1975-08-25; Central Michigan Life

              mmmm****
mmmmm
-^
1
\
Volume B7 IMo.1
Monday, August 25, 1975
Movin' up
Expansion, recognition, changes set new horizons
UNJTY—More than 3,000 special olympians congregated here Aug, 7
to 11 to participate in the 1975 International Special Olympic Games.
Members of the Nebraska delegation join together in a spirit of unity
and hopeful victory during    opening ceremonies at Perry Shorts
Stadium Aug. 7. (See Section C for special Olympics roundup).
CM,^IFEfHO,TPS BVK.lCft MCKAY
by MITCH HEAD
LIFE Managing Editor
Dawn is breaking on^a new era that,signals growth, expansion and
prosperity ahead for CMU.
Expansion will be the key password, this year, as Central expands Kn
sports, academic courses, University life and events. '.'
Record toppling enrollment is predicted this year to provide much of the
funds for the expansion plans' that have been on the drawing board for years,
Although no one really knows what the secret to Central's new-found fame
is, one thing is certain: There are students, students, and more students. In
fact, there are more students' here than at any other time in Central's 83-year
history. ,
Officials here are looking forward to a fall enrollment total of 15,015
students, nearly 300 more than 1971's record crop of 14,741 students. Fresh*
men enrollment has been curtailed, as University officials attempt to ward
off housing shortages that have plagued the University in recent years.
Last year the University was forced to rent one annex of Deerfield
apartments to store freshmen when many students were forced to adapt
four-person University rooms to accommodate five persons.
This year, the record freshmen class of about 3,832, compounded by the
record total enrollment, has caused a severe off campus housing shortage as
well. Booms,'apartments and houses available for occupancy in Mt. Pleasant
virtually are non-existant.
To cope with the unprecented migration of students to Central this fall,
63 new full and part-time faculty have been added.
In spite of the inconveniences caused by the record enrollments,
University officials are enjoying the increased popularity CMU is experiencing. While most four-year colleges and universities across the nation
are facing serious deficits because of declining enrollments, Central's increased enrollment, along with an additional tuition and fees increase this
year, is helping CMU keep pace with double-digit inflation.
Although the state legislature has approved appropriations totalling
more than $21 million, utility rates alone are expected up $200,000 at CMU
from last year, signalling another tight financial year ahead.
CMU sports also is expected to take a financial cut, although specific
financial figures have yet to be announced.
Previously NCAA Division II champs and Camellia Bowl victors,
CMU's football team has been elevated to NCAA Division I competition. The
change will mean stiffer competition, increased publicity and a shot at the
Tangerine Bowl at the end of the season. But at the same time, recruiting has
been curtailed and scholarships limited, which means Head Coach Boy
•-Kramer and his-staftwill have4beir work-cutout for them. .......—.-,„,. »*	
Head Coach Dick Parfitt's cagers also will be, meeting some stiff competition as opponents will be gearing up to tackle' last year's Mid-American
(See "Changes..." Page 3|
Games give all
taste of victory
by STEVE MORSE
LIFE Editor in Chief
From the time the Flame of
Hope was lit during opening
ceremonies Aug. 7 until the last bus
departed, Aug. 11, CMU and Mt.
Pleasant residents opened their
arms and embraced 3,200 mentally
handicapped athletes during the
1975 International Special Olympic
Games.
-■-With-- participants journeying
from as far away as the Phillipines,
i the games got underway in a colorful
and emotional opening ceremony at
Perry Shorts Stadium (see related
story Section C). Political, entertainment attd sports figures were
on hand to christen the games, which *
were called the "most successful"
Special Olympics ever,
' " In fact, the only tragedy to mar
the four-day event was the drowning
of a 17-year-old contestant from
Alabama. Ezekial Pinkard, who was
visiting Greenville Aug. 10 on an
Exploration Day outing along with
the rest of the Alabama delegation,
drowned while swimming in nearby
Baldwin Lake.
t Exploration Day allowed
contestants to travel to other
Michigan communities and attend a
host of non-athletic events whether
it was a summer rodeo in Mt.
Pleasant  or  a  chicken   dinner  in
Frankenmuth.
Sponsored by the Michigan
Jaycees and various other community groups in the state, Exploration Day was designed to give
special olympians* a complete experience, according to Dave
Ochander, state chairperson of the
project.
But Exploration Day was not
the only ar.ivity which made the
Olyinpfes rasr^ ihim an Athletic
event. A carnival sponsored by the
Kiwanis Club and the Boy Scouts
was put on Aug. 7 after the opening
ceremonies, while a celebrity concert
took place following the first dav of
competition (see related story
Section C).
Except for a few clouds on the
final day of. competition Aug. 9,
weather for the Games could not
have been better, as the sun shined
with temperatures hovering in the
mid 80s.
University officials, past and
present, seemed pleased with the
staging of the games.
Former President William B.
Boyd,   who   was   instrumental   in
obtaining' the bid for the International Special Olympics, attended the opening ceremonies as
Well as many of the athletic events.
He recalled how the University at
first was hesitant to undertake such
Back-to-school issue
introduces new era
New faces, plans, programs and challenges-are in store for CMU this
year alid years to come, This special issue of CM LIFE lodks behind to see
where Central has been, where it is now, and where it is going,
. The changes have been many. National prominence from the feats of its
sports teams and some of its special programs has attracted a'record-number
enrollment of students, which presents both problems and opportunities for
the University. What are some of these opportunities and how will Central
handle the problems? Look inside.
a project before finally deciding to
submit a bid to the Joseph P.
Kennedy Foundation.
"But all the time I had enormous confidence in Lee Reynolds
(Olympics director)," said Boyd, who
has since taken over the duties of
president at the University of
Oregon. "The success of-these games
is a real tribute to Lee."
President-elect Harold Abel
called the Olympics a "spectacular"
event. "It's s wonderful trihiiie to
the University and Mt. Pleasant," he
said. "It's a privilege for the
University and we welcome it."
Several CMU administrators
were present at various events
throughout the two-day competition,
but perhaps Chairperson of the
Board of Trustees Lloyd Cofer was
the most enthusiastic.
Cofer was impressed with the
lack of delays in the competition
itself and said he had the "highest
respect for people who could put on
such an event."
"I've never seen anything like
this," he said. "You see the kids, men
and women with the enthusiasm
they project. This is one of the
greatest things that has eVer
happened to CMU , and Mt.
Pleasant." •;
Jerry Tubbs, vice president for
business and finance, also spent time
at Alumni Field during the track and
field events. Tubbs noted how the
administration and the University
employees combined to prepare for
the games, "AH the workers on
campus have been fired up," he said.
"They all want to do their part.
They're really proud."
Tubbs also pointed out that
celebrities and members of the
Kennedy 'Foundation were imp-
cessed with the work that had been
done prior to the games. "Of the
people I've talked to, all of them
can't get oyer ,a town this size
putting on something like this," he
said. "They're really amazed at the
community effort."
Abel to assume presidency
Appointed June 18 as the successor to William
B. Boyd, Harold Abel will assume the duties of the
University president Sept. 1. Arthur Ellis, vice
president ofjJtiblic affairs, is serving^ as acting
president while Abel becomes oriented with the
workings of his new/position. Abel and his wife, Iris, moved
to Mt. Pleasant during the first week of August. Abel
formerly served as president of Castletoif (Vt.j State
College. See page 2 for a closeup view of CMU's new
president.
I
u-
»-,.,.........,«,,«
iS'JS'-.li^V.'Al.:':. . .-. ,•.„ .\_..v..>.*< •**