Feb. 24, 2010

Are parking ticket officers the bad guys? 1B

Rachel Mauk gains confidence on the court, 6A

Central Michigan Life

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

[cm-life.com]

p r e s i d e n t w i l b u r : ‘ i was e x p ec t i n g m o r e q u e st i o n s’

Budget discussion ends with uncertainty Smith: $595,000 for one-time raises ‘just sitting there’

By Sarah Schuch Senior Reporter

Brighton freshman Colleen McNeely left Tuesday’s budget forum with concerns on her mind.

“They presented some data that worried me of the future of this university,” she said.

The Bovee University Auditorium discussion touched on topics concerning the structure of Central Michigan University’s budget, reduction suggestions and ways to

prevent faculty layoffs.

The auditorium was more than 75 percent full, including several students.

After a presentation from the panel, the floor opened for questions. Three questions were posed.

“I was expecting more questions,” said interim University President Kathy Wilbur. “I don’t think we should pat ourselves on the back for clearing everything up.”

The panel consisted of Wilbur; Interim Provost Gary Shapiro; David Burdette, vice president of Finance and Administration Services; and Toby Roth, director of Government Relations and Public Affairs.

The Senior Staff Budget

Advisory Group planned four maMiss the budget jor categories for forum? budget reductions, totaling more than $2.1 million. w Watch it here: The first was tinyurl.com/cmubudgetarchive $595,000 held in a pool that has gone unused for years.

The money was desig- project but, since this is the nated for senior officers, project’s last year, funding professional and adminis- was cut, Shapiro said.

The third suggestion was trative employees to have a to cut $600,000 in deferred one-time raise.

“The money was just maintenance, with the last sitting there,” said Steve category being a $435,000 Smith, director of Public reduction in liability reductions.

Relations.

“That is $2.1 million of The second category was a $500,000 cut from university savings,” Burthe CMU 2010 Vision Plan dette said. “We think that’s funding. Usually, $1 million is spent each year on the A Budget | 2A

jeff smith/staff photographer

David Burdette, vice president of Finance and Administration Services, talks about Central Michigan University’s total expenditures for 2009-10 at the budget forum Tuesday in the Bovee University Center Auditorium.

Scheduling books cease production Fall registration moving completely to CMU Portal

By Alex Washington Staff Reporter

Central Michigan University will move the registration process completely online.

The Summer 2010 class schedule booklets, already published and distributed, are the last hard copy schedule books, said Registrar Karen Hutslar.

She said the Registrar’s Office has considered making the change for a while and reached an official decision

photos by libby march/staff photographer

Rosie Switras, a high school friend of hearing impared rapper Sean Forbes, performs to music during the Deaf Professional Artists Network’s presentation Tuesday in Plachta Auditorium.

Feelin’ the beat Concert for hearing impared brings 500

M

usic is a universal language, and Sean Forbes has found a way to reach even the hearing

impaired.

Forbes, 28, is a co-founder of Deaf Professional Artists Network. The network hosted a concert Tuesday night in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium, together with Central Michigan University’s branch of the American Sign Language Society.

About 500 students and members of the hearing impaired community attended and watched a presentation by Forbes, several of his music videos and a live musical signing performance.

“It’s a place where deaf artists can come together and show their works amongst each other,” said Forbes, a Farmington Hills native.

Forbes showed several of D-PAN’s music videos,

Sean Forbes, a hearing impared artist and founder of the Deaf Professional Artists Network, uses sign language to speak about his passion for music and desire to share it with the deaf community Tuesday in Plachta Auditorium.

which took popular songs and re-imagined them with an emphasis on sign language and issues relevant to the hearing impaired community.

One video featured Forbes signing emphatically in a similar setting to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” music video and another interpreted “Waiting on the World to Change” by John Mayer.

“John Mayer loved this video, and he was very ac-

cm-life.com See the Web site for a video from Tuesday’s concert. cepting of it,” Forbes said during the presentation.

Later, he introduced his high school friend Rosie Switras, who is active in ASL music.

She got on stage to sign the lyrics and dance along to “Drops of Jupiter” by Train, with a strong bass

beat and colorful visualizer behind her.

“You’ll be able to not only hear the music, but see it and feel it,” said Illinois senior and ASLS President Mallorie Ceisel.

Kevin Cramer, ASLS adviser and temporary faculty for ASL, said University Events had recently installed new subwoofers in the auditorium which would literally let students A deaf | 2A

Small cut The university will save about $20,000, said Interim Provost Gary Shapiro. He said the decision is not affected by recent university budget cuts.

“There’s some minor budget saving — it doesn’t really

A books | 2A

college of medicine

Candidate says project lacks vision Associate hopefuls want dean in place before committing

By Maryellen Tighe Senior Reporter and Lonnie Allen and Brad Ivey Staff Reporters

By Connor Sheridan | Senior Reporter

last week.

“We’re finding fewer students are picking up hard copies of the class schedule, and many are heading straight to the Portal to register for courses,” Hutslar said.

“We think the changes will be better for the students’ needs — and the environment.”

The College of Medicine project lacks vision and clarification, said the final candidate for associate dean of student affairs Monday.

Mala Chinoy, the last of three candidates to hold a forum for an associate dean position, spoke that day at Central Michigan University.

Among her top concerns was the lack of clarification with how the College of

Medicine will coexist with other colleges on campus.

“Overall vision has to be very clear as to how it is going to be implemented and who is going to do what,” said Chinoy, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and professor of pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa. “The big picture is not yet communicated.

Other faculty have to be informed.”

She said the university lacks a vision for the College of Medicine because a dean is not yet in place — a position Interim Dean Cam Enarson turned down last month for personal reasons.

Discussion at Chinoy’s

A medicine | 2A

[inside] OBITUARY Jim Wieghart, former journalism department chair, had ‘passion,’ 3A SHUTTER ISLAND Latest Martin Scorsese film lives up to expectations, 1B

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MEN’S BASKETBALL Team feeling sense of urgency as it faces NIU, 6A WEATHER High 34/ Low 17 Snow Showers

2A || Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010 || Central Michigan Life

EVENTS CALENDAR today

w The American Red Cross hosts a blood drive from noon to 5:45 p.m. in the Emmons Hall Lobby. w English department faculty members Matt Roberson and Robert Fanning will read fiction and poetry from 8 to 9 p.m. in the Charles V. Park Library Auditorium.

Thursday

w The American Red Cross hosts a blood drive from noon to 5:45 p.m. in the Bovee University Center Terrace Rooms. w Delta Phi Epsilon hosts a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m. at the sorority’s 910 S. Washington St. home. Proceeds will benefit the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.

Tickets are $4 in advance and $5 at the door. w NOVA’s three-part special, “Becoming Human,” will play from 7 to 10 p.m. in Anspach Hall 156.

The screening is hosted by the Non-Religious, Atheist, Free Thinker and Agnostic Alliance and examines scientific research of biological ancestors. w “The Last King of Scotland,” a movie about a Scottish doctor visiting Uganda, will play from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Wesley Foundation, 1400 S. Washington St. w Professor of Music Adrienne Wiley plays piano from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at the Music Building’s Staples Family Concert Hall. w Comedian Lachlan Patterson performs at 8 p.m. in the Bovee University Center Rotunda room.

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 2010 Volume 91, Number 61

deaf | continued from 1A

feel the music.

The event cost roughly $2,500 to assemble, he said.

Cramer said events like these provide a gathering place for the hearing impaired community.

“This is kind of like going home,” he said.

Forbes has worked with several musicians, particularly in the Detroit region, including Eminem.

He got started in the music industry when he debuted some of his music videos signing the rapper’s songs for Eminem.

“When the first song finished, Eminem looked at me and said, ‘Deaf people like music?’” Forbes said during the presentation.

CMU’s ASL program has boomed in Kramer’s ten years with it to 32 classes this semester from six.

Many students in attendance were enrolled in ASL courses, including Flushing freshman Brandon Hilsabeck.

He is planning on going into special education and said he was impressed by

cm-life.com

Festival of Banners coming to CMU Winn, Shepherd also displaying locally painted flags this summer

on banners throughout downtown Mount Pleasant.

Last year, there were about 160 banners.

The communities of Shepherd and Winn also will have locally created banners hanging this summer for the first time.

“When we first talked about it, we knew we wanted it to be a county project,” said Kathy Hill, executive director of Art Reach of Mid Michigan, which co-sponsors the banners with the Isabella County Vision 20/20 committee. “We contacted Beal City, but they didn’t have the brackets (for the banners).”

This summer, Hill said she aims for 260 with the theme “Color our County.” Shepherd and Winn each will have 30 banners hanging.

The deadline for designing a banner is March 8.

Applicants can download an entry form at Art Reach’s

By David Veselenak Online Editor

Central Michigan University will participate in the Festival of Banners this summer.

The University has 30 banners planned, including 10 on Preston Street, 10 on East Campus Drive and 10 on West Campus Drive.

“If something has a CMU theme, they’ll try and put it on campus,” said Megan Moreno, coordinator of exhibits and projects at Charles V. Park Library.

The Festival of Banners began last summer and features local artists and schoolchildren’s artwork painted

medicine | continued from 1A

forum included topics such as incentives future medical students would have to stay in northern Michigan, residency programs and scholarships. But Chinoy did not want to get into specifics.

“It depends on what the university wants and what the College of Medicine wants,” she said. “I do have thoughts, but all of these need to be communicated by the dean first.”

Robert Satonik, associate director of residency at Synergy Medical Education Alliance in Saginaw and temporary faculty for the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions, and Stephen Peterson, associate professor of Community Health and assistant dean of student affairs for the medical school at Wright State University, also held forums over the last two weeks.

Unified working Peterson said for the new College of Medicine to succeed, all programs must work toward for a common goal.

“We all need to succeed together,” he said at a forum

the performance. “(Forbes) didn’t really give up what he loved, but he changed the way people

High 34/Low 17 Snow Showers

Thursday High 28/Low 17 Few Snow Showers

Friday High 32/Low 22 Flurries

continued from 1A

cm-life.com

affect the budget enough to mean anything,” Shapiro said. “It will cut back on printing and delivering the schedules that students hardly use.”

The office of Information Technology is already in the process of updating the CMU Portal course search and is working to have the fall 2010 course schedules available online

Check the Web site for a link to download the application.

Web site and turn it in to Art Reach, 319 S. University Ave. Painting days will take place March 27, April 3 and April 10. Locations for painting have not yet been determined.

Hill said Art Reach will try and put faculty members’ or students’ designs on campus.

“Ideally, if we have 30, we could use those on campus,” she said.

About 90 schoolchildren designed banners last year.

Hill said she hopes to have similar interest this year.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we get 80 school kids involved,” she said.

budget | continued from 1A

pretty good.”

3, 6 and 9 percent cuts Wilbur said she and other administrators are still considering the 3, 6 and 9 percent budget reduction suggestions she received Feb. 15 from each university budget center.

Cutting three percent from the budget would amount to $11,733,314, according to a slide shown during the presentation. Six percent would be $23,466,627, and nine percent would total $35,199,941.

The percentage of cuts needed still is uncertain, Wilbur said, as there could be up to a 20 percent cut in state appropriations.

Some centers were pretty straightforward when it came to the nine percent reduction suggestion, Wilbur said.

“We would be shutting off the lights and shutting the doors,” Wilbur said, referring to closures, in the event of nine percent reductions.

Starting last semester, the CMU community could offer suggestions through the CMU Portal on what to cut from the budget. The suggestions were combined with the SSBAG’s suggestions.

There were more than 150 in all, Shapiro said.

Wilbur said some of the suggestions, with responses, will be posted on the CMU Portal announcement section by Friday.

metro@cm-life.com

“It depends on what the university wants and what the College of Medicine wants. I do have thoughts, but all of these need to be communicated by the dean first.”

Mala Chinoy, associate dean candidate Feb. 16.

Peterson said one focus is attracting students to the school from more ignored, rural areas.

He said the College of Medicine can do this by giving more “points” to these students in the application process.

“If you have two equally qualified applicants, one from an under-served area and one from an area that has many doctors, we should probably admit the (applicant from the underserved area),” Peterson said.

First of the forums Satonik said he sees the position of associate dean of student affairs as a good fit for him.

He answered questions from a group of 14 people during the first open forum Feb. 10.

During the forum, Satonik explained why he choose

think and how he goes about things,” he said. studentlife@cm-life.com

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the student affairs position to apply for over the other dean positions.

“In my brain, I saw student affairs as my ideal place,” Satonik said.

“I want to help mold students and bring them forward.”

Satonik said he is not uncomfortable going through the process without knowing who the founding dean of the college will be.

“When Dr. Enarson declined, I was in a little bit of a quandary,” Satonik said.

“I am already knee-deep in this process. What does this mean for me?” university@cm-life.com

in March.

The course schedule will be available as a PDF file and, as new course schedules release, older schedules will transition to an archive page, still available for viewing.

“I think the students will like the changes that are going to be made — we’re going to have more filters, make schedule planning and seeing what pre-requisites are needed easier,” Hutslar said. university@cm-life.com

Central Michigan Life sent a Freedom of Information Act request earlier in the month for the suggestions, but it was denied.

Future budget meetings?

Staff and faculty salaries and benefits amount to about 70 percent of the operating budget, Burdette said.

Other areas for cuts must be determined, but the university has some alternative in mind to try and avoid faculty and staff layoffs, Wilbur said.

“We will have well advanced notice if and when there are layoffs,” Burdette said.

The university has considered freezing pay rates, early retirements, furlough days and tweaking benefits, he said.

Furlough days are another way to prevent layoffs, Wilbur said.

Merodie Hancock, vice president for ProfEd, said a lot of staff members are concerned about layoffs. Everyone is looking for answers, she said.

“I’m concerned about it departmentally,” Hancock said. “We’re not highly staffed. Everyone already has a big workload.”

But Hancock said this forum laid the groundwork for future discussions.

Wilbur said Tuesday will be the first of many budget forums, in hopes of keeping the campus community updated.

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inside life Central Michigan Life

3A

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010

Library power outage caused Internet failure FM hopes to inspect failed generators

By David Veselenak Online Editor

Power was not the only utility out of service during Sunday’s outage in the Charles V. Park Library.

Until early Monday morning, Central Michigan University’s wireless Internet also was out, said Duane Kleinhardt, manager of Information Technology communications.

When the generators failed to switch on immediately, “a portion of campus” was without wired Internet for a few hours Sunday night, he said.

“Our equipment went as long as it could on battery life.

The uninterrupted power supply lasted an hour,” he said.

“When the network came back up, some routing information had to be put into the system.”

Generators in the library were set to automatic mode, meaning they should turn on if the library lost power. But Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management, said the generators did not

kick on when the power went out. They were only powered up when FM employees came and flipped the switch about an hour after the outage.

The library’s security cameras also were down, but only until the generators were turned on, said CMU Police Chief Bill Yeagley.

“Some of the systems came back on when the generator was turned on,” he said.

Gerry Edgar, the library’s building coordinator and business manager, said one of the three digital video recorders did not work after the generators turned on. It was fixed by

Monday afternoon. “(They’re) only important at night,” he said.

Lawrence said the outage, which lasted until about 4:50 a.m. in the library, was caused by a short in the power line that runs from the Park Library to the Music Building.

He said power was off at Anspach, Brooks and Foust Halls, as well as the Health Professions Building and the library.

The generators in the other buildings functioned properly.

“It took a while to figure out what happened,” he said.

Lawrence said even if all the generators had worked prop-

erly, the two graduate students stuck in the elevator would not have been able to get out.

He said the generator is only powerful enough to run one elevator.

“Unfortunately, that building has two elevators,” he said.

China graduate student Shanshan Wang and Mount Pleasant graduate student Maria McNeel were not in the generator-powered elevator.

They were released after an hour when an elevator mechanic arrived at about 10:15 p.m. Sunday.

A power | 5A

Adjunct faculty filing to unionize

university@cm-life.com

photos by sean proctor/staff photographer

Greenville senior Chris Finch, left, and Troy junior Kristen Walter, members of the Wildlife Society, scan for deer at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Veits Woods off Crawford Road. The Wildlife Society is conducting a survey of the deer population following the Department of Agriculture’s decision to remove some of the population due to the deer aggravating surrounding home owners and getting into gardens.

born to be wild Student group participates in study of animals

By Connor Sheridan Senior Reporter

N

ot many students have launched rocket-nets at deer and tackled them to the ground.

Students in the Wildlife Society at Central Michigan University have that chance.

The group has used “rocket netting” to gather information on the deer population of Michigan’s Manistee National Forest.

“Our jobs were to jump on the deer under the net and subdue them so they wouldn’t get hurt,” said Armada graduate student Keith Miller, a longtime group member.

Though the group no longer uses “rocket nets,” it is involved in many more efforts to protect and document Michigan wildlife.

“We don’t have a wildlife program at CMU so, if you want to get wildlife experience, there’s no other way,” said Chris Powell, a Grand Rapids senior and the groups’s president.

Powell jokingly describes himself as “alpha male” of the bunch and has a pet snake and box turtle.

Creative expressions

The Purple Kiss Street Team will host a talent show from 8 to 11 p.m. Friday at The Malt Shop, 1088 S. University Avenue. The event is an open mic night and includes poetry and music. Raffle tickets also will be sold for $1 each. For more information, call John Sherrod at (586) 215-3643.

The great outdoors The group meets from 7 to 8 p.m.

Wednesdays in Anspach Hall 260A. Meetings are typically used to plan weekend events, and occasionally guest speakers come.

Weekend events include activities such as Bioblitz, a challenge to identify as many species as possible in a single day at CMU’s Nethercutt Woods.

Retention matters

Participants can learn more about what is happening in the world of student retention from 2 to 3:30 p.m. today in EHS 315.

Shawn Wilson, director of student retention, and Amy McGinnis, director of strategy and organizational development, will facilitate the session. It will focus on university retention data, initiatives, and the next steps university departments can take to increase the rate of student success at CMU. For more information, contact the Strategy and Organizational Development in Human Resources at 774-6447 or at stratod@cmich.edu.

Self esteem workshop

Wildlife Society Grand Rapids senior Chris Powell, left, writes down information on the back of Leonard sophomore Caitlin McColl’s back after spotting deer walking through Veits Woods off Crawford Road.

Bioblitz takes place in April and involves the Wildlife Recovery Association in Shepherd.

“Everyone in here has gotten to handle larger birds of prey,” Powell said.

Vice president Chris Finch, a Greenville senior, said assisting at the WRA is one of his favorite activities.

Part of the day is spent helping acclimate birds to human presence for use in public presentations.

“How many people can say that they’ve held a bald eagle?” Finch said.

Other expeditions have involved fish electroshocking, bobcat tracking and even wolf howling trips in the Up-

per Peninsula — this being the second year in a row the wolves have howled back.

The group also plays a role in educating elementary students about local wildlife through setting up displays and presentations in schools.

Finch encourages anyone to join, not just biology majors.

“I’d recommend it for anyone that has an interest in wildlife,” he said. “If you want to see new things or learn something more about the world around you, this is great.” studentlife@cm-life.com

James Wieghart remembered as a fearless journalist

COURTESY PHOTO

The Kappa Sigma fraternity will host a fundraiser at 11 p.m. today at the West Monkey Sub Shack, 4855 E. Bluegrass Road.

Ten percent of a customer’s bill will be donated to helping the fraternity earn its charter.

A presentation of Leonard Refineries is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Clarke Historical Library. The refineries of Alma introduced tourism to economic development a halfcentury before “Pure Michigan” commercials enticed vacationers to the state. The presentation delves into the successes of a gas company through its link between tourism and development.

The presentation is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Magan Moreno at the Clarke Historical Library at 774-2165 or at brook1mr@cmich. edu.

obituary

James Wieghart, former chairman of Central Michigan University’s Journalism Department, died Sunday at age 76.

Wieghart instructed classes at CMU in the 1990s and previously was an editor and executive vice president at the New York Daily News.

Kappa Sigma fundraiser

Presentation on refinery

By Amelia Eramya Senior Reporter

Adjunct faculty at Central Michigan University will vote for union representation at the end of this semester.

Several adjunct faculty filed Tuesday for a union representation election with Michigan Employment Relations Commission.

The group of adjunct faculty, named The Union of Teaching Faculty, has worked with The American Federation of Teachers — Michigan since May 2009.

Ian Fulcher, an organizer with the AFT of Michigan, said he contacted CMU adjunct faculty to talk about their concerns.

Most are not sure if they have their jobs secured since they have to reapply at the end of each semester or year, though some have maintained jobs for about 10 years.

With their workload and finals taking place, it is a stressful situation for adjunct faculty at CMU, Fulcher said.

“It can be stressful and, in some ways, silly,” said Mary Ann Freling, adjunct faculty with the English department. “(We) should have had representation a long time ago.”

Some requirements for nontenuretrack faculty to reapply for employment include writing a letter and submitting the most recent SOS scores and grade distributions, which can take up to a few days to gather, Freling said.

“It takes time away that I could be spending with students,” Freling said.

For the 2009-10 school year, Freling had to reapply by Feb. 15, 2009.

She did not receive a letter back confirming her employment with the English department at CMU until May 20, 2009. The deadline for adjunct faculty this year for the English department is March 15.

The application dates differ with each department, which poses a problem, Freling said.

“Where the work and expectations are equal, there should be fairness,” Fulcher said.

Fulcher held a meeting last at Veterans Memorial Library, 301 S. University St., where 20 CMU adjunct faculty attended to discuss concerns.

In order for the group to file for union representation, it is required to collect 30 percent of signatures of supporting adjunct faculty.

Fulcher said the UTF collected more than 50 percent.

“What really holds this group together is their love of teaching,” he said. “They really care about the students.”

[Life in brief]

Former department chair also was editor at N.Y. Daily News

By Sarah Schuch and Ryan Czachorski Senior Reporters

Family and friends of James Wieghart will remember him as a passionate journalist.

Wieghart, former chairman of Central Michigan University’s journalism department, died Sunday morning in Clare after a battle with pneumonia. He was 76.

“He was full of passion and thought that was very important in life,” said Rebecca Eaton, Wieghart’s daughter. “He was like an old-style hero.”

Wieghart served as chairman from 1989 to 1992 and was a faculty member for a few years more, said Jim Wojcik, associate professor of journalism.

John Palen, a retired journalism professor, worked with Wieghart from when he started at CMU until Wieghart retired.

“I will remember him as fearless, outspoken, a real rock ‘em, sock ‘em, give-them-hell journalist,” Palen said. “And a great teacher and a great friend.”

Wealth of experience Wieghart worked for the New York Daily News from 1969-84, with his last position being editor and executive vice president.

He also was a national political correspondent for Scripps Howard News Service in Washington from 1984-86, staff director for former U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy from 1986-87 and the director of public information for the Office of Independent Counsel investigating the Iran-Contral affairs from 1987-89.

Wieghart genuinely enjoyed being the chairman because he liked a good fight, Palen said.

Heidi Fenton, Managing Editor | news@cm-life.com | 989.774.4343

A chair | 5a

The Student Dietetic Association will hold a self esteem workshop from 7 to 9 p.m. today in the Bovee University Center Lake Michigan and Lake Superior rooms. The workshop will show students how to celebrate their body. Admission is $2 with a wristband purchase. For more information, contact L. McManus with the Student Dietetic Association at mcman1lr@cmich.edu.

Sign up for summer

Mount Pleasant Parks and Recreation will sponsor a 2010 Summer Program Registration Night from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Finch Fieldhouse. The participant signups include girls youth softball; Mount Pleasant little and farm leagues; Union Township little and farm Leagues, including Rosebush and Denver teams; Mount Pleasant Baseball Association; Mount Pleasant Soccer Club; Mount Pleasant Figure Skating Club; Amateur Hockey Association of Mount Pleasant (AHAMP); PEAK; Girls on the Run; and Parks and Recreation programs, including tee-ball, tennis lesson, spring soccer and youth golf lessons.

For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Office at 779-5331.

GLBT meeting

A panel discussion on topics within the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community takes place from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday in the Merrill Hall Lobby.

If you have an interesting item for Life in Brief, let us know by e-mailing news@cm-life.com

voices Central Michigan Life

4A Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010

“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

[cm-life.com/category/voices]

Brian Manzullo, Editor

in

Chief | Will Axford, Voices Editor | Heidi Fenton, Managing Editor | Eric Dresden, University Editor | Jackie Smith, Metro Editor

EDITORIAL | Lack of participation at forum will not shed light on budget cuts

Questionless forum

C

entral Michigan University administrators on Tuesday held the first of what they say will be several forums to discuss the university’s impending budget crisis.

Panelists detailed how the budget works for those in attendance before opening the floor for questions and commentary.

With so much speculation swirling around campus over CMU’s financial future, one may expect people to line up for a chance to offer a word. But that wasn’t the case.

Only three people asked questions, just one a student.

If the student body and faculty want to influence how administrators approach budget cuts, they must take advantage of every opportunity for active involvement. That doesn’t happen

when the community cowers in the corner.

Silence doesn’t tell administrators just how deeply cuts will impact faculty and students at CMU. There was a multitude of things worth discussing after the presentation. Administrators touched on topics such as faculty layoffs and how to avoid tuition increases during the forum.

The only questions asked afterwards pertained to student retention and if the university was pledging to hold the line on tuition. The forum ended 20 minutes early due to lack of audience

interaction.

Why weren’t more students present?

Although it’s understandable students are busy, the overall lack of effort was laughable. Fewer than ten students showed up to such an important discussion.

Students could even watch the event online and e-mail their questions. Not a single question was e-mailed to the panel.

Granted, there is a lot of information administrators don’t have yet that will allow them to make more concrete decisions. But at least they attempted to start a budget-related conversation.

Many of the goals panelists presented to the crowd are open-ended and up to interpretation. This is the perfect opportunity for students and faculty to ask pressing questions. How will CMU continue to be focused on education if faculty has to worry about staying employed? Why should students pay more in tuition if the resources they need to succeed are slashed?

Yet no one asked. Silence.

Future forums Interim president Kathy Wilbur said more forums on the budget will be held in the future.

With the initial forum explaining the budget situation, the administration should reveal all proposed solutions to patch the faltering budget. Be transparent and let the CMU community know what you’re thinking.

As for students and faculty — attend the forums. Don’t complain and stand on the sidelines while the administration restructures CMU. Apathy will not solve this complex issue. It will take thoughtful questions and pressure on the administration if students and faculty want to influence what goes and what stays.

Students, this is your tuition money in action. For faculty, this is your job on the line.

Why aren’t you saying anything about it?

CHRIS TAMLYN [CENTRAL SQUARE]

Jason Gillman Columnist

Improving the city I had the opportunity to sit down with Jeff Gray, the city planner for Mount Pleasant, on Friday. I had the chance to give some input in regards to making the city a more attractive place to reside.

The key point I made not only applies to localities such as cities or townships, but on state and national levels as well. If you want someone to move somewhere, one of the most attractive things a location can have is job availability — a result of increased business.

“Jason, that’s common sense,” Gray said. If that’s the case, there seem to be a lot of legislators and executives at the three levels lacking it.

For example, let’s examine the labor issue. Australia apparently has the ability to require a business to rehire a fired employee, even if the firing was legitimate. Imagine the dramatic decrease on hiring that would ensue if we had that.

Fortunately, we don’t but, with the current system in place where employers are required to deal with unions whether they want to or not, it’s incredibly hard and expensive to fire unionized employees.

There are a slew of other environments — taxation, regulation, etc. — that government seems to make toxic for business, seemingly due to negligence. Making significant, refundable, tax credits — which aren’t very transparent to the public — available to the film industry might draw that particular industry to the state, but what about other industries?

Would you want to run a business in a state that requires you to succumb to a harsh tax system and, on top of that, subsidize these payments to the film industry? I wouldn’t.

If the country, state and localities want to increase their attractiveness to potential residents, they need to make an environment palatable to business. If they want to do that, they need a dose of this “common sense,” which doesn’t seem to be very common at all.

[Our reader’s voice]

Comments from cm-life.com on Vehicle break-ins on lot 63 Antonio says:

After visiting China and Europe and having to walk a good 45 minutes just to get to a subway, walking across campus like that is absolutely nothing to me.

Maybe they just need a change in perception as to what they think, “inconvenient” is.

No offense.

tures with wind and many times unclear sidewalks sucks.

A half an hour round trip walking kind of takes the point of taking a fifteen minute drive-thu trip to Taco Bell.

Remember ,this isn’t a once-aweek thing, it’s every time you need your car. Plus, it’s unsafe. There is no way I would want my girlfriend walking over there at night by herself. It’s in the middle of nowhere.

Comments from cm-life.com on eating disorder awareness

Me says:

That is true, and even in the winter, it doesn’t hurt to walk.

Once you bundle up, it actually is refreshing. You feel better because, once you get to class, you have to sit a lot, and studying requires sitting. It is not good to sit for long periods and can cause clots.

Dustin Mobley says:

Living in the dorms last year I know this was an inconvenience.

Walking in single-digit tempera-

Amber says:

The statement, “I think a lot of kids are overweight, and when they get to college, they realize that it’s not attractive” should have been a little more sensitive.

It is comments like this that can jump start an eating disorder. There is nothing unattractive about being overweight.

I know very very beautiful people that are not in their physical prime.

I do like the rest of the article.

However, when writing a piece on a topic that may change someone’s life, I would take precautions to not make it sound like the lying thoughts already in their heads.

I repeat, you do not have to be skinny to be atractive! You are loved, needed, and planned with a destiny! Don’t forget it!

Al says:

It is good to get awareness out about this issue. However, there should have been more awareness on the part of the author about focusing so much on the various weights of Sara.

It can be triggering to others who may be struggling with eating disorders and is really not necessary to so closely detail this woman’s height and weight.

The issue here is that she was extremely underweight and needed medical care, not a blow by blow description of her body size.

Also, there are many other types of eating disorders that do not fit into this story. Are we going to hear about them too?

Anorexia is not even the most common of them all.

CM You|If you could go anywhere for Spring Break, where would it be?

Central Michigan Life Editorial Brian Manzullo, Editor in Chief Heidi Fenton, Managing Editor Joe Borlik, Student Life Editor Jackie Smith, Metro Editor Eric Dresden, University Editor Andrew Stover, Sports Editor Ashley Miller, Photo Editor Will Axford, Voices Editor David Veselenak, Online Editor Chelsea Kleven, Lead Designer Advertising Lindsey Reed, Katie Sidell Advertising Managers Carly Schafer, Shawn Wright Multi-Media Marketing Coordinators Professional staff Rox Ann Petoskey, Production Leader Kathy Simon, Assistant Director of Student Media Neil C. Hopp, Adviser to Central Michigan Life

“Seattle. Never been there, heard it’s beautiful. I know it’s cold, but whatever.”

Greg Lee,

Taiwan senior

“Brazil. My girlfriend thinks it’s for the girls, but it’s really the tropical, warm location. And I hear they have great steak.”

Atlanta. (I) will be on a mission trip building houses, feeding the needy and working with inner city kids.”

Eris Taylor,

Southfield sophomore

Bobby Seay,

Florida senior

Daytona. My birthday is the same day as the super cross.

I love it. Super cross has been my life since I was four.”

Amanda Zywicki,

Waterford freshman

jake may/staff photographer Central Michigan Life is the independent voice of Central Michigan University and is edited and published by students of Central Michigan University every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters, and every Wednesday during the summer.

The online edition (www.cm-life.com) contains all of the material published in print.

Central Michigan Life is is under the jurisdiction of the independent Student Media Board of Directors. Articles and opinions do not necessarily reflect the position or opinions

of CMU or its employees.

Central Michigan Life is a member of the Michigan Press Association, the Michigan Collegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press and the College Newspaper Business & Advertising Managers Association.

Central Michigan Life’s operations are totally funded from revenues through advertising sales. Editions are distributed free throughout the community and individuals are entitled

to one copy. Each copy has an implied value of 75 cents.

Non-university subscriptions are $1 per mailed edition. Copies of photographs published in Central Michigan Life or its online edition (www.cm-life.com) are available for purchase at http://reprints.cm-life.com Central Michigan Life’s editorial and business offices are located at 436 Moore Hall, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, telephone 774-3493.

Mike Hoffman Staff writer

Decades apart The difference in siblings can be huge This past weekend was a bit of a culture-shock for me — and it wasn’t because Jersey Shore’s JWoww graced Mount Pleasant with her presence.

My brother celebrated his fourth birthday, and I realized that, in only a few months, it will be the 24th anniversary of my birth.

The time between us spans nearly two decades. I am actually closer in age to my stepmom than I am my brother. To top that, I’m also 21 years older than my youngest sister.

I am a generation removed from my brother and sister. This creates an interesting family dynamic.

The first thing that I realized is that I will never have the same kind of relationship with my brother and baby sister as I do with my other siblings, at least right now. But I am doing everything I can to make sure that I will, when they get older, have a similar relationship with them.

It saddens me that Pete and Pete will not have the same influence on them as it did me. I feel he and my sister are missing out on Doug and his adventures as Quailman.

The list goes on. Raffi, Rugrats, summers at the Grosse Pointe Hunt Club. These are all things that defined my childhood, which I was lucky enough to share with my other three sisters.

But I will never experience that with the Little Man or the Kid. They will have a completely different experience than me.

Instead of Pete and Pete, they have Spongebob Squarepants. Instead of Nirvana, they have Miley Cyrus.

There is a great cultural disconnect between us.

This sounds more dismal than it actually is. I love my little bro and sis, they are great kids. They just make me feel old sometimes.

Having little ones running amok has made my life at home much more interesting had they not been born. I am eternally grateful that they were, because now I have two young kids I know I have an immense influence over.

My brother is obsessed with my bass guitar (“Play Guitar, Michael!

I’ll play the tambourine!”), and it gives me hope that maybe he will pick up an instrument of his own.

He and my sister also love good, funky music. Whenever I babysit for my parents, a dance party usually ensues, with a soundtrack consisting of the Talking Heads, the B52s and The Beets (from Doug).

I also know that because of the impact I have on both of them, I have to set the example of how to act in certain situations. There is absolutely no swearing, which I do too much of anyway.

I have to make sure I chew with my mouth closed, say my please and thank you’s even more than I already do.

But I wouldn’t have it any other way now. Both of them have made my life way more interesting than it ever was.

I mean, I get to wake up to: “Michael, can I snuggle?”

[letters to the editor] E-mail | voices@cm-life.com Mail | 436 Moore Hall Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 Fax | 989.774.7805 Central Michigan Life welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Only correspondence that includes a signature (e-mail excluded), address and phone number will be considered. Do not include attached documents via email. Letters should be no longer than 300 words and commentary should not exceed 500 words. All submissions are subject to editing and may be published in print or on www.cm-life.com in the order they are received.

www.cm-life.com

[News]

City employees can retire earlier under new provisions Plan could help with budget shortfall

By David Veselenak Online Editor

City Commissioners on Monday made changes to city employees’ retirement eligibility in an effort to address an expected $1 million budget shortfall in 2011.

The commission unanimously altered retirement qualifications, which allow city workers and members of the Technical, Professional and Office Workers Association of Michigan to retire when they are 50 years old and if they have served 25 years. Nonbargaining and supervisory employees can retire at 55 and if they have served 15 years.

Commissioner Kathy Ling felt uneasy about approving the changes, but said she would rather see services remain intact for city residents.

“We are going to have to make some decisions in the spring,” she said. “Because we are a service-oriented entity ... I think we have to keep in mind that the only way we have savings is if we don’t replace those positions.”

Previously, union members

mauk | continued from 6A

things you have to do — not have anyone to talk to ... She just missed her family and not having them there all the time.”

Bellman said Rachel told him she would do well in practice but, if anything bad happened during the games, she was pulled and did not return.

“That’s hard on someone,” he said. “After that, she was nervous about doing anything wrong.”

Gaining confidence When Rachel came to her office, Guevara said she knew exactly what was going on because Amy had called her on the phone prior.

“She came in, sat down and said that she didn’t feel like she was contributing and wasn’t very good — she used the words, ‘I suck,’” Guevara said. “I looked at her and said, ‘Don’t ask me about going home — you’re not going home — I’m not going to release you.’ She worked very hard and wasn’t seeing the fruits of her labor.”

could not retire until age 55 and after 25 years of service.

Supervisory employees had to give 20 years of service.

Up to seven employees can retire with the altered requirements, which will last only for a portion of this year. TPOAM members will have until July 30 to decide, and non-bargaining and supervisory employees until Dec. 28. After that, the previous requirements will go back in place.

Nancy Ridley, city director of finance and administrative services, said even if all seven now-eligible employees retire, there will still be a budget shortfall that may result in changes to city services.

“Some of those people we would have to replace,” she said.

Mount Pleasant could face a decrease of about $125,000 in state-shared revenues this year from last. Some officials say widening the retirement window is a forward-thinking measure.

“We expect some of these changes will come from work realignment and service production,” said City Manager Kathie Grinzinger. “It really depends on how many of those (employees) go out.”

The commission also scheduled a work session for 5:30 p.m. March 23 at City Hall, 320

W. Broadway St., to discuss the 2011 operating budget.

Rachel put together two weeks of consistent practices and earned some playing time on Jan. 27 at Kent State, with family and friends in attendance.

Despite CMU’s 82-76 loss, she came off the bench and scored 18 points in 19 minutes.

Not only did that game help Rachel’s confidence, it gave Guevara more confidence to play her.

“That’s where it really turned things around for me,” Guevara said. “I saw the consistency.

What I saw in practice is what I was seeing in the game.”

She followed that game with an 11-point performance off the bench in the team’s 96-86

win against Miami on Jan. 30 and earned a spot in the starting lineup in CMU’s win against conference leader Bowling Green on Feb. 10.

She scored 13 points in the team’s 98-71 win against Northern Illinois on Feb. 14 and had a career-high 21 points in the win against Eastern Michigan last Saturday.

Rachel credits the trip to Guevara’s office as the turning point in her decision to stay.

“I ended up staying and I don’t regret it,” she said. “I realize that I’m doing what I love and I can’t ask for more.”

Campus connector Mount Pleasant resident Ron Roby presented a petition to the commission with 25 signatures he had gathered earlier in the day regarding the campus connector project. The project aims to redevelop Main and Washington streets between Central Michigan University’s campus and downtown Mount Pleasant.

Roby said the city should not spend taxpayer dollars redoing roads in tough economic times.

“Our state is in an economic crisis,” he said. “It is wrong to use taxpayers’ money for projects that are not needed.”

The commission took a walking tour Thursday and requested the Department of Public Works refine the costs of a tentative plan to make Main one lane and create two-way traffic on Washington.

Roby said he saw a newspaper article about the project last week and decided to circulate the petition.

“I’m just hoping everyone gets their voice heard,” he said. metro@cm-life.com

sports@cm-life.com

power | continued from 3a

Lawrence said a maintenance worker is expected to inspect the generators this week.

No other problems Yeagley said although the

chair | continued from 3a

But Weighart also really liked being in the classroom.

He was the best friend a journalism student could have, he said, a sentiment Wojcik shared.

Wojcik said Wieghart could tell story after story and educate students in the process. Wieghart was inducted into the Central Michigan University Journalism Hall of Fame in 2004 for his work as chairman of

Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010 || 5A

Central Alert system was not affected by the outage, he decided it did not deem a campus-wide notification.

“The reason for the alert is jeopardy,” he said. “That was fairly isolated.”

Yeagley said no foul play was reported during the outage.

The library opened with little problem Monday, Edgar said.

Randy Claypool, facilities specialist for the library’s access services, said there were no items left Sunday night by evacuated students. The building was emptied within 20 minutes of the outage.

“My understanding is that everyone had time to get their stuff,” he said.

the department.

“He brought with him a wealth of experience. All that really kind of helped the department,” Wojcik said. “It brought some new energy. What he brought to us was an outlook of looking at the really, really big picture.”

“He was a real reporter. He believed you had to get out there and go where the story was and dig,” Palen said.

“He believed that one of the functions of journalism was to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”

Visitation will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home, 165 South St. in Farwell. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

A ‘real’ reporter Palen remembers Wieghart for his great career in journalism, especially in the old-school form. Palen hopes Wieghart’s dedication will carry over into the new form of journalism.

university@cm-life.com

university@cm-life.com

sports Central Michigan Life

6A

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010

Quick Hits

college transition

cm-life.com Find out how CMU gymnasts have fared on the floor exercise

w i n t e r o ly m p i c s

The Hiller Effect

LeFevour not throwing: CMU quarterback Dan LeFevour has opted not to throw at the NFL Scouting Combine, he told NFL Draft Bible.

Football schedule out: CM Life has learned a tentative 2010 football schedule was released. CMU opens with Hampton at home, and opens the MAC schedule the following week at Temple. CMU plays Western Michigan on a Friday night game in November. No dates have been confirmed.

Andrew Stover Sports Editor

Swiss goalie, U.S. win against Canada give Americans shot

Michigan violates rules: The NCAA issued a notice of allegations to Michigan, saying five major potential violations by the football program.

University officials released the report Tuesday.

W

women’s basketball

CMU plays MAC leader Toledo Team can climb to one game back

By Aaron McMann Staff Reporter

The CMU women’s basketball team looks to continue its MidAmerican Conference climb at 7 p.m. Wednesday against West Division leader Toledo at Rose Arena.

A win moves CMU (11-14, 8-5 MAC) one game behind Toledo in the standings and an Akron loss to Kent State puts the Chippewas into a tie for the final firstround bye in the MAC Tournament.

CMU brings a three-game winning streak into the game after Saturday’s 113-107 doubleovertime win against Eastern Michigan.

“It’s definitely a different team,” said senior forward Britni Houghton. “We’re at home, and everyone knows that when we play at home, we play a lot better.”

To l e d o (20-6, 10-3 MAC) won three of its last Britni Houghton four games, including a 74-68 win against Akron on Feb. 10.

While the Rockets have sustained success in conference play, they are 3-3 away from Savage Arena, losing 73-67 against Northern Illinois on Saturday.

Toledo defeated CMU 74-60 in the teams’ previous meeting Jan. 9 after the Chippewas shot 35.3 percent from the field.

“We shot too many quick threes,” said coach Sue Guevara. “We’ve matured since then — we’ve become much more patient.”

Senior forward Tanika Mays leads Toledo with 16.7 points per game and eight rebounds per game in conference play. She had 22 points and 13 rebounds in the first game against CMU. Senior night The game also serves as the last regular-season home game for seniors Britni Houghton, Heidi Warczinsky and Kendra Holman.

“It’s the last opportunity for our seniors to put that uniform on and play in front of their family and friends,” Guevara said.

Houghton set a single-game scoring record Saturday against Eastern Michigan with 38 points.

She is fourth all-time in scoring at CMU with 1,522 points and can pass Jody Beerman (1,527 points) for third Wednesday.

“Coming in my freshman year, I didn’t like it and I didn’t want to be here,” Houghton said. “Now, I’ve had a chance to help other people, other freshman, who have gone through the same thing. It’s a great basketball team and I’m really going to miss it.” sports@cm-life.com

matthew stephens/senior photographer

Ohio freshman Rachel Mauk nearly quit the women’s basketball team. Coach Sue Guevara said Mauk was doubting herself, but she encouraged her to keep with it. When asked why she decided against quitting the team, Mauk said, “Coach wouldn’t let me.”

Altered outlook Helped by twin Stefanie, Rachel Mauk fights lifestyle change

By Aaron McMann | Staff Reporter

R

achel Mauk entered coach Sue Guevara’s office crying late last month.

Mauk, a freshman guard on the CMU women’s basketball team, watched twin sister Stefanie string together several solid performances early in the season that earned her a spot in the starting lineup.

Meanwhile, Rachel was getting minutes sporadically and did not play in wins against Western Michi“I just wasn’t playing, and I’m always used to playing because I played all throughout my high school career,” Mauk said.

gan, Northern Illinois and Ohio.

She was ready to quit the team and return home to Lima, Ohio.

“I had been having a very hard time being three-and-a-half hours away from home,” Mauk said. “I missed my family and my boyfriend a lot. I was just very homesick.”

Mauk was named first-team AllOhio by the Associated Press after averaging more than 17 points per game as a high school senior, her fourth year on varsity.

She was used to playing.

Rachel Mauk File High School:

Early struggles Stefanie said she noticed confidence issues with her sister in September after Rachel suffered a back injury in the weight room.

“I encouraged her (to stay) because I knew that if she wanted to leave, I’d want to leave,” Stefanie said. “We knew that if we left, we’d let everyone down.”

In the team’s Nov. 13 season-opener against DePaul, Rachel played 3 minutes, the least of anyone on the team. She scored six points throughout the following eight games, while not playing in two.

“It was hard,” said Amy Mauk, Rachel’s mother. “She would only sub in if Stefanie was doing poorly. It put a

10 — — —

varsity letters: four in basketball four in volleyball two in track

w Three-time All-Conference player. w Earned first-team All-Ohio honors from the Associated Press as a senior. strain — she wanted Stefanie to do well, but knew that she would only get in if her sister was having a bad game.”

Amy said Guevara came to her twice after games to try and encourage her to keep Rachel’s spirits up.

“It was a confidence thing,” Amy said. “She lost all confidence in her ability as a col-

here were you when Swiss goalie Jonas Hiller changed the landscape of the 2010 Olympic hockey tournament?

It’s a serious question. Three days after the U.S. beat Canada in what has been falsely dubbed “Miracle on Ice II,” perspective has been lost in how badly the Hiller-led Swiss altered the field.

Last Thursday, Switzerland took Canada past regulation before bowing out in a shootout.

Following extra shooters, the Canadians escaped. Or did they?

In Olympic hockey, a regulation win earns a team three points. A win after only nets it two. Hiller’s 45-save performance and the U.S. upset of Canada worked in melody to disrupt the route of the world hockey powers.

If Canada earned one extra point — whether by beating the Americans or beating the Swiss in regulation — it would have edged Finland in the goal differential tiebreaker and earned the No. 4 seed and a bye to the quarterfinals.

Now? The top two teams — Russia and Canada — will square off in the quarterfinals after Canada beat Germany today.

Only one of the two will win a medal, and Hiller is to blame.

The game U.S. goalie Ryan Miller stole the show Sunday night in Vancouver. His 42-save win against a stronger and faster Canadian team is not nearly as big as the 1980 U.S. win against the Soviets, but it’s the biggest win for the U.S. since then.

The Americans have historically fared poorly on the international stage. They have won just two world championships, a yearly tournament which coincides with the NHL playoffs, in its history (1933, 1960). In Olympic play, the

team has two medals (1980 gold, 2002 silver) in the last 30 years.

The win against Canada was not a medal game, but the U.S. had not beaten the Canadians since 1960, one of the two years it won gold. The significance lies in that it allows the Americans to avoid Canada, Russia and defending gold medalists Sweden until the championship game, if they can get there. They play Switzerland today and, if they win, the Fins or the Czech Republic/Latvia winner in the semis.

Turnover The only other international success for the U.S. was when it won the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, one of two times the event took place.

And if coach Ron Wilson can hang his hat on one thing in his career, it’s this: he led that team to the gold.

But the 2010 American Olympians represent new blood. No longer is Mike Richter the goalie.

No longer are Tony Amonte, Doug Weight, Chris Chelios, Mike Modano and Keith Tkachuk the face.

Just two players reside on the American roster that played in the 2006 games — Brian Rafalski and Chris Drury. Contrarily, the Canadians have eight returnees.

And despite being physically punished and outskated, the Americans played a more desperate brand of hockey Sunday. They blocked shots, held off the Canadians and cashed in on mistakes.

Canada’s Corey Perry was retrieving a puck in his own zone with his goalie pulled, down one in the game’s final minute.

American Ryan Kessler, who plays for Vancouver, dove from behind him and swatted the puck with one hand on his stick around Perry and into the open net.

It was one of the most effortladen empty-net goals you will ever see. It put the dagger in Canada on Sunday, and it cemented a new era of U.S. hockey and the easiest possible path to gold.

Now, expectations have risen.

But don’t forget how Hiller altered the tournament and how he can alter it more.

For the dream to stay alive, the Americans have to beat him again. It’s a taller task than what was originally thought.

Just ask the Canadians. sports@cm-life.com

legiate basketball player. She started thinking; ‘I’m terrible, I don’t know if I should be playing,’ and it became more difficult as time went on.”

Depression Rachel’s lack of success on the court began affecting her life away from the game.

Stefanie said Rachel sat in the residence hall on weekends while she went out with their teammates.

“I was very depressed — I would cry my eyes out every night,” Rachel said.

Luke Bellman, Rachel’s boyfriend and a sophomore wide receiver on the University of Dayton football team, said the lifestyle transition to college was too much for Rachel.

“She kept telling me, ‘I hate it here,’” Bellman said.

“I went through the same thing. It’s one of the hardest

courtesy of george bridges (MCT)

A mauk | 5A

American forward Ryan Kessler (left) celebrates with teammate Zach Parise after a diving, empty-net goal in the U.S.’s 5-3 win against Canada on Sunday in Vancouver.

Men’s basketball team looks to keep NIU in losing skid Huskies drop last 10 games after hot start

By Daniel Monson Senior Reporter

One month and one day ago, the Northern Illinois men’s basketball team was 4-0 in the Mid-American Conference and the team to beat in the West Division.

Then the Huskies met Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant.

The result was an 81-75 win by the Chippewas. Since then, NIU is winless in 10 games heading into today’s 8 p.m. rematch in DeKalb, Ill.

“They are, in my opinion, one of the most talented teams in the conference,” said CMU coach Ernie Zeigler. “Unfortunately for them, they fell on lots of tough times.”

The Huskies have lost nine consecutive against MAC opponents and lost 73-70 against Eastern Illinois on Saturday.

“It is kind of like a trap game — they’re going to want to win,” said CMU senior guard Robbie Harman. “It’s kind of good for us too, because we don’t want to be the team that gets them off their 10-game losing streak. We kind of have some motivation to not be that team. It’s kind of like trying not to lose to Toledo (0-13 MAC) — no one wants to lose to them and be the first one.”

On the defense Defense has proven to be a tough task for the Huskies (8-18, 4-9 MAC), who have allowed 82.2 points per game during their losing skid. For the season, they rank last in the MAC in scoring defense, giving up 73.2 points per game.

Zeigler has yet to lose to NIU in his four seasons at CMU. He owns a 8-0 record, including an 83-71 win in the first round of the 2008 MAC Tournament.

“Luck,” Zeigler said, laughing, when asked about the success.

Harman had another explanation.

“We’re comfortable with what they run,” he said. “We understand what their offense is. It fits how we defend really well.”

Andrew Stover, Sports Editor | sports@cm-life.com | 989.774.3169

NIU junior guard Xavier Silas scored 26 points on 7-of-17 shooting the last time the teams met. He ranks second Robbie Harman in MAC scoring, averaging 21.2 per game.

“We’ve just got to make it so if he scores 20 points, he shoots about 20 shots,” Harman said. “Anytime you do that, you’re not shooting a real great percentage.”

Varying motivation NIU was eliminated from MAC West title contention after its 90-81 loss at Western Michigan on Feb. 17.

Meanwhile, CMU (13-13, 7-6 MAC) still seeks the MAC’s No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the tournament for winning the West Division. It needs help, however — Ball State (15-11, 8-5 MAC) must lose twice.

A tie in the final standings goes to the Cardinals because of their head-to-head results against the East Division’s top teams. Both teams lost to Kent State, Akron, and both beat Buffalo. Next in the standings is Miami, which BSU defeated and CMU fell to on the road.

“We’re playing for seeding right now, so it’s kind of a tournament atmosphere for us, Harman said. sports@cm-life.com

youtube | Popular site used as a learning tool?, 4B

Campus vibe

B

Central Michigan Life

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010

[cm-life.com/category/vibe]

JUST ANOTHER MORNING IN THE LOTS

advice

Hilary Farrell Staff Reporter

Go at your own pace Consider social networking when getting to know classmates

W

photos by jake may/staff photographer

Livonia senior Mark Generous, a CMU parking enforcement officer, walks through a parking lot, searching for vehicles that do not have correct authority to park in lots across campus. Generous said he has seen many people leave interesting notes on their vehicles, and many will run to their vehicle to avoid parking tickets.

GENEROUS TICKETING Parking enforcement officer claims they aren’t the “bad guys”

By Ryan Taljonick | Staff Reporter

M

aking students miserable is all part of a day’s work for Mark Generous.

Generous is one of five Parking Enforcement Officers for the Central Michigan University Police. His job description: hand out parking tickets across campus.

“We are compassionate people,” the Livonia senior said. “We never think to ourselves, ‘Yes, this is awesome, we’re screwing you over!’ Why would we do that?”

On a typical day, Generous tickets around 10 cars an hour, but he said the number varies.

Parking Enforcement Officers typically work in pairs from around 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Friday morning. Parking violations typically cost $25 and meter violations are $10. The fine is $100 for parking illegally in a handicapped zone.

Dear Hilary, How far is it okay to go on the first date?

-Dating

Dear Dating, Deciding how far to go on a date is a very personal decision, and one you should ultimately decide on your own.

The generic rule, as I was told, is to wait three dates before becoming physical. Elliot Reid on “Scrubs” puts the number at four.

With that, a first date is about getting to know a person and not getting to know their bedroom.

If you decide to become physical too fast, you may miss out on getting to know this person on other levels.

Assuming the person you are seeing is not a total jerk, they will enjoy your company and accept how fast (or slow) the physical aspects of a relationship unfold.

Dear Hilary, I sit next to a really cute girl in class. She is funny and nice, and we have a lot in common. How do I make a move? Can I make a move?

-Shy Guy

Livonia senior Mark Generous, a CMU parking enforcement officer, places a parking ticket under the windshield wiper of a vehicle Friday morning in Lot 33 east of Moore Hall. During his three-hour shift, Generous issued 25 tickets, which he said is more than average, especially for a Friday morning. “We are all students. We are not out here to ruin your life at all,” he said.

on the job.

While ticketing a vehicle, he noticed something creeping around inside — the owner felt like taking a nap before class.

“It was so awkward,” Generous said. “I didn’t know how to react.”

He ended up voiding the ticket.

On one occasion, Generous was accused of waiting for a meter to expire so he could ticket a student.

“She said I told her that it was her fault that she was late, that she deserved the ticket, and that I was very rude to her,” he said. “None of that even happened!”

Generous was originally a driver

There is no ticket quota, and the groups coordinate their coverage of the various lots on campus.

Generous said it is difficult to estimate which lots receive the most tickets and what times are the busiest.

“It changes every day,” he said.

Parking Services issues an average of 35,616 tickets per academic year, earning $701,585 in average revenue, according to a 2008-09 CMU Parking Services annual report. During the 2008 fiscal year, 31,027 tickets were distributed.

Generous still recalls a few awkward moments during his first day

elcome to the first advice column!

Submit questions to me via e-mail at farre1hl@cmich.edu.

You also may submit anonymously on my Formspring account, at formspring.me/HilaryFarrell.

All questions received anonymously or with a real name receive a code name.

Are you allowed to park there? w

w w

According a 2008-09 CMU Parking Services annual report, Parking Services issues an average of 35,616 tickets per academic year, earning $701,585 in average revenue.

31,027 tickets were distributed during the 2008 fiscal year.

Most parking violations cost $25; meter violations are $10.

for the Safe Rides program, but took a job in Parking Services last fall for a more flexible work schedule.

“I love the people I work with,” Generous said. “The department is so awesome; they’re so respectful of everybody that works there.”

Not the bad guys As a student himself, Generous understands the frustrations of receiving parking tickets.

“We’re doing our job,” he said. “You A parking | 2B

Dear Shy Guy; Of course you can make a move!

Try not to laugh, but have you looked her up on Facebook or another social networking Web site? If not, this is a great first step.

Facebook is a great way to interact with people, especially in your case. You can speak to your crush without the structure of class.

Try asking her to do something without a lot of pressure.

Invite her to a party or get-together.

A Advice | 2B

‘Shutter Island’ offers mind-melting thrills

By Ryan Taljonick Staff Review

Director Martin Scorsese presents yet another fantastic film after winning Best Picture and Best Director academy awards for 2006’s “The Departed.”

“Shutter Island,” based on a novel of the same name, will undoubtedly take your brain on a psychological roller coaster ride.

Set in 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner, Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), travel to the remote Shutter Island to investigate the disap-

“Shutter Island” w w w

Rating: R Genres: Mystery, Thriller Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley

HHHHH pearance of a patient who has escaped from a maximum security prison/hospital for the criminally insane.

Upon their arrival, Daniels and Aule find the prison staff are un-

cooperative and seem to be hiding something. The pair attempt to unravel the mystery surrounding Shutter Island and quickly discover that things are not as they seem.

If there is one thing this film does a great job of, it’s messing with your mind. “Shutter Island” offers a very solid plot that has more twists than the number of times Brett Favre has come out of retirement.

You will be entertained and psychologically exhausted by the end of the film. Right when you think you’ve got everything figured out, another twist is thrown your way.

You’ll be absorbed right until the

credits start rolling.

DiCaprio’s character is very dynamic in the film. Needless to say, he has come a long way since his boyish days of “Titanic.” He does a fantastic job of conveying emotion and personality in his character, and puts on a fantastic performance.

“Shutter Island” has a few scenes that might make you jump, and the “dream” sequences DiCaprio’s character experiences are a bit creepy and disturbing.

The thriller elements in the film A island | 2B

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Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a detective sent from the mainland to investigate a mysterious disappearance on an island prison for the criminally insane in the thriller, “Shutter Island.” andrew cooper/ courtesy paramount pictures

2B || Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010 || Central Michigan Life

NEW STUFF DVDs: 1. “Jersey Shore: Season 1 Uncensored” 2. “The September Issue” 3. “Everybody’s Fine”

CDs: 1. “I’m New Here” Gil Scott-Heron 2. “This Addiction” Alkaline Trio 3. “One Life Stand” Hot Chip

TOP FIVES 1. “Shutter Island” $41.1M 2. “Valentine’s Day” $16.7M 3. “Avatar” 16.2M 4. “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” $15.3M 5. “The Wolfman” $9.9M

Singles: 1. “TiK ToK” Ke$ha 2. “Imma Be” The Black Eyed Peas 3. “BedRock” Young Money Featuring Lloyd 4. “Bad Romance” Lady Gaga 5. “Need You Now” Lady Antebellum

Albums: 1. “Soldier Of Love” Sade 2. “Need You Now” Lady Antebellum 3. “Another Round” Jaheim 4. “Rebirth” Lil Wayne 5. “Haywire” Josh Turner

advice | continued from 1B

Ask her if she would like to grab some coffee, or if she wants to go over class notes before an exam.

Chances are, if you are already speaking a lot in class, she may be interested.

At the very least, you will have a fun coffee date and a new study friend.

Dear Hilary, What are tips on writing a professional e-mail?

-Digitally Lost Dear Digitally Lost; Start with the subject line. It should clearly define what your e-mail will be about.

When writing the greeting, address it to either the person’s

island | continued from 1B

are supplemented by a bold soundtrack that heightens suspense; though, at some points, the music is a bit overwhelming.

But this is a very minor complaint.

Around the midpoint of the plot, things start to slow down a bit. Clues appear less often as the mystery slowly reveals itself.

It’s very likely that you’ll start to piece things together by the end of the film, and the conclusion isn’t the type of ending that comes out of nowhere.

Though it’s not quite perfect,

tickets | continued from 1B

can be mad at us but, when you think about it, you’re the one who mis-parked.”

Emily Solomon also is a student Parking Enforcement Officer.

The Alma junior began working for Parking Services in January after calling it quits in the fast-food industry.

“I love it, it’s the best job

[campus collage]

Tweets of the week

full name, or their gender or title followed by last name (i.e., Mr. Smith, Professor Smith).

Stay away from greetings you would use in a personal e-mail, such as “Hi!” or “How’s it going?”

Write the body of the e-mail as clearly as you can, and picture yourself speaking to a superior or supervisor. In other words, keep the e-mail brief and polite.

Finish your e-mail with an appropriate goodbye, such as “sincerely.”

At the bottom of the e-mail, attach appropriate contact information, such as a phone number or business title.

This information is referred to as a “signature” or “signature block,” and is offered in many email services.

Finally, before sending, proofread your e-mail for grammatical and spelling errors. studentlife@cm-life.com

you will be very satisfied by the “Shutter Island” experience. The resolution of the film is awesome, but the journey the movie presents to its audience is even more pleasing than its destination.

Scorsese and DiCaprio have teamed up to make some great films in the past few years, including “Gangs of New York,” “The Aviator” and “The Departed.” “Shutter Island” is no exception to the list, and Scorsese fans will be counting down the days until they can buy this film on DVD. Do yourself a favor and go watch it. studentlife@cm-life.com

I’ve ever had,” she said. “I get paid more than minimum wage and I don’t have to smell bad!”

She feels that resentment comes with the territory of her job, but it doesn’t bother her.

“It’s not that we have a vendetta against you, we’re just doing our job,” Solomon said. studentlife@cm-life.com

Follow @CMLIFE on Twitter.com

BEAT WRITER PICKS Video games:

Music:

Movies:

Battlefield Bad Company 2 (PC, PS3, X360)

“World Sick”

by Broken Social Scene

“Moon”

Battlefield Bad Company 2 (PC, PS3, X360) “Modern Warfare 2” is all well and good, but who wants to just shoot fools online when you can crush them underneath your tank tread? The latest sequel in the massive battleground series “Battlefield” is all about making the environment work for you. Enemies annoying you from behind cover? Launch a shell at them and bring down the wall, or the roof on their heads. If large scale battles between multiple classes of soldiers and vehicles on objectivebased battlefields sound good to you, check out “Bad Company 2.”

-Connor Sheridan

The first single from Broken Social Scene’s awesomely titled upcoming album, “Forgiveness Rock Record,” finds the band returning in excellent form.

“World Sick” is an epic 7-minute pop tune centered around a big, big drum beat.

The song is just as fun and catchy as anything the band has produced thus far and manages to maintain the listener’s attention through its runtime. We can only hope this is a sign of things to come for the album, because what a delightful sign it is!

- Ben Weissenborn

Written and directed by Duncan Jones, the son of David Bowie, “Moon” is a low budget film sure to entertain you. The plot is set in the future and is centered around Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell), an employee who works for the company Lunar Industries and is contracted to extract a newly discovered high-energy resource from the moon.

Leaving his pregnant wife behind, Sam works as the sole human employee at the company’s station on the moon.

His only companion is GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey), an advanced computer system responsible for attending to Sam’s needs. Near the end of his three-year contract, Sam has an accident and awakens to find that he is not alone in the station, and that his life is not quite what he thought it was.

- Ryan Taljonick

cm-life.com/category/vibe

[VIBE]

reviews

‘Demon’s Souls’ seamlessly integrates multiplayer

By Connor Sheridan Senior Reporter

“Demon’s Souls” is difficult.

It’s not the kind of difficult that kills you once or twice, but ultimately lets you prevail and feel like an action movie hero. It’s the kind of difficult that smears you against a dungeon wall and dares you to pick back up and start again from the beginning, with most of your accomplishments hanging by a thread.

In fact, the game, an action role-playing game on PlayStation 3, would likely be difficult to the point of simply not being worth it for the average player if he or she had to face it themselves.

The element that makes “Demon’s Souls” stand apart from the crowd is its genius integration of multiplayer that, at once, challenges and assists players.

You are not alone.

At any point after an introductory period, other players can appear as either a phantom or a black phantom.

Phantoms are summoned to assist players with difficult segments and can turn seemingly impassable boss battles into exhilarating moments of spontaneous camaraderie. Black phantoms invade your world and try to kill you.

Either way, the reward for victory is the same: the reclamation of the phantom’s physical form after dying and, with it, lost strength.

Other players also serve an advisory role. Occasionally, shades of players replay their experiences which might illuminate a secret or warn of a trap through their ghostly demise.

Notes also can be left to accomplish a similar purpose. The entire online experience is activated seamlessly within the otherwise single-player game.

The combat mechanics aren’t groundbreaking, but they do use a weighty and measured approach to melee clashes, which is rare in modern gaming.

Death is harshly punished as all of the characters’ “souls,” used to improve attributes and buy equipment, are dropped on death.

They can be recovered if the player manages to make it back to the scene — taunting the player with the prospect of economic recovery versus getting slain all over again.

The interface is typical of a Japanese RPG in that it tends to display a hazy array of icons and unintuitive menu screens that require a close reading of the manual to interpret.

The graphics are decent with a style that forsakes typical manga influences for a murky low-fantasy world. Characters look rubbery and a bit ugly, but boss monsters are impressively terrifying and huge.

The game almost seems to hearken back to the days of roguelikes, text-based computer games which focused on

By Ben Weissenborn Staff Reporter

“Have One On Me,” the third album from singer-songwriter, fashionista and harpist Joanna Newsom, is a sprawling, threedisc masterpiece that finds Newsom at the top of her game, crafting beautiful and complex compositions that spellbind and stir.

In 2004, Newsom released her quirky debut, “The Milk Eyed Mender,” which established her as one of the main characters in the then-blossoming freak folk movement, spearheaded by Devendra Banhart. The album was comprised of simple folk compositions, at the center of which was Newsom’s childlike and squeak-prone voice, which was a dealbreaker for many, though others, critics included, found it endearing and intriguing.

Her 2006 follow-up, “Ys,” found Newsom experimenting with longer compositions and fuller arrangements, employing famous American composer and musician,Van Dyke Parks, to arrange full orchestra accompaniments. The album also found Newsom growing magnificently as a songwriter and vocalist, her voice more restrained and controlled, and her lyrics more poetic and thematically complex than anything found on “The Milk Eyed Mender.”

“Have One On Me” finds Newsom not only demonstrating even stronger vocal abilities and songwriting techniques, but also making a logical next-step in terms of style and sound.

Many of the qualities that made “Ys” such the memorable listening experience it was are still present on “Have One On Me”: lengthy compositions, complex arrangements and beautifully written lyrics.

However, the songs on “Have One On Me” are at once more accessible and even more complex, demonstrating Newsom’s significant artistic growth.

The album also find’s Newsom experimenting a bit with new styles.

One such experiment appears in the form of “Good Intentions Paving Company,” which finds Newsom trading her harp for a piano for a rollicking, groovy swagger through a 70’s-Joni Mitchell-inspired number that stands as one of the most unique and immediately enjoyable songs Newsom has ever crafted.

Lyrically, “Have One On Me” is far more personal and direct

than Newsom’s previous work.

Many of the songs are about love and the loss of love, presumably inspired by Newsom’s break-up with fellow singer-songwriter, Bill Callahan, as well as her current relationship with Saturday Night Live cast member Andy Samberg.

One track that best demonstrates this is “Baby Birch,” one of the most stirring and emotionally moving songs on the album. The song sways and soothes beautifully through its first 6 minutes, a distorted guitar subtly snarling intermittently at Newsom’s lone voice and harp. Quite suddenly, the song reaches its climax with staggering drums, a quickened pace and a small choruses of voices, the effect of which is

Mike Posner, Big Sean take stage Thursday in Plachta

By Sherri Keaton Senior Reporter

w System: PlayStation 3 w Genre: Action RPG w Rating: Mature

HHHHH deep dungeon dives wherein death was an inevitable and not-dreaded outcome.

Roguelike players would simply start anew after perishing a little bit wiser and all the more eager to overcome.

It isn’t for the faint of heart, but the successful marriage of old-school challenge and revolutionary multiplayer integration makes “Demon’s Souls” an addictive and compelling experience. studentlife@cm-life.com

Joanna Newsom’s album picks up where she left off “Have One On Me” a lengthy but enjoyable listen

preview

On The Fly event sold out since January

Demon’s Souls

“Have One On Me” w Artist: Joanna Newsom w Genre: Folk

HHHHH absolutely sublime.

Though an extremely lengthy listen (more than 2 hours), “Have One On Me” is a remarkably consistent collection of songs that functions just as well as three separate pieces as one large whole. The faint of heart need not apply, but those willing will be rewarded greatly. studentlife@cm-life.com

Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010 || 3B

Mike Posner and Big Sean’s concert Thursday has been sold out for more than a month.

“I’m not surprised by how fast it sold out,” said Amanda Birkner, a Goodrich senior and public relations co-chair for On The Fly Productions.

Posner and Sean host a concert from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium, a 1,250-seat venue.

The tickets sold out Jan. 15, just two days after they went on sale, Birkner said.

Last fall, she said, comedian Bo Burnham sold out just as quickly.

“We have had shows sell out this fast in the past, after we moved it to a bigger venue, the additional tickets sold in just a day,” she said.

The doors open around 7:15 p.m. and seats will be assigned.

Only those with tickets will be admitted, Birkner said.

The duo was originally not slated for a campus visit until the fall.

“After some Facebook groups popped up and (we) heard from students, that encouraged us even more to bring them earlier,” Birkner said. “They were trying to get Mike Posner to come to campus by letting us know their interests.”

Big Sean is a rapper, while Mike Posner’s style is closer to R&B. Eric Steiner, a Niles sophomore and music

chair at OTF, said the group strives to bring exciting entertainers to campus.

“Hopefully, (Mike Posner and Big Sean) will be more mainstream and people will be able to say five years down the road at CMU they remember them when they weren’t famous,” Steiner said.

Chelcea Stowers is convinced the concert will create more fans of the duo.

“For those not familiar with Mike Posner and Big Sean, they will leave being fans of their music,” the Detroit sophomore said.

Detroit sophomore Darryl Maxwell also enjoys their music.

“I feel it is a unique, fresh experience for music listeners,” Maxwell said.

Big Sean

Mike Posner

He said their music is inspiring because he can relate to them.

“Coming from the same background as a regular college student from Detroit, their music is inspirational; he is doing the music career and he graduated.” studentlife@cm-life.com

4B || Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010 || Central Michigan Life

‘The Chicago Gypsies’ begins this week in Bush Theatre

By Melissa Torok Staff Reporter

jake may/staff photographer

Luanne Goffnet, Barnes Hall residence hall director, lectures her RPL 210: Recreation for Special Populations class. Goffnet often uses YouTube videos to explore other groups of people and cultures in class. “This way they can hear stories and be exposed to different ways of life and relate it to the class,” Goffnet said.

YouTube popular in classroom Professors find videos help explain principles

By Kelli Ameling Staff Reporter

YouTube.com is one of the new trends in the classroom these days.

Luanne Goffnett, Barnes Hall director and Recreation, Parks and Leisure instructor, uses the video Web site at least once in each lecture.

“I use YouTube to engage another type of learning style.”

Goffnett said.

She said there are a lot of real experiences demonstrated through YouTube videos and she uses them in class to help students better understand the concept.

Saginaw junior Jessica Bosserdet said watching videos helps

her throughout Goffnett’s class.

“Both (lecturer and video) together is a better teaching style,” Bosserdet said.

Goffnett said YouTube is very convenient, but she also uses other videos to teach. She said she picks videos based on the topic she is teaching in the classroom that day. “(YouTube) is like an onion,” Goffnett said. “You have to dig through all the layers to find quality videos.”

Videos can relate Goffnett is not the only professor at Central Michigan University using YouTube in her classrooms to capture the attention of students.

Psychology professor Ignacio David Acevedo said he uses YouTube in some of his classes almost every day.

“I think videos, in general, help explain principles,” Acevedo said. “Students might not un-

derstand (a concept) and, after showing the video, they get it.”

Acevedo said he uses all types of YouTube videos to help make a memorable moment for students to help remember it.

He said YouTube is full of content, but the most interesting is the user-generated content because some are created by other students at other universities.

He uses these YouTube videos to help relate to the students more.

“I get a lot of comments about how (students) like it,” Acevedo said. “If you put thought into it, it sticks out and students enjoy it.”

Goffnett said her students also comment on how they like the YouTube video use in class.

“Looking back, a majority of the students have told me to keep using (the YouTube videos),” Goffnett said. university@cm-life.com

ICTC ridership up despite budget

By Randi Shaffer Staff Reporter

Ridership for the Isabella County Transportation Commission has continued to rise despite looming financial uncertainties.

About 185,690 riders jumped on public transportation vehicles during the 2008-09 academic year — a 22.5 percent hike from the more than 155,700 riders the year before.

Dennis Adams, ICTC director of marketing and public relations, said the record numbers had no indication of dropping anytime soon.

“We provide more than half a million rides, which is significant for the Isabella County population,” he said.

But as ridership increases, ICTC could face a decrease in its largest source of funding — local taxes — because of the state’s struggling economy.

“We have not cut back any service at this point,” Adams said. “This fiscal year, we are in good shape. There are no plans at this time to make any reductions in services or raise any fares.”

About 90 percent of the service’s fleet, which includes 45

cm-life.com

[news]

buses, runs on a daily basis.

Dearborn sophomore Mario Mora is one of many Central Michigan University students who use ICTC’s campus shuttle services to get to class. He uses public transportation as a money-saving alternative.

Buses make rounds from campus to several apartment complexes in Mount Pleasant every half hour Monday through Thursday. The shuttles run from 6:30 a.m. until 7 p.m., with a final return to all apartment complexes at 10:30 p.m.

The service hours of the ICTC, however, are the reason Taylor Newman avoids ICTC. The Royal Oak junior said he lives in a house on Broomfield Road, and the hours ICTC operates are not flexible enough for his needs.

“It’s more convenient for me to have my own car,” Newman said.

Mora agrees the schedule does sometimes hold him up and offered a suggestion — circulating buses a bit later to accommodate students’ busy schedules.

“A lot of my study groups are at night,” he said, “so perhaps that third bus could run a little later.”

Despite minimal student concerns, Adams said ICTC has no immediate plans to change or cut service from current operations. metro@cm-life.com

Family interaction is the topic of a play showing this week in Bush Theatre.

Illinois freshman Dani Tauber plays “Edith,” who picks on “Charley,” in “The Chicago Gypsies,” which premieres at 7:30 p.m. today. The play runs Thursday and Friday and wraps up with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Edith changes Charley’s life through her bullying, one of several themes in the play, including love and compassion.

“I think audiences will be able to connect with the many age groups,” Tauber said. “The show has many messages such as treating others the way you want to be treated.”

The comedy takes place during the Great Depression, and revolves around a family of actors stuck in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

With no money to return to their Chicago home, the family struggles to make a living in the world of show business.

Director Nancy Eddy, assistant professor of Communication and Dramatic Arts, said children will relate to the character “Charley” because she is the odd ball out.

“It is very relatable today, especially with the economy in the United States,” Eddy said.

The cast and crew have rehearsed for just more than a month.

“Underneath, there are great messages,” Tauber said. “It’s not an action play, so I hope people don’t judge it based on that.”

Doris Ramsey, who regularly designs costumes for CMU theatre productions, said the outfits for the production were easier to pull together.

“We didn’t have to make anything, we lucked out

having things in stock,” Ramsey said. “We have a lot of ‘30s things in stock – the children’s clothes were made for other productions.”

Ramsey said the show’s costumes reflect the characters.

“Charley’s the lightest and brightest dressed, she’s not really meant to look like she belongs,” Ramsey said, noting the vibrancy of the girl’s yellow dress.

“Other little girls are not so colorful.”

Also unlike many other productions, this one will show morning and night for a total of eight performances.

The Monday through Friday morning shows are designated for local elementary schoolers.

Admission is $5.50 for students and seniors and $7.50 for all others. studentlife@cm-life.com