The Blaze - February 2014

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A Publication of The Chronicle for Centralia College Since 2012 • www.centraliablaze.com

State Board Approves New Bachelor’s Degree

By The Blaze

Centralia College’s second bachelor’s degree program crossed a major hurdle Feb. 6 as the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges provided its muchneeded endorsement.

The bachelor’s of applied science in diesel program is expected to be a reality by fall quarter, though more approvals are needed before that can happen.

Associate dean of the college’s baccalaureate programs, Larry McGee, said that the state board’s approval was vital.

“The state board has the specific responsibility to approve any new program and

“This is a rigorous degree program that is one of only four in the entire United States and the only one on the West Coast.”

Larry McGee

associate dean of the college’s baccalaureate programs

while we have other important hurdles that will be addressed, this approval is huge,” he said in a press release.

“This is a rigorous degree program that is one of only four

in the entire United States and the only one on the West Coast.

This gives us the green light to proceed to the next step,” he added.

The state board approves

bachelor’s degrees offered by twoyear colleges, sets high standards for program quality and outlines specific steps to follow before approval is granted. The board gave its unanimous approval after lengthy review.

The college will now work to secure approval from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, according to the release.

Inquiries from students interested in the program already are being accepted.

“We appreciate very much the support from our community and the great effort on this by so many people.” Jim Walton, president of Centralia College, said. “We also very much

appreciate the work of the state board and the committee that worked with us to move this program along.”

The BASD is designed for those who have earned a twoyear degree in diesel technology, but lack training in some more advanced areas of diesel technology or the broader management-related education needed to move into leadership positions.

For additional information on the Centralia College Bachelor of Applied Science in Diesel or the Bachelor of Applied Science in Management, visit the college’s website: http://bachelors.centralia.edu/, or contact McGee at lmgee@centralia.edu.

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State AGs Investigating For-Profit Education Firms

By The Associated Press

Attorneys general for more than a dozen states have ordered several for-profit education companies to turn over information on the firms' business practices.

ITT Educational Services Inc., Corinthian Colleges Inc., Career Education Corp. and Education Management Corp. disclosed in early February that they had received subpoenas or civil investigative demands

from a group of state attorneys general.

The inquiries are broad, covering student lending, advertising and recruitment, graduate certification and licensing, and graduation and job placement rates, according to the companies' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For-profit education companies are facing public criticism and regulatory scrutiny over high drop-out rates, grad-

uates' poor job prospects and the high debt levels of its students. Enrollments have also been shrinking for years in response to tighter regulation and the modest economic recovery.

Career Education, based in Schaumburg, Ill., runs schools including Le Cordon Bleu North America and Colorado Technical University.

Santa Ana, Calif.-based Corinthian Colleges runs schools under the Everest, WyoTech

and Heald brands.

Pittsburgh-based Education Management's schools include Argosy University and Brown Mackie College. ITT Educational Services, which is based in Carmel, Ind., runs its namesake institutes and Daniel Webster College.

Among the states identified as being part of the probe: Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Ten-

nessee and Washington.

The four companies said that they plan to cooperate with the states involved.

Career Education ended regular trading down 35 cents, or nearly 6 percent, at $5.72 on Monday, while shares of Education Management tumbled 97 cents, or 10 percent, to $8.70.

ITT Educational Services fell 40 cents to $41.01. Shares in Corinthian Colleges dipped 2 cents to $1.55.

State Senate Approves Immigrant Financial Aid Bill OLYMPIA (AP) — The Washington state Senate has approved a measure to expand college financial aid to include students who were brought to the state illegally as children.

Senate Bill 6523 passed on a 35-10 bipartisan vote and now heads to the House for consideration. The measure requires students to have received a high school diploma or equivalent in WashingLegislature ton state and to have lived 2014 in the state for at least three years beforehand.

"The key to a good future is a good education," said Sen. Barbara Bailey, a Republican from Oak Harbor who is chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee. "We want all who reside in Washington state to have a good education and a good future."

Senate Minority Leader Sharon Nelson, D-Maury Is-

“No one should have the doors closed to their dream university because they cannot get financial aid when they have grown up here.”

Sen. Sharon Nelson

Senate minority leader

land, said that the vote was a day that "children in the state have waited for."

"No one should have the doors closed to their dream university because they cannot get financial aid when they have grown up here," she said.

The chamber rejected a proposed amendment by Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, that would have had the measure expire after four years, and which would have required students to have been granted temporary permission to stay in the U.S. under an Obama administration policy — known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA. The Senate measure, called

the "Real Hope Act," is nearly identical to the so-called Washington Dream Act, House Bill 1817, which passed out of the House on a bipartisan vote on the first day of the legislative session earlier this month. The measure expands state financial aid for college students in the country without legal status. The House version didn't identify a funding source for the measure, but the Senate proposal allocates $5 million through June 30, 2015, from the state's general fund to pay for the financial aid payments under the state need-grant program.

The Senate measure was sponsored by Bailey, fellow Re-

publican Sens. Joe Fain, Andy Hill, Steve Litzow, Bruce Dammeier and Majority Leader Rodney Tom, the Democratic leader of the predominantly Republican Majority Coalition Caucus. The caucus initially said the measure wasn't a priority but reversed course this week.

"This is really making sure all kids have the keys to hope, that all kids have the keys to opportunity, that all kids have the keys to the American dream," Tom said during the floor debate.

During the floor debate, Democrats referred to the measure as the Dream Act, while Bailey reminded the floor that the Senate measure was now called the Real Hope Act. Gov. Jay Inslee, who was in the Senate wings after the vote, didn't indicate a preference for one name over another, just saying that it was "a clear delight" that the measure passed.

"What is real hope is a real Washington kid getting a real college education," he said. "Any way that gets done is great. And it is going to get done."

Rep. Zack Hudgins, a Democrat from Tukwila who sponsored the House bill, said that the House is ready to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions and will talk about next steps in the coming days.

"This is one of our top priorities, and I'm glad the Senate decided to pick up the policy," he said.

If the bill is passed by the House and signed into law, Washington would become the fifth state in the country to approve state financial aid for college students illegally in the country. California, Texas, New Mexico and Illinois have passed similar legislation.

The Senate also approved, on a unanimous vote Friday, a measure that allows students who are National Guard members or on active military duty, as well as their spouses and children, to pay in-state resident tuition rates. That measure also heads to the House for consideration.

Michigan College Offers Course in Zombies and the Apocalypse MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Some Central Michigan University students are getting schooled in the undead this semester, thanks to a religion course that's exploring apocalyptic themes in biblical texts, literature and pop culture.

Philosophy and religion faculty member Kelly Murphy says she always wanted to teach a course on apocalyptic literature, and she is a fan of AMC's TV show "The Walking Dead."

The result is Murphy's class, which is called "From Revelation to 'The Walking Dead.'"

"Thinking about the end and imagining life in a different way is something that humans have always done," Murphy said in a university release.

Murphy's class will discuss biblical texts, review popular novels and watch clips from movies such as "Shaun of the Dead" and "28 Days Later."

“Studying ancient biblical texts isn’t most people’s cup of tea. But, when you add zombies, it instantly becomes everyone’s cup of tea.”

Kevin White

student

Christina Kurtz / The Associated Press

Students also will discuss hypothetical ethical and theological problems that people could encounter in a post-apocalyptic world.

"The prevalence of apocalyptic stories in various media gives us a window into what people are worrying about, what they hope for and how they imagine they would react in the face of a cataclysmic event," Murphy said. "In the same way, we can read the Book of Revelation ... and learn what ancient Jewish and Christian

New Jersey University Offers Course Studying Beyonce NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — Beyonce is one of the world's most scrutinized pop stars, and now that study is moving to academia.

The Department of Women's and Gender Studies at Rutgers University is offering a course called "Politicizing Beyonce."

Kevin Allred, a doctoral student who is teaching the class, tells the university's online news site that he is using Beyonce's career as a way to explore American race, gender

and sexual politics.

The class supplements an analysis of Beyonce's videos and lyrics with readings from black feminists. Allred says he's seeking to help students think more critically about media consumption.

Rutgers also has a class examining the theology of Bruce Springsteen's lyrics.

Georgetown University has a class called "The Sociology of Hip-Hop: The Urban Theodicy of Jay-Z," focusing on Beyonce's rapper husband.

groups were concerned about."

Kevin White, a senior from the Detroit suburb of St. Clair Shores majoring in political science and religion, said it is important to incorporate popular culture into classroom settings because it helps to give students a way to connect with subjects of study.

"Studying ancient biblical texts isn't most people's cup of tea," he said. "But, when you add zombies, it instantly becomes everyone's cup of tea."

In a photo provided by Central Michigan Univserity, Kelly Murphy, a philosophy and religion faculty member at Central Michigan University, teaches a religion course titled "From Revelation to 'The Walking Dead'."

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COMING EVENTS Mark your calendar!

ECONOMIC REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

Craig Braemer, a Union Bank representative, will offer an informed perspective on the 2014 economic outlook. FREE.

Thursday, February 6 • 5:00 p.m.

Lingreen Auditorium, Natural Science Center (Centralia College Campus)

JOHN STEWART

U&ME: COMMUNICATING IN MOMENTS THAT MATTER

Improve the quality of your life by improving your everyday communication. FREE.

Wednesday, February 12 • 1:00 to 1:50 p.m.

Washington Hall, Room 103 (Centralia College Campus)

A CLASS ACT

Monday, February 24 • 5:00 p.m.

Wickstrom Studio Theatre (Centralia College Campus)

Friday, March 7 • 5:00 p.m.

Washington Hotel (dowtown Chehalis)

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE

Saturday, March 1 • Apply online now! http://www.centralia.edu/ezmoney

FOUNDATION NIGHT AT THE OLY CLUB

Come in and dine with us! Fifty percent of the proceeds benefits Centralia College scholarships!

Tuesday, March 18 • 5:00 p.m.

McMenamin’s Olympic Club (dowtown Centralia)

For more information: 360.736.9391, ext. 290 • foundation@centralia.edu foundation.centralia.edu/events.html

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Dr. Nels Hansen, Dr. Hank Kirk and Dr. James Walton share their memories of a legacy of service. FREE.

THE ROSE ROOM MURDER MYSTERY DINNER

Catered by Mackinaws. Co-sponsored by the CC Foundation and Twin Cities Rotary Club. Net proceeds benefit Centralia College scholarships. Tickets are $50 each, available at Book ‘n Brush, Chehalis, and Heymann Whinery, Centralia.

Contact us at editor@centraliablaze.com

By Taylor Tryon The Blaze

Dear Taylor, Will you be my valentine?

Sincerely, Hopelessly in Love Dear Hopeless, No. What I can do is try to give you some advice on how to find someone who will.

In college, people are often so wrapped up in the madness of classes, homework and studying that they forget to branch out and explore the new social scene surrounding them.

That’s where you come in, as the rare one of the bunch that allows your confident, suave side to pour out. You know that person who always catches your

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ask taylor

eye around campus? Go up to them tomorrow and say hello.

Avoid being overly aggressive, or you’ll just come off as creepy. Instead, smile, introduce yourself and let the conversation flow naturally. Your heart may be hammering inside, but remember this: everyone gets nervous venturing outside of their comfort zone, and everyone begins as strangers.

There is always the chance that you could very well approach the person at a bad time and be rejected, but for all you know that person could turn out to be the love of your life.

The important thing is to take a chance, because you never know what could happen!

Sincerely,

Taylor

Dear Taylor, I’m having trouble staying focused this quarter. Last quarter was better, because I was taking classes I enjoyed, but this time I hate my classes and I feel like I’m just wasting my time doing homework for subjects I don’t care about. I’m getting my AA, so unfortunately I can’t just drop the classes for different ones.

Sincerely, Bored in Biology Dear Bored, For starters, this actually isn’t a question. I can, however, answer you as though a question mark had been inserted somewhere.

This might sound presumptuous, but you come off as rather young, perhaps even a Running Start student. I know that homework can feel like a burden, particularly when said homework is for a class that bores you to death. I understand; It’s easier to toss boring or difficult assignments to the side than to buckle down and do them.

It’s important to try to look beyond your current circumstances and into the future: Imagine logging on to Facebook and scrolling through everyone’s college graduation photos, smiling faces and blue gowns, but yours is missing.

You didn’t have the motivation winter quarter, so you failed your classes and slid off track to

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Your Voice, Your Views

Got Skills? graduate.

Though this scenario seems dramatic now, if you don’t apply yourself in the present, your poor choices will come back to haunt you in the future, and that sad soul scrolling through Facebook on graduation day could very well be you.

Nobody (except for a very rare few) enjoys plunging through homework, sacrificing sleep and free time, but if you want succeed, sometimes you simply have to do things you don’t want to do, because they’re most beneficial for you in the long run. Good luck, and get that GPA! Sincerely, Taylor

The Blaze is always accepting submissions from Centralia College students for the opinion page, photos of events, or even comics. Think you’ve got what it takes to write for The Blaze? Email Editor-in-Chief Courtney Simmons at editor@centraliablaze.com, or call The Blaze World Headquarters at (360) 807-8250.

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The Adventures of Blazer Bill

Editor-in-Chief: Courtney Simmons Web/Print Design: Dakota Rakestraw Comic Artist: Ely Tilley Reporters: Taylor Tryon

Comic by Ely Tilley

College Posting Policy Update UnderWay

By Taylor Tryon The Blaze

The college’s public posting policy is probably the last thing on most people’s minds this quarter, but a specially appointed committee is working hard to amend the current regulations to better serve all.

The committee is working

to determine the individual parameters for posting flyers in each building on campus as well as the limitations for postings. The building under greatest scrutiny is the Natural Science Center (NSC), as it sees the greatest influx of students each day.

Changes such as prohibiting posting on the third floor and limiting posters to two flyers per floor per event have been proposed, as well as restricting use of bathroom entrances for any advertisement to those of campus sponsored events.

The Student Center and

Washington Hall, the second and third busiest buildings on campus respectively, are facing a similar bevy of considerations.

The posting committee is taking into account everything from whether to hang up strips or bulletin boards to the spe-

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GET IN THE LOOP cific content permitted in each segment of each building. Everything is currently sitting in a provisional state as suggestions get tossed between committee and college officials. No official changes are expected to be put into effect at the current time.

WSU Scientists Making Poplars With Rose Scent plants," said Anne Petermann, executive director of the Global Justice Ecology Project, a New York-based group that has called for a ban on GE trees.

"We have no idea what the longterm impacts will be and very little idea of the short-term impacts, like interactions with soil microorganisms and wildlife."

Lewis believes the concerns will abate once genetic engineering begins to yield useful products.

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spot virus are grown in Hawaii.)

Activists who firebombed the University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture in 2001 mistakenly thought they were targeting genetically engineered poplars. Several environmental groups continue to wage battle against transgenic trees, which they fear will contaminate native forests and raise the risk of fire.

"Trees are not like crop

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troversy and layers of regulation that many companies and investors would rather avoid, Murthy pointed out.

No genetically engineered forest trees have been approved for commercial use in the U.S., though the Department of Agriculture is considering an application from a company called ArborGen that has developed a cold-tolerant eucalyptus. (Papaya trees genetically engineered to resist the ring

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could boost the struggling biofuel industry by helping companies survive what's called the "valley of death" — the point where firms need to scale up production, but money is hard to come by.

The ideal operation would combine the two product lines, extracting valuable chemicals and using the waste for biofuel.

But that's a long way off, Lewis said.

"Biofuels don't provide a compelling economic case at this point in time," he said.

"We've been trying for many decades to understand how plants make these special chemicals that can be used in flavorings, fuels and medicinals, and that seemed like the obvious first place to target."

But failures outnumber successes in the world of green technology, and it remains to be seen whether Lewis and his group will buck the trend.

Extracting chemicals from plants can be very costly, cautioned Oregon State University bioengineer Ganti Murthy. He and his colleagues engineered poplars to produce a component of biodegradable plastics.

But they haven't been able to get the concentrations high enough to make it profitable.

"Economics play a huge part in all of this," he said.

The use of genetic engineering also adds an element of con-

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SEATTLE (AP) — Sniff the air around Norman Lewis' experimental poplars, and you won't pick up the scent of roses.

But inside the saplings' leaves and stems, cells are hard at work producing the chemical called 2-phenylethanol — which by any other name would smell as sweet.

Sweeter still is the fact that perfume and cosmetics companies will pay as much as $30 an ounce for the compound that gives roses their characteristic aroma. Because what Lewis and his colleagues at Washington State University are really chasing is the smell of money.

Born out of the frustrating quest to wring biofuels from woody plants, the WSU project takes a different tack. Instead of grinding up trees to produce commercial quantities of socalled cellulosic ethanol, their goal is to turn poplars into living factories that churn out modest levels of chemicals with premium price tags.

The potential market for specialty chemicals — many of which are now synthesized from petroleum — is big, said Lewis, director of WSU's Institute of Biological Chemistry. He's already patented some of the technology, which relies on genetic engineering, and created a spinoff company called Elasid.

In the longer term, the profits from high-end products

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Ultimate Dodgeball:

SAAT vs. ASCC

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A friendly dodgeball match between the Associated Students of Centralia College and the Student Activities and Admissions team took place in January.

College Hosts Seahawks Tailgate party

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Trailblazer Men’s Basketball Upcoming Schedule

Upcoming Schedule Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Grays Harbour 6 p.m.

Wednesdayay, Feb. 5 at Grays Harbor 8 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 10 Highline (Home) 6 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 10 Highline (Home) 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 12 South Puget Sound (Home) 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 12 South Puget (Home) 8 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 15 at Clark 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Lower Columbia 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 22 Green River (Home) 5 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 15 at Clark 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Lower Columbia 8 p.m.

Saturday, Feb 22 Green River (Home) 7 p.m.

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For more information please call 360.736.9391, ext. 234. www.centralia.edu/admissions/funding Centralia College does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, genetic information, or age in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. All inquiries regarding compliance with access, equal opportunity and/or grievance procedures should be directed to the Vice President of Human Resources and Legal Affairs, Centralia College, 600 Centralia College Blvd, Centralia, WA 98531, or call (360) 736-9391, ext. 671, or (360) 807-6227/TTY.

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