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CMU student organizations to assist NIU
Four Central Michigan University student groups and offices are uniting to lend a hand in honor of a Mid-American Conference
rival. The Student Athlete Advisory Council, University Recreations Student Enrichment Council, Volunteer Center and
Club Sports Council have initiated a bottle and can drive to raise donations as a tribute to the five lives taken during the
Valentine's Day shooting at Northern Illinois University. "Northern Illinois is not very far from CMU," said Jennifer
Kadish, Canton senior and president of the University Recreation Student Enrichment Council. "We have friends at their school
... it affects people in some way that we're not beyond helping out." CMU students met to discuss ways to reach out
three weeks following the shooting, said University Recreation Director Stan Shingles. A can drive became the most creative
and simple way to raise money, he said. "There's a real need to contribute to the scholarship," he said. "(The can
drive) does not burden student organizations with cost." Donations for the scholarship, officially called the Feb.
14 Student Scholarship Fund, will be accepted until March 31. Kadish said the groups will meet Wednesday to oversee
the event's progress. "It's been so far a positive experience," she said. "I hope we can just get as much money as
possible." Bins were set up around campus for the drive once building managers were contacted and made aware of the
cause prior to spring break. "It was a matter of who and where and putting things together," Shingles said. "It's a
collaborative fundraiser." Each student group is designated to a particular building on campus, where they are responsible
for pick-up of bottles and cans once or twice per week and the return of those recyclables for money. "I think the
best thing we could see from everyone's effort would be to raise the most amount of money possible to give it to the NIU memorial
fund," said Laura Gaesser, New York senior and Student Athlete Advisory Council president. "Managing this activity for the
CMU athletes is not too difficult." Gaesser divided participants into teams with at least two representatives of the
Student Athlete Advisory Council. Those representatives relay information back to the council upon can collection weekly. Shingles,
a former staff member at NIU, believes Central is never too far away to reach out, especially in a time of need. "It's
certainly a way to get students engaged," he said. news@cm-life.com
Roberts, ABC's Stossel to host political talks
Campus Conservatives will open the doors of political discussion to Central Michigan University when
they bring two speakers this week.
British political commentator Andrew Roberts will present at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the
Charles V. Park Library Auditorium while ABC's "20/20" co-anchor John Stossel will appear at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Warriner
Hall's Plachta Auditorium.
"I'm definitely interested in seeing them come (to campus)," said Chase Canning, Campus
Conservatives president and Lambertville sophomore. "Stossel, I haven't had the chance to see speak."
Stossel and Roberts
were among many possible speakers proposed at the beginning of the academic year.
"We usually have a meeting and take
suggestions - some will get used and some won't," said John Klumpp, Wyoming, Mich. freshman and Campus Conservatives member.
"Other speakers may come from the connections of former group president Dennis Lennox."
Lennox, a Topinabee junior,
said Stossel and Roberts have been in the running to speak since November or December.
Each speaker was arranged through
an association of private donors. The group received no financial assistance from the university. Because CMU has no final
approval of speakers, the only factor determining their appearance is whether the proper funds are secured.
"These
speakers aren't cheap," Lennox said. "If it weren't for private donors, it wouldn't be possible."
Campus Conservatives
typically hosts two to three speakers per semester. However, Stossel and Roberts are the latest of 11 speakers so far this
year.
Lennox said Campus Conservatives is enthused to see speakers whose views differ from the "usual suspects."
"It's
nice to have an alternative perspective," Lennox said. "We're hoping it'll be well-received."
John Stossel, a Libertarian,
is not traditionally conservative, yet his economic values are what specifically interest Campus Conservatives.
"He's
a very prominent journalist," said political science assistant professor Jayne Cherie Strachan. "I think it's fine we have
diversity in views on campus."
Stossel, an award-winning news correspondent, joined the program "20/20" in 1981 and became co-anchor in May 2003. His
in-depth specials began in 1994. He covers a large range of topics, including a 2007 special called "Sick in America,"
which focused on health care. Like Stossel, Roberts' views are intended to draw constructive discussion among audience
members Tuesday. "I've had the opportunity to hear him on TV a few times," Lennox said. "The key is to get students
involved." Roberts' lecture will concentrate on a multitude of subjects, including the preservation of western civilization
and terrorism. "He's a very esteemed political commentator," Lennox said. "He's going to touch a whole host of subjects." Roberts
is a renowned British historian and critic, analyzing books, politics, and historical events since the mid-1980s. He has authored
nearly a dozen books. Both speeches are free will have question and answer sections. news@cm-life.com
City boards join together to help improve community
Three city boards came together Thursday to find a common ground. Mount Pleasant's City Commission, Planning Commission
and Zoning Board of Appeals met at Centennial Hall, 306 W. Michigan St., with the intent to better the future of their community. "This
is the first time they've ever done this," said City Manager Kathie Grinzinger. Creating a "community vision" was the
first challenge, said the event's facilitator, Marilynn Semonick. Attendees from all three boards were arranged in groups
to determine their roles, obstacles and potential fixes to conflicts. A few of the major topics involved communication
between boards, ordinances that guide city projects and the knowledge of what job each board has to do. "There are
things we can do to accelerate the process," Semonick said. "Particular commissions could be more visionary." By working
together, the groups found common goals by being forced to work with members of other commissions. "All the obstacles
for the Z.B.A., I feel, are identical to the Planning Commission," said Mayor Jon Joslin. Grinzinger said collaboration
between groups became possible through a new constructive attitude the three boards now are using. "We had to take
a hard look at what we're doing well and what we could improve on," she said. "There is a very similar commitment to do good
things." A few plan ideas grew specific during the presentation by Rich Morrison, director of community services and
economic development. Among them was redevelopment along Mission Street, which Morrison said was a major economic
factor in the joint meeting agenda. "We want to clearly communicate at all levels (of government) ... that the city
is open for business," he said. "It's something we need to, as a community, promote as much as we can." Grinzinger
said there is a lot of vacancies on Mission Street, where the city hopes to attract and retain commercial and retail businesses
that benefit the community. "We want to recruit business to respond to the parts of the community when the economic
base is threatened," she said. news@cm-life.com
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