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Friday, April 8, 2011
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Central Michigan Life
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
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Cavataio, English SGA’s next leaders At 542, voter turnout down 68-74% from previous years By Brad Canze News Copy Chief
Shelby Township senior Vincent Cavataio was elected to be the next president of the Student Government Association with 58 percent of the total vote, with Jackson junior Bryant English as
his vice president. Cavataio and English received 308 votes in the election, defeating Grand Blanc junior Robert Brooks and his vice presidential candidate Colleen McNeely, a Brighton sophomore. Brooks and McNeely received 228 votes. “I’m very excited,” English said. “This is one of my biggest endeavors on campus. I’m ready to work for the students.” There were 542 total votes cast in the presidential race, including six votes for write-in candidates. There were 2,121 votes cast in the 2010 election, 2,081 votes in 2009
Vincent Cavataio
Bryant English
and 1,722 in 2008. For the first time, this year’s election was hosted on http:// cmich.orgsync.com, the social networking platform established this semester for registered student organizations and other Of-
fice of Student Life purposes. In previous years, voting was held at http://vote.cmich.edu. “The switch to OrgSync really limited participation,” Cavataio said. “I definitely think that’s what happened.” English called the voter turnout “unfortunate,” and said he hopes the process will be looked at and improved by the 2012 election. Student apathy? McNeely said although student apathy was a likely factor, she faults Student Life for imple-
Voter turnout by year w w w w
2008: 1,722; n/a 2009: 2,081; 20.8% increase 2010: 2,121; 1.9% increase 2011: 542; 74.4% decrease
*Included: percentage changes between each year menting a new system for voting right before the SGA election. “I think most of the blame can be put on this OrgSync system, because I don’t think student apathy could increase that much in a year,” McNeely said. “I also
Man accused of killing wife fired from job at Copper Beech Apts.
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Comedian, actor Nick Swardson cancels appearance
Gary John Reen was a maintenance technician
Program Board hopes to reschedule show
By Aaron McMann Sports Editor and Orrin Shawl Staff Reporter
Gary J. Reen
don’t think a voter turnout this low can be representative of the student body’s actual opinion for either ticket.” Kristin O’Brien, SGA election director, said voter turnout has not been this low since voting was moved online. She also said the voting total was only 242 votes over the minimum for the election to count. “In the election rules, it states we only need 300 votes for both tickets for the election to be valid,” said O’Brien, a Freemont
By Jessica Fecteau Staff Reporter
An Isabella County man who confessed to killing his wife on Friday in Chippewa Township will no longer be an employee at a local apartment
complex. Gary John Reen, 56, charged with open murder and felony firearm possession, has been terminated from his position as a maintenance technician at Copper Beech Townhomes, 4750 E. Bluegrass Road, according to a letter sent to tenants on Wednesday. “Gary Reen worked for us for about three years and he has never given us any reason or cause to believe that he could be involved in a tragedy such as this,” the letter from apartment management said. “As is standard policy for Copper Beech, we conducted a thorough and complete background check on Mr. Reen before he was hired.” Reen allegedly shot his wife, Cheryl Kristine Reen, three times Friday with a snubnose .38 caliber pistol at their residence, 7120 E. River Road. He later turned himself into Isabella County Sheriff’s Department officials. According to an affidavit A Reen | 2A
“I have no doubt Mount Pleasant is a better place to live because of the involvement of our students,” Roscoe said. Roscoe said he would not have been able to accomplish the things he did without the help of others on campus. He worked closely with Director of Admissions Betty Wagner in creating the Leadership Institute, he said. Student Government Association President Brittany Mouzourakis, a Garden City senior, said the Leadership Institute was crucial in helping her develop as a leader both on and off campus. She also said it was essential in the development of her networking skills.
About 2,000 fans planning to see stand-up comedian Nick Swardson perform may have to wait longer than expected. Because of Nick Swardson a contract deal with Comedy Central, Swardson’s Saturday performance in McGuirk Arena has been canceled, said Steve Lewis, Program Board president. “I was shocked when I first heard about it, but now I understand that he got the TV contract that he wanted,” said Lewis, an Allegan senior. “That’s good for him but we want to give the best possible outcome from this for CMU’s students.” There is still a possibility for the show to be rescheduled, he said, if not this semester then possibly at the beginning of fall. “If we can’t get him we would want to get someone even bigger, possibly Lewis Black or guys from College Humor,” Lewis said. Swardson was originally booked because of the interest expressed by his fan base on campus. “Students voted on a poll on Facebook and the Program Board and he was the overwhelming favorite,” Lewis said. The cancellation came as
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Jake May/photo editor
Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe tendered his resignation on Monday after serving in the position for 16-plus years. Roscoe helped develop several programs on campus and was a constant advocate for students.
‘Hopefully I made a difference’ Bruce Roscoe proud of accomplishments as dean of students By Michael L. Hoffman Student Life Editor
Bruce Roscoe said he hopes he is remembered foremost as an advocate for students in his more than 16 years as dean of students at CMU. Roscoe tendered his resignation to Provost Gary Shapiro on Monday morning after much thought and deliberation between his wife and him. He said he did not make the decision lightly, but he is satisfied with it. He said, contrary to rumors he heard, he was never asked to resign by the administration. “I gave a lot of thought and reflection on my personal life and my professional activities here,” Roscoe said. “(I) thought
a lot about where the university is going, this is a transitional time.” Shapiro said Roscoe’s commitment to students allowed him to push for his myriad initiatives at CMU. “He has been the studentfaculty liaison and a major factor in a lot of student services on campus,” Shapiro said. “I’m going to miss working with him.” Roscoe said he is most proud of four changes made in his time as dean: The Volunteer Center, the Leadership Institute, Sexual Aggression Services and the Centralis Scholarship. He said he was involved with former Associate Dean of Students Mike Owens in creating the Centralis Scholarship
Program when he was the director of the Honors Program in 1989. The scholarship program has had a significant impact on the university, Roscoe said, because of the high-quality students it has brought to CMU. “We’ve succeeded in bringing more high-quality students, more highly academically prepared students to CMU,” Roscoe said. “I’m very, very pleased that I was able to be a part of that.” He helped develop the Volunteer Center which has been one of the biggest contributors to volunteer work on and off CMU’s campus. He said without it, much of the work in Isabella County would not be done.
Will federal government shut down?
so-roar-ity
Midnight deadline to reach agreement By Theresa Clift Senior Reporter
Kaitlin Thoresen/staff photographer
Members of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority erupt into cheers as their team finishes first in the first round of the final competition of the Finch Field Games Thursday evening at Finch Fieldhouse. Read a full story on the event at cm-life.com.
The federal government may shut down on Saturday if an agreement is not reached on the 2011 budget by midnight today. If a shutdown occurs, it could last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. The most recent shutdown began in December 1995, lasting 21 days. Toby Roth, CMU’s director of federal programs, government relations and public
affairs, said a shutdown would likely not last for a long time. “I can’t see how they can shut the government down for an extended period of time,” he said. Federal workers will be affected in the case of a shutdown. The workers are separated into two categories: “essential/expected” and “non-essential,” according to the Washington Post. Essential workers perform emergency work involving human-life safety or the protection of property, or perform minimal activities as necessary to execute an orderly suspension of agency opera-
tions related to non-essential activities, or other types of essential work. Non-essential workers would be placed on leave of absence and Congress will determine whether they will be reimbursed for their pay. They are not allowed to volunteer to do work during the shutdown, nor can they accept paid leave. It would be the first government shutdown that Bryant English, College Democrats member and Student Government Association vice president-elect, can remember. He said he is curious to find out what happens.
91 Years of Serving as Central Michigan University’s Independent Voice
“What’s most concerning is that most parties cannot put their politics aside and work for the people,” the Jackson junior said. The Federal Housing Administration would withhold home loan guarantees. Medicare would be funded for at least a short period of time and current beneficiaries would continue receiving their social security benefits, the Post said. Taxes still need to be finished on time and be postmarked by April 18. All national parks will be A shutdown | 2A