Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959 By Lurah Peterson Advertising Manager The fourth annual StarScapes took place April 19 and 20 in the Gannon Commons to celebrate work that LCC students have created. This year there were 150 students participating and 90 different exhibits, according to history teacher Jeff Janowick, the organizer of StarScapes. The projects ranged from science, technology and sociology, to art, music and photography. “StarScapes is a celebration of student work,” Janowick said. “Our students do lots of creative and interesting and innovative work in their classes, but usually only their instructor sees it, and sometimes their classmates. “The idea is, ‘Let’s have an audience to celebrate the work that our students do, both in their classes and on their own.’ It is a way to highlight some of the interesting things that they’re doing and share it with the community.” One of the most interesting exhibits was a hovercraft built from a lawn chair, a leaf blower and some plywood. The device actually allowed students to hover above the floor in the commons area. Other exhibits included information about genetically modified food, custom-made clothing, the history of lasagna and a Tesla Coil. There were also poetry readings, a comedy sketch and musical performances.
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Volume 58, Issue 16
may 1 - june 1, 2017
StarScapes showcases students’ ingenuity
Photo by Nick Thompson
Student Phillip Kester shows off his electric bike multicell battery to LCC physics professor Alan O’Keefe during StarScapes on Wednesday, April 19 on the second floor of the Gannon Building.
LCC childcare center hosts open house
Proctor pitches in to lead LCC softball team
Music Director Potes retiring from LCC post
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may 1 - june 1, 2017 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Open house showcases IN BRIEF LCC childcare projects NEWS
Knight’s contract extended to 2021
By Hannah Anderson A&E Editor To showcase the projects and learning of children in Early LCC, the staff held an open house at the Health and Human Services building (HHS) on Tuesday, April 18. Artwork was displayed, hands-on activities were demonstrated and food was provided for the visitors. Lydia Saldivar, the center director for Early LCC, said the event was meant to celebrate young children and their abilities. “We wanted to display children’s learning and children’s capabilities through what we call ‘documentation,’” Saldivar said. “So, pictures of children interacting with one another, things that children have said, some of the work that children have created, and then the learning that takes place through all of those things … we wanted to really capture all of that through this exhibit.” Michelle McDaniel, the “preschool one” co-head teacher at Early LCC, said the children were excited and all smiles to see the projects displayed. “Our event, I believe, went really great this year,” McDaniel said. “A lot of (the displays) are long-term projects, some of them at least four months, and I think that’s quite powerful for such young children to be able to do a four-month project.” The event has been going on for about seven years, according to Saldivar. The age range of the children at Early LCC runs from infant to age 5. Saldivar said there was a really good turnout of fam-
The LCC Board of Trustees extended the contract of Dr. Brent Knight, which means his term as president of LCC is set to last until June 30, 2021. The board voted unanimously in favor of keeping Knight during the April 17 trustees’ meeting. Knight is the sixth president of LCC and has been in office since July 1, 2008. The decision drew on many factors, namely the success of Knight’s initiatives and the national recognition he has garnered on the college’s behalf, according to an LCC press release.
Meridian offering bird watching fun
Photo by Nick Thompson
The Early LCC childcare center’s open house continues through May 5 in the HHS building’s lower level.
ilies, deans and students. The display will be up through Friday, May 5. The teachers planned for this event since October of 2016, according to Saldivar. There were a variety of different projects showcasing learning. One child drew a dress, and it spiraled into creating an actual dress from fabric, zippers, and buttons. Another project involved a protest for more muffins and snacks with actual signs and chants. “I think it’s really rewarding to see the final projects, (when) all of our hard work is finally done,” McDaniel said. “And then you can just see this beautiful piece at the
end to just see their learning come alive and made visible.” Saldivar chose to have the event at HHS since the child development program is located in that building. She said she wanted other people to see what children are capable of and make it a part of the community. McDaniel stressed that the children are capable of more than what most people think, and the displays demonstrate that. “We’re just capturing the beauty in their everyday moments,” McDaniel said. “The children are competent and capable of these things.”
Bird watching events will take place in Meridian Township on two Sundays in May. An experienced Capital Area Audubon Society (CAAS) leader will be guiding groups through parks and preserves in Meridian Township. The first meeting is Sunday, May 1 at 8 a.m. Participants are asked to meet in the parking lot of Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road in Okemos. The second meeting is 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 21 at North Meridian Road Park, 5191 Meridian Road in Williamston. For more information, call the Harris Nature Center at (517) 349-3866.
Stay on ‘The Lookout’ all summer Stories for The Lookout will be published all summer long on the newspaper’s website, web.lcc.edu/lookout/. Stories may be published with regularity over the summer semester, so keep your eyes peeled on our social media pages and website homepage: Facebook - @lcclookout and Twitter - @LCC_TheLookout.
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3|news
may 1 - june 1, 2017 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Student overcomes kidney disorder to become an academic ‘Star’ at LCC By Aaron Wilton Editor in Chief Idiopathic kidney failure might sound like a career ender, but not for LCC student Anna Kaschner. Kaschner was previously enrolled at Michigan State University, but withdrew from all of her classes and dropped out after being diagnosed and starting dialysis. She was diagnosed in 2004 at the age of 24 with an idiopathic (meaning without reason) autoimmune disorder that was destroying her “native kidneys.” “I spent five years on peritoneal dialysis — there are two types of dialysis and most people know of only one called hemo-dialysis,” Kaschner said. “(With this form of dialysis,) a patient has a semi-permanent, flexible, latex tube with an airtight cap on the end inserted into … the peritoneal cavity.” She said this first transplant held for about five years before the transplant
kidney began to fail, again idiopathic. She eventually went back on dialysis in August of 2015. “Now I use a machine called a cycler, which cycles through multiple exchanges overnight while I sleep,” Kaschner explained. She added this prevents her from making any late-night plans, as the machine requires about eight hours to run its course. The cycler exchanges a fluid called dialysate between the peritoneal cavity and a mechanical filter, allowing the wall of the peritoneum to take on the job of the kidneys expelling waste via osmotic pressure, according to Kaschner. “Mentally, I suffered greatly the first time around,” she said. “My diagnosis, the dialysis and the transplant all felt traumatic and I spent a lot of time at home alone and depressed. “I decided to return to school this second time around to give myself some-
thing positive to focus on …” Kaschner said when she applied to LCC she was initially rejected due to her past college performance. But after going through a long appeals process and a change of major, she enrolled in the Graphic Communications program. Kaschner received recognition for her excellent grades last semester by being on the President’s List. Students must have a minimum 3.81 GPA and take at least six credit hours during the calculated term to make this list. She shared the best piece of advice she received in pursuing her education. “As far as students who are struggling in school, for finals or with their own obstacles in life, the best advice someone gave me was, ‘But you’ve made it this far,’” Kaschner said. “I think of that pretty often.” She said this advice helps her put the
Anna Kaschner present in perspective with the things she has already overcome. Kaschner will undergo her second kidney transplant surgery later this year. The donor is a 10-year friend of Kaschner. She has a Go Fund Me account for supporting her recovery: GoFundMe.com/kidney4annafromtina. “I can’t stress how important it is to ask for help when you know you need it,” she said. “Most (important) is remembering that no one is alone out there.”
Class allows students to display artwork on campus By Idman Gabayre Staff Writer The LCC Art, Design and Multimedia Program offers a unique course titled ARTS 103, Spatial Dynamics. The class is a foundation-level art class offered through the art program. Peter Tascarella, who has a Master of Fine Arts Degree in sculpture, described the purpose of the course. “Through a series of design problems, an understanding of the visual and verbal vocabulary of three-dimensional form and the organization of space will be developed,” Tascarella said. “Taking an art class is a great stress
reliever, it is a place where you can express yourself freely and exercise creativity.” At the end of the semester, students perform a final project assignment to create a public artwork. The project will be on exhibit around campus at sites of each student’s choice. This semester, some of the artwork created by the students will be on display Tuesday, May 2 in the Gannon Building. Other artwork will be on exhibit at various locations on the main campus until the end of the semester. “Some of the artwork may address things like being a student at LCC, or
they may interact with others or they may change the way we experience the campus,” Tascarella said. “This project is intended to reach out to our community to create a sense of place. It emphasizes what an amazing place LCC is within the culture of our local community.” Nicole Cade, a student in the class, expressed the uniqueness of this event. ”I think it’s great that the students of LCC can contribute to the beauty of the campus with their own original artwork,” Cade said, “It contributes beauty as well as in-depth thought about different issues.”
4|News
may 1 - june 1, 2017 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Newspaper earns 11 awards at conference By Aaron Wilton Editor in Chief The Lookout staff brought home 11 awards from the Michigan Community College Press Association’s (MCCPA) annual conference on Saturday, April 8 at Central Michigan University. The conference began with keynote speaker John Hiner, vice president of content for MLive. He spoke about the ever-changing field of journalism, and how newsprint is still relevant. His insightful and positive speech was followed by breakout sessions. The Lookout Adviser Larry Hook summarized the event. “There were several seminars for journalism students to learn valuable lessons in such areas as editing, sports writing, photography and libel laws,” Hook said. “It was very informative and I think the students got a lot out of the seminars that were offered by professional journalists.” The awards ceremony was the last event of the conference. Awards received by The Lookout staff are as follows: • First Place – Personality Profile – Jaimie Bozack • First Place – Sports News Story – Brodee Gillam • First Place – Editorial – Aaron Wilton • First Place – Sports News Photo – Brian Wells • Second Place – Sports Column – Haneen Hammad • Second Place – Headline Writing – Aaron Wilton • Second Place – General Excellence – The Lookout Staff • Third Place – Online Newspaper – The Lookout Staff • Third Place – Overall Design – The Lookout Staff • Third Place – News Photo – Brian Wells • Honorable Mention – Sports News Story – Aaron Emerson Hook gave his thoughts on the awards received by his staff members. “We won 11 awards, with the most significant being sec-
Courtesy photo
Members of The Lookout’s 2016-17 staff are shown at the 2017 MCCPA conference at Central Michigan University. Pictured (l to r) are: front row — Staff Writer Idman Gabayre, A & E Editor Hannah Anderson, Staff Writer Haneen Hammad, Page Designer Nicole Cade and Photo Editor Nick Thompson; back — Adviser Larry Hook, Ad Manager Lurah Peterson, Editor Aaron Emerson, Sports Editor Brodee Gillam and Associate Editor Aaron Wilton.
ond place in ‘general excellence,’” Hook said. “We take a lot of pride in that, because that is the award the entire staff contributed toward. “Six different individuals won awards. That shows the diversity and versatility of the talent on our staff.” The Lookout Sports Editor Brodee Gillam shared his opin-
ion of the day-long event. “I learned a lot from this conference,” Gillam said. “I really enjoyed hearing other students ask questions about my field. It helped put me into another frame of mind as far as journalism goes, along with giving me ideas to build off from for The Lookout.”
‘Finals Frenzy’ offers fun, refreshments to aid with exams By Haneen Hammad Staff Writer Get prepared for finals with free goodies and fun activities
during Finals Frenzy. Students can go to the LCC Library in the TLC building, or the Student Life office in the Gan-
Photo by Nick Thompson
LCC student Tristan Miller builds with Legos in the library atrium Dec. 14, 2016 during the fall semester “Finals Frenzy” event.
non Building, and take a study break. They can help themselves to snacks and coffee, and also participate in fun activities. Bridget Hudson, student/employee in the Student Life office, commented on the excitement she has for Finals Frenzy. “As a student, I feel Finals Frenzy is a great event to have on the campus,” Hudson said. “It helps me take a break from classes and exams to enjoy some free school supplies and snacks, as well as some interactive games and activities.” The event started April 24, with free school supplies being given out throughout the week by Student Life staff in Gannon Building room 252.04. LCC Fitness Center passes are being handed out in the library
to allow students to work out their bodies along with their brains. The gym passes are valid for use at the main and west campus fitness centers through May 5. From Monday, May 1 through Friday, May 5, students can take a study break by visiting the library and enjoying snacks, coloring, Legos or a board game. John Szilagyi an access services technical supervisor at the LCC Library, described the activities that will be held in the library. “We will have coffee and snacks here in the library for people and we will also have a couple different tables of de-stressing events,” Szilagyi said. “I have tools and a bunch of
stuff that is broken for people to fix and, if they fix our broken items, we will give them a gift card to the Gannon Commons.” On Thursday, May 4 in the library, there will be sugar cookie decorating. Student Life is hosting a blanket project on Monday, May 1 and Thursday, May 4 from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. outside of the Student Life office. This project allows students to help make blankets, which will be donated to the “LCC Stars Helping Stars” food pantry. “Spin to Win” is Wednesday, May 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students who fill out a survey can spin a wheel and win a prize. For more information, contact the Student Life office at (517) 483-1285.
5|News
may 1 - june 1, 2017 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Gov. Snyder visits LCC
Photos by Nick Thompson
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder paid a visit to LCC on Wednesday, April 26. He toured the “Patriots & Peacemakers” exhibit in the TLC Library with Arab American National Museum Director Devon Akmon. Snyder was the keynote speaker at the reception for the exhibit, and also took questions from LCC students.
LCC has food pantry to assist students By Haneen Hammad Staff Writer Long-time LCC employee and former student Laurie Bates, along with a team of employees in Support Services, have established a “Stars Helping Stars” food pantry for students who need help in challenging times. The “Stars Helping Stars” pantry is a donation-based program that was established in the fall of 2015. Jess Stevens, a support specialist at the Center for Student Support, commented on the food pantry. “Laurie Bates started the pantry here because she saw a need … and knew that students can go hungry while in class, especially if they come to campus and haven’t eaten all day or can’t afford too,” Stevens said. “We do have a nice commons downstairs, but that doesn’t mean everyone can afford to use it. So Laurie created the food pantry.” The food pantry provides sack lunches for students who are in need of one, as Photo by Nick Thompson well as a bag full of items for home. The “Stars Helping Stars” pantry is located behind the Campus Resources desk in the Gannon Building.
“At this time, students can come to our desk and we get them a sack lunch, no problems,” Stevens said. “We pick out what they are going to have for the day, and then if they say, ‘I can use some food at home,’ we can pack them a bag for home.” Recently the Center for Student Support has received an increase in clients, and is in need of more donations from LCC employees and students. The center accepts nonperishable food, bags, dry milk and personal items. “We generally ask for donations of bags if anyone has bags; reusable bags are best,” Stevens said. “Something that is always good is almond milk and shelf-stable milks, because if I give someone a box of Hamburger Helper, they don’t have the ingredients to still make that.” Anyone who would like to support the LCC “Stars Helping Stars” food pantry, or make a monetary donation, can visit: www.lcc.edu/givetopantry/
6|Sports
may 1 - june 1, 2017 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Softball Stars show signs of greatness By Brodee Gillam Sports Editor The Stars split a doubleheader against Kellogg CC, winning the first game 6-2 and losing the second 10-1. The split puts the Stars’ record at 29-13-1 overall and at 22-4 in the MCCAA West. Freshman pitcher Connor Proctor pitched a complete game in the win, going a full seven innings. Proctor only allowed four hits and struck out three. LCC Head Coach Marc Kibby said the first game is the ideal result of his team’s ability; the Stars just need to be more consistent. “It’s the process of what we do throughout the year to try to be able to achieve that (success) as a team,” Kibby said. “It doesn’t always work every time … but it’s just a process. The thing is to get consistent with all those three aspects. At times we’ve done it, (at) times we don’t. “Now it’s starting to be getting closer to being able to perfect this, where we are hitting on all cylinders. Right now we’re kind of missing on one.” Proctor also pitched one inning in the second game, coming in for fellow freshman Taylor VanZytveld, to close out the doubleheader. Proctor said the problem for the
Photo by Nick Thompson
LCC freshman infielder Hannah Horvath makes contact with a pitch against Kellogg CC at Ranney Park on Tuesday, April 25.
LCC pitchers is usually more mental fatigue than physical fatigue against teams who hit well. “You have to really focus on hitting locations because if you miss your spot, they’re going to hit the ball hard,” Proctor said. “Physical fatigue usually isn’t a problem.” Proctor said the Stars’ defense al-
lows her to focus on just pitching and not worry about other parts of the game. “Our defense provides me with the ability to relax on the mound and not stress about making sure every pitch is perfect,” Proctor said. “They make the routine plays they should, along with so many great-effort plays, like
diving catches and stops. That really helps me feel comfortable when I’m pitching. “The effort my teammates give behind me makes me feel like they have my back when I make a mistake on a pitch or am struggling in general. They help me keep a good mentality all throughout a game.”
Baseballers in slump; look to bounce back By Brodee Gillam Sports Editor Stars are falling at the wrong time of year. The LCC baseball team has lost four straight games after two road losses against Kalamazoo Valley CC, 9-8 and 6-3, on April 25. The doubleheader loss puts the Stars at 27-11;
15-5 in the MCCAA West. LCC Head Coach Drew Huard said he understands the reason for the struggles, but the team has to get over this midseason slump. “I think it has a bit to do with the timing of the season,” Huard said. “We’re not making any excuses for the kids but … we’re in the middle of the season, bodies are tired. We’ve just got to overcome that. We’ve got to bounce back. “Obviously we’ve got a big series ahead with Jackson (College) which will ultimately decide the league title, most likely. … We’re not looking into the rearview mirror. We’re looking forward.” In the first game of the doubleheader, freshman designated hitter Drew Cantrell was the best hitter for LCC. He scored one run, had two hits and drove in three runs for the Stars. Huard said his worry is getting LCC back to where he knows it can be. “Most importantly it’s just finding ourselves;
Photo by Nick Thompson
An umpire looks on as LCC players Chris Lowe and Avery Maurer celebrate after a win in the first game against Macomb CC April 21.
finding what we’re good at,” Huard said. “We know, as a team, some of the things that we’re good at. We can arguably beat every team in the league. We just have to be better ourselves.”
7|sports
may 1 - june 1, 2017 www.lcc.edu/lookout
ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
Isaiah Green grateful, moving on to EMU
Q&A
The Lookout Sports Editor Brodee Gillam recently spoke with LCC sophomore Isaiah Green. The Southfield graduate was the LCC basketball team’s only NJCAA Division II All-American, making the first team. Green averaged 18.3 points, 13.5 rebounds and four blocks per game in 2016-17. Green recently committed to Eastern Michigan University to continue his basketball and academic careers. What athlete inspires you the most? “My sister (Christina). She played at Wayne State. She just finished up her senior year there. … She had a lot to battle and mentally she’s one of my heroes. She’s so tough.” What do you think you’ll take from LCC to Eastern Michigan University? “Definitely that work ethic from Coach (Mike) Ingram. To play hard. Every time you’re on the court you’ve got to give it your all. That’s one thing I did pick up from Coach Ingram and even the guys from last year, Jimmy (Kodet), Javon (Haines) and Bryan (Morton). Those guys were tough. They played hard every time they were on the court. It was so inspiring to look up to those guys and play with those guys last year, and even this year, the guys we had.” What is your most memorable moment playing basketball? “I was playing in AAU with the family going into junior year. It was a select few (who were selected). We … put a team together and took them to (Las) Vegas. I was
File photo by Nick Thompson
LCC sophomore Isaiah Green will play basketball at Eastern Michigan University this coming fall.
honored to be selected. It was fun, the practices, the airplane; and then we went to Vegas. Man, it was an unbelievable experience. I played against some of the top players and saw some of the top players. It was fun.” Why would you recommend LCC to another athlete? “I would recommend LCC to another athlete because … I realize that LCC helped tremendously. You can become anything you want to become in college if you put the work in. There’s no excuses. You have a lot more free time and you take what you got and use it to the best of your ability. It can take you places. It’ll really turn your life around. I went from having no offers at all to getting (an offer from) EMU, and that’s work and that’s God. So I would recommend LCC, definitely, because it’s a stepping stone, definitely a step in the right direction, and (there are) no excuses. You come here. You work. You can get it done.” What are your goals heading into next season at Eastern Michigan? “My plan is to establish myself; how hard I can play, what I can do on the floor (to) help turn the team around and make the team better. Get my teammates involved, get close with the guys and take this game of basketball as far as I can. My ultimate goal is to play professional and that’s what I’m working toward. I want to start. I want to play. I think I can. I think I can work hard enough to get there and it’s going to take work and a lot of prayer. It’s just like these past two years. But I can do it, I can do it definitely. I don’t think it’s impossible with God.”
— off the glass —
Community college athletes exceed expectations I cannot lie. I had my doubts about community college sports. In high school I always thought there were not many people who would play sports at community colleges, let alone top-notch athletes. LCC and our Stars have changed my mindset completely. In the fall, I was immediately surprised when I compared our cross country teams’ times to NCAA Division I schools at the first meet. The times were not far off and, even though they had slower times, the
Stars were competing against juniors and seniors. This success continued throughout the cross country season, shown through the women’s national title and the men’s eighth-place finish. The men’s basketball team was the winter team that kept my expectations high. They were playing freshmen big minutes and in clutch situations, but it did not slow the Stars down. The sophomores held the team together throughout the regular sea-
brodee gillam sports editor
gillamb@lcc.edu
son, even if they had an early exit on the way to nationals. Now this spring, both the softball and baseball teams are impressing.
The softball team, through April 19, had suffered only one loss in April. The team is winning games with strong hitting and sharp pitching. LCC baseball is continuing to grow together and has national success expectations. These expectations can be met if the pitching and hitting sync up. Even if not mentioned, every Stars team has shown me the errors of my thought process. There are great athletes at community colleges who are just waiting to exceed expectations.
8|arts and entertainment
may 1 - june 1, 2017 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Music director retiring from LCC By Hannah Anderson A&E Editor After about 16 years of working for LCC, César Potes, chair of the music program, is retiring June 30. Although Potes made it clear he has a passion for teaching and LCC, he said he is excited to compose more after retirement. “I have been composing as much as I can
Photo by Hannah Anderson
Emilie-Anne Gendron performs César Potes's piece, “Surri Bachra Noscia: Homage,” at the "Latin Is America" event at MSU on April 17.
during the last years,” Potes said. “But because the demands of the job are so strong, you have to be pretty much dedicating your time to preparing your classes, helping with the administration of the program, and things that are college related … So now when I retire I hope I will have time to compose more.” One of his pieces for violin and electronics, “Surri Bachra Noscia: Homage,” was performed at Cook Recital Hall at Michigan State University on April 17. The piece performed in the “Latin Is America” series originally premiered in New York in 2016. Potes said there were some technical difficulties during the performance at MSU. However, he said the performer of his piece, Emilie-Anne Gendron, did a great job. Potes said he wanted to retire from LCC in June specifically because he felt it was time to start following his passion. “I thought that (it was) better to dedicate the time that I have while I am still healthy and strong to do what I want to do the most, which is composition,” Potes said. “That’s the main factor in the decision that I have been longing for — having more time for my own creativity.” In his advice to students, Potes said hard work is more important than just inspiration.
IN BRIEF
Arts and Entertainment
Art programs to display portfolios
Photo by Hannah Anderson
César Potes is retiring as LCC’s music program chair.
“My suggestion is, to be successful in composition or in other realms, to adopt a discipline of hard work,” Potes said. Potes said although he is retiring, he hopes to continue teaching. “I have been very glad to have the opportunity to teach at LCC for the last 16 years or so, and now that I retire, I want to keep a link to the college. I do feel that now, with my creativity, I will be able to … probably do a lot for the community (and) the students.” Potes will have an original composition performed by Isoa Chapman in the New York City Electronic Music Festival on Tuesday, June 20. For more information, go to http://www.nycemf.net/2017-festival/
Opera night helps save a dying art MSU, we really don’t have anything of this classical genre, so I By Hannah Anderson think this is an opportunity to introduce people in smaller bits A&E Editor The musical scenes class at LCC put on “A Night at the Opera” than the full productions they do at MSU.” There were a variety of opera scenes shown in the performance, at Dart Auditorium April 22. Kelly Stuible-Clark, the instructor of the class, said she from a dinner party to a couple writing a secret love letter. Merewanted to take the class in a different direction than in pre- dith Miller, a singer in the choir, said the soloists put lots of time and effort into the performance. vious semesters. “I love it because it’s a collage concert, so you’re seeing the Cecilia Major, a student in the class, said she liked the direction soloists plus the choir, and the extra dance moves are really Stuible-Clark took. “I love this class, it’s always so much fun,” Major said. “If we great,” Miller said. “So, I think that the community would really like to see it again.” actually had an opera class that Stuible-Clark said she was hapcame every semester, I think we’d py with the performance. get a great turnout, for sure.” “I think everyone did really Major added she would like to well,” Stuible-Clark said. “We had see the event come back to Dart in a pretty good size audience, which the future. was wonderful – I was afraid it “Opera is sort of like a dying art, was going to be really small, and and it’s something that should be I think for our first venture into brought back to life,” Major said. something like this, it was nice.” Stuible-Clark said the perforFor more information about mance was a great opportunity performing arts events at LCC, for the community. call Performing Arts Production “We don’t get to see opera and Coordinator Melissa Kaplan at operetta very much in Lansing,” she said. “We’ve got musical thePhoto by Hannah Anderson (517) 483-1488 or visit http://lcc. ater everywhere … But besides Students perform during“A Night at the Opera,”April 22 in Dart Auditorium edu/cma/events/
After many semesters of hard work, the graduating students of the LCC photography, art, design and multimedia programs will display their final projects and portfolios in “Keys to Creativity” at the Lansing Mall. The opening reception will take place Sunday, May 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. and the portfolios will be displayed through Sunday, May 28. The Lansing Mall is located at 5746 W. Saginaw Hwy. For more information, visit http://www.lcc. edu/cma/events/
Summer fun at Common Ground The 18th annual Common Ground festival will bring rock, pop, country and hip hop all to Adado Riverfront Park in Lansing over the summer. Artists like Big Sean (Sunday, July 9), Toby Keith (Friday, July 7) and more will perform over a four-day period. The concerts begin Thursday, July 6 and continue through Sunday, July 9. There will also be activities like a “hammock hangout” and a zipline. Tickets for this event are available online, and a four-day general admission ticket is currently $79 plus a service fee. The price will go up once tier one is sold out. For more information, call (517) 267-1502 or go to http://www.commongroundfest.com/
Art festival takes over East Lansing In a celebration of art, music, food and more, the 54th annual East Lansing Art Festival is taking over the downtown East Lansing area in a two-day event in late May. The festival runs Saturday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be musical performances both days, as well as a performance by Tell Yo Mama at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 19. For more information, call (517) 319-6804 or visit http://www.elartfest.com/#intro
Tribute to heavy metal at The Loft For a night of rock and roll, Revelations, a tribute to Iron Maiden, and Motorbreath, a tribute to Metallica, will perform at The Loft Saturday, June 10. Doors will open at 8 p.m. and the show will start at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. The event is for ages 18 and over. The Loft is located at 414 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing. For more information, call (517) 913-0103 or go to http://www.theloftlansing.com/
9|a & E
may 1 - june 1, 2017 www.lcc.edu/lookout
reviews
‘Ghost in the Shell’ comes back to life By Nicole Cade Lead Paginator Artificial intelligence is something that is a potential for the future of mankind. Imagine robots with the consciousness of a human, along with being self-aware. A new movie based on a Japanese manga from 1989 written by Masamune Shirow, “Ghost in the Shell,” was directed by Rupert Sanders. It gives viewers an idea of what the future could hold if mankind and artificial intelligence lived together in society. Action, sci-fi, mystery and fantasy are all wrapped into one. Scarlett Johannson plays Major, a robot with an organic human brain in 21st Century Japan. She has been created by Hanka Precision Instruments to become the first-ever robot to fight the world’s worst terrorists. Later she finds out that
Photo from intergalacticrobot.blogspot.com
the terrorists are much closer than she thought. Major fights alongside a special ops group known as Section 9. This group includes Batou (Pilou Asbæk) and Togusa (Chin Han). The group’s job is to stop terrorists who are hacking into other robots and controlling them. Major becomes so self-aware and intelligent with her human brain that she wants to find out who she was before she was a robot. She experiences glitches that are similar to hallucinations, which help her unfold her past and figure out who she was before. “Ghost in the Shell,” rated PG-13, is still in theaters. It has an interesting storyline along with beautiful visual cyberpunk elements. It doesn’t quite follow the original manga or the anime series, which is a little disappointing. Overall, however, the movie is thought-provoking and keeps the viewer interested.
‘DAMN.’ shows Lamar’s diverse music skillset By Brodee Gillam Sports Editor “Is it wickedness? Is it weakness? You decide, are we gonna live or die?” Reflection of both sides is a theme on rapper Kendrick Lamar’s newest album “DAMN.” released on April 14. “DAMN.” is short for damnation, or being condemned to hell. The album shows the side of Lamar that would have sent him down that negative path to hell. Lamar goes through the album bragging and boasting, but also reflecting internally and seeing all of his doubts about his life. “FEEL.” is a strong example of these doubts as Lamar raps, “I feel like friends been overrated, I feel like the family been
Photo from huhmagazine.co.uk
fakin', I feel like the feelings are changin'.” Showing Lamar questioning even the people closest to him, the fear and doubt even leak onto the track list of the album itself. “PRIDE.” and “LUST.” are followed by contradictions in “HUMBLE.” and “LOVE.” showing the same themes as the opening line. Wickedness or weakness? Humility or pride? Love or lust? Lamar is asking his listeners, as well as himself, what the answers are. With the concept being so subtle, yet so prevalent, most artists’ music would have diminished the lyrics or sound of the album; this is not “DAMN.” With production masterpieces such as “DNA.” and “DUCKWORTH.” the
beats put listeners into a synth-filled trance. With all of that said, Lamar’s lyrical ability is still the can’t-miss feature on this project. Lamar’s storytelling is my favorite part of his rapping ability. He puts his fans right into his frame of mind with bars like, “I might be buggin', infomercials and no sleep. Introverted by my thoughts.” By no means is this the most difficult rhyme scheme, but it feels like I am there with him, adding to the trance effect. “DAMN.” is an album that proves to be, top to bottom, Kendrick Lamar’s best project yet. He delivers everything his fans wanted and more, along with a choice for all of us: wickedness or weakness?
Charming food for heart and soul at Aladdin's By Idman Gabayre Staff Writer Aladdin’s Express, located at 208 S. Washington Square, brings a Middle-Eastern vibe into downtown Lansing. This restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is closed on weekends. Aladdin’s Express serves “Healthy, friendly and fun” traditional Middle-Eastern meals.
During a recent visit, I ordered the Chicken Shawarma sandwich with a side of French fries and a medium Sprite. The meat sandwiches are $6.50 and the vegetarian sandwiches are $5.99. That’s not expensive at all, considering the amount of food served. The Shawarma sandwich had great portions of chicken, garlic, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles and some great sauces. The French fries were not crispy,
but were freshly made. The inside of the restaurant is very cozy and classy. We all have our food memories. Just the smell of a certain meal brings back deeper memories of people, places or even emotions. Aladdin’s Express brought back memories of significant moments in my life. Although there are many restaurants with similar themes and
menus, for some odd reason this one brought back great memories. Only five years ago, when I lived in Syria, my world revolved around Chicken Shawarma, especially during exam weeks, due to it bringing me warmth and calmness. The food at Aladdin’s is simply fabulous, the service is quick, and there are inexpensive prices for big portions. What more do you want? I highly recommend this restaurant.
10| opinion
may 1 - june 1, 2017 www.lcc.edu/lookout — if you wil —
Primary plans for summer fun include ‘R&R’ Metallica, Volbeat, Korn and about 57 other bands will perform at this year’s “Rock on the Range” festival in Columbus, Ohio. I am one of the lucky ticket holders for this threeday rock event and I can’t wait to see some of these legends live. Metallica, in particular, should be a highlight of the show. The legendary band is set to headline the entire weekend-long show on Sunday. Soundgarden and Korn are the Friday and Saturday headliners, respectively.
Aaron wilton Associate editor/ ad. sales
wiltona@lcc.edu
My brother and I bought tickets back in late November and made hotel reservations in early January. So, we’ve been excited about this for a while.
I’ve seen five out of the 60 bands before in concert, but all of those are worth seeing again. The end of spring semester cannot come fast enough for me. I am more than ready for a break and I need a healthy dose of live music. Later in the summer, I plan to attend “Rock USA” in Oshkosh, Wisc., for another three days of sun, fun and rock n’ roll. “Rock USA” is a much smaller festival only featuring 30 bands, but it has an amazing lineup. Ozzy Osbourne, A7X, Stone Sour, Falling in Reverse and Slay-
er are the big names of the show. I did get a little head start on the summer festival season by seeing Green Day at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on March 27. And I may add even more concerts to my summer schedule if the band list can draw me in. I’d like to end my final column of the school year with a great lyric from “Eye of the Beholder” by Metallica: “You can do it your own way / If it’s done just how I say / Independence limited.”
— vertical division —
Teaching skills have big impact on student success As I am trying to graduate after this semester, I had a lot of trouble with necessary classes not being offered. The beginning of the semester was a stressful time where a lot of classes fell through, but I ended up with a great schedule. One of my favorite classes this semester is educational psychology. The class looks at what it means to be a teacher, how students learn and all the psychology behind teaching. This was a strange substitution for one of my required classes because I am a journalism major — I am not planning
on teaching at all. However, this class has given me insight into the world of teachers. With this understanding, I am very grateful to the teachers in my life who have made a difference. My favorite teacher was my high school English teacher, Mr. Kleyn. In my educational psychology class, we talked a lot about how respect, interesting content and encouragement can go a long way to motivate students. Mr. Kleyn used all three of those techniques in his classroom and I learned a lot. He was always using humor to make
hannah anderson Arts and entertainment editor anderh13@lcc.edu
the class more interesting. One time, he was reading out loud. To be sure we were following along, he started making up another story as he read. In the mass confusion he created,
all he could do was laugh at his joke and the faces of his students. What really made a difference was his respect for students. He believed in the success of each one, and treated each of us with kindness. Even though I have no plans to become a teacher, I will always admire his example, because he taught all of his students many valuable lessons. If there is anything I can take away from the examples of my teachers or my educational psychology class, it’s that a teacher can make a huge difference in the lives of his or her students.
— as seen by haneen —
Students need to learn to study smarter, not harder It is difficult to push through finals week with the same fresh determination many of us possessed at the beginning of the semester. Finals take a lot from students: time, dedication and sacrifice. For me, it is about declining an invitation for a night out with friends, or restraining myself from going to the park, in order to maximize my study time. However, I have learned some things to make the dreaded finals time easier. The key is to study smarter, not harder. This is a concept many people do not fully grasp, even after years of oversaturating their brains with irrelevant information. Doing well on finals does not have to
haneen hammad staff writer
hammadh@lcc.edu
equate to water torture. Every class, no matter what subject, has crucial key concepts. It starts out with identifying the concepts and breaking them down into definitions, maps, diagrams – whatever it is that clicks for you. Most of us get so obsessed with memorizing, but not really understanding. So
then everything we studied flies out the window immediately after the test. Studying smarter also means turning off my cell phone, television and computer so that I can truly concentrate, and do not have the urge to see what I am missing as I immerse myself in my books. Sleep is more beneficial than that last hour of studying that you try to cram in prior to a test. I even have trouble with this piece of advice. Sleeping does not mean you are being lazy, but instead allows your body to repair itself both mentally and physically. Too many students continue to put themselves at a disadvantage by not getting enough sleep. During the REM stage of sleep, all the
information swirling around in your brain is consolidated. The new stuff is solidified, and the unnecessary fluff is cleared to make room for tomorrow’s information. After a good night’s sleep, you are much more likely to think logically and perform better on a test. No matter how you decide to study during finals week, just make sure it is active. This might mean talking aloud, pulling out the highlighters, drawing pictures of concepts or e-mailing your teachers for further clarification. Whatever you do, make sure you are actively engaging yourself in your studying, and not just drooling over a 10-pound textbook.
11| opinion
may 1 - june 1, 2017 www.lcc.edu/lookout — staff editorial —
‘The Lookout’ a fun, educational workplace Working for LCC’s student newspaper is fun, relatively easy and a great way to learn more about the college. The staff at The Lookout is like a kooky family. Adviser Larry Hook has been at The Lookout for 13 years. He has also spent many years working for news organizations such as MLive, The Jackson Citizen Patriot and The Lansing State Journal. His experience and fun-loving personality come together to encourage and in-
struct staff members in the art of newspaper writing. Additionally, staff members at The Lookout are paid well in comparison to many community college newspapers. Our employees are currently paid $8.90 per hour. The current print publication year concludes with this issue. However, The Lookout will continue to publish stories on our website, www.lcc.edu/lookout, throughout
the summer months. Although some of our staff members will be returning this fall, The Lookout will also have several openings for the fall 2017 semester. All positions require some writing skills, a personable attitude and a certain degree of availability. All writers must also be LCC students. Staff members meet regularly on Mondays and Thursdays during the fall and
what are your summer plans? Aaron wilton
editor in chief
wiltona@lcc.edu
“Rock concerts, work and a road trip”
hannah anderson
A&e editor
anderh13@lcc.edu
brodee gillam
sports editor
gillamb@lcc.edu
idman gabayre
staff writer
gabayrei@lcc.edu
“Go to Japan for “Vacation, save money, “Summer classes or vacation” 2 1/2 months” and start blog writing”
haneen hammad
staff writer
hammadh@lcc.edu
“Take a class and stay local”
— lurah peterson
ad. manager
petersl8@lcc.edu
spring semesters, and are also required to cover various events throughout the week. Anyone interested in working for The Lookout can contact Larry Hook during the summer in Gannon Building room 351, at hookl@lcc.edu or by calling (517) 483-1291. More information about the paper is also available in the Student Life office, located in room 252.04 of the Gannon Building.
the lookout staff — Nick Thompson
nicole cade
photo editor
lead paginator
thomp12@lcc.edu
caden@lcc.edu
“Playing softball “Class, photography, “Work, vacation, and taking classes” working at the library” relaxing”
larry hook
adviser
hookl@lcc.edu
“Softball, tennis and Tigers’ baseball”
Your on campus Credit Union! We are conveniently located in the Gannon Building on LCC's Downtown Campus. At this branch, LCC students, faculty and staff can open an account, register for our free online banking, conduct daily transactions, and apply for credit cards and loans.
We have ATMs located all over campus, including two in the Gannon building, one in the TLC building, and one on East and West campus. Plus, because we are a Co-Op Shared branch, you have access to 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide.
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12|Last look
may 1 - june 1, 2017 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Powerlifting records shattered at LCC
Powerlifter Dwight Lloyd reaches the highest weight during the squat event as he squats 507 pounds. By Nick Thompson Photo Editor A total of 16 American records were broken as powerlifters from around the region competed in the American Drug Free Powerlifting Federation (ADFPF) Michigan Championship Saturday, April 22 in the Gannon Building gym. Lifters opened the event with squatting, then moved on to the bench press and deadlift events. “In powerlifting, you’re not competing for each of those individual (events); you’re competing for the total that you can do in those three lifts,” ADFPF Vice President Bill Sias explained. There were 38 lifters at the meet who lifted a combined 25,500 kg (56,217 pounds) across the three events. Patricia Benson had the highest combined total of the women with 360 kg. Lansing resident Dwight Lloyd had the highest total of the day with 680 kg. LCC has hosted some sort of drug-free powerlifting event for 19 straight years. “It went well. It always does,” Sais said “It’s a good venue.” The event was coordinated by Jeff Buchin, a longtime LCC faculty member and an avid powerlifter. Spotters help rack the weight bar after Patricia Benson squats 275 pounds during the ADFPA Michigan Championship April 22 in the Gannon Building gym.