Volume 60, Issue 3
oct. 1 - 14, 2018 Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959
Chiming in
www.lcc.edu/lookout
Congressional candidates offer viewpoints during appearance at LCC Page >>> 4
Cross country squads sweep past rivals at Firebird Invitational Page >>> 8
Main photo by Brynne Luter; inset photo by Ashlee Buhler
College President Dr. Brent Knight (left) speaks during the dedication of the new LCC Clock Tower on the downtown campus on Wednesday, Sept. 19. For details of the event, see the story on page 2 of this issue.
Long-time director Mary Matzke bidding farewell to college Pages >>> 10
Check us out on
2|News
Oct. 1 - 14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Granger Clock Tower dedicated By Alejandro Gonzales Staff Writer The sun was pouring over LCC campus as the dedication of the Granger Clock Tower was celebrated Wednesday, Sept. 19. LCC’s president, Dr. Brent Knight, led a ribbon-cutting event across from the Arts and Sciences building. About 50 people attended, including representatives of Granger Construction and the LCC administration. The construction of the tower, which was completed in 2017, was funded by Granger Construction CEO Glenn Granger and his wife Trish. The purpose was to honor Glenn’s parents, Alton and Janice, as well as to support higher education. Knight was the main speaker during the half-hour ceremony. “Granger Tower will be an icon, a music box, a reminder of the strength of this college and community, a cherished landmark,” Knight said. Knight explained that the clock tower will chime every hour, along with play-
ing seasonal melodies, depending on the time of year. During the ceremony this was demonstrated when the “Star-Spangled Banner” was played for the audience. The clock face can change colors, Knight said, but will remain white most of the time. It could turn green or red at Christmas time, or blue during commencement. The location where the structure was built formerly housed a ventilation shaft for the welding program. It was Knight’s dream to convert the defunct structure into a clock tower. “Dr. Knight had a great vision,” Glenn Granger said immediately after the ceremony. “We were able to participate; it made it exciting for us. It really is a testimony to the great things my folks have been able to do over the years (with) education and otherwise.” Knight said the clock tower is a symbol of student success. “Often, our students have much to overcome to attend college; almost all work so they can,” Knight said. “Our students choose to overcome and
Photo by Brynne Luter
Glenn Granger (third from right) cuts a red ribbon to mark the official dedication of the Granger Clock Tower on the downtown campus of Lansing Community College on Sept. 19.
chase their dreams at LCC.” Cider and gourmet popcorn were
served before and after the event to the attendees.
LCC students tour Auto-Owners training center By Alejandro Gonzales Staff Writer About 15 LCC students were taken on a visit to the Auto-Owners Insurance Training Center in Delta Township on Friday, Sept. 21 The purpose was to tour the facility and receive information about a possible new career. The three-hour event was part of a new initiative called “Friday Field Trip,” sponsored by LCC’s Career and Employment Services. “It’s a great opportunity for students to use their unique skills to gain experience, and to apply it to the real world,” said Andrea Childress, manager of Student Relations and an organizer of the trip. At Auto-Owners, the group was given helpful speeches and advice from workers. Along with a complete examination of the building’s services, a panel of specialists was around to answer questions. “We have mentor-protégé programs; it doesn’t make sense to hire someone and not help them succeed,” said Kelly Staake, director of human resources at
Photo by Alex Gonzales
Students walk through a simulated commercial center during a tour of Auto-Owners’ training center.
Auto-Owners Insurance. On the tour, a coordinator for the company guided students around
a simulated commercial center and demonstrated how to check for property damage.
“You have to teach people what things look like and what to look for,” said Chad Peterman, who led the tour. “We like to make the confidence level go up.” The commercial center was complete with storefronts that were extremely realistic, cars bought from junkyards, and even a two-story house filled with appliances. “Finely crafted place, clean, very knowledgeable people,” said Noah Powell, a student who participated in the event. “There’s a reason this place is in the Fortune 500.” Auto-Owners is looking to hire primarily entry-level people. It is searching for students who are receiving their degrees. Officials are interested in meeting with students at the beginning or end of their college careers. Anyone is invited to apply through the Auto-Owners Insurance website at www. auto-owners.com/about/career-opportunities/ LCC’s Friday Field Trips will continue two more times through the fall, with the next being on Oct. 19. For more information or to register, contact Becca Sowa at stierr@lcc.edu.
3|News
oct. 1 - 14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
IN BRIEF NEWS
Open Educational Resources (OER).
Photo by Islam Amir
The “One Book One LCC” kickoff event took place Sept. 19 in the LCC Library, located in the TLC building. This year’s book is titled, “The Hate U Give.”
‘One Book’ encourages input By Islam Amir Staff Writer Fall in love with reading all over again with “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas, as part of Lansing Community College’s common read. “One Book One LCC” is a year-long, college-wide program to engage students to read the same book, with different events tied to the book throughout the year. This is the fifth year of the program. On Sept. 19, Vincent Thurman, director of the Center for Engaged Inclusion, along with part-time reference and instruction librarian Mindy Babarskis, held the first “One Book One LCC” event on the third
floor of the TLC library. The two are cochairs of the program. Students and staff who attended got a free copy of the book, “The Hate U Give.” Light snacks were offered throughout the discussion. Sonali Santush, a student who attended the event, said she enjoyed a croissant and Danish roll along with the book. “I love how the book talked about so many real-life issues such as injustices, community, race – belonging and family are all tied into the story,” Santush said. Babarskis said the purpose of this event is for students at LCC to read the same book and bring moderated discussion and
diversity from student viewpoints. There were many students and staff from all kind of classes at the kickoff. Students were getting to know people at the event. There were also some provoking questions for people to vote on. Dakota, a freshman who attended the event, talked about what he liked about it. “I like the interaction going on between teachers and students,” Dakota said. “It’s nice to see professors interacting with students, not just inside classrooms, but also outside the classrooms.” The next “One Book” event will be at the west campus in room W157 from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17.
Textbooks can be costly. To help save money, students can register for classes that use Open Educational Resources (OER). OERs are free, openly licensed learning materials that can be downloaded. For courses that currently use OERs, visit https://internal.lcc.edu/resources/oer.
Flu shots to be available Oct. 8 A flu shot clinic will be held on Monday, Oct. 8 in room 201 in the HHS Building. The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and again from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Most insurances cover the cost of the flu shot 100 percent, so make sure to bring an insurance card. Otherwise, shots are $5 for Employee Development Fund members and $20 for non-EDF members.
Watch video to help keep LCC safer Tuesday, Sept. 25 marked national “If you see something, say something” day. For info on how you can help keep LCC a safe place, watch the video at https://internal. lcc.edu/supportservices/counseling/.
4|news
oct. 1 -14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Deaf Awareness Week sparks inclusion By Sarah Barney Associate Editor As a way to promote Deaf Awareness Week, LCC hosted a series of informational classes on basic American Sign Language (ASL) signs. One of those classes was held Thursday, Sept. 27 in Gannon Building room 2204. The class was titled Survival Signs II and was built off of signs learned in the Survival Signs I, class which was held earlier in the day. LCC interpreters Chris Wright and Michelle LaCrosse were the instructors for the class. They went over the ASL alphabet and basic conversation signs such as “My name is” and “Nice to meet you.” “We’re trying to encourage students to learn sign language and encourage communication between the deaf and hearing stu-
dents,” LaCrosse said. The signs practiced were based on how they could be used at LCC. “I was just trying to think of what kind of conversations might go on between a teacher and a student or two students in class; what kind of signs they might use in a classroom setting,” LaCrosse said. The theme for Deaf Awareness week this year was “With Sign Language, Everyone’s Included.” “A lot of people don’t know how to react when they meet a deaf person,” Wright said. “If they had a few signs they might be able to at least say, ‘Hey, hello, my name is this,’ or just something very simple.” Those looking for more information on ASL can visit resources such as http://aslpro.com/ or http://lifeprint.com.
Photo by Sarah Barney
LCC student Katanna Johnson (center) signs to instructors (from left) Chris Wright and Michelle LaCrosse and fellow students Caliah Coats-Merchant and Elnora Ibragimova.
LCC hosts 8th U.S. Congressional District Forum By Ashlee Buhler Editor In Chief Candidates running for Michigan’s 8th U.S. Congressional District visited LCC on Sept. 18 for a Question and Answer-style forum. The event was a collaboration between LCC’s Michigan Association for Higher Education (MAHE) and the Lansing NAACP. It served as an opportunity for students, staff and the community to learn more about the candidates before the upcoming election on Nov. 6. About 40 people attended the forum. Democratic candidate Elissa Slotkin and Libertarian candidate Brian Ellison were present to answer questions. Republican candidate Mike Bishop was invited to the event but was a no-show. Eva Menefee, LCC-MAHE union president and lead academic adviser, said she wishes Bishop would have attended so the
Photo by Ashlee Buhler
Elissa Slotkin and Brian Ellison speak at the forum.
community could hear his stances on the topics discussed, but overall she was pleased with the outcome of the event. “I live in the 8th District, so this race affects me and my family,” Menefee said. “I was really glad to see a mixture of faculty, staff, students and community members come to the forum. That helped me realize that the
race in this district is important to everyone who lives here.” During the event, Slotkin and Ellison answered a series of challenging questions submitted by the audience. Some of the topics discussed were health care, gay marriage, gun rights for the homeless and police brutality. When asked how he plans to protect Michigan citizens from police brutality, Ellison mentioned his arrest in June of 2018. “I think that holding police accountable is absolutely critical to the security of the Free State,” Ellison said. “I have put myself out in front of the problem. I have six pending misdemeanors right now just from protesting against a corrupt police department that killed two unarmed men between April and May of this year. “I fight for (police accountability) every
day, and that’s one thing that will always be near and dear to me. This is a real problem and it needs to be addressed, and not just because it’s politically expedient.” Another topic discussed was government funding for education. “I think the federal government could do quite a bit on the issue of student loans,” Slotkin said. “If you go and get a student loan right now, you pay the same rate for interest as you would if you wanted to build a deck on your house. I personally believe that student loans should be taxed at 2.5 percent. Educating yourself and investing in your future is different than getting a new deck for your house.” For more information on Michigan’s 8th Congressional District election and the running candidates, visit https://ballotpedia.org/Michigan%27s_8th_Congressional_District_election,_2018.
Reported sexual assault remains under investigation By Ashlee Buhler Editor in Chief A sexual assault was reported on campus in the TLC library on Sept. 18. According to an emergency alert sent out by LCC Police, the assault was reported at 2:30 p.m. Bill French, LCC’s director of public safety, declined to comment on the details of the assault as it is currently under
investigation. However, he did share that LCC Police made contact with those involved. “We made contact with both the victim and the accused,” French said. “It’s still under investigation. We’re not going to do anything preliminary. We’re going to investigate it fully before we decide anything.” French also gave an update on the
LCC student who was charged for making a terrorist threat against the college on Sept. 5. A hearing to determine if there was enough evidence for the student to stand trial was originally slated for Sept. 21. “The student is still sitting in the county jail and hasn’t had his preliminary exam yet,” French said. In light of these recent incidents on
campus, it is important for students to understand the role they play in keeping LCC a safe place. LCC officials ask that if anyone sees behavior that is inappropriate or out of the ordinary, do not be afraid to inform a professor, staff member or campus police. This can be done confidentially. For more information, visit https://internal.lcc.edu/supportservices/counseling.
5|
Oct. 1 - 14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
LANSING
WE’RE IN LANSING
Earn your Ferris degree at Lansing Community College.
GO FURTHER, RIGHT HERE.
FERRIS.EDU/LANSING
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6|features
oct. 1 - 14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Hispanic Heritage celebrated at LCC By Ashlee Buhler Editor in Chief In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, which began on Sept. 15, the Lucha Latina Student Organization and The Center for Engaged Inclusion are hosting a variety of events to show appreciation for Hispanic culture. LCC’s celebration kicked off Sept. 18 with an open house in the Cesar Chavez Learning Center (GB 3217) for students to learn about programs and services available. On Sept. 20, a paper fiesta flower-making activity was held there. “I feel like the flowers really represent our heritage,” said Leticia Navarro, president of Lucha Latina. “It just represents how colorful and vibrant (our heritage) is and how it really brings a lot of joy to us.” The next scheduled event is a presentation by Academic Adviser Ana Woehr called, “Rigoberta Menchu, Latinas Leading in Resistance.” The presentation will be held in the Center for Engaged Inclusion (GB 2204) on Tuesday, Oct. 2 from noon to 1 p.m. Students can have some fun and win some prizes on Wednesday, Oct. 3 when Lu-
Photo by Ashlee Buhler
The Lucha Latina Student Organization hosted a fiesta flower-making activity on Sept. 20. President Leticia Navarro (left) and Vice President Yolanda Crim (right) were leading the activity.
cha Latina hosts the Mexican Loteria Activity from noon to 1 p.m. in the Chavez Center. “(The Mexican Loteria Activity) is like the Mexican version of bingo,” said Alex Gradilla, LUCERO coordinator. “That’s a great opportunity for students to come and learn something different and win prizes.” On Thursday, Oct. 4, LCC student Jonathan Diaz will give a presentation on the socioeconomic and political crisis in Venezuela. The presentation will be in the Centre for Engaged Inclusion from noon to 1 p.m. Students can watch the film “Under the Same Moon” on Wednesday, Oct. 10 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Chavez Learning Center. After the film, there will be a discussion on the topic of immigration. The event will wrap up on Monday, Oct. 15 with a student discussion panel in the Centre for Engaged Inclusion from noon to 1 p.m. The discussion, entitled “What it means to be Latino,” will allow LCC students to open up about their personal experiences. For more information, visit the Chavez Learning Center in room 3217 in the Gannon Building or call (517) 483-9804.
Many library resources may be overlooked By Sarah Barney Associate Editor Many students have already accessed LCC Library resources such as books, online databases or printers, but there are still a plethora of supplies that may be less familiar. In addition to the standard library assets, the library, located in the TLC building, allows students to check out various types of technology, as well as to reserve rooms. Some of the rooms available for reservation include an individual or group study room, an accessibility room, a gaming room and a 3D printing room. “We always want to make our resources available to more students,” LCC’s manager of user services and user experience John Szilagyi said. “The biggest drawback is students do not know what is available. “For practical and security reasons, the game systems and 3D printers are kept in rooms in the back of the library where students just casually walking through the library won’t see them,” he explained. Szilagyi also expressed that students may not realize they can ask for items such as calculators or family kits, which are kept behind the desk.
Psychology major Amy Vue, who works at the multimedia desk in the library, agreed there are some resources of which students might not be aware. “There’s a lot of things you can check out (at the multimedia desk),” Vue said. “We have chargers, headphones, Ethernet cables … in addition to iPads and laptops, there’s also calculators and GoPros.” Vue spoke about how library staff seeks to help LCC students. “Someone came in and wanted a charger for their Mac computer and we didn’t have one here, but one of the supervisors found one,” Vue said. “Whatever resources students need, we always try to accommodate them.” Students looking to borrow technology from the library must bring a StarCard, driver’s license or other photo ID to the checkout desk; then fill out a brief borrower’s agreement. For reserving a room, students are able to reserve one online, but may also reserve one by calling the multimedia desk. Photo ID is also required to make room reservations. For more information about resources available from the library, visit https:// www.lcc.edu/library/ or call (517) 483-1657.
Photo by Brynne Luter
The LCC Library’s Dremel 3D40 Printer is shown in action creating a miniature fox figurine. The printer is free to use, many items can be printed, and there are a variety of colors to choose from.
7|features
oct. 1 - 14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
LCC Psychology Club demystifies myths By Islam Amir Staff Writer Are you hoping to learn more about psychology, and explore and understand more about your surroundings? The LCC Psychology Club promotes awareness about the field of psychology, and educates its members and the community about mental illness and other psychological topics. According to Club President Ashton Hicks, the club is devoted to serving students regardless of their major. Its mission is to facilitate interaction among students, enrich students’ social experiences, and educate the members and public as a whole about the misconceptions of mental health and other psychology topics. Hicks explained how he was inspired to re-open the club this semester. “The Psychology Club began with a friendship between myself and Co-President Brad Coulter,” Hicks said. “Our ongoing discussion about the ranging states of consciousness
and emotion ignited an interest in exploring the depths of psychology and inspired us to reopen this club.” There will be many activities this semester, consisting of social gatherings, guest speakers, fundraising events and field trips. “We have plans of including outside groups to help with our club’s mission statement, and plan on doing fundraising for the Psychology Club to have opportunities to participate in psychology-based field trips,” Hicks said. Hicks added he has many hopes for the club, which currently has at least a dozen members. “We have a great group and I believe that our future plans are to just continue to pursue the original purpose of our club, to inform ourselves and the public about psychology and demystify mental illness,” Hicks said. “It’s great we have two supporting advisers in Janis Elmore and Marita De Leon, and our wonderful officers, Co-President Brad Coulter, Treasurer Denzel Jackson
Photo by Islam Amir
Members of the Psychology Club gather for a photo during a recent meeting in the Gannon Building.
and Secretary Jordis Numinen. It will be great what the future holds.” Meetings are biweekly. The club’s next meeting will be on Thursday, Oct.
4 at 6 p.m. in the Gannon Building in room 2204. All are welcome. For more information, contact Hicks at 469-515-4898.
Campus Commentary The Lookout Photo Editor Brynne Luter recently asked LCC students: "In light of the recent Rave Alerts on campus concerning sexual assault and online threats, do you feel safe at LCC?"
Salina Habba 18, Undecided Major
Jocelyn Wheeker 18, Photography
Mason B. 18, Undecided Major
Caleb Tracy 19, Theater
“I carry pepper spray just in case, because you never really know. But for the most part I feel safe on campus.”
“I haven’t heard about Rave Alerts but now that I know about them, I wish there was more protection around campus: more officers, more emergency signals.”
“I personally feel safe but there could be more LCC could be doing. The teachers should announce the issues when they are happening. I don’t hear about the issues until the end of the day.”
“I didn’t know that this was happening, but now that I am aware I feel like people should be informed sooner so they are not at risk. Especially when it’s later in the day and things have already passed, it seems fruitless to post about it then."
8|sports
oct. 1 -14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Spikers suffer tough loss after big win By Maddie Toles Sports Editor The LCC volleyball team broke its five-game winning streak with a loss to Glen Oaks Community College on Sept. 25. Set scores of 27-25, 25-12 and 25-16 speak for themselves on the tough match. This loss left the Stars’ overall record at 12-6 and the MCCAA league record at 7-2. LCC Coach Emily Quintero admitted that Glen Oaks Community College had a strong game, and that “ate away” at the women. “It was a loss for us, but we need to come back and we need to learn from it,” Quintero said. With this mindset, Quintero wants to work on the simpler aspects of the game in practice. “We’re going to regroup, go back to basics, and work as a team,” she said. Despite the loss, Quintero said the women know they have great potential. “There’s a lot of skill and they are
Photo by Brynne Luter
LCC’s volleyball team works on its setting and spiking during a practice in the Gannon Gym.
still growing, which is always good,” she said. “Mid-season is tough, so we have to keep working hard.”
The loss came after a big win over Grand Rapids Community College, a fifth-ranked team, on Sept. 20. Set
scores for this match were 16-25, 2523, 17-25, 25-22 and 16-14. This match boasted impressive stats. Freshman Maya Ferland dominated the night with a team high of 21 kills, and freshman Sophia Strieff added 11 kills. Quintero said another standout in the match was sophomore Hannah Whiteman, who was strong in serving. Overall, physical health has remained strong despite the team’s busy weeks and tough competition. Team chemistry is holding strong. Sophomore Silvia Strieff said she believes no one is upset or blaming each other for the tough loss to Glen Oaks. “We were all starters from our high school team and when you come here – you have to fight for playing time,” Strieff said. “Everyone is doing well with that, though.” The Stars have their next home match on Thursday, Oct. 4 against Ancilla College in the Gannon Gym at 6:30 p.m.
Cross country squads sweep Firebird Invite
By Maddie Toles Sports Editor The LCC cross country teams have been holding strong these past few weeks, securing spots on the leaderboard at competition-heavy events. Their recent Firebird Invitational in Grayling on Friday, Sept. 21 was a great success, according to LCC Head Coach Jim Robinson. Both Stars’ teams won the invite. The LCC men scored 21 points to easily defeat second-place Grand Rapids CC, which had 54 points. A total of nine teams participated. Freshman Brian Moore won the men’s race with an 8K time of 27:07 and freshman Dillan Haviland came in second with a time of 27:08. The women’s team won with a score of 37, with second-place Macomb CC finishing with 44. LCC freshman Claudia Baryo came in third with a 5K time of 21:25 and freshman Jivana Esposito fourth, also with a time of 21:25. The identical times are a reflection of what LCC Head Coach Jim Robinson has been urging them to do – run together. This event is a longer run than some of the team members are used to, so this
success is even more promising, Robinson said. He explained they do not typically attend the Firebird Invitational, but it was a good opportunity to practice and run longer distances. He urged his runners to consider it as a hard workout, but their success at the invitational proved even their workout tempo is impressive. “If you can win an invitational when you are treating it as a workout, that’s a really good sign,” Robinson said. A focus for the teams is preserving health and ability for regionals and nationals. “It is hard to run at a high level week after week, and then peak for regionals and nationals. Our goal is to peak for them.” Robinson said. The teams are working on finishing races strong. This means they intentionally start slower, not tiring themselves out early in. “You do not want to lose any of your runners for a whole season, so we are working hard to keep them healthy,” Robinson said. “On the women’s side, we need every runner healthy.” Robinson noted that freshmen TJ Kessman and Chris Davis on the men’s team
Photo by Brynne Luter
The LCC men’s cross country team runs at the Spartan Invitational in East Lansing on Sept. 14.
have been improving steadily, along with Baryo and freshman Anna Vanhill on the women’s side. The University of Louisville Invitational, which took place on Friday, Sept. 28, was another chance to face harder
competition and an exciting opportunity to compete out of state. The next meet for both teams will be the Lansing Invitational on Friday, Oct. 5 at Grand Woods Park in Lansing.
9|SPORTS
Oct. 1 - 14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout — from the bleachers —
Proud to be a female sports reporter The world of sports, at its very core, is based on competition. That rivalry can extend to the individuals who write about athletics as well. I was more than excited to accept the opportunity to work as sports editor for The Lookout. I was also fortunate enough to be met with support and enthusiasm from my new co-workers in this role. However, many female sportswriters are not as lucky. In the most recent study published by Women’s Media Center in 2014, sports writing staff are only 14.9 percent female. For the women who do make it in the field, it can be difficult to stand out enough to secure
Maddie Toles Sports editor
tolesm1@lcc.edu
microphones at the bigger events. The sports editing position seemed intimidating to me at first, as I have the knowledge of the previously stated statistics, and the lack of female representation in sports editing. I would like to see reporters being chosen for events not based on their
gender, but on their skillset and character. It is nothing new that the sports industry has dished out relentless inequalities to female athletes in the past; think Serena Williams and Aly Raisman, just to name a couple. So, it should come as no surprise that women face the same scrutiny and sexism behind the scenes. Four years ago, Men’s Health Magazine wrote a tweet that linked a story on how to talk sports with women. The tweet, now deleted, stated that, “She sees the game differently than you.” One of the biggest misconceptions
about female sportswriters is that we have an outsider opinion, or that we do, in fact, view the game differently than men. Female athletes have been dominating the game for some time now, and it only seems fair that women should be able to report on them as well. The countless hurdles and obstacles placed in the way of female athletes, and the women who report on them, should be an indication that these women aren’t just here to play – they’re here to win. As for me, I’m just excited for the day that “you throw like a girl” becomes a compliment, not an insult.
ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
Brian Moore puts best foot forward for Stars
Q& A
The Lookout Freelance Reporter Danielle Hook recently spoke with 21-yearold LCC runner Brian Moore, one of the top harriers for the men’s cross country team. A freshman at LCC, Moore is from Lowell and is studying automotive technology. Do you have any records that you’re especially proud of? “I made it onto the top 10 cross country times for my high school. I’m also inducted into my high school’s hall of fame as an athlete for making all-state for cross (country) and for placing in track meets at regionals.” Do you remember any embarrassing moments while running? “There were a few times when I’m
Photo by Danielle Hook
Brian Moore of Lowell is a freshman on the LCC men’s cross country team.
running at … meets that I’m not familiar with and I don’t really know where to go. Direction isn’t the greatest trait I have, so I’ve taken a few wrong turns and realized, ‘Oh wait, this leads to nowhere,’ and had to turn back around … Those are mostly in the woods when no one can see except maybe me and a few other guys.” What is your most memorable moment in cross country? “Probably the first time I made states because it was my junior year, I had never run cross country. I made it to states and then in that race I started at 150th for the first mile and I made it all the way up to 21st, which is all-state. I still didn’t know what I was doing. I was just running
and running really hard and for some reason that, out of all the races I’ve run, that’s the race that sticks out in my mind the most.” What are your plans for after LCC? “I am heading back to BYU (Brigham Young University) in Idaho for finishing my degree (in automotive technology). They do not have running, but I might hit up running for grad school.” What are some of your hobbies outside of cross country? “I do a lot of other stuff. I’m very outdoorsy. In summer, I’ll fish, I’ll bike. I’ll play a whole bunch of sports like tennis, golf, soccer, football, basically anything. In the winter, I’m a really big skier. I’ll ski all winter long … I don’t like sitting inside.”
10|ARTS & EnTERTAINMENT
oct. 1 - 14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Long-time director Matzke IN BRIEF concluding career at LCC Arts and Entertainment
BWL hosts 23rd Chili Cook-off Oct. 12
By Shauna Stocken A&E Editor For the vast majority of people who walk through the halls of LCC it is the start of the long road ahead. For LCC professor and director Mary Matzke, October marks her last month at the college before retirement. “I’m ready to retire, I just don’t know what my long-goal plans are because I don’t know what it’s like quite yet to be retired,” Matzke said. After graduating high school in Portland, Matzke moved to the Lansing area to attend college at Michigan State University, earning her degree in theater. “A lot of time when you major in something like the arts, and theater in particular, people are skeptical,” Matzke said. “That’s not very lucrative; you won’t get any work.” Shortly after graduating college in 1988, Matzke discovered an open position at LCC, which she described as a blessing. “I applied for the job and I got it, and immediately started teaching classes and immediately started directing shows,” Matzke said. “I had fallen in love with directing … That’s not always a practical degree, but I did what I loved, and the work followed.” During Matzke’s 30-year career at LCC, she has directed over 30 productions. She said William Shakespeare’s, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is regarded as one of her most notable works. “I have so many memorable stories with Mary,” said LCC Interim Performing Arts Director Paige Tufford. “I guess the first play I worked with her on, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” stands out the most. I was just getting to know her and was stage-managing for her on that production.” Tufford said she has produced countless plays with Matzke, in the 25 years she has known and worked with her. “Mary has taught a variety of classes over the years and has directed a variety of plays,” Tufford said. “Her approach to teaching beginning actors is very accessible to students. She has a way of communicating with students that just works.” In Matzke’s last month at the college, she will direct her last production of “Dead Ringer,” Oct. 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. in the Gannon Building’s Black Box Theatre. “Dead Ringer” cast member Michael Boxleitner said Matzke inspires cast members
Enjoy a taste of fall at the 2018 Board of Water & Light Chili Cook-off. Join Lansing residents and tourists at the 23rd annual event Friday, Oct. 12 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The growing event will be hosted this year at Cooley Law School Stadium, It will feature chili recipes and flavors from around the world. Children and adult tickets are available for purchase by visiting the Lansing Lugnuts website at www.lansinglugnuts. com. Tickets range in price from $3 to $10 per person.
Elliot Street Lunatic reunites at Mac’s Unite with the band Elliot Street Lunatics at its reunion show Thursday, Oct. 4 at Mac’s Bar. The Lansing bar is located at 2700 E. Michigan Ave. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. The all-ages show welcomes music lovers to enjoy the band’s indie rock and indie pop sound. To purchase tickets to see Elliot Street Lunatic, or to view other upcoming concerts at Mac’s Bar, visit the website, https://macsbar.com.
Collage Concert to take place in Dart
Photo by Shauna Stocken
Long-time LCC director Mary Matzke works with actor Michael Boxleitner on the set of “Dead Ringer” in the Black Box Theatre, located on the first floor of the Gannon Building.
with her energy and her ability to get students involved. “When I heard that this was her last show before retiring, and after reading the script, I knew I had to be a part of this production,” Boxleitner said. Although, “Dead Ringer” marks the first time Boxleitner and Matzke have worked on a production together, Boxleitner said that Matzke has been his mentor since 2014 when they first met in LCC’s Studio One theater program. “Mary was the first person in my time here in Michigan that really taught me how to push myself and think outside of the box in terms of my performance,” Boxleit-
ner said. “In Studio One, she really taught me how to be more confident in myself on stage; that I’m supposed to be there.” Matzke said what she will miss most about her time spent at the college will be her students. “They keep me young,” she said. Join Matzke, Boxleitner and the rest of the Western-themed cast of “Dead Ringer,” for what Matzke described as her parting production. “I guess it’s a good farewell sendoff for me because I have directed 35 (productions), at least, and have never done this style before,” Matzke said. Tickets for “Dead Ringer” are $5 for students and $10 for all others.
For one night only, LCC’s Performing Arts: Music Program presents the Fall Collage Concert. Dart Auditorium will host the collaboration between LCC students and faculty members Saturday, Oct. 13 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. For two hours, guests will be entertained by the vocal and instrumental styles of the artists. The concert is suitable for student and community members of all ages and is free to attend.
Oktoberfest coming soon to Old Town Germany’s Oktoberfest comes to Lansing at the annual event in Old Town, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 5 and 6. The Old Town Commercial Association is advertising the event on its homepage as happening all day. While at the event, celebrate German heritage with live entertainment, vendors and festive food and beverages. For more information on Oktoberfest, or to view other Old Town events, visit http://iloveoldtown.org.
11|A & E
oct. 1 -14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Art exhibit allows mind exploration
By Sejin Lee Freelance Writer The Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center at 119 N. Washington Square is holding an exhibition called “Sorting Sighting” by Peter Abrami. The free exhibit gives viewers an exciting experience to explore their imaginations. “Sorting Sightings” began on Sept. 5 and runs until Oct. 30. In “Sorting Sighting,” viewers can interact with various paintings and black & white drawings under the theme of human perception. “My compositions are made up of forms and colors that rub against each other; paintings that act as visual puzzles or games,” Abrami said. In the artist’s talk on Sept. 5, Abrami mentioned his inspiration was the faces on children’s toys such as trains or clocks.
As a father, Abrami was surrounded by many of his daughter’s toys. He was particularly interested in why toymakers put faces where they should not be. After further research, he found out that it is related to childhood development of facial recognition. “Pareidolia” is the human cognition that tries to make logic among sounds or images that have no logical order. Abrami developed the idea into his works. When people see one of his works, “Scatter Shot,” they ask Abrami if there are any hidden pictures in the image. “There is actually not,” he said. Among the paintings in the exhibit, visitors may find the titles of paintings give them clues as to the meaning, but it is just a suggestion from the artist. For more information, go to www. lansingartgallery.org.
Photo by Sejin Lee
Peter Abrami stands among his work at the opening of his “Sorting Sights” exhibit at the Lansing Art Gallery.
Indian stand-up comedian returns to REO town By Shauna Stocken A&E Editor Indian stand-up comedian Krish Mohan has entertained since his teen years, honing his craft into a socially conscious national tour. Mohan’s new show, “Empathy On Sale,” is scheduled for REO Town’s Robin Theatre Friday, Oct. 5. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. “We’re excited to have him back,” said Dylan Rogers, co-owner of the Robin Theatre. “This will be the third time he’s been to Lansing and performed here.” Mohan’s comedy is unlike many other comedians in the industry, Rogers explained. Rogers said guests can expect “Empathy On Sale” to touch
KRISH MOHAN
on topics of race, politics and culture. “I really like what Krish does; it’s kind of a fresh take on comedy,” Rogers said. “He is as much I guess a humorist, and he’s a social commentator … He’s really funny and, yeah, I think his comedy is for people who like to think as well as laugh.” According to Mohan, “Empathy on Sale” is a wordplay on the closing line of his show. “Essentially the show is kind of about bridging divides,” Mohan said. “The point of the show is that we need to come together in order to truly progress if we want to push real progressive ideas forward.” Although Mohan has been performing since age 16, he said it wasn’t un-
til 2013 that he started to develop a voice for pushing the boundaries. “Bookers and audience members have told me that talking about this stuff on stage isn’t comedy,” Mohan said. “Yes, it can be serious. It is deeper issues, but it’s also the most relatable, stuff in my opinion.” Mohan said he lives by the philosophy that if what you do is true to yourself and meaningful, then your work will have worth to someone else. Roger urges guest to visit www. therobintheatre.com to buy their tickets. Tickets cost $10 for the approximately one-hour-long show. Gain VIP access to Mohan’s work by joining his email list at ramannoodlescomedy@gmail.com.
12|A & E
oct. 1 - 14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
reviews
Woody’s offers a Mediterranean oasis By Sarah Barney Associate Editor Craving some tasty shawarma? Woody’s Oasis, located at 1050 Trowbridge Road in East Lansing, serves up plenty of options for Mediterranean cuisine. My boyfriend and I recently stopped in for some late dinner, since Woody’s is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The place has a really nice atmosphere and some tacky (but in a good way) palm trees as decoration. They also have some TVs on the walls showing sports. We both got the chicken shawarma and rice combo, which was $7.99 each, not including tax. For the amount of food we got, I think this was a pretty good price. The meal combos come with two sides, with options for salads, hummus or soups. We both got the rice and lentil
soup, but I opted for the tabouli and he got the hummus. The place is pretty casual, so we seated ourselves and waited for the food, which didn’t take long. The only complaint we both had was that the soup was extremely hot when we got it, with little bubbles forming at the top. The soup didn’t get even close to cool enough to eat for the duration of our stay. The rest of the food was overall excellent. The chicken was well seasoned and the rice was great as well. The meals also came with some pita bread, which was fresh. We both really enjoyed our meals and couldn’t find any complaints besides the soup. In the past, I’ve stopped into Woody’s before and bought baklava at the counter. The baklava was really delicious and seemed to be reasonably priced.
Photo by Sarah Barney
Chicken shwarma at Woody’s Oasis is accompanied with two sides and comes with pita bread.
Overall, I’d highly suggest this place for lunch and dinner, or just desserts. It
has a nice atmosphere and a good selection of food.
Mental health has ‘Silver Lining’ with movie By Islam Amir Staff Writer Since the topic of the back page of The Lookout this issue is mental health, I thought I would review the 2012 movie, “Silver Linings Playbook.” This movie, set loosely in a football scenario, does a great job of educating the audience about mental health by widely covering the topic of mental disorders. The films walks us through the journey of each character’s life, and explains
to us the actual meaning of mental illness by showing us what a person goes through. The main characters in this movie, Pat (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), are portrayed as two individuals whose past events in life have disrupted their mental health. This makes it difficult for them to cope with their daily routines. While “Silver Linings Playbook” focuses on the characters Pat and Tiffany, several other characters in the movie are
also suffering from mental health issues, which indicates that it is common in our society today. In the movie, Pat’s brother and friends maintain a distance from him while he is in the hospital. His colleagues at his workplace label him as crazy, which makes him feel isolated from other people. All these acts of ignorant behavior result in low self-esteem for Pat. He is not able to socialize with his friends in the same way as before.
Pat is shown struggling with his own stigma while deciding whether to take his medication, which he needs. Tiffany’s character, unlike Pat’s, seems to have handled her illness with a positive attitude. I recommend you watch this movie because it’s funny and heartwarming at the same time. I personally feel like film industries have done nothing but encourage stigma toward mental illness for years, but this movie has done a great job of educating the public.
New Netflix movie ‘Sierra’ offers mixed messages
By Maddie Toles Sports Editor Netflix’s newest teen rom-com, “Sierra Burgess is a Loser,” has captured the attention of everyone who remembers the injustices of high school. The movie was released Sept. 7. The story centers on Sierra Burgess, a high school senior who is seemingly confident, but overwhelmingly overlooked. What starts as a simple crush turns into a form of catfishing, and Sierra
realizes she has fallen for a boy who wouldn’t look twice at her normally. Posing as one of the most popular cheerleaders, she begins a texting relationship with the football quarterback, Jamey. Many reviews of this movie have criticized the way the film handles the concept of consent. Though it was meant to be a progressive and insightful look on bullying, it has instead highlighted a different aspect of relational abuse. A strong negative would be that in
the ideals of social activism, this movie took one step forward and two steps back. On one hand, it teaches the importance of looking beyond physical appearance. The film is praised for tackling difficult issues such as teenage drama and body positivity. The relationship between the two leads is strengthened by their similarities, more so than the way they look. On the other hand, it does represent catfishing. In my opinion, that is another aspect of cyber-bullying that the film
tried so hard to condemn. What the movie does nail perfectly is the difficulty of being in high school and the “fat-shaming” of our culture, specifically with teenagers. The threat of bullying is present in every school today, and this movie shows just how hard it is to be on the receiving end of it. Overall, the movie contained some sweet and innocent aspects of a high school love. Yet, it seemed counterintuitive in the message it was trying to portray.
13|distractions
OCT 1 - 14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
This week’s King Crossword puzzle is sponsored by:
Hold your newspaper up to a mirror to get the answer to this week’s King Crossword puzzle:
14|opinion
Oct. 1 - 14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout — through ashlee’s eyes —
Stop blaming Grande for Miller’s death The only thing sadder than a sudden death is seeing an innocent person get blamed for it. With the news of rapper Mac Miller’s death came an overwhelming amount of hate toward his ex-girlfriend, pop star Ariana Grande. People were quick to blame Grande for Miller’s relapse after she broke up with him in May of 2018 because of his substance-abuse problems. This logic is detrimental. After all, Miller’s drug addiction was not Grande’s problem to solve.
Ashlee buhler editor in chief
buhlera@lcc.edu
Blaming Grande for Miller’s struggles, and eventual death, places an unrealistic responsibility that people can manage a problem that is completely out of their control. That men-
tality screams that you are responsible for the actions of other people and that you can change their behavior if you stick around. The weight of that kind of responsibility would be too hard for anyone to bear. Ariana did the only thing she could do, and that was to be supportive and wish him well. She still loved him and cared about him, but watching someone you love struggle with addiction can be a difficult task that not everyone is equipped to handle.
It was not Ariana’s job to “save” Mac Miller, and her staying in that relationship would certainly not guarantee that he would be alive today. Nearly 72,000 Americans died from overdoses last year. That’s a 10 percent increase from 2017, according to Centers for Disease Control. Perhaps instead of pinning the blame on an innocent person who is grieving the loss of someone they loved, we should use this as an opportunity to start a conversation about how to combat the drug addiction epidemic.
— Sarah’s stance —
Are we still arguing about Colin Kaepernick? Nike recently revealed a new ad featuring Colin Kaepernick. The ad, displaying text over his face, reads “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.” Not surprisingly, the backlash from Trump supporters and other Republicans was quick. Many people took to Twitter to post photos of burned shoes or mutilated shorts. Personally, I am still confused as to how people still misunderstand (or choose to misunderstand) Kaepernick’s intent with his protest. Far too many think that Kaepernick, and anyone who supports him, hates the flag, the anthem and Amer-
ica in general. This is outstandingly wrong. To start with, Kaepernick’s protest was never really about the flag or the anthem. It was about the current state of the country. More specifically, it was about how minorities are treated by law enforcement. Next, kneeling is not, and has never been, a sign of disrespect. People kneel when they propose. They kneel before royalty. They kneel to pray. People do not kneel to something or someone out of disrespect. As far as people’s reactions to the ad, and their hope for a negative backlash on Nike, it has pretty much
sarah barney Associate editor
barneys2@lcc.edu
failed. To begin with, while the burning of already purchased merchandise can express emotions, it doesn’t actually affect Nike. Since, you know, it has already been paid for. Additionally, while Nike’s stock suffered at first, dropping to its low-
est point at 79.60 USD on Sept. 4, it has bounced back and was at 85.26 USD as of Sept. 18. Some have commented on the wording of the ad, bringing up soldiers who have died as better examples of “sacrificing everything.” I think that is taking it too literally. “Sacrificing everything” doesn’t have to literally mean your life. It can also mean something very significant, such as someone’s hard-earned career. I don’t get why so many people are still running with this misinformation surrounding Kaepernick and his motives, but I hope that one day, I don’t have to hear about it.
— lookout for luter —
Photo editor job helps me get aquainted at LCC The fall semester of my second year at Lansing Community College started off in full swing. I went from being a part-time student with a part-time job to a full-time student with two part-time jobs. Somehow, I’m surviving. As photo editor at The Lookout, I’m in the position to take chances, not just pictures. In my few weeks of working at The Lookout, I have already photographed – and met – astronaut Jack Lousma, chased the cross country team around Forest Akers Golf Course at the Spar-
brynne luter Photo editor
luterb@lcc.edu
tan Invitational, and been a part of the Granger Clock Tower dedication. I have made connections with other LCC students simply by asking to take their photo. Yes, sometimes people are apprehensive, but most are happy to
be a part of the paper, and even stick around to chat awhile. “Campus Comments” is one of my favorite parts of being The Lookout photo editor because I am able to get to know more people around campus. It goes without saying: I have been keeping busy, but I am having a lot of fun. I started my first year of LCC interested in a photography degree. Yet I found my passions weren’t just in photography, but in writing as well. In the fall of 2018, I changed my major to journalism.
It fits me a lot better. Not only am I learning about journalism, my position at The Lookout is helping me get experience in the field as well. It’s driving me to challenge myself to take initiative and to be more social around campus, too. I’ve learned now, more than ever, how to be confident and bold to get what I need to meet a deadline. But most of all, I’ve planted my roots and I’m growing. If you see me around campus, say “hi.” Maybe you can even smile for a picture.
15|opinion
Oct. 1 - 14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout — staff editorial —
U.S. Open sparks debate on sexism Sexism was the name of the game at the 2018 U.S. Open. It all began with a quick shirt adjustment, which resulted in French tennis player Alize Cornet receiving an undeserved code violation for “indecent exposure.” It followed with Serena Williams receiving three penalties and thousands of dollars in fines: one for being coached from the stands, a second for smashing her racket and a third for “verbal abuse” of the umpire. What do these two situations have in common? Both involved women receiving code violations for behavior that men get away with all the time. After receiving heavy criticism from fans, the U.S. Open issued a statement saying it regretted the code violation
given to Cornet. While The Lookout staff is glad officials recognized the issue, we believe the violation should never have been given in the first place. Cornet was wearing a sports bra as she quickly rotated her backwards shirt to its proper placement. This behavior was deemed inappropriate. Yet the male tennis players at the U.S. Open could be seen shirtless on the courts all week long — celebrating their victories or cooling down from the treacherous heat. As for Williams, one could argue that some of the penalties she received were justified. However, she still made a valid point with her message that double standards exist in regard to how rules are applied differently to men
Who was your first celebrity crush? — ashlee buhler
editor in Chief
sarah barney shauna stocken
Associate editor
A&e editor
buhlera@lcc.edu
barneys2@lcc.edu
stockens@lcc.edu
“Harry Styles”
“David Bowie”
“Mark Wahlberg”
Maddie Toles
sports editor
tolesm1@lcc.edu
“Heath Ledger”
Brynne Luter
photo editor
luterb@lcc.edu
“Andy Samberg”
the lookout staff —
Joe Strother
islam amir
ad manager
staff writer
“Katy Perry”
“Josh Turner”
strothej@lcc.edu
amiri@lcc.edu
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and women in the sport. There are countless examples of male players (think Andre Agassi or John McEnroe) screaming obscenities at an umpire, even spitting on them or saying things far more offensive than “you’re a thief.” This is the so-called verbal abuse that ended up costing Williams the game. The big question is: Are tennis officials more lenient when responding to the on-court outbursts from men? Would a man lose a match for calling the umpire a thief? These incidents opened the door for an important conversation about gender equality. The Lookout believes everyone should be held to the same standards, and hopes this event will lead to equal treatment going forward.
Alex Gonzales
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staff writer
lead paginator
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16|LAST LOOK
Oct. 1 -14, 2018 www.lcc.edu/lookout
OCTOBER BRINGS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS By Sarah Barney Associate Editor For anyone who has begun to feel their mental health be affected by the stress of classes, October is the perfect time to start making some positive changes. The first full week of October, Sunday, Oct. 7 until Saturday, Oct. 13, is known as Mental Illness Awareness Week. The week has been in place since 1990, when Congress established it. On the global spectrum, Wednesday, Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day. Both of these events seek to raise awareness and mobilize efforts in support of mental health. Another aspect of mental health awareness is to combat some of the stigma associated with mental illnesses. In order to break any stigma, individuals can educate themselves on the matter. To take part in breaking the current stigma for mental illness, The Lookout would like to provide the following data and resources:
more than
50%
The percentage of students that have overwhelming anxiety, making it hard to succeed academically. SOURCE: NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS.
43.1% The percentage of adults with any mental disorder who received mental health treatment in 2015.
SOURCE: THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH.
11%
The amount of college students diagnosed or treated for anxiety in the past year. 10 percent reported being diagnosed or treated for depression. SOURCE: NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS.
1 in 5
Adults in America who live with a serious mental illness.
SOURCE: NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS.
60% Adults with a mental illness who didn’t receive mental health services in the previous year.
SOURCE: SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, 2015.
Students seeking assistance can utilize the following available resources:
• Currently enrolled students can access LCC’s counseling services for free. The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. State-licensed, professional counselors can help students manage stress, personal loss, relationships, substance abuse and more. • Those struggling can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255. The line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. • Another option is to reach out to the 24/7/365 Crisis Hotline at 1 (800) 273-8255 or text “ANSWER” to 839863.