SMCC Beacon September 26, 2017

THE

I S S U E DAT E 9•26•17

BEACON

VOLUME 14 NO. 2

BY THE STUDENTS, FOR THE STUDENTS

By Troy Hudson When it comes to psychoactive substances, the state of Maine has taken a number of controversial stances over the years, even as our actual track record has diverged sharply from our legislative ideals. First in the country to outlaw the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in 1846, Maine now ranks near the top of the nation for heavy drinking. The state’s opioid-prescribing laws are among the toughest in the country and face opposition and criticism from chronic pain sufferers, yet our widespread opioid epidemic is well-documented. And even though possession of small amounts of marijuana has been decriminalized since 1976 (at a time when only two states had similar laws), Maine didn’t fully legalize medical use until 1999.

In 2016, the long-debated question of whether to legalize recreational marijuana at the state level finally made it to the ballot, and it for a time it seemed to have the state nearly evenly divided. While pre-election polls indicated a near-perfect split on the issue, on Election Day the referendum to legalize cannabis passed by 4,073 votes.

Maine voters decided that recreational marijuana use for citizens 21 and older would be legal under state law beginning on Jan. 30, 2017.

So what does this mean for students at SMCC? The short answer is that nothing has changed. SMCC’s policy on marijuana is clearly stated in the 2017-2018 Compass: “Although Maine state law permits the use of medical marijuana by certain authorized persons, federal law prohibits marijuana use, possession, cultivation and sale at educational institutions that receive federal funds.”

SMCC participates in Title IV federal financial-aid programs and receives a variety of federal grants, which means the college is

Let’s Talk About Pot

required to enforce federal laws on campus.

Practically speaking, however, one is never very far from marijuana at SMCC. The realities of enforcing conflicting federal and state laws are, unsurprisingly, complicated.

While smoking pot on campus is a blatant invitation for a disciplinary sanction, take a few steps off campus and pot smoke hangs thick in the air. A popular spot on Benjamin W. Pickett Street is frequented by pot enthusiasts, as are the beaches and other quiet places around campus. One student, who spoke to us off the record, said, “At night there’s like twenty or thirty kids lighting up [on campus], and they don’t really do anything about it.”

We asked several sources the question, is marijuana use a problem on campus? According to Dean of Students Tiffanie Bentley, “Marijuana use and possession, including possession of marijuana paraphernalia, are collectively the most frequent violations of the Student Code of Conduct, so from that perspective, yes, marijuana use is a problem on campus.”

However, the most recent Clery Report on crime statistics at SMCC says that a total of 47 drug-law violations were reported on campus in 2015, compared with 72 liquor-law violations. In fact, in five of the last six years on record, alcohol violations have outnumbered drug violations, often by as much as three to one.

Director of Public Safety Jay Manhardt told us, “In my experience, recreational marijuana use and success in obtaining a college education are mutually exclusive … Being high while in class or while attempting to study is a recipe for failure.” Because one of marijuana’s active cannabinoids, THC,

acts on receptors in the memory and cognition centers of the brain, there is good reason to question the effects of marijuana on learning. So far, no evidence has linked marijuana to

Illistration By Jennifer Jang

long-term impairment of memory, but that isn’t to say there aren’t other risks for students.

A 10-year study published in 2013 by the University of Maryland School of Public Health followed 1,200 college freshmen and attempted to establish a relationship between marijuana use and academic success and retention. The results reflect what many college administrators have known for years. According to the researchers, “Even after controlling for the effects of demographics, high school GPA, and personality variables,” heavy users — defined as those who smoked more than 15 times a month — were “twice as likely” to drop out

than minimal users.

While this evidence suggests marijuana and academics don’t mix, many students don’t see it that way. This is what some SMCC students had to say about it: “When I get anxiety, I’m like — I need to smoke a blunt, calm down and focus on my homework.”

“I can’t do homework unless I’m baked.”

“You’ll find that most [pot users at SMCC] have some sort of mental illness that weed helps them with. For people to be barred from that is upsetting.”

“It’s so easy to be a functional stoner. It’s all in your mindset.

You can grind heavy and grind hard and still smoke weed on the side.”

No matter what happens at the state level, as long as marijuana remains a federally controlled substance and SMCC remains, in part, a federally funded school, marijuana will not be permitted on campus.

Of course, for students 21 and older, possession and use of the plant is legal off campus. Public marijuana use is still prohibited (including, and especially, while driving) and typically carries a fine of up to $100, but smoking at home is permitted.

Tiffanie Bentley summarized SMCC’s approach to marijuana use as follows: “Our policies are designed to enforce the law and to maintain a drug and alcohol free environment for students who choose to use their time on campus to focus on completing their education.” For many students, a substance-free campus means one less distraction in the already complicated juggling act that is student life. But for others, marijuana is an important part of their lives — one that’s inseparable from the college experience.

New Partnership Kicked Off at Surprise Event

By Ben Riggleman

Southern Maine Community College cancelled all classes on the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 14, without much explanation. A mass email to students mentioned an “Achieving the Dream kickoff,” and clarified only that Achieving the Dream is “a network of more than 220 community colleges nationwide dedicated to improving student success.” Still, why were three

hours of classes cancelled? Why was every staff member, including the custodians, required to come to the HUB Gym for this “kickoff ”? And how would it all serve “student success”?

The event was kept hush-hush to staff as well as students. That morning, one staff member mused about it being a surprise game show: “I don’t know why,” she said. “Maybe it’s the name, ‘Achieving (Continued on page 2)

Maine Community College System President Derek Langhauser speaks at the kickoff.

Campus News

Campus News

Professor Debuts Show on WMPG

By Allie Hanright

Lise St. Amant, a truly incredible woman, has taken the role of radio host. Aside from her roles as life coach, mental-health counselor, college professor, and loving human being, she also hosts a radio show titled “What If ?” People who have gone through life-changing experiences join her to share their stories. Their reward is inspiring others and bringing them hope.

“I interview people I want to learn from,” St. Amant tells me, with care in her eyes.

“I ask questions I feel the audience wants asked and share stories from people who have gone through incredible challenges, in hopes to inspire and turn people’s lives around.”

During the first show, Lise’s guest was a recovering heroin addict named Rachel Merrill. Rachel not only shared her triumphant story of overcoming her addiction, but also shared her achievement as a successful college student and soon-to-be-licensed drug counselor. She outlined how loved ones can affect the addict in their families, and shared her heartbreaking

experiences of prison, homelessness, and transformation to a prosperous life. “She hopes that her story will not only save lives but help other addicts answer their own ‘What If ?’” (WMPG promo blurb).

Lise, who was one of the first 50 women to graduate from Dartmouth College, earned a communications grant and started out as a journalist, writing and producing human-interest stories for national news outlets like CNN and NPR. She began life coaching in 2004 and developed her personal motto: “You already know where you need to go.”

If you know of anyone with a story or need for encouragement that may help turn their life around, tune into Lise St. Amant’s inspiring radio show, “What If ?” It is an evolving program that adjusts to the informational needs of the listening audience.

The next segment, concerning veteran suicide rates and PTSD with guest Whit Coles, a veterans’ advocate, will be announced to SMCC students. To contact Ms. St. Amant with questions or information about an inspiring story, please don’t be afraid to send an email to whatifradio@ yahoo.com.

“fairness,” was defined as sensitivity to individuals’ diverse needs and disadvantages.

It was contrasted with equality, defined as shallow equality of opportunity: offering everybody the same resources regardless of their needs.

Then the attendees — all several hundred of them — were split into two even groups to play games.

A live-action “game of life” took place in the back half of the gym. Tables had been set up around the perimeter: Housing, a Bank, a Shopping Center, Health Care, Education and Employment. These were crewed by staff volunteers.

Although participants didn’t know it, the game was rigged. Their name tags signified whether they were rich or poor, white or nonwhite, male or female, cisgender or transgender, a local or a recent immigrant.

This information translated not into affirmative action but into bureaucratic roadblocks and discrimination. Immigrants, for instance, were given gibberish forms to fill

out, simulating a foreign language. Most participants found themselves standing in endless, zigzagging lines waiting for the whims of bureaucracy to decide their fate.

Most seemed to take the game in stride, recognizing the greater point being made through these exercises in futility. Even those who felt they didn’t need to be taught its lesson saw benefit in it for some of their coworkers.

In the front of the gym, a similar situation was being played out in board-game format: Achieving the Dream’s proprietary Finish Line Game.

The “game of life” had been proposed and set up by Professor Rachel Guthrie and other faculty members on the Achieving the Dream core team. In an email, Professor Guthrie said that attendance and participation in both games were “excellent.”

However, she said, “The only way to judge the success of these two endeavors will be in chatting with participants to see if these activities have deepened our understanding of the complex and difficult situations many of our students are facing.”

The rest of the afternoon was more subdued. Among others, Derek Langhauser, president of the Maine Community College System, spoke on Achieving the Dream; the whole System is now participating in it. Two Achieving the Dream “coaches” also gave speeches to try to answer the million-dollar question: What is Achieving the Dream?

They made one point emphatically: It’s not an initiative. (Having been fed initiative after initiative since No Child Left Behind, many educators reflexively gag at the word, and at the very concept).

Rather, they likened it more to a methodology. While an initiative could be expected to set goals for a school, this nonprofit “national reform network” apparently leaves that to the community colleges it partners with; goal setting at SMCC will be up to the core team and the administra-

tion. What the program will do is provide a lengthy survey, called the ICAT, that all faculty will take, and in other ways support the development of what it calls a “culture of evidence.” It will help systematize data gathering, and in so doing help SMCC find out which existing initiatives and programs are working to help students succeed, and which aren’t.

Some might question the need for “reform” at SMCC. But, in fact, the school has a problem with graduation rates and other measures of success. According to graphs it publishes on its Consumer Info web page, students are dropping out at startling rates.

Less than 60 percent of students who began taking classes at SMCC in fall 2015 returned the following year. Fifty-eight percent of full-time students came back; only 47 percent of part-time students did.

Graduation and transfer rates are clearly much lower. More than 60 percent of fulltime students who began classes at SMCC in 2013 did not graduate or transfer within 150 percent of their program’s normal time.

Only 21 percent transferred to another school. Only 16 percent graduated.

And then there are the issues encapsulated by the word “equity”. In the 2013 cohort, for example, only 3 percent of Black students graduated and only 6 percent of Hispanic/Latino students did.

So what’s our problem? Achieving the Dream promises to help discover that.

Unlike other “accountability” programs, it is open to qualitative data, such as that gathered through student and faculty focus groups. Transparency is also one of its values; hopefully this will mean that all data gathered on students will be made available to students.

You can read more about Achieving the Dream on its website, achievingthedream. org. Expect further coverage of this program, and its relevance to students, in coming issues of The Beacon.

New Partnership (Continued from page 1)

the Dream.’ Sounds like a game show.” Despite having visions of The Price Is Right, she admitted realistically, “I think we’re just going to walk into a boring lecture for three hours.”

In fact, both ideas were off the mark.

While there were no cameras, no fantastic prizes or glamorous announcers, the kickoff was as much game as lecture.

As attendees marched into the HUB, they each received a name tag with an alphanumeric code and a single colored dot on it. They then found a place at the crowded folding tables that had been set up in the front half of the gym and waited for something to be “kicked off.” A bell was rung.

President Ron Cantor, followed by several staff, took the podium to introduce Achieving the Dream and a key concept in its literature: the difference between equity and equality.

Equity, whose meaning overlaps with

THE

BEACON Executive Staff

Production Manager Troy Hudson

Managing Editor Ben Riggleman

Art Director and Webmaster Paul Moosmann

Graphic Designers Taylor Freeman, Oğuzhan Özkan, Joanne Smith

Midcoast Section Editor Dan Elliott

Contributing Writers

Cali Atwood, Kate Bennett, Andrew Boccuzzi, Rebecca Dow, Dan Elliott, Taylor Freeman, Allie Hanright, Michael Harrington, Troy Hudson, Noor Ibrahim, Cassie Marceau, Lloyd Metcalf, Ryan Noyes, Ben Riggleman, Jess Spoto, Sudeep Stauble, Justin Taylor Illustrations Dan Elliott, Jennifer Jang, Vanessa Poirier Contributing Photographers Rebecca Dow, Paul Moosman, Jess Spoto, Noor Ibrahim, Ben Riggleman Advisors Chuck Ott & Rachel Guthrie

2 The Beacon • September 26, 2017

News From the SMCC App

By Kate Bennett

For those of you who don’t already know, SMCC has an app! It is extremely useful for all parts of college life, whether you live on campus or commute. The app has many features and tons of information, from events to dining services to job openings and more! The app also has a feed (similar to a Facebook wall) and messaging capabilities. Students post a variety of things in the feed and in its subsections, which include Student Feed, Buy & Sell, Lost + Found, Housing, News, and Ride Sharing.

In the Student Feed, students post a wide variety of things. They post questions about what’s going on at the school, ask around

for items they need, support each other, share Snapchat codes, are informed by staff and other students of activities happening on campus, updated about sports, and more.

In Buy & Sell, you can buy and sell many different items, including textbooks. I sold my leftover textbooks from a couple summer courses within two weeks of posting them on the app. There are a variety of items listed for sale there right now, including clothing, an iPhone, an iPad, earbuds, textbooks and more! It is also a great place to post if you are looking for a textbook.

Here, someone even posted about selling their kidney to pay off student debt! This app is definitely forming a humorous and relatable community among students.

The Lost + Found section is pretty

Emergency-Lockdown Presentation

By Troy Hudson

Safety at SMCC is something most of us probably take for granted. Crime is uncommon here and is almost always nonviolent.

(You can see this for yourself in the latest Clery Report, in the Safety & Transportation section of the school’s website.) As we watch terrible tragedies occur in other places, we tend to think of ourselves as safe and secure here in Maine. Nevertheless, the threat of disaster is ever present, and SMCC has taken that threat seriously.

On Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 10:00 a.m. in the Jewett Hall auditorium, SMCC will

host a presentation covering the school’s emergency protocol and lockdown procedures. Jay Manhardt, SMCC’s director of public safety, will arm you with the knowledge you may need to survive a worst-case scenario. Beacon staff were present at the first run of this presentation, and we highly recommend attending. The information you’ll receive could save your life and the lives of those around you.

self-explanatory. It is a mix of posts from people who are looking for items that they have lost and people posting items that they have found. I’ve noticed that some people post here when they lose their student IDs, and they can often get help finding them here.

Housing is a resource for students who live on campus. In this section, students can find up-to-date information about what is happening in the dorms and also get questions answered about dorm life.

The News section currently only has a few posts in it. Despite the small amount

of posts, it is a great way to find out about events happening on campus, new clubs and more!

Ride Sharing is the final subsection of the app’s feed.This is a resource for any student who needs a ride or who can provide a ride. So far, students have posted here when needing a ride to SMCC and when needing a ride to and from the dorms to go shopping.

The SMCC app is free to use and download. It can be downloaded by going to the App Store or Google Play and searching “SMCC.”

Activities Committee!!!

Searching for a way to get involved on campus?

Check out the Activities Committee!

Be engaged, be proactive, and help build community.

For more information, contact Activities Adviser Kelly Levine at: klevine@smccme.edu

“Run, Hide, Fight” and Emergency Lockdown Protocol Jewett Hall Auditorium Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 10 a.m.

New Dining Hall Entrance

By The Beacon Staff

Construction has begun on the new entrance to the Oceanview Dining Hall.

When complete, the entrance will feature wheelchair-accessible double doors facing the Hildreth Media Center. Until construction is complete, the dining hall can be accessed by the back entrance near the patio.

Corrections From the Sept. 12 Issue “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” — Alexander Pope • “Foraging on Campus” (Page 1) misquoted Professor Cheryl Rich as saying that excavation debris from the construction of Surfsite Residence Hall were deemed too contaminated to be removed from campus. In fact, she said the contaminated debris were from the site of the Ross Technology Center and had been used as fill beneath the Surfsite parking lot.

• The photo of the solar eclipse on Page 5 was taken by Chelsea St. Pierre, not, as credited, Makala Thibodeau.

Construction underway at Oceanview Dining Hall.

September 26, 2017 • The Beacon 3

Other World

Other World

An Escape by the Ocean

Why the Hell Is Everyone Waving? A Trip to the Cumberland Fair

By Noor Ibrahim

Spring Point Inn, located on McKernan Center Drive on SMCC’s South Portland Campus, is a well-known tourist attraction with a breathtaking view of the ocean.

However, the magnificence of this inn does not lie in the view. This sumptuous inn is a symbol of traditional American architecture and decor. The inn is located next to a wall full of climbing plants, with some leaves that have already transformed into the color fire red. The building is almost hidden in between the tree branches, as if it was located inside a secret garden.

After reaching the main entrance, two black wire tables sit on the patio. The wire tables add a minimalistic feel to the space, making a charming impression on its guests.

Once the guests walk into the inn, they will be greeted by a grand hall facing the front desk. From the wooden floors to the chandeliers that have an accent of stained-glass, the guest will feel as if they walked into a ballroom with the Waltz of the Flowers playing in the background.

The inn is decorated in a simple fashion that compliments the scene seen from the large glass windows. The main tones I found throughout this building are natural wood, aesthetic mint colors and neutral tones as well.

To enter the conference room, the guest will walk through double French doors. The highlight of the first floor has to be the table arrangements that overlook the ocean.

In this L-shaped sunroom, the large windows allow natural light to wash the dining area. The sun rays add a warm and mystical feeling as the particles in the air sparkle.

Now heading to the stairs, the guest will walk up in an old-fashioned double staircase. The railings are also painted white, with the handles being wooden toned. The foyer is visible from the midst of the staircase, revealing a palatial view of the bay windows.

Photo by Noor Ibrahim The second floor has two lounging spaces, furnished by vintage-patterned chairs.

Once the guest enters their room, they will be welcomed by a home-like bedroom. The beds are warm and cozy with high, soft mattresses. The lighting in the room is just right for a relaxing rest. Again, the tones are subtle enough for the guest to be contented.

The air is fragrant by the refreshing scent of cleanliness.

Moving on to the third floor, next to the staircase, sits a coffee station that is open for all the guests. Climbing further up, on the right side the guest will find a giant collection of square windows designed to resemble picture frames. The dramatic placement of these windows add a ritzy feature to the inn’s overall feel.

After finally reaching the third floor, the guest will be in the deluxe retreat. Later, the guest will then enter a sanctum. These deluxe rooms are especially lavish because

of their three arched windows. These three arched windows adds a regal look to the room, making it appear more opulent.

Last but not least, one of the staff provided me with information about the inn and what makes it worth a visit. Julia Bustos, a current staff member and a former Southern Maine Community College student, stated, “We try our best to provide the five-star experience.” She further explained that the inn is student run. Therefore, during events (such as weddings, conferences and parties), the Culinary Arts students work in the kitchen to provide catering. During the winter season, SMCC staff are offered a discount.

This inn is an excellent place to spend a vacation in. It has a patriotic and a historical feel to it, it is cozy and it is toasty. It is also located away from the distractions of life so the guest can escape stress and enjoy the natural scenery.

bles to come together in the case of disaster.

People offer to house those who have lost their own, centers and hotels offer food and shelter while the storm passes, and civilians go out of their way to assist where they might be needed most.

In fact, our own Hannaford supermarket chain has stepped up to help. Hannaford not only provides victims with donated food, but right now, if people donate up to $50,000, it will match that donation. That is $100,000 towards rebuilding the billions of damage caused by hurricanes Irma, Jose, and Maria.

The people who live up here in Maine don’t normally have to worry about rebuilding their home or wondering how their car got into their neighbor’s living room. Up here it may feel like we don’t have a way to contribute to those affected by these devastating storms. But by

donating to Hannaford, and many other places, people can help no matter where they are in the world.

Hannaford’s Helping Hand

By Taylor Freeman

Hurricane season this year is hitting the world hard. The last time the world has seen a storm as large and devastating as Hurricane Irma, was Katrina, in 2005; both Katrina and Irma reaching Category 5. Irma’s winds were 10 mph faster than Katrina’s, topping off at 185 mph, or 295 km/h. Compared to Katrina, which caused between 1,245 and 1,836 fatalities, Irma hardly reached 100. Following close behind Irma, Jose started to make his way towards the already destroyed Islands. Fortunately he strayed north, but only to reveal a new threat, Maria. At the time of writing, Maria is, according to CNN, “the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in Dominica.” After devastating Dominica, Maria started to make her way towards the already demolished Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, which haven’t seen a Category 4 or 5 in nearly 85 years.

The devastation that these storms bring is, ironically, the thing that brings us together. The world pauses its political squab-

4 The Beacon • September 26, 2017

By Andrew Boccuzzi

Illustration by Vanessa Poirier

It’s been over 75 years since the United States gave life to one of the most iconic pieces of machinery to roll over the world. Driving off the assembly line for the first time in 1941, the manufacturer termed it “GP.” It’s still up for debate how it received its modern name, but popular theories point towards a slurred pronunciation of its technical name or an adaptation of the name of a popular comic-book character from the late 1930s, Eugene the Jeep.

The Willys Jeep was designed to haul troops and supplies across the European theater; by the end of WWII Jeeps were quickly tweaked to be sold to any old Joe Shmoe that wanted one back home in the States. The name “Jeep” had become a byword for tough and dependable. CJs (Civilian Jeeps) sold by the tens of thousands by succeeding their original military design by pumping out… well, the exact same design, to be honest.

And this was a good thing for us all, because as time went on the Jeep naturally became more and more domesticated through the demands of consumers for additional creature comforts like a heater, stereos, doors, an airbag for both the driver and the passenger, and even some windows that could keep out all of the rain if you managed to install them correctly.

Which leaves us with the Jeep Wrangler as we know it today. All these years later the only thing that has really changed is the options list. Start with a boxy convertible with a short wheel base, a decent amount of travel in the suspension and a solid 4WD drivetrain, and give consumers a choice on the rest. They can choose between a lethargic four-cylinder or a more powerful six-cylinder. They can

also decide to have a soft or a hard top, full doors or half doors, a premium sound bar and much more.

However, all these fancy doodads have nothing to do with why Jeeps always sell like they’re going out of style. The sensation you get while driving one is bizarre, but familiar. The handling isn’t particularly precise, but it steers and stops. The noise from the vibrating top creates an intense sensation of speed, at any speed.

And its soft suspension urges the body to roll a little more than some people are comfortable with. But it all adds up to be one of the most fun cars to drive, on or off of the pavement.

Just by driving one of these you get the added benefit of being automatically enrolled into one of the most underwhelming yet desirable clubs around.

I own a Jeep, so I can confidently say that it is a fact that if you have a Wrangler, you are expected to be an active participant in this club every single time you get behind the wheel. All that is required is a subtle exchange that doesn’t mean much beyond “Hey.” Just an acknowledgment that you two own the same car, which I guess Jeepers decided was interesting enough to call for a polite “how do ya do” as you drive by. You just have to wave, and everyone does it.

Every wave qualifies, whether it’s lifting a few fingers off of the steering wheel, sticking your hand out of window or throwing up the peace sign. Just wave and carry on, and wave again and keep on moving on and then wave again, and again, and again, and, well… yeah. That’s why everybody’s waving, or, more accurately, that’s why everybody who owns a Jeep is waving. Because they own a Jeep, nothing more, nothing less. And now they have a reason that isn’t really a reason but still counts as an excuse to wave at other drivers for no reason.

Photos by Rebecca Dow and Jessica Spoto Above left: SMCC student Jess Spoto in front of a swing ride at the Cumberland Fair, Cumberland, Maine. Above right: student Rebecca Dow and a friend at the fair.

Below: piglets. The Cumberland Fair will be open daily till the morning of Sunday, Oct. 1. Admission is $10 for adults and free on Oct. 1.

The Difference Between Antivirus and Anti-malware

By Ryan Noyes

Recently my sister bought a brand-new MacBook for around $1,800 for college. I am not a Mac fan, but it is nice.

About a week ago she came to me asking why her laptop was “having a meltdown.”

She said within seconds of starting it up, she saw popups, warnings and emergency alerts telling her to act quick or “click here to resolve the problem.” I knew right away that it was malware or adware. Within 20 minutes of helping her get rid of the malware, her computer was back to normal.

This got me thinking — most people do not even know what malware or viruses are, or how to fix the problem. I am hoping this article will help.

First, some background information: What are viruses? What is malware? A virus is a harmful program that can copy itself to inflict damage to a computer. “Malware” is a term that includes all the different types of bad software. Some types are adware,

keyloggers, ransomware, spyware, worms and viruses. That’s right, a virus is malware, and malware is sometimes a virus, but not always. Viruses are known as “legacy threats,” meaning that viruses never evolve or change at all.

So why have two different types of protective software if viruses are pretty much malware? Well, in the 1990s, viruses were a threat to computers, so software companies just called their products antiviruses. A reason that you might not expect is name recognition. More people know about viruses rather than malware. Still, there is more than just name recognition that makes these two different. Antiviruses protect against threats that never evolve or change (trojans, viruses and worms), and anti-malware protects against newer threats or threats to come (adware, keyloggers and spyware).

Which one should you choose? From my own experience, I would have one of each. For example, I have Norton Security, an antivirus, and Malwarebytes, an an-

ti-malware program. I recommend having one of each because each tool can’t protect you from everything out there. Like I said, I use Norton for the older threats and Malwarebytes for the new threats.

There are many different types of antivirus and anti-malware out there, so there are plenty to choose from. Some recommendations for antivirus are Amiti, Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, Comodo, Forticlient and Windows Defender Security Center, which comes free with Windows. Some recommendations for anti-malware are Bitdefender, Cybereason, Emsisoft, Spybot and Webroot.

There you have it. I hope that I have helped at least a little explaining the differences between antivirus and anti-malware.

I have given examples of the different software products so you can protect your computers, but there is much, much more out there that you can find. A lot of them are actually free, but if you want more tools or 24/7 support, you will have to pay a monthly or yearly fee.

Cosplay club is a fun, safe space to get together and create your own cosplay. People of any skill level can come and learn how to sew, style wigs, and make props together! There is a wide collection of interests here, from cartoons and anime to comics and video games.

Join us in the Captain’s House at 7:00 every Tuesday to make new friends and work towards a group trip to Anime Boston!

September 26, 2017 • The Beacon 5

Opinion

Opinion

Parking on Campus Is Nearly Impossible

By Kate Bennett

Parking on the South Portland Campus is a joke. Honestly. I follow the advice given to students, especially those commuting like myself, to arrive an hour early and to check out different parking lots around campus. And yet, I’m infuriated when I’m forced to circle the parking lots for 30 minutes trying to find a parking space. Often, I find myself and observe other students racing each other to try to claim an open parking spot.

Another problem is that since parking is hard to find, students get really creative and make their own spots outside the park-

ing-space lines. These cars often end up get- campus and explained her experiences with ting ticketed, but I see where some students parking here. “The parking situation here is are coming from when they make their own beyond ridiculous. If you don’t get here an parking stops. Sometimes, life happens and hour early being late to class are very high. students get There needs to there with be something just 15 minand “My car was parked in the middle of the Spring Point done, utes before parking lot. The weekend of the first week of school, the soon, about the class and driver’s side window got smashed at some point during parking.

It’s have to im- the night. The annoying part was that it was the first week screwing a lot provise af- I was here, and the first year that I was here. What a great of people over.” ter circling impression I got of the school that first week.”

This parkparking lots ing situation a couple of results in stutimes bedents getting cause there aren’t enough parking spaces. angry and driving in a cramped parking lot.

I spoke with another first-year student Both of these factors lead to cars getting hit at SMCC, Cassie Marceau, who lives on and students getting angry. I experienced

this firsthand when I went to leave after the first day of classes and my car had scratches and a large spot of dark paint on the side from when I assume another car ran into it. That was not a great thing to discover on my first day here.

On September 5, 2017, the Trump Administration rescinded the DACA Program which allowed some young people brought to the U.S. as children to be protected from deportation and have work authorization documents (EADs). The program will terminate on March 5, 2018, six months from now.

Although ILAP strongly opposes this rescission, here is what you know about DACA going forward.

IF YOU HAVE DACA NOW:

3. If your DACA and work authorization card will expire between September 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018 and you have NOT filed renewal paperwork, you may file it now but USCIS must accept it before October 5, 2017. You must act quickly to meet this deadline!

IF YOU DON’T HAVE DACA, BUT APPLIED FOR IT If you filed your initial (first) DACA application and application for a work authorization card, USCIS will process your applications if they were accepted by USCIS before September 5, 2017. Otherwise, no initial applications will be accepted.

ALSO: 1. Travel Outside the U.S. USCIS will no longer approve Form I-131 Advance Parole for DACA recipients. They will close all pending I-131 Advance parole applications for DACA recipients and the fees will be returned. But if you currently have Advance Parole through DACA, it remains valid until it expires. However, you should consult with an immigration lawyer before traveling outside the U.S. 2. Replacing your EAD. If your DACA EAD is still valid and is lost, stolen or destroyed it can be replaced by filing a new Form I-765 FINALLY: ILAP continues to assist Maine residents with DACA-related outreach, information, and paperwork, and with consultations in Portland, Lewiston and Milbridge on options for legal status. To schedule a free legal consultation or to request an outreach event, please contact ILAP by phone at 207-780-1593 Ext. #100, or email: cstarr@ilapmaine.org.

6 The Beacon • September 26, 2017

By Lloyd Metcalf

What If —

FOR DACA RECIPIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES

2. If you have filed the paperwork to renew your DACA and renew your work authorization card, your renewals will be processed if they were accepted by USCIS before September 5, 2017.

By Sudeep Stauble

As a commuter student, I come to campus an hour before classes. I have the expectation of driving around campus for at least 20 and up to 40 minutes looking for any open parking space.

I am not alone in this activity. You may pass by numerous students any given day circling in their vehicles with pained looks on their faces while they search frantically. They loop endlessly through all the various lots on campus. It’s not news, parking has always been an issue at SMCC.

ILAP Maine, the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, is a nonprofit organization that provides free and affordable legal assistance to immigrants in Maine. Since a substantial number of SMCC students are immigrants or family members of immigrants, The Beacon considers it a public service to print the following advisory from ILAP. — The Beacon editorial staff

1. Your current deferred action status and DACA work authorization card (EAD) remain valid until they expire. This is true even if their expiration date is AFTER March 5, 2018. Many DACA recipients currently have expiration dates in 2018 or 2019.

A Place to Call Home

Cassie Marceau also explained another incident that happened to her in a SMCC parking lot: “My car was parked in the middle of the Spring Point parking lot. The weekend of the first week of school, the driver’s side window got smashed at some point during the night. The annoying part was that it was the first week I was here, and the first year that I was here. What a great impression I got of the school that first week.”

It is important that something is done about this. I can’t even imagine the impact on parking if the number of students were to grow.

I have a few ideas that could potentially help the parking problem. One, which I have heard spoken about from various students, is building a parking garage where the parking lot is off of Broadway. While building a parking garage can be expensive, I think it would be well worth it to the school and students. Even if it was just a few levels, it would make a huge difference and show that the students are being heard.

It would give students fewer reasons to get angry when parking, and decrease the worry about cars getting hit.

Another idea that I’m curious about is the field or park next to Broadway and across from our parking lot that is off of Broadway.

I’m wondering who owns that land, and if it could be sold or leased to the school to turn into more parking.

If we all think about parking options, I know we can come up with a solution.

What if SMCC installed a small solar-powered sensor in each legal parking space on campus?

These sensors could be simple I/O switches activated when a vehicle is in the space. That information could easily be organized into an app showing a map of every open space on campus in real time. Lots completely full would be marked as “full” and grayed out. Students wouldn’t need to circle campus burning dozens of hours in time and fuel trying to guess where a spot might exist.

A student could easily look at the map and see which lots have open spaces and where. Yes, there may be some tough competition for spaces still, but dozens of hours in fuel and time are burnt every day seeking that one space to park. It would cut hundreds of hours each week off circling, fuel-burning vehicles, from campus.

It would be green, safer, it would relieve stress, it would be… epic!

If all lots were full, a student could see it quickly on the app prior to coming to campus, park off campus and grab the bus. Currently, by the time a student who is a half hour early has checked all parking lots then goes back off campus to catch the bus, they are a half hour late or more.

This technology already exists.

Some cities use similar apps to pay and track parking meters. Other campuses have opted for red or green lights over each parking spot.

The app would be particularly practical for SMCC, with its lots spread across campus. One glance at a map, and you know what’s up with parking.

What if that were a thing?

“What If…” is an editorial piece written to ask the question “What if….” The intent is to ask the question, imagine the result, and maybe spark the imagination and conversation.

The room seems to spin around you as you sit alone in the dining hall. Figures flit about in your periphery, their voices seeming to meld into a cacophonous kaleidoscope of confusing sounds. A few tables from you is another student who is visually impaired. Elsewhere is a person who is wearing earphones, seemingly feeling just as out of place as you.

Scenes like this are common, familiar to some of us. Whether we want to admit or not, at some point in our lives we have encountered situations where we feel out of place, as if we don’t belong. We all have dealt with some form of loneliness.

Yet many of us ignore feelings like this and, as a result, ignore those who are marginalized by default — individuals such as those with mental and physical disabilities, immigrants, or simply those who appear “different” from the rest of us.

Ironically, as I’ve observed and interacted with people on campus, some of those individuals in the aforementioned communities have told me they are perfectly content. However, I have sensed a divide, albeit subtle. This division takes the form of cliques. These factions reflect the types of people with whom we choose to interact.

In turn, we tend to exclude others from one clique or the other.

So, we are aware of the issue. The question to consider is not how to find the solution, but how to improve social interaction among students; in particular, for minority groups isolated or excluded. Submitted here is a set of guidelines on appropriate ways to interact with those with disabilities.

Guidelines for Inclusion and Interactions General Dos and Don’ts Don’t: Assume the person with a disability needs help; rather, let them figure it out for themselves; help only if they ask.

Assume that because they’re different, they are incapable of holding a conversation.

Be afraid to ask questions. In fact, it’s offensive if you are afraid of offending by asking questions.

Give special treatment to those with disabilities.

Do: Talk to disabled individual as if you would anyone else who is not disabled.

(Do not treat them with kid gloves or as if they’re fragile.) They’re just as intelligent as you or someone else.

When working together, whether in the classroom or otherwise, give them the opportunity to contribute. they’re just as capable of the work as you.

Blindness: Describe in detail; give specific directions.

If you are acting as a sighted guide to a blind person, rather than touching the person, let them take your arm, preferably elbow.

Explain what’s going on (funny expressions, etc.)

Tell a blind person when you’re walking away, so that they’re not left talking to themselves.

Always identify yourself. (“Hi Sudeep, it’s John.”)

Do not play memory/guess who games with a blind person. (“Guess who I am.

Embarking on a Self-Love Journey

By Jessica Spoto

Remember me?”)

Do not disguise your voice and pretend you’re someone else.

If you’re joking, give hints that you are indeed kidding. They can’t tell if you’re smiling, and may take what you’re saying literally or seriously. So laugh after you say something that is meant to be humorous.

Do not nod or shake your head when responding to a question. I don’t need to spell out why, I hope.

Do not point or say, “It’s over there.”

Again, be specific: “The bathroom is straight ahead, next to the water fountain which is on your right.”

Do not pet a service dog when it’s on duty. You can tell when they’re working if they are wearing a harness.

Do not purposefully step on or kick a service animal. In fact, the U.S. Department of Justice classifies this as a felony. Violators are subject to criminal prosecution.

I acknowledge that we as humans seek out what we are comfortable with.

After all, this is why we choose to exclude those who appear “different” from us. Deep inside we are afraid of them, so we stick with those who pose less of a threat. However, we as humans are innately social, intelligent beings. All any of us want is a friend, and a place to call home, a place to belong. So bear that in mind as you interact with those around you. I implore you to challenge your fears of those who are different from you.

Be a friend to the ones who are in need of that connection.

STUDENT SENATORS NEEDED Are you interested in

day occurrence and guilt is etched into your mind.

You know this isn’t right. That gut feeling you instantly had when you met him, Being told “you’re too fat” or “you let but so childishly pushed away, still lingers. yourself go” or “you put about five pounds One day your friend urges you to break up of cheese on that already cheesy mac-andwith him. You agree. You do, over text. You cheese” is never a worthy feeling. All these run back to him instantly, showing up at words fracture your confidence and pulverhis apartment begize it into dust. ging for him back.

You know you He won’t take you are beautiful. You back unless, “I see look in the mirror that you are actually and say it straight working on yourself. to your face, but Going to the gym, then again you eating better, losing also squeeze your weight.” “We will see stomach fat and what happens,” he tell yourself, “He says with a smug look doesn’t like this. plastered on his face.

He will never like Then after a couple this.” days of barely eating Being told to go and constant crying. to the gym conYou text him, “I don’t stantly and told want to be with you.” that you are wastHe responses with an Illustration by Vanessa Poirier ing that member“ah okay.” You know ship because you you’re beautiful and worth it; somewhere are not going at least once a day hurts. “You inside of you, you know. So you trudge forjust think going to the personal trainer is ward, let the positivity seep in and let the just one big chore.” Yeah, it’s a chore when agonizing memories be left where they beyou are going for someone else, but you long. wouldn’t dare say that. “Sorry” is an every-

student governance?

If so, the SMCC Student Senate is interested in you.

The Student Senate meets Wednesday at 4:30 in Jewett Auditorium South Portland Campus For more information, contact mcesil @smccme.edu or stop by the CeSIL office in Spring Point Residence Hall (South Portland Campus)

September 26, 2017 • The Beacon 7

Arts & Features

Arts & Features

Record Scratch: ‘Saturation’ and ‘Saturation II’

By Michael Harrington

So long as I have existed have I been a fan of music. I grew up listening to the local classic-rock station, old cassettes and background music for my video games. In recent years, I’ve listened to far more music than I ever would have thought possible, even five years ago, when I started to practice to be the best musician I could be.

Listening to, writing, playing, and talking and writing about music have become an immeasurable part of my life, and I would like to share this portion of my life with you. This is the first installment of “Record Scratch,” a column where I will discuss fresh music releases. I will do my best to recommend music that might have been ignored by the masses.

We’ll start with the alternative hip-hop albums “Saturation” and “Saturation II”

by Brockhampton.

Brockhampton describe themselves as “the Internet’s first boy band,” but they are a new breed of boy band. Having met on a Kanye West fan-forum website, this group of young men released their first mixtape last year. Their debut album,

“Saturation,” was released in June. “Saturation II” released in August. By the end of 2017, the “Saturation” trilogy will be complete.

Whereas mixtapes are used more as a demonstration of musical capabilities, the debut album needs to solidify why an artist is relevant in their scene. “Saturation” is an emotionally rough album. The stories told on “Saturation” are charged with energy that has been waiting to be released.

Heartfelt performances from every member make the lyrics resonate more closely with the audience.

Regret, sorrow, anger, frustration, dedication, and perseverance are all conveyed by the men who tell these stories. They pause, they end things unexpectedly, and they change direction sometimes without warning.

The rhythms and sounds they use are unconventional, but Brockhampton manage to form a cohesive project thanks to their production and mastering team.

They create a form of art unique to themselves. “Saturation” is for those who want to explore a more artistic and experimental side of hip-hop.

“Saturation II” is a sequel. “Saturation”

“Saturation” is for those who want to explore a more artistic and experimental side of hip-hop.

was the blockbuster hit, and its successor had a legacy to live up to. Releasing so soon after the original was a huge risk for Brockhampton. It paid off.

Any sophomore album needs to take the sound of the original and twist it enough to be different while staying recognizable, and “Saturation II” does just that. “Saturation” is a love project; while there are definitely strong rap verses and tracks that bump, the album is more R&B influenced. “Saturation II” goes hard. It sounds like its predecessor, but you notice how Brockhampton have pushed themselves to innovate. The R&B tracks are still here,

but there are more rap verses over both R&B and rap tracks. If you would rather listen to rap than R&B, I would suggest “Saturation II.” The boys in Brockhampton are not afraid to say what’s on their mind, nor are they afraid of new flows and rhythms.

They know how swiftly they are rising in the hip-hop community, and they want everyone to know that they know. If you do not know now, you will certainly know by the end of 2017.

‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’

By Justin Taylor

“Kingsman: The Golden Circle” (dir. Matthew Vaughn) starts out well enough, with a high-octane chase sequence / fight scene across London that promises to deliver the same surprising and fresh action that made its predecessor stand out from the crowd. But this sequel manages to fall flat. Most of the action sequences are full of flashy yet distracting camera work, and most of the choreography of the fights rises to almost superhuman levels (which deescalated the stakes and took me right out the scene).

Though this flick has some genuinely interesting set pieces and design, all of the elements are strung together really poorly. It often felt like the movie was pushing these characters into the next set piece with no real setup. The movie dragged on, and before it had even reached its finale at the villain’s base, Poppy Land, I was just waiting for it to end.

The characters in the film were not much more developed than the were in the original.

In fact, a few major players in the first “Kingsman” were given

very little or nothing to do. Mark Strong’s Merlin felt like a tacked-on character, but he’s not even the worst example in “The Golden Circle.” Newcomers like Halle Berry, Channing Tatum, and Jeff Bridges feel like cameos as opposed to characters. Tatum’s Agent Tequila spends most of the film literally on ice, while the actual cameo, Elton John (as himself ) gets an alarming amount of time on screen and is still used as cheap joke.

Though “Kingsman” offers some genuinely cool moments at times, its poor writing, thin plot structure and flimsy characters bog the film down to the point of no return. Even Colin Firth’s Harry Hart, a high point of the previous film, returns to the screen less interesting than the last time. Considering the hoops the creative team had to jump through to bring him back, it makes the choice to revive the character feel pointless and unnecessary. “The Golden Circle” has a lot of potential as a whole, but is ruined by sloppy execution.

Rating: C-

Beacon Media

Innovate and collaborate here at SMCC Contact Max Lorber at BeaconMediaSMCC@gmail.com 8 The Beacon • September 26, 2017

Salutations! In this issue of The Beacon, we have two featured poems to share with you. The first is a very personal piece which, in the past, won third place in a statewide competition.

The Frozen Mac Lab

By Taylor Freeman

Website launches on October 28th.

Submit creative visual content now!

Staff meets 12 pm every Saturday at the Captain’s House.

POETIC LICENSE

Day 1, Hour 1: So far, I’ve spent a good 30 minutes working on the editing project for Video on Location. I’m currently sitting in the Mac lab of Hildreth, which has had some good and bad reviews, but it’s the open lab, so I don’t really have a choice in the matter. I’ve started sampling my visual shots and moving them into their respective folders. Hopefully, it won’t take me too long. I’ve never done an edit like this before, so it could take me some time.

Hour 2: I think I should have come to

this project a little more prepared. I didn’t realize how cold it would be in this lab, but I definitely should have brought a sweater… and socks. I’ve finished sampling my visual, and now I’m in the process of going through the audio. I suspect that this is going to take just as long, if not longer. I’m finding myself getting rather hungry, as it is growing closer to dinner. I hear it’s Wing Night tonight.

Hour 3: I’m afraid I won’t make it to Wing Night tonight. I’ve finished sampling and now I’ve moved on to the actual editing part. This is going to be easier than the tedious process that sampling was. I’ve been sitting here for… three hours now? I can’t feel my feet, and I can see my fingers turning purple. This room is sapping my body heat… that’s probably what they power the Macs with: the heat of overworked media students.

Hour 4: I’ve lost all feeling in my limbs.

I’m afraid to move; my toes might break.

I can’t feel anything, I have become completely numb. I can see the ice growing off of my body. If someone finds this journal, please… export my project and get it in to Corey Norman. I’ve worked too hard on this project to have it be late because no one knows how to turn up the heat in this stupid lab. Let me be a warning to any CNMS students who want to work in the Mac lab.

Bring something warm.

“My grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimers a few years ago. And it was one of the hardest things to go hrough.

Just watching him slowly forget me was horrible. So I wrote the poem for my English class because we had to submit a piece of writing to any contest. And yeah, this is what I wrote.” — Cassie Marceau

The second is by Cali Atwood, following a darker mood. Please, enjoy these pieces and feel free to email any comments you have, which may be posted in the next issue.

My Mind Thinks It’s At War

Papa

By Cassie Marceau Papa, I saw the expressionless look on your face.

There was nothing in your eyes.

That familiar sparkle was gone.

I wonder where it has gone to.

Papa, I miss the hugs you used to give me.

I miss the laughs we used to share.

I miss the four-wheeler rides.

I miss the gardening.

I miss Easter mornings where you would be more excited than me.

I miss Christmas Eve where you would pretend that you saw Santa outside.

I miss the jokes.

I miss you.

I’ve been telling myself it will be okay.

That you will be back to your old self.

In all honesty, Papa, I don’t think it will.

I miss the days spent on the porch, with you teaching me how to play the harmonica.

I miss car rides down to the little store at the bottom of the hill, just to get an Italian Sandwich.

I miss the dog you used to have, named Jake.

I miss the mountain.

I miss the quiet, peaceful nature that surrounded us.

I miss my Papa.

Send submissions to:

My skin grows colder As my body temperature drops A wounded soldier running From a battle that can’t be won My hands start to shake Next my legs, then my arms Until my whole body trembles From an earthquake only I can feel

My muscles begin to tighten Constricting, tensing Until soon I can barely move Frozen, as if I’m paralyzed My mind races.

From one thing to the next.

Yet at the same time, It’s nowhere at all.

You were in a confused place, you were there for so long.

I never thought you would leave.

I thought you had another year Waiting up your sleeve.

I know you loved me, And I still love you too.

So I'm trying to be strong Just for you.

You may not know why, but Ill make you proud.

You always said you wanted to see me graduate.

Soon Papa. Ill be walking across the stage.

I know you will be there too.

It’s all you’ve ever wanted.

I won’t let you down.

I know you had to let go, You were holding on for so long.

Tip #1) Travel to new places, different settings, and take note of your emotions; this can be helpful when you’re trying to capture the essence of an idea, especially when experiencing writer’s block.

My chest tightens Restrains my lungs Holds them captive As if taking in air is a crime

My breathing gets heavier My lungs scream, trapped Behind their flesh and bone cages They heave and seize, grasping for air

I saw you staring blankly in your room You were lying down, like you were alone.

But Papa, you weren’t alone.

I was there,Nana was there, Im sure mom was there too.

I knew that you didn't have much longer.

Poetry Writing Tips

By Cali Atwood

My body feels heavy, Like I’m coated in lead My heart is a drumbeat Never ending, in my chest My mind thinks it’s at war My body is the battle field I am the enemy, and Anxiety is it’s weapon

Tip # 2) “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” — William Shakespeare.

Fear not the metaphor! It can be good to compare things in new and unusual ways that you’ve never thought of.

Tip #3) Do your research! Look at others’ work; famous or little-known writers of the past and present can be great sources of inspiration. It’s okay to “steal” bits and pieces of their style to add to your own! Fun, even!

Rebeccadow@smccme.edu or shoot me a message on the SMCC App: (Rebecca Dow). Next issue’s submission theme: Spooky!

September 26, 2017 • The Beacon 9

Midcoast

Writers Unite

From the Mind of Dan Elliott

By Dan Elliott

Last Wednesday, the Writer’s Club met for the first time of the fall semester, and I had a chance to sit in for their discussion, held in the L.L.Bean Learning Commons.

The group’s organizer, Sara Hervey, welcomed potential members with a smile, a cheery hello, and the customary refreshments of soda and an amalgamation of candy bars, which had a difficult time capturing student favor in the presence of the pizza being distributed throughout the Commons.

The club attracted students from all walks of life and backgrounds — men and women, young and old, students from a variety of majors, all united to talk about their love of written works. I was also surprised to notice that some of the attendees who spoke of their love for literature were also artists, peering down at their sketchbooks occasionally as they joined in on the conversation. Original works of students were brought up, and some students readily displayed their character artwork during the gathering.

A myriad of formats were also discussed at the group’s initial meetup, ranging from creative fiction, poetry and prose to a blend

Poetry Pop-Up Do you write poetry? Read poetry?

Like to listen to poetry?

Or just want to appear cool?

Come to the L.L.Bean Learning Commons SMCC Midcoast Campus First and third Tuesday of each month Pop in any time between 12:30 and 1:30 We’ll even give you popcorn with your poetry!

of visual storytelling media such as graphic novels and comic books. Works from authors both famous and obscure were talked about and analyzed in a round-table fashion. Members were encouraged to bring in some of their own work to share, as Sara elected to demonstrate when sharing some of her own poetry while the group listened on and enjoyed.

Students reflected on the different sources of inspiration with which to feed the creative process of writing. Among the long list, students were unanimous in declaring music to be one of their major inspirations, with different genres having a different effect on writings. Creative influences that were brought up also included people in our daily lives, and stories of quirky coworkers were abundant in conversation.

This is not to say one has to be a writer to be in Writer’s Club. When asked about the level of expertise among peers, Sara told me, “You don’t have to be the next big author, you could just listen and read.” Yes, the club is called Writer’s Club, but the actual act of authoring is only a part of the purpose of the club. The true intent is to collectively share a person’s love of literature, in all of its forms, with other people. The conversation would often shift widely and regularly from subject to subject; students brought up in conversation poetry, comic books, video games, anime and manga, and more.

The Writer’s Club holds weekly meetings on Wednesdays from 12:00 to 1:15 in the Learning Commons, and is open to anyone interested.

Sara also expressed interest in holding some events for the club; she mentioned a possible open-mic night in late October. Regardless of a student’s writing talent and proficiency, the Writer’s Club is an excellent opportunity for them to share their love of both reading and writing in a positive and encouraging environment.

Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet

Interested in running?

Working out?

Playing ball or disc golf?

Cross-country skiing?

Other sports?

Sports and Rec Club Tuesday 12:00-1:00 L.L.Bean Learning Commons

Come join us!!

Everyone welcome!

10 The Beacon • September 26, 2017

Golfers Hit the Links (Continued from back)

the ‘Wolves would finish with a four-player effort of 352. UMA would fail to qualify their score.

The SeaWolves would be led by Kevin Dwyer, who matched a tournament low score, shooting an 81 after 18 holes.

Teammate Hunter Carignan finished fourstrokes behind Dwyer, with She Chim recording a 92. McKenzie Coyne, the sole female player on the squad, shot a 94, and freshman Tyler Hensley rounded out the

SMCC Sports scoring with a 104.

After the team’s outing at Valhalla, SMCC golf coach Ethan Wells, commenting on the team’s effort, said, “This was the lowest SMCC golf has scored as a team since the 2012 season and now is the new benchmark for this season. When this team comes together to shoot what they are capable of, we will be in the mix every time.”

The SeaWolves travel to Augusta this coming weekend and then will play at Purpoodock Club in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, the following weekend.

On the Pitch (Continued from back)

“relentlessness in battling from behind and playing with more urgency then we have all season.”

In the YSCC standings, the Lady ‘Wolves occupy second place with a 4-1 conference record. NHTI sits atop the standings with a 5-0-1 conference record.

Unity College is right on the Lady ‘Wolves’ heels with a 3-1 record, and CMCC follows with a 2-3 record.

On the men’s side of the pitch, the season has not panned out as fruitfully as might have been expected. Hopefully Saturday’s action will help to right the course the ‘Wolves have been on and they are able to finish the regular season strong heading into YSCC postseason play. Currently, they sit in eighth place out of a nine-team field.

SeaWolves in the Midst (Continued from back)

the SeaWolves.

In the second game, the ‘Wolves would jump all over the Herons, plating three runs in the first inning. The ‘Wolves would score a run in the second, and two in the fourth inning. Meranda Martin would take to the circle to pitch for the ‘Wolves and help her own effort by going 3-for-3 at bat.

This past Saturday, the ‘Wolves took to the diamond against NHTI in the day’s opening game. After spotting the Lynx a run in the first inning the ‘Wolves plated two runs, taking a 2-1 lead after one inning of play. The ‘Wolves would score the two runs behind three hits and an error.

After holding the Lynx scoreless in the top of the second, they would pad their small lead with a run in the bottom of the second when Meranda Martin singled in Amber Randell.

NHTI would plate five runners in the top of the third, taking the lead back, adding to it in the fourth and fifth innings with three and two runs, respectively. The Lady SeaWolves would plate at least one run in all of their innings except for the sixth inning. In the end, it was not enough, as the Lynx would outlast the ‘Wolves 12-7.

The Lady SeaWolves would end their day next to Casco Bay with a 5-3 win over Great Bay. The ‘Wolves hold a 2-2 record so far and will be traveling to Great Bay Community College, where they will again play the St. Joseph Saints and the Lynx of NHTI. On the men’s side of the diamond, the ‘Wolves are in the midst of a solid season.

Currently their record stands at 7-3 in conference play, the team having gone 5-3 over the last two weeks. The SeaWolves started

Hampshire College holds the foundation with a winless record of 0 to 3.

The SeaWolves have three conference games remaining: CMCC on the 28th at Wainwright fields, at Unity College on Oct. 5 and at home on the 14th when they host the University of Maine-Machias. Considering that SMCC is only two wins behind the College of St. Joseph of Vermont, who hold a 3-0 conference record, and that there are five teams with two wins (UMaine-Machias has compiled a 3-0-1 record), running the tables against the conference teams seems imperative, as the top four teams will compete in this year’s YSCC soccer tournament in Concord.

In Saturday’s action against Hampshire College, the SeaWolves responded brilliantly after spotting Hampshire an early goal. At the 10:54 mark, Hampshire’s Ethan

the two-week stint traveling to Auburn to take on the Mustangs of Central Maine Community College.

The ‘Wolves would prevail in both games, 8-1 and 3-1, allowing no earned runs over the course of the 14 innings played; only two Mustang batters crossed the plate.

Dylan Francoeur got the nod to take to the mound in the first game, while James Parisi touched the rubber for his first collegiate start. Both pitchers earned their first YSCC win also.

The ‘Wolves would face the Mustangs again on the 21st with the same sets of results, as SMCC topped CMCC 7-1 in the first game and 9-5 in the second game. Like the first two games against CMCC, it was pitching that got the best of the Mustangs.

In the first game, Amos Herrin took to the mound in his first start of the year. Amos threw a complete game, striking out nine, after working out of trouble in the first inning. No Mustang base runner reached second after the first inning.

The SeaWolf bats did their fair amount of damage as they got started in the first inning when they plated three runs. Carter Chabot and Cody Bryant collected RBIs with singles. The third inning saw Sean Adams smack his conference-leading third home run of the season. In the fifth inning Caleb Chambers and Nathaniel Cyr went yard, padding SMCC’s lead by 6.

The second game of the day (and the last one SMCC and CMCC will play until the fall invitational) had a different tone: The Mustangs plated two runs in the first and tied the game in the fourth inning after SMCC took a 5-2 lead in the second inning. In the seventh inning the ‘Wolves would score four times, when Herrin and

Unidentified SeaWolf keeps the ball in play with a header, directing it towards the Hampshire goal.

Haut would catch the SeaWolves napping, breaking towards goal with an in-bounds throw-in, catching the crossbar on his shot and ricocheting into the back of the net.

The ‘Wolves would get on the big board a few seconds more than six minutes later with a deflected shot from Jonathan Lipika. After SMCC evened the score on the big board, the SeaWolves would find the back of the net 13 times more. Senal Yanie would ruffle the netting three times, while Kolin Wyman and Kervens Antoine would net two goals apiece. Gradi Lipika, William

Sutton, Hanssen Casey, Yaroslav Philbrook and Romain Cole would also net goals.

On a side note, The Beacon would like to congratulate Callie O’Brien, SMCC’s first-year forward on the SeaWolves team, for being named an Athlete of the Week on Sept. 22. O’Brien has found the back of the net 6 times this season and has totaled 13 points, which places her second in conference rankings. Callie also scored a hat trick against CMCC in the SeaWolves’ 5-1 win in Auburn.

Francoeur drove in two runs apiece.

While the SeaWolves have owned the Mustangs this season and much of last season, NHTI has been the team that has given them fits this year. The SeaWolves have only won one game out of four against the Lynx, when they took a 9-5 win in Concord this past Saturday.

The Lynx grabbed a two-run lead in the top of the first. The Lynx would get one run back in the bottom of the opening inning.

NHTI would plate three more runs in fifth inning, taking a 4-2 lead that would hold until the top of the seventh inning, when the ‘Wolves would plate seven runs.

The ‘Wolves would allow one run in the bottom of the seventh. Devin Sawyer started the game, lasting five innings and giving up four runs. Sean Adams pitched the final two innings, allowing one run.

The ‘Wolves would drop the second game

of the doubleheader 13-6, as the SeaWolves would build a four-run lead over the course of the first three innings. The Lynx would score six times in the bottom of the third, grabbing a 6-4 lead that they would pad over the rest of the game.

While the Lynx have taken the season series from the SeaWolves, there is an exciting side note that should be mentioned.

In the Sept. 16 game against NHTI, Timothy Greenlaw smashed a grand slam over the right-field fence, shrinking the SMCC deficit against NHTI from 11-5 to 11-9.

While the ‘Wolves came up short against the Lynx, one might assume that not too many grand slams have been hit here at SMCC. Hopefully, The Beacon will have an answer for you in our next paper. Till then we look forward to seeing you at the games.

Unidentified SeaWolf is picked off at first base in action against CMCC on September 13.

September 26, 2017 • The Beacon 11

SMCC Sports

Hunter Carignan chips up onto the green in action from two weeks ago. Carignan and the SeaWolves would finish one stroke off the lead at Valhalla Golf Course.

SMCC Golfers Hit the Links

Team Tees Off at Beaver Meadows Twice, at Valhalla Once

By The Beacon Sports Staff Robert Redford, the actor and director, reflecting on the interwoven aspects of life and sport, noted, “Sport is a wonderful metaphor for life. Of all the sports that I played — skiing, baseball, fishing — there is no greater example than golf, because you’re playing against yourself and nature.” Contrary to the position that Mark Twain took that, “golf is a good walk spoiled,” Redford’s

By The Beacon Sports Staff The men’s and women’s soccer teams have been active on the pitch since the last Beacon, combining for a below-50-percent winning average, grabbing five wins while tallying eight losses. The men broke into

meditation on the game seems more to the point of understanding the task at hand: reaching your potential.

The SMCC golf team has hit the links over the course of the past three weekends, playing twice in New Hampshire at Beaver Meadow Golf Course and once at Valhalla Golf Course in Cumberland, Maine. Last weekend the SeaWolves took to the links to tee off against New Hampshire Technical Institute and University of Maine-Augusta

at Valhalla.

This past Saturday the ‘Wolves would fail to qualify their team score, as only three golfers would make the trip to New Hampshire. Four players from each team need to finish play in order to qualify the team’s score. Hunter Carignan carded an 88, Kevin Dwyer a 91, and Tyler Hensley finished with a 102.

The first weekend of play also saw the SeaWolves in New Hampshire finishing off

the day’s play 35 strokes behind the Lynx of NHTI (360-395). The Moose of UMA and the Herons failed to officially record the day’s scores.

The SeaWolves would take to the links against UMA and NHTI again last weekend at Valhalla, trimming 43 strokes from their team scoring, as they finished second behind NHTI by one stroke. The Lynx would record a team low score of 351, as

the win column in the Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) standings with a 13-1 thrashing of Hampshire College in Saturday’s action at South Portland’s Wainwright Recreation Complex. Prior to the men’s win, the ladies would start the day off on a solid note, putting Hampshire College away with a 9-to-nil win.

A second less than the 8-minute mark, Emily Harris broke into the scoring book with her first goal of her YSCC career. Her shot from outside the box ruffled the back of the net on a free kick, marking her first goal as a SeaWolf.

Five other SeaWolves would ruffle the netting with their first goals of the season.

Callie O’Brien would net three goals on that day; Cassidy Harriman would contribute two goals.

Nina Frasca, Madelyn Wade and Shae Couture would round out the scoring for the SeaWolves, flipping the big-board numbers at the 65:14, 75:48 and 89:26 marks, respectively. Shae Couture, who tended the

net for the SeaWolves, would face a quiet day in goal, turning away two shots. Her counterpart, Lea Sweeney, would face 19 shots on goal, inhibiting 10 from crossing the goal line.

Prior to Saturday’s match, the Lady ‘Wolves won away games against Central Maine Community College (CMCC), 5-1, and Paul Smith, 4-0. Their lone loss was to the Lynx of New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI) in Concord, NH, 2-1.

After the loss in Concord, Head Coach Julia Cyr commented, that matches between the Lynx and the SeaWolves are “always competitive.” SMCC, she said, showed

On the Pitch, Mixed Results

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Seawolves in the Midst of YSCC Action Softball and Baseball Look to Gear Up for Postseason Play

By The Beacon Sports Staff

Top: SMCC catcher Sarah Ring waits for the throw as an unidentified NHTI runner slides into home.

Bottom: Hampshire goalkeeper Sweeney cannot get a glove on the ball as SMCC scores.

This past summer the Yankee Small College Conference restructured its softball schedule when it had to abandon the conventional schedule of teams traveling once or twice a week to play away games.

This year YSCC softball schools are hosting multiple traveling teams at their home games.

This past Saturday SMCC and the Lady SeaWolves hosted New Hampshire Technical Institute, the College of St. Joseph of Vermont and Great Bay Community College, and all four teams played doubleheaders with Casco Bay as the backdrop. The ‘Wolves opened their season in Concord, NH on the 16th when they took to the dia-

mond against the Saints of St. Joseph’s; they would finish the day against Great Bay. Kristen Mackenzie would take to the mound against a potent Saints lineup. The Lady ‘Wolves would get on the big board in the top of the first when Meranda Martin scored from second on an Emma Burns double. The SeaWolves lead was short lived, however: The Saints would plate four runners in their half of the inning.

Kahli Philibotte would generate the second run for the SeaWolves in the top of the fourth inning when she “tattooed” a solo homer over the left field fence. The ‘Wolves would hold the Saints scoreless in the bottom of the fourth inning. The fifth inning the Saints’ bats came alive again, forcing across five runs and securing a 9-2 win over (Continued on page 12)