The Lookout Issue 10

Photo Club

Pompon tryouts

offers V-day

underway

photo shoot

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Feb. 7 - 20, 2011 Volume 52, Issue 10 www.lcc.edu/lookout

PAGE 6

Students spread

local music

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thelookout Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959

Snowstorm closes campus Feb. 2

Nathan Wilson News Editor

LCC closed all of its campuses Feb. 2 in response to a severe winter storm that tore across Northeast America.

The decision came at 4 p.m. on Feb. 1 as the storm bore down on Michigan.

Chris Strugar-Fritsch, executive director of the Administrative Services Division, said he is fed weather information from the local police de-

partment and LCC Emergency Medical Services.

“It’s really more about the conditions, and every condition is different,” he said. “There is no rule of thumb ‘eight inches, we close.’ We don’t do that.”

For instance, StrugarFritsch explained LCC experienced an 11-inch snowfall one year and the college was open the next day.

“It was a real light snow and there was no wind,” he said.

The primary factor in

closing LCC on Feb. 2 was the blizzard winds.

“The city had announced a local state of emergency by 3 p.m.,” Strugar-Fritsch said.

“By 4 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, it was very obvious that the storm wasn’t going to miss us. It was headed right toward us. So we felt the best decision was to cancel classes for Wednesday.”

Between 7 and 9 p.m., LCC workers began plowing and putting salt on the campus grounds.

Classes remained open at LCC on Tuesday evening.

Timothy Martz, manager of Field Operations, said Stiles Landscape Services provided Bobcats with blades and four-wheel drive vehicles to remove the snow.

According to Martz, 10 to 12 snow removal personnel spent over 30 cumulative hours cleaning the campus.

Strugar-Fritsch said Photo by Michael Caterina the last time LCC classes Storing snow: Plows moved snow on the third floor of the closed due to weather Gannon Building ramp to the center of each parking aisle. was 2007.

The snow is shown piled almost six feet deep in some areas.

MI-LSAMP involves LCC Nathan Wilson News Editor LCC hosted the Michigan Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (MILSAMP) at Dart Auditorium on Feb. 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

MI-LSAMP is an alliance formed in 2005

by Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Western Michigan University.

The program is designed to benefit See MI-LSAMP, page 2

Expanding technology: U of M graduate student Andrew Richardson speaks with Board of Trustees member Jerry Hollister after the MI-LSAMP presentation Feb. 3. The presentation included robot demonstrations and opportunities available for LCC students.

Photo by Nathan Wilson

Photo by Michael Caterina

Powerful performance: MSU’s Omega Psi Phi performs Step It Up! in Dart Auditorium for LCC’s Black History Month 2011 Kickoff Feb. 1.

Black History Month opens at LCC Nathan Wilson News Editor LCC presented Black History Month’s 2011 Kickoff Ceremony at Dart Auditorium the evening of Feb. 1.

Antonio Manning, student chair of the Black History Month Committee, started the program by leading the audience in a moment of silence for fallen star Mariah Byrd.

Willie Davis Jr., Ph.D.,

an LCC teacher and faculty chair of the Black History Month Committee, welcomed the audience and offered a preview of the program.

See History, page 3

2 NEWS

Feb. 7 - 20, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

MI-LSAMP Continued from page 1

underrepresented minorities by expanding technology, engineering and math throughout America and the state of Michigan.

LSAMP plans to achieve this by increasing the quality and quantity of minority students pursuing degrees and careers related to science and math.

Among the speakers present were college presidents, college staff and students. LCC President Brent Knight delivered opening remarks and celebrated the significance of MI-LSAMP. Mary Sue Coleman, the president of U of M, expressed her enthusiasm about MI-LSAMP and said, “In these five years, I’m pleased to say we’ve seen a 28-percent increase in graduates from one year to the next, year after year.”

“This is a two-fold celebration,” said John Dunn, president of WMU. “It’s an announcement of new funding to expand the successful initiative aimed at recruiting a number of talented young people. … Today is also a celebration of the success we’ve seen over the first five years.”

Robotics: LSAMP presented mapping robots, developed

by U of M graduate students, at the presentation in Dart Auditorium Feb. 3. MILSAMP offered opportunities for LCC students.

Photo by Nathan Wilson

A. James Hicks, MILSAMP program director, said, “You are a part of a national wave of excellence of supporting domestic, underrepresented minority students. … We have a long term goal of trying to produce 50,000 minority graduates. I believe we can reach it.”

“LSAMP has changed my life,” said Rodney Singleton, a graduate of MSU, who has benefited from the program.

After the speakers, a video sharing experiences of MI-LSAMP students was

presented to the audience.

During the program, robots developed by the Computer Science Department of U of M were present on the stage behind the speakers.

Andrew Richardson, a graduate of U of M, explained the mapping robots are designed to explore urban environments, similar to robots used by the military to detect improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

To view video of the robots, visit The Lookout’s Facebook page.

Photo by Courtney Baker

Man on top: A. James Hicks, director of LSAMP, speaks at the celebration of MI-LSAMP in Dart Auditorium. LSAMP is a program funded by the National Science Foundation, whose goal is to increase the numbers of minorities pursuing bachelor's degrees in science, math, engineering and technology.

3 NEWS

Feb. 7 - 20, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Pro-lifers rally at Capitol

History

Nathan Wilson News Editor

“Initially the program was designed for what we call ‘edutainment,’” he said, “which was developed to look at issues … at LCC to disadvantaged youth, especially African-American youth.”

Representing the Office of the President at LCC, business consultant Dr. Stanley Chase, Ph.D. said, “It’s not just a month of celebration, it’s a month of recognition. This is a month through which we and African-American people, specifically here with our committee and LCC, take an opportunity to say: ‘This is who we are.’”

Among the featured speakers were State Rep. Mark Meadows of the 69th District, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and Director of External Affairs Tim Baltimore.

After the tributes by politicians, the musical presentation began. Ieesha On’trel, a local artist, performed “Natural Confidence” and “Liberty,” singing and playing the drums, even beating out a rhythm on the stage surface.

Minister LaNette Hester also entertained the audience with spiritual songs from her album “My Destiny.” Every performance was indicative of the passion and excitement that charac-

Lansing residents and members of the Right to Life for Greater Michigan gathered on the steps of the State Capitol Jan. 24 to show their support for life.

Many participants who braved the frigid temperatures displayed signs made by students from the Clinton County area.

LCC student Rebekah Stenske, who attended the event, said, “It’s good to show support for life and the most basic right that everyone deserves to have in the world.”

Sharon Pohl, another supporter, said, “Well, I was praying about it and I just felt that it was a good thing to come out and support the unborn because they have no voice.”

Pohl said she attended the event to “make people aware that they (fetuses) are human beings from the moment of conception to natural death.”

Chris Smith, who has two daughters who were participating in the March for Life in Washington D.C. the same day, also attended the Lansing rally.

“I am a mother of six and I’ve lost a child and I could not imagine anybody wanting to hurt their own children,” Smith said.

“So I’m out here to support everyone who has had an abortion and those

Photo by Michael Caterina

For a cause: Abortion protestors hold signs displaying their views at the State Capitol Jan. 24.

who would never dream of having one in saying that we all have to come together and save these babies.”

Jeff Hall, the pastor of Community Faith Church in Holt, welcomed the people in attendance and introduced Chris Veneklase as the featured speaker.

Veneklase is the coordinator for the 40 Days for Life campaign in Lansing, a campaign of prayer and peaceful vigil outside abortion clinics.

“Just because abortion and killing a child is legal in our nation does not make it right; it does not mean we should not fight against it,” Veneklase said.

Veneklase explained that ending abortion is a spiritual battle fought on many levels, including legislative, educational and supportive.

“We need to humble ourselves and acknowledge that our nation has made a terrible choice in

legalizing the killing of innocent children,” he said.

After Veneklase’s speech, guest singer Boris Williams performed “Amazing Grace” to the applause of the attendants.

During the event, a statement from Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette was read, expressing his support for life.

Maureen Meehan-Polash, president of Right to Life for Greater Lansing, and her husband David recited the number of abortions performed each year since 1973. During the somber procession, silk roses ascribed to each year were deposited in a basket by the podium.

According to Guttmacher Institute, approximately 52 million abortions have taken place since Roe v. Wade, the United States Supreme Court decision in 1973 that recognized abortion as a fundamental right.

Veneklase said people can help their cause by volunteering at pregnancy centers, donating diapers or car seats and participating in the 40 Days for Life campaign.

“There you give witness to love and you offer help,” he said. “Just standing there (outside abortion clinics) in prayer and praying for these women that are in need can give them courage.”

Continued from page 1

Photo by Michael Caterina

Worship songs: Recording artist Minister LaNette Hester performs her song “My Destiny” during LCC’s Black History Month 2011 Kick-off Feb. 1 in Dart Auditorium.

terized the program and events to come.

After the music and poetry, LCC student Prince Spann encouraged the audience to participate in a class in Dart Auditorium 174 every Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m.

The class will teach more about the past, present and future of African-Americans.

Robin Smith of the LCC Board of Trustees emphasized that everyone contributes to history each day.

“I want you to start thinking today … ‘What

footprint will I leave in history?’ Because you will leave a footprint for someone to follow,” she said.

Manning said he was pleased with the number of people who attended the ceremony despite the incoming winter storm.

“The Office of the President, the Office of Student Life and other organizations on the campus were very essential to this happening, and it shows our commitment as a college to diversity,” Manning said.

February: remaining Black History Month events Monday

Tuesday

7

Soul Food Luncheons every Tues. in the Kennedy Cafeteria.

1-3 p.m.

Movie Festival Abel Sykes Building Haiti: A Payment History 5-7 p.m.

Thursday

9

16

Soul Food Luncheons contd.

21

Movie Festival contd.

Rastafarian Women 1-2:30 p.m.

8

15

14

Movie Festival contd.

The Rabbit Proof Fence 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Wednesday

22 Soul Food Luncheons contd.

Education Program Dart Auditorium 12:30-2:30 p.m.

23

Friday

10

Health Careers 127 TLC 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Energy/Technology Program 134 Gannon Building 2-3:30 p.m.

Grand Finale Dart Auditorium 6:30-9 p.m.

Hip-hop Poetry Every Fri. in the Herman Conference Center Noon-1:30 p.m.

17

11

18 Hip-hop Poetry Contd.

25

24 Hip-hop Poetry Contd.

* Photo courtesy of http://thechisholmsource.com

4 NEWS

Feb. 7 - 20, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout — Infallible Rhetoric —

Obama confronts energy crisis President Barack Obama delivered his second annual State of the Union Address on Jan. 25.

The aspect of his speech that caught my attention was his solution for taking control of the deficit and encouraging American innovation.

Having spent billions of dollars on an impotent bailout and projecting trillions more in spending, the deficit hardly seems his first priority. I was pleased to hear Obama offer specific solutions, not just an enthusiastic “Yes, we can!”

He suggested investing (spending) in biomedical research, information technology and clean energy technology.

I truly hope Obama can meet his goal of severing America’s ad-

diction to oil, particularly from countries like Venezuela and Iran who despise us.

Switching to a cleaner fuel would also benefit the economy by creating new jobs. However, I don’t expect this clean fuel change to take place soon.

America has promised to replace oil with clean energy for decades, but gas prices continue to rise and oil still dominates the world economy.

I was astonished when Obama said the

California Institute of Technology is currently developing technology to convert sunlight and water into fuel for cars.

It would be miraculous if such common resources could truly be utilized to replace oil.

“To help pay for it (clean energy), I’m asking Congress to eliminate the billions of taxpayer dollars that we currently give to oil companies,” Obama said.

That may have been my favorite excerpt of the entire speech.

While I remain realistically skeptical of the challenges of inventing a new energy source, I hope Obama can jumpstart the process that has taken so long for America to focus on.

I just hope this doesn’t cost another $2.52 trillion in federal debt.

IN BRIEF NEWS

LCC and MSU promote Disney College Program The Disney College Program is a paid internship in either the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida or the Disneyland Resort in California.

The MSU/LCC Disney College Program Campus Representative team is seeking recruits for fall 2011.

The live presentation will take place Feb. 23 at MSU’s C107 McDonel Hall at 3:30 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. in N130 Business College Complex.

Michigan Warm-Up launches Feb. 12 Michigan’s 2011 Winter Warm-Up is an eight-week physical activity program featuring the Blues’ Community Challenge.

The challenge is a contest between nine Greater Lansing communities, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will award grants to partici-

pating communities.

The program will launch on Feb. 12 at 9 a.m. at the Lansing Mall, where participants can have health screenings and learn about prizes and incentives. The program lasts until April 2.

For more information on the event, visit www.cphlansing.com.

MSU Museum presents Darwin Discovery Day The MSU Museum will present its annual Darwin Discovery Day on Sunday, Feb. 13 from 1-5 p.m. Rich Bellon, an MSU scholar, will answer questions about Charles Darwin and his life.

The event will feature critters from the MSU Herpetology Club, tours of the museum’s Bug Room and specimens from the museum’s collections and dinosaurs in Habitat Hall. Cake and refreshments will be served in celebration of Darwin’s birthday.

Photo Club hosts Valentine’s Day shoot Nathan Wilson News Editor LCC’s Photo Club will host a Valentine’s Day Shoot on Monday, Feb. 14 on the second floor of the Gannon Building between Cyber Cafe and Java City, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The club will sell 5 x 7 prints for $3 or two prints for $5.

The photos are instant prints, so students can receive their portrait immediately.

According to Photo Club Adviser John Rocco, the Valentine’s Day shoot will feature a festive background with hearts.

Rocco said the Valentine’s Day shoot is not necessarily geared toward couples.

“It could be a single person, it could be a couple or it could be a group of people,” he said.

Photo Club uses the money from shoots to go on field trips and to buy equipment to donate to LCC’s Photography Program.

“Besides providing a little bit of revenue, the biggest thing really is … the visibility,” Rocco said.

“The shoot gives students the experience in terms of actually doing portraits.”

He added the club usually makes $80 or $100 during shoots. Photo Club made $65 during their 2010 Christmas shoot.

The club will also host a St. Patrick’s Day shoot on Thursday, March 17.

Photo Club is open to any LCC student interested in photography, not necessarily photo majors.

File photo by Michael Caterina

For more information regarding Photo Club, contact John Rocco at (517) 483-1721 or roccoj@email.lcc.edu.

Big smiles: Photo club member Nicole Haring takes a picture of a couple during the club’s 2010 Valentine’s Day Photo Shoot. This year’s shoot will take place on Monday, Feb. 14 in the second floor Gannon Buliding lobby by the Cyber Cafe from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prints that are 5x7 in size are available for $3 each or two for $5.

5 FEATURES

Feb. 7 - 20, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

LCC student investigates American paranormal Nathan Wilson News Editor The Tri-City Ghost Hunters Society (TCGHS) of Michigan is a nonprofit, paranormal investigation team that preserves historical locations and offers investigations to anyone in need.

Mandy Moore and LCC student Nicole Beauchamp founded the society in July 2009.

TCGHS has investigated old Civil War forts, hotels, art galleries, colleges and homes, including Midland Cemetery (Mich.), Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (W. Va.) and Fort Wayne (Mich.).

According to Beauchamp, the group uses electromagnetic field (EMF) detectors, audio recorders, digital and infrared cameras, thermometers, still cameras, night vision and laser grids.

Beauchamp explained that a laser grid produces multiple colored dots, and if a shadow passes through the grid, it will

block out the lasers.

During an investigation in Waverly Hills Sanatorium (Ky.), Beauchamp threw a toy ball down a hall in the third floor, where a child’s spirit is said to exist.

According to Beauchamp, the ball returned to her and spun around in circles on the floor. She caught the event on video, which can be found on http://www.youtube. com/user/TCGHS. “We have collected many EVPs, which are electronic voice phenomenons; we’ve caught two (photos of) shadow people. Shadow people are … extremely dark figures, and they only come around in the darkness.”

Beauchamp said her most frightening experience took place at Fort Wayne in Detroit.

“I was about to go into the sally port when I just got this really bad feeling. … I started to get really uncomfortable,” she said. “Out of nowhere, it sounded as if someone had picked up a broom or a wooden two by

Photo by The Tri-City Ghost Hunters Society

Exploring asylums: TCGHS members use their paranormal detection equipment. From left, Harold Beauchamp, Vikki Freeman, Nicole Beauchamp and Mandy Moore investigate Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (TALA) in West Virginia.

four and just whipped it across the room.”

She said she left after the noise and did not continue down the stairs into the sally port.

Another disturbing experience took place when Beauchamp was accidentally locked inside one of the wards at the TransAllegheny Lunatic Asy-

lum.

“I could not get the door open. It was literally locked. ... And the asylum hasn’t been in operation since 1993,” Beauchamp said.

In April, TCGHS is planning on investigating a morgue in Kentucky. The team has also been privately asked to

investigate two landmarks in Michigan during May, but TCGHS cannot reveal the locations yet.

According to Beauchamp, they may be the last people to investigate these locations.

On March 19, TCGHS will host a Children’s Paranormal Workshop

from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Holly Township Library.

Children who are interested in the paranormal will have an opportunity to ask questions and view the team’s equipment.

“Our goal is to put them (children) at ease with any fears that they may have about ghosts,” Beauchamp said.

6 SPORTS

Feb. 7 - 20, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout — A New York state of mind —

Shape up Sparty Photo by Michael Caterina

Kick line: LCC’s Pompon club performs at an LCC basketball game Nov. 20, 2010.

Try out for LCC Pompon Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor

The Pompon Club at LCC will hold an official tryout on Feb. 10 from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Gannon Building room 256.

The tryout will be open to the public; however only LCC students will be able to make the team.

The club will hold practices on Feb. 7, 8 and 9 also from 8 to 10 p.m. which are optional to those trying out.

The official tryout, however, will be mandatory.

Students who are interested in trying out are encouraged to wear appropriate footwear and workout clothing to all practices and the tryout.

According to Stacy Kollman, who is an organizer of the Pompon Club, the team is anything but a cheerleading squad.

“Cheerleaders scream and stunt — we’re more like an organized dance team,” Kollman explained.

Kollman said the Pompon Club will perform during halftime of the remaining home basketball games this semester.

“We are relatively new, so we’re trying to get involved in as much as we can,” she said.

According to Sara Peffley, another organizer of the Pompon Club, a recent rule change has mandated that by virtue of being a club, the squad must accept

all individuals who try out.

This, however, does not mean that everyone who is cast will perform. The Pompon Club still has specific criteria for who they are looking to add to their squad, and consequently end up performing.

“We’re looking for somebody who can free-learn and pick up on the routines quickly,” Kollman said.

“There is a reason we only give them three days to learn the routine before the tryout.”

Students who have any questions about the Pompon Club or any of these practices/tryouts can contact Stacy Kollman at (517) 231-4381 or Sara Peffley at (517) 388-3839.

OK, time to panic. The Michigan State University men’s basketball is terrible this year.

The standards in East Lansing are among the highest in the nation, and rightfully so, after making the final four last year.

This, however, is begging to get embarrassing.

After tough losses to Penn State, Illinois and Purdue, red flags started to appear in the minds of many Spartan faithful.

Luckily (or so we thought) a home game against Michigan would stop the bleeding and maybe, just maybe, give the Spartans the spark they needed to get their season back in gear.

But the Spartans came up short again. MSU lost to the Wolverines to fall to 4-4 in the conference, and more importantly, lost faith in themselves.

Oh yeah, did I mention junior guard Korie Lucious was suspended for the remainder of the season due to “conduct detrimental to the team,”

according to Head Coach Tom Izzo? Who knows what the real story is with that situation.

While we are on the subject of our beloved coach, let’s talk about the schedule this season, especially early in the year.

The Spartans played Connecticut, Duke, Syracuse and Texas all within the first two months of the season, three of the games on the road, nonetheless. They lost all of them. Way to go, Tom. If it was not bad enough that arguably the best team in the country (Ohio State) comes out of the Big Ten, teams like Wisconsin, Purdue and even Minnesota are making smaller runs of their

own. Sparty was ranked sixth in the Big Ten as of Jan. 30 and did not show many signs of improvement.

The only silver lining belonging to the dark cloud that is Spartan Basketball this year is the effort of junior forward Draymond Green. Averaging 13 points and eight rebounds a game, Green has almost single-handedly given MSU hope for a push into the NCAA tournament in March. That’s right, we have to hope to get into the bracket.

It would not surprise me if we all turned our televisions on in a couple months to watch MSU play in the NIT, and eventually lose. After all, that’s about the only thing the Spartans have been able to do consistently this season.

Who knows, maybe we can make a late run and grab some momentum going into the postseason. Here’s hoping. Go State!

7SPORTS

Feb. 7 - 20, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Men get back on track, have streak snapped Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor After a 76-68 loss to Jackson Community College on Jan. 12, it appeared the Stars had little left to offer their fans.

Over the next two weeks, they did everything they could to prove such an assumption to be false.

After defeating Lake Michigan College on Jan. 19 in a 102-92 overtime thriller, the Stars took to the road again with a renewed sense of confidence and a passion that had not been seen yet this season.

“We’ve been having a blast lately,” sophomore guard Colin Ward said after a 71-63 victory over Kalamazoo Valley Community College on Jan 22.

“The game against Jackson was huge for us.”

Ward scored 14 points and recorded five assists.

The Stars headed home to face rival Grand Rapids Community College in their first home game back at LCC since their overtime thriller just a week before.

“It feels great to be back,” said Alvino Ashley before the game against GRCC. LCC won 74-61.

“We find our mojo here really easily.”

Scrappin’: Sophomore Alvino Ashley, right, fights for posession during the Stars’ 102-92 overtime victory over Lake Michigan College Jan. 19.

Photos by Michael Caterina

Up for two: Sophomore Mike Martin goes up for a dunk attempt during the Stars’ 76-68 loss to Jackson Community College Jan. 12.

Ashley scored 22 points while pulling in nine rebounds, leaving him just shy of what would have been his second double-

double of the season.

“Man, I love playing here!” Ashley exclaimed after the game.

After taking care of

GRCC, the Stars took to the road once again to face Kellogg Community College on Jan. 29. But the Stars finally stumbled. KCC de-

feated LCC 83-71 in what Head Coach Mike Ingram called one of the most difficult losses this year for the Stars.

“This one was a tough one to lose,” Ingram said.

“We’ve got to be more consistent on the road. I know we’ll get right back into the swing of things — this is just one loss.”

The Stars would have next played Glen Oaks Community College but with classes being canceled on Feb. 2 due to inclimate weather, the cag-

ers enjoyed an unexpected day off.

According to LCC Athletic Director Scott Latham, since the game versus Glen Oaks is a conference game, it must be made up; however, a date and time for the makeup game had not been confirmed as of Feb 4.

The Stars were scheduled to take to the road again to face Muskegon on Feb. 5 before coming home to face Ancilla and then Jackson in a rematch of their Jan. 12 victory.

Mariah Byrd remembered: The legacy of a Star Erik Stiem Staff Writer After dealing with an undisclosed sickness for the past few years, Mariah Byrd, former co-captain of the LCC women’s basketball team, was sent to the hospital Nov. 26, the day after Thanksgiving. She stayed there until her passing on Dec. 18, 2010.

The funeral was held Dec. 29, with her whole team in attendance, as well as girls who had the privilege of playing with Byrd last year.

“It was a sudden shock. No one anticipated this. We knew she was sick, but we didn’t know to what degree,” explained LCC Women’s Coach Ervin Brunson “She will be missed.”

Brunson described

Byrd as an “impact person,” who touched the lives of those she played with and mentored.

Moving on after losing such a commendable person and teammate is no easy task.

“It does have an impact because there are times that the girls have their moments, and there are times when it hits them. It hits all of us, the coaching staff as well, because Mariah was a unique individual and a special person,” Brunson said.

“You can’t just walk away without the thought of her because she brought a lot to the team.”

Brunson said Byrd was a spunky, yet laid-back individual who took joy in being a leader and saw teammates feed off of

her positivity; yet her friendliness extended beyond the confines of her own team.

Many other programs, including schools LCC does not even play this year, remembered playing Byrd and sent their condolences. Her impact on the LCC women’s basketball team, as well as the league, was without a doubt unforgettable.

“We have dedicated our whole season to Mariah, and hope that we continue to gain closer bonds to each other, gain experience that things happen sometimes unexpectedly that you can’t prepare for, that (you) don’t want to prepare for,” Brunson said.

“We just have to move on with life and hope that what we’ve

done will represent her and some of the positive things she wanted out of this year’s team.”

“I explained to the girls, we, as a team, need to continue to move on because if (Mariah) was here, she would say the same thing, that we’ve got to keep strong,” remarked the coach.

Flying high in the Gannon Building is the women’s basketball banner, with an action shot of Mariah Byrd representing the team.

Looking up to her, as they always have, reminds the Lady Stars who they’re playing for every time they enter their home court.

It is easy to imagine Byrd with a big smile looking back down, proud of the lives she has touched and enjoying her newfound freedom.

File photo by Michael Caterina

Never forgotten: Mariah Byrd puts up a shot during a 2009-2010 season game. Byrd passed away Dec. 18.

8SPORTS

Feb. 7 - 20 , 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Tough losses motivate LCC women

Erik Stiem Staff Writer

After a tough loss at the hands of Kalamazoo Valley Community College, ranked No. 11 in the country, the Lady Stars rebounded by pulling off two big in-conference wins.

The 94-68 loss to Kalamazoo Valley CC on Jan. 22 was the Lady Stars’ worst defeat of the season. Kalamazoo’s deep bench and consistent shooting proved too much for the LCC women to handle in the contest, dropping their conference record to 2-5.

Four days later, however, the Lady Stars were back on the winning track.

“The girls were mad because they felt they could have played better in some of the previous games,” said Head Coach Ervin Brunson, “Now everybody has

Pushing through: At left, Freshman Kristian Hines scrambles for the ball against Jackson Community College defense during the Stars’ 113-91 loss Jan. 12. At right, freshman Denay Kelley drives to the basket against Jackson CC defense Jan. 12.

Photos by Michael Caterina

stepped up their level of play.”

The Lady Stars took their anger out on Grand Rapids CC Jan. 26 at LCC, dominating the boards and the overall flow of

the game, while cruising to a 65-43 victory.

Stellar defense and strong play around the hoop limited Grand Rapids CC, which was

out-rebounded by LCC, 47-23.

LCC’s combination of Denay Kelly, Tornisha Jones and Soquitta DeShazor makes up the highest rebounding trio in the conference, with each player averaging at least eight rebounds a game.

Limiting second chances for opponents and creating them for their team has been a big reason for LCC’s success.

“This group plays with a high intensity level,” Brunson said.

On Jan. 29, the Lady Stars traveled to Battle Creek to take on Kellogg CC, a game that was

tight throughout the matchup.

LCC prevailed in the end, 62-57.

As of Feb. 4, LCC was 13-5 overall and 4-5 in conference play, which places them fifth place out of nine teams in the conference.

Due to the snowstorm and LCC’s closing, the game vs.

Glen Oaks, scheduled to take place Feb. 2, was postponed to a later date that is still undetermined.

The Lady Stars played in Muskegon Feb. 5. Results will be posted in the next issue of The Lookout.

9

Feb. 7 - 20, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

10 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Feb. 7 - 20, 2011

www.lcc.edu/lookout

Don’t hate the hater

Local talent hits The Loft

Lee Rumler A&E Editor

Shauna Stocken Staff Writer

I attended a Michigan Press Association conference in Detroit on Jan. 28 and 29.

While it wasn’t exactly where I would have chosen to spend my weekend, it did offer me an opportunity to watch The Misanthrope, written by Molière, at Wayne State’s Hilberry Theatre.

As a 21st Century cynic who had never seen a 17th Century comedy of manners, I didn’t expect too much from Moliere’s “masterpiece,” but before the play even began, I was pleasantly surprised.

Instead of announcing the rules of the theater over a crackling loudspeaker, as most modern theatres do, The Hilberry employed the use of Célimène’s manservant, Basque.

He announced, in comedic verse, that the audience should turn off their cell

Photo courtesy of hilberry.com

phones and other, more ancient forms of technology (pagers) and locate the exits just in case the place caught on fire.

The rest of the play detailed one man’s search for truth in an aristocratic society.

Literally, he was sick of everyone lying to each other.

In order to understand Alceste’s problem (and the comedy in the play), one must realize that in 17th Century France, every aristocrat was a two-faced charlatan.

King Crossword

One would spout off streams of praises to another’s face, but as soon as the latter turned his back, the former would verbally assault his every fault.

Kind of like middle school girls.

But Alceste was different: He believed one man shouldn’t pile on a mountain of false compliments, raving and flattery to another. He thought that practice was especially strange if he was just saying hello.

Even to his friend Philinte, he callously refused compliment, claiming that if Philinte greeted everyone with the same fervor he greeted Alceste, which he did, Alceste couldn’t be sure if Philinte actually meant his kind words.

He kind of reminded me of an ancient, modest Dr. House, although he isn’t nearly as harsh until provoked by Oronte, a kind, pompous and somewhat fruity fellow who sought out Alceste to critique his sonnet.

Alceste’s story, though definitely appealing to a high-brow audience, is worth watching – if only to laugh at the dirty jokes spoken in rhyme.

In the heart of MSU’s campus hides The Record Lounge located at 503 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing.

This basement shop with huge personality not only sells record albums but has unique clothing, shoes, posters and much more to choose from.

The Record Lounge and The Loft Urban Lounge (The Loft) at 414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, are celebrating the third successful year The Record Lounge has been open.

The anniversary at The Loft housed Michigan talent with a concert called Middle of the Mitten.

“It’s a really awesome thing all of ... you coming out to support local music,” the lead singer of Versus The Ocean said.

The concert was held on Jan. 29 from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m. with back to back bands that kept fans entertained all night and into the early morning.

My favorite performance of the night was indie band Elliot Street Lunatic. CJ, the drummer, definitely made the band complete with a sound as attractive as the

Photo by Courtney Baker

Three years old: Versus The Ocean performs at The Loft in downtown Lansing during The Middle of The Mitten concert Jan. 29. The concert celebrated The Loft’s third year of being open.

overall appearance of the band mates.

I don’t want to compare musical abilities of The Beatles and Elliot Street Lunatic; rather, I’ll make a shout out to bassist guitarist Jordan Hahn, who rocked the same bass guitar the Beatles did back in the 1960s.

At times the instruments were louder than the person singing, posing problems understandings the lyrics.

Despite the minor sound problems, the acts ran smoothly, giving the audience their money’s worth of entertainment.

The show was $7 at the door or $5 for anyone who had purchased tickets

from The Record Lounge in advance.

As the night progressed, The Loft filled with intense fans adding an upbeat energy to the concert.

“My favorite part of performing is the crowd interaction; I like when the crowd gets involved,” said Jason Marr, lead singer of Elliot Street Lunatic.

While the band has been invited in years past, this is the first Middle of the Mitten concert the band could attend.

This concert was everything I love about live music and I recommend everyone to join the fourth annual Middle of the Mitten in 2012.

— Shouting a Nuance —

I think I’m turning Japanese

Puzzle solution can be found at www.lcc.edu./lookout

This week’s puzzle is sponsored by:

Sometime around sixth grade, I started watching Toonami with my dad.

And what was the coolest show on Toonami, everybody?

Dragon Ball Z. I loved Dragon Ball Z! I watched it every single weekday for over a full year. I saw every episode from the Vegeta saga (started a little late) to Majin Buu’s entrance (when the talking grew ridiculous and I got a life).

Yes, I sat through 20 minutes of talking that’s only purpose was to describe the remaining three minutes of action that inevitably comprised every episode, and I loved every second of it. I watched it so much my mom scheduled dinner around it.

Little did I know that this was my first step into the world of anime.

Sadly enough, it took me three to four years to take my next step.

Sometime I think dur-

ing early high school (I’m bad with dates – alright?), Adult Swim started playing a bunch of anime.

Among them were some of my favorites to this day.

Actually, before I get to the Adult Swim programs, I should probably mention the other Toonami animes: Aside from Rurouni Kenshin and Yu Yu Hakusho (both great shows), I didn’t really watch them.

I liked .hack//Sign, but I didn’t watch it too much since my brother didn’t (I’m rewatching this one now.) I saw Gundam Wing a few times too, but I start-

ed too late to really care (and I still don’t). And now I want to watch The Big O, more than any other anime (except one), but back then I just didn’t get it.

I stopped watching Toonami when they replaced it with Miguzi – because it sucked.

Anyway, Adult Swim: Inuyasha was probably the second anime I saw.

This was the show that inadvertently introduced me to the rest. Because Inuyasha was on Adult Swim, and because it was awesome, I stayed up a little later and watched a few more shows. Namely, Trigun.

Trigun. Oh my God, Trigun! It was funny, it was meaningful, it was actionpacked – it was so good I cried! Seriously. When I watched the series finale, tears ran down my face.

One of the best animes, ever.

I never actually watched

Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo when they were on Adult Swim because they were on late and I like sleep, but last year I remembered them and decided to watch them. I can now say that was one of the few decisions in my life I don’t regret.

My friend Logan obsessed about Fooly Cooly for about a year, and while I thought it was good, it’s one of those shows that makes people scratch their head and say, “Wha?” Anime is one of those things that make me smile.

I’ve seen plenty more than I’ve mentioned, but these are probably the most important to me; the ones I define my life by.

By the way, if anybody runs into a copy of Witch Hunter Robin, I really want to watch it. Send me an email (rumlel@mail. lcc.edu) telling me where it is, and I’ll thank you in my next column.

11 A&E

Feb. 7 - 20, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Local comics to visit Dart

Lee Rumler A&E Editor

Coming soon (Friday, Feb. 11 at 8 p.m.) to a Dart Auditorium near you is the Public Offenders’ Pro Bono, a $5 night of comedy, music and film to benefit the LCC Theatre Scholarship Fund.

The Public Offenders is a group of young, local comics who aren’t afraid to get dirty.

Before the group was formed, according to member Dan Currie, the comics’ audacity could land them in a bit of trouble.

“The problem we ran into is, as you’re an amateur and you’re working up, eventually you want to start getting booked at clubs, and a lot of places are afraid to book dirty comics because they don’t want to ruin an image or anything like that,” Currie said.

“So, because we weren’t getting booked anywhere, we started booking ourselves. We got a group of guys together who were having similar issues ... (and) we created our own venues, basically.”

The group doesn’t write exclusively dirty jokes, though.

According to Currie, the rule is “Don’t write clean, don’t write dirty; write funny.”

The point of Pro Bono, Cur-

Monte

Photo by Laura Wixson

Comedy for a cause: The Public Offenders, a group of Lansing-area comics, will perform at Dart Auditorium Feb. 11 in a benefit show for the LCC Theatre Scholarship Fund. Tickets are $5 and the show starts at 8 p.m.

rie said, is to “let people know there’s stand-up in Michigan.

“Michigan, people don’t think about it, but it has a big comedy presence ... compared to Ohio, Nebraska, any place else besides L.A. or New York. We have a lot of comedy clubs, and there’s actually a big boom right now.”

Currie said the group doesn’t see many students at the shows, even though the majority of the

students he talks to claim they love stand-up. He is hoping Pro Bono will rectify that.

The group has been together for four months, according to founder Tom Slovinski, but this short time isn’t the comics’ only experience.

“Separately, we’ve been doing comedy anywhere from nine months to three years,” Slovinski said.

The group has performed all over the state at locations including The Blind Pig, Rubbles, Mac’s Bar, The Pike Room and Connxtions Comedy Club.

Individually, they’ve performed at the New York Comedy Contest, Zanie’s in Chicago, The Improv in Chicago, Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, Laff Tracks and Joey’s Comedy Club.

Slavinski and member Denny Green have been running the open mic at Connxtions for a year and a half.

According to Slavinski, the comics scheduled to appear at the show are Dan Currie, Denny Green, Ivan Wolfgang, Matt Clark, Zak Engeland, Jacob Zamonski, Mike Evitts and himself.

Tickets can be purchased at the door.

In the Kitchen with Cristo

Chef Nick

Sandw

ic h

Ingredients: 8 slices of white bread 4 slices of ham 4 slices of Swiss cheese Vegetable oil 3 eggs 2 cups corn flakes 2 oz. pure maple syrup Serves 4

Directions: Lay out two pieces of white bread. Next, take one slice of Swiss cheese and cut in half laying each half on each piece of bread. (This is key in making sure your sandwich does not fall apart during frying) Next, lay one slice of ham on one side of the two slices of bread.

Beat your eggs and grind up your corn flake crumbs finely.

Heat veg. oil in a frying pan.

Now put the two slices of bread together to form a sandwich. Then, dip your sandwich into the egg mixture, next into

the corn flake crumbs, making sure to get all four edges to seal. Fry your sandwich in the veg. oil for about one to two minutes on each side until golden brown. Cut your Monte into four pieces, cutting corner to corner so you have four triangles for design and small finger food. Drizzle maple syrup on top and enjoy. *Photo by Michael Caterina Recipe provided by HMFS 263 Gourmet American Cooking.

IN BRIEF Arts & Entertainment LCC performs Beckett Andy Callis will direct Samuel Beckett’s comic masterpiece Endgame on Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 8 p.m.

The performance will take place in the Black Box Theatre, Gannon Building 168. It will cost $5 for LCC faculty, staff, alumni and students and $10 for the general public.

Hairspray comes to Riverwalk Riverwalk Theatre in downtown Lansing is putting on the Broadway hit Hairspray. The production will run Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 17 - 20 and Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 24 - 27.

Thursdays open at 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $18 for seniors, students and military.

Library gains gaming room The LCC Library has acquired a Playstation 3 and a Nintendo Wii available for patrons during study breaks.

Gamers need only bring their StarCard or driver ’s license to the Multimedia Desk in the library to check out a game.

The gaming room may only be utilized one hour at a time and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

LMTV: Showcasing Lansing music

Lee Rumler A&E Editor Everybody likes local talent. For some people, supporting local musicians is as simple as going to a few live shows and maybe buying a couple EPs. But for LCC students Sean Bradley, Casey Cavanaugh and Austin Howard, contributing a few dollars just wasn’t enough.

According to Bradley, the trio recognized that despite the talent of Lansing’s musicians, they didn’t really have many places to gain exposure on a large scale. Their solution to this was creating LansingMusic.tv.

“LansingMusic.tv is a web show that documents and promotes the Lansing music scene by filming performances, interviewing bands and people and promoting new local releases, shows etc,” Bradley said. “By doing all of these things ... we are helping to integrate the scene and make it more cohesive.

“It is a platform for musicians in Lansing to showcase what they are doing, no matter the genre of music.”

And LansingMusic.tv has covered quite the range of artists. From Frank and Earnest to P2DaHI (pronounced P-to-the-H-I), LansingMusic.tv promotes, or is willing to pro-

Photo courtesy of Sean Bradley

mote, all the music Lansing has to offer.

The website hosts a variety of features designed to inform Lansing locals of new releases, new talent or show locations.

“Our website, LansingMusic.tv, includes reviews of local records and promotional write-ups on local shows and events,” Bradley said. “We have also begun to record local shows for users to download for free.”

The crew also makes a habit of recording acoustic sets after interviews. According to Bradley, “We try and get (them) with every band.” The recordings, both live and acoustic, are made available for free on http://www.purevolume.com/ lansingmusictv.

All of the trio’s video content is hosted on YouTube, http://www.youtube. com/user/LansingMusicTV. They are also on Twitter @ lansingmusictv and Facebook at Facebook.com/lansingmusictv.

Bradley said that Howard recently received $10,000 worth of video production equipment from the brand new Office of Community Media in Lansing to produce content for Lansing Public Access television.

“As per the grant, we are required to produce at least one hour of content per month for 24 months,” Bradley said. “Then after 24 months, Howard owns the equipment and has no more responsibility as far as the grant is concerned.”

The group also plans to put some of their content on LCC TV The Link.

LansingMusic.tv is continuing to grow, and the three men are working hard to keep their content strong, a crusade aided by the local talent.

“The styles that the bands do is so different that it never gets old or stale,” Bradley said. “There is always something new and exciting going on in Lansing.”

12 FEATURES

Feb. 7 - 20, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

LCC Yoga Club twists out spring semester Shauna Stocken Staff Writer

Every Saturday from 5 to 6 p.m., groups of all ages meet in the Gannon Building 252 for Yoga Club.

Yoga Club is offered free through LCC and welcomes anyone whether they’re a student at LCC or simply someone who is interested in trying beginner ’s yoga.

According to Rob Eschbach, the advisor of Yoga Club, he created Yoga Club due to a high demand by LCC students.

The instructor of the club is Clinton Lockert, 88, a professor at LCC. Lockert began yoga 48 years ago whernhe was a professor at MSU. After Lockert’s yoga instructor retired, Lockert’s colleague and fellow yoga member took over the class.

Eventually the new yoga instructor moved back to India, transforming Lockert from a yoga mem-

Photos by Courtney Baker

Loosen up: Lindy Moore, 55, a horticulture student, does a stretch during a Yoga Club meeting Saturday, Jan. 29.

ber to an instructor.

“I started with a group of 13, and eventually I was instructing classes of 90 people,” said Lockert.

After 10 years of yoga at MSU, Lockert was invited to become a professor at LCC, teaching beginning, intermediate,

advanced yoga and special classes for people with handicaps.

Lockert said he donates his time to make LCC’s free yoga club possible for the public.

“It is my gift for the future yogis,” said Lockert.

Yoga Club doesn’t demand weekly at-

tendance, but weekly participation in Yoga Club can help build relationships with some of the usual members, such as Lindy Moore, a 55-year-old horticulture student at LCC. Due to Moore’s severe spine and back problems, her physical therapist rec-

Finding Center: LCC Yoga Instructor Clint Lockert leads the Yoga Club members through various positions during a meeting, Jan. 29. The club is open to anyone and meets every Saturday in GB 252.

ommended yoga.

“Plus, it’s good exercise,” said Moore.

With a friendly and encouraging atmosphere, anyone can feel “at home” during Saturday Yoga Club.

Those interested can stop by Yoga Club on Saturday, Feb. 19 and wish Lockert a happy 89th birthday. There will be carrot cake and organic apple cider for everyone.

13 DISTRACTIONS

Feb. 7 - 20, 2011

www.lcc.edu/lookout

SUDOKU

— Fully Flippin’ it —

Netflix; more than movies

8 8 4

6 1

9 5

6 8 5 2

9

7 3

3 9 3 4 3 6 9

2 1

6 1 5 8 3 7

LeBaron Rodgers Desktop Blues

James Tennant Jr. An Ordinary Life

Netflix is dope, no doubt about it.

If you have been under a rock for the past few years here is an explanation.

Netflix is a service that delivers DVDs in the mail directly to your home and you return them the same way.

Netflix also offers select movies to “Watch Instantly” on your computer or other high-tech toys like a Wii or an Xbox 360. Fortunately for me, my roommate owns both.

I have had the same Neftlix DVD sitting on the TV stand for four months now because all I ever do is watch instantly.

One of my favorite parts about watching instantly is the TV series that are available. For

example, all six seasons of Lost are available to watch right now online.

Lost is an hour-long show that played an episode every week from Sept. 2004 to May 2010.

The crazy plot twists and cliffhanger endings of every episode would have been insane to follow over a six-year period.

Good thing I didn’t have to do that.

I watched the first

few episodes and I was hooked. Having Netflix made it possible for me to spend an entire day or night delving deeper into the world of Lost, one episode right after another.

Watching this critically acclaimed show without waiting a week in between each episode really gave me insight into the show.

I caught more of the intricate details in character development and the many different plots that were going on in each episode.

Netflix has changed the way I watch TV and it must be true for others.

I think that this advance in technology will make for even more interesting and innovative TV shows and movies.

14 OPINION

Feb. 7 - 20, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout —Everyone should read George Orwell—

What an awesome day Taco Bell; inside the ‘beef’ — The Collected Klutz—

There are many dates throughout history and our lives that stand out to us. One of those days for me is Feb. 17.

Why, you might ask?

Because it’s the celebration of the day I was born.

I was born on the third Monday of February, also known as Presidents’ Day. Since this holiday is on the third Monday of February it only lands on my birthday every seven years. I feel it is an honor to share the day I was born with such great men in the history of our country.

I also share a birthday with one of the greatest basketball players ever, Michael Jordan. And because of this, as a child, I

thought it meant I was destined to become a professional basketball player.

So I started my shortlived basketball career in the fourth grade. After my freshman year of high school I realized I just wasn’t cut out for professional basketball. That was a sad day.

Feb. 17 is also a National Holiday called “My Way Day.” This

holiday couldn’t have landed on a better date.

I mean, is there a more splendid way to celebrate my birthday than to have everything “my way?” I don’t think so.

Another interesting fact is that the characters Blondie and Dagwood, from the popular comic strip Blondie, were married Feb. 17, 1933. I knew there was a reason I liked that comic strip.

The Beach Boys’ song “Surfin” hit the national pop charts on Feb. 17, 1962. I always was a fan of their music.

I have to say Feb.17 is an amazing day in history. I hope that only great things continue to happen on this day, seeing as it is my birthday.

Letters to the Editor Readers react to sports editor’s Jan. 24 column ‘Vick makes me sick’ I am a Michael Vick supporter and have been throughout his NFL career. As a sport spectator and a former high school athlete, we are taught that sports are to teach us how to increase our performance on the field and court as well as overcome adversity and learn from our mistakes.

The article about how Vick shouldn’t have gotten his job back is totally ignorant, and I agree that no amount of apologies will bring the dogs back or change anything. As I continued to read the article, I came across even more ignorance about how “NFL commissioner Roger Goodell dropped the ball on this one” and how the Lombardi Trophy will be soon hoisted by a criminal. I hate to bring it your attention, but it already has been in most recent history by Ben Roethlisberger.

Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of numerous sexual assault cases and yet he pays off the victims and gets a measly four-game suspension, as well as a standing ovation on his return. Yet, Vick served his NFL-issued suspensions, the forfeiture of his signing bonus, as well as criminal prosecution. He overcame adversity through his work ethic that was displayed on the field this year.

But I beg the question, when do animal rights outweigh human rights? And I would like to know how the commissioner “dropped the ball”: because he saw fit to give another person a second chance? I’m not saying what Vick did was not wrong and everything cries out in its own way, but where is the scrutiny for Roethlisberger as well as other sports figures who are accused of sexual assault? It seems like from a media standpoint that it is OK to force sexual acts on a person who may be a “groupie” and pay them off, yet if you fight an animal you are the scum of the earth.

If you are going to scrutinize one person you have to scrutinize them all. Without doing so it makes it seem as if one person is bigger than their job and everyone should be held accountable. Whether they are accused of animal fighting or sexual assault, they should all be viewed in the same eye.

Justin A. Jones

In regards to your article slamming Vick, get over it! Seriously, it has been talked to death. Get off your PETA band wagon and try talking about something that happened in the last six months. He did pay his debt to society!

Stop criticizing the man because he got his job back. I don’t understand how or why dogs became more valued than people: for example, the Steelers’ quarterback has had multiple charges against him for lewd and inappropriate sexual behavior against multiple women, and yet he didn’t get near the attention or negative press as Vick.

Vick is a human who made a bad choice that happened to break laws in this country.

He is not that different from many other people who live here. The only difference is his job puts him in a public eye! If the news was flooded with reports of every time an American auto worker committed a crime and if the public showed the same outrage to the Big Three as we did to Vick, the auto companies would have been out of business decades ago! I have a B.A. in criminal justice and even I can cut the man some slack.

Stating that Vick will always be a criminal for the rest of his life is a gross exaggeration.

People can change! Narrow-minded people like you were the reason for the Salem witch trials. Can we please talk about the sports and not the outdated personal lives of the athletes?

Warmest Regards, Lisa Pierce, A True Sports Fan

Recently the “beef” in Taco Bell products has been under scrutiny.

According to the suit filed by an Alabama law firm, Taco Bell is using a meat mixture that contains binders and extenders, and does not meet the minimum requirements set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be labeled as “beef.”

This interests me because I am always interested in exactly what it is I am eating. Usually, its GMOs (genetically modified food) and meat products chock full of chemicals and all other sorts of stuff I hadn’t heard of.

Recently, I have been trying to avoid such nonfood yet called food items, and when news of the Taco Bell lawsuit broke, I was not surprised.

For one, I don’t believe you can sell the amount of beef in one of those 99cent tacos for 99 cents and make a profit. I figured the meat used could not be of a high quality. News articles have quoted Attorney

Dee Miles saying the meat mixture contained just 35 percent beef, with the remaining 65 percent containing water, wheat oats, soy lecithin, maltodrextrin, anti-dusting agent and modified corn starch.

The “beef” in Taco Bell products also contains phosphates and water, both of which are specifically cited as ingredients that can cost meat its “beef” label.

Taco Bell plans to face the lawsuit claiming that it stands behind its “beef.”

The class action lawsuit is not looking for monetary compensation; they are merely asking that Taco Bell not advertise what they call “taco meat filling” as beef.

This seems to me like an elaborate case of denial. I do not understand how Taco Bell will be able to weasel themselves out of this situation when the facts are so clear and their fault is so certain.

The lawsuit claims this is false advertising and people have the right to know what they are eating. I second that motion, agreeing that while fast food is convenient, people need to realize just how poor the nutrition of such food actually is.

After viewing the USDA guidelines to what constitutes beef from mixed meat or the suggested, “taco meat filling,” it is clear that the ingredients found in Taco Bell’s “beef” do not meet the standards.

On behalf of those who desire a fast taco at 2 a.m., I ask that Taco Bell faces the fact that its beef does not meet my standards as a consumer and finds an alternate way to deliver the product they claim it is or change the title of its product to what it is.

15 Opinion

Feb. 7 - 20, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout In our own words | Staff Editorial

Gov. Snyder seeks trust during MPA convention The Lookout recently attended the Michigan Press Association annual conference in Detroit on Jan. 28 and 29.

Several other journalists from Michigan attended the event, which featured guest speakers including Gov. Rick Snyder.

Previously members of The Lookout staff attended the gubernatorial debate in Wixom.

Since Snyder has become governor we had looked forward to hearing his plans for the state of Michigan.

Considering the most used phrase of the past 10 years has been, “in today’s economy,” it

was no surprise that Snyder began with, “Job one is jobs.”

The other topic that was heavily focused upon was spending and budget.

Snyder is looking to Indiana and Utah as models for Michigan’s budget.

While his plan to modify the budget is a no-brainer to any Michigander, it is strange that he chose these two states as they both have a lesser GDP (Gross Domestic Product) than current Michiganders.

One would think the plan is to increase the standards of liv-

ing for Michiganders.

By mirroring a budget in place by states who bring in more income than our state would give Snyder another way of looking at our own state budget.

The focus of the budget change is obviously to lower the state debt.

However, where we put our money is still incredibly important.

Snyder did mention the budgets of these two states are very similar to the budget model put in place in Michigan a few years ago.

The difference, he claimed, was the way the budget was treated

and handled throughout the past four years.

Currently his list of plans include a tax reform during the month of February, a state government reform during the month of March and an education reform during the month of April.

He is asking Michiganders to be open to change and to be less cynical and skeptical.

It would seem that both the federal and state governments are looking for trust from the American people right now, something that The Lookout feels can be given once earned.

Write a Letter to the

Editor

Policies: all letters should be 200 words or less and signed with a name, address (email or otherwise) and phone number. The Lookout reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, spelling, length and clarity.

Mail: 1000 – The Lookout Lansing Community College P.O. box 40010 Lansing, MI 489401-7210 Email: sande43@mail.lcc.edu Fax: (517) 483-1290 The Lookout is the independent, biweekly student newspaper of Lansing Community College. All opinion/editorial articles are the sole opinion of the writer and may not reflect the views of the staff, students, faculty and college as a whole.

Opinion/editorial articles may or may not be located exclusively on editorial pages and may appear on news, sports and arts & entertainment pages.

- The Lookout Staff

Snyder plans to earn this trust by converting the budget to a web page Michiganders can access at any time to track where their tax dollars are going.

He also explained his decision-making process, noting that it was centered around the impact of each decision on Michiganders across the state.

When discussing an issue, Snyder said three of the questions he asks of any proposed policy change are: how does this benefit Michiganders, who is the smartest person on the other side of the issue and what do they have to

say and finally why this way?

If Snyder follows this model, policy changes that pass would have to be beneficial to the state of Michigan.

It is certain, however, that when changing the budget of a state, who is to put it lightly past its economic prime, Michiganders expect their government to look to several other states, not just a few who have policies with which the governor is familiar.

If Snyder wants change, we are on board. If he wants trust, we will have to wait and see.

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PINBALL MACHINE FOR SALE Game Plan 1979 “Sharpshooter” solid state game. Old western theme. Very fast and fun. Four players. $525. Call 517-589-5273 and leave a message.

ROOM FOR RENT 401 S. Washington Square, Loft #411. One mile from downtown LCC campus. Two rooms available, $550 per person per month. Price includes air conditioning, dishwasher, furniture, parking, washer and dryer. No smoking, no pets. Spacious and beautiful apartment. Walking distance from downtown restaurants, bars and LCC. Contact Vanessa at 818-438-0675.

PLACE YOUR AD HERE Advertising in The Lookout’s classified section is inexpensive and effective. Cost is just $8.50 for 20 words or less. Additional words are 50 cents. Call 483-1295 to place an ad.

the lookout Sarah Sanders

Editor in Chief sande43@mail.lcc.edu

Kaitlin Lutz

Associate Editor lutzk3@mail.lcc.edu

Nathan Wilson

News Editor wilso162@mail.lcc.edu

Michael Caterina

Photo Editor cater2@mail.lcc.edu

Shauna Stocken

Staff Writer stockens@mail.lcc.edu

Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor mastrand@mail.lcc.edu

Kelly Lehtonen

Advertising Manager lehtonk@mail.lcc.edu

Lee Rumler

A&E Editor rumlel@mail.lcc.edu

Larry Hook

Adviser hookl@lcc.edu

16

Feb. 7 - 20, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout