Research, Technology conference
Michigan State University’s Writing in Digital Environments Research Center and Eastern Michigan University’s Written Communication program will be hosting a conference in Pray-Harrold Hall from 8:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15.
The conference is free and will feature speakers and attendees from all over Michigan, northern Ohio and northern Indiana. Keynote speakers are Danielle DeVoss, Elyse Eidman and Troy Hicks, authors of the book “Because Digital Writing Matters.” They’ll be discussing the book and research on technology in diverse classroom.
“The idea behind the conference was to hold a free and DIY-inspired one day event of interest for writing professors and high school teachers within a day’s drive of Ypsilanti,” said Steven D. Krause, professor in the department of English language and literature and the coordinator of the written communications program.
For more information, contact Steven Krause at skrause@emich.edu Information is on the conference web site at https://sites.google.com/site/wideemu11/.
EMU preps for Rock the Vote
Eastern Michigan University’s Student Government and Rock the Vote are throwing a voter registration kick-off.
It will start with a campus wide cleanup from Pease Park to the Student Center. The participants of the march will receive a Rock the Vote T-shirt for free. There will be tables set up for students to register to vote if they have not yet done so.
The campus cleanup is designed in the hopes it will show people who believe one vote does not matter that one vote does matter by showing “if all [the] people in the march thought their vote would not count? If they all participate and vote or don’t vote [they are] making a difference.”
The March will start at noon on Oct. 25 and will be hosted by a “mystery celebrity guest.” Tables to register to vote will be present noon-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25 through Thursday, Nov. 9.
Writing workshop being held
Eastern Michigan University student Chelsea Lonsdale is hosting the EMU Writers Circle – “Writing (first) for Ourselves.” Meetings will be held on the first Friday of every month in room 320 of Halle Library, contrary to information on most fliers around campus. Additional days may be requested.
The group will discuss the reasons to write a first draft, the writing process, common misconceptions and issues faced, Lonsdale said. It is also not strictly for academic writing; personal and academic writing will be discussed.
“The workshop itself stemmed from an idea I had about writing first for ourselves, which I had read in a book by Joseph Williams in which… he acknowledges how absurd it is to expect that beginning writers write well,” said Lonsdale. “The point is to work through the process to create the finished product that the writer hopes to make.”
The group is open for students and faculty alike. If there is enough attendance there can be an option for peer review.
Petitioning for free bus access
EMU Student Government is petitioning the Ann Arbor transit authority to get students the ability to ride the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti bus system for free.
The plan is designed to raise tuition $20 per semester, decrease commuter hang tags by approximately $15 per semester and allow students to show their student identification in lieu of paying the current $1.75 fare, according to the Student Government’s director of services and events, Alexander Marr.
Currently the Eagle One card discounts the fares to $40 a semester if you pre-pay. The parking information section of www.emich.edu explains the current discount:
“The discounted rate provides EMU students, staff and faculty with an opportunity to purchase passes for $40 instead of the standard rate of $58.
• The pass is valid on all fixed routes in The Ride’s service area
• Good for unlimited rides for 30 days from first use
• A student or employee ID card must be shown to purchase the pass and to use the pass on the bus
A representative from student government can be found on the first floor of the Student Center Thursdays from 12-5 p.m. with more information and petitions.
