LIFE Central Michigan University
| Wednesday, August 31, 2011
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
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| Mount Pleasant, Mich.
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State prevents some promoted profs’ payments About 40 to 60 haven’t received one-time money By Jake Bolitho Staff Reporter
Newly-promoted Faculty Association members have not yet received one-time payments initially due to them in July, as a result of legislation signed by Gov. Rick Snyder earlier this summer. Public Act 54, which went into effect June 8, prevents all “wage step increases” after the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement. Because both sides have yet to agree on a new contract, the lump sum payments normally gained upon faculty promotion are not being issued under the act. The FA and Michigan Education Association argue the move to be an overstep of PA 54, preventing faculty from receiving their one-time payments for work completed prior to the contract’s expiration. “All of the work was com-
kaitlin thoresen/staff photographer
Christian Wang, 7, yells out a as his mom, Beck Wang, also the Residence Life Counselor-in-Residence, puts the ice bag on his leg to help numb the area before the needles are put in.
‘like a kid again’ Plasma aids 7-year-old in fighting disease By Jessica Fecteau | Senior Reporter
seven weeks in the hospital in the winter of 2007, the Wang family’s last hope was turning to an immunologist for answers. “Within five minutes the doctor knew Christian’s condition after looking at his medical records,” she said. In December 2008, Christian began treatment for CVID. His treatment is a plasmabased medication product and without the donation of plasma, Christian wouldn’t survive, Becky said.
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SAPA could lose $300,000 grant
Staying alive means relying on plasmabased medication for 7-year-old Shepherd resident Christian Wang. Christian’s mother and Resident Life Counselor-in-Residence Becky Wang said from the time he was born, Christian would get sick with an infection about every two weeks. “We saw a lot of specialists and everyone said I was being an overprotective mom and he would grow out of it,” she said. “Every time he got sick, he would be diagnosed with a respiratory infection and was resistant to the kid antibiotics.” According to the National Institute of Health, he is one of less than 200,000 people in the U.S. affected by Common Variable Immune Deficiency. Christian’s medical condition means he lacks the antibodies necessary to fight off germs and infections. At only four weeks old, he started experiencing the symptoms of CVID. Becky said at one point, Christian was living on oral steroids just to keep breathing. “He was like a human guinea pig,” she said. “We knew there was something wrong, and we needed an answer.” After seeing countless specialists and spending
pleted in the 2008/2011 contract,” said FA President Laura Frey. “At this point we are seeking the full amount for each faculty.” An expedited court hearing process is underway to settle the issue of newly-promoted faculty receiving their lump sum payments, Frey said. The FA and MEA are also questioning the constitutionality of PA 54. Steve Smith, CMU director of public relations, said he was unaware of actions taken by the MEA to challenge the act. About 40 to 60 promoted faculty are eligible to receive lump sum payments for this year, Frey said. “There’s a variety of them that were acted on by the board of trustees in July,” Smith said. Professors promoted from the associate professor position earn $7,250 in one-time installments, assistants promoted to associates receive $6,250 and new assistant professors are paid $2,500. In ongoing contract negotiations, CMU is proposing
Competition from other programs a cause By Sammy Dubin Staff Reporter
Christian plays catch outside with his dad shortly after having the needles for his medicine placed in his leg.
“Plasma contains antibodies that Christian doesn’t produce on his own for fighting off infections,” she said. For the first eight months, Christian was treated with infusions of a plasmabased product through Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy. His therapy was monitored in the hospital, and took place every 30 days for eight hours at a time. “It was a miracle,” Becky said. “Everyone noticed a difference in Christian.”
Central Michigan University’s Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates is in jeopardy of losing its $300,000 federal grant in late September. SAPA has received the grant every three years since 2003, said Steve Thompson, director and creator of SAPA. The grant may be lost because of increased competition from other Michigan university programs, especially those that are still developing, now that SAPA is nationally recognized. The risk of losing the grant comes shortly following the time of Bruce Roscoe’s resignation as dean of students. “Dr. Roscoe had a whole lot of really positive attributes, but one thing that I
Now Christian receives treatments subcutaneously. “They let me feel like a kid again,” Christian said. His father, Rob Wang said two small needles are hooked up to a backpack by a tube and are inserted in Christian’s fatty tissue once a week. This three-to-four hour treatment infuses the medication throughout his body, allowing Christian still able to do everyday activities. A plasma | 2a
recognized years ago was how much he truly cared about students,” Thompson said. “He cared about doing the right thing for students, and the right thing for students is SAPA.” The looming threat has SAPA considering cutting some of their most vital programs. One of the positions that may be cut is the dedicated counselor. The counselor is responsible for getting the survivor into a counseling center the next day following the assault, and meeting with SAPA members after they complete their week on-call with the emergency phone. The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner position would also be eliminated without the grant. SANE is a project of Women’s Aid Services, which is a sexual abuse agency in Mount Pleasant. SANE costs $42,000 a year to operate and is funded partially through Women’s
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Chris Tucker performing Homecoming Weekend Tickets sales between $15, $30 By Anamaria Dickerson Staff Repor ter
Well-known for his role as Detective James Carter in the “Rush Hour” trilogy, comedian and actor Chris Tucker will be performing at Central Michigan University during Homecoming Weekend. Tucker, who will perform Oct. 15, has also starred in
the movies “Friday,” “The Fifth Element,” “Money Talks” and “Jackie Brown.” The performance, sponsored by Program Board, will be held at 8:30 p.m. at the CMU Events Center. “I think it will be great to have him come to CMU,” Holt junior Lauren Crawford said. “He’s really funny and I like having big names come visit our school.” Tickets went on sale Monday and can be purchased at the Events Center. Prices are $30 for floor seats, $25 for the lower
bowl, $20 for upper bowl and $15 for the bleachers. There will be a limit of five tickets per student. Tickets for the general public go on sale Thursday, with prices ranging from $25 to $40. “It’s pretty cool that an actor would take the time to come to CMU,” said Pittsford sophomore Brooke Maxson. Three Rivers senior Kamaria Thornton said she is disappointed with the price of tickets. “When I saw the poster I was excited, but I was sur-
prised by the prices of the tickets,” Thornton said. “I might go though, because I saw him in the ‘Rush Hour’ movies.” Another performer will be accompanying Tucker, but they are unknown at the time. “I think it’s going to be sweet and I can’t wait to go,” Macomb freshman Derek Bryan said. For more information, contact Ticket Central in the Events Center at 7743000.
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Chris Tucker in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, May 6, 2006.
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