Volume 62, Issue 2 DEC. 6, 2021 Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959
Holiday Kickoff After a one-year absence due to COVID-19, the “Silver Bells in the City” event returned to downtown Lansing on Friday, Nov. 19 to kickoff the holiday season. For details and additional photos, turn to page 16.
www.lcc.edu/lookout
President Steve Robinson earns high ratings from LCC Board of Trustees Page >>> 2
Women’s cross country team races to national championship in Virginia Page >>> 7
LCC Performing Arts presents historical play, ‘Intimate Apparel’ Page >>> 10
Photo by Julie Newell
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2|News
DEC. 6, 2021 www.lcc.edu/lookout
President gets strong performance review By Jacob Zokvic Staff Writer Following an evaluation of LCC President Dr. Steve Robinson at a special Board of Trustees meeting Nov. 8, the board announced it is “very satisfied” with his performance during his first year. The announcement came during the regular monthly board meeting Nov. 15. The board offered Robinson some additional perks, the most notable being a 3-percent raise. Board members also voiced their appreciation to Robinson. Board Chair Ryan Buck thanked the president for his efforts. “He has demonstrated he is a solid leader and will take us into the next decade successfully,” Buck said. Vice Chair Angela Mathews said the president came in at a tumultuous time and navigated it well. “You have been a captain through a storm,” Mathews told Robinson. “You’ve been steady, straight and doing the right thing. Thank you for that.” Trustee Andrew Abood said he appreciated the president’s response to COVID-19 and echoed the compliments of the rest of the board. “I can only think about COVID safety some of the time and I am grateful that he is thinking about it all the time,” Abood said. “He deserves every penny he gets and
Photo by Jacob Zokvic
LCC Board of Trustees President Ryan Buck (left) chats with LCC President Dr. Steve Robinson during the board meeting on Monday, Nov. 8.
probably more.” Trustee Samantha Vaive was not at the meeting, but gave a written statement praising the president. “We could only hope for the best, and the best is what we got,” Vaive’s statement read. Robinson thanked the board members
for their praise and cooperation. “I really appreciate the strong support from our board of trustees,” Robinson said. “They do a great job representing the people of Mid-Michigan and helping guide our great college. I have really enjoyed working with them since I came here last July.” Robinson revealed that he could not do
his job well without a lot of help. “I think it is also an evaluation of the great team that we have here,” Robinson said. “We have excellent people at LCC and I wouldn’t be successful if we didn’t have fantastic faculty and staff. It was a good night, not just for me, but also all the LCC people who work so hard.”
Complete your bachelor’s degree with SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY on the campus of LCC! Connect with us TODAY at start.sienaheights.edu/lansing AFFORDABLE • FLEXIBLE • ON CAMPUS • ONLINE Lansing Community College is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and equal education for all persons regardless of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, creed, ancestry, height, weight, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, familial status, marital status, military status, veteran’s status, or other status as protected by law, or genetic information that is unrelated to the person’s ability to perform the duties of a particular job or position or that is unrelated to the person’s ability to participate in educational programs, courses services or activities offered by the college. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Equal Opportunity Officer, Washington Court Place, 309 N. Washington Square Lansing, MI 48933, 517-483-1730; Employee Coordinator 504/ADA, Administration Building, 610 N. Capitol Ave. Lansing, MI 48933, 517-483-1875; Student Coordinator 504/ADA, Gannon Building, 411 N. Grand Ave. Lansing, MI 48933, 517-483-1885; Lori Willett, Human Resource Manager/Title IX Coordinator, Administration Building, 610 N. Capitol Ave. Lansing, MI 48933, 517-483-1870; Christine Thompson, Student Title IX Coordinator, Gannon Building, 411 N. Grand Ave. Lansing, MI 48933, 517-483-1261.
3|NEWS
DEC. 6, 2021 www.lcc.edu/lookout
LCC’s food drive brings in over 500 items By Jacob Zokvic Staff Writer The recent food drive on LCC’s campus was a success, with 529 food items donated. The food drive was hosted by: Men About Progress (MAP) and its leadership component Brother2Brother (B2B); The Office of Diversity and Inclusion; and Phi Theta Kappa Mu Tau Chapter (PTK). The food drive ended Nov. 22. The food was taken by members of B2B to the Lansing Refugee Center on Nov. 23. B2B member Armando Mares said it was great to see people come together to help those in need. “All the efforts made by random people to help random people shows a brighter side of humanity,” Mares said. “You may not personally see the smiles, but it is all worth it to know someone out there is able to eat today.” Adam Alexander, another member of
B2B, said the amount of food gathered was outstanding. “In spite of the recent pandemic, LCC’s community continues to be a beacon of hope,” Alexander said. “Their generosity and tenacity are unmatched. “I felt the food drive had become such a light at the end of the tunnel for many of the refugees, showing they are welcome, loved and a cherished part of our community. … No one should ever have to face a night alone hungry.” B2B is already looking at the possibility of doing another food drive this spring. The food drive was one of the projects to give back to the community that MAP and B2B complete every month. Anyone interested can learn more on the MAP page on LCC’s website. MAP meets in the Cesar Chavez Learning Center on the first floor of the A&S Building every Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.
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Members of LCC’s Brother2Brother group are shown with the 529 food items collected during the food drive this fall. The items were delivered by Brother2Brother to the Lansing Refugee Center on Nov. 23.
‘Courageous Conversations’ offer insights, information By Arianne Olayinka Staff Writer “Courageous Conversations,” with LCC Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Tonya Bailey, was set in motion during the fall of 2020. The two-hour virtual sessions are held monthly.
“In September of 2020 we had our first ‘Courageous Conversations’ and themed it undoing racism” Bailey said. “At the time, there were a lot of protests, the murder of George Floyd, and so many other issues happening in the world. “Stereotypes and biases were at an all-
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LCC Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Tonya Bailey is the host for monthly sessions titled “Courageous Conversations.” The sessions examine stereotypes, racism and other important worldly issues.
time high and I just relayed that we needed to have conversation to educate and inform and bring us together, instead of take us apart.” Bailey expressed her thoughts on the power of conversation. “I believe that change starts with a single conversation,” Bailey said. “So, if we can get on one accord to have a conversation, then we definitely can be on that same accord to change a situation.” The conversations are not limited to LCC students. “We grow as a people from learning from one another, being able to hear each other’s stories; learn about concepts and processes and systems that have existed long before we have,” Bailey said. “We grow together through our conversation and these are open opportunities for all to take advantage of – students, faculty, staff and community. It is an asset that the college is providing for all of our development and a way for us to make sustainable change in the future that we all hope to see.” Bailey offered insight on one of the sessions’ directives. “We start off each conversation with something that I borrowed from Palmer Parker on ‘Touchstones and Hashtags,’ a
directive that says, ‘Whatever is said here stays here, but what is learned here leaves here,’” Bailey said. “Part of that directive is, there are no observers in the room. We are all participants – even, if that is a nod, even if that is a smile, even if that is a body posture to let a speaker know that, ‘I am understanding you.’” “We’re really looking forward to our next … conversation – a national conversation on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as accessibility. I think that LCC is just prime to be a leader to have these national conversations … I really believe that we are better together.” For more information on the upcoming “Courageous Conversations” visit LCC’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion webpage at www.lcc.edu/diversity/courageous-conversations.html
4|NEWs
DEC. 6, 2021 www.lcc.edu/lookout
DMAC class produces successful semester By Jacob Zokvic Staff Writer The Digital Media, Audio and Cinema (DMAC) 246 Video Workshop class managed to successfully stream the LCC women’s volleyball games in the Gannon Building gym this semester. The class covered six of the volleyball games. The streams were visible live on YouTube and the recordings can be viewed there also. They were streamed on the LCC Stars Athletics YouTube channel. Students operated cameras, implemented graphics, operated the switchboard and served as director. Students also set up and took down the equipment each week. The students were assisted in creating graphics and setting up the switchboard by faculty. Eric Ozanich, a student in the class, said working on the broadcast crew was a great experience. “It felt less like a class and more like a sports media fantasy camp,” Ozanich said. “Learning on the fly and working together with the other students was very rewarding.”
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Members of the DMAC 246 class are shown in the Gannon gym’s press box while setting up the stream. Pictured (l. to r.) are Arthur Russell, Callie Moffett, Seth Johns, Eric Ozanich, Keith Saylor and Kermit Paksi.
Callie Moffett, another student on the crew, said the experience was invaluable and a ton of fun.
“Shooting the volleyball games was a real hands-on experience of what it would be like to do sports coverage out
in the field,” Moffett said. “It was definitely a challenge because we were using a brand-new streaming system, but it let us get a really good feel for the how and why of running a live stream.” The instructor for the class, Jeff Hamlin, said he thought the broadcasts went great. “The students did really well,” Hamlin said. “Each week there were technical difficulties, but the students were able to pivot and think through the problem to put out a good final product.” Hamlin added he was pleased the students had the chance to apply their knowledge in a real world setting as part of a team. “In a classroom you don’t always get a chance to form a community,” Hamlin said. “This class gave them an opportunity to work and build something together. It lets students feel like they are working as part of a real film crew, instead of just students in a class room.” In the spring semester the class will be covering the LCC men’s basketball games, which will also be available for viewing on the LCC Stars Athletics YouTube channel.
LCC president seeks to start new Vinyl Record Club at LCC By Jacob Zokvic Staff Writer A gathering to build interest for an LCC Vinyl Record Club took place in the A&S Building the evening of Nov. 17. Attendees listened to vinyl records and talked about music. The club is the brainchild of LCC President Dr. Steve Robinson. “It’s an idea I had for a while to be the sponsor of a student club,” Robinson said. “The idea was to combine my interest in hanging out with students and my interest in vinyl records. “I’m a big fan of vinyl records and I am so happy that they have had this resurgence, and people half my age and younger are interested in vinyl records.” The purpose of this initial meeting was to assess interest in the club at LCC and to plan what the club will do. Participants decided that once the club got up and running, meetings could have a theme of types of songs to bring to play. The attendees also had the idea of giving people time to play a song from their
favorite record; then take about 10 minutes to describe its history and why they love it. Once officially registered, the club is planning on meeting monthly and is investigating meeting times that work for most people’s schedules. To suggest possible meeting times, or give any other suggestions for the club, go to the LCC “Meet the President” webpage and click the “Ask the President” button. Those who attended enjoyed sharing some of their favorite albums and discussing their own musical journeys. Conversations ranged from music engineering to old radio DJs and the evolution of sound recordings. The genres of music they listened to included African jazz, new wave post punk and shoegazing alternative. One of the staff members who attended, Will Emerson, said the gathering provided a venue for many types of music. “It’s a great chance to sample other people’s record collections and see the fun and unusual recordings they bring to the turntable,” Emerson said.
5|features
DEC. 6, 2021 www.lcc.edu/lookout
CLUB SPOTLIGHT
Black Student Union helps build leaders By Arianne Olayinka Staff Writer LCC’s Black Student Union (BSU) is a student organization whose purpose is to increase understanding and awareness of Black problems of social, political and economic nature. The club allows LCC students, particularly African Americans, to come together to encourage each other academically, socially and emotionally. The club advisers, Jonathan Rosewood and Sandra Etherly-Johnson, have been with the organization since 2018 and 2021, respectively. “BSU is open to all students,” Rosewood said. “We need members and are recruiting.” Club President Chatiana Moore explained why students should join. “(BSU) is a safe space to express yourself and talk about African American issues and topics, as well as other topics,” Moore said. “It has given me an opportunity to network and experience things that I may not have (otherwise) had, such as meeting India Arie or going to the African American
Museum.” Moore described some activities and events the BSU has participated in or hosted. “We have done poetry slams, art exhibits, workshops on economics (and activities for) building healthy relationships with the police,” Moore said. “(We have) held fundraisers for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and participated with the African American History Committee.” Moore explained the club’s goals for the upcoming semester. “Going into the spring semester, we hope to bring quality programs to the campus and bring students together,” Moore said. “We want them to know that they have a space to be themselves and get support academically and emotionally. We want to build a family. “We are looking for students who would like to be in leadership and the club.” BSU will have a study table and game day on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. It will be located in the Cesar Chavez Learning Center in the Arts and Sciences Building, room 1313.
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Jaharie Green (right) and a former club member offer snacks and information during a Black Student Union event in the Gannon Building on LCC’s main campus.
Students interested in joining the Black Student Union, or seeking more information, can contact Club Advisers Jonathan
Rosewood (rosewooj@star.lcc.edu) or Sandra Etherly-Johnson (johns512@star.lcc. edu).
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Alqaizy seeks business career
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Tabarak Alqaizy is a first-year student at LCC who enjoys business and art.
By Zena Farhan Staff Writer Tabarak Alqaizy is a firstyear LCC student who is interested in art and business. Alqaizy said she sees herself as an understanding person. “(I am) really kind, friendly, understanding,” Alqaizy said. “I’m always a person that’s down to learn new things and experience new things.” Alqaizy said she would like to be a businesswoman, but she is unsure of what kind yet. “Growing up, I always wanted to have my own business one day,” she said. Alqaizy recalled that she enjoys drawing in her free time. “I love to draw and go to the
gym in my free time,” Alqaizy said. “If one day I didn’t have school or anything, I’ll be hanging out with my friends. “I have been drawing since I was a kid, but mostly I started liking it the most during middle school, and then started doing it more and more during high school.” Alqaizy said she chose LCC for its social aspects, as she has friends and family who attend. She said she is unsure of her plans after LCC. “I’m still on that plan of deciding what my future path would be like, but off of what I have decided right now I might transfer to (a) universi-
ty after,” Alqaizy said. “I’ll just (keep) trying until I get to a place where I am happy, and I have my life together. “(I plan to stay in-state) but if one day I get the chance to be in another state, I will.” Alqaizy works in the LCC library, where she assists students with their needs. Alqaizy’s coworker and friend, Syeda Mahreen, described her as amiable. “I would describe Tabarak as hard working,” Mahreen said. “When I first met her at my job, I saw her will to put effort in. She has an amiable personality, which made a comfortable atmosphere for other students.”
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Dec. 6, 2021 www.lcc.edu/lookout
FACULTY FEATURE
Love of chemistry keeps job fun for Qi
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Dr. Ruyi Qi has been teaching chemistry at Lansing Community College for nearly 20 years.
By Chloe Gregg Associate Editor Although chemistry may not be for everyone, Professor Dr. Ruyi Qi at LCC has loved it her whole life. Qi has been a full-time faculty member in LCC’s chemistry program for nearly 20 years. From a young age, she knew she loved chemistry and majored in it for her bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD. “In China, we start learning chemistry in middle school,” Qi said. “The first time I took the class, I loved it. “One thing that really triggered my interest was, one time my chemistry teacher did a demo in the classroom. He soaked a Chinese dollar bill in alcohol and then burned the money, so the alcohol would burn with the flames, but afterwards, the money was untouched.” Qi received her bachelor’s and master’s degree by 1987 in China before moving all the way to the United States to finish out her
PhD at Iowa State University. After she graduated, she went to work at a company. When her husband was offered a job as a physicist at Michigan State University, they moved to Michigan. Qi said she chose to teach at LCC because it felt like the right fit for her. “I enjoy working with people and working with students,” Qi said. “It’s natural for me. The first two years, I taught part-time until a full-time position came out and I applied. I’ve been teaching ever since.” Given that chemistry is one of the harder classes that students can take in college, Qi has advice for anyone who is struggling in her, or someone else’s, chemistry class. “You have to figure out where you struggle, or the reason,” she said. “Sometimes, when students work full-time, or even over 40 hours a week, it’s hard to focus. Chemistry is not something for most people (that) they’re naturally good at. It will require more effort and time. You cannot wait until
the last minute.” For students who are struggling to find the right field for them, Qi also gave some words of wisdom. She said that one truly has to love the field and have a passion for it. “I love chemistry,” Qi said. “Just because you encounter a certain topic and you like it, it doesn’t mean that’s your true love. Once you actually start learning, you may like (other majors). “After you explore, and you still feel like that’s the best major, then do it. You have to make sure that’s what you truly love. College is the place to figure out what you like and what you don’t.” Madyson Decker, a former student of Qi, offered high praise for the teacher. “I was never good at chemistry because I only took one class of it in high school, so going into her class I knew nothing,” Decker said. “Dr. Qi was by far my favorite professor at LCC. You could tell in her class that she loved her job and teaching people.”
Campus Comments Editor in Chief Julie Newell and Staff Writer Arianne Olayinka recently asked several LCC students:
What is your favorite winter holiday tradition?
Alex Hughes Pre-Med
Peyton Perrin Pharmacy
Aesha Zakaria General Science
“Just dinner with the family.”
“My favorite holiday tradition is dressing up my dogs in their Christmas sweaters.”
“We have a (holiday) that’s post-Ramadan ... My favorite tradition is actually waking up and going to prayer.”
El Brown General Studies “Probably what a lot of people’s is time to eat. Dinner time. The meal with the family. That’s it..’”
7|sports
DEC. 6, 2021 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Women win national title; men fifth By Julie Newell Editor in Chief The LCC women’s cross country team earned the Division II Cross Country National Championship in Richmond, Va., on Saturday, Nov. 13. A total of 26 teams competed in the event. LCC had 78 points to outdistance second-place Hartland Community College, which had 94 points. The LCC men’s team placed fifth out of 30 teams in the same tournament. LCC had 135 points. Cowley College of Kansas won the men’s tournament with 82 points. The women’s victory marked the first cross country championship for LCC since the women won back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016. “(The women) had, as a team, their best race at nationals,” LCC Coach Jim Robinson said. “They came in very determined and so did the guys.” Robinson said the men’s team also ran its best race in the nationals. “Generally, the men’s races are a little more competitive, so I thought the teams ran equally well,” Robinson said.
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The LCC mens’ and women’s country teams are shown at the national tournament in Richmond, Va.
Individually, in the women’s 5K race, Haley Ellis placed fifth overall and registered a time of 18:57. The winning time was 18:21, posted by Sarah Bertry of North Iowa Area Community College. Others placing for the LCC women were
Angela Jaycox in ninth (19:21), Kayla Crawford in 16th (19:39), Katelyn Slone in 21st (19:58) and Teagan Norman in 34th (20:21). Individually in the men’s 8K race, Erik Reiber placed 18th with a time of 26:20 to pace LCC. Tyler McClure was 26th with
26:47 and Jacob Dennis finished 30th with a time of 26:59. Isaiah Romeyn was 32nd for LCC in 27:04 and Kobe Blanco placed 34th in 27:06 to round out the LCC scoring. “We try to arrange our training so that we run our best race at the end of the year and both teams did, so it was a wonderful experience,” Robinson said. “Just a great memory for both the men’s and women’s teams to be in that environment and then to come home as champions.” During the season, Ellis was named the NJCAA National Athlete of the Week twice and Reiber won the MCCAA Runner of the Week award. “(The season) really could not have gone any better,” Robinson said. “We had a very young men’s team so, just by default, they’re going to get their best time, because most of them had never run an 8K before. As the year progressed, they just kept improving. “Then, on the women’s side, I think practically all of our women got their best times ever and some by substantial margins. It was a good year.”
Haley Ellis
Angela Jaycox
Kayla Crawford
Katelyn Slone
Teagan Norman
The Lookout Editor in Chief Julie Newell recently interviewed the top runners from the LCC cross country team, which recently won a national championship. How does it feel to be a national champion? Haley Ellis: “It was very surprising, but it was super exciting for all of us!” Angela Jaycox: “It feels awesome! It’s been something I’ve been working toward for two years at LCC.” Kayla Crawford: “It feels really good, especially knowing all my hard work throughout the season really paid off.” Katelyn Slone: “In all honesty, it feels pretty amazing; kind of
like a dream come true. I knew we had a chance at winning nationals, but once it actually happened it was kind of mind blowing.” Teagan Norman: “Pretty great, honestly. It was a big goal of mine and it felt very satisfying to have achieved it.” Why did the team do so well? Ellis: “We’ve had this goal since the first day of practice for winning nationals, so working hard every day and going in the race with a positive attitude.” Jaycox: “I think our hard work we’ve been putting in all season. We barely had any days off and our team is like a family, which is super important.”
Crawford: “Besides all the tough workouts coach had us doing, I think what really made us successful was the positive energy and the confidence we had as a whole team and (in) each other, knowing we had a shot of possibly winning.” Slone: “I think having a strong team mindset and having that goal of winning were the two key things. Throughout the entire season we worked on pushing each other, running as a group and challenging ourselves. Those three things combined at nationals is what made us so successful.” Norman: “We couldn’t have won without everybody working their hardest and moving up
in the race. I know for me personally I kept thinking, ‘If I just pass this girl in front of me it will get us higher in the standings.’” What was the biggest challenge you faced during nationals? Ellis: “Sticking with the first pack and not giving up.” Jaycox: “My mental attitude. There was a ton of pressure going into the race because we were seeded first. I had to try really hard to stay calm throughout the week and the moments before the race. A calm and clear mind can make a world of difference when racing.” Crawford: “Keeping my thoughts under control while running, and that the pain I was
feeling is nothing compared to the feeling if we won. Just telling myself I have the training and that I can keep going at the pace I was at.” Slone: “The third mile of the race. By the time the third mile comes around your body is tired, but you still mentally know that you need to push yourself and keep running, which is easier said than done.” Norman: “It was definitely the nerves. I never competed in something of that caliber or pressure. So, leading up to it I was really trying to mentally prepare for it more than I’ve ever had to. I just didn’t want to let my team down.”
Members of cross country champs share their memories
8|sports
Dec. 6, 2021 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Women fall to Owens CC, record falls to 1-4 overall
Photo by Julie Newell
LCC’s Elysia Causley is surrounded by two defenders during action in the Gannon Gym.
By Julie Newell Editor in Chief The LCC women’s basketball team suffered a 60-50 loss at Owens Community College on Wednesday, Dec. 1. “My team and I fought hard; just made small mistakes that we can fix,” LCC freshman Skyy Lockhart said. The Stars’ record fell to 1-4 overall. “We were down 20-4 in the first quarter; off to a really bad start,” sophomore Jasmine Goins. “We played very great in the second half.” Freshman Emily Sinclair said she didn’t have a great game. “I didn’t get a lot of time in the game because I picked up a lot of fouls early on,” Sinclair said. “But, when I was in, I got a few rebounds.” Goins commented on how she played in the game. “Personally, I did not play my best,” Goins said. “I think I contributed eight points for the night. I did have
Photo by Julie Newell
Don’nesha Howard hoists up a long shot against Henry Ford College.
a pretty good game defensively. I played smarter this game than I have in most games.” Sinclair said with more effort, the team could have won.
“We put in a lot of effort toward the end and, if a few more shots would have gone in, we would have had a good shot at winning,” Sinclair said. Despite the loss, Goins said she is still pleased. “Me, as well as my teammates and coach, were pleased with the fact that we never gave up,” Goins said. “We are really working hard on discipline, such as taking good shots, trusting our teammates and knowing when to be selfish.” The Stars were scheduled to play against Delta College at home in the Gannon Gym on Saturday, Dec. 4. Action starts at 1 p.m. The Stars play against Calvin College JV at home in the Gannon Gym on Monday, Dec. 6. at 5:30 p.m. “Our conference starts in January and we are slowly, but surely, becoming the team we know we can be,” Goins said.
ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
Goins learns discipline from hoops
Q& A
The Lookout Staff Writer Arianne Olayinka recently conversed with women’s basketball player Jasmine Goins. The freshman, who graduated from Waverly High School, is a sociology major at Lansing Community College. When did you start playing basketball? “I started playing basketball when I was 7, I’d say.” Why did you start playing ball? “I started playing basketball because all my brothers played (and) my dad played. I grew up from a really athletic family. It was natural.” What position do you play? “I play shooting guard and point guard.” How does athletics make you a better student? “I would say athletics makes me a better student by teaching me discipline. My coach is really strong on discipline and has really taught me a lot on and off the court dealing with discipline.” What is the best part about competing?
“Being able to see who can handle it and the ability to work with others to achieve the same goal.” What is your game-day routine? “I make sure I eat something good before the game and I hydrate and listen to good music.” What has been your favorite basketball memory so far? “My favorite basketball memory so far has been our team traveling to Delta Community College for the weekend and really getting to know one another through team bonding and having roommates at the hotels.” What are your goals for the remainder of the season? “My number one goal is to contribute on both sides of the court and continue to keep going with a positive head.” What advice would you give to someone who wants to play basketball? “Make sure this is something that you want to put all your time and energy into.” What are your future basketball plans? “I plan to stay at LCC next year and hopefully finish my associate degree.”
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Jasmine Goins is a guard for the LCC women’s basketball team.
9|Sports
Dec. 6, 2021 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Photo by Julie Newell
LCC freshman Cole Krause takes the ball to the basket strong during action against the Aquinas College JV team on Nov. 16 in the Gannon Gym. The Stars owned a 7-1 record through action on Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Men stomp Owens College, move to 7-1 By Julie Newell Editor in Chief The LCC men’s basketball team grabbed a 99-63 win at Owens Community College on Wednesday, Dec. 1. “It was a complete game on both ends of the court,” LCC Head Coach Mike Ingram said. “We made a few changes and really worked on our shooting.”
This win put the Stars’ record at 7-1 overall. “I think it went really well,” sophomore Drew Lowder said. “I’m pretty sure everyone that played scored a basket, so that’s definitely a huge team win for us. Everyone did their part. “We made great improvements defensively and were able to get a lot of stops,
which helped get easy baskets on offense.” Sophomore Zhervonte Smith scored 21 points for LCC, including five three-point shots. Freshman Cole Krause scored 21 points for LCC and grabbed 10 rebounds. Freshman teammate Sean Cobb had 16 points and 16 rebounds. Lowder scored 11 points. “I feel that I did my part,” Lowder said.
“Some scoring and facilitating to teammates is my main job, but I think I did better on defense than most other games.” The Stars were scheduled to play Saturday, Dec. 4 against Delta College at home. The Stars are scheduled to play on Saturday, Dec. 11 against Mott Community College in the Gannon Gym. Action starts at 3 p.m.
10|ARTS & EnTertainment
DEC. 6, 2021 www.lcc.edu/lookout
‘Intimate Apparel’ displayed in Dart Historical play presented by LCC Performing Arts
George (played by Dillon Smith) argues vehemently with his wife Esther (Anna Hill) during a staging of LCC’s “Intimate Apparel” in the Dart Auditorium.
Photostory by Editor in Chief Julie Newell
Esther (in the bed) is joined by Mrs. Van Buren (left, played by Mary Wardell) and Mayme (played by Jamerra Kates) in a scene from “Intimate Apparel.”
George and Esther reconcile following an argument during the second act of “Intimate Apparel” in Dart Auditorium.
LCC Performing Arts presented “Intimate Apparel” in Dart Auditorium on Nov. 5 and 6, and again from Nov. 12 through 14. The play was directed by Mary Job. “Intimate Apparel is about an African American seamstress, Esther, in 1905,” said LCC Performing Arts Coordinator Paige Dunckel. “She makes lingerie for the wealthy women uptown as well as other women who work as prostitutes.” Esther, played by Anna Hill, goes through the struggles of finding love, making a living and embracing her own worth as a person. “This play has so many beautiful layers and relationships, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one. What touches me about the story is Esther’s discovery, and embracing of her own worth as a human being and as a woman. It’s a beautiful play.” The rest of the cast included Ny’kieria Blocker as Mrs. Dickson, Mary Wardell as Mrs. Van Buren, Lewis C. Elson as Mr. Marks, Jamerra Kates as Mayme and Dillon Smith as George. For more information on upcoming shows at LCC, visit the Performing Arts tab on LCC’s website.
Mr. Marks (played by Lewis C. Elson), is gifted a robe by Esther during one of her visits to his clothing materials store.
11|arts and entertainment
DEC. 6,, 2021 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Theater offers up Christmas show By Chloe Gregg Associate Editor Every night from Wednesday, Dec. 8 to Saturday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., Peppermint Creek Theatre Company will be putting on a new Christmas show, “All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914,” in a new location each night. These locations include Sycamore Creek Church in Potterville, Woldumar Nature Center and Allen Neighborhood Center in Lansing, and Carpenter Tree Farm in Eaton Rapids. All of the shows are free, but attendees are required to RSVP at www.peppermintcreek.org. According to the director of “All Is Calm” and founder of Peppermint Theatre Company, Chad Swan-Badgero, this musical is based on true events that took place during World War I in 1914. “On Christmas Eve, British and German troops came together, laid down their weapons, and they celebrated the holidays with music and food, they played games, and they buried each other’s dead,” Swan-Badgero said. “It’s an exciting story to tell because it’s based on a true story; and it’s all a cappella, with 10 men recounting the stories of over 30 different individuals that were part of this event that took place.” Swan-Badgero said the show is a great way to celebrate the holidays and celebrate our shared humanity, which is the core of the show. “This show is very much about how even people who are literally at war with each other were able to put their differences aside and celebrate their common humanity together,” Swan-Badgero said. One of the members of the 10-man cast, Jeremy Kratky, said preparing for this show has provided him hope. “‘All Is Calm’ has become a resurrection story for the 10 of us vocalists and our director, Chad Swan-Badgero,” said Kratky. “We as artists have the opportunity and blessing of breathing life into the literal words of these brave and valiant soldiers who had fought for their re-
Arts and Entertainment
‘Improv Showcase’ set for Dec. 7
Courtesy image
spective countries in WW1. “It’s a story, their story, of a miraculous moment of solidarity and peace amidst the horrors of war. Of all nights, these soldiers found friendship on the battlefield on Christmas Eve.” Kratky said the goal of this performance for himself and his cast mates is to provide the audiences an environment where they might encounter a broader sense of humanity and peace as the holidays near. “We hope this show captivates the imagination of our audience and creates dialogue that propels them to share peace this holiday season with those around them, perhaps even with their opposition,” said Kratky. For additional information about this upcoming Christmas show, and to RSVP, visit the Peppermint Creek Theatre Company’s website at http://www.peppermintcreek. org.
Potter Park hosts ‘Wonderland of Lights’
Courtesy graphic
IN BRIEF
By Chloe Gregg Associate Editor Although there are many fantastic ways to celebrate Christmas around Lansing, one of the best for children and adults alike is visiting Potter Park Zoo’s famous “Wonderland of Lights.” This light show displays thousands of twinkling lights all over the park for viewers to enjoy while visiting with the animals. Starting from Saturday, Nov. 20 to Sunday, Dec. 26, Potter Park Zoo is hosting its 27th annual Wonderland of Lights. This event takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. each Thursday through Sunday. It will not take place during Christmas Eve or Christmas day.
Potter Park Zoo is located in Lansing at 1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave. “Wonderland of Lights is an event that we have at the zoo where people can come through in the evening,” said Amy Morris, the Media and Communications Director at Potter Park Zoo. “People can come in and enjoy the zoo and our light show. “People will be able to enjoy music while they’re walking through the zoo and check out the different light displays. We also have goodie bags ready for children to take home with them for decorating cookies and ornaments.” For additional information on the “Wonderland of Lights” event, visit Potter Park Zoo’s website at https://potterparkzoo.org/
Students enrolled in the Theatre 181 Improvisation class at LCC will show off what they have learned during an “Improv Showcase” on Tuesday, Dec. 7. The show will take place in the Gannon Building’s Black Box Theatre, located in room 1422 on the building’s first floor. Masks are required for all attendees, regardless of vaccination status. This funny and fun evening of improvisation will highlight the students’ improv skills, with games and other performance exercises featured. Andy Callis is the instructor for the class. The show is free, but donations may be made to benefit the Performing Arts Scholarship Fund at LCC. For more information, call 517-483-1122 or go to www.lcc.edu/ showinfo.
Jazz Band plays at Dart on Dec. 10 The Lansing Community College Jazz Band, under the direction of Jonathon Gewirtz, will perform Friday, Dec. 10 starting at 8 p.m. in LCC’s Dart Auditorium. The event is free, but donations may be made to benefit the Performing Arts Scholarship Fund at LCC. Masks are required to be worn by all attendees, regardless of vaccination status. The LCC Jazz Band is a unique collection of members of the community, high school students, and LCC students. There is a wide range of ability levels ranging from music majors and professionals to non-music majors and amateurs. For more information, call 517-483-1122 or go to www.lcc.edu/showinfo.
Christmas play comes to Black Box The LCC Performing Arts Department will present the holiday play, “Mrs. Coney: A Tale at Christmas,” on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 10 and 11, starting at 8 p.m. both evenings. The show is free, and will take place in the Gannon Building’s Black Box Theatre, located in room 1422 on the building’s first floor. Masks are required for all attendees, regardless of vaccination status. In this heartwarming and humorous play with traditional hymns and carols, a writer recalls his boyhood and the Oklahoma homestead his family lost to the dust bowl. They spend the hard winter of 1934 in Kentucky with an elderly aunt and uncle. For more information, call 517-483-1122.
12|Arts and Entertainment
DEC. 6, 2021 www.lcc.edu/lookout
reviews
New Pokémon games underwhelming By Jacob Zokvic Staff Writer “Pokémon Brilliant Diamond” and “Pokémon Shining Pearl” were released Nov. 19 for the Nintendo Switch. These games are the latest in the tradition of remakes of previous titles in the Pokémon series. They are based on the 2006 games Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl. Though anyone could enjoy these games, they appear to be primarily targeted at the nostalgic crowd who played the originals. Nintendo’s previous attempts to cash in on Pokémon nostalgia seemed true to the original, but still fresh. This entry is quite faithful to the original, but somehow feels very lacking in appearance and features.
There is also a very unpolished feel to the game. Movement in the overworld feels strangely vague and a bit buggy. This doesn’t disrupt actual gameplay very often, but is irritating enough to break immersion in the game. The graphics in the overworld and battles do not look as good as the last couple entries in the Pokémon series. Finally, the games sometimes fail to be fun due to game balance. The entire difficulty progression of the game is ruined by the inclusion of a system that gives experience to the player’s entire team. This leaves the Pokémon over-leveled for almost the entire game, which can remove any sort of challenge. The game can quickly become boring,
with the player’s Pokémon one-shotting most opponents. Previous entries in the Pokémon series allowed the player to turn experience share off, but that is not possible in this game. As a very serious Pokémon fan, I found this game a bit disappointing, and I did not enjoy it nearly as much as I did the original. In spite of comparisons to the older games, it is still a pretty good game in its own right. The original game was fun as a child and I expect this remake would be great for a child today. It is easy to understand and the game always tells players where to go. The story gives the player a chance to be a hero in an epic situation without exposing them to serious themes or violence.
Screenshot from the game
Fans that remember the originals fondly and would like to step back into the Pokémon world will likely enjoy the game but many returning players will remain underwhelmed.
‘Love Hard’ on Netflix adorable, but predictable By Chloe Gregg Associate Editor Now that the holiday season is in full swing, Christmas and holiday movies are flooding the many different movie streaming apps. One Christmas movie that stood out to me on Netflix is “Love Hard,” a movie that stars “The Vampire Diaries” star Nina Dobrev. Dobrev plays Natalie Bauer, a writer for a major publication. She only writes disaster date stories. But she has
Image from Netflix
grown tired of going on these awful dates and wants to try something new.
After matching with the seemingly perfect guy (good looking, interested in the same things as her, falls asleep with her on the phone), she risks everything to go meet him … and finds out he’s been catfishing her the whole time. Josh Lin (played by Jimmy O. Yang) is the catfisher. He begs Natalie to stay for Christmas so that he can fool his family into thinking he has a beautiful new girlfriend. Natalie agrees, as long as Josh can
set her up with the real guy from the pictures on Tinder. As one can imagine, the two begin to feel sparks the more time they spend together, as Natalie realizes maybe she is the one who was in the wrong. This movie is a very adorable, but predictable, holiday movie that features all of the warmth of Christmas time, family and love. I would definitely recommend this flick for anyone who loves Hallmark movies.
Zoup! comfortable, lively and close to LCC campus By Zena Farhan Staff Writer Zoup! Eatery at 214 S. Washington Square in downtown Lansing is a locally owned soup restaurant. While the restaurant is part of a chain, it feels comfortable and lively. Whenever I drove through the downtown Lansing area, I always wondered if Zoup! is any good. I wanted to try it for a while, and I’m glad I finally did. The café’s interior has warm and inviting shades of reds, browns and yellows. It has a great selection of booth and chair seating, close to a bright window with a great view.
Since it is recognized for its array of soups, salads and sandwiches, I was expecting a predictable flavor profile. It was my first time, and I wanted to order something I wouldn’t typically eat. I ordered a “try 2,” which is a choice of salad-and-soup, sandwichand-soup, or salad-and-sandwich combination. I decided to go with the soup and salad “try 2.” I ordered the lobster bisque soup with the roasted chickpea, and hummus salad with balsamic vinaigrette. Having a sweet tooth, I went with an oatmeal raisin cookie for dessert. The salad was wonderful. It tast-
Photo by Zena Farhan
Zoup! is located at 214 S. Washington Square, just a few blocks south of LCC’s main campus.
ed like a cheat meal without the extra pounds. The vegetables were very fresh, and the balsamic vinaigrette
dressing wasn’t overpowering. The bisque had a great consistency and even had bits of delicious lobster. The oatmeal raisin cookie wasn’t too sweet and tasted like it had been baked that day. Overall, my meal was fresh, healthy and mouth-watering. The service was amazing! My server and the manager were both kind and considerate. My meal did not take too long to prepare, and it was served with a friendly smile. I will be stopping by Zoup! often. The restaurant sets the bar for delicious food, great service and fine dining on a budget.
13|distractions
DEC. 6, 2021
Positive Negative
By Jacob Zokvic
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Sign of the Times
By Jacob Zokvic and Zena Farhan
This week’s King Crossword puzzle is sponsored by:
Girls In Sports
By Feinstein & Borus
Hold your newspaper up to a mirror to get the answers to this issue’s King Crossword puzzle.
14|opinion
Dec. 6, 2021 www.lcc.edu/lookout — JULIE’S JUKES —
Holiday break coming at the right time The end of the semester is near! This semester has been crazy, to say the least. I have never been more exhausted and stressed in my entire life than during this semester Being in the Interpreter Training Program is amazing and stressful. I have been enjoying my classes and learning a lot, but all of the work and pressure of the program is physically and mentally exhausting. Fellow students tell us that the first semester in the program is the hardest, and I believe them after going through it. I know it will be worth it in the end, but after being in college for about five years now and changing my major, I’m ready to be completely done and move on to the next chapter of my life. For now, I’m just glad this semester
JULIE NEWELL editor in chief
newellj1@star.lcc.edu
is almost over and I’m ready to have a nice, relaxing break. I’m excited for Christmas because my family from Georgia and Wisconsin will be able to come up this year. Last year they were unable to do so because of COVID-19. This year will be the first year my family will be hosting Christmas celebrations for both sides of my family at our house. We have hosted before, but usually we use our church or another
place to have everyone gather. My parents’ house doesn’t have a ton of open space, but we think we have figured out a way to make it work. I’m also excited for my church’s Christmas Eve service to be in person again. Due to COVID we had the service virtually last year. I have always loved my church’s Christmas Eve service. My favorite part is at the end of the service, when we turn off all the lights and form a large circle around the sanctuary. Each person has a candle and, as we sing “Silent Night,” we light the candles until the only light in the room is from the candles. We all have been through a lot during these past couple years and I think we all have earned a well-deserved break.
— CHLOE’S CHAt —
Good luck wishes to everyone with final exams Well, December is here, and all of us know that means it is finals time. I have about two finals every day this week, except for Monday. Not only that, but they are “cumulative” finals, which are arguably the worst kind of final. If you didn’t know, cumulative finals are the ones that cover the whole semester’s worth of learning. As in, I’m about to get tested over the very first things I learned in my classes and
all throughout this semester. So I have spent the past week with my head in my textbooks and quizlets, trying to reteach everything to myself. Luckily for me, I have quizlets for each chapter we’ve ever done, so it wasn’t too difficult to refresh, at least. Even more fortunately, these finals aren’t worth as much as the exams I’ve been taking up to this point. So, hopefully I can easily pass them and finish the classes with a decent grade.
CHLOE GREGG Associate editor
greggc3@star.lcc.edu
I know I’m not the only one with finals this week, or even the only one with cumulative exams, so good luck to those of you who have to take them.
Remember to stay hydrated, get good sleep, eat good food and study hard these next few days! Let’s all look on the bright side. Once the exams are all over, Christmas break is here and we get nearly an entire month off before we have to go back to the groove of things. I won’t have another column until after Christmas vacation, so have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!
— ZENA’S ZEST —
Holiday season is much more scenic in Michigan Spending the holidays in such a festive city as Lansing has been great. I experienced great parades, pop-ups and events before December even arrived. I spent Thanksgiving with my family, and I cooked some pretty great desserts, may I add. I wasn’t sure whether or not I would celebrate the most important holiday of all: Black Friday. I decided not to, which helped me avoid witnessing
Zena FARHAN STAFF WRITER
farhanz1@star.lcc.edu
fights over LG TVs. Seeing my first snow days also contributed to my newfound joy of
the holidays. Although it has been a bit difficult to manage driving, it inspired me to blast Christmas music throughout the ride. I am not too sure of my Christmas plans yet, but I’m positive they will consist of laughter and joy. I’m looking forward to gift-giving and wearing matching pajamas. I love making handmade gifts for friends and family, so I better start brainstorming ideas now.
I hope to continue spending holidays buried in the snow, sipping hot cocoa with frozen fingertips. Since moving to Lansing in August, I have had a deep love for the outdoors. I moved from a city that was full of tourist destinations, but not much of any nature scenes. Because of this, I am excited to spend Christmas at an outdoor event with loved ones, feeling the snowfall while making unforgettable memories.
15|opinion
DEC. 6, 2021 www.lcc.edu/lookout — staff editorial —
Be aware of the COVID-19 ‘Omicron’ variant The World Health Organization (WHO), on Nov. 26, designated a new variant of concern for the COVID-19 virus: Omicron. This variant first arose as a concern in South Africa. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of Dec. 2 at noon, there had been two identified cases of this variant in the United States, both in the first two days of December. The WHO reported that preliminary evidence in-
dicates Omicron may be more likely than other variants to re-infect those who have had COVID-19 before. It also reports current vaccines remain effective against severe disease and death. In an official statement, President Joe Biden said travel from South Africa and seven other nearby countries has been restricted, except for returning U.S. citizens. President Biden asked Americans to continue to follow COVID-19 precautions to stay safe.
What Is YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE HoliDay Movie? JULIE NEWELL
editor in Chief
CHLOE GREGG
Associate editor
newellj1@star.lcc.edu
greggc3@star.lcc.edu
“‘White Christmas.’ It’s a classic that I watch with my family every year.”
“‘A Year Without a Santa Claus.’ My mom and I watch it every year and sing along.”
JACOB ZOKVIC
STAFF WRITER
zokvicj1@star.lcc.edu
“‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas.’ It makes me laugh every year.”
— ARIANNE OLAYINKA
STAFF WRITER
olayinka@star.lcc.edu
“Definitely, ‘The Santa Clause.’ Tim Allen is one of a kind.”
The CDC and WHO recommend that to stay safe against any new variants, social distancing and mask procedures continue to be observed. It is also recommended that people receive a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot if they have already been vaccinated. The WHO stated that the initial reported cases of the Omicron variant were among university students. The Lookout staff encourages everyone at LCC to stay safe and be smart.
the lookout staff — ZENA FARHAN
STAFF WRITER
farhanz1@star.lcc.edu
“‘The Nightmare Before Christmas.’ It combines two of my favorite holidays.”
LARRY HOOK
adVISER
hookl@star.lcc.edu
“‘Home Alone.’ The criminal pratfalls crack me up.”
16|LAST LOOK
Dec. 6, 2021 www.lcc.edu/lookout
The Holt High School Marching Band performs in front of thousands of people during the 37th Silver Bells in the City parade in downtown Lansing on the evening of Friday, Nov. 19.
Silver Bells event lights up downtownLansing East Lansing Roller Derby entered this colorful float in the Silver Bells parade.
Thousands of people gathered for the 37th Silver Bells in the City in downtown Lansing on Friday, Nov. 19. The festivities started with the Silver Bells Village, which showcased vendors from all over Michigan. The 24th annual Electric Light Parade lit up the streets to welcome in the holiday season. Following the parade, the state Christmas tree was lit and a first-time “firefly drone light show” finished off the event.
Lansing Mayor Andy Schor and his family rode in style during the Silver Bells in the City parade through downtown Lansing, arriving in this fancy horsedrawn wagon.
Photostory by Editor in Chief Julie Newell
The train float carrying Santa Claus motors down North Capitol Avenue to conclude the parade.
A lighted drone show took place following the parade. Here, Santa’s sleigh is shown near the Capitol.