Tuition | Board of Trustees meeting Thursday to set rates, 3A Florida senior charged with holding person at gunpoint, 3A
Freshman discus thrower Alex Rose prepares for World meet, 5A
Central Michigan Life
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
Residence halls could room five starting in fall
‘I WANTED IT TO FEEL LIKE A VIDEO GAME’
Returning students, freshmen yield, lower cancellation listed as reasons By Eric Dresden Editor in Chief
Libby March/staff photographer
Mason Sterling, 15, of Breckenridge, aims up the stairs at Zach Dickerson, 29, during a game of IRcombat Sunday at Pine River Paintball in St. Louis, Mich.
weekend warfare Mount Pleasant man brings virtual shooters to real life By Eric Dresden | Editor in Chief
The game uses LED lasers to track shots fired at other competitors. All participants wear a hat which acknowledges if they are hit by the shot or not. Players’ hit points are depleted as they get hit, making it similar to a video game. He even created grenades with different effective ranges that can be tossed at entrenched enemies. “If you can’t aim, you aren’t going to win,” he said. He said he plays throughout the mid-Michigan area, but started the game primarily in Mount Pleasant. When he originally was testing the equipment in Chipp-AWaters Park someone called the police on him, he said. “I had run-ins with the Mount Pleasant Police ... The guns are fairly realistic looking,” he said. “I e-mailed the police and they told me to put a lot of bright orange on them.” On Saturday, Dickerson gathered a group of people
Z
ach Dickerson lives out video games on the weekends. The 29-year-old Mount Pleasant resident created his own real-life game called IRcombat. The game, which is a mixture of laser tag, paintball and class-based first person shooters, uses hollowed out airsoft guns filled with electronics and infrared sensors. “I wanted it to feel like a video game,” Dickerson said. About six months ago, he finished developing the game with different guns, power-ups and game types, he said. The guns even include sound effects that play when players fire or are hit. He said he’s invested about $6,000 into the game and about 600 hours of creation. “I used four weeks of vacation last year on it,” he said.
to play the game at Pine River Paintball inSt. Louis. Jan Oster, owner of Pine River Paintball said both times he has had groups together to play it has rained but that hasn’t stopped them from having a good time. Oster invited his nephews Mason Sterling, 15, and Andrew Sterling, 12, of Breckenridge, out to play the game. “I’ve really enjoyed it,” Oster said. “It’s for a younger generation. I think it’s a fun game.” Matt Cooper, an Alma resident and CMU alumnus, played for the first time on Saturday. He said the game delivers on what he expected. “It really is like a live-action video game,” he said. Dickerson’s sister Leigha said it was her first time playing and despite the rain she had a good time. “It’s pretty cool, I didn’t like A Combat | 2A
The rooms will be the same, but they may be a bit more crowded this fall. Shaun Holtgreive, associate director of Residence Life, said some residence halls will host five students, one more than the previous maximum. “They will be spread out throughout the campus,” he said. Holtgreive said there are three reasons some of the rooms will have a fifth person: The number of returning students to residence halls, the record number of incoming freshman and a lower cancellation rate. He said currently there are 2,313 students returning to
the residence halls, but that number could change as a result of an offer from residence life to returning students in the dorms. Residence Life sent out an e-mail offering students returning to residence halls the opportunity to leave without facing any penalty. “Until Friday, July 16, 2010, we are offering returning residence hall students an opportunity to break their contract and move to an off campus apartment or house, without a contract breakage/ cancellation penalty,” the e-mail stated. Holtgreive said another reason for more students in the residence halls is because a bigger percentage of freshmen are staying in the dorms. “Normally, we house 94 percent of freshmen that number is accurate to the historic marker,” he said. “Right
A Res hall| 2A
Home invasion, sexual assault suspect sought By Joe Borlik Senior Reporter
Police are investigating a home invasion that led to two people being sexual assaulted Tuesday in Union Township. An unknown male allegedly entered a home on Bertshire Lane through an unlocked bedroom window and inappropriately touched two individuals over their clothing while they slept, according to the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department. The police responded to the home invasion at about 1:35 a.m. “We don’t know who he is at this point,” said Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski. The suspect is described as white, about 6-feet tall and 1820 years old with a thin build and shaggy brown hair. He was seen wearing a bright green shirt, dark shorts
and high top tennis shoes that appeared white, according to police. Police said one of the residents scared the suspect away, who may have fled by bicycle. Mioduszewski said an individual reportedly saw the bike shortly before the incident occurred. After police received the call, within a three-minute time period, the bike was said to have disappeared, Mioduszewski said. The bike is described as a black mountain bicycle with silver handlebars with black tape. It has a shock style seat directly connected to its frame, as opposed to a seat that sat on top of a post. Mioduszewski said the victims included one adult
A assault | 2A
Hundreds honor Iva Joy Fuller Young woman’s murder still under investigation By Joe Borlik Senior Reporter
The pouring rain did not stop about 200 members of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribal community from marching down Broadway Street to honor Iva Joy Fuller. The group walked Monday
night from the gymnasium in the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Operations building, 7070 E. Broadway St. to the Ojibway Drive home Iva Fuller lived in. “Iva was a loving, happy, peaceful and outgoing person,” said Iva’s cousin, Matt Sprague, a Mount Pleasant resident and member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. “She had a big heart.” Iva Fuller’s body was found at about 9 a.m. Saturday in a field off of W. Remus Road
near Nottawa Road in Deerfield Township on the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Reservation. Iva’s broth- Daniel L. Fuller er Daniel Lawrence Fuller, 29, is accused of her murder. Iva was 25. Fuller was paroled from the Michigan Department of Corrections on Tuesday, according to the departments
website. His criminal history includes assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer and unlawful use of an automobile. Murder charges have not yet been filed and, as of Tuesday evening, Daniel Fuller has yet to be arraigned. He remains held in Isabella County Jail on a parole violation. The FBI is leading the investigation, with assistance from the tribal police, A fuller | 2A
Libby March /Photo Editor
Cara Jean Isham leans into Nick Vasquez during a sacred fire for the death of Iva Joy Fuller Monday night at Iva’s former residence on Ojibway Street in Mount Pleasant. Iva’s body was found on Saturday. As part of a Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe tradition, a sacred fire burned for three days following her death. “She was my best friend,” Vasquez said.
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@CMLife Stay tuned for current updates including the tuition increase on Thursday morning.
Dancers spend the weekend celebrating history at the Ziibiwing Center.
Check out cm-life.com Thursday morning during the Board of Trustees meeting for a live chat.
cm-life.com | News, sports, updates and multimedia all summer long!
2A || Wednesday, July 14, 2010 || Central Michigan Life
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[News]
combat |
EVENTS CALENDAR
continued from 1A
playing in the rain but it’s a lot more in depth than I imagined,” she said. Zach said he doesn’t plan on marketing the game, but instead would like to keep it more of a hobby on the weekends. He said typically he charges $5 to $10 for a game. He sets up games on IRcombat’s facebook page and has made more information available about the game at at www.ircombat.com.
Today
w Music on the Mall presents Ray Kamaly and his Red Hot Peppers Trio at Warriner Mall from 7 to 11 p.m, the event is free and open to the public.
Thursday
w A Health and Safety Fair will be held at Horizon Park to educate members of the public on issues of health, safety and nutrition.
metro@cm-life.com
w A Farmer’s Market will be held in the morning in Island Park where attendants can buy fresh produce from local farmers.
cm-life.com Visit the site for a photo slideshow!
Sunday
w Elite Perimeter Camp at Morey Courts from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., costing $75 dollars and teaching perimeter basketball player skills.
Tuesday
w A day in a one-room schoolhouse starting at the Rowe Hall lobby from 2 to 3:30 p.m., touring the 1905 Bohannon schoolhouse.
Corrections Central Michigan Life has a long-standing commitment to fair and accurate reporting. It is our policy to correct factual errors. Please e-mail news@cm-life.com. © Central Michigan Life 2010 Volume 91, Number 93
Res Hall| continued from 1A
now, we are at 97 percent.” Director of Admissions Betty Wagner said this year admissions is expecting 3,900 to 4,100 incoming freshmen. “Our best indication is orientation numbers,” Wagner said. “As of July 8, 4,167 freshmen attended orientation.” She said CMU, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan were the
LIBBY MARCH/Staff photographer
Leigha Dickerson, 23, of Charlotte, kneels with Mitch Lankton, 23, of Holt, while Andrew Sterling, 12, of Breckenridge, guards their post during a game of IRcombat Sunday at Pine River Paintball in St. Louis, Mich.
assault |
fuller |
continued from 1A
continued from 1A
and one juvenile. He said the suspect would likely face one count of home invasion and two counts of forth degree criminal sexual conduct. Home invasion carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. Criminal sexual conduct in the forth degree carries a penalty of up to two years in prison and/or a $500 fine. The Mount Pleasant Police and the Saginaw-Chippewa Tribal Police assisted in the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information related to the crime can call the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department at 772-5911.
Mount Pleasant police and the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department because the crime occurred on tribal land. Tribal Spokesman Frank Cloutier would not comment on what caused Iva Fuller’s death or details of the crime scene. Daniel Fuller’s recent incarceration was the second time he has been sentenced to prison. He was released from prison in 2002 after serving close to one year for unlawful motor vehicle use.
metro@cm-life.com
Missing Iva Monday’s tribal walk was
only three universities in the state that had to close admission early. Holtgreive said Residence Life is not profiting on the fifth roommate because if an extra person has to move into the room the money they pay to Residence Life will be split between all the roommates. He said bunk beds will be set up for rooms that have five residents. The extra bed will go in the big bedroom, he said.
students who might have to stay because of scholarships could also be given the opportunity to leave early and not lose their eligibility. He said the opportunity would be extended to students who are getting a scholarship but are not under a specific program. “For example, Centralis scholarship recipients would have to talk to their program director,” he said.
Scholarships Holtgreive also said some
university@cm-life.com
Museum seeks first director By Maria Leone Staff Reporter
The Mount Pleasant Discovery Museum is on the look-out for a talent capable of pulling together a long-held aspiration. It will soon hire its founding executive director to open the museum’s doors in late 2011. The director will serve a two year term and will be responsible for the ultimate goal of opening the museum, Communications Coordinator Tami Melton said. The director will need to plan fundraisers, hire staff, develop programs, network and oversee the day to day operation of the museum. The application process ran from June 23 to July 7 and interviews will occur soon, with expectations of selecting the director by August, Melton said The Children’s Museum is a non-profit organization, consisting of 7 members on the
Board of Directors that are mostly mothers in the community. “We are a group of community members that are all interested in building a museum for children and their families to go to,” Melton said. “On hot days, it will be nice to have some place they can go to and play.” Mount Pleasant Mayor Jim Holton said he is excited for what is to come with the MPDM. Holton said it will not only be something fun for kids to do, but also a great learning experience. “It’s a fantastic idea, and one that only started as a hope and dream,” he said. Jennifer Fields, chairwoman for MPDM said the idea of opening the museum to the public is exciting to think about. Melton said in order to open the museum, $2 million dollars must be raised. $1 million dollars have already been donated by the Mo-
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rey Foundation, which plans to match $500,000 if raised through the Challenge Grant. “I think we’re about the luckiest people on Earth,” Fields said. “From what was initially a group of people trying to figure out how to open the doors to a nonprofit has become a team of people getting ready to open a museum,” Fields said. Any organizations interested in volunteering can find out more at mpdiscoverymuseum. org. Holton said the museum will be a great asset to the community and cannot wait for its’ opening next year. “We have all of the great parks, so the museum will add to the heart of Mount Pleasant, and make it one of the best places to live,” Holton said.
part of a vigil dedicated to Iva Fuller. Community members gathered for a feast in the gymnasium of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Operations building, followed by testimonials and music played on the drum. The crowd then walked to Iva’s house through the heavy rain to a fire in her backyard. The fire was lit on Saturday evening and will stay aflame until Thursday, when she is buried, Sprague said. By the time the mass of people had reached the fire, the rain had grown heavy and strong, bombarding Iva’s yard. Dozens swarmed to one of several awnings near the heat to keep from getting drenched.
Iliana Montoya-Bennett had been friends with Iva since she was four. “She would have been touched,” said MontoyaBennett, a Mount Pleasant resident and tribal member. Montoya-Bennett said Iva was caring, generous and good at making friends. “I knew a lot of people would come out because a lot of people cared,” Montoya-Bennett said. Montoya-Bennett said she is discussing with Iva’s family what will happen to Iva’s 4-year-old son Lawrence. She said the community will help watch over him. “(Iva) was a really good mom and single parent for most her life,” MontoyaBennett said.
Wisconsin residents Aja and Kara Jean Isham also attended the vigil. Aja Isham said they had plans to head up north for a powwow with Iva prior to the murder. “We were all looking forward to it,” Aja Isham said. Kara Jean Isham described Iva as helpful, understanding and loving. Iva’s funeral will be held 1 p.m. Thursday at Clark Family Funeral Chapel, 114 S. Bradley Road. Contributions toward funereal expenses may be made to Clark Family Funeral Chapel. metro@cm-life.com
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Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, July 14, 2010 || 3A
[News]
Board of Trustees meeting tomorrow to focus on tuition By Eric Dresden Editor in Chief
Amelia Eramya/staff photographer
Miengun Pamp, a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, dances at the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s Ziibiwing Center, 6650 E. Broadway St. Saturday. Pamp has been doing men’s grass dancing for more than 15 years. “It connects me with my ancestors,” he said.
American Indian Dance unites tribes, celebrates history By Rachael Woods Staff Reporter
The lobby of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s Ziibiwing Center came alive with the rhythmic pounding of powwow music as dressed tribal members moved with the beats and stories of times past and present. July 3 kicked off a five-week series taking place each Saturday during the month of July. The initial gathering focused on traditional men’s and women’s dances. “(It’s an) opportunity for people to come and experience the community,” said Chuck Butzin, tribe member and Ziibiwing Center employee. Performance times are 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. in the Ziibiwing Center lobby and are about 30 minutes in duration. It is free to attend the event. The performance immersed participants in Anishinabe traditions through dance. Audience members were allowed to participate with performers to catch a glimpse of an ancient but vibrant way of life. “Our people aren’t stuck in
museums and history books,” Butzin said. “It is a living culture.” He has participated in community powwows and dances for most of his life and has performed at the center since he began work there in 2005. “It was eye opening to see that Chippewa dancing is not just a part of history, but very much a part of Chippewa culture and daily life today,” Grosse Point junior Steve Repicky said. The men and women’s traditional dance tells a story of creation, hunting and combat. Large circles are made slowly as dancers follow the vines and flowers decorating the wooden floor. “All things in creation move in a circle and our dances are a reflection of that cycle,” Butzin said. The powwow songs use wordless vocal chords, universal amongst the many tribal nations in the United States. In this way members of different tribes can gather and dance without a language barrier, a tool for maintaining community amongst tribal peoples.
If you go... w w w w
What: American Indian Dances Where: Ziibiwing Center Lobby, 6650 E. Broadway When: Saturdays in July at 12, 2 and 4 p.m. Cost: Free
Past and present Each outfit is designed specifically for each dancer, combining elements of contemporary fashion like bright, shiny fabrics with traditional styles such as turkey feather headdresses and eagle feather fans. The clothes represent the duality of the tribe’s modernity and continued reverence for its own unique history. “The performers’ unrehearsed interpretation of tribal dancing made it very relatable,” Repicky said. Saturday’s performance featured the Men’s Grass and Women’s Jingle dance, a ceremonious act of preparation and healing. For more information call 775-4750 or visit www.sagchip. org/ziibiwing. metro@cm-life.com
LIFE IN BRIEF Man is struck, dies after running in front of car A Mount Pleasant man died Friday night after being struck by a car on East Pickard and Wise Roads. Ronald Ian Bryant II, 42, was pronounced dead at the scene after running in front of a 1996 Saturn traveling eastbound on East Pickard Road, according to the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department. Jeremy Nagel, 34, of Midland was driving the vehicle. Mioduszewski said the pedestrian had been drinking but the driver had not been. “The driver said he tried to swerve but couldn’t avoid
hitting him,” Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said. The Isabella County Sheriff’s Department responded to the accident at 9:57 p.m. Nagel was transported to MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland by MMR for non-life threatening injuries. Mioduszewski said it remains unclear how much Bryant had been drinking. He said he does not believe Nagel will be charged in the incident. The Shepherd Tri-Township Fire Department, Michigan State Police and an MMR ambulance assisted the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department at the scene.
Skate War III begins Saturday Skate War III, a skating competition organized by Michigan skateboard supply company Skate War, Inc. begins Saturday at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort. Attendance is free, and registration for competitors costs $20 and must be completed by Friday, or for a late fee of $25 Saturday morning. The “street” course will include several rails, ramps, and a half-pipe. Skaters will be able to compete Saturday for a shot at Sunday’s finals. Several free concerts will be held including performances by Joe Hertler and Jetpack On!
Undergraduate tuition is the main part of the agenda for Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting. Steve Smith, director of public relations, said there are many variables he is sure the trustees will discuss about tuition, including the declining number of students covered by the CMU Promise. “That’s a discussion the Board of Trustees will have to have,” he said. The meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in the Presidential Conference Room. Eastern Michigan University announced they would not raise tuition or room and board in April. Michigan State University originally had a 4.9 percent tuition raise planned for students this fall but reduced it to only 2.5 percent. The University of Michigan raised tuition 1.5 percent for undergraduates, the lowest increase for the university in 26 years.
‘10-’11 state tuition increases for in-state resident undergraduates w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w
Michigan State University - 2.5 percent University of Michigan-Ann Arbor - 1.5 percent University of Michigan-Dearborn - 3.9 percent University of Michigan-Flint - 3.9 percent Eastern Michigan University - 0 percent Wayne State University - 4.4 percent Northern Michigan University - 2.9 percent Saginaw Valley State University - 5.9 percent Michigan Technological University - 5.9 percent Central Michigan University - * Grand Valley State University - * Oakland University - * Western Michigan University - * Ferris State University - * Lake Superior State University - *
*have not set 2010-2011 tuition rates Smith said he was sure how other universities were raising tuition will be taken into consideration by Trustees. “I’m sure they will have a serious discussion about this in the next day or two,” Smith said. Also scheduled to come up at the board meeting is changes to some of the roadways.
Several stop signs and yield signs are set to be added to parking lots and service drives across campus as part of new
News editor Connor Sheridan contributed to this report. university@cm-life.com
Senior charged with imprisonment By Joe Borlik Senior Reporter
A Central Michigan University student is being held in the Isabella County Jail on two felony charges. John Wesley Wimbush-Sherrod is facing a two-count felony for unlawful imprisonment and interfering with electronic communications issued by the Isabella County Prosecutor’s office. His bond was set at $40,000. Wimbush-Sherrod, a Florida senior, was arrested after allegedly holding a 22-year-old Mount Pleasant man at gunpoint Wednesday night in a bathroom at Chase Run Apartments at 3748 S. Isabella Road. After being held in the bathroom for about an hour at gunpoint, Sherrod allegedly
released the victim and told him the weapon had been a BB gun, according to court documents. The victim then ran out of the apartment and filed a police report, said Jeff Browne, Mount Pleasant Police public information officer. Police determined the gun used during the imprisonment was in fact a BB gun. Wimbush-Sherrod questioned the victim about his relationship with a 20-year-old girlfriend, according to police. The woman in question has a child with Wimbush-Sherrod, according to court documents. The documents state the woman argued with Wimbush-Sherrod in the bathroom and tried to convince him to release the victim. The woman said she did
not know if the gun was real or fake and was scared, according to Wimbush-Sherrod’s arrest warrant. Wimbush-Sherrod told police he used the woman’s cell phone to send the victim a text message telling him to come over prior to the incident. When the victim arrived, Wimbush-Sherrod had the BB gun in his hand and told him to go into the bathroom, according to court documents. The documents state Wimbush-Sherrod did not want to let the suspect out because he felt that he would assault him if he did. A hearing examining the evidence in the case is scheduled for 11 a.m. July 27 with Judge William Rush. metro@cm-life.com
voices Central Michigan Life
4A
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
[cm-life.com/voices]
Editorial Board: Eric Dresden, Editor
in
Chief | Connor Sheridan, News Editor | Aaron McMann, Senior Reporter
EDITORIAL | Tuition should not be raised by Trustees on Thursday
Give students a break
widespread cost saving measures. Where are all of these savings going that would still require an increased contribution from students’ pockets? All this begs the question: why should CMU have to raise tuition at all? Students on the CMU Promise will be entering their fourth year at CMU, so the excuse that the university is only giving a tuition increase to a small percentage of students is no longer valid. Students who have been here three years or less will get this increase tacked on to what they are paying in the coming months. Not raising tuition would give CMU an opportunity to promote something special with tuition, which they have not been able to do since the CMU Promise was in place.
T
he Central Michigan University Board of Trustees has a gigantic decision to make Thursday. Tuition increases come nearly every year, but this year has proven to be different for several other public universities in the state of Michigan. Eastern Michigan University became an overnight sensation when they announced they would not raise tuition for students in the fall. Michigan State University was predicted to raise tuition 4.9 percent but their Board of Trustees instead delivered a 2.5 increase. The University of Michigan increased tuition by 1.5 percent, their lowest
raise in 26 years. All public state funded universities in the state of Michigan are facing a 3.1 percent cut of their state funding, which means CMU will lose $2,584,400, meanwhile EMU would lose $2,451,900. The university has even refused to give raises to several of its employee unions, all as part of
Rick Snyder won’t win GOP nomination
This year could be a record breaking year for incoming freshmen and there is the possibility of having so many students on campus that some residence halls could have a fifth roommate. Obviously there is not a lack of bodies coming to CMU, so if EMU can not raise tuition there is no excuse for CMU to not be able to maintain current tuition. But the university has constantly talked about the declining number of graduating seniors from high schools and keeping tuition constant would be something easy to use to convince more students to come here. Fact is, there will most likely be a record number of freshmen coming to CMU this fall, and with them a good amount of incoming tuition — whether or not that tuition goes up.
Don Wright [Editorial cartoon]
Aaron McMann Senior Reporter He sprang onto the political scene with ads during the Super Bowl touting himself “a nerd.” In some of his more recent ads, he’s called for an end to the partisan bickering and lends a promise ‘to get the job done’ if elected Michigan governor. Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder has made it his goal to differentiate himself from other top Republican names in this year’s gubernatorial race. And I’d say he’s done a pretty good job of it so far. But given his attempt to distance himself from Attorney General Mike Cox and U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, the two other major players for the GOP, he’s come off as more of an independent than a Republican. Some have even called him a moderate—the deathblow in any primary election in which only the most politically active and knowledgeable participate. Republicans want conservatives and Democrats want liberals. Snyder fits neither category. He is, however, the most businesssavvy candidate among both parties, an attribute Michigan needs in its current economic climate. That alone, though, isn’t going to get him the nomination. As much as people like to complain about politics, Snyder needs to get down and dirty and begin to take on his GOP opponents—something he won’t do. Cox and Hoekstra have gone back and forth in print and on TV, while Snyder stands idly by. He decided not to take part in any of the GOP debates, citing his unwillingness to participate in the GOP bickering. Bad move. While he comes off as trying to appeal to those willing to listen and put politics aside, he forgets one thing— he’s running for political office. Some have compared him to 2006 GOP gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos. Snyder is running a similar formula, but this time it has already been tried. His campaign is being managed as if he’s all ready locked up the nomination. Don’t get me wrong, I like Rick Snyder. He seems to really want to help the state’s economy rebound—I just don’t see his plan translating with voters come August 3. news@cm-life.com
Central Michigan Life Editorial Eric Dresden, Editor in Chief Connor Sheridan, News Editor Chelsea Kleven, Design Editor Libby March, Photo Editor Aaron McMann, Senior Reporter Joe Borlik, Senior Reporter Advertising Paige Winans, Advertising Managers Professional staff Rox Ann Petoskey, Production Leader Kathy Simon, Assistant Director of Student Media Neil C. Hopp, Adviser to Central Michigan Life
[Letter to the editor] Our school’s new implementation of the new inconvenient printing quotas are comicalgrinning and absurdity being the teeth in this photo. We rack-up thousands upon thousands of dollars in student loans to cover tuition; ha, don’t even get me started on the ridiculous coin students across this country submissively push across the table to be oh-solucky to receive that thin paper diploma.
So, instead of huffing and puffing about college credit costs, let us tackle a more “local” problem, eh? How does this university justify putting some sort of iron fist on the amount of Microsoft Word documents students can print off? I just don’t get it. I’m not allowed to print more than “ten dollars” worth of paper — but you enjoy your $400,000 salary, George Ross.
It is important for the student body to voice their opinion on issues, especially one that directly hits us with a blow. We all need to stop being such apathetic observers and let the university know our frustrations. So how about it George-o pal, what do you say ol’ sport? - Jack Buck Grand Rapids senior
C M Y o u | What percent do you feel the board of trustees should
“It should not be raised because that could turn away potential students for next year. If tuition goes higher than it is now the cost will be similar to schools like University of Michigan, causing students to choose them over us.”
raise tuition and why?
“As a student, why would my answer be anything other than none?” Nick Dobson,
Grand Rapids sophomore
“It shouldn’t be raised due to our record number of incoming freshman this year. Also, other schools throughout Michigan have kept tuition the same as last year’s.”
“As small as possible. If it needs to happen, it needs to happen but passing the burden to the students is not the best policy.” Joe Parente,
Rochester Hills
Lauren Hendry,
Davidson junior
Alicia Cummings,
Allendale senior Chris bacarella/staff photographer
Central Michigan Life, the independent voice of Central Michigan University, is edited and published by students of Central Michigan University every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters, and every Wednesday during CMU’s summer sessions. The newspaper’s online edition, cm-life.com, contains all of the material published in print, and is updated on an as-needed basis.
Central Michigan Life serves the CMU and Mount Pleasant communities, and is under the jurisdiction of the independent Student Media Board of Directors. Neil C. Hopp serves as Director of Student Media at CMU and is the adviser to the newspaper. Articles and opinions do not necessarily reflect the position or opinions of Central Michigan University. Cen-
tral Michigan Life is a member of the Associated Press, the Michigan Press Association, the Michigan Collegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press, College Newspaper Business & Advertising Managers Association, the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce, Central Michigan Home Builders Association, Mount Pleasant Housing Associa-
tion and the Mount Pleasant Downtown Business Association. The newspaper’s online provider is College Publisher. Central Michigan Life is distributed throughout the campus and at numerous locations throughout Mount Pleasant. Non-university subscriptions are $75 per academic year. Back copies are available at 50 cents per copy, or $1 if mailed.
So much for lazy summers
Connor Sheridan News Editor It’s July 14, more than halfway through the gap between spring and fall semesters that is inhabited by the mythical “Summer I and II.” It has become eerily normal to turn left onto Mission without having to wait through a few lunar cycles and perhaps offer a sacrifice on a dashboard altar. Even here at Central Michigan Life we know our time of weekly summer publications will soon yield to our nail-biting thriceweekly schedule. For students enduring the rigorous grind of a busy summer course load, however, the fall can’t come soon enough. The fall brings with it a sense of normalcy to the small town of Mount Pleasant and proper life as a student will resume. Ratios of time spent crammed into uncomfortable classroom desks to time spent suspended by one’s ankles above a keg will begin to equalize. Be sure to take a moment before those days come to appreciate the flexibility life as a summer college student demands. A brief period of leisure after the completion of spring semester collides into a brick wall of three hellish weeks of daily four-hour classes, which flat lines into an idyllic holiday vacation spent at home around the barbecue. Sepia-tinted flashbacks of idle summer times flit back from childhood. Super Soaker fights on the beach and endless rounds of “Mario Kart” seem inevitable. Then, WHA-BANG, it’s back to the grindstone of studying and testing before you have time to get the sand out of your trunks. It’s sort of like watching a DVD with the “Skip to Next Chapter” button stuck. Why do summer students do it to themselves? The thrill of constant aboutfaces? The harrowing uncertainty of watching grades pour into a wildly swinging GPA calculation as semesters begin and end within the time it takes for longtenured professors to figure out how to advance to the next PowerPoint slide? Not usually. In my experience it’s often all instrumental in a tightly orchestrated plan to graduate on the part of students whose required course load would otherwise populate the better part of their natural lives. A condition that only seems to be growing more prevalent. So much for lazy summers.
[letters to the editor] E-mail | letters@cm-life.com Mail | 436 Moore Hall Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 Fax | 989.774.7805 Central Michigan Life welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Only correspondence that includes a signature (e-mail excluded), address and phone number will be considered. Do not include attached documents via e-mail. Letters should be no longer than 300 words and commentary should not exceed 500 words. All submissions are subject to editing and may be published in print or on www.cm-life.com in the order they are received. Photocopies of stories are 25 cents each. Digital copies of photographs published in Central Michigan Life are available upon request at specified costs. Central Michigan Life’s editorial and business offices are located at 436 Moore Hall, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, telephone 774-3493 or 774-LIFE.
5A || Wednesday, July 14, 2010 || Central Michigan Life
cm-life.com/category/sports
[Sports] FOOTBALL
Vague language in contract with IU may not bring results By Aaron McMann Senior Reporter
SEAN PROCTOR/PHOTO EDITOR
From left: Willie Randolph, CMU track and field director; freshman Alex Rose and assistant coach John Ridgway in the discus pit outside the Indoor Athletic Complex.
ROSE IN BLOOM
Freshman discus thrower Alex Rose prepares to compete on world stage
R
By Aaron McMann | Senior Reporter
eality set in Thursday for Alex Rose when a box full of red, white and blue apparel arrived in his name. Inside: four different styles of backpacks, 10 T-shirts, a jersey, three warm-up suits, a rain suit, hats and a suitcase – all donning the USA emblem. Welcome to the big time. The freshman discus thrower will trade in his maroon and gold jersey to join Team USA next week at the International Association of Athletics Federations World Junior Championships in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. The annual event showcases many of the best young track and field athletes in the world. “I’m really excited to compete for the U.S.,” Rose said Friday during one of his last trips to Mount Pleasant before departing for Canada on Friday. “I’m not nervous at all – I see this as a learning experience outside of the ring as well as inside. I’m excited to meet a lot of new people from around the world because I’ve never competed from anywhere else out of the U.S.” Rose qualified for the world meet after finishing runner up in the discus with a career-best toss of 181 feet, 8 inches, at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Junior Championships on June 24
in Des Moines, Iowa. Since then, he has been traveling back and forth between Mount Pleasant and his home in West Branch to train. “I haven’t really changed much with my training,” Rose said. “I’ve just been lifting, throwing and doing some exercises. Coach has realized that a big preparation for big meets is just staying relaxed and focused … He realizes I need a break as well as any other athlete.” HANDLING THE BIG STAGE Rose put together a solid outdoor season in 2010, finishing first in the discus at the Lenny Lyles Invitational April 16 in Louisville, Ky., and fifth at the Sooner Invitational the next weekend in Norman, Okla. Assistant coach John Ridgway said he was impressed with the progression he made as the season went on. “When he tested in the fall, he wasn’t throwing nearly as far as what he ended up through the season,” Ridgway said. “He was throwing right around 150 (feet) when he was going through the 2K disc in the fall, and to end up at 181 with the college disc is a huge gain. I’ve never heard of a gain that big, so it was a great attribute to his perseverance and showed he a had a pretty good amount of talent.” Rose entered the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships in mid-May with momentum and a No. 1 seed. His parents, Ross and Laurie, took the train to Buffalo to watch
their son throw for the first time collegiately. But instead of capitalizing off the momentum, nerves began to pour threw as Rose faulted on all three attempts in the discus and finished eighth in the shot put, scoring only a point for CMU. “It was the big stage that got to me,” Rose said. “I just kind of let the pressure get to me and I had great expectations for myself there. I was thinking about the wrong things. I was thinking about winning and not doing my best, which is what I really need to focus on coming into the worlds.” Laurie, a school teacher, equated the situation to a kid who finished freshman year of high school with a 4.0 gradepoint average. “He just puts so much pressure on himself to maintain that average when it doesn’t really matter that much to have a 4.0 compared to a 3.87. But that pressure can sort of build and build until it’s an unrealistic sort of thing,” she said. Rose followed the disappointing performance up with a seventh-place finish in the discus at the NCAA East Preliminaries, qualifying for the NCAA Championships. There, he finished 13th overall and third-best among freshman – numbers portraying his season more accurately than the conference tournament. SWITCHING SPORTS Instead of competing on a national stage, Rose could have spent last season on the Kelly/ Shorts Stadium sidelines. A three-sport star at Ogemaw Heights High School, he was originally recruited by CMU as a
preferred walk-on for football. “During high school, my main focus was football,” Rose said. “I put a lot of pressure on myself and, honestly, my family and friends did as well, to play football at a Division I level. I was planning on competing for Central Michigan for football.” But a broken collarbone forced Rose to miss most of his senior season. It was then he spent time rethinking his future in football and eventually called former recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach Max Glowacki to say he had a change of heart. Rose, who also played basketball at Ogemaw Heights, wanted to go into track and field. “I recruited him over the phone technically,” Randolph said. “I was still in Florida and it was actually (a week ago) last year that Coach Kaczor and I were talking about getting some kids over the phone. The rest of it was just connections and just making the financial conversations happen once he got here.” While the coaching staff is quick to agree Rose is one of the best freshman they’ve seen, his mom points out she’s seen his talent all along. “I always thought he had something special, but I didn’t know how much of that was the mom in me,” Laurie said. “It’s rewarding too to see that the belief I had in him is shown in other people like his coaches. It’s sort of validated what I always thought he could do, and I know it’s given him more conviction in pursuing what he really loves.” Rose will compete in the qualifying round July 23. Finals are scheduled for July 24. sports@cm-life.com
WRESTLING
U-M first opponent in new Events Center CMU to spend first 10 weeks on road By Aaron McMann Senior Reporter
The Central Michigan wrestling team will have to wait until 2011 to wrestle in the new Events Center. In its 2010-11 schedule released last week, CMU will break in the new arena on Jan. 16 against in-state rival Michigan. While the Chippewas are 5-18 all-time against U-M, prior to last season, they beat the Wolverines in three consecutive meetings. The schools did face each other in the 2009-10 season. “We’re going to be excited to wrestle for the first time in the new events center,” said head coach Tom Borrelli. “To have a quality opponent like the University of Michigan, who is a t re m e n d o u s in-state rival, I think it’ll have a lot of excitement and just positive vibe to the whole event.” CMU, which went a perfect 5-0 last season at Rose Arena, continues the home schedule against Old Dominion on Jan. 30.
Of their five Mid-American Conference meets, the Chippewas host Buffalo (Feb. 13), Eastern Michigan (Feb. 17) and MAC runner up Kent State (Feb. 20) at the Events Center. But before the home schedule begins, the team will spend first 10 weeks on the road. CMU opens the season in the state of Michigan with pair of open meets in Ypsilanti (Nov. 6) and East Lansing (Nov. 14) before traveling to Cornell on Nov. 19. The Chippewas will remain in Ithaca, N.Y., to compete in the Cornell-hosted Body Bar Invitational the next day. The Big Red finished runner up in the NCAA tournament and returns 10 seniors from last season. “It’ll give us a good indication of some things we need to work on and where we stand,” Borrelli said. “I think they’ll probably be the preseason No. 1 team ranked nationally, so it’ll give us a real good measuring stick.” Other non-conference away meets include Big Ten opponents Minnesota (Nov. 27) and Michigan State (Jan. 21). CMU will also compete at the Cliff Keen Invitational on Dec. 3-4 in Las Vegas, Nev., Midlands Dec. 28-29 in Evanston, Ill., and National Duals Jan. 8-9 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. “During the non-conference part of the year, we see as many top teams as possible and also go to the toughest tournaments in the country just to get our
guys prepared for the NCAA Championships,” Borrelli said. “It will give them the opportunity to see guys that they might not see in our conference schedule.” MAC Championships are March 5-6 in DeKalb, Ill. sports@cm-life.com
2010-11 CMU wrestling schedule w Nov. 6 Eastern Michigan Open (Ypsilanti) w Nov. 14 Michigan State Open (East Lansing) w Nov. 19 at Cornell w Nov. 20 Body Bar Invitational (Ithaca, N.Y.) w Nov. 27 North Dakota State/Appalachian State/Minneosta (Rochester, Minn.) w Dec. 3-4 Cliff Keen Invitational (Las Vegas) w Dec. 12 at Lehigh w Dec. 28-29 Midlands (Evanston, Ill.) w Jan. 6 at Northern Illinois w Jan. 8-9 National Duals (Cedar Falls, Iowa) w Jan. 16 Michigan w Jan. 21 at Michigan State w Jan. 30 Old Dominion w Feb. 4 at Ohio w Feb. 13 Buffalo w Feb. 17 Eastern Michigan w Feb. 20 Kent State w March 5-6 MAC Championships (DeKalb, Ill.) w March 17-19 NCAA Championships (Philadelphia)
Don’t expect the football contract dispute between Central Michigan University and Indiana University to make much headway in the near future. Both sides have taken their stance and are affirming it – and vague language in the contract isn’t helping matters either. According to the contract signed on Jan. 27, 2007, by both schools and obtained by Central Michigan Life last week, “If either party breaches this contract, the party causing the breach shall pay to the other party a liquidated sum of $150,000 for games #1 and #2, and $200,000 for game #3, which shall represent liquidated damages to the, non-breaching damaged party.” IU Athletics Director Fred Glass told Central Michigan Life last week that changes to the Hoosiers’ schedule forced the change and breach of the second game of the series. Indiana moved its scheduled Nov. 20 home game against Penn State to Landover, Md., creating the need for a seventh home game. Glass said the lawyers called it ‘economic breach’ and that the economics of it were such that IU felt it had to breach the second game, scheduled for Sept. 11 in Mount Pleasant. IU agreed to pay CMU $150,000 for liquidated damages. “We found ourselves in need of another home game and one of my then-senior associate athletic directors was working on that,” Glass said. “He had negotiations with (CMU), and I understood it to be an easy matter to flip the games. Instead of playing (CMU) there, we’d play at home and then we’d come back and play up there (in Mount Pleasant).” CMU Athletics Director Dave Heeke holds firm that by breaching the second game, IU breached the entire contract and owes CMU
the liquidated damages from Games 2 and 3. “The contract has pergame buyouts and the contention is that once you breach one of those games you Dave Heeke breach the entire contract,” Heeke told CM Life on July 1. “There were two games left on the contract, those two games equaled $350,000.” Glass disagreed last week, calling it “frankly silly,” and said CMU owes IU $50,000 for canceling the third game out of retribution. “If ‘you breach one, you breach them all,’ then why are there independent liquidated damages set out for different amounts for different games?,” Glass said. According to the contract, compensation amounts for Games 2 and 3 were both $150,000. However, liquidated damages were $150,000 for Game 2 and $200,000 for Game 3. The contract could be terminated one of two ways – through mutual consent by both parties in writing or if either party dropped NCAA participation in football. There was also a clause voiding the agreement with respect to an unforeseen catastrophe or disaster. In regards to canceling any games due to such events, “No such cancellation shall effect the parties’ obligations as to subsequent games covered by this contract, unless signed to by mutual consent.” Such language does not appear anywhere else in the contract, nor does any other language relating to contract breaches and liquidated damages. Heeke declined a follow up interview. sports@cm-life.com
“If ‘you breach one, you breach them all’, then why are there independent liquidated damages set out for different amounts for different games?” Fred Glass, Indiana Athletics Director
SPORTS ROUNDUP These stories were originally posted last week at cmlife.com: SOCCER
Anagnost signs contract extension
CMU women’s soccer coach Tom Anagnost signed a three-year contract extension Thursday that keeps him in Mount Pleasant through 2012. He will earn $57,600 per season plus standard of living increases. “We’re really pleased
to have Tom as our head coach well into the future, and this longterm agreement is a commitment to him and to our women’s soccer program,” said CMU Athletics Director Dave Heeke.
FOOTBALL
Kickoff times finalized for home games
The CMU football team will kick off the 2010 season under the lights at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. In a release issued July 7, CMU’s Sept. 2 home opener against Football
Championship Subdivision opponent Hampton will start at 7 p.m. Its Oct. 2 game against Ball State and Oct. 30 against Bowling Green will kick off at 3:30 p.m. while the Oct. 16 homecoming game versus Miami (OH) begins at noon. CMU’s annual rivaly game against Western Michigan on Nov. 5 is set to kick off at 6 p.m.
6A || Wednesday, July 14, 2010 || Central Michigan Life
Aug. 3 Election
County road commission asks for tax hike to finance repairs By Ryan Taljonick Staff Reporter
For less than the cost of a cup of Starbucks coffee per week, Isabella County voters could choose to vote in a millage increase that will help repair some of the county’s most deteriorated roads. That was how Tony Casali, Isabella County Road Commission manager, described a proposed 2-mill tax increase to the Mount Pleasant City Commission on Monday. Isabella County voters will have the opportunity to vote on the 2-mill tax on Aug. 3. Revenue from the tax would be used to repair the county’s roads and infrastructure. “I hope that each resident of the county will give serious thought to the good that can be done,” Commissioner Kathleen Ling said. Casali said Isabella County would receive a majority of the money from the millage increase, but the city of Mount Pleasant would receive its share, equalling about $869,000 a year. The proposed millage has a lifespan of eight years. The money produced by the millage can be used to repair roads and bridges, which can get extremely expensive if left in disrepair, Casali said. “I think there’s a lot of work out there that can be done,” he said. “We want to see this money really hit the pavement.” He said if the millage is turned down by voters, the county would have to pulverize nearly 10 percent of its paved roads, returning them to gravel. This will have an adverse impact on property values, Casali said. He also said snow remov-
al, ice control, mowing, and tree and brush cutting programs could be reduced if the millage increase is turned down. Effect on taxes Financial Services Director Nancy Ridley said a portion of the city’s capital improvements funds are currently used for street repair. About $200,000 is used on overlays and road construction, while $100,000 is spent on sidewalk projects. If the proposed millage is approved, the money received by the city could replace the funds used from the capital improvements pool. As a result, Ridley said the city could reduce the
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amount of property taxes collected by about 0.75 mills, which would increase total tax bills for city taxpayers by 1.25 mills instead of the full 2 mills. This would be equal about $62.50 a year on a $100,000 value home, Ridley said. She also said road improvement plans have already been mapped out for the next five years. However, plans change each year as some roads require more repair than others. “Every year we have to make trade-off decisions of which ones are most critical,” she said. metro@cm-life.com
Road construction on schedule By Ryan Taljonick Staff Reporter
Michigan Street’s reconstructive surgery is expected to be completed by the third week of August. Director of Public Works Duane Ellis said the construction, which began about two weeks ago, is going according to plan. The project, affecting a section of Michigan Street between Mission and Fancher Streets, includes the complete reconstruction of the street and the addition of bike lanes
and bump-out parking. The total cost for the construction is projected at $400,000. “The project is part of the city’s ‘walkability’ goals,” Ellis said. “The other goal is to reconstruct the street, which was in need of rebuilding.” Ellis said the project will encourage pedestrian use of the road, as well as an expected increase in bike riding. Existing pavement, curbs and gutters will be removed. A two-foot deep excavation will allow the street to be reconstructed with new sand, gravel and asphalt.
Street safety Ellis said safety is a top goal for the project. By adding bike lanes and bump-out parking, the street lanes themselves will become narrower. “It’s going to be an improvement because we’re adding bike lanes, we’re making it greener looking because we’ll have more landscaping areas,” Ellis said. “We hope to slow traffic on the street because the street will be narrower, it will encourage bicycle riding.”
A road | 8A
8A || Wednesday, July 14, 2010 || Central Michigan Life
CMCH to open Heart and Vascular Center By Maria Leone Staff Reporter
Central Michigan Community Hospital is unveiling its new Heart and Vascular Center. A community open house and ribbon cutting ceremony is happening today from 4 to 6 p.m. at CMCH. Nicole Sanders, marketing and communications specialist for CMCH, said she is anticipating around 150 people will attend. Members of the community are welcome to tour the new facility and enjoy food and beverages, and may come and go as they please, she said. “The services performed at our center are vital com-
ponents in the overall prevention, detection, and treatment of heart disease and stroke,” Sanders said. She said the Center cost $3.7 million and was made possible by $2 million gifts from local donors. Patients in need of catherization, peripheral vein studies, as well as interventional procedures will receive comprehensive care at the new center. “Having the treatments available closer will make patients’ lives much easier, eliminating delays and inconvenience for patients and families,” Sanders said. In order to receive such treatment before the opening of the center, patients had to travel to hospitals in
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Midland, Saginaw, or Lansing, she said. Stress testing, electrocardiography (EKG), short and long term heart monitoring and echocardiography are a few of the many procedures offered, Sanders said. Vascular procedures will include angioplasty, stenting, therectomy and thrombectomy to remove a blood clot and restore blood flow, she said. Recovery Cardiac Rehabilitation programs with discounted membership rates at Wellness Central Fitness will be available for patients after undergoing procedures, Sanders said. Patients will also receive nutritional in-
formation and support from registered dieticians to help keep their lives on the right track, she said. The staff will also help to walk the patient and family through the treatment processes. “The opening of the Heart and Vascular Center truly signals a new era in health care for the residents of our community,” said Bill Lawrence, president and CEO of CMCH. “The physicians who will practice in the center and the technology available will respond to an ever-growing need for high quality, specialized heart and vascular care.” metro@cm-life.com
road | continued from 6A
Allison Quast, manager of Motorless Motion, 121 S. Mission St., said she is excited to see an increase in ease of biking and walking around town and in the surrounding areas. “The increase of awareness of ‘bikeability’ and ‘walkability’ in Mount Pleasant and Union Township will definitely benefit our business,” she said. “I don’t know how it couldn’t increase business. As the number of people biking increases, obviously the number of needs increase.” Quast said she expects a significant increase in the number of bike lanes and trails in the next five to ten years.
Young families look for pedestrian-friendly communities, she said, and Mount Pleasant is transforming into such a community.
Project funding The funding for the project came from stimulus money received by the Michigan Department of Transportation. The city of Mount Pleasant applied for stimulus funding and received $345,000. As more funding becomes available, Ellis said, he would like to see the Michigan Street construction project expand further west to Washington Street. However, if the project is extended, it will not occur for a few more years, he said. metro@cm-life.com