The Campus Ledger - Vol. 36, Issue 6

NOV. 7, 2013 VOL. 36

ISS. 6

CAMPUSLEDGER

the

OFFICIAL STUDENT-RUN PUBLICATION OF JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, OVERLAND PARK, KS

FROM THE

CLASSROOM COURSE TO THE

PROFESSOR PARTICIPATES IN MOTORSPORTS

P. 8

DISTANCE LEARNING: A NEW METHOD OF TEACHING

COMPELLING CLASSES ON CAMPUS

HELPING THE HUNGRY: ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE IN JOHNSON COUNTY

P. 4

P. 9

P. 10-11

2

NEWS

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ISSUE: NEWS

Graduation requirements explained (pg. 3) Defying dimensions: 3D printer takes 2D ideas and turns them into reality (pg. 3) Plan proposed to restructure local tech programs and interest (pg. 3) Evolving the classroom: online classes vs. face to face classes (pg. 4) Bradley Charles Cook (pg. 5)

FEATURE

Professors voice their opinion of RateMyProfessor.com (pg. 7) Doug Patterson enjoys life both in the classroom and on the track (pg. 8) Compelling classes on campus (pg. 9) College debate team starts season off strong (pg. 9) Photo Essay: Cav Con event put on by student activities (pg. 13)

IN FOCUS

Helping the Hungry (pg. 10-11) Q&A with Student Engagement Ambassador, Donald Armstrong Food stamps are being cut Village food pantry Johnson County by the numbers

OPINION

StaffEd: Face to face classrooms are important (pg. 15) Happy holidays, not so happy: focusing on what really matters this winter (pg. 15) Support surrounds you (pg. 15)

SPORTS Season preview: men’s basketball (pg.

17) NFL bullying results in indefinite suspension (pg. 18) Cavalier Star Watch: Dylan Wagenbaur (pg. 18)

NEWS BRIEFS Nov. 7 poetry reading kicks off Veterans Week events at JCCC Bill Bauer and H.C. Palmer , Vietnam veterans, will read their poetry and discuss writing’s role in their post-war lives in “A Call to Words: Veterans and Why They Write” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in Hudson Auditorium in the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. A reception will follow the reading in Café Tempo in the museum.

It is open to the public at no charge.

Fiesta Nov. 14 raises funds for Latino students Enjoy a feast and raise funds for Latino students at the collge’s Latino Fiesta from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, in COM 155 (the dining room behind javajazz@jccc.)

The event includes Zumba demonstration classes, food and Latin American music. Tickets are $5 each and are available in COM 306 or at the door the day of the event.

For more information, call 913-469-7680.

POLICE BRIEFS

Inappropriate sexual conduct Campus Police were dispatched to the commons building on Oct. 22, when a student reported a lewd behavior incident that occurred in the restaurant, Down Under.

The reporting student stated she was sitting in the dining area when her attention was drawn to the suspect who was acting strange while staring at a blank wall. The victim said she observed the suspect pull his sweatpants up and look down into his crotch area several times. She said he then reached in with

his hands and began touching himself inappropriately. The suspect said he was not aware anyone was watching him and he was embarrassed by the incident. The suspect is scheduled to appear in court soon.

MacBook theft On Oct. 28, two laptops were reported stolen from the JCCC Bookstore. The reporting party stated that at approximately 11:04 a.m., the bookstore received an order for four MacBook Pros and all four were

NOV. 7 2013 VOL 36

ISSUE 6

Graphic Design Club presents pop-up card workshop Nov. 9 Learn how to make pop-up cards at a workshop sponsored by the Graphic Design Club from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, in LIB 313.

The materials fee is $10, and space is limited to 20, so participants should register in advance on Shop JCCC. All proceeds from this event will be used toward the graphic design Graduating Recruitment Showcase. Afternoon snacks and refreshments will be provided.

If you have questions or would like further information, email jcccgraphicdesignclub@gmail.com.

Compiled by Farhin Lilywala, news editor, flilywal@jccc.edu. secured in the electronics storage room.

The reporting party then stated he became aware that two laptops were missing at approximately 5 p.m. None of the laptops were located. The investigation continues.

IPod theft Campus Police received information on Oct. 30 about an Apple iPod (valued at $200) that was stolen from the Food Court.

The victim states he was playing chess, while his iPod was charging at 3 p.m. He left to get food and when he returned at approximately 3:30, the iPod was missing. The investigation is still currently open.

Compiled by Farhin Lilywala, news editor, flilywal@jccc.edu.

Corrections: In the news briefs of issue 5, the name Elliot Rogers was spelled incorrectly. In the “Energy” story on page 3 of issue 5, Michael Rea’s name was spelled incorrectly. The Ledger regrets the errors.

Epicenter 2013: sustainable careers conference

By Farhin Lilywala

Epicenter is an annual environmental conference in its third year, developed with the purpose for students to learn and express their opinions and concerns about the environment.

This convention was founded in 2010 as a part of a grant the Center for Sustainability received. During the first year, the conference focused on entrepreneurship and leadership. However, for the past two years, the theme revolved around jobs and how to intertwine passion and hobbies with environmental sustainability.

This year, Epicenter was held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the Regnier Center. The conference highlighted how students in higher education have been involved in such efforts as a sustainable restaurant internship, school-wide recycling and biodiesel initiatives. It also highlighted people that have just started with embracing their eco-friendly initiative or started over.

“Seeing it as not only a great way to provide our students with some information about what sustainability is, how it’s being implemented at the campus, how they can implement it in their own lives, especially, as you can see from the focus this year, with their studies or their careers, but it also allows JCCC to be this central hub, hence the name, Epicenter, for student sustainability leadership in the area,” said Kim Criner, event organizer.

The 2013 conference featured several speakers such as Summer Rayne Oakes, eco-model entrepreneur, faculty and students from KU Biodiesel Initiative, Eric Nelson, crew leader for KU Recycling, Emily Reno, JCCC student, Lynate Pettengill, Citizens Climate Lobby, Yvette Hirang, former JCCC sustainable restaurant intern, and Mike Ryan, JCCC Campus Farm manager.

Oakes combined environmental science with fashion modeling, by cofounding an online, sustainable materi-

Image courtesy of the college als marketplace, Source4Style, writing “Style Naturally,” and designing optics and shades. The KU Biodiesel Initiative explained the importance of students in preserving the environment through producing biodiesel from used cooking oil generated on campus.

SEE “EPICENTER” ON PAGE 4

the CAMPUSLEDGER

College’s graduation requirements explained

By Farhin Lilywala

With enrollment now open for all students, graduation is a topic that is on the minds of many students.

In order to graduate from the college, a student must meet a certain set of requirements.

“There are catalog requirements and standard requirements for graduation that all students that wish to graduate need to meet,” said Leslie Quinn, college registrar. “Although, I do believe that students sometimes leave without completing them, because they do not really understand that it is very meaningful to have an associate degree in your pocket so that if you need to go out and get a job along the way to completing your final goal, you at least have that as a backup. ” Many students agree that completing their two years at the college, graduating, and then transferring is the best possible solution for them.

“I want to go to KU for its teaching program after graduating with my associate’s degree from JuCo,” said Skylar Cushenbery, student. “I want to complete my two years here because it is cheaper, and it is a good jumping off point.”

In terms of how to complete those two years, the standard requirements are the same for all, but the catalog requirements depend on your major.

For the standard, as listed on the college’s website, an associate degree calls

for 15 credit hours earned at the college.

For an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree, a student must complete an approved cultural diversity course.

For certificates, a student must complete a minimum of 50 percent of the required course work at the college. Graduates must also have earned both a 2.0 grade point average at the college and have a cumulative 2.0 or better on all completed course work. Last, students must have been enrolled at the college within two years of the semester in which they wish to graduate, one of the requirements, according to Quinn, that allows more leniency in the guidelines than other colleges.

In order to determine the specific catalog requirements, the rules are as follows: students who are continuously enrolled at JCCC will maintain their catalog of record. However, students who miss two consecutive regular semesters (excluding summers) will follow the catalog in effect at the time of re-entry. Also, when the college discontinues a degree or certificate program, students who have already declared their intent to graduate in the program will be allowed a limited amount of time to complete the requirements as long as continuous enrollment is maintained.

SEE “GRADUATION” ON PAGE 14

WWW.CAMPUSLEDGER.COM

Senator Melcher hopes to spur interest in tech jobs

By Stephen Cook As the demand for technology related jobs increases, schools and students aren’t keeping up, both in quantity and quality, according to Jeff Melcher, Kansas Senator (R) and CEO of Accutype Medical Services.

Melcher is currently discussing the creation of a new program as a possibility to get students in the area more prepared and qualified to enter jobs in the technology and industrial-related fields.

Many local entities would have to cooperate toward this goal.

While in high school, students could apply to be in the program. When accepted, they can then begin taking courses during their junior and senior years of high school that would essentially also count as the freshman and sophomore years at college. Upon graduation from high school, students would then have a high school diploma as well as an associate degree from JCCC. During those two years in high school, students would also have a corporate sponsor that would pay a $2,000 fee for tuition as well as a paid internship through that company.

Melcher said there is a high number of unfilled technology jobs in Kansas City, and many graduates aren’t very wellprepared to fill those positions.

“It’s just more and more difficult to find qualified talent,” Melcher said. “The problem is that there’re not only enough people with the skill set, but those that do have the skill set really aren’t all that well qualified.”

Chip Cody, chair and full-time professor of electronics has been at the college since 2001 and has seen enrollment in the overall industrial technology programs increase slightly during the recent years.

Cody said he gets both students fresh out of high school as well as non-traditional students that are looking to upgrade their skills for a better job. Some students experience difficulty though.

“We have a fairly high drop rate,” Cody said. “I think they get here and they realize perhaps it’s a little harder than they thought, and it isn’t just the fun stuff of electronics, there’s some math involved and things like that.”

Cody said he has been getting more and more calls from companies coming to him asking him to recommend employees, seeking possible workers.

One of the reasons Cody believes there is a shortage is due to the lack of women in the field.

“Half of our market does not exist,” Cody said. “I would love to have young women more in this program.”

SEE “TECH” ON PAGE 19

DEFYING DIMENSIONS

By Josh Bull

3D printer turns 2D ideas into reality

No longer are ideas limited to a twodimensional piece of paper, now they can leap of the page and become a 3D, plastic reality.

The college now has a 3D printer that can be used to print models. Anything can be printed, from in-class visual aids to a water vessel made out of math equations.

3D printers create models using a process known as stereolithography.

This process was first conceptualized in the mid-80s and makes models by stacking thin strips of materials, usually ABS plastic or resin.

The printer was purchased by the college for the drafting program to create visual aids for students to use in class but has also been used by the math department to print a water vessel. The models that can be made with the 3D printer are extremely versatile.

These models can even have moving parts, according to Damon Feuerborn, associate professor of drafting.

“You can do moving parts in one print, so when it comes out, it will move and slide and do anything,” said Feuerborn.

Students in the math department used the printer to create a water vessel based on a math equation. The project, which has been done without the 3D printer by Brenda Edmonds, professor of mathematics for several years, is meant to show how math can be used to create something tangible.

“I think the biggest thing is helping students make real what they’re working out in theory,” said Edmonds.

3D printers are used in other areas outside of academics, as well. They are used to rapidly prototype potential designs in many fields to save money,

NEWS 3

time, manpower and materials. There are also several medical uses of 3D printers from printing prosthetic limbs to replacement bones.

3D printers are also used in other fields, including space exploration.

NASA is exploring options of using 3D printers in zero gravity to allow astronauts to print tools and parts to reduce the amount of cargo needed to be launched into space.

The class taught by Cathleen O’Neil, professor of mathematics, printed the water vessel that was presented at the Oct. 17 Board of Trustees meeting.

“You can make anything that you could imagine in three dimensions,” said O’Neil.

Contact Josh Bull, reporting correspondent, at jbull3@jccc.edu.

Photo by Julia Larberg

4

NEWS

NOV. 7, 2013 VOL 36

ISSUE 6

vs.

FACE2FACE Students with anxiety head to online classes

By Lindsay Sax

ieties, I think that it would be beneficial for those people to be in a class environment to work towards overcoming those fears.”

According to the fall 2012 semester distance learning report, English, business and biology were the top three classes students enrolled in. There was little variation in withdrawal rates between distance learning and on site

timidated by technology,” Lovitt said.

“And they should not be afraid to ask questions either.”

Jacob Everest, student, says he knows someone who has taken public speaking online, while he is enrolled in the on site class now, and that you learn more in the classroom versus online.

He also says that he is not interested in taking distance learning classes.

Each semester, about 5000 students at the college are enrolled in distance learning classes for various reasons.

Some students use the ability to work from home as a comfort to help with their learning.

“I’ve had some of my students tell me that, ‘You didn’t know that I was deaf, you didn’t know that I was blind, or that I had a learning “I don’t think so, bedisability,’” said Dr. Ed cause I really hate computLovitt, director, Disers,” Everest said. “That’s tance Learning. “‘That what it really boils down I’m not competing to.” with other individuals Lovitt says that diswho have their hands tance learning can have up. We’re all equal and its drawbacks including that discussions and immediate feedback from assignments allow us professors and problems at our own pace to parwith computers and the ticipate.’” internet. There are also In the fall 2012 sebenefits besides the convemester, 25 percent of nience including flexibilstudents at the college Dr. Ed Lovitt, director, Distance Learning ity, support from family, took at least one disand the ability to do work tance learning class, while traveling. and of those, 34 percent took classes classes. On site withdraw rates were “And if anxiety is part of being in online exclusively.

11.6 percent, while distance learning a face to face class and I’m not going Ashley Nielsen, student, takes disclasses were 10.3 percent. to raise my hand or I hope they don’t tance learning classes exclusively to Lovitt says that distance learning pick on me or choose me for a question, work around her full-time work schedclasses are not for all people, but there online allows [students] to kind of sit ule. She says distance learning classes are some traits distance learning stu- in the back, but yet we hope that they have benefits to any anxieties she may dents need to posses including time engage, ask questions and participate,” have. management, technical skills of using Lovitt said.

“I have testing anxiety so it’s nice to a browser, word processor and how to be in my own environment when testanswer discussion questions online.

Contact Lindsay Sax, copy editor, at ing,” Nielsen said. “As far as social anx“They probably should not be in- lsax@jccc.edu.

I’ve had some of my students tell me that, ‘you didn’t know that I was deaf, you didn’t know that I was blind, or that I had a learning disability.’

-

“EPICENTER” CONT. FROM PAGE 2

Nelson highlighted that access to green jobs is becoming even more available as society continues to stress one’s awareness about our environment. Moreover, he explained that the availability of green jobs is not limited to working on a farm or wind turbine, the scope is much broader than that.

Reno and Pettengill brought climate

control into the spectrum of the variety of issues needing to be dealt with in environmentally sustainability.

One of the most discussed parts of the conference was the lunch. The buffet lunch featured produce grown on the campus farm, prepared and served by the culinary department. It was a formal buffet and only emphasized the message that the speakers were

attempting to convey; environmental sustainability can be brought into any aspect of one’s life.

After lunch, Hirang demonstrated through her own experience of transitioning from marketing to the culinary arts that a person could truly combine passions such as cooking and being eco-friendly. Ryan finished the presentation of speakers with discussing how

What is social anxiety?

Social anxiety disorder is described as an intense fear of certain social situations, situations that are unfamiliar, or someone who feels constantly watched or evaluated by others.

Triggers include:

• Meeting new people • Being called on in class • Taking exams • Public speaking • Being watched while doing something

Ways to help feeling uneasy in class include: • Challenge negative thoughts • Learn to control your breathing – helps to control physical symptoms • Face your fears – avoidance leads to more problems • Build better relationships – take social skills class, volunteer and work on communication skills • Challenge your lifestyle – avoid caffeine, alcohol, smoking and get sleep If self help options do not help, group therapy sessions and medications are available.

Source: http://www.helpguide.org/ mental/social_anxiety_support_symptom_causes_treatment.htm Compiled by Lindsay Sax, copy editor, lsax@jccc.edu.

the concept of sustainable agriculture affects society through a detailed overview of the college’s campus farm and its purpose in the community.

At one point in the day, more than 100 people attended Epicenter 2013.

Contact Farhin Lilywala, news editor, at flilywal@jccc.edu.

CAMPUSLEDGER

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NEWS

REMEMBERING BRAD

5

THE COLLEGE MOURNS THE LOSS OF STUDENT BRAD COOK

By Stephen Cook* In Tracy Bedell’s Business Law II class, there was an empty seat on Oct. 28 – the absent student normally had near perfect attendance. Brad Cook was the student that normally filled that seat.

Cook had been missing since Oct. 20 and Bedell’s weekly Monday night class on Oct. 28 marked his second consecutive absence.

That night, the class learned Cook had gone missing. Dead silence filled the room and looks of disbelief occupied the faces of students.

In hopes that he might arrive late, the class saved a seat and left a test on his desk.

“I was passing out the test and [a student who sat by Brad] said, ‘You might leave a test in case Brad comes in,’ Bedell said. “So I put the test down and of course he never came in. After the test she brought it back to me and she said, ‘I don’t think he’s going to show up for the test.’”

Bedell knew his first absence was unusual. She got a call from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department a couple days later asking for information.

“Brad was one of these people that, he was larger than life,” Bedell said. “I mean Brad was the kind of guy that when he was in a room, you knew he was there because he was always contributing, he was always in a good mood, he was happy, he would laugh, he would joke, he was a very respectful young man.”

Vanessa Fahle, a student who was in

his class, remembers how Cook had a great personality.

“He was very fun guy, he was real nice, he seemed like he would do anything for any of his classmates,” Fahle said.

Fahle remembers Cook would smile all the time.

“That’s what I’m going to remember about him is just his laughter and his smile,” Fahle said. “Like every time he would be sitting out in the hallway and I’d walk down the hallway he was just always smiling.”

In the classroom, Bedell said he always enjoyed learning.

“He loved going to school here,” she said. “He was one of those kids that if he didn’t understand something he would ask and if he couldn’t solve something he would ask for help and he would always help others, but it was just the basic level of inquisitiveness and I always loved seeing his learning process.”

Bedell believes other students in the class enjoyed being with him because they were able to better learn through his habit of asking questions.

“As a teacher, you love that,” Bedell said. “That’s why you teach is to have those students that are constantly challenging you and constantly wanting to learn and that they’re not afraid, they’re not intimidated by the group.”

On Oct. 30, a Wednesday morning, Bedell said she was about to drive back to Lawrence when she learned they had found a body.

“When I was driving back on K-10, I actually pulled off the highway and I got out my little GPS and I went and

found the spot where they had found his body,” Bedell said. “I don’t really know why I did that, I think I just needed some closure, I guess I just wanted to know where he ended up; where his life ended.”

Bedell said she can’t count the number of times she’s passed by on K-10. Now, the drive will never be the same.

“Now every time I drive there it’s going to be so different,” Bedell said. “Even this morning at 6:30 when I was driving, I just kind of looked over and was like, that’s where he was; and so it’s going to be difficult.”

As his teacher, she said she is really going to miss Cook, especially due to that special bond from the classroom.

“As a teacher I think that’s your job is to care for your student not just to educate them,” Bedell said. “There’s a Photo courtesy of Facebook big void there and as a teacher, I’m grieving the loss of one of mine, one of my students.” *Brad Cook and Stephen Cook are not Contact Stephen Cook*, editor-in-chief, related. at scook35@jccc.edu.

TIMELINE OF BRAD’S DISAPPEARANCE Oct. 20

A Facebook page about his disappearance was created. It was, “dedicated to gathering information and spreading awareness about his whereabouts.”

Earlier in the evening, Cook had been in Olathe at Freddy T’s and Brickyard Bar & Grill. He was last seen at his home that night. His Harley motercycle was found late the same evening in the parking lot of CR Cycle Tires and Beer 30, located at K-10 and Lexington, DeSoto.

Oct. 25

Oct. 26

A body was found about 3:30 p.m. in the area of 9500 block of Sunflower Road in DeSoto, by a passer-by walking in the area.

His friends and family of organized a vigil and search party.

Many volunteers participated in the search.

Oct. 29

Funeral service held at Amos Family Funeral Home. Afterward, a celebration of life reception was held at AFW.

Oct. 31 Identity confirmed to be Cook’s by the Johnson County Kansas Sheriff’s Department.

Nov. 4

Compiled by Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

6 FEATURES

NOV 7, 2013 VOL 36 ISSUE 6

FEATURES CALENDAR AD PROOF:

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7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10 in Yardley Hall

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Photo courtesy of the college

Peter Gros, wildlife expert, will share tales from his experiences in the Animal Kingdom as a field researcher. Gros has nearly 30 years of experience with captive wildlife and establishing breeding programs for endangered animals.

Cost: $30 and $20 for adults, $15 and $10 for youth.

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BEYOND GLORY 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 in Yardley Hall Actor Stephen Lang will present his one man show which focuses on the personal accounts of eight war veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Each of the veterans has received the U.S. military’s highest recognition, the Medal of Honor.

Photo courtesy of the college

Cost: $80, $42, $32

DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 1516 and Nov. 22-23, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Nov. 16-17 and Nov. 23-24 in the Polsky Theatre

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.

913.266.8661 or 913.469.3809 jccc.transferadvantage.com

Image courtesy of the college

The play, which was written by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee Sarah Ruhl, opens with a women having a relaxing lunch in a cafe. However, she keeps receiving ominous calls from a dead man with several loose ends.

Cost: Free.

4370 West 109th Street, Suite 200 • Overland Park, KS 66211

Compiled by David Hurtado, dhurtado@jccc.edu.

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FEATURES 7

Rate my Professor: Controversial or Credible? to further detail their opinion of the instructor. For many students, the site guides their semester choices while providing their voice an open forum.

In an effort to give the professors a voice on the site, professors can create an account and contribute feedback to specific comments of their choosing. Even so, professors have varying opinions on both the usefulness as well

By Jessica Skaggs

The popular and controversial website Rate My Professor is used by many college students across the nation prior to enrollment. There, students can rate their professors based on overall quality, helpfulness, clarity, ease and even “hotness.” Ratings are out of five.

Additionally they can leave comments

David Krug - Assoc. Prof. Accounting Overall Quality: 4.9 Helpfulness: 4.8

“I look at it every now and then, it’s kind of controversial. Because, it is a source, but it’s not maybe the source. It’s not the only source, but I think there is some accuracy. Now, the way I feel about it, if there is 25 ratings on there and 23 of them are negative, I think there’s probably a pretty good chance that students don’t enjoy that professor. […] I really wouldn’t give much weight to it if there are only a few. Once I think you have a sizable amount of ratings on there, I think it can be a source, not the only source. I actually think it’s more helpful for the

Johnson County Community College is ranked number four of the “Top School’s” and has an average professor rating of 3.84

Eve Blobaum - Assoc. Prof./Chair Sociology

Clarity: 4.9 Easiness: 3.4

Overall Quality: 3.1 Helpfulness: 3.1

following. [...] I don’t think I’m an easy professor. Now there are some students who seek that out. I like that they can go to Rate My Professor and see that I don’t do those things, and they’ll find a professor from Rate My Professor that does do take home exams, and open book exams and just multiple choice and stuff like that and I don’t have to worry about them taking my class.

Generally I think people can make better decisions with more information.

That’s how I feel about it.”

Clarity: 3.1 Easiness: 3.0

“I’ve looked at it probably like four times. I just generally don’t. It’s frustrating to read because when I’ve looked at the Rate My Professor comments, it’s like the comment box of restaurants; the only people that comment are those who are angry and frustrated. And so a lot of what’s on there are complaints. It’s difficult to read. The site attracts people who have something specific to get off their chest and it is not very valid or reliable information. I think for students there can be limited usefulness, just because you’re getting other students’ prospective, but the information should be taken

with a grain of salt, and the information is not representative. It’s another form of information, and I would be hesitant to say information is ever bad. I would be concerned if any professor or staff member was ever advising students to check it, without concern for serious caveats. I think I would just advise to all students who read the comments to take into consideration what the comments represent, and what they don’t represent.”

Professors

Keith Coleman - Adjunct Philosophy Professor

Ryan Darrow-Adjunct Asst. Professor Psychology Overall Quality: 4.9 Helpfulness: 4.9 “[It] is kind of a benign way of receiving some feedback. […] I think if your numbers are low, then you need, I don’t know to pick it up a little. Do something.

Don’t be boring. Don’t be awful. Don’t be mean.

as the credibility of the site. Many have concerns with the sampling of the site, as it is not representative of all students. Some refuse to contribute, stating it only gives more authority to the site. Others contribute in order to offer more information for students using it as a resource in choosing their classes, as well as a means to receive criticism and improve.

Overall Quality: 1.9 Helpfulness: 2.0

Clarity: 4.9 Easiness: 4.9

I know that there are people who would prefer to delete some of the comments but I guess they are what they are, and they are a strong voice for the student, which is important because my philosophy is that we’re here, and this is personal, education is not about me or my ego or what I can get out of it. But education is about the student and their learning process and what I can do to help them along their path.”

Clarity: 1.7 Easiness: 1.9

“Well, how do I say this? I don’t think that that is the be all and the end all of evaluations of instructors. I suppose it’s a place to begin. But my ratings were really low, and there is any number of explanations that can be given for that. I mean it could be that my methods are not effective, or it could be that, well it could be any number of things. It could be that the people who are choosing to respond to the complex comments there are primarily the ones who have something to complain about. That could be an explanation.

All kinds of explanations could be given for that.

There are people out there saying what’s happening is you are, the people who are responding are really assessing the instructor as far as the ease of getting a good grade in it, in the class. That’s what it’s telling the students is whether or not the instructor is an easy instructor.”

Selene Tristan, student, 18

Haush Norwood, student, 20

Alexis Frank, student, 18

“I use it all the time, it’s what I base my whole semester on. I think it’s actually pretty good, I mean I always based off my professors, because of that website.”

“I think it’s pretty accurate. I think some people probably get on there to release all their bad things to say about their professors, but for the most part I think it’s pretty accurate.”

“I’d say it’s helpful, I mean I used it first semester, and like I like all my teachers here, so it’s been pretty accurate I guess.”

Students Information courtesy of ratemyprofessor.com Compiled by Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

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NOV. 7, 2013 VOL 36

ISSUE 6

Patterson competes in a SCCA rallycross race on Nov. 3. These events are held on dirt, instead of pavement. Photos by Stephen Cook

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED

By Stephen Cook

N

ot content to just sit quietly and let life pass him by, science professor, Doug Patterson enthusiastically enjoys both his time in the classroom and on the track.

Patterson has been at the college since 1993 and teaches astronomy and physics courses. In addition to teaching his classes, Patterson also spends time doing research for Fundamental Technologies, LLC. As a part of the group, Patterson writes software that can analyze data collected from outer space so it can be understood and used practically. Patterson is compensated for his work with the group.

Science professor participates in local motorsport events

“It’s my racing money,” Patterson said. “Teaching pays the bills and pays the rent and research pays for the fun.”

Originally, he thought he would only teach at the college for a little bit and then move on to another institution. Instead, he compared where he was already to where he wanted to be. Patterson has a Masters degree from Ball State University and received his Ph.D from KU in 2002.

“This is it, this is the Disneyland of academic positions,” Patterson said. “I have a community of like-minded pedagogics, people who value the craft of teaching and learning.”

Patterson believes in learning through working hands-on in the classroom.

“The ideal thing is to get one’s hands dirty, I try to bring in as much of the real science world as I possibly can, not the glossy stuff in the textbooks,” Patterson said. “I prefer to teach science by having them do science.”

His interest in the field began at an early age.

“As a kid I was always fascinated by space and science and rocketships and all that,” Patterson said. “I mean what are the two coolest things ever? Rocket ships and race cars, right?”

In high school, Patterson at first thought he was going to become a commercial artist. Then, he took a physics class and it all changed. However, Patterson still is an active photographer, running Patterson Prints LLC with his wife as well as writing and taking photos for OpenPaddock.net, a website covering motorsport.

Patterson began contributing to the site in early 2009, shortly after really get-

ting back into photography in 2008. Now he is able to attend and cover events with media credentials.

As with science, Patterson has also been interested in motorsports since a young age.

“I was born in Indiana, therefore I’m a motorsports fan,” Patterson said. “Motorsports, basketball and corn; those are your three loves in Indiana.”

Now Patterson is a member of the local Sports Car Club of America group and he races in various events throughout the year.

Patterson said he first went out to an SCCA solo event to take photos for OpenPaddock and then realized how “awesome” the event was.

One of the things that also got Patterson to come back was when somebody asked if he was selling prints.

“Of course that lure of the almighty dollar got me back out, right?,” Patterson said. “Plus, it was a super cool event and I really enjoyed being out there and the people were amazing.”

Last year Patterson went ahead and became a member of the local SCCA club.

So far, Patterson has competed in around 20 events with his Ford Focus SVT. Patterson said his favorite cars are ones that helped shape automotive history through engineering and innovation, such as the Ford GT40 or the Tyrrell Project 34 F1 car.

“I like those cars that showed engineering creativity,” Patterson said. “This is something I try to share with my students: is that scientists and engineers, we are creative people, we have to be to come up with some of the crazy ways that we

find out how the universe works, who builds something like the space shuttle in all of its complexity without being creative?”

In addition to his interests in science, photography and motorsports, Patterson is also an anime fan and is the faculty advisor for the anime club.

Paul Decelles, professor of science, first met Patterson in 1993, the two formed a good friendship that has persisted ever since.

“From what I’ve seen he’s really enthusiastic about what he does and he inspires that in other people,” Decelles said.

“So even though I’m not particularly interested in motorsports, for example, I get interested from hearing him talk about it and that sort of thing.”

Joe Tasler, regional executive for the Kansas city region SCCA has known Patterson for about three years and has seen him participate in a number of events.

He also appreciates the photography and website work he does for the club.

“He’s a real enthusiastic guy, he steps up and does a lot of work,” Tasler said.

“Doug’s always there to help.”

Patterson said his favorite part about being involved with the Kansas City Region SCCA group is the people.

“The same is true about science,” Patterson said. “Whether it’s talking about motorsports or whether it’s talking about science and the history of science it’s the people’s stories, the stories behind what was going on. […] It’s always the people that make stories interesting.”

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

the CAMPUS LEDGER

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FEATURES

9

College campus offers a variety of unique classes

By David Hurtado

PSYC 205- Human Sexuality

HIST 120 - Local and Kansas History

Despite what some critics of the state might say, Kansas is not all just cud chewing cows or miles of flat plains. In this course, students will examine the history of Kansas from the Late Ceramic Period (1500) to the present. Emphasis will be placed on the examining the living patterns of the different groups of peoples who have inhabited the region during this time. In addition, students will also analyze the social and economic factors and political objectives that transformed the central plains from the domain of the bison-hunting Plains Indians to a society based in a market-agricultural economy.

If you missed your chance to learn about the birds and the bees back in the day, here’s your chance to catch up. In PSYC 205, students will study what is known about sexuality from various perspectives. Psychobiology, sexual development during childhood and adolescence, sexual interactions, love relationships and behavior, gender issues, sexual orientation, health issues and diseases, and sexual problems and solutions will be studied.

Primary emphasis will be placed on the individual and the couple as a unit of analysis. Class discussions of issues relating to human sexuality will be encouraged.

ANTH 153- The Anthropology of the Paranormal and Supernatural If there’s something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call?

College students lacking Proton Packs and Bill Murray, that’s who. The Anthropology of the Paranormal and Supernatural is an introductory course, where students examine a wide range of phenomena classified as supernatural or paranormal, using Western and non-Western perspectives, including scientific and popular culture theories.

Topics covered include witchcraft and magic, ghosts, extra-terrestrial beings, extra-sensory perception and crypto-

zoological organisms. Optional trips to locations associated with the paranormal and supernatural as well as lectures, readings and films comprise the semester. As a reminder, students should be aware any encounters with otherworldly beings must be handled with caution. The Ghostbusters will not be available to contain dangerous ectoplasm based beings, as Ghostbusters 3 is still in the production stage. This class is only offered during the fall semester.

HYPER 175- Fencing

There aren’t as many choreographed fight scenes or witty one-liners associated with fencing, but it’s still managed to attract a niche in the sporting world. Foil fencing will instruct students in the basic rules and techniques of foil fencing. Students will then utilize these skills in various fencing bouts throughout the semester. Students will also be taught the rules and procedures for refereeing foil fencing matches. So no, you can’t pretend you’re a Sith Lord and attempt to impale your opponent while simultaneously shouting you are the Senate.

ENGL 243- Literature of Science Fiction If you’ve ever wanted to journey to fantastic, faraway worlds without leaving the good ‘ole US of A, picking up a sci-fi novel is your best bet. In this course, students will examine the science fiction literature, beginning in 1960 and up to the present. Students will explore the unifying concepts of science and technology, depicted through imaginative narratives such as Dr. Who

and The Foundation. Students will also read short stories and/or novels, view science fiction films and discuss key science fiction concepts related to the material. Course material does not include journeying to the various exotic locations mentioned, so students will not be required to bring a Sonic Screwdriver, Elvish blade or other tools.

Contact David Hurtado, features editor, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.

Illustrations by Alyssa Jolitz

A meeting of the minds College debate team starts season strong

Jesse Nation and Blaire Warren prepare for a mock debate round. This is common before debate tournaments to flush out arguments and prepare counters. Photo by Laura Cobb

By David Hurtado In the modern age, where terms like “yolo” and “swag” are commonplace amongst the younger generation, older Americans might feel like the language is slowly being unraveled. Members of the college's debate team, however, are hardly such lazy speakers. Armed with re-

search and rhetoric, they engage their opponents with a silver tongue and arsenal of words befitting college level students.

Justin Stanley, debate team coach, said he was "very excited" at how the season is starting, noting the debaters have advanced to the elimination round at every tournament they've been to. The only challenges he said the team has en-

countered so far involve familiarizing themselves with this year's topic, the restriction of Presidential war powers, and being able to answer the arguments other people make throughout the seasons as they hear them.

“Each year is a new topic, so it brings a whole new set of challenges in terms of getting everybody on board with knowledge surrounding that topic, the research you have to do to construct the arguments and learning how other teams are going to read against you and preparing for those," Stanley said.

Over the Oct. 18-21 weekend, the team had a strong showing at the tournament championship at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Debaters Jesse Nation and Brenden Bower-Freeman finished 7-0 in the preliminaries and 3-0 in the semifinals. Tabi Narrelle and Blaire Warren finished 5-2 in the prelims and 2-1 in their semifinal round. Both teams advanced to the final round; but, since they were from the same school, they couldn’t debate each other and were thus named cochampions.

Warren, a second year debater on the

team, said one of the most important qualities for a debater to possess is selfconfidence.

"If you're confident, then the judges believe you a whole lot more and you'll believe your own arguments," Warren said. "It also helps if you enjoy speaking.

Debate can bring you out of your shell, but if you don't at least have an interest in it, then it's going to kind of drag."

Daniel Stout, Debate Team coach, said on off-weekends, the team generally meets for at least four or five hours with a coach working on different arguments, adapting them and working on specific scenarios that could play out at the next tournament.

"During the week, we have a lot of discussions about strategies and what we're going to be doing at the upcoming tournaments," Stout said. "We'll do practice speeches during the week as well. On an average week, our top three or four teams probably spend 20 to 30 hours at a minimum, working on different debate stuff, whether it be on their own time, reading and researching, or doing speaking drills."

SEE “DEBATE” ON PG 19

10 IN FOCUS

NOV. 7, 2013 VOL 36 ISSUE 6

Helping the

IN FOCUS 11

36 dollars $668 $632 81 households 213 persons to

containing

By Jessica Skaggs On average, 40 to 60 people a week visit the college's food pantry seeking donated items. There, they find canned foods, microwavable meals, as well as hygiene items and baby products.

The food pantry was originally established in November of 2011 by a former club known as Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), according to the college’s website. In an effort to raise awareness of hunger and encourage support for hunger relief in North America, Campbell's Soup Company issued the challenge, "Let's Can Hunger" to SIFE groups across the country. With the assistance of dean of business Lindy Robinson, the club became aware of the need within their area and created the college food pantry.

"The idea was to help students and faculty and community with access to a food pantry," Robinson said.

Although SIFE is no longer around, hunger relief remained a concern of Robinson. She said political science profesPhotos by Stephen Cook sor and Model UN team advisor Brian Wright, immediately accepted the re<<< JCAV-TV shows students sponsibility of maintaining and running how to find their way to the the pantry.

"I think the students on campus are college food pantry. interested in helping other students on

campus," Wright said. "It’s a great opportunity for those in need."

Prior to running the food pantry, the group had more of an off-campus presence, and had been seeking ways to get more involved in on-campus activities.

The pantry offered to not only help their community and fellow students, but also increase their presence on campus.

"They do a great job for us," Robinson said. "They manage to keep it organized and stocked. Sometimes Brian himself […] with the monetary donations, he goes to the grocery store and buys food and brings it in. But the students are doing a great job."

The pantry, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, is purposefully hidden away in the office space of OCB 272, as to ensure easy, self-serve access and privacy for anyone who is in need.

"We don't ask for identification […] all we ask for is, how many people are you feeding so we have an idea of how many people, but we don't ask for identification," Robinson said. "We know some of the people that are using the pantry aren't Johnson County students, but that's irrelevant to us, we don't really care; because they have a need. When we first started people would say well how are you going to monitor it? How are you

going to know whether they're students or not, I said I don’t really care. If they have a need, I don't care who they are. It makes no difference to me."

Model UN member, Elysia Chao, is planning on expanding the food pantry in both size and variety of resources.

"Right now it’s just, come in and grab whatever, oh we’re really low on that, we should buy more of that, and that's it […] it's not at its full potential," Chao said. "I think it can be a lot bigger."

However, community support is needed in order to make expansion possible.

"It's Johnson County so there's not many people who are dying of hunger," Chao said. "There are people who can't afford food all the time, especially students, and I've met people who have gone maybe like a day or two without food just because they couldn’t afford it."

Items such as canned protein, canned fruits and microwavable meals, are all highly sought after. Monetary donations can be written out to Model UN as well.

"We do have a lot of regular customers," Robinson said. "And I really believe we are providing a very valuable service to the campus and to the community."

Contact Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, at jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

Village Food Pantry works to help support the community away is through donations.

Prior to visiting the pantry, clients are screened over the telephone for their income and household size. They visit by appointment only, Webb said.

Clients are then able to go around the building and “shop”, selecting food and items based on household size. Clients are accompanied by a volunteer and are able to select the items that they want within the quantity guidelines.

The food pantry is limited in the number of new people that they take each month, according to Webb.

“Each week we take a few new families as

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from

WITH CHANGES, COLLEGE FOOD PANTRY CONTINUES TO ASSIST THOSE IN NEED

Serving about 530 families each month, the Village Food Pantry in Leawood, Kan. works year-round to help members in the community who may be going through a rough patch in their lives.

The food pantry is a free-standing building at 9960 Mission Rd, owned by Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kan. About 300 volunteers come out every month, according to Susan Webb, food pantry director.

Individuals may come two or three times a week while others may visit once during the year. Some have been volunteering at the pantry for 15 years.

Webb said everything the food pantry gives

the CAMPUSLEDGER For a family of four receiving food stamps, the maximum monthly benefit will fall

other people drop out because their life situation improves or they end up going somewhere else,” Webb said. “But we have no restrictions based on where a person lives, it’s strictly based on income levels.”

The vast majority of the clients that visit the food pantry are elderly, disabled or living alone off a disability check, Webb said.

Her favorite part about being a part of the food pantry is working with the people there.

“There’s a wide variety of people from all walks of life,” she said. “It’s just been wonderful to see everybody kind of working together and helping the community and helping each other

and we learn a lot from the people that come in here.”

The pantry does also receive feedback from clients.

“We get thank you notes from people sometimes that will call in and tell us about a rough patch they had for awhile and how they came here, maybe just for a few months, until they got back on their feet and what a difference it made in their lives,” Webb said.

Compiled by Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, scook35@jccc.edu.

reported literally homeless

(“Literally homeless” is defined as living on the streets, in cars, or in emergency shelter or transitional housing.)

4 persons

Student shares his experience of being homeless homeless again, until this year of Aug. 28, like two days after school started. I live over in Olathe now."

reported chronically homeless

(Chronically homeless is defined as having been homeless for more than one year or having had four or more episodes of homelessness in the past three years)

53%

of literally homeless persons counted were under

18 years old

What did you do during those times?

88%

of homeless households contain children

Since 2011, the number of literally homeless residents counted decreased

32%

Information courtesy of The Johnson County Continuum of Care on Homelessness point and count snapshot of homeless on the night of January 22, 2013.

FOOD STAMPS CUT While the holidays are approaching, stimulus provisions from 2009 are expiring.

According to Dave Helling of the Kansas City Star, food stamps, or otherwise known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have been cut this month, affecting one in seven people. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates 47 million Americans, or more than 23 million households are currently are assisted by SNAP. Due to the expiration of a provision in the 2009 stimulus bill, the cuts will affect approximately 15 percent of Missourians, and nearly 11 percent of Kansans.

States across the country have been attempting to get the word out about the cuts.

According to Allison Linn of CNBC, the Department for Children and Families in Kansas have done so by providing recipients with an estimate of what their reduction could look like, as well as notifying partners within the community that they are to expect a demand for their services.

Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks, issued a statement on Sept.

14 in response to the program reductions, illustrating not only its disappointment, but also its concerns for those affected, “charity absolutely cannot make up for this substantial cut to federal food assistance. Millions of our most vulnerable neighbors will be at increased risk of hunger if these cuts become a reality.”

Contact Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, at jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

Donald Armstrong now works as a student ambassador at the college. Photo by Gabe Alejos What were some of the events that led up to you being homeless?

"I've been homeless three times in the past three years I've been here. Starting from the beginning, once I left my high school to come up here for college, I was staying with my grandfather for a while, and during that […] time our aunt decided to move in with her six kids and her boyfriend and it was a two-bedroom house. So you can see where this is kind of going and it kind of drove my grandpa bonkers, so he moved into an old-folks home and then I come home that night, and my aunt saying she was moving out the next day and I hopefully have a place to stay. Yeah, it was kind of a bummer. So that's what started the first homeless streak.

And during that time, it was like a month before I got my own place .

Second time, it was about this time again, my job cut my hours severely, and it was like the last month of my lease, and I was in a small apartment by myself, $650 for rent, actually it was like $584 but after bills it was like $650 all by myself and I was doing it well, until they cut my hours. So that fell through so I lost my house on my last month of my lease. Yeah. It was literally like the week before the lease was over. It was horrible. And so that was the second time.

So from there I was homeless until about Jan. 23, where I moved to Lawrence, and I was living with a friend's friend. And stayed there till like July 17, my roommate burnt down my house. He was smoking in his bed and he put it on the head stand, it caught his mattress on fire. It caught the rest of the house on fire, and I lost everything. So

"Well a lot of people were like, 'come stay with me, come stay with me,' I really don't like being a burden on other people, so I was like, 'oh I got a place to stay, I got a place to say,' when truth was I was just walking around at night, and finding things to do.

Like I lost a lot of weight in the period of time I've been up here because I spent a lot of time just walking around at night."

Where did you sleep?

"I didn’t. I kind of didn't sleep at night.

I walked around, kept moving so I didn't feel like a bum, or a hobo or a homeless person. It was all about the mind thing for me.

If I can feel like I'm not just hopeless on the street, that I can keep going on and moving forward. So I took my naps here at the school in the morning. I had people keep my clothes before my house burnt down, like the first two times, people had like I kept my clothes at someone's house and like I would go there in the morning and change clothes and take a shower so I didn’t smell super bad, because that's part of not being a hobo.

Not smelling or looking the part. So after that, like that's how I slept, and managed my time during time off. So I'm not saying it was like, 'oh yeah I was happy to be homeless,' because it stinks. But, you got to do what you got to do."

Where were you working while you were homeless?

"I had a job at the Boston Market, right across the street before like the first time I was homeless, and the reason why I was homeless the second time was because my job didn’t give me enough money, and that's before I started working here at the college.

So […] that was the second time it was like a transition between that job and this job and now I have this job when my house burned down in Lawrence, and it’s been a really big help here."

What made you want to get involved with working on campus?

"I love it here. I specifically chose to come here because we have a community college

back in Hutchinson Kansas, and it didn’t have any culinary or anything of that sort that I wanted. But I was also thinking of becoming a teaching major, which they have a pretty okay program there for that also, but I came up here, I saw the way it looked, I saw how people treated me, and I was like, 'man I like this place, so that’s why. I wanted to become more involved. I want to be the reason why people are like, 'Hey, I like this place.'"

What would you say you learned the most from being homeless?

"The most, keep your head up, because even though things, like bumpy things come along, if you like, keep a good enough attitude, it won't destroy you. Just if you keep going for the goal you have in mind, that nothing should be able to stay in your way."

Were there any specific resources that were available to you, did you go to any shelters, or food pantries?

"Sometimes I would browse for food from the food pantry up here, but I felt bad.

I still was making money at the time, so I could buy my own food, and I felt that, it was for people who really couldn’t afford it, or anything like that. Because me, yeah I was homeless, but I was still okay. While some people can’t even afford the food, can't get the food so I just let that be. And I didn't go to a shelter, because I'm a hard head, and I didn't want to feel like I was homeless. I would have never thought I would've been homeless, it's just like me and my family have been uprooted a lot since we were young, so I'm used to moving around like that. But never thought I would've been homeless. But when it happens, it happens, and if you just panic and crumble, then you become like some of the other guys on the street you see today. There the guys who lost hope. Who didn't see they had a future, so, you can’t be one of those guys. I got to make something out of myself."

What would you say to people who are struggling?

"Well for my fellow strugglers out there, like I said before, the storm doesn’t last always, so just ride it through. That's all I got to say."

Compiled by Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

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ETC

13

CAMPUS CAV-CON Students participate at Cav-Con as part of Geek Week sponsored by Student Activities

Joe Hoffman plays the theme song to Final Fantasy during his presentation on the history of video game music during Cav-Con.

A group of students plays Super Smash Bros in the student lounge during CavCon. There were many different video, card and table games available to play.

Photos by Gabe Alejos

Cavalier: Q&A

Tyler Robertson plays the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game with friends in the student lounge during Cav-Con. The Cav-Con event played host to video and card games.

Which superhero do you most identify with?

Claudia Houghton

Cayla Cushing

Preston Simmons

Nathan Wagner

Caleb Adegoke

“It might be kind of strange, but Deadpool. He’s kind of like an anti-hero, but he’s random and I’m very random. He’s inappropriate and that’s kind of who I am.”

“I’d have to say I identify a lot with Raven from Teen Titans. She’s really cool and dark. It’s great, I love her.

I plan on cosplaying her at some point. She’s just a cool character. She has this cool back story where her dad’s a demon. I love it.”

“I most identify with Deadpool. He’s a Marvel anti-hero; he does good things, but sometimes they’re not really the wisest decisions. He used to be a bad guy back in the 90s killing people, mercenary work. You know, talking them to death so they shoot themselves.”

“Captain America. I just like him for his looks; I don’t know if I have the looks, but I try to. I like his strength and all that, due to not being strong. Captain America all the way.”

“Batman. [...] He’s a regular human who is put in tough situations and uses the resources that he has to his advantage. If you ask me, he is the most quintessential superhero of all time. [...] I went through some tough times in my life, born a Sickle Cell patient. When I was going through that struggle, I really identified with the idea of not staying down for long.”

Photos by Laura Cobb Compiled by David Hurtado, features editor, dhurtado@jccc.edu

14 OPINION

NOV. 7, 2013 VOL 36

ISSUE 6

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

ADVISER

Gabe Alejos Photo correspondent galejos1@jccc.edu

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.

“GRADUATION” CONT. FROMPAGE 3.

Additional students may not declare a major that has been discontinued.

The college has an Educational Affairs committee to choose these requirements, comprised of faculty representatives from cross-sections across campus, who control the courses and curriculum.

However, it has been debated whether these regulations are too strictly enforced upon students for them to receive their degrees or certificates.

“I plan on transferring to another school for dental hygiene, probably

UMKC,” said Jane Heinen, student.

“It’s harder to meet the requirements here than at UMKC; it’s more difficult to get into the program here.”

Nevertheless, the college believes its strict standards make the final diploma or certificate worth something.

“The committee and faculty believe that a college degree or certificate is something very meaningful, and it’s intended to represent that we are authenticating that you, as a student, have learned this body of knowledge,” Quinn said. “So it is very important that we be very rigorous in those standards and make sure that our certificates and

degrees that students can earn really mean something. And that is why we are very careful about monitoring and overseeing the courses and curriculum through that faculty-led committee because the degrees should be a reflection of what we, the faculty, believe students need to learn in order to earn that credential.”

For more information about graduation, visit http://www.jccc.edu/records/ graduation/index.html.

Contact Farhin Lilywala, news editor, at flilywal@jccc.edu.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR NEW, REDESIGNED WEBSITE: CAMPUSLEDGER. COM

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OPINION 15

STAFF EDITORIAL

Looking at the future of higher education It is an interesting idea to think of what the future of education holds.

With the popularity of online classes, will we start to see actual on-campus attendance start to dwindle? What will community colleges look like in 10 years? Will our college continue to expand or will it start to shrink due to less enrollment in face to face classes?

According to the Sloan Consortium article “Online Nation: Five Years of Growth in Online Learning” two-year associate’s institutions, like the college, have the highest growth rates in online enrollment and that they account for over one-half of all online enrollments.

COLUMN

By Stephen Cook

By Jessica Skaggs

the course.

In 2012 eight prefixes of classes saw success rates of online classes that were lower, by greater than 10 percent, than in classrooms. While there were just three prefixes of classes which saw a higher online success rate, by greater than 10 percent, compared to on campus classes. The eight classes that saw the lower success rates were all very hands on classes, where it is hard to learn from just reading a book and sitting behind a computer screen. For example foreign languages need classroom interactions and practice with a real person to be able to understand

and be proficient in a new language.

With the future bringing us seemingly closer to a faceless society, it is important that we maintain that sense of humanity in a classroom setting. Even though the college may be perfectly ready to run many classes online, we must step back and think about it.

The number of colleges reporting that online classes are important to their long-term strategy is nearing 70 percent according to the Sloan Consortium, the highest in a 10 year period. Just 10 years ago it was less than 50 percent.

It is not a question of if we can, but a question of if we should.

Happy holidays not so happy

Considering the significance of a little kindness

With the h o l i d a y s quickly approaching, the weather, the music on the radio and front yard decorations are all about to change. Unfortunately, those aren’t the only things that change seasonally.

It also seems people become something else during the holidays. I don’t know if it is their alter egos coming out or if the commercial madness just turns everyone into retail zombies.

It begins immediately – now that Halloween is over all attention is turned toward the upcoming festivities. First is Thanksgiving, a time when it is accept-

COLUMN

Between 2010 and 2012 alone the college added 103 online class sections while losing 129 on campus sections, according to college distance learning reports. In 2012 the total number of credit hours that were online classes was 16 percent, which is up 3.9 percent from 2010, and it will only continue to grow in the future.

Although the abilities of technology are wonderful, there is something special about forming relationships in a classroom setting. Students are able to connect with their professors, as well as their classmates, in order to overcome challenges that may arise throughout

able to gorge yourself and then turn around and buy more stuff on Black Friday, despite you supposedly being thankful for what you already have.

Then begins the downward spiral towards Christmas and New Year’s holidays: shoppers fill the malls and parking lots, overflowing in a way that would never indicate that the current employment rate is 7.2 percent and many families are still hurting economically.

Ironically, there isn’t much “happy” during the holidays for some individuals. Seasonal affective disorder (or SAD), is also known as the “Winter Blues” and can wind up “sapping your energy and making you feel moody,” according to the Mayo Clinic. The holidays tend to be a time of extreme emo-

tional highs and lows.

When you’re out and about, or even with friends and family, do your best to be kind and courteous to others no matter the circumstances. During this time of year, you never know what somebody may be going through.

Working in retail can give you a unique perspective of the world. I can tell you from personal experience that just a little bit of kindness to a random Price Chopper worker can go a long way; especially during the holidays.

In short, treat others as you would want to be treated.

If everyone took a deep breath and thought about the real importance of that flat screen TV or Xbox One they are running over other human beings to get, then this world would be a very

different place.

For all you know, your house could go up in flames the very next day; every gift and every steal-of-a-deal would be gone. Would you care about all that or would you care that your family or friends got out safely?

As much as the celebration and thanksgiving that goes on during the holidays should be year-round, so should your kindness to other people.

After all, everything you know could change in a matter of seconds – treasure what matters most, not fleeting, material objects.

In 10 years will you remember the deals you got or the people you spent time with?

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

Help and support surround you

Life is full of stepping stones.

And for many students, attending this college is a stepping stone of sorts. For some, it’s a stop before going head first into a four-year university. For others, it’s an opportunity to build a better career, or a chance to simply continue to learn.

Stepping stones are needed to build the path we each choose to follow. However, sometimes there are stumbling blocks that cause delay in our journey. Unemployment, hunger, depression, anxiety, loneliness, stress,

grief and fear, to name a few.

But I adamantly believe no one is meant to face obstacles alone.

In the last couple of weeks, I watched a very close friend go through immense heartache. She lost one of her high school friends, Brad Cook. Or as she always referred to him, Brad O’Billy boy.

Although I never knew Brad, I wish I could have met him.

Friends, family and complete strangers volunteered countless hours and resources searching for Brad. And when the fullness of tragedy set in, they didn’t leave.

At least 300 people were in attendance at Cook’s funeral Monday afternoon. Mixed looks of grief, shock and gratitude were evident on his family

and friends faces.

I thankfully have never been close with death. Even still a part of me only can only grasp the word, and not the reality of it. These last few weeks however, have only solidified my beliefs that life was never meant to be lived solitarily.

Since I have been on staff, I have become more aware of the various resources and opportunities within this place called a community college.

From food pantries, to internships and counseling, this college has a lot to offer. Even the controversial reading corequisite ultimately sought to better academic careers of students unable to successfully read at the college level.

And although as an institution, it may

have its flaws, there is without a doubt a motive to improve the lives of all students who walk through the doors.

So take advantage of what this college has to give. You’re not weird or strange or a burden for doing so. Johnson County and this college are brimming with resources and people who are willing to help you. Don’t try to do life alone. Alone is overwhelming. Talk with a friend, a counselor, or even with your favorite professor.

The stumbling blocks of life are far easier to overcome with good company.

Contact Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, at jskaggs4@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

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Sports Calendar Cross Country Saturday, Nov. 9 NJCAA Cross Country Championship Saturday, Nov. 16 NJCAA Half Marathon Championship

Volleyball 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 v. Mid-America Nazarene in Overland Park, KS Saturday, Nov. 9 District Championship Tournament in Overland Park, KS

Women’s Soccer 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 NJCAA Region VI Semifinal in Topeka, KS 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 8 NJCAA Region VI Final in Topeka, KS Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 14-17 NJCAA National Championship in Melbourne, FL

Men’s Soccer 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 NJCAA Region VI Semifinal in Topeka, KS 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8 NJCAA Region VI Final in Topeka, KS Tuesday-Sunday, Nov. 19-24 NJCAA National Championship in Tyler, TX

Men’s Basketball 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12 v. Hutchison Community College 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 v. Butler Community College 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 v. Ottawa University JV

Women’s Basketball 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13 v. Central Methodist University JV 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17 v. William Penn University JV

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SPORTS 17

Cavs find remedy to injury bug Roster depth and conditioning improved start to season

By Mac Moore Every player is out of breath, running full speed as the scoreboard above the basketball court shows 15 seconds left on the clock. There is no let up for the Cavaliers even though there isn’t another team on the court. The scoreboard is counting down the final practice drill, and the players know they can’t let up here or in the game.

“We definitely are in better shape than last year’s squad,” said sophomore guard Pat Jones. “I know I worked harder during the summer and Coach definitely put more emphasis on it.”

The men’s basketball team doesn’t want a repeat of last year. After starting out 9-12, the team dropped eight of their last nine games. The huge drop-off to end the year was definitely a disappointment for the group.

“The sophomores kind of became complacent, not really wanting to finish the year,” Jones said. “A lot of it had to do with injuries and a couple guys weren’t eligible at the end of semester.

By the end of the season we had a walkon starting so it definitely wasn’t ideal.”

Injuries were a sizable problem for the team. By the end of the season, the team was practicing with eight players, two of which were walk-ons. The point guard position was non-existent as the season came to a tough close.

“We didn’t have anybody,” said Coach Mike Jeffers. “Once Arvaughn Baker went out for the year, and Pat Jones was in-and-out. Yeah, we had some point guard issues.”

Last year’s leading scorer Christian Hildebrandt, now attending Texas-Pan America, was a wing player that had to convert to a point forward that brought the ball up the court. That hindered the

offense as Hildebrandt was unable to focus on setting himself up in scoring position.

Jeffers believes that if the team can avoid the injury bug better this year, the team has cleared up the point guard issues from last season. Jones, who had to take the point guard position out of necessity when healthy last year, will be looking to score this year.

“That gives us flexibility with Pat, having him play that last year,” Jeffers said.

“He’ll play off-guard, looking to catch and shoot. The point guard is thinking ‘I need to set someone up’.

Pat needs to think ‘I need to score.’”

Jones might be the goto-guy, but he also will not Freshmen Joseph Henry goes up for a lay up during the have to be a one man show home game against Baker University on Oct. 15. The with the depth of this roster. men’s basketball team won 68 to 66. Photo by Mike Abell “We’ll probably have all five starters score double before transferring to JCCC. Oakes bedigit points. We’ll be pretty solid from lieves that experience will not matter as top to bottom,” Jones said. much as the season progresses.

Transfer sophomore Preston Oakes “Our team chemistry keeps buildadded that roster depth will relieve ing every day,” Oakes said. “We need some of the scoring pressure from not to keep building on that, keep gelling. just Jones, but the rest of the players.

We’ve had a lot of guys playing so we “We know if one person is not on are trying to find which guys play well with a shooting night, we got some together. We’re not the biggest team so people that will pick them up,” Oakes we are going to have to play fast and said. “We’ve got some good freshman quick so we just [have] to adapt to the that will produce some numbers, a lot style of play that we’ll play this year.” of guys that will contribute to the team.”

Much like the injury plagued returnContact Mac Moore, sports editor, at ing sophomores, Oakes played limited mmoore82@jccc.edu. time for University of Central Missouri

Sports Briefs Cross Country

Men’s Soccer 12-6

Women’s Soccer 17-2-1

The women’s cross country team won its third consecutive Region VI championship. Freshman Paige Miller finished best on the team with sixth, freshman Katie Nelson got eighth while sophomore Michala Ruder earned ninth. The men’s team had a sixth place finish with freshman getting the top finish for the Cavaliers at 23rd.

The Cavaliers beat Allen Community College 4-1 on Nov. 3. The team was led by two goals from freshman Jorge Rivero. Rivero tops the team with 18 goals on the season.

After finishing off the regular season at 162-1, the Lady Cavs beat Dodge City 9-0 in the opening round of the Region VI tournament. Freshman Courtney Hughes scored five of the goals, sophomore Kelsey Wakefield got two, sophomore Christy Tran and freshman Katie Metscher earned one apiece.

The team will face Barton in the semifinal round on Nov. 7.

18 SPORTS

SPORTS COLUMN

NOV. 7, 2013 VOL 36

ISSUE 6

Bullying extends to NFL ranks

Player suspended from league for harassing teammate

By Mac Moore

Miami Dolphins starting guard Richie Incognito has been indefinitely suspended for bullying fellow player Jonathan Martin. Reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter show a voicemail message that Incognito left for Martin where he used a racial epithet, threatens physical abuse, and the final line gave all the information needed to make any argument of context moot, “I’ll kill you.”

The discussion brought up because of the situation has been all over the map. Football players live by a different code, Martin should have stood up for

himself, snitches get stitches and yada yada on the list of machismo crap.

The truth is, football players do live by a different code. The standards for bullying set forth for school children will be different than we set for NFL players. A football team is a group of 50 alpha males that work together for the one goal of physically abusing another group of 50 alpha males once a week.

The things they say and do to each other will definitely break the reformed definition of bullying that we are trying to teach currently.

I played football in junior high and high school. It is a very testosterone fueled environment; it is also a very united environment. Many of the things we did would be frowned upon in school, at work, or anywhere within the general public. Instead of those things hurting us, they made us closer, more like a family.

New York Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara had a great point when discussing this with the media on Monday. He looked at the incident in comparison to the hazing he experienced as a rookie, specifically teammate Jason Pierre-Paul dunking him in a cold tub.

The conclusion he came to was that his experience wouldn’t be considered bullying. He said none of it truly made him feel unsafe. What Incognito did was not the same.

Just from the Incognito voicemail, his actions don’t deserve the reactionary defense that he got from people.

Once you threaten someone’s life, the nuance of the relationships on a football team means little.

Some of Incognito’s previous actions could be considered a red flag. Going back to his freshman year at Nebraska, every team he has been on have cut ties with him for his attitude. Incognito was named the “Dirtiest Player” from a players’ vote in both 2009 and second in 2012, although some players have taken this as a badge of honor, including Incognito.

What’s really scary is that everybody thought he was reformed. The dirtiest player honor seemed to take a backdoor to his Pro Bowl nomination and co-ownership of Miami’s “Good Guy” award, given out by the Pro Football Writers Association for a player that best helps the media do its job. Apparently he just got better a faking it in front of the camera.

The only thing that is really in question is how much the team knew about it. The truth about Incognito didn’t really come up until a lunchroom incident caused Martin to up and leave the team. Theoretically the bullying of Martin might have not of come to light until now. Martin might have been too afraid to talk to coaches and other team

leaders about the verbal and emotional abuse.

This seems much more unlikely after the Dolphins responded to media about the situation. Wide receiver Mike Wallace said that nothing about the atmosphere with the team seemed out of the ordinary. Coach Joe Philbin said that he would take full responsibility if there were any problems. No one in the Dolphins organization addressed the voicemail that was already made public.

From the early reports, there are also laundry lists of texts from Incognito to Martin that haven’t been released to the public yet. When all is said in done, Incognito will have a hard time getting on another team, no matter what way he shows that he becomes reformed.

It’s the rest of the Dolphins team that won’t be sure about their future, including Coach Philbin and General Manager Jeff Ireland. Their answers on Monday were less than satisfactory. If the evidence proves that the bullying and harassment was more public, don’t expect the Dolphins front office to look as familiar next season.

Contact Mac Moore, sports editor, at mmoore82@jccc.edu.

Cavalier Star Watch: Dylan Wagenbaur Sophomore Dylan Wagenbaur scored the icing goal in the first round of the Region VI tournament. The team beat Allen Community College 4-1 on Nov. 3. That goal was Wagenbaur’s fourth of the season. He also leads the team in assists with nine.

Team Goals

Obviously make it into the tournament, make it to nationals if we can.

Personal Goals

Do whatever it takes to make this team win. School-wise I’m looking at physical therapy and transferring to KU.

Photo by Mike Abell

Dream Job

Physical therapist

What distinguishes this team from others?

We are kind of under the radar. All the other teams have played big games, but we’ve lost to some bad teams. Everyone kind of just thinks we’ve had a couple good games, but I think we are more talented than some of our other games have shown.

Favorite Artist

I’d say right now Eminem, listening to the new album.

Team strengths and weaknesses

When we are working the ball around and possessing it, I don’t think we have a weakness. When we start trying to do things individually, that’s when we start having problems.

Favorite Movie Dark Knight Rises

Compiled by Mac Moore, sports editor, at mmoore82@jccc.edu.

the CAMPUSLEDGER

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“TECH” CONT. FROM PAGE 3 Cody believes that more presence and increased visibility of the college’s programs in high schools would help to bring in more students who are interested in the field.

“I would like to see more promotion,” Cody said. “Get more people understanding all the things we do here.”

Melcher first realized the scope of the issue a couple of years ago while working together with a group of local business leaders during the Google Fiber announcement for Kansas City. Out of the group came a greater realization about the local workforce.

“What we discovered is all that of these companies had a similar problem and that was they couldn’t find the talent that they needed and the numbers to be able to grow their companies,” Melcher said.

Having always been interested in education, Melcher wanted to figure out a way to do something about the problem.

Ultimately, this program will also allow for greater earnings, according to Melcher, since they will already have two more years of experience under their belts. After graduating from high school, students could either jump right into the workforce or decide to at-

tend a university, such as the local KU Edwards Campus, to complete their bachelor’s degree.

Working with local institutions would allow students to get all of their education locally, allowing them to live at home and work as they please, according to Melcher.

“That’s a lot of coordination,” college president Joe Sopcich said. “But at the end of the day it’s worth it for the student who can benefit from that quick progression of going to school, getting credit, and getting a job.”

Melcher believes one of the reasons young people aren’t excited about math and science is because they had a poor learning experience during their K – 12 years. A way to help solve this is to ensure there are better educators in those fields, rewarding those that are most effective – more funding won’t improve the situation, according to Melcher.

Additionally, Melcher believes there is a misunderstanding of the importance of the field.

“I don’t think the general public realizes, number one, how many technology jobs are out there and secondly, I think they kind of mis-characterize those as being the guys with the thick glasses and ponytails that nobody wants to talk to,” Melcher said. “You’re

going to find that these are really sharp people, they’re fun people, they’re not just the guys that you slide a pizza under the door and you never talk to.”

Since these individuals are in “extraordinarily high demand,” that drives compensation up, and it’s not unusual to find workers making over $100,000 a year within the first several years of employment, according to Melcher.

The timeline for the program isn’t currently developed, as many different parties and entities must be on board before the project can move forward, he said. High schools, community colleges, universities as well as state governing bodies will have to work together and discover what barriers there might be and what legislative changes might need to be made.

“I don’t think it’s going to happen overnight,” Melcher said. “But what I hope to be is the catalyst to keep this thing moving, because it’s real easy to have great ideas that just fall by the wayside; that happens far too often.

We’ve got to have people that are driving the process to keep it moving forward.”

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

ETC 19

“DEBATE’ CONT. FROM PAGE 9

At the college level, each tournament is typically comprised of six or eight rounds over a three day period of time.

The first two days of competition are the preliminary rounds. Each of these rounds consist of various affirmative and negative speeches that either argue a change should take place or a change should be rejected. At the end, the judge has to make a decision about which team had the better argument. The final day is reserved for out-rounds.

Nation, also a second year debater, said his favorite part of the season so far was taking first at the Vegas tournament.

He comes from a background in high school debate, having three years of experience on his high school team.

“Me and my partner, we plan on clearing at CEDA, which is the giant national tournament at the end of the year,” Nation said. “It won’t be the first time, last year we had a team do it and we kind of want to keep that tradition alive of Johnson County always having a team that clears at the biggest national tournament at the end of the year. When you clear, that means you get to go to out rounds, which less than half the teams are able to do.”

Contact David Hurtado, features editor, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.

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