Covered Tools (IMPORTANT!)

[UPDATED: April 19, 2006]

Stuff with the Western College has [literally] blown up within the last 24 hours, and things are a little crazy. I'm not even quite sure how to formulate all of these thoughts. Since the Public Open Forum with the President and Provost last week, things have been all quiet on the Western front. And then...then I don't know what happened. Things have gone buck nutty. I woke up this morning to check my email to find [literally] dozens of outraged emails from fellow westerners. And I must say...looking through all this stuff...I'm rather ashamed of being associated with Miami University, as I feel others should be as well. Why are not more students and community members concerned with what has been going on???? Are the people of this community even more numb to life than I ever thought before? (and i didn't think that was possible) GET UPSET PEOPLE!!!!!

I guess I'm actually delaying relating everything that has happened within the last 24 hours because I'm still trying to make sense of it all myself. There's a lot to take in. On the positive note...we're getting PRESS COVERAGE!! And the one's that are not completely unbiased, are on the side of the students, and I personally find that very encouraging. Current links to relevant articles in:

• The Oxford Press: More Time | More Time [Again] | Opinion Pt 1 | Opinion Pt 2
  
• The Columbus Dispatch
• The Cincinnati Enquirer
• ALL Major Ohio Papers soon to follow! And the NYTimes has been contacted as well. There is a small chance there might even be something in the US News and World Report coming up soon
  
• But then, of course, there is everything in the Miami Student and The Amusement which isn't even worth linking to and is downright disgusting with articles that [for the most part] lack any kind of actual reporting and play only upon stereotypes and personal opinions [such as 'Miami Should Sell Western to Wal-Mart']

I HIGHLY recommend that you spend the time to read these articles. The rest of the information would probably just be better to direct you to our Wiki Page (wiki.wcp.muohio.edu - Spread the Word! It's updated constantly!) Of special interest is some of the new stuff that has come from THIS

Basically...a short summary of things that have happened. We (along with University Senate) are completely incensed at how everyone in this process has been completely ignored and not even ALLOWED to have a part of any of this. Students have had NO PART until we [almost literally] bust down their doors demanding some kind of representation and to have our voice be heard. Which since then have been "giving in to our demands" but only as a lip service...they make it pretty obvious they're not really listening a whole heck of a lot. The big thing that we (along with University Senate) have asked for is more time. Senate approved the bill that was proposed, the President on the other hand seems to be of the mind to ignore what his colleagues have suggested. Only time will tell though...apparantly his decision will be made today or tomorrow. The tension. You can cut it with a knife. Maybe even a spoon. A grapefruit spoon? I can only hope that if President Garland completely deisregards what his colleagues have approved that there will be great consequences (especially considering the whole Harvard fiasco).


More recently is stuff concerning Dr. Carolyn Haynes...a [supposedly] "new" figure to the scene. I'm not really sure where to get started with all of this, but I am going to try my hardest to remain composed and civil. Here's the scoop...recently, Dr. Haynes (the head of the Honors College here at Miami) held a meeting with the honors students to talk about what has been happening with all of this stuff (since it effects them as much as us, and they REALLY don't seem to have any clue as to what has been going on). Since Western kids are obviously smart, there were quite a few Western kids at the honors meeting and Dr. Haynes told what we have since found out has been a complete lie to everyone at the meeting. She had said at one point that she knew very little about what was going on because she had only "one brief 45 minute meeting" with the President and Provost. Within the last 24 hours, it has been found out she was told to lie to everyone. She has actually been in cahoots with the President and Provost on this whole thing for the LAST 2 YEARS and has been integral in the many documents that have come from the Provost's office [Herbst wrote on March 17: "Carolyn, Thanks for your message. In my report, you may recognize some of your text (unattributed). I hope that is all right. Best, JH".

In response on March 20, Haynes wrote: "Of course Jeff! We are a team."] In fact, she is the one who wrote the Provost's report. Everything in the Provost's report came directly from a presentation that Hayne's has given. An interesting quote from Provost Jeffrey Herbst:

"Dr. Garland and I had already agreed that the new Honors College would be headed by a dean. I forgot to put this in the draft report. I apologize to you if this is a rather roundabout way of saying that I would like to change your status. I am not sure when this changeover would occur (probably not next year) and it might require some kind of search (sorry to be vague)."

There is so much deceit, deception, lies, cheating, roundabout MUCK that just makes me sick. I understand that they have their opinions that all of this has probably been in the best interest of the Honor's students, so maybe cannot be contrived as a conspiracy or whatever, but come on people! This is completely disgusting and I cannot believe that money that has been hard earned is going to support such people. I hope they are completely ashamed of themselves in all of this deceit and that just action will be taken.

I just don't understand how the people who shape MY education can pull such moves and fail to realize the drastic consequences and unfairness of all of their actions. I am completely disgusted.

In other news, this past weekend came and went. I went to Columbus for CD101 day and that was pretty darn amazing. Rock Kills Kid (Very good and this weeks free song from iTunes), Bril (not very good at all), Nine Black Alps (a good band from England) [Videos: 1 | 2 ], The Sun (from Columbus, rather fun and enjoyable), The Dresden Dolls (obviously the whole reason why I went) [Videos: 1 | 2 | 3 ], and Ok Go [Videos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4a/4b ] (the supposed headliner, but I would say over half the place cleared out after the Dresden Dolls. but they were good in any case, and I enjoyed seeing them. They even did a scene from Les Miserables. That was pretty fantastic). I have a lot of pics and video coverage from the concert available. The pics haven't made it to flickr yet [UPDATE: Yes! They Have!], and only one video is up so far (the sound isn't the greatest, and I tried to show a ridiculous "mosh pit" thing going on, and unsuccesfully, but you get the general picture)...but the rest should be up [somewhat] soon. [UPDATE: And Now it is!! All videos are up, including Ok Go performing "The Confrontation" from Les Miserables. Check out my video's HERE. Thanks]

This weekend is Easter. Woot? I wish I could somehow go home, I would like to see my family and be there with them. I miss my family and my grandparents (and their cooking!). Who knows what will happen this weekend.

The weather has been ridiculously nice all of a sudden...it kind of came out of nowhere if you ask me. But I won't complain. It has just made me realize that I should probably have a pair of sandals. I hate wearing shoes. Especially when it's warm out.

I'm ushering some shows coming up, so that should be cool (read as get in for free!). This weekend for The Good Person of Setzuan which I've helped build the set for and everything, and that it should be cool to see the fruition of all that work. Next weekend I will be going to Dayton to usher an A.R. Rahman show called Wake Up! He has personally asked for Western Students to usher his show because he was so impressed by us when he came last semester (so that's pretty cool). He's the most famous composer in Bollywood (who knows how many times larger than hollywood), the composer of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Bombay Dreams, the new Lord of the Rings musical, many MANY movies (including Spike Lee's Inside Man and Andrew Niccol's God of War) and he has been signed on for the 2008 Olympics. That should be pretty cool I would imagine.

I miss reading for fun. And feeling unstressed. So many things going on. And I'm starting to feel kind of empty inside. That's no good at all.

Before I start another rant...

Peace, Pillows, and Fairness to All,
brandon michael

Currently Watching: The Ellen DeGeneres Show