MORAINE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT NEWSPAPER WWW.MVCCGLACIER.COM SEPTEMBER 19, 2014 VOLUME 48, ISSUE 3
Peace run raises relief funds
Trustees discuss budget By Joshua Mira Editorial Assistant
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The Arab Student Union organized their 3rd annual Run for Peace, which took place on the main campus. [Erica Sinnott] Joshua Mira Editorial Assistant The race began in the chill of morning, the campus peppered by volunteers, tents, and spectators adrift with the anticipation of the horn to sound the start. Along with the race itself, the event contained bouncy houses for the thousands in attendance, a food tent which provided Arabic cuisine, and a DJ that provided a Middle Eastern track to accompany
the run’s aesthetics. Being established in 1991to address the humanitarian situation surrounding the state of living for Palestinian children in the Middle East, Team Palestine and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund created a race that would inspire inquiry into the dilemma. Following in the footsteps of such events like the Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure or Relay for Life, on Sept. 14 the Moraine Valley campus and the Arab Student Union
played host to the 3rd annual Run for Peace. The 5k run around the community of Palos Hills and the 1 mile walk around the college grounds was sponsored by the PCRF and Team Palestine. Running for 3 years, the race already managed to generate thousands for the relief fund. Rush Darwish, the Director of the PCRF Chapter in Chicago, expected the income generated by the race will exceed $100,000. The proceeds fund doctors from all over the
world to travel to Palestine and other destabilized regions in the Middle East in order to tend to the impoverished and wounded. Numerous sponsors came out to support the race, with an overwhelming amount of Islamic organizations appearing as either sponsors or booth holders to bolster the unity of the community as well as to promote solidarity amongst the Arab-American population against Middle PEACE | page 2
The Moraine Valley Board of Trustees met to oversee the financial situation of the college for the next fiscal year. The topics discussed at the meeting consisted of a preliminary report on the current finances of the college, as well as the standard Administration Report, followed by the Student Trustee Report, and then closed off with a plethora of miscellaneous items. This was considered a special convention for the Board, as they had reviewed and approved a potential budget for the college proposed by Treasurer Robert Sterkowitz. He drafted and submitted a budget proposal that would allow the school to reduce the amount of expenditures the college has in a year. This proposal is expected to reduce the cost that taxpayers have to spend on the college, as well as allowing the school to invest more on paying off the interest accumulated by the construction of the new Health Fitness Center. This, in turn, would reduce the operation costs without sacrificing any of the amenities that the school has already acquired. However, the budget review sparked debate during the meeting, and it was the only section of the meeting that was openly challenged. Trustees Eileen O’Sullivan and Tom Cunningham proposed the Board modify their pay; they wanted the Board to vote for donating a portion of their pay back into various scholarships and student financial aid. The Board voted to abstain from voting on the subject, but stated that they were open for discussion at an undefined date. TRUSTEES | page 6
IN THIS ISSUE SPORTS Golf team retains first place standing in Illinois Skyway Conference. PAGE 12
ENTERTAINMENT The Ensemble P/4 perfromed at John and Angeline Oremus Theater SOCIAL PAGE 7
FEATURES Students dressed the part for Moraine’s first ever Cosplay contest. SOCIAL PAGE 1
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THE GLACIER SEPTEMBER 19, 2014 VOLUME 48, ISSUE 3 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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STUDENT TRUSTEE CORNER | EAMON ALMILADI
Hello MVCC students! For this week’s article I’d like to talk about an important upcoming change here on campus. Senate Bill 2202 is a bill that was recently signed into law by Governor Quinn that effectively bans all smoking on every public college campus in Illinois. The law will begin to take effect on July 1, 2015. At that point in time smoking on campus, except
PEACE | from front page Eastern conflicts. Organizations such as the Arab American Family Services and the Universal School were present at the 5k, along with other non-Islamic contributories that supported the cause. Representatives from the Moraine Valley Health and Fitness Recreation Center and the health and fitness drink company Seksi were some of the non-Islamic booth holders that came out in order to promote the race. After the race was completed, the
when travelling in your own personal vehicle, will be prohibited. As I’m sure you are aware, smoking is very detrimental to health and continued smoking can lead to heart disease, lung disease, and cancer amongst so much more. So as we gear up for the law to take effect, let’s try to take this opportunity to quit smoking altogether so that we may live healthier, smoke-free lives. For our students who do smoke, I’d like to point out a couple of good resources to help you do this. SmokeFree.gov is a website dedicated to helping you quit smoking. On this website, you can learn information about to how plan your approach to quitting smoking. It also takes you through the five steps that you should be aware of the very first day you quit smoking as well as some general guidelines about what to expect during the cessation process. Quityes.org or the number
competitors were led back into the lot by throngs of spectators, friends and family. Soon after, the winners of each age category were announced and were awarded various medals and trophies for their efforts. Darwish, in the closing ceremonies of the race, reaffirmed the success of the event, stating that the race, win or loss, is “about the children of Palestine.” Joshua Mira can be contacted at editorialassistant@mvccglacier.com.
Faculty Adviser Ted Powers powerst@morainevalley.edu
Online Editor Jake Coyne online@mvccglacier.com
Editor-in-Chief William Lukitsch editorinchie@mvccglacier.com
Distribution Manager Joe Eby distribution@mvccglacier.com
Layout Consultant Connor Reynolds layout@mvccglacier.com
Editorial Assitant Josuha Mira editorialassistant@mvccglacier.com
Photo Editor Erica Sinnott photo@mvccglacier.com
Contributing Staff David Alexander Dimka Atanassova James Boothe Samantha Doory Marisol Guzman Nadine Ismail Brandie Lorenzen Brianna Lorenzen Dylan Mossman Sara Wallscetti Dylan Williams
Graphics Instructor Stacey Reichard reichardstacet@gmail.com Graphics Editor Vasilika Mikosz graphics@mvccglacier.com
1-866-QUIT-YES is the Illinois Tobacco Quitline. This is a free resource that you can use where you can either log on to their website or call to speak with a certified tobacco-treatment counselor. They are available 7 days a week, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and they will be able to answer any question you may have and will help provide that extra support you need to help you quit smoking altogether. Quitting smoking won’t be easy, but you should know that you have the
Special Contributors Eamon Almiladi Glenn Carpenter
resources and support to help you do it! In fact, when you do quit smoking, I know that you’ll not only feel great about yourself, but you’ll be healthier and more energetic. I’d also like to make myself available for anyone to talk and have a chat; whether you have questions about some of the resources you can use, or even if you’re having a hard time quitting and just need someone to talk to, I’ll be there! Stop by the Student Government office in U203 to find me!
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Students seek transfer schools By William Lukitsch Editor-in-Chief For many, Moraine Valley is the first step down a long journey that will ultimately lead to further education and, hopefully, a fulfilling career. Moraine Valley hosted its biannual R U Ready 2 Graduate? fair in the U building on Sept. 15. Facilitated by the Transfer Articulation Department in coordination with Campus Operations and Academic Advising, this event has helped students plan accordingly for transfer to four-year universities since its creation in 2012. Representatives from schools across Illinois set up shop on S street, introducing themselves to passers by and informing them on programs and opportunities available. Participants had the opportunity to meet with advisors, go over degree audits, fill out petitions for graduation, and apply for transfer. The college fair has grown exponentially over its short lifespan. This year 21 colleges participated; a large improvement from the original eight. One of the most enticing aspects of the college fair is that many participating four-year schools offer on-the-spot admissions and waive application fees. Students who apply to multiple colleges can save hundreds of dollars by simply attending the fair.
Although community colleges across the country have grown in enrollment, the graduation rates for many remain low. According to data compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in 2009 a majority of community colleges held a graduation rate that was below 20 percent. As of 2013, Moraine Valley specifically saw a 20 percent graduation rate for students completing degrees within 150 percent of the average time (3 years). Sponsored programs such as the Agree to Degree Representatives from four-year schools visited the main campus. [James Boothe] initiative gear students toward a productive mindset, and help current academic status, and to ensure “We’re actually looking at moving them focus on completing their degree. that their time at Moraine is spent ef- those dates back because they do hapStill, as Transfer Coordinator Tina ficiently. pen a little early in the semester,” said Carney-Simon explained, “There are some [students] that Carney-Simon. “It’s not really the timeline so much, might have the requirements and don’t R U Ready 2 Graduate is conducted but making sure that they do gradu- know that they have to petition,” said once every fall and spring semester. ate.” Carney-Simon, The next event is still not officially Students who have met their deUnfortunately, it is all too common scheduled, but will certainly take place gree requirements at Moraine Valley for Moraine students are dissuaded prior to the current graduation petimust petition for graduation in order from completing their degrees because tion deadline on Feb. 3, 2015. to attain an associate’s degree. Carney- of minor technicalities. The petition Simon hopes that through this event, deadlines are early in the semester and William Lukitsch can be contacted at edistudents will be more aware of their can easily be overlooked. torinchief@mvccglacier.com.
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Raza’s humanitarian effort for gender equality By Joshua Mira Editorial Assistant Racism. War. Poverty. Corruption. These are all hotly debated topics within both the political spectrum and society in general. However, as acclaimed Human Rights activist Raheel Raza argues, Women’s Rights is nowhere near the level of exposure that it should have. Feeling that the struggle for gender equality is being slowly swept under the rug, she has worked to spread awareness of Women’s Rights violations, particularly in the Middle Eastern region. On September 18, Moraine Valley had played host to Ms. Raza and her newest documentary, “Honor Diaries”. The documentary was centered on the abuse of women in Islamic countries. The documentary was awarded St. Louis International Film Festival Interfaith Awards for Best Documentary and was part of the official film selections of other film festivals, including the Chicago International Film Festival, the Brooklyn Girl Film Festival, and the Women’s International Film & Arts Festival. As well, the documentary has
received screening in the United Nations an various Middle Eastern countries. However, even though the documentary emphasized the treatment of Middle Eastern women, Raheel stated that the film was “not about religion or color or creed… this is a documentary on human rights.” “Honor Diaries” focused on three topics which comprised a majority of the documentary itself, depicting the gruesome aspects of female circumcision in Africa, the gradual reduction of female rights in Iran, the unfairness of Forced Marriage and the persecution of those who resist the wishes of the patriarchy, and the merciless beatings and killings of women under the threat of keeping the honor of the family. Along with Ms. Raza, who was one of the key members of the documentary, many famous Human Rights activists were featured heavily in the film; President and Co-Founder of Stop Child Executions Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Founder of the Iraqi Christian Relief Council Juliana Taimoorazy, and the Founder, Chair and CEO of HealthEZ, Inc. Nazie Eftekhari all appear to support Raheel’s
cause. Ms. Raza herself is no slouch in accolades, being the President of The Council for Muslims Facing Tomorrow and receiving invitations to speak at numerous prestigious universities, such as Harvard and Columbia University in the United States and Oxford Uni- Raheel Raza presented her film ‘Honor Diaries’ to students and community members. [Erica Sinnott] versity and the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva. the Islamic community in the United At a question and answer session fol- States should become more open to lowing the screening, members of the discussion when it comes to these audience had asked her whether or not controversies. This type of “knee jerk she had looked into different avenues of reaction to defend and apologize” for approach on female abuse in the Middle one’s culture, regardless of the potenEast, particularly appealing to western tial humanitarian atrocities that may governments for help in the matter. be allowed due to such defense, “shifts She responded that her organization, away from the real topic of… creat[ing] nor the organizations of her colleagues awareness and find[ing] solutions for were political bodies, and stated that the problem. the best that anyone could do would be to “work with [the] politicians.” Joshua Mira can be contacted at editorialIn her closing statements, she said assistant@mvccglacier.com.
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IN BRIEF Mock Interview Day Worried about messing up your first interview? Then come on down to the M Building to polish up your speaking skills! On Sept. 24, Moraine will be hosting mock job interviews from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. with actual employers. Bring at least two resumes and dress in business attire. You must pre-register for the event by calling the number 708-974-5737. Heart Walk On Sept. 20, the Palos Hills Township, in conjunction with the American Heart Association, will be holding the annual Heart Walk on the Moraine Valley campus. Proceeds raised will go toward toward research, education, and advocacy efforts. Come out and support this wonderful cause with your friends and family! For more information, go to http://heartwalk.org. Chita Rivera to perform at FPAC Interested in listening to the singing of one of the most acclaimed Broadway performers from the 80’s? If so, you should attend the Chita Rivera concert being hosted by Moraine Valley’s Fine and Performing Arts Center. On Sept. 24, experience the one night solo concert from the two-time Tony
Award recipient. For tickets and information, go to the Fine and Performing Arts page of the Moraine Valley website. Fall Fest 2014 Want to find a cool venue for you and your friends to hang out in? Come check out the Fall Fest being held in outside the quad of the campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 24. All of the student clubs and organizations will be in attendance, and representing this year’s superhero theme! There will be food, entertainment, and music. For more information contact Demetrius Robinson at 708-974-5717 or studentlife@morainevalley.edu. Carol Brookes Art Exhibition Need to impress your friends with your fancy art knowledge and your sense of style? Head on down to the Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery in the F Building and come see artist Carol Brookes present her art exhibition to the college. For more information, go to the Fine and Performing Arts page of the Moraine Valley website. Spanish Dance at the FPAC Come to the F Building on Oct. 4 to see the premiere Spanish dance company in the United States, the En-
semble Espanol Spanish Dance Theatre! The company is well renowned for their execution of many Spanish dances, being described by many critics to be scorching and magnificent. For ticketing and information, go to http://www.morainevalley.edu/FPAC. College Transfer Day On Oct. 16, over 40 schools are to come to Moraine Valley in order to screen potential applicants to their campuses. From 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., come talk to college advisors and representatives about your dream school! There are no entrance fees required, and no loans that need to be taken out! For more information, go to the Moraine Valley website. Hypnotist chrisjones comes to U Come see chrisjones (one word) in the U Building on Oct. 1 at 12 p.m.! He is a critically acclaimed hypnotist who regularly caters to college and university students. Experience the wonders of hypnotism first hand and partake in one of the most interactive hypnotist shows in the market! For more information, contact Demetrious Robinson at 708-974-5717 or atstudentlife@morainevalley.edu. Mental Health Awareness
On Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the L Building will be hosting an art fair that utilizes all aspects of the visual arts in order to craft the ideal picture of mental health. Come celebrate mental awareness with the rest of the college! For more information, contact the Moraine Valley Counseling and Career Development Center or Teresa Hannon at 708-974-5722 orhannont@ morainevalley.edu. National Dessert Day Come celebrate this commemoration to after-meal delicacies with your friends on Oct. 14! The culinary students will have prepared baked goods for the campus to enjoy themselves with. The event is being held in the U Building at noon. For more information, contact Demetrius Robinson at 708-974-5717 or studentlife@morainevalley.edu. Talk Like a Pirate Day Ahoy mateys, come join us in the U Building on Sept. 19 to celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Come with your crewmates and enjoy a bottle of root beer and lemons and limes to stave off scurvy! For more information, contact Demetrius Robinson at 708-974-5717 or studentlife@ morainevalley.edu.
6 TRUSTEES | from front page The duo, in response frowned in displeasure at the Board’s abstention from voting on changing their pay. Proceeding from the budget proposal, the Board continued on to the regular meeting for the month. The Board of Directors proposed their goals for the month, beginning with the desire to increase the amount of money in the scholarship fund from $100,000 to $120,000 as well as establishing an athletic scholarship for the school. As well, construction of a nursing lab at the Blue Island campus will commence in the near future. Following the goal statements of the evening, the meeting soon moved onto the Student Trustee Report. Eamon Almiladi, the Student Trustee, gave his report on the campus activities for the first 3 weeks of school. He was happy to report that many of the incoming Freshmen have become acclimated to the campus settings in a short time and that the student body in general have become more aware of the new campus resources available this year, such as the H Building. The Administration Report that followed suit soon after stated that college credit hours were down by 2% this semester. As well, concern arose surrounding some aspects of Moraine’s interna-
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Faculty members presented the Community Learning Day event to the Board. [Erica Sinnott] tional recruiting techniques. While these concerns were not elaborated upon, they were enough to receive direct attention from the Board themselves. Finishing off the night was a special presentation from faculty members running the Community Learning Days event on Oct. 7. Being held on campus, the day would feature multiple organizations coming and offering both students
and faculty the opportunity to work alongside employers in various activities. These include activities with the Animal Welfare League, Share Your Souls, and the Chicago Greater Food Depository. Dawn Wrobel and Kristine Christensen, two of the managers of the event, went on to ask the Board for future chances at such things.
The Board responded well to the presentation, saying that the event would help the college and the rest of the community come together. They also responded that they would consider approving more days such as these for the staff. Joshua Mira can be contacted at editorialassistant@mvccglacier.com
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Illinois Senator Hastings visits for Constitution Day Sara Wallscetti Staff Writer
my head,” said Hastings. Hastings went on to speak about the importance of the thought put Moraine’s commemorative Conbehind the Constitution, and how stitution Day event attracted a large even though it is over two hundred number of students and community years old it is still being used today. members to the main campus. Luck“Though it is still being tried toily the diligent volunteers were ready day,” said Hastings. He explained to jump into action and prepare evhow even though the majority of erything to perfection once again. the Constitution is still relevant, Sept. 17, 2014 was the third year other parts are being analyzed and Moraine Valley officially celebrated debated. the signing of the Constitution. MoThrough his charming and simple raine’s Student Government Assomessage, he encouraged attendees ciation (SGA) facilitated the event to get involved with their governalong with Peace Alliance Club and ment, and he borrowed a few words Combat to College there as support from former President John F Kenteams. nedy to make his point. SGA provided free food for at“Let us not seek the Republican tendees and sold raffle tickets for Illinois Senator Michael Hastings visited the main campus on Constitution Day. [Nadine Ismail] answer or the Democratic answer 2 dollars to win a free VIP parking but the right answer. Let us not space near the U building. SGA also of uniform to support Moraine’s Combat ideas of individual rights, individual lib- seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us campaigned to raise voter awareness by to College club. erty and freedom,” said Almiladi. accept our own responsibility for the fuproviding people with the necessary apStudent Trustee Eamon Almiladi igKeynote speaker State Senator Mi- ture,” quoted Hastings. plications for registration. nited a flow of patriotism as he explained chael Hastings showed no nerves and Hastings pointed out that young Many active and inactive duty soldiers what the Constitution meant to him. seemed surprised to see the faculty and adults must take on responsibility for attended the celebration of the signing “While the majority of the world was student turnout. He wasted no time the United States, emphasized that the as well. Like Air Force retiree and cur- more interested in authorities govern- changing his usual professional and future is in their hands. rent student, Chris Achenbach, or fel- ment, the people of the United States well-placed words into a more casual atlow Army man William Kompanowski; and our founding fathers were more in- mosphere around him. Sara Wallscetti can be contacted at wallservicemen and women came in and out terested in a government based on the “What you hear is from the heart and scettis@student.morainevalley.edu.
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Should Illinois lower the drinking age? “...drinking patterns
“Drinking comes with responsibil-
among 18-19 year old
ity, and it needs to be closely moni-
have basically stayed the
tored. Teenagers are not mature
same since the 80s...”
enough to make that decision.”
Samantha Doory Staff Writer
By Ian Adkins Staff Writer
In most developed countries across the globe you can stroll into a bar or pub Before 1984, you were able to get a tattoo, ride a motorcycle and have your first and have an alcoholic beverage at the age of 18. What makes the US different? drink all on your 18th birthday. Sounds fun, right? The median drinking age for the world is around 15 years of age. If you look In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed the National Minimum Drinking Age at most of Europe you’ll find that commonly the drinking age is 18. With excep- Act into effect that withheld 10% of the federal highway funds from states that did tions for some countries like Norway and Romania who have no drinking age at not comply. Soon after, most of the states conformed to federal pressure. But when all. But America is a completely different story and if you get caught with alcohol they made it illegal, the number of underage drinkers went up creating an epidemic under the age of 21 you can potentially ruin of underage drinking. your life. A recent gallop poll showed that 77% of all The topic of lowering the minimum drinkAmericans think the drinking age should stay at ing age has been hotly debated for years, and 21, and the other 13% believe it should be reduced to get the full scope of it you need a lot of to 18. In 2013 alone there were approximately background knowledge on the issue. 189,000 emergency rooms visits by people under Before the year 1984 the states chose their age 21 for injuries and sickness linked to alcoown drinking age; there was no federal inhol. The problem is, most people these days don’t volvement. This gave teenagers from states know the difference from having a drink or two that had a higher drinking age the ability to and binge drinking three pitchers. Irresponsible drive to the next state over and obtain alcohol. drinking habits create a dangerous environment Alcohol related automobile accidents were for everyone. climbing, and with only 18% of American Drinking comes with responsibility, and it citizen polled against a federal minimum, needs to be closely monitored. Teenagers are not President Reagan signed a bill into law that remature enough to make that decision. strained access to federal highway funds from A recent study conducted by the U. S destates that did not comply. partment of Health and Human Services showed But with little change in drinking trends that teenage consumption of alcohol slows down among teens within the age of majority, there the process of brain development. Alcohol dulls is no reason for the minimum to be above the senses and the ability to process information what constitutes a legal adult in the United per the brain’s frontal lobes; the part of the brain States. responsible for planning, forming ideas, making It isn’t 1984 anymore, and the United decisions, and exercising self-control. States has changed significantly in the last 30 When alcohol affects the frontal lobes of the years. Alcohol-related car accidents have debrain, the user may find it hard to control his or clined and with a new zero-tolerance approach her emotions and urges, and may act without to drinking and driving many citizens think thinking or even become violent. Abusing alcohol twice about getting behind the wheel. Studies [MorganSheffield.com] over a long period of time can damage the frontal even suggest that drinking patterns among 18lobes forever. 19 year old have basically stayed the same since the 80s! In a recent study done by the National Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Institute, A minimum age doesn’t deter drinking among youth and often teenagers nearly one-third of all drunk driving deaths occurred with people ages 16-20, and by have to resort to drinking in questionable and uncontrolled environments dur- the age of twenty nearly 1 in 5 young adults are considered binge drinkers. Lowering ing consumption. Even with the minimum age students have quick and easy the drinking age would only encourage drinkers to begin at a younger age. access to alcohol, the minimum age of 21 only holds up in the government but Abstaining from alcohol gives young people something to look forward to on with the public teenagers normally begin drinking in high school. their 21st birthday. Being able to have a drink with your elders is a rite of passage The United States still polls in favor of a high drinking age but it is ineffective into adulthood; it’s an age that adds more responsibility to life. and counterproductive. Students are going to drink anyways, and they shouldn’t If you’re eighteen and you’ve just left the party a little buzzed, don’t expect to be be forced into unpredictable settings to do it. going to your house. Instead, you’ll be going to the big house. Samantha Doory can be contacted at doorys@student.morainevalley.edu.
“Yes, because people do it anyways.”
“Yes, because there would be less secrecy and no ‘middleman.’”
-Jen Smith
-Jarius Castaneda
Ian Adkins can be contacted at adkinsi@student.morainevalley.edu.
“Scientifically, your brain is not mature enough to make educated decisions concerning intake and volume.”” -Christine Smyth
“Drinking and driving is already an issue. Why make it more of one?” -Cinta Cabral
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Recovering from the Ferguson fiasco By David Alexander Staff Writer After the smoke and debris have been cleared, the perennial anarchists slip away to await the next episode; the events in Ferguson, MO will keep several generations of historians debating who was to blame. Of course the two main antagonists in the Ferguson fiasco are the police on one hand, and the African American community and their supporters on the other. To some degree both parties are to blame. Firstly, the police; almost every one reading this piece has had a run in with the police over matters that seem, silly, to put it mildly. Motorists have been stopped for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, or for going five miles above the posted speed limit, and the list goes on. Such encounters, such misdisplays of authority only serves to
fan the flames of antipathy that many people in society have towards the police. This is especially true for young people who have a seemingly militant hate-hate relationship with the police, and minorities who feel unduly targeted by an over bearing police state. According to the Discover Policing web page, there are some 17,000 state and local police departments, and some 87 federal police agencies are authorized to carry firearms and make arrests. These federal, state and local police agencies combined employ almost a million police officers. This means there is about one police officer for every three hundred Americans! This overabundance of police officers makes the US basically a police state in anything but name. There is little wonder that incidents of a Ferguson nature sadly do happen, as police officers have succeeded over the years in arrogating to themselves seemingly unquestionable semi divine powers,
second only to judges. Having said that, the reaction of the African American community is lamentable in the wake of the Ferguson incident. For a whole community to rally behind a robber does not speak well of that community. Of course, there is a long poisoned history between the African American community and the police, where African Americans have always being the victims. There is no diminishing that, but the trouble is to go flying to the battlements before familiarizing one’s self with the facts of a story has a way of making one look rather unfortunate, as happened in Ferguson. Of course the looting, rampaging, shooting at the police, and other such unsubtle acts of hooliganism that was on display during the Ferguson crisis didn’t help to make the case that the African American community are victims. It only seems to reinforce the unfortunate stereotype that some hold
about African Americans. It is time for the African American community to de-couple itself from the shackles of the past, shed the toga of the perennial victim, and forge ahead into the future. What has happened in the past is the past, and the future awaits. It is high time to stop feeding the youths in the African American community with the poison of bitterness against the police, government, and whites, which will only help to decimate the African American community. Until the police in the US begin to act as servants of the people instead of their masters, and until the African American community moves beyond its deep mistrust of the police, it is only a matter of when, before another Ferguson episode recurs. David Alexander can be contacted at alexanderd45@student.morainevalley.edu.
Education abroad Graphic novels as art By: Brandie Lorenzen Staff Writer All our lives we have been told that education is important, and the best comes from our country. But according to most students, an American education can be worth the money. Coming from an American student, myself, there is much to look over when considering attending one of the many schools scattered amongst the States. The British are ranked higher than the States, yet, many still choose to come here for their education. According to an article published in the SunDial, the California State Universities newspaper, Americans are behind in math, science, and English. However, we slightly excel in reading. Sarah Lorsch, the author, quotes that if US schools “focused less on what is best for us, and more on what we want to learn, the dropout rates would decrease, and more graduates would be made.” Unfortunately, the government does not put as much focus on education as they should, but focuses more on what our students need. Much thought should be brought into this conflict. From what I have seen on the Internet, and from the mouth
Have an opinion?
of European students, the American’s higher education is even worse. No engineer needs to know English, nor does a journalist need to know the formulas in chemistry. The English know what their students want, and that is how they set up their schools—three years to study your field, no general education courses. All the while, Americans are left behind, and we as a country wonder why our education system is failing. One should not assume that they should go to England and apply to their Universities, but should look at what they are getting themselves into before applying to major schools. All in all, a majority of American students each year travel to other countries to attend other universities, so they don’t have to worry about general education courses. For many, money is tight, so not many students can go abroad and while the States are still catching up. If the schools in America would change to how the British school system is run, we might not have such a high dropout rate among high school and college students. Brandie Lorenzen can be contacted at lorenzenb2@student.morainevalley.edu
Ian Adkins Staff writer
Graphic novels are quickly become one of the most popular things to read. The start of graphic novels is still under debate, but they became popularized within the comic community in 1978 after William Einser’s “A Contract With God”. They also became more common to the public in the midto-late 1980s, after the phenomenal successes of Art Spiegelman’s “Maus,” where Spiegelman writes about his father’s Holocaust experience. In the narrative past, Spiegelman depicts his life events, starting in the years leading up to World War II. Much of the story revolves around Spiegelman’s troubled relationship with his father, and the absence of his mother who committed suicide when he was 20. Her grief-stricken husband destroyed her written accounts of Auschwitz. Alan Moore’s “Watchmen” depicts an alternate history where superheroes emerged in the 1940s and 1960s, helping the United States to win the Vietnam War. The country is edging towards a nuclear war with the Soviet Union, freelance costumed vigilantes have been outlawed and most for-
mer superheroes are in retirement or working for the government. The popularity of graphic novels continued to rise to the point in which, the Book Industry Study Group added a “graphic novel” section in all book stores, however the start of graphic interpretation goes all the way back to the cave drawings by the Neanderthals to the tapestries in the middle ages and even illuminated manuscripts that told or helped to tell narratives. The graphic novel’s older cousin, the oldest recognized American comic to this day, was “The Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck” which was created in 1828 by the by Swiss Cartoonist Rodolphe Töpffer. At the turn of the twentieth century soon comic books were put into the daily newspaper initially for adults, but soon people of all ages were reading them. So next time you are ever looking for something to read for a long car ride or even something to fill your time, pick up a graphic novel it may keep you entertained long enough to get you through the day. You might even learn something about history. Ian Adkins can be reached at adkinsi@ student.morainevalley.edu.
All letters to the editor are welcome and will be considered for publication or posting online. The preferred method is to e-mail letters to views@mvccglacier.com. Letters should be timely and should be addressed to the editor; no open letters to other people are printed. Letters must be submitted through a valid Moraine Valley student email, must contain contact information, and must be fewer than 400 words. In cases where it is required letters may be published anonymously.
10 CROSS COUNTRY| from front page the team has a real shot at a title this season. “We haven’t had this kind of an
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opportunity since 2010,” said Horstmeyer. The Men’s team struggled a bit in their first 8k of the season at Aspen
Men’s team racing at Illinois Intercollegiates. [Glenn Carpenter School Photographer]
Ridge Golf Course on Sept. 12. Although the group is composed mostly of returning runners, save for Yousef Khazneh and Braulio Castellanos , the team still has some gaps to fill if they want to make something out of the season. “They’ve got a lot of work to do, but we think they’re getting a step closer,” said Horstmeyer. Anthony Briante led the Cyclones across the line, finishing 91st with 28:54. He was closely followed by Khazneh (28:58) who took 93rd, but the rest of the team lagged far behind spanning minutes between each other. The final runner for the Men’s Team, Larry Byrd, crossed the line at 33:15.
Despite minor setbacks, Horstmeyer expressed unfaltering optimism for the Cyclones in 2014. “All in all, last Friday was a really good predictor for us,” explained Horstmeyer. Both teams are excited to participate in the Gil Dodds Invitational on Sept. 20 at St. James Farm in Warrenville; it’s the same course that the Conference and Regional championships will take place in October. Horstmeyer wants both teams to take advantage of running the course this week to prepare for the end of the season.
SOCCER | from front page on home field again due to defensive errors in the first half. The defensive play improved in the second half, but a lone goal by Jon Peters wasn’t enough to boost the momentum of the Cyclones. The most pivotal defeat came on Sept. 16 against Morton college, a known contender. The first half resulted in a 1 goal deficit for Moraine, which was tied up by an unassisted goal by Jordy Padilla in the second.
It was not enough; the Cyclones lost their second Conference game when the Panthers attacked in the last three minutes of the game to break the tie and take the win. The Cyclones need to step up their game if they want to make waves this year. The next game kicks off at Prairie State College on Sept. 23, where they will face off against the Pioneers.
William Lukitsch can be contacted at editorinchief@mvccglacier.com.
William Lukitsch can be contacted at editorinchief@mvccglacier.com.
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Highs and lows for women’s soccer By William Lukitsch Editor-in-Chief The Women’s Soccer team started off with an exciting lead this year; the opener against South Suburban College ended in a 9-2 win and the Cyclones shut out Triton and Daley Colleges in consecutive matches. Now, as the team’s schedule has steepened, the Cyclones have lost momentum. They let seven goals past in a decimating defeat by the Waubonsee Community College Chiefs on Sept. 10. Maggie Hacker scored the only goal for the Cyclones in the first half assisted by Alejandra Hernandez, before the Chiefs pummeled the Cyclones with a barrage of offensive strikes. Cyclones Goalie Alexis Boyer managed 18 saves. The match against the Southwestern Illinois fared even worse for the Cyclones, as the Blue Storm proved
GOLF| from front page allow them a strategic position before the fifth and final showdown on Oct. 1. “I don’t’ think we can clinch it with a first place win on Wednesday, but it
stronger. After a scoreless first half, the Cyclones were simply worn down defensively, and let up five goals to the Storm, resulting in a 5-0 shutout. The Cyclones finally broke the losing spell in the game against Elgin Community College on Sept. 17. Neither team was able to score during regulation, despite numerous fruitless attempts on both sides. Diana Lozano scored the winning goal for the Cyclones less than two minutes after the overtime period began. The victory over Elgin puts the Cyclones at a 1-1 record in the Conference and a season record of 4-2. The next Women’s Soccer game will take place at home against South Suburban College on Sept. 20. For stats, records, roster, and upcoming games, visit morainevalley.edu/athletics. William Lukitsch can be contacted at editorinchief@mvccglacier.com.
will put us in a great spot,” said Freudenthal. William Lukitsch can be contacted at editorinchief@mvccglacier.com.
Alexis Delgado played well against Daley College on Sept. 8. [Erica Sinnott]
Acing the conference William Lukitsch Editor-in-Chief The Women’s Volleyball team is taking stride in 2014; they have yet to lose a Conference matchup and are currently holding an impressive season record (8-3). The Cyclones embarrassed the Lancers at their home court on Sept. 16 in a four set match that earned a second Conference win. Carolyn Yerkes managed 26 digs in a tremendous display of defense and continued to play error free for the duration. Kate Patnett led the offensive with 5 kills. The matches scored 25-16, 21-25, 25-23, and 25-14 respectively. Unfortunately, the game against the Bulldogs didn’t yield such favorable results. The Cyclones lost a rivalry match at home in a dogfight against South Suburban College on Sept. 18. But the Cyclones didn’t go out silently. Kayla Manthei and Carly Trinly were standout players of the evening. Trinley led the offensive strike with 13 kills followed closely by Manthei with 11. Yerkes attained an impressive 25 digs. The ‘clones fought hard but in the end the Dogs proved to be quite a contender, and killed their two game win streak with a five game match. For their next trial, the Cyclones are traveling to Kankakee for a Quadmatch against Prairie State College,
Carley Trinley was essential to the win against Kankakee. [Erica Sinnott] Highland Community College, Sauk Valley Community College on Sept. 20. The long contest will surely test the bounds of the team’s endurance, and should prove to be competitive. William Lukitsch can be contacted at editorinchief@mvccglacier.com.
Sports
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Slow start for runners Tough Stretch By William Lukitsch Editor-in-Chief
Moraine’s Cross Country teams are racing through 2014. Four meets left before the Skyway Conference and NJCAA Region IV Championship means they must travel a distance in a short time to get ahead. The Cross Country teams faced off against local colleges in the Illinois Intercollegiate meet on Sept. 12, placing 12th out of 14 teams. Returning runner Aileen Gorman led the Women’s team in the 5k, finishing in 38th place with 20:25. The rest of the pack followed the strategy that the coaching staff has been stressing since from the beginning by running in a pack formation. The “horde,” as Head Coach Mark Horstmeyer referred to them, were the Cyclones’ 2-6 finishers guided by Jackie Navarette (22:31) and followed by Abby Correa (22:34), Amy Miller (22:39), Crystal Flores (22:45), and Sarah McCann (22:48). Horstmeyer was especially pleased with the team’s performance and believes that CROSS COUNTRY| page 10
Giovanni Sanchez playing on home field. [Erica Sinnott] By William Lukitsch Editor-in-Chief
Aileen Gorman led the Women’s Cross Country team at the Illinois Intercollegiate Cross Country Championship. [Glenn Carpenter School Photographer]
The Men’s Soccer team is in a slump. After a three game losing streak, the Cyclones are running a Conference record of 1-2 and an overall season record of 2-4. South Suburban College visited Moraine on Sept. 11 and issued a beating that wore
down the defensive play in the first half, leaving Moraine scoreless with a two goal deficit. Jesus Sandoval scored the ‘Clones sole goal in the second half, assisted by Giovanni Sanchez, but another goal by the Bulldogs sealed the deal and ended the match with a 1-3 loss. When Kennedy-King came to campus the Cyclones lost SOCCER | page 10
Conference lead despite disappointing match William Lukitsch Editor-in-Chief “I’m confident that we have a pretty good chance of winning conference as long as we play up to our potential,” says Men’s Golf Head Coach, Bob Freudenthal. The Cyclones started strong this year by securing first place wins in the first two Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference matches. Sitting in first place in NJCAA Region IV, the Men’s Golf team has a good chance at winning the regional tournament if they can keep up the pace. “If we can do that, we definitely have the ability,” explained Freudenthal. On Sept. 3, returning golfer John Yerkes blazed the trail for the Men’s team at the Mission Hills Country Club with a score of 72. Yerkes received strong assistance from teammates John Orowick (77), Joe Knight (78), David Karwoski (78), and
Matt Contey is one of Freudenthal’s top five golfers this season. [Glenn Carpenter School Photographer] Matt Contey (78); the players Freudenthal refers to as the “core” of the Men’s golf team. The second conference game took place on Sept. 8 at Gleenwoodie Golf Course in Glenwood, where incoming
freshman Karowski led the way with a score of 75. Contey and Knight tied at 79 and John Orowick came in with 81 for a composite score of 314, putting them 10 strokes ahead of the second place finish, the
Waubonsee Community College Chiefs. Unfortunately, the Sept. 17 matchup at Highlands Golf Course didn’t fair as well for the Cyclones. Knight (95) and Orowick (85) struggled the most
on the course, while Karwoski (81) and Contey (79) remained fairly consistent. The Cyclones took fourth place out of five. “It was a little bit of a disappointment,” said Freudenthal. Elgin took first place in the tourney and is currently trailing the Cyclones for top spot in the conference. “They’re putting a little pressure on us right now,” explained Freudenthal. Despite the disappointing loss at Elgin, Freudenthal remains optimistic on the team’s progress and is looking forward to the next date. The Cyclones will have home course advantage for the fourth conference game; something Freudenthal is confident will be a deciding factor. The Cyclones will tee off at Waters Edge Golf Club in Worth on Sept. 24 at 12:30 P.M. If they can manage another first place win, it should give them room to breathe and GOLF| page 11
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Social
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Spiker Saloff celebrates in Speakeasy By Dimka Atanassova Staff Writer Spider Saloff, a multi-award winner as an interpreter of the American Songbook, versatile entertainer, and distinct jazz and cabaret performer, is nationally and internationally acknowledged. She appeared at many prestigious venues, corporate events and dignitary celebrations as a guest singer accompanied by full symphony orchestras, jazz bands, piano or guitar. A Philadelphia-native, former New York actress, and a Chicago-based fixture in the entertainment business since 1994, Saloff is “one of the finest jazz singers working today” (Chicago Tribune). Saloff’s credits include radio co-host and co-creator of internationally syndicated Public Radio series Words and Music on PBS, recording artist (7 CDs released), and playwright. She created one-woman musicals “Entertaining guests, “The Roar of the Butterfly”, and “Deep Inside the Rain”. Her TV credits are the CBS shows Live with Bonnie, The Steve Baskerville
Sider Saloff leads the show, her “Speakeasy,” on Sept. 14. The show celebrated the Roaring Twenties. [Erica Sinnott] Show, and Studs Turkel. On Sept. 14, Moraine Valley’s John and Angeline Oremus Theater was fully packed in front of her intimate stage where she was accompanied by Dennis Luxion on the piano, Jim Cox on bass,
and Eric Schneider on sax. The show was titled Spider’s Speakeasy. Celebrating the Songs of the 1920s. It featured 17 renditions of noted Broadway composers such as George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and
Thomas “Fats” Waller. Saloff’s show kicked off with a tribute to the timeless appeal of Fats Waller’s and Andy Razaf’s musical revue Ain’t Misbehavin’. The beat, the swing, the SPEAKEASY | page 9
Cospaly contest crowns contestants By David Kowalski Staff Writer The first ever Moraine Valley Community College’s Cosplay Contest was held in the U-building. Fifteen students, community members, and even a faculty member lined up to show off their cosplaying choices to a panel of judges. On the afternoon of Thursday, Sept.18, a throng of students dressed liked characters from obscure anime shows to long time fan favorites like Ash Ketchum of the hit Japanese TV show Pokémon lined up to be part of the contest. Fifteen contestants lined up at 3 p.m. hoping they would walk away winners. Of those fifteen, twelve were students, two were ex students, and a third was Honors Communications teacher Carey Millsap-Spears, who paired with John Nash for their cosplay, Bubbly Angel. The event was part of collaboration from Student Life, the Anime Club, the Library’s Graphic Novel Symposium, and others to get students involved in Moraine Valley Community College and express their interests and their creativity. Considering this was the second time that MVCC has ever done a cosplay contest like this, turnout for the contest was rather decent. Set in
the dining hall of the U-building, contestants walked down a runway displaying their cosplay. Some seemed thrown together at the last minute, while others, especially those from the Anime Club, were intricately and exceptionally well constructed. First Place winner, and Anime Club member, Tim Behling put together an exceedingly unique Sesshomaru costume for the contest. To him, his choice was personal. According to Tim, he chose Sesshomaru because of the connection they share and how much they both despise their younger brothers. Tim sees a bit of himself in his character, making his choice of costume an obvious one for him. Others chose their COSPLAY | page 5 Charles Walker as Dante from “Devil May Cry” came in third place at Moraine’s Cosplay contest. [Erica Sinnott]
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Gamers rejoice at grand opening
Two Moraine students face off as another looks on. The game room hosted a grand opening on Sept. 12. [Erica Sinnott] By Marisol Guzman Staff Writer Moraine Valley game lovers celebrated the official National Video game day through an event facilitated by the Student Life Department. Students gathered to the grand opening of the game room in the U building on Sept. 12, and, upon entering, you could feel the electrifying energy in the room. Students gathered in all four corners; in line to play their favorite games. Air hockey and Ping-Pong matches were held during the event too. The students who did show seemed very pleased with the new games and activities offered that day. The game room serves as a means to entertain and relieve everyday stress; it’s a source of tranquility for the common college student at Moraine. “[The game room] gives people a chance to relax and let loose in-between classes,” expressed participating student, Carlos Espinosa. Video Game Day is an unofficial national holiday; though it was an event Student life Manager Demetrius Robinson, Student Life Department, Community Relations and Marketing Department collaborated together to celebrate. The new gaming systems, PS3, Wii and Xbox, were installed into the game room and served as a way
for the students to have tournaments amongst themselves. “National Video Game Day was a very successful event for the Student Life Organization. It offers students a welcoming, engaging, educative and entertaining place,” said Robinson. Student Life employees Sherard Jackson and Christopher Walker should receive special thanks for coordinating the event. Part of their job was to organize the tournaments and get students involved in all the activities that were present. Many of the students in the game room expressed their gratitude, like Kim Nguren who stated, “I love this game room because I can play video games in-between classes.” Student Isaiah Smith couldn’t contain his excitement and stated “ Great time is spent in the game room and it’s awesome in here.” Many students were specifically fond of the Ping-Pong table centered in the middle of the room such as student, Anderson Judeh, who beckoned students to face off. The vey first National Video Game Day held in moraine Valley, was such a success. It will become a holiday that is part of the Moraine Valley’s events schedule for the foreseeable future. Marisol Guzman can be contacted at guzmanm65@student.morainevalley.edu.
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Student Life serves up a cold one By Joe Eby Distribution Manager Even overcast skies and chilly weather didn’t stop the Ice Cream Social. Festivities were moved indoors to the U building, where Student Life served students free frozen treats between classes. “The social was very successful,” said Student Life Manager Demetrius Robinson. Students lined up on S street in anticipation, and the high demand forced Student Life to begin serving early. On Sept. 9 the U Building was packed with students wearing big smiles while they enjoyed their tasty treats. The students were given one scoop of ice cream of their choice; vanilla, strawberry and the superhero-themed flavor, superman. Students could choose from all kinds of toppings too; sprinkles, chocolate chips, Oreo cookie crumbles, and cherries. Robinson quizzed students with trivia questions while they stood in line and gave away free t-shirts for correct answers. Erik Valencia, a participating student, received his treat well; just before
lunch. He shared that the taste was simply “Glorious!” Student Life also offered a multitude of fun games and activities for students to participate in, including a hula-hoop contest and beanbag tournament. The hula-hoop contest was an endurance marathon that awarded a five-dollar prize. Erica Sinnott won first place for holding her hulahoop dance for over ten minutes – while eating her ice cream. “I was just doing it for fun,” said Sinnott, “the five-dollar prize, however, was good mo- Drake Estrada serves up an ice cream sunday at Student Life’s Ice Cream Social on Sept. 9. [Erica Sinnott] tivation.” The ice cream social first started over seemed to be have a great time. provided. For more information contact nine years ago so students could get to Student Life offers a variety of ac- Demetrius Robinson at studentlife@ know our members of our sports teams. tivities throughout the school year. morainevalley.edu Two years ago Student Life decided that The next big event will be Fall Fest on they would work the social themselves. Sept. 24 from 11am – 2pm in the Quad. Joe Eby can be contacted at ebyj6@stuThe students and the workers both Food, music, and entertainment will be dent.morainvalley.edu.
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Somewhere to hang your hat by David Kowalski Staff Writer Student Life ran National Hat Day that took place in the U-building between 11 am and 1 pm. And yes, Demetrius Robinson did, in fact, wear a fedora. For those who attended, free popcorn was handed out, and trivia questions could be answered. Many students chose to have their pictures taken while wearing hats with Chris Walker, who was wearing a large straw sombrero. Some of the hats available for pictures included a fedora, a trilby, a flat cap, a black fatigue cap, and a wool sun hat. Most students, such as Jimmy Parker, chose hats based on their own personal style or preference. Jimmy stated he liked his True Religion cap because “it was True Religion and it made [him] feel like a king”. Moraine Valley Community College student, Isaiah, said he “liked the stylishness of the fedora.” After students got their pictures taken with the hats, they could choose from a number of prizes, including water bottles, bags, Frisbees, and t-shirts. Students espe-
cially liked the t-shirts. According to Demetrius Robinson, National Hat Day was a special event spurred by a collaboration done by the MVCC Marketing Department and the College and Communitiy Relations Department. Their purpose? To help promote the social media side of Moraine Valley. The idea was for students to take an interesting or comical hat, take pictures with it, and then upload it for all the rest of Moraine Valley students to see. Origins came from the aforementioned collaboration where one of the members came up with the idea of National Hat Day from viewing a calender where listed upon it was all the wacky and stange “holiday” events from around the country. One of the Community Relations department members loved hats, and she, according to Demitrius Robinson, cited that “Everybody loves a great hat”. Demetrius went on to state that “People love hats, people love to share hats, and it shows a piece of them, who they are, by the hat they wear.”From there, Moraine’s celebration of National Hat Day was born. While National Hat Day started a lit-
Demetrius Robinson leads the way during Student Life’s Hat Day. [Erica Sinnott] tle slow, it really hit things off by noon and by the end, Hat Day was a smashing success. For those who had their pictures taken, pictures are viewable on
the MVCC Student Life FaceBook page. David Kowalski can be contacted at Kowalskid@student.morainevalley.edu
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Greg Murray as Trafalgar Law of the Heart Pirates took second place at Moraine Valley’s second cosplay contest in the U Building. [Erica Sinnott] COSPLAY | from social page 1 cosplays because they really liked the character. As Anna Abusharem said about picking her Mikasa cosplay, “Why not?” In the end, only three winners could be chosen. As already mentioned, Tim Behling took home first place, the while Greg Murray took second for his Trafalgar Law of the Heart Pirates cosplay and Charles Walker took third for his Danta cosplay. However, each of the three judges were allowed to pick their own honorable mention participants. Of those chosen was April Balase for her Ciel of Wonderland costume. Her costume was described as “fantastic for the short amount of time that it took to put together”. Amanda Blauntlso was also given an honorable mention for the Homura cosplay she entered. At the end of the event, everybody was allowed to come out to the stage and take a final bow and was given one more round of applause for the hard work they put into their costumes. Afterwards, winner Tim Behling said, “it felt amazing to win and that [he] put a lot of effort into his costume and was really hoping to win.” David Kowalski can be contacted at kowaslkid@student.morainevalley.edu.
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Warning: may contain graphic content By Dylan Mossman Staff Writer “What do you think of when you hear the word ‘comics?’” asked Associate Professor of Communications and Literature Sheryl Bundy to a group of students in the Library Lounge. Reactions varied, but shared one commonality: comics are short picture stories for children. Amid curious students and a few local comic book stores selling their wares, Bundy demonstrated how much more there is to the world of comics. On Sept. 18, Bundy discussed the literary components of graphic novels through a lecture as part of the Graphic Novel Symposium (GNS). Bundy, a lifelong fan of comics, presented the graphic novel as a longer work that tells a story in great depth, much like traditional literature. To her, graphic novels are a “visual way of expressing ideas and stories” where authors use techniques ranging from page layout to artistic style to add symbolic meaning to their work and convey a message. She adds to her definition that they
are “a format, and not a genre of text.” Graphic novels encompass a variety of style and interest, like fantasy, horror, and romance. Diversity is quite apparent with graphic novels, as they cover quite a wide range of subjects and issues from many angles. She talked enthusiastically about how the format and its literary presence have changed over the years, and was eager to share her own experiences. Bundy reminisced on some of her favorite comics, such as “Calvin and Hobbes” and Gary Larson cartoons, which she shared with attendees. “When I was a kid,” said Bundy, “the only places I could access comics was in the newspaper or at the grocery store… These days it’s so easy to find other fans online.” Today, the graphic novel is much more prominent, as people who enjoyed comic books as an integral part of their childhood matured and demanded more. Bundy provided examples to the audience of notable works, highlighting the Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel by Art Spiegelman “Maus,” which detailed his father’s experience in a
Faculty member Erik LaGattuta explains visual storytelling. [Moraine Valley Library] Nazi concentration camp. The group analyzed others, many which explore mature topics like sexuality and racism, such as “A + E Forever” by I. Mercy and “American Born Chinese” from Gene Luen Yang. While her passion for them is clear, Bundy is careful not to praise graphic
novels as a being above comic books. “We can analyze any piece of text… and noticing patterns in text, especially visual patterns, is what literature is all about.” Dylan Mossman can be contacted at mossmand@student.morainevalley.edu.
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Entertainment
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Ensemble P/4 takes on masters’ works Dylan Williams Staff Writer Comprised of members of various Florida universities, Ensemble P/4 is a very talented group that can take “boring” classical music written by masters like Béla Bartók and original works, and make it quite enjoyable; putting on a show that deserves attendance. Ever busy, the group played five concerts in 34 hours and their stopover at Oremus Theater on Sept. 17 was the second show they played that day. The four musicians were introduced by composer and organizer of the group Zack Browning and started with a piece composed by Browning: “Vibrations of Hope.” The piece is particularly interesting as it is a concept song written in response to the Sandy Hook school shootings of 2012 and its composition was aided by the use of feng shui and hints of music from musicians like John Mayer and Timmy Thomas. The composition starts with a dramatic slamming on the keys of the two pianos that make up the instrumentation of the piece and does not let up from this intensity for the duration. It
Thad Anderson mans the drum set for P/4 at their Sept. 17 show. [Erica Sinnott] is quite exceptional how Browning and his pianists can shift from tones that evoke absolute sorrow to anxiety to crushing grief seamlessly. The pianists, Kristie Born and Russian-born Rose Shylam Grace gave a flawless performance, dancing on the
keys for every emotion felt by a grieving parent and remained in perfect balance with each other. This song speeds by despite its 13-minute length and leaves the listener with a knot in their stomach. With the climatic “Grieving for the Lost IV” section of the third act, this
energy is released and the audience can feel some small notion of relief along with surprise that it has been almost fifteen minutes. “Vibrations of Hope” was without a doubt the strongest song from the show. Sadly the two middle pieces “Red Tree, Yellow Sky” by Bill Ryan and the Browning-written “Venus Notorious” were not quite as good as the opener. “Red Tree, Yellow Sky” was originally written by Ryan to go along with an exhibit of the Georgia O’Keefe painting of the same name. The work in question is a vivid, Seussian painting that, at a casual glance, appears surreal. The piece simply does not represent the painting well, lacking the sense of whimsy and mysteriousness the painting offers. It is also quite repetitive at points, featuring just a marimba and a vibraphone notes that just repeat and repeat. Thad Anderson and Marja Kerney play their instruments just as flawlessly as the pianists do, but the work itself has little to offer. While “Red Tree, Yellow Sky” was simply mediocre, “Venus Notorious” might actually be considered to be a bad song. Composed by Browning as a modENSEMBLE | page 9
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Gandolfini delivers in final role By David Kowalski Staff Writer James Gandolfini, of “Sopranos” fame, stars in his final film along side Tom Hardy in, “The Drop”, a high paced and intense gangster film directed by Michael R. Roskam. Bob Saginowski (Hardy), and his cousin Marv (Gandolfini), run a Brooklyn dive bar that is owned by Chechen gangsters, who use the bar as a “drop” point for money laundering. When Bob finds an abused pit bull puppy discarded in the trash can of a woman by the name of Nadia (Noomi Rapace), Bob soon finds that her past will become problematic for the both of them. A man named Eric Deeds (Matthias Schoenaerts), an ex psych ward patient who once dated Nadia, claims the puppy is his. Deeds makes life difficult for Bob, as do the Chechen gangsters, who are not too happy when the bar gets robbed. As if life for Bob could not get any worse, a cold case detective is snooping around, looking for answers. This plot, though mildly predictable, gains some very intriguing twists at the end. The scenes for one character in particular, prophetically become darker. As a whole the music and the pacing makes the film very high strung for the audience. Hardy and Gandolfini are definitely the best actors in the film. The audience
Marv Saginowski (above: James Gandolfini) launders money through the Brooklyn bar he owns with his brother Bob (Tom Hardy) can sense a foreign angle from the character of Bob Saginowski, while the character of Marv holds the token gangster aura that is Gandolfini. Hardy brings to Bob the characterization of a man who hasn’t done the right thing in the past, but is really trying to make up for it. He tends to the bar, tries not to make waves, and all he really wants in life is normalcy. While the costuming is a bit cliché ranging from creepy black leather for the
Chechen gangsters to blue collar woollined denim coat and work boots for Bob, the dialogue is anything but. While a few puns are made here and there, most of the delivery of the dialogue is said with such seriousness, the audience could believe these characters were real. Their authenticity is ennunciated by the human element they bring.. They don’t come off as Hollywood actors; they feel like real people, with real problems, who are
just trying to get by with life when life is hard. The protagonists aren’t exactly the good guys here and the antagonists end up not being such a bad person himself. This is definitely one of Gandolfini’s best films. A strong 3.5 out of 5 stars, this movie definitely makes the audience yearn for more Gandolfini. David Kowalski can be contacted at Kowalskid@student.morainevalley.edu
Plant continues move away from past By Brandie Lorenzen Staff Writer From the world that once knew him as the lead singer of the smashing 60’s band, Robert Plant brings a new sound to his fans. Plant recently released a new album on Sept. 9. The album is titled “Lullabies and The Ceaseless Roar”. Fans get a new experience from the songs, whilst others may miss the harder rock that was once used by his previous band, Led Zeppelin. The tables have turned. For a singer that left a band, and is now making it as a solo artist, most would wonder why he has not retired yet. This doesn’t stop him, the way he pours emotion into “Rainbow”, track number two, and many more songs that add to an amazing album. His emotion is strong, just like the old days with his band. He portrays an array of style that is mostly never seen nowadays. “Pocket Full of Golden” is strong, yet repetitive. He repeats most of what he is saying, trying to make his audience understand. A few other tracks like “Little Maggie”, “A Stolen Kiss”, and “Embrace Another Fall” all focus on such a strong top-
ic, which should be evident to listeners’ ears. His charisma shows throughout the tracks, and he mesmerizes his fans
once again with a CD that is hard to resist, even for the devoted Zeppelin fan. His image is changing, like many art-
Robert Plant’s new album “Lullabies and Ceaseless Roar” dropped Sept. 9. [Warner Bros.]
ists that choose to go solo. His new style is a breath of fresh air for many of the devotees Plant has had since day one. His music is attracting thousands, and the young are taking a listen to what is being introduced to them from one of music’s greatest icons. Plant goes above and beyond to appease today’s audiences; a big plus being that his fan base is growing more. With a track listing of eleven songs, fans will enjoy the personality of Plant on a new level. As they experience him, they experience a new world that Plant is building. Plant does well, and many have made positive remarks towards the album. Numerous media outlets such as The Guardian, Rolling Stone, and the New York Times have been praising this album with great reviews, and it hasn’t been out for a month. The album is a significant point in Plant’s career, his original work is the one thing that is not on many playlists’, and it should be. The album is now available in stores, and available to download on iTunes. Brandie Lorenzen can be contacted at lorenzenb2@student.morainevalley.edu.
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ENSEMBLE | from page 7 ification to Bartók’s Sonata for “Two Pianos and Percussion,” he changed the work by replacing the timpani drum with a modern drum set and, in a particularly Enoesque choice, setting the song in seven-by-seven “Magic Squares of Venus.” What this experimentation leads to is a drum-heavy slog that shifts quite jarringly from classical to straightout rock. Pianos are present, as the original Bartók title suggests, but Anderson overpowers them on the drum set and Kerney on xylophone. One of the few points where the pianos can be heard is the worst part of the song and of the concert; an incredibly repetitive section where the pianos slam on the same chord while the percussion plays the same string of beats. It’s akin to beating one’s head against a wall. The piece lacks finesse Browning’s experimental touches fail to add to add anything to the original and indeed, make it worse. The finale, a rendition of Bartók’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, the piece that inspired “Venus Notorious,” puts to rest any notions that Ensemble P/4’s excellence at the beginning of the show was a fluke. The three-movement work started somberly, before transitioning to rapid 16 notes played flawlessly. The entire first movement seemed to revolve around the buildup
of tension in the music and then rapid dissipation through swift instrumentation. Rather than growing repetitive, the melodies change and the tension builds again mostly due through piano work. The percussion, thankfully, plays second fiddle until the big releases of energy, where they combine and interplay excellently. The second movement proved slower, dreamier; like a man who has used up all his nervous energy and must surrender to fitful sleep. There’s no lethargy from the players though and as dreams turn to nightmares they show phenomenal balance and convey the feeling of suffering with all the tossing and nervous turning, before it breaks and sleep can resume. The final movement is very upbeat, the nervous tension of the first two acts banished for good. Kerney’s xylophone proves particularly good here, building a playful mood as it weaves with the piano and makes a genuinely happy sound; a particular relief given the evening’s somber offerings. Eventually it winds down to a snare drum-led closing, a coy little ending that leaves the listener with a smile on their face and a gladness that he or she has seen Ensemble P/4. Dylan Williams can be contacted at williamsd@student.morainevalley.edu.
SPEAKEASY | from social page 1
Spider Saloff sings one of many songs from the 1920’s. [Erica Sinnott] catchy lyrics, intoxicating spirit, and infectious energy from Depression-era foot-stomping jazz still encapsulate various moods. Her repertoire included ballads such as Someone to Watch Over Me (from Gershwin’s 1926 musical Oh, Kay!), Can’t Help Lovin’ Dad Man(Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein’s 1927 musical play Show Boat), The Man I Love (Gershwin’s popular standard) and Stardust, one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century (1,500). Irving Berlin’s 1926 instant international hit, Blue Skies and You’d Be Surprised and Let’s Misbehave (recorded at her Cole Porter Live at Maxim’s CD) enlivened the patrons. Saloff has been endorsed by both the estates and families
of George and Ira Gershwin and Irving Berlin to perform rare, officially sanctioned acts of the Gershwin Centennial. As a vocalist, Saloff carefully crafts and blends words and music, deliberately stressing the meaning of a lyric. She reflects on vulnerable themes with dovetailing elegance, improvises, scats, and interprets. She often starts with a slow tempo progressing into lively fast dance hallstyle or jumping beat and swing while changing the palette of her vocal colors. One of her distinct characteristics is the manipulation of her wide range vocals while complimenting, imitating, or competing with the sounds of some instruments (bass and sax during her MV’s show). Adding to her artistically impressive performance are her vivid facial expressions, hand gestures, and poise. Her own flare for comedy in playful swing during the three humorous songs drew instant laughs at intervals. The acclaimed chanteuse wrapped up with another timeless Waller-Razof standard, Honeysuckle Rose.Due to the growing popularity of MV’s Sunday Salon Series, they will be offered at 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. this semester. Dimka Atanassova can be contacted at atannasovad2@student.morainevalley.edu.
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Out of the unknown and coming soon By Brandie Lorenzen Staff Writer We all have that one band we may come across in our lifetime as being an amazing act. Bands may well be one hit wonders, but as for a new band that has been going at it since 2005 when they were founded, there is no sight of them giving up any time soon. “Delta Spirit” is a band of today, and hopefully tomorrow if their album is received well by the one crowd they are aiming at: those that love rock music, and want to explore various artists within the rock genre. First born in California, and now residing in Brooklyn, New York, this band has the chops to become bigger after a stellar drop this past week. The band is made up of Jon Jameson, Brandon Young, Matt Vasquez, Kelly Winrich, and Will McLaren. After practicing and working hard all of their lives, they managed to breakout and make a mega-hit that would bring them to the top. One of the biggest achievements that has pushed them forward a few more steps is the EP and the albums they had made with producers from their label, Monarchy Music, and
later dubbed under Round Records, Dualtone Records, Decca Records’ name. The guys have gone from rehearsing in the unknown, to signing and recording with Monarchy Music. Their sound on this album has improved from earlier tracks. From not being known nationally and worldwide, they have made and established their own fan base in certain parts of the US., and in some other parts of the world. The album first starts out a little boring, but picks up; the first few tracks might leave you waiting for something a bit better. Most of the lyrics in songs “Push It” all the way through to track six, “Into The Wilde”, don’t give that oomph right away; however, track seven, “Language of the Dead”, all the way to the final track, “The Wreck”, make the waiting worthwhile. The final set of tracks express more meaning to the story they are telling in their songs. The music is intensifying, their sound is fresh; their style choice makes up for their name, “Delta Spirit”. If one could think of a new band to discover, it would this group of band members that have been together since 2005, and finally made it farther onto the scene in September of 2014.
Delta Spirit will be in Chicago on Oct. 11 at The Vic. [Dualtone Records] With much anticipation to hear them live, the band is set to play in Chicago on Oct. 11, at The Vic. For all you indie rock fans that would like to listen to their whole album, go to iTunes or your near-
est music store to purchase their album that is available now. Brandie Lorenzen can be contacted at: lorenzenb2@student.morainevalley.edu.
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Career Corner
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Internships are integral to career success By William Lukitsch Editor-in-Chief College graduates are fighting to kick-start careers in today’s job market. As a result, securing an internship in college has become an integral step toward joining the workplace after graduation. Employers are stressing work experience as one of the most important attributes for potential candidates following communication skills. With an internship, students receive hands-on experience in a specific career field, learn professional workplace skills, and apply classroom knowledge to everyday practices. Moraine’s Job Resource Center offers job and internship fairs, individual appointments, and career related events for students and alumni year-round. Internship Manager Marie Harrell shared career strategies for interested students on Sept. 18 through her presentation How to Pursue an Internship. “[An internship] gives the student an opportunity to be supervised by someone who is in the area or the field that they’re looking to go into,” explained
Harrell. One of the best internship information resources is College Central Network (CCN) – an interactive online tool that exclusively connects employers with students. Aside from remaining in good academic standing, students who wish to utilize the JRC and CNN must attend internship orientation and sign a Student Responsibility Agreement to ensure that education remains the main focus as they pursue their academic careers. Certain degree programs require an internship for completion. Moraine students who complete an internship program for their major have a competitive edge when applying for transfer to four-year universities. The JRC vets potential employers for students, and ensures that they comply with the Department of Labor by operating within the margins of the Fair Labor Standards Act to ensure students receive compensation. Internships come in a variety of format. Paid internships offer students a chance to earn credit toward degrees and receive at least hourly minimum wage. Unpaid internships are much
Transfer Coordinator Marie Harrell lectured on available internships. [Joshua Mira] easier to come by, and allow students to get work experience, meet new contacts, and, in some cases, move onward to employment within the company. Experience with either often helps students in choosing a specific career. “It helps you decide what you want to do, but it also helps you decide what you don’t want to do,” said Harrell. The JRC will conduct a Mock Inter-
view Day on Sept. 24, where students will have a chance to sharpen their interview skills, work on résumés, and receive feedback for improvement. Advance sign-up is required to participate. To learn more, visit the JRC in S202 or their website at morainevalley.edu/jrc. William Lukitsch can be contacted at editorinchief@mvccglacier.com.
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Erica Sinnott Photo Editor photo@mvccglacier.com
Photospread
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Students, faculty, and community members dressed as characters in the second annual cosplay contest hosted by Anime Club. Photospread by~ Erica Sinnott