February 2, 2011 by Central Michigan Life

color me! Kids today choose tech toys over tradition, 1B

Central Michigan Life

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

[cm-life.com]

City focuses on making Mission Street more business friendly

Student dies after battling rare cancer Hannah Simons-Scalise remembered for staying strong

By Emily Grove Senior Reporter

By Mike Nichols Senior Reporter

Every Wednesday CM Life will publish an in-depth piece, examining different issues. Mission Street has long been associated with high volumes of traffic and accidents in Mount Pleasant, but steps to revamp the road have already begun. Jeff Gray, Mount Pleasant’s director of Planning and Community Development, said the main problem plaguing Mission varies widely depending on who you ask. For the city, the main concern is making sure the street stays a viable business corridor for business owners and people who shop there, as well as the people who live in that sector of the community, he said. But whatever problems Mission itself incurs, the solutions are ultimately left to the Michigan Department of Transportation, since it is a state highway. “The city obviously has no jurisdiction of the street itself so our influence is primarily the sides of the street,” Gray said. Mount Pleasant has been working with businesses along Mission to increase accessibility. The city has new ordinances for development along Mission which allow for businesses to be closer to street, like the newly renovated Taco Bell, 1143 S. Mission St. The new Taco Bell was also granted easements and the ability to make future connections with businesses that build next to it in the future. “The city has to focus on what we can control,” Gray said. “We’ve been working on connections with businesses to avoid going out on the street.” Such projects are opportunity-based and not all businesses can use this option. The site plans have to be approved and neighboring properties have to agree to work together. Gray said First Bank, 2013 S. Mission St., upgraded its existing facility and the new driveway was built to connect to the local shopping plaza. “The (Downtown DevelopA in-depth | 2A

The state legislature has canceled sessions for Today and Thursday due to weather conditions, according to a statement from the House Speaker’s office. Campus events and classes are normally canceled with lowered visibility and if travel is impeded or safety is af-

Being diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer did not stop Hannah Simons-Scalise from doing the things she enjoyed. The Mount Pleasant sophomore died in her home Monday. She was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma when she was a freshman at Mount Pleasant High School, 1155 S. Elizabeth St., but still managed to compete in the state championships for cross country running. Her mother, Lynn Simons, said Hannah spent the first year of treatment getting 14 rounds of chemotherapy. After being discharged cancerfree, her cancer re- Hannah Simonsturned three months Scalise later. “If you can imagine a kid who is in chemo still practicing with the team,” Simons said, “that was impressive.” Simons said Hannah spent the next four years receiving treatment at the University of Michigan Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas and the University of Pennsylvania. She underwent four thoracotomies, a surgery involving incision into the space between the lungs, had two courses of radiation and 900 doses of chemotherapy. Simons said Hannah endured all this and still managed to graduate high school on time. In college, Hannah studied history. She worked a part-time job at Spinning Wheels Arena, 1241 N. Mission Road, and spent the rest of her time doing volunteer work. She was a humanist who valued nature and the cycle of life, Simons said. Hannah volunteered for the Mount Pleasant Animal Shelter and had adopted a dog, Sophie. Queens University student and Mount Pleasant resident Jamie McDevitt-Irwin met Hannah in 6th grade and was with her all the way through high school. She said Hannah was her best friend and that she was inspired by how Hannah never allowed cancer to bring her down. “She’s had cancer since ninth grade and she’s never let it define her,” McDevitt-Irwin said. “Some people didn’t even know she had cancer be-

A winter | 2A

A Simons-Scalise | 2A

photos by victoria zegler/staff photographer

CMU students wait for a Isabella County Transportation Commission shuttle bus just after 5 p.m. Tuesday outside of the Music building.

Classes canceled Warning in effect until 7 p.m. By Maria Amante | Senior Reporter

lasses have been canceled today with a National Weather Service winter storm warning effective in Isabella County until 7 p.m. All buildings will be closed on campus except residence halls, according to an e-mail sent out by University Communications. Charles V. Park Library and the Student Activities Center will open at noon. The storm will taper off by 8 to 10 a.m., said Jamie Bielinski, warning coordination meteorologist for the NWS Grand Rapids office. “The heavier snow will take off from midnight,” she said. Bielinski said to watch for 8 to 10 inches of snow. Wind gusts during the day Wednesday could be as high as 25 mph, and that will cause blowing and drifts, she said. Caitlin Ross, meteorology temporary faculty member, said it was difficult to calls whether the storm would have such a massive effect because weather is unpredictable.

Freshmen Jessica Wilson of Rochester Hills, left, and Annie Palmucci of Ann Arbor walk from south campus to the library Tuesday evening. “This is the reason why I skip class in the morning,” Wilson said. “The weather, it’s freezing.”

cm-life.com Check back for video on this week’s weather reaction. “In this area, it’s hard to tell,” she said. “We’re on the north border of the storm, and if the storm shifts farther north, we can get up to a foot of snow.” She said the storm’s effects will be far worse in Missouri, Illinois, and especially Oklahoma, where the state is not as prepared for rough winter conditions.

[inside]

st u d e n t e m p loy m e n t

On-campus jobs a popular choice for some By Odille Parker Staff Reporter

jeff smith/staff photographer

Museum of Cultural and Natural History staff and Lansing sophomore Spencer Austin catalogs birds Tuesday afternoon at the museum in Rowe Hall. The room holds more than 300 species of birds, Austin said. “My job is cool because I get to work with animals, each has its own individual story, which is a mystery. As a theater major, I give them each an individual name and story, so my life is like ‘Night at the Museum,’” Austin said.

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Spare time is far more efficient when it results in a paycheck. Jobs on campus are a popular choice for students because they are required to prioritize course schedules over work schedules. Spencer Austin usually keeps to himself on the job. The Lansing freshman is a student assistant at the Museum of Culture and Natural History in Rowe Hall. He is in charge of cleaning the museum and preparing exhibits for the viewing of the public. “Since I am a theater major, I love working in the zo-

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ology room at the museum,” Austin said. “I like to pretend that I am Ben Stiller in the movie ‘Night at the Museum’ and talk to (the exhibits) and pretend that they are alive and give them names.” The Cedar Springs freshman Mandy Mann is both a receptionist and reference desk clerk at Charles V. Park Library. Shesaid she loves the simplicity and convenience of her jobs. She can not only work on homework during her shift but has also become skilled at navigating through the library for classes. “The flexibility of my work is the best part,” Mann said. To be a reference desk clerk, a student needs to

take LIB 197: Introduction to Library and Information Research and fill out an application. Freshmen are usually favored because of their ability to work through the next four years, Mann said. The baristas of Java City carry the heavy charge of livening sleepy students’ mornings. The two coffee shops, located in the Health Professions building and Park Library, employ about 25 people. Mikado freshman Barbara McNeill described a barista’s job as taking customer orders, making beverages, serving food and cleaning. “The best part of this

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A jobs | 2A

w Sibs Weekend coming Friday, Saturday, 5A

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in-depth |

EVENTS CALENDAR

continued from 1A

ment Authority) has the funds for combining driveways along Mission if there is an access way behind it,” said Gray. “With First Bank, we had the funds to provide.”

WEDNESDAY w A Black History Month Exhibit will be on display from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Bovee University Center Multicultural Education Center. w Soup & Substance: What is Chinese New Year? will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in the UC’s Terrace A, B, C, & D w Basic Video Production on a PC will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at Charles V. Park Library, room 413

THURSDAY w One Hour Conference: Why Should Students Work Hard in Your Course? will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the library, room 413 w A Passport Fair will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. in the UC’s Mount Pleasant room. w Faculty Artist Edward Phillips will perform from 8 to 9:30 p.m. in the Music Building’s Staples Family Concert Hall.

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 2011 Volume 91, Number 52

winter | continued from 1A

fected, Ross said. “Weather is so unpredictable, but NWS is fairly good and accurate with predictions,” Ross said. “It’s surprising, things develop that you don’t foresee. Weather’s fairly complex.” The conditions are significant compared to what this season has seen previously, she said, which has only amounted to 2 to 4 inches at once. She said another issue is how the snow falls — if it comes in a two-hour period versus a 12-hour period, which could significantly impact how quickly roads are cleared. East Lansing junior Joseph Sager said the media hype given to snowstorms annoys him. “We live in Michigan,” Sager said. “I’m used to it — it’s terrible.” Sager said he was still prepared for the possibility of snow-day class cancellations. metro@cm-life.com

CONGRATS | Julie Feight wins winter photo contest

us were just unacceptable to businesses, residents and City Commission.”

Police presence According to the 2009 annual report released by the Mount Pleasant Police Department on the city’s website, there were 177 acciA safer road Mount Pleasant is also dents at the Mission Street very concerned with making intersections of Broomfield Mission Street pedestrian- Street, Preston Avenue, Bellows Street, Appian Way and friendly. High Street. By moving MPPD Pubnew business“When the speed lic Informaes closer to limit on Mission tion Officer the street, it is Jeff Browne hoping to give changed to 45, we has seen the drivers a cue were opposed to it, benefits of to slow down, the collected but in the but we had no information. end, speeds authority to say A shift will are a decigo down and sion made by anything.” work for a cerMDOT, Gray Kathie Grinzinger, city manager tain amount of said. time to correct “When the behaviors seen speed limit at these interon Mission changed to 45, we were op- sections, Browne said. Another method for Misposed to it, but we had no authority to say anything,” sion Street’s improvement is said City Manager Kathie a grant the police station received last fall from the Office Grinzinger. The speed limit change of Highway Safety Planning. “The $74,428 grant was to along the southern stretch of Mission was met with some get everyone in the county on negative reception from the same computer system,” Browne said. “The benefits community members. The city does have a say on are to get data to the state of approval if it is asked to match Michigan faster, to process data and track problems in funds or for specific things. In 2009, there was a plan more real time.” This way the state will not to put in a boulevard from Broomfield Street to Blue- have to wait until the end of grass Road, forcing drivers the year to begin analyzing to make indirect left-hand accident and citation data in turns, or “Michigan lefts.” specific areas such as MisThe new street design would sion Street intersections, he have addressed accidents said. MDOT has construction that occur during direct leftscheduled for Mission Street hand turns at intersections. But businesses were con- in 2011. It plans to resurface, cerned with whether people repaint and narrow the drivwould frequent their estab- ing lanes slightly, Grinzinger lishment if they had to drive said. Specific attention will be past and turn around to get paid to pedestrian-friendly to it, Gray said. The City Commission crosswalks along with the elected to not send the lo- streets. Mount Pleasant will concal share of funds that was needed for the project and tribute $13,200 to repainting MDOT did not proceed with and upgrading the crosswalks. The crosswalks will the project. “In the end we turned down be much larger and will have the $4 million grant,” Grinz- thermoplastic inlays for iminger said. “MDOT supplies proved visibility. very specific design options and the options available to metro@cm-life.com

jobs | continued from 1A

whole thing is the customer interaction,” McNeill said. “Despite the occasional mistakes, it is great to see a customer’s smile when they take a sip of a well-prepared drink.” One of campus’ most popular jobs is being a resident assistant. Each hall is assigned several RAs in order to build and foster a community on each floor and throughout the building. These students act as academic and personal resources to residents. Holland junior Will Damian loves every aspect of his job as an RA in Larzelere

cm-life.com/category/news

[News]

Hall. “It’s a great leadership experience,” Damian said. “(Being an RA) gives me the opportunity to interact, teach and learn with everyone in the building.” Damian said an RA must earn an accumulative GPA of 2.5, and while they each receive a room and board compensation, none do it for the money. There are many job opportunities for every area of interest throughout campus. It is just a matter of getting out there and applying for the one that fits best, Damian said. “Just go out and do it,” Damian said. “Once you find something you like and choose to do it, many other doors open up.”

Winter snow sparkles from sunlight on a Queen Anne’s lace plant during a brisk, sunny morning along Crawford Road. in Mount Pleasant. See a photo gallery of the other contestants on cm-life.com.

Simons-Scalise | continued from 1A

cause she was so happy all the time.” McDevitt-Irwin said she came down from school this weekend to hang out one last time with Hannah. She said they watched movies and talked.

She said Hannah was the strongest person she had ever met. “I think she just wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives,” McDevitt-Irwin said. “She was an inspiration.” Mount Pleasant sophomore Taylor Bourns was Hannah’s friend since middle school and

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said she will remember Hannah’s spirit and the way she touched people’s lives. “She had a great smile that could light up the room,” Bourns said. “She’ll be remembered by everyone.” Hannah’s visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m on Friday at Clark Family Funeral Chapel, 114 S. Bradley Road. studentlife@cm-life.com

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inside life Central Michigan Life

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011

Charge filed against MMCC over faculty firing Former instructor claims Facebook status was cause By Maryellen Tighe Staff Reporter

Mid Michigan Community College could face a lawsuit after allegedly firing former instructor Jason Liptow over a Facebook status update. Liptow said he believes he was actually fired for trying to unionize the non-tenured fac-

ulty at the college. “(The Facebook post) was a generic comment about, ‘You know when students ask for help too late there is nothing I can do to help them,’ ... without a student’s name or any identifiers,” he said. “For me it was venting, telling other students, ‘Don’t let this happen to you.’ They said it was a breach of confidentiality ... I wouldn’t have been fired for what the complaint was if I hadn’t been organizing a union.” The American Federation of Teachers Michigan filed a charge on Liptow’s behalf against

MMCC with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission Jan. 21. It could take a little over a month for MERC to decide whether MMCC violated the law and then bring charges. Afterward, the case could continue to court, said AFT Michigan President David Hecker. MMCC violated the law by firing Liptow for attempting to organize a union, Hecker said. “Mr. Liptow informed the (college) administration that he was leading an effort to organize and then he was dismissed after

years and years of good work,” he said. “We hope that tomorrow they say, ‘Let’s take Mr. Liptow back and give him the back pay that we owe him.’” Liptow first discussed forming a union with AFT Michigan Organizer Jon Curtiss and four other faculty members in October. He sent a letter to the president of the college in early November because he wanted to be upfront about his actions, Liptow said. He also sent a letter to all college staff. One of the reasons Liptow wanted to unionize the tempo-

rary faculty was the high ratio of temporary faculty to full-time professors. There are 43 full-time faculty and 219 adjunct faculty at MMCC for the winter 2011 semester, said MMCC spokesman Matt Miller. “We’re just trying to let people know that while Mid continues to invest money in buildings and campuses which is nice, I averaged about $14,000 a year teaching nine classes,” Liptow said. “You don’t need to make six figures as a professor, but you need to get paid for what you’re doing.”

Liptow has consistently received above average performance reviews from students and other faculty as recently as fall 2010, the charge states. The goal of the charge is for Liptow to be reinstated to his job and receive back-pay for time lost, Hecker said. AFT Michigan also wants the college to allow open union elections if the faculty decides to unionize. Miller said he declined comment because of the pending litigation. metro@cm-life.com

Traveling to Cuba through Study Abroad possible Passport Fair on Thursday By Kyle Kaminski Staff Reporter

President Barack Obama made traveling to Cuba a much easier experience for college students earlier this month. The country was nearly isolated from all travel from the U.S. for the past seven years, but recent legislation has opened up the gates to the island nation. While restrictions haven’t been completely lifted, it has become easier for researchers and academics to travel, including CMU students. “Study Abroad has always been important for students,” said Dianne DeSalvo, director of Study Abroad. “Exposure and education in other countries can be life changing. It‘s also a great thing to put on resumes in the future.” Casual travel to Cuba remains impossible under the U.S. economic embargo, which has been in effect for nearly five decades. Obama has placed students in a unique category of travelers and granted them some of the only passes into the country. “Statistically, this could help bridge the large cultural gap that we have with Cuba,” said Orlando Perez, chairman and professor of political science. “I suspect (Obama) hopes to increase relations, both politically and economically, and this travel initiative is the first step.” Cuba isn’t the only focus for the Obama Administration. Recently endorsed by both First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, the new initiative to increase student travel to China is already well under way. “Traveling abroad can really change your world view,” said Jiafei Yin, professor of journalism and coordinator to the China Daily newspaper internship program. “Experiencing culture firsthand is a remarkable experience. It gives us a more global view, rather than focusing on A abroad | 4A

perry fish/staff photographer

Highland sophomore Alex Chouinard winces as Flushing junior Morgan Foshee, left, and Gwinn sophomore Kelli Kovarik cut his hair Monday evening in the Fabiano/Emmons/Woldt lobby. Chouinard created a ‘change war’ that determined he should cut his hair, in an effort to raise money for Special Olympics Michigan. “I feel ten pounds lighter, confident ... ready to take on the world,” Chouinard said after the event.

A Heartfelt Haircut Woldt Hall MA’s shorn locks benefits Special Olympics

By Mike Nichols Senior Reporter

In a world where Justin Bieber pays about $750 for a haircut, Alex Chouinard raised money by letting others give him one. Chouinard, a Midland junior, said CMU Multicultural Advisers were looking for ways to raise money for Special Olympics Michigan. As the MA for Woldt Hall, he said he wanted to have some fun with it. Since he’s known for having longer hair, said he let his residents compete with charity to see if he would shave it all off. “There were two buckets sit-

ting in the lobby where people could donate their money for about three weeks,” he said. “Whichever one raised more money I would do.” After the fundraiser ended, Chouinard put in another challenge to Woldt residents Gwinn sophomore Kelli Kovarik and Flushing junior Morgan Foshee. If they could raise $30, they would personally be given free reign to do whatever to his hair, and he would have to leave it for two weeks. The two said they went door to door in Fabiano and raised the money. The largest donor was Richland freshman Benjamin Hoeksema. Hoeksema said he met Ch-

more coverage w Pick up Friday’s paper for stories and photos from Special Olympics happening in northern Michigan this week.

ouinard through friends and now hangs out in his room often. Although he wanted to see the ladies give Chouinard a ridiculous look, Hoeksema said he mostly donated for the cause. “My major is special education and my brother competes in the Special Olympics,” he said. “So I do have a special interest in it.” The final tally of the donations was $11.56 to not shave, $30.25 to shave and $54.47 to let them do whatever to his hair. The total raised $96.28. Chouinard said he was pleased with the result, although a little nervous about his new hairdo.

“I might have to wear a hat for a while,” he said. A crowd of about 25 people gathered Monday night in the Woldt lobby to watch the haircut. Neither Kovarik or Foshee had ever done hair before, but Kovarik said they were excited to mess with Chouinard’s shaggy hair. After contemplating on a mullet, a bald spot, and even a reverse bald spot, they made a ring around his head.

“We shaved everything but a little part that connected with his beard,” Foshee said. “We gave him a headband.” Kyle Schwarting, a Grand Rapids junior, said the crowd had fun and laughed when big chunks of hair dropped off Chouinard’s head. He said it was a good thing to do for charity, but his biggest laugh will come when the two share a class. Schwarting said he is now very excited to attend. “I am looking forward to Wednesday’s class just to see everybody’s reaction,” Schwarting said. “He looks ridiculous.” studentlife@cm-life.com

Williamston senior readies to bike across country Trip will include charity projects By Rachel Dybicki Staff Reporter

Summer is a time for relaxing for many students, but James Slider has other plans: To bike from Portland, Maine, to Santa Barbara, Calif. The Williamston senior is a member of Bike & Build, an organization dedicated to building houses across the country, and will contribute to Habitat for Humanity construction projects along his nationwide bicycle trip.

Over eight seasons, Bike & Build has contributed more than $2.7 million to housing groups to fund projects planned and executed by students. This includes more than $490,000 donated from the summer of 2010. “Each person on our estimated 30-person team is preparing by raising money for the cause,” Slider said. “The money will go toward building equipment, wood, supplies and the overall cost of the trip.” The team will bike from 40 to 100 miles daily starting at 6 a.m. and going until they are ready to rest or hit the next

building site, Slider said. “I think it’s great that students from CMU are participating in this,” said Monroe senior Sarah Bialecki. “I just wish there were more publicity. It would reach out to so many different students.” Slider said the primary purpose of the trip is to help build affordable housing for those who cannot afford it. He has given several presentations on affordable living, hoping to spread the word for the cause. Troy sophomore John Loafman said it is a smart idea to get the group together for a summer of good deeds. “I think it’s very cool that

they are doing this, especially with the economy today,” he said. “There are a ton of foreclosures out there so people are in need of affordable housing.” Slider is a cyclist for the Triathlon Club at CMU. He is looking forward to traveling across the country and meeting new people. “This experience is going to be super rewarding,” he said. “It’s great to know that I’m doing this on my power and there are going to be so many different people I get to meet on this trip across the country.” studentlife@cm-life.com

kaitlin thoresen/staff photographer

Grand Haven alumna Kristen Dyke shows her scrapbook from the Bike & Build she did last summer to Genesee senior Kelly Siegersma and Williamston senior James Slider Sunday evening at Kaya Coffee House, 1029 S. University Ave. Seigersma and Slider are doing the Bike & Build program this summer.

Connor Sheridan, Managing Editor | news@cm-life.com | 989.774.4343

4A || Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 || Central Michigan Life

cm-life.com/category/news

[News]

JO JO’S JUNK SHOP | Brought to you by renters

County jobless rate second lowest in state Isabella passed by Washtenaw, tied with Clinton By Emily Grove Senior Reporter

andrew kuhn/staff photographer

Mount Pleasant resident Jennifer Avis goes over paperwork at Jo Jo’s Junk Shop, 219 South Main St. in Mount Pleasant. Avis has been working there for about a year, and said most of the inventory is brought in by renters. “If it’s not snowy and it’s nice out, we can be really busy,” Avis said. “Today’s a really slow day.”

June’s Boutique aims for unique selection, fashion By Melissa Beauchamp Staff Reporter

June Bonstelle opened a boutique in downtown Mount Pleasant December as an outlet for her lasting love for fashion. June’s Boutique, 201 1/2 E. Broadway St., offers a variety of women’s clothing and accessories including hats, jewelry, scarves, purses and sunglasses. “Mount Pleasant needed a place to go for a unique clothing item that you wouldn’t find anywhere else,” she said. Bonstelle said she has been shopping in downtown Mount Pleasant all her life. “If I wouldn’t have gotten this space downtown, I wouldn’t have opened it,” she said. “This is the place you have to be if you want this type of a shop.” Bonstelle said she renovated the space and built walls to separate her boutique from Norm’s Flower Petal, located at 201 E. Broadway St. “I spent weeks painting,

reconstructing and decorating the shop,” she said. “I’m still decorating and changing things around.” Bonstelle owned a flower shop, the Opal Rose, for seven years and then decided to venture into real estate. She said she decided to open a boutique after missing the interaction with customers and the close relationships she developed with them. Bonstelle said she recognizes the importance of customer service and friendliness in any type of business. “I get to know people really well ... I’ve been in so many shops where employees just grunt at me,” she said. “That doesn’t make me want to go back.” Plymouth sophomore Samantha Schlampp said she loves shopping at boutiques. “There is always something different and unusual that you cannot find elsewhere,” she said. “I purchased a really cute shirt from June’s Boutique and I love it.”

June’s Boutique has more than a dozen clothing brands and the main clothing line for the boutique is Woolrich. It has many sizes for different shapes, she said. Bonstelle is also starting a baby line at her shop inspired by her new granddaughter. “I get everybody coming in here,” Bonstelle said. “There is something for everyone.” Other brands such as Lulumari and DownEast Basics are made in a smaller cut for young college-age women. Bonstelle handpicks all the items herself based on her own preferences and popular trends, she said. “I get items that are wearable, affordable and won’t go out of style tomorrow,” she said. “Everything is unique, but nothing too funky.” June’s Boutique is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. metro@cm-life.com

Tanning a bad idea for students, physician says Skin cancer by far most common type By Melissa Beauchamp Staff Reporter

With spring break less than five weeks away, many soon-tobe vacationers are hitting tanning salons to get a head start on their sun-kissed glow. The Residence Life Fitness and Wellness program presented “Truth or Scare” with Dr. Jennifer Nash, dermatologist from the MidMichigan Physicians Group Monday night in Kulhavi Hall, to inform students of its potential risks. In her presentation to about 20 people, Nash addressed tanning’s potentially detrimental effects on health. The relatively recent phenomenon of tanning is increasing, which has unfortunately increased cases of skin cancer, Nash said. Clinton Township sophomore Erica Sell, one of University Recreation’s team leaders, said Nash was also brought in to inform students of sun exposure last year. “Usually this time of the year people are starting to get ready for spring break,” Sell said. “Everyone always wants to get a base tan.” Despite evidence of harmful effects, the $5 billion per year industry is drawing in more people than ever before, Nash said. She said skin cancer is the most common type of cancer; it is more common than breast, colon, lung and prostate cancer combined. “Ultraviolet light is a proven carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,” Nash said. “UVA and UVB rays can directly damage the cells or indirectly damage the DNA in skin cells, mostly occurring in the epidermis (top layer of skin).”

There is a false conception that the more tanned people are, the more protected they are from the sun, Nash said. She said just by having tanned skin, DNA is damaged, which causes the skin to produce more melanin. “Some estimates say that one in three Caucasians will actually develop skin cancer,” Nash said. Despite what many advertisements preach, vitamin D is not obtained in significant amounts in the process because of the UVA light emitted from tanning beds, Nash said. “The healthiest way to get vitamin D is from supplements,” she said. Nash said melanoma is the worst type of cancer with

Isabella County has consistently maintained one of the lowest unemployment levels in Michigan’s 83 counties during tough economic times. In December 2010 Isabella County recorded an unemployment rate of 7.2 percent according to the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth. That is the second lowest in Michigan, tying with Clinton County and only being beaten out by Washtenaw County, with 6.6 percent of their labor force unemployed. The main forces keeping Isabella County’s unemployment rate low are the large employers in the area — CMU and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. “It’s fair to say that counties that have universities or large colleges often also tend to have lower unemployment rates than the average,” said Bruce Weaver, economic analyst for the DELEG. “If you look in the top 10 counties with the lowest unemployment, counties like Washtenaw, Lansing-area counties, Isabella, Kalamazoo, and Marquette, they all have

abroad | continued from 3A

view, rather than focusing on only what happens here.” The White House’s new goals includes doubling the number of students traveling to China by 2014, an increase of 13,000 to 26,000. More than 400 schools across the nation have vowed to meet these new standards. CMU has yet to make any promises although the outlook is good, Perez said. “It doesn’t sound like too big of a leap,” Perez said. “I don’t see a downside. The more the better.”

120,000 cases every year. It is incurable when it spreads internally. Skin cancer is preventable, she said, and sunscreen should have a broad spectrum of UVA and UVB coverage. Nash said despite conceptions that sunscreen causes skin cancer, the chemicals are not absorbed beyond the surface of the skin. Self-tanning products are a safe and non-toxic substitute for tanning without the carcinogenic effects, Nash said. “I’m probably not going tanning anymore,” Richmond junior Alea Carlson said. “I was hoping that it wouldn’t be that bad for you.”

Passport Fair CMU is hosting the annual passport fair Thursday. Those interested in attending should check in at the Mount Pleasant Room of the Bovee University Center between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. The cost is $135 in check or money order. Passport photography also will be available for an additional $12 charge. Information on the required documents is available online at http:// travel.state.gov/passport or through the Isabella County County Clerk office at 772-0911, ext. 265.

studentlife@cm-life.com

university@cm-life.com

colleges.” CMU employs approximately 1,400 staff and administrative employees ranging from professional and administrative, office professionals, service maintenance, public broadcasting, senior officers, police officers and supervisory or technical employees, Director of Public Relations Steve Smith said. Faculty numbers have increased from 962 in the fall of 2001 to 1,091 in the fall of 2010. There were 1,067 faculty in the fall of 2009, Smith said. “Staff employment has decreased by 4 percent in the last year due primarily to the early retirement incentive from (the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System),” Smith said. “Over the last 10 years the number has varied from a high of 1,467 to a low of 1,387.” In Isabella County, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe employed a total of 3,268 people, said Public Relations Director Frank Cloutier. The tribe is easily one of the largest employers in the county and spends about $35 million a year on insurance for its employees, he said.

The number of people the tribe employs varies on need. Before filling a position, they look at a department absorbing the cost or cross-training, but Cloutier said jobs are often available. “At this point, most vacated positions we look to have filled,” Cloutier said. “There isn’t a day that there isn’t a position posted online.” Manufacturing jobs are a large share of regional totals, along with other parts focusing on agriculture and tourism for a big percentage of employment, he said. From December 2009 to December 2010, all 83 counties recorded jobless rate decreases, according to the DELEG. Michigan’s drop in unemployment can be attributed to a few reasons, Weaver said. Industries like manufacturing, health care and the temporary-health sector have added jobs since 2009. There are also fewer people active in Michigan’s job market. “Our labor force has dropped 73,000 people in a year,” Weaver said. “The fewer unemployed that are looking for work also pushes down the numbers.” metro@cm-life.com

Re-Store

Shop • Donate • Volunteer

201 E. Pickard • Mt. Pleasant • (989) 773-0043 Tues-Fri: 10am-5pm • Sat: 10am-2pm

Public Always Welcome!

Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates are now ONLINE at

www.sapa.cmich.edu FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL HELP 8pm-Midnight, 7 days a week Online Advocacy offers the option to talk to a trained advocated in a confidential online chat session. SAPA exists to listen, believe, and support those affected by sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, harassment, and related issues. If you or someone you know has been affected and wants to talk, log onto www.sapa.cmich.edu or call the

SAPA CRISIS LINE 989-774-2255 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week

cm-life.com/category/news

[News]

Sibs Weekend to reconnect families, students at CMU

l o c a l non p r o f i t s

By Jessica Fecteau Staff Reporter

paige calamari/staff photographer

Mid-Michigan Industries employee Jeff Johnson works on the recycling crew Tuesday afternoon on East Chippewa Street. The recycling crew picks up approximately 18 tons of product each month. According to job coach Brad Bacome, seeing the crew accomplish its work is one of the greatest rewards of the job.

Mid-Michigan Industries helps across community, counties Offers jobs to individuals with barriers to employment By Emily Grove Senior Reporter

You’ve probably seen them working to keep campus clean, but the crews of Mid-Michigan Industries fulfill many more roles across the local community. MMI partners with more than 80 businesses in Clare, Isabella and Gratiot counties. The organization works in 10 mid-Michigan counties total, said MMI Director of Community Employment Sheri Alexander. “People who come here really want to work,” Alexander said. The non profit’s main mission is to provide jobs and training to people with disabilities. It provides transitional employment at two in-house manufacturing plants, located at its main office in Mount Pleasant and in Clare. Work offered at the manufacturing plants vary but include assembly, packaging and bulk mailing. Employees deal with hundreds to thousands of mail items for companies daily, said MMI President Alan Schilling. “On any given day, there can be as many as 120 workers out in the community,” Schilling said. Crews work at hotels, gas stations and office buildings. Others routinely work with the city picking up litter, recycling and shredding. Brad Bacome of Mount Pleasant has been a job coach at MMI for 20 years. He heads the curbside recycling operation with his crew Monday through Friday. Tuesdays and Thursdays they partner with the City of Mount Pleasant’s

“A lot of these people used to sit around and do nothing. But now they are out working and getting checks they are very proud of.” Brad Bacome, Mid-Michigan Industries job coach

own operation. The route is too big for the city, Bacome said. In a month they gather about 18 tons of product. Bacome has worked with some of the people on his crew for 16 years. He said the most rewarding part of his job is seeing the crew’s feeling of accomplishment. “A lot of these people used to sit around and do nothing,” he said. “But now they are out working and getting checks they are very proud of.”

Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 || 5A

The crew is very gratified when they finish work early, Bacome said. MMI also offers Community Connections, which provide various programs that take people into the community to learn skills like shopping, using the library, arts and crafts and other activities, Schilling said. “For 37 years, we’ve been providing services and in time they have evolved quite a bit,” he said. metro@cm-life.com

Upperclassmen should not be alarmed this weekend when youngsters flood the campus — the freshmen are not getting even younger. Sibs Weekend, which has encouraged students to involve family in their lives on campus since the 1970s, begins on Friday with a “Candyland” theme this year. “It’s all about the excitement of spending time with siblings and there is something for everyone to enjoy, young and old,” Student Activities Coordinator Damon Brown said. A life-sized version of the board game, tours of the event center and a movie night have all been added to the weekend’s itinerary, Brown said. Students and family can take in a carnival, meet the CMU dance team, attend a club-scene event at Bovee University Center, ice skate and more. A full schedule of events can be found at www. stulife.cmich.edu. The three-day event that takes place all over campus is intended to give students and siblings time together they might otherwise find difficult living away from home. “Since I live on campus and don’t go home a lot, it‘s nice having my sister come up to visit and we can do a bunch of the different activities,” Macomb freshman Samantha Licari said. The event already has more than 1,600 students registered, Brown said. Parents of students are also encouraged to join. “We always welcome parents to come and spend time with their son or daughter and their siblings during Sibs Weekend because it is a fun environment for everyone,” Brown said. Farmington Hills senior Robert Dolecki, the weekend’s public relations coordinator is ready to energize anyone and everyone com-

ing this weekend. “I love every moment of this event and I am looking forward to seeing the end product of all our hard work,” Dolecki said. Though online registration is closed, it is not too late to join in. On-site registration will take place Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Finch Fieldhouse at check-in. The $30 registration fee per sibling/participant covers the

cost of entertainment, special events and commemorative shirts and bags. CMU students attend for free, and parents can join for a $10 fee not including shirt or bag. Any additional questions can be directed to the Office of Student Life at 774-2547 or www.stulife.cmich.edu. studentlife@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

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011

[cm-life.com/voices]

Editorial Board: Jackie Smith, Editor

Chief | Connor Sheridan, Managing Editor | Brad Canze, News Copy Chief

Carisa Seltz, University Editor | Jake Bolitho, Metro Editor | Aaron McMann, Sports Editor | Michael L. Hoffman, Student Life Editor

EDITORIAL | Panic-causing weather no excuse for misuse of time, travel

Stay smart

Many people will use the day off to relax, go sledding and enjoy themselves, and they still can. It is a break and it is fair to enjoy the extra time, but wasting the entire day is also wasting money spent to learn at this institution. Some time should be set aside for studying, and keeping on schedule for the classes they may miss. Taking a few hours out of an entire day off to keep up with school is not unreasonable, even by slacker standards. Extra care should be taken in the case of extreme weather. Dress appropriately, wear heavy shoes, hat and gloves. Also, driving in extreme amounts of snow should be kept to an ab-

hen classes are canceled because of snow, many students use the day off as free time. However, “free” may be the most inappropriate word for it. With classes canceled for today and the much-publicized snowstorm not anticipated to let up until tonight, students will have some extra time this week. While a day off may be viewed as such, the reality is a snow day is a

day of school for which students paid. To take that day and completely neglect studying, catching up with homework or getting a head-start on upcoming projects is a misuse of already-spent tuition money.

solute minimum. If driving is absolutely necessary, grandmotherly speeds should be maintained. If a driver thinks he or she is going too slow, that driver should slow down a little. There will be considerably more snow on the ground than Mount Pleasant has seen this year. Anywhere anybody goes, they will have to take more time, more care and avoid weather-based tragedy. Regardless of what 24-hour television news channels have been saying, this major snowstorm will not be an “apocalypse” or an “armageddon,” but be smart and stay safe as much as you can, because it could cause a whole lot of problems.

KIM PATISHNOCK [CENTRAL SQUARE]

Connor Sheridan Managing Editor

I’m dating an orc murderer I met my girlfriend on “World of Warcraft.” Average college students would probably peg this at around six neck beards on a weirdness scale of one to 10. I don’t blame them. It’s a pretty darn odd way to start a relationship, particularly when you’re both role playing as women. (There’s a mistake I’ll never make again.) But after the giggles about misguided attempts to hook me up with other male players subsided, we had a healthy bond that has stuck around for four years and I hope to continue as long as we draw breath. Did I get lucky? I definitely think so — and not just because she’s probably going to read this. But our case really isn’t so bizarre. A 2006 study by Nicholas Yee, author of ‘The Psychology of MMORPGs,” indicated 15.7% of male players and 5.1% of female players had dated someone they met in a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, like “WoW.” Keep in mind that in 2006 “WoW” was only two years into its paradigm-shattering climb to the top where it now holds steady at over 12 million subscribers, just 10 percent of whom would make for over a million people in relationships started in-game. That’s a whole lot of cyber love. Do not be surprised if, in the next 20 years, answers to the “How did my parents meet?” question become increasingly prefaced with explanations of guild politics, player-versus-player antics and minor quibbles over treasure drops. If we decide to have kids I will be happy to tell them the exact story. And if “WoW” holds out the way it is now, I’ll probably be able to show them where I was standing in Stormwind’s Cathedral Square, right next to the priest-class trainer, when I first met their mother. I’ll probably leave out the part where I’m a girl, though.

[your voice] reform to Social Security is discussed. Personally, I think Rand Paul is on the right track with his proposal to cut budgets and eliminate agencies and departments — we simply cannot afford these things and they are not needed.

In response to “COLUMN: State of the Union has good, bad, no ugly” Cvtheis55 - Jan. 28 “... any cuts would be a violation of the public’s trust in the ‘security’ portion of Social Security.” Wrong. There can be no sacred cows when it comes to cuts. Two things will save us: being willing to do what is right and necessary — which means making cuts/adjustments everywhere, and not being on a hair-trigger just waiting to demagogue an issue the minute it is raised as a point of discussion, e.g. scream that they want to throw grandma in the street the minute any form of

In response to “COLUMN: Taco Bell isn’t fooling anyone, consumers know its “beef” isn’t 100 percent beef” Chemistry - Jan. 26 That law firm just wants money. They don’t want a better America. That’s how greedy America works. That law firm knows Taco Bell isn’t going to have to change anything, and they also know

business will NOT be affected. It’s sort of like Apple. You can launch a new phone with a messed up antenna, tell people they are holding it wrong, and still have giant sales. If they are suing over this, they might as well sue everyone. There’s silicon dioxide, titanium dixoide, etc., etc. in just about everything. Your vitamin supplement has titanium dioxide in it, as well as your gum, so it will have a shine (just like the paint on the roads, it’s reflective because of titanium dioxide.) That’s just the surface. People just don’t read labels and have no knowledge of general chemistry. Like I said, they might as well sue everyone.

C M Y ou | What do you think Rick Snyder should focus on first as governor? How and why?

Central Michigan Life Editorial Jackie Smith, Editor in Chief Connor Sheridan, Managing Editor Michael L. Hoffman, Student Life Editor Jake Bolitho, Metro Editor Carisa Seltz, University Editor Chelsea Kleven, Lead Designer Aaron McMann, Sports Editor Jake May, Photo Editor Sara Winkler, Assistant Photo Editor Adam Kaminski, Video Editor Advertising Shawn Wright, Paige Winans, Anne Magidsohn Advertising Managers Professional staff Rox Ann Petoskey, Production Leader Kathy Simon, Assistant Director of Student Media Neil C. Hopp, Adviser to Central Michigan Life

Central Michigan Life is the independent voice of Central Michigan University and is edited and published by students of CMU every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters, and on Wednesday during the summer term. The online edition (www.cmlife.com) contains all of the material published in print.

“More safety and security because I heard some cuts might be getting made in prisons. Crime is a neverending thing and he needs to focus on that for our safety.”

“The economy because the economy is really, really bad right now.” Ian Kelly,

Saint Joseph senior

“The economy because from what I know Michigan’s economy is pretty low out of the United States.” Tianqi Lu,

China senior

“Job creation because that seems to be the biggest problem. He should get a grant from the government to be able to move jobs into the empty production facilities.”

Judea Archie-Walker,

Jeremy McIntosh,

Flint junior

Montrose senior

Erica kearns/staff photographer Central Michigan Life 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 campus and community. 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

Ryan Taljonick Staff Reporter

Since when was learning fun? I’ve finally made it. I’m in my last semester of classes. A mere 12 credit hours of mostly 100-level courses makes me a super-happy super senior. These classes were purposely selected to allow me the opportunity to skip out and sleep in. But then something happened — something totally unexpected. I ended up enjoying them. Of course, this conflicts with my plans. My plans of staying home, playing video games, reading or whatever. Instead, I’m learning about the relationship between the earth and sun. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I’m learning about sub-solar points, solstices, equinoxes and how to calculate the exact degree of the sun’s height using a globe. Before this semester, I hadn’t looked at a globe in years. I’m learning about the earth’s atmosphere. About the reflection and convection of the sun’s energy. That UV exposure is affected by albedo, altitude, sun height and visibility. I also found out that you can calculate how long a sun-screen should protect you by multiplying its sun protection factor by the amount of minutes it typically takes you to develop a sunburn. Even if it’s really not that accurate, it’s cool to know. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I’m learning about archaeology. About the artifacts left behind by ancient cultures. I learned that the Vikings were the first Europeans to reach the Americas, some 400 years before Columbus. Vinland, the Viking site in Newfoundland as described in their sagas, may not have lasted that long, but it’s sure neat to know it existed. I’m learning about archaeological methods and dating. About ethnographic analogy, a technique used to abstractly study past cultures by drawing a parallel between the cultures of nonWestern societies and the people of long ago. I’m also actively discussing and learning about oppression in another class. The struggles faced by individuals of various genders, races and religions. That race is not something genetically defined but instead socially constructed. Some men in the class complained about having to buy women drinks at a bar. The women responded that they don’t feel safe walking alone at night — if they could trade buying drinks for safety, they would. And now, with just a few short months ahead of me, I finally realize what I’ve taken for granted. I’ve used most of my general education courses as an excuse to stay home. There are people in other countries that would kill for the opportunities I’ve had and blown off. But not this time. I’ve got stuff to learn.

E-mail | editor@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 e-mail. 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 cm-life.com in the order they are received.

are located at 436 Moore Hall, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, telephone 774-3493.

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Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 || 7A

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he t is y it s r Dive

February is Black History Month

Y T I N U T OPPOR

o people wh h it w k r t and wo to interac

“African-americans and the Civil war”

D L R O W VIEW THE . Y L T N E R DIFFE

Schedule of events

and solve problems

All Month ______________________________________________________

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Green, ~Denise O’Neil President Associate Vice Diversity for Institutional e

ty Ce n t nter 121 • S e r v (98 9) 77 i c e s 4-39 45

Featuring Prominant African-American Figures in History 8AM-5PM, Monday-Friday, Multicultural Education Center, UC 125

Sponsored by the Multicultural Education Center

Wednesday, February 9 ______________________________________________________ Black Family Reunion, Food Taster & ThinkFast Game Show Join us for a delicious food tasting and exciting trivia. 5PM, Bovee University Center Rotunda $3 for Students, $5 for General Public

Sponsored by Minority Student Services

For More Information, Call 774-3945 or visit www.diversity.cmich.edu/mss Sponsored by minority student services

campus vibe Central Michigan Life

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011

[cm-life.com/category/vibe]

Some kids choose technology over traditional toys By Maryellen Tighe | Staff Reporter

arc Barlow loves playing with toy cars. The three-year-old had a pink convertible he didn’t want to leave behind Monday afternoon in CMU’s Child Development and Learning Lab. At home, he plays with LEGOs and floor puzzles said his sister, Mount Pleasant senior Ashlii Barlow. “They’re not all that different (from what I played with) because I played with a lot of them as a kid,” she said. “He’s starting to get into the technology. He likes to play with cameras and knows how to work an iPod.” One of the advantages for Marc is that the toys keep him engaged, Barlow said, but he isn’t engaged with his environment. Toys built around technology aren’t building the skills for children parents want them to build, said Margaret Desormes, CDLL associate director. Many parents have replaced time once spent in front of a television with time spent on a computer. A toys | 2B

illustration by chelsea kleven/lead designer

Pandora’s toy box

had epic toys. I pried open the ancient family toy box this weekend and, waving the dust away, my gaze rolled over the colorful collection of a childhood world I hadn’t seen in years. As I picked out a GI Joe figurine I smiled like meeting an old friend. It was a surreal feeling, realizing how much my fingers had grown since the last time I

held him. I reached back in to find other gadgets, games and plastic characters. It was like a family reunion in the back of the laundry room. I rediscovered all the sets of Playmobil, my cowboy and Indian figures, a shoe box of baseball cards and an army of Army men. Underneath those I saw all my “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Batman” ac-

tion figures, a couple of huge “Jurassic Park” dinosaurs, more GI Joes, and a giant box with the word “LEGO” on the side. I am not ashamed to say I poured that whole thing out and rebuilt my LEGO X-wing before moving on. After that, I found a Lite Brite clown with all the pegs pushed through, a plastic case with my sister’s Barbies, and a dress up bag

Mike Nichols Senior Reporter which contained my Dragon Knight Armor and beloved Robin Hood suit. I decided I would indulge and let myself play for a little while. I gave my smart yo-yo a spin (hitting myself in the eye while trying to see if I could still pull off my

“Around The World” trick), pushed some flashy “Hot Wheel” cars across the floor and fired off a couple discs out of my Millennium Falcon Space Shooter that I terrorized my mom with. I couldn’t believe how many toys I actually had as a kid, and my favorite set wasn’t even there. My Fisher-Price Great Adventures Castle was given away to my little cousins when I left for college. That baby was the best thing ever and the setting for the adventures of all my toy characters. Also missing was my fa-

Michael L. Hoffman, Student Life Editor | studentlife@cm-life.com | 989.774.5433

vorite childhood game: Weapons & Warriors Castle Combat Set. My dad and I spent hours playing it and lost probably hundreds of those balls in our family living room. To this day, my mom will sometimes find a couple lodged deep under the furniture. As I shut the lid to my toy box, a reminiscent wave of good memories flowed over me. What I had inside it and the fun it brought my childhood was epic. Was yours? studentlife@cm-life.com

2B || Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 || Central Michigan Life

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cm-life.com/category/vibe

[VIBE]

RETRO PICKS OF THE WEEK TOY Bop It

MOVIE “Toy Story”

TV “Doug”

The original Bop It was developed by Hasbro in 1996. It quickly landed in my hands and remains one of my favorite childhood toys today. Bop It tests the users reflexes with either Vox Bop (word commands) or Beat Bop (sound commands) shouting instructions to either “Bop it!,” “Twist it!” or “Pull it!” in either single or multi-player mode. Later upgrading to the “Bop It Extreme” (“Bop it!,” “Twist it!,” “Flick it!,” “Pull it! “and “Spin it!”) Hasbro took this handheld game a step further in confusing the average 12-year-old’s developing coordination. Bop It continues to be re-released in this generation. Its only downfall? Batteries not included.

Toy Story was a first. It was the first feature film entirely done with CGI. It was the first Disney/Pixar film that launched a genre of popular new classics. And it was the first in a trilogy of movies that have since become a record-breaking phenomenon holding its own among the most successful film franchises in cinematic history. This film is a beloved treasure, considered a masterpiece of animation, and one of the greatest films of the 21st century. You owe it to yourself to watch it.

When I think back to my childhood, there are a few things that stick out in my mind: swimming, “Star Wars” and Nickelodeon’s “Doug.” “Doug” was a show that defined the 1990s for me. It ran original episodes from 1991 to 1994. All four seasons are impeccable. I challenge you to find a dud episode. You won’t. It is not possible. The one to stick out in my mind the most is “Fun Day.” In the episode, Doug’s superhero alter-ego “Quail Man” moves the earth slightly further away from the Sun so that there will be an eighth day of the week: Fun Day. If only it were true. But I know if you pop in an episode of “Doug” you will be having a Fun Day.

-Mike Nichols

-Michael L. Hoffman

-Randi Shaffer

Toys| continued from 1B

“They learn math by feeling things, not by touching a computer screen,” she said. “And with reading, you can picture the words ... If you cannot imagine them in your head, you aren’t going to read the words.” One of the best things for building math skills is building with blocks, Desormes said. Seeing how they stack allows children to explore angles better than numbers they do not yet understand on a computer screen. Katrina Rhymer, associate professor of psychology, lets her two children play with a computer at home, which Desormes said is fine in moderation. “They’re already playing on laptops, they know how to use a mouse, as soon as we get home they want to

play on the laptop,” she said. “The pro is that when they get on the Internet they can do research.” Even simple toys, such as clay, she said, are important for children’s development. They help kids develop the fine motor skills needed to hold a pencil later. Desormes advocated incorporating as much potential for creativity as possible, from mixing paint to using fabric for dress-up clothes. “In young children especially,” she said, “that prethinking piece is so important.” Pushing children through the pre-thinking phase shows a focus on the wrong part of life, said Cheryl Priest, faculty director of the lab. It would be like teaching a 12-year-old how to drive so they are already prepared when they turn 16. “We are so focused on

e g r a L Livint ’ a the

Tweets of the week

! h c e Be

preparing them for the next step, we skip that age,” she said. “I think it just re-enforces that we want them to be ready for (the next) grade.” The best toys for kids are often the ones that are the least expensive, Priest said. Toys with multiple open endings allow children to continually play with them in new ways. New toys, with lots of directions and only one use, do not allow them that freedom, she said. Her advice to parents was throw away the directions before the child sees them if they buy toys with instructions. “Children have always used their pretend play to ... explain their world better,” Priest said.

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Valentine’s Personals Monday, February 14th

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Hurry! Deadline is Friday, February 11@ Noon

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All Valentine’s Day Personals in CM Life will be placed in a drawing to win Dinner and a Movie (for TWO) at Mountain Town Station and Celebration! Cinema, Mt. Pleasant No purchase necessary to win. Entry is available at cm-life.com by clicking on the Valentine’s Day Personals web button. Download the PDF, and send or drop off your entry form at the CM Life offices in 436 Moore Hall, CMU, Mt. Pleasant, MI, on or before Feb 11, 2011 at Noon.

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LOVE

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Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 || 3B

Toy s p ec i a l

33 median number for toy recalls within last 10 years Choking, buring hazards included as reasons By Randi Shaffer Senior Reporter

paige calamari/staff photographer

Shelby Township senior Brent Kearns, left, takes a break from a workout routine with Petoskey sophomore Will Rigling Monday night at CMU’s Student Activity Center. Kearns made a resolution to lose 15 to 20 pounds while Rigling plans to work out with Kearns. Kearns and Rigling vary their workout routine by running on the treadmill, playing basketball, swimming and doing various upper-body exercises.

National Guard student shaping up to ship out Weight loss a common New Year’s pledge By Randi Shaffer Senior Reporter

Many make it a resolution to get in shape for the new year. Brent Kearns made it a reality. The Shelby Township senior decided to lose weight and get in better shape to maintain his involvement with the Army National Guard. Kearns said he has lost three inches from around his waist. “I’ve lost 15 pounds so far this year,” he said. “I’m hoping to lose two more inches by Valentine’s Day.” Kearns said he was inspired to drop the pounds when a National Guard officer measured his body fat last month at a routine drill. “I showed up and I was way over the maximum that you’re allowed,” he said. “The guy in charge was like, ‘Dude, you’re fat. You’ve got to fix this soon or we have to kick you out.’”

Kearns picked up several gym classes at CMU including yoga, football, bowling, aqua aerobics, basketball and snowshoeing. He frequents the Student Activity Center three to five times a day to work out. “Sometimes I’m here for class, and other times I have a break between class and work,” he said. “I might as well run.” Kearns also found motivation in Petoskey sophomore Will Rigling, a fellow National Guard student with a similar resolution. “I just wanted to lose 15 to 20 pounds,” Rigling said. “I just want to be in good shape overall and get healthier.” Rigling has lost five pounds since the duo took on their 2011 challenge. Though Kearns said he generally falls through on his New Year-resolutions, he said keeping up is easier with a partner. “I think (New Year’s resolutions are) stupid because I always set one to do something great with my life and nothing ever happens,” he said, laughing. “This one I actually have someone else doing it with me so it’s a lot easier.”

Kearns will depart for his basic Army training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina on Feb. 14. Following basic training, he will attend his as-yet undecided specialized job training in Fort Sill, Oklahoma before returning to CMU for the fall 2011 semester. Kearns said when he leaves for basic training it will be a lot easier to keep going with his work-out routine. “There’s definitely no way I’m going to get out of working out with them,” he said. In addition to adding frequent exercise to his weight loss regimen, Kearns also has cut back on his alcohol consumption. Sgt. 1st Class John Claybaugh, National Guard Liaison, watched Kearns progress through January. “I’ve worked with Brent for the last 12 months,” he said. “He’s very diligent. He’s a hard worker.” Claybaugh said Kearns’ positive attitude and commitment to the National Guard will help him finish out his resolution before his Army departure. studentlife@cm-life.com

Academy Awards deliberations in brief By Garrett Tanner Staff Reviewer

A fictional conversation between two Academy members about to vote for their nominations: “Well, we should probably screw this up yet again, right?” “Of course, why would we make this a completely logical competition?” “I do not know. Alright, so let’s start with Best Actor. We should probably nominate Jesse Eisenberg, right?” “Seeing as how he did absolutely nothing different than any other role, we definitely should. I mean he played Mark Zuckerberg, that has to mean something.” “As for Best Supporting Actor we should not even bother nominating Andrew Garfield? There would not be a reason since it is obviously going to Christian Bale.” “Of course, Garfield only car-

ried ‘The Social Network,’ so it would not make any sense to recognize that.” “Now for Best Effects, I like that we are giving recognition to ‘Inception,’ ‘Iron Man 2’ and ‘Harry Potter’ but we should make sure not to give any nominations to ‘Scott Pilgrim,’ which was pulled off very well.” “Leave ‘Tron: Legacy’ out as well. The effects were amazing, but it is probably more important to throw in things like ‘Hereafter.’” “Best Score is really difficult. There were some fantastic scores out there this year. We need to destroy the chances of a couple of them based on some really idiotic criteria.” “I know, we can say if any of your music is written previously you are not eligible. That way we can make sure ‘True Grit’ and ‘Black Swan’ are not even allowed to compete no matter how well-done their music was.”

“Now, we are allowing ‘Inception’ to be nominated for a couple things but we better not let it in for Editing or Direction. Granted, it deserves the nominations far more than films like ‘The Social Network,’ but that film truly defined this generation.” “It didn’t really define a generation at all as much as it just shined a light on a select group of people, but since people so desperately want something to define this generation I suppose we can go with that.” “Finally, we come to the Best Picture nominations. It sure is a good thing that we have 10 nominations these days. Seeing as how in the 82 years this award ceremony has been going there have been three times a movie has won Best Picture when not nominated for Best Director, it is entirely likely that it will happen again.” studentlife@cm-life.com

When parents end play time, it should be because it’s time for school or a nap — not because it has become dangerous. According to reports by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the median number of toy recalls is 33 per year since 2000. Choking hazards, burning hazards and high levels of lead paint are three reasons many toys are recalled. Toy safety Tierney Popp, assistant professor in human development and family studies at CMU, said one of the best ways for parents to avoid buying dangerous toys is to make sure the toy is developmentally appropriate and safe. “If the toy is not developmentally appropriate, if it’s requiring a child to do more than they’re capable of,” she said, “that can be unsafe.” Popp said giving small pieces to young children is a major safety concern and consumers should be wary of complicated toys that come with many small pieces. CPSC spokeswoman Patty Davis said every toy recall issued is listed on the CPSC’s website, www. cps.gov. Barnes Residence Hall Director Luanne Goeffnet said she relies fully on the media to hear about recalls placed on toys. “I read a newspaper every day, so I count on the media to kind of alert me on some of the (recalls,)” she said. Goeffnet, who has six children ages 10 through 16, said she often looks at recommendations from parenting magazines and various websites before buying toys. “Most of the toys that we have in our home are plastic,” Goeffnet said. “I’m a little wary of materials, (such as) toys with different paintings. I will pay more attention to the painting process because of the lead paint that’s come off so much.” Davis said the highest number of toy recalls occured between 2007 and 2008.

In 2006, CPSC issued recalls for 38 toys. That number jumped to 82 in 2007 and 66 in 2008 before declining to 32 recalls in 2009. Davis said the reason for the increase in recalls was attributed to a high concentration of lead paint used in toys during that time period. She said that since the recalls, a new law has been put in place regarding the amount of lead a children’s product can contain. “We know that lead can build up in a child’s blood-

stream and be dangerous,” she said. “We are very mindful of that.” Signed into effect in August 2008, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act dramatically brought down the levels of lead allowed in children’s products, as well as putting other safety restrictions on products aimed at children. “The United States has the best laws in the world when it comes to keeping children safe,” Davis said. studentlife@cm-life.com

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4B || Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 || Central Michigan Life

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[VIBE]

video game review

music review

‘LittleBigPlanet 2’ makes creation fun

Front of Resistance kicks up efforts

By Brad Canze News Copy Chief

“LittleBigPlanet 2” could spark a revolution in video games. Whenever a game’s creators claim it will “revolutionize the platforming genre,” which likely peaked in 1990 with “Super Mario Bros. 3,” cynicism should be applied. “LittleBigPlanet,” released in 2008 from developer Media Molecule, took rock-solid platforming gameplay, added in physics-based puzzles and massive customizability options and came as close to that high-water mark as any other game has. Its sequel, however, does not try to one-up the first game or any other platformer. “LBP 2” is on an entirely different level. The story mode in “LittleBigPlanet” was more like a warmup for creating custom levels and playing the levels others created. While that rings true for the second game, it is clear from the 50 story-mode levels that things here are different. Though tra-

ditional platforming gameplay of traversing obstacles from the left side of the level to the right is there, the gameplay is blown wide open. The player will pilot vehicles, solve puzzles and play everything from side-scrolling space-shooters to racing games. Unlike most titles that take the kitchen-sink approach to gameplay, “LBP2” does everything well, and the game is never not fun. And that is only the beginning. The game’s creation features are where it opens up and becomes something special. The first “LittleBigPlanet’s” customization feature allowed the players to create platforming levels. “LBP2” allows players to create entire games — sports games, racers, even role-playing games. There are so many tools and options available that the possibilities are quite literally endless. The player can customize the rules, game mechanics, and even the heads-up display. The impressive part is that it never seems overwhelming — the tools used to create levels and

LittleBigPlanet 2

By Jay Gary Staff Reviewer

w PS3 w Rating: E for Everyone w Online/offline cooperative multiplayer

The steps necessary to go from a bunch of kids in a garage to a band that can draw and keep crowds are challenging and many. Groups need to have a fantastic sound, memorable songwriting and a demanding live presence just to be noticed. Ann Arbor-based Front of Resistance has shown they have what it takes to secure their place in Michigan’s music scene. Front of Resistance’s new EP “Leave Me a Note” greatly improves on their previous fulllength, “Reclaim Your Mind.” While “Reclaim” suffered greatly from amateurish presentation and songwriting inexperience, Front of Resistance has shattered expectations with a fresh new musical formula. The EP starts off with the extremely catchy “Before You Go” and it beautifully showcases the improvements the band has made. Their sound is fuller and is able to better encompass their combination of indie, rock and punk. It goes from synth-

HHHHH games are accessible and easy to use. Of course, creating more complex games can be involving and time-consuming. However, the most rewarding part is taking your creation online, sharing and playing it with others. This game changes, on a fundamental level, the nature of the relationship between a video game and its players. “LittleBigPlanet 2” is both a top-tier game and one of the most powerful and user-friendly game creation tools ever released on consoles. Packed full of cleverness and charm, it is impossible not to love. It is like an adorable puppy — if that puppy was able to do trigonometry. studentlife@cmich.edu

CHIPPEWA

ALUMNI

greenBAY

laden indie rock to hard-hitting breakdowns without sounding jarring or out of place. The rest of the EP is able to maintain this level of quality with amazingly well written tunes like “Just Think Enough” and “There Will Come a Time” as the listener is exposed to more addictive songwriting and lyrics that compel you to sing along. The vocal harmonies in “There Will Come a Time” deserve extra credit for being particularly impressive. “Leave Me a Note” ends the EP on the highest note as “They Will Buy All Your Lies” is debatably the best track on the album. The song is able to display how far Front of Resistance has come and is one of the best numbers they have written. The band’s improvements are across the board but most noticeably in the vocal area. Ron Corte O’Brien’s vocal harmonies are much tighter and impressive while both Aubrey Franklin’s soft backing vocals and Justin Boothe’s fierce delivery have improved greatly. All of the songs present use fantastic multi-vocal layering

‘Leave Me a Note’ by Front Of Resistance

HHHH

and “They Will Buy All Your Lies” in particular exhibits wellexecuted call-and-response vocal technique. The most improved aspect is Franklin. Her keyboards and her vocals add a great amount of style and texture to the songs. Previously she was one of the more superfluous members of the band, but she has since stepped up and become one of the more important with her keyboard helping to drive many of the songs. “Leave Me a Note” is a little rough around the edges but what it presents is a gigantic leap forward for the band. With their greatly evolved indie/ pop-punk sound don’t be surprised if you find yourself listening to this EP on repeat. studentlife@cm-life.com

Who Are You

Josh Gordy • Cullen Jenkins • Frank Zombo

cm-life.com/category/sports

super bowl

Record crowd expected for game 105,000 to fill Cowboys Stadium for SB XLV By Andrea Ahles MCT Campus

Three decks of temporary seats rise high above both end zones, obliterating all traces of Jerry Jones’ beloved standingroom areas. The red, white and blue NFL logo has replaced the iconic blue star at midfield, and the end zones scream “Packers” and “Steelers.” Spotlights, wiring and cables for the halftime show starring the Black Eyed Peas ring the Hall of Fame level and hang from the massive video board. Cowboys Stadium is almost ready for company, and it’s a good thing, because a record 105,000 visitors are expected Sunday when four years of planning culminates with the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Green Bay Packers in Super

Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 || 5B

[sports]

Bowl XLV. The NFL confirmed last week what has been apparent since the announcement that fans in a Plaza Party area outside Cowboys Stadium would be included in the attendance: North Texas’ first Super Bowl will be a record-setter. The Super Bowl attendance record was set in 1980, when 103,985 packed the Rose Bowl. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the projected 105,000 figure includes about 95,000 tickets for fans in the stands, roughly 5,000 in the Plaza Party area outside and another 5,000 staff and media members. Bill McConnell, the NFL’s director of event operations, said about 500 standing-room tickets will also be sold, allowing fans to watch the game from the platforms off the end zone stairwells. The Dallas Cowboys made their allotment of Plaza Party tickets available to season-ticket holders, who were required to buy four, at $200 each.

They have all sold, team spokesman Brett Daniels said. During a tour, McConnell described the stadium as the league’s best and answered “absolutely” when asked if he thought North Texas would get another Super Bowl. He said crews are working around the clock. “To make everything work, we’re taking advantage of every hour of the day, and as we get closer, it will get more intense,” McConnell said About 15,000 temporary seats are being built, including on risers along the main concourse. Some of the new seats have an obstructed view of the field or of the massive video board that hangs above midfield. The NFL is still determining which obstructed-view seats to sell, McConnell said. The stadium is already in the record books: for attendance at an NFL regular-season game, at 105,121; and for basketball, with 108,713 at the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.

Security five years in the making By Don Walker MCT Campus

DALLAS — Thousands of federal, state, local and private workers will provide security at the Super Bowl on Sunday for a crowd expected to reach 105,000 people, the vast majority of whom have never been in the stadium before. The nation’s most popular sporting event will have a security force to match the size of the event, several top lawenforcement officials, including Janet Napolitano, secretary to the Department of Homeland Security, said Monday. In federal security parlance, the Super Bowl is a Level 1 national security event, which means officers from an array of federal agencies, including Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will provide support and manpower. Supplementing the federal support are state and local law-enforcement groups, as well as more than 3,000 pri-

CHEERING FOR?

vate-security officers hired by the National Football League. “We want to assure the public that they will be safe,” added Milt Ahlerich, the NFL’s vice president of security. Security planning for the game began five years ago, according to Theron Bowman, the chief of police in Arlington, Texas, where Cowboys Stadium is located. “We have planned extensively,” Bowman said. “We are prepared. And we are executing this plan. We believe it will be the safest and best Super Bowl yet.” One logistical challenge the NFL and security officials face is that 80 percent of the fans entering the stadium are from out of town and have never set foot in the facility. And there are expectations that the NFL may set a Super Bowl attendance record for the game, which means a lot of people have to go through a lot of security. Ahlerich said as much Monday when he met with reporters, adding that there will be more than 100,000 people at the game.

Another NFL official said the league was still finalizing auxiliary media seating and security and camera positions. So far, the NFL expects to sell roughly 100,000 tickets — about 95,000 fans in the stands and 5,000 in the Party Plaza area. Throw in an additional 5,000 staff and media, and the crowd could reach 105,000. The Super Bowl attendance record was set in 1980 for Super Bowl XIV, when 103,985 fans showed up at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. In that game, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams, 31-19. “We recommend that fans travel early to the game and carry only minimal items,” Ahlerich said. As an example, fans will not be able to bring camera or binocular cases. And no spectator cameras with lenses longer than 6 inches will be permitted. Camcorders also are not allowed. Fans will go through a scanning device and will be subject to a patdown. All items will be X-rayed.

CHIPPEWA

ALUMNI

Antonio Brown

PITTSBURGH

6B || Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 || Central Michigan Life

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[BASKETBALL]

Men tasked with slowing OU’s Cooper By Andrew Stover Senior Reporter

Check cm-life.com Wednesday for updates on the status of the game.

file photo by paige calamari

CMU sophomore guard Brandie Baker is averaging 13.4 points per game this season.

Women begin crucial stretch CMU kicks off final eight games with two on road By John Evans Senior Reporter

It comes down to the final eight-game stretch of the season. With three of their next four games on the road, the CMU women’s basketball team currently sits two games out of first place in the Mid-American Conference West Division. At 7 p.m. today in Oxford, Ohio, the Chippewas take on Miami (OH) in a crucial conference road game. “I’m only one game at a time. Here we go, this is nothing new,” said head coach Sue Guevara. “At this point it (the standings) doesn’t matter. Our defense is going to be even more important.” The Chippewas (13-7 overall, 5-3 Mid-American Conference) left Mount Pleasant Tuesday afternoon and will be staying in Ohio throughout the week, with a game against the Ohio Bobcats looming on Saturday. This extended road trip has been planned for months and

has nothing to do with Wednesday’s snowstorm. Both trips are long drives that would have created unnecessary travel for the team. The RedHawks (10-11, 2-6 MAC) are currently on a fourgame losing streak, with their last win on Jan. 15 at Akron. Before then, they also knocked off a Buffalo team that CMU suffered a loss against last week. “What you just said right there, they beat Buffalo and Buffalo beat us,” Guevara said. “We are waiting for all the cylinders to be working so this engine is efficient and strong, puts the ball in hole and plays defense.” The Chippewas lead the MAC in scoring and have two of the conference’s rising stars. Freshmen Niki DiGuilio and Taylor Johnson are two of the top scorers in the league and Johnson is one of the freshman leaders in rebounding as well. DiGuilio is averaging more than 11 points per game but has scored just 19 points over the last four games. After a school record nine straight road games to start the season, the Chippewas senior leading scorer Kaihla Szunko (16.5 points per game) said that has prepared the team for the 2-game roadtrip.

CMU vs. Miami Tipoff: 7 p.m., Millett Hall Oxford, Ohio

TV/Radio: None/91.5 WMHW-FM

Last meeting: CMU 96-86 win, Jan. 30, 2010 “I think those tournaments helped us not only being on the road but being away for a longer time,” Szunko said. “We have a long trip but everyone will be prepared. We can’t allow open looks and just play team defense.” The RedHawks are led by sophomore guard Courtney Osborn, who averages 16.5 points per game. Sophomore forward Kirsten Olowinki averages a double-double with 11.4 points and 11.1 rebounds TV addition CMU’s Feb. 19 game against Western Michigan at McGuirk Arena has been picked up for TV on SportsTime Ohio. Tipoff is scheduled for noon. sports@cm-life.com

Less is more when defending Ohio’s D.J. Cooper. Of course, he has to be guarded — and tightly, at that. The sophomore point guard is the Bobcats’ leading scorer by a wide margin with 17.0 points per game coming into the Ohio-Central Michigan men’s basketball game, 7:30 tonight at McGuirk Arena. But don’t double-team him, not often at least. Don’t help out when he drives the lane, the 5-foot-11, 195-pounder will burn you. In 21 games this season, Cooper leads the Mid-American Conference with 7.76 assists per game. More impressive, his total of 163 assists falls just three shy of CMU’s team total of 166. “He has such great vision, he finds guys as soon as he thinks you’re helping off someone,” said CMU coach Ernie Zeigler, after touting Cooper as arguably the conference’s best player. “The challenge is going to be being able to play one-on-one defense.” When he’s not scoring, Cooper is finding the open man. On Jan. 12 against Akron, Cooper’s 15-assist game led the Bobcats to a 79-70 win. “He creates offense for them at such a high volume,” Zeigler said. When he dishes it off, he seems to find the right person. Ohio has two players who shoot better than 45 percent from 3-point range; senior forward Tommy Freeman (45.5 percent) and freshman guard Nick Kellogg (team-high 49.4 percent). Then, there’s DeVaughn Washington. The 6-8, 225pound senior forward averages 11.7 points per game — second on the team to Cooper — and 5.0 rebounds per game. He led the team and scored 24 in

file photo by jake may

Freshman forward Derek Jackson will be tasked with guarding D.J. Cooper today.

last season’s 89-76 win against CMU. But it all starts with Cooper, who scored 19 against the Chippewas last year. New starter Derek Jackson, CMU’s freshman guard, will get first dibs on stopping the point guard. “Derek will probably get first shot at it. ... If you end up having to pick him up in transition, everybody that plays on the perimeter for us will have that challenge at some time during the night,” he said. Jackson, who has started the past two games since the departure of senior point guard Amir Rashid, called it “just another game.” Jackson led all CMU scorers with 11 points in Sunday’s 63-43 loss to Akron. Zeigler has called him the team’s best onthe-ball defender. The freshman said he thinks breaking into the starting lineup was past due. “I’ve been ready for it the whole season. I just didn’t get an opportunity,” he said. “I just

want to show coach that I could be starting — I’m a good starter — and I can bring a lot of energy to the starting lineup.” The 34 minutes he logged in Sunday’s loss was second on the team to freshman guard Trey Zeigler, who played 35. With Jackson entering the starting lineup, Trey Zeigler has seen more time at point guard bringing the ball up the floor. In his two games in the new role, Zeigler has struggled from the field, shooting a combined 10-for-34 (29.4 percent), despite scoring 27 points. “It’s definitely something we’ve talked about today during the film session is him understanding the balance of when he’s running the offense and aggressively looking for his shot and maybe rushing or putting himself in a position where he’s forcing or taking bad shots,” Ernie Zeigler said. sports@cm-life.com

cm-life.com/category/spotrs

Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 || 7B

[sports]

Social media, new NCAA rules and pressure to commit changes recruiting By Christy Cabrera Chirinos and Charles King MCT Campus

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; College football fans across the country are trying to make sense of last-minute developments that could determine their teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future success. From social media to new scholarship guidelines, even the most knowledgeable athletes, coaches and parents can be overwhelmed by changes in the recruiting process. Here, we take a look at some new issues and examine how theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve affected one of the biggest days in both college and high school athletics. How has social media impacted the recruiting process? Today, most high school football players have Facebook or Twitter accounts. Needless to say, many are using social networking sites during the recruit-

Online 24/7!

ing process to update their status and interests. The NCAA is paying attention and has implemented rules about how much contact prospects and college coaches can have on the sites, and high school coaches are careful to warn their players about being responsible online. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything is so open, and everyone has access to what you say,â&#x20AC;? said Fort Lauderdale Dillard defensive back Wayne Lyons, a Stanford commitment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had to monitor what I say, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been positive because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been able to see what the community and fans are thinking.â&#x20AC;? Have recruits re-evaluated what it means to make a verbal commitment? When Blanche Ely coach Rodney Gray was recruited, players viewed making verbal commitments pretty seriously. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not always the case now. Each year, plenty of committed players waver as National

Signing Day approaches. Some rushed into decisions, others received late offers and Gray, of Pompano Beach, worries that sometimes, athletes commit to coaches _ not programs. But many recruits say they try to stick to their word. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saying I was committed meant I was going there,â&#x20AC;? said Nova defensive lineman Nile Lawrence-Stample, who committed to FSU last February. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No one was going to change that.â&#x20AC;? Top-notch high profile recruits can often escape pressure and take their time in the recruiting process as colleges try to be patient in hopes of earning those playersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; commitments. Sometimes that patience extends past National Signing Day as some athletes opt to weigh their options even longer. But others learn early on theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not the only player at their respective position a college is targeting and that does turn the pressure up, especially

during summer camps and combines. Some say committing early is one way to secure a scholarship while still evaluating all of their options. How do longtime high school coaches feel about the way their players view the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;commitmentâ&#x20AC;?? Most veteran coaches arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fans of the terms â&#x20AC;&#x153;soft commitmentâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;solid verbal.â&#x20AC;? While recruiting fans may use those terms to describe how strong a playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment is to a particular program, longtime high school coaches say a commitment should be just that â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a commitment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like the kids to take all their trips, but if they fall in love with a place and commit, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to cancel the rest of your visits,â&#x20AC;? South Broward coach Allen Held said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a reflection on you, your family and your school. If there are coaching changes, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s different. But if nothing

changes, honor your word.â&#x20AC;? Has the growing trend of early enrollment dampened the excitement of National Signing Day? Hardly. Sure, some prospects such as Oviedo Hagertyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jeff Driskel (Florida) and Plantationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ryan Shazier (Ohio State) are already in college and preparing for spring practice. But Wednesday should still include a few surprises and plenty of college coaches waiting for those National Letters of Intent to arrive. That said, Signing Day will be bittersweet for Boynton Beach coach Rick Swain. The programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first majorcollege prospect, defensive lineman John Harris, is already enrolled at Mississippi State. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I joked weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have to fly him back for Signing Day,â&#x20AC;? Swain said. Is NCAA monitoring offers from colleges?

Previously, a football prospect could receive a written scholarship offer on Sept. 1 of his junior year, but that rule has changed. The new rule, which went into effect Aug. 1, states a prospect cannot be given a written offer until Aug. 1 of his senior season. The change was made to reduce the pressure on juniors to make decisions before they have the opportunity to take official visits. But under this new rule, colleges are extending verbal offers without any paper trail of accountability. A growing constellation of websites attach three-, fouror five-star ratings to players. Colleges may learn about a prospect from these ratings while fans use them to gauge a schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recruiting success. Now, more than ever, these lists influence the perception of fans, college coaches and even the players.

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WE ARE PLEDGED to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

WESTERN ISLANDS 4 Bedroom - 2 1/2 Bath - Next to La Senorita

Sign a 4-5 Bedroom, get $100 in Flex each!

SPRING SEMESTER LEASES FREE INTERNET & CABLE

WALK TO CLASS

Visit myucard.net to see discounts our tenants receive at area businesses.

775-5522 - LiveWithUnited.com

Visit myucard.net to see discounts our tenants receive at area businesses.

We Melt the Blues Away, Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Always AďŹ&#x20AC;ordable at

FREE INTERNET & CABLE

772-2436 - LiveWithUnited.com

Now Leasing for Fall 2011 Free Limited Golf Membership! with signed lease until 2/11/11

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have all your Roommates? Bedroom Leases Available! (Limited Time Only)

RBORETUM

1825 LIBERTY DR. APT. 104 MT. PLEASANT (Off Broomfield, on Lincoln Rd. (989)775-3200

partment Homes

WWW.ARBORETUMAPARTMENTHOMES.COM

@ SUDOKU

SUDOKU GUIDELINES: To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. The more numbers you can figure out, the easier it gets to solve!

@FOR RENT

www.cm-life.com 989-774-3493

JAMESTOWN 2 Person 2 Bed - 3 Person 3 Bed - 5 Person 5 Bed

@FOR RENT

Ask About the Tallgrass Promise!

NO SECURITY DEPOSIT DOWN Lexington Ridge 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 Bedrooms

Rent starting at $245/mo.

FREE NEW

UĂ&#x160;Â?>Ă&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x17E; UĂ&#x160;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2C6;}Â&#x2026;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x192;ÂŤii`Ă&#x160;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;iĂ&#x20AC;Â&#x2DC;iĂ&#x152; UĂ&#x160;iĂ?ÂŤ>Â&#x2DC;`i`Ă&#x160;V>LÂ?i UĂ&#x160;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2026;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x152;Â?iĂ&#x160;Ă&#x192;iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x203A;Â&#x2C6;ViĂ&#x160;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;V>Â&#x201C;ÂŤĂ&#x2022;Ă&#x192; UĂ&#x160;L>Ă&#x192;Â&#x17D;iĂ&#x152;L>Â?Â?Ă&#x160;VÂ&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x152; UĂ&#x160;Ă&#x192;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160;Ă&#x203A;Â&#x153;Â?Â?iĂ&#x17E;L>Â?Â?Ă&#x160;VÂ&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x152;

773-3890

3700 E. Deerfield Rd lexingtonridgeapts.com

Reserve your Apartment Today! www.tallgrassapts.com 779-7900 â&#x20AC;˘ 1240 E BroomďŹ eld St. M-Th: 9-6, Fri 9-5, Sat 11-3

FREE FRIDAYS! Sign a NEW Lease ANY FRIDAY and Receive

PRESENTED BY:

0/0 ..*$()*+

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We accept the following credit cards: Ask our Classified Sales Representatives about our special services

FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE

Application Application Fee Fee Large Large Pizza Pizza Firehouse Firehouse Carwash Carwash Internet Internet Expanded Expanded Cable Cable $25 $25 Meijer Meijer Gift Gift Card Card

UĂ&#x160; iiĂ&#x20AC;wiÂ?`Ă&#x160;6Â&#x2C6;Â?Â?>}iĂ&#x160; UĂ&#x160;-Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;*Â&#x153;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;6Â&#x2C6;Â?Â?>}i UĂ&#x160;7iĂ&#x192;Ă&#x152;iĂ&#x20AC;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x192;Â?>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x192; UĂ&#x160; >Â&#x201C;iĂ&#x192;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x160;

[ ACCEPTANCE & CANCELLATION ]

CM Life will not knowingly accept advertising which reflects discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, and CM Life reserves the right to reject or discontinue, without notice, advertising which is in the opinion of the Student Media Board, is not in keeping with the standards of CM Life. CM Life will be responsible for typographical errors only to the extent of cancelling the charge for the space used and rendered valueless by such an error. Credit for such an error is limited to only the first date of publication. Any credit due can be picked up at the CM Life office within 30 days of termination of the ad. If you find an error, report it to the Classified Dept. immediately. We are only responsible for the first dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s insertion.

REACH MORE THAN 32,000 READERS EACH PUBLISHING DAY!

UĂ&#x160;1Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;-ÂľĂ&#x2022;>Ă&#x20AC;i

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772-2222 LiveWithUnited.com ALWAYS OPEN AT WWW.CM-LIFE.COM/CLASSIFIEDS

@marketplace

8B || Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 || Central Michigan Life

Online 24/7!

www.cm-life.com

classified

www.cm-life.com /classifieds

436 MOORE HALL, CMU

PHONE: 989•774•3493 FAX: 989•774•7805

where people connect.

@for rent

@help wanted

@FOR RENT

@help wanted

@FOR RENT

DEERFIELD VILLAGE 2 Person 2 Bed - 4 Person 4 Bed - 5 Person 5 Bed Sign a 4-5 Bedroom, get $100 in Flex each!

FREE IntERnEt CABLE & ShUttLE

UNION SQUARE

1 or 2 Person-2 Bedroom

Visit myucard.net to see discounts our tenants receive at area businesses.

SPRING SEMESTER LEASES AVAILABLE

773-9999 - LiveWithUnited.com

NO SECURITY DEPOSIT DOWN

FREE SHUTTLE INTERNET & CABLE Visit myucard.net to see discounts our tenants receive at area businesses.

772-2222 - LiveWithUnited.com

WESTPOINT VILLAGE cAsA loMA 2 Person 2 Bed - 2 Master Bath 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 Bedrooms BRAND NEW wAlk to clAss! @

WANTED TO RENT

275

FREE INTERNET & CABLE

779-9999 - LiveWithUnited.com Want a Stress Free...

@help wanted

Furnished or Unfurnished Apartments & Townhouses NEW Furniture!

Visit myucard.net to see discounts our tenants receive at area businesses.

per month

SPRING BREAK?

• high speed internet • expanded cable • full-sized washer and dryer • no parking permits required

FREE

773-3890 AMGhousing.com

• • • •

Indoor Heated Pool Pets allowed all UtIlItIes InclUded! Free electrIc, Gas, Heat, a/c, water & sewer and trasH

Get Experience with the

Best!

3300 east deerFIeld road • 773-3300

Now accepting Advertising Representative applications for the 2011-2012 school year Application available at 425 Moore Hall or visit cm-life.com For more information call (989) 774-6682

SIGN A

5 OR 6 BEDROOM AT

Lexington Ridge AND EACH PERSON WILL RECEIVE A

GET CARDED AT THE VILLAGE AT BLUEGRASS

CRUISE FOR 2!

Sign a Lease and Enter to Win a $150 Visa Gift Card & an Apple iPad! Pay $0 move-in fees on select floor plans! • Four Drawings: Saturday, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 • The earlier you sign your lease the more chances you have to win! • Prize is valid on 12-month 2011-12 leases • Both new residents and current residents can win! • Apple iPad drawing is Saturday, Feb. 26 Visit villageatbluegrass.com or our our on site sales office to learn more.

989-775-7600

4300 Collegiate Way Mount Pleasant, MI 48858

We accept the following credit cards: Ask our Classified Sales Representatives about our special services

[ Acceptance & Cancellation ]

REACH MORE THAN 32,000 READERS EACH PUBLISHING DAY!

ASK ABOUT IT!

773-3890 ALWAYS OPEN AT WWW.CM-LIFE.COM/CLASSIFIEDS