Author’s
Spartans
experiences fuel novels
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April 11 - 24 2011 Volume 52, Issue 14 www.lcc.edu/lookout
win
showdown
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The
season
for dance
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thelookout Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959
César Chávez legacy inspires LCC Nathan Wilson News Editor
The LUCERO program presented the first-ever César Chávez Day celebration March 31 at Dart Auditorium, promoting the importance of education and immigrant workers. LUCERO is a program designed to assist recruitment, graduation and transfers at LCC. In addition to speeches, the celebration included awards, poetry readings and dance. Chávez was a prominent Latino human rights activist who advocated education and workers’ rights. He died April 23, 1993. Alfonso Salais Jr., an award-winning teacher at Everett High School, spoke enthusiastically about education during the celebration. “The reason I’m one sweet Latino is because I go to class,” Salais said. “Some people think, ‘Oh, it’s not too cool to go to
Photos by Michael Caterina
Experiences shared: A panel of students with migrant working experiences speak at the first ever César Chávez Day celebration at LCC March 31 in Dart Auditorium.
class!’ I think it’s sexy to go to class.” As he proudly held a street sign with the words César Chávez over his head, Salais recalled how he stood on the steps of the Wisconsin State with the same sign as he advocated for workers’ rights. “I have seen your struggles,” Salais said, addressing high school and college students. “There are people who
advocate you. There are people who say, ‘I want what’s best.’” The Hispanic Latino Commission recognized Salais and Felipe Lopez Sustaita, the LUCERO coordinator, with a certificate of leadership and achievement. “This is an honor for me … but it’s not just (for) me, it’s the LUCERO students,” Sustaita said. See Chávez, page 2
Displaying pride: Everett High School Spanish instructor Alfonso Salais Jr. lifts a César Chávez road sign during LCC’s first ever César Chávez Day celebration March 31.
Programs receive close look before final decisions Sarah Sanders Editor in Chief With program cuts still looming over the college, LCC Board of Trustees Chairperson Deborah Canja assured April 6 that final decisions for the pro-
grams will not be made hastily. While college adminCanja istration has been accused by facul-
ty members and students alike of making its proposal with incomplete analysis, the board has been pleased to hear the onslaught of public comments at the previous two board meetings, Canja said. “We consider all of the
information as complementary and that all of it together will give us a more complete picture of our community, student and college needs,” Canja said. “I have been personally pleased to see the large
turnouts. These are significant proposals before us and I appreciate the interest and input from the community.” While the thought of faculty members and students at the college has been to correct budget
flaws and answer all of college administration’s proposed issues within the programs, the reality is some programs may have to be cut anyway, according to Canja. See Programs, page 2
2 NEWS
April 11 - 24, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Chávez Continued from page 1
Sustaita also presented Salais with a César E. Chávez Recognition Award for his “passion and commitment to advocacy and service to the Lansing community.” Julio Cesar Guerrero, one of Sustaita’s men-
Programs
tors, was awarded a certificate of appreciation for the artwork he created as a tribute to families working in the fields. Following the awards, a panel of LCC and Michigan State Univer-
sity students discussed their experiences working in the fields and studying at school. Liliana Salas, a graduate student of MSU, said when she moved from Mexico to Holland, Mich., school was
a difficult experience because of language barriers. “I made a promise to myself that I was not going to let others tell me what I could not do, what I set my mind to do,” Salas said. “I
promised myself that … I was going to be a good student, and that no matter where I went in life, I was going to make my parents proud; I was going to make myself proud.” “There’s nothing
negative about being a migrant (worker),” said Jose Viera, an LCC student majoring in criminal justice. “Everything about being a migrant (worker) is what made me, who I am today and where I am today.”
presenting a thoughtful approach to meeting budget and program needs for the future,” Canja said. “Together, we are now welcoming comments and input from faculty, students and the community. “ As faculty members began to put their proposals together, they and students alike were startled at the short time originally given to them by college administration. “We expect decisions to be made over the next few meetings. We may not take up all program proposals at the same time,” Canja said. Keeping the programs in pace with technological changes and upgrades can be costly. Canja said the college needs to decide what it can afford moving
forward. “The administration is suggesting that we close some programs now because, even though they are breaking even in operating expenses, we would have to invest significantly to keep them going into the future. The pool is one example of that,” Canja said. “The changes are being suggested because the administration believes the programs are not as relevant as they once were or because they believe a different approach is needed to promote more student success." The main focus of this issue remains the role of LCC within the Lansing community, according to Canja. Whether LCC will keep open these programs
will depend upon their assistance in helping LCC fit their niche within the community. Although college administration, faculty and students have different opinions on what the niche of LCC is, Canja is assured they will come together in the end and make the right decision for LCC. “Many of these recommendations reflect a philosophy about the role of the college in the community and who the college should serve and how,” Canja said. “That greater discussion is a very important one for all of us to have together.” LCC's Board of Trustees will meet again at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 in the Administration Building.
Continued from page 1
“Every organization should periodically examine its operations and reassess what it is doing. That is especially true as we face difficult budget decisions,” Canja said. “Cutting programs is not something we like to do, but it is something that we sometimes have to do.” The programs being considered for possible elimination include truck driver training, automotive repair, collision repair, aviation, aquatics, culinary, fashion technology, horticulture and landscape architecture. Canja encouraged students, community members and faculty to give their input at future board meetings, as it helps keep the college’s role in the
Photo by Sarah Sanders
Pruning programs: A horticulture student prunes plants at West Campus. The horticulture program is one of many that are being considerd for cuts.
community the main focus of their decision making process. “Public input has al-
ways been important to the board and to the college administration. We started with the administration
3 NEWS
April 11 - 24, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Ethics Day analyzes morality issues Nathan Wilson News Editor LCC hosted a panel discussion about morality as a part of LCC’s first Ethics Day in the Administration Building Board Room March 22. The event was designed to study the role of ethics as a foundation for society and business. Rebecca Beard, Ph.D., director of purchasing, introduced the discussion with the question, “Why do ethics matter?” Tamra Frei, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of philosophy at MSU, responded, “Ethics is a matter of both understanding and appreciating this unique capacity that we as human beings have and try to foster in ourselves and others.” Added Lucy Smythe, J.D., R.T. (R), an LCC professor in Health Law and Ethics: “Ethics interjects itself into
almost every single decision that we make all day,” David Schwinn, P.E., a professor at LCC, contributed: “In organizations, we inadvertently create conditions that force people to be unethical. It just happens all the time.” David Kozishek, M.A., B.C.C., an assistant professor at MSU, said that condition is particularly true in health care, in which physicians are tempted to violate the law in the best interests of a patient. “That’s a great conundrum to be in because you want to do what’s best for people, especially physicians … and to have a system that requires you to do otherwise is very alarming,” Kozishek said. “I personally do believe that there are no absolute ethical principles that apply for all people for all times.” Frei argued: “I think it’s always immoral to
torture a baby for fun … To me, there are universal truths.” Thomas Rasmusson, J.D., a member of the LCC Board of Trustees, said he saw things in third-world countries like a health minister who would not allow the World Health Organization to spray for mosquitoes to eliminate malaria unless he was paid a large bribe. “There was no spraying and there was rampant malaria … They (health ministry) just let people die. You have to say that’s evil.” Candace Hines, an adjunct professor at LCC, asked how social change fit into the moral argument, particularly slavery of African-Americans. “Slavery … is morally wrong, was morally wrong,” Frei said. “Just because they thought they weren’t doing something that wasn’t morally wrong … and have all sorts of rationalizations and justifications for it, doesn’t
Jumping for joy
Photo by Michael Caterina
Larry Hook, adviser of The Lookout, celebrates after winning the NCAA Men’s Basketball Bracket Challenge. The event was sponsored by LCC’s Student Life office. Hook came in first out of 45 entrants. He was one of just three people who correctly picked the University of Connecticut to win the championship. “I picked U-Conn because I believed their star, Kemba Walker, was the best player in the tournament, and he could lead them to a title,” Hook said. The Student Life office did not award a prize for first place, but did give prizes to many of the participants with a random drawing. Bracket boards were mounted in both the Gannon Building’s Cyber Cafe (above) and the Arts & Science Building’s Kennedy Cafeteria.
Correction: In Issue 13 on page 4 of The Lookout, in the “Promoting peace through art” article, Nicole Johnson was misidentified as Jennifer Hennings in the photo caption.
Photos by Courtney Baker
Voicing concern: (above) Various professors from LCC and MSU, and Cooley Law School came together to discuss ethics in the modern world at LCC’s Ethics Day panel discussion March 22. (below) LCC Board of Trustees member Thomas Rasmusson speaking during a panel discussion on ethics March 22.
mean it was morally right.” Continuing that thought of social change, Frei said, “There are a lot of people who are saying (the) eating of meat and factory farming is immoral. “Maybe 50 years from now, we will look back at how we treat animals and see us the way we see people who had slaves.”
4 NEWS
April 11 - 24, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Orientation now required Kaitlin Lutz Associate Editor Beginning summer semester of 2011, orientation will be mandatory for new students and students returning to LCC after five or more years. Rebecca Brewer, coordinator of student orientation, described orientation as “a student success initiative.” According to the LCC website, there are many ways in which students can complete orientation. These include in person, online or a family/parent breakout. There will also be a limited English proficiency (LEP) orientation and an international orientation for international students. “It (orientation) is really an all-inclusive experience,” Brewer said. “They hear from … veteran students on how to be successful and also from faculty on what they expect in the classroom.”
In-Person
Students attending the in-person orientation will also receive a tour of the campus, learn about financial aid, register for classes and much more. In person orientation will last about four hours. Students will also re-
Types of Orientation: • • • • •
In-Person Online Parent/Family Breakout International Limited English Proficiency
ceive answers to questions like, “What is a TUID? What is Star Port? What is ANGEL? … Where can you find your grades and student email?” Brewer said.
Online
Online orientation is a little different. “We were thinking about the true online student,” Brewer said. “And it’s less about where things are and more about what we offer. So, we give a brief overview of each department and services.”
Family/Parent Breakout
Brewer added the family/parent breakout is for students who may be “the first in their family to go to college or if they’re the oldest of their siblings; the college-going experience is new for the whole family.”
International
The orientation for international students focuses on our culture and topics “specific for that student population.”
LEP
The LEP orientation is designed for students who are not fluent English speakers like refugees, immigrants or US citizens. “We did do some studies on past students and there was a 20-percent difference between students that attended orientation and those that didn’t as far as staying in there current semester … and in their spring semester their was a 30-percent difference,” Brewer said. “Students who weren’t coming to orientation weren’t staying, they weren’t achieving their goals, they generally were lost and we didn’t want that to keep happening. “Essentially, the bottom line for us is it’s a student success initiative for students at the front door, and it’s an efficient use of the students’ time,” she added. For more information about orientation visit lcc.edu/orientation.
— Infallible Rhetoric —
Dragging out another war How do we evaluate whether or not to intervene in another country? Given America and NATO’s recent intervention in Libya, I wonder how the international community arrives at the decision to use force. When Egyptians were threatened with violence from Mubarak’s thugs, Obama condemned the violence but he did not suggest a military solution. Protestors have also been killed by police in Syria as civilians demand government reform. America has already handed over control of the military action to NATO, allowing other countries to provide support for the rebels. Initially, I supported
the air strikes, but I am beginning to think the military campaign was a mistake or at least carried out incorrectly. Ultimately, we should have focused our efforts on taking out Gadhafi with our air strikes. This blow to the morale of the Libyan army may prove critical to ending the slaughter of the rebels. I don’t understand why the elimination of
Gadhafi is prohibited under the United Nations resolution to intervene in Libya. If we don’t eliminate him, the air strikes may as well have never taken place. Gadhafi will want to retaliate if he isn’t eliminated. He will continue to escalate his attack against the rebels and possibly hurt us financially with the oil we import from Libya. How long can NATO and supporting countries continue their air strikes against Libya? If the military campaign fails to stop the massacre, how will we proceed? I honestly don’t know any more if Gadhafi will win or if NATO will end this crisis.
IN BRIEF NEWS
LCC hosts community forum on recommended program changes
Counselors host Substance Abuse Awareness Day
LCC’s Provost Dr. Stephanie Shanblatt and the Deans’ Council will host a forum Wednesday, April 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Dart Auditorium to listen to input on the recommended program changes. The recommendations were announced Feb. 25 and included program enhancements, mergers and cuts. Several programs subject to change include aquatics, auto and collision repair, aviation, interior and fashion design, culinary and horticulture and landscape.
LCC counselors will host the seventh Substance Abuse Awareness Day April 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Arts and Science first floor lobby. Counselors will be available to answer questions and distribute literature related to substances. According to a report by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 49 percent (3.8 million) of full-time college students binge drink or abuse substances. For additional information regarding alcohol and drugs, visit the LCC Counseling website at http://www.lcc.edu/counseling/Online_MH_resources.aspx.
Marketing association hosts Business Plan Pitch Contest LCC’s American Marketing Association (AMA) is holding a Business Plan Pitch Contest Friday, April 29 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Aspiring entrepreneurs can present a business idea within six minutes before a panel of judges. The top three pitchers will win a free lunch with the AMA team and judges. Pitchers must contact Bill Motz at motzw@lcc.edu or refer to GB 190 to register. The application deadline is Friday, April 15. For more information, visit LCCAMA’s facebook page.
Nano Day at Impression 5 combines science and fun The Lansing community can explore the world of nanotechnology April 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Impression 5 Science Center. The hands-on learning environment will offer interactive activities for visitors, such as studying the tiniest structures on a gecko’s foot. Admission is free until 7 p.m. After 7, adults and students pay $5, seniors pay $4.50 and small children pay their age up to 5.
5 FEATURES
April 11 - 24, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Soccer classes, club kick up student life
Shauna Stocken Staff Writer
During spring enrollment both men and women can register for indoor and outdoor soccer classes at LCC. No prior soccer experience is needed to join. In addition to soccer classes, joining the LCC Soccer Club can help athletes stay in shape year round. The soccer club is designed to encourage and promote the growing sport of soccer. Jorge Gonzalez, the adviser of the soccer club, has been an adviser and an instructor in the LCC athletics department since 1998. Gonzalez has 25 years of experience in soccer. His career began with practicing soccer with his three children and volunteering as a youth soccer coach. The club meets every two weeks and is almost free to join. “It’s a free club but member’s have to pay to rent places to play. Soccer Zone, The Summit and the cost of referees comes
Quick kick: Graphic Design major Samer Kardahji puts a move on a teammate during a soccer club session.
Photos by Michael Caterina
Fast Feet: LCC criminal Justice major Faisal Mansur juggles the ball past defenders during a scrimmage of the soccer club April 6.
out of our (the players’) pockets,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez also instructs four soccer classes in the spring. Three of those
classes meet at The Summit and one class meets in the Gannon Building gym. An average soccer class
Photo by Michael Caterina
Expanding education: Lev Raphael describes the role Germany played in his life during his visit to LCC as part of the English Program Visiting Writer Series.
Author shows perspective
Nathan Wilson News Editor
Renowned Holocaust author Lev Raphael joined students in the Board Room of the Administration Building March 23 as a part of the English Program Visiting Writer Series. He described the role of Germany in his life, a country he swore he would never visit because his parents had suffered in Nazi concentration camps. “I grew up without family photographs … without family mementos. I kind of grew up in a void,” Raphael said as he recalled the hardship.
“There was no physical trace of any of our ancestors in our house.” As a result, he said he grew up with a very dark view of Germany, augmented by the fact that his parents would not purchase anything made in that country. Eventually, a German publisher offered to buy three of Raphael’s books and asked him to do a book tour in Germany. “My reaction to traveling in Germany was totally unexpected,” he said. “Instead of feeling like I was exposed … I felt really comfortable.” In fact, Raphael said, he felt like he had been transported back to his child-
hood neighborhood where everyone spoke German. He developed friendships with people there and he talked openly about World War II and his experiences growing up. “Everywhere I went, people … were not just grateful but respectful … In Germany, writers are considered cultural figures. They’re considered artists,” he said. Raphael’s experiences led him to write a book entitled My Germany, in which he traces his family’s past and overcomes his dislike of Germany. “I ended up falling in love with Germany,” Raphael confessed.
has 18 people and the average soccer club attendance is 20 people, according to Gonzalez. “The benefit of soc-
cer club and classes is that most international students get to integrate with American students. They get to socialize, learn, and get to know the city,” Gonzalez said. Before coming to LCC, Gonzalez coached the girls’ high school soccer team at Everett, Eastern and Sexton high schools. “There are 3,500 soccer players in the area—it is America’s favorite sport.” Gonzalez said. Patryk Rak, who is currently enrolled in his first LCC soccer class, said he is enjoying the experi-
ence. “My favorite part is soccer scrimmages,” Rak said. “Everyone is pretty friendly. We have good communication.” According to Gonzalez, 80 percent of the soccer players he coaches have a lot of experience. He said with the others, he spends extra time teaching them dribbling, passing and shooting. “It’s a good opportunity for people fresh out of high school to learn more about the sport they love, whether in the class or club,” Gonzalez said.
6 SPORTS
April 11 - 24, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Crosstown Showdown
Chilly crowd: Over 7,000 fans braved near freezing temperatures to come out to the 2011 Crosstown Showdown Tuesday, April 5 at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing.
Lugnuts baseball gets underway with battle against Michigan State
Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor The Lansing Lugnuts opened their 2011 season with the annual Crosstown Showdown versus Michigan State University April 5. A total of 7,212 fans filled the stadium and watched MSU defeat the Lugnuts 2-1 in the exhibition game played in near 30-degree weather. LCC student Pat McKerr threw out the first pitch of the game to celebrate his 19th birthday. “I was a little nervous; I’m not going to lie,” McKerr said. “You don’t want to throw it short of the catcher and end up
on ESPN’s ‘Not Top 10.’” For many fans, this annual exhibition game has become a tradition. “I’ve been coming to this game for the past couple of years,” said Irving Taran, who was eating peanuts as he sat on a bench along the first-base concourse. “It’s really cool to see the (MSU) guys get a chance to play against the professionals. I look forward to it every year.” Taran said he taught art at MSU for 35 years. Many fans enjoyed hot dogs, popcorn, soft drinks and ice cream sandwiches for just $1 each. These special prices will be in effect for every home Tuesday game through-
out the season. The tradition of Thirsty Thursdays will be continued as draft beers and sodas will sell for only $2 on home Thursdays. “I can’t wait for Thirsty Thursdays,” LCC student Thomas Palanquin said while reading a Lugnuts’ schedule on his laptop in the Kennedy Cafe. “I’m sure the Lugnuts will make my summers much more interesting.” The Lugnuts officially kicked off their season April 7 at home vs. West Michigan. For a complete schedule check www.lansinglugnuts.com.
Photos by Michael Caterina
At the old ball game: At left, the Spartans hoist the Crosstown Showdown trophy after defeating the Lansing Lugnuts 2-1 in the fifth annual contest. Above, Lugnuts catcher Carlos Perez attempts to tag out MSU senior Brandon Eckerle as scores the Spartans first run. Below, MSU fans show their spirit during the eighth inning of the game.
7SPORTS
April 11 - 24, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout — A New York state of mind —
Minor league baseball; a home run in Lansing I spent my Tuesday evening on April 5 at Cooley Law School Stadium watching the Crosstown Showdown. It was some of the best fun I’ve had since I moved here from New York last summer. People in mid-Michigan really love their baseball. While the Tigers are only an hour away, I suppose a 10- or
15-minute drive beats an hour or more commute. Besides the ob-
vious advantage in ticket cost, there are some things you get by going to a Lugnuts game you just don’t get when you go to Comerica Park in Detroit. Promotions for the Major Leagues stink. OH, OH PICK ME … I want a Miguel Cabrera magnet schedule! Give me a break. How about some dis-
counted food prices or a bobble head? Opening Night for the Lugnuts featured $1 hotdogs, popcorn, soft drinks and ice cream sandwiches. Now that’s going to put my rear end in a seat at your baseball game. The ballpark in Lansing is beautiful. It’s right next to several bars, right down the
street from LCC and really close to the highway. What could be better? I could not tell you how many people have told me what the stadium has done for downtown Lansing. Apparently back in the day it used to be a really shady neighborhood … you could have fooled me. I look forward to see-
ing as many games as I possibly can this summer. I’m going to be spending some time in Grand Rapids with family, but I’ll be sure to root for the Lugnuts whenever they come to Comstock Park to play the West Michigan Whitecaps. I’ll be representing all of mid-Michigan, I’m pumped. Go Nuts!
8 SPORTS
April 11 - 24, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Track clubs impress at Spartan invite
Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor
On a 34-degree day in East Lansing, the campus of Michigan State University hosted LCC’s men’s and women’s track clubs as they competed in the 2011 Spartan Invitational April 2. LCC’s Head Coach Chuck Block said his runners were determined to start off the season on the right foot. “We’ve been practicing really hard this week,” Block said before the meet. “We don’t like to taper too much for the early meets, but we aren’t holding anything back.”
Block wasn’t disappointed as LCC showed an impressive outing. The best performance of the day for the Stars came in the women’s 5,000-meter run. Freshman Ellory Green placed eighth out of 44 with a time of 18 minutes and 15 seconds — a career best for her in the 5K. “I was really happy with my time,” Green said, huffing and puffing after the race. “The cold is a little tough on the lungs, but at least I know I won’t overheat.” Other schools that competed in the meet included Michigan State, Central Michigan University, Grand Val-
ley State University and Alma College. “It’s really cool to get to run against the bigger schools,” LCC runner Eric Spitz said. “You learn a lot from the kids you run against.” Spitz competed in the men’s 5,000-meter, placing 34th out of 52 with a time of 15:58. Another notable performance came from freshman Kimberly Schmid, who competed in the shot put event. She placed eighth, throwing 38 feet. Schmid went to Haslett High School and played volleyball for LCC last fall. No Star was more im-
pressive, given her personal circumstances than Ashley Hamilton. She fell ill with mononucleosis during the off-season but still competed in the women’s 1,500-meter dash at the Spartan Invitational, breaking a time of five minutes or better (4:58). “What a trooper that girl is,” Block said after the meet. “She’ll get back to 100 percent and shatter that time soon.” The Stars were scheduled to travel to Big Rapids to compete in the Ferris Open April 9. Check the next edition of The Lookout for results and reaction to that meet.
Photo by Michael Caterina
Speedy star: LCC’s Kasey Khane rounds the corner during the 800-meter race at the Spartan Invitational April 2.
Baseball team looking to turn around tough year Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor After having four doubleheaders canceled or rescheduled due to inclimate weather, the LCC baseball team finally got a chance to play March 31. LCC traveled to Glen Oaks Community College to play a doubleheader. The Stars had a record of 1-8 coming into the games. “Things have been a little frustrating lately,” LCC sophomore outfielder Justin Spickerman said. “We haven’t been swinging the bat like we should; we just have to find our rhythm.” The Stars did not appear to be rusty as they scored two runs in the top of the first inning. Sophomore Star Nicholas Kissane drove in the two runs with a double to deep right field. The Stars scored two more unearned runs but lost 5-4. The Stars also dropped the second game in a 12-8 slugfest. “Our pitching couldn’t keep their bats quiet,” LCC first baseman Josh Piggott said
Photo by Michael Caterina
Pitcher perfect: Freshman pitcher CJ Davis fires away during the Stars 6-2 loss to Mott CC April 7.
after the game. Piggott provided one highlight for LCC making a diving catch in the fourth inning of the second game. The Stars played next on April 2 versus Kalamazoo Valley Community College in yet another doubleheader. The Stars’ bats proved unsatisfactory again as they lost the first game 8-3. Catcher Dylan Betcher went two-for-three, scoring two of the Stars’ runs. He also stole his fourth and fifth bases of the year. “I’ve really been trying to work on my baserunning game,” Betcher explained. “I figure my
hitting will come around soon enough.” The Stars lost the second game of the doubleheader 4-0. KVCC pitcher Joe Allor only allowed four hits in the game. The Stars are still searching for their first conference win of the year. The team has an overall record of 1-12 as of April 7. The Stars were scheduled to play at home versus Jackson Community College April 9 before heading to Dearborn to face Henry Ford Community College. Check the next issue of The Lookout for results, stats and reaction to those games.
9
April 11 - 24, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
10 A&E
April 11 - 24, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Pentecost stirs up international issues through art Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor Pentecost by David Edgar was not what I expected it to be. The paly was presented the weekends of March 25 and April 1 at LCC’s Dart Auditorium. Pentecost tells the tale of a woman who discovers what she thinks might be the rarest art find of the century and all the complications that follow. The show as a whole was satisfactory, though not terribly wonderful. There were only a few things that irked me. First, costumes. They were probably my biggest concern. I saw many pieces re-used as well as many inappropriate choices in style. Also the set was very stationary. There was a
bench or two that moved once in a while but, until the final scene, the set was practically the same throughout the play. While the production design left something to be desired, many of the performances made up for it. The piece was directed very well. I enjoyed some of the positions that actors were put in order to make good choices. The show also had incredible rhythm, which pushed the pace of the production and made the “wordiness” of the script bearable. If it was going to be two and half hours long, it had to move along. Matt Land portrayed the role of Leo Katz, an “expert witness,” as the script called him. Land did some wonder-
King Crossword
Picture perfect play: Actors from LCC’s production of David Edgar’s Pentecost block out a scene in a dress rehearsal. The play was performed the weekends of March 25 and April 1. Photo by Courtney Baker
ful things with the role. His choices were clear, direct and, most importantly, believable. He was excellent. I especially enjoyed Land’s vocal choices. This script is very well written so all the actors had a great deal to work with, but I feel Land took more of an advan-
This week’s puzzle is sponsored by:
very impressive. On top of being a rather attractive man, Land had a certain swagger and confidence that was evident in the way he carried himself. Land showed no hesitation or second thoughts when it came to making big physical choices on the stage. He
Hidden gems discovered at Book and Paper show Sarah Sanders Editor in Chief The Lansing Center hosted the Midwest’s largest Antiquarian Book and Paper Show April 3. Businesses from Michigan and elsewhere brought books from their shops to sell to the collectors attending the show. Though I do not consider myself to be an ardent book collector, I do own an extensive library with the intention of housing several more books as my
Puzzle solution can be found at www.lcc.edu./lookout
tage of this good writing than anyone else on the stage that night. His voice was, at times, soothing and comforting. However, at other times, he was harsh, direct and spoke very matter-of-factly. Both emotional levels were utilized brilliantly. Physically, he was also
was not afraid to invade another actor’s personal space; it seemed he would do anything to tell the story of his character. Finally, Land nailed the most important part of being on the stage: He made good choices about the delivery of every line he had. Some of Land’s monologues were very difficult. Often these long speeches were wordy, complex and contained very important information relative to the plot of the play. Land made every single word count. He never mumbled, forgot a line, or broke character; he was truly delightful. I enjoyed the production of Pentecost at LCC, and did so mainly because of the wonderful acting of Matt Land.
years unfold. While I could not convince myself that a first edition Book of Mormon priced at $350 would be worth my time, I did have quite a hang up over a first edition Origin of the Species that was even more expensive. It seemed hard to believe that as a college student with bills to pay, purchasing books I could not read, due to their delicacy, was within my budget. So I perused onwards. I
do think, however, as one person mentioned to me, if I attended an Antiquarian book show at age 20, by 35 I will be dishing out the cash for some special pieces of my own. The whole place smelled like old books and cinnamon buns from the Lansing City Market. I picked up a copy of Virginia Wolfe’s The Early Novels and the complete set of Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne – a treasure I hadn’t owned since a small child.
Overall, this book show opened my eyes to a whole new kind of hobby; one that I had been participating in since a small child. Reading is and has been for me the same as athletics or singing is for others. While I was growing up I always felt the need to have a hobby of my own, but had my nose too deep into a book to try anything else. This book show reminded me of what I like to do — just read.
11 A&E
April 11 - 24, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
IN BRIEF Arts & Entertainment
Photo by Michael Caterina
Flying high: Matthew Betka, from left, Anna Lipka and Josh Dravenstatt practice their dance Eternal Summer for the upcoming LCC dance concert, Seasons, April 21-23.
‘Seasons’ dances into Dart Lee Rumler A&E Editor
Seasons, directed by Roberta Otten, is coming to Dart Auditorium Thursday and Friday, April 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, April 23 at 2 p.m. The annual dance concert will cost $5 for LCC students, staff, faculty and alumni, and $10 for the general public. The theme of Seasons had a dualistic meaning, according to Otten. “(Seasons) explores the seasons of nature and of the heart,” she said, “so a lot of the dances are a combination – the song is about a particular season of nature and then there’s an emotional connection.” The relationship of the seasons of both nature and the heart is important because the dances are inspired by the theme. “Because it’s a creative
concert with a fairly broad, flexible theme, you’re going to see interpretation of the theme itself, and the dancing is related to that – as well as the music,” she said. “It’s a collaborative effort.” And by “collaborative,” Otten must have meant something closer to “communal.” According to Otten, every choreographer in the dance faculty is involved in the production, along with three guest choreographers. All of these instructors direct only 15 select students who successfully auditioned back in either December or January in only 14 songs. But according to Otten, the songs represent a wide range of music, with an equally varied dance selection. “This is sock-it-to-ya’ music,” she said. “We’ve got Guns and Roses; we’ve got some hot Latin
music. ... We have some classical Vivaldi and some Native American flute and drum. “Rather than a classical ballet, such as The Nutcracker or Sleeping Beauty, you’re going to see more contemporary dancing with the classical skills still applied on a fundamental level,” Otten said. Otten said the choreography and dancing are exceptional this year, but that’s not all there is to get excited about. “There is so much variety. It’s upbeat; it’s colorful; it’s going to be exceptionally well lit and costumed,” she said. “If you’re curious about dance at all, this is the place to get the smorgasbord of it in a really professional way. “If you don’t know something (about dance), come out and find out. If you enjoy dance, you’re going to have a treat.”
Stage combat holds open house
Music competition hits campus
LCC’s stage combat class will hold its open house in Dart Auditorium Saturday, April 23 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The free event will showcase techniques taught in the class.
The Lansing Concert Band is holding its Young Artists’ Competition Concert Saturday, April 30 at 8 p.m. in Dart Auditorium. For more information, visit http://www.lansingconcertband.org/.
Library Events College celebrates National Library Week April 10 to 16 Sunday, April 10 through Saturday, April 16 is National Library Week. This year, the LCC Library is celebrating with several events, including the following:
LCC records history with StoryCorps
Career workshop series visits
LCC StoryCorps: Our Voices. Our History. Our Community. is a project put on by the LCC library to record Lansing’s oral history. Students and community members can sign up to record an interview with a Lansing community member to preserve the history of the Lansing community beyond what’s written in the paper and shown on television. Sign up for recording sessions all week at http://www.lcc.edu/library/about/events/ national-library-week/lcc-storycorps.aspx.
Eat Stone Soup in the Library The Library will host a food drive from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 15 in the Library Atrium. During the event, workers will serve a soup lunch for a suggested donation of money or a non-perishable food item, and at noon, they will read the children’s book Stone Soup. (The soup served hopefully won’t reflect the book.) All donations will go to the Greater Lansing Food Bank.
The Library will host What’s Your Next Chapter? career workshop series all week. Topics in the series will cover resume building, choosing the right career, using social media productively and upgrading job skills. Each session is free, half an hour long, open to the public, and doesn’t require registration. The times and dates for the numerous events can be found at http://www. lcc.edu/library/about/events/nationallibrary-week/career-workshops.aspx.
Lansing Lives through the Lens Lansing Lives through the Lens is a project to create a “visual time capsule of everyday life” in Lansing. Selected LCC staff, students and community members will judge the pictures and pick the 40 best representatives to be preserved in a book that will be stored at the LCC Library. Submissions will be taken until Thursday, April 14. For directions to enter, visit http://www.lcc.edu/library/ about/events/national-library-week/lansing-lives-through-the-lens.aspx.
—Shouting a Nuance—
Friends, fragments and freedom itself I don’t think anything can teach a person to value friendship as much as solidarity. When I was in elementary school, I didn’t have friends. I had acquaintances, but any person I was close to left. Molly, Ben, Alex, Josh, Roger and Joey all moved within a year of me meeting them. I fell out of touch with Tiffany and Jimmy over summer vacation, and Miranda hated me after I shoved snow down her pants. I was alone. And I guess it was my destiny to be alone, or at least
feel alone. I hit puberty first, before many of the girls, and I suffered from socially crippling acne until 11th grade. I don’t use the term “socially crippling” lightly. Except for one guy I met whose face was covered in what
looked like boils, I had the worst acne I have ever seen in my life. Not that I’m complaining. Tough times either kill you or make you stronger, though I wouldn’t recommend them. But in fifth grade, I made my first two lasting friends: Matt and Eddie. And in sixth grade, I added Logan, Jeremiah and Ethan to the roster. Those were the days. I was a punk with everything to prove; well, nothing, really, as I would learn later – but those days, it felt like everything. I wanted
something between acceptance and revenge, but mostly I was just pissed off. Logan was my partner in crime. We blamed our problems on everyone but ourselves – and I still contend we were justified in doing so. But I guess I grew out of that (though some things never change) when I started going to Youth Group. Grace Lutheran’s Youth Group saved my life. Literally. Specifically, Jim Keat saved my life, but I don’t have time to get into that. When I went to Grace, I had fun with friends every day. It was
good. I almost dated the girl of my dreams around then, too – although I wouldn’t find out how close I was until my senior year. But she hooked me up with Emily, who dominated and ruined my life for the next three years. Bad choices. Oh, and I met James. Within three years, Grace closed its Youth Group, Eddie transferred to Mason, the big anti-clique of Grace kids shattered, and I met Melinda, Amanda and Bethany. Good times. More bad choices. Sophomore-junior
year I met Gareth Gose. Yeah, the cross-country runner. We spent an entire summer complaining about our girlfriends and wishing we had cars. And I guess that’s how it went for a while. Falling outs, breakups, AP English, new cars, old friends and bad habits came next. Actually, I think that takes me to now. Life is either incessantly good or painfully bad. I’ve never found a middle ground, and in all honesty I don’t think I’d want to be there. Life’s greatest sin is being bored.
12 FEATURES
April 11 - 24, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
LCC officer helps rescue drowning woman Shauna Stocken Staff Writer
A
43-year-old woman jumped into the Grand River near LCC at approximately 6:40 p.m. March 3. The victim’s life was saved after a heroic act by local police personnel. Little is know as to why the woman jumped into the river. The victim jumped off of the bridge after a passerby confronted her as she climbed over the railing of the Grand River Bridge. After an emergency 911 call was made by a passerby, the witness stopped Officer James Terrill on Grand Avenue. Terrill was on duty patrolling in the LCC police patrol vehicle. “I didn’t have time to react. I was just trying to find her,” Terrill said. Terrill first attempted to save the woman by throwing her a rope bag. “She was not responsive to any verbal com-
mands I gave her,” Terrill said. Terrill said he was unable to pull the woman out of the freezing river alone, and more officers were called to assist in the woman’s rescue. Lansing Police Sgt. Guy Pace aided Terrill in the effort to save the drowning woman. “I was thankful Sgt. Pace showed up on the scene so we could work as a team,” Terrill said. Terrill said the woman began to travel north in the Grand River, appearing to lose consciousness and become weak. After the woman be-
gan to sink below the surface, Pace dove into the water to swim her to safety. The woman was a foot or so under the surface of the water when Pace swam to her, according to Terrill. Typical protocol in rescue situations is left up to the discrepancy of an officer, according to Terrill. “I think if we would have had to wait for the fire department to arrive, she wouldn’t have made it,” Terrill said. Pace had a rope tied to him when he swam to the victim. Once Pace had a hold of her, Terrill pulled both Pace and the women back onto the river bank. According to a report from WILX, the woman was recovering at a local hospital and was listed in stable condition as of March 4. Her mental condition was to be evaluated during her stay in
Photo by Shauna Stocken
On the job: LCC Police Officer James Terrill, right, speaks to LCC Assistant Food Service Director Jennifer Bastianelli about the rescue in which Terrill participated. Terrill was stopped by a passerby who saw a woman jump into the Grand River March 3.
the hospital. “I don’t believe this was an accident, but I don’t know every detail 100 percent,” Terrill said. “I didn’t get to have a conversation with her or anything once the woman was
out of the water. “In the Police Academy at LCC, they tell you what is going to happen to your body in extreme situations with high anxiety,” Terrill said. “I chose to attend
the Police Academy because it is one of the best (programs) in the state and it has a good price and location,” he said. “They teach you through real-life experience, taught by veterans.”
13 DISTRACTIONS SUDOKU 6
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April 11 - 24, 2011
www.lcc.edu/lookout
James Tennant Jr. An Ordinary Life
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LeBaron Rodgers Desktop Blues
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14 OPINION
April 11 - 24, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
— Fully flippin’ it —
—Everyone should read George Orwell—
A tough year for athletics Your humbled servant LCC athletics has been in the news quite a bit lately; but not all news is good news. This year alone we have had our fair share of run-ins with the bad news bears. Our men’s basketball team was forced to forfeit eight games it played in the fall semester because the team was using a player who was not taking enough credits. This “simple mistake,” as it was described to The Lookout by Athletic Director Scott Latham, destroyed an impressive 12-3 record the Stars would have had to start the spring semester. I am amazed a player can play eight games without his eligibility being checked. I am also astonished the player himself would not know the rules of eligibility and put his team at risk by not taking the required number of credit hours. The forfeited games aside, the men’s basketball team went on to make it to the finals of the NJCAA Region XII Tournament, ending with a 14-14 record. That’s pretty cool considering the Stars actually won many of the 14 losses portrayed in the losing column. Our next run-in with
those pesky bad news bears didn’t have as great of an ending. It involved our championship softball team and its veteran coach. Bob Every was fired from his position as head softball coach and his full-time administrative position after LCC self reported multiple NJCAA rules violations. Every was found guilty by the college on most of the rules violations with which he was charged. Soon after Every’s firing, his assistant coaching staff of Jeff Kegler, Pat Malloy and Jerry Murphy was also let go. I can understand, though I don’t necessarily agree, with Every’s firing. He broke the rules and he was punished for it. What I can’t wrap my head around is the dismantling of the entire coaching staff weeks before the season was scheduled to start. Opening day for the Stars never happened. LCC had set up interim coaches for the girls to play for during the season, but the girls signed up to play for Every and his coaching staff. They tried to bargain with LCC, saying if they got their assistant coaches back they would play.
LCC wouldn’t budge. Ranney Park will not have the championship presence of LCC softball this year for what I see as a misunderstanding involving bad communication. How can LCC expect girls who have been training with a coaching staff for months (and even years in some cases) to respond to an entire new coaching staff overnight? It just does not make sense to remove an entire coaching staff and expect the team to be fine. LCC and its softball players should have worked harder to come to a compromise to make the season happen. This lack of softball is a huge embarrassing black eye for LCC and I think that the team should have been on the field competing, no matter what. I can only hope that we get no more visits from the bad news bears in the coming years.
— The Collected Klutz—
Moving forward with life My first year of college has almost come to an end. As I look back at my year it feels like it just flew by, as life always seems to do. A few weeks ago I went back to my high school with some friends to visit a few of my high school teachers. It felt so weird to walk into my old high school because I was no longer a student, but an outsider looking in. The fact that the entire main entry and office area had been remodeled made the scene even stranger. I was like, “This isn’t me school!” That’s just it. It isn’t my school any longer. I am now college stu-
dent at LCC. I sometimes tend to forget that. Thinking about growing up and becoming a “real” adult sometimes scares me. If there is one thing I would tell high-schoolers now, it would be to enjoy being a kid now because growing up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. This past year I started my first real job, working here at The
Lookout. Juggling a job and classes was definitely something new to me and I didn’t really know how to deal with it. So I got stressed – really stressed. The thought of quitting did cross my mind, but I think I have too much stickto-itiveness to give up after one semester. After completing my first semester I learned how to better organize my time and to not let things stress me out as easily. I have to say this past school year has been a learning experience apart from my actual classes. Just like in life, you have to take everything in stride and learn from those experiences to do better next time.
Everyone should serve tables at least two years of their life. This job gives you a deeper understanding of humanity … even at its worst. My theory: The entire operation of a restaurant is so stressful, most of its workers become addicted to smoking within the first six months of working. Anyway, serving overall is the most unpredictable job I can think of. Some nights you make bank, others you wish you hadn’t spent the gas driving in. Serving can be done with little to no education (Trust me … I know) and generates a solid income for a college student or someone with a landlord who doesn’t mind having rent paid a few
days late. I’m kidding, but only a little. I feel that if people were to serve tables, for at least one year of their lives, waiting on them might be a little more pleasant. They would understand that several servers enjoy their jobs because they enjoy talking to people. The problem with serving is the rudeness, like when the general public slaps you across the face with a butter knife, or jumps down your
throat while you’re discussing side options with another table. People who have not served could never possibly understand how much servers truly appreciate kindness. Servers don’t serve because they enjoy being talked to as if they do not exist. In fact, the opposite is true. I, for one, am a server and enjoy discussing whatever my table would like to discuss with me. Every day I learn something new from one of them. That is my reward. Needless to say, among these pleasanttable-occurrences there are the rude people who cramp my style. I don’t like that, homie. Don’t throw up on my day. Relax, here’s a beer. Sit back and I’ll bring food to you.
15 Opinion
April 11 - 24, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout In our own words | Staff Editorial
Letter to the Editor
Many students, one voice
Evolution column stirs another opinion
Hi Sarah,
My name is Tim Periard, I am a biology faculty member here on LCC’s main campus. I wanted to write and say thank you for writing your “pro-evolution” article. You did a really good job explaining things, with such a short amount of words. I especially like your mention of a scientific theory. The word theory is thrown around like a hot potato in the media, and I believe that adds to the confusion about the word. Before being hired here full time (Fall 2010), I taught near Houston, Texas. I had a number of students talk to me about evolution. This country still has such a bad misconception about it. Many people have trouble looking at things differently. By reading those other two articles, it is clear that our public schools need to do a much better job with evolutionary education. It is a bit scary to hear some of those things. It is such an important and fundamental piece of human knowledge. For example, in order to understand why microscopic organisms develop resistance to antibiotics, you need to understand evolution, and the cause, which is natural selection. Again, thank you for thinking critically. Tim Periard Biology Faculty Member
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
As the independent student publication of LCC for over 50 years, we at The Lookout would like to think of ourselves as a good representation of the faculty, staff and students on our campus. We appreciate the importance of this college to the Greater Lansing area and its inhabitants. Furthermore, we would like to thank everyone who has been affiliated with LCC over the past year, for making this a … well … interesting place to learn. Most of us on the staff are new to the college so we would like to share some of our comments about our experiences covering the happenings at LCC over the last school year. We have had some pretty crazy stuff happen this year — everything from minor flooding and car shows, to alleged bomb threats on campus. Trust us; we were there for all of it, and with notepad and voice-recorder in hand.
An awesome Caribbean Festival and an opening of a new Child Care Center on campus were perfect ways to start the fall semester. A well-organized and overwhelmingly popular Homecoming Week instilled a strong sense of “Star pride” in us as the year went on. We watched our sports teams play their hearts out, and always keep us entertained. The perks of this job are selfevident, when you are covering such a welcoming community. We unanimously agree that working at the school newspaper for the last two semesters has been beneficial for both our own personal interests, and the interests of the college as a whole. We look forward to serving all of you in the semesters to come, and cannot thank you enough for the warm sentiments we have received. Keep reading, and we will keep writing. We wouldn’t want it any other way.
Classified Advertising TALENT NEEDED FOR MOVIE SHOOT Director, author, national Top 200 host on BlogTalkRadio needs cinematogropher/film editor for live recording and on-location supporting scenes. Shooting in Lansing in June. Must have pro Hd 1080 camera, shotgun microphone/boom mike. Must have examples of work. Contact thru website only: Google themotivator2006.com. $325.00 plus national exposure and film credit. Quick turn-around? $50.00 bonus! Also needed: five actors for supporting scenes; under
100 lines. Parts: bodyguard, TV reporter, agent, personal assistant and assassin (reporter, assistant and assassin have most lines). No pay, but exposure and film credit. Fun on-location shoot. Contact thru website only. List experience, picture, FYI info. Must be available on a Friday from noon to 8 p.m. Also needed: 15 to 20 high-energy “club look” extras!! Want to be in a movie? Free pizza! No pay but a lot of fun making a movie! Deadine to apply April 29, 2011. Submit picture and why you would be a great extra!
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
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April 11 - 24, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout