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Brian Edward Cole 8303 25th Ave. NW Seattle, WA 98117 (206) 285-5162 brian_cole@yahoo.com Education Ball State University (Muncie, IN) Master of Arts, 1996 Executive Development for Public Service Department of Educational Leadership Anderson University (Anderson, IN) Bachelor of Arts, 1994 English, minor in Mass Communications Experience Staff Writer The Daily News, Greenville, MI 2000-2001 Wrote feature, police and courts, education, legislative and local government stories for community newspaper. Also contributed with occasional photos and page edits. Columnist The Pioneer, Big Rapids, MI 2000, 2002 Wrote a weekly topical newspaper column, entitled “Musings.” Freelance Writing Assignments Adjunct Advocate, Ann Arbor, MI Wrote an investigative cover story for national trade magazine for college and university part-time faculty members. Story entitled “Where in the World is Jean Culp’s $57 Million Dollars?” was published in July/August 2003 issue. The Grand Rapids Press, Grand Rapids, MI 2001-2002 Wrote news and features stories and photographed events within a regionally based beat for the third-largest Michigan newspaper. Paperclip Communications, Garfield, NJ Researched and wrote an edition of Alcohol Issues and Solutions, a student affairs newsletter. This eight-page educational newsletter was published November 2001. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Published Writing Sample Excerpt Adjunct Advocate - July/August 2003 Where in the World is Jean Culp's $57 Million Dollars? by Brian Cole In her 17 years as a U.S. and California state History adjunct, Jean Culp experienced first-hand the hardships of being a part-timer on the campus of Citrus Community College. Among them were low pay, the lack of medical benefits, strict limits on course loads, and having to share a 10 x 12 foot office space with almost four hundred of her part-time faculty colleagues. But her passion for teaching has kept her at the southern California community college. “I love being in the classroom,” she said. “I am dedicated at what the community college is doing in America: creating opportunity.” In an effort to improve their plight on campus, Culp and a group of other adjuncts organized a recognized union, Adjunct Faculty United (American Federation of Teachers Local 6106) in the spring of 2001. Culp is now co-president of the union, with fellow part-timer Linda Bassett. Incidentally, that same year California Governor Gray Davis allocated $57 million dollars to the state’s community college system to help raise part-time faculty salaries and benefits to equitable levels. Citrus Community College’s allotment of the funds totaled about $580,000. Despite an established practice of giving full-timers and part-timers equal yearly raises, once the Citrus adjuncts started organizing, they stopped receiving pay raises, while full-time faculty members received 20 percent increases in their salaries over the same two-year period. The funds given to Citrus for part-time faculty compensation sat in the district’s bank account collecting interest until a recent contract negotiation. “(Citrus) administrators were unwilling to put one penny towards the part-timers,” said Linda Cushing, chief negotiator for Adjunct Faculty United. As a result, explained Cushing, “There is a tremendous amount of anger over the injustices in this matter.” According to union officials, Citrus administrators recently came to the bargaining table with a low take-it-or-leave-it offer, threatening to withhold from the part-timers any of their portion of the state allocation, or not offer them a contract at all. In the end, the fledgling 110-person union, representing 380 part-time faculty, accepted a contract with a pay increase, at a contested percentage rate of full-time faculty pay. Union co-president Bassett has taught English at Citrus for the past 16 years, and has seen many good adjuncts come and go, many in search of better pay and treatment. She believes the union had no choice but to accept the District’s terms in the latest round of negotiations when it was apparent ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Obtain free hard copy from Brian Cole (brian_cole@yahoo.com). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My Bylines in the Grand Rapids Press Archives Obtain Free Hard Copy of full story from Brian Cole (brian_cole@yahoo.com). School district hires doctor Dr. Linda Satterlee is leaving her private practice for the post of director of medical services in the Belding schools. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Jan 24, 2002; pg. Ice treacherous on many lakes Some shallower bodies of water may be safe, but people still need to be wary of the dangers. Brian Cole and John Tunison / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Jan 2, 2002; pg. A.1 School officials deny work harmed homes Neighbors believe damage to their homes was caused by contractors on a major school construction project. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Dec 12, 2001; pg. A.17 Cameras may spotlight vandalism in city parks Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Dec 6, 2001; pg. 3 She walks the walk 81-year-old logs more than 300 miles on Flat River Trail Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Nov 29, 2001; pg. 1 Spanning history Ferris artist creates 140-foot-long mural depicting history of thought and knowledge Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Nov 25, 2001; pg. A.27 View from Ground Zero renews volunteer's faith in Americans Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Nov 24, 2001; pg. B.2 Mentoring offers volunteers baker's dozen ways to help An added program this year pairs Rotary Club members with high schoolers seeking improved academics, attendance or attitude. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Nov 8, 2001; pg. 1 Two face prison after pleading guilty to bomb threats Authorities offer no deals for the duo who made several calls to Grant High School following the Sept. 11 attacks. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Nov 6, 2001; pg. A.15 Volunteers patrol Manistee during recent salmon run Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Oct 27, 2001; pg. D.2 Officials snip lanes in downtown Greenville traffic They estimate spending more than $2.4 million to create a pedestrian- friendly atmosphere. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Oct 25, 2001; pg. B.5 Disputed Perrier plant draws crowd to job fair Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Oct 19, 2001; pg. A.15 Girl Scouts raise cash for terror victims The troop is selling patriotic T-shirts for $10 each. So far, $700 has been collected. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Oct 18, 2001; pg. 8 New computer software streamlines lunch time The system will be more efficient and accurate. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Oct 18, 2001; pg. 2 City receives boardwalk, street grants from state The state money will fund improvements to East High Street and a Flat River boardwalk between the Ashfield Street Bridge and East Riverside Park. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Oct 4, 2001; pg. 2 Going up and down Students will ride elevator 60 hours to raise money for Red Cross Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Oct 4, 2001; pg. A.27 District expels two teen-agers accused in threats The teens, a boy and a girl, along with a 21-year-old woman, face criminal charges. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Sep 26, 2001; pg. A.14 City hires architect to prepare plans for public sports complex Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Sep 20, 2001; pg. A.32 City manager 'groomed' for position Michael Wood says the former city manager steered him toward management. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Sep 20, 2001; pg. 1 Part-time curriculum chief OK'd to bridge budget gap The position will last until next year. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Sep 20, 2001; pg. 2 Heart valve disease blamed in crash of dedicated mother Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Sep 7, 2001; pg. A.13 City reduces donation to economic organization Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Sep 6, 2001; pg. 1 Perrier plant faces fresh round of fire Opponents still are pushing the state to deny the company a permit to tap groundwater. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Aug 31, 2001; pg. C.11 After 3 years, commercial development given OK It includes a Taco Bell/gas station, two restaurants, a hotel and businesses in a small strip mall. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Aug 30, 2001; pg. 1 Ex-wife's testimony key to conviction in 22-year-old killing Jurors decide that Clarence Bean killed his mistress, then showed his wife the body. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Aug 30, 2001; pg. A.1 Landmark library now dominates Ferris campus The $41 million building is nearly triple the size of the university's former library. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Aug 27, 2001; pg. D.1 Danish Fest promises plenty of fun Greenville's 37th annual festival opens Friday. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Aug 16, 2001; pg. 4 Family raises money for girl's controversial procedure While her doctors are skeptical about the Ukrainian clinic's stem cell transplant, the family hopes to raise $20,000 to pay for it. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Aug 16, 2001; pg. 1 Parents of afflicted children are disappointed the president didn't support more aggressive research. Steven Harmon and Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Aug 10, 2001; pg. A.1 In full swing After a fire, golf course owners wait for new start Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Aug 9, 2001; pg. A.19 Pilot gives message to wife before crash Robert Morris died from a plane accident one day before his 60th wedding anniversary. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Aug 9, 2001; pg. A.19 Renovations will make church more accessible Members of First Congregational Church have pledged $1 million to update the church, which was built more than 120 years ago. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Aug 9, 2001; pg. 1 Farmer hopes to sell land for housing development The developer's plans call for a housing complex that would boost the township's population by about 500 people. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Aug 3, 2001; pg. A.9 Four candidates will have city manager interviews Belding has been without a top administrator since the May 25 departure of Brian Murphy. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Aug 2, 2001; pg. 3 Puppy love: Home business places pets in good homes at a low cost A Greenville couple juggles nine children and a pet shop. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Aug 2, 2001; pg. 1 Teens sift through history of their hometown They spend a month digging for clues into how American Indians lived in the Flat River area. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Jul 30, 2001; pg. D.3 Dead man's mother says he confessed to murder James Cohoon admitted the slaying before he committed suicide, his mother says at a hearing. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Jul 27, 2001; pg. A.13 An eye for art Child photographers develop artistic vision at home Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Jul 23, 2001; pg. D.2 Summer class challenges kids to overcome obstacles of life Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Jul 19, 2001; pg. 1 Hospital meeting on federal probe draws 10 people United Medical Health Center's board chairman attributes the low community turnout to informative media reports. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Jul 13, 2001; pg. A.9 Lake City area men arraigned for murder The Missaukee County sheriff says a 75-year-old Moorestown man was brutally slain. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Jul 13, 2001; pg. A.10 Fire destroys clubhouse at golf course Problems in an electrical box are suspected in a blaze fought by about 50 firefighters from seven different departments. Brian Cole / The Grand Rapids Press; The Grand Rapids Press; Jul 12, 2001; pg. A.19
