Elijah Mullen of Freeland was killed Dec. 27 after being stuck by a pick up truck while walking to a friend’s house in dense fog.

The driver of the truck, Thomas M. Menard, 37, of Freeland, was traveling about 55 miles per hour when his vehicle collided with the 19-year-old at 7:23 p.m. Menard who was uninjured, stopped his vehicle to assist the fatally injured teen.

Mullen was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiners office said Mullen’s death was caused by a blunt force trauma to the back of the head.

Tittabawasse township police said that Menard was not intoxicated and was driving the speed limit at the time of the accident. Mullen was also not intoxicated.

According to the Mullen’s mother, Nancy E. Gehrke, 44, of Midland County Bullock Creek, he often made mile long walks to and from friends’ houses. Mullen was leaving his girlfriend of five years, Stephanie Payk, 19, of Freeland and an FSU pharmacy student, that fatal night.

“I miss him so much, but I know he is in a better place watching down on us all,” said Payk. “Eli was one of the nicest people I’ve known and I feel so lucky to have been a part of his life.”

Gehrke said to the Saginaw newspaper that she has no hard feelings toward Menard. Payk also shares the same feelings.

“It was just a freak accident and Eli was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Payk. “There’s no one to blame.”

Gehrke said she appreciated that Menard stopped to help her son instead of driving off. Police say that Menard, who had a clean driving record, is having difficulty with the accident.

Mullen was majoring in Applied Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. Gehrke recalls her son’s original aspirations towards being a teacher; however, after job shadowing with a chiropractor, he changed his mind.

“From then on he wanted to become a chiropractor,” she said.

The A-student also enjoyed playing golf and spent four years on the Freeland high school varsity golf team. He also enjoyed teaching his younger brother sports.

The sophomore was also an RA at Merrill/Travis hall. Co-worker, Keith Horvath, television and digital media production and theatre arts major, remembers Mullen as a great person who really wanted to make others happy. Horvath also recalls Mullen as helpful and says he really made a big impact on his life.

“Eli was awesome,” said Horvath. “He would have made an even bigger impact on the world.”

Mullen’s funeral was held Dec. 30 at the Freeland Chapel of Cunningham-Taylor Funeral Homes at 7 p.m. Mullen is survived by his mother Nancy Gehrke, his father Daniel Mullen of Sault Ste. Marie, sister Amanda Mullen, 22 and brother George Mullen, 9.

This incident marks the fourth death from the FSU campus, three of which were students.

It is a moment that many students look forward to and often set a countdown to. It can be “the light at the end of the tunnel” for what may, at times, seem like an endless journey.

What is this highly anticipated event that all students dream of? Graduation, commencement, freedom, or whatever you wish to call it, it is a milestone in the lives of many individuals.

Ferris State University hosted its fall semester commencement ceremony on Dec. 20 in the Wink Arena Student Convocation Center. The commencement consisted of two ceremonies.

The morning ceremony recognized graduates from the colleges of Business, Arts and Sciences, and Professional and Technological Studies. The afternoon ceremony recognized the graduates from the colleges of Allied Health Sciences, Education and Human Services, and Technology.

The graduates consisted of Ferris students from both the main Big Rapids campus as well as the university’s off campus locations. In total, the commencement awarded over 830 graduates with diplomas and certificates for their educational achievements.

Amongst those graduates was a group of 19 nursing students who were the pioneers of the new three semester accelerated nursing program. This dedicated group of students earned their degrees in this high demand profession in a fraction of the time that it takes many others in the field of study.

One nursing graduate Abigail Young said, “even thought it’s over we keep looking for the next assignment.”

Another graduate, Vicky Scott, said, “I keep thinking that I’m going to wake up and find out the whole thing was a dream.”

The commencement speaker was Khagendra Thepa, who is a professor of Surveying and Engineering at Ferris and was the recipient of the university’s 2008 Distinguished Teacher award.

Thepa reminded the graduates of something his grandfather had told him about education “of all the kinds of wealth, education can’t be taxed, taken by the government, is not burdensome, cannot be stolen by your siblings, and the more you use it the more it grows.”

Thepa also reminded them that it is okay to make mistakes because as Albert Einstein once said, “anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”

A special story was recognized in the afternoon ceremony. Brian Tomcyzk, a history education major, was a driven student that continued his education while struggling with an illness.

Tomcyzk unfortunately was not able to receive his diploma at the ceremony because he died from the cancer that he had been battling. His wife however was able to receive the diploma at the commencement ceremony on his behalf.

A history education scholarship was created in memory of Tomcyzk in the hopes that his desire to teach can be fulfilled by other students.

President Eisler reminded the graduates that this is only the beginning of what lies in store for them as they grow and continue to learn. He wished them the best of luck in their future careers and endeavors.

Due to the overconsumption of paper and printing resources, free printing will no longer be available in the residence halls.

Student Technology Services announced that it would be eliminating printing services in the halls due to an overconsumption of the budget allocated for the materials.

According to a Web page on the Student Technology Services (STS) website, a budget of $10,500 is allocated to cover both fall and spring semester. However, in fall 2008 more than 1,050 reams of paper that have been used in the halls for printing along with other expenses including toner and imaging drums has absorbed the yearlong allocation.

To respond to this overuse, the university has elected to eliminate the printing services in the residence halls as well as the West Campus Community Center for the remainder of the year.

Various Hall Directors and Desk Service Managers have been decidedly tight lipped on the matter while students are angered that they will now have to go to FLITE or other locations and pay per sheet for their printing.

“It’s definitely inconvenient when you are used to having the luxury of being able to use it.” said Amy Zahn, a junior in the Music Industry Management Program and Desk Services Assistant in Henderson and Puterbaugh Halls. “However after working the desk, I’ve seen a lot of students abuse that privilege so I understand where Ferris is coming from,”

STS is reviewing possible solutions to help better control the use of the printing in the future, but there is no word yet if emergency funds will be used to allow for continuance of printing in the residence halls for the Spring 2009 semester.

Student Government President Amber Balmer says that they will be working on several things for this next semester, one of which is Student Government’s Awards Gala that it hosts at the end of the year.

Balmer says that because Student Government has reached 50 years of service to Ferris, she hopes to make the Gala an even bigger event than it has been in previous years and hopes to make it more inclusive, allowing more people to attend.

The Student Government Scholastic Leadership Award, a small scholarship offered by Student Government, will be presented during the Gala. More information about the scholarship will be given at a later time.

Balmer is also hoping to get Student Government working on a project to create a student tutoring service, separate from that of the Academic Support Center, that will focus on more specific subject areas. She also says that she hopes to even get some professors to offer their services to students as well.

Balmer is trying to set up an RSO tour as well in hopes to try to get more RSOs working with Student Government. The plan is for Student Government representatives to travel to the different RSO meetings to allow their members to better acquaint themselves will some of the representatives and connect with them on a more personal level.

The RSO tour will also give the RSOs a chance to address any of their concerns that they may have and allow them to present any ideas that they have about things that need to be done around campus.

Due to the increasing number of bicycles on campus and some recent concerns from students regarding the bike racks on campus, the Student Government Campus Affairs Committee recently compiled a report evaluating the status of bike racks at the academic buildings and residence halls around campus.

The report deals with all the bike racks on campus but is primarily concerned with areas with inadequate bicycle parking. Some areas on campus also do not have any bike racks and students are forced to lock their bikes to railings, benches, and trees.

The report was presented to Will Gasper, Supervisor of the Grounds Department, and Michael Hughes, Vice-President of the Physical Plant, so they could work with the Campus Affairs Committee to make improvements to the bicycle racks.

Student Government also recently wrapped up its annual food drive competition, “Coming Together for the Holidays” and was able to raise well over 6,000 pounds of food with what was collected from the Registered Student Organizations alone. The food totals from the residence halls and other separate competitions were not available at the time.

Delta Sigma Pi, the professional business fraternity, claimed first place in the competition, Pre-Physical Therapy Club took second, and the Graphic Arts Association was third.

The long awaited arrival of Gmail to Ferris State University has finally come.

Students could access their new email on Jan. 5 after it had been delayed in November.

With many students still on holiday break during Gmail’s introduction, Information Technology Services has not been able to gauge whether or not Gmail is a hit or miss.

“It’s too early to assess the student email project,” said John Urbanick, Chief Technology Officer. “We’d like to give students time to use Gmail and get familiar with the new email interface/features.”

Although ITS has no official results, some students give the new email rave reviews.

“I like Gmail a lot better than Imail,” said Liz Belliel, radiology major. “Imail was too hard to get signed in and stay connected.”

Ashley Huntey, a pre-nursing student, thinks that Gmail is a lot easier to navigate because it is like a real email address. Huntey also thinks that Gmail will be more efficient for students.

In addition to Gmail being more efficient, student Matt Bellgraph, construction management major, thinks it will be easier to tell potential employers the new email address over the phone.

Many students seem to be pleased with Gmail, however some students are not so thrilled with the change.

“I didn’t like, especially the layout,” said Keith Horvath, a Television and Digital Media Production and Theatre Arts major. “It feels the same as Imail only it doesn’t look as nice”.

Although faculty and staff members still have Lotus notes, some are okay with it.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” said Helen Soberis, Flite Circulation Dept employee.

ITS is considering a voluntary student survey to gather information about what students think about Gmail. The survey results would be combined with the amount of support calls to TAC to give a balanced review of Gmail. ITS estimates they will have results at the end of the month.

“Let Freedom Ring” Student Posterboard Contest
On Wednesday, Jan. 14 submissions for the Martin Luther King, Jr. “Let Freedom Ring” poster board competition are due to the Office of Multicultural Student Services in Rankin Student Center 135. Submissions can be made by individuals, Registered Student Organizations, or hall council. Posters must deliver a clear and positive message about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as it relates to this year’s theme “Let Freedom Ring”, be no smaller than 11x173, and must be able to be mounted on an easel or table for display. For more information contact Michael Wade at x5029.

Last Day to Add/Drop Classes
Thursday, Jan. 15 at 5 p.m. is the last day to add or drop full semester classes or partial semesters 1, A and D. For more information contact the Records Office at x2792.

OMSS Annual MLK Freedom March
On Sunday, Jan. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. the Office of Multiracial Student Services will host a Freedom March to kickoff the 2009 MLK Week Celebration. The march will start at Merrill/Travis Residence Hall and end at the Rankin Student Center Lobby. Refreshments and a special presentation will take place at the end of the march. For more information contact Michael Wade at x5029.

MLK Soul Food Dinner
On Sunday, Jan. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Café Ferris there will be a meal sponsored by the National Society for Minorities in Hospitality. This event is free and open to the public. For more information contact Michael Wade or Bonnie Wright at x5029.

MLK Week - Tunnel of Oppression - Room of Reflection
From Sunday, Jan. 18 through Thursday, Jan. 22 in Rankin 153 and Rankin 155 there will be a multimedia presentation that is free and open to all. This presentation is designed to challenge peoples’ ideas and perceptions of issues dealing with oppression. This event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. For more information contact Michael Wade at x5029.

MLK Day- No classes
On Monday, Jan. 19 Ferris State University will celebrate Martin Luther King Day and classes will not be held. Administrative offices will remain open.

Entertainment Unlimited Presents Dan Cummins
On Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. in the Rankin Center Dome Room Entertainment Unlimited presents comedian Dan Cummins. This event is free to attend. For more information contact Jalena Strayer at x2610.

Italy/France Study Away Program Meeting
On Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in IRC 109 there will be an informational meeting for the Italy/ France short term study away trip. For more information contact Tara Benzing at x2451.

TURLOCK, Calif. - They are now fixtures in every classroom.

Teachers returned from winter break to find a bathroom- in-a-box on their desk, complete with toilet paper and all the accessories, marked “For Lockdown Only.”

Staff members assembled the kits to use during longterm lockdowns like the four hours Patterson High School students spent in their classrooms last fall when fights broke out on campus.

Shielded by their classmates, Patterson teens used trash cans as toilets until police allowed students and teachers outside.

The incident spurred school superintendents across Stanislaus County, Calif., to discuss ways to make sure history did not repeat itself.

Hence, in Turlock, the emergency toilets. Maintenance workers put together 701 of them over the winter break, enough to supply every classroom in the district that needed one. They cost $20 each, or about $14,000 total - the equivalent of nearly 200 high school textbooks.

“It’s a small price to pay for personal dignity,” said Patricia McGuire, a district assistant superintendent.

Most lockdowns last just minutes. But some can last hours, like the two-hour lockdown experienced by several Turlock, Calif., elementary, middle and high schools last fall.

School violence is only one reason to keep students in their classrooms. Police will tell administrators to lock down a school if they are chasing a criminal suspect or making a raid nearby.

Sixth-grade teacher Melanie Chancellor still remembers what it was like three years ago to be locked inside her Crowell Elementary classroom for almost two hours.

“I had kids who needed to go,” Chancellor said. “So I was like, ‘We all have to hold it.’ It was hard on the kids.”

Chancellor eyed a spot next to her desk where she plans to set up her emergency lavatory. The toilet comes with a plastic seat, steadied by steel legs, and a plastic bag in lieu of a toilet bowl.

On Monday, Turlock High teenagers looked quizzically at the plain cardboard box that housed their classroom commode. Their teacher had offered extra credit for whoever guessed what it contained.

A student began to read the contents: a roll of toilet paper, disposable liners, a tarp (to create privacy in the corner of a room), chemical packs, hand sanitizer wipes, disposal liners and, of course, a folding toilet.

Then came the laughter.

The students, understandably giggly and embarrassed about the thought of relieving themselves among their peers, claimed they could wait. Under But when you gotta go ...

President George W. Bush approved as much as $17.4 billion in aid to combat the prospective collapse of General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC, two of the three financially strapped major U.S. auto companies.

Ford Motor Co., the third, believed that unless its financial situation continued to decline they would not need federal assistance. The money will be taken from the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program that was originally set up in October to bail out Wall Street firms, banks, and other financial institutions.

The loans however did come with a string of conditions, such as requiring that the loans be paid back, a limit to be placed on executive compensation on the three year loan, and a March 31 deadline to prove that the companies can adequately restructure themselves to ensure survival, show that they can earn a profit and achieve a positive net worth, or the loans will be recalled.

Eight Republican and six Democratic congressional representatives from Michigan, the home of the three major U.S. auto companies and the state that would be hardest hit by the rejected bill, all voted for the measure. The ninth Republican and final Michigan congressman did not participate in the vote.

Just recently after bailing out Wall Street, the banks, and financial institutions, Congress seemed reluctant to aid the auto industries, leaving their future and three million jobs, many of which in Michigan, on the line.

For months now the Michigan based Big Three: Chrysler, GM, and Ford, have been attempting to acquire financial aid from the federal government and were unsuccessful in their attempts to obtain approval for the allocation of the funds from Congress.

The White House and the Treasury Department were forced to take matters into their own hands after Congress refused to aid the failing auto industry.

Before Bush issued the auto loans, the House of Representatives proposed and passed a $14 billion bailout package to aid the struggling U.S. automakers with a 237-170 vote. Republican opposition of the bill however foreshadowed the bill’s 52-35 rejection in the Senate.

Republicans opposed the bill because they felt that U.S. carmakers should align their wages and benefits with those paid by Toyota, Honda, and Nissan in the U.S. and they opposed stricter environmental rules that carmakers would need to meet in the House-version of the plan.

Several other Republicans who voted for the bill represented neighboring Midwestern states that are home to auto plants and would be negatively affected by the failure of the auto industry.

FSU conducted a test of its Emergency Outdoor Broadcast System just a few days before Christmas.

The test was done to ensure that the broadcast system was working properly. The test included an eight second warning siren which was followed by an audible announcement.

The announcement stated, “This is a test of the Ferris Emergency Outdoor Broadcast System. This is only a test.”

The system was first implemented earlier this fall. It uses seven poles located throughout campus and has speakers mounted at 40 feet to ensure maximum range of the announcement.

With campus emergencies occurring at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois recently, Ferris wants to be prepared to get a message out as quick as possible if a situation were to arise.

The outdoor system is another technique used in addition to the recent implementation of the Text Message Alert System, as well as usual means of contacting students and staff. Other methods include e-mail alerts as well as television and radio announcements.

Other new security measures for the 2008-2009 school year include “Blue Light” phones located at residence halls with card readers, emergency phones located throughout campus, and a new electronic message board located at the Wheeler Pavilion. Future plans look toward placing phones inside classrooms.

In a recent statement concerning the Outdoor Broadcast System, Chief Martin Bledsoe of Ferris Public Safety said, “The Emergency Outdoor Broadcast System provides the University another layer to its emergency planning and response during a crisis situation.”