www.facebook.com/ theguardianonline/
@wsuguardian www.theguardianonline.com
@wsuguardian #wsuguardian 02.22.17
WWW.THEGUARDIANONLINE.COM
ISSUE NO. 19 VOL. 53
University unveils the School of Public and International Affairs Kristin Baughman News Editor Baughman.25@wright.edu School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) has been unveiled, combining the Political Science, Urban Affairs, Geography, International Studies majors and the two masters programs of International and Comparative Politics and Masters in Public Administration. The idea came from Kristin Sobolik, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, who saw how the majors complimented one another. “It allows students to really focus in on a multifaceted understanding of the world, but focusing on international politics, along with other disciplines,” December Green said, professor and chair of SPIA. “What all these different programs have in common is our students have an interest in understanding the world in order to change it.” Students who are already involved in these programs will be not affected in terms of their degree or graduation time. “It’s all a win-win for the
students. They don’t have to worry about losing their major or any complications with their hours,” Green said. “Majors as they currently exist will not change. But what it does do, is it offers them more opportunites in a variety of areas.” There are hopes to create hybrid majors between the majors as SPIA grows in the future. “We’re trying to see how there is a major that would blend the passion with the practicality. This really gives students a leg up in terms of going on to change the world,” Green said. Green hopes SPIA will help students discover the career path they want to pursue, as well as give students more op-
tions. “Perhaps there are going to be new options they can think about,” Green said. “In terms of careers, I think that this has more practical application and a more straight forward path.” SPIA also hopes to offer students more internships, create more opportunities for working in the community, providing real life experience and assisting students with getting their first jobs after college. According to Green, only positive changes will happen with the creation of the school. “If they like what they have, they can stay with that. On the other hand, all it does is present them with more opportunities and choices.”
Kristin Baughman News Editor Baughman.25@wright.edu
Would you pay to pee? Angel Lane Lane.91@wright.edu Features Writer On Friday, Feb. 17, a meeting was held to discuss the future of the Wright State Disability Service’s Personal Assistant (P.A.) Station. Both disabled and able-bodied students, parents, faculty and alumni attended the meeting held by WSU alumni students Jenny Border and Julia Vitkin-to voice their concerns and fears. According to the office of disability services website, the P.A. station is for the use of physically disabled students who require “individual assistance with daily personal activities such as personal hygiene, meals, laundry, etc.” including “emergency P.A. response during nights and weekends.” Those who use the service have received word that due to Wright State’s budget crisis, the P.A. station would begin charging a fee to use these services.
Faculty and students hold protest at Board of Trustees meeting
Wright State’s Dr. Julie Williams says that not many people know what the P.A. station is, but once educated they realize how important it is that all students should have equal accessibility. “Think about how valuable you are, all of you. You are our future, you are my future, you deserve to be here, and you are all viable students on this campus,” Williams said. For many disabled students, the above-average services and accessibility to them were the deciding factor in attending Wright State. One of these students is Galen Spiegler who shared, “When I was about 16, my dad started looking to see where I could go to school. Everywhere was like, ‘Oh, you can come and we will give dad a room next to you’ but Wright State was like, ‘Your dad will not come with you, we’ve got you’ and that was it.” Although not all of Wright State’s disabled students use the P.A. station, “over 800 students with disabilities participate in our programs,” accord-
ing to the office of disability services website. Student Zachary Bryant believes if the fee must be put into place, the students should receive more than what they are currently getting. “If they’re going to make me pay, I want the P.A. station to do more,” he says. The P.A. station is located in 072 in the Student Union and is “open to students for free assistance during academic terms” states the office of disability services website. On Friday, Feb. 24, another meeting will be held with Gary Dickstein, the Vice President of Student Affairs to review results of a survey that was sent out to disabled students, as well as answer questions. The meeting will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Rathskellar room, 008 Student Union. “Make sure to come with plenty of questions,” Williams advised.
The WSU American Association of University Professors (AAUP-WSU) held a quiet protest at the Feb. 17 Board of Trustees meeting. Signs were held by students. This protest was held to convey the concerns the AAUPWSU has about the budget cuts that have affected academic colleges. “We should be outraged, since non-academic spending was overwhelmingly responsible for the budget problems due to Administration and the Board of Trustees following misplaced priorities and managing the university incompetently,” Marty Kich, President of the AAUP-WSU, said in an e-mail. Three AAUP-WSU faculty spoke at the meeting, to address the board about the impact of the budget cuts, including Gretchen McNamara, lecturer from the School of Music, Marie Thompson, associate professor from the Department of Education and Noeleen McIlvenna, professor from the Department of History. According to Stephanie Triplett, the communications officer of AAUP-WSU, “We’re here because we’re concerned about the overspending that’s been happening, and how that’s going to adversely affect students and faculty.” Triplett spoke of the larger class sizes, limiting the courses offered over the summer for students and how that will impact students graduating on time. “We just want to make sure that administration is aware that we are going to speak out aggressively against cuts that are going to negatively affect students and faculty,” Triplett said. Members of the AAUP-WSU have regularly attended board meetings since the start of the budget crisis. “We hope that more faculty and students will get involved and become aware of what’s happening,” Triplett said. Triplett hopes to spread the message further through their blog, and to get their message across to the Board of Trustees. “We’re just trying to get the truth out there,” Triplett said. One of the protesters, a 20-year-old Mechanical Engineering major, decided to get involved after reading the AAUP-WSU blog and attending the student forums for the presidential candidates. “My friends and I decided to form a coalition,” he said. “Somebody has to bring up these issues and hold these people accountable. I paid for education not administration, as my sign says clearly. It’s something I deeply believe.”
Rowdy for sports updates? Check out The Guardian’s Facebook page for athletic updates!
Want to stay updated on Wright State news? Check out our website for daily updates.