Aztecs support ENS professor
TUESDAY April 3, 2012 Volume 97, Issue 97 W W W.T H E D A I LYA Z T E C . C O M
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A spotter ensures a weight lifter doesnât injure himself while training. This is one of the many roles athletic trainers take on in the exercise and nutritional sciences.dept. | THINKSTOCK
Restructuring makes future uncertain for beloved instructor Diana Crofts-Pelayo staff writer Amidst the ever-growing concern of budget cuts at San Diego State, not only are students being affected, but cherished faculty as well. Students in the athletic training program are fighting the schoolâs decision to cut their clinical coordinator by writing letters and making t-shirts expressing their opposition to the decision. Marcia Klaiber was hired in 2006 to teach the hands-on evaluation and therapeutics exercise classes. When Dr. Robert Moore, who founded the athletic training program in 1968, retired, she took over his classes. Many in the program agree Moore created a legacy at SDSU, with national and international recognition. A few years ago, some of Klaiberâs classes were eliminated and she became a part-time faculty member. âI understand budget cuts are budget cuts, we had to cut units out of our program ⊠combine classes and I was the last one that was hired so ⊠I had to lose classes first,â she said. The program currently has one full-time and two part-time faculty members. According to Dr. Denise OâRand, the athletic training program director, they were forced to generate another full-time position when the program was up for reaccreditation. She said the program was short faculty. âSo thatâs where the decision was made to combine areas and to kind of piggy-back off of strengths in different areas ⊠the decision was made to have a dual credentialed full-time position,â she said. Essentially, the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences had to create a new position that would teach in both the athletic training program and physical therapy. With the new doctorate in physical therapy, this faculty member would teach those classes as well. OâRand said in order
to get the âfinal stamp of approvalâ for reaccreditation, the program needs to hire a dual credentialed faculty member by the end of the semester. OâRand said this position needs someone credentialed in both disciplines and Klaiber is not a licensed physical therapist. Klaiber said her position is being cut because of the budget restraints and the new positionâs requirements. ENS is conducting a faculty search for this position. OâRand said having clinical experience is important in order to teach the hands-on classes. Students in the AT program said having experience in the field with athletes is Klaiberâs specialty. She has more than two decades of clinical experience. âIâm looking at clinical experience and ideally three to five or more years is going to be essential to say you have the clinical background, to say you can teach whatâs current,â OâRand said. Because the new position would be teaching part time in two different areas, students are worried this will affect their quality of education. Madison Bala, a kinesiology junior with an emphasis in athletic training, said Klaiberâs influence is essential for the continued success of the program in general. She wrote a letter to the director of ENS explaining to him how invaluable her teaching is to students. âHer clinical experience and knowledge of the curriculum make her the most qualified instructor in the program,â Bala said. âStudents are better prepared and are taught in a hands-on setting, which is important when we are helping athletes.â Bala said itâs important for professors to have recent field experience in order to present the material in class in a comprehensible way. OâRand said she understands why students are concerned, and in a perfect world, Klaiber would be back as a full-time lecturer. âOur first priority is going to be that (the new position) can come in and teach at the same level and maintain the same quality that (Klaiber) has been able to do,â OâRand said. Dr. Fred Kolkhorst, director of ENS, said they are not replacing Klaiber,
âI took the job in 2006 thinking this is what I want to do for the rest of my career, this is where I want to retire ... I want to give back as part of the program.â Marcia Klaiber, Athletic Training Clinical Coordinator rather they are restructuring how theyâre allocating faculty positions in the school. Students sent letters to Kolkhorst voicing their concerns about Klaiberâs departure. He said students are supportive of Klaiber as an instructor, but he could not specifically comment on the ânotes sent in confidence.â Klaiber said she was surprised when she saw the âSave Marciaâ T-shirts. âI am touched, I am flattered, I am very glad (they) feel this way,â she said. Her ideal situation in the program would be to have two people dedicated full-time in athletic training, without having to âwear two hats.â The new position would include being the clinical coordinator of the AT program, Klaiberâs current position. Right now, Klaiber said there are no classes for her to teach next semester, but there are still a lot of classes that have not been assigned. âSo hopefully into June we will have a little bit of a handle on the budget, there may still be an opportunity for me to pick up a little of
those hands-on labs, but that is not determined yet,â Klaiber said. âI think that since I am still here, it kind of shows how much I really like this program ⊠Iâm still fighting to stay involved with it.â When asked whether Klaiber would stay in the program, Kolkhorst said he could not comment on personnel issues. However, he said having this new dual role would be mutually beneficial for both physical therapy and athletic training. âI think this is really a win-win situation for all of our programs,â he said. Klaiber said she wants SDSU to produce good athletic training students and she hopes to be involved next year. âI took the job in 2006 thinking this is what I want to do for the rest of my career, this is where I want to retire ⊠I want to give back as part of the program,â she said. The final decision on the new position is up to OâRand, Kolkhorst and the director of the doctor of physical therapy program. OâRand said she is open to studentsâ thoughts and opinions in regards to the new position.
Discussion prepares for April visit This evening from 6â8 p.m., San Diego Stateâs Department of Philosophy will be holding a panel discussion in preparation for this monthâs visit from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center. The discussion will center around the Dalai Lama and his âCompassion Without Bordersâ tour, which stops at SDSU on April 19.
The Dalai Lamaâs personal peace emissary, The Venerable Lama Tenzin Dhonden, will be hosting this discussion on âcosmopolitan ethics, politics and compassion.â Several SDSU professors will be moderating and paneling the event, which is free and open to the public.
âCompiled by News Editor Hutton Marshall
SPORTS
SDSU swept Air Force this weekend to put itself in third place.
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