April 14, 2014

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Life

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RSO mentors kids and has fun at local park

MONday, APRIL 14, 2014 | MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH. | ISSUE NO. 79 VOL. 95

Life in brief METRO

City approves construction of Popeyes, tapas lounge Construction will begin on another Mission Street fast food chain this summer. Popeyes Louisiana Chicken was approved for development at 807 S. Mission St. on Thursday by the Mount Pleasant Planning Commission following a long debate about signage. Commissioners largely agreed with the planned brick exterior and fencing, but a question about safety arose over a large, monument-style sign Popeyes planned to have built on the corner of Mission and High streets. Anything built too close to the road could affect visibility at the busy intersection. Commissioners approved construction with the condition that the developer, D&D Real Estate Investments, LLC, would work with the city in finding a solution. Site plans for the project call for a patio to be built on the site’s northwest corner, which will be used for outdoor seating and as an entryway for pedestrians. Commissioners also approved a downtown tapas lounge to be built at 120 S. University Ave. near Dog Central. Commissioners unanimously approved the still-unnamed lounge proposed by Commissioner Keith Cotter, who abstained from voting and answered questions about the project from his fellow commissioners. - John Irwin, senior reporter

university

CCFA Dean ghanem a finalist for NIU job College of Communications and Fine Arts Dean Salma Ghanem is a finalist for the position of provost and vice president for academic affairs at Northern Illinois University, according to an announcement on the NIU website. Ghanem, who holds a Ph.D. in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, has been a professor and the CCFA dean at Central Michigan University since 2009. In her cover letter for her job application, which was posted on the NIU website along with her résumé, Ghanem cites her years of experience at CMU and her former role as the communications department chairwoman at the University of Texas Pan American. Although she has applied for the position and now stands as one of its top candidates, Ghanem said her application for the position is not a reflection on the state of CMU. “I was approached by search committee for the position,” she said. “If I were offered the position and if I decided to take it, that would be one thing. (However,) I do like it here a lot.” Ghanem also wrote in her letter that her daughter and grandson live in the Chicago area, and that “the proximity would be ideal.” -Ben Solis, university editor

LIFE INSIDE

See the upcoming events for Pride Week on campus.     »PAGE 6A Jeri Reid, a professor who teaches golf, tells her story on her battle with cancer and injury.     »PAGE 1B

»PAGE 3A

Potential enrollment boom on the horizon for CMU By Kurt Nagl Staff Reporter

Central Michigan University could exceed its goal of 3,300 incoming freshman next fall by as many as 300 students. About 3,500 students have already paid the $175 deposit fee to secure enrollment during the fall semester, and that number will only rise, said Thomas Speakman, director of Undergraduate Admissions.

At the same time last year, 2,221 students had paid the fee. “We are absolutely going to meet the goal of 3,300 freshmen this fall,” Speakman said, “and probably come in more around 3,600.” This is welcome news for a university dealing with decreased enrollment in recent years. Last fall, CMU saw an incoming freshman class of 2,963 students, the lowest number of incoming freshmen since 1997. Just four years

ago, CMU had its largest incoming freshman class since 1970. The number of new freshmen has declined 22.7 percent since the 2010 record enrollment, according to the CMU office of institutional research. In response to the dramatic drop, CMU launched its Strategic Enrollment Management Plan aimed at rebranding the university, revamping financial aid and ultimately reversing the trends. While many students, faculty and

staff were skeptical of the plan, the incoming freshmen figures show measurable improvement. CMU has received 8.9 percent more applications than last year and has admitted 13 percent more students, according to recently released admissions data. The increase, university officials said, can be attributed to new marw CMU ENROLLMENT | 2A

Enrollment improving for Michigan universities By Kurt Nagl Staff Reporter

Andraya Croft | Staff Photographer Delta Zeta and Pi Kappa Phi use props throughout their AC/DC routine during mock rock Friday. Some props included drumsticks, bandanas, guitars, a cardboard car and other cardboard cutouts.

For those about to rock

Greek community packs McGuirk Arena to finish Greek Week 2014 »PAGE 6A

With a smaller number of seniors graduating from local high schools, universities have been forced to be more competitive while trying to recruit them. Bin Ning, the executive director of institutional research at Eastern Michigan University, said EMU is taking the same approach toward enrollment this year, hoping it will yield the same results from its fall 2013 enrollment campaign. “The market is shrinking,” he said. “We hope we can maintain momentum.” EMU enrolled an all-time record of 2,904 new freshmen in fall 2013, according to the EMU data book. Unlike CMU and other competitor universities, freshman enrollment at EMU has steadily increased since 2010. EMU President Susan Martin has attributed the growth to increasing financial aid and investing wisely in key academic facilities. Like Central Michigan University, Saginaw Valley State University has faced a decline in freshman enrollment since it peaked in 2011. It enrolled fewer freshmen this year than it has since 2007, according to SVSU institutional research. To combat the trend, SVSU is taking a similar approach to EMU w ENROLLMENT | 2A

Threads fashion show dazzles audience with designs By Shardae Jefferson and Adriana Cotero, Staff Reporters

A picture paints a thousand words, and the Central Michigan University apparel merchandise designers of the 16th annual Threads fashion show, showcased plenty more. On Saturday, the Mount Pleasant community gathered in Platcha Auditorium to view the artistinspired designs, as the theme for this year’s show was “Out of the Gallery.” Prior to the strut, the 18 individual designers, duos, and their models, were packed into two rooms frantically sharing mirrors before taking on the catwalk. “Being cramped in such a small space is hectic, but fun,” said Fremont senior Kathleen McDonald. “There is a lot of different people and everyone has beautiful garments, so it’s nice to see the work in progress.” Each designer showcased his or her latest designs that matched an artist-inspired painting. After months of preparation, Threads provided AMD students with the opportunity to display their collections, and for some, their last. “This is my last time in threads and I really outdid myself,” said Karla Schulze, a Kalamazoo graduate student. “It was everything I wanted it to be. A good way to go out, with a bang – actually, with a twirl.” Shelby Township junior Janelle McLaughlin took part in her firstever Threads show by modeling for Shulze in a sea-infused outfit. “This is my first experience and the adrenaline rush brings out the excitement,” she said. “I like being on stage but it’s exhausting. I am a marketing major, so I don’t usually deal with this hectic capacity.” With help from their designers, models endured countless hours w threads | 5A

Morgan Taylor | Assistant Photo Editor Student models show off designs created by senior Kristine Opaleski and junior Ann Marie Servant in the Threads fashion show in Plachta Auditorium on Saturday night. Their collection was inspired by artist Joseph Mallord William Turner.

“There’s so much talent and hard work from the designers, it’s nice to experience it first hand.” Kelly Tuls, Mattawan junior Morgan Taylor | Assistant Photo Editor CMU students help each other with their makeup before the Threads fashion show in Plachta Auditorium on Saturday night.


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April 14, 2014 by Central Michigan Life - Issuu