Issue 9, Sept. 17, 2012 - Grand Valley Lanthorn

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Lanthorn G R A N D VA L L EY

S T U D E N T- R U N P U B L I C AT I O N S L A N T H O R N . CO M PRINT . ONLINE . MOBILE

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

R E A D T H E CO L U M N :

Soccer beats Ashland, Ohio Dominican in season opener.

“How a love affair with an Apple product will leave you feeling empty”

SPORTS I B1

OPINION I A4 M O N DAY, S E P T E M B E R 17, 2 01 2

Professor retention STATE LIMITS RSO POLITICAL ACTIVITY rate remains strong BY RACHEL CROSS GVL STAFF WRITER

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rofessor retention rate continues to be significantly high among Grand Valley State University professors. Although Institutional Analysis does not keep statistics on faculty retention, an increase in tenured professors—as opposed to untenured associate or assistant professors—over the last 10 years jumped from 120 to 206. The numbers denote some consistency in faculty over the years, since an associate professor must teach at the university for six years before being promoted to a professor. John Godwin, associate vice president for academic affairs, said the provost office values all professors, whether they have been here for years or are just starting out. “We don’t track professor retention as a number because it’s a relatively small number,” Godwin said. “I do know about professors leaving because they were offered a position at anGODWIN other school because of better research opportunities.” In addition, Godwin emphasized that professor retention is not a large issue at GVSU because most professors stay at the university and because GVSU is considered to be a teaching university where the faculty is very much involved with meeting their colleges’ expectations and standards. Gary Stark, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said typically the college spends more time recruiting professors than retaining them. “Once professors get here, we usually retain them,” Stark said. “We have a very faculty-friendly institution here at GVSU, and there are things already in place here that help people stay here.” Bart Merkle, dean of students at GVSU, said that for the most part, faculty members seem to really enjoy their work at GVSU. “We attract people who have a passion for teaching and are attentive STARK to their students’ needs,” Merkle said. “The university is an attractive place to work, and the faculty enjoys working with each other and students across the board.” He added that there are many support services that help to retain professors at GVSU. One of these resources is the Pew Faculty and Learning center, which offers a variety of workshops and provides grants that enable faculty to rework and develop courses. Another resource is the Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence, which helps faculty write grants and provides travel support conferences. Godwin said when professors leave, the Human Resources department conducts an exit interview, and often times it reports that professors go because of better research opportunities, money or retirement. “Professors don’t leave [often] enough where we say the retention rate is a problem we need to fix; it is more of a problem with students,” Godwin said. In addition, Godwin added that the university tries to respond to professors’ wants and needs as much as possible, so that if there are any issues, they can be addressed. For more on GVSU’s Provost Office, visit www. gvsu.edu/provost/ or call (616) 331-2400 rcross@lanthorn.com

ROBERT MATHEWS | GVL

Open air, free speech: Evangalist, Brother Jed, preaches to a group of Grand Valley State University students on campus. Megan Braxmaier GVL Staff Writer

To act in accordance with Michigan laws, registered student organizations (RSO) receiving funds from Grand Valley State University must walk a tight line this election season to avoid financially backing a particular presidential candidate or using university money to do so. Section 1 of Public Act 31 of 2012 states: “It is the policy of this state that a public body shall maintain strict neutrality in each election and that a

or other public resources to make a contribution or expenditure or provide volunteer personal services [to a candidate or ballot proposal]…” Essentially, student organizations cannot provide materials, services or facilities of ascertainable monetary value in support of or opposition to a candidate or ballot question. “It’s not the promotion of political views [that is prohibited] because we discuss all kinds of political views and ideas,” Dean of Students Bart Merkle SEE RSO, A3

Tye Dye Thom gives lessons on listening BY ANYA ZENTMEYER GVL EDITOR IN CHIEF

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hances are if you take classes on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale Campus you’ve seen, bought something from, and most likely debated with Tye Dye Thom. He didn’t want his real name published in the story, but between his patchwork pants, long hippie hair, and a tent tricked out in tye dye and reggae swag, he’s hard to miss. He co-owns a company, called Enchanted Planet, which is based out of Tennessee, and for the last 14 years he’s travelled to college campuses across the United States to pitch up his tent, and try to make a living and an impact at the same time. His story, like most cartoons college-aged kids hold dear to their development, began in the late ‘90s. A University of West Florida graduate with a degree in history, he was living in New Orleans when a dishwasher walked into a friend’s restaurant and shot

Lanthorn G R A N D VA L L EY

public body or a person acting on behalf of a public body shall not attempt to influence the outcome of an election held in the state.” The law effected this summer renders RSOs limited in their political activity during election season. According to Section 57 of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, “A public body or a person acting for a public body shall not use or authorize the use of funds, personnel, office space, computer hardware or software, property, stationery, postage, vehicles, equipment, supplies,

ANYA ZENTMEYER | GVL

Forever young: On-campus vendor, Tye Dye Thom, stands in front of his tent on GVSU’s campus.

three people – an $800 hit that claimed the lives of three of Tye Dye Thom’s close friends. “It was a restaurant that I went into every day, and they were people that I cared greatly for, so I said I couldn’t live in New Orleans anymore,” he said. Departures and arrivals He started in the southern

states, and after his mother became ill and he moved her to Bowling Green, Ohio, he started exploring the Midwest. He made it to GVSU in the mid-2000s, and right away, he said he knew it was a place that he could get used to. “You might think it’s lip service, you might think I’m just trying to politically correct, but I came

Goes bile Mo

here and the people who work the (Office of Student Life)– Kellie and Fred and Michelle and Bob and all those people – it just was so easy to fall in love with this place,” he said. “…It’s one of those things where, they give you enough rope to hang yourself. So if you come and you don’t do a SEE TYE DYE THOM, A3

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Issue 9, Sept. 17, 2012 - Grand Valley Lanthorn by Grand Valley Lanthorn - Issuu