1981-02-20; Central Michigan Life

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LIFE
Vol. 62 No. 60
©  1981, CM LIFE
Mount Pleasant, Mich. 48859
12 pages
Friday, Feb. 20,1981
Checking decline tied to service fee?
by JOHN BARNES
LIFE Aw't. News Editor
Check cashing has decreased 24 percent at
University cashiers' offices since the 30-cent
service charge was implemented by the Administration last October, according to Accounting Service figures released this week.
However, CMU officials are reluctant to tie the
decline to the fee yet, saying the program will be
reviewed more thoroughly next September, after
the charge has been in effect a full year.
The charge was tacked on to checks in an attempt to save the University the estimated
$30,000 cost of providing the service, rather than
eliminate it completely.
To date, $9,669 has been collected through
service charges.
But at the present rate, preliminary estimates'
indicate revenues from the charge may total only
$25,000 for the year, Vice President for Business
and Finance Jerry Tubbs said, but added that is
not a large concern at this point.
"It's really tooearly to tell. I don't think there's
enough of an indicator," Tubbs said, adding any
projections to date are only "very cursory
estimates."
A report prepared by Accounting Services
Manager Joseph Bissell compared the number of
checks cashed for cash from October through
January during the last two years in both the
Warriner and University Center cashiers' offices.
In all, 10,329 less transactions were recorded
this year than for the similar four-month period
last year. Transactions during the study period
last year totalled 43,538 compared to 33,209 this
year.
Although the .University is cashing fewer
checks, Bissell said, the decrease may not be
caused exclusively by the 30 cent charge.
Such factors may include the current downturn
in the economy, more persons going home, fewer
paychecks going out, or heavy users of the service using it less often or writing checks
©Is© where.
"All this is not figured in," Bissell said. "I'm
just taking raw data and saying here it is.
"It's slightly less but I think the 30 cents is
doing what it was intended to do," he added.
But if the decline continues, Tubbs said some
revamping may have to be done,
A cashier position may have to be cut if the
decline drops into the 30 to 35 percent range, he
said, though that cut probably would be accomplished through normal attrition.
Until a thorough study of the service is done by
Tubbs next semester, however, no decisions on
the service will be made, he said. And even then,
it could be several more months before any
possible changes are implemented.
"It's hard to tell which way it will go," Tubbs
said. "I haven't any idea."
-**J*^.
'---%*' *•'"'    *•>«■*
Volunteer Wendy Haight, Ionia senior, helps Tracey Hinkley, 12, regain his saucer.
CM UFE/Staven C. Jessmora
Damp didn't hurt Special 'O'mood
by SHIRLEY SZELKOWSKI
LIFE Staff Writer
CEDAR—Soggy weather conditions due to near 50-degree
temperatures couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of more than
700 mentally impaired athletes as they participated in the 1981
Michigan Winter Special Olympics Wednesday through today
at Sugarloaf Mountain resort.
The athletes competed in alpine and nordic skiing,
snowshoeing, broomball and various wheelchair events. Speed
and figure skating were cancelled due to the warm weather.
"Look at these kids, it doesn't even phase them. You get
other kids out here and they'd be grumbling because of the
weather," commented 1981 Head Coach Joe Falls, Detroit
News sports columnist/
During the many sporting events he has covered internationally, he said he has never encountered better athletes
than those in Special Olympics because of their enthusiasm
and dedication.
"Last year at this very moment I was at Lake Placid (NY) for
the World Olympic games," Falls said during an opening
ceremonies speech Wednesday evening. "I thought I saw the
world's greatest athletes. But tonight, I'm really seeing them."
The opening ceremonies concluded with fireworks, the
lighting of the torch and the igniting of flares which blazed the
Special Olympics emblem in the side of a ski slope.
Competition began Thursday morning with the weather
being the only inhibiter to a smooth running program. State
Director John Walsch was continually forced to move the
events to new locations as the snow melted.
The athletes, ages 10 and up, were awarded medals or
ribbons following each event. But more importantly, all
received hugs and encouragement from the many volunteers.
More than 300 persons from the Traverse City and Mount
Pleasant areas volunteered their services as did the coaches
and chaperones from the athletes' hometowns.
The largest volunteer group was approximately 120
students from CMU, where the state office is housed. Several
students dressed up as animal and cartoon characters planning
to work in a snow, castle; however, the life-size winter wonderland which people from Traverse City built closed Wednesday evening because it melted.
Many students are recreation or theraputic recreation
majors who saw the Special Olympics as an opportunity to put
their classroom knowledge to practical use. For others it was
for the personal satisfaction of helping those who have a deep
capacity for appreciation.
Sugarloaf provided 1,200 beds which crowded seven people
into some rooms. The resort also built an ice-skating rink
especially for the games; however, the rink was unable to be
used because of the weather.
The greater Grand Rapids area Burger King restaurants
were given the 1980 Outstanding Business Organization
award.
Brad Van Pelt, linebacker for the New York Giants, was
'named the Outstanding Athlete while Connie Mattson of
Escanaba was named Outstanding Volunteer of 1980.
Dean Howe was recognized as the Outstanding Sports
Writer for his Special Olympics coverage in the Flint Journal,
and the Roscommon Herald News received the Outstanding
Newspaper award.
Closing ceremonies will take place here today at noon.
Hurt students'
condition same
Two CMU students struck by a car while walking along
Broomfield Road Monday night still are in critical and serious
condition,
Kenneth D. Grables, Clarkston sophomore, was still in critical
condition and comatose in the intensive care unit of Midland
hospital late Thursday night, the hospital supervisor said.
Jennifer Thompkins, West Broomfield junior, still is in serious
condition and in intensive care at Central Michigan Community
Hospital, the CMCH nursing supervisor confirmed late Thursday.
The driver of the car, Harry D. Pelcher, 33, of 7087 Broadway
St., was arraigned in 76th District Court Wednesday before
Judge Peter D. O'Connell on charges of felonious driving.
Pelcher requested at the arraignment a preliminary examination
and a court-appointed attorney.
The preliminary exam was set for Monday, and Pelcher's $5,000
personal recognizance bond was continued, the District Court clerk
said. An attorney will be appointed for him at a later date, Assistant
County Prosecutor Tom Plachta said.
(See "Accident," page 2)
Black enrollment
a higher priority
(Editor's note: In a continuing
series during February about
blacks at CMU, LIFE Staff
Writer Torn Henry today
focuses on the administrative
perspective.)
President Harold Abel began
a routine update to the Board of
Trustees Wednesday about the
progress of state appropriations
coming to Central.
He said legislators were
impressed when he cited 98
percent of CMU's freshmen are
Michigan residents, which
means nearly all of future state
aid would not fall into the hands
of newcomers to Michigan.
Black Trustee Bernadine
Denning also was impressed, but
for different reasons.
"If it's true we get 98 percent
Michigan residents," she interjected, "it would appear more
minorities should know this."
After Demming's comment,
the subject at the Board meeting
was changed.
In a broader sense, the
priorities of Central's Administration have changed
recently to include increased
black enrollment.
For the past few years, black
enrollment has steadily declined
from a scarce fraction.
A decade ago, about 1 percent
of the student body was black.
The
Black
in
Maroon
and Gold:
Administrative
This year's figure is 1.41 percent.
The all-time enrollment high
for blacks at CMU was a mere
2.4 percent in 1974. It dipped to
1.98 percent by 1977, and has
continued downward since.
"I met with a group in Detroit
recently," Denning, a Detroit
native, told the board, "and I
saw some fantastic, bright
minorities.
"But the problem is they seem
to know only Wayne (Wayne
State University), U of D
(University of Detroit) and U of
M (University of Michigan)
exist," she said.
' "I   think   we   need   a  more
(See "Blacks," page 12)
In Brief
Anyone with information regarding recent
assaults on and around campus should contact
either the Department of Public Safety at 774-
3081 or the Mount Pleasant City Police at 773-
7971.
Campus
CMU's    Board    of
Trustees adopted two
new     scholarships
Wednesday.
pageS
The      Symphony
Orchestra will have a
new conductor at the
helm Sunday.
page 6
Sports
CMU's football
coaching staff signed
, 20 high school recruits,
including blue chip
prospect John DeBoerr
to national letters-of-
intent Wednesday,
page 8
Index
Arts and Leisure ..... 6
Classifieds, , \\
Comment 4
Doortesbury 4
Horoscope    \\
Off the Wire ...... .'. 2
Sports , s
Spotlife  11
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