MORAINE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT NEWSPAPER WWW.MVCCGLACIER.COM DECEMBER 7, 2012 VOLUME 45, ISSUE 9
Growth slows after strong 2011 By Abbas Haleem Staff Writer According to a report from Community College Week, Moraine Valley ranks thirtythird of the top fifty fastest growing community colleges in the nation. This rank is based on the last and largest size category of community college growths. The four categories are less than 2,500 students, between 2,500 and 4,999 students, 5,000 to 9,999 students, and over 10,000 students. Moraine Valley falls into the latter category. Although community colleges with an enrollment Moraine Valley is the second fastest of over 10,000 students are the smallest group among the top three, it accounts Moraine Valley was not for about 60% of the enroll- only ranked thirty-third, but ment of the institutions in all it is also one of the only two four categories. community colleges from Illi-
The highest percent change was from Chandler/Gilbert Community College in Arizona, with 14.1% enrollment increase. The only institutions included in this ranking are accredited by a specialized postsecondary accreditation agency and are restricted to the fifty states of the U.S. This includes the District of Columbia while excluding Puerto Rico and other “outlying areas.” The analysis focuses on public institutions that primarily offer associatelevel degrees, but involves other “less-than-four-year growing community college in Illinois among schools with over 10,000 certificate programs”, acstudents. [Emalee Kay] cording to Victor Borden (professor of educational nois to make it onto the list, the Fall 2010 to Fall 2011, leadership and policy studthe other being Waubonsee Moraine Valley had an in- ies at Indiana University Community College, which crease of 782 students, or Bloomington) who wrote for ranked forty-seventh. From 4.5%. ENROLLMENT | page 2
Five Trustees up for T Building featured in NSF video reelection in Spring By Phillip A. Bianco News Editor The semester is nearing its close, but for four trustees on Moraine Valley’s Board, the race is just beginning. The four will have to run for reelection to keep their spot on the board. Elections are to be held on April 9, 2013. The trustees with expired terms are Chairman Joseph P. Murphy from Blue Island, Sandra S. Wagner from Palos Hills, Lisa Szynalski from Alsip, and the board’s newest member, Andrea A. Ramirez-Justin from Orland Hills. Student Trustee Taylor Geraghty, from Frankfort, will also see her term expire in April. Three of the trustees—Murphy, Wagner and Szynalski—served at-least one six year term, while Ramirez-
Justin served a two-year term (Ramirez-Justin took over for Trustee Mark Weber in the fall after he resigned from his post). Murphy, Wagner and RamirezJustin have all announced their candidacies while Szynalski has yet to decided whether or not she will rerun. Geraghty has said she will not run for reelection. Candidates have until Dec.26 to announce their candidacies by turning in the required 50 signatures from registered voters within Moraine Valley’s district. The final list of candidates will likely be released shortly after class begins in the New Year. The candidates will then be- The first thing students see, the bright yellow virtualization data center, is the cornerstone of the T Buildgin the process of campaigning. ing’s new atmosphere. [Mike Frederiksen] You will probably see signs bearing the names of those seeking By Anne Parker Technology building in a na- will highlight the Center for overtake Ramirez-Justin as Mo- Editorial Assistant tional video presented by the Systems Security and Inforraine’s newest board member. National Science Foundation mation Assurance (CSSIA) All voters from Moraine ValMoraine Valley students will (NSF) by Spring 2013. resource facility at Moraine APRIL ELECTIONS | page 2 be able to view the remodeled The video made by NSF T BUILDING | page 6
IN THIS ISSUE ENTERTAINMENT The truth behind Al Capone revealed by a family member. SOCIAL PAGE 9
SPORTS Mens basketball moves up to eighth in the rankings. PAGE 12
FEATURES Dr. Schreck leads students to the Senate using creative project. SOCIAL PAGE 1
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THE GLACIER DECEMBER 7, 2012 VOLUME 45, ISSUE 9 ABOUT THE GLACIER The Glacier is published biweekly during the fall and spring semesters by the students of Moraine Valley Community College. SUBMISSION POLICY All submissions should be typed and letters to the editor must include the author’s name, phone number and email address. Anonymous submissions will not be accepted.
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ENROLLMENT | from front page Community College Week’s analysis portion of the article. In the Fall of 2010, Moraine Valley had 17,387 students attending, and as of the Fall of 2011, there are at least 18,169. This is what makes Moraine Valley the thirty-third fastest growing community college out of a list of 1,119 qualifying institutions. Enrollment trends at public two-year and associate colleges have been going in a generally upwards direction, going from 6.7 million in 2007, to 7.1 in 2008, 7.6 in 2009, and 7.9 in 2010. The only downward part of this trend is 2011, as there has been a decrease by about one hundred thousand students. Based on a group of 1,139 institu-
FALL STAFF Faculty Adviser Ted Powers powerst@morainevalley.edu Editor in Chief Connor Reynolds editorinchief@mvccglacier.com Graphics Editor Emalee Kay graphics@mvccglacier.com Photo Editor Mike Frederiksen photo@mvccglacier.com Online Editor Dawn Klingensmith online@mvccglacier.com News Editor Phillip A. Bianco news@mvccglacier.com Views Editor Billy Barker views@mvccglacier.com
tions, the number of enrolled students went from 7,887,822 down to 7,754,030. Regardless of the decline, Paul Bradley, who also wrote for the report in Community College Week, believes that “Declining enrollments could be signaling a revived economy. When the economy declines, people go to community college to hone their skills and develop new ones. When the economy revives, people who headed to the classroom instead go to work.” Thus, according to Bradley, the economy may be heading in a positive direction, as opposed to the negative direction of community college enrollments. Abbas Haleem can be contacted at haleema@student.morainevalley.edu.
STUDENT TRUSTEE CORNER | TAYLOR GERAGHTY Hello Moraine Valley, we’re almost done! One more week and we will be in the clear. What do you plan on doing with your time off? Although I’ll be working, the stress of classes, grades, tests and attendance are some things that I am very excited to leave behind. Whatever you do, make sure you do so relaxed and responsibly. What is peace to you? Is it silence? Is it solitude and aloneness? Sometimes I believe that we are so plugged in. We are plugged into our phones, music, TV, and everything else that we don’t have a chance to really experience peace. When is the last time that you took a moment just to listen to your own breaths, pay attention to the way the air feels in your nose, and the sounds that only nature is making? You took a deep breath just now didn’t you? If you haven’t, give it a try! Recently I took about fifteen minutes to step away from the chaos of my everyday life, and just breathe, and nothing else. What I experienced was profound.
In doing this I realized how rarely genuine peace comes around in our daily lives. As humans, we are often caught up in the societal norms that keep us in a world so far away from nature. We are inclined to text, surf the web, and watch our favorite television program before we would ever take a walk outside and just exist for a moment. In this day and age, television and computers are considered a necessary tool in ones journey to finding peace. For example, “I can’t wait to go home, watch TV, and finally have some peace and quiet.” Why is TV needed? During finals week, take a second to decompress. Try to take yourself away from all of the world’s “noise” and create your own peace. This is the perfect time to redefine what peace means to you. As always, I am available for whoever has questions, problems, and concerns. Email me at geraghtyt7@student.morainevalley.edu or call me at (708) 6084165. Have a great winter break, and good luck on finals!
Sports Editor Sean McDermott sports@mvccglacier.com Entertainment Editor Fallon Sweeney entertainment@mvccglacier.com Features Editor Kevin M. Coyne social@mvccglacier.com Distribution Manager Robert P. Boyer distribution@mvccglacier.com Editorial Assistant Anne Parker editorialassistant@mvccglacier.com Graphic Assistant Michael Hartmann graphicassistant@mvccglacier.com Online Assistant Lucy Welsh onlineassistant@mvccglacier.com
Contributing Staff Dimka Attanassova Andrew Duarte Josh Johnson Abbas Haleem Stephanie Oster Zack Siemsen Erica Sinnott Kevin Quin Hannah Quisano Special Contributors Bill Droel - Campus Minister Taylor Geraghty - Student Trustee
While you’re on break Heres what you’ll miss.. Jingle Bell Rock: A Raucous Holiday Revue! Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m, Dorothy Menker Theater. Sold out. Nurses Pinning Ceremony: Dec. 12, 6:00 p.m, Dorothy Menker Theater. Frostbite Winter Bash: Dec. 14 7:30p.m.-12:00 a.m. Student Union, Building U. Board of Trustees Meeting Dec. 19 6:30 p.m. Room D219 Building D International Student Orientation: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Jan. 7 APRIL ELECTIONS | from front page ley’s district, which contains 26 towns including Alsip, Burbank, Crestwood, Justice, part of Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Orland Hills, Palos Hills, Robbins, Summit, part of Tinley Park, Worth and others, will be able to vote for their trustee of choice in the April elections. This election is of course not limited to Trustee for Moraine Valley. A number of other official municipal positions are open, varying from area to area. Again depending on your area, there may even be referendums or initiatives up for vote. Unlike the rest of the board members,
thru Jan. 11, Room S217 Career Paths and Coffee Sessions: 10-11 a.m. and 6-7 p.m. Jan. 9, Room S117A CORRECTION: In the Nov. 30, 2012 issue of The Glacier in the article titled, “Nation Honors Heroes,” Arlington National Cemetery was mistakenly referred to as Arlington Heights Cemetery. The Glacier staff sincerely apologizes for this error.
the students of Moraine Valley elect the Student Trustee. All eligible students will receive a letter in the mail congratulating them for their academic success, and inviting them to run for student trustee. Interested students must submit typed papers to the candidate selection board made up of high-ranking administration members. The top three or four candidates are then selected to run of in elections held near the end of March. Phillip A. Bianco can be contacted at news@ mvccglacier.com.
Joseph P. Murphy, center, is among the five current board members who must decide whether or not to run for relection in April of 2013. Student Trustee Taylor Geraghty has decided not to run again next year. [Erica Sinnott]
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Navratil explains rise in global food prices year, poor countries paid 20% more for basic food products in 2010 than they did the previous year. The FAO published a report, warning that, “High and volatile food prices are widely expected to continue in the future.” With an increase in floods and droughts; higher prices of rice, wheat, corn and other food staples throughout the world have occurred, this often associates with conflict including riots, hunger, poverty, and economic and political instability. Countries globally have turned to diverted corn, soybeans, sugar, and other plants traditionally used for food into biofuel, hoping to reduce their reliance on nonrenewable energy sources, such as oil and gasoline. In the United States today 40% of the entire corn crop is being diverted into biofuels, accounting for 43% all 40% of U.S. corn production is now being used for biofuels. That’s 43% of all the biofuel production in the world. Only two out of ten ears of production of biofuels in the world. The U.S. Renewable corn grown in America are consumed as food, the remaining eight go to ethanol and animal feed. [Mike Frederiksen] Fuels Standard (RFS) signed By Zack Siemsen into law last month a mandate for Staff Writer the production of 36 billion gallons of biofuels—mainly ethanol and All over the world, from China to biodiesel—annually by 2022. America, people are worrying about the Farmers all around Nebraska, Iowa, price of food. and Illinois are encouraged to grow At the same time many countries are as much corn as possible, due to the trying to become energy independent Illinois Farm Bill the Federal Governand divert away from fossil fuels and re- ment subsidizes corn and soy prosort to renewable biofuels. This paradox duction with preferential tax credits, means diverting the food you would loans, and discount public land. rather produce to feed people into fuel, For every ten ears of corn that so the problem arises, do we feed people are grown in the United States toor fuel for our infrastructure. day, only two are consumed directly A Global and Diversity Event was held by humans as food, the remaining on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 11:00 a.m. in Mo- eight are used in almost equal shares raine Room 3. The discussion was titled for animal feed and for ethanol. Food or Fuel: The Delicate Balance of With the diverting of traditional Agriculture and Energy Policy. food crops into biofuels, an increase Panelists explored the rising food in the price of all foods has occurred, prices around the world due to biofuel especially in animal products that repolicy, discussing the interconnec- quire feed intensive diets. There has tions and tensions between agricul- been a 12-75% rise in food prices, deture and energy policies throughout pending on location, due to diverting the world. food to biofuel use. Heading the event was political science Whether in South Sahara Africa or professor, Kevin Navratil. He spoke on South America, the price of food is risthe potential causes of increased food ing and having a visible effect on the price globally, such as diverting food people of the world, as more grain into biofuels and severe weather con- crops are diverted into biofuel use, it is ditions. “Food prices are increasing for said to add to the already intense price many reasons, one being biofuel, and of food. is worth investigating potential draw The decision to grow crops for food backs of diverting food production to or fuel has become a major geopolitifuel,” said Navratil. cal driver in the global economy, and The U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Orga- is seen to be a key factor in whether nization (FAO) measures the interna- the people are fed or fueled. tional prices of a basket of food staples wheat, rice, sugar, meat - its data shows Zack Siemsen can be contacted at siemthat prices reached an all-time high this senz2@student.morainevalley.edu.
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Christmas around the world World. The exhibit features many different Christmas celebrations from around the world. In the exhibit, the room is littered with Christmas trees, lights, and ornaments. But first, in order to get to the exhibit you must pass under the ginormous banners of Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the rest of the gang as they greet visitors into the exhibit. Your eyes begin to pop when you pass the banners. The The Museum of Science and Industry’s exhibit on Christmas around the world exposes people to the tradi- lights on the many tions and Christmas celebrations of other cultures around the world. [Colleen Boyer] Christmas trees are sculpturesque, as By Rob Boyer with the family? they bring you back Distribution Manager It sounds weird, going to a museum to that child like marvel on Christmas for some holiday fun, but you would morning. If you’re looking for some holiday be surprised. The main exhibit at the From the Lithuanian tradition of fun this year why not take a trip to Museum of Science and Industry this creating your own ornaments to hang the Museum of Science and Industry time of year is Christmas Around the on the tree, to the French tradition of
decorating the tree with the symbol of their country: drapeau français (the flag of France): Every culture was represented at this exhibit. The American tradition of decorating a tree with store bought ornaments seems simplistic compared to the traditional customs of other cultures. Many cultures prepare their trees with family heirlooms and other beloved items. Inserts at the bottom of each tree gave information about the culture they represented. Each culture had a different way of celebrating Christmas. Although every culture boasts different Christmas traditions, they all share one common trait. This is, everyone celebrates the birth of the Son of God (in Christianity) with their families and loved ones. The most beneficial part of this exhibit is the feeling of enlightenment one gets after learning about the cultures of other peoples form around the globe. If this exhibit shows anything, it is that human beings, in all their complexity, have similar desires for peace and family. Rob Boyer can be contacted at distribution@mvccglacier.com.
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IN BRIEF Holiday performance by Moscow Boys Choir Moraine Valley is welcoming the Moscow Boys Choir to sing their “Christmas Around the World” performance on Saturday, Dec. 8. The event will take place in the Dorothy Menker Theater at 7:30 p.m. 400 boys have been selected from their prestigious school in Moscow to tour with the Moscow Boys Choir for the opportunity to share their vocal talents. Director, Mr. Leonid Baklushin has prepared the boys for this musical experience. A heavenly musical of soprano voices with a Russian distinction, this show is not one to miss. Visit the Box Office in the Fine and Performing Arts Center for more information. Final exam review sessions Don’t wait too long to study for finals. If any students are in need of help preparing for a final, the Tutoring Center is still offering final exam review sessions. Sessions will be available until Dec. 12 for math and science classes. Students can sign up in L200 or call 974-5338 for more information.
“Jingle Bell Rock: A Raucous Holiday Revue” Come and enjoy a musical Christmas with the entire family! “Jingle Bell Rock” is an entertaining spin on classic Christmas titles, including “Sleigh Ride,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Let it Snow.” Guests will not be, disappointed of the talented singers contemporary takes on Christmas favorites. The musical will be on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dorothy Menker Theater. Visit the Box Office in the Fine and Performing Arts Center for more information. Meeting notice The regular monthly meeting of the Moraine Valley Board of Trustees will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 19. The meeting will take place in the Board Room D219, Building D, on campus, 9000 West College Parkway. There will be a public hearing on a proposed tax levy for Tax Year 2012 that will precede the regular scheduled meeting. “Waiting for Lefty” auditions update
Auditions will be held on Dec. 10 for “Waiting for Lefty” from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the John and Angeline Oremus Theater. Those who want to audition must come prepared with one contemporary serious monologue. A cold reading will be provided if needed. Everyone 18 years or older of any ethnicity and background are strongly encouraged to come and audition. The call back date is Dec. 12. Performances will take place Feb. 22 through Feb. 24 and March 1 through 3. Those who will be auditioning can sign up outside of room F150. For more information contact Dr. Craig Rosen at (708) 9745432. Registration Moraine Valley on-campus credit classes will begin Monday, Jan. 14. Off-campus credit classes and oncampus continuing education classes begin Jan. 22, and off-campus continuing education classes begin Jan. 28. Tuition is $104 per credit hour including fees and books. Students can find a complete list of credit and noncredit classes at morainevalley.edu or in the spring 2013 class schedule,
which is located in dispensers around campus. Contact the Registration Office for more information at (708) 974-2110. Professor of the Year 2012 Award If you have a teacher who has demonstrated teaching excellence, here is the chance to thank them. Now is the time to nominate your favorite instructor to be nominated for Moraine Valley’s Professor of the Year 2012 Award. There are several areas in the school where nomination forms can be found; Building D, Room D108; Building F in the Student Lounge; Building T at the Computer Lab entrance; Building U, Room U115; Building B, Room B260; and Building L at the Library information desk. Forms can also be downloaded from the Moraine Valley website. Please take the time to commemorate a teacher who deserves the recognition. Completed nomination forms must be returned to Sue McNulty in the Center for Teaching and Learning in L244. Forms are due by Friday, Dec. 14, 2012 by 5 p.m. Completed forms can also be emailed to mcnultys@morainevalley.edu.
6 T BUILDING | from front page Valley. The video will also feature seven other community colleges across the nation, together working with Moraine Valley to spread student knowledge and success in different fields of technology. The video series will span a variety of science topics including robotics, health, and computer technology. The video will provide a tour of the center, interviews with students, faculty, alumnus, and an interactive class with John Sands, professor of Information Technology and CSSIA co-principal investigator. “The video should provide a profile of learning opportunities that Moraine Valley offers in the technology fields,” said Erich Spengler, director and principal investigator of CSSIA and NISGTC and a Moraine Valley professor of Computer Integrated Technologies. One of the main focuses of the CSSIA facility is the new ultraviolet yellow box at the entrance of the T Building, making the center a landmark on campus. It also adds a newfound inspiration for students to be curious and interested about the exciting career of technology. “It is our new Virtualization Data Center,” said Spengler. “It is the driving virtualization technology of all programs. Students will be able to practice for cer-
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tificate exams and be constantly engaged in technology practices.” With the brightly colored Virtualization Data Center, other renovations have been made to the T Building to provide a welcoming atmosphere for students who want to pursue careers in technology. “Everything was white before; white walls, white ceiling,” said Spengler. “Now there is a changed atmosphere through more color, new lighting, and different artwork reflecting the technology careers. It’s more inviting and reveals what the Moraine Valley technology center is all about.” Remodeling of the T Building included relocating the CSSIA offices and its data center with plans for job fairs, ex- The renovations and technological advancements of the T Building are designed to increase panded tutoring, industry forums, and student interest in cyber security and related programs. [Mike Frederiksen] more to get students further engaged in cyber security, with the help of the velopments, along with the geospatial development, outreach to students, new Virtualization Data Center. Comple- and networking programs of study. faculty development, and mentoring. tion of the building is expected for the This grant will be included with the “The renovations will bring a great Winter 2013. roughly $20 million grant for job train- flavor of technology and the commit“The remodeling is designed to show ing and workforce development in the ment to Moraine Valley’s technology off the technology like the computers Information Technology industry. center,” said Spengler. and the Virtualization Data Center,” said The video will feature the renovations The video will be available for the Spengler. that have been made to the T Building public to view on the NSF channel on Current and new staff members are that started in fall 2011. youtube.com, Science Nation 360. initiating plans for expenditures using Moraine Valley has been on top the new $3.7 million grant for cyber as a regional center for five states, Anne Parker can be contacted at parsecurity and other high-tech lab de- providing emphasis on curriculum kera3@student.morainevalley.edu.
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Stress relief during finals week By Anne Parker Editorial Assistant Student Life will be sponsoring another stress relief week just in time for finals. “Forget the Mess and Relieve the Stress” is a collaborative project between members of Student Life and the Health and Fitness Center to provide students with a chance to let go of stress in a physical and healthy way. Stress relief week will be going on through the week of Monday, Dec. 10 through Thursday, Dec. 13. “The reason for this time for students is to give them a chance to relax and forget the mess that might be going on in their lives,” said Manager of Student Life, Demetrius Robinson. “Students have obligations with school, family and work and this is a good opportunity for students to help release some of those stressful feelings.” Sessions will take place in the Social and Cultural Lounge in the U Building. The reason for the festive red wall papering lining the windows, is not just for the holiday season, but is an essential part of the relaxation week process. “While the paper is up as part of the festive decorating, it is also there to provide privacy for those taking part
Demetrius Robinson and Student Life will be hosting sessions on various modes of Stress relief during the week of finals. [Mike Frederiksen] in the sessions,” said Robinson. “The music in the lounge will also be turned down low to give that sense of relaxation to the participants.” Stress relief stations will also be provided in different areas of the Moraine Valley campus. Stations will be set up in the Student Street between Buildings
U and S and along the outside of the library in Building L. “This next week is going to get pretty crazy between finals and registrations,” explained Robinson. “The Registration Office in the S Building is going to be busy so these stress relief stations are going to be helpful. People who have
waited in line can have a quick opportunity to relax.” Students who participate in the sessions will also be given a CD with calming music so that they continue the stress relief workouts in the comfort and time of their own home. Fliers will also be provided to students from the Health and Fitness Center for tips on how to do the different exercises while they are at home. Each session will be done three times a day at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., and 1 p.m. Monday there will be breathing and meditation techniques. Tuesday will be covering foam rolling flexibility, with foam rolls provided by the staff of the Health and Fitness Center. Wednesday students will be doing yoga stretches. On Thursday students will learn muscle relaxation techniques. Refreshments will be served including cookies, tea, and vegetable trays for the health conscious. “There are about 15 to 20 people in each session. Students, community members, and staff are welcome to join,” said Robinson. Anne Parker can be contacted at parkera3@student.morainevalley.edu.
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Views
Billy Barker Views Editor
views@mvccglacier.com
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Is Black Friday negatively effecting society? “Black Friday brings out
“People have to strug-
the animalistic tendan-
gle to save money on a
cies of mankind, pitting
daily basis, [...] There’s
people in a high intensity,
no shame in wanting
high speed situation.”
to conserve expenses.”
By Fallon Sweeney Entertainment Editor
By William Barker Views Editor
Thanksgiving, though a controversial holiday for some is a time for being thankful This season is greeting us with the official first day of Christmas shopping, Black and for sharing ourselves with others. This sharing happens over dinner, over con- Friday. In this economy, these prices can make the most wonderful time of the year versation, and through just spending time together with those you don’t see often. equally exciting. Whether one is a personal fan of traditional Thanksgiving spread or not, most of We all know how enthusiastic people get about Black Friday, sacrificing days of us can appreciate the experience of sitting down to a family dinner at least once a their lives to get hundreds of dollars off of their shopping lists. The main reason year. Thanksgiving evening is meant for turkey-induced sleepiness and after-dinner people camp out in an attempt to save money is to afford the steadily rising prices of drinks, conversation among family and friends, and overall catching up. all of their family’s latest objects of affection. Yet, a dark figure looms in waiting, a beast known With the obvious threat of a crazed saver resortto some as the best shopping day of the entire year ing to violence in order to cut a few cents off of their (especially the Christmas season) – Black Friday. purchase price, families have started to ban togethA day that is approaching faster and faster each er for safety and as a bundle they maximize their and every year; sales that once took place at eight abilities to prepare before the moment the stores AM now take place at midnight or earlier on actual open. Thanksgiving Day. Less and less our focus is on the In a way, Black Friday creates an entirely new way holiday that actually takes place on Thursday – we for families to learn togetherness and teamwork in are too busy focusing on what will happen that eveorder to save the most money together. A team efning and the next morning, what deals we could fort is the best way to enter a sale of this proporfind and how long we will have to wait to get them. tion and logically, many families have most likely Black Friday is a day meant for long lines in the found a way to take advantage of their strengths cold waiting for a deal you aren’t sure you’ll even and weaknesses in order to maximize profit. get, a day for pushing your fellow man out of the Black Friday creates a new evolution of a family way in order to reach that television set you’ve had holiday. With the receding start time cutting into your eye on. Black Friday brings out the animalisThanksgiving Day, the point of the holiday can be tic tendencies of mankind, pitting people in a high left up to the members of the family and whether intensity, high-speed situation. Footage exists all they can wish to spend the time in the house eating over the internet of shoppers engaging in fights, around a table, or having dinner early and getting in shoppers being trampled as their counterparts rush line for the events afterwards is entirely up to them. into the store like cattle to slaughter. Black Friday There is no need to go overboard in order to please regulars know not to bring children or the elderly Money is taking the holiday season from families and big busi- your loved ones. One can simply wait for the initial for pure safety reasons alone. Those that leave their ness is going to enjoy their stocking stuffer. [Michael Hartman] rustle of activity and still reap a generous benefit home on Thanksgiving evening must be prepared of marked down expenses, igniting the light in the for the worst and willing to protect whatever deals they can get their hands on. situation while avoiding catastrophe. Black Friday is ruining a once-sacred family holiday, whether or not you take part The fact of the matter is if you have a problem with people going off of the rails in in the shopping. More and more, I encounter friends and family who are forced to order to feed their families, pay their bills, and have a few gifts for Christmas, you’re work through Thursday night into Friday preparing for Black Friday gladiators and not forced to participate. People can look at the holiday and make it into whatever their search for the best deal. Employees are taken from their own family dinners so they want. You can label it as a deplorable act of human’s fighting over gifts or you that people, driven by their greed for possessions they most likely don’t need, can can admire that people care enough about their families and friends to stay up. start their feverish shopping even earlier. We shouldn’t judge people just because we see them fighting over the last box on As a society we have entirely lost sight of the meaning of either Thanksgiving or the shelf. If both people want the product that badly they’re obviously struggling to Christmas; the only focus we seem capable of having is our own materialistic wants. make ends meet with a few points in their lives. This greed is embodied in Black Friday and shows the American people for what they Many people struggle to save money on a daily basis, Black Friday condenses spendreally are becoming: a society that cares little for the culture and has focus only for ing into one day. Everyone has a way to save cash, some people choose the cheapest themselves and their own needs. holiday of the year to do it, and there’s no shame in wanting to conserve expenses. Fallon Sweeney can be contacted at entertainment@mvccglacier.com.
“I think it’s just a way for people to shop and save money. I don’t see the harm in it.” -Hannah Naughton
“A lot of people get hurt and it’s not good for small businesses that can’t compete.” -Matt Sims
William Barker can be contacted at views@mvccglacier.com.
“ Hours after we say what we’re thankful for having already we go out to struggle for more. It’s mindless consuming.” -Andrew Servita
“It gets people hyped up about materialistic needs. Black Friday takes away from what really matters.” -Gary Zelinski
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VIEW FROM THE HILL | BILL DROEL | MVCC CAMPUS MINISTER Tis the season for shopping. Unfortunately, customer service at most stores is often lackluster. Caitlin Kelly tells us why. Kelly was a successful journalist. Then for several reasons she needed a job. Thus, she worked as “a retail associate” for about 2.5 years. She then wrote about the experience in Malled: My Unintentional Career in Retail (Penguin, 2011). There are roughly three types of stores. One type might be called the discount store or big box store. Then there are anchor stores. These usually carry slightly better quality goods and have more open floor space. The third type is the higher-end specialty store where clerks are better paid. The usual pay is $9 to $11 per hour in metropolitan areas, less in other places. The benefits are minimal or non-existent. With the exception of the high-end segment of retail, about 50% of clerks leave their job within three months. Almost all have left after one year of employment. Tellingly, most retail workers walk away from a job only to be soon hired at another store. Because high turnover is expected, training is short. Kelly’s training was odd. On one hand, there was a strong emphasis on company loyalty. Yet stronger still was the emphasis on employee theft. It was clear that despite the verbiage about “company loyalty,” the company did not trust the workers to be loyal in handling the products. In fact, clerks are closely monitored all day to prevent stealing. A retail job ideally requires an outgoing person who is attentive to verbal and facial cues from customers. But, Kelly finds the wage scale mostly attracts workers who are laconic and inattentive. Some are charming, but they lack a range of emotional skills necessary to simultaneously be tenacious yet patient, friendly yet professional, and assertive without inserting one’s self. Can retail conditions improve? It seems all customers, even the polite major-
ity, want the lowest price. So the assumption in the retail business says any increase in wages results in higher prices. But Kelly suspects that smarter and more flexible management could improve worker conditions and boost sales. Corporate managers would have to forego making remote and cookie-cutter decisions about products, store design, advertising, employee policies and more. Zeynep Ton of MIT agrees. Retail chains pay low wages because the corporate office doesn’t understand day-to-day store operations and is uninterested in long-term success, Ton writes in Harvard Business Review (2/12). Ton supplies case studies--including Sam’s Club, Trader Joe’s and others—where higher wages actually increase profit. Ton describes how inventory can be managed more precisely, how employees can learn the big picture and can be trained to do a variety of tasks, and how quality decisions can be made closer to those affected by those decisions. Of course, there is a point after which higher wages will detract from profit. But most large retailers exploit workers rather than use sustained intelligence and virtue. What do MVCC business students think? Is the shopping experience less than optimal because executives are too lazy to try new approaches? What do all MVCC students think about shopping? What could each consumer do to make it modestly pleasant? Contact Bill Droel at droelb@morainevalley.edu.
Communication cut off By Abbas Haleem Staff Writer
To anyone who has stocked up on their coveted Twinkies due to the news that Hostess has closed, you need not worry. On Nov. 16 Hostess announced on their Facebook page that because of the Bakers Union Strike, Hostess Brands, Inc. has shut down and sold company assets. Now, rumor has come true that Mexican billionaire family Grupo Bimbo, who has been first in line to gobble up and buy the Hostess Co.,will buy the company that has been around for over 80 years. Bimbo is currently the largest bread maker in the world. In 2000, the company was publicly shopping for American bakeries. Bimbo was close to buying Hostess in 2007, until the company backed out of an investment to bid during Hostess’s first schism with bankruptcy. Last year, Bimbo bought Sara Lee, standing towards the top of the chain of baked goods companies such as General Mills, Kraft and Kellogg, which were also in the running to buy Hostess. While many Americans, including myself, will miss the Hostess brand when it is bought by Bimbo, is it at all possible to think that maybe this was for the best? Hostess had been drowning near $1 billion in debt and has sold 980 assets already. The company entered chapter 11 bankruptcy for the first time in 2004, and again in January 2012. In a matter of time, the bankruptcy was bound to catch up to brand and eventually be sold to another company due to the private equity, unfunded pensions of vendors, and the lack of communication with unions. Bimbo can actually turn into an essential part of the Twinkie’s success along with other Hostess brands. Because of the amount of patronage and income that the product has brought to the Hostess company in the past, there is no doubt that Bimbo will provide longevity for the Twinkie and continue to sell it, however it will be marketed under a new name. And currently as the king of baked snacks, Bimbo would be the best choice to buy Hostess. Daniel Servitje, the CEO of Bimbo, has increased the growth of Bimbo products since his position began in 1997. He introduced white bread to Latin American countries and Spain, and survived a battle between Bimbo and Mexico’s tortilla franchise. Only time will tell how much the Twinkie truly is worth to Americans. Don’t be surprised to soon see the Bimbo Bear holding a Twinkie when walking through the grocery store.
For close to two years now, Syria has been in a state of chaos and great efforts have been put into a revolution. This has forced the government to respond innovatively. When a government is under stress that they will be attacked by rebel groups, it seems to be a logical conclusion that an effort should be put forth to disturb communication between these rebel groups. At least, that’s what the current Syrian government did. On the 29th of November, the Syrian government cut off Internet in by blocking all 84 of Syria’s IP addresses. Blocking Internet capability not only blocks communication, but also stops the public from receiving news from a web-based source. This signifies a state of panic by the regime. It is not only the Internet that had been cut off. In several places, the government disabled mobile phones and landlines as well as electricity. To better understand the situation, one must first learn what the Syrian uprising is about. In late January 2011, protests began in Syria when a police officer assaulted a man in old Damascus. The man was arrested shortly after being assaulted, and for this reason, protestors fought for the freedom of the arrested man. In March, children in Daraa, a city in southern Syria, wrote negatively against the government and were arrested for it. According to reports, there were about three thousand arrests in a single day later that March. It was that July that Syrian army tanks militarized into several cities. The government had compromised the Syrian safety and freedom of expression, and the citizens were not prepared to simply put up with it. To put it simply, the Syrian uprising, or civil war, is part of a movement known as the Arab Spring, which opposes decades of presidential dictatorships. President Bashar al-Assad had been ruling in Syria for nearly five decades, which the rebels believe must be put to a stop. Similar situations took place in Egypt, which ended a long rule under President Hosni Mubarak, and in Libya, under Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Considering the success of Egypt and Libya, it is more than reasonable for the Syrians to have hope. Similar to the case in Syria, the Egyptian government, during the revolution of 2011, shut down the Internet in most of the country as a means to limit communication between protest groups. According to the Syrian government, “terrorists” (Which is the term used for rebels by Assad) cut the cable that controlled the web communication with other countries. There hasn’t been reported verification that it was indeed the rebels who cut the Internet in Syria, but regardless, the web is back up for public access. A top web security firm claimed that the Internet outage was almost absolutely the work of the Syrian government. Both sides of the war are putting in tremendous efforts to fight for their beliefs of how the government should be run. It seems that only time can tell for sure what the results will be of the Syrian civil war.
Anne Parker can be contacted at parkera3@student.morainevalley.edu.
Abbas Haleem can be contacted at haleema@student.morainevalley.edu.
Hope for the Twinkies By Anne Parker Editorial Assistant
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Was David Stern and the NBA right in fining the San Antonio Spurs $250,000?
By Sean McDermott Sports Editor
“Without any doubt in my mind the $250,000 fine that the NBA handed to the San Antonio Spurs was well deserving and justifiable.”
“The move by Stern, essentially condemns a team’s right to manage their team as they see fit.”
By Connor Reynolds Editor-in-Chief
On TNT’s nationally televised game on Nov. 29 the Spurs took on the defending NBA Champion, the Miami Heat in what should have been a star-studded event. Instead the nation as well as the packed American Airlines Arena was treated to a Spurs team without Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green, who did not travel to Miami and went home to rest. The Spurs organization made the decision with San Antonio not informing the NBA Commissioner David Stern, the league office, the Heat or the media in a timely fashion. Without any doubt in my mind the $250,000 fine that the NBA handed to the San Antonio Spurs was well deserving and justifiable. What is the NBA? The National Basketball Association is a business. What does the NBA need to thrive? They need an audience, broadcasting partners and sponsors. Where do they get all these components? The NBA gets it from their super star athletes. TNT has carried NBA games since 1988 and extended their deal to nationally televise marquee games until 2017. The NBA will receive $930 million dollars from their broadcasting partners this season. Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban said it best when it comes down to the NBA and business. “The league as a whole gets all of our money from TV,” Cuban said in an interview for SportsDayDFW. “Your biggest customer is your biggest customer. If someone tunes in and doesn’t see the main guys playing and tunes right back out and at the end of the year, if TNT says, if you’d have been .002 higher, we’d hit our marker it would be a bad deal for them.” Any time one of the premier teams in any sport comes into town, the home teams ticket prices increase. When the Spurs came into town the tickets for the 400 level (which is the worst place to view a game from) cost $85, while 100 level tickets ranged from $100-$450+. The game was keyed up for the Spurs Big three (Duncan, Parker and Ginobili) against the Heat’s Big Three (LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade), but in reality the Spurs big three we’re replaced with a mediocre starter and their entire bench. The Nov 29 match-up at Miami also was also the only Spurs Heat showdown at Miami this season Not only did the fans lose a lot of money for a game that should have been priced for mid-tier team (tickets range from $40-$450), but the gamblers world wide lost as the game opened up with the Heat favored by six and shot up to 13 points after the news broke. Even though the fans and television audience (for those who watched) we’re treated to a close 105-100 Heat victory, the ends do not justify the means. Fans don’t go to sporting events to just see a team with no stars. Why do you think ticket prices are so low when a team of nobody’s like the Phoenix Suns, who’s biggest star is Michael Beasley come into town? I guarantee if the Heat we’re 0-26 and still had the “Big Three” playing, the tickets would still be expensive. If the Spurs sat out their stars against the Magic the night before except the nationally televised game it wouldn’t have been an issue. The fans and TNT deserved more from the Spurs. The Spurs violated a league policy “against resting players in manner contrary to the best interests of the NBA,” and should pay the $250,000 without any rebottle.
The Spurs’ decision to rest Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green may negatively impact the NBA, but they must be allowed the right to make such a move. During the Gregg Popovich era in San Antonio, and especially as his team has grown older in the past season, he has been a master of managing the health of his team. The decision to rest four of the team’s most prominent players was one made by the Spurs organization, but there is little doubt “Pop” was a key player in that decision. The goal of any NBA team is to win. However, their goal need not be to win every single game of the season. Unlike the NFL, it is impossible to attempt a perfect season. In the MLB, which has a similarly long season teams are encouraged to rest starters for reasons beyond injury. The Spurs have a proven track record of success in the past seasons, which involves limiting their starters playing time. The move by Stern, essentially condemns a team’s right to manage their team as they see fit. It is a move that is just the latest in series of decisions the NBA commissioner has made that have been frequently described as “draconian.” These rules have gone as far as to dictate the ways players dress and the trades that NBA teams make. Money, not winning, seems to be the main focus of NBA decisions. Had the Spurs not played the Heat in a marquis national broadcast, this would not be an issue. The fact that the Spurs almost won the game in question has to be taken into account. The move was clearly not an attempt to roll over and play dead. Although the Spurs’ best lineup was not on the floor, they were clearly trying to win the game. There are plenty of positives that come from the decision to rest starters. Four players on the bench received quality time, which can only setup the team for success later in the year when depth becomes even more important. No team has any responsibility to the NBA and its commissioner when it comes to team strategy. The NBA has made it clear that it will put more emphasis on money than the success of its franchises. Through this decision the NBA has created precedent for punishing any franchise for nearly any reason. The role of the NBA is not to govern every aspect of league activity. Much like the federal government and state government, the NBA and teams should have separate jurisdiction when it comes to punishment. Teams should be in charge of punishing players with the NBA only acting when punishments are clearly insufficient. Teams must always have authority when it comes to personnel and team strategy decision. If the league had its way every team would run a Mike D’Antoni style offense. If the NBA cares so much about their product they need to speed games up by eliminating the crazy amount of ticky-tack fouls around the basket. Nothing kills a viewer’s watching experience than a borderline foul call on nearly every play. The NBA is a league of teams. It is not a bunch of teams that are responsible to the league. At some point individual teams and players need to stand up for their right as individuals.
Sean McDermott can be contacted at sports@mvccglacier.com.
Connor Reynolds can be contacted at editorinchief@mvccglacier.com.
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THE GLACIER DECEMBER 7, 2012 VOLUME 45, ISSUE 9
ATHLETES OF THE ISSUE Johnnte Shannon Guard Men’s Basketball
By Sean McDermott Sports Editor Johnte Shannon is in his first year as a member of the Moraine Valley Cyclones basketball team. The 6’ 1” guard out of Thornwood High School has already made an immediate impact on the recent success the Cyclones have experienced. Currently the Shannon is averaging 13.2 points per game. He also has the 21st best three-point percentage in the NJCAA Division II with 53.2% (33-62). Shannon’s best game came against Trinity Christian College where he scored 29 points and recorded eight rebounds. Shannon looks to continue his domninant play for the rest of the 2012-13 Cyclones season.
Shaneka Boyd Foward Women’s Basketball
Shaneka Boyd is in her second season as a member of the Moraine Valley Cyclones women’s basketball team. The 5’8’’ forward from Rich South High School has been the essential piece to the Cyclones strong defenseive and offensive play. Coach Delwyn Jones considers Boyd to be one of the most athletic player he has ever coached. “She makes an impact in every game with her speed and mid range shots,” said Jones. Boyd looks to continue her impressive play for the coming months and hopefully get the Cyclones back to their winning ways. Sean McDermott can be contacted at sports@mvccglacier.com.
BASKETBALL | continued from page 12 zone defense has been very effective. We’re not where I want to be, but nine games into the season we have been locking teams down and holding them below their scoring average which is impressive for a first-year team.” Despite a 5-4 record, things are beginning to head in a positive direction for the team. The Cyclones have already played eight road games garnering five victories and have one more road game on Dec 6 at Joliet Junior College before returning home for five consecutive games. “Going on the road for a young team is character building, but it is definitely positive to be coming home,” said Jones. “We will be able to practice at home more and get a feel for the rim which makes it just that much easier to shoot the ball. But just because we are playing at home doesn’t mean we’ll easily get the win.” The Cyclones will be aided in their endeavors as they hope to be getting back Maggie Yandel and Bridget Niemiec from injuries within the next week. “Because of injuries we have only had four players who have played in all nine games this season,” said Jones. “Hope-
fully we can get those early-season injuries out of the way and we’ll be much better off as the season continues.” With a complete team, the Cyclones will be in prime position to begin and sustain an extended winning streak in the upcoming weeks. Frank Gogola can be contacted at googlaf@ student.morainevalley.edu.
BASKETBALL’S NEXT FIVE HOME GAMES
Women Dec. 15 Black Hawk East 2 p.m. Dec. 18 Malcolm X College 5 p.m. Dec. 20 Harper College 5 p.m. Jan. 5 Wright College 2 p.m. Jan. 9 Lincoln College 5:30 p.m. Come support your 2012-13 Cyclones women’s basketball squad on to victory on these dates. We’ll be looking forward to seeing a packed Cyclone Center at all these games.
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Sports
Sean McDermott Sports Editor sports@mvccglacier.com
THE GLACIER DECEMBER 7, 2012 VOLUME 45, ISSUE 9
Cyclones move up to eighth in the polls By Sean McDermott Staff Writer The eighth ranked Cyclones continued to steam roll the competition as they won their three games by an average of 29 points. With nine straight victories the Cyclones seem to have the right stuff to contend for the Region IV title as well as a berth for the NJCAA National Tournament. The Cyclones offensive attack has been the prominent asset to the team so far this season. As a team the Cyclones average an impressive 104 points per game, while giving up 70 points per game. The Cyclones offensive spark can be attributed to 6’7’’ forward Karrington Ward, whose play of late has been just as good as former Cyclone and current NCAA D-I player, Richaun Holmes. Against the Rams of Wilbur Wright College, Ward carried the Cyclones to a 93-75 victory. Ward recorded a doubledouble in the affair with 19 points, 13 boards and two assists. Forward Brett Kaiser followed Ward with 14 points of his own. In what would be All-Amer-
First year Cyclone Kyle Ward drives past Kankakee defenders on Nov. 27. Ward scored five points along with a couple of boards in the 72-62 victory against the Kougars. [Mike Frederiksen] ican Karrington Ward’s best game of the season, the Cyclones battled Trinity Christian College on Dec 3. The Cyclones jumped on the Trolls from the start, going into the second half with
65 points. Although the Cyclones got sloppy in the second half, their first half was enough to blow past the Trolls 118-68. Ward once again had a double-double scoring 32 points and collecting 14 re-
bounds. Nate Robinson-sized Marquell Pierce had the game of his life. Pierce scored 19 points with eight dishes and two blocks, a weird stat for a 5’9’’ guard. Johnte Shannon
contributed to the route with 29 points and eight rebounds. With nine straight wins, the Cyclones have their toughest assignment ahead of them, when the Cyclones take on the number one ranked Mott Bears out of Flint, Michigan. The Bears have won four NJCAA National Championship Titles in Basketball, winning in 2003, 2007, 2008 and last year. Mott Community College has established itself as one of the premier community college programs in the country. This top ten match up also pits the NJCAA Hall of Fame Mott Bears head coach, Steve Schmidt (573-124) against the up and coming Moraine Valley Cyclone head coach, Dedrick Shannon. Expect the Cyclones to come out looking to end Mott’s impressive home winning streak in which has lasted for 10 years. This game should be an eye opener to see if the Cyclones are the new team to beat in the NJCAA Division II or if they have some work to do heading into the later part of the 2012-13 season. Sean McDermott can be contacted at sports@mvccglacier.com.
Women starting to pick up their play By Frank Gogola Staff Writer
Cyclones leading scorer Kelly Foley dribbles up the middle against Kankakee defenders. Foley scored 17 points in the match-up but the Cyclones fell 67-52. [Mike Frederiksen]
As the fall semester draws to a close at Moraine Valley, things are beginning to look up for coach Delwyn Jones and the women’s basketball team. Following a 3-2 start to the season, the Cyclones split their last four road games with bookend victories. The Cyclones took down the eighth ranked College of DuPage Chaparrals 57-55 on Nov. 27 before falling to the Trinity International University Cougars on Nov 29 giving up a season-high 76 points in a 7666 loss. On Dec. 1 the Cyclones experienced their first two-game losing streak falling 49-48 to the Highland Community College Cougars in the first game of the Black Hawk East
Tournament. The Cyclones got back to their winning ways in the second game of the tournament with a 57-52 victory over the Black Hawk East Warriors on Dec. 2. “We are content at 5-4, but we feel we should have won the Highland game,” said Jones. “We have a lot of first year players and I am impressed with the approach they are taking towards games this season.” The Cyclones early season success has stemmed in part from the great play of leading scorer Kelly Foley and leading rebounder Jamilla Jones, but the defense has carried the team every game. “We have a few individual players who can score at will, but as a team we have had problems being consistent on offense,” said Jones. “Our BASKETBALL| page 11
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Social
Kevin Coyne Features Editor social@mvccglacier.com
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Moraine students run for U.S. Senate By Kevin M. Coyne Features Editor A political science class at Moraine is learning about running for Senate. In light of the November election, guiding a class through a mock Senatorial election is a unique approach to teaching the election process. Dr. Deron Schreck is leading his political science class through the Senatorial election process. From campaign slogans, debates, and speeches to a formal voting process. Students in the course are required to research the election process and create speeches, slogans, campaign ads, and prepare for formal debates. Each student in the class is required to take stances on certain issues and solidify their position with facts instead of opinions. “Too often, political scientists offer their opinions or ideological perspectives to their students and subsequently those opinions as facts,” said
Dr. Schreck. By creating a mock Senatorial election, students are able to learn about appealing to a group, defending their position and ensuring that they’ve done due diligence when asked to defend their positions. “The mock election is a great idea. We are able to learn about the Senatorial elections in the United States and we are forced to research different positions,” said Moraine student, Phillip Bianco. “This is a really fun process and helps students to become more engaged in politics.” Dr. Schreck created the mock debate to get students more engaged in the election process and to teach students about the different elections. Throughout the U.S. there are thousands of elections, from the Senate, Congress, the Presidential elections to local state, city, municipal, and mayoral elections. “My goal is to get students active in politics,” said Dr. Schreck. As an associate professor of political
science, Dr. Schreck is required to teach about politics in the United States and aboard. Dr. Schreck is able to discuss the elections in the United States and tie in global issues by creating a mock election. By creating this mock election, Dr. Schreck is allowing for his students to explore their Students debate during their class project, which is a mock academic excellence, election. [Donna Cameli] social responsibility and creative expression, which are the This is an outstanding way to entice three pillars that uphold a private Mas- students to learn about political issues sachusetts college. in the U.S. and internationally. “My job is not to offer students my “When we began the mock elecopinions on politics, but to teach them tion students appeared to be more how government and politics work in engaged and seemed to gain a better the United States,” said Dr. Schreck. understanding of politics in the United At the end of the mock election, stu- States,” said Bianco. dents will vote for the best candidates and they will be elected to the Moraine Kevin M. Coyne can be contacted at soValley political science class Senate. cial@mvccglacier.com.
‘Music and More’ at holiday show By Joshua Johnson Staff Writer With holidays coming into full swing, nothing feels better then some nice holiday music. And if you enjoy a nice tune, then nothing is better then the Moraine Valley concert band. On Sunday Dec. 2, the Moraine Valley Concert Band held their Christmas Music And More Concert. The event lasted from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. and was held in the Dorothy Menker Theater. This event featured a variety of holiday and winter themed music. The theater was not packed, but it had a decent sized crowd. Radio broadcaster Joe Collins hosted the concert. Collins has been in radio for over 20-years and has been master of ceremonies for many important events. They had some good variety of music including Sleigh Bells and a melody from Harry Potter! It was very cheerful and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Conductor Doug Bratt was very majestic in his directing of the concert. The concert was split into sections. The first section started at 3 p.m. and lasted until about 4 p.m. After that there was a brief 15-minute intermission. The first half ended with a piece form “Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets.” This was a beautiful piece. During the intermission the concert band members went relax before the rest of their performance. They ap-
Douglass Bratt led the Moraine Valley Concert Band in performing various Christmas and holiday themed songs to bring out the festive spirit in audience members. [Michael Fredericksen] peared relaxed and many were excited about preforming the second half. Trumpet player Erica Sinnot was very enthusiastic “Despite being at Moraine so long, this is my first year in the band. I had so much fun getting back on stage and doing something I loved. Some of my favorite pieces were ‘Music for a Darkened Theater,’ ‘Scootin’ on Hardrock,” and the Christmas songs.’ After the intermission the mood seemed to be more relaxed. The atmosphere was a quiet sort of majesty. The audience seemed to enjoy each and ev-
ery songs selection played. Also, Bratt encouraged the audience to suggest songs for the concerts bands audience -favorite concert this upcoming spring. Some of the favorite pieces for the audience were “The Three Christmases,” “Winters Night” and “October.” The array and tones of the music helped provide a quality to the music that was at times surreal and at other times whimsical. The last song was the biggest enjoyment of the whole night. After it was finished the crowd clapped for five
minutes straight. An encore was given in which the band preformed “Sleigh Bells.” By the end everyone was pleased with the concert. Stephanie Renfrow, percussionist and Music Club president had this to say.“ I felt the concert went amazing. We played our best and I felt the people enjoyed it. I am happy to be a part of this amazing group.” Overall the concert was a great success. Joshua Johnson can be contacted at johnsonj758@student.morainevalley.edu.
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MVCC alumnus takes the next step By Anne Parker Editorial Assistant Shannon Martin Aherne, a former classified ads manager for The Glacier, has found a new inspiration as a paraprofessional. Aherne attended Moraine Valley sporadically throughout five years. She received her A.S. in communications and a meeting planner certificate from Moraine Valley. Aherne is a full-time paraprofessional substitute teacher for the Orland Park school district, working with children who are considered to have extreme special needs. “Their disabilities range from birth defects to autism. They are truly awesome kids,” said Aherne. “Each child is learning skills from name recognition, sight word recognition, colors, and numbers. What I enjoy most about my job is the ability to make a difference in the lives of children who struggle with disabilities. My goal is to try to make their day
a little brighter.” Aherne finds that a great advantage to working in the school district is that she can spend time with her own children; Michael, 19; Ashlynn, 14; and Ciara, 10. “My job allows me to be home around the same time as my kids,” explained Aherne. “I’m also off on the same holidays.” Moraine Valley was ideal for Aherne to achieve a college education because of the proximity to her home and the great reputation of the College. “My children were younger when I chose to go to college and it was important to me to be close to home,” she said. “The childcare center at Moraine Valley was a huge and greatly appreciated asset. I wouldn’t have been able to graduate when I did if it wasn’t for the childcare department.” While Shannon has currently been following a different career path, working for The Glacier was important to her. While attending Moraine Valley,
Aherne took a few journalism classes where she was introduced to The Glacier, where she soon took responsibility for all of the classified department placements. “I was mainly responsible for generating revenue for the newspaper by acquiring placement ads for the paper as well as listings for the classified ads,” explained Aherne. “I was also responsible for the layout of the paper, billing for the ads, and making cold calls to individuals to get them to advertise with The Glacier.” With all new experiences, working on The Glacier provided Aherne practice for future opportunities. “The Glacier enabled me to meet many new people both academically and professionally,” Aherne recalled. “The Glacier helped to strengthen my ability to work within time guidelines as well as conquering my lack of desire to talk to people I didn’t know.” Since her work on The Glacier, Aherne has been able to look back on
friendships made and the camaraderie from working with a team. “It was an absolute privilege to be a part of something so great,” recalled Aherne. “I would highly encourage anyone to spend time with The Glacier staff. It Glacier alumnus, Shanallows many op- non Martin Aherne, portunities to works with special sharpen writing needs children in Orskills, and gain land Park. [Shannon experience for Aherne] the future and develop new friendships.” Anne Parker can be contacted at parkera3@student.morainevalley.edu.
International students; hello stranger get to appreciate the gem in us, and through it we create bonds that we forever cherish and keep. It was a cold foggy morning on Nov. 21, the day the group left Moraine to join the International Thanksgiving Host Family Program hosted by the International House of Chicago through the International Affairs Office of Moraine Valley Community College. Moraine Valley sent six international students to the event: Đe Kieu Thanh Diem (Vietnam), Anh Nguyen (Vietnam), Phuc Students above spent four days living at a host Tran (Vietnam), Linda Dembe (Refamily’s home. [Hannah Quijano] public of Congo), Akane Murao (Japan) and yours truly Hannah By Hannah M. Quijano Quijano (Philippines) joined this Staff Writer prestigious program which happened last Nov. 21-25, in the small towns Don’t talk to strangers. Sounds Fa- of Illinois namely, Geneseo, Morrimiliar? For sure most of us have heard son, Paris, Prophetstown, Rockford, it somewhere. Maybe because strang- and Sterling-Rock Falls. The Interers are strange people derive from the national Thanksgiving Program was root word strange? Or maybe they are founded in 1956 by Trudy Trogdon different creatures in this world, an of Paris, Illinois and has been implealien, a foreigner, and a person not mented for over the last 56-years. akin to yours or mine? The group was scheduled to go to the But, is it also true that before we different towns of Illinois, Đe Kieu became acquainted and ended up even Thanh Diem (Vietnam), Anh Nguyen lovers, or us friends we once didn’t (Vietnam), Phuc Tran (Vietnam), and know each other. Is it in the stranger Akane Murao (Japan) went to Paris in us that connects us to be able to live Illinois, Linda Dembe (Republic of in this world together? Congo) went to Geneseo Illinois and Diversity is the only thing we yours truly went to Morrison Illinois have in common, a quote from an through the Lindstrom family. It was anonymous writer, which is found a very brief introduction that didn’t on the wall of the L Building at Mo- even last for five minutes. They then raine. Indeed, in our differences we brought me to their house, which is
Students pictured were welcomed into stranger’s homes and were able to learn more about members of the local community. [Hannah Quijano]
just 2 minutes away from the place where they picked me up. The experience of opening someone’s house to a stranger provided a sense of acceptance and a different perspective of a typical American family. The four days in their house was a blast and you will never feel you are different, rather a part of the family. The family gave so much understanding of the American Culture despite its diversities. Thanksgiving Holiday with them was another thing that every International Student would enjoy, not only because of the Turkey and the food they served but because of hospitality the family has shared. It is also another way to share the culture that we have and be able to introduce to the
American Family how our culture differs to theirs and how it is unique. It was just four days but it felt it’s been four wonderful years. Happiness is even an understatement to describe it. You were once a stranger, they were once unknown but now a family has been found and are forever to keep and remember. Moraine Valley Community College through the International Student Affairs has done a great job in partnering with such program. It was an experience that every International student would love to experience while living here in the United States of America. Hello Strangers! Hannah Quijano can be contacted at quijanoh@student.morainevalley.edu.
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THE GLACIER DECEMBER 7, 2012 VOLUME 45, ISSUE 9
Speech team takes home gold, again
Moraine Valley Community College’s speech team took first place at the 2012 College of Lake County Solar Solstice Tournament. MVCC’s specch team has won two tournaments this year and plans to take the next tournament by storm. [Provided]
By Kevin M. Coyne Features Editor Since early July, the MVCC speech team has prepared for the 2012 season. Undoubtedly, their work has paid off and brought
some hardware back to Moraine. At the start of the season, the speech team was crowned champions of the 2012 Skyway Conference. Although Moraine placed third, the team took the 2012 ICC Fright Fest Speech and Debate Tournament by storm after
having multiple individual awards. Most recently, the speech team took home yet another gold medal at the 2012 College of Lake County Solar Solstice Tournament. Throughout November the speech team has performed on campus, both to sharpen their skills and to showcase their outstanding talents for Moraine students. At the 2012 College of Lake County Solar Solstice Tournament, Moraine placed first above Harper College and third College of DuPage. Moraine had numerous students place in the individual awards. In total there were 11 categories or separate segments of the competition. In individual sweeps, placing first was, Onute Jureviciute (Palos Heights) and taking second place was Liz Salim (Orland Park). In communication analysis, taking first place was Lauren Smith (Alsip), in fourth, fifth and sixth place were, Tom Murphy (Oak Lawn), Ann Cheng (Chicago), and Angelika Krizka. In program of oral interpretation, placing second was Liz Salim, in fifth and sixth place were, Lauren Smith and Samm Hilger (Worth). In dramatic interpretation, Onute Jureviciute placed third, Tom Murphy placed fourth, and placing sixth was Brett Kirivich (Orland Park). In interviewing, placing second was Onute Jureviciute, placing third was Liz Salim, and placing sixth was Joy Lowery (Evergreen Park). In the duo portion of the competition, placing third was Lauren Smith and Brett Kirivich, in fourth place were Onute Jureviciute and Samm Hilger, and in sixth place were Luke
Langlois (Alsip) and Talia Rekosh. In prose, placing third was Samm Hilger and in fifth place was Justina Pauplyte (Orland Hills). In speech to entertain, placing third was Luke Langlois. In persuasion, placing fifth was Angelica Krizka. In informative, placing sixth was Luke Langlois. Lastly in poetry, placing sixth was Angelica Krizka. Speech team captains are Brett Krivich and Lauren Smith. MVCC speech team is coached by John Nash and Amanda Pettigrew. Check out Moraine’s website for more information regarding tournaments and performances. This year, the Moraine Valley speech team performed for Moraine students. The performance helps raise money for the team for their various tournaments. Last year the Moraine Valley speech team place in various tournaments. During the 2011 season, Moraine Valley took first place at the Skyway Conference Tournament. Also, in 2011, the Moraine Valley speech team took 3rd place in the Illinois Central College Tournament. At the start of last season, the speech team took first place at the Kishwaukee College Tournament. After a successful season last year and a great start to this season, Moraine Valley is hoping to continue their rampage against the competition. With the strongest team in years, the speech team is expected to keep rolling through the competition and have a repeat victory at the Skyway Conference Tournament. Kevin M. Coyne can be contacted at social@mvccglacier.com.
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THE GLACIER DECEMBER 7, 2012 VOLUME 45, ISSUE 9
Young voters swayed since 2008
By Kevin M. Coyne Features Editor In 2008, most of the young voters ages 18-25 took to the polls and punched the blue ticket. Since 2008 those same voters were dissuaded from making the same decision. According to a press release, published by Luna Media Group, the demographics for which President Obama received votes have changed since his first election. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), in the past election 98% of young black women voted for Obama, 41% of young white men voted for Obama, and there were many indications that some groups are either dissatisfied or angry with Obama. According to the press release, most young white men who voted for Obama in the 2008 election are either dissatisfied or angry with Obama. In addition, young Hispanic women were detailed as the most liberal of groups during the 2012 election. In a second study, CIRCLE and Tufts University released the follow-
ing statements: Young Black and Hispanic women provided the strongest support for President Obama. A majority admired him, much as they did in 2008. Young Hispanic women voters were the most liberal of all groups. Compared to older Hispanic voters, they were more liberal and less likely to be religious. Women voters were more liberal and supportive of President Obama than their male counterparts of the same race/ethnicity. Women also considered President Obama’s response to Hurricane Sandy an important factor in deciding their votes. Young White women, the most influential youth constituency because of their size and turnout, were split in half on many issues that challenge our nation, including their choice for president, their view of the government, and abortion. Young White men, as a group, held a quite different view of the President, the role of the government, and how to move forward with immigration reform than all the other groups. They were unhappy with the way the economy was, and wanted Governor Romney to improve the economy. Young Hispanic men cast 9% of the youth vote, up from 6% in
2008. Among the minority groups, they were most likely to affiliate with the Republican Party or consider themselves independents, but two-thirds of them voted for President Obama. Young Black men voters were somewhat more conservative and younger in 2012 than in 2008. Young Black men voters were less excited about President Obama than Black women voters in 2008, and the voters in 2012 were more likely to identify as Republicans and Independents than they did in 2008. Although a majority of Black men voters supported President Obama again, a larger portion of them voted for the Republican candidate this year than the same group did in 2008. Young White women’s influence in the
youth electorate has decreased since 2008, while Hispanic influence has increased: 42% of young voters were persons of color – and for the first time, the Hispanic vote share surpassed the Black vote share. In 2008, the Hispanic youth vote was 14% of the youth electorate. This year, it increased to 18%. Asian-American voters now represented five percent of the youth vote. Male voters were generally more conservative and less supportive of President Obama. Among male voters, the most notable trend was a decrease in support for President Obama among young Black men since 2008. Young voters were generally supportive of abortion and same-sex marriage regardless of gender and race. At the conclusion of the 2012 election, President Obama was able to procure the presidency, namely due to his support from young voters and the support of all different genders and races. To find more information or read the press release, visit civicyouth.com. Kevin M. Coyne can be contacted at social@mvccglacier.com.
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THE GLACIER DECEMBER 7, 2012 VOLUME 45, ISSUE 9
Frostbite dance helps charity By Kevin M. Coyne Features Editor On Friday, Dec. 14, students will dress to impress and hit the dance floor for a local charity. Sponsored by the Asian Diversity Club and Women Empowerment, the Frostbite Dance will raise funds for a local charity that provides shelter for women and chil-
dren in the Chicagoland area. Heat House is a local charity that will be the beneficiary of proceeds from the Frostbite Dance. Students must be older than 17-years-old to attend the dance and are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance from the Student Life Office for $5 a piece. Students are able to purchase tickets at the door at $6 a piece. Located at Moraine Valley, the Frostbite Dance will feature a
DJ, live entertainment, and performances from 24k, and, Xclusive Dance Team. Frostbite Dance will run from 7:30 p.m. until midnight. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Student Life Office, located in the U Building, Rm. U115.
Kevin M. Coyne can be contacted at social@ mvccglacier.com.
STUDENT CLUBS 24 Karat Dance Team Contact Adrienne Stewart at 974-5478. Action, Social & Political Empowerment Contact Anette D’Silva at 974-4023. Alliance of African American Students Contact Alex Elvira at 974-5487. Alliance of Latin American Students Contact Alex Elvira at 974-5487. Anime Club Call 974-5717. Arab Student Union Contact Nina Shoman-Dajani at 608-4349. Art Club Contact Tyler Hewitt at 974-5219. Artistic Metal-Working Contact James Greer at 974-5423. Asian Diversity Contact Wenney Tse at 974-5797. Bass Fishing Contact Rhett Wheeler at 974-4262. College Bowl Contact Ted Powers at 608-4177. Combat to College Contact Jeremy Kingery at 608-4068. Criminal Justice Club Contact Michelle Furlow at 974-5723. Culinary Arts & Hospitality Club Contact Michael O’Shea at 974-5597. Cyber Security Club Contact Kathleen Hanratty in T520. Cyclone Spinners Contact Maura Vizza at 974-5742. Drama Club Contact Craig Rosen at 974-5432. Down To Dance Contact Cheryl Powers-Rojak in G200. Filmmaker’s Club Contact Dan Pal at (630) 942-2800. Forensics Contact Mike Shannon at 608-4047. Freethought Society Contact Tyler Hewitt at 974-5219. Gay, Lesbian Or Whatever Contact Martha Mazeika, at 608-4320. Glacier Contact Ted Powers 608-4177. Green Club Contact Stephanie Presseller at 974-5412. International Women’s Club Contact Anette D’Silva at 974-4023. International Conversation Partners Contact Elizabeth Boucek at 974-5427. K-Fu Club Contact Courtney Reese at 974-4067. Mastadon Contact Ted Powers at 608-4177. Meeting, Planning, and Travel Club Contact Mary Beth Walsh at 974-5569. Music Club Contact Tammi Carlson at 974-5636. Muslim Student Association Contact Demetrius Robinson at 974-5353. Operation Snowball- Blizzard Edition Contact Mary Vicich at 974-5418. Peers Educating Peers Contact Klaudia Mallett at 974-5722. Phi Theta Kappa/ Honors Organization Contact Demetrius Robinson at 974-5353. Psychology Club Contact Mitch Baker at (708) 608-4058. Recreation Interdisciplinary Strategy Club Contact Teresa Hannon at 608-4193. Recreation Management/ Recreation Therapy Contact Donna McCauley at 974-5227. Rock Solid Ministry Contact Michael Shannon at (708) 608-4047. Science Club Contact Keith Nabb at 974-5592. Student of Honors (S.H.A.R.P) Contact Ryan Nagle at 974-5679. Ski Club Contact Michael Wade at 974-5594. Student Ambassador Program Contact Alicea Toso at 974-5356. Ultimate Frisbee Contact Jessica Crotty at 974-5281. Women Empowerment Contact Dawn Fry at 974-5717. Xclusive Contact Demetrius Robinson at (708) 974-5353.
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THE GLACIER DECEMBER 7, 2012 VOLUME 45, ISSUE 9
2012 Skyway; the sky’s the limit By Joshua Johnson Staff Writer
Creativity is abound at the Skyway Writer’s Festival, where the art of words is truly shown to its fullest and where people get together to share their creative spirit. On Thursday Nov. 29 the annual Skyway Writers Festival was held at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois. This festival is part of a regional competition between the eight colleges in the Ill. Skyway Collegiate Conference. Writers submit their writing to their local college and the local winners in each category get invited to the regional level at Skyway. There were four judges, one for each category, who select winners for the regional level. Winners at the regional level will be part of the national competition. The event started with open registration and sign up for the open mic. There was a buffet-style dinner served before the start of main events. Refreshments were provided to contestants. About five students from Moraine Valley Community College attended this event. The most entertaining part of the event was the open microphone, which
was part of the competition. The manger of Student Life at the College of Lake County hosted the open microphone portion of the competition. Many people participated and it was the favorite part of the night for attendees. Four people from Moraine Valley participated in the open microphone portion. After the open microphone, there were two sessions of writing workshops. There were four different concurrent sessions, including short fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and drama. The judge assigned to that specific style of writing hosted each session. The keynote address was given by Jian Ping, who wrote her own story and whose book has been developed into an award winning documentary. Ping talked about her journey in life and the importance of writing and sharing ones voice through literature. The main highlight of the event was the award ceremony. All of the winners were announced and most categories had honorable mentions. Every participant received a participation award. The most exciting happening of the night was when Moraine Valley student, Luis Jimenez won first place in the drama
competition. them. All in all it was a very satisfying “I was very shocked when I was pre- event and we at Moraine Valley look forsented with the award for best drama,” ward to returning in the future. said Jimenez. “My heart couldn’t stop pounding. It was so exciting to have my Joshua Johnson can be contacted at johnfirst written play get noticed and I feel sonj758@student.morainevalley.edu. absolutely honored for receiving this award. It just goes to show that hard work always pays off and as long as you have patience, perseverance, and determination along with some fate great things will happen.” “I like to thank my family and friends who have always believed in me and supported me every step of the way and this award is for all the people at the Moraine Valley Theater Department, especially my Theater teachers Dr. Craig Rosen and Mr. Dan Scott for inspiring me to get involved in Theater and now it’s become one of my greatest passions and passion is what drives me to continue on to write more future plays. We are the best Community Theater around hands down,” Jimenez continued. The festival concluded with a book signing by the judges. You could also buy some of their works and many also Moraine students attended the 2012 Skyallowed attendees to take photos with way Writing Competition. [Erica Sinnott]
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Entertainment
Fallon Sweeney Entertainment Editor entertainment@mvccglacier.com
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Jazz takes on classic Christmas favorites By Fallon Sweeney Entertainment Editor Few holiday song covers can put audience members of all ages into the holiday spirit quite like jazz can. Moraine Valley Community College’s Jazz Ensemble performed holiday favorites, as well as a few jazz numbers of course, at their annual holiday concert. Director Douglass Bratt and his jazz ensemble were assisted by the talents of Doug Sharf, a big band trumpet player from the Chicago area, Mona Jethmalani, a skilled vocalist and local talent, and Tim Burns, Moraine Valley’s Jazz combo director. Audience members ranged in all age groups, from the very small to the very old, many in festive garb to celebrate the coming holiday season. The evening began with a short performance by a few select members of the ensemble, including Douglass Bratt on drums and director Tim Burns on electric bass guitar. Ensemble members such as Rochelle Jester, on the saxophone, were afforded solo opportunities during
Carl Coan shows his skill in the ways of alto saxophone with a showstopping solo which brought a roaring round of applause from the audience. [Erica Sinnot] the opening performance. Audience members were encouraged to applaud if they enjoyed what they heard; not a single solo finished without applause. After the opening performance, an intermission was taken before the entire ensemble took the stage. They kicked off the evening with “Not Yet Over The Hill” by Mark Taylor. The
rhythm was upbeat and exciting, the perfect tune to start off a night of festivity. Next, the ensemble played “Bags Groove” which featured a rousing solo by the talented Carl Coan on the alto saxophone. Local talent Mona Jethmalani lent her vocals to the ensembles rendition
of “Santa Baby” written by Joan Jacits, Philip Springer, and Tony Springer. Her sultry vocals and the jazzy new feel to the song kept the audiences attention and applause in full supply. The most enticing song of the evening, in my humble opinion, would have to have been “Caravan” by Jual Tizol. The tune is upbeat and exciting with the big band feel that Bratt and his ensemble have mastered so well. The mixture of brass and percussion blends together into a trifecta of sound that most audience members couldn’t help but bob their heads to. The ensemble brought the evening to a festive close with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” which featured the sultry vocals of Mona Jethmalani. The last song they performed was the ever appropriate “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by Haven Fillespie and J. Fred Coots, which put the ensemble and the audience members into the holiday spirit. Fallon Sweeney can be contacted at entertainment@mvccglacier.com.
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THE GLACIER DECEMBER 7, 2012 VOLUME 45, ISSUE 9
Chorus rings in the The return of Ke$ha holiday with spirit By Kevin Quin Staff Writer
The 14 member Moraine Valley Chorale presented their fifteenth annual Christmas concert offering seasonal favorites and festive classics. [Michael Fredericksen] By Dimka Atanassova Staff Writer The fifteenth edition of Moraine’s Merry Christmas Music concert marked its traditional success and brought cheer, excitement and popularity to the south side’s cultural venue. No other academic performances have reached such box office success, community support and audience appreciation. It was a sold-out event a month before the date. Special guests at the festive occasion were MV’s present and former college presidents, Dr. Sylvia M. Jenkins and Dr. Vernon O. Crawley; Wally Fronzcek, Dean of Liberal Arts; and Egon and Dorothy Menker. Moraine’s very own collegiate choirs, Chorale and Chamber Singers, under the exclusive baton of Nicholas Thomas, Music Director, performed 21 bright, high spirited selections for a spectacular Christmas extravaganza. The combined choirs’ festive program openers, “Its Christmas… Again!” and “Everywhere Christmas Tonight” cantata were uplifting and joyful Christmas cards of sound. The program glided into the holiday spirit with the Chorale’s rendition of “Joy to the World” based on George Handel’s “Morning Star” cantata, a finely arranged tapestry by Joseph Martin. The joyous theme continued with the German carol “How Great Our Joy” with colorful key changes, which the Chorale expressively reminisced. Two powerful anthems of praise, “Sing Gloria” and “Hodie Christus Natus Est” lyrics, are inspired by Luke 2:11-14. The Chorale’s opulent sopranos blended majestically with all vocals permeating the glorious, fanfare style sounds of “In Excelsis Deo” iterations and imbuing emotional nuances. In “Hodie,” the 66-member Chorale unleashed their tour de force and vocal expertise and exultantly heralded Christ’s birth in Latin and English.
The Chorale’s showstoppers were “No Time to Diet,” a novelty piece with 1920’s-style harmonies and laughable verses and the traditional Burgundian carol with a salsa groove, “Pat-a- Pan.” Their percussive articulation and vocal projection were precise and engaging. The Chamber Singers’ 8 medleys piped throughout layered vocal themes in merry measure. Donned with spiral Santa’s hats, the 14-member choir harnessed their youthful enthusiasm and sang with the season’s excitement. Their stand-outs were “Soulful Silent Night” based on Franz Gruber’s iconic song, “Silent Night, Holy Night;” “Believe” from the movie “Polar Express;” “Calypso Lullaby,” a West Indian buoyant carol, and “We Wish you a Jazzy Christmas” medley. The students maintained vocal balance and tone quality and kept up with various rhythms. At the finale, they joined artistic endeavors with the Chorale in “A Charlie Brown Christmas” jazz rendition and in an audience sing-along “Jingle All the Way” medley. The combined choirs’ hearty merrymaking reached its crescendo and was applauded with a standing ovation. Thomas regaled the fans with “Perfect Christmas Night” from the movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” It is a fact that the audience anticipated Thomas’s spirited selections and no less his entertaining wit to induce laughter. He proved over the years that he is adept at directing two choirs, orchestra and piano accompanists, Beverly Holt and Angela Yang, backing up tenor parts, changing numerous humorous hats with glittering garlands and funny logo t-shirts, props, etc. The Merry Christmas Music concert epitomized the true meaning of ‘the reason for the season.’ Dimka Atanassova can be contacted at dimka68@yahoo.com.
Jack Daniels, a horrible fashion sense, and excessive amounts of auto tune are a few things that come to mind when people think of Ke$ha. Having sold over 14 million copies of the culturally iconic yet cheesy party anthem, “TiK ToK”, music critics were quick to write the self-proclaimed wild child off as a one hit wonder. On “Warrior,” the party princess’ second full-length album, Ke$ha proves there’s more to her than meets the eye. Known for her distinctive sing-talk vocal style and raunchy lyrics, the singer-songwriter manages to keep the same irreverence from her first album present while at the same time appearing more serious about her craft. “On this record I wanted to maintain what I believe is who I am -- wild, filthymouthed, and very honest -- but at the same time, address the changes in my life”, Ke$ha stated in a recent interview with Rolling Stone. “I wanted to bring the music I listened to offstage into my music.” One thing that can definitely be noted about Warrior is the lack of auto tune and vocal processing. “Wonderland”, a nostalgic ballad about Ke$ha’s youth, and “Love Into The Light”, a dreamy mid-tempo song about acceptance, both sound very raw and stripped down. With these songs being
more vulnerable and showing a softer side
of Ke$ha, music snobs can finally put their pre-conceived notions about the party girl to rest. Not to be fooled by the sappy ballads, there are still fierce electronic dance tracks oozing with Ke$ha’s typical trashy lyrics about consuming copious amounts of alcohol and other substances. “Crazy Kids”, a club banger produced by will.i.am. Another notable song on “Warrior” is the high-energy rock track titled “Dirty Love” in which Ke$ha teams up with childhood idol Iggy Pop. Other collaborations on the album include Ben Folds, Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips, and Patrick Carney from The Black Keys. These collaborators are what give “Warrior” a rock edge while the album remains pop in nature. The ability to be versatile in the music industry will definitely give an artist the upper hand, and Ke$ha successfully demonstrates her versatility on “Warrior.” It accurately portrays the grungy, sleazy party animal we hate to love all the while showing that beneath that layer of last night’s makeup and filth, there’s actually substance to the reckless Tennessee native. Hate it or love it, Ke$ha is here to stay. Kevin Quin can be contacted at quink@student.morainevalley.edu.
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THE GLACIER DECEMBER 7, 2012 VOLUME 45, ISSUE 9
The real story behind ‘Al Capone’
“Uncle Al Capone” is the personal memoir of Deirdre Capone’s beloved uncle Al, a man known infamously throughout American history for his choices. [Deirdre Capone] By Fallon Sweeney Entertainment Editor Deirdre Capone tells the true story
of one of American history’s most infamous men, Al Capone, in her book “Uncle Al Capone.” Deirdre Capon provides an entirely
fresh perspective by providing insight into her childhood and her personal bond with her uncle. With a perspective that only a family member could achieve, Deirdre invites readers into her own past, before the pain of prejudice and judgment at the mere sound of the Capone name. Readers are brought back to the Capone family’s roots. Al Capone’s own history is exposed; exposing the reasons behind the choices he made making his name for himself. This is an up close glimpse of the life behind the stigmatized family name which rose from the roots of Italian immigrants. Capone, his father, and his brother found work wherever it was readily available. As the years passed, finances became available in more devious ways as the Prohibition came into play in American history. A bootleg business was born out of a demand that rose to near necessity. People of all backgrounds and positions came calling as customers of alcohol bootlegging. Police officers, nurses, schoolteachers, politicians and housewives were members of their customer demand. Deirdre Capone shares anecdotes of her own childhood involving her Uncle Capone, before his history came into light, when his reputation was a mirage laying in wait for her future to find. Warm feelings are recalled from time spent in her uncle’s lap, listening to family stories through the perspective of a small child before that perception could be stained. How anyone could help but be biased, at least slightly, by such a familiar bond formed so early in life is beyond me – history aside. “Uncle Al Capone” is a one-of-a-kind
biography written about a man known by so many, who has lived on in infamy and mystique for years. Deirdre shares her own experiences of prejudice experienced throughout her lifetime. Carrying the weighty Capone name brought with it demons from the past. Prejudices based on a name, which was earned through birth arose. Starting at a young age, she was haunted by the weight carried with the name, Deirdre found doubt, prejudice and suspicion from coworkers, friends and employers. Proving to be more of a hindrance and curse passed down from one generation to the next. Deirdre Capone tells the story of losing her job after her employer’s realization of her true last name. The challenge of the Capone family name met something close to resolution in Deirdre Capone’s life when she met and married her husband. Years later, Deirdre was faced with the challenging decision of what to tell her children who had lived under their father’s name, never knowing the truth. So detailed in description, Deirdre Capone brings readers into her home through her explanation of this confrontation. The conversation proved to be more than a minor ordeal, but upon telling her children her fears were put to rest. Her children expressed curiosity bordering on excitement. The truth she had feared to expose for so long was met with enthusiasm and a healthy curiosity about their family roots, especially concerning their Uncle Al Capone – a name they had learned about at school, read about in textbooks, and heard about on television. Their acceptance and lack of shame fueled Deirdre’s desire to put her uncle’s truth to paper for the world to see, once and for all. She found she could overcome the burdensome weight of her family’s history through a heartfelt memoir of a man who impacted the lives of thousands. Though no excuse can be made for the actions made by the near legendary man, a new perspective is offered to the willing listener, providing the opportunity for knowledge on such controversial chapters in American history. “My Uncle Capone” is the story of a man just as human as the rest of us. Though not a man of typical taste or following, the obvious bond with those who lived around him speaks volumes towards the true character of the man behind the history. Fallon Sweeney can be contacted at entertainment@mvccglacier.com.
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Lamb of God rocks the Congress Theater across seas and now is currently back in the United States. During this tour Randy Blythe, vocalist of Lamb of God, was incarcerated in the Czech Republic under the accusation of manslaughter (an incident that reportedly happened over 2 years ago). Originally Lamb of God was supposed to coChad Gray from Hellyeah belts out their signature hard vocals headline with Dethto the delight of all the metal fans present. [Stephanie Oster] klok, with Gojira as the opening act. But By Stephanie Oster due to Randy’s incarceration, that tour Staff Writer was cancelled. After the short cancellation of dates Lamb of God announced Lamb of God, In Flames, and Hellyeah the new tour dates. These new dates shake Chicago. After a minor interrup- featured Sylosis, Hellyeah, In Flames, tion, the Resolution Tour is back on and of course Lamb of God schedule and better than ever. On Friday, Nov. 30, the Resolution The Resolution Tour is the current tour came to Chicago at the Congress Lamb of God tour featuring songs off Theater. The audience was packed from their new album titled “Resolution.” The side to side, top to bottom. tour began in January of this year startThis tour is one of the biggest metal ing in North America; the tour went tours this year; it had high expecta-
tions. Sylosis was the opening band, a fairly new thrash metal/metalcore band which arrived on the scene in 2008. However Sylosis didn’t have the best stage presence, they seemed stiff and mechanical. Overall, their set and their music was really impressive. Hellyeah was the second band to perform. Their striking similarity to Pantera revved up the crowd and got them moving. Hellyeah is an American heavy metal band whose members were in previous metal bands. Chad Gray and Greg Tribbett were original members of Mudvayne, Tom Maxwell was an original member of Nothingface, and Vinnie Paul (Pantera’s drummer) and Bob Zilla were original members of Damage Plan. In Flames went on stage after Hellyeah and when they got on stage, the pounding bass shook the crowd that immediately went crazy. In Flames is a melodic death metal band from Sweden. In Flames’ set focused mostly on their newer albums but did feature some of their old stuff. Their stage presence is what impressed me most; you can see how much chemistry the band has with each other. Anders, In Flames’ vocalist, grabbed an au-
dience member’s cellphone and started taking photos then gave it back. Their lights were so bright and blinding, yet so fitting for their clean sounding distortion. Finally, Lamb of God came on stage. Their set began with a 2-minute drum solo by Chris Adler and then they played two songs from their newest album. The rest of their set had songs from their studio albums. They played new songs as well as their classics. Lamb of God’s high-energy performance had the crowd going ballistic; there was so much crowd surfing, mosh pits, fights breaking out, and I saw so many people that were injured quite badly during the show. Randy Blythe wore his infamous ‘Creature’ t-shirt that he has been wearing the whole tour. Lamb of God ended with “Black Label,” a song from their oldest studio album, yet one of their most famous. Lamb of God’s set was beyond amazing and will leave the metal community talking for years. Stephanie Oster can be contacted at osters5@student.morainevalley.edu.
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Career Corner
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JRC provides students seasonal job advice By Anne Parker Editorial Assistant Even though the holidays are right around the corner, it isn’t too late to look for seasonal jobs that are still available. There are many ways to find a seasonal job, from walking into a favorite store at the mall, or by searching online at company websites. The Job Resource Center (JRC) provides several websites to search for jobs and is always handy with tips when looking for a job anytime of the year. One great resource when searching for a seasonal job is collegecentral. com. For students who register, they can access their own job search. Applicants can select what type of work they are looking for, location, and for how long they can work. By listing the correct search criteria, applicants can find jobs that are available that correlate with the type of career they want to pursue. Another great website when searching for holiday work placement is snagajob.com. By entering a zip code anyone can find openings available
in a local town. The website also provides job alerts and are provided in alphabetical order. Some openings even provide an application with the listing. “You should treat a seasonal job with the same respect as you would for any job,” said Job Resource Specialist, Tamima Farooqui. “It is important to be competitive because there will be many other college aged students that will be applying for a job over the holiday season.” Visiting newly opened stores and restaurants are great opportunities to find work placement. Because retail stores will look for seasonal hires, students can be assured that there will be flexibility with their break schedule. When visiting a company it is best to see if the manager is available to talk to. Having a good introduction with a manager can have a greater impact on the chances of a potential applicant being hired. “First impressions always make a difference,” said Farooqui. “Having good references are great starting tools when applying for a seasonal job, because they can lead to other job opportunities.”
When applying for a seasonal job, an applicant should be prepared and presentable as they would be for any interview. It is important to still be dressed up and have the capability to speak well. If an applicant is to be interviewed, it is a good idea to know the company and their products. Applicants should also be prepared to have to conduct themselves in different types of interviews. For seasonal jobs, some companies conduct group interviews. In this type of setting, applicants are all grouped together and asked questions individually. “It is important to be ready when asked questions,” said Farooqui. “It is also a good idea to know how to talk about yourself.” Before a group interview, an applicant for a seasonal job may be given a prescreen interview for a phone call. For these types of interviews it is important to remove all distractions like cell phones, television screens, and possibly other people. Having a resume prepared and visible is another good idea so that you are prepared to
talk about previous work and commitments. Using a landline during these interviews is another helpful tip to deter distractions. “You can even dress up during a phone interview,” said Farooqui. “It can give you a sense of professionalism and can give you a boost of confidence by feeling more prepared.” Having the opportunity to work at a seasonal job can also lead to full time commitments. By using and learning skills during a short time period can show an employer that an applicant is capable of doing even more. When obtaining a job over the holidays, students should remember to be careful with commission and to make sure that they will be receiving proper wages for their work. Students should always remember to keep updating their resumes and to speak with JRC staff for any questions on job searches and resources. Contact the JRC Office at (708) 974-5737 or go to jrc@morainevalley.edu for more information. Anne Parker can be contacted at parkera3@student.morainevalley.edu.
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Mike Frederiksen, Photo Editor photo@mvccglacier.com
Photospread
Christmas Music at Moraine Concert Band | Chorale and Chamber Singers | Jazz Ensemble | Percussion Ensemble
Photos By Mike Frederiksen and Erica Sinnott
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