Lansing Community College’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1959
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www.lcc.edu/lookout
Volume 58, Issue 2
Lansing Comm ficials un Wedne made stude ity College n s ofd ts feel a y , Aug. 31 Prez” e welc v b campu ent on Wash y hosting a “ ome on Pa in s. Mess,” fr The party fe gton Square rty with the atured within ee food music the ma dancin from Fin by ga in “Face t nd prizes. On ley’s Grill & S local band “ H he Coo m e ot o o kehou f the g kie an Ore o cook ,” in which co ames (show se, games, n abov ie from ntestan out us e) was their ts ha ing eo gam their hands. forehead to t d to maneuv h er Zaman ed eir mou i Co th cookie esign major from B akieanos, 20 withgame a randon , nd e is show , Fla., w a vidn abov arned a LCC on the g e if c t e pa le fists rais ed and brating his vic ckage. He a full m tory wit Photo o h uth. by Lur ah Pet erson
New clock will tower over LCC’s main campus
Spikers showing promise in face of initial setback
News >> Page 2
Sports >> Page 6
Theater students prepare for the first play of fall A&E >> Page 8
Sept. 12 - 25, 2016
2|News
Sept. 12 - 25, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Clock tower coming to LCC By Aaron Emerson Editor In Chief A new six-story clock tower will be constructed on LCC’s downtown campus this year, thanks to a Lansing couple. Glenn Granger, the president and CEO of Granger Construction, along with his wife, Trish, are donating the funds and materials for the project. The Lansing Community College Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution on Aug. 30 for the project, which is a gift to the LCC Foundation. “The tower will be done before winter; that’s our plan,” LCC President Brent Knight said at the meeting. The clock tower will be four sided and able to change colors with each season. It will be constructed at the
Photo by Aaron Emerson
Glenn and Trish Granger speak about the clock tower at the Aug. 30 LCC Board of Trustees meeting.
“what do you think the tall structure is on lcc’s main campus?” S RSPECTIVE E P S U P M CA “I’ve never paid attention to it before … I think it’s (an electrical) transformer.” Anne’ka Armstrong, 37, Health Care Administration
“I think it’s just there for show.” Courtesy rendering
The new clock tower at LCC will be located on the east end of the main campus, where the old air vent tower from the previously named Mechanical Arts Building now stands.
south entrance of campus, the current site of the old vent tower. “The tower will be a visual centerpiece; a landmark on the LCC campus,” Knight said. “The tower represents a timeless masonry design, and symbolizes the pride of our community.” The tower will be dedicated to Glenn Granger’s parents, Alton and Janice. They founded the Granger Foundation in 1978, along with Alton’s brothers and their wives, to give back to the Lansing community. Granger Construction was found-
ed in 1959 by the Granger family. A plaque will be built at the base of the tower honoring Alton and Janice. “We are really privileged to be able to honor our parents in this way,” Glenn Granger said. The clock tower will be the product of refurbishing and renovating the vent tower from the former Mechanical Arts building. It is commonly referred to as “The Tower” by LCC students and faculty. “The (clock) tower will become an iconic symbol of LCC, and of dow-
Jason Deboer, 23, Education
“It’s an air vent.”
Matt Gerydanus, 18, Criminal Justice
town Lansing,” LCC Board of Trustees Chair Robert Proctor said. “The board is proud to support this new landmark, which will serve as a point of pride for generations of LCC stdents and alumni.”
Voter registration offered on LCC campuses By Idman Gabayre Staff Writer Lansing Community College students will soon have the opportunity to register to vote for the Nov. 8 general election. There will be information available to obtain knowledge about absentee voting as well. Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope and the college are holding a registration drive Sept. 13 through 15 on the college’s downtown, east and west campuses. Officials will provide students with on-site registration forms. “We know that a lot of 18- to 21-year-olds are not registered to vote,” Swope said. “We know just in the city of Lansing, based on voter registration centers, there are 2,000 people in that age range that are not registered to vote. “So we want to go to places where younger people are and try to get them registered to vote, so that they can participate in the
November election that is coming up.” Swope said it is important for young people to be involved. “I hope that we get people interested in voting when they are young, and they keep voting for the rest of their lives,” he said. “It’s really important, I think, for people to get involved in the direction of our country.” The voter registration drive dates and times at LCC are as follows: Main campus: Washington Mall outside of the Arts & Sciences building, Tuesday, Sept. 13 through Thursday, Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. East campus: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Sept. 14, 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.; and Thursday, Sept. 15 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. West campus: Tuesday, Sept. 13 and Wednesday, Sept. 14, 4 to 6 p.m. This event is for any U.S. citizen who
Courtesy photo
Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope assists LCC students during a past registration event at LCC.
turns 18 by Nov. 8 or needs to update his or her voter registration address. For questions, or to confirm voter regis-
tration, consult the following resources: web - Lansingmi.gov/ clerk; email - City.Clerk@lansingmi.gov; or phone - (517) 483-4133.
3|News
Sept. 12 - 25, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Resource fair supplies students IN BRIEF NEWS with information, connections By Aaron Wilton Associate Editor Hundreds of students flooded the Washington Square Mall on Thursday, Sept. 1 as LCC held its annual Student Organization and Resource Fair. The purpose of the event was to show new students all of the resources available to them on campus. Several school clubs were present that day, including the Math and Computer Science Club. This club is relatively new, as it is only in its second year. Geoffrey Jenkins, vice president of the Math and Computer Science Club, shared his goal for the fair. “We’re just out here trying to get people to sign up to join the club,” Jenkins said. He added that people who sign up for this club have a lot of potential to sway the club in different directions. “We’re still trying to determine what we’re actually going to do throughout the year,” Jenkins said. “It absolutely depends on who starts coming to the club because that’ll help determine what it will become.” A few universities also had booths at the resource fair. Western Michigan University was among those represented. Dr. Lillian Brooks, the assistant director for WMU-Lansing in LCC’s University Cen-
Capital City River Run set for Sept. 18
Photo by Aaron Wilton
More than a dozen booths were set up on the Washington Square Mall. Every group from student clubs to nearby universities handed out information.
ter, offered some info on her role at LCC. “My colleague is Carolyn Smith and she is from our admissions office out of our main campus in Kalamazoo,” Brooks said. “We (Smith and I) have always had a longstanding relationship in recruiting students that are at LCC and decide to go to Western.” Brooks said students can complete two WMU programs entirely through the University Center without going to Western’s main campus. LCC had many booths of its own at the fair, including one dedicated to emergency management. Kristie Mackie, the health and
safety officer for LCC, explained the goal of the emergency management booth. “Our booth here is to educate our faculty, staff and students today about the safety resources on campus and how to prepare for emergencies, if and when they do happen on campus,” Mackie said. Mackie said that the fair was quite busy. She mentioned that October will be Preparedness Month at LCC, which is part of LCC’s cooperation with FEMA. For more information on student organizations or the university center go to www.lcc.edu/
Former A&E editor has early success at MSU By Aaron Wilton Associate Editor Thinking about a career in journalism can be daunting in today’s media job market. This makes it all the more special when someone catches a break. Jaimie Bozack, former arts & entertainment editor for The Lookout, transferred
File photo by Larry Hook Jaimie Bozack and Vincent Mata are shown at a past Christmas gathering for The Lookout.
to Michigan State University this fall and recently started working for MIPA. MIPA stands for Michigan Interscholastic Press Association. Bozack shared some details about what MIPA actually does. “We work with young journalists and their teachers to try and produce excellence,” Bozack said. “MIPA also hosts contests, camps and workshops for high school and middle school students.” She said her responsibilities at the MIPA office vary. Her duties include writing for the biweekly newsletter, acquiring new members, and traveling to area high schools to speak to young journalists. Bozack talked about the skills that her job at The Lookout helped develop. “Working for The Lookout gave me a fantastic work ethic,” she said. “It also taught me how to be professional and talk to people.” Larry Hook, who has been the advis-
er for The Lookout for 12 years, offered his thoughts about Bozack. “She started here when she was only 17,” Hook said. “She was kind of timid and shy at that point. It took a while for her to catch on, but once she did she took off like gangbusters.” He praised her determination. “She always knew what she wanted to do,” Hook said. “She wanted to be a writer; she wanted to be a journalist and she worked really hard at it to get as good as she is today. “She’s come a long ways and I’m really proud of her.” Bozack said she is really enjoying MSU and her new job at MIPA. “MSU is incredible,” she said. “There are so many talented and diverse professors here. I really feel like I have found a place where my journalism education can thrive. “It is special to be around so many people that love journalism as much as you do.”
The Fifth Third Capital City River run will begin Sunday, Sept. 18 at 8 a.m., offering local residents a variety of family friendly race formats. The event will feature a marathon, half marathon, 5K, relay and a kids’ race. All of the money raised throughout the day will benefit the Impression 5 Science Center in Lansing. The races will start and finish in front of Lansing Community College on Grand Avenue. They will go through parts of Michigan State University, the Lansing River Trail and several parks. There will also be an after party at Adado Park, which will be hosted by Lansing Brewing Company. For more information on prices or to sign up, visit http://bit.ly/2ci9S4G/
LCC Board of Trustees to meet Sept. 19 The LCC Board of Trustees will hold its first official meeting of the 2016-17 school year on Monday, Sept. 19. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the board room of the Administration Building on the college’s main campus. The board is made up of seven elected members who oversee and govern the college. For more information on the trustees, visit www.lcc.edu/trustees/
Harris Nature Center offers fall fun Why do you love autumn? Is it the cool nights, which are so good for sleeping? What about the colorful leaves, flocks of birds, and crisp air? Autumn is definitely a great time to be outside: walking, running, riding, playing and just relaxing. This fall, the Harris Nature Center in Okemos is bringing back some of its guests’ favorite programs, as well as introducing some new ones. Look for: “Life in a Log” in September, “Halloween Adventures” in October and “What a Trip: Migration Campfire” in November. Check the Meridian Township website at www.meridian.mi.us/index. asp for the details on all of the Harris Nature Center’s programs.
4|News
Sept. 12 - 25, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Museum highlights Michigan mathematician By Aaron Wilton Associate Editor Code cracking usually evokes thoughts of secret operations, spies and the Cold War. Most people wouldn’t know who Claude Shannon was if asked, but he played a huge role in creating codes during the ‘60s. His formulas also laid the foundation for binary code and thus, the entire world of electronic devices. The Michigan Library and Historical Center (MLHC), located at 702 W. Kalamazoo St. in Lansing, currently has a featured exhibit on Shannon just inside the front door, near the information desk. Visitors can view and appreciate this exhibit without paying an admission fee. It is intended to get younger visitors interested in math and Michigan’s history, since it features video game systems and TVs. Susan Cooper, the senior exhibits designer at MLHC, shared some information on Mark Harvey, the archivist for the State of Michigan, who played a large role in the Shannon exhibit. “Mark came up with the idea of doing something about Claude Shannon,”
Photo by Aaron Wilton
The TV displays the menu for “Super Mario Bros.” inside the Claude Shannon exhibit.
Cooper said. “He just learned about (Shannon) and he was like, ‘(Shannon) is so cool and nobody knows about him.’ “We thought, this’ll be fun for the kids to get to know,” Cooper added. “I just designed it and tried to make it fun.”
She gave a little more insight into why people should know about Claude Shannon. “There’s a statue of (Shannon) in Gaylord,” Cooper said. “He was born in Petoskey. So, he’s a home-grown guy and
we don’t talk about him.” Shannon was born in 1916. He died in 2001. According to the information on display, Shannon graduated from the University of Michigan in 1936. He majored in mathematics and electrical engineering. He went on to earn his master’s degree and doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His master’s thesis demonstrated how Boolean algebra could be applied to electronic switches and relays. His doctoral thesis used similar logic for genetic data transmission. The exhibit is unique in that it features things from Harvey’s home, Cooper said. The two TVs and the operating video game systems connected to them were originally in his house. She gave some final words on the display and its purpose. “(It’s) just something kind of fun to get the kids interested,” she said. “And that’s the purpose of this case. It isn’t to give you a lot of detail.” For more information on the MLHC visit www.michigan.gov/mhc. To find out more about Claude Shannon, Cooper recommended using a Google search.
‘Hot Mess’ heats up the LCC stage Local band “Hot Mess” performed at lunchtime on Wednesday, Aug. 31 during Lansing Community College’s “Party with the Prez” on the main campus. In addition to music and dancing, the festivities featured free food, games and prizes. The event was part of LCC’s Welcome Week activities to kick off the fall semester.
Photo by Lurah Peterson
5|News
Sept. 12 - 25, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
‘Centre’ leader eager to serve students, staff By Aaron Emerson Editor In Chief The Centre for Engaged Inclusion has a new coordinator this school year. Franchesca Cifuentes-Andrade, who just started working with LCC students this fall, has been working in education for eight years. Her work has primarily been based in large urban areas such as Newark, N.J., and New York City. “It is going to be different not just serving urban students,” Cifuentes-Andrade said. The Centre for Engaged Inclusion, located in room 252.02 in the Gannon Building and also referred to as “The Centre,” seeks to give all students a place to belong while on campus. The Centre allows students a place to study, to meet new people and to build bonds. Cifuentes-Andrade said the center also hosts a lot of activities for minority students. “I really admired the work that was happening at LCC,” Cifuentes-Andrade said. “I was really interested in the fact that there was a chief diversity officer, which is rare for a commu-
nity college, and that there was an opportunity to influence and shape college culture.” Cifuentes-Andrade can relate to a lot of the students that come through The Centre’s doors. Her family is from Ecuador and she is a first generation college student. She worked her way up to become the first person in her family to get a bachelor’s and master’s degree. “That journey is not an easy one,” Cifuentes-Andrade said. “I have a tremendous amount of empathy for other populations. Whether they are undocumented or documented ... the first one in their family in college or refugees ... to support those individuals in achieving their dreams.” The Centre has a lot planned for the new school year. Every Tuesday (2 to 3:30 p.m.) and Wednesday (noon to 1:30 p.m.) there is a study break meet and greet. National Welcome Week: Welcoming America, will take place from Tuesday, Sept. 20 through Friday, Sept. 23. And an open house for faculty, staff and students will be held Monday, Sept. 26 and Thursday, Sept. 29. Cifuentes-Andrade said she wants people to know that
Photo by Brian Wells
Franchesca Cifuentes-Andrade, left, works with Juan Osma in the Centre for Engaged Inclusion Tuesday, Sept. 6. Cifuentes-Andrade is the new center coordinator.
“The Centre” is for students, faculty and staff. “The Centre is serving students through faculty,” she
said. “I think we all want a place to belong to and a place to feel included.” For more information on The
Centre for Engaged Inclusion and dates and times of events, visit www.lcc.edu/the_centre/ or call (517) 483-1616.
Lugnuts trip Spartans in ‘Crosstown Showdown’ By Aaron Emerson Editor in Chief Over 8,400 people were in downtown Lansing on Sept. 6 to watch the Lansing Lugnuts battle the Michigan State Spartans in the “Crosstown Showdown.” It was the Lugnuts, a Toronto Blue Jays minor league affiliate, which came out on top. Lansing topped Michigan State 4-1 in the 10th annual exhibition game played at Cooley Law School Stadium. LCC student Jason Reyes attended the game and was rooting for the Lugnuts. “It is a fun little game they play here between the two teams,” Reyes said. “It’s in-
tember after a rain cancellation. The Lugnuts jumped out to a fast start, scoring two runs in the first inning to take control early. Bo Bichette, age 18 and the son of former MLB player Dante Bichette, knocked in a run with a triple in his first-ever Lugnut at-bat. J.B. Woodman immediately followed that with a RBI single. Lansing doubled its lead in the fourth inning with a tworun home run to right field off the bat of Christian Williams. Photo by Aaron Emerson Michigan State scored a run The Lansing Lugnuts defeated the Michigan State Spartans 4-1 on Tuesday, Sept. off of a Lugnuts’ error to avoid 6 in the 10th annual Crosstown Showdown at Cooley Law School Stadium. a shutout in the seventh inning. Lansing starter Andy Ravel teresting to see how the teams Originally scheduled in April, picked up the win by tossing match up against each other.” the game was pushed to Sep- two scoreless innings. Ethan
Landon took the loss for Michigan State. Lansing resident Mike Stevens said he tries to get out to the annual exhibition game each year for the good entertainment and cheap beer. Beer and soft drinks were sold for $2 each during the game. “I don’t really root for anyone, but I always have a fun time,” Stevens said. The Lugnuts finished their regular season on Sept. 5, ending 2016 with a 69-71 overall record. Michigan State’s season concluded in May, finishing the campaign with a 36-20 record. They are currently in the midst of fall practices for the 2017 season.
6|sports
Sept. 12 - 25, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
Stars show potential in early losses By Brodee Gillam Sports Editor The LCC volleyball team (1-2 MCCAA West, 1-6 overall) continued its trend of inconsistent play, losing 20-25, 25-23, 25-11, 25-18 at home against Muskegon CC Sept. 6. The team has showed moments of great chemistry and promise, but it hasn’t been able to put everything together yet. In the first set, both teams traded points evenly until the Stars went on a 7-3 run to put them up 18-11. LCC went on another run to go up 24-14. The visiting Jayhawks closed the gap by scoring six straight points to get back in the game before senior Delaney Thompson scored the game-winning point for LCC. In a competitive second game, LCC was down 18-12 then rallied to tie the game at 23-23 before losing. The Stars lost their momentum in the third game and couldn’t get it back during the fourth and final game. LCC Head Coach Emily Quintero said moving forward the Stars’ goals are going to come mostly with experience. “I think this is a growing season for us,” Quintero said. “We’re really working on our team camaraderie and we’re
growing.” Thompson has the same thoughts moving forward. “Our goal is to finish,” Thompson said. “We’re taking it game by game, point by point. Our goal is win the second game right after the first.” Quintero said she sees three freshman – McKenzie Kench, Samantha Stanton and Casey Bridgeman – ready to breakout this season. She said Kench has some strong qualities. “She’s come out and she’s shown her power with her serve,” Quintero said. “She’s shown the power that she can have when she’s hitting. It’s just us being able to tame it, but she has a lot of power she is willing to give us and it’s just a matter of her being consistent.” Thompson also is confident in how the team looks in practice and how it will progress going forward. “We’re seeing a lot of potential,” Thompson said. “We’re going up; we have a long way to go. But, I feel we will be very good by the end of it.” The Stars were scheduled to play Thursday, Sept. 8 against division-rival Kellogg CC in Battle Creek, and in the Shannon Lee McBride Memorial Classic, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9 and 10.
Photo by Brian Wells
Debryahn Threatt warms up before LCC’s volleyball game against Glen Oaks Community College Tuesday, Aug. 30 in Gannon Gymnasium. The Stars won 3-0.
Men, women harriers shine in ‘16 season debut at Olivet
Photo by Brian Wells
Madison Slater warms up during cross country practice Sept. 6.
By Brodee Gillam Sports Editor The LCC men’s and women’s cross country team both started off the season with a successful showing at the Olivet Invitational on Sept. 1. The event was not scored for either team, but LCC Coach Jim Robinson said the harriers showed promise. “If you look at last year’s first meet and this year’s first meet, we’re substantially better than last year,” Robinson said. “Last year none of our women, in the first meet, broke 19 minutes and here we had two.” Both teams also flashed their camaraderie and cohesiveness during the 5K run. Robinson said it will be a game plan they continue to use.
“This meet you had the luxury of getting out more at an even pace,” Robinson said. “So I wanted us to work on running together as a team. That’s a strategy that can really help you as you progress in the season and they did that really well.” For the LCC women, freshman Casey Mossholder finished first out of 36 runners with a time of 18:54. Freshman Melissa Ricci of LCC was second in 18:59. The Stars finished with 12 of the top 16 women’s harriers at the invitational. Returning regional champ sophomore Kaitlin Beyer finished third in 19:09. She said she has high hopes for the 2015 national champions. “(The goal is) win regionals and come back national champions again,” Beyer said. “We definitely have the potential,
with a better team and more numbers.” For the men, sophomore Dylan Rocha finished fifth and was the first Star to cross the finish line, with a time of 16:11. The male harriers also took eight spots in the top 15. Rocha said the designated groups in practice have been helping the team improve. “We have been sticking with those groups really well,” Rocha said. “You can tell it is benefiting a lot of people. … In the race, the groups help pull each other along.” The Stars’ next action will be Friday, Sept. 16 in the Spartan Invitational at Michigan State University. Race time is 11:50 a.m. for the men; 12:30 p.m. for the women.
7|sports
Sept. 12 - 25, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout — off the glass —
Solo’s cowardly comments show true colors The U.S. Women’s Soccer team has been a bright spot in the Olympics since 1996, the first time women’s soccer had been introduced into the games. They have won a medal in every Olympics except this year in Rio, where they placed fifth following a 4-3 shootout loss to Sweden in the quarterfinals. After that loss, goalkeeper Hope Solo made a couple controversial comments about the Swedish team. Solo said the team was “a bunch of cowards” and that “the best team did not win.” Those comments caused her to be suspended for six months from the international team and her contract to be terminated. Instead of accepting defeat like a champion, having won one World Cup and two Olympic gold medals, she blamed the other team for not playing the way she wanted them to. “They didn’t want to open play,” Solo said in a post-game interview. “They didn’t want to pass the ball. They didn’t want to play great soccer.” This isn’t the first time Solo has gotten herself into trouble with her remarks. Even before this year’s Olympics, she posted a picture on Twitter wearing a beekeeper’s mask and holding a can of bug spray. She captioned the photo, “Not sharing this!!! Get your own!” This caused fans to yell “Zika!” every time she cleared the ball during Rio.
brodee gillam sports editor
gillamb@lcc.edu
In 2007, Solo was benched in favor of her backup, Briana Scurry, before the loss in the World Cup semifinal to Brazil. She proceeded to tear into Scurry following the game. “There is no doubt in my mind that I would have made those saves,” Solo said. “And the fact of the matter is it isn’t 2004 anymore.” Afterwards the team had a players meeting and said what she had done was “treason.” Her teammates agreed she shouldn’t play in the bronze medal game. She wasn’t even allowed to eat with the team. As a 35-year-old veteran who has previously gotten into trouble with post-game interviews, and as a vocal women’s rights advocate for equal pay among the genders in soccer, these kind of comments are unacceptable. Solo has been a role model for children playing soccer all across the country for the past 17 years. But after so many inappropriate comments, U.S. Women’s Soccer organization officials must ask themselves if she deserves so many second chances.
LCC ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
Photo from Wikipedia.org
Stars volleyball player offers insights on her game
Q&A
The Lookout Sports Editor Brodee Gillam spoke with LCC sophomore volleyball hitter Addie Pickleman. The Valley Lutheran graduate had nine kills and 14 digs in the team’s first game against Oakland Community College Aug. 23. What athlete inspires you most? “Kerri Walsh Jennings. She’s a beach volleyball player for the Olympic (team). I love watching her; the intensity.” Why did you start playing volleyball? “The love of the sport.” What do you want to do after completing your time at LCC? “I want to go on into the nursing program and get my RN as a bachelor’s (degree).” What is your most memorable moment
Addie Pickleman
Comments made by United States Olympic goalkeeper Hope Solo caused her to be suspended for six months from the international team.
playing volleyball? “Winning the conference championship last season (with LCC).” What has been your most embarrassing moment in volleyball? “(During a serve) I was running back to the end line and the serve hit me in the head.”
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Courtesy photo
Addie Pickleman is an LCC sophomore volleyballer.
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8|arts & entertainment
Sept. 12 - 25, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
‘None of the Above’ comes to LCC By Hannah Anderson A&E Editor As we’ve all experienced at some point, first impressions can often be skewed and wrong. Such is the case in the new, exciting comedy coming to LCC’s Black Box Theatre: “None of the Above” by Jenny Lyn Bader. “None of the Above” opens at 8 p.m. on Sept. 30 and will show every Friday and Saturday until Oct. 8 in the Black Box Theatre (GB 168). General admission is $10 and student admission is $5. In the play, a wealthy high school student named Jamie (played by Danica O’Neill) goes to answer the door one day, expecting her drug dealer. Instead she finds her SAT tutor, Clark (played by Richard Kopitsch). Initially, she wants him to leave and tries a number of different ways to get him out. Both Jamie and Clark find that they don’t like one another because of how different their situations and personalities are. As they find themselves stuck with one another and get to know each other, they come to find out surprising things about the other person that will help them understand each other. This comedy deals with the themes of making snap judgements, senses of entitlement and intelligence, according to the LCC Theatre website. Rehearsals are underway, and the students are hard at work to make the first play of the semester a success. “It goes up the 30th, so it’s a fast turnaround.” Director Mary Matzke said. “But the students are excited about it, the set looks fantastic and we’re in the middle of finding costumes.” Matzke said she chose the play because
Arts and Entertainment
‘Wicked’ soars to Wharton in November “Wicked” is coming to the Wharton Center Nov. 9 to 27. It’s a blockbuster, whimsical musical by Stephan Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. It is based on the novel by Gregory Maguire about the events leading up to the timeless tale, “The Wizard of Oz.” Tickets are on sale for $45. For more information, call (517) 432-2000, or go to the website www.whartoncenter.com to purchase tickets. Oktoberfest coming to Old Town Sept. 30
Photos by Nick Thompson
Theater Performance students Danica O’Neill, left, who plays Jamie, and Richard Kopitsch, who plays Clark, rehearse for the upcoming play “None of the Above,” Sept. 7 in the Black Box Theatre. Performances are Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 7 and 8.
she liked the messages in it and could see it fitting well in the setting of the Black Box Theatre. She said it was applicable because the ages of the characters in the play matched the ages of traditional college students, which is rare to find. Matzke added there is good chemistry among the cast. She is confident about having chosen the right person for the main role because O’Neill is a hard worker and a good fit. For more information about the play, call LCC Performing Arts Production Coordinator Melissa Kaplan at (517) 483-1488 or go to www.lcc.edu/cma/events/audition3.aspx/
shows at the Michigan State University theater. This is its fifth time at Wharton. “It’s just so darn good,” Hoffman said. “Everyone loves ABBA and it’s just a feel-good show.” He added that the Wharton Center is kicking off the tour, meaning it will be an exciting time for both the cast and the audience. In this musical, the main character Sophie, a lively, independent 20 year old, is on the verge of marrying her fiancée, Sky. Her dream is for her father to walk her down the aisle, but she has never known
The 11th annual Oktoberfest is coming to Old Town Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Come enjoy a fun-filled weekend with live music, authentic German food and lots of beer. It is a 21-plus event that has proved to be very popular all over the midwest. Tickets are $18 in advance or $22 at the door. For more information on this celebration, call the Old Town Association office at (517) 485-4283 or visit the website www.oldtownoktoberfest.com/
New art exhibit now open at MSU
‘Mamma Mia!’ storms Wharton Center By Hannah Anderson A&E Editor Wild, extravagant and dramatic “Mamma Mia!” rushes to the Wharton Center stage this October. The play is big and bold, and has been highly acclaimed throughout its 14-year run on and off Broadway. The show, which features the music of 1970s super-group ABBA, runs Oct. 14 through 16 at the Cobb Great Hall. Tickets start at $41. Bob Hoffman, director of public relations at Wharton, said “Mamma Mia!” is one of the most requested Broadway
IN BRIEF
who her father is. As luck would have it, she finds three names of past lovers in her mother’s diary and sends an invitation to each of them, believing one of them to be her father. From there, chaos begins to break loose as Sophie tries to discover who her real father is. Meanwhile her mother rekindles old feelings with each of the past lovers. To purchase tickets, visit www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/mamma-mia. For more information, call the Wharton Center at (517) 353-1982.
A new exhibit has opened at the Broad Art Museum on Grand River Avenue in East Lansing. “Fire Within: A New Generation of Women Artists” touches on a wide variety of themes, including the status of women in China and gender identities. This exhibit features the work of many women and is a unique and eye-opening experience, according to the museum’s website. The Broad allows free admission but donations are encouraged. The exhibit will be available until Feb. 12, 2017. For more information, call (517) 884-4800 or visit the Broad website at www.broadmuseum.msu.edu/
Film festival coming to East Lansing East Lansing will host a film festival with a film competition Sept. 29 to Oct. 9. Participants must create a seven-minute film within 11 days and email the link to the video to kjm.lmfcdirector. elff@gmail.com/ The grand prize is $400 and the deadline to register is Sept. 22. There is a $70 entry fee. Films will be shown on Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m. and the winners will be announced afterward. For more information about the East Lansing Film Festival, call (517) 993-5444 or visit the website www.elff.com/
9|a & E
Sept. 12 - 25, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
reviews
‘Stranger Things’ is strangely awesome Brian Wells Photo Editor Imagine if “E.T.” ever met “The Goonies.” That is “Stranger Things” in a nutshell. Netflix’s latest original series, “Stranger Things,” was released July 15. It was received with overwhelmingly positive reviews, currently holding a 9.1 rating on IMDb and almost five stars on Netflix. After listening to my friends and neighbors continuously pester me, I decided to give it a try. The show opens on a group of kids playing “Dungeons and Dragons” in a basement. During the first few minutes, we see the events that lead to the disappearance of Will Byers and it becomes clear that something dark is happening.
I was hooked the second the ‘80s synthstyle opening theme started. The story moves along at a great pace, giving information combined with enough twists or turns to keep viewers interested. It was easy to follow, but enough happens to keep viewers from getting bored. The main characters of the show are awesome. The three nerdy boys trying to
find Will are relatable to many, and Will’s mother, Joyce (Winona Ryder) follows a believable spiral as she learns the secrets behind Will’s disappearance. Production values are also quite good. The cinematography helps draw out deeper emotions in story moments. The setting and style of everything in the locations felt real and interesting. The soundtrack consists mostly of synthesized music reminiscent of ‘80s Stephen King movies. My only big complaint about the series is that at times, the CGI can be pretty obvious.
Creatures and people flying through the air look almost like they would have in a movie that came out in 1983. Overall, I really enjoyed this show. The dark tale, which plays out over eight episodes, wraps up fairly well with few loose story threads, leaving just enough open to be intriguing for a second season.
‘Fallout 4’ has Nuka World download By Lurah Peterson Staff Writer Bethesda’s latest game, “Fallout 4,” released its last downloadable content (DLC) on Aug. 29, at a cost of $19.99. “Nuka World” focuses on three different raider gangs – the Disciples, the Pack and the Operators – in the theme park based on the popular pre-war drink, Nuka Cola. The DLC will appear to a player once he or she reaches level 30. It is designed to challenge players and the enemies are scaled to the player’s level.
Nuka World brings in new flavors of Nuka Cola including Nuka Orange, Nuka Dark, Nuka-Cola Wild, Nuka Cain, and new recipes that can be made around the park. Inside of Nuka World there are six main areas that can be visited, including Nuka-Town U.S.A., Galactic Zone, Dry Rock Gulch, Safari Adventure, World of Refreshment and Kiddie Kingdom. Each zone has its own new enemies to face and conquer. After taking over Nuka World a player can take over the Commonwealth with the raider gangs.
The DLC also comes with new workshop items to build your own Nuka World themed settlement, new outfits and new weapons. There is a new companion named Gage who is romanceable. And back from Fallout 3 is Sierra. My favorite section of Nuka World is the Galactic Zone because of the way the location with the robots is designed. My favorite gang is the Operators. I like the DLC overall despite the similarities between the quests for each section.
Empire Szechuan food hits the spot By Aaron Wilton Associate Editor Locally owned, open late and a lunch buffet are reasons to look no further than Empire Szechuan for satisfying food at reasonable prices. Empire Szechuan is located at 115 S. Washington Square in downtown Lansing. If subs and pizza just won’t cut it for lunch, Chinese food is a great alternative. Empire Szechuan is just a few blocks away from LCC’s main campus. It has a buffet open during
the afternoon and is open until 9 p.m. every night except Sunday. It is closed on Sundays. I ordered an appetizer, entrée and drink costing, a relatively cheap $15.58 with tax. Had I just ordered the entrée and drink I would have been out less than $9. The fried pork dumpling appetizer came with eight dumplings and a dipping sauce. I ordered a shrimp Lo Mein entrée that was satisfyingly large. Previously, I have tried the lunch
buffet and it was pretty varied for a small restaurant like Empire. The buffet is served from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and costs $7.35. The vegetables in the Lo Mein seemed pretty fresh and the whole plate was steaming as it was served to my table. The dumplings were cooked just right and had good flavor. Patrons can order online, via phone or in person. Deliveries are available for minimum orders of $12. To order go online to www.empireszechuanchinese.com or call (517) 702-1338.
This week’s King Crossword is sponsored by:
10|opinion
Sept. 12 - 25, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout — Vertical Division —
Pursuing my passion of a writing career
I remember finding old journals from when I was a kid, and how the words on the pages were all jammed together and illegible. I had started writing stories before I even understood the concept of spacing. That’s how it has always been for me— I can’t remember a time when I haven’t been passionate about writing. And now that I’ve been accepted onto the editing team at The Lookout, I’m lucky to get to start pursuing my passion. My name is Hannah Anderson and I
hannah anderson A&E editor
anderh13@lcc.edu
am a sophomore. I am majoring in journalism and hope to finish my associate degree next year. When I first came to Lansing Commu-
nity College, I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I pulled up a list of majors on the website and pointed at one that looked interesting: heavy equipment repair. And although it is a challenging and worth-while major, I quickly learned that it was not for me. After a semester of fooling around with different ideas for what I wanted to pursue, it became clear to me that there had never really been any other choice— writing was what I had always wanted to do with my life. I have really enjoyed
majoring in journalism and am glad to have switched. In the future, I hope to attend Syracuse University to get a bachelor’s degree in Writing and Rhetoric. My dream is to write for non-profit organizations like Samaritan’s Purse or Operation Blessing and travel around doing mission work on the side. In the meantime, I am happy to work hard in my classes and look forward to writing at The Lookout as the new arts and entertainment editor.
—emerson’s insights —
QB Kaepernick’s platform too big to disrespect flag At this point in 2016, the average American can at least agree on the fact that race relations in our country are not where they should be. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has made that an extremely controversial talking point recently after sitting down during a pre-game national anthem. Though his reasons for doing so are well merited, he could have went about it in a different way. Kaepernick said he sat during the national anthem to protest the way African Americans and minorities are being treated in the United States.
Throughout the last several years, we have seen many unarmed African Americans gunned down at the hands of police officers. That alone makes it easy to understand where Kaepernick is coming from. Sitting down during the national anthem is Kaepernick’s right. Freedom of speech is one of the greatest principles on which our country was founded. But the way Kaepernick has decided to speak out has done nothing but caused controversy and backlash. As someone who has quarterbacked a team to a Super Bowl in the NFL, Kaepernick has a large platform. If he
Aaron emerson editor in chief
emersoa@lcc.edu
chooses to speak out about the way minorities are treated, people are going to listen. Not honoring the national anthem and the flag, however, disrespects the countless Americans who have lost their lives fighting to preserve our freedom. I respect the fact that Kaepernick has
chosen to stand up for something he is passionate about. He believes in something and has decided to take action. He has a large enough platform playing in the NFL to avoid this kind of controversy, though. Kaepernick has said he will continue to sit down during the anthem until something changes. Perhaps a trip to a hospital to see veterans who have lost their legs, or a visit with parents of a lost soldier, could change his mind. In my eyes, the national anthem and flag should always be about them.
— if you wil —
With new life goals come some new life decisions Some college students have already made the move. Others are waiting for the right time or just don’t have the income required. The move, to which I am referring, is that from living with parents to living in a bachelor (bachelorette) pad. In the last two months some significant questions have come up in my life: Should I continue with college? Can I handle working two jobs and going to school? Now that I have met my associate degree requirements, on what should I do my bachelor’s? The list goes on like that. Early last week I went with a friend to look at townhouses. We toured a couple different places in south Lansing and found one that was actually pretty awe-
Aaron wilton Associate editor/ ad. sales
wiltona@lcc.edu
some. It was beyond exciting to think about taking that step. After the tour we had some Taco Bell and discussed the results of our brief housing search. We talked about the amount of income we could both expect to maintain. Seeing that it would be tightly budgeted, we talked about other potential housemates.
My friend – we’ll call him Tim – has a cousin who is interested in getting a place and should be earning plenty of money to cover his portion of the expenses. I have never met Tim’s cousin and, understandably, I have some apprehension about moving in with someone I don’t really know. What rent rate can I afford? How will we budget for internet, food, electricity, etc.? These are questions I didn’t think I would be having to answer so soon. Living with my parents is extremely low on stress. I contribute to the phone bill, pay my car insurance, and buy gas and any food I get while I’m out. They cover everything else. Knowing I can’t live at home forev-
er doesn’t make it any less daunting of a task to move. At the risk of sounding like a millennial, “It’s hard adulting!” My parents make it look easy. I guess what I’m trying to say is that everyone who has moved out deserves a round of applause and a pat on the back. My parents also deserve a pat on the back for funding the easy living of my brother and me. Don’t take success for granted. If a person can work a job or two and go to college, he or she deserves to feel good about that. It can be extremely overwhelming to take on that much work, but if I can do it, anyone can. Some final words of wisdom: Think ahead, err on the side of caution and do what makes you happy.
11|opinion
Sept. 12 - 25, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout — STAFF EDITORIAL —
LCC goes extra mile to assist students volunteered for the event, and each one felt fulfilled in helping students. We were presented with a wide range of requests from students and were greeted with just as many thankful smiles. One student even rolled down his window in the pouring rain to thank us for taking the time to help. To go along with the countless ques-
What is your favorite video game of all time? Aaron Emerson
Aaron wilton
editor in Chief
Assoc. ed. /ad. sales
emersoa@lcc.edu
“Madden Football.”
wiltona@lcc.edu
“Assassin’s Creed.”
lurah peterson
ad. manager
petersl8@lcc.edu
“The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.”
brodee gillam
tions about where classrooms were located, the volunteers helped students find restrooms, parking lots, places to eat, weight rooms and the police office. One of the volunteers even assisted a student in duct taping a broken sandal. Some of those working outside assisted students in finding open parking spaces. Two of the most common re-
thelookout
hannah anderson
sports editor
gillamb@lcc.edu
“Crash Bandicoot.”
quests volunteers faced were how to get parking passes and where other parking lots are located. LCC should be proud of its decision to go the extra mile to make students feel comfortable during their first week on campus. Hopefully this will be something the college continues to do in the future.
A&e editor
anderh13@lcc.edu
“Call of Duty: Black Ops.”
Brian wells
nicole cade
photo editor
lead paginator
wellsb6@lcc.edu
“Indigo Prophecy.”
caden@lcc.edu
“Eternal Champions.”
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staff
During the first week of fall classes at LCC, the college had numerous employees in orange T-shirts stationed around campus to help students find parking and navigate their way around campus. It was the first year the college has helped out in such a way, and it turned out to be a very successful endeavor. The Lookout had three workers who
larry hook
advisEr
hookl@lcc.edu
“Baseball Stars” on the NES.
12|Last look
Sept. 12 - 25, 2016 www.lcc.edu/lookout
s g
in
W k n r e a k p c t i t a h n C nd ro f a l er v i r
Football season has kicked off, meaning it’s time to start searching for the perfect “game day” snacks. What goes better with football than chicken wings? The second annual Michigan Chicken Wing Festival was held Sept. 2 through 4 at Adado Riverfront Park in Lansing, across from LCC. This year, the event brought in over 30 vendors. According to event coordinator Shirley Carter, an estimated 7,500 people attended the festival over the weekend, up from last year’s 5,000. “It was a great staycation for families in the cities as well as states,” Carter said. “We had visitors from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas (and) Georgia, and I even met a couple people from Japan.” Plans for the 2017 festival are already in the works. According to Carter, the festival will be Labor Day weekend and vendors are already starting to sign up. For more information, visit www.michiganchickenwingfestival.com/
Makonya Carter coats a breaded wing in hot sauce at Big Pooh’s Chicken-n-Things.
Makonya Carter of Big Pooh’s Chicken-nThings prepares hot wings at the second annual Michigan Chicken Wing Festival at Adado Riverfront Park on Saturday, Sept. 3.
Brendan Balaba eats a hot wing from Big Pooh’s Chicken-n-Things. Balaba described the food as being “really good.”
By Brian Wells Photo Editor