Plans to realign the department are developing to create better synergy within the organization, which manages areas including residence life, financial aid and admissions. The Dean of Students position may also be replaced with another title depending on the reorganization of the department.

Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services Steven Johnson said the reorganization has been planned for more than a year, beginning in the spring of 2011.

“This is somewhat of a new combination, taking the services that are related to enrollment and aligning them with the student life functions,” Johnson said. “And the goal here is to create a better synergy of all of the functions toward pro-student engagement and student services throughout the university.”

Johnson said the Dean of Students position may receive a new title depending on the divisions that fall under the job’s supervision after reorganization.

“The dean’s position is critical to that because, historically, it is focused on the student life functions and co-curricular activities and services. Assuredly, there will be an appropriate level position to maintain that oversight directly and report to my office,” Johnson said. “What we’re determining now is how it will be aligned in context with the larger organization. It may still be a Dean of Students, or it may be a different title for the position, depending on what divisions fall under that position.”

Director of Public Relations Steve Smith said a search may be held for candidates for the dean position, but provided no insight on the future of current Interim Dean of Students Tony Voisin.

“Upon finalizing decisions regarding the reorganization, it will be determined to what extent a search is needed to identify the most qualified person to assume this role,” Smith said in an email.

Voisin said his future role with the university is up to Johnson and the reorganization of the department.

“That is not my decision, as it is entirely up to Vice President Johnson,” Voisin said in an email. “I am serving in my current position as Interim Dean of Students while VP Johnson completes his reorganization. I am also continuing to supervise the Office of Student Life as Director during this time as well.”

Johnson said similar alignments of enrollment and student services have been seen at other universities, and the reorganization could lead to a more efficient department.

“If you do some research and look at how other colleges and universities are doing this, it’s not a new model,” Johnson said. “I think it’s a developing model organizationally with the whole goal being a centralized focus from the pre-recruitment stage that admissions manages through the graduation and alumni stage.”

The event, “Always There: A Program About the Dangers of Stalking,” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Charles V. Park Library Auditorium.

The topics to be addressed include the dangers of stalking, the types of perpetrators and ways to help someone who is or has been stalked, according to the Facebook event.

Sexual Aggression Services Director Steve Thompson said the event is being held to remind students of the resources available for them throughout campus in difficult times. Thompson said the number of stalking cases on campus is hard to measure, given 24/7 use of mobile devices and the Internet but estimated approximately 300 cases of sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment and stalking were reported during the previous academic year.

“I think we’ve got great resources here, but sometimes people forget what they learned in the ‘Zebras’ program,” Thompson said. “We’re doing an event to remind people of the resources they have.”

A lot of CMU students have misconceptions of what stalking is, he said. The event will address various issues of stalking, including cyberstalking and cyberharassment, which he said are on the rise.

“Stalking is a pretty big issue throughout the country,” Thompson said. “A lot of people don’t have a lot of practical information about it. The program will address what stalking is, what it is not and what people can do about it.”

Jeff Browne, Mount Pleasant Police Department public information officer, and other members of the police force work alongside SAPA as a support system for students.

Some people feel comfortable talking to SAPA first, then come back to the police station to report situations, Browne said. In 2011, 20 cases of stalking and sexual harassment were reported in Mount Pleasant, a 50-percent decrease from 2010 (42) and 2009 (51).

In the past, there weren’t a lot of people for survivors to talk to, Browne said, but with the development of SAPA, victims feel more comfortable talking to someone they don’t know and can’t see.

“It’s a great organization,” Browne said. “The volunteers are tremendous. They give up so much of their time to help others.”

Tony Voisin, interim dean of students, said SAPA offers critical support for survivors and victims, which has been woven into the fabric of student life at CMU.

“We appreciate all the work SAPA does for CMU,” Voisin said. “It’s an incredible resource on a difficult topic.”

SAPA’s 50 advocates offer free, confidential on-call and online chats 24/7 alongside a police force to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students.

“CMU has the best response system in the country,” Thompson said. “We are the model that other places use.”

People who attend the event will come away educated, enlightened and glad they attended, he said.

- Staff Reporter Jordan Spence contributed to this report.

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.”

Friday, Isabella County Judge Paul H. Chamberlain will decide the legality of the FA strike. FA members picketed during a strike Monday before being ordered to return to class by Isabella County Judge Mark Duthie for Chamberlain.

If Chamberlain rules in the FA’s favor, the university does not have a plan to implement.

“If the judge fails to continue the restraining order, we have choices to make,” Shapiro said.

The administration also does not yet have a plan to reimburse students or take other action in response to Monday’s classes the FA has already missed. About 60 percent of classes on campus are taught by FA members.

University President George Ross and David Burdette, vice president of Finance and Administrative Services, joined Shapiro to meet with about 50 student leaders on campus Thursday to take questions about regarding the FA.

Interim Dean of Students Tony Voisin and Associate Vice President of Financial Services and Reporting Barrie Wilkes were also present.

The event was organized by the Student Government Association, who selected and invited the leaders.

Ross said students should not have been subjected to the confusion they experienced on the first day of class.

“I apologize for both groups because we shouldn’t be where we are right now,” he said.

Shapiro said he valued the faculty extremely, and wanted them to have a contract.

“We have wonderful faculty members — I know these faculty members and take pride in their accomplishments,” Shapiro said.

The administrative members present agreed there was a great deal of misinformation being promoted, and Shapiro urged students to be “critical comsumers.”

“Don’t believe everything you hear,” he said.

Visit our landing page for more coverage on the FA contract conflict.

“This unexpected opportunity arose after Dr. Bruce Roscoe decided to return to his faculty position in the HEV (Human Environmental Studies) Department a few weeks ago,” Voisin said in an email. “I have spent my career here at Central Michigan University serving students and am very excited to be able to continue to do so in this important role as Interim Dean of Students.”

Voisin was also involved with the Take Care Initiative on campus several years ago, defined as encouragement for students and other members of the CMU community to pay attention to what is going on around them, notice potentially serious situations, and respond to the best of their ability to influence a better outcome.

“The initiative is a way to get people to look out for themselves and others, to make good decisions, and to get help from others when needed,” Voisin said on CMU’s public relations website.

The Dean of Students Office is located in Ronan 290.

“Please join me in congratulating Tony on his interim appointment,” Shapiro said.

“There are so many things to do here,” the director of Student Life said. “Don’t just sit in your room.”

Voisin said there are about 270 student organizations at CMU, including academic, recreational and social clubs. He said CMU has a great tradition of encouraging students to experience different parts of the university.

“Everyone’s not interested in everything, but there usually is something there for everyone,” he said.

Voisin said academics should remain the top priority for students, but that does not mean they cannot also have fun on campus. He said his office helps students get involved in the community and develop leadership skills.

“The Office of Student Life supports programs that encourage community and individual development to connect students with the university,” he said.

Student Activities Coordinator Damon Brown said campus involvement helps students build relationships and feel connected to the university. Brown said students develop team spirit during campus activities throughout the school year, including homecoming, Up All Night and Sibs Weekend.

“Once students feel they’re a part of something, they want to stay,” he said.

MAINstage is the biggest activity for freshmen because it is the first event to expose students to the numerous organizations at CMU, Brown said. He said it allows students to develop their interests and sample from the various groups on campus.

“It gives the student a chance to get a taste of everything,” he said.

Brown urges students to step outside of their comfort zones and discover everything the university has to offer.

“If you stay within your bubble … you’re going to miss out on a great experience,” he said.

Shawna Ross, coordinator of the Volunteer Center, said volunteering also is an important part of campus involvement. She said the Volunteer Center helps students become active citizens by developing local and global perspectives on community needs.

Ross said the center encourages students to ask themselves, “What are some ways for me to give back to the community that I’m in?”

Volunteering helps students who are undecided in their majors explore their interests, she said. A student considering a career in education might get involved with the Lunch Buddies elementary student mentoring program to gain experience working with children.

“It’s a great opportunity to expand their learning and make new friends,” she said.

In addition to visiting the Volunteer Center in the University Center, Ross said students can access the database of volunteer activities on OrgSync and sign up at their convenience.

“This is their opportunity to learn outside the classroom,” she said. “It helps them just learn in a different dimension.”

“Alcohol is our biggest case here, but marijuana has definitely spiked this year,” the student behavioral administrator said.

The combination of record enrollment and confusion over Michigan’s Medical Marijuana law has added to the numbers, he said.

Tony Voisin, director of Student Life, said there have been more than 400 alcohol violations so far this academic year; last year’s total was 409.

“Last year we had around 65 (marijuana) violations,” Voisin said. “This year’s violations certainly surpassed that number several weeks ago … I can tell you by the numbers this year already, with another month … to go, (we) have exceeded last year’s numbers.”

Witt said most of the marijuana cases he has seen pertain to the medical marijuana card. It has caused a lot of confusion among students, he said, and this frustrates him.

“I think it is a shame that the voters passed it and now the legislature won’t give us the framework of it,” Witt said.

Vincent Cavataio, Student Government Association president-elect and Shelby Township senior, said the issue of growing alcohol and marijuana violations has not been brought to the attention of the SGA, but it does concern him.

He said SGA could take a stance on the issue supporting a university initiative to inform students of the law’s implications.

“That’s one thing that we could definitely do and inform students of the consequences of their actions,” Cavataio said.

He also said he was interested in the demographics of those found in violation of alcohol and marijuana policies at CMU because, if most are freshmen, informational sessions at orientation could help resolve issues before they come to a head.

Lowell freshman Al Calvi believes the policy is unclear for students who may have the medicinal marijuana card and lodge at residence halls.

“I don’t think anyone should be allowed to smoke (marijuana) on campus,” Calvi said. “But if a student is prescribed marijuana they should be allowed to have it in their home. If it isn’t illegal (for people with the card) then why should it be an issue for the school, as long as they are not lighting up on campus?”

Witt said universities and schools are drug-free zones even if a student has a medical marijuana card.

“Students have a card and give (their prescribed marijuana) to their roommate,” Witt said. “That is not the way the card works.”

The law has posed issues on campus, Voisin said, because students are either claiming they are not aware of the law or of university policy.

“I don’t buy that (story), clearly you know university policy,” Voisin said. “They’re clearly told when they show up at a residence hall, probably seven times, what the policies are.”

Dealing with violations

Witt works full time in the Office of Student Life as student behavioral administrator after having worked as its conduct proceedings officer for several years.

The position helps coordinate university efforts pertaining to student conduct and discipline, he said

Voisin said Witt is the perfect person for the office.

“His experience as a residence hall director (and) police officer, along with his degree in criminal justice, provide him with excellent investigative skills and a very strong knowledge of student issues,” Voisin said.

Voisin and Witt said they do not want students to slip between the cracks.

“We don’t ever want to have the perception that we have a fast-food window for discipline for student conduct,” Witt said. “When someone has an alcohol or drug violation and you just give him or her a fine, how does that help without getting the context of the student? Where else have they showed up on the radar? Are there other underlying things that are hampering their growth as a student and an adult?”

Both presidential candidates, Grand Blanc junior Robert Brooks and Shelby Township senior Vincent Cavataio, and respective vice presidential candidates, Brighton sophomore Colleen McNeely and Jackson junior Bryant English, have proposed changing SGA into a unicameral body.

Currently the SGA is a bicameral system with a Senate and a House. The Senate comprises 23 members representing the various colleges on campus. The House consists of representatives from all registered student organizations receiving funding from the Student Budget Allocations Committee.

Present SGA President Brittany Mouzourakis said favor for a bicameral or unicameral system, both at Central Michigan University and statewide, has been recurring and is currently trending toward single-body assemblies.

The Garden City senior said CMU is just one of a shrinking number of bicameral student governments in Michigan.

“We’d just be following pace,” she said.

Mouzourakis said she and her vice president, Muskegon senior Dave Breed, had discussed making the change to a unicameral assembly this year, but it never came to fruition.

A major reason for the change, cited by Breed, Mouzourakis and both presidential tickets, is widespread apathy and lack of participation in the House. RSOs are required to participate to receive SBAC funding, which Mouzourakis said results in many students being at SGA meetings just because they have to be.

“When I speak to the House, sometimes I see people who genuinely don’t want to be there, and I think that’s a problem,” she said.

Wyoming senior Katie Birdsall, the SGA representative for the Student Enrichment Council, is opposed to the change, which she said would result in a loss of representation for RSOs on campus.

“I don’t really like that because the representation we get here is really important to us,” Birdsall said. “Even though I do other things while I’m here, I do take a lot of information back to my RSO and we use it. I think it’s a little naive to say (representatives) don’t participate.”

Breed said one compromise that was discussed was having “all-RSO meetings” once a month, to discuss what the SGA assembly has been doing, take questions and discussions and hear from speakers within the university.

“Administrators still want to talk to students … and SGA has traditionally been that place,” Breed said. “I hope if (the new president and vice president) do move to a unicameral system, they do put something like that in place, at least once a month.”

The Brooks/McNeely campaign is proposing an immediate change to the SGA at the beginning of next semester, creating a 35-member assembly with two representatives from each college and three graduate-student representatives. The Cavataio/English campaign wants to take the fall semester to create a transition team and determine the best way to become unicameral and how the assembly should be composed, and then make the change as soon as the spring semester.

Mouzourakis said to create the unicameral assembly, the House will first have to vote to dissolve itself. Then the vote will be taken to a student body referendum, where at least half the number of students who voted in this week’s SGA election must vote to dissolve the House.

Assistant Dean of Students Tony Voisin said SGA will continue to operate either way, and that getting enough students to vote for the referendum will be up to the SGA members.

“Presented properly … depending on how they put a spin on it, it could potentially be easy,” Voisin said.

The university is looking into wait listing. Some classes that tend to fill up quickly will have a wait list, so when a student drops, it is immediately filled by another student who needs the class, said Registrar Karen Hutslar.

A number of students hold spots in classes for other students, said Diane Fleming, associate director of client services for the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid. In the student bulletin there is a note in bold that explains students must register for their own academic classes.

“The policy is set up for a reason,” Fleming said. “Registration favors upperclassmen first and when students violate that, there has to be some kind of consequence.”

If a student is found in violation of this policy, they are brought into the Registrar’s Office.

“If we become aware of a student saving a class for another student we call them in,” Hutslar said. “We delete their registrations and put them on hold to sign up until phase two of registration. We then send them to the Office of Student Life.”

Clarkston freshman Lauren Culver said the policy sounds a little strict, especially when it comes to completely wiping out a student’s classes.

Tony Voisin, assistant dean and director of Student Life, is contacted when students violate the policy. If a student were to violate the policy, the Registrar’s Office can make the decision to refer them to Student Life for a possible code of conduct violation, Voisin said.

As the credit hour total for a student increases, the number of courses available to them becomes limited.

Freshmen have a larger selection to choose from, and to hold those classes is not fair to upperclassmen, Hutslar said.

Testing the new program will hopefully help to solve the problem of students holding classes, she said.