Guard duo rise as unlikely starters, 1B
Students prep for spring break with workouts, 3A
Friday, Feb. 26, 2010
Central Michigan Life
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
Affirmative Action Office changes its name Title now Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity By Ryan Czachorski Senior Reporter
Employees working out of Charles V. Park Library room 428 are now answering their
phones a little differently. The office, formerly known as the Affirmative Action Office, changed its name Thursday to the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity. The name was changed to better illustrate the services employees provide, said Matthew J. Olovson, assistant affirmative action
officer. “(We changed it) to be more acceptable, to be better understood as the office to handle discrimination and harassment complaints,” he said. China sophomore Yanyan Fu thinks the name change met its stated goals. “I think it’s great. Affirmative Action is an older-fash-
ioned name,” Fu said. “It’s more clear. People can tell the function of this office.” The change had nothing to do with the law passed in 2006 involving affirmative action in the state of Michigan, Olovson said. The initiative stated programs that receive state funding could not use that funding for affirmative action programs.
Olovson said there are still federal laws in favor of affirmative action, and the office can still provide affirmative action services with those funds. “We receive federal funding. We still have affirmative action programs,” he said. A longer process While the name change
came suddenly to Central Michigan University students, discussions of a modification have been ongoing among university officials for about 10 months. A proposal to change the name was submitted to the senior officers, and has just now been approved. The of-
A civil rights| 2A
SSBAG results available today
SHOWING HOW IT’S DONE
Answers to some budget suggestions on the CMU Portal
See the budget suggestions w Log in: ssl.cmich.edu/ssbag/
Staff Reports
photos by jeff smith/staff photographer
Comstock Park sophomore Alastair Watt leads a warm-up with his jazz dance class Wednesday evening at The Vision Studio of Performing Arts, 131 E. Broadway St. Watt, who has been dancing for 11 years, teaches the group of girls Monday through Thursday evenings in one- and two-hour sessions.
Daring to Dance Student teachers find experience rewarding
Some suggestions for cutting the 2010-11 Central Michigan University budget are now online along with responses. Interim University President Kathy Wilbur said at a budget discussion Tuesday that the suggestions sent to the Senior Staff Budget Advisory Group last fall would be online Friday on the CMU Portal. For example, 20 responses suggested CMU not build the College of Medicine. The SSBAG’s response: “Board of Trustees authorized the start of the College of Medicine in 2009.” Six responses suggested charging students for sporting events. SSBAG’s response: “Under consideration. The Athletics Department is reviewing the feasibility of this suggestion.” Ten responses suggested offering retirement incentives for buyouts. SSBAG’s response: “This is already an option.” At the meeting, Interim Provost
Gary Shapiro said more than 150 suggestions were submitted since the Web site has been up. Central Michigan Life sent a Freedom of Information Act request to CMU for the suggestions earlier this month and was rejected. The letter said the records were exempt under Section 13(1)(m) of the Act, which states communications and notes within a public body or between public bodies of an advisory nature, to the extent that they cover other than purely factual materials, are preliminary to a final agency determination of policy or action. Anticipating a budget shortfall, Wilbur asked for each budget center to submit a proposal for a 3, 6 and 9 percent budget cut plan. She received the plans Feb. 15. Wilbur said Tuesday that more budget forums will be held to keep the campus community updated. university@cm-life.com
Transition in Power
By Heather Hillman | Staff Reporter
S
queals of anticipation filled the main lobby of The Vision Studio of Performing Arts on Wednesday evening. A group of girls bounced around the room, unable to contain their excitement. But this was not the entrance to a Jonas Brothers concert. The girls — dressed in pink tutus — were waiting for their ballet instructor, Grand Rapids junior Shanna King, to begin class. Sherry Wohlscheid of Mount Pleasant said her daughter Alexa, 5, always looks forward to King’s ballet class. “Alexa loves Shanna,” Wohlscheid said. “I think she does a wonderful job.” King leads the future ballerinas with stretching exercises at the start of each class.
Comstock Park sophomore Alastair Watt leads a dance with his jazz dance class Wednesday evening. For Watt, teaching improves his own dancing skills. “When you dance by yourself, you don’t really see what it looks like,” he said.
On this night, smiles spread across each pupil’s face as she praised their improvement. “You work so hard to help the kids learn,” King said. “When you finally see the light go on, it’s so rewarding.” Share the talent King has been dancing since she was three and is ea-
ger to pass her skills to others. One day, she hopes to teach kids with disabilities to enjoy dance as much as she does. “Dancing is what I love to do, so why not share my talent with others?” King said. “I love to see other people learn.” Comstock Park sophomore Alastair Watt has spent the
past 11 years perfecting his own dancing and dreams of one day performing in the movies. He teaches classes at the studio five days a week. For Watt, the real prize is watching the children turn into great dancers. A Dance | 2A
Today is interim University President Kathy Wilbur’s last day in her current position. On Monday, Presidentdesignate George Ross will take over the position. editorial w Wilbur’s time as president had its positives, negatives, 4A
stay tuned w CM Life will feature an interview Monday with Wilbur about her presidency.
Pair will interview for CCFA associate dean position By Darnell Gardner Staff Reporter
The College of Communications and Fine Arts is preparing open forums next week for the position of associate dean. Randi L’Hommedieu and Shelly Hinck will interview. The associate dean’s normal duties include leading program and curriculum development, assisting with stu-
dent recruitment and helping faculty by promoting grant writing and new teaching methods. Hinck, a professor of communication and dramatic arts, hosts a forum at 2:30 p.m. Monday in Moore Hall 211. L’Hommedieu, chairman of the School of Music, will host one at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in Moore Hall 211. L’Hommedieu said he sees the position as an opportuni-
ty to be involved in important decisions the college will be making in the future. “I think there are challenges that we’re going to face in this budget climate and the decisions will rest in the dean’s office, and I’d like to have an opportunity to participate in those decisions and help steer the colleges and departments,” he said. L’Hommiedieu has been director of the School of Music
If you go... w Associate dean of College of Communications and Fine Arts open forums w Shelly Hinck: 2:30 p.m. Monday in Moore Hall 211 w Randi L’Hommedieu: 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in Moore Hall 211 for eleven years. He said his experience with accrediting
organizations such as the National Association of Schools of Music has given him a background in curriculum and institutional standards and guidelines. In addition to assisting the dean, L’Hommedieu said he wants to work with diversity initiatives and encourage student involvement in study abroad programs, creative projects and research activities.
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Hinck, who was unavailable for comment, has been a faculty member since 1988. Jane Matty, chair of the associate dean search committee and associate dean of the College of Science and Technology, said Hinck has promoted service learning at the university. “She’s been involved in the honor’s program and she’s
A dean | 6A