LIFE @ cm-life.com
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2 | LIFE @ CMU
CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE y ORIENTATION 2020
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LIFE @ CMU | 3
ORIENTATION 2020 y CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE
WELCOME TO
CENTRAL! Welcome to life at Central Michigan University! Being a Chippewa doesn’t disappoint. You’ll hear time and time again that college is the place to make mistakes, which is very true, but we Chippewas like to help each other out. This publication was created by the students at Central Michigan Life, one of the nation’s top student media companies, to help you navigate your first year here.
Warriner Hall is one of the most iconic locations on campus.
So here’s to you. Welcome to life at CMU! Trust us, the best is yet to come!
INDEX ________________ 3
Welcome
4
Freshman Column
5 Hidden Gems 6
Reasons to Volunteer
8
Transfer Student Column
9
Who are they?
10
Coupons
11
Student Media Column
14
Esports
16
Diversity
18
Greeks
4 | LIFE @ CMU
CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE y ORIENTATION 2020
OPINION
Dear freshman, don’t be afraid to get lost I’m going to be honest with you, during my freshman year here at Central Michigan University, I was completely lost. I was an undecided major far away from home who knew absolutely no one. Now, two years later, I have friends, a career path, and memories that will last forever. In high school, you’re on a four-year path that is already planned out for you. The teachers tell you exactly which six classes to take every year. If you follow their plan you walk out with a diploma, the quadratic equation and you are supposedly ready to take on the world. In college, everything changes. You choose everything. You choose your classes, dorms, schedule, meal plan and your own path. When you’re a small, scared and lost freshman, those decisions can be overwhelming. During my orientation, we were divided into groups based on our planned major. The only problem was, I had no clue what I wanted to major in. I was plopped in the “Undecided” group. The first thing that the speaker for our group told us was that we were the honest group, and that everyone else who said they “knew” their major was kidding themselves. I laughed and immediately felt at ease. When it was time to schedule my first semester of classes, I was lost, again, in all the choices. But I asked for help from a wiser, older student who knew which teachers to recommend and which buildings I could sprint to in under 15 minutes. After orientation, my first semester started to look
Katie Hixson Staff Reporter
a lot less scary. I remembered what made me commit to Central: my campus tour. When we were walking through the dorms, I noticed that every door was propped open by a painted rock or brick. The tour guide told me students leave their doors open so they can make new friends. They paint the rocks at a rock painting party the first week of classes, and they use their pieces of art to prop open their doors the rest of the year. Then I realized something: If you open your door at CMU,
you’ll fit right in. So throughout the year, I did exactly that. I got involved. I joined the Chippewa Marching Band as a piccolo where I met some of the best people I have ever known. I got involved in the Deaf culture events around campus and I met new people in the ASL minor. I entered math competitions and hung out with friends from my calculus class. I started working at the school newspaper, Central Michigan Life, and met some of the biggest personalities and funniest people ever. I went to basketball games with my roommates and cheered on our team until our voices were gone. Suddenly, I found myself starting to feel like I belonged here at Central. Everything fit into place. Now don’t get me wrong, I was still lost. I went to my Tuesday class on a Monday. I circled the North block three times before finding the right building. I slept through my 8 a.m. And one night I even forgot about my night class and didn’t realize I missed it until three days later. I’m going into my third year here at CMU and I already don’t want college to be over. These are the best years of our lives. Nowhere else on Earth are you both a functioning adult and a lost little kid at the same time. Where else can you wear pajamas everyday but still have to pay taxes every Spring. It’s awesome. So live it up while you can. My advice to incoming freshmen is this: don’t be afraid to get lost, because you never know what great experiences you might stumble upon along the way.
LIFE @ CMU | 5
ORIENTATION 2020 y CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE
HIDDEN GEMS Find a place just for you on Central Michigan University’s campus By Katie Hixson Staff Reporter
A
news@cm-life.com
s a freshman, you’re probably busy just trying to figure out which buildings your classes are in and how to get to the Bovee University Center to buy your textbooks. But when you get the chance, there are many places here at Central Michigan University that many students don’t know about where you can relax, take a break or just study in peace and quiet. The following are some hidden gems to check out here on campus:
observational astronomy courses, but it also has ‘Open Houses’ to all students who are interested in exploring the stars. All open houses are from 8 to 10 p.m. and are always held, even if the sky is cloudy or clear. The open house schedule is posted online at the beginning of each semester. MARY DOW READING ROOM (QUIET STUDY) The higher up you go in the Park Library, the quieter it gets. This silent study with comfortable seating, tables and nooks is located on the 3rd floor of the library. The reading room is for students seeking silence for concentration, or just a space to relax and take a silent break from their studies.
ART GALLERY The Central Michigan University Art Gallery is located in Wightman Hall Room 132. The gallery displays student and faculty art and changes the exhibitions regularly.
GENDER-NEUTRAL BATHROOMS CMU has gender-neutral bathrooms in almost every building on campus in order to accommodate the LGBTQ+ community on campus and offer a safe and welcome environment to all students.
GREENHOUSE The CMU greenhouse is located in between Brooks Hall and the Dow Science Building. This facility is used by many science majors for their classes, but it is also open for the public to enjoy the greenery and do homework, read a book, or just relax.
HOT TUB AND SAUNA Grab your friends and have a spa day and relax in the sauna or hot tub located in the Student Activity Center (SAC) pool area. Admission to the SAC is free for all CMU students.
OBSERVATORY The CMU observatory is used by students in introductory
BILLIARDS HALL IN THE SAC The SAC has a billiards hall with 6 pool tables located on the second floor next to tall glass windows overlooking the basket-
Doubling as a study space and an art gallery, the Baber Room is on the 1st floor off the library.
ball and volleyball courts below. BABER ROOM The Baber Room is located on the first floor of the library off the main lobby. This room doubles as a quiet study space with comfortable seating and atmosphere as well as an art gallery with colorful paintings for students. ROCK-WALL IN FINCH CMU has a rock climbing wall and a high-ropes course located in Finch Fieldhouse Room 112, the small gymnasium. These facilities are intended to promote fitness, boost self-esteem and develop leadership skills. Both the rock wall and the rope course are open to the public for regular open climbing sessions, or may be reserved, for team building programs, climbing workshops and more. Both courses are suitable for a beginning or experienced climber. DOWN UNDER FOOD COURT The Down Under Food Court is located in the lower level of the Bovee University Center. This food court offers many different stations such as Oath Pizza, Grille Works, Bene Great Pasta, Sushi, Salad Garden, Simply Soup, and many grab-and-go options. Students cannot use meal swipes at this location, however flex dollars are accepted at the DUFC.
The greenhouse sits between Brooks Hall and Dow Hall.
6 | LIFE @ CMU
CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE y ORIENTATION 2020
8 Reasons to Volunteer
Hannah Fox (seventh from left) takes a break while seving lunch at the GMHC when I site-led the LGBTQ+ Solidarity Alternative Spring Break.
By Hannah Fox May 2020 Alumna
If you had asked me what I wanted to get involved in as a new student, I can almost guarantee you that I would not have said, “Volunteering!” At that time, I saw volunteering as a requirement that I had to fulfill to graduate high school, and something that I would likely need to commit a few hours to in college, too. I didn’t mind meeting those requirements, but I also wasn’t actively seeking them out. During my first semester on campus, I was required to meet a small service requirement for a class assignment, so I checked out an opportunity through the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center. After spending a couple of hours in the Volunteer Center, I was hooked. The Volunteer Center became one of my favorite places on campus. I often refer to it as my home away from home. I spent all eight semesters of my undergraduate experience deeply involved in several of the Volunteer Center’s programs. Here are some of the lessons I learned during my service journey that changed how I view volunteering. VOLUNTEERING DOESN’T JUST MEAN “RAKING LEAVES ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON.” My high school offered fairly limited opportunities for volunteering - they would let us know when an elderly member of our community needed some yard work done, or ask us to come early to events to set up tables and chairs. These experiences skewed my perception of what I could do as a volunteer. After coming to college I quickly learned that there is an entire world of possibilities. Through the Volunteer Center you
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can spend your time mentoring students in local elementary schools, guiding baby sea turtles back to the ocean on Florida beaches, or making and distributing safer sex or abstinence kits. You can also form co-mentor relationships with residents in local nursing homes and assisted living facilities or help clean up walking trails and parks. If none of these opportunities are calling to you, know that they are merely a few examples of the types of service you can find through the Volunteer Center. I like to say that they truly have something to meet all interests. When you participate in any of our programs, you will spend time learning the why behind your service before you even get started. The Volunteer Center believes in educated service to ensure that you, as a volunteer, understand who you are working with, what you are doing, and why it needs to be done. So sure, you may end up raking some leaves along the way - I know I did - but you will also take time to reflect on the experiences to unpack the impact that they made on you and your community partner.
YOU CAN TAKE CLASSES CENTERED AROUND VOLUNTEERING. CMU offers several service learning courses, which they define as, “a form of experiential education in which students participate in meaningful service activities that meet identified community needs and are integrated with course student learning outcomes.” I took advantage of three service learning opportunities while enrolled at CMU, and I would easily count them in my list of favorite classes. My first year I took a course about the prison industrial complex and we spent eight weeks out of the semester meeting with inmates in the Saginaw Correctional Facility. We met with the same inmates every week in small groups to get to know each other and discuss conflict management. Some of my
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classmates were so inspired by the work we did in this course that they even formed their own RSO - Student Advocates for Prison Reform and the Incarcerated (SAPRI). My sophomore year my classmates and I learned about the ways that music impacts us in our everyday lives, including the powerful ways in which it can help heal the mind and body. Using what we learned, we helped design a music-themed garden for a hospital in West Branch. Our plans serve as the blueprint that future classes can use to implement our ideas and build the garden. Finally, during my junior year, I spent a week on Beaver Island. My classmates and I spent the week facilitating science experiments and hosting a science fair for the students of the Beaver Island Community School. I am so grateful for every memory I made through these experiences and would highly encourage everyone to look through the service-learning courses being offered to find one that inspires you!
VOLUNTEERING BUILDS COMMUNITY AND CONNECTIONS. When I think of connections I’ve made through volunteering, my mind goes to two places - connections with community partners and connections with the people around me. I was involved with America Counts and Reads for seven amazing semesters - two as a Tutor, and five as the Student Coordinator. When I stepped into the program we already had deep connections with the Mount Pleasant Public Schools, as well as Saginaw Chippewa Academy and elementary schools in Shepherd, Coleman, and Clare. Their partnership is essential for ACR, and without it we would not have a program. I loved playing a role in fostering those relationships by visiting the schools, meeting with principals and teachers, and having discussions about what we could do to improve our program to
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LIFE @ CMU | 7
ORIENTATION 2020 y CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE best meet their needs. I am so excited to watch these relationships continue to flourish and build off of each other now that I have graduated and handed the Student Coordinator position down to another amazing student who is dedicated to education and mentorship. Like I said, I also value the important connections I have made with the people around me through volunteering. One of my favorite parts of the Volunteer Center is the people you’ll find there. I can’t begin to count the number of times I walked into the office when I wasn’t working just to do homework or chat with my co-workers. I knew when I entered that space that I was surrounded by people who cared. I could go there to celebrate my highest victories and to find support through difficult moments. I also knew that it was a place that I could have tough conversations about justice-related issues that were on my mind. It is a safe place to challenge and be challenged, and everyone was always willing to expand their world views to learn more. VOLUNTEERING CAN HELP FORM DEEP FRIENDSHIPS. When you spend so much time surrounded by people who feel the same sense of social responsibility, it is only natural that lasting friendships will form. In a time when it feels like everything is going wrong, it can be so refreshing to meet people who have a similar set of interests and a drive to make the world a more just place. Some of the best friends I made in college were met through shared volunteer experiences. I loved that we were able to connect through the lessons we learned from community partners and memories that we made while serving.
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VOLUNTEERING CAN HELP YOU BUILD ESSENTIAL SKILLS THAT EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR. According to indeed.com, some of the top skills that employers look for include Communication, Teamwork, and Leadership. When I consider my growth in these areas, my volunteer experiences played an important role. From painting a conference room in New York City to helping CMU Students collect food from the Student Food Pantry right here on campus, the teams that I worked with would have gotten nowhere if we hadn’t learned to communicate effectively to meet each other’s needs and the needs of our partners. If you are looking for leadership opportunities, the Volunteer Center may be the place for you. Every program we offer has opportunities for student
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Hannah Fox and her classmates and preparing for Science Exploration Night at the Beaver Island.
leadership, such as being a Lunch Buddies Site Coordinator or Alternative Break Site Leader. These positions are a lot of fun and also give you the chance to enhance your problem-solving and communication skills while working with your team. VOLUNTEERING CAN OPEN YOUR EYES TO CAREERS YOU HAD NEVER BEFORE CONSIDERED. When I came to CMU I had no idea what career I wanted. I had a very hard time picturing myself in any field, and really struggled with knowing that I was headed in the right direction. This all changed when I began volunteering with survivors of sexual aggression. I became very involved with Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates (SAPA) and led an Alternative Weekend Break called “Survivors of Aggression.” The more I learned about survivors and immersed myself into this world, the more clearly I began to see my life unfold. I figured out pretty quickly that I want to continue this advocacy work for the rest of my life and am now preparing to move to Saint Louis, Missouri for an AmeriCorps position that will allow me to do just that. Advocacy for survivors of sexual aggression is my greatest passion in life, and I wouldn’t have even known that it was a career field I could enter if I hadn’t taken those volunteer opportunities in my undergrad experience.
most interested in, you will inevitably begin to understand how several issues connect. For example, I am very interested in working with the LGBTQ+ community, so I went on the LGBTQ+ Solidarity Alternative Break. The community partner we worked with provides several essential services for the LGBTQ+ community in the area, so everyday was a new adventure with new tasks at hand. One of their services is providing resources for people living with HIV/AIDS. We learned that it is very important to maintain a healthy diet while taking medication for HIV/AIDS, but a lot of their clients faced food insecurity. To combat this, the community partner provides hot meals for their clients daily, and has opportunities to bring food home for the weekends. We had the opportunity to help prepare and serve the food, while taking time to chat with the clients and get to know them. We also learned that New York City is facing a housing crisis, and thus have a high population of people who live with housing insecurity. We spent a day cleaning and organizing a closet full of donations that they distribute to their clients who are in need of warm clothing. I felt like each task we completed was the result of many social justice issues, and for the first time I began to see how interconnected they were.
VOLUNTEERING CAN HELP YOU LEARN TO THINK DEEPER ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT FUEL YOUR PASSION. An example we often use in the Volunteer Center is cleaning trash out of a river. One day you notice that a river near you is full of litter. This upsets you, so you dig right in and clear the trash out. You walk by the very next day and notice that the river is still full of trash. Once again, you dig in and clear it. The next day you find that despite your previous efforts, it is still full of litter. This time, you walk further down the river and discover that there is a community a few miles down, and their debris lands in the river. You have discovered the root cause of the trash, and you now have three options. The first, is that you can become overwhelmed and give up. The second, is you can continue to pull trash out of the river every day as you see it. The third is to work with the community to find a more sustainable way to dispose of their trash so it doesn’t fall into the river. Once you begin to identify the root causes of the things you are
VOLUNTEERING CAN BE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AS WELL. In my experience, I have found that it can be really easy to give everything you have to service. However, it is so, so important to make sure you are taking care of yourself as well. I am a big believer in the idea that you cannot pour from an empty cup. You cannot provide effective help if you are feeling tired or worn down from the service. I encourage you to find the self-care strategies that work for you to refill your own cup. Remember that self-care is different for everyone, and it isn’t just bubble baths and face masks. Those things are great, but self-care can also be simply making sure all of your needs are being met, such as taking time to have a nice, long lunch break with a healthy meal, cleaning up the space you live in, working out, or having coffee with a friend. Once you feel recharged and re-energized you are ready to get right back at it and begin volunteering again!
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Hannah Fox takes a break while hiking the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes with friends that she met at the Volunteer Center.
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WHO ARE THEY? 8 | LIFE @ CMU
?
CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE y ORIENTATION 2020
Let us introduce you to some of the most important people on campus
C
entral Michigan University has a multiple governing bodies which are tasked with making decisions regarding residence life, enrollment, tuition, and day-to-day campus operations. As an incoming freshman, it’s important to know who these groups are, what they do, how they are chosen and how they affect your campus experience.
ROBERT DAVIES
Story by Katie Hixson Staff Reporter WHAT DOES THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY DO? CMU President Bob Davies is responsible for creating a university atmosphere and culture of openness to new ideas and an innovative spirit. Davies is in charge of navigating significant changes in the university environment such as demographics, funding, perception, technology and knowledge advances, etc. Davies works on student recruiting strategies that will have an impact in turning around a 10-year decline in student enrollment. His areas of focus include expanding the geographic market for traditional-aged students, increasing transfer students, initiating an international recruiting strategy, enhancing graduate programs and appealing to adult learners. Davies has taken steps to build trust and create “Town-GownTribe” relationships with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. He has also founded a Title IX Advisory Committee to further a culture of support, education and awareness regarding sexual assault and aggression on university campuses. Davies conducts routine campus-wide CMU climate surveys to students and implements strategies and recommendations to address any issues brought up by students. WHAT DOES A PROVOST DO? Mary Schutten is Central Michigan University’s provost. She works alongside President Davies and with CMU’s academic leaders and faculty to provide new learning opportunities for students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Schutten also routinely seeks new opportunities for engagement with CMU’s community partners. As provost, Schutten works extensively with all colleges and oversees many units in the academic division that play key roles in student and faculty success, including Academic Administration, Information Technology, Libraries, and the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. WHAT DO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES DO AND HOW ARE THEY CHOSEN? The board of trustees governs the business and affairs of the university. One of its most important duties is to appoint and evaluate the university president, Bob Davies. Davies serves as a member of the board, but cannot vote on any matters. The trustees also uphold the university’s core values (integrity, respect, compassion, inclusiveness, social responsibility, excellence and innovation), approve long-range campus plans, assess educational programs, ensure financial liability, maintain the university-student relationship and protect the assets of the university. In addition, the board is responsible for academic matters and has authority over areas such as admissions, faculty promotions, sabbatical leaves and tenure positions, establishing student fees, naming facilities and many others. CMU’s Board of Trustees consists of eight members appointed by Michigan’s governor with the consent of the State Senate and with authority granted through the state constitution.
MARY SCHUTTEN Board members do not receive compensation, although their necessary travel and other expenses related to CMU business are reimbursed by the university. WHAT IS A DEAN? There is a dean for each residential college: Liberal arts and social sciences, business, health professions, education and human services, medicine and arts and media. The deans are responsible for helping all students within their college, whether it be a question about an honors program, and internship, their curriculum or just advice about their major. WHAT ARE FIXED-TERM, TENURE TRACK AND TENURED PROFESSORS? Fixed-term faculty are hired for a limited period of time to perform a variety of duties including research, supervising student teachers, athletic coaching, counseling, librarianship, classroom instruction or any other forms of teaching. There are part-time and full-time fixed-term faculty, where full-time are appointed for a year and part-time cannot. Tenure-track faculty are fixed-term faculty who are currently being evaluated and considered for a tenure position at the university. These faculty must show excellence in teaching, scholarly and creative activity and university service. Faculty seeking tenure must teach at the university for a whole year before applying. Applications are only accepted in the fall semester. After applying, the faculty are given a two year appointment for tenure consideration, at the end of which a decision will be made. Tenured faculty are discussed by the provost, the president, the college dean and ultimately selected by the Board of Trustees. Once selected, the university commits a portion of its resources for a number of years to the skills and capacity of this one tenured individual. Tenured faculty have complete academic freedom and job security.
LIFE @ CMU | 9
ORIENTATION 2020 y CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE
OPINION
Leadership Safari leaders pose for a photo.
Transfer students, take time to make friends, make mistakes Going into my third (and hopefully final) year at Central Michigan University, I cannot help but feel appreciative of those friends I have been able to make throughout the years, and the ones who have been there since my elementary, middle and high school days. Thinking specifically to my time in college, I started off at Grand Rapids Community College where I worked on the campus newspaper, The Collegiate, and met a lot of great people and made a lot of friends. But, during my time at GRCC, especially my second year there, I found myself making the 77-mile journey from my home to CMU to spend almost every weekend with the new friends I had made. There was a small core of five of us that went on all kinds of adventures including my first CMU football game (homecoming against Toledo), my first Division I college basketball game (Jan. 27, 2018, the CMU men’s team against Kent State in McGuirk Arena) and some other shenanigans. What was underlying all of our adventures was me falling in love with the campus. I thoroughly enjoyed all the time I spent in Mount Pleasant and I became accustomed to what life would be like as a student, without actually being one — yet. Around October 2018, I was preparing myself to make the jump from community college to the 4-year university of my choice. I knew there was really only one place I wanted to be — CMU. I had friends I could lean on and I already knew my way around campus. Plus, CMU has an excellent journalism program — one of two accredited programs in the state (Michigan State is the other) — and I knew that was what I wanted to do. On Feb. 6, 2018, I officially became a Chippewa when I was accepted to the university. From there, I wrapped up my time at GRCC and again made the trip from Grand Rapids to Mount Pleasant, this time as a student, just before the semester started in August 2018. I participated in Leadership Safari, all of my core friends did Sa-
Austin Chastain Sports Editor
fari in the past and said the experience was second-to-none and it helped them accommodate themselves to campus. My experience was a little different, we spent a lot of time at the Indoor Athletic Complex, but I still enjoyed the week. During the week of Safari, the days were long and I could feel myself getting homesick — trust me, that’s normal. But with the help of my friends, I was actually living with one of my “core” friends for the first year, the adjustment to living on my own was relatively easy. There were several difficulties: longing to see my family, missing my dogs, learning how to shop and cook for myself, other than grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni and cheese, learning to manage my finances — still working on that one — and balancing working hard and playing hard. Just before the Fall 2018 semester started, I knew I needed to apply to join Central Michigan Life as a reporter. At GRCC, I had toured the newsroom twice and knew that was where I wanted to be. In an effort to expand my experience in journalism, and
to find a bit of individuality, I joined the staff as a sports reporter covering the field hockey beat. I will save the rest of my CM Life experience for later down the road, but through CM Life, I was able to find out more of who I am and what I am about. I was also able to make a lot of friends, especially the crew on the sports desk. Now, I am not saying it is required to join CM Life (it is highly encouraged, though!) taking some time to figure out who you are and what you are all about will help the transfer process go a lot smoother. An easy way to do that is to join registered student organization (RSO) or a club — something along those lines. Clubs and RSOs are also a great way to make friends with similar interests as you, too. One of the biggest pieces of my career at CMU has been learning that it is OK to make mistakes, as long as you own up to those mistakes. I have made plenty of mistakes during my time at CMU, and there have been some significant ones. I have some regrets already going into my final year at CMU, but I know there are plenty of opportunities to right those wrongs and come out on the other side a better man. Another piece of advice I would give transfer students is to take the opportunity to explore Mount Pleasant more than just what you see on the corner of Broomfield and Mission. There are so many great places to eat, hang out and drink (if you are of age, of course) around the city. Cash in on the opportunity to enjoy the time with your new friends. Obviously, that will be tough amid the coronavirus pandemic, but take each opportunity you can when the pandemic subsides, and it will. For now, however, enjoy the time we will have together on campus. People say it flies by, especially for transfer students — it really does. Remember to work hard, have fun, safely, and create memories you can carry with you for a lifetime. After all, education, experience and life-long friendships are what college is all about.
10 | LIFE @ CMU
CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE y ORIENTATION 2020
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LIFE @ CMU | 11
ORIENTATION 2020 y CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE
On average, 1 in 3 college students experience food insecurity. The pantry will be open beginning in the Fall to any currently enrolled CMU student. Located on North Campus - find us on Apple or Google Maps.
Open
Tuesdays 5-7 p.m., Wednesdays 3-5 p.m. and Fridays 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Questions?
Email foodpantry@cmich.edu
Challenge yourself, challenge the world on an Alternative Break! List of Topics :
Animal Rescue • Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities • Food Justice • Natural Disaster Restoration • Supporting Immigrant Populations • Survivors of Aggression and more!
Get involved, give back, and make connections through our programs! With America Counts & Reads, Safer Sex Program, on-campus and virtual events, and more!
Follow us on social media @CMUVolunteers Visit us in UC 106 I volunteer.center@cmich.edu I 989-774-7685
CMU, an AA/EO institution, strongly and actively strives to increase diversity and provide equal opportunity for all individuals, irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation and including but not limited to minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities. 18-232 MGX 4/19
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Help keep our campus safe this fall: Download the app
CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE y ORIENTATION 2020
Dwell Well at Tallgrass Apartments Comfortable, affordable living
Story by Katie Hixson Staff Reporter The Central Michigan University symptom monitoring application launched on Tuesday, July 27, for all students, faculty and staff to safely monitor their health and to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on our campus. The app offers health screening and case tracking resources. In the health screening portion of the app, students and staff are asked if they have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days. The Center for Disease Control defines close contact with a COVID-19 positive person as having been within six feet of the individual for 15 minutes or longer and 48 hours prior to when the infected individual first started experiencing symptoms. Next, the app users are asked if they are experiencing shortness of breath, cough, fever or any other symptoms related to COVID-19. The case tracking resources portion shows the weekly number and total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 on campus and is updated every week. This portion also offers a variety of videos, guidelines and tips to help prevent contact with the virus or a carrier. The app was developed by staff in the Office of Information Technology and is available for download on the app store for all smart devices.
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College students may experience a variety of difficult situations from depression and anxiety to substance abuse and thoughts of self-harm. CMU Cares includes helpful resources for students, families, faculty and staff to provide the necessary resources to support students during their time of need. The CMU Care Team is comprised of professionals dents at CMU and across the nation face many difficult and personally challenging situations fromare across campus such as the Counseling Center, Student oughout their college career. Depression, suicide, substance abuse, sexual assault a few the situations students will have to deal with during their time on campus. CMUDisability Cares Services is a and Sexual Aggression Services.
prehensive website that includes helpful resources for faculty, staff, parents and students to ovide tools and campus resources to support and refer students during these times of need.
ARE eport
CARE eam
TAKE CARE
When someone has a concern for a student’s health or well-being, they can submit a CARE Report. CARE Reports can be submitted online at: www.cmich.edu/cmucares or by calling the CARE Line at 989-774-2273. The CARE Team Coordinator reviews each CARE Report and initiates intervention and support plans as necessary. Reporters will receive a follow up call from the Coordinator to review the report. If an immediate or imminent threat or an emergency exists, call 911 or contact CMU Police at 989-774-3081. The CARE Team is a small group of CMU staff and faculty who develop individualized plans to support students who are having a difficult time. The team holds weekly meetings during the academic year and when pressing matters occur.
Know a student in need? Currently, this team consists of professionals from campus offices including:
Residence Life, CMU Police, Office of Student Conduct, Student Disability SerConcerned individuals can submit a Care vices, Counseling Center, Veterans Resource Center, Sexual Aggression Services, report at cmich.edu/cmucares and the Office of Student Affairs.
A follow-up with the reporter is made to
The information shared within this group is confidential and used for the purconfirm receipt of the report & discuss a pose of determining the best approach to reach out to the student in distress.
Care Team response.
CARE Report information is shared in the meetings along with selected Once the student in need has been information from the CARE Team members’ respective offices. Confidential Counseling Center information is NOT shared in these meetings.indentified, the Care Team can reach out to
the student with an inclusive individualized response
Central Michigan University’s Take Care initiative strives to strengthen and further develop a community of caring individuals who look out for and take care of each other.Through CMU’s Take Care initiative, you are encouraged to observe what is going on around you, notice potentially dangerous or serious situations, and respond to the best of your ability to influence a better outcome.
cmich.edu
cmucares
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CMU ESPORTS
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CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE y ORIENTATION 2020
GAMERS FIND THEIR WAY TO PLAY Photos by Adam Sparkes University Communications
By Austin Chastain Sports Editor news@cm-life.com
Playing video games has been a hobby of plenty of college students since the first video game, Pong, was released in 1970. At Central Michigan University, there is an opportunity to take that hobby and share it with fellow gamers and make friends, all at the same time. CMU has an eSports club and has advanced to the varsity level in two games — League of Legends and Overwatch. The club also offers several other games including Rocket League, Counterstrike and Rainbow Six Siege. Katherine Ranzenberger is the head coach and adviser of the program. She also works as a marketing and communication writer for the university’s communication department. “Esports is competitive video games,” Ranzenberger said. “It is along the same lines as every other sport on campus. It is teaching teambuilding skills and problem-solving skills, just on a computer instead of on a field or court.” Building the skills necessary for success is one of the main goals of the program. As the head coach and adviser, Ranzenberger said she views her role as helping her team members gain the professional skills they need for life after CMU. “At the end of the day, I want these students to be successful,” Ranzenberger said. “I want them to have the opportunity to play this game at the varsity
level, then graduate and have a fulfilling career. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these students and I’m excited to continue working with them.” Ranzenberger graduated from CMU with a journalism degree in 2015 and earned a Master’s of Science and Administration in 2019. One of the students Ranzenberger leads is Alek Smith, a senior from Macomb. Smith said he heard of the team his freshman year from a poster on campus and he has seen a lot of change in his two years with the program. “I didn’t know many people until I went to ‘league club’,” Smith said. “When I went there, that’s where I found some of my great friends and one of my roommates.” An aspect of the team Smith said he enjoys the most is everyone pushes to improve. He added it feels like typical sports with the atmosphere, drive to be one of the best teams and the experiencing the highs and lows of winning and losing. “I enjoy most about the team is the commitment to learn and better ourselves with understanding we’re all not perfect,” Smith said. “We all manage to play well together and better ourselves with each game we play.” At CMU, there are two teams at the varsity level, Maroon and Gold. The Gold team is considered the first-string team while the Maroon is considered the secondstring. Ranzenberger said the rosters are set a week in advance but can change around based on communication and team dynamics.
Skill level, or “rank” in the gaming world, varies from game to game and team to team. Ranzenberger said the players on the Gold team are at Gold or Diamond for League of Legends. The Maroon team ranks anywhere from Iron to Platinum. While the NCAA governs other varsity sports – football, basketball among others – the National Association of Collegiate eSports (NACE) governs esports. NACE, along with the game’s developers, determine how the game is played in competition. Riot Games is the developer for League of Legends and runs collegiate League of Legends. Tespa oversees the Overwatch competitions. CMU competes in the eSports Collegiate Conference. In the eSports Collegiate Conference, all 12 schools that make up the Mid-American Conference in other varsity sports compete against one another. Smith said the nature of the program not only allows students to connect with new people on campus, but they also have the chance to connect with people at other schools in the conference. “It gives players the opportunity to play against other schools, compete in tournaments, and build relationships with students and staff,” Smith said. “It’s a great experience to have and (I) hope all colleges/schools implement this.” Before practice, players go over a video review of their previous games to see what they did well and what the need to improve on, much like in football or basketball. “We’re always looking at where we can
LIFE @ CMU
ORIENTATION 2020 y CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE improve,” Ranzenberger said. “Especially communication and teamwork. These games are all about that.” Currently, the two teams have 26 members with 10 for League of Legends and 16 for Overwatch. League of Legends competitions are 5-on-5 while Overwatch games are 6-on-6. Members of the program spread out across several academic programs. Ranzenberger said she has a student who is an American Sign Language minor, another who is a computer science major. “It doesn’t matter your major or minor,” Ranzenberger said. “If you’re interested in esports and want to come play, you can play.” Luke Martin is the former captain of the League of Legends Gold Team and was also the former president of the esports club. A May 2020 graduate from Wyoming, Martin played several games with the club and said he follows many of the professional games. When he first arrived at CMU, Martin said he got to know a few of the members on social media and other gaming outlets. “From there, I continued by playing on some of the competitive teams throughout my years and getting more active in my role as a club leader,” Martin said. “Finally, I’ve been as involved as I can be with the incoming expansion of the esports program and act as a beacon of experience to help the school understand what’s necessary of the program.” Martin said his favorite aspect of the team is the friendships and bonds he formed with his teammates. “This was the reason I really broke out of my shell and got involved on campus,” Martin said. “The sense of comfortability being around other gamers that can relate and share the same passion that I have, helped me find a spot where I belonged.” Friendships are the foundation of the program to create the atmosphere and chemistry for a successful team. Martin said he hears from other members in the club that many of their first friends in college and the majority of their friends come from the program. “This program is a very useful tool to have on campus,” Martin said. “This program is a great way for students to pursue something they’re passionate about, where there’s a market available that’s
emerging currently.” Ranzenberger said the team plans on hosting events, but there is no confirmation but she is working to set dates. The program has a couple of ways students and other followers can connect. Ranzenberger said the streaming platform Twitch is a way to see what’s going on with the team, its matches and watch members play on occasion. There is also a messaging app, Discord, where players and those connected can chat about the esports world. While the platforms are currently an open server and followers may join as approved by Ranzenberger or captains of the team, it may change due to NACE compliance. Similar to the NCAA, there are rules regarding social media and how organizations or teams respond on the platforms. “We’re always representing the university and we always want to make sure we’re putting our best foot forward,” Ranzenberger said. There is not yet an official word on when tryouts will take place for the team amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE y ORIENTATION 2020
DIVERSITY AT CMU Diversity resources promote cultural awareness, support student identities
W
hen Central Michigan University alumnus Mimi Gonzales-Barillas reflects on her college experience, she remembers beginning to understand herself by learning about the identities of the
people around her. For the first-generation college student, the university was a “small cosmopolitan setting” that allowed her to interact with people from a variety of different backgrounds. “(A university) might not be as worldly as a metropolis,” Gonzales-Barillas said. “However, (students are) still thrown together. In that churn, they’re exposed to so much difference, and part of their identity forms in response to those differences. Hopefully, it’s an embrace because that’s what makes you a more expansive, open and whole human being.” Gonzales-Barillas serves as the communications specialist for the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which implements university policy and initiatives to make campus safer and more inclusive. The OIDEI, along with offices like the Office for Diversity Education, exists to improve the university through events and educational opportunities that promote intercultural awareness. “I wish all students knew that whatever their human difference, there is support for their exploration of (their identities),” Gonzales-Barillas said. “Whatever their difference is, it will be supported here. Not only can it be explored, but it will also be celebrated.” In addition to registered student organizations that focus on specific causes or issues, the university offers a number of institutional resources that support student identities. The Center for Inclusion and Diversity houses several offices and programs, including Multicultural Academic Student Services, Native American Program, LGBTQ Services, Veterans’ Resource Center, the Institute for Transformative Dialogue and the Student Transition Enrichment Program (STEP). The CID also provides a space for tutoring/mentoring and leadership opportunities. In light of the killing of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement, CMU has updated its diversity
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President Robert Davies speaks with a student during the MLK Week Unity March.
Whatever their difference is, it will be supported here. Not only can it be explored, but it will also be celebrated. - Mimi Gonzales-Barillas CMU Alumnus
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statement to support the Black community and offer more racial literacy resources. All incoming students are required to complete the Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) Awareness Program. As part of the university academic requirements, students must complete two diversity courses. Faculty and staff must also abide by CMU policy standards and their department’s updated diversity, equity and inclusion bylaws. In the event of discrimination or misconduct, students can file a report to the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity or meet with an ombudsperson from the Student Ombuds Office to understand their rights and options. “(Accountability within diversity, equity and inclusion) is a real source of dynamic learning,” Vice President and
S TO RY B Y T E R E S A H O M S I y STA F F R E P O RT E R
LIFE @ CMU
ORIENTATION 2020 y CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE Chief Diversity Officer A.T. Miller said. “If you have real open relationships with people of many different backgrounds, that is very stimulating and gives you new ideas ... Every CMU student will have better education as a result; every professor will have better research; every administrator will have a broader idea of how things work and how to consider every angle.” Over the 2019-20 academic year, CMU introduced 73 diversity initiatives across campus offices and organizations. In an annual diversity symposium, community members can learn more about specific initiatives and offer suggestions for how to improve the university. “When we think of diversity, we think of difference in a negative or strictly racial way,” Diversity Education Director Nikita Murry said. “(We don’t think of) all the great ways in which we’re different and we can learn from one another or appreciate the needs of someone else. The initiatives encompass many of the potential ways in which we are different, but can still be supportive of one another.” Diversity and inclusion resources and programs are made for the benefit of the entire CMU community regardless of personal identities. The diversity office staff urges students to attend events and seek out different perspectives. “(The university is) a chance to experience such a wide variety of diversity in people unfiltered by parents or guardians,” Gonzales-Barillas said. “The lens by which you view these new experiences (forms) the lens of your own thinking. How you reflect on these experiences help you define yourself.”
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Students smile as the walk during the MLK Week Unity March.
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CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE y ORIENTATION 2020
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
CMU GREEKS collectively outperform undergraduate GPAs
By Office of Student Activities & Involvement
Individually, the highest-ranking chapters were:
Statistics recently released indicate that Central Michigan University fraternity and sorority life chapters outperformed their undergraduate counterparts academically during the spring 2020 semester despite the challenges brought by COVID-19 The Central Michigan University Fraternity and Sorority Life report says the community that accounts for nearly 9 percent of the undergraduate population, at 1,176 members, averaged a 3.34 spring 2020 semester GPA. The all-undergraduate GPA was 3.15 for the spring 2020 semester. The fraternity and sorority community has earned higher grades than the average student for the 7th consecutive semester. A total of 26 of the 27 groups in the list earned a 3.0 GPA or higher. The fraternity and sorority life area is further broken down into its four governing councils. They include Interfraternity Council (8 IFC chapters), Collegiate Panhellenic Council (11 CPC chapters), Multicultural Greek Council (2 MGC chapters) and National Pan-Hellenic Council (7 NPHC chapters). Of that group, CPC chapters had the highest spring semester GPA at 3.43. That was followed by MGC chapters at 3.38, NPHC chapters at 3.07, and IFC chapters at 3.05.
• 3.63 Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., NPHC • 3.62 Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc., MGC • 3.57 Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, CPC • 3.48 Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority and Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority, CPC • 3.45 Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority, CPC and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., NPHC
Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority
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CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE y ORIENTATION 2020
