January 26, 2000
Ferris flu flourishes
By LAURA CHENE
Ferris State Torch
Many students have found themselves combating more than just new schedules and tons of homework with the start of the winter semester. The flu season has already arrived this year, and physicians admit that taking proper care of the body will aid in preventing infection.
"I have had a cold for the past week," Ken Truax, a junior in Facilities Management, said. "It seems like pretty much everyone that I have talked to is either sick or has been at least once this year."
According to the Brown Daily Herald, approximately 10 to 20 percent of the population is infected with influenza, another name for the flu. On average, approximately 20,000 Americans die from influenza complications each year.
Tom Hogenson, a public relations professional and a registered nurse at the Mecosta County General Hospital, admits that the flu season has come early this year. He advises anyone to get a flu vaccination if they have not already. He says that the hospital offered vaccinations earlier in the year. "We did provide lots of vaccinations," Hogenson said. "Ours were offered free of charge."
"We have no more vaccinations on hand," Hogenson said. Hogenson also happily commented that more FSU students came to receive the vaccination this year than last year.
"We immunized about 4,000 people," Hogenson said. "That's about 10 percent of the population of the county."
According to Hogenson, it is better to get a vaccination late in the season than not at all. He comments that especially the elderly should be vaccinated. "It takes six weeks for immunity," Hogenson said.
According to the Brown Daily Herald, the vaccine prevents 60 to 70 percent of flu cases and up to 90 percent of deaths caused by the flu.
Dr. Newell, a physician at the Birkam Health Center, offers tips that may help prevent students from getting sick. "General good health habits are always important," Newell said. He also adds that students should engage in general good habits, such as getting the appropriate amount of rest, eating healthily and washing the hands regularly.
"Most infections spread more often in the indoor seasons, when people are in close contact and spread infections more easily," Newell said. He states that such places, including bars and parties, give people a greater chance of catching an infection.
"We feel that the [vaccination] program was successful," Hogenson said. "We will continue to work with the Health Center."
Ferris to integrate Integrative Studies
By LAURA CHENE
Ferris State Torch
Faculty members and campus employees are continually racking their brains to discover new ways to improve Ferris. Members of the Academic Senate, as well as faculty and staff from different programs, have established three new degrees that may soon be offered to Ferris students.
One of the degrees in the process of being offered is a bachelor's degree in Integrative Studies. Susan Hastings-Bishop, professor of Recreation of Leadership and Management, has been with the program since its conception. "I sat on the Senate when we discussed it," Hastings-Bishop said.
According to the Integrative Studies Snapshot Summary of August 1999, the program is designed for adult learners whose educational goals and objectives require a greater amount of flexibility or interdisciplinary study than the regular bachelor programs. The program is designed to meet the individual professional development needs of adults who are already employed and have established a career.
According to Sue Hammersmith, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the program has been accepted by the Senate and the Board of Trustees but still needs to be approved in other areas. "The President's Council has refused some things," Hammersmith said.
Hastings-Bishop states that the program is designed for nontraditional students and students who are taking Ferris courses off-campus. "It would not be appropriate for a student who is coming straight out of high school," Hastings-Bishop said.
According to Hastings-Bishop, a review of the work experience will be considered. Students can use some of their work experience to their benefit. Ferris plans to implement this program in August 2000.
In addition, Ferris is also adding an associates degree in Accounting to its curriculum. Herbert Voege, professor of Accounting, states that the degree was offered in the Ferris curriculum many years ago but was canceled. "The administration at that time favored having few programs," Voege said. "I believe that [the budget] may have been an additional reason."
Voege says that there aren't going to be many changes involved in the degree. "We're not adding any instructors," Voege said. "We're not even adding any new courses."
"We do hope to capture more enrollment," Voege said.
A student will also have the chance to earn a bachelor's degree in Media Printing and Publishing. According to John Conati, associate professor of Graphic Arts, the program has already been passed by the Board of Trustees, President's office and Senate. "There were no conflicts whatsoever," Conati said. "It will be offered next fall."
"The program was a request by our advisor," Conati said. Conati states that the Graphic Arts industry needs employees who have advanced skills. "The course is a collaborate effort between the College of Business and us."
"There are an estimated 15 students enrolled already," Conati said. Any students with an associate degree in Visual Communications, Computer Information Systems or Printing can enter the program. During the course students will take certain classes, such as six ISYS courses.
More information on the three new degrees can be obtained by calling the deans' offices of the colleges in which the program is offered. |
|
Kweisi Mfume brings Dr. King's message to Ferris
By STEVE COOK
Assistant Amusement Editor
Last Tuesday, Jan. 18th, a very influential man spoke at Ferris State University. The speaker was Kweisi Mfume, President and CEO of the NAACP. He spoke of Dr. Martin Luther King's dream and how society can make that dream possible.
Sandra Strothers, Special Assistant to the President for Multicultural and Community Affairs at Ferris, helped put the program together. "We're very happy to have all this support from the campus and community," Strothers said. According to Strothers, Mfume was very inspirational to her when she first heard him speak in her hometown of Toledo a few years ago, and she felt very privileged to introduce him.
Kweisi Mfume was born in Baltimore on October 24th, 1948. His last name, Mfume, means "conquering son of kings." He graduated from Morgan State University in 1976, and several years after that he earned a master's degree in Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University. In 1979, by three votes he won a spot on the Baltimore City Council and served there for seven years. During his time in local government, Mfume led efforts to diversify city government and improve community safety. Mfume was elected to Congress in Maryland in 1986 and served there for a decade, until he became President of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) in 1996.
Mfume sat on the stage patiently while he was introduced by a number of people at Ferris, including President Bill Sederburg and students from various organizations on campus. President Sederburg was the first to introduce him, and said, "I'm very excited to have him here. He is a very good speaker." Sederburg was impressed with an interview Mfume did on National Public Broadcasting, and was immediately struck with Mfume's intelligence. Sederburg also noted that 14 percent of Ferris's student population belongs to a minority.
Nikki Edwards, a Ferris junior in Criminal Justice, was also on hand at the event. She helped by passing out programs as people entered the arena. Edwards was very happy to have the speaker at Ferris. "This is a good, positive program. It's good to see Ferris diverse."
Lauren Golembiewski, President of Student Government, also introduced Mfume to the crowd. "This day means a lot to this school and student government," Golembiewski said
Willie Davis, a representative for the Black Greek Council, was very thankful for Mfume's appearance on campus. "We welcome you to our school, hearts and minds."
David Russell, City Commissioner of Big Rapids, was filling in for the mayor of Big Rapids, who could not make the event. He presented Mfume with a key to the city. Robert Watkins, President of the Lake & Newayago Counties Chapter of the NAACP, also attended the event. Watkins was honored to be on stage with the president of the NAACP. "We're all on the same team and I feel very honored to be on the stage with my president." Watkins stated that it took a lot of work to get the president here.
After an hour of introductions, Mfume took center stage. He addressed the audience and let them know he was very happy to be speaking in front of them. Mfume stated that families are units of society and that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a dreamer who dared to be different. Mfume was very good with the audience, and got a few chuckles out of them at times, but for the most part the speaker's subject matter was serious. "We've spent 90 years trying to build bridges. I want blacks to do for themselves. Don't use excuses; too often we come up with opinions on others too quickly."
Mfume wanted people to come together. He stated, "We've fallen short of what America stands for." He also talked about how race is a factor in the decisions we make in our lives. "Race too often determines who we vote for and why. For 200 years we've joined together, but have fallen short of togetherness." Mfume informed the audience that the NAACP is the oldest and largest civil rights group in the nation. It was formed in New York City by blacks and whites in 1909.
The only flaw in an otherwise perfect evening was the attendance at the arena. Some of it may have been due to the weather, but the Wink arena was still only half filled, and some of the people there were students from a Pop Culture class taking notes on the speaker. Teresa Langworthy, Secretary of Student Activities, also attended the event and was disappointed in the attendance. "I'm really disappointed with the turnout for tonight." Even with the relatively low attendance, the Wink Arena was a symbol of peace and harmony as flowers covered the stage, proving that the spirit of Dr. King continues to shine bright.
Caserta puts students first when teaching abroad
By COLLEEN MCGINNIS
Ferris State Torch
Long before there was a study abroad program at Ferris State University, John Caserta was already taking students on trips to England, Wales, and Scotland. After two years of taking students to these countries, Caserta changed his destination and headed for the warmer climate and rich culture of Italy.
Caserta has been the director of the Italian study program for fifteen years. When asked about his motivations, Caserta commented, "The study abroad program is an unforgettable experience and I urge each student to consider taking it. The goal of my program is to put students first."
Caserta's interests in his students' needs have directly related to the effectiveness of his program, which is coordinated through Eastern Michigan University. Caserta's need to put his students first was demonstrated when Ferris wanted to charge students unnecessary fees to go to Europe. Caserta decided to run his program through Eastern Michigan University instead of Ferris State University to help save his students money. When Caserta joined Eastern Michigan University's exchange program, the students were charged appropriately.
"The students get everything they pay for," Caserta said. The cost of trip is $2,990, which includes everything except food.
Caserta's program usually consists of 12-20 students from different universities. Seventy-five percent of the students are from Ferris, and the others come from Eastern Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana State and even the University of Wisconsin. The students travel to Rome, Florence, Venice, Sienna, Amalfi, Pompeii and the Island of Capri.
The students stay at the Island of Capri seven or eight days out of the three-week trip. In Rome, the students visit St. Peter's Cathedral, the Sistine Chapel, the Coliseum and the Spanish steps. In Florence, the students visit Ufizzi and the Duomo Cathedral. At the Island of Capri, the students visit Roman ruins.
Caserta seeks to enrich his students with Italian culture and requires each student to have twenty-five hours of written entries in their travel journal. In addition to the journal entries, Caserta requires each student to give three oral reports about their specific experiences and perceptions. The students learn about the history of Rome, the geography of Italy, and the Italian language. They also learn about the Italian language by studying the dialects of Tuscany (Dante and the Divine Comedy).
John-Mark Edwards went on the trip last May and praised the study abroad trip, "I would recommend the trip to students because it was well-organized, and everyone that went on my trip got along together very well."
The study abroad trip to Italy is from May 5 to May 21. Students who study abroad earn six hours of humanities credits. Anyone interested in taking this trip still has time to sign up with John Caserta, whose office is room 3072 in the Department of Languages and Literature, in the Arts and Science Commons. Caserta can also be reached at 591-3604 or John_P_Caserta@ferris.edu.
|
Senior guard shines on the court
By CHRIS MILLER
Sports Editor
Since the third grade, senior point guard Carrie Roys has been involved with the game of basketball. Taught by her dad, Roys is the co-captain of FSU's Women's Basketball Team this year along with junior Dawn Baker. Through her first three years as a Bulldogs, she has shown leadership and competitiveness towards the program.
As a 1996 graduate from West Catholic High School in Grand Rapids, Roys came to Ferris State because her cousin Jill Thayer was a member of the basketball team. She also came because of the coach and the fact that it is close to home.
"I knew who Head Coach Dana Munk was at the time and I wanted to play for him," Roys said. "I also felt comfortable knowing that I had support from a relative already on the team." Roys took over the leadership role when Thayer and former Bulldog Val Scott graduated in 1998.
In high school, Roys led WCHS to the Class B state championship game as a senior while averaging 14.0 points, 7.5 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 steals per game. She also finished her high school career with over 1,000 total points and 500 assists.
"Roys is a key competitor on both defense and offense. She has stepped up and proved to be a team leader," Head Coach Tracey Fisk said.
As a leader for Ferris, Roys has accomplished many feats including setting the Bulldog record for most assists in one year with 184 during the 1998-99 season. She is currently chasing the record for most career assists in Bulldog history. After last Monday's game against Grand Valley State, Roys is only 48 assists away from former Bulldog Jodi Raab's (1989-93) record of 491.
Last year, Roys led the GLIAC and finished tied for seventh among Division II players nationally in assists per game (6.6 apg). She also ranked among the top 10 in free throw percentage, three-point field goals, three-point percentage and steals.
"It would be a great accomplishment to pass Raab, but if it doesn't happen, I am not going to be disappointed about it," Roys said. Along with leading the team in assists this year, she is also averaging close to seven points and 27 minutes played per game. Since her freshman year at FSU, Roys has improved in many areas including defense.
"I received lessons from Scott on how to play defense early in my career at Ferris," Roys said. "I looked up to players like Scott and my cousin Thayer when I started here." This year, she has 23 steals which is good enough for third on the team.
As a team, she feels this has been the strongest they have ever played overall in one season.
"Anyone on our team has the ability to score 20 points per game. We have that kind of depth to our team," Roys said. The Bulldogs have enjoyed 10 wins in a row recently and look to take on the Upper Peninsula starting Thursday against Northern Michigan University.
"Our major goal this year is to win the GLIAC title," Roys said. "We would also like to win 20 games this year." The Bulldogs are sitting in second place of the north division behind NMU with an overall record of 10-3.
As a student, Roys has already received her associates in Dental Hygiene and is working on another associate degree for Business Management. After she graduates this year, she plans on going back to Grand Rapids where her family is, and finding a job as a dental hygienist.
"I don't have a set job yet, but I know that there will be some opportunites to work when I graduate from Ferris," Roys said. This semester she is only taking 12 credits to finish her business degree.
Besides her parents supporting her, many relatives come to watch Roys perform on the court.
"My parents come to mostly all of the home games and some away games. Also my aunts and uncles bring my cousins along to watch me play," Roys said. "It always helps to have family there to cheer you on."
Athletic department reaches the new millennium in style
By CHRIS MILLER
Sports Editor
Along with the rest of the world, Ferris State has entered a new millennium with high expectations on improving the college to the maximum. A big change at the helm of athletics, and an exciting hockey team, have aided the process for FSU's athletic department.
The biggest change came on November 29, 1999 when FSU's President Bill Sederburg appointed a new athletic director. Larry Marfise, Ferris State's former athletic director, started his new job at Tampa University on August 1.
Sederburg did not just hire someone outside of the campus. He wanted someone that had experience and has been there before. Tom Kirinovic, a 17-year member of the Bulldog athletic staff, was the man that deserved the job.
Kirinovic has the necessary skills to run the Bulldog's 15-sport intercollegiate athletic program.
This could be the best thing that has happened to the department since adding the women's soccer team and bringing back the men's cross country team this past fall.
Athletics management, public relations, marketing and fun raising are areas that Kirinovic has gained respect and recognition for. He is also dedicated to his work and loves his job. In order to run a department as big as athletics, an athletic director not only needs the necessary skills of a good public relations representative, they also need to understand what it takes to win.
Kirinovic has shown all of these qualities in the past. In the spring of 1989, Kirinovic coached the FSU softball team to a 17-15 record and its first winning season in six years. Along with the college coaching experience, he coached five years at Ovid-Elsie High School in Elsie, MI. There he headed freshmen and junior varsity baseball as well as assisting for varsity football and basketball.
To combine business and personal experience of leading a team or individual at something such as athletics benefits all. Bulldog athletics will become stronger and fans will appreciate the effort and time put into them when they see success. With that in mind, Kirinovic will make a fine athletic director.
The FSU hockey team and women's basketball teams are exciting to watch and follow especially as a newspaper writer. With their young talent and quickness on the ice, the hockey team has been a great surprise this season.
If they finish in the top five of the CCHA, they will be able to host a playoff game which hasn't been done since the 1992-93 season under Head Coach Bob Daniels. They have also managed to go to Minnesota and win a huge tournament which gave them national recognition over the break.
The newly found national recognition has been seen when the hockey team was ranked in the top ten in two different college polls. They were ranked ninth in the coaches' poll and tenth on the online poll for college hockey.
The women's basketball team is on a tear as well. They have won their last 11 games in a row and now look to try to capture the GLIAC title this year. The women also look to obtain their goal of winning 20 games this year. Last year, they finished with 18 and want to improve on that record. |
Depression is not a "woman's" disorder
By KELDA BARNUM
Ferris State Torch
Watching my 13-year old brother grow up has been an interesting experience. I can remember the days when he would let my little sister and I dress him up and paint his finger nails while we played house with our Easy-Bake-Oven and Cabbage Patch Kids. Before he was old enough to be embarrassed and old enough to realize that he was supposed to act like a man, we would build forts out of the couch cushions and pretend it was a beauty salon.
He would cry at the drop of a hat. When he was hurt, sad, scared or angry, there was no reason in his mind not to burst into tears. When I tell these stories to my male friends today, they are horrified that I ever allowed my brother to partake in such un-masculine activities. Little boys are expected to eat bugs, beat each other up and hold back the tears when they shoot themselves in the eye. As men, they are expected to hold back their feelings and work their problems out with their fists.
Unfortunately, this American perception of manhood causes some problems. One of these problems is a high rate of untreated depression and ensuing suicide attempts among men. The Knight-Ridder Tribune reported that for every young women, four young men are diagnosed as emotionally disturbed. Eleven million Americans have some form of depression, yet women are more likely to be treated for depression than are men.
The reason for this trend is represented in a recent national survey in which nearly half of the respondents said they viewed depression not as a disease or a psychological problem worthy of help, but as a sign of personal weakness. Men are expected to be powerful and virile; to seek treatment for depression would be a submission to this personal weakness.
Several men in the spotlight have been chastised for their mental illnesses. In 1972, vice-president nominee Thomas Eagleton was dumped from the Democratic ticket after rumors surfaced that he had been hospitalized for depression. In 1988, Michael Dukakis watched his polls for the presidential election plunge after word spread that he had seen a psychiatrist after his brother died. Ronald Regan vowed not to "pick on an invalid", and George Bush's campaign offered this wisdom in reference to Dukakis's treatment: "Real men don't get on the couch."
Many men never think about depression because they don't exhibit stereotypical signs of the illness. Depression among men is exhibited differently than it is in most women. Men may experience joint and muscle pains, problems with concentration, exhaustion, substance abuse and violent behavior, while women may experience some of these symptoms accompanied by crying and isolation. Men are more likely to go out and start fights when they are depressed than to sit in their rooms and cry.
Aggressive behavior, such as the recent comments made by Atlanta relief ace pitcher John Rocker about minorities, gays, foreigners and single mothers in New York, are key indicators of depression among men. Even under the burden of a mental illness, men are expected not to cry. Comedy writer Jack Handy wrote, "It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man." This brutal honesty may explain why men are four to ten times more likely to commit suicide than women are. Society pressures boys and men to suppress and ignore their feelings until the point of no return.
If I'd only known then what I don't know now
By JOSH LAREAU
Ferris State Torch
There's something about growing older that's terrible, so terrible. There's something about being able to see your childhood from a distance that's frightening. Adulthood or the verge of adulthood rips fear into you. I turned twenty about a month ago. Five years ago I was only 15. Ten years ago I was only 10. Five years is a drop in the cosmic bucket. Five years from now I will still be an adult. Five years ago I was a young teenager. Five years makes all the difference, but how? Why?
I am an adult now; I have to look out for myself. I have responsibilities to people and things, payments to make, taxes to pay, errands to run, jobs to work. I think that is what is so harsh. When I was ten, I had no responsibilities besides the obvious one of attending school and maybe keeping my room clean. But those were easy. No after school job, tons of free time, meaningless homework, the freedom to act stupid and make things up.
In the summer I had absolutely nothing to do. It was boring sometimes. I wish I could still be bored in that way. Now in the summer I have to work 40 hours a week. I have no free time. Free time is for sleeping. I am tired all the time in the summer. I can't make stuff up anymore. I can't run through people's yards, or roll around in them. They will call the police. If I get arrested I have to pay court fees and fines, perhaps jail, probation for year, random drug testing that requires me to drive fifty miles just to pee in a cup and I don't use drugs.
Sometimes I wish people still thought of me as a child. Some people still do, but I mean complete strangers. It's no big deal when I check a thick book out of the library anymore. I used to think people were impressed when I had two or three thick books in my hands when I was 11 or 12. Most of them were impressed. I found out recently that adults only read thick books. I no longer feel special.
Sometimes I think I would have liked to have spent those long boring summer hours reading and researching all kinds of things I don't have time to read or research now. I hear people talk about classic books like War and Peace, or authors like Jane Austin. I should have read those books when I was little. Not really little, but in my early teenage years. I don't have time to read them now. I did read a lot of books when I was a kid. Mostly Stephen King. I still read mostly Stephen King. I think he is great. Sometimes he talks about classic books in his books, and I cringe, thinking to myself: Dammit Josh, you had all the time in the world, and now look what happened!
I have an image in my brain of me, a young me. I can't see my face. I can't even see what I physically look like for that matter. I am young in spirit. I am thinking like a child in this image, but a smart child. I am in a library. The stacks are huge, behemoth mountains of books, books, and more books. I can't reach the top shelf. I don't need to. There are plenty of things I want to read on the bottom shelves. I think if I have time I will make it up there, but I am fine now.
Adults pass me by. I, me, the me of now, the me who has just turned twenty a month ago, I pass myself by. I see me as a young kid, staring in awe at all the books, so hungry for it all. I think that the kid is wonderful, wonderful and lucky. I stop behind him. He doesn't notice me. It is impossible for a young me to notice an old me, a me so old now that I am as far from childhood as I am into adulthood. The little me doesn't know about the old me yet. Doesn't know he exists, has never thought to even make him up.
The old me reaches onto the top shelf and pulls down Tolstoy's War and Peace, and Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice. I lay them on the floor next to the young me. I want him to pick them up and read them, so I won't have to now. Instead I see him use them as a footstool, so he can reach onto the third shelf. He pulls down Stephen King's IT.
He will love it. I loved it. He will read it again when he is a junior in high school. I read it again when I was a junior in high school. It is great. It is about a bunch of kids who turn into adults. They have to become like little kids again to defeat the monster. They defeat the monster but then have to be like adults again. They are not even allowed to remember what it was like to be a kid. Sometimes I have trouble remembering what it is like to be a kid. Sometimes I think that blows. |
|
