1983-03-23; Central Michigan Life

              Energy savings may bring room, board cut
by WENDY GAGER
LIFE Staff Writer
Not since World War II have room and board payments decreased, but a proposal to cut them by $20 will be presented to the Board
of Trustees in April.
The decrease is due to lower fuel bills because of a warmer winter
and increased energy efficiency, said George Jennings, director of
Housing.
Other reasons include a leveling off of food prices in the mass purchase market and because the University closely estimated the
number of projected students living in the residence halls, Jennings
said.
Jennings said it was expected that the prices of food in mass
quantity, purchased for the residence halls, would go up.
President Harold Abel recently sent a letter to parents and
students about the decrease and another letter will be sent by Jenn
ings and James Reath, director of food services, listing the advantages of living in the residence halls, Jennings said.
"These letters are our only real marketing effort for 10 years,"
Jennings said.
Around 1972 or 1973 occupancy in the halls dropped and Central
changed some of its policies to promote the halls, Jennings said.
The decrease in room and board payments and the letters sent to
students and parents is part of a "marketing campaign" to attract
students to the residence halls who have not decided whether or not
they want to remain in the halls. Jennings said.
The economic factors, management refinements, and the
marketing campaign make it worthwhile to reduce the room and
board payment. Quick said.
"With tuition going up drastically, the cut in room and board
rates will make the overall increase for students manageable,"
Quick said.
Jennings said he could not predict if the room and board costs
would continue to go down in future semesters.
(See "Board"—page 2)
Vol.61 No. 66
19h:1CM LIFE
Mount Pleasant. Mich. 48859
18 page:
Wednesday. March 23. 1983
Assault case 'closed, 'Abel says
by TERRI FINCH
LIFE News Editor
Demands by some faculty
members for more Administrative action regarding an
alleged sexual assault apparent
ly will not be met. as the Ad
ministration is saying the case is
closed — and will remain so.
And while President Harold
Abel said he and other Universe
ty officials would like to pursue
the alleged incident further, suf
ficient evidence is not available
to allow such action.
"The case is closed, and it's
closed because our hands are
tied," Abel said Monday. "I
don't know what else 1 can do."
A recent investigation by the
University of an alleged sexual
assault in the local Sigma Phi
Epsilon fraternity house promp
ted a demonstration March 9 hy
about 50 faculty members and
students in front of the University Center.
Armed with picket signs and
distributing leaflets outlining
their concerns, protesters claim
ed the investigation was not con
ducted properly, and further ac
tion should he taken in holh the
(See "Demonstration" — page 10)
Jeanette
who picket
of a recent
Dibrell. Mount
ed in front of t
alleged sexual
cm i in j *,
Pleasant graduate student, was one of about 50 students and fa
he University Center March 9 to protest the Administration's han
assault incident
culty
dling
AFSCME nixes
proposed pact;
arbitration set
by JANET HASTINGS
LIFE Editor
A tentative agreement aimed
at ending an on going dispute
between the University and one
campus union — prior to formal
arbitration — was overwhelm
ingly rejected by the union's
membership Monday.
The f>7 to 1 vote tt) reject the
Administration's offer means
two grievances filed in October
by the American Federation of
State. County and Municipal
Employees will be settled
through arbitration, said Terry
Stoner, associate director of
Personnel and Staff Relations.
The tentative agreement
reached by the Administration
and the union's leadership —
just six davs before the arbitra
tion hearing scheduled for
March 4 — was rejected because
its language did not properly ad
dress the memberhsip's con
corns.      said      Roger      Smith.
AFSCME Council 2f> staff
representative for the local
union.
Grievances were filed hv
AFSCME when the University
laid off the 360 members of the
union for the four day
University wide shutdown dur
ing Winter Break.
AFSCME was the only one of
the six campus unions to refuse
to sign the shutdown letter of
agreement. which stated
employees would be allowed to
take either accrued vacation,
personal leave with pay or lost
time without pay during the
closing.
The letter stated unions refus
ing to sign the letter would belaid off without pay during the
shutdown.
The union, at its general
membership meeting, refused to
ratify the agreement because
the Administration was asking
for another shutdown next year
(See "Arbitration'*—page 2)
Stiffed again:   CMU's payment deferred
by MINDY NORTON
LIFE Ass't. News Editor
After being hit with its third delay in payment of its monthly ap
propriations this year. Central now hires a depleted general fund.
The $2.6 million deferral, which (Inv. James Blanchard made
March 11. brings the total of Central's deferred pay merits since
January to nearly $8 million.
Vice President for Business and Finance. Jerry Tubbs s.mi the
University's gent-ral fund is broke because of the deferraK, hut Cen
tral is using other University funds to meet expenses.
"We, in effect, keep all our money in one bank account, so we can
pay . . ." Tubbs said.
"The only problem we have in the short run ... is that if they say
'You aren't going to get anv back at all,' we'll be in trouble." he add
ed.
In January, Blanchard delayed both January and February ap
propriations to state colleges and universities to help deal with an
estimated $900 million state budget deficit.
But Tubbs and Lansing officials expect the delayed payments to
be paid.
"This is simply a delay by the state in its monthly payment
schedule. The assumption must be made the money is to be repaid,"
said Bob Endriss. budget analyst for higher education with the
Department of Management and Budget.
No one knows when the three deferrals will be paid as Blanchard
is waiting for the Senate to take final action on his proposal for a 38
percent state income tax increase anil a $220 million across the
board cut in state appropriations. Blanchard says his proposal is
needed lo ease the state's budget crisis.
The House passed the proposal w ith certain stipulations linked to
the state unemployment rate and the bill now is tietore the Senate.
Central has lost $120,000 to $12f>.000 in interest money because of
the delayed funds and that is "rapidly shooting up" toward $200,000.
Tubbs said.
The University has planned for a deficit of at least $1 million at
the end of its 1982 83 fiscal year in June, assuming all deferrals are
paid. Tubbs said.
If none of the money is paid. Central will have a deficit of $'J
million. Tubbs said.
"I don't think that's going to happen." he said. "We're being held
up only while they resolve the problem."
However, Endriss said "anything can happen" because of the
debate between Senate Democrats and Republicans mer Blan
chard's tax increase and cuts.
— LIFE Stuff Writ, r Stan ('unit k atntribu I, <l tn this sturtj
Draft form
required
despite
injunction
bySHERRYYAEK
LIFE Copy Editor
Central students still will be required to sign a
Selective Service registration form lo receive
financial aid despite a recent preliminary injunc
tion against the new financial aid law.
U.S. District Judge Donald Alsop, of St. Paul
Minnesota, issued an injunction March 10 block
ing the law passed by Congress last year until its
constitutionality can be determined. The law
would require students to sign a compliance form
and submit Selective Service papers before
receiving financial aid.
"1 am proceeding on the basis that the law will
be implemented," said Robert Walling, director of
Financial Aid. "It's far to the students' advantage to continue as we are."
Fred   Marinucci,   attorney   with   the   federal
department of education's general counsel, said
due to the injunction his office cannot continue
encouraging schools to have students sign com
_pliance forms.
(See "Draft"—page 11)
Winter evens up the score
by RICH ROBINSON
LIFE Stall Writer
Okay, so technically it's spr
ing. But since when does
Mother Nature let a mere
technicality get in the way of
her antics?
Apparently, it didn't happen
this time, as Mount Pleasant
was quilted-a far more ap
propriate term than
"blanketed"-with snow Mon
day. So intense was the
downfall,   classes   after   4   p.m.
were   suspended   bv   President
Harold Abel.
It didn't come as a surprise,
really. Michigan has had the for
tune of one of the warmest
winters in recent memory. Now
it was Mom Nature's turn, and
the state paid for all the balmy-
days in December, January and
February.
The winter of '82 '83 was kind
to the lovers of warm temps.
When was the last time anyone
can remember being able to play
a round of golf or get in a set of
tennis in each of the cold
weather months?
For the people who traveled
to warmer regions for Spring
Break, Monday's snowfall was a
let down. No chance to improve
and flaunt the tan for a while
this year. The stores around
town may be suffering because
of the current weather, not be
ing able to peddle their light
colored shirts and blouses to the
southern travelers.
(See "Spring"—page 11)
Friday is the last day students may drop
classes or withdraw from the University and
automatically receive "W's" for grades.
Students have until 5 p.m. April 29 to drop
classes or withdraw from CMU, but after Friday
they will receive "E's" for failing work and
"W's" for work of D-minus or better.
A      meteorologist
talks    about    spring's
snowy arrival.
page 3
LIFEstyles looks at
the sweating and swinging life of jazzer-
cisers.
page 6
The
finished
with   a
ranked
team.
Chippewas
their   season
loss   to   6th-
Maryland
page 14
Classifieds n
Comment 4
Hotel America 4
LIFEstyles 6
Off the Wire 2
Sports 14
Spotlife 17
Weather 17
MflMl