New group a haven for ‘Harry Potter’ enthusiasts, 6B
TRICE | Heavyweight continues dominant career in third year, 1B
Friday, Jan. 14, 2011
Central Michigan Life
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
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illustration by chelsea kelven/lead designer
Much of MLK’s vision still waits to be realized By Michael L. Hoffman | Student Life Editor
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t has been 48 years since Martin Luther King Jr. declared he had a dream, but has that dream come into fruition? Assistant history professor Stephen Jones said while progress has been made, there is much work still to be done. Though the racial climate in America is less harsh than it once was, he said King would not be satisfied with the state of things. There is often a tendency, Jones said, to focus on the second half of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech rather than the entirety of the speech.
“While King is most well known for his fight against racism, the body of his work is on fighting economic injustices,” he said. “One quote of King’s I remember is ‘What good does being able to sit at a lunch counter do if you can’t afford to buy a hamburger and a cup of coffee?’” That quote, he said, is the essence of what King stood for: economic justice. He said King’s primary focus, while rooted in the civil rights struggle, was not just on black citizens. The average income of black families versus white families, for example, is something that needs to be addressed, Jones said. “If you look at the net worth of the average African-American family it, is one-eighth of the net-worth of a white family,” he said.
Inside w Gov. Rick Snyder to make MLK week appearance, 7A Stan Shingles, assistant vice president of University Recreation, said people should just “do the right thing,” but also make the most of opportunities given them. “Dr. King is often miscast as a dreamer,” he said. “But dreams are limited to a destination. King had a vision and that vision was about the journey, not the destination.” That journey is what Shingles said is the most important. The transition from the era of Jim Crow laws to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to the election of Barack Obama in 2008 are all crucial steps in the journey, but there A time | 6A
Stan Shingles wants to ‘make things happen’ for CMU diversity By Odille Parker Staff Reporter
Stan Shingles is a man not afraid to stand for diversity. Shingles, assistant vice president of University Recreation, has been part of CMU’s campus for the past 22 years. He has made it a priority to be a good ambassador in support of the university and its initiatives. “It is important for people to understand the wholesome nature of diversity,” Shingles said. “It is much more than ethnic diversity, and we must keep a
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moral compass for that.” In 1997, Shingles became the assistant vice president of Institutional Diversity. Being the second person to hold this position, he had a key role in making the first university-wide diversity plan. This plan was founded on CMU’s value of diversity within its environment. As the head of University Recreation, Shingles is responsible for recreation and wellness programs and services at CMU. As part of the Events Center’s mission, the staff works to provide an array of programs. Shingles
said he is committed to ensuring a venue that supports all different types of opportunities, people and events. Shingles is Stan Shingles also in charge of hiring staff and recruiting students. He firmly believes diversity starts by making sure it is present within the workforce. “There is a genesis within diverse planning and understanding of values,” Shingles said. “A
diverse workforce benefits everybody in terms of service and relationships.” Vincent Mumford, associate professor of physical education and sport and Shingles’ colleague since 2006, said he admires his passion and active commitment to student growth and diversity. “Stan isn’t just talk, he makes things happen,” Mumford said. “It is because of his active recruitment and determination that Health Management has A Shingles | 7A
DENIED | Read about men’s basketball win against Toledo, 1B
NEWS w Negotiations for on-campus hotel continues sans any controversy, 3A w Website highlights Academic Prioritization process, 5A
SPORTS w Men travel to Ball State, 2B w Commemorative poster senior Ryan Cubberly, 8B
Regular issue |CM Life returns to news stands Wednesday!
jake may/photo editor
Senior forward Will McClure jumps to block a shot Wednesday night in McGuirk Arena. McClure scored four points and recorded nine rebounds, two blocks and one steal. CMU won 65-52 against Toledo.
90 Years of Serving as Central Michigan University’s Independent Voice
Wrestler dismissed after sexual charge comes to light David Cheatham first registered at age of 14 By Gabi Jaye Senior Reporter and Justin Hicks Staff Reporter
A Zeeland freshman was removed from the CMU wrestling team after being charged with failing to comply with Michigan’s Sex Offender Registration Act. David A. Cheatham, 19, was arraigned Wednesday in Isabella County Trial Court and could face up to four years in prison for not informing police he was attending CMU. He has since been dismissed, said Steve Smith, director of public relations. Cheatham was 14 when he was first registered as a sex offender after being convicted in 2006 of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under the age of 13, according to Michigan’s Public Sex Offender Registry. State police arrested Cheatham Tuesday night at his Union Township residence. He lives at Tallgrass Apartments on 1240 E. Broomfield St. “We just heard that he was attending and looked into that,” said Sgt. David A. Kaiser of the Mount Pleasant Michigan State Police post. “We also saw that he
was on the wrestling roster.” Kaiser said when an individual registers on the M i c h i g a n David Cheatham sex offender list, they are given a list of rules they initial and sign. According to the Michigan Sex Offenders Registration Act, offenders are required to provide information to local law enforcement if they are working, volunteering or attending an institution of higher learning. “This wouldn’t be a surprise to Mr. Cheatham — every one of the sex offenders, when they register, have to read a DD4A form that outlines all the rules for them to stay in compliance with,” said Kaiser. “He received one of these forms, he initialed next to each one of those requirements, and also signed the bottom of (the form).” Kaiser said a registered sex offender can apply to as many colleges and universities as they want, as long as they notify local authorities of their decision. Cheatham bonded out of Isabella County Jail Wednesday. Smith said CMU was unaware of Cheatham’s status as a sex offender. Tom Bor-
A wrestler | 2A
B o a rd o f T r u s tee s
Vacancies could be filled within a week George Ross discusses budget in Lansing By Maria Amante Senior Reporter
The two vacancies on the board of trustees will be filled within the week, a source from Gov. Rick Snyder’s office told Central Michigan Life Thursday. The nominees will replace former members Stephanie Comai and Gail Torreano, whose terms expired Dec. 31. Kathy Wilbur, vice president of Government Relations and Public Affairs, said she cannot confirm or deny when the trustee-nominees will be named, or who they are. “Those are for the governor to announce,” Wilbur said. Ross visits Lansing University President George Ross met in Lansing Wednesday with Snyder; John Nixon, the state’s budget director and the President’s Council of the State Universities of Michigan, an organization of the 15 public university presidents. Wilbur said higher education funding was discussed at the meeting held in the Governor’s Conference Room. “It is very clear higher education will be in for a cut in the governor’s budget recommendation,” Wilbur said. State Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant, said it is necessary to adequately
fund and protect higher education. However, before he supports or rejects the governor’s budget, he will need to see what is proposed. “Every single budget will be looked to for cuts, and we’ll look to see what efficiencies (are available),” Cotter said. “It would be very short sighted to bring about cuts to higher education.” Wilbur said the governor is committed to having his recommended budget announced by mid-February because they want the legislature to reach an agreement quickly. She also said Snyder plans on creating a biannual budget as opposed to the traditional annual budgetary format. “They are quite determined to wrap the budget process by July 1,” Wilbur said. “We are pleased to hear things will be concluded by July 1 because that’s when our university budget begins.” Wilbur said the administration recognizes higher education is a very big part of the general fund, they had an honest discussion of what the university should expect during the meeting. “The president felt very good about progress with the governor,” Wilbur said. Though the budget was the primary topic of the meeting, Wilbur said the governor also discussed conclusion of board of trustee appointments throughout the state. university@cm-life.com