Volume 59, Issue 14
april 2 - 15, 2018 Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959
La ie r e t a B
Jammin’ in Dart
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Entrepreneurship meets LCC in annual ‘Star Tank’ student competition Page >>> 2
Eighth annual ‘Shuto Con’ floods Lansing Center for three-day anime festival Pages >>> 6
‘Global Fest’ features foreign language clubs, unique merchandise Page >>> 9 Photo by Sarah Barney Rito band members Jon Gewirtz, Michael Eyia and Terry Newman perform during the "La Batterie" concert on Sunday, March 25 in Dart Auditorium. The free event, which featured numerous selections from a drum squad known as the “Bash Battalion,” also included musical numbers from local Latin bands, jazz bands and more. See story on page 10.
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Entrepreneurs dive into ‘Star Tank’ By Ashlee Buhler Associate Editor The west campus auditorium was the site of the annual “Star Tank” event March 29, hosted by the LCC American Marketing Association. Eight student entrepreneurs went head to head, pitching their business ideas to a panel of judges. All were vying for the top cash prize of $1,000 to help jump start their business. Contestant Alick Nurenberg presented an idea for a third-party app called “Double Click.” “The idea is when you buy a pair of shoes, you just love them so much that you get on Instagram and post a picture of you looking great and tag the shoes,” Nurenberg explained. “If my sister is scrolling through my timeline, she can see the shoes I tagged and a price search is done across the entire internet through vendors that offer those shoes at the lowest cost. The product can be purchased and sent to your door, all in two clicks.” Contestant John Manney spoke to the
judges about his business, “Artic Coast Apparel.” “We’re a brand new clothing company that is designed to help our ocean,” he said. “We give back to the ocean through the form of donations on the sale of our limited-edition clothing.” After a six-judge panel deliberated, Manney was announced the winner of the competition. Two contestants - Elizabeth Denney and Dalasia Jackson - split $500 for second place. The rest of the contestants each took home $100. Asked how it felt to win “Star Tank,” Manney admitted it took him by surprise. “It feels really good actually,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting to win, especially after talking to some of the people here. One guy had $15,000 in sales and I have one product, really.” While nerves may have left Manney operating on just two hours of sleep, that did not hold him back from delivering a sales pitch worthy of $1,000. Manney shared how he plans to use his winnings. “From here our main goal is to get
Photo by Ashlee Buhler
Eight students participated in "Star Tank." Pictured from left are: Elizabeth Denney, Selena Ledesma, Alick Nurenberg, Dalasia Jackson, Spencer Leach, John Alashari, Kevin Bologna and winner John Manney.
trademarked to protect this brand the best we can,” he said. “Then it’s all going toward production to get this thing as big as possible to help generate as much revenue as we can.” AMA Co-Adviser Adrienne Jenkins spoke to the judges after the event and said they were pleased with the students’ ideas.
“The judges said there were some amazing business ideas this year,” Jenkins said. “They said this is an event they like to participate in because every year it seems like the students are more prepared and giving better presentations. “The ideas are more thought out and the judges like to see how the students evolve each year.”
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‘Islamophobia’ discussion enlightens By Haneen Hammad Staff Writer The LCC Black Student Union hosted an Islamophobia discussion panel on Thursday, March 22, in honor of Women’s Month. The event was held in the TLC Building library from 4 to 5 p.m. The purpose was to tackle issues and stereotypes toward Muslims, as well as to get students to ask questions and talk to professionals from the Muslim community. The Lookout A & E Editor Sarah Barney, who attended the Islamophobia discussion, had a unique perspective to offer. “I wish every other white person had an opportunity to sit in a room as the only white person there and listen,” Barney said. “It helps you to really better understand people that are different from you.” Nawal Jeilani, an LCC student, got a chance to attend the panel discussion. “As a Somali Muslim, I appreciate the fact that BSU reached out to the Muslim community and brought in Hauwa, a young Muslim woman, to talk on behalf of the community,” Jeilani said. “I appreciated the fact that they addressed Islamophobia as an issue at LCC. I think it’s important to include a wide variety of minorities and faiths at BSU. … As minorities, when we come together our voices are louder and easier to be heard. We are able to connect and help each other
Photo by Sarah Barney
Haneen Hammad, Haala Zaid and Abir Jeilani discuss situations they face as Muslims during the Islamophobia panel on Thursday, March 22.
out and change the way people perceive us.” Students who attended got a chance to ask questions to fellow students who are followers of the Islamic faith. “I felt like it was a great opportunity … I learned a lot more about Muslims after listening to them and getting to ask ques-
tions,” Barney said. “It was really different to have been the only white person there, which left me thinking, ‘So is this what it’s like for some people every single day?’ I feel like that helps me to better empathize with minority groups, as much as a member of the majority group can.”
In addition to the Islamophobia discussion, the Black Student Union has also hosted a “Minorities in Media” conversation as well as an “Empowered Women” discussion. For future events hosted by the Black Student Union, contact Dr. Willie Davis at davisw2@star.lcc.edu/
Board of Trustees votes to raise tuition prices By Aaron Wilton Editor in Chief During the Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, March 19, the board voted unanimously to increase student tuition fees. According to an email from Benita Duncan, executive assistant and liaison to the board, the members voted on the Financial Office’s recommendation for tuition increases in the next fiscal year. “The Board of Trustees approved a 1.9-percent increase in tuition for the 2018-19 academic year,” Duncan stated. “The increase equates to $2 for in-district students, $4 for in-state students, $6 for out-of-state students and $7 for international students (per credit hour ).” With those increases accounted for,
BOARD CHAIR ANDREW ABOOD
the per-credit-hour rate will be $105 in district, $210 in state, $315 out of state and $367 internationally. She explained why this decision stands out for the board. “In previous years, the board has adopted the tuition rates with the full budget in June,” Duncan said. “Adopting tuition rates early allows for better financial planning for the college and for students.” Board Chair Andrew Abood gave his impression of the board’s stance on the tuition increase. “At the previous meeting we had addressed the tuition increase,” Abood said. “The consensus, I thought, from the board was that we wanted to keep it as minimal as possible, yet still provide quality education.
“Based upon the recommendations of staff and what was discussed … we felt that the (increase) was appropriate.” In other business, the board: * Discussed the success of “Grow with Google: Lansing;” * Approved spending $195,000 to repair and replace concrete on main and west campuses with Moore Trosper Construction; * Approved an extension of the Michigan New Jobs Training Agreement with Trilogy Health Services; * Approved a $180,000 contract with Rehmann Robson, LLC, to audit the college’s financial statements. The contract period is July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2021, with three one-year extension options.
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april 2 - 15, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
IN BRIEF NEWS
Final call for StarScapes applications Students have an opportunity to show off their imagination and creativity during the sixth annual StarScapes Student Innovation and Creativity Showcase April 18 and 19. All students who have done a research or creative project are invited to participate. Presentation options include posters, demonstrations, performances and more. Each submitted project requires a faculty sponsor. Applications can be filled out at lcc.edu/starscapes and are due by April 4.
Course evaluations open April 6 Students enrolled in classes at LCC are encouraged to fill out a course evaluation to give their instructors honest feedback. Evaluations for spring semester open April 6 and will close May 7. They can be found by going on D2L and clicking the course evaluation tab. Photo by Aaron Wilton
The LCC Transfer Fair on March 20 featured 25 different schools in the Gannon Commons. Pictured are just a few of the schools’ booths.
Universities focus on LCC students at transfer fair By Aaron Wilton Editor in Chief The Lansing Community College Transfer Fair gave students a chance to speak face-to-face with representatives from 25 four-year schools from across the state of Michigan on Tuesday, March 20. Patty Spagnuolo, the director of the University Center and transfer initiatives, spoke about the Transfer Fair. ”We have an extensive list of school contacts,” Spagnuolo began. “And basically we invite (the schools) and hold the space. It’s on an invitation basis and pretty much everybody who’s asked, comes. “This is the first year we’ve been able to have all of the tables down on this first floor. Before, it was split between the first floor and the second floor. We’re excited about that.” Among the colleges at the fair were Michigan State University, Saginaw Val-
ley State University, Madonna University and Northwood University. Luke Richards, the admissions representative for the adult degree program at Northwood, shared a visitor’s perspective on the fair. “Lots of students (have been) showing interest,” Richards said. “We’re a business only university. So that does kind of limit us, but a lot of the students that have stopped by had great questions that pertained to us helping them with their next step.” Lorin Bartony and Eva Menefee were managing LCC’s booth at the event. Menefee, the lead faculty adviser in the academic and career pathways office, talked about why LCC had a booth at the event. “The reason we’re here is because students are talking to the other schools, but they might have a question about LCC,” she said. “‘How do my credits transfer to other places?’ So they come to us just to get some
general information. “I like students to be able to talk thoughtfully to the other colleges. When I (say) thoughtfully, I mean to already have in their mind some questions that they want to ask.” Menefee explained her favorite aspect of the fair. “I like the fact that students can look at other schools that they may not have even thought about,” she said. “Most of the students that come into my office and see me, I’ll say ‘Where are you going to go?’ and they say ‘MSU.’ Why? It’s close. “My thing is, it’s a great big world out there with a lot of other schools that have great programs that they could go to. The school might be smaller, the school might have an interesting major that MSU doesn’t have … but it might be a better choice. “Coming to the Transfer Fair, you’re getting to find out about those other schools.”
Next board meeting set for April 17 The next LCC Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17. The meeting will be begin at 6 p.m. in the Administration Building Boardroom. A copy of the meeting materials can be obtained from Benita Duncan at duncanb@lcc.star.edu or (517) 483-5252.
Donate old backpacks, duffel bags The Sign Language Club is seeking new and gently used backpack donations to assist deaf children in Nepal. Students or staff wishing to donate bags can drop them off in room 1222 of the Gannon Building from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The last day for collections is Monday, May 7.
Write an essay; win a scholarship LAFCU is accepting applications for its 2018 Write to Educate Essay Contest that offers two $2,500 college scholarships to high school seniors and allows them each to select a charity to receive a $500 donation from LAFCU. The Lansing State Journal is the community sponsor of the contest. The entry deadline is April 30. The scholarships can be used at Lansing Community College or Baker College’s Owosso campus. Applications are available online at www.lafcu.com/ lafcumyway.
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CLUB SPOTLIGHT
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Games
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Fuel your mind with a scholastic club By Shauna Stocken Staff Writer Looking for an added academic stimulant to finish out the school semester? LCC’s Math and Computer Science club welcomes you. “I would suggest that people join the club because it’s a good way to not think about homework and your assignments,” said LCC student and Club President Devin Stewart. “It’s a good and fun way to relieve stress and to network with other people.” No prerequisites are required. According to Faculty Adviser Tristan Sprague-Williams, students whose forte is math or computer science are welcome to join only one section of the club. “I think math is valuable inherently,” Sprague-Williams said. “It’s especially important to get people involved in com-
Photo by Shauna Stocken
Members of the LCC Math and Computer Science Club include (from left) Vice President Cooper Luce, Sage Blackwood, President Devin Stewart, Matilda Brumwell, Rylee Smith and Faculty Adviser Tristan Sprague-Williams.
puter science; it’s a huge field with lots of opportunities for students who do want to be programmers or even want to study computer science.”
The club meets tentatively in A&S 318 every Tuesday from 2 to 3 p.m. to address the math portion of the club. It is run by student Vice President Cooper Luce.
Thursday meetings are facilitated by Stewart, which addresses the computer science aspect of the club, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Club member, Matilda Brumwell said she heard about the club from her calculus professor last semester. This year is Brumwell’s first at LCC, and the club is the first she has participated in thus far. “I’ve learned a lot, and I’m a computer science major, so this club is very applicable,” Brumwell said. “It’s fun and I feel like anyone can learn a lot.” Luce shared that the club meetings consist of learning to program in Python, making a Space Invaders-type video game, and doing math puzzles, as well as learning about the math behind and playing the game of bridge. To learn more about the club and its activities, send an email to Stewart at stewad24@mail.lcc.edu.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Anna Hill takes talents from the beam to the stage By Ashlee Buhler Associate Editor Drive and dedication. That is what it takes to reach the highest level in any sport. Anna Hill’s gymnastics journey began at a young age. The sport piqued her interest after watching it on TV. Like most toddlers, she couldn’t resist the urge to try what she was seeing at home. Signing up for gymnastics classes seemed like the next logical move. “I told my mom, ‘I’m going to do all these tricks and land on my head,’” Hill said. “So she was like, ‘maybe we should enroll her in a class so she can actually learn these things.’” A month before her third birthday, Hill was officially enrolled in gymnastics classes. As the years went on she kept progressing in the sport. By the time she was 13 years old she was training 25 hours a week at Twistars Gymnastics in Diamondale. She soon found herself competing amongst top-level gymnasts in the country — earning many accolades at the state and national level. Her talents eventually landed her a full-ride scholarship to Ohio State Uni-
ANNA HILL
Photo by Ashlee Buhler
versity. “Honestly, I think sticking with it and getting to the point where I could get a scholarship from a Division I college is what I’m
most proud of,” she said. “It’s a really hard sport and being able to stick with it for 15 years is ridiculously hard and I’m pretty proud of myself for doing that.” Life took an unexpected turn during her senior year of high school. A severe ankle injury sustained in practice left her future in the sport uncertain. Once arriving at Ohio State in the fall of 2013, it was recommended she retire from the sport given her current injury and past medical records. “It was pretty difficult, especially because I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do at that point,” said Hill, now 22. “I came into college thinking I would be on the team and then figure out what I wanted to do in my first year. So when that was taken away in the beginning it was really difficult.” While closing that chapter of her life so soon was not a part of the plan, it just may have been a blessing in disguise. The extra free time allowed her to explore other passions that she previously never had time for. “I was always interested in acting but because of gymnastics I was never able to do it,” she said. “So when I was at Ohio State
I was like, ‘well I’m not doing gymnastics, I might as well try this out.’ After completing a few semesters at Ohio State (no longer on a scholarship since she retired from gymnastics), Hill decided to return home to Michigan and begin taking classes at LCC, which is just a short drive from her hometown of DeWitt. One thing Hill did not leave behind was her passion for theatre. She has continued to follow her dreams of becoming an actress — performing in several LCC productions such as “The Government Inspector,” “American Hero” and “Serious Money.” Theatre Lead Faculty Andrew Callis said he sees a lot of success in Hill’s future. “I directed Anna in ‘American Hero’ last year and have seen her in a few other shows,” he said. “She is a good actor and diligent student. She can be both serious and silly … I see a lot of success for her in the future.” Hill will be graduating from LCC at the end of the spring semester and plans to continue her education. She is currently looking into a couple of schools in Chicago and Western Michigan University.
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Anime fans unite at Lansing convention
Campus Commentary
By Aaron Wilton Editor in Chief Lansing’s very own Shuto Con packs every dedicated fan of anime and Japanese culture into the Lansing Center and the downtown Radisson Hotel. This year Shuto Con ran from March 23 through 25 with only limited breaks. Cat and Brian Cappucci of Catbat Art Studios had a booth in Shuto Con’s Artist Alley. They were selling handmade originals and prints of Cat’s drawings to convention attendees. She spoke about the atmosphere of the event. “In comparison to cons in larger, more chaotic cities, Shuto is a really nice break from that level of stress,” Cappucci said. “That is one of the things I love about it.” She added that despite Shuto Con being in a smaller city, the conven-
Photo By Aaron Wilton
Calvin Simpson poses at Shuto Con in his Scorpion cosplay. Scorpion is a character from the popular "Mortal Kombat" series of video games.
tion floor still had a steady stream of visitors. “There weren’t many times I felt bored, but there weren’t too many times I felt overwhelmed, which was a really nice balance for me,” Cappucci said. The impressive drawings were mostly based on “Dungeons & Dragons” characters she has played, Cappucci explained. “When I was a kid, I was obsessed with dragons,” she said. “I drew them all the time from when I was about 5 to when I was about 10. Then I hit my big anime phase, which seamlessly transitioned into my tabletop gaming phase. I loved drawing dragons, characters I made up in my head … you name it. “Honestly not much has changed from when I was 5.” Calvin Simpson, said he has been attending Shuto Con since it began
eight years ago. “It has just been getting bigger and bigger and bigger,” Simpson said. “I just love it. I used to think it was for shut-ins and nerds, but once you come it’s just fun. “So far (this year ) is awesome. I usually try to do two (costumes) a day. In the daytime I’ll do my Scorpion and at night time … I’ll do my Batman Beyond.” Cappucci shared another one of her favorite things about Shuto Con. “I’ve been hearing about tabletop gaming events that have been cropping up,” she said. “As an avid TTRPG (tabletop role playing game) player, it’s really cool to hear about people just getting into games like ‘Dungeons & Dragons.’” Visit www.shutocon.com for more information about Shuto Con.
The Lookout’s Brodee Gillam asked LCC students:
What is your biggest fear?
Sophomore Hanna Anderson Sonography
Sophomore Erin Toodzio Social Work
Sophomore Dakota Bazner Business Administration
Freshman Antone Parker Business Administration
“Probably drowning. I feel like water is the most powerful element of them all. It extinguishes fire … and you don’t really have control of it.”
“Strangers, because I don’t want to get kidnapped.”
“Spiders. They just freak me out, man. I don’t know why.”
“Living in Michigan, unrealistically, would be dying by tsunami. I always thought about that. Like imagine a 1000-foot wave just coming at you.”
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april 2 - 15, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Hot bats lead Stars softball squad By Brodee Gillam Sports Editor Defense wins championships. The LCC softball team’s last doubleheader featured championship-caliber defense, as well as some outstanding offense. The Stars faced off against the Muskegon Jayhawks at home on March 24 and won both outings. The first contest was an 8-0 victory. The second, which only went five innings, finished 14-2. These two wins pushed the Stars record to 13-4 overall. LCC Head Coach Marc Kibby said the freedom players have on offense allows them to flourish at the plate. “We do not rely on one person (on offense),” Kibby said. “It’s the team concept. It’s how we work with everybody. It’s how hard everybody works. If you have a bad day and go zero-for-three, someone else is going to pick you up and go three-for-three. “It’s part of that culture that we’ve built that it’s just not one person. Everybody does their job and we have (talent) up and down the lineup. And the kids that we have that aren’t playing very much … can come in and do the job. ” Freshman Rebecca Curtis has stepped
Photo by Brodee Gillam
Sophomore outfielder Ashley Cross takes aim during batting practice at Ranney Park on March 26.
into her role for the Stars and, according to Kibby, is a “throwback ball player that loves to play the game.” Curtis started the first game hot, recording two hits, two runs and an RBI. This carried over into the nightcap, where she finished with two hits, a double and three runs. Sophomore Ashley Cross was strong at the plate in both of the wins. In the first
game, Cross recorded a single, a steal, one run and two RBIs in three at-bats. In the second, in her only at-bat, she hit a grand slam. Her four RBIs were a gamehigh. Stars pitchers, sophomores Gabby Hoaglund and Connor Proctor, both had good outings against the Jayhawks. In the first, Proctor pitched a seven-inning shutout, allowing only two hits and
six strikeouts. The win improved Proctor’s record to 4-3. In the nightcap, Hoaglund improved her record to 6-1. In only five innings, Hoaglund struck out six batters and only allowed two unearned runs. Kibby said something was missing at the start of the season, but with these two wins, things are looking up. “Both Gabby and Connor … I expected them to be doing well,” Kibby said. “But there was just something, starting this spring, in their timing; both of them have been a little bit off. And even though Gabby has a very good record, there was still just something missing. “(Against Muskegon) this weekend … they are back. You’ll see bigger and better things out of those two.” Hoaglund said attention to detail in practice has translated to the games. “Our high-intense practices, I would say, help us the most,” Hoaglund said. “Basically everything we do in practice (helps us) know how to work together as a team.” The Stars’ next home doubleheader is on Friday, April 6 against Grand Rapids Community College. The action starts at 3 p.m. at Ranney Park.
Baseball offense clicks; defense needs fine tuning By Brodee Gillam Sports Editor LCC’s baseball team split a doubleheader against Mott Community College in Flint on March 25. The opener resulted in a 12-7 LCC loss, while the Stars prevailed in the second game 10-5. After splitting the games against the Bears, LCC’s record moved to 16-5. The Stars have won three out of four against Mott. Outside of the Bears’ third inning in the first game, the Stars dominated in Flint. But that third inning was filled with 10 of the 12 runs Mott scored. It also consisted of three wild pitches, a home run and an error. Stars Head Coach Drew Huard said the defense is better than what fans saw in the opener. “I think we lost our focus a little bit; we lost some of the things we know we have to do,” Huard said. “We know we got a lot of talent on this team; we just have to not beat ourselves so much. “We kind of beat ourselves as far as making errors; making uncharacteristic plays
Photo by Brodee Gillam
Freshman Michael Barno swings during batting practice at Westside Park in Lansing on March 28.
that this team normally doesn’t make.” LCC did bounce back strong in the nightcap. After four innings, Mott was up on LCC 3-2. In the fifth, the Stars scored two. In the sixth, they scored two more.
LCC put the nail in the coffin in the final inning, scoring four runs. Freshman catcher Alex Strickland drove in the last three runs with a game-clinching double. Strickland said the team’s concentration
on a play-by-play basis needs to improve. “We just got to be more focused throughout the game,” Strickland said. “We can’t take any pitches off (and) be focused on every pitch. You got to be thinking the ball is coming to you every pitch.” Sophomore Drew Stavischeck finished with two hits – a double and a triple – and two RBIs. Huard said Stavischeck turned around the game for the Stars. “He had a good game,” Huard said. “He put the barrel on the ball. And with (Stavischeck) he’s such an asset with what he can do with his athleticism, as far as running and the impact he can make when gets on base. “Our team was kind of down from the (opener) … He really picked our team up and got us some momentum we really needed with the big hit he had when he hit his triple.” The Stars’ next home doubleheader is on Tuesday, April 3 against Grand Rapids Community College. The action starts at 2 p.m. at Westside Park in Lansing.
8|sports
april 2 - 15, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout — off the glass —
Mishandled shots: Izzo should leave MSU
For the better part of 23 years, Tom Izzo has been the leader of the Michigan State basketball program. Everyone who lives in the state of Michigan knows of his successes. He has guided MSU to the Division I NCAA tournament for 20 years straight. A national championship, 12 Sweet 16s, eight Elite Eights and six Final Fours all appear on his already inducted Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame resume. All of this is to say, with all due respect, I think it is his time to leave. I don’t want to see him at another NCAA program or any NBA franchise. It just feels as if there is a cloud lingering over the MSU athletic programs right now. Aside from the allegations of wrongdoing, Izzo has not been able to translate regular season success into the NCAA for a few years now. He did make a Final Four in 2014-15, and of course he could next season,
brodee gillam sports editor
gillamb@lcc.edu
but it seems that he’s lost his touch a bit. During the regular season, MSU decided to play Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges, who are top-15 prospects for the 2018 NBA Draft, out of position for most of the season. They both still succeeded regardless, leading the team to a 28-3 regular-season record, but it felt like Michigan State could always be playing better. After going 1-1 in the Big Ten Tournament, the Spartans headed into the Round of 32 heavily favored against a Syracuse team, which had to play in the First Four to
make the tournament. Not only did Izzo not prepare MSU for the 2-3 zone Syracuse has played for YEARS, but he played sixth-year senior Ben Carter, who averaged .7 points and 7.7 minutes a game this season, for 23 minutes in the must-win game. Those are 23 minutes that Jackson, who played 15 minutes, Nick Ward, 16 minutes, and Kenny Goins, three minutes, did not play. Outside of rotation choices and inconsistent finishes, the allegations behind Michigan State athletics are seemingly worse. Among all investigations happening throughout college basketball, the scandals surrounding MSU seem the most controversial. Players have been getting paid in the NCAA for years; most intelligent college basketball fans understand that. What I don’t understand is why sexual as-
sault scandals are thrown to the wind without a real response from coaches. Izzo still has not truly responded to the “Outside the Lines” story by ESPN’s Paula Lavigne and Nicole Noren, as to whether the allegations are real or not. The report details how far the sexual assault scandal allegedly goes into MSU’s athletic program. If Izzo has nothing to do with these allegations, which I still believe is true, then why stay and have your legacy tarnished because of something you had no part in? On the same lines of thinking, if he did have something to do with these allegations, why not retire now? He’s recorded almost every achievement possible as a DI head basketball coach, so what is left? I respect Izzo as a man and a coach with every bone in my body, but I think it is time to move on.
ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
Ruhstorfer a strong bat for LCC baseball squad
Q&A
The Lookout Sports Editor Brodee Gillam recently spoke with LCC sophomore baseball outfielder Hunter Ruhstorfer. The Haslett graduate finished last season with 40 RBIs, 14 doubles and four home runs for the Stars What athlete inspires you the most? “If I had to say one, it would probably be Derek Jeter because (I) always saw him winning. He’s just a winner. So we try to be (like that).”
probably going into business Why did you start playing – finance or management – baseball? and figure out what I want to “I started playing basedo with that.” ball because my dad What is your most wanted me to. He always memorable moment played, so it’s just a family thing. And I figured out I playing baseball? was pretty good at it.” “It would probably be last year when we got to go What do you want to RUHSTORFER down to the (NJCAA Divido after LCC? “(From) the athletic standpoint, I’d proba- sion II) World Series. We dogpiled at Davbly want to play baseball somewhere. But I’m enport because we just realized we went to
the World Series.” What are your hobbies outside of sports? “Hanging out and playing video games. I’m definitely, everyone on our team is, on the Fortnite grind.” What is your hype music before a game? “I try to go in between a variety. So when we’re on our way to the game I’ll listen to country or something. And then as we get closer I’ll start listening to the R&B, the rap; more Migos-type (music). I like ‘Look Alive’ (by Drake) right now.”
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9|Arts and entertainment
april 2 - 15, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Global Fest gives taste of cultures By Sarah Barney A&E Editor Cupcakes, pretzels and art pieces from various countries were all part of LCC’s Global Fest March 21 and 22. The festivities kicked off Wednesday, March 21 with a fair in the Gannon Highway. Booths including organizations such as Lansing Regional Sister-Cities Commissions (LRSCC) and the LCC German and Japanese clubs were available to students. In addition, cooks at the Grand Aveune Market created meals each day of the week to represent different cuisines such as German and Mexican. Sophomore Sam Callow, who is majoring in manufacturing engineering, was one of the students manning the German Club booth. “Our goal today is to promote foreign languages, summer classes and then potentially joining the German Club,” Callow said. German Club students sold cupcakes and pretzels to raise money. Across the hallway, Japanese club students sold handkerchiefs and
door decorations from Japan. “Mieko, our adviser, is from Japan and she said, ‘Hey, why don’t you guys sell these?’” Japanese Club member Lasasha Sharpe said. “We want to get the culture out and tell people what we do so maybe we can get more people to come join.” Also included at the fair was a booth from LRSCC. Raheema Muhammad staffed the booth, which featured artwork from China, Japan, Ghana and Tanzania. “(LRSCC is) trying to build diversity among other cities throughout the world,” Muhammad said. “(We want) to represent global diversity. We want people to see what these different countries have to offer.” Sharpe spoke of her experiences at Global Fest. “I had so much fun with Global Fest; I loved it,” Sharpe said. “I loved learning about the cultures … I loved the interactions and everything about it.” For more info about LCC student organizations, such as the German and Japanese clubs, go to https://www.lcc. edu/studentlife/clubs_and_organizations/
Photo by Sarah Barney
Multiple booths representing cultures, such as Japanese and German, were present at LCC's Global Fest on both Wednesday and Thursday, March 21 and 22 in the Gannon Highway.
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10|A & E
april 2 - 15, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Drummers bang up a storm at Dart By Sarah Barney A&E Editor The thundering noise of 19 drummers, led by Mike Daniels, filled Dart Auditorium during “La Batterie” on Sunday, March 25. The drummers, known as The Bash Battalion, played pieces such as “Valhalla” and “Thunder Chicken” to a crowd of around 150. Admission was free and the show lasted around two hours. Daniels opened the concert by dedicating the performances to his friend’s son, Michael Eyia Jr., who passed away in February. “La Batterie,” which means the drum, has been around for longer than the Bash Battalion. “Bash Battalion has been around 12 years,” Daniels said. “I started (“La Batterie”) way before that with four drummers, 10 drummers, you know.” This year, The Bash Battalion was made up of 19 drummers on stage together. In addition to performances from the Bash Battalion, there were also groups such as Frog and the Beeftones, a blues band, and Orquesta Ritmo, a Salsa/ Latin jazz band. “We have anywhere up to 29 or 30 drummers,” Daniels explained. “Every year I do it, I try to bring a lot of different acts and musical groups from town and out of town. I try to provide all types of music… jazz, Latin.” Ian LeVine, a Bash Battalion member and LCC alumni, was involved as a co-producer for the show.
Photo by Sarah Barney
Mike Daniels directs The Bash Battalion, made up of 19 drummers, during the "La Batterie" concert on Sunday, March 25.
“The Battalion is made up of members of all ages and a range of ability levels, including female and male drummers,” LeVine said. “We try to be as inclusive as possible and still maintain musical integrity.” According to LeVine, Daniels is a very inclusive-minded person. “Like the variance in humans themselves and through the many challenges we all face, he strives to bring people
together through musical diversity and drumming in particular,” LeVine said. “Mike understands the life-affirming unifying power of music and never fails to share that when he performs or teaches.” Anyone interested in playing in The Bash Battalion can contact the Facebook page, “Col. Mike Daniels and The Bash Battalion.” For information on future arts events, visit https://www.lcc.edu/cma/events/
Spring concert will bring paintings to life at LCC By Sarah Barney A&E Editor After four months of preparation, the annual Spring Dance Concert, “Painted Ladies,” will be debuting at LCC on Friday, April 6 in Dart Auditorium. The concert will have three showings: Friday, April 6 at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 7 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 8 at 2 p.m. The dances are inspired by paintings of famous women. Some of the paintings used for inspiration include “Mask” by Jackson Pollock, “The Boating Party” by Mary Cassatt, “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Johannes Vermeer and “Rosie the Riveter” by Norman Rockwell. The concert will have 10 full-length dances as well as four improv interludes. Vickie Diebold is directing the concert as well as choreographing a few pieces. “I think we’re making the paintings come to life,” Diebold said. “It’s actually very cool, each dance piece is
Courtesy Photo
"Rosie the Riveter" by Norman Rockwell is one of the paintings used as inspiration for the "Painted Ladies" Spring Dance Concert.
very different.” There will be a large variety of dance styles performed for the dance concert. The dance pieces will also include a differing amount of dancers, with some pieces only having one dancer and others having as many as 23. “We have tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary … so we run the gamut of genres represented,” Diebold said. “So I think there’s something for everyone, in that regard.” Diebold spoke about her favorite aspect of the concert, “I think my favorite part is how everybody has picked some very personal paintings for them and then gone out and choreographed a wonderful story to them, to tell the story of each painting,” Diebold said. Admission to the show is free. However donations of $5 to $10 are suggested. Donations will go toward the Dance Scholarship Fund. For more information on the show, call (517) 483-1488 or go to https:// www.lcc.edu/cma/events/
11| A & E
april 2 - 15, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
World Water Day celebrated IN BRIEF at Blue Owl Café in REO Town Arts and Entertainment
‘One Book’ hosts last discussions
By Shauna Stocken Staff Writer In recognition of World Water Day March 22, John Sztykiel, co-founder of “Create 2 C” and co-creator of “No Dirty Water” (NDW), organized a celebration at the Blue Owl Coffee Co. in Lansing’s REO Town. Sztykiel is co-founder of Create 2 C with wife Joni. They advanced on the creation of a water filtration system after a visit to a developing country. “How this all came about is, nine and a half years ago, my wife and I adopted a little girl from Ethiopia; Anna’s now 10,” Sztykiel said. “When we went over there to Addis Ababa, we were amazed at the water issues. Then we started to do the research. We thought we could solve this issue.” The NDW filtration system is efficient, since it is light weight, and solar power can fuel the machine very quickly, Sztykiel said. According to Sztykiel, it can solve the world’s water issues because it can go anywhere on the planet with very little electricity and purify 2,800 gallons of water a day. The water is left cleansed and odorless, with the taste of rainwater. The Blue Owl Coffee Co. is the primary place NDW was located for World Water Day. Sztykiel said this is the first year the company has helped
Photo by Shauna Stocken
Blue Owl Coffee Co. co-owner Nick Berry is shown at work during World Water Day, March 22.
The last sessions of the “One Book One LCC” “Eat and Engage” discussions will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, April 3 and 4, from noon to 1 p.m. Both sessions will be held in The Centre for Engaged Inclusion in GB room 2204. Attendees will be treated to light snacks and a limited number of free copies of this year’s book “Outliers.” For more information or to register, go to https://lcc.libcal.com/calendar/onebook/
‘Outliers in Action’ ends ‘One Book’
Photo by Shauna Stocken
Brianna Makaric (left) and Kimberly Pedersen, co-owners of “Raw and Rooted,” stand next to their three flavors of snack bites during the World Water Day event March 22 at Blue Owl Coffee Co.
sponsor an event like this. To help elevate the event, Sztykiel invited MSU sophomores Brianna Makaric and Kimberly Pedersen to feature their start-up company, “Raw and Rooted.” The company features all-natural gourmet snack bites. “World Water Day is about … making the world a better place,” Pedersen said. “Dirty water is a huge issue all around the world. ‘Raw and Rooted’ falls into that because we use all-natural ingredients and environmentally-friendly packaging.” While promoting at Blue Owl, the women gave out free samples of their products, called “bites to drive awareness.” According to Pedersen, the student-run company will eventually sell its products from a coffee truck that travels around Lansing, as well as online. More information can be viewed on Instagram by searching “Raw and Rooted. “ “We are looking to make the world a healthier place, and we want to do that right now, one bite at a time,” Pedersen said. Also looking to make the world a better place with her two young children is Lansing-area mom Megan Hammes,
who attended the World Water Day event. “I like anything where people are being proactive about going after things they believe in,” Hammes said. “I like finding ways that I can empower my children because I homeschool them … So I wanted to come out and see what this was all about.” Blue Owl co-owner Nick Berry said he was happy to host the World Water Day activities. “It was just a good fit for our space and for what was going on,” Berry said. “You can’t have coffee without water, so it just makes sense to celebrate.” According to Berry, the event brought out a larger morning crowd to the café than normal. “Really we're here for whatever the neighborhood needs to happen as far as communication,” Berry said. “This is their community space. As long as it’s not like pushing some formal agenda, we want to help people create.” Other community events hosted by BOC include poetry reading series, live music, game nights and art exhibits. The best way to find out about upcoming events is to visit www.blueowlcoffee.com/
“One Book One LCC” brings this year’s activities to an end with two days of panel discussions and a keynote speaker. The first day of “Outliers in Action” will be Tuesday, April 10. A keynote speaker will be in the Michigan Room on the first floor of the Gannon Building at 9 a.m. There will be panel discussions at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Grand River Room in the Gannon Building. The second day will be Wednesday, April 11, and will include panel discussions at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in the third floor atrium of the LCC Library in the TLC Building. There will also be a dessert reception at 2 p.m. For more information or to register, visit https://lcc.libcal.com/calendar/onebook/
‘Taste & Tour’ returns for 11th year More than 400 tickets are available for the annual “Taste & Tour of Old Town” event on Saturday, April 7. Visitors will be able to sample food from Old Town restaurants and tour real estate in Old Town. The event will take place noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $15 for loft tours only or $15 for kids with ticketed adult. For more information and tickets, call (517) 485-4283 or go to https://otca. wildapricot.org/events/
Black History events continue LCC’s Black History Month events will continue Monday, April 9 with “Arts as Activism.” The event will be held 4 to 6 p.m. in the Michigan Room on the first floor of the Gannon Building. For more information, visit https://www.lcc.edu/studentlife/bhm/
12|a & E
APRIL 2 - 15, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
reviews
‘American Wife’ delves into military life tory. The book takes you into the life of a military wife and all the emotions that come with it. It is divided into sections about love, war, faith and renewal. The part I found most interesting was the section about war, and how Taya lived her life during her husband’s deployment in Iraq. Taya details the dangerous missions her husband carried out, sometimes while she was on the phone with him. She even shares person-
By Ashlee Buhler Associate Editor If you enjoyed the book “American Sniper,” or the award-winning movie it was later turned into, you will probably enjoy the book “American Wife.” The book’s author, Taya Kyle, was the wife of Chris Kyle, the heroic US Navy SEAL veteran and sniper who was murdered by a former marine at a Texas gun range. Chris served four tours in Iraq and is known for being one of the deadliest snipers in US his-
al emails, which gives the reader a good sense of the emotional ups and downs they shared in their relationship. Make sure you have tissues handy because the part where she talks about Chris’s death is extremely emotional. The book might not have a happy ending, but Taya’s fight to carry on is inspiring. Again, if you enjoyed “American Sniper,” you will likely enjoy Taya’s straight-forward and honest perspective on Chris’s life.
Reporter ‘Talked to Death’ by AMC TV series By Shauna Stocken Staff Writer I recently sat around gabbing with friends on my distaste for AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” which aired over the past two seasons. I cleverly joked that in my house, we’ve renamed the show, “The Talking Dead.” My friends were quick to fill me in on the show of the same name that discusses each episode. Although, I’ve never watched ‘The Talking Dead,” I definitely have many opinions, mostly negative comments, on what use to be my favorite and most anticipated show to watch. After watching the first six seasons on Netflix, I ended up spending roughly $40 a season to purchase weekly episodes of season seven to screen off of Amazon Prime. Again, I spent my money for season eight because I believed the dull season prior was a precursor for something more intense to come. I believed season eight would hold more value. I was wrong. My issues with the show include a lack of action and unrealistic situations in a post-apocalyptic world.
Photo from Superherohype.com
Every episode is spent talking about strategies, as well as the battle of Rick and good guys versus the villainess character and his clan, both named Negan. Season seven talked its way up to a battle at the community Alexandria. After a brief combat, the teams retreated to regroup for a re-battle in season eight. The regrouping period has lasted most of season eight as well. Conversations of plans to come and
limited action is shown from one episode to the next. Yes, the special effects and make-up of the zombies, known as “walkers,” are always highly impressive, but to me, more is desired. Main characters continuously miss shots that should have killed their opponents and injuries never seem to occur. Realistically, the gasoline found throughout the show would no longer be useable after about three months, let alone the many years the world has been overrun by the dead. Characters are also frequently finding cars that start right up, despite standard issues that would occur, such as problems with car batteries. From childhood, fans watched the character Carl, the son of Rick, grow up on screen. Carl’s death was drawn out as a sincere goodbye to fans who favored the beloved character. Despite season nine being confirmed, maybe it’s time for me to say goodbye as well. I’ll finish out season eight with hope of a gory and violent conclusion. But, I won’t be spending more money on the show. I have come to fear “The Walking Dead.”
The Cosmos has pizza that’s yummy but pricey By Haneen Hammad Staff Writer If you are ever looking for a casual pizza eatery, The Cosmos is a local option. The Cosmos is located at 611 E. Grand River Ave. in Lansing’s Old Town district. The Cosmos opened several years ago as an addition to Zoobie’s Bar. It offers unique appetizers and woodfired pizza.
My friend and I decided to give The Cosmos a shot because we have heard good things about it. We went on a Saturday night. The place was dark, small and noisy, filled with families and people hanging out at the bar. It didn’t take long for us to order because the menu was very simple. We decided to skip the appetizers and dive straight into the wood-fired pizza. I ordered the Basil Ricotta, and my
friend ordered the “Trust Us” vegan style. The pizza didn’t take long to reach our table. The pizzas tasted as good as they looked. The pizza crust and vegetables were very fresh. I would recommend the restaurant to anyone who appreciates a unique menu. The decor is rustic and fun to look at while you are waiting for your food.
They have both vegetarian and vegan options with the “Trust Us” pizza. I wouldn’t recommend that place for people who are not willing to spend at least $20 on their meal. The pizza was expensive, and in my opinion, wasn’t worth it for the pizza that I ordered. The Cosmos is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.
13|distractions
April 2 - 15, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
This week’s King Crossword puzzle is sponsored by:
Home of the Olive Burger Since 1923
118 Washington Sq. Downtown Lansing Phone: (517) 482-8049
Sports Can Be Funny
by Hubbard
Hours: Monday-Friday 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday, closed
Hold your newspaper up to a mirror to get the answer to this week’s King Crossword puzzle:
Receive a 10-percent discount with your student ID
14|opinion
april 2 - 15, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout — if you wil—
If at first you don’t succeed ... you know In the face of resistance, some crumple or change direction. Others push against the resistance. I have never faced much resistance in my life. I was fortunate enough to have roads laid out in front of me for the simple things, at least. The first struggle I ever dealt with was selecting a career to which my life could be dedicated. I can be indecisive and downright hesitant when facing decisions about my life. After a lot of mental wrestling with
Aaron wilton editor in chief
wiltona@lcc.edu
myself, I managed to select music as a potentially suiting career. Since that point, I have planned on attending the most widely renowned college of music
in Michigan and most likely the entire Midwest region: Michigan State University. Early in the month of February I applied to MSU. A couple of weeks later I was denied admission to the music education program. This news was a significant disturbance to my “plan.” I didn’t feel so much sad as I did lost. It felt like I had to start back from square one again. Reassess my career choice, look at other universities, and find some way to not
feel like I am just wasting time and money were all on my to-do list. I did get a flooding return of hope, though, thanks to visiting the transfer fair on LCC’s main campus March 20. There, I talked to a representative from MSU about what to do next. I am happy to say I have a new game plan and some confidence that I can make it through college. Reminding myself that “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” can be difficult at times.
— through ashlee’s eyes —
Tough high school years result in a better me Life is full of experiences that shape us into the people we are today. Positive experiences bring good memories and happiness, while negative experiences can create fear and a feeling of hopelessness. I believe everything happens for a reason, though, and even through the bad times you can learn some valuable lessons. One period of my life that I will never forget was my sophomore through junior years of high school. I was an extremely self-conscious teenager who wanted everyone to like me. I took extreme measures to lose weight, even though I was perfectly healthy and normal. I spent an obnoxious amount of time in the morning obsessing over how my hair looked or what outfit I was going to wear. It didn’t really matter what I did,
because it was never good enough. My already lacking confidence took an even bigger hit when people at school began to make fun of my face. I had a bad under-bite, and apparently it made my face look weird. It was something I never even noticed until people started pointing it out. Why a bunch of people decided to start nit-picking my face during this one particular year of my life is beyond me, but it began to take a toll on me. People that I thought were my friends (and even a guy that I liked) would make ugly faces at me and say, “This is what you look like.” People who hardly knew me felt the need to compare me to my other sisters and call me the ugly one or “the one with the weird face.”
ashlee Buhler Associate editor
buhlera@lcc.edu
The comments about my face got out of control and I didn’t know what to do about it. Unlike my hair, my weight or my clothes — this was something I couldn’t control. In a desperate attempt to make it stop, I made a big decision to have surgery during my junior year. The surgery, which took about 14 hours to complete, moved both my jaws almost evenly to-
gether. The surgery left me with my mouth wired shut and on a liquid diet for a month. (Yes, it was as horrible as it sounds.) It wasn’t until several years later that I was able to look back on that experience and see that it actually made me a better person. When I was younger I wasn’t always the nicest person either, but sometimes you don’t know what it feels like to be torn apart until the tables are turned. From that point forward I never wanted anyone to feel the way that I felt during that time, so I became more aware of how I treated people. Remember: you never know what somebody is going through in their personal life, so spread love and be nice.
— sarah’s stance—
Social media is mainly to blame for ‘fake news’
“American teenager who killed Muslim refugee for raping his 7-year-old sister sentenced to 30 years in prison!” claimed the headline above a viral video on Facebook recently. The video, which at one point had over 10 million views and 260,000 shares, was a complete fabrication. The alleged American teenager was actually Dylan Schumaker who, in 2014, was convicted for beating a toddler to death. The video was so lazily put together that one of the photos even included a phrase from Schumaker: “I’m a 16-yearold blond. Probably all I have to do is
sarah barney A & E Editor
barneys@lcc.edu
cry, and they’re going to feel sorry for me.” I often see scrutiny for CNN or other news organizations over mistakes or information viewed as biased. However, no amount of fake stories on Facebook stops people from sharing them and be-
lieving them. In 2016, a survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs for BuzzFeed News found that fake news headlines fooled American adults 75 percent of the time. The same study also found that those who use Facebook as a major source of news are more likely to view fake news headlines as accurate. Social media, not CNN, is probably the largest proprietor of “fake news.” It is my opinion that if someone is going to complain about fake news, they should be extra responsible about making sure they are not spreading it themselves.
Checking the validity of a photo or video on Facebook isn’t difficult, but I think sometimes people don’t want to check because they want it to be true. I just wish people would take the minute or two it takes to check if something is legitimate. There are even websites such as Snopes that debunk common false stories. Fake stories or false facts shape opinions and mislead people, which makes it harder to talk about ideas or opinions. If people were more critical of the information they ingest, I believe it would be a lot easier to have productive conversations about politics.
15|opinion
april 2 - 15, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout — staff editorial —
Xenophobia not justifiable in U.S. Ever since the events of 9/11/01, Caucasian Americans have steeled themselves against all immigrants. We use such a vague, open-to-interpretation description of our “enemies in the Middle East” that we sometimes encompass anyone from the other half of the globe within our public hatred. The Lookout staff is here to remind readers that immigrants are our neighbors, our co-workers and often our friends. Many LCC students are either international students, the children of immigrants or immigrants them-
selves. Each one of them is a person just like the rest of us. They have feelings; they are a part of our communities. Xenophobia is a fear that cannot be justified in modern America. Michigan, in particular, has a high immigrant population. Immigrants are a large piece of Michigan’s history. During The Great Migration of African Americans from the south to the north, hundreds chose southern Michigan as their post-Civil War home.
Today, thousands of immigrants live in mid-Michigan, calling everywhere from metropolitan Detroit to Grand Rapids home. According to AmericanImmigrantCouncil.org, “nearly 7 percent of Michigan residents are immigrants, while almost 1 in 12 (Michigan) residents is a native-born U.S. citizen with at least one immigrant parent.” Just last year, Lansing had a huge amount of public support for becoming a sanctuary city, but backed away from that due to threats from President Donald Trump to pull
federal funding from cities that accept sanctuary status. The fear of foreigners really just stems from a fear of the unknown. Many people simply don’t interact with immigrants, and therefore the only perspective they have is the one provided by news outlets. The Lookout staff knows that the key to removing a cultural stigma toward other nationalities is firsthand education. So, get out into your community and get to know who some of your neighbors are. You might be pleasantly surprised.
— as seen by haneen —
My poem on what it’s like to be a Hijabi Recently, in my African American Literature class, we read a poem by Patricia Smith called, “What it’s like to be a Black Girl (for those of you who aren’t).” Our assignment after reading it was to come up with our own version of “What it’s like to be a … (for those of you who aren’t).” I decided to write my version on what it’s like to be a Hijabi (a woman who wears a hijab). Here it is: It’s curiosity, and this curiosity is not a mere joke, it’s the curiosity weaved into a cloth hiding my sensitive and strong brain from those “all seeing” eyes around me. Pretending to expose my hair as if
haneen hammad Staff writer
hammadh@lcc.edu
it was something of utmost importance and value. Don’t be fooled, it’s nothing, it is a trick. It’s having your parents not truly understand why you decided to wear it at such a young age, but also having people not understand why you wear it at all. But wait. Didn’t your father make
you wear that? It’s thinking I’m oppressed, covering my hair with a silken headdress. It’s thinking I’m forced, beaten to lengthen my sleeves and elongate my shorts. It’s thinking I’m afraid, hovering under the protection of black linen shade. No, my hijab is my personality. It’s my promise to honor my femininity, to never allow anyone, any man, to use me. I am a woman, a human, a feminist. It’s my appearance, not being a subject of scrutiny, my beauty, or perhaps lack of. Instead it has been removed from the realm of what can legitimately be discussed. It is being a true woman; a woman
What is your favorite flavor of potato chip? Aaron wilton
ashlee buhler
editor in chief
Associate editor buhlera@lcc.edu
gillamb@lcc.edu
“Cheddar and sour cream”
“Original Baked Lays”
“Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos”
wiltona@lcc.edu
brodee gillam
sports editor
sarah barney
A&E editor
barneys2@lcc.edu
“BBQ Lays or Cheetos”
—
shauna stocken
staff writer
oppressed not by her faith but by society’s obligations. It’s having to smile, ALL the time. God forbid I cause a stranger to feel uncomfortable. It’s forcing my parents to say no, because of you not me. You, who disrupts my peace. It’s you who yells for me to go back to my country, like you deserve to be on this land any more than I do. And it’s me, because I chose modesty. It’s the sisterhood you share with a total stranger, and the thought that because you do this, you can do anything else. It is a woman empowered. A woman empowered by her faith.
the lookout staff —
haneen hammad
nicole cade
stockens@lcc.edu
hammadh@lcc.edu
staff writer
lead paginator
“Kettle cooked salt and pepper”
“Salt and vinegar”
“Sour cream and onion”
caden@lcc.edu
larry hook
adviser
hookl@lcc.edu
“Spicy Nacho Doritos”
16|LAST LOOK
april 2 - 15, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
‘Elite 25’ takes over LCC By Brodee Gillam Sports Editor “You only get one shot, do not miss you chance to blow, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime.” These often-quoted lyrics from Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” describe the “Michigan Elite 25” event at LCC almost perfectly. The event took place on Wednesday, March 21. It consisted of 40 high school basketball players who had not been recruited or offered a scholarship yet. The 40 players were separated into four different teams. The teams played 5-on-5 scrimmages, each set of five playing for six minutes at a time. This allowed the players to show off their skill sets in ways they could not possibly in high school. The Michigan Elite 25 is a program that is focusing on changing the game of basketball across the state of Michigan, according to co-founder and former NBA player Tim McCormick. He said players leave the event with some life lessons. “The Michigan Elite 25 is a program that’s six years old now and the goal is to change the culture of basketball in Michigan,” McCormick said. “We teach our players about hard work and character and respect for girls and about branding (themselves). “They are going to be an ex-player for a long time and it’s really important to take care of your business and really be professional.” One of the participants, was Da'Vion Moore, a senior power forward from L'anse Creuse High School. Moore said the event allowed him to play
a different way than he did in high school and prove he can do more. “It helped me be able to play in front of the coaches I was talking to,” Moore said. “I got to showcase more of my talent, instead of just in a game situation. I could bring (my other talents) out and show my versatility.” According to McCormick, there were approximately 25 coaches in attendance for the event. One of them was LCC’s own head basketball coach, Mike Ingram. Ingram said he was able to show recruits what they are committing to at LCC. “I think it was great,” Ingram said. “There was several kids here that I was recruiting and it’s really different when you’re at their high schools talking to them. They can’t see what your college is. “Now, all of sudden, they come here … and we are, if not the nicest school, one of the nicest community colleges in the state.” McCormick summarized the event and the circumstances the players are in. “This event … there’s a lot of talent that has not been recruited,” McCormick said. “Maybe the star player on their team plays the same position. Maybe they’re on the wrong AAU team. Maybe they’re grades aren’t what they should be. “Maybe they’re just that diamond in the rough that is waiting for an opportunity. I talked to a lot of coaches that said, ‘Man I saw some guys out there that can help make my team better.’ So I think from that standpoint it was pretty successful.”
Photos by Brodee Gillam
Former U-of-M and NBA player Tim McCormick (left) gathers with LCC Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Ingram for a photo during the Michigan Elite 25 event on March 21 in the Gannon Gym at LCC. McCormick is a co-founder of the program.