Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

INSIDE MOREHOUSE, OCTOBER 2012 College’s First Female Dean Wants to Make an Impact on the Future BY CHRISTIAN SAINT-VIL larissa Myrick-Harris accept ed the position of Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at Morehouse at the beginning of the academic year—and she’s already making history. She is the College’s first female dean. History aside, it is the future— particularly of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences—where she wants to make an impact. “Through thoughtful faculty and student engagement, learning experi ences that embody ‘high impact’ and experiential educational practices—such as learning communities, collaborative research, civic engagement through ser vice learning, writing intensive courses, faculty and undergraduate research, global learning and community-based learn ing—the Division will create a culture of free flowing and constant productive communication, collegiality and collabo ration to achieve our end of transforming 21st-century learners into 21st-century leaders,” said Myrick-Harris. Myrick-Harris, who previously worked for the United Negro College Fund, said she has an open-door policy and welcomes creative ideas to address the challenges the division faces. “I have been doing a lot of listening during these past few weeks,” Myrick- Harris, a graduate of Morris Brown College, said. “I think it’s important for me not only to come in without any pre conceived notions; however, 1 am coming in with a vision.” Myrick-Harris’ vision for the Division is based on the Sankofa Imperative, which means “learning from the lessons and best traditions of the past to create the ideal future.” Specifically, her goals are to furbish grants that will aid the recruitment and retention of a young faculty; meet the needs of the faculty with funding to travel for research and presentations at conferences; and reduce faculty work load by using stu dent assistants and having seasoned profes sors mentor younger faculty'. ■ Christian L. Saint-Vil is the editor-in-chief o/The Maroon Tiger. larissa Myrick-Harris Morehouse Community Walks To Give Breast Cancer the Boot BY CHRISTIAN SAINT-VIL A year after being diagnosed with breast cancer and giving it the boot, Sandra Walker, the director of Administrative Services and Special Programs at Morehouse College, stepped forward and locked arms with other Morehouse employ ees who were fighting breast cancer. With the support of Mary Peaks and the entire Morehouse community, for 13 years, Walker has coordinated a two- mile breast cancer walk around the Atlanta University Center. Chandra Price, one of the originators of the walk lost her battle with breast cancer two years after the inception of the College’s annual walk. Walker and Peaks con tinue this walk to educate women and men and have raised $186,000 for the American Cancer Society and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer on behalf of the College. This year, Walker will host Morehouse College’s 13 th Annual Breast Cancer Walk on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 8 a.m. on the plaza of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. Those wanting to help set up are expected to arrive at approxi mately 5:30 a.m. Walker is asking for a $20 registration fee (which includes a T-Shirt) to help fund research on breast cancer—which can affect both women and men. However, all may walk with or without a donation. To give breast cancer the boot, Walker encourages being faithful to having a yearly mammogram and continue to go to follow-up appointments. 3 ou can make it, said Walker “ Just keep on and you can make it!” And Price once said, “Immediately after finding out they have breast cancer, people think it’s a death sentence. I want people to know there is hope and there is a chance.” ■ Staff Advisory Council to be Revived BY JILLIAN WESTFALL he Office of Human Resources is reviving the Morehouse Staff Advisory Council as a way for the College’s staff members to develop programs to optimize recognition, engagement and com munication among staff members, as well as infuse a sense of fun in the workplace, said Pamela Weston, associate vice president for Human Resources. “When employees are provided with a platform to be heard, they feel valued,” she said. “That’s especially true when they see their ideas and suggestions being implemented. This, in turn, helps improve retention efforts since employees who feel appreciated are gener ally more committed to their jobs. So the Staff Advisory Council is an important way to implement positive change at Morehouse.” The council has been dormant for the past couple of years because no budget was provided for the group and many staff members felt like they given an opportunity to participate, said Julie Tongue, communications assistant and the last president of the former Staff Advisory Council. It s important that staff has a vehicle that will serve as a liaison between the admin istration and the staff,” she said. “There’s a faculty advisory council and a place to air their grievances and the students have a council to air their grievances and I think the staff should have one as well. But I think it’s a wonderful idea to revive the committee to be something that we can participate in and leave a mark.” Weston envisions a 10- to 15-member committee, maybe meeting monthly, that will deter mine short- and long-term goals and devise plans for attaining them. But committee members will decide when and where, and choose their leaders and structure. They will also establish a mission, charter, and committee guidelines. Morehouse’s TigerNet is the platform where they will convey their work and spread news of upcoming events to the college’s entire staff. 111 partner with the Staff Advisory Council and share best practices,” she said. “However, the agenda and priorities will be set by the committee.” If you are interested in joining the Staff Advisory Council, contact Pamela Weston at pweston@morehouse.edu. For updates, check http://www.tigernet.morehouse.edu listed under the my HR tab. ■ Zipcar Available on Campus Z ipcar, the service that allows you to rent a car by the hour, is now available on the Morehouse campus. The service is open to students, faculty and staff. After an initial sign-up fee of $15, participants are able to rent a car for $8 an hour. The fee includes insurance and gas. An access card unlocks the car, tracks the car’s whereabouts, monitors the participant s usage, and works as a credit card for gas purchase. Michael Davenport, the College’s transportation manager, knew of students who were already Zipcar members, but who were taking public transportation to nearby Zipcar locations, including Georgia Tech, to pick up cars. He said the Zipcar program is a value-added service particularly for students. “We needed something like that here on our campus,” he said. “Many of the stu dents don’t need a car for the whole day.” To join Zipcar under the Morehouse plan, please visit www.zipcar.com/more- house <http://www.zipcar.com/morehouse>. ■