Students discuss Michigan’s future
NMU students discussed topics relating to Michigan’s future, including education reforms and accountability for political leaders, during a community conversation on Sept. 15 in the Michigan Room of the University Center. The event was part of the Michigan’s Defining Moment campaign, a series of public engagements organized by the Center for Michigan. “The goal is to set a citizen’s agenda for Michigan’s future,” said John Bebow, the executive director of the Center for Michigan. The Center for Michigan is a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy group based in Lansing and Ann Arbor. The Michigan’s Defining Moment campaign has garnered 6,400 participates from across the state and hopes to reach 10,000 by early next year, said Phil Power, the founder of the Center for Michigan. “We think that’s a big enough number to grab the attention of politicians,” said Power. The Center for Michigan shares all of the information and comments that they gather from the campaign’s community discussions with politicians across the state. Jason Morgan, the president of ASNMU, helped organize the event and said that it was a great chance for NMU students to get involved on a greater scale. “Often times students don’t get a chance like this to share their opinions on problems that our state is facing,” said Morgan. Morgan said that the 16 students who attended the event are going to be able to return to their dorms, apartments or families and discuss the challenges that Michigan is facing. “I think it [the event] is one of those things going to have a small effect in a big way,” said Morgan.
– Cameron Witbeck
New exhibit comes to Student Art Gallery
The Student Art Gallery in the University Center will be hosting an art show entitled “The Quickie” which will allow students and faculty to create art at the gallery. This exhibit is a chalk show, in which all patrons pay a dollar to doodle on the chalkboards supplied for them along the walls of the Student Art Gallery. Any visitor may contribute, and there are no awards for this show, but every drawing is documented on the gallery’s Web site for recognition. “I want students and other individuals to participate that aren’t necessarily artistically inclined because it will allow people to see that it isn’t necessary to be involved with art to enjoy it. The show is also good to vent stress between classes and to express oneself,” said Jessica Vitale, a senior majoring in Art Education with a minor in Spanish Education. There will a reception on Sept. 29 at 6 p.m., also in the Student Art Gallery. ‘The Quickie’ is designed to inspire the NMU community to become more involved in the School of Art and Design. Anyone who is interested in participating in ‘The Quickie’ should go to the Student Art Gallery in the University Center from Sept. 21 through Oct.17 to contribute. More information can be found at http://art.nmu.edu/sag.
– Amanda Fluegel
Workshop teaches students sewing basics
Students interested in learning basic, hands-on tips for sewing that will help them through their college experience and beyond can participate in “Sewing with Jan.” This event will teach sewing basics that include sewing on a button, repairing seams and sewing patches. “Sewing with Jan” will help students repair torn clothing, recycle oldies and ultimately save money. “Home-ec. classes are being cut from the high school curriculum which leaves students going to college without learning simple survival skills such as sewing,” said Jan Boundy, a secretary for the Multicultural Education and Resource Center, the office that is hosting this event. Throughout the school year there will be three more sessions on basic sewing after the first focusing on sewing by hand and by machine. There is no cost and all supplies are provided. All students are welcome to attend. Event will take place in 3001 Hedgcock on Sept. 22 from 3 – 4 p.m. Space is limited, so interested students should sign up soon.
– Chelsey Roath
Students to discuss interracial dating
The Peer-Advising, Counseling and Education program (PACE) will host an informal discussion about interracial marriage this month to encourage discussion on rarely talked about topics at NMU.Facilitating the discussion will be Star Murray, a graduate student at NMU and member of the Multicultural Education and Resource Center (MERC). She hopes to get students sharing their views. “Interracial relationships are something whispered about at NMU, but they’re not openly discussed,” Murray said.
Although the talk-back session focuses on interracial relationships, its purpose is to help students adjust to college social life, especially any freshmen who might struggle to find an open and accepting place to speak their minds. Murray acknowledges that students may have different opinions: “The discussion would not be as lively without having people who oppose each other,” Murray said. Murray also emphasized that not everybody has to voice their opinion in the discussion – anyone wanting to listen is also welcome.
This forum is the first of its kind and will be followed in the coming months by two other discussions, one on the legality of marijuana and another on the status of gay marriage. The session will take place Sept. 17 in the Payne/Halverson lobby from 6 – 7:30 p.m.
– Terry Reilly