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[ I N S I D E] w Gay Sacred Heart alum tells CMU audience to ‘live through love’, 3 w Safe Rides debuts two new vans, vehicle graphics, 3 w Baseball ready to start MAC tournament today, 5

Central Michigan University

Former Quarterback Dan LeFevour aspires to go to NFL, 5

| Wednesday, May 23, 2012

[cm-life.com]

Final cmich.edu redesign costs near $1 million By Aaron McMann Editor-in-Chief

The overhaul of Central Michigan University’s website system, once expected to cost $550,000, has now blossomed up near the $1 million mark. Vice President of the Office of Information Technology Roger Rehm, with University President George Ross and and Director of Public Relations Steve Smith by his side, released documents totaling the

project at $956,950, including $886,605 in payments to Ohiobased Blue Chip Consulting Group. Since November, four months after the targeted August launch date, university officials had publicly pegged payments to Blue Chip at $550,000 plus travel expenses. In a meeting Friday with members of the Central Michigan Life Editorial Board, Rehm and Ross admitted fault for a lack of communication over costs regarding

the cmich.edu redesign. “I’ve wanted to do this for a while,” Rehm started. “I think there have been a number of miscommunications about the project; and, in reflecting back on all of the various things that have gone on, I fear that some of them are my fault.” The numbers were released in compliance with a Freedom of Information Act request made by CM Life on April 26, the second such FOIA request of the past academic year. On

Oct. 25, CM Life sent a FOIA request seeking “contracts set with companies regarding the cmich.edu redesign.” During the meeting Friday, Rehm and Ross called the original request “partial.” The April 26 request sought “any and all emails and documents containing the final terms and contract with Blue Chip Consulting Group in regards to the new Central Michigan University website.” “We all need to do better

with communication, starting with me,” Ross said. “Faculty, staff, students – the newspaper, whatever media that’s out there – and when I found out about your second FOIA and it was brought to my attention that we may have answered the strict request in the fall, it wasn’t the question that you were asking. You wanted to know the project cost.” According to the documents, CMU paid Blue Chip $534,500 for intranet consult-

Fewer students enroll for summer classes

A Enrollment | 2

A Website | 2

Football

Austin White to stand trial on drug charges Teammate: He apologized for ‘bringing all these problems’ to team

By Orrin Shawl Staff Reporter

More and more Central Michigan University students are choosing to spend their summer somewhere other than in the classroom. In an email sent by CMU Director of Public Relations Steve Smith, 3,832 students are enrolled in classes at CMU. The number of students enrolled this summer is 348 less than the 4,180 enrolled in the summer of 2011, representing an eight percent decrease, and 627 less than the 4,459 enrolled in the summer of 2010. The number of student credit hours during the summer has also decreased by eight percent. There are 22,141 student credit hours in play this summer semester, 2,011 less than the 24,152 from the summer of 2011 and 3,843 less than the 25,984 from 2010. Communication and Dramatic Arts Department Chairperson William Dailey said he wasn’t sure why student enrollment caused seven of the 12 classes offered in the Summer I session to be canceled but predicted it has to do with the combination of disappearing summer grants, an expensive tuition rate and a bad economy. Classes for Session II are still being sorted out. “We have the fourth-highest tuition rate in the state, making it more expensive,” Dailey said. “If there are no grants, then I understand why students would rather go home and work. Whether it’s that or the bad economy, the bottom has dropped out of it.” The Communications De-

ing services, lower than the projected $550,000 – the contract CM Life received following its original FOIA request – and $190,000 for internet consulting services. In addition, the university paid the consulting group $100,000 for launch transition support, less than the projected $110,000, and reimbursed it $16,305 for travel expenses.

By Aaron McMann Editor-In-Chief

dents arrived for orientation today, one student short of CMU’s goal to have 300 students attend each of the 12 orientaton days this summer. Amber Dalian, an incoming freshman from Troy, picked CMU for its education programs.

Former CMU football player Austin White will stand trial later this month for his role in allegedly growing and selling hallucinogenic mushrooms and maintaining a drug house in his Celani Residence Hall room. White, a Livonia junior, appeared in Isabella County Trial Court Thursday for a hearing before Judge William Rush. White and Illinois sophomore Joe Sawicki, former members of the CMU football team, were arrested last month by CMU police for allegedly growing and selling mushrooms containing the narcotic psilocybin. Attorney Mary Chartier, hired to represent White, maintains her client is innocent. CMU police detective Mike Sienkiewicz, testifying before Rush and Isabella County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Risa Scully, said the whole incident began April 11 when he and Sgt. Mike Morrow obtained a warrant to search Celani 001 for a stolen Apple iPhone. White, Sawicki, Detroit sophomore Deon Butler, also a member of the CMU football team, and West Bloomfield sophomore Dave Boester were listed as living in the terrace-level room. Sienkiewicz said the two received no response originally when they knocked on the door but were eventually let in by Butler, who was down the hall at the time. After asking to see the phones of all three occupants — Sawicki

AORIENTATION | 2

A WHITE | 2

Photos by Kaitlin Thorne/staff photographer

ABOVE: Incoming freshman Amber Dalian of Troy chats with members of her orientation group. BOTTOM LEFT: Dalian poses for her student ID photo in the Bovee Center. BOTTOM RIGHT: Dalian sits with her group eating lunch in the Down Under Food Court, part of the day’s activities.

GET PUMPED Freshman orientation excites new students for their introduction to CMU By Jeff Ketchman | Staff Reporter

Donuts and coffee greeted incoming freshmen as they prepared themselves for Central Michigan University’s Orientation Day and the start to a new chapter in their lives. Check-in closed by 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, marking the start to a carefully packed day for students and parents alike, who were separated into different groups by 9:30 a.m.

Parents were treated to seminars about student life, campus safety and financial advising. Students were divided into teams that participated in group activities, learned about classes and met with Academic advisers. Michelle Howard, executive director of academic advising and assistance, said 299 stu-

CMU taking lead with Charter Schools, Engler says at naming event

By Catey Traylor Senior Reporter

The work of former Michigan Gov. John Engler in the charter schools movement was recognized Monday when the Central Michigan University Center for Charter Schools was renamed to honor him. The dedication ceremony, held in French Auditorium, included keynote speaker Jeanne Allen, president of the Center for Education Reform, a roundtable discussion on charter schools in Michigan, and a dedication ceremony during which the CMU Center for Charter Schools was renamed the Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools. This is the first time something in Michigan has been

named after Engler, said Kathy Wilbur, vice president for Developmental and External Relations. “We’re honored to have (Engler) here today as a visionary and leader in the movement that started a tidal wave across the country,” she said in her address to the audience. In January 1994, Engler signed Michigan’s Charter School law, outlining a strategy to implement major reforms in public school education. In August 1994, CMU became the first university in the nation to charter a public school and has grown to be the largest authorizer of charter schools in Michigan, authorizing 56 schools. “The Charter Schools Center is an idea that has become a

part of American education today and represents some of the strongest values we have as a society,” Engler said. “Competition and choice really do matter, especially in times of needing superior performance with constrained resources. It’s important to have these options in the public school system.” Engler said the efforts CMU has made in authorizing charter schools has made an impact. “CMU is taking the lead on what is one of the most urgent urban challenges,” he said. During the roundtable portion of the dedication, Editorial Page Editor at The Detroit News Nolan Finley moderated discussion on charter schools in Michigan. “Charter Schools are where

innovation is available,” said Mary Kay Shields, deputy director of The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools. “You use real time information to mold your classroom to best fit the learning needs of students.” Dick Posthumus, Senior Adviser to Gov. Rick Snyder, said Charter Schools are just beginning to fight what will likely be an ongoing battle. “We’re currently fighting and will continue to fight the biggest civil rights issue of this decade. When (legislation) was first passed, it was part of a much bigger picture,” he said. “The public school system, at the time, was a monopoly. Those monopolies have become old fashioned.” university@cm-life.com

Charlotte Bodak/staff photographer

University President George Ross and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder listen as former Gov. John Engler gives his speech during his dedication ceremony Monday afternoon in the Education and Human Services building.

93 Years of Serving as Central Michigan University’s Independent Voice

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Recap of Dominic SheahanStahl’s speech at Plachta Auditorium Sunday

Corrections Central Michigan Life has a long-standing commitment to fair and accurate reporting. It is our policy to correct factual errors. Please e-mail news@cm-life.com. © Central Michigan Life 2012 Volume 93, Number 88

WHITE | continued from 1

was gone at the time — it was determined none of them matched the description of the stolen iPhone, Sienkiewicz said. Officers then told all three they were going to search the bathrooms. “It was at that point Austin White stood up and asked to use the bathroom,” Sienkiewicz told Scully. Before officers allowed White to use the bathroom, they opened the door and found a 54-quart tub containing “large pellet material,” one large mushroom and several small mushrooms sitting on the bathroom floor, Sienkiewicz said. “It was the first thing you could see,” he told Scully, concluding with Morrow that mushrooms were being grown. Sienkiewicz said lab tests confirmed that the contents of the tub came back positive for psilocybin. Sienkiewicz left the residence hall to retrieve a search warrant for the rest of the room. During that time, Morrow said he had “loose conversation” with Butler and White, during which White acknowledged, “he had seen them before, but (the tub) wasn’t his.” Morrow described White as “very cooperative,” even consenting to a search of his bedroom. Nothing relating to drugs or mushrooms was found. When Sienkiewicz returned with a search warrant; he and Morrow then searched Sawicki’s locked bedroom. Inside, they found an additional plastic tub, a plastic cabinet containing a legal pad of paper with various ingredients consistent to growing

Website| continued from 1

However, change orders, or additions and fixes to previously completed work, cost CMU an additional $45,800. According to the documents, CMU had to file a $10,800 change order for SharePoint design assistance in November and one for an iCentral intranet upgrade in December, costing the university an additional $35,000. More than $70,000 was also

spent on licensing and software upgrades. CM Life published several stories updating the progress on the website between January and its April 9 launch, each time citing its $550,000 cost without any response from the administration. Rehm said the project came in under its $1.5 million budget, citing a $2.75 million allocation in the university’s 2010-11 operational budget for “project consulting,” which included “consulting services for various OIT projects, i.e. web design, student system, student services and

ORIENTATION | continued from 1

“I really like art, but my mom is kind of nervous about me going off as an artist on my own,” she said. “I figured if I taught I could do that and then have my own art business on the side.” General academic advising ended at 11:15 a.m., when students were given a choice to attend one of several informational meetings on Academic and

cm-life.com/category/news

[News]

Tutoring Services, the Honors, ROTC and Study Abroad programsand Residential Colleges. “I went to the Honors thing, and I thought they did a great job,” said Sarah Rich, an incoming freshman from Rochester Hills. “I was a little iffy about what the Honors program meant, and that really helped.” After the meeting, students

data warehousing.” In an email sent Friday to faculty and students, Ross also referenced a three-year, $843,876 contract with Southfield-based Secure-24 to provide hosting and securing the new website system. Rehm said CMU entered into the agreement one year ago when the project began and called the amount “an additional, sort of related cost, but it’s different and different enough in that I don’t see it as being a part of the project.” The money, taken from a separate fund in the operational were treated to a meal in the Down Under Food Court and were given time to gather themselves before attending college advising meetings and final advising to set their fall schedules. “Everyone seemed really excited. My sister went here, so I feel really comfortable,” Rich said. “I went to three of the Sibs Weekends, and let’s be honest, that’s pretty much like brainwashing.” Students picked CMU for a variety of different reasons.

budget, would push the project over the $1.8 million mark. Rehm: Still some work to do More than a month following the April 9 launch date, Rehm admits there’s still some work to do, including working with those who manage content to create a more streamlined product. “The whole idea is that we want to have a site we present to perspective students, to their families, to interested parties of all types,” he said. Looking back, Rehm said the Alaxzandria Fonzi, from Bay City, picked CMU because it offered a number of different majors, including Physician Assistant, which she is the most interested in, and its proximity to her home. “(CMU) had the full range of aspects that I wanted as far as the social aspects,” said Mark Tratt of DeWitt. “It was a good size, and it had what I wanted in terms academics and athletics, too. I plan to play lacrosse up here.” Nicole Felty from Comstock

decision to release the sites two weeks before finals was one he would have done differently but said the university was too close to the final deadline to wait. “As it turned out, we were waiting for certain pieces of development, and to finish up the negotiations with the consultants and ended up at the very end of the window,” he said. “And frankly it was just too close. I would have preferred to have had more time. I think everybody would have.” university@cm-life.com

Park is also excited about the variety of majors offered at CMU. “I’m completely undecided, and ... hoping to just get out there and find what I like,” Felty said. Although orientation made some students nervous, it was an exciting experience for many. “There were all these cars here, and I thought, ‘Come on ... Can there really be that many freshmen in one day?’ And I guess there is,” Fonzi said. university@cm-life.com

ENrollment | continued from 1

partment still has some of its core classes in the summer such as Introduction to Communication, Survey in Research in Communication and Public Speaking, despite more than half of the classes being cut this summer, Dailey said. The lower number of students has not affected all CMU departments. Elizabeth VanDeusen-MacLeod, an assistant professor in

teacher education and professional development, said her class has still had a normal amount of students for her second year teaching in the summer. “I have 12 to 15 kids in my summer classes,” VanDeusen-MacLeod said. “Those are consistent numbers for the summer term.”

hallucinogenic mushrooms and a humidity/temperature sensor, Sienkiewicz said. Sienkiewicz said he talked to White on the phone “several times” the following day, April 12, to set up a follow-up meeting. “He never did show up at the department,” using excuses that he had to go to class or eat, Sienkiewicz said. Sawicki was arrested April 17 on charges of delivering/manufacturing narcotics, possession and maintaining a drug house. White turned himself in to police April 18, approximately 24 hours after a warrant for his arrest was issued. Both were immediately kicked off the football team by CMU head coach Dan Enos.

Sienkiewicz said Sawicki later told officers “he was responsible, along with others” for the mushrooms, referencing White and teammate Kevin King, a sophomore who lived down the hall from White and Sawicki. King has not been charged with a crime but remains “indefinitely suspended” from the football program. Sawicki has entered into a settlement convention Friday, according to court records. He is due back in court June 22 for sentencing. After agreeing to meet with CMU police on April 13, Butler said he had “loose conversation” with White, but the mystery tub never came up. “He told me he was sorry for bringing all these problems to the football team and that he was tricked into Joe’s project,” Butler said. White was suspended indefinitely from the CMU football team in October for reasons unknown. He was later reinstated by Enos. Butler is expected to receive probation for his role in stealing the iPhone. Teammate Danel Harris, who was also kicked off the team, pleaded guilty to felony larceny from a vehicle earlier this month. During his testimony, Butler, a wide receiver recruited by Enos from Inkster High School, acknowledged he had been suspended but said “he just got back on the team.” Team spokesman Scott Rex refuted that statement Friday, saying Butler remains suspended indefinitely until he can achieve benchmarks set internally by the program before summer camp.

Butler: White, Sawicki ‘exCITED about project Butler, who recently entered into a plea agreement for his role in receiving and concealing the stolen iPhone, lived with White and Sawicki all year in Celani. Testifying before Judge Rush Thursday, Butler said he first saw the tub at the beginning of the semester. “(Austin) said it was a project,” Butler said. “When I asked him more about it, Austin went to say something but Joe cut him off.” Butler said he shared a bathroom with Boester but did not hang out with him. Boester was the only person living in the room not charged with a crime. White and Sawicki shared their own bathroom. Butler said he did not see Sawicki growing mushrooms in their room but acknowledged a lot of people were coming and going from the room. “To this day, I don’t know what a mushroom is,” Butler said. “I thought you eat mushrooms.”

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[News]

Safe Rides debuts two new vans, updates graphics on vehicles By Phil Pomber Staff Reporter

Phil Pomber/Staff Photographer

New York resident and Sacred Heart Academy alumni Dominic Sheahan-Stahl delivers his commencement speech on stage at Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium.

Gay Sacred Heart alum tells CMU audience to ‘live through love’ By Mike Nichols Managing Editor

Sunday was supposed to be the day the oldest Sheahan-Stahl son spoke at his alma mater, Sacred Heart Academy, for the final family graduation of the youngest son, William. Instead, Dominic SheahanStahl, disinvited as speaker for being openly gay, stood in front of a packed Plachta Auditorium Sunday, giving his “Live Through Love Commencement Speech” for the Mount Pleasant community. Sheahan-Stahl gave the original speech he had planned to give at William’s graduation later that afternoon. Sheahan-Stahl asked the audience, a mix of young and old, to choose faith over fear. “Fear: The key thing that holds most people back from their dreams,” he said. “My motto in life is ‘dream, believe, become,’ because if you believe it, you can become it.” His speech opened with members of the Sacred Heart class of 2012 marching down the aisles to a standing ovation. Most of the senior class was there in support, with a few exceptions. “The ones that didn’t come had family obligations,” said

Joel Parker, Sacred Heart class of 2012. “All of us agreed that we supported (him).” Sheahan-Stahl told seniors their lives are their own to be lived with their own direction, time and pace. No one is outside the love of God, he said, thanking them for choosing love over fear. “I was supposed to be inspiring you,” he said. “But you have inspired me, this community and the world.” Through tears, Sheahan-Stahl told the story of how William was born while their dad was having health complications, which eventually led to his passing. William was a “miracle baby,” Sheahan-Stahl said, one he thanked God for every day. When Sheahan-Stahl was visiting home one Thanksgiving, baby William had stayed up late so he would not miss seeing his big brother. “(William) said, ‘I don’t want to close my eyes, because I’m afraid you’ll be gone,’” Sheahan-Stahl said. “I’m never going to be gone. I love you more than words can describe.” Sheahan-Stahl ended his speech by singing the same song he sang at his own Sacred Heart graduation – “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” by Simon and

Garfunkel. Mount Pleasant resident Jeanne Pfeiffer said she loved the speech, praising Sheahan-Stahl’s singing. “It’s too bad it had to happen this way, but otherwise it probably wouldn’t have gotten so much publicity,” she said. “It’s a good thing in a way.” Anne Groves, family friend of the Sheahan-Stahls, sold T-shirts and bracelets that read, “Live Through Love” at the door. The profit will fund a new scholarship for gay students, she said. “This is to start a $1,000 scholarship for students who are out and looking to go to college,” Groves said. Sheahan-Stahl said the first person to buy a shirt was University President George Ross. Principal Dennis Starnes, who supported Sheahan-Stahl and said he would attend the speech, did not come because of the timing, he said. “I wanted to, but I hadn’t expected the speech to be a few hours before graduation,” Starnes said following SHA’s graduation ceremony. “I had to set up. I talked to Dominic about it.” metro@cm-life.com

CMU sees 11-percent increase in minority enrollment since 2010 By Cecilia Erwin Staff Reporter

The draft of Central Michigan University’s Diversity Report Card shows progress has been made toward recruiting underrepresented students. Denise Green, associate vice president of the Office for Institutional Diversity, gave a presentation summarizing CMU’s current diversity report during the Academic Senate meeting on May 1. Minority student enrollment has increased in the past two years, she said. Reports from the Registrar’s Office show enrollment of minority students increased by 11 percent from 2010 to 2012. Kevin Williams, associate director of admissions, said this year has seen the largest underrepresented student population on CMU’s campus.

“We have been very dedicated to getting out to high schools with large underrepresented populations,” he said. Williams said diversity has been one of the strategic plans of the university for the past five to six years, he said. Former CMU President Michael Rao started the diversity plan, which has been continued by the current president, George Ross. CMU’s recruiting for students of diverse backgrounds concentrates on schools in cities such as Detroit, Flint, Lansing, Saginaw, Muskegon and Grand Rapids, Williams said. “For the state of Michigan, that’s where you’re going to find underrepresented students,” he said. Shannon Jolliff, director of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Questioning services, agreed that CMU has worked hard to make its campus more welcom-

ing, but she said that there is still more work to be done. “We still have incidences of folks not feeling safe on our campus, and we can do better,” Jolliff said. “We cannot become complacent just because great strides have been made.” Programs CMU offers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics have been drawing large numbers of underrepresented students to the university, Williams said. The College of Medicine has attracted more international students, he said, who have been starting undergraduate careers at CMU in preparation for attending the medical school that is about to open. “We’ve been leading the way nationwide in putting things in place to showcase CMU,” he said. university@cm-life.com

The Safe Rides program has two new Chrysler Town & Country vans for usage, courtesy of the Central Michigan University Police Department. The new vehicles, unveiled on May 5, are replacing high-mileage service vehicles. CMU Lt. Cameron Wassman, who oversees the Safe Rides program, said the larger capacity vehicles will also be able to transport more passengers at one time than previously possible. “The university will also notice a new look, as we have updated our Safe Rides vehicles graphics to reflect a bright, bold graphic,” Wassman said. The new vehicles cost about $40,000, Wassman said. According to a release from Capt. Fred Harris, they were purchased with funds collected from a number of sources, including Provost Gary Shapiro, Dean of Students Tony Voisin and Associate Vice President of Residences & Auxiliary Services John Fisher. Funds also came from the Parent Fund Contributions, Tom Trionfi, director of Contracting/Purchasing/Health

Phil Pomber/Staff Photographer

Safe Rides program has two new Chrysler Town & Country vans for usage, courtesy of the Central Michigan University Police Department. The new vehicles, unveiled on May 5, are replacing high-mileage service vehicles. The larger capacity vehicles will also be able to transport more passengers at one time than previously possible.

Services, and Shaun Holtgreive, associate director of Residence Life. Wassman reported Safe Rides provided more than 15,000 escorts to students last year. The program, started in 2004, aims to provide students with a free service allowing them to safely travel at night between on-campus locations. According to the Safe Rides web page, the service operates between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. The service is provided when class-

es are in session during the fall and spring semesters. “We recognize there is safety in numbers, so three or more persons traveling to the same destination typically do not qualify for an escort,” Wassman said. “Our efforts are primarily aimed at students walking along at night from parking areas, a late night library visit or returning to campus from work.” Students should note that the Safe Rides phone number remains the same: 774HELP (4357). university@cm-life.com

Isabella County

Number of domestic violence cases in past year a bad sign, sheriff says By Orrin Shawl Staff Reporter

With Jason Fish being sentenced to up to 67 years in prison for murdering his wife, concerns are being raised about the possible increase of domestic violence in Isabella County. “In the last 10 murders involving violence and domestic relationships, nine of those involved women,” Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick said during the Jason Fish sentencing. Both the 2011 Isabella County murders are domestic related. Both Fish, 34, and Gary Reen, 56, shot and killed their wives. “The state law is clear on domestic violence. If the officer is able to determine an aggressor and prove there was an assault or injuries, somebody is going to jail,” Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said. “This past year is a bad sign.” Mioduszewski said he has seen an increase in domestic violence within the past year. There can be many different causes for the increase, he said, including alcohol. Mount Pleasant has seen 79 assaults, both simple and domestic, so far in 2012. Last year, 217 assaults were reported while 221 were reported in 2010 and 245 assaults in 2009, according to Mount Pleasant Public Information Officer Jeff Browne. Browne said they have seen a slight decrease of domestic violence in Mount Pleasant because of their effort in releasing public service announcements. “There isn’t a tremendous amount, but there’s more than

I wish for,” Browne said. Browne said a domestic violence case isn’t always between a husband and wife, even though the two murders in 2011 were between a husband and wife. “Most people assume a domestic violence case is between a husband and wife. That’s not always the case,” Browne said. “It could be two roommates or anyone with an intimate relationship.” The police departments are not the only agencies in Isabella County left to deal with domestic violence. Listening Ear Crisis Center Director Kathleen Tarrant said from their 15 phone lines, they received 83 domes-

tic violence calls from October 2010 to the beginning of October 2011. “There’s a lot more anger and tension among families and neighbors that gets acted out in violent ways,” Tarrant said. Tarrant said when they get a call from someone who is in a domestic violence relationship, they advise them to go to one of the local shelters or to Community Mental Health for their safety and counseling. If it’s a friend of someone calling in a domestic violence relationship, then they handle the counseling. metro@cm-life.com

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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

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“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Editorial Board: Aaron McMann, Editor-in-Chief | Mike Nichols, Managing Editor | Connor Sheridan, Former Online Coordinator | Eric Dresden, Former Editor-in-Chief

EDITORIAL | Misrepresentation, not miscommunication

How many times will we go through this?

ust a few months ago, the public was given the run around by Central Michigan University’s administration about its $10 million allocation to the Events Center. At the time, University President George Ross pushed blame to his predecessor, saying he couldn’t be blamed for actions taken and plans made when he was not here.

This time, however, the egg is not only on Ross’ face but drips on to public relations, the Office of Information Technology and general counsel. Six months ago, Central Michigan Life sent a Freedom of Information Act request seeking “all contracts regarding the cmich.edu redesign,” and we were given a single contract with Ohio-based Blue Chip Consulting Group for $550,000 plus travel expenses. As months went on, we repeatedly checked up on the status of the project. “It’s coming soon,” we were told over and over. When a CM Life reporter asked Roger Rehm, Vice President of the Office of Information Technology, right before the April 9 launch whether the costs would exceed the stated $550,000, the answer was no. After the April 9 launch, we followed up with a second FOIA request, this time wording it a bit differently:

“seeking any and all emails and contracts containing the final terms and contract with the Blue Chip Consulting Group in regards to the new Central Michigan University website.” And in a Friday afternoon meeting, we were clued in on the real amount: $956,950, most of which went to Blue Chip. To the university’s credit, it followed with an email to faculty and staff breaking down the costs, but it does not excuse months of providing inaccurate information to the public. In the meeting, Rehm and Ross categorized the situation as “miscommunication.” In reality, it was a blatant act of long-term misrepresentation. There were ample opportunities to come clean, and they simply did not. University Communications never hesitates to correct us on smaller mistakes, so why did they let this clear untruth — that the cost we were given and repeatedly reported was

only slightly more than half the total expense — be presented to the public for months? This begs the question, if the FOIA requests were not sent out, would the public have ever known the project cost more than $550,000? How can the public rely on this university to be trustworthy when pertinent documents are still being hidden after FOIA requests, which are seemingly the only means of shining sunlight on the murky inner workings of CMU? It’s hard to laud Ross for finally meeting with CM Life’s editorial board when seemingly the only reason he did so was to save face on a six-month manipulation of the truth. This isn’t the way a public university is run, nor should ever be run. While wary steps have been taken to improve the administration’s transparency, these half-truths will linger in people’s minds for years when listening to new plans from it. So, we will say again what has been reiterated many times in our editorials: Tell the truth. Students and tax-payers don’t like paying six-figure salaries to people who think deceiving the public is part of their jobs.

Alex Middlewood College Democrats

Let’s all live in love As I’m sure most of you have heard, Dominic Sheahan-Stahl was recently uninvited from being the commencement speaker at his younger brother’s graduation from Sacred Heart Academy here in Mount Pleasant. Dominic was not allowed to speak at his alma mater’s graduation ceremony, because he recently posted engagement photos on his Facebook page of him and his fiancé. But Dominic did not let the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw keep him from speaking. Instead, he gave his speech in Plachta Auditorium this past Sunday. His message inspired the recent graduates, and all in attendance, to live through love. And to never let fear rule our lives. Dominic Sheahan-Stahl’s speech came a mere two weeks after President Obama himself came out in support of marriage equality. Both of these inspiring

MIKE NICHOLS [ILLUSTRATION COGITATION] Mike Nichols Managing Editor

Can you tell the difference between a prodigal and a wolf?

[comments] Facebook comments in response to “Dominic Sheahan-Stahl tells Mount Pleasant community to ‘live through love’ during speech at CMU”: Cody Herrmann, Sunday As a fellow gay person, I find it insulting that in order to get money you both have to expose an intimate part of your life to strangers and do it publicly. Free money for being gay? I want money for being an academic, not who I sleep with. The icing on the cake is religious pretenses in the speech. Can’t be anything more depressing than those who embrace a hostile ideology and then complain about being victimized.

E-mail | editor@cm-life.com Mail | 436 Moore Hall Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 Fax | 989.774.7805

Central Michigan Life, the independent voice of Central Michigan University, is edited and published by students of Central Michigan University every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters, and every Wednesday during CMU’s summer sessions. The newspaper’s online edition, cm-life.com, contains all of the material published in print, and is updated on an as-needed basis.

Kim Lovejoy, Sunday It’s NOT about sex! It’s about who you love and who you truly are. It’s about loving your God and fellow human beings. The speech clearly conveyed that no one is beyond the love of God. It is a message about empowerment. You sound angry... Live Through Love and God Bless. Facebook comments in response to “CMU paid IT group $335K in additional funds for work on cmich.edu redesign”: Alan Christensen, Friday “It really should be student designed, implemented and support-

ed. I mean, I have a degree that says I can do that — and it’s from CMU! C’mon!” Avery Banister, Friday “And that’s why the school is so embarrassed to admit how much they spent on a website like this when that money could have been so much better spent on improved buildings or a parking ramp.” Tim Prayther, Friday “CMU using our tuition dollars for the greater cause again, I see. How about hiring students that you’re teaching to do these things instead of raising tuition each year.”

Central Michigan Life welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Only correspondence that includes a signature (e-mail excluded), address and phone number will be considered. Do not include attached documents via e-mail. Letters should be no longer than 300 words and commentary should not exceed 500 words. All submissions are subject to editing and may be published in print or on cm-life.com in the order they are received. Central Michigan Life serves the CMU and Mount Pleasant communities, and is under the jurisdiction of the independent Student Media Board of Directors. Neil C. Hopp serves as Director of Student Media at CMU and is the adviser to the newspaper. Articles and opinions do not necessarily reflect the position or opinions of Central Michigan University. Central

Michigan Life is a member of the Associated Press, the Michigan Press Association, the Michigan Collegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press, College Newspaper Business & Advertising Managers Association, the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce, Central Michigan Home Builders Association, Mount Pleasant Housing Association and the

Last semester, we had a journalism student suspended from the CMU journalism department for making death threats against the faculty. I was one of the reporters working on that story and knew that student to be an unstable and possibly dangerous person who might go too far. My heart stopped when I spotted that same person sitting a couple rows across from me in church a few weeks back. “Christianity is not for people who never did anything wrong but for people who never did anything right,” my dad says. Church is supposed to be a haven for lost sheep and prodigals, a soul hospital where God’s grace can forgive and heal anyone, even sick, evil monsters who deserve the opposite of such unconditional love. But when I saw that man sitting there, I felt no charity or pity for him, only protective concern for the people around us and a dark mistrust towards him After the service, I kept an eye on him and heard he had been asking the help desk about the children’s ministry. That was a red flag. I gave the secretary his name and information, explaining who he was and informing them that he was someone who should not be allowed to work around kids. A couple well-meaning, Christian friends reprimanded me afterwards, not for informing others of a possible threat, but for not having a spirit of grace towards him as Jesus would have. Jesus, who ate and drank with sinners, and even prayed for the forgiveness of the Roman solMount Pleasant Downtown Business Association. The newspaper’s online provider is College Publisher. Central Michigan Life is distributed throughout the campus and at numerous locations throughout Mount Pleasant. Non-university subscriptions are $75 per academic year. Back copies are available at 50 cents per copy, or $1 if mailed.

men had the same message: love. As a nation that considers itself the leader of the “free world,” our policies do not always match up to those values that we supposedly stand on. Freedom is having the ability to make choices for ourselves. Freedom is allowing people to marry whomever they love. Only seven U.S. states, and the District of Columbia, have complete marriage equality. Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington are the only states that allow their citizens to be free. LGBT rights affect us all. We are all people; mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins. We all know what it’s like to feel pain. And we all know that love, in all forms, can help make that pain go away. There is no greater feeling than to love and be loved. It is a constant in our lives that knows no gender, sex, race, nationality or wealth. A recent Gallup poll shows that 53 percent of Americans currently believe that all couples should have the right to marry. So, why are we allowing the 45 percent of the population that is against marriage equality to speak for the majority? This is not a partisan issue this is a human issue. Both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party have members who support marriage equality. It is 2012; we should be past the times of hate and discrimination. So, let’s all learn a lesson from Dominic. Let’s all live in love. “Those who deny freedoms to others deserve it not for themselves.” – Abraham Lincoln

diers pounding nails through his hands, surely would have shown a lot more grace towards that student than I did, they said. After all, Jesus’ immortal parable of the prodigal son is about accepting and loving people who make bad choices. Didn’t my attitude reflect more the judgmental and unaccepting elder brother of the story? Wouldn’t Jesus have shown more forgiveness to that student than I did? That student does need forgiveness, but he also needs justice. Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation. To me, forgiveness means emotionally releasing someone from your own bitterness, harboring no ill will toward them. It does not mean the trust is instantly restored. There is a difference between a prodigal and a wolf. One of the most inescapable facts of life is that we are all imperfect. We all have our vices, flaws and intoxicatingly tempting tendencies to make choices that are unhealthy, unethical and damaging to ourselves and to others. The curse of being human is that our very nature can be its own worst enemy. I believe change is possible. I have seen lives turn around for the better. Some can honestly face the mistakes they have made and start over in the right direction. Burned bridges can be rebuilt, and broken hearts can be mended. I forgive that student for the bad name he gave our department and for the fear he put into the hearts of people I care about. I truly hope he matures and has a happy, wonderful life. But for now, I just don’t trust him around the sheep.

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cm-life.com/category/sports

Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, May 23, 2012 || 5

[SPORTS]

Former QB LeFevour to continue NFL pursuit By Seth Newman Staff Reporter

Former Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour visited Mount Pleasant over the weekend to help attract people to Dick’s Sporting Goods grand opening on Saturday. For LeFevour, it was good to be back. “Anytime I come back to Mount Pleasant, it’s good to meet people,” LeFevour said. “To put a smile on young people’s faces is always fun.” LeFevour was drafted in the 2010 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears. He has since been a practice squad member or made the roster of the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars, before being released by the Jaguars on May 7. Current Super Bowl champions the New York Giants brought LeFevour in for a workout recently. “I had a workout with the Giants a week and a half ago,” LeFevour said. “That went well, but at this point, when teams are drafting guys and signing guys, it’s kind of a waiting game just to see what happens. I feel confident that I will get another opportunity.” After a few years in the pros, LeFevour has learned that the NFL is a business. There are no four-year scholarships, he said, only the question of “what have you done for me lately, not just last week, but the day before?” “That’s what makes it so competitive and intense,” he said. Being back in Mount Pleasant brought back memories of victories and teammates for LeFevour. “Coming to work everyday with guys that I live with and hung out with for so long,” he said. “You really miss the guys

CharLotte BoDak/staff photographer

The Chippewas begin a run for the Mid-American Conference title against Eastern Michigan Today in Avon, Ohio, in the first round of the MAC tournament. It’s been 17 years since the last time Central Michigan won the tournament championship and qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

that you play with.” LeFevour holds many records in the MAC, including most career completions, attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns, total touchdowns and total offensive yards. He is the only player in NCAA history with more than 12,000 passing yards and 2,500 rushing yards. LeFevour says he hasn’t reached the point in his career where he is interested in coaching. While LeFevour continues his NFL career, he will be keeping an eye on the current CMU football. “I think they have a great staff right now,” LeFevour said. “They have seven home games and a lot of things set up. I’m excited for that.” The transition between college and professional is difficult for many quarterbacks, but LeFevour feels he is adjusting well. He has bounced around a bit, he said, but his unique circumstances have been a great experience. “When you get those opportunities, you have to make them count,” he said. “There have been a lot of unique circumstances I’ve been in, but it’s been a great experience, and I’m looking forward to my next one.” sports@cm-life.com

Baseball ready to start MAC tourney today

half of the season. In the last four weeks, a Chippewa has been named the MAC West Pitcher of the Week, with senior Zach Cooper, junior Dietrich Enns and freshman Sean Renzi all receiving honors. They have solidified a solid rotation of Cooper, Enns and junior Patrick Kaminska and bullpen behind senior closer Jon Weaver, senior Ryan Longstreth and reigning MAC Pitcher of the Week Renzi. “Part of the reason we’ve been able to solidify that (starting rotation) is the emergence of some of the guys who’ve been closing very well,” Jaksa said. “Weaver, Renzi and Longstreth have done a great job.” 1995 was the last time CMU won the MAC Tournament and made the trip to the NCAA Tournament. CMU has come close in years past but hasn’t been able to finish the job. “You’ve been real close, and you can let that wear on you, or you can go out and just play your game,” Jaksa said. “I think our guys are ready to play their game.”

By Kristopher Lodes Staff Reporter

Photos By BrittiNi heNGesBaCh/staff photographer

TOP: Former CMU quarterback and current NFL free agent Dan LeFevour stands with Mount Pleasant resident Richard Stokes Saturday afternoon at Dick’s Sporting Goods, 4228 E. Blue Grass Road. Stokes waited in line for two hours to meet LeFevour. BOTTOM: LeFevour signs jerseys and shirts for fans.

It’s been 17 years since the last time Central Michigan won the Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The No. 3 seeded Chippewas (30-27, 17-10 MAC) will be looking to change that starting today when they play the No. 6 seed Eastern Michigan. First pitch at Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Ohio is set for 12:30 p.m. “We thought we were in a good position last year,” said head coach Steve Jaksa. “It’s all about how we play, not who we play.” CMU has to like its chances going into the tournament. After going 7-9 to start MAC play, the Chippewas went 11-1 to end the regular-season and won fourstraight series. “I think our team is in a good place, and our guys feel good about themselves,” Jaksa said. “We’re in a good position as good as it can be.” Much of that has to do with the solid pitching CMU has displayed in the final

sports@cm-life.com

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