(be i jig~tan104ailjj Ann Arbor, Michigan Thursday, March 27, 2014 michigandaily.com ACADEMICS ', Peace Corps sign program agreement School of Information becomes the first to be involved in two new initiatives By CLAIRE BRYAN Daily Staff Reporter After a ceeoyWednesday afternoon, the University's School of Information expanded its part- nership with the Peace Corps through two new initiatives. The first agreement allowed the University to create its own branch of the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program. The Coverdell program provides financial support and aca- demic credit to any students who have previously served in the Peace Corps, allowingthemto countpart of their time in the organization towards graduation. The second created a partner- ship with the University and the Master's International Program, which will allow students to start their Masters in Science in Infor- mation before serving in the Peace Corps and return to it once they complete their service. This pro- gramis the first ever at an Informa- tion School. According to Judy Lawson, assistant dean for student and aca- demic affairs, students' time in the Peace Corps will fulfill six intern- ship credits, a total of360hours. After returning to the program, students will be required to par- ticipate in the Initiative for Infor- mation Impact-a set of service based projects including Alterna- tive Spring Break, Citizen Interac- tion Design, Global Information Engagement Program and Michi- gan Makers, Lawson said. "I think the interest around the School of Information is one that has really grown out of the existing relationship but also a realization, both on the part of the Peace Corp and people here at Michigan who have worked with the Peace Corps, that there is a real need within the work of the Peace Corp around information technology," James Holloway, vice provost for global and engaged education, said. For example, there is a new See PEACECORPS, Page 4A VIAGIIA LOZAN Acting director af the Peace Corps Carrie Hessler-Radelet speaks at the Ford School of Public Policy Wednesday about the past, present, and future of the oreani; Leader talks Director of Peace Corps examines organization's future By JOEL GOLDSTEIN For the Daily Fifty-four years ago, U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy, then presidential candidate, held an impromptu election speech on the steps of the Michigan Union, where he proposed to more than 5,000 students the idea of the Peace Corps, a volunteer orga- nization to help impoverished nations. One year after Kennedy's speech, the Peace Corps was established through an execu- tive order. Since the estab- lishment of the program, the University has supplied the fourth most volunteers to the C orps~ organization, with 2,556 gradu- ates serving in the Peace Corps. Carrie Hessler-Radelet, act- ing director of the Peace Corps, spoke at the Ford School of Public Policy Wednesday, dis- cussing the future of the orga- nization. The talk was part of a series of policy talks held at the Ford School this year. Recently, Hessler-Radelet has focused on improving effi- ciency and safety within the organization. The Peace Corps goals experienced scandal prior to Hessler-Radelet's tenure due to allegations ofcovering up sexual assaults of volunteers while they were abroad. Hessler-Radelet implemented the standards of the 2011 Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act, which are meant to train and protect volunteers. Hessler-Radelet has served as acting director since July 2013. Before serving with the Peace See GOALS, Page SA CAMPUS LIFE Students lookat 'U disability efforts Advisory Board meets to discuss possibilities for better campus climate By CHARLOTTE JENKINS DailyStaff Reporter At a Services for Students with Disabilities Student Advisory Board event on Wednesday, Busi- ness senior Rohit Kapur recited a Mike Myers quote that spoke to him. "If I went by all the rejection I've had in my career, I should have given up a long time ago," the Myers quote reads. "These words resonate with me in not only in terms of rejec- tion from the general public and members of the opposite sex, but from potential future employers aswell," Kapursaid. Kapur was one of seven stu- See BOARD, Page 4A EDUCATION Teach for America to start new training program for volunteers RYAN REISS/Daily The Michigan Hybrid Racing team unveils their new racecar in the FXB building on North Campus Wednesday. Team unvels new hybrid .c race ar fr co--peitio Summer session to be extended to year- long curriculum By EMILIE PLESSET Daily Staff Reporter For 24 years, the Teach for America program has catered to college graduates hoping to help underprivileged students through a two-year teaching stint in schools across the coun- try. While many TFA applicants hear of rewarding experienced garnered through the program, they are less likely to be informed of the problems corps members experience once in the class- room. Many alumni have criticized the TFA program for undertrain- ing corps members and throwing inexperienced teachers into dif- ficult classroom situations. The summer prior to their first year in a classroom, pro- spective teachers must com- plete a five-week teaching crash course. University alum Rohan Dharan, a current Las Vegas-based corps member, said the crash course was simi- lar to "cramming" an education degree in five weeks. "I definitely learned a ton at institute, but teaching is such a multi-faceted thing," Dharan said. "Until you're in a position running your own classroom, figuring out what works for your kids, I can't say I walked in 100 percent prepared." The Washington Post, The Atlantic, NPR and other news organizations have published first-hand accounts from TFA alum who had experiences simi- lar to Dharan's involving appar- ent lack of preparation. In an effort to confront this criticism, TFA co-CEOs Elisa Villanueva Beard and Matthew Kramer announced recent- ly that next year early TFA- admitted college seniors will participate in a year-long pilot program. The program will focus on teacher education and will pro- vide participants with an extra year to practice their teaching skills before they are in charge of their own classroom. Kendra Hearn, University Coordinator of the TFA-Detroit See TFA, Page 2A NV Hybrid Racing of North Campus' Francois Xavier Bagnoud Building on ream to attend Wednesday night. The team will take the ew Hampshire car to the weeklong Formula Hybrid competition at the end tournament of April for its third showing at the competition in New y PAULA FRIEDRICH Hampshire. Cars compete Daily StaffReporter in acceleration, autocross, endurance and marketing sweep of blue fabric competitions. The MHybrid eiled the MHybrid Rac- team took fourth place last After unveiling the car, the team removed its shell to reveal the jumble of wires, gears and tubes that makes the vehicle go. With 20 percent less weight than last year's car, the vehi- cle features an organized and modular electric system. "Last year, we had our first working car that actually could run and so from there we learned a lot of things See RACECAR, Page 5A B A unvc ing team's car in the atrium year. WEATHER HI 45 TOMORROW- LO:29 GOT A NEWS TIP? NEW ON MICHIGANQAILYCOM Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail Coleman recieves award in D.C. news@michigandaily.com and letus know. MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS INDEX Vol. CXXIV, No. 91 02014 The Michigan Daily michigondoilycom NEW S........................2A CLASSIFIEDS... A...... ..6A SUDDKU .....................2A SPORTS..............7A OPINION .....................3A B-SIDE............ 1B A4j