Crashes | Slippery roads, fast drivers, damaged lightposts, 3A
MAYOR | Kilmer takes over as head of Mount Pleasant, 1B
Central Michigan Life
Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
Ross revamps leadership team Significant modifications, new appointments announced By Maria Amante Senior Reporter, and Brad Canze News Copy Chief
University President George Ross made several significant changes Tuesday to senior leadership positions effective Monday, Jan. 17. The development and alumni
relations, and government relations and public affairs offices were consolidated into one division. Kathy Wilbur, current vice president of government relations and public affairs, will become vice president of development and external relations. The move eliminates the vice president for development and alumni relations position, currently held by Ted Tolcher in an interim capacity. Ross said the move, determined after assessing operational efficiencies and cost improvements, was in part a testament to Wilbur, who previously served as interim univer-
sity president. Her salary will increase to $215,000 annually. Her success with fundraising efforts, her skill set and experience with the university’s relationships in government, corporate and the business community contributed to the appointment, Ross said. “Kathy is key … I’m happy and lucky enough to have that person in the university,” Ross said in an interview with CM Life. Wilbur said her new title will make the university more effective. A leadership | 2A
Heeke gets ‘security’ with contract extension
June 30, 2014. In accordance with a wage freeze among senior officials issued in April, Heeke’s salary will remain at Dave Heeke $163,909. Included in the new agreement, however, is a multitude of “incentive opportunities” based on various aspects of performance during competition and in the classroom. “We’ve got what you call an agreement in principle and finalizing signatures,” Heeke
By Aaron McMann Sports Editor
Director of Athletics Dave Heeke no longer has to worry about working on a 1-year contract as a part of a mass of reorganizations and changes announced Tuesday. Central Michigan University gave Heeke, 45, a 3-year contract extension, keeping him at the school through
said Tuesday afternoon. “Dr. Ross and I have had several conversations since he came aboard about putting together some type of multi-year arrangement.” He has been working on a yearly contract since June 30, 2007. His last raise came in July 2009. Among the performancebased incentives in the new agreement include meeting academic progress rate measurements, appearance in bowl games, Mid-American Conference division and conference
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Percent of tenured professors on campus remains consistent Figure hovers around 40 percent By Theresa Clift Staff Reporter
Editor’s note: Every Wednesday, CM Life will publish an indepth piece, examining different issues. Tenure status translates to higher job security for faculty members, but the process can be confusing for students to understand. Position categories range from tenured, to tenure-track, to fixed term or non-tenure eligible. The percentage of tenureeligible faculty at CMU who have acquired tenure status is 69.7 percent. “(It) has been at that roughly 70 percent figure for the past 4-5 years,” said Robert Martin, associate vice provost of Faculty and Personnel Services, in an emailed statement. He also said the percent of total faculty who are tenured,
roughly 40 percent, has been relatively consistent in recent years. Martin said there are roughly 425-450 faculty members at CMU out of the 1,067 total faculty members who are not tenure-eligible. At least two comparable public universities have a higher percentage of tenured faculty members. As of fall 2009, 78 percent of professors at Western Michigan University were tenured, according to the “Bargaining Unit Faculty Headcounts by Department and Tenure” report. At Saginaw Valley State University, 63 percent of all professors are tenured, according to recent data provided by university officials. Martin said there are several key differences between tenuretrack and tenured faculty members. “What comes immediately to mind is that with tenure comes a legal interest in the position,” he said. A tenure | 5A
By Ariel Black | Senior Reporter
T
he renovation process of the fitness center in the Student Activity Center has run into some problems over the past few weeks. CMU discovered asbestos and a high concentration of lead in the old wrestling space, said Stan Shingles, assistant vice president of University Recreation. sean proctor/staff photographer
Stafford takes over as new women’s soccer head coach Less than two weeks in and the search for a new head women’s soccer coach is over. Central Michigan University named Neil Stafford the program’s head coach Monday during a news conference at the CMU Events Center. Stafford signed a 3-year deal that will pay him $60,000 per year plus bonuses based on performance. Stafford said he was informed of the decision at 8:30 a.m. Friday by CMU Athletics Director Dave Heeke and Senior Associate Athletics Director Marcy Weston. “Dave and Marcy asked me to reflect on what my visions
SAC renovation project still on schedule despite asbestos, lead findings Construction to be completed in March
Neil Stafford was named the new head coach of the women’s soccer team Monday afternoon, less than two weeks after former coach Tom Anagnost announced his move to the University of Miami. Stafford signed a three-year deal, earning $60,000 per year. A national search began last week for a second assistant coach, Stafford’s former position.
By Aaron McMann Sports Editor
photos by Victoria zegler/staff photographer
Central Michigan University students exercise on gym equipment Monday afternoon in the Student Activity Center. The majority of the gym equipment has been relocated downstairs to MAC Room 2 due to renovations taking place in the SAC until March.
were for the program,” Stafford said. “We had an hour and a half meeting one day that I thought went really well.” His vision? To keep a program that has won back-to-back MidAmerican Conference championships and made a pair of NCAA tournament appearances on track. “Not too much is going to change. If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it.” Stafford was named interim head coach on Dec. 29 after Tom Anagnost resigned from CMU to accept the vacant coaching position at the University of Miami. In a telephone interview with A coach | 9A
The issue was discovered two weeks ago, but there was a 10-day waiting period before abatement could occur. Shingles said it is being taken care of this week. Despite the setbacks, Shingles said the construction crew is working ahead on other areas of the fitness center renovation, and therefore will not be far behind with the plans in the long run. The renovations are due for completion in March. “The new fitness center, which is the most popular area of the SAC, is being built now as well as total renovation of the existing fitness center,” Shingles said. “The entire new fitness center will be separated in two by glass sliding doors, similar to those in the library, making the space very flexible.” The original Rose Center was built in 1973 and, because of a load-bearing wall built where the mirrors in the old fitness center were,
support is still needed. The sliding doors will take the place of the old mirrors and the cost is $150,000 for the renovations on the old section. The new section is being built where the old wrestling room was and the new wrestling room will be moved to the Events Center. The new fitness center space will almost double the size of what it was previous to construction. “I’m definitely looking forward to the size increase,” said Flushing sophomore Brandon Hilsabeck. “Before, I never went at certain times because I didn’t want to deal with the crowd.” While the renovation is taking place, three-fourths of the equipment and machines from the old fitness center were moved to one of the multi-activity centers in the SAC, where students can work out until the construction is complete.
Lake Odessa senior Nick Clancy finishes the last of his core exercises Monday afternoon in the downstairs MAC Room 2 of the Student Activity Center.
Spring Arbor sophomore Tyler Allen, left, and Lansing sophomore Erin Smith, right, focus on each other’s technique during an ab workout Monday afternoon downstairs in MAC Room 2 of the Student Activity Center.
“I was confused at first, but because it’s temporary, they’re working with what they have,” said Muskegon senior Sarah Burling. “I’m looking forward to the space being bigger and having
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more equipment.” The renovations are affecting intramural sports, including soccer, floor hockey and drop-in events, Shin-
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