March 26, 2014

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Life

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OVERSEAS EDUCATION

CMU grad excels teaching English in Israel

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014 | MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH. | ISSUE NO. 71 VOL. 95

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LIFE IN BRIEF

Group seeks new polling location on campus

METRO

CMU STUDENT FOUND DEAD IN OFF-CAMPUS APARTMENT A Central Michigan

University student was found dead Tuesday afternoon in his off campus apartment. Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said deputies received a call around 1:30 p.m. about a male who was found dead in an off-campus apartment, where he was confirmed to be a CMU student. “It was not a homicide,” Mioduszewski said. “Unless the autopsy shows something else, it was nothing criminal.” Mioduszewski was unaware of whether or not the parents of the student had been notified of his death. The name of the student and apartment complex he was discovered in were not released. The age of the student could not be confirmed, however, Mioduszewski said he heard the deceased was a senior. CMU officials were reached for comment, but did not know any additional information about the student’s death. -Tony Wittkowski, managing editor

TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO ARREST FOR POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA A 21-year-old Mount Pleasant man was arrested for possessing marijuana with intent to deliver and open intoxicants Sunday afternoon. According to a Michigan State Police press release, the driver was stopped on Pickard Road at around 1:30 p.m. in his 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix and was cited for texting and driving. The press release said that upon questioning, the man revealed he had “a lot” of marijuana in the vehicle. Michigan State troopers found approximately a quarter pound of marijuana, marijuana butter and an open bottle of Captain Morgan Rum. Michigan State Police Trooper Randall Jordan, could not yet confirm whether the man was a Central Michigan University student. Jordan said the man will be arraigned in the next couple of days. Following his arrest and arraignment, the man will likely face at least some jail time, Jordan said. “The punishment is usually up to the court, not us,” Jordan said. “One of the charges was a felony. It usually carries some sort of jail time.” -Megan Pacer, senior reporter

LIFE INSIDE Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month speaker asks students, ‘Who are you?’ »PAGE 3A Column: A cat saved my life »PAGE 2B

Representative from the Student Government Association makes case to city commission w

By John Irwin Senior Reporter

Arin Bisaro | Staff Photographer Singer/Songwriter Mike Mangione sings “Red-Winged Black Bird Man” off of his new album. Mangione, a blues/folk singer, tells the audience, “gospel music is about looking up, but blues is like being in the dirt looking up.”

Songs from the soul Mike Mangione shares music, family and faith in Kiva By Katherine Ranzenberger Senior Reporter

Mike Mangione has been on tour for seven years and has enjoyed every minute of it. The Americana-style musician said he keeps playing across the country because he loves to perform and needs money to raise his two daughters. “Because I’m so dependent upon the money from touring, I’m always out,” Mangione said at his Tuesday evening show in Moore Hall’s Kiva. “You kind of get used to it. It’s your exercise almost.” The folk-singer from Chicago shared his unique Americana style at an intimate show put together by the registered student organization, Reach Out. Many of the students in the RSO are part of St. Mary’s parish on campus. The group decided to bring Mangione to Central Michigan University to help introduce more students to the organization and to the Catholic community as a whole. Corey Luna, president of Reach Out, said a minister in the area knew Mangione and told him CMU was special. “We’re all about making connections,” the Saint Johns sophomore said. “You never know w MANGIONE | 7A

Arin Bisaro | Staff Photographer Andrea Gleason opens for Mike Mangione with songs from her new album “One of Those Nights” on Tuesday night in the Kiva Auditorium. Gleason is the music director at St. Mary’s Church on campus.

An on-campus voting location could be a future reality for Central Michigan University students and staff. Rockford junior Brynn McDonnell, the Voices for Planned Parenthood Student Government Association representative, spoke to city commissioners during the public comment portion of Monday’s city commission meeting. McDonnell urged Mount Pleasant to consider making the Wesley Foundation Church, 1400 S. Washington St., a polling location. She is among several SGA members who have worked toward establishing an on-campus polling location, potentially moving a location from Voweles Elementary School, 1560 S. Watson St., to the church. “They’ve been very interested in working with us on that,” McDonnell said of Wesley. She cited a survey conducted by SGA that found only 8 percent of students know where their polling location is, while 80 percent said they would be likely to use an on-campus location, should they be eligible. “Seeing as CMU students account for about 40 percent of Mount Pleasant’s population, the Student Government Association and the Residence Hall Assembly both voted in favor of an on-campus polling location that would be utilized by students and, obviously, faculty if they live in that area,” she said. McDonnell read testimony from SGA President Marie Reimers while speaking to commissioners. “Students have a right to easy access to voting,” Reimers said in the statement. “(CMU students) have a right to be heard. CMU students contribute through economic, academic and service means, and we have a right to easy access to political contribution.” McDonnell told commissioners about a conversation she had with one of her professors about the importance of moving the polling place. “Even if we can have just one student have that access to vote, w POLLING | 2A

A-SENATE

Student risk factors help determine retention rate figures By Katherine Ranzenberger Senior Reporter

Preparedness, uncertain finances and minority distinctions have been pegged as potential risk factors for students who leave Central Michigan University. Robert Roe, the executive director of CMU’s Office of Institutional Research and Planning, gave a presentation on retention rates and explained why risk factors can help formulate retention strategies. “In terms of recruitment, you don’t know the profile of your incoming class,” Roe told Academic Senators on Tuesday. “My point is not about recruiting the right kids. It’s about intervening with the kids you have.” University officials, including Roe and his department, have been looking at risk factors closely this year to ascertain how these factors contribute to student success in college. Officials have been looking into different ways the university can intervene early

enough to make an impact. The issue of recruitment and retention have been key points in university-wide discussions since enrollment began to decrease after the 2009-10 enrollment boom. Retention has been a common theme in presentations made by Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services, Steven Johnson, at various board of trustees meetings this year. According to Roe, the IR office looked at past literature detailing important, potential risk factors. These risk factors include preparedness, financial challenges, and the prototypical plight of minority and first-generation students. Risk factors are determined from the student’s application responses and information taken from ACT scores, federal financial aid reports and high school GPA. “Across time, (academic risk) is fairly stable,” Roe said. “The minority risk factor is increasing, but that’s w A-SENATE | 6A

Morgan Taylor | Assistant Photo Editor Executive Director of Institutional Research and Planning Robert Roe gives a presentation about being aware of struggling students before they get to Central Michigan at the Academic Senate meeting in Pearce Hall on Tuesday afternoon.


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