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Visiting writer teaches technique Writer’s block is a foreign word in T. Geronimo Johnson’s vocabulary. Rough d r a f t s s h ou l d flow fast, furious and free. “ T h at’s when you discover a lot,” he Johnson said. Johnson’s poems and short stories earned him a spot as the visiting writer and professor in the Department of English at Western Michigan University for spring 2012. He teaches students to refine, define and polish their writing in the undergraduate and graduate writing workshops he teaches. A workshop is a class where students peer review each other’s writing and learn how to give constructive feedback. “In the workshop, you’re working under the hood,” said Johnson. “The work is alive. Workshop makes everybody smarter.” His first novel, “Hold it ‘til it Hurts” will be published in the fall. He defines his work as “tessellated,” a pattern or mosaic with many threads.
Campus keeps it current By Ted Yoakum Staff Reporter
College students are used to looking for that next jolt of energy to help power them through the following hour of dull lectures, whether it comes via a venti cup of Starbucks coffee, a can of Rockstar energy drink or from a vial of Five Hour Energy. Owners of electric automobiles such as the Chevrolet Volt will soon be able to give their chariots a similar shot of power right here on campus. Fifteen new electric car charging stations, located in the parking lot outside Miller Auditorium’s parking structure, are slated to open for public use next month, said Anantha average cost Sankey, direcper mile tor of maintenance services. The chargers, which were installed last winter, will join the four stations opened up on campus last March. What separates these stations from their older counterparts is the addition of 216 solar array panels, which creates a complete self-sustaining charging system. This completely eliminates emissions from all points in the energy process, from the fuel source to the vehicle using it. “The two go together in an -Erin Gignac overall plan, and that overall News Editor plan is for the University to support students, faculty and staff to be purchasing better hybrid or electric vehicles,” said Harold Glasser, Executive Director of the Office of SustainMichigan Gov. Rick Snyder praised Western Michigan University’s Foster Care Youth in Higher Education in his State of the State address on Jan. 18, according to WMU News. The program provides fulltuition scholarships, a yearround campus home, and personal and academic support for 141 young adult and former foster care students. Participants in the program are named Seita Scholars after Dr. John Seita – a former foster care youth, three-time WMU alumnus and leading advocate for foster care children, according to WMU News. -Andrew Cooper Copy Editor
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ability. WMU is the first public university electric cars in Michigan sold in 2010 to have both electric car charging stations and solar panels to power them, Glasser said. With the electric vehicle industry still very much in its infancy, WMU officials are hoping the installations will solve the proverbial “chicken and egg” problem when it comes to purchasing such automobiles. “People didn’t go from horse drawn buggies to cars overnight, but if you look at where we are right today, it sort of seems like that was the case,” Glasser said. “The whole sort of scale and time of how transportation happened was much slower. So the crucial idea, in terms of planning, is that someone has to provide that infrastructure before things happen.” In order to forward this idea, the University received a number of grants to help cover the costs in purchasing, installing and maintaining these structures. The first four were put in
12 million
place thanks to a grant known as Charge Point America, while those outside Miller were part of $700,000 given to the Office of Sustainability, Glasser said. The school has also been faced with criticism from a portion of the student body, particularly those from Students for Sustainable Earth, an Registered Student Organization devoted to conservation and renewable energy efforts at WMU. While members of the organization said they supported construction of solar panels at the school, they spoke out against nine trees that were cut down to install the panels. The leadership labeled the project as “green-washing”, with the University implementing sustainability initiatives without truly following its tenets. Despite the earlier controversy, Glasser said that most students that he has spoken to have been positive about the charging stations. “People have come by our office to thank us,” Glasser said. “I haven’t had any specific students coming to [us] complaining that electrical charging stations are a bad idea.” One problem that the instal-
lations still face doesn’t come from government tax o u t r a g e d students credit all owners or conreceive strained funding, but from Kalamazoo’s often volatile winter snowstorms. Glasser said that the school worked with the solar panels’ manufacturer, Enphase Energy, to position the panels at a near vertical angle to ensure that snow doesn’t accumulate on the surfaces. Sankey, whose department is charge of maintaining the stations, said that he is monitoring the effectiveness of this solution. According to his data, snow from last week’s storm slid off the panels within 24 hours, but remains cautious of the effectiveness of their current configuration. “According to the manufacturer, the panels are maintenance free,” he said. “Being in the maintenance business, I can tell you that nothing is maintenance free.” This week, maintenance services will run a final set of tests on the charging stations, ensur-
$7,500
ing that data from the individual charging chargers and panels ports that are transmit powered by properly solar panels to their monitoring stations, located at the manufacturer’s office. Sankey said that collected usage data will displayed on a webpage set up by the Office of Sustainability after the system goes live, which will allow interested students to see how the power is being used. “We want students, staff and faculty to be engaged in accessing the site,” Sankey said. “We want questions, we want people to know this is how much [the system] is producing, this is how it’s using, and so forth.” While electric vehicles haven’t exactly flown off local car lots yet, Glasser said his office is interested in pursuing additional charging stations and renewable energy sources, should demand be present for it. “I think it’s a good step forward,” Sankey said. “I hope that [panel] pricing drops so we can
15
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Brief
Graphic by Erin Lenczycki/Western Herald
New year yields greater student Rec usage
Poll Last
week’s
How do you feel about winter? a) I don’t like it but I put up with it (38%) b) I enjoy the change of the seasons (31%) c) I need to get out of Michigan (25%) d) I’ve been anxiously awaiting snow (6%) this week’s
How often do you use the rec center? a) 1-2x per week b) 3-5x per week c) Every day d) What’s the rec center? To submit an answer go to www.westernherald.com
Kallie Strazdas/Western Herald
Sophomore nursing student Shane Mcauliffe goes for a dunk at the Rec.
By Catie dymond Staff Reporter After all the Christmas cookies and New Year’s celebrations, it is time to hit the gym and start the new year off right. Western Michigan University offers many opportunities for its students, faculty and staff to stay in shape and prepare to meet New Year’s resolutions. “Typically, we have about 12,000-13,000 people attend the Recreation Center on a weekly basis during the fall semester. After New Year’s and before spring break, the attendance rate increases to about 16,00017,000 every week. People want to meet their resolutions and
Kallie Strazdas/Western Herald
The weight room at the Rec provides a great workout space for WMU students.
are trying to beat those winter blues,” said Christopher Voss, associate director of the University Recreation Programs and Facilities. Over break, the Recreation Center was able to make small changes. Rearranging the cardio room and adding new flat screen televisions have elicited positive feedback from students. The new flat screens can pick up FM receivers from phones, iPods or cardio machines so people can tune in to their favorite show. A new water fountain allows students to fill their water bottles instead of using the same mouthpiece everyone uses. New paint touch ups have been made also. “On average, our busiest days are Monday through Thurs-
day after 3 o’clock until closing time. People use different areas whether they’re in the weight room, on the basketball courts, racquetball courts, or using cardio machines,” Voss said. The Ecomill is a self powered machine in the weight room, with no electricity and an ecofriendly design. There is a learning curve involved with using the machine, said staff members, but people generally like it. The many different activities available to students and faculty include intramural sports, club teams, rock climbing, cardio and cycling classes, personal training, weight lifting, treadmill or track running and aquatic exercise classes. “Zumba is the ‘hot’ thing right now. We have a couple
Kallie Strazdas/Western Herald
Business law/criminal justice major Giovanni Romano, junior, stays fit by shooting hoops.
classes a week and had to move people into the multipurpose room to allow at least 100-150 people to come and participate,” Voss said. Cardio classes are very popular among students and have a variety of choices available like Zumba, 30/30, Body Fitness, Yoga, Pilates, Amazing Abs, Kick and Tone and Step. Personal Trainers start at a rate of $45 for students with two sessions. There are male and female certified trainers who have different skills. Clients are able to match a trainer that best fits their preferences. The first session is going over personal goals that want to be accomplished. On Jan. 24, the Student Recreation Center (SRC) is offering an Extreme Bronco 2012 Spring
Break Challenge for $65. It is a six-week training plan of personal training with Curtis Fennell and Rebecca Walker. There are over 20 people signed up already and this is the first spring session. In the past, students were offered fall and summer II sessions. “You do a lot more than just getting on a cardio machine. They stretch you and do things you wouldn’t normally do,” Voss said. Other options are also available, such as the outdoor track or Read Fieldhouse indoor track arena. For more information on available events and activities, you can visit their website at wmich.edu/rec.
*
Share of world oil production
Saudi Arabia 12.1 percent
American history books shows American support for a peaceful Iranian nuclear program, more recently the Western world has opposed and accused Iran of developing Nuclear weapons. Adding fuel to the fire, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad repeatedly calls for the annihilation of Israel. In order to truly understand the US-Iranian relations, history going back at least 60 years has to be studied (perhaps going as far back as to the days of the Persian Empire). It is also important when looking back at the history to consider the source of the information, according to WMU Professor of Political Science Karl Glenn Hokenmaier. “If you read their history books, their portrayal of us wouldn’t be so flattering,” said Hokenmaier. Between the CIA’s overthrow of the government in 1953, the subsequent 1973 souring of US-Iranian relations as a result of the oil crisis and the 1979
Russia 11.6 percent
*
by the
barrel
Source: Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy
8.63 million
2.06 million 1.22 million
1.08 million
1.02 million
Nigeria
Tensions in the Middle East have been building for as long as many Western Michigan University students can remember. Between OPEC oil price manipulations, Israeli rhetoric and counter rhetoric, Iraqi wars and most recently, the Arab Spring, the Middle East is in the news so often that Americans might not even be fazed anymore. But with Iranian threats to block the Strait of Hormuz as a response to Western anti-nuclear sanctions, Iran is once again in the spotlight. With dwindling fossil fuels, an upcoming election, and such radical regime changes throughout the region, knowing the facts is more important than ever. Blocking the Strait of Hormuz may not seem important, but the strait is a crucial shipping lane for oil. Connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman (and therefore, the oceans of the world),
the Strait of Hormuz is the main shipping lane for the entire Arabic Peninsula. In fact, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Strait of Hormuz is “by far the most important chokepoint with an oil flow of almost 17 million barrels per day in 2011”. But an oil embargo by Iran would not have a direct effect on the US. Despite the 17 million barrels of oil that move through the Strait of Hormuz daily, 85 percent of that oil is moved to Asian countries. While the direct effect of the embargo wouldn’t be a loss of oil, the increased competition from the growing Asian economies would drive up the price of fuel. Although gas would still be available, the price would jump. Nuclear sanctions are not a new concept for Iran. The Western world has been disapproving of Iran’s planned “peaceful” nuclear program since the Ayatollah seized power in 1979. While a deep look into
oil
Saudi Arabia
By Baxter Gill Staff Reporter
Monday, January 23, 2012
Mexico
Gas prices continue to rise as the fight for control of the Middle East continues
Canada
Oil tension rises
United States
2
Top five daily suppliers of US crude oil revolution in Iran to overthrow the Shah, tensions between the United States and Iran have only heightened. To truly grasp the situation though, it is important to look even deeper than the history or 10.4 percent the economics. The geopolitical surroundings for Iran, as well as the religious influence in the re-
gion play a larger role than anything. It is important to note that Iranians are Persian4.9 and not Arabic; their country ispercent also the only country in the region with a majority of Shia in the government. The only country in the region that comes close to Iran in terms of Shia population is Iraq,
United States 10.4 percent
which borders Iran to the west. To Iran’s east lies Afghanistan. While Iran’s actions have far-reaching implications, it is impossible to predict what will next. Even with a knowl5happen percent edge of the history, geopolitics and economics in the region, the future remains clouded.
China
Iran
5 percent
4.9
percent
WMU students question campus parking spots By Gabi Crowley Staff Reporter As far back as Western Michigan University’s Public Safety Department Police Captain Carol Dedow can remember, the university has always received complaints concerning the lack of student parking on campus. Campus is considered “pedestrian-friendly,” according to WMU Admissions’ web page. Most parking lots are exterior to main campus, causing students to have to walk a short distance to class from where they parked. Dedow said she blames today’s society on its need for convenience and unwillingness to walk, admitting that she often finds herself trying to get the closest parking spot at the mall. “We have a lot of parking
spaces, we do, we just don’t have close parking spaces that people want,” Dedow said. Dedow said a 15 minute walk takes you from one side of campus to the other. Colleen O’Brien, a senior currently studying elementary education at WMU, agrees with the idea of students being just plain lazy. “There are a lot of student lots that are empty a lot, like the ones over by Miller or the Gilmore Theatre Complex, Kallie Strazdas/Western Herald but nobody wants to park there because it’s far from Nursing student, Shane Mcauliffe(sophomore), and business law their classes,” O’Brien said. and criminal justice major, Giovanni Romano(junior), make sure Nick Young, a senior at they didn’t forget anything after parking at the Rec Center. WMU said student parking is a problem simply because Young, who is currently of campus’s need for more park- someone to their car in your car to get a parking spot, ” Young studying sales and business ing spots. said. marketing at WMU, has re“You literally have to follow
ceived two parking violations on campus. He said that both tickets were issued for parking in faculty lots because he couldn’t find a student-designated parking spot. “They have less spots than are available for parking,” Young said. Having mainly all business classes, Young said that the Haworth College of Business parking lots seem to always be full and admitted he has parked in nearby apartments’ lots when he could not find a spot in the past. Although the additions of several new buildings on campus such as the Western View Apartments have recently eliminated some student-designated parking lots, Dedow said students are still able to find parking.
“On any given day, I can show anybody with any kind of permit a vacant spot where they can park,” said Dedow.
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News
Monday, January 23, 2012
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Student seeks success in “Real World” The Western Herald sat down with Branden Lewis, candidate for the 27th season of The Real World.
Q: Tell us about your oppor-
tunity for The Real World TV show? A: Well, pretty much around last September, when the 26th season started, was when I saw auditions for the 27th season. I quickly submitted an email to them telling them I wanted to be on the show and a little about myself. I got an email back saying they liked me and wanted me to audition in Columbus, Ohio. So around Halloween I
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Brief
Incentives now in effect for residents Western Michigan University students planning to return to the residence halls for the fall semester can start online registration now, according to WMU News. The university has added several incentives for students living in the residence halls during the 2012-2013 school year, WMU News states. The Residence Hall and Dining Advantage guarantees that room and board rates remain the same for four successive years. The VIP Bronco program offers free intramural sports and fitness classes, and the Academic Achievement Incentive allows students with a GPA of 3.25 or higher who sign up for a single room receive the lower double rate and save up to $2,450, according to WMU News. -Andrew Cooper Copy Editor
Author addresses foreign conflict Norman Finkelstein, author of six books and an expert on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, will be coming to the Western Michigan University campus this month to share a possible way to stop the decades-long struggle, according to WMU News. His presentation, “How to Resolve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31, in the North Ballroom of the Bernhard Center. Finkelstein is one of the boldest Jewish voices on the issue, WMU News states. Among the issues expected to be covered is “how to bring about a just solution in accordance to conflict in accordance with international law,” according to WMU News. Western Michigan University student organization West Michigan Justice in Palestine is sponsoring the event. -Andrew Cooper Copy Editor
National search for new dean begins Following the resignation of Dr. John Wheeler, Dr. Van E. Cooley will lead Western Michigan University’s College of Education and Human Development for the next year as a national search takes place to find a new dean, according to WMU News. Dr. John Wheeler resigned last fall to take on a new position at East Tennessee State University. Western Michigan University will also search in the coming weeks for an associate provost for the Haenicke Institute for Global Education to replace Dr. Donald McCloud, who is finishing his five-year appointment, according to WMU News. -Andrew Cooper Copy Editor
took a road trip there.
Q: Who inspired you to want to begin a career in acting/modeling? A: If anyLewis one were to inspire me to get into such a career it would probably be Will Smith. Will is so successful in his career and because of that he is looked at as an icon and role model. He handles himself well in and out of public and doesn’t let his celebrity status get in the way of his family life.
Q: Tell us a little
body that they were good to about the process leave, but told of being chosen me to stay. She as a Real World took me back candidate? to this other A: When I got By Adam Roberts room where I there it was Sports Editor had to fill out packed, must have basically a 20 been hundreds page application and it took me of people at one bar. I signed two hours to do it. I handed it in up and filled a page application later that night and I got a call basically explaining brief info about myself. The first round of stating that my second interview (quarter-final round) was going interviews was a group interto take place at another locaview. The girl interviewing us tion. At this point I felt like I asked everyone to state your was making progress. I went to name, age and a fun fact about the next interview and noticed myself. I talked about my crazy it was a different set up. I had to 21st birthday. As the interview sit in front of a camera, with a almost ended she told every-
blue screen in the background and a microphone planted in my shirt. This round basically was the detailed interview going through my 20 page application. It lasted about 45 minutes to an hour but I feel like I nailed it. After the interview was done the girl basically told me to expect a call. The good thing about auditions for things like this is that if you get the call you’re in. The casting process is about three months long and as of now I am still awaiting on the call.
Q: What other modeling and
acting things have you done? A: I’ve only done one modeling gig so far, because of how busy
my schedule is with being a full time student here at Western Michigan University. But I am in the process of doing another event with what they call “ USA models.” Interviews with those will be coming up soon.
Q: If chosen for The Real World and you finish the season what’s next? A: Well I plan on finishing school at WMU then move somewhere warm. I want to try to become a part time model, but I can’t forget about my degrees I will eventually have. I want to become a Dietician and plan on being a personal trainer on the side.
Dunn supports school in Haiti By Erin Gignac News Editor
silient spirit was not lost in the rubble. “I was taken by a sense of pride,” Dunn said. “To see some of the children and how well they had dressed, it was obvious that they had put on their best outfit to be a part of this program. It was very nice.” The Dominican Republic’s President Leonel Fernandez invited Dunn and Juan Tavares of Western Michigan University’s Haenicke Institute for Global Education to represent
the international community in an inauguration ceremony of the northern campus of Haiti State University last week. The project, which cost around $30 to $50 million, was donated entirely by the Dominican Republic. “This was a huge investment,” Dunn said. “Fernandez, the president of the D.R., could’ve done a lot of things with that money, but he wanted it invested in education. You could build another hospital, you could do more with
roads, you could do more with this, but if you really want to get to the core, the fabric of what moves a society, it’s eduClean water is scarce. Bathcation. He took an element of ing conditions are tough. Most risk there.” people still live in tents. AmerWhat does $30 to $50 milicans might associate these lion look like? Three buildliving conditions with homeings with a quad in the middle, lessness in the United States. since the weather is usually However, this is the daily warm, he said. Compare this condition of people living in to Sangren Hall, a $70 million Haiti. dollar undertaking that will In Port Au Prince, thoufinalize in 24 months, Dunn sands are still living in unacsaid. ceptable conditions, President “This thing was built in a John Dunn said, but their reperiod of about 15 months, so it was a phenomenal undertaking,” he said. The dedication, held on Jan. 12, marked the two-year anniversary of the earthquake that injured or killed over half a million people in the country and ruined their infrastructure. “I think it had a little bit of the World Trade Center sort of backdrop,” Dunn said. “There was a lot going on that day. First you have the opening of a campus and you have an opportunity to celebrate that. You also have a remembrance of all those tragic losses of life.” Whether Fernandez is using the money correctly or fast enough is the controversy in question for some people Erin Gignac/Western Herald in the D.R. All selfPresident John Dunn gave remarks about his trip to the Dominican Republic and Haiti last Thursday. ishness aside, it was a generous acknowl-
edgement that out of all the needs in the world we chose this, Dunn said. “We might get hung up about what our own needs are, but you don’t have to look very far to find that others are also very needy,” he said. “You can do that on a personal level. All you have to do is look around and you’re going to find another human being somewhere with situations and conditions that are far worse than what you’re experiencing. When we think about the conditions of the world and we think of very poor countries, we can get all hung up on that. We’re still talking about human beings, you know. Human beings still have parents and children and loved ones.” Education is the fundamental element needed to rebuild the infrastructure of Haiti, Dunn said. He is no stranger to educational relationships with the international community. In January 2008, an agreement was signed between WMU and the Dominican Republic, through the Dominican Scholars Program, that brought an anticipated 200 D.R. students to WMU’s campus, according to a press release from WMU News. This spring, 100 undergraduates and graduate students will be walking across Miller’s stage to receive their diploma, he said. While at WMU, the students are completely funded by their government. The only requirements are that students must live on campus and return to the D.R. after graduation.
See Haiti Page 6
Review: Frostic series hosts T. Johnson By Taylor Larson Staff Reporter The meeting room of the Bernhard Center was bustling for the start of the Gwen Frostic Reading Series. Sparkling cups of Chardonnay, a stack of double chocolate brownies and a bowl of fruit sat neatly on a table or in the hands of the many people who have shown up for the event, chatting eagerly about the night’s performance and favorite titles. Well-dressed individuals and wind-tossed students sat together in high backed chairs, reading through pamphlets or anxiously fidgeting. After a brief introduction concerning lots of talk about beards, a curiously clean shaven T. Geronimo Johnson, the night’s reader, approached the podium, dressed in all black. He is a tall, broad shouldered man who wouldn’t seem to fit in his “cloffice”—the tiny closet he prefers to write in—and when he speaks it is in a low, confident lull, reassuring
rather than dull. It is the first time he has read from this piece in public, though one would never know it. Johnson’s reading on Jan. 19 was the first of the 2012 Gwen Frostic Reading Series lineup, a showcase of writers, storytellers and poets. His forthcoming novel, “Hold It Till It Hurts” is slated to be published by Coffee House Press and it was from this piece he read excerpts, wonderfully descriptive and heartfelt, concerning several themes from the novel. “I believe in literature like religion,” Johnson stated. “I write for the ones that didn’t get away.” “Hold it Till it Hurts” is the story of Achilles, an Iraq war vet in search of his adopted brother, who has set off to meet his biological father and separated himself from the family. The novel, from the bits that were read, is emotive and full of sensory detail, featuring rich character description, the subtle use of humor, and, at times, almost lyrical wordplay bonds together
to create a deeply engrossing tale. The three sections selected showcased Johnson’s range— a questioning, evocative first piece concerning race, a tender, descriptive scene turned to confusion and question of place. A second scene details the slow creak of gurney wheels and starkness of a morgue. His final piece was perhaps the most gripping--an insightful scene concerning casualties of war and a soldier’s utter fear and helplessness at his friend’s fatal injury. Johnson read his work in a slow, almost road weary voice, as if he had seen it all before, enabling listeners to draw their own conclusions, to feel the work as the characters themselves experienced it. Fine observation and creative descriptions told a story while simultaneously painting a portrait of the scene described. Johnson allowed ample time for his words to resonate with listeners, who were held captive by his depth and connection to his work. Before reading, John-
son helpfully gave the audience some background information regarding characters and plot, adding his own reflections on his work after each selection. “Hold it Till it Hurts” is Johnson’s first novel, remarkably developed for someone making a departure from the usual. Johnson’s former stint was poetry, though it was clearly something he did not very much enjoy. “Poetry is something I should have stopped like video games in high school,” Johnson remarked. “Poetry is a mystery to me. I woke up and thought, ‘How much longer am I going to embarrass myself?’” With writing fiction, Johnson may have found his niche. “It liberated me in a way. I could be true to what I wanted to do,” he said in a Q & A session. His raw, vivid descriptions of battle, casualties, and a soldier’s struggle to readjust to society would appear to be from experience, but Johnson was only a member of the National
Guard, and never on the front lines—however, judging by such honest prose, one would never guess. To research for the novel, Johnson read anything he was able to find, quickly finishing titles such as “House to House” and the slightly more obscure “Afghani Beards and Hairstyles.” “The writer’s flow was well balanced between metaphors and hyper realism, creating a captivating piece,” said Tyler Balaskovitz, WMU senior. Literary buffs were not the only ones to enjoy the reading. A positive reaction seemed to be the norm as listeners crowded together to praise the novel, many hurrying up to Johnson himself to thank him and compliment his work. At the end of the night, Johnson took out a small camera and asked to take a picture of the crowd, documenting his first public reading.
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Viewpoint
Monday, January 23, 2012
Western Herald
4 Rock the vote! As we progress into the new year, and get back into the school groove, we need to start thinking about how important it is to make sure that our voices are heard this primary season! The 2012 primary is right around the corner and the deadline to register to vote is quickly approaching. It’s our time, so let’s go! Just so you know, you have until Monday, Jan. 30 to register to vote in the Feb. 28 presidential Nora Strehl primary elecEditor-in-Chief tions. The polls will be open on election day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. To register, you must be at least 18 years old by election day and be a U.S. citizen. You have to also be a resident of the city of Kalamazoo in order to vote here. In my opinion, it is our right and our duty to vote - if we are educated enough to know what we’re voting for. It’s our job to make sure that the people elected to office are rightfully put there. We have the freedoms and ability to make a difference, but it takes motivation and empowerment to do it. You can stay cynical and look to the stars, but I choose to live by what the founding fathers envisioned for us, and will continue to fight for those rights by the only methods I know - share my beliefs publicly and vote. Young Americans have a history of active involvement in the democratic process and in shaping the future of the nation. Let’s keep the tradition going and get involved with this years election in some way. Join College Democrats or College Republicans on Western Michigan University’s campus. Do some research and find out how you can participate in a specific campaign. It is a really rewarding experience to be a part of such a huge movement, especially when it only happens every four years. Get up and be proactive! You can register by mail, at the Kalamazoo clerk’s office or by going to the Secretary of State. Send me some feedback on how you will make a difference this election season.
Editor-in-Chief Nora Strehl editor@westernherald.com
387-2097
WMU unhindered by inclement weather By Paul VanHevel Copy Editor As the semester progresses and students endure the remaining winter months it’s likely the weather will not warrant university closure. “University officials begin monitoring weather conditions early in the event when a significant snowfall is predicted. Our grounds crews are out (often in the middle of the night) gauging the snowfall and determining whether they will be able to keep campus roads, parking lots and sidewalks cleared,” said Cheryl Roland, executive director of University Relations. “We’re also in touch with area public safety officials and the State Police to assess the safety of road conditions,” This is an incredible feat considering the shear amount of
snow that Western Michigan Universities Landscape Services is responsible for removing. “The crews must plow, shovel, scrape and de-ice more than 23 miles of roads, 100 acres of parking, 39 miles of walks, 200,000 square feet of steps and ramps and hundreds of doorways,” according to WMU News. Extensive resources for snow removal are readily available at Western Michigan University. Officials rarely have to breach the stipulations and red tape set in place for campus closures. However, on numerous occasions WMU has remained operational even when severe weather has hindered the university. How does severe weather truly influence university closures? On Friday, Jan. 13 surrounding institutions such as Kalamazoo College and Kalamazoo Val-
Editorial ley College were not operational. Many have wondered why WMU was not declared closed? “I feel like the University doesn’t always consider that a majority of their students commute and that should be a bigger factor in deciding school closings than whether or not the sidewalks get cleared between Miller and Rood,” said 21-year-old senior Erin Lenczycki. “Western is centered on a hill and that fact alone makes it exceedingly difficult to make it to classes on time. “ Safety for all students and staff particularly those who commute to and from campus should take precedence over the pride that accompanies keeping an institution open. What horrific event must oc-
Letter to the Editor Policy All letters must be less than 300 words and are subject to editing.
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cur before the university relaxes their stance on campus closures? Will WMU’s criteria for cancelations only be amended if a student is hospitalized while commuting in inclement weather? Who shoulders that burden? Until such a tragedy occurs
the lack of timeliness remains the most inconvenient factor associated with severe weather. “Add a foot of snow and it makes getting to class on time at 9 a.m. a guessing game, even if I leave half an hour early,” said Lencyzcki.
Historic East Campus photo of the week
No personal attacks or profanity will be tolerated. Send letters to: The Western Herald, as a news entity, does not adopt or necessarily endorse views presented in the viewpoint section. Readers are encouraged to submit their own responses, suggestions, or concerns to the Edit0r-In-Chief, Nora Strehl, at herald-editor@wmich.edu.
Letter to the Editor: Spreading innovation on campus Dear Editor, In 2010 WMU’s student body voted to put in place what would soon be a monumental achievement, the $8 student sustainability fee. The extreme foresight in understanding the importance and need for providing the funding of campus sustainability improvement should be commended. Now the issue lies solely in the hands of the students. We now must initiate research projects that will not only improve sustainability but also the awareness of sustainable issues on campus.
What is my issue? WMU maintains over 3 million square feet of conventional roof space with an approximate 15 year lifespan. This space is generally unattractive, underutilized and obviously impermeable to storm-water. Because of this increase in storm-water output from structures, WMU is forced to allocate millions of dollars to the construction of storm-water retention systems. Have you ever wondered, “What’s with that rock pond by the chemistry building?” It was built solely to retain storm-water.
Also, conventional roofs are generally dark and heat absorbing therefore contributing to increased localized temperatures or “heat island effect.” In true hippy fashion I have pointed out the problems but what’s the solution? The solution lies in “green” or vegetated roofs. Green roofs vary in size and complexity but what you need to know is that a portion of WMU’s roofs use a river-rock ballast to anchor down the roof materials that weigh approximately 10 pounds per square foot. This is the same weight of
certain green roof systems. The difference is that green roofs last twice as long, mitigate storm-water runoff and look cool. Oh, did I mention that Central Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University and Michigan all have green roofs and our first has not even been installed yet? Talk to our administrators, ask why we don’t have green roofs, and write a sustainability grant. We have the money, let’s beat Central. -Andrew C. Johnson Junior
Students play football near Vandercook Hall, the male residence hall on East Campus. Written by: Tara Bell, President of Students for East Campus Photo courtesy of WMU Archives
Fun&Games Crossword
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Monday, January 23, 2012
Hidden college costs creep up on WMU students By Katy TerBerg Staff Reporter Few students can claim that they are financially stable, and with the influx of the Michigan “college tax,” their resources might become even more scarce, according to Bridge Magazine. Currently, Western Michigan University holds the eighth highest college tax rate of any public university in Michigan. In recent years, Michigan’s higher education policy has lacked funding, and according to WMU’s Financial Aid department, tuition fees have increased. “The state has cut us and cut us and cut us in terms of funding,” said Greg Rosine, the Vice President for Government Affairs at WMU. To measure the impact of university price hikes, Bridge Magazine split Michigan’s state universities into groups of academically similar institutions across the country and calculated the true price (tuition, fees and on-campus housing minus scholarships and grants) of a year in college. “Students at 12 out of the 15 public universities in Michigan are paying a ‘college tax.’ The state has slashed funding to Michigan’s
public universities over and over again in the past couple of decades,” confirmed Bridge Magazine. According to the article, lost appropriations are the catalyst for tuition increases in recent years. For example, the University of Michigan has lost $174 million in inflation-adjusted dollars in the past decade, a trend that University of Michigan Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Phil Hanlon, calls “unsustainable.” “All of Michigan needs to take an economics class,” said U of M undergraduate student Barbara Twist. Twist said she will graduate with $28,000 in student debt after paying $16,888 for tuition and fees each semester. In contrast, her cousin, Caroline Robinson, who attends the University of North Carolina, pays $8,423 for semester fees and tuition and will graduate debtfree. According to Bridge Magazine, this is far from an isolated incident. “Three years at U of M costs as much as four years at many other high-caliber research universities,” the article says. Comparatively, WMU students pay approximately $11,384 in “college tax,” said the
magazine. However, the term “tax” has garnered some controversy. Both Rosine and Julie Carroll in WMU’s Investment and Endowment Management Department, said that the word “tax” is a misnomer. “It’s a misappropriation of the word,” said Rosine. “Ten years ago, the state was responsible for 70 percent of the university funding and students were responsible for thirty percent [of funding]. Now, the opposite is true. There’s a shift of responsibility from state taxpayer to student fees and tuition, but no ‘tax,’” Rosine said. Carroll said Bridge Magazine is referring to the term used to describe the difference in amounts contributed by the states to their public universities. The less money given by the state, the more a student has to pay in tuition. “It’’s acommon misconception,” said Rosine. “I’ve been asked about the alleged ‘college tax’ several times. I think Bridge Magazine is great, but I also think the article confused some people. Students are paying more tuition and fees, but while they might have to worry about increasing tuition rates, they don’t have to worry about an additional tax.”
Weather hinders local businesses
Late snow leaves ski resorts wanting more
By Liz VandenHeede Staff Reporter An important factor in the success of many local businesses made a very late arrival this year. Snow and all of Michigan’s unpredictable winter weather impacts all kinds of people and businesses, especially ski resorts and winter sports parks. “We didn’t open until January
GVL WH 1/23
4 this year—the latest opening I can remember,” said Joan Bailey, marketing director at Timber Ridge Ski Area in Gobles. Bailey has been with Timber Ridge for 29 years. Echo Valley Winter Sports Park in Kalamazoo keeps track of the date they open each year. “We opened after New Year’s, first year in 14 years,” said Melody Weaver, a manager at Echo Valley. Weaver said the revenue made in upcoming weeks would not make up for the lost sales from opening so late. Bailey said the time before and after Christmas makes up 25 percent of Timber Ridge’s revenue. Bailey said she is optimistic that they will be able to make up the lost sales. “Once the snow arrived, people arrived in droves. We were at capacity and since then there’s been perfect conditions,” Bailey
said. Bailey said Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the weekend preceding it have been their busiest days so far this year. One way winter sports businesses try to cope with the unpredictable weather is by making their own snow. “It’s the only way to be in business in Michigan,” said Bailey. “Everyone makes it!” Timber Ridge and Echo Valley both make their own snow. However, it is expensive and the conditions have to be right. Weaver said it has to be 19 degrees or below before they can use any of Echo Valley’s five snow machines. “We make snow as much as we can. We need low temperature and low humidity to make it,” said Bailey. Timber Ridge pumps millions of gallons of water from their ponds to make snow “the natural way,” she said.
Despite the lack of snow until New Year’s Day, Timber Ridge and Echo Valley were more than prepared when winter arrived and anticipated the huge crowds that showed up. “We were ready, willing and able,” said Bailey. Timber Ridge offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing and also has a special deal for college students every night. With a college ID, students get reduced rates for lift tickets and ski rentals. College night is Monday through Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. Echo Valley is open on the weekends and offers ice-skating, tobogganing and tubing at “reasonable prices that haven’t been raised in seven years,” according to Weaver.
70.6 inches
of snowfall in Kalamazoo last winter
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6
Monday, January 23, 2012
MSU professor gives lecture on rights Brian Kalt lectures on the Ninth Amendment and the Constitution By Kassie Charnley Staff Reporter The Humanities Center in Knauss Hall welcomed Brian
Kalt, associate professor of law at Michigan State University, for an ethics lecture on the Ninth Amendment on Friday, Jan. 20. As stated in the Constitution,
the Ninth Amendment declares that “the enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the
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people.” Kalt began his lecture by explaining this amendment, as well as the several amendments that are listed before this one. He also explained how Constitutional rights work. “Think of the Constitution as higher law. It’s the federal Constitution – if there’s a law in the Constitution saying that you can or can’t do something, that law trumps all other laws,” Kalt said. “While the eight amendments of the Constitution list out your exact rights, I don’t think the list is long enough. Not all of our rights are included in the Constitution.” Kalt explained that the rights that we have as people and citizens of the United States may not be laid out entirely in the Constitution, but we still have those rights. However, the big question is, “what are these rights?” and “how do we define them?” Kalt introduced the idea of the Ninth Amendment being defined as the “et cetera” to all of the other rights that the people of the United States are provided in the Bill of Rights. However, he believes that the court ignores the Ninth Amendment of the Constitution because it is
too open-ended. “The courts are saying that by definition, you have certain rights, but we [the courts] are not going to tell you what they are,” Kalt said. Since the Constitution is a document formed by the government in the beginning, Kalt believes that the government, courts, and the President should follow the Constitution just as the people of the United States do. He wishes the government and more specifically, the courts would take rights seriously, especially those not listed in the Bill of Rights. “There are other rights outside of the Constitution. We [the people] just need a vision of what Congress thinks that these other rights should be, then we could vote on them,” Kalt said, stressing that Congress should focus on what it is that the people want. “Congress can act on providing the people with their rights. Congress doesn’t have to be held down by the courts, Congress and the courts should debate about the rights that we need to be more thoroughly defined in our Constitution. If Congress doesn’t do this, they won’t be
good at it in the future,” Kalt said. Kalt also brought up the question, “What is the difference between a ‘right’ and something that’s just a ‘good idea?’” “I think we can all agree that a right is something that stops you from doing something that is not approved by the government or the Constitution,” Kalt said. “If the government calls it a right and makes it a right, the people will most definitely take that right seriously.” Kalt said rights matter, even those not listed in the Constitution. Kalt said we come up with those rights and debate about them and get Congress to consider them and take them seriously. As a professor of law, Kalt is confident in his ideas and arguments about the Ninth Amendment. He made it clear that in the future he would like to see this amendment taken as seriously as all of the other amendments that are listed in the United States Bill of Rights. For a list of more events that are put on by the University Center for the Humanities, visit http://www.wmich.edu/humanities/.
Campus copes with snow
Hao Zhang/Western Herald
By Kelly Mason Staff Reporter
U P G R A DED A M EN ITI E S • S H UT TLE TO C A M PU S C E N T R E H O U S I N G .CO M � ��� � C ROY D E N AV E � ���. � � �.� ���
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Kalamazoo has transformed into a winter wonderland. Over the past week, lake-effect snow has blanketed the southwest region of Michigan, leading to the annual road plows and salt trucks moving across campus and the city. Western Michigan University uses snow melt systems at the entrances to most of the buildings on campus. These systems circulate glycol (a deicing chemical agent) under low pressure through closed-loop piping embedded in the sidewalks. Snow melt systems are controlled through the Building Automation System, or BAS. The BAS checks that the outdoor air temperature is below freezing and that there is snow on the ground before activating the snow removal system. These on-campus snow melt systems reduce the amount of salt required to thaw walkways, minimize snow buildup near build-
ing entrances and reduce the number of accidents that occur during the winter months. Nicolas Schirripa, Southwest Regions Communications Representative for the Michigan Department of Transportation, said city and county road commissions have their own plows and operators. “The Kalamazoo County Road Commission plows all roads not in cities and each city has their own staff or contracts in place for plowing service. As snow begins to accumulate on our roadways, our plow operators begin to plow assigned routes until the roads are free of ice and snow,” Schirripa said. “As long as the snow is falling or remains on state roads, our plows are active.” “MDOT has dedicated, creative, experienced operators who take seriously the job of keeping state roadways safe for everyone,” he said. Geomelt is a derivative of the sugar beet after the sugar is removed and is another method of
de-icing campus. It is completely organic and water soluble, according to WMU Ground & Landscaping. Because it comes from a plant, Geomelt is entirely environmentally friendly. The resulting syrup concoction is nature’s ice melter. Unlike traditional salt, which loses its effectiveness at around 15 degrees, a load treated with the beet juice works until 30 degrees below freezing. It stays in the grooves and cracks of the asphalt or concrete, thus requiring less application. The use of Geomelt on campus helps to minimize salt use during the winter and in turn, helps to control salt contamination in the snow melt runoff. Residents with concerns about plowing frequency or adequacy should contact the local snow removal agency. “Feedback helps us fine-tune our operations and ensures we’re serving each community to the best of our ability,” said Schirripa.
do not have the infrastructure needed to accommodate all of their talented young people,” he said. “They’re relying heavily on exporting students here.” The Dominican Scholars Program also pairs with Utah State, Rochester Institute of Technology and universities in Spain and Italy. All signs point to the program staying at WMU. However, Fernandez is ending his second term as president. Dunn said he hopes to someday have Fernandez on campus, president or not. “This program is too good and has been too successful not to sustain,” he said. “They will be soon announcing another scholarship program and a wave of students from the D.R. for Western Michigan University.” Future endeavors include getting D.R. students involved in the aviation program and other global issues.
“We continue to look for research opportunities as well,” Dunn said. “They are very interested in questions related to sustainability and energy conservation.” At the inauguration ceremony, the mayor of the city became overwhelmed with what the opportunity of this campus meant to his community. With this monumental of a dedication, Dunn said that he couldn’t help but get emotional. “The takeaway from Haiti was the resilience of people. Anytime you see that, in my life, it has inspired me how people can, somehow, dig deep to overcome challenging times and to never lose sight that there is a tomorrow and a future. If not for them, at least for those who are going to follow them. I was very impressed by that.”
Haiti From Page 3 Some students may have rejections to the returning part. They want to obtain an internship or work for a company before they return. He said it’s necessary for D.R.’s graduates to provide and help their country in academic study. It happens to all students. Students like being away, but eventually they will return to where theylive, he said. “The students that we met with particularly in July that got called back, they’re doing very well,” he said. “They have jobs and they’re doing good things. They have families and loved ones there.” Students from the D.R. can now attend Haiti State University, but it will not take away from the amount of students attending WMU. “They have some universities, but they also know they
Sports
Monday January 23, 2012
in
Brief
Men’s Tennis
Sports Editor Adam Roberts
Western Herald
sportseditor@westernherald.com
387-2088
7
Broncos stomp Central at home
Broncos shutout by Indiana Hoosiers BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Western Michigan University men’s tennis team fell 7-0 to the 29th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers at the IU Indoor Tennis Center in Bloomington, according to WMU Broncos. In singles play, Ross VanderPloeg posted the best chance of taking a point from Indiana, WMU Broncos states. VanderPloeg rallied in the No. 4 singles match, taking the second set against Dimitrije Trasic 6-2, tying the match at one set apiece. A tiebreaker followed, in which Trasic took the set 12-10. The Broncos return home to West Hills Athletic Club on Friday, Jan. 27, where they will host Indiana University— Purdue University Fort Wayne and Wisconsin—Green Bay, WMU Broncos states. -Andrew Cooper Copy Editor Hao Zhang/Western Herald
WoMen’s Tennis
Point guard Mike Douglas attempts to manuever around Central Chippewas.
Broncos fall to Wolverines The Western Michigan University women’s tennis team faces a 7-0 loss following a Sunday game against the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. The Broncos are now 0-1 this season, according to WMU Broncos. The Broncos made their 2011-2012 season debut against the Michigan Wolverines, who are considered to be a national championship contender. WMU faced three nationally-ranked singles players and one nationallyranked doubles player, but gave it their all before the loss, WMU Broncos states. -Andrew Cooper Copy Editor
Track Field
and
Bronco captures title in invitational Western Michigan University track and field player Iris Campbell won the 400 meter dash and ended the Notre Dame Invitaitonal on a good note Saturday afternoon, according to WMU Broncos. Campbell, a junior from Emmett, Mich., was the sole Bronco to capture a title during the meet. Her time in the dash was 55.14 seconds, outscoring Notre Dame’s Natalie Geiger by 1.78 seconds and leaving the competition in the dust. WMU returns to Indiana next Friday for the Indiana Relays in Bloomington, according to WMU Broncos. -Andrew Cooper Copy Editor
Correction In our Nov. 7, 2011 issue, the Western Herald made several mistakes in “Family sees fourth generation WMU graduate.” We are deeply sorry for these errors. Douglas Thomas has nine grandchildren and their daughter’s name is Tamara. Their granddaughter, Rebecca, is a senior at WMU. His mother’s maiden name was Daniels. Their great granddaughter, Addison is seven months old.
By Tyler Pease Staff Reporter After a tough overtime loss in Ypsilanti earlier in the week to Eastern Michigan, the Western Michigan University Broncos returned home to face their rivals, the Central Michigan Chippewas, who came in having lost their last two games. In what Coach Steve Hawkins called, “another typical Central [vs.] Western game,” CMU started off by making the first two baskets of the game before Junior forward Nate Hutcheson, who led all scorers at the half with 12 points, knocked home a 3-pointer, making the game 4-3 early on. In the middle of the period, the Broncos held Central Michigan without a point for almost 5 minutes, and pushed their lead to 8 points with 5:59 remain-
ing in the first half. Then, Central Michigan sophomore Trey Zeigler, a former McDonald’s All-American scored a couple of baskets around the 4 minute, bringing the score back to a tie. The last couple of minutes in the high intensity first half were punctuated on dunks by Western Michigan’s Shayne Whittington, bringing the crowd to its feet and Central Michigan’s Andre Coimbra, which came with only 10 seconds remaining in the half. Central Michigan left the half with a 33-32 lead, in which they were led in scoring by Coimbra, with 11 and Trey Zeigler, who had 9. Western out rebounded their rivals 21-14, receiving impressive performances from Hutcheson and Matt Stainbrook, who each pulled down 5 boards. Western Michigan left the first half shooting 44 percent from
the floor and holding Central Michigan near 40 percent, but Central took advantage of nine first-half Bronco turnovers. In the second half, Western Michigan stormed out of the gate, going on a 14-1 run, stretching their lead to a game high 12 points with 15:03 remaining in the game. In that 15 minutes, Central Michigan chipped away at the lead the Broncos built. While the Chippewas succeeded in getting the lead down, it held up behind plays like Flenard Whitfield’s block on a Central Michigan lay-up, and then his hustle down the floor to draw a foul and knock down both free throws, and a big 3-pointer from Demetrius Ward, to keep the Bronco lead in double digits. Western Michigan was able to keep their rivals out of striking distance until the Chippewas got back-to-back 3-pointers
from freshman Austin Keel and Zeigler, cutting the Bronco lead to 4, where the score stood at 63-59 with 3:06 remaining. After Zeigler scored a lay-up with 2:17 to go, making it a one possession game, the Broncos ate up the clock and played solid defense. In particular, on the final possession, in which Zeigler, who is Central’s leading scorer at nearly 16 points per game, was forced into a contested 3-pointer which he missed, and Western won the rivalry game, the second time this season in which they have trailed at half time and gone on to win. The Broncos had solid contributions from their entire front line. Nate Hutcheson led the team with 17 points and 8 rebounds, Matt Stainbrook had 11 points and 9 rebounds, and Flenard Whitfield added 12 points and 7 rebounds. For Central,
Trey Zeigler led the way with 19 points and 3 assists, Derek Jackson scored 14 points and Andre Coimbra had 11 points and 8 rebounds while battling foul trouble. The Broncos held a solid edge on the boards, 42-27, but while the Broncos turned the ball over 20 times, they played well enough to come up with a victory. Senior point guard Mike Douglas, who finished the game with 13 points and 4 assists, moved into second place on Western Michigan’s all-time assist list, passing Brian Snider, he now has 407 in his career. He now trails only Billy Stanback who finished his career with 427 assists. The Broncos play their next game Wednesday, Jan. 25 on the road in Athens, Ohio where they play Ohio at 7 p.m., and return home to play Miami of Ohio at 4 p.m. Saturday, January 28.
Western hockey swept in weekend series By Patrick Littleton Staff Reporter The No. 8 Western Michigan University hockey team was swept in a series for the first time since March 5, 2010 this weekend against No. 20 Miami University at Steve Cady Arena in Oxford, Ohio. On Friday, the Broncos fell 3-1 after Miami junior forward, Reilly Smith’s hat trick. Junior defenseman Luke Witkowski netted the lone goal for the Broncos and freshman goaltender Frank Slubowski tallied 28 saves in the loss. Smith scored his first goal at
the 4:16 mark of the first period with assists from freshman forwards Austin Czarnik and Jimmy Mullin. Witkowski put the Broncos on the board with a power play goal at the 8:34 mark of the first period with assists from freshman forward Justin Kovacs and senior forward Greg Squires. Smith scored again at the 12:57 mark of the second quarter on a short handed goal with an assist from Czarnik. Smith completed the hat trick at the 10:22 mark of the third period, again getting assists from Mullin and Czarnik. The Broncos were outshot
31-27 with the Red Hawks notching at least ten shots in each period. The Broncos were 1-of-4 on the power play with eight shot attempts and the Red Hawks were 0-of-1 with two shots. On Saturday, the Broncos were shutout 4-0. Slubowski (8-6-3) made nine saves in his second straight loss. Smith continued his hot streak by scoring at the 12:13 mark of the first period with an assist from Czarnik. The Red Hawks did not score again until the 4:33 mark of the third period. This time it was Mullin with assists from freshman defense-
man Ben Paulides and senior goalkeeper Connor Knapp. Senior forward Alden Hirschfield scored at the 12:16 mark with assists from freshman forward Cody Murphy and freshman forward Blake Coleman. Freshman forward Tyler Biggs scored the final goal at the 12:40 mark with assists from senior forward Trent Vogelhuber and junior forward Curtis McKenzie. The Broncos actually outshot the Red Hawks 22-19. WMU was 0-of-5 on the power play with three shot attempts while Miami was 0-of-3 with two shots. The Broncos fall to 12-9-5
overall with a 9-6-3-3 record in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. The Broncos are now tied with the Red Hawks for second in the conference (33 Pts.) with Miami holding the tiebreaker. Both teams are two points behind Ohio State University for first place. The Broncos face Bowling Green State University this weekend in a home and home series. The teams will play at Lawson Ice Arena Friday and in Bowling Green on Saturday with both matches beginning at 7:05 p.m.
Detroit Tigers field campus luncheon event By Bryan Paas Staff Reporter With the Detroit Tigers’ 2012 promotional caravan stopping at WMU, President, CEO and General Manager Dave Dombrowski came back to where it all began. Dombrowski, along with AllStar catcher Alex Avila, third baseman Brandon Inge, starting pitcher Rick Porcello, outfielder Delmon Young, and a handful of other young Tigers were at the Bernhard Center on Friday for a luncheon sponsored by the WMU baseball team and the WMU Family Expirience Office.
“I graduated from here in ‘78 and of course it hasn’t changed a bit. It looks exactly the same. But some of my fondest memories in life are associated with being here at Western Michigan University,” Dombrowski said. After spending his freshman year playing football at Cornell, Dombrowski transferred to WMU where he planned on playing football when he was again eligible after having to sit out a year. Dombrowski tried out for the WMU baseball team also where he credits the former WMU baseball coach. “Dombrowski, you’re not good enough,” former WMU
baseball coach Frank Decker told him. After Dombrowski’s speech, Tigers broadcaster Dan Dickerson introduced the Tiger players in attendance who fielded questions filled out by the crowd attending the luncheon. Catcher Alex Avila confirmed that there were no odd rituals in the locker room. Before the luncheon, Dombrowski and the Tigers met with the WMU baseball team, as well as the press, where they could talk about the upcoming season. After winning their first American League Central championship in 24 years, the Tigers
are expecting a lot out of themselves and Brandon Inge said this is still the case even with the recent news of catcher and designated hitter Victor Martinez being out for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. “Our whole team is going to have to step up and produce and for us this is a pretty good motivating factor,” said Inge. Despite the loss of Martinez, Dombrowski is not worried about trying to replace player who batted .330 and had 12 home runs with 103 RBI’s. “There are a lot of designated hitters out there and I’m confi-
dent that today we could sign a guy today that could hit .260 with 15 home runs and knock in 65 to 70 runs,” said Dombrowski. “We’re waiting to see what comes together because once you sign a player he’s with you and we gotta make sure if that’s what were going to do, that it is the right move.” Following spring training, the Tigers open the season at Comerica Park when they open up against the Boston Red Sox. American League Cy Young Award Winner and league MVP Justin Verlander will be the opening day pitcher for the Tigers.
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8
Monday, January 23, 2012
Broncos prepare to skate in nationals
Katrina Murphy/Western Herald
Members of Western Michigan University’s synchronized skating team performs.
By katie Krausman Staff Reporter The competition’s getting harder, the focus is increasing, and the goals are becoming closer for one team here at Western. The WMU Synchronized Skating teams are nearing the end of their competitive season, having already competed in three competitions and skating at multiple home hockey games thus far. It may seem like the girls are almost done, but there are still big goals in the near future.
Both Western Michigan Skating teams, senior and collegiate level, have one more competition in the regular season where they can both qualify to skate at a National competition in Massachusetts. “So far I think that the season has gone really well for both teams. Collegiate has walked away with two medals so far, one being a gold! The senior team has also been doing very well, considering senior is the highest level in synchronized skating, the competition is extremely competitive. Our goal at
the senior level was just to improve our scores from previous competitions and so far we have done so,” said Jori Erlander, a skater on both the senior and collegiate teams and a junior at WMU. The girls must continue to make improvements over the next week before this next competition, which will be held, at Compuware Arena in Plymouth. This upcoming competition, the Midwestern & Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships, is the one competition out of the
season that is qualifying for the National Competition in Massachusetts so it is considered the most important competition of the girl’s synchronized skating season. “I think that we have worked extremely hard throughout the season so I am excited to see it pay off. If we continue to implement the changes and advice our coach has given us, I’m sure that we will see a great final outcome with the last and most important competitions in our season,” said Carley Mitchell, a freshman skater on the colle-
giate level team. Both teams plan on placing high at mids and earning the privilege to skate in Massachusetts for the National competition. “Last year our collegiate team earned a Nationals medal and we want the same thing to happen this year. I believe that if we keep working as hard as we are now, we can take home another National medal. For the senior division, if we place in the top 6 at nationals, we earn a spot on Team USA. This means that the following year our senior team
can represent the USA internationally. Although the competition is very hard at this level, I think that we could be top 6 this year at Nationals and earn that Team USA title back. Being able to compete against all of the best teams in the nation, and knowing that you are one of those great teams is a real privilege. This will be my 10th Synchronized Skating nationals and I am just as thrilled and honored as the first time I went,” said Erlander.