1981-11-30; Central Michigan Life

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Central Michigan LIFE
Vol. 63 No. 37
«g)1981^MfLIFE'
Mount Pleasant, Mich, 48859
14 pages
Monday, Nov, 30,1981
Abel paints gloomy
CMU budget picture
by JOHN BARNES
LIFE Editor
Predicting impending tuition increases totaling
more than $15 per credit hour by Fall Semester
1984 — to $54 per credit hour for undergraduate
tuition — President Harold Abel and other CMU
administrators last week painted a dismal and
frugal view of Central financially for coming
years.
Abel met with more than 40 students in the
President's Conference Room of the University
Center shortly after a similar meeting with faculty and employee groups last Monday to discuss
the University's troubled financial situation.
Abel and Vice President for Business and
Finance Jerry Tubbs discussed two recent state
aid callbacks totaling more than $1 million, and
the possibility of another shortly, that have led to
CMU's financial problems and outlined tentative
measures for resolving the subsequent financial
shortfalls.
"Frankly, I think the entire state of Michigan is
committing financial suicide educationally
because our tuitions are in the upper one-third na
tionally," Abel said.
"In fact, we're thinking we're going to lose
some of you anyway because of that," Abel told
students.
Because of the current financial situation, Abel
and Tubbs predicted:
— tuition would escalate another $3 next fall, $5
by Fall 1983, and an additional $5.50 by Fall 1984.
—enrollment would decline nearly 10 percent
by next fall, from 16,500 currently to 15,700.
— CMU's deficit will balloon from the current
$621,000 to more than $2 million by the 1983-84
academic year, rather than be nearly eliminated
as earlier expected.
"We're going to be looking, for the next two
months at least, for all the possible ways of reducing the base budget of the University," Abel said.
Currently Tubbs and Provost John Cantelon,
who heads Academic Affairs, are in the midst of
analyzing areas their division can be cut. Final
recommendations are expected by January or
February, Abel said.
Academic Affairs and the Business and Finance
Division  comprise  about  85   percent   of   the
(See "Abe!"—page 2)
Skyrocketing
Financial aid requests escalate
by MARK RANZENBERGER
LIFE Staff Writer
Money is tight. The state of
Michigan continues to lead the
nation in unemployment and
paying      the      continually
-   X ~~~ 	
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Analysis
escalating costs of a college
education is leaving even the
most well-prepared families asking for help.
The Financial Aids Office
directed the distribution of
almost $25 million  in student
assistance in the 1980-81 school
year and Robert Walling, director of financial aids, said his office is expecting to see more and
more students coming to them
for help.
"Two years ago, we had 4,000
Guaranteed Student Loan applications. This year it's up to
7,000 and we're expecting more
next year," he said.
The cost of receiving a college
education is skyrocketing. Eight
years ago, CMU tuition was less
than $20 a credit hour. A recent
tuition hike makes the cost of
just going to classes almost double that amount. The cost of
books, food, energy and entertainment are climbing as well.
Just staying in school and paying the bills will be a challenge
for many in the future. So far,
students have not been dropping
out because of high costs, according to Glenn Starner, director
of the Office of Student Affairs.
See related stories page 8
But even Starner said he isn't
optimistic about the future.
Walling said financial help is
available from his office but
students have to ask for the help
and apply early.
The later a student applies for
(See "Analysis"—page 14)
Cut up
CM LIFE/Ken Stevens
Following last week's heavy snow, a tree near the Physical Plant's parking
lot just north of Trout Hall collapsed, damaging a University-owned mower
and sprayer. Physical Plant worker Charlie Van Horn cut up the tree Tuesday
afternoon.
Trio jailed for
killing 'Bucky'
by MIKE STRONG
LIFE Staff Writer
Three 18-year-old Mount Pleasant men currently are serving
90-day jail terms in the Isabella County Jail for killing a tame
seven-point buck at Nelson Park Nov. 18.
Ricky L. Gatten, 6195 E. Airport Road, Daniel A.
Morganstern, 1117 Ward St., and Mark L. Phelps, 1310 Harold
St., all pleaded guilty to killing Bucky, a two-year-old stag
which lived at Nelson Park.
In addition to their jail sentences, the three defendants were
fined $100 each, placed on six months probation and must capture another buck to replace the murdered animal and repair
the fence.
Police officers received information from a caller, who
wished to remain anonymous, which led them to the three subjects. The person received a $200 reward from the police for
the tip.
"The caller gave us information about the deer killers,"
Robert MacDonald, Mount Pleasant police officer, said.
It is not known if the informer actually saw the crime, Mac-
Donald said, adding the caller just had some information on the
killers.
The informant told police the three subjects went to Nelson
Park about 10:30 p.m., cut the fence and then lured Bucky
toward the opening.
When Bucky was close to the subjects, one of them suddenly
stabbed Bucky in the throat with a knife approximately eight
inches long, while the other two men held the deer to the fence.
The three men then dragged the carcass along the footpath
toward Island Park, through Riverview Cemetery, across the
(See "Deer"—page 13)
Sci Fi popularity takes flight
byTOMKEPHART
LIFE Staff Writer
Although the mention of
science fiction creates images of
flying saucers and little green
men in some minds, the study of
science fiction in colleges and
universities is becoming quite
popular.
A recent article in the Journal
of Higher Education indicates
that since the early 1970s, an
enormous increase in literary
research and criticism concerning science fiction has been evident.
This explosion of research has
included   bibliographic   works,
"Because of the usual reaction to
science fiction, we take the risk of
sounding trivial. Our class is not trivial."—John Pfeiffer, "Fantasy and
Science Fiction"instructor
historical studies and several
academic journals dealing
specifically with science fiction.
The study of science fiction at
Central is known as, "Fantasy
and Science Fiction," an English
class taught by John Pfeiffer
and Francis Molson, both professors of English.
Pfeiffer started one of the
first science fiction classes in the
country in 1971 at the U.S. Air
Force Academy, and said that
although the concept was very
new at the time, soon the class
was the most popular special
topics classesj at the academy.
There are now more than 2,000
similar courses taught
throughout the country, Pfeiffer
explained.
Central's class, which fulfills a
University Program subgroup
IA requirement, is a popular option, attracting about 150
students per semester. This
popularity is due in part to the
attention-getting title.
"Many students resist University Program, but are interested
in this class because of the title,"
Pfeiffer said. "Because of the
(See "Sci Fi"—page 2)
Discount cards ready Tuesday
Student discount cards have arrived and distribution to students
and faculty members will begin Tuesday.
Twenty-five local merchants have signed a contract with David
Blessing, of Blessing Advertising and Promotion, agreeing to give
cardholders some kind of discount on their merchandise.
With the Gold Card, a student can receive anything from a pitcher
of pop with pizza to a discount on a given item, said Julie Krzeminski, Grand Rapids sophomore and chairwoman of the independent
task force for the distribution of the cards.
The task force, independent of the University, was set up in
September to investigate the possibility of producing student dis
count cards. Since that time, the committee has decided on the Gold
Card, a plastic card which lists the names of local retailers offering
incentives to students and faculty.
Earlier this semester President Harold Abel said the University
was concerned the businesses might be hurt by the card, but he now
believes the program may be a good one.
"What concerned me before was the logistics of everything. This
was handled much more carefully than other programs I know
about," Abel said. "'If it all works smoothly, it will be a good program. I wish them luck."
(See "Cards"—page 13)
In Brief
The Bachelor of Fine Arts Show begins today
in the University Art Gallery, The show continues until Dec. 11 and is free.
Campus
Central's
enrollments   are
pected to dip in
future.
page 3
freshman
ex^
the
The  Police's  latest
album   outshines   the
group's earlier efforts,
page 6
Sports
The CMU men's
basketball team opened its season over the
weekend, taking third
place at the Spartan
Cutlass Classic,
page 12
Index
Arts and Leisure 6
Classifieds. .<. ".. 13
Comment 4
Doonesbury  4
Horoscope......... ¥,.    13
Off the Wire 2
Sports jo
Spotlife ,.. 13
Weather  13
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