MSS News
April/May Issue
- From the Director's Desk...
- Teach For America
- What’s Happening @ CMU
- Why I Will Always Remember You
- Sunglasses
- Brain Teasers
- Congratulations Graduates
- Great Ways To Start Your Day
- Are You A Man About Change?
- Tips for Making Resumes That Produce Interviews
- A Graduation Message
- Meet Our New Staff
From the Director's Desk
Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could
miss it. MSS experienced a lot of positive change and success throughout the
2007-2008 academic year. In case you missed any of the exciting happenings in
Minority Student Services, let’s recap what some of those things were.
In August, Minority Student Services started the year out by trading in our PC’s for
MAC’s. The transition was fairly smooth and it allowed our office new avenues to
plan and promote our activities throughout the year.
MSS hosted its 29th Annual Get Acquainted Day, which was the first event of the
year. The threat of severe thunderstorms forced us indoors for the first time in recent
history. Students, faculty and staff found their way to Finch Fieldhouse where they
were able to visit with various University organizations, departments, and
community groups. New additions to the Get Acquainted Day roster included The
United States Marines, Meijer’s, and ICTC. Attendees enjoyed sno-cones, cotton
candy and elephant ears; all while watching student performances and competitions.
During September, N.W.C “The Race Show” packed Plachta Auditorium and,
unfortunately, turned over 400 people away. The Los Angeles based play touched on
racial issues that mirrored the actor’s own upbringing in the United States. The show
was an overwhelming success with the curtain falling to a standing ovation.
September was also the beginning of the office’s Supplemental Instruction
services. The 2007-2008 program offered more sections of instruction than in any
recent years.
In October, Minority Student Services hosted Julie Chavez-Rodriguez. She spoke
about her grandfather, Cesar Chavez, his legacy, and what it means in America today.
More than 350 guests attended the annual Unified Holiday Celebration which
featured nine different table displays, student performances, presentations, and a
new food menu; which included lettuce wraps and stir-fry.
With January, the new year started out with a bang as our annual Martin Luther
King, Jr. Week activities attracted over 2,000 faculty, students, staff members and
guests. The 16th annual Unity Ball attracted hundreds of people who viewed student
performances and later danced the night away to the soulful sounds of Modern Tribe.
During February, MSS Graduate Assistants, along with 20 undergraduate students
came together and formed Men About Change. Also known as M.A.C., the mentoring
program has helped to engage its participants in educational activities which help
them grow personally and professionally.
The University also welcomed renowned poet and Virginia Tech Distinguished
Faculty member, Nikki Giovanni to campus. Giovanni spoke in Plachta Auditorium to
a crowd of over 1,000 people. Giovanni engaged the audience with poems and stories
that reflected on various people from Tupac to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In March, the Iron Chef competition took place in the UC Rotunda. Would-be cooks
demonstrated their talents in front of over 200 people. This year’s competition
included the secret ingredients of mushrooms and Peruvian blue potatoes. The end
of the competition saw the fall of reigning Iron Chef, Bill O’Dell.
April brought over 150 scholarship students who worked hard at collecting
donations for the annual Big Brothers, Big Sisters Silent Auction. Last year’s auction
was recognized as the program of the year from Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Isabella
County. This year’s scholars earned well over $3,000.
Minority Student Services would like to thank all of the individuals and offices who
have supported our programs and services throughout the 2007-2008 academic year.
Our office will work tirelessly throughout the summer months finalizing our
2008-2009 programs and services. We look forward to seeing you at our first
program of the year, our 30th Annual Get Acquainted Day, on August 27, 2008. Have a
fun and relaxing summer, and we will see you this fall!
Shawn Y. Wilson Assistant Director
Teach For America
Written By Evan Pulver Did you know that there are 13 million
children living in poverty today? Did you also
know that of those 13 million, only half will
graduate from high school and perform on
average at an eighth grade level? These
disheartening statistics reflect the disparities in
the quality of education these children receive as
compared to their more economically endowed
peers. There is promise in the fact that when
given equal opportunities in their education,
these students perform on scale with their peers.
Teach for America has been giving disadvantaged
students those opportunities for the past 18
years.
Founded by a Princeton University senior,
Teach For America has been placing successful
college graduates who have displayed leadership
skills and the ability to strive towards achieving
and exceeding goals since its inception. Now
spanning 26 different regions from Hawaii and
Los Angeles to New York and Miami, Teach For
America Corps members are making their voices
heard in the classroom. No matter what your
major is, from art to zoology, you can be in a
classroom teaching and helping students. Upon
being accepted into the program, Corps members
receive extensive training throughout the
summer to prepare them for their two years of
service as a teacher. Seventy-five percent of
principals say that Teach For America Corps
members’ training is better than that of other
first year teachers. This training in the summer is
supplemented by on-going coursework and
support from Teach For America staff and alumni
during the Corps member’s two years of service
and provides networking opportunities for
careers in many different fields afterwards. In
addition, there are more than 100 graduate
schools and over 20 leading employers who have
partnerships with Teach For America with
benefits like scholarships, two-year deferrals, and
internships. During their two years of service,
Corps members are given full salary and benefits
as any first year teacher would receive. In
addition, TFA awards transitional loans and grants
to help with relocating costs.
If you have a desire to help erase the
achievement gap and end educational inequity in
this country, you should apply for Teach For
America. No matter what field you are going into,
your experience as a teacher will build leadership
and critical thinking skills and surround you with
other forward thinking and purpose driven
individuals. Many do stay in education since they
are fully certified to teach after their two years of
service, but alumni can be found in every field
and draw on their experiences to help them make
decisions that influence our nation from all
sectors.
The choice is yours to be carefully made. Do
you want to make a difference?
Please check out teachforamerica.org to learn more about the movement to end educational inequity.
What to do at CMU…
APRIL
24th & 25th: NO CLASSES
25th: Gentle Friday Annual Celebration, 3:00 p.m., Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Sponsor: Program Board
28th-May 2nd:EXAM WEEK--GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
MAY
2nd: Multicultural Celebratory, 6:30 p.m., UC Auditorium, $5 registration fee, contact: Jesse Vance @ vance1j2cmich.edu for more information
3rd: Commencement, 9:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., Rose Arena
12th: Summer Session I Classes Begin
20th-22nd: Freshman Academic Orientation
26th: Memorial Day--University Closed
26th-June 1st: NCORE Conference
27th-29th: Freshman Academic Orientation
JUNE
3rd-5th: Freshman Academic Orientation
8th & 9th: ACE Staff Training
10th-12th: Freshman Academic Orientation
18th: ACE Welcome & Orientation Day
23rd: Summer Session II Classes Begin
JULY
4th: Independence Day--University Closed
31st: ACE Closing Ceremony
AUGUST
16th-20th: Leadership Safari
24th: Supplemental Instruction Staff Training
25th: Fall Semester Classes Begin
27th: 30th Annual Get Acquainted Day, 4:00-7:00 p.m., Warriner Mall
Why I Will Always Remember You!
By Phillip Miller II
It is with bitter-sweet emotions that I write this, my
final newsletter article as a graduate assistant in
Minority Student Services. When I was recruited to this
university by Dr. Guinn, I never could have imagined
that my time here would be so greatly enhanced by the
relationships I formed within the office. Through my
time as an undergraduate scholar, and the time I have
spent in the office as a graduate assistant, I have formed
unique, idiosyncratic relationships with each member
of the office. Relationships that I am proud to have and
will always cherish. For those of you who don’t work in
the office and aren’t aware of the familial atmosphere
we work in everyday, I hope that my memorable
moments will help give you insight to how hard
working and fun this office truly is.
Jeanette- I will always remember you for your
heartwarming smile and your hugs. I will never forget
the finger nail clippers you got me for Christmas,
although I’m not convinced you did it for reasons other
than to keep me from asking you for yours. You made
everyday in the office enjoyable, even if it was from me
overhearing you talking to yourself!
Ann- I am sure that for years to come, after I’m long gone, I will break out into a nervous sweat every other Thursday around noon, thinking I’ve forgotten my time sheet. I will always remember your jokes, your love letters (a euphemism for assignment), and your spelling/grammar corrections. I will never forget the lessons we learned about ourselves and each other, lessons that I truly believe made us better people.
Shawn- I will never forget you because you’re exactly what I’ll be looking for in a future employer. Our sideline conversations about CMU’s athletics, UFC fights, and debates on who has the better dog helped me through many a long day in the office. I will always remember how you begin all your responses to staff meeting questions with “see, here’s the thing;” but more than that, I will always remember that no matter where you were the day before the event, things always got done and done well.
Sean- I’m bothered by the fact that it took a chance pairing as co-workers to get us to develop such a meaningful friendship. I will always remember our deep, political, theological, philosophical, sociological, epistemological conversations. I will also remember the superficial, joke-filled conversations we used to pass the time or to break from the hectic schedule. You’ve been a positive influence in my life and I hope I was able to reciprocate.
Mark (Jeff)- Again, why did we live in the same dorm and wait until now to foster a brotherhood? We cracked more jokes in the office than is mathematically possible, considering we also always got our work done. Most notably is the ongoing joke about the J-waves, being Jefficient, and everyone else being jerks. I will also never forget how upset Michael Meyers was at his freshly mop’n’glo’d floor being destroyed, I am convinced those people stood a good chance to live prior to that grave mistake (where’s my knife?). Also, who else but another Jeff would help to facilitate an office-wide name change and perpetuate it through daily usage? It’s been good times man.
Carlos- You awake back there buddy? I will always remember your reluctance to be up earlier than 9 a.m. I will also remember, but never tell of your underground free water operation; your secret is safe with me. I hope your dog gets bigger, but if he doesn’t and you get tired of him, we can feed him to Justice.
LaMarcus- I rarely call people my little brother, but I mean it when I say it to you. I’ve enjoyed working with you in the office and watching you grow and mature. I am completely convinced that you will be successful in life; mostly because you’re a lot like me! I don’t know how I got any work done between you and Jeff but we always managed to get stuff done, with minimal demerits from our supervisors. One day we will have real stacks and we can move to Miami and make it rain (aka “rub”).
Henry- I’m proud of you man. The GA’s gave you a lot of business while you were in the office and you took it in stride, every once in a while dishing out a response that settled the score in your favor. You’ve always struck me as a man about his business, so I leave knowing that you will also be completely successful in life. I will always remember you for your random comments, our shared love of adult swim, and the clip you told me to watch on you tube that changed my life forever.
Evan- After the initial awkwardness of me calling you jerk and you not knowing me well enough to know that it was well intended, we developed a strong friendship that led to many outside-the-office hang-out’s. You’re an upstanding citizen and I know you’ll make a great chiropractor one day, even though you probably should have just been a physical therapist!
Sarah- You went from being my sister’s roommate to my co-worker. Funny how things work out that way isn’t it ? It was great to have worked with you, and I’m glad to hear you were accepted into grad school! Keep the vending machines in tip-top shape over at GVSU.
Rebecca- Regardless of our perpetual love/hate relationship, I am fully aware of how you truly feel and I want you to know that I have completely accepted the fact that you just don’t like me. In spite of how you feel, I have enjoyed our verbal tussles, particularly all the ones I won (I guess that means all of them). Your dedication to service others is admirable and I will always remember that about you, it was a blessing to have known/worked with you.
Carly- Ms. CM-Life; I don’t believe there is anything else that needs to be said. When you agreed to be called LaFawnda under the new-office name regime, I knew that you were more than cool. I will never forget your heartfelt speech at the Christmas party about the goals you had for every button on your jacket. You’ve inspired me to create a goal for every thread in the sweater I am wearing today!
Chris- You’re a funny guy man, I didn’t think anyone talked to themselves more than Jeanette, but after sitting by you in the office for a semester, I see I was wrong. I will always remember you for your excellence with camera equipment and the lengthy debate we had on which way the lady on the Internet was spinning. P.S.- I was a bit envious of your Spanish proficiency.
Danielle- Typing this has illuminated the fact that you and I almost never talked. I will, however, remember how amazed I was at how much you could actually say to me without looking at me. You could have told me I had something on my face, you didn’t have to just avoid it! I hope everything goes well for you here at CMU, talk more!
Dr. Guinn- Words cannot express how thankful I am that you are here at this university and that I met you that day back in Flint at the Gateway Holiday Inn. You’ve have been more instrumental in my success and progression here at this university than anyone and I am eternally grateful. As a boss, you rarely “went upside” my head when I was late. Even when I screwed something up, I knew I didn’t have to apologize, just correct it for the next time. This newsletter entry is getting long, and I could have easily written an equal length document on how much you mean to me but I won’t. Suffice it to say that I will absolutely, without a doubt, NEVER forget you and all that you’ve done for me.
MSS, I love you, and good night!
Sunglasses
Written by Carly Wilson
Especially during the summer months, many people begin to wear sunglasses—particularly really big ones! It always seemed to me that people often try to hide behind such massive glasses. I was always curious as to what they might be trying to disguise to the rest of the world so I thought of a reason as to why people might try to hide behind those shades.
SUNGLASSES by Carly Wilson
Those glasses
Dark and shaded
Only hide the blank spaces between
the ears
On our faces
Not necessarily blind
But lacking substance
Lacking Depth
Truths kept secret
Souls and spirits bounded
As we smile and grin on the outside
And there is nothing in those eyes
Dark and shaded
Personalities jaded
As we have faded into the absence
of those spaces lacking
Between the ears on our faces
In strange places
Running races through mazes
br>
Where there is no escape
No way out
We are locked
Behind shut windows
Intently staring
Through this dimmed reality
br>
Forcing facades
And artificiality
Really hiding those empty spaces
Between the ears
On our faces
Unfruitful of emotion
Dark and shaded
Blankly staring…
Those glasses.
BRAIN TEASERS
1) Can you find 5 American presidents whose surnames contain only 4 letters?
2) What relationship to you is your father’s only brother’s wife’s only brother-in-law?
3) Using 8 eights and addition only, can you make 1000?
4) Exactly how many minutes is it before six o’clock if fifty minutes ago it was four times as many minutes past three o’clock?
5) What is represented by this teaser?
CLOUD
TH
6) What is represented by this teaser?
one all all all all
all one one one one
BrainTeaser Solutions:
1) Polk, Taft, Ford, Bush, Bush
2) Your father
3) 888+88+8+8+8=1000
4) 26 minutes (if it’s 26 minutes before 6:00,
then it must be 5:34; so 50 minutes ago it
was 4:44; 4x26-104 minutes & 104
minutes past 3:00 is 4:44.
5) THunderCLOUD
6) One for all, all for one
Congratulations Graduates!
| Bachelor Degrees Darryl Keith Anglin Bernard Jason Arroyo Melissa Sue Arszulowicz Brandon Balogun Dorothy P. Beemon Stephanie Anne Bellanca Jeremy Berger Jewel Lynn Blackmon Lester A. Booker Jr. Isaac Brown Evan R. Brownie Melanie Nicole Burger William Kwametrdil Butler Ian Anthony Calamita Terry Cantu, Jr. Aaron Carter Cristina G. Carter Kelly Victoria Carter Selina Therese Castro Evan J. Chan Karmen Marie Chippeway Kristina Y. Cho Richard Chong Brandi Haven Coolsaet Hernan Espinoza Cortez III Avery Covington Chauncey Cox Quentin Grant Crump Joseph C. Curry Jennifer L. Daniels Ryan Allen Davis Joseph E. Doane Giovonni Anthony Doriety Nicole E. Farrell Modestina Fernandez Bradley M. Fields James R. Fillmore Jessica M. Flores Najah Floyd Lauren Andrea Fouché Sylvester J. Friend Justin Bernard Gardner James F. Garner II Jamie Virginia Goliday Erin Green Tyrone A. Green Jr. Melanie M. Griffore Andrea Alexa Hall Herbert Lee Hall III Johnny Myron Hall, Jr. Carmen DeAnn Harris Catarina Marie-Teresa Horrigan Ryan Colby Howard John H. Hubble Jr Aaron Matthew Jackson Larry James Jackson Ryan Freddie Jackson María Cristina Jácome Jemmy Jasmin | Jill Marie Johnson Joslyn S. Johnson Jayna Marie Jones Tomo Kawai Kevin Maurice Kemp, Jr. Aaron Christopher King Victoria Ashley Kirkling Jessica Emily Kota Diana Marie Lee Sarah Hye Rim Lesica Kathy Lip Stephanie Ann Lopez Tina Marie Loretto Xuanning Lu Abraham Leek Mach Lia Nicole Mackey Jacqueline Madera Deshawn Ladell Mahone Kathleen Marie Mathieu Daniel Manyang Mayen DeAndra Renee McCain Victoria E. McClellan Michelle McCumber Eric Q. McGhee Ebonè Nicole McLean Peter Melaragni Britt Erica Michela Brandi Joneé Miller Samantha Richelle Miller Michael L. Mitchell Erica Modrzynski Natasha R. Moore Michael Mott, Jr. Vahty Ngem Lilia Elena Ochoa Stephanie Micaela Osuna Helen Denise Otto Ashley N. Owens Bina Patel Ernest T. Peters ShaunAnn L. Peters Gregory Edward Pettway II Angela Nicole Phillips Carla M. Poulard Kimberly Anne Pulido Karenia Raquel Randle Haley Manaia Rank Esteban T. Resio Joshua T. Rhue Clarence Darrow Richardson, Jr. Jennifer Lynn Richardson Amber Y. Roberts NeKisha Kay Robertson Abbie Kay Rodriguez Peter Benigno Rodriguez Jaimi Leigh Roetman Elizabeth Eun-Jee Rogers Shanese Marie Ross Tyrell Rynard Ross Elizabeth Eileen Roxberry |
Nathaniel Adam Sage Matthew D. Santos Adam Justin Saunders Allison Marie Schafer Timothy Leo Shane Chennele Erica Simpkins Brandon Michael Sinnott Christian Michael Sinnott Ashley Nicole Smith Ethan Chike Smith-Esogbue Amy Elizabeth Somerset Kim Mei Sortor Jason Dennis Spann Eddie Lee Spencer III Ryan Joseph Stacho Courtney Elizabeth Stackpoole Terence O'Neal Stegall Alyssa Ashley Strickland Tamara Stringer Kerie Elizabeth Strong Kaya Kiyoko Sugiyama Samantha J. Tabayoyong Charles Edward Terry IV Treasure M. Thomas Rebecca Mercado Thornton Darren C. Tribble Ashley A. Turner Obioha Collins Unaeze Robert K. Vaughn II Anita Guerrero Velasquez Kasandra Rae Vigil Jessica Marie Wagner Nakesha Dionne Walker Gary Curtiss Walker-Truvillion, Jr Justin Robert Warren Jamie M. Wensink Valerie Wernette Adam Jamison Whitmore Leython Derrell Williams Meloni R. Williams Candace Lynnette Wilson Kerwanna De Shawn Woodhouse Alexandria Monique Young Michael Jonathan Zeig Master Degrees Rick Caceres-Rodriguez David Lamonte Charles Shirley Chanda Crenshaw Mimi Eun Doyle James Oroghenegba Esamagidi Erin Marie Gray Neal T. Inskeep Christie Marie Kanitz Kendra Li Kestner Lori A. Tapia Doctoral Degrees Denby Kei Fukuda Shantae Leigh Williams |
Great Ways to Start Your Day!
Written by Henry Hammond
BUZZ!!!! BUZZ!!!! Most of us have heard this sound in one variation or another, especially in the morning. That buzzing is the announcement of an old night ending and a new day beginning. Of course, at the time, most people do not care about the sentimental morning nonsense as they do shutting off that blasted noise. If it has gone unnoticed thus far, that infernal buzzing is the sound of an alarm clock, or as some people like to call it: the sleep killer. After the struggle to shut off the alarm from the bedside and roll over for another five minutes (at least), people tend to go through their daily morning routine. With the exception of individual responsibilities, most people have the same morning activities: showering, the vigorous brushing of teeth, the ironing of clothing, and breakfast (if there’s time).
Many people do not realize that how they start their morning has a direct impact on the quality of the rest of their day. Here are some tips that will help even the most happiness deprived non-morning person out of their slump and have them bouncing off the wall in morning glee, or not. Don’t worry about the side effects. These tips are both caffeine and steroid free. Not to mention they are a great alternative for gasoline (that was a joke, not a typo).ARE YOU A MAN ABOUT CHANGE?
Written by Sean M. Novak
Gentlemen: Not to sound “soft” but, I hold a great amount of love and have much respect and admiration for the strength of women from the bottom of my heart. After all, it was a woman that brought me in this world and as she reminded me many times during my youth, she could also take me out of it. From my grandmother to my mother, from my aunts to my cousins, friends, family, and of course, my significant other: I have a vast amount of appreciation for the persistence I have witnessed coming from many of these women in my life. They are soldiers out here. I have no problem following the leadership of a woman. I’ve done it all my life. I think part of “being a man” is standing up for what’s right despite its unpopularity (although this is also a part of “being a woman” yet, unfortunately, many still hold this idea that a woman should be submissive.). Following female leadership has for far too long been viewed in a negative light in our nation and abroad. It’s time for us to stand up and let everyone know that in the 21st century, it is acceptable to follow the leadership of a woman. However, while we are standing up to proclaim this, why don’t we, as men, start addressing these issues as ourselves?
At Central Michigan University, the overwhelming majority of students come from the great state of Michigan. Well, in our beloved state, 433,845 young men and women (18 years and under) are living in households with incomes below the poverty level. In fact here are the top six cities with the highest child poverty rate:
29.7% Grand Rapids; 35% Pontiac; 37.2 % Lansing; 38.3% Kalamazoo; 44.9% Detroit; 45.3% Flint
Regarding this, did you know that children living in poverty are most likely to be a product of a female-only headed household? Gentlemen, we need to step up and start taking care of our business. This weight is bearing on the shoulders of our queens. In many cases, we may not be part of the problem, but we have no choice, for the sake of future generations, to be a part of the solution.
On top of this, in Michigan, over 300 young men and young women are currently serving life in prison without the possibility of parole for crimes that they’ve committed prior to their 18th birthday. Many of these folks are men and grew up in single-mother households. According to a 2007 report released by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund titled, Dismantling the School to Prison pipeline, "The inadequacies of the public educational system, especially in areas of concentrated poverty, have set students up to fail, as continuing resource deficiencies—evidenced by a lack of experienced or certified teachers and guidance counselors, advanced instruction, early intervention programs, extracurricular activities, and safe, well equipped facilities —lock many students into second-class educational environments that neglect their needs and make them feel disengaged from their schools."
Furthermore, to bring it back to CMU, from 2004-2005, 1 out of 3 incoming African American freshman were not retained to their sophomore year at CMU. We need to mobilize, strategize and start handling our business all together gentlemen. Let’s start holding up our part of the bargain. When you see these ladies out here carrying the weight, you need to see a reflection of your grandmother, your mother, your sister, your daughter, your friends, and your significant other.
In order to develop new and aid existing initiatives to reduce these unfortunate circumstances, Minority Student Services has developed a male mentoring initiative. It is titled Men About Change and it is well on its way. I must say, this program would not have developed without the hard work of our youngest, brightest, and some of our newest young men of Central Michigan University. We look forward to the big things you will all do on this campus, in this community, in this state and in our nation. Myself and others have previously stated to the young men that it’s time to be men about change and you’ve all stepped up to the plate. Congratulations and here’s to the future.
Tips for Making Resumes That Produce Interviews
Written by: Chris Maxwell1. Be specific towards the area of work/job title you wish to have.
•Ex. Instead of saying “Applying for an Accounting /Recordkeeping” position, put
instead your desired job title “Management of A/R Accounts and A/P Accounts”.
2. Don’t be general, be descriptive with your previous experiences.
•
During your previous jobs, there had to have been tasks that impressed your boss. Put
those experiences down on your résumé.
•
Ex. Instead of having “Gave work assignments to staff of entry level accounting
clerks,” put down the specifics such as “Managed over 1,000 accounts receivable
and payable accounts working directly with the Chief Financial Officer.”
3. Catch the attention of the employer within the first glance.
•With so many résumés being looked at and reviewed, you’ll want to catch your employer’s
attention with some designs. BE AWARE that with the designs and style you bring to your
résumé, make it have a purpose as well. DON’T RELY ON BEING OVER-FLASHY.
4. Associate your skills with a benefit.
•It’s fine and great that a person is able to speak seven languages, can type 95 wpm, and
use every Microsoft program known to man, but how do those skills come into use in the
job you’re applying to? As you list your skills and previous work experience, write down the
benefits that the company has attained because of the usage of your skills.
•
Ex. Achieved top production volume by maintaining high degree of accuracy with
typing speed at 95 wpm.
Check out http://www.nhlink.net/employme/how for more information.
A Graduation Message
Written by Mark A. Johnson
As another semester comes to a close we are reminded of one of the harshest realities of college life: it comes to an end. I
am sure that many of you are well into your graduation countdown and have already planned celebration parties. But before
you rush out the door and into the “real world” please allow me a brief moment of your time. Right now I know that your heart
is heavy with finals and end of the semester projects, reports and papers, but do not let this moment escape you. You will have
time to make your graduation arrangements and I am sure that many of you will have to beg, borrow, and steal to make it
possible to accommodate your family and friends. Many of you are likely in the middle of a career/graduate school search.
All of these things are important, but as I’m sure you have learned already balance is the key. Let’s think about this for a
second. Somewhere down the line between high school and now the friends you made became your family. The at-school
apartment became your home and your parent’s house became a place to visit. Soon you will be forced to leave some, if not
all, of these things behind. This will be a very emotional event for you, whether you want to admit it or not. I suggest that you
take a few moments to simply let it all soak in and enjoy it. Many of you will be leaving Michigan and this will certainly make it
hard for you to see your friends. This might even be the last time you will be able to be with all of your friends in the same
place at the same time again so take advantage of it. We will likely spend the vast majority of the rest of our lives working so
why not take a little time to live it up while you can? Take a “bum day” and wear sweat pants all day long while you lounge
around, go to the SAC and hang out in the spa, or, as you walk to class take some time to enjoy the college atmosphere. I know
that I lost my appreciation for the experience of being on campus and I have just begun to appreciate that again. Be a new
student again and fall back in love with everything that CMU and Mount Pleasant has to offer. Even though you are faced with
that long term paper or thesis, find some time to enjoy the small things that we have grown accustomed to over the years.
Right now you can, and should, take advantage of many of the options that are available to you, such as the SAC
membership, the pool/recreation areas in many of the apartment complexes, and the simplicity that many of us enjoy.
Graduate school, your career, the Peace Corps, the military and even your hometown will all be there soon enough. Just take
these last few moments, especially when the weather is decent, to just enjoy any and everything that comes with college life.
Even if you are enrolling directly into a graduate school program, you are entering the “adult world” and may not have
these opportunities again. Let’s take these few remaining weeks and build new memories as we reflect back on the old ones.
Take advantage of all that may be afforded to you right now because you will miss it, trust me I know. Years from now you are
going to wish you had that same simplicity and freedom again. I know that many of you are eager to get out into the
workforce and make some “real money” but before you do that slow down a little, take a deep breath, and enjoy your last
fleeting moments as a college student.
MEET OUR NEW STAFF
SI Leaders
Morgan Gardner, Chemistry 131
Hang Le, Accounting 250
Matthew Lyter, Geology 101
Tonya Neuman, Chemistry 132
Erin Potts, History 101
ACE Summer Staff
Amanda Bernes, Resident Advisor
Jamelle Dooley, Resident Advisor
LaMarcus Howard, Resident Advisor
Tarryn King, Resident Advisor
Mark Pelfrey, MTH 055 Tutor
Nathan Tallman, LAR 145 Tutor
Maggie Youngblood, BIS 104 Tutor
MINORITY STUDENT SERVICES MISSION STATEMENT
Central Michigan University's Minority Student Services is a comprehensive office which provides academic, personal, social and cultural support to students. To empower and retain students, the MSS team provides and enhances a campus environment where diversity is understood and celebrated.
MINORITY STUDENT SERVICES STAFF
Dr. Traci L. Guinn, Director
Shawn Wilson, Assistant Director
Sean Novak, Interim, Assistant Director
Ann Danielski, Executive Secretary & Newsletter Editor
Jeanette Smith, Administrative Secretary
MSS Graduate Assistants and Student Staff
Henry Hammond
LaMarcus Howard
Mark A. Johnson
Chris Maxwell
Danielle Merrill
Phillip Miller II
Sean Novak
Evan Pulver
Carlos Rubio
Rebecca Thornton
Carly Wilson
Sarah Wischmeyer
Contact the MSS staff @
989-774-3945
http://www.diversity.cmich.edu/mss
or
mss@cmich.edu