1985-09-04; Central Michigan Life

              iSVlr.-'-.V*!."
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Vol. 69 No. 4
*1965 CM UFE
18 page*
Mount Pleasant. Michigan 48869
Wednesday, September 4.1985
$2.5 million donated for Brooks' project
by RANDY LOVELY
LIFE Managing Editor
A $2.5 million Dow Foundation
donation haa paved the way for
the remodeling of Brooks Hall.
University officials are expected
to officially announce today initial
plana to remodel and expand the
existing science facility. Although
the donation was not positively
secured until Tuesday, University
officials released information last
Wednesday regarding the $5
million construction project.
Money from the Herbert H. and
Grace A. Dow Foundation of
Midland will be used for "extensive remodeling," Provost John
Cantelon said.
"Initial plana include construction of an annex connected by a
glass walkway on the south side of
the existing building and extensive remodeling of the first two
floors,* Cantelon said.
The Dow Foundation cash
provides for half of the estimated
cost and University officials hope
the state legislature will allocate
the remaining money. Cantelon
said.
Myron Henry, dean of the
College of Arts and Science,
echoed Cantelon s desire, saying,
"We hope for at least matching
funds from the state."
According to Jim Heckman,
deputy director of the House
Fiscal Agency. Central could
receive the appropriation during
this fiscal year if a request is made
this month.
"We have not passed our capital
outlay bill so the University could
still get a request in for consideration,* he said. "It's up to the
University to get things moving*
Heckman said the bill is
expected to be approved before the
end of September.
University administrators have
requested state grants to
construct an entirely new science
building for several years, but
funding for such a project is
unlikely since state appropriations were just made for a new
Industrial and Engineering
Technology facility, Interim Presi-
I
Where's the sandman
Although K Is September, and it is Michigan, the sun still
brought out warm weather and children as these youngsters
prove  by  attempting   to   build   a   towering   sandcastle   in   a
courtyard sandbox at Washington Apartments.
Write way
Writing skills improvement sought
by ANN MCFARLANI)
LIFE Staff Writer
CMU students may wxin l>-:irn
the "wntf" way
The General Education subcommittee submitted a proposal to the
Academic Senate Aug 27 which
would require students to
complete two composition courses
to fulfill University Program
requirements for graduation The
proposal also suggests most
courses include a minimum of
writing. David Mcl-eod. history
professor, said
"There's been a lot of talk from
instructors that students' writing
is not acceptable for the college
level. We're trying to improve
students' writing through the
University Program,* MacLeod, a
subcommittee member, said
In his back-to-school speech in
August. Myron Henry, dean of the
College   of  Arts   and   Sciences.
urged the University to adopt the
"Writing Across the Curriculum"
proposal to "enhance the quality of
our (leneral Education program
"If adopted, it would have a
significant impact not only on
University Program classes, but
also on CMl* as a whole." Henry
said.
Henry stated in his address the
need to develop basic skills
throughout the curriculum
"Skill* such as reading and
writing should he expected and
practiced across all segments of
the curriculum." he said
Although "Writing Across the
Curriculum" suggests students
write more in all courses.
MacLeod said if the proposal is
adopted courses in the University
Program 2-H category, physical
science courses will be exempt
from the writing requirement.
"It's the idea that those courses
exercise   another   competency
requirement." he said
The proposal is designed to help
students improve their basic
academic skills, particularly
writing. Maclx-od said However,
if a class concentrates on another
b.i-ic skill, such as mathematics,
thev may In- exempt from the
writing requirement, he added
Macl.eod said the proposal
follows a nationwide trend to
improve student literacy.
"There's been a bit of a general
drift nationwide ahout basic
competencies." Macljr-od said
He also said there's a feeling
throughout the school the North
Central Accreditation Team,
which is expected later this year,
may !*• unhappy if the sthonl is
not thinking of doing more to
improve writing skills
The accreditation team is a
national agency which evaluates
colleges ar.d universities on their
academic strengths        and
weaknesses   It also sets academic
standards for schools to follow.
The proposal was introduced lo
the Academic Senate Aug 'J7. but
w.is tabled for further discussion
Marjie Williams, Academic
Senate administrative aid. said
the item is scheduled for discussion at the Sept    10 meeting
"However, no action will lx-
taken until Sept   24." she said
MacLeod said students are
required to follow curriculum
requirements as defined in the
bulletin when entering the
University, so students most
likely affected by the composition
course requirement would be
freshmen or transfer students
"However, students on campus
may find themselves doing more
writing in their classes as part of
the Writing Across the Curriculum program," MacJ>eod said.
LIFE-line      )
News brief
Cash advances for students living off campus will be
distributed today and Thursday from 9 am. to noon and 1 to 4
p.m. in the Financial Aid Office. Students must possess a
picture ID and current semester enrollment card to receive the
$300 advance.
Inside Index
CMU dismissed its lawsuit T in.     ■ „                        „„„,.<>
• r*    .    i n    ■ j        t.       LI Ft.-wire page*;
against Central Florida, who q&A                                 Dace3
backed out ofasceduled Sept. cement"":::i;;;:;::;;™ 4
21 game. pag« 12    BloomCounty page4
lftfr|otnA|' Entertainment page 6
■ W CM II ltd Spotlife pagefi
Mostly   cloudy   north   and     Sports page 12
increasing    clouds     south     Chippewa Profile page 12
Wednesday   with   scattered     Chippewa Corner page 14
thunderstorms. Highs in the     Classifieds page 17
mid 70s to mid 80s. Police Reports page 18
Abducted girl escapes
A 9-year-old girl was abducted Sunday by a man who had indecently-
exposed himself to the victim and her cousin, the Isabella County
Sheriffs Department reported.
The incident occurred on the 7000 block of East Baseline Road at
6 OS p m. The girl and her cousin were riding bikes when the
abduction occurred.
The suspect drove past the children, turned around and came
back and stopped. He got out of his car and asked several questions,
including where the girl lived. The suspect wore no clothing below the
waist, although he wore a blue button-down shirt.
The suspect grabbed the girl, dragged her into his car and then
drove east on Baseline Road When the suspect stopped at the
intersection of Ixomis and Baseline, the victim jumped out and ran to
a pair of female joggers for assistance
The suspect left the scene and was last seen heading in the direction
of Midland County, eastbound on River Road
He was described as a white male, in his mid-20's with curly brown
hair and a curly brown mustache, between five feet, seven inches and
five feet, 11 inches.
He waa driving a new model, white Camaro, Trans Am. or z-28,
possibly with pinstripes and a brown leather interior.
The Mount Pleasant Police Department also reported an incident of
indecent exposure in the presence of another 9-year-old girl in the 300
block of North University. The suspect was described in his mid-20's.
dent   Arthur   Ellis   said   last
Tuesday.
Ellis could not be reached for
comment on the possibility of
requesting and receiving state
approval ofthe $2.5 million.
The University plans to seek
money from other independent
sources to ensure project completion should state funding fall
through. Cantelon said.
Cantelon said initial plans call
for relocation of faculty offices to
the annex, construction of small
laboratories in the addition, and
remodeling of existing space for
Lbs.
While the $5 million project
meets a "desperate need for
improvement." Cantelon said it
"won't meet all the possible
needs,"
"It's a substantial improvement
in an area of great importance," he
said.
No construction dates are set.
but Henry said, "hopefully things
could be hsppening in a couple
years."
Attempted attack
foiled by student
by JEFF GREEN
LIFE Staff Writer
An alleged assault attempt early Tuesday morning near Sweeney and
Thorpe halls resulted in the injury ofthe assailant.
The alleged assault attempt occured at 12:45 am in lot 45 between
Sweeney and Thorpe Hall, a Department of Public Safety report staled
An unidentified female called DPS saving she had been approached
from behind and her blouse was ripped by an unknown assailant. She told
police she turned around and gouged the assailant in the face with her
keys, possibly in the eyes, and caused him to flee.
The female allegedly had a substantial amount of blood on her clothing
from which DPS was able lo recover a sample.
John McAuliffe. director of Public Safety, said he could not disclose how
DPS had obtained the sample of blood from the clothing.
DPS was in the process of notifying all area health agencies to look for
persons with recent facial injuries, and has asked any persons with
information to contact DPS at 774-3081.
McAulifTe said he does not believe the attempted assault was related to
the other assaults on campus, at this time.
The other aexual assaults which have occured on campus this year, two
in late July and one in mid-August, were believed to be connected.
The three assaults occured between 12 to 2:30 a.m. on Ihe south aide of
campus and were Initiated by a man who approached from the rear.
»8e« "Assault"—pag* 18
Park Place party
creates eviction
by JEFF GREEN
LIFE Staff Writer
A large party Thursday night a
Park Place Apartments, 1301 E
Bellows, netted one room an
eviction notice and left the
manager unhappy with police
response.
Roxann Perry, Park Place
manager, said she had issued six
eviction notices for residents in
building L but had plans to follow
through with only one, the room
from which the party, involving
4(X> to .100 persons originated.
Perry said she was not prepared
to release the names of those
persons served with an eviction
notice at this time
Perry said the first complaint
was made at approximately 10:30
p m Thursday while she was
attempting to break up the party
herself.
"I was trying to break it up. the
students seemed to think it was
rather funny. The more I said, the
more determined they seemed to
stay," Perry said.
Perry said she was informed by
police the party was already out of
control and there was nothing
they could do
She said since the nuisance
ordinance enacted by the city last
year held the landlords responsible they should receive more
support in breaking up the
parties.
"I just don't feel they responded
quick enough." Perry said.
Mount Pleasant Police Chief
Martin Trombley. said he had not
be informed of the incident and
had not received any complaints
personally.
ISee "Park Place"—page 17
Students shun use
of smoke detectors
by TOM WICKHAM
LIFE News Editor
Between 30 and 40 percent of the smoke detectors in off-campus
multi-residence dwellings are removed or turned off by students, a
Mount Pleasant Fire Department inspector said.
Investigations of apartment complexes by fire inspectors show most
if not all smoke detectors are in operating order, but are removed by
some tenants, MPFD Sgt. L. J. Pickens said.
Students usually remove batteries from smoke detectors for use in
other electronic equipment or turn them off when cooking food, he
added. Such action diminishes the chance of being alerted of a fire.
Pickens said.
"When somebody takes that out of there they're endangering the
whole building," he said. "It's their life that's going to be involved."
Despite the value placed on detectors as potential life-savers,
management personnel at some Mount Pleasant apartment complexes
agreed detectors are removed or turned off.
John Perry, maintenance superintendant at Park Place Apartments, 1301 E Bellows, said 40 smoke detectors had to be replaced
this summer in the 180-apartment complex. Each detector cost $12. he
added.
Amy Baker, manager of Edgewood Apartments, said it is difficult lo
enforce use of smoke detectors in the Ill-apartment complex.
"You can't babysit them. We supply them with a working smoke
detector." she said. "What happens is they don't like to notify us (of
broken or missing detectors.)"
Pickens said the fire department began inspections of multiple-
dwelling housing this summer. He and Collins have inspected more
than 300 apartments and will finish follow-up checks by month's end.
Two other two-man teams also are inspecting multiple dwellings.
ISee "Detectors'1—page 18