1998-06-03; Central Michigan Life

              Central Michigan LIFE
Volume 79, Number 89
Mt. Pleasant,  MI 48859
©1998 CM LIFE
78 years of serving the community
WEDNESDAY
June 3, 1998
10 pages
Area residents still have no power after Sunday's storm
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By Heather VanDyke
LIFE Copy Editor
As of Tuesday evening, 5,500 Isabella County
residents and businesses are still reported to be
without power, according to Consumers Energy
officials.
Isabella County residents are still trying to
pick up the pieces, thanks to one of the biggest
storms to ever hit the lower peninsula of
Michigan.
Winds were reported to be as high as 80 mph,
said Dan Houser, meteorologist in charge at the
National Weather Service office in Grand
Rapids.
"I'm sure it was all straight-line winds,"
Houser said. "There were no signs of a tornado.9*
Charles Maclnnis, director of news and information for Consumers Energy, said as a result
of the storm he has sent out numerous crews in
an attempt to revamp the electrical systems
within customers' homes.
"We have all of our electric line crews from
Ludington to Muskegon to Bay City, Saginaw
and Flint," Maclnnis said.
Maclnnis said there is a large number of people able to provide assistance.
"We have 270 Consumers  Energy crews,  50
contract crews and separate  companies we've
asked to provide assistance,99 Maclnnis said.
Companies spanning throughout the United
States are willing to come forth with their
resources to assist the surrounding area,
Maclnnis said.
"We have called upon other utilities in
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania,99 he
said. "Approximately 145 two-member crews
are coming to Michigan (or are already here)
and we are seeking additional crews that may
be able to provide assistance to us.99
Although there is an abundance of man power
now available, Maclnnis said he is concerned it
may not be enough.
"Even with this large number of workers in
place, it will take till the end of the week to
restore power to all of our customers,99 Maclnnis
said.
"This is the most disruptive storm we have
ever encountered," he said.
Maclnnis warns residents to avoid all
downed wires.
Local groceries stores and food marts had various levels of problems as a result of the storm.
See STORM Page 2	
ANGIE FENTON •  CM LIFE
Local volunteers lend helping hands
By Kelly Taylor
LIFE Staff Writer
Storm victims in Mount
Pleasant are finding aid in the
kindness of their neighbors.
The community is pulling
together to help the victims,
said Deb Birkam, executive
director of the Isabella County
Red Cross.
"This is really an opportunity for fellowship and people
are really taking advantage of
that,99 Birkam said. "If anything good came out of this
disaster, that's it.99
She said that several people
have called her office willing
to help those in need.
Brenda Hamilton, director
of the Isabella County
Commission on Aging, said
her office has also received
many calls from people wanting to volunteer both their services and their homes.
"One woman even called
who  was  willing  to  open  her
home  to an  elderly couple  in     well.     They're     all     sticking
need,99 Hamilton said. together   to   get   through   it,99
Services available for residents
• The Student Activity Center is offering free showers
to residents without power.
• Mount Pleasant residents can place trees limbs and
brush at the curb for collection by the Street Department
crews until Sunday. Brush must be placed at the curb
and not in the alleys. There is no charge for this service.
• Residents can report downed power lines to
Consumers Energy at (800) 477-5050.
She also said that many people are helping their elderly
neighbors who are without
water and electricity.
"People are neighboring real
Hamilton said.
Genny Sobaski of the
Isabella Community Soup
Kitchen said the number of
people    needing    meals    has
increased because of the
storm, but the disaster has
not hurt the attitude of many
people.
"They seem to be doing OK.
Their spirits are high,"
Sobaski said.
She said the kitchen has
received several donations of
food from both community
members and local businesses.
The food is being distributed
throughout Mount Pleasant
and to other areas in need
throughout the state.
The Student Activity Center
is also getting involved in
helping the storm victims.
The SAC has also opened its
doors to community members
without water and is allowing
people to take showers in the
locker rooms.
"We've got hot water and
soap and deodorant," said
Cheryil Nordin, assistant
director of Campus Recreation
Services.
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CM LIFE
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Student's body
found near river
By Matt Edick
VlFE Staff Writer
A CMU student was found
dead at Meridian Park near
Ithe bank of the Chippewa
[River at approximately 2:34
p.m. Saturday.
Joel Higgins's body was discovered by several people,
[while they were tubing down
[the river, according to Dan
DDenslow, sergeant of the
[Isabella County Sheriff's
[Department.
Denslow said Higgins, a 19-
jyear-old Grand Ledge fresh-
bnan, was found with a gun
Baying on the ground next to
turn. The sheriff's department has sent Higgins to the
[county medical examiner's
[office, where cause of death
[will be determined. Officials
paid there was a wound to an
[area near his left eye.
While   police   search   for   a
cause of death, friends and!
acquaintances reflect on]
Higgins' death.
"Joel was a great guy,99 said]
Eric    Birko,    Warren    senior]
and  Higgins9 friend   and  for
mer    resident    assistant    in]
Wheeler Hall.
"He was very social and!
everyone on the floor liked!
him — he never gave me any]
problems. I would like to]
send my condolences to his]
family."
Residents   from   his   home
town also said they will missl
Higgins    and    wonder    what!
they could have done to pre-j
vent his death.
"As adults we always have]
to ask ourselves what could]
we have done,99 said Arvj
Pettit, Grand Ledge resident!
bee HIGGINS Page 2
Comer leaving dean position to teach
By Liz Wishaw
LIFE Managing Editor
Kelvie Comer, dean of the
College of Education and
Human Services, is stepping
down from her administrative
position in August to teach and
conduct research in the university^ educational administration and community leadership
department.
Comer came to CMU in 1994
as dean after serving as a dean
at Eastern Connecticut State
University.    She   steps   down
Aug. 21 in a
transitional
leave to prepare for a
tenured
teaching
post that
becomes
e f f e c t i v e
Jan. 1.
Comer
said   she   has
thought about her decision for
the past year after attending a
Harvard University conference
COMER
last year. "This was my decision — not the university's."
"I've been in the dean's
offices for 21 years. I think
that's an extremely long time .
. . for the last year I've reflected on what is truly important
to me at this time."
At 30, she thought she would
finish her career as a policy
decision maker, a university
fund-raiser or in a senior leadership position. Now 51, she
said her priorities have
changed.
"I'm nine years from retirement. I thought, 'Is this still
what you want to do?'" she
said. "I decided I want to teach
and do some things that I've
wanted to do as a faculty member — to me that's quite
exciting."
She also plans to conduct
research on change and partnerships between K-12 schools
and higher education. She has
See COMER Page 2
Alcohol prevails on Michigan campuses
By Stacy Tadajewski
LIFE Staff Writer
CMU has been recognized in
the past for its alcohol prevention programs but a recent study
shows that the number of campus alcohol related incidents is
on the rise.
Of the 12 Michigan public universities surveyed with residence
halls, CMU ranked second after
the University of Michigan-Ann
Arbor in the number of alcohol
related incidents for the 1997-98
school year, according to May 27
survey conducted by the Detroit
Free Press. Wayne State
University and University of
Michigans, Flint and Dearborn,
were not included.
Officials at CMU attribute the
high number to a zero-tolerance
of
in
a
po!icy enforced at CMU.
Bruce       Roscoe,       dean
Students,   said   the   increase
reported    incidents   reflects
change in the alcohol prevention
policy.
"Previously we gave students a
verbal warning the first time
they were caught -with alcohol.
Now, they are warned before
coming to campus and on their
first offense they receive a citation and are referred to the Office
of Student Life," Roscoe said.
Roscoe said not all schools
report first offenses, they just
give verbal warnings and the
matter is handled internally in
the residence halls.
"We wanted to be more clear in
See ALCOHOL Page 2
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CMU hosts 3,400 athletes
for State Summer Games
By Liz Wishaw
LIFE Managing Editor
Determinism and a winning
attitude can be seen this week
as more than 3,400 athletes
compete in the 30th annual
Special Olympics State
Summer Games.
The 1998 state game
Thursday through Saturday
features athletes from across
the state .competing in sports
such as swimming, gymnastics, bocce and track and field
at CMU's athletics facilities
and Mount Pleasant High
School.
Volunteers needed
Volunteers are still needed for Friday and Saturday.
They can sign-up at the
Student Activity Center
front desk.
Athletes, coaches and chap-
erones will stay in CMU's residence halls for the three-day
event. About 1,000 volunteers
are helping with the event —
400 of which are CMU faculty,
staff, and students and Mount
Pleasant residents.
1997 Inspirational Athlete
Karen Sheridan, 39, of
Kalamazoo, starts Thursday's
opening ceremonies at 7 p.m.
in Rose Arena with a torch
lighting and television actor
Chris Burke will lead the athletes oath as honorary chairman.
"We're very luck to have
(Chris) at the games. He stays
through the games, signs autographs and hands out medals,"
said Marcy Lindberg,Special
Olympics      public      relations
See OLYMPICS Page 2
UFE FILE PHOTO
Opening ceremonies start at 7 p.m. Thursday in Rose Arena.