YEAR IN REVIEW
TOP NEWS:
This section contains a review of the top stories of 2012 as selected by CM Life
cm-life.com
Thurs., Aug. 23, 2012
Sec. D
Trustees stand by Ross, Shapiro despite many votes of no confidence By Catey Traylor University Editor
JEFF SMITH/FILE PHOTO
University President George Ross looks at his watch while walking from Charles V. Park Library to Warriner Hall after a press conference, as hundreds of protestors follow behind Monday, Aug. 22, 2011 chanting “negotiate now.”
A new deal CMU Faculty Association ratifies three-year contract in January after seven months of bargaining By Theresa Clift | Staff Reporter
Faculty Association ratified its 201114 contract on Jan. 12 after more than seven months of bargaining with the university, including a strike on the first day of fall semester. salary changes from the university’s original offer made before the fall semester began. CMU’s Nov. 11 offer allowed FA members to keep MESSA only until June 30 and under certain conditions. CMU Director of Public Relations Steve Smith said the university was pleased to see the contract ratified. “Without question, the extended process that ultimately resulted in this agreement was challenging and, at times, divisive,” Smith said. “We must now
ANDREW KUHN/FILE PHOTO
CMU Faculty Association President Laura Frey cheers with Waterford Graduate Assistant Michelle Campbell Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011 outside of Mount Pleasant High School. The facutly association announced that it failed to reach an agreement and that faculy members would not be holding classes Monday, Aug. 22, 2011.
move forward as one university and do all that we can do — together — to make this institution even stronger.” The contract freezes salary for this year, with a 2.25-percent increase in year two and a 2.5-percent increase in 2013-14. The FA had originally proposed to accept a salary
freeze during the fall 2011 semester, with a 2.2-percent increase spring semester, a 3.7-percent increase in year two and a 3.9-percent increase in 2013-14. On Nov. 22, the FA proposed a one-year contract, which included a pay freeze for the 2011-12 A FA STRIKE | 2D
A NO CONFIDENCE | 3D
$10M for Events Center considered a donation By Catey Traylor University Editor
The Central Michigan University
Nearly three quarters of the members cast a vote, FA President Laura Frey said in an email obtained by Central Michigan Life. The FA did not plan to release the vote count, Frey said when reached for comment. The numbers were not released to members. The contract was tentatively agreed upon Dec. 1, 2011 at the Isabella County Courthouse after about 14 hours of bargaining. The agreement allows the FA to keep MESSA for health care if members absorb premium increases but includes no
A vote of no confidence against University President George Ross and Provost Gary Shapiro by the Academic Senate on Dec. 6 was met with messages of approval across the university. The monumental vote was followed up with 17 departments endorsing the no confidence vote, including: human environmental studies; psychology; chemistry; communication and dramatic arts; counseling and special education; recreation/park and leisure; English; physics; political science; math; foreign language/literatures and cultures; biology; journalism; teacher education; sociology, anthropology and social work and philosophy and religion. Additionally, the Council of Chairs — made up of 22 department chairpersons — voted no confidence in Ross and Shapiro on Feb. 15, as well as the university librarians, who voted on Feb. 24. Sarah Opperman, former chairwoman of the Board of
Trustees, released a public statement immediately after the initial Dec. 6 vote in support of Ross and Shapiro. “The Board remains confident in the leadership of Drs. Ross and Shapiro and their commitment to the academic, personal and professional success for our students,” she said. “Likewise, the Board is firmly committed to the College of Medicine, which will improve access to care and increase the supply of physicians in underserved areas, with a specific focus on training physicians who will practice in central and northern Michigan.” The A-Senate had approved a motion by a 52-percent majority in a hasty vote at the end of a December meeting. “Dr. Ross’s and Dr. Shapiro’s refusal to abide by the Academic Senate’s resolution on the CMED initiative is evidence of their disregard for the principles of shared governance at CMU,” stated the fourth point of the motion.
Intended to be funded entirely by private donations, it was reported in February that the $23 million Events Center received a $10 million allocation from Central Michigan University. During a Feb. 14 Academic Senate meeting, members expressed concerns regarding the funds, and the issue of transparency was discussed. “I don’t know that this was intentional, but it wasn’t as transparent as it could have been,” Jim McDonald, A-Senate chairman, said. “... This is just another example of where things could be clearer and more transparent. More options need to be explored for members of the campus community. Rather (than) all information be communicated toward the end of projects, if things are known, make them known to everybody.” Two days later, University President George Ross said he wasn’t at CMU during the time of the allocation, and former University President
Michael Rao would have to be contacted for comment. Rao did not respond to calls and emails from Central Michigan Life. Ross said CMU did nothing wrong, as the state of Michigan knew the plans for funding the project all along. “The state of Michigan knew exactly what we were doing,” Ross said, pointing to a July 2009 Board of Trustees meeting in which the oard approved a motion that said: “Total project cost not to exceed $21,000,000; funding to be from donations, reserve for future construction, reserve for remodeling and university recreation facility expansion reserve.” Wilbur said $8 million had been raised privately, and she was unsure when the rest of the funds would be raised. “The Events Center is a very high priority for the university,” she said. “We keep working with donors and hope to eventually raise a total of $11 million through fundraising.” A EVENTS CENTER| 4D
Men’s hoops coach Ernie Zeigler fired; son Trey, other players leave program By Staff Reports
Central Michigan Athletics Director Dave Heeke pointed out that the men’s basketball program has had four winning seasons since 1980 during a March press conference. That led to Heeke firing head coach Ernie Zeigler that morning after he coached six seasons in Mount Pleasant. Zeigler ended his tenure at CMU with two consecutive 20-loss seasons. He never finished a season with a winning
INSIDE w Justin Gawronski named SGA president; VP Anna Dvorak resigns in first week , 3D w Decision reversed on Deaf student’s use or an interpreter to attain teaching degree, 4D w Gymnastics, wrestling, volleyball win MAC titles, 6D
record. “After a thorough review of the program, a change in leadership is needed in order to improve the overall performance of the program,” Heeke said. “I appreciate Coach Zeigler’s commitment to Central Michigan University and his hard work on and off the court. We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.” Zeigler was able to meet with his team one last time after being fired by Heeke – a decision the athletic director said came the night before. “The last couple of weeks, we focused on what’s the right next step for the program,” Heeke said. “We try to let the season play out and look at it after the season. The decision comes down to what’s the best decision for the student athletes and program.” Zeigler was paid $368,437 for the buyout clause in his contract. Assistant coaches Darren Kohne, Pat Miller and Terrance Chatman were also fired, Heeke said. The director of basketball operations Marcelo Olivarez and video coordinator Jason Owens are still on staff. “We looked at everything,”
Heeke said. “The competitive side is very important, recruiting and retention of student athletes, too. Forecasting how things are going.” In the 2008-09 season and 2009-10, Zeigler’s teams won the Mid-American Conference West division, but he never finished with a winning season. “We’ve only had four winning seasons since 1980,” Heeke said. “In the ’70s, this used to be a basketball hotbed.” Five days after his father was fired as head coach, sophomore guard Trey Zeigler made the decision to transfer from CMU men’s basketball team. He committed to the University of Pittsburgh on April 7. Trey was later granted a waiver exception by the NCAA and will be allowed to play right away for the Panthers. The Mount Pleasant native scored 1,011 points during his two-year career with CMU and finished one point behind Buffalo’s Javon McCrea for Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year in 2010-11.
AZEIGLER| 2D
ASHLEY MILLER/FILE PHOTO
Jane Goodall, the renowned primatologist, laughs as President George Ross places his hand on Mr. H, her famous toy monkey, after being introduced for her public presentation March 28 in McGuirk Arena.
Jane Goodall tells stories of primate research, discovery to packed crowd By Jessica Fecteau Student Life Editor
“Every single person makes an impact every day, and we have the choice for what kind of impact we’re going to make,” Jane Goodall told a capacity crowd March 28 in McGuirk Arena. More than 4,700 free tickets were given out to people of all ages to hear the worldrenowned primatologist, anthropologist and conservationist speak for more than an
hour about her life of research and discovery with primates. Goodall came to Central Michigan University as part of the intermittent Speaker Series at a cost of $60,000, said University Events Director Bob Ebner. Contribution for the sponsorship of Goodall’s visit came largely from the Provost’s Office and the Council of Deans. Prior to her speech, Goodall hosted a private question-andanswer panel with about 100
selected CMU students from multiple programs. “I wanted to hear the words of a woman who brings so much hope to us turning around all the damage that we’ve done to the environment,” said St. Johns graduate assistant Sarah Murphy, who attended the panel. “And maybe take my own little bit of hope from her to make my own mission in life easier.” AGOODALL| 2D