The BSU Recalibration: It’s Not That Bad?

A Group of Students Take a Stance on Budget Issues

By Cheyenne Horien and Alexandria Leister

A small group of students at Bemidji State University have a more positive perspective regarding the drastic budget cuts that have caused so many changes this year. Recently, they set up a table in the Union where students could learn more about them. Their sign said it all: “Recalibration - it’s not that bad!” Many students and faculty were shocked to see the quote on the sign as they walked by. Only six students comprise the organization known as “HObE,” a group that offers support for the students and faculty negatively affected by the recalibration.

In their mission statement, HObE states that they are “Upstart specialists in counseling, specifically academic counseling, trauma counseling, and academic trauma counseling.” The group also stresses the fact that they will work to assure that students and faculty will have someone to turn to when they need to talk and will do their best to answer any questions “regarding the substantial changes to the BSU curriculum.”

When asked how they planned on counseling, they said that they use their own experience to help people, although they admit they have no qualifications or formal training. “If they (students or faculty) find that BSU is not meeting their academic needs, we try and find alternatives for them, a new major they might like or a new university they could attend," stated HObE Co-President David Teeples.  He added that "Finding a new university is our last resort." They have yet to help any students, but they hope that they will be able to soon.

The group was started in the middle of the spring 2011 semester as an option for students who choose to see the recalibration and all of the changes BSU is facing in a more positive and optimistic way. HObE Co-Presidents Teeples (mass communication) and Philip Ehlke (political science) came up with the idea for HObE for as a way to look at the current issues from President Hanson’s point of view. Other members of HObE consist of Kinsly Tarman (math education), Laura Duscher (business administrations), Andrew Brand (computer science/mathematics), and Claire Poor-Harmon (undecided). All six members of HObE are freshman.

 Even one of the group members is affected by the recalibration. Brand has a computer science/math major, and as of fall 2011, BSU will no longer be offering the computer science major. Brand thinks that Pres. Hanson was being hypocritical when Hanson specifically said the BSU would be strengthening the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses. "Computer science is a major that can play heavily into all four of those fields," Brand stated in an email interview, "and yet it's being cut from four professors to two."

“We’re trying to look at it (recalibration) from a more objective stance,” said Ehlke in regards to the mission of the group.

“The recalibration is a way to reshape the campus and move forward,” added Teeples.

All the members of the group say they are neither for nor against the recalibration, they are just a resource for those who see the recalibration as they do - a dialogue between hope and fear.

While the group is not against students and faculty, “We’re not anti-president either,” said Teeples. 

There is a story behind the interesting name of this group. The name HObE was thought up by the group’s Co-Presidents, Teeples and Ehlke. They explained that if you hold up the word HObE upside down to a mirror and read the reflection, it spells HOPE.

“We actually got the idea from one of President Hanson’s slides that he had produced,” said Ehlke.

Pres. Hanson said he's not heard of this group, but was impressed with their mission. “Very bold and very audacious for being freshman,” he said. “It’s a good idea. Hope is the opposite of fear, if you let fear win what you have done? You got nothing done.”

He added he likes it when students have ingenuity and find ways to get things done. “Recalibration is only as bad as you make it,” said Pres. Hanson. “It’s not even one concept; it’s not accurate to say recalibration is…there are many aspects to it. “

Although trying to remain as having a positive outlook on the future of the campus, some students refuse to see eye-to-eye with the group.

“I really hate you guys and everything you stand for,” one student wrote on the group’s Facebook page. The group’s spokesperson responded with “Thanks for the feedback! We’re sorry we do not live up to your expectations and are grateful to you for telling us about it. If people like you did not bring these matters to our attention, we would never be able to fix them.”

Love them or hate them, in the end, the main goal of HObE is very clear: “We hope that people can put away their hard feelings towards the administration and move forward from that,” said Teeples.

The symbol for HObE. Photo by Alex Leister

Pictured left to right. Andrew Brand, Philip Ehlke and David Teeples. Not pictured are Kinsly Tarman, Laura Duscher and Claire Poor-Harmon. Photo by Alex Leister