Year in review: Revisit the biggest news headlines of 2015
As 2015 comes to an end, Central Michigan Life is looking back at some of the biggest stories of the year. This year's stories kept our reporters busy, starting with President George Ross deciding to stay at CMU instead of moving to the University of Nebraska and ending with a hit and run that tragically killed a Macomb freshman.
We've done our best to document the lives of CMU students, whether good or bad. Here are some highlights from the year you created. Here's to the next one.
January 9 After being considered for a job as the president of the University of Nebraska, President George Ross removed himself from the search. Ross shared this decision in a university-wide press release, saying his "heart was here" at CMU.
January 14 No charges were filed for the death of 18-year-old Dearborn native Michael Hartnett found dead in Fabiano Pond on Oct.5. A medical examiner determined Michael Hartnett drowned after becoming submerged in the pond "while intoxicated in cold weather."
February 19 Grawn Hall was approved to undergo a $10.8 million renovation to encourage students to spend more time in the College of Business Administration. The money will be used to add 6,600 square feet to the building. Construction is underway and is set to be completed by the end of summer 2017.
February 19 Isabella County Trial Court Judge Paul Chamberlain issued a written opinion and an order to dismiss the the Levitt v. Felton case. The court case came about after CMU student Zachary Felton created a parody Twitter account of local lawyer Todd Levitt. A suit was filed for slander and defamation, but Chamberlain ruled the parody account was protected under the First Amendment.
February 23 The Student Government Association applied for an $327,000 increase for the Campus Programming Fund, which is used to provide financial aid to Program Board, Registered Student Organizations and more. As of Sept. 9, a $125,000 increase was approved by President George Ross after a collective agreement between SGA and the Budget Priorities Committee in February 2015.
March 23 After a racist viral video surfaced from the Oklahoma chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, CMU's own SAE fraternity responded, saying they were disgusted with the actions of the chapter and are not associated with the Oklahoma fraternity. A large board painted with "#NotOurCampus" hung outside the house in protest of the Oklahoma chapter's actions.
March 27 Activists from eight different Michigan universities joined with Central Michigan University students to march through the streets of Lansing and up the steps of the Capitol in protest. Protesters presented a list of 10 demands — insisting legislators ban fracking, decommission Enbridge Inc.'s Line 5 oil pipeline and institute comprehensive reforms on social policies like immigration, education, LGBTQ issues and race.
March 30 Team Episcura, an asset shop for digital artists, took home the top award at the New Venture Competition. More than 70 students from 27 teams competed and more than $75,000 was awarded to student businesses. Next year's New Venture Competition will take place in February.
April 14 Central Michigan Life published the piece "Beyond Binary," documenting the lives of transgender students on campus.
April 23 Mount Pleasant lawyer Todd Levitt filed a Civil Libel lawsuit against The Morning Sun newspaper for its coverage of his previous lawsuit. This case is ongoing. Levitt is seeking $1 million in damages.
May 12 CMU approved the designs of Victoria's Secret clothing to be sold at locations throughout Michigan. Campus PINK representatives worked on bringing the clothing to campus for two years before the designs were approved. The clothing is now available in-store and online.
May 28 Special Olympics of Michigan kicked of its annual summer games at CMU. Its biggest annual event, this year's summer games hosted almost 3,000 athletes and 2,000 volunteers. One Special Olympian was a Special Olympics USA powerlifter.
June 26 Marriage equality became the law of the land after a historic Supreme Court Ruling. A handful of couples rushed to the Isabella County Building to share their vows in a day filled with love and happiness.
July 9 Former football player Brandon Greer was arrested for attempted kidnapping. Greer was sentenced on Dec. 7, and convicted for lying to a police officer, assault and battery and disturbing the peace. Greer will serve nine months in jail and three years of probation.
August 10: The Mount Pleasant City Commission passed a pilot recycling program that would allow more people in the city to recycle. The proposal was talked about for three years before it was passed.
August 17 Hannah's Bark Park opened to honor a CMU student whose dying wish was to have a dog park in Mount Pleasant. Organizers raised almost $40,000 for the park, and its funds were matched dollar for dollar by the city and Union Township. It is located at Mission Creek Park.
September 28 Changes were approved by the Mount Pleasant City Commission to update standards for student-populated neighborhoods north of campus. New policies included setting a limit on how many occupants can live in student housing.
October 4 A total of 122 people were cited or arrested over Homecoming Weekend. The largest amount of students cited were given nuisance party violations.
October 6 An on-campus farmers market opened as a result form the efforts of students in Campus Grow, a registered student organization that focuses on farming and agriculture.
October 10 Third Eye Blind performed at McGuirk Arena for the annual homecoming concert. It was the first time in university history that alcohol was served at the arena.
October 14 Student Government Association's "We're a Culture, Not a Costume" awareness event was met with negative responses from students after the diversity subcommittee utilized students dressed in blackface and other cultural stereotypes in a Halloween costume demonstration.
November 1 Macomb freshman Ryan Tsatsos was killed in a hit and run just after midnight. The driver hit Tsatsos as he was walking on South Crawford road between Bilibrael and Concourse streets. Tsatsos' killer has still not been found.
November 1 Derby Days, the weeklong philanthropy event hosted by Zeta Rho chapter of Sigma Chi, raised thousands of dollars for the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
November 9 Mount Pleasant City Commissioners unanimously voted to accept $60,000 from CMU to aid in the cost of lighting on streets north of campus, with student safety and behavior in mind in the wake of the death of Tsatsos. Union Township, where Tsatsos passed away, is also working on partnering with CMU on safety measures on Crawford Road.
November 12 Students marched through campus, protesting high tuition costs, student debt and unfair wages for campus employees as part of the Million Student March. More than 110 actions took place in 90 cities across the country. Local demands called for required classes on consent, a committee to be formed to explore CMU's investment habits, healthcare for all graduate students and a polling place to be installed on campus.
November 14 Fourteen photojournalism students presented their photo stories on immigration that they completed in an intensive two week workshop with world-renowned photojournalist, Danny Wilcox Frazier. The photos were displayed on banners on fences around campus.
November 15: Organized the night of the Paris attacks, students attended a candlelight vigil to express solidarity with families who lost loved ones in attacks in Paris, Lebanon, Baghdad, Kenya and Syria. CMU had one student studying abroad in Paris, who was just miles from the attacks.
December 4: President George Ross and a panel of students, faculty and community members answered questions about diversity and inclusion in an open forum. The next discussion on diversity and inclusion will take place in January.
