1974-10-16; Central Michigan Life

              'We will not give up'
to
by MITCH HEAD
LIFE Asa't News Editor
Petitioners asking for a decertification election will
,eai a Michigan Employment Relations Qtftnmission
EmEBC) ruling which declared their petitions invalid.
The petitions were "administratively dismissed'* by
JERC director Hyman Parker last week because of a
technicality in wording on the petitions.
George Stengren, one organizer of the petition* said
today. "In light of the Faculty Association's (FA) idea
^democracy, we must follow through with this effort."
Stengren said organizers of the petition  had a
responsibility to the more than 300 faculty members who
signed their petitions asking for a decertification
election. l
*f e wiu not give up,' stengren declared. Ke slso
explained the wording of the petitions was agreed on by
the organizers of the petition as well as an attorney they
consulted earlier this year.
"We wanted it worded so people could be sure of
What they were signing," Stengren said.
"ft may.take one hell of a lot of money, though," he '
admitted «jf the appeal. He explained the organizers of
the petitions would pay for the entire cost.
MERC ruling
Last week, Ernest Frey, MERC elections director,
said there "wouldn't be much point" for the petitioners
to appeal. -
When something is administratively dismissed,
Frey explained, there usually aren't any appeal rights
granted   by MERC,
But Terry J, Mroz, petitioner's attorney, explained
there might be an outside chance if the petitioners were
willing to spend the money,    _
John Hepler, another organizer of the petition,
admitted chances weren't too good for an appeal.
Jle also noted they might take their petitions to the
Circuit Court of Appeals after they have exhausted all
possibilities with MERC.
"Although statutorily the' wording is incorrect, the
intention is patently clear," Hepler said.
Hepler added the news of the invalidity of the
petitions "hit him like a ton of bricks," Friday.
t     Hepler indicated legal expenses have totaled nearly
$1,000 so far, but dismissed the financial aspect of the
controversy.
/ "This is a vital concern of welfare for the university
community," Hepler said, "We're battling for the
freedom of student's and faculty members who will be
here in the years to come."
I iTfckhl
LIFE
Volume 55 No. 23
Central Michigan University, Mt. PleasaVit, Michigan 48859
Wednesday, October 16, 1974
At next A-Senate meeting
Will mini-session proposal be discussed?
wlost students
favor proposal
by ROSS WILKINSON
CM LIFE Reporter
Most students interviewed concerning the possibilities of a winter
mini-session favor the idea, however, some students could see where
problems might arise.
"I think it's a good idea," Terri Dean, Alma junior, said. "It gives a
chance for some students who arc behind to catch up." But she added,
she would take the mini-session "only if I didn't have someplace to go."
Dan Heffron, Coleman junior, said, "I think it's great, I've got to
pay rent through December any Way." Heffron said he had no job in the
winter and he. was trying to graduate in three years. "I've got to take
18 hours next semester, a Christmas mini-session will sure help,"
t- Kevin Brown, Onaway senior, also spoke in favor of the session.
"Five weeks is a long time. I would take it if I cah afford it,"
"I know a lot Of kids are transfer students and have trouble
transferring their credits," Merri Lee Grassa, Traverse City junior,
said. "A lot of people need the session to catch up."
Despite willingness to take the winter mini-session, students
encounter numerous problems. Debbie Harwood, Ohio senior, said she
would like to take the session but it would be impractical for an out-of-
state student to go home for a week and come back for three weeks.
Paula Creguer, Alpena freshman, noted another problem. "I'd like
to attend the mini-session, but it's hard to get an apartment. If they
had dorms open, I'd take it," Creguer suggested the University cut
back the schedule two weeks and offer two mini-sessions in the spring.
The sudden development of a winter mini-session presents a
['problem. "It's a good idea," said Jan Orwig. Midland junior, "but I'm
afraid it's not organized. I don't think it will go through."
David Helms, Clifford Lake junior, said he would like to attend the
mini-session but already has signed to take off-campus courses.
[Registrar extends
registration time
by STJEVE MORSE
LIFE Managing Editor
The administration hopes to
bring up discussion on the proposed
mini-session during Christmas break
at the Academic Senate meeting
Monday, according to Neil S.
Bucklew, vice president for administration/ '
"The administration is anxious
to describe the kind of guidelines
with the Academic Senate that
would have to be set - before
proceeding with the matter,"
Bucklew said, noting student interest has been shown.
Questions concerning the
timing.'-registration and number of
students attending will be three of
the major issues the administration
hopes to bring before the senate,
Bucklew said.
A PETITION drive, led by Tom
Sage, Detroit senior, netted more
than 1,600 signatures prompting the
Advanced registration for
■Winter semester has been extended
ItoNov. 1 for all students because of
[the unexpected shortage of
jfegistration forms, , Associate
iRegistrar William Dunham an-
[aounced Tuesday.
Dunham said he is expecting
ianother shipment of forms and
[students who are scheduled to
JKgister and do not already have
I forms should keep checking back.
IHowever he stressed forms would be
accepted until Nov. 1 with no penalty
to students.
Since students are registered by
the number of hours achieved, it
does not matter when they turn
their forms in, he said.
Dunham said the" "indiscriminate use and pick up" of
forms by students, cohpled with a
change of printers, caused the
shortage. With 22,500 forms for
14,000 students "I thought We'd have
enough," he said.
\Special issue coming
.     CM LIFE will  be  going to
ifiwstands with a new look Friday.
In   its   annus)   Homecoming
I Edition, CM LIFE Will use color
[Photos and feature  stories  on
gj'IB'wBiecoming traditions, floats and
II jlp»rtieg;        i
. Also included in Friday's edition
of CM LIFE will be the regular
football guide printed before ea«H
home game. - ;* •
\    The football guide contains team
lineups, strategy and photos.    'K   *
So, Fire-up Chips!      ,
matter to be brought before
Academic Senate. Approval of such
a session would have to be made by
senate.
The budget cut on Central's
state allocation is another, major
factor affecting the feasibility of a
mini-session. "The situation is
complicated by the budget,"
Bucklew said. "Normally a budget
can be squeezed to allow for
something like this."
But the necessity of cutting
back in other areas already is forcing
the University to tighten its belt, j
Thus a mini-session Would have tobe
self-sufficient before it could be
feasible, Bucklew said.
That is why Bucklew believes it-
is more important to get avid interest in specific classes rather than
pure numbers. "A large number of
interested students is encouraging,"
he sa(d, " but it's more important to
get avid interest.""*" *
Bucklew recalled when the
spring mini-session first began one of
the problems was how such a broad
range of classes was offered. "We've
learned from that experience," he
said, "to limit offerings to what
students are most interested in."
Bucklew said v other things to
consider before a mini-session could
be approved would be faculty interest and whether the classes offered could be worked into such a
three-week schedule. "Some courses
just don't lend themselves to being
taught in such a concentrated period
of time," he said.
HE ALSO noted the break
between the fall and winter
semester, although five weeks long
to students,'is only four weeks long
from the University's standpoint
because of late registration. "It's also
a traditional time when faculty
members do research," he said, "and
-several of fhe departments use that
time for planning."
In past years, Central's
Christmas break has been four
weeks long, but due to what Bucklew
calls "the peculiarities of the
calendar," it was extended to five
weeks for this year.
According to Bucklew, the five-
week break has aggravated feelings
that the interim between the fall and
winter semesters is too long.
He said there have been debates
in the past which center around the
theories, Christmas break should be
made shorter or it should be extended in order to fit an interim
session within the period.
However, Bucklew said,
because of certain classes which
depend on the weather, making the
break shorter wouldn't be feasible.
Making it longer would run into
conflicts with the spring and
summer sessions, he said.
aTfZt.
John Engler
CM LIFE PHOTOS OY GEORGE J. 0ENI5EK
James Dickinson v
Engler, Dickinson emphasize
need for political reform
Emphasizing a need for political^
reform, candidates for state
representative in' the 89th district,
spoke to approximately 50 people in
the University Center Tuesday
night. -"   f
Democratic candidate James
Dickinson faced Republican incumbent John Engler in a two-hour
debate which was part of a scheduled
series. "We should start by litniting
the size of .individual group contributions. A bill should be passed
which requires complete disclosure
of pre-election filings, fund-raising,
conflict Of interest controls,, and
lobbyiest controls*'*' Eiigler said.
By limiting the size of group
contributions 'gild getting full
disclosure of who goes to fundi and
speaks With who, tfye public can get
^Jku,  ,!,,„-,■ ..ii.- -.linn !„;-,  :   -   i-  ...-■
some idea of why our representitives
vote the way they do, according to
Engler.
, Engler, with a fact sheet
available; criticized his opponent for
not publicly disclosing.his campaign
finances.
Dickinson admitted that as a
factory worker much of his campaign
funding comes from labor unions. His
other sources of funds could not be
disclosed at this* time."
Engler claimed his funding So
far has been front private jsources,
checks ranging from $5 to $150.
Dickinson stressed the working
class, in which he included himself.
He is an employe of Oldsmobile
Corp*.   -" • '■' ■■''• ■■•.. '."'.   "■■ '
"By now most people running
for office are hi favor of disclosure. It
Would be unwise and unthinkable to
do otherwise* with* the mood the
public is in," he said.
"Because of the "silent
majority's, basic , distrust and
disbelief in the political system, I
decided to' run. In terms of
representing the people, I will try-to
work .for their interest, especially
those who work for a living,"
Engler and Dickinson agreed on
the need for political reform but
voiced conflicting Opinions on the
Weather Modification Bill now
standing in the House of
Representativvs.
"There are actually two bills
which have been introduced. One
requires the department of
agriculture to be notified of all
weather modification activity taking
place and the other is to allow local
funds to be spent on the program
according to local ordinances passed.
Weather modification is new to
Michigan, while it is old hat to
Western States which have been
using; it for many years. J feel
inadequate rainfall in Michigan is the
maiq setback to a grain revoloution,
which we badly need," Engler said.
' Dickinson opposed the Weather
Modification Bill. "I'm concerned
with agriculture but there are too
many things we still don't know."
"You can't turn rain on at one
farm and off in another," Dickinson
said. Tourism is the second most
important income for Michigan. I
don't like the idea of messing around
with Mother Nature," ,    A
'if,
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