1993-09-20; Central Michigan Life

              Monday, September
WeatKer
High: low 60s
Low: low50s
rain in morning,
scattered thunderstorms in afternoon
News
Looking back
Happenings from the past
Page 7
Et Cetera
Dog eared
Local band goes Bird hunting
Page 8
Sports
■ lifTMlV.       I„|-HH»   ■-,„■«,,,
NO DICE
CMU loses to UNLV
Page 10
Central
Michigan
VOLUME 76, NUMBER 9
MOUNT PLEASANT, MICHIGAN 48859
v 1993 CM LIFE
(517) 774-3493
14 PAGES]
Faculty to vote on mergers this week
By Matt Crossman
Voting will complete this week on proposed departmental realignments, hut alternative's to mergers are still considered unfinished business.
Provost Robert Franke recommended six mergers in Ins Phase III
budget reduction report Since the report was released, informational meetings have taken place at department and college levels.
After t he vote, a .'ill-day period for discussion is mandated before the
proposal  is acted on by the Academic Senate.
I fa merger is approved, t he merger will bo brought to A-Senate for
result publication. If it is turned down, t he merger can be brought to
A Senate for discussion.
The College of Business Administration will vote Tuesday and
Wednesday on 1 he merger of t he business law and regulat ion department with the management depart men t. Jim Hill, chairman of BLR,
circulated a memo against the merger last  week.
Ronald Beaulieu. chairman of the management department, said
be presented t lie department's views at tin* college-wide informational meeting earlier this month lie said the department had
programmatic reservations, but realized the economic reasons for
the proposal
A faculty committee* was formed by ferry Arndt. dean of the
( 'ollege of Business Administ rat ion. to study effects of the proposed
merger and develop alternative proposals.
See VOTE Page 2
Provost rescinds
recommendation
By Karen Joseph
lift! Hitoi
The journalism and broadcast
and cinematic arts departments
are as close as they are going to
get at  least for a while.
Provost Robert Kranke
rescinded his recommendation to
merge the two departments Friday The recommendation was
part of the Academic Affairs
Phase III division budget reduction and program review report.
Kranke said an active search
for accreditation by the journalism department was the pivotal
factor in the decision to take the
merge!" off the table.
"< Interim President Leonard K.
Plachta) and I have heard arguments against it and have
decided that it is not time (for the4
merger)." Franke said.
The decision was programmatic ■. not economic, he said.
See RESCIND Page 6
Faculty discuss
mergers, cancelling
presidential search
By Matt Crossman
Reo-iil .uii«»n> fr«»m ('Mi's Hoard of Trustees and administration
ha\ e loll vt mi io lac ult > m< in be is feeling unrepresented in the university
(■<t|||Mlllllll\
Various lacuh \  ha\ e expressed concern over what t hey consider the
f 111 rried r.w e . »t t f i< • proposed met gers and the possible cancel I at ion of a
ii.ii ional M'.mh I'm   i permanent president of the university. The Hoard
ill  eoii.^idei   naming  Interim  President   Leonard  K.   Plachta as presi-
■ !.  nt   at   it -  < )rt     1   n ieet mu
si\ depart uient al mergers were pi imposed by Provost Robert  Kranke
n   Si-   Pha-e   111   bmlgei   recommendation  and   program   review   clocu-
nicnl
Stephen Stabl ehairinan of the geolog\ department, said he felt the
. • mibi nat n»n ol t he t \\o farlor> • mergers and possible cancel I at ion of a
presidential >eaic h would adversely affect t fie faculty vote on the
11 n-rger -^ I b- -a id I acid t v would \ < >te t he realign merits down in protest to
a-   lack  "?   111 v 11\\ . tn« nt   m  i>-ue> lacing the universitv
.   FACULTY K«(|c /
Two profs resign
from committee
Two member-* of t he Rev. Jesse
Jackson Planning Committee
resigned  in protest Thursday.
Joyce Baugh. assistant professor of pollt icaI science, and Roger
Match, professor of religion,
objected to actions of Interim
President Leonard K Plachta
and the Hoard of Trustees m a
joint  letter of resignation.
"It is because* of our experience*
with racial injustice that we now
must resign from this committee/' the letter stated
The letter cited Plarhta's apparent willingness to comply with
the rescission of -election procedures for administrative officers
and the consideration of the
Hoard to appoint Plachta permanent president without a
national search as rationale for
resigs i ing.
The procedures for selection of
senior officers outlined in t he
Manual of Policies. Practices and
Regulations were retracted by
the  Hoard on Julv   1 ">. citing out
dated and  ineffective* content.
Mandatory national searches
and involvement from the Affirmative Action officer were invalidated until revisions arc* completed
"We sincerely believe that any
positive outcomes < Jackson's)
visit might have would be severly
undermined by actions (Plachta)
and the Hoard of Trustees seem
to be contemplating.' the letter
stated
While Plachta told committee
members t hat Jackson's v isit was
part of "efforts to reduce tensions
and move our university to greater awareness of racial inequalities on campus." Hatch said foregoing Affirmat ive Action requirements is racial inequality.
Jackson representatives were
unable to comment on the resig-
nat ions.
"They are sending mixed signals." Match said "J am not willing   to  be  a   part   of   a coverup of
See RESIGN Page  \'2
Perot speaks
LIFE Photo John Elbers
Ross Perot speaks on his opposition to NAFTA Saturday afternoon    on the capitol steps in Lansing. See story on page 3.
Insurance does not cover  'well-care' items
By Shannon M. Russell
Although universitv health
insurance offers (All* students
coverage for abort ion procedures.
in it h con t rol pil Is a re not
included in those premiums.
Central's   Student    iniurv   and
Sickness Insurance Plan covers
up to Si>f)l) in abortion costs, said
Debra Williamson, information
-v st eius supervisor of I niversity
\ halt h Services.
available, and we thought that a
few i st udents » might take advan-
t age of 11 be service C
Williamson    added    that     the
opt ion is inexpensive unci Mhurclly
Abortion  coverage was not  an     costs anything" for the one or two
iption   CHS sought.  Williamson     students who might  use it
auf   "It   was one  of   the options The procedure is not performed
on campus, she added.
Though the coverage is available to st udents under the policy,
not many have used it. Williamson said. Only one or two students   have   used   it   in   the*   past
See POLICY Page 5
LIFE
on the
Inside
MORE NEWS 3
VOICES 4
PLACEMENT 6
ET CETERA 8
SPORTS 10
POLICE/COURTS 12
CLASSIFIEDS 14
Concerns arising over search policy, affirmative action
By Jill Behnke
The Board of Trustees' recent
repeal of the selection procedures
for administrative officers also
revoked Affirmative Action
requirements.
In light of the Hoards resolution to forego a presidential
search and appoint Interim
President Leonard K. Plachtatoa
permanent presidency, some
faculty and administrators have
expressed dissent.
"Ive had some serious concerns," said David Smith,
Academic Senate chairman and
chairman of t he religion depart
ment. "Without a policy in place,
the Board is free to ignore proce-
(lll res
"The Board is not liuiind by any
Affirmative Action regulations,"
lie said "They are not hound by
conscience, either,  it  seems
"The Academic" Senate stands
for* democratic decisions, deci
sions based on the Boards consideration of Affirmative Action;
that is not happening/' Smith
said "The best way to have* a
leader chosen is based on a community process The search committee. < according to the repealed
policy i. would consist of students,
faculty and Trustees; a wide
range "
The motion was prepared by
the Boards Policy and Bylaws
Committee   and   will   he   consid
ered by the Board at its Oct 1
meet ing If passed and approved,
Plachta would be the next president, effect ive at that  time.
The resolution departs from
the Manual of Policies. Practices
and Regulations approved by
A Senate Nov 2K, 1992 The section in the manual dealing with
procedures for the selection of
administrative officers was
deemed ineffective by the Board
and repealed at its July 15 meeting
The repealed policy included a
review by the Affirmative Action
office of all recommended senior-
officer appointments to ensure
consistency with CM Us Affirmative Action standards.
"Right now there is no written
requirement spelling out procedures to go through the Affirmative Action office," said University Counsel Faleen Jennings
CMC's Affirmative Act nm
Plan, effective in 1979 and
revised in 1989, is still in effect It
states that "CMC affirms its continued commitment to a policy of
equal educational and employ-
merit opportunity and elimination of prohibited discrimination,
including discriminatory harassment, within the institution."
"While the Affirmative Action
requirements were repealed
along with the policy, Plachta
meets all the Affirmative Action
goals and plans, based on his con
duct." said Trustee Mitch  Kehe-
I lan.
"The Multicultural Center is
now moving to Bovee University
Center, from Pearce Hall, under
Plachta." he said "Look at the
mans record, that's affirmative
action The Board has the responsibility and the authority to
appoint a president, based on the
repeal Plachta meets the
requirements under the old
search policy."
Trustee* Robert Young, chair of
the Policy and Bylaws Commit
tee, said the committee has
begun discussing a new policy.
"We do not have a drafted prop-
See CONCERN Page 2
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