Volume 120 Issue 14 Friday, January 15, 2016
Muskingum community checks-out new Library Martin Kurtz Orbit Media Reporter
After a semester delay, the Roberta A. Smith Library officially opened Jan. 10 at 1 p.m. for students to find their classrooms. The building opened after two years of construction. The Education Department and most of the Education classes are housed on the top floor of the Library. Cutting edge technology and new services are available to students in the new building. There are six collaboration stations in the Library, where groups Martin Kurtz/ Black & Magenta of up to six students can connect Muskingum University Students spend time in the Roberta A. Smith Library Colloquium Center on the their laptops, tablets, or smartfirst day of classes for the Spring 2016 semester. phones to one of the several tele-
vision screens. Students can also use an app to connect or through the use of a URL link. Linda Hatfield, Reference Instruction Librarian, said that students will be able to work on PowerPoints or documents and edit them in front of their groups. “It’s just a really powerful tool for creativity and collaboration for students,” said Hatfield. “I think it’s really exciting. You can also have a camera and be taking pictures and put that right up there [on the screen].” Another new addition to the library is the use of Student Reference Assistants. See NEW LIBRARY, On Page 2
Zicha reassigned, hunt for successor underway Students to help out on day off Chris Morgan Sports Editor
For the first time in 29 years, changes are coming at the top of the Muskingum University Volleyball Program. Following a demeanor assault charge in October 2015, Elizabeth Zicha will no longer serve as the head coach of the team. Zicha has accepted a new position as the Special Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Graduate and Continuing Studies, according to a statement by the Muskingum University Public Relations Office. The search for Zicha’s successor as head coach is underway. Athletic Director Larry Shank said the position has been publicized through online advertisements in the NCAA market and through sending official letters
to 165 colleges and universities around the country. “We are looking for someone who wants to build upon what the [volleyball] program has done the last two years,” said Shank. “We want someone who will bring excitement, enthusiasm, and will represent this institution with professionalism.” According to Shank, applications for the open coaching position were accepted, with the pool of candidates being narrowed down to seven in December. Those seven applicants were then interviewed by telephone over winter break. Shank believes that the committee had a good pool of candidates after reviewing all of the applications for the position. Through the phone interviews, the pool was narrowed down to three candidates to move on to the next stage of interviews. The
three remaining applicants were then brought to campus the week Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service of Dec. 28 to tour the University and to have face-to-face interviews with Shank and the rest of the search committee. “They were brought onto campus, one [candidate] per day, to really see the whole picture,” said Shank. Shank said that the search committee met on Saturday, Jan. 9 to narrow down the search to one final candidate who was brought back to campus during the week of Jan. 11 to meet with President Anne C. Steele. Shank said the committee hopes to name Zicha’s successor by Jan. 18, with the new coach beginning work on Feb. 1. The new coach will take over coaching responsibilities from InBlack & Magenta Archive terim Head Coach Kari Winters, On January 19, 2015, Muskingum students spent their day-off of who led the team after Zicha was classes helping out around the community and look to do it again this year. See the full story on Page 3. placed on leave in October.