Conga line at Warriner protests lack of contract for temporary faculty, 3A
How relevant is SGA on the minds of students? Will a unicameral governing body help? 1B
Editorial | Lack of reprimand from Yale University over sexual harassment complaints unacceptable, 6A
Central Michigan Life
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
Bruce Roscoe resigns as Dean of Students In June, the former instructor will teach again By Mike Nichols and Maria Amante Senior Reporters
Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe has resigned from his role to return to teaching in the human environmental studies department. Provost Gary Shapiro announced Roscoe’s resignation
on Tuesday in an email to the campus community. Roscoe said the decision came after extensive discussion with his family. He said this was the right choice for him at this time in his life. “There’s a lot of changes occurring at Central and this seems an appropriate time to leave the position,” he said. “The decision is totally mine and my wife’s.” Roscoe will return June 30 to a faculty position. Although he is uncertain about what he will teach specifically, he said he is
excited to begin again. “I’m looking forward to it and I’m apprehensive,” Roscoe said. “It’s been over 20 years, so I’ll have to re-familiarize myself.” Roscoe served as Dean of Students for 16 years. He has been at CMU for 30 years where he has previously taught and led the Honors Program. Shapiro said the university will “wait and see” before hiring a new Dean of Students. The decision will lie with the new vice president of Enrollment and Student Services
after being hired following a national search. The new vice president will report directly to the president and is responsible for student enrollment goals, student retention and graduation rates, marketing responsibilities and keeping the university competitive. “We’ll see exactly what we do as we plan for the future,” Shapiro said. Roscoe said he and Shapiro had been discussing the op-
Dean of students Bruce Roscoe speaks to student representatives at a Student Government Association general meeting in November inside Dow Hall on campus. file photo by sara winkler
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Student in a coma after fall
SAPA, other initiatives keep assault rates low
Family declines input; Facebook group supports
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By Maria Amante Senior Reporter By Therea Clift Senior Reporter
CMU is one of few universities in the country that does not require all student sexual assaults to be reported to police, instead offering an alternative haven for victims. Many sexual assaults are only disclosed to Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates, the first peer-to-peer confidential advocacy group in the country. The 40 SAPA members help between 350 to 400 survivors per year. In 1997, when the Office of Sexual Aggression Services was formed at CMU, a policy was created allowing sexual assault victims to be in complete control of the information flow. Assault survivors make the decision on their own whether to report their case to police. As a result, CMU Police statistics on sexual assaults are inaccurate, said SAPA director Stephen Thompson. “The number reported is a very misleading statistic,” Thompson said. Thompson said at an average campus the size of CMU, there are about 20 sexual assaults per week. In 2009, there were a total of five sexual assaults reported to CMU Police, four forcible penetration and one fondling.
photos by Victoria zegler/staff photographer
Davisburg junior Jessica Frick gives one of two pet rats, Marv, a kiss on the nose Saturday morning. “They’re such lovable animals and great cuddlers,” Frick said. “Not to mention they are so cute.” Frick got the two rats for free in November from a breeder she found in Mount Pleasant.
Partial to Pets Some students enjoy owning animals, despite costs
By Mike Nichols | Senior Reporter
Mount Pleasant senior Mark Hemmert plays frisbee with Strider, an Australian cattle dog, Saturday afternoon outside his apartment. “My favorite thing about Strider would have to be his Frisbee abilities, they’re amazing,” Hemmert said.
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CMU Police Statistics Although CMU has a low assault rate on campus, not all cases are solved. There have been between zero and six aggravated assaults on campus per year, and between 11 and 29 non-aggravated assaults per year since 1998. The numbers have slightly fluctuated over the years, but CMU Police Chief Bill Yeagley
avisburg senior Jessica Frick has an unlikely combination of pets — one cat, Eva, and two rats, Templeton and Marv. She said she has been trying to integrate the pets so they get used to each other, but it has been difficult. Frick said she rarely leaves all three alone together for fear her cat might kill one of the rats. “My cat has instincts — she sees them, and I don’t think she wants to kill them,” Frick said. “I think she thinks of them as a toy.” Templeton and Marv are the first rats Frick has ever owned. She has had gerbils and hamsters, but the rats have proved to be her favorite pets. She got them for free and they only require $10 worth of food a month and require little maintenance, she said. Frick said she most loves her rats’ personalities. She said they like parties and enjoy being around people. Marv, named after the villain from “Home Alone,” got a lot of laughs when he started sniffing a candle and accidentally singed his whiskers, she said. Frick said they are too lovable to ever be mad at, even though they did chew up her favorite sweater beyond recognition. “When I have a bad day, I can just go home and
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A pets | 2A
Ortonville junior Miranda Browne holds pet dog Lucy, a miniature Italian greyhound, while talking to friends Monday night. “People find it hard to believe she is full grown,” Browne said. “They assume she is still just a baby, but this little girl can outrun a German shepherd.”
Isabella County
Man accused of murdering wife’s bail set at $5 million Former Copper Beech maintenance worker turned self in Friday By Orrin Shawl Staff Reporter
Bond for an Isabella County man accused of murdering his wife Friday night has been increased to $5 million. Prosecutor Larry Burdick said the bond for Gary John
Reen, 56, was set higher because of the seriousness and emotion of the case. “I asked for his bond to be increased to $10 million,” Burdick said. “And the court raised it to $5 million.” Judge William R. Rush asked whether Reen can afford an attorney during a court appearance Monday, to which Reen said he would like one to be appointed by the court. Reen said he had been working as a maintenance person for Copper Beech Townhomes, 4750 E. Blue-
grass Road, but could not afford an attorney himself. Copper Beech management declined comment. Reen allegedly shot and killed his wife, Cheryl Kristine Reen. He is charged with open murder and felony firearm possession. According to an affidavit filed in court, Reen walked into the sheriff’s department about 6:50 p.m. Friday and confessed to corrections officers he had shot his wife. The report said Reen told officers, “I just shot my wife.”
Reen went on to say the two were having marital problems and had plans to divorce. Reen said his wife was having an affair and that he “just couldn’t take it anymore,” according to the affidavit. The document states he told corrections officers he left the weapon, a snubnose .38-caliber pistol, on top of a bin in the pole barn, the same part of the home where he shot Cheryl. Deputies later arrived at the Reen residence at 7120 E. River Road and discov-
ered Cheryl Reen’s body. Gary Reen said he shot her at least two times in the back and at least one time in her front, according to the affidavit. Reen had also communicated with his son about 6:45 p.m., informing him he shot the son’s step mother, according to the affidavit. He was taken into custody and jailed after being questioned at the sheriff’s department. metro@cm-life.com
A Livonia junior and former CM Life sports reporter remains in a coma following an accident early Saturday morning. Matt Herrod fell from a secondfloor apartment balcony at the Village at Bluegrass, 4300 Collegiate Way, and Matt Herrod was left unconscious, said Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski. Deputies were already on the scene, Mioduszewski said, investigating loud parties. “While they were there, there was an individual who was on the back side of the building, lying on the ground,” he said. “Deputies went around the building and found the individual unconscious and unresponsive lying there.” Following the discovery of Herrod on the ground, Mioduszewski said an ambulance was called and transported him to Central Michigan Community Hospital. Herrod was then airlifted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw. Herrod’s uncle, David Herrod, confirmed the accident but would not comment on his condition or give any additional information. A Facebook group was created to update friends and family on Herrod’s condition. “Prayers for Matt Herrod” had more than 250 members as of Tuesday evening and numerous comments of support. Herrod was previously employed by CM Life, where he covered the cross country team. studentlife@cm-life.com
[inside] NEWS w Tribe breaks ground with construction of water park and hotel, 3A w Final vice president position candidate appears in open forum, 5A
SPORTS w CMU softball returns home to host Detroit in double header, 4B
cm-life.com w Keep up with local crime and accidents at cm-life.com/police-log!