The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Wednesday, January 31, 2013 - 5A

The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Wednesday, January 31 - 2013 - SA

POLLACK
From Page 1A
vost, Pollack works closely with
the Hanlon to craft budgetary
policy, most notably the Univer-
sity's general fund budget. Pollack
plays a large role in supervising
assessments of the University's
schools and colleges and during
has been at the forefront of efforts
to expand the University's rela-
tionship with Coursera, a massive
open online course platform.
In an interview with The
Michigan Daily Wednesday, Cole-
man cited Pollack's work with
Hanlonas anintegralfactor in the
selection.
"They've got-such a great team
in that office in terms of analyzing
the budget and where we can look
for cost savings - where we can
make investments that are really
going to move the institution,"
Coleman said. "She worked really
well with the team and with Phil
(Hanlon) over the few years she
was in that role, and it's obvious
to me that she's somebody with
enormous potential."
Pollack has worked in part-
nership with Hanlon, deans and
budget directors not only on bud-
getary issues, but also in develop-
ing and advancing new academic
programs. Last fall, Pollack and
Hanlontaught aone-credit course
on finance in higher education to
help students better understand
the process of budgetary and fis-
cal planning.
In a statement, Coleman said
Pollack's array of experiences has
prepared her to assume the Uni-
versity's second highest adminis-
trative role.
"Martha Pollack is an effective
leader who understands how to
maintain world-class academics
through a disciplined approach to
finances," Coleman said. "She has
a deep understanding of the chal-
lenges and opportunities current-
ly facing higher education. Her
appointment as provost reflects
a deep knowledge of this institu-
tion that is grounded in her work
as a faculty member, department
chair and dean."
Prior to being appointed vice
provost - a position Hanlon held
before his own ascent to provost
- Pollack served as dean of the-
School of Information. During
her 13 years at the University, she
has also served as associate chair
for computer science and engi-
neering in the Department of
Electrical Engineering and Com-
puter Science. Her research has
focused largely on the advance-
ment of artificial intelligence,
and she has also worked as edi-
tor-in-chief of the Journal of the
Association for the Advancement
of Artificial Intelligence.
LEO
From Page 1A
where we focus our effort,"
Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald added that the Uni-
versity is not paying much heed
to right-to-work, but will focus on
the contract negotiations.
Halloran said LEO is already
preparing for the effects of
right-to work, which may
leave the union less financially

VETERANS
From Page 1A
education, said the need for on-
campus veteran student hous-
ing has been a heavily discussed
topic.
"We had been hearing around
campus that veterans' issues
and veterans' needs are some-
thing that's on lots of people's
minds," Peipock said. "We
wanted to create some sort com-
munity that amplifies support
and allows some connection and
more specific resources for vet-
eran students, specifically resi-
dents."
Philip Larson, a transition
specialist in the Office of New
Student Programs, realized the
need for veteran student hous-
ing through his discussions with
current students who are vet-
erans of the armed services. He
said veterans living off-campus
told Housing they were missing
a connection to campus and their
fellow veterans.
During its first year, the VLE
expects to house only eight to 10
veteran students, but Housing
has alloted 16 beds for the 2013-
2014 school year, according to
Peipock.
The community will also

lnan interview with the Daily
Wednesday, Pollack said she is
thrilled to fulfill the position,
and hopes to help the University
adjust to dramatic changes fac-
ing higher education.
"You can see that as a chal-
lenge or an opportunity - I think
it's both," Pollack said. "We're
at a moment where there's real
realization where we have to do
things differently."
Pollack attributes much of her
knowledge and qualifications for
the position to Hanlon's mentor-
ship while she worked as vice
provost in addition to her experi-
ence in previous roles at the Uni-
versity.
Her goals include furthering
the use of educational technol-
ogy to adapt to the trend toward
online learning.
"I'm excited about ways to
use that so we can free up time
for more hands-on activities and
to hold down costs," she said. "I
think we need to be more pro-
ductive, and one way we can do
that is making creative use of
online technologies. I think we'll
see how that plays out in the
coming years."
Pollack stressed the impor-
tance of affordability for stu-
dents and added that she will
work to put the University at the
forefront of affordability.
"I think we have to figure out
how to continue to deliver a first-
rate education - one that gives
hands-on education that well
help (students) become leaders
in the 21st century - and do it in
a way that allows access to stu-
dents, whatever their socioeco-
nomic background," Pollack said.
When asked about her future
beyond her new role as provost,
Pollack said she wants to focus
on the next two years ahead.
Pollack earned her undergrad-
uate degree in linguistics from
Dartmouth College in 1979, a
Master of Science in Engineering
in computer science and engi-
neering in 1984 and Ph.D. in the
same subject in 1986- both from
the University of Pennsylvania.
She previously taught at the Uni-
versity of Pittsburgh in various
capacities from 1991 to 2000.
Judy Lawson, assistant dean
for academic and student affairs
for the School of Information,
said as a fellow colleague she
most admires Pollack's unwaver-
ing commitment to students.
"When Dr. Pollack first start-
ed in her position as dean of
the schoolof information, I was
struck by her incredible energy,
enthusiasm and down-to-earth
approach," Lawson said. "I
always felt that student interests
were a top priority for Dr. Pol-
lack."
Moreover, Lawson said Pol-
secure.
"If people choose not to sup-
port the union because of this
new law ... our income is going
to bealower, we might have to
change office space, we will prob-
ably have to reduce employees -
we don't want to do any of that,"
she said.
LSA senior Alfred Juncaj was
walking through Mason Hall
and stopped to watch the flash
mob.
He wasn't aware of what LEO

lack's information background
aligns perfectly with the role of
provost. She said Pollack often
spoke about the ways in which
the digital age was transforming
many aspects of everyday life,
including the ways people learn
and educate others.
"Dr. Pollack brings an uncan-
ny ability to manage competing
priorities and move an organi-
zation towards greater levels of
success," Larson said. "I antici-
pate that, as provost, she will
foster high levels of engagement
in making the university operate
more efficiently and effectively.
She also has a great sense of
humor, which is always a bonus."
Ina Nov. 29 interview, Pollack
said the University remained
financially solvent, largely due to
the careful planning by Hanlon,
but that serious budget issues
would continue to be a main
issue for the next provost.
"Many of the (challenges) are
going to be continuations of the
ones he had to deal with. Many
of them are of course financial,"
Pollack said. "There's been a
serious decline in state support
for public education, and we'll
have to come to grips with that."
"We're going to continue to
work hard ... but the fundamen-
tal (budget) model is sound."
Pollack will receive a salary of
$450,000 - less than Hanlon's
$509,000 - according to Univer-
sity spokesman Rick Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald added that there
was no search committee formed
to hire a new Provost, but Cole-
man consulted various people
across campus while making her
decision.
"I consulted with a lot of
people around the institution
because obviously anybody tak-
ing that role you want to make
sure that they are establishing
good relationships - that they
are clear, that they take advice -
and all those things come togeth-
er," Coleman said Wednesday.
In an interview in December,
Hanlon predicted the University
would choose a talented succes-
sor.
"I think we'll get someone
really terrific in the job, some-
one really skilled," Hanlon said.
"They'll know exactly what
they're doing, I'm sure."
Hanlon also granted some
advice, stressing the importance
of facilitating the vast resources
the University offers.
"We have terrific students,
and we have terrific faculty and
we've got the human resources
talent to beat any place," Han-
lon said. "It's really a question of
opportunity to take all this brain
power and talent and really take
this place to perform at an even
higher level than it has been."
was advocating for, and added
that while many students at the
University are socially aware,
he didn't think holding an event
like this in between classe won't
often draw the attention of pass-
ersby.
"No (one) really pays atten-
tion, I think," Juncaj said.
"When it comes to stuff like
this, probably 80 percent of
them kind of blow it off and
only maybe 20 percent actually
care about causes."

CRISIS
From Page 1A
anchor of ABC's "Good Morning
America."
The team with the best solu-
tion to the crisis will be awarded
$10,000, followed by second and
third place prizes of $5,000 and
$2,500, respectively. The win-
ning team will also be recog-
nized by former President Bill
Clinton at the upcoming CGIU
conference in April in St. Louis.
Mary Tam, senior manager of
the Up to Us campaign, said the
economy isn't usually given as
much attention among college
students asother issues.
"A lot of people think of sus-
tainability as social and environ-
mental sustainability, but fiscal
sustainability is equally impor-
tant," Tam said.
Tam said the competition is
aimed at getting college students
involved in a conversation about
our country's fiscal future-a
discussion they're often the least
engaged in.
"So the reason we were really
excited to sign up for this is that
it's another way to really empow-
er young leaders to be able to say
to their peers, 'Hey; guess what?
All these discussions and deci-
sions are happening without us,
and we're the ones who are going
to be affected by them,' " Tam
said.
She expects the variety of col-
leges involved in the competition
WHITEHEAD
From Page 1A
dents."
Megan Levad, assistant direc-
tor of the MFA Program in Cre-
ative Writing said students and
faculty are equally excited to
hear Whitehead speak.
"We're all interested in his
play with the genre," Levad said.
"Colson Whitehead is particu-
larly good at honing in on what's
going on in pop culture and
popular fiction and bringing his

to produce interesting results.
"We're dealing with a bunch
of different campuses with a
bunch of different campaign
perspectives and activities, and
that's great," Tam said. "That's
the whole point, but it makes it
hard to have this objective judg-
ing process."
Business junior Richard Wu,
campaign director of the Uni-
versity's team and vice president
of operations in the University's
Net Impact Undergrad club,
applied for the competition in
October, along with students
from 44 other universities.
Wu said the University's team
is taking a fresh approach to
potential crisis solutions.
"What we're trying to do is
really different from other uni-
versities," Wu said. "We plan to
engage people from a fun and
enjoyable standpoint rather than
lecturing - this is what it is, dry
and boring."
Wu added that the economy
is incredibly relevant to college
students and topics including job
and earning potential and stu-
dent debt.
"Those are all topics that per-
tain to students, and they should
really be more aware that the
federal debt, especially, plays a
really big part in it," Wu said.
Business junior Marcella
Pearl, president of Net Impact
Undergrad, is also on the team.
She said the competition helps
to increase consciousness of the
economic climate outside of the
literary, dark, philosophical way
of understanding our contempo-
rary moment to that."
The purpose of the craft talks
is to have the students carry on
conversations with writers who
are currently creating and pub-
lishing.
"Every program invites writ-
ers, but they don't do it so inti-
mately as we do it here," Leung
said. "It's really easy to access
these writers. It's really easy
to get to know them and have a
casual conversation with them
and learn to speak with them as

University campus.
"As college students, we're the
next people going into the work
force," Pearl said. "It's impor-
tantto be aware of the world that
we're living in, and it's so easy to
just get caught up in classes and
your everyday life that it's just
like a bubble here on campus and
you lose sight of the world you're
going to be living in once you
graduate."
From Jan. 21 to March 3,
the team has many activities
planned, such as Guess the Debt
Fishbowl, a game in which stu-
dents guess the amount of fed-
eral debt flying around in a large
fishbowl and win prizes if cor-
rect: On Federal Debt Awareness
Day the team will hang posters
with facts about the federal debt.
The team was given $2,000
from Net Impact to spend on'
their campaign. Throughout the
competition, the team will be
updating their Causes website so
students can stay on top of prog-
ress and activities.
Park said he views the federal
debt as an even more far-reach-
ing problem than the current col-
lege generation.
"It's somethingthat can affect
the living standards of our gen-
eration especially," Park said. "If
this continues to go on, things
that we actually enjoy nowadays
that we think we are given, like
education - our children and
their children's children will
actually have a problem paying
for those."
people,.not just'as celebrities."
Although the craft talks are
geared toward writers, both
the talk and reading are open
to the public, meaning students
and literature fans alike are
welcome to rub elbows with
MacArthur genius and certified
cool guy.
. The craft talk will take place
at 2 p.m. in the Hopwood Room
in Angell Hall. His fiction read-
ing will follow at 5 p.m. in the
Helmut Stern Auditorium at the
University of Michigan Museum
of Art.

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include its own resident adviser
who will be carefully selected
and undergo special training to
provide necessary resources for
the VLE.
"The RA who would ulti-
mately be situated within the
veterans living experience
would go through some spe-
cific training and orientation
about veterans' needs, veter-
ans' perspectives and some
of the challenges of older and
more worldly students," Logan
said.
The new home for veteran stu-
dents was specifically chosen for
North Quad's mix of global and
second-year students.
"Given the needs of veter-
ans, lots of them have differ-
ent life experiences, so they're
not like a traditional incoming
first-year student," Peipek said.
"Also the Global Scholars Pro-
gram and International Impact
in North Quad lends itself to
a global awareness and may
speak to experiences that vet-
erans have."
In addition to the interna-
tional environment of North
Quad, Logan believes that the
veteran students' background
will add to the initiatives of the
global learning communities
and activities sponsored by the

residence hall.
"Having a group of veterans
living in North Quad ultimately
may provide some synergies
in terms of internal program-
ming, international awareness,
multicultural competency and
so forth because veterans do
bring unique perspectives to the
table," Logan said.
In the future, Larson hopes to
provide other housing options
for veteran students, specifically
those with families.
"I think the veterans com-
munity here (is) really excited
about this opportunity," Larson
said. "We're looking at expand-
ing to family options with
Northwood Apartments and
other things that come up down
the lines."
VLE is one of two learning
communities being created by
University Housing this year.
TheGender Inclusive Living
Experience, which will be locat-
ed in East Quad Residence Hall,
has already filled up six of the 12
available beds for the fall 2013
semester.
"We're really excited to be able
to provide these housing options
for residents," Peipock said. "It's
going to start out small, but the
hope is that it will catch on and
grow."

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