1985-02-13; Central Michigan Life

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Wednesday. February 13.1985
1985(\\t i.IKK
24pag
:es
Mourn  I'li-.is.ni!.  Muti    Ihss*-.*
Vol.68 No. 66
Parfitt resigns as basketball head coach
byGREGHELMLING
UFE Sports Editor
After five losing seasons and
a sixth filled with turmoil. Dick
Parfitt ended speculation by
resigning as CMU men's basketball head coach.
Parfitt served Athletic
Director Dave Keilitz Tuesday
morning with his resignation,
effective the end of this
season.
Parfitt was unavailable for
comment Tuesday. The move
was announced — along with
his statement — by the University Tuesday afternoon.
"Central Michigan has been
very good to me and I certainly
regret leaving the basketball
reins," Parfitt said.
Parfitt will remain at CMU
as an instructor in the Physical
Education depart ment.
At the end of last season Parfitt and University officials, including Vice Provost Janice
Reynolds, agreed this would be
Parfitt's last season if he could
not produce a winner.
CMU is currently 7-14 overall, 2-10 and tied for last place
in the Mid-American Conference.
Why Parfitt resigned now —
with three weeks and six
games remaining in the season
— was not explained.
"I would say it's been on his
mind for a while. He felt this is
the best time." Keilitz said
Keilitz said he did not know
beforehand of Parfitt's intention to step down, nor was there
any pressure on him to do so
before the end of the season.
I was going to let the season
if that takes a while, then that's
the way it will have to he "
Meanwhile. Parfitt will
guide the team through the last
three weeks of the season.
"My primary concern right
morning (Tuesday) not know
ing he was going to resign."
"It was going to happen soon
er or later," Reynolds said.
The search for Parfitt's re
placement has already begun
go by and then discuss it with After writing out a job descnp   now is for the players to cim-
him," Keilitz said. "There's no tion last night. Keilitz said he tinue to play hard for the next
advantage in a decision being will start advertising the open   six ball games "Pim s-iid
made in the middle of the        '   '
season."
"It was his decision."
As this, the critical year for
Parfitt, went on, it became increasingly clear it would be his
last, sources said.
"It was in the back of everyone's mind, but it wasn't as if it
were a daily topic of conversation," assistant coach Ralph
Pim said. "I went to work this
"I am sure we're going to
have good candidates from all
over," Keilitz said
No target date has been set
for hiring a new head coach
It's
him He's
given   a
coaching
tough decision for
i competitor and he's
lot   of his   lift-   to
Forum apartment fire
electrical in origin
byTOMWICKHAM
LIFE Copy Editor
An investigation of Sunday
night's fire at  Forum Apart
ment'.s I) huilding determined
the fire was electrical in origin
About KM) students were left
homeless
The Mount Pleasant Fire Department completed its investigation Monday, saying water
from a leaking pipe caused
wires to short and ignite a
fiberhoard backing in tin-
walls
The fire reportedly be^an
between 4:30 anil 5 p.m. as two
plumbers. Run and Eail
l-amerand, attempted to locate
a leaking pipe in Room 106D,
MPFDSgt 1. J l-.ckcnssaid
"They had a water leak in
their system and ihey finally
found out where it was coming
from." he said "lit- (Ron)
started to cut it (pipe) with a
hacksaw and a lot of water
came out and Hooded the partition     sparks came flying out."
Water had heen off since that
afternoon
•Students rummage
through partially-burned
building — page S
• Some fire victims await
insurance verdict — page 5
• Residence Hall Assembly-
donates money to relief fund
— Page 5
• The Housing Department
is attempting relocation of
fire victims — page S
t_imrrand also was workinK
with a torch, intending un the
pipe joints. Pickens said, but
the fire prompted him to run
upstairs fora firecstinquisher.
Pickens said residents' concerns that the fire had heen
started by the torch were untrue.
"It wasn't at all his (plumber's) fault He couldn't have
set it even if he put the torch tn
there." he said, adding the
walls were wet
Dave Williams, president of
Altman Management in I_ins-
mg, the owners of the Forum,
said the plumbers had been
contracted to locate the leaking pipe but he said he had not
been informed about the cause
of the fire of the possible liability resulting from the fire.
"I would not make any comment, there might he some
liability." he said "We're
working with the insurance
company to determne if we
have to rebuild."
Pickens said the fire was
quick to spread from the partition to other portions of the
huildinK via a passageway between floorboards and a drop
ceiling.
"It went through the whole
huilding in that area, the roof
came in." he said. "We really
didn't have a hell of a lot of
chance "
About .SO firefighters from
Mount Pleasant, Rosebush,
Fremont I)ee r f leI d and
Shepherd Tn township departments battled  the hlaze  for
♦ See "Fire" — page 22
Weather cancels classes
byRENEEM.SMITH ,ht. |s. f, .]-., Countv Building to
LIFE Staff Writer ci()^.
Stormv  weather conditions All  evening   classes  were
Tuesday  forced  the cancella canceled and   the  inclement
tion of rnaiiy CMl' classes and weather  policy   was  put  into
also caused  local  schools and effect  at  A p m    bv  President
Mt. Pleasant Monthly Snowfall Totals
h-B KfTKywjl WnnW Wwe AleM i'-J-oo
No».       Dec Jon.        Feb.       Mor.        Apr.
lncH«f
1982
16-
14.
13-
10-
ISy^^kA^.
8.1
6*.
<•
4-5
^v.4_S
2-
f.oeV
Tota! 32.4
Total 34.1
1983
14.
17.
!»-.               /
»1             /
•1           /
14.7
A.11.S
*
\rea'.
1984
4J ,
.4.6
NJ.O
-1984 Nov. and
up-to-date total
able.
Dec
i ore
tololi and 19SS
currently unavail-
9.i\/
More than 100 college work study students
are needed lo work at Physical Plant during
the summer and next fall. Students must file a
Financial Aid form for 1985-86 by Feb. 20 and
file a summer job application at the Student
Employment Office. For more information
call 774-6559.
Harold Abel
"We implemented the policy
because people should not be
on Ihe roads because of blowing and drifting," on the advice
of the sheriff's department.
Abel said
He added school will never
he canceled because students
who live in the residence halls
need to be fed and the power
house has to stay open to pro
vide heat
"We are not   like an office
which can just close at a cer
tain time," he said
The policy stales employees
who stay for the majority of
their shifts will he paid for
working the entire time. If em
ployees cannot get to work it
will be considered an excused
absence but they will not be
paid If they leave early they
can take an excused absence,
personal time or vacation time
Provost John Cantelon said
there were no plans made
Tuesday afternoon for today's
classes to becanceled
"There is no indication m the
immediate forecast for closing
(today)." he said.
The National  Weather Ser
vice predicts snow will taper
off with wind increasing with
gustsupto40mph
|See "Weather" — page 17
A former female
CMU student who had
a heart transplant has
been released from
the hospital,
page 3
"The sooner the better, for
recruiting purposes," Keilitz
said. "Hut I don't want to sacrifice time and lose out on getting the best person I'm going
to get the best one possible, and
"I have great respect for
coach Parfitt He worked extremely hard He had some outstanding teams and had some
outstanding people go through
the program. I hope that'show
he is remembered."
Charred
One of nearly I (Hi students living in the Fnruni Apartments' I) Huilding carrys some salvagahU* material Irom
one of several fire-damaged rooms
Dick Parfitt
Officials
express
sympathy
by JOHN D. GONZALEZ
LIFE Staff Writer
It came as no surprise to
CMC administrators that Dick
Part HI resigned Tuesipiy as
mens basketball head coach
Instead, words of sympathy
were expressed to the 14-year
coach
President Harold Abel said
Parfitt was a good person and a
respectable coach.
"I've known Dick Parfitt
since I've hcc-nhcrc;inJ I think
he's one of the finest individuals I've ever known, tie's n
nice human being." Abel said.
"lie's been good for our basketball proRram, unfortunately he had bnd times recently."
Abel said he knew the head
coach was not at all impressed
with the season thus far and Ihe
resignation was one option for
Parfitt
"It came as no shock to hear
Parfitt had resigned, not at all
I knew he had not been happy
about the program the last few
years," Abel said
Kor Provost .John Cantelon.
the news w as also no surprise.
"No.  I'm  not   particularly
shocked    I  think  as you  look
upon Ins caieer it was a possi
hie option lor lum," Cantelon
s.ud
"lie had a fabulous career
when we 'Abel and li first
cum- hen- He was certainly at
tin* top .iiieI CMC was one of the
tup le.iin.s in the region No
thiugcaii detract that "
As Abel, Cantelon was close
toP.u lit!
"I lick P.11 till is a tine human
heini.:. 1 i cally enjoyed him lie
was alwa\.s a little quiet as an
>See "Keaclion" -- page 22
SGA plans relief project
by ROGER MORGENSTERN
LIFE Start Writer
l< el let efforts tor the victim-, ot the Sun
day Korum Apartments building I > tu e at e
being coordinated through Student  <..•■.
eminent Association's ot t ices
S(iA is working with the Isabella ("until'.
Chapter of the American Ked ( ins*, aiu!
the Mayfest Committee in providing lm
the approximately 1 no student s lei t home
less by the fire
All donations ot food, money, clothing.
and toiletries are being directed to the
S(JA offices, St; A Vice President doe Par
gersaid
"We're acting as a clearinghouse." Par
g- : . stei ling. Heights junior, said
-i \i i.il Luge uioiit tai y ilon.it inns have
been gi'. en !o the i eliel el tort
( Ml President Harold Abel donated
>coo tn.ui .i special fund established by
the I h *. el.ipmeiit (Mine tor student mailers
Aiiuttiei >s(i() was given toward the re
liet ettoit by Jei I v Tubbs, vice president
of Business and I- iii.uk e
1 hat nioiu-v is from revenues generated
!•*. the Cllivel'sity Center Bookstore,
I ubbs s.ud
Ihe bookstore makes a profit, so the
donation will not disturb the budget,
I ubbs said
"It will just shorten the profits." he said.
♦See "Donations" — page 22
The Academic Senate is scheduled to
vote on the proposed
calendar.
page 3
Players and others
react to Parfitt resignation.
page 18
More snow
Wednesday with little
temperature change.
Temperatures in the
mid-20s throughout
the week.