Dec. 12 marks the end of a very exciting fall semester for the Union Activities Council. As our Late Night event nears, so to does the spring 2012 semester, which is packed with a lot of new and exciting activities and performances.

From the Stars Go Dim performance to participation in the HUGE Activities Fair and various campus events, UAC has managed to bring a variety of entertainment already, but we have also been able to gather information about what excites the students here at ESU. We look forward to making next semester even better.

Students can look for information concerning the Union Activities Council through our website at Emporia.edu/csi/uac, or through Facebook and Twitter.        Applications are also being taken for a number of chair and vice chair positions that are open. Visit the Center for Student Involvement in the Memorial Union for more details. Enjoy the break and come back ready to be blown away by all the excitement!

Micheal Torres

Chair of Public Relations

Union Activities Council

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Nov. 10, 2011

On behalf of the City of Emporia and the Clean Sweep Committee, I want to thank all of the ESU students, faculty and staff who assisted with the Clean Sweep weekend. We gathered 337 tons of junk, trash, tires, construction debris, and recyclable materials, well exceeding our goal of 500,000 pounds.

There were over 80 ESU student volunteers working on the weekend of the project who represented a variety of groups and organizations as well as individuals. ESU groups who identified themselves were Track & Field, GIVE, Alpha Kappa Lambda, Community Hornets, Circle K, and the American Democracy Project.

Thanks again for your contribution to this successful community project to improve the health, safety, and beauty of the Emporia community.

Respectfully,

Patty Gilligan

Clean Sweep Coordinator

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P.R.I.D.E. is a campus student organization whose goals are frequently obscured by stereotypes. The organization itself exists to provide support and promote equality for all members of the campus community, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This support is not limited to the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community but is offered to QA (Questioning and Allied) students as well.

We understand that students may be curious about identities other than their own, not be certain of their identity, or want to support diversity. To that end we offer educational events to provide our campus community with the tools they need to make ESU a more welcoming place for everyone.

Our next event is on September 7 at 7:00pm in Plumb Hall 303. It will introduce the H.A.V.E.N. program which examines bias and teaches techniques to create a bias free environment. The next event we host will be on Oct 5 at 7:30pm in Plumb Hall 303. Titled “LGBTTQQAAIIFOP…What?” it will use games to provide an introduction to terminology that is frequently used to describe sexual orientation and gender identity along with defining those terms.

P.R.I.D.E. is not limited to education. Our social events provide a place where any member of ESU is welcome to come and be themselves without fear of bias, harassment or bullying due to any aspect of their identity. Additionally we provide a chance for students and faculty to network and make the personal and professional connections they need to enhance their experience at ESU.

We also look beyond ESU by keeping aware of the political climate surrounding the LGBTQA community at all levels. We stay involved in the Emporia community through service events such as Trick-or-Treat So Kids Can Eat and Helium for Hope.

Should you have any questions about P.R.I.D.E. please feel free to contact our President, Austin Schopper at aschoppe@emporia.edu. If you have any questions about the LGBTQA community or our upcoming educational events please contact our Educational Chair, Andrew Leigh at abullard@emporia.edu.

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Last weekend, my wife, Marla, and I greeted parents and relatives of our newest students during a family reception after move-in for freshmen at our residence halls. Talking to these family members and hearing their hopes and dreams for their students took me back 51 years when I visited Emporia State University with my mother.

During that visit, Dr. Winston Cram, head of the physical science department at that time, reassured me that if I ever ran into difficulties on campus, I should come to him for help.  That simple act of reassurance was the single most important ingredient in my decision to come to Emporia.

The four years I spent at Emporia State University earning my bachelor’s degree changed my life. I became involved in campus life and student government and developed what became a career and life-long engagement in the political process.

Then-ESU President John King knew of my interests and pointed me on a path shortly after I graduated from ESU with my bachelor’s degree. As I walked in front of Plumb Hall, President King shouted out through his open window: “Ed, I just got a letter from Sen. (James) Pearson. He’s got an opening in Washington, D.C., that would allow you to work on a master’s degree.”

Now 51 years after I arrived at ESU as a new freshman, I find the same spirit and advantages awaiting you. At ESU, you will find the kind of opportunities that simply would not be available at a bigger institution.

You will find leadership opportunities. You will find activities that interest you. You will make life-long friends.

I call the impact that both Dr. Cram and President King had on me “the power of simple acts.” I have shared these stories with ESU faculty and staff and have encouraged them to reach out to you, our students, to build those connections that will have lasting effects.

Your own simple acts can also make a difference. As you become involved, you will find ways to reach out to others. I saw an example this weekend as I watched older students volunteer as Hornet Helpers to help our new students move into the residence halls.

Reach out, get connected, and I believe ESU will touch your life as deeply as it has touched mine. No matter where I have gone, I have always remained a part of the Hornet nation. Go Hornets!

H. Edward Flentje, Interim President

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Vogts

Welcome Hornets!

On behalf of the Associated Student Government, please allow me to welcome you to the 2011-2012 academic school year! Whether this is your first time on the ESU campus or you are here for another amazing year, we are all very excited to see you! Like each new academic year, this year brings many new exciting opportunities for each of you. You have the chance to make new friends, take an elective outside your major, study abroad, create connections, and experience a year of pure college life. My message to you is simple – do not pass up any opportunities that present themselves, you never know when you are going to get a chance to experience it again.

I highly encourage each of you to get involved with one of the 140 recognized student organizations. Whether you are interested in getting involved in an organization based on your major, your interests, or an honors program, there is something out there for each of you. Truly, the possibilities are endless.

Be true to your passions and who you are. As you follow your own path this year, remember that each road you take will lead you to many more amazing opportunities and experiences, which will last a lifetime. So, take advantage of those opportunities and don’t blink because your time spent here, while remarkable, goes very fast.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact myself or any other member of Associated Student Government.  You can reach us at the Center for Student Involvement office located on the Memorial Union Mainstreet, by phone at 341-5481, or e-mail me at asgpres@emporia.edu. Our priority is to make your experience here at Emporia State the best that it can be. Once again, welcome to another exciting year; it’s a great day to be a Hornet!

In Hornet Spirit,

Ashley Vogts, ASG President

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When international students come to ESU, they need to have the English placement tests if they have no any certificates in English. If they failed in IEP tests, they should take IEP classes, which is short for Intensive English Program and focuses on improving the English of English learners. To our surprise, we can’t receive any credit for IEP classes. Compared to IEP students, American students can receive credits when they learn second languages. For instance, when they take Spanish or French, they will receive five credits. As a result, we think it’s unfair to IEP students and we think that IEP students should receive credits for IEP classes.

Before international students enroll, they need to pay money for IEP classes. For example, Denghao, who has four IEP classes this semester, paid three thousand and three hundred dollars for these classes. Although he paid so much money and had difficult classes, he still can’t receive credit for IEP classes. That really makes him feel frustrated.

There is another unfair situation for IEP students who can’t receive credit for classes. Ai Date, who is an exchange student in ESU, will just stay here for one year.  Because she has to take some IEP classes, she doesn’t have enough time to take academic classes. But she should bring credits as many as she can to her Japan collage after one year. There are fierce competitions in Japan so Ai feels stressed when she can’t receive credit for IEP classes.

Similarly, Ayumi has the same opinion. She wants to get a bachelor degree in ESU. As usual, it takes American students four years to graduate from ESU. But international students who enter this university at 18 years old and take some IEP classes would graduate when they are older than 22. Ayumi thought that if IEP students can’t receive credit for classes, it prevents them from advancing to society early as workers.

IEP students have a busy day. Nobu, who has four IEP classes, has a very busy day. “It takes me four hours to take IEP classes every day. In addition, I have read a difficult text book in my reading class, taken a lot of tests and tutoring for my structure class, written a lot of essays in my writing class and had a presentation and three reaction reports in my speaking class.” Because he should finish lots of assignments, he said, “I have studied a lot of things in IEP classes.” After finishing lots of tasks in IEP classes, each student gains a lot.

Based on this argument, we want to list what IEP students have done in advanced writing class. Our writing instructor gives us some assignments every day. In his class, we have learned how to make our essays formats more professional, including how to change them into APA/MLA formats. In addition, we have learned how to plan a big project, such as how to work with your teammates and publish prefect newsletters. “The newsletters that we have made have given much useful information to international students,” said Dahao Yu. Some reactions of IEP students reflect that IEP classes can improve our English with many kinds of activities. Some of the tasks took IEP students much more time than homework in our academic classes.

Above all, we think that IEP students endeavored to learn English in IEP classes, and most of them made big progress in improving their English. They should receive credit for classes, because it is effective to encourage them to study English better and make them feel fair.

- Ai Date, Ayumi Kawasaki, Dahao Yu, Hao Deng, Nobuhiko Shiono, Yang Hui

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What will burning books accomplish?

The Dove World Outreach Center in Florida will hold a book burning this weekend on Sept. 11 as part of the international “Burn a Qur’an” Day. The holiday was created to “honor” those who died during the Sept. 11 attack.

Americans have the right to burn these books, or any book, as a part of their First Amendment rights. What concerns me is the intention behind the action and what consequences might arise.

What does this church hope to accomplish? They will not convert anyone to Christianity or away from the religion of Islam. This act will only enrage those who are already angry and turn those who have stayed moderate in the Muslim-American community into radicals. This is designed to incite anger and violence, pure and simple.

The act alone is worthy of condemnation. To burn a book is an attempt at destroying an idea, a lifestyle, or a part of history. It’s shortsighted and totalitarian. Ideas are not confined to books. If the Constitution was destroyed, Americans would still know about our unalienable rights.  Destroying the Qur’an will no more stop the Islamic religion as burning Bibles could stop Christianity.

What upsets even more are the consequences. General David Petraeus stated the burning of Qur’an will endanger the lives of soldiers in the Middle East who will face the brunt of the opposition from Muslims. Petraeus feels without a doubt that if this event occurs it will severely damage Islamic-U.S. relations, which are already fragile.

The military is fighting to protect our rights and freedoms. It saddens me that some Americans choose to exercise their freedoms by inciting fear and violence.

Harrison George, B.A. Sociology ‘10

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I am an exchange student from Japan. When I came to Emporia I was shocked that people were throwing everything away in one trash can. I realized this meant they throw away recyclable stuff too.

Japan has strict rules for recycling. Households have to separate its recycling materials from its garbage before they throw it outside. If a household does not separate it the city recycling department will not collect any of that household’s garbage. In addition, beverage companies have to collect their bottles and cans after they have been used because it is their responsibility as a beverage seller.

Newspaper companies also have to collect all used newspapers. The companies must provide the bins or the service, or both, for all of customers to use.  In the field of education, Japan tries to teach children that importance of the environment and recycling from an early age. Because of this people recycle without complaint.

Japan works hard to be eco-friendly. After the city collects the garbage from households they transport it to an incinerator. The energy released in this process is harnessed and used to power parts of the city. Garbage in America is carried to landfills and just thrown away.  It seems extremely harmful to the environment.

Emporia has its own recycling center but it is far away and many students, especially international ones, don’t know how to get there.  There is little recycling occurring on campus, except for what is being done by certain buildings and departments. There should be something put in place that is campus-wide to make it as easy as possible to get students used to recycling.

We live on the Earth comfortably because our ancestors protected the environment, so we have a responsibility to protect the Earth. America is the largest consumer of resources in the world and therefore has the largest responsibility to take action. I know that recycling is a small thing; however it is the easiest and most effective way to maintain our life on the Earth.

According to ESU Environment Club, 400 pounds of reusable items are thrown away a day. If we raise awareness for recycling, we can save 400 pounds of reusable items at ESU. Why don’t we take action for recycling for a sustainable future?

-Ishikawa Hiroo,

Senior business major

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April 7, 2010

Letter to the Editor

ESU Bulletin

To All ESU Students:

On behalf of the student-athletes in our Athletics programs, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your attendance and support at our athletic events this year.  Most recently, the students who made the trip to St. Joseph for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament helped make the atmosphere of the Championship game nothing short of electric, and helped make our first NCAA National Championship the experience of a lifetime.

I’ve noticed more students at many of our events this year.  The large student crowds, especially from several of the Greek Houses, make the games more exciting for your fellow students who are participating.  I encourage all students to take in a game when you can, as these events can be a wonderful part of college life.  Whether it is basketball, volleyball, softball or baseball, it is fun to see the pride you take in your school and your teams.  I also appreciate the class, respect and sportsmanship our students conduct themselves with at these events.  You are great ambassadors to our great institution.

We’ll do our best to make our events fun and memorable events to attend.  Thanks again from all of us at your Athletics Department.

Kent L. Weiser

Director of Athletics

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Your support was awesome at the NCAA Division II National Women’s Basketball Tournament held in St. Joseph, Mo. last week over 288 other Div. II teams. It was a beautiful sight to witness the ESU band, cheerleaders and over 200 students pulling together as one, to cheer the Lady Hornets on to a National Title on National T.V. What energy, what enthusiasm!! Every group was well-behaved and gave their heart and soul to the Lady Hornet’s team.

You will cherish those memories the rest of your life.

Many, many thanks from a proud local alumnus and the other 56,000 other ESU alumni throughout the U.S.A. You helped to make history.

Robert D. Chatham

B.S. ‘57

M.A. ‘61

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To the Editor, THE BULLETIN:

If America’s citizens let Republicans regain their recent, short-lived control of all three branches of government, democracy as we have known it will continue to be broken for a long time.  By desiring to cut, or even do away with Medicare, the GOP shows its “survival of the fittest” philosophy.  It is a philosophy that’s not morally or spiritually-sound and is keeping us from getting needed health care reform.

With fiery passion, right-wing talk radio host Rush Limbaugh tells his audience daily President Obama is destroying our country.  Even before Social Security and Medicare became law, the Republican Party opposed both programs and would kill them today if they could.  Greed and selfishness are the motivators for doing away with them.  That is what’s destroying America.

No matter who is president– Democrat, Republican, Independent–or what party controls Congress, Washington, DC is never going to change as long as big, special interest money determines how we do politics and our economic system runs on greed.

Sincerely,

Paul L. Whiteley Sr.

1960 Graduate of Emporia State

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