LIFE CENTRAL MICHIGAN
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Central Michigan University
Former Quarterback Dan LeFevour aspires to go to NFL, 5
| Wednesday, May 23, 2012
[cm-life.com]
Final cmich.edu redesign costs near $1 million By Aaron McMann Editor-in-Chief
The overhaul of Central Michigan University’s website system, once expected to cost $550,000, has now blossomed up near the $1 million mark. Vice President of the Office of Information Technology Roger Rehm, with University President George Ross and and Director of Public Relations Steve Smith by his side, released documents totaling the
project at $956,950, including $886,605 in payments to Ohiobased Blue Chip Consulting Group. Since November, four months after the targeted August launch date, university officials had publicly pegged payments to Blue Chip at $550,000 plus travel expenses. In a meeting Friday with members of the Central Michigan Life Editorial Board, Rehm and Ross admitted fault for a lack of communication over costs regarding
the cmich.edu redesign. “I’ve wanted to do this for a while,” Rehm started. “I think there have been a number of miscommunications about the project; and, in reflecting back on all of the various things that have gone on, I fear that some of them are my fault.” The numbers were released in compliance with a Freedom of Information Act request made by CM Life on April 26, the second such FOIA request of the past academic year. On
Oct. 25, CM Life sent a FOIA request seeking “contracts set with companies regarding the cmich.edu redesign.” During the meeting Friday, Rehm and Ross called the original request “partial.” The April 26 request sought “any and all emails and documents containing the final terms and contract with Blue Chip Consulting Group in regards to the new Central Michigan University website.” “We all need to do better
with communication, starting with me,” Ross said. “Faculty, staff, students – the newspaper, whatever media that’s out there – and when I found out about your second FOIA and it was brought to my attention that we may have answered the strict request in the fall, it wasn’t the question that you were asking. You wanted to know the project cost.” According to the documents, CMU paid Blue Chip $534,500 for intranet consult-
Fewer students enroll for summer classes
A Enrollment | 2
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Football
Austin White to stand trial on drug charges Teammate: He apologized for ‘bringing all these problems’ to team
By Orrin Shawl Staff Reporter
More and more Central Michigan University students are choosing to spend their summer somewhere other than in the classroom. In an email sent by CMU Director of Public Relations Steve Smith, 3,832 students are enrolled in classes at CMU. The number of students enrolled this summer is 348 less than the 4,180 enrolled in the summer of 2011, representing an eight percent decrease, and 627 less than the 4,459 enrolled in the summer of 2010. The number of student credit hours during the summer has also decreased by eight percent. There are 22,141 student credit hours in play this summer semester, 2,011 less than the 24,152 from the summer of 2011 and 3,843 less than the 25,984 from 2010. Communication and Dramatic Arts Department Chairperson William Dailey said he wasn’t sure why student enrollment caused seven of the 12 classes offered in the Summer I session to be canceled but predicted it has to do with the combination of disappearing summer grants, an expensive tuition rate and a bad economy. Classes for Session II are still being sorted out. “We have the fourth-highest tuition rate in the state, making it more expensive,” Dailey said. “If there are no grants, then I understand why students would rather go home and work. Whether it’s that or the bad economy, the bottom has dropped out of it.” The Communications De-
ing services, lower than the projected $550,000 – the contract CM Life received following its original FOIA request – and $190,000 for internet consulting services. In addition, the university paid the consulting group $100,000 for launch transition support, less than the projected $110,000, and reimbursed it $16,305 for travel expenses.
By Aaron McMann Editor-In-Chief
dents arrived for orientation today, one student short of CMU’s goal to have 300 students attend each of the 12 orientaton days this summer. Amber Dalian, an incoming freshman from Troy, picked CMU for its education programs.
Former CMU football player Austin White will stand trial later this month for his role in allegedly growing and selling hallucinogenic mushrooms and maintaining a drug house in his Celani Residence Hall room. White, a Livonia junior, appeared in Isabella County Trial Court Thursday for a hearing before Judge William Rush. White and Illinois sophomore Joe Sawicki, former members of the CMU football team, were arrested last month by CMU police for allegedly growing and selling mushrooms containing the narcotic psilocybin. Attorney Mary Chartier, hired to represent White, maintains her client is innocent. CMU police detective Mike Sienkiewicz, testifying before Rush and Isabella County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Risa Scully, said the whole incident began April 11 when he and Sgt. Mike Morrow obtained a warrant to search Celani 001 for a stolen Apple iPhone. White, Sawicki, Detroit sophomore Deon Butler, also a member of the CMU football team, and West Bloomfield sophomore Dave Boester were listed as living in the terrace-level room. Sienkiewicz said the two received no response originally when they knocked on the door but were eventually let in by Butler, who was down the hall at the time. After asking to see the phones of all three occupants — Sawicki
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A WHITE | 2
Photos by Kaitlin Thorne/staff photographer
ABOVE: Incoming freshman Amber Dalian of Troy chats with members of her orientation group. BOTTOM LEFT: Dalian poses for her student ID photo in the Bovee Center. BOTTOM RIGHT: Dalian sits with her group eating lunch in the Down Under Food Court, part of the day’s activities.
GET PUMPED Freshman orientation excites new students for their introduction to CMU By Jeff Ketchman | Staff Reporter
Donuts and coffee greeted incoming freshmen as they prepared themselves for Central Michigan University’s Orientation Day and the start to a new chapter in their lives. Check-in closed by 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, marking the start to a carefully packed day for students and parents alike, who were separated into different groups by 9:30 a.m.
Parents were treated to seminars about student life, campus safety and financial advising. Students were divided into teams that participated in group activities, learned about classes and met with Academic advisers. Michelle Howard, executive director of academic advising and assistance, said 299 stu-
CMU taking lead with Charter Schools, Engler says at naming event
By Catey Traylor Senior Reporter
The work of former Michigan Gov. John Engler in the charter schools movement was recognized Monday when the Central Michigan University Center for Charter Schools was renamed to honor him. The dedication ceremony, held in French Auditorium, included keynote speaker Jeanne Allen, president of the Center for Education Reform, a roundtable discussion on charter schools in Michigan, and a dedication ceremony during which the CMU Center for Charter Schools was renamed the Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools. This is the first time something in Michigan has been
named after Engler, said Kathy Wilbur, vice president for Developmental and External Relations. “We’re honored to have (Engler) here today as a visionary and leader in the movement that started a tidal wave across the country,” she said in her address to the audience. In January 1994, Engler signed Michigan’s Charter School law, outlining a strategy to implement major reforms in public school education. In August 1994, CMU became the first university in the nation to charter a public school and has grown to be the largest authorizer of charter schools in Michigan, authorizing 56 schools. “The Charter Schools Center is an idea that has become a
part of American education today and represents some of the strongest values we have as a society,” Engler said. “Competition and choice really do matter, especially in times of needing superior performance with constrained resources. It’s important to have these options in the public school system.” Engler said the efforts CMU has made in authorizing charter schools has made an impact. “CMU is taking the lead on what is one of the most urgent urban challenges,” he said. During the roundtable portion of the dedication, Editorial Page Editor at The Detroit News Nolan Finley moderated discussion on charter schools in Michigan. “Charter Schools are where
innovation is available,” said Mary Kay Shields, deputy director of The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools. “You use real time information to mold your classroom to best fit the learning needs of students.” Dick Posthumus, Senior Adviser to Gov. Rick Snyder, said Charter Schools are just beginning to fight what will likely be an ongoing battle. “We’re currently fighting and will continue to fight the biggest civil rights issue of this decade. When (legislation) was first passed, it was part of a much bigger picture,” he said. “The public school system, at the time, was a monopoly. Those monopolies have become old fashioned.” university@cm-life.com
Charlotte Bodak/staff photographer
University President George Ross and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder listen as former Gov. John Engler gives his speech during his dedication ceremony Monday afternoon in the Education and Human Services building.
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