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MONDAY, SEPT. 30, 2013 | MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH. | ISSUE NO. 16 VOL. 95
»PAGE 9
International student enrollment grows at CMU
LIFE IN BRIEF AURASMA
By Adrian Hedden Senior Reporter
MOVING PICTURES Download the Aurasma app on your phone (it’s free!) and watch the paper come to life. Simply open the app, follow our channel, cmlife, hover your phone over any photo with our Aurasma logo, and watch as a video plays. Today’s story featuring Aurasma is Oktoberfest, found in a special section starting on page 5. Tweet us @CMLife or write on our Facebook wall to let us know your thoughts!
Oktoberfest lives T
LIGHTS OUT Find out how the looming government shutdown might impact you. w3
BACK IN THE DAY
he sleepy town of Mount Pleasant went on a trip to Bavaria last week. Students, residents and local businesses took center stage at the four-day Oktoberfest celebration outside Mountain Town Station. Amid guzzles and the grandiose, camaraderie grew to unprecedented levels. Central Michigan Life dove into the depths of the local spectacle, drank on rich brews and witnessed the excitement of one of Mount Pleasant’s newest attractions.
BRINGING HOME THE “W” CMU’s soccer team broke a seven-game losing streak this weekend when it beat Kent and Ohio. Check out highlights. w 12
While Central Michigan University’s freshman enrollment figures fell by more than 10 percent this year, other nearby universities are seeing significant growth in their classes. Eastern Michigan University enrolled freshmen for Fall 2013 in record numbers. Its record-setting 2,872 freshmen marked a 43 percent growth in size over the past three years. Western Michigan University also reported an increase, with 5.1 percent more freshmen this semester, up to 3,362 from last year’s total of 3,198. “Our dramatic growth in enrollment over the last two years, in which we are bucking state and national trends in declining freshman enrollment, demonstrates Eastern Michigan’s continued commitment to keeping costs down while increasing financial aid and investing wisely in key academic and student facilities,” said EMU President Susan Martin in a news release. “As we grow, we re-
main focused on our primary mission, which is to offer students an outstanding, connected academic experience that prepares them for today’s competitive job market.” EMU has also seen a dramatic increase in first-year undergraduate students, comprising of freshmen, transfer students and those looking for a second degree. First-year undergrads grew by 2.6 percent, from 5,076 students last year to 5,210 in Fall 2013. “There’s something about the EMU atmosphere,” EMU Student Body President Desmond Miller said in the release. “We have a vibe that no other school can match. Once you set foot on the campus, everyone makes you feel welcome. Faculty, staff and students are all friendly, personable and love the campus, and that rubs off on you.” EMU cited several reasons for its growth. By keeping tuition low, investing in new facilities, and improving residence halls, it says, the Ypsilanti university has maintained a steady incline in enrollment numbers.
How does CMU football stack up compared to BCS teams? »PAGE 10
Some CMU students helped show Cody High School students why it’s important to attend college. Check out how the day went only on »cm-life.com
11.4% CMU 5.1%
WMU
2.9% GVSU 2.6%
EMU
CMU’s incoming freshman fell this year by 11.4 percent, from last year’s total of 3,345 to Fall 2013’s total of 2,963. Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services Steven Johnson said a state-wide reduction in high school graduates and stiff competition from other schools contributed to the decline. w FRESHMEN ENROLLMENT | 2
OUT-OF-STATE NUMBERS
CMU’s out-of-state enrollment has also continued to grow over the years. Since 2007, on-campus outof-state students have increased at CMU by 77.7 percent, totaling 846 students in Fall 2013. WMU has also seen a 2.8 percent increase from 2,857 students last year, to 2,938 students enrolled from other states. EMU saw its out-of-state enrollment numbers grow slightly, by nine students, from 1,559 in 2012, to 1,568 in 2013. Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services Steven Johnson said some schools are focusing recruitment outside of Michigan.
w ENROLLMENT | 2
Campus Grow celebrates successful growing season By Kate Woodruff Staff Reporter
Life inside
2013-14 FreshmAn Enrollment
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SPORTS
w OKTOBERFEST | 5, 6, 7
CMU unique in declining freshmen enrollment By Adrian Hedden Senior Reporter
THE BREAKFAST CLUB Every Wednesday, a group of retired CMU professors from the 1960s get together to share coffee and memories of their days in Mount Pleasant. Step back in time with them w3
Inside, you’ll find extensive coverage detailing the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of Oktoberfest. The Mount Pleasant Brewing Company was on scene to indulge the masses on a larger scale than years past. As your senses are met with the brilliant images and tales that follow, remember to salute to harvest with the event’s single battle cry: Probst!
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POLITICS
Taylor Ballek | Photo Editor Mount Pleasant resident Hillary Williams dresses up as a beer maid Friday evening serving the Oktoberfest beer that has been brewing since June at Mountain Town Station’s third annual Oktoberfest.
International student enrollment has grown substantially overall throughout the campuses of the Michigan Mid-American Conference, including Central Michigan University. CMU, along with Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan universities, has recruited students from out-of-state and abroad in increasingly successful numbers. “We’re bursting at the seams with international students,” said Pamela Gates, dean of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences. “This year, CHSBS ended up with record numbers.” According to Gates, recruitment at CMU has expanded over the last three years to address potential students in Korea, Japan, China and Europe. She said CHSBS’s English Language Institute ended up with 130 unexpected students from abroad by the beginning of the semester. International enrollment throughout the university grew by about 200 students this year. “Demographics were down,” Gates said. “But now we’re having to hire more ELI instructors. It’s not quite as bleak as we anticipated.” CMU is reporting a 33 percent increase in on-campus international students, growing to 748 students from last year’s total of 562. Western Michigan University saw 7.2 percent growth at 1,688 international students, up from last year’s total of 1,575, boasting students from 104 countries. “We’ve seen a healthy growth in international enrollment,” said Cheryl Roland, executive director of University Relations at WMU. “We’ve been pretty aggressive in marketing, but it’s also been a lot of word of mouth.” Eastern Michigan University saw a modest decrease in international students, dipping from 829 in 2012 to 818 in Fall 2013.
Registered student organization Campus Grow celebrated its fifth year of successful harvests last night at its Harvest Party. The RSO reaches out to Mount Pleasant residents and students by donating food grown in a community garden behind Theunissen Stadium. The party brought together community members by providing a potluck meal and activities such as gourd painting and live music by Kavazabava, a local band. Campus Grow advisor Patti Travioli said the Harvest Party, as well
Multicultural Academic Student Services presents:
as the season kickoff Garden Party, were both created to bring together all the organization’s members. “The Harvest Party is just kind of an end of the year potluck get together, and we call it ‘Harvest Party’ because it’s harvest season and gardeners and community members can come out and celebrate the end of growing season,” she said. Those who attended the party praised the work of Campus Grow and some even had a personal investment in the organization, like Dewitt junior Taylar Miller.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH Serving our nation with pride and honor!
w GROW | 2
Morgan Taylor | Staff Photographer Students and community members gather to paint gourds at the Harvest Party hosted by Campus Grow on Sunday night near Theunissen Stadium.
Keynote Speaker
Andres Lara
“The Cuban Guy”
October 1, 2013
Anspach 161 @ 7pm Free And Open TO The pubLiC