1981-10-05; Central Michigan Life

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Central Michigan LIFE
Vol.62   No. 15
© 1981 CM LIFE
Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48859
14 pages
Monday, Oct. 5,1981
Student stress
cases increase
by TERRI FINCH
LIFE Staff Writer
The number of depressed and stress-torn students on campus has
increased dramatically this semester, said Counseling Director Don
Bertsch.
And while the amount of exam and roommate-related stress
hasn't really increased, Bertsch attributes the problems to
something else — Reaganomics.
"CMU is just a microcosm of society," Bertsch said. "And society
is in an uproar right now.
"Students feel they have no meaningful control over their
destiny," he said. "Reagan may make one simple statement, and
your destiny goes kaboom."
This has caused more student suicide threats and an increase in
the use of hard drugs and alcohol, Bertsch said.
One female CMU student has left the University following three
attempted suicides, Bertsch said.
"Sometimes it's the only way a person can cope," he said. "If
you're frustrated and depressed every day, you get desperate for a
way out."
Although he did not quote specific figures, Bertsch said that in
talks with students he senses a rise in consideration of suicide.
Bertsch said the financial problems affecting students this
semester are greater than in past years, causing more tension and
(See "Depression"—page 13)
Polite crashers
say 'Hi' to Abel
by SANDY McHUGH
LIFE Ass't. News Editor
Introducing yourself to your
new neighbor is considered
friendly, and not many people
would give a second thought to
going over to J&g- jiej^hborV
house.
But what if the neighbor was
President Harold Abel?
Four CMU students recently
got invited to one of Abel's post-
game receptions —merely
because they asked if they could
attend.
The students —Ken Van-
Wagoner, Holly sophomore,
Tom Huff, Livonia sophomore;
Craig Molitor, Grand Rapids
sophomore and Chris Hopp,
Menominee freshman—are Tate
Hall residents that said they
just wanted to meet the president.
"We were riding home after
the game last weekend and saw
some people, so we looked
through the fence," Hopp said.
"We saw a buffet and knew
there was a party.
"It was kind of like the poor
side of the fence looking- at the
rich side type thing, Huffsaid.
"We wanted to go over and Ken,
being the man of action he is,
called (Abel)."
VanWagoner asked to speak
to Abel and asked him if he
would like some student
representation at one of his parties.
"He said 'call my office Monday morning and have my
secretary set up with a time,'"
VanWagoner said.
They received a call Thursday
from Abel's office and were told
they could go and dress  was
(See "Guests"—page 9)
Bathroom bug
CM LIFE/J. Kyb Kemar
Greg Cowles, Gaylord freshman, and Cindy Myers, Marshall sophomore, found his car
draped with toilet paper Sunday afternoon in the Towers parking lot. According to Cowles,
the "Sweeney Toilet Paper Girls" did the vandalism sometime Saturday night.
Survivor funds face phase-out
LIFE Staff Writer
Social Security survivors' benefits are gradually being phased out
for college students, but those losing their benefits may be able to
make up the money from other federal programs.
"Any special needs would be reflected in Pell Grant or other
loans' or grants' needs tests," said Theresa Bourgeois, press
secretary for U.S. Rep. Donald Albosta, D-St. Charles.
Meantime, sympathy still exists on Capitol Hill to try to keep the
student survivors' benefits in place even at a reduced level, according to an aide to U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan.
Jackie Parker, legislative assistant to Levin, said, "We desperately want to keep the program in place."
President Ronald Reagan recently appealed to Congress to
restore the minimum Social Security benefit of $122 a month. Congress has yet to take action on that. Earlier this year the House and
Senate repealed the minimum benefit at Reagan's urging.
_f6_rgcotr __t^^^^ be
getting a similar reprieve. "They don't want to re-do what they've
already undone," Parker said.
The integrity of the Social Security system is in doubt and Congress is looking for ways to save money by looking at the so-called
"add-on" programs like the student survivor benefits, Bourgeois
said.
The program was added to the basic Social Security program in
1965 to allow dependents of deceased or disabled workers who paid
into the Social Security fund to get payments until the age of 22 if
they stayed in college.
"The congressman supports the need to review whether the addons are necessary," Bourgeois said.
Originally plans called for students starting school this fall to be
ineligible for the longer*term benefits. That move was defeated but
the current freshman class is the last class to get the benefits, according to Parker. ,c    „~    . ,_.       ,± ,,
6 (See "Social Security"—page 13)
Teens flock to campus for 'CMU and You' Day
Lisa Austin, Livonia sophomore, leads a group of Millington High School students on a campus tour during "CMU
and You" Day Saturday morning.
CMUFElKaoSfvw*
"Marty" a nine-foot, 25-pound
Indian Python snake was one of
the many features on display
Saturday morning in Rose
Arena for the tenth annual
"CMU and You" Day.
Rose may have been described as a "zoo" Saturday, but not
just because of Marty.
Approximately 2,500
highschoolers and potential
transfer students attended
"CMU and You" Day, said Paul
Seestedt, athletic ticket
manager.
Students from schpols as far
north as Houghton and as far
south as St. Joseph flocked into
the area for their free football
tickets.
"Where do we get our
tickets?", some visitors asked
while walking by the information booths.
Representatives from
academic departments, student
organizations and even
cheerleaders were available to
talk to the visitors. But, the ma-
In Brief
Students who have not received their Fall
Semester cards in the mail should contact the
Registrar's Office, Warriner 260, to make sure a
correct local address is on file.
Campus
The former editor of
the  Chicago  Tribune
will speak Tuesday,
page 3
The AutumnRock
festival drew about
1,500 fans to Blanchard
Millpond Park Saturday,,
page 8
Sports
Bring on the Bronco s! CMU's football
team scalps Hurons
63-14.
page 11
jority of high school students
and transfers interest seemed to
be not in finding out what CMU
was all about, but finding out
where the free football tickets
were located.
Steve Doelder and Bill
Browne, from Grand Rapids
Community College, said, "We
came to watch the game and get
some information on the sports
medicine program."
Students like Dan Sugg,
Brown City High School senior,
already have made plans to attend CMU in the fall, but came
to watch the game.
"I'm going into broadcasting
since it has-such a good reputation at CMU and produces
famous people like Dick
Enberg," Sugg said.
"We are here just to see a
good game and have a good
time," said one of seven Bay City
Central high school students.
"And we're having a "great
time, we drank all the way," he
(See "CMU and You".—page 13)
Index
Arts and Leisure ......... 8
Classifieds 13
Comment 4
Doonesbury .............. 4
Horoscope 13
Off the Wire 2
Sports 11
Spotlife 13
Weather .- 13
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