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Nov. 14 - 27, 2011 Volume 53, Issue 6 www.lcc.edu/lookout
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thelookout Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959
Save on Friday fun ‘First Friday’ deals offered downtown Shauna Stocken News Editor Since the beginning of April, roughly 100 Greater Lansing area businesses, shops, restaurants and bars have joined the monthly event referred to as Lansing First Fridays. The event takes place the first Friday of every month. Participating businesses offer promotions or discounts on their products on these designated days. Rose Robbins, a city of Lansing resident, ate at the Grand Traverse Pie Company during the First Friday event Nov. 4.
Photo by Michael Caterina
The CATA trolley makes its way down Michigan Avenue in downtown Lansing during the First Friday of November. CATA offers free rides on the trolley as a part of the Lansing First Fridays. The route runs from Lansing to East Lansing, passing over 70 night-life locations on the route.
“I hadn’t paid attention up until now, but I think having (First Fridays) will bring more people to more businesses,” Robbins said. “We are the capital of
Michigan; we need to open up our city. I think that having these restaurants participate is fantastic.” To transport all participants to the local
business, Capitol Area Transportation Authority (CATA) bus and trolley services are free throughout designated See First Friday, page 2
Occupy through thick and thin Protest continues in spite of weather Dominick Mastrangelo Editor in Chief Since the first Occupy Wall Street protests began in New York City in September, thousands of American citizens have been taking to the streets to promote governmental change.
The same has been happening in Lansing’s Reuter Park since early October. Roughly two dozen tents are pitched in the park, located just three blocks down from the Michigan State Capitol. Many of the participants in Occupy Lansing are students at Lansing Community College. “I come down here every day after class,” said John Whitman, a first-year LCC student. “It’s not about convenience, though; I would walk 10 miles in the snow
every day to be here.” Whitman may not have to walk 10 miles, but the snow is definitely coming. “I know there are people who plan on camping out here through the winter,” Whitman said. “If you believe in something enough, you’re willing to suffer for it.” Whitman is just one example of countless people across the country who are trying to make their See Occupy, page 2
Tailgate highlights festivities Nathan Wilson Associate Editor Students will see a surge of school pride, basketball games and athletic contests the week of Nov. 14 during LCC’s Homecoming. Andrew Lathrop, manager of LCC Alumni Relations, said, “Every year has been special because (Homecoming) has been a new concept to the college. What makes this year more entertaining is we’re offering more events and activities for students.” A highlight includes the
Kickoff Tailgate between the Gannon and Arts & Science Buildings on Nov. 14. and 15. The tailgate will provide free food for students and a miniature calendar with a list of Homecoming events on campus. The calendar is also a entry form for contest drawings with prizes including StarCard gift certificates and an eight-gigabyte iPod touch. Students can earn checkmarks on their tickets at the event locations on Wednesday, Nov. 16 and turn them in to win prizes.
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First Friday Continued from page 1
times during First Fridays. The CATA Entertainment Express trolley will run every 15 minutes between downtown Lansing and East Lansing from 5:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. CATA bus services offers free rides starting at 7 p.m. until the end of regular service times on First Fridays. According to Wardell Wicker, supervisor of the Grand Traverse Pie Company at 1145 S. Washington St., the normal turnout for First Fri-
days is “absolutely wonderful.” “We get age brackets from teens to mature,” Wicker said. “We get a nice little rush of people who grab hold of the benefits of First Fridays.” Grand Traverse Pie Company offers a free slice of pie during the event between 2 and 5 p.m. “I haven’t been downtown in a very long time and I heard there’s a Grand Traverse Pie Company,” Robbins said. “Their special was
my favorite pie: pumpkin.” Other Lansing businesses that participate in the event include Grace Boutique of Old Town, located at 115 W. Grand River in Lansing. Summer Shiner has been the owner of Grace Boutique, which has been in Lansing for the past five years. Her boutique offers customers a free piece of jewelry or an accessory that costs up to $28 when one spends at least $100. “I think that’s its nice getting people out and
acquainted with parts of the community that they don’t necessarily see,” said Shiner. “It’s nice. It really is and it grows a little more each week.” According to Jenn Gilreath, assistant manger at Edmund's Pastime at 101 S. Washington Square, every First Friday she has ever worked has been “packed.” “I think that it is really important because it gives people knowledge of us; we are still a very new place,” Gilreath said. “We are really trying to get our name out
there and show people that ‘yes, we have a night life, we’re here every night until 2 a.m.’ "We want to really bring people in and show them what we have to offer, and there’s nothing like a cheap drink special to really bring people in to see what Edmund's is all about.” On top of all the First Fridays promotions and discounts, the event also features contests and prizes through the First Fridays Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Follow the Lansing First Fridays Twitter account @LansingFirstFri or join the FB group to have a chance to win prizes. For a full list of businesses partnering with the event and to learn about upcoming specials, visit the official First Fridays website at www.lansingfirstfridays.com. These are just some of the ways anyone can enjoy and participate in Lansing’s First Fridays. “It’s nice to see downtown Lansing come back,” Robbins said.
Occupy Continued from page 1
voices heard one day at a time. In Lansing, protesters have found a sense of community within themselves. “It’s sort of like a big old, unhappy family,” said Aaron Mayfield, a 23-year-old student at Michigan State University. “We all share a common interest here: We do not want big corporations running our country anymore, plain and simple.” Reports out of cities like Atlanta and Oakland, Calif., say
the Occupy protests have become violent and dangerous to the communities that surround them. According to Lansing Police things have been more peaceful in Lansing. “Nothing has been too disorderly or overly violent,” a bike riding Lansing officer who patrols Reuter Park daily said. “We just want to make sure there is no illegal activity going on … everyone needs to be safe.”
Protest signs hang on a clothesline at Reuter Park in downtown Lansing.
Photo by Michael Caterina
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Nov. 14 - 27, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
A winning tradition at home Dominick Mastrangelo Editor in Chief Rita Wieber has been a member of the LCC community for over 30 years. She is currently working in the Physical Fitness and Wellness Department teaching an online Healthy Lifestyles course. She has graduated from LCC’s Nursing Program and is an emergency room nurse at Sparrow Health System in Lansing. Wieber has recently been recognized for her 16-yearold daughter Jordyn’s accomplishments overseas. Jordyn was an allaround individual winner at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Tokyo in the fall. She is currently training for the 2012 Olympics in London. Rita said her daughter’s accomplishments were a product of hard work, dating back to Jordyn’s childhood. “It really is an honor. I’m really proud not just because of the title but also because of the hard work she’s put in over the last 14 years,” Wieber said. “I can’t even imagine having that kind of dedication at that age.”
IN BRIEF NEWS
Don’t miss spring registration deadlines
Courtesy photo
Rita Wieber, left, adjunct faculty member at LCC, is also the mother of World Champion Gymnast, Jordyn Wieber.
Rita explained while she has always encouraged all her children to succeed, it was her daughter’s willingness to grind that led to all of her recent success. “I never once had to tell her to work harder or not quit,” Wieber said. “My role and my husband’s role were always to support our children, and teach them that hard work pays off.” Wieber has four children: Lindsey, 24; Jordyn, 16; Ryan, 17; and Kyra, 12. Ryan was the starting quarterback of the DeWitt Varsity Football team in 2011 and led the Panthers to a 9-2 season and the 2011 playoffs. Rita said all of her children are self-motivated and deserve all the success
they have earned. “We’ve been blessed with some really great, determined kids,” Rita said. “We always wanted them to realize that it’s a privilege to have a great deal of talent.” Over the years, Rita Wieber has worked closely with LCC full-time Health and Wellness faculty member Tiller Landick. Landick spoke very fondly of Wieber’s character and her ability to help people succeed. “Healthy lifestyle is such a great class for her to teach, she deals with aspects of that class everyday,” Landick said. “She’s an incredibly committed person … you can see that in the success her children have.”
Don’t forget to register for spring semester classes. LCC students who meet the credit requirements can register for classes as early as Nov. 15. Students with 60 credits or more can register Nov. 15 at 9 a.m., and students with 30 credits or more can register for classes Nov. 15 at 9 p.m. Students with 12 credits or more can register Nov. 16 at 9 a.m., and students with at least one or more credits can register the following day Nov. 17. Registration is open to everyone regardless of credits earned Nov. 18. The final day to register for spring semester classes is Jan. 5, 2012. The first day of spring semester classes is Jan. 7, 2012.
Gather goods for LCC food drive LCC is hosting a food drive called “One CAN Make a Difference,” Nov. 14 to 30.
The food drive will help an estimated 6,000 households in need of food throughout the state of Michigan. Donations for the food drive can be dropped off in four different ways on LCC’s campus. LCC Main Campus has three drop off locations. The first location is the Welcome Center from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. The second location is the Office of Student Life, located in the Gannon Building (GB) 230 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The third location is the LCC Police and Public Safety Office, GB 251 after 6 p.m. Food can be dropped off at LCC West Campus in the Welcome Center M103 or at LCC East Campus on the first floor Service Center during regular services hours. There is also an option to donate food during the men’s and women’s basketball games Nov. 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. on the third floor in the GB gymnasium.
— Stocken Speaks —
If it’s not broken, break it When it comes to the upcoming renovations to the LCC campus, I feel pretty taken aback by all the money being spent and changes being made. I am all for change when change is necessary, such as routine maintenance or repairs on campus. LCC is dedicated to its students’ success and I believe the campus in the space it’s in already fulfills that goal without renovations. Modernization in the Gannon Building and Arts & Science Building seems unnecessary when it will lead to our school’s debt. The buildings on campus are heated in the winter, air conditioned in the summer, clean in both classrooms and bathrooms. The college offers delicious and healthy food choices and modern technology such as computers and SMART Boards in many classrooms to enhance student learning. When I think about success at LCC, I don’t think of a place to hang out with friends and watch a flat screen TV or a fancy classroom with modernized
furniture. I’ve come to LCC to learn at an affordable cost. Expanding LCC’s Main Campus with the proposed idea of buying the Oliver Towers building would be an excellent addition to the campus growth. However, purchasing Oliver Towers will cost LCC $2.52 million. And that doesn’t include the additional cost to renovate that building if the plan goes through. Millions of dollars will be spent between buying Oliver Towers and the renovations to many Main Campus buildings. I am truly dumbfounded at LCC making huge decisions when it comes to spending millions of dollars that will affect the student body without first thinking of our needs.
Students and faculty members continue to pay for the increased cost for classes, parking, books and supplies. In addition to increased fees, programs have been cut at LCC within the last year due to lack of funds. These are programs that once advanced the potential of students. Unnecessary renovations to the campus feel like a ploy to compete with MSU to increase the number of students wanting to come to LCC above MSU. The focus should be on simply serving students in Lansing area, offering an affordable education that can transfer to a four-year institute. I would rather see programs that couldn’t be financed paid for through a much smaller portion of the money budgeted for renovations. If success is really what LCC wants for its student body, then put money toward additional training programs for teachers and tutoring services. LCC still has the opportunity to save millions of dollars by not breaking what isn’t already broken.
Photo illustration by Michael Caterina
LCC assessed membership fees for students and community members for use of the pool over this past summer. Student membership costs are planned be lowered for the spring semester.
Join pool at reduced rate Nathan Wilson Associate Editor Narrowly escaping the 2011 LCC program cuts and being converted into classrooms, LCC’s pool area is thriving with the support of both students and the Lansing community, according to faculty members. Over the summer, a membership fee was adopted for the LCC pool. It has helped ensure the future of the pool for now. Crystal LeDeau, parttime support in Physical Fitness and Wellness, said, “(The pool) is actually doing really well … We’ve definitely had a good amount of people come in besides people who are already a part of LCC sign up.” According to LeDeau, approximately 60 people are signed up for the pool membership. LeDeau said the LCC Board of Trustees will consider all options for the pool during a board meeting in December. Until then, plans to go forward
with aquatic classes and membership in spring remain intact. LeDeau said the membership fee for students in spring will be $30, while non-students and community members are expected to pay $50 for pool access from Jan. 3, 2012, to June 5, 2012. Fees for fall semester were $50 for everyone. “We’ve had a lot of community members talk about how significant the pool is to LCC, particularly because there are no other community pools in the area,” LeDeau said. “It definitely helps add another aspect to LCC. “We want to encourage any physical fitness options that are available out there to the students as well as the community.” Jennifer Hatt, lead support staff for Physical Fitness and Wellness, said the pool membership has generated a lot of excitement in the Lansing community. Besides providing affordable access to a pool, Hatt explained the pool can benefit people who
struggle with staying fit. “These aquatic exercises are easier on their joints, and it’s a good way for people to start working out together, especially as a family,” Hatt said. “What we find pretty popular is the noon to 2 p.m. swim because we have a lot of current staff here at LCC or people who are downtown … We’re going to continue our weekend swim, and we’re also looking at possibly doing an evening swim. “Personally, I’m hoping the pool stays open,” Hatt continued. “I see a lot of the students who use the pool and I know the college kind of views it as a small amount of students, but there really are quite a lot of students who are using this facility … We’re just really hoping the college makes these students a priority and keeps the pool open.” To take advantage of this opportunity and sign up for a pool membership, stop by the Physical Fitness & Wellness office in GB 351 or call 517-483-1227.
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Nov. 14 - 27, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Lansing-area students prepare for Black Friday frenzy Shauna Stocken News Editor With the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaching, so is the holiday shopping season, kicked off by the infamous Black Friday tradition. LCC students are participating in this annual event in more than just one way. “Black Friday is a hectic day where you get up early, stand in line for hours to buy gifts for cheap,” said Michael Williams, an LCC student who said he went Black Friday shopping every year with his family as a child.
Retailers refer to Black are scheduled to open Friday as the period dur- their doors the night of ing which stores acquire Thanksgiving. Rummell Hamiel is an the highest profit. When stores acquire less money LCC student and a mobile wireannually less sale than their It’s going to be a consulquota, the mess to clean up and tant in the stores’ figa very long day. Mobile ures for Ellen Waters, Forever 21 Technolthe year ogy Deare called red-ink figures. After partment at Best Buy in Black Friday, many retail- Lansing. “I’ll be working a 12ers are above their annual quota, called black-ink hour shift from the time figures, thus giving the Best Buy opens at midname to Black Friday. night on Thanksgiving For example, Best Buy until the next (day),” stores this year are open- Hamiel said. ing their doors at midWhile some stores nights on Thanksgiving may not be opening their to compete with Target, doors at midnight, they Macy’s and Kohl’s, which will be opening earlier
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than normal. According to Ellen Waters, a sophomore at LCC and sales associate at the Forever 21 clothing store in Eastwood Towne Center in East Lansing, the store will be opening at 5 a.m. Waters said she will work six to eight hours depending on the amount of additional staff that will be needed on Black Friday. “I’m not nervous but I’m not excited at all; we have such good deals going on for our clothes that are already super cheap and adorable,” Waters said. “People are going to be plowing down the door
so early. It’s going to be a mess to clean up and a very long day.” For many shoppers the most important reason to join the mob in the early morning is to receive discounts on children’s toys. Sophia Perry, a freshmen at LCC who works as a sales team member at Toys “R” Us in Okemos, will work her first Black Friday this year. “I am eager to prove my worth, but I’m nervous because it’s my first job ever,” Perry said. Along with a day of deals, specials and promotions, Black Friday also gives opportunities for part-time employ-
ment. “Toys R Us hires a heck of a lot of seasonal employees and gives them pep talks often,” Perry said. While Black Friday shopping may seem like a rapid race to the hot deals, the reality is many people have been injured and trampled during shopping. “I think it’s a little ridiculous,” Hamiel said. “We’re all adults. People need to be more considerate of each other. “If you know that what you want is going to sell out quickly, you need to arrive when the doors open. It’s really your only option.”
New fee implemented for selective admissions Nathan Wilson Associate Editor LCC students expecting to submit an application for selective admissions programs have until Nov. 16, 2011 before a $50 application fee goes into effect.
According to Nancy Ziegler, a selective admissions specialist, the programs affected by this fee include the Criminal Justice Mid-Michigan Police Academy, Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Fire Acad-
emy, Nursing (all tracks), Paramedic, Radiological Technology and Surgical Technology. According to Evan Montague, the dean of Student Services, the fee was implemented to manage the cost of reviewing
all the paperwork that goes into selective admissions. “The $50 fee was put in place to account for all the strategic support as well as the requirements that must be tracked for students applying,” Montague said. “It requires a village of individuals to review the application. It’s a very intensive process, so the fee was proposed and adopted to account for the time and effort that is put into this very key process for the institution.” Selective admissions programs have limited seating for students who meet the program requirements and wish to apply. These programs are characterized by a point system so ranking determines who earns a seat in the program. Every selective admission program has a unique curriculum for gaining points that can be found at lcc.edu. Ziegler explained that students who are currently applied will not be affected by the fee. “If they already have an application on file, they’re good,” she said. Once the fee is in effect, students interested in applying can go to the Student Finance Office Gannon Building (GB 214) to pay the fee. According to Ziegler, after payment is collected and the student has a receipt, the student must turn in the application to Enrollment Services (GB 203). Hope Shaw, an LCC student who plans on enrolling in the Nursing Program, said she was surprised by the $50 application fee for selective
Photo by Kevin Fowler
Surgical Technology is one of the many selective admission programs that will have a fee assessed for applying to the program. A $50 fee will be issued when students submit applications to the following programs: Criminal Justice Mid-Michigan Police Academy, Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Fire Academy, Nursing (all tracks), Paramedic, Radiological Technology and Surgical Technology.
admissions programs. “I think this is wrong and very harmful to students,” Shaw said. “Applying is stressful and 2012 students already have to deal with the drastically changed point system. The fee is yet another added hurdle and expense many students simply cannot afford. Those dedicated, hardworking students who have fulfilled all the requirements to be eligible for the nursing program deserve a chance to apply
free of charge.” Tom West, another LCC student planning on enrolling in the Surgical Technology Program, offered a different opinion. “The $50 fee sounds like a good idea,” West said. “It will sort out the students that are not serious about the medical profession. The student that is serious about it won’t mind the fee. These programs have limited seating and the fee would discourage the student who is not serious.”
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Kyle Tuckey Chaos Theory
Vincent Mata Who Wants Soup?
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6 SPORTS
Nov. 14 - 27, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout — A New York State of Mind —
End of an era: Joe Paterno ousted The unthinkable has happened. Joe Paterno is out as the football coach at Penn State. And rightfully so. Paterno was fired Nov. 9 by the Penn State Board of Trustees simply because there was no other option. Penn State trustees fired Paterno and University President Graham Spanier amid the growing furor over how the school handled sex abuse allegations against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Sandusky was arrested Nov. 5 over 40 counts of child molestation that allegedly took place on Penn State’s campus. In March of 2002, Mike McQueary, a graduate student and assistant to the PSU football team, entered what should have been an empty Nittany Lion locker room. Instead he allegedly found Sandusky with what he estimated to be a 10-year-old
boy in a shower stall being “subjected to anal intercourse.” The grad assistant, stunned and frightened, fled the locker room and took no immediate action. The next day McQueary reportedly went to the home of Paterno and informed him of the incident. The day after that, Paterno is said to have contacted Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley to inform him of what the grad assistant had reported. The process ended there. Although Curley informed Sandusky that he was no lon-
ger permitted to bring minors to Penn State’s campus, the incident went virtually unreported. That’s where things went wrong for Joe Pa. Simply telling his boss about what was reported to him, and doing nothing else to follow up, proved to be probably the biggest mistake he’s made in his 84 years. After Sandusky’s arrest, Curley was put on administrative leave as was Spanier. The morning of his termination, Paterno announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season. It turned out to be wishful thinking. Paterno was informed of his termination via a telephone call the evening of Nov. 9. The board couldn’t even do him the courtesy of firing him in person. Nothing about this situation was pretty. After the announcement had been made, the city of
State College, Pa., erupted. Students rushed to Paterno’s home and major intersections on Penn State’s campus. The scene quickly became volatile. Media vans were flipped over and street lights were pulled down. A riot was forming. These protests show just how popular and iconic Paterno was in Happy Valley. The crowds were eventually dispersed, but the damage had been done. Joe Pa was gone, and Penn State football would never be the same. The vast majority of people protesting the night of Paterno’s firing are football fans. The sad reality is that Paterno was not fired over a football issue. What we have here is an issue of morality. “Joe didn’t do anything!” many protesters screamed the night of their beloved coach’s termination. That’s exactly the problem.
Joe chose not to sacrifice the reputation of Penn State by exposing Sandusky’s crimes. The problem is in doing so, he sacrificed the well being of abused children. You just can’t do that. There has never been a sadder story in college sports. In the end, Joe Paterno was just too damn loyal to PSU. His pride ended up doing him in. Still, life goes on and so too does PSU football. Thousands of students, alumni and fans pile into Beaver Stadium to watch their Nittany Lions. They will cheer, sing the fight song and hold each other as they serenade each other in the alma mater. Will they stumble on their words when they get to this part? May no act of ours bring shame To one heart that loves thy name, May our lives but swell thy fame, Dear old State, dear old State.
— Ben There Doane That—
Let Denard run; U of M quarterback should be set free As a Michigan fan, I was as happy as anyone else to see Rich Rodriguez get the boot. The one thing I do miss from the days of Rich Rod, though, is that quarterback Denard Robinson was allowed to run. Having one of the fastest players in Division 1 Football is a weapon that can just shred other defenses, unless he is never allowed to leave the
pocket. It makes sense that new coach Brady Hoke would be trying to return to the old Michigan way, with a traditional quarterback and a good power running game. But as long as you have Denard, why don’t you use him every once in a while? The fact of the matter is, Denard is not a pocket passer, he actually throws better on the run. If he is not al-
lowed to run the ball, at least let him roll out of the pocket. My frustration was endless when against MSU (Michigan State University). I watched Denard get sacked again and again, knowing he could easily outrun any of those defenders if he wanted (or was allowed to). From the moment Hoke took the podium I felt like he would be a good coach for Michi-
gan. I especially loved hearing him answer the reporter that asked him, “Do you think Michigan is still a big job?”
It was nice to see he actually cared about the program and it wasn’t just a job to him. My only complaint is, I want to see Denard run some. I am aware I am not the coach. I am also aware I am writing as a U of M fan in a part of Michigan that is very pro-MSU. However, I just feel like if I had the fastest dual threat quarterback on my team, I would
run him more to keep defenses guessing. I am excited for the Brady Hoke years going forward, but for the remainder of this season I would like it if Denard stopped seeming like he was cemented down in the pocket for entire game. My dad put it best when he yelled at the TV during the game against MSU to say, “Come on Hoke, let him run the ball!”
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Nov. 14 - 27, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
XC’s take top two spots
LCC Cross Cross Country coach Chuck Block displays his MCCAA and Region 12 Coach of the Year award.
Men take first, women take second place Ben Doane Sports Writer
Photo by Michael Caterina
Block named best Ben Doane Sports Writer The MCCAA and the Region 12 coach of the year awards for men’s cross country were given to none other than LCC’s very own Chuck Block Oct. 29. The team had many firstplace finishes this season, including coming in first at the regional tournament. Also, there were many individual first-place finishes that helped lead the team to these victories. “It is always a great honor to be coach of the year,” Block said. “There are 10 teams in the conference and for them to recognize you as the top coach, it
means a lot.” Block said coaching cross country requires a lot of dedication. “You work hard as a coach all-year around,” he said. “You have to recruit, bring runners in for visits (and) training. “To get an award like coach of the year, it means a lot,” he said. “I was very appreciative of that.” LCC freshman runner Nick Moon said Block is worthy of the honors. “He’s a good coach and he knows what he is doing,” Moon said. “He was a runner himself, he knows how to train and he knows what we need to do to get better and compete.”
Both the LCC men and women earned the right to be one of the teams competing in nationals at the NJCAA Region 12 Meet at Grand Woods Park in Lansing Oct. 29. The men from LCC had Austin Alcalar and Ryan Konen take first and second, respectively, to help lead the Stars to a victory. LCC was trailed by Vincennes, which had a score of 82 to LCC’s 42. The other top five finishers for the Stars were Michael Lahner (ninth), Tyler Fisk (13th) and Logan Lindsay (16th). “The guys ran fantastic.” Block said. “Austin and Ryan took first and second place and nobody was even close to them.” On the women’s side,
Photos by Michael Caterina
The LCC men’s cross country team, above, displays its first-place award at the NJCAA Region 12 National Meet at Grand Woods Park Oct. 29.
some LCC performances that deserve mention include those of Brianna Wiles and Lexi Roe, who both ran their best times of the season, 19:24 and 19:50. The top five finishers for the Lady Stars were Wiles (fifth), Ashley Hamilton (seventh), Roe (10th), Jaclynn Magness (12th) and Nikki May (13th). The individual efforts led the Stars to a combined score of 47 and a second-place finish behind Macomb Community College, which finished with 25. “We felt like we had a shot at beating Macomb,” LCC Coach Chuck Block said. “But we didn’t run our best race, which we really needed to do. “As a coach, you think to yourself, ‘Did they give it everything they had?’ And I really felt that they tried their hardest.” Block added he believes if the women do have their best race at the national meet, they could finish as one of the top three teams in the
Top finisher for the Lady Stars Brianna Wiles makes her way around the course at Grand Woods Park Oct. 29. Wiles finished fifth overall with a time of 19:24.
country. The Stars were scheduled to conclude their season at the national championship meet on
Saturday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. in Hobbs, N.M. Results of that meet will be in the next issue of The Lookout.
By the
Numbers
NJCAA Region XII Championship results Oct. 29
MEN’S RESULTS Individual places – 1. Austin Alcalar 25:35, 2. Ryan Konen 25:42, 9. Michael Lahner 26:13, 13. Tyler Fisk 26:31, 16. Logan Lindsay 26:46, 18. Tyler Graustein 26:52, 27. Nick Moon 27:24.
WOMEN’S RESULTS Individual places – 5. Brianna Wiles 19:24, 7. Ashley Hamilton 19:37, 10. Lexi Roe 19:50, 12. Jaclyn Magness 19:56, 13. Nikki May 19:57, 21. Ashley Steers 20:35, 26. Paige Terbush 21:00.
8 SPORTS
Nov. 14 - 27, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Stars still searching for first home win Men’s hoop record at 1-4 Dominick Mastrangelo Editor in Chief After losing their men’s basketball home opener to Mid-Michigan Community College 75-63, the Stars turned their focus to the first road game of the year. The LCC men traveled to River Grove, Ill., to participate in the Triton Tip-Off Classic Nov. 4-6. The Stars lost two of the three games they played in the tournament, returning to Lansing with a record of 1-3. “Part of beginning a season is working the kinks out,” LCC Coach Mike Ingram said. “We’ll be alright. We just need to settle down and let things happen.” With the same calm mindset their coach had preached in mind, the Stars took to their home floor Nov. 9 vs. Oakland Community College. The Stars were close to snatching their first home
victory of the year, but they simply ran out of time. After leading by as much as 16 points in the first half, the LCC men lost at home again, 88-84. The combined efforts of sophomore point guard Nate Duhon and freshman shooting gaurd Cameron Sanchez ignited an explosion of first-half offense for the Stars. Sanchez led the Stars with 26 points and four steals in the game. Duhon left the game in the second half with a muscle cramp in his lower abdomen. He had scored 13 points. “I’m alright,” Duhon said after the game. “It still hurts a ton, but I’ll be fine soon.” The Raiders found themselves back in the game thanks to a 21-point performance by Oakland sophomore Aaron Hayes. However, the Stars were still clinging to the lead at halftime, 36-35. “We started tonight’s game very well,” Ingram said. “We’ve just got to get better at finishing ball-
Photos by Michael Caterina
LCC Head Coach Mike Ingram waves his playbook around while contesting a call during the Stars’ 88-84 loss to Oakland Community College Nov. 9.
games.” When Duhon left the game in the second half, the Stars lost their rhythm. The Raiders pulled away to take the lead 79-68. However, two electrifying dunks by forward Marcus Cain (13 points, seven rebounds) gave the Star’s fans something to cheer about. “I knew we needed to get back in the game,” Cain said. “We almost had this one.” The Stars came to within two points of tying the game with less than two
minutes to go. After two off-ball fouls committed by the Stars, and four successfully made free-throws by OCC, the final buzzer sounded and the Stars had lost their second home game. “It’s disappointing, but I think the problems we have here are fixable,” Ingram said. “They just need to believe they can compete. I do.” The Stars host Henry Ford Community College Saturday, Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. as part of LCC’s Homecoming Week.
Freshman Cameron Sanchez moves past the defense during the Stars’ 88-84 loss to Oakland Community College Nov. 9 in Gannon Gymnasium. Sanchez led the Stars offense with 26 points, including a trio of three-pointers and five of six free throws.
9
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Nov. 14 - 27, 2011
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Cook up something new this holiday Kaitlin Lutz A&E Editor
T
hanksgiving brings to mind many things. For some it may be family traditions such as watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, or for others watching a game of football. One thing everyone thinks
of when they hear Thanksgiving is food; lots of food. There’s turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, that odd jello-looking stuff, green-bean casserole and, of course, pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day to sit back and remember what we are thankful for, but for many it has turned into
Cranberry Applesauce
a busy day in the kitchen making the same old dishes. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the classic dishes, but sometimes it’s nice to mix things up. So here are a few recipes for some side dishes that are sure to spark conversation including, hopefully, compliments for the chef.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients:
3 to 4 pounds of peeled, cored, roughly chopped McIntosh or Granny Smith apples. 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries 2 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 cup of brown sugar 1/2 cup white sugar 1 cup water 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
1
. Place all of the ingredients in a large (5-quart) pot. Bring to a boil, lower heat to a simmer and cover. Cook 20-30 minutes, or
until the apples can easily be mashed.
2
. Remove from heat. Mash the apples and cranberries with a potato masher to the consistency you want.
3
. Serve hot as a side to pork or turkey. Or serve cold as a dessert with some vanilla ice cream. Makes 1 1/2 to 2 quarts.
Ingredients: 6 large sweet potatoes 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup oats 1/2 cup butter 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 cup liquid from boiled sweet potatoes 1/2 cup maple syrup 1-2 cups of cranberries
sweet potatoes into 1 1/2 inch wide pieces and boil for 15-20 minutes until soft but not falling apart.
2
. Save 1/2 cup of water from boiled sweet potatoes and
3
. Add the liquid from the boiled sweet potatoes, maple syrup and cranberries to the 9 x 13 baking dish.
4
. Combine flour, brown sugar, oats, butter and cinnamon in a medium size bowl for topping. Spread on top and bake for 30 minutes.
Instructions:
1
place sweet potatoes in a 9 x 13 baking dish.
. Preheat oven to 350 F. Peel and cut
The Shrike shrieks symbolism at Dart Auditorium Kaitlin Lutz A&E Editor LCC students and alumni gave a compelling performance in the play The Shrike at Dart Auditorium, Nov. 6. The Shrike, directed by Paige Dunckel, is a play about survival. As the plays opens with the main character Jim being brought to the hospital by his wife because of a suicide attempt, the audience is able to peek into the personal lives of Jim and Ann Downs. The audience has the same knowledge of Jim as the doctors treating him. So they discover bits and pieces about the Downs just as the doctors do. The first question asked is pretty obvious: Why did Jim Downs want to kill himself? The answer is never clearly answered. It seems as if Jim himself cannot find an exact reason for his actions. It could be because he never made it as a director in the theater or because he and his wife split. Or perhaps
derlying themes to it. For example, Jim finds himself trapped in a mental hospital, which he wishes to be freed from. Even if he gets out of the mental hospital, he will be trapped by his manipulative wife, who is like the bird called the shrike, which is a predatory bird that impales its prey. Photo by Courtney Baker
Cast members act out a scene from LCC’s production of The Shrike at Dart Auditorium.
it’s because of a woman named Charlotte who Jim initially refuses to talk about. The play was heavy
in the suspense department, although not a suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The play has many un-
Review He realizes he will have to act the way society thinks he should to be freed from the governmental institutionalization. So he does what he has to in order to survive, even though he can never escape his wife, Ann.
The actors did a great job of encompassing the characters of the play and were able to give a believable performance. It must have been fun to act like an insane person. The actual story and deep symbolism were a little much for my taste, but it was overall an entertaining performance.
10 A&E
Nov. 14 - 27, 2011
IN BRIEF
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Arts & Entertainment
Auditions for spring musical continue Auditions for LCC’s spring musical, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, continue Tuesday, Nov. 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Gannon Building room 256. Those auditioning should bring music and be prepared to sing something from the show or any other Broadway show. A pianist will be provided. Callbacks are Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, contact Connie Curran-Oesterle at ckcurran826@ yahoo.com or call the LCC Production Office at (517) 483-1488.
Café Scientifique is Nov. 15 The LCC Science Department will host Café Scientifique Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at Schuler Books and Music at the Eastwood Towne Center. The topic for the night will be “Cold-Blooded Kindness-Insights into Pathological Altruism.”
Get in the Christmas spirit with celebration of Silver Bells The exciting 27th Annual Silver Bells in the City celebration will take place Friday, Nov. 18 in downtown Lansing from 5 to 9 p.m. This year’s celebration will feature many different activities and special outdoor performances, including a performance by Radio Disney star Cody Simpson. The 15th annual Electric Light Parade will start its route through downtown Lansing at 6:10 p.m. at
the corner of Washington Avenue and Lenawee Street. The celebration will end with the lighting of the Christmas tree and a fireworks display over the State Capitol building.
Audition for a chance to be in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Auditions for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, which will be directed by Deborah Keller, continue Sunday, Nov. 20 from 2 to 5 p.m. in Gannon Building room 256. Those auditioning should be familiar with the script, which is available for a four-hour checkout at the LCC Library. Auditioners should also be prepared to do cold readings. For more information visit www. lcc.edu/cma/events/audition.aspx. For any questions, contact Deborah Keller at debosity@yahoo.com or call the LCC Production Office at (517)483-1488
Be amused by little pigs at Riverwalk Theatre The Surprising Story of the Three Little Pigs, a children’s comedy directed by Tom Ferris, will be shown Nov. 25 to 27 and Dec. 2 to 4 at the Riverwalk Theatre in Lansing. The play centers around the question, “What if the Three Little Pigs, the Three Billy Goats Gruff and The Three Bears decided they weren’t going to take anymore from the Big Bad Wolf, the troll and that meddlesome Goldilocks?” Admission is $7 for adults (16 years and older) and $5 for children. For more information, visit www.riverwalktheatre.com.
Capturing trauma
LCC alumnus captures life through photos Amber Glomb Staff Writer The negative emotions that surround the dreaded term “cancer” can scarcely stand a chance when it comes to LCC alumnus Terri Shaver and the Oldham Project. This project, temporarily located in Bath Corners Shopping Center, grants those who are suffering from a life-threatening and/or terminal illness a free photo session. Shaver is the photographer, founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization the Oldham Project. Prior to founding the project, Shaver found herself returning to school to simply take a photography class at LCC. “I went to LCC to take some photography classes,” Shaver said. “I in-
Photos courtesy of theoldhamproject.org
tended to take only one. That one class turned into two, two then turned into three, (and) three into more.” Shaver was inspired by her teachers to think outside of the box. Thus, the Oldham Project began. The organization sees women and children from all over the state. These models are given a chance to be photographed before their illnesses take its final blow. Many of these models come in order to participate in the Be Bold, Be Brave, Feel Beautiful, and the Kourageous Kids photo sessions. At the Be Bold, Be Brave, Feel Beau-
tiful sessions, women who have lost their hair due to cancer and chemotherapy. are photographed The goal of this photo shoot is to show women how beautiful they still are despite their hair loss. The Kourageous Kids sessions aim to pull kids out of their intensive treatments and hospital visits and let them enjoy life. Shaver said photographing these terminally ill models can sometimes become difficult. “You can’t spend time photographing these people and not get close to them. They are letting you into a part of their lives,” Shaver said. “Some do die. That’s the hard part, losing some of those that we become very close to.” Shaver and her organization touch lives that could potentially feel hopeless to their own situation. For more information, visit www.theoldhamproject. org or contact the organization directly at (517)2560490
Big Book Bash raises money for LCC Library Amber Glomb Staff Writer
Photo by Michael Caterina
Guests at the Big Book Bash look through the many books for sale on Nov. 4 at the LCC Library.
In preparation for the Big Book Bash, LCC’s student library was lined with thousands of books, movies and CDs Nov. 4 to 12. The bash housed over 11,000 books, CDs, textbooks, games, software and more. Each cost 50 cents for students and staff, and $1 for the general public. According to Victoria Meadows, the library communications manager, the bash is a “giant used materials sale … Through the sale we aim to promote sustainability through recycling used materials, build
awareness of the library, forge relationships with students, employees and the community; and to raise funds to improve the library.” In past years, the library has used funds generated from the Big Book Bash for many different projects. These include the new gaming room, adding books to the collection, and making current, best-selling books available to check out on the Kindle. This year, according to Meadows, the Big Book Bash’s collection primarily consisted of donations. From the collection, 62 percent was donated from LCC students, employees and
community members. A total of 38 percent was donated from the LCC Library. At the bash, students were given the opportunity to peruse several different categories of materials. Some of these categories included communications, business, leisure, science and technology. Not only could students browse a number of different categories, but they could also find old textbooks that students couldn’t sell back to the college. “Every year we hear from students who tell us that they found textbooks they need for classes they’re taking
at LCC or somewhere else,” Meadows said. Upon the conclusion of the Big Book Bash, not every item was sold. Thus, the library sells the left-over items to a worldwide organization that ships books across the globe, for only the shipping cost, to underprivileged families. “We’re a library and when people think of books, they often tend to think of libraries,” Meadows said. “Of course libraries are much more than just books. “We see this sale as an opportunity to show students, employees and the community just that.”
11 A&E
Nov. 14 - 27, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Music professor shares her love for music Kaitlin Lutz A&E Editor
Can you tell me a little about your background?
How did you get into music?
thing she did, so I did percussion.
The Lookout recently interviewed Molly Cryderman-Weber, the lead music faculty at LCC. She spoke about her love for music and teaching as well. Cryderman-Weber has her Bachelor of Music Degree from Central Michigan University and her Master of Musicology from Michigan State University. She is currently finishing her dissertation for a doctorate in Philosophy degree in Musicology from the University of Illinois.
I’m a music faculty member first of all. So I have a music background. I started off as a drummer. My undergrad degree is in percussion performance and from there I decided that I originally wanted to be an orchestral musician, like a timpanist in a big symphony orchestra or something. But throughout my undergrad career looking at the job market and what was realistic caused me to sort of change my focus to music history and culture and studying
It started when I was very young, of course. My mom sang all the time at home … she was pro-music and always playing records at home. At church we sang in the kid’s choir, all that kind of things. Then she encouraged us to try different instruments. So I tried some different things. Some things weren’t really my style so I didn’t stay with those. I ended up in high school really liking percussion. I wanted to be in band. My sister was in orchestra so I didn’t want to do the same
Why did you decide to become a teacher?
music as it reflects society around it. So my master’s degree and doctorate work are both in musicology, which is the study of music in culture, and some of what I teach here.
‘TH1RT3EN’ an omen of good and bad Nathan Wilson Associate Editor I’ve listened to Megadeth’s new release TH1RT3EN a dozen times and I’m still not sure what to make of it. Rather than an album coalescing around a central theme, it plays like a brutal mix tape. Unfortunately, several guitar riffs on the album sound recycled from previous records. The majority of songs left me feeling unsatisfied, but several tracks gleaned my attention. An obvious contender for the metal charts is the second track, “Public Enemy No. 1” with its rampant guitars and catchy chorus.
Photo courtesy of primaryignition.com
“Whose Life (Is It Anyway?) is a fun track to listen to. Many of the lyrics aren’t particularly inventive, exemplified most of all in “Guns, Drugs, and Money,” which sounds downright inarticulate at times. The opening to “Never Dead” returns to the thrashing roots of Mega-
deth with a shredding riff and drums like machine guns. Some tracks that could have been omitted include “Fast Lane,” “New World Order” and “Millennium of the Blind.” TH1RT3EN doesn’t really leave an impression on me until the very end of the album. I feel it contains the best tracks. “Black Swan” feels reminiscent of Megadeth’s past recordings, like Rust in Peace or Countdown to Extinction, fleshed out with haunting lyrics and a hypnotic riff. It’s classic Megadeth and possibly my favorite track off the album. “Wrecker” flows with
the caustic venom typical of Dave Mustaine’s voice, sounding like a vitriolic reincarnation of “Tornado of Souls.” “Deadly Nightshade” is utterly delightful, especially the beginning. Songs about midnight strolls in poisonous gardens with your lover are ever so inviting. If you disagree with me, you are a horrible human being. “13” is a pleasant end to the album, opening with an acoustic piece before kicking into gear with a lamenting tone. Megadeth hasn’t lost its touch, but I know they can do much better than this in future endeavors.
A couple reasons: having really good teachers was motivating to me to want to give back in the same way they had given to me. They showed me how exciting the world of music is and how it just tells you so much about different people learning about their music, and I want to share that with students. I wanted to do that, and also wanting to have a music career and seeing that performing isn’t always the place where there are jobs, so that practical side went into it, too.
things a shot. So that’s not something I want to take for granted that the students here are open-minded and they’re in general, pretty enthusiastic about music. Everyone’s got their tastes and preferences. Besides teaching and working with music, what else do you like to do in your free time? Right now I’m working on my dissertation because I’m not done with my doctorate yet. I’m in a bowling league here. That’s fun. I have rabbits and I show them at rabbit shows. I’m into crocheting, making stuff and canning.
What is your favorite part about teaching at LCC?
Anything you would like to add about the Music Program at LCC?
The students are so open here. I teach world music, so a lot of the stuff I teach is really unfamiliar to students. It’s just really nice. The students here are always willing to give
We’re always open for new students, so if people want to do something musical, they can come talk to me. You don’t have to be a music major to take most of the music classes.
Hocus-Focus
Mac’s Bar lights up on Neon Tuesday Lee Rumler Staff Writer Chances are if you’re a City of Lansing resident who’s into techno, you’ve already heard of Neon Tuesday at Mac’s Bar. For everybody unfortunate enough to have missed hearing about it, every Tuesday, Mac’s Bar brings together some of the best techno/electronic/ dub-step artists in the Lansing area for an epic dance party. I personally guarantee it will be one of the best nights of your life. And that’s saying something because normally, I
hate Mac’s Bar. The music is always far too loud for such a small venue, and the place is about as classy as a hobo’s toilet – around half as dirty, too. Still, Neon Tuesday was one of the best times I’ve had in a long time. And that’s also saying something because normally, my life is pretty awesome. However, the atmosphere I disdain for usual concerts actually transformed itself perfectly for the underground-nightclub feel I’ve come to expect from anything semirave-like. Immediately upon entering the bar, the sound
of pulsing electronic beats filled my entire body. The dankly-lit room swirled with laser lights, strobes and artificially created fog. The ludicrous volume exponentially increased the music’s intoxicating, yet repetitive groove. The dank, dreary lighting and black walls enhanced the rave-lighting to seizure-inducing levels of awesomeness. Without pause, I had an unspeakably strong and obtrusively undeniable urge to dance. And dance I did. Like an idiot, mind you, because I have no idea how to dance (particularly to
techno), but the experience was fun nonetheless. Every DJ was excellent, and their respective lights shows were entrancing and spectacular. Before the show, I even had the good fortune to speak to DJs Young Munk and Snoopsy (who DJed together as Pep-Step). Not only were they incredibly talented, but they were also pretty cool. So if you’re ever free on a Tuesday night and looking for a fun place to dance your pants off, come to Neon Tuesday and have the time of your life. Just be ready to feel it in the morning.
This week’s puzzle is sponsored by:
12 FEATURES
Nov. 14 - 27, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Get delicious dogs downtown Michael Caterina Photo Editor
Photos by Michael Caterina
Clinton Tarver whips up one of the newest additions to his menu: “The Snoop Dog.”
Clinton Tarver has been cooking up hot dogs for hungry Downtown Lansing patrons for over 15 years. Owner of Clint’s Hotdog Cart, Tarver saw an opportunity right in front of him to earn money. “I just saw a guy making money doing it down on the corner (by the) Capitol one day,” Tarver said. “I decided to buy a hot dog cart and I haven’t looked back.” Clint’s Hotdog Cart offers many original flavors for customers to choose from, with specialties including regular hot dogs, spicy sausage and red hot sausages. One of Tarver’s newest addition, “The Snoop Dog,” features fried onions, BBQ sauce and melted cheese. Tarver tends to his cart during the week at the corner of Capitol and Michigan avenues from around 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the week and from about midnight to 2:30 a.m. on Michigan Avenue near the Tin Can bar. “I will be out here until the end of this month (November),” Tarver said.
Lansing bar bonanza precedes Turkey Day
Michael Caterina Photo Editor Thanksgiving is coming. That means turkey, pumpkin pie, football and family. It also means a day off for many people in the mid-Michigan area. A day off means a free night beforehand. The day before Thanksgiving has been called one of the biggest bar nights of the year. Downtown Lansing is no exception when it comes to an increase of bar-hopping patrons the night before Turkey Day. Jason Evans, manager at The Nuthouse at 420 E. Michigan Ave., says his bar sees an increase over the regular Wednesday night crowd every year. “Instead of having a middle of the week crowd, it’s more like a Saturday where we might have 200 plus (guests),” Evans said.
Photo by Michael Caterina
The dueling piano bars at Rum Runners will be in full swing Wednesday, Nov. 23.
The increase of business means a few special deals for the stadium district bar. “Were going to have a promotion with Veeve (liquor) and will have some swag to give out,” Evans said. “We’re (also) going to have specials on $3.25 large Miller Light draft, $3 bottles of Miller Light (and) we have a bunch of other drink specials for $3.” Michigan Brewing Company, 402 S. Washington Ave., also has
specials planned for the night. MBC will continue to serve the fall favorite, Screamin’ Pumpkin Ale, as well as keeping its kitchen open until midnight, well past the average time for bars in downtown. Rum Runners, located at 601 East Michigan Ave., adjacent from Cooley Law School Stadium, will have specials, but management had not decided what they will be as of Nov. 10.
13 Features Native American students band together
Nov. 14 - 27, 2011
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Nathan Wilson Associate Editor
T
he LCC Native American Student Alliance offers a friendly environment and support group for indigenous students at LCC. Phraustie Huse, who is studying therapeutic massage at LCC, also serves as the president of the Native American Student Alliance. “Being so far away from home, so far away from my friends, family and community, I want to find other indigenous students and form some … camaraderie and
Courtesy of Native American Student Alliance
give emotional support,” Huse explained. “(I want to) get to know them and their culture and people of any culture. But one of the main focuses is assisting other natives.” Another function of the Native American Student Alliance is spreading aware-
ness about indigenous peo- for indigenous students to get to know each other and ple. “Part of the process of build friendships. “I can remember when I bringing awareness is breaking stereotypes,” Huse was in college,” Menefee explained. “And a lot of the said. “What helped me get stereotypes … about indig- through MSU was the fact enous people are based off that we had a Native American student club, and that of Hollywood.” Huse said he plans on or- club really became my famganizing movie nights for ily away from home. “Family is very important the club as an opportunity for indigto have fun, enous people eat popcorn Family is very imand I think and discuss portant for indigwe create some of the enous people and I that sense of stereotypes portrayed in think we create that family.” the movies. According sense of family. Eva Menefee, to Menefee, the adviser for the Native the Native American Stu- American Student Alliance dent Alliance, said the club is planning on a mini-Pow provides an opportunity Wow with dance expedi-
“
”
tions during spring 2012.. “We also participate in the local community activities,” Menefee said. “For example, this past summer, the Native American Student Alliance sponsored the Friday Feast for the community Pow Wow that we had in June.” During November, the club is planning on participating in some activities at the Woodland Indian Art Center, Menefee said. According to Huse, students don’t have to be indigenous to join the club. For more information about the dates and times of club meetings, visit the Native American Student Alliance Facebook page or contact Menefee at (517) 483-9674.
14 OPINION
Nov. 14 -27, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout — The Kollected Klutz —
They deserve to be free, not slaves I remember learning about slavery in elementary school, and how it led to the Civil War in our country during the 1800s. I remember thinking then that slavery was over after the war. Sadly, slavery is not a thing of the past. In fact, there are more people held in slavery today than during the height of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. According to the U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report, there are 12.5 million slaves in the world today, though many experts estimate the number is more like 27 million. Human trafficking,
i.e. modern slavery, is one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. An estimated 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders yearly, not including millions who are traded within their own country. Of those trafficked, 80 percent are females and 50 percent are children. The trafficking of young women and children is happening closer to us than we think. This is not something going on far away from us. It happens in our
— ‘I am invincible!’ —
Embracing the program fee When I opened my email on Oct. 26 and read that a $50 fee would be implemented for all selective admissions programs (radiology technology included), I felt a surge of disappointment. I immediately wondered if I would be forced to pay this fee even though I had already applied. Thank God that wasn't the case. The fee applies to applications after Nov. 16, 2011. After all, it could be $50 down the drain if I don't get in. And I hate wasting money. However, I'm beginning to favor this approach (not the money-wasting but the fee) after my initial reaction passed. I think this measure will help eliminate applicants who aren't serious about their career choice: students who don't take the time to job shadow, volunteer at a hospital, put the effort into achieving a 4.0 in classes and/or have the commitment to wait for a chance to apply once a year. Seriously, being told you have to wait 12 more months because you're nine points short is devastating
— especially when that letter arrives in the mail on July 4 right after you've come back from a relaxing vacation. Some of us striving for acceptance in these programs nearly lose our minds with the amount of work and study involved. Sometimes I go off on random tangents in the office, explaining to a smoking coworker that he is endangering the cilia in his trachea and it may not regenerate. In fact, some students are fortunate enough to make it into these programs and suddenly they decide it isn't for them. So they drop out and that seat remains vacant for an entire year, robbing another deserving person of the chance to earn a degree. In short, $50 shouldn’t matter that much if you’re serious about your career.
own country ... in our own state ... even in our own city. The fact this is not something happening far away from us, but in our own state, gives me the chills. These young women and children are being treated like they are not even human
beings. They are just a source of pleasure for many sick people. While human trafficking has been going on for years and years, it has just recently come to the surface as a major concern. And my thought is, “Why?” I think many have wanted to turn a blind eye to the situation and pretend that human trafficking is not happening. It's the same way many ignore the issue of world hunger because we think, “It doesn’t affect us.” This is an attitude that I have seen many Americans take on and it saddens me.
They say, “As long as it doesn’t affect my own little bubble, then who cares?” The fact is, this does affect us. I believe we should stop turning a blind eye to issues such as human trafficking and learn how we can help make the number 27 million decrease as much as we can. There are countless organizations whose efforts go to helping victims of trafficking and putting a stop to the trafficking of young women and children. There is a campaign called Not For Sale, which is a movement to re-abolish slavery.
There is also an organization called WAR (Women at Risk). This helps survivors of human trafficking by providing safe houses for them. WAR sells jewelry, clothes and tons of other things each made by survivors of the trafficking industry in order to help even more victims. Stop turning away and saying, “It doesn’t affect me,” because each victim of human trafficking is someone’s daughter, son, brother or sister. They are human beings like you and I who deserve to be free.
Welcome to the 'third age' Cynthia Johnson Guest Columnist The movie North showed families putting retired elders out to sea on icebergs. Flash forward to the “third age.” When a person past 55 has finished a career or retired, they are said to be entering a third age that includes going back to college – or rather, moving forward to college. Times have changed and so have the names. College-bound retirees and seniors are rebounders, prime timers, re-careerers and elder learners. Grandpa and Grandma are going to college in record numbers. Senior citizens are the new demographic and colleges are starting to see these numbers as an opportunity
for higher enrollment, change and growth in student leadership. Almost 50 percent of the third-age generation wants to serve their communities and other students. Many others are opening new businesses. “Our numbers shows 6 percent of our 20,000 students are categorized as alternative,” said LCC Dean of Students Evan Montague. “Many of those enroll to learn how to start a business.” Montague and Jason Mayland, LCC director of Institutional Effectiveness Research and Planning, recently shared information about prime-timers currently attending LCC. LCC’s 6 percent boils down to 727 elder learners in an age range of 55 to 89. These
students are enrolled in aviation, physical fitness, art, music, computer classes and other courses as auditors or for non-credit. Senior citizens can audit or attend classes for non-credit purposes for free. Those earning credits and degrees are pursuing math, marketing, writing, business management and computers. LCC also offers a 50-percent tuition discount for students 55 and older. The future looks good for senior citizens, particularly for those going back to school. When I finish my freshman year at LCC in May, I will be 55. I feel like I am now joining an elite group. When I began my relearning last spring, I was confused and
struggling with homework just like any other freshman. Occasionally, I feel the stereotypes about old people and see various thoughts in young people’s eyes. Overall, I truly enjoy the socializing, learning, keeping active and being involved in the community. I hope to improve my health and continued growth of brain cells. I look forward to having more fun and beginning my second career, a little bit smarter this time. I didn’t know the facts about seniors before I came back to school. This is just some of what I have learned in school as a “senior freshman.” It looks like we might not have to be set out on that iceberg after all.
Letter to the Editor
Fairy tales have deeper meanings Dear Kaitlin, So I just read your article about the new Once Upon A Time show, and while the descriptions were quite accurate, there are a few things that bugged me while reading it. First off, fairy tales are not just simple children's entertainment, there are deeper meanings in there. For example, in the Snow White story, the tale can be interpreted as a polarization of women into the evil and active versus the innocent, passive and domestic. And it's not just scholars taking notice. The darker themes of fairy tales have been coming into the lime
light of pop culture with things like Return to Wonderland or the Rumpelstiltskin-like villain in the comic the Goon or even the new Red Riding Hood movie that came out this year. I think describing fairy tales as one-dimensional, dualistic, happily ever after flicks feels like it's doing neither you nor this school any favors. Also, I thought you used "cheesy" one too many times. Couldn’t you have also said hokey or campy? But otherwise, your article was okay. Just do better with word diversity and research a bit more into the background subjects next time. Kyle Tuckey, LCC Student
15 Opinion
Nov. 14 -27, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout — In Our Own Words —
Props to Homecoming organizers Given the success of last year ’s LCC Homecoming, we were pretty excited to see what the college had in store for us this year. Here at The Lookout, we think Homecoming is an excellent way to involve students and revive school spirit. As a community college, we may not have the same sense of unity as four-year universities, so it’s great LCC gives us this opportunity to take pride in our
school. Having talked to faculty involved in the development of this year ’s Homecoming and listened to their enthusiasm, we can tell this Homecoming is going to be very special. We also think it is important to recognize Andrew Lathrop and his team for reviving Homecoming. We went from one day of celebration two years ago to an entire week of festivities. “It went so well that we
the lookout What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition? Dominick Mastrangelo
Nathan Wilson
decided to make (Homecoming) a week so we could hit the everyday students,” Lathrop said. “We get bigger and better every year.” Everyone involved in organizing this event deserves props for their outstanding efforts. Homecoming 2011 has everything from pep rallies to video game tournaments to exhilarating sports games scheduled. Throw in Silver Bells in the City at the end of the week
and it doesn’t get much better than that. Some of us are particularly looking forward to the Homecoming basketball games vs. Henry Ford Community College. We encourage everyone to check out the festivities happening on main campus during the week of Nov. 14. Most of all, we appreciate LCC investing the time and money to organize a week of fun, and to focus its efforts on students.
Write a Letter to the
Editor
Kaitlin Lutz
Policies: all letters should be 200 words or less and signed with a name, address (email or otherwise) and phone number. The Lookout reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, spelling, length and clarity. Editor in Chief mastrand@mail.lcc.edu
Enjoying football, food and no Nickelback.
Associate Editor wilso162@mail.lcc.edu
A&E Editor lutzk3@mail.lcc.edu
Watching the My favorite tradition is carving Macy’s Thanksgivthe turkey and ing Day Parade and eating pumpkin pie, devouring it. of course.
Kelly Lehtonen
Shauna Stocken
Michael Caterina
News Editor stockens@mail.lcc.edu
Photo Editor cater2@mail.lcc.edu
Advertising Manager swansok4@mail.lcc.edu
Playing cards with my sister and grandpa and picking the secret Santa names for Christmas.
I love getting together with my family. I don’t get to see them that often so it is nice!
I like mashing mashed potatoes.
Amber Glomb
Ben Doane
Larry Hook
Staff Writer glomba@mail.lcc.edu
Sports Writer doaneb@mail.lcc.edu
Adviser hookl@lcc.edu
Going to Muskegon with my family and eating my grandmother’s burnt rolls. She never fails to burn them
Watching football and eating all the good food, pumpkin pie, especially.
I love watching Detroit Lions football on Thanksgiving. They might actually win this year!
Mail: 1000 – The Lookout Lansing Community College P.O. box 40010 Lansing, MI 489401-7210 Email: mastrand@mail.lcc.edu Fax: (517) 483-1290 The Lookout is the independent, biweekly student newspaper of Lansing Community College. All opinion/editorial articles are the sole opinion of the writer and may not reflect the views of the staff, students, faculty and college as a whole. Opinion/editorial articles may or may not be located exclusively on editorial pages and may appear on news, sports and arts & entertainment pages. - The Lookout Staff
Classified Advertising APARTMENT FOR RENT 602 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing. A mile and a half from downtown LCC campus. One bedroom, $500 per month. Price includes parking, electricity, heat and water. Smoking allowed. No pets. Security deposit of $400 required. Available Dec. 1, 2011. Contact Linda at 517-281-0066. PINBALL MACHINE Game Plan 1979 “Sharpshooter” solid state game. Old western theme. Very fast and fun. Four players. $525. Call 517-589-5273 and leave a message. PLACE YOUR AD HERE Advertising in The Lookout’s classified section is inexpensive and effective. Cost is just $8.50 for 20 words or less. Additional words are 50 cents. Call 483-1295 to place an ad.
PREMIER LCC HOUSING Newly renovated apartments offered by Capitol Management, just 50 feet from LCC. Other locations available only a block or two from Downtown LCC campus. One- to four-bedroom units with prices from $545 to $1,200. Includes parking and most utilities. Pet friendly! Also available: additional secure parking for students for $65 a month. No need rush to class when you can reliably park 50 feet from campus, Only 40 spaces available! Call: 517-204-5550 or 517-515-8968. NASCAR MEMORABILIA Two brand new Dale Earnhardt Jr. hats, $7 each. Ten commemorative miniature racecars from the Michigan International Speedways from 2005 to 2009, all brand new and in box, $5 each. Buy both hats and all the cars for $45! Call 517-483-1291.
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Nov. 14 - 27, 2011 www.lcc.edu/lookout