FINDING ANSWERS | Field hockey senior affected by rare disease, 1B Friday Feature | Student and child relationship grows through program, 8A
Friday, Oct. 1, 2010
Central Michigan Life
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
Tailgate, stadium security costs double to about $20,000 Officials: higher attendance a factor By Amelia Eramya Staff Reporter
Security costs have doubled for tailgate over the last academic year. Costs increased from $10,000 in 2008-09. This year the security cost per game is $4,200 and includes one supervisor, 31 uniformed and 15 non-uniformed
security guards. Security was intensified throughout the facility to increase the safety of the stadium and surrounding areas, said Derek van der Merwe, senior associate athletic director. He said it was also to establish emergency action plans, while creating clear communication and response strategies. “As attendance increases for games, adjustment to security will be necessary,” van der Merwe said. He said football game attendance has averaged between
cies assist us during home games,” said CMU Police Chief Bill Yeagley. “We utilize those officers in a variety of capacities.” Yeagley said the agencies assign between two and four officers each. Van der Merwe said the local and campus law enforcement meet the morning of each home game to review policies and emergency action procedures. “All ushers, concession workers, ticket takers, game day workers and other staff have been trained on the emer-
8,000 to 12,000 students. Employees work throughout the facility in different roles: Gates, bag check, press box, concourse, stands, field security and parking lot security. STT Security, a privately owned security organization, along with the five local police agencies, helps secure the safety of attendees at major oncampus events. Van der Merwe said the private security firm manages the primary support during home football games. “We have all the local agen-
gency action plan,” he said. “All play a critical role in protecting our fans and providing them with a positive game day experience.” About two months ago, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security examined the venues and stadiums on campus to determine how best to keep it secure, Yeagley said. “The policy changes have ensured that we are keeping pace with recommended best practices for a stadium of our size,” van der Merwe said. In addition to increasing se-
curity, the athletics department has worked to develop a comprehensive emergency action plan, he said. This is done by holding joint training exercises between local and campus law enforcement officials. “When you have 30,000 to 40,000 people congregating in a small area, you have to have effective communication strategies, emergency response plans, evacuation strategies and coordinated responses,” van der Merwe said. university@cm-life.com
Bill would allow alcohol sales before noon on Sundays If approved, stores could sell at 7 a.m. By Ryan Czachorski Senior Reporter and Maria Amante Staff Reporter
photos by jeff smith/staff photographer
Mount Clemens sophomore Joe DeSandre jousts with his opponent during the Medieval Times Festival Thursday in the Emmons Hall courtyard. “I did pretty terrible,” DeSandre said, laughing.
night of knights Medieval times festival on East Campus Thursday a success
By Tony Wittowski | Staff Reporter
S
tudents who stumbled across the East Campus courtyard Thursday may have
thought they arrived a few centuries too early.
resident assistants Jordan Smith and Grace
Knoche evolved into a night of drumstick eat-
ing, swords, jousting and time in the stockades. “We have been talking about it for a month
By Randi Shaffer Senior Reporter
now,” said Knoche, a New Baltimore senior.
“We allocated enough money from hall
There were tournaments for each category, including sword fighting, jousting, drumstick eating, fifteen minutes in the stockades and the search for Excalibur. There were plans for ribbon dancing, but the activity was cut because of funding. The music was also kept up-to-date with Renaissance times. “These songs would be the top 40 for 1440,” said East Grand Rapids freshman Rex Chapman. The inspirations for the festival came from the movie “A
Napoleon sophomore Stephanie Rochefort swings a foam swor,d battling a friend during the Medieval Times Festival Thursday in the Emmons Hall courtyard.
Knight’s Tale,” Knoche said. The movie scenes were the building blocks for the tournaments offered. “It stemmed back from last year when we decided the theme for the hall would be medieval,” said Smith, a Middleville senior. The sword-fighting participants battled in three squaredoff sections called Arthur’s Arena, Lancelot’s Lane and Guinevere’s Gauntlet. The fighters were held to only a few rules, mainly no head or groin shots.
One of the first students to enter the sword tournament and win was Traverse City sophomore Zack Lizenby. “I trained for this event for a whole five minutes beforehand,” Lizenby said. “I owe it all to my trainers.” The stockades held students for 15 minutes for $2. The money raised through the stockades went toward the Emmons staff philanthropy — the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen, 621 S. Adams St.
The Merrill Men of Arms foam-fighting group was represented by Holland senior Patrick Meyer. The swords used at the festival were also provided by Merrill Hall. Jousters were given a horse on a stick to hold onto with a small breastplate to aim at. “I really favored the sword tournament,” Meyer said. “Even though I took a lance to the face.” studentlife@cm-life.com
A Sunday | 2A
Stimulus funds put to use by Isabella schools Three systems see title money improve education
What originally started as a joke between
council to put on this festival.”
A new state law could allow stores to sell alcohol earlier on Sundays than the current noon restriction. Stores could pay $160 a year to begin selling beer, liquor and wine at 7 a.m. Sundays. Under current legislation, they pay $90 a year to sell alcohol starting at noon. The bill was approved by the state Senate and House Wednesday and now sits on Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s desk for approval. Some local stores, like the Empty Keg, 122 E. Pickard St., do not see the
benefit of paying for the lesser restrictions. Owner Kevin Unger said he did not plan on selling any earlier. “It’s Sunday morning — no one drinks on Sunday before noon,” Unger said. “I don’t see why anyone would do that. We will continue to open at noon.” The bill must be approved or vetoed by Granholm within the next 14 days. Spokeswoman Katie Carey said the bill will be reviewed by Granholm and the bill could be vetoed. “She still has some concerns about the bill and plans to review it when it reaches her desk,” Carey said. “There were portions of the bill she had vetoed in the past.” Carey said the bill was only eight pages long when it was first proposed. It now has 58 pages and in
Editor’s note: Every Friday, CM Life will publish an in-depth piece, examining different issues. Holly Adcox was quick to put the $247,294 received from stimulus money to good use for Renaissance Public School Academy. The principal said the money received from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act went toward two main projects within the school system: Improving title programs and updating technol-
ogy. The $50,176 in Title 1 funds received this year is similar to the amount received last year, Adcox said. Each year RPSA receives Title 1 funding. The majority of Title 1 money at RPSA goes into a specific Title 1 program for children having problems meeting basic needs and performing below grade-level expectations. “We were able to receive funds this year to start our first summer school program, which was successful,” Adcox said. This year, three public schools in Mount Pleasant received stimulus money to help improve their educational processes. In Mount Pleasant, Renaissance Academy,
A Schools | 2A
VIDEO
SPORTS
facebook.com/cmlife TALK WITH US: Do you think alcohol sales should be allowed before noon on Sundays?
@CMLife FOLLOW US for regular updates and breaking news
Check out our coverage online of ASL Rocks! as a part of Deaf Awareness Week
At halftime, check cm-life.com for a key play video and photo updates of the game live from the sidelines
cm-life.com | News, sports, updates and multimedia 24/7