I n d e p e n d e n t
Issue no.
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December 2012
Volume 25
Boise, Idaho
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Take your pick Student comments help choose a permanant SUB fixture
Even free pasta didn’t lure students to a club-sponsored event.
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Goran Fazil - Not
Miles Schlagel “Transitions”
named in his proposal.
involved?
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Were students very involved in the design of the new logo?
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Eli Craven - “In the Pines”
Defeated
Photos CODY FINNEY/THE ARBITER
Lauren Jacob Staff Writer
Women’s basketball team falls to the EWU Eagles.
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There are three finalists for the Bay Window Public Art Project who are competing for a chance to have their art displayed permanently in the Student Union Building (SUB). These bay windows, upstairs in the SUB, were formerly exterior windows and are now being used to display art created by a Boise State student or alumni. Artists submitted their first art proposals on Oct. 22 and three were chosen from the submissions. On Nov. 27 mock-up displays of the finalists’ art were put up in the SUB atrium for anyone to comment on. They will be up for viewing until Wednesday, Dec. 12. Anyone is allowed to comment and the final decision will be based partially on
Adjunct professors Staff Writer
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ists’ final application, the accommodation of previous feedback given by the board, their budget and criteria given in the information packet. “The board believes if any were chosen they could get the job done and any of them would look great in the space,” Gilchrist said. Students, faculty and community members are encouraged to put in their comments. “Community members are as valuable as those with art degrees,” Gilchrist said. “It’s an important voice to be heard.” Once the final artist is notified, they will have until April 15 to complete their project and have it installed in the bay window. Following, there will be an informal reception on April 25 by the bay window to recognize the artist. Anyone wishing to comment
can submit their comments until Wednesday, Dec. 12 in the SUB atrium or comment on the Boise State fine arts Facebook page, www. facebook.com/bsufinearts. However, Facebook comments are not weighted as heavily as those entered in the SUB.
ONLINE Tell us what piece of art you think should be displayed in the SUB Bay Window at arbiteronline.com Page design Bryan Talbot/THE ARBITER
Mallory Barker
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these comments. “I believe wholeheartedly in getting student input,” said Holly Gilchrist, fine arts manager. “They should have a powerful voice in determining which is chosen.” As of Thursday there were 87 comments placed in the display boxes—55 were from students. The three finalists are Goran Fazil, a Boise State alumnus, Eli Craven, a Boise State alumnus and employee and Miles Schlagel, a Boise State alumnus and non-degree seeking graduate student. After the scale models are taken down, an art advisory board will review the submissions and the final artist proposal will be chosen on Friday, Dec. 14. The board, consisting of students, community members and members of the university community will choose based on the art-
Not all university professors are created equal, at least not when it comes to job security. Adjunct professor Kathryn Baxter is dedicated to her students. She strives to teach them the importance of communication through writing while also enabling them to think critically so they can be successful in the workplace. She works at least 40 hours a week. “If I’m not teaching, I’m grading papers, if I’m not grading papers, I’m meeting with students,” Baxter said. Baxter is an adjunct professor for the history department. An adjunct professor is a teacher hired by term or semester. This means their contract lasts for the duration of the instructional season. They are separated (released from their position) each semester and hopefully rehired for the upcoming one. Adjuncts usually receive their contract two weeks before classes start. Boise State has a two-step adjunct faculty pay system.
unsung heroes? Adjunct faculty who have taught three or more semesters for the university within three years, have at minimum a Master’s degree or equivalent experience, and have received satisfactory evaluations are entitled to Step 2 ($911/credit) pay. Adjunct faculty not meeting the criteria for Step 2, receive the Step 1 pay of ($877/credit). Adjunct faculty are not eligible to teach full-time (twelve or more total credit hours taught across all departments) in both the Fall and Spring semesters of the same academic year. Adjunct faculty receive no benefits and a large portion of adjunct professors do not receive an office. This varies by department. Nearly half of Boise State’s professors are adjuncts. According to Education News, the salary of a fulltime instructor is estimated at $47,579 and ranges up to $78,750 for professors. These numbers vary based on the employee’s department, degree and tenure. Full-time professors receive full ben-
efits: that includes health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance. Retirement benefits and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are also covered, as well as tuition reduction. Steven (Monk) Wells, an adjunct professor for the English department, strives to enable his students to be masters of critical inquiry. “I’m hooked on learning in a very unconventional way,” Monk said. “We move from integration to disintegration then reintegration.” Monk chuckled at the notion of a 40-hour work week. “Boise State is lending itself more and more to the possibility of integrating classroom content with experiential learning and service work, which is great stuff,” Monk said. Noreen Camacho, Human Resources unit supervisor, said she loves working with adjuncts and admires what they do for Boise State. “I can feel their pain sometimes because they are separated at the end of each semester and their I-9 is only valid
Number of adjunct and non-adjunct faculty at BSU 750 700 650 600 550 500 450
BSU Faculty Adjunct Faculty
2009 (616) (482)
2010 (632) (491)
for three years and must be renewed accordingly,” Camacho said. Mark Wheeler, dean of extended studies, works with many adjunct professors. “They are an integral part of Boise State University and oftentimes the perspective they bring from the private sector or other experiences in their background really helps round out a student’s education,” Wheeler said. Aaron Elfering, a 24-yearold majoring in information technology management, has had numerous adjunct profes-
2011 (650) (504)
2012 (667) (509)
sors. Elfering compared his experiences with adjuncts to a double edged sword. “Adjuncts tend to be easier graders and expect less of you but at the same time, you don’t always learn as much,” Elfering said. “I have also had some adjuncts that are truly enjoyable to work with, which counts for a lot.” When asked if she would like anything known about adjuncts, Baxter responded, “We don’t get offices. This is my office (pointing to tables in the library) and parking’s a bitch.” arbiteronline.com