1977-02-09; Central Michigan Life

              inter Games
{will feature
unique skiing
JbyMIKEMALOTT
CMJJFE Reporter
Wheelchair-bound athlete's will be gliding down the slopes of
Schuss Mountain during the first Michigan Regional Winter Special
Olympics on a recently developed set of wheelchair skis.
Allen Gates, CMU Special Olympics director explained the
wheelchair skis were developed to create athletic events for
crippled competitors at the Olympics.
The Winter Olympics will be conducted at Schuss Mountain and
Shanty Creek Lodge near Mancelona Feb. 23 through 25. The
events will provide athletic competition, for 750 mentally handicapped children and adults from Michigan, Kentucky, Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio and Canada.
The Games are part of a program to provide year-round sports
programs for the handicapped athletes, Gates said.
Original planning of the Winter Olympics included no events for
the wheelchair competitors, Gates said.
"We wondered if we could just attach skies to the wheels, would it
work? " Gates said. After the first meeting in early September, the
three inventors —Gates; Dave Bene|, Winter Special Olympics
chairperson; and Dick Ryan, Special ^Olympics Board of Directors
member and professional bowler - began drawing versions of the
apperatus. J
"Ryan drew up the final version, he put all of our ideas together,"
Gates explained. The $442 prototype! was completed Dec. 14; two
more will be constructed for use at the Games.
The apparatus has three skies and adaptable clamps, which attach
to the frame of the wheelchair. "We've put it on 30 different makes
of wheelchairs aiid we haven't found one it wouldn't fit yet," Gates
said.
A steering wheel is used to turn the front ski so that the apparatus can be manuvered back and forth across the slope.
To stop the wheelchair, the front ski is turned all the way to one
side, The ski will roll slightly and actually plane across the snow,
bringing the chair to a halt, Gates explained. Brakes also will be
added to the skis  prior to the competition.
Since some of the athletes do not .have the use of their arms, as
well as their legs, the vehicle eventually will be equipped with a
harness, which the competitior wears on the head or shoulders, to
control the skies, Gates explained.
At present, however, chaperones will have to ride with the
competitors who are unable to steer, he added.
As a safety feature, rudders have been attached to the rear skis
to slow the skis and to prevent any sideways drift which might
occur, according to Mike Higgins, Special Olympics program
representative.
"The skis don't go that fast, if anything they go too slow," Higgins
said.
The wheelchair races will be run three competitors at a time, if
possible, side by side, according to Gates.
Gates, Benes and Ryan are in the process of patenting the invention, and they hope to put it on the market within 12 months, in
time for the next Winter Special Olympics.
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Volume 58, No. 54
Mt. Pleasant, Mich. 48859
Wednesday, February 9,1977
\dministration drafts
esponse letter to FA
by HOLLY HAYES
LIFE Managing Editor
The University has drafted a
nal response to the Faculty
Relation's (FA) demand that
"change in the University
lendar due to an energy
lergency must be bargained.
The^Iettery *^wHfc£en> -by • John
eatherford, temporary
listant provost for faculty
Wactual relations, was sent
to FA President Ronald
Johnstone Tuesday afternoon. It
will be a topic of discussion at
today's FA Board of Directors
meeting, Johnstone said.
Although details of the letter's content were not available,
Weatherford said he believes
the UrtiversityVpo3Mem"rrrthe'*!
matter is based upon strong
legal facts.
Conflict between the FA and
Rap session'
et Thursday
Hi informal rap session,
bnsored by the Office of
[ident Affairs, will take place
iirsday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in
Plroom A of the University
iter.
fhe rap session is a result of a
dinar in Warriner Hall last
tester.
)urir.g the seminar, sponged by Student Association,
idents asked questions about
Jiversity policies, according to
aron George, administrative
Mstant in the Student Affairs
(ice.
The entire University comity, especially the student
iy, is invited to the rap
psion to discuss concerns
iling with student affairs,
fcording to James Hill, dean of
pdents.
fhe rap session should help
|eviate misunderstandings and
fsconceptions     -   about
riversity policies and
locedures, according to
forge. In addition, she said, it
James Hill
should .open another line of
communication . between
students and the Office of
Student Affairs.
AH participants will have the
opportunity to voice ideas,
opinions and recommendations
to the dean.
Another rap session is
scheduled for April 13.
CMU's administration was
sparked when President Harold
Abel announced plans to institute a contingency Calendar
in the event of a natural gas
emergency in Michigan. The
plan would have changed the
dates of Centrales spring break
«.to->-close -the -Univogsity-^for
maximum energy savings. '
Johnstone said Tuesday the
Board of Directors either may
choose to drop opposition to the
University's no-bargaining
stand or file an unfair labor
practice (ULP) or contract,
grievance. .[
He added, "Frankly, we would
have been surprised if the
response (from the University)
was any different."
Weatherford, director of
libraries, said the purpose of the
letter was "simply to document
(the University's position) in
both law and in fact."
Abel had charged the FA's
bargaining demands were
"irresponsible" under the
possible emergency conditions.
"I am astounded that the
Faculty . Association should
attempt to make a critical
national emergency the occasion
for tactical posturing connected
with their collective bargaining
goals," he said.
Johnstone, however, maintained the University had just
been "carrying out an obligation
to talk with the FA" when the
contingency Calendar plan was
presented to a group of FA
members last Wednesday.
FA members contend the
issue is bargainable. under
Article 36 of its contract, which
provides for negotiations on
"unforseen substantial changes
in working conditions" not
anticipated at the original time
of bargaining.
Most students have been too busy keeping warm, both indoors and out, to appreciate some of the
nicer sides of winter. Viewing the Towers at sunset seems to show this icy season has some positive
aspects, also (LIFE photo by Brad Drewyor).
Talent show, skating
highlight week's events
Black History Month gets into full swing this
week, beginning with today's Organization for
Black Unity (OBU) sponsored Talent Show at 7
p.m. in Warriner Auditorium.
I Admission is free, to all OBU activities this
month.
Thursday, OBU has planned a skate-a-thon at
the Spinning Wheels Roller Rink, 1241 N. Mission
St., from 8 to 11 p.m. Proceeds will go to the
United Negro College Fund.
Artist Barbara Gothard will conduct a
discussion session Friday in the University Art
Gallery at the South Art Studios at 7 p.m.
Gothard's work has been on display in the Gallery
Departments back in order
since Feb.'l.
Deadline for OBU's "Black Women in America"
essay contest is  Tuesday. Information  or applications are available at the OBU desks in the
Volunteer  Organizations  Center  room   in  the"
lower level of the University Center.
The winner will receive a $100 scholarship.
Future activities wjll include a speech by poet
Nikki Giovanni Feb. 21 in Warriner Auditorium
and a two-act play "Peer Pressure on Niggah
Island" Feb. 23 through 25. OBU members have
stressed the month's activities are for all
students, not only fpr blacks.
ity reorganizes following strike
byPAULRAU
CM LIFE Reporter
, *ost city departments affected by the recent strike by some
Jnicipal employees have been regrouping since workers returned
Stheir jobs Thursday, according to city officials.
'For us, it's basically a matter of the Street Department getting
ge equipment back in order. A lot of our machines need attention
fcause they weren't used during the strike," City Engineer Robert
ffiitehead said. '
■Whitehead added the city's annual Christmas tree pick-up has not
|en officially rescheduled, but a time should be announced soon.
Internments at Riverside Cemetery also have been delayed until
prkers can judge the.frost depth and meet with funeral directors,.
™teheadsaid.
The city's parking and water meter readers are back on duty and
! public library is operating during its normal hours. Library
|Urs are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.;
iturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
One city project which was delayed by the strike has been
rescheduled.Whitehead said a project to replace nearly all warning
and regulatory signs in Mt. Pleasant will begin in mid-March or
April. The project, 90. per cent federally funded, will replace approximately 400 signs in the city.
The city received final approval of the $50,000 grant in November
of 1976, Whitehead said. "It's a pretty good deal. We jumped quite
fast when we learned about it," he added. The city's share of the
project is $5,000. •
Some of the new signs will look quite different from the old ones.
Yellow yield signs will be replaced with signs having a red outline
and a white center. All "no right turn" or "no left turn" signs will
show an arrow with a slash through it, the international sign
language for a prohibited maneuver.
Most signs also will be raised in conformance with the government's Uniform Traffic Control Devices manual, Whitehead said.
The project should take two to three months to complete,
Whitehead added.
i i*'
mi
Matt Hicks of Northern Illinois (34) was named
the Mid-American Conference's Player-of-the-
Wcek for the second consecutive week.... see
story page 10 (LIFE photo by Mark Haney).
— Grant to buffer rate hike—page 3
—Audience selects favorite films—page 6
— Detroit    Catholic . teams    top   prep
I poll—page 12
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