63rd Year--Vol. 3
Northeast Mississippi Community College--Booneville, Miss.
March 1, 2012
Northeast clears the smoke on policy
By Mary Norris Staff Writer
Northeast cares about the health of its faculty, staff and students. That is why as of January 2012 Northeast became one of three public universities/colleges in the state of Mississippi to have a tobacco-free campus. As Northeast entered into a tobacco-free campus, one may wonder what is in the policy. Northeast’s tobacco policy prohibits the use of any kind of tobacco use on any of Northeast’s three campuses – Booneville, Corinth and New Albany and also includes all campus vehicles, sidewalks, dorms and outside any buildings. One of the keys to the policy is not to anger or confuse students. It was created to make a healthy environment for people while on the campus. It is not only targeting
students but it also prevents tobacco use from faculty, staff, contractors, vendors and visitors. However, one may slip and when one does, what exactly will happen if caught? Northeast’s tobacco policy was not designed to punish anyone. If caught, the person will be asked to dispose of the tobacco product. If someone refuses to dispose of the product, then further action can be taken. No fine can or will be assessed, just a simple please and thank you. This policy was not meant to take away the privilege of smoking, but to give everyone the privilege of being in a tobacco-free environment. Northeast Dean of Students Ricky Ford said that it is everyone’s right to smoke, but it is also everyone’s right to choose whether to breathe in smoke or not. Not only did the policy take effect, but some tobaccocessation classes have started as well. Northeast is offering classes to help inform people how
bad smoking really is and to help people quit. Also, if a person wants more help with quitting smoking or tobacco, contact the Mississippi State Department of Health Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW to receive free counseling and medications, like nicotine patches and gum. According to the latest statistics, Mississippi ranks at the top in deaths related to heart disease with 5,250 premature deaths happening every year because of smoking. Smoking causes coronary heart disease, the number one cause of deaths in the United States. Northeast’s tobacco-free policy was not made just to benefit some people or to hurt others. It was designed to help the health of the thousands of people that walk upon our campus. Ford also said that this policy is to help show awareness of the fact that tobacco is bad.
PHI THETA KAPPA INDUCTS 180 Northeast Phi Theta Kappa photographer Lindsey Taylor (right) watches as Kiara Evans of Corinth (center) and Lucas Ferguson of Bruce sign the Iota Zeta chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society’s Book of Oath at the 2012 spring initiation ceremony held in Seth Pounds Auditorium on Monday, February 13. Approximately 180 members joined Phi Theta Kappa during the organization’s spring induction ceremony.
Pair makes Memphis Grizzline for second year By Brittni Cox Staff Writer Once again, two of Northeast’s own have been named to the National Basketball League’s (NBA) Memphis Grizzlies Grizzline. Jabari Temple and Steven Strom, both from Corinth were selected for inclusion into the Grizzline for the second straight year. During the 2010-11 season, four member – Randy Slocomb of Ripley, Thomas Kimmons of New Albany, Temple and Strom – of Northeast’s “Showband from Tigerland” were part of the inaugural Grizzline that provides entertainment before, during and after the Memphis Grizzlies games at the FedEx Forum in Memphis. With the lock-out shortened season, the Grizzline did not get to start until January but are looking to make a big splash with eight performances at Grizzlies games this year – even more if Memphis makes the playoffs again. Strom, Temple and the rest of the Grizzline made their initial 2012 appearance at the January 10 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and seven more dates remain with performances on January 21 against the Sacramento Kings, February 8 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, February 17 against the Denver Nuggets, February 29 against the defending NBA champions Dallas Mavericks, March 16 against the Toronto Raptors, April 7 against the Mavericks again and on April 18 against the New Orleans Hornets. “It’s really fun for people like me who are aged out in the drum core and the marching band,” Strom said. “It give you a chance to still play drums.” Strom, who concentrated in music in his first years at Northeast, also gets a chance to step away from his area of concentration now – welding – to provide entertainment to the NBA fans. Temple concentrates in music while at Northeast and both Strom and Temple have lent their area of expertise to
area high schools to help with their percussion sections. However, Temple and Strom have had to work hard to achieve the success that each has achieved. “It takes self determination to be a great a player” said Temple. Both Strom and Temple come from small Alcorn County schools that have smaller marching bands which has meant that both had to put in extra time to reach perfection. “It is harder for small schools than it is for big schools,” Strom said. “At big schools, you have a lot of different directors over each section on the band versus small school who just have one director to do it all.” Strom graduated from Alcorn Central High School while Temple is a Biggerville High School graduate. “It’s a fun experience,” Temple said. Strom also likes the fact that each Grizzline member treats the drumline as a career and are professional about their approach to not only appearances but practices as well. “Everyone is good,” Strom said. “We can get in there, get the job done and have fun doing it.” Temple and Strom must make sacrifices to be on the Grizzline but neither has let their academics slip and both have gained valuable experience in time management while being on the Grizzline. Some Grizzline practices are on the weekends, while others happen during week nights which makes for some long days especially if one has an 8 a.m. Class. Strom and Temple live some 90 miles outside of Memphis so with each performance or practice, a minimum of an hour-and-a-half is needed to make the drive to and from Memphis and with the average NBA game lasting two-and-a-half hours, that means Strom and Temple usually arrive back home after midnight. While the Grizzline might seem like a career, Strom and Temple have been able to foster a variety of memories including some close brushes with celebrities. “Standing next to Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal) was one of
Northeast sophomores Jabari Temple (left) and Steven Strom, both of Corinth, are making their trek to Memphis for a second tour of duty with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies Grizzline drum corp. my favorite memories,” Temple said, who stands nearly 18 inches shorter than the former seven-feet, two-inch center. Shaq might be a memory but Strom and Temple have also got the chance to meet other NBA legends such as Boston Celtic coach Doc Rivers and NBA champion Dirk Nowitzki along with the Miami Heat’s LeBron James and Dewayne Wade. Granted the celebrity access is nice, but both Strom and Temple know that to reach their ultimate goals they must remain focused on the end result and that’s providing quality entertainment to the NBA fans.