Beacon The
ISSUE DATE 10.23.2018
Lighting our Community
VOLUME XVI NO. 4
SOUTHERN MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Zaq Interviews Zak, Maine Senate Candidate By ZACHARY GUIOD
When I first got the idea to interview a candidate for the U.S. Senate, I was doubtful I’d even get a reply. But the day after I emailed him, Zak Ringelstein responded to me personally, and we set up a time for an interview the following week. I met him at his
campaign headquarters on Congress Street, a hotspot of highly caffeinated activity on a Tuesday afternoon. Ringelstein is running against sitting independent Angus King and Republican challenger Eric Brakey. Despite his party affiliation, his policies set him apart from traditional Democrats.
Similar to progressive politicians such as Senator Bernie Sanders and congressman Beto O’Rourke, Ringelstein takes no money
guy,” he says. “I like him. But he’s not going to save us from this crisis right now.” The crisis Ringelstein is referring to is cli-
The Gripes of Wrath
Reflections on Dorm Life at SMCC By ALEX DOWNING
When the word “dormitory” comes to mind, one may be inclined to imagine messy, cramped quarters, a plethora of caffeinated beverages and fast-food wrappers, inventive storage techniques, and a persistent pile of dirty laundry that seemingly never diminishes. But for many young adults, the college dorm room represents freedom and progression. After all, Napster, WordPress, Dell and Facebook were all started within the confines of student housing facilities. Moving into a dorm is perhaps the quintessential experience for new college students. For many, this milestone represents a step towards independence, a bridge between adolescence and adulthood. But while such a transitional period in a person’s life is new and exciting, it also comes with many unforeseen challenges. Disputes over cleaning habits, contrasting sleep schedules and the complicated division of a small space are just a few of the many possible difficulties that accompany this style of living. They add to the complex labyrinth of navigating a secondary education. Personally, this is my first time rooming in a dormitory setting. For a long time, I could not wrap my head around the idea of living like this. I envisioned clashes and conflicts, chaos and clutter, disquietude and disorganization. You see, I have always been the type of person who held a sincere appreciation for the tranquil solitude of personal space. So abandoning my normal tendencies and attempting to adapt to a lifestyle outside of the rigid barriers of my comfort zone seemed daunting. However, my relatively smooth transition into this new living arrangement is a testament to the pleasant housing system here at Southern Maine Community College. As someone who is both defeatist and particular, I have actually found this experience somewhat enjoyable. I am currently living at Spring Point Hall. My close proximity to classes is convenient, the sense of being immersed in my learning environment is encouraging, and the actual facility itself is, for the most part, perfectly adequate. This is not to say everything is flawless. We have yet to be provided chairs for our desks so I currently utilize an outdoor folding-seat. For some reason the heating and cooling unit seems to be dispelling cold air despite rapidly descending temperatures. My room’s nearness to both the elevator and an exit door ensure that a constant hub of noise and activity linger outside of my door. As I am ever-curious about the opinions of others, I decided to ask around to find out just how students are finding their accommodations this year. In a Festivus-style “airing of
grievances,” I sat down with three residents of SMCC’s housing facilities and let them reveal their protests and praises. My first interview was with second-year student, Anelise Carroll. Anelise returned to Spring Point this semester and is settling in nicely to her new room. Her walls are adorned with stylish tapestries and her raised bed allows for ample storage. Since she already has had experience with housing at SMCC, I was interested in hearing if there have been any noticeable differences between this year and last; especially since the preamble to this semester’s housing situation was unique, to say the least. However, Anelise informed me that the residents’ behavior and overall atmosphere seems comparatively familiar. This demonstrates the adaptability of the young adults here that had to deal with some unusual circumstances last month (i.e. living in a hotel for three weeks). As far as complaints go, Annelise’s were minor and manageable. Like me, she takes a little issue with the level of noise pollution emanating from the hallways and is frustrated with the lack of seating. However, she enjoys the responsibility and the sense of community that dormitory life provides. But what about those being housed at Surfsite Hall? I was eager to discover how the boys across the parking lot have been liking their accommodations. I turned to Carter Castay, a first-year student, in order to gain some insight. Carter is having an exceptionally satisfying stay in Surfsite. His roommates are proving to be helpful and engaging companions which has surely eased his transition. In fact, Carter has taken to dorm life so quickly that nights spent back home seem less familiar. “Whenever I go home for the weekend, it feels a little weird,” he explained. “It’s my room and my bed, but at the same time it’s not, because I’ve grown so used to living in a dorm.” Carter’s only real qualm is his measurable distance from the dining hall. In a third interview, I got to hear a fascinating perspective about the on-campus housing here. Rika Sasada, an international student doing a year abroad at SMCC, told me about the similarities and differences between rooming here and dorming in Japan. Rika is particularly enjoying the luxuries of a stable WiFi connection, an en-suite bathroom, and access to a mini-fridge and microwave. She told me about how her school’s restrictions on energy consumption forbid the allowance of personal appliances in dorms. However, she is very unaccustomed to the lack of volume control that certain students display during late hours (Continued on Page 3)
Zak Ringelstein and Zaq Guiod. from corporate PACs. His campaign messaging centers on a single issue: “Get money out of politics.” I asked him how he planned to do this. He emphasized the necessity of overturning Citizens United v. FEC, the Supreme Court decision holding that political spending is a form of speech protected by the First Amendment. But, acknowledging that this would be “complicated,” he suggests other ways of improving our democratic process: limiting gerrymandering and imposing congressional term limits. He mentions a recently introduced bill that would “give every single American the opportunity to donate $50 to a campaign.” He considers this a small step in the right direction. The upcoming Maine election will be the first in history to use ranked-choice voting to decide a Senate race. Ringelstein calls ranked-choice “a really great reform.” He elaborates: “This is the first U.S. Senate race in the history of America where you don’t have to worry about a spoiler effect. And what that means is that we get out of this two-party-system mentality. Instead of thinking about, ‘Oh, I have to vote the lesser of two evils,’ I can vote for my hopes.’” He has encouraged his supporters to rank Angus King second. “Angus is a pretty good
Pat Donaghue, A Life Never Forgotten By TAYLOR LANDON
On Sept. 25, 2018, I looked up to a 1 a.m. sky and asked the world, “How do you continue to turn after something so bad has happened?” The moon circled by, the stars faded away, all while the black changing sky looked back blankly with no reply. I am still waiting for an answer. Someone once said, “As is a tale, so is a life: Not how
mate change, a critical — and personal — issue for him. “We don’t have time,” he says. “The message of our campaign is there is no time.” Ringelstein is the father of two young kids, Zion and Jack. “In 20 years when they’re just becoming adults,” he says, “it’s very clear that if we stay on this path, they’re not going to be living in a safe world.” His proposed Green New Deal, as described on his website, would include “Divesting from fossil fuels and transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2035, all the while creating new renewable energy industries and high-wage jobs here in Maine.” Ringelstein’s strategy sharply distinguishes him from Senator King, who, Ringelstein notes, “takes money from Exxon Mobil and recently introduced a bill to fast-track pipelines through our state.” Last week, Senator King addressed a natural-gas industry conference and spoke enthusiastically about the fuel: “Natural gas is at the forefront of an energy revolution and energy transformation in this country.” A recent tweet by @RingelsteinME called the senator out for his position. “While Angus King is promoting fracking and natural gas, I’m fighting for 100% renewable energy. (Continued on Page 3)
long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.” The tale of Patrick “Pat” Donaghue’s life was not only that, but one that lives on throughout all of those who love him. While focused on the end, it is important to become overjoyed of the beginning. How would you know your favorite song if you hadn’t started listening? How would you know your favorite movie if you hadn’t started watching? How would you know the greatness of life if you hadn’t started living? As the loss we face is hurting, we have to remember the joy we had of meet(Continued on Page 2)