Volume 26, Issue 2
Tuesday September 24, 2013
Getting AMP’d with Phi Theta Kappa Written by Carlos Escamilla Alpha Mu Psi (AMP), Front Range Community College’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, is a very busy chapter this year. In addition to launching a new “Get AMP’d” marketing campaign, the chapter is continuing to raise money for its Amber Hilmas Alpha Mu Psi Completion Scholarship. The textbook drive related to this scholarship has yielded over $2000 since July. Connected to the textbook drive, was the free book fair, where AMP set up tables stacked with textbooks and gave away over 350 books to students. The free book fair is perhaps the most visible service program meant specifically and generally for FRCC students but AMP is involved in many community service projects. On August 2, AMP officers and Apollo the Wolf travelled to the Brighton Care Center to donate 227 novels that had been inadvertently collected during the textbook drive. Apollo ended up spending an hour visiting with residents of the care center and
was a great way to get into the mindset of helping “for the purpose of helping [the families] and not getting anything back.”
Photo by Carlos Escamilla
bringing smiles to many of the seniors’ faces. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for volunteer Brian Seymour, who dressed as Apollo, and for chapter President Jeanette Smith and Treasurer/Secretary Irene Urioste. Another service opportunity for the chapter was on September 7, when members of AMP volunteered for
Growing Home, a non-profit whose base is located on 72nd and Lowell. The afternoon was spent cleaning and restocking the food pantry used to feed families in need, and learning about the many programs Growing Home offers; from its food pantry to the transitional housing for parents attending college. As AMP member Ashley Liska shared, the experience
The largest undertaking for AMP this semester will be the Annual Halloween Carnival, which is projected to host over 300 guests from the community. Features of this year’s carnival include a Trunk-orTreat sponsored by many outstanding organizations and a haunted house with decorations by the Art Club, performances by the Performing Arts Club, and an original story by the Front Page. Since the Carnival is free and open to everyone, it is the largest community outreach event that the chapter will host. Smith is very much looking forward to this year for the chapter, particularly, “Helping other students and members to be great leaders.” Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society has four hallmarks that really define how it develops its members: scholarship, fellowship,
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FRCC Students Sound Off On Smoking Written by Cindy Torres Since 2006, Colorado has come a long way in efforts to protect the health of citizens statewide. Colorado’s Clean Indoor Air Act has gone into full effect, limiting smoking from many work and public places. The Front Page surveyed a small sample of random students to get an idea of how many students do and don’t smoke. Of the 30 students surveyed, only 14 of them admitted that they
smoked. Of course, this number is not representative of the schools total smoking population, nor does it even begin to compare to the 43.8 million (or 1 in every 5) adults who smoke cigarettes (cdc.gov). Smoking cigarettes has been identified as one of the nation’s leading causes of death, claiming approximately 443,000 American lives each year. There are over 4,800 chemicals in cigarettes, including
nail polish remover, urea (urine), and antifreeze. Amongst these chemicals, at least 69 are known to cause cancer (tricountycessation.org). When considering all of these facts, one must wonder, why do people smoke? For some, it’s as simple as stress release. Darren Campbell, FRCC student and longtime smoker (22 years to be exact) says he smokes “To keep from killing anyone. I work
in the music industry so it’s pretty stressful.” Another student, who asked to remain anonymous, shared that he smoked because he went to prison for five years, and that is just what people there do. Contrary to Campbell, whom admits he is addicted and cannot quit, the anonymous student, who has only been smoking for five years, says that he is not addicted and feels he can quit anytime he wants.
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