THE
I S S U E DAT E 3•27•18
SOUTHERN MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BEACON
VOLUME 14 NO. 11
BY THE STUDENTS, FOR THE STUDENTS
Gun Violence Sparks Debate and Activism in Southern Maine By Troy Hudson In the aftermath of the Feb. 14 Parkland, Florida, shooting that left 17 people dead, a national discussion around gun violence has ignited passionate debate in this country. This debate is playing out in social media, television and newspapers — and on Thursday, March 22, in Jewett Auditorium on the SMCC South Portland Campus. Students and faculty came together there to share their opinions at a forum hosted by the Southern Poverty Law Center Student Group as part of their “Real Talk” series. SPLC members Dorcas Ngaliema and David Plouffe moderated the event. Illustration by Vanessa Poirier
The forum presented two questions, “What problems does America face regarding gun violence?” and “Do you have any suggestions for how to fix it?” before opening the floor to those in attendance. The conversation mostly centered around legislation, although a few students shared more personal perspectives. While a variety of opinions were expressed, the tone of the event remained respectful. Some argued that legislation was ultimately an ineffective means of reducing gun violence, while others pointed out that focusing on guns doesn’t address the larger problem of violence and abuse in our culture. Others expressed frustration at the ease of access to guns and talked about the need for universal mental-health care.
The final speaker at the forum, an instructor, who prefers to remain anonymous, shared a personal story about a shooting that took place at Montana State University in 1990. A 19-yearold student who was demonstrating clear signs of mental distress ended up murdering two fellow freshmen in their dorm rooms with a shotgun. “There is an immediate, incredibly intimate, personal level that wreaks havoc when that happens,” s/he said. “Three families in Montana were ripped apart by that murder.” The instructor emphasized that the real-world, human impacts of gun violence must not be forgotten as we seek for a solution to this contentious issue.
(Continued on page 2)
On the Diamonds With the SeaWolves Squads Open Spring Season in Florida
Photo Courtesy of Jody Kenna
While the softball and baseball diamonds were covered in snow and the Southern Maine region was suffering through a few winter “bomb cyclones” over spring break, the SMCC softball and
Emma Burns and Madison Eastman
baseball teams where in Florida taking to the diamonds. The SeaWolves softball team returned to Florida after a three-year hiatus from traveling during spring break, while the baseball squad made it to Florida after making it to South Carolina two seasons. The teams would combine winning five games and dropping 12 (the Lady Seawolves would post a 2-6 record, as the men would go 3-6); regardless, both head coaches Magnant and Yanni agreed that the trip was well worth the time and energy making it happen. Head Softball Coach Magnant reflected upon the trip as, “a great opportunity to expose our players/ladies and compete against some very talented teams. Our trip was a bonding experience and we are ready and confident to take on the rest of our Spring Season.” Baseball Head Coach Yanni stated that the trip was, “a learning experience that I feel will go a long way when we get
into our games here in the Northeast and in the YSCC.” When asked what made this trip special, Meranda Martin shared, “I think what made this trip so special was being able to play softball outside in warm weather instead of being in a gym,” as Sara Ring added, “There were a lot of laughs on and off the field.” The baseball squad started their springbreak games with a double header against Waubonsee from Illinois, splitting a double header. They would lose the opener 4-2 and win the second game 5-0. The win would come courtesy of the arm of junior pitcher Amos Herrin, who opened his spring season by pitching a complete game, having to throw 90 pitches while striking out 11. A day later, the Lady SeaWolves started their spring-break games, also splitting a double header. The Ladies’ double header was a non-traditional one, as they would beat Northland Community & Technical College from Minnesota in the opener, 11-0, and drop the second game against Spoon River College from Illinois, 0-9. Planning for the trip started last summer for the softball team and last fall season for the baseball team. The goal for both teams was to do as much fundraising as possible in order to keep the out-of-pocket cost for the student athletes as low as possible. According to Coach Magnant, “The team did a great job fundraising,” as the main goal Magnat had was to make (Continued on page 11)
Photo Courtesy of Mackenzie Smith
By THe Beacon Sports Staff
Caleb Chambers
Photos Courtesy of The Business Club
Campus News
Above: A display of breakfast food awaits those looking for a meal. Below: Pictured in order from left to right are Ryan Patridge, Yu (Rene) Shi, Taylor Markee, Haleigh Barrett, Celetta Richard and Loreal Legare of the Business Club.
Business Club Helps Families in Need By THe Business Club On Saturday, March 10, a generous group of SMCC Business Club students volunteered at Portland’s Ronald McDonald House to make and serve breakfast to families in need of help and caring. Ronald McDonald House’s mission is “keeping families with sick children together and near the care and resources they need.”
Kindness Korner By The Kindness Mama There is so much hate in our world, violence in our nation and chaos in our state. I believe we need more random acts of kindness. I know they are out there because I witness some every day here on campus. I see some in my commute to SMCC, some at the local grocery store, some in and around my place of employment and even some in the big city of Portland, Maine. Now I want to report on them and I want you, the readers of this great newspaper, to help me. I cannot be here on campus 24/7, so I will need a few informants to help me report on the random acts of kindness you see here on campus. The world, our nation and our state is so full of negative news all time; I believe we need to start reporting on positive news — positive
THE
BEACON STAFF Executive Staff
Production Manager Managing Editor Art Director Copy Editor Digital Media Managers
Oguzhan Özkan Troy Hudson Paul Moosmann Ben Riggleman Daniele Amandolini, Shukri Adan Midcoast Section Editor Dan Elliott Poetry Editor Rebecca Dow Graphic Designers Daniele Amandolini, Rebecca Dow
Contributing Writers
Daniele Amandolini, Nathanial Barter, Alicia Brosseau, Joel Congleton, Sam Coombs, Giovanni DiFazio, Rebecca Dow, Dan Elliott, Zachary Guiod, Liam Higgins, Troy Hudson, Mohammed Omane, Celina Simmons, LaRene Wentworth
Illustrations
Dan Elliott, Vanessa Poirier
Contributing Photographers
Daniele Amandolini, Jacob Clowes, Oguzhan Özkan Special Thanks to Jody Kenna and Mackenzie Smith for their contributions to this issue’s sports photography
Advisors
Chuck Ott & Rachel Guthrie
Contact Us
mbeacon@smccme.edu
2 The Beacon • March 27, 2018
Business Club members showed up at the Portland location early on a Saturday morning (during spring break, no less!) to provide some relief and sustenance to numerous families. From pancakes to pastries to bacon to fruit salad, the SMCC Business Club proudly cooked, served and cleaned for hours. Participating Business Club members were: Ryan Patridge, Yu (Rene) Shi, Taylor Markee, Haleigh Barrett, Celetta Richard and Loreal Legare.
people, making a difference in everyday lives. I know they are out there, and you all know they are out there. I bet each one of you have witnessed at least one random act of kindness, so let’s share it with everyone. This is a new section of The Beacon. My name is the Kindness Mama (I wish to remain a mystery). If you would like to report a random act of kindness, please send an email to The Beacon. I will review any and all acts of kindness and report as many as space will allow. Please include a contact email in case I need to contact you with questions about the random act(s) you have witnessed. Thank you all, and I look forward to reading and hearing about the random acts of kindness on campus. Remember, kindness causes a ripple effect — once it starts, it never ends!
Campus News Lockdown Drill Raises More Questions Than Answers By Troy Hudson On Monday, March 5, at 12:56 p.m., all SMCC students, faculty and staff received notifications via text message, email and computer-screen alert that the College was experiencing a lockdown drill. This came about three weeks after a 19-year-old murdered 17 people at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Precautionary drills are notorious for being regarded as nuisances, generating little serious action by participants (think of the lackluster enthusiasm for early-morning fire drills). But if ever there were a time to take a lockdown drill seriously, this was it. Anecdotally at least, that wasn’t the case in many classrooms on the South Portland campus — including the author’s own, which proceeded pretty much as usual after a brief pause to draw the blinds. Melody, a South Portland Campus student, saw even less action taken in the Learning Commons. She said those around her did “nothing, absolutely nothing.” When asked if anyone else even seemed to know what was going on, she said, “Honestly, I don’t know. I didn’t see anyone else check their phones. I got an email but I didn’t check it until later.”
Many students simply don’t know what to do in the event of a lockdown, which is what drills like the one we experienced this month are supposed to clarify. The email sent by SMCC urges everyone to, “Utilize this time to discuss lockdown procedures and the ‘Run Hide Fight’ safety protocol,” which is the bare minimum everyone on campus should know to minimize the threat posed by an active shooter. SMCC does, in fact, have policies in place to save lives during such an event, but they are only valuable if faculty and students know how to implement them. Popularized by the Department of Homeland Security, the “Run Hide Fight” strategy is intended to guide our critical decision making in a potentially confusing scenario. Basically, participants are supposed to first look for a way to flee the area. If it is not possible to do so, then they should find the nearest safe place to hide, keeping doors and windows locked and making no sound. Finally, if these options fail, they are urged to use whatever improvised weapons they can to fight the attacker. “Run Hide Fight” is not a perfect strategy, but by familiarizing ourselves with it we at least have some tangible actions to take in the event of an emergency. A 2014
FBI study on active-shooter events found that about 70 percent of the situations in the study terminated in five minutes or less. There is simply no time to waste wondering what to do. SMCC student Joseph told us he thinks many students “have a general idea from lockdown drills they may have done in middle school and high school, but I think a more structured system would be better. Maybe have the teachers explain what to do in the case of an actual lockdown.” This is something we heard from several students, who questioned whether instructors themselves even knew what to do. While safety training is an important part of faculty and staff training, SMCC regards campus safety and security as a community responsibility. Both faculty and students are encouraged to review safety information on their own from time to time to make sure they are prepared for an emergency. As Dean of Students Tiffanie Bentley wrote in an all-students email following the Parkland shooting, “We need to remain ever vigilant and attuned to our own environment.” The purpose of the lockdown drill was to create a space for discussion about safety protocols as well as to test the effica-
cy of the alert system. The latter seems to have been mostly effective, as everyone we spoke to was aware of the drill, but the opportunity for faculty and students to take advantage of the time for safety training seems to have been underutilized. One group on campus that stood out as an excellent example of what to do in a lockdown drill is the Advising Office. Work-study students Maddie and Haley told us that as everyone followed protocols, “Nobody was freaking out. We were pretty calm. Most of the administrators were handling turning off lights and closing doors.” They said there are now posters up in the office detailing what to do in an emergency, in addition to the laminated maps and emergency instructions that are posted by the door in every classroom on campus. “It was after the Parkland incident that it became something more to talk about.” If you want more information about what to do if there is an emergency on campus, SMCC offers safety and security information and tips on the MySMCC portal. The information can be found by clicking on the “Safety and Security” link in the left-hand column of the portal homepage.
Getting to Know Your Student Government By Liam Higgins The position of vice president of the SMCC Student Senate has been held by Mariam Jabbar since Jan. 23, 2018. From Iraq and currently in her second year at SMCC, studying to be a surgical tech, Mariam has always wanted to be a surgeon, and intendeds to work at Maine Medical Center, as well as continue her education after she finishes at SMCC.
As part of a student-leaders panel, she proposed to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges her idea to remove the FIGs from the required curriculum, believing they should be offered in the senior year of high school. Joshua Parks is the Senate director of public relations, and he has held the position since the beginning of the 2018 spring Semester. Coming from Saco, Maine, he is in his second year at SMCC, studying political science. He feels strongly that it is his
duty as an officer to bring the SMCC community together, and does so by spreading the word about student activities and assuring they get appropriate coverage. A recent accomplishment of his was an amendment made to the Student Senate Constitution that lists the disabled as a “protected group.” While considering pursuing International Studies at USM, he also wants to take time to finish writing his novel. Mariam’s main goal as an officer is pretty straightforward: Get students involved.
“Students complain about so many negative things in our school,” she says, “yet no one steps up and gets involved with the only club that can change many things on campus. We are a democratic government, but we are unable to make changes without having a large amount of students involved to share their opinions and concerns.” Both officers believe big change could come from more students joining the Senate. Josh goes as far as to say it is where your hopes and dreams come true.
the group are also assigned a success coach to whom they can go with any questions or concerns on their current progress in school, and their plans for the future. When I regularly met with my coach, she helped me iron out the kinks in my decision regarding what major I would pursue here at SMCC. I found speaking to my coach to be a very helpful act, as sometimes I am simply in need of a second opinion, and support in the form of educated suggestions as to how
I can maximize my academic potential. Additional information on the group, as well as instructions on how to apply can be found at the following link: https://www.smccme.edu/academics/success-programs/p2g/. When it comes to time management help and aligning one’s courses to aid in his or her future career, it does a lot of good to participate in programs such as this.
ranged from small children to the elderly. “There were a lot of senior citizens. That’s something that caught my attention. I guess they want to leave a better place for their [grandchildren].” According to Ozkan, law enforcement was present to block off the street but otherwise kept a low profile. Rather than an atmosphere of anger or hostility, he described an uplifting mood. “It was really positive. People were really hopeful, and they were nice to each other.”
The willingness to engage in debate over issues like gun violence is a hallmark of a healthy democracy. At a time when faith in our politicians seems to be lower than ever, we may take heart in the strength of our communities. Through discussion and mutual understanding, we are getting closer to a solution that will prevent more tragic losses from occurring in the future while honoring the rights of our citizens to safety and security.
What Is P2G? By Rebecca Dow Path 2 Graduation (P2G) is a program offered at SMCC that aims to guide and aid students during their time attending, primarily during their first year by providing support and resources to ensure that students keep on a productive path during college. I was involved with Path 2 Graduation during my freshman year at SMCC, which involved taking a P2G themed FIGs class
(which is an introductory class, mandatory to all new students) as well as attending a certain number of events during the year such as bowling get-togethers, workshops, coffee meet-and-greets and the like. The financial benefits one may expect to receive by becoming involved with P2G can be as high as one thousand dollars or five hundred dollars per semester in scholarship money. In addition to having resources to plan for the future and scholarship, members of
Gun Violence Sparks Debate (Continued from page 1) Victims of the recent Parkland shooting and their supporters are fighting to bring that personal experience to the forefront of national politics. On March 24, the March for Our Lives protest drew thousands of students and teachers to Washington, D.C., to demand tougher gun laws from lawmakers, and was supported by rallies in hundreds of other cities, including our own Portland, Maine.
Communications major Oz Ozkan was present at the Portland rally, which drew as many as 5,000 supporters to an eightblock section of Congress Street in front of City Hall. Ozkan was just passing through when he saw a large crowd of people holding anti-Trump signs. “At first I thought it was like Bernie Sanders had posted something on Facebook and people were rallying for that, but then I thought that it must be something good and I should go and blend in.” He said the participants
March 27, 2018 • The Beacon 3
Other World Global Wealth Inequality And Its Consequences By Zachary Guiod We, as a society, rarely question or discuss global poverty and wealth inequality. We know that there are poor countries and poor people; and anyone, who has ever run out of fuel in Maine in winter, can empathize with them, because they know how it feels to have to choose between food or fuel. What the majority of people don’t know is how severe wealth inequality really is and what the brutal consequences are for those who were born into poverty. The first and most mind blowing fact is that eight men have the same combined wealth as the poorest 3.6 billion people on the planet. Let that sink in for a second. And they keep on getting richer. In 2017, the world’s richest 500 people saw their wealth increase by a combined trillion dollars! You may ask, “Well what about the poorest half of the world? Are they accumulating more wealth?” The sad answer is no, their wealth has stagnated or worse declined. In a world where the richest eight men have more wealth than the poorest 3.6 billion, the number of people living in extreme
poverty and poverty should be zero. This is not a radical thought. According to the most recent estimates in 2013, 767 million people, or 10.7% lived on less than $1.90 a day which means they lived in extreme poverty. This number has improved since 2012 when it was 12.4%. It has been more than cut in half since 1990 when 1.85 billion lived in extreme pover-
a day. While there has been some improvement, it is not at all acceptable in a moral world. What are the consequences of this insane level of income inequality? I will focus on the worst: hunger. According to the United Nations, poverty is the number one reason for hunger around the world. Globally, one in nine people, or 815 million people, are undernourished. Nine million die from hunger and hunger related diseases. Poor nutrition is responsible for 45% of deaths in children under five, or 3.1 million deaths a year. One in four children suffer stunted growth due to poor nutrition. In developing regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, that number can rise to one in three. We live in a world where the 500 richest people can “earn” a trillion dollars in one year and nine million of the poorest people will die that same year because they cannot afford food. This is the staggering reality we are faced with today. You may be reading this and thinking, “What am I, one person who is already struggling financially, going to do about global wealth inequality?” Just by reading this you are doing something to help; the first step in solving any problem is simply becoming aware of the issue.
The first and most mind blowing fact is that eight men have the same combined wealth as the poorest 3.6 billion people on the planet. Let that sink in for a second. ty. Unfortunately, even though over a billion people have escaped extreme poverty in the past two decades, the majority who escaped still live in daily suffering of “regular” poverty and have very limited opportunities for financial advancement. In 2012 2.1 billion people lived on less than $3.10
The Beacon Goes on Spring Break By Daniele Amandolini
Photo by Daniele Amandolini
I haven’t lived in the US for a long time, and I’m constantly learning and experiencing new bits of American culture. As school in Europe has a vastly different schedule, I found myself experiencing my first Spring break this past month. I cherished the week off from the school grind, and flew to San Francisco to visit some relatives. The Beacon was a big topic of discussion in describing my new life here in the US: it
helped me feel part of the community, and to develop skills and experiences I’m sure will come in handy in the future. And it wasn’t just talk — Some lucky copies of the paper traveled with me to the Golden State, and I proudly showed off my team’s work to the sea lions on Pier 39. The Beacon hopes everyone had a great and relaxing Spring Break, a tradition I was glad to be a part of, and a much needed chance to recharge my batteries for the second half of the semester.
Daniele Amandolini proudly showing off The Beacon in Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, CA.
4 The Beacon • March 27, 2018
Other World Meeting Professional Journalists at USM In a world in which news outlets are being attacked daily, it’s more important than ever to practice journalism with ethics and serve our communities thoroughly and without biases. We at the Beacon are committed to always grow and learn and make our readership proud of our work. On Saturday, March 24, The Beacon attended a journalism workshop hosted by USM and their school publication, The Free Press. The event covered many facets of this fast changing industry, ranging from the technical side of how to conduct an interview and handle “sources”, to using social media to engage readers. The event featured esteemed figures in local journalism, including representatives from the Bangor Daily News and the Portland Press Herald, all willing to share valuable information and eager to answer questions from the young high school and college students in attendance. While the way we are consuming news is shifting from paper to online, they all stressed the importance of providing quality news, no matter the format. While The Beacon is a relatively small publication, we are dedicated to grow and learn to better serve each and every one of our readers, and this workshop was a great opportunity for us to meet professional reporters, photojournalists, and editors.
We would also like to commend the talented, hard working staff of The Free Press for putting together such a compelling event.
Photos by Daniele Amandolini
By Daniele Amandolini
Top left: Jim Patrick, Social Media Editor for the Portland Press Herald. Bottom left: Fred Field, professor from Communications and Media Studies at USM. Right: Seth Koenig, writer for the Bangor Daily News.
Interested in a Bachelor’s degree? Save time and money with ConnectED Pathways.
Our many articulation agreements ensure a streamlined transfer of credits towards your bachelor’s degree. Learn more at usm.maine.edu/connected. We offer merit scholarships to transfer students which helps to keep tuition costs low. Learn more at usm.maine.edu/scholarships.
Questions? We’re happy to help! Contact our knowledgeable Transfer Success Coordinator, Christopher Fox at 207-780-4793 or via email: cwfox@maine.edu
March 27, 2018 • The Beacon 5
Opinion Free Will By Alicia Brosseau In “Consider Ethics” (2011), Bruce Waller writes, “We are not entirely selfmade and self-chosen — our desires, affections, and inclinations are the product of our genetic and conditioning histories — but in some of our critical choices we make special free creative choices.” I did not have to look far to find support for Waller’s statement. My entire adult life thus far has been comprised of a series of freely willed choices, made with the goal of raising myself out of the cycle of poverty in which I was mired as a child. In the following paragraphs I will give numerous examples of how free will enables us to either improve our lot in life, or to worsen our circumstances. For the majority of my formative years, I was raised in Portland, Maine. My mother and I lived in a Section 8 housing community. No matter how much she worked, there never seemed to be enough money, especially as my absentee father contributed little to nothing toward my support. Being poor seemed normal to me, though, because I never knew any different. In the neighborhood we lived in, we were surrounded by poverty, and the only kids that I knew had similar stories to tell. My father was an alcoholic who spent most of my early childhood in and out of the local jail for things like assault and driving under the influence. When he did decide to come around, he would always take me out to do enjoyable things that I never got to do with my mother. My dad seemed larger than life to me, and the combination of fun excursions and the complete lack of discipline led me to idolize this mysterious man. The only time my father would
reprimand me was when I would cry. He would say things like, “Don’t you want to be tough like your dad? I never cry. If you’re tough you don’t cry. It’s a sign of weakness.” I wanted more than anything to grow up to be tough like my dad. I started fighting in elementary school. I thought it would be the perfect way to prove to my dad that I was tough, just like him. I dreamt of the day my father would come take me away from the poverty and abuse that I endured at my mother’s house. I’m sure she partially blamed me for our circumstances. If not for my existence, she wouldn’t have to work so much, or be so poor, and she’d have more freedom. She resented me because I reminded her of my dad, about whom she still has many unresolved feelings. Shortly after I turned seven, my father was sentenced to seven years in prison for a terrorism charge, aggravated assault and domestic violence, thus bringing my hopes of rescue to an end. I spent the next six years constantly acting out. I was as bad as I possibly could be, both to impress my dad when he got out and to vent my hurt and anger. When I was 10 years old I started to smoke pot, drink alcohol and steal. My relationship with my mother continued to deteriorate. When I was 11 years old she
The Disgraceful Purple P By LaRene Wentworth
Strange as it may seem, plagiarism hasn’t always been viewed as a no-no. There was a time in history when it was encouraged to copy the masters. The great mentors of the Renaissance period instructed young writers to immerse themselves in the writings of others, to take from them and to collaborate with their peers. Perhaps encouragement of this nature is still needed to help students find their own writing style. Today, we are all told — “Do not plagiarize! It’s a crime!” Most students understand the basic concept of not stealing another writer’s work. However, when it comes to giving reference to another writer’s work, many first-year students only remember, “When in doubt, cite it out.” This is not enough writing knowledge to keep you out of trouble. If you’re going to survive college without plagiarizing, you need to get yourself some SKILL. First, If you don’t know how not to plagiarize, talk to your English teacher. We do have professors here who would welcome an open conversation with an engaged, proactive student. Be honest, even if you’re embarrassed. Most educators are aware that this generation has been set up to fail. You probably didn’t get the instruc-
tion you needed because it wasn’t in the state lesson plan. Okay, so that happened. Take charge of your education. Have pride. Secondly, There are many resources online that can help you self-educate. YouTube is terrific for quick tutorial videos. You can type in “avoiding plagiarism” or “academic dishonesty,” and many choices for help will be at your fingertips. Also, right here at your college, in the Learning Commons, an entire section called the Writing Center is devoted to tutoring students with challenges they might be experiencing. Don’t forget you can also go to your library for help! The librarians are waiting to assist you. In just a few minutes, they can show you how to navigate the My Learning portal on the school website. Here you can find research material and help with citing and formats. In conclusion, plagiarism has a lot of gray areas — even the most skilled writers have difficulty keeping up with all the rules. However, there is no excuse for committing the crime of plagiarizing. There is no shame or judgment in having open conversations about the process and rules required to become a writer with integrity. Become a confident writer. Let your writing voice be heard.
6 The Beacon • March 27, 2018
decided that she didn’t want to deal with me anymore. She began to go through the proceedings to put me in to foster care. My grandmother and my aunt on my father’s side came and took me to live with them in Windham before I ended up in the foster-care system. They didn’t want to risk the chance of losing touch with me when my dad was finally scheduled to get out of prison within the year. He got out a year and a half early on good time, and as soon as he had a place to live I finally got to live with him. Living with my dad was not the happy adventure I had dreamed of. He went right back to drinking all the time. He would have fits of rage that were not always directed at me, but whenever I spoke up or stood up for myself he would beat me. Sometimes he would take off on a drinking bender and leave me for a week at a time with only 20 dollars to feed myself. At this point I was 13 years old. I ended up spending the next three years bouncing between living with my abusive mother, living with my abusive father, and running away. When I was 16 years old I was living with my dad. I came home one night and he had given my bed away to one of his girlfriend’s friends. He told me that I would have to start sleeping on the floor.
In my first positive act of free will, I moved out and have supported myself ever since. It would seem that all of the experiences in my life leading up to that moment could be construed as deterministic forces: the experience of poverty, the family history of alcoholism and abuse, bad decision making, and other negative cultural influences. In my experience, many people who have had similar childhoods end up in the same situations as adults. I have many friends who have had children at very young ages, and they are all living off the state just like they did growing up. Others are currently in jail, or have been in and out of jail their entire adult lives. By using free will, I have avoided these pitfalls. I made the decision to quit smoking and drinking cold-turkey. I stopped stealing and fighting. I chose to stop hanging out with the friends that I had grown up with, because I knew that they were going to be a negative influence on the new life that I have been trying to create for myself. I made the choice to put myself through college to gain an education. Neither of my parents have any higher education, nor do the majority of the people that I was close to growing up. Making these choices has not been easy, but I have accomplished these things all on my own and by my own will. Instead of letting my upbringing and cultural experiences dictate my future, I have taken control of my life. I have, as Waller would say, “the power to act in accordance with my own will.”
Trump’s Drug Policy By Gio DiFazio
Trump has met twice with Rodrigo Duterte, and we can safely assume that New Hampshire, where the state motto Trump is like a sponge — hearing that is “Live Free or Die,” held a presidential some countries “have no drug problem” berally this weekend at Manchester Commu- cause of the death penalty is a wonderful nity College. Combating the drug epidem- fantasy for some. Singapore and the Philipic, mainly opiate-based substances, was the pines claim that their systematic execution president’s main focus. In fact, Donnie T is of drug dealers keeps their countries clean. calling for an increase in federal drug-law Not only is that a delusion, but that is a enforcement. Not only does he believe that statement of how some leaders treat forgotharsher penalties take drugs off the streets, ten members of society. Granted, Trump is speaking of the dealTrump wants to put in place a system that ers and not the drug addicted users, but executes drug dealers. “If we don’t get tough enough on the would killing a drug dealer be any different drug dealers, we are wasting our time,” from putting him in jail? How? And when he said. ”And that toughness includes the you do kill or incarcerate a drug dealer, how do you prevent more heroin death penalty.” from flooding the streets? Late last year Trump met “If we don’t get with Rodrigo Duterte, the tough enough on the You don’t. The use of drugs flows president of the Philipdrug dealers, we’re throughout every social class pines, in Manila for a second wasting our time.” and does not discriminate, time. Duterte is famous for nor does it cease. his reckless leadership and Who knows if he is serious at this point, genocidal attitude towards the members of the drug world. According to The New but seeing that radical people like Duterte York Times, he is accused of ordering thou- even have the ability to influence Trump is sands of extrajudicial killings against indi- very unsettling. Someone who has publicly viduals that have associated with the drug boasted about murder is putting ideas into trade, even bragging on record of carrying the head of the president, and the president out killings by his own hands. It’s easy to likes them! Again, no state is hit harder by the opiunderstand how one ruthless tyrant can hold skewed beliefs such as this, but the re- ate crisis than the state of New Hampshire. ally scary thing is that Duterte used these Live Free or Die is perfectly fitting for a ideas to scare the country into electing him state the allows a public school to host a man who wants nonviolent criminals put to lead it. to death.
Opinion The Cost of Textbooks By Mohammed Omane
College textbooks, like college tuition, have increased drastically in price over the years. While some of it is due to inflation, college textbooks are 812 percent higher today than they were in the 1980s, according to the American Enterprise Institute. To put this in perspective, the average housing prices across the U.S. (which have often indicated the economy’s strength) have only increased around 200 to 300 percent, depending on the location, since 1980. This drastic price increase is not benefiting anyone other than the book publishers. For students, affording a new college textbook is a financial challenge in itself. In my three classes, the average cost of a single new textbook is almost $160 dollars. Used textbooks are significantly cheaper, averaging around $70 for me. The typical student who takes four courses a semester will have a total book cost of $680 for a set of new books, or $280 for used books. Here at SMCC, where a single course is roughly
$270 dollars, even buying used books for your four classes is the equivalent of one entire course. Besides this hyperinflation, do college textbooks contain more knowledge than they did three decades ago? Yes and no. While information in all subjects has advanced, the typical introductory statistics or biology course contains the nearly same information. Many new editions of textbooks are released every year, but aside from chapter switches or additional practice problems, not a lot changes. However, if you were to compare a fourth and fifth edition of the same textbook you would quickly notice the huge margin in prices. Yet, students of today often gain little insight or knowledge from simply reading textbooks in this fast society. Not a lot of people who work, raise kids or have extracurriculars necessarily have the time
to fully understand every single concept presented. Other modes of learning (Khan Academy, Udemy or even YouTube) have become more popular sources for really gaining understanding those difficult concepts. Not to mention, the majority of students don’t often buy textbooks and still complete courses successfully, according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. On a positive note, though, there’re have been a lot of new methods to acquiring the textbook. Amazon’s rental system is often a popular source to get your semester textbooks. Ebooks are also becoming popular for students looking for a more affordable (and less heavy) alternative. And if you’re the type of student that prefers to not read at all, maybe don’t take that philosophy course on Plato’s “Republic.”
Revival or Career Destruction? By Celina Simmons
In December of 2017, Marshall Mathers, or the man more commonly known as Eminem, released his ninth studio LP, and critics have many mixed opinions on it. Although some people are supportive of “Revival,” most of the feedback has not necessarily been constructive. But after almost four years of silence from the best-selling hip-hop artist of all time, Eminem’s intentions were not to make his critics happy. Rather, he wants to use his words and publicity to convey his point of view on some of the political and social issues that our country is currently facing. Mathers makes many bold statements about sensitive topics in our country throughout “Revival.” For instance, the song “Untouchable” is evidently about the Black Lives Matter movement. He raps about specific incidents of police brutality, such as the events with Walter Scott, an unarmed black man who was shot to death by a white officer in 2015. Many of the critics are saying that this is not new news, and he agrees with them. During an interview with Michel Martin, a weekend host on “All Things Considered,” he said, “They’re for sure not new thoughts … I’m saying that this is the perspective from the racist white cop. This is what got me infuriated, and two years ago got me so flustered I couldn’t even write about it because my thoughts would get too scattered.” Eminem shares his counterargument to President Trump’s intents with our country in his song “Like Home.” He shares his personal frustration towards
the president when he says “Can’t denounce the Klan, ‘cause they play golf with ya … all you got are race cards … I guess it pays to feed off chaos.” He is targeting Trump, basically suggesting he works with the KKK, is racist, and just continues to thrive off of the disputes and arguments he is creating within our society.
Some critics have said that “Revival” is one of Eminem’s worst albums yet and that it was fueled by self-doubt, bad gags, and political anger, but let’s not forget who we are talking about here. Eminem has shown us glimpses into his mind of self-doubt and mental illnesses, from “Rock Bottom” off “The Slim Shady LP” to “Brainless” off “The Marshall Mathers LP 2.” Because of those serious topics that he does talk about, he can use those corny jokes and gags to almost find an equilibrium. Politics are also not a new subject for Mathers. He has incorporated political views in his rhymes since the beginning of his career with songs like “White America,” “Who Knew,” and “Mosh.” Perhaps critics are overlooking Eminem’s message in “Revival.” They are critiquing him for his “lack of style” that he carried throughout his career or for his corny rhymes rather than looking at why he released this album. During his interview with Michel Martin, when asked whether his intentions were to share his stand on the issues or to help er i people see them that didn’t before, r i o sa P s he responded with, “Well, both, but it’s e n y Va b more about hopefully being able to open n atio r t people’s eyes with it… Hopefully between s Illu his song [“I’m Not Racist,” by Joyner LuHe accuses him of dividing us by banning cas] and mine we can open some eyes and transgender people from the military, and maybe keep the movement going, and the claims “he generally hates black people, conversation.” Eminem makes it clear that degrades Hispanics.” Eminem has shared he does care about what is happening in in interviews that he is very disappointed our country, and instead of falling into the with the way that our president is handling mainstream rap style, he is using his talent the situations our country is in, and this al- and fame to broaden the attention for those bum was a key tool for him to create social political and social issues he addresses. awareness.
I Can’t Wait For the End By Nathanial Barter You lie in bed at night and dream. Perhaps you dream about fast cars, money, and freedom. Or, maybe, nightmares, with goblins, ghoulies and psychotic ex-lovers. You lie drifting off, wishing you were someone else, or the perfect comeback to an argument you had four years ago. It feels so real, you can taste the perfect mixture of bliss, or the icy clutches of terror. And when you wake up, you start your normal, mundane, G-Class-less life, not being chased by the corpse of a longdead pirate captain. But you’re looking forward to the following night’s adventures, or dreading the impending horrors of your subconscious. What if I told you my perfect dream is happening? I’m living it, and I’m excited to wake up the next morning knowing that reality is better than my dreams. “What?” you say. “How can a 22-year-old man, with a 2003 Jeep Wrangler, and nothing to his name except a few pairs of Levis, be living his ultimate fantasy?” Well, I’m not, really, I’m mostly just exaggerating this for exposition. “But then what is your dream, Nathanial?” It’s when movie theaters no longer exist. I’ve watched, and waited. Sharpened my spear, and covered myself in bodyheat-proof mud. All for the day when movie theaters become nothing but a shopping mall for Hollywood schlack. Pushing no narrative except, “Money, please!” I can’t wait for the day when Marvel announces “Captain Can’t Die vs. Cookie-Cutter Villain #5: The Final 2-Part Anthology Prequel of the 3rd Remake to the 1st Movie’s Subplot’s Antagonist’s Wet Dream Until You See the End of the Credits and We Tease #6.” And I’m sitting at home, not being assaulted by the sounds of a man and his entire family seemingly fighting with what sounds like assault forks over the last nacho covered in extra liquid cheese. By that time, Regal will be owned by Disney, and Amazon and Netflix will be where I go to watch my movies. And I’m so excited. No longer will I have to worry about sitting through seven Fathom Events commercials about stuff no one ever sees. And I will be able to turn the lights off; click a button; and watch something amazing, thought provoking, and created by actual people, and not a focus group. My money, of course, will partially go to Amazon and Netflix. But that bit that doesn’t will go right to the group of artists that spent so much time making a movie they’d want to watch. Not the pockets of some exec who just made it for monetary gain. Maybe it will happen in my lifetime, maybe it won’t, but all I know is that in 20 years Elon Musk will have invented a cerebral microchip to stream movies directly to the TVs installed in the back of our eyelids. But I’m so excited for the end.
March 27, 2018 • The Beacon 7
Arts & Features Featured Musician: Undeniable
Photo Courtesy of Ashton Altvater By Rebecca Dow
I
n a college of over 6,000 students, there are bound to be artists hidden amid the brick-and-mortar classrooms on campus, weathered by salt and time. Some artists are not so hidden, however; some continually reach for the recognition they know they deserve in this world of shifting interests and fashions of perception — regarding what “is” and “isn’t” art. One such talent peeking out from the shadows is Ashton Altvater, a student at SMCC who has a passion for rapping stating that "It's
more than a hobby, it's a passion." Originally from Pleasant Point Indian Reservation in Washington County, Maine, Altvater is a proud member of the Passamaquoddy tribe. “I think it’s pretty neat being a Native American rapper from Maine, and just doing something different this game hasn’t seen before,” he states. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Altvater, delving deeper into the history behind his music, as well as his inspirations. Regarding the start of his musical journey, he said, “Honestly, it was kind of like a joke at first; I used to freestyle with my friends. I guess I started to take it seriously when I was about 17, 18 — senior in high school. I made an established YouTube page.” You can find his YouTube channel by searching "Ashton Altvater," and clicking the channel of the same name. Additionally, he has a soundcloud account at "https:// soundcloud.com/mc-undeniable". Both accounts have original tracks and videos that can be accessed for free online.
8 The Beacon • March 27, 2018
As our interview progressed, Altvater revealed the production process of his first official-feeling song. “We recorded ‘Tryin’ To Make It’ when I was 18, in April of 2012,” he said. “We recorded with a shitty 10- to 15-dollar Walmart mic that we were hanging from the ceiling. That’s how I started … It looked really corny — but I guess, that’s the humble beginnings.” As for his backing tracks, he replied, “I lease the beats usually, but I’ll go to the studio and I’ll record in there and mix a master [of the track]; stuff like that. Thirty-eight hours in the studio. It’s pretty tight.” The fact that he is seeking out finer equipment for better audio quality seems like a true sign of his unwavering interest in refining his work. As artists, we too should seek to refine our styles and tools to achieve fresher, higher-quality works. When asked if he ever collaborates with other artists, Altvater replied, “Yes and no; I do, and I’ve collabed before, but I don’t like doing too many collaborations because you’ve got to put a lot of investment, time and hope into someone else for a song. If you did it by yourself your product would probably come out quicker.” Not only has Altvater remained diligent in pursuing his passion for music, he has gained the support of family and friends throughout his journey. He is
active in his community, going to open mics and circulating his content via the web. Additionally, he told me what kind of people inspire him: “Big L is definitely my favorite artist of all time; I guess, people who bring you motivation in life, who go through the same struggle.” I felt honored to be able to interview someone so confident and filled with motivation for their passion as Undeniable. I encourage you all to listen to his tracks and dip your toes into the local music scene in your area. Take care to be true to yourself as you discover what your innermost self craves. Altvater could not have given me a better ending quote to the interview: “To be different in this world you’ve gotta separate yourself from everybody else — and you’ve got to pursue your own thing of happiness; find your own path in life. And do what makes you happy, and don’t give a damn about what people think, just do what you love, pursue it to the fullest — 100 percent. Nothing is impossible in this world.” I raise my proverbial glass of spirits to toast all who are able to express their talents for the world to see. That requires a level of courage and confidence which can be very difficult to achieve for some people. Thank you, and keep sharing your work with us here at The Beacon.
“It’s more than a hobby, it’s a movement.”
Arts & Features Poetic License
Creative Writing
Happy springtime! It’s almost National Poetry Month (April) and I’ve been itching to hear what SMCC’s got for writing talent! As per usual I’ve provided a poem for your reading pleasure. It was written shortly following the news that the author’s workplace, Toys R Us, was closing. Initially the poem was presented only to his coworkers, but here you may all read and enjoy this touching piece! Remember, you may send your poetry submissions to my email at rebeccadow@smccme.edu. By Joseph Malia
A Flashcard History (On Drugs) By Joel Congleton 9/15/1981 runswick, Maine. I emerge from my mother, kicking and screaming and covered in goop. It might be the most traumatic thing that’s ever happened to me, but I don’t remember it, so I’m not sure.
B
Late 1990’s opsham, Maine. I wake up with a glistening forehead and a damp pillowcase. I’m shivering, and my head hurts. So this is what dopesick feels like. It’s finally caught up to me. Feels like the flu, really. I begin to calculate when and how I can get more heroin.
T
Early 2000’s ort Lauderdale, Florida. Summertime. I’ve moved here to pursue a degree in Video Production. I’d hoped that a consequence of moving would be that I’d end my growing opiate addiction. This is not the case. Dope is much cheaper in Florida. I’m waiting for a green light at the intersection by my friend’s house. There’s a homeless man standing on the median, peddling newspapers that were given to him through a local program. I know him. He’s the same guy that’s always there. We rap for a minute and I give him a dollar for a paper, as I always do. I intend to read it, or at least skim it, but I don’t. I toss it in the back seat and it lands on more newspapers that I didn’t read. My car is a 92’ Honda Accord. I love it; it has a sunroof. No A.C. though, which is problematic in the summer. The light turns green and within a few minutes I’m approaching the on-ramp to the highway. As I tear down I-95 with my windows open, the newspapers in my backseat flutter to life. They dance, kind of like that plastic bag in “American Beauty”, reminding me of their presence and occasionally obstructing my view.
F
2/4/2010 runswick, Maine. I got sober. People sometimes ask me how I did it and I tell them I went to meetings. I’m not lying, but I never really feel like I’m telling the truth. Yeah, I went to meetings, but I’d gone to meetings at other points in my life and it didn’t get me sober then. So what do I tell them? It was just my time. Or I got lucky. Or maybe there was something greater at play. But for the grace of God, there go I.
B
5/2/2012 ortland, Maine. My son is born. It’s so cliche that I can’t even say it. Fuck it, I’ll say it. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
P
11/21/2017 reeport, Maine. I ease my forks under the wooden pallet, and with a flick of my wrist I raise it a few inches off the warehouse floor. Another flick and I’m in reverse, as the beep-beepbeeping indicates to everyone nearby. I crane my neck to see behind me, stomp my foot on the pedal and I’m off, steering the fork truck towards the other side of the warehouse so I can drop my pallet off and pick up another one. It’s all muscle memory now, gained through daily repetition. I could probably do it blindfolded. Not what I’d envisioned for myself, but I’m making moves in the field of videography when I’m not at my day job, and that gives me hope. In fact, I’m expecting a text about a freelance motion effects job. I’m excited about it. Perhaps too excited, I realize as I feel the familiar double-vibration in my pocket that indicates a text, and a wave of giddiness washes over me like I’m Pavlov’s dog. I park my fork truck and dismount it, careful to follow safety regulations. I look at the text and my heart drops. It’s not from a potential client. It reads: “Chris’s nephew Nathan died this morning. Ashley found him. Shits super fucked up, I remember when he was a baby. I’ll let you know if there’s a service.” I assume it was an opiate overdose. That’s a stone-cold assumption, but it is what it is. Nathan was in his 20’s. Another name on the list. Chris must be devastated. Suddenly my warehouse job isn’t so bad. Suddenly it’s not all about me.
I will miss all of the beeps, And yes even the creeps. I will miss reshop, and even messing with the mop. I will miss asking for your rewards, Ringing up checkerboards.
F
Today(s) he alarm starts screaming at 5:30a. I crawl out of bed. Meditate for twenty minutes, get dressed, insert contact lenses, eat cereal, brush teeth, kiss my sleeping son. I’m in the car and off to the warehouse by 6:30am. I drive a 2012 Toyota Corolla now (I blew my Accord’s engine on the way to the methadone clinic some time around 2007). I like it okay. There’s no sunroof. The A.C. works though, and I mostly drive with the windows closed these days. A controlled environment. I’ve settled into a routine. There’s freedom in routine – that’s the secret to learn. Without it, I’m left with good intentions and promises to myself that just flutter around in the back seat with no direction or purpose. That’s not to say that the routine doesn’t get stale at times or that the chaos is never alluring, but I’ll leave the chaos for the kids. I just hope that they survive it.
T
All the little screams, I’ll remember it all in my dreams. Walking from aisle to aisle, Oddly finding a crocodile. Things were never put back right, The computer screens were always so bright. But I’ll miss it all the same, and I’m glad I came. For all the great stories, They’ll stay with what my heart carries.
NISOD
National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development
TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD Three awards will be presented: 1 each for a Full-time faculty, Adjunct faculty, and Staff member. Send your nomination to pcharpentier@smccme.edu with the following:
1
Your name
2
Name of the nominee
3
How does the nominee contribute to making SMCC a special place?
Nominations are due by March 30, 2018 March 27, 2018 • The Beacon 9
Midcoast Financial Aid Lab By Dan Elliott With spring break at an end, the semester is now half over. And while there is still much work left to do before May arrives, registration for summer classes is officially open. Students here at the Brunswick campus looking to alleviate the burden of student debt through means of financial aid now have the opportunity to speak with an advisor without having to make the trek down to South Portland. On March 22, the Midcoast Campus will be featuring a FAFSA lab, a seminar designed to help students with filling out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, otherwise known as the FAFSA. Held in room 203 of the MATEC building, students will have online access to fill out the form, with the assistance of a SMCC financial-aid officer guiding them as they go. This is a great opportunity for those who have little to no experience dealing with FAFSA, or those simply with questions needing answers. Students have the option of making an appointment with the advisor, or they can simply drop in to take advantage of this assistance afforded to them. Nearly every student in the U.S. is eligible for some sort of financial aid. The most common forms of this assistance are the Pell Grant and the Stafford Loan. The Pell Grant, named after Rhode Island Senator Claiborne Pell,
has served as the backbone of roughly 5.4 million college students’ financial aid package. Unlike a loan, the grant does not have to be repaid. The Pell Grant has a maximum lifetime amount that is paid out, and is dependent on the student’s eligible family contribution (or “EFC” for short). The Stafford Loan, named after Vermont Senator Robert Stafford, is a federal student loan that has a lower interest rate than that of most private loans. This is due to the fact that the U.S. government assures repayment of the loan in the event of student default. The student does not have to repay the loan while in school, and has attached with it a grace period of six months after graduation. The subsidized version of the loan sees the interest paid by the government during enrollment, making repayment of the loan simple and relatively unstressful. Midcoast students are encouraged to contact Vicki-Rose Porter (vporter@ smccME.edu) with any questions or concerns regarding financial aid they might have, or to schedule an appointment for help in filling out the FAFSA. While planning for courses for the next semester, the smart student should plan for financial peace of mind as well. After all, with everything that a student has to keep track of, the burden of fiscal debt should be as far from the top of the list as humanly possible.
Midcoast Stone Works By Dan Elliott There have been some new additions to the Midcoast Campus in recent weeks, coming in the form of large, monolithic slabs of granite. These abstract, almost otherworldly installations have already begun capturing the imagination and wonder of passers-by, begging the question: What are these strange objects, and where did they come from? The answer, it seems, is much more terrestrial. The pillars of stone are part of a project by artist Thomas Berger. Berger, who hails from Kittery, Maine, was commissioned on behalf of Southern Maine Community College to create a collection of all-weather outdoor art to reflect qualities of the students on campus. The rocky outcrops are titled “Destination,” “Ambition” and “Thought.” “Destination,” the ultimate goal of the student, is illustrated by Berger in quintessential Maine iconography: the hull of a ship, which embodies traits such as movement, destiny and exploration. “Ambition” is portrayed in the form of a window, a much more universal form of symbolism. The window, which expresses the surpassing of a threshold, is lined with cut steps, with more steps resting on the inside of the window itself, their purpose to convey the idea, shockingly enough, of taking steps. The final piece of the installation, “Thought,” almost seems to resemble an exaggerated human figure at first glance. The slender piece expresses the inception of an idea, one that is ready to be released out into the world.
Originally from Germany, Thomas Berger has spent time all over the globe, visiting places such as Niger, France and Australia before immigrating to the United States in the mid 1990s. His commissions have been featured across the entirety of New England, in venues that range from museums to schools to private residences. His work is primarily focused on the theme of the natural world, as Berger claims himself to be a “lifelong naturalist” according to his website, bergerstoneart.com. His site is filled with pictures of stone sculpture of aquatic lifeforms and insects interacting with their environment, in among his other projects. So despite the elimination of any conspiracy theories some students may have (such as recreating Stonehenge on the Brunswick campus), Berger’s installations are a much-welcome addition to the burgeoning Midcoast Campus. Funding for the project came from Maine’s Percent for Art program, which is a mandate passed in 1979 which requires that one percent of the budget for publicly-funded buildings be set aside for such art projects. In addition the abstract ideas they symbolize, the installations also represent the latest in a line of improvements slated for the Brunswick campus. These additions are further proof that the Brunswick campus is transitioning from merely a satellite campus to a hub of continuing education that is developing an identity of its own, an identity that is succeeding in drawing more and more students from all different parts of Maine.
One-on-one advising appointments at the Midcoast Campus
Appointments will be offered Tuesdays between 10-2, and will be held in the LL Bean Learning Commons & Health Science Center. Students can schedule an appointment at
advisingmidcoast.youcanbook.me Of course, the staff in the LL Bean Learning Commons & Health Science Center at the Midcoast Campus are still available to assist students without appointment Monday through Friday from 8-5.
10 The Beacon • March 27, 2018
From The Mind of Dan Elliott
SMCC Sports
On the Diamonds With the SeaWolves (Continued from page 1)
In terms of play, both teams maintained a schedule that didn’t leave them with much down time. The baseball team played nine games in five days, four days on which they played double headers. The softball team played eight games over the course of five days, as the first two days and last two days of play saw the Lady SeaWolves playing double headers. Both squads faced teams that are well outside of the New England region, as they took to the diamonds against teams from Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey and New York. When asked how he felt his squad did against the teams they played, Coach Yanni stated, “In general, I guess the athleticism may have been better but in the game of baseball I believe it is more about your mental fortitude. Being able to make adjustments and turn the tide when a game is not going your way is what we struggle with. We could of beat every team we played down there, we have the skill to do it, what we lacked was a little bit of mental toughness. I am not saying we aren’t mentally tough because we battled all week and ended up 3-6 but we should of been 4-5 and some of the games that got out of hand I don’t think the score reflected the team we are.” Meranda Martin spoke of how the level of competition affected her and her team-
mates: “…the most challenging part of the trip was staying up when we were down. I think a lot of people got down on themselves when they were not playing their best game. Which then carried over to the entire team, then after we were losing by a few runs it was harder for us to refocus. I will say I think everyone learned that even if we are down we still need to stay up and be focused.” Sara Ring reflected on how the team responded when they found themselves not playing well. “I really thought we did a good job of laughing things off when we did something that seemed silly,” she said. “I was also extremely proud of how everyone gave it their all when they went in. No one went into the games giving only 70%.” Considering that the Yankee Small Conference softball and baseball spring seasons are quite short, having a spring-break trip scheduled is quite the marketing component for recruiting. Softball coach Magnant stated, “The Florida Trip is a great recruiting tool! Not only will recruits save a lot of money at SMCC, but it also shows recruits that we are serious about our softball program and we run our program like a Division 3 program with trips to Florida to compete and face talented teams to get ready for the spring season. It also shows Recruits we’re willing to play a tough/busy schedule like Division 3 colleges.”
Baseball coach Yanni reflected upon the trip as a recruiting aspect with these thoughts, “going to Florida is a commitment to the program and hopefully showing kids we are serious about our program thus pulling some recruits and growing our team. We will undoubtedly need to grow the team especially in the pitching staff department. Currently a lot of my position players are also my pitchers, this puts a lot of stress on arms and the players when we are playing in so many games. Every team except one that we played had a full bullpen, fatigue for them was not in play as much as it was for us.” The Beacon would like to thank Jody Kenna and Mackenzie Smith for sharing the photos they took of the SeaWolves softball and baseball teams in action with the paper. If you are interested in viewing the softball and baseball portfolios you can find the photos in the Photo Galleries under the dropdown menu in the Fan Zone on the homepage of the SMCC Athletics website. Hit the 2017-18 season prompts for either team. For the softball team you’ll find the softball album labeled as March 11-16, 2018 Cocoa Beach Spring Training (Titusville, Fl). You should also find the baseball photos under the baseball 2017-18 season prompt with March 10-16, 2018 Russmatt Central Florida Invitational.
Top left: Amos Herrin. Bottom left: Kristen Mackenzie.
Photo Courtesy of Jody Kenna
Photo Courtesy of Mackenzie Smith
Photo Courtesy of Mackenzie Smith
Photo Courtesy of Jody Kenna
sure all of his players had a chance to go “without breaking the bank.” Fundraising events included “fall/spring softball clinics, selling DD Booklets, a Fundraiser Night at Buffalo Wild Wings and sending out sponsor letters to their families and friends.” “The team did such a great job fundraising,” Magnant said, “not only did they pay for the spring pre-season in Cocoa Beach and tickets to Universal Studios Park. They only had to pay $100 out of pocket for whole trip. They did a super job!” While the planning part of the process for the baseball team started a little bit later than the softball, the details that needed to be taken care of were highlighted when Coach Yanni shared that, “Securing flights, lodging, transportation for 21 people (16 players, 3 coaches, and 2 helping hands) for 5 days is a task in itself.” Coach Yanni also shared the same sentiments that Coach Magnant had with keeping the trip as cost effective as possible for the student athletes, stating that, “The biggest obstacle was trying to do this trip and keep it affordable for the players but at the same time allowing them to get the work in and the experience. We held a bowling fundraiser that raised a few bucks and the kids also sent out sponsor me letters to help, in the end it only cost each kid $400 for the trip.”
Top right: Meranda Martin. Bottom right: Amos Herrin.
March 27, 2018 • The Beacon 11
A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS The Global Studies Center and the SMCC Fine Arts Department present:
Artist
Talk
by
Jonathan Laurence
Jonathan Laurence is a multimedia artist, designer, consultant, and educator based in Maine. He leads digital media and photography workshops at institutions and art centers around the world.
Transfer INFOrMATION SESSION Wednesday, April 18 • 5–7 p.m. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 363 Maine Mall Road, Portland, ME Call the UMaine Admissions Office at 207.581.1561 to sign up.
go.umaine.edu/transfer-to-umaine
Friday, March 30, 12:15 - Jewett Auditorium
University of Maine • Admissions Office 5713 Chadbourne Hall • Orono, ME 04469-5713 207.581.1561 • 877.486.2364 umaineadmissions@maine.edu The University of Maine is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.
Study wherever you are. Choose from over 150 online courses.
SUMMER SESSION Registration begins March 1 through first class meetings 4-WEEK SESSIONS May 21 – June 15 July 9 – August 3
7-WEEK SESSIONS May 21 – July 6 July 9 – August 24
14-WEEK SESSION May 21 – August 24
For more information: usm.maine.edu/summer | (207) 780-5230 2018-102 2018-102