1991-02-11; Central Michigan Life

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TO'Ni&Hi
Broken record
Gymnasts shatter high score in Ball State win
Page 10
Central
Michigan
Predictable thrills
Film delivers suspense, not originality
Page 9
MONDAY
February 11, 1991
Blindfolded men
not hazing victims
by NANCY SALLA
LiFF  Staff Writer
The University will not take
punitive actions against six
fraternity members possibly
involved in an orgcinizational
hazing incident in Bovee University Center's Cafe Express Feb.
3.
The six men — four of whom
were blindfolded and two not
blindfolded     —     were     active
members participating in a
fraternity ritual or ceremony,
said Steve Grenus, assistant
director of the Office of Student
Life.
Grenus refused to release the
name of the fraternity involved
"to help protect the group's
rituals."
"The men said they placed the
blindfolds on themselves and did
not     suffer    anv    discomfort    or
Officials wait for Engler
to follow up on promise
by TOM KENDRA
UFE  Copy Ed'tor
CMU officials are waiting to
see if Gov. John Engler will put
state money where his mouth is.
Engler promised during his
campaign that if elected, he
would work toward equitable
funding for Michigan's public
universities.
Now in office, it's time to see if
Engler will follow through on his
words.
Engler will announce his
budget for the 1991 -92 fiscal
year March 9. and CMU officials
are hoping it contains a university funding formula based more
on enrollment and less on
politics, said Greg Morris, executive assistant to the President
for Government Relations.
A funding formula based on
student headcount will likely
mean a bigger percentage of the
state's higher education pie for
CMU, Morris said.
The question remains — will
Engler change the state funding
process?
"I would say we will at least
see a move in that direction."
said John Truscott. Engler's
press secretary. "A change in the
process would be incremental.
(Engler) would like to see a start
this year and move it along in
the next four years."
Any proposals set forth in
Engler's budget must be passed
by the House and Senate.
A possible first step toward
equitable funding would be
establishing a "floor." which
would be the minimum amount
per student each university must
receive. Truscott said.
Morris    said    he    thinks    true
"equitable funding would occur by
simply dividing the total dollars
allocated for higher education by
the number of state college
students.
C M U e s t a b 1 i s h e d an
equitable-funding formula
committee in January to
evaluate new funding formulas
coming out of Lansing and to
suggest its own to legislators,
Morris said.
For the 1991 fiscal year.
Central received a general
appropriation of S56.1 million or
roughly S3,300 per on-campus
student. Most of the 14 other
state universities receive much
more per student than CMU.
Morris said, although he did not
have specific figures.
The reason for this funding
discrepancy. Morris said, is that
the state's current method of
university funding is based on
one thing — politics.
"Right now we do not have a
formula," Morris said. "One
school could have 10.000
students and one could have 10.
and that school could conceivably get the most money."
CMU did a study two years
ago to illustrate the inequity in
the current funding process.
Morris said.
According to the study, if
Central received the same
amount per student from the
state as Northern Michigan
University. CMU students would
be able to go to school for free
and also receive $200 each.
"Right now. it all comes down
to which legislator has the most
influence." Morris said.
Those with the most influence
sit on a House or Senate appropriations committee, particulary
the higher education subcommittee, Morris said. Neither local
See STATE Pace 6
Less than 50 percent
of Central students
graduate in four years
by KAREN EMERSON
LiFF  News Editor
The one-time dream of many young people to graduate with a
college education in four years is turning into a nightmare for more
and more students.
About 40 percent of CMU's 1.434 May 1990 graduates — roughly 570
students — actually took four years or less to finish their coursework,
said Gary Shapiro, director of Institutional Research.
In an "in-house report," Shapiro said he profiled the number of years
it took students who started CMU around 1985 to graduate.
It took five years or more for 30 percent of last year's graduates to
finish, and the remaining 30 percent took between four and five years
to graduate.
"I don't think the University encourages its students to graduate in
four years," Shapiro said. "There are just a variety of reasons why-
students can't make it."
Some of the reasons he cited included increasing tuition bills —
which force some students to take fewer credits than they are capable
of— and changing requirements within departments and colleges.
The Admissions Office often attracts "quality students" capable of
See FOUR Page 2
Risk of blackouts may fade
harassment.'  he ^aid
Because   the   blindfolding   did
not apparently involve any force
or  discomfort   of the  four blind-
See CAFE Page 5
by MICHAEL DOYLE
LIFE Staff Writer
The chances of a lengthy campus blackout may
flicker and fade with an upgrade of the University's primary electrical system.
The State Administrative Board, a decisionmaking team comprised of Gov. John Engler, a
budget department head and other leading legislators, approved $1 million worth of additions and
renovations of the high voltage system Feb. 5 after
waiting almost five years, said James Tryon,
senior project manager at Facilities Management.
Tryon said former Gov. James J. Blanchard
promised  in  1986 to provide state funding for an
improved electrical system at CMU following an
area flood.
The flood disrupted power on campus and
resulted in the dismissal of classes for a week.
When Blanchard left office in January, the
Engler administration followed through on the
commitment.
"This latest step should put us in real good
shape," Tryon said of the project.
Although blackouts hit CMU frequently during
the past few years, the odds of their occurrence will
decrease when renovations are completed, he said.
See ELECTRICAL Page 17
The Thrill Of Victory
LIFE Photo/Cindi Smith
Special Olympian Jonathan Sura, 18, of Mount Pleasant, receives
a gold medal for his victory in the 75-meter slalom snowshoe at
Sugarloaf Resort in Cedar Thursday. See stories on page 3.
Marines exchange videotape with students
LIFE Photo/Brent Henderson
Patty Martino, Sterling Heights sophomore and Buffy Uhrig, Flint
sophomore, watch a video that U.S. troop members sent them after
receiving a home video the students mailed to the Middle East.
by JASON WILKIE
L;FE  Stdff Writer
Residents of Beddow Hall saw life aboard the USS Guam when they
received a videotape from Marines they have corresponded with since
October.
The videotape was filmed at various times before New Year's Eve
and much of it takes place while in port.
The tape, filmed by Adam Friehotz, a Marine stationed on the
Guam, began on the ship's deck with introductions from Marines to
the CMU students.
Along with introductions, the Marines showed what they did on
deck of the USS Guam — an aircraft carrier for CH-46 transport
helicopters.
Many Marines gave names, rank and job on the ship — and
thanked students for writing.
Other Marines waved and did not say anything, appearing too
embarrassed for videotaping.
Friehotz taped the takeoff and landing of a CH-46 helicopter to show
exactly what the crew did.
The videotape also showed what life below deck is like. Friehotz took
the camera into the bunk room and showed the cramped sleeping and
living arrangements.
One Marine showed how he fit everthing he owned into a 3-by-3
locker.
Snack food is not a problem for the Marines. A computer
programmer showed all the candy, peanuts and crackers the crew
received that is stashed in file cabinets.
The videotape showed many off-duty Marines reading magazines,
watching television or playing practical jokes for entertainment.
But what seemed to entertain the Marines most was a videotape the
Beddow women made and sent for Christmas.
Friehotz filmed many of the Marines in what looked like a television
room, watching the Beddow video.
Jeff Mosher, a Marine aboard the USS Guam, said he watched the
See VIDEO Page 17
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