Central Michigan University Winter 2004 Cruising with Captain Jack RealReal people. people. Real degrees. Real Real CMU off-campus CMU is where you are You don’t have to come to Mount Pleasant to get a great education from your favorite university. CMU’s Off-Campus Programs offers: • More than 60 locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico • Local face-to-face classes at CMU centers nationwide • Online and print-based distance learning classes “I was able to earn my master’s CMU programs meet your needs degree in less We offer bachelor’s, master’s, specialist and doctorate degrees at CMU off- than a year.” campus sites or on the Web. You can also enroll in online non-credit professional development programs from CMU. Your local CMU center provides: Mike Roth MSA/IRM 1999 graduate • Evening and weekend classes • Compressed terms • Degree completion in about two years • Home delivery of textbooks and library materials • Library research and reference by phone, fax, e-mail and Web • Local academic advising Find out what CMU can do for you Call (877) 268-4636 to find out more about CMU off-campus programs. Visit us on the Web at cmuoffcampus.com or e-mail us at [email protected]. CMU is an AA/EO institution (see www.cmich.edu/aaeo). 10/04 Cover-New.indd 2 12/1/04 5:15:32 PM Executive Editor and Director of Alumni Relations Mary Lu Yardley, ’90 MSA ’92 Editor Barbara Sutherland Chovanec Assistant Editor VOLUME 74 • NUMBER 3 • WINTER 2004 Cynthia J. Drake Photographers Robert Barclay Peggy Brisbane Writers Fred Stabley Jr. Matt Schoch Design Director Stacy Simmer Graphic Designer Amy Gouin Alumni Board Communications Committee Daniel Bodene, ’78 Kevin Campbell, ’74 MA ’76 Thomas Olver, ’98 Shirley Posk, ’60 Judy Smith, ’65 For Advertising Information call Cindy Jacobs, ’93 (800) 358-6903 Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Michael Leto Associate Vice President for Public Relations and Marketing Rich Morrison Stay Connected On the cover Departments Send change of address information to: Alumni relations Jack Klang, ’57, retired from his career as a school 2 Letters Carlin Alumni House counselor and now teaches the finer points of Central Michigan University coastal cruising. 3 Take Five Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 Phone: (800) 358-6903 PHOTO By Robert BARCLAy 6 Discovery Fax: (989) 774-7159 E-mail: [email protected] Features Journeys Web: www.cmualum.com 8 Centralight is published three times each year by Central 14 Maroon and Gold Michigan University Office of Alumni Relations. It is 4 Captain Jack printed by IPC Print Services, St. Joseph, and entered at the St. Joseph post office under nonprofit mailing. 18 In Support CMU (an AA/EO institution) strongly and actively strives 10 Get a Move On! to increase diversity within its community (see: www. cmich.edu/aaeo/). CMU provides individuals with 28 Athletics disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate 12 The Making of an Alum, Chapter 3 in the activities, programs and services announced in this publication. Individuals with disabilities requiring an 42 Alumni in Action accommodation to participate in a program should call 30 Honor Roll of Donors the event sponsor. 47 In Memoriam 48 Last Shot Winter 2004 Centralight 1 LETTERS Photos were Favorite Feature Editor: I want you to know how very much I enjoyed the Family’s Central ConneCtion meltzer was stellar teaCher “Hands across CMU” photo essay in the fall issue. Such a nice variety of hands from a diverse campus. strong out oF state Editor: I’m sure it took a lot of time and hard work, but the result is outstanding. Thank you for sharing your Editor: Bernard Meltzer, consummate educator, superlative wonderful talents with us. Although our connection to Central Michigan only professor, and sociology department head, dates back two generations, it does span several profoundly impacted my life from 1965 to date. Louise Plachta states. Although I have benefited from many fine instructors, Mount Pleasant none were as stellar as he. Growing up in suburban Chicago we heard many Editor: I was hooked on sociology from day one of my first stories from our parents, Helen and Harvey your hands photos in the fall Centralight were Meltzer class, first semester, freshman year. I know Schroeder, ’59. We spent summers in Traverse City awesome! What a special treat to find. “Hands Dr. Meltzer wanted me to pursue graduate work with my parents’ CMU friends and a slew of Delta Across CMU” was my favorite feature of the in the field, but I was committed to being a public Sigma Tau offspring. magazine – how clever you are to capture life in school teacher. I now know the study of human action from such a unique angle. Congratulations on After I graduated from high school in 1979, my interaction, race and culture, socioeconomic issues, your creativity. family made the campus tours, visiting the requisite and societal Illinois choices and CMU. After a single visit to Mount institutions was the Connie (Veit) McCann, ’86 Pleasant, my choice became clear. In spite of the best preparation I Mount Pleasant fact Central’s study body was comprised of less than could have had for 2 percent out-of-state students and the fact that the the monumental Write to Centralight: tuition was nearly triple that of my fellow in-state task of teaching students, I became a Chippewa. for a year in Centralight wants to hear from you! We welcome Two years later my sister Julie (Schroeder) Germany and all letters from readers. Tell us your thoughts about Sovereign, ’85, struggled with a similar decision and 34 years, so far, Centralight articles or about CMU in general. after looking at several other prestigious Midwestern in an inner city Be sure to sign your letter with your full name and schools, she too became a Chippewa. By the time school setting. also include graduation year and degree, address, our baby sister, Carey (Schroeder) Compton, ’91, Dr. Meltzer not only taught sociology, but also and daytime phone number. Letters may be edited was ready for college her choice was fairly simple. modeled how to teach, always showing utmost for space and clarity. By then our family had renewed several old traditions respect to every student, having high standards and Mail letters to: and the six-hour trip to Mount Pleasant from Chicago high expectations, being firm but fair, and creating for football or basketball games was almost routine. meaningful exams. His impeccably prepared lectures Centralight Letters Now as a stay-at-home mom living in suburban included perfect anecdotal examples to clarify Public relations and marketing Indianapolis I am passing the tradition on to my concepts. I still have all my notes and papers from West Hall three girls. They’ve attended alumni events, worn his courses and peruse them periodically to reflect Central Michigan University CMU sweatshirts, and shaken maroon pompons and remember those many magical hours I spent Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 at sporting events when Central Michigan plays in absorbed in learning so much from this erudite but Letters also may be sent by fax to (989) 774-1098 Indiana. One of my fondest memories is a picture unassuming gentleman. or by e-mail to [email protected]. perfect fall day in Lafayette with a sellout crowd and Sharilyn (Allen) Coulson, ’69 the Chippewas playing the Purdue Boilermakers. My Mason Correction parents had made the trip from Traverse City, and football was in the air. Tristan Jones’ first name was spelled wrong in the “Common ground” story in the Fall 2004 Centralight. Teresa (Schroeder) Bennett, ’83 We regret the error. Fishers, Ind. 2 Centralight Winter 2004 Raw deal Living, enlarged Campus eateries at CMU recently rolled out sushi in CMU will have space for about 500 more students an effort to diversify nosh options. More than 2,000 to live on campus beginning in 2006 with the Politickin’ and underpants rolls of the Japanese delicacy are prepared every construction of two new, five-story residence halls The campus political climate sizzled in the fall as day. Sayonara, sandwiches! built adjacent to Woldt Hall. Almost 6,000 students politicians and their lackeys stopped at CMU to currently live in 20 halls, including three new halls woo the college vote, while students and faculty that opened last year. rumbled at various political forums. Notable visitors included left-wing filmmaker Michael Moore, Creativity takes stage whose visit stirred up pro-Bush picketers, and CNN commentator Torie Clarke, formerly of George Audiences marveled at the voices, music, dance, The internationally acclaimed Cashore Marionettes W. Bush’s cabinet, represented her Republican and art that all combined this fall to weave redefined the art of puppetry with moving and brethren. Both Clarke and Moore urged students narrative tales at the Michigan Story Festival. humorous performances that have astounded to vote – and Moore gave out new underwear as audiences throughout the world. They use The sharing of stories, from the great myths and inspiration, eliminating that oft-heard “nothing to touching portrayals and poignant scenes from legends of the world to the everyday stories of wear on Election Day” excuse. everyday life, set to classical music, to show what everyday people, helped festivalgoers see the it is to be human. human experience and the world in different ways. Comeback kids Team Chippewa cooked up a payback sandwich for The annual festival is hosted by CMU, the Mount arch rivals the Western Michigan University Broncos, Pleasant community, and the Saginaw Chippewa staging one of its greatest comebacks in school Indian Tribe. It features performances, exhibits, history to claim a 24-21 overtime football win in workshops, and lectures presented by experienced October.