assault | cmu police looking for suspect, 3A | gift guide The best video game picks for the holiday season, 1B
winging it| Students participate in eating challenge for charity, 3A
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
Central Michigan Life
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
No tickets required for May graduation
‘a d i s e a s e y o u c a n ’ t g e t r i d o f ’
Move to Kelly/ Shorts Stadium will take place rain or shine By Kelli Ameling Staff Reporter
photos by jake may/staff photographer
Mount Pleasant resident Arthur Fredericks, 63, practices Tuesday in the living room at his Belmont Drive residence, playing rockabilly tunes and Elvis songs. Fredericks, a former Central Michigan University electronic technician, retired after 40 years.
Shake, rattle and roll Retired CMU technician works to impersonate Elvis Staff reports
E
MULTIMEDIA See cm-life.com for an audio slideshow of Arthur Fredericks.
Keeping busy Fredericks began his Elvis impersonations in 1990 when a radio show broadcasting at CMU requested a performance. Since then, he continues to pursue the hobby. His most recent event was a volunteer appreciation
dinner for the community soup kitchen. The job keeps him busy performing at birthday parties, parades, senior centers and CMU events, and he has had to turn down many gigs. “I did one gig a few weeks
[inside] NEWS w Information Technology looking to expand e-mail, 3A
sports w Men’s basketball guard out of lineup with inury, 5A
campus vibe w Diamonds in the Rough promotions done for fall, 3B
CM-LIFE.com w Check for a presentation on an Elvis impersonator.
weather w Rain/snow High 45/ Low 34
ago, but I turned down a few because I didn’t want to be tied down,” Fredericks said. “I’m keeping my calendar clear.” To become Elvis, Fredericks’ wardrobe includes bright shirts and blue suede shoes, unlike the Las Vegas impersonators who wear tight, white clothes.
He performs songs such as “Hound Dog,” “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Blue Christmas” at CMU’s annual Warriner Christmas party. Walt Rohn, a 1980 alumnus and Fredericks’ friend, said Fredericks enjoys showing off his musical talents. A impersonator | 2A
w Doctoral students: 4 p.m. May 7 in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium w Graduate/undergraduate students: 2 p.m. May 8 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium
ticipate a larger crowd than usual because there are no limits on the number of family members or friends that would be able to participate.” Each student was limited to six tickets for family and friends when graduation was split into three ceremonies at Rose Arena in previous years. With the move, two ceremonies will take place in May. The first ceremony is at 4 p.m. May 7 in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium for 80 doctoral students. The auditorium holds 1,250 people.
A graduation | 2A
Shapiro: No decision yet on how CMU will reimburse $619,489
By Amelia Eramya Staff Reporter
Mount Pleasant resident Arthur Fredericks, 63, enjoys the warmer weather as he walks outside of his house Tuesday morning.
May 2010 ceremonies
grant plagiarism
Officials expect to find source of money within two weeks
lvis Presley lives on through impersonators. That includes a retired Central Michigan University employee. “It’s like a disease you can’t get rid of — it’s just fun to do,” said Arthur Fredericks, a former electronic technician for the College of Education and Human Services. Elvis remains a part of Fredericks’ life, even after he retired Sept. 20 after 40 years at CMU. “I’m living the Elvis lifestyle — staying up late and sleeping in in the morning,” Fredericks said.
May 2010 commencement for graduate and undergraduate students is moving to Kelly/Shorts Stadium because of renovations and construction taking place at Rose Arena. And with 30,255 seats, that means there are no tickets or limits on family and friends. Rose Arena, the previous location for commencement, will not be available because of $21.5 million in renovations, which started Sept. 26, to create the CMU Events Center. “It is important to know tickets will not be required for the May 2010 graduation ceremony,” said Director of Public Relations Steve Smith. “I would an-
Take the walk
University officials have yet to determine where money will come from to pay back a $619,489 grant to the National Science Foundation. “We have not made a final determination but, tentatively, it will come from reserved funds from the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs,” said interim Provost Gary Shapiro. “We intend to send the money relatively soon.” The Board of Trustees approved the reimbursement of $619,489 in grant money Oct. 27 to the NSF because two members of a math de-
partment research project violated Central Michigan University’s integrity policy. The grant, which Director of Public Relations Steve Smith said was set at $770,119 to improve the math department’s secondary education program, was approved in 2005. Interim University President Kathy Wilbur and Shapiro handled questions at the Academic Senate meeting Tuesday about what happened with the grant and what will be done. “I think there is a great deal of pressure on faculty members to receive grants,” Wilbur said. “I’m sensitive to that, but it’s certainly not acceptable behavior.”
Faculty concern Two outside investigators hired by CMU reported two math faculty allegedly copied and pasted uncited
A grant | 2A
Incumbent city commissioners elected to return for three years Closest CMU student falls by 20 votes to former mayor Joslin By Hilary Farrell Senior Reporter and Ryan Czachorski Staff Reporter
Mount Pleasant freshman Rachel Sherwood kept the Mount Pleasant City Com-
mission race close with incumbent Commissioner Jon Joslin. Despite just missing out on one of three seats, she had pulled ahead of Joslin by two votes Tuesday with six of seven precincts reporting. “We were all running around like crazy people (at that point),” Sherwood said. But Joslin won the last Commission spot by 20 votes, joining Vice Mayor Bruce Kilmer and Commissioner David McGuire, also incumbents.
Results With 7 of 7 precincts reporting w Bruce Kilmer* 826 w David McGuire* 582 w Jon Joslin* 507 w Rachel Sherwood 487 w Benjamin Barker 412 w Rick Rautanen 272 w Jeffrey Jakeway 239 victoria zegler/staff photographer
*Incumbent A vote | 2A
Mount Pleasant City Commission candidates Benjamin Barker, a CMU student, left, and incumbent Vice Mayor Bruce Kilmer review the results of the City Commission election Tuesday at the Isabella County Building. Kilmer was re-elected as a commissioner with 826 votes.
NEW YEAR, NEW BOOK
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2A || Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009 || Central Michigan Life
EVENTS CALENDAR Today
w Public Relations Internship Fair is from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Bovee University Center Lake Michigan and Lake Superior rooms. w Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter will present a lecture from 7 to 10 p.m. in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium. w Standing in the Gap will hold its weekly meeting from 7:30 to 9:15 p.m. in Pearce Hall Room 127.
Thursday
w Fidelity Investments has one-on-one sessions from 11 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the Bovee University Center Lake St. Clair Room. w “What it means to be a Chippewa” will discuss the “Chippewa” nickname from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Bovee University Center Auditorium. w An Artist Reception is from 4 to 6 p.m. in the University Art Gallery Main Gallery and West Gallery. w Unified Holiday Celebration is from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Bovee University Center Rotunda.
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 2009 Volume 91, Number 32
grant| continued from 1A
information as part of the research for “CONCEPT: CONnecting Content and Pedagogical Education of Preservice Teachers,” which the NSF grant was approved for. One faculty member in particular, Orlando Perez, chairman of the political science department, showed his concern at the meeting. Perez said he believes the situation has already been resolved since the money is returning to NSF and the grant was terminated, but he is concerned about where the money will come from and how it will affect the university. “We are under budget constraints, and this is a lot of money,” Perez said. “I’m concerned that colleagues of mine committed what is a major breach of academic integrity. We tell our students all the time that they shouldn’t plagiarize in their papers, and here we have colleagues who should know better.” Shapiro said he could not comment on the disciplinary actions being taken on the faculty involved in the research project. Wilbur said she is only familiar with one of the members involved in the plagiarism, who left Central Michigan University, and is unable to speak for the other member. Of the seven CMU math faculty listed on the original grant, two have since left the university — Azita Manouchehri, now a professor at Ohio State University, and Ken Smith, now a professor at Sam Hous-
www.cm-life.com
[News]
IN THE NEWS Kilpatrick got cash before loan signing DETROIT (MCT) — In a deal meant to be secret, disgraced former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick began receiving money from four Detroit business titans months before he actually finalized a loan repayment plan with them, according to records obtained by the Free Press.
The two-page loan agreement is undated. But Kilpatrick signed promissory notes, specifying the terms of the repayment, on Aug. 12. He pledged to repay $60,000 each, plus interest, to the four men: Peter Karmanos, Dan Gilbert, Jim Nicholson and Roger Penske.
vote|
people want to live in a place with a downtown.” Kilmer’s biggest concerns for the future include the continued improvement of the downtown area, the traffic issues on Mission Street and the current economic situation. Joslin, owner and manager of Mount Pleasant Supply, has been a commissioner for nine years. “I’m excited,” Joslin said. “It was a close race, a very close race. I’m very excited to be able to serve another three years; we’ve done a lot of good things.” McGuire, president of McGuire Companies, is a mobile food pantry volunteer and serves on the Sacred Heart Academy Foundation Board. “I’ve served for the last three years and, in those three years, we’ve accomplished several things,” he said Friday. “My business experience will help provide leadership to continue to provide services.” Mount Pleasant senior Benjamin Barker came in fifth place of the seven candidates. “I was feeling confident. I had a lot of support from the community,” he said. “Not every battle in U.S. history was a win, I’ll live to fight another day. I’m not disappointed.”
continued from 1A
The trio will serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2010, and ending Dec. 31, 2012. “I encouraged (Sherwood) to get involved, (but) I didn’t think she would run against me,” Joslin said. “I was surprised, and surprised she did that well; I didn’t see much advertising or her name out there. I wholeheartedly expect her to stay involved and I hope she does.” Kilmer had the most votes, selected by 826 of 1,403 voters. “I am very grateful for the support and trust the voters have shown me,” he said. “I am very excited about continuing and will do my very, very best to live up to that trust and support they have shown me tonight.” Voter turnout was at 5.77 percent. Getting to work Kilmer said he is happy about the Commission’s past accomplishments, such as the renovated City Hall building and the park system trails. He said he is still staying focused on the needs of Mount Pleasant, however. “I think we need to keep improving our downtown. I love our downtown,” he said. “I think ton State University. Preventative measures There have been some discussions between Wilbur and Shapiro about other ways of preventing similar situations. Wilbur said they are exploring their options. Some options presented to the A-Senate included using software similar to turnitin.com and increasing training on ethics for those applying for grants. “We’re considering a number of options, and we are not ready
metro@cm-life.com
yet to make the final decision and announce it to the university community,” Shapiro said. “We want to take actions to reduce the likelihood that this would ever occur again.” Other actions are being considered, but are under study, he said. “We have to, in some sense, weigh activities which would reduce or eliminate the possibility of research misconduct,” Shapiro said.
WEATHER FORECAST Today
60 percent chance of precipitation
High 45/Low 34 Rain/snow
thursday
30 percent chance of precipitation
High 41/Low 26 Rain/snow
friday
20 percent chance of precipitation
High 47/Low 40 Mostly cloudy
impersonator| continued from 1A
“Art loves to perform and loves to enhance his music performance skills. He received a lot of comments from his Elvis impressions,” the St. Louis, Mo., resident said. ‘People can relate’ Although Fredericks sings Elvis’ songs, the music style is not among his favorite. Fredericks prefers music
by Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. But he chose Elvis because of his popularity among crowds. “Elvis is a singer most people relate to and is a leading growth of the industry,” he said. The impressionist was once a guitarist and lead singer of a band, which ignited his passion for singing and performing.
graduation| continued from 1A
The second ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. May 8 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium for graduate and undergraduate students. Smith said there are approximately 3,700 graduate and undergraduate students expected for commencement in May. Executive Assistant to the president Mary Jane Flanagan said other venues on campus could not hold the capacity of students in addition to the people they want to bring. She said commencement is predicted to last about two-and-a-half hours to allow time to announce all the graduates’ names. Rain or shine Smith said graduation at Kelly/Shorts Stadium will take place rain or shine. “The planning and lo-
gistics for the May 2010 commencement is still at its very, very early stages,” Smith said. Texas senior Barron Miles does not have any problem with the change of location except for the “rain or shine” part. “I don’t like the fact about the rain,” Miles said. He is not the only one. “If it rains, I am not going to be happy,” said Three Rivers senior Ashley Rice. There are still ideas in place about how to make graduation better for May 2010 in case it does rain, Smith said. “People would be able to bring umbrellas into the stadium with them, which they cannot do for football games,” he said. Flanagan said the scheduled time for graduation will change, if necessary. She said if the time needs to be pushed back an hour
CM-LIFE.COM online media MULTIMEDIA An audio slideshow on Arthur Fredericks, an Elvis impersonator.
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Fredericks shares his talent among various crowds, but only a few get to watch his shows. Fredericks does shows primarily for family and friends, but working for CMU gave him more than a few gigs. “Being involved for 40 years has given me the opportunity to continue with music. Avocation and vocation parallel each other and when that happens, life is good,” he said. university@cm-life.com
because of weather, it can — the time of day allows flexibility. Smith said Kelly/Shorts Stadium hosted commencement ceremonies from 1975, when it opened, to 1991. When graduation was held in Rose Arena, Director of University Recreation Services Stan Shingles said it held about 4,500 after the end of the arena was used for the stage. Flanagan said the staging for graduation will be similar to the setup of the Rose Arena graduation. The stage and students will be set up on the turf with the stage at the north end, facing toward the south. Parents, family and friends will be sitting in the three sections of the stadium seats. The first ceremony held in Rose Arena after the renovations and construction are done will be December 2010, Smith said. university@cm-life.com
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inside life Central Michigan Life
3A Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
Changes possible for cmich e-mail accounts Rehm: ‘We’re talking gigabytes, not megabytes’ By Connor Sheridan Staff Reporter
Student and faculty e-mail accounts have become the pulse of university life. It is with this in mind that Central Michigan University is considering alternatives in place for university accounts. Roger Rehm, vice president for Information Technology and chief information officer, is leading a committee seeking to establish requirements to be used for testing e-mail systems against general requirements. “We’re trying to understand how many options we’ve got,” Rehm said.
Many students, such as Vassar sophomore Nick Andreychuk, share a common concern. “Maybe a little bit more storage so you can see more e-mails,” Andreychuk said. The current maximum is 200 megabytes for all accounts. Rehm is already optimistic about expansion in inbox data limits. “I can tell you we’re talking gigabytes, not megabytes,” Rehm said in an e-mailed statement to Central Michigan Life. Survey Says A large portion of data will come from a survey circulating this week. The e-mail survey from the Office of Information Technology is presenting a series of questions and scales which it will use to confirm or modify what
Student assaulted Monday night near Pearce Hall
the committee has established as priorities. “Filling out the survey is the best thing people can do right now,” Rehm said. The current e-mail system used is Mirapoint from Merit Network, and faculty use Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. They have been used since before Rehm started at CMU in 2004. The university license for Mirapoint will expire at the end of the academic year, and Rehm would like the transition to the new system to begin before then. Rehm said the University recognized the e-mail access system has become somewhat outdated compared to the growth of Gmail and other e-mail services. Several options are being considered, including Google and Microsoft
live@edu suites. Some students said they want more capabilities with the e-mail. “The one thing I would like it to do is to be able to sync with (Microsoft) Outlook,” said New Boston senior Stephen Glaab. He is one of many students who use their cmich.edu accounts as their primary e-mail account, a trend higher than the national average, Rehm said. “Right now, it’s my primary but, because I’m a senior, I’m using Gmail because I’m not sure how long it will last,” Glaab said. Alumni e-mail retention is a major issue on the committee’s docket. Rehm said the problem with continued alumni account service is one issue being seriously considered. studentlife@cm-life.com
winging it
university@cm-life.com
Prayer has always been a central part of the Christian and Catholic faith. For 24 hours, students at St. Mary’s University Parish, 1405 S. Washington St., are praying for life. Pastoral Associate Jeremy Priest said the prayers, which end at 8:45 p.m. today, will focus on abortion and abortion-related issues, such as the hope for a health care proposal without abortion coverage. “We’re praying for the intention of life,” Priest said. “It’s rudimentary biology
Parking Lot 18, on the corner of Franklin and Preston streets, will be closed today for the Public Relations Internship Fair. The fair takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. today on the top floor of the Bovee University Center. Various PR business and nonprofit organizations are participating. There is no charge for the event.
Unified Holiday Celebration
The 12th annual Unified Holiday Celebration will take place from 5-8 p.m. Thursday in the Bovee University Center Rotunda. Minority Student Services presents performances that showcase diverse holidays such Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Powwow. Tables will be set up to display cultural and religious histories that provide information about different organizations, faiths and holidays represented. Food will be served. The event is free. Contact Minority Student Services for more information at 774-3945.
“What it means to be a Chippewa: A Forum to Discuss the Chippewa Nickname” will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday in the Bovee University Center Auditorium. Panelists will discuss issues that touch on topics from college mascots, stereotypes, the “Chippewa” nickname and reteaching accurate history of Native Americans. The free event is co-sponsored by the Office of Native American Programs, Office for Institutional Diversity and the College of Humanities & Social and Behavioral Sciences. The event also is a part of Native American Heritage Month. Contact Native American Programs director Colleen Green at 774-2508 for more information.
photos by matthew stephens/presentation editor
St. Clair Shores junior Jonathan “Big Jon Stud” Flatt is cheered on by his friends Akron senior Matt Montei and Brighton senior Eric Barrett, at the event “Don’t have a cow... eat like one!” Tuesday in Finch Fieldhouse. Flatt won the wing eating competition and said, “I was in it to win it.”
Stuffing their faces Students scarf wings Tuesday to buy cow for Tanzania By Ben Lazarus Staff Reporter
The smell of chicken wings filled Finch Fieldhouse Tuesday night. A crowd of more than 50 people watched 20 students compete in a wing-eating contest, titled, “Don’t have a cow ... eat like one!” The event, organized by five students as a group assignment in Assistant Professor of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Tim Otteman’s RPL 430: Planning Recreation Programs and Events class, raised funds for “The GO Effect,” a charity that works to improve impoverished communities around the world. The event raised $450, which will be used to help purchase a $600 cow for the African village of Lupanga, Tanzania. “The cow won’t be killed,” said Rochester Hills sopho-
more Lisa Zelenak, who helped facilitate the event. “It will provide the village with food and nutrients.” Students ate seven wings in each of the four rounds of competition, and the fastest person to eat his or her share won. The final four contestants received prizes, and the overall winner won Red Wing tickets. “At one point, I just put the whole wing in my mouth,” said Rochester Hills freshman Allison Clifford. “It was a really big rush. You just don’t think about it.” Friendly handshakes gave way to elbow bumps as the competition progressed. “The more sauce, the easier it goes down,” said Mount Pleasant sophomore Micah Milan. “But there are always casualties.” Mason senior David Wilson was one of those casualties. “I bit my own finger,” he said after a close elimination
that life begins at conception. There is a new human life there that is neither the father’s or the mother’s.” Members of the church arranged a 24-hour prayer vigil that started at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Priest said the church does the vigil the first Tuesday and Wednesday of each month. “This isn’t just a prayer vigil — it’s 24 hours of eucharistic adoration,” Priest said. The prayer During Tuesday night’s Mass, Rev. Will Prospero exposed the blessed Sacrament. The blessed Sacrament, or the host, is the bread that receives Eucharistic consecra-
tion, or blessing. Priest said during Mass, the Sacrament is transformed into the body and blood of Christ. It is then exposed in a metal container, called the monstrance, to be adored throughout the night. Priest said at least two students at a time take turns worshipping in one-hour slots. He said about 48 students are participating and are welcome to pray however they want. Montague senior Joshua Morgan signed up for two time slots — 2:30-3:30 a.m. and 12:30-1:30 p.m. Morgan said although he is
SAP grant summary
The SAP Grant Summary Report selection screen has been improved. The first field on the selection screen is now the grant number. In order to run the report, people must enter the grant number in the first box on the screen. Previously, the grant number field was listed as the second box. If detailed assistance is needed on how to get to this screen, please see the Principal Investigator’s Training Manual for WBS or call Accounting Services at 774-3707.
On the Rox
All-female a cappella group On the Rox will present its fall concert from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Friday at Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium. Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door. The event also will feature the Michigan State University Accafellas. For more information, contact Nicole Bouman at bouma1na@cmich.edu or (231) 250-2259. A contestant attempts to clean their wings at the event “Don’t have a cow... eat like one!” The $450 raised during Tuesday’s event went toward “The GO Effect,” with the hope of raising $600 to buy a cow for a village in Tanzania, Africa.
in the second round of competition. St. Clair Shores junior Jonathan Flatt won the event. “I’m really glad to see what they’re doing,” he said. The group expects to raise the remaining amount through donations received from collection cans placed
at businesses in the surrounding area. “It couldn’t have went any better,” said Scotts junior and event organizer Brittany Cornwell. “I’m really pleased with the way everything turned out.” studentlife@cm-life.com
Students praying for life for 24 hours straight at St. Mary’s By Joe Borlik Senior Reporter
Lot 18 closed
‘Chippewa’ nickname forum
By Jake Bolitho Senior Reporter
The Central Michigan University Police Department is investigating a non-aggravated assault that occurred Monday evening near Pearce Hall. The victim escaped unharmed. Between 8:45 and 9 p.m., a female student was walking along Ottawa Court by the southeast end of Pearce Hall when she was grabbed from behind by an unidentified suspect, said CMU Police Chief Bill Yeagley. The CMU Police Department is seeking information that may lead to the suspect’s identity. Given the location and time, there is a possibility there may have been witnesses close to the scene, Yeagley said. “We’re asking anyone who was in that area to call the department,” he said. The suspect is described as a white male and 5 feet, 5 inches tall. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black or blue jeans and black shoes at the time of the incident. The victim was able to push back the assailant and flee the area. While the female did not suffer any injuries, she may have inflicted minor wounds to the suspect during the brief scuffle. “The suspect may have some sort of mark or scratch on the neck or face resulting from the incident,” Yeagley said. No conversation took place during the encounter, and there was no kind of sexual assault reported, he said. Those with any information can contact the CMU Police Department dispatch line at 774-3081, or the tip line at 774-1874. An anonymous tip form also can be filled out at police.cmich.edu.
[Life in brief]
constantly busy, as a college student, he is looking forward to meditation. “It’s a way to go to God,” Morgan said. “You get to run to God for this moment and feel the unconditional love poured out.” ‘Very peaceful’ Dexter senior Peter Lawrence said he would participate between 1:30-2:30 a.m. this morning. Lawrence believes Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. “It’s very peaceful, especially at night,” Lawrence said. The doors were locked from midnight to 7 a.m. and
students slept in the church’s library and lounge. Prospero said the church was originally just going to do it once, but started doing the vigil permanently after students gave positive feedback. “Every time we do it, there’s a greater feeling of joy in the parish,” Prospero said. “I look forward to it every month.” Priest said the early morning hours between midnight and 7 a.m. are usually the fastest to fill up. He said Joseph Cistone, the bishop of Saginaw, will close the 24-hour period with a benediction. studentlife@cm-life.com
David Veselenak, Managing Editor | news@cm-life.com | 989.774.4344
A New Look at Hitler
“A New Look at Hitler and the Beginning of the Holocaust” will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday in the Bovee University Center Auditorium. World War II scholar Gerhard Weinberg will give the lecture for Central Michigan University’s Harold Abel Endowed Lecture Series on the Study of Dictatorship, Democracy and Genocide. For more information, contact Sarah Buckley at 774-1788. Admission is free.
Planning Commission
The Mount Pleasant Planning Commission will discuss a request from Sinister Productions owner Norman Dow at its meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, 320 W. Broadway St. Dow is proposing to move his business from 2056 S. Isabella Road to 1807 S. Mission St. to increase business. The committee will decide whether to deny, approve or postpone the request. For a full preview of the Planning Commission meeting, visit cm-life.com.
If you have an interesting item for Life in Brief, let us know by e-mailing news@cm-life.com
voices
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Central Michigan Life
4A Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
[cm-life.com/category/voices]
Brian Manzullo, Editor
in
Chief | Will Axford, Voices Editor | Matthew Stephens, Presentation Editor | Lindsay Knake, Metro Editor | David Veselenak, Managing Editor
EDITORIAL | University needs a secondary venue for graduation in case of foul weather
G
Nice move
Arena, they were typically split into three, and students were limited to six tickets each for family and friends because of limited space in the arena. That meant a lot of graduating seniors going around, asking others for extra tickets so more family and friends could come see them walk for their diploma. With thousands more seats at Kelly/Shorts, that problem is nixed. Students can invite however many people they would like.
raduation ceremonies at Central Michigan University are typically held in Rose Arena. But because of ongoing renovations to create the CMU Events Center, officials decided to move May 2010 graduation next door to Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The university deserves credit for keeping it nearby and not moving it outside of Mount Pleasant, as originally feared. Furthermore, the move allows students to invite an unlimited number of family and friends — solving a yearly graduation issue. Rose Arena is the usual location for commencement. But work on the events center began in September and will be amid internal renovations come spring and summer, making the arena unsuitable for ceremonies. With approximately 3,700 students graduating in May, university officials
would be taking full advantage of Kelly/Shorts Stadium’s 30,295 seats. Director of Public Relations Steve Smith expects a larger crowd than usual for the upcoming graduation because of one pesky nuisance previous graduating classes had to deal with — tickets. When ceremonies were in Rose
Weather concerns Despite the benefits of the graduation switch-up, there are still concerns. Even though Kelly/Shorts Stadium is a great choice for the May 2010 graduation, the university should still look for other possible locations in case of inclement weather. As of right now, graduation will be held rain or shine. But Michigan is notorious for its abrupt change in weather. Rain, or even snow, in May is certainly possible.
With Kelly/Shorts Stadium being open, that could ruin graduation day for a lot of people. “People would be able to bring umbrellas into the stadium with them, which they cannot do for football games,” said Steve Smith, director of public relations. While the gesture is nice, students and families should not have to put up with precipitation on a special day. One location that comes to mind is Finch Fieldhouse but, with room for just around 4,700 people, that would not be ideal for guests to attend. The Indoor Athletic Complex could be another possible location, although it is nowhere near as big as Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Both those alternatives would have to split into three ceremonies and reinstate tickets for family and friends. Kelly/Shorts should be good enough. But the university needs to have a better backup plan, especially with Michigan’s reputation for bad luck.
ROSS KITTREDGE [CARTOON]
Jason Gillman Jr. Columnist
Differences in unemployment With Michigan’s unemployment rate running from 14 to 15 percent, and the national unemployment rate running around 9 to 10 percent, people are clamoring for a fix. What I am going to talk about is that there should be two unemployment numbers: voluntary and involuntary. Just like strike prices exist in the realm of commodities trading or even deciding whether that quart of ice cream is cheap enough, such a concept also applies to the labor market. Both the employer and the potential employee have their strike prices. It also may be called reservation wage for the employee. If the employer’s strike price is lower than what the potential employee’s strike price is, you will have a condition of voluntary unemployment. An example of this is that John will only work for $10 an hour, but Company X is only willing to pay $8 an hour. On the other hand, if John is willing to work for $5 an hour and the company is willing to hire him at that price, but is prohibited from doing so, we have involuntary unemployment. Minimum wage laws, in this case, have led to an increase in involuntary unemployment due to an artificial price floor. This is why I consider it crucial to differentiate between voluntary and involuntary unemployment when the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports unemployment rates. Even better, there should be reports on how many people and businesses would be willing to transact below this artificial price floor. That way, minimum wage laws can be seen as the true job killer it is in rough economic times. Let’s just keep this little secret between us — we wouldn’t want President Barack Obama’s stimulus plan to look bad, now would we?
[our readers’ voice]
Students need to look out for one another Last week, there was a report of a high school student in California being physically and sexually assaulted. Five people were arrested for their alleged involvement. Bruce Roscoe The authorities stated: “As people announced over time that this was going on, more people came to see, and some actually participated.” It was estimated that as many as 20 students witnessed this assault and did nothing. Why didn’t anyone do anything to stop this or report it to the police? Why wasn’t anyone looking out for this woman? The behavior of the assailants is reprehensible; the behavior of the bystanders who did nothing is a serious concern. I truly hope that members of the Central Michigan University community would demonstrate a very different level of concern and involvement
if they witnessed an assault. When I first arrived at CMU, the university was described as “big enough to matter, small enough to care.” It was an accurate statement about the size of the institution and the concern which people regularly demonstrated toward one another. I think this still describes us. A few years later, Steve Thompson, Director of Sexual Aggression Services, developed the program “No Zebras,” which conveys the importance of not being a bystander and deliberately doing something when someone else is being harmed or making decisions which might place one at risk. This program is attended by all students as part of the Campus and Community Life Orientation program. In 2005, we started a “Take Care” effort to promote an atmosphere of caring throughout the university community. Steve Tait, Class of 2006, wrote, “We will act to encourage a lifestyle in which we take care of ourselves
and the person next to us. We strive to be the helping hand in any situation in which others need support.” We talk about taking care of one another quite a bit at Central, more than most universities do. We encourage people to be aware of those around them and the situations they are in. We make people aware of the resources available to them (e.g., CMU Police, Residence Life Staff, Sexual Aggression Services, Counseling Center, Health Services). We advocate that people take action when they see a need arise. We hope people recognize that as a members of the CMU community they have the right, indeed the duty, to look out for one another and to get assistance when it is needed. CMU is “big enough to matter, and small enough to care”. We do CARE about one another. We do LOOK OUT for one another. Bruce Roscoe, Dean of Students
C M Y o u |What do you think CMU football can do to crack the AP’s top 25?
Central Michigan Life Editorial Brian Manzullo, Editor in Chief David Veselenak, Managing Editor Matthew Stephens, Presentation Editor Eric Dresden, Student Life Editor Lindsay Knake, Metro Editor Sarah Schuch, University Editor Andrew Stover, Sports Editor Tim Ottusch, Assistant Sports Editor Ashley Miller, Photo Editor Will Axford, Voices Editor Caitlin Wixted, Lead Designer Advertising Lindsey Reed, Katie Sidell Advertising Managers Carly Schafer, Shawn Wright Multi-Media Marketing Coordinators Professional staff Rox Ann Petoskey, Production Leader Kathy Simon, Assistant Director of Student Media Neil C. Hopp, Adviser to Central Michigan Life
Michael L. Hoffman Columnist
Dear Obama A college student’s letter to the president Dear President Barack Obama, The grace period has passed, and my Obama buzz is wearing off. It has been a year since we elected you and more than nine months since you were inaugurated. Do you remember how wonderful it was? The thousands of people in Grant Park the night of your election, the millions more watching on TV as you promised “change and progress” for America? I not only believed you, but I campaigned for you. I did the doorto-door, I did the voter-registration drives. But now that I’m coming down, I am not feeling as confident anymore. I am not much different from many college students in that I saw great potential in what you had to offer. I still do. However, the time is fast approaching to own up to the nation’s problems. Yes, you inherited not one, but two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yes, you were left with an unprecedented national deficit. And yes, the economy looked like Luke Skywalker after his first duel with Darth Vader — dejected and crippled. But we can only blame former President George W. Bush for so long. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US unemployment rate was 7.6 percent when you took office last January. Today, it is hovering around 9.8 percent, slowly creeping toward the dreaded 10 percent marker. The last time unemployment was this high was August of 1982. A 2.2 percent rise of unemployment since you took office cannot be blamed completely on former President Bush’s policies. It is time to shoulder some of the responsibility yourself. Since January, we have had the bailouts of Chrysler and General Motors, the Recovery Act and a debate on health care reform, which is becoming less productive every day. People are starting to lose faith in your message, Mr. President. Even a member of your own caucus, Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn), has said he will filibuster any healthcare reform bill that contains a public option. Responsibility and accountability were constant themes on the campaign trail. You said countless times while campaigning that you would accept responsibility for your actions as President of the United States, but I have yet to see this. Don’t get me wrong, though; I am rooting for you, Obama. I still believe in your message, for the most part. I would love to see an economy revitalized and diversified. I would love for everyone to have health care. And I would love to see the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq come to an end. But until then, I would like to see more action from your administration and less speeches. Words mean nothing without action. I am doing my best to keep the faith, but it is a challenge when the majority of the economic news — especially in Michigan — is more and more depressing. Let’s see if you can turn “Hope and Change” into “Policy and Results.”
[letters to the editor]
“Continue to play hard, and don’t let let this loss discourage you.” Aaron Staley,
Detroit junior
“I think they should continue to work hard and practice hard.”
“Schedule tougher teams and beat them.”
Alexis Buchoz,
West Branch junior
Steve Case,
Bronson junior
“They should continue to rely on each other, and don’t get discouraged when things get tough.” Kimberly Roland,
Southfield senior Sean Proctor/staff photographer
Central Michigan Life is the independent voice of Central Michigan University and is edited and published by students of Central Michigan University every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters, and every Wednesday during the summer. The online edition (www.cm-life.com) contains all of the material published in print. Central Michigan Life is is under the jurisdiction of the independent Student Media Board of Directors. Articles and opinions do not necessarily reflect the position or opinions
of CMU or its employees. Central Michigan Life is a member of the Michigan Press Association, the Michigan Collegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press and the College Newspaper Business & Advertising Managers Association. Central Michigan Life’s operations are totally funded from revenues through advertising sales. Editions are distributed free throughout the community and individuals are entitled
to one copy. Each copy has an implied value of 75 cents. Non-university subscriptions are $1 per mailed edition. Copies of photographs published in Central Michigan Life or its online edition (www.cm-life.com) are available for purchase at http://reprints.cm-life.com Central Michigan Life’s editorial and business offices are located at 436 Moore Hall, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, telephone 774-3493.
E-mail | voices@cm-life.com Mail | 436 Moore Hall Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 Fax | 989.774.7805 Central Michigan Life welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Only correspondence that includes a signature (e-mail 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 www.cm-life.com in the order they are received.
cm-life.com/category/sports
[Sports]
Hill contributing off score sheet
Weary breaks hand, out of lineup
By Matthew Valinski Staff Reporter
Guard Rashid has lower-body injury By Aaron McMann Staff Reporter
Another starter will miss time from the starting lineup on the CMU men’s basketball team after a season ravaged by injuries. Junior guard Antonio Weary is expected to miss four to six weeks after fracturing the second metatarsal bone in his left hand Sunday during the second half of the team’s 85-38 exhibition win over Marygrove. “Antonio is a starter that we really are dependent upon,” said coach Ernie Zeigler. “It’s going to be a situation where we got to have guys step up.” Weary had four points and one assist in 23 minutes Sunday. He averaged 3.9 points per game coming off the bench for the Chippewas last season. Junior guard and Trinity Valley Community College (Houston, Tex.) transfer Amir Rashid is nursing a knee injury, but expected to return to the active roster by the first game, Nov. 14 against Princeton at Rose Arena. CMU went most of last season without junior Marko Spica and senior Chris Kellermann because of injury. Both since returned to the team’s starting lineup, joining senior guards Jordan Bitzer and
file photo By Jeff Smith
Junior guard Antonio Weary broke his hand in Sunday’s exhibition against Marygrove
Robbie Harman. The injury opens the door for freshman guard Finnis Craddock and junior college transfer Jalin Thomas to fill the open spot. In their CMU debuts Sunday, Craddock scored 11 points, while Thomas had five points and nine rebounds. “Those guys will have a grand opportunity to be in that first group,” Zeigler said. “We’re just going to need them to mature quicker,” he said. With the injury, Saturday’s exhibition game against Indiana University-South Bend becomes even more important, Zeigler said. “It’s going to be an oppor-
tunity for those guys (Craddock and Thomas) to get even more comfortable and show that they can carry over what we’re stressing and working on in preparing for that game.” Tipoff against IU-South Bend is noon Saturday at Rose Arena. CMU will open the regular season Nov. 14 against Princeton at Rose Arena. “We’ve been down this road, in terms of adversity, before,” Zeigler said. “It doesn’t change our mission. We have to come together even more so (now).” sports@cm-life.com
Heeke: Sports gambling a concern, not a problem at Central Michigan By Aaron McMann Staff Reporter
Sports gambling has been a concern for many universities across the nation, including several Mid-American Conference schools. But since arriving almost four years ago, Athletics Director Dave Heeke has not seen a sports gambling problem at CMU. “We have not had any issues with sports gambling with any of our student athletes, specifically,” Heeke said. Between 2005 and 2007, two Detroitarea businessmen and six Dave Heeke athletes from the University of Toledo were indicted on charges of point-shaving in football and basketball games. The investigation included a Feb. 4, 2006, basketball game against CMU, where the Rockets won 78-62 (16-point difference), a game they were favored to win by 15 points. CMU has a strict, zero-tolerance policy which prevents athletes on all teams from betting on any sports games, whether they participate in them or not, Heeke said. “We got a pretty simple rule here: if you’re a student athlete, you don’t bet on anything,” Heeke said. “There’s an underworld to sports gambling and that, unfortunately, student athletes are very vulnerable and taken advantage of by very bad people.” Other universities have had problems in the past outside of Toledo’s recent incident. Arizona State University’s 1994 basketball team was riddled with controversy after several individuals were found guilty in 1998 of bribing two members of the team to miss shots in four different games during the 1994 season. Education CMU offers several educational programs on sports betting to student athletes, including the NCAA-sponsored “Don’t Bet On It” campaign that reminds schools and athletes of the policies on sports betting. Individual team meetings are held before each season, involving the coaching staff and players. Incoming freshmen also are mandated to attend sports wagering lectures. Every year, the university brings in experts on the issue,
Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009 || 5A
including Tim Otteman, assistant recreation parks and leisure services professor at CMU. Otteman, a sports gambler in college, travels to different schools around the country each year to educate athletes on the dangers of sports gambling. He is considered one of the top experts on the issue. “As one who experienced it during my college years, I saw the people who made money doing it for short periods of time, but I also saw the slippery slope that started and some people that got into big trouble,” Otteman said. The situation in Toledo was not a huge surprise, Otteman said, because of its mid-major college sports status, compared to higher-level schools, where athletes are more likely to move on to professional sports. “I think that’s (mid-majors) where we’re going to see the
majority of gambling scandals happen because of the fact that the players at those schools, a high majority of them, are not going on to a professional career,” he said. “To tell that student, ‘Hey, we’ll give you $10,000 to shave points and fix a game,’ it means a lot to a student who’s going to graduate and make $30,000.” Despite being a mid-major school, Otteman said an effective student affairs program and the Athletics Department’s compliance with rules have helped CMU keep a clean record with the NCAA. “Just like any other problem that has an addiction related to it, but also any problem that might involve the college population, education is the key,” he said. “Here at CMU, we’ve kind of embraced that.” sports@cm-life.com
Junior Jenna Hill was not a name normally seen in the box score throughout her threeyear soccer career at CMU. Hill has yet to score a point this year and has only one goal and one assist in her career. However, she is usually in the middle of the action, whether CMU is defending or on the attack. It is hard to not hear her as she constantly talks to her entire team. “My main role is to organize the team,” Hill said. “When I’m in the middle, basically all I’m doing is organizing the backs and the front and making sure we’re all on the same page.” Hill said she knows her organization of the team has caused a shift in game play from a team that went 12-5-3 last year to 15-3-2 this year. “One of the biggest differences in why we are doing so well is because we are so organized,” she said, “We’re all on the same page, and it is really important. When everyone knows their jobs, the game just flows a lot better.” Coach Tom Anagnost said Hill made a choice in the offseason to lead, and the results of her work was obvious. “She made a decision to lead and to control her attitude,” he said. “She was committed to being a more positive life force on our team, and she is an enormous reason why where we are where we are.” Anagnost said the decision Hill made shows the younger
players that when one makes a commitment to improving, it pays off. “She is one of the most improved players on our team,” he said. “She is a great example of if you make a decision to be great, you can do it.” Hill said she is now willing to tell players where they need to be, and the team needs that in a leader. “I’m willing to talk, willing to keep people accountable out there, keeping people focused and making sure they are doing their jobs,” she said. Defensive savvy Hill has played a large role in
a defense that has given up 10 goals all season and one goal in Mid-American Conference play. Anagnost said it is the little things most fans will not notice that Hill does that has helped the defense and goalkeeper Shay Mannino. Still, he said it is Hill’s communication on the field that makes all the difference during the game. “On the field, she is arguably the best communicator we have,” he said, “She organizes our team and, normally, the most organized team wins.” sports@cm-life.com
CAMPUS VIBE Central Michigan Life
B
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
[cm-life.com/category/vibe]
New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
g ra b yo u r co n t r o l l e r
Platformer Cooperative multiplayer E for Everyone Releases Nov. 15
Mario and his platforming pals go back to their roots in the sequel to 2006’s “New Super Mario Bros.” for Nintendo DS with a strong dose of competitive cooperation. The “2.5d” (3D characters and levels on a side-scrolling plane) environment moves from left to right just like in the 1980s days of Super Mario Bros. Many homages are made to the gaming touchstone, but it also has several new features to draw in new and old fans alike. Up to four players can join the game at any
time and work together to overcome the stage’s obstacles, while competing to have the most lives and coins at the end of each level. “It takes you back to the old days, then they upgraded what they had back then,” Curtis said.
n o w ava i l a b l e :
courtesy photo
Holiday aming
“Modern Warfare 2” is the direct followup to Infinity Ward’s 2007 first-person shooter, masterpiece “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.”
Guide
What to expect in your stocking this winter
Dragon Age Origins (PC, PS3, X360)
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
Role-playing game Single player M for Mature Now Available
Action-adventure, 3rd person shooter Competitive, cooperative multiplayer M for mature Now Available
The vaunted developers of classic swordsand-sorcery RPGs, as well as science fiction hits such as “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic” and “Mass Effect,” is going back to its roots in “Dragon Age Origins.” While “Dragon Age” is somewhat of a spiritual successor to Bioware’s Dungeons and Dragons based “Baldur’s Gate” series, it also employs several new themes the developer has explored since its maturation. The game’s brutal and gritty world is full of lust, wrath and greed, and the decisions the player makes both when creating his or her character and during the game will have widespread consequences. The combat system uses a classic pauseand-play tactical element, allowing the player to coordinate the attacks of party members from either a top-down or behind the shoulder perspective.
One of the biggest action thrillers of this holiday season cannot be seen in theaters — even though it’s already on Blu-ray disc. It also happens to be the sequel to 2007’s hit game “Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune.” Improvements to the control scheme and addictive multiplayer make this title not only an improvement on its predecessor, but also a must-have for any PS3 owner. In a refreshing change from many other shoot-‘em-ups, the globetrotting narrative traverses diverse locales and highlights several well-written and likable characters. An effective and intuitive cover system, combined with high-flying platforming, make the game seem at times like a child of “Gears of War” and “Assassin’s Creed,” taking the best elements of both while maintaining a fast-paced and intriguing story.
By Connor Sheridan | Staff Reporter
T
he holiday season is the most wonderful time of year to sit by the fireplace, drink eggnog, reconnect with your family members and — of course — play video games. And while several eagerly awaited titles (“Starcraft 2,” “God of War III”) were pushed back from release this year, there are still enough Triple-A titles on their way to thoroughly lighten any wallet. Here’s a brief on nine games begging to adorn your wish list: releasing in november:
Modern Warfare 2 (PC, PS3, X360) First-person shooter Competitive multiplayer M for Mature Releases Nov. 10 “Modern Warfare 2” is the direct followup to Infinity Ward’s 2007 first person shooter masterpiece “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.” It will put players in the boots of several soldiers involved in the fight against a terrorist regime inspired by today’s headlines. The distinctively cinematic shooting
gameplay the “Call of Duty” series is known for looks to be fully intact. The diverse actions undertaken for each mission — which range from ice climbing to pulling out from an exploding building by a rope attached to a passing helicopter — will push gamers to their limits. One of the few challengers to the Xbox Live domination of “Halo 3,” the distinct multiplayer is even more in-depth with several new modes and customizations. “That one, I’m really looking forward to,” Reading sophomore Blake Jackson said. Jackson said he is playing through the first “Modern Warfare” to get ready for the second.
Brütal Legend (PS3, X360)
Action-adventure, car combat, real time strategy Competitive multiplayer M for Mature Now Available
Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City (X360) Action-adventure Competitive multiplayer M for Mature Now Available
Left 4 Dead 2 (PC, X360)
Assassin’s Creed 2 (PS3, X360)
First-person shooter Cooperative/competitive multiplayer M for Mature Releases Nov. 17
Action-adventure Single player M for Mature Releases Nov. 17
The sequel to last year’s campy cooperative zombie shooter is promising to deliver a new setting, a more cohesive narrative, new weapons and more freakish ghouls to kill or be killed by. Four new characters will be forced to stick together or get torn to bits as they make their way across the infected Deep South from Savannah, Georgia, to New Orleans. “I like that they’re adding a lot of different melee weapons,” Jackson said. The new melee combat will feature cricket bats, frying pans and the chainsaw. While the basic structure of blitzing through safe houses is unchanged, new elements such as moving crescendo events and more cooperation between special infected, old and new, will keep players on their toes.
Desmond Miles’ story of historical cloak-anddaggery continues in “Assassin’s Creed 2.” In this iteration, Desmond, the main character, once again enters the Animus to relive another ancestor’s life as an assassin, this time as a noble in renaissance era Venice and Florence, Italy. Sword duels, as well as stealthy assassinations, were made more rewarding and more intuitively controlled for the sequel. Leonardo Da Vinci assists throughout the game as sort of Renaissance version of James Bond’s “Q,” providing wondrous gadgets and mechanisms to aid with the assassin’s quest. “The graphics look good — what they do in the game looks good. It’s more open (and there’s) a lot more to do,” said Washington Township senior Victor Curtis.
For those who wanted more adventures in Liberty City after parting ways with “Grand Theft Auto IV,” Rockstar has assembled its Xbox Live downloadable content on one disc. The game contains the previously released “The Lost and the Damned,” which focuses on the biker gangs of Liberty, and the new “The Ballad of Gay Tony,” an exaggerated look into the jet set of the faux New York and the bizarre tasks its members ask of the player in order to maintain their lifestyles. A copy of GTA IV is not required, though its protagonist, Niko Bellic, does make an appearance in the episodes as they interweave with his story. The game also includes new multiplayer modes from both episodes, which encapsulate motorcycle gang wars as well as outrageous sky diving, rocket launching mayhem.
For those that think games these days just aren’t nearly metal enough, Tim Schafer (the co-creator of gaming classics such as “The Secret of Monkey Island” and “Grim Fandango”) has the solution. Brütal Legend is a mash-up of several different gaming genres — the protagonist (voiced by Jack Black) brawls like “God of War’s” Ares, drives like Sweet Tooth from “Twisted Metal” and commands his legions like Nod in “Command & Conquer.” The game features more than a hundred classic metal tracks hand-picked by Schafer, as well as a star studded voice lineup enlisted to spout his notoriously hilarious witticisms including Tim Curry, Lemmy Kilmister and Ozzy Osbourne. Don’t let this one slip by like another “Psychonauts.”
Forza Motorsport 3 (X360) Racing Competitive multiplayer E for Everyone Now Available
“Forza” is the Xbox 360’s “Gran Turismo,” as well as one of the top contenders for simulation racing action. The third edition looks to retain the series’ emphasis on performance tuning and customization while incorporating more than 400 cars, 100 tracks, and many newbie friendly features. “I loved (“Forza Motorsport 2”) because you could customize the cars,” Jackson said. The newly reworked season mode will automatically present the player with competitions based on previous performance and car choice. Some of the new player concessions include automatic braking, as well as a replay feature which allows the player to “rewind” at any point and retry a botched turn or avoid a crash.
[inside] w Ben Weissenborn reviews indie rockers Real Estate, 3B
w DITR promotions done for the semester, 3B
w Four years of video game consoles, 3B
2B || Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009 || Central Michigan Life
NEW STUFF DVDs 1. “G.I Joe: The Rise of Cobra� 2. “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" 3. “Food, Inc.� CDs 1. “Raditude� Weezer 2. “Live at Reading� Nirvana 3. “World Painted Blood� Slayer video games 1. “Dragon Age Origins� X360, PS3, PC 2. “Lego Rock Band� PS3, X360, Wii, DS 3. “Need for Speed: Nitro� Wii
TOP FIVES box office 1. “This is It� $23.2 million 2. “Paranormal Activity� $16.3 million 3. “Law Abiding Citizen� $7.4 million 4. “Couples Retreat� $6.4 million 5. “Where the Wild Things Are� $5.9 million
singles 1. “Fireflies� Owl City 2. “Whatcha Say� Jason DeRulo 3. “Down� Jay Sean ft. Lil’ Wayne 4. “Party in the U.S.A.� Miley Cyrus 5. “Run This Town� Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West
albums 1. “Twilight: New Moon� Various Artists 2. “Southern Voice� Tim McGraw 3. “Crazy Love� Michael Buble 4. “The Blueprint 3� Jay-Z 5. “The Time of Our Lives� (EP) Miley Cyrus
RANT
Jake Bolitho Senior Reporter
www.cm-life.com
[campus collage]
Tweets of the week
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
the state of the late: with leno off ‘tonight,’ is there a new king of the night? (MCT) — When Americans are looking to soothe their frazzled nerves after a long day, late-night TV shows have always been happy to oblige. But these days, the world of late night is as topsy-turvy as the real world we’re trying to tune out. Just one year ago, Jay Leno was cruising along as the undisputed king of late night. Five million faithful watched the “Tonight� show host, as reliable as his restored Model T, night after night delivering A-list guests, John McCain jokes and wacky headlines. A million viewers behind him was the urbane David Letterman, still considered the best in show by many, and everyone else followed in the wake of these two old pros. Conan O’Brien, Craig Ferguson, Jon Stewart and Jimmy Kimmel all had their multitudes, but the pecking order in late night was clear and it was unalterable. Then it all came undone. Leno left NBC’s “Tonight� to prepare for his new 10 p.m. show. Conan moved to L.A. to take his place and promptly lost half of Leno’s audience. Back in New York, Jimmy Fallon took over Conan’s spot and lost a third of his audience. That cleared the path for Letterman to reclaim the top spot in the ratings after surrendering his crown
to Leno 14 years ago. But how long will Dave be around to enjoy it? He has gotten himself into an unflattering, highly publicized romantic drama that might cost him support among the 58 percent of his audience that is female. And now we learn, courtesy of Newsday, that the “Late Show� host has yet to sign an extension to his CBS contract, which runs through 2010. It no longer seems implausible that Dave might actually hang it up, settle down with his wife and raise their child out of the limelight. That would make Ferguson the most likely candidate to take over “Late Show� just about a year from now, not bad for a guy who until recently wasn’t even a U.S. citizen. (His memoir, “American on Purpose,� debuted last week at No. 4 on the New York Times best-seller list.) The most stable part of late night has been the lowlands, where Kimmel, Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Charlie Rose and Chelsea Handler (look, a woman!) continue to draw smaller but still lucrative audiences. Hoping to join their ranks are Wanda Sykes, whose weekly show airs at 11 p.m. Saturdays on Fox starting Nov. 7, and George Lopez, whose
“Lopez Tonightâ€? launches at 11 p.m. Nov. 9 and will air weeknights on TBS. Indeed, the more you look at the growing menu of late-night options, the more clear it becomes that there are no more kings in late night. There are only senators, each with a wellheeled constituency. That said, there always seems to be a sentimental desire among many TV critics to declare Letterman the leader again. He has by far the most viewers, averaging about 4.7 million a night, or nearly twice O’Brien’s audience. However, as far as advertisers are concerned — and they are the ones who actually determine a show’s success — Conan is king. Why? Because even with half the audience, he still outdraws Dave among people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Advertisers pay dearly to reach those viewers.
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PHOTO OF THE WEEK
BEAT WRITER PICKS music
video games
‘Ambling Alp’ by Yeasayer
GTA: Chinatown Wars (DS, PSP)
“Ambling Alp� is the first single from Yeasayer’s upcoming record and what an exciting song it is! The band’s trademark gypsy-rhythms and rock solid grooves are still present, yet “Ambling Alp� finds the band entering slightly more electronic territory. Fat synths and electric snare cracks stick out in the mix, just beneath Anand Wilder’s distinctive and slightly nasal vocals. The track features some of the band’s most positive, reassuring lyrics to date and is easily one of their best songs. Fans of good music, happiness and positivity definitely don’t want to miss this! -Ben Weissenborn
Are you craving some more of that good old fashioned crime spree chaos? Why not check out “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars� – one of the most critically acclaimed portable titles of all time. The game takes place in a shockingly faithful rendition of “Grand Theft Auto IV’s� Liberty City, and follows main character Huang as he attempts to recover his father’s ceremonial blade from a rival Triad gang. Whether you pick up the freshly released and graphically upgraded PSP edition or the DS title with integrated touchscreen mechanics, you’ll find a fast-paced, full sized GTA experience in a miniature package. -Connor Sheridan
libby march/staff photographer
Beth McDonald, 29, messes up hair for her son, Dallas McDonald, 9, on Oct. 30 at their home in the Mount Pleasant Mobile Home Park. Dallas dressed up as Chuckie from the horror movie “Child’s Play� and attended a Halloween party later that night in full costume. Beth and Dallas chose Chuckie because Dallas’ red hair and small size made him a great reinvention of the character.
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Students who raise their hands in class to make a point or argue with someone need to think a little bit about what they are going to say first. I’m sick of hearing people talk just for the sake of talking. Debate is nice and can make an otherwise boring class entertaining, but make sure you have a valid point and do not overdo it. Odds are, 95 percent of your classmates do not want to hear it.
cm-life.com/category/vibe
[campus VIBE]
A NEW DIRECTION | Family follows basic life
By Luke Dimick Staff Reporter
It is a never-ending war for the seventh-generation video game consoles. Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Sony’s Playstation 3 and Nintendo’s Wii have been competing for gamers since the November 2005 release of the Xbox 360 and November 2006 release of the Playstation 3 and Wii. According to vgchartz.com, the Nintendo Wii has the most console sales worldwide with an estimated 54.99 million systems sold. The Xbox 360 is next with 32.78 million, then the Playstation 3 with 25.74 million. The sale differential is a reflection of the consoles’ prices. Best-selling Nintendo Wii also is the cheapest system at a retail price of $199.99, followed by the Xbox 360 at $299.99 and the Playstation 3, which recently had a $100 price drop to $299.99.
sean proctor/ staff photographer
cd review
‘Real Estate’ is hazy, warm “Real Estate,” the debut selftitled full-length release from New Jersey’s Real Estate is a hazy, beautiful, free-flowing ode to memories of summers past. Ripe with nostalgia without ever being overly sentimental, Real Estate is one of the best debut releases of the year and stands as one of the few memorable releases spawned by the unforeseen beach/surf trend in indie rock that took place this year. Real Estate kicks off with “Beach Comber,” one of the album’s best tracks and a great introduction to the band’s sound. Swingin’ snare drum, slinky bass, heavily reverberated guitar plucks and Martin Courtney’s delightful mid-range vocals make “Beach Comber” a rollicking entry point to the record. Courtney’s plaintive and slightly accusatory lyrics tell a story of selfishness and greed: “Until you find your Rolex in the sand/You won’t be stopping/ Until that solid gold is in your
‘Real Estate’
HHHHH w Artist: Real Estate w Genre: Indie Rock hand/You won’t be happy.” Many of the tracks on Real Estate have been previously released in one form or another, mostly on extremely low-run CD-Rs and 7-inch records. However, the band has chosen to re-record most of them, making very slight changes in performance and production. The hazy, kaleidoscopic “Pool Swimmers” appears here with added vocals and a slightly brisker tempo. “Atlantic City” features a far slower tempo and slightly different arrangement from its previous incarnation, yet it still manages to surf and sway in all its blissed-out glory. Part of Real Estate’s charm is in its production. The band chose a rather lo-fi approach for most of the songs, which complements the band’s nostalgic
sound very well. However, Real Estate escapes the rather junky trappings of most records with lo-fi production values. Tones and frequencies aren’t blown out or abrasive. Rather, the lo-fi production seems to blur the edges of the music ever so slightly, resulting in a sound that’s just as hazy and warm as the memories the album brings to mind. A wonderfully consistent and surprising album, Real Estate has wide appeal and will likely become a big indie rock hit upon its release later this month. Fans of bigger name indie rock acts such as The Shins, Death Cab For Cutie and early Weezer will find plenty to love here. Though we may not get another chance this year to build a bonfire on the beach or sit in the backyard and count fireflies, at least we have Real Estate to remind of us all the great times we had. If we’re lucky, we might just get an Indian summer. Real Estate will be released Nov. 17 on Woodsist Records. studentlife@cm-life.com
DITR Promotions done for semester Founder: We will not stop bringing music to town
By Amelia Eramya Staff Reporter
The local music scene in Mount Pleasant is going through some changes. Diamonds in the Rough Promotions hosted its last show of the semester Thursday at Rubble’s Bar, 112 W. Michigan St. But DITR Promotions founder Corey Densmore said the company will not completely stop serving Mount Pleasant. Densmore said DITR will slow down because of his new employment at Reggie’s Rock Club, 2109 S. State Street in Chicago. “I’ll keep doing shows in Michigan, but just probably less so in Mount Pleasant,” Densmore said. “The bands I’ll be booking in Chicago usually don’t play a market as small as Mount Pleasant.” DITR Promotions’ next show in Mount Pleasant is expected to be on Jan. 22, 2010. Lake Orion junior Joe Hertler has been to many DITR shows and believes it is a bummer that there will be fewer shows. “There’s just bigger and better things in Chicago,” Hertler said. Rubble’s bartender Gregg Brimmer said business has increased since DITR Promotions started doing shows. “It shouldn’t affect us negatively,” Brimmer said of DITR slowing down. Step up Brimmer believes DITR Promotions did help Rubble’s get back in touch with Central Michigan University. “I’m definitely going to miss someone booking shows who’s in touch with the younger crowd,” Brimmer said. Augie Visocchi, 27, guitarist
Gaming war continues
A look at the past four years for three consoles
Rosebush resident Laura Swarey, 30, takes a break from cooking dinner to talk to her sister, while twins Emily and Amanda, 4, play on Oct. 31. Laura and her husband, Tim, a dairy farmer, used to be members of the Amish church in their community, but left when some members of the church wanted to go in a different direction. Although they left the church, they still follow the basic ways of life they grew up with. The Swareys do use some modern technology, such as cell phones and modern farming equipment, but only because it is more economically and financially sound.
By Ben Weissenborn Staff Reporter
Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009 || 3B
and vocalist of The Hard Lessons, who headlined DITR’s last show of the semester Thursday, hopes someone will step up when Densmore moves to Chicago early next year. “He made a music scene where one didn’t exist,” Visocchi said. “Someone needs to step up to the plate or else the scene is going to dry up again.” Densmore said the steady income from his new job will come in handy. “I think it will help DITR in
the future,” Densmore said. “(DITR) will be able to take more risks, and it’s either a hit or miss in Michigan because of the economy.” Densmore will be booking shows for Mount Pleasant while working in Chicago. “I’ll still make it back for quite a few of the shows because I’ll have a flexible schedule in Chicago,” he said. “We’ll see how it goes, that’s the plan for now.” studentlife@cm-life.com
Student perspective Students have their own ideas on who is winning the video game console battle. Ferndale sophomore Kyle Funk said one of the best things about the Nintendo Wii is its general appeal for the masses, especially since it is the first console to support a motion-sensitive controller. “I’ve always been a fan of Nintendo,” Funk said. “I’d say for hardcore gamers, you should get a 360 or PS3, but a classic gamer or a casual gamer should get a Wii.” Though the Nintendo Wii has the most sales worldwide, Techumseh freshman Christopher Berges said he thinks the Xbox 360 is what gamers are looking for. Berges said the first-person shooter series Halo and the Xbox Live online components are what attracted him to the Xbox 360. “It seems like the online play is more competitive than on the PS3 and Wii,” he said. “I like the Halo series, and I heard some bad stuff about the PS3 about it not working, so I chose to get a 360.” Game Traders employee and Royal Oak junior Justin Sczechowski said the Xbox 360 seems to be the most popular platform. “A lot of people seem to really like the Xbox 360,” Sczechowski said. “Probably because it was cheaper when it first came out, and I feel there is a better selection of inexpensive games for it. That seems to be our biggest new shelf.” Hardware difficulties Sczechowski said even though the Xbox seems to be a gamer favorite, he sees people having many technical problems with the Xbox 360. “I am actually looking into getting a PS3 just because I hear so many problems about Xbox’s, like, ‘My tray won’t open,’ and, ‘It’s giving my games the ring of death,’” Sczechowski said. “That’s all I
courtesy photo
used to hear about Xbox and I hear it more now that I work here, so I’d rather get a PS3.” The “ring of death” is a notorious general hardware failure in which three of the Xbox 360’s four lights circling the power button flash red. The error is typically unrepairable.
Lifelong gamer and Brighton sophomore Adam Marth said the Playstation 3 is all about the future. “I think every other gaming system is inadequate for top quality game usage,” he said. studentlife@cm-life.com