LIFE CENTRAL MICHIGAN
[ I N S I D E] w TRACK & FIELD: McCullough, Kulidzan advance to NCAA championships, 3 w ALBUM REVIEW: Gotye’s “Making Mirrors” contains pleasant, diverse surprise, 4 w FOOTBALL: Mount Pleasant native Billy Myler leaves team, 5
Central Michigan University
| Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Baseball makes run in MAC tournament, falls short Saturday, 3
[cm-life.com]
Knight named interim PR head after Walker exit By Aaron McMann Editor-in-Chief
University President George Ross moved swiftly Tuesday, appointing former journalist Sherry Knight interim associate vice president of communications following the abrupt resignation of Renee Walker. Knight, 48, has spent the last 16 years running Knight Writers, a Saline-based communications firm she founded in 1996. She will be on campus
today through Friday and again next week, meeting administrators and colleagues. “I need to get a good Renee Walker idea of what needs to improve,” Knight said. “We’ll be moving swiftly, with lots of openness and integrity. My entire communications process is through
openness and integrity.” Walker, associate vice president of university communications since 2008, resigned Sherry Knight Friday, two days after CM Life reported that costs for the redesigned cmich. edu neared $1 million, a number much larger than originally released by university officials.
Roger Rehm, Vice President of the Office of Information Technology, called the wrong numbers “miscommunication.” In February, CM Life uncovered documents revealing the university had allocated $10 million from its operating budget to fund the $22.5 million Events Center, a project conveyed to the public as funded entirely through private donations. In an email sent to the campus community Friday afternoon,
Ross said he and Walker came to a “shared recognition that a change in leadership at this time will enable CMU to prepare for the next academic year with a fresh perspective of its communications opportunities.” CMU Director of Public Relations Steve Smith said Walker announced her resignation Friday afternoon to colleagues, and emptied her office. Walker’s CMU email address was met with an automatic reply: “As of May 25, I am no longer working
for the university.” Walker, who was due to make $122,570 for the 2011-12 year, will remain on the CMU payroll until June 8. Smith said he was not allowed to release how much severance pay Walker will receive due to the document’s contractual nature. CM Life has submitted a request for the documents under the Freedom of Information Act.
A WALKER | 2
Progress made on housing, Anspach projects
ADMISSIONS
Betty Wagner moving to post in advising
By Samantha Hegeman and Phil Pomber Staff Reporters
By Orrin Shawl Staff Reporter
After 17 years as Director of Admissions and 31 years in the admissions office, Betty Wagner decided it was time for a change. Effective June 11, Wagner has resigned from her position and will become the Assistant Director of Parent Services in the Academic Advising department. Associate Director of Admissions Kevin Williams will serve as interim director while Central Michigan University conducts a national search for the replacement for the fall semester, Wagner said. “It’s been a very stimulating, rewarding job,” Wagner said. “I don’t regret any of my time in admissions.” Wagner said she feels more experienced working with parents to figure out the best options for their kids when deciding on a college. Her new responsibilities will include contacting parents to see if they are succeeding at CMU, how they feel about their services, working on a website for parents and sending them emails. “I’ll be working on enhancing the relationship between parents and Central Michigan University,” Wagner said. “It’s an exciting time in their lives coming up to Central and deciding whether or not we are the right choice for them in terms of their future education.” Executive Director of Academic Advising and Assistance Michelle Howard said Wagner will be recognized as a leader in the department and will give added focus to tremendous
MAIN: Mount Pleasant resident and World War II veteran Joe McCormick watches the Memorial Day parade in downtown Mount Pleasant Monday morning. TOP: Ribbons hang on McCormick’s jacket. MIDDLE: Members of the Mount Pleasant Honor Guard march downtown during the beginning of the parade. BOTTOM: McCormick twirls a flag while he listens to his son tell the story of his time serving in the military in the 1940’s after the parade.
fore being taken to a hospital in the Fiji islands. McCormick said anyone considering joining the military should be careful. McCormick’s nephew, Mount Pleasant resident Scott Martin, said his uncle returned from the war to raise
The Central Michigan University graduate student housing project is near 25-percent completion. Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management, said about 50 percent of the block work remains to be completed, along with all of the brick, roofing and interior work. Lawrence said that no changes to the architectural aspects of the project have been made. However, a few utility connections were developed to adjust for issues unaware of until excavation occurred. “The expansion of the parking lot is currently underway and will be done before school commences in late August,” Lawrence said. “Concrete block and pre-cast concrete deck work continues, chilled water lines were just installed and steam condensate lines will be started in the next few weeks.” The construction team appreciates everyone’s patience and understanding as the project continues, Lawrence said. The projected finish remains March 2013, with a total cost of $28.5 million. Joan Schmidt, associate director of Residence Life, said the project is a great investment for CMU. “I am hopeful it will enhance the graduates’ experience,” she said. CMU lost 96 units in Preston Apartments when the music building was built and 128 units in Washington Court apartments when
A WAGNER | 2
APARADE | 2
A Renovation | 2
PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA HEGEman/CHArlotte bodak/staff photographers
Brothers in arms World War II veterans honored in Mount Pleasant Memorial Day parade By Orrin Shawl | Staff Reporter
Two heroes rode down cheering Mount Pleasant streets in a black Mustang, leading Monday’s Memorial Day parade celebrating. The two World War II veterans, Joe McCormick and Andy Cascarelli, both received acknowledgements from VFW Post 3033 Commander Nicholas Cononico during his ceremonial speech at the parade.
McCormick, who fought in the pacific from Pearl Harbor to the end of World War II, had his transport ship was sunk by a torpedo. The attack forced him to float in the Pacific Ocean for 36 hours before being rescued by planes and ships, he said. McCormick continued to participate in the battle for about a week be-
Flag football, Turbo Jav events to be part of Special Olympics this year By Cecilia Erwin Staff Reporter
This year’s Special Olympics Michigan Summer Games, Thursday to Saturday, will feature some new events. For the first time in SOMI history, a flag football expo will be held Thursday from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and Friday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Dan Ekonen, manager of
volunteers and coaches’ education for SOMI, said the expo will introduce flag football to coaches and athletes as a potential sport in which they can compete. “It will be the first time anyone from our program at Special Olympics Michigan has seen it,” he said. Eight teams are coming from all across the state, Ekonen said. Each team can have up to 12 athletes, with five-on-five game play. Ath-
letes participating in the expo will practice flag football skills and drills and then play in actual scrimmages, he said. SOMI will also introduce a new sport this year: Turbo Jav. “Turbo Jav (mini javelin) is an official competition this year,” said Kimberly Purdy, senior director of public relations and marketing for SOMI. The mini javelin competition will be held on Friday
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., south of Bennett Track. The State Summer Games will also feature appearances from sports celebrities and pageant royalty, including former Detroit Lions T.J. Duckett and Tom Kanka and Miss Michigan Elizabeth Wertenberger. There will be a celebrity autograph signing on Friday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Events Center Atrium. Elizabeth Viele, the 2011 Inspirational Athlete of the
Year, will run the last part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run. She will light the Flame of Hope at the opening ceremonies, which begin Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Kelly/ Shorts Stadium. Viele, 27, from Dimondale, will be competing in gymnastics. “I’m really excited to do it in front of people,” she said. “But I’m also nervous about lighting the torch.” Nicholas Cross, the 2011
Spartan Stores Healthy Athlete of the Year, will lead the athlete oath at the opening ceremonies “I’m a little nervous,” he said. “I haven’t done public speaking well before.” Cross, 22 of Wayne, will be competing in aquatics. Deb Cross, Nicholas’ mother, said she was proud of her son. “I am so excited to watch that,” she said. “I can’t wait.” university@cm-life.com
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