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11 centralight fall '14 Central's theater and musical performances, art exhibits, athletic events, and museum collections have brought the power of the arts into many lives in the Mount Pleasant community. Community members, in turn, play a large part in supporting these activities. The needs of CMU students, faculty and staff also impact a great deal of the city's active, community-oriented culture. "The fl avor of Mount Pleasant is infl uenced by CMU in such a positive way," says Kathy Hill, Mount Pleasant resident and executive director of Art Reach of Mid Michigan. "The quality of CMU's theater, musical performances, athletics … I could go on and on." Don't forget sports. "Recreation and leisure are big draws to CMU for people in Mount Pleasant," says Whitledge. "Whether it's a football game and tailgating or a basketball game, a baseball game at Theunissen Stadium or even a walk around campus, a lot of Mount Pleasant residents visit the campus as a way to relax." Forging the future "The city and CMU have grown exponentially, in tandem, since the late 1800s," says Mount Pleasant City Manager Nancy Ridley. Mount Pleasant has become a city of more than 26,000 residents with a thriving downtown, a stable economy, a beautiful park system and an entrepreneurial spirit. CMU has expanded to encompass more than 400 acres in the heart of Mount Pleasant. It's added a medical school and its online learning program – among the best in the nation – exists in 60 locations worldwide. And although Central has become a global institution, it is still in many ways local and deeply rooted in the Mount Pleasant community. "The city and CMU are virtually interdependent, as neither could successfully exist without the other," says Ridley. "As we look to the future, the relationship between the city and CMU will be important as we work together to recruit students and hopefully encourage them to stay in our community after they graduate." • 1970 1990 1960 1981-1990 1982 – CMU administration, in cooperation with area business leaders, formed Middle Michigan Development Corp. to promote technological research in the area. 1990 – CMU's Student Activity Center, the SAC, was built as an addition to Rose Center. 1990 – The Michigan Vietnam Memorial was dedicated as a state memorial at Mount Pleasant's Island Park. 1991-2000 1997 – CMU's music building opened. 1998 – The indoor athletic complex opened on campus. 2000s 2002 – CMU and the city of Mount Pleasant collaborated to open the Mount Pleasant SmartZone, one of 11 in Michigan. 2008 – The historic Borden Building was restored as the Mount Pleasant City Hall. 2013 – CMU's College of Medicine welcomed its fi rst class. • 1997

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