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coding | CMU student
Director of operations leaves cmu for same position at penn state, 5
works endlessly on camera firmware to add features, abilities, 3
Central Michigan Life
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
union township
Trustees to vote on medical marijuana dispensaries Resolution would end six-month moratorium By Jordan Spence Staff Reporter
Union Township will present a draft of its medical marijuana dispensary resolution at its board of trustees meeting tonight at 2010 S. Lincoln Road. The township adopted a medical marijuana moratorium six months ago to have time to consult with lawyers, residents and trustees before creating a final draft of a resolution. “We are likely to approve (on) Wednesday, sending the measures to a public hearing at the July 13 meeting,” said Township Supervisor John Barker. “After which we may pass them.” The planning commission has completed its work and recommended the township get the drafted
photos by amelia eramya/lead designer
zoning text amendments and licensing ordinance. “How we zone the dispensaries is going to be similar to how we approach adult bookstores,” said Zoning Administrator Woody Woodruff. “We have outlined the framework where uses are permitted.” The zoning regulations state that a dispensary must be 500 feet away from schools and residential areas and 1,000 feet away from other dispensaries. It will not be easy for someone to obtain a license for a dispensary, Woodruff said, as there will have to be background checks, paperwork and hearings. “I think what our provisions do is protect our neighborhoods, schools, churches and day care centers from being in close proximity to any of these establishments,” Barker said. “At the same time, we seek to ensure that only legitimate A union | 2
Painted benches, chairs and writing desks occupy the streets of downtown Mount Pleasant for the Chair Affair 2011, a silent auction by Art Reach of Mid Michigan.
take a seat
Beaver Island offers students experience in natural world
Chair Affair decorates downtown Mount Pleasant with colorful furniture By Amanda Grifka | Staff Reporter
Colorful banners and sidewalk art across the streets of downtown Mount Pleasant will soon be complemented by creatively painted chairs, benches and writing desks. Chair Affair 2011, a silent auction by Art Reach of Mid Michigan, 111 E. Broadway St., began Monday and will last until July 23. Bidding and voting for the furniture can be done at the Art Reach Gift Shop. Forty-four artists are participating this year, including some from 11 area schools. Andi Hofmeister said the Chair Affair is a unique challenge. “What do you do with a canvas full of holes?” she said. Hofmeister, a Mount Pleasant resident and retired musician, painted a bench for this year’s auction.
Her bench is titled “Cherry Blossoms” and is sky blue with the titular flowers as well as a branch that comes out at viewers, she said. “It’s a rather bright bench,” Hofmeister said. The furniture sells for anywhere from $50 to $400, but some artists are known in the community and can sell for much more, said Kim Bigard, Art Reach gift shop and gallery coordinator. The People’s Choice award winner gets $100. Prizes for first, second and third place are also given to student participants for $100, $75 and $50, she said. Paula Clark Nettleton, director of the CMU Educational Materials Center, won the People’s Choice Award for past two years. Her chair this year is called “Bird’s Eye View.”
Biological station hosts 500 guests every year
“The seat looks like you are looking down on the rainforest,” she said. Her chair is on the auction, but not in competition this year. The chairs and benches were built by CMU engineering and technology students and area builders, according to the Art Reach website. Hofmeister said she participates in all three of Art Reach’s summer events, including the sidewalk art and banner displays. Nettleton said the events bring people downtown. “(Art Reach does a) fabulous job,” she said. “The day of the auction is fun for everyone with the banners flying, sidewalks covered in chalk, jazz music playing and the chairs all together.”
By Amanda Grifka Staff Reporter
Few students can learn everything they need for their degrees from inside a classroom — especially those studying biology. About 500 visitors come to the biological station on Beaver Island yearly, one of two island biological stations in the Great Lakes. Twelve classes are offered on the island. “It’s an amazing and unique opportunity for students to work very closely with faculty members and to build a tight community with their classmates, sharing ideas and discoveries as they happen,” said Zach Eagen, CMU Biological Station manager.
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Eagen said there is no plan to close down the station due to economical and ecological concerns despite some rumors. “More and more students are discovering this unique opportunity and one-of-akind learning experience and sharing it with friends,” he said. Rebecca Uzarski, a biology faculty member, said the station in northern Lake Michigan allows for field-based, hands-on learning that cannot be done on campus. Eagen said students typically spend the mornings in labs with their faculty and afternoons in the fields putting theory to practice. Daniel Wujek, a professor who teaches BIO 597Z3: Field Botany of Northern Michigan, said his students can go to a different field each day, which would not be possible A island | 2
CMU grad, mother recovering after bus accident May bus crash in Va. killed 4, injured 54 By Ariel Black Staff Reporter
Everything was on track for success for a triple-majored 2011 graduate from Nepal, until one fateful moment. Now, Pratik Chhetri and his friends are asking for any help they can get to cover medical expenses for himself and his mother. Early in the morning on May 31, Chhetri was celebrating graduation with his mother Geeta when they were involved in a bus accident,
injuring them and 52 other passengers and killing four. The accident happened around 5 a.m. in Virginia while Chhetri and his mother were traveling from North Carolina to New York visiting family friends. The bus, operated by Sky Express Inc., ran off the road and overturned. Chhetri suffered fractures on his thoracic vertebrae, while his mother, who was visiting from Nepal, sustained major spinal cord injuries. Chhetri has since been released from the hospital, but has a back brace. “He may need surgery down the road if his body doesn’t heal naturally,” said 2011 Nepal alumnus Samik Upadhaya, a close friend of
Chhetri’s. However, Geeta’s injuries were more severe, and she is still being cared for at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Va. “We don’t know the extent of her injuries yet, but (Geeta) just got off a ventilator a few days ago, so she can breathe on her own now,” Upadhaya said. “The priority now is to get her out of the hospital and into a rehabilitation center.” Upadhaya is also an international student from Nepal, and he and Chhetri plan to continue with graduate school at CMU for chemistry. Chhetri graduated this year with a triple major in biochemistry, biomedical sciences and mathematics.
“He’s a great guy and has been really active on campus,” Upadhaya said, who also lived with Chhetri. “You can say he’s an achiever. He does what he sets his mind to.” After Upadhaya heard about the accident, he spent a week in Virginia with Pratik and his mother. He said they talked to several lawyers during that week, and one has been finalized. Chhetri’s health insurance will soon run out, and in an effort to help pay for medical expenses, Upadhaya helped make a donation website for Chhetri and his mother at sites. google.com/sites/pratikfund. photo courtesy of samik upadhaya
A crash | 2
Nepal alumnus Pratik Chhetri, right, stands with his mother Geeta Chhetri.
91 Years of Serving as Central Michigan University’s Independent Voice
2 || Wednesday, June 22, 2011 || Central Michigan Life
EVENTS CALENDAR TODAY w CMU Summer Theatre presents "Proof," an awardwinning adult drama, 7:30 p.m. in the Bush Theatre. Tickets are $7.50 for adults and $5.50 for students and seniors. w Kay’s Day, a woman’s gathering, will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Blue Gator Sports Pub and Grill, 106 N. Court St. Cost is $35 a person.
THURSDAY w CMU Summer Theatre presents "Guest Artist" at 7:30 p.m. in the Bush Theatre. Tickets are $7.50 for adults and $5.50 for students and seniors.
FRIDAY w CMU Summer Theatre presents the play "Shivaree," 7:30 p.m. in the Bush Theatre. Tickets are $7.50 for adults and $5.50 for students and seniors. w Shakespeare’s "The Comedy of Errors" will be presented by The Friends of the Broadway and the Broadway Playhouse Kids from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Broadway Theatre, 216 E. Broadway St.
union |
w A photographer’s panel hosted by members of the Ziibiwing Center Photography Club will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Ziibiwing Center, 6650 E. Broadway Road. w Awaken to the Art of Watercolor, a class taught by Carole Howard, will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at Art Reach of Mid Michigan, 111 E. Broadway St.
SUNDAY w Marty’s Bar will host it’s third annual canoe trip, 12:45 p.m. at Marty’s Bar, 123 S. Main St.
Corrections Central Michigan Life has a long-standing commitment to fair and accurate reporting. It is our policy to correct factual errors. Please e-mail news@cm-life.com. Š Central Michigan Life 2011 Volume 91, Number 93
Central Michigan Life Editorial Connor Sheridan, Editor in Chief Randi Shaffer, News Editor Amelia Eramya, Lead Designer Erica Kearns, Photo Editor John Manzo, Maria Amante Senior Reporters Advertising Anne Magidsohn, Advertising Manager Professional staff Rox Ann Petoskey, Production Leader Kathy Simon, Assistant Director of Student Media Neil C. Hopp, Adviser to Central Michigan Life
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
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providers of medical marijuana are permitted in Union Township.� The township hired Andria Ditschman, an attorney from the Hubbard Law Firm in Lansing who specializes in the Michigan medical marijuana law, to assist in the process. Barker said the township sought the best legal advice it could by hiring Ditschman. Along with input from the staff and planning commission, Barker said she has drafted measures to help protect the health, safety and welfare of citizens. “All of us are aware Michigan’s medical marijuana provisions area (is) in a state of flux,� Barker said. “Written in the township’s rules and regulations are caveats that make growers responsible regardless of what changes come down in the future.� The township has made it clear that its measures give no immunity from federal and state prosecution, and is subject to change based on any future changes to the law. Woodruff said there have been three to four inquiries so far and the July 13 meeting will be the last chance for public hearings about the issue. news@cm-life.com
amber lafave/staff photographer
Caro resident Avion Urban, age 9, skateboards Tuesday at Island Park, 331 N. Main St. Urban first picked up skateboarding at age 5. “I just wanted to, so I did then I just got good,� Urban said.
crash | continued from 1
on campus without driving several miles. “Several students have later returned to do more intensive studies on the flora of the Beaver Island archipelago which have led to published scientific papers,� he said. Any CMU student can enroll in the classes offered on Beaver Island, Eagen said. He said many students who take a class at the biological station hold their experiences as one of their favorite memories. “I had an absolutely amazing experience,� said Port Huron junior Heather Hillman. “The real reward was seeing how grateful and excited everyone we helped was.� Hillman was in a one-week service learning class on Beaver Island she took through CMU’s Honors Program in May. Lowell junior Heather Burger also participated in the oneweek service learning class. “My class participated in service projects around the island such as helping the elderly, cleaning up historical sites in town and doing yard work for the biological station all while learning about our leadership skills,� she said. Morenci junior Thomas McVay said he took a crime scene investigation and zoology class on Beaver Island. In the CSI course, a mock crime scene was set up on the boathouse and the class had to collect and analyze evidence, he said. The course ended with a mock trial for the crime. “The time we spend out in the field and actually seeing that things we learned about in class made me realize that this was the kind of stuff I wanted to do for the rest of my life,� he said.
“While we hope the insurance company for the bus will cover all expenses, there will not be any payments until the case is settled, which will not happen for a long time due to the nature of the injuries,� Upadhaya said. “Pratik and his mother have no immediate family in the U.S. and have very limited resources.� As of Thursday, Upadhaya said approximately $14,000 has been raised, but there is still a long way to go. “People have asked me about insurance, and yes, it could help — but he needs the help right now over the next several months,� Upadhaya said. “As an international student, it’s limited. We’re looking to cover costs that insurance can’t.� Upadhaya said Pratik is not only internationally involved, but also in several chapters at CMU, student organizations and has received many awards and scholarships. He has done presentations, had journal articles published and many of the faculty members know him. Mathematics Professor Leela Rakesh said Chhetri is one of the kindest, smartest people she has known during her time at CMU. “He has worked with me on various projects — he is a very dedicated individual,� Rakesh said. “He has won my heart in every way.� She is planning to visit Chhetri in Virginia within the next week or so. David Ash, professor and chairman of the department of chemistry, said Chhetri is a thoughtful young man with a very bright future. “I have only good things to say about him from the eight years I’ve know him,� Upadhaya said. “It’s very unfortunate this happened to him. We’re just looking for some help.�
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IN THE NEWS
Utah’s Jon Huntsman joins crowded GOP presidential field By Lesley Clark MCT Campus
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman announced his candidacy for the presidency Tuesday, casting himself as an atypical politician and pledging to take the “high road� in his campaign for the 2012 Republican nomination. Huntsman, who only recently stepped down as President Barack Obama’s ambassador to China, decried the “corrosive� nature of 21st-century politics, saying he won’t “run down� his rivals for the GOP nomination — or the president. “I respect the president of the United States,� Huntsman said, the Statue of Liberty at his back, American flags at his side. “He and I have a difference of opinion on how to help a country we both love. But the question each of us wants the voters to answer is who will be the better president; not who’s the better American.� Huntsman, who made his pitch from the same spot where Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy in 1980, looked to his own experience as governor to sound themes popular with conservative voters: lower taxes, less government. Americans, he said, are experiencing “a sense that the deck is stacked against them,� but the United States has the means to
rebound. “What we now need is leadership that trusts in our strength,� he said. “Leadership that doesn’t promise Washington has all of the solutions to our problems, but rather looks to local solutions from our cities, towns and states.� He touted his record as governor, saying that under his leadership Utah cut taxes, flattened tax rates, balanced its budget and “when the economic crisis hit, we were prepared. We proved that government doesn’t have to choose between fiscal responsibility and economic growth.� He signaled support for reduced U.S. military involvement abroad, a day before Obama is to announce from the White House his plans to start drawing down troops in Afghanistan. The United States, Huntsman said, needs to “manage the end of these conflicts.� “It’s not that we wish to disengage from the world; don’t get me wrong. But rather that we believe the best long-term national security strategy is rebuilding our core here at home.� Considered a moderate Republican — he opposes abortion rights but has backed civil unions — Huntsman may find his path to the nomination complicated, strategists say. But his campaign says his background as governor and his foreign
policy experience set him apart in the crowded field of GOP hopefuls, none of whom has emerged as a consensus front-runner. A film crew captured Huntsman’s photogenic announcement as he crossed a wide green lawn to the waterfront stage, beaming and holding hands with his wife, Mary Kaye. The couple’s seven children joined them, linking arms. After the announcement, they were off to New Hampshire, where Huntsman has campaigned of late but where a recent poll found that just 14 percent of likely Republican voters viewed him favorably. Voters in New Hampshire suggest that Huntsman might have trouble carving out space from Romney, a neighbor who owns a home there and has campaigned nearly nonstop since the 2008 primary. “How does he separate himself from Romney? That’s a tough call,� said former Windham, N.H., Selectman Margaret Crisler. And though Huntsman can tout his foreign policy experience, voters suggest that raises other problems. “I’m not sure we can have someone unwilling to criticize President Obama,� said Jennifer Horn of Nashua, the president of We The People, a grass-roots conservative group.
cm-life.com/category/news
[News]
U-M, MSU, EMU avoid tuition increase threshold CMU to set rate at July 14 trustees meeting By Maria Amante Senior Reporter
amelia eramya/lead designer
Ohio junior Andrew Coutts works on a custom camera firmware in Anspach Hall room 014 while working for CHSBS Technical support Tuesday afternoon. Coutts said he prefers to work on the code while waiting for work orders because of the availability of monitors.
Student finds calling in coding Ohio junior expands potential of camera features By Amelia Eramya Lead Designer
Less than a year ago, Andrew Coutts discovered his calling. It requires him to notice intricate details and possess a sense of technical knowledge, though he is not on his way to a medical degree or a mechanic’s certificate. The Ohio junior is working on a custom camera firmware, initially developed for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, automating and porting its features to fit his camera, a Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D). He took the relatively regular camera and helped exploit its potential far beyond its abilities out of the box. Currently, the firmware supports several types of Canon cameras including the EOS Rebel T2i (550D), the T1i (500D), and the 60D. Coutts, as well as others across the world working on the firmware, uses a custom firmware called Magic Lantern, developed by Trammell Hudson. Hudson, who is currently the vice president of Two Sigma In-
vestments, LLC, a finance and technology firm, developed the firmware for independent filmmakers. “Hudson noticed the potential of 5D Mark II for filmmaking at a much lower price than professional video cameras and tried to overcome the main limitations of the standard firmware, the most glaring one being lack of manual audio control,” said 28-year-old Romania native Alex Dumitrache. Dumitrache is developing Magic Lantern for 550D and 60D, and is also assisting Coutts in working on the firmware. “I speak to Alex on a daily basis,” Coutts said. “I’d be nowhere if he didn’t answer all of my questions.” Coutts discovered the firmware on a developmental forum online, started by a developer nicknamed Chuchin, and since then has attempted to convert it to his camera’s body. To date, the thread is now 80 pages long, with Coutts’ updates and builds on codes for more than 2,000 followers. With his first update, Coutts said there were at least 100 downloads of the code. “I started looking into helping out with the developing, but gave up a few times when I couldn’t figure out how to make the source code compile,” Coutts said. “I can easily spend
10 hours straight on it.” He said when he first started getting into the code, he did not sleep for four days in a row. “It’s really time consuming,” he said, “And that is an understatement.” The firmware features multiple functions. One example is magic zoom, where the camera shows a magnified section of the image on the screen to help with focusing. The firmware also features bit rate control, which either lets you “double” the card capacity or bypass the 12-minute recording limit. The firmware also features Kelvin White Balance, a feature which removes unrealistic color cast from available light, and clean ISO values, which reveal how fast a camera reacts to light, on cameras that do not have such features in standard firmware, Dumitrache said. Additionally, the firmware includes a trap focus function. This feature allows the camera to take the photo when the subject is in focus and offers motion detection, which is useful for photographing lightning and birds. Coutts said he is constantly working on codes, testing and seeking errors to maintain the firmware’s development. news@cm-life.com
Wesley Center adding leadership center By Amanda Grifka Staff Reporter
CMU’s focus on leadership has found a follower in the campus religious community. A leadership center will be added to CMU’s Wesley Center, 1400 S. Washington St., a $325,000 project which began in February and is expected to be done in July. The leadership center will house eight students when it opens. “The new Wesley Leadership Center on campus is going to provide a great place where students will be able to grow and learn through leadership, friendship and faith,” said Wesley Events Director Emily Shinavier.
Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, June 22, 2011 || 3
Wesley Center Director Charles Farnum said $80,000 has been made in donations for the renovations. Farnum said leadership training will be provided by the CMU Leadership Program and community leaders. Students who do not live in the center will not be able to use the facility, but will still gain the rewards from the students learning leadership skills, Farnum said. Office Manager Lauren Atkinson said the center will provide a way for students to find their niches on campus. “The environment at Wesley is very inclusive,” she said. “No matter what your religious ideas and beliefs, everyone is welcome to be involved.”
Farnum said the center will have many advantages to the community. Residents will participate in daily spirituals and weekly meetings, and the center will remain open 24 hours a day. “We will have more activities on a regular basis (for the entire community,)” he said. Atkinson said the Wesley Center hosts Sunday dinners, movie nights, Bible study and other weekly events. Previously, Wesley unsuccessfully tried to start a coffee house. Farnum said he thinks this new project will be successful because more students will volunteer through the leadership center. news@cm-life.com
Eastern Michigan University avoided large tuition hikes while the University of Michigan and Michigan State University stayed the course. EMU’s Board of Regents announced a 3.65 percent increase Tuesday, and the other two universities’ were determined last week at their respective board meetings. U-M raised tuition 6.7 percent while MSU raised tuition 6.9 percent. Each undergraduate resident will pay $306 more at EMU, $797 more at U-M and $788 more each year at MSU. CMU will determine its own tuition increase at the July 14 board of trustees meeting. The Wayne State University Board of Governors will meet today to determine its tuition rate, but university officials have already stated a 7.1 percent increase is necessary to balance the school’s budget. Thus far, all of the state universities to have set rates have avoided a tuition restraint penalty which would result in a further loss in state funding. If schools exceed the 7.1 percent tuition increase, they will see additional losses in state funding beyond the 15 percent they will already lose in the state’s budget. Saginaw Valley State, Oakland and Western Michigan universities have also set their tuition rates. With a 15-percent cut, CMU is set to receive $68
million in state appropriations next year. University President George Ross has said to expect to see a “modest” tuition increase. Tuition rates were already raised 2.5 percent for master’s and doctoral tuition, and a 3 percent increase to ProfEd tuition. Barrie Wilkes, associate vice president of Financial Services and Reporting and university controller, previously said the final decision on tuition will
be made at the July board meeting. He said the board is shown a comparison of how other schools handled their tuition increases, but the board ultimately makes the decision independently. “There’s a comparison provided, but that is not key to developing the university’s budget,” Wilkes said. news@cm-life.com
voices Central Michigan Life
4
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
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Editorial Board: Connor Sheridan, Editor
in
Chief | Randi Shaffer, News Editor
Maria Amante, Senior Reporter | Amelia Eramya, Lead Designer | Erica Kearns, Photo Editor
EDITORIAL | CMU should keep potential tuition hike low to stand out from the pack
T
Bucking the trend
he university has a lot to consider as it finalizes its budget in time for the start of its new fiscal year, which begins July 1. At the same time, each of the university’s 15 peers are doing the same, also coming out with proposed tuition increases. CMU’s budget and tuition rates will be set at the July 14 board of trustees meeting. Most have walked a tightrope in approaching the 7.1 percent threshold between them and further cuts from the state budget; only Eastern Michigan University has increased by substantially less with 3.65 percent so far and Western Michigan University instituted the next lowest increase with 6.66 percent; Wayne State
University has already said it requires a 7.1 increase to balance its budget. This time of soaring rates presents a grand opportunity for CMU to buck the trend. This university could position itself well by avoiding a large tuition increase, or any at all. University President George
Ross has already said the tuition increase will be low, after noting a similarly modest 2.065 percent increase for the 2010-11 school year. The university would be seen very positively, especially in contrast to many of its peers, if the tuition increase was moderate to nonexistent. CMU has repeatedly said, while it considers other universities’ rates as part of its decision making, the call is ultimately made independently. CMU should continue this trend and absolutely not use other universities’ increases to excuse a similarly high tuition bump. Tuition has increased more than 300 percent since 2000-01,
soaring from $108.15 per credit hour to $346 per credit hour 2010-11. In that time, administrative pay has also seen increases and the university possesses unrestricted net assets equivalent to 82.18 percent of its budget; more than any of the other 15 public universities, as reported by the Detroit Free Press. Officials have said it is difficult to adjust where those assets are allocated. However, for the benefit of students and their families, the university should wherever possible reconsider where that money goes; if any of it can be used to lessen the impact felt by students and their families, then it absolutely should be.
KIM PATISHNOCK [CENTRAL SQUARE]
Maria Amante Senior Reporter
Lock your doors I did something stupid. We’re not talking anything too life-altering — just something people eschew or forget on a daily basis: I didn’t lock my front door over Easter Weekend. It’s something I’ve probably forgotten to do hundreds of times. Growing up in suburbia is no excuse, but I know that the habit was acquired after several years of living in a safe and secure cul-de-sac’ed road. Anyway, after years of leaving doors unlocked without any consequence, I got a serious wake-up call one Friday morning. At around 6:20 a.m., I woke to find a strange man in my living room. Shirtless, moaning and very, very drunk, he was laying on the couch with my front door wide open. I demanded he leave my apartment, which he ignored. I was alone that morning, and so I locked myself in my bedroom and attempted to maintain some form of composure as I promptly called 9-1-1. Thankfully, the Mount Pleasant Police Department arrived soon after my call, within five minutes and arrested the man. Much gratitude and many kudos to the MPPD, by the way. Nothing was stolen, and thankfully the only thing violated that morning was my pride, but obviously, it could have been so much worse. I feel incredibly fortunate that this situation was as mild as it was. A strange, shirtless man in my living room was obviously shocking and terrifying, but compared to what could have happened, this was clearly a preferable situation. The trajectory of my Friday morning could have been entirely different had I remembered something entirely simple: a simple turn of a deadbolt. The incident has proven to be a valuable wake-up call. I got lucky: I’m sure a thousand stories started like mine and didn’t end so neatly. My message, although obvious, is simple: lock your damn doors. It’s a simple, preventative measure that helps ensure your safety. It’s a cliché, but I can honestly say I learned this lesson the hard way. Central Michigan Life is the independent voice of Central Michigan University and is edited and published by students of CMU every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters, and on Wednesday during the summer term. The online edition (www.cmlife.com) contains all of the material published in print.
Never going back I harbor an immense dislike for the majority of my high school graduating class. So, when I got invited to an informal class reunion on Facebook, I let out a small laugh while swiftly clicking the “Not Attending” RSVP button. I graduated with the class of 2007 from a small school in a small village with a “community feeling.” The phrase “community feeling” meaning, of course, 70-something graduating teenagers who all knew way too much of each others’ business. I spent first grade through senior year of high school in the same community education system, graduating with many of the same students I had first enrolled in elementary school with. Throughout my 12 years of school, many of these students bullied me at worst and ignored
Randi Shaffer News Editor me at best. Despite my four-year commitment to my school’s cheerleading team, I was still one of the awkward, unpopular students who spent lunch hour eating in the library. The highlight of my high school career was the day it finally came to an end. I had been counting down the days until I was able to move out of the high school drama and onto CMU’s campus, a place where I was quickly able to make new friends and become actively involved with many organizations on campus.
So, why dwell on the past? I am one of those people who will probably never make an effort to go to a class reunion. Not only that, class reunions are pointless in today’s technologydriven society. I can use Facebook to check and see which classmates lost weight, gained weight, came out of the closet, had children or ended up in jail. Those students who were friends in high school still get together post-high school to hang out. Nothing has changed, aside from the fact that my classmates and I are all 21 now, and can get together in bars instead of barns. If I showed up to one of these gatherings, it would more than likely be a repeat of high school for me — gossip and drama. So, sorry, high school. When I said goodbye in June of 2007, I really and truly meant it.
[YOUR VOICE] Comments in response to “Sheriff ’s department looking for unknown man who assaulted woman near University Meadows apartments” John Evan Miller
it’s a felony to use a taser or a stun gun even in self defense. Personal alarms are about the best a woman/girl can do. Apparently there are some who don’t yet think this is serious business.
tion actually if they don’t allow for the increase. Come on CMU give the lower paid people there $900 bucks, I mean you are willing to pay out a person quitting the University hundreds of thousands of dollars for leaving! Highest enrollment in history with an increased tuition and you want to pretty much cut pay.
I hate how people like this seem to be gravitating to university apartments. This is a very similar situation this continues to occur throughout the country. It is sad to see that students have to walk around their university “home” in fear.
tellitlikeitis in reply to Momof6
Tazer Tommy
D66
Me
I hate it when girls walk alone like this. They need to all carry tazer guns or something so they can zap the idiots who do this.
Hard working non unions employees lose out again, lazy union protected workers make more money and do less work. Sad an employee making 35,000 a year does not get a raise. What is the rate of inflation, how much is gas? It is a pay reduc-
You really have to hand it to the Morning Sun... they are in print EVERYDAY and online ALL the time. It almost brings a tear to my eye...
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Momof6 in reply to Tazer Tommy Tasers are illegal in Michigan... Central Michigan Life is under the jurisdiction of the independent Student Media Board of Directors. Articles and opinions do not necessarily reflect the position or opinions of CMU or its employees. Central Michigan Life is a member of the Michigan Press Association, the Michigan Collegiate Press Association,
Well then pepper spray!!!! Comments in response to “University, Morning Sun clash over Wilbur’s statements on continuing senior officer salary freeze”
Trek The real “crime” here is the University denying what was said...well done Morning Sun.
Andrew Dooley Staff Reporter
Take my word for it Mount Pleasant is an absolutely wonderful place in the summertime, but to those who have left: please don’t rush back to check it out. The fairly pleasant flatlands are so great in the summer because you’re not here. I know this sounds like an insult, and in many ways it is, but hear me out. I haven’t heard a single Top 40 reggaeton/yelling guy song on a jacked system loud enough to shake my entire neighborhood since the weekend classes ended. “Shots” hasn’t been blasted through tinny, blown-out speakers at a volume loud enough to cause my leg to twitch. Not a single time. I haven’t been woken up at three in the morning by dubstep. Not once. There is the unfortunate occasional house being demolished at 8 a.m., but I take comfort in knowing that these renovations greatly reduce our Greek community’s potential exposure to asbestos and black mold. I cannot tell you how nice it is to ride my bicycle in the street, any street, without fear of being run down by a girl tanned to the color of jerky in a $70,000 German sedan. I play soccer in nearly abandoned parks, I swim in rivers empty of the usual tetanus mines of rusted out beer cans and I drink coffee in deserted cafes. The supermarket is barren, no longer teeming with people shouting debates about the relative merits of Cool Ranch versus Nacho Cheese Doritos. The bottle return is always available instead of looking like the waiting room at a Secretary of State branch. The library bathrooms no longer resemble Baghdad in 2003. Basically, almost everything about Mount Pleasant is wonderful, but please take my word for it. The strange paradox of the wonder of Mount Pleasant in the summer is that the more people who rush back to enjoy it, the less wonderful it becomes. I’m somewhat sad to report that I have accepted a job back in my hometown, and my plans to stay up here for the rest of the summer have been foiled. Interestingly, my departure will only make Isabella County a better place for all remaining residents and CMU students. There will be less shouting and kerfuffle, and one less idiot on a road bike slowing everyone down on Main Street. Though generally not true (boats, nachos and appendages are strong examples of the counterpoint), sometimes less is more.
E-mail | editor@cm-life.com Mail | 436 Moore Hall Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 Fax | 989.774.7805 Central Michigan Life welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Only correspondence that includes a signature (e-mail excluded), address and phone number will be considered. Do not include attached documents via e-mail. Letters should be no longer than 300 words and commentary should not exceed 500 words. All submissions are subject to editing and may be published in print or on cm-life.com in the order they are received.
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Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, June 22, 2011 || 5
[sports]
Szunko continues career with Flint Monarchs By John Manzo Senior Reporter
Former Central Michigan women’s basketball player Kaihla Szunko has gone semi-pro. The 6-foot-1 center is playing for the Flint Monarchs, a semipro team that is a part of the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League. “It’s a really good tune up if she gets a stint to go overseas,” said CMU women’s basketball coach Sue Guevara. The independently owned and operated teams choose between player agreements, as part of their operations. Salary is one aspect of these agreements. Most WBCBL players earn little to no money, as the league was designed to gain exposure through competition, hopefully using it as a stepping stone to lengthen professional careers. “Kaihla plays hard,” Guevara said. “She runs the floor, she rebounds, she’s got a nice touch around the basket and she’s got a variety of moves.” Szunko, the third leading rebounder in CMU history, isn’t letting the opportunity go to waste. In just six games, the Saginaw native is tied for the third-most points per game with 8.7 and is second in rebounds with 5.7,
just 0.3 behind Tamarah Riley. Szunko might only be in her sixth game, but her solid play early on has caught the eyes of the coaching staff. In those six games, she’s already started four. “She contributes in a lot of different ways,” Guevara said. “It’s always those hard hat ways, those lunch-pail type kids that get the rebounds, run and do the dirty work. There’s always room for those kids.” The latest game she appeared in was in a 69-56 win against the Cleveland Crush. She scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds while adding a steal. The Monarchs currently sit 1.5 games behind first place with a record of 6-3. Their next game is at 7 p.m. Friday at Oakland-Macomb. Long way from home Szunko isn’t the only senior from last season that’s getting an opportunity post-CMU. Shonda Long, the all-time 3-point leader at CMU, has signed a contract overseas with a team from Poland. More details about the contract are soon to follow. “She’s got to figure out how to say hello in Polish,” Guevara said. That might be the hardest part of the transition to Poland. Guevara said that the Chippewas’ style of play should make the transition easy on the Saginaw native. “Our style of play is very conducive to the European style be-
Director of basketball operations departs By John Manzo Senior Reporter
The Central Michigan women’s basketball program received some bittersweet news last week as director of operations Ethan Gelfand left for greener pastures. Gelfand has taken the same position at Penn State University. “It’s a great opportunity in his career,” head coach Sue Guevara said. He accepted the offer about a week ago, but the team was informed Monday. He’s leaving after five seasons at CMU, four of which were under Guevara. “He’s been a great addition to
our staff and we all love him,” she said. “We are all very happy for him. This is a major step in his career.” Prior to CMU, the Wake Forest graduate spent three seasons as the manager of the Wake Forest men’s basketball team. Gelfand was well liked among the program, but his departure opens the door for a replacement. Guevara said she’s currently looking over resumes and a decision will come soon. Follow CM-Life.com for more details about a replacement. sports@cm-life.com
oklahoma scheduled CM Life Staff Reports file photo by erica kearns/photo editor
Senior forward Kaihla Szunko goes up for a layup against Bowling Green March 11, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio during the MAC tournament semi-final game.
cause they get up and down the floor and they shoot the three.” The run-and-gun offense that CMU possesses should be more beneficial to Long, but it has its negatives. The Chippewas playbook isn’t exactly a novel, and is not
as complex as most. “She must adjust to coming off screens,” Guevara said. “If Shonda comes off a screen and there’s daylight, you know that baby is going up.” sports@cm-life.com
The Central Michigan University and the Oklahoma State University football programs reportedly agreed on a three-game contract according to The Morning Sun and NewsOK.com. The first game of the series takes place at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in 2015, with two other games in Stillwater, Okla.
z A s tec
as
Lo
Long signs contract with Polish team
IN THE NEWS
The Cowboys finished 11-2 in 2010, ending its season with a 36-10 win against Arizona in the Valero Alamo Bowl. CMU continues to added large conference teams to its non-conference schedules. It added Clemson to its 2014 schedule in late May. The Chippewas have upcoming games against North Carolina State, Kentucky and Michigan State for 2011.
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6 || Wednesday, June 22, 2011 || Central Michigan Life
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