Fox Times A student–run publication
March 2016
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CONTENTS
Fox Times | MARCH 2016 2 From the Editor 4 Ask Foxy 5 Club Spotlight 14 Cheers and Jeers 16 Crohn’s Disease: The Unknown Epidemic 19 From the Archives 20 History of Ireland My Fitness Journey 21 Recipes
Advisor
23 The Longest Wheelie 24 Faces of FVTC 26 WTCS Ambassadors Banquet 30 Critics: State’s plan to save bees provides little protection from pesticides 36 Comics by Phil Hands
Fox Times Staff Members
Shannon Gerke Corrigan Rich Weber – Editor In Chief gerkecor@fvtc.edu William Miller – Layout & Design Editor Ezra Kizewski – Photography Editor Brenda Winkler Contributors Nathan Mueller
Marion Ceraso
Jen Garrison
Eric Schueler
Jackie Miller
Connor Thompson
Joel Hovell FACEBOOK.COM/FVTCFOXTIMES | 1
F rom The Edit or
Three. This commences the countdown to Bill and my graduation and turning the Fox Times over to a new Editorial Board. Our recruiting efforts have been working as we have a nice new core of contributors that will be involved with the Fox Times after Bill and I have ridden off into the sunset.
It has been quite a ride from January 2014 until now. We have had a lot of interviews, seen a number of contributors join us and then graduate, I have learned which end of the camera to look through… Clubs have reported upon their doings, updates, connections have been made, my goodness, I can’t list everything we have done during our tenure. Adobe InDesign is still the most un-user friendly piece of software ever created. I have cursed the creator’s numerous times as I try to wrestle InDesign into something a normal person can work with. Thankfully Bill is an InDesign robot or something, as it does exactly what he wants when he wants it. InDesign flips me the bird when I attempt to get it to do anything at all. In this issue, we have a new contributor, Eric Schueler discussing a world record motorcycle ride, Joel Hovell discussing Crohn’s Disease, Brenda Winkler sharing
some recipes, my fitness journey returns after a onemonth hiatus, among other things. The WTCS Ambassador was chosen, congratulations Brittany Blankenheim and Ken Hamberger! SGA invaded Madison and made a difference. The February issue was a hit, and not banned this year! Remember, if you are in possession of a contraband issue, Foxy will autograph it but on the down low. It must be in a paper bag and you must meet him in an underground parking garage. He will check you for a wire. Spring Break is upon us! Be careful if you head to warmer climates as the Zika carrying mosquitoes are raining plague upon the populace. Also, ladies, it is sad and unfortunate that I need to say this. Please stay in packs of people you trust, do not take eyes off of your drink, (if you do, toss it out and get a new one) and pay attention to your surroundings. You are not doing anything wrong, it is just there are so many creepy people out there. Sad state of affairs. Be safe and have a great time! Have a great March everyone, and the countdown continues. Rich
F x Times Articles Wanted Do you like what you see do it. If you need article within these pages? Then suggestions, let me know. join us. Do you think Email me at you can do better? Then fvtcfoxtimes@gmail.com get up off your duff and 2 | FVTC STUDENT PUBLICATION | MARCH 2016
witonCampusfvtc@gmail.com
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Submit comments or questions for Foxy at fvtcfoxtimes@gmail.com. Dear Foxy, I am gluten intolerant, yes, I know, I am trendy. No, not really, gluten really messes up my system and be thankful that you are not gluten intolerant and have to deal with the aftermath. Why doesn’t the cafeteria offer gluten free items for those of us allergic and intolerant to it? Wheat Sucks Hi Wheat, Actually, I spoke with Tracy in the cafeteria and they do have some gluten free alternatives. You just have to ask for them. Like a gluten free bun for your burger, and stuff like that. Hope that helps! Dear Foxy, Not really a question, more of a rant. I am what you may call a “non-traditional” student and I do not understand these kids today. With their xstations and playboxes, “smart” phones, and other mind numbing electronics, it amazes me that any of them are able to make it through the day without serious injury. I am not sure if I am more annoyed at the kids or myself for sounding like my parents now. Being old sucks.
Dear Foxy, Do you have any plans for St. Patrick’s Day? I turn 21 just before and I am really looking forward to having some green beer. Does it taste like mint? I really like the mint shakes at McDonald’s. Mint Fan Hello Mint, That isn’t mint in the shakes at McDonald’s. That is what radioactive sludge tastes like. In fact, everything sold at McDonald’s is a simulated “food” like product. That is correct, it isn’t real food. Open up a can of Alpo and place that onto a bun, and it will be far superior to what they serve. Green beer doesn’t taste like mint. It tastes like beer with green food coloring in it. My plans? Well, Bill is off to Ireland for the duration of spring break and Rich will be home with his family. That means I will be unsupervised! Whatever happens will stay wherever it happens, not that anything will happen. Wink wink.
Out of Touch
Used with permission
Hey Out, I feel you on this one. Somedays ol’ Foxy really isn’t feeling it when it comes to what entertains the kiddos today. When I was a wee Foxy I had this:
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Welcome to FVTC!
Emilie Cahay – Hi! I’m Emeline, I’m from Belgium, the land of beer, chocolate and Belgian fries I live near Namur, a lovely city. It’s nice to go shopping there, walking in the streets or go to the citadel, have fun and others things. Unfortunately I’m only here for one semester. It’s really a short time but I will try to enjoy my best here! I went with an organization (YFU) and then I live with a host family. It’s awesome! They are wonderful with me, as soon as I arrived I felt comfortable with them. I’m lucky that they welcome me. I can’t be thankful enough to them to give me all of this opportunities to discover and grow up in another country. Studying English at FVTC learn me a lot about the language and also about relationships and the world. That’s amazing to be an exchange student. During my free time, I like to paint, spend time with my friends, read, plan travels,... I enjoy traveling and I hope I will soon make a trip with a backpack. I wish you the best in your life, guys! _________________________________________ Alice Thill – Hi, I’m Alice Thill. I’m 18. I’m from wonderland “Alice in wonderland.” No it’s a joke, I’m from Belgium. I’m a exchange Student. I’m here to learn English during one semester. Belgium is a really small country between French,Duitsland and Neederland. It’s really small but very complicated. We have 3 languages: in the south the people speak French, in the North they speak Dutch and there are two little part That speak German. I speak French but I can have a conversation in Dutch.
Saturday every Student go in “le carré”, it’s a place with A lot of pub and night club... It’s just a place to do party and you can taste the Belgium beer. Belgium is Like the beer country. We have around 1150 beers but we have Also chocolate and French fries… __________________________________________ Alex Smits – Hi guys, my name is Alex! I’m 19 and I’m from Belgium. My first language is French but I’m also able to speak Dutch (the one from Belgium). I like playing soccer, video games like FIFA, GTA and many others. I like my friends as well! Making new friends is also important for me. I live in a host family for one semester. They are very kind and always there for me when I need something! I hope I could keep in touch with them after my exchange! __________________________________________ Fabian Röthlisberger – My name is Fabian Röthlisberger, I’m from Switzerland and I’m 19 years old. My hobbies are soccer, basketball and snowboarding. I’m in the USA to learn English and to learn more about another culture.
Fox Times is looking for photographers willing to take random pictures, attend sports events, and attend school events. Email foxtimes@fvtc.edu if interested!
I from the south in Liege! In this city you can do parties every time, it’s A night city. Every Thursday, Friday and
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Growing skills outside the classroom while having fun! by Nathan Mueller
The Horticulture Club has been busy this academic year with a variety of fun, educational, and creative activities. Our mission is to promote student involvement in the community and to serve as a source of personal improvement through networking, event participation, motivation, and inspiration. We have visited the Green Bay Botanical Garden, made our way through a corn maze at night (well… most of us made it through), had a pumpkin carving contest, and took a day trip to the WI Public TV Garden Expo in Madison. We cultivated our creative side by creating Air Plant terrariums we sold at our booth at FVTC’s One Stop Shop and sweetened up our Valentine’s Day sale plants. At the Involvement Fair we showcased our groundbreaking game of “hort pong.” We aren’t done having fun and growing skills this year. Many more fun, inspiration, and educational activities are planned for the rest of the semester. The next event will be a trip to
the Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service Conference in La Crosse with more fun to follow. All of these activities were possible because of the support of the student body, faculty, and public that made purchases at our plant sales and poinsettia sale. Thank you! Did you miss an opportunity to check one of our plant sales? Don’t worry if you did. There will be more sales to come. New and exciting products will arrive this spring! Follow the FVTC Horticulture Facebook page for information on upcoming sales, plant care tips, horticulture program current events, and general gardening information. If these activities interest you and you want to be involved, Horticulture Club meets every Wednesday in room AG111 at 11:30 AM. -Horticulture Club
Tickets on sale in the Electronics Lab (F144) or Student Life!
Tickets on sale in the Electronics Lab (F144) or Student Life!
FRIDAY 04.01.16 at 4:30pm in G227 (Appleton FVTC)
Raffle prices! • $5 includes food and video games! • Prizes for champions! • All ages welcome!
TEST YOUR MIGHT!
FRIDAY, April 1st, 2016 AT 4:30PM IN ROOM G227 Tickets $5.00 each, possible entry fee for tournaments TBD
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by Jen Garrison
We A.R.E. stands for We Accept, Respect and Educate. We are a group of students and alumni who are ready to be The Change and raise awareness of domestic violence, sexual assault and emotional abuse. Unfortunately each one of us has either been a victim ourselves or knows someone who has been a victim of one or multiple of these horrendous acts. If you are tired of this happening to you and the people you know, then We A.R.E. is the group you need to join. By raising awareness and having resources available, we CAN make the change in our culture. We can let the people who are committing these crimes know that this is not acceptable and we will not simply sit by and allow it to happen. April is Sexual Assault Awareness month and the support color is teal. We A.R.E. will have a month full of information on Sexual Assaults and how you can make a difference throughout the month. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and the support color is purple. We A.R.E. will have a month full of information on Domestic Violence and how you can make a difference throughout this month as well. While these are two months that we will be heavily promoting awareness, it is important to remember that awareness can and should be raised all year long. Some of the activities that We A.R.E. is currently involved in include helping the Title IX coordinators increase completion rates of the Not Any More campaign, Guest speaker Carissa Phelps: Sex
Trafficking Survivor, hosting the video Miss Representation, collaboration with Voices of Men (a local community group focused on changing the behavior of men and boys to reduce violence) and partnering with shelters in the Green Bay, Fox Cities and Oshkosh areas. We will have plenty of volunteer opportunities as well which have multiple benefits such as feeling good about giving back to the community and it looks great on resumes. As the campus housing is being built, We A.R.E. would like to help develop the standard rules and guidelines for what will be acceptable behaviors along with the consequences for violation once the new FVTC housing is ready to be occupied. The interim leadership team consists of Jen Garrison, Jason Lilly, Amber Stanczak, Jackie Miller, Heather Brey, Dianne Tyler, and Ben Zapolsky. Our meetings are currently on Tuesday mornings from 9:30am-10:30am in G120B (gray glass). As membership increases, we will be looking at different and alternative meeting times. If this meeting doesn’t work for you, don’t worry! We have a black board class created so that you can still feel included. When you join, the black board class will be added to your page and you will be able to keep up with meeting minutes, event invites, volunteer opportunities, etc. If you would like to join, please email your name and student ID to WeAreClub@ fvtc.edu. You can also like our facebook page ‘FVTC We ARE The Change’! You are strongly encouraged to join and help make The Change happen! Be part of this movement!
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Japanese Cultural Club Article by Connor Thompson
“The purpose of the club is to bring together students and non-students who share a common interest in the culture and language of Japan. We strive to create a welcoming environment that is enjoyable for everyone with a wide variety of activities and field trips throughout the year.” This is a direct pull off of our JCC (Japanese Cultural Club ) page on Facebook, it is our purpose for being a club, and try our best to uphold it in everything we do as a club. We attempt to bring an enriching amount of cultural information to our members and hope they tell others what they learned. Every month our executive board meets and plans the upcoming events presented during our meeting. This is helped by the monthly themes that we bring, while looking for suggestions from all members as we go forward. Some of our monthly topics have been: work life, school life, common cultural things (such as manners or how one should commute), religion and lore, and even the history of Japan as a nation. School life for instance was last Novembers topic in which we discussed the differences in how high school is seen as being a very big turning point in the life of a Japanese student, and is usually seen as much less important to the average American student. College is also a drastically different thing. Whereas here in America if you go to college it is seen as very important and is sometimes mandatory for most positions or job opportunities. In Japan, college is what is commonly referred to as “The Spring Break of Life.” Meaning that it is a very hard struggle to get into college, but after making it in there is no more stress. There is a very low attendance to any given class by any of the students. Most will focus on club and sports activities trying their hardest to get in a “click” with valedictorians of the college that have already moved on to having a stunning career in their fields. Getting on the good side of these business men and woman is often times more important than actually graduating from the college. Every meeting we discuss these topics as a presentation that one of the board members will give. Sometimes only one of us will be presenting but other members are always encouraged to make comments. Questions about anything are allowed at any point in between discussion about the topic. Being active in the whole operation of the meetings is a very important thing
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that we strive for as a club. We have managed quite a few things this year as a club and have many more planned for the rest of this year. A few of the events we do on a regular basis is that at the first of the month is our movie nights. We watch a variety of movies, all voted on by the members of the club, some are more cultural movies or documentaries and some are more light hearted films of interest brought to us by the members. Last semester we at the JCC were one of the first clubs to donate to the “Hunger Games” that were being held on campus to support the food pantry here for people in need of some assistance. Our board also personally helped make over forty bags for a special Thanksgiving project that Student Life was putting on. Our closing of the last semester was an exciting and sad time as we saw some of our close international friends leave us. Before they left we had a large pot luck going away party. We had handmade sushi, rice, and other great traditional foods. The party lasted a while as we exchanged gifts, ate, and laughed as we always do during club. We began an experimental project with the FabLab club (another great club here on the FVTC campus) making hand crafted Japanese Lanterns that we have been selling as a joint fundraiser. Last December the first batch of them went out and were sold quicker than we had time to display them. Moving forward we have a better system for cutting the material and drafting it so that they will be brought out sooner to everyone to have the chance of getting a lovely lantern. One of our most recent triumphs was our annual duct tape rose sale for Valentine’s Day. This was a very big sale for us at the JCC being our biggest fundraiser that we put on each year. Though few members of the club know how to make these lovely roses, we still always seem to make enough for our sales. We always look forward to teaching new people how to make them though! As a little side note this is also the year that we have a newly designed logo for the JCC and have informational fliers around the campus to help bring in more potential clubbies. Upcoming we have some very exciting things happening at the club! We are working with the local chapter of the Boys and Girls club to volunteer our time with the kids. We have some planned activities for them to do which should be very fun. From the
game Waah (a game involving moving around in a circle and making swinging motions at the people involved in the game) to our own little spin on the classic telephone game using folklore, we have plenty to do. Another expected thing is to help raise more awareness for COTS and to do a donation drive for them. They are always looking for more hygiene related items. Our biggest and most exciting event of the academic year happens soon with our annual Chicago trip to Mitsua. It is a large oriental shopping store that holds many foreign items and restaurants that you would not normally see when walking down the street. We go to a lovely garden that boasts different kinds of flowers and plants. It has some ornate traditional Japanese tea houses on its property that we have been allowed to view and see the ceremonies. We also have gone to a large arcade in Chicago, as arcades are much more common in Japan, were there are plenty of things to do, see, and enjoy. This is always an exciting
thing for us at the JCC, and look forward to what the trip holds for us as we approach the end of our year. I would like to take just a moment and say thank you to all of our executive members that will be leaving us this semester. Megan, our Vice President, and Gunther, our Secretary, are moving on to bigger and better things. We will miss them here at our quaint little club, but we will carry on as we do when anyone leaves us. So from all of us at the Japanese Cultural Club I wanted to say thank you for everything you have done for us.
In conclusion, we are a cultural club that greatly enjoys being involved with the community and enriching our lives culturally. This isn’t the biggest club on campus, but we have tons of heart. I personally can say that I have made some great friends during my time at the club, and owe them a lot for what they have done for me. If you have time come join us at club, and I guarantee that you won’t regret it. ___________________________________________________________________________ Board bios Connor Thompson is the president of the Japanese Cultural Club. This semester will be his third active semester in the club. Born and raised in Louisiana he moved to Wisconsin in November of 2014. He loves being active in clubs and events around school. Connor has already made many friends around school and is very easy to talk to. Many students enjoy talking to him and getting to know him. If you ever see him don’t be afraid to say hi! Megan Kososki is the Vice President of the Japanese Cultural Club, also being the Vice President of our Student Government Association she is a very busy girl. This is Megs fourth semester at the college studying the Printing and Publishing program. Megan has been studying the Japanese culture all of her life and has an actually been to Japan. She tells many, many stories of her travels and studies of Japan and we look forward to learning more.
Gunther Krause holds the position of Secretary in the Japanese Cultural Club (JCC). He has been an active member of the JCC for 3 semesters. He is near the end of his second year studying Network Systems Administration here at FVTC, and will be graduating this term. Gunther likes to eat all of the food in his vicinity. He looks forward to learning new things about others places. Cale (not Kale) Wilfuer holds the position of Treasurer in the Japanese Cultural Club (JCC). He has been an active member of the JCC for 2 semesters. Cale is in his 4th semester of the Software Development program here at FVTC. Cale enjoys playing paintball, video games, and playing the guitar. He is great at snowboarding and does a lot of video editing and anime watching. He looks forward to helping the club reach goals, going on trips and meeting new people who share the same interest in the Japanese culture like he does.
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FVTC Campus Events March 2016 March 2 March 3 March 9 March 10 March 11 March 21 March 22 March 23 March 30
Student Government Association Meeting – 3:30 PM, C140 Diabetes Risk Test – 11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Appleton Commons Overcoming Addictions and Abuse with Roger Hill – 11:30 AM, Oshkosh Riverside Room 133 S.L.I.C.E. – 11:30 AM, Appleton, A170 S.L.I.C.E – 11:30 AM, Oshkosh Student Resource Center Coffee, Juice and Donuts – 7:30 AM, AMTC and Spanbauer Tundra Lodge Trip Athletics Banquet 5pm Pizza Night – 5:30 PM, Oshkosh AMTC Student Government Association Meeting – 3:30 PM, E130 Pizza Night – 5:30 PM, Spanbauer Speaker: David Jackson – It’s Okay to Suck, Appleton Campus, E130, 11:30 AM
HMONG STUDENT UNION of Fox Valley Technical College In celebration of
National Hmong Day Men & Women Volleyball Registration Information $50 for early registration $70 for late registraion
Saturday May 14th, 2016 8:00 a.m. — 8:00 p.m.
Fox Valley Technical College Grounds 1825 N. Bluemound Drive
MEN’s: min. of 8 teams ~ max. of 12 teams. WOMEN’s min. of 6 teams
1 st P Trophi e 2 nd P la c e W s i 3 rd P la c e W nn e r s inn lac e W in e r s ne r s
Co-Ed Flag Football Registration Information $60 for early registration $80 for late registraion Min. of 2 of each gender per team Min. of 8 teams ~ max.of 12 teams
Registration Forms & Money for early registration is due APRIL 22nd ***Please note, if the minimum for each sport is not met, we will NOT run the sport. ADMISSIONS: $2.00 PER PERSON OVER 12|CHILDREN UNDER 12 ARE FREE NO CARRY-INS ALLOWED Contact Information: Kristanna Xiong(920) 277-4762 | Ger Lee: (920) 843-7812 | Chuefeng Moua (920) 650-3023
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I Am PTK! by Jackie Miller
Imagine always being that person on the outside looking in, wanting to accepted. All my life I have always felt that I did not belong. When I decided to return to school, I was very nervous and scared. All the normal questions went through my mind, could I actually do this and do it well. You see I had been a student at Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) after I graduated from High School. I did not do well and in my second semester, I dropped out. I tried to return a few times, but life happened and once again, I dropped out. Therefore, as you can imagine when I found myself returning to school once again I was petrified. This time was different. I was not attending FVTC to appease my parents. I was attending FVTC not just to get an education but to obtain a career. A career that would give me that ability to support myself. I met members of Phi Theta Kappa and I wanted to be part of it. My grade point average was high enough, but because I did not do well in my earlier time at FVTC, it took me three semester to be invited to Phi Theta Kappa. When I received my invitation to join Beta Epsilon Omicron, FVTC’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) organization, I screamed and started jumping around. As I learned more about PTK, I knew that this is where I needed to be. Some of my friends who were not in school could not understand the dedication I had to pursuing my educational goals. Many of my friends questioned why I would not attend events, visit, or even hang out. They did not understand why was I staying at FVTC after my classes were over to get assistance and partaking in study groups. The members who welcomed me into PTK understood
100% why I was doing why I was so passionate about my education. They got me! I was inducted into the Beta Epsilon Omicron PTK organization in October 2015. Even though I was with one of the largest groups to be inducted into PTK the experience was magical. When Dr. May stood at the podium and stated that we were “best of the best at FVTC” I started to cry. At each induction, a member of FVTC staff is inducted as an Honoree PTK member. When I was inducted Chris Czarnik, the Employment Connections Manger became an Honorery PTK member. Chris’s emotional response to this honor proved to me that I had made the right decision to become member. My entire experience at induction gave me the affirmation that my educational goals weren’t only important to me but to FVTC as well. If you have received an invitation to join PTK, I wholeheartedly urge you to consider joining. It not only looks great on your resume but it will make you a better person all together. You do not have to be a member that attends each meeting or event. You can be a member that is behind the scenes. I suggest that you come to at least two meeting and/or events. Get to know other students that hold similar educational goals as you do. Since my induction in October, my confidence has grown. I no longer feel like I am that person looking in the window. I have friends who are as quirky as I am when it comes to spending a Friday night studying instead of going out. All my life I have searched to belong… now I am proud to say… I AM PTK!
Hmong Student Union What is HSU: HSU stands for Hmong Student Union which is a student run organization that provides a social and academic support for students: to develop their leadership skills, community service, networking, and social activities. We currently have over 20 active members and you are welcome to join us anytime! What Has HSU Done? Hmong Student Union has volunteered this spring semester for FVTC College preview night, Multicultural Student Services high school tours and United Hmong American Association’s career night and talent show. In addition, HSU has sponsored Pho Night. We are also selling Vande Walles’s candy bars in the Multicultural Cultural Student Services. Future Events? Please look forward to joining us in our Karaoke fundraiser (April 28 @ 11:30AM in A170), and (May 5th in the commons). We are also celebrating Hmong National Day by having a co-ed flag football and volleyball tournament (May 14th). If you have any questions or would like more information please contact Hmong Student Union either by visiting the Multicultural Student Services or by visiting Fox Valley Technical College Hmong Student Union facebook page.
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SGA Update – March by Rich Weber
On Valentine’s Day 2016 your Student Government Association descended upon Madison to advocate on behalf of all technical college students. We invited eight additional students to come down and advocate alongside us. Thank you to those students! Nate Helms-Quest (Fab Lab) Jamie Rudie (Appleton DECA) Connor Thompson (Japanese Cultural Club) Richard Evers (Culinary Club) Ezra Kizewski (Fox Times) Corey Meyer (Power Sports) Mary Beth Covill (Oshkosh Student Board) Samantha Bronge (Appleton DECA) SGA Board Members: Rich Weber (President) Megan Kososki (Vice-President) Rae Derks (Treasurer) Gunther Krause (Secretary) Christiana Coakley (Parliamentarian) Terence MnCube (Member at Large-Clubs) Estu Danang (Member at Large) What we did: Our main points of emphasis were increased funding for the Wisconsin Grants for technical college students, the ability to deduct full student loan interest off of your taxes, and the establishment of a new emergency grant system to take the place of the expired Dream Keepers grant. In other words, college affordability.
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We discussed the transfer of technical college program credits into the UW system as well. Our representatives and senators were happy to see us and hear what we had to say. Wisconsin Student Government represents 360,000 technical college students, which provides us with the constituent strength we need to advocate on your behalf, as 360,000 students is a lot of voting tax payers. Six of us were invited to the assembly session where Representative David Murphy introduced us as “shining examples of student ambassadors at the greatest technical college in the state of Wisconsin”. The “Madison Six” were Corey Meyer, Terence MnCube, Connor Thompson, Ezra Kizewski, Richard Evers, and Rich Weber. The legislators we met with: Majority Leader, Representative Jim Steineke (Kaukauna) Representative David Murphy (Greenville) Representative Mike Rohrkaste (Neenah) Representative Kevin Petersen (Waupaca) Representative Amanda Stuck (Appleton) Representative Gordon Hintz (Oshkosh) Representative Alvin Ott (Forest Junction) Representative Michael Schraa (Oshkosh) Senator Richard Gudex (Fond du Lac) Senator Roger Roth (Appleton) Senator Luther Olsen (Ripon)
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Cheers
Jeers
Cheers to Brittany Blankenheim (WTCS Ambassador) and Ken Hamberger (WTCS Ambassador Runner-up)! Cheers to Ireland for taking Bill off our hands for 10 days! Cheers to Ezra Kizewski and Danny Van Veen! Cheers to the semester being half done! Cheers to Spring Break! Party hard my friends! Jeers to an unnamed department in this college that is routinely rude to students. You know who you are. Jeers to Mother Nature! Make up your mind! 70’s or snow! Pick one, preferably 70’s! Jeers to the Zika Virus. While you are on Spring Break, please be careful. Jeers to the semester being half done! Already. Jeers to never having enough time. I’m not the only one that needs Hermione’s Time Turner am I?
If you wish to submit a cheer or jeer, send an email to fvtcfoxtimes@gmail.com with cheers and jeers in the subject line. 14 | FVTC STUDENT PUBLICATION | MARCH 2016
An FVTC and Goodwill/FISC Partnership
Want financial
peace of mind? Discover options to make your money go further! Many responsible students go through financial challenges. We can help you make informed decisions and take control of your finances. It’s confidential and free. Get assistance with: • budgeting • using credit wisely • managing debt • credit reports We offer a variety of services to meet the individual needs of each student. Options include one-on-one counseling and regularly scheduled group workshops. Feel free to call or stop by Room E121 at FVTC’s Appleton Campus if you have a question or would like to schedule an appointment. Located at: Fox Valley Technical College Counseling Services — Room E121 1825 N. Bluemound Drive, Appleton (920) 735-4855 Hours: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday-Tuesday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Friday
www.fvtc.edu/financialwellness
The Workshops: “Build and Keep a Good Credit Score” Your credit score affects your interest rate on loans, your insurance premiums, and even your ability to secure some jobs. This workshop takes the mystery out of credit scores. “Planning for Financial Freedom” A budget is a proven way to help you gain control over money, manage debt, and meet monthly expenses. This workshop explains how to build a practical budget that really works. “Credit Tricks and Traps” Used wisely, credit can help us live richer lives. But if we overuse credit, debt can build up and feel unmanageable. This workshop explains, how to make credit work for you, avoid credit traps, and reduce debt. To register, call (920) 735-4855 or stop in Counseling Services.
The FISC Counselor helps you:
• Understand financial options open to you • Reduce financial stress • Develoop a plan to make the most of your money • Manage debt and use credit wisely
.............................................................
Supported by a grant from the Basic Needs Giving Partnership Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.
FACEBOOK.COM/FVTCFOXTIMES | 15
Crohn’s Disease: The Unknown Epidemic by Joel Hovell
I don’t know how many students and staff members at Fox Valley Tech have Crohn’s Disease, but I’m certain everyone knows somebody with the illness. Everyday, when I manage to inform people on campus I have Crohn’s through conversation, this confirms my worst fears that the disease is more common than I figured. According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, 700,000 Americans have Crohn’s Disease, a substantial number considering there are roughly 324 million people living in the United States. I’m one of those people. My personal story with Crohn’s Disease began two years ago in March of 2014 when I was diagnosed after being hospitalized for a high white blood count and strange abdominal pain that mimicked those of appendicitis. I underwent a CT scan and a colonoscopy that confirmed there was significant inflammation in my ileum, the last section of the small intestine. The images from the colonoscopy showed the tissue were bright red and more narrow than normal. I received regular doses of antibiotics and saline solution for two days until the doctor who diagnosed me felt my white blood count was normal again. To be honest, I was relieved to have an official name for what I had contracted despite the intensity of the situation I faced at the time. Six months prior to my diagnosis with Crohn’s Disease, I struggled to understand why I felt famished after eating and suffered from chronic constipation that left me exhausted and experience a slow decline in health. I knew there was something seriously wrong with me, but I couldn’t put a finger on it. The only explanation I had was the fact I had become socially anxious following graduation from high school as I struggled to transition into the so called ‘real world.’ Later research on my own confirmed stress was one cause for contracting Crohn’s Disease in those who are genetically susceptible. Following my release from the hospital, I was prescribed Azathioprine and Remicade by a gastroenterologist that I currently still take. Azathioprine is a yellow pill commonly used for organ transplant patients whereas Remicade is a monoclonal antibody infusion through a blood vein in the arm specifically for those with autoimmune diseases. I used to take Metronidazole, a white antibiotic pill with a nasty taste, and prednisone, an orange corticosteroid pill that oddly decreased my need for more than six hours of sleep, but these I was slowly weaned off of over seven weeks as I had been given these in the hospital as well. My symptoms of Crohn’s were mostly controlled for the first three months by Azathioprine and Remicade and I could eat whatever my digestive system tolerated, however, they would not prevent the possibility of requiring surgery to remove inflamed intestine within the next 20 years. I was told I would have Crohn’s Disease for the rest of my life.
16 | FVTC STUDENT PUBLICATION | MARCH 2016
What exactly is Crohn’s Disease? The illness symptoms include though not limited to abdominal pain, malnutrition, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal bleeding, and constriction of the small intestine and/ or the colon in patches or centralized. To say Crohn’s is purely a digestive disorder is wrong, the entire body is affected by both the ailment and the side effects from prescribed medications. These can include inflammation of the eyes, arthritis, depression, and osteoporosis to name a few. Most people who are diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease are in their teenage years and early twenties while some are diagnosed before the age of six that experience the worst cases of the disease. Beyond this, there is currently an ongoing controversy between medical researchers and doctors over whether Crohn’s Disease is an autoimmune disease or an infectious disease only those genetically susceptible can contract. Those who believe Crohn’s Disease is an autoimmune disease proclaim Crohn’s is an illness where the immune system mistakenly targets the digestive system, causing debilitating inflammation throughout the small intestine and colon though can inflict damage upon all sections of the digestive system. They do not know the cause behind why the patient’s immune system would suddenly believe their digestive system is a pathogen, there is no further explanation except those who get Crohn’s will have it for the remainder of their days. Most doctors who follow this notion prescribe immunosuppressant medications such as Remicade and Humira to ‘turn off’ the inflammation mechanisms in the gut to combat the disease to no avail since most Crohn’s patients will require surgery to remove inflamed intestine. Those who believe Crohn’s Disease is an infectious disease contractible only by those genetically susceptible
suggest a different picture. According to actual evidence collected from recent experiments, Crohn’s Disease is caused by a microorganism known as Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), the same pathogen that causes Johne’s Disease in cattle, both of which have the same symptoms and complications in the digestive system. Most people genetically susceptible come into contact with MAP through consumption of infected beef and dairy products and/or drinking water containing the bacteria. Over time, the numbers of MAP organisms increase to where they can slowly destabilize the immune system while allowing other organisms such as yeast and E-Coli to enter the blood system and wreck havoc upon other parts of the body. The only proven methods on the market to destroy MAP successfully are with powerful antibiotics as these bacteria grow slower than your typical ones. Luckily, new treatments are in various stages of clinical trial to provide better relief for those with Crohn’s Disease like myself. There are several trials around the world testing to discover whether or not stem cell transplants that involve chemotherapy are safe and effective in curing patients of massive intestinal inflammation by ‘resetting’ the immune system using
stem cells from bone marrow. However, this approach to treating Crohn’s is beyond most financially since they cost upwards of $100,000 or more and require two to three months of downtime, at least two weeks of which in isolation as the patient’s ‘new’ immune system develops. Fecal transplants, where bacteria from healthy people’s stools are collected and introduced into Crohn’s patient’s colon to repopulate the digestive system and allow the body to heal itself. Most experiments using this treatment have showed great promise in those who have C. difficile, a separate though serious bacterial infection, but the Food and Drug Administration has chosen to label fecal transplants as a drug. This means clinical trials must be conducted first before widespread use of this treatment can resume in America. A powerful three in one antibiotic pill composed of clarithromycin, rifabutin, clofazimine, RHB-104, has been created to fulfill the role of eliminating MAP in
Crohn’s patients. The phase three drug is currently available at dozens of testing sites throughout the world, the closest site to FVTC being located at UWMadison. When I last contacted the research doctor at UW-Madison through email in December, they told me Crohn’s patients willing to try RHB-104 were still welcome. However, this is not to express I wish for anyone with Crohn’s Disease to immediately enter a clinical trial of any type without an official discussion with their gastroenterologist first. There are always risks involved when trying new treatments not widely available to the general public. If you want to learn more about any of these clinical trials, I would advise going to clinicaltrials.gov and contact the research doctor(s) listed on the respective trials. I have saved the best news for all Crohn’s Disease sufferers until last. For the past 30 years, the development of a modern vaccine meant to cure Crohn’s and a complementary blood test to understand a patient’s present levels of MAP in their body has been underway. John Hermon-Taylor, Neil Rayment, and their team of medical researchers based at King’s College London in London, England have worked diligently to bring the vaccine to a phase one clinical trial beginning in June 2016 on healthy patients in the UK. The current outlook suggests a phase two clinical trial on UK Crohn’s patients would begin in February 2017 with an international phase three clinical trial to follow once the vaccine has been licensed out to a pharmaceutical company. The MAP blood test is currently being used on a small number of Crohn’s patients, however, funding to universalize the test for use at a doctor’s office near you is still required. If you would like to know more information about the Crohn’s Disease vaccine, the MAP blood test, contact the research team, or donate to advance the MAP blood test, visit http:// crohnsmapvaccine.com/. I understand I have purposely overlooked the discussion of similar digestive illness such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Ulcerative Colitis, and Irritable Bowel Disease in general, I can always explain those in a separate article. I just want to enlighten everyone whether they directly suffer from Crohn’s Disease or another digestive issue that research is underway to better understand these illnesses and treatments are available for those who may need them. I know as a student at Fox Valley Technical College that I am fortunate to not be house bound, many people with Crohn’s are too ill to attend school or work. My main intention for this article was to show what it means to have an illness most people have never heard about. Those with Crohn’s Disease are not alone in their suffering as the number of those diagnosed amongst the young continues to increase with each passing year and I wish for everyone to be healthy no matter their situation. Together, everyone can help end this growing epidemic before MAP infects more people through the food chain which has proven to destroy lives and those of their families.
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18 | FVTC STUDENT PUBLICATION | MARCH 2016
From the Archives - January 2011 A Fox Valley Student Publication
www.fvtc.edu/foxtimes
January 2011
The Van Wilder effecT! By Dan Fisher
For those of you that have no idea who Van Wilder is let me take the time to tell you. There is a movie that came out a few years ago called Van Wilder. The movie is about a college student that spends his seven years in college throwing parties and helping those that really need the help. It is only when he meets a girl, and she showed him what Van was afraid of: facing the real world after college. It wasn’t until Van almost got suspended that he realized that he was still afraid of the real world - but he also knew that he wanted to graduate. When Van was in front of the disciplinary committee he was facing expulsion, but instead came up with the idea of the committee forcing him to graduate, and by majority rules he was given the opportunity to take his finals and graduate. Even though it was his idea, Van passed all of his finals and graduated with the one girl who made him finally realize this was what he really wanted. You may be asking why am I talking about this movie. The simple reason that I am quoting this movie is because I have found out in life that we have all met our own “Van Wilder”. You all have that friend, relative, or teacher in your lives that has inspired you to achieve your goals and help you through the bad times in life. I am sure that when it comes to having that someone in your life it has been a blessing and a curse. What I mean is that “Van Wilder” person is there through the good and the bad, but may have also been the person that has been responsible for it too.
“inspired you to achieve your goals”
For me, I have a friend that is my “Van Wilder”, and his name is Derek. Derek has always been the one person that has been there for me as a friend. We have had ups and downs in our friendship. Derek is the type of person that will take what you say and keep it between the two of you. He is also the type of person that will make your life miserable with his bad jokes and stupid antics. I guess it doesn’t matter what happens between us; he still makes life very interesting and a whole lot of fun. He has been the one person that truly been behind me when it came to my decision to go back to school. There is one thing that I want you to do. I want you to look at yourself and think of the one person that has made the biggest impact in your life. That person was put into your life for a reason. So don’t let life get you down because that person in your life will make sure you will get back up to your feet again. Who is your “Van Wilder”? As Van would say, “You have to look for that dare to be great situation”. So how will you dare to be great, and how did that person help you get there? One last thing to think about - that person that has inspired you, who has helped you out throughout life... Now it is you turn to help inspire the uninspired and help them out in life. “WRITE THAT DOWN”.
Take the Next Step Experience the MSOE difference: Application-focused education … learn by doing Professors lead small classes … receive personal attention Well respected by industry … a 95% (five-year average) placement rate
• The Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems – Focus on computer systems and networking or software systems development Courses applicable to these degrees are offered for students attending part-time in the Fox Valley or full-time at the Milwaukee campus. Transfer programs in engineering, electrical or mechanical engineering technology, and technical communication also are available in Milwaukee. Milwaukee School of Engineering – Fox Valley www.msoe.edu • (800) 332-6763
Used with permission
MSOE recognizes the value of an associate degree from FVTC. Most graduates will begin at MSOE with junior standing in MSOE’s Rader School of Business programs: • The Bachelor of Science in Business Management – Combine business with technology: how to use it and manage it in business settings
Fox Valley Information Session Thursday, January 27, 2011 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Best Western Bridgewood Resort Hotel 1000 Cameron Way, Neenah
FACEBOOK.COM/FVTCFOXTIMES | 19 13
History of St. Patrick by Brenda Winkler
Every March 17th millions of people all across America celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with green beer, corned beef and cabbage, and parades whether or not you’re of Irish decent. Not being a lick of Irish myself, (despite my petite gingered appearance ) I felt obligated to provide some truth about a man that lived long ago and why a much loved holiday bears his namesake. What historians have found is somewhat conflicting, but most of the details are as follows. St. Patrick is believed to be born Maewyn Succat (Sucot) ,an aristocrat, circa 386 in a town he named as Bannavem Tabererniae which is thought to have been renamed St. David’s, Wales. His father (Calphurnius) was deacon from a high society Roman family and his mother (Conchessa) was a relative of St. Martin of Tours. Even his grandfather (Pontius) was a clergyman, yet St. Patrick was never educated or religious at this time nor was he Irish. “I blush and fear exceedingly to reveal my lack of education.” a quote from his autobiography. The young St. Patrick was abducted when he was 16 years old and taken to Ireland where he became the sheep herding slave of a man named Milchu, a Druid high priest. For six years he remained a captive and sought comfort in his family’s Christian faith. In circa 408 he escaped and walked about 200 miles across
Ireland due west over 28 days. St. Patrick gained passage on a ship and returned to Britain. Myth: St. Patrick didn’t rid Ireland of snakes. Fact: Ireland never had snakes since it’s an island (15 degrees and 56 degrees N by 11 degrees and 5 degrees W) northwest of Europe and the waters surrounding it are too cold. During his enslavement, he was convinced God and angels spoke to him and that it was his mission to rid Ireland of the Pagan religion. Over the next several years he studied, ordained a priest, and was promoted to Bishop before his return to Ireland in circa 431. Instead of eradicating Paganism, St. Patrick sought to blend the two. He made a bonfire at Easter to honor the Druid gods and created the Celtic cross which combines the Christian cross and Druid sun symbol. St. Patrick spent the next 30 years in Ireland transforming the religion, founded monasteries, and created councils. He also wrote “A Letter to Coroticus” and “The Confession” which is his autobiography. The merging of the two religions gave way for embellished tales and folklore over the centuries after his death March 17th 461 in Saul, Ireland. The death of a missionary is the birth of a widely celebrated holiday in our modern world. So enjoy the green beer that only comes once a year and lift a glass to St. Patrick, because without him there’s nothing to celebrate.
My Fitness Journey March Edition by Rich Weber
Hello all! Yes, I missed last month’s article and my daughter gave me absolute hell over it. Sigh. Here I am again and my update is this. I had another steroid/numbing shot in my back this past month. I woke up the day after Thanksgiving in tremendous pain and unable to get out of bed without assistance for three days. In fact, a number of everyday, normal activities have been impossible since then without assistance. Yes, it really, truly, sucks on every level imaginable. All told I have had five of these to silence the pinched nerves. Then April 2015 I had a procedure where they placed six needles at the same time into my back at the L4/L5 disc areas and electrified the nerves, burning them in half. That helped immensely, and took the pain away enough for me to complete the Sole Burner 5k May 2015. This procedure targeted a different nerve. This one is off to the side nearer to my hip, which is nowhere near the other nerves they have already treated. Yes, there are a lot of pinched nerves in my back.
20 | FVTC STUDENT PUBLICATION | MARCH 2016
Anyhow, the latest procedure targeted this new nerve and it worked. It totally worked. Yes, there are days where I can barely move, but I have tentatively started working out again. A lot of physical therapy and nerve numbing meds to get me able to move once more. I, along with a number of others signed up for the Wellness Center’s Biggest Loser competition. I am down two pounds thus far and am beginning to train again for the Sole Burner 5k in May. My daughter is joining me for the Sole Burner and we will be completing the 5k walk together. Hopefully, no other nerves are deciding to mess with me in the foreseeable future. That is the story of my journey for this month. If you can or desire to, please consider donating to my daughter and I for the Sole Burner. The link is here: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=39539884&fr_ id=77037&pg=personal Thank you for your time and support!
Irish Soda Bread
by Brenda Winkler This recipe comes from the Society for the Preservation of Irish Soda Bread at http://www.sodabread.info/menu/. Please, take the time to visit this site which has more recipes (including a gluten free recipe) and facts about the bread and its history.
Brown Bread
Ingredients: • 3 cups of wheat flour • 1 cup of white flour (do not use self-rising as it already contains baking powder and salt) • 14 ounces of buttermilk (pour in a bit at a time until the dough is moist) • 1 teaspoon of salt • 1 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. *2 ounces of butter if you want to deviate a bit. Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 425 F. degrees. Lightly grease and flour a cake pan. In a large bowl sieve and combine all the dry ingredients. Rub in the butter until the flour is crumbly. 2. Add the buttermilk to form a sticky dough. Place on floured surface and lightly knead (too much allows the gas to escape) 3. Shape into a round flat shape in a round cake pan and cut a cross in the top of the dough. 4. Cover the pan with another pan and bake for 30 minutes (this simulates the bastible pot). Remove cover and bake for an additional 15 minutes. 5. The bottom of the bread will have a hollow sound when tapped to show it is done. 6. Cover the bread in a tea towel and lightly sprinkle water on the cloth to keep the bread moist.
Irish Stew
Ingredients: • 2 Tbs. olive oil • 3 Tbs. flour • 2 Lbs. lamb cutlets, deboned and cut into 1 ½” cubes (or beef) • 1 Lb. carrots (baby carrots work best) • 6 large potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks • 1 white onion, quartered • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 2 Cups vegetable stock (chicken or beef may be substituted) • 1 – 6 oz. can tomato paste • 12 oz. Irish stout beer (Guinness or other) • 1 Tbs. cold water • 1 Tbs. cornstarch Directions: 1. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Coat lamb cubes with flour and fry in oil until browned. 2. In a slow cooker, place carrots, potatoes, and onion. Place meat on top of vegetables. 3. Mix together stock, tomato paste, and beer and pour into slow cooker. 4. Cover and cook for 6 hours on high or 8 hours on low. 5. Dissolve cornstarch in cold water and stir into stock. Let simmer for a few minutes to thicken just before cooking is done.
FACEBOOK.COM/FVTCFOXTIMES | 21
We’re on a Mission to...
Save Members $ 40 Million! “
Community First looks out for me, whether it’s my auto loan, checking or my credit card!” Chelsy Lingenhag, Member/Owner
Saving money is about so much more than dollars and cents - it’s about making a difference in people’s lives. Whether you’re a student or employee, every day brings choices about how to save, spend and use credit wisely – choices we can help you make to shape your financial future. In celebration of our 40th year, we are on a mission to help members save $40 million in 2015! Planning to buy a new vehicle, new home or make home improvements? Start with Community First to save from the start. Already have loans or high rate credit cards with other financials? Let us take a look at them to see how much we can help you save.
Let’s start creating your future. Stop in, call or logon to get started on your path to savings. Together, we’ll help make your financial future bright.
Visit our full service branch on FVTC Appleton campus at Entrance 10
APPLETON 2626 S. Oneida St. 509 N. Richmond St. 2701 N. Ballard Rd. 455 S. Nicolet Rd. 1235 W. Spencer St. DARBOY W6089 Cty. Rd. KK KIMBERLY 600 W. Kimberly Ave.
(920) 830-7200 • www.communityfirstcu.com
22 | FVTC STUDENT PUBLICATION | MARCH 2016
GREENVILLE N1230 Cty. Rd. CB NEENAH 125 E. Forest Ave. 2300 Industrial Dr. 1193 W. Winneconne Ave. OSHKOSH 2424 Westowne Ave. 1492 W. South Park Ave.
DE PERE 1700 Lawrence Dr. HOWARD 2949 Riverview Dr. BELLEVUE 3282 Eaton Rd. WAUPACA 1006 Royalton St.
NEW LONDON 603 W. Wolf River Ave. NICHOLS W5644 Cty. Rd. F MANITOWOC 1100 S. 30th St. TWO RIVERS 1819 Washington St.
by Eric Schueler
Jason Farrell, a local street bike racer and stunt man, went on a trip two weekends ago to Lake Koshkonong in Fort Atkinson with a couple of friends to watch them try to break the world record for the fastest wheelie on ice. “I was just going to help them out,” Farrell said. “I really wasn’t going to ride, maybe do a couple wheelies.” Instead, the 39-year-old Oshkosh man ended up breaking the Guinness World Record himself. Farrell intended to watch and help out his two friends Ryan Suchanek and Cecil ‘Bubba’ Myers create a way to give their bikes more power on the ice. But on the day of the event – Feb. 7 – Myers developed a severe migraine and eventually had to be taken to the emergency room, which opened the door for Farrell to take his place. The day before the event, Myers offered Farrell to ride one of his bikes during the trials, which was a 2015 Kawasaki ZX10R. But Farrell said he was a little uneasy about the safety of the sharp, pointy picks that were sticking out of the tires because he knew he would be pretty messed up if he got into an accident. He also said he wasn’t sure how the picks on the tire were going to grip the ice. Farrell is used to riding motorcycles but said riding a street bike is a whole different thing, especially on ice. After a few practice attempts on the ice, he was able to reach 125 miles per hour while doing a wheelie and started to feel pretty good about it. In his first attempt at the trial event, he broke the record at 132 mph. Then he realized the weather was getting warmer and was causing the ice to get soft and slushy, which doesn’t allow for maximum traction. So he wasted no time for his second attempt and was able to reach 134.8 mph, the new world record. The rules for the trial were to travel 100 meters while doing a wheelie the whole time, passing through two gates. One gate started a timer and the other gate stopped the timer. Each contestant went through the gates twice. The average speed between the two trials is how they got the total.
Farrell said he felt comfortable riding the bike because he’s ridden that type before but as far as a wheelie on ice goes, he admitted he was very nervous. “The whole time you’re getting up to speed it’s pretty different, guys think it’s easy,” Farrell said. “It’s like you’re drifting, you’re just spinning and spinning trying to get up to speed, and then you a do a wheelie and the thing is just sideways the whole time…I don’t know too many guys that would do that.” Before the race he said the one question people kept asking him was “How far are you going to slide if you fall off?” He explained the only way would be to keep going until you hit something, but luckily it was slushy enough so that if he did fall, he wouldn’t slide very far. The history of the record starts with Ryan Suchanek, who set the very first fastest wheelie on ice record in 2011 at 95 mph on the same Lake Koshkonong. In 2013 Suchanek broke his own record at 108.5 mph. Then last year he topped that again when he reached 117 mph. This record would only stand for two weeks as Robert Gull from Sweden broke the record at 128 mph. Now the record is back in Wisconsin thanks to Farrell. Farrell has been riding bikes since he was four and currently owns Farrell Performance, a street bike shop in Oshkosh. There he and his crew take old, worn-out street bikes, fix them up and turn them into race bikes. He has been in business for 15 years. So what’s next for Farrell? On March 12th he will be racing in the 75th running of the Daytona 200. This will be Farrell’s second time at Daytona. Last year he led for a few laps and ended up crashing and breaking the handle bar on his bike. “I still had a pretty decent time in the race,” Farrell said. “We’re close, I just have to not fall down this year.” But even if he isn’t crowned the fastest on the track he is still crowned the fastest on the ice.
FACEBOOK.COM/FVTCFOXTIMES | 23
Faces of FVTC 24 | FVTC STUDENT PUBLICATION | MARCH 2016
What Makes You Different from Other Graduates? We can help you develop skills that will change how you view the world. The educational experiences we offer will prepare you for today’s global workforce. We help develop skills to give you a competitive advantage in your career or career search. ¿Hablas español?
Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Czy mówisz po polsku?
Travel with FVTC to Ireland, Panama, Jamaica, and Germany
Earn elective credits as you expand your world view and immerse yourself in study abroad, or language immersion programs. Choose from 8-14 day programs or longer. For more information, contact Aaron Gorenc: gorenc@fvtc.edu.
NEW Certificate — Intercultural Relations — By earning this certificate, you will
develop intercultural skills – a demand in today’s global business environment. Explore the impact of culture on work behavior, and advance your knowledge and understanding of other cultures. Parlez vous français?
日本語が話せますか。
Did you know that FVTC offers 12 world languages and you can earn elective credit? Find our spring 2016 schedule at: www.fvtc.edu/Global (Some online language options are also available.)
Você fala português?
Вы говорите по-русски?
Experience the World with Fox Valley Technical College www.fvtc.edu/Global Contact us: Globaled@fvtc.edu | 920-735-4810 | G130 Follow us on Twitter: @FVTCGlobalEd
FACEBOOK.COM/FVTCFOXTIMES | 25
Brittany Blankenheim
Celebrating Excellence: WTCS Ambassador Banquet College Welcome Recognizing the Dr. Susan May Technical College Fox A.Valley President
2016 Wisconsin Technical College System Ambassador Award Nominees Monday, February 29, 2016
Occupational Therapy Assistant Brittany chose FVTC for the price, and proximity, but she feels that FVTC really chose her. This belief comes from the institution’s commitment to her, and a constant offer of assistance in whatever Brittany needed help in. To anyone who feels that the words college or degree are daunting or even unfeasible, Brittany wants them to know that at FVTC those words are synonymous with opportunity and possibility. Brittany’s free time in the winter months are spent reading autobiographies, skiing, and visiting with her 5 younger siblings. During summer Brittany enjoys camping, hiking, and taking photos. Brittany is also a self-described video game geek.
Justin Cavanaugh Diesel Technology
Not being happy with the job he had after high school, Justin knew he had to attend college. He didn’t want to go to a 4-year school so he checked out FVTC. He found his natural fit when he started in the diesel program, enjoying the learning experiences, and being able to fix things. Justin’s hobbies include snowboarding, working on his project truck, hanging out his friends. Justin is also a sports enthusiast, and enjoys playing as much as he does watching. Justin enjoys traveling the country as he visits his family members that are spread out among the nation.
Mackenzie Mader
“To be a star you must shine your own light, follow your own path and don’t worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine the brightest.”
Culinary Arts Hospitality Management
Knowing she had wanted to go to culinary school as early as the sixth grade, Mackenzie decided on FVTC for the outstanding program as well as the small class size. This past summer, Mackenzie spent 6 weeks in her internship at the Lobethal Bierhaus, located in Lobethal, South Australia. In her free time, Mackenzie enjoys cooking, reading, playing board games with her friends, and skiing in the winter. When Mackenzie is home in Montana, she enjoys hiking, and fly fishing for trout.
Majalia Medina Business Management
Majalia chose to attend FVTC in order to enhance her knowledge and abilities that would help in her chosen career. Majalia likes that her instructors are always ready to help and that they make learning fun, and easy. Majalia speaks two languages fluently (Filipino, and English), and took a foreign language class in Chinese Mandarin. Majalia has a fascination with peoples’ faces, and enjoys drawing them. Majalia also enjoys reading, writing poetry, traveling, and learning about different cultures.
26 | FVTC STUDENT PUBLICATION | MARCH 2016
Ashley Clark
Kira A. Jaenke
Automotive Technology
Ashley decided to go to FVTC after talking with some students that were already attending the school. After hearing about their experiences, enjoyment, and enthusiasm for FVTC she knew that she had to attend as well! Ashley really feels that FVTC prepares you for your chosen career. Ashley is an intern in the automotive department which allows her to interact with students, and instructors within that area. Ashley is also the president of the auto club, and works on her family farm. Ashley says she wakes up every day excited to continue to learn and further her knowledge in the automotive field.
Dr
Dr
Dana Fischer Administrative Professional Meeting & Event Manager
After attending one year at a private school Dana decided to go to FVTC as it felt like home, and was flexible enough to allow her to attend school while also working part-time. Dana feels that FVTC is more than just a college – it’s a journey. Dana enjoys staying active by running, playing sports, and snowboarding. Dana coaches youth basketball which allows her to share what she has learned. Dana also enjoys spending time with her friends, and family.
Ken Hamberger
Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Counselor Ken chose to attend FVTC for its location, and since it would allow him to get out in the field working right away. Ken is impressed with how the internship process works at FVTC, and how so many can be job ready after a shorter and less costly period of time. Ken feels that coming back to school has given him a second chance in life to do what he is very passionate about. Ken enjoys going to Packers, and Brewers events as well as being active. Ken also enjoys volunteering in the community for events that involve the prevention of and treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.
Kevin Ingram Diesel Technology
Kevin chose FVTC for the proximity, and since the diesel program stood out amongst others in the state. This belief was strengthened when Kevin spoke with other students from outside of the Fox Valley that attend the college. Kevin’s primary interest is his children, and doing what he can to give them better opportunities than what he was able to achieve. In his spare time Kevin enjoys refining his skills as an amateur Barbeque chef.
Marketing & Business Management
Wanting a more hands on experience, Kira chose to attend FVTC. Kira enjoyed the individualized attention that FVTC afforded her, and was interested in the athletics program. Kira played for both the basketball, and volleyball programs at FVTC, and was captain for both. Kira enjoys spending time with her two dogs, who she will take hiking or swimming. Kira also has a passion for dance, growing up learning how to tap dance, jazz dance, ballet dance, and Irish dance.
Patt
Jason PattLilly Information Technology Management Development
With the location ideal, having an excellent reputation, and offering everything he wanted in a college at a price he could afford, Jason chose to attend FVTC. Through his time at FVTC, and his experiences in Phi Theta Kappa, Jason has gained skills such as leadership, responsibility, determination, organization, teamwork, public speaking, and networking. Jason likes to connect with nature whenever possible. Jason also enjoys reading, and being involved as much as he can at FVTC.
Rich Weber
Professional Communications Rich decided on FVTC for its affordability, quality of programming and instruction, and the ability to attend classes on his schedule. Rich has been editor in chief of the Fox Times since his first day at FVTC. Rich is also currently the Parliamentarian of Wisconsin Student Government, and President of the Student Government Association for FVTC. Rich is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Foxes LEAD, and BizSquad. Outside of family and school activities, Rich enjoys creative writing, poetry, and reading anything he can get his hands on.
Hannah Welk Administrative Professional
With a variety of programs to choose from, small class sizes, hands-on experience for students, and positive comments from past grads, Hannah chose to attend FVTC. Hannah has found many résumé enhancers to take advantage of while at FVTC, including being a member of BizSquad. Hannah enjoys doing computer work, and learning new things every day. She enjoys spending time with family, listening to music, reading, watching her favorite TV shows, outdoor activities (hunting, fishing, swimming, four wheeling), and putting puzzles together.
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WTCS Ambassadors Banquet
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Joshua Mayer/via Flickr
A bee lands on a flower at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum. Wisconsin has developed a proposal for protecting bees and other pollinators, including butterflies. Critics say it does not focus enough on limiting use of a class of insecticides known as neonics that has been tied to bee die-offs.
Critics: State’s plan to save bees provides little protection from pesticides
Wisconsin’s voluntary approach does not limit ‘neonics,’ a class of pesticides restricted in Europe that has been linked to declining bee populations By Marion Ceraso
Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism Packed into brains the size of a sesame seed, bees’ navigational systems enable them to locate and pollinate $55 million worth of Wisconsin crops annually. But Wisconsin has become a hard place to be a bee. The state’s honeybee colony die-off rates, among the highest in the nation, last year was around 60 percent. Beekeeper surveys show 15 percent is generally considered to be an acceptable loss rate. Wisconsin pollinator populations have been declining for years, endangering the growth of apples, cranberries, cherries and many other fruits and vegetables that rely on bees, butterflies and other pollinators to fertilize them, helping them produce seeds and fruit. And critics say a recently issued draft of a pollinator protection plan for Wisconsin may offer only limited relief for the insects. The plan recommends voluntary actions such as increasing roadside plantings and pollinatorfriendly home gardens, but sets no targets for decreasing
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Courtesy of Harriet Behar Beekeeper and organic farmer Harriet Behar waters plants in her greenhouse in Crawford County last year. Behar is critical of Wisconsin’s proposed plan to protect state bee populations, which have some of the highest winter die-off rates in the country. She says the plan does not do enough to encourage practices that could lead to less pesticide use.
the use of a controversial class of agricultural pesticides, neonicotinoids, that attack insects’ brains. “If it’s all voluntary, it’s basically something that no one has to follow, so what is the point?” asked Harriet Behar, an organic farming specialist with the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service, a nonprofit that promotes sustainable agriculture. Behar keeps 25 beehives on her 216-acre farm in Crawford County in southwestern Wisconsin. Many scientists and beekeepers including Behar believe large-scale farming practices for crops such as corn and soy — which together represent a $2.6 billion industry in Wisconsin — are important contributors to pollinator declines.
such as parathion and malathion — neonics quickly grew in market share and have become the most widely used insecticides worldwide, with billions in annual sales. Politically powerful agrochemical interests, including insecticide maker Syngenta, are among the largest producers of neonics. Representatives of Syngenta and the industry trade association CropLife America helped draw up Wisconsin’s pollinator plan. They insist the link between bee population declines and proper use of their products has not been made. Neonics can be delivered through spraying, by injection, such as into tree trunks, by drenching the soil around plants and by coating seeds with it before planting.
“Corn growers, soybean growers don’t need pollinators, so (they) may be less sensitive to the impact their chemicals have on the rest of the environment,” said Claudio Gratton, professor of entomology at the University of WisconsinMadison, who worked on the pollinator proposal for the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Annual losses among managed honeybee populations in Wisconsin
Percentage of total annual managed honeybee population lost
Beekeeper surveys show Wisconsin's annual die-off rate varies from year to year but remains well above the roughly 15 percent considered acceptable for a managed bee colony.
60%
Ian Grettenberger / Penn State Farmers have dramatically increased the use of a class of insecticides
50%
called neonicotinoids, primarily through pesticide-treated corn and soybean seeds. The image illustrates the estimated proportion in 2011
40%
of treated versus untreated seeds nationwide. At top are blue treated soybean seeds compared to untreated soybean seeds; below are treated
30%
red corn seeds versus untreated corn seeds. 20%
10%
0% 2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Year
Source: The Bee Informed Partnership, in collaboration with the Apiary Inspectors of America and the United States Department of Agriculture, annual beekeeper survey results. Note: Total losses included only winter losses until 2010. Both winter and summer losses are included after 2010-11. Chart: Abigail Becker, Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism.
Endless acres of corn and soy with few flowering plants to provide pollen or nectar leave pollinators with little to eat. For wild bees that build their homes underground, there are few undisturbed places near flowering plants to nest. Other factors such as parasites, pathogens, beekeeping practices that may spread viruses and extreme weather, including drought and severe cold, also can take a toll on bees. There are also pesticides, including so-called neonics, which act like nicotine in how they target the insect brain. Pesticide use widespread Introduced in the 1990s as more targeted toward specific pests and less harmful to humans and wildlife than older, more toxic insecticides — including organophosphates
Seed coating is the biggest factor driving increased use of neonics. In January, a group of farmers, beekeepers and advocates filed a lawsuit against the United States Environmental Protection Agency for exempting neonic seed coatings from regulation. The plaintiffs say the lack of regulation will harm pollinators and the environment. By 2012, virtually all corn seed, and about 30 percent of soybean seed planted in Wisconsin and across the country, was coated with neonics, said Paul Mitchell, a UW-Madison associate professor who co-directs the UW-Extension’s Nutrient and Pest Management Program. Neonic-coated seeds also are widely used on other crops such as potatoes and in lawns and gardens. Neonics are systemic, meaning they are absorbed and remain in the tissue of the plant. They are also potent neurotoxins. Neonics are chemically designed to attack the nervous system of pest insects that eat any part of a treated plant, causing paralysis and death. With widespread reliance on neonics, unintended exposures to beneficial insects such as pollinators can happen. continued on next page
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up by planting treated seeds, by contacting droplets of water on plants, and by visiting flowers and other plants unintentionally contaminated through neonics’ persistence in soil and water. It is clear that high enough doses of neonics — such as those that occur from accidental exposures during spraying — can kill bees. Questions about neonics center on lowerlevel exposures, like those bees might encounter in a field of treated corn or soy. Pierre Petelle, a vice president of CropLife Canada, wrote in a 2014 blog post on the industry group’s website that many of the lab studies used to justify restrictions expose bees to “unrealistically high doses of neonics.” Marion Ceraso / For the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism University of Wisconsin-Madison postdoctoral researcher Christina Locke identifies bees during the 2015 Bee Fest in June at the UW-
David Flakne, a representative of Syngenta and one of the stakeholders invited by DATCP to contribute to the pollinator plan, said neonics are safe when used as directed.
Madison Arboretum. Locke helped the state of Wisconsin draw up a plan to protect pollinators, including bees.
Seeds coated with neonics have become sort of an insurance policy for many farmers, said Gratton, who along with Christina Locke, a postdoctoral researcher in Gratton’s laboratory, worked on the pollinator plan. “Ag practices depend on us taming nature. Farmers don’t like variability and uncertainty,” Gratton said. “With neonics, there is less application since it’s present in the plant the entire season; it’s a one-and-done idea. Overall there is less used, but there are also a lot of unintended consequences.” Scientists have identified multiple routes by which beneficial insects such as bees suffer unintended exposures to neonics, even if they are not feeding on the treated plants, as a pest might.
Bridgit Bowden / Wisconsin Public Radio This beehive, wrapped in black plastic to hold in heat, is one of 25 hives Harriet Behar keeps on her Crawford County farm.
Bees can be exposed through the pollen or nectar of treated plants, by coming into contact with dust kicked
Neonic insecticide use by crop nationwide
Use of neonicotinoids has exploded since they were introduced in the 1990s and now are the world's most widely used insecticide. The introduction of neonic-coated corn and soybean seeds in 2003 fueled the growth.
Honeybee colony loss rates across the country A preliminary analysis of colony losses shows managed bee die-off rates were uneven across the country in 2014-15, with losses in some states, including Wisconsin, at 60 percent or more and losses elsewhere as low as 15 percent.
5000K
4500K
Crop Corn Cotton
Applied neonic active ingredient (lbs.)
4000K
Orchards and grapes Other crops
3500K
Pasture and hay Rice Soybean
3000K
Vegetables and fruit Wheat
2500K
2000K 1500K
1000K
500K 0K
14%
Total annual loss
1992 63%
Source: The Bee Informed Partnership, in collaboration with the Apiary Inspectors of America and the United States Department of Agriculture, Colony Loss 2014-2015: Preliminary Results. Respondents who managed colonies in more than one state had all of their colonies counted in each state in which they reported managing colonies. No data available for Alaska. Map: Haley Henschel, Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism.
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1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
Year
Source: Margaret Douglas and John Tooker. Large-Scale Deployment of Seed Treatments Has Driven Rapid Increase in Use of Neonicotinoid Insecticides and Preemptive Pest Management in U.S. Field Crops, Department of Entomology, Penn State. Chart: Abigail Becker, Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism.
“Scientific evidence clearly shows that bees and other pollinators can coexist safely with modern agricultural technology, such as neonic insecticides, when product labels are followed,” Flakne wrote in an email to the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. Growing evidence of harm Scientists say while there are multiple causes of bee declines, studies continue to emerge that question whether bees and neonics can safely coexist at field-realistic exposures. By binding to receptors in bees’ brains, some research has found, neonics seem to scramble their sophisticated mental circuitry. One study of honeybees that were exposed to nonlethal levels of neonics showed they were both more likely to have trouble navigating back to the hive and less likely to survive than unexposed bees. Numerous studies found that both wild and managed bees exposed to neonics showed a reduced ability to find food, weaker brood development, reduced memory and more vulnerability to disease, according to a 2013 paper by European researchers funded by several environmental foundations.
An international task force that examined more than 800 peer-reviewed studies concluded that the widespread use of neonics and a similar systemic insecticide, fipronil, are important contributors to the decades-long trend of declining populations of pollinators and other insects, which are “vital to food security and sustainable development.” A study funded by the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board and conducted in the state’s Central Sands area detected leaching of neonics into groundwater and found that highcapacity irrigation well water was recycling neonics back onto farmland. The findings raised concerns about how this ongoing, low-level exposure might be affecting “non-target organisms” such as bees, the authors said. Some neonics are restricted in Europe and are the subject of lawsuits in the U.S. and Canada due to concerns about their impact on pollinator health and lack of sufficient regulation. The EPA also has suspended approval of new neonicbased insecticides and is re-evaluating neonics currently on the market. The agency in January issued its first of
Haley Henschel / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism Use of imidacloprid, a synthetic insecticide, has increased dramatically since it was introduced in the United States in the mid-1990s, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Pesticide National Synthesis Project. Studies have tied neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid to bee die-offs and damage to bee populations, but the industry says these insecticides are safe when used as directed. In January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that imidacloprid is “a threat to some pollinators” when used in cotton and citrus. Imidacloprid was the first neonic developed and is currently the most widely used insecticide in the world, according to the University of California’s Retail Nursery & Garden Center Integrated Pest Management newsletter. (Note: These maps are based primarily on surveyed data.)
continued on next page
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Marion Ceraso / For Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Bridgit Bowden / Wisconsin Public Radio
Two bees are captured and identified during the 2015 Bee Fest at the
Farmer and beekeepr Harriet Behar stands with one of the 25 beehives
University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum in June. Wisconsin is
she maintains on her farm in Crawford County. She would prefer
proposing a plan to protect bees, but some critics question whether it
Wisconsin to draw up a tougher plan for protecting bees, butterflies
does enough to discourage pesticide use tied to bee colony die-offs.
and other pollinators that would discourage pesticide use.
four pollinator risk assessments on the oldest neonic, imidacloprid, which showed it is “a threat to some pollinators” when used in cotton and citrus.
Plan calls for voluntary measures The 2015 federal plan that encourages states to develop their own pollinator plans has limited discussion about the role of neonics, Gratton and Locke agreed.
Farmers weigh risks and alternatives Russell Groves, an insect ecologist and vegetable crop specialist at the UW-Madison Department of Entomology, said farmers continually search for ways to reduce the risk of crop loss due to pests in part to meet consumer demand for low food prices. Groves said federal policies also incentivize larger farms, where natural pest solutions are less practical. Alan Jewell, a farmer for 42 years with 4,000 acres of corn and soy in Dodgeville, said he is willing to spend a few extra dollars per acre for neonic-coated corn seed to protect it from pests because “grain prices have collapsed … (and) our profit margin doesn’t allow us much wiggle room.” “Cutworms can kill off 40 to 80 percent of seedlings,” he added. “Then there are wireworms, and all kinds of pests.” Some farmers, however, are looking for alternatives. Steve Groff, a farmer and seed dealer in Pennsylvania, said neonics have their place but have been “way overused.” He recently began an experiment with support from Penn State to see if planting neonic-free corn seed would protect the beneficial insects that prey on the slugs that can destroy his corn. The experiment was successful, Groff said. “We started seeing that when we planted green, we had less slug pressure.” By using alternative farming strategies, such as crop rotation, cover cropping and not tilling soil, Groff said he has reduced his insecticide use by 80 percent. He plans to experiment again this year with a larger plot of neonic-free corn seed.
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“There is probably a reason the White House report includes very little on pesticides,” Gratton said. “Companies that sell insecticides will make a lot of money on seeds. The agrochemical sector is very powerful.” At the opening of the first stakeholder meeting last year, Mike Murray of DATCP’s pesticide program told the assembled group, “We’re talking about voluntary actions, we’re not on a regulatory track here.” Donna Gilson, spokesperson for DATCP, also said the agency lacks the resources to do research on pesticides, so it follows EPA’s lead on regulating them. An EPA analysis of neonic use on soy concluded that “in most cases, there is no difference in soybean yield when soybean seed was treated with neonicotinoids versus not receiving any insect control treatment.” Yet those findings have spurred no restrictions on the use of neonic-treated seed for soy by the EPA or DATCP. For Gratton, a restriction on neonics would raise the concern that farmers might revert to older, more toxic pesticides. “A more nuanced strategy,” Gratton said, “may be both more palatable and get you the same result in terms of protecting pollinators and not impacting yields.” Crackdown on neonics Other states and countries have taken a more aggressive approach. After a number of neonic-related bee death incidents, Oregon banned the application of any product containing the neonics dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin on some flowering trees.
Marion Ceraso / For Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Bridgit Bowden / Wisconsin Public Radio
Attendees at the 2015 Bee Fest at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Farmer and beekeeper Harriet Behar and her husband Aaron Brin
Arboretum set out to catch and identify bees. Wisconsin has among the
check on the bees at Behar’s Crawford County farm. Behar has 25
highest annual loss rate of managed honeybees in the country.
beehives on her 216-acre farm in southwestern Wisconsin.
Minnesota’s pollinator plan committed to a review of the risks of neonic use, including negative impacts on pollinators, the development of resistance in targeted pest insects and leaching into soil and water.
“As concerns are raised, companies always have a new product to replace one which is going out,” said Lex Horan, of the advocacy organization Pesticide Action Network, which works to reduce pesticide use.
The government of Ontario, Canada, has moved to reduce the use of neonic-treated seed for corn and soybean crops by 80 percent by 2017.
In fact, DuPont Pioneer recently announced it had developed a new systemic seed treatment called Lumivia for corn pests which, according to company spokeswoman Jane Slusark, has “low to no impact on pollinators.”
Aimee Code thinks Wisconsin’s plan should include stronger measures. “We don’t think it’s appropriate to stay quiet when the science is showing that there is an issue with neonics,” said Code, a pesticide expert with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, one of the invited stakeholder organizations. Code said given the widespread preventative use of neonics, Wisconsin’s plan should include requirements for scouting and monitoring fields to ensure there is a pest problem before coated seeds get planted.
The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Television, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UWMadison or any of its affiliates.
“We should be promoting verification of need before use within our pesticide regulation,” she said. For her part, Harriet Behar, the Crawford County farmer and beekeeper, wants to see “a plan with some teeth in it.”
Used with permission
“Neonics have allowed people to ignore good agronomic processes,” she said. “We don’t have to rotate crops anymore. We just kill everything off with neonics. If we make conservation crop rotation a big push in Wisconsin, so farmers don’t have the pest and disease problems they are currently trying to solve with neonics, that would be a big help.” Companies may already be moving on to the next new pesticide. Critics call it a pesticide shell game; agrochemical companies describe it as innovation.
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Used with permission
Comics by Phil Hands
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