the University. Coburn is looking to engage the students and ensure that their opinions are heard and acknowledged. His goal is to ensure that the student voice is a deciding factor in Kettering University’s future.

Activities and Involvement Delta Tau Delta Brotherhood Chair, Road Chairman, Pledge Educator, Recording Secretary, Internal Vice President. Compass Crew, Engineers Vice President Without Borders, Kettering University Meredith Brassell Tour Guide, Kettering leaders, Orientation Student Teacher, Student Ambassador (Winter ’11) Favorite Quote “Action is the foundational key to all success.”

— Pablo Picasso

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Biography Meredith Brassell is a Junior II Electrical Engineering major. She is currently the Administrator of Student Senate, a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha and a member of many other Kettering clubs and organizations. She is from Whitehouse, oh and her co-op is with trw Automotive in Farmington Hills.

Activities and Involvement Student Senate Administrator, Alpha Sigma Alpha Vice President of New Membership Education and Public Relations Chair, realService Club Public Relations Chair, Soap Box Derby committee Public Relations Chair. Member swe, Kettering Band, Laser Tag Club, Outdoors Club.

Favorite Quote “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

—Albert Einstein What can be improved?

There are many exceptional students at this school, and I would constantly work to ensure that their voices are heard. The students’ voices should be heard, especially in issues that affect them directly, like the proposed calendar change. I recognize how passionately students feel about this topic, and it is important that those voices are heard and not disregarded.

What is your motivation?

I love Kettering, and I want to give back to this university. The best way to accomplish this is through Student Senate. As a member of Senate this past year, I have been able to learn and understand how

Provost Simpson KSG Election On theWinners Future of Kettering the organization is run. These experi- will be able to improve the quality of our ings of ksg as well as other leadership ences have given me the motivation and time here at Kettering. bodies on campus is communication. I knowledge to be an effective leader in the What is your motivation? feel that communication needs to be imKettering community.

I want to represent the student body proved internally, with the student body via Student Senate because I feel that as well as with other governing bodies Administrator there are many improvements that need such as ifc and rha. I feel this can best Emily Thompson to be made and this can be accomplished be facilitated through the use of poputhrough Senate. I also want to have a lar new technologies such as social mevoice in keeping some things the way they dia and collaborative documents. I have are, such as our schedule. I will represent helped to implement both of these techthe student body by communicating your nologies within my fraternity and have opinions to the rest of Senate so that we implemented collaborative documents as can improve our time on campus. an ra in Thompson Hall.

What is your motivation?

Senior Representative For the past academic year I have had Biography Don Ebben the privilege of representing the Junior I am from Rochester Hills. I graduated class. In this position I have learned a from Adams High School in 2010 and I great deal about both leadership as well as am majoring in Applied Mathematics. the concerns of the student body. I would My co-op is with Towers Watson in like to continue to representative my class Southfield, Michigan, where I do acinto senior year. tuarial work. I have been a member of Mike Schreiber Alpha Sigma Alpha since Winter of 2011.

Activities and Involvement rha Treasurer, Student Senate Sophomore Representative, Alpha Sigma Biography I am originally from Novi, Michigan Alpha Secretary and Assistant Housing Chair, Kagle tutor, Intramural Sports and came to Kettering to get a hands on educational experience. I currently work Official at Livio Radio, where I write Android Favorite Quote “The men who try to do something and iPhone applications for streaming and fail are infinitely better than those Internet radio. I have had the unique Biography privilege of representing my class these who try to do nothing and succeed.”

I am a Senior I dual major in engineerpast two terms and would like to con —Lloyd Jones ing physics and mechanical engineering. tinue to do so as I begin my senior year.

What can be improved?

I co-op with General Motors. I am heavIf elected, I hope to improve ksg’s interI believe that the overall attitude of the ily involved in several clubs and organinal communication as well as communistudent population can be improved. This zations on and off campus and I believe cation with the student body and other can be accomplished by making changes I know quite a bit about how ksg operorganizations on campus. such as improving the image of ksg, imates. I am eager to get more involved on Favorite Quote proving safety around and off campus, campus to improve student life.

“The absent are never without fault. encouraging more student involvement, Favorite Quote Nor the present without excuse…” and initiating academic changes, such as “Any man more right than his neigh —Benjamin Franklin teaching techniques, office hours, and bors constitutes a majority of one.”

What can be improved? common hour exams. Although we can’t

—Henry David Thoreau I feel that one of the largest shortcomchange everything overnight, in time we

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What can be improved?

I believe the largest problem at Kettering is the student attitude towards the school, faculty, and staff. Many students believe the school doesn’t listen to their opinion. I believe it is possible to improve student attitude by increasing the participation in events in which students can express their opinions, as well as clarifying what groups/events are meant to resolve certain issues. For example, many people are unaware of what student senate even does. How are they supposed to know to come to a meeting to raise an issue?

What is your motivation?

I have always been told there is no point in complaining if you don’t do something about it. Now I finally want to do something. I have spent several years involved in clubs and the student ambassador program; while I have been heavily involved, I feel as though I have not made an impact on the school. I believe ksg—specifically Student Senate is a better forum to affect the student body and the community.

What can be improved?

I feel like the recruitment of quality students is lacking. I would take measures to improving the co-op program. The co-op is something that Kettering is well known for. Strengthen the co-op and we will strengthen Kettering. I have already initiated measures in my academic council position. I am leading a project that will display students compensation packages.

I see this beneficial to students who can now get a better understanding of what other students are making in comparison to their own compensation, but also this puts pressure on co-op employers to offer better compensation packages.

What is your motivation?

I want to be more involved on campus and I want to impact Kettering in a positive way and leave it better than I found it. I also seek to gain leadership experience from this role.

they enjoy, but aren’t getting funding for it. They have to pay out of pocket. I’d like to send out some polls and a few e-mails to get ideas before I start shooting in the dark.

What is your motivation?

I’d like to join Senate because I want to be more involved in the behind the scenes work. I also like meeting all of the important people such as the provost and the president of Kettering. Lastly, I would like to have my voice heard.

David Richelson

Biography Hey, I’m John Oliver and I want to make the Kettering community a better place to live. I want to do this by making involvement around campus exciting. I believe that if students enjoy getting out of their houses and being social in school activities then they will want to be involved on campus and our school will be a better place. By getting elected to student senate I believe that I can help bring about this change.

Favorite Quote “Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today.”

—Unattributed What can be improved?

I would love to see a more involved campus. Currently I see a small number of people doing almost everything around campus. I believe that many students feel like getting involved is too much of

Junior Representative Nigel Schuh Biography My personal motto is “it’s time to roll up my sleeves, get down to business, and kick some butt.” I love going to the movies, reading books, and listening to the Beatles. I take pride in my studies and the clubs I’m involved in at school.

Favorite Quote not given Biography not given What can be improved?

Favorite Quote I’d like to see more people involved. I’ll “The wise man speaks when he has be honest, I’m not quite sure how to do something to say. The fool speaks because this. I’m just thinking that there’s a lot of he has to say something.” kids out there who are doing the things

—Plato

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Sophomore Representative John Oliver

a chore and don’t realize how rewarding it is. I want to offer way for students to get involved in the Kettering community without the commitment of an official position. I want to do this through a published student forum where student can publish anything from a rant about the cafeteria to a random thought about how to make Kettering better. This could offer students with an opportunity to break from the standardized format of The Technician.

What is your motivation?

I want to serve on Student Senate because I want to make Kettering a better community to live in. I find that for such a small student body Kettering students know only a very small percentage of their peers. I want to try and get students who rarely leave their house out and active in the community. I feel like I am the best candidate for this position because of my experience in clubs at Kettering and my social interactions with people outside of my fraternity.

and ice skate. I would be a good freshman representative because I care about the freshman class and have the qualities that defy others to make my voice heard and to improve the lives of Kettering students. If I am elected as freshman representative I promise that I will put forth 100% of my effort to properly represent the class of 2016.

Favorite Quote “A problem is a chance to do your best.”

—Duke Ellington What can be improved?

To improve our community as whole I would address the issue of the student’s complaints and talk to a committee to resolve the issues given forth by the students.

What is your motivation? not given

Alan Turner

Freshman Representative Maria Goodpaster Biography Hi, my name is Alan Turner. I attended Clawson public schools for 12 years and now am a freshman at Kettering University. I am unsure of what I want to do with my life, but I know I want to be one of the best in my field; naturally I was drawn to Kettering. I am flexible, underBiography Hi! My name is Maria Goodpaster standing and fair, and I hope that I will and I am from Hershey, Pennsylvania. be able to serve the freshman class as their My major is Industrial Engineering and representative on the Student Senate.

I chose Kettering because of the co-op Favorite Quote “Always stand on principle… even if and academic programs. My co-op is with The Hershey Company and my two you stand alone.”

—John Adams favorite things to do are to play the harp

KSG Election Winners What can be improved?

I believe that individual students can be better represented on campus. To improve representation I will make a Facebook group for the freshman class.

This Facebook group would allow students to participate in polls about topics on campus and to bring up any questions, concerns, or comments they have regarding student life. This would also allow me as class representative to inform my classmates on policies that have been changed and receive feedback or criticism about the choices made. This would necessarily improve the accuracy of student representation.

What is your motivation?

When I was in middle school I loved the idea of student government. Planning meetings, affecting school policies and getting all the best food back in the lunch room. Sadly student government was not how I envisioned. It amounted to planning dances, and fundraising for dances, both of which I didn’t want to do. Now that I am in college, and student government can actually have an effect on the school, I want to be a part of the positive change, and provide a way for anyone who wants to invoke change the opportunity to do so.

Editor’s note: For more information on the candidates, and additional information about the elections and future positions on the councils, visit The Technician online at bulldogs.kettering.edu/technician.

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KSG Elections Analysis Eligible Voters Freshmen 132, 14% Seniors 508, 53%

Sophomores 121, 12%

Kettering, from Freshmen I up, had 967 eligible voters.

While no firm statistic has been provided to The Technician on each class’s voting, the graph below extrapolates class representative voting to account for all votes.

Juniors 206, 21%

While not everyone voted, those who did vote came out in proportions roughly equal to their class’s eligibility. A general curve of apathy can be seen in the results, giving freshmen a higher percent- Seniors 229, 49% age of the vote than their base, and the seniors a lower proportion.

Estimated Voters Freshmen 79, 17%

Sophomores 60, 13%

Juniors 99, 21%

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Provost Simpson KSG Elections On the Future Analysisof Kettering

Votes Cast for President

Votes Cast for Vice President

Mike Steinert 88, 16%

Raymond Hyder 138, 27%

Bryan Coburn 270, 50%

Meredith Brassell 301, 59% Ariel Childress 73, 14%

Matt Holland 185, 34%

Votes Cast for Administrator

Zach Johnson 237, 45% Emily Thompson 291, 55%

Votes Cast for Senior Representative Joshua Wildermuth 111, 28%

The statistics for votes cast paint an interesting picture.

424 students (43.8%) did not vote in the presidential election. The numbers are similar for the other elections (455 for vice president, 439 for administrator). While no candidate for president received a majority, Bryan Coburn, with 49.7% of the vote, was chosen as president. Meredith Brassell took the office of vice president with a vote of 59.9%, and Emily Thompson was elected administrator, with 55.1% of the vote.

Votes Cast for Junior Representative

Votes Cast for Freshman Representative

Don Ebben 139, 35%

David Richelson 75, 46%

Alan Turner 70, 51%

Maria Goodpaster 67, 49%

Nigel Schuh 87, 54%

Mike Schreiber 150, 37%

Voting for class representatives was somewhat more relaxed. Only the senior class race was actually contested. There, Don Ebben (34.7%) took the second seat as Mike Schreiber (37.5%) took the first position in a very close race. Junior representative had virtually no contest, since Nigel Schuh and David Richelson both received places on Student Senate. The sophomore representative, John Oliver, is not represented above since he was the only one running for that position. He received 83.3% of the vote in the affirmative. The freshman representative position, much like the Junior representative, gave both Alan Turner and Maria Goodpaster seats on Student Senate.

Editor’s note: Due to the inaccuracies which rounding introduces , all percentages in the text are truncated, not rounded.

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The Mechanical Engineering department held its Student Appreciation Lunch in the McKeachie Pavilion. Right, Jeremy Gnida, Kettering staff, shows his versatility in flipping burgers. The students, top and bottom, seemed to approve窶馬o one complained as they munched down on their food.

Photos courtesy of Kettering Communications

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Kettering’s Greek Organizations joined forces on September 17 to “Keep Kettering Beautiful.” Their efforts to keep the campus vibrant and lively are noted.

Above, mulch is shoveled into wheelbarrows to be deposited, right, into the median strips in front of the Academic Building. Below, the participants gather for a group photo.

Photos courtesy of Isaac Meadows

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Hail to the Chief

His work in the private sector brought him back into the public sector as the Senior Advisor to the Governor of North Carolina for Science and Technology.

He later became the founding Dean of the Kimmel School, Western Carolina Matthew White University’s engineering and technology Running a university is not rocket sci- college. Now he brings that experience to ence. That may well be a good thing for Kettering University.

Dr. McMahan, the new president of All of this begs the question : why Kettering University, since his post-doc- come to Kettering? Dr. McMahan is extoral research was in the field of astro- cited about the school and its future. He physics. described the University as being at the The Technician had the opportunity to talk with Dr. McMahan in his first few weeks. His pleasant demeanor and relaxed attitude would make one think he is just an ordinary, average guy, but to call Dr. McMahan ordinary or average would be a great understatement. Dr. McMahan has a cv that shows his determination and skill have never waned.

His credentials are impressive. He received dual bachelor’s degrees in Physics and the History of Art from Duke—two rather disparate subjects. He went on to earn his doctorate from Dartmouth in the field of Physics. His degree took him to the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the largest institute in the Dr. McMahan became Kettering’s seventh president, succeeding world to carry out astrophysical research.

Dr. Liberty on August 1.

His academic record is strong, as is his professional career. Dr. McMahan intersection of business and learning. He founded a company, McMahan Research knows that cooperative education is one Laboratories, which was acquired in of the best ways to learn. As the advisor 2000 by GretagMacbeth, making him the to the Governor of North Carolina, Dr. Executive Vice President of Engineering McMahan also recognizes the good that and Research and Development (Editor’s a university can do the area. Education, Note: GretagMacbeth was acquired by especially stem programs, grows and X-Rite in 2006). Moving on from that diversifies economies. The impact of venture, he became a Senior Technology Kettering, however, is not just felt in Strategist and Venture Capitalist for In- Flint—it is felt across the globe.

Q-Tel, a cia-funded firm that develops As for the President’s vision for the technologies for intelligence agencies. school, he remains mum. He would

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like to see the school expand its offerings, especially where the “intersection of programs” logically follow to create a new program. For now, however, the President is reserving his judgement and remains open to feedback. He wants to understand the school and the students before setting out to make any kind of change. Any one who has been in the Sunrise Room over the lunch hour has undoubtedly seen the President eating with and talking to students about whatever is on their minds. During the day, he can sometimes be spotted in the Academic Building, spending his time “getting lost” and finding his way back with a student’s aid and leaving with his or her thoughts. It is a form of administration which is both new and yet at the heart of what this University was when it was founded almost one hundred years ago.

The hot-button topic is undoubtedly the schedule change, and Dr. McMahan’s position on the matter is quite simple— “I don’t have a dog in this fight.” He understands the issues, the resentment, the benefits, the losses, and all the aspects that come together to form the proposal.

He also realizes that the proposal is not the end-all-be-all. It is but a means to an end. Everyone agrees what the end must be—a University that thrives on its base, a stem program deeply intertwined with a co-op component. Not everyone agrees with the means to that end. His job will be to mediate the plan that brings about the best end result.

Dr. McMahan has come at a time of great trouble, but also of great opportunity. He has the tools and the ability to make a lasting change on this campus.

The Technician wishes him the best in his endeavors.

KSG Enacts Changes Isaac Meadows On September 15, 2011, Student Senate held an action-packed meeting to recognize next year’s Senate and to vote on important constitutional revisions. The outgoing Senate, led by President Huong Chim, drafted and discussed these changes, which ranged from replacing the phrase “student activities” with “student life” to topics far more crucial to actual student life and the activities that comprise it. These changes must be passed by the B-section Senate before they will take effect.

In an intermission between constitutional discussions, incoming ksg officers took some time to talk with their outgoing counterparts, discussing future plans and best practices. New Senate members will be installed on September 21 at the Celebration of Excellence ceremony.

The first major constitutional update was Senate election rules. This was prompted in part by debate earlier in the week over this summer’s election, in which Director of Student Life Programs Debbie Stewart ruled for the plurality winner on the grounds that, in regards to voting, “As the student body as a whole is a separate entity [from ksg] and is responsible for electing the Student Senate, they are not held to Robert’s Rules of Order.” In their constitutional amendments, however, Senate treated rules for voting as being entirely under the authority of the ksg constitution. The representatives read and passed detailed rules requiring instant runoff voting for contested elections. In this system, voters

rank each candidate according to their preference. Upon tallying, the candidate with the lowest number of first-choice votes is eliminated and those who voted for that candidate have their secondchoice votes applied to the appropriate candidates. This process repeats until one candidate has a majority, or until all but one candidate is eliminated. The latter condition can only apply if a certain number of voters fail to mark their choices after their first choice.

Outgoing ksg President Huong Chim characterized these additions as central to the role of Student Senate. “An organization without rules isn’t an organizational all, it’s just a group of people,” she explained. “We need to uphold the rules.

We are here to represent the students, and effective rules help us facilitate that representation.”

The next items were the creation of “baseline requirements” for all club operations as well as the inclusion of an example club constitution in the ksg constitution. The club operations material was clearly aimed at strengthening Operations Council oversight, specifying required activities by clubs, creating definition of membership, requiring club advertising, and providing a “warning system” ranging from written warnings to loss of club status. Enforcement of these requirements is the duty of the Operations Council, and the primary means of enforcement before loss of club status is the suspension of funds request fulfillment.

Operations Director Scott Builta explained the need for these requirements to The Technician. “Right now, the constitution has plenty of material about how to start a club, but there is nothing about maintaining one. This is not about

KSG Enacts Changes killing clubs, but if a club isn’t being active, we don’t need to keep it.”

Director of Student Life Programs Debbie Stewart was upbeat about the constitutional changes. “I’m glad these rules are approved now,” she said, but did not comment further. Incoming President Bryan Coburn pledged to carry the torch by seeking B-section approval of the changes. In a message to The Technician, he emphasized that the set of amendments “was one of the final acts of the previous A-section Student Senate, and I believe it is my duty to ensure that their vision and ideas for the school come to fruition.” He described the new legislation as “very specific [and] detailed,” adding that they would, “allow a much more streamlined process and provide a very specific and easily understood procedure to be followed during elections.”

On the topic of B-section approval, he declared, “I do not think that it will meet much opposition from the B-Section Student Senate, but if it does, I will do my best to see that it is passed by them.”

The one other significant change in Senate operations has been a new face at the table in recent weeks. Dr. Jim Huggins, the moderator-elect of the Faculty Senate, has been acting as faculty adviser to Student Senate under an arrangement put in place by outgoing President Huong Chim. The agreement makes the moderator-elect of Faculty Senate that body’s representative to and ex officio member of Student Senate. Dr. Huggins’s tenure in this role will be shortlived, however, as he takes the moderator’s role in the fall.

Editor’s Note: The text of the changes, along with insight and commentary, will be provided on The Technician’s web site as soon as they are publicly available.

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Google’s Flight Search Takes Off Devin Aryan Google, the well-known, all-knowing search engine god, has now taken an interest in the skies. Launched September 13, 2011, their new flight search option has five main search criteria other than the obvious departure and destination sites: number of stops, airline, connection sites, outbound time, and return time. After inputting the desired criteria, the site generates a list of matching flights and shows how many tickets are left on said flight as well as how much the tickets cost. After finding the desired flight, one

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The Technician Magazine

can even buy the tickets then and there if Google has access to booking links— which they may not always have.

This new feature is yet another expansion by Google. Though this is Google’s first foray into the travel site business, their flight search seems much easier than similar actions on other travel sites. Google’s flight search allows clicking cities on a map, rather than inputting the full name, and generates results much faster. In fact, when searching for a flight from Detroit, mi to Las Vegas, nv, Orbitz, Expedia, Priceline, and Kayak all took a minimum of one minute to retrieve results, when Google took less than 15 seconds.

The competition has yet to flinch from having Google as their newest competition. Some of the companies feel that their search engines are far superior to Google, while others feel that Google won’t last long in their business, just as it

has failed in other areas. To be fair, both Kayak and Orbitz found the same tickets as Google for the flight from Detroit to Las Vegas for a few dollars cheaper, but Google has the advantage of convenience; with its already widespread use for looking up just about anything on the internet, searching for flights is that much easier.

Currently, Google’s flight search is fairly simple, limited to certain u.s. cities as well as economy flight trips only, but Google is expecting to expand functionality in their attempts to join the market.

The service is currently located at google. com/flights and will later be located on the left sidebar when searching for flights within Google’s main search location.

The screenshot below demonstrates Google’s new Flight search on a trip from Detroit to Las Vegas.

Kettering’s Google Transition Robert Hayes

ity of Gmail. In addition, every Kettering e-mail address is automatically added to Beginning this fall, Kettering’s Javaevery user’s contact list, removing the based web mail platform will be banished need for the Kettering community to use to the ash heap of history, courtesy of the Student or Faculty Search features on Google. Kettering will become the newKettering’s web site. The new system will est user of Google Apps for Education, a no cost, ad-free version of the Google Apps suite with which we are all familiar. With the new Google Apps suite, Kettering students, staff, and faculty will have access to Gmail, Google Calendar, Documents, Sites, and Groups all without creating an account or changing email addresses.

This new web platform will enable real-time collaboration between students working on group projects using Google Docs, provide faculty an excellent platform to share information between department members with shared also provide seamless access to Google Google Sites, and provide everyone on products on mobile devices, something campus with the versatility and reliabil- the current Kettering web mail platform

Kettering’s Google Transition

makes extremely complicated and unreliable. Additionally, as Google Apps is hosted externally and managed by Google, Kettering IT no longer has to bear the responsibility of maintaining the old web mail system.

Google Apps has been a boon for universities and companies worldwide, with more than fourteen million students and teachers already using Google Apps around the world. Kettering’s move to the Google platform will mean easier collaboration and sharing amongst members of Kettering’s community as well as with any Google account worldwide.

Kettering’s transition will be completed before A-Section students return in the Winter, but students who are interested in migrating to Google Apps before the launch date can contact Kettering it (helpdesk@kettering.edu) to request instructions to start the migration process.

Photos: Bottom, Kettering’s current email client, Sun Communications Express.

The version Kettering runs in 6 years old.

Above, Gmail, part of Google Apps for Education, Kettering’s new e-mail client.

Center logo courtesy of Google.

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Faculty Thoughts on Calendar Change Everyone has heard about the calendar change proposals going around campus.

For now, the proposal is stalled. While students have been very vocal with their feedback, faculty have been more reserved. The Technician interviewed some of the faculty to hear their personal opinions on the change and what it would mean for their departments.

Robert Hayes, Allen Hillaker, Kaitlin Solovey, and Matthew White contributed to this story.

Dr. Jim Huggins Computer Science Department Pros: More time to cover content Cons: New curriculum, scheduling

difficulties Other thoughts: Energy trying to effect change is better spent improving relationships with students and co-ops

Dr. Leszek Gawarecki Math Department Head

Dr. Henry Kowalski Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Pros: New co-op

opportunities

Pros: None Cons: Losing students,

lack of evidence

Cons: New curriculum,

potential for

more faculty

Other thoughts: The program can be fixed without the need for any sort of calendar change; look for new co-ops

Other thoughts: A more detailed analysis needs to be done Dr. James McDonald ECE Department Head

Pros: Increased appeal, travel abroad Cons: May lose some employers Other thoughts: There are plenty of tiny benefits that go along with this change; there are also risks in both changing and not

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The Technician Magazine

Greek Life Looks at Change Allen Hillaker and Matthew White One aspect of the proposed schedule change which has not seen as much discussion is the effect of the new calendar on Greek life at Kettering. While the Board of Trustees received a report on the topic, it has not been released to the students. Instead, The Technician asked the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils for thoughts on the matter.

Panhellenic Council found benefit in the new schedule. Since the time in each term is greater, giving bids, pinning, and new member initiation could theoretically be completed in one term. The council sees no recruitment losses; however, it did point to the current balance of work and school as excellent.

Interfraternity Council also saw similar benefits. Since more students would be on campus, there would be greater participation in Greek life. Ifc, however, noted that participation could become so high as to create undue competition.

Also problematic would be houses which are already close to maximum capacity: they could not take on more members.

The staggered schedule would also cause problems in continuity of membership and leadership. Ifc, however, does not see enough advantage to outweigh the disadvantages the calendar change would cause.

Calendar Change

Why We Care The hot topic of debate around campus, or rather the hot topic amongst students seeming to agree with each other, is the possible schedule change currently being discussed by the higher-ups at Kettering University. As it currently stands, it would seem that nearly the entire student body stands against the schedule change, and the one man they seem to all be focusing their rage towards is Dr. Simpson, Provost of Kettering University. Dr. Simpson has been looking into the trimester schedule change option due to being asked by the Board of Trustees to do so. Students have made him the face of the “pro-schedule change” faction, though I personally feel that Dr. Simpson deserves none of this focused hatred.

The most recent question towards students, though whom was the first to be asked I do not know, is a simple one: why do we care? It is a good question because for a good amount of us, the change will have no effect, for even if it were passed tomorrow, the change would take somewhere between 2–4 years to fully implement. As for answering the question, it is my opinion, and from what I hear on the street seems to be the opinion of more than just myself: that even if the change has no effect on us directly, we care simply because of the principle of the change and what it means to be a Kettering student.

For myself, being a Kettering student is an honor. Being one of the best engineering schools in the country, Kettering was the perfect school for me with the small campus, small student body (at any given time), focused coursework, and co-

An opinion by Devin Aryan op program. I feel that being a Kettering student means I am privileged to partake in the Kettering “tradition,” as I’ve heard alumni refer to their time here.

You see, Kettering is more than a University to us; it is more than a business to us. It is our life for four-and-a-half years.

It is our home 6 months out of the year, the place that forced us into adulthood to better ourselves, and the place that some, if not many, of us will mark as the turning point in our lives. When we leave, we will be leaving behind a trace of ourselves, whether it be through an award, or the Greek program, or even a club roster. As Kettering students, we are ready to face the world the moment we have our degrees, and we can connect with Kettering alumni at our new jobs. I’ve already done so at my co-op.

No, Kettering is not just a business or a university for us students. It is a piece of our lives which we will never forget. That is why we care. We care because we want future students to feel the same joys we have and will. We care because we want the school to grow as we know it can, but without compromising the experience that is a major selling point to so many of us. We care because we want to see the school heading down the path that we, as students, feel is the right one to take, for in the end, it is students like us that will decide if they wish to come to Kettering or not. We care because we are Kettering; to change Kettering is to change us, and we like ourselves just the way we are.

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The Technician Staff

Robert Hayes just finished his first term as Editor-in-chief of The Technician.

He also contributes a regular automotive column and was previously Online Editor. Though most of his time is spent fantasizing over small hatchbacks and pop-up head lamps, Robert manages to divide the rest of his time between The Technician and his Mechanical Engineering studies.

Matthew White is fighting, once again, for all that is good and eye-pleasing as Layout Editor pro tempore and trying to efficiently manage the news as Assistant Editor. In his spare time... who is he kidding?

Tyler Van Eck is The Technician’s Copy Editor. He is also on a horse.

Allen Hillaker didn’t anticipate becoming involved in The Technician when he arrived at Kettering, but the eic at the timewas very convincing. Allen’s been working with the newspaper for two years, doing everything from putting the stories on the page to managing staff to frank interviews with members of Kettering’s faculty and staff.

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The Technician Magazine

Kaitlin Solovey is still new on the newspaper, but enjoys it very much. She’s gone from editing to using fancy layout software that is just starting to make sense. She will be the new Layout Editor next term.

Isaac Meadows finds working for the newspaper a little less stressful as a non-editor. The former Editor-in-chief spent his last quarter focused on Student Government reporting and trying to graduate.

John Oliver joined The Technician early in the Winter 2011 term and has followed various stories, reporting on jobs and Kettering Student Government.

Also, he’s hilarious.

Alan Xia is a Freshman I and The Technician’s diligent Distribution Editor.

puter games on her off time when not studying for classes. She was born and raised in Flint and thinks people need to relax about the bad reputation; Flint is not really that bad. And Transformers and Teen Titans are awesome.

Joseph Stevenson is a freshman, and a top-notch photographer for The Technician. His work usually graces the center spread of the newspaper.

Matthew Holland occasionally finds a good picture, so The Technician publishes it.

Marie Klosowski is the resident cartoonist for The Technician, providing a much-need burst of color and fun to the paper.

Devin Aryan is a Technician staff member that does nothing useful whatsoever.

He sits around and eats all the food, wasting space and air. He’s a Chemical Engineer that needs to be disposed off.

You might see him lounging around, playing video games, and eating someone else’s food.

Dominic Jandrain writes random stuff for The Technician, and also the Meme of the Month column. He enjoys the Internet, techno, and procrastinating.

Also, he is from Nebraska.

Jessica Bruce is a Freshman I and is pursuing a dual degree in Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, with a co-op through Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems. She likes writing, reading, hanging with friends, and playing com-

The Technician Staff

Cynthia DiSarno is a senior. She provides The Technician with a lot of content, especially things about clubs.

Adlai Milbitz is a Senior I Mechanical Engineer from Denton, Texas.

Dr. Christine Levecq is an assistant professor of Liberal Studies and the The Technician’s faculty advisor. She provides input on the content and style of the paper to further perfect the publication.

Betsy Homsher is the Dean of Students and The Technician’s staff advisor. She provides input to keep the paper as an organization running effectively.

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The Daily Bulldog “All the news that’s fit to print, some that isn’t, and more besides”

Rising Gas Prices Challenge Flint Arsonists

By Tyler Van Eck Investigative Journalist Flint, mi—The current trend of rising gas prices over the

One Flint citizen and arsonist, who clear message of resistance against being shall be known only as “Carl,” agreed to

ground underfoot by soaring gas prices.

grace The Daily Bulldog with his views “Burn ‘em all!” he added.

Those who bore

last year is already

witness to the burn-

widely

reviled

ing buildings know

across all 50 states,

well their Pavlovian

but they may have

“burn” response in

some dire impli-

the face of oppres-

cations for the

sion, and rumblings

City of Flint. In

from Flint’s under-

Michigan,

the

world indicate that

average price of a

future attacks on gas

gallon of gas has

stations are quite like-

jumped nearly a

ly as demonstrative

dollar from last year’s average of $2.88; this pres-

Fires, like this one on Chevrolet Avenue, were oh-so-common last year. Now, rarely does Flint see such magnificent conflagrations. It is only a matter of time before such fires began to rage again.

sure on an already economically de-

Photo “Razing the Bar” courtesy of Matthew Holland

acts. Already the local blogosphere is abuzz with

long

tirades

against the tyranny

of Big Oil oppressing in exchange for anonymity.

“We start pressed city may spark the ire of Flint’s a region that has seen enough hardships, fires because for far too long, we have let arsonists, who appear to have remained and pro-arsonists on Twitter are stirthe oil industry swing its bulk around dormant since their attacks last year. ring their followers into a slow, simmerto shape far too much of the economic “With this combination of socioeconoming boil; indeed, it is as if one can even structure of our society, and for what? ic factors, retaliation from the arsonists is now feel the fire in their words. The Daily Is the convenience of fossil fuels truly only a matter of time,” commented Dr. Bulldog wholeheartedly encourages the worth letting major industry override Jens Fredricksson, a non-existent sociolooppressed to rise up in fiery arms against our social being and by extension, our gist. “It’s surprising that they haven’t althat which would further suppress them, very consciousness?”

He emphasized ready tried to set fire to local gas stations.” and to let the fire of their torches and the wherefore of possible attacks on gas Molotovs illuminate the path to a better stations, citing what he believes to be a tomorrow.

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The Technician Magazine

Why Kettering was a Good Choice for Me

By Dominic Jandrain Reporter I chose Kettering as a school because I thought I could get a great education

A Letter from the Editor-in-chief

wide selections of parties, from dance parties and raves, to the drink-till-youthrow-up scene, everyone is happy! No matter what time it is, or what day it is, you can go out and have the time of your life!

Students Aim to Paint New President

By Tyler Van Eck Investigative Journalist

Classes The classes are ridiculously easy and not

that would prepare me for my career; at all stressful. No homework ever! And also, scholarships. Turns out it wasn’t ex- studying isn’t necessary at all. I’m so busy actly what I thought it was; it was better. not studying that I sleep for days! I have Here’s why.

friends that need sleeping pills because

Women

they have so much free time, they don’t

There are so many girls here it’s almost

know what to do with it! The schedules

overwhelming. In nearly all of my classes, are very convenient and classes never I am one of the few, if not only, males in start before noon. an ocean of women, all of whom are ex-

Even though the educational experi-

tremely attractive, flirtatious, and avail- ence isn’t as great as other schools, and able. I go to math class and walk home

it hasn’t prepared me at all for the real

with a girl on each arm; most guys can’t

world, the location, atmosphere, and all

even do that at a bar.

of the other reasons listed above make

The Party Scene

Kettering the best thing that has ever

There are basically nonstop parties all

happened to me.

around campus, every day. And with such

Painting the bulldog has been a tradition of Kettering students across the years, but now a new target threatens to steal the scene. Students of all ages, tired of ravaging the stationary statue with spray paint, now look toward current Kettering President Robert McMahan as a more interesting ‘moving canvas.’ Kettering’s President was originally the target of this painting tradition in the sixties and seventies, but Dr. Cottingham had the bulldog installed for the purpose, due to his personal aversion to spray paint.

However, now that our new President has revealed himself to be more outgoing (read: vulnerable) than his predecessors, Kettering’s student body may properly welcome him to the University with a consonance of colors befitting of so high an office.

Photo courtesy of Kettering Communications

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