Four things that the editorial board is thankful for
The Thanksgiving weekend is a great time every year for people to think about what they are thankful for.
Despite an up-and-down academic year thus far at Central Michigan University in which we have had several complaints, the Central Michigan Life editorial board has several things it is thankful for this semester.
Tailgate
We are thankful that students took a stand against the new tailgating procedures earlier this semester. Prior to the beginning of the home football season, a 21-person committee that included just three students decided to set a new tailgating policy, which included placing a limit of six beers or one pint of alcohol per person and banned external sound systems from Lot 63 outside Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Although several good changes were made, such as the addition of an emergency lane and more restrooms, students protested the alcohol limit and sound system ban mainly by moving tailgate to Main Street. By the
Homecoming game Oct. 10 against Eastern Michigan, the ban on external sound systems was lifted and many students returned to tailgate.
Wilbur’s Open Forums
We are thankful that interim University President Kathy Wilbur met with students at several open forums this semester. Wilbur met with about 70 students from the Leadership Program on Oct. 1 in a low-key setting and held several forums in the residence halls. Students had the opportunity for close interaction with the president.
It was nice to see a higher-up such as Wilbur take time to listen to students. Former University President Michael Rao had limited interaction for several years before leaving CMU in June for Virginia Commonwealth University. The next university president should follow Wilbur’s example and meet with students on a regular basis.
Central Alert
We are thankful the Central Alert System is refined. On Oct. 19, in response to a Music Building evacuation, an emergency broadcast was sent out around 10 p.m., waking many students, families and residents with a garbled message.
CMU Police Chief Bill Yeagley is making sure this does not happen again by training operators and making sure that messages will only go out to those who need to hear them. We also are thankful Yeagley admitted guilt to the problems. The Central Alert System is an effective way to warn students about on-campus hazards and is worth keeping, if it works correctly.
So far, the improvements have made the system better and should continue to do so in to the future.
Soccer success
We are thankful the CMU soccer team won the Mid-American Conference Championship.
Normally, it is the football and wrestling teams that garner national attention at CMU with championships. In coach Tom Anagnost’s first full year, the soccer team went on a 17-game unbeaten streak and a 13-game shutout streak. This year was the first time the team appeared in the NCAA Tournament, beating No. 24 Purdue in the first round, 2-0, and losing to No. 5 Notre Dame in the second round.
The soccer team should work to match that success in the next few years.
