Behavioralist: Do away with standard testing
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| WINONA, Minn., Jan. 25, 2001 -- Standardized testing should be eliminated from schools, a scholar on human behavioral study, Alfie Kohn, told a Winona State University audience. Testing is not a correct measure of how smart a student is, Kohn said. Further, he said, standardizied testing is nunfair. Poorer kids are the worst victims of this "accountability approach" as the tests are sometimes referred to, he said. Many second-rate schools, like those in inner city areas, are poor and lack the resources needed to teach well, he said. No wonder, he added, students from affluent backgrounds test considerably higher. Kohn said tha only 9 percent of K-12 educators in Minnesota like current standard tests. These educators, he said, are not even allowed to have a voice in whether they want the tests. It's government officials, not teachers or by the parents, who create the tests.
Reporter: Brooke WhiteBackground: School testing critic due at WSU |
Ventura to UM: You make it workAUSTIN, Minn., Jan. 25, 2001 -- Gov. Jesse Ventura took aim at his critics from high-ed, charghing that 300 University of Minnesota profs earn more than he does -- $120,000 a year. The university needs to look at making internal cuts, he told a crowd. UM President Mark Udof has cautioned that major problems would result if the Legislature accepts Ventura's higher-ed budget proposal. To that, the governor took a swipe at the university's basketball scandal: ``Maybe if they didn't pay coaches a $1.5 million to leave, they wouldn't have that
problem.'' he said, referring to the severance package paid to former coach Kem Haskins.
Background: Governor "short-sighted" on higher-ed
Folk singer remains in critical conditionWINONA, Minn., Jan. 25, 2001 -- Folk singer John Bernadot remained hospitalized in intensive care in Rochester, Minn., from at a brain hemorrhage. Bernadot, with wife Teresa, have been part of the southeast Minnesota music scene for years and had been scheduled to open a Winona State University spring concert series in January. That was canceled with Benadot suffered the hemorrhage Jan. 15. Laura Putzer, production coordinator for the concert series, said: "He's not looking good. They are calling in the family." Putzer called the Bernadots "real crowd-pleasers." The Bernadots had a radio show in Winona every Thursday morning from the Acoustic Cafe in downtown Winona.
Reporter: Steve Grommesch
Background: John Bernadot stricken, folk concert put off
Student Senate opts for WSU computer choicesWINONA, Minn., Jan. 25, 2001 -- Student senators rejected a proposal to require all Winona State University students to own the same brand of laptop beginning with Fall 2002 classes. After 1-1/2 hours of discussion, the proposal from the university's technology vice president, Joe Whetsone, was rejected 15-9. One senator abstained. Whetstone and technology chief Dean Feller said a single brand would allow for service. "The Tech Center can't benefit students when a student brings their own laptop in and needs help installing a program or fixing a problem," Feller said, noting that technicians can't possibly keep up-to-date on every hardware model and every software variation. A Student Senate majority, however, opted for students to have options.
Reporter: Holly HollettBackground: WSU ponders cutting computer brands on campus
Governor "short-sighted" on higher-edST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 25, 2001 -- A coalition of educators from kindergarten through college needs to come together to "present a united front" for legislative funding, State Rep. Gene Pelowski, D-Winona, said. Pelowski, a member of the House Higher Education Finance Division, called the higher-ed budget recommendations of Gov. Jesse Ventura "terrible." He said: "I will do all I can to correct the shortsightedness of the governor." Pelowski said a representative from the MnSCU, which includes Winona State, was in his office yesterday after the governor unveiled his budget and "was stunned." About proposals in the Legislature for greater higher-ed funding, Pelowski said: "I want to let the governor know that their is massive support behind them and ensure that the legislators take notice and respond to ensure this investment is made this session."Background: Stanton rallies profs to press for funding
Colleges, schools flip pancakes for tourismWINONA, Minn., Jan. 25, 2001 -- Several educational institutions, including the colleges, are sponsoring a pancake breakfast to raise funds to double the size of Winona Visitors Center between the lakes off Highway 61. The improvements include stabilizing the building's foundation.
Date: Feb. 17
Time: 7 to 10 a.m.
Place: Kryzsko east cafeteria
Cost: $5
WSU summer registration due on webWINONA, Minn., Jan. 25, 2001 -- Online registration for Winona State University summer classes will open on March 15, Registrar Stewart Shaw said. Registration access codes are not required, he said. The class schedule, accessible at WSU, will be on posted March 12.
COMMENT: TIGHT-FISTED JESE VENTURA
THE GOVERNOR'S DEMAGOGUERY
This is a rare moment in history. With a $3 billion state revenue surplus, we have an opportunity to invest in projects for a better future -- like higher education.
Instead, Gov. Jesse Ventura has chosen to pander to the selfish aspect of our nature and rebate the money to us taxpayers and slash taxes. This is hardly the sign of a leader with a vision for the common good.
Gov. Ventura's parsimonious demagoguery is wrong-headed. To be competitive in the high tech, global economy, we must improve our investment in education. |
Stanton rallies profs to press for fundingST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 24, 2001 -- Gov. Jesse Ventura's higher-ed budget proposal is "a massive disappointment," said statewide faculty lobbyist Russ Stanton. "If the Legislature does not improve on the request and it becomes the final appropriation, it will mean program cuts, higher tuition for students, faculty layoffs and uncompetitive compensation for the remaining faculty," Stanton said. He encouraged profs to press their hometown legislators to notch up higher-ed spending. Stanton noted that the MnSCU system, of which Winona State is part, had requested an increase of $255.6 million to cover inflation and quality improvements over the next two years. Gov. Ventura recommended only $47 million--about 18 percent, he noted. Stanton said the governor's proposed $47 million increase compares to the $121 million the governor proposed last biennium. Background: Ventura college budget "worse than expected"
WSU SECURITY
REPORT
Jan.
24, 2001 | A Sheehan dorm student reported at 7:15 p.m that she had received harassing phone calls, campus security chief Don Walski said. |
SMU prez yanks flesh mags from bookstoreWINONA, Minn., Jan. 25, 2001 -- Two men's magazines that feature lots of flesh, Maxim and Stuff, disappeared from the Saint Mary's University bookstore, as well as the gay magazine Out. The magazines were withdrawn at the instruction of Brother Louis DeThomasis, university president, after he learned that a petition against the magazines was circulating among students, according to sources. The magazines all have a sexual orientation but no pubic nudity.
Background: SMU student leads drive against mags
WSU resists tougher ed-major admit gradesWINONA, Minn., Jan. 24, 2001 -- Rather than going with a national trend to raise admission requirements for education majors, Winona State University instead is offering more faculty assistance for students. Education Department advising coordinator Rod Winters said students will benefit more from faculty assistance than hiking the admissions requirement from a 2.75 grade-point average to 3.0. A 3.0 requirement would merely weed out students, Winters said: "We are here to serve the best interests of our community." There is talk, however, of possibly raising the admissions requirement in the future, he said.
Reporter: Jim Bube
COMMENT: ACCOUNTABILITY
SABBATICALS AS PAID VACATIONS
Years ago a Winona State University lit prof proposed taking a year off with pay to read 23 books. The prof got the sabbatical -- even though it's unthinkable that a professor of literature wouldn't be reading at least 23 books every year in the normal course of professorial responsibilities.
Not all sabbaticals are so shoddy. In fact, many are true to the traditional noble purpose of freeing profs for projects and reflection that will greatly improve their teaching and research.
But whenever a prof seeks merely a paid one-year vacation, legislators who don't understand the sabbatical concept have more ammunition to do away with them. Darrell Krueger, as university president, must be more vigilant than his predecessors on sabbatical requests and insist on post-sabbatical accountability. |
Ventura college budget "worse than expected"ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 24, 2001 -- The higher-ed budget laid out by Gov. Jesse Ventura is "worse than we thought," said State Rep. Gene Pelowski, D-Winona. For operating costs, the state college system would receive $40 million more for the next two years -- about a sixth of what was requested. Pelowski said college system executives predict that the governor's proposal, if the Legislature accepts it, would mean tuition and fee hikes and perhaps eliminating programs.
Background: College brass taking budget plea on road
Ventura on WSU science building: Drop in bucket | ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 24, 2001 -- The proposed $40 million Winona State University science building made it into Gov. Jesse Ventura's capital-projects budget proposal -- but only $1.5 million and that's to be split with other state college science facility projects at Camby and Red Wing. At Winona State, the money would continue architectural planning and preliminary work.Background: Science project may wait
OL' GILDEMEISTER:
Ventura: Old labs OK for now |
COMMENT: EASY UNIVERSITY REVENUE
THE INTERNSHIP RIP-OFF
When they need extra help, shyster companies call up Winona State University and offer to host an internship. Unpaid, of course. The usual line: "It'll be priceless job experience." Translation: "Give us free labor." Talk about exploiting students.
The university obliges these unscrupulous leeches, shamelessly pocketing tuition dollars from the interns with no outlay in facilities or faculty time. So it's double rip-off. Students are exploited by both the internship host and the university.
What to do? Get an entry-level job, get paid, and keep those internship tuition dollars in your own pocket. |
Study: College students eager for e-textsNEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2001 -- College students are leaning strongly toward electronic textbooks, according to an extensive study by e-publisher Versaware. Eighty-seven percent said they find e-books more interesting than paper books. Sixty-two percent said they would choose e-books. These were e-book advantages checked off by 70 to 75 percent of the students:Integrating e-text, notes and web research.Web searching from the e-text.E-texts weigh less, easier to carry.Onscreen text highlighting.
The survey was at 63 public and private two-year and four-year colleges.
SMU student leads drive against magsWINONA, Minn., Jan. 24, 2001 -- A petition circulating among students at Saint Mary's calls for the magazines Maxim and Stuff to be removed from the ccampus bookstore. Senior Katie Boller, who began the petition, said mags objectify women sexually and have a lot of violence directed at women, adding that she wants to uphold "Catholic standards." Saint Mary's is operated by the Christian Brothers, a Roman Catholic order, but the bookstore was turned over to an outside company in exchange for a lump-sum cash payment four years ago. Boller said she gathered 50 signatures in a single day.
College brass taking budget plea to the peopleST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 24, 2001 -- State college system executives announced a flying news conference around the state to drum up support for higher-ed funding. Teams will conduct the "Press Conference Fly-Around," as it's being called, on Jan. 30 and 31. There will be a 10 a.m. stop the 31st at Rochester Community College and a 4 p.m. stop at Winona State University. The target is Gov. Jesse Ventura's budget plan, which would give higher-ed less of an increase in state spending than the average for other state activities. The message: If colleges were to receive the same treatment as other state agencies it would mean an additional $62.8 million in the system's base budget.
Background: Ventura proposes 4.5% higher-ed hike
JOANN
LASHOMBE |
KEVIN
ODBERG
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KIM
PAWLAK
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KRYSTAL
CARR
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JIM
POMPLIN |  |
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TOMORROW'S GREATEST BYLINES TODAY |
WSU ponders cutting computer brands on campusWINONA, Minn., Jan. 24, 2001 -- The chair of the Winona State student Technology Committee, Casey Clay, said too many brands of laptops are slowing down repairs and maintenance in the university's computer fix-up shop. Technicians don't have the time or resources to master all hardware and software with the diverse personal computer products being used, Clay said. Clay's committee is putting together a plan to cut the brands of laptops, perhaps as early as next year. Faster service at a more economic price would result, Clay said.
Reporter: Alisa Green
WSU nursing outreach in 15th yearWINONA, Minn., Jan. 24, 2001 -- Winona State University nursing students are lining up families with whom to explore health issues from February to May. The students schedule five one-hour home visits to help families with questions and concerns. The program, in its 15th year, provides access to current health information, developmental assessments, blood pressure checks, and other health issues for children from newborns to teenagers. To sign up: (507) 457-5120.
QUICK
SPORTS
Jan. 24, 2001 |
BASKETBALL (WOMEN'S): SMU 80, St. Catherine 49. |
WSU, MSU-Mankato win fiscal management honorST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 24, 2001 -- The state universities at Winona and Mankato were awarded state college system citations for financial management. The award recignized increased efficiency and effectiveness, sound budget procedures, accountability, and customer service.
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SPECIAL REPORT
SAFE IN THE DARK?
CAMPUS SALARIES
Louis DeThomasis
SMU president
1998 total: $128,784
Darrell Krueger
WSU president
2001 total: $152,130
Jim Johnson
Tech president
2000 total: $104,432
OTHER
SALARIES
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CYBERINDEE
PEOPLE
EDITOR
John Vivian
WEB DESIGNER
Matt Del Vecchio
2001 CONTRIBUTORS
Samantha Bishop
Jim Bube
Michael Fischer
Alisa Green
Steve Grommesch
Lyndsey Hafner
Julie Hawker
Lane Hermanson
Holly Hollett
Jennifer Johnson
Mark Lorisch
Kelsea Samuelson
Shawna Tessum
Breanna Wagner
Brooke White
Dave Wichterman
Robyn Zmudzinski
EARLIER CONTRIBUTORS
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