LIFE CENTRAL MICHIGAN
CMU photojournalism students visit Occupy movement in New York, 6A
Central Michigan University
| Monday, Nov. 28, 2011
Local resident grows, sells marijuana as way to pay bills, expenses, 3A
[cm-life.com]
FA meets Sunday to discuss status of labor contract CMU rejects union’s proposed counter offer By Theresa Clift University Editor
Central Michigan University rejected the Faculty Association’s counter offer Tuesday night, meaning CMU’s Nov. 11 final offer still stands. The FA proposed a oneyear contract, instead of the traditional three-year contract, which accepts a one-year pay freeze. The FA also withdrew its proposal for a $600 signing bonus for 12-month faculty. “We thought that offering a one-year tentative agreement that included every concession from the faculty that the adminis-
JEFF SMITH/PHOTO EDITOR
Brethren residents Kip Witt Bailey, 3, laughs and looks up at his mother, Jill Witt, as his father, Steve Bailey, smiles Tuesday during an Adoption Day preceding at the Isabella County Courthouse, 300 N. Main St. Kip was abandoned at six months old in Kampala, Uganda. “Waiting is difficult, but after it’s all over you just totally forget it — it doesn’t matter, you’ve got an instant family,” Jill said of the adoption process.
finding family
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t only 6-months-old, Kip Witt Bailey was left between a chapel and a maternity ward in Kampala, Uganda. Three years later Kip, dressed in khakis and a navy argyle sweater, toddled into the Isabella County Courthouse, 300 N. Main St. to become an American citizen and the adopted son of Brethren residents Jill Witt and her husband Steve Bailey. Kip was one of four children adopted Tuesday before Isabella County Probate Judge William Ervin in the ninth annual Michigan Adoption Day. “These kids need a second chance,” Ervin said.
STUDENT LIFE
University tutor fired for organizing meeting through Blackboard By Catey Traylor Staff Reporter
Unknowingly violating university policy cost one student tutor his job. In early October, former tutor Tom Jackson, a Waterford junior, emailed colleagues via Blackboard to organize a meeting to discuss qualms about the tutoring services policies. Ten days later, Jackson was fired from his job. Central Michigan University Police were sent to investigate after a complaint was filed against Jackson by Jane Johnson, assistant director of Academic Advising.
According to the police report, Johnson said Jackson was a tutor hired through her office, and after becoming aware of the emails he sent to fellow tutors, she asked him to remove the messages and stop further postings. A future meeting between Jackson and Johnson was scheduled to be held at the Academic Advising office, but the police report said Jackson came to the office early to question the meeting’s purpose, and because Johnson was not there, he instead had contact with a staff member. The staff A TUTOR | 2A
COMING TO AMERICA Jill reminisced of the day she and her husband told Kip they were taking him to his new home in America. She said she would chant to Kip, “We’re going to America ... today! We’re going to America ... today!” Her soon-to-be adopted son looked up at her with a smile as he remembered. Steve said the toddler now sports a Michigan accent, thanks to his mom. Jill and Steve agree Kip is adapting to his American lifestyle, his first taste of the U.S. was pizza and he is learning to be friends with his new pets. “Kip came home scared to death of animals,” Jill said. “He would see a dog or cat and just shriek.” She said kids in Uganda are told dogs and cats will eat them. “Now he just loves cats, loves dogs,” Jill said. “He has his kitties — he just cuddles
A FA | 2A
Interrogation leads to answers over woman’s death
Couple learns ropes of parenthood, adopt toddler from Uganda on Michigan Adoption Day By Jessica Fecteau | Senior Reporter
tration demanded would allow all of CMU to move forward,” said FA President Laura Frey in a press release. “In doing so, it also would provide a longer cooling-off period before the teams return to the table next year to begin work on a new three-year contract.” The FA has pushed a meeting scheduled for today back to 7 p.m. Sunday for general membership in the Mount Pleasant High School Auditorium. Frey said the plans for the meeting are not finalized. CMU is standing by its final offer, and encourages the FA to take the proposal to a membership vote, said Director of Public Relations Steve Smith in a press release.
and hugs and they follow each other around.” LONG, WORTHWHILE PROCESS “We tried adopting from a couple different countries,” Jill said. “Then they just called us up one day and said we have a 10-month-old little boy for you.” Fourteen months passed from the time they received the referral until they met their new addition, Jill said. “There was a lot of paperwork, a lot of background checks and they had to find police reports of his abandonment,” she said. Steve, a worldwide traveler, said he felt like it was time to give something back to the world. “We were like instant parents,” he said. “Besides, I was ready to be a dad.” Kerry Wiese, Lutheran Social
Jason Lantz Fish being held on several charges By Orrin Shawl Staff Reporter
What started as an Amber Alert on Nov. 20 resulted in the death of Stephanie Rochelle Fish and the arrest of her husband Jason Lantz Fish on an open murder charge. Stephanie, a 34-year-old Weidman resident, was found dead in the home she shared with Jason, also a 34-year-old Weidman resident, located in the 900 block of North Rolland Road in Sherman Township. Stephanie and her four-
A ADOPTION | 2A
year-old son Brody Fish were first reported missing Nov. 18 and an Amber Alert was issued for Brody. Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said Brody and Jason were located in Genessee County on Nov. 20 by a deputy, who saw Jason’s green 2011 Ford Explorer at a rest area. “He knew that was the Amber Alert vehicle. He made contact with both Jason Fish and Brody,” Mioduszewski said. “He indicated they were both fine and Brody did not seem to be in any kind of distress.” Jason and Brody were brought back to the Isabella County Jail, where Jason was interrogated. A FISH | 2A
‘The Buried Life’ coming to campus today By Anamaria Dickerson Staff Reporter
The cast of “The Buried Life” will be digging up ways to help students cross items off their bucket lists tonight. The free Program Board event, featuring cast members Ben Nemtin, Dave Lingwood, and brothers Jonnie and Duncan Penn from the MTV reality series, will be held at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium. The idea for the show came about in 2006 when the group of friends created a list of 100 things they wanted do to before they died. The cast signed a deal with MTV and aired its first season in January 2010. “The Buried Life” comes from the title of a poem written by Matthew Arnold in 1852.
The cast attempts to complete tasks on their bucket lists while traveling the country and helping others along the way. “It’s important they’re coming here because it reminds people everything they want to do in some way, shape or form, is possible,” said Belleville sophomore Chelsea Davis. Muskegon sophomore Katie Rummery said she was surprised, but pleased the cast was coming. “I’m pretty surprised they’re coming, considering we’re not a Big Ten school,” Rummery said. “But I think it’s great they’re showing us our dreams are reachable, and even though they had a show on MTV, they’re still average people like us.” Rothbury sophomore and Program Board Speaker Chairman Brandon Kieft said he wanted to bring a
COURTESY PHOTO FROM MTV
group to campus that would be appealing to students. “To get ‘The Buried Life’ to come to Central Michigan University, I was actually approached by their agent,” Kieft said. “I basically receive a ton of information
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from agents about hundreds of potential speakers and I get to choose who I think would be interesting, creative (and) beneficial to the campus community.” studentlife@cm-life.com