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cm-life.com
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Student pushes for change to SAC policy
College Republicans report: GOP in trouble
By Neil Rosan Staff Reporter
Students enrolled in an online class at Central Michigan University can now use the Student Activity Center without paying any extra fees. Before the policy change, students taking online classes had to pay a $30 membership fee for each session to use the SAC. Morley senior Christine Salvati worked to change the policy after she found out she would have to pay to work out. “For the first two weeks of the summer, they let me in, then one day they said I had to pay. I told them I was taking an online class at the university, but they said it was university policy,” she said. “The $30 wasn’t that bad, but that wasn’t the point. I could have paid it, but why should I when it should be a benefit for paying over $1,000 for an online class at Central (Michigan)?” Instead of going somewhere else, Salvati asked what could be done about the situation. “I stayed calm and asked them what I should do, and they sent me to the SAC office. They said they had no control over the policy, so I asked them where I should go next,” she said. She would end up visiting the Bovee University Center where she spoke with the Chip ID office and the Office of Student Life. Neither office seemed to know what she was talking about. “Honestly, it seemed like a lot of people were kind of short with me because I’m a student, not a faculty member,” Salvati said. Frustrated, she talked to her parents about the ordeal. “My dad said he would pay the $30 for me, but I told him no. It wasn’t just for me. I could have paid the fee myself, but I knew there were students who might not be able to,” Salvati said. “I told my parents. I couldn’t just let this happen. I know so many other students who are taking online classes who think they can work out at the SAC. It isn’t fair for them to pay either.” She then reached out to attorney and Central Michigan University fixed faculty member Todd Levitt via Twitter to see if anything could be done. Levitt gave her the phone numbers of some offices around CMU, and, eventually, Salvati was able to get in contact with the office of University President George Ross’ office. A SAC | 2
By John Irwin Editor-in-Chief
ViCtoria Zegler/PHOTO EDITOR
Former Student Publications Executive Secretary Jennie Vickers, left, cocks her head back and laughs over a joke made by Special Assistant to the Provost Darby Gwisdala, right, during a reception organized by the journalism department to commemorate her retirement Thursday at the Central Michigan Life office in Moore Hall
Saying goodbye Neil Hopp, Jennie Vickers retire following a combined 43 years at student publications By John Irwin Editor-in-Chief
Two Central Michigan Life mainstays officially reitred last week following two distinguished careers with student publications.
ViCtoria Zegler/PHOTO EDITOR
Former Student Publications Director Neil Hopp, left, hugs Special Assistant to the Provost Darby Gwisdala, right, during a reception organized by the journalism department to commemorate his retirement Thursday at the Central Michigan Life office in Moore Hall.
A special retirement reception was held for former Student Media and Publications director Neil Hopp and executive secretary Jennie Vickers in Moore Hall on Thursday. Hopp had served as Central Michigan Life’s adviser since 2001 and oversaw the newspaper’s transition into the digital age. He began his 50-year
journalism career with CM Life in 1963 as a student. He announced his retirement in November and is followed by former Big Rapids Pioneer Editor-in-Chief Dave Clark, who took over on May 28. Vickers, a constant presence in the CM Life newsroom, retired after more than 31 years
as secretary, managing much of the finances for both CM Life and the Central Review. Tricia Kierst follows Vickers as Student Publications’ new executive secretary after taking over the job on May 20. editor@cm-life.com
A new report from College Republican National Committee finds the Republican Party in deep trouble with young voters, who view the GOP as “closedminded, racist, rigid, and old-fashioned.” The 95-page report, “Grand Old Party for a Brand New Generation,” painted a “dismal” picture for the party in the wake of last year’s general election, which saw 60 percent of voters age 18-29 vote for President Barack Obama over Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who won 37-percent of the vote, according to CNN. The study cited the results of a series of surveys and focus groups that found young voters, even those typically considered Republican-leaning, identifying much more with the Democratic Party’s platform than the GOP’s on a range of issues, both economic and social. Central Michigan University political science professors said the survey’s findings indicate a serious disconnect between younger voters and the party. “Their issue concerns and priorities are fundamentally different from younger citizens in many ways,” political science professor J. Cherie Strachan said. “So it may be hard for them to understand and reach out to younger voters.” While the results of its study might be ugly for the GOP, the CRNC points to former presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, who both found themselves competitive among young voters, as a sign Republicans can make themselves appealing to new voters again. “The GOP absolutely can win over young people again,” the study says. “But this will not occur without significant work to repair the damage done to the Republican brand among this age group over the last decade.” The party finds itself falling behind young voters on a wide range of issues. According to the report, 54- percent of those polled said taxes should be raised on the wealthy, long a non-starter for the GOP, compared to 31-percent who said taxes should be cut for everyone and only 3-percent who said taxes should be cut for only the wealthy. A REPORT | 2
Fifth annual Le Tour de Mont Pleasant bike race held Friday through Sunday By Amanda Brancecum Staff Reporter
Hundreds of professional and amateur cyclists, will pedal their way through Mount Pleasant this weekend for the fifth annual Le Tour de Mont Pleasant bicycle race Friday through Sunday. The race is hosted by the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce. The action starts Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the Student Activity Center with the twilight time trial, a track of 3.78 miles. “(The race) lasts over three days and placed in three different locations in
Mount Pleasant; the event is special,” said Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bret Hyble. A road race is set to take place near the Ziibiwing Center on Saturday with a pro road race and a shorter road race that will take cyclists through Isabella County. “The men’s road race was reduced to 107 miles, but it is still very grueling and popular for the pro racers,” Hyble said. A final day of racing on Sunday will end at the corner of Broadway and Franklin streets in downtown Mount Pleasant with
the criterium race and three other community races. The criterium is less than one mile long and is a closed course. Unlike the other races, the criterium is multi-lapped. “It’s a great event to not only watch as a spectator, but also a great opportunity to get involved on Sunday with the community at the business relay race, children’s races and the family fun ride.” Hyble said. A free children’s race will start at noon for kids ages three through nine. A RACE | 2
File Photo by Charlotte boDaK
On June 9, 2012, cyclists race down the street as the men’s time trails of the Tour De Mont Pleasant begin in downtown Mount Pleasant.