LIFE Central Michigan University
| Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2011
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
1B - VIBE: Cigarette, alcohol addictions examined
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interview with University President George Ross coming Monday
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Faculty, CMU spar over unrestricted net assets Compensation talks continue; none can agree By Jake Bolitho Staff Reporter
In the middle of the bargaining ring between faculty and Central Michigan University stands one point of contention — $228 million in unrestricted net assets. Debate over what it means, and debate over how the money can be used. Former Faculty Association President Tim Connors said it is a simple matter of the university setting priorities. “The administration sets its own priorities,” he said. “If your priorities change, you
shift the money.” The $228 million is predesignated as reserves for several purposes, including maintenance, construction projects and contractual commitments. Public universities across Michigan have similar funds, most of which are in the dollar amount of hundreds of millions. Steve Smith, CMU director of public relations, did not comment on whether the funds can be shifted toward other designations. A 2010 financial report describes the unrestricted assets as “funds that have been designated by the governing board for specific purposes as well as amounts that have been contractually committed for goods and services, which have not yet been re-
ceived.” The use of the assets is not restricted by donors or grant agencies, according to the financial report. That factor has drawn the eye of faculty, who are asking for increased salaries and benefits during bargaining talks. “Based on the FA bargaining team’s salary proposal in the fact-finding document, the FA’s salary proposal is an estimated 0.5 percent of the annual CMU budget,” said FA president Laura Frey, in an emailed statement. According to a Chronicle of Higher Education database, a fully-promoted professor at CMU earns an average salary of $98,400. An average associate professor makes $75,000, assistant professors make
$61,400 and instructors collect $40,000 on average. The numbers are not far off from universities of comparable size, such as Western Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University. CMU’s unrestricted net assets in reserve, however, are considerably higher than both and have risen over the past several years. Only EMU and Michigan Technological University have witnessed declines. David Burdette, vice president of Finance and Administrative Services, has stated about $5 million is available in the form of cash as an emergency fund. He referred comment to Smith for this story. Meanwhile, CMU’s day-today cash reserves are separate and total about $61 million.
“CMU operations cost roughly $1 million a day.” Smith said. “This reserve gives us roughly two months of operating expenses.” Smith said operational budgets from different universities have many complexities that can make comparisons misleading. EFFECT ON APPROPRIATIONS Kurt Weiss, public information officer for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, attributed some universities’ higher net assets to specific expenditures. “Some universities included capital and maintenance funds, and others did not, with the former obviously
Unrestricted net assets at Michigan’s public universities for 2010-11 Michigan: $1.8 billion Michigan State: 638 million Wayne State: 235.1 million CMU: 228.3 million GVSU: 135 million Oakland: $121.3 million NMU: $88.4 million Ferris State: $88.4 million EMU: $56.1 million SVSU: $35.4 million Michigan Tech: $8.4 million Lake Superior State: 3.1 million w WMU: $68.5 million w w w w w w w w w w w w
SOURCE: DETROIT FREE PRESS *INCLUDES ANN ARBOR, DEARBORN AND FLINT
A MONEY | 2A
Seeing Double
CMU twins share experiences, enjoy distinct lives
freshman year and share everything from a vehicle to clothing to friends. “It’s no different than any other roommate,” Katie said. “They annoy you, they don’t annoy you. We’re just used to sharing everything.” While the two seem to be in complete sync, they each have their own distinct lives. Kara is a dietetics major with hopes of finding a fitting job. Katie on the other hand is an accounting major and plans to intern this summer. Twin bond aside, the Schneider family is a closeknit one. Kara and Katie have an older brother, Da-
vid, who is also a senior on campus. Their study abroad experiences this past summer was the longest the two have been away from each other and their family. They both went to Italy, but Kara stayed in Florence while Katie did her studies in Rome. The Schneider twins agreed they were “outdoorsy” and scuba-diving and hiking are among their favorite activities. Katie also has an obsession with Mount Everest and hopes to persuade Kara to someday climb it with her. The two also share a best
friend, Alpena senior Julia Wenzel. The three have known each other since sixth grade when Katie and Kara were the new ones at school. Watching “Pride and Prejudice” and eating ice cream with no-bake cookies whenever anyone has a bad day has been the trio’s favorite hobby since high school. “We have been friends for so long that time can go by and we’re still just as close,” Wenzel said. “I know I’ll always be friends with them despite time and distance.” studentlife@cm-life.com
CMU surplus main issue in fact-finding
Speaker explains Jesus’ difference in society Stephen Prothero shares insight on deity inconsistency By Catey Traylor Staff Reporter
Boston University Religion Professor Stephen Prothero said the American view of Jesus changes as society does. “In other countries, Jesus may be the same yesterday, today and forever as said in the Bible, but in American eyes he changes,” Prothero said. Prothero, who has appeared on The Daily Show, Colbert
Report and the Oprah Winfrey Show, spoke Tuesday night at the Bovee University Center Auditorium. About 70 people attended the lecture titled, “Who is Jesus, Really?” sponsored by the department of philosophy and religion. Prothero spoke about Jesus’ role in American society. Prothero, raised a Christian, took time in his adulthood to explore new religions and found himself running into Jesus regardless of what religion he researched. “It’s a little bit odd for me to talk about Jesus so frequently now because I spent the entire first half of my academic
Kara and Katie Schneider sit and talk Tuesday afternoon in their Mount Pleasant apartment. “We view ourselves as individual people. We aren’t the same person, we just happen to be twins in the same building,” Katie said.
FA claims final audit from 2009-10 shows high differences By Mike Nichols Senior Reporter BROOKE MAYLE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Author of ‘American Jesus’ Stephen Prothero spoke Tuesday evening to faculty and students in the Bovee University Center Auditorium.
career running from him,” Prothero said. After realizing Jesus was somehow acknowledged in most religions, Prothero focused his efforts on the changing image of Jesus in American society rather
than attempting to escape Jesus’ presence altogether. Using a Powerpoint presentation, Prothero showed photographic examples of Jesus in the A JESUS | 2A
Multicultural Academic Student Services Presents:
Hispanic Heritage Month 2011 September 15 - October 15, 2011 “Many Backgrounds, Many Stories...One American Spirit”
Michigan Education Association economist Ruth Beier said under oath Central Michigan University’s budget is strong. This testimony came during the third day of fact-finding between CMU and the Faculty Association, which ran from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday in Powers Hall. After Beier compared CMU’s
es...One American Spirit”
“It wasn’t so bad and we got used to moving around,” Kara said. “Now, we can pack like nobody’s business and are pretty good at making new friends and talking to basically anybody.” Central Michigan University was another school to conquer together. While it was not a conscious decision to go to the same place, it worked out that way when they both received CMU’s Centralis scholarship. Kara and Katie both expressed their satisfaction with being able to share their college experiences. The two have been roommates since
PHOTOS BY BETHANY WALTER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Alpena seniors Kara and Katie Schneider wave to a friend as they walk by Charles V. Park Library on Tuesday afternoon. “There is at least once a week that I pretend I’m Katie. The other day some guy said hi because he thought I was her. I just waved and said hi,” Kara said.
tober 15, 2011
hings are much easier when you have always had a friend to do everything with. For Katie and Kara Schneider, that is the way life has always been. Separated in birth by only a few minutes, the Alpena seniors take advantage of being identical twins. Born in Cheyboygan, the two have since made several moves throughout Michigan as both parents obtained new jobs in education. While most people dread being the new kid, the Schneider twins were happy to have each other and soon became used to it.
e Month 2011
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By Odille Parker | Staff Reporter
Keynote Speaker: Edward James Olmos September 21, 2011 7 p.m., Plachta Auditorium Free and open to the public
budget and the FA’s contract proposals, she concluded it would cost the university an average $3,877,094 extra per year over the next three years to agree to the FA’s requests. Beier said during a 2009-10 audit of CMU’s budget, the last audit that is available, CMU expected a $5,824,732 surplus in the amended budget but the final audit showed a $43,932,346 surplus from that year. Hispanic Heritage Month She attributed this difference 15, 2011 to September either conservative budgeta.m. - 1 p.m., UC Front Lawn to ing,11or political motivations Free and open the public create sympathy for limiting
Calendar
Come by and meet Sigma Lambda G they hand out goodies, giveaways A FA | 2Aa during CMU’s celebration of Hispani
Keyn Edwa
Septe 7 p.m. Free a
Dedica Edwar audien how h on his choice