Your independent CMU news source since 1919
CMU drop in freshman enrollment result of new recruitment goals » PAGE 5A Gerheiser prohibited from contact with victims after stabbing » PAGE 5A
cm-life.com
Monday, Oct. 8, 2012
STUDY ABROAD
MISSING OUT
New faculty-led program offers students new opportunities » PAGE 5A
Students make sacrifices on opportunities due to academic commitment » PAGE 3A
CMU liable for millions in MPSERS costs, starting in 2014 By Aaron McMann Managing Editor and Eric Dresden Editor-in-Chief
The amount of money recorded as unrestricted net assets, recently retooled as “total net position” in the accounting world, might look a little different come 2014. Following the 2014 fiscal year, Central Michigan University will begin to allocate at least $72 million out of the $279.6 million currently sitting in reserves to cover unfunded liabilities for pension costs for current employees under the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System. In June, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, used by state and local governments as the source of generally-accepted accounting principals, approved two new pension standards that require state and local schools to add an additional liability to their financial statements. GASB statements No. 67 and 68 change existing guidance and reporting of government bodies that provide their employees with pension benefits. CMU has been paying into MPSERS since 1996 and is legally obligated to pay the $72 million, classified as an unfunded liability, by 2036. For the 2012-13 fiscal year, CMU will pay a pre-funded pension rate of 3.21 percent while accruing an unfunded liability of 13.41 percent. Those costs will increase for the 2013-14 fiscal year when CMU is due to pay 3 percent of normal pension costs, while accruing a 16.61 percent liability. A MPSERS| 2A
PHOTOS BY VICTORIA ZEGLER/PHOTO EDITOR
Isabella County Corrections Sergeant Cassandra Campbell sits in the master control room where she is able to monitor activity of all 33 jail cells and morning total of 215 inmates Sunday at the Isabella County Correctional Facility, 207 N. Court St. “We keep it dark in here throughout the day so that the inmates aren’t able to see inside the control room,” Campbell said. “The windows are also heavily tinted to prevent outsiders from looking in.”
locked up tight
Isabella County Jail often has capacity issues, difficult to monitor inmates Shelby Miller Senior Reporter
Isabella County jail’s maximum capacity is 196
Yeagley not concerned with rising violations By Shelby Miller Senior Reporter
Criminal statistics dramatically increased in 2011, but Central Michigan University Police Chief Bill Yeagley said the numbers aren’t necessarily what they seem. The total number of calls/activities more than doubled over the past two years, with 2009 at 10,859 and 2011 at 21,507, but Yeagley said that doesn’t mean there more accounts of crime. “It’s not just people calling in,” he said. “It’s things we’re doing. We’re working harder.” CMU’s police department increased foot patrols in 2011, which led to more officers in the field and more interactions. Also, the statistics include new programs, safety presentations, property checks and bike patrol, Yeagley said. “The crime that occurs on this campus is fairly consistent,” he said. “I don’t know the problem is any worse, we’re just paying closer attention to a few things because we care about safety.” A CRIME| 2A
inmates, but typically it’s filled over that number. Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said usually the jail holds at least 10 inmates over capacity. “The average is 207 or 208 inmates,” he said. “Most jails in Michigan have more than what they’re supposed to have.” When the jail reaches capacity, there are further safety concerns to worry about. Mioduszewski said at one point the jail was up to 220 to 225 inmates. However, according to the 2010 Isabella County Jail Population Information System, the average daily population was even higher, at 233 inmates, which adds risk. “With more inmates placed in a cell, tempers are more easily flared, leading to arguing and fighting,” Mioduszewski said. “As numbers get higher it does cause problems for the jail itself. Whereas if they have their room, things don’t get so tense typically.” With limited correction officers and a limited budget, Mioduszewski said monitoring inmates becomes difficult as well. “We would love to have more
correction officers, but budget doesn’t allow that,” he said. “What we do is ship inmates to other jails that have room.” Compared to jails throughout the state, Mioduszewski said the Isabella County jail is average size, with jails to the north being typically smaller and jails to the south being typically larger. Regardless, State Office Administrator Ken Brzozowski said not all jail capacity numbers reported are what they seem. “There’s different things when you look at overcrowding,” he said. “Is it a capacity issue or how they are using the facility?” He said some jails have a larger capacity than what they’re operating under because they can’t afford to open additional beds allotted. A JAIL| 2A
MIDDLE: An inmate writes in one of the newer minimum security jail cells Sunday morning. Medium and minimum security jail cells run the highest risk of overcrowding because of the combination between those awaiting their pre-sentence and others who have been classified because of their criminal background, not necessarily because of a violent crime. BOTTOM: Three female inmates sit on their beds shortly after waking up in their jail cell. There are a total of four female cells in the county jail, which occupy up to 10 female inmates, with one additional cell if needed.
Former Congress members Barbara Kennelly, Steve Kuykendall speaking on campus today By Andrea Peck Staff Reporter
Students will have the chance to learn about the upcoming election and the value of a public service career when two former members of Congress visit campus. Former Congresswoman Barbara Kennelly, D-Conn., and former Congressman Steve Kuykendall, R-Calif., will visit the Park Library Auditorium today from 3:30 until 5 p.m. to lead a panel called Congress to Campus. The panel will be moderated by Professor Maxine Berman, CMU’s Griffin
Endowed Chair in American Government. Kennelly represented the First Congressional District of Connecticut in the House of Representatives Barbara Kennelly from 1982-99. Kuykendall represented California’s 36th Congressional District in the House of Representatives from 1999 until 2001. “They will focus on basic issues and questions on the 2012 elections,” said Joyce Baugh, profes-
sor of political science. The panel will cover the year’s elections as well as discussion of the jobs of the former members of Congress. This year will be the sixth time CMU has hosted the program. The Stennis Center and the Association of Former Members of Congress provide transportation costs for the speakers to and from the host school. The host school covers accommodations and meals, as well as an administrative fee. “I suppose that it was originally my idea to host it. In January of
2000, I learned about the program from William “Brother” Rogers, Assistant Director of Programs at the Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership (one Steve Kuykendall of the sponsoring organizations). I suggested to my colleagues that we participate in the program and they agreed,” Baugh said in an email. Baugh said Kennelly and Kuykendall want to show students that even people with differing opin-
ions can work together. “They want to show that you can disagree without being disagreeable,” Baugh said. “They want to emphasize students choosing public service jobs in a time where not many do. They want to show students, through their own experiences, the positive benefits of getting involved in public service jobs and even if you’re not interested in that, there are other ways to get involved.” Berman deferred all comment to Baugh. studentlife@cm-life.com