1998-09-25; Central Michigan Life

              Central Michigan LIFE
Volume 81, Number 12
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
©1998 CM LIFE
r9 years of serving the community
Friday
September 25, 1998
2 sections, 26 pages
Central's
calendar
may be
adjusted
By Heather VanDyke
LIFE Assistant News Editor
Administrators are again
looking at possibly changing
the academic calendar, which
could shorten class time, add a
fall break and add other holidays to the schedule.
In early November 1996, the
Academic Senate overwhelmingly rejected the proposed
academic calendar, 40-13,
when presented by the administration. Almost two years
later, the issue has surfaced
again.
According to Provost Richard
Davenport, the calendar discussion has been revisited due
to "unfinished business."
"It would have been reviewed
two years ago when the chair of
the committee was (Dean of the
College of Business and
Administration) Terry Arndt.
The president asked to review
the other issues, that was two
years ago.
"The president and I have
discussed bringing it back to
the forefront," Davenport said.
University President
Leonard Plachta said it was he
who originally suggested revising the academic calendar.
"I was the one who initially
asked the provost to look at reestablishing a review of the
calendar, and a lot of work
went into it. Really, there
weren't any changes ... I
thought that it was inadequate
and asked the provost to look
at it again.
"I have a strong conviction
there is a better way. I think it
is appropriate to come up with
some changes," Plachta said.
Plachta said he doesn't have
all the answers, but can make
suggestions.
"I haven't any strong expectations about particular outcomes, but I think there are
many issues that need to be
revisited — for example, perhaps we should have a fall
break, or perhaps we should
start classes after Labor Day
rather than before. I am not so
certain we use resources on
campus evenly," Plachta said.
In addition, Plachta said he
also had concerns about which
holidays the university should
honor and voiced concern about
class time.
Davenport said there are several issues that may be discussed, including holidays.
"There has been discussion of
fall break and a Martin Luther
King holiday and any other
holiday that we want to recog-
See CALENDER Page 11A
The stadium still needs some
last minute touches. See page
1B for more information.
Classified
Crossword
i Et cetera
Sports
Voices
11A
11A
9A-10A
6A-8A
4A
To reach CM LIFE
; Phone 1517) 774-34*3
E-Mail  CMLIFEttcmuvm.csvrmich.edu
! Fax. number  1517) 774-7805
Central Michigan LIFE Online
internet address
http://tvww.rm1ife.cm4ch.edu
Wire up I
RYAN WOOD • CM LIFE
C & L Electric employee Greg Mills, project foreman, wheels a cart of wiring to the new east concession in Kelly/Shorts stadium on Tuesday. Mills was working on
wiring the electric heaters in the new building. Contractors turned the stadium over to the university but are still tying up loose ends around the building.
CMU & You Day gives possible
students a taste of college life
By Joy Mygrants
LIFE Staff Wnter
About 3,000 prospective students and
their parents are expected on campus
Saturday for CMU and You Day.
According to Jennifer Ireland, assistant director of Admissions, they chose
to make CMU and You Day the same
day as Homecoming to show off the
school spirit when the future students
use their free tickets to attend the football game.
"We had the opportunity to view the
football schedule this year. We could
choose a later date, but we were very
concerned with weather. It's a very key
concern with this kind of event," she
said.
Ireland said she hopes new students
will follow current students in their
passion for school spirit.
"When we thought of campus spirit,
the prospective students get to see student life and some of the fun events
here. It's a great day that really shows
the pride that current students have in
the university," Ireland said.
CMU and You Day is an open house
for prospective students and their families to have the opportunity to experience CMU from a variety of sides,
according to Ireland.
One of the opportunities they will
have is to attend any two showcases
from all of the different colleges in
CMU in  many buildings  on  campus
including Anspach, Pearce and Moore
halls to get an overview of the majors
available within each college.
"We try to use the space throughout
campus as much as possible," Ireland
said. "We want them to see all of campus and experience the academic buildings."
Prospective students and their families can also attend presentations from
the student service areas including
Career Services and Academic
Advising, Ireland said.
"We are trying to give students
enough options to go to more than one
session if they want to," Ireland said.
See CMU &YQU Page 2A
Real World Experience: freshmen
experience fair share of problems
By Angie Fenton
LIFE Staff Writer
The following is the second article in
the "Real World Experience" series, a
series in which 10 freshmen — 5
women, 5 men — share their experiences about their first year at CMU.
From roommate problems to oversleeping to broken chairs, Brandon
Walker, Detroit; Jeff Washington,
Detroit; Jason LaFontaine, Tipton;
Josh Vervoort, Prescott; Ayanna
Harrow, Saginaw; Kellie Drake, Oak
Park; and Kimberly Rogers,
South field; have survived the last few
weeks with only a few bumps, bruises,
and skinned knees. Brian Wright, of
Mecosta; and Kelli Bolton, and Angel
Gam boa, both of West I and, were
unavailable for comment.
The Women
On Wednesday, Ayanna found out
she is going to have to move out of her
residence hall room, which she shares
with Kellie, and into The Towers or to
Trout Hall.
"It's because I'm the fifth person,"
Ayanna said. The only way I could
stay would be if everyone in the room
agrees and (one of my roommates)
already made her point — she don't
want me there."
Although Kellie and Ayanna, along
with their other roommates, knew
Ayanna would have to move out eventually, Ayanna said she never really
thought about it until now.
"I hope they're going to give me the
stuff to move with. I don't know how
Tm going to do that," Ayanna said.
Kellie, who will remain in their
Calkins Hall room, said classes have
been going well, and she received two
"perfect grades" in one of her classes
this week.
However, she is working on a little
problem she's been having.
Tor a week I just kept oversleeping.
I just couldn't get up," she said.
Kellie said she has been staying up
too late.
"Yeah, it's because of that boyfriend
she has," Kimberly said, teasing Kellie.
Kellie said she hasn't missed a single
class this week and is getting back on
track.
Kimberly was recently chosen to be
the  secretary  of the TYoutman  Hall
See FRESHMEN Page 2A	
\JSTT becomes first
CMUfraternity
to ban alcohol
By Autumn Fkrtur
UFE Staff Writer
Leadership is defined by those willing to step out and
above the crowd as proud representatives to a cause —
which is exactly what Sigma Tea Gamma is trying to do
by declaring themselves an alcohol-free fraternity.
E<J. Sieracki, Canton senior and member of the fraternity, said as of Oct. 12, the house, located on 1007 S.
Main St., will be alcohol-free.
It was our duty as leaders to be the first ones to doit,*
Sieracki said. "Somebody's got to start.*
Established in 1941, Sigma Tau Gamma jumped on
the bandwagon with fraternities around die country in
an effort to reduce liability risks and increase brotherhood within their chapter. As a result, upon institution
of the policy, social events providing alcohol to the gen*
era! public will be eliminated.
However, Sieracki explained that with an alcohol free
policy, fraternity members who are over 21 and nve in
the house are still allowed to drink in their rooms.
"r^inety-fune percent of the risks are not from people
sitting in their room drinking a beer," he said That is
the difference between aioohol free and dry. We didn't go
dry because there are issues sb far as people's rights as
\legal drinkers"
i Jon KozelL, Waterfbrd senior and president of Sigma
jTau Gamma, said the group is abiding by their national
:policy and the university alcohol policy, which is similar
[to Residence life's established standards allowing resv
jdents who are of legal age to drink in their rooms.
"We don^ want to be known as & beer club* Kozeil
•said. "We see the new age coming and we want to step
tup and say we're not based upon alcohol."
•We're not a drinking dub," Sieracki added. "We're a
{group of men, bound together by something more
admirable. 1 think this is going to help us look for other
ithings to do. It was so easy before . . . watching football
iwithaeaseofbeer/9
Kristin Norton, Greek advisor, is excited about the
{changes happening amidst the Greek corrtn.anity.
"I am so very proud of them," she said. "It shows
See mATERWTY Page 11A
Teacher education students get good news from job market
By Olivia Munoz
LIFE Staff Writer
Widely known for its excellent
teaching program, CMU's Teacher
Education Program should steadily be filling the urgent need for
educators in the United States.
The U.S. Department of
Education estimates a need to hire
2.2 million more teachers during
the next 10 years due to retirements and an increase in student
enrollment, according to a Sept. 17
article in the Chronicle of Higher
Education.
"Obviously,   on   that   statistic,
CMU will feel compelled to produce more quality, competent
teachers," said Jason Bentley, an
Attica senior who recently applied
to the Teacher Education Program.
"CMU's professors, classes, field
experience — all that combined
will provide CMU's prospective
teachers with an advantage."
The need for educators is nothing but good news to future teachers.
"With all the people retiring it
will be easier to find a job," said
Knsti Perreault, Saginaw senior.
Pat Coakley, associate director of
Career Services and one time
teacher, principal and superintendent of public schools, said more
than 90 percent of CMFs teaching
graduates are hired.
"At one time, Central put out
2,000 teachers in a year," Coakley
said. CMU's Teacher Education
Program now only accepts 300 students per semester.
"If they want to have a larger
program, they need to open up
more departments and offer more
classes," Perreault said.
With the growing demand for
educators, it would seem logical to
open the program up to more students, but many disagree.
The purpose of the program is
to produce competent educators,"
Bentley said.
Coakley said the entry level
application process screens out
potential less interested candidates.
The (education) department
does not admit more students
mainly because of money matters.
The increase in numbers means an
increase in faculty," Coakley said.
"Do I think that there are a lot
more   possible   candidates   that
could get a chance? Yes, but that's
all over (at other universities as
well)."
The program requires a review
of the Teacher Education Student
Handbook, a 114-page handbook
which outlines the requirements,
possible minors and application
procedures for admittance to the
program.
TTie prograrn requires applicants
to perform a certain number of
hours before and during the program, as well as a student teaching
See TEACHER ED Page 11A
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