Life Sink or swim
cm
Central Michigan University’s premier news source and student voice since 1919.
LIFE ON CAMPUS
cm-life.com
FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014 | MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH. | ISSUE NO. 72 VOL. 95
»PAGE 7A
LIFE IN BRIEF METRO
HOMELESS MAN ARRESTED FOR THEFT FROM FINCH FIELDHOUSE A 71-year-old man
was arrested by Central Michigan University police, Monday, at the Charles V. Park Library. Douglas Elijah Browning was charged with larceny from a building, criminal trespassing Douglas Elijah Browning and malicious destruction of property. He was arraigned in Isabella County Trial Court, Tuesday, by Magistrate Sandra Straus. Police said he stole a backpack from Finch Fieldhouse owned by the recreation department, the contents of which were valued at more than $400. Lt. Larry Klaus of CMUPD said Browning had been living in Finch Fieldhouse for at least a couple of days. “He’s not a student here, so he can’t live in our residence halls and academic buildings,” Klaus said. Officers made contact with Browning on March 20, informing him he could no longer be in the building. After several reports of graffiti and theft were reported, Klaus said Browning was located through video surveillance and arrested on Monday around noon. Graffiti on the windows in Finch were reported to read “KJB reigns forever,” Klaus said. “The focus here is not the trespassing,” Klaus said. “He came here and stole. There was also the damage to property. We’re not snatching students up in the library.” When offered to be transported to a homeless shelter or the Isabella County Soup Kitchen, Browning refused service, Klaus said. He said CMUPD encounter six to 10 homeless people on campus per year, and always try to provide some assistance. “We’re here to help people,” Klaus said. “We want to assist people in getting their needs met. But we have residence halls and academic buildings. There are some boundaries. If (the homeless) continue to trespass, they subject themselves to criminal trespassing.” -Adrian Hedden, metro editor
LIFE INSIDE Students raise money, awareness one step at a time at ‘Heels for Her’ »PAGE 3A The man behind the arms »PAGE 1B
AD BE SMART & RE
Unique new intramural event makes a big splash
»PAGE 6A
Arin Bisaro | Staff Photographer Students compete in the Battleship attempting to sink each others’ ships Wednesday night in the SAC pool. Alpha Sigma Tau Team 4 and The Sinkers go head-to-head filing each others’ boats as fast as they can.
Michigan same-sex marriages in limbo By Kevin Andrews and John Irwin, Staff Reporter and Senior Reporter
Arin Bisaro | Staff Photographer CMU students share stories about their memories of St. Johns senior Jonathon Wadsworth in front of the Bovee University Center on Thursday night.
Students remember deceased student By Catey Traylor Senior Reporter
Jon Wadsworth was more than a roommate to Ryan Lewis. He was a best friend, a confidant, somebody with a similar sense of humor, and somebody who made everybody’s lives better. “We used to joke and talk in puns. For us, that was our language,” Lewis said. “We just bonded about it. It’s one thing I’ll
never forget. It made him – and our friendship – so unique. He’d walk into a room and brighten everyone’s day.” The St. Johns senior was found dead by police Tuesday. Police don’t suspect foul play. His loss has shaken the Central Michigan University community. That was evident by the near 100 people who showed up to a vigil Thursday night, despite the rain and cold weather, to honor the life of a friend they all described
as irreplaceable. Also remembered as kind, compassionate and always willing to lend a hand, about a dozen friends took turns speaking fondly of Wadsworth’s impact on their lives. “He was just always so passionate for people that he made everybody seen, even if they didn’t want to be,” said Port Huron senior Anne Russ. “He truly made an attempt to get to know w VIGIL | 2A
No same-sex couples were married in Isabella County on Saturday, while more than 300 were wedded statewide during a brief period in which it was legal. A voter-approved ban on samesex marriage was overturned March 21 in U.S. district court, in a landmark ruling that found it unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause. An appeals court put a temporary stay on the ruling about 24 hours later, haulting same-sex marriages in Michigan. Isabella County Chief Deputy Clerk Shelly Nelson said the county clerk’s office did not receive any marriage license requests from same-sex couples in large part because the office was closed on Saturday. The clerk’s office did receive numerous phone calls this week about the status of same-sex license requests in the county, she said. “We’re basically saying that the state hasn’t recognized any changes in the law yet,” Nelson said, “but if they do, then we’ll be as helpful as we can.” For same-sex couples married on Saturday, the status of their marriages remains unclear. Gov. Rick Snyder has sidestepped the w MARRIAGES | 2A
OUR LEGAL TIP OF THE WEEK Nobody likes their good time spoiled by a costly fine or criminal record!
CALL US & LET US SERVE YOUR NEEDS WHEN IT COMES TO:
• MIP • DRUNK & DISORDERLY
• DRUNK DRIVING • DRUG OFFENSES
• OPEN INTOXICANTS • NUISANCE PARTIES
J o s e p h T. B a r b e r i , P C 989-334-1400
A T T O R N E Y S
A T
L A W
www.centralmichiganlaw.com
2305 Hawthorn Drive Suite C • Mt. Pleasant