Yes men | Duo impersonates executives for social change 3A
SPring break | Students flee car fire en route to Panama City 5A
CMU beats Madonna in home opener 1B
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
Local officials upset by emergency manager bill Bill awaits Gov. Rick Snyder’s signature By Emily Grove Senior Reporter
A reconciled version of the controversial House Bill 4214 was approved early Tuesday evening by the state House of Representatives and will soon land on Gov. Rick Snyder’s desk to be signed into law. The bill allows for state financial authorities and the governor to appoint an emergency manager to any local
government declared to be in a financial emergency. The emergency manager would have sole control of a government’s budget, along with having the authority to terminate any contracts, end collective bargaining agreements with labor unions and dissolve the municipal government. With the reconciled bill approved yesterday, outcry is emerging from some residents and local government officials. Isabella County Commissioner and Mount Pleasant resident Jim Moreno is involved with protesting the bill in Lansing, as well as objecting
to numerous others he finds alarming. “What many people don’t realize is that if and when an emergency financial situation is declared, these managers can dissolve city councils, county councils and school boards,” Moreno said. “It’s actually quite dictatorial.” With all the massive cuts around the state in key areas, Moreno said the financial emergencies would be guaranteed. It’s a sort of “shock doctrine,” he said. Business mentality Vice Mayor Kathy Ling said
she was concerned about the “cookie-cutter” approach to solving local governments’ problems. “By treating all local governments the same they assume we haven’t done what we needed to do by tightening the belt and making cuts,” Ling said. “That just isn’t true for us.” Ling credited Mount Pleasant with being effective and efficient in adjusting to the economic downturn and decrease in revenue sharing. However, not all local officials are in opposition of the bill. “I think it’s well overdue and necessary when municipalities
or governments get in trouble,” said County Commissioner Roger Trudell. “The governor ought to have the authority to appoint someone to come in and make changes that are necessary.” City Commissioner Sharon Tilmann said Mount Pleasant has done an outstanding job of listening to citizens about the services they want funded. But Tilmann said she worried local government-mandated service will suffer with all the cuts Snyder is proposing. “He can’t just cut this off and trim that off,” Tilmann said. “He came in with a business mentality of how government
should be run and the citizens will pay the price.” Moreno is upset at lawmakers’ disregard for what their constituents want. About 1,000 people protested at the Capitol while the Senate was looking at the bill. People came from Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Traverse City and even the Upper Peninsula, Moreno said. Some protesters were even in congress chambers chanting in opposition, but representatives failed to listen. “We had split up into groups earlier and all talked to our
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Study abroad students, plans not affected by tsunami
may the force be with you
8.9 earthquake, waves devastate Japanese coast By Randi Shaffer Senior Reporter
2008, he said, especially after the summer 2010 flooding. “I was in the field doing my research most of the time, but when I did occasionally return to drop off samples, I had limited access to my lab and office,” Igleski said. Lawrence said CMU was engaged in a multi-million-dollar remodeling project to upgrade Brooks when the damage occurred. “The facility suffered extensive water damage last summer when a chilled water pipeline unexpectedly broke that was a part of the renovation project,” Lawrence said. “Repairs were completed as quickly as possible and classes were relocated to other buildings to minimize the impact on students and faculty.” Ohio graduate student Jessica Sherman said many projects were put on hold and research was displaced, but she thought the university did the best it could. “I don’t know how it could have been handled better,” she said. Sherman said the flooding did not make Brooks’ infrastructure worse; rather, the issues with the building all go back to how old it is. Holly junior Jenna Newman said she would love it if a new building replaced Brooks since it is one of the core science buildings and the science
Though the Japanese tsunami’s toll of destruction is still mounting, CMU students and faculty have not been greatly affected. The New York Times said Friday’s 8.9 earthquake was centered about 80 miles off the shore of Japan. As of Tuesday afternoon, 2,722 people were confirmed to have died as a result of the natural disaster, with thousands remaining missing. Norma Richardson, an assistant professor of foreign languages, literatures and cultures who coordinates the Japan study abroad program, said only one CMU student is living in Japan. East Lansing senior Jennifer Wolfe is attending Nara University in Nara, Japan. Wolfe said in an e-mail she is a few hundred miles inland from the epicenter, but she still is experiencing some of the effects of the series of disasters. She said she tries to stay up to date by reading the most recent news reports, even more so than she would have at home. “It’s a little hard for me to accept that even this close, my options are the same as they would be in the U.S.,” Wolfe said. “Donate money and send my thoughts and wishes toward those people suffering in the incredible aftermath of this terrible natural disaster.” Richardson said only one or two students typically study abroad in Japan per semester. She does not think the Japanese study abroad program will be affected by the disaster. “It just depends on when they get all the transportation,” she said. “That’s definitely been affected. It’s hard to say, but I don’t think it’s going to discourage (students). It doesn’t happen that often.” Clinton senior Max Jedele, who studied abroad in Hikone, Japan in the summer of 2010, said the area was not affected. “It’s ... in the middle of the main island.” he said. “I have no friends that were directly hit ... If I was there, I doubt that I would have got hit by it at all.” Jedele said though the area
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sean proctor/staff photographer
Tanner Griffis, 11, of Mount Pleasant, plays with various “Star Wars” toys Sunday afternoon outside of his house on East Broadway Street. Griffis decided to play outside because the weather was warming up and the snow was finally melting, he said. “I like (‘Star Wars’) a lot,” he said. “It’s just something I grew up with. It’s ... action packed.” Griffis estimates he has more than 100 “Star Wars”-related toys, although his favorite is the Advanced Recon Commando Trooper. “They have cool gear and different colors,” Griffis said. During the winter months, Griffis, who attends McGuire Elementary, 4883 E. Crosslanes St., would play with his toys inside. “The snow gets in their gear,” he said. “I learned that the hard way.” With the weather continuing to warm up, Griffis expects to play outside more, however he was not excited for school to resume. “It just started warming up and then school comes,” he said.
events
Comedian Nick Swardson performing April 9 Most famous for role in “Reno 911!” By Michael L. Hoffman Student Life Editor
Comedian, actor and famous faux-prostitute Nick Swardson will bring his standup routine to CMU April 9. Swardson, who is Nick Swardson well known as “Terry Bernadino,” the roller-skating male prostitute in Comedy Central’s “Reno 911!” will perform at 7 p.m. in McGuirk Arena, with doors opening at 6. The opening act has yet to be determined. Program Board President Steve Lewis said tickets will go on sale today. They will be $15 for floor and lower bowl seats, $12 for upper bowl seats and $8 for seats in the bleachers. The Allegan senior said Swardson was chosen as a result of a Facebook survey. “He was the overwhelming favorite,” he said. Lewis said the Program Board attempted to bring Swardson to per-
If you go ... w What: Comedian Nick Swardson doing standup w When: Saturday, April 9 w Where: McGuirk Arena w How much: $15 for floor and lower bowl, $12 for upper bowl, and $8 for seats in the bleachers form on campus two years ago, but it never came to fruition. He said he is excited to see Swardson perform and enjoyed the movies he has seen him perform in. Program Board Vice President Crysta Heckman said Swardson sold out an event Michigan State University a few years ago. “We’re hoping for a big turnout,” the Pinconning senior said. “We know more people are going to go to a concert than a comedy show, but we are expecting (3,000) to 4,000 people.” Lapeer graduate student Brad Irvan enjoys Swardson’s comedy but he probably will not be able to attend the show. “He definitely has some funny standup,” Irvan said. “Were it not for my financial situation, I would probably pay $15 to see him.” studentlife@cm-life.com
No timeline yet in place for biosciences building construction Some students lament Brooks Hall’s state of repair By Ariel Black Senior Reporter and Carisa Seltz Metro Editor
Concrete plans for the new biosciences building have not yet been resolved three months after funding was approved by the state. “The capital outlay bill for a new biosciences building begins a lengthy process and no timeline has been established for moving forward with this project,” said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management. CMU’s proposed $65 million biosciences building received $30 million from the December 2010 capital outlay bill after state approval; it will house research, lab rooms and teaching facilities for biotechnology and medical classes. Matt Igleski, a Grand Rapids graduate teaching assistant, said he questions the progress of the new biosciences building, what programs would be there and what would remain in Brooks Hall. He has had less than an exceptional experience studying in Brooks since
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