/03.08.2012

Page 1

The Ithacan Thursday, M a r ch 8, 20 12

Volume 79, Is s u e 2 1

Dean named new president of Carthage by kelsey o'connor news editor

make or By erica palumbo and elma gonzalez assistant news editors

For sophomore Yiwei Zhu, spending spring break in Florida last year meant a lot more than basking in the southern sun. In the Spring 2011 semester, Zhu traveled to Pensacola, Fla., on one of Ithaca College’s Alternative Spring Break trips, which are service learning trips offered to students to help communities in need. During the seven-day experience, Zhu and 12 other students from the college spent time helping with the restoration of the Gulf Coast’s ecosystem. Zhu said she chose Pensacola because of its environmental focus, an area she is interested in learning more about.

break

“I’d never done any kind of service that was environmentally centered, so I thought, ‘Oh, I want to do that,’” she said. “It was interesting to learn about the ecosystem down there, especially since Ithaca itself is such an environmentally friendly community.” The college has offered the Alternative Spring Break program for several years. This year, 42 students will be traveling to Pensacola, Fla., Washington D.C., Salamanca, N.Y., and Beckley, W.Va. In 2011 there were 24 participants and in 2010 there were 33. Freshman Olivia Norris, who will be going on the Salamanca trip next week, said she chose the southwestern New York location because of the opportunity to develop her passion for

in as a first-year student. I’ll live in a first-year residence hall building. As a sophomore student, I’ll have a choice to either live in a learning community or a sophomore experience building. And then as a junior and a senior, I'll have the opportunity to live in apartments primarily, or other areas which may be of interest,’” she said. Solt-Prunty said she doesn't think the shift to all-freshmen Towers will upset many upperclassmen. “That is not the most popular place for our returning students to sign up in,” Solt-Prunty said. “Typically, our returning students are looking to live in the Terraces or in Emerson or in the apartments, for the most part.” Sophomore Michael McBride lived in first-year housing last year and currently works as a resident assistant in East Tower.

Greg Woodward, dean of the Ithaca College School of Music and longtime faculty member of the college, will become Carthage College’s new president this summer, the college announced Tuesday. Carthage College is a private liberal arts college located in Wisconsin with a total student enrollment of about 3,400. Woodward has assumed multiple leadership roles at the college. He has served as dean of graduate and professional studies and in 2010-11 as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. WOODWARD said he couldn't pass Woodward joined up the opportunity the Department for presidency. of Music Theory, History and Composition as a composer in 1984 and has been a professor since 2000. President Tom Rochon said the college is not only losing a great leader in the School of Music, but also a colleague in the planning of IC 20/20, the college’s strategic vision for the school. “It’s always bittersweet when a talented leader leaves the college for another opportunity,” Rochon said. “It’s especially bittersweet here because we worked so closely together last year when he was interim provost, but this is an opportunity he deserves, and I don’t know if I have ever met anyone as ready to be a successful president as he is.” Woodward said he was not actively looking for a new job, but applied when an opportunity arose, just like many positions he has served in his 34 years at the college. “It’s a bittersweet kind of feeling, but I’m so looking forward to working at this school,” he said. “It’s a great school, and the opportunity to be the president is something really special, and when that came along, there was really no way to not do it.” Brad Andrews, senior vice president for academic resources at Carthage College, said a search for a new president has been under way since early autumn and more than 60 candidates applied for the position. Andrews said Woodward’s background and experience at Ithaca College made him stand out in the application process. “Greg has tireless energy,” Andrews said. “He’s full of great ideas, and he has a personality and a style of engagement that really is a great fit for this college.

See housing, page 4

See woodward, page 4

No pool. No party. Just service. Photo illustration by rachel orlow

working with children. Salamanca is located on the Allegany Indian Reservation, where students will be working with Native American youths. “I like working with children, and I know the trip will involve working with children and helping them get more involved with their schoolwork through tutoring,” she said. “I’m also an occupational therapy major, so it really applies to my field.” Norris said her roommate’s passion for Native American culture piqued her interest in the Salamanca trip, where she hopes to learn more about the local land. “I’m looking forward to going somewhere else and experiencing a new culture,” she said.

See break, page 4

Freshman housing to take over West and East Towers by lucy walker staff writer

The West Tower will join East Tower next fall as part of the First-Year Residential Experience, a shift that marks a step toward more unified freshman housing on campus. The expansion comes partially as a result of IC 20/20’s Initiative 4: First Year Housing and Learning Communities to Increase Integrative Learning. Following East Tower's first-year designation last semester, West Tower will be the fifth building in the First-Year Residential Experience, along with Boothroyd, Tallcott and Rowland Halls in the Upper Quads. Bonnie Solt-Prunty, director of Residential Life and assistant dean for First-Year Experiences, said the idea of unified housing for all freshmen preceded IC 20/20. However, its inclusion in the plan has helped foster progress. First-year housing

Freshman Joe Ricotta walks Tuesday through the West Tower lobby. Next semester, both West and East Tower will be exclusively freshman housing. rachel woolf/the ithacan

is optional for now, but will become mandatory in the future, once Residential Life converts enough buildings on campus to hold an entire class. This scenario, which would

art of unity Students bring exhibit of African art to Handwerker Gallery, page 13

incorporate more of the quad buildings, is still a few years away, Solt-Prunty said. “There will be a progression for students through housing. ‘I'll come

lasting ties Lifelong friends prepare to lead men’s lacrosse team this season, page 23

f ind m or e onl ine. www.t heit hacan.org

big apple The New York City Center should be built with a solid foundation, page 10


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