About Me-Installment Two March 30, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , add a comment
30 March 2008, Stoney Ridge Farm, Chelsea, Michigan:
This is the second installment in which I share some personal information, as requested by a number of blog readers. A question I have been asked is what do I do when I get some time away from the university. The picture above shows me “mucking” the stall of my daughter’s horse at the Stoney Ridge horse show at which Erin competed this weekend. Yes, someone has to do it and my daughter Erin thinks it is a perfect task for me. I got to spend 8 hours at the show on Sunday.
Shown below are Erin and her horse Martinique (barn name is Marvin). They had a great weekend, winning 11 first place ribbons. I got to shovel!
Blog Stats Update March 30, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far30 March 2008, Office of the Chancellor, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan:
Okay, my blog is not at all close to receiving the number of visitors as have stopped in the website of Paul Gerke and Mike McManaman, both students at the University of Michigan-Flint. Their site, arabianmonkey.com (viewer discretion advised according to the recent Flint Journal article about their site!), has been visited more than half-a-million times since beginning six months ago. Their site is a place for humor; my site has news about great things happening. Clearly humor trumps great things happening. Congratulations Paul and Mike and may your website live long, prosper, and delight visitors. Perhaps I should start an “add a joke page” to my blog?
Nonetheless, my 2-month-old blog has as of today been visited by 2,053 individuals from 27 countries who have viewed 6,611 pages and have left 60 comments. The blog has received visitors from:
ARMENIA
AUSTRIA
CANADA
CHINA
DENMARK
GERMANY
GUAM
ICELAND
INDIA
IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF
ISRAEL
ITALY
JAPAN
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
MALAYSIA
MEXICO
NETHERLANDS
PHILIPPINES
ROMANIA
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
SPAIN
SWEDEN
THAILAND
UKRAINE
UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED STATES
Celebrating the Birthday of Cesar Chavez March 29, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , add a comment 
29 March 2008, Chavez Drive, Flint, Michigan:
I had the pleasure of welcoming to the University of Michigan-Flint campus members and friends of the Hispanic Latino Collaborative of Genesee County. We gathered near the flags in front of the Harding Mott University Center on campus and marched to Cesar Chavez Drive, down Chavez drive, and back to the University Center where we heard keynote speaker Baldemar Velasquez, President of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, give an inspirational speech on the need to continue to pursue justice. He also urged support for the birthday of Cesar Chavez to be declared a national holiday. Nearly 200 people participated in the event. The Honorable Dale Kildee, U.S. House of Representatives, and State of Michigan Representative Lee Gonzalez participated in the march and celebration.
Flint was the first city in the U.S. to name a street in honor of Cesar Chavez. For more information about Mr. Chavez go to the Cesar Chavez Foundation website. The Foundation tells us:
A true American hero, Cesar was a civil rights, Latino, farm worker, and labor leader; a community servant and social entrepreneur; a crusader for nonviolent social change; and an environmentalist and consumer advocate.
The motto of the Hispanic Latino Collaborative of Genesee County is “Promoting America by Enhancing our Cultures.”
Wall Street Journal Editor Speaks to School of Management March 28, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , 3comments
28 March 2008, Aula Magna Room, William S. White Building, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan:
Six p.m. on a Friday evening and the room was packed for the School of Management Dean’s Speaker Series. James. R. Hagerty, an editor for The Wall Street Journal, provided an informative and provocative speech on the subject: “Envy of the World? How we Created the Mortgage Meltdown and Where we Go From Here.” He pointed out that in 2006, 38% of mortgage loans in Flint were likely sub-prime, ranking Flint 25th in the nation for such loans. Most of these loans, he indicated, were likely not new loans but refinances, today contributing to the high rate of foreclosures.
The School of Management at the University of Michigan-Flint is an Academic Program Partner with The Wall Street Journal. Students have access to the paper in print and online formats.
Partners for Progress Unveiled March 27, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far27 March 2008, Sarvis Center, Flint, Michigan:
A new strategy, “Partners for Progress,” was announced at today’s annual business meeting of the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce. The program will continuously emphasize the economic development of Genesee County. Economic development achievements will be celebrated by Partners for Progress, reminding residents and the rest of the country about the tremendous ecomonic development achievements being made. Mr. Art Hurand received a standing ovation for his speech of support for Partners for Progress.
An excellent demonstration of the great economic development accomplishments during the past year can be seen in the DVD “Changing Gears,” commissioned by Uptown Developments LLC, showm at today’s meeting. Press here to go to the Uptown Developments website and view the DVD. “The Downtown Flint area is ‘Changing Gears’ from a Factory Town to a College Town.” The University of Michigan-Flint is proud to participate in “Partners for Progress” and the Genesee Regional Chamber.
Leadership Genesee March 27, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far27 March 2008, Mott Community College Northern Tier Center, Clio, Michigan:
I had the pleasure of joining colleagues from Kettering University, Mott College, and Baker College in presenting to the Leadership Genesee 2008 class. We talked about our views of education in preparing for an information economy in Genesee County. We emphasized the importance of partnerships, lifelong learning, focusing on career preparation that includes expertise in acquiring new knowledge, and the new challenges of technology. The participants asked tremendous questions.
Leadership Genesee is sponsored by The Flint Journal and Community Challenge and “exists to empower people to engage in compelling and strategic civic engagement, affecting deep, transformative change in our community.” Three members of this year’s class are from the University of Michigan-Flint.
Leadership Genesee is a wonderful program. Those interested in gaining great understanding of our county should consider applying for the class of 2009. More information can be found on the Leadership Genesee website.
Governor Granholm Visits Genesee Early College March 25, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , add a comment 
25 March 2008, William S. White Building, Home of GISD’s Genesee Early College, Flint, Michigan:
I had the pleasure of welcoming Governor Jennifer Granholm to campus today. She came to discuss the progress of the Genesee Early College, a unique educational institution in which high school students interested in careers in the health professions can earn their high school diploma while at the same time achieving up to 60 college credits. The Genesee Early College is hosted on the University of Michigan-Flint campus and operated by the Genesee Intermediate School District. Governor Granholm met with key leaders of the school and partners from the educational, health care, and business communities. She commented on how Genesee Early College could become a state and national leader in demonstrating how a community comes together in providing education for the health professions, praising the partnerships that have been established. Following her meeting with the key leaders she met with the students and asked them about their experiences and what recommendations they had for future programs like this. The students talked aout the value of the experience and how the program challenged them to focus more on education and preparing for college. Governor Granholm also praised GISD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Svitkovich (shown above to the left of the Governor) for his leadership and the tremendous success of Genesee County’s first venture into the early college movement, Mott Middle College.
University Avenue Progress (Third Avenue) March 24, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , add a comment 
24 March 2008, Atwood Stadium, Third Ave., Flint, Michigan:
Thanks to great work by University of Michigan-Flint and Kettering University students, well over 200 signatures have been collected in support of renaming Third Avenue. University Avenue is the proposed name, to help demonstrate the connection between Kettering University and the University of Michigan-Flint and to emphasize that Flint is indeed a college town. Today I participated at a press conference at Atwood Stadium with Kettering University President Stan Liberty, Kettering Student Government President Hrishikesha (Richie) Vemaganti, and University of Michigan-Flint Student Government Council Vice President Jeff Shuel. Channel 12 covered the event. To view channel 12 coverage click here (there is a short commercial before the segment plays). The petitions will be presented at a future meeting of the City Planning Commission.
The Michigan Times — Keep Up the Great Work March 24, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far24 March 2008, Flint, Michigan:
Did you read the latest issue of The Michigan Times? If you have not, please do. The paper is filled with much news about the University of Michigan-Flint. There was so much campus news in this issue that I seriously wonder when there will be a push for a weekly rather than biweekly (or perhaps even a daily!). I am impressed with both the depth and the breadth of coverage. Keep up the great work.
Readers, please use the “add a comment” above to share what you think.
American Democracy Project Blog and Voice Wall March 24, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far 
24 March 2008, Flint, Michigan:
Congratulations to students, staff, and faculty involved in the University of Michigan-Flint American Democracy Project, co-sponsored by University Outreach and the Provost Office. On Wednesday, March 19, approximately 300 people posted comments on the Freedom of Speech Voice Wall in the University Center Building. Posters expressed their thoughts and feelings about the rights and responsibilities associated with free speech. The postings have been uploaded on the new American Democracy Project blog at http://blog.umfadp.org/. The group’s website is: http://www.umfadp.org. For information about the national Amercian Democracy Project, of which our campus is a member, go: http://www.aascu.org/programs/adp/.
