1996-09-16; Central Michigan Life

              Central Michigan LIFE
Volume 79, Number 9
Mt. Pleasant,  MI 48859
©1996 CM LIFE
77 years of serving the community
MONDAY
September 16, 1996
12 pages
Board approves technology funding
By Jeff Rauschert
LIFE Graphic Design Editor	
Technology        on campus
received a boost Friday, when
CMU's Board of Trustees
approved $2.45 million to be
spent for student, faculty, library
and network technology.
Sources of funding will come
from $1.37 million of the student
technology fee, $580,000 from
the state technology fund,
$300,000 from capital and
$200,000 from state lapse funds.
Trustee David Brandon said
the board has confidence the
long term plan will be successful.
"Anytime you have a project
like this, you have to have confidence," said Brandon.
According to Keith Nelson,
associate director of Computer
Services, the current list created
for purchases includes $1.8 million worth of equipment — more
than what the university wishes
to spend at this time.
The planning board wants to
be at a budget of $1.3 million,
which is the cost to begin a new
network. Nelson will meet next
Thursday   with   the   planning
board on specifics of the budget.
"The overall plan is to network
the entire campus over the next
four years," Nelson said. "Today,
from scratch, it would cost $7
million."
Nelson said it would be unwise
to jump into a new network all at
"The overall plan is to
network the entire
campus over the next
four years. Today, from
scratch, it would cost
$7 million:1
KEITH NELSON
Associate director of
Computer Services
once, citing it may be obsolete
before it was installed.
"We want to do it intelligently,
and where it's needed more
today," he said. "I don't want to
buy technology that's almost
outdated."
Nelson said CMU can not
make these changes work unless
more people, both on and ofY
campus, use the network. The
input he has received has been
helpful, but decisions on what
should be networked first, residence halls or academic halls,
have yet to be made.
The proposed network in
CMU's future is called
Asynchronous Transfer Mode
(ATM) and is made by IBM.
Nelson said ATM is the technology of the future and is popping
up on more college campuses.
Some features it will allow are
simultaneous voice, video and
data. It can handle real-time
video (viewing video data without delay) and will increase overall quality of the desktop.
As of now, the ethernet network lines can run at high
speeds, but when shared among
users, the speed slows considerably. This new network guarantees speed to the entire network,
without fluctuation, Nelson said.
"It's a telephone type of technology. Whatever the network is
set at is what you get," Nelson
See TECHNOLOGY Page 12
Trustees give Plachta
OK to sign FA contract
By Jennifer Ackerman
LIFE Editor	
The collective bargaining procedures between CMU and the
Faculty Association are a signature away from being complete.
Friday, the Board of Trustees gave University President
Leonard Plachta the authority to ratify and sign a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Faculty Association.
A date has not been set for when he will sign the agreement,
but Plachta said, "My intention is to go ahead and do that.
There's no need to delay."
Plachta said he is "relieved and happy" that the bargaining
procedure went smoothly and was resolved in a fairly short
amount of time.
• The board also authorized Plachta to approve an agreement
with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to implement a
five-year project, funded by a $1,340,017 grant from the W.K.
Kellogg Foundation.
The resolution approved by the board allows only funds provided by the grant not to exceed $634,383 to be committed to
UAPB. According to the resolution, the grant will provide five
years of support for a distance learning/team teaching project
that will allow CMU students and faculty to join students and
See MEETING Page 10
LIFE Graphic/Jeff Rauschert
Alumnus attempts
to change bylaws;
Board stands firm
By Jennifer Ackerman
LIFE Editor	
While individual supporters of
gay and lesbian rights continue
to urge CMU's Board of Trustees
to add "sexual orientation" to
the university bylaws, board
members made it clear the possibility is not under consideration.
Michael
Gaudreau, a
1995 CMU graduate and
Victims Anti-
Violence Project I
Coordinator for
the Triangle
Foundation in
Detroit, has
been appearing
before the board for almost a
year.
Unlike his prior visits,
Gaudreau did not come with a
prepared statement to present
to the Board Friday afternoon.
This time he came with a question.
"Is this being given any consideration?" Gaudreau asked
the board, making reference to
GAUDREAU
his   prior   requests   for   bylaw
changes.
Trustee David Brandon told
Gaudreau the board is opposed
to all forms of discrimination,
but indicated that no discussion
is planned.
"The only board position we
have right now are the bylaws
you know of," Brandon said. "I
think your message has been
sent loud and clear.
"I'm not here to debate you, so
if you have something else to
say, say it," he said.
Trustee Sid Smith clarified
the board's position on the issue.
"The answer to your question
is simple," Smith said. "There is
nothing on the table."
After the meeting, Gaudreau
criticized the board for not taking a preventative stand on the
gay-rights issue.
"It's irresponsible to not take
action on an issue that when you
take time to set an example, is a
preventative measure," he said.
"They're willing to take a leadership role on the charter school
movement, but they're not will-
See BYLAWS Page 10
JUGGLING
ACT
LIFE Photo/Gabriel Guerrero
Mount Pleasant residents Aaron Taylor and 'Juggling' Jim Kennis entertain those
who attended the Mardi Gras celebration in downtown Mount Pleasant Friday
evening.
By Tasha Gatlin
LIFE Staff Writer
More than 3,000  show support for Dole, Kemp at GOP rally
University political
organizations face
unlike experiences
Even though the rally for GOP
presidential candidate Bob Dole
was held in an airport hanger
Friday afternoon, supporters
were happy their man was full of
ideas and not  hot air.
After last minute moves shuttled the rally from Bayne's Apple
Farm on Midland Road in
Freeland to Hanger 5 at the
MBS Airport, more than 3,000
supporters came out in less than
perfect weather to hear Dole and
vice-presidential candidate Jack
Kemp speak. Opening remarks
were made by Governor John
Engler.
"Bob Dole and Jack Kemp can
do for the nation what
Republicans have done for
Michigan," Engler said to a
cheering audience.
During his 15 minute speech,
Engler blasted President Bill
Clinton for wanting to "turn
back to failed policies of the
past" citing welfare reform as an
example.
However, Engler didn't let the
rally become a chance for
Clinton-bashing, instead opting
to reiterate the virtues of Dole.
"With Bob Dole, his word is his
bond; a promise made is a
promise kept," he said. "He is a
By Tasha Gatlin
LIFE Staff Writer
GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole, running-mate Jack Kemp
Republican rally Friday afternoon in an airport hanger in Freeland.
out to cheer for the candidates before the November election.
true leader in politics."
Kemp followed up by saying
the Republican Party is the
party to beat in '96.
"We are the majority party
because we have the majority of
ideas," he said.
Kemp askf>d Republicans to
support State Representative
Dave ('amp as he goes for reelection and to elect rookie Ronna
Romney who will face veteran
Senator Carl I^*vin in November
Although   Kemp   said   that
LIFE Photo/ Tasha Gatlin
and Gov. John Engler spoke at a
More than 3,000 supporters came
"this economy stinks as long as
two bread winners have to do
what one bread winner used to
do," he got more attention when
he accidentally asked people to
See POLE Page 10
Representatives from the
College Republicans and the
University Democrats had completely different experiences
when they attended the
Dole/Kemp rally in Freeland
Friday afternoon.
Mike McComas, Sterling
Heights senior and president of
the College Republicans, said he
was glad to see such a high
turnout of several thousand supporters at Hanger 5 of the MBS
airport — many who were college
age or first-time voters.
"When you look at the polls,
the 18 to 25 (age) group are
Dole's best demographic group,"
McComas said. "I think we are
seeing a lot more college-age
kids getting involved in politics
because they can see how politics affects them."
He said he was glad to hear
Dole   remind   people   about  his
plans for a 15 percent tax cut.
"The fact that we get to keep
more of what we earn is a big
selling point. It's offensive when
people say we aren't entitled to
that money. If you give people
back more of what they earn,
they can do the things they want
and need with it."
McComas thought Dole did a
good job of hitting President Bill
Clinton's character and his weak
stance on such issues as drugs.
"People say that character
doesn't matter, but it does. How
can you believe what a man says
if you can't trust him? Look at
all the scandals he's been in. It's
hard to be proud of a president
like that."
McComas said he was both-
ered that Dole is down so many
points leading into the election,
but is still optimistic.
"You   hate   to   see  your   guy
See RALLY Page 12