Greek Life at Central Michigan University has got a new look to it.

Their new Web site cmugreeks.com was started Monday to update their older Web site which Tom Idema, assistant director of Student Life, said wasn’t easy to deal with.

“We just needed a new Web site. We are now able to make changes and updates (quickly) that keeps everyone better informed,” he said.

Idema said with this new Web site not only greeks but perspective greeks can reap the benefits.

“It’s a functional, usable in the center of Greek life,” Idema said.

Lauren Elias, Greek Life assistant, said she is happy with the new Web site.

“It’s very updated, more than the old Web site,” she said. “It’s organized and much cleaner.”

Idema said as soon as the fall semester starts the Web site will be constantly working with updates on events as well as general news for Greeks.

“We will be able to do spotlights, news articles on certain chapters and students,” Idema said. “There is a lot of functionality which is great.”

Idema said the Web site was created by a group that created a Facebook application for sorority recruitment.

The Web site has everything from lists of Greek organizations as well as pictures of their houses, information for parents as well as alumni.

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Central Michigan University students won’t get the chance to see Zach Galifianakis on Oct. 16 as expected.

Galifianakis, star of the recent box-office hit, ‘The Hangover,’ was contracted by Program Board to perform at Finch Fieldhouse at 8 p.m. but was forced to cancel because of a movie he will be filming during the entire month of October, said Program Board President Dave Breed.

Breed, a Muskegeon junior, said Program Board was disappointed to hear Galifianakis had to cancel.

“He signed to do a new movie so he had to pull the show,” Breed said. “Just unlucky circumstances.”

Breed said the search has already began to replace Galifianakis, who was going to make $40,000 for his show.

“We are looking for someone who will be popular among students,” he said. “We have quite a few possibilities in varying price ranges.”

Breed said they are looking for comedians for around the same time as Galifianakis’ October show was scheduled.

“As of right now, (we are looking for) schedules in most of October,” he said.

In a Facebook message sent to followers of the Program Board 09-10 events group, Breed said the replacement for Galifianakis will be a good one.

“Though, we are already working on finding another comedian to take his place and have several good possibilities. You will surely not be disappointed when the new show is announced,” the message from Breed said.

In Galifianakis’ contract, it was said tickets would be sold to students, faculty and staff at a rate $10 and $15 while tickets for the public would be $20 and $25.

CMU was also planning on providing either a grand piano or baby grand piano for the show.

The agreement, which was signed in early June allowed Galifianakis until 30 days before the show to cancel, therefore CMU will get back its deposit.

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Central Michigan University students interested in joining any Greek organization will have to get used to some new changes to the academic system.

Tom Idema, assistant director of Student Life, said CMU is instituting a program this fall requiring students joining Greek organizations to have a minimum grade point average of 2.5.

Idema said it’s not so different from what many Greeks had before but now it will be enforced.

“Students would come in saying, ‘hey, I’ve been invited to join’ and we would look at their GPA and (it would be under 2.5 GPA) so we would call the national organization and they would say ‘just take the person,’” he said.

Incoming freshmen who wish to join a Greek organization will rely on their high school GPA in order to join, said Greek Life Assistant Lauren Elias.

The Clarkston junior likes this policy because it will create standards for all Greeks, not just most.

“It keeps the focus on academics and keeps groups accountable,” she said. “Most organizations already have it so it only affects a small group.”

Students already in Greek organizations will be grandfathered in, but Idema said there will be expectations for them to keep their grades up, too.

He said a new plan will be instituted to make sure organizations are continuing to focus on academics rather than just their organization.

All Greek organizations will also be required to keep a group GPA of 2.5. Idema said only four Greek organizations of more than 20 have been under that mark out of the last three semesters.

The new plan will put groups in violation on academic probation for one semester.

“That’s more of a warning to the organizations,” he said.

If the organization still is under a 2.5 GPA in the semester following the probation, they will then be suspended from the university.

“They will be shut down, they aren’t focusing and (would) no longer be an asset,” Idema said.

Chelsea Belote, Panhellenic Council executive president, thinks the rules are a good idea.

“I think it’s obtainable, I don’t think it will affect anyone negatively,” the Rochester senior said. “It helps keep everyone accountable. (Academics) is why we are at school.”

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Rapper Fabolous will be starting the annual hip-hop week off with a bang when he comes to perform at Central Michigan University.

Fabolous will be performing Sept. 19 at Rose Arena.

David Breed, president of Program Board, said bringing Fabolous was a good idea because he is someone people in the hip-hop community are talking about.

“He has a new album that came out a few days ago and it went straight to number one on iTunes,” the Muskegeon junior said. “It’s relevant for us.”

“Loso’s Way,” Fabolous’ new album has much inspiration from the movie “Carlito’s Way” and was released on July 28. As of the week of August 3, the album was number two on iTunes.

Before “Loso’s Way” Fabolous’ album “From Nothin’ to Somethin’” gained much attention as it jumped to Billboard’s Top 200 Top Rap album and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, the album was later certified to gold in July 2007.

Breed said since the show will be at Rose Arena, they will be trying to get as many people as can come there.

“We would love to sell out Rose. We hope to break even for the event,” he said.

Fabolous was nominated in 2005 for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist by the American Music Award and in the same year nominated for a Grammy Award for the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Dip It Low.”

Details including payment and time of performance were not released.

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While most think of the auto industry hurting in the lagging economy, another more silent group in Michigan also is hurting.

Take small farmers like Bill Miller Jr., general manager of Papa’s Pumpkin Patch. He said small farmers are having to adapt more to survive while more people spend less money.

The Miller farm, which was first operated by Bill Miller Sr., and now Bill Miller Jr., takes care of production of the crops, first started in 1973.

He said farmers are taking a hit much like every other economic group.

“People just aren’t spending money. Whether they’re storing it away or they just don’t have it to spend and I think that’s true in every sector of the economy,” Miller Jr. said.

Because the price of items is so important to people, local farmers often are having a tough time managing, Miller Jr., said.

“We’re not selling as much as we have in the past and it’s tough because everyone is shopping price right now and the big boxed stores can bring in stuff in from other countries for very little,” he said.

Papa’s, which grows many different items including strawberries, pumpkins, sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, melons, asparagus and have recently started a orchard was started in the late ’70s by Bill Miller Sr.

Miller Sr., said farms went through similar troubles in the ’70s and he has his own theories on why the Michigan economy is so bad.

“I think (the economy) just flexes. The problem with Michigan is we haven’t produced enough jobs for young folks. Half of our graduates from our universities, for close to 30 years, that have gotten jobs have moved out of state,” Miller Sr., said.

Miller Jr., said Papa’s has been forced to cut back.

“We have narrowed our focuses to what we do, we used to grow 30 or 40 items now we grow maybe 10 or 15. We try to buy and sell to other local farmers,” he said.

Miller Jr., said he hasn’t noticed many family farms being forced to shut down but rather much more food hitting the market because many people with gardens are now trying to sell their wares.

“What I’m seeing is every guy that gets laid off or every guy that loses his job and has a garden is now a producer. These guys are showing up at the farm markets not knowing anything about the business and they are selling 500 dollars worth of produce for $100 and they think they’re doing great. It’s just cutting the guys that are in it for a living,” he said.

Since 2000, the farm has been open as a educational and recreational farm after Miller Sr., retired from his job as a math professor at Central Michigan University.

By focusing on recreation it has allowed the farm to gain a little more traction as the economic downturn hit, Miller Jr. said.

Because of the economy many stores have been promoting ‘locally grown’ campaigns but Bill Jr. said he just hasn’t seen any of those campaigns being pushed by the corporations.

“They’re all pushing this ‘we buy local’ but none of them do,” he said. “I walk into Meijer’s and see big signs for Michigan apples but if you look under the carts they’re all Washington apples. I go in and try to sell them and they say ‘well, we aren’t set up to buy from the local guys.’ I’ve concluded to one big grocery chain ‘local’ is midwestern U.S, to another of the big grocery chains local is continental US, to another box store local is the western hemisphere, and the fourth one local is the world.”

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Zach Galifianakis won’t be performing at Central Michigan University on October 16 as scheduled.

The comedian, contracted by Program Board to perform, was forced to cancel because he will be filming a new movie said Dave Breed, president of Program Board.

Breed, a Muskegon junior, said Program is searching for a new comedian to replace Galifianakis.

“We are looking into different ideas we have (for bringing comedians),” Breed said.

Check cm-life.com for more updates.

Eric Hutchinson will have some company during MAINstage 2009 as Program Board and On The Fly productions announced Ryan Star will be opening.

Star, who was a contestant on CBS’s reality show “Rock Star: Supernova,” and has his first album coming out since the show titled “11:59″ will be coming out sometime this year and his EP for the CD titled “Last Train Home EP” has recently gained some fame. The track “Last Train Home” was featured in the movie “P.S. I Love You” and his song “Brand New Day” is the theme song to the FOX television show “Lie To Me.”

He will join Hutchinson for a show scheduled for 7 p.m. August 23 at MAINstage.

Star was chose to open the show because he is going to add to the more relaxing scene both Program Board and On The Fly wanted to promote, Program Board Concert Chair Kirsten Trombly said.

“It’s good because students can have a little bit of fun,” the Metamora junior said.

Trombly said the attention he’s been receiving for his song “Last Train Home” also helped make their decision for opening the act.

“It’s not (the type of concert where) students can go wild and crazy but they can sit back and relax with friends,” Trombly said.

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