The hiring of Susan Martin as Eastern Michigan University's
new president seems to have set a new tone for the school
— one that is hopeful and optimistic. Student Government
leaders are especially pleased with Martin's appointment.
 |
MOVING EMU FORWARD: (above, from left)
At
the Tower Inn, Student Government President
Adam Slingwein and Vice President Robert Kull
discuss
some of their goals to help EMU students
this school
year. Photo courtesy of EMU's
Student
Government Web site |
"She actually cares about what we have to say," said Student
Government President Adam Slingwein. "Her first day on
the job, she had lunch with us."
Slingwein said he plans to maintain a good rapport with
Martin and the administration in order to stay informed
about what is happening around campus.
Slingwein and Student Government Vice President Robert
Kull plans to use the upcoming presidential election to
get students more involved around campus - his most important
goal. A political action committee and interactive activities
related to politics are in the works.
Other important goals and potential solutions on Slingwein's
agenda include:
Student retention
"We need to break students out of the mold of sitting
in their dorm room, going home on the weekends and sitting
in their dorm room," said Slingwein.
Some suggestions proferred include:
- Getting students involved on campus, especially in
student organizations, would prevent them from leaving
EMU.
- Supporting student organizations, as much as possible
so that the groups have the means to advertise to students,
is very important.
- Freshmen orientation has been expanded to a four-day process.
All student organizations are invited and given a table
to provide students with information about each organization.
- Tying EMU to the city of Ypsilanti, similar to the connection
between the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor, would
get students more involved in the community and the campus.
Tuition costs
"The tuition rate increase isn't a bad as many other schools
in Michigan," said Slingwein. "We (EMU) were in the bottom
third of the increases."
Eastern Michigan increased its tuition 7.7 percent, which
was the fourth-highest behind Grand Valley State (13.2
percent), Western Michigan (9.2 percent) and Lake Superior
State (8.9 percent) universities.
- Enrollment is down nearly 4 percent this semester and
EMU is trying to reinvest back into the University, so
a tuition increase was necessary, Slingwein said.
- With inflation and fuel costs, it would have been impossible
to have tuition increases lower than 4.5 or five percent,
according to Slingwein.
- The two goals of reinvesting and accessibility need to
be balanced.
- Student government, along with the rest of the campus,
wants to ensure that the money is being used efficiently.
"With Susan Martin's accounting background, I'm hoping
that she will be able to help us in this area," said Slingwein.
Sporting events attendance
"We have great athletic programs on campus," said Slingwien. "It
is just unfortunate that the largest crowd pullers, men's
football and basketball, aren't as strong as the rest of
the programs."
- Providing incentives. For example, raffling free credit
hours at games could draw more students.
- Homecoming will be bigger and better this year, with great
activities for students and the community to get involved.
This year's Homecoming, scheduled Sept. 27, has a country
theme.
- Encouraging the city of Ypsilanti to support the sporting
events with incentives may help increase attendance.
- Slingwein hopes athletics will be allowed to offer
a discounted rate for Ypsilanti residents to attend games.
Slingwein mentioned these goals and initiatives are a
collaborative effort. Student government, student organizations,
administrators, students and the community are all responsible
for addressing these current issues.
"We need to move the University one step at a time," said
Slingwein. "We have a dedicated group of people that want
to improve in every area. It won't happen overnight, but
it should happen."
