Beacon The
ISSUE DATE 12.11.2018
Lighting our Community
VOLUME XVI NO. 7
SOUTHERN MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
SMCC Marine Science Drifter By STEPHEN T. LYONS
Dr. James Manning, a physical oceanographer with the National Marine Fisheries Service, started a program called eMOLT to team up with fishermen and academic institutions to place an array of temperature loggers and current drifters in the Gulf of Maine and Northwest Atlantic. Dr. Manning archives the data and has used it to publish several journal articles on the Western Maine Coastal Current and the Gulf Stream. SMCC has participated in that program for over 10 years and has released 20 current drifters, some of which have left the Gulf of Maine and traveled in the Gulf Stream as far as the Grand Banks. The drifters are fitted with satellite transponders that give real-time data on their location. SMCC hopes to work with scallop farmers in Casco Bay to gather current information when they collect their scallop seed. Up-to-date data may help them optimize the location and timing of their collectors. Here, Professor Brian Tarbox and SMCC Marine Science student Abraham Lebel release a current drifter off the coast of Cape Elizabeth while Captain Ben Graffius looks on. Lebel is a marine science major and is
currently studying the effect of nutrients on gers aboard his boat the Elizabeth Grace. Editor’s note: The Beacon staff would like symbiotic algae in tropical jellyfish. These tours can be tailored to your needs to thank Stephen for submitting this article. The Marine Science program at SMCC to include Casco Bay’s islands such as Ea- Stephen began his college career at SMCC is a two-year program of study that leads gle Island State Park, wildlife, lighthouses like many of us have, and even after graduto an Associate’s Degree in Applied Sci- and forts. Captain Graffius can be reached ating from Husson with a BS and then from ence. Graduates can either work as marine at 1-207-200-8691. Boston University with a MS, he hasn’t forgottechnicians or can continue their education ten about his first college. to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree. Some SMCC graduates have later Photo courtesy of Stephen T. Lyons earned doctorate degrees and gone into research. This year the drifter was transported out into Casco Bay by Captain Ben Graffius, aboard his boat the “Elizabeth-Grace” of Portland Water Harbor Tours. Captain Graffius is a Maine Maritime Academy graduate and Maine native. Graffius returned to Maine after serving in the merchant marines and military sealift command. Graffius is also part owner of Rwanda Bean Company LLC, a coffee company with two locations in Portland and South Portland. Captain Graffius offers custom tours from June through Octo- SMCC Professor Brian Tarbox, an associate professor of Marine Science at Southern Maine ber for upwards of 37 passen- Community College (SMCC) sets a current drifter out to sea.
Cries to the White Cloud By LIAM WOODWORTH-COOK
home if home still remains, to paraphrase the quote in the refugee zeitgeist. The President of the United States and others have defended the use of tear gas, deeming it necessary, or self-defense, as a small group of migrants attempted to create a hole in the wire fencing of the border. In the beginning of November, President Trump commented that the military ought to “shoot back” if the asylum seekers threw rocks, deeming bullets and stones equitable. He quickly changed tone, stating that migrants would be arrested, not shot. A
Just before the United States celebrated the colonist holiday of Thanksgiving, canisters of tear gas were launched across the United States border into Mexico. The targets of the gas were numerous migrants running toward the border of the United States after being diverted by a Mexican police blockade during a march. The series of migrants traveling together has been labelled the Migrant Caravan, a loose collection of roughly 6,000 Central Americans fleeing their countries of origin to find safety and work elsewhere, mainly the United States. They made it it to Tijuana in mid-November to seek asylum in the U.S. Since then, they’ve made a camp in and around a sports complex. Currently, Mexico is offering a one-year humanitarian visa for the migrants to work in Mexico. At least 100 people have been deported back to their home countries. Others are trying to go around or over the fence and enter the United States. The Tijuana-San Diego border is one of the Illustration by Eden Dyer most heavily guarded border spots. quick change of tone or intent, means, This is not a pilgrimage of jubilance, nor a once again, nothing. It is just wiping the malicious assault on the United States. This smear of his true remarks with a napkin of is the movement of people in danger, of dis- political moderation. placement and suffering. No family leaves The border station closed that day as migrants sought asylum. Border agents have
Issue In This
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Blunt Hurricane Utility Florence
been able to take in roughly 100 people per day, in the slow, backlogged process of asylum seeking. The tear gas landed among the children, mothers and fathers. The migrants dispersed away from the wall to seek safety. While tear gas has been prohibited in war by the Chemical Weapons Convention, it is often used for crowd control. Tear gas can burn the mouth and eyes, induce shortness of breath and choking, and inflict burns or rashes. The United States has an infamous history of interfering with other countries’ sovereignty, Central and South America having been frequent targets for the United States’ corporate affairs for decades. This meddling has caused thousands of deaths and displaced people. The CIA and other government officials were involved with the United Fruit Company, a major land-owning corporation that used its political power and resources to influence the government of Guatemala and hold power in the Central American region. In 1954, the U.S. supported a CIA-trained military coup of the Guatemalan government to defend American business interests from the left-leaning elected president, Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán. The U.S. has supported numerous dictatorships and coups, in which severe military rule has led to brutal executions, femicide and poverty. Popularly elected leaders, vot-
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Hypocrisy of Hurricane Religious Right Florence
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From the Desk of the Managing Editors By ZAQ G. & CELINA S.
This is the last edition of The Beacon that is going to be published in 2018. It has been a fantastic semester while tiring at the same time, and like many of you, we are ready for the winter vacation. After the stress of finals, it’s going to be nice to be able to relax a little over break. What’s even better is how we can take advantage of the holiday season while we do so. Present season, lights everywhere and Christmas movies galore. But is this time of year all about gifts and decorations? We feel that it’s always important to have a little reminder this time of year that the holiday season is more than the holidays. Most people are so distracted living their busy lives that there seems to not be enough hours in the day, especially when it comes to seeing family. If you are fortunate enough to spend this offseason with family, take advantage of it. Make sure to eat lots of good food, reminisce with family and friends, and reflect on this past year. What have you learned these past twelve months? Where are you in your life and what do you want to do next semester? The new year is fast approaching and we’ll be back in classes and stressing about how to balance life between work, school, family, and friends before you know it. So use this time off to ruminate on your goals for the new year. Manifest your thoughts and turn them to reality.
Upcoming Hurricane Shows Florence
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On the Hurricane Courts Florence