Kanine, Ross react to recent CM Life stories
Central Michigan University Board of Trustees Chair William Kanine and CMU President George Ross shared their views on recent campus news stories in a press conference after Thursday's trustee meeting.
The two discussed the impact of Central Michigan Life articles on the recent cancellation of chemistry 101 classes, cancer scares among faculty members in Smith Hall and a string of couch fires on Saturday.
Some faculty members voiced their concerns about class cancellations and other issues during the Trustee-Faculty Liaison meeting on Wednesday. However, their chance to voice their opinion to the entire board was missed at the meeting on Thursday.
"I can't speak for why or why not the faculty did not speak at the board meeting today," Ross said.
Ross added that although they have done exhaustive examinations of Smith Hall, he is still concerned about the issue.
Ross is a cancer survivor and said he takes issues like these seriously.
"Cancer is scary," Ross said. "We have met with faculty in Smith Hall. I've personally met with them. I know they've met with the dean. They've met with staff about concerns. We think we have done the appropriate thing with testing and sharing information with (the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)."
In regards to the chemistry cancellations, Kanine said he has heard few concerns from faculty members about the subject.
“As a board, we’ve addressed and continued to try to refine and promote shared governance and transparency and all those things," he said. "I think we’re doing our job to put that out there. Why someone doesn’t participate in a board meeting, who knows, but I think the good thing is it’s available. We’re very receptive.”
Kanine also believes students need to watch out for each other in light of the couch burnings, which have erupted as a danger to the campus community at large. He said it is the responsibility of students to not destroy the city and their reputations with a single couch fire and party.
Kanine said he and other trustees openly support the city's ordinance, including its 300-feet arrest radius clause.
