SGA | Cavataio, English take SGA leadership roles, 3A Student shares story of transgender transition, 1B
CMU softball looks to repeat history today at Michigan, 6B
Central Michigan Life
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
Confusion over law causes increase in drug-related cases By Lonnie Allen Staff Reporter
Ben Witt said alcohol violations will always “be the champ” over other student infractions, but marijuana issues have steadily climbed at CMU. “Alcohol is our biggest case here, but marijuana has definitely spiked this year,” the student behavioral administrator said. The combination of record enrollment and confusion over Michigan’s Medical Marijuana law has added to the numbers, he said. Tony Voisin, director of the Office of Student Life, said there have been more than 400 alcohol violations so far this academic year; last year’s total was 409. “Last year we had around
paige calamari/staff photographer
Birmingham senior Chardae Whitson reads to preschool students Jake, Anthony and Alzarah Thursday morning in the Child Development and Learning Laboratory in the Education and Human Services Building. “It’s been a good experience,” said Whitson, a special education major of spending time in the lab. “It’s offered a wider range of experience.”
learning for life
Sarah Lechota has picked up a skill in her time at CMU that other students likely have not — how to manage a classroom of preschoolers. The Flint senior said she wants to be a preschool teacher or something similar after she graduates, and the Child Development and Learning lab has helped her learn what activities will and will not work in a classroom. She said group activities
tried out at the lab include reading stories, singing songs and putting on puppet shows. “We really got to test the waters for running a classroom with other teachers,” Lechota said. The experience is gratifying, she said, when she is able to teach the children a song and she hears them sing it on their own for the rest of the day. “It’s really rewarding when they like what you do and you can see that they like it,” she said.
Margaret Desormes, associate director of the lab, said students do a lot of observation at the start of the semester, and by the end they take over managing the classrooms. She said managing the classroom includes taking attendance, giving lessons and preparing students for lunch. Students also will prepare parent-teacher conferences for the end of the year. Desormes said there are 72 children in the program and about 70 CMU students who work in the lab at different
The Education and Human Services Building was chosen over nearly a dozen other recently-completed projects for the 2010 Construction Project of the Year. The Greektown Casino in Detroit and Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids were among other candidates identified by the Construction Association of Michigan. “There was stiff competition from 11 other projects for the honor of Project of the Year, but the College of Education and Human Services Building at Central
Michigan University prevailed,” said CAM President Kevin Koehler in a prepared statement. About 40 percent of the vote in an online poll favored it, said Tracy Burton, coordinator of Outreach and Marketing at EHS. Burton said the building’s space invites innovative teaching practices and that naturally augments the learning process. “It was designed to enhance student learning inside and outside the classroom,” Burton said. “It implements technology on so many levels.” She said the EHS building A ehs | 2A
times during the week. The lab gives students handson teaching experience, she said, which is important for developing team-building skills. “You can be a really good teacher, but if you can’t work with people you won’t go far,” she said. Desormes said the Education and Human Services building allows for new facilities and more space for the lab. “We wanted the program
Changes to reflect increases in food, energy costs By Ariel Black Senior Reporter
Increases in room and board rates for the 2011-12 year will be a main topic at Thursday’s CMU Board of Trustees meeting. There will be a 1.5 percent increase in standard rooms from 2010-2011 to 2011-2012, with rates changing from $8,092 to $8,212. Despite this increase, Shaun Holtgreive, associate director of Residence Life, said rates were kept as low as they could. “With energy and food costs being the way they are, there has to be an increase,” Holtgreive said. Room and board rates for Campbell, Kesseler, Kulhavi, Celani and Fabiano halls will
A cdl | 2a
Medical school continues progress for four years after proposed idea By Maria Amante Senior Reporter
It was four years ago this month a CMU medical school was first suggested. At the April 20, 2007 board of trustees meeting, Trustee Sam Kottamasu asked then-University President Michael Rao to explore the feasibility of a medical school at CMU because the
increase by 1.5 percent, but Robinson will not see a rise in costs. “Room rates in Robinson will actually decrease by 1 percent to reflect a reduction in the premium adjustment charged for the rooms in Robinson,” said Steve Smith, director of Public Relations, in an emailed statement. “The increase in room and board rates reflects increased employee compensation, food and supply costs for the residence halls.” The meeting agenda said, “These recommendations are based upon a comprehensive review of residences and dining service operations and budgets. This amount will meet anticipated operational costs and allow for continuation of contributions to the university for general fund subsidies, overhead, capital
A board | 2A
Don’t Miss ...
paige calamari/staff photographer
Ann Arbor freshman Kristina Graham, left, and Custer junior Samara Spotts work on a project together for His House on Thursday morning in a study room in the Education and Human Services Building. Graham, an education major, said she spends about two days a week in the EHS building and enjoys the study rooms located throughout. “I love it,” Graham said. “I think it’s really cool.”
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Kottamasu: ‘A very significant mission’ mid-Michigan area was to see a shortage of up to 600 doctors in the near future. Since then, CMU has received both criticism and recognition for its College of Medicine, but school administrators are no less certain of their intent to see the project through. “In the long run, this is a very important project, a very significant mission for CMU,” said Kottamasu, now vice chairman of the board. “It is quite a huge project, and the first time we do it, it has to be done right.” Director of Public Relations Steve Smith said any discontent expressed by the public is similar to what was seen while the
A In-depth | 2A
Room, board rate hike on Thursday agenda
EHS Building wins award for construction By Maria Amante Senior Reporter
65 (marijuana) violations,” Voisin said. “This year’s violations certainly surpassed that number several weeks ago ... I can tell you by the numbers this year already, with another month ... to go, (we) have exceeded last year’s numbers.” Witt said most of the marijuana cases he has seen pertain to the medical marijuana card. It has caused a lot of confusion among students, he said, and this frustrates him. “I think it is a shame that the voters passed it and now the legislature won’t give us the framework of it,” Witt
B o a r d o f T r u s t ees
Child development lab readies students for realistic post-grad scenarios By Annie Harrison Staff Reporter
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Alcohol violations also up at CMU
College of Health Professions was developing 10 years ago. “Every time they enter into something new like this, there is some kind of backlash ... (and now the College of Health Professions is) highly successful,” Smith said. “We cannot accommodate the number of kids who want to come here and learn at our College of Health Professions right now.” With a medical school, the university could qualify for up to $220 million in research funds annually, additional corporate funds and potential drug trials, Kottamasu said in 2007. The college is an expensive undertaking, he said, but
is not as pricey compared to other medical colleges. Kottamasu said the amount of time the project is taking is normal for new medical schools from conception to creation. “In some respects, (the College of Medicine) is what I thought (it would be),” Kottamasu said. “In some ways it is better, with the two hospitals in Saginaw.” The college has partnered with Saginaw-based Synergy Medical Education Alliance, Covenant Health Care and St. Mary’s hospitals where students will gain experience during their four years of medical education at CMU.
It also has affiliated with eight hospitals for students to do clinical training, including Central Michigan Community Hospital, 1221 South Drive. David Burdette, vice president of finance and administrative services, said the college is focused on two goals: Achieving Liaison Committee on Medical Education accreditation and opening in summer 2013. “That’s how you measure success,” Burdette said. “And there’s a lot of people spending a lot of time trying to bring those to fruition.”
92 Years of Serving as Central Michigan University’s Independent Voice
A history | 4A
Med school w Support of medical college mixed since associate dean’s departure, 4A w 25% of developing medical programs delay opening in accreditation process, 5A w Associate dean finalist speaks of vision at open forum, 7A
CM-LIFE.COM
w Check out our in-depth College of Medicine page at cm-life.com/cmed!