On a typical Thursday night, Brad Sjoquist is at St. Mary’s Catholic Parish, kneeling among his peers while leading them in the Rosary.

The weekly gathering of the Catholic fellowship group is practice for what he will devote his life to.

In May, the Student Government Association vice president will graduate with Spanish and psychology majors and a philosophy minor. Afterward, he plans to go on to study to become a priest at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He currently is in the process of being accepted.

“That is sort of where I’ll be the happiest right now,” the Kingsford senior said. “My faith is really what animates me.”

Religion a top priority

Sjoquist has spent a lot of time contemplating his decision and in the end, its pros outweighs the cons, he said.

As a priest, Sjoquist would be working with people during their happiest and saddest moments. Investing in people, whether making time to have lunch with good friends or praying for those around him, is what fuels Sjoquist.

The Rev. Will Prospero at St. Mary’s said Sjoquist possesses such qualities as humility and makes an effort to get to know and see God in all people. Sjoquist also has a generous spirit, and volunteers within the parish, he said.

“A man of his gifts could be intimating to some people. He’s humble,” Prospero said. “He truly has the heart of a servant.”

Sjoquist considered attending law school before deciding to go into the seminary. However, as much as he considered other options, he knew neither choice would make him as happy in the long run.

Close friend and roommate Sean Nolan said he was not surprised by Sjoquist’s decision.

“I think that is a big part of who Brad is,” the Muskegon senior said.

Sjoquist has had a great effect on those around him, including Nolan.

Nolan said Sjoquist helped him grow as a Catholic by praying together, encouraging him to go to confession and simply answering questions that Nolan had.

“He pushes in a good kind of way. It’s encouraging,” Nolan said.

Before coming to Central Michigan University, Sjoquist deliberated about going into the seminary right out of high school. But after receiving the Centralis Scholar Award – a full-ride scholarship – he decided to attend CMU.

“Central was one of the last places I wanted to come,” Sjoquist said. “It turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made.”

Stepping up as a student

Sjoquist has been active since he stepped on campus. He has gotten involved with SGA, Students for Life, Knights of Columbus and Corpus Christi Catholic Fellowship. He also is an Honors student with a 3.95 grade point average.

He also has been the largely-heard student voice in the Academic Senate, in which he has participated on and off since his sophomore year.

During his years on the senate and semester on the General Education Council, he has become an expert in the topic of general education.

He is outspoken about general education, an issue that won’t have any effect on his education, he said. He suspects he even has a few enemies within the Academic Senate for being so passionate about the subject.

“I think somebody has to be looking out for students’ interest,” he said. “I understand what it’s like being a student scheduling for classes.”

With the fight for a justifiable cause comes the after-effects, and Sjoquist knows all about the overwhelming urge to bang his head against the wall after a meeting.

“I think part of it, in my frustration, is I want to see something happen,” he said.

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A trophy.

Both Central Michigan University and Western Michigan Universitys have teamed up to create a trophy that will be passed between the two schools.

Tony Voisin, director of Student Life, said the trophy adds pomp and circumstance to the game and rivalry.

“It’s going to be fun to have some of that celebratory pageantry,” Voisin said.

The trophy consists of a brass cannon on top of a wooden base. Two sides of the trophy are labeled with the universities’ names and engraved with the years each team won.

Voisin said there have been conversations about a trophy for the past few years and a group was put together to come up with ideas. A cannon was chosen, he said.

“They agreed the cannon would make the most sense because both universities fire off a cannon,” Voisin said. “That was the one that both student bodies were in support of.”

Paul Pridgeon, Montgomery senior and Student Gov’t Association president, said although the game has always been a big deal, the trophy will add to it.

“It becomes a symbol of the game that extends year to year,” Pridgeon said.

Mike Dabbs, assistant director of marketing for the athletics department, said the trophy will debut Friday during a pep rally.

Last year, a Facebook group, “The Battle for the Saddle,” was started to gain support for a trophy.

Voisin said the trophy cost about $800 and SGA and WMU’s student government associations will split the cost.

The trophy does not have an official name yet.

CMU and WMU are not the first universities to have traveling trophies. Some of the more well-known trophies include the Megaphone for Notre Dame vs. Michigan State University, the Little Brown Jug for University of Michigan vs. University of Minnesota and Paul Bunyan’s Axe for the University of Wisconsin vs. Minnesota battle, to list a few.

Student Section

Kelly/Shorts Stadium’s student section will not have a name this season.

The SGA is scrapping its quest for a name until next school year.

Pridgeon said after starting the search, SGA and the athletics department were busy with Homecoming and Central/Western Weekend and not enough time and attention could be dedicated to the student section.

“It’s too much to try to get done before three football games,” Pridgeon said.

SGA and the athletics department originally wanted to name the student section by the Sept. 27 football game against University of Buffalo.

Kelly/Shorts Stadium would not have been the only college football stadium with a named student section. Michigan State University’s Spartan Stadium has the Corner Blitz.

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According to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, Isabella County’s unemployment rate for August ranks third lowest in the state, at 6.1 percent.

And there’s a reason it’s low compared to other counties in the state.

“Employment is less dependent on manufacturing,” said Paul Natke, economics department chairman.

Natke said it’s usually lower than the state average because the county’s employment is less dependent on manufacturing jobs. The county has avoided the manufacturing job loss, because most jobs in the county are in the service sector, he said.

The county’s biggest employers are the Soaring Eagle Casino, 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd., and Central Michigan University, along with various governmental agencies, Natke said.

Dennis Dunlap, regional career technical education administrator for the Gratiot/Isabella Regional Education Service District, said the county has a large student population who aren’t counted.

Last week, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth announced the state’s unemployment rate increased to 8.9 percent in August after remaining the same for the previous three months. The rate jumped 0.4 percent from July and 1.7 percent from August 2007.

Total employment throughout the state fell by 36,000 in August.

Although the county’s jobless rate is relatively low compared to the state – a 2.8 percent difference – Dunlap said the county’s unemployment is still a problem.

Dunlap said the ability for businesses to locate in local communities needs to be easier and more attractive. And because the manufacturing business requires different skill sets and higher education, would-be-workers need training.

“Manufacturing does not look like it did 20 years ago,” he said. “You have to have more than a high school diploma now to compete in the job market.”

However, as the state’s unemployment rate is expected to continue rising, Natke doesn’t think the county will see the kind of numbers other counties are experiencing.

“I think we’re still going to have a relatively low unemployment rate,” Natke said.

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Jeff Hyames, assistant director of career development, will speak from 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. in Powers Hall Room 136 about building résumés during the Leadership Institution’s first Leadership Luncheon Series of the semester.

Hyames will cover the fundamentals of résumé building, molding experiences into résumé material and impressing employers, said Kelly Morse, co-coordinator for the luncheon series.

“Either way it’s a great thing to come out to,” the Constantine senior said. “You get some leadership and free food.”

Morse said students can take the skills they learn from attending the series and apply them in group settings. The skills also help when serving as a role model, she said.

“You can apply leadership to every aspect in your life,” Morse said.

Freeland junior Eric Johnson has attended a couple luncheon series events, and said his favorite part is hearing the real-life stories.

“We’re always told to get involved, hearing someone come back and say this actually helped me out,” Johnson said. “It was encouraging. That got me kind of pumped up.”

Johnson also is involved with the Leadership Institute and serves as the leader advancement scholarship coordinator.

Students who attend the series have a chance to meet other students and make connections with them, Johnson said.

In past years the series has had numerous guest speakers, including Head Football Coach Butch Jones.

“It ended up being a huge hit,” Morse said.

She said the series brings in people from different areas.

“We try to cover all different realms of leadership,” Morse said. “We kind of cater to what they told us they wanted.”

Morse said she would like to have Men’s Basketball Coach Ernie Zeigler speak next semester.

Students in need of some help on their résumés can attend. The event is open to everyone – students and staff.

“We really also want to branch out to students who aren’t taking those leadership classes as well,” Morse said.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling the Leadership Institute at 774-1909.

As of Friday afternoon, Morse said about 25 seats were already reserved.

“Sometimes depending on the speaker it may fill up fast,” she said.

Two other luncheon series are scheduled for the semester, including a Target representative who will speak about leadership in business and Ann Jay, director of dietetic internships.

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Flat Rock junior Andrew Hickman said he was mostly impressed with newly elected senators Flat Rock freshman Sean Gillaspie, Mount Pleasant freshman Matthew Green and Fenton sophomore Alyson Zimbler.

In addition to Gillaspie, Green and Zimbler, the positions were also filled by Monroe freshman Gabby Webb, Bay City sophomore Zach Peterson, Williamston freshman Matt Lutzke and Hesperia freshman Killian Richeson.

SGA Senator Andrew Hickman believes the newly elected SGA senators will be successful in their new positions.

And the Flat Rock junior sees a quality in some of the senators that he says is hard to find.

“They weren’t scripted. They went up there and spoke from their heart,” Hickman said. “Some of them will go above and beyond their jobs.”

Richeson said he is excited to be elected and wants not only to be involved with SGA to be a part of something big, but also to serve as a representative.

“I care about representing my fellow students and demographics,” Richeson said.

Lauren Elias, a Lake Orion sophomore and SGA Senate leader, said although only seven of the eight positions were filled, she is excited to have the new senators. The senators seem to be enthusiastic about their new positions, she said.

“I think they’re really motivated. I kind of think they’ll hit the ground running,” Elias said.

Saginaw sophomore and House Representative John Ketchum liked the fact that Green has a connection to the university – his mom is Associate Vice President of Institutional Diversity Denise Green – and said he carried himself well and didn’t promise anything he couldn’t accomplish.

“He spoke in a way everyone could relate to,” Ketchum said.

Michael Green said he can relate to many people, because he has traveled to several states and attended many different schools.

The open senate position will be filled at SGA’s next general board meeting, which has yet to be scheduled.

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Central Michigan University is one of the more than 100 universities and college campuses featured on the new Web site, Ucrime.com.

The Web site, which debuted about a month ago, is a crime-mapping service that generates crime incident maps.

Colin Drane, founder of Ucrime.com, said the Web site gives those who are interested – students, parents and university officials – better access to crime information.

“We’re doing it for everybody,” Drane said. “We just think the data should be public for everybody.”

CMU Chief of Police Stan Dinius hadn’t heard about the Web site, but he said it could be useful.

“Certainly any kind of information that is valid and shows when and where the information is, is helpful,” he said.

User-reported crimes also can be posted on the Web site, and an icon is used to designate that the crime is unverified. Users can check for specific types of crime, such as arson, burglary and shootings by clicking on the tabs on the side.

The site has documented crimes at other colleges around Michigan, such as Oakland Community College, Eastern Michigan University and Grand Valley State University.

Drane said the Web site is updated often with information from public records. However, how often it is updated is limited to what and when police departments release information, he said.

Dinius said a map locating the crimes would be more useful in a larger city. From a citizen’s standpoint, it is nice to know, he said.

“If you’re in a larger city where there is a lot of crime, that map might be useful,” Dinius said. “Here when we see trends we see them obviously.”

Eric Johnson, history professor and an expert in the history of crimes in cities, said parents might find the Web site useful because it shows what the crime is like at the featured universities.

For parents who aren’t familiar with the college their children are or will be attending, the Web site gives some insight as to what areas of campus are more dangerous than others, he said.

“This would be useful if you send your kids there and you’ve never been there,” Johnson said. “It’s good to know where you really want to avoid.”

Johnson, who visited the Web site, said it is neat, although it is missing a lot of higher education institutions, including Wayne State University.

“They tend to have the biggest universities on it and points to where things are,” he said.

Although not featured as a map, CMU Police does post incident reports and complaints on its Web site, police.cmich.edu.

Anyone interested in viewing where crime has taken place on campus can visit Ucrime.com and search “Central Michigan University.”

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It has been almost 20 years since Said J. Al-Qahtani was a student at
CMU, but he said he can still remember the layout of the campus and
Mount Pleasant.

He can easily recall Mission Street and Kroger Food and Pharmacy,
4080 E. Bluegrass Road. He remembers Ronan Hall, CMU’s former library,
where he spent most of his time studying and staring out the window at
the snow falling.

Al-Qahtani graduated from CMU in 1986 as an international student
from Saudi Arabia.

He chose CMU because of the good reputation Michigan schools have in
his country.

“American people, they are friendly,” he said. “Compared to other
nations they are completely different.”

Now married with six children, he since has moved back to the Middle
East, working for his country and Saudi Basic Industrial Corp., where
he is executive director and shareholder of Consolidated Mining Co. Ltd.

His line of work demands a lot of travel, and Al-Qahtani has been
all over the world, including Europe and Africa. He has met numerous
people, but said he is most fond of Americans.

He said he appreciates Michigan’s climate and geography. He said he
loves the snow, unlike many Michiganians, and described the state as
“beautiful.”

“I see Mount Pleasant as my second home,” he said. “It is my dream
to have a little house for vacation.”

Currently, two of his children are taking English Language
Institute classes at CMU.

“He (Said Al-Qahtani) said there are good schools to learn English,”
Abdulaziz said. “And good people.”

The brothers were quick to make friends, despite the limited amount
of English both speak.

Abdulaziz said he already loves Mount Pleasant and the different
culture it has to offer.

Some fatherly advice Al-Qahtani recommend was that they get their
degree, be involved and take full advantage of being in a modern
society.

“I want them to be good examples for our country,” Al-Qahtani said.

CMU made quite an impression on Al-Qahtani.

Before he left campus he made sure to buy a CMU sticker to place on
his car window in Saudi Arabia. He also expressed the gratitude he has
for the Office of International Education staff and faculty and said he
wished CMU could offer classes in Saudi Arabia.

The contest will be used to observe the 12th annual Spay Day USA on
Feb. 28, 2006, sponsored by the Doris Day Animal Foundation.

There are guidelines for the essay.

The topics consist of health benefits of spaying/neutering pets, pet
owner benefits by spaying and neutering, reducing animal suffering by
spaying/neutering and how spaying/neutering improves communities and
saves taxes.

“For this year, we are leaving the style and form of the essay to be
chosen by the writer. The essay can be personal, informative,
research-based and persuasive,” said Stephanie Dueweke, Algonac
sophomore and HATS of CMU president.

The essay’s statistical information must be used from the HATS of
CMU Web site.

Finally, the essay must be between 900 to 1,000 words.

“Without statistics, the scope of the seriousness of the problem
cannot be grasped,” said Carol Smallwood, Mount Pleasant senior and
HATS board member.

Prizes include $200 for first place winners, $120 for second place
and $80 for third place.

Two honorable mentions will receive $50 worth of dance packages at
Toni’s Dance Studio, 5920 E. Broadway Rd. All prizes and money were
donated.

All essays will be judged by members of the HATS, and volunteer
Rochelle Harris, assistant professor of English, is the contest faculty
judge.

“We are so grateful for it. Dr. Harris has a clear passion for
animals, and will provide a great insight in judging the essays,”
Dueweke said.

This is the first time that the essay contest has been offered by
HATS of CMU, but Smallwood said she is confident of the turnout.

“We believe the five prizes will be an incentive,” Smallwood said.

The winners are also eligible to have their work printed on the HATS
Web site and newsletter.

The first place essay will be submitted to local newspapers and
animal organizations.

Entries must be e-mailed to hatsofcmu@hotmail.com with “contest” in
the subject line. Students must have them in by Feb. 17.

More information concerning the contest can be found on the HATS Web
site at www.hatsweb.org.

The students whose works are presented in the exhibition are
Williamsburg senior Theresa Taylor, St. Charles senior Angela Hayes,
Midland senior Christian Harger and Bloomfield senior Jacob Weibel.

“It’s a great feeling to have my work up in the gallery. The show is
a great culmination for all my work here at Central,” Hayes said.

The multimedia exhibition features photographs, oil paintings on
canvas, mixed media printmaking and installation art.

The BFA Exhibition class is required for Bachelor of Fine Arts
students. The class focuses on how to write an artist statement,
resume, letter of intent and thesis. In addition, it includes the art
exhibition of their work.

“Basically it’s their last hoorah before they graduate,” said
Kathleen Ives, Sand Lake sophomore and University Art Gallery assistant.

Admission is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and noon to 7 p.m.
Wednesdays.

The gallery is closed weekends and during breaks. For more
information on the exhibit, call 774-3800.

The event is hosted by the CMU Program Board.

Students interested must pick up tickets in the Program Board office
or Office of Student Life located on the lower level of the Bovee
University Center. Tickets do not guarantee admission.

“I would assume that we would sell out as we normally do,”
said Jack Schuett, Redford senior and Program Board president.

Seating is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. About 450
students will be allowed in. Students are advised to arrive at the
theater roughly a half-hour early.

“It’s a free movie, and why wouldn’t you go,” said Jessica Kreuyer,
Program Board member and Grandville junior.

Schuett said students should attend the movie.

“It’s a free show to go to and relax before finals.” he said.

Schuett also said the movie is one of the funnier ones shown.

“Grandma’s Boy” is co-executive produced by Adam Sandler and stars
Doris Roberts, Shirley Jones, Shirley Knight and Kevin Nealon.

The movie, which will be released Jan. 6, 2006, tells the story of a
video game tester (Allen Covert) who must move in with his grandmother
(Roberts) and her roommates (Jones and Knight). The film is R-rated.