1986-03-19; Central Michigan Life

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Michigan LIFE
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Vol. 69 No. 70
C1986CMLTFE
Mount Pleasant. Michigan 46859
20 Pages
Wednesday. March 19.1986
Blanchard plans no action against board
by SHERRY YAEK
LIFE Editor
Despite an influx of letters from
CMU constituents to Michigan's
Capitol, the governor will not
request resignations from Central's Board of Trustees.
Responding to correspondence
from the Academic Senate, Gov.
James J. Blanchard wrote a letter
to Senate CtiAirwoman Pamela
Weaver stating he would not call
for resignations from the eight
trustees.
A-Senate members voted early
in February to write the governor
snd call for immediate resignations because of what some on
campus   view   as   the   board's
Senate s/ates
open meeting
with trustees
by RANDY LOVELY
LIFE Managing Editor
With hopes of hosting "informal
explorations of the problems and
issues surrounding the presidential search." the Academic Senate
is planning an open forum with
Board ofTrustoc members April 3.
In a letter to the eight board
members Senate Chairwoman
Pamela Weaver said. "We trust
that the meeting we propose will
further aid in moving this
community from the impasse in
avhtch we have recently found
ourselves."
While plans for the forum have
not been completed yet. the senate
executive l>oard will meet Friday
to set the agenda. Weaver said
Tuesday during the senate's
regular meeting.
The forum will be controlled by
a mediator and attendance i» open
to any concerned campus or
community members
During Tuesday's meeting,
senators presented issues of
concern for agenda consideration.
Recommended topics include:
board, faculty, presidential
relations; written assurances of
support during future searches;
open communication between
campus groups; agreement on a
timetable for the selection of a
new president; and ways to
rebuild confidence in trustees,
among others.
All eight trustees were
approached with the concept of an
open forum before it was
scheduled, said Weaver, associate
professor of marketing and hospitality services administration.
Weaver said she received favorable response to the idea, but
Trustee Margaret Ann Riecker is
the only l>oard member who has
confirmed participation in the
forum.
Seven board members were
•Se* "Forum"—page 20
Faculty members
refuse retraction
by RANDY LOVELY
LIFE Managing Editor
No retraction is forthcoming
from eight faculty members in
regard to alleged libelous statements made against Richard
Miller, Hoard of Trustees
secretary.
After consulting with James
White, Michigan Education
Association attorney, the eight
philosophy department members
have decided not to retract
comments made in a letter to
President Arthur Ellis which state
Miller condemned the trustees for
their actions during the recent
presidential search.
"We retract absolutely nothing,"
Philosophy Chairman Paul Yu
said Tuesday. "It ia his (Whitei
considered opinion that it is not
necessary to retract anything."
White would not comment
about the case because of
attorney'client confidentiality and
referred further inquiries to Yu
Yu said the eight faculty
members instructed White March
12 to contact Miller's attorneys
about their decision.
David Kerr, Mount Pleasant
attorney representing Miller, said
Tuesday he received a letter
stating the statements would not
be retracted. He would not specu
late about further action Miller
might take.
"He's been assuming the faculty
members would do the honorable
thing and retract the statements,"
Kerr said.
Miller was attending a National
Association cf Governing Boards
conference in California and could
not be reached for comment
Tuesday.
Miller's action stems from statements in a department letter
which states, "During the recent,
unwarrantedly aborted search for
a president for Central Michigan
University the Board of Trustees
violated its own procedures, by
failing to continue the process of
nomination when no finalist was
deemed acceptable, an act that
has been condemned by. among
others, their own secretary. Mr.
Miller." The comments were
allegedly made during a Feb 20
Student Government Association
meeting.
Miller has denied making such
statements, saying "the letter lied
about what I said."
Copies ofthe letter were sent to
each   trustee,   CM    LIFE,   the
Morning   Sun,   Saginaw   News,
Detroit   Free   Press   and   Gov
James Blanchard.
ISee "Libel"—page 2
LIFE-line
News Brief
Arthur Slavin. CMU presidential candidate and professor of
humanities and history at the University of Louisville in
Kentucky, will speak in Pearce 128 today at 8 p.m. The topic of
his speech will be "Integrity in Higher Education.*
Weather        Index
LIFE-wire page 2
Windy and        colder        QAA page 3
Wednesday   with   occasional        Comment page 4
snow showers north, possibly        Bloom County page 4
mixed   with   rain   morning.        Entertainment page 6
accumulating 1  to 3 inches.        Court Reports page 12
Scattered rain showers south        Code of Conduct page 12
changing   to   snow   showers.        Police Reports page 13
Temperatures falling into the       Spotlifs page 13
teens extreme north to around        Sports page 14
30 south. Chippewa Profile page 14
Classifieds page 18
inappropriate actions during the
recent presidential search.
"The establishment of independent autonomous boards of control
for fixed terms reflected the philosophy that the executive and
legislative branches of government should not interfere with the
administrative affairs of our
colleges     and      universities,*
Blanchard wrote. "It was hoped,
and time has proven it correct,
that this would be an appropriate
way to protect the academic
freedom of our post-secondary
institutions."
"... I am concerned about the
morale on the campus. I do.
however, believe it would be a
dangerous precedent if I or future
governors called upon boards to
resign because we disagreed with
their decisions," he continued.
Weaver said she expected the
response Blanchard gave.
"We wanted to make a statement and that was one way of
making it... we would have liked
to have the people replaced, but I
think   we   knew   that   wasn't   a
possibility." Weaver said.
In addition to the Academic
Senate letter, at least seven
University academic departments
wrote letters to trustees and
Blanchard requesting the resignations.
Weaver said the governor would
have   established   a   "difficult"
ISee "Governor"—page 20
Fired up chips
CM Itriljmm trmmmmr
Jim Shane, left, and Tom Zajac look over soma ash. a
byproduct of woodchip burning, st Physical Plant Monday night.
Shane, who is the president of Michigan Society of Architects,
was one of several architects touring Physical Plant to get
information on the woodchip burning process. See related story
on page 3.
Motion to seek legal counsel tabled
by RANDY LOVELY
LIFE Managing Editor
Following considerable discussion, both in support and opposition, the Academic Senate voted
Tuesday to table a motion asking
the executive l>oard to pursue
legal advice alnjut the presidential
search.
Entered by Neelima Shrik-
hande, assistant professor of
mathematics and computer
science, the motion called for the
senate to hire an attorney to
investigate possible legal alternatives the senate could take against
the Board of Trustees following
the presidential selection. The
motion   did   not   recommend   the
group instigate action against the
eight trustees.
After discussing how this
decision would afTect relations
between the senate and trustees,
history professor Eric Johnson
asked Shrikhande to withdraw
the motion.
Although he "personally
supports   the   motion,"   Johnson
said the senate should "not act in
haste and should not act divided"
in ce>nsidering the motion
Following Johnson's request,
senator John Monahan, associate
professor of psychology, presented
a motion to table the decision until
the senate's April I  meeting.
•Set* "A Senate"—page 13
CMU to close freshman enrollment
by MARY FRANCIS
LIFE News Editor
For the 11th consecutive year
CMU will close its freshman class
despite a decrease in the number
of 1986 Michigan high school
seniors
Admissions Director Mike
Owens said Central's enrollment
goal for the 1986-87 freshman
class   is   2.960    Admissions   has
received more than 9,400 applications and 2,493 enrollment
deposits. Students send the $70
enrollment deposit after receiving
confirmation of admittance.
Owens said he expects enrollment to be closed in early April.
"We have enough to meet the
goal . . well take slightly more —
there will be a fallout," Owens
said.
Admissions   personnel   have
received 9.3 percent more enrollment deposits than this time last
year. Owens added. Since the pool
of Michigan high school seniors
has declined 4 percent, the Owens
said he is surprised by the
increase.
"It is unusual — our goal is
downsized because the overall size
of the high school senior pool is
down. We anticipated we would
have   had   a   smaller   freshman
class." he said.
CMU and the- University of
Michigan are the only state
universities which consistently
close the freshman classes, Owens
added
CMU admitted 3.018 freshmen
last year, but after considering the
dip in the high school senior pool,
Admissions decreased its goal to
2.960, even that being an
»See "Enroll"— page 13
Doyle enters race for representative
by KATHY PETERSEN
LIFE Staff Writer
The "Doyle Difference" of leadership, experience,
commitment and ability is what Mount Pteasant's
mayor hopes will earn him a seat in I-ansmg.
Pat Doyle announced his Republican candidacy
for 99th District State Representative Tuesday.
"I think it's (Mount Pleasant City Commission)
been a real good training ground for this step today
that I'm announcing,* said Doyle, assistant
professor of recreation and park administration and
director of the Center for Leisure Services at CMU.
In addition to his mayoral term, which began this
year. Doyle has served as city commissioner since
1983.
If elected, Doyle said his concerns will include
farmers' rights, school funding, small businesses
and the enviroment
*My commitment is so strong that I have resigned
my membership at the golf club. I am making what I
cort«ider « {jreRt sacrifice because I feel it's that
important that we have quality representation," he
said.
Doyle praised past representatives from the 99th
district and said he hopes to continue in their
footsteps.
"I feel I have the ability with a little different style
and a little difference in how I do things to also be a
very viable candidate and a very good elected
official." Doyle said.
His agricultural interests result from upbringing
on a Saginaw farm.
Doyle said he will work to improve funding for the
University, Ferris State College and Chippewa Hills
School District. His educational experience includes
being a charter member ofthe National Community
Education Association and of the Michigan
Community School Education Association. Doyle
said he is interested in the community's young
people and is active with city and regional youth
sports groups and the board of directors for the
Michigan Special Olympics.
He said environmental concerns are important.
He is experienced in parks, recreation and tourism
and has worked with the state Legislature for the
State Recreation and Tourism Deparment. He is a
board member of the Michigan Recreational and
Park Association snd has been active in various
state tourism conferences and programs.
If elected, Doyle will resign from his University
position. The end of his mayoral term coincides with
the start of the state representative term.
Pat Doyle
-MB