editorial | Cmu must keep education a financial priority, 4 TEXTING |
board of trustees | participate in a live chat on cm-life.com during the meeting
Law discouraging texting while driving difficult to enforce, 3
Central Michigan Life
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
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Trustees to set undergrad tuition rate Thursday By Maria Amante Senior Repor ter
The 2011-12 operating budget, including the undergraduate tuition rate, is up for approval at Thursday’s CMU Board of Trustees meeting. The meeting will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the Presidential Conference Room, Bovee University Center 300. The agenda for the meeting was released Tuesday afternoon. No specific information was included regarding the operating budget or what will take place with tuition. University President
George E. Ross gives a presentation at each board meeting, which will also take place Thursday morning. Three board committees will meet publicly Tuesday, Academic and Student Affairs will meet at 11:10 to 11:40 a.m. in the University Center’s Lake Michigan Room, the Finance and Facilities Committee will meet from 1:00 to 2:10 p.m. in the Presidential Conference Room and the College of Medicine Committee will meet from 2:15 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. in the Lake Michigan Room. The board will discuss changing the name of the
department of Geology and Meteorology to the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science. Tuition increases have ranged at the other public universities in Michigan, from 3.65 percent at Eastern Michigan University to 7 percent at Oakland University. Most of the schools have made increases above 6 percent. The increases have kept in line with the state’s tuition restraint penalty, which would cut into a university’s public funding if tuition is increased more than 7.1 percent. Ross has previously said any tuition increase for
the 2011-2012 school year would be “modest.” The Faculty Association announced today it would accept a pay freeze if tuition was also frozen; the motion will be brought up at mediation Thursday morning. The group is currently bargaining with the university for a contract, theirs expired June 30. Bath senior Sarah Johnson said her on-campus classes would not be affected by any tuition increase this year because she is still covered by the CMU Promise tuition plan, but her online classes would A BOARD OF Trustees | 2
Faculty to accept pay freeze if no increase in tuition Association plans to demonstrate outside meeting By Maria Amante Senior Reporter
The FA bargaining team says it is willing to accept a pay freeze on the condition that tuition is also frozen. The university was unavailable for comment regarding this matter at press time. FA President Laura Frey said her organization’s goal is to reduce some of the burden felt by students and the proposal will officially be presented to the university during Thursday’s mediation session. “The students and their families are hardworking and they have faced many tuition increases (through the years) and we recognize that,” Frey said. Frey said the university is rock-solid financially and therefore the FA’s proposal is viable. In a statement, Frey said the FA will also propose a cost-sharing model for health care plans, no increases in promotion amounts and a cap for summer teaching income. The third mediation session nearly comes two weeks after the Faculty Association’s contract expired June 30. The bargaining teams will meet Thursday morning with the mediator at 9 a.m. in Ronan Hall. The board of trustees will also meet in the Bovee University Center’s Presidential Conference Room that morning. The FA plans to demonstrate outside the building at 8:30 a.m.
photos by brenna riley/staff photographer
Natalie Alazar, 9, and Sasha DeLellis, 9, are creating colorful polymer in Chemistry Connection class Tuesday in the Dow Science Building during CMU’s Summer Science and Math camps. The polymer will act like Silly Putty that the students can take home and play with.
Science rules
Summer camps at CMU involve young students in academic fields By Jordan Spence | Staff Reporter
Students learning about science and mathematics at CMU are not getting shorter, but this week, they did get a lot younger. Summer Science and Math camps aimed at kindergarten through eighth grade students are being held on campus Monday through Thursday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The camps provide a variety of classes where students perform hands-on experiments to learn more through science and math. A camp | 2
Benjamin Melton, 8, and Matthew Alton, 8, color animals Tuesday during their “pets... ALIVE!!” class in the Dow Science Building during CMU’s Summer Science and Math Camps.
FA President Laura Frey said it is committed to reaching a fair contract with the university and doing so amicably. “The administration appears to want to undermine the infrastructure of quality teaching, research and creative activities, and service endeavors currently provided to students and the community by this dedicated faculty,” Frey said in a statement.
Demonstration Some faculty members participating in demonstrations on July 8 said the university’s alleged position table is a regression and insult for faculty member contracts. The university reportedly asked for a pay freeze for all faculty, a 15- to 20-percent reduction in health contributions and removal of department chairs, coaches and librarians from the Faculty Association. The demonstrations took place outside the Music Building and Warriner Hall, coinciding with the colleges of Business Administration and Communication and Fine Arts showcases for prospective students. At 8:30 a.m., four people were outside the Music Building and 15 were outside Warriner Hall demonstrating. Heather Polinsky, broadcasting and cinematic arts professor, participated in the demonstrations. “What we’ve been offered is a regression,” she said. “They’re trying to break up the union.” Charles Vonder Embse, a mathematics professor, said the proposed contract was the worst he had ever A faculty | 2
Freshman Kyle Nicholson succumbs to leukemia Funeral to be held today By Jordan Spence Staff Reporter
Despite being diagnosed with leukemia, Kyle Nicholson never lost his sense of humor or positive attitude. After a six-month battle with acute myeoblastic leukemia, the 19-year-old Shelby Town-
ship freshman died July 7. “He was an absolutely fabulous person who touched people’s lives,” said his mother Elaine Nicholson. “He was a very special person in a positive way.” She said he was an avid sports lover, especially of football, which he played while attending Eisenhower High School. His athleticism made it particularly strange when he started experiencing bouts of
fatigue, she said. He was diagnosed with the disease after tests were done in February. Friends and family came together to help Nicholson after the diagnosis. Shelby Township sophomore Sam Licari said they formed “Team Kyle,” holding fundraisers at a Shelby Township Buffalo Wild Wings, a penny drive and a spaghetti supper to raise money for treatments and medical bills. They also held bone mar-
row drives, including one at Sweeney Hall, in an attempt to find a transplant match for Nicholson. Nicholson was set to recieve a transplant in about a month if his white blood cell counts were good, said Brian Piper of Shelby Township, a friend of 17 years. But his health took a turn for the worse. “He was a fun guy that liked to goof around and always had a smile on his face,” Piper said.
“No matter what, he was smiling.” In order to show solidarity during Nicholson’s fight with leukemia, Piper and some Kyle Nicholson of Nicholson’s other friends shaved their heads. Licari knew Nicholson since second grade, but didn’t be-
91 Years of Serving as Central Michigan University’s Independent Voice
come close with him until a couple years ago. “He was very, very loving, he always cared about others before himself,” she said. “I lived right across the hall from him at CMU and we were always laughing.” Nicholson’s funeral will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Therese of Lisieux Church in Shelby Township. news@cm-life.com
2 || Wednesday, July 13, 2011 || Central Michigan Life
EVENTS CALENDAR TODAY
w w The Isabella County 4-H Pleasure Horse Show will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Isabella County Fairgrounds, 500 N. Mission Road.
FRIDAY
w Stock car racing will take place at 7:45 p.m. at the Mount Pleasant Speedway, 4658 E. River Road. w Avenged Sevenfold, Seether and Sevendust will perform at 8 p.m. at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort, 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd. Tickets start at $25.
SATURDAY
w A Men’s Fancy Feather and Women’s Fancy Shawl dance will take place at noon in the lobby of the Ziibiwing Center, 6650 E. Broadway Road.
MONDAY
w The Artist-in-Residence Mentoring Program aimed at providing Woodland Indian Art education, technique, tools and cultural instruction will take place from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Ziibiwing Center, 6650 E. Broadway Road.
camp | continued from 1
“Today we did experiments with salt water that we made,� said 6-year-old Maya Viers of Clare. “Then we tasted it and it was kind of yucky.� Each day during the camp, students in the Ocean Odyssey class learn about different creatures of the ocean, their habitats and diets, said instructor Stephanie Papenfus. “The classes are a way for them to learn more about something they’re interested in,� Papenfus said. The Mount Pleasant resident said the class will also re-create an oil spill and then use dish soap to clean it up. Mount Pleasant youths Matthew Alton and Ben Melton, both 8 years old, said they are best friends and have attended the classes together for the last three years. This year they are in the “Pets...ALIVE!!� class. “The classes get nicer each time,� Alton said. Melton said since he has pet fish, he wants to learn more about other animals and how to take care of them.
faculty | Corrections Central Michigan Life has a long-standing commitment to fair and accurate reporting. It is our policy to correct factual errors. Please e-mail news@cm-life.com. Š Central Michigan Life 2011 Volume 91, Number 96
Central Michigan Life Editorial Connor Sheridan, Editor in Chief Randi Shaffer, News Editor Amelia Eramya, Lead Designer Erica Kearns, Photo Editor John Manzo, Maria Amante Senior Reporters Advertising Anne Magidsohn, Advertising Manager Professional staff Rox Ann Petoskey, Production Leader Kathy Simon, Assistant Director of Student Media Neil C. Hopp, Adviser to Central Michigan Life
continued from 1
seen as a faculty member. “There’s no university without faculty and students,� he said. “We want a fair contract, one that helps us recruit new faculty, so we have the best and brightest in Michigan ... the offer was an insult.� A key issue for Vonder Embse is the removal of chairpersons from the bargaining unit, a move he said would devalue the strength of the Faculty Association. “The chair is supposed to be a representation and extension of the faculty,� he said. “If you take them out, that is a huge loss.� Ron Primeau, English language and literature professor, said the offer was the worst he’s seen in 40 years as an employee. He also called the offer an insult. He said while he has great respect for Provost Gary Shapiro and University President George Ross, pre-
Instructor Mary Valkos of Mount Pleasant said her class will discuss the best ways to take care of household pets. “They will learn about what certain animals need to eat, sleep and how they need to play,� she said. “We will take field trips to Soldan’s Pet Supply (1721 S. Mission St.) and the (Isabella) Cat Clinic (913 E. Pickard St.) We also hope to make homemade dog treats.� Classes such as Crime Scene Investigation were designed to hold the attention of older students. Participants learn about how to identify forgeries, analyze data, process evidence and examine “human� remains. 12-year-old Alma resident Brehonna Wyn said she took the class because a friend had signed up and it sounded interesting. She said they took a Science Olympiad course at school before and she liked it so much she wanted to do more in the area. “I like how it’s a mystery and the ending is different from what it appears to be at first,� she said. news@cm-life.com
vious provosts and presidents have worked with the faculty during contentious negotiations and the attitude from current administrators is unprecedented. Some of the parents of prospective students said they were unimpressed with the demonstration outside Warriner. Imlay City resident Misty Miramonti came with her daughter and said the state of the economy is probably responsible for the university not meeting the faculty’s demands. “I haven’t had a raise in four years,� she said. “It’s the economy ... everyone is being affected.� Mount Pleasant resident Julie Freeze’s daughter was also looking at the College of Business Administration. Freeze said the demonstrators were not a positive influence in convincing her to send her daughter, a junior in high school, to CMU. “I’m not a union supporter,� she said. news@cm-life.com
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“(Tuition) is pricey enough as it is ... I will not be too happy (with a large increase).� Brent Kearns, Shelby Township senior
Brent Kearns said he suspects the board of trustees will reject the FA’s proposal, but would like to see it come to fruition. “( Tuition) is pricey enough as it is ... I will not be too happy (with a large increase),� Kearns said. The operating budget will clarify what, if any, raises some employee groups
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
ken kadwell/staff photographer
Chelsea resident Billy Collins wrestles with Warren resident Hunter Mayer on Sunday during the wresting camp at the Indoor Athletic Complex at CMU.
INSIDE THE NEWS
Anger spreads in Egypt as military warns protesters By Mohannad Sabry MCT Campus
board of trustees | be affected by any alterations made to tuition. “Part of me would like to see the university accept (the faculty’s proposal),� she said. “It shows dedication the professors have for their students, but I also want to see professors get what they deserve. I hope they can meet in the middle ... a 7-percent tuition increase is kind of insane.� Johnson said the FA is demonstrating its character with the proposal, counteracting some negative opinions people may have with bargaining groups as a whole. Shelby Township senior
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[News]
will receive, including the senior officers and professional and administrative employees.
CAIRO — Egypt’s ruling military council warned Tuesday against attempts to destabilize the country as growing anger at the pace of post-revolution reforms fueled an expansion of a five-day protest in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. The military also announced the resignation of the deputy prime minister and guilty verdicts for three former ministers in a major corruption case. But the announcements did little to placate thousands of protesters who have returned to Cairo’s main square in their greatest numbers since the February uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak. Many protesters were angered by what they described as an aggressive statement from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which is running the country on an interim basis until elections scheduled for September. Speaking hours after gunmen bombed a desert pipeline that supplies gas to neighboring Israel — the fourth such attack in recent months — Gen. Mohsen el Fangari, a member of the council, said Egypt was “facing a planned and organized attempt to disrupt the country’s domestic stability.� Then, wagging his finger, Fangari said the council “will take any and every action to confront and stop the threats surrounding the country.� The speech appeared to backfire, with protesters in Tahrir Square vowing to
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hold their ground. “El Fangari is threatening us on behalf of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces,� said Mohamed Mahmoud, co-founder of the April 6 protest movement. The predawn pipeline attack was the latest in a series of blows to Egyptian security since the revolution, and a confirmation of public anger at the slow pace of democratic reforms under the military. The pipeline has become a regular target in part because of the military’s failure to overturn a controversial Mubarak-era gas deal with Israel. The pipeline, which also supplies Jordan and Lebanon with natural gas and had just been repaired from the last attack, was bombed at 2 a.m. local time. The target was a control chamber south of El Arish in the north Sinai Peninsula. Sheikh Abdalla Jahama, the head of the Sinai Fighters Association, an association of resistance fighters formed after the 1973 war with Israel, anticipated further attacks on the gas facility. “The pipeline is always left unsecured. Anyone can attack it anytime,� Jahama said in an interview last week. Egyptian soldiers and Republican Guard forces mobilized to secure the headquarters of the Cabinet adjacent to Tahrir Square after several political and youth coalitions announced they would march on the building Tuesday evening. The military suspended a Cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday. Hundreds of protesters
marched to the Cabinet demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, a once-respected figure. Mahmoud said that members of the protesters’ political committee met over the weekend with Sharaf and “confronted him with the fact that he is neither satisfying our demands nor representing the revolution� that he pledged to support. “We told him that if he is not capable of reform he should go home,� Mahmoud said. The public outcry and expansion of protests — Egyptian troops were mobilized over the weekend when demonstrators marched toward the vital Suez Canal with the intent of shutting it down — has sent Egypt’s main cities sliding again toward nearparalysis. But Fangari said that the military “will not give up its role in administering the country in such a critical time in the history of Egypt,� and he made several announcements Tuesday that appeared aimed at calming the tensions. A court convicted a Mubarak-era prime minister, Ahmed Nazif, and two other former senior officials in a high-profile corruption case and sentenced them to as many as 10 years in prison. Nazif and the others, including the reviled exinterior minister, Habib el Adly, were also fined more than $15 million for “illegal profiting� in the case, which involved contracts to a German company for producing new car license plates at inflated prices.
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College of Medicine position for associate dean filled Dr. Linda C. Perkowski, two others join CMU By Maria Amante Sen ior Repor te r
The position of associate dean of medical education has been filled according to internal communications from the University of Minnesota. University Provost Gary Shapiro has confirmed the appointment. Dr. Linda C. Perkowski, the subject of an open forum April 21, has been hired to fill the position made available when Dr. Nehad El-Sawi vacated in January where she serves as associate dean for curriculum and evaluation. The message was sent July 1, but it is unclear when Perkowski was chosen for the position. Perkowski will begin in September, but Shapiro did not have a specific start date. Joining Perkowski from the UMN Medical School is Dr. W. Robert Fleischmann, a professor who will teach biomedical science at CMU. Fleischmann
is currently researching a cancer vaccine, which he will continue after the transition. He will return two weeks each year to the UMN Medical School to teach at its Duluth, Minn. campus. Perkowski contributed to a report in January with CMED Dean Dr. Ernest Yoder. Dr. Aaron Friedman, dean of the UMN school, said Perkowski would continue working with his university as they prepare for Liaison Committee on Medical Education reaccreditation in March 2012. “We are pleased that Linda and Bob have found positions that, for each of them, resonate with their strengths and allow them to continue to contribute to academic medicine,” Friedman said. The other candidate for the associate dean position, Joel Lanphear, has also been hired by CMU as a consultant, Shapiro said. He said Lanphear has already started work, but gave no reason why Perkowski was chosen over Lanphear for the associate dean position.
The trio was hired because “they were needed,” Shapiro said. El-Sawi left in January for unspecified reasons, receiving nearly a quarter-million dollars in total compensation for her justover six months work. Three weeks after ElSawi’s resignation was announced, the College of Medicine postponed opening for a year, which the university said was unrelated to El-Sawi’s departure and necessary to have sufficient time for LCME accreditation. The position has been vacant since, but Yoder has said El-Sawi’s responsibilities were absorbed by other staff members. Shapiro had no further information on the hirings and said to contact Yoder. Shapiro said the university and CMED continue to proceed on submitting the LCME accreditation application. Early Tuesday, Yoder declined comment and directed CM Life to contact University Communications. Director of Public Relations Steve Smith also refused to comment. n ews@ c m -l i fe . c om
Commissioners extend Olivieri land deal By Maria Amante Senior Reporter
A contract with Oliveri Builders which allows the company to build in cityowned vacant lots was approved for extension at Monday’s Mount Pleasant City Commission meeting. The business pays $1 for each lot and owns 23. The only commissioner to vote against the plan was Vice Mayor Kathy Ling, who said she had too many questions about the contract and thought it was too ambiguous.
Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, July 13, 2011 || 3
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“The property committee made a serious effort to be creative,” Ling said. “I’m just not comfortable with all of the provisions of the new contract.” Commissioner Jim Holton said each tract of land was worth $20,000, but the city sold them to Oliveri Builders to spur home development in a housing lull. The developed lots will pay for themselves with tax dollars, Holton said. “They can make a bigger home, a better home, and make it more affordable,” he said.
While the lots are undeveloped, Oliveri Builders maintain the land in lieu of taxes. City Manager Kathie Grinzinger said, since 2008, only two of the built houses have sold. There are 11 lots to be built on and one “spec” model home property, Holton said. Eleven of the lots are occupied with homes. “Joe (Oliveri)’s a smart businessman,” Holton said. “He wouldn’t (enter into this contract) unless he could sell these houses.”
SOAKIN’ UP THE SUN | Kids help clean mom’s car
erica kearns/photo editor
Miles Crary (right), 1, of Mount Pleasant, winces as his older brother, Jack Crary (left), 4, sprays him with the hose while helping their mother wash their mini van Tuesday at their Mount Pleasant residence. “It’s okay, it’s just water,” Jack said.
te x tin g w hi l e d r i v in g
Ban difficult to enforce, police say Law still helps discourage distracted operation By David Oltean Staff Reporter
Michigan drivers have not been allowed to read, write or send text messages while driving for more than a year. Michigan House Bill 4394, approved in April 2010, made texting while driving a civil infraction, with a $100 fine for first-time offenders and a $200 fine for any subsequent violations. Both the Mount Pleasant Police Department and the Mount Pleasant State Police Department have issued citations to drivers attempting to text. However, most officers said spotting a driver midtext is not an easy task or a very common sight while patrolling. Jeff Browne, Mount Pleasant Police Department public
information officer, said he believes the law is very helpful for discouraging drivers from being distracted. Browne’s department does not issue citations for texting often, but the department can obtain search warrants for traffic accidents and determine if drivers were distracted by texts. “It’s a very difficult law to enforce,” Browne said. “We don’t sit out and wait for drivers holding up their cell phones. Hopefully, the law will deter people from getting distracted while driving.” Mount Pleasant State Police Trooper Erica Somers said she sees drivers texting much more often off duty than while patrolling in her police vehicle. Somers said she knows some drivers attempt to text while stopped, but believes texts can even then be harmful distractions. “People are under the impression that they can text at a stoplight, but trying to recover from distractions can be difficult,” Somers said. “Some states have it where you can’t use your cell phone at all.”
For many students and younger drivers, texting while driving had become part of a routine before being banned in 2010. Canton senior Spencer Tobin said he is reluctant to believe many drivers have been caught texting, though he knows many individuals that regularly send and receive text messages in the car. “I haven’t heard of anyone getting caught, but I’m sure the law makes people nervous to text and keeps people cautious,” Tobin said. Commerce Township graduate student Sara Woelfel said she believes the texting ban is very important to keep drivers’ eyes on the road, but is uncertain of how realistic it is. “I think the law is necessary to keep people from distracting themselves while driving,” Woelfel said. “I don’t think they can truly enforce the rule unless all electronics are off limits, though.” news@cm-life.com
voices Central Michigan Life
4
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
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Editorial Board: Connor Sheridan, Editor
in
Chief | Randi Shaffer, News Editor
Maria Amante, Senior Reporter | Amelia Eramya, Lead Designer | Erica Kearns, Photo Editor
EDITORIAL | University should not force pay freezes on its most essential element
Education is the issue
O
ne would need to be extraordinarily out of touch to not recognize the lackluster-at-best state of the economy in Michigan and also in this country. To borrow a phrase from the governor, it’s time for “shared sacrifice,” something many folks are doing across the state. But the financial state of Michigan is not the same as the financial state of CMU — to the tune of $228 million in unrestricted net assets and solid, spectacular credit ratings by top ranking credit agencies. There are many facts in this matter to consider, and they simply cannot all be addressed. But considering the financial stability of this university, such a robust and solid-footed fiscal state gives no excuse to not give faculty
members a solid cost of living increase and to ensure their health benefits, are, at the very least, maintained. Although other staff groups have taken freezes, the tone of negotiations with other employee groups should not set the tone for faculty negotiations. The financial stability of this university is a major reason this group should not see anything less than a cost-ofliving pay increase; another is respect.
Without faculty, there would be no university. It is as simple as that. Without faculty members, every single operation at this university is null — they are the ones who teach the students, who conduct research with these students, who interact with, mentor and guide the students every day. No other group save the Union of Teaching Faculty can say it is so integral to this university’s core purpose. The faculty is essential personnel. They are not just cogs in the machine — alumni rarely congratulate the university on a spectacular job done by a senior officer, mostly because administrators work behind the scenes to ensure that primary experience is maintained. While this board supports modest raises for the Faculty Association, it should be noted these raises should not come at addi-
tional expense of the students. The faculty should not expect substantial pay increases. The goal is to keep them healthy and competitive, but also to keep priorities straight. The FA president announced Tuesday the group would accept a pay freeze if tuition was frozen as well; this represents the FA as an agreeable and practical group. FA President Laura Frey said part of the reasoning it is willing to negotiate such a deal is to lessen the burden on students, showing its priorities seem to be in the right place. Administrators discussed in April how integral it is to this university to maintain competitive rates for recruitment purposes, but it seems they are not practicing what they preach while demanding pay freezes of their employees. In order to attract and maintain a competitive faculty, it is necessary to give it competitive wages.
ANDREW DOOLEY [WORKBIRD]
Andrew Dooley Staff Reporter
An arm and a lung I have a $10 limit on my indiscriminate impulse purchasing. This is the genius behind the clearance DVD box at the supermarket, and it’s the only explanation I can find for why I own a CD of t.A.T.u.’s classic single “All The Things You Said.” My inability to recognize the difference between the impact $5 and $8 will have on my checking account makes me more than willing to hand over my debit card for a pack of cigarettes. Cigarettes are the most vilified substance of the past 15 years, but they have done everything to earn that reputation. Still, it’s sort of strange that cigarettes are legal at all. This is where myself and plenty of other American smokers need the help of federal regulation. The cigarette tax is hurting my wallet, but it’s not enough to help me quit on my own. For those of you who suggest I rely on sheer willpower to quit smoking, I recommend you see the damage I willingly inflict on myself at a brunch buffet. Yes, Mom, this is my fourth bacon plate. Happy Easter. Cigarettes will make you sweaty, yellow toothed, yellow fingered and dead. They will also make you exceptionally poor. Though I have no problem flashing my debit card for anything less than $10, anything over $25 gives me instant pause. This threshold is rarely crossed, except in cases of cable bills, celebratory bar tabs or clearance soccer jerseys. If I am dumb enough to buy a pack of cigarettes for 30 bucks, then I will cough myself to sleep knowing I made a serious contribution to the local school district that day. If the cost of cigarettes suddenly turns into the difference between eating dinner for an average worker instead of getting desert, then maybe we will finally face the end of smoking in this country. At the very least, we will create an incredible revenue stream. The $25 cigarette tax might even make up for corporate loopholes and an illegal war in Iraq, but let’s not get greedy. Yes, there is a solid argument to be made that incremental cigarette taxes are a regressive tax, that they target the poor. Anecdotally I can tell you truck drivers and machine shop workers are significantly more likely to smoke cigarettes than trust-fund kids who are just “really into yoga now.” So let’s stop the cruelty of 25cent increases people on shoestring budgets find a way to justify, and let’s just go for it: It’s time to make cigarettes an extravagant luxury. Central Michigan Life is the independent voice of Central Michigan University and is edited and published by students of CMU every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters, and on Wednesday during the summer term. The online edition (www.cmlife.com) contains all of the material published in print.
[YOUR VOICE] Comments in response to “Faculty demonstrates against university outside showcases in Warriner Hall, Music Building” michmediaperson, July 9 Maria did a great job on this story! Unlike the local papers, the outstate Michigan papers, Maria interviewed two Michigan taxpayers and parents of a possible future CMU students who said what 95 percent of Michigan taxpayers feel. Maria is presenting a fair and balanced story. Not like those union-loving reporters you see at Michigan daily newspapers. If I were a member of the CMU Board or the CMU president, I couldn’t sleep at night asking 18 year olds to go tens of thousands of dollars into debt. Especially paying big dollar amounts for 101-level general education courses. The private sector hasn’t seen raises Central Michigan Life is under the jurisdiction of the independent Student Media Board of Directors. Articles and opinions do not necessarily reflect the position or opinions of CMU or its employees. Central Michigan Life is a member of the Michigan Press Association, the Michigan Collegiate Press Association,
in years thanks to Granholm, Pelosi and Obama, all liberal Democrats, who have destroyed the economy. These parents know what’s going on out there in the real world----people are losing their jobs, taking paycuts, losing their homes, their savings ...
As a student, I support the faculty of this college ... I don’t agree with the administration here for several reasons. The university’s policy these last couple years has been to increase student enrollment without expanding living quarters, increasing class sizes to accommodate these new students, and then expecting professors to deliver the same standard without any compensation for these expansions whatsoever. Students are stressed out from cramped living quarters and many are dropping out
because there is no consideration from CMU admin in the most relevant aspect of why CMU exists in the first place. It all seems like a smash-andgrab operation for money without any care for the educational standards of excellence that really matter in a collegiate environment. “Sure, we can have state-of-the-art sports facilities, but we are in a recession so obviously we can’t give our faculty even a slight cost-of-living increase, nor can we afford to let grad students print materials required of them in our own computer labs without making them pay on top of their enrollment, books, and raises in credit hour fees.” It seems that by these standards, CMU only wants to increase profit these next few years without a single care as to what kind of talent they want to produce in the wider world. It’s wrong, and I will support CMU’s faculty in the meantime ...
the Associated Collegiate Press, and the College Newspaper Business & Advertising Managers Association. Central Michigan Life’s operations are totally funded from revenues through advertising sales. Editions are distributed free throughout the campus and community. Individuals are entitled to one copy. Each copy has an
implied value of 75 cents. Non-university subscriptions are $1 per mailed edition. Copies of photographs published in Central Michigan Life or its online edition (www.cm-life.com) are available for purchase at: http://reprints.cm-life.com. Central Michigan Life’s editorial and business offices
GreyArea, July 11
Maria Amante Senior Reporter
No contract, more problems
Faculty members are working without a contract, which isn’t truly noticeable by students until the start of the fall semester when the status quo of summer classes ends. A lot of speculation is floating around as to what exactly will happen this fall if the faculty and the university are unable to reach an agreement. Administrators have refused to comment to me as far as what will happen and what their plans are, leading me and others to simply assume what will happen come August 22 without a faculty contract. It has been proposed to me that classes will be canceled this fall without a faculty contract, which is indeed possible. The ripple effect from this will be catastrophic for both CMU and the city of Mount Pleasant. Without classes, students don’t move in, they don’t pay tuition and don’t forget that the fall semester is football season, which would, of course, end up being the real tragedy in all of this: no football. To my knowledge, this chain of events is unprecedented. Another, more likely situation would be akin to what happened at Eastern Michigan University in 2006. Without a faculty contract, more than 50 percent of classes were canceled until an agreement was met between the university and faculty members. The university continued operations, save for half of its classes. A friend of mine attended EMU at this time. He said most of his classes ran without interruption because he was “lucky to have professors who care enough to show up” during the faculty strikes. “It was annoying,” he told me. “We paid tuition and classes weren’t going on for some people.” Students received no refunds for the weeks of classes they missed at EMU, he said. To my understanding, the divide between tenured and tenure track faculty (members of the Faculty Association) and lecturers formerly known as adjunct faculty members (members of the Union of Teaching Faculty) is pretty evenly split, with a slight edge to the Faculty Association. In theory, the university can run at half-speed, if EMU is their example and precedent they intend to follow. I am unsure if EMU is as fiscally stable as CMU. I am sure that losing tuition dollars by canceling classes is something the university does not want to do; tuition dollars equal more than two-thirds of total revenue, and losing that would likely threaten the university’s fiscal stability. What will happen this August without a faculty contract? I have no idea. But there is precedent for this and in Michigan.
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Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, July 13, 2011 || 5
AFSCME joins POAM in accepting pay freeze for 2011-12 year By Maria Amante Senior Reporter
A second bargaining group has reached an agreement with the university and accepted a pay freeze for the 2011-12 fiscal year. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will see wage increases tied to the professional and administrative group for the second two years of the three-year contract. The group will also decrease its contributions to health benefits, from 11 percent to 9 percent.
The AFSCME Local 1568 represents 196 service maintenance employees, which include custodial, groundskeepers, skilled trades, warehouse workers and others, according to a statement from University Communications. Kevin Smart, director of employee relations, said the agreement is a reasonable compromise. “I think it’s the best we can do under the circumstances,” Smart said. There are no increases for promotions or other experience bonuses in this bargaining
group, unlike the Police Officers Association of Michigan and other groups, Smart said. POAM increases are based on total relevant experience, usually total experience as a sworn police officer, he said. These steps are the difference between a “couple dollars” at each level. The POAM “Rate A”, “Rate B” and “Rate C” wage structure recognizes job related experience as a sworn police officer. It is not a longevity bonus, since the experience could have been earned prior to being hired by CMU.
“AFSCME doesn’t have steps, they have a fixed rate contract, each position has a specified pay rate,” Smart said. “(Those workers are) hired in at that rate, (can be) promoted from one position to another and get an increase to that pay increase for the higher level job.” Except for the POAM, none of CMU’s staff agreements provide any sort of automatic step increase. None of them, including POAM, provide any longevity bonus, Smart said. The Faculty Association remains in negotiations with the
university after entered mediation in June. Its contract expired June 30. The Supervisory and Technical Union unsuccessfully entered mediation with the university, Smart said. The groups have now applied for fact-finding, the next step in negotiations, but are waiting for a fact-finder to be appointed. Earlier this year, the Union of Teaching Faculty and Graduate Student Union both reached agreements with the university and both accepted pay raises. The Police Officers Association of Michigan agreed to a pay freeze last week.
No pay announcements have been made for senior officers, professional and administrative or public broadcasting groups. Smart said most of the five staff unit groups he bargained with, both for this and the previous fiscal year, came to the table with well thought out, sensitive and reasonable proposals on wages and benefits. “They certainly recognize the times we’re in,” he said. Tobin Hope, painter, is a leader of AFSCME, and was unavailable for comment at press time. news@cm-life.com
Chalking workshop invites all ages Cable ride system added to Board Nation Creations will be featured in Street Festival By Amanda Grifka Staff Reporter
Artistically chalked sidewalks will soon be added to the summer décor of downtown Mount Pleasant. Art Reach of Mid Michigan, 111 E. Broadway St., will host its annual Chalk Art Workshop from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. July 19. The workshop will cost $25, and includes chalk and a fiveby-five foot square on the sidewalk. Registration for the workshop can be done online at artreach-
center.org or at Art Reach. Florida artist Lee Jones will show participants how to work with the sidewalk material, said Kim Bigard, Art Reach gift shop and gallery coordinator. “(Artists) learn technique both verbally and with handson practice outside,” Jones said. Jones travels all over the country doing similar events, she said. This is her fourth year doing the workshop in Mount Pleasant. Jones also sets up the venue and is the consultant for the event. During the workshop, participants learn the history, composition and method of chalking. Bigard said the event provides an outlet for people to be creative beyond the normal realm.
The workshop is open to all ages. Bigard said she expects between 20 and 25 participants. Those who enroll in the workshop will also have their chalked sidewalk square in a contest during the Mount Pleasant Street Festival, which takes place July 21 through 23, she said. Jones said it is a unique way to watch participants doing live art with the things they learned from her workshop. People come back year after year for the festival and to enjoy the art so the entire community benefits, she said. “Merchants generate a lot more income (during the festival),” she said. news@cm-life.com
By David Oltean Staff Reporter
Getting cable usually means significantly more time spent lounging on the couch and watching TV. But not if it’s the kind that pulls wakeboarders across the water at rapid speeds. Board Nation, 2829 W. Isabella Road, is now one of few wakeboarding parks in Michigan to have an overhead cable system. The Endless Ride Cable system allows riders to move back and forth across the park’s four acre pond, set up with jumps and a rail on the water. Owner Cliff Wentworth said he believes learning to wakeboard on a cable system is
much easier than being pulled by boat. Wentworth planned for the park to have the cable system installed by the grand opening, but the plans were delayed and boarders were pulled by jet skis last year. “Cable systems are the wave of the future for wakeboarding,” Wentworth said. “With the cable, riders don’t have to deal with standing up behind the boat. It’s really easy to ride for beginners and you can transfer your skills to the boat.” Employee Ashly Haggart of Midland said she believes the cable provides a much easier and smoother ride for novice riders. Haggart spends her free time practicing at the park, and said the cable has
helped improve her skills. “Once you get out there and realize how easy it is, it’s great,” Haggart said. “I just started to try the jumps about a week ago and I can already pull off some grabs.” Hope sophomore Anthony Lazzaro is helping to promote Board Nation’s new Monday college nights featuring local DJs. He has promoted Board Nation since its grand opening and said he enjoys the accessibility and ease of use of the cable. “You go out there once and it just becomes addicting,” Lazzaro said. “There are only about 15 parks in the nation with cables.” news@cm-life.com
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ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR dispatcher/ clerical. Position available for nights and some weekend. Please apply in person, 1504 N. Fancher St., Mt. Pleasant, MI. CELLULAR SERVICE AND Repair Technicain BASIC Communications, Michigan's Wireless Experts, is looking for a Service & Repair Technician. Job requires extensive customer service with an aptitude for electronics repair. Responsibilities include warranty service and repair of cellular phones, training and educating customers, and sales. Looking for individuals with a cheerful and helpful attitude. Knowledge or interest in cellular telephones will enhance the opportunity for success. This is an hourly plus commission based position. Full time applicants accepted. Please visit www.basiccommunications.com/opportunities to fill out our on-line application. Email shawks@basiccom.com LAB RESEARCH TECHNICIAN Biology Required: Bachelor's degreein Biology or related discipline, Knowledge of basic laboratory techniques; see www.jobs.cmich.edu for complete list of requirements. Screening begins immediately. Applicants must apply on-line at www.jobs.cmich.edu. CMU, an AA/EO institution, strongly & actively strives to increase diversity within its community (see www.cmich.edu/aaeo/).
3 BEDROOM 2 bath. 1st floor laundry. $650 a month, no pets. 603 S. Franklin, 5 blocks to campus. 586-255-3278.
CLEAN CONVENIENT QUIET. Two Blocks CMU. 1, 2 BR, (Some with W/D) $385 to $550 plus utilities + Deposit. Non-smoking, no pets. References. 775-8709 /330-1484.
FEMALE GRAD STUDENT looking for roommate for August- May school year. 2 bedroom townhouse with patio deck, washer/ dryer/ dishwasher, quiet location. $370/ month/ person. 989-772-1061. nptdev@gmail.com.
THE ISABELLA COUNTY Board of Commissioners is accepting applications for appointments to the following Boards/Commissions: ! Two openings on the Agricultural Preservation Board for 3-year terms ending 5/31/2012 representing Conservation and member-at-large. ! Two openings on the Agricultural Preservation Board for 3-year terms ending 5/31/2013 representing Agribusiness and Agriculture. ! One opening on the Agricultural Preservation Board for 3-year terms ending 5/31/2014 representing Agriculture. ! One opening for the remainder of a 5-year term on the Building Authority ending 12/31/2011. ! One opening on the Commission on Aging Board for 3-year terms ending 12/31/2013 representing district #2. ! One opening on the Construction Board of Appeals for 2-year terms ending 12/31/2012 representing Building trades. ! One opening on the Human Rights Committee representing CMU for a 3-year term ending 9/1/2014. ! Two openings on the Human Rights Committee as members-at-large for a 3-year term ending 9/1/2014. ! One opening on the Economic Development Corporation for a 6-year term ending 7/1/2017. Applications are available in the Isabella County Administration Office located at 200 N. Main Street, Mount Pleasant or at www.isabellacounty.org and will be accepted until July 14, 2011. Appointments will be made at the Regular Board Meeting on July 19, 2011. put your classified ad here! We give your classified ad increased exposure because when you place an ad in our newspaper, we automatically post it on the World Wide Web via our online classifieds! Best of all you pay the same low price. So whatever you’re selling, it makes “cents” to sell it with us and reach more potential buyers in print and online! CM Life Classifieds • 774-3493 436 Moore Hall • www.cm-life.com
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