Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Volume 57, Issue 12
Feb. 29 - March 20, 2016
SNOW STOPPER Photo by Aaron Wilton
All was quiet on campus at LCC on Thursday, Feb. 25 due to a snowstorm that canceled classes and postponed all college activities. Pictured here, the Shigematsu Garden and President Brent Knight’s residence, the Herrmann House, are blanketed in snow during a sunny afternoon on Feb. 25. See story on page 4.
LCC Trustees gather input on book vouchers
Men’s basketball wraps up share of league title
LCC musicians set to present ‘Evening of Jazz’
News >> Page 4
Sports >> Page 9
A&E >> Page 11
2|NEWS
Feb. 29 - March 20, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Livingston County Center offers LCC classes in Howell Jeremy Kohn Editor in Chief Solar panels made out of aluminum pop cans? No, this isn’t some sort of experiment that members of MENSA are involved in. It is part of an environmental science class offered at LCC’s Livingston County Center. The LCC Livingston County Center is located inside Parker Middle School at 402 Wright Road in Howell. The center has been active since fall of 2007. The campus was made possible as part of a millage bond through Howell Public Schools. The center is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The facility houses 17 classrooms. It offers many of the same resources to students as LCC’s main campus, including quiet study areas, computer labs, a testing facility and a math lab. The only difference between the center and LCC’s other campuses is the size of the center and number of students attending. LCC Livingston Center Coordinator Barbara Line spoke about the ability for students to have a more interactive relationship because of the smaller classes. “We really work hard to support students and really nurture those relationships,” Line said. “That is the benefit of an extension center … we get to know the students here.” Line said the center’s classes have evolved over the past couple of years. “For a long time we really been about the MTA (Michigan Transfer Agreement) or MACRO transfer courses.” Line said. “Now, we are gaining a lot of momentum with health classes. “We have a lot of nursing prerequisite students,” she explained. “They can take almost all of their nursing prerequisites with an exception of a few classes here.” The center’s nursing lab offers students an opportunity to use simulation dummies to reenact real-life medical situations. LCC Livingston Center student aid and nursing major Whitney Gallagher spoke about working at the center’s help desk. “We help students register for classes; help them get their books together,” Gallagher said. “My co-workers are fun. We all work together and help each other out.”
NEWS Early College at LCC honored for academics
The Early College at LCC was honored in February as an Academic State Champion by Bridge Magazine. The college was one of 44 schools in Michigan chosen for the award. The winners represent the top 5 percent of nearly 777 public high schools, based largely upon ACT scores. Early College is a three-year program for students entering their junior year of high school. It is designed for students who are looking for an opportunity to move into a college environment. Participants can earn up to 60 college credits, tuition free. For more information call (517) 483-1640.
One Book #OneLCC to hold book discussion Photos by Brian Wells
LCC’s Livingston County Center, located in a wing of Parker Middle School in Howell, has almost all of the same accomodations as main campus. The campus opened in 2007.
“The True American,” a book written by Anand Giridharadas, will be the topic of discussion at the next One Book #OneLCC meeting. The discussion will be held on Wednesday, March 2 at the Centre for Engaged Inclusion, located in room 252.04 of the Gannon Building. Lunch will be provided at the event upon registration. To register for a seat, visit bit.ly/24pHwu3./
LCC Library to host live music on March 3 The LCC Library is offering students a chance to listen to live music for an hour on Thursday, March 3. Officials are encouraging students to bring their lunch and listen as part of the “Libraries Love Music” day. It will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in the Library Atrium, located on the second floor of the TLC Building. Additional quiet study space will be made available in room 224 of TLC. Medical dummies (above and below) line the walls in the LCC Livingston County Center’s nursing lab. The dummies are used for students to practice real-life medical situations.
LCC Academic Senate to meet March 4 The LCC Academic Senate is scheduled to hold its next meeting on Friday, March 4 from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Administration Building Board Room. The Academic Senate is made up of 43 members, comprised of LCC faculty, administration members and students. For more information, visit www.lcc.edu/provost/senate/
Advertise in The Lookout’s classifieds The Lookout offers students and staff the opportunity to advertise in the classified section of the newspaper for the nominal fee of $8.50 for 20 words or less. Classifieds are a great way to let people know you have an apartment for rent, a boat for sale or a need for a ride to and from college. To advertise, or for more info, contact Sales Manager Lurah Peterson at (517) 483-1295.
3 NEWS
Feb. 29 - march 20, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Construction project provides outdoor seating Aaron Emerson News Editor Beginning this spring, students will have a place on campus to relax outdoors between classes, or to have a bite to eat with a friend. A construction project that initially started in 2014 will provide a seating area between the Gannon Building and Dart Auditorium. Timothy Martz, the LCC director of facilities, said the college has done a solid job of providing a comfortable atmosphere for students and thinks this will add to it. “The college has been very successful with the addition of new art sculptures, monuments, green space, and creating new areas that have been redefined for student use,” Martz said. The project will place 12 to 15 tables with various styles of seating in the defined area. There will also be updated landscaping around the area, electrical outlets, and two steel statues featuring competing guitarists on a mini stage. Hannah Ware, a second-year stu-
Photo by Brian Wells
The space outside of A&S that once was home to satellite dishes is being transformed into a space for students to study. dent, said it will be pleasant to have an outdoor area to hang out in the middle of campus on a warm day. “I study quite a bit in the cafete-
ria,” Ware said. “But it will be nice to have somewhere outside to go in warm weather.” The project got its start in 2014 with
the removal of four satellite dishes. The actual construction of the landscaping and brick began in the fall of 2014 and has been ongoing.
Black History Month celebration a great success Shelby Schueller Associate Editor As February comes to an end, so do the events for this year’s LCC Black History Month celebration. This year’s celebration involved many events, including a jazz concert, a spoken word poetry event and a visit to a Michigan Underground Railroad site. “It was really about educating and coming together, learning about history and different aspects about history,” said Robin Moore, Black History Month Committee chair. Moore said the educational theme was shared by many events. These included LCC Professor David Siwick’s presentation on historical sites in Michigan during “History and Memory,” as well as the Difficult Dialogue “H-Hair,” hosted by the Black Student Union. According to Moore, all events were successful and well-attended, including the Black Business Expo,
which was new this year. LCC Student Valerie Willis attended the Black Business Expo. “I like the communication and information that they’re giving out to give people; growth and understanding and wisdom of how black culture and society works to help each other,” Willis said. “It’s crucial to our culture for understanding, giving knowledge about black businesses and what they have to offer to the community.” According to Moore, next year’s Black History Month events will have a day focusing on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. “I want to encourage people to come out and support these events,” Moore said. “For students, it makes the college experience grand and, for employees, it helps us to get to know each other.” “I would love to see the president more, I would love to see the provost more and I would like to see the vice
president more and the (LCC) Board of Trustees. I invite them out to engage themselves in the events for next year.” According to Moore, the last event in connection with Black History Month will be held in partnership with Women’s History Month and LCC performing arts. The free event, called “Where Spirit Rides,” is a solo theater and dance work performance by Lisa Biggs. The performance is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2 at 4:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre on LCC’s main campus. “Where Spirit Rides” follows the story of two women in the 1800s, one living and one dead, who together work to end slavery. The event will be followed by a reception and discussion in the Centre for Engaged Inclusion, located in room 252.04 of the Gannon Building. For more information about “Where Spirit Rides,” visit www.lcc. edu/cma/events/
Photo by Shelby Schueller
Khalil Peaks (left) of Naim's Unique Designs shows Alice Player of Young Living Essential Oils how to make jewelry at the Black Business Expo on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at LCC.
4 NEWS
Feb. 29 - march 20, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Winter weather halts campus activity Aaron Wilton Staff Writer Closings, cancellations and shutdowns were announced all across the greater Lansing area Feb. 24 and 25. Early on Wednesday, Feb. 24, a massive snowstorm hit Michigan. The snow finally stopped falling around noon on Feb. 25. LCC closed its campuses at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24 due to heavy snowfall predictions and a Lansing winter weather emergency being declared. LCC also closed all campuses on Thursday, Feb. 25 as the snow did not let up through the night. According to the National Weather Service, Lansing matched the daily record for snowfall on Feb. 24 with seven inches. The record was set in 1881. LCC Director of Police William French said the decision to close on Feb. 25 came around 4 a.m. during a conference call. “We have an Emergency Management Team that was in contact with the National Weather Service,” French said. “They were also in contact with Lansing’s emergency management and the State Police emergency management. “We used our RAVE Alert System to alert the students at 4:30 a.m.” French talked about the factors, other than weather, that influenced LCC’s decision to close. “All of the public schools had closed, the city of Lansing had declared a snow emergency and they (city offices) had closed,” he said. “The State of Michigan had closed …
Photo by Aaron Wilton
All was peaceful at LCC's main campus on Thursday, Feb. 25. The only people on campus were police officers and a couple of staff members for The Lookout, who were preparing the newspaper for publication on deadline day.
Our snow people were here all night trying to get it clean and every time they cleaned a (parking) lot it blew shut.” French offered an explanation as to why this particular storm caused closings
while others do not. “It was when the storm came and how long it lasted,” he said. “I mean, it basically lasted for over 24 hours.” French said the RAVE Alert System
worked well for the situation. “Our communication worked very well,” he said. “I think we’ve had (only) like three people show up that didn’t know.”
Trustees get input on Gibson’s suit, book vouchers Aaron Emerson News Editor LCC students, faculty and community members took advantage of the Board of Trustees’ public input session Feb. 22 to criticize the college’s book voucher program. The meeting included six people who voiced support for Gibson’s University Bookstore in response to the store’s reported lawsuit against LCC. Gibson’s, located on Shiawassee Street across from LCC’s main campus, is allegedly suing LCC for its federal aid book voucher program. The program gives LCC federal aid students a $600 book advance, but only through MBS Textbook Exchange Inc., an online book store. Paul Jurczak, a philosophy professor at LCC, was among those who spoke at the
Photo by Aaron Emerson
LCC Board of Trustees members (from left) Deborah Canja, Robert Proctor, President Brent Knight and Andrew Abood discuss agenda items during their meeting on Monday, Feb. 22.
meeting. He said Gibson’s has been carrying a textbook for his students for several years that is currently out of print. However, MBS has refused to carry the book, causing him to
use a new book for his class. “They (MBS) refused to order them, which means we had to go to new textbooks, which are more expensive and may not serve stu-
dents’ best interests,” Jurczak said. LCC student Mary Cooper told the board she refuses to use the voucher program. “MBS is not cost effective to college students like myself that currently attend here,” Cooper said. “It is actually more expensive for me to order my books through MBS than it is to go through Gibson’s, Amazon, eBay, even Barnes & Noble.” Though students can’t use the voucher program with other providers, LCC Chief Financial Officer Don Wilske recently told the Lansing State Journal that financial aid students get another $250 advance that can be used for books elsewhere. The board didn’t publicly address this issue at the meeting, but met in a closed session to discuss the suit. A tentative pre-trial court date for the suit is set for Nov. 3.
5|Feature
Feb. 29 - March 20, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Producer lends hand to local musicians Jaimie Bozack A&E Editor Lansing is home to over 100,000 people. This includes those who flip burgers, attend school, work 9 to 5 and follow along with the average day-to-day hustle. Then there are people like Zack Tuck, who refuse to follow along with the average-day monotony. Tuck is a 28-year-old record producer from Lansing. He has been recording for just under 10 years and focuses on hip-hop production. He found his passion in recording after realizing that a regular job was not for him. Tuck started out recording in his cramped upstairs room for little money. Clients would sit next to him while he worked on the material until both parties were satisfied with the final product. As Tuck began to gain popularity he grew out of his small recording studio. He sought a new place to mix and record. That new place is called REO Town Recording. It is at 1134 S. Washington Ave. “This spot was interesting because all I was doing was walking through REO Town out of boredom and saw the sign,” Tuck said. “I had no actual intentions of this being the final place.” Tuck co-owns the studio with Evan Dunbar. Tuck said although the transition from his upstairs room to the studio space looks
Photo by Jaimie Bozack
Zack Tuck recently opened his studio, REO Town Recording, at 1134 S. Washington Ave.
like a big change, it still feels like his old space. “It doesn’t feel much different because I just crammed myself into another room,” Tuck said. “I have more space for people to record, which is nice, but I try to make it as homey as possible. I like that vibe and it translates well with other people.” Tuck attended Lansing Community College. He graduated in the digital media, audio and cinema program. Tuck said REO Town has been supportive of his business. “REO Town is a community that is coming alive so I wanted to be a part of that,” Tuck said.
REO Town Recording has set hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Tuck offers everything from mixing, mastering, recording, voice-over work and more. The set price is $35 an hour. “Our whole goal is to get anybody’s dream out there, so we are willing to do whatever it takes,” Tuck said. “Basically if someone comes in with an idea, we can cover it all.” According to Tuck, the opening weeks have been busy. He said he hopes to keep up the momentum. “My goal for this place is to keep it constantly moving with music,” Tuck said. “I want to make it so artists are rubbing shoul-
ders with other artists as they are coming and going. Once they start meeting new musicians we can have a more creative experience. We can have rappers bumping into guitar players and then start utilizing guitar players.” Tuck said he is excited to keep working on his passion at the new studio. “The most rewarding part of the job has been the text messages I get the next day where people are like, ‘Thank you. This is the best mix I have had, I am not going to anyone else but you,’” Tuck said. Aaron Dunn, bassist for local rock band Lights & Caves said he has been to the studio for practicing purposes. “It is a really cool and welcoming space,” Dunn said. “I think it is hard for people to have a safe and large enough space to create music without worrying about being too noisy or upsetting the neighbors.” Local rapper and social media strategist for REO Town Recording James Gardin said a recording space is good for the community. “It’s important to have spaces like this so artists can really hone in on their craft and have the resources and support to take everything to the next level,” Gardin said. “We want every project we work on to succeed as much as the artist does.” To book a session, email Reotownrecording@gmail.com or call (517) 253-0197.
Photo editor shutters his way to three MPA awards Jeremy Kohn Editor in Chief The Lookout staff was recently recognized for its excellence in journalism during the 2014-15 school year. The staff received five Michigan Press Association awards, including three that went to Photo Editor Brian Wells. The Lookout competed against other colleges in Division 3. The division is for
two-year college newspapers that are published less than weekly. Wells earned first place in the category of “News-Only Photo” for his picture taken during the 2015 Silver Bells in the City event in Lansing. He also won second place in the best photographer category, as well as third place for “Feature or Sports Photo” for his 2015 Cardboard Classic photo essay.
“It feels good to know that the work I have been putting in here is starting to pay off,” Wells said. The Lookout also received an honorable mention for “Special Advertising Section” for a signature ad created by former page designer Nikki Nicolaou. Additionally, The Lookout earned second place for its online publication, which can be found at www.lcc.edu/lookout. The website has
been maintained by Nicolaou and current Arts & Entertainment Editor Jaimie Bozack, with assistance from Adviser Larry Hook. “We have had a great staff for the past couple of years,” Hook said. “It is great to see some of them awarded for their hard work. “The awards won by Brian Wells are especially prestigious. Brian has a great eye for photography and I’m proud of him for his achievements.”
LCC hosting national powerlifting event March 5 Aaron Emerson News Editor For the 18th year in a row, the American Drug Free Powerlifting Federation National Championships will be held at LCC. The championships will be held Saturday, March 5 in the Gannon Building Gymnasium. National champions will be crowned, several attempts will be made to break world records and money raised will be given back to the college.
“We take all of the money we raise and turn it around to offer for scholarships,” event director Jeff Buchin said. “We don’t keep any of it.” Buchin, an LCC faculty member in the Health and Human Services Division, said the money is given to LCC kinesiology majors for scholarships. About 50 lifters from all across the U.S., and even some from Canada, are expected to compete at the national
meet. There are weight classes for males and females, separated by age. Age groups start out at 14 and 15 years old, followed by 16-17, 18-19, 20-23, then to 24-39, and 40 and up. Buchin will participate in the 40 and up age group. The 63-year-old holds three world records, and is one of several lifters who will be seeking to break another one. “We are excited about doing this and are very happy to be holding it again,”
Buchin said. The meet will be co-directed by Mari Croze, program director for the HHS Division. HHS Associate Dean Linda Koning will also provide assistance. “Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to do this,” Buchin said. Admission to the event is $5. Kids 10 and under get in free. Weigh-ins start at 7 a.m. while the actual lifting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
6 feature
Feb. 29 - March 20, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Gannon tables link students, organizations Shelby Schueller Associate Editor Students walking by may have noticed three tables adjacent to large monitors in the Gannon Building. The monitors often advertise registered student organizations, job opportunities and universities. These tables, located between Student Life and the StarZone, are designed to help students become aware of different organizations and opportunities available. Renee VanDeventer, the LCC Student Life office manager and student organizations specialist, approves requests for the tables and sets the monitors to display the names of the organizations. According to VanDeventer, those eligible to reserve a table include nonprofit organizations, registered student organizations, departments who wish to advertise services or events and the university center for college and university visits. VanDeventer said Career and Employment Services also uses the tables to advertise job opportunities. “Sometimes it’s fundraising, some-
Photo by Brian Wells
Monica Del Castilla (center), a counselor with the Campus Resources for Student Support, speaks with students at a Gannon Building booth supporting healthy lifestyles and healthy relationships.
times they want to recruit and promote their organization; get more people involved,” VanDeventer said. “For nonprofits, it’s a way to get volunteers and promote the services that they offer. “For universities, it’s a great presence for them, and students walking by can learn a little bit more about the programs they
offer. There’s a wide variety of reasons someone would want to be out there.” Student Life allows registered student organizations and the nonprofit organizations to make a request for the tables through an online document, VanDeventer said. She said departments have designated people who make requests
on behalf of their departments, and they go through a different process. VanDeventer said while university visits are normally held in four-hour blocks in the morning or afternoon, organizations can request the tables for any time block, depending on availability. Tables can be requested for up to three dates per request, depending on availability, VanDeventer said. According to VanDeventer, most university visits are already scheduled, but registered student organizations can make a request at any time, with respect to a brief processing period. VanDeventer encouraged students to approach the organizations at the tables. “I think for students the most important thing is to know that the tables are there and if they’re curious about something, to feel like they can approach and ask questions to whomever is there,” she said. For more information about reserving a table, visit Student Life, located in room 252.04 of the Gannon Building.
alumnus spotlight: Pamela Ditchoff
Former LCC student gains fame as book author Jeremy Kohn Editor in Chief Pamela Ditchoff said she never thought she would have the resources to pursue a proper education. Lansing Community College not only helped her receive an education, but also put her on the path of becoming an award-winning writer and author. Ditchoff, 65, now lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband, David. She has three children. She attended LCC from fall of 1977 to spring of 1980, where she studied liberal arts. She spoke about someone she considered a mentor during her time at LCC. “David Zimny taught an honors course, political science,” Ditchoff said. “His enthusiasm was contagious. He presented his class cutting-edge papers and ideas. “One of the required books was a collection of political science fiction. Our class discussions on those stories were the most interesting and memorable discussions I had in my years at LCC.” Ditchoff spoke about how important the opportunity of an education was for her. “I was a recently divorced mother of three; father had left the state, no support,”
Ditchoff said. “A college education had been a lifelong dream, one I believed I could not afford. The Women’s Resource Center at LCC offered me invaluable assistance.” Ditchoff was an active member of The Lookout while she attended LCC. After LCC, Ditchoff attended Michigan State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in communication’s arts, as well as a master’s in English and creative writing. She also served three years in post-graduate work as a graduate teaching assistant. It was during Ditchoff’s college years that she developed her writing craft; writing poems and short stories. One of her short stories gained Ditchoff public attention, winning her a Chicago Review Award in 1991. It was this short story that would later be developed into Ditchoff’s famous novel, “Mirror of Monsters and Prodigies.” The novel looks at the lives of “human oddities” such as bearded women, dwarves and conjoined twins. “I came across references to human oddities going back to Middle Kingdom Egypt,” Ditchoff said. “I wanted to learn more and began researching – three years of research – one still had to find books in a library in
those days.” Ditchoff attributes her interest in human oddities to an incident as a child at the Ingham County Fair. There she encountered a fat lady, an alligator woman, a giant and a tattooed man. The book was given a favorable review by New York Times and was even featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered.” After a successful published book and several writing stints as a freelancer, as well as teaching opportunities, Ditchoff found herself back at LCC, this time as a business writing professor. “I enjoyed coming back to LCC … smaller classes and more interaction with students,” Ditchoff said. “Students at LCC often seemed to me more invested in their studies than my students had been at other larger schools.” Ditchoff continues to write for a living and said she has no plans to stop anytime soon. “I think writing chose me,” Ditchoff said. “I began writing stories as soon as I could put a sentence together. “As a writer with my works I hope to move readers to place them in a time, a place, a state of mind that causes them to question, to affirm, to celebrate.”
Courtesy Photo
Award-winning author Pamela Ditchoff has several ties to LCC. Ditchoff was a dedicated writer for The Lookout and later returned to campus to work as a writing professor.
7|sports
Feb. 29 - March 20, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Hoopster Smith seeks to improve stock
& QA
The Lookout Sports Editor Rich Schenck recently spoke to LCC sophomore basketball center Cullen Smith. The Holt High School graduate is averaging 3.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game off the bench for the Stars.
Cullen Smith
How did you get into playing basketball? “Honestly, I played football until I grew six inches going into my sophomore year and said ‘Well, I’m 6-foot-7 now so basketball is kind of what I want to take serious now.’ Now that I’m playing here I want to relish it and finish out strong.” What convinced you to play basketball at LCC?
“(LCC Head) Coach (Mike) Ingram and the program. He’s a winning coach, this is a winning program and everyone wants to play for a winner. Last year was just a given. … We went to nationals and, coming here, I knew I would win. Opportunities come from winning, so that’s what kind of stirred me to come here.” What life skills has Coach Ingram instilled in you during your time here? “Mainly he has taught us young men to be student-athletes. He’s always telling us to be a student first and an athlete second. Most coaches that come here to see you play, the first thing they ask is, ‘How are the grades?’ If you don’t have (good) grades then you aren’t going to play.” Any plans yet after LCC?
“Right now I have a lot of Division II and NAIA schools looking at me so the more we win, the more opportunities that come. So that’s why we want to win and finish out hard.” How do you spend your free time? “I hang with teammates. We play video games, go to other high school games and we just sit around and watch and talk about basketball. We’re fans of basketball outside of here so it’s good.” Who do you aspire to be like? “I’ve always looked up to Tim Duncan. He’s what they call an old guy but he is a fundamental guy that stays basic. … That’s how I try to be on the court. I try to stay within my range and do what I do. Plus he’s a born winner.”
SMITH
Photo by Rich Schenck
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8 SPORTS
Feb. 29 - March 20, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout — Laces Out —
Rousey making news for wrong reasons
Photo from youtube.com
RONDA ROUSEY
Rich Schenck Sports Editor Ronda Rousey is the face of mixed martial arts, both for men and women. Her meteoric rise to fame with utter obliteration of her opponents in record time created a new cash cow for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Was she just that much better? Were her opponents that much worse? Somewhere down the road the hype defined Rousey instead of the other way around. All the movies, commercials, endorsements, interviews, photoshoots … how could anyone not feel invincible? It could be a combination of all of these, but everyone was waiting for that brick wall to knock her down a couple pegs. That wall was Holly Holm and they weren’t pegs … they were cliffs.
Holm created a void inside of Ronda. That void was on full display as Rousey explained during the Ellen DeGeneres Show on Feb. 16 that she thought about suicide. This instance is proof of the dangers of athletes and the stress of getting too caught up in furthering their brand on the airwaves, television screens or Twitter; or anything that enables someone to have an opinion. Depression after losses is predictable. I have experienced it, as I’m sure millions have. But going on television to talk about how you thought about killing yourself after your first loss? Granted I am nobody to declare that she is not being honest in her confession. Suicide is a real thing and it affects millions upon millions of people, including their loved ones.
However, allow me to say this. If you want to make news, make it about your recovery and when you will make your mighty return to the octagon. Don’t make it about this. Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar chimed in on SportsCenter, saying: “One thing that I learned and she should have learned a long time ago, was that you have to learn how to lose before you can actually win.” Rousey needs to get some help before she re-enters the octagon. With all the mental issues concerning athletes in this particular spectrum of sports, this could escalate into something worse. By help I mean not sharing it with the millions watching. She needs to make sure that her physical and, more importantly, her mental state is intact. If “Rowdy” finds herself with a “2” in the loss column, at this rate I am afraid to see what happens.
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9 sports
Feb. 29 - march 20, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Men earn share of title with blowout win Rich Schenck Sports Editor With a share of the MCCAA Western Conference Title on the line, the LCC men’s basketball team delivered one of its best games of the year, a 115-87 high flying victory over Muskegon CC Feb. 22 in front of a packed Gannon Gym. “I’m not going to lie; that was a very good team we just blasted,” LCC Coach Mike Ingram said. “As a coach, it lets us know all the things we are doing and the things that we are saying to the guys.” Ingram’s departing sophomores were honored before tipoff in front of a “White Out” crowd. “It was amazing,” LCC sophomore Jimmy Kodet said. “We’ve been going hard all week at each other, getting on each other’s nerves. Doing the score that we did and having the game that we had, it was a great time.” The victory avenges the No. 4 Stars’ (132 MCCAA West, 25-3 overall) 95-81 loss on the road to the Jayhawks Jan. 25, which knocked LCC from the No. 1 spot in the Division II national rankings. The Stars were ranked fourth in the nation as of Feb. 23. “We had a great half about four games ago and we’ve just carried it on,” Ingram said. “During our 17 game winning-streak we were in first place, it tired the guys out. We lost a couple games we should have won, but I think we’re hitting our stride again.” The Jayhawks (11-3 MCCAA West, 21-5 overall) relied heavily on their shooting from three-point range (11 of 28) to keep the game tight through most of the first half.
Photo by Brian Wells
Javon Haines (#24 at the rim) misses a layup during the game against Muskegon Community College on Monday, Feb. 22 before a packed house in the Gannon Gymnasium.
“We haven’t been looking over any opponents,” LCC sophomore Javon Haines said. “We wanted this game so bad and we love to protect our house.” The Stars went to LCC freshman Isaiah Green (23 points, 14 rebounds) down low early and often. Green frustrated MCC’s defense, earning early foul calls and opening up his teammates for open looks on the perimeter. LCC stayed disciplined on the defensive side of the ball and did not commit a foul through the game’s first 10 minutes. That helped the Stars to a 58-48 lead at halftime. “I try to tell the guys that we are the best
team in the country when we play defense,” Ingram said. “I was really proud of the guys because they played together on defense and did a heck of a job on offense, too.” The Stars could do no wrong on either side of the ball. They dominated the boards (45 rebounds), and the back court dished out crisp passes (25 assists). LCC raced out to an 82-52 lead less than halfway through the second half. “We’re stepping on the gas pedal and never letting off,” Kodet said. It soon became a 94-54 lead and the Stars began to add some flair to the game. Haines (eight assists) in particular, set
Photo by Brian Wells
Isaiah Green goes for a layup during LCC’s game against Muskegon Community College on Monday, Feb. 22. The Stars won 115-87.
up Green and Kodet for a few alley-oop dunks that electrified the crowd and stirred the bench into a celebratory frenzy. “I’m just happy I went out with my brothers,” Haines said. “Last home game of the regular season, I’m glad I went out with a bang with my brothers.” The LCC men were scheduled to travel to play Ancilla College on Feb. 24. The game was rescheduled for Feb. 26 due to snowy conditions. With a victory over Ancilla, LCC would win the MCCAA Western Conference Title outright.
Lady cagers fall To Muskegon CC in home finale Rich Schenck Sports Editor It has been a forgettable season for the LCC women’s basketball team (4-11 MCCAA West, 8-20 overall). The Stars fell 66-57 to Muskegon CC Feb. 22 in the Gannon Gym, marking the team’s sixth loss in seven games. The Lady Stars kept it close for the majority of the first quarter. LCC sophomore Mackenzie Geister’s three-point shot before the buzzer tied it at 17. Despite flashes of offensive guile, LCC seemed lost. The Stars lacked organization and often looked for an
Photo by Rich Schenck
Morgan Neely drives around a player from Muskegon Community College during the game on Monday, Feb. 22 in Gannon Gymnasium. The Stars fell 66-57.
open player who wasn’t there. Muskegon jumped on LCC defensively at the beginning of the third quarter, picking the ball handler’s pockets for two steals on LCC’s first two possessions. Geister and LCC freshman forward Chasity Potter led the team in scoring with 16 points each. LCC sophomore Nariyel Purches led the Stars with eight rebounds to go with eight points. The Lady Stars finished the season seventh in the MCCAA Western conference; two wins away from qualifying for the NJCAA District G qualification tournament.
10|ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Feb. 29 - march 20, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
‘Threepenny Opera’ enchants audiences Jaimie Bozack A & E Editor Students in LCC’s theater department gave a performance to remember during “The Threepenny Opera,” presented Feb. 19, 20, 26, 27 and 28 in the Dart Auditorium. The show, a “play with music,” left audience members enchanted as they watched the opera unfold. The musical is written by Berlot Brecht and Kurt Weill. It was directed by Professor Connie Curran-Oesterle. “The Threepenny Opera” is a vicious satire on the bourgeois capitalist society in London as told through beggars, thieves and whores during the coronation of Queen Victoria. The story focuses on a criminal and womanizer named Macheath, who marries Polly Peachum. Director Curran-Oesterle, who has taught at LCC since 2002, said she was excited to present the musical to audience members. “It went extremely well,” Curran-Oesterle said. “I heard a lot of comments from people. I had a few friends say they really enjoyed it and I had a few people I didn’t know say they enjoyed it.” Curran-Oesterle said attendance was steady during the opening weekend. “What I think was interesting at
the beginning was that the audience wasn’t sure if the play was funny or not,” Curran-Oesterle said. “It has a sort of dark humor. Once they realized it was supposed to be fun and a little outrageous, they were able to relax and have fun with it.” Curran-Oesterle said the opera included an eight-piece orchestra that performed in the style of 1920s jazz. “We had a lot of music majors in this show so I hope they learned acting; and the actors learned musical theater and put it all together,” Curran-Oesterle said. “There should be no difference between acting and singing. It should be a thing that works together. “For this show particularly I was excited. They needed an audience to listen to them, so I was anticipating exactly what they gave which was exuberance and excitement.” LCC student Ian Whipp played the part of Tiger Brown. Brown was London’s police commissioner and Macheath’s best friend from war. “In a show like this one where everyone’s either a crook, a whore or a cathouse owner, it’s an interesting dynamic to be the only character who had some semblance of order and law,” Whipp said. “I also had a neat gun.” Whipp said he had a lot of fun per-
Photo by Brian Wells
Sarah Lynn (left), Travis Williams and Kelly McNabb rehearse for “Threepenny Opera” in Dart Auditorium.
forming in “The Threepenny Opera.” He said he hopes to work with Curran-Oesterle again. “I am a big fan of the direction that Connie took with setting the show in
2065 without actually having to change all that much script,” Whipp said. “This has also been my first time singing outside of the chorus in a musical, which has been a great experience.”
Love Lansing Party to highlight arts on March 6 Jaimie Bozack A&E Editor Art is a growing part of Lansing. It can be seen in many forms: from a local musician creating music to artists painting murals that are placed on display. With the art scene flourishing in Lansing it leaves some scratching their heads as more art and music programs get cut in local schools. JiveOne5even, in association with The Green Door Blues Bar & Grill, 2005 E. Michigan Ave., will take a stand. The design company and the bar will donate their money, time and art during the second annual Love Lansing Party 2016 on Sunday, March 6 from 1 to 8 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10 at the door. Proceeds will go toward local art students with the Lansing Elementary Art Education fund. The event will feature hip-hop, alternative and rock performances, as well as drink specials, food, art, silent auctions and
more. Participants will have the opportunity to bid on the art of 12 local artists, as well as on work done by local art students. Bidding will take place during the event. The art can be viewed on the JiveOne5even website prior to the event. Co-owner of JiveOne5even and event organizer Paul Vetne said he and other
co-owner Marcus Cottom are both involved with the arts. He said the goal is to bring awareness to underfunded art programs. “Marcus came up in the public school system here in Lansing and felt like he was gypped of his art education,” Vetne said. “He always wanted to do it but got crappy art supplies and not enough exposure to it, whereas I went to private schools and got more attention to it. “You realize there are different circumstances that give someone that opportunity or not. … We believe everyone should have the same opportunity.” Vetne said he hopes to make about $5,000 to $6,000 with the event. “We want to bring attention to the art,” Vetne said. “It is one of the first things to get cut and we don’t think that should be the case.” Vetne works at The Tattoo Shop, 2401 E. Michigan Ave., and has been tattooing for 10 years. He said being involved with art
has made him view the world in a different way. “I think the world would be a better place if we were a little more introspective,” Vetne said. “The alternative look on things that it requires to be an artist is a good way to train people to care about the world.” Local artist Kimberly Lavon said she has been making art professionally since 2009. She is currently booked with exhibits through 2016 and is working on 2017. “Each project succeeds the magnitude of the last,” Lavon said. “I feel incredibly humbled to have reached the level I am at.” She will be participating in the event and said she hopes to bring inspiration with her art. “I have never worked with this group of creatives,” Lavon said. “I feel like I make a difference here with what I do art-wise. I am proud to be part of this community.” For more information and to view the art that will be featured at the event head to jiveoneseven.wix.com/jiveoneseven/
11 A&E
Feb. 29 - March 20, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
LCC’s music department to present ‘Evening of Jazz’ Jaimie Bozack A&E Editor LCC music students will take the Dart Auditorium stage on Friday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. for a jazzy, foot-tapping performance during “An Evening of Jazz.” The event is a concert featuring both the LCC Vocal Pop & Jazz Ensemble, directed by Kelly Stuible-Clark, and the LCC Jazz Band, directed by Jonathan Gewirtz. The evening is free and open to the public. Gewirtz said the performers are students who have been preparing for the show for months. “The performers have been working on this music since the beginning of the semester and some songs have been carried over from last semester,” Gewirtz said. The Jazz Band will perform music from composers including Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Thad Jones, Sammy Nestico and Wayne Shorter. “I believe jazz at the collegiate level should expose students to as many varieties of jazz as possible,” Gewirtz said. Gewirtz said he hopes to bring attention to the LCC music program through “An Evening of Jazz.”
“Performances like this feature our music department at LCC,” Gewirtz said. “Many people don’t even know we have music or arts at LCC. There are some extremely talented students here at LCC.” Gewirtz encouraged people to attend the event. “It will be a great night to hear jazz for free by very talented students,” Gewirtz said. “I hope audience members are entertained and possibly exposed to music that they have never heard before or seen live.” LCC student Chris Holt has been in the LCC music program for a little over two years. She has played piano for 20 years and flute for one year. “I am an older student that is returning to music after many years not playing,” Holt said. “I sought out being a member of the Jazz Ensemble to be part of a community of musicians. Playing with others is the best part for me.” Holt said the band has been busy working on the pieces that will be featured at “An Evening of Jazz.” “We put our all into preparing for the performances and we all look forward to it,” Holt said. ‘An Evening of Jazz’ will lift you up. Jazz is a great genre and
Robin Theatre offers free ‘Brew & View’ The Robin Theatre, 1105 S. Washington Ave., will host a free Brew & View event Thursday, March 31 at 8 p.m. The movie classic “Tombstone,” will be shown to the public. “Tombstone,” is a 1993 American western film. It is the story of a successful lawman’s plans to retire anonymously in Tombstone, Ariz. However his plans are disrupted by the kind of outlaws he was famous for eliminating. For more information, go to www.therobintheatre.com/
Lansing Art Gallery present ‘Art & Ale’
Photo by Brian Wells
The LCC Jazz Band rehearses on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015.
live music is a lot of fun to listen to.” LCC student Jordan Reese said he has listened to jazz for years. He hopes to make it to the event. “I love jazz music,” Reese said. “I grew up listening to it on my father’s records. I hope some of my favorites are played.” For more information on the event head to www.lcc.edu/cma/events/
La Batterie will make a bang in Dart Jaimie Bozack A&E Editor “It’s a lot of drumming.” A lot of drumming may be an understatement when it comes to Mike Daniels’ La Batterie, an annual drum and music extravaganza. La Batterie will take place Sunday, March 6 at 3 p.m. in the Dart Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. It will feature 23 drum sets played by different groups of drummers ranging from the LCC Percussion Ensemble to the Bash Battalion. Daniels is an LCC professor of 25 years, a drummer of over 50 years and a performer for several bands and projects. He said La Batterie will include Latin bands, blues, funk and jazz. Besides drummers, Daniels said there will be dancers, poets, singers, special guests and a focus on songwriters. “The first year it started I had four
drummers on stage,” Daniels said. “Then it went up to 10, and then to 20, and then to the most I have had at 29. It’s a fun event and it keeps growing each year.” Daniels said he has been involved with percussion since he was 12. He will be 68 in April. He said his passion for jazz music made him want to start La Batterie. “I love all kinds of music but my interest of jazz got me involved in this event,” Daniels said. “They work with sounds instead of just playing a standard drum solo. I liked how they use all types of percussion, including hand percussion.” Daniels said he hopes for a packed house this year. “I want audience members to walk away feeling happy and enjoy something that was a collaboration between the musicians and the people,” Daniels said. “My favorite thing is the camaraderie between all the players,” he said. “Every year I have done this I feel more and
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
more relaxed in front of the audience. It’s almost like being in front of family.” According to Daniels, the drummers will have one rehearsal before the concert. He said he looks forward to the show. “It takes quite a bit to organize all of the drummers,” Daniels said. “It is well worth the work. Just to see young people, older people and children enjoying the show makes it worthwhile.” Lansing resident Jason Casteel said he has attended La Batterie for three years. “I started going to the show when I attended LCC a couple years ago,” Casteel said. “It is a tradition that I go every year now with my girlfriend.” Casteel played snare drum in his high school marching band. “Seeing all of the different drums on stage takes me back to when I was in band myself,” Casteel said. “It makes me want to pick up the sticks again for old time’s sake.”
Community members 21 and up will have a chance to celebrate and create art while knocking back a cold one during the Lansing Art Gallery’s Art & Ale every Tuesday until April 19. The next Art & Ale will be Tuesday, March 1 at 6 p.m. Art & Ale will be held at the Midtown Brewing Company, 402 S. Washington Square, in Lansing. The class will include beer, engaging step-by-step creative art making and all art supplies. Art & Ale sessions are designed for learners of all skills and levels. No prior painting experience is necessary. Tickets are $30 for non-members and $25 for members. For more information head to lansingartgallery.org/artandale/
Stefanie Haapala hopping into The Loft Lansing’s own folk artist Stefanie Haapala will perform at The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., on Friday, March 18. Haapala will perform old songs along with some new ones. She will be joined by other Michigan-based bands that include Michigander, Rival Summers, My Living Ghost and Charlie Burg. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The show is for all ages and will kick off at 7 p.m. For more information head to theloftlansing.com/
REO Town offers comedy from The Coven REO Town is an expanding and flourishing area of Lansing. The Robin Theatre, 1105 S. Washington Ave., is one of the many new additions to the REO Town area. The theatre offers events every week ranging from concerts to plays and comedy. The Robin Theatre will host The Comedy Coven once a month. The Coven features a variety of different comedians and was created by Lansing’s leading ladies in comedy. The next Comedy Coven show is Tuesday, March 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. For more information head to www.facebook.com/comedycoven/
12 A&E
Feb. 29 - March 20, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
reviews
Deadpool: A delightful tacky, unrefined thrill ride Jeremy Kohn Editor in Chief A Merc with a mouth. Deadpool isn’t your Boy Scout superhero. Wade Wilson is an assassin who wields a tongue as sharp as the swords he brands. Wilson, (played by actor Ryan Reynolds) one day finds himself at his local assassin’s bar establishment, Sister Margaret’s Home for Wayward Girls. It is there Wilson meets his romantic counterpart and neighborhood prostitute Vanessa Carlysle (played by Morena Baccarin). After some crude banter occurs between the two, they leave the bar together. The couple soon become inseparable, professing their foul-mouthed and perverted love to one another as frequently as they can. After one night together, Wilson collapses suddenly. Wilson and Carlysle visit a doctor
Photo from foxmovies.com
together and learn Wilson has cancer. Distraught by this news, Wilson learns of an experimental program that can supposedly cure him of his ailment. Wilson’s fear of dying and leaving his love alone lead him to seek a cure at this facility. An unethical scientist named Ajax performs heinous experiments
on Wilson. They give him regenerative healing, curing his cancer, but also leave his body grotesquely deformed. Afraid that Carlysle would be unable to love his horribly disfigured body, Wilson dons a masked suit. He calls himself “Deadpool,” seeks revenge on Ajax, and hopes Ajax pos-
sesses a cure to return his body to its former state. This movie, from the opening credits, will have audiences laughing. Reynolds is perfectly cast as the quick-witted Deadpool. X-Men’s Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) is great as the voice of reason opposite Deadpool’s insanity. A lesser known character, Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), was also a great addition to the film as she brought a dry deadpan wit, which differs from Deadpool’s crass in-your-face delivery. Although the budget for this movie wasn’t as big as other Marvel movies, the movie uses the strengths it has perfectly. The movie also have no qualms with poking fun at FOX studios and the X-Men franchise. More Marvel movies should take a cue from Deadpool and try to stay true to the characters roots.
The magic never dies at Disney World in Florida Shelby Schueller Associate Editor This Valentine’s Day I was lucky enough to spend it with my love in the happiest place on earth: Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. My inner child went crazy as we strolled down Main Street U.S.A. toward the iconic Cinderella Castle, saw live Disney characters (Drizella and Anastasia were my favorite) and, of course, enjoyed rides, parades and fireworks. While we were at the park, we were able to experience the relatively new ticket system called “MagicBand or Card,” which
not only serves as your ticket to the park, but allows you to choose up to three fast passes for attractions of your choice in one park per day. This feature was especially helpful for us at Magic Kingdom because the lines were on average at least an hour long, no matter the type of ride or attraction. During our visit I realized that Disney parks only have two seasons: busy and insanely busy. Luckily for us, we were there during the busy season, so we could actually do everything we wanted to do, with the help of our fast passes. Because Disney parks are designed for children of all ages, the rides
are not the most thrilling, but nearly all tell stories and provide entertainment. Additionally, the MagicBands and cards synchronize with the “My Disney Experience” application for smartphone devices. This allows you to plan your fast passes for every day of your trip, view scheduled events for the day, make dining reservations, download photos, view wait times for attractions (though this was not entirely accurate) and more. Despite the amazing, immersive experience of the park, a Disney vacation is not cheap. My boyfriend and I each used a three-day Park Hopper ticket, which to-
taled about $670. Additionally, the food options at Magic Kingdom were limited, pricey and overall not the best quality. This, compiled with flight and hotel stays, makes the trip very expensive very quickly. Dollar signs aside, the Disney experience is modern yet timeless, and I felt like a kid more than once. Disney magic exists no matter how old you are. Whether you’re a star-struck 5-year-old meeting Anna and Elsa, or a 21year old dazzled by the intricate parade floats, Magic Kingdom has something for pretty much everyone.
New TV show ‘Shades of Blue’ colors in the gray areas Aaron Wilton Staff Writer “Shades of Blue” shows the different degrees of being a cop. “Shades of Blue” is new series on NBC starring Ray Liotta and Jennifer Lopez. The show airs on Thursday nights at 10 p.m. Lopez makes her return to TV as Detective Harlee Santos, a single mother struggling to pay for her daughter to attend Jul-
liard, a music school in New York. Liotta plays Lt. Matt Wozniak, Santos’s boss. Santos and Woz, as he is commonly referred to, work in an NYC precinct in a rough neighborhood. Woz has gotten the whole team of detectives involved in “extracurriculars.” All of them are receiving payments from bookies and drug dealers in exchange for protecting these criminals.
Woz and Santos are practically family. They are each other’s confidant. As the storyline unfolded I found myself surprised by a few twists and turns. Liotta and Lopez make a good onscreen duo. Although I haven’t been impressed with Lopez’s acting in a few of her films, she may have found the perfect fit in this character. Liotta is known for his ability to play the “bad guy.” In “Shades of Blue” you get to
see him walk the line between good and bad. All of the actors do a great job of bringing their characters to life. The series is actually filmed in New York, which helps with the realism. The show has already done six episodes this season. I have only seen two episodes and am already hooked. This is the best NBC series in a long time, possibly my whole life.
13|distractions
Feb. 29 - March 20, 2016
This week’s comic sponsored by:
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14|opinion
Feb. 29 - March 20, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout — sights & sounds —
Proud to be a Lansing Public Schools grad I have called Lansing my home for 20 years. I have walked down the streets of downtown countless times. I have found the best places to eat, hang out and have fun. Not only have I lived in Lansing my whole life, but I grew up attending Lansing schools. That is usually the line where people stop appreciating my knowledge of Lansing and start judging me for it. It’s usually a disgusted look or an apology, as if they actually knew what attending Lansing schools was like. I walked the halls of Everett High School for four years. During those four years I
spent my time high fiving people of all backgrounds, races and beliefs. I learned new things from some very well-rounded and talented teachers. While attending Everett I never realized the stigma that went along with attending a Lansing public school. I never questioned whether I was getting less of an education than those 10 minutes away in Okemos or Holt. I never was scared for my life attending an “inner-city school” and I never once thought about leaving the district. During my high school days, as I would sit with my friends chatting the latest news, making plans and figuring out that one
math problem that stood in the way of finishing our homework, Everett felt like home. What makes Everett different from Okemos or Holt is money. Yes, Everett lacks money and improvements need to be made. But the lack of money also makes the school a unique place. We never had the type of cliques one would see in a school like Okemos. It was never a battle between the rich and poor, or black and white. This is because at Everett we all came from very different backgrounds and cultures. There were no two or three groups, but many that were all different. We all had a brand placed upon us from other schools and we all set out on a mission to graduate and prove ourselves. Let me guess, you have probably heard
that Everett is dangerous? Maybe you have heard that we had cops who lined the halls? Maybe you heard our teachers weren’t providing us with the proper education? Those statements are wrong and yet they are questions I am commonly asked. No one ever asked about our football team or our marching band, which was very successful while I attended. Everett had some of the most dedicated teachers who would spend hours after class tutoring and making sure each student got individual help. I graduated in 2013, but I still go back just to walk the halls of Everett, high fiving people of all kinds and visiting teachers who mean the world to me. I am a Lansing School District alum and I will never be ashamed to admit it.
— The Kohn effect —
Where is ‘we the people’ in the election process? On Feb. 9, two Democratic nominees for the U.S. presidency, Hilary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, squared off in the New Hampshire Primary. Sanders won 60.4 percent to 38 percent. Seems a pretty-clear cut win for Sanders right? Except here is the X-factor: the voters who make up the superdelegates. Who are these superdelegates? There are 720 superdelegates. These include members of the House, the Senate, elected mayors, chairs and vice-chairs. These so-called superdelegates can vote for any candidate they want regardless of which state they are from. According to an article in Paste magazine each superdelegate equals the say of 10,000 voters. As of Feb. 17, Sanders was leading the
popular vote with a 34-32 lead over Clinton. However, with the delegates and superdelegate votes, Clinton holds the lead 394-42 votes. In order to win the presidency a candidate must have 2,382 delegate votes in his or her favor. Clinton has 394 and Sanders has just 42. Why should you as an American or a voter care about this? Why should a politician’s vote be considered greater than the average person’s vote? This is just one slice of the pie to an unbalanced voting system that has been feeding us for years.
Want another taste of a biased system? Here, take a bite out of the Electoral College. The Electoral College teaches us certain states are more important for the nominees to win than others. There are 538 votes which make up the Electoral College: 100 from elected senators and 435 from elected representatives split up among the states and Washington D.C. Why should one state’s say be more important in a political race than another? This system implies that politicians only really have to campaign in those key states and lesser states’ voters don’t matter.
There have been four times in American history when the popular vote didn’t decide who the president would be. The latest was in the year 2000 when George W. Bush was elected president even though Al Gore won the popular vote. The Electoral College is another example of why an average person’s vote doesn’t hold as much weight as a politician’s vote. America claims to be a democracy, but I see it more as a mockery. When it comes to politics I am in favor of a straight popular vote. Americans and politicians would be wise to rethink the voting process to benefit the average voter. As the old saying goes, “Keep it simple, stupid.”
— if the schue fits —
New Barbie doll styles promote realistic appearances
For the first time in over 50 years, Barbie has gotten a makeover. In response to growing concern over body image and equal representation, Mattel artists have redesigned Barbie’s body and design so that it “includes 4 body types, 7 skin tones, 22 eye colors, 24 hairstyles, and countless on-trend fashions and accessories,” according to www.barbie.com. The new line, called the “2016 Barbie Fashionistas Dolls,” comes in four body types: original, curvy, tall and petite. OK, if you haven’t seen these dolls yet,
they are worth checking out. I cannot find the words to express how important this new Barbie line is for children everywhere. Barbie has been criticized for a long time for representing unattainable body standards and less than diverse skin tones, races and ethnicities. Now, children have so many more options to find the body that looks like them or their family members. This creates a new sense of realism; that each body type can be the symbol of beauty and feminine power that Barbie has often embodied.
Granted, the new body shapes now pose the problem of accessories not fitting every doll, but the sheer progressiveness of this line and the impact it can make on the self-esteem of children vastly outweighs this inconvenience. I am beyond excited for this new wave of body representation. Too many people have body image insecurities and/or have
trouble finding representation of what they look like. I can only hope that Mattel does the same thing with Ken, so more people can find validation in the diversity of body types. The new dolls are available on www.barbie.com for $9.99 each. To learn more about the design process of the 2016 Barbie Fashionistas Dolls, visit on.fb.me/1orSYF1/
15 opinion
Feb. 29 - March 20, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout — staff editorial —
Student involvement is important for colleges
It’s a challenge for a college student to attend classes, finish homework and achieve respectable grades.
After all, no matter the workload, the demands of a student are often enough to make anyone feel extremely busy. As
if you ran a tv station for one day, what programs would you show? Jeremy Kohn
Nicole Cade
Shelby Schueller
Editor in Chief
assistant paginator
Associate Editor
“A 24-hour ‘I’m with Busey’ marathon.”
“Lots and lots of cartoons.”
“Disney movies that are ‘in the vault’ or lesser known.”
kohnj2@lcc.edu
Aaron Emerson
News Editor
emersoa@lcc.edu
“The best-ever ESPN classic games.”
caden@lcc.edu
schuels1@lcc.edu
Jaimie Bozack
A&E Editor
bozackj@lcc.edu “A Conan O’Brien marathon.”
Rich Schenck
Sports Editor
schen1@lcc.edu
“The greatest games in Detroit pro sports history.”
EMMA SCOTT
Aaron Wilton
Lurah Peterson
lead PAginator
Staff Writer/AD Sales
Advertising Manager
“An endless stream of crouton.net.”
“Cartoons that represent my childhood.”
“A commercial-free ‘Firefly’ and ‘Serenity’ marathon.”
scotte8@lcc.edu
wiltona@lcc.edu
petersl8@lcc.edu
writers, reporters and editors who also attend college, we get it. However, as the student newspaper of Michigan’s third largest community college, we realize how important it is for students to get involved. As many around camBrian Wells pus may know, Gibson’s University Bookstore is seeking a lawsuit against our college. LCC started a book voucher program this year, allowing financial aid Photo Editor students to obtain up to a wellsb6@lcc.edu “Video game reviews $600 advance on textbooks and trailers.” purchased through MBS Larry Hook Bookstore. Gibson’s claims the agreement will put a large dent on its business. Whether you have an opinAdviser ion on the matter is up to hookl@lcc.edu you. But the subject raises “A ‘Green Acres’ the point: college is about marathon.”
the students, so get involved. Surrounded by thousands of students on campus each time you come to class, it can often feel like your voice alone doesn’t matter. Not true. Students often possess the strongest and loudest voice. Finding the right medium to relay your message is the challenge. Here are some suggestions: Attend an LCC Board of Trustees meeting. The trustees meet monthly and offer the public a chance to step to the podium to address the board. Write a letter to the editor in The Lookout. We allow students and faculty to publish opinions on almost any matter. Start a student organization. LCC allows students to start clubs to meet and make a difference. Believe it or not, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and voice your opinion. College is about you. Visit lcc.edu/studentlife to get a grasp on even more opportunities. You matter.
LANSING
Be focused. Your dream of earning your bachelor’s degree is within reach thanks to the partnership between Ferris State University and Lansing Community College. Take your Ferris classes on the campus of LCC and walk into your future without walking away from your community. Be focused. Be successful right where you are.
010816
Ferris State University is an equal opportunity institution. For information on the University’s Policy on Non-Discrimination, visit ferris.edu/non-didcrimination.
16|LAST LOOK
Feb. 29 - March 20, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Harriers presented national title rings Rich Schenck Sports Editor The LCC women’s cross country team was honored for its 2015 NJCAA Division I National Title during a ring ceremony Feb. 17 at LCC. The ceremony took place during halftime of the men’s basketball game against Kellogg Community College in the Gannon Gym. Team members were flanked by LCC Athletic Director Greg Mallek, LCC President Brent Knight and LCC trustees as they each received championship rings. Women’s cross country has now won five of the school’s 19 national sports titles, with its last one coming in 1995. The
team won four Division II titles in five years (‘91, ’92, ’94 and ‘95). This past season, LCC was ranked second nationally by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for most of the year, trailing the host of the NJCAA National Championship, Iowa Central. This title is Head Coach Jim Robinson’s first as the skipper for the LCC program. He succeeded longtime Head Coach Chuck Block two years ago. To go along with the National Title, the lady harriers once again ran past the field to claim the 2015 NJCAA Region XII title at Grand Woods Park in Lansing Oct. 24.