The Michigan Times

Relief and grief over Obama win

Regardless of vote, UM-Flint students react with high expectations as Obama bests McCain to become nation's first black president

Flint - After months of campaigning, debating and politicking, the 2008 election is over with Barack Obama as President-elect. UM-Flint hosted a series of debate watches during the campaign season, and Student Government was quick to continue the trend with an election watch party.… Post the First Comment

Dorm additions already being considered

Task force created to determine if housing demand warrants extension of First Street Residence Hall

by Lacee Starr Horton in Campus

Flint - With the success of the new dorms this fall, and with enrollment at record highs, UM-Flint administration has been looking into the possibility of an addition to the current dormitory building. Although plans for potential new housing are still in their infant stages, preliminary architect sketches for the proposed addition were drawn along with the primary plans, in hopes of someday being able to utilize them.

However, as with the current housing, more planning will need to be done before the decision to expand is made. The proposed project would have to be approved by Chancellor Person and still meet three requirements set forth by the regents in Ann Arbor:Approval of the project and proposed architect, approval of the proposed architects design and approval to bid to the architect and begin construction, a process that could take up to three years.

The University is forming a task force of key officials that is expected to meet in the near future; they are expected to discuss the costs, dates, and student interest of beginning phase-two construction. … Post the First Comment

Skivington retirement leaves big shoes to fill

by Amanda Emery in Campus

UM-Flint lost a longtime leader when Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement Kristen Skivington retired on Sept. 30. … 1 Comment

School nursing state's needs

by Marla Diakonis in Campus

Flint - A patient falls, blood pressure soars and there's a failure to rescue. These things could happen to you, your family or a friend even while admitted in the hospital. It's not that your nurse doesn't care or isn't properly trained, but because there are just simply not enough of them. … Post the First Comment

Science of outreach

by Ashley Armstrong in Campus

Flint - Most professors at UM-Flint are committed to promoting higher education in their classes. Li-hsuan Yang, an assistant professor of Science Education, felt the need to take step further. Yang, who is teaching EDS 344 (Teaching Science in Middle and Secondary Schools) this semester, wanted to give her own students some hands-on practice in working with underprivileged students.… Post the First Comment

Does Sodexo have an unfair advantage?

Student groups charged 15 percent extra to use outside catering vendors

by Aaron Burch in Campus

Sodexo catering fast facts ? China service available for an additional charge. ? Events with fewer than 75 guests will not have an attendant automatically assigned. Attendents are available for an additional charge. ? All equipment delivered will be on loan, and replacement charges will result if the equipment is missing or damaged upon pick-up.… Post the First Comment

Visa may no longer be accepted

Committee looking at moving credit card payments to third party

by Jennifer Profitt in Campus

Flint - Paying tuition with your credit card may be a bit pricier come next fall if a third party credit card proposal is passed.… 2 Comments

SGC briefs: Kiva gets an upgrade

by Jennifer Profitt in Campus

Flint - A new sound system is to be placed in the Kiva room in the University Center. Vice- Chancellor for Administration David Barthelmes told Student Government Council, "It's probably the original sound system that came with the building. Certainly, it's not up to the current standards.… Post the First Comment

U doesn't DUK celebration

No quacking as countdown to accrediation begins

by Jenny Serwach in Campus

Flint - For weeks posters featuring ducks, chalk drawings of ducks and other such advertising all asked the question, "DUK?" or "Do you know?" On Oct. 28, students gathered at the UPAV to figure out what all the fuss was about. "I just heard about it, I checked my email and decided to head over here," said Nina Mohamed, a senior in pre-law and communications.… Post the First Comment

Agho addresses student body

by Amanda Emery in Campus

Flint - On Oct. 30, University of Michigan-Flint Student Government President Owen Agho spoke largely about the accomplishments of Student Government this year in his first "State of the Students" address. "As I celebrate my 21st birthday today, I also celebrate the current state of our students," Agho said.… Post the First Comment

Safety blotter: Alleged thieves issued criminal warrants

by Lacee Starr Horton in Campus

Flint - The two subjects who were initially apprehended, identified and subsequently released for taking a computer from an unlocked car in the International Institute parking lot were issued criminal warrants for larceny from a motor vehicle by the 67th District court on Nov.… Post the First Comment

Positions of Power: Bill Webb

Assistant chancellor helps run the campus from the background

by Tim Jagielo in Campus

Flint - Assistant Vice Chancellor for Administration Bill Webb's eyes glossed slightly as he described his 24 year old son's final moments on a hospital bed in 1998. "The beautiful part was, the [hospital staff] said 'What we can do is take him off life support,' and with 1,000 tubes hooked up there's all these … alarms going off," he said.

"And basically with our daughter there, myself, Judy, and the nurses suggested this, [Judy] crawled into bed with him, we sort of all huddled around, and he passed away within ten minutes he was taken off life support."

Gregory Webb was disabled, and succumbed to a blood infection after an out-patient tonsillectomy surrounded by his family. … 3 Comments

Black enrollment still strong

Admissions: U not affected by state's 2006 ban on affirmative action

by Ashley Coleman in Campus

Flint - Despite the restriction on affirmative action practices in the state of Michigan, enrollment of black students at UM-Flint continues to increase. The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (formerly Proposal 2), passed in November 2006, prohibits the state from granting preferential treatment based on skin color or gender through the use of "affirmative action.… Post the First Comment

City to act soon on dam

Water lowered to prevent failure; study results expected

by Michael Stechschulte in Campus

Flint - The streets of Flint are flooded. Pedestrians wade through two-foot deep water on their way out of the city. Health officials issue warnings and citizens begin to become sick from the contamination in the water. Deaths and property damage are reported as far as Flushing. UM-Flint cancels classes and begins to assess the damage.

Sounds far-fetched, but a scenario like that could actually happen if nothing is done to fix the ailing and dangerous Hamilton Dam, which stretches across the Flint River through UM-Flint's campus.

In 2005, the Department of Environmental Quality ordered that if by 2008, the city of Flint had not taken steps toward either fixing or replacing the dam, the water level in the river had to be lowered to avoid a catastrophic failure. … Post the First Comment

Mi CASA, su CASA

New Chaldean Arab Student Association welcomes all races, cultures

by David Veenhuis in Campus

New to UM-Flint, the Chaldean Arab Student Association (CASA) introduced itself to the campus with Middle Eastern Day Oct. 29 in the first floor of the UCEN. The event featured a pair of speakers as well as traditional Middle Eastern food and music. Co-President Saed Isaac, a senior chemistry major, explained that CASA is an all-inclusive student group.… Post the First Comment

U nurses to practice craft in Africa

by Christy Ryan in Campus

Flint - What do St. Mary's Mission Hospital in Kenya and the University of Michigan in common? The answer is nursing, and an interest to reach beyond local boundaries. The bridge to this gap for UM-Flint is Francis Murthuri, the principal of St. Mary's Medical College, who has created the possibility for a partnership where "U of M students are going to gain instructional experience in Kenya [when] before there was not any place in Africa to experience this.… Post the First Comment

A new view comes to U

Controversial and prolific writer comes to UM-Flint

by Alea Orr in Campus

Flint - UM-Flint's 2008-2009 Winegarden Professorship appointment has gone to Pakistani born Tariq Ali, who is a controversial novelist, journalist, historian and political campaigner. Ali has a really different view on a lot of things, which is evident by his involvement for instance in many different fields as a writer.… Post the First Comment

A world record: 'Can' they do it?

Sodexo going for Guiness mark with nationwide single-day drive

by Bryant Harland in Campus

On the morning of November 12, Sodexo will began its journey to set a world record - and help the world along the way. Utilizing its connections to college campuses around the country, Sodexo hopes to collect enough canned goods in hopes of breaking the world record for most non-perishable goods collected in a 24-hour period by a non-charity organization.… Post the First Comment