OCT. 24, 2013 VOL. 36
ISS. 5
CAMPUSLEDGER ARCHERY AIM
the
OFFICIAL STUDENT-RUN PUBLICATION OF JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, OVERLAND PARK, KS
STUDENTS FOR ACHIEVEMENT STUDENT INTEREST IN ARCHERY GROWS
P. 8
READING INITIATIVE SPARKS CAMPUS-WIDE RESPONSE
STUDENT SHARES HIS LOVE FOR THE GAME OF CHESS
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT
P. 4
P. 9
P. 10-11
2
NEWS
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ISSUE: NEWS Saving money through energy efficiency on campus (pg. 3) “Lace up for Learning” raises money for scholarships on Oct. 13 (pg. 3)
OCT. 24 2013 VOL 36
NEWS BRIEFS Academic Excellence Challenge team wins first tournament of the season
overall leader in points with 400 total points, about 80 points per round. Student Senate presents Trick-orTreat for Kids Oct. 25
ISSUE 5
Wildlife expert shares experiences Nov. 10 Wild Kingdom ambassador from Mutual of Omaha, Peter Gros will share his love for wildlife and wilderness in Yardley Hall at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10. As a wildlife expert, Gros will share his experiences and allow the audience to come with him to a few of his wild travel experiences with video clips and bloopers. Tickets are $30 or $20 for adults and $15 or $10 for youth. They can be purchased through the college box office at 913-469-4445 or online at jccc.edu/ TheSeries.
Unpaid internships, unfair to students or beneficial work experience? (pg. 7)
The college’s undefeated Academic Excellence Challenge team added another win to its record at the fall preliminary tournament. Participating members include Kurt Partridge, Trevor Crookston, Jared Mullis, Rhiannon Pearson and Elliot Rodgers. At the end of the day, the team finished with a 5-0 record, tying for first place with Cowley Community College, scoring approximately 428 points per round. Partridge, team captain, was the
Archery class makes ancient sport relevant (pg. 8)
Supporting students in the spectrum
“Reading Readiness” initiative sparks campus wide response (pg. 4) Autism awareness on campus (pg. 19) FEATURE
‘Gravity’ movie review (pg. 8) Chess player shares his love for the game (pg. 9) A story in snapshots: life behind the lens (pg. 9) Halloween fun facts (pg. 13) IN FOCUS The life of a college president (pg. 10-11) OPINION Reflection on a day with the college president (pg. 14) Halloween brings out holiday spirit (pg. 14) Logical look at the government (pg. 15) Staff Ed: The Ledger’s reaction to “Reading Readiness” (pg. 15) SPORTS Lady Cavs continue tradition of success (pg. 17) Renaming Redskins is ridiculous (pg. 18) Cavalier star watch: Courtney Hughes (pg. 18)
Student Senate presents the fourth annual Trick-or-Treat for Kids. The event will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 in COM 319 and 322. This year’s event will feature food and plenty of activities, including a costume contest, mask making and storytelling. For more information, contact Mindy Kinnaman at mkinnam1@jccc. edu, ext. 3534 or visit COM 309.
Compiled by Farhin Lilywala, news editor, flilywal@jccc.edu Illustration by Alyssa Jolitz.
College continues to support students with autism, Asperger’s By Katelyn Larson In the fall of 2004, less than 10 students on the spectrum attended the college. Now, nine years later, over 60 students on the spectrum do; and those are just the ones who have requested accommodations. This year, the college hosted a conference about autism, titled “Beyond the Diagnosis: Autism Across the Lifespan,” on Oct. 18 and 19. The sixth annual conference aimed to help answer questions that parents, teachers and health professionals might have about working with students and children with autism. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is any of various disorders, such as autism and Asperger’s syndrome, commonly manifested in early childhood and characterized by impaired social or communication skills, repetitive behaviors or a restricted range of interests. With the extensive services for spectrum students the college has, it is no wonder the population of spectrum students requesting accommodations has increased. Some of the strategies for success the college implements are educational information for staff and faculty, in-service training, new faculty orientations and department specific information sessions.
The college also has what is known as the TIPS program. TIPS is a transition program, currently in its ninth year, for learning disabled high school seniors during their spring semesters. “It was the easiest transition I’ve ever experienced,” said Josh Edwards, a student with Asperger’s. According to Holly Dressler, chair/ Access advisor, it’s a wonderful opportunity to reach out to students with the support of high schools. It prepares the students for change and teaches them to focus on their strengths and how to battle problems using them. “So many of the time these students are told what their weaknesses are, since day one,” Dressler said. A few of the many accommodations and services the college provides for the students include note takers, tutoring, preferential seating, mid-semester progress reports and weekly meetings with an advisor. In addition to the support they receive at school, according to Dressler, it’s important to not stop that support from home. Some of the benefits of community college for students on the spectrum are its proximity to home, small class sizes and usually less busy work load. “With JCCC I get to experience col-
lege the same as everyone else,” said Edwards. “In high school, you know what’s expected of you. In college, no matter who you are, your success is completely up to you.” The college also has an Autism Spectrum Support Club, a cooperative program with the Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training. The club welcomes students and mentors from both the college and KU. “I feel more accepted than I did in high school,” said Edwards of the club. “I’ve finally found more than one or two people who understand me.” In addition to the TIPS program and the Autism Spectrum Support Club, the college shows its support for students on the spectrum by hosting the annual Kansas Autism Conference, which this year, according to Mary Jean Billingsley, program director, had a turnout of more than 200 people with some coming all the way from places such as Canada and Florida. For more information on Access Services or the Autism Spectrum Support Club contact Holly Dressler at dressler@jccc.edu or Karen Miller at kjmiller@jccc.edu. Contact Katelyn Larson, reporting correspondent at klarso27@jccc.edu.
the CAMPUSLEDGER
WWW.CAMPUSLEDGER.COM
Runners raise money for scholarships
NEWS 3
By Stephen Cook
President Sopcich, along with 143 other participants, ran in the Lace Up for Learning 5K on Oct. 13. Photo by Stephen Cook
Raising nearly $6,000 for student scholarships, 143 people participated in the Lace Up For Learning 5k on Oct 13. President Joe Sopcich was amongst the participants. “[The course] was manageable but challenging,” Sopcich said. “Personally, I did fine so it was a good race and you push yourself and you set the benchmark for next year.”
Although he would have finished toward the top, Sopcich stopped and waited to “officially” finish, waving others by. His final place was 55th. Sopcich had pledged to donate $1 for each person who finished ahead of him. The inaugural event featured a 3.1 mile route looping around the campus drive.
For more photos of the event, visit: http://blogs.jccc.edu/campusledger/2013/10/13/photos-laceup-for-learning-5k/ or can the QR code. Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.
College seeks to save money through energy efficiency By Farhin Lilywala
Each month, every establishment, without fail, receives one bill above all others: the electricity bill. The college is no exception. It is expected the college spends a good chunk of money on energy, as when you walk into any room on campus, the lights are bright and shining. In 2008, Michael Rae, project manager for sustainability, says the college had a study done to make sure that everything energy related was up to standard, and it highlighted many areas of improvement for the college. “The college asked the board for a certain amount of money and they allotted us $700,000 to go towards energy efficiency measures,” Rae said. It took the college and the energy efficiency team about two years to implement most of the changes suggested by the study, such as new and better motors for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
(HVAC), which is the biggest energy user on campus. The second major change implemented was with lighting upgrades, the second biggest energy user on campus, switching from a bigger V12 to a smaller V8 light bulb. The other major change was reducing plug load, which is anything plugged into an outlet. Due to the changes made, the college is now saving several thousands of dollars, according to Ryan Wing, senior sustainability analyst. “Out of the $700,000 the board appropriated for energy efficiency, $565,000 went to energy measures,” Wing said. “These measures now save the college over $100,000 per year. In about five years, with rising energy rates, the college will be paid back. The other $135,000 went to water efficiency, which has a 12year payback, just because water is so cheap around here.” The energy efficiency team is cur-
rently working on an energy dashboard, whose infrastructure and user interface, according to Wing, was built by a team of three students from the capstone course, that requires them to learn independently about a technology they know nothing about. In order for this dashboard to have a full effect, a meter will be placed on each building on campus which will then monitor how much energy is being used. “That still needs some tweaking,” Wing said. “So we are working with campus information services to get the data points all properly connected so the data can be viewed live. Energy will then be viewed in real time.” Questions remain: did these measures work? And will they be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars? “Last fiscal year,so that is last July to this past June, the college spent more than $2.5 million on electricity,”
Wing said. “The college has actually done a pretty good job of increasing energy efficiency, but because of the rising rates, the bill continues to increase. In 2008, we paid $2 million, so it has gone up about $550,000, and in 2005, the bill was $1.4 million.” The amount that the college pays for each kilowatt has increased as well, according to Rae. SEE “ENERGY” ON PAGE 12
4
NEWS
OCT. 24, 2013 VOL 36
ISSUE 5
Reading initiative sparks campus-wide response By Jessica Skaggs A presidential initiative under former President Dr. Terry Calaway, became policy for the 2014 spring semester. However normal procedure was not followed, sparking campuswide response. All students are expected to demonstrate their ability to read with either the achievement of a reading corequisite or the completion of other options that satisfy the requirement, as listed on the college website.
NEED TO KNOW In an effort to help students be adequately prepared for college level work, JCCC requires students to demonstrate “college reading readiness.” Starting in the spring of 2014, students will begin to see “college reading readiness” listed as a pre- or co-requisite for many courses. Students may satisfy this requirement with one or more of the following: •
Successful completion of Reading Skills Improvement (RDG 126). Current enrollment in RDG 126 will also meet the requirement.
•
Successful completion of Composition I (ENGL 121)
•
COMPASS test score of 80 or higher in reading
•
ACT sub score of 19 or higher in reading
•
COMPASS-ESL (English as a Second Language) test score of 95 or higher
For more information about enrollment, scan the QR code, or call Enrollment Assistance at 913-469-3803. Information courtesy of the college website.
Contact Jessica Skaggs, Managing editor, at jskaggs4@jccc.edu
Dave Davis-Faculty Senator As of Oct. 16, “It’s not about debating the merits of whether or not it’s a good idea that students can read, that’s ridiculous. We all think it’s a good idea students should read. The question is, was this done in a way that people directly involved can contribute? Did it follow the processes established for the entire existence of this college? And the answer to both of those questions is no. In all fairness there were a few faculty [members] that were a part of this process, mostly reading teachers, understandably, but […] when you’re affecting every single class on campus, it’s not enough just to have one or two faculty members. Next semester Ed Affairs, Faculty Senate, other faculty driven organizations will get their hands on this, and I imagine at the very least, individual departments will be given the option to opt out, that this will be like a default. If you don’t say anything, it’s a prerequisite, but if you don’t want it to be you can opt out. Anything less than that would be simply insulting.”
Faculty Senate As of Oct. 15, “The Faculty Senate supports the Educational Affairs Committee in its statement that any course prerequisites added without the procedural practices in place, including the formal review and approval by division curriculum committees and the Educational Affairs Committee, be immediately removed from the course catalogue and the spring 2014 course schedule.”
Reading Department As of Oct. 22, “The real question here is ‘what is best for helping students achieve success?’ We wholeheartedly agree that the reading pre-req initiative was not properly rolled out. We do have issues with policy making within the college. However, we would ask everyone to take a step back, take a deep breath, and consider the ramifications of rescinding the policy. It is true that it did not go through Ed Affairs, but that does not invalidate the professionalism and research of the many faculty across campus who worked diligently on this initiative from the beginning discussions in the Underprepared Student Committee to the work on the AQIP action plans to Achieving the Dream to the Dev Ed Symposium to the Dev Ed General Committee.”
Steve Hansen- Chair, Educational Affairs As of Oct. 21, “My personal opinion is that, [if] you’re going to be admitted to college, you need to bring some documentation to show that you’re ready to take the courses and to be involved in assessment. [Reading Readiness] is not like a regular pre-requisite. Andy [Anderson] has charged Ed Affairs to come up with a plan regarding reading readiness [...] to be ready by Feb. 14th. It would have been nice if the whole thing could have been redone, but I don’t think that there was any intent, I think everybody all the faculty and administration have done a very professional job of evaluating it, and if they could’ve rescinded it for the spring, I think they would’ve done it.”
Computer Services As of Oct. 22 “This has been a major undertaking from both a policy perspective and systems perspective. We appreciate all the efforts from each of the areas to prepare for start of spring enrollment.” Judy Korb-EVP, Instruction & Operations As of Oct. 18, “I think it [productive communication among faculty] has been very good, there has been a lot of discussion. I think there’s been other communication that is really good, which it gets to the issue of process, whether or not process was followed, and it wasn’t, we should have taken it through Ed Affairs, but I think the discussion [...] will lead us to a more productive place. To me, the productive place is collaborative decision making. Obviously, I think Ed Affairs needs to play a big part in how the communication moves forward. We’re at a place now where we had to make a decision, and so the decision was to make this a co-requisite instead of a pre-requisite, but we need to finalize the decision now. I think Ed Affairs needs to help us define where we go now with the discussion to make sure that we take this back through what would be an appropriate channel.” Educational Affairs Committee As of Oct. 9, Educational Affairs moved, “that any course prerequisites added without the procedural practices in place, including the formal review and approval by Division Curriculum Committees and the Educational Affairs Committee, be immediately removed from the course catalogue and the spring 2014 course schedule.”
Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art Johnson County Community College
Current Exhibitions Kukuli Velarde • Plunder Me, Baby September 27 – December 22, 2013 Lecture: November 7 at 2 p.m. in the Hudson Auditorium with artist Kukuli Velarde Image: Kukuli Velarde • Plunder Me, Baby, installation view, September 27 – December 22, 2013, Photo credit: E.G. Schempf
KAWS • UPS AND DOWNS October 25, 2013 – February 9, 2014 Lecture: October 25 at 7 p.m. in the Hudson Auditorium with artist KAWS
Image: KAWS, COMPANION (PASSING THROUGH), 2010, Fiberglass, metal structure and paint, 208.5 x 169.25 x 185", Courtesy the Artist and Honor Fraser, Los Angeles, CA, Photo credit: E.G. Schempf
Dylan Mortimer • Illuminate October 25, 2013 – February 9, 2014 Lecture: October 25 at 7 p.m. in the Hudson Auditorium with artist Dylan Mortimer
Images (left to right): Dylan Mortimer, Poor in Spirit (rendering), 2013, Painted PVC, lights and motion sensor, 120 x 120", Courtesy the Artist, Kansas City, MO Dylan Mortimer, The Meek (rendering), 2013, Painted PVC, lights and motion sensor, 144 x 180", Courtesy the Artist, Kansas City, MO
6 FEATURES
OCT. 24, 2013 VOL 36 ISSUE 5
FEATURES CALENDAR AD PROOF:
(BP)
Proof Due Back By: 8/23 5pm Ad #: P29575-f-14088-5x12 Deadline To Pub: 8/26 5pm First Run: 8/29/13 Publication: Johnson County Section: Campus Paper Specs: 5 x 11.5
HALLOWEEN DANCE PARTY
8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 in COM 155 and 156
Approved as is. Approved with revisions.
Hit the dance floor with your sweetheart and rock the autumn night away. For all you singles out there, you might just meet that special someone.
Revise and resend.
Initial _________ Date __________
Cost: $3, $6.
where
rich tradition
Photo courtesy of the College
TAJ MAHAL TRIO 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 in Yardley Hall
meets
Iconic folk-blues legend Taj Mahal, Vusi Mahasela and Fredericks Brown will be performing “World Blues”, a show celebrating the influence of American blues.
affordable tuition
Cost: $40, $50, $80. Photo courtesy of the college
Discover the Ottawa University Transfer Advantage
EPICENTER 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 in the Regnier Center
We offer life-friendly degree programs and the support of an inclusive learning community grounded in faith. • Apply up to 80 credits • $275 a credit hour • Your fastest most affordable way to your degree Call now to learn how you can save time and cost when you apply your Johnson County Community College credits toward a bachelor’s degree at Ottawa University.
Epicenter is an annual conference that highlights the different sustainable projects students in higher education have been involved in and gives students a chance to learn about sustainability. Image courtesy of the college
Cost: Free.
PAT HAZELL 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 in the Polsky Theatre
913.266.8661 or 913.469.3809 jccc.transferadvantage.com
Pat Hazell, a well-known comedian, will be performing his one-man theatrical show, “The Wonder Bread Years”, which focuses on the childhood days of baby boomers. Photo courtesy of the College
4370 West 109th Street, Suite 200 • Overland Park, KS 66211
Cost: $30.
Compiled by David Hurtado, dhurtado@jccc.edu.
the CAMPUSLEDGER
WWW.CAMPUSLEDGER.COM
FEATURES 7
Unpaid internships are hot topic at colleges By Lindsay Sax
College students are applying for internships to gain work experience, but deciding on the right internship can be a tough decision. More than half of all college student internships are unpaid. With the many unpaid internships available, students may need to weigh the benefits of working without being paid. “This is a hot topic in the legal realm,” said LeAnn Cunningham, employment relations/ internship coordinator, Career Development. “People are watching closely, at colleges, what has happened.” In June, a New York judge ruled against Fox Searchlight Pictures in a case brought by unpaid interns. The judge agreed that the interns on the film “Black Swan” were regular employees and the studio benefited from the free labor. “But those benefits were incidental to working in the office like any other employees and were not the result of internships intentionally structured to benefit them,” said
ruling Judge William H. Pauley III. “Searchlight received the benefits of their unpaid work, which otherwise would have required paid employees.” Cunningham said when students take an unpaid internship and then try and sue for wages that the company will say that the intern knew they were not going to be paid when they agreed to intern. “[The] Fair Labor Standards Act was changed in 2010. There are six criteria for unpaid internships, and most don’t meet that,” Cunningham said. “Students need to realize they pay for college credit and not being paid for the work they are performing.” Cunningham said prospective interns need to weigh the benefits of an unpaid internship and that some students cannot afford to work for free. “Unpaid internships aren’t fair to students who don’t have a choice,” said Cunningham, about some fields that almost require internships to get jobs.
Not all students are interested in internships. Kelsey Loftiss, student, put it simply. “No, I don’t plan on it. I have no interest,” Loftiss said. Ryan Palmer, student, agrees with Loftiss in that he does not plan on interning, unless someone found an internship for him. While he thinks they are helpful, there are other things students can be doing. “I think they’re good, but it’s kind of a tough decision because at the same time you could be doing a job that would pay,” Palmer said. “I don’t know if there are some internships that pay, but from what I’ve heard of there aren’t any.” If a student does decide to take an unpaid internship there are guidelines for the work performed. First an unpaid internship should be like the training they would acquire in an educational setting. Also interns should be working close with existing staff for the educational benefits. The employer should have the understanding that the duties of the intern should have no immediate
benefit to the employer. If an internship is in a student’s best interest, it is best to start the search early. According to the college’s career development department, students should start looking at least a semester in advance. Cunningham says that one thing she hears from employers is that applicants need to have a good resume and know about the company they are applying to. She says that the Career Center has the “Business Journal” that students can use to research companies throughout Kansas City. “You can’t beat a first impression,” Cunningham said. “Dressing appropriately is important in today’s business world.” Visit the college’s Career Development page for more information: http://www.jccc.edu/career-development/experience-internships. html Contact Lindsay Sax, copy editor, at lsax@jccc.edu.
Check out JobLinks on the Career Development web site. Here you can search for internships or jobs, build a resume and much more. Many programs offer internship courses at the college: Accounting Administration of Justice/Law Enforcement Automotive Technology Biotechnology Business Office Technology Computer Interactive Media Computer Information Systems Drafting Technology Electrical Technology Electronics Technology Emergency Medical Science Entrepreneurship Compiled by Lindsay Sax, at lsax@jccc.edu.
Fashion Merchandising Graphic Design History Horticulture Hotel Management HVAC Technology Information Technology Interior Design Journalism and Media Communications Marketing and Management Metal Fabrication Paralegal Political Science
Different internship types are available depending on the field: Cooperative education This when the student receives college credit for the internship
Field experience
Service learning
Lets students work in the community for community based projects.
Externship
This is for the sciences, when students are able to put what they learned in the classroom to work in the field.
Short in duration, one to three weeks, but allows the student to see what a day in the life of a professional is. This is common for medical and law students.
Practicum
Apprenticeship
This allows students to be put into real-world situations under the supervision of an advisor.
This is highly skilled trades, culinary arts, graphic design and clothing design. Students get educational knowledge and a hand on practical experience.
8 FEATURES
OCT. 24, 2013 VOL 36
ISSUE 5
Archery class bridges past and present By Jessica Skaggs
Members of the archery class, including Alex Diekemper, take aim at targets. The archery class has been active at the college for 26 years. Photo and cover photo by Gabe Alejos While music serenades from a student’s phone and the wind howls, students take aim each Tuesday and Thursday morning on the soccer field near the baseball fields. The college has offered its students a one hour physical education credit that meets the general education requirement, through archery for the last 26 years. This is the first year the college has offered two sessions, as interest has grown in the last few years and students were struggling to get in. Student Nicki Joy Karstens is just one
of the 49 students who has taken archery this semester alone. “Archery was really fun when I was a kid and I wanted to get better at it,” Karstens said. “I used to do it with my dad, and then I did it in Girls Scouts too.” Adjunct professor Charles Carter has been teaching students the fundamentals of archery at the college since the course was first introduced. “It’s geared to instruct the basics of archery, and attempt to develop a possible lifetime leisure interest,”
Carter said. “It’s my hope that a number of students will continue in archery. Archery is a sport that you can do for your whole life, the main thing is to keep learning and have fun.” Carter not only teaches students how to hit their targets, he also demonstrates the applicability of archery to everyday life, as well as incorporating an understanding of its history and influence on the world. “I think there’s many lessons in archery that apply to other areas of life,” he said. “One of the things I do
that I think is very enjoyable and is pretty cool is to try to look back at history and bring items in archery forward that affect our culture today.” For example, Carter said archery has influenced certain terms that people still use today. “The term to play ‘fast and loose’ is from the middle ages and it refers to an unreliable or deceptive person in archery. Our word for ‘sin’ comes from the Greeks originally in archery in terms of them and it refers to failure to hit your mark, missing your mark. So we talk about those kind of things.” Students in the class appear to enjoy themselves while they gather their equipment and line up to take aim. “It’s pretty self-explanatory and pretty fun,” said Karstens. Zach Luchies, student, agrees with Karstens and finds the class not only enjoyable, but also a way to relax while being outside. “A big part of the class is learning how to focus and block out all the distractions so that you can hit your target,” he said. Contact Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, at jskaggs4@jccc.edu. FOR A JCAV VIDEO OF THE ARCHERY CLASS, SCAN THE QR CODE:
Science fiction film, “Gravity”, skyrockets to success By Josh Bull
Alfonso Cuaron’s new science fiction film “Gravity” is a suspenseful and unique survival story that, outside of a few liberties taken for narrative convenience, sticks very strongly to realistic science. During a routine service mission for the Hubble Space Telescope, a Russian missile destroys a defunct satellite, unintentionally causing a chain reaction and sending debris destroying several other satellites and the space shuttle Explorer, leaving only two of the Explorer’s crew
members, mission specialist Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and veteran astronaut on his final mission Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), alive, but stranded in space. Cut off from mission control with the shuttle all but destroyed, the two astronauts must work together to find a way to survive. Although the film’s trailers suggest a grim atmosphere with a focus on the terror of being hopelessly isolated in space, the film itself only touches on that aspect lightly, in-
stead being more akin to a shipwreck survival story. It is, however, still a very suspenseful film that makes you question if the characters will be able to make it back to Earth. There are very few characters in the film. Beyond Stone and Kowalski, the only notable character is an unnamed mission control operator played by Ed Harris, which may be an allusion to his role as Gene Kranz in “Apollo 13.” SEE “GRAVITY” ON PAGE 19
Photo courtesy of ifc.com
the CAMPUS LEDGER
WWW.CAMPUSLEDGER.COM
Knights of the chess table
FEATURES
9
Student Frank Williams details his passion for chess; plays 24 to 60 games a day By Mike Abell
While most students are slouched over texting in the Student Center, there is one student who is slouched over plotting his next move. From the time Frank Williams started attending the college he has the turned the chess club upside down. Williams originally enrolled in a statistics class in order to assist his daughter with the course and befriended his mathematics professor, Ron Palcic. Palcic not only encouraged Williams to start a chess club but he also sponsored it. After taking time off from running the chess club, Williams has returned. Williams said when they originally got Student Senate’s approval they were assigned a room and only had about an average of four people showing up, so he quickly made the decision to start hosting games in the Student Center in order to gain participation amongst students. Williams can be seen playing with the rest of the club Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Student Center
Frank Williams has played chess for over six decades, and has been very active with the chess club on campus. Photo by Mike Abell from noon to 5 p.m. Williams said he can play anywhere from 24 to 60 games of chess a day, depending on the skill level of his opponents. Anyone can sit down and play Williams or join the chess club. He said anyone who follows the rules of chess makes a worthy opponent.
“All sports have rules,” Williams said. “Now, we have moves that are allowed, some moves are not allowed but that is simply the chess rules.” Williams has played chess for over 60 years and has been in multiple clubs throughout that time frame. He first started playing the game in first
grade. Growing up, he had a brother who was more of an outdoors type of kid while Williams preferred to sit inside and play a game of chess. He considers himself to be most like the knight because the knight can do stuff other pieces can’t do, like jump over any of the other pieces. “I like the knights, I like to play them because they’re tricky and I like to collect them if it’s the other guys’ knights,” Williams said. Out of all the games that he plays, he enjoys chess the most due to the fact that it is based on skill and the only luck involved is who makes the first move. Players who often play white often play offensively while black will play defensively. Williams typically enjoys playing white more often than not. “White has the advantage and I think I play white better than black,” Williams said. Contact Mike Abell, photo editor, at mabell@jccc.edu.
Behind the lens with Philip Heying By David Hurtado
Heying has taught at the college since the fall of 2010. Photo by Julia Larberg
Photography professor shares his lifetime of experience The office is small by most standards, but by no means lacks the personal touches of an occupant. A curious glance around ATB 143 reveals bits-and-bobs of photography equipment and other personal effects, each tucked into its own spot. This is the office of Philip Heying, one of the adjunct professors in the photography department at the college. Heying, a well known figure in the art community, has taught at the college since the fall 2010 semester. His interest in photography first sparked at an early age, when he would sneak off with the family camera to take pictures, using up all of the Polaroid. “There was something really magical that a machine could reproduce what looked like reality,” Heying said. “The machine itself was beautiful and the little pieces of reality that
came out of it were fascinating. That happened when I was 5-years-old.” Prior to coming to the college, Heying worked as a freelance photographer after graduating from the University of Kansas in 1985 with a BFA in Painting. While studying art at KU, Heying received the Sterling Scholarship, an undergraduate research award. Not long after graduation, he moved to Paris and worked there for 12 years. In 1997, Heying packed his bags and returned to the states, taking up residence in Brooklyn until 2008. “Moving to Paris was really something because I had to learn a whole new language and a whole new culture,” he said. “Not just the French language and the French culture, but I went from the suburban rural environment of Kansas City and Northeast Kansas to one of the cultural cap-
itals of the world in a densely urban environment. I had to get used to being really close to a lot of people and just a different kind of culture and cultural awareness of the arts. It was a little bit of a baptism by fire, if you will. I loved it.” Before Heying departed for the City of Light, he became close friends with acclaimed novelist and painter, William Burroughs. Heying met Burroughs during his time as a student at KU, and through Burroughs’s circle of friends, including Albert Hoffman and Allen Ginsburg, gained artistic guidance and insight. Gradually, Heying began to shift his focus from painting to photography exclusively. They remained friends until Burroughs’s death in 1997. SEE “HEYING” ON PAGE 19
10 IN FOCUS
OCT. 24, 2013 VOL 36 ISSUE 5
As a professor:
In addition to his role as college president, Sopcich also teaches a section of BUS 121, Introduction to Business, on Monday evenings. He currently has 14 students in the class. “It’s just a lot of fun and they’re great students,” Sopcich said. “For me it’s kind of a break because they’re not going to ask me questions like I [get asked by faculty and staff].” Although the students in his class now know he is the college president, not all knew when they first signed up for the course. “It’s a lot of fun to see former students in the hall, because they think it’s pretty funny,” Sopcich said. Getting to interact with students also allows Sopcich to see the college from another perspective. “I also ask them about their experience,” Sopcich said. “How was your experience with enrolling, how was your experience with counseling how was your experience paying your bill – because I want to hear what things do you like about campus, what’s your most favorite thing, what are some issues you have.”
THURSDAY
6:00 a.m.
Morning run, 3.2 miles
WWW.CAMPUSLEDGER.COM
Joe Sopcich
On and off campus events:
Sopcich spends time on campus working to lead the college, but also works off-campus in the community to promote and maintain the image of the college on a wider level. “A part of this job is representing the college,” Sopcich said. “You’re kind of an ambassador to the college.” For example, on Oct. 10, Sopcich had several functions, including an in-service, luncheon, a reception and a dinner that had him interacting with both individuals from the college and across the county and state. “You’re developing relationships,” Sopcich said. “Hopefully you can convert those relationships to things that will help benefit the students here at the college.” Sopcich said he is not alone in representing the college. Due to the widespread influence of the institution, he relies on the help of individuals such as Judy Korb, EVP, Instruction and Operations, and Dick Carter, the college’s government liaison to help with this. “That’s why you need this infrastructure of people to really focus on, to get this stuff done,” Sopcich said. “Not everybody understands that, but as far as what the job entails, they just think that’s all we do is deal with everything that’s here.”
9:30 a.m.
8
7 7:45 p.m.
9
college president
Text and photos by Stephen Cook Editor’s note: President Joe Sopcich let editor-in-chief, Stephen Cook, shadow him on Oct. 10. Beginning at 6 a.m. and finishing around 9 p.m., Cook learned what it is like to lead the college in the role of president for a day. For Cook’s personal insights, read his column on page 14.
11:30 a.m.
Meetings
Office time
10
11
8:30 a.m.
Office time Attend Student Success and Engagement Inservice
Managing stress and time:
Sopcich keeps various items pinned to his office wall, including Terry Calaway’s objectives and misspellings of his name.
IN FOCUS 11
a day in the life of
College president Joe Sopcich frequently works more than 12 hours a day, five to six days a week.
OCT. 10: 6 a.m.
the CAMPUSLEDGER
With the daily responsibility of being college president, Sopcich has several ways that he makes sure he gets everything done without going crazy. “The most important thing that you have to have are the people who work around you,” Sopcich said. “You really have to have a good team that’s basically carrying so much of the load which is very important.” With all that goes on at the college, Sopcich said he simply can’t personally take on every issue. The need to delegate tasks and responsibilities is crucial. Additionally, Sopcich believes it is important to take everything with a certain degree of moderation. “You have to be careful not to overreact or underreact,” Sopcich said. “But if you tended to overreact to everything you heard during the course of the day, it would be chaos.” Throughout each day, Sopcich faces many different is-
noon 12:00 p.m.
Johnson Countian of the Year Luncheon
1:20 p.m.
Office time
1
2 2:00 p.m. Meetings
sues and situations that he must consider and make a decision about. “You have to be real sensitive and try to be patient about dealing with things,” Sopcich said. “That’s why running in the morning is great because you kind of get it out of your system, you have time to think about it or you can talk about it, but it’s a cleansing deal.” In order to make sure he has enough time to do everything, Sopcich will come in on the mornings on weekends if he is in town. On average, he receives around 300 emails a day. Sopcich has also been coming to grips with the realization of the responsibility that the position brings. “I reported to this position for over 20 years and once you get behind that desk it’s totally different,” Sopcich said. “You’re often kind of struck by the responsibility that you have.”
3
4 4:30 p.m.
5
Chamber Reception for new Education Administrators in the area
6
7
8
9 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
“Friends with Taste” Dinner, benefiting the Hospitality and Culinary Academy
At the end of the day:
At the end of a day, Sopcich said he is often inspired by the previous events in the day. “You feel very, very fortunate and happy that you work at a great place where this type of stuff’s happening,” Sopcich said. “Clearly you can see the quality is remarkable.” Throughout the course of a day, Sopcich interacts with a variety of community leaders, many of whom are contributors or supporters of the college. Always being “on” and needing to be alert and ready to communicate can be “a little exhausting,” Sopcich said. However, it is fun because of the range of people he gets to meet and be around. After a long day, Sopcich said once he gets home there isn’t much time to do anything else. “You literally just get ready for bed and go to bed,” Sopcich said. “[Then you] get ready for the next day and you go at it again. That’s what it’s all about, that’s what you sign up for.”
12
ETC
OCT. 24 2013 VOL 36
ISSUE 5
CAMPUSLEDGER
the
STAFF
OFFICIAL STUDENT-RUN PUBLICATION OF JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, OVERLAND PARK, KS
EDITORIAL BOARD Stephen Cook Editor-in-chief scook35@jccc.edu 913-469-8500 ext. 4297
Farhin Lilywala News editor flilywal@jccc.edu
Mac Moore Sports editor mmoore82@jccc. edu
Courtney Holliday Production designer chollid3@jccc.edu
Jessica Skaggs Managing editor jskaggs4@jccc.edu
David Hurtado Features editor dhurtado@jccc.edu
Mike Abell Photo editor mabell@jccc.edu
Lindsay Sax Copy editor lsax@jccc.edu
Andrea Thomas Design assistant athoma26@jccc. edu
Alyssa Jolitz Staff illustrator ajolitz@jccc.edu
PRODUCTION Gabrielle Fitzgerald Sales manager gfitzge1@jccc.edu 913-469-8500 ext. 2701
Kristen Fairbanks Marketing manager kfairba3@jccc.edu
Aaron Fitzgerald Circulation manager afitzg10@jccc.edu Ricardo AristiguietaPulgar Circulation assistant raristig@jccc.edu
Kristen Fairbanks Web manager kfairba3@jccc.edu
REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Katelyn Larson Reporting correspondent klarso27@jccc.edu
jbull3@jccc.edu Julia Larberg Staff photojournalist jlarberg@jccc.edu
Josh Bull Reporting correspondent
Laura Cobb Staff photojournalist lcobb2@jccc.edu
Gabe Alejos Photo correspondent galejos1@jccc.edu
ADVISER Corbin Crable
Faculty adviser ccrable@jccc.edu
Copyright © 2013 The Campus Ledger and/or its freelance contributors. All rights reserved. Content appearing in The Ledger’s print or electronic media may not be reproduced, published, broadcasted or redistributed without The Ledger’s prior written permission. The Ledger publishes biweekly during the fall and spring semesters. Issues are free and available campus-wide. Additional copies, including back issues, can be obtained from the Student News Center (COM 260) while supplies last. Online-exclusive content is published at http://www. campusledger.com. The Campus Ledger welcomes all readers to submit letters to the editor, which can be sent via email to Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu. Letters for print publication may not exceed 250 words. Guest columns for print publication may not exceed 450 words. Letters are selected for print publication at the discretion of the editorial board. The Ledger reserves the right to request revisions or clarifications. Contributors may not submit more than two letters or one guest column per academic semester and must include the writer’s name, title and contact information with each submission. Valid photo ID must be presented upon request in COM 260. No libelous content will be accepted, and letters are not edited for length or grammar. The Ledger accepts advertisements suitable for its student body. Contact Gabrielle Fitzgerald, advertising manager, at gfitzge1@jccc.edu. The Campus Ledger is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Advisers, the Kansas Press Association and the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press. The Ledger endorses the Associated Press Stylebook.
“ENERGY” CONT. FROM PAGE 3 “We were paying five cents per kilowatt, and now we are paying about 8.4 [cents per] kilowatts,” Rae said. Although Julia Lamartina, student and worker at Encore! Espresso, believes the system could be improved, she hasn’t seen the situation as a problem. “It gets pretty cold behind the counter, and higher floors seem to be cooler, but I’ve been pretty comfortable this year,” Lamartina said. The energy efficiency team is now
working on recalibrating HVAC units to get them working the way they are supposed to be working. The team is also working on a new project that will severely help the cause of energy efficiency. “The program that will attack energy efficiency is still being developed,” Rae said. “So we can’t exactly divulge anything about that because it is still under development and we are currently waiting for approval.” Contact Farhin Lilywala, news editor, flilywal@jccc.edu. Illustration by Alyssa Jolitz
YOUR AD HERE C O N TA C T T H E CAMPUS LEDGER S A L E S M A N AG E R GFITZGE1@JCCC.EDU 9 1 3 - 4 6 9 - 8 5 0 0 E X T. 2 7 01
WWW.CAMPUSLEDGER.COM
the CAMPUSLEDGER
ETC
13
Spirits of Halloween Hair-raising halloween haunts
13.8%
35%
of Americans will dress up their pets.
of people surveyed believe in demonic possession
36%
45%
of Americans believe aliens have visited the Earth
of Americans believe in ghosts
37%
65%
of Americans believe houses can be haunted
of Americans think Ouija Boards are dangerous
Witch is originated from wicce, which means ‘wise woman’ in old English.
The United States is expected to spend $6.9 billion on Halloween festivites, which is down from 2012’s $8 billion. Halloween colors are orange and black. Orange for strength and endurance. Black as a reminder that Halloween was once a celebration of the boundaries between life and death.
The top pet costumes: Pumpkin, Hot Dog, Car, Devil and Witch
Ireland is believed to be the birthplace of Halloween
Samhainophobia- Fear of Halloween
Sources: Gallup Poll, Huffington Post, Washington Post, Livescience. Compiled by Lindsay Sax, lsax@jccc.edu. Illustrations by Alyssa Jolitz
THE Campus Ghost
71% of people have had a paranormal experience
21% of Americans believe in witches
“The legend of the JCCC Cavalier and the sword” “How does an English soldier come to Kansas? Legend has it that a former history professor at JCCC owned a family heirloom – a sword that had once belonged to his ancestor, an English Cavalier, who had used it to defend his king in battle. Allegedly, years ago the professor lost the sword somewhere in the forested area on the college campus, and it hasn’t been seen since. There’s speculation that the ghost of the professor’s ancestor – the sword’s original owner – roams the woods searching for his missing blade. The Cavalier’s determined quest for his sword is reflected in the drive JCCC’s students and athletic teams show on the field, court and classroom.” From: http://www.jccc.edu/cavs/fans/jean-claude-cavalier.html
14 OPINION
COLUMN By Stephen Cook
OCT. 24, 2013 VOL 36
Reflecting on my day with the college president
When I pulled into his driveway a little before 6 a.m. President Sopcich acted surprised. “I didn’t think you were going to show up,” he said. So my day with the college president began. I met President Sopcich at his house, dark and early, for his morning run. After our 3.2 mile run, we made our way to campus, arriving at around 7:45 a.m. This is how Sopcich starts his days: running Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then heading to campus or to various functions before most students are even awake. On Thursday, Oct. 10, the day I spent shadowing him, we didn’t leave campus until around 8:45
COLUMN By Lindsay Sax
ISSUE 5
p.m. Sopcich said he will usually stay late for various functions five to six days a week. Our president is dedicated to this college in more ways than most people can think of. After our day spent together I can say that I was genuinely tired. When you’re meeting influential members of the community all day, you always have to be “on” and alert. Keep in mind I was just shadowing Sopcich, I didn’t have the mental load of thinking about and discussing issues all day. During our day together, I had the opportunity to meet many influential individuals who play a significant part in leading the community. I was able to meet business owners, political leaders and even donors who have contributed substantial amounts to help shape programs at the college. As editor-in-chief, I feel that I can relate to Sopcich’s position, although obviously on a much
smaller scale. The fact that I get to work with fantastic people and do great things together is very similar in a way to what Sopcich does with the college as a whole. Also, one of the major reasons I love my job as a journalist is that I get to meet, talk to and learn the stories of so many individuals. As president, Sopcich is constantly meeting new people, and likewise for him, that makes the job enjoyable. I can say although it can be demanding and time-consuming, my time at the Ledger is one of the most worthwhile things that I have ever been a part of. Sopcich feels the same way about being president of the college. At the end of the day, although tired, he is encouraged and inspired by those that he had spent time around. I believe Sopcich and I share very similar feelings about our jobs. We both appreciate the things we get to do, the people we get to meet
and the lessons we get to learn. I also believe we both agree that we are proud to be a part of this college. Getting to spend the day with Sopcich was a fantastic experience and I am thankful he gave me the opportunity to do so. I can say at the end of the day I was genuinely encouraged and inspired by the people that I had met: individuals who care so much about the college, its programs and the students that they go above and beyond in their support. If anything, our day together made me want to want to push myself even harder as a student and as an editor. I want to help maintain the great reputation of this college and you should want to do your best to do the same. Contact Stephen Cook, editor-inchief, at scook35@jccc.edu.
Halloween obsession isn’t “Psycho”
I have a beautiful baby girl, she has dark as night b l a c k hair, red, almond shaped eyes and wrinkly skin the color of a cloudy grey day. When you walk by she cries the cries of a tortured demon. Her name is Demonica, and she’s a zombie. Demonica and I go back three years when my mom bought her for me for Halloween. My roommates were freaked and all our friends thought I was psychotic. People have covered her up when they were sleeping on the couch afraid to wake up to her. I have a shower curtain with
bloody handprints all over it. So, wanting to share my awesome decorating skills, I took a picture and put it on Instagram. When I showed up at work the next day the talk was “Hey Sax, show them your bathroom picture.” “Ew that’s gross” they’d say. But it’s really not. It’s Halloween. Halloween is full of decorations, creepy and bloody. It doesn’t make me weird. My obsession with scary decorations and movies doesn’t make me any different from someone who watches the same Christmas movie every year when putting up a Christmas tree. I don’t call them weird. I can pretty much compare judging me and my awesome Halloween spirit to judging someone by the way they dress, the way they look or the way the talk. We were taught as kids to be accepting of all people, and that includes people who might be a little obsessive
with Halloween and having crazy, gory, bloody decorations. But apparently I’m different. The last few Halloween’s you could find me dressed as a dead Ninja Turtle, bloody Little Red Riding Hood, who got attacked by the wolf, and my favorite costume of all time, Melanie Daniels from Hitchcock’s “The Birds.” Most people didn’t understand what I was. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, it’s obvious, I have fake birds glued to my clothes and on my head and I’m covered in blood. While everyone else in my group was a boring 80’s girl, a pirate or a school girl. If you look for me this year, I’ll be the one wrapped in a bloody shower curtain with a knife sticking out of my chest. That’s weird I’ve heard, it’s the movie “Psycho” I tell them, it’s awesome. I don’t have thoughts of going around and actually making my own bloody decorations with real
blood. Here’s the crazy thing. I’m actually terrified of blood. If I saw a pool of it on the sidewalk I would probably pass out right there. The thought of carrying a giant knife around is scary; I don’t even own a knife sharp enough to cut anything. And if people think I’m going to go all “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” don’t worry, I don’t use lawn tools. So, my obsession with Halloween isn’t weird. I’m not crazy or a witch. Although my birthday is on Halloween, just like a Disney Channel movie, maybe this is the year that I get some supernatural powers, that would be pretty sweet. Till then, me and Demonica are going to go watch “Psycho” to get my screaming face perfected for my costume. Contact Lindsay Sax, copy editor, at lsax@jccc.edu.
the CAMPUSLEDGER
COLUMN By Aaron Fitzgerald
WWW.CAMPUSLEDGER.COM
Let’s put it to a vote
The recent situation involving the shutdown of our federal government was certainly a fiasco. Citizens around the U.S. balked at the idea that our very own government could simply close its doors. The shutdown resulted from a longstanding debate between the Republican-led House and the Democrat-controlled Senate over an act passed in 2010, called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Most people know it by a different name: Obamacare. Because of the division over the controversial act, the government was unable to come up with a budget that satisfied both the Democratic and Republican Parties. The House of Representatives
was unwilling to pass any spending bill that would appropriate funding for the act, and the Senate was firmly against passing any bill that did not. Since no bill was passed that appropriated government funding past the date of Sept. 30, the government was forced to shut down almost all of its operations, leaving the rest of America confused and frustrated. Then, after two and a half weeks of intense debate and exclusive meetings, the government came back online. In a few short weeks, they had come to a decision that they were unable to agree upon for three years The government, in a way, reminds me of a lazy college student. They put off that one important assignment until the last second, only to then pull an all-nighter and miraculously turn in the project. It’s not a great way to solve problems, and frankly it’s pretty nerve-wracking to observe. I don’t like the idea of having
a lazy college student running my country. I doubt you do either. Actually, most people are fed up with the way the government is handling things. According to a poll by ABC News and the Washington Post, about 80 percent of Americans are dissatisfied, or even angry with the government. But just like any other problem, you can’t solve it by simply complaining and hoping that it will right itself. Luckily for us, we have ways to fix the problem. In case you didn’t know already, the United States is what is known as a democracy. We can tell that lazy college kid how we feel, whether he wants to hear it or not. Even if our opinions are mean or racist, we are entitled to have our fair say. Now this doesn’t mean that you need to go make a sign and start shouting your opinions to anyone who happens to be in earshot of you. There’s more to being politically active than that. Really, being politically active is as simple as just voting in an elec-
OPINION 15
tion.
Strangely, for all the complaining that Americans do about our government, only 60 percent of us actually vote. According to a study by the Institute for Democracy, the U.S. is ranked 120 out of 169 nations in the category of voter turnout, less than even the Dominican Republic. Why so little? Well, some Americans say it’s inconvenient. Others say they feel like their vote doesn’t matter. This is understandable, but if you don’t want to be involved in the government, then why complain about it? If we think that the government is doing things wrong, we should tell them. We have been given the opportunity and the tools that we need, and if all else fails, there’s still revolution! Contact Aaron Fitzgerald, circulation manager, at afitzg10@jccc.edu.
STAFF EDITORIAL
The requirement no one was ready for Efficiency is found in procedure. Not to mention, it keeps society operating smoothly. Within the college, several faculty-driven governing bodies exist to aid in maintaining a smooth functioning campus. But when procedure is ignored, significant concern and chaos is inevitable. At the beginning of the semester, faculty became aware of a huge, blanketed change that would be taking place come spring 2014. The addition of a prerequisite known as “Reading Readiness.” Initiated under former President Dr. Terry Calaway as a part of “Achieving the Dream” and “Dream Johnson County,” the developmental prerequisite attempts to assist non-degree students in their reading capabilities. However, the course change did not go through and get approval from Educational Affairs. And just as an onion, there are
several layers to this issue. While nearly no faculty members find fault in the merits of the prerequisite, there are many who do have a problem with the lack of proper process, as well as the overwhelmingly vague information surrounding the change. For example, no one knows who gave the go-ahead with the initiative. With the administration turnover, there are no clear answers as to who all was involved in developing the prerequisite. And those who were involved, were so distant and unaware that it would become a reality for students this spring. Additionally, only a select few have seen or have been part of gathering the research and data to support the initiative. Not to mention that no-one knows how much this will ultimately cost the school. The important questions are the questions that no one on this campus has been able to answer confidently. And frankly, that most likely would
not have been the case had it gone through normal channels. Proper utilization of the college’s existing governing bodies would have prevented the frustration felt by all levels involved. It would’ve had a well-thought out plan of action, as opposed to the scrambled mess it has become. It would’ve had thorough analysis and discussion of the change. Although the college ultimately was able to change the prerequisite to a corequisite through various meetings and collaborations, in principle, it is still incredibly frustrating that a course change that blankets the entirety of courses offered by the college, never received approval or recommendations from Educational Affairs. Going forward, Educational Affairs as well as other campus committees should not only work to revise and improve the reading corequisite, but also define their responsibilities
Illustration by Alyssa Jolitz as a group in an effort to prevent future mishandled course changes.
Earn a KU bachelor’s degree in Overland Park.
Go further with KU in Overland Park.
Business Exercise Science - NEW! Information Technology Literature, Language and Writing Molecular Biosciences Psychology Public Administration Social Work
anything.ku.edu/JCCC What’s your plan? Chat with a KU Edwards Campus adviser between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in the JCCC Counseling Center. Make an appointment today!
MoreAffordableThanYouThink When you’re ready to take the next step toward your future, apply to Avila University. We’re a private university offering scholarships up to $9,000 annually that can make Avila more affordable than many public institutions. Check out how affordable Avila is at avila.edu/MoreAffordableThanYouThink.
Opening Doors 11901 Wornall Rd, KCMO • transfer@avila.edu • 816.501.2400 Sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Scan with your phone
the CAMPUSLEDGER
WWW.CAMPUSLEDGER.COM
SPORTS 17
Success becomes standard for Lady Cavs basketball By Mac Moore
It’s fall. The leaves have changed color and started falling from the trees, the weather has gotten a bit colder, and the Lady Cavs basketball team is preparing to duplicate the 30 win campaign from the previous season. The team finished 30-2 during the 2012-2013 campaign, the fourth straight season they have done so. If the team completes that feat this season coach Ben Conrad will own the longest consecutive streak for 30 win seasons in conference history. Conrad is less focused on that streak and more focused on improving the team on a daily basis. “Like every year, I just want our kids to max out their potential,” said Conrad. “Gain an understanding of the value of doing things the right way and working hard each and every day. Stay process oriented and worry about the product when it’s all done. We do those things and this team will have success.” With junior college athletics, the team constantly faces change as the athletes only spend two years here. Conrad has handled those challenges remarkably well, earning a 143-28 record during his five seasons with the Cavaliers. “Recruiting talent is key, but then getting kids that will buy into our culture, really buy into our approach,” Conrad said. “I call it the ‘Johnson Way’, and that refers to a set of stan-
dards we have for our team on and off the court.” The “Johnson way” has continued to produce regular season success for the Lady Cavs, but hasn’t earned the team the coveted national championship since 2001. Last year’s remarkable season was cut short of the ultimate goal in a heartbreaking loss to Highland in the regional VI tournament. The game ended after a last second bank shot by Highland that gave them a 76-75 win. “It’s always good to have experience,” sophomore guard said Sameia Kendall. “We know what to expect this year. We know what it’s like to lose so we don’t want to do it again.” Kendall believes that experience will give this team added determination for this season. “It puts a chip on our shoulder,” Kendall said. “That hurt us a lot so we want to get back there and fix it. We want to make it to nationals.” While the national tournament is a goal for the team every season, this squad understands that the postseason is aptly named, it only comes in “post” of the regular season. The team knows that the squad practicing today is not the squad that is ready for that time of the year, yet. “Concentration is definitely one of our obstacles,” sophomore forward Kariel Hutt said. “We have to improve that first.” Hutt said that the team has the physicality and if the returning play-
ers come through, this squad will be able to build off of last year’s successes. Conrad believes this team just needs to understand how critical each day is when it comes to improving. If they do so, this team has the roster needed to make a deep postseason run. “We’ve got some depth at all spots,” Conrad said. “It’s the deepest team I’ve had here at JCCC.” Contact Mac Moore, sports editor, at mmoore82@jccc.edu.
Juanita Robinson runs through a drill during practice. Robinson was a returning member to women’s basketball team. Photos by Mike Abell
Freshman Aleyah Chivers takes a shot during a drill at women’s basketball practice. The drill was designed to help the team with their offense.
Sports Briefs Volleyball 24-5
Men’s Soccer 11-5 Record
Women’s Soccer 15-2-1
The Lady Cavs have won their last four matches. The squad has now won 16 of their last 17 and remain undefeated in conference at 7-0. The team faced Allen County Community College on Oct. 23, scores were not available at press time.
The Cavaliers picked up two wins after Barton Community College broke their eight game winning streak on Oct. 12. The team’s win over MCC-Blue River on Oct.21 was decided in OT. The score was 3-2 after freshman Jorge Rivero scored 57 seconds into extra time.
The Lady Cavs have knocked off the best in the land. The team faced No. 1 ranked Iowa Western Community College on Oct. 19 and came out with a 2-1 OT victory. The loss was only the second of the year for Iowa Western. The team only has one more game before postseason play begins.
18 SPORTS
SPORTS CALENDAR Men’s Basketball
7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 Livin’ the Dream event in Overland Park 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4 v. Allen Community College in Iola, KS
SPORTS COLUMN
Cross Country
Monday, Oct. 28 Kansas City Marathon in Kansas City, MO
Men’s Soccer
3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 v. Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, KS Sunday, Nov. 3 NJCAA Region VI First Round in TBA location
Volleyball
5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28 v. Allen Community College in Overland Park 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 v. Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas
Compiled by Mac Moore, sports editor, mmoore82@jccc.edu.
ISSUE 5
Changing the Redskin’s team name is absurd
Women’s Basketball
Friday-Saturday Oct. 25-26 MidAmerica Nazarene Exhibition in Olathe, KS 6 p.m. Friday Nov. 1 v. Wentworth Military Academy in Fort Scott, KS 2 p.m. Saturday Nov.2 v. William Penn University JV in Fort Scott, KS
OCT. 24, 2013 VOL 36
By David Hurtado Life is hard. It’s even harder when your sense of self-worth is easily offended by every little thing that there ever was. In recent weeks, calls to change the team name of the Washington Redskins have grown increasingly louder, on the grounds that it’s derogatory to Native Americans. These complaints have mostly come from the Oneida Indian Nation, saying the name “has negative consequences for the Native American community when it comes to issues of selfidentity and imagery.” The Redskins impressive 2-4 record probably isn’t helping things either. Given how American Indians have been portrayed for much of American history, I understand where the Oneida are coming from. Really, I do. But this is the kind of political correctness that’s been responsible for the deaths of millions of brain cells in this country. The Washington Red-
skins are not the only team out there who have named themselves after a group of native peoples. Team names, particularly in football, are meant to denote pride, strength, courage and fearlessness. People choose these names out of reverence for what they represent, not because they despise them. Did the Dallas Cowboys choose their name because they hate cowboys? Did the Steelers choose their name because they hate their local steel industry? Humans don’t revere what they don’t like. Moreover, these calls reveal a complete ignorance of history by the Oneida. “Redskins” refers not to pigmentation or the practice of selling scalps, but from the fact Indian warriors would use red paint to cover their bodies in an attempt to intimidate their enemies. Has it been used in a derogatory manner towards American Indians? Of course. But this isn’t one of those instances. Seeing as the country is going to hell in a handbasket and American Indians are marred by low standards of living, you would think the Oneida would have nobler causes to champion. The poverty rate for Native Americans living on reservations is 31.2 percent, nearly three times the national rate, according to Walking Shield, an aid organization for American Indian families. And that’s not all. On some reservations, unemployment rates have reached as high as 85 percent. American Indians are 770
percent more likely to die from alcoholism and have a college graduation rate of just 38.3 percent. You know what’s really frightening though? These statistics are mostly from 2003, before the economy dived off the deep end. Now, after two costly wars and the recession, how much do you think these conditions have improved? Changing the Redskins team name is the same as ‘liking’ a status on Facebook saying you support starving African children. It’s a meaningless, feel-good gesture that serves no purpose whatsoever. If we changed the team name to “The Washington Indigenous Peoples of the East coast,” is that going to make all the actual issues I mentioned above disappear? No. The past is the past; we don’t have time to worry about the simple name of a sports team. It’s true American Indians suffered greatly at the hands of the U.S. government, facing eradication for refusing to surrender their homes to invaders. But these people are long dead and there isn’t anything we can do for them now; I honestly wish there was, but there isn’t. Attention needs to be brought to the plight of their descendants on the reservations, instead of a non-issue like this. Covering up the past does not change that it happened. Contact David Hurtado, features editor, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.
Cavalier star watch: Courtney Hughes Freshman Midfielder Courtney Hughes was named NJCAA Women’s Soccer player of the Week for Sept. 30- Oct. 6. Hughes scored five goals over the course of two victories. One of the games, a 7-2 win over Garden City, Hughes scored four goals, her third hat trick of the season. She leads the team with 25 goals on the season. The team is currently 14-2-1.
Photo by Mike Abell
Team Goals: Nationals. We’ll definitely be disappointed if we don’t make it to Florida.
Personal Goals: I have to continue to be in better shape for next year. Other than that, I really just focus on doing whatever it takes to make my team better. Team strengths and weaknesses: We’re fast. Our weakness is we need to just get stronger. Favorite Movie: I love Toy Story, I’ve always loved it. I enjoy the whole series.
Favorite Artist: Bruno Mars, I just enjoy everything he does. Dream Job: I want to be a doctor, like a surgeon but I don’t want to go to school for all those years.
Compiled by Mac Moore, sports editor, mmoore82@jccc.edu.
the CAMPUSLEDGER
“GRAVITY’ CONT. FROM PAGE 8 Stone and Kowalski lose contact with mission control very quickly, which works in the film’s favor. Without the radio silence, the conversations between the characters would have most likely distracted from the story. There are only a few flaws with the film to point at. There are a few homages to other films about space, including “Apollo 13” and “2001: A Space Odyssey.” The homages to “2001” are out of place and only waste time. Stone’s character development is weak and her motivation is little more than instinctual survival. Cuaron’s signature long takes are used generously and are well shot, as per his usual, but a few shots linger for a little too long. There are also quite a number of liberties taken with scientific accuracy, despite being otherwise very realistic. These inaccuracies are, however, unavoidable as the story could not be told without them. Gravity is a solid way to satisfy a craving for a film that takes a realistic look at the dangers of outer space. It
WWW.CAMPUSLEDGER.COM is a suspenseful and atmospheric film that, despite being a simple survival story, is a solid film and worth checking out. Contact Josh Bull, reporting correspondent, at jbull3@jccc.edu. “HEYING” CONT. FROM PAGE 9 “He was like no one else,” he said. “[Burroughs] was old enough he could have been my grandfather and yet he was a visionary and boldly inhibited person in terms of his own beliefs and personal practices. It was always a bit of an adventure to hang around with him because he was actually in fact, a dangerous person in a certain way. Not that he was malicious in any sense, but he liked to explore a part of reality that is truly dangerous and was curious about what was there.” Bruce Hartman, curator of photography, Nerman Museum, said what sets Heying apart from other photographers are his life experiences and upbringing in Kansas. He said Heying’s work reflects someone who has familiarity with the Kansas landscape in the sense that he isn’t someone
who’s just passing through the rolling hills and flat plains. “Certainly, some of his history and life experiences; the fact that he grew up in Kansas and has familiarity with the region,” Hartman said. “When he’s taking photographs, he’s actually experienced the landscape; he came home essentially and began several bodies of work. That’s a different stance than someone who happens to come to an area for a limited period of time and doesn’t fully understand it, in perhaps the way someone who grew up here might. His roots are here, and I think you can see that reflected in the work that he’s executing.” Adam Long, adjunct professor, Photography, said it’s a “positive experience” working with Heying. He said since the two are both photographers, they often bounce ideas off one another and have a great camaraderie. “I would say that he’s direct, but at the same time very approachable,” Long said. “It comes off in a way that, his comments are pointed, but they’re done in such a way that there’s a lot
ETC 19 of love in them. His personality, when I think about it, springs from his directness. He’s got a nice sense of dry humor, too.” Hartman said Heying’s greatest strength as a photographer lies in his ability to take the most mundane subjects and make them into something beautiful and compelling. “I think his ability to take subjects that many people might consider banal and make them really engaging and quite beautiful is his greatest strength,” he said. “It’s always a gift when someone can take subject matter many consider to be mundane and make it something that’s captivating and compelling too. And, that’s apart from the William Burroughs photographs, as those have a life of their own, so to speak. Burroughs was such a legendary and colorful figure that it’s almost impossible to disassociate his personality/legend from those images. That’s a body of work that I think is unto itself - specific to Lawrence, Kansas and a particular time.” Contact David Hurtado, features editor, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.
Take the next step! ■ Bachelor’s in Business ESU – Kansas City’s business program is the top choice for JCCC students. Join us in getting a degree you will be proud of! Contact: Nina Finzelberg 913-338-4378 ■ nfinzelb@emporia.edu Stop by the JCCC Student Success Center on Monday mornings
■ Bachelor’s in Education ESU has partnered with JCCC to offer a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. This program allows you to take ESU classes onsite at JCCC and online! Contact: Karen Bevis 913-469-8500 ext. 3676 ■ kbevis@emporia.edu JCCC Office & Classroom Building (OCB), 216B
KANSAS CITY 8400 W. 110th St., Suite 150 Overland Park, Kansas 66210 913-338-4378 www.emporia.edu/kc