JUNEMAY 115, ,2014 2017 Volume 40,43, Number 1715 New learning groups seeking members Two of the University’s learning communi- Campus facilities named for three friends ties are accepting applications for 2017-18. More than 50 years of friendship The Broncos FIRST project is seeking are being honored with the naming of faculty and staff to join its Professional three WMU facilities for a trio of men Learning Community cohort for the up- who met on campus as students and coming academic year. The aim of the went on to become WMU trustees, program is to increase the persistence of Detroit business and civic leaders, and low-income students at WMU. Applications champions of young people. will be accepted through Friday, June 30. For Acting at its April 27 meeting, the Archer Hall Pickard details, visit wmich.edu/changeresearch/ WMU Board of Trustees approved • William F. Pickard, a 1964 alumnus who broncosfirst/plc. the action for: is a current WMU trustee, longtime Detroit In addition, diversity and inclusion in • Ronald E. Hall, a 1965 alumnus, Detroit entrepreneur, and founder and chairman of collaboration with faculty development is civic and business leader, and automotive the Global Automotive Alliance. accepting nominations and applications executive who died June 1, 2016, half way The trustees’ action recognizes a $3,050,000 through Friday, May 26, for the 2017-18 into his eight-year term as a WMU Trustee; gift recently made by Pickard to the Univer- Everyone Counts Diversity Learning Com- • Dennis W. Archer, a 1965 alumnus, sity and celebrates the three friends’ lifelong munities program. The program is open to former Detroit mayor, former member of the bonds and ties to WMU. It has resulted in the faculty, staff and administrators as well as to Michigan Supreme Court and past president two residence halls that comprise the Western graduate students with appointments. For of the American Bar Association as well as details, visit wmich.edu/diversity. a former trustee; and Continued on page 4 Funded training available in India Faculty members across disciplines are en- Pact allows Aquinas students to earn WMU degrees couraged to apply for a fully funded training Starting this fall, Aquinas College stu- through WMU’s College of Engineering in India as well as a $2,500 honorarium as dents will be able to select engineering as and Applied Sciences. part of the Southwest Michigan Education their career goal and earn a bachelor’s degree The partnership between Aquinas and Initiative on the East Indian Ocean. Four WMU, announced May 3, means that Aqui- faculty recipients will be awarded an op- nas students can spend their first two years portunity to travel to India Dec. 8-22 and earning an Associate of Arts degree from receive curriculum training on South Asia Aquinas and then continue seamlessly on to develop future course materials. Apply to earn a bachelor’s degree in industrial and by Wednesday, May 31. For more informa- entrepreneurial engineering through a WMU tion, visit wmich.edu/global/uisfl. program based at the college. The program is the first of several engineering majors already WMU wins blood donation contest planned as future degree offerings. WMU beat Central Michigan University “This innovative partnership will help stu- in the March 31 Blood Bash, winning the dents reap the benefits of an Aquinas liberal friendly annual contest to generate blood Dunn, left, and Olivarez sign partnership Continued on page 4 product for the American Red Cross for the papers. (Photo by Mike Lanka) fourth consecutive year. WMU collected 234 units while CMU collected 126 units— enough product to save over 1,000 lives. Construction underway on wayfinding initiative The win was due to some 300 donors, as Construction on new exterior signage and a reconfigured set of campus roadway and building well as WMU’s Red Cross Club under the signs began the first week of May to make it easier for people to navigate WMU’s campus. direction of graduating senior Jimmy Brand The effort to improve wayfinding is scheduled for completion by mid-August. It has been and the logistical help of members of various in the planning stage for more than two years and has included input from faculty, staff and Greek chapters and Army ROTC. students. The national consulting firm Cloud Gehshan Associates has been working on the Soccer Complex getting field upgrades project with a campuswide committee to improve the experience of visitors, students, faculty The Soccer Complex is undergoing a and staff, regardless of whether their chosen transportation is by vehicle, foot, bicycle or bus. $75,000 renovation in which the existing surface is being removed and several upgrades are being made through the installation of a new playing field. The WMU Soccer Complex has seen extensive renovations over the past six years, transforming the complex into one of the finest in the Mid- American Conference. The new project is expected to be com- Rendering of new Oliver Street and Stadium Drive gateway. (Photo courtesy of Facilities Management) pleted before the start of the fall season. Fraze mowing, a process originally developed and Other wayfinding improvement goals include providing a hierarchy of signage elements perfected on European soccer fields, is being for campus approach, arrival, circulation, parking and buildings; maintaining a consistent used to remove the top layer of the playing and appropriate image for the University; and developing a consistent nomenclature for surface to correct issues with the field. In the the naming of campuses, streets, buildings and landmarks. final stages, the soil will be prepared for seed Features to be added during the construction phase include new and retrofitted entrance and new varieties of grass tailored specifically gateways to the campus and new vehicle and pedestrian signage as well as new building iden- for soccer pitches will be introduced. Continued on page 4 History professor’s book published Linda Borish, history, has co-written a and beyond second edition of “Sports in American His- Around campus tory: From Colonization to Globalization.” Family entertainment events slated New lifelong learning classes offered The other co-authors are Gerald Gems A new summer event series featuring Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at from North Central Col- family-friendly entertainment will open WMU member registration is underway lege and Gertrud Pfister its inaugural season Friday, May 12, on for the summer session’s 23 courses and from the University of the Grand Lawn of Heritage Hall. Called three trips. Nonmembers may register Copenhagen. the “Broncos Night Out Series,” these starting Tuesday, May 23. For details, The enhanced book monthly open-air events are free and will check out the summer 2017 catalog online provides a text for under- include snacks and beverages for the first at wmich.edu/olli/courses. graduate courses in sport 250 guests to arrive. history and American Borish May 12 is billed as movie night. Heritage Japanese cooking classes scheduled studies; resources for Hall tours and outdoor tailgate games will The Soga Japan Center will offer a Japa- graduate students and scholars in sport his- start at 8 p.m. and “Finding Dory” will be nese cooking class near the main campus tory and sport studies; and reference material shown on the big screen at 9:15 p.m. The from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May for libraries, historians, sport scientists and remaining Friday events planned are live 18, and again at the same time Thursday, sport enthusiasts. music June 9, improv night July 21 and a May 25, in Solid Grounds. The cost of The text journeys from the early American second movie night Aug. 11. For details, $5 for WMU students and $10 for non- past to the present, offering a view of the visit mywmu.com/nightout. students includes ingredients. To register, evolution of American sporting practices. It send an email to michiko.yoshimoto@ provides insights into new and alternative Medieval scholars swarm campus wmich.edu with a preferred meeting date. perspectives, examines sport as a social and The 52nd International Congress on cultural phenomenon, generates a better Medieval Studies starts today and runs Transportation is conference focus understanding of current sport practices, and through Sunday, May 14. It draws some Registration continues through Friday, considers future developments in U.S. sport. 3,000 of the world’s leading scholars to May 19, for the Summer Conference on campus, hundreds of which will live in Livable Communities, which is open to Engineer elected to national board campus residence halls. Running concur- anyone interested in advancing envi- Andrew A. Kline, associate dean for rently with this year’s congress will be the ronmentally sustainable transportation research and graduate education in the en- new Mostly Medieval Theatre Festival systems. For details, visit wmich.edu/ gineering college, was one of seven officers featuring four different theatrical presen- transportationcenter/programs. elected to the American Society for Engi- tations in the Gilmore Theatre Complex. neering Education Board Kalamazoo County residents and those Various Western Wellness events set of Directors in April. Walks and other summer events have with a valid WMU ID may attend the Kline was elected by the been set for WMU employees. They in- congress at no cost. Local attendees may society’s membership to clude the Poker Walk Tuesday, May 23, register on site in the lobby of Goldsworth chair the Council of Sec- and a Goldsworth Valley Walk with Steve Valley’s Eldridge-Fox Halls if they have tions, Zone II and along Keto, landscape services, Wednesday, not preregistered. For complete details, with the other officers, May 31. For details and to register, visit visit wmich.edu/medievalcongress.