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Monday, March 9, 2015
CELEBRATING OUR ONE-HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
ADMINISTRATION
ACADEMICS
GOVERNMENT
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Distinction
encourages faculty
to push academic
boundaries
By MICHAEL SUGERMAN
Daily News Editor
ten • ure (noun): having or
denoting a permanent post, espe-
cially as a teacher or professor
***
Tenure is an honor — a mark
of recognition and a reward for
distinguished contributions to
scholarship both in terms of
research and teaching. Subse-
quently, it is a coveted title. For
students, however, it is quite pos-
sible that tenure is a complete
mystery. How important is it, and
how do faculty earn it?
In the realm of academia,
holding tenure is “being able to
hold controversial, unpopular or
provocative views without the
fear of losing one’s job,” accord-
ing to Sara Blair, vice provost for
academic and faculty affairs.
“Tenure
enables
faculty
to press research questions,
teaching, scholarship into areas
that may be new, that may be
uncomfortable,
with
confi-
dence that the institution will
protect the freedom of their
inquiry,” Blair said.
It is important to clarify that
freedom of speech is afforded
to all faculty: “The principle
of freedom of expression and
protection for the integrity of
scholarship is of paramount
importance to officers of the
University,” Blair said.
“Everyone has freedom of
speech,” said Lori Pierce, vice
provost for academic and faculty
affairs. “But it’s the freedom to
pursue ideas that perhaps are
more risky.”
Pierce said the timeline for
promotion varies among the Uni-
versity’s assorted schools and
colleges. The University’s maxi-
mum “tenure probationary peri-
od” is 10 years — a deadline set by
the University’s Medical School.
Reps. work on
new honor code,
mental health
support network
By LEA GIOTTO
Daily Staff Reporter
With elections for the Cen-
tral
Student
Government’s
2015-2016 leadership less than
a month away, current members
of the assembly discussed goals
they have accomplished this
semester, initiatives they wish
they could have achieved and
issues they hope to address in the
future.
CSG President Bobby Dishell,
a Public Policy senior, said his
benchmark for success has been
the realization of last year’s
Make Michigan party platform.
“I think this semester is
going really well, to be honest,”
Dishell said. “We accomplished
pretty much our entire plat-
form so far. So now we’re able
to take on additional projects
like the honor code.”
The honor code aims to com-
plement the existing Statement
of Student Rights and Respon-
sibilities, which outlines Uni-
versity responses to student
behavior deemed inappropri-
ate. The proposed code asks
students to pledge to support
honor, integrity, inclusivity and
respect.
Dishell mentioned a recent
resolution that, if passed, will
ask University administration
to release data from course
evaluations, so students could
see accurate “ratings” of their
professors and graduate stu-
dent instructors.
Additionally, Make Michi-
gan’s original platform called
for expanding the Night Owl
Bus route, revamping the Mich-
igan smartphone application,
improving off-campus lighting
and introducing a academic
minor in entrepreneurship.
Though
CSG
announced
plans in December to discon-
tinue the bus route due to lack
of funding, University Parking
Transportation Services ulti-
mately offered enough funds
to keep the current version of
the program running at least
through the end of the semester.
But perhaps most notably,
Renowned former
neurosurgeon
looks to gain GOP
nomination
By EMMA KINERY
Daily Staff Reporter
The Big House could meet the
White House again in 2016.
Ben Carson, retired neuro-
surgeon and graduate of the
University’s Medical School, is
considering a run for president in
2016.
Last week, Carson announced
the formation of an exploratory
committee that will weigh the
potential of a campaign for the
Republican Party’s nomination.
A neurosurgeon with no previ-
ous experience in elected office,
for most of his career Carson was
better known for his contribu-
tions to medicine than his politics.
He only appeared on the national
political stage in 2013 after deliv-
ering a speech at the National
Prayer Breakfast that received
praise from many conservatives.
33rd annual
meeting seeks to
promote career
development
By SAMIHA MATIN
Daily Staff Reporter
With a focus on confidence
and respect, The University’s
Women of Color Task Force
convened their 33rd annual
conference Friday.
The annual event aims to
empower women of color in
their workplaces and promote
career and educational devel-
opment. Open to any Univer-
sity employee, the task force
promotes professional develop-
ment, particularly for women of
color.
Eilisha Dermont, communi-
cations manager at the Univer-
sity’s Center for the Education
of Women and a member of the
WCTF executive team, said the
conference is the largest profes-
sional development event host-
ed at the University.
Dermont said the task force
offers
mentoring
programs
and training seminars to help
women develop leadership and
workplace skills.
This year’s theme, “Tools for
the Journey: Self-Awareness,
Confidence & Respect,” focused
on
encouraging
women
of
color to excel in leadership and
career development as well as
promoting financial education
and work-life balance.
Alfred
Squire,
a
former
workforce development man-
ager for the Greenville Health
System and current director of
2017 application
will make space for
unique experiences
in place of courses
By AMABEL KAROUB
Daily News Editor
The
University’s
Medical
School is changing it up.
Beginning with prospective
students entering in 2017, the
Medical School has altered the
admissions requirements for
its
applicants.
Requirements
previously included a list of
eight courses in subjects such
as organic chemistry and bio-
chemistry. They now consist of
qualities and experiences the
Medical School looks for in its
students.
Most of the new prerequisites
are framed more broadly: rigor-
ous experience in the humani-
ties, academic strength and
rigor in the fields of biology,
chemistry and statistical meth-
ods and analysis; demonstrable
knowledge of basic physical
principles; and “a clear and dis-
tinct experience in intellectual
inquiry and active participation
in the independent discovery of
new knowledge.”
Though these prerequisites
may seem less specific than a list
of classes, Rajesh Mangrulkar,
associate dean for medical stu-
dent education, expressed the
opposite sentiment. He said the
new requirements allow the
admissions office to be more
specific, telling the students the
exact information the Medical
School needs them to know prior
to matriculation. He said listing
a class title does not convey that
information as effectively.
“When you look at a course
name, do you know what you’re
able to do because of having
RITA MORRIS/Daily
Audrey Williams, a Women of Color Task Force member, dances at a workshop during the 2015 WCTF Annual Career
Conference at the Michigan League Friday.
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Senior forward Cyesha Goree expresses her frustration as Michigan is knocked out of the Big Ten Tournament by Michigan State Thursday in Hoffman
Estates, Illinois. The Spartans won 69-49.
KNOCKE D OUT
See CARSON, Page 3A
See CONFERENCE, Page 3A
See CSG, Page 3A
See TENURE, Page 3A
See ADMISSIONS, Page 3A
Exploring
the process
for gaining
tenure
Medical school to modify
admissions requirements
Women of Color Task Force
conference talks confidence
Near the end:
CSG reflects
on initiatives
‘U’ alum to
consider run
for president
in 2016 race
INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 76
©2015 The Michigan Daily
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