centralightcentral michigan university alumni magazine summer 2009 Getting aheadpage 16 At the Capitol Join interns in Lansing Fashion forward Meet designer Lauren Lein Access to education Consider the need for change centralight summer 2009 on the cover Getting ahead Gain tips and inspiration for marketing yourself. Cover photograph by Robert Barclay 16 22 features 2 14 Summer picks Images of a president Look forward to a good summertime See CMU President Michael Rao’s legacy read with these recommendations. as he prepares to say goodbye. 7 22 Lauren Future heads of state Meet Chicago fashion designer Lauren Lein. Learn how 35 CMU students experienced life at the Michigan Capitol. 12 Exclusive in America Consider why higher education in America must change. 10 Executive Editor and Executive Director of Alumni Relations Mary Lu Yardley, ’90 MSA ’92 departments Editor 2 Your Voice Barbara Sutherland Chovanec 4 CMU Today Photographers Say goodbye to a CMU dean; celebrate Robert Barclay Michigan newspaper history; learn Peggy Brisbane about a student project to benefit a Graphic designer local women’s shelter; and more. Amy Gouin 6 Up Close With … Writers Civil rights activist Julian Bond. Sarah Chuby, ’03 26 Sports Dan Digmann Catch up on athletics highlights, Alex Piazza, ’08 and celebrate an unexpected Kelli Rex wrestling season. Scott Rex 28 Giving Communications committee Education Building project wraps Jeffrey L. Benjamin, ‘86 up; Abel endowment supports Kevin Campbell, ’74 MA ’76 lecture series. Raymond Jones, ’73 MA ’80 Shirley Posk, ’60 31 Connections Kevin H. Richman, ‘93 Your alumni association source. Vice President of Development 35 Alumni News and Alumni Relations 39 In Memory 28 Michael Leto 40 I Am Central Associate Vice President for Public Relations and Marketing Renée Walker, ‘00 For advertising information Call Cindy Jacobs, ’93 800-358-6903 stay connected Send change of address information to: Alumni Relations Carlin Alumni House Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 Phone: 800-358-6903 Fax: 989-774-7159 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.cmualum.com Centralight is published four times each year by the Central Michigan University Office of Alumni Relations. It is printed by Village Press Inc., Traverse City, and entered at the 7 Traverse City Post Office under nonprofit mailing. CMU (an AA/EO institution) strongly and actively strives to increase diversity within its community (see www.cmich.edu/aaeo). CMU provides individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in the activities, programs and services announced in this publication. Individuals with disabilities requiring an accommodation to participate in a program should call the event sponsor. PRM 8138 – 26,000 (5/09) centralight summer ’09 1 Your Voice Embryo rights and adult rights can’t be compared Write to us Centralight wants to hear from EDITOR: In reference to the article “Embryonic stem you! We welcome all letters from cells – offering the hope for cures” in the spring readers. Tell us your thoughts issue of Centralight, I take issue with professor about Centralight content or Fuller’s statement: “Being a potential person doesn’t about CMU in general. give someone the rights of an actual person any more than a child’s being a potential adult gives Include your full name, address him or her adult rights….” There’s no comparison! and phone number. If an alumnus, If a potential person isn’t allowed to live, he or she also include degree and year of won’t ever have any rights. A child only has to live Schoolhouse story degree. Letters may be edited for and grow up to be given “adult rights, such as the brought memories space and clarity. right to vote.” (Fuller’s words.) I hardly consider EDITOR: It was with interest that I read WRITE the right to live on a par with the right to vote. your article “One room, many lessons” Centralight Letters I am glad to see that more progress is being made in the most recent issue of Centralight. Public Relations and Marketing in adult stem cell research, and I trust that in time My mother was a teacher in a country West Hall there will be more practical applications. school, as well as a graduate of Central Central Michigan University Michigan College of Education. I have Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 I enjoy reading Centralight. The special projects that a copy of one of her contracts dated students are involved in these days are very interesting. June 21, 1944. It is an interesting E-MAIL So much more is happening than when I was a student! document when one considers that my [email protected] Helen (Lehto) Dorcey, ’57 MA ’89 mother’s pay was $150 per month. FAX Farwell, Mich. Chuck Higgins, ’59 989-774-1098 Lake City, Mich. Summer picks Ah, summer. It’s almost time to settle into a lounge chair and immerse yourself Stan Shingles, University Recreation director in a good book. CMU faculty and staff and CMU Sports Network football lend their recommendations. commentator: Tom Moore, CMU Libraries dean: This is one of the most recent books I have read “American Chica” by Marie Arana, the speaker and recommend: “Dreams from My Father: A for the June 6 Friends of the Libraries Story of Race and Inheritance” by Barack Obama. Luncheon. It explores the complexities of Sandra Snow, English Language and Literature Arana’s childhood spent in both Peru and the faculty member: United States and the issues of identity “The Girl with the Pearl Earring” by Tracy provoked by a youth spanning two cultures. Chevalier. It’s a great period piece, written from John Palen, Journalism faculty member: the perspective of the female servant who learns I really like the “Penguin Lives” series of short biographies. to think like an artist. It is a luscious read. In addition to being brief – most under 200 pages – they are Marcy Taylor, English Language and Literature chairwoman: well-written. Favorite titles so far: “Buddha” by Karen Armstrong, “Impotent,” the newest novel by Matthew Roberson, a creative “Crazy Horse” by Larry McMurtry, “Mao Zedong” by Jonathan writing professor at CMU. Also “American Prophet” the newest Spence and “Robert E. Lee” by Roy Blount Jr. poetry collection by Robert Fanning, a new assistant professor Bill Pretzer, Museum of Cultural and Natural History director: of creative writing at CMU. “Pompeii: A Novel” by Robert Harris. This work of historical fiction Kris Yesley, English Language presents the story like an episode of “CSI” meets “Mythbusters,” as and Literature faculty member: Harris follows one of the engineers of the Roman aquaduct system “Purple Hibiscus” and “Half of a as he seeks to determine why the city’s water is heating up just Yellow Sun” by Chimamanda Ngozi prior to the cataclysm. Adichie. Chimamanda is a Nigerian Shawna Ross, Volunteer Center director: writer whose work is not hugely “The Age of Innocence” by Edith Wharton. Classic, romantic, popular yet, so not a lot of people summertime reading: the setting is early 20th century and includes may know about these books, but the old upper-class New York characters who want to bust out of the writing is fine. the conventional norms of polite society and show their true emotions. Also, I am a certified “foodie” and loved the drama of Anthony Bourdain’s book, “Kitchen Confidential.” 2 centralight summer ’09 Join other alumni and discover the many benefits of being a Gold Member of the CMU Alumni Association. As a Gold Member you’ll: • Strengthen your CMU pride when you receive regular news updates • Stay connected with some of the more than 172,000 CMU alumni worldwide who participate in InCircle, CMU’s online networking service • Help us – through your annual $35 membership – to host Homecoming events and other alumni programs throughout the year • Receive discounts on purchases, such as airfare, car rentals, tickets at the Palace of Auburn Hills and DTE Energy Music Theater, and merchandise at the CMU Bookstore Start enjoying the benefits of your CMU Gold Membership today! cmualum.com Celebrate CMU is an AA/EO institution (see www.cmich.edu/aaeo). Maroon andGold CMU Today CMU remembers Karen Adams Leadership changes Members of the CMU community forever will remember Karen Mike Leto, CMU vice president of Adams, dean of the College of Education and Human Services development and alumni relations, has since 2003, as an inspirational visionary leader. Adams died been named the new vice chancellor for April 7 at MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland. She was 58. development and alumni relations at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “She used her tremendous talent Under Leto’s leadership, the amount of money to help CMU create raised through fundraising for CMU nearly tripled. many innovative He led the university’s first capital campaign and also fundraising programs such as the projects for the construction of the Health Professions Building, the Alternate Route to Education Building, expansion of the CMU Biological Station on Teacher Certification Beaver Island and creation of the Women’s Connection scholarship program,” says program. He increased new endowments by more than 300 and President Michael Rao. helped boost gifts from CMU faculty and staff to record levels. “Her lasting impact “I cherish the relationships I have built at CMU and the support, on the university talent and dedication of the development and alumni relations will be the visionary staff,” Leto says. “I know that they will continue to serve CMU well.” academic design of the new Education Ted Tolcher, assistant vice president for planned and major gifts, Building, which will has been named interim vice president of development and forever enhance the alumni relations. university’s teacher education program.” Trustee news: • CMU Trustees appointed Kathy Wilbur interim CMU president An avid traveler effective July 1 while a search is conducted to fill the vacancy who visited 103 left by President Michael Rao, who will become president of countries in her Virginia Commonwealth University.