1994-10-05; Central Michigan Life

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•Community prepares for Western Weekend
 PAGE 3
•High school teammates face off on field
 PAGE 8
•"Fresh" is best film of year
 PAGE 12
CMU RUGBY
CLUB 32
WOMEN
STRONG
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VOLUME 77, NUMBER 16
MOUNT PLEASANT, MICHIGAN 48859
1994 CM LIFE
(517) 774-3493
16 PAGES)
Insurance company
wants in on injury
lawsuit against CMU
By JILL BEHNKE
LIFE Staff Writer
Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Michigan, hoping to collect
reimbursement on medical benefits paid for an injured CMU
student, have asked to be added
as an intervening plaintiff in a
case against the university.
The company joined the case
of Brian Sheridan, a former student who suffered a spinal
injury in November. Sheridan's
legal guardian, Carlyn Sheridan is suing the university for
negligence.
The Sheridan complaint
claims the equipment used by
Brian Sheridan during a Gymnastics Club practice was
"dangerous and/ or defective
because of failure to warn of
hazards known to be associated
with the equipment."
Sheridan, of Bay City,
became paralyzed as a result of
the accident, but has regained
some movement through physical therapy. He no longer
attends CMU.
The Blue Cross complaint
was filed Sept. 6 by in-house
attorney Michael Skinner along
with an entry of an Order for
Intervention and Joinder,
which could give the company
the right to intervene in the
case.
Both the defendant and plaintiff have agreed to the intervention and are awaiting the
judge's signature on the order,
Skinner said.
Carlyn Sheridan is asking for
a settlement against CMU in
excess of $10,000. An exact figure has not yet been set.
Treatment costs following
the accident paid by Blue Cross
and Blue Shield to date total
$77,011. If Sheridan wins the
case against Central, that total
will be awarded to Blue Cross
and Blue Shield.
The terms of Sheridan's contract with the insurance company entitle Blue Cross to collect money recovered by the
plant iff for medical expenses, or
a jury can award reimbursement directly from the university.
Skinner described Blue Cross
as a "tag-along'* in the case. "We
do not start lawsuits. But if
Sheridan receives payment, we
stand in his shoes as a subrogee.
See INJURY Page 7	
'Elaborate' resort
plans rejected
By JILL BEHNKE
LIFE Staff Writer
Fearing increased competition statewide, the Saginaw Chippewa
Tribal Council last week rejected plans to build a $200 million casino
resort complex.
During a special meeting Sept. 27, the tribal council unanimously
ruled against the "elaborate" recommendations from the Entertainment Facility Task Force, according to council member Lorna Call.
Tribal Chief Gail Jackson said the council is looking to downsize the
project while also considering some new design plans.
Construction was slated to begin this spring on the resort complex,
which was to include a hotel, restaurant/ lounge, ice rink, amusement
park, convention center and multicultural museum.
The tribal council is still considering plans to provide a hotel and
restaurant and to put the existing Soaring Eagle Gaming complex
under one roof.
Tribal officials cited a number of reasons for the re-evaluation of
plans.
Call said the possibility of new gaming complexes opening in the
Lower Peninsula led the council's decision.
With the recent federal recognition of the Little Traverse Bay Bands
of Odawa Indians in the Petoskey/ Harbor Springs area and the Little
River Band of Ottawa Indians in Manistee, more gambling centers
could be developed in Michigan, said Joe Sowmick, public relations
director for the tribe.
Recent casino prospects in Detroit and Flint could also add competition close to home.
Kittel elected new
SGA vice president
by internal vote
By JASON TAIT
LIFE Staff Wnter
Student Government Association filled its empty vice presidential position Monday by voting Jeanie Kittel onto the executive board.
Kittel, Muskegon junior,
defeated Lisa Diaz, East Lansing
sophomore, 10-5 with four members abstaining from the internal
election.
Former Vice President Anne
Jamieson, Bloomfield senior,
resigned from her position last
week because of time conflicts.
"This is a golden opportunity
for me," Kittel said. "I have so
many ideas, and I thought this
would be the best year for me
because next year I want to concentrate on my studies."
Kittel is in her second year as
an SGA senator. She has chaired
the programming committee,
filled in as a volunteer secretary
during spring semester and
attended every formal board
meeting while a member of SGA,
said.
Eric Shumate, SGA president
and Detroit junior, said he
thought both candidates were
worthy of the position.
"I would have been pleased
either way; Jeanie will do a great
job for us," Shumate said.
Kittel said she was looking for-
3 accused of rape are students
County prosecutor
reviewing incident
By TODD FETTIG
LIFE Staff Writer
CMU's Department of Public Safety handed county prosecutors the
names of seven suspects linked to the gang rape reported by a
19-year-old female student early Sunday morning.
Three of the seven suspects are CMU students, said CMU Public
Relations Director Rae Goldsmith. The other four are believed to be
guests, she said.
Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick was reviewing the case
Tuesday. He declined to comment on when or if criminal charges will be
filed against the suspects.
The three students also face code of conduct investigations through
CMU's Office of Student Life, Goldsmith said.
The female student who reported the rape, a freshman, told DPS
officers that she attended an off-campus party with friends Saturday,
but lost track of their whereabouts.
She accepted a ride to campus from several men and was taken to a
residence hall room, where she was sexually assaulted by seven males,
she told police. The woman reported the criminal sexual conduct to DPS
shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday.
DPS officials said that according to the female student's testimony,
each of the men engaged in first-degree sexual assault, which involves
forced genital or oral penetration.
First-degree criminal sexual assault is a felony punishable by any
number of years of imprisonment, up to a life sentence.
The same offense is punishable through the university by an automatic suspension with the possibility of dismissal.
University officials are conducting an internal investigation in conjunction with the prosecutors office, Goldsmith said.
FALL HAS
ARRIVED
UFE Photo/Andy I
Facilities Management worker Randy Vredenburg, Ossinefce senior, does his
sidewalks leaf-free in front of the Bovee University Center Tuesday afternoon.
to
Jeanie Kittel
ward to working with the executive board.
"I feel that Eric and I will be
able to work well together," Kittel
said. "I believe I can work closely
See SGA Page 2	
Davenport discusses changes in
in program review with A-Senate
By CINDY TROMBLEY
LIFE Staff Writer
Interim Provost Richard Davenport addressed
faculty concerns and explained changes made to the
Phase II Academic Program Review Document
Tuesday at the Academic Senate meeting.
Davenport explained that the document still will
follow the 20-60-20 formula with slight changes.
Twenty percent of the programs will be labeled as
high priority; 60 percent as programs to be maintained; and 20 percent will be programs that
require substantial change.
But, now the last group will be broken into five
subgroups, Davenport said. These groups will contain programs that are to be eliminated, reduced in
size, redirected and focused, merged together or not
receive additional resources, he said.
Change also came to the Program Review deadlines. The Deans Advisory Councils now are
required to submit recommendations to Davenport
Nov. 15 instead of Oct. 28, he said. The recommen
dations will be based on information gathered from
departmental chairs.
This pushes back other deadlines, including
when Davenport will make his recommendation.
The new date set for the release of his recommendation will be Jan. 20, he said.
Davenport addressed questions raised about the
process of the program review, the breakdown of the
categories and the role of the Academic Senate
throughout the process.
After the meeting, Robert Newby, A-Senate
chairman and sociology professor, said the "tension,
anguish and anxiety" caused by the program review
stem from two concerns.
These are defining what role the Academic
Senate will play in the program review process and
the possibility that majors will be eliminated and
programs changed without recommendations from
the Senate.
Davenport also addressed other issues concerning the campus, including the potential for prob-
See MEETING Page 5