Courtesy Photo of Finch

Phillip Finch, a prolific Kansas author whose work ranged from fast-paced thrillers to a riveting nonfiction account of acave diving triumph and tragedy, died Tuesday at the home of his sister in Grand Junction, Colo., following an illness of a few months. He was 63.

He was born July 27, 1948, in Washington, D.C.

Finch began his career as a sports writer for The Washington Daily News. One of his memorable interviews, which he recounted in 2008 for a reporting class at Emporia State University, was with Muhammad Ali.  Finch’s editor had told him to get an exclusive. The world heavyweight boxing champion took a liking to the young reporter and gave Finch an impromptu boxing lesson, which Finch described for readers.

Finch was a sports writer for the San Francisco Examiner from 1970 until 1975, when his first novel, “Haulin’,” was published by Doubleday. He was represented by the William Morris literary agency and would write fourteen other novels in his career, including the thrillers “Sugarland” and “Paradise Junction,” both of which won praise from critics.“Texas Dawn,” published in 1981, was selected as a Readers Digest Condensed Book.

His most recent thriller was “Devil’s Keep,” published by Pocket Books in 2010.

In addition to his journalism and fiction, Finch was also an author of nonfiction books. These include “Fatal Flaw,” in which he questioned the conviction of Tommy Ziegler for a triple homicide in Winter Park, Florida. His latest nonfiction book was 2008’s“Diving Into Darkness,” about a South African cave diving tragedy that took the life of Australian David Shaw. For that book, Finch traveled to South Africa and dove, with Shaw’s scuba equipment, the cave where Shaw had previously set acave diving depth record – and where Shaw died trying to recover the body of another diver.

Finch moved to Emporia from Howard, in Elk County, and lived with his family in the historic Keebler-Stone House at 831 Constitution. For several of the past few years, he was a faculty member of the Tallgrass Writing Workshop, held one weekend each summer at ESU.

He was preceded in death by his father, Francis Finch.

He is survived by his ex-wife, Dahlia; his son, Daniel, and his daughter, Angela, both of the home;  sisters Yvonne Finch, of Grand Junction,  Madeline Finch, Sacramento, Calif., and Denise Finch, of Auburn, Calif.; a brother, Tom Finch, of Wichita; and his mother, Madeline Finch,  of Grand Junction.

A private memorial service is planned. The family suggests memorial contributions to Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado, www.hospicewco.com.

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In her second season playing basketball for Emporia State, Kelsey Balcom, sophomore nursing major, has become a leader for the young team. Her poise, patience and leadership have been noticed by both players and coaches.

“Kelsey is an obvious leader on our team,” said Jory Collins, head coach. “She is one of our more talented players, even as a sophomore. We are really excited to have her leadership on our team.”

Growing up in Olathe, Kelsey competed in track, volleyball and basketball. She was involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student Volunteers, where she worked in a sixth grade classroom her senior year.

In high school she focused on basketball with support from her family. According to ESU’s website, she played in three straight Kansas state championship games while leading her team to victory as a senior.

“I am really close to all of my family,” Balcom said. “My parents never forced me to play but have always been very supportive by coming to watch me.”

Kelsey’s sister, Megan, will be joining the team next season.

“My sister and I are very close,” Balcom said. “She is my biggest fan, and I am her biggest fan.”

According to ESU’s website, Balcom was the MIAA Freshmen of the Year and earned Honorable Mention All MIAA last season. She averaged 11.6 points and 7 rebounds per game to go along with four double-doubles.

“Ali V. (Volkens) was a senior last year as a post player,” Balcom said. “She was great. She helped me with a lot of things, helped the whole team with a lot of things. It was a good learning experience all around. I want to continue to improve from there.”

Kelsey has high hopes for the team and their future and plans to work as hard as necessary to reach those goals.

“We don’t want to settle with just being good,” Balcom said. “Every day we want to get better and better. We want to be great. Personally, I want to improve and be as good as I can every day. I need to move away from not thinking as much and just play the game.”

Her presence and leadership on and off the floor is vital to the success of this team. The team chemistry is noticeable to many.

“Our team chemistry is one of the strengths of this team,” Balcom said. “We all get along. We have players at every position that can play.”

Marcus Hix

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Infograph by Ellen Weiss

While Emporia State’s overall enrollment has declined nearly 8 percent since 2006, the number of students enrolled in the international education program has increased by 54 percent during the same period.

But despite the growing numbers, the director of a local outreach ministry for international students is concerned that the university Office of International Education is understaffed and not meeting the needs of its students.

“I always feel bad for the office of (international education),” said Garen Forsythe, founder and director of the Friends of Overseas College and University Students (FOCUS). “I always feel like they are stretched very thin.”

But many international students say they are attracted to the quality, affordable education offered at Emporia State, claimed Gonzalo Bruce, assistant vice president of international education. In addition, Bruce said in an email, the smaller community offers a safe campus environment and more opportunities to become part of the wider community.

As of fall 2011, there were 5,976 students enrolled at ESU, according to the Gwen Larson, assistant director of media relations. Of those, 520 were international students, or nearly 1 in every 12 students.

OIE now has four full-time employees and several student assistants along with Intensive English Program instructors, Bruce said. The department is in charge of four main areas – international recruitment and admissions, international students and scholar services, study abroad and IEP.

Only one staff member works on current international student concerns and two graduate assistants work on new student orientation and programming activities.

OIE has just hired Stene Verhulst, assistant director for international communication and recruitment, following the university’s new strategic marketing plan.

Yosuke Yoneshima, graduate business student, told The Bulletin he had a problem with an online business transaction, but friends were the first ones he went to for help. He only went to OIE once last semester to submit his I-20 form.

“I think OIE is… always busy,” Yoneshima said. “I don’t go to OIE except for my I-20 problems. I don’t know if they will solve my (online transaction) problem.”

Yoneshima also said the university should consider making improvements to the airport shuttle service.

“If we go to OIE and sign up, they will give us a ride, but you have to pay $35,” Yoneshima said.

Emporia is more than two hours away from the nearest airport, and most international students don’t own cars. Forsythe said he helped nine students get to the airport last Christmas, and his community group helped more than 20.

“There are only four staff members in OIE,” Forsythe said. “There is no way you could expect these guys to know all the internationals or to help them – they are administrators.”

Tianhai Jiang

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CURTIS

In an effort to increase K-12 standardized test scores, Gov. Sam Brownback recently proposed the Excellence in Education Act, which would change way teachers are evaluated – 50 percent of  teachers’ annual assessments would be based on how their students perform on annual standardized tests.

“Each student comes in unique and goes out unique,” said Richard Schrock, professor of biology. “They’re not at the same place going in and are not going to the same place after. Standardized tests make us treat them as uniform.”

The rest of a teacher’s evaluation would rely 40 percent on “feedback from administrators, peers, parents and students.” The last 10 percent would consist of any contributions from a teacher throughout the school year toward occupation of education, according to KEPR.

But Schrock said it is the duty of the State Board of Education – not state legislature – to decide if the bill goes through.

If the bill passes, teachers will be evaluated on a scale of “effective, highly effective, or ineffective,” according to KEPR.

Tyler Curtis, director of alumni relations and legislative liaison, said that it is not entirely the teacher’s responsibility for how students perform. A student’s background, learning style and home life are also factors. The students have to be willing to learn as well.

“Ultimately it comes down to both parties,” Curtis said. “You have to have engaged learners to have good teaching. That’s not always the teachers fault for that person not to be engaged.”

The bill also intends to create standardized state assessments for electives, such as music, art and physical education.

“Teaching is an art,” Curtis said. “There is not a scientific method to it. Teachers need to be able to be creative and students need exposure to a number of learning styles to be able to be successful.”

Scores mean very little, in the long run, according to Schrock, and teachers also provide students with knowledge about ethics, honesty and maintain an excitement about the field they are in.

“I hope that our student education candidates don’t get discouraged because they see creativity is going to be hampered,” Curtis said. “Our kids need good, solid teachers. ESU trains the best of them. There are going to be some battles they are going to fight. If they get in the profession for the right reasons, they will fight those battles.”

Susan Welte

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Courtesy of danielpackard.com

Daniel Packard, dating expert and professional dating coach, radio personality and internationally touring speaker, will uncover secrets of the opposite sex and answer students’ dating and relationship questions during his Live Group Sex Therapy show at 7 p.m. on Feb. 8 in Webb Hall.

“I’m personally excited,” said Carlos Urgiles, junior biochemistry and molecular biology major and vice president of the Union Activities Council. “It’s very interactive, and I really was attracted to what his message was – that’s why we asked him to come to our campus.”

Urgiles saw Packard perform before at the National Association of Campus Activities conference in Oklahoma.

“It’s something that college students are involved in, like sex, dating, having problems with someone that you might like, so we thought it would be an event that could reach everyone,” Urgiles said.

Packard was named Speaker of the Year in 2007 by the Canadian Organization of Campus Activities, according to COCA’s website.

“I’ve never been to one like this,” said Alyssa Schultz, senior sociology major. “I would be interested to go. I’m sure he will have a lot of things to say, so it’s probably really important for students to understand someone else’s point of view.”

The free show, with the slogan “A Comical Insight to the Opposite Sex,” will use a blowup screen to communicate with the students via their cell phones. Students can share their thoughts or ask questions about their personal life with live and anonymous texting and polling.

“Basically he’s a dating and relationship coach who tries to get opposite sexes to reveal secrets to other people,” said Micheal Torres, freshman business administration major and UAC’s chair of public relation, “and then he will interpret those text messages, let us know what exactly that means, how we can work with certain problems, or face specific situations on our own.

Torres described Packard as having an optimistic, humorous personality.

UAC has three speakers lined up to present this semester, and this is their first “sex” topic to their knowledge, Urgiles said.

Tianhai Jiang

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The Associated Student Government opened their 85th session last week to kick off the spring semester. Aside from committee reports, the senate heard two other speakers.

Rachel McCommon, senior rehabilitation service education major and president of Sigma Alpha Lambda, spoke on behalf of Youth Friends. Emporia State President Michael Shonrock also spoke to the senators on a number of topics, chief among them was recruitment.

“If you’ve got folks out there, I’ll call them,” Shonrock said. “If you want me to send a little letter, I’ll send them a letter. Give me the information so we can personalize this opportunity because this is a great place and we know it in our hearts.”

McCommon spoke to the senators about participating in Youth Friends. Participants would be mentors for preschool and high school students for an hour a week. Students can request certain age groups and certain times in order to better fit themselves into the program.

“It’s more about quality time… being there with them, spending time with them after school,” McCommon said

Senator Luke Drury, legislative director, spoke about Higher Education Day in his report, highlighting three main points that will be addressed in meetings with legislators. The topics were economic returns on investments on higher education, student debt and scholarships and the conceal and carry bill.

“We want to make sure we talk about our vehement opposition to this bill as we feel, as a regents system, that our campuses are safe,” Drury said.

First readings for the meeting included bills for reserve fund requests for Alternative Spring Break, Beta Alpha Psi, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the American College of Sports medicine.

The senate also heard the first reading of a bill for the recognition of the Soccer Club of ESU. The rules were suspended and the bill for Alternative Spring Break was moved to general order.

“We’re trying to promote awareness for the issues with poverty housing. Every year we use Spring Break to go on a trip outside of Kansas, so we can help someone build a house,” said Brooke Schmidt, junior Spanish major and president of Alternative Spring Break.

The bill was to help defer costs of the annual trip the group makes to help build a house with Habitat for Humanity and passed unanimously.

Luke Bohannon

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Graduate student in mental health counseling Junko Takamura prepares dinner with her daughter Rin after school. As a Japanese mom in the United States, she struggles to balance motherhood and foreign schooling. Yiqing Fu/The Bulletin

Succeeding as a single parent while in school can be hard and is not a lifestyle most would choose. But when Junko Takamura, graduate in mental health counseling, wanted to finish her education, she and her seven year-old daughter Rin packed their bags and headed to Kansas.

Junko’s husband works as an engineer in Japan and after long discussions, supported his wife’s decision to continue her education in America. But she did not receive the same support from his family who believes a wife should be home to support the husband and raise the children.

“Japan is very conservative to gender roles,” Junko said. “Like me, it is very unusual for a mother to leave. Most of my family was opposed to me coming to the United States, except my husband.”

A year of preparation led to both Junko and Rin enrolling in new schools in a new country. Rin attends the William Allen White Elementary School while her mother has class during the day.

Rin said her favorite class is computers because she gets to play games. She also enjoys playing soccer, house and jumping rope during recess.

“I have time to study until she gets out of school,” Junko said. “I meet her after school so we can eat then we usually come back to ESU to study. When she came to the U.S. she spoke very little English, but now she has friends at school and she speaks better.”

Both Junko and Rin spoke very little English before the move, but Amy Murphy, sophomore elementary education major, helped them improve their English, meeting with them once a week for tutoring and even taking them to Wal-Mart.

“They were always eager to learn,” Murphy said. “Rin was always fun because she loved talking to me about animals and the stuff she did at school, but she would get distracted easily, especially when there where people who spoke her language around.”

To finish her degree, Junko will need to spend three years in Emporia. During this time she plans to only go home during the summer, spending holidays with friends in the states.

“I really wanted to study mental health counseling,” said Junko. “Before I came to the United States I worked as a nurse midwife and I saw many pregnant women and mothers who suffered from mental health illness, and I wanted to help them.”

Junko attended Saniku Gakuin Junior College and Suzuki Memorial Hospital Training School for Midwives in Japan. She also graduated from Ferris University, a women’s college in Yokohama. She decided to come to the U.S. because she would receive a better education for mental illness counseling.

Junko discovered ESU through Sakae Institution Study Abroad, an organization which provides information about universities and study programs in the United States.

Junko’s bicycle is the main method of transportation for the two, a benefit of living close to campus. They spend most of their time at William Allen White Library so Junko can study for the workload of nine credit hours.

Without a job, Junko relies on her husband for financial support. She keeps in contact through Skype and e-mail whenever she can find time.

Rocky Robinson

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Rex Fish, battalion expert and former fire marshal, demonstrates the steps of how to correctly use a fire extinguisher at the fire prevention workshop Monday in Webb Hall. Many students arrived welcoming the three men from Emporia’s fire department who had put together the presentation in hopes to better educate students on ways to prevent fires in the home. Jenny Pendarvis/The Bulletin

Four years worth of artwork lined the Bruder Lobby in King Hall last week as Marco Hernandez, senior printmaking and painting major, hosted his senior art show.

The art was up for almost two weeks before the reception last Friday evening during which about 100 people attended. Most of the artwork displayed, Hernandez said, he had drawn for class assignments.
“I guess I just want people to look at my artwork,” Hernandez said. “Not many people have seen my artwork. They know that I draw and stuff, but not many have seen my actual artwork.”
Hernandez’s family helped set up a table with food and drinks during the reception. Some teachers offered extra credit in their classes for attending.
“I liked a lot of his work,” said Kristy Farnsworth, freshman elementary education major. “Most of his paintings are dark which isn’t really my style, but they are really good.”
Hernandez said his idol in the art world is Francisco Goya, a Spanish printmaker and painter who worked in the late 18th to early 19th centuries.
“His images and his approach to print making are outstanding,” said Dan Kichefer, professor of art, life drawing and printmaking and advisor to Hernandez. “His work is very descriptive. You will often find a self portrait in them. He did a series of etchings that dealt with confrontation that I really like. They show inner conflict.”
Art shows are required for graduation for seniors with an art degree. Most students only display their works for a week before the reception, but Hernandez was allowed more time to display because his was the first of the new semester and was the only one ready.
“They are responsible for hanging the show,” Kichefer said. “Their advisor might help them in regard to what number of pieces to put in or what might be put in or taken out. After that the student does the majority if not all of the work. It is very similar to something you would see at a major gallery in Kansas City or even New York.”
In preparation for the event, Hernandez said he made invitations and started a group on Facebook. The paintings had price tags ranging from $50 to $200. Hernandez’s personal favorite, “Versus Demon,” is an etching and watercolor piece, priced at $200.
“There are a lot of self portraits,” Hernandez said. “It is more personal, it is artwork that shows my emotions. If I were to sell them I would be a little sad. I just want to show them off to people, maybe put them around my house.”
After graduations Hernandez said he would like to get his masters in print making.

Rocky Robinson

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About 80 students gathered in Webb Hall Monday afternoon to refresh their memories about fire safety. The workshop was held in memory of two international students, Zheng

Rex Fish, battalion expert and former fire marshal, demonstrates the steps of how to correctly use a fire extinguisher at the fire prevention workshop Monday in Webb Hall. Many students arrived welcoming the three men from Emporia’s fire department who had put together the presentation in hopes to better educate students on ways to prevent fires in the home. Jenny Pendarvis/The Bulletin

Lin and Yawei Fan, who passed away in an apartment fire last semester.

Harry Imbeau, director international students and scholar services, said there is a need for fire safety education on campus. The Office of Student Life, Office of International Education and the Emporia Fire Department worked to make the workshop possible.

“Because of the recent tragedy, we had a very significant name to put with it,” Imbeau said. “So (the workshop) is not necessarily a direct reaction to it, but we did have something that was fresh in people’s minds that would really draw attention to it.”

During the presentation, students watched a video about the different hazards that may occur around an everyday environment. The video reinforced that it’s not objects that cause fires, but rather, people who misplace items either too close to warm objects or forget about things creating heat.

“Ultimately, it’s responsibility in students themselves,” Imbeau said. “Hopefully they came, they learned, and now they’re prepared.”

Students are more likely to cause fires, said Tom Andrews, fire marshal. Household items such as candles, curling irons, blow dryers or incense are frequently used by college students and can be potentially dangerous.

“(Students) aren’t thinking of the basic things they need in the house for safety, like the smoke detector and the fire extinguisher,” Andrews said. “They’re just thinking about how they need a couch, a bed and a refrigerator. But if it can get hot, it can start a fire.”

Garion Masterson, junior music and digital audio production major, said a many of the students at ESU are probably living on their own for the first time.

“They probably never had to think about fire safety while they’re sitting in the house,” Masterson said.

The program also advised students to have two escape routes and to practice these routes at least once a month. Students should look at their own living space and be able to know how they would escape a fire, Andrews said.

“Windows are put in for two reasons – (for) light and air, and they are put in the sleeping rooms as a second exit,” Andrews said. “That is their second option to escape.”

The Emporia Fire Department is available to make sure that students are living in a safe and fire-free environment, Andrews said. Apartment buildings are annually inspected to ensure safe fire escapes routes. Upon request, the fire department will also do fire prevention inspections on private property.

Susan Welte

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Senior music education and performance major, Ben Reilly and junior music major, Manny Requenes talk about ESU Music opportunities in Webb Hall. The Department of music encouraged students to participate in various music events and performances. Yo Han Kim/The Bulletin

Students gathered in Webb Hall yesterday to find out about campus activities and take part in the annual Huge Activities Fair.

Ben Riley, senior music education major, helped run the Emporia State music program booth.

“The great thing about the music program here at Emporia State is that you do not have to be a music major to join an ensemble,” Riley said.

Emporia State currently has sixteen music ensembles. The choral ensembles include Community Chorus, Opera Theatre, A Cappella and Chamber Choir. Instrumental ensembles include Brass, Wind, Jazz, Percussion, Saxophone, and Chamber Winds ensembles, as well as Emporia Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, Marching Band, Hornet Revue, Saxophone Quartet, Flute and Clarinet Choir.

Emporia State offers three music degree programs, which include Music Performance, Music Education and Digital Audio Recording. Riley said that Emporia State has a masters program in music and there are plans to add guitar to the music program.

The music department is planning a Music Day in Beach Hall on Feb. 8. There will be an opening recital at 9 a.m., with a 2:15 p.m. finale in Albert Taylor Hall. A jazz festival is planned for Feb. 14, also in Albert Taylor Hall, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a jazz concert finale at 7:30 p.m.

Russell Swanson, junior elementary education major, was also a participant at the Huge Activities Fair at the booth for CRU, formerly known as Campus Crusade For Christ.

“CRU is a non-denominational Christian group,” Swanson said. “We talk to people about our faith on campus.”

CRU meets every Thursday night at 7:11 p.m. in Cremer Hall, room 415. The Inner Bean, a coffee house at 1328 Exchange St., is hosting a Valentine’s Day CRU event at 7 p.m. on Feb. 10.

President of Newman Kansas Association of Nursing Students and senior nursing major Liem Halim helped with the Emporia State nursing program booth. Halim said ESU has a three-year nursing program, and that the tours for the program are done through Newman Regional Health.

“Great faculty sets us apart from other nursing programs,” said Mallory Bedford, senior nursing major. Bedford is the treasurer of the Newman Kansas Association of Nursing Students.

Steven Edwards

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President Michael Shonrock recently approved a new addition to the Emporia State policy manual, which outlines a clear and definite response to situations involving childsexual abuse and conforms with the Kansas Board of Regents policy. While ESU’s policy manual already has sections regarding sexual assault, KBOR felt the need for a more clearly written policy on the matter.

“Each state university has policies, procedures and processes in place to address abuse issues,” said Andy Tompkins, President and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents. “The unfortunate incident at Penn State informed the board’s decision to adopt a policy and direct campuses to evaluate existing processes to ensure clear reporting expectations and processes were in place.”

The policy was written in response to the Penn State events in which Jerry Sandusky, former assistant football coach, was accused of sexually assaulting or having inappropriate contact with at least eight underage boys on or near university property. As a result of the investigation into these allegations, several high-ranking employees at the college were fired for assisting in covering up the situation, including the late Joe Paterno.

ESU’s new policy states that university faculty and staff are required to report incidents of child sexual abuse, as defined by the law, that they witness on campus or during university sponsored events to campus police or other appropriate law enforcement. It also states that retaliation for lawfully reporting crimes is prohibited.

“It’s common sense, that as a human being you would (report abuse) anyway, regardless of what university policy states,” said Mary Halleran, clinical instructor of sociology, anthropology and crime and delinquency studies.

Before the signing of the new policy there were already sections of the policy manual that instructed faculty and staff on contacting authorities in certain situations.

“We wanted to make sure that Emporia State had an absolutely clear statement with regards to this particular type of incident because we want to make sure that everyone is aware of the responsibilities and that we handle them appropriately,” said Tracy Greene, general counsel for ESU and records custodian.

While the policy primarily affects how faculty and staff are supposed to handle a situation involving sexual abuse, students are supportive of the policy.

“If a teacher saw that (someone) was being harassed, I would like for them to report that so that could stop,” said Noble Orajiato, freshman communications major. “Why would you sit there and watch someone get repeatedly harassed or abused and not say anything about it?”

Cassie Phillips, sophomore elementary education major, also said that she felt the new policy was a good thing.

“Sexual child abuse is a major thing, and I think that it’s good that it has its own section,” Phillips said.

The new policy can be found online in ESU’s policy manual. Information on emergency situations and reporting incidents can be found on the campus safety web page and in the policy manual.

Luke Bohannon

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