Feb. 20, 2015

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LIFE CENTRAL MICHIGAN

WOMEN IN COMMAND Women in ROTC encourage others to enlist

friday, feb. 20, 2015 | MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH. | ISSUE NO. 60 VOL. 96

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MPPD makes two arrests for transporting heroin Police say heroin use is increasing in Isabella County By Jacob Kahn Staff Reporter

In what police are calling the biggest drug bust from a traffic stop in the history of the department, Mount Pleasant Police Department officers arrested two Mount Pleasant women attempting to transport 13 bindles of heroin and 12 bindles of another unidentified drug. Officers stopped the women in their black Dodge Charger for having

illegally tinted windows and an improperly placed license plate. Officers identified the driver as Kristy Posthumus, 33, a federally-recognized Native American in the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Posthumus’ license was suspended and her vehicle was uninsured. Driving on a suspended license is a misdemeanor offense which requires officers to make an arrest. Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and found close to a gram of heroin and three quarters of a gram of an unknown white substance hidden in a Mentos container. Each bindle is one sixteenth of a gram. This discovery allowed officers to search the passenger, Audrey Shipman, a 31-year-old.

Shipman was in possession of two knives, mace and a large collapsible baton, which she said she was carrying for protection. Posthumus was arrested on three counts of possession with intent to deliver heroin, driving with a suspended license, and operating a vehicle without insurance. As a federally recognized Native American, Posthumus was arraigned in Tribal Court and will move through the Tribal Court system. Under Tribal law, narcotics violations fall under Title 1.2036 Controlled Substances, Narcotics. She faces one year of incarceration and a fine of $5,000. w heroin | 2

Courtesy Photo | Mount Pleasant Police Department Mount Pleasant resident, Kristy Posthumus, 33, was arrested while attempting to transport 13 bindles of heroin and 12 bindles of another unidentified drug.

A SHIFT in

CULTURE

Claire Abendroth | Staff Photographer Students cheer during the Northern Illinois game on Feb. 18 at McGuirk Arena. Central Michigan University went on to win the game 68-66.

Students flock to McGuirk Arena to support surging men’s basketball program Joe Judd Staff Reporter

During Central Michigan University’s last three Saturday home games, the men’s basketball team drew crowds of 4,041, 4,403 and 5,350 fans respectively, averaging 4,598 fans per game in that stretch. This is a level of popularity the team hasn’t experienced in more than a decade. The program has not seen a winning season since former head coach Jay Smith led the Chippewas to the second round of the NCAA Tournament during the 2002-03 season. Twelve years and two coaching

changes later, the 2014-15 team has a legitimate chance be a part of March Madness, and lift the program to the national stage. The Chippewas are 19-5 overall, 9-4 in Mid-American Conference competition. The team occupies the firstplace spot in the MAC West division. The feeling around campus is largely one of excitement and optimism. Students are coming out to support the team more than in the past. “When you’re at 80 to 100 percent capacity, that’s when you know you’re a program that’s going to continue to go forward,” Head Coach Keno Davis said. “Hopefully they’ll make a commitment to come out more because it’s w culture | 6

Bonamego to participate in saturday meet-and-greet at Soaring Eagle Taylor DesOrmeau Staff Reporter

Central Michigan Head Football Coach John Bonamego will be headlining a free meet-and-greet put on by the Chippewa Athletic Fund from 7-9 p.m. Saturday at the Soaring Eagle Casino ballrooms. A special program will begin at 8 p.m., featuring Bonamego, his coaching staff and the 2015

Judge dismisses Levitt v. Felton case By Ben Solis Staff Reporter

Attorney Todd Levitt’s case against Central Michigan University student Zachary Felton was dimissed Thursday in Isabella County Trial Court. Judge Paul Chamberlain issued a written opinion concluding that

Felton’s parody Twitter account is protected free speech. “The Supreme Court has held that certain statements are protected, even when provable false,” Chamberlain wrote. “In this case, (Felton’s) Twitter account cannot be reasonably interpreted as anything other than a parody account.” Chamberlain pointed to the

language of the Tweets as a clear indication of satire and the account made multiple attempts to distinguish it as parody. Levitt sued Felton in June 2014 after the two feuded on Twitter using their respective accounts. Felton’s account, titled Todd Levitt 2.0, posted tweets impersonating Levitt. The account also used Levitt’s logos and pictures.

recruiting class. Appetizers and a cash bar will be available. With space limited, fans are invited to RSVP to 774-6680 or email chipclub@cmich.edu. Special ticket pricing for Saturday’s women’s and men’s basketball games are available to those who RSVP for Saturday night’s event, including $3 tickets to the women’s game at 1 p.m. and $6 tickets for the men’s game at 4:30.

Mount Pleasant attorney Gordon Bloem represented Felton since the case’s inception. Bloem said he’s happy the case is over. Bloem said his client’s case was “solid from the get go.” Felton’s dense was aided by Grand Rapids attorney Jon Schrotenboer, who was added to the case in January. Felton’s family has an insurance policy that protects them from this type of litigation, Bloem said. Schrotenboer joined the case so the policy could pay the legal fees. Levitt does have a right to appeal.

Grawn Hall to undergo $10.8 million renovation By Sydney Smith News Editor

To encourage students to spend more time in Grawn Hall, College of Business Administration Dean Charles Crespy proposed a $10.8 million renovation that was unanimously approved at the Board of Trustees meeting Thursday. The renovations will add 6,600 square feet to the oldest building on Central Michigan University’s campus. Construction includes a public space for a collaboration area, expanded space on the first floor, integrating the first and second floors and re-orienting the entrance. Corridors will be updated and fire suppression will be added. A cafe, atrium space and quiet room for reading and studying will also be added. The College of Business Administration has more than $900,000 in commitments for donations to use on the renovations, and hopes to raise $5 million. The university will match donations to the project dollar for dollar. Plans for the renovation have been in discussion for about a year. The changes will be done in three phases of construction each summer and are scheduled for completion in 2017. The goal of the changes, Crespy w grawn | 2

Ross testifies to state Senate panel By Malachi Barrett News Editor

Testifying before a Michigan Senate panel in the Charles V. Park Library, Central Michigan University President George Ross highlighted how achievements of faculty and students directly benefit the state. The Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education selected CMU to host its first 2015 hearing on state funding for Michigan’s 15 public universities, also listening to testimony from Wayne State University and Michigan State University Extension. Ross appealed to panel members to consider the impact of Gov. Rick Snyder’s cuts to higher education funding, which puts a heavier burden on students and their families to pay for college. “There are universities that serve a largely homegrown population and who transform Michigan youth into the leaders of tomorrow,” Ross said. “CMU is one of those. Ninetyfive percent of our students hail from this Great Lakes State. When w ross | 2


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