1991-03-15; Central Michigan Life

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Power through youth
Hispanic Awareness Celebration begins
Page 7
Sorely missed
Replacing personable coach won't be easy task
Page 10
Centra I
Michigan
FRIDAY
March 15, 1991
VOLUME 73, NUMBER 66
© 1991 CM LIFE
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! 14 PAGES
Coles resigns amidst pressure
Basketball coach
steps down after
turbulent season
I.There was some
pressure on me and I
had to weigh the
situation. The scales
were really tipped
against what we're
doing here. I felt that
it was in the best
interest of the University I resigned.*J
Charlie Coles
by RICK LUBBERS
LIFE Staff Writer
Men's basketball coach Charlie Coles resigned
Wednesday, saying he felt a push from within the
University to leave the job after six years.
Assistant coaches Dave Ginsberg and Bob
Sippell also announced their resignations to CMU
officials
Thursday.
Coles cited
a squeeze
from the
University
community
because      of
recent    poor
showings    in
the
Mid-Americ
an      Conference and
other
controversial
off-court
problems.
Coles'
official  announcement to CMU Athletic Director
Dave Keiiitz came Thursday. -  _-_   	
'It was agreed upon that I would be given a
chance to resign," Coles said. "I think I did it
because I wanted to, but I think I would be lying if
I thought that there weren't some other people that
wanted me to resign."
The Chippewas, 14-14 overall and sixth place in
the conference, did not match preseason expectations. Preseason media polls predicted Central
would finish third.
"There was some pressure on me and I had to
weigh the situation," Coles said, ^he scales were
really tipped against what we were doing here. I
felt that it was in the best interest of the
University if I just resigned."
Off-the-court complications include charges
brought against CMU guard Terrance Colbert, who
allegedly sexually assaulted two University
students.
Colbert, former Florida senior, is lodged in the
Isabella County Jail in lieu of a $25,000 bond.
Other off-court problems added to Coles'
dilemma, he said. He declined to elaborate on what
those problems are.
Although the final decision was his. Coles said
he felt a pLish from within the University to make
the move.
Keiiitz said Coles pondered the decision for a
good portion of the season.
"I think this is something; that Coach Coles has
Sixth-year CMU coach  Charlie  Coles strikes a classic'pose    at last weekend's MAC Tournament.  Coles resigned    Thursday.
LIFE Photo/Jeffrey Sauger
been considering for quite a while." Keiiitz said. "I
accepted his resignation and wished him the very
best."
CMU forward Melvin Kelly, Lansing senior, was
shocked by Coles' resignation announcement to the
team Wednesday.
"Wouldn't you be surprised too if someone
resigned and you heard nothing about it?" he
asked.
Several other Central players refused comment.
Keiiitz said CMU will begin searching for a
replacement immediately.
"We will be looking nationally for the individual
and get a letter to the NCAA News to advertise the
position," Keiiitz said. "It will take six or seven
weeks to find the best person possible for the job.
We want to take our time and get the job done
right."
During Coles' six seasons at CMU. the
Chippewas were 92 - 84 including a MAC Championship in 1986 - 87.
See RESIGN Page 2
MAG peers shocked at departure
by RICK LUBBERS    -
LIFE Staff Writer        .      " -\,"Tv  '  h*,;
' v News of Charlie Coles' resignation as CMU men's basketball    coach    surprised    many
people.
But no one was as startled as
Coles' peers around the
Mid-American Conference.
Ohio coach Larry Hunter
said Coles' announcement was
a "real shock," and that Coles
will be missed. /"" '
Coles, 49, officially resigned
Thursday, as did assistant
coaches Dave Ginseberg,' 44,
and 52-year-old Bob Sippell. "* ~
: "I have a tremendous respect
for Charlie Coles," Hunter said.
"He is a class individual, he has
a tremendous knowledge of the
sport and his teams were
always well prepared."
"The first thing that 111 say
about Charlie Coles is that he
did a great job at Central
Michigan," said Jim Larra-
naga, - Bowling Green coach.
"When I first came into this
league, Central's team won the
conference championship and
that team was as tough as any
of the teams we've ever faced."
CMU forward Melvin Kelly,
Lansing junior, said Coles was
more than a basketball coach to
the Chippewas.3■•:.-
"He was a straight-up guy,"
Keily said. "He was a disciplinarian, a motivator and a
friend."  '
r Predicted to finish third in
the MAC this season by ■ a
preseason media poll, Central
slumped to sixth place at the
end of the regular season,
finishing 14 - 14 overall.        \   3
CMU's failure to perform as
expected contributed to public
pressure and Cole's subsequent
VVlSS^S Se*e NEWS PaSe' 2
Judge denies motion
to reduce Colbert bond
by CRYSTAL HARMON
LiFF  Si.iff Wr.ter
Despite testimony from two
basketball coaches and a
sheriff, a judge Thursday
denied a motion in Isabella
County District Court to reduce
Terrance Colbert's $25,000
bond.
Judge Peter D. O'Connell
said he would uphold the
probation department's recommendation to not lower bond
because Colbert has "no ties to
the area."
Colbert, 23, former Florida
senior, is charged with third-
degree sexual assault of a
woman stemming from a Sept.
15. 1989. incident. Third-degree
sexual assault * involves
penetration through force or
coercion and is a felony punishable by up to 1 5 years in prison.
A civil suit filed by a second
woman also is pending in
Isabella County Circuit Court.
Colbert's    court-appointed
attorney Bruce Havens called
three witnesses to the stand to
vouch for Colbert's character
and reliability.
Former CMU men's basketball coach Charlie Coles said he
recruited Colbert from junior
college Miami Dade-South,
partly because he was
impressed by his "sparkling
academic record."
Assistant coach Dave
Ginsburg called Colbert a
"model student-athlete'' with a
2.68 gpa in an "academically
tough" business program.
Ginsburg said Colbert —
formerly of West Palm Beach,
Fia. — changed his official
residence to Michigan to save
the athletic department money
on his scholarship. If he had
remained a Florida resident,
they would have had to pay
out-of-state tuition.
Colbert      was     suspended
See COLBERT Page 2
Group to study Public Broadcasting role
by KAREN EMERSON
Lif-r News Fritter
President Edward B. Jakubauskas is in the process of appointing a
task force to examine the mission and funding of Public Broadcasting.
The president received recommendations for seven people to serve
on   the   task   force   —   five   confirmed   as   of Thursday,   said   Janet
Wagester, administrative assistant to the president-
Robert   Trullinger.   director   of  Extended   Degree   Programs   and
Credit Courses, will chair the task force.
"We need to look at what should the mission of PBS be in regard to
the mission of the University and what its role should be." Trullinger
said.
The group probably will meet sometime next week, he said.
Jakubauskas said he decided to form the task force in response to
one of the recommendations in the Budget and Planning Council's
Subcommittee Report of Budgetary Observations and Alternatives to
the President.
One of the expenditure reduction alternatives stated in the report
calls for evaluating Public Broadcasting's "mission and relationship to
the academic and public service functions of the institution," which
will help determine the amount CMU should fund Public Broadcasting.
Public Broadcasting includes public television and public radio.
"This will be a committee to look into the ways and means in helping
Public Broadcasting . . . this current year and years ahead," Jakubauskas said.
The task force will try to determine who should pay the mortgage on
the Public Broadcasting building, which Public Broadcasting moved
See PBS Page 2
Recall efforts aimed at Engler:petitions filed
by COLLEEN NEWVINE
LIFE Staff Writer
Another recall petition was
filed in Isabella County
Wednesday against Gov. John
Engler.
It is the second recall petition
within one week filed against
Engler.
In forms filed in the Isabella
County Clerk's office, Durand
resident Steve Fisher and
Twining    resident    Jacqueline
Shrader both cited Engler's
budget proposal as reason to
remove him from office.
While Shrader's document,
filed March 6, gives the short
explanation "state budget cuts in
human services." Fisher's more
recent petition is more detailed.
Fisher's stated in the petition,
"(Engler) refused to submit a
budget for 1991 - '92 which would
be proper and best for the good of
our citizens.
"He combined with others to
subject the people to a standard
of life which is contrary to our
Constitution, common sense and
God-fearing Christian principles."
Fisher lists examples of cuts to
General Assistance and Aid to
Dependent Children and a "lack
of interest in properly funding
the arts, museums and health
services of our state."
Both petitions now face clarity
hearings to determine if the
wording is proper to go before
state voters, with Shrader's
scheduled for March 19 and
Fishers March 28. said Betty
Prout, county clerk.
Isabella County collects all
such actions and makes the
determinations because Engler
is registered to vote in Isabella
County, she said. -
See RECALL Page 2
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