Radio X holds on-air interviews
Radio X is in the process of holding a special set of “Let’s Chat” interviews with members of NMU’s administration. NMU President Les Wong, Director of Housing and Residence Life Carl Holm and Dean of Students Chris Greer are all on the agenda to be interviewed on the radio station. Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Susan Koch was interviewed on March 26. Todd Ward, general manager of Radio X,
said the interviews, which had previously only involved an interview with President Wong, were both productive and popular with students. “We wanted to expand ‘Let’s Chat’ because the sessions have been so positive,” he said. Ward said students will be able to listen to all interviews on the station and on Radio X’s Web site. Koch’s interview is also available on the Web site. President Wong will be interviewed from 2-3 p.m. on April 9. His interview will revisit the topic of the campus smoking ban and the status of the Native Plants Area, Ward said. Greer will be interviewed from noon to 1 p.m. on April 16 and will be discussing Ann Coulter’s visit to campus, the Student Code of Conduct and the responsibilities of the Student Finance Committee (SFC). Holm will be interviewed
from 4 to 5 p.m. on April 17 and will have an opportunity to discuss smoking in the on-campus apartments and the possibility
of new residence halls, Ward said. Students may submit interview questions online at wupx.com or call in during the show. Ward encouraged students to submit online questions in advance so there can be as many questions covered as possible.
— John Becker

Japan relations to be discussed
Tamotsu Shinotsuka, Consul General of Japan in Detroit, will speak in Whitman Commons on Thursday, April 10 from 2-3:30 p.m. Shinotsuka ‘s presentation will cover issues concerning Japan and U.S. relations, including political and trade relations. Shinotsuka was born in Japan and has served as a diplomat since 1975, assuming his current position as Consul General of Japan for Michigan and Ohio in the fall of 2006,
according to the Consulate General office. The title “Consul General” means that Shinotsuka is a legal representative of
Japan. The Consulate General of Japan Office in Detroit was established in 1993 and currently serves over 17,000 Japanese
residents within their midwestern jurisdiction, according to the office. Shinotsuka was invited to NMU’s campus by the President’s Office and the office of international programs, said Marcelo Siles, executive director of international programs at NMU. “The Office of International Programs have a strong interest in Asia, so that is why I visited the Japanese Consulate Detroit and invited the Consul General to come to NMU to explore a variety of possibilities of cooperation between the Japanese government and NMU,” Siles said. Admission to the presentation is free.
— Brooke Gudwer

Students direct one-act plays
NMU students, in collaboration with the theater department, will put on student directed one-act plays April 2-5 at 7:30 p.m. The plays will include “Home Free” by Langford Wilson, “Beyond Therapy” by Christopher Durang and “Closer” by
Patrick Marber. Associate Professor of theater Paul Truckey said the one-act plays will be an eclectic lineup, offering attendees a diverse variety of genres. “There will be a pretty wide assortment
of styles,” Truckey said. “Students can expect a little bit of everything.”
The directors during this set of plays include Becky Heldt, a senior theater and English major, Mike Gerdwagen, a senior hospitality management and theater major, and Mark Cervantes, a senior theater major. For most theater students, directing the one-act plays fulfills a requirement that states students must put on at least one production prior to graduation. The event is sponsored by the NMU theater department and the Forest Roberts Theatre. The plays will take place in the Black Box Theatre and each will run approximately 25-30 minutes long. This event is free for NMU students and the general community.
— Anders Gillis