For the week of January 31, 2005

From the 6th floor

The mild weather continues in Upper Michigan. Temperatures have been hanging around the lower 30s for the past several days. It made for excellent conditions at this past weekend's Noquemanon Ski Marathon. More than 1,000 skiers competed in the race.

Wildcats end Michigan win streak at Yost as fans across the country watch

The Northern Michigan University hockey team snapped two streaks on Friday night at Yost Ice Arena with the 4-1 win over the Maize and Blue. The ‘Cats snapped Michigan’s 22-game home-ice winning streak in regular season games and a five-game skid against the Wolverines as four of the losses have been in Ann Arbor. NMU is now 9-9-0 all-time in Ann Arbor.
UM was ranked fourth in the country in this week’s major hockey polls. NMU is now 13-7-5 overall on the season and 11-5-3 in CCHA play. UM falls to 19-7-1 and 16-3-0 respectively.
Tuomas Tarkki again came up big for the ‘Cats with several huge saves on the night. He ended the night with 27 saves and allowed one goal. Tarkki proved why he leads the CCHA in goaltending. In the past five games he is 4-0-1 with a 0.98 goals-against average and a .965 save percentage.
(The 'Cats came away with a split on the weekend, losing 3-1 on Saturday.) NMU is now 13-8-5 overall on the season and 11-6-3 in CCHA play. UM 20-7-1 and 17-3-0 respectively.)

After Friday's victory, Wildcat fans gathered at Damons in Ann Arbor to celebrate.

Former Wildcat players Mike Mielke '81 and Jeff Tascoff '85 with NMU President Les Wong and his wife, Phyllis.	NMU Board of Trustees Chair Karl Weber and NMU hockey coach Dave Shyiak '93.
This group of TKEs got together: Diane McClellan '72, Jack Harris '72, Mike McClellan ' 72, Bob Harris '73, Geno Zieniewicz '72, Dennis Malaney '76 and Larry Brown '73.
Dr. Wong with Molly and Tom '83 Gallagher.

Wildcat Night Across the Country

While most of the parties haven't submitted their photos yet, we do have a few we can share.
Wildcat fans gathered across the midwest to watch the game.

	Jay Pritchard '75 sent us this photo of himself watching the game at The Sports Bar in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Wildcat Night at Vango's in Marquette
	Jeff Skoog '97 and NMU Alumni Association Board of Directors member Juliet Hoffman '94.

Legislative update from the president

There’s not much to say yet on how state funding for higher education will be impacted in fiscal year 2006 (academic year 2005-06). We’ll have a much better idea of how NMU might fare following Governor Jennifer Granholm’s State of the State address and announcement of her executive budget in February. Both outline the starting point from which the state legislature will begin its work on the 2006 state budget. While media reports put the state budget for fiscal year 2006 at a deficit of $400 million, one positive note is that the Governor has been quite vocal since the release of the Cherry Commission report of stressing the importance of Michigan’s K-16 educational system and the university campuses in the state’s economic development. Because there are nearly 40 new state legislators in office, I will be making many trips to Lansing over the next few months, to introduce myself and to tell Northern’s story – a positive and inspiring story, I think – as well to present the required annual testimony before the House and the Senate higher education appropriation subcommittees. I’ll keep you informed and if you have a chance to put in a good word for us with a legislator or public official, please do.

Two named to NMU Board of Trustees

A local union official, also an NMU alumnus, is among 12 people appointed last week by Governor Jennifer Granholm to university boards across the state. Jon "Jack" LaSalle '71 (left) of Marquette, field representative for the Michigan State Building and Construction Trades Council-AFL-CIO, was appointed to the NMU Board of Trustees. He succeeds Scott Holman '65, whose term expired. Brian Cloyd of Grand Rapids, director of corporate and community relations for Steelcase Inc., was also appointed to the NMU board. He succeeds Mary Lincoln Campbell, whose term expired.

Ellis makes NMU record book

What started with a 116-85 win over Northland on Nov. 22, 1986 has made Dean Ellis '83 the all-time wins leader for men’s basketball at Northern Michigan University. Ellis won his 301st game on the NMU bench with a 66-54 GLIAC win over the Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals on Saturday afternoon at the Berry Events Center. Glenn Brown, the man who Ellis replaced, had 300 wins on the NMU bench. The win was the fourth in a row for the ‘Cats as they are now 9-10 overall on the season and 4-6 in the GLIAC. SVSU falls to 9-11 and 4-7 respectively. Ellis is now 301-225 on the NMU bench.

From the Email bag

"I just wanted to thank everyone who makes "What's New, NMU?" possible. I'm a recent grad (May 2004) and I really enjoy being updated on one of my favorite places every week. This weekend I attended the Wildcat Night Across the Country party in Mt. Pleasant and had a good time chatting with fellow alumni. I'm now attending Central Michigan University for a Doctorate of Audiology, and while I love it there, I will always be a Wildcat at heart. I miss the wonderful times I had in my four wonderful years at Northern Michigan University. Thanks for keeping us all updated on the NMU happenings."
Amanda Davis '04
Mt. Pleasant
amdavis@alumni.nmu.edu

"What a great idea. I read the NMU newsletter every time it comes out. I just had to respond when I read Bob Cook's letter and his reference to the Tip Top. I spent many good nights there. Gert, the manager, was very good to NMU and particularly the Vets Club. When the Vets Club sponsored the Homecoming queen, a picture of her and my Olds convertible from the parade hung in the Tip Top for a long time."
Herm Remus '70
Cape Coral, FL
remus@c21sunbelt.com

As always, feedback/suggestions/questions can be directed to yours truly.

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