David Michael Brown, an education specialist with California’s Deaf-Blind Services who has given various lectures and training programs around the world, will speak at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony May 9 in Rose Arena. He also serves on advisory boards for organizations such as the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation and won professional awards such as the Star-In-CHARGE Award from the CHARGE Syndrome Association.

At 1:30 p.m., John Bonamego, a National Football League special teams coordinator for the Miami Dolphins, will take the podium. Bonamego has earned five divisional titles in 10 seasons in the NFL and is entering his second season with the Dolphins. Bonamego was a CMU wide receiver and quarterback and graduated from CMU in 1987 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree.

Though he has not been able to return to campus since 1993, Bonamego is both honored and excited to return to his alma mater.

“In my speech, I hope to give the students a brief guideline to life and to make their day just a little more memorable,” he said.

At 5 p.m. is Warren L. Miller, chairman of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad. He led projects toward the protection and preservation of historical sites in Central and Eastern Europe, including prominent Holocaust-remembrance projects.

“I plan to speak on public service and to inspire the listeners to want to do it,” Miller said. “I will also be talking about the Holocaust in hopes that my remarks will energize people to ask questions and look into how such a thing could have happened. It tells a universal message that I think they will find interesting.”

Commencement Coordinator Sharon Russell said the ceremonies are divided by degree and colleges, and there will be a different speaker for each of the three times.

“President Rao ultimately decides who to invite as a commencement speaker. He seeks input periodically from others, such as members of the Board of Trustees, provost, vice presidents, deans, alumni and faculty,” Russell said. “Potential speakers are invited as people who are successful in their chosen field and are likely to have a valuable message to deliver to CMU’s graduates.”

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Ashley Mitchell sometimes gets funny looks when she walks through Finch Fieldhouse.

That’s because instead of the usual green fatigues most Central Michigan University Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets wear, the Trenton sophomore wears Air Force blue.

Mitchell is the only student enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program at CMU.

“I’m sort of the odd-ball-out because I’m always wearing the Air Force blue uniform, so people might look at me funny, but I’ve always known I wanted this career, so I was glad that I could do it at CMU,” she said.

There is no fully established Air Force ROTC program at CMU because of a lack of participants, so CMU has been working alongside Michigan State University to create an opportunity for those who want to pursue the Air Force while on campus, said MSU instructor, Capt. Todd Jagodzinski.

“Due to a lack of advertisement, only one cadet from CMU is currently enrolled in the program, but this is our first push this year to get the word out about the new ‘cross-town’ agreement that allows students to participate from different campuses,” Jagodzinski said.

Mitchell does some of her training at CMU and takes her Air Force ROTC courses in East Lansing.

“I am able to do my physical training at Central, but then I drive to MSU once a week for all of my AFROTC classes” which last from 1 to 10:30 p.m. she said.

Lt. Col. Aaron Kalloch, chairman of CMU’s military science department, said it is unlikely CMU will get the support to begin an independent Air Force ROTC unit.

“I don’t foresee CMU ever having enough cadets to justify having their own Air Force program, but I do think what we have now is a good opportunity for students who desperately want to pursue something other than the Army,” he said.

Jagodzinksi said any CMU student interested can enroll in the Air Force ROTC program.

“Even though it may not be cost efficient for CMU to have their own program now, it only requires a trip to MSU once a week to be a part of our program.”

Schools like Western Michigan and Lansing Community College also are part of the agreement and send cadets to MSU to be a part of the larger Air Force ROTC program, Jagodzinski said.

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Several papers on the wall in the third floor hallway were set on fire, causing $170 worth of damage, said Herrig Residence Hall Director John Johnstin. Each student living on the floor will be charged $2 to help cover the costs of fixing the wall.

“I saw it, and it definitely didn’t look like $170 worth,” said Berkley freshman Robert Cameron. “There was a little discoloration around the room number sign, but nothing major.”

Johnstin said the $170 is just an estimate.

“We have to cover the cost of the custodial workers who cleaned it up and for the fresh paint,” he said. “The money won’t be due until the end of the year.”

Freshman Lauren Cetnar of Fraser lives in room 308, which is where the damage occurred.

“The night of the fire the wall outside our door was charred, but by the morning it was wiped off and it looked like a coat of paint would cover all of the damage,” Cetnar said.

Cameron was down the hall in room 315 that night and he agreed the damage seemed minor.

He also said a simple paint job would correct any of the remaining discoloration.

Most third floor residents didn’t seem too upset about the $2 fine they will all be required to pay.

“During the meeting about the arson, there was talk of someone not even from the third floor having caused the fire to begin with,” Centar said. “I think it is better that we all just cover the fine because then it’s not all pegged on one person.”

A reward still is being offered for information about who started the fire. The incident remains under investigation by the Central Michigan University Police. Anyone who may have information is urged to contact the CMU Police Department at 989-774-3081.

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New interdisciplinary graduate courses within CMU’s Master of Arts in Humanities degree program hope to provide a better understanding of Native American culture and issues.

Topics will include Native American history, contemporary culture, film, religion and indigenous literature.

Colleen Green, director of Native American Programs, said she is glad to see additions to CMU’s class offerings and the undergraduate interdisciplinary minor in American Indian studies.

“In general, I think it’s good to have more diversity here at Central and not just for Native Americans, but also African Americans and Latinos,” she said. “I love the fact that CMU started with adding Native American classes because we are on the historic reservation, so it’s a great opportunity.”

The classes will begin in the fall semester, according to Ronald Primeau, English Language and Literature professor and director of CMU’s Master of Arts in Humanities program.

Green, who is also a graduate student, plans to incorporate the new classes into her own degree as electives. She anticipates a large number of students wanting to be a part of the new courses being offered.

Josh Hudson, a Mount Pleasant sophomore and Bay Mills Indian Community member, said he believes the Native American-oriented classes he has taken at the undergraduate level have benefited him in learning about other Native American cultures and societies.

“I feel they are very important, especially since Central is close to very rich resources with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe,” he said. “I also feel that if Central emphasizes a relationship between a nation and the university, that it must educate its students about the culture of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) people.”

CMU requires an elementary education in the Ojibwe language for all American Indian Studies minors. However, Hudson would like to see more advanced classes offered in the future.

“Although there are a few classes offered, elementary competency is hard to attain because Ojibwe is such a complex language that requires many hours of listening,” he said.

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But what looks like a late start is actually right on schedule, said Registrar Karen Hutslar.

“It really isn’t a late start; we always begin the Monday after the university reopens,” she said. “Last year it reopened on Jan. 2, so we started on Jan. 7. This year, however, it reopens on Jan. 5, so we start that following Monday, which is Jan. 12. We also have to allow time before classes start for registration and for offices to do things before the start of term.”

Director of Media Relations Steve Smith said the starting date does not affect the amount of classes in the semester.

“The academic calendar is set in the contract between the Faculty Association and the university before each year,” Smith said.

Despite the agreements made, some staff and students would like to see changes to the schedule in the future.

English language and literature assistant professor Elizabeth Berriman has been working for Central Michigan University for about 18 years as a professor and in administration.

Berriman said the structure of the breaks should change.

“I think that there should be a break in the fall, even if it was just a week off, instead of a long winter break,” she said. “As it is, the students begin to drag and the Christmas break is long enough as it is.”

Killian Weston, an East Lansing sophomore, agreed.

“I’d much rather have a break in the fall semester like a lot of other colleges do because it seems like everyone is burned out by the time Christmas comes,” she said.

Others prefer the longer holiday break because it allows more time with family and provides extra time for resting between semesters.

Mount Pleasant senior Molly Brehm enjoys the current practice.

“I like the amount of time that we are given for Christmas break. I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t,” she said.

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“We have a Crisis Response Team with a number of individuals from various key areas around the campus, and we work together to come up with a plan that would respond to emergencies such as power outages, tornadoes, school closures and fires,” he said. “The whole idea is to be prepared if we have a crisis so we can respond appropriately.”

Faculty and staff learned Thursday in the Bovee University Center Auditorium about how to be prepared for a

crisis.

The CMU Campus Crisis Response Team and the Center for Personal Protection and Safety hosted the event to ensure everyone would know their specific roles in an emergency situation.

Dinius is part of the team that devised the plans of action.

“We are having the workshops because we want everybody to be prepared for any kind of crisis and because it’s better to be able to respond with a plan than to have people in a panic,” he said.

The programs also included videos on what to do about violence, gunmen and severe weather conditions.

Presenters talked about being prepared and everyone’s personal responsibilities in a crisis. Optional fire extinguisher training was available after the initial workshop.

A large number of the faculty and staff were included in the workshops. In the morning session, 202 people were registered to attend, and an

additional 168 signed up for the afternoon presentation, but others also attended.

Bridget Dunigan, Robinson Hall director, was glad to see these issues addressed.

“Every situation is unique, and training prepares us for the black-and-white situations, which isn’t what we always see in reality, but I think (the workshop) is a good start,” Dunigan said.

Superintendent of Building Services Brian Senn said the information covered in the meetings was vital to the university.

“I think this was a valuable use of our time because everyone needs to be informed for any kind of crisis,” he said.

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What requires ketchup, mustard and liability waivers?

A hot dog-eating contest, of course.

The ‘Top Dog Challenge’ was hosted by a group of five Central Michigan University students Wednesday evening at the Pixie, 302 N. Mission St.

It started as a charity project for RPL 430: Recreational Programming and it led to a hungry gathering of brave contestants.

One of the group leaders, Katie Talbert, explained how the event was created.

“All of the money we raise is going to the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen, so since our project dealt with food we decided on a hot dog-eating contest,” the Rochester Hills junior said. “The Pixie is known for its hot dogs and coney dogs, so we thought we’d host it there because it tied in well with the project.”

The group also sold T-shirts and collected change for the charity. After four rounds and about 80 hot dogs, four champions left the Pixie with gift certificates to local restaurants. The winners consumed three hot dogs the fastest.

In round one for the men, Jason Martin, a Waterford senior, started things off with a time of 1:38. Shepherd freshman Kara Pifer came in at 3:20 for the women’s round. Mike Harrier, an Alma senior in the faculty round had a 1:36 time. In the last round for the men Matt Mielock, a Saginaw sophomore, ended things with a record-breaking 37 seconds.

“I think I did pretty good,” Martin said. “The competition was weak in my round anyway.”

Pifer was right at home in the eating competition because it was not her first; she had taken home the gold in a pancake-eating contest in the past and felt prepared for this event.

“The trick is to start off slow, then down the last one really fast,” she said.

Regardless of who won, every contestant left with an “Ask Me About My Weiner” T-shirt. All proceeds went toward the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen, 621 S. Adams St.

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Program Board is hosting his performance from 8 to 9 p.m. today in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium.

Program Board President Matt Burza said Laney was a last-minute addition.

“On the Fly Productions had to move Hip Hop Week to September because of conflicting schedules with Homecoming and (Central/)Western Weekend, so we had to quickly find someone to fill the slot. But Laney’s style is perfect for this event because he had already performed in the Urban Comedy Festival. He’s a good fit,” Burza said.

Laney has performed for P. Diddy’s “Bad Boys of Comedy” and was an actor and executive producer of 2002′s “Pride and Loyalty.”

“Rodney is starting to get his name out there and he’s becoming a bigger comedian as the months go by. I truly believe all the students at CMU will enjoy his show and partake in the roaring laughter he is said to bring,” said Crysta Heckman, Program Board comedy chair and Pinconning sophomore.

Heckman believes he is a well-rounded comedian.

“Rodney has comedy about jobs, reality shows, medical topics, etc. . his comedy is something that students can relate to,” she said.

Lake Orion freshman Taylor Hammerl enjoys comedy shows but hasn’t seen one since Leadership Safari.

“I like that they are doing it on a weekday. Most students don’t stick around campus on the weekends, so it’s much more convenient that the comedy show is on a Monday night,” she said.

The performance is free for students and $5 for the public.

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