The new building, approved by the board of trustees in December, will be located between the Combined Services Building and the Engineering and Technology Building, said Roger Rehm, vice president for Information Technology. The cost is not to exceed $5.4 million.

“The current space is not designed to be a data center,” Rehm said. “It is poorly designed for both electrical and climate control systems and has too much vulnerability to water damage.”

The data center is expected to be completed by June of 2013. The selection of the contractor should happen sometime in July, said Steve Lawrence, vice president of Facilities Management.

The current location is in Foust Hall and “evolved” into a data center shortly after the hall’s opening, Rehm said.

“The new facility will be better, because it is designed from the ground up to serve as a data center,” he said.

One of its main purposes will be to store the equipment with space for more to be added in the future.

“As such, it will be situated at a higher elevation than the present facility,” Rehm said. “And it is designed to provide better and highly flexible power and climate control systems.”

The data center is expected to hold servers and contain a large electrical service room with a backup generator.

“It’s really just a utility building; people will only go there for maintenance,” said Steve Lawrence, vice president of Facilities Management.

Most of the time, the building is expected to be empty. As of now, the only thing finished is the design. When the rest of the design is done, a contractor will be found, Lawrence said.

The location for the new data center was chosen in case an addition was needed, along with any extra equipment.

“It’s good to plan ahead,” Lawrence said. “Plus, it’s a good location.”

Construction is planned to commence in August, after the design is finished, Lawrence said.

“We (just) want a more secure and reliable place,” Lawrence said.

Especially Adam Thiesse. The Jackson sophomore has class early in the morning during the week and found himself slipping more times than he would have liked.

“The sidewalks are very icy in the morning,” Thiesse said. “I’ve slipped multiple times walking to my 8 a.m. (class).”

Facilities Management has salted sidewalks and parking lots less than prior years, because of less snow than usual and colder temperatures.

“This year we have had very little need for salt compared to last year,” said Steve Lawrence, vice president of Facilities Management. “The amount of snowfall has been very small.”

Many do not know salt does not work as well when the temperature falls below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, Lawrence said.

“They get salted when conditions warrant it,” he said. “When people walk on the sidewalks after it snows, they pack it down, making it harder for FM grounds keepers to shovel it up.”

Facilities Management workers plow and lay salt on lots and sidewalks on campus between midnight and 7 a.m.

“Last year we brought in retired FM grounds keepers to help when it really snowed,” Lawrence said. “There are three retired grounds keepers that have agreed to come in case they are needed.”

Universities, through state-government funding, typically buy an abundance of salt per academic year, Lawrence said. CMU normally purchases about 750 tons of salt, 70 percent of which is used on sidewalks and a few selected parking lots.

The remainder of the salt is mixed with sand and dropped in parking lots to help create friction on the ice, Lawrence said. In 2007-08, when Mount Pleasant saw more than 70 inches of snow, the university purchased 900 tons of salt. CMU pays $60 per ton of salt, Lawrence said.

Ice, however, is difficult to manage, and salt fails to work when temperatures fall below 15 degrees Fahrenheit. During a string of days last week, lows reached near zero, leaving the salt relatively ineffective.

Lawrence said streets with salt and traffic are much more effective than sidewalks, because of the constant movement of cars. If salt isn’t being moved around, it just sits in one place and bores holes into the ice instead of melting it completely, he said.

The FM grounds keepers have to take in account the moisture content and wind, not just the amount of snowfall.

“It’s interesting because people need to remember it’s winter in Michigan, and it will snow,” Lawrence said.

Given the recent oddball weather conditions, Howell freshman Katelyn Beno said she has found the university prepared.

“A couple of nights ago it rained,” Beno said. “I was hoping they would salt the sidewalks before it froze, and they did.”

Kaitlin Slack, a Howell sophomore who works at the Help Desk in the Fabiano/Emmons/Woldt lobby, had to shovel some of the sidewalks one night during her midnight shift.

“Last semester we really didn’t have to do it,” Slack said. “So far, I have only had to do one snow shift.”

The desk is now instructed to shovel at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. when it snows. When midnight rolls around, there are two students working the desk.

The sidewalks themselves have only been a problem in the morning, Slack said.

“I don’t think they’ve been too bad,” Slack said. “But I have 8 a.m. (classes), so it probably snows before they can go out and shovel.”

After five years attending CMU, the removal of ice and snow continues to remain an issue on campus. For some reason it seems as though the University has little to no concern about the safety of students while they are driving on campus as well as walking on campus.

For five years now I have slipped and fallen while walking on campus and slipped while driving on campus and have almost gone through intersections due to the failure to salt and plow roads and sidewalks properly.

The first week of the major snowfall this season I was parking at the EHS building and the parking lot was nearly 3 inches think of solid ice and I slid while parking my car.

When I went to meter my car I slipped and bashed my knee on the side of my car and I am still in pain today. I blame this injury on the failure to keep the campus safe by facilities management.

Tonight I was driving on campus and I slid around a corner because the roads were not salted. I feel as though the University puts snow and ice removal on the back burner when it comes to deciding what they need to accomplish in any given day.

I feel as though, like every other person, that the University knows that the snow is coming and they fail to take precautions to make sure that campus is safe to drive on and walk through.

From the lack of proper snow and ice removal I believe that CMU has no care as to whether or not students are safe while they are on campus. So I ask when will campus be safe in the winter?

A response from facilities management or the administration would be greatly appreciated.

Tanner Parmentier,

Commerce Township senior

We also believe it is appropriate to call for his resignation as president as long as he maintains his employment in the position.

Though the internship is meant to be solely focused on promoting FM’s efforts in sustainable energy, there can be no room for a potential conflict of interest between the students’ best interests and those of the university for the head of our student government.

His pursuit of the position is understandable, as it is closely related to his desired career. It is only paid minimum wage, ruling out any concerns of palm-greasing, and as stated in previous articles, the time commitment will not be demanding enough to detract from his other pursuits.

Cavataio’s position on CMU’s Strategic Planning Team with Associate Vice President of Facilities Management Steve Lawrence simply gave Cavataio a good chance to seek out and attain the opportunity. He cannot be blamed for taking the job, but he can be questioned for retaining his position as SGA president while doing so.

It is important to note Cavataio will not be working for direct CMU public relations, which could very well put him in the middle of a disagreement between the university and students. But because the first role of SGA president is to be the voice of the student body, the ties with CMU his new job will form may pose an ethical problem. How can one represent the students while, at the same time, work for the university in a public relations position?

Interim Dean of Students Tony Voisin referenced Cavataio’s enrollment in only one seminar class as a reason his schedule is open enough to handle both jobs. While this editorial board has no disagreement that Cavataio could handle the schedule, we question the ethical problems this creates.

The Public Relations Society of America’s code of ethics advises its members to avoid conflicts of interest and act in the best interest of clients or employers. As an elected official by the students he needs to avoid any conflict of interest that could even potentially come with this job.

As long as he is burdened with even the slightest responsibility to serve the university’s interests over any others, including those of the students, he cannot be trusted as their ultimate representative on campus.

To use an old proverb, he cannot have his cake and eat it too.

“They’re already under construction,” said Stephen Lawrence, vice president of Facilities Management. “They’re doing underground utility right now.”

The Christman Company of Lansing has been hired to contract out the work, expected to be completed by March 2013 — later than the expected target of fall. The project, along with the introduction of a new biosciences building schematic design, was approved by the CMU Board of Trustees in December.

A design for the biosciences building, to be located between the Education and Human Services and Combined Services buildings, was submitted on Nov. 1. The design includes a plan for research and support labs and instruction and office space. It is awaiting approval from the state in March. Upon approval, construction is estimated to take 28 months.

Anspach Hall renovations

At the beginning of the 2012 summer, the university will begin renovating the first floor of Anspach Hall, along with the west side entrance.

The hall will be worked on over the course of the summer and into the fall and winter of next year, ending in March of 2013. It is the first formal renovation to Anspach Hall since its construction in 1966.

The university will replace ceiling tiles, floors, update the fire alarm system, install new lights and update bathrooms to American Disability Association standards, Lawrence said.

In addition, the roof of the office wing will be renovated and a student lounge will be added.

“The student lounge will be well-received among students, and the entrance will be scheduled for completion in 2013,” Lawrence said.

The lounge itself, along with the west side entrance, also won’t be started until 2013.

“The student lounge will be a small building addition,” Lawrence said. “And it will not take up any classroom space.”

There was extra space where the student lounge will be added on, which allowed the university to build it in the first place, Lawrence said.

The approval for renovation came from the board of trustees during a December board meeting. The total cost of the renovation is estimated to be $14,075,000, funded primarily through university reserves and maintenance funds.

“We are in the process of awarding Clark Construction the contract,” Lawrence said. “They have done work on campus before.”

Clark Construction Company, based in Lansing, helped construct the CMU Events Center last year and updated Brooks Hall and its DIY water system, Lawrence said.

One of the rooms that will be focused on in Anspach is lecture hall 162. Two students who have a class in the room have noticed some areas of the room that could use work.

“It seems too crowded — some of the seats are too close together,” said Taylor sophomore Kaitlyn McCombe. “There should be an aisle between the seats.”

Gross Pointe freshman Alexa Materna noticed damage to some of the seats.

“I noticed a couple of the seats and desks are broken,” Materna said. “It isn’t in the best shape.”

Cavataio, a Shelby Township senior, will be paid $7.40 an hour for 20 hours of work per week. The job was not posted on the journalism majors and minors or IPR LISTSERV, and Cavataio found it on his own.

Vincent Cavataio, Student Government Association president

Associate professor of journalism Jim Wojcik said roughly half of the students who find public relations internships discover the opportunities on their own. Wojcik approved Cavataio for the internship after he said he met the criteria for the job responsibilities.

“Maybe 50 percent of the internships that students get in IPR, they find on their own,” Wojcik said. “He found his own internship just like a lot of other students.”

Associate Vice President of Facilities Management Stephen Lawrence worked with other professors to hire Cavataio for the internship. Lawrence and Cavataio have served on Central Michigan University’s Strategic Planning Team together since Cavataio received his position on SGA last April.

“I worked with Professor Krider and Professor Wojcik on the Integrated Public Relations Student Internship in Facilities Management,” Lawrence said in an email. “I inadvertently learned that Vince is an Integrated Public Relations major and that he was looking for an internship.”

Lawrence said job responsibilities of the internship include public relations work, promoting campus sustainability, CMU’s green-cleaning program, recycling, energy and utilities operations and CMU’s carbon footprint.

“He is assisting FM in completing various award applications, preparing information packages and presentations that explain the university’s sustainability efforts that are carried out by FM,” Lawrence said.

Cavataio has said he does not see the internship affecting his position as SGA president, pointing out the internship is only part-time, and he is only taking a seminar to round out his class schedule for the semester.

“Normally I’d have five or six classes, so (this) is about the same time commitment,” Cavataio said on Jan. 3. “Maybe even less, considering the studying and other time classes take up.”

Tony Voisin, named interim Dean of Students in August, said he has “full confidence” in Cavataio’s ability to juggle both jobs and denied any idea of a conflict of interest.

“We’ve had SGA presidents who have been RAs before,” Voisin said. “I would just advise a president make sure he or she can handle everything. He knows what’s expected of him, and he handles it very well.

“You can’t downplay the fact that he’s in a semester he doesn’t have any classes to deal with. It’s something he can handle, and he’ll do it well.”

Tony Voisin, named interim Dean of Students in August, said Thursday that he has “full confidence” in Cavataio’s ability to juggle SGA president and a public relations internship.

“I think his schedule at this point very much will accommodate this type of experience for him,” Voisin said. “It’s right along the lines of his degree, and I don’t know how much he sees it as a job.”

Cavataio, a Shelby Township senior studying public affairs and integrated public relations, was recently hired for a public relations internship with CMU Facilities Management and will be tasked with promoting sustainable energy on campus.

On Tuesday, he told Central Michigan Life he has no plans to step down as SGA president and said he expects to have just as much time, if not more, for SGA. The internship is a part-time job — he plans to work about 20 hours per week — with pay, and he is only taking this internship and a seminar class. Cavataio declined to reveal his pay and Steve Lawrence, vice president of Facilities Management, has not returned an email and phone call requesting comment.

Voisin said the number one responsibility for students is academics and there is no university policy against an SGA president holding a job on or off campus.

“We’ve had SGA presidents who have been RAs before,” Voisin said. “I would just advise a president make sure he or she can handle everything. He knows what’s expected of him, and he handles it very well.

“You can’t downplay the fact that he’s in a semester he doesn’t have any classes to deal with. It’s something he can handle, and he’ll do it well.”

Spectrum President Justin Gawronski, a Macomb junior and SGA representative, said Cavataio proved himself last semester during the faculty contract dispute with CMU.

“I don’t think his position will do anything to change that he stands up for students, as requested as SGA president,” Gawronski said. “I don’t see it as a conflict of interest. It’s a good opportunity (for him), and I don’t think he’ll take any sort of side because of it.”

Vincent Cavataio, Student Government Association president

Shelby Township senior Vincent Cavataio, elected president of the CMU Student Government Association in April, recently accepted a public relations internship focusing on sustainable energy with CMU Facilities Management, Cavataio confirmed Tuesday to Central Michigan Life. He made the announcement Monday on his Facebook account.

Cavataio said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management, first mentioned he was interested in hiring an intern before the school went on winter break in December. The two serve on CMU’s Strategic Planning Team together.

“He was talking about needing an intern next semester to start doing PR for (Facilities Management),” Cavataio said. “I told him I’d be happy to do it, and he offered me the position.”

Cavataio said the part-time job, in which he would work about 20 hours per week, will focus on highlighting sustainable enterprises on campus — in buildings, within curriculum and among teachers — through awards. He said he has no plans to step down as SGA president, and pointed out that he is only taking the internship and a seminar class this semester.

“Normally I’d have five or six classes, so (this) is about the same time commitment,” Cavataio said. “Maybe even less, considering the studying and other time classes take up.

“I’m very excited to be involved and learn more about the university.”

Cavataio declined to say how much he would be paid for the internship.

An email to Lawrence requesting comment was not immediately returned.

The north campus apartment housing project, approved Thursday by the Central Michigan University Board of Trustees, will consist of 94 units in two buildings. The facility will be located on Bellows Street, west of the Carlin Alumni House.

“It’s located in a very convenient location,” said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management. “It’s just north of the Health Professions Building, so it’s very close to the College of Medicine and the activity there.”

The apartments are being built to replace several Washington Court buildings that have been demolished to make way for the Education and Human Services Building. Plans call for them to primarily house medical students and visiting scholars.

Construction will begin in November, and upon its completion in March 2013, will be ready for occupancy the following June.

There were a number of announcements during Thursday’s meeting including the approval of  a $1.5 million renovation to Real Food on Campus residential restaurant.

The facility will also include a Mongolian grill station in the future, as well as renovated food stations that already exist.

During the meeting trustees gave an evaluation of University President George Ross, commending him for his work but not giving him a $50,000-performance bonus.

“In summary, a strong performance for 2010-11 ending June 30,” said Chairwoman Sarah Opperman. “No bonus, in keeping with the current financial priorities and consistent with other actions that have been taken throughout the university and strong improvements  in fundraising.”

An independent auditor also presented trustees with results for the fiscal year that ended in June. CMU recorded $394 million in operating expenses and $155 million in debt.

CMU also saw an increase in unrestricted net assets of nearly $50 million, from $228 million to $276 million.

Jeffrey Fineis, a partner at the Lansing-based Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC, said that amount in unrestricted funds is a good level to be at, given the university’s expenditures.

Meanwhile, funding for the graduate housing will come from two sources — capital reserves and loans from three local banks. No tuition or tax dollars are being used to cover construction costs.

Central Michigan University has saved $10 million that will be used for the first part of the project, while the remaining $18.5 million will come from local financing. Authorization for the loans will likely show up on the board’s December or February 2012 agenda, said David Burdette, vice president of Finance and Administrative Services.

“We don’t want to take that financing authorization until we need it,” Burdette said. “Once we take the loan, we’d have to start paying interest on it.”

At Thursday’s meeting, trustees also approved a motion for administrators to contract with PNC Bank for an increase in CMU’s monthly line of credit. The university’s current credit limit is $1 million and would increase to as much as $5 million under the adopted resolution.

The apartments will contain kitchens, washers and dryers, air conditioning, cable television, WiFi and optional furnishings.

“It is designed to be a graduate student housing apartment project that is basically going to be energy-efficient, very functional, and at the same time, aesthetically pleasing,” said John Fisher, associate vice president of Residences and Auxiliary Services.

Real Food on Campus

For the Real Food on Campus project, money will come from the Residences and Auxiliary Services replacement and renovation fund pool.

“It is in great need of some renovation and refurbishing,” Fisher said. “It is our largest and busiest residential restaurant on this campus.”

The facility serves about 2,000 students and has not been significantly remodeled for nine years, he said.

The Bovee University Center’s construction will continue through the fall semester, and while the renovations will not be completely finished by the time students arrive, building visitors can expect to see a number of new additions. The UC will include a post office, game area, Starbucks coffee shop, an open lounge seating area and several large and small conference rooms.

A new women’s restroom and a unisex restroom will also be installed.

“The third floor east wing is currently one of the completed portions on the project,” said Steve Lawrence, vice president of Facilities Management. “The game area is to be finished this month and the lower east wing will be done in August.”

Lawrence said the post office, Presidential Conference Room and a few other conference rooms have already been completed.

The last portion of the UC renovations is not expected to be completed until December, Lawrence said. This last portion includes the main floor’s west wing, including the women’s restroom.

The project remains within its original proposed budget of $5 million so far, Lawrence said.

Midland senior Ryan Dingman said he is excited for the renovations to be completed from what he has seen of them.

“I’ve taken a walk around the construction areas and it just looks great so far,” he said.

Dingman said he is looking forward to the student-oriented feel the new additions will have.

“The new lounge areas are going to make it easier for people to just relax,” Dingman said. “There is going to be a lot of new furniture for students to just sit down and take a break.”

Brighton senior Brandon Pach said he is looking forward to seeing the finished product as well.

Pach said he thinks the construction will help improve the atmosphere in the UC.

“I think it’ll feel more chill and relaxing,” he said. “I don’t really think of it right now as a place to go relax. I wish I would’ve had something like this before my senior year.”