Architecture project helps
food bank
PAGE 4
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010 Volume 52, Issue 3 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Volleyball on the
attack
PAGE 7
America gets ugly on Comedy Central
PAGE 10
thelookout Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959
Water main breaks; fixed in 12 hours
Emergency officials respond quickly to campus incident Dominick Mastrangelo News Editor It took LCC Emergency Management and Safety Services personnel less than 12 hours to fix a water main break that caused major flooding on Wednesday, Sept. 28. The break happened at approximately 7 p.m., according to LCC Det. Sgt. Rodney D. Bahl. “As soon as water was seen, we were there,” Bahl said. The far left lane heading south on Capitol Avenue was blocked with an LCC police patrol car
until Board of Water and Light workers arrived on the scene at approximately 8 p.m. Water was shut off to various buildings both on and off the LCC campus following the break, according to Paul Pirrotta, director for Emergency Management and Safety Services at LCC. “We had to turn off the water to Dart Auditorium, the older houses on Capitol Avenue and the Administration Building,” Pirrotta said. Traffic was directed
Photo by Michael Caterina
See Break, page 4
Main fixed: Board of Water and Light employees arrive shortly after a water main broke in the early evening of Sept. 28 on Capitol Avenue. Shown here, the pavement can be seen pushed upward about eight inches by the broken main.
Hope offered to unemployed Nathan Wilson Staff Writer As unemployment rates continue to fluctuate and the remainder of the country creeps along in this tumultuous economy, it is no surprise that many young adults are experiencing difficulty finding a job. Fortunately, LCC offered hope to students through the Get a Skill, Get a Job program, which was launched May 17, 2010. The first inception
LCC students win big Shauna Stocken Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Ellen Jones
Got a skill: LCC Vice President Lisa Webb Sharpe (right) shakes CNC machinist graduate Jasper Priest’s hand as he receives his certificate from the Get a Skill, Get a Job program.
of Get a Skill, Get a Job explored two fields: pharmacy technician associate and computer
numerical machinist training (CNC). See Get a Skill, page 2
Anyone who has ever spent time in Mackinac Island might have found themselves stopping to marvel at the 100-yearold homes scattered throughout the island. However, as historic homes remain, new homes are still being constructed due to the BuildUP! Building a Brighter Michigan Competition. There is still time to become part of multiple
construction projects. Students can become part of constructing the MacZero house on Mackinac Island, greening the University of Michigan (U of M) Biological Station Pellston or helping design the energy efficient community for Lansing Community College’s (LCC) West Campus. The building project, launched Nov. 1, 2009, was a competition between Oakland Community College, LCC, U-M and Central Michigan University (CMU). The competition
was a search for the most creative, attractive, effective and energy efficient house design. Full design submissions were due April 4, 2010. LCC won the best blueprint for a Victorian home design on May 7, 2010. “I hoped we would win. We had a larger team but still just barely won,” said Douglas Clements, an alternative energy graduate and teammate of the winning See Contest, page 2
2 NEWS
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Contest Continued from page 1
LCC team. “When houses produce so much energy, we are not doing stuff right. It’s unnecessary— we could be saving so much energy. We need to change what we are doing. I know construction, I know what to do. We need change and there are options,” said Clements. The MacZero house is expected to start building in August or Septem-
ber of next year, according to Clements. It will be constructed free of cost by a building company called Meadowlark Builders in Ann Arbor. “Mary Lemmer, the host of the competition, is very motivated. I think she would like it to (become an annual project), but we need to take time off to build the projects,” Clements said. Clements said the best part of this competition
has been meeting new people who have helped him get involved in other eco projects. Classes of current and upcoming students will be building the carbonfree greenery and the Lansing-energy efficient community. The community of homes will first be used for tours. However Clements’ future goal is that people will eventually live in them.
Alternative design: MacZero Team members Paige Spagnuolo (left) and Douglas Clements display some of the alternative energy producers that helped them create a completely self-sustaining home design.
sociated with the field of study. In addition to linking education with training, the program was also intended to help people who lost their jobs or could not afford the time or money to acquire an associate’s degree. “There are categories of jobs where you can get trained in a short, intense period of time and get the skills you need to start working really soon,” Jones explained.
“We know there are a lot of people out there who need help now.” Jones said Get a Skill, Get a Job is the first of its kind in the U.S. to link training with education and guarantee graduates a job or reimbursement. Currently, the creators of the pilot program are reviewing what they learned and are developing the second version of Get a Skill, Get a Job. The programs for the second version have yet
to be determined, but when information is available, the LCC website will announce it. Jones said she is not certain that they will offer the CNC and Pharmacy Tech again because they depend on the needs of employers. “In order to get people jobs, we learn from employers what they’re looking for,” she said. This program is not part of the college schedule so it will not neces-
Photo courtesy of Kevin Fowler
Get a skill Continued from page 1
The program lasted six weeks, during which time students underwent intense training and education. Ellen Jones, director of public affairs, helped develop the Get a Skill, Get a Job program and she communicated information related to it. She explained it is a competitive process because participants undergo assessment training and interviewing by a panel of employers as-
sarily occur every semester. Jones said she believes more people will be interested in the second version of Get a Skill, Get a Job but it will remain a very competitive process. She added they will only be accepting applicants for a certain period of time. According to Jones, nearly half of the 24 graduates have successfully found a job with the help of Get a Skill,
Get a Job. If a graduate successfully completes training and fails to acquire a job within 12 months, LCC will reimburse him or her. Jones concluded, “It would be great if this could be replicated in other places by other schools. We’re hoping that we can make a difference.” For more information about the Get a Skill, Get a Job program, please visit http://www.lcc.edu/getaskill.
3 NEWS
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Car show revs up West Campus Michael Caterina Photo Editor
LCC’s West Campus was full of horsepower Sept. 25 as 113 contestants entered their cars, trucks and motorcycles into the fourth annual LCC car show. The show is put on every year by LCC’s Automotive Program as a benefit for automotive students. “All of the proceeds from (the show) go toward a scholarship for automotive students,” said lead automotive faculty member Marvin Argersinger. The show is open to anyone who wants to partake. “We have lots of peo-
ple from the general public that participate that want to make sure that they give to our scholarships to hopefully help some students out,” Argersinger said. The show has over 25 different categories for people to enter their vehicles. “(Categories range from) stock cars, where they look just like they came from the factory, to modified cars where they can put some different parts or engines in them,” Argersinger said. The categories are split up into different production years for the cars and trucks, including 1900-1949, 1950-1965,
1966-1980, 1981-1995 and 1995 to present. Winners at LCC’s car show receive a customized award that is not easy to attain. “We just give first and second place — that’s all we give,” Argersinger said. “They receive a plaque with the artwork from that particular year.” The vehicle portrayed on the car show plaque and T-shirt is none other than a car from the previous show. “The best in show winner gets on the plaques and T-shirts for next year,” Argersinger said. This year’s best in show winner was Jeff
Miller with a blue 1928 Ford Coupe. Miller’s experience with cars goes back many years. “I went through the program here at LCC back 20 years ago,” Miller said. “I did the whole auto body repair program.” Miller put over 10 years of work into his car, restoring and redoing almost every part on the vehicle. Miller has been showing his 1928 Ford Coupe since 2008. Those interested in entering or seeing next year’s show should put Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011 on their calendars for LCC’s Automotive Program’s Fifth Annual Car Show at West Campus.
Diverse display: Guests to LCC’s fourth annual car show were greeted with 113 vehicles, including cars, trucks and motorcycles on display Sept. 25 at West Campus.
Top honor: Best in show winner Jeff Miller shows off his first-place plaque with his blue 1928 Ford Coupe. For winning, Miller’s car will be featured on the plaques and Tshirts of next year’s show.
Photostory by Michael Caterina Mean muscle: Car show participants Mike McGuire (from left), Ray Mance and Dave Milstein talk about what is under the hood during LCC’s fourth annual car show.
Showing off: Car show guests walk past over 100 vehicles with hoods open and windows down, showing off all of the hard work that went into the vehicles.
Show Stopper: LCC car show participant Dave Pfaff checks out Mike and Ginny Nobach’s hot rod entry.
Quick pic: Car show guests Dave Paszkowski (left) and Mike Derusha stop for a picture by one of this year’s entries.
4 NEWS
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010
IN BRIEF Fenner Nature Center to host 2010 Apple Butter Festival The Fenner Nature Center will host its 2010 Apple Butter Festival on Oct. 16 and 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will be held at the Fenner Nature Center in Lansing. The event promises to be family friendly with animals from the Potter Park Zoo, local musicians and local Boy Scouts all in attendance. This festival has been a tradition in Lansing for the last 37 years.
Potter Park Zoo to charge reduced rates Potter Park Zoo held a free day for residents of Ingham County and the City of Lansing on Saturday, Oct. 2. On this day both parking and admission into the zoo was free for county residents. The Zoo also holds “Reduced Rate Day,” where the admission fee is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and $1 for children every Monday.
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Charity and art collide
Robert Sweetgall to spend time at LCC Robert Sweetgall joined LCC to kick of the 2010 Employee Wellness Activity Challenge on Thursday, Sept. 30. Sweetgall walked, met and shared stories with healthy living and wellness enthusiasts starting at 7:30 a.m. Participants in the various programs throughout the day learned about Nordic walking, tips on improving nutrition and healthy ways of reducing stress.
LCC Science Department at Eastwood Towne Center The LCC Science Department presented Café Scientifique on Tuesday, Sept. 21, at the Eastwood Towne Center in Lansing. Mike Wegan, a Wildlife Research Technician with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment presented his experiences working on the Enbridge Oil Spill in Marshall. Wegan led a discussion about the impact of the oil spill both on the people and the Kalamazoo River ecosystem.
LCC to name new Student Section The Alumni Association is now taking votes for the name of the NEW student section. To cast your vote visit the website at www.lcc.edu/alumni.
Photo courtesy of Canstruction
Canstruction: 2010 structural ingenuity winner “Two-Point CANversion” was designed by Fluor Canada Ltd. in Las Vegas. LCC’s architecture program will build a structure out of cans on Oct. 30 at the Meridian Mall in Okemos.
Dominick Mastrangelo News Editor Andy Warhol would be so proud. On the LCC campus, artists will be taking a theme he used in one of his most famous pieces and making something completely different. In 1962, Warhol introduced the world to Campbell’s Soup Cans, a silkscreen painting showing every kind of soup made. The piece shocked the stuffy art world, and brought in pop art by featuring a common, everyday product someone would find around the house. The goal of the LCC Architecture Club is to get people to donate some of those common, every-day
products to a very good cause and help make a beautiful decoration at the same time. “It’s essentially a food drive,” said Steve Romaema, president of the club. The idea came from an organization called Canstruction. According to Canstruction’s website, since 1992, Canstruction has contributed more than 15 million tons of food to community food banks, all in the spirit of creating something extraordinary out of things that are pretty ordinary. In an attempt to make it even more fun, they throw in a little healthy competition. “We compete against area architectural firms,” Romaema said, “and then give the cans (that
were donated) to the local food bank.” Romaema added that raising hunger awareness is really important, and that by making art at the same time, it benefits everybody. That’s where the LCC community comes in. Bring full, unopened cans of food to the Student Life Office in the Gannon Building or to West Campus in Room M103. “The cans have to be unopened,” said program coordinator Mitch Haney. “It would just get too messy if they weren’t,” he joked. So just what will the LCC Architecture Club be making on Oct. 30 out of all those cans? “We can’t say,” Haney said. “But it’s going to be an awesome surprise.”
Photo by Michael Caterina
Big Splash: Students watch as cars drive through the water that pooled at the intersection of Shiawassee Street and Washington Square after a water break on Capitol Avenue Sept. 26.
Water main Continued from page 1
west on Genesee Street while EMSS employees worked to repair the 12foot section of pipe that ruptured, causing the flood. “Pipes in that area take a lot of friction from heavy traffic,” Pirrotta said. “After about 30 or 40 years these pipes can get pretty fragile.” The pressure finally was enough, and LCC had a lot
of water on its hands, to say the least. “People should expect to get their feet wet walking to their car,” said Board of Water and Light employee Remeco Sanders, who responded to the scene almost immediately. Water was restored to LCC and the surrounding areas slowly to prevent further damage. “If we were to just let it go, the excessive water
pressure would blow the sinks right off the wall,” Pirrotta said. There were no reported injuries or major damage from the flooding, according to LCC Police and Public Safety officials. There, were however, some inconveniences. “I am confident that LCC will always keep the campus safe and secure,” said LCC student Robert Duvek.
5 SPORTS
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
6SPORTS
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Bowling club looks to gain momentum Erik Stiem Staff Writer
The LCC Bowling Club is relatively new. With only two years of history at its back, the club is looking to pick up some steam as it heads into the 2010-11 school year. There is more interest this year than ever before, which should lead to prosperity for the bowling club. Led by several experienced coaches, club officials ex-
pect at least 20 bowlers this semester. While there are no cuts from the team, LCC bowling is definitely geared to the serious bowler, those who use the professional sports shot and on average score 180 among men and 160 among women. The club will start in the beginning of October. Practices are held at the 60-lane Royal Scot center, west of Lansing. Bowling club typically
practices once a week, with competitions scattered throughout the season. Competition ranges from Michigan State to other colleges in the area. With many other schools’
bowling programs on the rise, the number of competitions and the quality of the bowling will be greater than in years past.
Photo courtesy of layouthbowling.com
A small one-time fee of $20 is required to join. This initiation fee, however, covers everything for the duration of the bowling season, including transportation and game costs. The club has attracted many members from a wide range of cities in Michigan. According to club adviser Francis Jacobs, if “(LCC) makes this a varsity sport …. they’ll be drawing kids in left and right.” This
would bring revenue to the local economy as well. If given varsity status, LCC bowling would have the opportunity of hosting the National Junior College Championships, an honor for any team; especially one looking to make itself known. For more details, or questions about the bowling club, contact adviser Francis Jacobs at 4831638.
Mr. Fantasy Football Manager Guy, I’ll trade you ... I’ll trade you Arian Foster for Adrian Peterson. Brees for Best? Brett Favre for Packers’ defense? Something is taking over our reason for watching television on Sundays. Have you seen the Sprint commercial where the guy is laying on a table in a doctor’s office with his knee wrapped? The man, clearly a football player, asks, “What does that mean?” The doctor, with his cell phone in his hand says, “It means I’m dropping
you from my fantasy team, that’s for sure.” Or the “Real Men of Genius” Bud Light commercial, Mr. Fantasy Football Manager Guy, he says, “You were born
with the one skill every manager needs to play fantasy football, absolutely no skill playing real football.” Or perhaps you’ve seen or heard of the sitcom “The League” on FX, crafted entirely around a bunch of ridiculous grown men playing, what else, fantasy football. If you haven’t seen it, give it an episode. You too will be hooked. Capitalizing almost as much as the sport itself, fantasy football is in the media, on our comput-
ers, on our cell phones. Do you have a few minutes? Go to the library right now. Yes, right now. Now be a voyeur and look at the computer monitors. Odds are, at least four of them are displaying their most productive use; setting this week’s lineup. Some people think, “I’ll play and it won’t completely consume me.” Ha. Sunday football, that once mindless day of Doritos and high-fives, is now full of anxiety and
computer referencing. Although, now it is possible to input a fantasy roster directly into the cable box so every time one of your players sees any action, a little window displays it. Very cool. Fantasy football will compromise your allegiance. I always want the Lions to win (a rare occurrence), but I have to be excited when Adrian Peterson rushes for an 80-yard touchdown at Ford Field. He’s on my fantasy team. Personally, I had decided that fantasy foot-
ball was not going to fit into my busy schedule this semester. I had written it off. Then a few Sundays ago, I went to Hooters to meet some friends for a soda. They were preparing for their fantasy draft at the same location they choose annually. At a long table they sit, for up to six hours or more, until all of the chicken wings are eaten, rosters filled. This year, one guy failed to show up. Guess who took his place. So I’ll trade you ….
7SPORTS
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Stars volleyball seeks depth to reach new heights
Zach Bellingar Sports Editor
The Stars’ volleyball team has ridden a roller coaster of hardfought wins and losses in continued conference action. The team traveled to Indiana to face Ancilla College Sept. 21 and they took a win in five sets, 23-25, 25-23, 16-25, 25-11 and closed out the match, 15-10. The Stars showed tough play and said the win felt good, but the focus quickly shifted to preparing for the much-anticipated rival, Grand Rapids Community College Raiders. The Stars were 2-2 in conference play going into their home bout against GRCC. The Raiders, however, brought into the Gannon a number four ranking, and put the Stars down in three sets, 25-17, 25-18 and 25-14. Aside from solid Raider play, the Stars struggled with unforced errors, specifically on the serve. “It wasn’t what the officials did or what Grand Rapids did; it’s what we’re not doing,” said LCC Coach Dennis Richardson. “As much as I’ve complimented this team on our depth, we’ve also got to have some starters step up. We’ve got to figure out who those people are.” Jamie Pung is undoubtedly
Photo by Michael Caterina
Spiked: Freshman Keanna Berry goes up for a kill during the Stars 3-1 victory over Lake Michigan College Sept. 28 in Gannon Gymnasium.
one of them. She brings a strong net presence and power to her kills. The Raiders’ ranking had no affect on her that night.
“In pre-game we could see it in her eyes,” Richardson said. “She’s a hard-working player. She doesn’t show fear. She just
wants to go after things and she’s so fast. She was a bright spot for us tonight.” There was another unsung hero of the night. “Subbing in is Ericka Baer,” is becoming a regular phrase by the commentator. “Ericka Baer worked her way into the starting lineup over the last week, number 12. She was a limited player and now she’s worked into the starting lineup,” said Coach Richardson. “And what she did tonight, she did well.” “Coach told me from day one that my serve was going to be one of the big factors and big contributors to this team,” Baer said. “They’ve worked with me a lot going back far and serving the deep ball. I’m used to it. It’s good to have and I’m glad I have that weapon to contribute to this team.” Sophomore captain Camille Harris leads by example and remains vocal from buzzer to buzzer. Harris said, “I just try to remind everybody of how hard we work everyday in practice. We’ve come so far and made so many improvements. I just try to
keep everybody’s head up and stay positive, move on to the next point, one point at a time. We have to stay focused with our goals.” Richardson included his own thoughts on the origins of success. “It has to come from within,” Richardson said. “We work on the drills. We work on pressure situations in practice, but we have to execute them here in front of the fans.” Conference play continued with the Sept. 28 match against Lake Michigan College (LMC) showing a rejuvenated squad. The Stars closed the deal in four games, 25-20, 25-21, 23-25 and 2520. The first three sets started out close and finished close. The fourth set was a different story. LCC struck first and struck strong, starting the set with a nine-point streak. LMC attempted a comeback that proved too little too late. There was undoubtedly magic in the air, with a special appearance by the Lapeer East Volleyball team to cheer on Lapeer native Sam Kazor. “It makes me feel special,” said Kazor. “Some are newer but some already know me. It’s a great feeling. They do it every year for all their college students that play.”
8SPORTS
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Talent runs deep for men’s XC team Zach Bellingar Sports Editor
The men’s cross country team is experiencing a mass of success this season. And the Stars only improving. Following their third meet Sept. 24 at the Kirtland CC Invitational, where six of the top eight spots wore Stars jerseys, they found themselves tied for fourth place in the NJCAA Division I CrossCountry national standings. As for all of their success, Coach Chuck Block attributes it to one word.
“Depth,” said Block. “That’s our strength, especially on the men’s side. We probably don’t have a superstar, but we’re deeper than anybody.” Freshman Austin Alcala adds to that depth. He led the Stars at the Spartan Invitational and finished in the top eight at Kirtland. However, after running in Ionia last year as a senior in high school, breaking the tape is nothing new for Alcala. “Last year we won the state title for Division 2. That helps with my confidence this year,” Alcala
said. “Last year I ran a 15:54 (5k). I placed 13th at the state meet for individual, so I was pretty stoked about that.” Alcala did give credit where due. “(Ionia) Coach Young was kind of a hard ass,” said Alcala. “(He would) make us run every single day. No breaks. That helps with this because this is a lot harder than high school.” In all of his success, Alcala is still coming to terms with college running. He said he struggles most with “being sore every other day. In high school, I’d be sore
Photo Courtesy of Ike Lea
Timely trot: Austin Alcala (left) and Eric Spitz run at the Spartan Invitational Sept. 17.
once a week. It’s a lot harder in college.” While freshmen like
Alcala are just getting used to running at the college level, others like sophomore captain Kevin Barry are preparing for an upgrade to another level. “It’s kind of important for me because I want to go to (Michigan) State after this and run,” said Barry. “I’m not looking for a scholarship to run at State; I just want to get into good enough shape so when I get there I’ll be well-prepared for everything I’m going to have to handle.” His goals won’t come easy, but they are cut and dry.
Barry said, “I’m just going to post the best times I can and do well at nationals, try to help my team out and see if we can get top three. That’s the plan.” On Saturday, Oct. 2, the Stars stayed home to run in the Lansing Invitational at Grand Woods Park. “This is a huge meet for us,” Coach Block said Sept. 29. “Competition is going to be great and it will be a true test. Right now, I think I know where we’re at, but after Saturday, I know I’ll know where we’re at.”
members of the men’s team, Hamilton is not the only girl making a move on the top spot. Sophomore men’s team captains Gareth Gose and Eric Spitz spoke on behalf of Kaylin Belair. Gose said: “Kaylin’s probably the hardest working girl out there right now. She’s going to just get faster by the end of the season. I expect her to be our top girl. As for nationals, they definitely have a shot with the freshmen that have been picking up. “Kaylin’s effort, I’m sure, is going to be up there because after her legs have rested from pushing herself as hard as she has, she’ll definitely improve more than people expect. I guarantee it. She’s going to be good.” Spitz added: “She doesn’t just run, she was biking over the summer. She did a lot of training. Whatever you have to do to put the miles in, it’s definitely working for her.” Belair became the subject of high praise as Coach Block continued where
Gose and Spitz left off, commenting specifically on the Spartan Invitational. “Kaylin trained very hard over the summer and it is showing,” Block said. “She was our number two again with a great time of 23:40. She improved her time from last year by two minutes.” Sophomore Shelby Thren commented on the women’s team in general: “We’re a lot faster than we were last year. Everyone’s working together. We’re more of a team instead of individuals.” Thren gave insight to her own ritualistic preparation before a meet: “A night or two nights before, you should eat pasta to get the carbs up, pump the water like crazy, and we stretch a lot more to get our muscles loose. I like to make sure to get a good night’s sleep.” The women’s cross country will hopefully post times that reflect hydrated, well-stretched and well-rested bodies following their home meet on Saturday, Oct. 2, at Grand Woods Park.
Returning Stars bring women’s XC to a new level Zach Bellingar Sports Editor
Photo Courtesy of Ike Lea
Talent returns: Sophomore Randi Smith (left) and sophomore Shelby Thren keep pace during the Spartan Invitational Sept. 17. The team’s seven returning sophomores are pushing the team to run at a higher level.
Last year, one or two athletes dominated the LCC women’s cross country team. This season, it’s anybody’s race. “On the girls’ side, we kind of do have a couple of superstars, a couple of runners that at the national meet could be in the top 10,” said Coach Chuck Block. “Depth is one of our big, big strong points.” Block said he believes the women will not be led by a single top-runner this season. According to him, that’s a good thing. “The last meet, Ashley Hamilton really stepped it up,” said Block. “When Coach (Jim) Robinson and I were watching the finish, we said, ‘Oh my god, that’s Ashley Hamilton hanging with Jennifer (Snelgrove).’ We were shocked. “For her to do that, it just makes our women’s team that much better. That was one of our biggest story lines from the last meet (Spartan Invitational).” According to several
9 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010
www.lcc.edu/lookout
To see or not to see A must own for every man Michael Caterina Photo Editor The Bro Code was written by How I Met Your Mother’s Barney Stinson with assistance from Matt Kuhn. These two men have created something more than a book — The Bro Code is the go to document for everything Bro. The Bro Code is set up to be a quick read. The book has 150 different articles that can be easily referenced when the time comes. When would you need to reference The Bro Code? The articles in The Bro Code can be divided into two categories: conduct between Bros and Bro-Chick interactions. I would touch on the Bro-Chick interactions category but these articles are reserved for Bro eyes only, sorry ladies. The book takes on just about every situation that you could encounter when with your Bros. If you have ever questioned something your Bro has done, it is most likely in
the book. Take article 38 for example, “Even in a fight to the death, a Bro never punches another Bro in the groin.” So, if one of your buddies hits you in the groin (no matter what you may have done to provoke it), you may recite the article to him and initiate one of the approved punishments located in the back of The Bro Code. The approved punishment section of The Bro Code gives you options for when one of your Bros breaks the code. The sentences for code breaking range from “Loss of permanent shotgun status” to “Designated all-time tip leaver.” Clearly, one does not want to break the code. You might be wondering how a book of articles could illustrate every situation you could be in. The Bro Code does it with footnotes, exceptions and diagrams. If the article has an exception it will be taken into account. Take article 44, “A Bro never applies sunscreen to another Bro. EX-
Photo courtesy of Amazon.com
CEPTION— if the bros are within 7 degrees latitude of the equator.” In my opinion the diagrams pull some of the articles together. The three step diagram attached to article 42, “How to execute a Bro hug,” is a great example. The Bro Code also has a great glossary for all the Bro terminology in the book. Example: “Brojo—a Bro’s mojo.” I feel that The Bro Code is a must own for every man. One should be on every coffee table and on the back of every toilet in every man’s home. Read it, learn it, live it. The Bro Code.
When ska and punk clash Sean Bradley Staff Writer There were many reasons to go to Bermuda Mohawk Productions (BMP) Fest at Mac’s Bar on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 17 and 18. It was a great party, full of friends and fans of great music. Bands from both nights included the Cartridge Family, Mustard Plug, Jason Alarm and The Arrivals. Throughout all the music and fun, a few things stood out. Day one band Young Dan Tucker, a side project of The Plurals and Frank and Earnest, personified the term “cock rock.” Complete with every rock cliché imaginable from drunk and wild band members, groupies and ferocious security, the stage show was an event in itself. Their Hinder and Nickelback littered set, along with vulgarity-laced originals, was the other part of Young Dan Tucker’s shtick. Although they played surprisingly well, that doesn’t matter with a band like Young Dan
Photo courtesy of Austin Howard
Tucker: they put on a great show with their theatrics as much as their music. Speaking of theatrics, the Cartridge Family’s return to Mac’s Bar was the main event of night one. Complete with an on-stage bunny robot, it was hard to tell who was a crowd member and who wasn’t. It was chaos. Pure and simple. Drunk people, clown masks and a lion suit were all a part of their show. After, their manmade tornado of a set, papers, glasses, tables and people were strewn about. Mac’s Bar will never be the same. On day two, Mustard
Plug starred among a great supporting cast including Catalina Wine Mixer, CBJ and Jason Alarm. Mustard Plug got the crowd dancing to their signature brand of ska music. As sounds of horns and palmmuted guitars bounced between band and spectator, it was clear that this day had a different character than day one. Day two was calmer, cooler and more collected. Mustard Plug’s lighter stage show was a great breather from the previous day’s antics. It was just straight up fun and rocking. I had never seen them play before and was treated to a pleasant surprise. This weekend is something I will never forget. It was fun, entertaining and enjoyable in a way that words can’t describe. Cale Sauter, owner of Bermuda Mohawk Productions, summed up the weekend perfectly: “There’s nothing better than a break from reality in a room full of people, who actually get each other, getting lost in the same chorus.”
Lee Rumler A&E Editor Four actors attempted to perform all of Shakespeare’s works in one night on Oct. 1 and 2 in the Black Box Theatre, Gannon Building 168 during The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged). This attempt, howevPhoto courtesy of Kevin Fowler er, will not be their last. On Oct. 8 and 9, the four- Much ado about a lot: The cast of the 2009 LCC production some will try once more of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.” to perform this impos- together in like a football want to see a show about sible feat. game, so in one scene all Shakespeare’: if you just The Complete Works of Shakespeare’s histo- put that (preconception) of William Shakespeare ries are now done.” on the shelf and say, ‘I (abridged) is a different The rest of the perfor- want to see a bunch of type of play than what mance follows suit in people who are basically its name might imply – this corner-cutting atti- hack actors attempt to unless the writer really tude. Actors act as they do grandeur work and stretched the meaning of would naturally, impro- fail miserably at it,’ it’s the word “abridged.” vising when they see fit worth your time.” Since performing – because, really, why all 38 of Shakespeare’s bother with characters? For more information plays would be impos- Occasionally they will on The Complete Works sible, director John Len- even hop off stage and of William Shakespeare nox explained, “they do talk to audience mem- (abridged), call (517) things like, ‘Timon of bers. 483-1488. For ticket sales, Athens –I mentioned it. “It’s a hysterically call (517) 483-1018. Ticket If I mentioned it, then it’s funny comedy,” com- prices are $5 for LCC studone.’ mented Lennox. dents, staff and alumni; “They take all of the “For those people who $10 for adults. For mature histories and put them are kind of like, ‘I don’t audiences only.
10A&E
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
This is pretty ugly Lee Rumler A&E Editor
On Thursday, Sept. 23, I had a conference call with Matt Oberg and Natasha Leggero, the lead actor and actress of the show Ugly Americans. (I know, holy crap, right?) Unfortunately, I was limited to asking two questions – but that was OK because 10 other reporters were on the line asking questions, too. Or, at least, it should have been OK, but those reporters kept asking ridiculous, philosophical questions. Let me put this into perspective: Matt Oberg and Natasha Leggero are comedians. Ugly Americans is a cartoon. It’s about a social worker (Mark) whose job is to place monsters (the kind from B-rated movies) into jobs so they can become productive members of society. Mark’s roommate, a zombie, wants to eat him. His girlfriend/boss, a succubus, wants to end the world. His only co-worker, a wizard, wants to drink. A lot. Even if the writers had imparted some grandiose philosophical undertone into the show, its main purpose is to make people laugh. Yet, despite Natasha’s and Matt’s repeated comments such as, “Comedy is the main point of the show,” and, “I don’t think it’s didactically preaching (anything),” my fellow reporters per-
sisted in evading any usable material for an article. I think that speaks volumes about the show. Ugly Americans is hilarious in that “yeah, we went there” kind of way. But the amazing part is that it succeeds in being hilarious without resorting to the ridiculous slapstick that is the basis of most television comedy these days. In this way the show seems to pursue an either intentional or unintentional agenda, which in turn allows viewers to accept the more absurd aspects of it, an acceptance that makes the show much funnier. Don’t get me wrong: if you aren’t ready to take down all barriers and watch, say, two trees fornicating, you will not like this show. But if you think watching a show so vulgar that I can hardly include examples of its comedic brilliance into this newspaper sounds like a blast, tune into Comedy Central on Oct. 6 at 10:30 p.m. for the premier of the second season.
IN BRIEF Arts & Entertainment
Fifth Annual Old Town Oktoberfest
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)
On Oct. 1 and 2 in Burchard Park on the corner of Turner Street and Grand River Avenue, people from all around the state attended Mid-Michigan’s largest authentic German festival. The festival featured German food, beer and polka. All proceeds went to the Old Town Commercial Association.
Three actors attempted to perform all of Shakespeare’s works in one night on Oct. 1 and 2 at the LCC Black Box Theatre, Room 168 Gannon Building. This won’t be their last performance. Check out page 9 for details.
LCC Student’s Designs at Detroit Fashion Week First-year fashion technology student David Kim showed his designs in the Student Show portion of the sixth annual Detroit Fashion Week on Sept. 23. Kim draws most of his inspiration from architectures around the world.
English, Humanities and Performing Arts to Form Student Organization The English Program wants to hear from students interested in literature and film who would like to organize a club. Student members will design the charter for the club, plan programs and ultimately run the organization. Please send your contact information and best times for an initial organizational meeting to Professor Teresa Purvis via email at purvist@lcc. edu, or phone at 517-483-1047.
— Clever Column Title Goes Here—
Photo courtesy by Comedy Central
Dictating artistic expression Did you know the word “fan” is derived from the word “fanatic”? A fanatic is defined as someone who displays extreme support for something. That being said, what goes on inside the mind of fanatics when something they are extremely invested in tests their loyalty? This brings me to a particular problem that has gained my attention over the years: overzealous fans who believe they should control the production of music. I fear too many people criticize bands for not conforming to their vision of “how it should be.” I cannot count how many times I have scrolled through reviews or forum comments about a recently released album and how the artist has “betrayed” their fan base by changing their style. They claim either a musician has veered so far away from his or her original sound or that artist is becoming monotonous. If these opinions can be justified with an intellectual argument instead of pure opinion bordering on an immature tantrum, they may be legitimate, but
it seems as though avid fans will degenerate into frenzy at the first sign of change or tedium. It almost sounds as though artists are not allowed to mature through their musical career; instead, they are held to some unspoken standard. First of all, who really wants volatile fans who cling obsessively to a band and then abandon them at the slightest perceived “mistake”? It is my belief artists should be allowed to experiment in their musical career and not let fans pressure them into controlling their art—because its artistic value is diminished when it is dictated by rabid critics. It becomes less of an honest expression of the artist, rather a submissive effort to retain its followers. No matter how hard an artist tries, he or she will never be able
to please everyone, and I think that is a good thing. If everyone agrees that something is perfect and wonderful in every way, it would not seem unique. That is not to say that artists should never be criticized; I believe they can be criticized in an intellectual manner without dictating artistic direction. While I do not create music, I believe I understand some of the pressures musicians face. I have been discouraged from writing my unpublished books in a certain way or including or excluding certain material, but I have come to the decision that I am not writing my novels for anyone in particular; it is my art and I will control its production. Even if it means my unpublished novels will not sell as many copies because I refuse to bow to the consumer or they will be condemned rather than embraced by the literary world, I am determined never to let anyone control or censor my art. I hope musicians can do the same and not allow “fans” to restrain them from expressing their creativity in whatever manner they choose.
11 FEATURES
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
LCC Tutoring Services: part 3 Bob Chaphalker Guest Writer Renee Mickelson, LCC’s tutoring services director, was recently interviewed by The Lookout. here are here responses: Renee, please tell me where you get your money to fund the Tutoring Services Programs you have here. Looks like you have many programs here. Money comes from General Funds, which come from tuition fees, State of Michigan funds and Federal funds. Big chunk of it comes from Federal grants under bills sponsored by late Carl D. Perkins. Also another big chunk comes from National Science Foundation in the form of a STEM grant. The STEM grant funds collaboration between LCC and MSU to provide ease of transition between the programs at LCC and MSU as well as other higher learning institutions. How long have we had this program running at LCC? At least since the mid-1970’s. During the last year we served more than 7,000 students. We had a 30% increase of students over last three years.
I heard that is a secret about the Tutoring Services? Well, there is a little known fact about Tutoring Services that I will let you in on. We are very eager and very happy to help any LCC student free of charge. What different types of services do you offer? We have four different types: - SI: That stands for Supplemental Instruction. We do not re-teach (re-lecture) the material but help students learn using group techniques. - One-on-One: Here we focus on the students’ needs. We can show them how to study, why they are having difficulty, how to think about the process, etc. Our “one on one” tutoring sessions last actually 50 minutes. We help students find answers through questioning rather than answering. This method helps people with a deeper understanding of their course material. - Walk In: The student makes reservation on the phone, or walks in, and gets a tutor to help him/her. - Seminars: These are advertised time to time on various subjects. For example, we offer calculator skills. Are you considered as a counseling center?
Picture this: Photo Club Nathan Wilson Staff Writer
For students whose passion is photography, LCC offers Photo Club as an excellent venue to get together, discuss ideas and participate in projects. Photo Club explores a diversity of photography including landscapes, photojournalism, still life, portraits and abstract. The club’s adviser, John Rocco, has been a photographer for 40 years and currently teaches photography at LCC. He explained that many club members learn from workshops and guest speakers. For example, Rocco said he is planning a seminar on flash photography outdoors, a technique called fill-flash. Rocco said he also wants to invite Chris Maher, a digital infrared and figure photographer, to guest speak. “He came in two years ago and did a really, really outstanding workshop,” Rocco said. In addition to instructing students on techniques, Photo Club sponsors fun activities such as an annual T-shirt contest. During this event, students vote on an image to be featured on T-shirts and sell them. Other club activities include Christmas, Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day photo shoots where students can have their portraits taken. Rocco said the club sets up backgrounds and props that represent the season. He added that the club has accumulated a vast reservoir of prints, which they sometimes sell. Photo Club sponsors an annual trip to the Meijer Gardens, and Rocco explained they primarily take pictures of the butterflies there. “They have a beautiful atrium, indoor gardens, lots of sculptures - it’s a good photo op for students.” The club also makes an effort to visit
Photo by Michael Caterina
Clean camera: Photo Club members Jessica Leyser (left) and Justin Farr (right) watch as former Photo Club pPresident Gabe Lopez demonstrates how to clean a camera sensor.
museums such as the Detroit Institute of Arts when there is a photo show. In the past, they have visited the Grand Rapids Art Museum for the Richard Avedon Show. “The club’s a good chance to meet some people, build some friendships, share your ideas about photography and learn some new things about photography,” said Rocco. “And for me that’s a rewarding experience.” Photo Club meets every other Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Gannon Building in Room 262. For more information about Photo Club, please contact John Rocco at (517) 483-1721 or roccoj@email.lcc.edu.
Photo by Courtney Baker
Opening the door for academic success: Tutoring Services Director Renee Mickelson welcomes students interested in academic help. Services include SI, one-on-one, walk in and seminars.
No, no, we are not a counseling center, but we (do) want to help them reach their own goals. We start with simple things: we listen to them, show some alternatives for their issues, suggest paths other students took to solve their own personal problem. How do the tutors benefit at Tutoring Services besides getting paid? They experience what it’s like to work on a team. We collaborate with each other to solve issues.
Tutoring helps tutors develop an in depth understanding of their courses, which is useful if they go on to future education. (We have In-service sessions where we learn about organizational skills, presentation skills, problem solving, and interaction with other people, teamwork, and show off our talents, grow and share our ideas.) Many have gone on to other professional jobs after graduation and they have fond memories about the tutoring jobs at LCC.
12 Features
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Spotlight on LCC alumni: Blake French Sarah Sanders Editor in Chief
Blake French of Miami, Fla., is an LCC alumni who currently works as editor of The Barcode Magazine in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He landed his first book deal in 2009, working with Hungry City Guides on the Las Vegas restaurant and bar guide, Hungry? Thirsty? Las Vegas: The Lowdown on Where the Real People Eat and Drink. He has worked with several different publications and has starred in a few films, as well. Other lists of achievements include a starring role in a Dunkin’ Donuts commercial and becoming an award-winning playwright.
own a publication called filmcritic.com. So I do film reviews – journalistic articles.
own entity, and to have the college experience, because they are people too.
So you are a journalist? I like feature writing, editorial opinion, because it sort of exercises your creative abilities a little bit more.
How do you think that reality TV has changed the business in general? From a business perspective, studios love it because it is all profit. They don’t have to hire actors – it’s non-union. So you have air time that is being taken away from actors, and union jobs. And now you have lesser-caliber production teams that are working on these reality TV shows. If you have something to say, if you have a cool concept, but just to watch people just hang out and talk …. the fact that people are even watching this really, really scary. I think people have more things to do. It’s degrading to intelligence and it’s degrading to the industry, because it is taking jobs away. I mean you have celebrities now taking cable jobs because a lot of the networks are filled with reality TV right now.
So creative, non-fiction writing? Exactly, yeah. It is very hard to find those jobs, because a lot of times you have to write obituaries before you can climb up. I was very fortunate.
What led you to Los Angeles from Lansing? At the time I was either going to New York or LA for school; 9/11 had just hit so I decided LA. I wanted to go to USC. I needed a math credit or something. I had to find a college to take this math credit. I ended up at Chapman. All the while I was still searching for work. I was surprised how receptive these big publications in LA were to me.
sure only. So it was hard to find paying, writing work. I ended up working on Hungry Thirsty Las Vegas, a restaurant and bar guide in Las Vegas.
Where did you go from there? I was sick of L.A. I liked Vegas. I started applying for jobs in Vegas — it was less competitive. In LA, everybody always wants you to work for free because there are so many creative types out there. Some publications would actually hire people part-time to full-time for expo-
What are you doing in Miami? I am working on a local guide to restaurants and bands (when they come in to town). We might have an interview with Tosh.O this issue. We keep it local, but we cover celebrities that tour through Miami as well. A lot of night-life stuff. I also work for AMC. I am a film journalist there. They
Courtesy of Blake French
Celebrity Alumni: Blake French once appeared in a Dunkin’ Donuts commercial.
Can a good actor pull off a bad script or bad writing? No. Honestly if the material is overdramatic, over-the-top, as an actor you have to be honest to the material. You can’t step outside of the material too far because you only have the material to work with. You are not the writer. So for you to try to tackle a scene in a soap opera, you have to play the material as it is designed. You are really just a puppet, behind the director and the writer. So, no, but if Anthony Hopkins was in Twilight, I have no doubt that he would give it his own spin. I mean, the people in Twilight really are bad. Why do that if you’re a celebrity, why go to school? You’re already very wealthy, you’re already in this industry, why would you feel the need to go back? Even Spielberg’s kid is going to school, for film. And I’m thinking, why? You don’t need any help getting a job in film. Maybe it is just to be their
Everyone who isn’t around celebrities during their everyday has a celebrity crush. Do you have a celebrity crush? No, but Paris Hilton, I’ve always kind of liked her. I met her at a party and I also did a movie with her called, The Hottie and The Nottie – a straight to video. It’s terrible. She is actually very nice, and she’s more down to earth than you’d expect. And she’ll talk to you, she’ll hang out with you – she is not as bitchy as you would expect.
LCC hires new HR director Dominick Mastrangelo News Edtior
LCC recently hired a new Executive Director of Human Resources. Ann Kroneman, a native of the East Coast, brings both experience and gumption to the position. She is very excited about becoming a part of the LCC community, and she took the time to sit down and share a little bit about herself. Where did you come from, and how does this position differ from positions you have had in the past? I’m originally from Brooklyn New York, I’ve been in Michigan since the early seventies and I attended MSU. As far as my previous jobs are concerned I’ve always been devoted to human resource program areas. I started out as a staff level college trainee, moved up through management and ended up working as the HR director for the department of natural resources and environment. What are some things you do in your free time? Hobbies or pasttimes I love downhill skiing. I learned very late in life, but it’s something I enjoy doing with my family. I really enjoy fishing - we go up north as much as possible. I love to read as well. It seems like LCC is going paperless in almost everything it is doing. How do you think this benefits the college? The major benefit is the ease of access: it really streamlines the process. In my previous environment, these things have been the big push over the last 10 years and I’ve seen how ben-
Photo by Courtney Baker
New kid on the block: HR Director Ann Kroneman looks to a bright future at LCC.
eficial it is for employees. The fewer hand-offs you have to have, the better. A lot of people say LCC is a great place to work. In your opinion, why is this true? I think part of that is attributed to people being open minded, very welcoming and patient. I ask a lot of questions and everyone has made me feel very welcome. Not just the staff at LCC, but the student employees have been great too. What else do you think students and others should know in order to make it easy to deal with your department? Please don’t be afraid to come here. I know HR can be intimidating sometimes, but we have a great staff that will go the extra mile to help anyone who has a question. I’ve often said no question is silly. I also hope to get out into the college community to make connections with staff and students alike.
13 DISTRACTIONS
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010
www.lcc.edu/lookout
SUDOKU
Word Puzzles 1
8 9 9
2 5
6
8
4
4 3 7
1 2 9 7 1 5
9 6
8 7 3
7 5
9
2
8
5 6
8
Kyle Tuckey Chaos Theory King Crossword
James Tennant Jr. An Ordinary Life
Puzzle solution can be found at www.lcc.edu./lookout
This week’s puzzle is sponsored by:
14 OPINION
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
— Everyone should read George Orwell—
To a population of detriment As a child, I was always warned about the actions of others, actions that a person of my character is supposedly incapable of. From warnings of “being taken advantage of“ by damn near everyone and their mother, to the smaller things about how others don’t pick up after themselves, the examples list on. Considering most mothers (if not all) are telling their children to be on the watch for them, this majority might be much closer
to a minority than we realize. I always asked my mother who these kids were and if their parents told them the same thing about me. We are always discussing this large majority of people that seem to
be beneath us and yet if we are all talking about them, then who is “them?” Now that I’ve grown older, I’m still confused but I’ve got a theory or two that attempt to work out the location of this missing population of miscreants. Telling children or expressing these ideas amongst peers simply implants the idea in their brain that their solid efforts toward a more positive social culture will be overlooked due to this sup-
posed majority of detriment. That being said, I will definitely admit there must be a reason we are being warned of this ghastly gaggle. Due to this newfound feeling of ineptitude, people will then give up on their efforts in order to blend in, perhaps finding bad behavior at first easier. From there on out, they become the horrid majority they were warned about in the first place. How sickeningly cyclic.
— Shouting a Nuance —
This isn’t about shoes I am the proud owner of a pair of shoes; in fact, I am so proud of them, I wear them on a daily basis. And they look like it too. My shoes are a cream-white leather covered in artistic brown patches sewn on with cream-white stitching. Blue checkers decorate the back of the heel, complementing the single blue stripe on either side. The once-white shoelaces are darkened from continuous wear and the seams are slowly coming apart. They smell like feet. My shoes are an expression of my personality, just like the rest of my wardrobe. I know I’m not the only person who feels this way. Either consciously or subconsciously, every person’s wardrobe is an extension of their personality, from the preppy girl with 80 pairs of identical heels to the nerdy guy with a matching pocket protector for all of his seven shirts. Now I don’t claim to be a fashionista or any kind of expert on analyzing the physical manifestations of sociological phenomena, but when I look at a person’s wardrobe, I can tell a little something about them.
When I see a man wearing goggles on his head and an 18th Century jacket on his back, I can tell he’s a little strange – he probably enjoys being a little off too. But here is where my opinion differs from most people’s: When I see a guy wearing a shirt five sizes too big with his pants hanging off his knees, I think he’s just as strange as the guy with the goggles. I don’t think either of them are wrong for displaying their personalities; in fact, I respect their pride for their sub-culture. I just find their apathy to their sub-culture’s negative image … a bit strange. Not that there is anything wrong with being strange – I love an individual; only, I think individuals should stop denying their peculiarity.
— The Collected Klutz —
Hold your honkin’ The other day as I was walking to class, I was startled by the sound of a car horn and then the voice of a guy saying, “He-eyy.” Being someone who has a bit of selfrespect, I was disgusted. I then began thinking, what is the point of men, actually boys, honking their horns at unsuspecting young women? Do they think we like to be treated like a piece of meat? Do they think that they might actually get a date out of it? I really don’t understand the reason behind such an action. Now there are probably some girls who have low self-esteem and find these actions flattering and reassuring, but I will not stand by and let some guy treat me in such a way. I understand that maybe a guy honks his horn at a girl to let her know that he finds her attractive. It doesn’t, however, take much confidence for a guy to do this as he drives by a girl – that he will probably never see again – going 40 miles an hour. It makes him seem like a bit of a creeper, actually. It really is a cop-out
because by doing this he doesn’t have to worry about being rejected or what to say to the girl. And FYI, if you think a girl looks nice, you can tell her without looking like a complete jerk. Go up to her and tell she looks nice, but not in a creepy way. I, for one, think if a guy were to come up to me personally instead honking his horn at me, he has a far better chance with me and will score some extra points, as compared to losing points by honking at me. So to all you guys who think you’ll actually get a girl to like you by honking at her, I hope you have learned a valuable lesson. And to the guys who do it because you are too shy to talk to a girl, just go up to her and be sincere. What girl doesn’t like getting a compliment?
— Fully flippin’ it —
The vanishing paper tow els I walk into a restroom, do my business, then it’s off to the sink. Every time I visit the room of resting, I wash my hands (which every dude should do, ya nasties). I flick the sink on and expect to get a good steady stream of water—not always the case. More and more establishments are installing the “water-saving” faucet heads that claim to use 50 percent less water than their regular “non-water-saving” cousins. The problem with 50 percent less water is that you have to wash your hands for 50 per-
cent longer! No water is being saved; time is just being wasted. Not cool establishments, not cool. I can deal with washing my hands for a bit longer, but that is just where the trouble starts. After washing my hands I look to dry them (I’m not a fan of wet hands). I go to grab the old faithful paper towel to give them a quick pat down and be on my way. It happens all too often that I am left standing in the restroom, wet hands and all with no towels. I’m all for “going green,” but this is ridiculous.
What if I splashed some water on my face? Now I’m dripping wet from my hands and face with one option: the hand dryer. This is a great invention, when it works. Too many times I have stood in front of a motion activated dryer that made me wave my arms like a crazy
person just to have it turn on for 2.2 seconds. Hands still wet! The point of all of this is simple. Let’s not completely remove the thing that works every time and replace it with something that doesn’t work every time. I believe paper towels and hand dryers can live in harmony, right next to each other, on the bathroom wall for years to come. No need to remove one; they won’t fight. Also, The DonGonz deserves credit in my last column. He is the reason why flip is what it is. Thank you, DonGonz, The OG Flipper.
Have an opinion? We’d love to hear what you have to say! Feel free to write to any of The Lookout’s editors with any ideas, criticism or praise.
15 Opinion
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout In our own words | Staff Eidtorial
Our Common Goal Letter to the Editor As a staff we can all agree that bringing news to the students of LCC, in the most entertaining and accurate way possible, is on our top list of priorities. On Sept. 18 the Lookout staff attended a Michigan Collegiate Press Association workshop at Olivet College, where we learned a lot of useful tips about journalism. We learned that, not surprisingly, news has become more common via the Internet. And in order for us to bring news to you, the LCC students, in an entertaining way, we need to go online. We learned while some journalists write news in a more creative or opinionated
style, it is safer to remain objective and stick strictly with the facts. This did not really come as a shock to most of us. Nonetheless, it is safe to say that this conference really motivated us to become more creative, publish hard news stories, and not just fill the pages of The Lookout with fluff. Being accurate and entertaining while delivering news to our readers is our most important job. Therefore we are working on re-designing our website and increasing our Flickr, Facebook and Twitter presence. Keep reading The Lookout for more details about our new innovations.
In response to: Issue 1, “Existensialism gives ...”
I enjoyed your article. This is what I see as a major problem in our society. Many of your generation and mine do not believe in absolute truth. In other words, everything is seen as relative and truth is individually determined. This, in a logical way, always breaks down. As a robber’s truth may impact your idea of decency. I was fortunate to grow up when society as a whole believed in right and wrong and in morality and in a set of absolutes. I have to agree with you that all things good and bad flow from personal character. But how do we measure personal character? I think I have the answer to that. Great idea too that we must transcend our past. We were not created to live there and in fact if we keep looking back that is where we will end up. As far as thinking outside that box, that is only a trendy statement that has no real meaning. Sometimes the box has the answer in it. Keep up the good work. Craig Prether LCC Counselor
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.
Classified Advertising AUCTION SUNDAY, OCT. 17 Diverse Vintage Collectables, two miles east of LCC, 1131 May St., Lansing, east of Pennsylvania Avenue between Saginaw and Oakland. Viewing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Auction starts at 1 p.m. For more details, visit www. LansingConsignment.com.
APARTMENT FOR RENT 3009 Woodruff #1, Lansing. Two and a half miles from downtown LCC campus. Two bedrooms, $594 per month. Air conditioning, dishwasher, parking, heat and water. Smoking and cats allowed. Washer and dryer in building. Call 517-372-2000.
PINBALL MACHINE Game Plan 1979 “Sharpshooter” solid state pinball game. Old western theme. Very fast and fun. Four-player machine. $525. Call 517-589-5273 and leave a message.
TOYS AND GAMES WANTED Antique games and unique toys. Any condition. 1975 or before. Will pay cash if I need for my personal collection. Especially looking for antique Slinky in original box. Call 517-483-1291.
Mail: 1000 – The Lookout Lansing Community College P.O. Box 40010 Lansing, MI 489401-7210 Email: Thelookoutstaff@gmail.com Fax: (517) 483-1290 The Lookout is the independent, biweekly student newspaper of Lansing Community College. All opinion/editorial articles are the sole opinion of the writer and may not reflect the views of the staff, students, faculty and college as a whole. Opinion/editorial articles may or may not be located exclusively on editorial pages and may appear on news, sports and arts & entertainment pages. — The Lookout Staff
the lookout
Sarah Sanders
Editor in Chief sande43@mail.lcc.edu
Kaitlin Lutz
Associate Editor lutzk3@email.lcc.edu
Nathan Wilson
Staff Writer ashamir8612@aim.com
Michael Caterina
Photo Editor cater2@mail.lcc.edu
Zach Bellingar
Sports Editor zachb86@hotmail.com
Dominick Mastrangelo News Editor mastrand@mail.lcc.edu
Kelly Lehtonen
Advertising Manager lehtonenkelly@yahoo.com
Lee Rumler
A&E Editor leerumler@gmail.com
Larry Hook
Adviser hookl@lcc.edu
16
Oct. 4 - 17, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout