Stars win
Class
performs
in final
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Nov. 29 - Dec. 12, 2010 Volume 52, Issue 7 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Homecoming
Shakespeare
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Week
successful
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thelookout Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959
Silver Bells sparks spirit
Threat diffused Dominick Mastrangelo And The Lookout Staff
Students and staff on the main campus of Lansing Community College were evacuated Thursday, Nov. 18 because of a bomb scare that proved false. No arrests have been made and the investigation will be conducted by LCC Police, according to Ellen Jones, public relations director for LCC. According to Jones, the bomb threat was phoned in to the city of Lansing Police Department at approximately 10:10 a.m. Nov. 18. Jones said the caller gave a specific time a bomb was going to detonate, but did not give a specific campus location.
Photo by Nathan Wilson
Clearing out: LCC Police Officer Matt Miles advises a student of the bomb threat on LCC’s main campus Nov. 18.
Many students learned of the evacuation via a message on LCC’s home webpage. The message, posted around noon, said the main campus was being closed at 1 p.m. due to an “undisclosed security threat.”
The message stated that the campus would reopen at 6 p.m. “There was no imminent threat during the time of the evacuation,” Jones said. See Bomb threat, page 3
XC teams excel in nationals Zach Bellingar Sports Editor
Photo by Michael Caterina
Festivities ignite: The 26th annual Silver Bells in the City event in downtown Lansing was capped off by a fireworks display over the Capitol Friday, Nov. 19. See page 12 for additional photos and story.
It was a sunny Saturday in Spartanburg, S.C. for the NJCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s National Cross-Country Championships. LCC was represented by 13 runners on Nov. 13, six men and seven women, in a season finale with nearly 40 teams in attendance. The Stars capped off a great season with great performances. With a total of 86
points, the women found the podium and a thirdplace finish. “I thought we had won,” Coach Chuck Block said. “Eighty-six points usually wins it. Last year, the winning team had 92 points and second was 123, so I was shocked that we came in third. It just happened to be a year with three great teams.” The women were led by All-American runners Jennifer Snelgrove with a ninth-place finish and Ashley Hamilton just behind in 12th.
Ellory Green missed the All-American mark by a single second. For Hamilton, ninth place and All-American status at a national event is a first. “I never made it to states in high school,” Hamilton said. “So to come here and have a great coach to (help) us make it that far was pretty awesome.” Also representing the Stars were Kaylin Belair, Brooke Simon, Randi Smith and Ashley Steers. See Nationals, page 6
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Nov. 29 - Dec. 12, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
3 NEWS
Nov. 29 - Dec. 12, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
IN BRIEF
Bomb threat Continued from page 1
Students were puzzled by the nature of the evacuation procedure. “I have no idea what’s going on, but I don’t have a good feeling about it,” said Matt Fitzsimons, a student who was on his way to class when informed of the evacuation order. Around 12:20 p.m., students exited the campus in mass through the corridor between Dart Auditorium and the Student Personnel Services building. “I never knew so many people went to school here,” said Casey Ryan-Hannum, a business student who was in the process of departing. Between noon and 1 p.m., LCC police went from building to building telling everyone to leave campus. By 1 p.m., all LCC parking lots had been barricaded and everyone still on campus was ushered away by police. Shortly after 1 p.m., canine units from Michigan State University began entering various LCC buildings to conduct searches. LCC police officers assisted the MSU police. A staff member from The Lookout observed officers and a bombsniffing dog entering
NEWS
Photo by Michael Caterina
Evacuation: LCC Police direct traffic out of the Gannon Building parking ramp due to a bomb threat Nov. 18.
the University Center at about 1:15 p.m. The unit left the building about 15 minutes later (See exclusive Lookout video at http://www.flickr. com/photos/lcc_lookout/5190358538/). Many students who were waiting for buses or other rides took shelter from the chilly temperatures in the Gibson’s Books & Beans Cafe on the corner of Capitol Avenue and Shiawassee Street. Gibson’s, not owned by LCC, was not included in the evacuation. “We’re ready to follow any orders any police officials give us,” said Dave Poquette, a manager at Gibson’s. “Until then it’s business as usual over here.” Canine units continued to search the campus for several hours.
At 4:57 p.m., Campus Communication issued an email saying police were still on the scene, and the campus would remain closed for the rest of the evening. At 6:15 p.m., Campus Communication sent an “all-clear” email. It stated, in part: “The LCC Police Department and the Michigan State Police have issued an all-clear after successfully completing a thorough search of the college’s main downtown campus following a bomb threat earlier today. ... Classes will resume as scheduled on Friday.” Jones said the sweep of the campus was thorough. “No bomb was found at any time,” she said. “Our investigation was complete.”
Police and Public Safety ensure campus security Dominick Mastrangelo News Editor LCC Police and the Lansing Police Department received a report on Nov. 8 from a female student, whose name was not released by the LCCPD, that she was assaulted in parking lot L on main campus. The student suffered minor injuries and was able to walk away from the scene, but this attack raises the question: “Is LCC a safe campus?” LCC Detective Sergeant Rodney Bahl said he is confident students are safe. “These types of incidents are isolated,” Bahl said. “Crime rates always go up near the holidays — the current economic situation doesn’t help either.” Students, faculty and anyone at LCC can request to have a police
escort to their vehicle or any other building on campus at any time by calling public safety at (517) 483-1937. “Our goal is to make sure everyone feels safe,” Bahl said. “We want people on campus to know they are being protected from the threats that are out there.” What exactly are those threats? LCC Cadet Sarah Beckon commented on the relationship between the general public of downtown Lansing and the LCC community. “Most people are really appreciative that we’re here,” Beckon said. “I’m new to the campus, so I love getting to walk around and meeting new people,” she said. There are some issues with the community, however, according to
Bahl. “Parking can create some tension, but the demeanor is usually pleasant,” he said. As far as incidents off campus or near off campus grounds, Police and Public Safety at LCC have a procedure for that as well. “Our officers have full police authority in all of Ingham County,” Bahl said. “We can deal with a situation, wherever it happens,” he said. According to business student Jeremy Winkle, Public Safety is not to be taken for granted. “They do a lot for us,” Winkle said. “You never know when you’re going to be in a bad spot and really need them,” he said. Police and Public Safety is located on LCC’s main campus in the Gannon Building in room 251.
Zoo to host Wonderland of Lights
LCC gives to families in need
Potter Park Zoo will host its annual Wonderland of Lights event from Nov. 26 to Dec. 26. Thousands of lights will illuminate the zoo during seasonal activities including crafts, cookie decorating, story telling and presentation of holiday music. Wonderland of Lights will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and children.
LCC along with the Employee Wellness Committee have adopted three families in need this holiday season. Cards are available for anyone to take from giving trees located in the LS Divisional Office (A&S 110) and the lobby of the Administrative Building. Each item is listed on the card with the following info: desired item, gender, age, and clothing size. The wrapped item must have the original card attached to it. Please return the wrapped item with the card to the Computer Lab TLC 100.
Campus to host blood drive LCC will be holding a Red Cross blood drive in the HHS building on Monday, Nov. 29 from 11 a.m.to 4:45 p.m. in room 203. Walk-ins are welcome, but if a student would like to schedule an appointment, they are encouraged to visit redcrossblood. org and enter sponsor code LCC.
Deadlines for spring semester Financial aid applications for spring semester are due Dec. 1. Students must apply for admission by Jan. 7. Students must be registered for all classes by Jan. 12. The spring semester will begin on Jan. 15.
Opposites attract: Gender differences are discussed
Lee Rumler A&E Editor LCC biology professor Dr. Chris Marschall led a discussion on the latest research in fundamental differences between men’s and women’s brains. At the Nov. 16 Cafe Scientifique at Schuler Books and Music in the Eastwood Towne Center, Marschall said the differences begin as early as the womb. A male fetus will be exposed to testosterone, which will set off a chain of reactions that changes the male’s brain into a “man brain.” Although living females also produce some testosterone, a female fetus does not start production until after her birth, Marschall said. The result of developing without testosterone creates a “woman brain.” So what are the differences between the “man brain” and the “woman brain”? Primarily, the number of connections between the hemispheres. According to the professor, women’s brains have a larger corpus callosum and anterior commissure, both structures that connect the hemispheres of the brain. Marschall explained that men’s smaller con-
Photo by Lee Rumler
Sexes debate discrepencies: Dr. Chris Marschall speaks about the anatomical differences between the male and female brains at Cafe Scientifique Nov. 16 at Schuler Books and Music.
nective structures give them a greater brain asymmetry in most thought processes, meaning they tend to use one side of their brain where women tend to use both. What does this mean, practically? Men and women think on completely different levels. According to Mark Gungor’s YouTube video “Men’s Brain Women’s Brain,” shown during the presentation, a man’s brain is comprised of a bunch of little boxes. Within each box is all of the information about any subject the man knows, and when a man thinks, he carefully pulls out his knowledge box, looks into said box, and carefully replaces the box, being painstakingly careful not to let the box touch any other box.
On the other hand, according to Gungor, women’s brains are kind of like a big ball of wire. All of the information a woman knows is stored on this one massive, interconnected wire, and any time a women thinks about anything, she thinks about every other single thought and memory that has ever been associated with that thought. Interestingly enough, neither of these methods have any substantial advantages over the other, explained Marschall. But that doesn’t mean the differences are not important. Different thought processes require different learning strategies and create different ideas; in fact, if these differences have any important consequence, it is that men and women need each other to grow and prosper.
4 FEATURES
Nov. 29 - Dec. 12, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Magazine celebrates student literature Nathan Wilson Staff Writer
T
he Washington Square Review, a student literary magazine, has been in circulation since the early 1970s. The range of material published in the magazine includes poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and song lyrics. The requirement for submitting work to The Washington Square Review includes being an LCC student for the summer, fall and spring semesters. Students can obtain an application form for submitting written work through Dennis Hinrichsen, an academic adviser who has taught creative writ-
ing and lyric writing at LCC. He explained that students can submit up to five poems, five songs and two stories. The maximum word count for creative nonfiction is 2,000 words. “They see their work transcend the classroom and find this other audience, and that’s a really interesting
Photo by Lauren Ross
Strummin’ songs: Kathy Motyka sings her song “Pieces of Angels” at the Washington Square Review publication party Nov. 4 in TLC 127.
wake-up call for writers,” Hinrichsen said.
According to Hinrichsen, the deadline
for submitting work is May 1. He also explained that student volunteers help the editing process and production of The Washington Square Review. They meet over the summer during editorial meetings and select material for the next issue. The Washington Square Review is published once a year, and the most recent issue was released on Nov. 4. Each issue costs $5. Hinrichsen said The Washington Square Review benefits emerging authors because it gives them writing experience at a local level. “They learn something about acceptance hopefully, (or) they
learn something about rejection,” he said. The Washington Square Review celebrated its publication this year by showcasing student material to an audience on Nov. 4 at TLC room 127. Selected students received an opportunity to present their work to listeners. The work presented included poems, stories and singing accompanied by guitar. “We had a really wonderful mix of student voices that was really a lot of fun,” Hinrichsen said. For more information about the Washington Square Review, contact Dennis Hinrichsen at hinricd@email.lcc.edu.
PAST group benefits student-parents Nathan Wilson Staff Writer Parents Achieving Success Together (PAST) is a new supportive group at LCC designed to benefit students who are raising children or living on their own. In addition to advising students, club President Lane Eberely said PAST guides students in the right direction for information. Secretary Lindsey Edmiston explained the club will also provide a social aspect and help students connect on campus and form friendships. “The biggest problem we’re trying to tackle here is being a parent and going to school,” Eberely said. “We’re going to be there to help kids in school and let them know they’re not the only person going through this.”
Photo by Nathan Wilson
Present PAST members: The new staff of PAST includes (l. to r.) Adviser Christopher Manning, President Lane Eberely, Secretary Lindsey Edmiston and Treasurer Nicole Dancer (Vice President Jessica Barrett is not pictured).
Club Adviser Christopher Manning, who has been teaching in the Language Skills Department at LCC for eight years, said PAST is discussing the possibility of community advisers as guest speakers.
LCC donates to Greater Lansing Food Bank
Photo by Michael Caterina
Giving back: Leadership Academy students, American Institute of Architecture students and LCC’s Student Democrat members present a check to the Greater Lansing Food Bank Nov. 23. The groups donated $1,025 and 2,320 pounds of food that was collected by the students at LCC.
According to Eberely, volunteer opportunities for serving free meals will be available every Monday from 4 to 6 p.m. “It’s going to be a great environment for a parent so they don’t feel alone,” Eberely
said. “That’s ultimately what this group is about, so they don’t feel alone and they feel like they’re a part of LCC.” Edmiston emphasized the importance of offering support through PAST. She explained she has been attending LCC off and on for the past five years while raising her daughter. “I wondered if I had that kind of group and all those resources if it would have made a difference. For me, it’s (about) helping others achieve what I’ve been trying to achieve,” Edmiston said. Manning researched student retention rates over the past summer and said he was surprised to learn that the average college student was at LCC for five years. “We want them (students) to finish because so many of them are our best students,”
Manning said. I know what education does for people. It enriches your life so much more than about anything else you can do. “When students start their education and they realize this, but they can’t finish because they have all these obligations and they don’t have support, that to me is just a huge tragedy. That, to me, is such a waste of so much great talent. “We want to help LCC achieve the goals that it set forth,” Manning continued. “I’m excited about this group because we’re going to accomplish something that we always talk about.” Meetings take place every Friday at 9 a.m. in the Kennedy Café, second floor A&S Building. For more information, visit http://groups.to/P_A_S_T/.
James Tennant Jr. Tales of a Busboy
5 SPORTS
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Nov. 29 - Dec. 12, 2010
6 SPORTS
Nov. 29 - Dec. 12, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Star spirit: Guests to LCC’s Nov 20 Homecoming game watch as the men pull ahead to defeat Mott Community College 70-69.
Photo illustration by Michael Caterina
Stars victorious in Homecoming games
Women continue winning Erik Stiem Staff Writer Homecoming is the game every team wants to win for their school. Attendance is larger than usual, and pride amplifies the desire to win. On Nov. 17, the LCC women’s basketball team showed its desire to win with a victory over Kirtland CC on Homecoming night, 60-53. The Lady Stars got off to a slow start, down 7-0 four minutes into the game. “They started out passive, nervous,” Coach Ervin Brunson said. “And it wasn’t where I thought they should be, the level they needed to be at.” However, after the slow start, the Lady Stars did not disappoint. They made shots and closed out the first half with a 14-2 run to take a five-point lead into halftime that would not be relinquished. Brunson said progress came as “they started figuring out some things and started playing the style of basketball that (I) expected them to play, and then
Photo by Michael Caterina
Drive: Freshman Kristian Hines drives to the basket during the Lady Stars’ 60-53 victory over Kirtland CC Nov. 17.
(they) made that run.” The women hustled, got open, and the shots started falling. Jennifer Wilson led the team with 21 points and hit many clutch shots down the stretch of the second half to keep the Lady Stars on top. “I just hit a shot,” Wilson said. “When I make shots it gets me going, and I caught fire.” Her 8-11 shooting performance from the field certainly showcased that. LCC has outrebounded each of its foes through the first three games, a big part of the success attributed to forward Tornisha Jones.
Her 16 points and eight rebounds contributed greatly to the Lady Stars’ win. According to Jones, her success in the rebounding game comes from working hard to “keep boxing out and get to the open spot.” LCC defeated Mott CC on Nov. 20, 79-60, with four players grabbing eight or more rebounds. Denay Kelly leads the team with 12 offensive and 21 defensive caroms on the season, second in the MCCAA at 11 per game. Results from LCC’s game on Nov. 23 against the Indiana Institute of Technology will be posted in the next issue of The Lookout.
Nationals Continued from page 1
The top five Stars also earned “United States” All-American honors, an award given to the top 25 finishers after international runners are subtracted. Going into the race ranked fifth in the nation, it was only fitting that the men left with a fifth-place finish. They were led by freshman Jake Hord, who finished 19th overall and beat his 8k regional time by 32 seconds. “It was a good experience,” Hord said of his first national meet at this level. “No regrets.” Sophomore Eric Spitz finished 26th overall with a 25:58 in the 8k event. He said his experience has helped him to run smart this postseason. “I took a different approach to the race this year,” Spitz said. “Last year, I didn’t perform as well as I wanted at all. I tensed up and psyched myself out. This year, the whole week beforehand, I was completely calm, saying to myself, ‘It’s just another race.’”
Gareth Gose came in 34th to qualify the three of them for “United States” All-American honors. Austin Alcala, Ryan Konen and Michael Lahner contributed strong individual efforts in a respectable fifth-place finish for the men. Unfortunately for the Stars, sophomore captain Kevin Barry battled a stress fracture and was unable to lend his usual speed and leadership. “Given the situation, we still ran a great race even though we didn’t have one of our top guys,” Spitz said of the team’s overall performance. For freshmen like Snelgrove, Hamilton, Hord and Alcala, this season’s success was only a taste of what can be expected next season. For sophomores Spitz, Green and Belair, this was the last cross-country competition as Stars. However, with men’s and women’s track and field approaching, perhaps these athletes will again showcase their talents in Stars uniforms, giving the LCC faithful something to look forward to.
Photo by Michael Caterina
Top shot: Sophomore Jordan Davis goes up for a layup during the Stars’ 70-69 victory over Mott CC Nov. 20. Davis was the top scorer in the upset with 18 points and six blocks.
Men upset No. 2 Mott
Zach Bellingar Sports Editor
When the LCC men’s basketball team entered the season pre-ranked 22nd in the nation, hopes of a successful season ran high. When the Stars defeated then ninth-ranked Henry Ford, the team planted a seed of belief in themselves and their fans. Now, the men are 4-0 on the season, and the wins continue to impress. The Homecoming match against the Kirtland Firebirds on Nov. 17 was no exception. A fast-paced first half included a Mike Martin no-look pass to Willie Brown for two with just over nine minutes left to set the Stars up for a 4323 lead at the half. “I thought we played really well in the first half,” LCC Head Coach Mike Ingram said, “and for some reason just couldn’t get some things done the second half.”
Kirtland proceeded to outscore the Stars 34-31 in the second half; an effort that proved too little too late. The Stars won 74-57. Nine players put points on the board, four of them in double digits. Mike Martin led the team with 18 points and six rebounds, Willie Brown had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Jordan Davis made his presence known with 13 points off the bench. Winning a Homecoming game is always sweet, but beating No. 2 Mott is even sweeter. With 12 seconds left, Martin hit the go-ahead layup and Troy Aubrey made two free throws to seal the deal and give LCC the win over Mott CC, 7069, on Nov. 20. “They are a lot better team up close than watching them from the stands,” Ingram said. Davis led the team with 18 points and six blocks. “He was a guy that
started for us last year,” Ingram said. “He’s a weapon for us off the bench. “He’s a guy that we can put in at three positions and if we start him, he can only play one position. I thought he would play well Saturday because he played well on Wednesday and he was great on Saturday.” Martin added 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks and Vino Ashley finished with 12 points and two steals. “It was a hard fought game,” Ingram said. “We didn’t have a lead until the end. I think we were down by four with four minutes to go and I said to the guys, ‘Let’s see if we can win the last four minutes,’ and we won the game.” Over the weekend of Nov. 26-27, LCC stayed home to compete in the “Stars” Thanksgiving Classic. Results will be posted in the next issue of The Lookout.
7 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
IN BRIEF
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Arts & Entertainment
Mannheim Steamroller comes to Wharton
LCC studio performs The Dining Room
Mannheim Steamroller will perform its Christmas music at the Wharton Center at 8 p.m. Dec. 11. Tickets range from $55 to $42.40. The concert is celebrating the group’s 25th anniversary.
This semester’s Contemporary Realism Studio Theatre class is putting on the A.R. Gurney play The Dining Room, directed by Paige Dunckel. The free show will be on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 17 and 18 at 8 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre, Gannon Building room 168.
Presenting A Midsummer Night’s Dream LCC’s third semester Shakespeare Studio class will be presenting A Midsummer Night’s Dream, written by William Shakespeare and directed by Mary Job. The performance will be in the Black Box Theatre, Gannon Building room 168, on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. Admission is free.
LCC Radio hosts Mystic Shake’s final concert WLNZ is presenting Lansing band Mystic Shake in a farewell concert at the Sir Pizza Grand Café on East Grand River in Old Town. After 20 years, the band is performing for the last time Sunday, Dec. 5 from 3 to 7 p.m.
Campus Concerts Music ensemble experiments
LCC Jazz Band plays classics
The Experimental Music Ensemble will perform new, 21st Century compositions and arrangements at their semester-end concert on Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the MICA Gallery located at 1210 Turner St., Old Town Lansing. This concert is free of charge.
LCC Jazz Band directed by Jon Gewirtz, like many of LCC’s ensembles, is made up of a strong mix of LCC students and community members. The ensemble will perform pieces by Duke Ellington, Frank Pappereli and many others, in a free concert at Dart Auditorium at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10.
LCC Concert Choir teams up LCC Concert Choir directed by Meredith Bowen is teaming up with Sistrum (Lansing’s Women’s Chorus) and the Greater Lansing Gay Men’s Chorus, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3 and 4, for a program entitled I Believe … The show will be narrated by Channel 6 news anchor Evan Pinsonnault and begins at 8 p.m. both nights in Dart Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the door 45 minutes prior to the event. The cost is $10 for regular admission and $5 for students, seniors, LCC Alumni, faculty and staff.
Nov. 29 - Dec. 12, 2010
Faculty members get musical LCC Faculty Jazz Quartet will feature Dennis Therrian on piano, Jon Gewirtz playing the saxophone, Ed Fedewa on base and Mike Daniels as the percussionist. The performance will be filled with original music by the quartet Sunday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Dart Auditorium. Admission is free. For more information visit http:// www.lcc.edu/hpa/events/ or contact Melissa Kaplan at kaplanm@lcc.edu or by phone at 517-483-1488.
Studio does Shakespeare Lee Rumler A&E Editor LCC’s third semester Shakespeare Studio class will be presenting A Midsummer Night’s Dream, written by William Shakespeare and directed by Mary Job. The performance will be in the Black Box Theatre, Gannon Building room 168, on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. For anyone unfamiliar with Shakespeare’s plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is kind of like “a group of young lovers that thinks they’re Romeo and Juliet but is more like Monty Python,” according to director Job. Job explained the play has four interwoven, slightly complicated plots. Basically, one woman is in love with her best friend’s fiance who is in love with his wifeto-be who is not in love with him but with another man whom she tries to escape into the forest with alone but is followed by just about everyone else, including some mischievous love-making fairies and a half-donkey man-creature. Don’t worry, it’s not supposed to make much sense – according to job, it is supposed to be funny, sexy, weird and mysterious. Job explained, “Shakespeare did weird and mysterious very well.” The play was originally set in Shakespeare’s version of Athens, Greece, “which means it has nothing to do with (the real) Athens. It had mostly to do with Re-
Photo by Michael Caterina
Theatrical preparation: A Midsummer Night’s Dream director Mary Job blocks out a scene with her cast. The group will perform Friday and Saturday, Dec. 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m.
naissance England,” Job said. Instead of setting the play in an apocryphal version of ancient Greece, Job decided to move the setting into the 1960s. “It seems to me, in the play, there’s this real tension between the young woman who’s rebelling and the father who’s saying, ‘No, no, no. You marry who I want you to marry.’ And that kind of traditional mores versus a youthful rebellion seems to me to be perfect for 1960,” Job ex-
plained. Although the setting may be different, the language was left majorly untouched. “All the language is still there,” Job said. “We (did) edit it a bit to get it to approximately a two-hour running time, but other than that, all of the language is Will’s.” The price is set to draw college students in by the flocks. “It’s free,” Job promised. “We just usually pass the bucket around for contributions, but that’s it.”
King Crossword
LCC ensembles get creative LCC’s Percussion Ensemble, directed by Beth Lewis, will feature a wide variety of different percussion instruments such as vibraphones and xylophones, and a Guitar Ensemble, directed by Christopher Rollins featuring classical, folk and rock music will perform a free concert in Dart Auditorium. The concert is set for Sunday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m.
Pop and jazz performance LanSwingers, a vocal pop and jazz ensemble will perform a variety of contemporary and classic jazz arrangements and compositions in a free concert Thursday, Dec. 9 in Dart Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.
Puzzle solution can be found at www.lcc.edu./lookout
This week’s puzzle is sponsored by:
8 A&E
Nov. 29 - Dec 12, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
From England with love Seeing through sadism Nathan Wilson Staff Writer Extreme metal band Cradle of Filth has reared its hideous head from the pits of Suffolk, England to invoke its ninth album “Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa.” The concept album explores Lilith, the first wife of the Biblical Adam, according to Jewish mythology. For the average listener unaccustomed to vocalist Dani Filth’s voice, which ranges from shrill screaming to a guttural, demonic growl, the album will assault the listener like severe head trauma. Admittedly, it will prove difficult for most listeners to discern the lyrics without a reference. Opener “Cult of Venus Aversa” sounds too disorganized and lack-
Photo courtesy of metalwarez.com
ing a distinct melody to draw the listener in. “One Foul Step from the Abyss” is swept away by a shredding guitar as it plunges into the eye of a musical maelstrom. Eight minutes and seven seconds later, “The Persecution Song” is quietly ushered in by a lamenting piano before soaring into a dark serenade. Cradle of Filth’s distinct poetry seems most prominent in “Deceiving Eyes”: “And with his driven lust exploding / her lashes brushed his cheeks / They flickered
with life, her limbs enfolding / purring, licking wicked teeth.” “Lilith Immaculate” defines the essence of Cradle of Filth: extremely fast and loud guitar riffs, unrelenting percussion, sinister orchestras, female vocals and Filth’s otherworldly voice. “Harlot on a Pedestal” must be performed during concerts for its sumptuous melody aflame with deranged spasms of orchestra. Lucy Atkins provides seductive vocals on “Forgive Me, Father (I Have Sinned),” and guitarist Paul Allender contributes an amazing solo. This may be the most melody-oriented, “radio friendly” song on the album — but due to the nature of the lyrics, Cradle of Filth will never be emitted over the radio.
Lee Rumler A&E Editor I’m going to do you a favor and ruin this movie for you. Although Jigsaw officially died in the fourth movie, his accomplice, Hoffman, is still torturing innocents. Hoffman slowly kills off every person involved in the Jigsaw investigation, including Gibson and Jill, crushing all hopes of justice. In the end, three people in pig masks kill Hoffman (because he killed Jigsaw’s wife), their leader the first Jigsaw survivor, Dr. Gordon. Apparently Jigsaw convinced him that cutting off his leg made him “reborn,” a fact that convinced him to become Jigsaw’s slave and do things like surgically insert keys into people’s eyes. There, you read it, now don’t watch the movie. Let me just say now that
I don’t normally hate on horror flicks, but when I first heard about the movie Saw, I almost punched the guy who told me about it in the mouth. “You actually enjoyed watching these people maim and mutilate themselves? Really? Just torturing them? Trying to test their ‘will to survive’? Do you realize how sick you sound?” Six years, six movies, two video games, one TV show and one comic book series later, I found myself sitting in a theater watching my first Saw movie, Saw 3D, and I have to tell you right now, it was nothing like I expected. It was so much worse. The movie isn’t scary; it’s just sick. In fact, it is so sick that I’m not going to talk about what makes it sick, because it’ll make me sick. Honestly, I don’t even have a problem with the
Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org
people who made Saw 3D. By their logic, they should slowly torture each other to death for producing the carnography they have (although in reality they should just be put in an asylum). But no, I don’t have a problem with them. They’re just mentally ill. I have a problem with the sick freaks who support them. Stop watching the Saw movies. Stop lying about how “great” they are. Grow an ounce of decency.
9 FEATURES
Nov. 29 - Dec. 12, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Students show support for Homecoming Week Sarah Sanders Editor in Chief
With LCC’s Homecoming Week (Nov. 15-21) now over, results of student participation are in, exceeding planner’s expectations. “I think going to a week of Homecoming was a good idea. We were able to reach more students that way,” Manager of Alumni Relations Andrew Lathrop said. The Alumni Association took on the responsibility of planning Homecoming’s events this year. “The T-shirts that we had available were gone in three days,” Lathrop said. “We had a thousand of those, so that was quicker than I expected.” Attendance at all events was up from last year. “The pep-rally tailgate was better attended this year, (and) the Kennedy Cafeteria was packed,” Lathrop said. Increased awareness contributed to its success. “Overall, I think that we had a really big buzz. Within the administration and the employees, a lot of people were more aware of what was going on.”
Photos by Michael Caterina
Bands and bags: Guests to the American Marketing Association (AMA) Battle of the Bands (above) rock out at The Loft Nov. 18. Shoppers exit the VIP check-in station (below) at the AMA Shop like a Star event at Eastwood Towne Center Nov. 21.
Photos by Courtney Baker
Games and plays: The LCC women’s basketball team (above) introduces themselves at the Homecoming pep-rally Nov. 17. Steve Simonson (below) voices the role of Sam during WLNZ’s live radio play It’s a Wonderful Life at Dart Auditorium Nov. 19.
10 OPINION
Nov. 29 - Dec. 12, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout — Fully Flippin’ It —
— The Collected Klutz —
Why do you want me to ‘break a leg?’ Gonna party like When wishing someone to do well in a performance, specifically a theater performance, the most common saying is, “Break a leg!” We have come to understand this term to mean, “Do great,” but how do we get that connotation from “Break a leg”? This would actually be an actor’s worst nightmare during a performance (beside forgetting a line, of course). Turns out the phrase has nothing to do with breaking your leg, physically. Who woul-
one. During the time of King James I, actors received tips from the audience. When they went out to give their final bow, the audience would throw money on stage if they gave a good performance. If not, they would sometimes throw rotten vegetables, which would be my guess as to why people joke about throwing tomatoes at bad acts. In the case an actor would receive money, they would bow down or take a knee to pick
da thunk? There are many theories out there as to how this phrase came about, but no one seems to be certain which one is true. I am going to go with the Shakespearean theory on this
up their tips, therefore breaking their leg line. So when someone says, “break a leg,” they are wishing someone to do well, in order to receive tips from the audience. And now the tradition of throwing money on stage to mark a good performance has evolved into giving flowers. So the next time you go to the theater and you see an actor receiving flowers, you can remember that it all started with, “Break a leg!”
— Everyone should read George Orwell —
Examine your life: eyes open Holy crap, this is earth and there are humanes here. This may seem a bit obvious to you; however, I heard from someone (who was far less important to me than the message they communicated), that 25 percent of the human population lives without a conscience. Ever since that graced my ear holes, the faces of the humanes appeared elusive in my life. At the same time, such an increased sense of awareness has brought some tools as I have now been able to discern the “haves” from the “have-nots” in matters of what I like to call conscienceness. I, of course, at first questioned this statistic, and to this day I will never know if it is true.
of irritation down the backs of at least most of us. However, there are freaks out there and no matter what we do, they won’t disappear. I began to recount all the people I know that lie, cheat and steal –three things that are tell-tale signs of the unconscience That number surprised me. As we all know, no one is perfect and few are able to even give the appearance of perfection for a long period of time. Nonetheless, I did find several individuals who have infiltrated even my close group of friends who fall victim to these remorseless crimes. An important way to judge a person’s level of conscienceness is to discern how many of their poor moral choic-
However, I can find evidence among individuals with whom I have had contact within my 20 years of life that there is definitely something moral missing with some. Discussing the evidence does not involve the inclusion of true sociopathic serial killers, although they certainly fall within the percentile of discussion. For example, a quarter of the population isn’t Ted Bundy, whose very name sends chills
es they have felt regret over. Furthermore, for those who do feel remorse, what catalyzes these feelings into planning a change of action, if it does at all? Examine your own lives, see what percentile you fit within. Where do your friends fall? Things could make more sense or less, but perhaps that’s not the point. People with moral compasses that steer them away from irritating behavior like lying or littering are sick of being around the rest of you that do not. It only makes sense that a moral compass must be cleaned and readjusted every once in a while. Don’t worry, they just need a little personal attention to get back on track.
it’s my birthday! It’s almost my birthday!! On Friday, Dec. 10, I will turn 22. This is the least exciting birthday of my life. Ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper, I have always looked forward to the next Dec. 10 with anticipation for what the age jump has in store. I remember being 15 years old and counting the minutes until I could get behind the wheel of my mother’s car and drive all of my friends to Blimpie for their $3.50 lunch special for Everett students. Age 17 brought me the joy of seeing rated R movies without dragging my older sister along to buy tickets for my friends and me. Turning 18 had the most perks of any birthday before it. I could buy a lottery ticket, go to an Indian casino, get an operator’s license, sign up for the draft, banish parental consent for anything, vote and buy tobacco products. Funny story about the tobacco products: I went to buy a pack of cigars at midnight on Dec. 10, 2006, and I wasn’t even carded. Talk about lame. After 18 the excitement continued for 19. The best part about the last year of being a teenager is you only have to drive about an hour and a half to our neighbor to the north to drink alcohol legally. Canada’s legal drinking age is 19, and back
in my day you only needed a birth certificate to cross the border. So as soon as all my friends were 19, we hopped in the whip and drove through the tunnel to the wonderful city of Windsor, to drink all their beer, aye! Being 20 was the longest year of my life. I thought of Dec. 10, 2009 every day I was 20, which made it even worse. Turning 21 had its ups and downs. I was the only one of my friends to be 21, so we had to go to a lame bar that let 18-plus in so I could get my first drink at midnight. Did you know that Dec. 10 happens to fall right in finals week? After about two drinks everyone was ready to go because they had to study. Pretty whack. Being 21 is pretty great though, I can’t complain. I can’t think of anything cool happening for being 22. I guess the only thing I have left to look forward too is renting a car at 25 with no underage fee when joining the AARP at 55. Happy birthday to me!
the lookout Sarah Sanders
Editor in Chief sande43@mail.lcc.edu
Kaitlin Lutz
Associate Editor lutzk3@mail.lcc.edu
Nathan Wilson
Staff Writer wilso162@mail.lcc.edu
Michael Caterina
Photo Editor cater2@mail.lcc.edu
Zach Bellingar
Sports Editor bellingz@mail.lcc.edu
Dominick Mastrangelo News 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
11 Opinion
Nov. 29 - Dec. 12, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout In our own words | Staff Editorial
Stars shoot to lower carbon footprint of campus It’s all around us. Going green is “in.” Everyone is talking about it. Our parents, our teachers, the President of the United States — everyone. We are constantly reminded of how valuable the environment is and how we should not abuse
it, especially on campus. Let’s face it, our campus is beautiful. Just because we are a downtown campus doesn’t mean we have to be dirty. LCC has tons of recycling bins all over campus, in almost every classroom. Perhaps LCC’s costly
parking rates are an attempt to discourage us from driving to school, all in thinking of the environment, of course. LCC recently received an award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information for
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being one of the first colleges to incorporate alternative energy into its curriculum by offering an associate’s degree in alternative energy engineering. LCC is also going paperless in the distribution of paychecks, anoth-
er push toward a greener campus community. The times are changing, and so are we as a campus. We must stay current and remember why such initiatives are being taken. The call to action is to go green, and the goal is to stay green.
Write a Letter to the
Editor
Policies: All letters should be 200 words or less and signed with a name, address (e-mail or otherwise) and phone number. The Lookout reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, spelling, length and clarity. Mail: 1000 – The Lookout Lansing Community College P.O. box 40010 Lansing, MI 489401-7210 E-mail: sande43@mail.lcc.edu Fax: (517) 483-1290 The Lookout is the independent, biweekly student newspaper of Lansing Community College. All opinion/editorial articles are the sole opinion of the writer and may not reflect the views of the staff, students, faculty and college as a whole. Opinion/editorial articles may or may not be located exclusively on editorial pages and may appear on news, sports and arts & entertainment pages. - The Lookout staff
12 LAST LOOK
Nov. 29 - Dec. 12, 2010 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Chopper: Hunt’s Hog Shop’s motorcycle float makes its way around the electric light parade route during Silver Bells in the City Nov. 19.
Lansing lights up with electric parade Michael Caterina Photo Editor
Lansing kicked off the holiday season with a bang Nov. 19. The 26th annual Silver Bells in the City lit up downtown with an elec-
tric light parade, a fireworks display and other events scattered throughout the city. Silver Bells in the City drew over 150,000 guests in 2009, according to the event’s website. This year seemed equally success-
ful, with thousands flooding the downtown area, including many first-time visitors. “This is the first year I have come out to Silver Bells,” LCC business administration student Nickolas Ward said. “I enjoyed
Fluorescent floats: CATA’s CATApiller (above) swerves down the road past guests. At right, Lansing Parks and Recreation group’s family and friends surround Frosty the Snowman as the float makes its way through the parade. Below right, Preuss Pets’ volunteers dance in grass skirts on the island-themed float. LCC President Brent Knight (lower left) waves to guests during the electric light parade portion of the 26th annual Silver Bells in the City Nov. 19.
the parade. It was really festive and it had a great display of Lansing area shops and businesses.” The light parade looped around six blocks downtown, making its way past the Capitol and the thousands of guests in atten-
Photos by Michael Caterina
dance. Parade participants decorated floats with lights and holiday-themed ornaments. The end of the parade led guests to the official lighting of the state tree in front of the Capitol build-
ing. That was followed by the fireworks display sponsored by Lake Trust Credit Union. For more information on Silver Bells in the City and how to participate next year, visit www.silverbellsinthecity.org.