The Lookout Volume 56 Issue 3

Students register to vote at LCC

Black Box brings the drama

Harriers run toward top spots

News>> Page 2

A&E >> Page 8

Sports >> Page 5

Sept. 29 - Oct. 12, 2014 Volume 56, Issue 3 www.lcc.edu/lookout

thelookout Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959

C C L t a p o t s t i p a s e k a m g u b g Fa Jaimie Bozack Staff Writer Many people stop and stare as Fagbug director Erin Davies drives around in her rainbow-colored Volkswagen Beetle that has the word “Fagbug” painted on the side.

There is much more to the story than just the word on the car.

The LCC Gay Straight Alliance invited speaker Erin Davies to come in and talk about her experiences of homophobia on Sept. 16 in the Arts & Sciences Building.

On April 18, 2007, Davies’ VW Beetle was vandalized with the words “fag” and “u r gay” written on the driver’s side window and hood.

Rather than remove it, Davies decided to make a statement by keeping the graffiti on for one year. She went on a 58-day trip around the U.S.,

Courtesy photos

Fagbug owner Erin Davies is joined by LCC GSA President Frank Vaca.

creating a documentary titled, “Fagbug” as she went along.

Davies said her goal was, and still is, to raise awareness about hate crimes and homophobia.

“I think it’s important to share my story because it gives a positive example of a person taking something negative and turning it into a positive, not only for themselves, but others as well,” Davies said.

Davies said she has had mixed reactions about her vehicle, but overall has received positive feedback.

“I have received almost 400 notes on the car but only four or five have been negative,” Davies said. “I got one thumbs down once and about 35 thumbs up.”

Davies said she liked coming to Lansing Community College and the feedback was all positive.

“I enjoyed speaking to the group at LCC,” Davies said.

“It was a small intimate gathering. One man in the audience came up to me after and handed me a donation. After he left, I unfolded the dollar bill and realized it was a $100 bill.”

Frank Vaca, president of the LCC Gay Straight Alliance, said he was excited to have Davies on campus talking about her experiences.

“My ex and I went to go see the original movie and the bug when it was put on by the Spectrum Center at a university out of town,” Vaca said. “I follow her on Facebook and heard she was coming to Michigan so I jumped at the chance.”

Vaca said this event was in line with everything the Gay Straight Alliance represents.

“The GSA has been a group of people coming together to find friends, resources and professional connections,” Vaca said.

“We are trying to raise awareness of diversity between the sex-

uality and gender minorities.”

The “Fagbug” documentary can be found on Netflix as well as online at fagbug. com.

Davies said her main goal is to help as many people as she can with her story.

“My overall message is not to let people get you down; to be strong, secure and confident in yourself regardless of other people’s opinions,” Davies said, “and to go after your dreams despite your own fears and lack of resources.”

Former POW soldier shares wartime memories Jeremy Kohn Editor in Chief

FLOETER

There are very few people in this life who live to be almost 90 years of age. Almost none who do can say they lived a life likeWorld War II survivor Ernest Floeter.

The remarkable LCC alum, who lives in Grand Ledge, spoke

about his life in LCC’s Dart Auditorium on Tuesday, Sept 16.

LCC Professor Gina Smith was influential in bringing Floeter back to campus to talk about his war memoirs.

“This event came about because I wanted to have my students experience a guest speaker and relate ideas that we find in our studies,”

Smith said.

“Mr. Floeter provides a wonderful, loving connection to help us learn more about this important time in our history.”

The 89-year-old veteran shared stories of his time in the German Army during World War II, and his capture

by American soldiers.

When Germany and

World War II are mentioned, other words that may come to mind are Adolph Hitler or the Nazis. But Floeter spoke of no love for either of the two.

“The Nazis and Hitler were my enemies,” Floeter said.

In fact, Floeter secretly wished to become captured by the American soldiers. On

June 18, 1945, his wish came true.

The decorated veteran spoke on the Americans who captured him and his fellow soldiers.

“We were lucky the Americans whom we stayed under were fantastic from the start,” Floeter said.

Floeter reminisced See Floeter, page 2

What is your favorite thing about fall?

“I like fall because it’s my birthday.”

Eli Magen, 19, Graphic Design

“Football games, Halloween and the weather.”

Jenna Reed, 22, Business Administration

“The pretty different color leaves and corn mazes.”

Brandon Mistry, 21, Business

“The changing of the leaves.”

Patreece Harvell, 22, Criminal Justice

CAMPUSPERSPECTIVESCAMPUSPERSPECTIVESCAMPUSPERSPECTIVES

2 NEWS

Sept. 29 - Oct. 12, 2014 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Students register to vote Chelsea Allen Staff Writer

“Have you registered to vote yet?” happens to be the question sweeping across LCC’s main campus lately.

Voter registration officials, as well as Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope, were outside of the Gannon Building on Sept.

23 asking students if they had registered to vote for this year’s upcoming election.

“We just want to provide people the opportunity to express their American rights to vote,” Swope said.

A total of 150 students, faculty and community members signed up that day to vote.

LCC student, Nadia Thaba-

Floeter Continued from page 1

on how the Americans treated their wounded and were generous enough to let the soldiers keep personal belongings.

The former soldier did not speak highly of his time in Southampton under the watch of the British.

“Who are you and what are you really? We were interrogated. They confiscated many pictures from us, and the food was terrible,” Floeter said.

The veteran shared many lighthearted stories about his time in the military, including his favorite food and the difference between German and American cigarettes.

“One of my favorites was canned corn,

tah, expressed how easy and quick it was to register.

“It’s pretty nice that LCC provides students the opportunity to register to vote right on campus,” Thabatah said.

“I probably wouldn’t have even registered otherwise.”

There is still time to register for all who missed the convenient campus registration.

According to www.lansingmi.gov/RegistertoVote, the voter registration deadline is Oct. 6.

Those who will be 18 before Nov. 4 also need to register before this deadline.

Absentee ballot applications are available at www.lansingmi.gov/Elections for those who are unable to attend the

because the corn in Germany was chicken feed.

American cigarettes were like seventhheaven compared to the German ones,” Floeter explained.

After the war, Floeter returned to Germany, where he met his wife. He traveled back to the U.S. to live in Michigan.

Floeter still operates the Ernst Floeter Photography Studio in Grand Ledge.

Earlier this year, Floeter, with the help of author Lynne Breen, finished his military memoirs.

“I’ll see you again Lady Liberty: The True Story of a German Prisoner of War in America” is available at http:// www.amazon.com/IllSee-Again-Lady-Liberty/ dp/1595945369.

polls.

“It is important for people to get registered, but it is also really helpful for them to do at least a little bit of research on what is going to be on the ballot,” Swope said.

Voters can research the proposals and candidates to be seen on ballots by visiting the League of Women Voters’ website at www.Vote411.org.

Registered voters should plan on bringing some background knowledge of the proposed ballots and a picture ID in order to vote in this year’s election.

For more information, contact Swope’s office by calling Photo by Lary Hook 517-483-4131 or emailing city.

LCC math major Nadia Thabatah registers to vote at LCC Sept. 23. clerk@lansingmi.gov.

Foundation Scholarships available Jaimie Bozack Staff Writer Keeping up with the amount of scholarships available for students at LCC can be hectic.

According to LCC Foundation Scholarship and Operations Coordinator Peggy Hellwig, the deadline for next year’s Foundation Scholarship is Feb. 14, 2015.

Students can start applying online for the Foundation Scholarship Jan. 5 through the LCC website.

Hellwig said the Foundation and LCC have awarded 374 scholarships for the 2014-15 academic year and the Foundation is continuing to award them as funds become available.

“Anyone can apply for the Foundation Scholarship,” Hellwig said. “High schoolers, students from out of state, transfers and current LCC students. That is what makes this scholarship

so great.”

The Foundation Scholarship is using the same online template as last year. It can be found at www.lcc.edu.

“We seemed to have no problems at all with the template last year,” Hellwig said. “The online template is easy and students can apply for 80 percent scholarships on the website by filling out one form.”

Hellwig said there are a lot of different scholarships available for students of all types and some are degree specific.

In order for students to qualify for different scholarships, they must meet certain criteria, which should be listed on the homepage. Most scholarships will require GPA, extracurricular activities and a reference letter.

“School is so expense, and anything students can do (to) cut it down is worth applying for,” Hellwig said. “It’s worth

their time to apply,” Tyler King is one of the many LCC students who depend on scholarship funds to help them along with their education.

“I rely on scholarships and financial aid to go to school,” King said. “Without them I would probably just be sitting on my bed not attending LCC.” Hellwig said many students worry about the application process being difficult.

“Students don’t realize how easy it is to apply,” Hellwig said. “Sometimes when students worry the process will be too hard they give up. There are people around that can help you.”

Hellwig stressed that students must meet the Feb. 14 deadline to be considered for the scholarship.

“It’s ultimately free money and we encourage everyone to apply,” Hellwig said.

SACP meeting features useful student feedback Shelby Schueller News Editor Students voiced their concerns on LCC’s new policies and spoke on their experiences with renovated areas Sept. 17.

The feedback was given during the first Student Advisory Committee to the President (SACP) meeting of 2014-15 in the HHS building.

“SACP is supposed to be a way for students to talk to LCC administrators on campus about any questions, concerns or occurrences happening at LCC,” said Nate Bobb, student chair of SACP. “It’s really a great way to give students a voice for changes they want to see on campus. It can also be a great way for students to make connections with the provost, president, etc. and other students.”

Although President Brent Knight was unable to attend, Dr. Richard Prystowsky, LCC’s pro-

Photo by Shelby Schueller

Dr. Richard Prystowsky (left), LCC provost and senior vice president of academic and student affairs, addresses student concerns.

vost and senior vice president of academic and student affairs, was present.

Prystowsky informed students of the college’s future plans and collaborated to find solutions to the issues discussed.

The Gannon Building Star Zone and its features were

among the first topics discussed.

The students alerted Prystowsky that the Star Zone needs more tables for student organizations and clubs.

Prystowsky informed students the Star Zone will hire 11 new customer service representatives to better assist students.

The Star Zone area is working on adding clearer signage to make it easier for students to find the help they need.

Also discussed was the Centre for Engaged Inclusion, located in the Star Zone behind Campus Resources.

The Centre for Engaged Inclusion is designed to celebrate diversity and inclusion, according to Prystowsky.

The program is new, but has plans to provide a variety of events including but not limited to, international movie days and featured guest speakers.

Prystowsky told students the purpose of the Centre is for everyone to feel included. He encouraged all students to visit the Centre if they have any ideas on how they would like to see the space used.

The meeting ended with the introduction of a new education plan called “Operation 100 Percent.” Operation 100 Percent is still in early production, and will

be designed to assist students in choosing courses to take to complete their majors.

“We’re going to work with faculty and look at some best practices to make sure that all those programs of study really are what you need,” Prystowsky said. “And then we’re going to make sure you understand the program of study so that you’re not guessing ‘why do I need this course?’”

By helping students to remain focused on their degree, the system is meant to create a 100 percent success rate for course retention, course success, completion of a degree, and graduation.

All students are welcome and encouraged to come to SACP meetings.

The SACP meets every month during fall and spring semester from 1 to 2 p.m. All students are welcome. For more information, contact LCC’s Student Life office at (517) 483-1285.

3 NEWS

Sept. 29 - Oct. 12, 2014 www.lcc.edu/lookout

IN BRIEF News

Workshop combats self-defeating behavior

Photo by Shelby Shueller

The LCC Board of Trustees and President Brent Knight thank LCC Fire Science Program members for their service.

Trustees celebrate achievements Shelby Schueller Staff Writer

The evening of Sept. 15 was full of celebration at the school year’s first LCC Board of Trustees meeting.

The board recognized the accomplishments of the Fire Science Program and the Marketing Department.

The meeting also included reviews on the new parking system, an update on the college’s 2014 Master Plan for finance, and reports on increased traffic for LCC social media sites.

The meeting began by featuring LCC’s Fire Science Program, which recently acquired a new fire engine.

Tim Baker, the program director for public service careers, spoke about the benefit the new engine will bring to the program.

“Having this apparatus enhances our objectives and outcomes in providing training to aspiring firefighters,” Baker said. “Our graduation rates have shown in with 100 percent graduation in our fire academy

and approximately 70 percent of those graduates hired in the local area. (The engine) also allows us to meet and exceed the safety standards required when conducting live fire training.

“We’re the only academic institution in the state to have two apparatus built specifically for our needs and built in Michigan.” Baker added.

The board thanked the Fire Science Program members for their service and shook the hands of each student and administrator who attended the meeting.

During the President’s Report, LCC President Brent Knight said he thought the transition to the new parking system was a success. He also praised LCC’s new spirit shop, located in the Star Zone.

The report concluded with statistics on LCC’s success rate.

Knight said LCC ranks first in Michigan for the number of two-year degrees awarded and 54th out of 1,254 two-year colleges.

Members of the Marketing Department were among the

last to report accomplishments, including the new modern design of the Gannon Building Star Zone.

Dean of Student Affairs Tanya McFadden spoke about the factors behind the renovations.

“We tried really hard to incorporate the friendliness factor, making students feel welcome and comfortable,” McFadden said. “We’ve moved from transactional interactions with students to relationship-based connections with students.”

Marketing Director Nicole Szymczak reported Future Stars, the landing page for new students, has had a traffic increase of 14 percent compared to last year, gaining approximately 144,000 visitors.

She also said there were an estimated 9,000 new applicants for this fall semester.

Meetings with the Board of Trustees are held on the third Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Administration Building.

Students are welcome to attend.

The next meeting is Monday, Oct. 27. For more information, visit www.lcc.edu/trustees.

Students get access to newsletter Chelsea Allen Staff Writer Student Health 101 is an online magazine available to students now offered by the Physical Fitness and Wellness Department as a service to the LCC community.

According to Amy Stoakes, program director of the fitness and wellness department, the interactive health & wellness newsletter is customized for LCC students.

Each issue contains information to help students make healthier choices and allows the college community to gain a better understanding of the health

and wellness challenges that face today’s students.

“The September issue was the first issue that was available, the college had this contract with Student Health 101 starting in the very end of August and early September so this is the first time we have had it on campus,” Stoakes said.

To access last month’s issue and other’s in the future, look under D2L’s home page under the section labeled news where every month a new edition will be posted.

“There are specific articles that change every month and there is also other custom articles that we can have and ev-

erything is also specific to LCC for a lot of helpful resources around campus,” Stoakes said.

LCC student, Amanda Haynes, expressed her gratitude towards the newly offered newsletter.

“I think it’s fantastic the students of LCC are now able to have access to a health newsletter that is customized just to us,” Haynes said.

“I will most definitely be looking forward to it coming out every month.”

LCC student, Jerrod Philips explained how easy it will be for not only him, but everyone to access the newsletter.

“Since everything is basically available on-

line these days it is nice to have a newsletter that is offered to us online as well,” Philips said.

A new edition of the newsletter will be provided to any student who is interested for the rest of this year’s academic calendar.

“I am sure there is a topic for everybody at some point and it’s one of those things where you don’t have to sit down and read it from cover to cover, one could check back on it because it is there for the entire month,” Stoakes said.

For more information regarding the newsletter, contact Stoakes via phone at 517-483-1424 or via email at stoaka@ lcc.edu.

LCC’s counseling services will host a workshop called “Smart Choices = Success.” The workshop is designed to help students learn successful behaviors.

The workshop will be held twice: first on Tuesday, Sept. 30 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., and secondly on Friday, Oct. 3 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Both will take place in the Centre for Engaged Inclusion, located behind Campus

Resources in the Gannon Building Star Zone.

At these workshops, students will learn how to recognize self-defeating behaviors and why they occur.

The “Change Model” will be taught as a strategy to help students create life-giving behaviors that help lead to success.

For more information, contact student support services at 517483-1924.

Discover your dream job at career workshop A Career Choice and Planning Workshop will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 8 in LCC’s Mackinaw Building room 101 from 1:10 to 3 p.m.

This workshop will help students identify potential career choices and decide on an academic major or program. Students will learn a variety of resources for career de-

velopment and take a career assessment test to develop a list of potentially suitable careers.

Pre-registration is preferred, though walk-ins will be accepted. It is also preferred that students arrive five minutes early. To pre-register or for more information, call Career and Employment Services at 517-483-1172.

Movie sends out message of acceptance The Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month Committee will host a movie night on Friday, Oct. 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in room 244 of LCC’s Gannon Building.

The featured film, “Strawberry and Chocolate,” takes place in Havana, Cuba in 1979. It centers on a university student named David who meets Diego, a gay artist who is openly displeased with the Castro regime’s treatment toward the LGBT community.

David’s friend Miguel suspects Diego is dangerous to the communist cause, and enlists David

to spy on him. Diego does his part by initiating the friendship with sexual intentions.

The film sends a message of accepting differences and overcoming intolerance through friendship.

Monica Del Castillo and Ana Woehr, facilitators of the event, will lead a discussion afterward. All students and staff are encouraged to attend.

For more information about this and other events held for Hispanic/ Latino Heritage month, contact either Monica Del Castillo at delcasm@ lcc.edu or Ana Woehr at woehra@lcc.edu.

Save a life, starve a vampire at blood drive The American Red Cross is partnering with LCC West Campus to hold a blood drive on Thursday, Oct. 30.

The blood drive will be located at the West Campus Atrium, 5708 Cornerstone Drive in Lansing,

from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

For additional information, or to inquire about volunteer opportunities, contact LCC’s Student Life Office at 517-483-1285 or send an email to studentlife@lcc. edu.

Dynamics of Domestic Violence A Presentation by Eve’s House

Participants will learn the background, warning signs, and ways to get help when in a domestic/dating violence situation.

October 17, 12-2pm • Gannon Bldg 244 Co-Sponsored by LCC Counseling Services, TRiO and Women’s Resource/Returning Adult Program

4 SPORTS

Sept. 29 - Oct. 12, 2014 www.lcc.edu/lookout

LCC female power lifter prevails Morgan Madden Freelenace Writer Weights clank and grunts fill the air as one enters LCC’s weight room. It’s 3 p.m. on a Tuesday and the power lifters are going about their usual regimen.

The room is full of lifters of varying size, but one lifter stands out from the rest. There is only one lady in the group.

Megan Dyer, a general education major focusing on a personal trainer curriculum, is only 5-foot4 and just a shade over 100 pounds. However, she power lifts more than double her weight.

A 237-pound power lift was enough to bring home a championship at the American Drug Free Powerlifting Federation competition in Muskegon Sept. 20. Dyer placed first

in the 122-pound bracket in the squat, power-lift and bench-press events.

“This was my second meet. I’ve grown a lot since my first meet back in April,” Dyer said. “I stopped doubting myself after that first competition.”

Dyer said she is very determined to do many things: win competitions, train well, eat right and break stereotypes.

“I want to be a figure to other women” Dyer said.

“Showing them that they can lift heavy weights or train however they want ... I wanted to do this. I wanted to get in shape and I never looked back.”

Jeff Buchin, who is Dyer’s coach, has been LCC’s weight training instructor for the last 30 years. Dyer cited Buchin as a major influence and motivation.

“I did spring semester

Weight Training 1 class (with Buchin),” Dyer said.

“He liked my training intensity. He asked me if I wanted to try the meet.

Now I’m hooked.

“That started with Jeff putting that motivation behind me. He believed in me before I believed in me.”

Dyer said she trains four days a week in order to get into competitive shape.

“I train two muscle groups per day,” she said. “I hit those same two muscle groups twice a week.”

Between school, training and a job, Dyer stays busy. With so much on her plate already, it seems she would be fed up. However, she stays hungry.

“I’m already getting Photo by Morgan Madden ready for the next competition in December,” she Megan Dyer, who weighs just over 100 pounds, lifted 237 pounds at a recent competition and won three events. said.

We are all to blame for athlete’s misbehavior The recent cases involving NFL stars including Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice and Greg Hardy has brought the issue of domestic abuse into the forefront.

Let me start by saying that domestic violence is a horrible and unforgiveable sin that one person can bring unto another.

Professional athletes deserve no reprieve. They deserve the same treatment as someone who works 9 to 5 would get.

But at the very same, we as a society, we as a whole, have played a part in the mis-

guided leniency that has been given to these athletes. We all share the blame.

These men and women have been, and continue to be,

coddled before they graduate high school with dreams of being beloved by thousands and millions. Sure they are raised to know the difference between right and wrong, but they’re given a grey area that shouldn’t be allowed.

The justice system has failed in not pursuing these cases with the same aggression they would with a middle-class citizen. Is this because they get paid millions to play a game?

Is it because they don’t know any better?

NFL Commissioner Roger

Goodell has been made the national poster boy for a failure to act. To pin the whole issue of ignorance of domestic violence is unfair, granted he has deserved the criticism he has received. But the whole world of professional sports should shoulder this blame.

This includes us, the millions of fans who idolize these people for what they do. We worship them as demigods, and their feeling of infallibility is a result of this. We as a fan base, no matter what sports we follow, need to re-

consider what fandom really means.

The voice of the fans and the American people were the driving force behind the kneejerk reaction by the NFL, but it shouldn’t take that. Morality has been clouded by billion dollar television contracts and the borderline fanaticism of its following.

Domestic abusers to be the issue. Not the high-profile people who refused to act until it was too late or the American people for letting it get to this point.

LCC spikers topple Jackson in five-set thriller Rich Schenck Sports Editor The LCC volleyball team, already having surpassed its 2013 win total, improved to 11-3 (5-2 in the MCCAA) defeated the Lady Jets of Jackson College in the Gannon Gym Sept. 25.

The Stars prevailed in five exciting sets, with the final set ending 15-11.

The night did not start off smoothly for the Stars as they quickly found themselves behind 9-8 after a controversial call at the net.

The LCC spikers managed to tie the game at 20, but missed serves and bad-luck bounces eventually proved too much as LCC fell 25-23.

The second set was more of the same for the Stars as Jackson jumped out to a 4-1 lead

and never looked back.

Crisp sets led to quality kills that left LCC often scrambling to get back into position.

After dropping the second set 25-22 LCC Head Coach Emily Quintero called her girls into a huddle, hoping to inject some life. She said her message was simple.

“Just keep fighting, work together,” she said.

“We made a switch in our lineup that was a big change.”

Quintero’s squad got the message loud and clear, starting the third set with a renewed zeal that was missing during the first two.

LCC jumped out to a 6-1 lead and moved into a 24-21 lead. Jackson clawed back to 24-23 with the assistance of another controversial call by the net.

It was not enough, how-

Photo by Brian Wells

LCC freshman Tresa Brake sends a shot over the net during the Owens Community College Invitational hosted by Owens Community College Aug. 29 and 30.

ever, as LCC claimed its first victory of the night, 25-24.

With the game and a perfect home record on

the line the LCC spikers switched sides and opened their fourth set with a 10-8 lead, only to have Jackson tie it at 14. The Jets took

the lead shortly after. But LCC never let the Jets any further than within three points, and recaptured the lead 22-21.

After battling point for point LCC dug deep and pulled out an impressive 26-24 victory to tie the night at two sets apiece.

By this time a nearly full Gannon Gym rang with the cheers of encouragement for every point earned and given up.

By the fifth set both teams were visibly dealing with the effects of extended volleys and the highscoring sets that set up an unlikely overtime.

LCC opened overtime leading 7-3, never losing control of the set. By the final whistle the Stars completed their thrilling comeback with a 15-11 win.

After the game Quintero credited the game to the tried and true basics of competition.

“Hard work and commitment to the team,” she said. “No longer an ‘I.’ It’s all about us as a team.”

5 Sports

Sept. 29 - Oct. 12, 2014 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Freshmen lead way for lady harriers Richard Schenck Sports Editor The LCC women’s cross country team turned in a fantastic performance against Division I and II schools, finishing 14th out of 26 teams at the Spartan Invitational on Sept. 12 at MSU’s Forest Akers East.

Just like the LCC men, the lady harriers defeated every community college that competed, with Macomb CC finishing the closest in 19th.

LCC freshman Kayla Kraft was the first Star to finish for the lady harriers, in 66th place out of 307 runners, with a time of 23:22 minutes. Sophomore captain Allison Dible was the next LCC finisher in 106th with a time of 24:14.

This meet had a unique challenge for the women.

The course was bumped up to 6K from the normal 5K distance.

“For our freshman women it was the first time they ran a 6K,” LCC Head Coach Jim Robinson said.

“So there’s an adjustment period there and I thought we ran extremely strong.”

Coming off their strong outing in East Lansing, the Lady Stars found themselves on the road to com-

pete in the Commodore Invitational hosted by Lorian County Community College on Sept. 19.

The team completed an LCC sweep of both races with their first-place overall finish out of six teams with 27 points. The Stars were followed by Cuyahoga CC in second with 59 points.

Seven of the first 15 runners across the line wore LCC blue, which propelled the team to victory. No Star finished lower than 28th.

Freshman Kayla Kraft added another impressive finish to her 2014 season with a race victory out of 61 runners with a time of 19:24 minutes. Dible finished second with a time of 20:04 minutes.

“We went in knowing we were going to dominate the meet,” Dible said.

“You have to not get cocky about it. We have a team strategy where we have a pack that goes out at a certain time.”

Just like the Spartan Invitational, the course conditions were not ideal.

This, coupled with excessive heat, were issues all runners had to overcome in the race, according to Dible.

Robinson acknowledged the adversity facing his

runners will do nothing but prepare them further for the season.

“Anytime you run on a tough course and you have to fight to compete, that’s going to pay off especially in a big meet,” he said.

“The difference is the course might not be soft, or it might not be the course itself.

But you want to run on a fast course every now and then so they can get that encouragement of a fast time.”

The LCC women’s cross country team will host its first meet of the 2014 season at Grand Woods Park in Lansing Oct. 3.

Schedules and rosters for the 2014 season can be found at www.lcc. edu/athletics.

LCC Freshman Andrea Garza leads a group during the Spartan Invitational Sept. 12.

Photo by Will Simon

Male runners turn adversity into success Richard Schenck Sports Editor

In a race with 27 schools, many of which were Division I and II, and without sophomore captain Tim Young, the LCC men’s cross country team turned in an impressive result at the Spartan Invitational at Michigan State University Sept. 12.

The harriers finished 11th in the team standings, beating every community college competing. The closest was Macomb CC in 21st place.

& QA

LCC Sports Editor Richard Schenck recently spoke with LCC sophomore cross country runner Tim Young.

Young is one of three captains named by Head Coach Jim Robinson for the 2014 season. The Saranac alum was voted to the Michigan Community College Athletic Association’s All Freshman Team in 2013.

Sophomore Stephen Merchant was the first LCC runner to finish, crossing the line 97th out of 371 runners with a time of 26:34. Sophomore Tony Vermilye was the second Star, in 126th, with a time of 26:55.

Former LCC harrier and captain Nick Moon finished 31st overall for MSU. “I thought we ran extremely strong,” LCC Head Coach Jim Robinson said. “I was pleased, and I think they were pleased with how they did.”

As for the meet at Olivet

College, the harriers had to overcome another less than idea course.

“In previewing it, it always strikes you as ‘Oh, this should be a pretty fast course’, until you actually run it,” Robinson said.

“It’s really soft. The backside of the course you can feel the course undulating.

Not having a firm surface to push off of takes it out of your legs.”

Vermilye explained that in a competition with bigger, more talented schools, expectations should be dialed back a notch.

“You have to have realistic goals; you can’t go in there expecting to beat all these division I schools,” Vermilye said. “They provide great competition for us. For the most part we stuck with them.”

The men returned to normal competition Sept.

19 at the Commodore Invitational hosted by Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio.

The Stars reasserted their dominance, finishing first out six teams with 19 points. The closest team was Macomb CC in sec-

ond with 70.

Once again sophomore Stephen Merchant finished first for LCC and first overall with a time of 27:36. Sophomore Norman Emineth was second for LCC and third overall with a time of 27:53.

LCC finished with 14 out of the first 16 runners in the field of 71, with no Star finishing worse than 39th.

The pack mentality the team wanted to adhere to at the beginning of the season is still firm in the conscious of each runner

as Vermilye pointed out.

“We go into every race with the same mentality, this year especially, to run as a pack,” he explained.

“We’re not looking to go out and run by ourselves and get individual times right now. We all run as a pack and win as a group.”

The LCC men are scheduled to host their first home meet at Grand Woods Park in Lansing Friday, Oct. 3.

Schedules and rosters for LCC cross country can be found at www.lcc.edu/ athletics.

Athlete Spotlight: Tim Young Q. What made you want to run cross country?

Why choose LCC for cross country and an education?

Q.

Q.

A. The team atmosphere. We’re like

A. I chose LCC because it wasn’t too far

A. I hope to transfer to

one big family. It’s a sport where you really push yourself. There’s a lot of emphasis on the team, but it’s a lot of individual work, too, so that was appealing to me. No matter what the team did you could always push yourself farther, make yourself better, but at the same time make your team better and be a family.

away from home. I still get to see my family and it’s not super expensive, which is really nice. I know that they have really good coaches here for running and they’ve had a really good program. It was a very good decision. Honestly, the classes are nice here. The teachers are good, I haven’t had a bad teacher yet. It’s just been a good experience.

What’s next for you after LCC?

a four-year university.

Right now it’s probably leaning toward Michigan State. But you never know, it’s all up in the air right now so we’ll find out by the end of the cross country season, hopefully.

Photo by Will Simon

Q.

What do you do in your free time?

A.

I find myself making food. I eat a lot. I hang out with the guys on the team. We play soccer (or) basketball almost every other day, it seems like; just fun activities like that, I guess.

6

Sept. 29 - Oct. 12, 2014 www.lcc.edu/lookout

7 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Sept. 29 - Oct. 12, 2014

www.lcc.edu/lookout

Lansing Goes Plaid 3.0 - OCT. 3 Fall means flannels. And what’s better than flannel? Plaid flannel.

Come one, come all, clad in plaid to the worldwide celebration of Plaid. Friday, Oct. 3 is Plaidurday. Join in on Lansing Goes Plaid for an epic photo shoot

Free fall festivities at MSU - OCT. 4

at the Cooley Law School Stadium. The facebook event promises “We’ll have some fun, some laughs, and we’ll all look really good doing it.” For more information on this free event, visit http:// plaidurday.com

MSU Student Organic Farm welcomes all to their harvest festival. The Harvest Festival includes apple cider pressing, tie dying, face and pumpkin painting, open mic, dancing, food and hay rides.

Admission is free. Guests are encour-

Oktoberfest 2014 - OCT. 10 Crisp, cool temperatures means it’s time for the frothy festivals to hop into town.

Get your beer steins ready for Oktoberfest 2014 on Friday, Oct. 10 from 6 to 11 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 11 from 2 to

Cider Fest - OCT. 11

11 p.m. in Old Town. The a festival features live music, local tastes and treats, and delicious festival themed beer. Tickets are $15-20. For more information or tickets, visit http://oldtownoktoberfest. com/

If beer ain’t your cup of tea, head on over to Grand Ledge. Lansing’s first Annual Cider Fest will take place Saturday, Oct. 11 from 5 to 10 p.m. above the Red Salamander brewing supply shop, 902 West Saginaw Highway in Grand Ledge.

Zombie Walk - OCT. 11 Lansing, prepare for Zombie Apocalypse on Oct. 11 at 11 a.m.

This year’s Zombie Walk includes the first How-To Halloween Event, held at the Lansing Center. This family-friendly festival will feature tips on how to

aged to bring a dish to pass. The event is from noon to 4 p.m. at the MSU Horticulture Farm, 3291 College Road, Holt, Michigan. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1482 891181974492/?fref=ts

This indoor cider festival will feature live music and 15 Michigan Cideries showcasing over 40 ciders. Ticket prices are to be determined and are available at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/cider-festtickets-13032932853?aff=efbevent

Apple Butter Festival - OCT. 12 - 13

make ghoulish props, costumes, baked goods, and zombie make-up for a $5 admission. Join fellow flesh-eaters for the Zombie Walk to the Capitol. For more information, and to register, visit http://www.lansingmi.gov/parks

For those of you who prefer a good old fashioned treat as opposed to a trick, then this next festival is just for you.

Apple Butter Festival sweetens Fenner Nature Center on Saturday, Oct. 12-13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Spend the day, surrounded by nature(no zombies here), and celebrate the harvest season it all of its glory.

Visitors can try their hand at heritage games, use a cross-cut saw and stir the apple butter. Free festival. Parking is $5.

Information compiled by Sarah Spohn

Quit using the busy excuse; start living life We’re all guilty of it.

Strangers, friends, family, colleagues ask how you’ve been or what you’ve been up to ...

Your reply — “Busy.

I’ve been really busy.”

While most of the time, it’s probably not a lie; school and work have kept us fairly booked for the last few months. But it’s hardly even a reply when you think about it.

I stumbled upon this quote recently. Usually, the odds of me remembering an inspirational quote

are slim to none, unless it’s Rob Schneider telling me, “You can do it.” But here goes: “Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”

For someone who’s nev-

er done track a day in her life, I find myself running a lot lately. Three jobs. Two classes. One internship.

To think I’ve never been good with commitment is probably a lie. Clearly, I’ve signed on for my fair share of things this semester, and the last, and the last.

I’ve never been irresponsible.

Immature?

Well, maybe a tad bit.

One thing I’m not is unmotivated.

Some days, I look around and I envy you 18 year olds. Fresh out of

high school, still trying to “adapt” to college life.

In your black yoga pants and Ugg Boots, Starbucks in hand, struggling to make it to your 8 a.m. class on time.

To be able to sit at a coffee shop for hours to “do your homework,” a.k.a surf the web on your shiny Mac … I envy that.

But that’s not me. I don’t have hours during the day to set aside for homework. I’ve got three jobs.

I hate to think that I

might actually be growing up, but even more, I hate to think my dreams and my reality are going in different directions.

Complain about your job? I never used to be that person. If I didn’t like a job, I’d quit. Plain and simple.

I’d be broke. I wouldn’t care.

With adulthood, rent, bills, blah, blah, blah (I can’t believe I’m at this “stage” in my life), maybe I’ve gotten a little worn down. The bills, the responsibilities, they’re real.

Me thinking I can get

paid to do something I love? Is that a fantasy? No. “Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” To me, life is not all 9-5, fancy car, stable income, married with children, house in the ‘burbs.

Life to me, it’s messy. It is 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., driving the same car you drove when you were 16, sometimes paying for lunch in quarters, and a studio apartment you love.

It’s about making memories and plenty of ‘happy hour’ time.

LCC teacher mixes things up at exhibition Sarah Spohn A&E Editor Brian Bishop has spent close to 30 years grading, critiquing and helping mold LCC art students.

An artist himself, Bishop gets on the other side of the canvas, and displays his art publicly around town.

“Evolution” is on display at the MICA Gallery in Old Town until the end of September. “Evolution” is a collection of work by current LCC teacher Brian Bishop and former LCC teacher Jack Bergeon. It includes sculpture, painting and prints.

The pair has done shows together about five or six times

over the years, according to Bishop.

“This show for me is just the latest progression in what I do,” Bishop said.

“Evolution” focuses on natural themes in and around Michigan. A large wood painting was inspired by waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula.

A Michigan gem, the Petoskey stone, inspired six mixed media pieces. Small digital prints were inspired by the bright stars in the U.P. city skies.

Some exhibit pieces aren’t solely inspired by Michigan locales, but are actually a piece of the great state of Pure Michigan.

Bishop spoke about how he used material from nature to create a specific piece.

“The large 8” x 8” wood painting on wood ‘Laughing Whitefish Falls’ is from an actual place.” Bishop said. “I used Fiberboard as a backing for that image because of the visual texture of the wood; repeating the kind of falling water imagery I worked with.”

While Bishop teaches a whole host of art classes, including painting, drawing, color, 2D design and others, he really enjoys working with acrylics.

“I make large work and like to paint with the canvas or paper upright or on the

floor,” Bishop said. “And acrylics are best suited to that kind of work process.”

But just like practicing art and teaching art sometimes overlap, so does a mixing of mediums occur.

“I enjoy oils as well,” Bishop said. “Recently, I have gotten into combining media such as digital prints, paint and wood together in individual works.”

While having his work on display outside of the classroom is nothing new to Bishop, it remains an important aspect of the craft.

“Working artists are alArtwork by Brian Bishop ways creating and it’s just Above is “Petoskey Stone 5,” an acrylic good to get your work out painting over Giclee digital prints. It is now and seen,” Bishop said. being shown at the Old Town MICA Gallery.

8 A&E

Sept. 29 - Oct. 12, 2014 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Festival brings blues to Old Town

Photo by Taylor Reschka

Mac’s Monday Comedy Night host Dan Currie is shown doing his stand-up set in front of a packed Mac’s Bar.

Comedy Night a hit at Mac’s Bar on Michigan Ave. Jaimie Bozack Staff Writer

Photo by Sarah Spohn

Saginaw native Sharrie Williams brings her powerhouse voice to the crowd at BluesFest in Old Town on Saturday, Sept. 20. The two-day free music festival brought out the crowds despite rainy weather. Other performers included Root Doctor, Frog & the Beeftones, Junior Valentine and plenty of other blues bands.

LCC Performing Arts presents drama, ‘Animals Out of Paper’ Sarah Spohn A&E Editor The Black Box Theatre holds just 100 seats and often houses actors in a personal, intimate manner. And what’s more intimate than a cast of just three actors?

The first fall 2014 production by LCC Performing Arts Department will be “Animals Out of Paper,” written

by Rajiv Joseph.

The play, directed

by Deb Keller, depicts life’s bends, creases and folds that ultimately affect its three main characters, Ilana, Suresh and Andy.

Ilana, played by theater major Monica Tanner, is a 43-year-old origami artist and recent divorcee.

Tanner spoke about her character’s newfound troubles.

“She’s going through a pretty severe bout of depression at the beginning of the play,” Tanner said. “And she has, pretty much because of her depression, stopped doing origami.”

LCC theater major Michael Boxleitner plays Andy, a high school calculus teacher.

“He’s very naïve in things about the

world,” Boxleitner said, of his 45-year-old character. “With Andy’s character, it’s almost as if you get to witness his great pain in his life.

His big one happens in the show.”

Pain is what the play is about, and how those pains can leave dents in people, much like the folds of origami. But the cast argued the play is about much more than just pain, or plain paper.

“The title, you can take it very literally,” Boxleitner said. “Animals out of paper, you can say, ‘Oh, it’s about origami.’ But it shows in a very metaphorical way ... that all humans have these animalistic instincts.

“The show also shows that all human beings are as fragile as paper. Every big milestone in someone’s life is almost like making a crease in a paper to fold origami.

“Once you make that fold, it can’t be undone.

You can try to smooth it out, in the end it will still be there,” Boxleitner said.

Those pains, and those past experiences help to shape a person, and the play reflects that.

Photo by Brian Wells

LCC Theater major Michael Boxleitner will appear in “Animals Out of Paper” alongside fellow theater major Monica Tanner. The play also stars Boris Nikolovski.

“I think it’s kind of like how pain can morph a person, and that’s where the metaphor for the origami kind of comes in,” Tanner said.

The small, intimate cast of three is enthusiastic about the upcoming play. Cast members say anyone human can relate to “Animals Out of Paper.”

“It’s also a very raw look at human interaction,” Tanner said, “and how we interact with each

other as we’re wounded.

It’s very unique.”

While the play can speak to anyone, the conversations spoken are that of adult nature, and therefore the recommended audience is ages 13 and up.

Tickets are sold at the door, Black Box Theatre, GB 168. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for general public.

“Animals Out of Paper” runs Friday and Saturday, Oct. 3-4 and 10-11 at 8 p.m.

Monday night fun is limited for students around Lansing.

Finding things to do can be hard or too expensive.

And what students may find to do could get them into trouble the next morning.

That is why Mac’s Monday Comedy Night at Mac’s Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., is a great opportunity for fun with free admission.

Mac’s Monday Comedy Night takes place every Monday from 10 to 11:30 p.m. It is hosted by two local comedians, Dan Currie and Mark Roebuck. It includes a lineup of 10 to 15 comics per night.

According to Currie, Mac’s Monday Comedy Night has been going on for about three years. He said he and Roebuck took over as co-hosts two years ago.

Currie said the comedy scene in Lansing has got much bigger throughout the years, as attendance has continued to increase on Monday nights.

“The Lansing comedy scene is booming,” Currie said. “I remember when I could count all the comics in the area on one hand.

Now it’s overwhelming.”

Comedy night regular performer Pat Sievert said comedy has been an important hobby for him for two and a half years.

“I would watch Comedy Central for hours after school when I was growing up,” Sievert said. “I think the exposure to a lot of comedy taught me what I like, and gave me the itch to try.”

For Sievert the idea of having an idea inspires him.

“Having an idea, writing

it, thinking about it, trying it on stage and eventually having it be a dependable joke: it is like nothing else,” Sievert said.

LCC student Julia Richards said she attends comedy night regularly and enjoys it.

“Robert Jenkins is an amazing comedian and he’s local,” Richards said.

“It just goes to show what talent and special people Lansing has.”

Comedian Nick Leydorf said comedy allows him to take a break from his day job of being a lawyer.

“I get to be creative,” Leydorf said. “My day job is incredibly boring, so comedy and writing is a way to try to not be so boring.”

It’s the idea of “getting away” that inspires fan favorite Jason Carlen to do standup comedy every Monday.

“The best thing about what I do is just that escape from life for five to 25 minutes at a time,” Carlen said. “I get to forget about student loans, bills, family, dating, etc., and just focus on being funny.”

According to Currie, Mac’s Monday Comedy Night is now more successful than ever.

“There was never a goal in mind; it was just to have a fun comedy show,” Currie said. “I think we’ve reached that.”

Students interested in signing up to go onstage can go to Mac’s Monday Comedy Night page on Facebook, where instructions are posted every month.

Currie’s advice for students considering the opportunity: just do it.

“Don’t waste time getting prepared, you’ll never be prepared,” Currie said.

“Just go do it, and go from there.”

9 A&E

Sept. 29 - Oct. 12, 2014 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Tavern satisfies adventurous drinker Jeremy Kohn Editor in Chief

Photo courtesy of roadarch.com

Zoobie’s is located in Old Town at 611 E. Grand River Ave.

Ideal drinking establishments differ from person to person. Some enjoy the sports bar scene, others enjoy live music.

Still, some just prefer a relaxed atmosphere, and Zoobie’s is just the place to fill your adventurous drinking void with a variety of craft beers.

Located in Old Town Lansing at 611 E. Grand River Ave. (about a mile from LCC), Zoobie’s is a cozy establishment serving a variety of craft beers and assorted drinks.

The clientele in Zoobie’s includes college students, the 9-5 jobbers and the more businessoriented.

The look could be considered artsy. There is artwork on the wall,

but not to the extent of it looking pretentious.

Classic Rock songs such as “Sultans of Swing”

by Dire Straits and the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” fill the tavern.

As I made my way to the bar, I stared at the choices of selected beers on tap.

The taps had weird shapes to them such as a goose head, a shotgun and an apple. I decided to try the Unibroue Ephemere first.

I took a sip of the first drink. I sensed an airy wheat blend with a tinge of fruitiness to it. I enjoyed this beer immensely.

After drinking my first beer, hunger started to rear its ugly head, so I decided to order a sandwich. I chose one of the two featured sandwiches, the Chicken Sammie.

Our bartender was engaging, personable and

‘Wildcat Wildcat’ proves to be one of the best new indie bands

attentive the whole time.

She was much attuned to the details of conversation, whether it was the beer we were interested in, or casual small talk about living in Lansing.

She made the experience personable.

Upon waiting for my sandwich to be made, I decided upon my second drink.

Steering in a different direction, I landed on a VanderMills Blueberry Cider. Drinking this specialty drink will take you to a time when you picked fresh blueberries from a blueberry bushel with your grandma. This drink is for those with a sweeter tooth.

After two drinks in, my sandwich arrived, and what else can I say but WOW! Placed within two pieces of focaccia bread was spicy prosciutto and portabello mushrooms topped with

cheddar cheese. After sinking my teeth into this monstrous sandwich, I could say that it tasted as appealing as it looked.

The chicken was moist and tender. The meat had cured spice to it, and the cheese had a perfect melt mounted over the entire sandwich.

After finishing my second beverage, I needed another drink to help accompany the sandwich I was finishing.

I decided to be daring and try a stout. This stout was surprisingly good. The Left Hand Milk Stout is coffeeesque milk stout that will be sure to put some pep in your step and liven up the rest of your night.

I highly recommend Zoobie’s to a person who enjoys a laid-back amiable atmosphere, but is not afraid to delve into new beverage territories.

King Crossword

Jaimie Bozack Staff Writer I’ve always been interested in bands a lot of people have never heard about. No; I’m not a hipster, or a music snob, I just like a lot of different styles of music.

Knowing bands that are almost unheard of can make it difficult to share music interests with people sometimes.

They usually just nod their heads and listen to my rant about what new music I’ve discovered.

Wildcat Wildcat is one of those bands.

They’re an upcoming indie rock band from Los Angeles with a sound that compares to Portugal. The Man and Bon Iver. Wildcat Wildcat is what those two bands would sound like if they had a baby.

I first heard Wildcat Wildcat’s song, “Please and Thank You,” when I was checking out some new music via Spotify. I immediately became obsessed.

The band’s first full album, “No Moon At All,” came out Sept. 10. It was a big moment for me. I immediately bought the album.

Wildcat Wildcat brings a new sound all its own. It is hard to compare the band to anyone else. “No Moon At All” is a 10-track album. From number one to number 10 it meets expectations.

Photo courtesy of www.sunbeltfoodservice.com

Alternative band “Wildcat Wildcat” recently released its first fulllength album, “No Moon At All.” The band has since announced a U.S. tour and has gathered many new fans.

The album includes some dance tunes, some chill songs and some songs that go deeper in a musical sense than most.

Wildcat Wildcat’s harmonies are everything I wished I could do. And the bassist is one of the best I’ve heard, and made me wish I could be a master in bass instead of the triangle.

The band just kicked off its headlining tour, which includes over 20 cities around the U.S. Members are proving everywhere they go that

they’re a rising band.

Wildcat Wildcat is one of the best bands I’ve ever heard.

Not only do I enjoy listening to their music, but it also gives me some inspiration.

For anyone who likes indie or alternative music, Wildcat Wildcat is the jackpot.

“No Moon At All” is great from start to finish. I would recommend this album and this band to anyone interested in checking out some new music.

Answers can be found at lcc.edu/lookout This week’s puzzle is sponsored by:

10 OPINION

Sept. 29 - Oct. 12, 2014 www.lcc.edu/lookout — The Kohn Effect —

So being a nerd is cool?

Star Wars. Lord of the Rings.

Comic Books. What comes to mind when you think of these words?

Nerds!

I can remember a time when the word ‘nerd’ meant ridicule.

Now it seems I can’t go a day without someone dressed in an Avengers or Star Wars T-shirt. How has it come to that? I had to live my whole childhood as an outcast, and now it is an acceptable way of life.

Here are the two things I believe that lead to the inevitable rise of the nerd.

Number one: the internet.

When you give a nerd a keyboard, monitor and the ability to express their opinion, watch out because big things can happen.

IGN, Reddit, 4chan and YouTube are breeding grounds for nerds to deem a thumbs up or down to all things pop culture.

Numero dos: Marvel’s decision to make movies. After Marvel battled bankruptcy in the late ‘90s, comic book sales suffered. They needed to

take decisive action to bounce back.

With the release of the first “Spider-Man,” Marvel has hit a goldmine when it comes to movie releases. Marvel’s latest film,” Guardians of the Galaxy” was the top-selling film of the summer.

Since the release of “SpiderMan,” the nerd floodgates have been opened and continue to allow more in.

There is an internal struggle that takes place within me regarding how I feel about nerd culture being so trendy.

Since nerd culture is now mainstream, it is more likely to see the types of TV shows and movies I enjoy. I think the balance of nerd shows to reality shows are almost equal

now.

I find it awesome that two of the most revered shows, “The Walking Dead” and “Game of Thrones,” are based off of book series and a graphic novel.

It’s almost like presenting original manuscript nerd material, in a new visual medium becomes instantly popular with the casual fan.

For me, there is an internal struggle of how to feel of this newly-found acceptance.

On one hand, I feel annoyed that anyone can slap on an XMen or Batman T-shirt and call themselves a nerd.

I have at times thought of stopping the person who is wearing a T-shirt and quizzing them of their knowledge, to deem them worthy of wearing it or not.

On the other hand, we are living in a nerd’s ideal bliss.

TV and movies are chocked with all things comic books, fantasy, sci-fi and horror.

Who is to say if this newfound love of all things nerddom is temporary or here to stay? I know I am definitely getting my nerd thirst quenched for the time being.

—If the Schue Fits —

Some tips to make life a little more paw-some Over the summer, I found the love of my life: a very small, very young kitten with the softest black fur I have ever felt.

Naturally, I immediately became a crazy cat lady, and promptly filled my phone’s memory with miscellaneous photos of my newfound baby simply existing.

He’s the first cat I’ve ever had, so I was quickly introduced to a new lifestyle I like to call “The Way of the Cat.” With nine steps to live by, The Way of the Cat is surprisingly applicable

to the stresses of school, work and life in general.

This is The Way of the Cat: The world is filled with interesting objects, places and animals. Especially birds. And moths. And

paperclips.

It is your job to explore it, because the world is your playground (though some may try to tell you otherwise).

At times you may find that the table you just jumped on is actually an unstable cardboard box. If this happens, just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and go find something else to climb toward.

When you are happy, let others know. If you are angry, make it clear.

Your feelings are valid and you deserve to ex-

press them.

If you want to cuddle, then cuddle. However, if someone touches you and you do not like it, make your discomfort evident. If the behavior continues after you have spoken against it, make sure the person faces consequences.

Always take time out for a nap, especially if you got up early and have been running around all day. Naps in the sun are especially nice.

Personal hygiene is important. It is your job to keep yourself healthy

and clean.

Test your strength. You never know how high you can climb or how far you can jump until you try. It may lead you to exciting places you’ve never been before, such as the kitchen countertop, home of the glorious sink.

Treat yourself. In a world where turkey and tuna exists, why should one eat only dry kibble all the time?

Sometimes you may feel small and feeble, but remember that you have the capability to puff out

your fur, hiss and face your fears head on.

Always remember that you are still growing and learning. If you can’t instantly catch that feather toy that is somehow always out of reach, keep trying. In time you will become stronger and figure out the perfect way to pounce and catch your prize.

Of course these are not the only ways to deal with the challenges our nine lives may bring, but we can all learn a thing or two from our feline companions.

— Chilling with Chelsea —

Checking a dragon boat race off the bucket list Once in awhile I like to take a step a back and see all the things I have accomplished thus far; the activities and events I have partaken in.

It makes me feel good to say that I have done so much and I am still continuing to broaden my horizons.

Though I am gaining more knowledge by doing new and exciting events, I never realized that being on top of a dragon’s head on a boat,

paddling down the river, would be one of those events.

For those who are as new to a dragon boat

race as I was before participating in one Sept.

14 at Adado Park across from LCC, they consist of teams of 18 paddlers, one flag catcher and one drummer.

As the drummer beats the drum, the paddlers have to all paddle in unison. The flag catcher gets the best job of all: to catch the flag at the end of the race.

Thus, it all started with a click of a button.

I had submitted myself

into a drawing through my employers to see if I would win a spot on one of the boats. I did … well sort of. I ended up being an alternate, which was close enough.

I was a part of MSU Federal Credit Union’s Green Team. There was also the White Team as well. One cannot simply shout out, “Go Green!” without responding, “Go White!”

My co-workers and I found out very shortly

what we had gotten ourselves into.

Other teams were practicing their perfect paddling, game faces on, stretching in unison and yelling out chants.

We knew right then and there we didn’t have a chance. They had been practicing for months while we only had one measly day to practice.

However, that didn’t stop the Green Team from bringing home a bronze medal in our di-

vision.

The White Team did not get anything, unfortunately, except for the satisfaction of being around co-workers and working together as one.

I am glad I got to participate in the dragon boat races after all. However, I think I will have to pass on next year. Once is enough for me.

I would much rather sleep in on my Sunday than get up and race in a dragon boat.

11 Opinion

Sept. 29 - Oct. 12, 2014 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Who is your celebrity look-alike?

thelookout

Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959

Jeremy Kohn

Nikki Nicolaou

Sarah Spohn

Editor in Chief kohnj2@mail.lcc.edu

Associate Editor nicolaon@mail.lcc.edu

A & E Editor spohns1@mail.lcc.edu

“John Malkovich.”

“Nicole Anderson”

“Kelly Clarkson.“

Shelby Schueller

Richard Schenck

Jaimie Bozack

News Editor schuels1@mail.lcc.edu

Sports Editor schen1@mail.lcc.edu

Staff Writer bozackj@mail.lcc.edu

“Tina Fey.“

“Jack Black.“

“Ellen Page.“

Chelsea Allen

Lurah Peterson

Larry Hook

Staff Writer allenc31@mail.lcc.edu

Advertising Manager petersl8@mail.lcc.edu

Adviser hookl@lcc.edu

“Jodie Sweetin.“

“Emmy Rossum.”

“Bill Gates.”

— Staff Editorial —

Police is not the military A police officer’s job has always been to help protect and uphold the nature of the law.

In recent years, however, the federal government may be taking the lengths of protecting and serving a bit too far.

The Washington Times recently reported that Michigan Police has received $43 million in military equipment from the federal government.

Some of the military gear the police have received included 17 mine-resistant armored fighting vehicles and over a 1,000 M16 automatic rifles.

According to The Washington Times, federal officials won’t divulge which Michigan agencies received military aid.

The Detroit Free Press stated, according to the American Civil Liberty Union, there have been several incidents where the use of excessive military equipment has led to dire results.

A 19-month-old boy in Georgia was gravely wounded by a flash-grenade when police searched a home during a drug raid.

A 7-year-old in Detroit was shot and killed while sleeping

on the couch during a drug raid.

Kara Dansky, senior council of the ACLU, had this to say about the increase in military surplus in the Free Press article.

“We found through our investigation the use of paramilitary weapons and tactics causes serious problems for undermining public confidence,” Dansky said.

Take these incidents into consideration, along with the reactions of the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Mo., and perhaps the government should rethink its current strategy.

We here at the Lookout are appalled and puzzled by the actions of the government. What is the reasoning behind this increased military surplus?

Drug dealing? Terrorism?

We believe it is an American citizen’s right to know why the government is taking such a decisive action pertaining to our local police force.

Having military equipment and weapons used on our own citizens gives a message of war more than protecting the peace.

JOIN THE HUNT!

FERRIS @ LCC

SOCIAL MEDIA SCAVENGER HUNT

Ferris.edu/FindFelix

SEpT. 29 - OCT. 3

Find Felix.

Win Prizes. n Multiple prizes hidden on the LCC campus valued between $5 and $500 n Follow our daily clues on Facebook n instructions for claiming your prize can be found at Ferris.edu/FindFelix

Want to increase your chances of finding Felix?

Interested in entering to win a $1000 scholarship? n Check out Ferris.edu/FindFelix – register for additional clues and enter to win the scholarship!

Ferris Statewide & Online *You must be on Facebook to participate

Ferris state University Lansing

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Sept. 29 - Oct. 12, 2014 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Lansing Community College in partnership with Union Missionary Baptist Church presents

The 2014 HBCU College Fair Tuesday, October 14, 2014 LCC Main Campus – Gannon Building 2nd Floor

Union Missionary Baptist Church

422 N. Washington Court Lansing, MI 48933

500 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Lansing, MI 48915

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

This is Your Opportunity to: Learn about admissions requirements and academic programs n Meet Historically Black College and University (HBCU) reps n Receive more information about the Lansing Community College HBCU Transfer Partnerships n

This event is sponsored by the Lansing Community College Faith-Based and HBCU Transfer Partnerships.

Register at: lcc.edu/hbcu