1997-04-16; Central Michigan Life

              Central Michigan LIFE
Volume 79, Number 81
Mt. Pleasant,   MI 48859
©1997 CM LIFE
i9_-M_--H-a_H-_-_B-________
77 years of serving the community
WEDNESDAY
April 16, 1997
16 pages
Work study may be exempt from federal taxes
By Jeremy Russ
LIFE Staff Wnter
CMU students receiving work study,
could receive an increase in their take
home pay, due to a Bloomfield Township
congressman's efforts.
Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-
Bloomfield Township) has introduced
legislation in the U.S. House of
Representatives that would allow students receiving work study to have their
paychecks exempted from federal taxes.
Frank Maisano, communications
director for Knollenberg, said the move
Maisano: Financial burden ivould be eased for students
would allow college students to receive
more take home pay to help ease their
financial burdens.
An example, Maisano said, is if a college student who qualifies for a work
study award of $2,600 works 18 hours a
week, that college student would work
those 18 hours free from federal taxes,
giving him or her an additional $332.
Maisano said the primary reason for
proposing "The College Student Relief
Act of 1997" is to make college a little
more affordable for students, especially
in this era of rapidly rising tuition rates
at universities.
He said he does not know of any federal legislation to quell rising college
tuition but said, he feels college costs
are "absolutely exploding" and worries
that the rising costs could make college
too expensive for students.
This also awards  students who  are
not just receiving a scholarship or grant
but are working for their money and not
just taking it for free, he said.
"The federal work study program
enjoys strong bipartisan support,
because it rewards those who are willing to help themselves," Knollenberg
said.
"We are taking a good idea and making it better," Maisano said.
Maisano said it is hard to say when
an actual vote for this will come.
"We are just bouncing it off of people
right now," he said.
Maisano estimates there will be
22,800 students in Michigan at 92 campuses who will receive work study next
year. He estimated the funding for
Michigan federal work study next year
to be $24.8 million.
Debbie Barker, manager of Student
Personnel Services at CMU, said the
move would not  affect^ the  university
See TAXES Page 7	
Go to trial
or be
dismissed?
■ This question will be
answered today at
Ziemba's pre-exam
By Emily Gerkin
LIFE Staff Wnter	
Todays preliminary examination in District Court will determine if the case against Ronald
Ziemba will go to trial or be dismissed.
Ziemba, Troy sophomore, is facing his second pre-exam after his
blood alcohol evidence was suppressed by Judge William Rush.
The first exam was in December
and the blood tests were the significant factor in carrying the case
to trial.
Rush ruled in March that as a
result   of the   suppressed   blood
results, a new preliminary exam
was required to determine if there
is    enough
Coming Up
TIME: 1 p.m.
DATE: today
PLACE:
District Court
other evidence to
bind
Ziemba
over for
trial.
Senior
Assistant
Jfrosecutmg Attorney Robert
Holmes said the new exam will
give the prosecution another
chance to present evidence to indicate Ziemba may have been intoxicated or impaired at the time of
the accident.
According to police reports, the
20-year-old defendant admitted to
having a couple of beers earlier in
the night and being at the
Shaboom Pub Club, 106 Court St.
Ziemba is being charged with
operating under the influence of
liquor causing death, a 15-year
felony, following the accident Oct.
31 which resulted in the death of
Rochester senior Michael
Kirkpatrick.
Holmes said there are three
avenues to prove intoxication:
blood results, impairment
through visual observations and
impairment through witnesses,
such as the arresting officers.
Holmes decided not to appeal
the decision that suppressed the
defendant's blood alcohol level,
which according to the Michigan
State Police forensic report was
.13, and he said he felt he could
prove the case without it.
Ziemba is represented by Novi
attorney David Kramer. Kramer
could not be reached for comment.
If the charges against Ziemba
are bound over, the trial is set for
May 5. According to Holmes, the
case could be dismissed or Ziemba
could be charged with a lesser
offense such as negligent homicide, a two-year felony.
LIFE Photo/Sabrina Burton
(left) Dave Jackson, CMU Journeyman Mason, works Tuesday afternoon to finish the brick work
on the comer of Preston and East Campus Dr. (right) Workers remove concrete and rubble from
a lot on Franklin St.
Under
Construction
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LIFE Photo/Sabrin_ Burton
Steve Sanders, Gallihugh & Sons, Inc. employee, levels the ground to put the curbs into the
driveway to the new parking lot where Barnard Hall used to be,Tuesday afternoon.
Changes made to
new commuter lot
By Michelle Eickmeyer
LIFE Staff Writer
In cooperation with the Mount Pleasant City Commission and the
Department of Public Works, CMU's Facilities Management has
made a few changes to the design plan for the new commuter lot.
Duane Eliis, director of Public Works, said a number of changes
were made to the plan after the City Commission and the
Department of Public Works looked at it.
The changes to the plan include keeping existing entrances and
connecting the new lot to Lot 11, which is located behind Sloan Hall.
The prior decision to close these entrances and exits after construction is completed was made in an attempt to reduce the cut-
through traffic.
By keeping the entrances open,
much of the traffic would be diverted
from the residential neighborhoods at
the north end back into campus along
Franklin Street.
Ellis said the university is also considering widening a section of
Bellows Street. The street could be
widened either from the east of the
parking lot exit at Bellows Street or
from Franklin Street past the parking lot entrance.
City Commissioner Albert
Kaufmann said while he is encouraged by the changes to the plan, there are a number of issues that
need to be addressed.
Kaufmann said he wants to better address the concerns of residents near campus, especially those living on or near Franklin
Street, about the new parking lot.
Ellis said the university will be creating a detention system,
which will meet city specifications and requirements for storm
water.
Because the storm water from the new lot will flow into the city's
storm sewer system, this detention system is necessary.
INSIDE
• City Commissioner
Susan Archey announced
her resignation.
•Due to complaints, the
Mount Pleasant City
Commission is considering a ban on down-town
skateboarding.
See page 11
Don't throw away that
unwanted sofa — donate it
■   'All  donations  will
be very welcome'
By Sara Kuehlhorn
LIFE Staff Writer	
The school year is coming
to an end and students
are cleaning out apartments and dorm rooms by saying
goodbye to the sofa that seems to
have lost its spring and the
clothes that have fallen out of
style.
This may be a sad thought for
some, but there is help for
unwanted clothes, furniture,
household items and even pets.
"All donations will be very welcome," said Sue Cotton, manager
of the Salvation Army Thrift
Shop, 2467 E. Remus Road.
Both the Salvation Army and
Goodwill Industries of Greater
Grand Rapids Inc., 1313 S.
Mission St., accept clothing, furniture and household item donations.
The only requirement is the
donations be clean and in good
condition, Cotton said.
Donations can be dropped off
between    10    a.m.    to    6    p.m.
Monday through Friday inside
the Salvation Army, she said.
Judy Gunderman, assistant
manager of Goodwill, said donations can be dropped off at the
side door from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday through Saturday.
She said Goodwill prefers the
clothes be in boxes or bags and
not on hangers.
Students who have pets that
are unable to move with them
can take their pets to the
Isabella County Animal Control
Department, 1105 S. Isabella
Rd.
The department deals mostly
with cats and dogs, but they do
accept all sorts of animals from
hamsters and rabbits to reptiles,
said Patty Lentz, manager of the
Animal Control Department.
It costs $10 to turn in an
owned dog and $5 to turn in an
owned cat, but stray animals are
taken into the shelter with no
charge, Lentz said. The animals
are kept at the shelter for a
chance at adoption for up to 10
days.
See DONATE Page 11	
Many ideas in mind for Powers Hall; no decision made
in s I d E
By Julia Jones
LIFE Staff Writer
About two dozen proposals have been
made by several departments, colleges
and student organizations to utilize
Powers Hall after the new music building
opens, but no final decisions have been
made.
The Student Government Association,
the Office of Student Life and the Office of
University Events have submitted a proposal to the Powers Hall committee to utilize areas of Powers as a place for student
organization office space and event space.
Christine Hounam, Swartz Creek
senior  and   member  of SGA's  board  of
trustees liaison committee, said the proposal comes with the Bovee University
Center becoming more of a student service center.
If the proposal is passed, Hounam said,
the sponsors of the proposal hope for
every CMU student organization to have
an office in Powers Hall.
Hounam said the idea for more space
for student organizations began so students could have a place to hold dances,
coffeehouses, conferences and also to have
a student lounge.
They also hope to have rooms for meeting places and the new space would allow
for   the   accommodation   of youth   pro
grams.
"University Events turns down two to
three programs a month due to lack of
space," Hounam said.
If the proposal is passed, Hounam said
she would propose that the original name
of Powers Hall be restored to the Fred S.
Keeler Student Union.
The proposal covers the first floor of
Powers and a couple of large rooms on the
second level that could be used for larger
events, Hounam said.
"We don't have that kind of ace anymore," she said.
Hounam said if the proposal ' passed it
will be five to seven years before student
organizations could take over the building. There are several things that need to
be done to the building to bring it up to
code, she added.
Barbara Ringquist, director of academic space and remodeling, said the time
factor for a proposal to be implemented
once the decision has been made, depends
on the use of the building. It could range
from complete renovation, to use of it as
is, to closing it do'vn for .-.. period of time.
Sharon George, director of the Office of
Student Life, said the office is most inter-
See POWERS Page 7	
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