Jeff Caruana

Moving into the new millennium, the biggest push at Central Michigan Life was the shift towards multimedia and new-age journalism.

Some of the major events CM Life has covered since 2000 are 9/11, the Iraq war, the 2003 NCAA men’s basketball run, the DeMarcus Graham beating case and the January 2008 blackout that darkened Central Michigan University’s campus.

Chris Gautz, editor in chief of Central Michigan Life 2003-2004, was the last editor in chief to lead the newspaper in the basement of Anspach Hall.

“Towards the end we, realized we were part of history,” Gautz said.

The office in Anspach Hall was a cramped space with no windows. The news office was separated from everything else, Gautz said.

“If you hated air conditioning, you were great,” he said.

CM Life now is light years ahead of what it was then, Gautz said.

The years 2003 and 2004 were busy for news. The Iraq war started in 2003, and anti-war protests broke out at CMU. This happened around the same time when the men’s basketball team became a part of March Madness and beat Creighton University in the first round.

It was also a year for the 100th anniversary of CMU Basketball, Gautz said. Dan Majerle of the Phoenix Suns, along with others, returned to CMU.

The northeastern and midwestern United States were darkened by a massive power outage on Aug. 14, 2003.

On Sept. 7, 2003, a 18-year-old male was beaten unconscious after a Sigma Chi social. He was left to struggle for his life after he was head-stomped, according to the story published.

Gautz said big photos were used to draw attention, and on Oct. 15 the 9-1-1 call was published.

Gautz, business reporter for the Jackson Citizen Patriot, said the paper gets better every year.

“The goal is leave it in a better place than you got it in,” Gautz said.

Chad Livengood, editor-in-chief of CM Life in 2005, learned the basics from the basement of Anspach Hall, but moved on to the office in Moore Hall.

“One of the best things I learned at CM Life is how to cover a story inside and out,” he said.

Livengood worked on stories with the state budget and how it related to higher education.

Livengood is now a capitol and politics reporter at the Springfield News-Leader in Springfield, Mo.

CM Life is consistent in covering events to their fullest throughout the years, Livengood said.

“It was that way when we go there,” he said. “As long as there are good professors and curious students who want to tell the truth.”

Mark W. Smith, Web producer for the Detroit Free Press, was editor in chief of CM Life 2006-2007 and looked into several campus issues.

The CMU Promise began in 2005, but while Smith was editor, a loophole was found in the promise that did not allow fifth-year seniors to receive the promise. The issue was investigated by CM Life, and about 100 students were given back their money, Smith said.

Smith said they shot the first staff video at MAINstage that year to be posted on the Web site. That year, Smith pushed for the Web site to be updated at any time and have the news beat the print edition.

“Web mind set was the biggest factor,” Smith said.

The major change in the newspaper over the years is the attention given to the online product, said Paul Chaffee, editor and publisher at the Saginaw News and member of the Student Media Board of Directors.

“It’s been ahead of the professional community,” he said. “I’m certain CM Life will continue to be a leader on campuses.”

“Some things (at Central Michigan Life) haven’t changed at all,” Chaffee said. “We’ve been blessed with fine editors and very serious young journalists.”

news@cm-life.com

E-mail the author: Sarah Schuch