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Wednesday, April 24, 2013
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Graduate Assistants host second ‘grade-in’ in support of GSU By Justin Hicks Senior Reporter
FILE PHOTO BY LEAH SEFTON
On Oct. 23, 2010, Sophomore right tackle Eric Fisher wraps up Northern Illinois defensive tackle D.J. Pirkle at the line of scrimmage at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Ill.
Big Fish Eric Fisher’s draft stock has risen since the end of the 2012-13 football season
University offensive tackle Eric Fisher has had a long journey to the top of the NFL Draft boards.
But, his journey will end Thursday night when his named is called and he walks across the stage, becoming the newest member of one of the 32 teams in the NFL. Whether he goes as the No. 1 overall pick to Kansas City, No. 2 to Jacksonville or down to No. 5 with the homestate Detroit Lions, Fisher will be in the NFL
A GRAD | 2A
DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA
By Kris Lodes | Sports Editor
Former Central Michigan
Central Michigan University graduate assistants took part in a “grade-in” Monday in the Education and Human Services Building to raise awareness for the ongoing Graduate Student Union contract negotiations. More than ten GAs took turns at Monday’s grade-in, showing their support for the GSU and the issues being discussed with administration at the bargaining table, while also grading final exams. GSU President Michelle Campbell said the gradeins have been helpful, and bargaining is heading in the right direction for the union. “I think it went very well, especially considering our GAs are some of the busiest people on campus,” Campbell said. “I think we’re on the right track for a strong and successful union.” Participants of the second grade-in had signs posted above a table outside Einstein Bros. Bagels and the French Auditorium, which displayed the number of classes taught by GAs, the number of students taught each year and how much revenue their students make
CMU in comparison to their annual salary. “As a graduate employee at CMU … my classes alone make CMU at least $130,320 per year, and I only make $10,300 per year,” one sign read. Campbell said the bargaining team picked the EHS building because it houses the bargaining meetings with administration. Rachel Hackett, a biology teaching assistant, said professors and faculty members came to talk throughout the morning, and the gradeins have been valuable in bringing their views to the administration’s attention. “We’re doing the sit-ins to show to the administration the TAs at the college are behind the bargaining committee, and it’s not just TAs who have these concerns,” Hackett said. Some of the GSU’s major concerns include the lack of employer-sponsored health insurance and available materials, as well as reducing the delay on their first paycheck. Hackett said despite other CMU employees receiving paychecks after the first two weeks of classes, GAs deal with a much longer delay.
come Thursday night; a dream come true for the Rochester Hills native and Stoney Creek High School graduate. See “‘‘There are only 32 opinions that count right now’” on page 7A sports@cm-life.com VICTORIA ZEGLER/PHOTO EDITOR
Director of Student Publications candidate Jim Knight answers questions from the public during an open forum Tuesday afternoon in the Central Michigan Life conference room in Moore Hall.
ACADEMIC SENATE
Enrollment strategies highlight final meeting By Brianna Owczarzak Staff Reporter
Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services Steven Johnson said Central Michigan University will adapt its enrollment strategies. The state of Michigan has seen the second-highest decrease in high school graduates in the nation, and Johnson said it’s important for CMU to continue recruiting students, despite the smaller selection of graduates. “We have to compete for fewer and fewer students,” Johnson said during Tuesday’s Academic Senate meeting. “We have to find some other market in which to recruit.” According to Johnson, the state is expecting a 15-percent decline in high school graduates by 2020. For the 2013 fall semester, undergraduate applicants are down seven percent, admitted students are down 12 percent, and student orientation payments are down 20 percent at CMU. For transfer students, an eight-percent decrease has been noted for
Finalist addresses concern over conflict of interest Knight: ‘Accountability and transparency’ will make this work By Justin Hicks Senior Reporter
KIRSTEN KEARSE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Assistant Professor of Philosophy Mark Shelton discusses the possibility of having fixed-term faculty representation on the Senate Tuesday at the Academic Senate meeting in Pearce 138.
both applicants and admitted students. “We want to make sure we position ourselves to have the right number of students at our university,” Johnson said. “We need to go deeper to understand the students
we’re looking to recruit at this institution.” During the presentation, Johnson highlighted some of the enrollment challenges facing CMU, including increased competition with other institutions and college
affordability. “We have done our best to maintain (college affordability),” Johnson said. “Unfortunately, students are still A A-SENATE | 2A
Director of Student Media and Publications finalist Jim Knight wasted no time in addressing the “elephant in the room” Tuesday during his public interview. Knight, a 1984 Central Michigan University alum, was the first of three finalists for the position to hold a public interview for the position, whose duties include overseeing and advising Central Michigan Life and The Central Review. “Yes, my wife is (Associate Vice president of Communications) Sherry Knight,” Knight said in front of more than 40 students, faculty and media board members. “She runs the communications department here at CMU, and there are times when her office and what you do
here — they don’t always match up.” Rather than deny any conflict of interest, Knight agreed his marital relationship was an obstacle, though it is one he said can be worked through. “My take on it is we can find the accountability and transparency to make this work, (but) I can’t do that alone,” he said. “You can’t watchdog yourself, so you have to build in a system that makes it work, and that’s this room.” Professor of Journalism Jiafei Yin told Knight she doesn’t doubt his personal and professional integrity, but is concerned about a shift in the public’s perception of CM Life due to his marriage. A FORUM | 2A
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