Sept. 18, 2013 by Central Michigan Life

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DON’T DOZE OFF

Catch yourself daydreaming in class? You’re not alone

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WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18, 2013 | MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH. | ISSUE NO. 11 VOL. 95

»PAGE 9

LIVING BOTH LIVES

LIFE IN BRIEF SPORTS

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Enrollment tops board’s busy agenda By Kyle Kaminski University News Editor

Enrollment and the resultant budget deficit are paramount issues facing the Central Michigan University Board of Trustees as it prepares for its formal session tomorrow morning. The budget is facing an $18 million deficit which stems from an on-campus enrollment decline of 4.9 percent this year. Under the banner of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee, Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services Steven Johnson will give a presentation on strategic enrollment management. “All of us can make recruitment a personal goal,” Johnson said in a news release.

TOUCHDOWN TITUS Junior wide receiver Titus Davis leads inconsistent oﬀense. w5

VIBE

Steven Johnson

w BOARD | 2

HOW MUCH DO YOU DRINK? Caﬀeine can be a doubleedge sword for most students w 10

STUDENT LIFE

Photo Illustration by Taylor Ballek | Photo Editor Grandville Freshman Adam Roelse is a Central Michigan University student, rugby player and National Guard solider.

From the classroom to the battle field and back again

AN APPLE A DAY... Students hope to open fruit stand on campus. w3

UNIVERSITY

MONEY MATTERS We break down what both VP of Finance candidates have to oﬀer. w6

LOOKING AHEAD

Board Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Check Friday’s edition for full Board of Trustees coverage, and follow us @CMLIFE to keep up-to-date during Thursday’s meeting!

Inside Life SGA held first committee meetings Monday

»PAGE 3

EDITORIAL: Congress must act on background checks »PAGE 4 Tips for restful sleep »PAGE 7

By Nathan Clark Staff Reporter

Enlisted soldiers in the active Army, reserves and National Guard live knowing there is a very good chance they might be deployed to some far off land to fight. Adam Roelse, who is a Central Michigan University student, rugby player and National Guard soldier in Michigan’s 1461st Transportation Company, never expected to go to college, only to leave for Afghanistan and come back to college as if nothing happened. “I got called up shortly after my first semester here. This is only my second (as a student),” Roelse said. “Deploying didn’t bother me. I knew it was going to happen eventually.” The 21-year-old joined the National Guard in 2010, shortly after earning his high school diploma. He signed up as not only a way to help pay for college, but to uphold family tradition. “My uncle was in the Marines and my dad was in the Navy,” Roelse said.

“Deploying kind of sucked, but I wouldn’t mind being deployed again.” Adam Roelse, Grandville freshman While in Afghanistan, Roelse drove Heavy Equipment Transports, extremely large and powerful trucks used to move enormous equipment such as tanks and artillery up and down Afghanistan, logging more than 200,000 miles during his deployment. After his deployment was over, Roelse returned home to continue his college education. Returning back to school was relatively smooth for Roelse, as he was also returning to his friends and his other passion in life — rugby. “I love rugby. I’ve been playing since high school,” Roelse said. Roelse plays on CMU’s intramural rugby team with some of his friends from high school who

now also attend CMU. He joined the team during his first semester, before being deployed. “It was weird seeing him go,” said rugby teammate Sagar Sharma, a Grandville senior. “There were times when I didn’t hear from him for a few weeks and I would get worried. I just had to hope he was alright. It was a relief when he finally came back.” Sharma and Roelse have been friends since their freshman year of high school where they played rugby together. Brighton senior Cory Mueller didn’t go to the same school as Roelse, but has also known him since high school. w ROELSE | 2

Gender-neutral housing available for CMU students By Shawn Tonge Staff Reporter

Student government at Michigan State University passed a pair of bills in support of flexible housing and gender-neutral bathrooms last Thursday. The flexible housing bill allows Associated Students of MSU to advocate for a campus-wide housing policy that would permit students in residence halls to choose their own roommates, regardless of their gender. Central Michigan University offers similar housing options, but only in select cases. Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals who would prefer genderneutral housing can apply for them with the Office of Residence Life. “If someone is in a situation they feel warrants gender-neutral housing, they can talk to someone in the office,” Residence Life Director Joan Schmidt said. “If it’s something that will work to their benefit and helps them stay here, we will work individually with them.” On occasion, gender-neutral housing has been arranged for transgender students. The graduate housing on campus also has a flexible housing policy. w UNISEX | 2

One-month check-up: CMED students buckle down after first month By Adrian Hedden Staff Reporter

Housam Tahboub has already begun witnessing the rigors of medical school firsthand. Now, one month into the first semester of CMED’s inaugural class, he’s begun to work harder than ever before. After the initial exam last week, Tahboub, who completed his undergraduate at the University of Michigan-Flint, was optimistic despite the culture shock of the program’s vast material.

“Everybody had a scare,” Tahboub said. “Obviously it’s tough, but you don’t realize how much work it actually is. This is stuff we’ve never seen before.” He was wary of being the first group of students accepted into the medical school, unable to rely GET THE SCOOP. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to on advice from a previous class. “As the first class, we don’t get keep up withGET theTHE latest entertainment, giveaways! SCOOP. Like us on promotions Facebook or and follow us on Twitter to very much guidance as to what to expect,” Tahboub said. “There are keep up with the latest entertainment, promotions and giveaways! no students above you.” Arin Bisaro | Staff Photographer w CMED | 2 Students go in and out of the CMED building September 4th, 2013. This year is the college’s inaugural class, with a total of 64 students. GET THE SCOOP. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to keep up with the latest entertainment, promotions and giveaways!

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News

2 | Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013 | Central Michigan Life | cm-life.com

EVENTS CALENDAR TODAY

w Chiropractor Dennis Whitford will discuss how to stay free of physical stress at 6:30 p.m. in the Bovee University Center auditorium.

TOMORROW

w Meet with recruiters to discuss internship opportunities and entry-level positions from 6-8 p.m. in the Bovee UC Rotunda. The event is open to students and recent graduates with majors in finance, accounting, management information systems and computer-related concentrations. w A viewing party and panel discussion on Peace, Justice, Reconciliation and Forgiveness with the TEDx Hague Academy begins at 7 p.m. in the Charles V. Park Library auditorium. The discussion will include students who traveled to The Hague with philosophy professor Hope May over the summer, and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Lemyah Gbowee will have an address during the viewing.

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. © Central Michigan Life 2013 Volume 95, Number 11

ROELSE | CONTINUED FROM 1 “I met him when my high school played against his,” Mueller said. “It was rough seeing him go. We’re really happy to see him come back.” Upon Roelse’s return from Afghanistan, Mueller and some of his friends drove all night to surprise Roelse at his welcome home party. “I knew (Roelse) briefly before he left for Afghanistan,” said teammate Peter Ruggirello and Clinton Township senior. “We’re really glad to see him come back. He’s a great guy, knows the game, and people love to be around him.”

Check out video on cm-life.com

BOARD | CONTINUED FROM 1 “When we connect with prospective students, they’re more likely to choose CMU.” Roger Rehm, Vice President for Information Technology, will also give a presentation on strategic planning within the OIT. The Finance and Facilities Committee is expected to review endowments, awards and scholarships, as well as provide an update on capital projects throughout the university. According to a university news release regarding the declining enrollment, CMU’s scholarships and financial aid offerings are being re-engineered to be more competitive. Associate Vice President of Facilities Management Steve Lawrence will give a presentation on the campus facilities master plan with Linda Slater, director of plant engineering and

UNISEX | CONTINUED FROM 1 Currently, MSU has the same policy about flexible housing for transgender students. The passage of the new bill will lead to discussion about the university instituting a more widespread flexible housing policy within residence halls. Schmidt said she is unsure about the possibility of CMU adopting a similar policy in the future. One benefit of gender-neutral housing is it allows members of the LGTBQ community to create a safe environment by choosing who they live with. “Gender-inclusive housing is an option that benefits a variety of individuals, including our trans students,” LGBTQ Services Director Shannon Jolliff-Dettore said. “It provides a level of safety and comfort to know you can be authentic to who you are in the space you are living.” Another bill passed by the

planning. The board is also requesting a motion to accept a lease for a Global Campus facility in Columbus, Ohio. President George Ross will give a preceding report of the university as well as report his final 2012-13 goals. The board has also requested a motion to elect a new interim board treasurer to serve in Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services David Burdette’s position until a replacement can be found. The meeting is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. and is open to the public – with a slot for public comment offered immediately after it begins. Preceding faculty and student liaison meetings are scheduled today at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. All events are in the President’s Conference room of the Bovee University Center. university@cm-life.com

ASMSU was in support of building more gender-neutral bathrooms on campus. This accommodation is also beneficial to students in the transgender community because choosing which bathroom to us can be problematic. There are gender-neutral bathrooms available in some of the university buildings and residence halls at CMU, including the Towers residential halls. Jolliff-Dettore said the university’s current policy is to include a gender-neutral bathroom in the construction of all new facilities on campus, but some of the older buildings lack this feature. “I do think that our campus needs to continue to develop more gender-inclusive restrooms across campus,” Jolliff-Dettore said. “Eventually, hopefully, we will have one in every building.” studentlife@cm-life.com

The time Roelse spent deployed took its toll on his progress at CMU. As he served his time in the mountains of Afghanistan, his friends and classmates continued on their college path, while Roelse’s academic career was on hold. “I’m 21 in all these freshman classes that I would have completed a year ago. It’s a little awkward,” Roelse said. Students in the National Guard are citizen soldiers who live knowing that they can be deployed at any time, sometimes causing a burden on their lives or academic progress. Roelse might not have wanted to miss the handful of credit hours he could have completed or a couple of rugby matches that went on without him, but duty called. Given the choice of staying in classes or having to deploy again, he says he would gladly accept the latter. “Deploying kind of sucked, but I wouldn’t mind being deployed again,” he said. studentlife@cm-life.com

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PHOTO OF THE DAY Taryn Wattles | Staff Photographer Farmington Hills senior Hannah Keshishian (left) and other members of Phi Mu gather students in front of the UC to sign their giant beach ball Tuesday. Students pay $1 to sign the ball; a charity event where the money raised goes to the Children’s Miracle Network, and the ball is donated to a local school.

CMED | CONTINUED FROM 1 Ali Hachem, 22, of Dearborn, said students are expected to study for three to four hours per day — at minimum. “I’ve never studied this much in my life,” Hachem said. “It’s not difficult, just an overwhelming amount of material. You got to invest.” The co-director of CMED’s foundational science course, William Fleischmann, has witnessed students beginning the difficult transition into medical school. Although he has seen most students succeeding early on, Fleischmann warned that it would not get easier. “Undergrad is like a garden hose,” he said. “But at medical school, the information comes out like a firehose. It’s the nature of medical school that it’s tougher than undergrad.” Fleischmann said students are expected to have some background knowledge in biology and other sciences learned during their undergraduate studies. He said the initial foundational science course is meant to bring students to an even level of understanding.

“We carry them to a certain level and then push even further,” Fleischmann said. “Each student is unique. Some have good experience in biochemistry, while others might know genetics or physiology. They will be well prepared. It is our expectation that all will graduate.” Jamie Alan, assistant professor of pharmacology, explained that in class, students work through 18 to 20page case studies while trying to determine a diagnosis. She said they work through each case in two days, in small groups of eight, for a total of four hours.

“The smaller groups are more self-directed,” Alan said. “They do develop diagnosis, but the goal is to understand basic science and how it leads one to understand chemical events.” As instructors and students readily await initial test scores, Fleischmann said he was gleeful that CMED has now begun to take shape. “It’s been a lot of fun having students here finally,” he said. “We’re eagerly awaiting the results.” university@cm-life.com

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Inside Life cm-life.com

CMU to offer first Special Education study abroad

CRIME LOG The following incidents were reported between 3 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 13 and midnight on Monday, Sept. 16 by the Mount Pleasant Police Department. Sept. 13 w 3:28 a.m. – A 20-year-old Lapeer man was cited for his first charge as a minor in possession at 401 S. Fancher St.

By Neil Rosan Staff Reporter

w 1:42 p.m. – Officers transported a 28-year-old Lansing man from Ingham County to Isabella County Sheriff’s Department for failure to appear in court, and lodged him in the county jail. w 10:30 p.m. – Officers investigated the theft of a $1,300 computer at 1004 E. Pickard St. Sept. 15 w 9:53 a.m. – Damages to property were reported at 520 Sunset Lane. w 11:23 a.m. – Damages to property were reported at 1240 E. Broomfield St.

LIFE IN BRIEF C OM M UN I TY

CHURCH 5K TO RAISE FUNDS FOR WELLNESS CENTER Faith Community Church’s first 5K run/walk will be held in the hopes of raising funds for a new wellness center in Mount Pleasant. The 5K, set to begin at 9 a.m. at Island Park on Sept. 21, costs $30 per runner and $10 for children 10 and under. The church’s first lady, Tina Hall, said the church hopes to inspire people to live a healthy lifestyle by using some of the proceeds to fund the new wellness center. “Faith Community Church’s Wellness Center will help improve the health of individuals within the community by providing opportunities to be physically fit, increase health awareness and provide support services that reinforce continued healthy choices,” Hall said. Ten percent of the proceeds from the 5K will aid MegaCARE Missions around the world. MegaCARE initiates sustainable community development through education, health care assistance, humanitarian service and empowerment platforms. Hall picked this philanthropy because MegaCARE concentrates on health care and disease prevention by providing medicine, medical camps, building health clinics and supplying medical equipment. “You don’t have to be an elite runner to do a 5K,” Hall said. “Everyone has the ability to do something positive for their health.” For more information about Faith Community Church’s First Annual 5K, visit faithcommunity.tv. - Lauren Fowlkes, Staff Reporter

U N I V E RS I T Y

SGA COMMITTEE MEETINGS HELD MONDAY The special committees of the Student Government Association met in the Education and Human Services building Monday to go over objectives of each committee and what they intend to accomplish throughout the year. In the Spirits and Traditions committee, led by student senator and Rochester Hills sophomore Karen Nixon, 26 house representatives and senators discussed a plan to start an SGA team for next months Homecoming festivities. “The SGA has never had its own team for homecoming, so we’re hoping to put one together this year on top of helping the other RSOs work out their Homecoming projects,” Nixon said. In the Student Services Committee, student senator and Adrian sophomore Ashlea Phenicie proposed a safe sex program, aimed at providing students with easy access to free condoms around campus. “The University of Michigan recently started a program similar to what we want to do,” Phenicie said. “It’s a work in progress that we would like to see happen for the safety of the students.” Proposals requiring funding that require SGA approval will be voted on at the next general board meeting at 7 p.m. next Monday, Sept. 23 in the French Auditorium. - By Nathan Clark Staﬀ Reporter

Katy Kildee | Assistant Photo Editor Commerce Twp. senior Greg King (left) and Sterling Heights senior Mark Faria taste apples on Tuesday at McIntosh Orchard on Remus Road. in Mount Pleasant.

Fruitful beginnings Students create plans for fruit stand on campus By Kate Woodruff Staff Reporter

Sometimes the best ideas strike unexpectedly. They can happen while eating breakfast, on the commute to work, or even in the shower. “I came up with the idea because I woke up late for class and I knew I had to shower,” Sterling Heights junior Mark Faria said. “As I was standing in the shower, I was thinking, ‘I’m so hungry but I can’t eat (or I’ll be late for class),’ and then I thought, ‘What if, on the way to class you had a stand that sold you apples and fruits?” Faria and his business-savvy roommate, Commerce Township senior Greg King, have been working on the idea of opening up fruit stands on campus, where, on their walks to class — late or not — students can grab a fresh, cheap bite to eat. Faria said his idea is something that will offer students a variety of inexpensive options. “It will be called ‘CMU Fruits,’ and there are going to be stands set up throughout campus that will allow students the opportunity to buy apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, watermelon — just fruit, and it will be two fruits for $1,” Faria said. Ever since the idea was formed, the two business partners have been serious about going forward with their plan; so much so that the morning Faria thought of the idea, the men went out on campus and got student reactions about their potential business. “We went around campus and we asked people if they would be interested in this idea, and if they

said yes, we had them write down their name and the fruit they would want the most,” Faria said. King said he was surprised by how many people were willing to stop and talk with them, despite the fact that many were in a hurry. “We got really good responses from everyone we talked to. We talked to them for about 15 seconds, explaining our idea and whether they would be for it,” he said. “There weren’t even people who didn’t want to write their names, even though they were busy going to class.” After the traffic of two class periods had passed through campus, the CMU student body had spoken loud and clear. They want “CMU Fruits.” Oxford sophomore Carrie Stoffel was enthusiastic about the idea and was willing to show her full support. “I support this idea 100 percent; it’s a great quick and healthy snack for students who are going to and from classes,” she said. “They have a great idea, especially since everyone is on a health kick lately. This is a good thing for CMU, and I think we should welcome the fruit stand to campus.” Faria and King stressed the importance of two things as they continue with this business venture: The fruit has to be purchased locally and the stands must be student-run, student-funded and student-managed in order to keep this project close to the student body. “We really want it to be locallybought fruit. We want to go out and profit smaller businesses around the area, and when students know it’s local, that’s more of an incentive,” King said. “We’re really not

trying to make a bunch of money off of this, we just thought it was a cool idea.” So, how do the two plan to jumpstart this idea? The duo wants to seek assistance from the New Venture Competition and hopes to use it to obtain start-up funds. “There’s the New Venture Competition that (is done) every year. We haven’t gone through the university yet, so we don’t know the logistics of whether we can do it, but I know if we go through the competition, it will give us experience on organizing a business,” King said. From there, the business duo has large plans. “We’re going to start here. Once that expands enough and gets big enough, we’re going to start extending it out through colleges in Michigan,” Faria said. “So, Michigan State would get one called ‘MSU Fruits,’ Western, Oakland, University of Michigan — all the major colleges. At that point we’d really try to expand and go national with it if it snowballs that big.” The business partners plan to approach CMU to obtain any permits or permission they might need to sell on campus. The tag team is excited for the launch of this project and the potential benefits it will offer the community. “What’s nice about this (project) is you’re teaching business through something other than a classroom,” Faria said.

Central Michigan University will offer its first study abroad program focused on special education next summer. The three-week program will feature three different classes during 10 days in Denmark to give students a different perspective of social services in other countries. “I think the combination of the country we are going to and the student excitement is going to make it a really exciting program,” Counseling and Special Education Professor Jordan Shurr said. “It’s going to be a really rich experience with people from a lot of different venues who all have a similar focus.” The program will offer special education core classes SPE 519, SPE 521 and an option to take both classes. A third option, SPE 545, is open to anyone who has an interest in special education. Half of SPE 519 and 521 will be taught in the United States beginning on May 19. Students will depart for Denmark on June 1 and will spend 11 days Copenhagen, Denmark and Aaraus, Switzerland. “I have had quite a few students who said they are in their last year and were hoping this would come before they graduated,” Shurr said. “Some of them have studied abroad with general education and they have had great experiences, but they wanted something specific to their passion in special education and disabilities.” Shurr hopes the difference in culture and social services offered to those with special needs will give the students a good experience. “Smaller countries than the United States have a unique sense of community where disabilities are welcomed quite well,” he said. “The culture allows for support systems for people with disabilities, especially those with intellectual disabilities. They just have a unique perspective that lends itself to accepting people in their various shapes, sizes, abilities and disabilities.” Once in Denmark, students will have the opportunity to speak with members of the Danish Ministry of Education, have discussions with disability advocacy groups and even get the chance to interact with individuals with disabilities. Shurr said students will have much to gain from these experiences. “Having this more communal culture where everyone is different and they celebrate that just makes Denmark a really unique opportunity,” he said. “We will be able to compare and contrast how they do these things and how they perceive intellectual disability.” university@cm-life.com

studentlife@cm-life.com

Physics students work to construct mass spectrometer in Dow By Malachi Barrett Staff Reporter

Students under the direction of Nuclear Physics Professor Matt Redshaw are building a mass spectrometer in the Dow Science Complex. Assembly began in 2012 and is conducted by graduate and undergraduate physics students. Last fall, a 12-Tesla superconducting magnet was donated to Central Michigan University from the University of Texas, after they shut down a similar lab. The project is spearheaded by Redshaw, who has previous experience with superconducting magnets from research at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. “One of the main things is the relationship between energy and mass,” Redshaw said. “For example, through E=MC^2, measuring mass can tell you about the amount of energy that is used to bind an atom together.” The device is planned for use in measuring the masses of particles to determine the energy required to bind protons and neutrons in an atom. Redshaw began work on the mass spectrometer at the time of his hire in 2012, receiving funding for the project as part of a start-up package and repurposing costs from the university. According to Redshaw, installation costs have tallied about $250,000 so far. The magnet was too large to fit into the service elevator, so a hole

Arin Bisaro | Staff Photographer CMU’s new 12-Tesla superconducting magnet, located in the basement of DOW Science building, was donated by the University of Texas.

was dug into the side of the building and fit through a gap made in the basement wall. Although the ongoing process won’t come to fruition for several years, students are running simulations and constructing the components that will be installed in the future. Lake Orion senior Richard Bryce has worked there for half a year, starting last semester and continuing over the summer to this semester. Bryce is running computer simulations on the

process of creating ions with a powerful laser that removes them off a solid object for use in experiments. “It’s always good to do research as an undergrad, if you have the opportunity,” Bryce said. “I knew I wanted to do experimental physics, but I wasn’t sure what exactly and I also knew that Dr. Redshaw was affiliated with NSCL, and I thought it’d be a great opportunity to gain some experience.” A charged particle is sent around a strong magnetic field produced by the

superconducting magnet. The magnet is then cooled with liquid helium to create a continuous magnetic field along coils of wire. Particles of higher mass revolve more slowly than lighter masses, so measuring the motion frequencies will allow Redshaw and his students to determine the mass. The magnet can generate a magnetic field of 120,000 gauss, roughly half a million times stronger than earth’s magnetic force. Redshaw is also interested in examining neutrinos released when a particle radioactively decays. “These are very light, but we know that they have some mass.” Redshaw said. “There are experiments being done to determine how much this neutrino weighs, and so by measuring these energy differences we can help those experiments.” The experience has been educational for his students and offers a chance to gain hands-on knowledge using the same equipment used by research professionals. “I’ve felt very fortunate, because I know that not everyone gets the opportunity to do this kind of thing,” Bryce said. “It’s inspiring honestly when you can see where it can lead, like at NSCL. You can see what you can end up doing so you see the importance of all of this.” university@cm-life.com

Voices

Editorial Board

cm-life.com

Amanda Brancecum

Staff Reporter

29 credits, not a penny spent My name is Amanda and I did not have to pay anything for my first 29 credits of college. It is not very often that you run into someone who has completed 71 credits before entering their second year of college without being a transfer student or taking advanced placement classes. In high school, I decided to start my college career out right by taking some dual enrollment courses. Only high school juniors took the ACT test and you had to have an ACT score to even be considered for dual enrollment course sign up. I took the ACT at Lake Superior State University my sophomore year. I was given a waiver from my high school to waive the fee of the test, because I was in the low-income family category. The score wasn’t spectacular, but it was just enough to sign up for the classes I wanted. My very first college course was online through Bay Mills Community College. It was difficult, and I took it with a few other classmates. My high school paid for the credits, and the LSSU Upward Bound program let me use the required materials for free, as long as I gave them back when I was finished with the course. At the end of my junior year, I accumulated seven college credits through BMCC. Senior year was not the typical slack off year for me. I ended up with three college courses each semester and I had to travel up to LSSU twice a week. Typically, I would have to pay for the gas to travel up to the college, but I lucked out and was able to catch a ride on the skills center bus. I had earned 25 credits by the time I graduated from high school. Summer rolled around before going to college for the first time here at Central Michigan University. I stayed in the LSSU residence halls for six weeks with the rest of the Upward Bound kids, but this time as a bridger, and for the very last time. As a bridger, Upward Bound paid for one summer course taken through LSSU. I took a humanities course that was four credits and six weeks long. I did not have as much trouble with the humanities course as I had the first course I took my junior year. Six weeks later, I had 29 college credits under my belt coming into CMU. I am officially in my second year of college with 71 credits and plan to graduate with a bachelor’s degree at the end of my third year at CMU instead of having to go a fourth year. With thinking ahead and choosing right, I was able to cut off a whole year of college and didn’t have to pay a penny for it.

EDITORIAL |

Congress must act on background checks

Don’t eliminate guns, just limit who can have them nother day, another mass shooting in the United States.

On Monday, 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard were the victims of the latest in a long string of horrific gun violence incidents. According to officials, Texas resident Aaron Alexis perched himself on the top of an atrium and began shooting at people who were eating breakfast using a shotgun. The events are likely, for better or for worse, to bring the debate over gun control back to the table, especially now that Syria looks like it could take a backseat in the national conversation. It likely means the Obama administration will try for the second time this year to pass meaningful gun control legislation after an unsuccessful bid to win over Congress earlier this year. Critics of any form of gun control legislation are likely to cry foul over another push for gun control, accusing the president and his allies of politicizing a tragedy. Isn’t that the point, though? Isn’t that why we sent lawmakers to Washington: to pass laws to advance the general welfare of the nation? Now is the time to have a debate over gun control.

What should Congress do, though? After all, the U.S. gun violence epidemic is incredibly complex and requires nuanced discussion on the matter. It requires discussions not only on guns themselves, but on our culture and on our pitiful state of our nation’s mental health services. Congress isn’t known for handling complex situations or for nuance, so perhaps picking up where gun control talks ended last time would suffice for now: Background checks. A consistently recurring theme in each of these incidents is the mental instability of the attacker. Take Alexis, 34, for instance. He had been treated for numerous mental health illnesses in the past, including sleeplessness, paranoia and hearing voices, but was able to buy a gun anyway. Why is that OK? Congress, with many of its members in both parties, but especially the Republican Party, completely bought and paid for by the National Rifle Association, have deemed incidents like these as unfortunate but acceptable side effects of upholding Americans’

Second Amendment rights. That is an insult to the countless victims of gun violence and their families. It’s true that no law can prevent gun violence, but shouldn’t our elected officials at least try instead of cowering in the corner out of fear of losing campaign contributions from the NRA? To be clear, we are not advocates of “taking everyone’s guns away,” as critics of gun control often accuse proponents of advocating for. We believe in the right to bear arms and using guns as a means of self-defense or to hunt. But we are not in favor of anyone with a long history of mental health issues or a violent past being able to buy a weapon at a store almost as if that person were buying groceries. Stringent background checks are necessary to promote public safety, just as protecting the right to bear arms is. It’s on us, as citizens and voters, to tell Congress to act, since many of our elected officials are too cowardly to act on their own. Call your representative and tell them to do what’s right and pass just the most basic of gun control laws, at least to start. Tell them to stop operating out of fear of NRA backlash and let them know where you stand on the issue, and maybe we can prevent the next mass shooting.

STUDENT FACES

Get to know Dearborn Heights junior John Bachor John Bachor is a sophomore from Dearborn Heights majoring in communications. Describe yourself in three words: JB: Geeky, kind and well-read. What is the best part about being a Chippewa? JB: All the incredible experiences you get to have. The events that Central Michigan University hosts from time to time, a lot of the interesting ways they have different charity events around; they’re far more out-there than I normally am used to. Who is your role model? JB: Iron Man. He’s intelligent and he knows how to think things through. He’s prepared for almost anything, and when he puts his mind to something he sees it through to the end. What is the best piece of advice you have ever gotten? JB: Things are always going to get worse before they get better.

Want to be featured in the next Student Faces? Or know someone who should be?

CARTOON

Nathan Clark

Staff Reporter

Stop playing with your smartphone I was a shy kid growing up. It took a lot for me to open up to new people. Those days are long gone. I can still be a little shy at times, but that’s normal. These days, I prefer to throw myself out there and try to talk to the new and interesting people all around me, but apparently I can’t do that. Sometime between my childhood and where I am now, we have become a society of digitally connected introverts communicating with people hundreds of miles away, but unable to connect with someone standing only a few feet away. What the hell happened to us? Humans are social creatures, right? I’ve tried saying hello to people while waiting for the bus to no avail. I’ve tried talking to my fellow classmates in the hall while waiting for a class to start and have gotten nothing. When I look back at my years spent in college, is the best thing I can say about my classmates going to be, “I really miss those long awkward silences in the hall right before class. Those really got me geared up for the day.” Perhaps nobody wants to talk anymore because no one has anything interesting to say. I don’t think that’s the case, or at least I hope it’s not. I’d like to toss the blame on smartphones, but that hardly seems fair. Sure, if you look at any given group of people sitting around not talking to one another they are usually tapping away at a smartphone, but the phone isn’t to blame. American society as a whole is to blame for its disinterest in its fellow man. When I lived in Europe, every day there was always some random person who would come up to me, say hello and hold a conversation. It was great. It’s not too late for us to change our ways and become social beasts once again. Next time you’re at a bus stop, waiting for class or standing in line somewhere, say hello and try to talk to someone around you. CMU is full of interesting people. It would be a shame to miss out on such a grand opportunity. Just talk to someone new and keep your damn smartphone in your pocket.

Central Michigan Life What is your biggest fear? Why? JB: Flunking college. College is one of those milestones that everybody looks at. They look at what you pass, what you fail. If there’s just one small problem on your records, they’re going to scrutinize that.

Let us know! studentlife@cm-life.com

EDITORIAL Catey Traylor, Editor-in-Chief John Irwin, Managing Editor Kyle Kaminski, University Editor Samantha Smallish, Student Life Editor Tony Wittkowski, Metro Editor Kristopher Lodes, Sports Editor Ben Solis, Copy Editor Taylor Ballek, Photo Editor Katy Kildee, Assistant Photo Editor Mariah Prowoznik, Lead Designer Luke Roguska, Page Designer Kayla Folino, Page Designer Austin Stowe, Multimedia Editor James Wilson, Social Media Coordinator Nick Dobson, Online Coordinator ADVERTISING MANAGERS Julie Bushart Daniel Haremski Gabriella Hoffman PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER Kaitlyn Blaszczyk PROFESSIONAL STAFF Rox Ann Petoskey Production Leader Kathy Simon Assistant Director of Student Publications Dave Clark Director of Student Publications

E-mail | editor@cm-life.com Mail | 436 Moore Hall Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 989.774.LIFE cm-life.com Central Michigan Life welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Only correspondence that includes a signature (email excluded), address and phone number will be considered. Do not include attached documents via email. Letters should be no longer than 300 words and commentary should not exceed 500 words. All submissions are subject to editing and may be published in print or on cm-life.com in the order they are received.

Sports

Central Michigan Life | cm-life.com | Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013 | 5

Chippy Awards raise $2,000; benefit Special Olympics, honor athletes CM Life Staff Reports

Katy Kildee | Assistant Photo Editor Junior wide receiver Titus Davis has begun to lead the offense after injuries at key positions and inconsistency with quarterbacks.

Touchdown Titus: Junior wide receiver leads inconsistent offense By Jeff Papworth Staff Reporter

Receiver Titus Davis has been one of the more reliable pieces of a team that has been inconsistent in many areas this season. He has accounted for half of the team’s touchdowns (3), which includes a careerlong 97-yard reception to tie the game against New Hampshire on Sept. 7. “He’s a tremendous player,” said head coach Dan Enos. “He’s got a great mentality because he’s a tremendously hard worker. He understands the offense very well. He understands how to get separation.” Davis realizes the responsibility he holds. “I’ve got to practice at a high level and just lead by example for my team,” Davis said. “Just do everything I can to be successful and to help my team be successful.” His success has come despite Central Michigan shuffling through three quarterbacks in three games.

He is averaging 109.3 receiving yards per game, which is second-best in the MidAmerican Conference. “We knew coming into this season that we were going to have to go through this type of situation,” Davis said. “So we really worked on chemistry with each quarterback and just throughout the offseason.” But there have been potential big plays for him that have resulted in no yards. Quarterback Cody Kater missed him on a rollout in the first drive of the season when he was wide open. There was one occasion where Davis was open in the UNLV game and the ball was thrown over his head. Enos said it was the fault of both players, as Davis could have taken a better angle on the ball and quarterback Cooper Rush could have thrown a better pass as he was being rushed. Davis was primed to have a good season, though, with whoever was going to throw him the ball. He was on the Biletnikoff Preseason Award

watch list and was also named preaseason All-MAC first team by Phil Steele. Yet he still found things to improve on in the offseason. Davis spent time on the mental part of the game, learning opposing teams’ defenses. He also spent some time improving on how to go up and get a ball — a skill he has not had to use as much as some because he has broken away from his defender. Davis said defenders are not treating him any differently, despite the receiving yards he has compiled. However, Enos and his coaching staff are aware of what he can bring to the game and try to give him around 10-15 touches a game. “Sometimes for a wideout it’s difficult to dictate that based on coverage and things,” Enos said. “But we try to move him around, too. We don’t try to line him up at the same spot.” sports@cm-life.com

Central Michigan athletes replaced their sweaty workout clothes with suits and dresses for the fourthannual Chippy Awards show Sunday. Around 700 people filed into Plachta Auditorium in Warriner Hall to celebrate the Chippewas’ many accomplishments and achievements from last year, while raising $2,000 for Special Olympics of Michigan. “It’s always good to see where the money goes,” said head baseball coach Steve Jaksa. “It’s a good tradition we have and I love to see the festive crowd.” Joe Houlihan, Pat MacKenzie and Sean Renzi of the baseball team helped organize and emcee the event under the supervision of Jeremy Ploch, the Advisor of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Three of the four CHippy Awards shows have been put on with help from members of the baseball team, starting with Sam Russell and Reid Rooney. “I always look forward to (the Chippy awards),” said Athletic Director Dan Heeke. “It has been a great year for CMU athletics.” Just like ESPN’s Espys, winners were called to the front of the stage to speak and receive their award, which was presented by a Special Olympian and a pair of CMU athletes. The show also offered a variety of skits, speakers and videos. The women’s basketball team earned three trophies, including Coach of the Year Sue Guevara, Female Athlete of the Year Crystal Bradford and Team of the Year. “I just get to be the fortunate one to lead this team,” Guevara said. “I’m thankful for everyone, especially the team. I am very, very honored.”

Softball also took home three awards: Championship Performance and Best Play from Kara Dornbos and Game of the Year went to its Mid-American Conference title 11th-inning title win against Northern Illinois, which clinched head coach Margo Jonker’s 1,000th win. “God has blessed me to be able to play for CMU for four years,” Dornbos said. “I’d like to thank CMU and my teammates for a wonderful four years.” Freshman of the Year was awarded to soccer’s Josie Seebeck, who died in a car accident in early August. Seebeck, “a great young woman,” with a “bright

future,” made MAC allfreshman team last year. Also receiving awards were Jordan Foley (baseball) for Breakthrough Athlete and Eric Fisher (football) for Male Athlete of the Year. Non-athletes Steve Adler and Registrar Karen Hustler won Professor of the Year and Fan of the Year. “I’m thrilled of the Chippys,” said Marcy Weston, Executive Associate Director of Athletics/ Sports Administration. “Every year it gets better and better.” sports@cm-life.com

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Enos to team after UNLV loss: ‘You got a taste of your own medicine’ By Aaron McMann Senior Reporter

A calmer, more relaxed Dan Enos appeared earlier this week. In stark contrast from the frustrated Central Michigan coach who appeared before the media Saturday night following his team’s 31-21 loss at UNLV. “We had a lot of opportunities to separate ourselves, and we just didn’t do it,” Enos said of the game during Monday’s Mid-American Conference coaches’ teleconference. “Their backup quarterback came in and really gave them a spark, similar to what we did the week before.” On Tuesday, Enos went one step further, revealing what he told the team in the locker room on Saturday. “You got a taste of your own medicine. You gave it to New Hampshire and it just happened to us,” he said.

“We didn’t learn our lesson.” Senior quarterback Caleb Herring was thrown into the fire early on Saturday, after UNLV starter Nick Sherry reverted to his old ways of throwing interceptions throwing five through three games — and was benched following the Rebels’ second drive of the game. Similar to how redshirt freshman Cooper Rush found himself behind center last week, Herring jumpstarted the UNLV offense almost immediately. The Rebels scored a touchdown late in the second quarter on a 12-yard pass from Herring and signaled a turning point that left CMU hapless on both sides of the ball. Herring finished the game 24-for-28 for 266 yards and three touchdowns. “We’ve got to learn how to win on the road, and we’ve got to learn how to finish games and find a way

to win,” Enos said. “We didn’t do that on Saturday, but there were a lot of really good learning moments.” The loss drops Enos to 1-8 in non-conference regular season road games with NC State on the schedule for Sept. 28. Before then, CMU’s Mid-American Conference schedule kicks off Saturday against Toledo. The Rockets entered the week with a question mark at quarterback after starter Terrence Owens was carted off with a sprained knee during the Rockets’ 33-21 win against Eastern Washington this weekend. Owens is questionable for Saturday’s game. “We have a 24-hour rule,” Rush said on Tuesday. “We’re on to this one. It’s a big MAC game, and we’re looking forward to it.” sports@cm-life.com

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News

6 | Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013 | Central Michigan Life | cm-life.com

Finance VP finalists square off V

By Ben Solis | Staff Reporter

ice President of Finance and Administrative Services David Burdette will vacate his

position as Central Michigan University’s top money man this month, and two finalists are competing to take his place.

w 32 years of financial services experience, 21 years with Central Michigan University. w Received his Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and is a registered certified public accountant (CPA). w Worked at MSU as a payroll manager, student accounts manager and assistant manager of accounting, as well as a staff auditor at BDO Seidman financial firm before coming to CMU in 1992.

w Worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Medical Corporation, HillRom Holdings and Kaplan Eduneering before moving to higher education. w Higher education experience includes Charleston Southern University, The Citadel military academy and Valdosta State University.

Baylen Brown | Staff Photographer

Samantha Madar | Staff Photographer

MAKING SMARTER CUTS

HE SAID ACCEPTING LOW ENROLLMENT

“We’ve been very fortunate. In a couple of years, we’ve had some increases in our enrollment, and one of the things that we didn’t do was embed those increases in everyone’s budgets. We kept that increase separate and had about $5 million in academic pools and about another $1 million in other pools we set up. That allows us to be flexible, and year to year, you can change the size of those pools. So if we have a budget cut, we can go into those pools first. It gives us an additional buffer for those leaner years.”

“We’ve been through budget cuts before; we will get through this round of cuts. These cuts are different, because they are enrollment based. All of the reductions we’ve had since I’ve been here have been due to appropriation. At least with appropriation we knew what the number was. Along the way, I think planning and identifying what size institution we need to be. What should we be? I’ve never seen where anyone has effectively answered that question.”

BRINGING NEW INNOVATION

IF WE DON’T INCREASE ENROLLMENT

“We had a work order system that wasn’t working so well for us at Valdosta state. We started using a newer version that was web and geeky, and it had web apps that we were able to use interface apps with. They’re able to scan and bar code (rooms) now. So in the residence halls, we’re able to scan the top of the roof, go in there and scan the three things that weren’t right, and give them over as work orders so (facilities) can start fixing things. So we’re not only more accurate, but we have less time wasted doing it.”

COMMUNICATING THE BUDGET, TRANSPARENCY

“There’s been discussion over the years about replacing North Campus. A few years ago, we were going to put a lot of money into them and decided that’s an awful lot of money to still have this same complex. Ferris (State University) is tearing down their residence halls. If you can’t fill them and they’re old and we don’t like them anyway, maybe tear them down. There are options. They aren’t easy options.”

COMMUNICATING THE BUDGET, TRANSPARENCY

“We want to make sure that everyone is involved in that (budget) process. There’s about 20 who are in the voting members of (the Valdosta budget committee); it’s both faculty and staff. We have some student representation on that as well to make sure that everyone is transparent and knowing what’s happening with the check book. We do invite faculty, staff and students in addition to that. They get to see all the pieces so there’s no smoke and mirrors.”

“We need to do a better job of being transparent, of sharing information. Now, having said that, we can only be so transparent about the budget. If we’re negotiating a contract, we can’t go in and say ‘The university is giving people a 3 percent raise this year.’ I think we need to be having budget forums like we did a couple of years ago. If you can get in front of people and answer questions, it’s still not easy but I think we’ll have a better communication model.”

PARTNERING WITH THE COMMUNITY

“One thing I was able to do was something that is out of the box. We had 80 acres of land (at Charleston Southern University) adjacent to the campus and we didn’t have a lot of endowment money. With that, (we got a board) together of corporations and started developing that raw land. There was a lot involved in actually getting that board together. We had a lawyer on there that worked for free, we had a developer that did. A lot of really wonderful folks who gave us some wise advice and counsel.”

Staff Reporter

VP candidates offer two very different paths for CMU

w Serves as treasurer on the Middle Michigan Development Corporation, an economic development organization serving businesses in central Michigan.

SHE SAID

Ben Solis

IS S LY

w Received a Bachelor’s degree from University of Central Florida and a MBA with an emphasis in management from University of South Florida.

BARRIE WILKES

A N

w 23 years of private sector ﬁnancial experience, plus an additional seven years working in higher education.

explain on their visions for the university as it wades through a budget crisis and how they think they can help. The forum also gave faculty, staff and other members of the public a chance to lob questions at the two would-be vice presidents.

SUE FUCIARELLI

In two separate and sparsely attended public forums, CMU’S Associate Vice President for Financial Services & Reporting Barrie Wilkes and newcomer Sue Fuciarelli, vice president for finance and administration at Valdosta State University, took the opportunity to

PARTNERING WITH THE COMMUNITY

“Community relations are big. There have been times when CMU has been criticized for not being a very good partner with the city. Sometimes, we’re criticized for things within the community or people within the community that I don’t think are (acceptable). Things like ‘Why did you put a convenience store in the residence hall? That’s hurting my 7-11 on the corner. Why did you build more married housing apartments? You’re hurting my apartments.’ We need to be a better partner in the community.”

Choosing a new chief financial officer can be a trying task for any corporation, organization or institution of higher education. Picking the right candidate would seem paramount to the process, but shopping them out in front of the collective body that they would serve is equally as important. The search for Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services David Burdette’s replacement is no exception. That’s why Central Michigan University was wise to offer free, public forums with both of its respective candidates for the position before delegating a decision. Not only was the university able to gather the vital opinions of the faculty and staff about what they want in a new CFO, it gave those most concerned with the process — CMU’s employees — a chance to feel out the personalities of each. The perpetually cool Barrie Wilkes, CMU’S associate vice president of Financial Services & Reporting, graced those in attendance at Friday’s forum with solid answers to tough questions and a willingness to get tough when needed. In the other corner, newcomer Sue Fuciarelli, vice president for Finance and Administration at Valdosta State University, brought an aura of charm and forward-thinking solutions to her crowd on Monday. Both performed well in what would be considered a highly-publicized job interview where sinking or swimming are the only two options. Transparency in budget reporting topped the bill, and ways to strengthen existing revenue streams was a dominant positive for each candidate. However, two very clear and disparate paths appear for the university based on the two candidates and their philosophies. If the university wants straight forward solutions to issues that have plagued them incessantly for the past few years, the obvious choice is Wilkes. Wilkes offers the experience and a strong working knowledge of the CMU infrastructure. Yet, his time here brings up an interesting point of contention to his potential effectiveness as a CFO. In all of his time here at CMU, he was part of the team that led to the university’s current intentional decline in prominence. Wilkes can very easily be viewed as part of the problem, as opposed to a financial solution. On the other hand, CMU is on a big push to re-brand itself, and the innovation-minded Fuciarelli would be the ideal candidate. Her forum was filled with references to use of new technologies, reaching out to corporations for financial counsel and tailoring the institution to the individual needs of students, faculty and staff. The downside to Fuciarelli as a candidate is her inexperience in higher education and her lack of research on CMU before her forum. Many times in her forum, Fuciarelli waxed philosophical with flashy rhetoric and failed to give specific examples to solutions for our problems. The line “I don’t know what’s working because I’m new” was dropped by Fuciarelli – a killer in any job interview. The search committee has a very difficult decision to make, one that would determine the future of CMU as a premier institution. As students, we can only hope that they take that path seriously and choose the most qualified candidate, not the one that seems to fit a hastily conceived marketing agenda. university@cm-life.com

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Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” represents the quintessential mass-hysteria/sci-fi/horror films that were so prevalent during the 1950s. In it, a smalltown doctor becomes aware that alien replicas, only absent of genuine emotion, were replacing his closeknit community. A true cinematic experience and well worth the short 1 hour and 20 minutes.

ing concept, 1980s special effects and an eerie soundtrack, what else do you need?

Sleep-related movies By Jake Schmittler Staff Reporter

Inception (2010) Inception is a visually impressive film by Christopher Nolan that relies heavily on reality and truth, as is a common Nolan theme. Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, has mastered the ability to acquire vital information by entering dreams. In an attempt to regain his old life, he accepts a job where the challenge is not to retrieve information but rather to plant an idea, i.e. inception. Open Your Eyes (1997) A handsome, successful Casanova finds himself disfigured and unable to separate dreams from reality after a horrific car accident. Sound familiar? It should. This Spanish drama is the original material for the 2001 Hollywood hit “Vanilla Sky” starring Tom Cruise.

that is supposed to help suppress these dreams begins to influence them to change the present world, the results becoming more than he anticipated.

Senior Reporter

The City of Lost Children (1995) “The City of Lost Children” is a creatively bizarre and exceptionally imaginative surreal fantasy. The evil scientist Krank, who cannot dream, steals children away to his secret ocean hideout to take their dreams for himself.

Donnie Darko (2001) “Donnie Darko” features a young Jake Gyllenhaal and possibly the most terrifying rabbit in history. Darko sleepwalks himself into some pretty bizarre situations... We’ll just leave it at that.

The Science of Sleep (2006) A true testament to creativity and imagination, “The Science of Sleep” is whimsical, light-hearted and entirely surreal. The film follows Stéphane, an imaginative, creative man who often lives life within the reality of his own daydreams and sees the world with a sincere sense of wonderment.

The Machinist (2004) “The Machinist” follows insomniac factory worker Trevor Reznik (a grotesquely thin Christian Bale) who hasn’t slept in more than a year. Strange events start to surface in Reznik’s life, and the more he tries to figure them out, the more confused he becomes.

Fight Club (1999) The film follows an apathetic insomniac office drone as he gets tangled up with a sadistic, soap-making sociopath. Powerfully written and visually striking, “Fight Club” might be director David Finch’s best work.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

The Lathe of Heaven (1980) “The Lathe of Heaven” is the epitome of 1980s lowbudget science fiction. A young man has the ability to alter reality by simply dreaming it. However, in a twist, the very psychiatrist

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) This low-budget horror flick is still one of the best. “A Nightmare on Elm Street” is simply a good movie. With a terrify-

Adriana Cotero

“Sleepwalk With Me” (2012), “Dreamscape” (1984), “Insomnia” (1997) and “Dream” (2008).

For the love of sleep... and coffee Whether I get a full night’s sleep or a quick catnap, sleep is sleep. And, well, I love sleep. Seriously, who doesn’t love waking up from a great snooze sesh? I know I do, but I have a problem: I love sleep too much. I have been that person who sleeps in every day until noon. Last year, all of my classes started after 1 p.m., just so I could sleep in. But this past summer, I realized I needed to break this sleeping-in habit. I always thought of sleep as a positive and enlightening act, and while it is, there are also many negatives that come from sleeping too much. Many times I would sleep though breakfast, which is supposed to be the most important meal of the day. I would also find myself feeling incredibly lazy throughout my much shorter day. Because of my late sleeping habit, my days would consist of very

little, making them a waste. That is why this past summer I started to wake up earlier, around 8 a.m., allowing me to accomplish a lot more throughout my day. I was fascinated by how much I could get done before noon; I could do two loads of laundry, clean my room, run errands and workout, all before my traditional day would have started. Needless to say, I was amazed. As much as I love sleep, I love getting my day started earlier. That is, as long as I have my newfound friend – coffee – by my side. While sleep will always be an act I look forward to, I will have to let go of my habit of sleeping in. For the past month, Sunday has been the only day I have allowed myself to sleep past 10 a.m., and my weekdays must begin by 8 a.m. sharp. Coffee is accepted, as well as a 30-minute nap during day. (Hey, I never said I could break my habit overnight.) While the phrase “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” is a common and over exaggerated one, it holds some truth. So, goodbye sleep. I love you and you will be missed. But trust me, once midday rolls around and that nap is calling my name, we will meet again.

Students don’t mind 8 a.m. classes as preparation for the ‘real world’ By Anamaria Dickerson Staff Reporter

While some students avoid Friday classes and ones that begin before the sun is up, others are forced to bear with these unpopular class times. Grand Blanc freshman Alexis Jones is one student whose day begins earlier than others. “To most kids, getting up at 8 a.m. is early, but I’ve always been a morning person,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how late I stay up (the night before) because I’ll be wide awake at about 7 a.m.” Jones said while she doesn’t mind 8 a.m. classes, she would prefer to have class in the afternoon for a more sociable experience. “I prefer afternoon classes because by then everyone is awake and talkative, and I think I follow the material better,” she said. “Having a class early is rough on a lot of my classmates because when I get there, everyone is usually exhausted and quiet.” Grand Haven senior Lauren Showers said there are pros and cons to having an 8 a.m. class. “I enjoy getting my day done earlier,” she said.

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“To most kids, getting up at 8 a.m. is early, but I’ve always been a morning person.” Joseph Rivard, Education professor “However, I can’t stay out late and I end up going to bed early.” It isn’t just students who have to deal with early classes. Education professor Joseph Rivard said it isn’t so much about the time classes start but about the amount of sleep students get the night before that determines how tired they are in class. “Between the ages of 8 and 28, the brain requires at least eight hours of sleep,” he said. “Eight hours of sleep gives students maximum efficiency.” Rivard said he thinks 8 a.m. classes are a good thing for students, as it not only allows them more time to get class over with earlier, leaving more time for social settings, but also helps prepare them for their transition to the real world. “Students are going to spend the rest of their life getting up early,” he said. “When a teacher education student says to me they

have a hard time making an 8 a.m. class, I think they will be getting up way earlier than 8 a.m. (when getting teaching jobs in the real world).” Junior Derick Steinard does not mind early classes. “I think 8 a.m. classes seem bad in the moment when you are getting up and regretting staying up as late as you did the night before, but in reality, they are not that bad,” the Rochester native said. “It gets your day going earlier so you are not tempted to lay in bed and waste some of the day away.” Steinard said another reason he doesn’t mind earlier classes is because he gets the best parking spot in the commuter lot. “It will be especially great in the winter when it’s freezing outside or if I’m running late to class,” he said. “I know the whole front row will be available.” studentlife@cm-life.com

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ing concept, 1980s special effects and an eerie soundtrack, what else do you need?

Sleep-related movies By Jake Schmittler Staff Reporter

that is supposed to help suppress these dreams begins to influence them to change the present world, the results becoming more than he anticipated.

Senior Reporter

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) This low-budget horror flick is still one of the best. “A Nightmare on Elm Street” is simply a good movie. With a terrify-

Adriana Cotero

“Sleepwalk With Me” (2012), “Dreamscape” (1984), “Insomnia” (1997) and “Dream” (2008).

Students don’t mind 8 a.m. classes as preparation for the ‘real world’ By Anamaria Dickerson Staff Reporter

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Central Michigan Life | cm-life.com | Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013 | 9

Students follow routines before bed By Adriana Cotero Senior Reporter

Katy Kildee | Assistant Photo Editor

Photo Illustration

Daydreaming has an unknown cause, various effects on students By Nick Modglin Staff Reporter

Whether it’s while listening to a lecture on quantum physics or an artifact speech about someone’s pet dog, we have all caught ourselves daydreaming at least once. But should we be worried about the amount we daydream? And if so, how can we change it? According to a recent article in National Geographic, daydreaming isn’t all that bad. In fact, daydreaming is a way to bring out your creative side. The brain goes into stages of rest in which the brain still works even if some-

one is inactive. It’s during these stages of rest that daydreaming occurs. According to Central Michigan University psychology professor Carl Johnson, we have not yet found out what causes daydreaming, but we do know that it works in a fashion closely related to regular sleep. “At this time we don’t know what causes daydreaming or even why we do it,” Johnson said. “That’s the same with sleeping.” Troy sophomore Catie Goins uses daydreaming as a way to escape the boring environment of one of her classes. “I find myself daydreaming in my class. I daydream about what I should be doing and things I want to do. I sometimes imagine doing something in film; more toward the soundtrack area,” she said. If she’s not daydreaming about working in film, Goins

is daydreaming about nature, going for walks and good weather. Another student, Sault Ste. Marie senior Justin Rabineau, said he daydreams all day, every day. “I daydream in all my classes. That sounds bad, but I constantly find myself thinking about other things, especially in my lecture halls,” he said. “I mostly just daydream about food instead of my future.” Both Goins and Rabineau said their daydreaming habits don’t interfere with their schooling. However, Owosso sophomore Austin Mallery said he wishes he didn’t daydream as much as he does because it negatively impacts his performances in classes. “I think I daydream a lot, maybe more than the normal person. I wish I didn’t so much. It hurts my classes sometimes,” he said. studentlife@cm-life.com

Whether it is force of habit or a prerequisite before sleep, some Central Michigan University students follow a personal routine before bed. From Netflix movies to soothing music, students have developed procedures they must complete before falling asleep. Holt junior Danielle Thornes follows a traditional routine designed to create structure in her life and provide her with a relaxed sleep. Thornes has followed this routine since the age of 11. “I floss, brush my teeth, wash my face and put on face lotion, all in that order, then go to sleep immediately afterwards,” she said. “I long to have pearly whites, and I wash my face because it makes me feel fresh and relaxed when I sleep.” For many people, these habitual processes are necessary

Nathan Clark

Staff Reporter

My crazy dreams mean something, right? What is a normal dream? Is it normal to dream you’re flying through space, unaided by any form of technology, like a rocket ship? Is it normal to spend hours talking to loved ones

for a peaceful and comfortable sleep, and Ann Arbor freshmen Andrea Gold has a unique routine of her own. “I watch the same two movies before I fall asleep. I alternate between the two, going back and forth in the same night,” Gold said. “I am a very happy and energetic person, and I like to fall asleep in a good mood, so I watch my two favorite comedy movies, ‘Superbad’ and ‘The Hangover.’” Gold began this habit when the movies first came out on DVD nearly five years ago. “Ever since I first saw these two movies, I have made a habit of watching them before bed,” she said. “Even if I am sleeping over at a friend’s house, I watch them or I can’t fall asleep.” Taking a different tactic to falling asleep is Richland senior Alexandria Slucter, who listens to music before bed. But rather than having her music play nonstop, she has an effective approach, which keeps

her phone battery from dying. “I set my iHome music timer for one and a half hours. This gives me enough time to listen to music before bed and hopefully fall asleep,” she said. “Most nights, I cannot fall asleep or it takes me hours, and the music timer really does help. Plus, it doesn’t drain my battery.” Slucter, much like many college students, uses her sleep routine to help her adjust to her ever-changing sleep schedule. “I have a weird sleep schedule. Every other day, class times change and every semester is different. As a college student, it is hard to maintain a consistent pattern,” Slucter said. “It is hard to schedule classes accordingly, which makes the 8 a.m. (classes) a struggle. So, I listen to country music every night. It is very soothing to fall asleep to.”

who have been dead for years? What about that dream of being naked in class? All of these abnormal situations are incredibly normal, as almost everyone I have ever talked with has said they have had some variation of these dreams. I wish I could have these kinds of dreams. I wish I could have a normal dream where I’m flying, making out with an old flame from high school or waking up in class naked. Well actually, I do have that dream from time to time, but in my version of the dream, I’m OK with being naked and wondering why no one else is. Naked learning sounds pretty comfy to me. My dreams never seem to make any sense. They have no theme, no continuity, no logic and, more importantly, no message as far as I can tell. I’ve had dreams where I’m wrestling a bear at the circus, with people all around me cheering. I hit the beast and it explodes into a cascade of loose Lego bricks. The event manager thanks

me for curing the mumps and hands me a lunch bag full of Home Depot receipts. What does this mean? I’ve had dreams where I’m being pursued by dwarves armed with jackhammers. When I get away from them, I run into my mother, who I think is trying to tell me something, but I can’t tell because there are too many bees flying out of her mouth. I’ve had dreams so bizarre that I can barely remember them. And even if I could, I’m not sure I could describe them. People have told me that dreams have some sort of deeper meaning. Like it’s your subconscious trying to figure something out while feeding on your dominant personality traits. But maybe dreams have no meaning. Maybe dreams are just mini vacations our brains go on when they no longer have to translate reality for a few hours. Meaning or not, I still want a normal dream for once. Anyone know how to make that happen? Or am I going to have to ask the Lego bear next time I see him?

studentlife@cm-life.com

10 | Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013 | Central Michigan Life | cm-life.com

Caffeine can be the cure for sleep deprived college students By Elizabeth Benson Staff Reporter

College, it seems, is often synonymous with sleep deprivation and caffeine overdoses. Despite misconceptions that caffeine is terrible for you, health professions professor Marty Malcolm said caffeine is fine in moderation, just like most things. The key word is “moderation.” “The vast majority of those who use caffeine have it under control, but if you’re drinking two Monsters, or two Ripits, or a 12-pack of Mountain Dew a day, that’s out of control,” he said. Many students don’t realize just how much caffeine they’re consuming. “I think on campus, obviously we have a lot of people using caffeine, and they don’t understand how much they’re actually taking into their bodies,” he said. “Keep in mind when I say ‘caffeine,’ I mean maybe an eight-ounce cup of coffee. People need to gain knowledge of how much they are taking into their system.” Walled Lake sophomore Miranda Brunett thinks staying up too late and not getting sufficient sleep are the biggest factors as to why people consume so much caffeine. “I think people get in this cycle of staying up too late to fin-

ish homework or to try to catch up with friends and then having to get up early for classes,” she said. “Too many people think that coffee or energy drinks are a replacement for proper sleep, so they load up on the caffeine to feel better.” How much sleep is enough? Everyone has heard the standard eight hours of solid sleep is enough to keep an adult fully functioning. But that might not always be the case with young adults and college students. “An adult needs eight hours to function, yes. Some college students are still going through that growth phase, however, so they need a solid 8-10 hours of sleep a night,” Malcolm said. “Staying up until 2 a.m. and then getting up for a 9 a.m. class isn’t going to cut it; they will feel that sleep deprivation.” Many people turn to caffeine in an effort to avoid feeling tired and sluggish during the day. However, caffeine carries its own set of problems. “(Caffeine) doesn’t stay in the body very long. It’s a short-acting drug that allows us to concentrate and perform for a short amount of time, and then we have that depression afterward, especially with heavy users,” Malcolm said. “It’s very similar to cigarette addiction; you have

a cigarette, and then the effects start to wear off and you get jittery and anxious, so what do you do? You have another cigarette. Caffeine is very similar that way.” The lack of sleep and the surplus of caffeine also takes its toll on students’ health as the school year goes on. “As an instructor, I see so many students just get ungodly sick around week eight or nine, because they let themselves get so run down and rely on caffeine to keep them up, and they just can’t do it,” Malcolm said. “They turn to stimulants to keep them awake and it doesn’t allow the body to rest.” studentlife@cm-life.com

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Students cope with sleep disorders By Adriana Cotero Senior Reporter

While sleep disorders – including sleepwalking – are common, coming to college with a sleep disorder can be unnerving. However, some Central Michigan University students have learned to cope with their disorders. Sleepwalking is a disorder that occurs during stages three and four of sleep, known as the “deep sleep period.” Psychology professor Carl Johnson said there is no known cause for sleepwalking. “Somnambulism, or sleepwalking, is not dangerous unless the person falls down stairs, walks in traffic (or things like that),” Johnson said. “We do not know the cause, but believe it is related to brain maturation. It is more likely to occur for someone prone to it

when stressed, overly tired or sleep deprived.” Saginaw senior Jennifer Moiles has been sleepwalking for as long as she can remember. She believes stress is the trigger. “I know stress is something that causes me to sleepwalk,” she said. “I worked three jobs this past summer and I noticed I was sleepwalking way more than usual. “ One of the many jobs Moiles had this summer was working as a tour guide. One night, she slept walked and talked throughout the night, performing one of her tours until she spoke loud enough to wake herself up. “I would dream that my tour groups were in my bedroom, waiting for the tour to start,” she said. “I would get out of bed, still dreaming, put on my work uniform and start giving my tour, until I talked loud enough to wake myself up, at which point I would realize what was happening.” Sleepwalking is something Moiles has had to cope with her entire life. Rather than disregarding this sleep disorder, she has come to terms with it, taking precautions. “I’ve had to warn boyfriends and roommates about my sleepwalking habits,” she said. “I also take lots of naps because I don’t get a good night’s sleep when I’m sleepwalking all the time.” studentlife@cm-life.com