Sept. 23, 2011

Page 1

LIFE Central Michigan University

| Friday, Sept. 23, 2011

CENTRAL MICHIGAN

Graduate housing to be built on north campus By Jake Bolitho Staff Reporter

A $28.5-million project that will provide additional housing to graduate students is scheduled for completion in March 2013. The north campus apartment housing project, approved Thursday by the Central Michigan University Board of Trustees, will consist of 94 units in two buildings. The facility will be located on Bellows Street, west of the Carlin Alumni House. “It’s located in a very convenient location,” said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management. “It’s just north of the Health Professions Building, so it’s very close to the College of Medicine and the activity there.” The apartments are being built to replace several Washington Court buildings that have been demolished to make way for the Education and Human Services Building. Plans call for them to primarily house medical students and visiting scholars. Construction will begin in November and, upon its completion in March 2013, will be ready for occupancy the follow-

By Orrin Shawl Staff Reporter

A former Central Michigan University Police officer has been charged with misconduct in office by the Isabella County Procecutor’s Office. Jeffrey Card was arraigned on a felony which could result in up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Card was arrested and arraigned Wednesday morning and was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond. Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick said the allegation arose from an incident in the morning hours of Sept. 11 while Card was on duty. The incident occurred when Card was giving

w ALDI Food Market coming to Mount Pleasant, 5 w Get to know the Michigan State Football team before Saturday’s game, 8

Other Board of Trustees Coverage w College of Medicine, 3 w Charter Schools, 3 w Virtual Lab, 6 ing June. There were a number of announcements during Thursday’s meeting including the approval of a $1.5 million renovation to Real Food on Campus residential restaurant. The facility will also include a Mongolian grill station in the future, as well as renovated food stations that already exist. During the meeting trustees gave an evaluation of University President George Ross, commending him for his work but not giving him a $50,000 performance bonus. “In summary, a strong performance for 2010-11 ending June 30,” Chairwoman Sarah Operman. “No bonus, in keeping with the current financial priorities and consistent with other actions that have been taken throughout the university and strong improvements in fundraising.” CMU also saw an increase in unrestricted net assets of nearly $50 million, from $228 million to $276 million. Jeffrey Fineis, a partner at the Lansing-based Andrews HoopA GRAD | 2

PHOTOS BY KAITLIN THORESEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Midland freshman Jason Foulds laughs as he crashes in the drunk driving simulator Thursday afternoon in front of the U.C. “It’s a very good demonstration of why we should not drink and drive,” Foulds said.

‘like a

real car’ Students test skills in drunk driving simulation

By Chad Mitchell | Staff Reporter

Prosecutor: Former CMU policeman had females remove shirts Officer charged with misconduct

w 26.7 percent of Mount Pleasant residents live in poverty, 3

cm-life.com

A possible MSU victory repeat? 7

Construction to get underway this November

[ INSIDE ]

two female CMU seniors a ride home. According to published reports, Card is accused of driving two 21-year-old women from O’Kelly’s Sports Bar & Grill, 2000 S. Mission St., to a remote dirt road. One of the girls asked to be dropped off at her boyfriend’s house on South Main Street, which Card agreed to after going on a nuisance party call. Instead, it is alleged Card drove them to a “desolate dirt road,” where Card told the two girls he was going to give them portable breath tests, and if the test results were higher than a certain limit, the two girls would have to expose their bare chests. The two girls agreed, and they exposed their bare chests after the test results proved higher A POLICE | 2

A drunk driving simulator on the lawn in front of the Bovee University Center Thursday gave students a taste of what it’s like for drunk drivers behind the wheel. Running the simulator was Eli Scheele of PEER Awareness, a company that tours the country to educate students about making healthy decisions. “It’s just like a real car,” Scheele said. “At .08 (blood alcohol content), the legal limit, it’s very difficult to control.” Scheele said most people that get behind the wheel of the simulator end up crashing. Users get behind the wheel of a real car and put on virtual reality goggles. Scheele then enters their age, gender, body size and how many drinks the user had.

Junior James Bell was one of the first to use the simulator. His virtual blood alcohol content (BAC) was .20. “Drinking and driving is not a game,” Bell said. “I couldn’t see a thing. I couldn’t tell what speed I was going. I was on the wrong side of the road. I eventually ran off the road.” The simulator changes how fast the car reacts to the user

and can apply effects such as tunnel vision. Michelle Veith, assistant director of Residence Life, said they brought the simulator back because of positive feedback from last year. She said students walk away saying they never realized just how difficult it is to control a car while intoxicated. “Fall brings a lot of activi-

Saginaw junior Ola Jibowu and South Lion freshmen Sam Mehr and Miguel Martinez try walking in a straight line, one foot in front of the other, while wearing drunk goggles Thursday afternoon in front of the U.C. “Remember this is only impairing your vision not your judgement or other senses,” said Mount Pleasant Police Officer Jeff Browne.

ties,” Veith said. “This is another reminder.” Veith said she cannot be sure if the simulator stops students from driving drunk, but she thinks it at least makes them re-think doing so. Public Information Officer Jeff Browne of the Mount Pleasant Police Department agreed the simulator is just a reminder and drunk driving

is still an issue. Browne said if the simulator prevents one or two crashes, they have done a good job. “During the school year, the town’s population doubles,” Browne said. “We step up our enforcement, but it’s a year-round problem.” studentlife@cm-life.com

Faculty Association voices frustration to board at meeting Opperman: We know university ready to reach compromise

By Mike Nichols Senior Reporter & Theresa Clift University Editor

Faculty Association members voiced their concerns to the Board of Trustees Wednesday and Thursday in the Bovee University Center. Sarah Opperman, board of trustees chairwoman, read a statement which said the board has received many heartfelt letters about the contract issue, and an agreement would require compromise on both sides. “We are in regular communication with President Ross and know the adminis-

tration team has and is more than ready to move toward a compromise and a resolution in the best interest of the entire university,” Opperman said. Central Michigan University President George Ross said the administration remains eager to reach a fair and equitable contract. About 150 FA members picketed outside of the UC prior to the meeting. Only media members and those presenting were allowed inside since the President’s room has about 50 seats. FA members who wished to attend the meeting gathered in another room where it was televised, organized by the FA. However, technical difficulties caused sound problems. Director of Public Relations Steve Smith said only six FA members wished to attend the meeting, but CM

Life could not confirm that number by press time. The university also reserved the 300-seat UC auditorium for the meeting, as it does for all trustees meetings in case it is needed, Smith said. The trustees present for Wednesday’s meeting were John Hurd, Brian Fannon, William Kanine and Patricia Maryland. The faculty committee members present Wednesday included Jim McDonald, associate professor of teacher education and development, Phil Squattrito, FA bargaining team cochairman, Donna Ericksen, mathematics professor, and James Scott, professor of business informations systems. Rick Sykes, professor of broadcasting and cinematic arts, said although the MAC is a celebrated network,

the current lack of contract is hurting its reputation among alumni and industry partners. Sykes has worked as News Central 34s adviser since 1996. Koblar Jackson, physics department chairman, said the crisis is distracting from what he considers the real goal of CMU teaching students. He urged the administration to resume bargaining discussions so the distraction ends. “My two cents is, I’d like to see us get things settled quickly so we can go back to what we’re really good at,” Jackson said. Cherie Strachan, assistant political science professor, said this crisis has damaged the trust of CMU toward each other, especially new faculty members. She said the hardcore approach to bargaining is doing more

ADAM NIEMI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Vice president of Finance and Administration David Burdette, right, and Trustee William Kanine, center, during the Board of Trustees meeting Thursday morning in the President’s Conference Room in the Bovee University Center.

harm to the culture of CMU than saving dollars does. There are 20 new faculty members employed this year, Ross said Thursday. “What’s missing is the mu-

93 Years of Serving as Central Michigan University’s Independent Voice

tual willingness to compromise,” Squattrito said. “We, the FA, remain willing to do that.”

A FA | 2


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