MCCPA Best Overall

Judges Name _KARL ZIOMEK__________________________

Name of Student Newspaper __AGORA
_______________________________________
College __MONROE CCC
____________________________________________________________
Division (Please circle): DIVISON 2
Directions:
Rank each of the following elements on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lower quality, 5 being
higher) by circling your choice. Write the number you circled in the space to the right;
add the total when done. Please use whole numbers (i.e., 1, 2, 3, etc.).
Needs work Excellent
Content 1 2 3 4 5 _4_____
Coverage 1 2 3 4 5 _4_____
Writing/Editing 1 2 3 4 5 _4_____
Headlines 1 2 3 4 5 _4_____
Design/Visual Appeal 1 2 3 4 5 _3_____
Photography 1 2 3 4 5 _3____
Total _22_____
Please write comments below; they will be used in the awards presentation. Please be
as specific as possible. Consider the strengths of the newspaper, its weaknesses and
include any suggestions for improvement.
COMMENTS:

THIS IS A GOOD PRODUCT THAT REMAINS TRUE TO ITS ROOTS. VERY GOOD
OVERALL CONTENT. WELL LAID OUT AND DESIGNED. DOESNT SNAP AS MUCH
AS SOME OTHERS IT LACKS A WOW FACTOR BUT MAKES UP WITH GOOD
VARIETY, WRITING AND EDITING.

FRANKLY, LOOKS AS GOOD AS SOME PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS.

LOVED RATE THE PROF AND SHOULD PROFS FRIEND ON FACEBOOK. GREAT
READS. I LIKE THE BY IN BYLINES, BUT AT LEAST THE AGORA DESIGN STYLE IS
SOUND.

OPINION PAGES ARE STRONG. LOVE WHAT THE AGORA STAFF IS DOING KEEP
UP THE GOOD WORK!
MCCPA Best Overall
Judges Name: Bill Thomas
Name of Student Newspaper: Agora
College: Monroe CC
Division: II
Directions:
Rank each of the following elements on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lower quality, 5 being higher)
by circling your choice. Write the number you circled in the space to the right; add the total when
done. Please use whole numbers (i.e., 1, 2, 3, etc.).
Needs work Excellent
Content 1 2 3 4 5 __3__
Coverage 1 2 3 4 5 __3__
Writing/Editing 1 2 3 4 5 __2__
Headlines 1 2 3 4 5 __3__
Design/Visual Appeal 1 2 3 4 5 __2__
Photography 1 2 3 4 5 __2__
Total __15_
Please write comments below; they will be used in the awards presentation. Please be as
specific as possible. Consider the strengths of the newspaper, its weaknesses and include any
suggestions for improvement.
1. Overall, you seem to cover your campus well. You have a lot of campus news, albeit trite
and press release-oriented, at times. You try to involve students and faculty in your
coverage.
2. The design of the paper is weak, which makes your paper difficult read and enjoy. Its
tough to get a feel for the paper and the campus. Its a dull design. The heavy black
type face in the headlines and the gray block of body type turn the reader off.
3. You are making an attempt at a strong editorial/opinion page, but you need a strong
editorial to anchor the page. Good newspapers are built around focused editorials and
commentary.
4. Why do you bother to report non-campus news and sports (the presidential campaign,
Tigers, MSU, etc.)? Focus on your market your college and your students.
5. Id like to see deeper coverage of the administration and the board. They are running the
place. They are in charge of your tuition. Watch them; cover them. Your readers the
students -- are counting on you to be their watchdog, so show your teeth once in a while.
This is where a strong edit page becomes a necessary tool.
www.mcccagora.com
THE
Aug. 26, 2010 Vol. 55, Issue 1
gora
A
Serving Monroe County Community College since 1968
Inside:
LAL/Writing Center:
Mon: 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Tues - Thurs: 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fri: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Fitness Center Hours:
Mon - Thurs: 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Sat: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Bookstore Hours:
Mon, Tues: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Wed - Fri: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Library Hours:
Mon - Thurs: 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sat: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Opinion...............................2
Campus News......................3,4
Features...............................5
A&E......................................6,7
Sports......................................8
Check out The Agora online at
www.mcccagora.com
Like us on Follow us on
December 5, 2011 Vol. 56, Issue 5
www.mcccagora.com
The anatomy of a Brony - Pg. 6
Mandi Davis
Agora Staff
S
tudents arent just discussing
professors and their classes in
the colleges halls anymore,
theyre taking their opinions
online.
Rate My Professor, a website which al-
lows students to rate professors at their
college on a scale of 1 to 5, is becoming a
popular resource for students.
Students not only have the option of
rating their professors, they also get to
rate their campus.
The site currently has 253 MCCC pro-
fessors available for rating. Of those,
students have posted opinions on 223
professors, with a grand total of 1,603
ratings.
MCCC itself has an overall rating of
4.0 with a 4.8 student happiness rating
Ratings of professors are available in a
variety of areas, such as easiness or clar-
ity. The rating for the school is derived
Irom felds such the reputation or the
general atmosphere of the campus.
Students arent the only ones aware of
the site; professors have started logging
on to see what their students have to say
about them.
Dr. William McCloskey is an assis-
tant professor of English at the college.
McCloskeys classes encompass a wide
spectrum of subjects, ranging from basic
English Compositon classes to more ad-
vanced literature classes, such as British
Lit or Shakespeare.
McCloskey to date has a total of 15 rat-
ings with an overall quality rating of 5.0.
The overall quality rating consists of his
5.0 helpfulness rating and the 4.9 clarity
rating.
He said he is pleased with his rating
and does his best to make his classes in-
teresting.
I try to tell the stories. I try to make
them follow the material. I try to make it
seem real, McCloskey said.
Aleksandr Martinez, one of McClo-
skeys students this semester, endorses
McCloskeys rating.
I would highly recommend every
student take a class with McCloskey as
the professor. He is amazing with his lec-
tures, Martinez said.
Professor John Kuriwchak teaches
CIS-130: Introduction to Computer In-
Iormation Systems. He has fve ratings,
for an overall quality rating of 4.8.
Kuriwchak sees Rate My Professor as
a helpful tool for students to use.
I like it gives me ideas to keep im-
proving the class, Kuriwchak said.
Ryan Smith has been using the website
since spring 2011 and fnds it to be a use-
ful resource.
'I think the site is benefcial to students
because no one likes a bad professor. You
learn more with someone
you like, Smith said.
After signing up for a
class, Smith usually checks
the professors score to make
sure he fnds the proIessor
best suited to him.
Shana Kritzer is a student
who is no stranger to the website. She has
been using it since starting at MCCC two
years ago.
I think it helps me choose a professor
who will suit my needs. I learn so much
more from a professor who has a teach-
ing style I understand, Kritzer said.
Smith and Kritzer recommend students
use Rate My Professor.
It can save you time, money and a lot
of headaches, Kritzer
said.
There appears to be
about the same number
of students who have
heard about the website
and use it as there are
students who have not
heard of it or dont use it.
Many students who dont use the web-
site are swamped with projects and as-
signments, or worried about making sure
they get every source right to get a good
grade, making it diIfcult to fnd time to
check out the site.
Many students just revert to the word-
of-mouth method of checking out profes-
sors. They turn to a fellow classmate to
get their view of a certain professor.
Joyceelaine Cutliff is a student who
sticks to the word-of-mouth method.
Word of mouth tends to be more use-
ful, Cutliff said.
But when it comes to word-of-mouth
versus using the website, MCCC student
Kris Lampson worries about the perma-
nence of the Web site ratings.
Word of mouth can easily change,
from having a student change their mind
about a professor at the last moment,
Lampson said.
Something on the website is perma-
nent and never changes, he said.
Another reason students may not know
that Rate My Professor exists could be
the fact that it is not linked on the college
website.
Cutliff argues against linking Rate My
Professor from the college site.
Most students I know hardly ever ac-
cess the school website, Cutliff said.
Lampson thinks a link from the college
site could generate more users and pro-
fessor reviews.
[ ]

After being out of school for 7 years I was ner-

vous to get back into things but going to Monroe was
a great decision. The professors really help you out
and make sure you understand whats going on!

[ ]

Great school but theres not enough park-

ing and I havent heard about the food... Minor is-
sues. Great school, good teachers and office support.

Rating
your professors
(hoth on and of0|nej
Taylor Pinson
Agora Staff
Site work has begun on the Career Tech
Center, MCCCs newest building.
The initial stage began with the closure
of part of the main road located between
the H and L buildings on campus. The road
is being altered to make room for the CTC,
and will not reduce the number of parking
spaces in the adjoining lots.
The new building will cost $17 million,
with half of the funding coming from the
state government and the the rest from
MCCC.
The construction site will lay dormant
during winter, with construction beginning
in spring with a groundbreaking ceremony,
as soon as the weather permits.
The CTC will contain state-of-the art
work spaces for several programs currently
available at MCCC, including nuclear, au-
tomotive, welding, and mechanical engi-
neering. There also will be larger doors to
allow the moving and storage of equipment
too big to house in the E and W buildings
currently used by the programs.
Our current facilities lack the basic in-
frastructure to support the next generation
of Industrial Technology programming
and related equipment, in terms of utili-
ties capacity, room and lab size and ceil-
ing height, and access, said Josh Myers,
MCCCs Coordinator of Development and
External Affairs.
In some cases these limitations are in-
hibiting current program updates and or
expansion.
The CTC has been designed to also in-
clude several multi-purpose areas.
This facility, like other areas on campus,
will be a college resource, Myers said.
The building is being built in such a
way that it can be used by other areas of the
college. There are six general classroom
spaces that may be used for purposes other
than housing Industrial Tech courses.
The CTC also will house several green
projects, including solar panels, a geo-
thermal heating and cooling system, and a
green roof project.
If they prove successful, similar projects
may be implemented elsewhere on cam-
pus.
All of the sustainable systems designed
into the building will serve as a pilot proj-
ect for future building and renovation proj-
ects, Myers said.
The college will be able to monitor and
analyze over time how much these systems
reduce energy consumption and minimize
environmental impacts.
The frst classes held in the CTC will
begin in fall 2013, barring any unexpected
delays.
[You learn more with someone you like.]
Site prepared for Career Tech Center
photo by Lorrie Mayzlin
More than a dozen trees were cut down and removed from campus.The area between H and L buildings, which is the site of
the new building, has been excavated for construction. The site will lay dormant through the winter, with construction begin-
ning in spring, when the weather permits.
photo by Mandi Davis
Dr. William McCloskey, seen teaching British Lit Anglo Saxon - 18th Century, is rated high consistently throughout the popular website Rate My Professor.
The sounds of bluegrass invade MCCC
Community packs Meyer Theater, watches The Grascals
p. 7
2 THE AGORA Opinion Dec. 5, 2011
Editor
Tyler Eagle
Assistant Editor
Nicki Kostrewza
Designer
Morgan Hofbauer
Adviser
Dan Shaw
Staff
Mandi Davis
Michelle Dangler
Lorrie Mayzlin
Matt Mullins
Taylor Pinson
Tyler Rogoff
Jacob Thompson
Staff Members
The Agora Editorial Policy
The Agora is published by the
students of Monroe County Com-
munity College, 1555 S. Raisinville
Rd., Monroe, MI, 48161. The edito-
r|a| ofhoe |s |ooareo |n loom 202 of
rhe l|fe So|enoes B|og., (734) 334-
4136, agoramonroeooo.eou.
Fo|ror|a| po||o,. uns|gneo eo|ror|-
als represent the majority opinion
of 1he 4gora sraff. S|gneo oo|umns
represent the opinion of the writer.
4|| |errers ro rhe eo|ror musr |no|uoe
a signature, address and phone
number for ver|hoar|on purposes.
The Agora reserves the right to edit
for o|ar|r,, aoourao,, |engrh ano ||-
bel.
The Agora is a student-managed
newspaper that supports a free
student press and is a member of
rhe M|oh|gan 0ommun|r, 0o||ege
lress 4ssoo|ar|on, rhe M|oh|gan
0o||eg|are lress 4ssoo|ar|on, rhe
M|oh|gan lress 4ssoo|ar|on, 0o|-
|ege Meo|a 4ov|sers, 4ssoo|areo
Collegiate Press and the Student
Press Law Center.
Sror, suggesr|ons are we|oome.
Let us know what youd like to see
in The Agora - its your newspaper.
Submissions of stories or photos
a|so are we|oome. F-ma|| rhem ro
agoramonroeooo.eou or br|ng
rhem ro our ofhoe.
Two months ago I learned
that my mother had been di-
agnosed with cervical can-
cer. It was devastating.
Suddenly, in the midst of
considering moving out of
the state (and maybe even
out of the country) with my
partner to fnish my degree,
I was faced with so many
questions that had never
occurred to me previously,
questions I thought I would
never have to answer.
What if she doesnt make
it, I thought? What will happen to my sister and my
father if she doesnt? How can I possibly move away
and leave her behind when she needs me the most?
In a way I had always thought of my mother as be-
ing immortal, as if she would permanently be around
for me to call for support, as if her shoulder would
never cease to be there for me to cry on. With her di-
agnosis, all of that changed; the rug had literally been
pulled out from underneath me.
I have since become conscious that my mothers
death, though highly undesirable, is inevitable. It will
continuously loom above me, like a brewing storm
waiting to unleash its hellish fury when I least expect
it. Though she has been treated for and cleared of can-
cer now, the dark, ominous cloud of recurrence will
never dissipate.
As a result of this and various other recent occur-
rences in my personal life, I have become a Unitarian
Universalist. I took my mother with me to a church
service the Sunday following her recovery. It was the
frst time she had ever been, and the frst time we had
been to church together in almost thirteen years.
The sermon was given the day before Halloween in
the spirit of harvest, and focused on honoring loved
ones who had passed. Candles were lit, one by one,
by every person in attendance and placed in a pit of
sand in a symbolic gesture of remembrance and the
resilience of life.
As I lit my candle with the fame Irom hers, I real-
ized that I could have been lighting it for a very dif-
ferent reason. I was there sharing my life and time
with my mother, but I could have been there to grieve,
mourn and honor the memory her life, rather than cel-
ebrating her successful bout with a known killer.
In this day and age, it is far too easy, commonplace
and guiltless to take loved ones and friends for grant-
ed. There is so much to do, and so little time with
which to do it. Finding the right balance between per-
sonal endeavors and opportunities to spend time with
loved ones is diIfcult, but I insist: fnd a way.
Life is a precious gift, too short and far too fragile
to take for granted. If theres one thing that speaks to
readers from this piece, I hope its the sentiment to
love and deeply cherish their souvenir of time with
their friends and relatives.
So, this holiday season, in the drudgery of family
dinners and pageantry, make the time to tell someone,
a friend or a loved one, how much their presence and
friendship means. As I have recently learned, there
may not be another chance.
There has been a lot of con-
struction around here lately;
from here on this very cam-
pus to the downtown avenue.
As many of you know
the community college has
closed the road between H
and L buildings so they can
start construction of the Ca-
reer Technology Building.
Which, might I add, has cre-
ated a slight headache for stu-
dents to bear; traIfc is more
hectic than it was before.
Then there`s the traIfc on
Raisinville and M-50, from the bridge closing. That
wass a major annoyance for some students who use
the bridge to make it back and forth from school every
day.
Even for students who dont have to cross the
bridge it was still a pain. Constant construction, roads
and lanes closed, safety cones/barrels in the way, its
a large inconvence. Some students were told it would
only take three weeks max for this project, and Im
sure we all know it was longer than that.
Now lets talk about the construction in town, which
is mainly on Monroe Street. That is no picnic on a
good day! When driving through town the other day
I didnt feel very safe as these construction workers
were swinging around equipment like they could hit
someone. They seemed to be taking their sweet time
too, like the slower they went the easier it would be.
Now the thing that upsets me the most is why would
you wait till fall to start all these projects!? Its go-
ing to rain and be cold, isnt that bad for the roads as
theyre being built? Not to mention that its also prob-
ably bad for the equipment needed for these projects.
So lets just waste our resources and call it a day, huh.
All these projects should have been started and
done a long time ago. It would have made the new
additions to the college and city last longer. It would
also keep the conditions of the equipment the work-
ers use in a better shape; causing everyone a little less
heartbreak and frustration.
In 1983, PBS Frontline
broadcasted a program
called The Russians Are
Here.
This program focused
on the life of Russian im-
migrants in New York City
and their views on confict-
ing values of American and
Soviet societies.
In one of the segments, the
narrator asked a Russian cab
driver why he immigrated to
America.
The 50-something, bald-
ing, slightly overweight,
modestly dressed cabby, with his heavy Russian ac-
cent answered:
I came to America to be free.
When he was asked what he meant, the Russian
said:
I have freedom here. I can do what I want, when I
want. I can be successful if I choose to be successful,
and if I dont become that, I have no one to blame but
myself because I am free.
Driving a cab in New York City has never been
a very proftable job, but the mere Iact that this im-
migrant had freedom to select this occupation on his
own free will is priceless.
I am not sure what happened to this gentleman after
the PBS show aired, but lately, I am reminded of this
interview every time I read the news, watch TV, or
listen to others talk about the current state of affairs
in this great nation of ours.
It is a known fact that we, as Americans, have a
very short memory span and sometimes tend to for-
get history. Ask any social studies professor, and
they will also tell you that, through history, we do not
always know what we want.
Those same intellectuals and in my opinion most of
America, however, will also tell you that we always
strive to be great capitalists.
Generally, I do not know many people who do not
want to be successful and make a comfortable living
for themselves and their families. This is a primary
concept that this country was built upon.
The Russian cabby from PBS is a perfect example
of what America was, is, and hopefully always will
be: a land oI Ireedom and opportunity, the kind oI
Ireedom and opportunity you will not fnd in any
other non-capitalist society.
I do not understand the need of some of our fel-
low Americans to promote anarchism, socialism, and
even communism to replace capitalism in the United
States, of all places. I also do not understand the au-
dacity of the same people who are guaranteed to be
free and vocal by our Constitution to rally against the
same system that enables them to do so.
America is a civil, democratic society. America is
still a superpower and a land for freedom-seeking
people from all over the world to come, contribute,
and establish themselves in society.
Americans are free to make personal and political
choices. Americans have freedom to achieve almost
anything, even in todays economy.
And in case youre not happy with what you have,
talk to anyone who emigrated here from a former (or
current) communist country about what it means to
be free. America is still a great place to live.
Capitalism allows Americans to dream
Take a moment to appreciate loved ones
Construction causes inconveniences
Michael Mayzlin
Contributor
Ryan Smith
Contributor
Nicki Kostrzewa
Agora Staff
BrleBy:
Humanities/Social
Sciences gains new dean
Dr. Paul Hedeen has accepted the po-
sition of Dean of Humanities and Social
Sciences at MCCC.
Hedeen was one oI fve fnalists, and
completed an interview via Skype before
visiting the college.
He is currently employed by Wartburg
College, located in Iowa, where he is a
full-time English professor and the coor-
dinator of Interdisciplinary Humanities.
Hedeen holds a Ph.D. in English from
Northwestern University, a masters de-
gree in English from the University of
Akron and a bachelors degree from Kent
State University.
He will continue to work at Wartburg
College through April. He oIfcially be-
gins at MCCC on May 1.
He was the unanimous choice of the
selection committee, which consisted of
dean Vinnie Maltese, human relations
coordinator Molly McCutchen, profes-
sors Bill McCloskey, Lori Jo Couch, Tim
Dillon, Dan Shaw and Lana Shryock, and
Math/Science administrative assistant
Laurel Johnston.
Student Government to
host movie night
Student Government will be hosting
a movie night on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7
p.m. in the Little Theater.
The Little Theater is located in C3, in
the basement of the C Building. Pop-
corn will be provided. The event is free
to attend.
The selected movie will be A Night-
mare Before Christmas.
Meyer Theater to host
several events
MCCCs choir, The Agora Chorale,
will perIorm at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec.
6. The event is free to attend.
The musical ensemble The Saline Fid-
dlers will be performing holiday music
with hints oI American Iolk fddle, blue-
grass, jazz, western swing and Celtic tra-
ditions on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets will be $15 for general admission,
and $25 for VIP seating.
The Symphony Band will be per-
Iorming Monday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Admission to this event is free and open
to the community.
Two and a Half Comics, which fea-
tures Bart Rockett and Scott Woodl, is
a comedy skit which utilizes ventrilo-
quism. The event will take place Friday,
Jan. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 Ior
children and $20 for general admission.
Cartoons (above:
North Custer Rage
and to the right: its
MCCC Man!) are by
Jacob Thompson.
Jacob Thompsons
cartoons can be
found at The Agora
website: www.mccca-
gora.com/media.
Dec. 5, 2011 Campus News THE AGORA 3
Taylor Pinson
Agora Staff
Student Services Counselor Steve
Mapes has produced a report profling
students at MCCC.
The report says a decline in enrollment
is aIIecting many community colleges.
At MCCC, enrollment is down from last
year by 283 students, or about 6 percent,
but this years numbers were still the
Iourth highest in MCCC`s history, with
4440 students enrolled.
Thats quite a few students for a small
institution, said Mapes. We were start-
ing to stretch the seams oI the institu-
tion.
The report attributes the decrease in
enrollment to several Iactors, including
a smaller Monroe County high school
graduating class; Iewer occupational re-
training grants, which was caused by a
lack oI government Iunding Ior displaced
workers; and the new Federal healthcare
legislation, which allows parents to keep
their children on their familys health in-
surance plan until they turn 26.
We anticipated a decrease in enroll-
ment. There are a lot of factors, Mapes
said.
Numerous statistics were presented
in the report, including the gender, resi-
dence, and race of students.
There are signifcantly more Iemale
students at MCCC, with 60 percent fe-
male and 40 percent male.
These percentages have remained the
same within a few percent for more than
a decade.
Out-of-district and out-of-state enroll-
ment is up by 2 percent, making it a to-
tal of 16 percent of students enrolled at
MCCC who come from out-of-district.
'I think it`s just a percentage shiIt,
said Mapes.
'A lot oI them are coming Irom down-
river: Taylor, Woodhaven, Flatrock.
Mapes report also shows that the en-
rollment of African American students
at MCCC has nearly quadrupled since
2002, and now sits at 163 students.
Taylor Pinson
Agora Staff
Monroe Public Schools has reached a
deal to sell Dream 97.5, the college radio
station, to Monroe Public Access Cable
Television.
The deal will allow MCCC students to
continue to use the station as the labora-
tory for radio classes.
The partnership between MCCC and
Monroe Public Schools dates back to
2005. The college has paid all costs as-
sociated with operating and maintaining
Dream 97.5 in exchange Ior students in
the college`s radio broadcasting program
using the station.
Citing declining revenue over a three-
year period, MCCC chose not renew its
partnership with Monroe Public Schools
earlier this year and eliminated Iunding
for Dream 97.5 from its 2011-2012 bud-
get.
Monroe Public Schools spent the sum-
mer months seeking a new partner to
maintain the station, considering several
oIIers beIore accepting a proposal Irom
MPACT.
The decision by the Monroe Public
School District to sell the high school
radio station to the local public access
television studio is a big win Ior MCCC
radio and television broadcast students,
said MCCC President David Nixon.
Nixon said he also thought having the
radio station housed at MPACT would be
more convenient Ior students, citing bet-
ter hours and oII-street parking.
'It`s good Ior MCCC and Monroe
High School students, said Milward
Beaudry, MCCCs adjunct broadcast
instructor and MPACT studio engineer.
'It`s good Ior the community.
Reaction to the sale from MCCCs
Broadcasting Club was generally posi-
tive, although several students expressed
frustation that the months of uncertainty
over the summer prevented them from
accomplishing as much as they had
wanted.
'I think overall it`s a good thing, said
Broadcasting Club President Kaitlin
Bereczky. 'It gives us a lot more oppor-
tunity to do a lot more things.
The sale to MPACT has cost us a lot
oI time, but overall we`ll get to do a lot
more, said Miles Lark, a member of the
club. Well be able to expand our hori-
zons as a club.
The sale is still awaiting approval Irom
the FCC, but Beaudry expects it will
happen.
'We don`t see any problems in getting
this sale, said Beaudry. Usually theres
not a big deal with these things. They
usually go over quite smoothly.
The radio stations sale has had an ad-
ditional effect at MCCC. Courses for the
college`s radio and television broadcast-
ing program will be taught this winter
semester.
'The college is donating all oI its ra-
dio equipment to MPACT, said Joe
Verkennes, MCCCs Director of Market-
ing. 'MCCC will continue to oIIer radio
courses, utilizing MPACT`s Iacilities and
the station, based on student demand for
such classes.
Because MCCC had been waiting
for an outcome on the station, the radio
courses were not placed in the winter se-
mester course catalog. Students interest-
ed in taking the classes can register using
Web Pal via MCCCs website.
MPACT purchases Dream 97.5
photo by Taylor Pinson
The Broadcasting Club, which uses Dream 97.5 extensively, is up and running again. Due to the uncertain nature of the radio sta-
tion and the colleges future involvement, the club was placed on a temporary hold. Since MPACT purchases the station and since
MCCC will continue to offer broadcasting classes, pending enrollment, the club has once again become active.
Annua| student pro|e data re|eased by counse|ors
X-TECH:
Industrial Tech division showcases
programs, careers in open house
photos by Mandi Davis
The welding program at MCCC
was on full display. Welding
grant instructor Jason Karamol
(above) was present to discuss
and answer questions regard-
ing the colleges program or the
e|d of we|dng. (Pght) Karamo|
displayed some of the equip-
ment the program utlizes, and
showcased some of the things
the welding can be used to
make (below).
photos by Mandi Davis
X-1ech, he|d Nov. 10, exhbted the varous e|ds of
study in the Industrial Technology division that are
available at the college, as well as some of the activi-
ties available to students. The robotics club displayed
its robot (left) while the automotive program (top)
and green energy (above) were highlighted.
4 THE AGORA Campus News Dec. 5, 2011
Nicki Kostrewza
Agora Staff
Mandi Davis
Agora Staff
Students interested in the feld
oI law enIorcement had a chance
to experience what it Ieels like to
stand in the legal spotlight when
the Criminal Justice Club hosted
a mock trial.
The concept oI a mock trial was
brought to club advisor Penelope
Dunn by a local attorney. When
the idea was presented to the club,
they were on board with the ac-
tivity.
'I think they learned the court
room process better then what we
could ever teach in a classroom,
Dunn said.
AIter roles were assigned, each
group met many times to rehearse
their parts. The witnesses who
would be used by the prosecu-
tors knew what questions would
be asked, but had no idea what
would come Irom the deIense.
Other club members who didn`t
have roles helped out in other
ways: setting up, presenting ideas,
and supporting those who were
participating.
'It`s a lot diIIerent Irom the
movies. There were a Iew ques-
tions that could have been worded
better. Also a Iew could have been
taken out all together, student
Emily Green said.
It took about two months Ior all
the inIormation and steps to get
together beIore they could actu-
ally present their cases.
'While it was going on it
seemed like a lot oI work, but I re-
ally think it was truly worthwhile
and am hoping to continue this
event, Dunn said.
Attorneys Irom the community
also made themselves available
to the students Ior assistance and
mentoring in order to prepare
their cases.
'I thought it was well played.
Students had an understanding Ior
the legal jargon. It was very edu-
cational and a Iun way Ior those
who`ve not seen a trial, to see
how it was run, student Danielle
D`Anna said.
The main point oI the exercise
was to get the students involved,
showing them what it Ieels like to
be in Iront oI a jury, Dunn said. It
also gives them a chance to start
thinking and playing a role in the
court room.
'I think they did tremendous,
Dunn said. 'I mean, it is a lot
harder than people realize.
`

I
l

`
photos by Mandi Davis
Above: Steven Songalski played
Robin Banks, a young man who
was on trial for arson and murder.
Judge Frank Arnold was the presid-
ing judge for the trial.
Far left: The event was held in the
little theatre in the C Building. The
jury was unable to reach consen-
sus, which resulted in Songaliski
being proclaimed innocent.
Left: Travis Adams and Alex Hawes
were the prosecuting attorneys.
Mock trial inspires MCCC students
Ryan Smith
Contributor
The Occupy Wall Street movement has
come to a crossroads.
Founded in September on issues oI
social and class inequality, the Occupy
movement began as a response to corpo-
rate power and greed.
Now the movement is searching Ior di-
rection and practical application.
Andre Damon oI the Word Socialist
Web Site, in a public Iorum titled 'Oc-
cupy Wall Street and Beyond: Equality
And The Fight For Socialism, spoke to
a small crowd at Monroe County Com-
munity College about what socialism
means and how it applies to the Occupy
movement`s goals.
'This is part oI a global response by
working people to the economic crisis,
Damon said.
Damon presented fgures that showed
poverty rates in the United States have
risen Irom 11.7 percent in 2001 to 15.1
percent in 2010, while median household
incomes also Iell Irom $53,252 in 1999
to $49,400 in 2010.
'Still, the percentage oI total national
income received by the upper .01 per-
cent oI the population doubled over the
course oI 10 years, Damon said.
According to Damon`s statistics,
American wages have Iallen 2.7 percent,
yet corporate profts have risen by 8.7
percent, with the wealth oI the top 400
Iamilies in America also going up by 12
percent.
'The occupy movement, in its essence,
saw the impetus to do something about
this, Damon said.
The response to the Occupy move-
ment, however, has been mixed. In Sep-
tember, police arrested 400 protestors at
the Brooklyn Bridge in New York and
later dispersed tear gas and rubber bullets
at CaliIornia`s Occupy Oakland in Octo-
ber to deter protestors.
'All oI this is Ieeding on the central
point that there is a crisis or crossroads in
the movement itselI, Damon said.
Where does the movement go Irom
here? The Socialist Equality Party, which
Damon represents, believes that the
movement must be won by the working
class, and Ior socialism.
'The way to have a political movement
that has real strength is to place it on a
social class, Damon said.
'When you talk about the 99 percent,`
you have people who work Ior a living,
who are struggling to get by, who have
no prospects, whose wages are Ialling
every year, and then you have people
who are pretty well oII. People who re-
ally want a somewhat cosmetic change
in society.
The Occupy movement, in the eyes oI
the SEP, has to Iocus on socialism and
the working class, the true `99 percent,`
iI it hopes to succeed and have real po-
litical pull.
'There`s no party oI the working class,
as oI yet, in public view. In Iact, the
working class, iI you had to categorically
defne it, is probably 85 to 90 percent oI
the American population, Damon said.
Damon discussed three ways to cor-
rect social inequality in America. The
rich could be taxed, or all oI the wealth
in America could be redistributed. How-
ever, Damon acknowledged that both
methods are vulnerable to personal greed
and proposed a third solution: socialism.
'This is a mass movement oI working
people that basically takes political pow-
er and enacts laws that say OK, the ma-
jor corporations like Disney and Apple,
we`re not going to destroy them, because
they do useIul things,` Damon said.
'But right now they`re being misman-
aged, in the interest oI generating profts
Ior the rich when there are instances oI
mass unemployment. They should be
taken over and run democratically, so
that everyone has a real genuine vote on
all issues.
In Damon`s vision oI Socialist Ameri-
ca, the aim oI society, as opposed to mak-
ing a proft as it is now, would be to make
sure that unemployment is gone, and to
make sure that everyone has enough oI
what they need and what is necessary Ior
survival.
'The only way to achieve equality un-
der the present set oI circumstances is so-
cialism, to take over major corporations
and run them democratically, he said.
Local attorneys, newly elected judge offer guidance, help
OWS represenative occupies MCCC
Whitman Center hosts conservation lecture
Economy and
tnanoial orisis
discussed by
socialist speaker
Autumn Jackson
Contributor
Shock was the theme oI the evening
Nov. 16 during Conservation Night at
the Whitman Center.
The crowd was startled by statistics
oIIered by each oI the Ieatured speak-
ers Amy Gilhouse, oI the Michigan
Agriculture Environmental Steward-
ship Program (MAEAP), Al Norwood,
district conservationist Ior Monroe
County, and Jamie Dean, Recycling
and Green Energy director at the Mon-
roe County Health Department.
Gilhouse discussed the importance
oI testing water in households.
'Well water should be tested once a
year Ior contaminants, Gilhouse said.
She said there have been some
alarming results Irom contaminant
testing in the area.
'Over 15 pesticides have been Iound
in Monroe County, Gilhouse said.
She said county residents can visit
www.semcog.org Ior steps to protect
water.
Dean discussed recycling, and what
happens when people don`t.
'Each person produces 4.43 pounds
oI trash a day, Dean said.
She also explained the economic
benefts oI recycling.
'Each piece oI recycled material
could create up to 36 jobs, Dean said.
Residents looking Ior inIormation
concerning recycling can visit Ecov-
ille- an online destination that provides
inIo on recycling - at www.myecov-
ille.com/monroecounty.
Ecoville also contains a Groundwa-
ter Quiz, which tells a resident the risk
they Iace Ior contamination in their
area.
Norwood took residents on a virtual
tour oI the Web Soil Survey on the
website www.mi.nrcs.usda.gov, under
the resources tab.
This survey describes the types oI
soil on resident`s land. Residents can
also fnd out soil components on any
land in most parts oI the U.S.
Norwood also spoke about water in-
Iormation.
'Most people are amazed to know
Cape Town, South AIrica has the third
best water, with the U.S. only having
the eighth best, Norwood said.
Norwood also spoke on the impor-
tance oI Iarming around the world.
'Farming is our bread and butter,
Norwood said with a chuckle.
People looking Ior more inIormation
on conservation, green energy, and re-
cycling can pick up available fyers in
the Whitman Center oIfce or contact
the Monroe County Environmental
Health Division at 2553 South Custer
Road Monroe, MI 48181 or by phone
at (734)-240-7909.
This is
part of a
global
response
by working
people to
the
economic
crisis.
Andre Damon
World Socialist Website
A |arger-than-|fe exhbt, "5o|: 1he Ioundaton of Lfe," has ||ed the |obby of the Whtman
Center since mid-October.
Dec. 5, 2011 Features THE AGORA 5
Mandi Davis
Agora Staff
Summers are starting to be warmer and
hotter and spring is coming weeks earlier
,with chirping birds and sunny skies.
Peter Sinclair presented Climate Deni-
al: Crock of the Week at MCCC on Nov.
14. Sinclair is a long-time environmental
and energy activist and the producer of the
YouTube series of the same name of his
presentation.
Sinclair got involved in the environment
and climate change movements in the
1980s. He works with a panel of nine oth-
er environmentalists on issues pertaining
to the environment and climate change.
Sinclair discussed with students and
participants the importance of global
warming. He also worked to educate the
audience on solutions that could delay the
impact of global warming.
Global warming has been receiving
the blame for most of the worlds wacky
weather; 2011 has been the chart topper
for the oddest weather in memory.
Spring is starting to come about two
weeks earlier, with birds chirping and
fowers growing, Sinclair said.
This past summer was said to be among
the warmest in recorded history, with an
average of 87 degrees.
It is no shocker that the United States
has recently seen weird weather patterns.
In Monroe County, a tornado hit Dundee
in June 2010, and then just last summer
pavement buckled from the heat.
Earth doesnt rotate exactly in a circle,
more an elliptical circle, Sinclair said.
This cycle differentiates every 1,000 to
2,000 years, causing ice ages.
Scientists have been studying the peren-
nial ice caps, glaciers of ice that are locat-
ed in the pole regions, which have been
shrinking in recent years.
Sinclair touched on two solutions that
could help delay the effects of global
warming solar and wind energy.
Solar energy is captured by solar pan-
els that can be seen across the country, in
local neighborhoods and even on some
household items.
An experimental solar energy feld is lo-
cated behind the MCCC campus.
In some parts of the country, houses
that are powered by solar panels are be-
ing built.
There are also companies that offer solar
leasing to those who would like to switch
and make their houses energy eIfcient.
Wind energy is captured by wind tur-
bines, which are beginning to spring up
in the Midwest but are more commonly
found in the western states, such as Cali-
fornia.
Wind turbines are starting to be seen
more in Michigan, Sinclair said.
In 2010, Gratiot County was approved
for a wind turbine development; 135 tur-
bines will be distributed around the coun-
ty.
This development alone created jobs for
Michigan, from assembling the turbines to
maintaining them.
The wind industry also is offering stu-
dents another career opportunity.
People have been starting to understand
climate change and have been coming
around to making their own changes to
help save the planet, Sinclair said.
It is not too late to try out solutions that
could help make the planet last a little bit
longer, he said.
Nicki Kostrzewa
Agora Staff
Mark Dushane has taken health and ftness to a
new level.
He teaches weight lifting and training at MCCC,
and also a walking and jogging class; next semester
he plans to take students to the ski slopes.
Hes a walking billboard himself for the value of
physical ftness.
I think it would be a great way for people to stay
in shape and keep their body and mind sound and
thatll help them with their academics, Dushane
said.
Coaches will let me talk to their players in the
spring time and try to get them to think about, now
that their baseball career is over, to consider a career
in oIfciating, Dushane said.
Dushane is also going to be starting a new course
in the upcoming semester. It will involve the work-
ing on and improving ones ability of skiing and
snowboarding. Class will be held Ior fve weeks up
at Mount Brighton; students will meet at the college
around 4:30 and car pool up to the mountain.
The class starts at 5 p.m. and will end at 10:55
p.m.; it also counts as a one hour credit. There will
also be a fee of $175-$195, depending on whether
students have their own equipment.
Through all this work, Dushane continues to show
his belief of how important exercise and being ac-
tive is to students.
Its great for me, its really helping me working
with them because Im doing a lot of the stuff my-
self, Dushane said.
Dushane is continuing to go to great lengths to
show how important ftness is not only to one`s
body, but to ones mind.
Ive talked to a couple of my students in my
classes about how a great stress reliever it is, said
Dushane.
Before Dushane became a part-time teacher at
MCCC, he taught at an elementary school in Sum-
merfeld Ior 33 years. He also has oIfciated high
school football and baseball for 27 years.
Through Lifelong Learning, he also teaches
classes on oIfciating Iootball and baseball, as well
as boys high school baseball and girls high school
fast pitch softball. Anyone interested should contact
Dushane at mdushane@monroeccc.edu.
Lorrie Mayzlin
Agora Staff
Tyler Rogoff
Agora Staff
The Veterans Club at MCCC seeks
to unite military members and veterans,
providing a place for them to connect
with each other.
The club, which hopes to offer sup-
port and cameraderie for vets, is still in
the formation stages.
The club`s frst meeting was held in
early October. Only three veterans at-
tended, and two were MCCC counselor
Steve Mapes and retired history profes-
sor James DeVries.
At this meeting, it was decided that
brainstorming was needed on how to
reach more military members and vets.
More than 60 students are using military
service educational benefts this semes-
ter.
On Oct. 13. Colonel David Suther-
land, assistant to the chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with MCCC
students, faculty and the community in
the college cafeteria. He spoke about the
issues that affect veterans in higher edu-
cation.
According to Sutherland, veterans and
military members face a myriad of chal-
lenges when pursuing their degrees. Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression,
anxiety, unemployment, homelessness,
and various dependencies on drugs and
alcohol topped the Colonels list.
While these issues have always affect-
ed service members, they have become
more prevalent Iollowing the conficts in
the last ten years.
Colonel Sutherland spoke passion-
ately about military members returning
with brain damage, having fashbacks
and dealing with isolationism within
their communities and higher education
facilities.
Colonel Sutherland struck a nerve
when he spoke of isolationism, because
MCCCs Veterans Club witnessed this
frst-hand the previous month.
The question then was how do stu-
dents, faculty, and the community ad-
dress the needs of our returning military
members? How can these military mem-
bers, who dont want to be different
but are be reached?
From boot camp forward, it is in-
stilled in every member how to rely on
the military family. Boot camp breaks
down personal identity and builds re-
cruits into service members.
Isolationism from the outside world
begins from boot camp and continues
throughout military service. Bases are
cities within cities, offering much of
what a regular town has to offer.
Colonel Sutherland frst suggested that
in order to attract military members to
club meetings, beer should be brought
on to campus. If the Veterans Club was
promoted as a place for vets and military
members to relax and connect, rather
than as a support group, more military
members may seek it out.
Knowing that his suggestion would
be met with opposition, Sutherland then
suggested sports team be used as a way
to attract military members.
Wrestling, football, basketball, soccer
and hockey, he explained, are things that
bind all military members together. It is
one of the pastimes of home that mem-
bers use to cope with being overseas.
To date, MCCC has few sports teams
available for students. Students can par-
ticipate in athletic clubs, such as bowl-
ing, volleyball and running, but none
compete in regular, competitive intercol-
legiate leagues.
Linda Lauer, a member of the MCCC
Board of Trustees, is an advocate for
sports teams. But she says there are sev-
eral hurdles to overcome before sports
are a viable option.
According to Lauer, one of the main
reasons that sports are not a part of the
college currently is the lack of funding.
The college general fund is struggling
right now, and there is no current way to
add funding for sports teams.
To even start the discussion of sports,
the college would have to implement a
policy change that involves some sort of
registration fee, such as a $25 addition to
tuition per student, she said.
In a poll of students, over 50 percent
supported a small fee to add sports to
campus, Lauer said. Currently, sports
clubs only receive $100 for the entire
year from the college.
When past high school graduating
classes were polled, about 50 percent
said they would be more interested in at-
tending MCCC if the college had sports
teams.
Sports give people a sense of belong-
ing, Lauer said.
The only way sports could be added at
MCCC would be if the Board of Trustees
approved a student fee, Lauer said.
Although she brings up the idea at ev-
ery meeting, the issue has never gone to
a vote.
Students have to organize and be vo-
cal to the board, Lauer said.
If a majority of students want sports
and suggest it at every board meeting,
the trustees will not be able to continue
avoiding a vote on it, she said.
Even if a vote passed, starting sports
teams would likely includ fnancial chal-
lenges.
Teams may have to do fund raising
to pay for equipment and travel fees, or
may have to pay some out-of-pocket, as
current teams do.
MCCC also could implement a pay-to-
play fee, such as local high schools have,
to raise extra money for teams.
Although sport teams may cost the col-
lege money at the start, it is possible that
the increased pride in the college could
actually lead to increased enrollment,
which could end up bringing in extra
revenue to the college, Lauer said..
photo by Lorrie Mayzlin
Colonel David Sutherlandl, assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
cites the lack of sports teams as being the roadblock to getting more military service
members involved in the community.
Military members face isolationism
Colonel Sutherland suggests sports teams as solution
photo by Mandi Davis
Peter Sinclair delivered a lecture regarding the concept of global warming. Several students and faculty members were in at-
tendence.
Professor stresses physioal ttness, offers instruotion
Expert decries climate change crocks
St udent s
have to or-
ganize and
be vocal to
the board.
Linda Lauer
MCCC Board
of Trustees member
0lobal warming,
green energy
discussed in
MCCC presentation
I think it would be
a great way for peo-
ple to stay in shape
and keep their body
and mind sound and
thatll help them
with their academ-
ics.
Mark Dushane
MCCC Fitness instructor
6 THE AGORA A&E Dec. 5, 2011
Michelle Dangler
Agora Staff
When you think of ce-
lebrities coming to Mon-
roe, you often think of the
big name tickets that foat
through during one of the
summer events, like the
Jazz Festival or the Mon-
roe County Fair.
But on Nov. 19, MCCC
played host to The Soci-
ety for the Preservation
of Bluegrass Music of
Americas 2010 band of
the year, The Grascals.
The Grascals, founded
in 2004, gained a level of
notability by playing on
the Grand Ole Opry and
bluegrass festivals across
the country.
The Grascals are Terry
Eldredge (guitar/vocals),
Jamie Johnson (guitar/
vocals), Danny Roberts
(mandolin), Terry Smith
(upright bass/vocals),
Kristin Scott Benson (ban-
jo), and Jeremy Abshire
(fddle).
They have produced
seven albums to date, and
have had three albums
peak at number one on
the United States Blue-
grass charts: Long List
of Heartaches (2006),
Keep on Walkin (2008),
and Country Classics
with a Bluegrass Spin
(2011).
Approximately 250
guests flled Meyer The-
ater for a two hour perfor-
mance by The Grascals,
with a local band named
Flatland Grass opening.
The Grascals are a
Nashville based sextet,
and their instruments and
voices blended to create
a great introduction to the
historic and rural genre of
bluegrass.
They graced the stage
with only two guitars,
an upright bass, a fddle,
a banjo and a mando-
lin and performed songs
from their latest album.
Their song, I Am Strong
brought tears to many in
the audience.
The song is a dedication
to children who are sick
(St Judes patients); it is
their words to the world.
Know in your heart,
when you see me, I am
strong. I wear a mask, I
have no hair, I may be
sick, I may be scared, but
I know God, he answers
prayers, and I am strong.
They also sang their
rendition of Louisiana
Saturday Night (original
by Bob McDill, 1981),
which can also be found
Twangy sounds of bluegrass music ll Meyer Theater
The Grascals perform at MCCC
Michael Mayzlin
Contributor
Just like its predecessors before,
2011 had a lot of good and down-
right ugly music come out from the
midst of the record labels, indepen-
dent producers, and rapidly deterio-
rating airwaves that we call radio.
First, the good. 2011 from its in-
ception looked promising for the
mere Iact that The TingTings fnally
put some new tracks together.
After a two year hiatus and three
overplayed songs, The Ting Tings f-
nally released Hang It Up.
This awesome song combines
an electrifying Billy Squire-esque
guitar riff set in the background of
Katie White spitting out some edgy
rhymes.
This was also a huge year for elec-
tronic producers, DJs, and re-mixers.
I cant say enough about the quality
of the groundbreaking Group Ther-
apy album by Above And Beyond.
Their single Sun And Moon is full
of exciting and futuristic synthesizer
lines, sharp and intelligent lyrics.
Dash Berlin, a Dutch DJ, had a
myriad of hits starting with mysteri-
ous Disarm Yourself that featured
the vocals by non-other than an Aus-
tralian dance diva Emma Hewitt.
Dash Berlin is considered to be
one of the top DJs in the world at
the moment along with Armin Van
Buuren, who never disappoints, and
2011 was no different. Armin col-
laborated with Nadia Ali to produce
Feels So Good. which automati-
cally took the reins in most of the
dance charts around the world and
became an instant classic.
Adele had a good year. Her current
album 21 already produced two
hits: an overplayed Rolling In The
Deep and Someone Like You.
The latter, however, is a great, emo-
tional, and sultry song that doesnt
seem to get old no matter how many
times you listen to it.
Also, on a lighter side of music,
LMFAO sounded pretty amusing
with Party Rock Anthem and their
latest, sillier Sexy And I Know
It. Not only did they provide a
soundtrack for a Kia commercial,
but their hits were also made into
light hearted, comical music vid-
eos. Also, some of the successes
of 2011 included Foster The People
Pumped Up Kicks, and Katy Per-
rys Last Friday Night.
Commercially, Latin Hip-Hop
came out to light in 2011. Out of
Colombia, Bomba Estereos Liliana
Somet yelled Fuego all the way
down to the record studio, and Lili-
anas collaboration with Nina Dioz
on La Cumbia Prohibida is a hip-
hop match made in rhythm heaven.
Lastly, the award for the worst song
of the year goes to (drum roll): Kelly
Rowland feat. Lil Wayne Motiva-
tion. Its actually not so much the
song that is bad, but the lyrics that
Lil Wayne managed to spit out.
Every sentence is a simile that just
doesnt make an iota of sense. Its
not worth repeating the entire gib-
berish, but he ends it with When
Im done she hold me like a con-
versation. Possibly, Kelly Rowland
can leave him like an argument
and fnd herselI a more talented artist
to work with.
The answer to my last month
columns trivia about a relation-
ship between a pencil and a cassette
tape is simple. Insert a pencil into
a tape and with a circular motion
the tape gets rewound manually.
Happy 2012 everyone!
2011: Year in Music
A look at the best and worst music of the year
photos by Michelle Dangler
1he Urasca|s s a band based out of Nashv||e. Its musc has a b|uegrass nuence. Many attendees were moved by a song en-
titled I Am Strong. The song is a tribute to children who face diseases such as cancer.
Dec. 5, 2011 A&E THE AGORA 7
Jacob Thompson
Agora Staff
In June 2011, the television station
Adult Swim began running one of its
signature bumps during commercial
breaks, which read the following:
New word we just learned that we
wish we could unlearn
Brony [bro-nee] n. An adult male fan
of the childrens cartoon My Little Pony
Updated all-time list of creepy weird
things that scare us:
1. Furries.
2. Bronies.
3. The word moist.
Adult Swim wasnt lying, this phe-
nomenon actually exists; a group of men,
self deemed as bronies, seeking to be the
ultimate hipsters, liking what nobody
else possibly could: My-Little-Pony. No,
really. No, really!
In 2010, a Hasbro owned television
station The Hub, recruited Lauren
Faust, creative mind behind The
Powerpuff Girls, to create a televi-
sion adaptation of its new My Little
Pony toy line, premiering October
that year.
The website Cartoon Brew re-
leased an article attacking the show
with a surprisingly alarmist tone, claim-
ing that the creator-driven era was over,
and this was a show with no substance
outside of promoting toys. 4chan, the
largest image board on the web, caught
wind of this article, and decided to watch
and see what all the fuss was about.
Ironically enough, the article brought
the boards attention to a show it may
otherwise have ignored. Not only did the
show have the same wide-eyed charm
which the Powerpuffs used to call our
masculinity into question, but the show
uses fash animation, resulting in a show
with the polish only a television series can
pro-
vide, but
the visuals
and design
of a web
cartoon one
would fnd
on YouTube
or New-
g r o u n d s .
The most
w a t c h e d
episode one
of the series expecting to be done after
20 minutes, but fell into the devi-
ous trap of a cliffhanger ending,
the second half of which would
conveniently air a short two days
after the article. The users
were hooked; perhaps
too much so.
Pony topics
and images be-
gan to pop up so
frequently across
4chan, ANY other
discussion became
nearly impossible.
On a NSFW board
where literally
anything goes,
My Little Pony
became the frst topic
banned outright.
The ponies continue
to spread their infuence to other sites,
however, like Reddit, Tumblr, YouTube,
and even brought to the attention of other
media such as Fox News and Game In-
former magazine.
On an episode of the Colbert Report,
Steven Colbert even goes out of his way
to give a big shout-out to any bronies
who may be watching.
Did we lose you? No? Youre still
reading an article about My Little
Pony? Good! The show follows a uni-
corn named Twilight Sparkle and her
assistant, a young dragon, as she learns
magic and makes friends in Ponyville.
You cant see yourself ever sitting
through this can you? When looked at
objectively, this show shares many ele-
ments with media accepted by people
outside the child demographic in the
past, such as Pokmon, Adventure
Time, of course The Powerpuff Girls,
and even Harry Potter.
Mandi Davis
Agora Staff
It has been one hard year for
Blink-182 to release Neighborhoods
for diehard fans.
This album is the frst one since the
band separated eight years prior. Their
last album release was blink-182 or
self-titled, which was released in 2003.
Blink-182 gives Neighborhoods
a new edge while also giving it an old
school blink edge at the same time.
Ghost on the Dance Floor opens the
album with a song telling fans that it is
okay to miss someone; almost giving
hope that not everything dies.
Up All Night, the lead single of the
album, helps boost the album with ex-
citement. The group defnitely put Iorth
effort in making this a Box Car Racer of
Blink-182. This is class mixed with new
beats that each incorporate.
This song was one of four demos the
band had produced since the reunion
with it being the one near completion.
It was originally named The Night the
Moon was Gone, however as record-
ing continued they kept going back to
Up All Night and the track got to be
heavier and harder than before.
After Midnight is where Travis
Barker starts to add a hippy beat to the
drums, giving the song an excellent
position on the album given it was the
second single. Barkers hip beat makes
for a great tune to go with it, like Tom
DeLonge and Mark Hoppus make it
known with their vocals.
'Kaleidoscope defnitely describes
and makes the album the most exciting.
Just in the beat and lyrics it tells the sto-
ry in three small minutes, immediately
showing signs of transformation of the
band during the albums recording pro-
cess.
Blink-182 even gave this album a
whole new twist when it came to the
composition. With Barker, DeLonge,
and Hoppus giving something each to
the album, that gives it the new blink
edge.
Snake Charmer was originally
titled Genesis, as a reference to the
book Genesis. The track tells the bibli-
cal tale of Adam and Eve.
A catchy song with a weird title is
MH 4.18.2011 which was initially ti-
tled Hold On. Instead the group came
across the new name that DeLonge
thought was catchy like a virus.
Before Neighborhoods Blink-182
could be described as a punk-rock band.
Overall the album has a great new
twist that gives a whole new edge to
blink-182. The album gets a 9/10 with
great praise and hope for the future.
Nicki Kostrzewa
Agora Staff
Coldplay, a British alternative rock
band, has been around since 1996. This
is thanks to Chris Martin (lead vocalist)
and Jonny Buckland (lead guitarists)
meeting during their college years at the
University College London.
Coldplay recently released its new-
est album, Mylo Xyloto (pronounced
my-lo zy-letoe) on Oct. 25. Produced by
Markus Davis, Daniel Green, and Rik
Simpson, with 'enoxifcation, by Bri-
an Eno, this album was Coldplay`s frst
release since Viva La Vida or Death
and All His Friends.
Mylo Xyloto is an album that has
its ups and downs. One thing that I will
point out is that it really seemed like a
new sound for them. It was very instru-
mental and up-beat compared to some
of their usual work; there was also a
great mix of vocals in there as well that
really made the songs come to life.
The most popular song, according to
iTunes, was Paradise. It was a nice
mix of instrumental with a pinch of
techno here and there, making it all to-
gether a very well rounded piece.
A decent portion of the songs seemed
to match the rest of the album. The
songs were really carrying different
tunes; however they all seemed to hold
form on one sour subject of love and
heartbreak.
The two songs that really didnt
seem to fow in this album. Dont Let
it Break Your Heart and Up with
the Birds were given very low scores
because it seems they put too much in-
strumental in these songs. They really
lacked in beat and fow and just brought
things down a bit.
Even though some of the songs felt
really over done with sappy words and
tons of instrumental work, the album
was decent.
All in all Mylo Xyloto deserves a
7/10; it was an okay album with a few
faws, but hey no one`s perIect.
Tyler Rogoff
Agora Staff
Very rarely does a game come around
that makes me discard any sort of a social
life. I can only remember three games
doing so: Halo 2, Mass Effect, and The
Elder Scrolls: Skyrim.
Although Skyrim doesnt have the
amazing story that can draw you in like
Mass Effect does, the addiction is the
same. You are the Dragonborn, a person
with the ability to speak the language of
the dragons and use words of power to
create shouts, which aid you in battle.
Although the story in the main quest it-
self isnt anything fantastic, its the other
main storylines that draw you in. The
mages college storyline may be the best
side storyline Ive ever seen in a game,
with a couple of plot twists that keep you
hooked. Playing through the Compan-
ions storyline (the Skyrim adaptation of
the Fighter`s Guild) is terrifc and draws
you in through the story.
When it comes to pure fun, though, the
civil war quest line may be the most fun
Ive ever had in an Elder Scrolls game.
Attacking cities alongside the Storm-
cloaks or is a rush.
One of the best things about Skyrim is
the fact that almost no battle is scripted.
Upon my frst arrival to the mage`s col-
lege in Winterhold, I talked with one of
the members, who gave me a tour. As
my tour ended and I walked toward the
doors to access the main building of the
college, a dragon landed in the middle
of the walkway and started attacking the
mages, along with myselI. A short fght
ensued, and the dragon was defeated.
The whole scenario (which has been
uploaded to YouTube by multiple peo-
ple) was one of the most exhilarating
moments I experienced in the game.
Ive asked some other people who have
played through that part of the game, and
only one out of eight have said that it
happened for them as well.
Nothing is better than a game that is
never the same, no matter how many
times it is played through. Although
Skyrim doesnt have that main story that
draws you in and makes it feel like youre
controlling the character of a virtual book
like Mass Effect does, the fact that any-
thing can happen at any time keeps you
going. It has been a long time since Ive
found a game that I put 70 hours into in
two weeks and ignored all other games
that I have.
Skyrim left my copy of Modern War-
fare 3 sitting on the shelf, collecting dust.
It also left my copy of Halo: Anniversary
on the shelf with it. Never before have
I had two new games get ignored like
those two did due to another game be-
ing that much better. With me being the
huge Halo Ian that I am, I still fnd it hard
to believe that Halo: Anniversary hasnt
been fnished. That shows how enthralled
I have been by Skyrim.
Even though I`ve fnished all oI the
main storylines, I still have a plethora
oI random quests to do with an infnite
amount left to be found. There is literally
no limit to the amount of quests to do, as
random ones will always pop up at the
local taverns in every town.
The only issues that I have with Sky-
rim are the amount of glitches. Shooting
a freball or another spell at a dragon that
I killed and watching it fy out oI sight at
high speeds still entertains me, but when
I fnd myselI fghting a dragon that`s in-
visible except for a few random spots of
skin because I already killed it and it re-
vived is not fun.
Even though Skyrim has a lot of glitch-
es (some that make the game almost
unplayable at points, such as when a
Companion member follows you around
the world talking to you every two sec-
onds in an attempt to arrest you when he
doesnt have the ability to), the game is
still a must play for any RPG fan, and any
gamer in general. Once a patch comes
out to fx the majority oI the glitches that
can frustrate you to the point of turning
the game off, this game will easily win
game of the year. Even with the glitches,
Skyrim should still win GOTY.
In the end, I have to give Skyrim a 9.5
out of 10, only missing perfection due to
the glitches. I have not been as enthralled
by a game as I have been with Skyrim
since Mass Effect 2 was released almost
two years ago. A game like this comes
out maybe once a year and it should not
be missed by any gamer.
Men Bock to chlldren's show
My Little Pony reboot creates generation of Bronies
8kyrlm offers onllne lnteractlve gameplay
Muslc Revlews
blink-182 delivers trst album in years
Coldplay releases album with great sounds
8
THE AGORA
Sports
Dec. 5, 2011
Nicki Kostrzewa
Agora Staff
As the season progresses, MCCCs bowl-
ing team is taking steps to a better season.
The MCCC Bowling Club recently par-
ticipated in two tournaments sponsored
by the American Heartland Intercollegiate
Bowling Conference, in Wickliffe, Ohio .
MCCs team, the Huskies, included Kyle
Suttles, Don Jones, Jake Falzon, Chad LaF-
leur, and Jeffrey Kaminski.
The second tournament, they knew bet-
ter what they were getting into, they had a
better idea of what was coming, and they
responded, Jones said.
On Saturday, Nov. 5, the team beat one
varsity team and three sub-varsity teams,
fnishing 22nd Ior national ranking points.
Suttles placed 82nd out oI 230 in the
mens individual standings.
The next day, the Huskies gained victories
over two varsity teams and two sub-varsity
teams.
This resulted in a 21st place fnish in na-
tional ranking points. Jones placed 65th out
oI 230 in the men`s individual standings.
The next tournament for the Huskies is
Saturday, Feb 3, in Cincinnati.
The Huskies are continuing to improve as
the season goes on, Jones said.
Tyler Rogoff
Agora Staff
North Carolina and Michigan State
faced off in the Carrier Classic on Nov.
11 on the USS Carl Vinson.
It was the frst annual Carrier Clas-
sic, a college basketball game played on
Veterans Day on a United States aircraIt
carrier.
This was the frst ever game played
on an active U.S. warship. Adding to the
drama, the USS Carl Vinson was the ship
that buried Osama bin Laden at sea ear-
lier in the year.
The Carrier Classic was a morale boost
to the entire crew oI the Vinson. Having
President Barack Obama on board was
an added honor for players and crew
members alike.
Seating Ior 7,000 spectators was con-
structed, to be flled by mostly military
members with no tickets being sold pub-
licly.
The entire basketball set up took about
ten days to build, and only a few days to
take down and remove from the ship. If
the ship had been needed to launch, the
ship could be set up for military use in
two days.
Other events involving the game it-
self included every referee being retired
military members, a stoppage of play for
the daily retiring of the colors, and the
big screen showed crew members taking
down the fag and Iolding it, carrying it
onto the ship.
Although this was a night meant to
honor the military, a basketball game
was still played. Early on, it was a game
oI runs, with UNC taking oII to a quick
lead, then MSU coming back.
MSU destroyed UNC early with oI-
fensive rebounds, ending the game with
19 oIIensive boards to UNC`s 6. But the
inability to convert on second chance
points was an early sign that MSU may
be outmatched.
Even with the rebounding advantage,
MSU could not score. They only mus-
tered 25 points in the frst halI, and en-
tered the second halI down 11. At the
start oI the second halI, the UNC that
everyone expected to see this season
emerged.
North Carolina expanded the lead to
20 at one point in the second halI, when
Michigan State started to whittle down
the lead. But whenever the lead shrank
to around ten, UNC went on another run
and spaced the game back out.
The ending was never in doubt, as
UNC had a comIortable lead all the way
to the fnishing score oI 67-55.
Harrison Barnes, a player of the year
candidate, put UNC on his back oIIen-
sively. Barnes fnished the game with 17
points, leading both teams in that catego-
ry, to go along with two assists and fve
rebounds.
John Henson was a defensive mon-
ster throughout the game, blocking nine
shots, one oII the UNC single game re-
cord. Henson also had a solid offensive
game, scoring 12 points.
It was fun. My excuse was sometimes
I felt like the boat moved a little bit when
I shot, Henson joked. Thats why I
missed.
Michigan States Draymond Green
ended the game with 18 rebounds, seven
on the offensive boards. But Green shot
6-19 Irom the feld, which was on pace
with MSU`s horrifc shooting, going 22-
72 Ior the game as a team.
Even though his team lost, Green con-
sidered it an honor to play in front of the
military and the President.
That was phenomenal, he said. Its
not every day anyone gets to do that.
Tyler Rogoff
Agora Staff
Detroit Tigers starting
pitcher Justin Verlander has
added the Most Valuable
Player award to his growing
collection, to go with his Cy
Young trophy this season.
Verlander won the Ameri-
can League MVP award aIter
receiving 13 out oI 28 frst
place votes and 280 points,
as announced by the Base-
ball Writers Association of
America.
Boston Red Sox center
felder Jacoby Ellsbury fn-
ished second with 242 points
and Iour frst place votes,
while Toronto Blue Jays out-
felder Jose Bautista received
fve frst place votes and 231
points.
Trailing them were Yan-
kees center felder Cur-
tis Granderson with 215
points and Tigers frst base-
man Miguel Cabrera, who
amassed 193.
Verlander is the frst pitcher
to win the MVP award since
Dennis Eckersley in 1992
and the frst starter to win the
award since Roger Clemens
in 1986.
I think that a starting
pitcher has to do something
special to be as valuable or
more so than a position play-
er, Verlander said. 'Obvi-
ously, having the chance to
play in 160-some games in
the case of Miguel, they can
obviously have a huge im-
pact every day. Thats why,
Ive talked about on my day,
on a pitchers day, the impact
we have is tremendous on
that game. So you have to
have a great impact almost
every time out to supersede
[a position player] and it hap-
pens on rare occasions, and
I guess this year was one of
those years.
Verlander won the de Iacto
AL pitching Triple Crown,
leading the league in wins,
with 24, strikeouts, with 250,
and an ERA oI 2.40.
Verlander joins the Brook-
lyn Dodgers Don New-
combe as the only players in
MLB history to win the Cy
Young, MVP, and Rookie oI
the Year in their careers.
The only other pitchers to
win the Cy Young and MVP
in the same season are Sandy
Koufax, Bob Gibson, Denny
McLain, Vida Blue, Rollie
Fingers, and Willie Hernan-
dez. McLain and Hernandez
both pitched for Detroit when
accomplishing their feat.
He deserved it, Tigers
general manager Dave Dom-
browski said. He should
have won it, but I didnt
know how voters would re-
spond because the talk of
some people not wanting to
vote for a pitcher.
Huskies begin to improve game
MCCC Bowling Club participates in two tournaments
photo by Nicki Kostrzewa
The MCCC Huskies bowling team competed in two tournaments in November, and is preparing for a tournament in Cincinatti on Feb. 3.
courtesy of Eva Alvarado
The basketball court was constructed in ten days and torn down a few days later. Had the ship been needed for combat, it could
have been ready to deploy in two days. Tickets were distributed to military members and their families.
Michigan State plays in Carrier Classic
Justin Verlander wins AL Most Valuable Player award
courtesy of CUInternational
Verlander is one of two baseball players to ever win the MVP award, the Cy Young Award and the Rookie of the Year award.
www.mcccagora.com
THE
Aug. 26, 2010 Vol. 55, Issue 1
gora
A
Serving Monroe County Community College since 1968
Inside:
LAL/Writing Center:
Mon: 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Tues - Thurs: 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fri: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Fitness Center Hours:
Mon - Thurs: 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Sat: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Bookstore Hours:
Mon, Tues: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Wed - Fri: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Library Hours:
Mon - Thurs: 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sat: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Campus News......................2-4
Opinion...............................5
Features..............................6, 7
A&E......................................8,9
Sports....................................10
Check out The Agora online at
www.mcccagora.com
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January 30, 2012 Vol. 56, Issue 6
www.mcccagora.com
Late Night Catechism - Pg. 8
Kaitlyn Durocher
Agora Staff
MCCCs Student Government has
teamed up with a family that recently
stayed in the Ronald McDonald house
to bring about awareness for the houses
cause.
Gabriel Jordan was born on May 11,
2011, with a heart condition known as
Transposition of the Great Arteries.
This heart defect means Gabriels aorta
and pulmonary arteries were switched,
preventing her heart from properly
pumping blood to her lungs.
Gabriel also had holes in both the up-
per and lower chambers of her heart.
At 6 days old, Gabriel had surgery to
fx these conditions.
If not for the Ann Arbor Ronald Mc-
Donald house, Gabriels mother, Kyleigh
Jordan, would not have been able to be
with her daughter as much as she was
throughout the surgery.
The Ronald McDonald house provides
services to families with hospitalized
children. Families who live far away
from the hospital are given a place to stay
in the house so they can be closer to their
child during the hospitalization.
The house is incredible; it has an
amazing atmosphere, says Kyleigh Jor-
dan.
At only $10 a night, or whatever do-
nation a family can afford, the house
provides private rooms and bathrooms,
a kitchen, home-cooked meals, and inter-
action with other people going through
the same ordeals.
Gabriel and her family now want to
give back to the house for the services it
offered to them while Gabriel was under-
going surgery.
The families goal is to raise 1 million
pop tabs to turn into the Ronald McDon-
ald house by May 17, the one year an-
niversary of Gabriels surgery.
That many tabs equals about 637
pounds in weight, which determines how
much the tabs are worth upon being re-
cycled.
The family also wants to collect 1 mil-
lion tabs per year, with an ultimate goal
of donating a total of 5 million tabs.
To get involved, all you have to do is
put tabs from any cans in collection jars
found around campus. There are jars in
the cafeteria, Cellar, and library.
If you wish to donate tabs off of cam-
pus you can contact Alyssa Davis, a
member of student government, or Tom
Ryder , Campus Community Events/Stu-
dents Activities Coordinator.
Also, be sure to like the page 1 Mil-
lion Tabs for Gabriel on Facebook to get
further information.
Today, Gabriel is a smart and gorgeous
baby girl. She had an amazing outcome
with her surgery and will be able to live
a normal life and perform the same tasks
as any other children.
Gabriels success was helped made
possible by the Ronald McDonald house.
By collecting tabs for Gabriel, students
can help others receive the same kind of
assistance.
Students raise awareness for Ronald McDonald house
Community celebrates MLK Day
DJ Zarza cultivates musical talents at MCCC
Mandi Davis
Agora Staff
DJ Zarza could go on to become the
next Skrillex, but Ior now he is just a
student who enjoys spinning for his
fellow classmates.
DJ Zarza, known by the frst name oI
Josh, has been attending MCCC since
his sophomore year. He is majoring in
computer science and even thinking
of picking up a secondary major with
math when he transfers to the Univer-
sity of Michigan.
Zarza found his musical talent at
the young age oI 13. The frst time he
showed his talent was when a friend
asked him to compile a playlist for an
upcoming party.
A few more parties like that hap-
pened, and then I decided rather than
making a playlist, I could be like my
uncle and start to mix, Zarza said
Mentoring and teaching Zarza all the
skills to become a disc jockey was his
uncle, Brent Zarza, who has been a DJ
himself for 20 years.
Id say the music is what led Josh
to start deejaying. His own desire to be
a better musician compels him to learn
new things, anywhere he can, Brent
said.
Being a DJ does require a good
amount of musical knowledge, back-
ground, and defnitely requires the
skills of carrying rhythm. According
to Zarza, having good taste in music
is also something that is highly benef-
cial, but not essential.
Music doesnt matter. If the DJ
is having a blast, everyone is having
fun, he said.
Zarza cultivated his musical talent
by joining Airports high school band
in his sophomore year. He played the
saxophone, grabbing frst chair in the
section.
I loved being in band. We played
awesome songs that were from well-
known bands like Metallica, My
Chemical Romance, and so many oth-
er huge band names, he said.
Knowing to play an instrument may
only be a small beneft to the spinning.
The huge beneft to being in band is the
conducting; spinning beats is similar
to what a band director does.
A conductor has to be aware of the
sound of the whole orchestra the way a
DJ has to be aware of all the sounds in
his composition` a mix, Zarza said.
He loved band so much in high
school that it gave him the guts to try
out for the college symphony band.
'While I can play my sax, I can`t
compete with the men and women in
the MCCC band who have masters
degrees in their given instrument, he
said.
Zarza moved on and found a differ-
ent group that really works with his
talent. This group happens to be Mich-
igan Electronic Dance Music Associa-
tion (MEDMA).
MEDMA was founded at the Uni-
versity of Michigan in the fall of 2005.
Members of the group range from mu-
sic lovers, producers, DJs, and even
those who just love to get down and
dance; however, it is only open to stu-
dents and potential students of Univer-
sity of Michigan.
Finding the group was an accident
in disguise. I more than likely am go-
ing to transfer to the University of
Michigan, so making it in the sym-
phony band was not such a big deal,
Zarza said.
According to Zarza, all the disc jock-
eys in the group take turns spinning
for the events. Events draw crowds of
more than 500 people.
He typically plays for a wide vari-
ety of events ranging from weddings,
birthdays, school events, to even spin-
ning for MEDMA.
According to Zarza, starting off as
a DJ can be quite expensive with all
the equipment one must have. Getting
started at the age that he did, he had
to seek alternative routes oI fnding the
funds.
See DJ ZARZA, Page 6
Christina Cusumano
Agora Staff
MCCC hosted Celebration VII, a free
production in Meyer Theater to honor
the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
and the principles he stood for over for-
ty years ago.
The celebration brought
together contemporary songs, gospel
hymns, dance routines, poems, and
spoken word to remind generations,
young and old, of the progress King made
in America towards civil rights, equality,
and resisting oppression through peaceful
protest.
MCCC President David Nixon used
the celebration as an opportunity to
express the importance oI students
having dreams.
No one in my family went to college,
so that became my dream, Nixon said.
What dream do you have that drives
you to go to those classes and write those
papers?
Kelly Vining, director of the show, cast
a variety of performers, including college
students, church choirs, and interpretive
dancers expressing what King means to
them.
Keeping faith through adversity, equal-
ity, justice, and Kings dream of a more
compassionate world were at the fore-
front of the performances.
Mary (Mimi) Epps opened the show
with a lovely rendition of God Bless
America. Following her was Myrna
Allen Austin, a talented choir director
who performed a soulful rendition of
the Black National Anthem, originally
a poem entitled Lift Every Voice and
Sing by James Weldon Johnson.
India Smith, a transfer student to
MCCC, performed the spiritual song,
He Wants it All by Forever Jones.
Next to perIorm was Christopher
Holmes, vice president of student gov-
ernment on campus. Holmes read two
pieces of spoken word entitled, Sonnet
VII by Kathleen Delicato and Diver-
sity by Gene Griessman.
A slideshow of famous photographs of
King was presented, set to the introspec-
tive song Man in the Mirror, by the late
Michael Jackson.
Richard Hoffskin read an original
poem entitled Still Dreaming and De-
marcus Smith performed an original rap
song. Synia Boswell, 15, played the piano
and sang Misty by Sarah Vaugh and A
Change is Gunna Come, by Sam Cook.
The youngest performers, a kids choir
called the Carry Chapel Gospel Group,
preformed I Wanna go to Heaven. by
the band Mary Mary.
Dereck Brown, Khadija London,
and Destany Parker, members of the
dance group Gods Chosen Few, per-
formed a routine based on the importance
oI praying and individual selI-expres-
sions of faith.
Gods Chosen Few is through our
church, London said. Its nice to be
here because our group has been separat-
ed for a while, but now we get to reunite
for Martin Luther King Day.
Epps performed another song, Cross-
roads by Beyonce.
The Monroe Gospel Church Choir per-
formed two hymns, directed by Myrna
Allen Austin.
'It was our frst time perIorming
for MLK day, Samantha Brody, mem-
ber of the choir said. But I think it went
really well.
Victor McCadd, master of ceremonies,
felt that the show did well although there
were several changes to the program.
I liked the message of the show, Kim
Daniels, a member of the audience, said.
I liked that the whole show was faith-
based.
photo by Michelle Dangler
Synia Boswell (above) performed two songs at Celebration VII. The two songs were A Change is Gonna Come and Misty.
Vineyard planted on campus Pg. 4
Student Government is raising money in
honor of Gabriel Jordan.
photo by Mandi Davis
DJ Zarza has performed at several MCCC events.
Student Government will be hold-
ing several events in honor of Black
History of Month. Blues artist James
Samuel will be performing in the caf-
eteria on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 11:30 a.m.
The flm Crossroads will air Thurs-
day, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. in C3, the Little
Theater. Blues artist Keith Scott will
be performing in the cafeteria at 11:30
a.m. on Monday, Feb. 27. The annual
Blues Series concert series will also
take place in February. To learn more,
see page 8.
Gack H,oiq ^ol
January 30, 2012 campus news mcccagora.com
The Agora | 2
BrleBy:
Roman resigns as Health dean
Dr. Cynthia Roman has resigned her position as
dean of the Health Sciences Division and Director
of Nursing to accept a similar job at Oakland Com-
munity College.
Dr. Roman started at MCCC in May of 2010 and
her last day will be April 27, 2012 a little less
than two years later.
Dr. Grace Yackee, vice president of Instruction,
credited Dr. Roman with establishing an excellent
relationship with faculty, staff, students, clinical
partners, four year nursing programs, the Michigan
State Board of Nursing, and the National League
for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC).
MCCCs nursing program was accredited by the
NLNAC through fall 2013 in order to give the pro-
gram time to address several problems that surfaced
during the acceditation review, Yackee said.
Over the last year, Dr. Roman has led the nursing
Iaculty in addressing program defciencies identi-
fed by the NLNAC, Yackee said.
The position will be posted soon, Yackee said,
with the goal of hiring a new dean prior to Dr. Ro-
mans last day at the college.
Campus wind turbine planned
An 80-foot wind turbine is going to be erected
on the MCCC campus to help students learn in the
renewable energy curriculum.
Clifton Brown, assistant professor of Renewable
Energy, and Jim Blumberg, director of the Physi-
cal Plant, have recently meet up with a construction
companyto discuss the fnal designs.
In my previous careers, I have used this exact
turbine as a teaching aide, Brown said.
Plans are to have the wind turbine constructed
before May.
A commercial wind tower is 300-feet tall and can
be described as a Iootball feld standing up. The
tower the college plans will supply small amounts
of electricity and provide a hands-on experience for
students, Brown said.
It will be located east of the Gerald Welch Health
Education building.
Ex-priest holding book signing
Dr. Marvin Josaitis, an author and former lo-
cal Catholic priest who resigned on philosophical
grounds, will speak at Monroe County Community
College and hold a book signing for his two new
books.
The presentation and book signing, which is free
and open to the public, will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday,
Feb. 8 in the La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater.
Josaitis served as a priest at St. Michaels Church
in Monroe from 1967-69, then resigned from the
priesthood and left the Catholic Church. He went
on to serve as an associate professor of philosophy
and English at MCCC from 1969-76.
He served in a number of positions in corporate
America, before retiring in 1998 to pursue other in-
terests, including being a hospice volunteer, pianist,
realtor and author.
Breaking Grand Silence (A Former Catholic
Priest Speaks Out) is published by Tate Publishing
Company and was released Dec. 6.
Pennies From a Heavn: The Joy of Making
Family was also published by Tate Publishing. It
was released on Dec. 13.
Chaftn heads C1C oampaign
MCCC has picked Douglas ChaIfn to run its
fundraising campaign for the Career Technology
Center building.
ChaIfn is the president and CEO oI Monroe
Bank & Trust, and had worked on MCCCs cam-
paign for the La-Z-Boy Center in 2003.
We consider ourselves incredibly fortunate
to have Doug at the helm of the campaign, said
MCCC President David Nixon.
The CTC will cost $17 million to build, with half
of the money coming from the state of Michigan.
The campaign is charged with raising the $8.5 mil-
lion needed to replace the money MCCC used from
its reserves to pay for its half of the project.
Kaitlyn Durocher
Agora Staff
Two members f the MCCC staff
Penny Bodell and Vicky Lavelle
won recent Enriching Lives Perfor-
mance Awards.
Bodell, who is the administrative
assistant to the V.P. of Student and In-
formation Services, won the Septem-
ber-October award.
Lavelle, who is a technician in the
Culinary Arts Program, won the No-
vember-December award.
Bodell works in the Student Servic-
es department, where her job duties
consist of everything from dealing
with students requests and concerns
to editing the colleges catalog.
If someone is honest and deserv-
ing, the college fnds a way to help,
Bodell said when asked if she ever
gets frustrated with her job duties.
Monthly emails are sent out to the
staff from Molly McCutchan, Direc-
tor of Human Resources, asking for
nominations and announcing the re-
cipients of the award.
Bodell discovered she had won the
award through one of the monthly
emails. She said she was grateful and
touched to have even been nominated.
The winner receives a certifcate
and a traveling award they can display
until the next recipient is chosen.
Vicki LaValle was honored for her
interaction with students in the culi-
nary program.
This award has been given out since
March, 2010, McCutchan said. There
have been nine award winners since
that time.
A person is nominated based on
their demonstration of the colleges
ICare brand values, which are: in-
vestment, community, accessibility,
responsiveness, and enrichment.
Anybody can nominate a person to
be the recipient of this award, Mc-
Cutchan said. It was started in an ef-
fort to recognize staff for their work
performance.
Not only does this award recog-
nized worthy employees, but it also
demonstrates what MCCCs vision
statement is all about, she said.
Nicki Kostrewza
Agora Staff
Spain and all its wonders is the next destination
for MCCCs Study Abroad students.
Journalism professor Dan Shaw, who will lead the
Spain trip, has been working for the last two months
to plan the details.
Doing all this research for the trip has opened
my eyes about how exciting Spain will be to visit,
Shaw said.
In an online survey during fall semester, Spain
was chosen as one of the top three locations students
wanted to visit.
Details are still being worked out, but a side trip
to Portugal or Northern Africa may be worked into
the mix, Shaw said.
The trip is planned to be roughly 16 to 20 days,
with a week spent in Barcelona.
Joanna Sabo, the International Studies Club ad-
viser who has led past trips, said shes excited about
spending time in the east Spain seaport.
I have heard in Barcelona youre in a very posh,
sheik, modern part of downtown one minute, then a
very, very old Spanish colonial city the next, Sabo
said.
Highlights the club is certain to see, according to
Shaw, include Museo del Prado, which ranks as one
of the must-see art museums in the world, holding
some oI the fnest collections oI pre-20
th
century Eu-
ropean art.
Another likely stop is the Alhambra, a fIteenth
century palace and fort that is considered to be one
of the worlds best examples of Moorish architec-
ture, located in Granada.
Another feature of the trip, Shaw said, will be
the Sagrada Familia, a world-famous cathedral de-
signed by Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona.
Students who go on the trip can register for none
or all three of the classes that will be offered. How-
ever, the faculty members recommend only taking
one or two of the classes.
Gary Wilson, one of the professors participating in
the trip, will be teaching an art appreciation course.
He said hes thrilled at the chance to see some of the
worlds greatest art works.
I am looking forward to seeing this art, he said.
I have been teaching for 41 years, and now Im
fnally seeing what I teach about.
Sabo, who has led three other MCCC Study
Abroad trips, also will be going on this adventure.
She intends to teach comparative politics.
I want them to learn a lot about comparative gov-
ernments, just by looking in that one country, Sabo
said.
Shaw plans to teach Photojournalism.
'I think a Photojournalism course really fts Study
Abroad, because it teaches students how to tell sto-
ries with pictures, Shaw said.
In last years trip to Central Europe, students and
faculty spent 20 days in Austria, Hungary, Poland,
and the Czech Republic. Students were able to ex-
perience life on the cobble-stoned streets and see
the grand, towering cathedrals.
I believe the students, the college, and the com-
munity beneft Irom MCCC study abroad, and I
would love to see it expanded to offer an opportu-
nity each year, said Vinnie Maltese, dean of the
Science/Mathematics Division.
A video of the 2011 trip is available on the Agora
website, www.mcccagora.com. Students interested in
the Spain trip should contact Shaw, Sabo or Wilson.
Mccc headlng to 8paln
3tudy Abroad announoes destination, plans trip
1wo employees reoeive enriohing" awards
Taylor Pinson
Agora Staff
Student enrollment at MCCC is down 309
students, or about 7 percent from this same
time last year.
MCCC has faced declining enrollment
numbers for the last four semesters. Mark
Hall, MCCCs Director of Admissions and
Guidance Services, presented a report about
the decline in a Board of Trustees meeting on
Jan 23.
Every community college in Michigan is
down in enrollment, Hall said.
Hall also mentioned that MCCC has in-
creased academic standards, including score
cut-offs and prerequisites for taking certain
courses, designed to improve student success
rates, which has affected enrollment.
Any time you raise your standards, it lim-
its your pool of potential students, Hall said.
Changes to the Federal Pell Grant regula-
tions enacted in July 2011 were a major cause,
forcing 128 students to drop classes after they
were denied fnancial aid, he said.
Other factors cited as reasons for lower en-
rollment included the Affordable Health Care
Act, fewer high school students in Monroe
County, and the end of No Worker Left Be-
hind and other job re-training programs.
MCCC isnt alone.
Hall said the surge in enrollment that has
affected community colleges nationwide in
the past few years is expected to end as the
economy improves.
As the economy picks up, we tend to lose
students, Hall said.
The decrease in enrollment has brought
the number of students at MCCC back to its
2008 level, he said.
Autumn Jackson
Contributor
Tired of the new semester al-
ready? The Whitman Center is
helping to bring some excitement
to the mundane class schedule.
Three upcoming events and ex-
hibits will take place soon at the
Whitman Center.
The Winter 2012 Enrichment
Events will have a different dis-
play for February, March, and
April.
Did you know that more than
1,900 people were buried in un-
marked graves in the Toledo State
Hospital Cemetery?
MCCC, in association with
Gardens of St. Elizabeth, will host
an event which will feature speak-
ers from the Toledo State Hospital
Cemetery Reclamation Commit-
tee discussing the restoration of
the cemeteries and the efforts to
identify those buried by name.
On display will be an overview
of the history of mental health in
the United States.
This event will take place on
Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 7-8 p.m.
in room 9.
In March, students can expect
to see beautiful art in Whitmans
lobby. March will be art apprecia-
tion month.
Todd Matteson, Associate Pro-
fessor of Art at Lourdes College,
will be giving a crash course in art
appreciation.
On display will be 25 reproduc-
tions of some of the worlds great-
est artists, along with information
about their lives.
Also on display will be the work
of future artists, our own Bedford
Township elementary school stu-
dents.
Marchs event dates and time
are to be announced.
For the semesters home run,
April will be incorporating Amer-
icas favorite past time.
Aprils theme is From base
ball to baseball: Evolution of the
early game.
Rich Adler, local baseball his-
torian, will speak about the early
development of baseball.
On display will be Baseball:
Across a Divided Society, from
the Library of Congress. This will
consist of twenty images depict-
ing early baseball (1860s-1920s).
This event will be held on
Thursday, April 19, from 7-8 p.m.
in room 9.
For more information, contact
Sandy Kosmyna, Director of the
Whitman Center at 734-847-
0559, ext. 22.
Whitman Center hosts
events, mental health
featured in exhibits
3tudent enrollment down 7 peroent
Michael Mayzlin
Agora Staff
Felice Moorman is a new addition to
MCCs faculty, teaching Early Childhood
Development.
Moorman said shes looking forward to
working with students in the program.
I feel fortunate to have had the opportu-
nity to work with future early childhood edu-
cators, helping to facilitate their development
as future teachers, Moorman said.
The Early Childhood Development posi-
tion at MCCC is a perfect next step for her,
Moorman said.
It will blend her love of children with her
love for working with future teachers.
This semester, she is teaching ECDV-105,
ECDV-106, ECDV-107, ECDV-210, and
ECDV-218 courses.
Moormans career began as a third grade
teacher in a public school district in Southeast
Michigan.
After the birth of her children, Moorman
took a leave of absence to stay home.
It was during that time that she decided to
complete the coursework for a graduate de-
gree.
AIter fnishing her Master`s Degree in
Early Childhood Education at Eastern Michi-
gan University, Moorman was asked to join
MCCCs Early Childhood Education faculty
as part-time instructor.
During this teaching experience, I real-
ized that while I will always love working
with young children, I really enjoyed work-
ing with adult future teachers as well, she
said.
Moorman, her husband, children, and a
1-year-old Goldendoodle, Fuzzy, reside just
outside of Ann Arbor.
She and her husband enjoy running, an ac-
tivity that began this past fall. Both of them
participated in several 5K races.
She said she always loved sports and physi-
cal activity, but running is now her favorite
pastime.
'I can run whenever it fts into my schedule
and it helps me let go of any stress from the
day, Moorman said.
Moorman new early childhood professor
I realized that while I will
always love working with
young children, I really en-
joyed working with adult fu-
ture teachers as well.
Felice Moorman
Larly Childhood Lduoation professor
Penny Bodell Vicki Lavelle
The Sagrada Familia, left, one of the worlds most famous cathe-
drals, is still under construction in Barcelona. The Alcazar Castle
in Toledo, above, was built in the 3rd century by the Romans and
rebuilt in the 16th century. Both will likely be visited by the MCCC
students visiting Spain on the 2013 Study Abroad trip.
In Barcelona youre in a very
posh, sheik, modern part of down-
town one minute, then a very, very
old Spanish colonial city the next.
Joanna Sabo
lnternational 3tudies Club adviser
mcccagora.com
The Agora
3
January 30
2012
campus
Shana Kritzer
Agora Staff
The halls of MCCCs A Build-
ing were flled with the rhythmic
sounds of jazz on Jan.16.
The enchanting notes heard
were those oI Flute Juice Produc-
tions, playing in the caIeteria to
recognize Martin Luther King Jr.
Day.
Flute Juice is a musical enter-
tainment company that provides
music and lectures to colleges,
universities and many others all
over the world.
MCCC students were treated to
a lecture on 'Jazz and the Civil
Rights Movement, Irom 10 to 11
a.m. Beginning at noon, a musical
perIormance took place Ieaturing
Pat, the pianist, Nic, the bassist,
John, the drummer, and Galen
the Flutist.
'We enjoyed playing Ior you
and the other students as well,
Galen said. 'We enjoy keeping
the fame burning oI America`s
only original music, jazz.
Many students were present to
listen to the smooth fow oI jazz
coming Irom the band`s instru-
ments.
Victoria Bushaw-Boichot,
a student at MCCC, was thor-
oughly enjoying the perIormance,
even taking the time to get up and
dance.
'I love this band, Bushaw-
Boichot said. 'I saw them beIore
at Jazz Fest. They are wonderIul.
In addition to Flute Juice, the
hallway in the administration
building was brimming with
clubs and organizations Irom nu-
merous diverse backgrounds.
MCCC was represented by the
International Studies Club, the
International Students Ior So-
cial Equality Club, the Ballroom
Dance and Drama Club, the Gay-
Straight Alliance, Student Gov-
ernment, and the Criminal Justice
Club.
In addition to the college clubs,
quite a Iew outside organizations
donated their time to the Diversity
Fair, including: Islamic Religion,
Persons with Disabilities, Native
American Culture, and the Inter-
national Society oI Krishna Con-
sciousness in Detroit (ISCON).
The Native American Culture
showcased hand-beaded items.
Members oI the Krishna group
taught students how to make In-
dian Iudge known as Burf and
distributed samples.
Students and Iaculty enjoyed
learning about diIIerent cultures,
and taking a Iew hours to appreci-
ate the entertainment.
'I really loved the turnout to
see the spectrum oI diIIerent cul-
tures, and diIIerent groups that
come together to show their sup-
port Ior diversity, said Brandon
VanBelle, a student at MCCC and
member oI the Gay-Straight Alli-
ance.
'I stopped at every table that I
can to understand about the diI-
Ierent ethnicities, politics, and
religion on what makes them di-
verse, he said.
In the background, students
could hear the Iamous speech
made by Martin Luther King Jr.,
played on a television.
The Diversity Fair not only was
a celebration oI King`s liIe, but
a way to commemorate the Iree-
dom and equality he worked so
hard to bring to the nation.
Michelle Dangler
Agora Staff
For many people, Martin Lu-
ther King Jr. Day is a time oI re-
fection, remembrance, and cel-
ebration.
It is a chance Ior everyone to
come together regardless oI
race or creed and express their
joy at the leaps and bounds in civil
rights that Dr. King made.
The evening oI January 15 was
no exception.
It was a heart-warming event
Ieaturing poetry readings, solo-
ists, choirs, a mime act, and a
hearing-impaired, but beautiIully
talented pianist.
Well received by the crowd,
people in the audience were
standing up, clapping, cheering,
and singing along with the per-
Iormers.
The atmosphere was one oI
love, acceptance, and unity. In
that theater, there was no black`
or white,` or anything in between.
There was only pure joy and a
living example oI what the world
can be iI skin color is only over-
looked.
For one perIormer, a Monroe
High School senior, it was also a
chance to shine.
Mary 'Mimi Epps, 17, did in-
deed shine when she stepped up to
the microphone. She wowed the
audience with her passionate ren-
dition oI God Bless America
the frst musical perIormance oI
the evening and wowed them
again when she later perIormed a
cover oI Beyonce`s Listen.
Listening to her sing, it was
clear that she loved what she was
doing. However, when one stops
to talk to Mimi, one learns that
singing is not all she is passionate
about. No, this girl has dreams oI
becoming a cheI.
'I want to go into Culinary
Arts, she said. 'Singing and
cooking that`s my passion.
Mimi was Iunny, sweet, and
glad to talk about her passions
during her brieI interview. She
also mentioned that one oI the
other perIormers, part oI the mime
act, was her brother.
Another perIormer, Student
Government`s vice president,
Christopher Holmes, recited two
inspiring poems about diversity.
Poignantly setting the stage Ior
the night`s celebration, Chris read
Sonnet VII (Kathleen Delicato)
and Diversity (Gene Griessman).
At the end oI the reading, Chris
gave his own parting words on
diversity and also enlightenment.
'Those that Iorever let the sun
set on their ignorance give way to
enlightenment.
'It was inspiring to be part oI
the celebration honoring Dr. King,
what he stood Ior as a man, and
his many contributions to soci-
ety, he said.
'Being chosen to express what
diversity and equality means to
us at MCCC was a wonderIul op-
portunity that I would graciously
accept anytime.
Local musicians perform in Celebration VII
photo by Michelle Danlger
Myrna Allen Austin performed The Black National Anthem and Lift
Every Voice and Sing.
photo by Michelle Danlger
India Smith performed Forever Joness He Wants It All.
photo by Michelle Danlger
A dancing and miming group known as Gods Chosen Few performed
at the event. Members of the crew included Khadija London, Derreck
Brown and Destany Parker.
photo by Michelle Danlger
Mary Mimi Epps performed God Bless America.
photo by Michelle Danlger
A group known as Islamic Religion participated in the diversity fair. Its
booth passed out literature regarding the Islam religion.
photo by Michelle Danlger
Members of Krishna Conciousness also attended the diversity fair. Its
booth featured tradtona| Indan fudge known as ur.
photo by Kaitlin Bereczky
A group representing the Native American culture exhibited beaded jewelry.
photo by Michelle Danlger
The band Flute Juice performed for students and faculty in the cafeteria.
Artists inspired by event
Students receive insight
at MLK diversity fair
January 30, 2012 campus news mcccagora.com
The Agora | 4
Shana Kritzer
Agora Staff
When people think of wine, usually it
begins with Italy, or maybe France, even
possibly with Californias Napa Valley.
Rarely does Monroe County come to
mind.
Thats all about to change, thanks to
Chef Kevin Thomas and the Bacchus So-
ciety.
Bacchus is the god of wine the soci-
ety is a mix of faculty, support staff, and
administration.
The Bacchus Society was formed with
the exclusive goal of creating a viticul-
ture and enology program at MCCC. In
other words, students will take part in the
study, science, and production of grapes
and wine.
Last year, while watching the installa-
tion of solar panels at the college, a bril-
liant idea was hatched to erect a vineyard
on the college campus.
Wine is no stranger to the state of
Michigan, and more importantly, Monroe
County. Monroe was once the birthplace
of the commercial wine industry in Mich-
igan. Joseph M. Sterling planted his frst
vineyard in the Monroe area in 1863.
Later, Sterling became the frst in
Michigan to commercially produce wine
under the Pointe Aux Peaux Wine Co. of
Monroe in 1868.
At one time, over 1,000 acres of grape-
vines were grown in the county. Sadly,
Monroes wine industry seemed to die
along with its founders.
In comes the Bacchus Society.
With a enhancement grant of $1,000
dollars from the MCCC Foundation, the
vineyard was started. The vineyard be-
gan with 30 grapevines planted on the far
southeast end of the campus. The vines
are Vignoles, which are a medium bod-
ied, white wine.
They were chosen based on their hardi-
ness. Any vines grown would need to be
able to survive the harsh Michigan sea-
sons. Grape vines need good climate, ad-
equate rainfall, cool breezes at night and
sunny days.
Every three weeks during growing
season, the culinary students, along with
the society, head out to the vineyard to till
the soil, pull weeds, and train the unruly
vines to grow on trellises.
Not many community colleges can
boast that they have their own vineyard.
In fact, in the state of Michigan, only
larger schools have such an opportunity.
Chef Thomas is thrilled at the learning
experience this will provide for current
and future culinary students.
'We want to be the frst community
college in the state of Michigan to offer
a program in viticulture and enology,
Thomas said.
While the vineyard is sleeping
through the winter, students are still able
to learn about wine making.
There is currently a batch of wine fer-
menting. This batch was made from lo-
cally grown grapes since the newly plant-
ed Vignoles wont produce wine quality
grapes for a few years. The wine should
be ready within the next 30 days.
The vineyard not only benefts the stu-
dents, but will be a beneft to the commu-
nity as well, Thomas said. He is hopeful
the vineyard could be expanded, possibly
in locations around Monroe County.
Ideally, the Bacchus Society hopes to
be able to use the wine produced by the
college for special events on campus,
such as the colleges 50th anniversary in
2014.
While the ultimate goal would be to
sell the wine produced at the college to
the community, that goal is a long way
oII. The main Iocus is to bring a Certif-
cate Program in Enology and Viticulture
to MCCC, adding to the current Culinary
Arts Program.
This has just taken off, Thomas said,
I get excited just talking about it.
Culinary students will be part of bring-
ing back the history of wine to Monroe
County.
The vineyard, dubbed V1300 by the
society, will get ready for 30 more vines
set to be planted in the spring. V1300 will
soon be home to numerous varieties of
white and red grapes.
The name given to the vineyard was
in part in honor of Cuisine 1300, and the
V stands for Vision, Viticulture, Veri-
tas, Vignoles, and Vineyard.
The Bacchus Society hopes to soon
begin accepting donations toward the
V1300 project, which could assist to
bring back the countys rich heritage in
wine.
Christina Cusumano
Agora Staff
MCCC has flled a research position that
has been open Ior the past fve years.
Jamie DeLeeuw, who started work in
January, will be serving MCCC as Coordi-
nator of Institutional Research, Evaluation,
and Assessment.
Deleeuws position, eliminated in 2006
as a cost saving measure, involves evalu-
ating whether MCCC and its programs are
effective, ultimately to improve the institu-
tion by means of research, evidence, and
evaluation.
The purpose of my job is to further
assess and enhance institutional effective-
ness, which includes supporting faculty
and the assessment of student learning at
the course, program and institution levels,
DeLeeuw said.
DeLeeuw will work with the Learning
Assessment Committee, which is develop-
ing a process to help professors assess how
well students are learning in their class-
room.
None of what I am researching will be
on anybodys record, DeLeeuw said. I
am here to analyze the broader picture and
help instructors better communicate to stu-
dents.
DeLeeuw, an avid researcher since col-
lege, was happy to hear about MCCCs
culture of evidence for the decision-mak-
ing process.
Im a research nerd, DeLeeuw said.
I found this job through higher education
jobs online and what drew me to this insti-
tution was your mission statement and the
emphasis on evidence.
Grace Yackee, vice president of instruc-
tion at MCCC, said DeLeeuws love of re-
search will be an asset to MCCCs faculty.
She gets it, Yackee said. From the
moment the search team frst met Jamie, it
was clear that she understood the role of IR
(institutional research) in a community col-
lege setting.
Yackee hopes DeLeeuw can help answer
an important question: Are students think-
ing, acting and able to do what is expected
they should upon graduation, both in gen-
eral education and specifc programs?
To research this question effectively,
DeLeeuw said she will spend a lot of time
with faculty, supporting their student as-
sessment activities.
DeLeeuw earned her undergraduate
degree at Grand Valley State University,
where she majored in political science and
psychology.
She earned a masters degree in Psychol-
ogy and a Ph.D in Community Psychol-
ogy at Wichita State University in Kansas.
Community psychology, a relatively new
discipline, was introduced in the 1960s
when a group of psychologists where un-
happy with the ability of clinical psycholo-
gists to handle broader social issues.
I wasnt interested in Clinical Psychol-
ogy so much, but helping individuals and
communities on a broader spectrum,
DeLeeuw said. Its about looking at mul-
tiple variables for the bigger picture.
DeLeeuw fnished her dissertation in
2010, which involved research on animal
shelter dogs at the Kansas Humane Society
and the factors predicting adoption vs. eu-
thanasia. She returned to GVSU is 2011 to
teach psychology and, not surprisingly, do
research.
Yackee felt DeLeeuws career prepared
her well for her new position at MCCC.
She has handled a wide variety of re-
search projects in a variety of environ-
ments, including private sector, public sec-
tor in higher education, community, as well
as non-profts. Her Ph.D includes an em-
phasis on research methods and analysis,
and she has experience in college teaching,
research in higher education and commu-
nity organizations.
As for working at MCCC, DeLeeuw says
she feels very welcomed and valued.
She is smart, articulate, and very like-
able, Yackee said. She readily offers
methods and solutions to research-related
needs and dilemmas.
Outside of work, Deleeuw enjoys foreign
movies and working out. She is a huge sup-
porter of animal rights and has spent time
advocating for them.
She published a paper, the Call to Action
Community Psychologist, and conducted
several studies including, Support for Ani-
mal Rights and a factory farm educational
study. Much of her research has involved
animals, animal psychology, and the agri-
business of factory farms.
photo courtesy of Mark Spenoso
MUUU w|| be the rst communty co||ege n the state to have ts own vneyard. Wth the addton of the vneyard, a program n
vtcu|ture and eno|ogy has become a possb|ty, one whch Uhef Kevn 1homas (above) hopes to exp|ore.
Nicki Kostrewza
Agora Staff
Friendly faces from the
Erie Shores Birding Associ-
ation gathered in room 201
in the Life Science building
on Jan. 18 to discuss one
of natures most beautiful
creatures, birds.
At this meeting, Mary
Seeth, owner of Wings,
Paws, and Prayers, an
animal rehab shelter, was
supposed to be their guest
speaker.
Sadly, one of Seeths
birds, which she was going
to bring with her and pres-
ent to the group, died just
hours before the meeting.
In light of the develop-
ment, Seeth was unable to
deliver her presentation.
Members of the meeting
kept it going with heavy
hearts and sad faces.
The meetings main focus
was on birds seen and pho-
tographed this past month
by members.
Then, to fll in the gap
of the guest speaker, the
movie Above the Grand
Canyon was played.
The movie talked about
nature and how it has con-
stantly changed and formed
over the years.
Despite this setback, the
Erie group plans on con-
tinuing to provide guest
speakers for the rest of the
year.
The Erie Shores Birding
Association typically holds
its meetings at MCCC.
photo courtesy of Mark Spenoso
1he cu|nary program has harvested grapes from the vneyard and n the future hopes to produce wne that can be so|d and used for co||ege events.
Vlneyard Bnds home on campus
Culinary program begins wine-making process
Presentation
cancelled due
to bird death
photo by Michelle Dangler
Jame 0eLeeuw has accepted a poston at the co||ege as the coordnator of nsttutona|
research, eva|uaton and assesment. 5he w|| be workng wth the Learnng Assesment
Uommttee, a group whch s comprsed of co||ege facu|ty members. 0eLeeuw began her
dutes n January.
Admlnlstratlon Blls research posltlon
. . . what drew me to this institition was
your mission statement.
Jamie DeLeeuw
Coordinator of Institutional Research, Evaluation and Assessment
Jamie DeLeeuw hired as faculty member, to work with professors
Christina Cusamono
Mandi Davis
Michelle Dangler
Kaitlyn Durocher
Shana Kritzer
Miles Lark
Robin Lawson
Lorrie Mayzlin
Michael Mayzlin
Matt Mullins
Taylor Pinson
Tyler Rogoff
Jacob Thompson
David Topolewski
The Agora Editorial Policy
The Agora is published by the students of Monroe
County Community College, 1555 S. Raisinville Rd.,
Mootoe, Ml, 86. 1le eJ|tot|al oce |s locateJ |o
Room zoz of tle l|fe Sc|eoces BlJq., (;) 8-86,
aqotaQmootoeccc.eJo.
lJ|tot|al pol|cy: uos|qoeJ eJ|tot|als tepteseot tle ma-
jot|ty op|o|oo of 1le Aqota sta. S|qoeJ colomos tep-
resent the opinion of the writer. All letters to the editor
most |ocloJe a s|qoatote, aJJtess aoJ plooe oombet
fot vet|fcat|oo potposes. 1le Aqota tesetves tle t|qlt to
eJ|t fot clat|ty, accotacy, leoqtl aoJ l|bel.
1le Aqota |s a stoJeot-maoaqeJ oewspapet tlat
supports a free student press and is a member of the
M|cl|qao Commoo|ty Colleqe ltess Assoc|at|oo, tle
M|cl|qao Colleq|ate ltess Assoc|at|oo, tle M|cl|qao
ltess Assoc|at|oo, Colleqe MeJ|a AJv|sets, Assoc|ateJ
Colleq|ate ltess aoJ tle StoJeot ltess law Ceotet.
Stoty soqqest|oos ate welcome. let os koow wlat
yooJ l|ke to see |o 1le Aqota - |ts yoot oewspapet.
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ma|l tlem to aqotaQmootoeccc.eJo ot bt|oq tlem to
oot oce.
mcccagora.com
The Agora
5
January 30
2012
Editor
Tyler Eagle
Assistant
Editor
Nicki Kostrewza
Adviser
Dan Shaw
Staff Members
She said its
not my habit
to intrude;
Furthermore, I
hope my mean-
ing wont be
lost or miscon-
strued; but Ill
repeat myself
at the risk of
seeming crude;
there must be
hftv wavs to
leave your lov-
er. - 50 Ways
to Leave Your
Lover by Paul
Simon
Indeed, there are many ways to leave
a girlfriend, but there is such a thing as
a right or wrong way of doing that.
Breakups are diIfcult and painIul, but
sometimes for the best. The best way, no
matter how hard, is to break up in person.
There is no way to make such a task any
less stressful, but there are certain meth-
ods that should always be avoided. Here
are a few simple rules to live by to ensure
that an already hurtful experience is not
made worse for either party involved.
Facebook, AIM, email, MySpace, or
other social media are great tools for
communication. They allow people to
talk to each other over a distance quickly
and eIfciently.
However, they should not be used as
a means to breakup. This is a cheap way
out of a confrontation, and considered by
most as tacky and cowardly.
Chatroom coversations gone awry (es-
pecially ones that occur at odd hours of
the night), sudden, unexplained relation-
ship status changes on social networking
sites, emails, etc., are all unacceptable.
They are just a few examples of methods
that should not be used.
The telephone, in all its forms, is anoth-
er great means of communication. How-
ever, calling on a landline, a cell phone,
or talking through text message is not an
acceptable means of breaking up. Just as
with dumping a girl via the internet, leav-
ing a girlfriend over the phone is, to a
lesser extent, cowardly. Suddenly chang-
ing a personal phone number to break up
with a girlfriend is also not good. It is,
though not as bad as the internet, grossly
impersonal.
Post-it notes, through friends, send-
ing a new girlfriend to break up with
the current girlfriend, trashing friends
houses in fts oI jealousy, or any means
other than than face-to-face these are
all unacceptable methods of breaking up.
These means, like the others above, are
cheap, cowardly, and impersonal ways
out.
If a guy cannot grant a girl the cour-
tesy, respect, and dignity of a face-to-face
breakup, then why is he in a relatioship?
To employ any of the aforementioned
tactics is immature and insensitive, and
disrespectful to the soon-to-be ex-girl-
friend. It makes a girl feel like she was
not good enough or important enough to
be faced. Personally breaking up is harder
to do, but it is still a courtesy to a girl.
In addition to avoiding the above ditch-
ing methods, there are certain other things
that should be put on the taboo list.
Breaking up because of a lost job,
cheating on a girlfriend and then accusing
her of cheating, breaking up on a holiday,
birthday or anniversary, are a few exam-
ples of other relationship no-nos. Break-
ing up, making up for Christmas, then
breaking up again, and cheating on a girl-
friend with young girls and then stalking
Ryan Smith
Contributor
We must accept hnite disappoint-
ment, but never lose inhnite hope.` -
Martin Luther King Jr.
The great Dr. Martin Luther King
spoke these words nearly forty years
ago, but when one stops to consider
what hope really is, theres no con-
crete answer. It seems that hope is
something vague and nebulous. It is
wrapped in neat packaging, maybe
with a nice little bow, and either giv-
en or stolen away.
The world is intimately familiar
with Dr. Kings message and accom-
plishments, but his concept of hope is
one that is largely overlooked. When
faced with such a conception of hope
as Dr. Kings, how does one hold on
to something that is intangible and
keep its fame burning in their hands?
When anyone on earth has the power
to steal that fame away, to take the
stars from the sky of life, how can
hope be protected?
Give it away. Give it to another
person in their time of need, when
they have been robbed of its grace,
when their skies have gone dark. In
the passing of hope to another, hope
rekindles in ourselves; the fame that
drives us to endure the chaos of mod-
ern daily life grows. Eventually, that
gift will be returned its giver, because
hope cant be stolen from one if one
no longer claims ownership.
Of course, as Dr. King said, there
will be disappointments along the
turbulent path of life. Hope is not in-
fallible, it is not perfect, in the same
way that people arent. Yet, just like
people, hope can be regained, and it
is never truly lost.
At some point in life, the crushing
realization that everything has gone
completely contrary to the carefully
plotted plan appears. It is in that mo-
ment that hope is extinguished. One
by one, day by day, the stars in the
sky that guide us fade away.
Accept that disappointment; ac-
knowledge that life is more often a
sour lemon than the sweet lemon-
ade produced from it. However, also
keep in mind that that same disap-
pointment is always fnite, and that a
lemon can easily be made into lem-
onade, given the right tools.
Let hope be that tool, the lynchpin
that holds everything else in life to-
gether. Give hope to others and, in
turn, fnd it renewed within. II hope
is given the chance to foat up, it will,
for as Dr. King said:
Everything that is done in the
world is done by hope.
L
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u
c
r

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n

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c

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d
i
t
n
r
How not to break up with your girlfriend
The etiquette of how to properly end a relationship
Puc 1. 1c vj
Puc 2. 1c PIovc
Puc 5. 1c Olcv',
Michelle
Dangler
Agora Staff
Recently we were made aware of
someone who visited Shipshewana and
wrote about her disappointing experience
in this paper. We are sorry she was disap-
pointed, and we dont mind criticism, but
when those criticisms are not based on
fact and put into print, we need to address
those issues and invite the reader to form
his or her own opinion.
We are not sure what her expectations
were but the Shipshewana Flea Market
has never been an all Amish market.
All of Shipshewana is a unique blend
of Amish and English entrepreneurs
working together to do business. We are
driven by the desire to do honest work
and give others the opportunity to ex-
change goods and earn a proft.just like
any other place in the world which offers
goods and services to the public. We are
not driven by greed.
The goods offered at the Flea Mar-
ket and Shipshewana vary. The state-
ment was made that there are no Amish
goods here and only foreign made goods
are available. You will fnd things Irom
many locations which offer a variety
oI goods and prices. You will also fnd
Amish made goods which offer quality,
craftsmanship and character.
The statement that there were no
Amish vendors, no fruits, vegetables,
Amish Iurniture, fne Iabrics, Iresh fow-
ers or fresh honey is simply untrue. This
description is not about Shipshewana.
You cant go anywhere in Shipshewana
and not fnd some oI, iI not, all oI these
items.
For approximately 300,000 visitors the
Shipshewana Flea Market is a place to
visit not just once but many times not
just in a liIetime but in a summer.and
for some, in a week!
Please go to tradingplaceamerica.com,
shipshewana.com or backroads.org to
discover for yourself why Shipshewana
is a worthy vacation destination.
Rene Halstead
Shipshewana, IN
Shipshewana remains
a vacation destination
Editors Note: This letter to the editor is
in response to an opinion piece written
by staff reporter Lorrie Mayzlin. The ar-
ticle, which detailed Mayzlins vacation
experience, appeared in the Sept. 22,
2011 edition. To read this article, visit
mcccagora.com/opinion.
Rene Halstead is the director of the
Marketing Department of Shipshewa-
na Auction Inc.
Employee responds to critique
photo courtesy of David Erickson
Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his infamous I Have A Dream speech on
the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963.
MLK Jr. day a sign of hope
Cartoon by Jacob Thompson
opinion
mcccagora.com
The Agora
6
January 30
2012
Lorrie Mayzlin
Agora Staff
My best shopping trip ever was $1,198
worth of products for negative $78 out of
pocket, and I was paid to leave.
While my total is impressive, it is not
as common as television shows purport.
Welcome to the world of couponing
and refunding. I have saved hundreds of
dollars every year at grocery stores by
using coupons and refunds that are avail-
able to everybody. The average family
can easily slice 50 percent or more from
its grocery bill, every week, year-round.
When people hear about my tales of
dreamy deals, they ask if I am one of
those extreme couponers.
The answer is no. This show has been
detrimental to those of us who have to
coupon and refund to make ends meet.
The show is on television not to help
viewers coupon, but to raise ratings and
make stockholders money.
Stores are now revamping their coupon
acceptance policies to accept less, thus
hurting the families it was meant to help.

Clip and save every single coupon
you can fnd Ior products that you use or
would be willing to try. You can throw
brand loyalty right out the window.
You can fnd coupons in magazines
(like the exclusive Wal-Mart magazine
called All You) and newspapers, along
with tear pads, wine or beer tags (cou-
pons found on the neck of beer and wine
bottles), coupons you receive when
you check out at a store (called Cata-
linas), coupons mailed to your home,
or even those you download to your
discount shopper card or cell phone.
Coupons are literally everywhere. As
you are shopping, look for peelie coupons
on products you are purchasing. Dont
forget you can print coupons and refunds
too! Some stores take internet-generated
coupons; some stores do not. When you
download coupons to your card, you can
NOT use a physical coupon for the same
item at checkout; this is called stack-
ing and is against most store policies.


Many people simply use a plastic recipe
box with tabbed paper to separate the
coupons into categories, however my
preferred method is a photo album that
you can get from Wal-Mart, K-Mart or
Meijers, and then separate your cou-
pons into like-groups and insert where
you would normally have pictures.
By using a photo album, you can or-
ganize your coupons according to the
aisle in which their matching products
are found, or you can make one album
for food products only and another al-
bum for house, pet and non-food items.
As you clip coupons, put them di-
rectly into your choice oI fling sys-
tems. Do not shove them in the kitch-
en drawer or in your purse you
will lose them or forget to use them.\
How do you know what to clip?
Clip everything within the categories
of products you use. Forget about be-
ing brand loyal. For example, if you use
margarine, clip every margarine coupon
you can fnd; iI you use batteries, clip all
brand name coupons for batteries. Do not
pass up good coupons just because the
brand is unfamiliar to you. Brand loyal
shoppers buy the same product month af-
ter month and year after year. Brand loy-
alty costs a LOT of money. Manufactur-
ers LOVE these types of people, because
once you are hooked, they will never
have to convince you to purchase again.
By ignoring that different products go
on sale weekly, the brand loyal customer
pays full price when its not necessary.
Lets say that you use Tide detergent,
which normally sells for about $7.99 a
box. You will pay the full price rather
than experiment and buy the same size
(or larger) in a different brand, and you
will ignore a $2 savings because it isnt
my brand. The bottom line is, all de-
tergents will clean your clothing. Every
manufacturer would like us to believe
that their product is better than their com-
petition, but it really makes no difference.
One common argument is, there are no
coupons for things I buy. If you feel that
way, ask yourself, do I use toilet paper,
toothpaste, soup or paper towels? What
about deodorant, margarine or pet food?
There are coupons for just about every
product in every store. The truth is, ev-
eryone can save money with coupons,
and it takes no more time than an ex-
ercise regimen, and once you are used
to working out, you no longer count
the minutes dedicated to this event.
All coupons, wine tags, and beer tags
change with the seasons and upcoming
holidays. As an example, starting around
the end of April, wine tags and beer tags
will start appearing for items dedicated to
Fourth of July, including aluminum foil,
hot dogs, hamburger, etc. Around Sep-
tember, you will see coupons and wine
tags for Halloween, and starting Novem-
ber 1, you will see stuff for Christmas,
New Years, Thanksgiving and Super
Bowl.
The frst step in using coupons is
to take your binder or fle to the store
every single time you shop for any-
thing. There is nothing more frustrat-
ing than to buy an item and realize
that you had a coupon for it at home.
There are many different ways to cou-
pon; the frst way is called a DOUBLE
PLAY where you match a sales
price with a coupon. The second way,
which is better than a double play, is
a TRIPLE PLAY this is where you
use a coupon at a store that doubles
the coupon and the product is on sale.
However, realize that the very best you
can ever do, is called a QUADRUPLE
PLAY. The Quadruple play is where you
use a coupon, on a sales priced item, at
a store that will doubled the coupon
and there is a rebate for the product
or you get a Catalina at the register.
As an example, Meijer had 3 Musketeer
Mind candy bars on sale for 75 cents each,
but if you bought 30 of them you would
get a free $10 gift card. With simple math,
that would mean spending $22.50 out of
pocket for 30 of those candy bars get-
ting $10 back. But I had 22 coupons in my
binder for $1 off any Mars candy bar, and
a whole bunch more I hadnt cut out of
the fyers yet at home! WHAT A STEAL!
My Iantastic fnd got me 30 candy
bars for $22.50, minus 22 coupons for
$1 each or 50 cents out of pocket. And
I qualifed Ior the $10 giIt card, so 30
candy bars cost me NEGATIVE $9.50.
That simply wasnt enough for me the
next day I returned with more coupons
and did the deal several more times. The
candy ended up going for Halloween.
For more information or to learn how
to coupon to save your money for your
next vacation, feel free to contact Lor-
rie at lmayzlinmy.monroeccc.edu
Miles Lark
Agora Staff
The race to win the GOP nomination is
heating up as four candidates vie for the
chance to run against Barack Obama for
the presidency in the 2012 election.
These candidates are former Massachu-
setts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Pennsyl-
vania Sen. Rick Santorum, former Geor-
gia Congressman and ex-Speaker of the
House Newt Gingrich, and Texas Con-
gressman Ron Paul.
For the past few months, Romney has
been the strongest in the polls, until the
Iowa Caucus. Romney went in confdent
that he would carry the state and continue
his run for the nomination. However, he
lost to Santorum by a slim margin, 34
votes.
Romney won the New Hampshire pri-
mary, then Gingrich took his turn, beating
Romney by 12 points in the South Caro-
lina primary.
Gingrich won a little over 40 percent of
the vote and Romney received 28 percent.
Santorum follwed in third place with 17
percent of the vote, with Paul trailing.
The debate over who should face
Obama in the fall is gaining momentum
at MCCC. Many students dont think that
any one of the Republican candidates
have a chance beating President Obama.
I feel bad for the conservatives in a
way, the Republican Party is split into Tea
Party members who would never vote for
regular Republicans and the regular Re-
publicans who would never vote for a Tea
Partier, Tyler Brettschneider said.
Romney is the best candidate because
he is the only one who hasnt made him-
self look like an idiot on national televi-
sion, he went on to add.
Student Dylan Jobin doesnt really
think that any of the Republicans have a
chance of winning, but has been paying
close attention to the race..
I think that Gingrich needs to drop
out, so Mittens (Romney) has a chance of
winning the nomination, he said.
On the other side of the issue, there are
Republicans who would never vote for
Obama, but who also dont think that any
of the candidates have a chance of beat-
ing the incumbent president.
Gary McClain doesnt like President
Obama and his stance on many of the is-
sues
I dont agree with Obamacare and
I dont think that he should have pulled
troops out of Iraq, he said.
McClain also said that he hasnt really
been paying attention to any of the can-
didates.
If Obama continues to run for the of-
fce, then he is going to win, he said.
Some students continue to support
Obama. Student Kris Lampson is among
them.
'The State oI the Union address was
great. I though it was awesome that he
said people like me who are in the 1 per-
cent need to pay our fair share of taxes.
Obama all the way, Lampton said.
Michigans primary will be held on
Feb. 28, but before the primary happens,
eight other states will hold their primaries
or caucuses.
The frst oI these is the Florida primary,
which will take place on Jan. 31. Ne-
vadas and Maines caucauses will take
place on Feb. 4. Colorado, Minnesota and
Missouri will hold their primaries on Feb.
7.
During this time, there is a very good
chance that one of the four candidates
will drop out. If the South Carolinia pri-
mary results say anything, it will either
be Paul or Santorum. Despite running in
previous elections, this electoral season
marks the farthest Paul has advanced.
Orqrtzaor
U,g Coo,
1c Ga,c,
Coupon clipping proves to be way of life
GOP primaries gain momentum
Students discuss opinions on candidates, potential Obama re-election
Third of three parts
Agora Staff Reporter
Lorrie Mayzlin has been
offering solutions and
suggestions in a three-
part series to help read-
ers stretch their budgets.
The third part exam-
ines how readers can uti-
lize coupons to minimize
the impact of the current
state of the economy.
Mitt Romney
Former
Massachusettes
Governor
Newt Gingrich
Former
Speaker of the
House
Former
Georgia
Governor
Rick Santorum
Former
Penns y l vani a
Senator
Ron Paul
Texas
Congressman
photos by Lorrie Mayzlin
Left: Binders offer an easy to
manage system that helps shop-
pers keep coupons organized.
Right: Using the coupon system,
Lorrie was ablle to purchase doz-
ens of candy bars for 50 cents.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Needing help with getting started with the
equipment, Josh could only think of one per-
son, his mom Karen Zarza.
Helping Josh with the cost of the equip-
ment was a hard decision. I did have reser-
vations because that money could have been
used toward his education. Then I realized that
part of his education is his life experiences,
Karen said.
This life experience was one that took Karen
a while to get used to.
I was happy and I tried to be supportive, al-
though, I dont really like him being out until 3
or 4 a.m., she said.
Zarza also has done things with the com-
munity college. Hanging out in The Cellar was
how he got to be part of the Student Govern-
ment.
It is not what you know, it is who you
know, Zarza said.
When students realized that he knew how to
spin, he was asked to spin at a couple events at
the college.
First, it was the black light party, the Wel-
come Back BBQ, and then it eventually leads
to the Halloween Bash, he said.
The Halloween Bash was the recent event
that Zarza has perIormed at where the crowd
heard his mixture of Halloween songs with ev-
eryday hits.
It is without a doubt that Zarza has made
fans at the college. Kristopher Lampson had
nothing but praise.
He is a great DJ, hands down, Lampson
said.
Another student who attended the event,
Klarissa LaFlure, also enjoyed his perfor-
mance.
His performance at the bash was great,
LaFlure said.
Dylan Jobin, Zarza`s best Iriend, has been at
an event Josh has performed at for moral sup-
port.
I love watching him work and I can really
tell he loves it, too, Jobin said.
The feeling of making a party successful is
something Zarzah enjoys, and it is one oI the
many things that keep him wanting to pursue
more events.
Before I started deejaying, I wasnt as com-
fortable meeting new people and now it is
something I have to do, Zarza said.
With Zarza, it doesn`t matter how many
people he plays for. He enjoys giving people a
great time to remember, with music that gives
it a memory.
Id rather play for an event of 50 who love
the music than play for a room full of 2,000
who don`t care Ior the music, Zarza said.
1osh Larza beoomes MCCC's unoftoial U1, work pleases students
f
eatures
photo by Mandi Uavis
Josh Zarza (left) and Student Government president Travis Durkin (right)
examine playlists during the Halloween Bash.
January 30, 2012 features mcccagora.com
The Agora | 7
David Topolewski
Agora Staff
Students at MCCC and across the state
agree that unemployment is the most im-
portant political concern.
More than 600 students who attended
the Michigan Student Political Issues
convention ranked unemployment as
their biggest concern.
The convention, held at Henry Ford
Community College, included 21 MCCC
students led by Dr. Joanna Sabo, profes-
sor of political science.
According to Sabo, the 21 MCCC stu-
dents also agreed that the most important
issue was unemployment.
Sabo added, however, that students also
were concerned about U.S. soldiers and
overseas wars.
They also wanted to see the troops
come home, she said.
Unemployment, however, was the big
concern.
We need jobs, Matt Fhanestock said.
Fahnestock, who lives in Carleton, said
he thinks it will be tough to get America
going again without jobs.
If we dont have jobs, people cant
buy things; if people dont buy things,
business suffers. If business suffers, then
America suffers, he said.
According to Michigan`s oIfcial web-
site, the states current unemployment
rate is 9.3 percent, almost 1 percent high-
er than the 8.5 percent rate of the entire
country.
Gay marriage also was rated as an
important issue by the students who at-
tended the convention, but some MCCC
students did not agree.
I dont think gay marriage should be
an issue, Molley Kellie said.
Kevin Barron acknowledged gas prices
as a major political issue but also stated
his view on gay rights.
Id say gas prices, but restrictions on
gay rights are also important to me, he
said.
Currently in Michigan, Gov. Rick Sny-
der and the Republican majority in the
legislature support a ban on gay marriage.
Ten years after the terrorist attacks on
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism tied for the 13
th

spot of 23 issues voted on at the political
convention. MCCC student Dustin Mor-
rison said he thinks we must stay on the
offensive against terrorism.
People have to understand they are our
enemy, period, he said.
Also at 13 on the list was the move to
lower the drinking age. MCCC students
found this to be unncessary.
The fact the drinking age is an issue
is a little silly, said Juliana Prine. Of all
the other issues, it seems unimportant.
Despite the many diverse political is-
sues at the convention, unemployment
was the reoccurring theme.
Unemployment, Im worried about
it for when I graduate, MCCC student
Branden Berns said.
Students also listened to a list of politi-
cians speak.
Former congressman Bart Stupak gave
the keynote, followed by long-time con-
gressman John Dingell.
Sabo said listening to Dingell speak is a
real opportunity.
You got to see someone who sits
down to speak with President Obama on
a daily basis, she said.
After hearing several speakers, Sabo
did confess the students lost enthusiasm.
The more politicians that got up and
spoke, the more students lost interest,
she said.
She does believe that it is a worthy ex-
perience for the students.
I would take students again - its that
valuable, she said.
A Loak Arod Cv,
Taylor Pinson
Agora Staff
A recent study shows that the most ma-
jor Michigan universities are over-priced.
Twelve oI the fIteen public universities
in Michigan cost more than the national
average for similarly ranked schools, ac-
cording to a recent analysis by Bridge
Magazine. The three schools that arent
currently above the average are U of Ms
Flint and Dearborn branches, and Wayne
State.
Grand Valley State was the highest
above the average cost, coming in at
nearly $6000 per year above the median
for its group. U of Ms Ann Arbor branch
came in about $4000 higher per year than
its median. EMU was about $2000 per
year above its.
One way potential students can reduce
the amount of money they pay for their
education is to take advantage of some-
thing called the MACRAO Transfer
Agreement.
MACRAO stands for Michigan Asso-
ciation of College Registrars and Admis-
sions OIfcers. The MACRAO TransIer
Agreement is a program that allows stu-
dents at community colleges to transfer
up to 30 semester credit hours towards
general education requirements at a four-
year college. The agreement was signed
in 1972. More than 50 Michigan colleges
participate in the MACRAO Transfer
Agreement.
'It`s a big beneft Ior students, said
Mark Hall, MCCCs Director of Admis-
sions and Guidance Services. Getting
the MACRAO stamp on their transcripts
is a tremendous advantage.
The agreement allows students to go
to a more affordable community college
and take many of the lower-level classes
that are required by four-year institutions,
and transfer those credit hours to meet
the general education requirements of the
four-year school the student intends to go
to.
Its a big deal for a transfer student,
said Hall. This is a well-rounded general
education curriculum.
Students interested in meeting the re-
quirements for MACRAO are required
to take six credit hours of english com-
position, eight credit hours of social sci-
ence courses, and eight hours of humani-
ties courses, and a combined eight credit
hours of math and science classes, which
must include a course with a laboratory.
Students interested in the program
should talk to their MCCC college ad-
visor about which classes to take. Addi-
tional information about the MACRAO
Transfer Agreement can be found at on
the colleges website.
photo courtesy of Joanna Sabo
Joanna Sabo, professor of political science, took several MCCC students to the Michigan Student Political issues conference at
Henry Ford Community College. Students listened to politicians such as John Dingell and attended workshops.
Unemployment on MCCCs mind
Upper Left: Professor Joanna Sabo and the International Studies Club visited the
Arab marketplace in Dearborn, where students were able to try ethnic foods and
embark on a shopping trip.
Above: Professor Patrick Nedrys Quality Management class had a tour of the Spar-
tan Steel Coatings plant in Frenchtown Township. The tourr offered students inter-
ested n the e|d a hands-on |ook.
Left: Students and faculty were given the opportunity to donate blood at Student
Governments blood drive. The drive was held in honor of Nathan Hayes, an MCCC
student who suffered liver problems earlier this year.
Political issues conference reveals student concerns
MACRAO offers chance to minimize cost of transferring
photo by Taylor Pinson
Eastern Michigan and Siena Heights University, both of which have programs through
MCCC, utulize the MACRAO. Amy Westover, pictured above, works in the Eastern of-
ce on campus.
A
rts
&E
ntertainment
mcccagora.com
The Agora
8
January 30
2012
Lorrie Mayzlin
Agora Staff
As soon as Sister Mary arrived
on stage, the crowd was repri-
manded for not greeting the sister
appropriately.
True to form for Catholics remi-
niscing back to grade school, the
entire theater responded with,
Good morning, Sister.
Her reply?
I dont know about you peo-
ple, but its 7:30 at night here.
The Late Nite Catechism 3
played to a sold out show of more
than 600 on Friday, Jan. 27.
Sister Mary had fun picking
on the crowd for being tardy to
class, chewing gum in class, and
of course talking on a cell phone
while sitting in the front row.
She picked out married couples
as her frst victims, and narrowed
it down to two couples who had
each been married 61 years.
As she questioned their length
of marriage, secrets to success,
religions and how many children
and descendents they had, she
handed out Miraculous Medals
and prayer cards.
One couple, Ralph and Jean
Setzler of LaSalle, received Mi-
raculous Medals and a statue of
Mary because they have six sons,
17 grandchildren and 13 great
grandchildren.
Their daughter-in-law, Heidi
Setzler, attends MCCC as a nurs-
ing student.
Ralph and Jean became stars
of the show as they were called
upon several times to participate
on stage.
This show is such good en-
tertainment, Jean said. I dont
mind being called to stand up.
Sister was quick to remind the
crowd that back in the day, nuns
would have jars on their desk with
red crosses on them, and students
were able to give what change
they had to buy a pagan baby.
In those days, when the class
would reach $5, they met their
class goal and money would be
sent to a mission in a far-away
country to baptize a pagan baby to
be raised in the Catholic faith.
A guest who came in late for
class, was told to put $1 into the
jar for pagan babies. Because
the guest only had $5, Sister was
ecstatic that a baby could be pur-
chased with just the one donation.
Each person who stood up in the
audience was asked about their
middle name. As one gentleman
approached the stage to move the
podium for Sister, she asked his
name.
Sister, my name is Brandon,
he said.
Sister then asked his middle
name, and he responded:
Marie. Sister, my middle name
is Marie.
The crowd roared with laughter,
and Sister punished Brandon Ma-
rie for getting smart. He was sent
to the back wall of the stage and
required to sit in the forgiveness
chair, facing the wall, until he felt
forgiven.
Sister had many funny quips re-
garding various orders of nuns in
the Catholic faith. For the Felician
Sisters (motherhouse in Livonia),
who are a predominately Polish
order of nuns, her salute was Daj
mi buziaka i da mi piwo, which
translates into Give me a kiss and
give me beer.
For the Irish-oriented Domini-
can Nuns, Sister said that when
they get old, they get Irish Al-
zheimers, which means they for-
get everything except grudges.
When it came time to pick on
Monroes order, the IHM (Im-
maculate Heart of Mary), she
referred to them as the, I Hate
Men order.
Ilene Kazensky, liturgist at St
Annes Catholic Church, appreci-
ated the humor.
This is such a fantastic show,
and that just shows that we Catho-
lics have a sense of humor. Sister
is quick witted, sounds just like
the nuns we had in school back
then, and I liked the audience par-
ticipation.
Kazensky graced the stage to
help Sister with a game called
Compatibility, which pitted two
couples against one another, as
Sisters Vanna White.
Ilene played the part well,
strutting hands on hips while an-
nounced the scores to the crowd
throughout the game.
According to Sister Mary, Epis-
copalians are just Catholics with
money, and Lutherans are consid-
ered Catholic Light.
Former MCCC President Ron
Campbell, who attended the show,
announced that he was a Luther-
ist, which is a combination of
Lutheran and Methodist.
Sister Mary announced that
there is a phone app available to
help Catholics in the confessional
so they dont forget the sins they
have committed during the week.
Sister Mary was portrayed by
Mary Zentmyer, a Catholic who
was born and raised in Chicago.
Zentmyer played Sister Berthe
in The Sound of Music and holds
several degrees.
Miles Lark
Agora Staff
This year marks the 25
th
anniversary of
Monroe County Librarys Black History
Months Blues Series.
The library system will present 10 differ-
ent blues shows around the county at differ-
ent library branches throughout the month.
Every musician who will play is an alum-
nus of the series.
The gem of the series, The Big Gig, will
take place Feb. 25 at Monroe County Com-
munity Colleges Meyer Theater.
The series will begin on Jan. 31 at the
Ellis Branch Library. Big Gig emcee Rev.
Robert B. Jones, Ann Arbor harmonica
king Peter Mad Cat Ruth, and series cre-
ator, Tim McGorey, will reveal stories on
the series, video of the series and of course
some music. The show will begin at 7 p.m.
The second show will be held at the Carl-
ton Library at 7 p.m. on Feb. 7. Blues man
and entertainer Samuel James will regale
the crowd with dynamic musicianship,
compelling story telling and songwriting.
The third show will be on Valentines
Day, Tuesday Feb. 14, in downtown Mon-
roe at the Dorsch Memorial Library. Local
Ann Arbor singer/songwriters/guitarists
Shari Kane and Big Dan Steele and Lan-
sing singer/songwriter Rachel Davis team
up for a night of songs and stories about
love and heartbreak.
The following days its Moozapalooza at
Ellis Library. Nashville based singer song-
writer Farmer Jason will sing children s
songs about his wild and crazy life down
on the farm. Included are songs like Punk
Rock Skunk, and Moose on the Loose.
The following morning, Farmer Jason
will play Bluesapalooza, a show that many
of the countys youth will attend at the
Meyer Theater.
The following day, on Thursday Feb. 16,
guitarist Johnnie Bassett and vocalist Al-
berta Adams, the king and queen of De-
troit Blues, will perform together.
They will play at the spot where the se-
ries began 25 years ago in 1988. The show
will start at 7 pm at the Navarre Library.
The following Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.,
Bedford Library will host blues and boogie
woogie piano player Mark Mr.B Braun.
The Michigan native has played with mu-
sicians such as John Hammond and Duke
Robilard. He has been featured on such
shows as All Songs Considered and
Mountain Stage.
On Saturday Feb. 25, the gem of the se-
ries will held at the Meyer Theater. The Big
Gig will feature the whos who of the last
25 years of the series.
Rev. Robert B. Jones will emcee the
show, and also will perform.
He will be followed by Ann Arbor Har-
monica king Peter Mad Cat Ruth, Muddy
Waters guitarist Bob Margolin, Blues Se-
ries favorite Ann Rabson, mandolin mas-
ter Rich Delgrosso, boogie woogie piano
player Daryl Davis, Detroit blues singer
Thoretta Davis, Ann Arbor rockers George
Bedard and the Kingpins, and drummer
Mike Shimmin.
The show will start at 7, and there will be
an intermission.
The last show will take place where the
month began, at Ellis Library on the last
Tuesday of the month, at 7 p.m. Feb. 28.
This last show will be a memorial for a
blues series great, Howard Louie Bluie
Armstrong.
His son, Ralphe Armstrong, guitarist
Kalamay with multi-instrumentalist John
Reynolds and special guest Rich Delgros-
so, will celebrate his life and his musical
career.
David Topolewski
Agora Staff
Rick Perry is fed up.
The Texas Governor lays out exactly who
and what he is fed up with in his book, FED
UP! Our Fight to Save America from Wash-
ington.
Now, do not misunderstand me, America is
great, writes Perry.
The governor goes after Washington, D.C.,
and expresses his feelings about the abysmal
job Republicans and Democrats both have
done.
Perry, a Republican, calls out the mistakes of
members in both parties, including his friend,
former President George W. Bush.
He dismisses the fact that he decided to
write FED UP! because he seeks higher of-
fce. Rather he wrote the book because he be-
lieves America is great, but also America is
in trouble.
The governor designates his second chapter
to explain why states matter. He simply states
Americans want to live free. Numerous
times he defends his stance on states rights
with excerpts from the Federalist Papers.
States allow us to live with people of like
mind, which he explains in a personal story.
Texans, on the other hand, elect folks like
me. You know the type, the kind of guy who
goes jogging in the morning, packing a Ruger
.380 with laser sights and loaded with hollow-
point bullets, and shoots a coyote that is threat-
ening his daughters dog, he writes.
Washington is bankrupting the country, the
governor says. He puts numbers on the page
explaining Runaway Entitlement Spending
and A Culture of Reckless Spending.
Federal interventions in health care and
education have helped Washington expand its
power, he says. In his criticism of the federal
health care overhaul, Gov. Perry pokes fun
at Nancy Pelosis statement that they have to
pass the bill so they can fnd out what is in it.
As governor of a border state, Perry attacks
the federal governments inability to secure
the nations borders. He shares stories of ille-
gal immigrants committing crimes, describing
numerous murders.
Gov. Rick Perry has been quoted saying, I
do not believe Washington needs a new coat
of paint. It needs a complete overhaul, and
in Fed Up! Perry makes the argument that
Washington is the problem and only an over-
haul will fx it.
Standing ovations greet Sister Mary
Agora Photos by Michelle Dangler and Lorrie Mayzlin
Top Left: Sister Mary offers nstructions; Bottom left: Sister with Brandon Marie, an audience member who
was banished to the forgiveness chair at the back of the state; Above: Sister at her podium.
Texas Gov. Perry is fed up with Washington
By Miles Lark
Agora Staff
An MCCC professor will
be featured in Monroe Mag-
azines Artist Showcase next
weekend in the IHM Moth-
erhouse Ballroom.
Art professor Gary Wilson
will be one of 14 artists at the
showcase Feb. 3-5.
This is Wilsons second
year at the event. He plans
to show 50-60 of his own
ceramics.
Many of his pieces are
both functional decorative
cups and biblical themes.
The thirteen other artists
and studios who will be fea-
tured include: Blue Turtle
Studios, Mary Gaynier, Patti
Kerr, David Larkins, Christy
LaRoy, Laura Lemke, Jiro J.
Masuda, Sylvia Pixley, Cath-
erine Rehbien, Kim Phoney,
Laurie Sharkus, Nancy Lee
Smith and Richard Sowa.
All of the artwork and
items from local businesses
will be sold off in a silent
auction, with 25 percent of
the profts going to the River
Rasins Centre for the Arts.
Two different events will
take place at the IHM Moth-
erhouse Ballroom.
The frst will be on Fri-
day, Feb. 3, from 8 p.m. to
11 p.m. Reservations will be
needed and it will cost $35 a
person.
The second event will also
take place at the IHM Moth-
erhouse Ballroom. It will be
a free event from 11 a.m. to 3
p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4.
Professor Wilsons art has
been featured in Monroe
Magazine in the past.
He has handpicked four
MCCC students to also be
featured in the event.
Erika Van Kark, Laura
Strimel and Kaitlyn Berec-
zky are all ceramicists, and
Nick Wilson is a painter.
Wilson has been making
art work since he was a teen-
ager.
I was failing out of Span-
ish when I was in high school
so I dropped the class, and I
took illustration in its place,
he said.
'I frst took it because the
class was full of girls, and I
was a teenage boy. After I
started it, I fgured out that I
was good at it.
February Blues celebrates 25th
MCCC prof
featured
in art show
Review
Agora photos by Ashley LeTourneau
Johnnie Bassett is one of the many alums of past Monroe Blues Series performers. Here
hes show performing at the Meyer Theater in 2010.
The Rev. Robert B. Jones will emcee the Big
Gig on Feb. 25. Here hes show performing
at MCCC in 2010.
January 30, 2012 arts & entertainment mcccagora.com
The Agora | 9
Ted Boss
Agora Staff
With the 2012 International
Auto Show in Detroit, there was
a lot of hype about a new line
from Chrysler - the Dodge Dart
made its return.
At frst I was skeptical be-
cause they rebuilt it as a com-
pact sedan. When I saw it with
my own eyes, my tune changed.
This little car is pretty amazing.
With a base price oI $15,995,
the Dart really appeals to the
small-car crowd.
The Dart is based off the Alfa
Romeo Giulietta, but they look
nothing alike. The Dart has an
enlarged platform that gives it
better handling all around, with
a Iour-inch-longer wheelbase
and a slightly wider track. I like
this cars aggressive stance.
There will be three drive-
train options: a 2.0-liter Tiger-
shark inline-Iour producing 160
horsepower and 148 pound-feet
of torque, and a 1.4-liter turbo-
charged MultiAir Iour cylinder
with 160 horses and 184 lb.-It.
oI torque in which I believe will
be the most Iuel eIfcient engine
of the three.
The Transmissions at launch
will be the six speeds: one man-
ual, one automatic and a dual-
clutch gearbox with the turbo
mill. A nine-speed automatic is
slated for 2013.
There is a really cool seven-
inch TFT (Thin Film Transis-
tor) display available to take
the place oI the analog gauges,
which is in turn paired up with
an 8.4-inch touch screen panel
at the center oI the dash.
The Dart boasts an interior
space with a total oI 97.2 cubic
Ieet. With 35.3 inches oI rear
legroom, it has more than some
mid-size cars. Buyers looking
to customize the Dart will be
happy to see 14 available inte-
rior and trim variations. Buyers
will also be able to choose Irom
150 accessories that range Irom
an integrated Wi-Fi system to
aerodynamic add-ons.
Chrysler says that the Dart
will Ieature the frst wireless
charging station Ior phones and
other battery-powered gizmos.
Just install a device-specifc
case and lay the item in the
charging zone. The battery gets
topped off without having to
plug in wires.
The Dart will make Chrysler
very competitive in the C-Class
oI cars this year - somewhere
they have not been since the
Neon was in production. As
Ior Iuel economy, this is one oI
the most exciting things Ior me,
boasts a whopping 40 miles-
per-gallon.
The 2013 Dart will be avail-
able in SE, SXT, Rally, Limited
and R/T styles. It will also have
the full-LED wraparound tail
lights available, like the Char-
ger.
The 2013 Dodge Dart is
scheduled to hit dealerships this
summer, I just wish now that I
had the money to purchase one
of these gems.
2013 Dodge Dart makes
triumphant entrance
Comedians Bart Rocket and Scott Wood and Bart`s little buddy Woodie
Two-and-a-halI Comics perIormed Jan. 13 in the Meyer Theater.
When fve people came into the theater late, Rocket grabbed the micro-
phone and called out, 'Come on in! Can I get you anything. like a watch!
That pretty much set the pace Ior the whole show.
Later, Rocket pulled out Woodie and his halI-pint Iriend oIIered a state-
ment on how his girlIriend`s teeth are just like stars.
'They come out at night, Woodie said.
The show was a Iamily event Ior all ages. At one point, Bart took a
piece oI paper, used his oragamic skills and Iolded it into a wonderIul
paper rose.
He then pulled a 9-year-old girl Irom the audience Monroe resi-
dent Lauren Swallow - and lit the paper fower on fre, right be-
fore her eyes.
What was leIt was a genuine, dewy, real-liIe red rose, which
became a giIt Ior Lauren to take home.
Later, when asked iI she was nervous, Lauren replied, 'a
little bit. When asked about her Iavorite part oI the show,
her Iace lit up and she replied, 'My rose!
Wood fnished oII the show with his western man-
nerisms and enough panache to impress the audience.
Wood`s resume is extensive, including work Ior Disney,
Pixar and Wii games, as well as voice impersonations
oI Barrack Obama, John Travolta, and Nicholas Cage.
Two and a Half
Comics bring
smiles to crowd
Story by Robin
Lawson
Photo by
Lorrie Mayzlin
With the emergence and availabil-
ity oI advanced music-making and DJ
soItware, even an amateur musician or
DJ can practice their craIt in a comIort
of their own home.
Some oI the more advanced pro-
grams may not be fnancially aIIord-
able to a regular college student, but
there are cheaper alternatives.
Virtual DJ 7 ($299 at www.virtualdj.
com) is a full-featured, professional
DJ/VJ (Video Jockey) bundle that Ior
starters requires nothing more than a
laptop and a pair oI speakers. Virtual
mixing decks, a mixer and the rest oI
bells and whistles are easy to control
with a click oI a mouse. Virtual DJ
supports MP3 songs and fash videos.
Beat matching Ieature assists perIectly
in creating a seamless mix. This pro-
gram also gives you an advance capa-
bility to use an external USB control-
ler.
For amateur musicians who are
thinking about simply connecting a
keyboard or a guitar to a computer,
there is Audacity (Iree at www.audac-
ity.com). Audacity is a linear audio
editor that is also capable oI capturing
sound coming in through your com-
puter`s USB port. II your instrument
has USB capabilities, you can simply
plug it into your computer and start
playing. This free software option is
perIect iI you`re not looking to do any
kind oI advance recording with a band.
Audacity works great though Ior sim-
ple sound capturing.
My Iavorite advanced music-mak-
ing software is Propellerhead Reason
($449 at www.propellerheads.se).
This incredible program will allow
you to create complete musical mas-
terpieces with or without any physical
instruments. Composing with Reason
is like spending time in a multi-million
dollar recording studio where every-
thing you need is available to you. In
Reason, you build your virtual music
rack out oI dozen oI available virtual
instruments and eIIect panels that in-
clude synthesizers, drum machines,
delay/reverb panels, a distortion pro-
cessor, and mixing/mastering just
to name a Iew. There is a capability
to virtually rewire the entire rack to
produce personalized touches in your
composition. Thousands oI sounds
are included and ready to be played
and tweaked in your virtual instrument
rack. Music editing and recording is
linear, which makes Ior a straight Ior-
ward and simple operation. I wrote a
Iew compositions using Reason and
I have to say that the results are out-
standing.
Fruity Loops Studio ($99 at www.
image-line.com) is another favorite
Iull-Ieatured music-making program
along with Garage Band which is
normally already included with a pur-
chase oI a Mac.
The options a limitless to what you
can do when you combine the power
of a PC with an instrument that you
can already play. All you need is about
10 songs and from there, it is a short
Michael Mayzlin
Music columnist
Software you
can chose
for mixing
beats
Nicki Kostrzewa
Agora Staff
Snow Patrol`s latest album,
Fallen Empires, currently sits as
the third most popular album in
the United States something
that should shock us all.
Usually alternative rock music
done by bands is highly popular
with Ians because it oIIers so
much more compared to a regu-
lar, single genre.
Alternative music allows
bands to mix multiple forms of
music together; this in turn peeks
every hard core music lover`s in-
terests.
Snow Patrol was Iormed back
in 1994 at the University oI
Dundee. The band now resides
in Bangor, Ireland where they re-
cord their music and enjoy their
ever growing lives.
Members oI the band go to
include Gary Lightbody (lead
vocals/rhythm guitar), Nathan
Connolly (lead guitar/backing
vocals), Paul Wilson (bass gui-
tar/backing vocals), Jonny Quinn
(drums/percussion), and Tome
Simpson (keyboards/samples).
Now, like with every band,
there are a few good things to
say about Snow Patrol. One be-
ing that some of their instrumen-
tal work and their lyrics go well
together; they also incorporated a
bit oI a blues and country sound
into a few of their songs as well.
They also seemed to experiment
with some techno, which when
done Ior the frst time, can come
out bad but Snow Patrol did an
okay job at it.
Now here comes the part
where ill things start being said,
in this case some really ill things.
A good portion of the songs on
this album didn`t fow at all; the
lyrics and the instrumental work
following behind it were just all
atrocious. Then there were some
points were the vocals were just
too much; they tried explaining
too much with their words what
this song was about, drowning
out all the background music.
The rest oI the complaints are
just to the Iact that the songs were
poorly done. They didn`t fow,
they didn`t sound right, anything
that makes a song a band one,
could be said Ior a great chunk oI
this album.
To simply put it this album
gets a 3 out of 10, and even that
is pushing it.
Mandi Davis
Agora Staff
Taking more time was some-
thing that Drake defnitely made
noticeable in his second studio
album, 'Take Care.
Drake`s second album was re-
leased on Nov. 15. It was one oI
the highly anticipated albums oI
2011.
The album debuted at number
one on the US Billboard charts,
selling 631,000 copies within the
frst week.
'Take Care is more dark, low-
tempo, and senous than 'Thank
Me Later, with a mixture oI hip-
hop, electronic, and R&B.
It Ieatures many artists like Lil`
Wayne, Nicki Minaj, The Week-
end, Rihanna, & Rick Ross.
'Headlines was the leading
single off the album and had
hit the charts with its defning
scheme Ior the album.
No song shapes this album like
'Headlines with a beat and fow
that most rappers cannot even
get with a perIect transition into
the next song, 'Crew Love Iea-
ture The Weekend.
Nicki Minaj helps Drake out
with giving the album its sec-
ond single, 'Make Me Proud.
Together the two make this
song stand out with the lyrical
and beat relationship that even
makes it seem that the album is
who Drake is proud oI.
On the deluxe version is where
you can fnd the third single,
'The Motto, that Ieatures Lil`
Wayne. Containg elements that
Drake helped with in Wayne`s
'She Will, this one helps end
the album.
Drake named the album 'Take
Care aIter having production
Ior the album taking close to a
year.
With the time spent on it, it
made number two spot on the
Top 50 albums oI 2011.
Overall, this album has a great
musical and lyrical fow that
isn`t so noticeable in 'Thank Me
Later, giving this album a 4.5
out oI 5 stars.
Photo by Chris Mehki
2013 Dogde Dart was on display at the 2012 North American International Auto Show
Fallen Empires lacks the lyrical tune it needs
Take Care is better than Thank Me Later
mcccagora.com
The Agora
10
January 30
2012
Ted Boss
Agora Staff
With the regular season being
a lingering memory, the Detroit
Lions have some pressing needs
to address before the 2012 season.
There are many free agent play-
ers available that the Lions could
beneft Irom signing. Let`s start by
position.
Offensive Guard, Offensive
Tackle and Center are all posi-
tions of need. All too have cur-
rent players on the downside of
their career. (Over 30)
Offensive Guards on the mar-
ket that the Lions may look at for
future employment would be Carl
Nicks, G, New Orleans Saints.
Nicks is a pro bowler with super
bowl experience and would bol-
ster the offensive line greatly.
Next Position would be Offen-
sive Tackle. Demetrius Bell. OT,
Buffalo Bills, Would be an excel-
lent pick up if the Bills let him slip
through the cracks. He is a good
pass defender on the blind side
and an even better run blocker off
the edge, something that has been
a thorn in Detroit`s side Ior years.
The Center position is a place of
need in the fact that Rayola is in
his thirties and mediocre at best.
It would seem though that Detroit
would do best in waiting for the
draft to address this in that the
free agent market is not stacked
well enough to fnd someone bet-
ter and younger.
Linebacker is a position for
the Lions that is in great need of
bolstering. If we are able to keep
Stephen Tulloch, then we would
only need to add Anthony Spen-
cer, OLB, Dallas Cowboys to the
mix to have a solid front 7.
As Ior the back feld, I would be
absolutely delighted if Schwartz
was able to snipe yet another
Tennessee player in Cortland
Finnegan, CB, Tennessee Titans.
He is an outstanding Cornerback
and would really tighten up the
Lions backfeld.
As for the draft, there are a few
different players I would like to
see Detroit address. In the frst
round, with the 23
rd
pick overall, I
would like to see the Detroit Lions
select Zebrie Sanders, OT, Flori-
da St. University. He has what it
takes to really bolster the left side
of the line and help in keeping
Matt Stafford healthy. I will have
my full Mach Draft in the next is-
sue.
In a local turn, nf.com has Aud-
ie Cole, ILB, N.C. State, a player
that hails from Monroe, going in
the third round to the New York
Giants. Wouldn`t that be neat iI he
could get back home and come to
the Lions? I think so.
Tyler Rogoff
Agora Staff
First baseman Prince Fielder
has signed a 9 year, $124 mil-
lion contract with the Detroit
Tigers.
Fielder`s Iather, Cecil Field-
er, played for the Tigers from
1990-1996, and his son would
take batting practice at the
teams. A young Prince started
hitting shots into the upper
deck at Tiger Stadium at twelve
years old.
At the old ballpark, Ce-
cil, after Tiger games, would
come up to the box and bring
me Iood and say thanks a lot`
and he`d sit down and all we`d
talk about is Prince, and Prince
is gonna do this and Prince is
gonna do that, owner Mike
Ilitch said. Prince started put-
ting it in the upper deck, and
I told him you don`t have to
come up here anymore and tell
me about him.
Fielder, who was born in
1984, spent much of his child-
hood growing up in Detroit.
'It`s awesome, I don`t know
what to say, it`s an awesome
moment, said Fielder. 'I`m
glad I get to be here with my
Iamily, one oI my sons. It`s
awesome, a special day. I can`t
wait to get it going.
With Fielder signing to play
frst base, current frst base-
man Miguel Cabrera will move
to third base, where he played
when breaking into the majors
with the Florida Marlins. Ca-
brera will look to lose 15-20
pounds to prepare for the tran-
sition.
Many are skeptical about
Cabrera`s move back to third
base, though. With Fielder`s
reported demand to play frst
base instead of being a des-
ignated hitter, concerns have
risen in the event that Cabrera
cannot successfully convert
back to third base.
'Yeah, I mean, I`m a team
guy. I`m sure we`ll talk about
it. But right now, I`m confdent
Miguel can do a good job at
third base, Fielder stated when
asked about the possibility.
Fielder became a viable op-
tion for the Tigers to sign when
designated hitter Victor Mar-
tinez was lost for the season
with a torn ACL in offseason
training. Martinez is expected
to return to his role as the des-
ignated hitter next season. It is
assumed that Fielder and Ca-
brera will occasionally fll in
the designated hitter slot this
season to give them breaks.
Photo Courtesy of Steve Paluch
Newest Tiger: Prince Fielder
Tigers welcome
Prince Fielder
Tyler Rogoff
Agora Staff
The Detroit Red Wings have
cruised into the all star break with
the most points in the NHL. The
last two times the Wings led the
league in points at the all star
break, they went on to win the
Stanley Cup.
Goaltender Jimmy Howard has
been leading the league in wins
for the majority of the season, and
was the frst to thirty wins Ior the
second straight season. The only
other goalie to be the frst to thirty
wins in consecutive seasons was
Martin Brodeur. At the break,
Howard has 30 wins to go with
11 losses and one overtime loss.
Howard is also tied for second in
the league with fve shutouts.
The Wings balances has been
fantastic all season, having the
fIth most goals scored a game
while allowing the sixth least
goals per game. The special teams
have been pedestrian though, with
the twelfth best power play with
an 18.5% success rate, and only
have the twenty second best pen-
alty kill, stopping the other team
81.2% of the time.
Center Pavel Datsyuk is lead-
ing the team with 53 points on
the season, averaging a little over
a point a game, and is also lead-
ing the team in power play points,
with 17. Winger Johan Franzen
has been a two way force, leading
the team in goals with 19 and hav-
ing the highest plus/minus of any
forward on the team with 25.
Defenseman Ian White, an off-
season addition, has been solid on
the blue line, and is tops on the
team with a plus/minus rating of
27. White has been the defensive
partner of captain Nicklas Lid-
strom, the reigning Norris Trophy
winner, who has 28 points on the
season to go along with a plus/mi-
nus of 22.
The Red Wings look to be seri-
ous Stanley Cup contenders this
season, but with an aging team,
the window this this current core
could be closing. Lidstrom is 41
this year and could retire after this
season, while Datsyuk is 33. Fran-
zen, Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas
Kronwall are both on the other
side of thirty as well.
Wings lead in points at midseason
Photo Courtesy of Bill 3trifter
Lions taking a huddle to pick their next play
Llons have several needs to Bll
Tyler Rogoff
Agora Staff
The MCCC intramural basket-
ball league started again on Jan.
27.
Games will be played every Fri-
day for seven weeks.
The league is free of charge for
all players. Games are refereed by
a player from a team not playing
in that game.
Anybody interested in playing
must have attended the frst meet-
ing to be eligible.
All games will be played on
Fridays at 11 a.m. and noon, and
players were divided into fve
teams of eight using the school-
yard selection method.
This is the second running of
the basketball league. The frst
league also had fve teams and ran
Ior fve weeks during Iall semes-
ter.
The Cybersharks won the frst
running of the league by going
undefeated in their games.
Nick Jordan captained the Cy-
bersharks. Also on the team were
Ian Schubargo, Bryan Spotts,
Blaine Whitlow, Josh Thornsber-
ry, John Stahl, and Henry Jones.
Basketball league
adds athletic
diversity to MCCC
photos by Tyler Rogoff
The addition of an intramural
basketball league brings on-
campus athletic activities to a
total of four. The other three are
volleyball, bowling and the run-
ning club.
sports
www.mcccagora.com
THE
Aug. 26, 2010 Vol. 55, Issue 1
gora
A
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February 28, 2012 Vol. 56, Issue 7
www.mcccagora.com
International Students - Pg. 2
MCCC student
groups visiting
landmarks
around U.S.
Pg. 3
Kaitlyn Durocher
Agora Staff
With the world of social media growing, there are
new methods and concerns that come along with it.
When it comes to relationships between students
and their professors, social media sites, such as Face-
book, can be a controversial issue.
Social media sites allow people to communicate
with and get to know others more freely than the
more traditional options, such as emails.
However, is a professor adding a student on a so-
cial media site appropriate? Or is it crossing a barrier
in student-professor relationships?
This question has been raised by people in colleges
around the globe.
When it comes to MCCC, the opinions on this is-
sue are divided. Numerous people support professors
and students connecting via social media sites, while
others are against it.
I dont really see a problem with it, if the stu-
dent allows it, then its their responsibility to conduct
themselves in an adult-like manner, said MCCC
student Kyle Corollo.
Multiple students, including Ally Williams and
Angelique Bedee, agree that it is a good method of
communication, as long as the relationship is kept
professional and mature.
Facebook is a public website, so who is to say
whom a person is allowed to friend or not? Jamie
Newcomber, another MCCC student, said.
Professors also hold opinions about this method.
David Reiman, professor of business, is one of the
professors who has a strong opinion on the matter.
This is a decision that should be left with each
faculty member, Reiman said. I do believe that if
a professor chooses to friend students, they should
not be exclusive. If he or she accepts an invitation
from one student, they should accept any student.
Personally, Reiman has a Facebook account, but
has not friended any students on it. He suggests us-
ing LinkedIn, another social media site that is more
professional for students and teachers to communi-
cate.
Also, Reiman believes the relationship between a
student and professor should start in the classroom,
but social media sites can strengthen and maintain
that relationship once formed.
While some people believe adding students or pro-
fessors on social media sites improves communica-
tion and relationships, others think it is inappropriate.
I would say adding a student or professor is wrong
because if a professor sees a students Facebook
page they might judge them, positively or negatively,
based on their page and be inclined to give them a
grade based on their judgment rather than their aca-
demic scores, Rachel Wehner said.
We have blackboard and student email for a rea-
son; I like to keep my social media out of professors
hands if I can help it, Dylan Miracle said.
I think theyre professional people and they
shouldnt be adding their students because that could
lead to trouble within the relationship, Marissa Kitts
said.
Clearly, not everyone is supportive of professors
and students building relationships or communicat-
ing through social media sites.
Other alternatives to Facebook include LinkedIn,
which is less personal. Or people could always use
email or face to face contact to prevent problems
from arising.
Issues with this subject include exclusiveness, in-
appropriateness, and judgment, while the positives
that come from it include such things as better com-
munication and staying in contact outside of the col-
lege years.
Should professors friend students?
Rachel Wehner
I would say adding a student or pro-
fessor is wrong because if a pro-
fessor sees a students Facebook
page, they might judge them.
[ ]
Michelle Dangler
Agora Staff
Chicken, beef, veal, oh my!
Culinary delicacies abound as MCCCs second-
year culinary students and their professors are out-
doing themselves again.
Last semester, many at MCCC were fortunate
enough to try delicious new foods at Cuisine 1300.
This semester, the community is welcomed to join
in a sampling of foods from all over the world re-
gional American, Mediterranean, and more.
Employing new cooking techniques, the students
will be able to make meals that are beter than ever
before.
One such technique, Sous Vide, makes even the
toughest meat as delicate and yummy as choice cuts
like flet mignon.
Students can take the meat; put it into the pack-
age (a vacuum pack that sucks and seals out air) with
seasonings and butter. They then put it in the vacu-
um, and cook it at a low temperature around 150
degrees over night, explains Chef Vicki LaValle.
Then they cook the meat on the grill to sesar it.
The favors oI the seasonings permeate the Iood to-
tally, she adds.
The meat that is cooked Sous Vide is made to near
perfection if it is cooked medium-rare, it is light
pink all the way through, not just in the middle.
The frst buIIet oI the season, Mediterranean, was
a mix of foods from Italy, Spain, Greece, Morocco,
and others, many of which are gluten free. It was on
Friday, Feb. 24.
From cous-cous with lemon, cranberries and al-
monds, veal and beef, there was considerable variety.
The next buffet, on Friday, March 2, will be a
Global buffet, offering foods from all over. Dishes
from Australia, Germany, Italy, Greece, Hawaii, and
many others will be available to tantalize the palate.
The third buffet, on March 16, is Ethnic Celebrations.
All the old family recipes from Germany, Poland, Jew-
ish meals, traiditional Italian, etc., will be showcased.
See WINTER BUFFETS, Page 2
Culinary program begins annual Winter buffet season
Presidential candidate visits MCCC
photo by Miles Lark
Jerry White, the presidential candidate for the Socialist
Equality Party, spoke to members of the International
Students for Social Equality club on Thursday, Feb. 23.
photo by Michelle Dangler
Culinary students prepared various desserts, such as colorful tarts, mini eclairs, cream puffs and other
confections.
David Topolewski
Agora Staff
A presidential candidate visited MCCC on Febru-
ary 23, but few may have noticed.
Jerry White does not have hair like Mitt Romney
and is not as well known as Newt Gingrich, but
nonetheless is running for president.
White, 52, is the Socialist Equality Party (SEP)
candidate. He does not support conventional politi-
cal views and fnds Iault in the two major political
parties.
This government is hostile to the working class,
Republican or Democrat, he said.
The presidential candidate has attacked both Presi-
dent Obama and Republican leadership, saying they
want starvation wages. He also does not view
President Obama as any different than the previous
administration.
They all agree, defending the elite against the
working class, he said.
White slammed the president, saying he was elect-
ed to repeal legislation such as Homeland Security
and the Patriot Act, but has not Iulflled his promises.
It is an absolute continuation of Bush, he said.
He argues that America is made up of two classes,
the working class and the capitalist elite.
He also wants people to know there is an alterna-
tive to this system and attacks the current state of
politics.
I appeal to ignorance backwardness politics dom-
inated by billionaires, he said.
Socialism is the alternative he offers; the SEP web-
site describes socialism as genuine social equality,
on a world scale. As a reference for this model
White highlights the Russian Revolution and calls it
the greatest historical event.
He also attacked President Obama and the people
he has appointed to work in his administration.
'Obama has flled the White House with corpo-
rate heads, he said.
Running as a strong anti-war candidate, he sup-
ports an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of
all U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as
disbanding of the standing army. Recognizing for-
eign threats, he does understand the working class
would have the right to defend themselves.
White, as president, would end support for Israel.
He criticized Israels possession of certain weapons,
saying they illegally have scores of nuclear bombs.
White is critical of the wars in the Middle East and
believes they have hurt the image of America.
Bushs wars discredited the United States, he
said, adding that Obama has not changed this and
has only used troop redistribution.
The only way to stop war is if the working class
takes political control, according to White.
Wars have to do with elites, he said.
As for the current uprisings in the Middle East, he
said he supports the working class of those countries,
but would not intervene. He also warned of an immi-
nent threat of a new war with Syria and Iran.
See JERRY WHITE, Page 2
David Reinman
This is a decision that should be left with
each faculty member. I do believe that if
a professor chooses to friend students,
they should not be exclusive.
[ ]
February 28, 2012 campus news mcccagora.com
The Agora | 2
BrleBy:
Sweetheart Ball at Toledo Zoo
features dining, dancing, karaoke
MCCC Student Government is hosting a Sweetheart Ball
at the Toledo Zoo on March 17.
The ball is open to all students, staff, and alumni; it will be
held between 7 p.m. and midnight.
Tickets will be sold at the MCCC cashier`s oIfce Ior $25.
The money covers the catered dining, dancing, event souve-
nirs, photo booth pictures, and a karaoke hour. Also, there
will also be four hourly giveaways during the night.
A king and queen, duke and duchess and court jester will
be elected at the end of the night.
Otis Day, The Outsiders and other
bands to play at Meyer Theater
Badfnger, The Outsiders, Climax, and Otis Day will be
presented on March 3 at the La-Z-Boy Center.
Badfnger, which was discovered by Paul McCartney, was
the frst group to be signed to The Beatles` Apple Records.
The hit, 'Time Won`t Let Me, made The Outsiders a well-
known band.
One oI the most Iamous love songs, 'Precious and Few,
was recorded by Climax. And oI course, Otis Day earned his
fame from his performance in National Lampoons Animal
House.
Tickets Ior reserved seating Ior this event will be $25,
while VIP seating will be $35.
Keepin It Live
The MCCC Inside Out Dance Ensemble and Director
Kellie Lajiness will present a concert of dance and live
music collaboration. This performance will be a collective
force of contemporary movement styles meshed with some
of Monroes distinguished and recognizable music and vo-
cal talents.
The event will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24, with a
matinee perIormance at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 25. The cost
oI attendance will be $15.
Mandi Davis
Agora Staff
Insulting slurs are hurtful to
those in the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-
sexual, and Transgender (LGBT)
community.
To help make MCCC a safer
campus, the Gay-Straight Alli-
ance (GSA) recently received a
grant to order lunchboxes, which
are essentially Safe Space kits.
The kits are designed to help a
campus protect those in the LGBT
community from harassment and
bullying.
When the kits arrive, members
of the Gay-Straight Alliance will
be frst to undergo training on how
to use them.
Then the GSA hopes to get oth-
er clubs involved and trained.
Penny Bodell, one oI three co-
advisers for the GSA, said its
important for the GSA to have the
Safe Space Kits.
These allies have to be trained
in order to understand what be-
ing an ally truly means and the
responsibility that goes hand-in-
hand, Bodell said.
Amanda Bennett, another co-
adviser for the GSA, said mem-
bers of the club really need the
kits.
It is important that we have al-
lies for you guys everywhere. It is
long overdue, she said.
Many members of the group are
also happy to hear that the club
received an enhancement grant
Irom the MCCC Foundation to
order the kits.
Brandon VanBelle, one of the
co-chairs of the club, said the kits
are needed.
We need to teach people that it
is not okay to say certain things,
he said. We have every right to
disagree on something. To use
just certain words toward a certain
group just makes an unwelcoming
environment.
Terri Gower, secretary for the
GSA, said the group needs to
stand up against bullying.
We should watch out for things
like that because once you correct
one, you can correct the others,
Gower said.
Shana Kritzer
Agora Staff
Michigans harsh winters
are nothing new Ior Hwi-Ram
Jeong.
Hwi comes from Gang-Neung,
Korea, a small city nestled in the
mountains of South Korea. Be-
cause its in the mountains, it
tends to snow a great deal.
There is a lot of snow, Hwi
said, Very deep, about waist
high.
Youth for Understanding
(YFU) helped Hwi become an
exchange student in the United
States. Students dont choose
where they will go; YFU tells
them about two months before
moving.
Hwi arrived in Michigan on
Jan. 3. This is his frst time as
an exchange student. The host
family he is staying with lives in
Temperance.
The hardest part of being an
exchange student is the cultural
and language barriers, Hwi said.
Every child in Korea learns Eng-
lish grammar, but speaking it is a
whole different story.
Hwi is majoring in mass media
at MCCC. He already has spent
one year at a Korean University
studying marketing.
Korea has obligatory military
service, which Hwi will have
to take part in when returning
home. Afterward, he hopes to re-
turn to the United States.
Life in Michigan is very dif-
ferent for Hwi. In Korea, parents
support students while they at-
tend school. Students ride the
bus or the metro. Here, many
students work while attending
school. Students in America
usually have their own cars and
are much more independent, he
said.
Hwi enjoys the Michigan
landscape. In Korea, its hard to
see past the tall buildings.
Here, I can see very far. All
the trees and the land, he said.
It is nice.
Not everything is different in
Korea. Hwi delights in many of
the same pastimes as American
students. Pop culture is the same
in Korea as it is here, he said.
Some of Hwis favorites are
the television show, How I
met your mother, the Trans-
former movies, and singers like
Beyonce. Just like American
students, Hwi passes his time
studying and hanging out with
friends.
This summer, Hwi is hopeful
to do some traveling around the
county. Places on his list to visit
are New York City, Los Angeles,
and Washington D.C. He is also
going to take a trip to Florida,
where he has family to visit. His
goal while there is to visit Dis-
ney World.
Hwi is warming up to his
new life in Michigan. Koreans
tend to be very shy, especially
compared with Americans. He
enjoys meeting new people, so
if you see him around campus,
make sure to introduce yourself.
This April 9, Hwi will cel-
ebrate his 21st birthday. He can`t
wait to get out and see some
American clubs, make new
Iriends, and experience the best
of what America has to offer.
Safe Space Kits
coming to campus
Shana Kritzer
Robin Lawson
Agora Staff
MCCC`s Respiratory Therapy
Program has reason to breathe a
little easier after a visit from the
Commission on Accreditation for
Respiratory Care (CoArc).
CoArc has recommended that
MCCC`s Respiratory Therapy Pro-
gram be granted continued accredi-
tation status.
This announcement came af-
ter the CoArc team made its visit
to MCCC on January 15-16. The
team will be submitting its recom-
mendation that MCCC continue
accreditation without conditions,
Ior the maximum period oI ten
years.
CoArc reported no defciencies
in the RT Program, as well as a
number of strengths.
RT students were Iound to be
enthusiastic about the program and
have a clear understanding of the
admissions process and program
outcomes.
The program boasts an accom-
modating and energetic medical
director, who is committed to not
only the program, but to the stu-
dents as well, according to CoArc.
The program also has a spirited
and passionate faculty, the report
said.
Bonnie Boggs, the RT Program
director, was recognized as an
outstanding director and mentor.
Boggs is known for her passion,
energy and concern for her stu-
dents.
Nicholas Prush, instructor oI RT/
director of clinical education, also
was recognized Ior his exceptional
skill and experience.
Dr. Grace Yackee, vice president
of instruction at MCCC, also ac-
knowledged Jack Woltmann as an
important factor in the programs
achievements. Woltmann retired
last year as associate professor of
respiratory therapy/director oI clin-
ical education.
Woltman played a essential role
in MCCCs success by assisting
with the self-study documentation,
providing numerous reports, and
aiding Nicholas Prush to transition
into his new role, Dr. Yackee said.
The accreditation from CoArc is
a valuable asset because it shows
that MCCC is National Standard
Appropriate. MCCC is one of only
400 accredited schools in the coun-
try.
Final action Irom the CoArc
team will take place in March. The
team will be submitting its recom-
mendation to grant MCCCs ac-
creditation without conditions for
the maximum ten year time period.
RT Program receives
accredidation support
Michael Mayzlin
Agora Staff
Patrick Hemmen doesn`t wear
wooden shoes and if the world
was going to end tomorrow, he
would eat everything he can to-
day.
Patrick is an exchange stu-
dent Irom DalIsen, Netherlands,
which is located east of Zwolle,
one of biggest cities in the Neth-
erlands.
He came to MCCC in August
2011 through YFU (Youth For
Understanding), an organization
sponsoring foreign students who
want to study in high schools
and colleges.
Patrick picked the U.S. over
Argentina primarily because
he already spoke English and
wanted to learn about American
culture.
Prior to coming here, Patrick
studied English Ior seven years.
'The feld oI study wasn`t re-
ally important to me. I am in-
terested in Engineering, which
is primarily studied in English.
It was the whole experience oI
going to the United States and
learning the culture, Patrick
said.
YFU picked MCCC Ior Pat-
rick and matched him with a
host Iamily living in Frenchtown
Township. His host family has
four children, two boys who still
live at home and two others who
are away at college.
Patrick`s major is Automo-
tive Engineering at MCCC. He
hopes to eventually study Aero-
space Engineering when he goes
back to the Netherlands this
summer.
He says a fundamental dif-
ference between education in the
Netherlands and the U.S. is that
here he has a variety of classes
to choose from. In the Nether-
lands, the educational direction
is more structured from early on.
Its more of your own choice
of what classes you want to take.
No one really cares if you take
stupid classes that you dont
need, he said. The teachers
seem to be more laid back as
well.
It was more diIfcult Ior Pat-
rick to adapt to an American life-
style than he initially thought.
The language barrier was pres-
ent and some cultural difference
proved to be diIfcult, too.
For example, Patrick noticed
that the United States is greatly
dependant on cars. In the Neth-
erlands, bicycles and motor-
cycles are a preferred method of
transportation.
He also observed that the
people here live extremely Iast-
paced lives and are constantly on
the move.
'People in the Netherlands
dont work as much as they do
here. Life in general is more
laid-back, he said.
Another major hurdle Ior Pat-
rick was a difference in how
Americans tend to present their
opinions.
'In the Netherlands, Patrick
added, you just state your opin-
ion as a fact. Here you have to
be more careful about what you
say.
As Ior Patrick`s hobbies, he
loves soccer and Dutch music oI
all kinds.
Hwi-Ram Jeong, South Korea
Patrick Hemmen, Netherlands
Patrick Hemmen Hwi-Ram Jeong
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
On other social issues such as
gay marriage rights and abortion,
he takes a left-of-center stance. He
calls abortion a basic democratic
right. Social Security, according
to White, should be included with
rights such as life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness.
We believe retirement income
is an essential social right, viewed
as an inalienable right, he said.
The rights to a job, livable in-
come, quality healthcare, and a
healthy and safe environment are
inalienable, according to the SEP
website.
The occupy movement did not
come as a surprise to White, who
is a supporter of the movement.
He has written numerous articles
defending the movement that can
be found at the World Socialist
Website.
President Obama has touted the
auto bailout as a success. White
does not agree, pointing out the
number of jobs lost since the
companies went bankrupt. He at-
tacked the United Auto Workers
(UAW) Ior 'promoting wage cut-
ting.
The UAW worked with the ad-
ministration to impoverish work-
ers and restore corporate proft-
ability, according to an article Mr.
White wrote for the World Social-
ist Website.
'Potential oI the working class
is so under-tapped, he said.
He is a ferce opponent oI capi-
talism and blamed it for events
such as World War II and the
2008 fnancial crisis. He claimed
they were the inevitable outcome
of capitalism.
White and Vice Presidential
Candidate Phyliss Scherrer will
be on the ballot where they can
get on and will hold write-in cam-
paigns where they cannot. He
admits that his campaign is not
conventional and is asking for do-
nations.
We need money. Were not a
Super-Pac, hedge-Iund-backed
campaign, he said.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The fourth, American BBQ,
will be on March 30. This event,
featuring all the barbequing favor-
ites, is sold out.
The last buffet of the season is
American Regional. Served on
April 13, this will be a sampling
of foods from across the U.S. New
England Iare, Tex-Mex, Floridian
(with Cuban infuence), Southern,
and Midwestern meals will make
for a delightfully scrumptious af-
ternoon.
All the buffets will take place
on Friday`s at 11:30 a.m. It is by
reservation only, $18 per person.
To book a reservation, go to
the Cashier`s oIfce and ask Ior a
form. Most major credit cards and
checks will be accepted.
If students cant make it to the
Cashier`s oIfce in the A building,
they can make their reservation by
phone at (734) 384-4272.
Youth for Understanding
students enjoy classes
Jerry White speaks to ISSE members
2012 Winter buet season begins
photos by Michelle Dangler
Above: Lemon marca-
pone cheesecake with
an almond crust was
served as a dessert at
the buffet.
Left: Board member
Margerie Kreps and
her husband Roger
Kreps (left) attended
the buffet, and stopped
to pose for a photo with
MCCC President David
Nixon (right).
Lower Left: Chocolate-
covered strawberries
were also served as
dessert.
mcccagora.com
The Agora
3
February 28
2012
campus
Michelle Dangler
Agora Staff
Good food and great com-
pany were highlights of the
International Studies Clubs
Cultural Night.
The IS Club held a dinner
Feb. 17 to share and celebrate
foreign culture with students
and others. Eating at the Hun-
garian Rhapsody restaurant
proved to be a wonderful
chance to try something new,
club members said.
I have never been to a res-
taurant like that before, stu-
dent Mandi Lynn Davis said.
So to go and try something
new was a great experience.
Among the 25 or so students
and their guests who showed
up for Cultural Night were
Linda Lauer, MCCC Board
of Trustees member, Joanna
Sabo, Political Science profes-
sor and IS Club adviser, and
Julie Billmaier, the administra-
tive assistant to the Director of
Administration and Guidance
Services.
Another student, club mem-
ber Joyceelaine Cutliff, also
said she enjoyed herself.
It was great! Good food,
good service. Lighting was my
only issue, she said.
A charming restaurant with
a warm atmosphere, the Rhap-
sody had much to offer in the
way of showing guests the
food and culture of Hungary.
One oI the frst sights great-
ing guests when entering the
restaurant is a unique, almost
shrine-like museum dedicated
to the culture of Hungary.
The dcor features paint-
ings of various landscapes
and cityscapes, soft lighting,
cream-colored linen table-
cloths, and charming clusters
of red peppers hanging from
the ceiling.
The smells of delicious
dishes like Goulash or Chicken
Paprikas wafted through the
building.
The menu offered many
items to tempt hungry visitors,
including Fettuccine Rhap-
sody, a Hungarian spin on the
classic Fettuccine Alfredo,
Veal Paprikas, and Shrimp
Budapest.
There also was a selection of
cakes and other confections,
like double chocolate cake,
cheesecake, and others.
Nicki Kostrzewa
Agora Staff
MCCCs International Rela-
tions class takes its next trip to
New York this April to visit the
United Nations.
In addition to class members,
anyone in the International Stud-
ies Club also is welcome to join
the trip, making the student count
between 20 and 27, according
to Professor Joanna Sabo, who
teaches the International Studies
course.
The trip will include tours of the
United Nations Headquarters and
the Ground Zero Memorial.
During the tour of the UN, stu-
dents will see the main chamber,
where world issues are debated,
as well as displays of works that
include imagery of children with
guns, landmines, and a statue that
was in Hiroshima, Japan.
The statue shows the damage
done by the radiation, making vis-
itors think deeply about how that
effected the citys residents.
Also while in the UN, students
usually hear an informative brief-
ing, Dr. Sabo said. During this
visit, the briefng may be on the
Arab Spring.
There is a lot of that real-life
sadness, and then the real-life at-
tempts at trying to fx that, Dr.
Sabo said. I think a lot of people,
till they go there, think the UN is
sort of useless.
Students who have attended this
trip have been visiting Ground
Zero since 2002. In the early
days, Dr. Sabos said, there wasnt
much to the memorial, but the
feeling and atmosphere was still
fresh from what happened Sept.
11, 2001.
The trip received a $1,500 grant
from the MCCC Foundation,
and students are working to raise
more money. Dr. Sabo is the only
faculty member on the trip.
The truth is, because there is
so little funding by the school, I
end up paying my own expenses
myself, so to ask another teacher
to go, is like going Yeah, so you
want to come, but I dont have
any money for you, Sabo said.
Besides the tours of the United
Nationa and Ground Zero, Dr.
Sabo said she also hopes to let
the students see some of the many
other multicultural experiences in
New York City.
Christina Cusumano
Agora Staff
MCCCs Math and Science Society
Club [MASS] is headed to the North-
ern Coast of California, with the help of
an enhancement grant provided by the
MCCC Foundation.
Students will be accompanied by advis-
ers to the MASS club, Kathy Shepherd,
assistant professor of mathematics, and
Lori Bean, associate professor of chem-
istry and biology.
They will visit the John Muir Woods,
a redwood forest, the San Andreas Fault,
the California Academy of Sciences, and
potentially the Berkeley National Lab,
Yosemite National Park, and the San
Francisco Bay.
We wanted to go somewhere ecologi-
cally different than Michigan, Bean said.
Were hoping that taking students to see
these different places will reinforce or
offer new interests toward their career
paths.
Fifteen students will be attending the
trip this year, including Kasie Miehlke,
president of MASS, and secretary Eryn
Meeker.
The four-story rainforest at the Cali-
fornia Academy looks really cool, said
Elizabeth Puvy, a student in Beans Or-
ganic Chemistry class.
I also hear there are earthquakes there
all the time, which is crazy.
Although science, geography, and
ecology-related destinations are the main
focus of the trip, Shepherd said students
interested in math can beneft Irom the
trip, reasoning that math is the invisible
force behind all sciences.
MASS allows anyone with a curiosity
and appreciation for math, science, or the
natural world to join.
We have mix of a little bit of everyone
this time, including an art major, Shep-
herd said.
Shepherd and Bean agree that the trip is
an excellent way for students to socialize
outside of the classroom, gain valuable
experience in their felds oI interest, and
extend their classroom experience.
Since this is a commuter campus, stu-
dents need an opportunity to meet on a
social level, Shepherd said.
In addition to learning with their peers,
this trip will allow students to talk to pro-
Iessionals in the feld, peruse thought-
provoking exhibits, and explore Northern
Californias environment and ecology,
which is very different than Michigans
temperate climate.
Also, students will be better equipped
to connect science and math experienced
in the classroom to actual working felds.
Finally, students will beneft Irom a rich-
er, frsthand experience that cannot be
compared to simply reading a textbook.
This trip is something you would nev-
er be able to do on your own, Shepherd
said. 'It`s defnitely something students
will remember forever.
When asked what MASS members will
accomplish on this trip, Shepherd men-
tioned that students can be introduced to
emerging job opportunities or jobs stu-
dents have never came across.
I was going to be an accountant my
freshman year of college, Shepherd said.
Then I read a book, Dilemmas and De-
cisions, and it taught me to follow what
I really want to do, and that, of course,
was teach.
Im hoping that this trip will open
students eyes to all the possibilities out
there.
Bean said she is most excited for her
students to see the giant redwoods of
Muir woods, all of which tower over in-
digenous Michigan trees. The tallest are
above 350 feet in height, making them
the largest living things on this earth.
[Going there] is kind of like being at
the Grand Canyon, Bean said. Once
you see nature at that magnitude, it really
reminds you of how small we are.
MASS has been doing large amounts of
fundraising for the trip, which will cost up
to $10,000. Currently, MASS is hosting
a bottle drive; students can recycle cans
and bottles around campus as a green
way to fundraise.
They are also selling Little Caesars
Pizza orders and candy bars.
This trip to Calif. is MASSs ninth as a
club, and no trip has ever been repeated.
MASS has traveled to Washington DC,
New York City, Chicago, Cleveland, To-
ronto, and Cape Canaveral, Fla. It has
taken other small trips around Michigan,
including the Sleeping Bear Dunes, Bod-
ies: The Exhibition, and Ann Arbors
Natural History Museum.
If youd like to donate cans and/or
bottles, you can drop them off in recep-
tacles around campus or you can email
Lori Bean at lbean@monroeccc.edu to
arrange a date to pick them up.
Taylor Pinson
Agora Staff
This years Ethos week holds an
important frst Ior MCCC.
This is the sixth year of the event,
but it marks the frst time students
from MCCC will be attending.
Ethos week is March 12-16 at
Eastern Michigan Universitys
College of Business. Students are
taught the values needed to be ethi-
cal business professionals.
Its a huge event, said Pat
Nedry, MCCC Professor of Busi-
ness. They probably have a thou-
sand people.
Nedry spoke about the work
MCCCs faculty members have
done to allow students to attend
Ethos week.
There were some different com-
ponents to it. One was how do you
get students involved with this, and
how do you select them said Nedry.
The other part was we had to see if
we could get some money.
The money for the project came
from a $1,000 enhancement grant
from the MCCC Foundation.
EMUs College of Business also
invites people from the business
community to talk about applying
ethics to various business situations.
Previous guest speakers have in-
cluded Robert Bobb, the Emergency
Financial Manager for Detroit Pub-
lic Schools, and Barbara McQuade,
the US Attorney and Chief Federal
Prosecutor for the Eastern District of
Michigan.
They have some pretty top-notch
people that they bring in,
The entire interview with Pro-
fessor Nedry can be heard at www.
mcccagora.com
The staff of The Agora also will be visiting New York this spring.
They will be attending the College Media Spring National Con-
vention March 18-20 at the New York Sheraton.
A MCCC Foundation grant also helped fnance the Agora trip.
Nine Agora staff members are participating.
MCCC
on the
Go
Clubs and classes
are visiting both
Coasts, along with
local restaurants
and conferences.
Redwoods tower more than 300 feet to the
sky in the John Muir Woods north of San
Francisco one of the sites that will be
visited by the MCCC Math and Science Club
in April.
Photo by Michael Schweppe
This trip is
something you
would never be
able to do on
your own. Its
dehnitelv some-
thing students
will remember forever.
Kathy Shepherd,
Assistant Professor of mathematics
Math-Science students checking
out redwoods, earthquakes
International Studies heading to UN, Ground Zero in New York
Photo courtesy of Professor Joanna Sabo
The International Studies class at the United Nations two years ago.
Agora staff also visiting the Big Apple
Cultural Night attracts 25
to Hungarian restaurant
Photo by Lorrie Mayzlin
About 25 students and guests attended Cultural Night at the
Hungarian Rhapsody restaurant in Southgate Feb. 17.
Business students attend
Ethos week at Eastern Mich.
For the next few weeks, Ill be working to make an
awesome trip to Spain seem, well, awesome.
Its time for students to start thinking seriously
about joining MCCCs next Study Abroad trip,
which will be to Portugal and Spain in May of 2013.
Im working now on marketing materials you
know, brochures, posters, videos, slide shows the
stuff that will give students all the details they need
to make a decision.
In one way, marketing this trip will be easy. I really
believe it will be an incredible trip, an experience of
a lifetime for everyone who joins.
I`m confdent oI that partly
because I tagged along on
MCCCs 2011 trip to Central
Europe. Ive traveled quite a
bit 49 of the 50 states and
15 countries and none of
my travels compared with the
overall experience of that trip.
Part of what makes study
abroad so wonderful is the ca-
maraderie. In Central Europe,
we werent just seeing forts,
castles, museums, cathedrals,
death camps, Turkish baths
I could go on and on but we
were experiencing them as part of a group. All 26
people were sharing, learning, laughing and some-
times crying together.
Another aspect of college study abroad that im-
pressed me was the quality of the tours. Time and
again, local guides were provided who offered in-
sight into the history, culture, politics and art that
simply isnt available to regular tourists.
They helped the professors on the trip Joanna
Sabo and Gary Wilson connect students with the
politics and art of each country in a way that simply
isnt possible in a classroom.
The research Ive done preparing for the Spain/
Portugal trip has me excited and convinced the
2013 trip will be just as incredible as Central Europe
in 2011.
Portugal and Spain offer essentially the same mix
walk down one street and see amazing history and
culture; turn a corner and youre in a modern, hip
city full of trendy shops and great restaurants.
Spain was a major player in the development of
Western Civilization. The Spanish Armada patrolled
the seas of the world while its rulers built spectacular
castles and cathedrals and flled them with gold and
art.
Before that, the Moors Muslims from Northern
Africa occupied parts of Spain and Portugal for
800 years, building their own monuments and put-
ting their stamp on the culture. Even earlier, the Ro-
man Empire dominated Spain, leaving its own arti-
facts behind.
The Prado in Madrid is one of the worlds great
museums; the Alhambra in Granada and the Mezqui-
ta in Cordoba are among the worlds best examples
of Moorish architecture; the Sagrada Familia in Bar-
celona is one of the worlds most spectacular cathe-
drals.
All of these will be stops on the MCCC trip in
2013, along with many more.
And, of course, theres the food Spain is famous
for its ethnic dishes. And the beaches Barcelona is
known for some of Europes best. And the music
ever hear of Flamenco dancing?
As I work on the marketing materials choosing
which pictures and videos best tell the story of Spain
and Portugal I cant wait to start talking with stu-
dents and other members of the MCCC community
about the 2013 trip.
It seems like a long time away May 2013. But
professors Sabo and Wilson, who will be taking their
fourth MCCC Study Abroad trip tell me its impor-
tant for students to starting planning now.
Stay tuned. In March and April, there will be sev-
eral chances to attend meetings, watch videos, pe-
ruse brochures and otherwise learn about the May
2013 trip.
Students can begin signing up soon so they can
start planning, saving money, getting passports and
otherwise preparing for an incredible trip in May
2013.
Viva la Spain.
(Dan Shaw teaches journalism at MCCC and is
adviser to The Agora. He is leading the 2013 Study
Abroad trip.)
mcccagora.com
The Agora
4
February 28
2012
opinion
Ted Boss
Christina Cusamono
Mandi Davis
Michelle Dangler
Kaitlyn Durocher
Shana Kritzer
Miles Lark
Robin Lawson
Lorrie Mayzlin
Michael Mayzlin
Taylor Pinson
Tyler Rogoff
Jacob Thompson
David Topolewski
The Agora Editorial Policy
The Agora is published by the students of Monroe
County Community College, 1555 S. Raisinville Rd.,
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supports a free student press and is a member of the
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Editor
Tyler Eagle
Assistant
Editor
Nicki Kostrewza
Adviser
Dan Shaw
Staff Members
MCCC has an academic policy govern-
ing all classes. As an example, if you are
taking an English class, you will be learn-
ing the same thing in that class offered by
one professor as you would being taught
by another professor.
The differences come into play with
how an instruc-
tor delivers this to
the student. As an
example, in ad-
dition to the aca-
demic standards
for English 151,
an instructor may
choose to supple-
ment or incorpo-
rate Greek litera-
ture, and have the
students apply
skill sets to relate it
to current events in
their lives.
This, accord-
ing to MCCC President David Nixon,
is called academic freedom. Instructors
must meet the minimum academic stan-
dard established by the college, but are
allowed to deviate beyond that minimum
to customize their agendas to their own
personal standards of teaching.
It is my belief that there should be a
standard established campus-wide re-
garding attendance. Most instructors on
campus do have their own version of
attendance requirements, which gener-
ally involve a lower grade for missing
more classes than allowed. Most of us
are adults with families and lives outside
the classroom. There are many things
that can occur outside the classroom that
might affect our attendance, and because
we are adults, is it really justifed to Iail a
student if they miss three classes?
The miss three classes and fail the
class attendance policy, has to be the
harshest policy I have yet to hear about
on this campus. To do the simple math
on this policy, if the course meets twice
a week Ior fIteen weeks, and is not the
type of course that builds on the previous
lessons of the class, missing any three
classes during the course of the semester
is the equivalent to ten percent. Thats
crazy miss three classes, get a zero on
your semester grade.
It is always healthy to question policy
and procedures, and its good that stu-
dents have the freedom to do so said
Victoria McIntyre, English professor and
administrative assistant to MCCC Presi-
dent David Nixon.
I believe the best assessment of your
academic achievement is shown through
testing, and not whether you come to 100
percent of your classes. In the real world,
even employers are more forgiving and
lenient than this ludicrous policy; grant-
ed, you might get a written reprimand for
calling off three shifts in a row, but most
employers would not fre you Ior three
call-offs.
There are many instructors on this cam-
pus who would like to see MCCC come
up with one overall attendance standard,
a supremacy clause. Much like the Su-
premacy Clause of the United States,
which guarantees that no state law will
supercede the federal law, and maintains
that the federal is the minimum base law
that all states must follow.
MCCC should create their own su-
premacy clause, whereby instructors
must follow a set base standards for all
things regarding students and programs,
but may also deviate from for their aca-
demic freedoms.
As an example, if MCCC had issued
their supremacy clause stating that all stu-
dents attending classes on the campus are
required to attend at least 70 percent of
all their classes or they would face grade
reductions of 25 percent for every occur-
rence beyond six absences, that would
be the base from which all instructors
could deviate (but not make more strin-
gent).
At this point, the instructor may change
the policy for attendance, stating that if
you miss six classes, the student would
lose 15 percent of their grade; for seven
absences they would lose 25 percent; and
if the student had eight absences, they
would fail the course.
Another instructor may have a syllabus
that refects that students must attend 70
percent of all registered classes, but if
they miss seven classes (for any reason),
they would suffer a grade reduction of
10 percent; missing nine classes would
result in a grade reduction of 50 percent;
or missing 10 classes would result in au-
tomatic failure of the course.
With the present polices in place, as
long as the instructor puts his version of
attendance in his syllabus, he is good to
go.
Unfortunately, most students do not re-
ceive this syllabus until after the start of
the semester, which means that if they do
not agree with it, they would have to drop
that class and hope that they can register
for another lateral class.
This presents a problem if the classes
meet once a week, however, because by
the time a student receives the syllabus,
it is too late to get into a different class
if they do not agree with the instructor s
syllabus.
I think the college should take a hard
look at what it considers its constitution
and adjust it to cover all things that affect
students.
It would provide instructors with a base
to follow, as a guideline of what the col-
lege expects as a minimum standard. It
also might put an end to the crazy atten-
dance policies that some instructors are
presently subjecting students to.
Football season may be over, but that
doesnt mean preparations for the next
season arent under way.
I love football. Nothing gets my blood
pressure on the rise faster than a close
football game. Truth be told, college
football is my fa-
vorite. However,
I still enjoy a good
NFL game.
Football season
brings tailgating
on brisk morn-
ings, parties with
friends, and some
friendly rivalry.
I even have my
own fantasy team,
and I love every
moment of the
football season.
Everyone has
opinions, and peo-
ple want their opinions to be heard. There
comes a point when giving an opinion be-
comes too much for me.
Some things about sports leave me
confused. I dont yell at my television,
I am not that crazed naked fan sprint-
ing through a stadium, and I dont try to
tell anyone who will listen how the NFL
should draft their players.
Should it matter to me who a 40-year-
old garbage man thinks is best for the
draft. Should I care that a retired teacher
believes one quarterback is superior to
another? Honestly, I dont.
I have gotten so sick of listening to
long-winded rants regarding football.
Maybe I just misunderstand. But when a
person is not currently an NFL player, a
coach, a general manager or a team own-
er, they are not a football expert.
For instance, if I spent hours research-
ing players, teams, and statistics, then put
these fndings together in a report, who
would actually want to read it?
Im sure someone, someplace would
fnd my thoughts interesting. But that
doesnt matter. The NFL is not looking
to hire me for my utter brilliance. They
already have on their payroll employees
whose entire job revolves around drafting
players.
Now if John Madden was to work up a
mock draft, I may be interested. I would
consider him a football expert. An an-
noying football expert, but still he has
the experience and insight to have a valid
opinion.
Joe Shmoe from down the street is not
in any way a football expert. Watching
games, trolling the internet, and having a
fantasy league does not qualify anyone as
a professional football critic. If Joe was
so great at football, why is he not play-
ing for the NFL? Why does he not work
there?
I understand, its merely for fun and it
amuses some folks. It just irritates me. I
would never tell an attorney how to do
her job, and I would never tell a profes-
sional NFL player how to do his job. My
thought has always been if you think you
can do better than the person you are criti-
cizing, then prove it, or shut-up.
I guess what it comes down to is that
its a judgment of another person. When
people criticize football players for the
way they played a game, they are making
a judgment about the player that is really
not fair. Everyone has good days and bad
days. Yes, the players are out in the public
eye, and they are representing a team, but
we could give them a break sometimes.
There has to be an enormous deal of
pressure to stand out on a Iootball feld in
front of thousands of people. Fans expect
these men to be invincible, when in fact
they are only human.
I should admit that this whole editorial
started because I read the mock drafts that
my fellow Agora staffers had written. If
you are interested, please go to the sports
page and read them. The guys who wrote
the drafts are wonderful journalists. I just
think that mock drafts are ridiculous.
Maybe if we had more sports at MCCC
to cover, we wouldnt have to run a page
full of mock NFL drafts. We should start
a sports program. Anything is better than
nothing. Wait, I take that back, we have
volleyball.
Moral of the story: if you feel the need
to criticize NFL players or anyone else,
make sure that you can do their job more
eIfciently than they can.

Dan Shaw
Adviser
Lorrie
Mayzlin
Agora Staff
Shana
Kritzer
Agora Staff
...when a person is not currently an
NFL player, a coach, a general manager
or a team owner, they are not a football
expert.
The Alhambra, a fort and palace located on a hilltop outside Granada, was built in the 14th Century by the
Moors, who occupied parts of Spain for nearly 800 years. Its one of many historic and cultural treasures on
the itinerary for MCCCs 2013 Study Abroad trip to Spain and Portugal.
Time to start planning for Spain
Leave drafting to actual NFL experts
College needs uniform attendence policy
mcccagora.com
The Agora
5
February 28
2012
f
eatures
A Loak Arod Cv,
Kaitlyn Durocher
Agora Staff
Marvin Josaitis, a former Catholic
priest, came to MCCCs Meyer Theater
to talk about his two books: Breaking
Grand Silence: A Former Priest Stands
Out, and Pennies From a Heavn: The
Joy of Making Family.
Josaitis presentation brought out a
large crowd of citizens from around Mon-
roe County.
People gathered in the theater to hear
his story of why he quit the priesthood
and the reasoning behind his two books.
After being a pastor at St. Michaels
Church in Monroe from 1967 to 1969, Jo-
saitis resigned and became a professor of
philosophy and English at MCCC.
However, after seven years of teaching,
he then went on to work in corporate posi-
tions all around America.
In 1998, Josaitis retired to focus on his
other interests, which include writing, and
being a volunteer and Realtor.
In December of 2011, the former priest
released both of his books within a weeks
time.
The second book, Pennies From a
Heavn: The Joy of Making Family, is a
story of his family that Josaitis wrote to
tell his frst granddaughter about the Iam-
ily members she did not get to meet.
This book is my love story to the
world, Josaitis stated about his second
book.
However, his frst book, 'Breaking
Grand Silence: A Former Catholic Priest
Speaks Out, is what Josaitis returned to
MCCC to speak about.
This book was written about the rea-
sons why Josaitis left the Catholic Church
and priesthood.
It is a controversial subject that he ad-
dressed both in his book and to his audi-
ence during his presentation.
Due to philosophical reasons including
sex, celibacy and views about women and
men, Josaitis decided he could no longer
be a priest because he did not support or
believe in what he was preaching.
These three topics were viewed as para-
digms by Josaitis, which is basically our
way of thinking that we are taught and
that shapes the way we behave as we
grow up.
Since Josaitis did not agree with these
ways of thinking, he did not want to con-
tinue being a priest.
Although these topics are controversial
and people believe different things about
them, Josaitis presented a great speech
that made his audience think.
The presentation was very interest-
ing and thought provoking. I bought both
books and am halfwqay through the sec-
ond one; his theories make you think,
William Bacarella, chairman of MCCCs
Board of Trustees, said.
I was impressed by Dr. Josaitis teach-
ing ability, MCCC President David Nix-
on said.
As he would in a classroom discuss-
ing extremely sensitive topics without
offending anyone in the audience; and
each one of us learned something about
ourselves and the paths we have taken.
While these topics may never be com-
pletely agreed upon, it is clear that Jo-
saitis speech raised a lot of questions and
thoughts for the people in the audience.
photo by katie Durocher
Marvin Josaitis signed copies of his books Breaking Grand Silence: A Former Priest
Stands Out and Pennies from a Heavn: The Joy of Making Family after his presen-
tation.
Ex-priest discusses faith, beliefs
Robotics competition inspires students
photo courtesy of Elizabeth High
Students from across the state converged on MCCC for the competition. College students mentored the high school students
who competed.
Christina Cusamono
Nicki Kostrzewa
Agora Staff
For the frst time, MCCC hosted a
national and world-qualifying robotics
tournament.
The VEX robotics tournament was
hosted by the colleges Society of Manu-
facturing Engineers and FIRST Team
Virus; both robotic teams meet in the
West Tech Building.
The Feb. 11 event gave MCCC a
chance to highlight its technology pro-
grams and the new Career Technology
Center, which will house them.
The center is designed to support the
needs and devices necessary for devel-
oping the skills for high-demand, high-
skill jobs for the future.
MCCCs current technology buildings,
East and West Tech, do not have enough
space Ior this constantly growing feld.
Coming here to see what MCCC has
to offer and the schools affordable nature
can only assist in getting good students
to attend, said Jeff Demaray, mentor
and coordinator for Team Virus.
Sixteen high school and middle school
robotics teams from around the state
gathered to present their robots and com-
pete to qualify for the 2012 VEX Na-
tional Competition in Nebraska, and the
2012 VEX Robotics High School World
Championships in Anaheim, Calif., in
April.
Members of MCCCs Society of Man-
ufacturing Engineers (SME) volunteered
their time to help coordinate the event
and provide space in their lab for the
younger students robots.
Chad Martin and Nicole DeFelice,
students in Marty Dubois Nuclear En-
gineering and Technology class, volun-
teered to help coordinate the event as
well.
Bob Leonard, assistant professor of
manufacturing technology and adviser
to the SME robotics club on campus, in-
troduced Team Virus, Monroes entry in
the competition, and explained MCCCs
growing engineering and technology
programs.
Monroes team was formed through
the Technology First organization, which
allows any high school-aged Monroe
County student to join the robotics team.
VEX offers students a chance to learn
about career opportunities in the felds
of science, technology, engineering and
math.
On top of exploring these careers, the
VEX Robotics project teaches team-
work, leadership and problem solving
skills.
The name of the competition is Gate-
way, played on a 12-by-12 square feld
divided into three zones: the interac-
tion zone, and the red and blue isolation
zones.
Nine balls and fourteen barrels are
on each side, Iour foor goals are in
each corner, and nine circular goals sit
throughout the feld.
The game begins with a 20-second
autonomous period, where the robot is
programmed to control itself by sens-
ing white stripes on the foor oI the feld,
followed by two minutes of driver-con-
trolled play.
Four robots compete at a time, two ro-
bots on the blue alliance and two on the
red alliance. The alliance with the high-
est score wins.
The robots pick up barrels or balls and
place them into the high and low goals.
Thus, the game requires precise and ef-
fcient movements oI the robots.
Besides winning points, judges also
look at each teams design innovation,
programming, presentation, strategy,
and teamwork.
Judges included First Solar representa-
tives and technicians.
The teams of high school students
each develop an 18-by-18-by-18 inch ro-
bot, which can cost upwards of $2,000.
Some time is needed to build the most
innovative robot.
We see if the group really preformed
as a team, or if one person did all the
work, Jason Shaaer, a First Solar judge
said.
A creative approach to winning is im-
portant.
Athena Rising from Cranbrook
Schools in Bloomfeld Hills won the
Excellence Award and the Tournament
Championship.
Athena Rising, has previously placed
in the Vex World Competition, and has
been planning its model since the sum-
mer of 2011.
We start out by working with legos,
a member of the all-girl team said, We
try to come up with a more eIfcient de-
sign, building off our friends past ideas.
Our robot is our own, and we take a lot
of pride in it.
Orderly Chaos from De La Salle Col-
legiate High School in Warren won the
other Tournament Championship and
Design Award.
Monroes Team Virus won for its Pro-
gramming/Documentation Skills. Virus
used Autodesk Inventor, an advanced
software package to design and develop
its entry.
The Fighting Polar Bears from High-
land Park Public Schools won the Judges
Awards.
Other schools that participated in
this competition were Youthville High
School and George Washington Carver
Academy, from Highland Park, Detroit
International Academy for Young Wom-
en, and De La Salle Collegiate High
School from Warren.
Sponsors of the event were Technol-
ogy First, Autodesk Company, leaders
in 3D design, engineering, entertainment
software, and MCCC.
Photos by Miles Lark
Above: Sam James, a student at MCCC, played his music in the cafeteria to entertain students during
Black History Month.
Right: The Big Gig, at MCCCs Meyer Theater on Saturday, Feb. 25, highlighted the 25th anniversary
of Monroe County Librarys Black History Month.
A
rts
&E
ntertainment
mcccagora.com
The Agora
6
February 28
2012
Shana Kritzer
Staff Reporter
Audience members sang along as Collin Raye mesmerized
them with songs both old and new.
Country singer Collin Raye played at MCCCs Meyer The-
ater Feb. 18. He brought to the stage an energy many enter-
tainers lack.
Playing a mix of his most remembered hit songs, some great
cover songs, and some songs from his new Christian CD, Col-
lin had the crowds attention for all of his 90 minutes on stage.
The show was almost sold out the night before the concert.
Tom Ryder, event coordinator, was enthusiastic that the show
would sell out before starting time.
There are about 125 tickets remaining, with sales in the
afternoon, and some door sales, it should be close to a sold out
show, Ryder said.
Collin Raye has sixteen No. 1 country hits, as well as 44 top
10 hits. Raye`s new album, UndeaIeated,` is his frst Chris-
tian album.
It was written after Raye had lost his granddaughter to a
rare neurological disease. Its about being strong when you
feel like giving up.
Raye did an amazing cover of Elton Johns Rocket Man
as well as two songs originally sung by Bob Dylan.
The audience danced, sang and laughed along with Raye.
His songs bring to mind memories of long ago, buried deep
in the past. Songs like Love Me and Little Rock have a
wonderful meaning behind them, helping the audience to feel
a kinship with the artist.
Ted Boss
Staff Reporter
Scott McCloskey likes to keep theater-
goers on the edge of their seats.
McCloskey is directing a series of eight,
10-minute plays that will be presented at
MCCC March 16-17.
He said one advantage of short plays is
that nearly everyone who tries out can get
a part.
I like doing the shorts because I can
cast more people, he said.
McCloskey began directing about 10
years ago. He enjoys acting, although he
didnt start until college. The creativity in
the art is what brought him to directing.
Of the short plays in the DiffrACT col-
lection, he thinks that he might like The
Last Tennis Shoe, by Shel Silverstein,
the best.
He said he often has been required to
play a part in a production that he direct-
ed.
Sometimes I am sort of forced to, if
not enough people try out, he said.
A couple of years ago I had to play a
part in fact I had to play two parts I
want to say. And thats fun, too. It is a
different thing when you are acting and
directing in the same play.
He said it is hard to see the big picture
when you are on stage, making it more
diIfcult to direct.
Nearly 20 people tried out for Dif-
frACT, so McCloskey had a good pool of
actors to choose from.
In the beginning of actors careers,
Scott said, they tend to rock back and
forth from nervous energy. Its an easy
adjustment to make, however, with prac-
tice.
McCloskey said if you are interested in
acting, just audition. You will likely not
get a lead roll, but if you watch the leads
you can learn a lot from them by just be-
ing a part of it.
He said he often enjoys working with
actors who seem to have no talent. They
may just lack experience and training. He
said its worth spending time to help im-
prove their acting, so they also can have
more fun.
He has written a play himself, but has
yet to direct it. He said he thinks it would
be wonderful to premier the play, but it is
years away.
DiffrACT will premiere in the Little
Theatre at 7:30 p.m. March 16 and 17. It
is free and designed for mature audiences.
Kaitlyn Durocher
Staff Reporter
The weekend of the Grammy Awards,
America lost one of its legendary sing-
ers. The diva of pop, Whitney Houston,
died on Feb. 11 from unknown causes.
A member of Houstons entourage
found her in her hotel bathtub at the Bev-
erly Hilton Hotel just moments before she
was to perform for a pre-Grammy show.
It may take weeks for the coroners to
determine Houstons cause of death and
then even more time Ior oIfcials to re-
lease their statement to the public.
While the cause of Houstons death is
unknown, the police say they are not rul-
ing out any possibilities including fowl
play.
However, they say that heart attack
seems to be the main possibility.
Houston was a six-time Grammy win-
ner. To honor her death, the Grammys
devoted a lot of their time to a memorial
for the singer.
Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, and Jen-
nifer Hudson were among the celebrities
who honored Houston during the show.
Hudson closed with I Will Always
Love You, a song by Houston herself,
to respect and remember the life of the
singer.
Sunday morning Houstons daughter
was taken into the hospital to be treated
for stress and anxiety and then released
later that day.
At this time, Houstons family and es-
pecially her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, are
asking for privacy and time to grieve their
great loss.
By age 48, Houston had already
achieved six Grammy Awards, four
U.S. No.1 albums, two Emmy Awards,
six Peoples Choice Awards, seven Soul
Train Music Awards, 11 No. 1 songs, and
numerous other awards and nominations.
Over 170 million of her albums, sin-
gles, and videos were sold worldwide
by the time of her death and that number
continues to grow as her most famous
song was the most downloaded single on
iTunes following her death.
The death of this well-known singer
has impacted many Americans. However,
her legacy and music will continue to live
on in her remembrance.
I dont intend on sounding insensitive,
but why are we still talking about Whit-
ney Houstons death?
A death of any person is tragic, espe-
cially a FORMER pop music icon. How-
ever, we need to carefully look at the
circumstances leading to her death: care-
less lifestyle, alcohol, drugs, and Bobby
Brown out of all people.
The media doesnt mention the fact that
Houston was on a path to self-destruction
for several years. Instead, they describe
her as an inspiring role model.
The world may never know exactly who
she inspired beyond her singing triumphal of
the endless pop and RnB hits, but the reckless
train that was Whitney Houston of the late
1990s and aIter has fnally hit the brick wall
and ended tragically. We need to remember
and forget.
On a positive
note, 19-year-old
Frances Bean Co-
bain, a daughter
of Nirvana former
frontman Kurt
Cobain and his
always unpredict-
able wife Court-
ney Love, turned
out alright.
She recently re-
leased some mod-
eling pictures and
is being scouted
by Christian Dior.
Winter 2012 is turning out to be a great
season for electronic music. With new re-
leases from Armin Van Buuren and Dash
Berlin, it sounds like its going to be a
great year for progressive trance.
There are some hidden gems to dis-
cover in addition to big ticket names. I
recently came across some electro tracks
that were not only inspiring in sound, but
also monumentally epic in production.
First, there is Jochen Miller, a DJ turned
producer from the Netherlands. This guy
has been DJ-ing since 2003, but only re-
cently started producing his own tracks. His
latest, Bamm! and Flashback, are club-
ready electro monsters that are rich in inno-
vative sounds and mind-boggling basses.
Also, Dakota, a somewhat unknown
entity, was introduced to the world by
Marcus Schultz, a leading DJ and radio
personality.
Dakota produces progressive dance
music, but some of the mixes that were
released last month are nothing more but
banging electro tunes.
Klauss Goularts remix of Dakotas
Terrace takes the cake in that category.
There is a lot more great music to adore
this month, so here is my Top 10 list of
what electronic music had to offer in the
last two months:
01 - Cerf Mitiska Feat. Jaren - You
Never Said (Dash Berlin Remix).
02 - First State feat. Sarah Howells -
Reverie (Dash Berlin Remix).
03 - Headstrong feat. Kirsty Hawkshaw
- Love Calls (Original Mix).
04 - Armin Van Buuren pres. Gaia -
Stellar (Marlo Remix).
05 - Marcel Woods - Advanced (Tiesto
Remix).
06 - Jochen Miller - Bamm! (Original
Mix).
07 - Jochen Miller - Flashback (Gregori
Klosman Remix).
08 - Suspect 44 - Japanese Schoolgirls
(PROFF Remix).
09 - Dakota - Terrace (5am Klauss
Goulart Remix).
10 - Lange vs. Gareth Emery - This Is
New York (Heatbeat Remix).
A non-stop mix of all these songs and
many more can be heard at: http://www.
divshare.com/download/16732184-22d.
Im off to CNNs iReport section to
post how I am going to mourn Whitney
Houstons death.
Michael
Mayzlin
Agora Staff
Death of pop-star prompts suggestion for alternative sound
Whitney Houston remembered, honored at Grammys
Students prepare for DiffrACT, McCloskey to direct
photo by Ted Boss
Left to right: Actors Joshua Rains, Jake Drouillard, Ryan Reynolds and director Scott McCloskey rehearse scenes from DiffrACT.
Collin Raye hypnotizes crowd with music
Photos by Lorrie Mayzlin
Collin Raye, left, and his guitar player, above, had the audi-
ence dancing in the aisles.
Whitney Houston performs on Good Morning America on Sept. 1, 2009.
Tyler Rogoff
Agora Staff
Final Fantasy XIII was by far my least fa-
vorite Final Fantasy game. But I decided to
give XIII-2 a shot, and I ended up honestly
shocked.
The sequel, although keeping the same
battle and level-up systems as the prede-
cessor, doesnt have the same feel that XIII
had. I found myself unable to keep going in
XIII at multiple points due to boredom with
character development and the story.
Im not saying XIII-2 has a fantastic story
that made me reminisce of my many play-
throughs of FFX, but the storyline is re-
spectable enough to keep you playing, and
at points doesnt allow you to put the game
down due to unexpected twists and unfore-
seen events.
The linearity of XIIIs story was the main
downfall. Players were forced to do exactly
what was expected to advance the main sto-
ry. XIII-2 rids this fault through the Historia
Crux. Noel and Serah, the main characters,
travel through time using gates that lead to
the Historia Crux. Players are able to choose
where to go next and will fnd ArteIacts to
open up new gates. Gates that lead to new
story areas open up by fnishing the story,
but players will have the option to explore
areas that arent story-required as well.
The battle system is a direct copy of
XIII with one improvement: Players now
are able to capture monsters to act as their
third-party member. This adds a new level
of strategy to the game, as at times players
should grind an area in an attempt to cap-
ture monsters. All monsters have their own
capture rate, so many of the best monsters
in the game will take a good number of bat-
tles to capture.
I went into this game expecting that the
demo just got my hopes up and that Id
get the same burnout as I did with XIII,
but I ended up playing the game nonstop
in my free time.
I wont spoil anything about the end-
ing, but I will say that it was the frst
game in a long time to have me scream-
ing more colorful versions of What the
heck? multiple times at the television. I
cannot recall a time when the ending left
me staring at the screen in shock for as
long as I did with XIII-2.
The story is not overly long, but with
the amount of sidequests, many hours
can be spent. Downloadable content also
has been promised, and some have been
released. Multiple endings also are in
the game at different points in the story,
which opens up new areas as well.
I was expecting this game to be a time
fller and holdover until Kingdoms oI
Amalur and Mass EIIect 3 are released,
but I found myself picking up a game that
Im ready to play through again with the
new unlocks that are received after com-
pleting the story.
Any role-playing game Ian should give
this game a chance. Even iI you never com-
pleted XIII, it is worth picking up. Those
who are playing XIII and have yet to com-
plete it should wait until fnishing XIII,
as even the early parts of the game show
scenes from the end of XIII. For those with
no connection to XIII, a primer is available
to read that sums up each part of the story
for you.
Ill give Final Fantasy XIII-2 a 8.5 out of
10. The drawbacks are that the story can be
confusing at times and that it is somewhat
short if a story run is done, but the game
more than makes up for these weaknesses.
February 28, 2012 arts and entertainment mcccagora.com
The Agora | 7
Lorrie Mayzlin
Agora Staff
The Atlanta Rhythm Section graced
Meyer Theater on Feb. 10, and rocked
the house.
Well over half of the attendees were
members of the baby boomer genera-
tion who seemed to appreciate ARS
and its southern rock roots.
While the crowd appreciated the
entire band for its performance, you
could hear thunderous applause for
the variety of drum and guitar solos
that scattered throughout the event.
AIter the band had exited the stage,
the crowd refused to leave until band
members came back for an encore.
The Atlanta Rhythm Section began
in 1970 in a small town northeast of
Atlanta, Georgia. It is billed under the
Southern rock infuence and modeled
its sound aIter .38 Special, Starbuck,
Lynyrd Skynyrd and B.J. Thomas.
Originally, the members came to-
gether as a house band at Studio One,
and later became a session band. They
reached the height of their success be-
tween 1977 and 1980, and diminished
quickly when music began to move to-
ward harder rock and roll (hairbands).
While ARS did not reach the com-
mercial success of Lynyrd Skynyrd or
The Allman Brothers, they did have
several charted hits, including Imagi-
nary Lover in 1978 and Spooky in
1979.
The Atlanta Rhythm Section`s orig-
inal lead singer, Ronnie Hammond,
died on March 14, 2011 in a Georgia
hospital at age 60.
Overall, it was a nice trip to the past
for much of the audience, and its nice
to see that southern rock is making a
comeback.
The MCCC International Studies
Club sponsored a 50/50 raIfe at the
event to raise money for its upcoming
trip to the United Nations in New York
City.
David Topolewski
Agora Staff
The Fight of our Lives is a book
dedicated to explaining the threat
radical Islamist terrorists, pose to
America.
Bestselling author William J. Ben-
nett and Seth Leibsohn co-authored
the pro-War on Terror book.
The writing is a criticism of both
the Bush and Obama administra-
tions, but also gives praise to both
as well. The authors are much more
critical of the Obama administration,
however.
Bennett and Leibsohn open with
the tragedy oI Fort Hood. Readers
may be surprised to know Nidal Has-
san (the terrorist who killed 14 Amer-
icans at Fort Hood) gave a Power-
point in which he was supposed to
have discussed a medical topic,
according to the Washington Post.
Instead, his presentation highlight-
ed the war on terror. Hassan con-
cluded with a quote from Osama Bin
Laden, We love death more than
you love life, just two years before
his attack on Fort Hood.
Saddam Hussein`s horrifc human
rights record is also acknowledged,
explaining what a former Clinton ad-
ministration oIfcial wrote:
This is a regime that will crush all
of the bones in the feet of a two-year-
old girl for her mother to divulge
her fathers whereabouts. This is a
regime that will hold a nursing baby
at arms length from its mother and
allow the child to starve to death to
force the mother to confess.
While discussing the wars in AI-
ghanistan and Iraq, the authors ex-
plained the country became war
weary and why.
President Bush stopped casting
the vision, and the nations vision be-
came consequently obscured, they
said.
The Fight of our Lives praises
early rhetoric by Bush phrases
such as, Smoke them out of their
holes, bring em on, and wanted
dead or alive. This praise is fol-
lowed with disagreement of rhetoric
during the later years of the Bush
presidency.
With the exit of President Bush,
President Obama brought a new vi-
sion to the war against radical Is-
lam. This was much criticized by
the authors, because they believed the
president`s new vision was, 'Ending
the wars abroad, not winning them.
The cited a quote by Ralph Waldo
Emerson, 'The corruption oI man is
followed by the corruption of lan-
guage.
Also discussed is the threat that Iran
poses to the security of the world and
the need to stop the countrys nuclear
ambitions. Bennett and Leibsohn
write that if Iran does obtain a nucle-
ar weapon, it will be much regretted
by America and the world.
They conclude that if Iran suc-
ceeds, a book titled 'While America
Slept, would explain how America
allowed it to happen.
The Fight of Our Lives is a de-
Iense oI America`s initiative to take
the battle to people who intend to
harm America and its citizens.
Lifting our veil and engaging the
fght, as both a matter oI military and
civic strength, is our greatest task.
FF XIII-2 disappoints players
Students hear
sounds of Atlanta
Rhythm Section
Atlantas southern rock
Jacob Thompson
Agora Staff
Its a peculiar game with the
peculiar name, and odds are very
good you haven`t heard oI 'Abo-
bo`s Big Adventure beIore.
Well, thats a shame.
While most gamers are taking a
leap forward with groundbreaking
titles and their shiny new Playsta-
tion Vita, this game allows you to
take a step back.
From 1985-1995 the NES (Nin-
tendo Entertainment System)
graced U.S. shelves, spawning
over 700 titles and single-handedly
saving the medium after the gam-
ing crash oI 83.
A selI proclaimed labor oI love,
'Abobo`s Big Adventure sets out
to let the player relive all 10 years
of glory at once. The end result is
utter chaos in the best way pos-
sible, the type of thing any veteran
of the old system would come to
expect.
What sets it apart from these
games of yore? While those car-
tridges cost a beefy $60 a pop,
'Abobo`s Big Adventure is abso-
lutely free!
Who is Abobo anyway? A good
question; he is the frst boss oI the
NES title 'Double Dragon.
Why is he the main character
oI this grand adventure? Another
good question So, when his son
Aboboy gets kidnapped by, well
everyone, you must set out on a
journey through NES land to save
him.
The frst level plays as a stan-
dard beat m up affair through the
landscape of Double Dragon.
However when you encounter
Goombas of Mario Bros. fame and
the like outside their home turf,
you know something is amiss. The
subsequent levels come from other
fagship NES titles such as Mega-
man II, The Legend of Zelda, Con-
tra, etc.
The true beauty of this game is
that the controls and perspective
change to ft those oI the title it is
currently emulating.
To put it simpler, when you are
in a dungeon from The Legend of
Zelda, you are playing The Leg-
end of Zelda.
Bursting at the seams with nods
to virtually every NES title there is,
and even Xbox style achievements,
this game is almost too much to
handle.
Expect to lose lives Irequently.
but then thats what the Nintendo
Entertainment System was all
about!
The Atlanta
Rhythm Section-
rocked Meyer
Theater on Feb.
10. Above are
Dean Daughtry
on keyboards
and Jim Keeling
on drums; far
left, Steve Stone
on guitar; and
left, David Ander-
son on guitar.
Photos by Lorrie
Mayzlin
saves Nintendos Aboboy
Journey through NES land,
The Fight of
Our Lives
FF Xiii-2 is the lastest installment of the
Final Fantasy game series. Like FF X, the
game is a continuation of a previous re-
lease.
Review
mcccagora.com
The Agora
8
February 28
2012 sports
Christina Cusumano
Agora Staff
This 2012 winter semester, there was enough inter-
est on campus to create four ski and snowboarding
classes teaching students how to Shred the Gnar,
or for the rookies, just ride down the slopes without
wiping out.
The classes, beginning ski and snowboard and
intermediate ski and snowboard, offer winter fun,
a great way to exercise during the sluggish days of
winter, and fve weeks oI cheap private lessons at the
Mount Brighton Ski Resort.
Each class counts as a Health and Physical Educa-
tion credit, and like most classes offered at MCCC,
are transIerrable to Iour-year universities.
Mark Dushane, a retired Summerfeld teacher
oI 33 years, directs the class and supervises the six
snowboarders and two skiers.
Dushane has been with MCCC since the fall of
2010 as a replacement for Al Thom, a once full-time
physical education teacher.
'Mount Brighton is really good with providing in-
structors, Dushane said. They stay with the same
student each lesson, which is really nice. That way
time isn`t wasted trying to see what level the students
are at.
Michigan weather this year hasn`t been very con-
ducive to optimum ski and snowboarding conditions.
The frst class oI the semester was rescheduled be-
cause oI heavy rain and more oIten than not, students
were riding on man-made snow, which some con-
sider different than fresh pow aka (powder snow).
Beginners like Jennifer Mushung and Katie Jacobs
are quickly learning what the best conditions are to
snowboard.
'I think real snow is defnitely better, Mushung
said. The fake snow makes more ice-chips, and you
Iall more oIten, so it defnitely makes a diIIerence.
Advanced skiers like Dushane do not seem to no-
tice a difference.
The majority of Dushanes students were new to
the sport when they joined the class. Other students,
including Chris VanWinkle and Audra Vanbrant, can
perIorm at the intermediate level.
Im good, but Im ages away from Shawn White,
snowboarder VanWinkle said. I know how to hit the
jumps and rails. The best I can do is probably a 540
rotation, which is rotation and a half. I can do a Ro-
deo too (turning front-side 180 degrees while com-
pleting an inverted 360 degree rotation).
Vanbrant, a math teacher at Bedford schools,
brings her kids, 6 and 8, along to ski with her. This
class allows her to keep up a certifcation in physical
education.
The physical aspect of skiing and snowboarding is
an eIIective way to keep moving during the winter
season. Strength training and balance is promoted,
and upper body, quads, and hamstrings are also be-
ing worked. The class has physical exertion written
all over it.
'Sometimes, when you`ve skied all day, you`re
just worn out, Dushane said. We make sure stu-
dents are careful and know when to stop.
Dushane encourages everyone to join his classes
and take advantage oI the many benefts.
'You`re getting about $250 worth oI private les-
sons for $150, which is the lab fee. If you dont
have equipment and need to rent, it`s about $195 Ior
snowboarders and $185 Ior skiers (total Ior the fve
weeks). Its a really good deal.
Renting at Mt. Brighton costs $28 a day for skis,
and the same amount for snowboard and boots. Hel-
met rental is only $6 dollars, which all students are
required to wear.
The Shell gas station in Dundee also has a deal go-
ing on Ior skiers and snowboarders through April 6.
All you have to do is buy 10 gallons oI gas and you`ll
receive a voucher Ior one Iree liIt ticket to Mount
Brighton and other ski resorts in Michigan.
The vouchers are valid at Mount Brighton on
Monday-Tuesday, all day; Wednesday-Friday, day
only; Saturday aIter 6 p.m. and Sunday aIter 5 p.m.
Besides the winter classes, Dushane is also hoping
to add on another health and physical education class
not currently offered at MCCC, Adrian College,
or Siena Heights University a class that would
qualify students for a Michigan High School sports-
oIfcial certifcation.
I think its a good way for students to make some
extra money, Dushane said.
'I`m actually an oIfcial Ior high school baseball
and football. Were hoping to get the word by next
semester and see how many people are interested.
The Mount Brighton Ski Resort is located in
Brighton, just a Iew minutes Irom I-96, Exit 145.
From the MCCC campus, the trip takes about an
hour and fve minutes.
If youd like more information pertaining to the
classes or Mount Brighton, you can contact Mark
Dushane at mdushane@monroeccc.edu.
The 2011 football season is be-
ginning to be a distant memory,
but that hasnt cooled interest in
the NFL.
Across America, experts and
expert wannabes are building
their mock drafts. Here are two
from Agora staff members:
Tyler Rogoff
Agora Staff
Indianapolis: Andrew Luck,
QB, Stanford. Luck has the look
of a future annual All-Pro quarter-
back. Has Hall-of-Fame potential.
St. Louis: Justin Blackmon,
WR, Oklahoma State. Blackmon
can start as a top receiver Ior a
team like St. Louis, and St. Louis
needs a major threat at WR for
former top pick Sam Bradford.
Minnesota: Matt Kalil, OT,
USC. Kalil can defend the blind
side oI last year`s frst round pick,
Christian Ponder, right away.
Cleveland: Robert GriIfn III,
QB, Baylor. GriIfn has loads oI
potential and athleticism, but is
coming out of a spread offense
and should spend a year sitting
behind current QB Colt McCoy.
Tampa Bay: Trent Richardson,
RB, Alabama. Running backs
arent usually drafted this early
any more, but Richardson has the
potential and lack of mileage to be
a impact player for years.
Washington: Morris Claiborne,
CB, LSU. Claiborne is the best
man-to-man coverage corner in
the draft. Washington needs talent
all over the feld, and Claiborne is
the most talented player available.
Jacksonville: Quinton Coples,
DE, North Carolina. Jacksonville
had the lowest sack total in the
NFL last season. Coples is the
best deIensive line prospect in the
draft and can boost the pass rush.
Miami: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa.
Right tackles arent normally high
picks, but Reiff is a mauler who
can open up the run game for Mi-
ami instantly, and provide decent
enough pass protection.
Carolina: Michael Brockers,
DT, LSU. Carolina`s deIensive
line hasnt been a strong point
since Julius Peppers left, and
Brockers is a start to rebuilding.
Buffalo: Courtney Upshaw,
LB, Alabama. Buffalo is transi-
tioning to a 4-3 defense this sea-
son, and Upshaw fts the mold as a
prototypical outside LB in the 4-3.
Kansas City: Jonathan Martin,
OT, Stanford. After blocking for
Andrew Luck in college, Martin
has developed into a solid leIt
tackle with room to grow.
Seattle: Devon Still, DT, Penn
State. Still can step in and help re-
tool the deIensive line iI Red Bry-
ant does not resign.
Arizona: Cordy Glenn, G,
Georgia. Arizona has not spent an
early pick in recent history on an
oIIensive lineman, and the weak-
ness has become glaring. QB John
Skelton has talent, but needs pro-
tection to make reads and use his
accuracy and arm strength.
Dallas: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB,
Alabama. Dallas has one of the
worst secondaries in the NFL, and
Kirkpatrick can help instantly.
Although not very strong in man
coverage, Kirkpatrick is the best
zone coverage corner in the draIt.
Philadelphia: Luke Kuechly,
LB, Boston College. Kuechly
may not have the athletic tools,
but he has the best instincts of any
linebacker prospect in years.
New York Jets: Melvin Ingram,
OLB/DE, South Carolina. The
Jets biggest weakness last season
was their pass rush. Ingram can
step in and help improve on that
instantly.
Cincinnati: Janoris Jenkins,
CB, North Alabama. Jenkins has
had a troubled past, being kicked
out oI the University oI Florida,
but he is still a top ten talent. Cin-
cinnati has a history of ignoring
intangibles and going for talented
players, and Jenkins is no exception.
San Diego: Michael Floyd,
WR, Notre Dame. If current WR
Vincent Jackson is not resigned, a
big play WR will be their biggest
need. Floyd has the talent to con-
tribute right away, although ques-
tions remain about his maturity.
Chicago: Mike Adams, OT,
Ohio State. Jay Cutler, the cur-
rent quarterback, ended up on the
ground far too often last season.
Adams can step in and help pro-
tect Cutlers blind side.
Tennessee: Whitney Mercilus,
DE, Illinois. Tennessee had the
second worst pass rush, and draft-
ing the NCAA leading sack man
can only help the team out.
Cincinnati: David DeCastro, G,
StanIord. Having already worked
on the biggest weakness in their
secondary, the Bengals can look
to help out the oIIensive line. A
mauling guard like DeCastro will
help out in the running game.
Cleveland: Kendall Wright,
WR, Baylor. II Cleveland draIts
Robert GriIfn III with the Iourth
pick, this pick makes even more
sense. Wright was his top target and
the chemistry will already be there.
Detroit: Vontaze Burfct, ILB,
Arizona State. Although second-
ary is the teams biggest need, the
linebacker corps is awful against
the run. Burfct is a run stopping
beast.
Pittsburgh: Dontari Poe,
DT, Memphis. Pittsburghs lack
oI depth on the deIensive line
showed in their playoff game
against Denver. Poe can learn the
NFL game for a year or two be-
fore being inserted into the start-
ing lineup, and will contribute
well early in a rotation.
Denver: Jerel Worthy, DT,
Michigan State. Denver is also
weak on the deIensive line, and
Worthy can help fll a hole as a
rotation player.
Houston: Reuben Randle, WR,
LSU. Losing Andre Johnson to
injury for half of the season ex-
posed how weak the entire receiv-
ing corps is. Randle can instantly
become a stretch No. 2 and be a
threat in one-on-one coverage.
New England: Nick Perry, DE/
OLB, USC. New England has not
had much talent on the deIensive
line, and Perry will help contrib-
ute early in a Iront-seven rotation.
Green Bay: Mark Barron, S,
Alabama. Green Bay could use
depth in the secondary and Barron
is talented enough to start.
Baltimore: Peter Konz, C,
Wisconsin. Centers are not often
taken in the frst round, but Konz
looks to be a career starter in the
middle oI the oIIensive line.
San Francisco: Alshon Jeffery,
WR, South Carolina Jeffery has
been a top wide receiver in the
NCAA since stepping on campus
as a freshman, and will help shore
up the 49ers` biggest weakness.
New England: Alfonzo Den-
nard, CB, Nebraska New Eng-
land has drafted corners early in
the draft the past few seasons, but
none have turned out. Dennard
can help out and maybe be a day
one starter.
New York: Dwayne Allen, TE,
Clemson. The Giants lack of
depth at tight end showed in the
Super Bowl when injuries struck.
Allen is the best tight end in the
draft and can contribute instantly
in a two TE set like the Patriots.
Ted Boss
Agora Staff
Indianapolis: Andrew Luck, QB,
StanIord. Luck has stated in interviews
that he would be fne sitting and learn-
ing behind Peyton Manning in Indy if
the Colts draft him.
St. Lewis: Matt Kalil, OT, USC.
This big left tackle is the best tackle
in the draft and the biggest position of
need for the Rams. Kalil would be able
to assume the leIt tackle position, mov-
ing Rodger Saffold to right tackle, add-
ing protection to Sam Bradfords blind
side.
Minnesota: Morris Claiborne, CB,
LSU. Claiborne will fll a gaping hole at
corner. Claiborne would be a perfect re-
placement Ior #26 Antoine Winfeld as
he brings a similar physical style in the
running game. Claiborne has excellent
quickness, speed and coverage abilities
and is much larger than Winfeld.
Cleveland: Robert GriIfn III, QB,
Baylor. This is the most interesting pros-
pect in the 2012 draft. It is highly un-
likely that the Browns will trade up for
GriIfn. The Browns could trade out oI
this pick iI Robert GriIfn III is snapped
up with the second, or third pick.
Tampa Bay: Trent Richardson, RB,
Alabama. Richardson is an amazing
player and will be a radical upgrade
over current starter LaGarrette Blount.
He is in his comfort zone whether he is
powering through defenses or by using
his speed and elusiveness.
Washington: Justin Blackmon: WR,
OK St. Blackmon is one of the most
consistent receivers coming out oI col-
lege football. He runs his routes well,
and his reach makes him an extraordi-
nary target.
Jacksonville: Jeremy Mincey, DE,
UNC. Mincey has developed into a
good pass rusher, leading his team with
8 sacks, four Forced Fumbles and an in-
terception. He will be a good addition to
a struggling Jaguars defense.
Miami: Riley Reiff, LT, Iowa. The
Dolphins selected LT Jake Long in the
frst round in 2008. Four years later,
they`re looking to fnd help on the right
side. Reiff is a balanced athlete, being
as strong in pass protection as he is in
the run game.
Carolina: Devon Still, DT, Penn St.
Still is a very competent pass rusher.
Next to Johnson he could revitalize the
Panthers defense that looked lack-luster
at best for much of the 2011 season.
Buffalo: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre
Dame. Michael Floyd isnt Megatron,
but he is big at 6`3, and is athletic
enough to out-jump and out-muscle
defenders in the red zone. Floyd was
a consistent receiver in receptions per
game with 7.7.
Seattle: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Il-
linois. The Seahawks need to beef up
their pass rush. Clemons, it seems, is the
only one that can get to the quarterback.
Mercilus will have no problem in the
pro`s as he posted 16 sacks and attained
nine forced fumbles, second highest
numbers for a season in NCAA history.
Kansas City: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio
State. Adams can play either tackle po-
sition in the NFL. He has very good
footwork, but can lose battles when in
a zone blocking scheme. He will likely
be the starting right tackle for the 2012
season. II he is developed well he could
challenge Branden Albert for the left
tackle Position.
Arizona: Jonathan Martin, LT, Stan-
ford.
Dallas: Dre Kilpatrick, CB, Alabama.
Philadelphia: Luke Kuechly, LB,
Boston College.
New York: Courtney Upshaw, LB,
Alabama.
Cincinnati: David DeCastro, OG,
Stanford.
San Diego: Donta Hightower, LB,
Chicago: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rut-
gers.
Tennessee: Peter Konz, C, Wiscon-
sin.
Cincinnati: Janoris Jenkins, CB, N.
Alabama.
Cleveland: Zach Brown, LB, North
Carolina.
Detroit: Kelechi Osemele, OT, Iowa
St.
Pittsburg: Dontari Poe, DT, Mem-
phis.
Denver: Fletcher Cox, DT, Missis-
sippi St.
Houston: Kendall Wright,WR, Bay-
lor.
New England: Alfonzo Dennard,
CB, Nebraska.
Green Bay: Nick Perry, DE/LB,
USC.
Baltimore: Vontazo Burfct, LB, Ari-
zona St.
San Francisco: Stephen Hill, WR,
Georgia Tech.
New England: Chandler Jones, LB,
Syracuse.
New York: Mark Barron, SS, Ala-
bama.
MCCC students take to the slopes
Six students joined instructor Mark Dushane at Mount Brighton Ski Resort for beginning and intermedi-
ate ski and snowboard courses this semester.
You heard it here rst: NFL draft report
Photo by James Santelli
vontaze urct, Arzona 5tate nsde |nebacker, s one p|ayer pro[ect-
ed as a possb|e rst round pck of the 0etrot Lons.
Lions will pick ILB
vontaze Burtot
Lions go for tackle
Kelechi Osemele