For the week of August 2, 2004

From the 6th floor

View from Picnic Rocks facing south.

Finally! Some decent beach days. Now, I know you all are tired of listening to me complain about the weather. So I'll stop. But only because I was finally able to take advantage of a beach day. Last week was actually a very nice week, probably the best week of summer, yet. So I blew off the day Wednesday and hung out at the lake. Not in the lake, mind you, because Superior is still only about 32 degrees. (OK. That's not true...but it sure feels like it.) In reality, the temperature of Lake Superior on the beach in Marquette is 64 degrees according to the Michigan State University Remote Sensing and GIS Research and Outreach Services. This is kind of an interesting site, if you're curious at all about Lake Superior temperatures. This week looks pretty nice, also, but a little cooler. But perhaps a beach day or two.

The small dot in the water is, indeed, a brave soul.

View from Picnic Rocks facing north.

NMU sets fall tuition

Northern Michigan University will increase its annual resident undergraduate tuition by 2.4 percent for the upcoming fall semester. NMU administrators elected to move forward and set the rates despite lingering uncertainty about state funding for higher education. Full-time undergraduates will pay $124 more per year, or $5,334. The increase for nonresident full-time undergraduates will be 3.6 percent ($304), for an annual rate of $8,742.
Tuition for resident graduate students attending full time will rise 3.5 percent ($144) per year, to $4,318. Nonresident graduate students will pay an additional 3.6 percent ($220), for an annual rate of $6,366.
At a special June meeting, the NMU Board of Trustees authorized administrators to set tuition without further board action, provided the increases fell within approved caps. The action was intended to allow NMU administrators to find out as much as possible about the impending state legislation while at the same time giving students and parents an idea of what to expect for the fall semester.
The rates set by NMU fall within the board’s established caps. The percentage increase for resident undergraduates is below the rate of inflation and consistent with tuition restraint language added to last year’s higher education bill.
“Although the state legislature has not yet finalized the higher education appropriation for fiscal year 2005, it was imperative that we set a dollar figure for tuition now so we can send out our billing statements to students and parents,” said NMU President Les Wong. “The rates are contingent upon the state’s ability to restore the promised portion of funding from last year’s cut and on tuition restraint incentives in the signed higher education bill.”
NMU officials said that the university will have to pursue additional budget-cutting measures despite the tuition increases.
Detailed tuition information can be found at www.nmu.edu/facts/tuitfees.htm.

Wildcat Club plans summer social

The NMU Wildcat Club is planning a summer gathering, Sunday, August 8th in Marquette. All current Wildcat Club members and those interested in joining are invited to attend. Cost is $10 per person and includes a B-B-Q dinner. Wildcat Club Summer Gathering Sunday, August 8th 4:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. Steer and Stein Steakhouse To register, contact the NMU Athletic office at 227-2105.

Police Academy has largest class

The NMU Police Academy, with its largest class on record of 49, got a rare training opportunity during President Bush’s visit to Marquette on July 13th. Many of the cadets assisted other law enforcement agencies with crowd and traffic control at Sawyer International Airport, in the City of Marquette, and at the Superior Dome. “We had another surprise assignment last year with the flood,” said Mike Bath (Public Safety and Police Services). “When they shut down the north side of Marquette, we posted cadets at road intersections to help keep people out and redirect them. "It made sense to have them help out, especially since we couldn’t meet in Jacobetti because it was closed during the flooding. It’s nice to be able to give them some different training experience as opportunities come up and a president coming to town is about as big as it gets here.” Full story.

'Cats picked ninth in preseason GLIAC poll

At the GLIAC football media luncheon that was held at the Alumni House on the campus of Grand Valley State University on Wednesday, July 28 the Northern Michigan University football team was picked ninth by the head football coaches of the league in preseason balloting. The ‘Cats tallied 66 points in the voting as two-time defending NCAA II Champion Grand Valley State was tabbed as the preseason favorite.

Click here for a look at the Wildcat's schedule.

NMU Wildcats have new radio home....coming soon to the internet

The Northern Michigan University Athletic Department has announced that Northern Star Broadcasting's WNGE, Oldies 99.5 (FM) will carry live NMU football, hockey, men's and women's basketball for the 2004-05 season. The first event to be broadcast will be the football game on August 28, when the 'Cats travel to Houghton, Mich. to take on the Michigan Tech Huskies to open up the 2004 football campaign. The agreement between NMU and Northern Star Broadcasting is an initial one-year deal.
WNGE, Oldies 99.5 has a 3,600-watt transmitter, with studios in Marquette. The broadcast signal reaches much of central Marquette County, including Marquette, Negaunee, Ishpeming, Harvey, K.I. Sawyer and Gwinn.Marquette General Manager Tammy Johnson said that the arrangement will benefit the followers of NMU sports. "WNGE 99.5, 'Good Times, Great Oldies' is going to be the official station of NMU
sports," Johnson said. "Everyone here is really excited about this. We will do this the right way, and we will provide the best coverage out there."
Chris Monk Vice President and General Manager for Northern Star Broadcasting believes this is a win-win situation for both parties that will benefit the listeners. "I'm very pleased that we are able to create this partnership with NMU - a partnership that I believe will give (the city of) Marquette, NMU alumni and NMU fans a real quality product that they're proud of and will listen to," Monk said about the arrangement.
Nate Rose, program director for Northern Star Broadcasting's WIDG, 940 AM Sports Radio, The Fan, will provide the play-by-play announcing for NMU football, while Jim LaJoie and Adam Hamari will share the color commentary duties.
LaJoie and Hamari will provide the play-by-play for men's and women's basketball while Rose will add the color commentary for away games.
The play-by-play announcer for hockey is not ready to be announced at this time. Dave Mingay will return to provide the color commentary for the 'Cats hockey broadcasts.
Monk is excited about the announcers who will provide the call on the 'Cats broadcasts. "We've got a group of very enthusiastic announcers, who take their job seriously but have a lot of fun," Monk said about the announcing team. "They're guys who are very dedicated to their craft."

'Cat fans around the country and world will still be able to listen to the action via live streams on the Internet Public Radio 13 will soon be putting their signal on the web. In addition to being able to listen to Public Radio 13, people interested in Wildcat Sports will be able to click a link and listen to live sports broadcasts. We'll put that link on our home page as soon as it's available.

Holman family reunion visits campus

NMU president Les Wong presents George Holman '33, of Spokane, WA, with an NMU sweatshirt in honor of the Holman Family Reunion.

More than 80 members of the Holman family gathered in Marquette County this past weekend to celebrate their heritage. The family are descendants of William and Caroline Holman of Negaunee. Bill and Carrie were the grandparents of current NMU Trustee Scott Holman '65. Family members from all six children of Bill and Carrie attended the reunion. George (pictured left) is the last surviving child and started a scholarship in his parents honor in 2000. 23 of Bill and Carrie’s descendants attended Northern. Reunion attendees came from as far north as Alaska, as far south as Florida, as far east as Massachusetts and as far west as Washington.

Thanks for stopping by....

Elaine '67 and Ray Holst of Soldier, Iowa. Elaine is a Marquette native who was visiting family in the area. She met her husband, Ray, when he was stationed at the former KI Sawyer Air Force Base.

Keith Molin '62 of Ann Arbor. The former Alumni Association Board of Directors VP stopped by to visit while on a swing through his hometown of Escanaba.

Kelly Steed '89 of Harrison Township. Kelly is in town doing research for an upcoming book.

George Holman '33 of Spokane, WA. George stopped by to say hello while in town for the Holman Family Reunion.

If you're in the Marquette area for a visit this summer, please stop by and say hello. We're on the 6th floor of Cohodas, room 603.

From the Email bag

"HI Deanna,
Just read my most recent WHAT'S NEW NMU? I want to know why you are complaining about the weather.
I just drove 8 hours back from Marquette to Illinois yesterday after showing and sharing my love of the UP and NMU with a lifelong friend for the past week. We arrived last Saturday and left this Saturday. Arter riding my bike through Tourist Park at the age of 18, I finally got to camp there 33 years later. Imagine my shock to see the basin where I rafted with my ROTC class dried up?
Our first night you couldn't tell the lake from the sky, but that all changed Sunday. The days were nice, not cold or hot. There was no rain. The sunsets were beautiful over the lake. And yesterday morning at 6: 30 am the sunrise was glorious as we headed out of town.
So many changes some sad some glad. Up until a couple of months ago, my daughter was going to be a freshman at NMU this fall. Alas, the love of a boy is keeping her home to go to the very expensive Nazarene University across the street. How sad that she won't experience going away to college. I wouldn't trade my NMU experience for most anything. I value it always.
I see that they are building a new music and arts building. How exciting since that would have been her major. While there, I made a point of showing my friend, St. Peter's Cathedral where I sang as a student with the Choral Society. What an awesome experience.
Once again, I made it to the top of Sugarloaf. At the age of 52, with arthritis and bursitis in both hips this was no joy ride. Yet, it is still a must for any alum who loved the beauty of the area as well as the educational experience. By the way, my traveling friend is 62. We dined at the Northwoods, and we ate pasties on the Lake Shore. On the last day, an ore boat finally showed up to be loaded.
Other than needing a caseload of OFF, we had a truly excellent time.
Can't tell you how great it was to be HOME. (Home is where you hang your heart.)
Thanks for the opportunity to share."

Donna Vandermark '75
Bourbonnais, IL
nmudz75@yahoo.com

"Ms. Hemmila,
The UP has four seasons: Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter and Next Winter."
Bob Glantz '79
Berkeley, CA
rglantz@pacbell.net

"Deanna,
This is the best way to illustrate life here."

Tim Bennett '99
Information Management
Iraq Reconstruction Management Office
Baghdad, Iraq
bennett@orha.centcom.mil

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

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