Volume 120 Issue 19 Friday, February 19, 2016
OrbitMediaOnline.com
French professor says “au revoir” to Muskingum Tyler Olinger & Kayla Rausch Orbit Media Reporters
Lindsey Kreamer/ Black & Magenta Jean Morris, Associate Professor of French at Muskingum University will retire from her positions at the University after two decades at the end of the academic year. Morris is currently also the advisor to the French Club on campus.
After more than two decades of sharing her passion for the French culture with generations of Muskies, Jean Morris, Associate Professor of French, celebrated her last Mardi Gras with her students at Muskingum University. Morris will retire at the end of the 2015-2016 school year. “It’s hard for me to believe that this [Mardi Gras] will be the last one,” said Morris. In 1994, Morris arrived at Muskingum University to teach French, and became the advisor of French Club. When she first got to the college, Muskingum did not have a steady exchange relationship with any universities located in France. After sending letters to a number of French universities, looking for an exchange partner, the
University of Toulon, in southern France, said they were interested in a partnership. Morris went to France and saw Toulon’s campus and a representative from University of Toulon came to Muskingum. By 1998, the two schools started their program and had students traveling back and forth. “It’s been going strong every year since then,” said Morris. Morris teaches French classes ranging from Beginning French I all the way to Senior Seminar. As advisor to the French Club, she has helped shape the club by doing a number of activities including service projects and celebrations. She has brought French culture to local New Concord. Morris is feeling mixed emotions concerning her upcoming retirement from Muskingum. “I’m kind of sad, especially when I am around students and I am thinking ‘Oh well this isn’t go-
ing to be part of my life anymore,’” said Morris. “It won’t be the same as being at Muskingum and getting to know people because you are working with them.” Despite her sadness, Morris is looking forward to being able to go on new adventures. “I will have more time to spend with my family who live out of state,” said Morris. “So I think about that when I feel bad about retiring from Muskingum.” French Club President, Katlyn Miller, has worked closely with Morris during her time with the French Club. “I’m not going to lie, it breaks my heart a little bit,” said Miller. “We have a close relationship advisor-student wise, she’s one of those advisors [that] I can go to for anything.” Muskingum accepted applications for a Visiting Assistant Professor of French until Feb. 15.
laborate and work together on different projects and assignments. “This is our center,” said White. “I think that [it] helps with the collaboration.” The offices and classrooms all have a lot of natural light from the large windows and high ceilings. According to White, it creates a very open and inviting environment for students. In addition to the classrooms, there are a number of comfortable nooks and quiet spaces that allow students to study as well as socialize in the building. “We want to support learning in [as] many ways that we can and now the environment is really conducive to learning,” said White. White said that after talking
with a number of students from different majors they have shared their enthusiasm for the new environment as well. The new location also has a lot of new technology and resources that are now available for the Education Department that were not accessible in Montgomery Hall. In the classrooms some of the technology includes LCD projectors, SMART Podiums, and monitor screens that allow for the students to share their information for everyone to see when working together in a group setting. White said that the new facility is something that the department appreciates having because of all that it now allows them to do. “We feel very just fortunate to
have this new facility [for the department],” said White. White feels that with the Education Department now located in the Library it will help with recruitment to the school for future education candidates. “It will definitely be a benefit... the commitment that Muskingum University has made to the future, and providing this amazing space,” said White. The Education Department and White look forward to spending many more years in the Roberta A. Smith Library. She expects the new space to help current teachers and future teachers with their professional growth in their field during their time at Muskingum.
Future educators find new home in Roberta A. Smith Library Kristin Gill Orbit Media Reporter The Muskingum University Education Department has found a new home on the second floor in the Roberta A. Smith Library. The new location allows for more open spaces in the classrooms, new technology, and collaboration spaces for everyone to make use of. The Education Department recently moved from Montgomery Hall over the winter break and officially opened in January with the start of the spring semester. Rae White, Chair of the Education Department, enjoys the new space. White said that the move into the Library was very exciting for all the faculty and
staff. She calls their new space “just phenomenal.” Before the move, Education Department classes were located in a number of different buildings. Now, most of the classes are all grouped into one place. The physical move itself allowed for the department to clean out old materials that weren’t needed anymore. The department either recycled or donated the extra items. It also allowed the department to prioritize instructional materials according to White. The new space offers a number of new features for students, faculty, and staff. The Education Preparation Center allows all of the faculty members and the students to col-