1992-01-29; Central Michigan Life

              Centra I
Michigan
WEDNESDAY
January 29, 1992
Mayfest 'listened
to citizens' before
canceling event
By Colleen Newvine
LIFE News Editor	
It didn't take a formal vote for
the Mayfest Music Organization
to arrive at a consensus about the
fate of the 17th annual event —
the members sadly agreed and
accepted it.
Friday,
Mayfest organizers
announced
the   cancellation of Mountain  Jam  '92
—  a  celebration of spring
and music —
because      of
concerns
about parties
and riots.
Some feel
the committee's grief.
But Isabella
County
Sheriff Barry
DeLau is not
one of them.
"I knew that I was going to
fight Mayfest tooth and nail (not)
to have it in Isabella County
again," said DeLau. "I told them I
would do anything in my power to
stop Mayfest in this county.
"From what took place in 1990.
I wanted no part in Mayfest coming back in this community,"
DeLau said. "We thoroughly
enjoyed having it in Mecosta
County."
Organizers, however, say
DeLau's opposition didn't affect
their decision.
"Our conversation with Barry
had nothing to do with our decision — the discussion with citizens did," said Jeff Lynch, Mayfest Music Organization attorney.
Mayfest Mountain Jam "90 set
all-time attendance records when
about 14.000 people backed up
traffic for three hours on the
two-lane roads to Blanchard Mill-
pond Park in Isabella County.
**l knew that I was
going to fight Mayfest
tooth and nail (not) to
have it in Isabella
County again. I told
them 1 would do anything in my power to
stop Mayfest in this
county. 51
Barry DeLau
I.
In response to criticism that
year, organizers made changes
for the 1991 version at Winslow
Fields in Mecosta County's Morton township: no kegs, no furniture, limited ticket sales and the
changed parking fee policy.
"It went so smoothly last year,"
said Lynch, a
partner in
Lynch, Gallagher,
Lynch, Shirley and Mar-
tineau
located at 555
N. Main.
"It's such a
disappointment not to
have it —
they went to
such great
lengths to eli-
minate the
problems."
"They
_—_——— J      didn't    get    a
!ot of recognition for that."
Lynch added. "This year, I hope
they    get    recognition-   for    the
efforts to try to help out."
But DeLau isn't convinced the
organization's changes helped.
He cited last year's gloomy
weather and the distance '■• to
Mecosta County as reasons for
lower attendance and anticipated
problems if Mayfest returned to
Blanchard, as organizers had
hoped.
Mayfest planners couldn't
afford to return to Winslow
Fields this year for a number of
reasons and considered returning to Blanchard to finish a five-
year contract.
And it wasn't just traffic that
worried DeLau about a possible
'92 Mayfest in Blanchard.
Prohibiting kegs wasn't
enough to convince- DeLau organizers were trying to combat alcohol abuse; he wanted each patron
See MAYFEST Page 2
Deadline nearing for
retirement program
By Crystal Harmon
! IFF  Sta'f Wrier
Although the number of faculty applicants for early retirement is
below expectations, one administrator expects an applicant windfall in
the near future. #
The "window of opportunity" for applications opened Jan. 13 and
closes Feb. 14. More than 30 faculty picked up application packets, and
Jon E. Darrow, director of Faculty Personnel Services, said he expects
more to return them by the deadline. As of Friday, nine faculty returned
applications.
"I'm adhering to my earlier projection that we'll have between three-
and four-dozen takers," Darrow said. "Nothing requires me to alter my
prediction given the interest expressed."
Although the number of faculty opting for early retirement will have
no immediate effect on the planned elimination of 58 faculty full-time
equivalents, eventual benefits are expected.
One FTE. used to measure faculty apportionment, equals one full-
time instructor, two part-timers or three graduate assistants.
When the numbers of those taking advantage of early retirement are
finalized sometime in March. Ron Johnstone, dean of the College of Arts
and Sciences, said administrators will reallocate those FTE to various
departments, which can then re-hire some temporary faculty for the
fall.
"Some may go back to the departments where retirements occurred,
some may go to other departments." he said. "It's too bad (the program)
wasn't approved earlier, but we can work with it.
"The timing is very poor; we expected the Board to approve it earlier
in the fall, and then we could have initiated the program sooner."
Members of the Board of Trustees refused to approve the plan at their
November meeting, saying the May 1993 deadline as not soon enough.
They approved the revised plan in December.
Any reallocation of FTE won't happen soon enough for inclusion in
the course offering guide of additional class sections made possible by
the additional resources, Johnstone said.
Rod Kirk, Faculty Association president, believes University officials
could have coordinated the retirement incentive plan with the FTE cuts
in a manner that would make planning for the fall simpler.
"The administration doesn't seem to have a coherent plan to tie it all
See APPLICATIONS Page 2
Workout hysteria hits hard
Record numbers
of students are
flocking to SAC
By Russ Adams
LIFE Staff VVr.ter
Students who face an emotional letdown from the holidays passing or the prospect of
waiting months for summer
cope by becoming more active.
The Student Activity Center
set a record Jan. 20. logging the
highest usage since its opening
17 months ago — 5.461 students
used the facility that day.
The highest number of students on any Friday was
recorded last week, too, tallying
3.006 students.
Total number of students for
the week of Jan. 19-25 was
25.724.
"The increase of use is actually quite predictable," said
Tom Jones, director of Campus
Recreational  Services, citing a
number of factors including
post-holiday blues, pre-exam
boredom and 'frostv weather.
LIFE Photo/Bonnie Morrison
Many students trek to the Student Activity Center in the evenings
to use the facility, but an overload is often the result.
Another factor that may give
rise to more use of the SAC is
the feeling of less academic
pressure at this time of the
semester. Other students say
they want to work off those
extra pounds from the holidays
and start getting into shape for
spring break.
With all those students clam-
moring to get pumped up.
crowds sometimes are inevid-
able.
"The busy time is usually
after three," said Tracy Wheeler
Lapeer freshman, who works at
the SAC as an ID checker.
Wheeler prefers the busy time
because "it makes the time go by
faster."
Busiest periods for the center
usually are Monday through
Wednesday — with Wednesday
the busiest of all — from about 4
p.m. to 10 p.m.
"The slower times are in the
morning, early afternoon and on
the weekends," Jones said.
"It's hard to meet the needs of
all* these students at these
heavy times." Jones said. "We're
doing all that we can with lines
and sign-up sheets for some
equipment. We also try not to
schedule events and games
during busy times."
So what prompts people to go
to the SAC and put up with the
crowds?
"Working out is my outlet for
stress," said Jesse Davila,
Akron senior, who has been
using the facility all year long.
"I go because I enjoy being
physically fit."
"I wanted to start the new
semester off right," said Keely
Scott, Grand Rapids sophomore, who started a twice-a-
week routine with the new year.
Users of the SAC, however,
will have to endure the backup
for at least another month.
"Usage usually tapers off
after spring break with the
increase of academic pressure
with finals and projects," Jones
said. "An increase in outdoor
sports is also a factor in the dropoff."
The-SAC anticipates serving
its millionth user sometime in
February — something that
came up fast, Jones said.
"Other larger schools have
taken two or more years to
reach a million," Jones said.
Facility's setup receives national awards
LIFE Photo Brent Henderson
Tom Jones, director of Campus Recreational Services, shows off the many awards and stories praising
the Student Activity Center.
By Roger A. Ferguson
1 IPE Staff Writer     - -
Although the Student
Activity Center's purpose is to
work out the body, its aesthetic
appearance and state-of-the-art
facilities also can exercise the
mind.
During the planning stages
of the 17-month-old building,
Tom Jones, director of Campus
Recreational Services, said he
and John Castellana, vice-
president of design at TMP
Associates in West Bloomfield,
"went to what were considered
to be some of the best facilities
in the nation "
From those facilities, they
took the ideas they wanted and
created what Jones calls
"arguably the finest facility of
its kind in the world."
Castellana concurred with
Jones and said, "it is one of the
best ... as far as getting
national recognition."
So far, the SAC has tallied 11
national awards — including
the National
Intramural/ Recreational
Sports Association Facility of
Distinction Award, the Athletic
Business Magazine Facility of
Merit Award and the Illuminating Engineering Society of
North America's Edwin F. Guth
Memorial Award of Merit.
More    than    25,000    people
entered the SAC last week and
See SAC Page 2
INDEX
News  3
State, Nation, World 3
Opinion 4
Police Log  7
Arts, Entertainment 8
Sports  10
Classified Ads  12-13
C ross word  13
Comics  12-13
WEATHER
Wednesday, mostly sunny in
the morning, becoming cloudy
in the afternoon. High around
40.
Doctoral options to get look
By Brian D. Bell
! !f-F  A?<5ipT;)"T News Fditor
Academic Senate gave the
green light Tuesday for departments to examine the merits of
new doctoral programs at CMU.
A majority of 53 senators in
attendance passed a resolution
urging academic departments to
study the feasibility of offering
more doctoral programs.
The resolution included an
amendment listing five "compelling reasons" to pursue doctoral programs: strengthen the
quality of faculty and students;
diversify the student body: raise
CMU's intellectual level,
strengthen library services and
increase equipment inventory;
reflect CMU's commitment to
program development; and
enhance     Central's     position
among Michigan and MidAmerican Conference schools.
Although the resolution originally was proposed at the
Senate's Nov. 5 meeting, action
was postponed so senators could
take the issue back to their
departments.
Not all senators believe Central should enter the race to add
doctorate programs. Several
questioned the rationale behind
adding new programs when the
University struggles to maintain
current one.
"(The religion department's)
main concern is there is really no
realistic way to fund them without sacrificing undergraduate
programs," said Sen. David
Smith, associate professor of
religion.
Several departments including
math, history and communication disorders, however, are
developing new programs.
"Sure, we're in some serious
times right now, but does that
mean we should stop growing and
exploring? " said Ron Johnstone,
dean of the College of Arts and
Sciences. "I think personally we
have no choice in the matter."
The costs of implementing
some programs is as low as
$40,000, said John Haeger, dean
of the College of Graduate Studies.
Haeger told senators CMU
needs additional doctorate programs to continue its development
as a university. CMU's only program — a psychology doctorate —
was implemented in 1978.
See A-SENATE Page 5
•*
.w?i