Monday, August 13, 2012
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Study recognizes 'U' as a great place to work
Monday, August 13, 2012
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
11.
Chronicle Editor:
purpose of list is to
understand college
work atmosphere
By KATIE BURKE
Daily Staff Reporter
There is more to a school than
its students, and the University
proved this week that it continues
to have a strong focus on its own
workforce.
The University was recognized
last Monday in the Chronicle of
Higher Education's 2012 Great
Colleges to Work For list, appear-
ing on the publication's Honor
Roll and recognized in nine of the
12 workplace categories.
Laurita Thomas, the Univer-
sity's associate vice president for
human resources, wrote in an
e-mail to The Michigan Daily that
creating a strong environment for
faculty is an area of major impor-
tance to the University and added
that the opinions of its staff are
given attention.
"We take pride in building a
workplace that fosters collabo-
ration, a strong sense of job sat-
isfaction and proper work/life
balance," Thomas wrote. "We
know from talking with faculty
and staff that our overall envi-
ronment and benefits package has
made a real difference in recruit-
ment and retention."
The Chronicle's study has been
published annually for five years,
and the University has been
named on its list each year.
This year, the University was
listed in categories that include
compensation and benefits, job
satisfaction and teaching envi-
ronment.
The University did not appear
in the categories for diversity,
professional/career-development
programs and supervisor or
department-chair relationship.
Thomas wrote that the specific
nature of the categories the Uni-
versity was not listed under gives
the University an idea of areas
that require attention.
"The Great Colleges to Work
For recognition helps us know
our strengths and what areas we
could explore to improve," Thom-
as wrote.
Chronicle Editor Liz McMillen
said the publication worked with
the consulting firm ModernThink
LLC to conduct a survey among
employees of large four-year
institutions. The final compila-
tion is not a ranking, but shows
the schools with the most positive
responses.
McMillen said the list began
as a way to better grasp the type
of working environment colleges
can provide.
"We're trying to understand
the academic workplace and what
some of the main features are
according to the employees that
work there," McMillen said.
McMillen said the reaction
from the academic community to
the list in past years has generally
been positive.
"(The list) is based on a survey,
a representative sample of people
from a particular institution,"
McMillen said. "And I'm sure
there's always somebody who
might disagree, but in general
institutions like the recognition."
Richard Boyer, principal and
managing partner of Modern-
Think, said in a University press
release that the merit of an insti-
tution's working environment is
tried in a slow economy, and the
listed schools have demonstrated
durability in that area.
"It's easier to be .a great work-
place during good times, but it's
when times are tough that com-
mitment to workplace quality
really gets tested," Boyer said in
the release. "Those institutions
that measure, up during times
of economic hardship reinforce
their already strong cultures."
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Bottom atop newly combined swimming programs
Programs combine
with plans to make
investment in
Canham Natatorium
By COLLEEN THOMAS
Daily Sports Editor
After longtime women's swim-
ming and diving coach Jim Rich-
ardson announced his retirement
in May, Michigan athletic director
Dave Brandon had a tough task to
find Richardson's replacement.
But on Friday, Brandon found
his replacement.
Men's swimming and div-
ing coach Mike Bottom was
announced as the new head
coach of the women's program,
an announcement that effectively
combines the men's and the wom-
en's programs under Bottom.
"I can think of no better per-
son to lead our swimming and
diving programs than Mike Bot-
tom," Brandon said in a statement
released by the athletic depart-
ment on Friday. "Mike brings a
wealth of experience at the colle-
giate, international and Olympic
level. He has led our men's pro-
gram to a championship level and
will work to return our women's
program to that same level. Our
aquatic programs have a rich his-
tory and tradition at all levels and
high expectations will continue
under Mike's leadership.
"This announcement is the
beginning of a substantial com-
mitment to our swimming and
diving programs," Brandon added.
"We plan to make a .significant
investment at Canham Natato-
rium in the near future. It's the
right time to combine our pro-
grams and to utilize Mike's talents
for the benefit of Michigan Swim-
ming and Diving."
Bottom led the men's program
to the Big Ten team title last year,
and has coached many Michi-
gan Olympians, including Tyler.
Clary - who won the men's.200m
backstroke in London- and Con-
nor Jaeger - who will return to
Michigan for his junior year after
placingf6th in the 1,500m freestyle
in London.
Bottom is also the three-time
Big Ten Coach of the Year on the
men's side in addition to coaching
the Serbian National swim team
in London for the 2012 Olympic
Games.
"I can think of
no better person
... than Mike
Bottom."
His accolades, both on a col-
legiate and international level,
include coaching Olympic medal-
ists and 19 swimmers to national
titles.
"This is really a great opportu-
nity and advantage for both of our
programs and the student-athletes
should be the ultimate beneficia-
ry," Bottom said in the statement.
"We will have the opportunity to
add excellent coaches to our cur-
rent staff. We can combine the
administrative work that has been
done by both the men's and wom-
en's staffs and allow the coaches
to focus more on the training,
coaching and mentoring of the
student-athletes. The future looks
bright for the men and women
associated with Michigan Swim-
ming and Diving."
And after coaching the men's
team at Michigan - a position
he has held for four seasons - he
will be the new face of the entire
Wolverine swimming and diving
program.
EDITORIAL STAFF
GiacominBologna
gboloknaemichigndaily.com
ManagingEditor
TWITTER
From Page 1A
in May 2012, at the beginning of
the study. In approximately three
months' time, the researchers
purchased some 20,000 to 70,000
"followers" for each of the three
accounts.
Researchers found that followers
could be bought from sites as com-
monly used as eBaycom. The study
cites that the fake followers were
bought from 20 different eBay sell-
ers and 58 websites of 100 results
returned from a Google search of
"buytwitter followers."
From the study's data, research-
ers calculated that the average
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price for 1,000 "followers" is
approximately $18.
With only a Twitter user-
name required to purchase phony
accounts, and considering that
"dealers" - as Barracuda refers
to the sellers of bogus followers
- can control as many as 150,000
accounts, it is easy to see how this
business is a growing one.
The report also examined a
recent and oddly large spike in
the number of followers of Rom-
ney's Twitter account, @Mit-
tRomney.
In a single day, July 21, 2012,
the number of Romney's followers
increased from 673,002 to 789,924
- an increase of 116,922 followers
or approximately 17 percent in one
day.
140elect.com, a website that
provides metrics of tweets rel-
evant to the 2012 election, reports
that in the month prior to the
spike, Romney gained an average
of approximately 3,000 to 4,000
followers per day.
Barracuda Labs analyzed
152,966 of Romney's followers
that began following between
July 21-26. The analysis high-
lighted that 25 percent of the
examined followers were less
than three weeks old and 80 per-
cent were less than three months
old.
The study also concluded that
almost one quarter of the same
followers had no tweets at all and
that Twitter had suspended 10
percent of the accounts.
Jason Ding, the report's author,
said the research team has reason
to believe that most of Romney's
recent followers are "not from a
general Twitter population," and
most likely resulted from a paid
Twitter service.
Because authentication is not
necessary to purchase Twitter
accounts, Ding also cautioned that
it isn't possible for the researchers
to identify the exact source of the
followers with the information
they were provided. -
"It is possible for anyone to buy
followers for other Twitter users,"
Ding remarked. "So far, there is
not a feasible way to confirm who
is responsible."
The report noted that it's also
unclear as to whether Romney's
supporters, his rivals or Romney
himself have paid for some of his
Twitter account's latest follow-
ers.
Zac Moffatt, the digital direc-
tor for Romney's campaign, has
"rejected accusations" that the
campaign was purchasing follow-
ers for Romney's Twitter account,
according to BuzzFeed.com.
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A2 Council denies parkland amendment As University of Michigan A/umni,
We've been supporting the-
Members rejoined Some feared that Fuller Park Advisory Commission deliberated UM Community since 1939..
land could be leased as part of on whether or not to recommend
after primary to the new train station - prospec- the ballot iniative. The commission
tively on Fuller Road - that Coun- unanimously decided to recom-
hold usual meeting cil accepted federal funding to mend its opposition. ByAppointment
research in June, according to the Though the resolution was spon- 3041/2 S. STATE ST.
By STEVE ZOSKI Chronicle. sored by Mike Anglin (D-Ward 5), AboveBens &Jerry's
Daily News Editor In reference to the alleged Jane Lumm (I=Ward 2) and Sabra 734 668 9329
"loophole," Christopher Taylor Briere (D-Ward 1), Briere intro-
At Thursday night's City Coun- (D-Ward 3) said the resolution had duced a more specific amendment
cil meeting - which occurred on "unintended" but "likely unknow- to the resolution approvingthebal- WWWDASCOLABARBERS.COM
a Thursday, rather than a Monday able consequences" and added that lot proposal. Briere's amendment WALK-INS WELCOME!
due to last Tuesday's primary elec- voters had already decided they was also supported by Stephen
tion - campaigning was set aside didn't need the extra lease clause. Kunselman (D-Ward 3).*.
and several issues were discussed, "Aside from the fact that the Later in the meeting, Briere
despite the potential post-election word 'sale' could not be more plain, didn't vote for the resolution she
awkwardness such as Tony Derez- and that voters are presuming to sponsored. Rather, Anglin, Lumm,
inski (D-Ward 2) - who lost Tues- regret the ballot measures that Kunselman and Marcia Higgins
day - sitting next to Jane Lumm they passed, I learned yesterday at (D-Ward 4) voted in favor of it,
(I-Ward 2) - who endorsed his the (Park Advisory Commission's) only to see the resolution rejected. 7 9 4 6 3
opponent. meeting that Council specifically Mayor John Hieftje said he
Much of the meeting's discussion removed the word 'lease' from the couldn't support the ballot -ini- 8 6
focused on the approval of a resolu- ballot measure that went before tiative, adding that the public
tion that would have puta question voters in 2008," Taylor said. expressed that they like the Fuller 3 2
on the November ballot asking Ann Taylor added that he thought Road Station idea. Hieftje said
Arbor voters whether or not they people were wrong to claim they Fuller can always be its own ballot
would like to change how parkland had always intended there to be a proposal, rather than having to fix 1 4 7
in the city is protected. lease clause in the 2008 legislation. the "loophole."
The ballot initiative, if approved "In light of this specific and "I have no doubt that if the tim-
by voters, intended to make it so no intentional deletion of 'lease' from ing is right, that if that's taken to
parkland could be sold or leased for the 2008 ballot language, the con- the voters, if it's a fully developed
any long-term, non-recreational tinued assertion that 'lease' was proposal ... that the voters will
use, without voter approval. part of the initiative's intent is ... approve that," Hieftje said.
In2008,AnnArborvoterspassed demonstrably false," Taylor said. Additionally at the meeting, 6
a similar initiative by an 81-percent "It may be a good idea, this may be Council approved a resolution
to 19-percent margin, which speci- a bad idea, but to suggest that oppo- to designate the property at 317
fied that parkland could not be sold sition to the proposal contrary to Maynard Street as an Ann Arbor
withoutvoter approval. the demonstrated will of the peo- Industiral Development District. 5 .9 6 8 2,4
According to the Ann Arbor ple as evidenced by the 2008 reso- This designation allows for the
Chronicle, because the word lotion is, I believe, patently false." location's likely tenant, Baracudda
"lease" was not specified in the Discussion of the issue had been Networks, to begin a process of E
2008 amendment, some Ann Arbor delayed from a July 16 City Council qualifying for reduced taxes by the
residents said a "loophole" existed. meeting. On Aug. 8, the city's Park's city.
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