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cm-life.com
Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012
COMING OUT
DO OR ADDAE
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SGA brings legislation to stop new calendar
Former RB Austin White enters plea agreement
By Ryan Fitzmaurice Staff Reporter
By Aaron McMann Managing Editor
The Student Government Association introduced new legislation Monday that would not support a scheduled change to the academic calendar in 2014. An ad hoc committee in the Academic Senate met and discussed the possibility of changes to the academic calendar, changing the 16week semester to 15 weeks, and A-Senate voted last spring to reopen discussion on the issue. On Aug. 21, the Faculty Association and university announced it was committed to implementing the new academic calendar for fall 2014. The legislation, introduced by SGA senators Marie Reimers, a Saginaw sophomore; Sara O’Toole, a Muskegon junior; and graduate student Binu Prabhakaran, along with Resident Hall Assembly spokesperson and Bloomfield Hills senior Scott Cooke, lists 38 reasons why the academic calendar would be detrimental to the Central Michigan University student body. The legislation, to be voted on Oct. 22, charges the proposed change with not having enough student support and does not appropriately address necessary changes to Leadership Safari, alternative breaks, the athletic program, the marching band program and several other annual programs. The legislation also takes issue with the very nature of the change, stating changing the academic calendar does not align with CMU’s mission to provide student-centered education.
Former Central Michigan running back Austin White has entered into a plea agreement for his involvement in an April drug bust on campus. White, 20 of Livonia, pleaded guilty on Sept. 21 to charges of delivering and manufacturing narcotics, possession of narcotics and maintaining a drug house, according to Isabella County court records. The plea, agreed upon between White, his attorney Mary Chartier and Judge Paul Chamberlain, included White being granted Holmes Youthful Trainee Act status. Under HYTA, a youth between the ages of 17 and 20 alleged to have committed a crime can serve prison time or probation without a conviction going on their permanent record. Following months of claiming innocence, Chartier said White “weighed the consequences” and made the decision to enter a plea. “(We did this) just because there’s going to be an unknown as to what a jury is going to do,” Chartier said Tuesday from her Lansing office. “Mr. White is looking to continue his education and move out of state … It expedites this for him.” Sentencing in Isabella County Trial Court is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Oct. 26. White was one of four CMU football players arrested last April following an investigation by the CMU Police Department into a stolen phone. When officers tracked the phone to a terrace-level Celani residence hall room, they discovered hallucinogenic mushrooms being grown in a bathroom shared by Joe Sawicki, of Mokena, Ill., and White. Sawicki was arrested April 17 and charged with delivering and manufacturing narcotics, possession of narcotics and maintaining a drug house. An arrest warrant was issued for White, who turned himself in to campus police the following day. White, Sawicki and former CMU receiver Danel Harris, who pleaded guilty to larceny from a vehicle, were kicked off the CMU football team by head coach Dan Enos. Sawicki was sentenced in June to 12 months probation after entering into a plea agreement. He, too, was granted HYTA status. White, through Chartier, originally entered a “not guilty” plea, and his attorney later criticized CMU police for its handling of the investigation, calling the charges “unfortunate” and “unfounded.”
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Former Clinton adviser Paul Begala coming to CMU Oct. 25 By John Irwin Elections Coordinator
CNN political contributor Paul Begala will visit Central Michigan University at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 to discuss the 2012 election season and its impact on policy. The political science department will host Begala’s Paul Begala speech to an audience at “2012 Elections: Today’s Issues and Tomorrow’s Ramifications,” an event arranged by the department, in Anspach 161. The event is open to the public and is free. Begala has made his name as a liberal political commentator on television and as a big-name political adviser to Democratic political groups and candidates, including former President Bill Clinton. He will speak about his experiences in the political and cable news worlds and about the issues facing voters for the Nov. 6 election for about 45 minutes and will follow that up with a 45-minute question-and-answer session, College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences Executive Secretary Kay Purtill said. A BEGALA| 2A
TRISHA UMPFENBACH/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Frank Warren, creator of PostSecret, autographs CMU alum Brad Bender’s copy of PostSecret Tuesday evening outside of Plachta Auditorium in Warriner hall. “He’s such a passionate, empathetic, down to earth guy,” Bender said. “I feel it, the audience feels it, and that’s why he can fill a room.” Warren currently has six books that are part of his growing community art project.
Secret’s out PostSecret founder Frank Warren attracts crowd of 800 to Plachta Auditorium Katelyn Sweet | Staff Reporter
Kalamazoo native Sarah Kragt waited in line for three hours to hear PostSecret creator Frank Warren speak about his journey in creating his life-changing project that has swept the world. The senior said this was one of the most exciting things she has ever experienced. “I am just so ready to cross this off my bucket list,” Kragt said. Nearly 800 students filled Plachta Auditorium Tuesday awaiting the speech from Warren. PostSecret has been an ongoing project Warren started in November 2004. He has received nearly half a million postcards to his home in Germantown, Md. PostSecret is an ongoing project where anonymous people send in personal secrets on post cards to Warren, most often decorated artistically. “This project connects
TRISHA UMPFENBACH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Frank Warren, creator of PostSecret, shares a secret sent to him on an In-N-Out Burger bag Tuesday evening in Plachta Auditorium.
with youth by nature,” Warren said. “Young people are more authentic and struggling with raw issues.” Kragt said she has had some of the postcards from PostSecret as her laptop background, and she has been a fan ever since her sister bought the first book a few years back. “Some of the cards are so funny, and others are just shocking,” Kragt said. “I can’t wait to hear the stories other students share.” Warren said most of the posts he gets are funny, sexual or hopeful. Warren said he gets about 50 per day and saves a few each day before the Sunday Secret post on the website. He likes to tell a story through the posts
he puts online and wants the first and last to connect. Warren has gotten secrets posted on many different items, including a knife, seashell, potato, In-N-Out Burger bag, naked photos, a bag of coffee and even a sonogram. “I believe that the secrets have brought people together to save lives. Sometimes the most important part is sharing the secret with yourself,” Warren said. Warren, who had a close friend and family member commit suicide, said he is most proud of the PostSecret community for donating nearly half a million dollars to suicide prevention hotlines. “Once strangers told
me their secrets, I had the courage of telling my own,” Warren said. Warren has been on “Good Morning, America,” ‘Today” and “20/20.” He has had a New York Times bestselling novel, and almost 7 million people visit the Post Secret website per month. The All- American Rejects even used PostSecret post cards in their “Dirty Little Secret” video. “I always knew people could trust me. I wanted to go out on a limb and see if others will, too. But, I honestly wasn’t ready for all of this,” Warren said. A POSTSECRET| 6A
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Candidate for director of diversity Smith says he wants to tweak programs By Neil Rosan Staff Reporter
David Smith, candidate for the director of diversity education position at Central Michigan University, addressed his strengths and plans for CMU at an open forum Tuesday. Smith, one of three candidates for the position, spoke to eight people in the Strosacker Room in Charles V. Park Library, including the position’s search committee. The director will help create an accepting atmosphere for diversity at the university. By educating faculty and students, the director assists in fulfilling the diversity goals of CMU. “I would use short-term
programs, like workshops and seminars,” he said. “I would also use long-term programs where I can engage with students on a daily, weekly, monthly and semester-long basis.” Smith is the director of the division of Student Affairs/ Office of African-American Student Services and Programs at Georgia State University. Smith talked about some of the ideas he would implement at CMU, if hired for the position, and brought up programs he instituted at GSU, including a tutoring arrangement between international and American students to promote academic excellence and cultural exposure.
If chosen Smith would strive to increase the amount of opportunities for students at CMU to discuss diversity. “I would work on increasing intra-group dialogues — not just in classes, but in some of the programs,” Smith said. Though Smith mentioned changes, he doesn’t want to alter CMU’s entire diversity program. “First, I want to listen, because (CMU) has some great programs, and I’ve seen some of them,” Smith said. “Then, I (want to) tweak them to make them better.” Smith said it is imperative to continue moving forward as a university. A SMITH| 2A
CHUCK MILLER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
David Smith of Georgia State University speaks to faculty members Tuesday morning in the Strosacker Room of the Charles V. Park Library. Smith is a candidate for Director of Diversity Education. “I’ve walked the walk as a globally engaged citizen,” Smith said.