LIFE CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Only five attend march against unicameral SGA proposal, 3
Men’s basketball drops eighth straight game, faces Miami next, 7-8
| Friday, Feb. 10, 2012
Central Michigan University
[cm-life.com]
EVENTS CENTER
Questions remain about CMU’s $10 million allocation By Catey Traylor Senior Reporter
The $10 million allocation Central Michigan University made to the Events Center remains unclear as to intent. When reached by phone Wednesday, CMU Board of Trustees Chairman Sam Kottamasu referred to the money as “additional funding,” and “university assistance,” but what exactly to call the money and where it came from is unknown. “I wouldn’t call it a donation,” he said. “I would say that this is additional funding to help complete the project so donors can come forward.” But whether the $10 million will be paid back remains unanswered. On Tuesday, Kathy Wilbur, vice president of development and external relations, said CMU donated $10 million to the project and questioned whether the money would be paid back. “My sense is that the money is going to be paid back when funding is complete, but I can’t remember or comment on specific details at this time,” Kotta-
masu said. Although the money from the university has been accepted by the Events Center, the project remains advertised as “privately funded” on the facility website. Gail Shields, professor of economics, said the wording on the site should be changed if the university allocated this type of money toward the project. “I think that if it said that CMU was not going to donate anything or that it would be private, then the notice on the website should be changed if CMU has donated money,” she said. “The statement on the website is misleading.” Athletics Director Dave Heeke, who said in April 2008 that the university “was committed to raise all $21.5 million privately,” has declined several requests for comment. Wilbur said earlier in the week that $8 million had been raised privately, and a fundraiser is scheduled for Feb. 18 featuring sports broadcaster and CMU alumnus Dick Enberg.
By Eric Dresden Editor-in-Chief
The College of Medicine moved one step further toward the goal of opening in 2013, but the process continues to leave some unhappy. On Wednesday, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education granted preliminary accreditation to the Central Michigan University medical school. CMED Dean Ernest Yoder said this is the third step in a five-step process, which could finish in the fall of 2016 with full accreditation from the LCME. He said with provisional accreditation, the school will welcome its first class in the summer of 2013. “It’s consistent with the timeline and puts us in a good shape to recruit our first class of students and (faculty),” Yoder said. “It’s something to rally the faculty and staff around.” His staff will now focus on several other things, he said. One big decision being worked on is CMED’s Saginaw campus, which he expects will open in 2015. No official announcements have been made about
hittin’ the beat Percussion studio prepares for concert
university@cm-life.com
By Sam Easter | Staff Reporter
College of Medicine granted preliminary LCME accreditation Some faculty members unhappy with process
PHOTOS BY ANDREW KUHN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Senior Sarah Riegler plays a gyil, a traditional instrument of northern Ghana during a marimba studio recital Sunday afternoon in Chamichian Recital Hall. The recital consisted of 10 of professor Andrew Spencer’s students performing.
the building. “Right now we are engaged in program planning; there will be things to talk about in the summer,” he said. But not all are excited about the decision. During an LCME team visit in November, several faculty members, including Academic Senate Chairman Jim McDonald, met with LCME officials to express concerns about the state of CMU and CMED. “There could be a much more transparent communication process about what CMED is going to be and that would clear up a lot of the misunderstanding and the negative feelings,” McDonald said. The team of faculty members that met with LCME officials were not against CMED, but did bring up several issues they thought needed to be addressed, McDonald said. Some were concerned about a lack of transparency in budget decisions regarding CMED, which came to a head when Provost Gary Shapiro announced CMED costs would likely exceed $30 million after initially being set for $25 million over five years. James Hill, a professor of political science, was also in the meeting and said he’s glad A CMED | 2
It took months of preparation for 10 members of Andrew Spencer’s percussion studio to perform the second half of this year’s annual marimba recital. “I’ve been practicing for over a month for this piece,” said New Baltimore freshman Anna Anger, who devoted as much as two hours each day readying herself for the performance. “It’s going to go great.” The concert featured an array of genres and instruments, from marimba performances to a jazzflavored vibraphone solo to Rapid City senior Sarah Riegler’s Ghanaian piece “Bediako/Yan Yan Koli,” which she performed on the gyil, a Ghanaian marimba-like instrument known as the “grandfather” of the instruments on stage. The concert, held Sunday, showcased just one side of the multi-faceted musicians the percussion studio produces, teaching them to be fluent on a variety of instruments. The percussion
Music professor Andrew Spencer, left, jokes with Grand Rapids senior Mike McLaughlin after the marimba studio recital in Chamichian Recital Hall Sunday afternoon. McLaughlin performed Mexican Dance No. 1 by Gordan Stout.
and forms of music become apparent with a look inside the studio’s storage room; wall-to-wall and floor-toceiling storage holds glass bottles, cowbells, gongs, hammers, cymbals, and of
studio’s next performance will be a percussion ensemble concert, scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday in the Music Building’s Staples Family Concert Hall. The wide array of styles
Head football coach Dan Enos knows a thing or two about recruiting. During National Signing Day on Feb. 1, Enos was already contacting high school juniors about potentially bringing their talents to Mount Pleasant upon graduation. “We’re moving on to the next class and one of the things they’re always interested in is the stability of the coaching staff,” he said. “That’s a real positive.” Enos’ one-year contract
extension was announced Wednesday by Athletic Director Dave Heeke, which will keep him on staff through the 2015 season. He is currently in his third year of the original five-year contract that would have run through 2014. “We’re excited,” Enos said. “I think it’s nice to know that our administration and everybody has confidence in us and understands everything we’ve done.” Enos’ contract has a base salary of $250,000, plus an annual media bonus of $75,000 for working
A RECITAL | 2
CMU gets $2.5 million in Snyder proposal Increase comes in 2013 budget plan By David Oltean Senior Reporter
Central Michigan University could get more than $2.5 million from Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget proposal for the 2013 fiscal year. The funding, which will amount to $36.2 million, will allocate a 3-percent
uate degrees, the amount of undergraduate degrees in critical skills areas and the number of students to receive federal Pell Grants. In addition to the increase in state university spending, an additional $8.5 million is being devoted to Michigan community colleges in 2013 and more than $306 million is being added to the K-12 school system. Kathy Wilbur, vice president for development and external relations, said she views the additional fund-
increase to state university funding and would be based on performance. Snyder emphasized education as one of the state’s budgeting priorities as funds, along with health and human services spending, which accounted for more than 75 percent of the budget. The amounts allocated to the different state universities would be based on compliance with tuition restraint provided tuition increases are 4 percent or lower, growth of undergrad-
Enos’ contract extended one year By Justin Hicks Staff Reporter
course, drums. Grabbing a mallet, Riegler demonstrated how many ways you could tease a different sound out of a drum;
ing as restoration for severe cuts in educational budgeting in years past. Wilbur said the university received most of the $2.5 million because of growth in undergraduate degrees, though the $70.6 million is still far below the $90 million CMU received in previous years. “We’re obviously pleased, but I do think it’s important in the language not to call it an increase,” Wilbur said. “This is just the beginning of the restoration of all the
A SNYDER | 2
[ I N S I D E] w ‘American Pie’ actor Thomas Ian Nicholas coming Feb. 20, 3 w Several crisis hotlines available in Isabella County, 3
with radio and TV, totaling $325,000 annually. The extension comes with no increase in base salary or buyout provisions. “I commend Dan on his patience and courage over the past two seasons and thank our many fans who have stood behind this program as we have done the things necessary to rebuild and maintain success,” Heeke said. The Chippewas recorded back-to-back 3-9 seasons during Enos’ first two years as coach.
BROOKE MAYLE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A ENOS | 2
Dan Enos introduces the 2012 Central Michigan football recruiting class Feb. 1. Exactly one week later he was given an one-year extension from Athletics Director Dave Heeke.
w Community church’s college outreach focuses on growth through small groups, 5
93 Years of Serving as Central Michigan University’s Independent Voice
w Wrestling traveling to New York, 7