The SMCC Beacon 4-15-2014

THE SMCC

BEACON

Issue 5 Volume 13 April 15 2014

Campus Exposed:

Midcoast Campus News

Professing Poetry

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Lisa DeSisto By A.S. Kinsman

his morning members of SMCC’s The Beacon were treated to the privilege of being in the company of “Eggs & Issues”.

Eggs & Issues is the Portland Community Chamber of Commerce’s monthly business forum where the community gathers to discuss business issues of the day, according to the official website. At this particular meeting, the featured speaker was Lisa DeSisto, CEO and Publisher for Lisa DeSisto, MaineToday Media Maine Today Media Inc. She was there to speak on the behalf of the Portland Press Herald, including the launch of a new section in the Sunday edition and of a new marketing approach the paper will soon be implementing. Other members of SMCC were invited to the forum, including President Cantor and several prominent faculty members.

The forum was held at the Holiday Inn in Portland on Spring Street. At 7 am, business owners, teachers, high school students, college students, political figures, and other members of the community dressed in their best attire (formal black tie event) and made the pilgrimage to the conference room of the Holiday Inn. They drank coffee and tea and participated in a meet-and-greet while the rest of the guests arrived.

Shortly after, guests filed into the common room to their assigned tables, and enjoyed a meal of either eggs or fruit tarts, upon request. Once breakfast was eaten, a speaker gave a brief introduction, including mentioning sponsors of the event and giving a summary of what the main speaker was going to talk about.

Lisa DeSisto took the stage and spoke in length about the Portland Press Herald, owned by her company, MaineToday Media. She boasted of the Herald’s prestige and demand for skilled journalists and of the high quality of material available in the paper. DeSisto expounded upon the newest addition to the Maine Sunday Telegram, a section called Source, devoted to food, namely, homegrown and organic produce.

DeSisto also introduced the company’s next step in growing business. The Herald was once available free of charge on all electronic, online-accessing devices, including laptops and smartphones. However, this free ride will soon be ending. In response to the rise of technology, DeSisto announced they will no longer offer this service for free. Instead, users and readers will be given a five-time limit to access their online articles per month, and will be met with a paywall from each visit afterwards in order to pay for their readership. The rate for an online subscription is currently unknown.

Regular hardcopy circulation rates remain at $1.00 per day. The Sunday Telegram price is $1.75 in southern Maine and $2.00 elsewhere. The rates have not changed in the past twenty years.

The forum ended with an open microphone Q&A. One man pointed out the fact that sometimes he did not receive a paper on certain days, even though he had paid for a monthly subscription. DeSisto responded with the fact that this past winter has been difficult for deliveries, due to weather and road conditions, but promised to amend the problem of skipped deliveries.

Another man mentioned that he would like to hear about more ‘good news’, remarking that most of what he read in the Herald was ‘depressing, pessimistic, negative news’. Many others in the room either nodded or murmured their support. DeSisto commended the man for his comment and praised the idea of adding more positive news to the newspaper.

The Portland Press Herald remains the most widely published newspaper in the state of Maine and (Continued on Page 3)

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SMCC Beacon Participates in Eggs & Issues

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By Jennifer Lague

Many articles from the Portland Press Herald have resulted in positive change in the world.

The Portland Press Herald has won the Scripps Howard Award for their series on aging, and the George Polk Award for special acheivements in journalism. There is a new section coming out called Source which will feature sustainable living articles such as how to raise chickens, fishing tactics, how to grow your own organic food, and getting food from local farms. This section was sponsored partially by Hannaford Bros. Supermarkets.

There will be five articles for free per month on the website as well. You can get further information by visiting pressherald.com. Just don’t look for them at the PortlandPress Herald building on Congress St., anymore, because that has now been converted into a hotel.

At the end of the lecture several people were allowed to get up and ask her questions.

There was a man from the Maine Historical Society, the Principal of Cheverus High School, and even one of our own Beacon Staff who got up to ask her questions.

ave you ever wanted to be a journalist? If you do there is a woman who you should know about. Her name is Lisa DeSisto and she is the CEO and Publisher for Maine Today Media, Inc. She spoke at the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs and Issues forum on April 9th at Holiday Inn by the Bay.

Maine Today Media is Maine’s largest media company and publishes four newspapers in Maine.

They are the Portland Press Herald, the Kennebec Journal, the Morning Sentinal and the Maine Sunday Telegram. Lisa went to school at Amherst University and used to work for the Boston Globe, the Boston Phoenix and Sam Coombs, SMCC President Ronald Cantor, Erik Squire, Tammy Huisingh, Jennifer Lague, Rebekah Nappa, Laura Boston Magazine. She started off the conference Young, Sarah Mulcahy, and Garrick Hoffman. humorously stating that

Lisa is easygoing, friendly and humorous The Portland Press Herald has 113,381 this conference is one of the biggest sales calls in the way she deals with people. She is always readers for the print version and 829,416 who that she ever did and compared the past Eggs open to questions or suggestions, contact read the website. 1.2 million people from out & Issues speakers’ humanitarian efforts to her her at lisa@mainetoday.com. The website for of state visit the website as well. Pretty soon, own most popular feature, the Obituaries.

Maine Today Media is merely mainetodaymethere will be a small fee to pay in order to get The Portland Press Herald is proud of dia.com. If you have an interest in getting an the Press Herald online but you will also get a its history, which includes articles about bonus of adding in a subscription to the print- internship at one of the newspapers those are MaineCare rides not doing their job, daycare available as well. ed version for the same price, $8 per month. abuse issues and 911 transcripts being made.

Global Citizenry Through Education

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By Erik Squire

hanks to a notification from the CESIL Report, I was able to attend a fantastic event for free (Reg. $75). It was the Maine Summit on Citizen Diplomacy event held at USM. The 8hr event focused on positive global citizenry through education. It was a mind expanding and eye opening experience, with great speakers (and FREE food!).

The first segment of the event talked about two superbly operated Maine based Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Africa Schoolhouse and Safe Passage. One of the great things about these organizations is that they offer a ‘hand up’ and not a ‘hand out’, as well as including the natives of the country in the development process.

Africa Schoolhouse, created by Dr. Aimee Bessire, is a non-profit organization that builds schools and health clinics in Tanzania and then supplies teachers for the pupils. Her organization hires local contractors and includes the community and local government in the entire process. She also talked about how only 1% of Tanzanian girls are able get an education, then went on to state her intentions for solving that problem.

Safe passage, founded by a Mainer, is as it describes itself: A 501(c) (3) non-profit organization working in Guatemala City to bring hope, education, and opportunity to the children and families living in extreme poverty around the City’s garbage dump. Our program serves over 550 children, ranging in age from 2 to 21 years, coming from nearly 300 families in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Over the lunch segment of the event, Dr. Edwin Gragert, executive director of Global Campaign for Education-US, gave a fascinating pre-

sentation. First he talked about the importance of international collaboration. He gave an example by showing 12 pictures of different faces, and asked the audience to name them without anyone’s help; 9 was the most any one person could identify. After, he said the audience could collaborate with each other to figure out who was who. Then when he asked again to identify the people in the images, in general, everyone did better. The point he was making really sank in, that sharing ideas and knowledge on a global scale is of the utmost value to any society.

He later went on to demonstrate how high schools across the U.S. are making a difference globally just by using technology. Students are utilizing Skype for learning and sharing information, as well as the internet for raising awareness about other countries’ need for education. Case in point: a young group created a video about girls in some countries who can’t access education and are forced into marriage at a terribly young age.

Something worth noting about his presentation was that you don’t necessarily need money to make a difference in the world; you just have to take action and be creative.

One of the final presentations was from Thornton Academy in Saco.

Social Studies teacher, Devin Beliveau, along with two of his students, talked about their world culture class. Beliveau implemented an outstanding idea of having his students Skype with other students from different schools around the world. The two schools would share videos with each other about their country and culture, and then the students would each be assigned a pen pal. It looked to be a great success! The students (whether or not they realize it) have taken important lessons from this enriching experience and have a better understanding of the world they share.

The entire summit was educational, motivational, inspirational (all the “tional” words in the dictionary), and innovation filled. Because it was such a great event, I will work on getting some of the presentations to be given here at SMCC, so look out for them! Till then, stay amazing fellow students.

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uddled in the cozy, borderline Hobbit-ish size of the All Faiths Cathedral, and filling all of the seats, an audience composed primarily of students tuned into the poetry that was written and spoken by, respectively, three professors that teach right here at SMCC.

Professors Megan Grumbling, Mike Bove, and Quenton Baker all eagerly volunteered to participate in their poetry readings before the audience. Professor Bove, who brought a couple of professional publications that featured his work, prefaced the audience with, “It’s rare for a writer to have a chance to be able to show off their work to people. So if you’re wondering why I have these books with me, that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

The poets/professors strongly demonstrated their capacities of deft talent, and it was both

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serene and engaging to hear them.

Professor Grumbling’s first poem, entitled The Heist, bore a true story of hers in which the stairs to her apartment were being renovated, when one morning she came out to see all of the replacement sills for the new set were entirely absent. Someone - or a menacing posse of some sort had stolen the lumber. Although the contractors rebuilding the stairs had likely endured their share of exasperation, at least the theft served some inspiration to a nearby poet.

Silver lining? Indeed, Professor Grumbling may argue.

At one point Professors Grumbling and Bove aligned when Bove shared a poem that harbored a similar theme to one of Grumbling’s, which proved to be about the transcendence of seasons. Perhaps that joyous feeling of spring being around the

Enactus is on the Move, and Growing

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By Garrick Hoffman

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By Sineah McGrady

nactus is gardening! The seeds are sprouting, spring has sprung and clubs are collaborating. As you may have heard, the garden trend is growing! So much in fact, four different groups have jumped on the idea of sustainable eating. These include Enactus, The Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, The Sustainability Club, and The Gardening Club.

Look out folks, when we get together it’s going to be a superhero team of entrepreneurs, innovators, and well, gardeners! The ideas keep changing and the power is strengthening. The impact we can all have once our heads are put together will be endless. Don’t worry, all this behind the scenes action won’t go unnoticed.

Soon enough, especially those of you who choose to stick around for the summer, we will see fresh vegetables from our own gardens on campus.

From the start, it was Enactus’s intent to

create a learning tool all of SMCC could use.

How easy that was accomplished! This garden will boost interest for the clubs that are involved, and get students out of the classroom and in love with SMCC again. There will be a reason to come to campus and something to point to and say, I was a part of that.

Without describing too much about our project, as we are still in the works with other groups, I just want to let students know that we WILL be providing access to healthy, fresh produce, and to please contact Enactus with interested parties. We are looking to feed those in need and those without access to healthy food.

Our influence will snowball. Well, for spring’s sake, it will grow with your help. So please, upon collection of these fresh greens, pay it forward and keep in tune with Enactus efforts and lend your hands where possible. For volunteer opportunities please contact the Captain’s Cupboard. We would love to increase involvement and impact!

FROM THE MIDCOAST CAMPUS

THE SMCC

BEACON

Art Director

Graphic Designer

Photo Editor Illustration Coordinator Illustrators Managing editor

Section Editors

Contributing writers

Web Master

Online Art Direction

Advisor

Laura Young Tammy Huisingh Michael Smith Jennifer Lague Rebekah Nappa Matt Keith

Jason Glynn Garrick Hoffman Richard Sawyer Patrick Doyle A.S. Kinsman Alex Bessey Jack Collins Sam Coombs Dale Das Kora O. Han Xavier Hanson Charles Ishimwe Krista Krasnow-Kelly A. S. Kinsman Jennifer Lague Sineah McGrady Sakeena Rashid Erik Squire Charles Ishimwe Angelina Smith Chuck Ott

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corner influenced the sharing and/or writing of their work. Bets are on that everyone in the room that evening (and beyond, of course) are mentally singing “Hallelujah” as I type this, what with the warmer weather approaching, so the works and their accompanying themes were appropriate.

Professor Baker, who hails from Seattle, was the third and last to step up to the plate to share his poems. Baker was much less gentle with both his speech and his poetry, as his poetry revolved around more gravitational matter: the language was sometimes explicit, his voice was sometimes booming, and his disposition more passionate.

For a few moments I felt like I was bearing witness to a poetry slam, which I’ve never been an audience for in the past, and in the midst of said slam, Professor Baker exhibited a charisma that took on an intimate glow. It’s no wonder poetry slams are exactly that - a slam - because the words gnaw their way into you intensely, rather than serenely.

The erudite, rigorously thought-out language of theirs really shone that night in the All Faiths Chapel, and as both a student of Grumbling’s and an advisee of Bove’s, I felt a degree of pride for them as they spoke before me.

Seeing them beyond the superficial, seeing them shedding their armor and giving us a glimpse of what’s beneath, I learned things about them that I may not have otherwise if I hadn’t stepped into that space that night.

It’s also admirable of SMCC to support something like this. Sometimes artists are less revered, and their opportunities scant. Many schools put athletes on pedestals; some are gutting humanity programs and their faculties (does this sound familiar?), so I’m pleased to see my school support both its faculty members, its students, and the arts that they embrace, especially as someone who delights in myriad forms of art (writing, music, and photography, to name a few).

The next poetry reading will be held on April 22 from noon to 1:15 in the All Faiths Chapel.

FROM SMCC’S BRUNSWICK CAMPUS

A Growing Campus for Growing Minds By Alex Bessey First Year Student and Vice President of the Midcoast Club

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hen I began attending classes at SMCC’s Midcoast Campus I thought it would be exactly that: attending classes; but the tedious concept of chipping away at a degree was quickly replaced with a sense of purpose and involvement with both my peers and community. The pursuit of an education isn’t always easy. Community colleges are comfortable for those of us who have families, jobs, and responsibilities that would otherwise make traditional education an impossibility. What I have found by going to the Midcoast Campus is an environment that is rich with ideas, friendships, and opportunities that will carry the students, faculty, and Brunswick community much farther than I could have ever anticipated.

Through my involvement with the Midcoast Club and SMCC in general, I have been able to meet people and get involved in activities that I hadn’t expected when I returned to school. Having already been out of high school for four years, I wasn’t anticipating much more than essays and class-time to draw my attention. I was immediately inspired by the ideas for improvement and expansion on the Midcoast Campus, and by the efforts of many students to get involved. The success of the Midcoast Club in hosting several events has allowed me the opportunity to interact

with the student body, and to bring people together through common interests.

On the Midcoast Campus there is a genuine growing interest among the student body regarding the expansion and enrichment of the campus. Students are beginning new clubs, often consulting existing clubs about ideas and advice.

The productivity and excitement from students to see more activities, groups, events, and interaction on the Midcoast Campus is inspiring. The potential for growth on the Midcoast Campus is continually increasing, and the student body is both taking notice and taking action.

One of the most rewarding aspects of returning to school has been meeting other students working toward similar goals. On campus, there are hundreds of students coming and going from classes, all in an effort to achieve an education or career. Some students find their way back to school, or simply begin school, searching for a direction and the knowledge to get them there.

Personally, I returned to school to find a lot more than I had anticipated. There is a lot to be learned from classes and peer interactions alike, and getting involved with college clubs and the community has a unique worth in the college experience.

To be present around learning minds is something that I have grown to love about college. The effort to expand the SMCC Midcoast Campus is enormous, wand the efforts of the students to achieve their goals here is undoubtedly equal. On a growing campus, both in population and structure, there is a lot to be seen and learned here in Brunswick. The Midcoast Campus and its community of students have offered more to my education and interest than I could have imagined. Participation as a student and community member of Brunswick has truly added purpose to my education and solidified new goals for my future. We are here and we are growing, come check us out!

Online Work VS. Me

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By Garrick Hoffman

oney, religion, greed, desire, Fox News none of those are the root of evil. If you want the answer to what the root of all evil really is, look to online work. Hear me well!

In 2012, I took a class set up conventionally (classroom, professor, peers) paired with online homework. Things in the class were going swimmingly: every quiz and test I took came back to me with an “A” on it. I was an active and eager participant in class. I clearly demonstrated my understanding. Once, I even cracked a joke that got both my peers (who understood the joke) as well as my professor laughing. I knew I scored brownie points that day. I left the class patting myself on the back.

By the end of the semester, I had a C+ in that class. I was scratching my head, and certainly wasn’t jumping with glee about it, especially because I’m a perfectionist about my grades. I discovered later that the homework constitutes as much of a percentage as quizzes and tests. A few (note: not many, but a few; maybe even a couple) of those homework assignments I submitted late.

The professor refused to accept any late assignments, as mentioned in the syllabus.

Although I will quickly hold myself accountable for the results, to this day I can’t help but feel this fervent antipathy toward the reasoning behind my less-than-desirable grade.

My professor was staying true to the syllabus. But submitting an assignment at, say, 12:00 A.M. or minutes after, rather than the due date of 11:59 P.M., and having that be considered late and thus unaccepted, doesn’t sit with me too well.

Here’s one side of the argument: “Garrick, it’s your fault. You should have acknowledged that homework counts as much as tests and quizzes. You should have been on top of things and gotten in your homework on time.

You shouldn’t have procrastinated so much. You should have paid more regard to the class syllabus and completed your work according to it.”

Here’s mine: “Online work is for Hitler enthusiasts.”

I’m just kidding.

But seriously. This class and another are the only two classes I’ve received less than an “A” in.

Lisa DeSisto (from Cover)

promises to improve themselves even more for their ever-growing readers. Circulation numbers in 2012 included 47,326 on weekdays, 44,358 on Saturdays, and 76,015 on Sundays. Over 4.6 million hits were registered on the website in November 2011. Other states, including ones as far away as Arizona, have regular readers of the

CAMPUSnews (“Do you hear that? It sounds like a horn. Garrick must be tooting his.”)

The other class was math, which was also a C+. I’m not a math person, and I deserved that C+. It was justified. For this class in question, however, it doesn’t feel that way. Although I’m aware that my argument is (likely?) null and void, I still feel about the whole situation. My suboptimal grade feels severely unjustified, especially when accounting for my excellent test/quiz grades, active participation, and demonstration of understanding. It also feels severely unjustified because, due to homework being online rather than submitted in person, any homework that I obviously did and chose to submit after 11:59 P.M. (although I stayed on top of things for most of the semester) was dismissed altogether, as if I hadn’t done it at all. I think that if it was homework submitted in person I probably could have dodged that late-assignment-dismissal bullet. Perhaps because I feel more inspired to do more paper-based tangible homework and handing it in to the professor.

You know, like the traditional way. (I do admire the “green” element to online work, however.)

I suppose part of the reason I’m sharing my curmudgeonly anecdote here is that I’m imploring to professors to perhaps minimize some of their syllabus pedantry. I understand that the syllabus is essentially the Constitution of a class and that we as students should adhere to it.

But, in the case of my C+ that I received in the class in question, it feels like exactly what I just mentioned: pedantry.

And now I’m taking another class set up the same way: classroom work two days a week with online homework, tests, and quizzes. For most of this semester already I’ve felt uneasy about it. I feel sort of distanced from the class perhaps, like I’m behind. Worse, the website designed for the class has had a multitude of malfunctions over the semester, consequently leading to an epidemic of headaches for seemingly everyone. And, furthermore, the online work is entirely ineffective for me. I know it’s up to the student to put forth the effort to actively learn the material for their class, but I can’t help but bring myself to take the easiest possible route in completing the tests online. I feel like I’m hardly learning anything at all, which is really too bad because the subject

matter to me is really quite interesting and always has been. And I don’t want to take my education for granted, yet in this online work-based class, I sort of find myself doing that, at least when it comes to the online work.

I guess online work doesn’t inspire me to go above and beyond, or to take the right measures in succeeding in the class.

I’m still doing well in this current class, don’t get me wrong, but like I said: I don’t feel inspired to go above and beyond in it.

Maybe others feel differently. I’m sure there are some out there who can manage – perhaps even better – with online work.

I can’t even fathom taking an entirely online-based class, with no professor or peers present. How can anyone? I

understand the convenience factor and that some seek to tackle the class because it’s mandatory, to just get it out of the way. I almost took an online class and I’m so, so glad I didn’t go through with it. I relish the in-class stimulation: hearing others speak, responding accordingly when it’s warranted, listening to the professor speak, responding accordingly to that (and receiving recognition and reward when it’s earned!), asking questions and asking questions and asking questions, making friends, laughing or shaking my head, and just being there and participating and feeling involved. And the list goes on.

I’ve made an oath to myself to never take a wholly online class if I can help it. I understand it’s 2014 and that’s the reality of what things are, but hopefully not what they’ll become, especially for people like me.

I wonder if anyone else out there feels the same way?

Portland Press Herald.

DeSisto thanked the guests for their time and questions, and gave each a copy of Source, along with an eco-friendly pot, and a packet of spinach seeds. She promised to make the Herald even better with input from the local community.

The next speaker at Eggs & Issues will be Governor Paul LePage on May 8th, 2014.

| April 15, 2014 |3

THEotherWORLD Something for Nothing The Art of Rap

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By Krista Krasnow-Kelly

ce T directs and narrates this documentary that takes the viewer on an intimate look into the world of hip-hop culture.

He features several mastermind members of the hip-hop community. He opens the doors for discussion past the bling and fame and into the mind of these lyrical geniuses. Ice T himself is accredited as the grandfather of “gangster hip hop.” He explores the explosion of thought that transcends into bomb dropping lyrics.

Something for Nothing: The Art of Rap gives us common folk (like myself ) insight and a glance into the world of freestyle, break dancing, and the general hip-hop community. Many infamous lyricists are featured such as Melle Mel, who is considered one of the leaders in hip hop. He was the first rapper to call himself an MC (Master of Ceremonies).

Through the entire documentary there are gems of unheard accapella freestyles from Grand Master Caz, Lord Finesse, Immortal Technique, and many more.

The documentary raises some interesting questions around Hip Hop and why this particular genre of music maybe less revered as others. The documentary explores a few ideas. One idea being that hip-hop for many years has been a reflection of the communities it was born in.

Which include urban cities in California and the New York City burrows. These communities while being traditionally poor and with a large population of African Americans, gave hip-hop the opportunity to be a reflection on the struggle and poverty found within these communities. Artists wanted to illuminate their truth and this struggle was included in their voice. Ice T discusses that hip hop may not be as revered because people were fearful to look at the “underbelly” of their country.

Fearing that this struggle exists, and it may invade their homes through the ears of their children.

With the progression of any music genre hip-hop has transcended and now in many ways is a current form of poetry, poetry over a beat. Don’t get me wrong; there is hip-hop in our world that still consists of overrated discussion of “bling” and the gross objectification of women. I could not write an article about hip-hop without acknowledging this side of it. The documentary enlightens you on what makes a good MC. It discusses that what is required is much more than superficial banter. Wit, cleverness and originality are absolutely required. Free styling, meaning rhymes thought of on the spot, and not previously written are a great example of an MC’s abilities. The documentary features many of these witty moments.

After watching this documentary, if you were not previously, you will be curious about the world of hip hop. Surprisingly Portland, ME has a rising hip-hop scene. One of the examples of this is Portland Rap Night, which takes place every Wednesday night at the Asylum from 9pm to 1am. Admission is $3 at the door, and in the hip-hop tradition, ladies get in free. A main act of the week is sandwiched between two open cyphers. Many of the acts are local MC’s, but also include out of state talents. Come have fun! And experience hip hop first hand, live action!

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News Alert: Twirling Pencils, 1984 and Insanity

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By Patrick Doyle

ext time you twirl a pencil may be your last. You could become a vegetative politically-correct robotic inadvertent tyrant at a flick of the fingers, cracking away at an academic problem or drawing in public. You could be hauled away to a “center” for urine/blood analysis, stripped down and probably deloused. What a good way to start off those wretched teenaged years, being some sort of political prisoner for TWIRLING A PENCIL.

You can’t make this stuff up. Ethan Chaplin, a 7th grader at Glen Meadow Middle School in New Jersey, was twirling his pencil in class; a grave offense which made another student “feel uncomfortable” and was related to “gun motions.” The school policy is that if any student feels threatened or uncomfortable, it must be investigated by officials. Chaplin’s behavior was a “red flag” as Super Intendant Charles Maranzano told NJ’s local news, which requires his board to “do our duty.”

Apparently duty means stripping Chaplin, giving him blood tests (he passed out), a urinalysis and then having him wait four hours for a social worker to give him five minutes of lip service before sending him on his way. Read it again; this kid got treated like a member of an underground insurgency for TWIRLING A PENCIL. As of now, Chaplin is still suspended from school.

Gee, has no one ever noticed the cunning intellect of a bully? A bully doesn’t need to always pound your face into paste; they can be elusive bastards. This kid probably had someone who thought not too much of him and decided to make a joke that some sleep-deprived automaton took as an absolute emergency which needed to be treated ASAP.

Violence sucks. We get it. Violating the rights of another based on bogus evidence sucks too.

Insanity sucks even more, especially those that cloak themselves in being very “understanding” and “tolerant” yet they hold a kid captive for using an inanimate object in no real particular way, but since we only like guns in the hands of those who can use them as a leverage tool, any

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By Jason Glynn

i folks, hope things are well in your world, they are great in mine. I am writing this from a sweet room in the Omni Shoreham hotel, located right in Washington D.C., so there is absolutely nothing that I can complain about.

I am very much looking forward to learning even more science stuff from numerous Smithsonian institutions while I’m here. I’m pretty excited for the National Zoo, the Natural History Museum, and the Air and Space Museum, but alas, that will be nothing new as far as breakthroughs go.

I do want to quickly apologize if there were any inaccuracies in my last column about the Big Bang Theory. Physics is not my major, in fact, physics 2 with Earl Lamoreau cost me my 4.0 GPA – I got an A-. Also, to my defense, the Big Bang Theory is some pretty heavy stuff, and I did the best I could in regurgitating and simplifying it. So this time let’s explore some breakthroughs in my comfort zone, my niche: biology.

I’m sure you’ve all heard about GMOs (genetically modified organisms), there is a lot of hysteria that surrounds them. People tend to be more afraid of something they don’t understand, and sadly most scientists are not good about explaining what they do well on regard to GMOs enough.

GMOs are everywhere… I mean everywhere; from yogurt and cheese to apples (there are no ‘natural’ apple trees left, they are all clones), to laundry detergent – which was the first GMO product sold commercially.

All of GMO consists of manipulating an organism’s genome to either express, or repress, a desired trait and now we’ve now learned

other hint of them even existing is met with a degree of craziness I can’t even really grasp; I imagine if I did try to grasp it with a clear head I would get pricked by a zillion thorns, bleeding all over the place. That’s good though, I’d be an easy blood test after some bozo reads this and probably thinks I’m an “advocate” of “violence.”

This, the Pop-Tart incident (where a student

ate a Pop-Tart into the “shape of a gun”) and a myriad of others are the problem here. The policing by the tender wolves in sheep clothing is petrifying and I assume probably is giving this entire politically-correct movement a real run for its money. Either that, or there are a bunch of people out there broke as a damn joke.

Act Utilitarianism: A First-Hand Experience

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By Sakeena Rashid

n my country, Sudan, we have a war in the Darfur Territory between two tribes, the Arab (Janjaweed) and the Fur Tribe. The Fur Tribe was living on this land for many years as farmers, and the Arabs were living there as nomads. Now, they are fighting each other for the fertilized land.

Because of population growth and desert movement, the amount of fertilized land has diminished. The Janjaweed tribe is getting government support so they have become powerful. They have killed or dispersed many in the Fur Tribe to other countries. They control the cities, and in the countryside they rob people who travel on the roads.

When people travel between cities in a bus, the Janjaweed will stop the bus and question all the people.

You have to tell them your tribe. If you say that you are from the Fur Tribe, they will shoot you immediately.

One day, I was traveling between Kass and Niyla (cities in Darfur). The Janjaweed stopped my bus and questioned everyone. There were many of them. They were on horseback and carried machine guns. They spoke in frightful, loud voices and made us all get off the bus.

I was afraid when a man came up to me and asked me what tribe I belonged to. He was very frightening because of his loud voice and red eyes.

Even though I am proud to be a member of the

Fur Tribe and even though lying is not allowed in my religion, at that moment, I decided to tell a lie because I knew the Janjaweed and their cruelty.

They had already had burned my village and killed many of my relatives. I was lucky to escape. I knew the consequences of telling the truth, so I told them I was from the Arab Tribe. They believed me, and that saved my life.

Act Utilitarianism, says that in determining what we should do, we should consider how the specific act would produce the best overall consequences. If telling a lie would give the maximum balance of pleasure over pain, then it is all right to tell that lie.

In every situation, you must decide what is the best for that situation. I agree with the Act Utilitarianism. In this situation, the best overall consequence was not to be killed. I told my lie to save my life and no one was hurt by this lie.

This creates a dilemma for me because in my religion, Islam, you should never tell a lie. If the situation means that you might die, then you are supposed to still tell the truth, be killed, and go to heaven. But this did not make sense to me because although I want to go to heaven, I was very young and wanted a good life on Earth.

I still feel that Act Utilitarianism, telling a lie this time, was the best action in that situation. Now I have two children who never would have been born if I had told the truth. By being alive, I hope that I can contribute important things and benefit my society.

“I told my lie to save my life and no one was hurt by this lie.”

how to modify a gene to fight a disease. A new process of gene-editing was used by a team of researchers led by Daniel Anderson from MIT to reverse a liver disorder in mice.

Most of your regular disorders/diseases are due to some kind of genetic mutation. A mutation is when the coding – ACTG – somewhere goes wrong. There are many ways these mutations can happen during transcription and translation.

There are many ways that your body repairs mutated genes: direct repair, base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, etc. Bacteria must be pretty crafty, and efficient, when it comes to DNA repair because the replicate prolifically so there are therefore many errors made.

T his new technique that uses a bacterial protein is known as CRISPR, is a form of excision repair, but it is super-precise. It includes an enzyme, Cas9 which can be programmed for where to cut – recognizing a specific sequence of ACTG. Also included are a short RNA guide strand, and a DNA template strand. The wrong gene-coding sequence is excised, and a new sequence – that is correct – is copied from the template strand.

The mice had a liver disorder known as type 1 tyrosinemia, this is where a mutation that codes for the enzyme FAH, which breaks down the amino acid tyrosine, prevents the enzyme’s production. The tyrosine will then accumulate and this can cause liver failure.

Once the gene was edited, the system was back to normal.

This process provides many hopes in combating disease. I’m sure we’ll keep hearing of advancements with this method. New RNA guide strands can be made for anything really, and same with a template strand.

The next breakthrough is near and dear to my heart – or rather my waistline. Scien-

tists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), led by Dr. Barbara Kahn, believe they have found a “genetic switch” for your metabolism that will help obesity.

Your metabolism governs how efficiently your body burns calories to do everything, and people either have a “fast” or “slow” metabolism. Ironically, “If we have an efficient [slow] metabolism, we don’t need many calories; the cells can get all the energy we need from a small number of calories,” Kahn said. “If we have an inefficient [fast] metabolism, more calories get burned and we can eat more without gaining weight.”

They discovered that mice with a slow metabolism had more of an enzyme (NNMT) produced by a certain gene and by turning off the gene that encodes this nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) enzyme they saw a reduction in body weight. Kahn says “when we knock down this NNMT gene, we affect this [futile cycle]. We speed it up, and it will burn up more calories.” Turn off the gene, and turn down the enzyme.

The technology that makes this gene rewiring is known as antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) technology, these are short strings of DNA that can recognize a certain sequence and bind to the gene so it is not expressed. Sort of like the enzyme talked about above, but this does not alter or edit the code.

Since more than 1/3 of adults in the United States are considered obese and 8.3 percent of the American population has diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this can clearly help millions of people.

Although there are still ethical standards that must be upheld, I trust my fellow scientists that are striving to make a better world through biotechnology.

SMCC Sophomore Fiston Seba Bujambi

And the 2014 Reflections of Hope Awards

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By Charles Ishimwe

he Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum awarded Roméo Dallaire, a retired Lieutenant-General, Senator, and celebrated humanitarian the 2014 Reflections of Hope Award. In 1993, LGen Dallaire was appointed Force Commander for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR); where he witnessed the country’s descent into chaos and genocide. More than 800,000 Rwandans were killed in less than 100 days.

Romeo Dallaire wrote many books about Rwanda and the experiences that he witnessed during the 1994 Tutsi genocide.

Shake Hands with Devil is one of the many books that he wrote.

Roméo Dallaire was honored because of his role of trying to stop the 1994 Tutsi Genocide of Rwanda. For more information about the honoring event, you may visit http://www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/secondary.php?section=15&catid=191&id=1458

Fiston was one of two artists who were pleased to perform at the event. He was featured with the famous Rwandan artist, The Ben in a new song called “I Can See.”

“It was very a helpful and good experience

Boy Meets World Meets Sequel

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By A.S. Kinsman

t is a dream come true for children of the 90’s. Boy Meets World, an extremely popular sitcom that aired on ABC’s TGIF lineup between 1993 and 2000, is getting a sequel.Boy Meets World was a rare success in the way that it did not have a cancellation like other shows, such as Full House. Rather, it enjoyed long-term success, good ratings, and a conclusion written by the creator instead of a forced cancellation ending. Boy Meets World has been syndicated since 1997. The show was believed to be dead and gone, and most fans resigned themselves to watching reruns on channels that offered it. A groundbreaking announcement was made last March: A spinoff was in the works.

The new show will feature Cory and Topanga’s 13-year-old daughter, Riley Matthews, as the protagonist. Like her father before her, she will be the main focus of the show as she navigates adolescence and the growing pains of becoming an adult. Unlike Boy Meets World, the setting will not take place in Philadelphia, but instead in New York City, where Cory and Topanga moved when she was offered a dream internship at the end of the original series.

Riley Matthews will have a best friend of the

THEotherWORLD to perform in such crowd of people. I have been dreaming to change the lives of the people since I was very young. I could believe that I got this chance to perform among the professional people with a beautiful song of comforting the survivors of 1994 Tutsi genocide,” said Fiston.

Fiston was born and raised in a Christian Family. He started singing and playing the piano at age of 12 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). His music carrier is often classified as R&B, jazz fusion and gospel music. His goal is to earn an associate degree in Communication and New Media at SMCC and transfer later to a 4yr college where he will study music and the arts.

“Despite of attending this event, I have learned a lot form this event, I have heard the strong message from Romeo Dallaire. This man tried everything to stop genocide, but he couldn’t manage it. This experience is similar to what I have experienced in DR Congo. We really need heroes like Romeo today to stop the violence’s around the world,” said Fiston is an emotional voice.

Fiston attended the event on the 31st of March 2014, one week before the 20th commemoration of 1994 Tutsi Genocide. On April 7th of each year, the country of Rwanda and friends of Rwanda take the time to commemorate the beloved ones that were killed for no reason in the 1994 Tutsi Genocide. As in other parts of world, the diaspora of the Rwandan Community in New England meet for commemoration services.

This year’s service was held at the Portland High School Auditorium, on April 12th. Regardless of whether you were able to attend this year’s service, or not please do your part to say Never Again to this inhuman act. same gender like her father did. Maya Hart “will be the new Shawn Hunter”, according to creator Michael Jacobs. Cory and Topanga have another child, named Auggie, who is younger than Riley.

Cory is a middle school teacher, much like Mr. Feeney, his former teacher, who was in the main cast in the original series. Topanga is a lawyer at her own firm.

The same creators, crew, cast, and writers have returned for the spinoff. Michael Jacobs invited all of the actors to reprise their roles, and many have accepted the offer. Ben Savage (Cory), Danielle Fishel (Topanga), Daniel Jacobs (Joshua), Lee Noris (Stuart Minkus) and others will reprise their roles. Cory’s parents, Amy and Allen, will be re-introduced once the audience is used to the new cast members. Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter) has already been filmed in an episode as a guest appearance. Will Friedle (Eric Matthews), Trina McGee (Angela Moore), Maitland Ward (Rachel Maguire), and William Daniels (George Feeney) are all speculated to have guest appearances as well, but are keeping hush-hush in order to not spoil the show. It is currently unknown if any of the actors mentioned in the latter will ever make a cameo in Girl Meets World.

The new show was picked up by Disney, who ordered a pilot episode in November 2012. On June 17, 2013, Disney Channel announced that it had ordered a first season episodic order for Girl Meets World; the show is scheduled to premiere in summer 2014 on the Disney Channel. A trailer for the show was released last week and is available to view on YouTube.

Creating and Using Windows to Go

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90 days are up, you will just have to make it again following these same steps.

By Jack Collins

o you still have that external USB hard drive you purchased freshman year to back up your schoolwork? Is just sitting there collecting dust? Why not turn it into a full-blown portable Windows 8 device! With Windows 8 To Go you can plug it into a PC, boot, and you are ready to go!

As a student in the Tech Department here at SMCC having a windows 8 To Go device has been invaluable. I use it to take notes in class, write school papers, check emails, work on projects, to check my Microsoft xbox live profile, or even use it on my MacBook Pro so I don’t need to install Windows on it using bootcamp. I don’t even need to bring my laptop to campus anymore if I don’t feel like it. I can put my To Go hard drive in my backpack (or pocket for that matter), and plug into one of the PCs on campus. With the To Go device you can install programs, use the Windows App Store, and use other Windows 8 features the same way you would on a Windows 8 PC. In fact, this article was written on my Windows To Go device.

When I created my To Go device I used the recommended hardware, and used Windows 8.1, so this will be a guide on how to create Windows 8.1 To Go using recommended hardware. Here is a list of the recommended hardware. When these steps are completed you will be able to run Windows 8.1 on any computer for FREE! Everyone likes free! Since we will be using an evaluation version, the device will only last for 90 days. Once the

Step 1. Have a host machine with Windows 8.1 Enterprise (evaluation version) installed.

90 day evaluation version can be downloaded here Step 2. Connect your Windows To Go USB drive to the host machine.

Step 3. Search for “Windows To Go” on the host machine and press enter. Start the Windows To Go Creator Step 4. Select the drive letter that represents the USB device you connected in step 2.

Step 5. Click “Add Search Location” and select The Windows 8.1 Enterprise WIM file Step 6. For this guide we will skip the Set a BitLocker password, so click Skip Step 7. Click Create and wait for the process to complete. This may take several minutes.

Finished! You can now reboot into your Windows To Go device. Enjoy!

Jack Collins is a member of the Computer Technology Senior Seminar course and is planning on a career in Information Technology Field The online version of this article can be found here :(http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/hh699156.aspx?ocid=wc-mscom-ent).

Have you tried SMARTHINKING online tutoring? It’s free & easy! Any SMCC student who has an online tutoring session with SMARTHINKING from now until April 30th will be entered to win an Amazon Gift Card. This is limited to one entry per person, but you may use SMARTHINKING as often as you need.

SMARTHINKING currently provides freew online support in a variety of subjects including Math, Writing, Science, Spanish, Computer/Technology & Business (a full list is here http://www.smarthinking. com/m/pdf/uploads/Smarthinking%20-%20Tutoring%20Hours%20 of%20Service.pdf) up to 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. FOR ACCESS, log into MYSMCC>MyMaineGuide>MyLearning>Tutoring or go through your MyMathLab account; new users need to register with code from online tutoring page.

Spring Semester Hours in the Learning Commons 207-741-5535 • 207-741-5521 tutoring@smccme.edu Mon-Thu 8am-8pm

Fri 8am-5pm

Sat 12pm-4pm

Sun 4pm-8pm | April 15, 2014 |5

Voice Behind Pro-Choice

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By Erik Squire

ome things are present in society without people objectively looking at them. People tend to take things at face value; however, if they were to look just a little under the surface, they would see a whole different creature. Take for instance the right to choose.

On the surface it sounds like a good thing. Who wouldn’t want a woman to have her own right to choose? If you can disprove the notion that the fetus is a human being, it would seem the great debate would be over. It would be nothing more than removing one’s tonsils, and therefore up to the individual to decide.

But what if there’s more to it? What if the right to choose is just a façade that hides a hideous machine? This article isn’t about the murder of 53 million innocent lives (the total number of abortions taken place in America since 1973). Most have heard that debate and made up their minds. This article is about a side to abortion that isn’t often brought up: eugenics.

Eugenics is the belief and practice of improving the genetic quality of the human population. It is a social philosophy advocating the improvement of human genetic traits through the promotion of higher reproduction of people with desired traits (positive eugenics), and reduced reproduction of people with less-desired or undesired traits (negative eugenics). – Wikipedia

Here’s a quick history lesson for those who don’t know: Eugenics was very much alive in the U.S. and openly supported by many notable people/institutions such as President FDR, the Rockefellers, and Harvard University just to name a few.

Eugenics is responsible for the death of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust, not to mention countless other instances throughout history.

Margret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, was a eugenicist.” In a quote from her commentary What Every Girl Should Know she said that Aboriginal Australians were “just a step higher than the chimpanzee” with “little sexual control,” in contrast to the “normal man and Woman.”

She is also quoted as saying. “Birth control must lead ultimately to a cleaner race.” In another work she stated “The most merciful thing that the large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.”

Perhaps then it’s no coincidence that African American women make up 13% of America’s female population and yet they have nearly 36% of the U.S.’s abortions.

That is a staggering number! Approximately 24% of all U.S. pregnancies end in abortion. With African Americans representing nearly half of that percentage, and already making up such a small portion of the population, one has to wonder the real underlying values of Planned Parenthood.

According to the CDC 616,074 African Americans are born each year and about 458,500 babies are aborted each year. It should then come as no surprise that one of the first birth control clinics was placed in an African American community.

In today’s America it is not acceptable to practise eugenics openly, especially when it discriminates against a minority. However, eugenics can be carried in the U.S. under the disguise of something positive, AKA: freedom of choice. Meanwhile innocent lives are being taken each day. This isn’t to say that African Americans aren’t able to choose whether or not they use a clinic. Rather, this article is suggesting that there are societal pressures placed, on African Americans in particular, to not come to full-term.

Everyone wants to be an advocate of a woman’s right to choose. However, perhaps the reader might want to rethink the cost of that stance. After all, no one wants to be the person who supports racial genocide.

6 | April 15, 2014 |

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OP&ED e t t e r s

Dear Editor,

I enjoyed reading Xavior Hanson’s piece on SMCC students’ various opportunities for transfer.

Many of our students have, in fact, transferred to top tier colleges such as Bates College, Smith College, Northeastern University, Wellesley College, Bentley University and Mt. Holyoke College. Some students from SMCC have even continued on with their education to earn their doctoral degrees. Our students have transferred as far away as Florida, Maryland, Nevada, Georgia and California (just to name a few). SMCC students who excel in their academics will have many educational avenues to choose from.

Of course, a great many of our students have children, jobs, extended family and homes in Maine. Pursuing further higher education located in another state or even a few hours away within Maine can be problematic. More local or regional educational institutions may, out of necessity, be the best options for these students. Many of the more selective institutions are also terrifically expensive and an excellent grade point average is not always a guarantee of substantial scholarship money. Some students will be taking economic factors into consideration as they review their transfer possibilities, with an eye toward avoiding staggering educational debt. Providing SMCC students with information on institutions that are nearby and affordable is by no means implying that our students, “…are not good enough.”

Like Mr. Hanson, I have been fortunate to meet hundreds of talented, intelligent and remarkable students during my tenure at SMCC. I am in awe of their determination, integrity and intellectual capacity. Our students are absolutelygood enough to succeed wherever they go. Of course, that means they will succeed just as well at a regional or local institution. They will make the most of every opportunity that comes their way, they will impress the professors they work with, they will make substantial contributions during their internship assignments, they will engage with student groups and they will reach out to help their fellow students at every turn. Finally, I believe the most impressive

t o

t h e

thing about SMCC students is that they will make any institution of higher education that they attend into a better institution. That makes me very proud to work here.

Striving isn’t about “what’s next door” or the lustrous name of an institution. Striving is an internal process, a contest within one’s self, and a struggle to learn how to apply the whole person to every endeavor. Someone who masters that ability will have doors open to them no matter what their baccalaureate alma mater might be.

By the way, if any SMCC student out there would like assistance with transfer plans, whatever your aspirations for further education may be, call me at 741-5626 and we’ll set up an appointment to talk. I can help!

Sharon Bannon SMCC Director of Career & Transfer Services sbannon@smccme.edu Letter to the Beacon

I have my Phi Theta Kappa letter in hand and am asking myself why I should join. From the last two Beacon writers, it sounds like they get to do a lot of things. They get to go bowling, have preferred table space, and travel to out of state events. Are they also limited to the same budgets as other student groups? We were limited to $200 per person, and had to sleep lots of kids in a room. Hard work to raise money. Bagel sales must be good to raise what we figure is more than $500 above the amount regular students get. Does Student Senate approve this?

We heard the students also go to bars while traveling. Is that ok? We signed travel forms that said we couldn’t drink. Are the rules the same? Does not sound so. Should be with advisors holding the same standards. Maybe student groups need to be smarter to to work around the rules everyone else follow. I know I won’t buy bagels there anymore.

Gross to have food on the floor and things cleaned in the bathrooms. Maybe I will pass on this honor.

Disappointed Smart Student

E

d i t o r

Dear Editor,

Yes, yes to Patrick Doyle’s clever article, “Dada Art Criminals Strike Again At SMCC” in issue 5 of The Beacon.

I feel much safer now after reading it and am now unafraid of the abstract and obscure. It has been harder for me I’ll admit to totally avoiding Impressionism, but whenever I see anything that smacks of it, I quickly squint my eyes and see nothing but Fauv-y thick green lines. I have even carved out some time next semester to join the Van Gough Mercenaries, though at this writing, still have both ears. Thank you for bringing this madness to light, and for making us more aware of the need to be on watch for French Existentialists that may be infiltrating the campus.

Su Young To the Editor

Every time I log on to the SMCC portal, there is a list of student activities and events taking place throughout the week. Usually included in the list are club meetings, open mic nights, volunteer projects, and information tables. I have noticed however that the Beacon does not seem to cover many of these activities listed, nor have any coverage on student clubs and organizations. I understand that as students yourself, you are probably not involved in every one of the clubs or activities that takes place, but isn’t there a way that more of the events could get more coverage? I think it would be beneficial for those involved in the events, the students who are not involved, and would contribute greatly to The Beacon. Reading about them in the newspaper would help to make all these activities more close and realistic to your fellow students.

I hope you take my thoughts into consideration, as I look forward to reading about them in your next edition.

Sincerely, Abigail Winslow, Student at SMCC

Dear Editor, The letters below are written by SMCC students who are in Advanced Writing for non-native English speakers. They are learning the value of freedom of the press and are practicing their writing skills as well. Please give us your feedback or come to visit us at SMCC. These immigrant and refugee students have worked hard and would appreciate your comments.

Sincerely, Rosemarie De Angelis, SMCC Professor Dear Editor,

Women today have a very unrealistic body image to look upon. How are we supposed to be six feet tall and look like a Barbie doll? It is just totally unattainable. We come in all shapes and sizes and are all beautiful! The battle against the thousands of ads we see with unrealistic body image is going to be a hard one.

How many normal women do you see on TV? Where is the average image represented? It is said that to be beautiful you have to be a size 1. Not only does this happen in a certain place, unfortunately it takes place all over the world.

However this incident causes insecurity, self-consciousness, depression or even suicidal thoughts.

So look to your right and to your left, the women sitting next to you on the bus, the woman who helps you at the bank, your mother and your friends. These are the women you can look up to, to realize that the ads you see aren’t real. I just want to continue the message of self-love, because we are all amazing and gorgeous. Take a moment, and reconsider your importance. Please give yourself the love and respect you deserve. You’re worthy.

Sincerly, Bellmyche Mahoungou, Congo Dear Editor,

Some people start to smoke at a young age.

When they start they think that it’s a funny thing to do, but they don’t know that they are putting their life in danger. Some time people think that it’s good for them when they have stress. Other people say that there is nothing wrong with smoking.

I wish they would open their eyes and see how cigarette smoking is dangerous to their life.

Sometimes the effects don’t just come right away, but they come slowly until you get a serious illness.

When I was at my workplace with my friends I heard someone telling the story about a man who was a smoker. My friend said that this guy started to smoke when he was eighteen years old. He tried his best to hide the cigarette smell, but after few

months his mom caught him and she was really angry. She tried to advise him by telling him how smoking cigaret is dangerous, but he didn’t listen to her. After twenty years his doctor told him that he has cancer.

Now he is in pain and has depression. He is taking medicine just waiting for his death. The only thing he has left is to regret that he should’ve listened to his mom’s advice and stopped smoking.

Smoking is not healthy for us. We need to make a good decision for our future life. A good choice will give us a better life to enjoy.

Sincerely, Yvonne Nyabeze, Congo Dear Editor,

Junk foods typically contain high levels of calories from sugar or fat with little protein and vitamins which are the cause of many diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. I think availability of junk food should be reduced because it not only affects the growth of children but it also harms the health of adults.

The problem is that most don’t tend to feel as full when they eat it. If they replace it with more nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, healthy beverages and low fat dairy instead of soda and candy, they would feel better. Some reasons people eat junk food is that it is a way of life. Many people are working more hours or spending more time at school and they don’t have time to go shopping or cook good food. Another reason is the loss of the family tradition of eating together. Children and adults rarely eat together now and have less opportunity to talk with each other.

It can be difficult to avoid junk food as a teen, but unhealthy eating habits and the negative effects it has on the body often start early in life.

It is better to break these bad habits as soon as possible. The best way to avoid the risk is to teach your children how to make healthy and natural foods for themselves by cooking in good oil and a small amount of sugar and salt.

We must help reduce the availability of sugar,

fast food and sugared beverages in schools. Junk foods, especially snacks and drinks, should no longer be allowed in school cafeterias. Schools should not support unhealthy eating habits and teachers should teach children about the importance of exercise and eating healthy foods.

Ghafran Mahdi, Iraq Dear Editor,

Bullying comes in many forms, from cyber bullying to physical bullying. Many students feel insecure and cannot reach out because of fear.

Deep inside they carry a painful sense of isolation and feel all alone. The reason why is because they feel inferior.

The victim usually has a lack of confidence to stand up for himself because he feels afraid.

Bullying happens on a daily basis. Many times it happens when a leader of a certain group invites other people to join him. People become followers because they are afraid of getting bullied. Others watch the victim but yet we ourselves are victims for not standing up to help. It takes a courageous person to stand up for someone especially when he is all alone and has no one to help him.

When the victim defends himself, the bully usually leaves him alone. Bullying doesn’t always have to be used as something physical, but It can also be verbal. Most bullies abuse victims by calling them names to hurt them. Some victims sit by themselves and wish they could reach out to someone who is willing to help them but no one is on their side. When this occurs victims sometimes keep it a secret and then it becomes too late.

When they see that there is no option, they may choose to tragically end life. Suicide is the second leading cause to all deaths from people ages 10-24. In conclusion I hope by 2014 something is done to stop bullying in school. We need courageous people to stand up to the bullies. Bullying is a devastating thing to both the individual and the ones surrounding them. We need people who have temerity to stand up for the innocent victims who need our help.

A Tale of Two Schools

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By Richard Sawyer

y now everyone is familiar—to some degree— with the financial woes of USM. Faculty and staff have been fired and the University has facing repeated and growing shortfalls from the state. The anger and frustration has been growing on all sides of the situation. It didn’t have to be this way.

It is easy to understand the up swell of emotion that has turned into protest. Teachers are being fired. Some are extremely well respected and liked by the students. Overall there is no understanding of why this is happening.

On the other side of things, there is a budget shortfall. Things will get cut. Things must get cut.

Stopgap measures can be but in place, but that’s not sustainable and the state does not really have the money to resolve the situation. This is what has been happening for years and this year tough choices had to be made.

The problem lies in the fact there seems to be no reasoning behind the firings. It just seems

OP&ED

to be a slash and burn policy with no end results.

This tactic has just about as much sustainability as plugging the budget holes. The firings don’t seem to address any of the real long-term problems. As reasoning, the administration has simply noted the vision of becoming a “metropolitan” university, without really explaining what that means.

The students and faculty did end up gaining huge victory. The school rescinded their decision to fire the teachers that already got notices. Time will tell if a better outcome is reached as the different parties put forth their plans.

On the other side of the river at SMCC a different story has unfolded. Our school is facing the same dilemma. Because of massive shortfalls we face the same kind of cuts. Some may say that’s like comparing apples and oranges, but that is untrue.

P RO - A C TI V E

Coffee, Tea, or Virgin Margaritas?

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By Kora O. Han

ow’s it hangin’, fellow Beaconites? I’m doing absolutely fabulous! The sun is shining, the breeze is warm and I’m going to have me a margarita tonight! (Virgin margaritas for you, neophytes) A short breather before ploughing through assignments for the next month and then the holidays we’ve all been waiting for since winter started, well for me anyway. I can’t wait to shed all these layers, get some swimming done, and bask like a walrus in the sun! But remember, I’m always here at kora.o.h@ gmail.com to answer your concerns!

Dear Kora,

I’m a first year student here in SMCC and I’ve been living on campus for the past year with a roommate I just cannot tolerate. Her clothes are strewn all over the room, and the mini-fridge and microwave we share always stinks of takeaway and food that should have been thrown out weeks ago.

Countless times I’ve offered her my broom and vacuum but she never seemed to get the message that the place is turning into a pigsty! I don’t want to report her to the RA because it’ll just hurt her reputation but I’m running out of options here.

Pig For a Roommate Dear PFR,

Welcome to the real world, buddy. There are awesome people like me, and then there are the inconsiderate pigs who do not pick up after them-

While SMCC may not carry the prestigious title of being a University and underrated because this is a community college, it is still a fair comparison. We learn the same things and our population sizes are similar.

The difference between the schools on how they dealt with the budget cuts. At USM they made decisions behind closed doors before anyone knew what was going on. Here at SMCC President Cantor is leading the school down a much different avenue. In the end the result could end up the same, but the process has been open and transparent.

This process should have been used in the first place. With this model the decision-making is far more inclusive. So in the end the real stakeholders—the students—are better served. The big ol’ University could certainly learn a lesson or two from the little community college.

A D V I C E

selves because they are plain lazy and uncouth.

Now, I don’t expect everyone to be clean freaks but when sharing a certain space with others, mutual respect is expected. Your roommate clearly does not respect you. Fortunately for you, the semester is coming to an end and you will not have to put up with her for long. Next time, I suggest a “Roommate Agreement” (Sheldon Cooper style) that divvies up the chores between the number of people sharing the space, television timetable, decorum ad infinitum. Alternatively, learn from this mistake and swap roommates as soon as you are able to. For the time being, vacuum the space while she’s trying to sleep. Maybe she’ll get the message about respect then.

Dear Kora,

The spring semester is coming to an end soon and I’d almost accumulated all the credits that I need to here. But I have not applied to any colleges yet because I still have no idea what I want to do.

I just can’t seem to make a decision as to which degree I would like to pursue in a 4yr college. It’s just so hard!

Lost in Transcription Dear Lost,

I don’t blame your anguish on this matter.

It’s tough to pick a college when you are unsure of what you want to do for a career. Have you try talking to your Advisor here in SMCC about it?

Most of them are more than willing to sit down and discuss your strengths and weaknesses. They have been through the college system themselves and have an abundance of information for you.

Also, the Career and Transfer Service Director, Sharon Bannon will be more than happy to assist you with college applications. Once you have de-

termined what you’re interested in, why don’t you try looking at 4yr university websites to get an idea of what they offer before making an appointment with Ms. Bannon? Prepare a list of questions for her after perusing through those websites, such as questions about financial aid, to start the meeting off. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Be brave and start somewhere.

Dear Kora,

I am swamped with schoolwork. Just this week alone, I’ve got five 3-page papers due for next week and I’m barely halfway through my second one. I feel crappy all the time because I don’t get to sleep much. Now I’ve got a friend who offered to write a paper for me for one of the subjects because he had went through the class before and have a good feel of the topic. Should I allow him to help me write one of my papers?

Swamp-Torn Dear Torn,

Are you a student disguised as my Philosophy professor? Because this was the sort of question he loves to ask, only his is a lot tamer. Anyway, welcome to college, dude. There’s going to be more work to come, and there will come a time when your friend will not be able to help you out again.

So my answer is no. You shouldn’t allow him to write your papers for you. You should however, consistently do your homework and prioritize them. If you need an extension, seek out your professors. Professors are humans too and are not unreasonable people. Besides, they might even give you pointers to help you get started, as I have learnt quite recently myself. All the best for the papers, Torn. May the force be ever in your favor, young Initiate!

Bouncing Off of the President’s Blog

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By Xavior Hanson

resident Cantor put his own spin on a quote from Charles Dickens, in a recently held college forum, saying “It is the best of times; it is the worst of times.” That seems like a pretty good lead up to his blog posted March 24th. In it he talked about increasing comprehensive quality in education and the financial difficulties that accompany it. Though Pres. Cantor believes that quality should not be sacrificed for financial security, the author of this article would argue that both are attainable here at SMCC. Here’s the catch: the students at SMCC might have to get a little dirty.

These four colleges all have something in common: Warren Wilson College (WWC), Berea College, College of the Ozarks, and Alice Lloyd College. They all offer work programs for the students to earn a stipend. Also, with the exception of WWC, they all offer free tuition.

They are able to do this by having their students do work as part of the learning experience. For example, the college might have the students participate in gardening, custodial work, or whatever the schools needs might be. This stipend, along with financial aid the student is approved for, makes up the student’s entire tuition costs.

SMCC could take a note from Pres. Cantor’s blog when he said:

As other institutions remake themselves we wish them well and extend support. We need our institutional partners to succeed and be sustainable. SMCC is no different from our partners in that we all face huge challenges in today’s unprecedented educational landscape and we all need to do things differently.

Perhaps it would behove SMCC to take look at the previously listed colleges as an example. The idea of working for the college to pay tuition could even be expanded upon. Be Good, a Portland restaurant, buys all of its food supplies locally. SMCC could produce veggies for the restaurant and bring in a profit for the school. The school could offer free tuition (housing and meals included) to select students in exchange for about 20hr of work a week.

Both the student and the college would profit.

SMCC could even work similar to a temp agency and in the process make an alternative income for the school. The students would be all the better for it; hands on experience coupled with in class learning, resulting in FREE tuition!

These ideas may be a bit simplistic, but the real goal is to start the creative thinking process.

We need to be innovators here to keep SMCC operating at full speed. We can start small scale, trail versions, of solid ideas. If they work, improve them, and then finally implement them.

In a time of cut backs, it’s a good idea to not be entirely reliant on government support. For this outstanding school, let’s shoot for: it is the best of times. Period.

B E H I N D T H E C U RTA I N Drawing Down

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By Jason Glynn

elcome back everyone!! We hope you enjoyed the April Fool’s issue. That said, we’re sorry to inform you that Snoop Dog will not be playing SMCC, and A-Rod will not be playing with our team – not yet.

Well, we’re almost there boys and girls. The semester may be ending, but don’t worry, we will be having a trimmed down paper on an online format. This will mainly cover students’ travel over the summer. We have some staffers doing some pretty cool things. We’ll have more details for you next issue and on our Facebook page!

This is the second-to-the-last issue of The Beacon and for me this is a bittersweet occasion. I have been the grand-puba of our student staff for 2 semesters now, that’s one whole year. It’s been a good run, we grew together and got a lot done,

but all good things must come to an end. I will keep my Science Watchroom column going so don’t worry about that.

I’m not about to speculate on who will come after me, after all I’m irreplaceable and one of a kind – at least that’s what my mom told me!! I do know that if you’re interested in the position, or any spot on our Beacon Staff, then please contact us at MBeacon@smccme.edu.

You may wonder – why would I want to be involved with The Beacon? There are many too many intrinsic reasons to explain. I find that most often the intrinsic ones are more valuable, being involved with the paper is priceless.

You will learn numerous skills that are very useful in the real world. Your days in college are numbered; someday you will need to go out in the real world. So why don’t you make the most of this time, build your experience, skill-set, reputation, portfolio, resume, or transfer application with us.

There are plenty of talkers out there, the employers, and the world, yearn for the doers. They like to see that you can communicate, commit,

make deadlines, and work with other people. All of these questions will be answered when this is in your background.

Companies want effective communicators. If you write for The Beacon, that pretty well proves that you can communicate effectively. You will have published material that you can show them, not everyone can do that.

You will gain experience working with groups. Okay, let’s address that elephant in the room: this is NOT like those dreaded group projects. You can decide how much involvement you want to have with us, whether you want to contribute regularly, manage a section, write occasionally, or help with production.

Whether you like it or not, to be successful you must learn how to work with others. This opportunity will help demonstrate that you can, and effectively, cooperate with others and get things done. In many biology labs they don’t care if you know how to hold a pipette or make solutions, they want to know if you can work well with others, play nicely, and accomplish stuff.

As Managing Editor, I spend roughly 8-10 hours

a week on Beacon stuff. You can help with production for 6 hours every other week; or you can write 1 or 2 articles at your leisure, it is up to you and what you want to gain out of the experience.

You have the opportunity to write your own future, include a chapter of it with The Beacon.

The doors that this opportunity can open are unlimited. You can earn recognition for working on an internationally-known paper. Your increased notoriety gained from having your name in print can help earn you awards and scholarships. You can increase networking with a whole bunch of people. You can network with other clubs or professionals. You can be pro-active in your world, share your thoughts, maybe change minds on a particular issue that you are passionate about. You are only limited by yourself.

This is your life, your education, and your opportunity to further yourself. Be aggressive, take a chance, and make a difference. I wondered if I could when I came back to school, it turns out that I could. Now it’s your turn.

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ARTS&features

Double-D On Cinema:The 4 Most Anticipated Movies of 2014

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By Dale Das

s the summer seasons starts, it is easy to get bogged down in the rush of obnoxiously over-budgeted movies. But let’s not forget what’s going to be coming down the pike this fall: “INHERENT VICE” Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the most interesting directors in the independent scene, and his take on the first Thomas Pynchon novel

“GONE GIRL” David Fincher has always fit the thriller genre, and with recent Oscar Winner Ben Affleck, this project promises to be something as facile as it will be twisted. The cast is definitely unique, including Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry, and the success of the novel will definitely drive audiences into the theatres in the fall.

Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamiund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris and directed by David Fincher

Synopsis: Nick and Amy Dunne are seemingly the perfect couple, but when she disappears suddenly, Nick becomes the prime suspect. Could he have killed her? Or is the truth far more twisted?

“BIRDMAN” Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is one of Mexico’s premiere filmmakers, known for his visceral tragedies such as 21 Grams, Babel, and Biutiful. is breaking from tradition with this comedy due out around Oscar season. The most profitable films now are franchise films, but the star’s future as a serious actor are always at stake after the series’ ends, so this is definitely a zeitgeist story that will interest cinephiles, especially featuring one of the original Batmans in the lead.

Starring: Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Edward Norton and directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Synopsis: An actor best known for playing a superhero in movies tries to mount a Broadway play.

to hit the big screen has everyone on guessing what the outcome will be. Pynchon and Anderson have similar complex literary styles, and it should be a very easy transition for the auteur.

Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Benecio Del Toro, Josh Brolin and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

Synopsis: In 1970s Southern California,

an inept, pot-addled detective Larry “Doc” Sportello investigates the disappearance of girl who also happens to be a former girlfriend.

the war on terror will be greatly anticipated.

Starring: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Willem Dafoe and directed by Anton Corbijn.

“A MOST WANTED MAN” Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s death has left us several projects that will be as haunting if he were alive. The dramatic heft for filmmakers when adapting a John Le Carre thriller needs to be constant and spot on, and if nothing else Hoffman will make this film worth watching.

He was attracted to the darker sides of our selves and society that we like to put under the rug, and such edginess against the backdrop of

Synopsis: A Chechen Muslim illegally emigrates to Hamburg, where he gets caught up in the international war on terror.

By Patrick Doyle Let us just cut to the chase, okay?

Get down to brass tacks, whatever that really even means.

Shingle Sauna W e w e r e o n t he r o o f o n t he ho t t e s t da y s o fa r a n d I p l a y e d w i t h a s hi n gl e , p u l l i n g t he s m a l l r u s t y n a i l s o u t . Pe o p l e w a v e d a t u s be ca u s e t he w e a t he r m a k e s p e o p l e l e s s ho r r i bl e . S o m e gu y t o l d u s he u s e d t o p u l l n a i l s o u t o f s hi n gl e s o n m e t h.

Free Pizza R i ght by O t t o ’s w he n t he y l e a v e o u t t he l e ft o v e r s . T he r e , l i k e a gr e a s y cr o w n fo r a gr e a s y M o n a r chy , w a s o u r fo o d. T he r e m u s t ha v e be e n o n e - hu n dr e d o f t he da m n t hi n gs , ge o m e t r i c s ha p e s o f PI ZZA !

W e ga v e s o m e t o a gu y w ho I t ho u ght w a s O r t ho do x , w i t h hi s be a r d a n d cl o t he s . H e e v e n t o o k s o m e fo r br e a k fa s t .

A ct u a l l y , I ’m n o w a p i z z a . I s m e l l be t t e r t ha n I e v e r di d be fo r e .

Culture Clubbed To Death C o m i n g ba ck fr o m t he ga r ba ge r e n a i s s a n ce o f fo o d s e a r chi n g w e s a w a v a gr a n t w ho a s k e d fo r s o m e o f t he m u ffi n I w a s s n a ck i n g o n .

I p r o du ce d i t a n d a s k e d fo r a ci ga r et t e.

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ARTS&features All Over the Roads

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By A.S. Kinsman

t’s hard to remember a worse winter than this one when it comes to road conditions.

An unusually cold and snowy winter has wreaked havoc on the streets all across the country. Potholes, frost heaves, and complete erosion have destroyed roads and turned them into a minefield of car repairs just waiting to happen.

“It’s horrible,” said Matt Estes of Standish, a project manager for a construction company who said he drives a lot to visit work sites. “It’s the worst year I’ve ever seen.”

“So I have lived in Maine for

almost four years now, and I had never heard of a “frost heave” before this year!” My pastor’s wife remarked, a southern California native. “Good grief!

It’s a roller coaster! I get car sick between my house and the grocery store!”

It’s not just roads in North Yarmouth that are bad. Virtually every street or road this winter has been a victim in some way of the brutal cold.

From Milwaukee to Maine, further below the Mason-Dixon line, and even in the thick of New England, where officials are more accustomed to brutal winter weather, cities are reporting the worst pothole plights they’ve faced in decades, according to the Atlantic Cities.

The reason behind the road erosion and breakdown? It all comes down to water and wear-and-tear. Potholes form when water weakens the soil under the street and traffic stresses the pavement to the point where it breaks down.

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When the temperature drops below freezing, rainwater and melted snow on roadways expand as ice in any fissure, opening a crack that will take on more water when the temperature rises. This freezing-thawing cycle creates potholes quickly. Potholes also develop when water seeps under the road’s surface, freezes, and forces the surface up and then melts again. This process leaves air pockets that vehicles can break into, creating more damage. Winter accelerates the process because freezing and thawing creates cracks for water to enter. Frost heaves, which are a bigger problem on rural roads than on city streets, are caused by freezing and thawing that creates bumps in the pavement.

Both potholes and frost heaves can rattle drivers’ nerves and damage vehicles.

Earlier this January, especially in Maine, there was a brief warm-up period, followed by soaking rains, which only exacerbated the process of the

roads breaking up and disintegrating.

The potholes and frost heaves are so common that it is nearly impossible to avoid them. And because of melting snow, potholes can fill with water, making a gaping hole in the road appear to be nothing more than an innocent puddle.

Many drivers have damaged their cars this winter. Most of the damages were busted wheel rims or flattened tires due to potholes. Alignments have been thrown off by frost heaves. Just last week, a woman in Harrison, Maine, was driving over the speed limit and hit a frost heave, sending her car violently off the road and into a snowbank and stone wall and into trees. The force of the crash killed her instantly.

Damage to vehicles often leads to claims against cities and towns, but rarely leads to a city or town paying for repairs.

Unfortunately, even though spring

has somewhat sprung in Maine and most of the country, the cold winter has left its mark on the road and on cars, and will likely stay around for many months until temperatures are warm enough to begin a serious patching effort. Most holes are patched only to be exposed again due to traffic.

The potholes that are patched now on a temporary basis – sometimes multiple times – will have to be ground out and repaved in the summer.

“At best, it’s really just a temporary repair in the winter,” said Mark Lorello, superintendent of public works in South Portland. “Sometimes it’s temporary for the day.”

It seems like potholes and frost heaves crop up overnight.

Some are critical of how the issue of road repair is being handled.

“Dump trucks full of snow removed from parking lots continuously driving over local streets tend to smash a few holes in the roads. I wonder what the cost is to keep filling those potholes and rebuilding streets?

I hope it’s worth it.

Not much money out there as is.” Anthony Donovan of Portland, Maine commented via Facebook.

“It’s hard to believe with all the new high tech stuff, we can’t make better roads. I guess you really can’t beat Mother Nature...”

Rick Nelson added.

Concerning the spending of money to repair the roads, Eugene Ketchen tweeted, “No, it’s not that the public does not want to spend the money to do the roads right, it’s that they want it done the cheapest way.”

Finally, William John Woods offered a solution that most rural folks already know: “It never ceases to amaze me that people who drive the same roads every day will continue to drive through these potholes over and over making them bigger and bigger. Why don’t they simply slow down or straddle them? It really is that simple. I’ve lived my whole life on dirt roads and am very familiar with potholes.”

Most repair work won’t commence until June, when the snow is guaranteed to be gone and final estimates of repairs have been made.

The number of complaints logged and the number of potholes and frost heaves found has been triple the usual total in recent decades.

Considering Wyndham Lewis and the Enemy By Patrick Doyle

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f you’ve seen me in the library here, I’m usually reading or writing. I read all the time; I don’t finish all of the books I start but I make a note of them and usually shovel research on like Pharoah Sanders does sax.

A character of the art and literary world whose work, as well as his equally engaging personal life is Wyndham Lewis, of whom I’ve inter-library-loaned a great deal of works from. There is a chance you’ve never heard of him. This could be for a multitude of reasons, but one that irks me is that history may have completely forgotten this individual based on his personal views and affectations.

Who is Wyndham Lewis? Well, he created the periodical BLAST, the publication of the “Vorticist” movement (founded by Ezra Pound and Lewis), which ran from 1914-15, involving cultural giants like Pound and Ford Madox Ford. The magazine, which only ran two issues, began with a series of Blast and Bless (the former meaning scorn, latter praise) on a variety of European countries like Lewis’s own England, France (where he lived many years) and other topics. BLAST is considered a brilliant proto-abstract art artifact, which luckily has been compiled into a two book series, one for each release. The cut-n’-paste method that appears in the earlier portions of the magazine, the Blast and Bless sections, are ages ahead of their time. When I read BLAST, I feel inspired almost alchemically, like a drive outside of myself makes me think, “You should write more. Now.”

Lewis wrote novels as well including: Tarr (1918), The Apes of God (1930), and many others has been critiqued by those who wish he simply focused on his visual art rather than the complex and unforgiving nature of his novels. This isn’t to say that his artwork is not complex; it certainly is. Many of his self-portraits look like Cubists on crack, which Lewis certainly wanted, as in his eyes the artist was the pinnacle of a society; the artist would come down from “The Mountain” to scare, taunt, culturally enrich and expand the society through the artwork. He indoctrinated himself into the role of The Enemy, which he directed at what he felt was the “bourgeois bohemian” nature of the places he lived.

Now we all know the Futurists were into Mussolini and Fascism, but Lewis was different. You couldn’t really peg Lewis predominantly as a fascist, because when he told you he was, he’d change his mind by his next piece of writing, condemning fascist aesthetic for being too high-browed.

This is where Lewis became a part of history many would forget; you simply do not take a right-wing or “non-normative” view, especially in the arts . . . why, that’s crazy! I don’t know if I would even consider Lewis “right-wing,” he seems to be in the awesomely precarious position of being the villain, embodying an archetype of critique and being against the grain.

We all love villains; I used to root for the bad guys in movies as a child.

There is something to be said about the element of darkness in the arts, which I believe Lewis does perfectly, especially with a particular sense of humor, namely in his prose. His artwork is that of a nightmare, more or less attacking the audience. I believe this was his call to arms, to present an attack on that which disturbed him, or to basically attack anyone, stir the pot if you will. Here I am praising him but many did not feel so eager about him as I do here. Famously (or as famous as you can get in this light), Ernest Hemingway said in A Moveable Feast, that Lewis’s eyes were “those of an unsuccessful rapist.”

Where do we place Lewis? He is primarily forgotten by academia, although he was a monumentally influential artist who also played a role in the pre and post-war art world, when there were many things going on amongst the world.

His visual artwork was eons ahead of its time, his writing is as valid as any of the other modernists, what do we do about him given you’ll seldom ever hear his name outside of personal research or one of those “far out friends” you may have?

Do what I did; dig him up and read him. Take in the artwork. Disregard the fact that fractal viewpoints, which aren’t even the entire picture (let alone the frame), are being used against him for simply having views of his own. It seems abominable to me that we forget influential people based on the merit of themselves through the eyes of a modern “Democratic” society, yet they play “Hitler Show” reruns like baseball games on the tube. If you ask me, we need “the Enemy” in our world; comfort is on par with nurturing, and if you only have that, you will coo and then whine and then attempt to coo again. Do something about it. Read Wyndham Lewis, read BLAST, take in the artwork, and maybe get some inspiration or something out of it.

SMCCsports Baseball & Softball in the Month of April

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By Sam Coombs

o far in the month of April, the baseball and softball teams here at Southern Maine Community College have continued their struggles from the preseason, into the regular season.

Unfortunately, neither team has won a game yet in the month of April. The softball team so far has played a total of 2 games both against Dean College, and the baseball team has played 3 games against Dean College and Bridgton Academy. Some games have been close but something needs to improve if either of these teams wants to turn their season around for the better.

The baseball team’s first game of April saw themselves playing

a chilly game against Bridgton Academy who they had split games with in the fall season. SMCC pitcher Andrew Rascoe started the game with a solid performance, pitching 4 innings with 5 strikeouts and only 1 earned run. Pitching and defense wasn’t the Seawolves problem in this contest, it was their lack of hitting throughout the game. The Seawolves as a team only combined for 2 hits by Adam Volkernick and Jon Daniszewski. The Seawolves allowed 3 runs on only 4 hits in this game and went on to lose 3-0. Hitting would prove to be the biggest weakness in this game and with more hits they would have been right in this game.

The Softball team’s only games of the April regular season saw themselves playing a doubleheader against Dean College of Franklin, Massachusetts. In the first game of the day, the biggest problem for the Lady Seawolves would be errors. They had a total of 7 errors throughout this game and Dean would capitalize on many of them.

Dean College would finish the first game with 11 runs on 6 hits and 3 errors. The leading hitter for the Lady Bulldogs was Andrea Vulter who went 2-3 with 1 run batted in. Getting her first win for Dean was Jackie Kielty.

In the second game of this double header, the defense was a bit better lessening their errors to 3, however the Lady Bulldogs were sharp in the field with no errors and overall great defensive play. Charlotte Lewis of SMCC had a decent showing in this game striking out five in the game. Lewis could not tally the win despite the resurgence of SMCC’s bat late in the game. The Lady Bulldogs were led by Ari Medreiros who went 2-4 in the game and Shelbie Eldredge who pitched a complete game and got the win. SMCC was lead by Charlotte Lewis and Lindsey Howell who went 3 for 3 in this game.

In baseball’s second contest, they also saw themselves playing a double header against Dean College. Despite some eyebrow rising from a couple Seawolves players like Owen Kimmel and Ethan Bilderback the Seawolves would lose this first game because of lack of runs and sloppy defensive play. Kimmel hit his first homerun as a member of SMCC tallying 2 runs batted in and Bilderback went 3 for 3 with a double triple and run batted in. The Seawolves had 3 errors in this game in which Dean would capitalize with runs on. The final score of the first game would be 9-3, Dean College winning. Dean was led by Derek Bauer who went 2 for 4 with 1 run batted in and a strong pitching performance from Billy Young who pitched 5 innings, had 1 earned run and 7 strikeouts.

The second end of the double header was a much closer contest. The Seawolves started off this game well with a strong showing from pitcher Corey Mongiat of Waterboro Maine who allowed 2 earned runs in the game. The Seawolves had the lead until the last frame of this game when Dean College rallied back to get a win on a walk off single off pitcher Dylan Morrow. This was a devastating loss for the Seawolves and continues their losing streak to 12 games.

The softball and baseball teams still have a tough road ahead as the rest of the season waits.

Something needs to change in order to get these student athletes back on track. Both teams had some success in the fall and it is just a matter of putting the pieces together to get some better results. The talent is their and will defiantly come together before the end of the season.

ABOVE: The baseball diamond was in full swing Saturday afternoon as the Men Seawolves battled it out with Navy Prep. Above Ethan Bilderback makes in the contact in the first game of a double header Saturday. The Seawolves split with Navy Prep loosing the first game 12-3 while winning the second 10-1. After the day the Seawolves posted an 11-17 overall record, and a 5-4 Yankee Small College Conference record.

TO THE RIGHT: The Lady Seawolves also had a double header Saturday afternoon playing University of Maine Presqile. Third base women, Danielle Mobbs waits for the throw from right field as a Presque Isle players tries to advance. The Lady Seawolves won both games, 8-2 and 9-4 improving their record to 8-14 overall record while staying 3-4 in conference play.

April 15th 1947: Jackie Robinson: The First Black Athlete in Major League Baseball

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By Sam Coombs

pril 15th 1947 was one of the biggest days ever in the history of sports. The day was more then just about sports, it was bigger then that. The day was really a great achievement for the black community. The Brooklyn Dodgers would be the team that Robinson would suit up for on that day. The Dodgers first discovered Robinson while he was playing in the Negro league and noticed what incredible athletic skill that the young man had. While at UCLA, Robinson became the first athlete to letter in four sports and was discovered to be a rare type of talent.

Black, or white the Brooklyn Dodgers could see this, and made efforts to sign Robinson.

After the Dodgers signed Robinson, he dominated the minor leagues, leading the league in batting. The Dodgers wanted to see what he could do right away at the Major League level.

Robinson knew that he was going to be facing some tremendous adversity, but was willing to take on the opportunity no matter what he heard, or was called by other people.

Despite going 0-3 at the plate in his debut with the Dodgers, Jackie Robinson would have a decent first year in the Majors starting all 152 games that he played in. Robinson hit 12 home runs, with 42 runs batted in and 29 stolen bases.

While he did have a good year numbers wise for his first year, the adversity he faced was like no

other.

At first, Robinson felt the racism from fans, opposing players, opposing teams, and even some of his own teammates. He would often get things thrown at him while he was playing, as well as being cursed at. Some players, and teams would even refuse to play along side of him, or against him until the President of Baseball, and the

was because he helped make the team better. This didn’t set well mostly with other teams in Major League Baseball.

On one occasion in 1949 while playing the St. Louis Cardinals, Robinson got a large slash into his leg by an opposing player. Robinson, however would never retaliate back because he basically expected things like this to happen from time to

manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers revoked that notion. The Dodger manager’s thoughts were, Jackie Robinson was going to play baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers no matter what his skin color

time. This wouldn’t last forever because people began to see the results from his play on the field.

Just two years after Robinson’s debut he started to get reps at second base and by the end of the

season won the National Leagues Most Valuable Player. He was the first black player to win this honor. This award came only two years after his debut. Robinson quickly became one of the biggest faces in major league baseball.

After Robinson broke the color barrier, the league realized that African American players could really help get more talent in the league. It would slowly come to be that more teams would get into signing black players after Jackie Robinson’s breakthrough. Larry Doby, Hank Thompson and Monte Irvin were the first three to be signed after Robinson by the New York Giants, Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Browns.

April 15th, since 2004 in Major League Baseball has been a day to remember commemorating what Jackie Robinson achieved, and has been assigned as Jackie Robinson Day. On this day, every single player on every team represents what he did for the game by wearing #42. This number is on the back of every uniform and it’s the only day this number is aloud to be worn. Number 42 has been retired throughout major league baseball and was last worn by Mariano Rivera before he retired last season.

Jackie Robinson finished off his great career as a member of the Hall of Fame and will forever be remember as probably the most influential player in the game of baseball, and in sports in general.

He helped shape Major League Baseball into what it is today.

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Editions&Omissions

Voice behind Pro-Choice

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By Erik Squire

ome things are present in society without people objectively looking at them. People tend to take things at face value; however, if they were to look just a little under the surface, they would see a whole different creature. Take for instance the right to choose.

On the surface it sounds like a good thing. Who wouldn’t want a woman to have her own right to choose? If you can disprove the notion that the fetus is a human being, it would seem the great debate would be over. It would be nothing more than removing one’s tonsils, and therefore up to the individual to decide.

But what if there’s more to it? What if the right to choose is just a façade that hides a hideous machine? This article isn’t about the murder of 53 million innocent lives (the total number of abortions taken place in America since 1973). Most have heard that debate and made up their minds. This article is about a side to abortion that isn’t often brought up: eugenics.

Eugenics is the belief and practice of improving the genetic quality of the human population. It is a social philosophy advocating the improvement of human genetic traits through the promotion of higher reproduction of people with desired traits (positive eugenics), and reduced reproduction of people with less-desired or undesired traits (negative eugenics). – Wikipedia

Here’s a quick history lesson for those who don’t know: Eugenics was very much alive in the U.S. and openly supported by many notable people/institutions such as President FDR, the Rockefellers, and Harvard University just to name a few.

Eugenics is responsible for the death of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust, not to mention countless other instances throughout history.

Margret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, was a eugenicist.” In a quote from her commentary What Every Girl Should Know she said that Aboriginal Australians were “just a step higher than the chimpanzee” with “little sexual control,” in contrast to the “normal man and Woman.”

She is also quoted as saying. “Birth control must lead ultimately to a cleaner race.” In another work she stated “The most merciful thing that the large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.”

Perhaps then it’s no coincidence that African American women make up 13% of America’s female population and yet they have nearly 36% of the U.S.’s abortions.

That is a staggering number! Approximately 24% of all U.S. pregnancies end in abortion. With African Americans representing nearly half of that percentage, and already making up such a small portion of the population, one has to wonder the real underlying values of Planned Parenthood.

According to the CDC 616,074 African Americans are born each year and about 458,500 babies are aborted each year. It should then come as no surprise that one of the first birth control clinics was placed in an African American community.

In today’s America it is not acceptable to practise eugenics openly, especially when it discriminates against a minority. However, eugenics can be carried in the U.S. under the disguise of something positive, AKA: freedom of choice. Meanwhile innocent lives are being taken each day. This isn’t to say that African Americans aren’t able to choose whether or not they use a clinic. Rather, this article is suggesting that there are societal pressures placed, on African Americans in particular, to not come to full-term.

Everyone wants to be an advocate of a woman’s right to choose. However, perhaps the reader might want to rethink the cost of that stance. After all, no one wants to be the person who supports racial genocide.

Dear Editors

A

fter reading the latest issue of your newspaper, I was very fond with it and got my attentions to certain topics. I was much appreciated with your journalists and Beacon members that are very dedicated and well knowledge on what is going on both in and out of campus. Each and every topic proves that us, students, are more involve in our community.

I do, on the other hand, spotted some spelling and grammar issues; nevertheless we do make mistakes and this provides on how different editors and journalists write in their own perspectives. I really enjoyed reading topics that were happened to be April Fools prank on the recent issues, I was almost gullible enough until I read it thoroughly. However, few of the April Fools are mixed up within the newspaper, and I cannot tell which topic is real or part of the prank. It would be nice in the future that you guys should make a dedicated section for only April Fools, for the readers can interpret from the real news and opinions to the fake ones. I also recommend that you could post a fake front page cover for April Fools, featuring wacky news or made up news.

This may attract readers and when they turned to the next page, it would be noted as an April Fools Prank.

Most of the topics that I read are pretty straight forward. Some, however, were little confusing and left me ponders. Under the Arts and Features section, the review of Mr. Peabody & Sherman had mixed reactions that had one side opinion from the beginning and at the end, the opinion was completely changed. Along with several Shrek references, this movie critic enjoyed the movie, but mentioned that the movie is mostly aiming towards adults, who grew up watching the original cartoon series. She mentioned it is not an actual adult’s film, but neither as a kid’s film.

She then switched it as a kid friendly movie with references of their own to the nostalgic adults. At the end, she wrote the movie is perfect for adults with kids. Her opinions left me wonder if the movie is worth watching.

Another issue I have read was under the section of Opinions and Editorials. I got hooked on the topic, Getting an Education in Times of Financial Struggle, I completely understand and agree on what the editor is saying. Community Colleges, like us, are facing a struggle financial

of the

S M C C B e ac o n

while keeping the demands of higher educations.

I like the concept of him mentioning Tennessee’s Governor on his idea on free education on community college. This will provide attraction to potential students and improving the economy.

On the very end however, left with uncompleted sentence, with no period at the end. I thought the topic was continuing on the other page, but could not find it. I also it was another April Fools prank, the topic is too formal to be a prank at all. The last sentence mentioned, “Further in the USA Today article it describes yet another proposal, one that offers an…” My other theory is the editor left it on purpose to keep it as a cliff-

hanger, letting the reader, like myself, wondering what potential plan to build a better education at this time in need.

Nonetheless, most of the topics were very interesting and keeps me thinking on what will happen around our community and our country.

I will be looking forward to the next issue of the Beacon. Keep up the good work!

Gone Too Soon

towering flames engulfed both busses.

The fires were so intense that they left just charred black skeletons of metal after firefighters doused the flames. Firefighters also extinguished a fire on a man’s back. A first responder to the horrific scene said that almost forty people had injuries ranging from minor to severe burns, smoke inhalation, broken legs, noses, teeth and lacerations (mainly on the head and extremities).

Most of them were teenagers.

Nine people were taken to Enloe Medical Center in Chico, hospital spokeswoman Christina Chavira said. Another five were taken to Mercy Medical Center in Redding in fair condition. One patient was admitted to the burn unit of University of California, Davis, Medical Center.

Authorities still aren’t sure what cause the Fed-Ex truck to careen into the tour bus. The driver may have been trying to avoid a Nissan Altima, the third vehicle involved in the crash, though the scene is still under reconstruction. Distractions or a medical emergency have not yet been ruled out as a possible factor for the crash. Eyewitnesses have confirmed that the FedEx truck sideswiped the Nissan before the accident. Both passengers were not seriously injured but were taken to a local hospital for treatment. A complete investigation, with conclusive, results could take up to six months to get answers on how this kind of tragedy could have happened. Vigils and memorials have been created in memory of those lost in the accident.

A

By A.S. Kinsman

t least ten people are confirmed dead after a fiery three-vehicle accident in Orland, California on Thursday. The accident occurred when a Fed-Ex big rig inexplicably veered off of Interstate 5, crossed a grassy median, and crashed head-on into a tour bus carrying high school seniors bound for Humboldt State University. The students were on a program that invites prospective low-income or first-generation college students to visit the campus in northern California.

Both of the bus drivers, three adult chaperones, and five students were confirmed among the dead. Some of the bodies had such a severe degree of damage that they required dental records for identification. Among the dead is a couple, two chaperons, who recently got engaged this past Christmas in Paris.

44 high school students were listening to music and watching movies when the collision occurred. One student sitting in the back row saw the entire front of the tour bus engulfed in flames. Passengers immediately began kicking out windows to escape. Most did – one reportedly while on fire – and ran outside. Just seconds later,

Sincerely yours, Gino Yuthy Hem Full-Time SMCC Business Student

“towering flames engulfed both busses.”

All Over the Roads I

By A.S. Kinsman

t’s hard to remember a worse winter than this one when it comes to road conditions.

An unusually cold and snowy winter has wreaked havoc on the streets all across the country. Potholes, frost heaves, and complete erosion have destroyed roads and turned them into a minefield of car repairs just waiting to happen.

“It’s horrible,” said Matt Estes of Standish, a project manager for a construction company who said he drives a lot to visit work sites. “It’s the worst year I’ve ever seen.”

“So I have lived in Maine for almost four years now, and I had never heard of a “frost heave” before this year!” My pastor’s wife remarked, a southern California native. “Good grief! It’s a roller coaster! I get car sick between my house and the grocery store!”

It’s not just roads in North Yarmouth that are bad. Virtually every street or road this winter has been a victim in some way of the brutal cold.

From Milwaukee to Maine, further below the Mason-Dixon line, and even in the thick of New England, where officials are more accustomed to brutal winter weather, cities are reporting the worst pothole plights they’ve faced in decades, according to the Atlantic Cities.

The reason behind the road erosion and breakdown? It all comes down to water and wearand-tear. Potholes form when water weakens the soil under the street and traffic stresses the pavement to the point where it breaks down.

When the temperature drops below freezing, rainwater and melted snow on roadways expand as ice in any fissure, opening a crack that will take on more water when the temperature rises. This freezing-thawing cycle creates potholes quickly.

Potholes also develop when water seeps under the road’s surface, freezes, and forces the surface

up and then melts again. This process leaves air pockets that vehicles can break into, creating more damage. Winter accelerates the process because freezing and thawing creates cracks for water to enter. Frost heaves, which are a bigger problem on rural roads than on city streets, are caused by freezing and thawing that creates bumps in the pavement. Both potholes and frost heaves can rattle drivers’ nerves and damage vehicles.

Earlier this January, especially in Maine, there was a brief warm-up period, followed by soaking rains, which only exacerbated the process of the roads breaking up and disintegrating.

The potholes and frost heaves are so common that it is nearly impossible to avoid them.

And because of melting snow, potholes can fill with water, making a gaping hole in the road appear to be nothing more than an innocent puddle.

Many drivers have damaged their cars this winter. Most of the damages were busted wheel rims or flattened tires due to potholes. Alignments have been thrown off by frost heaves. Just last week, a woman in Harrison, Maine, was driving over the speed limit and hit a frost heave, sending her car violently off the road and into a snowbank and stone wall and into trees. The force of the crash killed her instantly.

Damage to vehicles often leads to claims against cities and towns, but rarely leads to a city or town paying for repairs.

Unfortunately, even though spring has somewhat sprung in Maine and most of the country, the cold winter has left its mark on the road and on cars, and will likely stay around for many months until temperatures are warm enough to begin a serious patching effort. Most holes are patched only to be exposed again due to traffic.

The potholes that are patched now on a temporary basis – sometimes multiple times –

will have to be ground out and repaved in the summer.

“At best, it’s really just a temporary repair in the winter,” said Mark Lorello, superintendent of public works in South Portland. “Sometimes it’s temporary for the day.”

It seems like potholes and frost heaves crop up overnight.

Some are critical of how the issue of road repair is being handled.

“Dump trucks full of snow removed from parking lots continuously driving over local streets tend to smash a few holes in the roads.

I wonder what the cost is to keep filling those potholes and rebuilding streets? I hope it’s worth it. Not much money out there as is.” Anthony Donovan of Portland, Maine commented via Facebook.

“It’s hard to believe with all the new high tech stuff, we can’t make better roads. I guess you really can’t beat Mother Nature...” Rick Nelson added.

Concerning the spending of money to repair the roads, Eugene Ketchen tweeted, “No, it’s not that the public does not want to spend the money to do the roads right, it’s that they want it done the cheapest way.”

Finally, William John Woods offered a solution that most rural folks already know: “It never ceases to amaze me that people who drive the same roads every day will continue to drive through these potholes over and over making them bigger and bigger. Why don’t they simply slow down or straddle them? It really is that simple. I’ve lived my whole life on dirt roads and am very familiar with potholes.”

Most repair work won’t commence until June, when the snow is guaranteed to be gone and final estimates of repairs have been made.

The number of complaints logged and the number of potholes and frost heaves found has been triple the usual total in recent decades.

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