Chris Tamlyn

So, we made it through 2008.

Sure, employers axed 2.6 million jobs, unemployment hit a 16-year record high and the financial sector went into an outright tailspin – but we made it.

What’s next? More pain, but also some cause for cheer.

At CMU

Tuition hits $350 per credit hour: For current freshmen, tuition is already $324 per credit hour – a 6.6 percent increase from last year.

Since we’re not likely to miraculously receive an influx in state funds or private donations – coupled with the financial strain of creating a medical school – tuition likely will increase again. The $350 mark is only an 8 percent increase.

The CMU Promise has ended, which should allow the Board of Trustees to spread around the financial burden rather than drop it on the backs of incoming students. Hopefully tuition will not see a double-digit hike.

Medical school partnerships arranged for Saginaw: CMU has free access to roughly 60 acres of land from Michigan Healthpark Development. The land is situated between two Saginaw hospitals, each offering distinct opportunities for medical school students.

And the ball is already rolling. Michigan Healthpark sent a proposal to University President Michael Rao and both hospitals. Expect the partnership to be finalized this year.

Judge sides with CMU: Though Rao received the go-ahead from the Board of Trustees last summer, development of a Holiday Inn on the Center for Applied Research and Technology hit a snag with a lawsuit from LaBelle Management LLC, which leases land, including a hotel, on the CART.

LaBelle claims it should have been consulted prior to CMU’s amendment of land restrictions, as required by a 2005 land covenant.

But LaBelle is a long-term tenant, not an owner. As the university noted, the argument relies on an unreasonably broad interpretation of ownership. Expect the lawsuit to run its course without harming the Holiday Inn’s prospects.

As for LaBelle’s other claim – that the Holiday Inn does not sufficiently support the CART’s mission as required by a 1985 covenant – ample academic partnerships should be adequate to debunk that charge.

State, national politics

Obama begins phased troop withdrawals from Iraq: Current estimates on Presidet-elect Barack Obama’s change.gov Web site indicate that, sans a residual force, the bulk of American troops in Iraq should be withdrawn by mid-2010.

Assuming that ground conditions do not suddenly deteriorate, 2009 should see a substantial reduction in troop levels in Iraq.

Obama’s stimulus package proves lackluster: There are two ways this could happen. One, Obama’s plan does not have the expected effect. Or, two, the package that survives Congress is inadequately drastic. I am concerned both will occur.

Though specifics have yet to be revealed, the package likely will contain some combination of tax cuts and public spending. But political sacrifices could render the package impotent. Obama’s economic advisers are urging him toward the $1 trillion mark. The problem is that such a costly plan may not necessarily be cost-effective; it may be laden instead with politically-appealing tax cuts that do not really spur spending.

Even if an ideal plan is passed, there are still doubts about its effectiveness. Obama is entering uncharted territory. The financial crisis, which is increasingly taking a global toll, may sharply limit what his administration can do. (Never mind Obama’s recent lofty statement that he will create or save three or four million jobs. We’ll see how that pans out.)

Public projects include Internet connectivity initiatives: Now for some possible good news. Obama’s creation of a chief technology officer, though now largely responsible for managing the change.gov Web site, reinforces his reputation as a technologically-savvy president. It is plausible that this officer will acquire a larger role.

Obama mentioned one of his objectives is to increase Internet access nationwide. Obama ought to place the CTO in charge of overseeing a massive expansion to ensure affordable Internet is easily available, with the long-term goal of making cheap broadband accessible nationwide.

This would fit perfectly within whatever public works projects he has up his sleeve. It’s not unreasonable to think that Obama correctly believes investment in digital infrastructure is more important now than ever.

Granholm keeps higher ed funding steady: CMU wants more money. The university probably won’t get it. Nevertheless, it would look extraordinarily foolish to reduce funding for public universities – especially given the need to reeducate an unemployed manufacturing workforce. Public pressure alone should keep Michigan from lowering higher education allocations.

SPORTS

Football team wins MAC championship: After three-straight losses at the end of the football season in 2008, coach Butch Jones and will-be senior quarterback Dan LeFevour will come back to Kelly/Shorts Stadium with something to prove.

A few tough matches early on in the schedule – Michigan State, Arizona and Boston College – will end in losses for the Chippewas, but they will dominate the Mid-American Conference. Close matches again will be against Ball State and Western Michigan, and for the first time, in what will be three seasons, CMU will beat Eastern Michigan.

And yes, a bowl game is in our future.

For the first time in three seasons, LeFevour will not lead the team in rushing yards. We say the player to watch is redshirt freshman Jahleel Addae.

LeFevour also will be guaranteed a spot in the NFL draft. It’s been a long time coming, and nobody should be surprised to see his name on the list. And for the sake of saying it, let’s throw the Detroit Lions something. We predict at least a 1-15 season under new management.

On a non-football note, the wrestling team will continue to win. Period. The team remains atop the MAC and continues to rank high nationally. CMU wrestling will rank in the top eight at the national NCAA tournament despite a rebuiding season in 2009.

The wrestling team also will feature four All-Americans, including newcomer and freshman Scotti Sentes at the 125-pound weight class.

WRITE A LETTER

Think I’m entirely off-base in my predictions? Have some better estimates of your own? E-mail them to cm.life.opinion@gmail.com to print in upcoming issues of Central Michigan Life.

Oh, and one final prediction: Abe Vigoda is still alive.

Editor in Chief Jake May contributed to this report.

cm.life.opinion@gmail.com

E-mail the author: Brian McLean