time to plan your pranks! 1B
Sga | Agnello a no-show at debate, claims bias, 3A
FLIP COVER: Linebackers Bellore, Berning return with younger defense, 8A
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
[cm-life.com]
Most CMU students not affected by loan reform
Trustee’s departure left untold for months
Money put toward Pell Grants spikes because of economy
PR: Change made on Board Web site for visitors to see
By Carisa Seltz Staff Reporter
By Amelia Eramya Senior Reporter
University Communications and Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s administration made no announcement following Trustee Jacqueline Garrett’s resignation last July. Steve Smith, director of Public Relations, said she resigned July 9, 2009 for personal reasons. That information was first reported last week when three new Trustees were appointed, one replacing Garrett. Smith said Garrett’s name was removed from the Board of Trustees Web site in July for the public to notice. Jacqueline Gov. Jennifer Garrett Granholm was not aware of Garrett’s resignation until July 29, 2009, said Tiffany Brown, a Granholm spokesperson. Brown said when a member’s term is up or when one resigns, neither Granholm nor her administration publicize the news. “People find out about vacancies (through) word of mouth, terms that expire, (and) resignations,” she said. Conversation in a Central Michigan Life live chat during a February Board of Trustees meeting touched on Garrett’s absence. Royal Oak senior David Veselenak, CM Life’s online editor, noted the vacancy of her chair during the Feb. 18 meeting. “It looks like there are a few trustees missing. Torreano, Garret(t) are the noticeable ones,” Veselenak typed during the live chat. Renee Walker, associate vice president of University Communications, commented on the chat under the name “CMU UComm.” She discussed her comment with Veselenak after the meeting. About 15 minutes after the initial comment about missing trustees, Walker mentioned how many were there. “Good morning. Thanks for the live chat. It’s a great opportunity to share important information. There are six trustees attending the meeting with one of them via conference phone,” Walker typed. She also noted the fact that Vice Chair Marilyn French Hubbard was taking part. “Yes. Vice Chair Marilyn French Hubbard is participating via the conference phone,” Walker said. Brown said the governor’s office receives applications for the A board | 2A
Photos by libby march/staff photographer
Julie Campbell gives grain to miniature horse Brownie, left, and pony Missy on Sunday afternoon in her backyard in Greendale Township. In addition to Brownie and Missy, the Campbells have nine chickens and three dogs.
no horsing around Greendale Township resident takes pride in her backyard pets By Sarah Schuch | Senior Reporter EDITOR’S NOTE: Central Michigan Life occasionally sends reporters and photographers in search of features on campus and around the area. This is one story in the ongoing series.
G
REENDALE TWP. — They are furry, slightly dusty and shorter than expected — but Julie Campbell treats them as if they are her children. Taken from not the best of homes, Campbell, a Greendale Township resident, has given love and a good place to live to two miniature horses, which now call her backyard home. “Once they’re here, they’re here to stay,” she said. Her love for animals is not only shown to the horses but also the three dogs, eight chickens and one rooster she has. The appreciation for animals is something she hopes to be pass on to her granddaughters. The family’s first miniature horse, Missy, was originally bought for her 4-year-old granddaughter. Brownie, the other horse, is about 6 years old. He stands about two-and-a-half feet tall and is a light brown color with an even lighter mane. Brownie came to the family in December. He was not given a lot of care or room to run, Campbell said. “Just neglected a little bit,” she said. “He lived in a dog cage. His best friend was a dog.”
Students at Central Michigan University likely will not notice major effects from a student loan reform signed into law Tuesday. President Barack Obama gave the Reconciliation bill his stamp of approval, though it included a few differences from the version first approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 21. The law eliminates the nation’s bank-based system of distributing federally subsidized loans to college students. This reform is expected to spare taxpayers $68 billion over the next 10 years, according to a March 27 news release from the president’s office. But Diane Fleming, associate director of scholarships and financial aid, said students at CMU will not have to adjust to the reformed system since the university has made loans with the federal government for the last 20 years. “There’s definitely no changes for CMU students,” she said. “We have been in the direct lending program since the second year of its inception.” The Reconciliation bill was coupled with health care reform last week, but was sent back to the House after the U.S. Senate found an error in a Pell Grant section. By Thursday evening, both houses had given their approval. Public reports show the law also expands health insurance subsidies for middle- and lower-income families and
Julie Campbell kisses her 6-year-old miniature horse, Brownie, Sunday afternoon in her backyard in Greendale Township.
Missy has been with the family for almost two years. At 3 feet, 5 inches tall, she looks quite a bit taller than Brownie, Campbell said. Clark Campbell, Julie’s husband, said the animals have grown on him. Although he has been around animals all his life, it is a different feeling giving them the amount of care he and Julie do, he said. His main enjoyment with the miniature horses is watching his 4-yearold granddaughter ride them. Clark and Julie originally were looking for a miniature goat for their granddaughter, but came across Missy instead. “I enjoy when my granddaughter is here riding them,” Clark said. Aspen Campbell, Julie and Clark’s granddaughter, just more than 2 feet,
A LOAN | 2A
LIVE STREAM TONIGHT! 8 p.m., cm-life.com
Kaitlynn Craven, 8, pushes her stepsister, Aspen Campbell, 4, on the swing. Their grandmother, Julie Campbell, leads their sister, Ashley Craven, 11, as she rides 6-year-old miniature horse Brownie on Tuesday at the girls’ grandparents’ home in Greendale Township.
8 inches tall, is barely taller than Brownie. But she holds onto his mane and rides him around the yard. Trusting each other The Campbells have worked with both the horses to get them used to being around the family.
Julie said Brownie can be a bit shy and sassy at times, and Missy can be skittish. Missy might not have been treated very well either, she said. “(Missy) shows off, and then she calms down,” Julie said. A horses | 5A
Student Government Association presidential candidate Evan Agnello and vice presidential candidate Jessica Richard will join us on live stream as we discuss their platform and ideas for campus.
Join us at 8 p.m. and submit some of your own questions! Evan Agnello
Moving away from the classroom? Some worry online courses could lead to decentralization of students, faculty By Connor Sheridan Senior Reporter
paige calamari/staff photographer
Brighton freshman Colleen McNeely listens as Jeffrey Angera, an associate professor of human environmental studies, answers a question during the Student Government Association forum on online learning Monday night in the Education and Human Services Building’s French Auditorium.
The future of class work may not reside in the classroom. Dave Whale, associate professor of educational leadership, has two daughters that attend Central Michigan University. To them. online
courses seem like no big deal. “Online learning is a natural extension of everything you’ve grown up with,” he said. Whale said taking courses online versus taking them in class is a noticeably different experience. Four CMU faculty members spoke and answered questions about online learning Monday night in the Education and Health Services Building’s French Auditorium. About 100 people attended the forum, hosted by the Student Government Association.
Merodie Hancock, vice president and executive director of professional education, said students cannot hide in online classes. “There is no back row,” she said. Hancock said it makes courses that grade for participation much less subjective, as the sum of the student’s contributions and discussion can be easily collected and reviewed. However, the new technology does cause some difficulty for professors who are unfamiliar with it, she said. “Our faculty will be teach-
ing in a manner in which they did not learn,” Hancock said. Whale said, over time, the gap will narrow. “CMU does have the commitment to doing this the right way that few other public universities do,” he said.
Helpful for harmful? Jeff Angera, associate professor of human environmental studies, said in his human sexuality course online students were more open and engaged in discussion. Some of them even requested A online learning| 5A