Focus EMU, January 13, 2009

l �/�� . 1 A�;'" ·r r·�� 1�-r-•1, �'l·'""'I'''" ··�·, .��r.i,·-:;11I ,-·, r.,.._ \ J;-,,u,r.•nr··-- ',)Jlr. J ',·..:,...i ,\J.'. 11..,., ,l\ 1 \� .�, r-�v�,. ·;-- EMU HOME Jan. 13, 2009 Volume 59, No. 18 FOCU EMU social work students provide needed services for prisoners Fratured through Michigan Prison Reentry Initiative �rticles It's hard enough to serve a prison term 1 but when it's time to be released, the challenges can be daunting. Prisoner Reentry in ::JEMU social work A ��at�wide program, the Michigan Prison Reentry Michigan students provide needed Init1at1ve (MPRI), provides vital support to men and seirvices for prisoners women on parole for offenses ranging from pedophilia to Each year, more than 10,000 through Michigan Prison armed robbery or substance abuse. inmates are released from R,eentry Initiative Michigan's 50,000-bed prison ·what makes the Washtenaw County program so unique :,Twelve EMU faculty : _ system. The majority of 1s the involvement of Eastern Michigan University social reiceive Provost's New offenders (86 percent or about work students," said Bonnie Miller, a lecturer in social Faculty Research Awards 9,000) are released under work, who supervises the students. "This is the only :=Rock, rap and robots parole supervision. program in the state where students are involved." headline Convocation Appoximately 18 percent Center lineup "Washtenaw County has the highest rate of recidivism in (more than 1,600) paroled will :=People Column Michigan. More people on parole end up going back to have their parole revoked and :=Twelve EMU employees prison, which is why our students began working with be returned to prison within celebrate service returning citizens, as they are called "said Miller. just 12 months of release. anniversaries in January "We've been involved with the progr�m for two years Approximately 44 percent (at �hoto: Art Faculty and we have a good success rate." least 3,900 offenders) will Exhibition return to prison within two �hoto: Construction More on this story... years. - From National starts on science Governors Association (NGA) complex Center for Best Practices Web �hoto: DECA conference site takes place in Student Center ::By the numbers ..... .:iBriefs :)Jobsline FOCU�,WJ!] :=Why I work at Eastern Michigan University I .:. • •'-'"/J,.�'""'<I�'"''•\� 11 .�11'\" • J�.'l,\'-'fl'-..l'rr]'-. 1 �..... nl ',·..: ..� ,\ � /},_.r��.rr' "'l'-'• \'7''"""'IW, ;;·,Ir'\�'r<l''TW., J ' EMU HOME �over Story It's hard enough to serve a prison term but, when it's time to be released, the challenges can be daunting. A statewide program, the Michigan Prison Reentry Initiative (MPRI), provides vital support to men and women on parole for offenses ranging Jan. 13, 2009 issue from pedophilia to armed robbery or substance abuse. EMU social work students provide needed services for "What makes the Washtenaw County program so unique is the involvement prisoners through Michigan of Eastern Michigan University social work students," said Bonnie Miller, a Prison Reentry Initiative lecturer in social work, who supervises the students. "This is the only program in the state where students are involved." "Washtenaw County has the highest rate By Pamela Young of recidivism in Michigan. More people on Prisoner Reentry in parole end up going back to prison, which Michigan is why our students began working with returning citizens, as they are called," said Each year, more than 10,000 Miller. "We've been involved with the ........ inmates are released from program for two years and we have a _ FOCU�Jiiill Michigan's 50,000-bed prison good success rate." system. The majority of offenders (86 percent or about Men and women on parole come out of 9,000) are released under Jackson prison and other prisons, and parole supervision. immediately meet with their parole Appoximately 18 percent officer, said Miller. Miller's students then (more than 1,600) paroled will meet with the clients at the parole office. have their parole revoked and There are seven EMU students, both be returned to prison within undergraduates and graduates, enrolled in just 12 months of release. the MPRI program this semester. The Approximately 44 percent (at students are then assigned to help a least 3,900 offenders) will person with specific needs. The number return to prison within two one vital need is housing, so they won't years. - From National become homeless, said Miller. Governors Association (NGA) "We find housing for them and work with Center for Best Practices Web landlords. Finding them jobs is probably site the hardest challenge in this economy," she said. "It's also very hard to find mentors who will take on the responsibility of mentoring participants at least once a week for a year. It's not always easy, Miller said. The majority of returning citizens don't have birth certificates and the state doesn't allow an ID from prison. Yet, says Miller, a person can't get a proper ID unless they have the birth certificate. Some don't even know where they were born. That's where the EMU students can help. If successful, each person graduates from the program in six months with housing; counseling if needed; and skills on how to dress properly, write a resume and interview professionally. Since EMU's involvement two years ago, more than 100 participants have been helped, according to Miller. "When a person goes back to prison, it costs Michigan a fortune," said Miller. "It's extremely exciting to see the results when these men and women graduate." EMU HOME , eature The Division of Academic Affairs has awarded a total of $44, 700 to 12 new Eastern Michigan University faculty for research and creative projects under the Provost's Research Award for New Faculty program for 2009. Jan. 13, 2009 issue The Provost's Research Award for New Faculty offers competitive awards to carry out Twelve EMU faculty carefully designed research or creative projects. Faculty in their first or second year receive New Faculty of employment may be awarded up to $5,000. University awards are supplemented Awards Research by matching awards from the applicant's home department. The program is designed to help new faculty establish a research agenda that will make them more competitive for external funding. Awards must be expended during the 2009 calendar By Heather Hamilton year. Awardees, their home departments, project titles and award amounts are: Barbara Bleyaert, leadership & counseling, "Development and Pilot Test of an .....,.._ 'Organizational Design Equity Audit' for Use in Michigan High Schools" ($4,950). FOCU�� John Drake, computer information systems, ''Tying Ethical Beliefs to Actual Behavior: Development of a Comprehensive Qualitative Instrument for Business and Information Technology Ethical Issues" ($2,910). John S. Dunn Jr., English language & literature, "Tracing the History of Higher Education Policy Reform and Writing Program Administration: The Case of Fred Newton Scott, James Burrill Angell and the University of Michigan, 1871-1909" ($2,500). Ronald D. Flowers, leadership & counseling, "The Lost Boys of Intercollegiate Athletics" ($3,300). Drake Andrea Gossett, health sciences, "Exploring Health Needs of Seniors Aging in the Community" ($3,400). Carla Harryman, English language & literature, "Poets' Theater Plays and Other Performance Writings" ($5,000). Melissa J. Jones, English language & literature, "Early Modern Pornographies" ($5,000). Jacqueline LaRosa, teacher education, "'Where's My Family?' Portrayals of Families in Children's Picture Books" ($2,480). Gossett Hui Li, political science, "Michigan City Income Tax: Property Tax Relief or Additional Revenue Source?" ($3,850). Michael McVey, teacher education, "Using Small Scale Social Networking Applications as a Framework for Technology Skill Development" ($2,710). Paul J. Ramsey, teacher education, "A Polyglot Boardinghouse: A History of Public Bilingual Schooling in the United States" ($5,000). Thomas A. Schmitt, psychology, "A Comparative Investigation of Rotation Methods within Exploratory Factor Analysis" ($3,600). Li EMU HOME , eature What do a famous rock band, a high school pompon team and robo� have in common? They will all be coming to Eastern Michigan University's Dnvocation Center in a winter lineup that has something for everyone. Jan. 13, 2009 issue The Killers, a Grammy-nominated rock band, Rock, rap and robots will kick offthe winter schedule Thursday, Jan. headline Convocation 22. Doors open at 6:30 p. m. and the show is Center lineup scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. The band's debut album, "Hot Fuss," sold more than 5 million copies. This Las Vegas-based band climbed its By Heather Hamilton way into mainstream success with songs like "Somebody Told Me" and "Mr. Brightside." The Killers followed up their debut album with "Sam's Town," "Sawdust" and "Day & Age." The band is described as part of the post-punk revival, which is a movement of alternative rock that draws inspiration from the 1970s. Tickets are available at www.livenation.com, TicketMaster and the Convocation Center ticket office at 487-2282. Rap star Nas is scheduled to perform Friday, Feb. The Killers 6, at 8:30 p.m. with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. His cebut album, "Illmatic," was a critically acclalnedbestseller and is now widely considered a dassir:. Nas was listed number five on MTV's 10 Greatest Emcees of all time. Kanye West, Eminem and 50 Cent are just a few artists that have been influenced by his work. Other albums include "It Was Written," "God's Son," "Hip Hop is Dead" and a rEcently released untitled album. Tickets are on sae now and EMU students will receive $5 offregul3r ticket prices. Tickets are available at the Con... ocation Center ticket office or at www.emich.eckJ/convocation. Mid American Pompon hosts the 2009 State Pom Nas Championships Feb. 15. This eventwill feature high school pompon or dance teams that qualified by competing in two regional competitions.

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