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Friday, Dec. 3, 2010
CMU lets lead slip away in McGuirk Arena debut, 3B
Central Michigan Life
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
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Ross gets OK to negotiate lease for new hotel Construction would be complete by 2012 football season By Carisa Seltz Senior Reporter
The CMU Board of Trustees granted University President George Ross authority to negotiate a land lease agreement with Lodgco Management LLC Thursday.
David Burdette, vice president of Finance and Administrative Services, said Lodgco approached him during the summer with a proposal to build a hotel east of Kelly/ Shorts Stadium to be completed in time for the 2012 football season. “I can only describe it as a ‘eureka moment,’” Burdette said. Lodgco’s proposal was developed after a plan approved in July 2008 to build a Holiday Inn and office building complex within the Center for Applied Research and Technology
stalled because of a lawsuit with LaBelle Limited Partnership. General Counsel Manuel Rupe said the trial is scheduled for May 16-24, 2011. Michael Smith, president of Lodgco, said they will provide a modern-designed project which will blend into existing CMU architecture. “We’re proposing a 150-room hotel with five or six stories,” Smith said. The hotel would include indoor and outdoor pools, exercise facilities, business center, restaurant, conference space
and more. Also included in the design package were at least six leasable stadium suites added onto the stadium and connected to the hotel by a glass atrium. Smith estimated the project would cost $22 to $25 million total. Because it is a private development, university funds will not be used. New market Lodgco wants to develop this project because the local marcourtesy illustration
A hotel | 2A
Less than 7 percent of students have exceeded print quota OIT anticipates no ‘significant changes’ until fall at earliest By Ryan Taljonick Senior Reporter
Editor’s note: Every Friday, CM Life will publish an indepth piece, examining different issues.
Jake May/Photo Editor
Livonia senior Lauren Krupsky stands up and cheers at the front of the student section, better known as “the Rowdies,” during halftime of the inaugural men’s basketball game Wednesday night at McGuirk Arena in the new Events Center. A sold-out crowd of 5,350 people were in attendance.
A GOLDEN SHOWING Sellout crowd of 5,350 watches CMU’s inaugural basketball game By Staff Reports
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ednesday marked the beginning of a new era. With a crowd of 5,350 packed into the brand new McGuirk Arena, CMU’s first sellout since 2001, the men’s basketball team hosted Temple. Students filled the arena donning gold shirts, signs and flags, making their presence known. “I’ve never played in an arena like that,” said senior forward Jalin Thomas, who led the Chippewas with a game-high 26 points. “Just having all the fans supporting us, I loved it. The new arena is great and it’s real noisy.” Unfortunately, CMU could not sustain an eight-point halftime lead, allowing the Owls to make a second half run and pull away, winning 65-53. For the Rowdies, the student section was still the place to be. Wisconsin freshman Jocelyn VerVelde said the venue is gorgeous. The new look was well constructed and is just great to look at while watching the game. “It’s sweet,” she said. “So beautiful. I don’t know how else to describe it, but I just hope it’s like this — the crowd, the atmosphere — for all sporting events.”
[inside] NEWS w Women charged with embezzling more than $70,000, 2A w Women’s basketball preview, 1B, 2B w Wrestling travels to Las Vegas, 2B
By Maryellen Tighe Metro Editor
cm-life.com
Ashley Chaplain did not hesitate to give money to a stranger with a sign Thursday afternoon. “It’s hard out here and everybody needs a little help,” the Wixom junior said. “It’s $346 a credit hour and I take 19 credits, so I know what it’s like to need a
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Monday w Pick on a copy of an exam edition!
Paige Calamari/staff photographer
A in depth | 2A
Academic prioritization process at CMU delayed Deadline for preliminary report in June By Maria Amante Staff Reporter
CMU’s academic prioritization program has been delayed from its initial completion deadline. In his opening remarks during the Thursday’s board of trustees meeting, University President George Ross said the deadline for a survey of academic programs has been changed to June and may not ultimately be completed until the fall. The original deadline was set for January, said Stephanie Comai, board chairwoman. “We are not sure if fall is the
beginning of the semester or the end of the semester,” Ross said of the potential completion date. Comai said she was very pleased with the president’s performance during his eight months in office, but was hopeful CMU would be ensured completion of the academic prioritization surveys on deadline. “It’s a very important strategic initiative,” Comai said. “This is one area we cannot move at ‘university speed’ with — proceed with due haste.” University speed is an expression Ross coined for the slow moving bureaucracy of large universities. Ross said he does not want to make excuses for missing the deadline, and fully under-
A academic | 2A
Student begs for change Classmates raise awareness about homeless stereotypes
Sports
Senior guard Antonio Weary attempts a shot as he drives toward the basket while Temple guard Ramone Moore reaches out for a block Wednesday night at McGuirk Arena. CMU lost to Temple 65-53. Weary recorded four points on 2-of-8 shooting and three rebounds.
With only one week left in the semester, more than 1,400 students have used the entirety of their PrintQ allocation, according to information from the Office of Information Technology. About 1,452 students, 120 graduate and 1,332 undergraduates, had exceeded their $15 and $10 allocations respectively by Nov. 30. This is less than seven percent of the 21,386 students that have at least attempted to print in an on-campus computer lab. Jeff McDowell, associate
director of university services and support at the CMU Help Desk, said the system seems to be performing within its design parameters. “We wanted to make sure the printing methods matched the needs of the students,” he said. “We based it on real data, and that was printing with no quota, no restrictions. If you add a quota to that, it lowers everyone’s printing.” McDowell said more than $70,000 worth of paper is predicted to be saved by the end of the semester as a result of various go-green programs, including PrintQ, adopted by the university. That is more than 3 million pieces of paper, which equals approximately 46 trees worth of paper in savings, he said. “I would have to say given the goal we were trying to reach, which was to effectively create a solution that works for 60 to 70 percent of students, everything I’ve seen
little change.” But the stranger Chaplain gave money to was not looking for help for himself. Pennsylvania senior Benjamin Smith was out to dispel stereotypes surrounding homelessness for his course, ART 318: Aesthetics. The students had to do an interventionist art piece, which required them to interact with the environment, Smith said. Other students chose tasks like asking people to paint with them. “I kind of wanted to do something more with social change,” he said. Smith is working with Grand
Blanc senior Nicole Magnessdean and Melissa LaLonde, a Monroe senior, to raise awareness about homelessness before the holidays. The trio has sat around campus and across town dressed up and asking for change. “Generally everybody’s surprised, if they acknowledge it,” Smith said. “You look away because it is outside social norms.” St. Louis junior Lauren Penzien chose not to donate. She said when she donates, she tends to give to larger orA change | 2A
paige calamaru/staff photographer
Pennsylvania senior Benjamin Smith collects change from passers by Thursday afternoon outside of Charles V. Park Library. Smith, who plans to donate the change he collects to the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen, created the project for Art 318: Aesthetics. “What I’m really hoping to do is to engage people,” Smith said.