LIFE CENTRAL MICHIGAN
[INSIDE] w UNIVERSITY:
Despite miscommunication, legal clinic to return in fall, 3 w VOLLEYBALL: CMU signs volleyball coach Erik Olson to new 5-year contract, 4 w MOVIE REVIEW: “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” enjoyable to those with open mind, 6
Central Michigan University
| Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Grandparents U brings together kids and their grandparents, 6
[cm-life.com]
Let there be light
University must raise $60 million for new building, Wilbur says
Fireworks bring revenue, debate to Mount Pleasant
By Aaron McMann Editor-in-Chief
The move is not only professional but personal to Green. In 2010, her son Matthew was the victim of a hit-andrun, drunk-driving accident, which left him a paraplegic. Matthew was sideswiped and dragged more than 1000 feet. Green said in 2010 “the next two years would determine if he ever walks again.” Now, exactly two years after that tragic accident, her son will be starting over with her in a new country, new school and new life.
Ending months of speculation, Central Michigan University received word this week that it would receive an expected $30 million from the state for its proposed Biosciences Building. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, appearing at Wayne State University in Detroit Monday, signed into legislation a $304 million capital outlay bill that will fund 18 projects at places of higher education throughout the state. Among them was CMU’s proposed $90 million Biosciences Building, a facility that would complement Brooks Hall and house lab rooms and teaching space for biotechnology and medical classes. “We’re very pleased. Were pleased two years ago, and we’re pleased again,” said Kathy Wilbur, vice president for development and external relations. “It’s a very important building … the next project on our list. It was important to secure that funding from the state.” Approval of the $30 million was in limbo for the better part of the last year after former Gov. Jennifer Granholm approved 23 college infrastructure projects in December 2010, just before leaving office. Last August, it was reported that Snyder requested preliminary designs for consideration, and it was unknown whether CMU would receive the public funds requested. $30 million is the most a school can receive from the state for a specific capital project. In addition to the $30 million from the state, CMU will now have to come up with $60 million more, through its capital budget and fundraising efforts. Wilbur said the university submitted a project cost of $89.5 million to the state. Vice President for Facilities Management Steve Lawrence said in February that construction would begin on the building, planned for the space currently occupied by the Washington Court apartments, once state funding was secured. “I’m a big believer that until the legislature determines what they are going to do and the governor has signed it, we can’t be doing it,” Wilbur said.
A GREEN | 2
A CAPITAL | 2
By Jeff Ketcham Staff Reporter
A collection of white tents housing small armories of sparklers, 500-gram cakes and mortars have popped up all over Mount Pleasant. They are here because Michigan has removed its ban on consumer-grade fireworks. KaitLin tHorne/staff photographer
Shari Hall, left, and her husband Garth Hall ring up fireworks for Mount Pleasant resident Jennifer Pasanski and her daughter Abby, 12, at Jake’s Fireworks stand on Mission Street next to Panera Bread Tuesday afternoon. The Halls set up the stand on Sunday and will be here until July 4.
The bill, known as the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act and signed by Gov. Rick Snyder, took effect Jan. 1. It allows for the sale and use of all class C consumer-grade fireworks throughout the state. Shari Hall of Newaygo is running the Jake’s Fireworks tent on Mission Street. “I’m just glad they opened it here,” Hall said. “Everyone was just going out of state to buy them anyways.” Jonah Ratu of Mount Pleasant, a junior at MidMichigan Community Col-
lege, was the first customer to Hall’s stand this season. Ratu said he likes to set fireworks off around the Fourth of July with his friends at their bonfires. He said he always traveled to Indiana to get his fireworks before, but now he’s happy to buy them in Michigan. “I’m just glad it’s legal now,” Ratu said. “I don’t think it’s dangerous, if you’re responsible enough to handle fireworks and you know what you’re doing.”
Brittini HengesBaCH/ staff photographer
Mount Pleasant resident Irene Thrush stands inside the All Seasons Firework stand Monday afternoon in the Menard’s parking lot 4615 Encore Blvd.
A FIREWORKS | 2
Denise Green to pioneer diversity at Toronto’s Ryerson University By Mike Nichols Managing Editor
Denise O’Neil Green is about to embark on an opportunity she said comes once in a lifetime. Green, Central Michigan University’s assistant vice president for institutional diversity since 2007, will be leaving CMU at the end of July for a new position at Ryerson University in Toronto. In an email sent Friday morning, Provost Gary Shapiro announced Green
had resigned to accept the position of assistant vice president/ vice provost of equity, diversity and inclusion at Denise Green the Canadian university. “I am very grateful for Dr. Green’s leadership in championing cultural change in the areas of equity, diversity and inclusion at CMU,” Shapiro said. “We thank her for her tireless efforts and
wish her and her family well as they embark on this new professional endeavor.” Shapiro said he knew Green had been thinking about this decision for a while. For now, an interim will be hired to fill the role. CMU will begin searching for a new candidate in the fall, he said. Green said she had always wanted to promote diversity and live in a different country. This move will allow her to do both. She sees the new job as an opportunity for her to
pioneer a diversity office at a college in one of the most diverse cities in the world. “It would be one of the first in the country,” Green said. “What is in my future is an opportunity to work with diversity from a very different point of view, from another country.” Green would not reveal the pay increase amount she would receive at the new school but said it was “a significant increase” compared to what she received at CMU. In 2011, Green earned $128,981.
CMU’s 1.9% tuition increase lowest among Michigan public universities By Catey Traylor Senior Reporter
In April, the Central Michigan University Board of Trustees approved a 1.96-percent tuition increase, a number that continues to be the lowest increase among public universities. The University of MichiganAnn Arbor just set its tuition increase at 2.8-percent, while
Snyder OKs $30 million for CMU Biosciences
Michigan Technological University had a 3.9-percent increase, and Michigan State University raised its rates by 3.5 percent. In April, University President George Ross said tuition increases remained low because of sacrifices made by university faculty and staff members. “Our tuition rates over the last three years have been very
modest. Our faculty and staff have made compromises like taking a year and a half, even two-year pay, freezes,” he said. “That is why we can be so modest (with this increase).” During debates regarding tuition amongst Board of Trustees members at U of M-Ann Arbor as well as MSU, some board members argued against tuition increases. According to The Detroit
News, regents Denise Ilitch, Laurence Deitch and Andrea Fischer Newman argued against the tuition increase at U of M, saying students were already paying too much. “Tuition continues to skyrocket,” Ilitch said before the vote. “The burden on our students continues to be brutal. ... This is unacceptable. The constant disinvestment in education in this state is in-
excusable and appalling. We must invest in education on all fronts.” Trustee Diann Woodard, president of the Detroit Public Schools administrators and supervisors union, voted against the 3.5-percent tuition increase at MSU, telling The News: “I just, in my heart of hearts, can’t vote for another (tuition) increase.” A TUITION | 2
2012-13 tuition increases w CMU: 1.96 percent w U-M Ann Arbor: 2.8 percent w MSU: 3.5 percent w U-M Flint: 3.6 percent w U-M Dearborn: 3.7 percent w SVSU: 3.9 percent w MTU: 3.9 percent w EMU: 3.95 percent w WSU: To be decided today
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