March 29, 2011 - 8:09pm
In Other Ivory Towers: Western Michigan University could move archives to Kmart
BY PATRICIA SNIDER
Western Michigan University is thinking about relocating its Archives and Regional History Collections to a nearby Kmart, the Western Herald reported, much to the chagrin of some of the school’s faculty and staff.
According to the article, Western Michigan University students, visiting scholars and local historical groups use the archives, which attract 4,000 visitors a year. Some faculty and staff in the history department and the library system say the move could hurt the school’s research efforts.
Though many are concerned about the potential move, the article also reported that the current location of the archives hasn’t been renovated for 50 years.
With both locations getting negative feedback, WMU officials told the Herald they are thinking about constructing a new building on campus to house the archives.
“An architect has been chosen,” Sharon Carlson, the archives director, told the Herald. “It is in the design phase.”
MALE SENIORS LESS LIKELY TO LOOK FOR JOBS IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR
Princeton Project 55 — an employment service that connects job-seeking seniors and recent graduate students from Princeton University with nonprofit organizations — reported that three-quarters of its applicants for the 2010-11 academic year are women, according to an article in The Daily Princetonian.
According to the article, the group actively tries to advertise its services to both men and women to close the gender gap.
The apparent gender gap is also seen in other public service programs at Princeton, including Teach for America, which hopes to recruit more men into its program, according to the article.
A spokeswoman for TFA told the Princetonian that men may be less inclined to apply to TFA or other service programs because of “historical stereotypes (about) pay, prestige and gender roles.”
WYCLEF JEAN TO PERFORM AT HARVARD
Harvard University’s Harvard Foundation will be presenting Grammy Award Winner Wyclef Jean with its 2010 Artist of the Year award at its Cultural Rhythms show on Feb. 27, according to an article in The Harvard Crimson.
The article reported that The Harvard Foundation wanted to present the award to an artist that was an active participant in society. Jean is a native of Haiti and has been an active force in helping Haiti deal with the earthquake that took place on Jan. 12, according to the article.
“We look for people who have contributed to society more than just their talent in the arts,” Elizabeth Eze, student advisory committee secretary for The Harvard Foundation, told the Crimson. “We look for people who have given back.”
