WMU's 2018-19 Capital Interns shared their experiences working
in Lansing with University senior leadership on April 1.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
- Saturday, April 20--Earth Day Celebration, noon to 5 p.m., Bronson Park, downtown Kalamazoo, Information.
- Monday, April 22
- Final exam week begins.
- Kalamazoo Autism Center 1st Annual Art Show, 6 to 10 p.m., Bell's Brewery. Information.
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President Montgomery elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Western Michigan University President Edward Montgomery has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences,
the academy announced
on April 17. He joins former first lady Michelle Obama and some 200 others recognized for outstanding achievements in academia, the arts, business, government and public affairs.
"We are pleased to recognize the excellence of our new members, celebrate their compelling accomplishments, and invite them to join the academy and contribute to its work," David W. Oxtoby, president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, said in a statement.
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Hoadley to run for U.S. Congress
Michigan state
Rep. Jon Hoadley
announced April 8 that he plans to seek a seat in Congress in the 2020 election—the seat now held by U.S. Rep. Fred Upton.
Hoadley, who lives in Kalamazoo, is in his third term as the representative for the 60th Michigan House District. A Democrat, he was first elected to serve in 2014.
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Alum over the moon after winning prize in
NASA challenge
Saving the environment isn't limited to Earth.
Derek McFall's
out-of-this-world concept fired up scientists at NASA.
The Western Michigan University alumnus, who received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 2011, tied for second place in NASA's
Recycling in Space Challenge
. The space agency wanted to find ways to transport and process trash in zero gravity.
"Places like the International Space Station generate quite a bit of trash," says McFall. "The current method for astronauts to take care of waste that's generated on the ISS or future places is to shuttle it back down to Earth, and that's horribly inefficient." Read more at
WMU News
.
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Needed: Input on campus access and mobility
WMU is in the early stages of developing a
Transportation Master Plan
to help guide development of our campus both in the near-term and into the future. The TMP will address all aspects of campus access and mobility, including parking, public transit, the Bronco bus system, bicycling, pedestrian access, etc.
We are currently in the data collection phase, and want to hear from YOU! An online survey is open through
May 5
and we are seeking input from members of the campus and community. Please take a moment to share your perspectives via the
SURVEY
.
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Capital Intern spotlight
WMU Senior
William Barton
is wrapping up his academic-year experience as a Capital Intern for the Michigan Republican Party in Lansing.
A graduate of Divine Child High School, Barton is majoring at WMU in political science with minors in criminal justice and history. He accepted the internship at the state GOP office to gain a broader understanding of state-level politics and experience working in a professional setting.
“Through these valuable experiences, I have learned the day-to-day dealings inside a political office setting,” said Barton, who grew up in Westland, Mich. “I’ve had the chance to observe the way that political conventions and elections work at the state level and a better idea of what goes on in the day-to-day life of partisan employees.”
Barton is one of 20 Capital Interns currently serving in Lansing. The program, co-sponsored by the Department of Political Science and the Lee Honors College, enlists student interns to serve state representatives, senators, lobbyists and various officials. The interns travel to Lansing twice a week to attend session meetings, help research and draft legislation and work directly with constituents.
Dr. Lauren Foley
, assistant professor of political science, serves as program director.
Learn more
.
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Handy guide on taxation in Michigan
As last-minute filers hit send on their 2018 tax returns, the Citizens Research Council of Michigan released its annual
Outline of the Michigan Tax System
, a valuable reference for policymakers, journalists and others seeking a deeper, even encyclopedic, understanding of which taxes the state authorizes, on what, and how much revenue each generates.
The Tax Outline is consistently the research council’s most downloaded report of the year. As taxation in Michigan is always changing, a handy guide to what, exactly, we are being asked to pay in any given year makes it a popular choice.
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Gubernatorial appointments
Congratulations to these Bronco alumni recently appointed or reappointed to a Michigan board or commission.
Appoinment
- Diane Thompson, of Marshall, appointed to the Large Carnivore Breeding Advisory Committee.
Reappoinment
- Marcus Abood, of Lansing, reappointed to the Michigan Tax Tribunal for a four-year term.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration manages the application process and works closely with affiliated governmental departments to provide current data on membership and responsibility of these organizations.
Information and application
.
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Fast fact: Michigan's declining investment in higher education
Michigan continues to lose ground in its ranking for per capita state fiscal support for higher education, dropping from 20th in the United States in 2001 to 43rd in 2018. State appropriations have decreased by $1 billion since 2002. Communicate with your state representatives if you believe more support should be provided to help educate our workforce and prepare the next generation of leaders.
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Congratulations to WMU's men's rugby team on its win at the Notre Dame Rugby Irish 7s Rugby Tournament April 6/7, which earned the team a bid at the MAC Championships, where the team
placed 3rd!
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The Western Michigan University
Office of Government Affairs
manages the network and works on behalf of WMU
to strengthen relationships with state, federal, and local policy makers.
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