Western Herald 96-14

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WESTERN HERALD S ERVING W ESTERN M ICHIGAN U NIVERSITY

AND

K ALAMAZOO

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M ONDAY , O CTOBER 24, 2011 V OL . 96 I SSUE 14

wm

YOU

Local curator lives vicariously

Lynn sits cross-legged on a honey-colored, short, wooden chair. Her voice creates an echo that resounds in the used-tobe gymnasium converted into Western Michigan University’s Archives and Regional History at East Hall. “We are walking in the footsteps of people Houghton who have gone before us,� she said. “Just think about all the people, all the students, all the faculty, all the staff that have been in this building. I feel like I’m having a shared sort of experience.� Lynn Houghton, regional history curator at WMU archives, said she is optimistic about the development plans for the century-old building. “The students that came here, you may look at photos of them and you may think ‘oh my gosh, they look so different,’� she said. “They may look different, but I think they probably experienced the same sort of pressures and joys and frustrations that students feel today.� Suggest people to be featured in our WMYou feature at newseditor@westernherald.com. -Erin Gignac News Editor

Solar power at WMU By Paul VanHevel Staff Reporter

In an effort to introduce energy efficient technology on campus, a series of solar panels will be erected near the Miller Auditorium parking structure. Western Michigan University and 32 other institutions are pooling their efforts in order to reach a billion dollar mark set by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The nationwide challenge encourages institutions to finance energy-efficient solutions while meeting the energy demands of today. WMU stepped for-

ward as one of the leading institutions to take on the challenge. However, their efforts are being met with varying levels of controversy. A series of solar panels will be introduced in an area where nine prominent trees have stood for decades. WMU’s decision to “go green� may be counterproductive. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, “a mature leafy tree produces as much oxygen in a season as ten people inhale in a year.� By replacing the trees with solar panels in this busy location, students may wonder if the installation is an environmental achievement or a publicity stunt.

“It has been WMU’s practice that for every one tree removed due to construction, loss or other related incident, two trees will be planted,� said Anand Sankey, director of maintenance services and engineering. “The nine trees will be replaced with 18 trees on campus.� WMU aims to cut the amount of kilowatthours by generating solar electricity, he said. This is made possible by the use of photovoltaic cells, which create an electrical current. “The calculated kilowatt-hour that will be generated using photovoltaic will further off-set the current methods of pro-

ducing electricity either by natural gas or coal,� said Sankey. “We will offset approximately 65,000 kilowatt-hours annually with green generation.� In the grand scheme of things, the WMU administrative office has made a valiant effort to improve the methods in which energy demands are met. A sustainable campus and, ultimately, a sustainable earth are long-term goals for institutions like WMU. Construction will begin late October and major construction will be completed by end of December. “Reinvesting energy savings in our campus infrastructure is a tradi-

tion that dates back more than 30 years at Western Michigan University,� said Jan Van Der Kley, vice president for business and finance in an interview with WMU News. “We’re proud to have done some pioneering work in this area and truly excited to be part of a national initiative that allows us to showcase what we’ve accomplished, achieve even more savings and continue our campus path to sustainability.� In the coming weeks, WMU will hash-out conflict as plans move forward to implement solar technology and other forms of renewable energy around campus.

CRIME BLOTTER Via the WMU Department of Public Safety t" CJDZDMF XBT TUPMFO BU p.m. on Oct. 11 from Waldo Library. t'PVS TVCKFDUT XFSF BSSFTUFE on charges of underage alcohol possession at 4:10 a.m. on Oct. 13. According to police reports, the subjects were drinking alcohol, spray painting the rocks, urinating and being excessively loud. t1PMJDF CSPLF VQ B Ä•HIU JO UIF lobby of the Valley III residence halls at 5:27 p.m. on Oct. 14. t" QMBTNB DVUUFS XBT TUPMFO from the welding room of the Physical Plant at 1:27 p.m. on Oct. 17. t"O )1 MBQUPQ XBT TUPMFO from Valley III between 3 p.m. Oct. 17 and 7 a.m. Oct. 18. t" TVCKFDU XBT GPVOE WBOEBMizing the pillars at East Hall at 9:22 p.m. on Oct. 19. t"DDPSEJOH UP SFQPSUT UXP white males broke the glass of the bus shelter near Ackley Hall at 1:05 a.m. on Oct. 21. Anyone with information on these or other crimes should contact the Department of Public Safety at (269) 387-5555 or online by emailing crime@ wmich.edu. -Joe Stando Staff Reporter

Poll

LAST

WEEK’S

What is your favorite Halloween candy? a) Kit Kat (12%) b)Reeses (28%) c) Twix (10%) d) Snickers (20%) THIS WEEK’S

What is your Favorite Winter activity? a) Skiing b) Snowboarding c) Snowball �ight d) Sledding To submit an answer go to www.westernherald.com

Photos Chris Kuhatschek / Western Herald

The area where WMU’s solar panels will be introduced.

Courtesy image

A three dimensional rendition of the final project.

Marijuana proposal may alter laws By Alyssa J. Trager the Kalamazoo Lowest Law Enforcement Policy Staff Reporter In November Kalamazoo voters will decide on a proposal to change Kalamazoo’s city charter to make possession of an ounce or less of marijuana by anyone 21 years or older to become the “lowest priority for law enforcement.� A presentation on October 24 at 7:30 p.m. on the third floor of the Kalamazoo library will be held to inform Kalamazoo residents on the proposed ballot. There will be an introduction by Daniel Grow, a Kalamazoo attorney at law, followed by welcome remarks by Louis Stocking the founder of

(LLEP) effort. Arguing the position will be Charles Ream, a Michigan LLEP statewide campaign manager and the coordinator of the Safer Michigan Coalition. The topic is “Why should Kalamazoo voters decide to make possession of small amounts of cannabis the lowest law enforcement priority of the city of Kalamazoo?� This is not a vote to legalize marijuana but instead to change police priorities in the city. The hope of the Kalamazoo Coalition for Pragmatic Cannabis Laws, who worked to pass the propos-

al, is that once the LLEP initiative for cannabis passes, the Kalamazoo police department can focus more on other crimes such as homicide, rape and car accidents. However, the proposal has some challenges it needs to overcome in order to get passed. State law requires that any city charter amendments proposed through a citizen petition must be submitted to the city’s voters notwithstanding the governor’s objections. Governor Rick Snyder passed the bill onto Michigan’s Attorney General, Bill Schuette for examination in accordance to Michigan’s cannabis law.

“The proposal was in accordance with the Home Rule City Act (HRCA) with two exceptions. First, the provision in the proposed amendment that defines an adult as an individual over 21 years of age is contrary to the Age of Majority Act, which states that any person over 18 years of age is an adult, Second, to the extent that this amendment seeks to interfere with law enforcement decisions or with the cooperation by city police officers with county, state and federal law enforcement, city officials have the authority to enforce state laws within the city that cannot be abrogated by charter provisions,� Attor-

ney General Shuette wrote in his letter to Governor Snyder. The Attorney General’s responsibilities in regarding this bill are to review the ballot language and make sure it is in accordance with the requirements for Section 21 of the HRCA. Shuette confirms this to be the case but according to his closing statement “our determinations of these questions pursuant to your request and the statutory requirements has nothing to do with whether the proposed charter amendment represents a wise public policy.�

See Marijuana Page 5

Western celebrates life of student By Tayler Cattera Staff Reporter

U.S. Army Capt. Drew E. Russell, a soldier from Scotts and 2008 Western Michigan University graduate, was killed last Saturday after enemy forces attacked his unit with a rocket propelled grenade in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was 25. A professional student and dependable friend, Drew will be missed by many. “He was the kind of friend you wanted to be like,� said Mark Bush, a senior at WMU and longtime friend of Drew’s. “He’s the guy I’d want my sister or future daughter to date. That’s how I’ll remember him.� Russell and Bush grew up together after becoming friends in the fourth grade when Bush first moved to Scotts. They went to Vicksburg High School together and also attended WMU at the same time. “I was devastated when I found out about Drew,� said Bush. “When I saw the missed call from his

house I just knew what happened. I broke down right then.� He said that Drew was always interested in being in the military. He wanted to serve his country and go overseas to “take care of business.� Bush recalls times when they used to play war as kids and said Drew was always very good and very quick. He liked the thrill of it and was always “rockin’ the camouflage.� “Drew loved what he was doing. He would joke about how now the government was paying him to blow stuff up and do all the crazy things we used to do as kids,� said Bush, laughing about a time when they got an over abundance of cheese cans and were shooting them with their pellet guns. Bush also laughed thinking of all the pranks Drew used to pull. “He would get this look on his face and you just knew he was about to do something,� said Bush. He talked about a time when Drew was 12 and took all the labels off the

cans in the Bush’s family pantry. They were eating food out of cans for weeks without actually knowing what were in them until Russell they were opened. Drew pulled that same prank right before deployment, Bush said. Although he loved to have fun and was always up for pulling a prank or two, Drew was also very serious, both as a student and as an officer. “He was very squared away as a cadet, someone you’d want to emulate if you wanted to move up,� said 1st Lt. Louis Harrington, one of the previous cadets who knew Drew. Before graduating WMU with a double major in criminal justice and military science, Drew was enrolled in WMU’s Reserve Officers Training Corps program. “He was what I call a high-speed guy,� said Maj.

Jeff Hoose, Russell’s MS3 instructor when he was a senior cadet in the ROTC. “He went above and beyond and just had that kind of drive. It showed he really wanted to be in the military.� Maj. Hoose explained that there are some guys that get it and some guys that do not. Drew was just one of those guys that got it. There was not ever a lot of work that had to be put into him. “He was very confident in his abilities but certainly knew his limitations,� said Lt. Col. Brett Johnson, the scholarship and enrollment officer who helped get Drew contracted into the ROTC. “I know he was doing what he wanted to go and was happy doing it.� Maj. Hoose said that Drew was one of those aggressive guys who would have never been content sitting in an office somewhere. “I mean I wasn’t there, but I know that if something was going bad out there, Drew would be right out front with his guys,�

said Maj. Hoose. Although remembered as being an extraordinary officer, Drew was also remembered for his sense of humor and his way of making everybody laugh. “He was real outgoing, said some pretty hilarious stuff,� said Lt. Harrington. “He could just walk into a group of cadets, tell a story and have the whole group of them rollin,� said Maj. Hoose. “We all really appreciated it.� Russell’s funeral was held at Vicksburg cemetery on Thursday, where people lined the streets holding American flags to show their support for the fallen soldier. “The outreach and outpour from the community was amazing,� said Bush. “It was very touching.� Lt. Harrington quoted General George S. Patton in his last words about Drew. “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who have died, but rather we should thank God that such men lived.�


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