Fall break | ESU Bulletin

Written by Kenzie Templeton
Thursday, 08 November 2012 14:07
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Emilee Irsik, junior German major, was found today in Germany after she made a secret trip abroad over Fall Break. Irsik is safe and with German authorities.

Emilee Irsik, a 20-year-old German major at Emporia State, was found this afternoon. Irsik’s mother, Sherry, spoke with her daughter on the phone at about noon local time, according to an ESU press release.

“We are so grateful to everyone who shared in our concern and who said a prayer,” Irsik’s mother told ESU officials.

Irsik made a secret trip to Germany over Fall Break – no one, not her family, roommates or boyfriend, knew about it. One of Irsik’s roommates, Megan Nolan, told The Bulletin that Irsik said she was “going home” over the break, which she assumed meant Irsik was visiting her grandmother in Wichita. When Irsik hadn’t returned to campus the evening of Oct. 22, Nolan and her other roommate, who declined an interview with The Bulletin, contacted their Resident Assistant who then contacted campus police.

Irsik is currently with authorities in Germany, and her family is working to be reunited with her, the press release stated.

A Facebook group, “Emilee Irsik – Missing Person,” was created to help locate Irsik, and the details of her disappearance and several photos were distributed both in the United States and abroad.

Megan Finkeldei, a family friend who spearheaded the Facebook group, posted the following at approximately noon today:

“We have wonderful news! Emilee’s family is happy to confirm that Emilee is safe and with the German police at this time. We have no more information at this time. We are incredibly grateful for everyone that has joined in this effort. To everyone that has hung a flier, made a phone call, written a story or just said a prayer, our gratitude has no words. We don’t know when she is coming home at this point or any other details but will keep you posted as we know more. Thank you!!!!! It’s a great day!”

More information to follow as it becomes available.

Faculty Senate votes to keep ESU's fall break

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 17 March 2011 11:09
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ASG President Jonathan Rivers explains that he believes most ESU students prefer a fall break to a week long Thanksgiving Break during the faculty senate meeting Tuesday in Visser Hall. Chris Franklin/ The Bulletin

After weeks of debate over possible changes to the academic calendar, Faculty Senate has decided to preserve fall break instead of replacing it with a longer, five-day Thanksgiving Break.
Faculty Senate had decided to postpone voting on the bill, FSB 10005, in order to gather student opinion on the possible changes.

Jonathan Rivers, senior social science secondary education major and ASG president, said that he found that most of the students he spoke with preferred the current layout of breaks in the fall semester. Many ASG senators also said that their constituents leaned more towards having two separate breaks.
“After midterms and midterm papers, it gives the students an opportunity to regroup, catch up and recharge,” said James Waegelein, accounting professor and member of Faculty Senate.
However, there was talk of reasons students might prefer having a long Thanksgiving break. Rivers said it allows for those who travel over breaks to spend additional time with their families.
Prior to voting on the bill, the senate voted to amend the bill to preserve fall break. After this amendment passed, the senate passed the rest of the bill, which will potentially change the first day of classes from a Wednesday to a different day of the week. It will also cut out two or three days to fit within the guidelines the Kansas Board of Regents has set for the number of class days regent schools are required to have.
Faculty Senate Bill 10007, introduced by Dwight Moore, associate professor of biology and chair of academic affairs, would replace the current academic dishonesty bill in its entirety. The bill was read for a second time at the meeting on Tueday.
According to the bill, its purpose is “to 1) establish that academic dishonesty may be grounds to deny admission to a major or program, 2) allow the registrar to prevent a student from withdrawing or dropping a class to avoid a penalty of academic dishonesty and 3) insure that department chairs and program directors can be informed of students within their programs who have committed acts of academic dishonesty.”
The bill passed, 23 to one.
Additionally, the intellectual property policy bill was introduced at the previous meeting and was on its second reading on Tuesday. This bill, introduced by Sheryl Lidzy, assistant professor of communications and chair of faculty affairs, regards software that can be copyrighted and recognized university publications, in addition to other intellectual property produced at ESU or by ESU faculty and students.
The bill states that it applies to “all full or part-time employees, including student employees, creating intellectual property while under contract with Emporia State University.”
An amendment was proposed to change the vague wording of the bill and it was neither passed nor declined on Tuesday.
The intellectual privacy policy will be voted on at the next meeting which will take place at 3:30 p.m. on April 5 in Visser Hall Room 330.

Smantha Jones

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Faculty Senate seeks student opinion of calendar bill

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 03 March 2011 12:41
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Faculty President Joella Mehrhof speaks about changes to the academic calendar Tuesday afternoon in Visser Hall. Jon Coffey/ The Bulletin

A bill targeting changes to Emporia State’s academic calendar, including lowering the number of class days from 75 to 73 and eliminating Fall Break to institute a weeklong Thanksgiving Break, was tabled at the Faculty Senate on Tuesday in Visser Hall. Members moved to gather more information on students’ preferences before voting on the bill.

The bill, which was on its second hearing, was met with mixed reactions from the Senate. James Waegelein, accounting professor and senator, proposed an amendment that is consistent with the current policy regarding Fall and Thanksgiving Breaks. Under the current policy, ESU gets two days off in October and three days off for Thanksgiving.

“I surveyed my faculty who were slightly in favor in keeping the existing Fall Break and the three day Thanksgiving Break… they thought it was in the students’ best interests from an academic standpoint,” Waegelain said. “Talking to students informally, they preferred the existing Fall Break.”

Dwight Moore, associate professor of biology and chair of academic affairs, said people enjoy Fall Break because it gives them time to rest in the middle of the semester.

But Moore said many private schools tend to have weeklong Thanksgiving Breaks since their student populations are usually diverse. Even some Board of Regents schools allow for a weeklong break for the holiday.

“I have a lot of friends at K-State who have that weeklong break and they speak pretty highly of it – they like it,” said Jonathan Rivers, senior social science secondary education major and Associated Student Government president. “I also have friends that don’t (like the weeklong break), so I get the mixed bag as well. I think if you plan to do a lot of travelling at Thanksgiving, it’s fantastic,” Rivers said.

Moore introduced another bill at the meeting to replace in its entirety the current academic dishonesty policy at ESU.

The bill states as its purpose, “to 1) establish that academic dishonesty may be grounds to deny admission to a major or program, 2) allow the registrar to prevent a student from withdrawing or dropping a class to avoid a penalty of academic dishonesty, and 3) insure that department chairs and program directors can be informed of students within their programs who have committed acts of academic dishonesty.”

Sheryl Lidzy, assistant professor of communications and chair of faculty affairs, introduced a bill regarding ESU’s intellectual property policy which deals with things like copyrightable software, student academic creations and manuscripts for academic journals.

According to the bill, the policy applies to “all full or part-time employees, including student employees, creating intellectual property while under contract with Emporia State University.”

The academic calendar bill will have its third hearing and the two new bills will be on their second hearings at the next Faculty Senate meeting at 3:30 p.m. on March 15 in Visser Hall Room 330.

Kenzie Templeton