LIFE CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Mount Pleasant haunted sites, 1B
Central Michigan University
| Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011
[ INSIDE ] w Mediterranean Grill opens on Blue Grass, 3B w Cult horror film star Bruce Campbell visits campus, 3B w New grief RSO started on campus, 3B w Most Police statistics down during Homecoming, 5B w Twidle’s return to soccer may help team, 6B
[cm-life.com]
Sparks fly in A-Senate over Academic Transformation plan Faculty ridicule CMU for potentially forcing new system on them By Mike Nichols Senior Reporter
Central Michigan University is considering using a national nonprofit organization to implement more technology in classes to reduce the cost of higher education. Many faculty members ridiculed
the academic transformation program, from the National Center for Academic Transformation, during Tuesday’s Academic Senate meeting. Provost Gary Shapiro said CMU is looking into it, but Laura Frey, Faculty Association president and associate professor of counseling and special education, raised concerns. Frey said she is worried academic transformation would allow the faculty less face-to-face connection with students, but force them to spend more time outside of class
doing more work. The graduate assistants in the class might also be overwhelmed, she said. Frey was also concerned the administration would force the system on faculty. Other senate members said it would be “abuse” of the faculty. “The goal is to increase student learning and decrease cost,” Shapiro said. “Wait until you see it before you say it’s abusing faculty.” Vince Cavataio, Student Government Association president, said he
was in disbelief at the disorganization between the administration and the faculty. “I have read the purpose of academic transformation and the insinuations made by some senators extend beyond anything touched on in the documents,” the Shelby Township senior said. “Their concerns are not irrelevant, but they aren’t even addressed in academic transformation documents.” SGA Parliamentarian Anna Dvorak, an Alma junior, said she felt the
faculty were complaining about having to spend more time with students. Shapiro said the university has not committed specific funds for academic transformation. The administration is not going to force it on the faculty, he said. Orlando Perez, professor and chairman of political science, asked Shapiro should the university have to choose between quality or cost,
A A-SENATE | 2A
SAPA creates 24/7 live chat system Group aims to give options to sexual assault victims By Sammy Dubin Staff Reporter
Central Michigan University’s Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates has added a new way for sexual assault victims to seek help. Launched in the beginning of October, the new SAPA chat line is another way for victims to talk confidentially in real-time with student volunteer SAPAs. Steve Thompson, director and creator of SAPA, said there are five students on call 24/7 to respond online. “Just from (Oct. 1) without any advertisement we’ve had two (online contacts) a day,” he said. The program works with two laptops and an iPhone. “The (message) comes into the iPhone, and we chat on the iPhone, and then switch it right over to a laptop,” Thompson said. Prior to the launch of the 24/7 online crisis line, SAPA Chat was only available on Wednesday and Sunday nights. Thompson proposed the idea of expanding the hours to SAPA members last spring, who were unanimously in favor of it. “Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, that’s what they want to do,” he said. Clinton Township sophomore David Wondero, who joined SAPA this year, said it’s always good to have a second medium. “Somebody may not be comfortable (contacting) you on the phone,” he said. Wondero said with SAPA around on campus, CMU is a much safer place. The SAPAs are here to listen in a different way, Thompson said. The new feature will also help hard-of-hearing students who are not able to communicate verbally. “I think there’s that population too that we’ve just never been able to reach,” Thompson said. Novi junior Joe Betro said he likes the idea of a new 24/7 chat hotline. “I think it would be beneficial for students to use since it would
PHOTOS BY JEFF SMITH/PHOTO EDITOR
Battle Creek resident Joseph Casias, a medical marijuana patient, hugs East Lansing resident Jennifer Read after her speech on how marijuana has aided her battle with a rare form of Leukodystrophy. An event organizer, Mancelona resident Becca Hollandsworth, cries and looks on at the medical marijuana rally on Tuesday afternoon outside the Isabella County Building, 200 N. Main St. “It was very inspiring,” Casias said.
Compassionate Calling
Medical marijuana rally aims to show support for former local dispensary By Jordan Spence | Senior Reporter
D
ay to day life improved when Jennifer Read began using medical marijuana to help treat symptoms of Leukodystrophy Mitochondrial Cytopathy. Read was one of four speakers at For The People, By The People Medical Marijuana Rally, where about 55 people gathered Tuesday in front of the Isabella County Building, 200 N. Main St. “The symptoms I suffer from include severe tremors, which make it difficult to walk or eat, migraines, joint pain and nausea,” said the East Lansing resident. “I am one of four people in the world diagnosed with the disease. Because of medical marijuana, for the first time in my life, tremors decreased and quality of life increased.” But on Aug. 28, the Michigan appeals court ruled marijuana cannot be sold through private shops.
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Mount Pleasant resident Matt Taylor and Mancelona resident Becca Hollandsworth, event organizers, hold East Lansing resident Jennifer Read as she gives a speech on how marijuana has aided her battle with a rare form of Leukodystrophy at the medical marijuana rally Tuesday afternoon outside the Isabella County Building, 200 N. Main St.
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SUSO discusses gender, sexual identity By Annie Harrison Senior Reporter
ERICA KEARNS/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Mary Senter, professor of sociology, anthropology and social work, speaks to students about statistics involving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people during the Speak Up, Speak Out event Tuesday in the Bovee University Center auditorium.
More than 200 students filled the Bovee University Center Auditorium Tuesday night for a forum on gender and sexual identity issues. The levels of attendance and audience participation at the Speak Up, Speak Out forum rivaled forums during the election season, said Merlyn Mowrey, chairwoman of the SUSO organizing committee, associate professor of philosophy and religion and forum facilitator. She said she believed students were so vocal because sexual identity is something that is important to everyone. “They’re buying us pink or blue
before we’re even out of the womb,” she said. Mowrey said many straight, as well as LGBTQ, students recognize rigid gender roles for males and females are constricting and artificial. She said it is important for students to discuss gender and sexual identity from a perspective other than that of the dominant culture. “The more variety there is, the more freedom we have to express our individuality,” Mowrey said. The forum began with a presentation of research conducted by senior sociology major Cody Wright and Mary Senter, sociology, anthropology and social work faculty member. The presentation, “The Climate
93 Years of Serving as Central Michigan University’s Independent Voice
for Women and GLBT People at CMU: The Views and Experiences of Undergraduate Students,” revealed students believe they are more “progressive” than their parents on LGBTQ issues. The research showed most students support gay marriage. However, one fifth of the students surveyed think sexism is a campus and community problem, and most think the environment for LGBTQ people in Mount Pleasant is not good. Panelist Justin Gawronski, a Macomb sophomore and president of Spectrum, said there is a doublestandard when
A SUSO | 2A