The Lookout Issue 13

Artists

Baseball

collaborate for peace

PAGE 4 March 28 - April 10 2011 Volume 52, Issue 13 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Pentacost

opens

season

underway

at Dart

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thelookout Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959

Program cuts not finalized

Horticulture program could be uprooted from college

Sarah Sanders Editor in Chief

Sarah Sanders Editor in Chief

The LCC Board of Trustees’ meeting March 21 featured 75 speakers addressing issues, including the elimination of several programs.

Provost Stephanie Shanblatt announced the college will move forward with state officials to ensure the Sign Language Program will remain open at LCC. Local businesses were represented by their owners within the truck driving, automotive tech., collision repair, fashion tech. and landscape industries.

Each program will present the board with plans for getting their program back on track by April 7, after faculty union MAHI asked the board for a one-week extension to make up for time lost on spring break.

College leadership announced plans of possibly eliminating the landscape program on Feb. 24.

“We had program review in 2008 and we had the second best ROI (return Photo by Courtney Baker

Tough choices: The LCC Board of Trustees listen to members of the community speak at a meeting March 3.

Kevin Johnson, lead flight instructor for the LCC Aviation Program, presented a budget that would allow the department to break even.

While faculty from all the programs said they understand the need for a reevaluation of the programs, they do not want to see the programs

eliminated before they are given a chance to remedy the problems identified by the administration.

Many faculty asked the board for a two-year extension, hoping this will give them the amount of time needed See Cuts, page 2

on investment) of any program within the college,” Welch said. “We had to laugh a little bit when the provost said (at the board meeting) the data was all complete and sent out because that was not true.”

See Horticulture, page 2

Fashion tech, interior design programs could both be cut Sarah Sanders Editor in Chief

College administration announced plans of possibly eliminating the Interior Design and Fashion Tech Programs Feb. 24.

Faculty and students

alike were gathered at LCC Board of Trustees monthly meeting March 21.

Lead Faculty Christine Conner said the Fashion Tech faculty is currently working on a proposal to See Fashion, page 2

40 colleges in four days

Unions protest at Capitol

Nathan Wilson News Editor

David Vanlerberghe Staff Writer

The Annual Transfer Fair drew crowds of students in the Gannon Building lobby March 21 through 24.

The fair was hosted by the University Center and Transfer Initiatives Department, and over 40 colleges were represented.

Attending students entered for a chance to win a Kindle, iPad, Ipod or gift bags. The winners will be announced during the week of March 27 on http:// www.lcc.edu/uc.

Julie Hanna, the program administrator for Northwood University,

AFL-CIO affiliated unions and various supporters marched on the Capitol March 16 to protest the budget presented by Gov. Rick Snyder.

“The whole idea for saving our jobs and taking away our rights for collective bargaining boils down to no middle class between the rich and the poor,” said protestor Nick Dee. The budget presented is proposing to make considerable cuts to government workers’ salaries and pensions.

“My dad worked for

Photo by Michael Caterina

In the know: Mechanical engineering student Damen Bradley speaks with an MSU adviser March 23.

said the college looks to see where a student is academically and how to adjust their path to transfer.

Patty Spagnuolo, direc-

tor of the University Center, said, “We had this set up so that LCC students See Transfer, page 2

Photo by Michael Caterina

Democracy in action: Hundreds of people gather in the State Capitol building March 16 to protest budget cuts.

the state and my mom is a teacher, so we’ll be hit hard,” LCC student Chris Hoyt said.

Snyder proposed cutting the Michigan Business Tax

as a way to help businesses build jobs.

“Michigan business tax is a job killer,” Snyder said.

See Union, page 2

2 NEWS

March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Cuts

Continued from page 1

to address budgetary problems.

Interior design and fashion tech. faculty addressed the administration’s assertion that Michigan’s economy does not support the fashion industry.

Aviation faculty explained to the board the need for pilots in coming years exceeds the amount of students eligible to graduate. Johnson said the program’s current enrollment will increase as a result.

Automotive students gathered around the Administration Building with signs to get their message across to the board.

Local businesses claimed the truck drivers graduating from LCC’s truck driving program are more likely to be hired then other potential employees because they are safer drivers

Union Continued from page 1

“This mindset that we have to provide a benefit for businesses to come to Michigan is passive,” Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley said.

One of the major themes chanted by the protes-

across the board.

Shanblatt is currently holding open forums on Fridays throughout the month of March.

On March 18, a group of faculty members met with the provost in the Gannon Building. During this time Shanblatt addressed concerns among faculty on a variety of issues.

Christine Conner, lead faculty of fashion tech., claimed that moving forward, collaboration and communication between faculty and college leadership are needed in order to make the best decision for the college.

Russel Earls, a student at LCC spoke to the board about all of the eliminations and its impact on his life here at LCC. “Everyone should feel the pinch but no one should feel the cut,” Earls said to the applause of the board members. tors was, “Workers get the shaft; Wall Street gets the goldmine.”

In addition to this, taxes were raised more severely for lower income households than they were for those in the higher income tier. Funding for the public school district was cut $300 per student.

Fashion present to the board.

A part of this proposal will be addressing how to raise their enrollment, get their budget on track and what they feel needs to be adjusted within their program so it continues.

According to Conner, faculty members are proposing to offer summer, online and evening classes in place of some morning classes in order to build their enrollment and increase revenue.

Merging some of the sketching classes into the art program Conner said, might be helpful for students while also addressing budget concerns.

Conner explained adjusting teaching methods would help the program maintain a viable degree for Fashion Tech students.

“Another thing we are looking at is doing more project-based learning,” Conner said.

Sisters and fashion tech students, Andrea and Sam

Bartlett attend LCC’s program because it is more affordable than other programs within the state and also because they view the faculty as valuable assets to their success.

“We always knew we wanted to be in fashion,” Andrea said.

The two plan on opening a boutique after they graduate. “We would like to take some more business classes before we are through here,” Sam said.

The sisters said their plans are to stay in Michigan.

According to Conner most of her students have entrepreneurial plans because the fashion industry is currently growing here.

In response to college administration’s claim that there are only two fashion designers in Michigan right now, Conner said there are several other titles students can obtain once they graduate.

“Whether LCC wants to come along for the ride or not, the fashion industry is going to grow in Michigan,” Conner concluded.

The budget proposed attempts to remedy fears of state officials collaborating with lobbyists.

“This culture of picking winners and losers isn’t

conducive towards future job growth,” said Calley.

“We eliminated 452 million dollars,” Budget Director John Nixon said.

Continued from page 1

Horticulture Continued from page 1

Horticulture classes are completely full this semester and only one class was not full last semester according to Welch.

“The data they are working with has a lot of errors in it,” Welch said. “They’re not reflecting the growth that has taken place especially within the horticulture program.”

Faculty, students as well as local businesses within the landscape and horticulture industries attended LCC Board of Trustees meeting March 21.

College leadership also questioned its viability in Michigan’s economy though local businesses

Transfer Continued from page 1

can learn how to transition easily to a four-year college or university.”

Douglas Peacock, the admissions officer for Madonna University, said he wants to meet with any prospective students who are interested in the institution’s programs.

“We have over 75 programs at Madonna,” Peacock said.

Students interested in

claim there is nothing to question.

Many students within the landscape program are planning on opening businesses of their own.

Jeanine Neumann is two classes away from graduating with her Horticulture Degree. She said she plans to work in a nursery when she graduates.

“One of the things I had read was the college was eliminating this because it does not amount to high paying jobs. It made me extremely angry and made the college look bad,” Neumann said.

“I wanted to do this because it makes me happy.

What is the most important thing? It’s not always money, but happiness.” transferring to Madonna need a GPA of at least 2.0 and 24 transferrable credits.

Erica Michaels, enrollment specialist and senior regional coordinator for Life University, explained the institution is well known for its chiropractic program. “(We’re) providing information about what chiropractic is, how they can benefit and how they can help others,” Michaels said.

3 NEWS

March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Preserving sparks of history at LCC Nathan Wilson News Editor

LCC hosted the second annual Iron and Steel Preservation Conference at West Campus March 7, 8 and 9 to educate others about historical metalworking processes.

The first day primarily consisted of lectures. March 8 and 9 featured hands-on work demonstrations.

Retired MSU professor Frank Hatfield explained the conference has attracted engineers, steel fabricators, educators and historians who are interested in restoring historic structures and bridges.

The conference included demonstrations of riveting, heat straightening, packrust removal and more.

Students and participants were outfitted with goggles and protective equipment

before handling machinery during the sessions.

“Riveting disappeared from construction in about 1950,” Hatfield said.

“When we wanted to restore a bridge historically, keeping the historic integrity, no one could put in bolts or rivets. So we’re teaching contractors to do riveting.”

Jeff Pucillo, a producer and actor, and Russell Pflueger, a writer, also attended the conference to learn more about riveting.

They plan to produce a TV series about a rivet gang constructing the Eiffel Tower, and they are involving LCC in the process.

“It’s just been an extraordinary experience with the quality of people that LCC has put together,” Pflueger said.

Experts have helped teach them about riveting and reviewed their 12-min-

ute short film for historical accuracy, Pflueger said.

“Only by being immersed in this community of people that LCC seems to be the epicenter of, do you get that kind of insight from people that can help make the kind of difference between being accurate and kind of close," Pucillo explained. "And we’d like to be accurate.

“We’re finalizing a partnership with a production company that has a very big director attached to it."

He said he hopes to start shooting the series in fall of 2011.

“It’s pretty rare when making something for film or television that you get to do something that’s never been done ever in the history of film or television,” Pucillo said, “and this is one of those things. This story has simply not been told.”

Photo by Michael Caterina

Riveting technique: LCC Welding Instructor Jeff Haines, right, shows a student how to remove a rivet during the third day of the second annual Iron and Steel Preservation Conference March 9 at West Campus.

Women learn self-defense techniques in free class Nathan Wilson News Editor

Women attended a free self-defense class at the Gannon Building Gym March 12.

LCC Police Officer Rodney Bahl, LCC dispatcher Kristy Rogers and LeAnn LaFay from Physical Plant

instructed the women on self-defense techniques to prevent victimization.

“We thought it would be useful to bring the class to our staff, students and their families to help build confidence in women,” Bahl said, “(and) to also provide them with many tools they can use if

they’re ever in a situation where they need to defend themselves, whether it’s rape, abduction or just an assault.”

Availability for the class fluctuates depending on the instructors, and a year has passed since LCC last offered this class.

The class is intended

Students explore science Nathan Wilson News Editor LCC hosted the 27th Regional Science Olympiad, a competition featuring robots, fossils, vehicles and tests on main campus March 19.

A total of 12 middle schools, 13 high schools and two alternative teams tested their knowledge and scientific skills in competition for prizes.

Among the spectator sports was Sumo Bots, a contest between robots developed by students. During the match, two teams attempted to knock one another's robots off a platform.

Representing Holt High School, Coach Heather Peterson said, “Holt has been fortunate enough to be in every Science Olympiad event there has ever been in the state of Michigan …

We’re entered in every event, hoping to do well, (and) having fun.”

Storm the Castle tested students' knowledge of physics, during which they used hand-crafted launch devices in the Gannon Building Gym. The

Photo by Michael Caterina

Science in motion: Dansville seventh grader Jacob Kadluboski, left, watches as his teammate Eric Moser pressurizes the bottle rocket they constructed out of two-liter bottles at the Science Olympiad March 19 at LCC.

trebuchets launched racket balls into a target box.

Tim Periare of LCC said, “It’s a great thing to allow the community to get involved and bring a lot of different schools together for science-related activities.”

Teams also answered questions about prehistoric life and examined fossil specimens at the

scientific event.

In Division B, Haslett Middle School was awarded first place.

Dansville Middle School took second and Holt Junior High School took third. In Division C, St. Johns High School won first place, Holt High School earned second and Haslett High School was awarded third.

predominantly for adults, but Bahl said women can bring their children to learn self-defense.

“We teach ways to avoid the situations … We talk about ways to eliminate the opportunity to reduce your own chances of victimization,” Bahl said.

Students and adults

practiced defensive stances, strikes and blocks during the class. Bahl also demonstrated a powerful strike called a “power fist,” in which one strikes the radial nerve or median nerve on the forearm.

Rogers and Lafay circulated among the class with punching pads while the

women practiced striking.

“If you believe you’re going to survive no matter what, you’re not going to quit,” Bahl said. “Regardless of your physical skills (or) your skill level for self-defense, (if) your mindset is ‘I will survive anything’ ... you’ll make it.”

4 NEWS

March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Promoting peace through art Nathan Wilson News Editor LCC’s American Marketing Association (AMA) presented an evening of music and art during the MI Future Art: A Powerful Tool for Peace at the Black Box Theatre GB 168 March 21.

The event is part of Artists as Peacemakers, an effort by artists to bring peace to the world through their art, which was displayed in the Gannon Building lobby March 13 to 19.

Among the audience at MI Future Art was Valentin Pulido, an emerging artist involved in the Art Council of Greater Lansing. He has a series of photos and an acrylic painting on display in the hall near GB 152.

“My pieces are all about childhood and memories because I was trying to relate something with the peace theme,” Pulido explained.

During the art presentation, Corey Scheffler provided vocals and guitar with George Harrison’s “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth).”

While Scheffler performed, Nicole Johnson painted using a Chinese watercolor technique she learned at LCC. “I just wanted to be a part of this and support Jennifer (Hennings) because I do think it’s important for us to celebrate peace in this crazy

NEWS

College implements mandatory orientation

Photo by Michael Caterina

Tranquil performance: Corey Scheffler strums a song while Jennifer Hennings paints a Chinese watercolor during the Artists for Peace opening at the Black Box Theatre March 21.

world,” she said.

Hennings, the American Marketing representative, said, “I felt it was really important to do what we could to market artists.”

AMA Vice President Dusty Price announced the winners of the exhibit, whose art was displayed on stage.

Andrea Burg won first place with her painting “Watching You” and was awarded a gift certificate of $100 for art supplies.

Other students recognized for their excellence in art include Kimberly Skor-

na, Joo Yeon Yi, Michael Tomanica, Jamie Rogers and Kook Hun Lee. After the audience came on stage to view the winning pieces, LCC student Nick Pounder played the piano for the audience. He described his passion for music and how it enriched his life even while listening to it during work.

“Peace doesn’t stop here over one day,” Price said.

“You want to keep it going, do your art, do your music and pass along peace to the next person.”

— Infallible Rhetoric —

Targeting Muslims Representative Peter King called a congressional hearing on March 10 to discuss the growing threat of radicalization of American Muslims.

King claims there is not enough cooperation from Muslims in fighting terrorism and there is a rampant amount of radicalization in mosques.

How many mosques has King been to and listened to an imam preach hate? Probably zero.

According to ABC World News, most terrorists charged in America are radicalized online, overseas or in prison.

Only three of the 49 terrorist suspects arrested in the past two years in America may have been influenced by imams.

I consider homegrown terrorism to be a serious threat, but I think the tone of the hearing was unfair and concealed a deep rooted fear and misunderstanding of Muslims.

I am in no way sug-

IN BRIEF

gesting that terrorism is insignificant — I believe it should be pursued relentlessly and eradicated.

But I have no reason to believe American Muslims are conspiring against the FBI and police and secretly brainwashing youth in mosques.

I believe the majority of Muslims are opposed to jihadist ideology and will help law enforcement.

The solution to homegrown terror isn’t political theater where lawmakers criticize the Muslim community and spread distrust.

If America is serious about preventing terror,

the federal government should strengthen relations with the Middle East and recruit countries to seize terror groups hiding overseas.

Sources should also continue to investigate websites online that are recruiting anti-America extremists.

Furthermore, people can reach out to the Muslim community in America and build positive relations.

King could have held a hearing examining the threat of terror, in which he also praised the efforts of Muslims who have helped.

Let me be clear: We should differentiate between Islam and the radical jihadist ideology. Islam does not support terror.

This hearing may alienate the Muslim community. Worse, it may be used by terrorist groups to depict an America hostile to Muslims, and only inspire more hatred.

Beginning summer semester 2011, new students are required to attend orientation before registering for classes.

This requirement applies to students seeking associate degrees, transfer programs or certificates of achievement.

Orientation helps provide students with information as they begin their transition to LCC. Orientation is free and offered online and in person.

During the 2011 summer semester, online orientation begins Friday, April 1.

Sign-up for in person sessions for the upcoming summer and fall semester begins April 1. The deadline for orientation is May 31.

During the 2011 fall semester, online orientation begins May 1. The orientation deadline is Aug. 16.

For more information, visit lcc.edu/ orientation.

Course for entrepreneurs set FastTrac New Venture is a course that will meet once each week for 10 weeks, providing business information for business entrepreneurs. Currently scheduled sessions of FastTrac New Venture in Region 8 are March 4 to 13 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at the MI-SBTDC Region 8 Office.

For more information about registration, call 517-483-1921.

Police officer helps save life Officer James Terrill, a graduate of LCC’s Police Academy, helped save a woman’s life March 3 after she jumped into the Grand River. Terril threw a rope bag to the woman but she did not respond.

Lansing Police Sgt. Guy Pace swam toward the woman and when he took hold of her, Terrill began to pull them both to shore. When they were close enough, Terrill jumped into the river to pull the victim up onto the river bank.

The victim was transported to the hospital after her rescue.

Check out The Lookout online @ issuu.com/lcclookout

5 FEATURES

March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Martial arts at LCC promotes safety Shauna Stocken Staff Writer

I

n addition to many popular forms of martial arts, Aikido Club offered at LCC gives a different approach to martial arts.

“Karate and Judo are good arts but some people are not competitive or (do not) have the aggression,” said Robert VanOebern, adviser of the club.

Aikido is a form of martial arts that focuses more on personal growth through mental discipline and physical training and less on conflict and physical strength.

“It’s about understanding that no fighting is better than fighting,” said Jerome Helton, instructor of Aikido Club. Helton has been the instructor at LCC for the past 30 years.

Helton started instructing Aikido Club 30 years ago when he became a physical education professor for LCC. Prior to Helton’s beginning his career at LCC, he already had 15 years of

experience in the art of Aikido.

Aikido is a form of Japanese Buddha that is a modern practice by people of all ages.

According to VanOebern, many parents have inquired about enrolling their children in Aikido Club. However, due to the minimum one course requirement to join Aikido, children and anyone else who is not enrolled at LCC are unable to join the club.

Interested and qualified participates can join the club at any time throughout the year by talking to either VanOebern or Helton during a scheduled club time.

Photo by Courtney Baker

Martial arts: Dan Ewart performs a wrist-lock technique on Lisa Neumann during a meeting of LCC’s Aikido Club. The Aikido Club meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Gannon Building room 252.

Aikido meets every Tuesday and Thursday in The

Packed-out venue expected for local artist Vierling in Holt Kaitlin Lutz Associate Editor Jerome Vierling of Soundsgood Entertainment is partnering with Journey Twentyone, a Holt youth group, to bring a hip-hop concert event to Holt High School Friday, April 22.

Opening the concert for Vierling are DC the General and Holt High School teacher and freshman football coach Robert Dozier, aka KnowDoz. “You should expect a packed-out venue with awesome music,” Journey Twentyone Youth Pastor Ben Schartow said.

There will be a live band on stage with Vierling and also some beat boxing.

The show will be a multimedia experience.

“It’ll have some sweet lights and videos following the whole event,” Schartow said. “It should be something like you’ve never seen before.”

The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 7.

The first 300 students who come in the doors will receive a free copy of Vierling’s CD, “Second Coming.” Students will also have a chance to win

Graphic courtesy of Chris Neal

a $200 Visa Card.

Journey Twentyone’s goal in having this concert is to reach out to students in the area and to let them know “there are people here who care,” Chris Neal, a Journey Twentyone leader, said.

“It’s to build that community relationship … and offer alternatives for students other than going out and partying every weekend, or sitting at home watching TV.” Journey Twentyone is a youth group that is there

for students, in a positive way.

“We want to convey that this is a hip-hop/rap concert with a different focus.” Schartow said.

“We’re going to hopefully help provide some answers to life’s questions and help give comfort in hard times.”

For more information about Journey Twentyone check out http://www.journey21.org/ and for information about Soundsgood Entertainment check out http:// soundsgoodrecords.com/.

Gannon Building, room 252 on LCC’s main campus

from 10 to 11 a.m.

“We come in twice a week and train. It gives an opportunity for people in the club to move beyond the basic classes offered through LCC, by using the club as a first step,” VanOebern said.

In years past the Aikido Club had about a dozen members. This year due to students who have transferred to other colleges the number of club members have dropped to 3 or 4 members, according to VanOebern.

A fee of $25 is collected per month from each Aikido member. The membership fee is to help offset the cost of the instructor’s expenses to park at LCC and cover the cost of his transportation.

“Wearing a T-shirt and sweats are fine,” VanOebern said. “There is no obligation to get a uniform unless you are sure you want to join the club. People are welcome to visit and check out what we do before they join.”

6 SPORTS

March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Cross-country: Speed and smarts earn awards Shauna Stocken Staff Writer The men’s and women’s cross-country Stars were awarded an Academic All-American status for their excellent overall grade point averages.

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) awarded the women’s team for its 3.76 overall GPA and awarded the men’s team for its overall GPA of 3.72.

LCC is the third largest community college in the state of Michigan with more than 30,000 students in attendance each year.

Recipients for the award from the NJCAA must meet a qualification that includes passing 45 credits or more, within three semesters with a 3.6 or better cumulative GPA. “We have mandatory studying and tutoring sessions,” said Kimberley Killips, a for-

mer Holt High School cross-country runner and second year LCC cross-country team member.

Killips and teammate Lyndsey Prether, a graduate of Haslett High School, are exempted, however, from partaking in the mandatory academic help due to their 4.0 GPAs. Killips’ and Prether ’s GPAs contributed to the high achievement for the women’s overall GPA. Killips said she was motivated to join the LCC team for a multitude of reasons.

“Both of my other sisters ran (at LCC); plus, two free years of college is pretty good.

I’d run anyway so might as well get paid to do it,” said Killips.

The men’s and women’s cross-country teams are led by Head Coach Chuck Block and Assistant Coach Jim Robinson.

Killips said it takes a level of skill to manage a college work load while being a part of college athletics.

Along with Killips and Prether, the NJCAA gave GPA awards to other LCC runners, including: Kaylin Belair, a graduate of Mason County High School; and Paige Terbush and Alexis Roe, both of whom are graduates of Caro High School.

Honorable mention for the men’s team went to Ryan Konen, a graduate of Grand Ledge High School, who earned a GPA of 3.72.

Other NJCAA award winners include: Andrew Dike, a graduate of Okemos High School; Josh Perkins, from Maple Valley High School; Wes Greene, a graduate of Haslett High School; and Kevin Barry, a graduate of Waverly High School.

A+ Season: The LCC women’s (top) and men’s cross-country teams display their MCCAA championship plaques. Both were awarded Academic AllAmerican from the NJCAA with team GPAs over 3.7.

File photos

by Michael Caterina

Softball season canceled; March madness meltdown fired Every files grievance — A New York state of mind —

Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor LCC officially cancelled its 2011 softball season March 14.

In a statement issued

by LCC’s media department March 21, Athletic Director Scott Latham explained the reason for the cancellation.

“Based upon the responses that we have received from the players, there is an insufficient level of support to have a team this spring,” Latham said in the statement.

Latham added LCC intends to field a team for the 2011-12 school year and beyond and is committed to the softball program.

“I’m still going to be playing ball over the summer,” Kasandra Graham, an LCC freshman infielder, said. “I’m not going to let something as upsetting as this stop me from doing what I love to do … play softball.”

Graham was one of about 13 past and present players who attended an unofficial team workout on March 23 with former LCC Head Softball Coach Bob Every.

“This workout is very therapeutic for the girls,”

Photo by Dominick Mastrangelo

Coach at heart: Former softball head coach Bob Every talks with an employee at the Lansing Indoor Sports Arena March 23 during an unofficial team workout.

Every said. “They have been through a lot and I am still here for them.”

Every was fired on Feb. 22 from both his position as head softball coach and his position as a full-time administrator at the college.

Every was placed on leave after allegations of violation of the NJCAA code of conduct were brought forth to the Athletic Department. Every denies many of the al-

legation and told The Lookout March 22 he had filed a grievance with his union representative.

“We’ll take it to civil court if we have to,” Every said at the workout.

“I’m going to do whatever it takes to clear my name. No one deserves to be treated the way I’ve been treated.”

LCC women’s softball was ranked third in the nation entering the 2011 season.

I hate to say it, but I think we all saw this coming.

Michigan State men’s basketball was inconsistent all year long and a loss in the first round to UCLA was a very fitting end to a season most accurately described as lifeless.

MSU barely made the NCAA tournament this year, posting a regular season record of 19-15 on its way to claiming the “10 seed” in the Southwest Division of the national tournament bracket. U of M, meanwhile, held an eight seed in its division. That’s right, Michigan basketball was better than State basketball this year.

In what proved to be the last game of his career as a Spartan, Kalin Lucas scored no points in the first half against UCLA. He might as well have just watched the game from the bench.

Oh, and I do not feel like hearing excuses about his poor little ankle anymore. And don’t even get me started on that Summers kid, talk about a flop.

Looking toward the future, Michigan State

has a few things to feel pretty good about. Junior Draymond Green is fantastic. If he can keep his mouth shut and stay out of foul trouble, he could be a contender for player of the year next year.

Also, I don’t think enough can be said about freshman guard Keith Appling. That kid has got heart. If you don’t believe me, just talk to his coach.

Tom Izzo will be just fine and the Spartans will be back, I’m sure of it.

Meanwhile, this entire tournament has been incredibly fun to watch. How about Virginia Commonwealth making the sweet 16?

And who had Moorehead State beating Louisville in the first round?

Duke escaped with a one-point victory over Michigan in the third

round. Watching that made up for seeing Sparty fall short, sort of.

Pittsburgh, Syracuse and St. Johns all lost in the early rounds. I think it is fair to say the Big East has been weeded out.

My prediction: UConn wins it all. While I understand the senior leadership that Duke possesses and am aware of the talent and momentum of the Ohio State Buckeyes, UConn presents virtually no flaws as we head to the end of the tournament.

I really think they have what it takes.

We watch the tournament because it is so unpredictable. Everyone has an opinion and nobody is correct.

One thing that can be said in 100 percent certainty is that the team that cuts down the nets, as national champion, deserves it.

You have to acknowledge how hard it is to win this tournament, and watching each team try to get to that championship game is … well … just too much darn fun.

March wouldn’t be the same without the madness.

7SPORTS

March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Baseball season underway with a win Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor

The LCC men’s baseball team began its season on March 5 with a road game at Rappahannock Community College in Virginia.

Freshman pitcher Eric Davis pitched two innings, surrendering six hits and three earned runs as LCC defeated RCC 143. Sophomore Nick Kissane drove in five runs, picking up where he left off last season. Kissane had a batting average of .321 in 2010.

The Stars traveled to Mott Community College next on March 19. Kissane was at it again, driving in three more runs to increase his total to eight on the season, as LCC lost 8-5.

“We’ve been doing alright,” freshman Dylan Betcher said at a practice on March 23. “It’s way too early to tell how the season is really going to go.”

The baseball team has been practicing at the Lansing Indoor Sports Arena due to inclement weather for the past two months.

File photos by Michael Caterina

To second: An LCC catcher winds up to throw to second base during a 2010 season game at Westside Park in Lansing.

Returning heat: Current sophomore Nick Kissane throws to first during a 2010 game.

Once the weather becomes warmer, the team will move practice to Westside Park in Lansing. This location will also serve as LCC’s home field.

nicer.”

Powers missed much of the 2010 season due to illness but said he feels great and “looks forward to getting back into the

The baseball team was scheduled to play its first home game on April 7 versus Mott before playing host to Jackson on April 9.

“Once we start playing

some ball games at home, we’ll be able to settle in,” Head Coach Ed Powers said. “I have a feeling we’re going to do really well once the weather gets

full swing of things.”

“It’s awesome to have coach back,” Kissane said. “It’s going to be an awesome year, I just know it.”

Cagers end season with Lifting drug free at LCC tournament finals loss Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor

The LCC men’s basketball team entered the NJCAA Region XII Tournament semifinals at Ancilla College on March 4 with high hopes, and even greater expectations.

After a season full of controversy, last-second victories and undying commitment, the Stars had every reason to believe they could take home a regional championship.

“I think we’re in a good place,” sophomore guard and team leading-scorer Alvino Ashley said as he waited for the bus to Ancilla with the rest of his teammates. “We’re not trying Playoff run: Michael Martin struggles for posession during the Stars last home game Feb. 23.

LCC defeated Kellogg CC in the first round of the playoffs but lost 88-59 to Kalamazoo Valley in the finals.

Photo by Michael Caterina

to think too much about anything. We just want to go out there and do what we do.”

After an 85-74 victory over Kellogg Community College in the first round, the Stars were pitted against rival Jackson Community College on March 4. LCC kept its momentum and knocked Jackson out of the tournament with a 93-80 victory.

Guard Michael Martin — who averaged just over 19 points per game during the regular season — continued his dominance, scoring 21 points and making an incredible 17 of 18 free-throws. Martin was fouled nine times in the game.

“They were all over me,”

Martin said as he described his feelings at halftime. “I guess I’ll just have to keep knocking (the free throws) down.”

After their victory in the semifinals, the Stars played the next afternoon (March 5) in the Region XII Championship Game against the Kalamazoo Valley Cougars.

The Stars’ season ended as LCC fell to KVCC 88-59. The Stars’ three leading scorers – Ashley, Colin Ward and Martin combined for only 19 points in the defeat.

“It’s really unfortunate we came this far and had to come up short,” Ward said.

“Nothing, not even this bad a loss, can take away from the awesome season we had.”

The Stars had a final record of 14-14 which includedeight forfeit-loss games during the first two months of the season.

The Stars were forced to forfeit those games due to the participation of ineligible student athletes.

In response to the immense adversity, LCC Head Coach Mike Ingram told The Lookout he was as proud of this year’s team as he was of “any team he’s ever coached.”

Photos by Courtney Baker

Strong showing: Judges and spotters look on as Jason Botbyl, above, struggles with the bench press event of the American Drug Free Powerlifting Federation National Single lift competition in Gannon Gymnasium March 5. Participants competed in a variety of categories ranging from bench press to squatting. At left, Antonio Sora presses 170 pounds in the 100 kilogram and over division.

8

March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

9 ARTS

& ENTERTAINMENT

March 28 - April 10, 2011

www.lcc.edu/lookout

Art-inspired art performs at Dart Lee Rumler A&E Editor The LCC fourth semester Studio class’ performance of the David Edgar play Pentecost premiered March 25, 26 and 27, and it is coming back to Dart Auditorium Friday and Saturday, April 1 and 2, at 8 p.m.

According to director Chad Badgero, Pentecost revolves around a mysterious painting, located in a church in an unnamed European town.

“They find a fresco on the wall, and they are unsure of its provi-

dence,” he said. “If it’s what they think it is, it will completely revolutionize the history of art.”

The mural in question brings about a great deal of controversy and conflict, including a hostage situation that calls not only the art but also the people’s lives into consideration.

“The first half is very much about art, art history and how we preserve pieces in our society,” Badgero said, “and the second half sort of revolves around culture and how we preserve and treat other cultures in our society.”

Photo by Courtney Baker

Spring performance: Leo (Matt Land), from left, Gabriella (Becky Owens) and Oliver (Scott Crandall) are taken at gunpoint by Nico (Tony Nelson), in LCC’s production of Pentecost by David Edgar.

The title isn’t explicitly referenced in the play, but its metaphorical undertones are felt

Original musical comes to campus Lee Rumler A&E Editor LCC’s Music Scenes class, MUSC 233, is giving its annual performance, this year titled Sidewalk Fairytales, Friday and Saturday, April 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 10 at 3 p.m. in Dart Auditorium.

Every year since 2004, the Music Scenes class performs a musical revue, a collection of songs compiled

by Director Janine Noveske Smith under a common theme.

But this is no ordinary choir concert.

“It goes from one song to another, to another, and as it evolves, it tells a story,” Noveske said.

The coolest part about the show is that the class creates it themselves, from scratch, each year.

“What I do is I choose a topic, and I spend about nine months ... brainstorming ... of possible titles and possible songs, and then it all kind of ties in together,” Noveske said.

“After the auditions, I knew the personalities and the voices I had to work with, and then that helped me start whittling down the songs,” she said.

“And then you try to figure out a way to make it all make sense, so that you’re not going from one random song to another song.”

Without a script,

Photo courtesy of Theatre Department

the cast is assigned to create their own roles and blocking that facilitate the story the music tells. The only spoken word is written into the songs themselves.

“The cast, the students, they’re all just as integral a part as I am in making this show happen,” Noveske said.

This year ’s theme is “a combination of reality and what you wish,”she said.

Audiences can expect some familiar songs, from “Somewhere over the Rainbow” to “Dream on,”

by Aerosmith.

“We’ve got a five piece band, 19 people singing, lights, audio, costumes,” Noveske said. “Very cool.”

According to Noveske, out of the 19 cast members, 16 are either current or former LCC Performing Arts majors.

Former performing arts major Racheal Raymer has been in the show all eight years, and she’s not alone. About half of the cast is coming back from last year.

The show is technically free, but $10 donations will be accepted at the door.

throughout.

“In the Christian religion, (Pentecost) is largely seen as the miracle or

a sort of enlightenment that people are waiting for,” Badgero said.

“In the play ... it plays out in how this painting might be what people are waiting for or some kind of message or savior because of what it can do for their culture,” he said.

“From the refugees’ standpoint ... there is a sense of waiting for something to come and save them.”

The painting on stage is actually an original, hand-painted fresco by scene painter Kim Lennox. “(Pentecost is) a huge challenge, probably

one of the most difficult shows I’ve directed at LCC, both as a director and also, I think, for the students,” Badgero said.

“People are speaking completely different languages, and they have to do that authentically, and that is a huge, huge challenge,” Badgero said. “I have been so impressed with how the students and the actors in the show have tackled that challenge.”

Tickets are $5 at the door for faculty, staff, alumni and students, and $10 for the general public.

10 A&E

March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Rise Against imagines end of society Lee Rumler A&E Editor Punks like me rejoiced March 15 as Rise Against released its newest CD titled “Endgame.” Let me warn you right now, this review sounds rather radical.

For anyone out of tune with punk music, this probably isn’t the album with which to jump into the scene.

Although the album’s intent is in fact quite positive, the album highlights the massive disparities in justice found in America.

For someone who isn’t familiar with the ethical logic behind punk music, the statements may seem a lit-

tle extreme, especially the album’s thesis – I mean, that’s even extreme for me.

But anyone can enjoy the album after they accept certain realities of the world; although accepting them will lead people to label that person as “radical,” i.e. dismissible.

The primary truth, which is highlighted in “Disparity by Design” is that America has a social caste system where money determines power.

Although becoming “something” from “nothing” is theoretically possible within the system, it’s almost unfeasibly difficult.

Another truth, highlighted in “Survivor’s

King Crossword

Photo courtesy americannoise.com

Guilt,” is that the wars, though fought by the weak, have nothing to do with them.

The line, “And I fought with courage to preserve / Not my way

When I first saw the advertisements for Rift, I became very excited. Not only was a new mmorpg entering the arena, but it looked freaking awesome – and it was calling out World of Warcraft.

It was one of the ballsiest moves I’ve ever seen in the gaming industry.

So now that Rift has been released and seen a massive influx of players, the question has become:

This week’s puzzle is sponsored by:

In the lyrics of the final track, “Endgame,” McIlrath paints a portrait of a world better than the one we live in: “She watched the world crumble away / ‘Is this the end of yesterday?’ / ‘Lord, I hope so,’ is all he said.”

This leads listeners to wonder, would nothing be better than this?

Punks, anarchists and revolutionaries will love this album.

Supporters of the current system will hate it.

To them I would challenge: “Think of the homeless. Think of the rich. How different are they from each other? How different are they from you?

“Does everyone truly deserve their lot?”

Rift sets out to dethrone WoW Lee Rumler A&E Editor

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

of life but yours,” says it all.

If all this sounds crazy, radical and untrue, that’s because capitalism was built to give the illusion of equality.

The reality, as lead singer Tim McIlrathwrote, is “The fast lanes they (the rich) rode / In which access depends / On who you know / Or where you came from.”

However, these points are just a prelude to the main point of the album: That the world is collapsing around us, and there’s nothing we can do to stop it.

Sound depressing?

Strangely enough, that’s not the intent.

Rise Against isn’t trying to fill listeners with despair over the collapse of the great human civilization; instead, the members try to find hope in what may come.

Will Rift kill WoW? Who knows?

And quite frankly, who cares?

The first thing I want to say about Rift is that it’s still a traditional mmorpg that follows the Everquest formula, which means that if you despise killing X number of identical enemies for Y arbitrary reason so you can get Z new equipment (rise and repeat), you won’t like the game.

However, Rift steps outside the Everquest formula too.

Photo courtesy of wikipeda.org

One of the main appeals of Rift is obviously the Rifts. Rifts are instanced gameplay opportunities that open up all over the game. They’re like miniraids anyone can walk into and contribute to.

Within each Rift, players join large public groups that fight invading forces from other planes. Rifts open up everywhere to break the monotonous grind to level 50, which is fun but also kind of annoying.

The developers have also incorporated large zone events where an invading force tries to take over a zone. Everybody has to join a group, fight to close the rifts and repel the invaders. Seriously, it’s not a choice – if you wander alone, you will die.

(Enemies are a lot more powerful in Rift than in many other mmorpgs, especially in the early levels. Death happens a lot.)

Probably the coolest aspect of Rift is the “As-

cended Soul System,” which is a fancy way of saying class system. No longer are players bound to the traditional, constricting classes of old.

Characters each have a primary class – warrior, thief, cleric, or mage. At any time, a character has three (of eight) sub-classes that they pick specific skills from.

These sub-classes sometimes don’t even resemble the primary class.

Want to play a thief-tank?

Go ahead. How about a warrior that slings spells?

They have that too.

But that’s not all. At level 13, characters can complete quests to gain the five sub-classes they didn’t choose at character creation. Then players can swap between combinations of sub-classes any time they’re out of combat.

All of this means no one is ever stuck in one role.

Rift is a huge, complicated and awesome game. If you’re looking for a new, fun mmorpg, you won’t be disappointed.

However, if you were hoping for a game that would completely redefine mmorpgs for years to come, Rift isn’t your game.

11 A&E

March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

In the Kitchen Fried P la and Hontains with ney Bo Steak S urbon Sauce auce

with

Chef Nick

3 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper Soak raisins until plump. Drain and put into blender. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well and enjoy.

Fried Plantains: 3-5 large ripe plantains 1/2 cup vegetable oil.

Cut plantains at an angle and fry each side in the oil until golden brown.

Steak Sauce: 1/4 cup seedless raisins 8 ounces can tomato sauce 1 cup water 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Honey Bourbon Sauce: 3/4 cup Ketchup 1/3 cup honey 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup bourbon 2 tbsp cider vinegar 2 tbsp Dijon-style mustard

WANTED Baseball cards from 1970 or before. Will pay cash for cards I need, or for large lots. Particularly need Detroit Tigers in excellent shape. Call 517-483-1291.

Arts & Entertainment Distracted in Old Town

LCC creates musical revue

The Lisa Loomer play Distracted is coming to the Peppermint Creek Theatre Company in Old Town. The play follows the tribulations of Jesse, a 9-year-old boy whom everyone seems to see a problem in. The play premiered March 24 and is finishing its performance Thursday through Saturday, March 31 to April 2.

The shows start at 8 p.m. each day. Cost is $15 for general admission, $10 for students and seniors (55-plus). Tickets can be purchased by phone at 517-927-3016 or online at http://www.peppermintcreek.org/store/.

The Music Scenes class, MUSC 233, is performing a musical revue at Dart Auditorium April 8, 9 and 10. Named Sidewalk Fairytales, the original revue was arranged by director Janine Smith under the common theme of a “mix of everyday reality and what we wish for.” According to the LCC website, $10 donations will be accepted at the door. See page 9 for more details.

Peace Now! stays at LCC The Peace Now! exhibit opened March 21 at LCC and it is staying until April 2.

Student and staff pieces are in the first floor display cases in the Gannon Building, near room 145. Art is located in the Dart Auditorium second floor display cases.

Mix all ingredients together and serve.

Dart holds Pentecost Chad Badgero is directing Pentecost at Dart Auditorium. The play kicked off March 25 through 27, and continues Friday and Saturday, April 1 and 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 for faculty, staff, alumni and students. They are $10 for the general public. See page 9 for more details.

—Shouting a Nuance—

New characters, old show

Classified Advertising APARTMENT FOR RENT 295 Arbor Glen Drive, East Lansing. Five miles from downtown LCC campus. Two bedrooms, $880 per month.

Price includes air conditioning, dishwasher, parking, washer, dryer and water. Smoking and pets allowed. Contact Megan at 517-351-5353.

IN BRIEF

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. Next issue will be published Monday, April 11. Deadline is April 6 at noon.

Call 483-1295 to place an ad.

PINBALL MACHINE Game Plan 1979 “Sharpshooter” solid state game.

Old western theme. Very fast and fun. Four-player machine. $525. Call 517-589-5273 and leave a message.

My name is Lee Rumler. I received a 32 on the ACT and had a 3.9 GPA in high school.

I have an IQ over 140.

During my college search, I was honored with interviews from Princeton and MIT. With sufficient effort, I excel at everything I attempt except foreign language and remembering names.

Today, I pay full tuition to LCC. I don’t say this to brag or complain, but to prelude my discussion on politics.

Yes, politics. Last year I swore to myself that I would avoid politics whenever I can because it’s bad for my health and stress levels. However, I’m side-stepping my usual series this column because of the recent, harsh political atmosphere down the street and around the country.

But before I get into that, I want to talk about politics’ absurdity in general.

The game of politics is a soap opera. I compare the two often, but most people I talk to overlook the ridiculous similarities between them.

In every soap opera, everyone has an agenda. Everyone wants something, but nobody is willing to compro-

mise or help anyone else out.

In politics, everyone has an agenda. The Republicans want money, power and justice. The Democrats want everyone to have money, power and justice.

The NRA wants children to own handguns, and PETA wants everyone to mate with goats.

Both soap operas and politics are filled with distrust and betrayal.

Someone always goes behind someone else’s back to further their own gains.

Neither ever actually move anywhere.

Issues that seem to be settled in one episode are completely undone by a new, shady character whose interests are suspect at best.

The new characters and politicians promise their absolute perfection – they promise that everything they do will make everything better (usually that vaguely) – but then either their true intentions come out

or they just weren’t the people we thought they were.

I could go on, but I don’t like to think of the implications.

We are the audience to this soap opera. We know what’s going to happen three episodes in advance. We know what’s right. We know what’s wrong.

People deserve what they work for, not what they’re born into.

Without a system to ensure balanced power, those with money will repress those without it. No matter how much they deserve it, they will be denied what they’ve worked for.

This is why we need unions.

I’m not saying it’s a good system, but it’s better than nothing.

Unregulated capitalism will descend into a system of masters and slaves, which leads to an economic collapse (see Waddill Catchings and William Trufant Foster ’s theory behind the Great Depression, a simple theory that influenced John Maynard Keynes’ revolutionary theory of macroeconomics).

Honestly, I hope we can have a revolution soon. I’m getting tired of Capitol Hill. A soap opera shouldn’t run our country.

12 FEATURES

March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Fossil fuel free: The truck the Electric Conversion class made is on display in the lobby of LCC’s West Campus. The truck is powered by 24 six-volt batteries and is almost completely silent when it is running.

Photos by Michael Caterina

Making it happen: Lance Drager, from left, Renee Johns, Maynard Nitz, Billy Sweet and Jeff Wait display the first-place Mild Mini Pickup award they won at the Detroit Autorama Feb. 27. Group members not pictured: Kelly Malkin, Tricia Schneeberger and Shawn Cole.

From the ground up: the electric truck Shauna Stocken Staff Writer

S

ince the beginning of fall 2010 semester, automotive students in the Electric Conversion class at LCC’s West Campus have been designing and building an alternative fuel vehicle.

The vehicle looks no different externally from other 1998 Chevy S10 pickup trucks. However, the truck’s sound and power source couldn’t be more different.

“We kept it as similar as a regular car so that anyone could get into it and drive it,” said Tricia Schneeberger, one of the students in the Electric Conversion class.

Maynard L. Nitz Jr., another student in the class, added, “The only exception is that you don’t hear the noise from the engine.”

The Electric Conversion class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:10 a.m. until noon. It is instructed by Professor Marvin Argersinger.

“It was great, just

great. Everyone was eager in the class,” Argersinger said. “They liked getting their hands dirty, they have ownership in the truck and they are proud. I think we should have more classes like this one.”

What makes this vehicle so unique is its ability to run for approximately 40 miles without the use of any gasoline, Argersinger said.

The alternative power vehicle runs on 24 batteries. Each battery contains six volts, totaling 144

The juice: The electric truck runs on 24 six-volt batteries, some of which are stored under the bed of the truck.

volts altogether.

“We chose these batteries because they last longer and have a better range,” said Shaun Cole, a member in the automotive field at LCC since 2004. Cole has been enrolled in courses such as automotive technology, advanced technology vehicles, and high performance courses.

According to Schneeberger, the idea to create an alternative fuel vehicle was presented to the automotive department by LCC, which gave the department the grant to complete the project.

“I own an S10, so it was really easy to rebuild it because I have had experience with my own car,” Cole

said.

It took 14 weeks before the vehicle was ready for show. Under the hood of the car are blue lights that illuminate the inside as a feature to present at car shows.

From Feb. 25 to 27, the Electric Conversion class took a trip to a car show called Autorama at the Cobo Center in Detroit. The class returned to LCC with a first place award in the Mild Mini Pickup category for its work on the alternative fuel vehicle.

“We built a lot of camaraderie being together so long and being so successful with the vehicle,” Schneeberger said.

Under the hood: The truck runs with a modified engine to accommodate the electric power it receives.

13 DISTRACTIONS

www.lcc.edu/lookout

SUDOKU

James Tennant Jr.

An Ordinary Life

5 4 7

2

8

7 8 1 5

9 9 2 8

3

9

9 1 7

7 1 9

8

3 9

Desktop Blues

6

3 4

4 3 6

LeBaron Rodgers

7

March 28 - April 10, 2011

14 OPINION — The Collected Klutz—

I’m in love with tea Ever heard of the saying, “People are like tea bags – you don’t know how strong they are until you put them in hot water?”

Well, one thing you should know about me is that I love tea. I am a tea-aholic, especially so during the colder seasons of the year. And the fact that tea can be used as a simile in life is pretty awesome.

My love for tea started when I drank my first cup of chai tea. I was hooked. It is undoubtedly my favorite kind of tea, to say the least.

To me, Chai tea is the epitome of fall, which is also my favorite season (see the connection?) with its aromas of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and clove.

Mmmm, I can just smell it now. It’s the kind of tea that just warms the soul and is definitely what I enjoy drinking during the autumn season.

Another excellent brew of tea is Darjeeling, which always brings to mind the lyrics to a song by Vampire Weekend, “English Breakfast tastes like Darjeeling,” which I have not actually tested. I

just like the song.

Darjeeling tea is a “light ,golden black tea from the foothills of the Himalayas,” as written on the box of Twinings Tea. They make it sound so intriguing.

In the spring and summer I like to enjoy lighter teas, like pomegranate green tea or passion tea and lemonade mixed together – delicious.

I do have to say that cold tea, although it is good in the summer, just isn’t the same and definitely doesn’t warm you up on a cold winter’s day.

It is undoubtedly true that a hot cup of tea with a little bit of honey is the perfect companion to a good book, like Pride and Prejudice or even a cold day.

I think I am going to go drink some tea now.

March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout —Everyone should read George Orwell—

Evolution: Still science

Response to Nathan Hinkle’s Letter to the Editor on Page 15: First off I would like to apologize for offending you in my last column; it truly was not my intention. If you would please read my statement completely, I stated that some people understand evolution in that way, not all.

I looked at numerous websites, blogs and documentaries aimed at generating and proving a collectively sensible definition of creationism. The disparity amongst its own proponents led me to believe there is no definite definition of what is meant by creationism.

It must be noted there is certainly not a definition up to the scientific standards implied by the term: scientific theory.

The messages portrayed showed their understanding of evolution varied immensely. They also led me to find distinct differences in their understanding of creationism.

With evolution the evidence is testable and provable. With creationism, neither is true and therefore it is not a scientific theory and therefore not science.

In my last column you contested my assertion that the scientific theory of evolution was held in general consensus amongst scientists when you stated that 761

scientists recently claimed counter-evolutionary theories be given more consideration.

You failed to consider there were 91,300 jobs held by biological scientists within the United States alone in 2008, none of whom were educators but researchers, according to bls.gov.

One can see that 761 scientists (of whom not all are specifically researchers, many working as educators) do not affect the general consensus by a long shot.

In your letter you stated that I did not spend enough time defending evolution. Here I will do so: In all of the countless excavations performed by archeologists a creature has never been discovered to go against the grain of evolution. The first fossil remains are of extremely simple living organisms. The variety and complexity

increase exponentially the younger a fossil is. This increase in complexity explains how macroevolution is possible.

People have difficulty conceptualizing how long organisms have been evolving and therefore have a difficult time understanding how something so awesome could possibly have happened; but it did.

It is true that scientists cannot recreate macroevolution at the moment. However, if you look simply at the diversification with the dog species over the last 200 years, you can get a better idea of how evolution works within our lifetime.

This is not an example of natural selection but rather the results of humans mimicking the concept.

The vast difference in size one dog breed can be from another is amazing, with selective breeding only becoming popular within the past 200 years or so.

You ended your letter by asking me when mud stopped being mud and started living.

That is the question, Nathan Hinkle, a question that can only be answered through science. The thing with science is, it is testable and therefore provable.

With science you only stand to gain more knowledge and a better understanding of life on earth and its origin.

15 Opinion

March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout In our own words | Staff Editorial

For the Snyder, by the Snyder The downtown area of Lansing has been fraught with chaos as of late.

Union workers and passersby gathered round as hundreds thumped the pavement March 14-18 to protest Snyder’s recent plan to cut education funding, dissolve unions and fire elected officials with the voter’s input.

Snyder has proposed to cut government funding by $300 per student within the public school system.

Needless to say, the cuts have been adding up over the past decade, and to cut $300 more per student will be devastating for students, faculty and the community.

We are questioning Snyder’s motivation for these cuts. After all, it should be noted that if the governor can declare a financial emergency or hire a private company to declare a financial emergency, he will have the right to boot out elected officials and replace them with hired emergency managers.

The bill has passed, meaning Snyder has the right to fire local officials, break locality contracts, seize or sell city assets, eliminate services, school districts and even entire city governments with no input needed from taxpaying voters.

Furthermore, we are upset about the tax increases for Michiganders pro-

posed by the governor. While taxes are needed for government services and, although it is painful, it is no secret that Michigan must raise its tax revenue to stay viable and further progress, the added taxes for Americans is not evenly distributed.

While the gap between classes is growing at an alarming rate since the 1970s, it is unfortunate that Snyder wishes to increase the taxes on lower to middle class Americans while offering cuts for businesses and increasing the higher class’ taxes at a much smaller percentage.

In the past we have felt that the Michigan business tax is something that should be looked at, as it is another expense for employers who are the job creators in our community. Nonetheless, if Snyder proposes cutting taxes for businesses, he should have heightened the taxes more severely for those who are in the higher tier of income than those for whom making ends meet is extremely difficult.

Educators and other public officials do not have the right to strike in Michigan. While we understand how extremely frustrating it must be for them right now, we urge them to act with professional tact. We also urge Snyder to reevaluate his anti-democratic policy.

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

the lookout Sarah Sanders

Kaitlin Lutz

Editor in Chief sande43@mail.lcc.edu

Associate Editor lutzk3@mail.lcc.edu

Nathan Wilson

Shauna Stocken

News Editor wilso162@mail.lcc.edu

Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor mastrand@mail.lcc.edu

Staff Writer stockens@mail.lcc.edu

Lee Rumler

A&E Editor rumlel@mail.lcc.edu

Michael Caterina

Photo Editor cater2@mail.lcc.edu

Kelly Lehtonen

Advertising Manager lehtonk@mail.lcc.edu

Larry Hook

Adviser hookl@lcc.edu

Letters to the Editor

Dear Sarah Sanders, Editor in Chief: Your argument for evolution really disappointed me. It seemed to be more of an attack on creationists than an argument on the facts of evolution. I am a believer in Creation, and you have offended me with statements regarding the intelligence of creationists, i.e. the comment about the derivation of men from monkeys and how we haven’t taken the time to learn anything about the theory. Well, as an uneducated creationist, I have found a few flaws in your argument.

1. “Scientific Theories must be held as true in general consensus amongst scientific experts.”

According to you, the Theory of Evolution cannot be a real theory. In 2001 and updated in 2008, over 761 scientists from hundreds of universities signed a Dissent from Darwinism stating “We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged.” http://www.discovery.org/articleFiles/PDFs/100ScientistsAd.pdf This is a link to the document.

2. “They must be testable theories which can produce consistent reliable results….” Yet again, an unfounded claim. There are no experiments that have been done or could be done to reproduce evolution. Scientists have failed to create life from the base elements necessary for life to exist. There is also no proven way to monitor the transition of one species of animal to evolve into an entirely different being, i.e. a mouse to a bat. Microevolutional changes have been witnessed, but these are nowhere near the evidence needed to support macroevolution, which is the really the theory of evolution itself.

I hope that you consider my arguments and really think about what the outdated theory of evolution lacks.

Most importantly, I hope that you consider this: If we did evolve, what did we evolve from? When did mud stop being mud and start living?

Nathan Hinkle Hello Sarah, I read your article “Evolution: not just a theory” and I wanted to make a comment. I don’t see a contradiction between evolution and the existence of a creator, why not both at the same time?

I am sure that life today, even humans, does not look the same as life millions of years ago.

No doubt that evolution happened over the course of years.

Another point is my understanding of what Darwin said: He did not say that we evolved from monkeys, but he said that humans and monkeys came from the same origin. Anyway I think life is a big question that we will always try to answer.

Thank you for your article, I liked it.

Amr Samy Abdelmohsen To The Lookout: One of the lessons that we work hard to teach here at LCC is to know and acknowledge the sources of information that you use in your writing. The March 7-27, 2011 Lookout has an article, “Creation: an intricate design,” that has as its central evidence a quote attributed to Sir Isaac Newton, cited as coming from a secondary source, the creationist and geocentrist book “The Truth: God or Evolution?.” Ms. Lutz is to be commended for providing this reference in her article.

However, neither the authors of this book nor any others have been able to identify source of this quote among Newton’s writings. The Newton Project ,which is cataloguing all of his writings in searchable form, has no record of this remark among the 4.2 million words archived there. In addition, numerous variants of this story, using different names and slightly different wording, have been circulating for decades. The Newton version is frequently quoted in creationist literature, always without identification of the primary source. Until such time as better evidence for the accuracy of this quote comes forward, using it as a key argument for the “design implies a designer” argument is inadvisable. We should all take this as an object lesson in why careful scholarship is essential to clear understanding.

Thomas L. Deits Chairperson, Science Department Dear Kaitlin, I thought your article was magnificent. It was so simple yet so powerful. I have asked people what they would conclude if someone found a chair or desk on another planet.

We would assume there was life! We would not believe that a simple chair could come into being by random chance. Yet we want to believe that our world and life that is so complex just happened. You did a great job.

Craig Prether LCC Counselor To The Lookout: Last week’s Lookout contained three articles regarding evolution, its role in the classroom and its relation to atheism. LCC students should be aware that a great many clergy, including His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and the 13,000 clergy who have signed the Clergy Letter (Google “Clergy Letter Project”), state that there is no contradiction between religious faith and an acceptance of evolution by natural selection.

As to the argument that evolution is exceedingly unlikely due to its random nature, students should understand that evolutionary change is not random; natural selection is a key element to evolutionary change, and natural selection is far from random.

This misconception and many others are discussed in detail at a number of excellent websites including for example, the National Center for Science Education (ncse.com) and the Talk Origins (talkorigins.org) websites. We agree with noted biologist Theodosius Dobzhansky, who said “Nothing makes sense in biology except in the light of evolution.”

Prof. Robin Wagner Lead Faculty, Biology Letter to the Editor: I’ve known Bob Every for a long time. He’s a great man.

Basically, everything he did was right. Hopefully, LCC will be able to survive without him.

Steve Gochberg

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March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout