68.6 by Erie Square Gazette

The Erie Square Gazette A public forum by and for the students of St. Clair County Community College since 1931

Volume 68.6

March 31, 2016

A bidding war ensues; shave it or save it? Photo credit: Nick “Chico” Hernandez.

Six years and counting, ‘Stache Bash still a hit ‘Staches for the masses Nick “Chico” Hernandez Managing Editor Dapper gentlemen, beautiful women, eager attendees, and an uncountable length of mustache hair filled the American Legion Hall March 26 for the 6th Annual ‘Stache Bash. At 7 pm the doors opened; by 8pm, the hall was filled by all manner of people of all ages and sizes, along with the soothing tunes provided by The Mountain Babies, a local band. ‘Stache Bash is a charity event, Future of ESG and WSGR | pg 3

hosted by Blue Water Social Club, where the proceeds are donated to Thin Blue Line of Michigan. According to tblofmi.com (the official website), “The Thin Blue Line of Michigan is a non-profit organization, which exists solely to assist and support the families of injured or deceased officers of law enforcement agencies within the State of Michigan.” This years ‘Stache Bash raised $3,267 for Thin Blue Line of Michigan, a slight decrease from “Our Town” | pg 4

the $3,935 raised in 2015 but still infinitely better than $783 raised at the first ‘Stache Bash back in 2011. Either way, the money goes to people that need it. A good portion of the donation money is raised when the ‘staches are auctioned off to the highest bidder. Just like with any auction, the dollar signs can add up quickly and usually does. Besides raising money for Thin Blue Line of Michigan, local businesses also peddled their wares.

Among them were Literacy and Beyond, Big Bear Body Care, and Loud Music and Apparel. Thin Blue Line of Michigan also had a table set up as well. In addition to local businesses, ‘Stache Bash memorabilia was sold as well from shirts to key chains. A 50/50 raffle and random drawing (which gave away gift baskets from Kate’s Downtown, Lynch’s, and many more) encouraged many to open their wallets before the ‘stache

Late to the Game | pg 6

Comic | pg 12

Story continued on page 5

Volume 68.6

Editor-in-Chief Emily Mainguy Production Editor/Designer Emily Mainguy Managing Editor Chico Hernandez Business Editor Jamie Koebke Photo Editor Jenelle Kalaf Copy Editor Melanie Buskirk Sports Editor TBD Webmaster TBD Adviser John Lusk

ESG Contact Info: Email: eriesquaregazette@gmail.com Address: 323 Erie St Port Huron MI 48060 Editor’s Note: All views expressed in editorials and columns contained within the ESG are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ESG or any of its advertisers. We welcome feedback!

Find us at esgonline.org @esgonline facebook.com/ESGonline First copy free; second copy $1

Calendar Campus

March 30 | Sophomore Portfolio Show Reception | Fine Arts Galleries 6-8p.m. Spring Break: April 4-8

April 14 | Stress Breaker 11 a.m. -1 p.m. | Gym

April 12 | Sexual Assault Awareness, Prevention and Survival Program Fine Arts Theatre | 1-3:30 p.m.

Sports

Softball:

Baseball:

Sports cont’d

April 14 | GradFest SC4 Bookstore | All day

Stop by to pick up free commencement announcements, order your class ring, buy honor chords or sashes, and your free cap and gown.

Stress Breaker is coming back!

Annual event to happen on April 14

Last year’s stress breaker. Photo credit: Janelle Kalaf.

Emily Mainguy Editor-in-Chief

theme is Carnival and will take place in our gym on April 14 from 11 am to 1 pm and is free! Finals are approaching quickly Events will include carnival and Student Government has games, an inflatable jousting ring, brought you a new way to relieve face painting, balloon animals, a stress. gypsy, and a band. This year’s stress breaker

Letter from the Editor

Surprise! We are having an additional Issue this semester! Emily Mainguy Editor-in-Chief Hello readers! I would like to apologize for this odd issue. Last issue we didn’t think we would have time for another issue before spring break but it turns out we do! So this semester will be one of the first Erie Square Gazette volumes in a long time that will end with an eighth issue instead of seven. We hope you enjoy!

March 31, 2016

The future of Communications & Broadcast What’s to become of the ESG and WSGR? Mel Buskirk Copy Editor

On Wednesday March 23, 2016, Associate Dean of Instruction Services Jim Neese, Vice President of Student Services Pete Lacey, and Professor of English and Advisor of the Erie Square Gazette John Lusk met to hammer out the details of the contingency of what is left of SC4’s discontinued communications and broadcast degrees. The Erie Square Gazette is a student run publication – run by the students, for the students, without administration oversight – and has been in one incarnation or another since 1931. WSGR first aired in 1974 with its call sign standing for Student Government Radio. Both the ESG and WSGR have been previously staffed by students who were working towards their degrees in communications, broadcast or journalism. While the classes still exist for these degrees, students have always been able to join the ESG or WSGR teams as a part of a club. SC4 does have future plans for both the ESG and WSGR. Both clubs will operate under Student Clubs & Activities like they already have been. SC4 also plans on housing the student communications under Student Services, with direct contact and influence from Pete Lacey as well

as Sherry Artman, the Secretary to the Vice President of Student Services. Staffing and recruitment will also be reconfigured under SC4’s plan. Currently, the ESG editors are given scholarships funded by Student Government (Editor in Chief with one “full” scholarship, two nine credit scholarships for Production Editor and Webmaster, four six credit scholarships for Copy Editor, Managing Editor, Photo Editor, and Sports Editor, and a three credit scholarship plus commission for the Business Editor). Staff and guest writers are volunteers. WSGR is also run by student volunteers. Recruitment for both clubs are through class practicums and events such as Club Awareness Day and Stressbreaker. Under the new proposed ideas, ESG and WSGR will hire student workers through paid positions similar to current work study programs. This will eliminate the current scholarships for the editor positions. Instead of student volunteer efforts, recruitment will be primarily handled through SC4 orientation and student advising as well as during visits to local high schools. SC4 has also proposed additional cooperation between student communications and SC4’s Marketing & Communications department. Club advisors, who are also faculty here at SC4, will not only be expected to meet with the

new student workers and answer their questions – but now will be expected to train each individual for their required duties, monitor student activities while in the offices, approve time sheets for work, and review and evaluate student content under SC4’s new plan. Not only do club advisors not have time to perform these responsibilities on top of their responsibilities as instructors, it is impractical for them to do so. ESG editors and WSGR disc jockeys are in and out of their respective offices all day every day that SC4’s buildings are unlocked. Some stay for five minutes to submit projects, others stay in the office for hours at a time to crank out that week’s edition. Not to mention that most of the work that goes into writing articles for the ESG is done outside of the office. From interviewing the City Manager, to taking photos at local events, to polling students about SC4 smoking policies, ESG writers spend hours on the streets collecting info for the next story. There is no way to accurately document hours spent outside of the office without either the advisor chaperoning each event, relying solely on the individual student’s honesty, or simply not paying the student for their work. Club advisors and administration also cannot review, alter, or censor student publications or radio broadcasts in any way. According

to the Student Press Law Center at splc.org, “The courts have ruled that if a school creates a student news medium and allows students to serve as editors, the First Amendment drastically limits the school’s ability to censor. Among the censoring actions the courts have prohibited are confiscating copies of publications, requiring prior review, removing objectionable material, limiting circulation, suspending editors and withdrawing or reducing financial support.” In other words, student communications are fully protected by the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights even if they are funded by a scholarly institution such as SC4. Other ideas proposed at the meeting were the combination of both the ESG and WSGR into one entity, and the Webmaster position at the ESG being offered to CIS students and several other editor positions being offered to Graphic Arts students. We here at the ESG and WSGR want to know what the students think. To submit your opinions e-mail eriesquaregazette@gmail. com, or contact the ESG or WSGR on Facebook. One could also drop by our club meetings with the ESG meeting at 2 p.m. on Thursdays in the Main Building room 123 and the WSGR meeting at 12 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Fine Arts Building room 27.

Volume 68.6

Human Trafficking: A Michigan Reality Talk at the Fine Arts Theater informs community Jamie Koebke Business Editor “Bad guys pay taxes too!” Jane P. White the Director of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force said. White gave the talk “Human Trafficking: A Michigan Reality” Tuesday, March 22 in St. Clair County Community College’s Fine Arts Theater. According to White, a retired police officer, human trafficking is the second largest crime in United States.

During her talk, White explain human trafficking is more than sex trafficking; it is labor trafficking, slave labor, child labor and more. For something to be considered human trafficking, White explains that three things must happen; force, coercion and fraud. Most of the sex trafficking happens in hotels or cars, and most if not all of the girls are forcefully given drugs. U.S. companies who have work spaces overseas can be involved

in labor slavery. White states that Hersey’s Candy Company is one of the companies that participate in that. They are expected to be out of labor slavery in 2023. Most victims do not know that they’re being trafficked and most walk in at their own free will. There was a quote from the upcoming documentary called “Break the Chain” that explains trafficking from a victim’s perspective, “I’ve been in and out of eight foster homes before I met my pimp. The difference is I

“Our Town” rocks our town

SC4 players bring emotion to the Fine Arts Theater Lauren Schwartz Staff Writer

a small town where everybody knows everybody and their parents, this play was extremely “Our Town,” written by relatable for me. Especially in Thornton Wilder, is a play set the the first act, which was entitled: small town of Grover’s Corners. ‘Daily life.’ However, one thing It opens with the stage manager that struck me as odd in this (Tom Kephart) literally setting production, was the lack of props up the first scene, explaining the used by the cast. For example, layout of the town and moving in some scenes, the cast would in furniture for “those who shadow eat and drink, which think they have to have scenery.” took away a bit of the realness. Roughly 85 people showed up to The first two acts were a watch the cast creating a small wonderful way to watch two town feel and maintain the time young people fall in love; in act period that “Our Town” took two especially. In the scene, place in. George Gibbs (Marcus Taylor) As someone who grew up in and Emily Webb (Emma Dunlop)

realized their mutual love for each other while on a date. From body language to shaky voices, Taylor and Dunlop sold it like they were actually falling in love. The final act was a tearjerker to say the least. The act opens at Emily Webb’s funeral, who has just died during childbirth. Emily’s spirit joins the rest of the dead including Mrs. Gibbs (Gwen Allen), her mother-in-law, and her brother, Wally Webb (Donovan Paldanius). Emily is dazed and confused and, despite the warnings from the others, decides to relive her fondest memory—her twelfth birthday.

knew I was nothing more than a pay check to them and my pimp told me he loved me.” In order to get the trafficking to stop, the community needs to be aware White advocates. Most of the time the bad guys only get caught because they don’t pay their taxes according to White. Human trafficking is now a federal crime, and is punishable by prison. “They go into small towns and open businesses, no one suspects them that way,” White said.

Upon arrival of her memory, the stage manager reminds her of the events that occurred on the day. She sees Howie Newsome (Dalton Doyle) and Constable Warren (Jim Jones), who were amongst the dead. She notes that they are both dead, but doesn’t let affect her mood when she sees her family. Upon realization that they can no longer see her, she realizes how fast everything went, and asks the stage manager to take her back to her grave. After another stunning performance by Dunlop, there was not a dry eye in the theatre.

March 31, 2016

Music from another perspective A taste of the DSO

Jenelle Kalaf Photo Editor All music, being fluid, can be played on almost any instrument. An example being a flute playing a piece that was written for the violin. A piece that has notes higher than what the flute can play. Feats such as this were the sounds heard the last Noon and Night Concert. SC4 invited flautist Sharon Sparrow and percussionist Joseph Becker from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) to perform for the community. Sparrow did note how strange the combination was. “I think we came up with the pairing of Joseph and me before we even thought of the instruments,” Sparrow said. The two chose music based on the

Sharon Sparrow plays the flute at the DSO Duo Concert. Photo credit: Janelle Kalaf.

sound, not the instruments. Becker said that he enjoyed playing guitars parts on his xylophone because the melody. The hour long performance showed off how well versed the two

‘Stache Bash cont’d Even the seesaw got shaved. Photo credit: Nick “Chico” Hernandez.

auctioning began. A ‘stache themed seesaw was also present. Among the men with twirly, long, or simply silly mustaches, many other people donned fake stick-on mustaches that were handed out at the cash bar. Ryan McInnis of the Blue Water Social Club said, “We began to

Joseph Becker plays percussion at the DSO Duo Concert. Photo credit: Janelle Kalaf.

were with adapting music. Taking music like Bordel 1900 from Hostoire Du Tango and Uptown, Out of Town and rewriting it for the duet. Missed the performance but still

The Mountain Babies perform at ‘Stache Bashe. Photo credit: Jenelle Kalaf.

question whether we would do it [‘Stache Bash] or not, but we had an overwhelming vote to do it.” McInnis also said that the American Legion donated the hall for them to use and that he is “honored” and gave “props to the American Legion” for letting them host ‘Stache Bash there. Todd Bailey, the event coordinator

interested in the DSO? The DSO can be heard for free online on their webcast at http:// www.dso.org/live or students can buy Soundcard Student passes for $25 for the whole season at dso.org.

William Holmes gives the crowd a thumbs up while Missy Campau smiles, and Ryan McInnis delievers a speech. Photo credit: Nick “Chico” Hernandez.

for this years ‘Stache Bash, said it wasn’t hard to set up the event but that he would’ve started earlier if he could. Bailey said the event took only one month to set up, but that he also had a lot of help and had a great group of people to work with as well. Drake West, 33 from Port Huron,

said this was the “best ‘Stache Bash yet.” He added, “I always look forward to it.” Kevin Davis, 37 from Port Huron, said he shed “A single manly tear for the fallen ‘staches.” As he played with his fake mustache, he added that he had “a big smile for the money raised for Thin Blue Line.”

Volume 68.6

Game Title: Hatoful Boyfriend Platform: Steam/PC

The Ratings: Game play: 7/10 Story: 8/10 Sound and Graphics : 5/10 Overall: 7/10

Late to the Game

Finding the bird, I mean, love of your life Jenelle Kalaf Photo Editor Finding love isn’t easy, especially for birds. Well, maybe for birds. I’m not an expert, but according to “Hatoful Boyfriend,” it’s tough. “Hatoful Boyfriend” is a dating simulator, visual novel style game, about birds. As in dating them. It’s not as farfetched of an idea as it seems. But is it worth $9.99? Gameplay: Being a visual novel, “Hatoful Boyfriend” plays like a point and click adventure. The player gets to choose the actions of the main character by picking different responses to the birds’ questions. Normally, games like this try to take the route of being

“mysterious and sexy” (it’s a dating simulator) though “Hatoful Boyfriend” does it in a sillier fashion with questions that deal directly with bird feeding habits and other bird topics. The game itself is really well done, when it comes to the world of dating sims. The characters are fleshed out and interesting and don’t just give flat responses. Each bird really has a personality of its own. While gameplay can be slow, the plethora of choices really makes for an interesting experience. Story: “Hatoful Boyfriend” takes place on some version of Earth that birds took the place of humans. The story mainly unfolds at St.

PigeoNation’s Institute. The player controls a human who lives in the wilderness and attends school as the only human in the bird academy. Most of the back story consists of information on the war between humans and birds. The most important part, however, is the interactions with the romantic interests. All are given the option to be seen in human guise, or the way nature intended, as birds. These characters can be wooed and fall in love with the player. The story of the game itself doesn’t do much. At first, the school days can be repetitive, but once the story starts to pick up, and more birds are introduced, it gets better. Graphics/Sound:

Bird chirping and pictures of birds really fill up this category. The art in the background, the “alternative” designs for the love interest and the soundtrack look like flat art from a generic anime. So much more could have been done, but the visuals just aren’t impressive and the soundtrack is boring. The birds at least look nice. I mean, if you don’t mind the birds. Overall: “Hatoful Boyfriend” is fun. Not game of the year material, but fun. If you want to “coo” over the love of your life, or just really like birds, this game will have you giggling and enjoying yourself. Steam usually puts games like this on sale, so pick it up when it’s half off. Happy gaming.

March 31, 2016

Time to be the best like no one ever was!

Nintendo releases the newest spinoff to a 20 year old franchise Jenelle Kalaf Photo Editor

Growing up with Pokémon, our generation takes it very seriously when I knew game with a new formal to the franchise is released. While Nintendo’s track record comes strong, a brand new game makes a lot of us older fans nervous. No need to be nervous, however, because “Pokken Tournament” stands sound as another great Pokémon spin off. “Pokken” can only be described as an arcade fighter, comparable to “Street Fighter” and “Mortal Kombat.” The fighting style comes almost directly from the “Tekken” games. Which comes off as strange at first because you play as humans in “Tekken”, so the Pokémon body types will feel weird at first. The fighting was pulled off really well, though. I have no idea how Nintendo did it, but all the Pokémon, including a floating Chandelier-like creature, all control fluidly. The multiplayer also comes as refreshing. Couch multiplayer doesn’t really exist in games anymore, with developers choosing to go with online only instead, but Nintendo falls out of pattern and gives a great local competitive gameplay.

The game also does a great job in separating itself from Nintendo’s other fighting series, “Super Smash Brothers.” Known as a party game, “Smash” doesn’t get into the nitty gritty of what fighting games can feel like, instead going for an easier, party game for casual players. “Pokken” really gets into the

fights with not only an extensive move list for each Pokémon, but also takes every move from the original games. Meaning Charizard knows fire spin and can use it, and it has the same affects as in the original titles. The story can be dry, and lacks compared to the other 3D console Pokémon games such as

“Pokémon Coliseum.” Bringing back an older concept of “Shadow” Pokémon, the game tries too hard to be serious. For any Wii U owner, “Pokken Tournament” will add to your collection of games nicely and won’t let you down. Do yourself a favor and pick it up. You won’t regret it.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Spring Breakâ&#x20AC;? - By: Emily Mainguy

Welcome to Spring Break! Where you get to forget the crap storm that awaits you!