Athletics director Heeke signs new four-year contract By Aaron McMann Senior Reporter
Athletics director Dave Heeke, with a year remaining on his contract and his deputy out the door, said he had no intentions of leaving Central Michigan University. He held true to his word Thursday, with University President George Ross approving the work
he has accomplished, signing a new four-year contract that will keep Heeke at CMU through 2017. His original contract, signed in January 2011 paid him nearly $164,000 and blossomed to $225,334 this year. CMU will pay him $245,000 per year. A number of performance bonuses, for revenue-plus teams winning the Mid-American Conference
championship and reaching the NCAA tournament to academic achievements, are also included. “I’m happy and excited to continue my service here,” Heeke said Thursday night.
Dave Heeke
“As I’ve always said, it’s an honor and real privilege to be the athletic director at an institution like this. “It’s been a little bit of a process, nothing too lengthy. Dr. Ross and I have always had conversations about continuing the relationship and the service, and I’m glad to be doing that.” Since arriving at CMU in 2006, Heeke, a former associate ath-
letic director at the University of Oregon, has helped increase the athletics department budget from about $17 million in 2006 to nearly $25 million in 2013. Part of that has been a push for fundraising, with the department bringing in more than $1 million every year of his tenure. w HEEKE | 2
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FRIDAY, NOV. 22, 2013 | MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH. | ISSUE NO. 38 VOL. 95
LIFE IN BRIEF
BUDGET NUMBERS BETTER THAN EXPECTED FOR CMU Central Michigan University issued a budget update Thursday, describing higher enrollment numbers and smaller budget reductions than initially projected for its fiscal year. According to the update, students enrolled in 9,000 more credit hours than expected, totaling $3 million in additional revenue, leaving the campus-wide deficit at $15 million. Released by Barrie Wilkes, vice president of finance and Administrative Services, along with members of the Budget Priorities Committee, the update noted the increased revenue would help offset an $18 million budget gap. The release also mentioned a $6 million investment in new merit scholarship programs, offering awards to students with lower GPAs and ACT scores to attract more incoming freshmen. “The Enrollment and Student Services division continues to pursue expanded recruitment and retention efforts,” the update read. The Budget Priorities Committee also studied a voluntary retirement incentive program, the update said, to offset budget reductions. Ultimately opposed by the committee due the high cost and uncertainty in CMU’s financial future, the incentive program would have been the first since 2003 when the university saw significant layoffs from decreasing state aid. Co-chaired by Ray Christie, vice chair of academic administration, and English instructor Marcy Taylor, the committee and Wilkes are planning a campus-wide budget forum at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 22. Projections for the 2015 budget, will be refined next spring and summer as the Fall 2014 semester begins.
Taylor Ballek | Photo Editor The view of one of the four tunnels underground near the North Campus entrance Nov. 14. These tunnels are what power, heat and cool Central Michigan University’s campus every day.
Beneath the surface CMU’s underground tunnel system connects university, powers campus By Michael Nowak Staff Reporter
F
ew students are aware of what it takes to power Central Michigan University’s campus day after day. The answer lies beneath us. Since CMU’s earliest days, a labyrinth of underground tunnels has connected a majority of buildings across campus. There are numerous legends and folklore about what these tunnels have been used for, including some who believe students were once able to use the underground system to navigate their way around the cam-
pus during severe weather. However, John Fernandez emphasized their use as an infrastructure for utility lines. “They’re the arteries of how we transmit energy throughout campus,” said Fernandez, supervisor of utility operations, adding that the tunnels have never been open to students. Even if they could, the tunnels’ narrow and the confined space would make for a difficult voyage. It would also pose a major liability for the university to have students trying to make their way through the dark, dungeon-like environment
filled with hot steam pipes, valves and exposed, high-voltage wiring. The age and condition of the tunnels varies throughout the campus. The older tunnels near Warriner Hall are narrow with low hanging pipes. a virtual obstacle course to get through. In the newer, freshly paved tunnels, the steam pipes and wires are better organized than the ones that run under the older buildings. Jim Waters knows these tunnels like the back of his hand. As the primary maintenance mechanic responsible for the tunnels, he has spent the majority of his 17-year CMU career under-
ground. Waters is usually fixing pipes or checking on steam lines underground for 10-12 hours a day, and for the majority of the time, he is by himself. “One time, an albino corn snake popped out from under a bag and tried to bite me,” Waters said. “We have also found some long snake skins that we had looked at that turned out to be rattlesnake skin.” For students compelled to enter the tunnels, the consequences for trespassing can be serious, according to the CMU Police Department. w TUNNELS | 2
-CM Life Staff Reports
SPORTS
Taylor Ballek | Photo Editor “One time, an albino corn snake popped out from under a bag and tried to bite me,” Maintenance Mechanic Jim Waters explained while shining a light down a tunnel on North Campus Nov. 14.
FOOTBALL The team is looking to remain in the hunt for a bowl game with a win against UMass Saturday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. w8
Life inside Supreme Court affirmative action hearing could affect Mich. enrollment policies »PAGE 3 3D printer sculpts new horizons for future art students »PAGE 6 CHIPPEWA CHAT: Nick Carlos New Q & A series to get to know CMU student-athletes »PAGE 9
Katy Kildee | Assistant Photo Editor Older sections of the tunnels have rounded ceilings and less room to navigate, as is the case in this section underneath Warriner Hall.
Students show work, win prizes at 48 Hour Film Competition showcase By Stephen Cross Staff Reporter
Six student teams who participated in the 2013 National Broadcasting Society’s 48 Hour Film Competition received trophies for their films Thursday. The formal event presented the films that students worked on for 48 hours during a two-day period earlier in the month. “Everyone worked really hard on their films, so I was really excited for everybody to see their hard work,” said Troy sophomore Caitlyn Goins,
who was in charge of the competition. A variety of films were presented at the showcase, including a buddy cop comedy, a dating game show and a religious commentary film. The array of trophies that each team competed for included Best Film, Best Actress, Best Actor and Best Cinematography. Films were judged based on the design, content, direction, talent and production. Mount Pleasant junior Adam Baker accepted the award for Best Film as a producer for his film “Blood Now, Blood Later.” w FILM | 2
Samantha Madar | Staff Photographer Rochester freshman Katie Wolski presents an award for the 48 Hour Film Competition in Anspach Hall Thursday evening.