Preventing substance abuse
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April 25 - May 31 2011 Volume 52, Issue 15 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Red carpet
Track teams
film festival
impress
at meets
downtown
PAGE 11
PAGE 6
thelookout Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959
Say goodbye to steam
Provost discusses cuts with students
Nathan Wilson News Editor
Sarah Sanders Editor in Chief
The Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL) began a massive project April 11 to replace water and steam distribution systems on LCC’s main campus. According to an LCC press release, the project is estimated to cost $2 million --”the most significant infrastructure update since the college opened in 1957.” Mark Nixon, the communications director of BWL, explained BWL has been planning the upgrade for years and “it is becoming very apparent that something needs to be done. “We have water mains that date back, believe it or not, to the 1890s,” Nixon said. “And steam lines which have … steadily leaked over the past several years, they go back to the early decades of the 1900s.” In fact, LCC’s Theater Department erected a sculpture of a volcano over one of the steam lines leaking west of the Gannon Building, giving the illusion of an active volcano. “We still have, we believe, in some places of Lansing, water mains that are made of wood,” Nixon said. “I’m
With program cuts still in contention, Provost Stephanie Shanblatt held an open forum in Dart Auditorium April 13. The discussion began with one parent who had concerns about whether or not her daughter, a culinary arts major, would be able to take the three classes she needs before graduation. “We did make a commitment at the time we announced the recommendations that students who are in programs would have at least until May 2012,” Shanblatt said. “Nothing would end at the end of this semester or the end of summer,” Shanblatt added. “We have pledged to work with each student so that we can create a plan for each student, figure out what is best for them and what we need to offer next fall and spring to
Photo by Michael Caterina
Campus craters: The Board of Water and Light is replacing the water and steam distribution system on LCC’s main campus.
not sure what this 1890 water main is made of, and I’m not sure we will know until we actually begin to dig it up.” Barriers have been constructed around the excavation site, imped-
ing traffic near the Gannon Building. According to an LCC press release, Washington Avenue will be closed during the project from Saginaw to See BWL, page 3
ensure students have what they need in order to graduate.” In attendance were several faculty members and students from the aviation flight program. The provost told attendees the $700,000 flight hanger located in Mason was purchased for the aviation maintenance program, which is also up for elimination but will most likely not be cut. The discussion also covered topics such as the closing of the Gannon Building pool and what that space will be used for. The provost confirmed there are no future plans for that space. Another topic of conversation was the culinary program, which is up for elimination due to inadequate facilities and inadequate funds to rehabilitate these facilities. The provost described the actions needed in order See Provost, page 3
Going green: Earth Day discussion Shauna Stocken Staff Writer In preparation for Earth Day April 22, LCC held a Political Involvement & Public Service discussion for all students, staff, faculty and community members to attend. Panel members from different companies met April 18 in the
Gannon Building gym to discuss how they have made a positive impact on the planet. Maggie Fields, an employee for the Michigan Department of Environment Quality, discussed her feelings on Earth Day and how people can get involved. “Earth Day for most of us is thought of only as our impact on the environment. It’s about the
water we drink, bathe in, the earth our children play on, it’s the water used to both personally and commercially fish with,” Fields said. According to Fields, there are three steps to helping the planet: voice, action and money. “Write a letter to the editor, to a company or college. Encourage See Earth Day, page 3
Photo by Michael Caterina
Tough crowd: Provost Stephanie Shanblatt talks to students and staff at an open forum meeting April 13.
2 NEWS
April 25 - May 31, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
The Lookout wins 11 MCCPA awards The staff of The Lookout took home 11 awards, including two first-place certificates, from the Michigan Community College Press Association’s annual journalism conference April 9. This year’s event was held at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. A total of nine community colleges from around the state participated. During the conference, Lookout staff members attended workshops on topics such as photography, headline writing, sports writing and copy editing. The students learned valuable tips from experts from The Detroit News, The Detroit Free Press, AnnArbor.com and USA Today. The day concluded with an awards luncheon hosted by Jim Wojcik of CMU’s journalism department. Michael Caterina, photo editor and page designer for The Lookout, won five awards in the MCCPA competition, including first place for “frontpage design.” “Receiving that first-place award kind of validated a lot of the hard work that I did,” Caterina said. “There have been times when I’ve set up the front page and I’ve spent
an hour looking at it and I think, ‘This doesn’t work,’ so I have to re-do it. “I take a lot of pride in designing the front page,” Caterina continued. “To know we have the best-looking front page of all the community college papers in Michigan makes me feel good.” Dominick Mastrangelo, sports editor for The Lookout, earned first place in the “sports column” category for a pair of columns titled, “Vick makes me sick” and “Shape up, Sparty.” “I think those were the best two columns that I’ve written for The Lookout,” Mastrangelo said. “The (Michael) Vick column was very controversial and highly debated here. But I felt strongly about what I said in the column and I’ll still stick to it today. “We had a lot of letters sent to the paper about it and we published those,” Mastrangelo continued. “It really created a dialogue and I think that’s what good sports writing is about – getting people to talk.” Mastrangelo said his other column, about the MSU men’s basketball team, was written “when I realized that all hope was pretty much lost for Izzo
Photo by Larry Hook
Winning: News Editor Nathan Wilson, left, and Sports Editor Dominick Mastrangelo show off their awards at the MCCPA conference April 9 at Central Michigan University.
and the gang.” Larry Hook, adviser of The Lookout, said he is proud of his 2010-11 staff. “We’ve had a great staff this year and the fact that we won 11 awards in a wide variety of categories is testimony to that,” Hook said. “We won awards in feature writing, sports writing, photography, page design, ad building, cartoon drawing. … This year’s staff is definitely talented and well-rounded.”
Hook said the staff earned valuable “real-world” journalism experience in the past nine months covering events such as Coach Bob Every’s dismissal, proposed program cuts, a late-night water main break and a bomb scare. In addition to the two firstplace awards mentioned above, the other MCCPA awards earned by The Lookout in the MCCPA competition were as follows: Michael Caterina – second place for “sports news photo,”
second place for “inside page layout,” third place for “news photo” and honorable mention for “feature photo.” Zach Bellingar – second place for “sports column” and third place for “sports coverage.” LeBaron Rodgers – second place for “cartoon.” Nathan Wilson – honorable mention for “feature story.” Kelly Lehtonen – honorable mention for “student created ad.”
3 NEWS
April 25 - May 31, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Students educated about substance abuse Nathan Wilson News Editor
LCC counselors hosted the seventh Substance Abuse Awareness Day April 13 in the Arts and Science Building. Curlada Eure-Harris, an LCC career counselor, explained the event supports drug prevention and lets students know counselors are available. “We make ourselves available because lots of times people don’t know we’re here in the Support Services Department,” Eure-Harris said. LCC is also offering an anonymous online
screening for drug use, eating disorders, depression and post traumatic stress disorder at http:// www.mentalhealthscreening.org/screening/Welcome.aspx. “I hear about drinking more than anything else,” Eure-Harris said. “When I get the personal issues, I hear mostly they (students) are having problems with alcohol.” Literature from various agencies was distributed from the booth to students passing by. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), several
signs of a drinking problem include: drinking when alone, angry or sad; arriving late to work for drinking; forgetting what happened after drinking. “More human beings are medicated and they’re struggling with the balancing, the changing, the adjusting to the different medications, or the lack thereof,” said Eure-Harris. “When they know that talking through an issue and getting at the root cause of some of their problems can make them healthier, they are less prone to be medi-
BWL
Photo by Michael Caterina
Spreading knowledge: LCC counselor Monica Del Castillio, left, speaks with English major Olena Chunyak during the Substance Awareness Day April 13.
Continued from page 1
kind of work underneath the skin and muscle,” Nixon said. “And that’s kind of what we’re doing on the pipelines. We’re just not tearing up the whole thing, it’s only a couple places.” According to Nixon, the water main upgrade is estimated to be complete in mid May. The steam line, which will be
more complicated, is estimated to finish in mid September. “Spring and summer are going to be frankly in a mess along the mall,” he said. “But the upside is, when you’re all done, everybody in LCC will have a much better dependable and reliable infrastructure to serve the campus.”
Photo by Michael Caterina
Green gathering: Panel member and LCC instructor Sean Huberty addresses other panel members during the Earth Day discussion April 18.
Earth Day Continued from page 1
companies to use green products and make alternative changes,” Fields said. “Action is all about what a person is doing to contribute.” Fields said it is not just about donating money, it’s about buying green products, or products with less packaging that release fewer emissions to transport. Lindsay Huddleston II, who is a Public Affairs and Government Relations employee for Walmart, donated refreshments and reusable bags made out of water
For more information about LCC counseling services, visit GB 204 or call (517) 483-1924.
Provost
Continued from page 1
Madison Avenue. Lane and street closures began April 11 and will continue through May 15. Nixon likened the process for replacing buried pipelines (pipe bursting) to arthroscopic surgery. “Rather than having this huge incision that could be six or eight inches, you have just a couple little incisions and they
cated or they’re needing less medication. So in that sense, seeking medication can be an abuse. Over medication can be an abuse, even it’s just … over the counter.” LCC can also link students to resources in the community if they are experiencing a chronic issue with alcohol or drugs. Additionally, students can call 2-1-1 to link to human resources in the Central Michigan area.
bottles for all who attended. “Walmart participated in Earth Day two years ago near the Capitol and this year we really kept LCC in mind when participating,” Huddleston said. “The light-emitting diode (LED) lighting and freezer cases at Walmart are good examples of products that have packages decreased by 18 percent. "That is the equivalent of planting 26,000 acres of trees or taking 18,000 cars off the road,” Huddleston said. To promote Earth Day
2011, posters were hung around LCC’s campus and flyers were made to encourage attendance. De’Onte Autman, a member of the Student Leadership, said he was disappointed with the lack of attendance for such an important event. Throughout the event, the audience totaled no more than 20 people. “There has to be a better way that my self and the Students for Political Involvement and Public Services can get more people involved. We will try harder next year," said Autman.
to maintain a viable culinary program would be to build a new state of the art kitchen from the ground up, something the college cannot afford at this time. Student Leader Antonio Manning closed the discussion with this statement: “The information is out there, as far as what the college is doing. The college can do a little bit better
job. I’m surprised there is not more students here at the meetings. “That is a little disappointing to me as a student leader. We are all passionate about our programs … moving forward we all need to let the process work. Time, energy and effort was put into this. “I think that these decisions are going to hurt peo-
ple; they are going to affect lives and change lives. I think we need to let the process work, keep coming to these forums and let your voice be heard,” Manning said. “It is deplorable that there aren’t students here. There is no excuse. If this is important to you, you would be here to make your voice heard.”
4 NEWS
April 25 - May 31, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout — Infallible Rhetoric —
Auf wiedersehen The Lookout staff has become like a family to me. It’s a very strange family that is lovably eccentric and forced to share a 20 x 20 foot office (roughly guesstimated). Hell, The Lookout office has practically become a second home for me, in which I shall eat, sleep and most likely die within. Anyway, the friendships I’ve formed here may be the first true friends I’ve found in years. I’ve met a few interesting people since I’ve arrived at LCC during my first few years, but I learned
they were either jealous of the fact that I pass my classes, or they turned out to be freaks. I almost considered that my decision to enroll at LCC was a mistake when I learned that criminal justice was not for me, and my academic path came screeching to a devastating halt.
In the midst of my despair, I met the The Lookout staff and came to realize had I not taken classes here, I would have missed out on some awesome friendships. So I just want to express my thanks to my friends; this year would have been disappointing and agonizingly monotonous if I didn’t have fun coworkers to see everyday. I hope I can see most of you again during the summer or next year. If you aren’t coming back next year, you better visit me! Or else.
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 turnaround? $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!
CAREGIVER NEEDED Free room and board, internet, laundry facility plus $24 per week in exchange for assistance with caregiving. Gain experience working in my home with two stroke patients. Great experience for nursing or therapy students. Call 517-202-4186 for more information. 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. WANTED Baseball cards from 1970 or before. Will pay cash for cards I need, or for large lots. Particularly in need of Topps Detroit Tigers in excellent or better condition. Call 517-483-1291. Leave a message if no one answers
IN BRIEF NEWS
The Lookout grabs awards News editor Nathan Wilson and The Lookout staff were awarded a Certificate of Appreciation and Participation March 20 by LCC’s American Marketing Association for the article supporting MI Future: Art, a Powerful Tool for Peace. The article appeared in The Lookout’s Issue 13 on March 28. The newspaper also received a Certificate of Participation and Appreciation March 13 for supporting the Artists as Peacemakers Exhibit.
MDOT hosts meeting to discuss 2012 bridge replacement The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will hold a public meeting April 28 from noon to 1 p.m. and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. MDOT has invited the general public to the Administration Building Board Room to discuss reconstructing the M-43 (Saginaw Street) bridge over the Grand River in Lansing in 2012. The project also involves changing Saginaw Street from the current five lanes to four lanes between Washington Avenue and North Cedar Street and improving Lansing’s River Trail. Construction is expected to start in spring 2012 and involves a full closure of Saginaw Street at the bridge with a detour posted.
Eco Scholars Day to be held at West Campus April 29 The second annual Eco Scholars Day will be held at LCC’s West Campus April 29 from noon to 3 p.m. Students will have an opportunity to present on topics such as the environment and sustainability. Presentations can take the form of an informative poster, interactive workshop or a formal paper. The event is open to all students and LCC faculty. If you have any questions, contact Kathleen Shell at shellk@lcc.edu or 483-9711.
LCC presents IT Fair April 27 LCC’s Computer Information Technologies Program and the Capital Area IT Council will present the LCC IT Career Fair April 27 from 2 to 6 P.M. on the Gannon Building second floor. The annual fair will feature IT employers from Lansing, institutions offering IT transfer programs and LCC Career and Employment Services. Sessions will feature topics on trends and careers in Mobile Application Development and in demand careers in Software Testing. Students can also discuss job opportunities and internships with employers.
5 FEATURES Newman Club takes on tough topics
April 25 - May 31, 2011
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Shauna Stocken Staff Writer
Newman Club organized an event instructed by members of the Catholic religion at LCC, to promote positive communication about sensitive topics. Steve Yaich is president and facilitator of the Newman Club. “I want juice in a topic like abortion or war that we (the group) can legitimately and respectfully rebuttal about.,” Yaich said Richard Freedberg serves as adviser to the Newman Club. “It’s not just a religiousbased club but a club for anyone to discuss on any topic,” Freedberg said.
Newman Club meets the first and third Tuesday of the month in A&S 165 from 5 to 6 p.m. The club will be meeting for the last time in the Spring Semester May 3. Yaich said he saw a need for people to communicate their opinions and formed Newman Club to give people an effective way to do so. “I try to run the club more like a town meeting so that everyone gets a voice,” Yaich said. Theresa Michaels, who is awaiting acceptance to the PreNursing Program at LCC for the upcoming Fall Semester, attended a meeting April 15 with a friend from out of town.
Photo by Courtney Baker
Real talk: Newman Club members discuss issues ranging from war to abortion during a meeting April 20.
“I think it’s so unique to actually have dialogue with other people. It’s hard to find that in such an original way,” Michaels said.
“We try to communicate about things that are hard to communicate about,” Yaich said. A kickoff event to introduce Newman Club was scheduled in
the Kennedy Café, but was canceled due to inclement weather. According to Yaich; the Newman Club will seek new members for Fall Semester 2011.
The finals countdown; where to study on campus Shauna Stocken Staff Writer
Spring is not the only thing in the air this month. With May quickly approaching, so are final exams at LCC. Whether or not a student is prepared, the end of the semester is only weeks away. LCC’s media room, Tutoring Center and Writing Center can help prepare students for their finals.
Media rooms are located in the TLC building. They offer students a quiet place to work alone or with a group of students. Each room has a desk and two computers. Toby Bates, a theater major who is currently enrolled in 18.5 credits at LCC, said he appreciates the atmosphere in the library. “I study alone, I get a social media room; the ones that look like a prison
room and I study for hours by myself,” Bates said. LCC also offers services that can help with any writing assignment or tutoring services for subjects that do not include writing. The Tutoring Center is located in A&S 103. Tracy Wickens, a fulltime freshman at LCC, said extra studying will help her chances of transferring to a four-year university.
“If I do well now (on exams) I’ll have a better chance of getting into Michigan State University,” Wickens said. The Writing Center is located in A&S 251, next to the Kennedy Cafe. Dave Utrata, a current LCC student and a tutor in the Writing Center for the past two years, said the Writing Center is a helpful tool. He said the center consists of tutors who are all current college students
from LCC, MSU and Central Michigan University. “I like when someone comes back and says they did well in the class; I like feeling I have helped someone succeed,” Utrata said. “But success all starts with the effort a person puts into their own work.” During spring semester the hours of operation for both the Tutoring Center and the Writing Center change. Check LCC’s website for service times.
Professor Todd Leahy, who teaches U.S. History to 1877 at LCC’s East Campus, said, “There are too many people who have questions but don’t ask. I can see it on students’ faces when they want to say something but don’t. “If you are afraid, people will think you are stupid. Ask (questions) after class. Your grade is too important not to know something.”
6 SPORTS Green shatters steeple chase mark
April 25 - May 31, 2011
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor After an impressive showing at the Spartan Invitational, the LCC track and field clubs had a lot to feel good about heading into their next two meets. “We started off the season exactly how we wanted to,” LCC Coach Chuck Block said as he prepared his runners for their next meet at Ferris State University. “We’re going to try and keep as much momentum as we can.” Momentum was not hard to find for LCC in Big Rapids, as the Stars executed arguably their best performance of the year, and in record fashion. Sophomore Ellory Green set a new school record in the 3,000-meter steeple chase at the Bulldog Invitational April 9 Green’s time of 11:22 broke the old record of 11:49 by 27
seconds and qualified her to compete in the NJCAA National Championship meet in Hutchison, Kan., in May. “This is just so exciting,” Green said after the meet. “I knew I had a good (race) time, but who knew I broke a school record?” Also qualifying for the national meet was Jennifer Snelgrove from Grand Ledge and Randi Smith from DeWitt in the 1,500 meter and Ashley Hamilton form Charlotte in the 800-meter. Block said he is confident all the runners who qualified for the National Meet will represent LCC wonderfully. The Stars next competed at the Northwood Open April 16. “Northwood is going to be tough,” sophomore runner Aaron King said at a practice before the meet. “I hear the weather is not
supposed to be great, but I’m sure we will be fine.” King was right as the men stole the show for LCC on a blustery day in northeast Michigan. Sophomore runner Kevin Barry recorded the best performance of the day for the Stars. Barry ran a time of 15:50 in the men’s 5,000-meter run, placing fifth out of 25. “This is the best I’ve felt about any run so far this year,” Barry said. “I really felt light out there, especially at the end.” Green was a standout for the Stars once again, placing first in the women’s 3,000-meter steeple chase for the second meet in a row. “Everything feels great right now,” Green said after another strong performance. “We’re all doing awesome, and I can’t see any signs of us slowing down.”
Photo courtesy of Ike Lea, RunMichigan.com
Record pace: Ellory Green makes her way through the water during the 3,000-meter steeple chase at the Northwood Invitational. Green set an LCC school record with a time of 11:22 at the Ferris State University meet.
Play ball: ‘Nuts open season Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor
Opening Day came much later for the Lansing Lugnuts than they expected. The ‘Nuts hosted the Dayton Dragons in a three-game homestand April 15 to 17 after having their first three home games versus West Michigan postponed due to unplayable field conditions at Cooley Law School Stadium. Lansing won the first game against Dayton 8-6, thanks to solid hitting and a stingy bullpen. Lugnuts Manager Mike Redmond said he is excited about what he saw out of his team on its first night in the home ballpark. “We’ve got some really special guys playing ball here,” Redmond said after game one of the series. “These guys are hungry, they want to get to the big show. You can just tell by the way they’re playing.” Redmond, a former Major League catcher is in his first year as the Lugnuts manager. He won a World Series Championship with the Florida Marlins in 2003 before signing with the Minnesota Twins in 2005. He batted .398 vs. the Detroit Tigers over his five years in Minnesota. Red-
mond said he believes t h e r e are several cur- rent Lugnut players who have Major League capability. Lansing middle infielder Oliver Dominguez is one of the names Redmond mentioned as a player to watch closely this summer. Dominguez, who was born in the Dominican Republic, was 5- for- 7 in the homestand vs. Dayton and had a career minor lrague batting average of .327 as of April 18. “Lansing seems like a great place to play baseball,” Dominguez said. “It’s a little cold for me, but the fans are really nice.” Dominguez, like many of the current Lugnut players, has spent some time in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system. The Lugnuts are a Single A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays and have been in Lansing since 1996. East Lansing resident
Jared Coyne has been a Lugnuts season ticket holder since 2001 and attended each game of the three-game series vs. Dayton. “My wife and I love coming to the games,” Coyne said. “It’s awesome to get to see some guys play here and then get to the Major Leagues.” Former Lugnuts who have graduated to the Major Leagues include Corey Patterson, Carlos Marmol, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Zambrano. Lansing outfielder Marcus Brisker has spent the last three years with various minor league teams. “I’ve learned a lot since getting drafted in 2008,” Brisker said. “I can honestly say Lansing is my favorite place to play so far.” Game two of the series vs. Dayton was rained out on April 16, so a pair of seven-inning games was played April 17. The Lugnuts won the first game 8-4 and lost the second 9-8. The Lugnuts will play a total of 61 home games this year with promotions scheduled for many of those nights. “It’s going to be a fun summer,” Redmond said. “We’ve got some good players, some great fans, and bunch of nice weather ahead of us. It’s going to be a blast.”
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April 25 - May 31, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
8 SPORTS
April 25 - May 31, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Student brings home body building awards
Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor
Photos by Michael Caterina
Swing for the fences: LCC freshman Logan Penwell takes a cut at a pitch during LCC’s doubleheader against Kellogg Community College April 14.
Two up, two down; baseball moves on Dominick Mastrangelo Sports Editor
In one of the highest scoring games that any current LCC baseball player has played in their career, the Stars defeated Kellogg Community College April 14, 23-19. All nine players in the LCC batting order hit safely at least twice in the game. Freshman infielder and leadoff man Dylan Betcher was the Star who burned the brightest for LCC, driving a career-high seven runs. “I was getting balls to hit all day,” Betcher said. “It’s really nice to get to bat around like that. I would call it emotional hitting.” The Stars entered the game with an overall record of 4-17 and a team batting average of .217. LCC next hosted Henry Ford Community College April 17 in a doubleheader at Westside Park in Lansing. Lansing won the first game 6-5 and won the second 6-2 to improve their record to 6-17. The Stars won both the games thanks to some solid pitching by freshmen pitchers Grant Householder and Eric Davis. The LCC pitching staff only allowed 10 hits in both games as LCC
Pop out: LCC sophomore Nick Kissane catches a foul ball during LCC’s doubleheader against Kellogg CC April 14.
won its first doubleheader of the year. “The win against Kellogg was really motivating,” Davis said. “It’s a lot easier to toss when your team has some momentum going.” The Stars were scheduled to play another doubleheader vs. Grand Rapids Community College at home April 26 before taking to the road to face St. Clair County Community College April 28.
Lansing Community College student Alex Martinez placed fifth overall in the 2011 ABA Illinois Open Men Body Building competition in Chicago April 9. Martinez also took home awards in the “Novice” category after competing against body builders from all over the Midwest region. Martinez competed in muscle mass, grip strength and posing competitions. Martinez said he feels this was an accomplishment of a lifetime. “When they called my name, I couldn’t stop smiling,” Martinez said. “It feels really good to see all my training finally pay off.” Martinez said he has been dieting since December of 2010 and still follows a strict workout schedule. “I work a little bit every day. It just becomes habit after a while,” Martinez said. A little bit for Martinez is an hour on the treadmill each day followed by 100 crunches and 100 sit-ups. “It gets more intense the closer I get to competition. I want to be in the best shape possible when I go to compete,” Martinez said. Jeff Buchin serves as mentor and coach
Photo by Michael Caterina
Flexin’: LCC student Alex Martinez strikes one of the poses that helped him place fifth overall at the 2011 ABA Illinois Open men Body Building competition in Chicago April 9.
to Martinez. He spoke highly of his student’s work ethic. “He’s a real warrior. He deserves every accolade he gets,” Buchin said. Buchin – a former body builder himself – teaches several weight training classes at LCC. He says he enjoys seeing LCC students succeed. “We’ve got some real hard workers in these
classes,” Buchin said. “Alex is just one example of the talent we have.” Martinez was scheduled to next compete on April 16 in Flushing, Mich., in a physique contest. “I’m a little nervous for the competition (in Flushing),” Martinez admitted. “I’ve got some really great support and training, though. I’m sure I’ll be just fine.”
9
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
April 25 - May 31, 2011
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Red Carpet rolled out for film fest Lee Rumler A&E Editor The first-ever Capital City Film Festival (CCFF) came to Downtown Lansing April 14 through 17 to showcase the art of film. Not only was this the first-ever CCFF, but it was actually the first film festival ever held in Lansing, according to LCC TV Station Manager and co-founder of the CCFF Nicole Sclefani. The four-day festival kicked off Thursday, April 14 at Troppo with a genuine Red Carpet event. The event, in Sclefani’s words, “gave the film-makers and fans a chance to mingle.” After the party, the festival moved to Dart Auditorium for its first premier. They chose Dart for opening night, Sclefani said, “Because it’s a beautiful auditorium, and it holds a lot of people. ... And it’s got an amazing projector.” Friday night moved the party to the Lansing Center, where an exhibit room was converted into a theater. Friday’s event featured the ‘Made in Michi-
Library
gan’ series. The Temple in Old Town held Saturday’s event. “We did our student showcase there during the day and at night we did a ‘Brew and View’ – like a John Hughes, ‘80s kind of night,” Sclefani said. The student showcase also acted as a competition. CCFF gave awards to the makers of the best films in various categories. “We gave away almost $7,000 in prizes and gifts,” Sclefani said. “Our student films were probably some of the best in the festival.” Sunday’s events began at the LCC 3D Theater and ended at the Washington Street Armory. “We really tried to hit up every part of Downtown Lansing, and make it a real festival,” Sclefani said. The different films covered just about every genre independent films can. “We had feature films, theme films, made in Michigan films, which were a big hit, and also global films and documentaries,” Sclefani said.
Photos by Michael Caterina
Star Struck: Okemos film director Sam Zeller, left, is interviewed outside of Troppo during the Red Carpet event for the Capital City Film Festival April 14. A special cake, above, was made for the opening event.
While centered around the films, the festival was more than just a few movies played on big screens. “It was films, music, film-maker panels – it was really
an overall celebration,” Sclefani said. And don’t forget the after-parties. Sclefani said: “Every night ended with a party or some type of musical
act, which were just as diverse as the films.” “The main reason we did this was because having this film festival is kind of like hosting an art gallery in Old Town,” Sclefani said. “We’re hoping the film festival is introducing another art form to be shown off,” she said. “And also, making films is so accessible – you can make a movie on your
phone if you wanted to and post it up and become a film-maker.” After Sclefani expressed how grateful she was for all the help from volunteers, many of whom were students, she stated that CCFF will come to Lansing again next year. “Early fall we will be opening up for submissions, so get your films ready.”
ed in the book will get a copy,” according to Meadows. The Library will also permanently store a copy on its shelves. LCC StoryCorps was another creative project sponsored as part of its celebration. “(StoryCorps) is a national oral history project,” wsaid. “There’s booths in large cities like Boston, New York, you know, places where we don’t live, and you can go in with a loved one or a friend or a member of the community and do a 40 minute interview with the person.” The Library wasn’t able to connect with the national version this year, so it held its own project, and the recorded interviews are now stored on its shelves.
Finally, the career workshop series covered the topics of resume building, career choosing, using social media professionally and upgrading job skills. “The theme of National Library Week this year was ‘Create Your own Story at Your Library,’” Meadows said. “We took that as capturing the history of our community, visually, orally or creating a new story by investing in your own career path or helping other ‘close the book’ hunger.” And as we’re finishing the last pages of the semester, it feels good to know the Library will be there for anything from community service to research help to a quiet place to study for finals.
Continued from page 16
“I played it right down to the stone because it is part of the community that I truly enjoy and love,” Nick said. And just as the community in the story came together to provide food for everyone, so did the community of Lansing. According to Nick, “We raised, I believe it was, 214 pounds of canned goods today during the event and $71 in monetary donations as well.” On top of that, the 70 gallons left over from the event were donated to the Volunteers of America, which is a pretty hefty contribution. In fact, Nick said, “The VoA stated today that with what we dropped off it would feed close to 500 people over the next two days.” Aggie Mae’s Bakery, founded by LCC culinary program graduate Neva Austin, provided the event’s bread, cookies and deserts. However, The Stone Soup benefit was only one chapter of the LCC Library’s National Library Week celebration. Events also featured during the week were
Photo by Michael Caterina
Ladleing it up: LCC culinary professor Chef Nick prepares a bowl of chicken noodle soup during the stone soup event April 15.
Lansing Lives Through the Lens, LCC StoryCorps and a career workshop series. According to Meadows, Lansing Lives Through the Lens was a collaborative, community-driven photography project and contest. Originally, the contest was supposed to conclude during the week, but “We queried the participants, and they want us to extend the deadline, so we will be extending the deadline to May 6 for
anyone who wants to participate,” Meadows said. Any and all photographers can submit their photos to the Lansing Lives by the Lens Flickr
group at http://www. f l i c k r. c o m / g ro u p s / l a n sing-through-the-lens/. The top 40 photos will be compiled into a book, and “Everybody who is represent-
10 A&E
April 25 - May 31, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Spend some time ‘Under the Stars’ this summer Lee Rumler A&E Editor Although the normal schooling semesters are coming with a close, the LCC Performing Arts Department still runs strong over the summer semester. LCC’s annual “Under the Stars” Summer Festival is coming back running from June 15 through July 28. According to Melissa Kaplan, production coordinator for the Performing Arts Department, “Our Summer Stage Under the Stars Festival is a free festival of performing arts’ music theatre and dance.” “We call it Under the Stars because it is typically performed in our outdoor amphitheatre on campus, which is absolutely beautiful,” Kaplan explained. “However, this year, we’ll have to create the stars inside because it’s going to be
in Dart Auditorium due to the Board of Water and Light work that’s happening on Washington Mall.” The Summer Stage will kick off with the musical play The Ballade of Robyn Hood, a brand new play written by John Davis and directed by John Lennox. “Our John has been in touch with John Davis, (who) is writing this new play, and it’s a version with music,” Kaplan said. “It is the traditional story of Robin Hood who steals from the rich to give to the poor, but it has a troubadour who plays a lute or a mandolin and leads in and out of the scenes.” Featuring a large musical ensemble, performances will begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, June 15 through 18 and Sunday, June 19 at 2 p.m. The next performance will be Keep on the Sunny
Side: The Songs and Story of the Original Carter Family, written by Douglas Pote and directed by Andy Callis. The musical will run Wednesday through Saturday, June 29 through July 2, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, July 3, at 2 p.m. “(Keep on the Sunny Side) is along the lines of the musicals we’ve done the past two summers ... in which the actors are musicians,” Kaplan said. “It’s got a lot of wonderful music that people will recognize when they hear it.” Thirdly, the second semester studio class, directed by Deborah Keller, is set to perform Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman Wednesday through Saturday, July 20 through 23 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, July 24 at 2 p.m. According to Kaplan, Connie Curran-Oesterle See Summer, page 11
Atlas lagged behind Kaitlin Lutz Associate Editor
advice from his friends down in Washington, who are only concerned about their own political agendas. The film adaptation of Ayn Rand’s 1957 Dagney finds a company run by Hank novel Atlas Shrugged hit select theaters Rearden, played by Grant Bowler, who has April 15. developed a new metal alloy to rebuild her Many of Rand’s devout readers and fans family’s railway. This leads to trouble with who pushed to have Atlas Shrugged shown the National Science Department deeming in their city might have it as unsafe. been let down by this As the story unfolds, low-budget film. “Who is John Galt?” is Atlas Shrugged is the a question that looms first of a three part seover the entire movie, ries, which is an effort as prominent businessto fit all of the contents men suddenly disapof the book into an onpear. screen film. The entire movie I had heard many lagged on and on people talk about exwithout much inpecting this to be a trigue and what great film based off seemed like words their love for the book. read from a script. That, however, is alAnd right as the movPhoto courtesy of imdb.com ie began to pick up most never the case. I have rarely seen a and seem to become movie adaptation of a novel that is just as interesting it came to a halt. great as, or better than the novel. I have to say if I had read the book beThe story is set in the year 2015. The fore seeing this movie, I might have apprice of oil has continued to rise and war preciated it more or possibly understood it in the Middle East has gotten worse. better, but that shouldn’t be necessary. Dagney Taggart, played by Taylor SchilDespite the fact that I was a little disapling, is a strong businesswoman trying to pointed in this film adaptation, I will probsave her family business, Taggart Trans- ably watch the series as they come out to continental, after a terrible railway acci- see how the story ends. And possibly read dent. the book somewhere in there, because I Her brother, James Taggart, played by would definitely recommend reading AtMatthew Marsden, is not very apt to take las Shrugged in order to better understand charge of the situation; instead, he seeks the movie adaptation.
Screaming a new tune Lee Rumler A&E Editor Because my boss (Sarah Sanders) wouldn’t let me review Avril Lavigne’s Goodbye Lullaby, which is awesome, by the way, I decided to look at one of my childhood favorite’s latest releases. Sum 41 was actually the first punk band I listened to, and All Killer, No Filler is and will probably remain one of my favorite albums of all time. Like most fans, I was originally a little put off by Underclass Hero – because it was different, and different is bad – but after a few weeks of listening, I grew to love it. This is the same experience I’m having with Screaming Bloody Murder. Hopefully. I haven’t finished making up my mind, but it’s heading in that direction. Upon the day of the CD’s release, I ran to Best Buy, threw it in my car, and immediately decided
the vocals were too quiet. Being a singer myself, I recognized my opinion was biased, but the shift of emphasis from vocals breaking out of power chords and punk blasts to a fuller, more symphonic, harmonious melody emphasized Sum 41’s musical growth – in my opinion. This can be a little alienating, though, for people who decipher music’s meaning primarily through lyrics rather than a fully-encompassing musical breakdown, which is pretty much every nonmusician in America. But, after a couple of listens and a couple of references to the lyrics, I delved into the album and got really depressed. Seriously, the final song begins with “There’s nothing left to say / ‘Cause you don’t want to try / And I don’t want the pain.” Please, Deryck Whibley, could you get any more depressing? Songs like “Blood in my Eyes,” “Screaming Bloody
Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org
Murder” and “Crash” all leave a depressed, angry weight in listeners’ hearts as they explore the futility of social and personal struggles. Personally, I would have liked to see each song’s ideas fleshed out a bit more – possibly in longer songs or in separate songs dealing with the same issues; however, this isn’t a concept album, so I won’t hold that against it. All in all, Screaming Bloody Murder is a solid release. I’m a little upset with other reviewers’ reception (It’s generally been pretty low), but I suppose not everybody is into the more musical side of music.
11 A&E
April 25 - May 31, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout —Shouting a Nuance—
A cynic smiles I guess at one point I wanted to change the world. But after a while I think I figured out that wasn’t what I really wanted. The revelation was a little heart-breaking. I can’t imagine what I would have done if I hadn’t realized it until I’d already wasted half my life away. I think it was better in the end. Really, I just want everyone to be happy. I don’t care how it happens. I don’t care if I’m involved in it. But once everyone’s happy, I’ll be content. See, the problem is I don’t think people know how to be happy. It’s like cold sores. Everyone has the disease and no one’s figured out how to cure it. But I can tell you the cure isn’t an injection of liquefied capital into the bloodstream. Nor is it an excess of material goods piled on your property. Billion dollar paychecks aren’t tickets to the good life. And fast cars and big houses don’t force people
to feel. I remember the greatest times and experiences in my life, and when I take all of them into consideration, truly the only similarities I can find are experience and expression. Whether it be an event, opinion, knowledge or emotion, I live to experience and express. A search for truth? Maybe. But something more fundamental. Something deeper, at the core of my humanity craves not to consume and destroy but to observe, create and recreate; and if this craving serves a purpose, even the purpose itself subserves my condition. I define my life with the
time I kill, because the only time I’m profoundly and obviously free to live, unconstrained by obligations, is when I kill time. I used to watch TV or play games, solitary fun. But as I grew, I displaced the value from items and actions to friendship, family and solitude. Each is wondrous. Each is finite. I’ve been lonely. I’ve been depressed. I’ve been two steps away from suicide on three occasions – only stopped by luck or chance. But I’ve also been in love. I’ve been wondrously happy, beyond linguistic expression. And I’ve fallen asleep with a smile on my face every night for half a year. I think I’m coming to the point past cynicism – not a point of barely surviving but a point of barely understanding, barely living, grasping at the fringes of truth and hope revolutionaries hold but never feel. I met my favorite ex again yesterday, and she asked me how I was doing. I shouted a nuance.
Campus Events Lanswingers Vocal Jazz/Pop Ensemble Concert Thursday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m. in Dart Auditorium Free
Experimentainment Concert Tuesday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. Location TBA Free
Improv! Show
Community Dance Project Auditions
Wednesday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. MICA Gallery, 1210 N. Turner St. Free
Friday, April 29, at 6 p.m. in Dart Auditorium - $35 for project participation or Saturday, April 30, at 10 a.m. Happendance Studios - $35 for project participation
Percussion Ensemble and LCC Concert Choir Concert
Lansing Concert Band’s First Young Artist Competition Concert Saturday, April 30, at 8 p.m. in Dart Auditorium Free
LCC Guitar Ensemble Concert Sunday, May 1, at 3 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre, GB 168 Free
War at Home Friday, May 13, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 14, at 2 and 4:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre, GB 168 Free
Friday, May 6, at 8 p.m. Dart Auditorium Free
Contemporary Realism Studio Theatre Performance Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7, at 8 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre, GB 168 Free
LCC Jazz Ensemble Concert Saturday, May 7, at 8 p.m. at Dart Auditorium Free
One-Act Play Festival Monday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Black Box Theatre, GB 168 Free
For updates, check out http://lcc.edu/cma/events/.
Spring Fling: a fun break from finals Larry Hook Adviser Need a fun break from studying for finals? The Student Life Office at LCC will host the 11th annual Spring Fling Wednesday, May 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second floor of the Gannon Building. “It’s an event to promote the end of the academic year,” Student Life Office Manager Renee VanDeventer said. “Students will have a lot of fun, and we give away a lot of free gifts to encourage students to participate.”
Those who attend will have the opportunity to participate in a whirlwind “dumpster diving” contest to promote recycling. The dumpster dive is sponsored by the LCC Sustainability Committee. Members of many LCC registered student organizations will offer information, recruit new members and raise funds at tables located in the Gannon Building. Campus Dining personnel will be on hand selling hot dogs, potato chips and beverages. For more information on the event, contact Student Life at 517-4831285.
Dumpster dive: The 2011 Spring Fling will feature the third annual “dumpster dive” to promote recycling.
cert that will be on Friday, July 8, and that is going to be featuring out LCC Faculty Jazz Quartet,” Kaplan said. This concert will be the only performance outside of Dart. Kaplan said they were hoping to perform in the Mica Gallery in Old Town, but they have yet to formally reserve the location. Finally, the festival will close with the sixth
annual collaborative dance concert, the C/d Project. A joint effort between LCC and Happendance. The dancers will perform Wednesday and Thursday, July 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m., again, in Dart Auditorium. “This features original choreography by a variety of choreographers all performed by a dance company,” Kaplan said.
Photo by Larry Hook
Summer Continued from page 10
and Roberta Otten are also involved in teaching the class. The play itself was inspired by the Roman Poet Ovid’s Metamorphoses and is usually staged as a series of vignettes, short impressionistic scenes, and focuses less on traditional storytelling. “In addition to those three major productions, we also have a jazz con-
“It gives the community an opportunity to hear a little bit from the choreographers about what inspired that choreographer to create the dance.” All events will be free, but the times, dates and locations are subject to change. For more info, check out http://www.lcc.edu/ cma/events/SummerStage.aspx.
This week’s puzzle is sponsored by:
12 DISTRACTIONS
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SUDOKU 3
April 25 - May 31, 2011
James Tennant Jr. An Ordinary Life
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13 OPINION
April 25 - May 31, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
—Everyone should read George Orwell—
The news: tune in, not out Embarking my snapshot journalism career this year has been a struggle, mostly because I never watched the news. I, like many of my fellow American friends, have found that our news stations can be depressing and even scary. For the longest time I let this get in the way of my becoming an informed citizen of this country and a voter who knew what she was really voting for. Amongst various circles of companionship I have posed questions aimed at discovering why so many people I know refuse to watch the news and instead fill their minds with the nonsense that is reality TV. Unanimously they have all told me, watching the news is depressing.
I fear for them, for to be uninformed is supremely more infantile than even the basis of why they choose to not participate in national discussion. I can understand your downheartedness when it comes to our 24-hour news cycles. I can better understand rational reasons such as American news is thwarted with propaganda—thank you, capitalism. However, to not watch the news because you find its subjects boring or worse, depressing, is extreme-
ly malproductive. This year will pass regardless of where you are left at the end of it. The news will continue with or without you but this country, being founded with democratic principles, needs its people to keep its voice in tune with the voice of the 300 million people that live within it. This country needs its media to give voice to those people and challenge its administration, holding them accountable for the actions taken which impact us, even those too depressed to know what’s happening. One can understand the viewpoint that what happens on the news has little to no effect on our daily lives. I would challenge you all to participate, subsequently making this ideology false.
— Fully flippin’ it —
Lookout lessons learned I can’t believe it’s been an entire school year since I wrote my first column for issue one of volume 52 of The Lookout. Looking back on my second year as an employee here, I can say I have learned a lot. Designing half the pages in the paper is not the easiest task, but with the help of a great staff providing premium content, it got done — and done well, I think. I couldn’t count the number of hours I sat at my desk designing the front page of the past 15 issues of the The Lookout, but every one was worth it, I can tell you that. Getting recognition for it felt great, too. Winning first place in the “front-page design” category in the Michigan Community College Press Association competition this year was a great accomplishment for me and I couldn’t be happier. That means The Lookout has the best looking front page of any community col-
lege newspaper in Michigan. Fa-Lip. But even without an award I still loved every minute of it. I grew as a writer this year as well. I never dreamed of writing anything that anyone else would read. But about 10 columns and a few news/ feature stories later, I think I am fumbling my way through it alright. Talk about a newsworthy year, too! So many things happened this year; from water mains breaking right in front of campus, a coaching legend being fired and programs being cut. I am glad I could be here to help bring all the news we could to you this year. I want to extend a
thank you to you, our readers. Thank you for picking up our paper and flipping through it while you’re waiting for class to start. And thank you for looking at our online editions thousands of times this year. Thank you for answering my questions while I stood in the Gannon Building hall with my camera asking everyone that walked by for our student perspectives. I got some great answers from y’all and had fun learning how you felt about each issue. Also I want to thank everyone who I worked with this year in The Lookout office. Larry, Kaitlin, Sarah, Dominick, Zach, Shauna, Nathan, Lee and my office partner, Kelly. It’s been a great year and I’m glad I got to spend it working and getting to know all of you. You guys made this year fully-flipped out. Thanks for the great year, LCC. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
— The Collected Klutz—
Ta-ta for now, LCC The time has come for our last issue of the school year and inevitably so. I guess this is farewell, at least for now. In anticipation and preparation for writing this farewell column, I took the liberty of researching some famous farewell speeches. In most of these speeches appropriate thanks were given. So I would like to start by thanking any student, faculty member, or passerby who happened to read my humble column. And thanks to all those I have worked with these last two semesters. Sure there were times when we didn’t agree or times when we needed to step outside of the office to get some air, but we always managed to put aside our differences and get the paper done and out to our readers. What comes next in a farewell speech is a walk
down memory lane. This is where the speaker proceeds to reminisce about the fond memories they have had over a certain period of time. Deadline Fridays after we finish the paper are probably what I remember the most because everyone is working to get the paper done. When Larry, our adviser, puts the last page on the board, a flood of relief and accomplishment just rushes through me. To end the speech come some final thoughts and words of wisdom. I have learned a lot about the people I work
with this past year. How they react under pressure, and then how they respond when Larry tells them they did a good job. It’s hard not to sound cliché when I am writing a column that is cliché in and of itself being a farewell for the semester. So I am just going to lay it on thick, go all out, and jump in the deep end here. The question, “Would you go back and change anything?” is something people always seem to ask about most situations in life. And so I asked myself the same question. I mean, yeah, I get upset when I make little and sometimes big mistakes, but it’s all a learning process. And that is what working at The Lookout has been for me. So the answer would be no. Always remember, “Failure is a blessing in disguise,” Relient K.
14 Opinion
April 25 - May 31, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout In our own words | Staff Editorial
Letters to the Editor
Students voice opinions on evolution In response to Evolution: ‘Still Science’ on page 14 of Issue 13 Dear Nathan and Sarah, I was rather disappointed with the response I saw in The Lookout regarding the story about the evolution controversy. The biggest misconception I see is that evolution explains how life was created. Evolution does not describe how life came to be. There are competing theories because the genesis of life is much more difficult to figure out than the “origin of species.” The theory of evolution explains why there are so many different species and is a foundation on which modern biology stands because there is so much evidence supporting it. In other words, Creationism does not explain how life functions, just where it came from; evolution does not explain where it came from, but explains how it functions. My favorite oversimplification of the difference between science and creationism is this: A scientist will say “Here are the facts, what conclusions can we draw from them?” whereas a creationist will say “Here is the conclusion, what facts can we find to support it?” Obviously, books have been written on this topic, which quite frankly is one of the dumbest controversies in our society. This is 2011 and we’re still arguing over ancient mythology like this? We may as well be arguing over the validity of atomic theory vs. magic. Have you ever seen an atom? Nicolas Soria, LCC Student Dear Sarah, I empathize with your efforts to defend science. One of my favorite quotes on the evolution debate goes as follows “Geology shows that fossils are of different ages. Paleontology shows a fossil sequence, the list of species representing changes through time. Taxonomy shows biological relationships among species and evolution is the explanation that threads it all together.” I think one of the best evidences of Evolution is regularly ignored: “ERVs (Endogenous Retroviruses) are random viral insertions into the DNA which are inherited, so how is it that species can share these? Either this shows a common ancestor or it shows a deceptive Creator.” If one truly wanted to dismantle evolution, the method is simple. Find a Squirrel fossil in Cambrian rock. Indeed, find any modern mammal in Cambrian rock, evolution could never explain this. Yet It has never been done. Instead we find a specific fossil sequence in which species periodically appear and then abruptly disappear. If all modern animals were created in the same moment as all extinct animals, we would not find their remains in the sequence that we do. To insist otherwise is denial.
Hook, line and thinker We at The Lookout would like to think that we have accomplished quite a bit these last two semesters serving you … the community of LCC. It has, however, become apparent to us that we were only able to do so (and remarkably well we might add) because of some valuable and downright heartwarming guidance. Enter our adviser: Lawrence O. Hook. He is the man with a plan, the keeper of the budget and the always looming presence of great journalism here at The Lookout. A former LCC student himself, Hook has been the adviser of the newspaper for the last seven years. Professionally speaking, we have never met a more solid and reliable individual. Personally speaking, we can say the same. There truly is no correct place to begin. A father of three, an avid sports fan and a man of high self-respect, Hook is an example to us all. While we may not all want to be journalists when we grow up, we all want to be good people. Hook can teach us about both of those things.
We’ll be honest; he can be one tough cookie. The AP stylebook (the universal book of media law) was first introduced to us by this man; he likes to remind us of its contents … on occasion. He is an excellent copy editor — nothing gets passed him, trust us. He has provided us with opportunities to travel all over the state and learn about what it is to be a good journalist and a professional citizen. While politics might not be his cup of tea, don’t you dare say anything negative about his Detroit Tigers, or you’ll be handing in applications at McDonald’s. He communicates with all of us wonderfully, his office door is always open and we are confident we can always go to him for anything. He is the glue that holds this family together, and while we may not “need” him to produce our publication, we know for a fact the experience of working at the school newspaper would not be the same without him. He has a special place in all of our hearts and, whether we like to or not, always will. Thanks for everything Lar-Bear. It’s been awesome.
Jamie Wonnacott, LCC student The Lookout is the independent, biweekly student newspaper of LCC. 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
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 25 - May 31, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
16 LAST LOOK Library’s stone soup sale feeds hungry
April 25 - May 31, 2011
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Lee Rumler A&E Editor In celebration of National Library Week, students, faculty and community members came to the LCC Library April 15 for a Stone Soup Fundraiser. The purpose was to raise funds and donate
canned goods for the Greater Lansing Food Bank and enjoy a nice, hearty bowl of stone soup. Yes, that’s soup. With stones in it. “It’s from the old children’s tale, the story of Stone Soup,” LCC Culinary Arts Professor Chef Nick explained. “There’s one stone in each of the
pots of soup.” Library Communications Manager Victoria Meadows said the event has become an LCC tradition. “We’ve been partnering with (Chef Nick) for like 10 years on other projects, and he actually started this initiative in the community,” “It’s a great way to raise awareness of hunger
and collect donations and feed people all at once.” The stones themselves came from Lake Michigan, according to Chef Nick, and the community connection those stones have is an integral piece of the story for the fundraising benefit. See Library, page 9
Rockin’ soup: The stone in the soup comes from a book by Marcia Brown, called Stone Soup.
Serving smiles: Chef Nick, right, hands Natalie Wissner a cup of chicken noodle soup during the Stone Soup Fundraiser April 15.
Feeding a crowd: Chef Nick and LCC culinary students prepared 120 gallons of soup to serve to guests in exchange for a non-perishable food donation or cash donation for the Stone Soup Fundraiser April 15. Aggie Mae’s Bakery donated many different kinds of bread for guests to enjoy with their soup. The fundraiser was part of LCC’s participation in National Library Week. The proceeds benefited the Greater Lansing Food Bank and extra soup was donated to the Volunteers of America. Satisfying soup: Aurora, 2, reaches for a spoonful of soup while John Jester feeds Lavinia, 1, during the Stone Soup Fundraiser.
Photos by Michael Caterina Contributing: Shaleka Bryant unloads a cartful of donations from LCC’s Student Services to the Stone Soup Fundraiser April 15.