Aug. 28, 2013

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Central Michigan University’s premier news source and student voice since 1919.

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FROM A BOY TO A MAN

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 28, 2013 | MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH. | ISSUE NO. 3 VOL. 95

WHAT'S INSIDE METRO

SETTING UP SHOP Meet a CMU grad who went far in life, but chose to stay local w 3A

Cody Kater completes journey to a starter »PAGE 1B

Dance team strikes a pose with celebrity choreographer By Megan Pacer Senior Reporter

ALMA, Mich. — A few lucky students found themselves dancing with a woman who has worked with the likes of Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez and Usher on Monday. The Central Michigan University dance team enjoyed a two-hour session with choreographer and performer Danielle Polanco at the DuHadway Dance Dimensions studio in Alma. The lesson focused on a particularly feminine and sensual style of dance known as “vogue femme,” which Polanco now teaches all over the United States as well as overseas. Polanco, who began her professional career at 17-years-old working for Beyoncé,

said teaching people to vogue is important to expand their skill set when it comes to dance. “Every style helps something else,” Polanco said. “My ballet, believe it or not, helped me with hiphop. When people stop themselves from doing other styles, they stop themselves from getting better.” The concept of “vogue femme,” a style of dance that originated in the Harlem ballroom scene in the 1980s, was new to the women of the CMU dance team. Many of them were visibly uncomfortable with the deeply feminine movements Polanco demonstrated. “It was definitely something different from what I’ve ever done,” team captain Stephanie Brantigan said. w DANCE | 2A

Taylor Ballek | Photo Editor Choreographer and performer Danielle Polanco teaches the CMU dance team the style of “Vogue” Monday night at DuHadway Dance Dimensions studio in Alma.

CAMPUS DINING

Welcome Weekend citations on the low end Police arrest 47 last weekend

GLUTEN-FREE? LACTOSE INTOLERANT? DON’T WORRY. CAMPUS DINING HAS GOT YOU COVERED Campus dining offers new tools for students with food allergies w 6A

By Megan Pacer Senior Reporter

SAC UPDATES

AVOID THE FRESHMAN 15 New weightlifting equipment, amp system and more added to the SAC w 5A

FOOTBALL

A liberating lens Mark Cox | Courtesy Mark Cox, CMU professor, documented his daughter’s battle with cancer through photography. Check out a full gallery at cm-life.com.

Music instructor documents his daughter’s fight with cancer through photography GET TO KNOW YOUR NEW STARTING QUARTERBACK Cody Kater sits down with CM Life and outlines his hopes for the season w 1B

THANK YOU!

For helping us reach 10,000 Facebook likes

By Adrian Hedden Staff Reporter

As Central Michigan University music instructor Mark Cox walked protest lines with his daughter Sarah, the demonstration took on a meaning more tangible for the family than collective bargaining or shared governance. Suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a severe form of cancer, Sarah’s medical coverage hung in the balance. Negotiations between faculty and administration came to a halt in the fall of 2011, resulting in a work stoppage of the CMU Faculty Association. Two years, and more than $1 million in medical expenses later, Cox and his family are proud to say Sarah, 13, defeated her illness and can return to her life of opera singing, acting and playing the French horn.

She received cutting-edge treatment at Devos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids. “This is one of the reasons we fight so hard for good health insurance,” Cox said. “Out of all our (medical) expenses, we only paid a fraction. That’s why it’s worth going on strike. Sarah walked the line with me.” Cox is so proud of his daughter’s victory that he is planning an art installation to commemorate her fight as part of Art Drive, a contest hosted at Grand Rapids restaurant San Chez. His 3-by-7-foot entry is comprised of a large “S” for Sarah – and for “strength.” “It hits close to home with Devos being nearby,” said CEO of San Chez Cindy Schnieder. “Community outreach is definitely in our culture. Mark and his family frequented our restaurant a lot, even before Sarah got sick. They’ve

been a strong fan base and are super protective of one another. They celebrate life together.” Along the path of the “S,” Cox fastened several photos taken during the illness. The project will contain about 10 pictures, which will document her almost threeyear ordeal. Images during Sarah’s chemotherapy will be presented in black and white. In early July, Cox opened an account on Kickstarter, an online funding program for creative endeavors, to help cover the costs of his vision. He estimates the overall cost to be between $3,500 and $4,500. Registration for the contest begins on Sept. 14 with the contest opening on Sept. 18. A first-place entry will receive a prize of $200,000, but Cox said it’s about more than winning. w COX | 2A

The Mount Pleasant Police Department responded to 439 calls over Welcome Weekend, resulting in 219 citations and 47 lodgings in jail. According to a Mount Pleasant Division of Public Safety news release, these numbers are significantly lower than those seen during last year’s Welcome Weekend festivities, when 58 more citations were issued and 11 more people were jailed. MPPD Public Information Officer Jeff Thompson said this year’s lower numbers could be related to a smaller number of officers patrolling areas near campus and throughout the city. “I believe that if we had more officers available, there could have been a higher number of citations and arrests,” Thompson said. “But with the number we had, we were able to maintain a level of safety.” The most commonly addressed crime last weekend was open intoxication, accounting for 140 citations and four arrests. Other prevalent crimes that attracted the attention of MPPD were nuisance parties (14 citations, 22 jailed) and counts of minors in possession (59 citations and six jailed). Other, “less commonly committed crimes” included disorderly conduct, trespassing, assault, resisting or obstructing an officer and indecent exposure. According to Thompson, police ran into no unforeseen problems throughout the weekend, and the police department operated as usual, with no changes to the strategy or procedures used last year. “Most of the activity takes place in the student section,” Thompson said. “Primarily in the 800-1000 block of South Main Street.” The city installed new lighting on South Main Street to promote safety in the area in response to previous incidents, including on previous Welcome Weekends. Rumors of a stolen police car and a police car window damaged by a thrown brick were circulating around Twitter over the weekend. Thompson said the rumors are false. Thompson said the process of educating students on rules and regulations prior to the weekend is a new for MPPD. “We have also had an increase in remodeled or new housing in the student section that has created a greater sense of pride in the property for both the landlords and the tenants,” Thompson said. metro@cm-life.com

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