“After reviewing the concerns of the student body in regard of the unicameral system, I feel it is in SGA’s best interest to listen to those student voices and stop the progress on the unicameral proposal,” said SGA President and Shelby Township senior Vince Cavataio in a news release.

Students voiced their concerns during the last SGA meeting and held a small protest today against the unicameral proposal.

“We did see and hear a lot of concerns from the student body,” Cavataio said. “I only have four weeks left of my administration and I didn’t want the burden of a negative image of SGA carrying on to the next SGA president.”

SGA Vice President and Brighton junior Colleen McNeely said the proposal would be introduced again with some revisions.

“It is not necessarily out of (the) question; we will be discussing a revised proposal of the unicameral system,” McNeely said.

McNeely said the discussion regarding the unicameral proposal will continue at the SGA meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in Dow Hall 171.

“It has not been determined yet whether or not the proposal would actually be going on the ballot,” she said.

McNeely said they will be putting in place more rules in the House and Senate.

“We will discuss some additional requirements for members as they react to all of the energy that has been created in the house and senate with regard to the unicameral system,” McNeely said.

Thursday afternoon at the courtyard in between Pierce and Anspach Petoskey freshman Traven Michaels helped SGA Senator Alysha McClain of Waterford pass out buttons informing students of their position on Proposal 1. (Brooke Mayle/Staff Photographer)

A protest held on campus Thursday against the Student Government Association’s unicameral Proposal 1 drew only five participants.

Both SGA and Students Against Proposal 1, a group started by Students For Service Learning, have been trying to get student response to the proposed unicameral system, and with a finalized version of the proposal due on Feb. 27, both are facing challenges in doing so, including challenges from each other.

The proposal, introduced to the house three weeks ago, would currently disband the house, and have elected senators handle governmental issues. The proposal has been criticized by some members of registered student organizations for not giving students enough representation.

Five students opposed to Proposal 1 marched across campus carrying signs and passing out pamphlets and buttons. At the Bovee University Center, the protesters stopped to perform a group yell calling for increased student representation in the SGA. The march was the first of several planned protests by Students Against Proposal 1.

Protestor Alysha McClain, a Waterford senior, said despite the turnout the marchers were pleased with what they achieved.

“I think that even though there were only a small amount of people at this protest, we still got the message across,” McClain said “Anytime you are able to get your voice heard, you have been successful.”

After the march, Romeo senior Kevin Richmond, president of SSL and leader of the march, said he disagrees with Cavataio about the value of the march. He said the only purpose of the march was to raise interest in the proposal and that his group has full intentions to draft a new bill.

“We’re working to write up a new bill,” said Richmond, who is running for SGA president next year. “The new bill would be a compromise between the current proposal and the students. And wherever the ideas for this new bill come from, they will be for the students and be voiced by the students.”

Members of the SGA have said the current plan is only a starting point and that they will listen to student concerns and implement student suggestions when forming a finalized draft.

SGA President and Shelby Township senior Vincent Cavataio said on Wednesday he did not feel the protest march was needed or an acceptable response to the unicameral proposal.

“I’ve asked for a response — this is a form of response — however it’s the wrong response. There is nothing constructive about this march.” Cavataio said. “What Kevin Richmond doesn’t understand is that there is nothing finalized about this. This is nothing more than a starting point.”

Cavataio said he is open to compromise with students who oppose the proposal, but only when they bring a constructive opinion to the table.

“What lies in the proposal is totally up to the students; all of it can be changed if they want it to be, and we need for students to offer their opinions and concerns about the proposal, not to march,” he said. “Outside of this protest, I have heard very little real concern. I think that students have forgotten how to be constructive, how to criticize something positively and how to make real changes.”

Cavataio said he does not believe his language toward the students against the bill has been too aggressive.

“I have no problem being blunt. I’ve been part of the SGA for three years, and when someone comes in who doesn’t know how the system works, and negligently starts hindering progress toward a solution, I’m going to be blunt,” he said.
Richmond said the protest was a crucial first step.

“We’ve got to start somewhere,” Richmond said “The SGA has kept this proposal under wraps, and we feel that it is our job to get students’ attention about the issue.”

Muskegon freshman Felicia McCrary and Shepherd resident Mackenzie Sheahan laugh as they start meeting in small groups on Tuesday night at Mount Pleasant Community Church, 1400 West Broomfield Street, during the ULife college ministry meeting. "We all hang out and just spend life together." McCrary said. (Bethany Walter/Staff Photographer)

With café-style tables, a coffee bar and colorful lighting, the loft of Mount Pleasant Community Church becomes populated every Tuesday night with college students.

They come together for UNite, a program of MPCC’s ULife outreach, and meet in the church for worship and small-group Bible study at 8 p.m. Tuesdays. Shepherd resident and small-group leader MacKenzie Sheahan said the ULife program started about four years ago when she and her husband, Director of College Ministry Mitch Sheahan, began hosting a Bible study for a group of college students at their house.

From left: Lansing freshman Chad Zumbaugh, Saginaw freshman Luke Dehart, Gladwin senior Nathan Goddard, Muskegon freshman Felicia McCrary, and Mount Pleasant sophomore Nick Martin play "Give Me Faith" on Tuesday night at Mount Pleasant Community Church, 1400 West Broomfield Street, during the ULife college ministry meeting. (Bethany Walter/Staff Photographer)

“Eventually we grew enough to start having weekly UNite meetings here in the church,” MacKenzie said.

The attendance at each week’s UNite is now around 60 students, coming from both Central Michigan University and Mid Michigan Community College.

The night begins with announcements such as the dates for the group’s upcoming spring break trip, as well as ULife’s monthly luncheon. From there, the group moves on to sing several worship songs led by a praise band before splitting off into small groups.

“Small groups are the bread and butter of our program,” Mitch said. “When students come together to share what God’s doing in their lives, big growth happens.”

The small groups usually base their theme around the sermon in church on the previous Sunday and tailor group questions based on each group’s needs, Mitch said.  Right now, the small groups are focusing on the stories of various figures of the Old Testament, such as David, Moses and Eve.

Muskegon freshman Felicia McCrary, who sings in ULife’s praise band, said she chose the church and its programs after researching area churches online last semester.

“Church is a big part of my life and it was important for me to make the right decision,” McCrary said. “Having such a multigenerational church is what got me to stay.”

Onsted freshman Lyndsey Griffin said she learned about MPCC and the ULife program through her older brother, but it was the church’s friendly atmosphere that convinced her to continue attending.

“Everyone just reaches out to you,” Griffin said. “It’s like family.”

Waterford senior Jennifer Tabeek, HDF 409 student assistant, laughs as Carson, 4, left, and Henry, 4, play with toy trains Tuesday afternoon in the Education and Human Services Building's Child Learning Lab. (Ashley Miller/Staff Photographer)

They graduated in December, ready to take on the real world.

But, two months later, CMU alumnae Abbey Nirva and Kelsey Koewers still find themselves working at the Child Development and Learning Lab, the preschool inside the College of Education and Human Services Building. Four days a week, 72 children spend part of their afternoon there, interacting with students and faculty.

More than 100 students work in the lab for school credit, and additional students, five undergraduate and two graduate students, work in the lab for employment, alongside full-time staff memberss.

CDLL Faculty Director Cheryl Priest said the lab serves as a training facility for students who major or minor in child development.

“It is amazing to have strong students majoring in Early Childhood Development and Learning, because we know that they are going to make a difference in the lives of children around Michigan,” Priest said.

Nirva, of Allen Park, and Koewers, of Lowell, worked as student employees last semester and were kept for another semester after graduation because the lab required staff to help a child full-time.

Highland senior Kaitlyn Schultz, HDF 402 student assistant, works with Mariah, 3, center, and Colton, 5, at the art station Tuesday afternoon in the Education and Human Service building's Child Learning Lab. "(My favorite part is) working with all the kids and seeing what they create. It's so fun," she said. (Ashley Miller/Staff Photographer)

“On occasion, when someone works really well with our program and there’s an opportunity later, we make sure they know about this opportunity,” Priest said. “Abby and Kelsey were hired temporarily, because we had a special need within the program.”

She said in this case they were able to continue to work with two outstanding students and former student employees who were available for the time period they needed. We consider ourselves extremely lucky, she said.

Nirva is currently working in the lab as a paraprofessional. She prepares activities for the classroom, works in the kitchen in the morning afternoons works individually with the child.

“I feed her and walk around with her,” Nirva said. “She is the sunshine to my day; she makes my life so much better. We’re great together.”

Koewers has been employed by CDLL since August 2011, and before that, she was a student teacher in the lab. She said after her experience working at the lab previously, she wouldn’t turn down the position this semester.

“With my job position still available, there was no question in my mind whether to stay or not. It is such an amazing place to work in and be a part of,” Koewers said. “I honestly believe that there is no better preschool out there than the Child Development and Learning Lab here at CMU.”

While working at the lab, Koewers said she has built great relationships with children, faculty and other students.

“I chose to stay to not only get an amazing reference added to my resume for the future, but I also simply didn’t want to leave the school, my coworkers, who I now consider great friends, as well as the children, some of which I have now known for almost two years,” she said.

Both Nirva and Koewers believe they have been lucky to work in the lab, which has taught them aspects they could only learn firsthand.

Koewers said she has gained aspects of patience, diversity, support and understanding.

“Working in the lab has shown me how adults can be a major support system for children in so many ways,” she said. “Letting the children know you’re there to support them can be key to having them enjoy learning as well as relaxing and trusting in the people and environment.”

Nirva said she has gained a lot of hands-on experience, as well as now seeing children in a new light.

“I always thought that I knew how to connect with children, but being in classes and actually learning and applying it in the classroom has been an eye-opener,” she said.

They’re at a vital age and are capable of learning so much, she said.

Both Nirva and Koewers are sad to leave the CDLL after the spring semester.

“The lab is and will be one of the best parts of my life, and the idea of leaving it in the spring devastates me,” Koewers said. “It is an amazing place, and I can only dream I will work in and send my future children to half of a school that the CDLL is.”

Nirva said the lab is a fun atmosphere and much more than what students see on the exterior.

“It’s so much cooler than people know. It’s a top-notch preschool. It’s nothing like when we were kids,” Nirva said. “You never want to leave. It’s great.”

Bobby Shew

Jazz will echo through campus as the 2012 Jazz Weekend begins Thursday.

The events will be held Thursday and Friday in the Music Building’s Staples Family Concert Hall, Platcha Auditorium and the Bovee University Center Down Under Food Court, featuring different types of jazz including swing, big band and group performances.

The featured artist will be trumpeter Bobby Shew, who has been actively playing since the ’60s.

The final performance will be at 8 p.m. Friday at the 39th annual Jazz Weekend Gala Concert at Warriner Hall’s Platcha Auditorium, featuring Shew playing with jazz students from Jazz Lab One, conducted by Assistant Professor of Music Rob Smith.

Traverse City senior and Jazz Lab One’s lead alto saxophone player, Myles Boothroyd, has been involved in Jazz Weekend for four years.

“I like that it’s a day full of jazz and jazz performances,” he said. “It’s good for jazz students to see and hear the featured artist.”

Along with the featured performances, the Central WAILS Saxophone Orchestra, Jazz Central and jazz trombone group JazzBone will be performing throughout the two-day event. Boothroyd will also be performing with the Central WAILS Saxophone Orchestra.

During the day, jazz ensembles from high schools around the area will be performing for panels of judges who will critique their routines.

Portland senior Matt Sumner, who will be performing alongside Shew at the Gala Concert, says the weekend is a great opportunity for young musicians.

“It’s a very educational opportunity for high school students to keep the art form of jazz alive,” he said. “By coming and seeing all these events, it opens up a new door for the education of these students.”

Sumner has performed with trumpet player John Fedchock and saxophone player Bob Mintzer at past events.

Sumner said the group performing with Shew will be playing pieces such as “Daahoud” by Clifford Brown and “Always and Forever” by Pat Metheny, among others.

Midland junior Kevin Keith is experiencing the weekend for the first time, performing drums for Shew’s performance.

“I’m pretty excited to have the experience of working with someone like him,” he said.

Keith said the band started compiling pieces and practicing for the event in December.

“We want to make sure we give the audience the best show we can,” he said.

Shew said the pieces chosen for him to perform along with bands are based on a difficulty level the school dictates.

Smith will be making the transition from student to conductor. Smith was a student in the jazz band when Shew first performed at CMU, back in 1966.

Shew, now mostly retired from live performance, travels to colleges and conservatories around the world giving clinics in solo, group or even improvised performance. He also teaches students about life in the music business.

“The main thing we want to do is to leave inspiration with the students,” he said. “If a student sees in me a great passion, that passion will inspire him.”

Shew said doing events like this help keep music education, especially jazz education, alive in American universities.

“With all the cutbacks in the schools’ music programs, it’s a blessing that they keep the arts supported in the schools,” he said. “Especially jazz, since it’s one of the more complicated music genres out there. It could be the first thing to go.”

Shew said he feels honored to help keep the tradition alive.

“I’m rather grateful that they keep the jazz programs going at the festivals like this,” he said.

A full schedule is available on the School of Music’s website.

The march, led by Students for Service Learning and open for the entire student body to take part in, will begin in front of The Market at 12:40 p.m., ending at the Bovee University Center 15 minutes later, where the SSL’s President Kevin Richmond will address the participating students. The organization will hand out buttons and is asking students to prepare their own signs and flags.

The march is part of a planned, ongoing series of events which will take place in protest of Proposal 1, which would eliminate the SGA house. SSL will hold a meeting at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Charles V. Park Library to discuss future plans regarding the proposal. That meeting will also be open for students to join.

According to the organizer of the march, Albion graduate student Chris Hopcraft, the march is being held because of the lack of student representation a unicameral system could potentially cause.

“The proposal would consolidate the voices of over 20,000 students in a small amount of senators” Hopcraft said. “We don’t see this as a plan that represents the student body.”

Despite the groups’ disagreements with the proposal, Hopcraft said the group is open to compromising with the SGA on the proposal.

“We like the idea that we are reforming the Student Government to be more efficient,” Hopcraft said. “And we are open to any proposal that will accurately meet  student needs.”

Richmond, a Romeo senior, said SGA President Vince Cavataio has been eagerly seeking student feedback and has been disappointed in the amount he has received.

“Cavataio is passionate about this issue,” Richmond said. “He is heavily invested within this conversation. He expects the student body to take an active role in it as well, and I don’t believe he has found them to be active enough.”

Other groups have also taken part in supporting the protest. Take Back The Tap President and Walled Lake freshman Mariah Urueta said although she cannot speak for her group as a whole, she personally believes the new proposal will cause a damaging presence of lobbying in SGA.

“The unicameral will make it so RSOs will have to lobby a senator,” Urueta said. “If they don’t get a senator on their side, they won’t have a voice in the unicameral system. That is not a fair position to put RSOs in.”

The Student Environmental Alliance has also spoken against the unicameral system and is planning to have a large presence in the march on Thursday. Saline junior and SEA President Chloe Gleichman said the proposed plan would have major repercussions on the group’s impact on campus.

“This is important to us, because our group introduces a variety of legislation and takes an active part in SGA. We don’t want to lose our ability to do that,” Gleichman said.

The SGA has provided a unicameral system outline online, which displays the most current format of the unicameral proposal.

During a press conference Tuesday night in Charles V. Park Library’s Strosacker Room, the five tickets officially introduced themselves and key platforms they are running on. Each candidate also made comments about the proposal for a unicameral system that will be included on the general elections ballot.

Warren senior Connor Gallagher is running for President with Carleton junior Andrew Clark.

“We want to bring SGA back to a group were we work for the students,” Gallagher said. “This whole unicameral and bicameral debate has been pretty edgy lately — I love it though — the students are raising up and using (their) voices.”

Hesperia senior Killian Richeson is running with Schoolcraft sophomore Shane McGoff.

“Instead of cutting an arm off the organization, we can definitely use both. We can utilize the house in a way that it would be more perfect,” Richeson said. “If we can just mobilize them and give them a reason to want to participate rather than trying to force them into something they don’t want to do.”

Romeo senior Kevin Richmond is running with Andover senior Scott Cooke.

“I am opposing the current (proposed) unicameral system, but I am able to compromise, because I feel the idea behind it is to get legislature to pass through quicker and more efficiently,” Richmond said.

Sparta junior Spencer McKellar is running with Fenton freshman Sean Rositano.

“We are also against the current proposal for changing the system and the structure of SGA from the bicameral system to a unicameral system,” McKellar said. “We see flaws in the legislative body.”

McKellar said they would be leaving the decisions to change the legislative branch up to the house and senate.

Macomb junior Justin Gawronski is running with Alma junior Anna Dvorak.

“Regardless of whether or not the unicameral system passes on the ballot, Anna and I are the best candidates to facilitate the transition to a new system or to implement changes to make the current bicameral system more effective,” Gawronski said.

The general elections will be held from March 12-16; students can vote online.

Mount Clemens sophomore Erica Freckleton practices juggling for the first time while in front of the Juggling and Circus Arts Club booth during RSO night Monday evening at the CMU Events Center. "It was a lot easier than I thought," said Freckleton. "I have absolutely no hand-eye coordination so I'm sure that if I can do it anyone can do it." (Charlotte Bodak/Staff Photographer)

Michelle Shamaly said about 80 registered student organizations participated in the Student Government Association’s second RSO Spotlight event.

The event was held at 7 p.m. Monday in the Events Center.

“This is our second year hosting this event; it used to be run through the Office of Student Life,” Shamaly said.

Last year was a much smaller event held in the Bovee University Center Rotunda and this year the amount of participation has increased significantly, she said.

“Since most of SGA is organized by different representatives of different organizations, we wanted to give them a chance to showcase their organizations and (get) more members,” Shamaly said.

She said this event gave the RSOs experience promoting their organizations and a chance to network with other organizations while building a community.

“I think it is important because not everyone can come to the fall semester MAINstage and it is just a really good way to get your organization out there,” said Mesick sophomore Anelisa Bailey.

Bailey is a member of Spanish Club, which is open to all students.

“Anybody in any Spanish class is able to come to Spanish Club,” she said. “It is a way to practice the language and we put on fun activities.”

Other RSOs present included the Justice Society, based through the criminal justice program, MHTV, CMU’s student-run television station, and Spectrum (formerly the Gay/Straight Alliance), who advocate for the LGBTQ community.

“It is good if there are people that came in for the spring semester and not the fall, so they can come out and see what the RSOs are about,” said Harbor Springs senior Seth Garson.

RSOs that were founded this semester were in attendance as well, including the Juggling and Circus Arts Club.

“The main focus of our RSO is to bring together people with similar interests and help each other get better at our individual disciplines,” said Brighton junior Matthew Peplinski.

As the founder and president of the new organization, Peplinski said he was hoping the event would give them the chance to have people become interested, even if they do not have past experience.

“It is basically about getting together and having fun,” Peplinski said. “One really nice thing about juggling and circus arts is that there is no pressure, because it is not a sport — you do not have to worry about being bad at it.”

During the event, Peplinski and East Lansing freshman Noah Benallack demonstrated and taught students who approached their table juggling and other circus arts.

“It is all about getting better at what you do, finding what you love to do and just having fun,” Peplinski said.

Sparta junior and SGA senator Spencer McKellar said he would like to see the event return every year because RSOs need something similar to MAINstage during the spring semester.

“I feel this is a great avenue to promote all the different things we have to offer on this campus,” McKellar said.

When students start in the fall they feel overwhelmed, but in the spring they have more time to get acclimated, said Detroit junior Laci Bosquez.

“I really enjoy getting to know people that run the clubs and having the opportunity to see what the clubs are showcasing,” Bosquez said.

Mount Pleasant junior and SGA member Sean Kolhoff planned and organized the RSO Spotlight.

“If students have an organization they belong to, it gives them further reasons to want to stay on campus and continue throughout college for all four years,” Kolhoff said.

This year more than 60 different businesses will be represented at Career Day, held in Finch Fieldhouse from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“(The businesses) are all notable and we are grateful that while CMU is two and a half hours from any major job market, these employers are going to spend the day on campus recruiting our students,” said Julia Sherlock, director of Career Services.

Sherlock said students are highly encouraged to check the list of registered organizations online to see if there are any organizations they have a particular interest in. Students attending Career Day must show up in professional dress or they will be turned away at the door.

Students who want to get the most out of Career Day should do some preparation beforehand, said Magenta Eggertsen, Greenville senior and corporate relations chair for AKP.

“First, they should put together an error-free resume, and if they are having difficulty, they can attend REACH, a (resume) program through Career Services,” Eggertsen said. “Once a student has an error-free resume, they should research the companies of interest. It is important for students to be educated on the company so they are able to ask professional, well-developed questions during their time with the recruiters.”

The experience of talking to recruiters is extremely valuable, but sometimes businesses will also hand out interview invitations as well, said Emily Cook, Freeland senior and president of AKP.

“It’s amazing.” Cook said. “Even if you’re not looking for a job, and especially if you are, always go. You can only benefit from going.”

Cook said she has attended every Career Day event since her freshman year and has really benefitted from the experience and practice she has gained talking to recruiters.

“Give it a shot and go for it,” she said. “Even if you walk away and you feel like you did a completely horrible job, you will do better next time.”

Career Day is open to CMU students and the public.

“We believe this is a great way to provide the same great publicity and PR for our organization that MAINStage provides at the beginning of the fall semester,” said Bryan Shelby, SGA representative for Alpha Phi Omega and Port Huron senior.

SGA’s Growth and Development Committee planned the event, which they described as a “mini-MAINstage” in a news release.

“It is put on to create awareness of all of the RSOs for the students and create an opportunity for people to get involved,” said Jennifer McNairnie, SGA press secretary assistant and Lake Orion junior.

McNairnie said the RSOs would be given an opportunity to recruit and network in a similar way to the much larger fall event.

“This is a great opportunity we have to spread our message of service, leadership and friendship to the rest of campus,” Shelby said.

This event is open to all students.

“It is a great way for RSOs to get exposure that they otherwise would not have,” said Keith Guyot, Sigma Tau Delta president and Flat Rock senior.

SGA Press Secretary and Clinton Township senior Michelle Shamaly said the purpose of the RSO Spotlight is to bring all student organizations together for a great opportunity and for students looking to get involved and reach out to make connections.

“Students can walk around and find out about things that they are interested in instead of RSOs going to find out who might be interested,” Guyot said.