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Central Michigan Life
Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
RESIDENCE LIFE
Sexual assault, other crimes reported over Welcome Weekend MIPs down, medical emergencies up By Ryan Czachorski Senior Reporter
A possible sexual assault from the weekend is still being investigated by Mount Pleasant Police. At 3:54 a.m. Sunday, police received the call from within the 1000 block of Main Street, according to the department’s daily press log. Police speculate alcohol did play a factor. The department declined to comment as the case is open. There also was an assault off campus, located near the intersection of University Avenue and Bellows Street. Officers were stopped by a witness who found a 20year-old Fenton male lying on the ground. “It was basically a fight,” said Public Information Officer Jeff Browne. “They started jaw-jacking and then they started fighting. It sounded like the suspect was trying to pick a fight.” The suspect, a 20-year-old
Mount Pleasant man, took off running when police pursued him. The suspect was apprehended after a short chase, Browne said. The victim was knocked to the ground in the fight and Browne said he received a three-inch gash on the back of the head upon falling to the ground. He was taken to Central Michigan Community Hospital after the incident. Browne said the suspect was not a student at Central Michigan University and it is unknown if the victim is. MIPs lower The MPPD, Central Michigan University Police and the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department gave out a total of 57 minor in possession citations. Nearly all of the 32 people who received MIPs from the MPPD also received tickets for open intoxicants, Browne said, and around five additional open intoxicant tickets alone. The number of MIPs is down from last year’s total of 73, according to previous reports. “Clearly, the numbers of
Photos by Paige Calamari/staff photographer
Dearborn freshman Courtney Brefeld, left, plays a game of Jenga with Troy freshman Michael Pacini, right, as Clio freshman Matthew Mitchell, right, and Kawkawlin freshman Darin Knochel, second from right, watch Monday night in Sweeney Hall. “I love that it’s co-ed,” Brefeld said.
The boys are back in town
A crime | 2A
With Sweeney switch, all halls on campus are now co-ed
Delayed Ronan Hall project set for December completion By Melissa Torok Staff Reporter
The finishing date for renovations to Ronan Hall has been reset for December, though substantial completion is expected by the end of October. Estimates from Rockford Construction place the $3.6 million project at 60 percent completion, said Linda Slater, director of plant engineering and planning. “Work continues on the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems,” Slater said. “The framing is complete and drywall is being hung.” Furniture installation will follow shortly after completion. Construction on the Ronan Hall project began in June. In January, Facilities Management officials pegged June as the date for substantial completion.
By Maria Leone | Staff Reporter
Substantial completion refers to when a building is complete enough to be occupied or used for its desired purpose. About $5 million in renovations to the Bovee University Center, including the addition of a Starbucks shop, post office and game area cannot begin until the Ronan project is complete. Slater said it is the first renovation project on campus to pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, which recognizes environmentally-friendly buildings. “The project is implementing sustainable design and construction practices and expects to achieve LEED certified status,” Slater said. Several departments in the UC will move to Ronan Hall once renovations are complete.
Portland sophomore Kevin Fowler sits in the resident assistant’s room as women residents visit with one another Monday night in Sweeney Hall.
“It’s been a lot more friendly and people have kept their doors open a lot more. It’s weird how boys can affect that.” Chelsea Cutler, Carleton sophomore
A Ronan | 2A
MULTIMEDIA
Video Interviews Students react to their first days of class
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Indiana freshman Neil Snoeberger, left, and Trenton freshman Emily Dubyak work in the laundry room Monday night in Sweeney Hall. The former women’s residence hall is now co-ed.
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Sweeney Hall has been a sanctuary for Central Michigan University’s feminine side for decades. But this semester, Sweeney got a Y chromosome injection. “It’s still 258 girls to 88 guys. But hey, at least it smells good,” Cory Mueller said. Mueller, a Brighton freshman who lives in Sweeney, said he likes the hall’s new co-ed status because it is nice to have an extra hand with everything. Rand Revoldt lived in Merrill Hall, formerly an all-male residence hall, for two years and often visited Sweeney, an all-female hall at the time, because they were so close together. “You meet some great people living in the residence halls,” the Grand Rapids sophomore said. Joan Schmidt, associate director of Residence Life, said the change was made because fewer and fewer people had requested the single-sex residence. She thinks the transition has gone well so far. “It seems a bit livelier, people seem pretty happy there,” Schmidt said. “So far, it appears to have been a good change.” Sheila Pichla, a Bad Axe sophomore, said she lived in Sweeney last year and said the hall seems to be more of a community now.
A sweeney | 2A
New med college deans ready for progress HP building addition still in early stages By Carisa Seltz Senior Reporter
Two new associate deans are anxious to have a hand in the College of Medicine’s development. In May, Deborah Biggs was appointed associate dean of Administration and Finance, while Nehad El-Sawi was hired as associate dean of Medical Education and Faculty Development.
Meanwhile, their offices are being erected at the Health Professions Building, as construction is seven percent complete. “We are designing our curriculum amidst a time of major transformations in the landscape of medical education and the health care delivery system,” El-Sawi said. “This represents a unique leadership opportunity for Central Michigan University to play a role in shaping the future of medical education, while fulfilling our mission and responding to society needs.” El-Sawi previously served as the president of the Kansas
City University of Medicine and Biosciences’ Institute for Medical Education Innovation for two years. She was a founding associate dean for curriculum and faculty enrichment for the A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona for two years and was the senior associate dean for academic affairs for KCU for 15 years. She said she wanted the opportunity to be innovative and creative in paving the path for what medical education will look like in the future. Biggs was an assistant dean at the University of North Carolina’s School of Medicine.
She said she applied for the associate dean position because she wanted the opportunity to be a part of the CMU team. “I am originally from Michigan and was very excited by the mission of the new College of Medicine and the opportunity to be part of the team,” Biggs said. In conjunction with the College of Medicine faculty and staff, El-Sawi said her goal is to develop an educational program preparing CMU physician graduates to advance health care in Mid and NorthA med school | 2A
victoria zegler/staff photographer
Nehad El-Sawi, associate dean of Medical Education and Faculty Development, writes up a list of potential faculty for the medical school Tuesday in the Charles V. Park Library. “The medical school building is making good progress with state of the art facilities including an up-to-date simulation center,” El-Sawi said.
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