Vol. XVIII
Issue Date 01|21|20
Iran & The U.S. Airstrikes & “World War III”
by Arden Leigh
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resident Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the Nuclear Deal, put into place by former president Barack Obama, has caused increasing strain on America’s relations with Iran. The Trump administration has continued to set stricter regulations on Iran’s fuel industries, damaging the country’s economy. This has given birth to street riots in Iran and military disputes that are increasing in intensity - the most recent being the United State’s assassination of Iran’s most recognized military commander Qassam Soleimani, the controversy over a downed Ukrainian airliner, militias sieging a U.S. Embassy, and nearly a dozen attacks on U.S. bases. Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has announced that the capital Tehran will cease to follow restrictions on their production of fuel in order to stockpile ingredients for nuclear weaponry. The potential for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon would mean military action on America’s part, which has sparked a frenzy of panic and criticism both online and off for “World War III.” The assassination of Soleimani drove Iran’s government to make attacks on two Iraqi bases that were housing American troops, but did not yield any casaulties. Some analysts believe this was on purpose, as to avoid a full on military confrontation with America. Currently, both governments are trying to move away from any further threats as to not let the conflict spiral out of control.
Key Event Timeline • In 2018, President Trump withdraws
the U.S. from the Iran Nuclear Deal and launches new campaign designed to force Iran into a new deal that would prevent them from having little to any regulated nuclear fuel ingredients (Obama’s deal allowed them to possess a small amount of it). In response, Iran deliberately exceeds their nuclear substance allowance in opposition. • At the beginning of 2019, the Trump administration announces it will designate the Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization. May to October of 2019, oil tankers sailing around the Strait of Hormuz sea passage are attacked by Iran, causing tension between countries who use the passage. Tankers attacked were Saudi Arabian, Japanese, Panama-
nian and British. The U.S. then attempts to seize an Iranian oil tanker. Street riots begin to break out in Iran in protest to the increase in oil prices and economic turmoil, and the government kills 300 people in attempts to subdue the riots. • December 2019 Iran launched a little over thirty missiles at an Iraqi military base. An American contractor, two Iraqi servicemen, and four American servicemen were killed. In response, the U.S. launched airstrikes on the Iranian-backed militia responsible. 24 members of the militia were killed. On December 31st the militia members retaliated by breaking into the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and setting fires. • This month, the U.S. killed Iran’s top military general Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis by drone strike at a Baghdad airport. A couple days later Iran launches missiles at two Iraqi bases where American soldiers were stationed, but
eady R s e t a u d 2020 Gra he world t n o e k a t to by Celina Simmons
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,898,000 college students across the country will be receiving diplomas this Spring. A handful of SMCC students, including myself, make up part of that number. It’s crazy to think back to those first couple weeks when we started our journey here. I bet most, if not all of you could say you were a different person then. It’s true, we’ve grown through our time here. Whether commuting or dorming, the campus becomes comfortable. So in honor of those graduates and new beginnings to come, I wanted to see where students were going. We all know how often plans change, but I was able to speak to different departments about what they expect to see this spring. After doing a little research I found that the most popular majors offered at SMCC were Business Management, Nursing/Health professions, and Communications. I reached out to faculty in those departments and asked about their graduates’ plans. After speaking to Business Department Chair and Professor Mark Reuscher, I learned that 200 students will graduate from that department this spring. When Professor Reuscher started his time here twenty years ago, most students graduating from the department went straight into a job in their field. Because of this, there were two types of degrees offered in the program;
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02/03 Campus News
04/05 Other World ILLUSTRATIONS BY ARDEN LEIGH
no casualties were reported. That same day, an (innocent) Ukrainian airliner takes off from Iran and is then shot down. No country admits to the deliberate crashing of the airliner, yet. Trump announces his administration will impose new and tougher sanctions on Iran in reaction to the missiles. • This January 11th, Iran admitted to shooting down the civilian airliner accidentally. This has contributed to the worldwide criticism of the situation, and yielded a possible attempt for both the U.S. and Iran to step down, for now at least. one tailored for those going directly into the job market, and another for students who planned to transfer to 4-year institutions. Now, only the latter is offered and we are seeing the majority of graduates transfer to those schools. I was also able to speak to Michael Nozdrovicky, Chair of the Nursing Department, and he informed me that 55 students will become graduates from his department this spring. He also shared that a whopping 100% of graduate nursing students have success in finding a job in the healthcare industry. They also have a highly successful completion of the National Council Licensure Exam or NCLEX. This is a nationally recognized exam taken in order to receive a nursing license. Some soon-to-be nursing graduates are planning on continuing on to 4-year universities and are even start work on a Bachelors while finishing their Associates degree. It’s estimated that 20% of graduates will be transferring after this spring. Lastly, I spoke to Kate Sibole who is the Chair of the Communications and New Media Studies department. Kate was able to find out that as of right now, 42 students are prepared to graduate from the program in the spring. She is estimating that number may go up, considering those students who only need to complete general education courses. The CNMS program has seen many students transfer to 4-year schools like MECA, USM, Emerson, Art Institute of Boston, Temple, and many others. Not all students in this department go on to continue their education. In fact, many students have gotten jobs at companies and institutes like Nacontinued on page 3
06/07 Op & Ed
08/09 Arts & Features
10 Midcoast
11/12 Sports
Faculty Spotlight
Bryan Strniste (originally Strniště, just call me Bryan the Librarian) by Jessilyn Rich
What is your position at the college? Reference & Instructional Services Librarian. I assist students with their research, teach information literacy, and help maintain the library collection. You can find me in the Learning Commons on the second floor of the Campus Center. Have you always wanted to teach? If so, what inspired you, if not what made you change your mind? Managing Editor Celina Simmons Art Director Timothy Randall Copy Editor Bridey Boyle Chris Hedgpeth Jessilyn Rich Webmaster Molly Pooler Production Manager Morgan Dyer Graphic Designers Hayley Deitemeyer Megan Morse Caedmon Palmer Madeline Rheaume Celina Simmons Illustrators Arden Leigh Morgan Dyer Contributing Writers Magella Cantara Hayley Deitemeyer Morgan Dyer Chris Hedgpeth James Little Arden Leigh Danielle Pride Jessilyn Rich Armin St. Cloud Jamie West Liam Woodworth-Cook Photgraphers Hayley Deitemeyer Madeline Rheume
Teaching isn’t what I had in mind when I first became a librarian, but I was always inspired by teachers and librarians in my life including those in my family. I started my librarianship in a public setting where my role was finding information for patrons. It’s much more empowering to assist students with the research process so that they can learn to find and evaluate information for themselves. What part of your job do you find most challenging? Handling the rush of students with last minute papers toward the end of the semester. I cannot stress enough the importance of time management skills. I myself have learned this lesson the hard way during my college years! What part of your job is your favorite?
Working with students and exploring interesting topics for their papers. For instance, I once helped a student gather information about a species of octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) that can take on the appearance and behavior of other sea creatures in order to fool its predators. Who knew? What is your best advice you have for student success in college? Use library resources for your research! In most cases, this will yield better results than a Google search, plus it’s imperative to have academic sources for your papers. What is the best advice you have ever received?
mbeacon@smccme.edu @thebeacon.smcc
Three words: Be Here Now. What are a couple things on your bucket list that you hope to do in the future? I’d love to canoe the entire length of the Connecticut River. A road trip from Fort Kent to Key West on U.S. Route One would be pretty cool with a carload of junk food and a bunch of tunes. I’d also love to travel to Portugal as many times as possible. What are some of your favorite hobbies outside of work? Baking bread, discovering new, old, and unconventional music, birdwatching, and
Welcome back, friends. Let’s start fresh with a jumble of “beginning” words. Cheers to a successful semester and a fulfilling 2020!
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I was a Goth in high school. A few just for fun questions: Top 3 favorite books of all time? That’s impossible! I like cookbooks and the subjects of art and music. Top 3 favorite movies of all time? This is also impossible! Three of my favorite film directors: Alfred Hitchcock, Wes Anderson, and Jim Jarmucsh.
I love the documentary about the artist Andy Goldsworthy, Rivers and Tides. I would love to help Goldsworthy build some of those amazing sculptures out in nature. If you could have dinner with anyone living or dead who would it be? Probably both Paul Klee and Brian Eno. I would love to talk to them about their art and music over dinner. What is your favorite Ice cream flavor? Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Toffee Bar Crunch. Is there anything else you would like students to know about you? I am here to help you and I am glad to do so!
L H C U N A N D A U R E E K T B E R M A K C E O N E C M M PHOTO COURTESY BY HAYLEY DEITEMEYER
S I N P R G New Year’s in Times square is such a letdown. They always
Welcome Back SMCC!
by The Beacon Staff
@thesmccbeacon @smccbeacon
What is something we would never guess about you?
If you could live in a book or a movie which one would you choose?
Celina Simmons CONTACT US
being by and playing in a body of water.
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aculty member, Rich Pitre, and Dean of Student Success and Enrollment, Barb Conner, welcoming students back to their Spring semester outside the Campus Center. The table was set up during the first week of classes to help students find their classes and warm up with some hot coco!
Activities Coming Up... Tuesday 1/21 11:30am - 1:30pm
Hot Coco Bar With Sodexo Dining Hall
Wednesday 1/22 11:30am - 1:30pm
Sunday 1/26 7:30 - 8:30pm
Winter Involvement Fair
Dodgeball The HUB Gymnasium
Ortiz Atrium, Campus Center
Monday 1/27 11:30am - 1:30pm
National Bubble Wrap Day Campus Center
Don’t Flunk out of 2020! See a Tutor at the Learning Commons!! by Celina Simmons
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CELINA SIMMONS
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Faculty member Karen Gordon and student Giulia Tresca working the Front Desk at the Tutoring Center.
The Sunset Shelf
id that first week of classes stress you out? Are you starting to ask yourself, “how am I ever going to pass this semester?”. Well, stop stressing and listen up. Nobody likes failing a class and you’ll rarely come across a student who says they took a course because they wanted to fail it. Unless that student is you, there are so many resources available on campus to help you succeed, like the Tutoring Center! Located on the second floor of the Campus Center on the SoPo campus, the Tutoring Center is open for one-on-one help from 8am to 8pm Monday through Thursday, 8am to 5pm on Fridays, and 4pm to 8pm on Sundays.There are two main parts of the center, one being for writing continued from front page
tional Geographic, USM, HBO, Netflix, and multiple news channels. SMCC had a lot to teach us and we still have a lot to learn. If you are graduating this spring, embrace the new transition. Whether it’s a transfer to a new school or a new job, I
tutors and another for maths and sciences. Writing tutors can be seen on an appointment basis. Setting up an appointment can be as easy as walking up to the front desk of the Tutoring Center and asking when the next available time is to see one of the tutors. These hours are different than that of the maths and sciences as they are only available from 9 am until 6pm Monday through Thursday and 9am to 5pm on Fridays. On the maths and sciences side, tutors are well-versed from Basic Math and Algebra (MATH 030, 040,140) to Calculus III (MATH 280). Struggling in science? They got tutors that can assist in Anatomy, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. Bottom line is, don’t waste your time and money failing classes. Just see a tutorthey are here to help and to see you succeed. wish you the best of luck and the utmost success where life takes you. If you want to share your plans after graduation or shed a light on your department, send us an email or article explaining such! All emails and submissions can be sent to celinamsimmons@smccme.edu.
PHOTOS COURTEST BY HAYLEY DEITEMEYER
The Captain's House Latest Expansion by Hayley Deitemeyer
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he Sunset Shelf is a collective of food items available for students located in the Captain’s House. The shelf is restocked daily and a source of free food for students who are unable to make it to the Captain’s House during open hours. A variety of items of sustainable food options line the shelves, which include canned goods, peanut butter, and nutritious snacks. Left to Right: Options for the day at the Sunset Shelf, Condiments, canned goods, and frozen options offered at the Captain's House the smcc beacon | lighting our community 3
What was LD 1025 and why should you care?
by Morgan Dyer
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D 1025 was an act to prohibit the provisions of conversion therapy to minors by certain licensed professionals. It was signed into law by Democratic Governor Janet Mills, on May 29th 2019, and took effect 90 days later. Maine is the 17th state to ban conversion therapy. So, why should you care if this does not affect you? I will tell you why. This matters because the practice of so-called “conversion therapies” have been shown time and time again to be ineffective in their efforts to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of individuals they are inflicted on. They have been shown to be detrimental to those individuals, especially youths. Many professional organizations have come out to endorse the banning of conversion therapy. Among these organizations is The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. To quote their policy on the issue from their website, “The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry finds no evidence to support the application of any ‘therapeutic intervention’ operating under the premise that a specific sexual orientation, gender identity, and/ or gender expression is pathological. “Furthermore, based on the scientific evidence, the AACAP asserts that such ‘conversion therapies’ (or other interventions imposed with the intent of promoting a particular sexual orientation and/or gender as a preferred outcome) lack scientific credibility and clinical utility. Additionally, there is evidence that such interventions are harmful. As a result, ‘conversion therapies’ should not be part of any behavioral health treatment of children and adolescents.” Pride Portland also wrote a letter of endorsement for the ban, saying, “Conversion therapy can be extremely dangerous and, in some cases, fatal. Credible reports such as the one issued in 2009 by the American Psychological Association conclude that some of the risks of conversion therapy are depression, guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, shame, social withdrawal, suicidality, substance abuse, self-blame, decreased self-esteem and authenticity to others, increased self-hatred, or a feeling
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of being dehumanized and untrue to self. These risks are even greater for our youth.” So if we accept a premise from these credible organizations that the practice of conversion therapy is ineffective and dangerous, that leads us to ask who specifically is affected by the passing of LD 1025? The bill only protects minors, so that means that LGBT youth under the age of 18 are protected by this ban. LGBT adults are not protected, despite the possibility of finding themselves in coercive circumstances. This ban also affects state licensed professionals who may be practicing or hoping to practice conversion therapy with the intent to change sexual or gender identity on youth under the age of 18, but not on adults who may seek out conversion therapy due to the genuine belief that they are sick, or who may be coerced by trusted family or friends into seeking out conversion therapy for their sexualities or gender identities. These people are still unprotected in the state of Maine, and rural LGBT people are generally at a greater risk. Parents that may want to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of their children are affected as well. Whether it is due to strongly held religious convictions or misinformation, parents will not be allowed to legally put their children through conversion therapy in the state of Maine. A short background on the practice of conversion therapy and the movement to ban it is neccesary for context. Conversion therapy has been practiced in the U.S. for over a century. Academic literature has documented instances of conversion therapy being used as early as the 1890 and continuing through the present day. To illuminate the barbarism of the practice I’ll quote a report by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. The report notes that talk therapy is the most common practice, but goes on to say, “Some practitioners have also used ‘aversion treatments,’ such as inducing nausea, vomiting, or paralysis; providing electric shocks; or having the individual snap an elastic band around the wrist when the individual became aroused to same-sex erotic images or thoughts.” Imagine doing any of these things to a heterosexual child!
There have been some big historical roadblocks to success in the movement to ban conversion therapy in the state of Maine. The road has been long. Before LD 1025, there was LD 912, “An Act to Clarify the Scope of Practice of Certain Licensed Professionals Reguarding Conversion Therapy.” Governor LePage vetoed LD 912, saying that it was “bad public policy”. He also raised concerns about religious freedom, and seemingly unrelated concerns about female genital mutilation in his official veto letter. The Maine House failed to override the veto by a vote of 79 to 61, short of the two-thirds needed to override the veto. In an article from USA Today, State House Republican spokesman was quoted as saying, "There have not been any recorded cases of this happening in Maine," in what might be interpreted as an effort to make the legislation seem like a waste of time. This seemed to be a sentiment held by Governor Lepage and some other members of the Maine GOP at the time. At this point, you may be asking yourself; who were the key players in this effort to ban conversion therapy in the state of Maine? Executive Director of Equality Maine and Maine House Majority Leader, Matt Moonen, was one of the biggest proponents of this bill. Matt Moonen represents Portland. In an article from maine.gov about the signing in of LD 1025 Rep. Moonen is quoted as saying; "This law is the result of two years of tireless work by advocates, medical and mental health care providers, and lawmakers alike. It is so refreshing to have leaders who understand that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender is not a defect or disorder that can be treated, and we're so grateful to Representative Ryan Fecteau and Governor Janet Mills for their leadership.” The bill was sponsored by Ryan Fecteau, Assistant House Majority Leader who represents Biddeford. Both Moonen and Fecteau identify as being gay. Moonen lives in Portland with his husband, and that makes their stance and tireless advocacy for LGBT youth all the more meaningful. The last important player to note in the passing of this ban would be the new Governor, Janet Mills. Having Mills in this position of power made this ban possible. Lepage shot it down and the shift in political climate that came with Mill’s
election to office was the turning point needed to make this dream a reality. LD 1025 finally passed on May 29th 2019. In a tweet Governor Mills wrote, "Today I signed into law a bill banning conversion therapy, a widely-discredited practice that has no place in Maine. Today, we send an unequivocal message to young LGBTQ people: we stand with you, we support you, and we will always defend your right to be who you are." Representative Fecteau also spoke about the achievement, quoted in an article found on maine.gov as saying, “The legislature and Gov. Mills are sending a clear and concise message to our LGBTQ young people: You matter. You belong. And you are loved for who you are... So-called ‘conversion therapy’ is irresponsible and harmful. I am so proud that Maine is standing tall to affirm that no young person needs to ‘fix’ what is not broken.” I’ll conclude with my own personal opinion: conversion therapy is an archaic practice that should have been outlawed in Maine a long time ago. As an LGBT person myself, I can say from personal experience that we are not sick, therapy can not “fix” us because you can’t fix what’s not broken. I know from first-hand experience that LGBT youth are incredibly vulnerable to discrimination and easily mislead by misguided notions from authority figures about what their sexual orientations or gender identities mean. This group of people is far more likely to suffer from mental illnesses due in large to external prejudices and social isolation. For those reasons as well, LGBT youth are more likely to experience homelessness and unemployment. I am strongly of the human agenda, and engaging in practices that seek to change the sexual orientation or gender identities of children through methods as seemingly mild as psychological coercion or as harsh as electroshock therapy, is not fitting with that agenda. The passing of this ban was an historical moment and I actually took the day off from school to go and listen to the hearing in Augusta with another queer person. It is for all of these reasons that I am incredibly grateful that this piece of legislation passed and was signed into law by our Governor in May. There is no place for this practice in the state of Maine.
From the Tech Talk Archives: How I Became a GEEK
by Jamie West
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or numerous years, the Beacon has run a Tech Talk column, for which Howard Burpee’s Senior Seminar class in Computer Technology would write the columns. Professor Burpee retired last spring and our source of Teck Talk columns dried out as well. As the Beacon wanted to keep Tech Talk alive, we have gone back into our email archives and are now running columns we couldn’t when we received them initially, because… well we simply received too many at times. Please enjoy the “From the Tech Talk Archives”, as it runs throughout the semester. I started the SMCC’s Computer Technology Degree program in 2012. It has taken me five years to get to where I am now. I will graduate with my Associates in Applied Sciences Degree with a Major in Computer Technology this Spring. It has been a struggle at times, however with help from all of my instructors and encouragement from my support, I will graduate. Before attending SMCC, I was intimidated by today’s technology. I grew up with Atari’s then Nintendo's gaming systems. The only PC I used was an old Commodore 64. I had no idea between the differences of Macs and PCs. I couldn’t tell you what a bit or byte was, let alone a VM. Now after all the classes I’ve taken, I’m hoping to get into the tech industry and make a career out of it. I can now maintain desktops, laptops, tablets, and cell phones. I’m pretty good at troubleshooting hardware and software issues. I know what a VM is, (Virtual Machine) and I can setup basic networks for SOHO (Small Office Home Office) environments. The lessons that I’ve learned at SMCC and the skills that I’ve acquired I can now take with me into the workforce. I know what it’s like setting up VM’s and having to configure the IP addresses so they
work properly via the physical machine they are running through. I also know what it’s like to work and collaborate with others as a team to solve problems. Communication is a big part of all of the above. If I didn’t ask questions or answer questions asked, participate in classes, I wouldn’t have maximized the potential knowledge offered. I’d like to say that it has been a long road with some bumps along the way.
Advice From an Old Guy
by James Little
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’d like to talk about life, for it is too easy to get so wound up in it that we do not stop and think of the consequences until something bad happens. Then we blame others for our troubles, yet it was what we did that put us there. We try something new, but it seems like the same bad thing happens. We wonder, “why do things always happen to me? I am a failure at everything, and these things happen over and over.” Now you feel like you are stuck and can not get away. It could be drug use, getting drunk all the time, or even bad relationships. Maybe you want to end it all just for everything to stop, so you are thinking of taking your life. STOP RIGHT THERE!!! Taking your life is not the answer. You say you want to stop hurting or do not want to hurt others in your life. It causes more pain and sadness for the people who love you, and it does not make things better for anybody. You, yes YOU, MATTER to more people than you think. None of us are perfect, even if it might look that way. We all have had struggles and failures, the only way that we can make it is not letting anything stop us
Changes to Avoid Detrimental Natural Disasters.
by Magella Cantara
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hether you’re someone who has experienced it yourself or witnessed an out of the ordinary whether pattern; climate change is a thing. Within the few months we have seen all over the news the devastation of the forest fires across Australia that the locals, animals, and firefighters were faced with. Just recently they caught a break after it rained after such a serious drought. As heartbreaking as it is to watch the earth we live on burn or drown, what can we do to help? We are starting a new decade let this be the one where we give back to our earth. Today we have stopped emitting to using greenhouse gases, however experts are more concerned today with the Earth passing it’s boiling point. This means that perhaps there will be changes that are irreversible, tipping our climate into a new state. With climate change being such a globally complex issue, socially, morally and
Regardless of life’s challenges that I’ve had to deal with, I didn’t give up. Whoever you are, however old you are, regardless of what challenges you have to deal with, you can achieve your goals if you put your mind to it. Don’t be afraid of the bits and bytes that come along. They’ll usually update without you noticing. Things change, technology changes, people change. . . SMCC and the Computer Tech department have helped me in more words than I have room for. Not only am I able to network, but I know how to setup networks as well. I understand servers and promoting them to a domain controller. I can set permissions clients as well as myself within the network. I know what a login script is. When I first heard some of the terms and acronyms, I was clueless,
politically, there’s a solution we can follow as of now recycling and reserving gas isn’t enough. According to experts, the solution is going to require a globally-coordinated response, where there’s an agreement between countries for a more clean form of energy. As humans it is up to us to determine our futures and those of future generations. If we don’t start considering what we can do to cleanse our Earth then we won’t consider it down the line when major changes have already happened. Global warming is just a piece of multiple occurrences regarding climate change. Actually, just recently in Maine it was 60 degrees in JANUARY!! On a normal day, it’s a high of 10 degrees low of 6. So ask yourself what will you to contribute back? Even if seems like a small contribution isn’t a lot it is still more than ignoring that climate change does exist and will continue to for centuries. Although, the more we express our care for the planet the better chance there is of preventing the atmosphere from being thrown off balance.
from trying. For as long as we learn from our mistakes, no matter how little it may be, making those changes could be a step in the right direction. Talk to someone and get their professional opinion (clergy, psychologist, family, or friends). See if they have been where you are and what they've done to change and make things better. Life is not easy, and nothing is guaranteed. We must work at it in all aspects. Whether it’s school, family, or relationships, sometimes it feels like we are giving all of ourselves all of the time. In those cases, take a step back and change your routine. We are never too old to make those changes that make our life better. When it comes to love, no matter what, love that person for who they are and not for what you want them to be. Be yourself, for if they cannot love you for who you are, then it is not meant to be. If school is everything to you and you fail a class, so what! If you learned something, then that is more knowledge than what you knew before. Ask questions about what you could do different so when you retake the class, you can ask a tutor for help and pass it. It is not stupid to get help, it is a smart move on your part. As the saying goes, change the things you can and for the things you have no control over, let them go, for worrying about those things will never help.
I still can’t quite speak “geek,” but I can do the tasks required to keep my grades up and learn skills that are sought after in our present time. Had I not faced some of my own fears, I would not be writing this. If I can do this; go back to school later than the average student, anybody can. Keep on keeping on. Jamie West was a member of the Information Technology Senior Seminar course and is planning on a career in Networking.
Cozy Corner
by Danielle Pride
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is the season for cozy sweaters and L.L. Bean boots in Maine! This time of year is all about all the different holiday parties with family and friends while also trying to survive finals week! There are a couple of ways you can spice up your outfit while also staying cozy and warm this holiday season! The first way is to layer layer layer! When it’s one of those days in Maine where it’s warmer during the day, but gets significantly colder as it gets dark, layering is a great way to be prepared for that colder weather that comes with the night. Something I personally enjoy doing is wearing a button up or a long sleeve as the first layer, putting a cozy sweater over the button up (making sure to pop the collar) and then ending it with a puffy or flannel vest and a warm scarf. This makes it so you can take the layers off as you feel warm or put them back on when you get colder. These layers are also lightweight enough where you can put them in your backpack without too much struggle. Another way is to get wool or insulated socks! Often times throughout the winter, we get stuck with the common problem of the snow melting and creating puddles or having to trudge through snow to get to a class quicker, soaking our boots along with our socks. However, with these warm and cozy socks (especially if you layer these as well) you will be able to crawl through as many puddles or snow banks as your heart desires! Remember to layer up and stay warm this finals season, Seawolves! You’re almost at the finish line! Just think, soon you won’t have to worry about leaving 20 minutes earlier than you need to in order to get a parking space at school! Just one week to go! Go Seawolves!
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[INSERT YOUR NAME HERE]
by anonymous
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began taking part-time classes at SMCC the fall semester of 2005, taking World History I and Introduction to Algebra at the now-defunct Bath satellite campus; the Midcoast Campus that exists today was instead part of the Naval Air Station that has since closed. After the spring semester of 2008, I left my hometown, my friends and my family behind to sort out my personal affairs. I traveled across Maine for the next few years until in 2011 I moved to Florida. After 4 years of too much sunlight and humidity I moved to Delaware, where I became entangled in family issues, causing me to return once again, in boomerang-like fashion, to Maine and to SMCC to finally finish my degree in 2015. I had been a poor student during grade school, mostly achieving a grade average of C or D. Seldom was the cause of celebration when I brought home the stray B, exclusively occurring in a history or English class. In my defense, class life by the time I had arrived in high school bred an atmosphere of apathy or indifference. My studies did not encourage personal and scholastic growth, and my teachers did not care whether I passed or failed their classes. It was simply an automatic line to spurt out students who may or may not possess talents or skills which might be applicable to the society around them. My time at SMCC has been the diametric opposite. Every opportunity that has been afforded to me, I have seized upon and utilized to its fullest potential.
My time at The Beacon has been everything I have wanted and more: I have produced around fifty separate gag comics over the span of four semesters, in addition to representing the Midcoast Campus in prior semesters as its section editor. This year I have seen a more robust topic pool to write about, running the gamut from interviewing adjunct instructor Mike Branca to researching information regarding the transit systems of the greater Portland area. I am also a lifelong member of the Alpha Chi Nu chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honors society, a distinction that represents the summation of the work I have done at SMCC. Although I was never able to make it to any of the chapter meetings due to other commitments, I've considered the privilege of being a member in high regard, as its members consist of some of the hardest-working and committed students currently and formerly enrolled at the college. This, my final year, has extended me the opportunity to work alongside my fellow students as a writing tutor within the Academic Achievement Center, an experience which, while relatively short compared to the rest of my time here, has irrefutably changed me. Never in a thousand lifetimes would I have ever pictured myself doing the things I had achieved while a writing tutor, doing my legitimate best to help any and all students coming in with fine-tuning their argumentative essays, assisting in explaining sentence
structure, and even (I will admit) learning alongside students the difference between transitive and intransitive states. I have met a wide threshold of students, from a myriad of backgrounds and pursuing different goals, that I would not have otherwise interacted with had I been left to my own devices. I am a rather selfish person, introverted and lacking the motivation to help my fellow humans. This past semester has changed that, making me look internally to question who I was before, and more importantly who I will become in the time left for me on this Earth. If I am sounding a tad on the egotistical side in this article, it is for a very important reason. My intended purpose in writing this article is not to necessarily relish in my achievements at SMCC, but to provide but a small example of what you, an ordinary student like myself, is capable of accomplishing here at college. I came from nothing and after I graduate this year I will fade back into the same obscurity from which I spawned, so you could substitute me with any other person and the achievable results will remain the same. All of us possess the intangible human tools that allow us to persist, overcome and excel in whatever we do. Any student at SMCC has the option to participate as a writer, photographer, or artist on the college newspaper—all that is required is a small bit of effort and commitment. All that is needed to become a member of the honors society is maintaining a GPA of at least 3.5 while
From the Desk of the Managing Editor
by Celina Simmons
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on’t you love the beginning of a new semester? A nice, short-lived fresh start. New classes, new instructors, new books, new stressors- it’s all
COMIC BY DAN ELLIOTT
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one big, beautiful cacophony happening over your busy day to day lives, but it’s okay! At least our President didn’t try to start WW3… Welp. Leaving politics alone, in all seriousness, the beginning of a new semester is always stressful! It’s confusing and
hectic and sometimes you just don’t know what to do with yourself or how you will handle the rest of the semester. First of all, take a minute and breathe. You’ve been here before. Maybe not here at SMCC, but unless this is your first time ever entering any school
having completed at least twelve credit hours of coursework towards an associate or bachelor’s degree. And while an instructor's recommendation is generally needed to become a tutor, more importantly than being extremely proficient in a subject is the desire to help others learn. I am by far no expert in writing (I am an art major), but I tried to counteract my lack of expertise with an exuberance for helping. Even if writing is not your point of strength, there are ample other subjects taught here in which you could provide assistance with for a struggling fellow student. I genuinely hope that if you read this, you are able to see a little of myself in you—struggling to balance work, school, and home life responsibilities simultaneously and never truly feeling that you are doing particularly well at it; having to pull an all-nighter the night before the due date of an assignment to ensure its completion; pulling up your account balance on the mobile app to see more red than green numbers. Know that you're not alone in your struggle to graduate. You have the capacity to commit yourself to being a hard-working student, to take your responsibilities seriously and endure through onto greater and more challenging things. Your experience at SMCC is what you make of it, and what you are able to gain from it is entirely within your control. I know this to be true, because I was you, and I did it. And so, too, can you.
system, you’ve been here. And what did you do? You probably took it a day at a time and that’s all you can do. And this goes for other situations too, not just new semesters. It could be a new job, or a new house, or really any big change you go through. One day at a time. Now that you feel a little bit more calmed down, let me tell you about another task you can add to your plate! Cue Beacon Recruitment Pitch: Do you see your name in print in the future? Whether it’s after an article title, poem, drawing or photo, you can make that a reality. With sending work to the Beacon, you not only will have your name in print, you will be considered published as well! That’s a great resume booster and life experience all in one. The Beacon has an open door policy meaning ANYONE can submit an article or piece of work at ANYTIME. All you have to do is email me at celinamsimmons@smccme.edu with a Google Doc copy of your work, or a .jpg/.pdf if it is an image. It’s that easy! And feel free to reach out to me with any questions about the Beacon. You can also attend one of our Content Meetings every other Monday at 6pm in the Captain’s House. If you don’t know where that is, well you should probably find out because you are missing out on a lot there. *cough cough* free food *cough cough* Again and as always, never hesitate to shoot me an email with questions or submissions. We love to have as many voices in our paper heard as possible and yours could be one of them.
Low-Cost Game Review MOLEK-SYNTEZ
by Chris Hedgpeth
I
was a bit worried after the first installment of Low-Cost Game Review that I wouldn’t be able to find a suitable game to follow Mindustry. Thankfully, Zachtronics just released their newest creation: MOLEK-SYNTEZ. If you aren’t familiar with Zachtronics, the company’s founder and lead designer, Zach Barth, created a game called Infiniminer in 2009 that was the inspiration for the wildly popular game Minecraft. Although Barth abandoned Infiniminer shortly after its launch, he went on to create an array of complex puzzle games, including two of my favorites: Infinifactory and SpaceChem. MOLEK-SYNTEZ follows in the footsteps of SpaceChem, where the objective is to manufacture molecules at the atomic level by writing simple programs. Where SpaceChem used a square grid and a system of tracks to
push atoms around, MOLEK-SYNTEZ uses a hexagonal grid surrounded by six programmable particle beam emitters that manipulate and modify molecules. You do not need prior knowledge of chemistry to play this game, though it helps. Each level has an objective molecule, which the player creates by using pieces of precursor molecules. Unlike in SpaceChem where you have to program chemical inputs, precursors automatically spawn when no atoms are in the way. Directions are given to the particle beam emitters through a series of icons, each representing a different action. Emitters can add or subtract hydrogen atoms and push, pull, or rotate molecules. There’s also a solitaire mini-game that unlocks after you finish a few levels. It has nothing to do with the game, but it’s an interesting diversion if you need time to think about why your molecules aren’t going together quite right. I have no idea what the letters on the face cards represent. Instead
of the standard A,K,Q,J,10… series, this game uses a T,K,D,V,10… series. Tsar, King, Duke, Viceroy perhaps? Like all Zachtronics products, MOLEK-SYNTEZ is more of an experience than a game. The drab, black and white computer interface portrays a futuristic but bleak setting, much like the Pip-Boy from Fallout. The ambient music and dark background are relaxing. This is a good game to play if you can’t sleep and you want to make yourself tired. That is, unless you become obsessed with it. I can’t guarantee you won’t.
You can find MOLEK-SYNTEZ on Steam for $9.99 for Windows, iOS, and Linux. I highly recommend this game, especially to anyone who has an interest in programming or chemistry. The 68 levels of molecule building will keep you on your toes for days. Also check out the other Zachtronics games, especially Infinifactory (often on sale for ~$12) and SpaceChem (normally $9.99). MOLEK-SYNTEZ is strictly single-player, but Infinifactory has a fantastic level editor that allows users to make and share puzzles using the Steam Workshop.
Book Review The Founding Myth
by Chris Hedgpeth
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e’ve survived (and hopefully enjoyed) another holiday season! I kind of miss being able to use the phrase “Happy Holidays”. To me, the valediction reflects the American ideal of pluralism, but to some it represents a rejection of Christmas as the dominant winter holiday. This controversy is an apt analogy for something that's happening on a larger scale in our nation, something Andrew L. Seidel addresses in his recent book, The Founding Myth. The titular myth is that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. Seidel argues, using historical examples, that the founders of our country clearly intended to keep the government free from the influence of any religion, Christianity included. The American Revolution was, after all, fought against a king who entwined his power with the authority of the Church of England. The scope of The Founding Myth goes beyond 18th century history to explore and debunk the idea that our system of laws is based on the Bible, specifically the Ten Commandments. In what is my favorite section of the book, Andrew Seidel systematically analyzes the Ten Commandments (all three biblical instances of them) to demonstrate how they are fundamentally opposed to the American concept of justice. Seidel quotes the long version of the Second Commandment from Exodus 20:4-6 that advocates for punishing children for several generations because of the actions of their parents. Punishing people for the crimes of others is unjust from an American legal perspective (not to mention any other legitimate moral perspective). Other un-American topics explored in this section of the book include thoughtcrime, compulsory religious adherence, slavery, and misogyny.
The book also addresses the religious phraseology that has been inserted into American society over the years. The indivisibility of our nation was literally divided by “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954. “In God We Trust” became our official national motto in 1956, and was first printed on paper money in 1957. Seidel points out that these were knee-jerk reactions to the perceived threat of communism, and not foundational aspects of our nation. An interesting fact from the book: the first president to end an inaugural oath with “so help me God” was Chester A. Arthur, in 1881, a full century after America’s founding. His plea to God was understandable considering the recent assassinations of James Garfield (which led to Arthur’s presidency) and Abraham Lincoln, 16 years prior. The Founding Myth boasts an impressive 1,296 citations. It is dense with facts, and insightful quotes from the likes of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Mark Twain, Robert Ingersoll, George Orwell, Christopher Hitchens, and George Carlin. Andrew Seidel contributes his share of clever observations and witty quotes. My favorite of his quips is “Faith enough to fill a mountain would not move a mustard seed.” Andrew Seidel, in his capacity as the Director of Strategic Response with the Freedom from Religion Foundation, provides a unique perspective to this work. He understands first-hand how much the perpetuation of the myths of Christian nationalism threaten our civil rights. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in an astute analysis of religion and government from the perspective of a constitutional lawyer (who isn’t, really?). It has earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf.
WRITE FOR THE BEACON PUBLISH PUBLISH YOUR YOUR WORDS WORDS
Email Morgan at MorganMDyer@smccme.edu for more info the smcc beacon | lighting our community 7
Freedom is a Constant Struggle Book Review
By Morgan Dyer
F
reedom is a Constant Struggle is a short collection of transcripts of speeches by Angela Davis, a prominent political figure of the Black Power movement and a member of the Communist Party. In her speeches she brings light to the actions of organizations like G4S, a British private security company that is complicit in the Israeli state’s incarceration of Palestinian political prisoners. In her orations she draws constant connections between the militarization of the police in Israeli occupied Palestine, and the militarization of the police during the Ferguson riots that began in Ferguson, Missouri, the day after the shooting of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson. She makes a case for prison abolition, drawing connections between the modern prison industrial complex and the colonial institution of slavery. She references Michelle Alexander’s “The New Jim Crow” in building her argument that prison is an institution founded on racism. She offers the alternative of developing restorative justice frameworks as a means to moving toward a prison-free society. She concludes that feminists replicate the violence they seek to end when they mistake prison as a solution to sexual violence. In considering how we might pull a diverse array of people into our freedom movements, Davis declares that we must extricate ourselves from narrow identitarian thinking and draw connections, so that men see the fight for women’s rights as their own fight, so that white people see the fight for dismantling racism as their own fight. She references the ideas of Dr. Martin Luther King in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and quotes him saying “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny” to illuminate our mutual self interest. To Davis, this ties into the need to resist capitalism’s ideology of individualism, and the need to resist the depiction of history as the acts of heroic individuals so that we may reclaim our collective agency. She touches a bit on the historical process of colonization, and makes connections between the violence inflicted on the Palestinian people by the Israeli state, and the violence inflicted on Native American peoples by the United States Government. In her speeches, Davis acknowledges many different points of view. She promotes the idea of intersectionality, and makes constant connections between different groups and their struggles for freedom. She herself stands at the intersections of being black, a woman, and a lesbian, and she uses her unique perspective to break
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down illusions of seperatism among different minority groups. She says repeatedly that we need an intersectional framework for our feminisms, an international framework, so that we might work together to liberate ourselves from various oppressive circumstances. In one of her speeches, “Palestine, G4S and the Prison Industrial Complex” she points to the fact that the US provides $8.5 million dollars a day to Israel in military aid. This is actually no longer true. As of 2016, the US government is providing 38 billion dollars over the next ten years, amounting to 3.5 billion dollars a year, which is about $10,410,959 a day if you want to look at it that way. One of the big conclusions that Davis drove home in her speeches was that we must resist rigid identitarian thinking in order to realize our collective potential. We must find ways to persuade other people to look at our struggles for freedom as their own, because we are bound up in a web of mutuality. It follows that we must make connections between our freedom movements to build solidarity among different minority groups and advance our collective interests. Another point that she made was that we need an international framework for our feminisms. We need to always be making connections between the militarization of the police in Palestine, Ferguson, and the historical process of colonization and state violence. The only criticism she had of Michelle Al-
ILLUSTRATION BY MORGAN DYER
exander’s “The New Jim Crow” was that it lacked an international framework. The last point that I believe she was driving home was the need to resist the ideology of individualism, in favor of collective power. Part of this is resisting the portrayal of history as the acts of individual heroic male figures so that we can reclaim our collective agency. We must always remember that for every Martin Luther King, there is the SNCC or the many black women that refused to sit at the back of buses before Rosa Parks. If we don’t resist the portrayal of history as the acts of heroic individuals, we lose our ability to imagine our own collective power. I believe that her conclusion that we must resist rigid identitarian thinking is valid, but it is easier said than done. It is valid because historically, us/them mentalities isolate special interest groups and prevent progress. This happened when Caesar invaded Gaul and took advantage of the infighting of various Celtic tribes. It also happened when European colonizers invaded the Americas. It happened within LGBT communities until the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and the activism of ACT UP which strung the LGBTQA+ acronym together and united those different groups of people on the understanding that this plague disproportionately affected all of us, and progress happened. That is a positive example. What if ACT UP organizers had not made those connections between those radically different groups of people? It would be a different world. It is easier said than done because it threatens my own understanding and security in my own identity, and I bet it does that to others as well. I think that her conclusion that we need an international framework for our feminisms is valid because, as she says, nothing happens in isolation. It is a commonly held truth that history repeats itself, and it would be foolish not to look at the historical connotations of different events and acts of violence. For example, it would not make sense to think about the colonization of the Americas by Europeans without thinking about the colonization of Europeans by the Roman Empire. It would not make sense to think about the militarization of the police in Palestine without thinking about the militarization of the police in Ferguson and even in Cairo. If we can make those connections, why do we often think of events and individual acts of violence as happening in isolation? I think that this book is well written and put together. Angela Davis consistently drives the same conclusions home in all of her speeches in a cohesive and compelling way. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in LGBT history, the history of different freedom movements, and anti-racist organizing.
5 Songs I Can't Stop Listening To
by Armin St. Cloud
“We're An American Band” Grand Funk Railroad GFR are easily one of the most underrated bands of the '70s arena rock scene. While they have been overshadowed by their peers, it's anthems like this that remind you why they're the only band whose membership Homer Simpson can recite by heart.
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“One Woman” - Isaac Hayes For me, listening to music is 75% about the composition of the song, and 25% about the vocals. Isaac Hayes is very unique in that his music is a vocal and compositional experience. In many ways he is the ultimate musician. Hearing this song is a reminder of the immense talent he presented to the world while he was alive.
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“Get on the Good Foot” James Brown I once joked with my girlfriend that this song is playing in my head when I walk down the street. If the “Godfather of Soul” can't be list-worthy, then who can be?
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“You're my Best Friend” - Queen This song is the crown jewel of bassist John Deacon's contributions to the Queen catalogue. The reason for that is this song delivers on Queen's primary selling points; catchy, uplifting songs with top shelf musicianship.
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“Two Princes” - Spin Doctors I first heard this song in an episode of South Park. This is a remarkably catchy song. It's repetitive but not in a bad way. Just don't buy the whole album thinking the other songs will be as good as this one...big mistake.
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Secret Keeper of The Sea Part 5
by Jessilyn Rich
I
spent the next week hiding within the attic of the house. As rain pounded the village, even the world seemed to be grieving. I closed the shutters and curtains from prying eyes. I turned out the lights, and lurked in the shadows. I ignored doors being knocked on and let telephones ring themselves quiet. I just sat in my chair, beside the window of my sitting room, thumbing through an old photo album, waiting for the next horn to sound. I slept by day, and waited by night. The only thing worse than waiting for something you want to happen, is waiting for something you don’t. Haunting memories splashed against my insides as the minutes ticked by; it was only a matter of time. I continued to isolate myself from gossiping lips, and curious stares, until the cupboards were so bare that even the mice were beginning to complain. I yanked money from the coffee can on the counter, stuffed it in my pocket and slipped shoes on my feet. The fog of the morning still hugged the village tight, as I stepped onto the porch. The ships that remained in the harbor at this time of morning were nothing more than ghostly silhouettes. Darkness still loomed long after the sun should have risen, and the air was so damp and cold it chilled the lungs with every breath. The wind beat against everything within its reach and mud caked my shoes, as I walked through the yard and down the street. I pulled the hood of my jacket tight around my head, trying to shield myself from the blistering sting of the wind. Off in the distance a horn slipped through the fog and I froze like a startled cat, until I realized it was nothing more than a warning of a ships location to those around it. The walk into the village felt longer than usual - or maybe my legs just felt heavier. This time of day had become my bedtime, and my body ached for sleep but my insides ached even more with hunger. The streets were empty except for a few hurried shoppers, slipping from shop to shop, heads down against the wind. On days like this no one lingered outside for long. I tried to enter the market as the wind attempted to play tug of war with the door. It closed with a bang behind me. Talking and laughter fell silent, as curious eyes caught sight of me. I grabbed a basket and hurried after the things I needed, trying to ig-
nore eyes that burned into my back as I slipped down an aisle and out of sight. Once loud and talkative voices became whispers sliding down the rafters of the shop. I carefully selected empty aisles, grabbing items without stopping, avoiding gossiping conversation and inquisitive stares of those I was forced to pass. I knew I had become a topic of conversation; very rarely does simply a person's presence silence a room so harshly if they hadn't been recently talked about. I avoided eye contact as I placed my items on the counter, and waited for the total. I knew it was rude, but I couldn’t stand the weight of idle conversation or nosy questions. Thankfully the clerk took the hint, and spoke no more than necessary to complete the transaction. People meandered near by looking at items they didn’t need, as curiosity overtook any sense of manners they might have possessed. I grabbed my bags and hurried out the door, almost grateful for the bitter bite of the wind. Most people didn’t know the whole story, they didn’t know the truth of what happened; instead their curiosity was fueled by stories of long ago or whispered speculation. They whispered of the secrets thats hung behind the curtains of the window on the third floor, of the old house next to the docks in the harbor. They whispered of the candle that had burned in the window every night for years, before disappearing into the grave with the window’s previous occupant. They whispered of the silence that fell over the house all those years ago, and the strange girl who had taken the place of the candle, the very night it had been burned out. They whispered of the unmarked graves on top of the hill overlooking the lighthouse, that no one seems to know anything about. They whisper about the many secrets that lurk in the cracks and crevices of the shore. If only they realized what it all meant, and knew that it was happening again.
P oetic
License
Sights Seen Outside the Library While Smoking a Loosely Rolled Cigarette by Liam Woodworth-Cook
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hile underneath a “no smoking/ no loitering” sign targeted at people who are not as privileged as my own disheveled rags, I smoked a loose rolled cigarette before entering the library. Does the law call waiting, the same as loitering? I didn’t see a pig nor wanted to risk asking the hog. (That must be metaphor privilously used outside butcher shops). A well dressed man walks out and immediately looks up; Surely he has seen that night has overtaken the second day of this year, yet he is checking: “Does it rain suddenly? Will the roof drop the snow it is shouldering? Are the birds here to shit at 5 o’clock?” He checks twice, I smoke, thinking; “Did his mother teach him this?” He goes into the bank next door. Another man staggers out clutching several paperbacks and a newspaper. Has he been drinking? His boots sway so. He mumbles over a trashcan and a woman drops a letter in the mailbox cautious to avoid his potential eye contact. This is humanity, this is the blessed, the hoping and hopeless. Two teens further down frantic in first love. This reminds me how we stumble over the word communication. Lesson after lesson.The word comes
out of the French from the latin as a noun of communicare: “to share, divide out; communicate, impart, inform; join, unite, participate in,”. Yes, this is life; a struggle of communion, of community, of expression. How love bends over everything, how love beds in all flowerpots dotted across the streets or window shelves.How the mirrors of all our fears and joys trace the ghosts of the Public Library. Public, again French: “open to general observation”, from its Latin root; publicus:"of the people; of the state; done for the state,". Yes, this is where we may observe all. Observe the sign above me, knowing I am not the one to be harrassed under its words, knowing the fortune of free internet, computers, knowledge after wrinkled page of knowledge. Warmth. Yes I observe the comers and goers, as I am communioning, part of the conversation communicated with the corner, with myself, with you, with the spirits and the ghosts. Cherishing the ember of a loose rolled smoke that is becoming undone, The fractioning of conversations, bustle and bumble: Our street corners intersecting, like when we leave the window open and love swiftly goes undressing our bone-walls filling our pots with seed.
Grasping in the Void
by Liam Woodworth-Cook
I
t is New Year’s Eve. They say a new decade, and what I see is pounds and pounds of snow. So wet and grey the world was until this blindsighted punch: A Sunday night fall over Jägermeister lubrication. My Monday a doze. I am caving to become a ghost. If I could slip out I would leave you only this and all the locked fragments. Finally, like eating the ghost stories I read this fall, I am no longer eating. The weight of the intangible, the unseen is far heavier than this winter snow. I want to reach into blankets and go, sleep into the dust of the street. Become less than the mouse; our silent house ghost of a guest. Though like snow, like muck and miles, it too shall fade. I am not hollow; My cackles will bring me back, which is to say that this bridge will crack. And the descent into the icy water will become warm, for on the other-side of numb there is something, yes? Faith is only in this, a changing of coats.
COMIC BY EM PLOURDE
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midcoast One Campus, Endless Opportunities
Compiled by Beacon Staff
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MCC’s Midcoast Campus in brings all the benefits of a comprehensive college a little closer to home. At the Midcoast Campus you have access to personalized services and a varied selection of in-demand programs and courses. We have state-ofthe-art classrooms and laboratories to help you on your way to success
Jim Whitten Dean, Midcoast Campus and Satellite Centers
“The SMCC Midcoast Campus is a special place. We are a small and intimate community where students benefit from a supportive and knowledgeable staff and faculty. As the campus Dean, I am very proud of the community our students, faculty and staff create every semester. I am consistently amazed by students as they learn and grow, and organically establish campus clubs and activities that make the campus come alive. I’ve had the incredible honor of establishing, nurturing and championing the Midcoast Campus since 2011. As we continue to grow and expand our course offerings, initiate workforce training programs and continue to provide excellent educational opportunities, our students will continue to benefit from our special place.”
Vicki-Rose Por-
ter, Midcoast Campus Coordinator
“The Midcoast Campus is a special part of SMCC. We are a small campus that offers a lot of opportunities to the Midcoast region. The growing number of classes and programs offered here in Brunswick give many affordable and accessible opportunities to students. I love working with students starting with the application process, continuing with their New Student Orientation, and every other step along their SMCC journey right up until their preparation for graduation. I provide one-on-one support service to all Midcoast students, assisting with the registration process, financial aid, billing and academic support services. Students receive all of the services they would find at a larger campus but with a small campus feel.”
Rachel Smith Student Success Specialist “I am excited
to be a part of SMCC’s Midcoast Campus. The small size of the campus allows us to get to know our students, and there are many opportunities for students on campus, at Brunswick Landing and throughout the Midcoast region. I am here to help students from the beginning of the admissions process to the end of their journeys at SMCC. I look forward to welcoming and supporting students as they pursue their educational, personal and professional goals.”
Tori Penney Residence Director/Activities Coordinator
“There are a lot of benefits to living
at the Midcoast Campus. It is a tightknit community with many opportunities to get involved. There are a variety of clubs and organizations on campus, and you can always start a new one. We also have many events throughout the year so that our residents can relax, have fun and get to know each other.
A Vibrant College Town & Community
SMCC’s Midcoast Campus is located in Brunswick, a vibrant college town with charm and bustle, and a wide assortment of restaurants, shops, pubs, museums, theaters and other attractions. Our campus is housed at Brunswick Landing, an innovative and growing business/educational campus on the former Brunswick Naval Air Station.
A Place for Partnerships
SMCC’s Midcoast Campus is home to the University of Maine at Augusta’s Brunswick Center. This expands the wide range of opportunities available to our students, giving them access to more courses and the ability to transfer credits with ease. Maine CareerCenters, located in the L.L.Bean Learning Commons, provides a variety of employment and training services at no charge to help individuals with their job search.
COMIC BY EM PLOURDE
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Experience Your Education
Our Midcoast Campus offers four degree programs and hundreds of courses at one convenient location. Earn a degree at our Midcoast Campus or take core courses here and finish your degree at our South Portland Campus. Enter the workforce upon graduation or transfer your credits and continue your education. Whichever path you choose, we’ll provide you with the individualized support and attention you need to succeed.
Visit Us
Get to know the Midcoast Campus better. Tour our facilities, including our L.L.Bean Learning Commons & Health Science Center, the spacious Orion Residence Hall, the state-of-the-art Maine Advanced Technology & Engineering Center and the Academic Building, which is also home to the Maine Fire Service Institute.
Directions
- Take Route 1 to the Cook’s Corner exit and turn right at the first light onto Bath Road (Route 24 North). - Drive a quarter of a mile and turn left at the second light onto Admiral Fitch Avenue, at the Brunswick Landing sign. - Drive about three-quarters of a mile and turn left onto Sewall Street onto the SMCC Midcoast Campus. (From the Midcoast Campus webpage)
Fun and Poignant Sports This and That
by The Beacon Sports Staff
When planning for the first paper of 2020, the Beacon sports staff thought about reaching out to the SMCC student body to ask you: what are your sports dreams for the new year? Heck, what are your dreams for the decade we are starting? While we did not officially reach out to you, we thought it a good idea to share a few poignant… and some humorous sports blurbs. Let’s start with the poignant. Did you know that in 1964, the then 17-year-old Kareem Abdul Jabbar had the opportunity to meet and talk with Dr. Martin Luther King? He did when Dr. King visited a Harlem Youth Unlimited journalism workshop. Jabbar was chosen to attend the press conference after Dr. King’s talk. And yes, Jabbar was attending the journalism workshop as an interested journalist. Let’s jump forward to a few weeks ago. “The dynasty is over,” quipped CBS sports color commentator Jim Nantz as time ran out for the New England Patriots ending their bid to win their 7th Super Bowl. The Tennessee Titans would play the role of the heart breaker for the Patriot’s Nation when they won 20-13 in the NFL Wild Card round. As we all know, all dynasties eventually fall and are replaced by new ones. Tom Brady a free agent. The Jets looking for a competent quarterback.
The Jets become the next NFC dynasty, but stranger things have happened. On January 21, 1990, John McEnroe became the first player to be expelled from the Australian Open. McEnroe would be the first player disqualified from a Grand Slam event since 1963. McEnroe would get disqualified on the third code violation when he challenged the umpires call in his patented John McEnroe manner. Youtube “John McEnroe Outburst”, you’ll see. “Goaltending is a normal job, sure. How would you like it in your job if every time you made a small mistake, a red light went on over your desk and 15,000 people stood up and yelled at you?” Jacques Plante, who played goalie for the Canadiens from 1953 through 1963. While Plante wasn’t the first goalie to wear a mask, he was incremental in making the mask standard equipment for goalies. For the boxing fan: "I've seen George Foreman shadow boxing and the shadow won." That comes to us from Mohammad Ali, the father of trash talk. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, and trash talk your opponent into oblivion. Back on campus at SMCC, the athletics department recently released retention data. The data was based upon USCAA measuring standards, which are higher than the college’s standards. In some cases, some student-athletes
Photos of Martin Luther King Jr. (left) and Kareem Abdul Jabbar (right) may not meet the USCAA standards while meeting the college’s standards. ~ Total number of Student-Athletes Fall 2019: 118 (up 2% from this time last year) ~ Fall 2019 to Spring 2020 Retention: 91.5% (same as last year at this time) ~ Fall 2019 Student-Athlete Overall GPA: 2.79 (up from a 2.66 this time last year) ~ Number of Student-Athletes above
3.0 GPA: 47 (40% of all student-athletes) There you go SMCC, five fun sports blurbs and an athletic student update, that may or may not grab your interest. Speaking of interest, the Beacon would love to hear from the SMCC community regarding this: what are your sports dreams for 2020 and the decade? Let us know your thoughts by sending them to mbeacon@smccme.edu We’ll do our best to publish your thoughts.
Photos of Tom Bradey (left) and John McEnroe (right) Finish Strong continued from page 12) 14th. Andrews would also be recognized as the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Women’s Division II Basketball Player of the Week for her efforts in helping the Lady SeaWolves grab two road wins. Andrews averaged 21 points on 71.4% shooting, while totaling 15 rebounds, five assists and five blocked shots. Against UConn-Avery Point, Andrews lights up the scoreboard with 28 points and 11 rebounds. First-year guard Pedro Fonseca also helped lead the SeaWolves secure two wins that week as he totaled 26 points on 45.5% shooting. Fonseca also pulled down 10 rebounds and collected four assists.
Against UConn-Avery Point, Pedro hit for 19 points on impressive field-goal shooting as he went 7-11 from the floor. Tara Flanders was honored by the YSCC on January 7th, as the guard/ forward hit the scorebook for 22 points as she converted 50 percent of her shots from the field and was perfect from the foul line (4 for 4). Tara also recorded her fourth double-double as she grabbed 12 rebounds (eight on the offensive side of the court), picked the opponents pocket four times and dishes out five assists against the Community College of Rhode Island. Cameron Cousins was honored for his play against Paul Smith’s College for the week of December 24th. Cousin’s 12 points, eight rebounds, and a block and a steal helped SMCC survive a pesky Paul Smith’s team with a 64-61 win.
Rounding out the YSCC Player of the Week selections for SMCC are Ian Regan and Amanda Brett both of whom brought home the honors for the week of December 17th. Sophomore captain Ian Regan would net 27 points in the previous week’s action last week action. Against Williamson College of the Trades, Ian would capture his first double-double of the season when he scored 16 points and snatched ten rebounds. The shooting guard would hit on four of seven shots from beyond the threepoint arch helping the Wolves to a 68-66 victory and to stay perfect on the road. Amanda Brett, who has been a stalwart of the team for the past three years, averaged 22.5 points per game over the course of two games the week prior to her being honored. On Dec. 11th, Brett
became the all-time scorer for the program. Four days later on the 15th, Brett would hit for 22 points, lifting the SeaWolves squad to a bounce-back road win against Community College of Philadelphia. It was the first time for SMCC to play in the opponent’s gymnasium. Brett would also rip away 21 rebounds and pick the pocket five times in what would be a dominant week for the SMCC women’s squad. Amanda also took home the USCAA DII Women's Basketball Player of the Week honors for her play during the week. The Beacon would also like to mention one more shout out to Katie Stannard, the women’s head coach. Coach Stannard captured her 75th win against Unity College when her Lady SeaWolves bested Unity 98-42. the smcc beacon | lighting our community 11
On the Courts Squads look to finish season strong Teams amass 30-6 overall record and 16-4 YSCC record
By the Beacon Sports Staff
W
elcome to 2020 SeaWolf faithful. While the new year and decade may have gotten off to a bit of a depressing start for some sports fans in New England, no need to elaborate, the SeaWolves basketball squads are looking to finish the regular season strong. Nine regular season games remain before the Yankee Small College Conference
post-season play starts and YSCC Final Four return to SMCC on February 29th. Both squads have compiled an 8-2 conference record, as the Lady SeaWolves have built a 16-2 overall record, as the men’s overall record comes in at 14-4. Currently, the men’s squad find themselves one game behind Central Maine Community College (9-1) in the YSCC standings and a game in front of New Hampshire Technical Institute (6-2). The Lady Wolves occupy third place as CMCC
holds first (9-1) and the University of Maine-Machias holds second place (6-1). The season has also been a solid one for individual players as six SeaWolves have been honored as Yankee Small College Conference Players of the Week. Most recently Aija Andrews and Pedro Fonseca were honored for their play during the week prior to January (continued on page 11)
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MADELINE RHEAUME
From top left to bottom left: Pedro Fonseca,Tara Flanders, Aija Andrews and Cameron Cousins are shown in action from the first half of the season. All of the SeaWolves have been honored by YSCC as Players of the Week. Amanda Brett and Ajia Andrews were also named United States Collegiate Althetic Association Division II Women's Basketball Players of the Week for the week they were named YSCC Player of the Week.