The Reporter, Vol. 1, Issue 7 by Lazaro Gamio

Free Help To Complete Tax Returns

The Green Hornet Lets Down With Silly Acting

Baseball Team Looks Toward Big Season

Columnist Advocates For Staying Strapped

Free Tax preparation will be offered at all eight campuses to those in need by the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

Despite star-studded cast, The Green Hornet is a dud of a movie with sophomoric acting.

After falling one win short of nationals, team hopes to improve on last season's accomplishments.

Proposed Senate Bill 234 Would Make It Legal To Carry Guns on College Campuses.

TURN TO BRIEFING, PAGE 2

TURN TO A&E, PAGE 11

TURN TO SPORTS, PAGE 13

TURN TO FORUM, PAGE 15

A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything. —Malcolm X

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT MIAMI DADE COLLEGE

 VOL. 1, ISSUE 7—JAN. 31, 2011 VISIT US ONLINE: WWW.MDC.EDU/THEREPORTER

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Professor Has Had Her Days In Court Kendall Campus professor doubles as a forensic psychologist, evaluating clients' competency to stand trial. By Monica Suarez monica.suarez006@mymdc.net

But the chili isn’t the only thing that has remained the same. Monstrous portions of chili cheese fries and their infamous boiled hot dogs, w ith all the fixings, top off an otherwise unchanged menu with the exception of one or two new items. “In 48 years, all we’ve added are corn dogs and the ATM machine,” Casey said.

Suzanne Mignone teaches psychology and student life skills at Kendall Campus; she has also spent many hours in jail. But if you see her in the hallways at Miami Dade College, don’t be alarmed — she hasn’t committed a crime. Mignone is a forensic psychologist, and when she’s not in the classroom, she spends most of her time at the Broward County Jail speaking with clients. Her clients range from those who have trespassing charges to others who are accused of firstdegree murder. In her 10 years in the field of forensic psychology, she has also worked on divorce cases, domestic violence cases, personal injury cases and immigration cases, among others. Mignone’s role is simple—to evaluate her clients and see if they are competent to stand trial. She also searches for possible defense strategies.

TURN TO ARBETTER, PAGE 5

TURN TO MIGNONE, PAGE 7

The first incidents occurred on June 21 and June 30 at the ACCESS MEED Department. A total of 15 MacIntosh computers and an iTouch were stolen. “We have not encountered a robbery like this since 2002. We were just gearing up to have an open house at the end of the fall term,” said Kenneth Marquard, director of Access Disabilities Services at

Wolfson Campus. “But then this happened. The computer lab was equipped with special software for our disabled students. We had to halt our program. We are currently waiting for approval to receive more equipment.” On Sept. 15, the computer courtyard, reported seven 20-inch computers and one 24-inch MacIntosh computer stolen. Then on Oct. 25, the computer courtyard was targeted again; seven MacIntosh computer screens were taken, according to City of Miami Police Department records.

GREGORY CASTILLO/ THE REPORTER

Dog Day Afternoon: Andy Lister, 22, readies an order for a customer. Andy, along with his brother Casey Lister, helps run Arbetter Hot Dogs, a prominent South Florida hot dog stand for over 48 years. The two brothers attend Miami Dade College's Kendall Campus. ODD JOBS SERIES

Tradition, Served.

By Gregory Castillo gregory.castillo001@mymdc.net The funny signs and sports memorabilia are still around even though Bob Arbetter isn’t. He passed away in 2003, but Andy Lister and his brother, Casey Lister, have carried on the same ideas and principles that have kept Arbetter Hot Dogs open for 48 years: Treat employees and customers like family, and never change grandma’s secret chili recipe.

Business majors Andy and Casey Lister are pursuing an education to improve their family's legendary business.

Into the

By Monique O. Madan monique.madan001@mymdc.net

CAMPUS CRIME

DEEP A journey underwater with Bob Wallace

TURN TO FOM SEA TO SEE, PAGE 9

Thieves Snatch Computers At Wolfson

Thirty seven computers were stolen from Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus on six separate occasions during the summer and fall terms, according to Juan Mendieta, the College’s director of communications. City of Miami Police Department reports indicate that more than $60,000 in equipment was stolen from MDC during the incidents. The thefts happened between June 21 and Dec. 22 at the ACCESS MEED Department, the computer courtyard, and the Media Relations Department. There was no video surveillance.

Six break-ins at Wolfson Campus' Media Relations, computer courtyard and ACCESS MEED Department result in a bank-busting situation for the College.

INDEX: PLEASE RECYCLE

BRIEFING

2-3

NEWS

5,7,9

A&E

Got News? Let Us Know. Contact Us:

mdc.thereporter@gmail.com

(305) 237-1253

MORE THAN

$60,000

IN ELECTRONICS THEFT AT WOLFSON CAMPUS

SPORTS

12,13

FORUM

TURN TO COMPUTER THEFTS, PAGE 5

14-15

THE REPORTER IS THE FREE BIWEEKLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT MIAMI DADE COLLEGE. ALL CONTENT IS PRODUCED BY MDC STUDENTS. THE REPORTER IS A PUBLIC FORUM FOR EXPRESSION.

BRIEFING

// BRIEFING Monica Suarez, Briefing Editor

(305) 237-1254

JAN. 31, 2011

monica.suarez006@mymdc.net

THE REPORTER

VITA Is Providing Free Tax Help For MDC Students

New Women's Issues Club At North Campus

If you are a low-income, elderly or non-English speaking resident, Miami Dade College provides a service to help you complete your income tax return for free. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, a program created by the Internal Revenue Service, is offered at all MDC campuses. It is staffed by MDC faculty and business students, who volunteer their time and expertise. Students are trained and must pass a test by the IRS before participating. Check below for sites in your area.

M ia m i Dade Col lege Nor t h Campus has a new club this spring semester, Women Moving Forward. The club is dedicated to raising awareness about the struggles of women in today's society and gaining support from students who are willing to take action to help those that can’t help themselves. “We would like to inform students about the challenges women face nowadays, to reach an understanding of the issues going on with women in South Florida and around the world,” said Jessica Alvarez, 18, president of WMF. To join WMF, a student must be taking at least six credits, have a 2.5 GPA, an official degree audit and be willing to participate in weekend activities. There is a $5 application fee.

—Staff Reports

—Vanessa Martinas

Visit us online for a full list of tax assistance availability across Miami Dade College's eight campuses.

AKEEM BRUNSON / THE REPORTER

Young Scientists: Students from Miami-Dade County Public School flock to Miami Dade College's North Campus for the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematic Expo.

Miami Dade College Offers New Bachelor Programs

North Campus Welcomes New Dean Of Academic Affairs

Miami Dade College has more than 190 associate degree programs. In addition, it is now offering a bevy of bachelor degree programs. Supervision and management, education, f ilm and telev ision production, public safety management, elect ron ic eng i neer technology and criminal justice are bachelor’s degrees that are offered campus-wide. The nursing and physician assistant programs are only offered at Medical Center Campus. Each of these fields branch off into more specific disciplines that are also available to students. A student who would like to get a degree in education may choose from four degrees concentrating on biology and chemistry.

In an effort to cut costs and reduce energy consumption, Miami Dade College is replacing exit signs college-wide. The decision comes as a part of the Preventative Maintenance program or P.M, in a effort to fix and replace equipment around the college. “The exit lights are very important for students to see,” said Richard Branam, district maintenance supervisor at Kendall Campus. “They are on an emergency power circuit. These are brighter and more power efficient. If the lights go out, the students can still exit safely.” The new signs use improved LED technology that reduces power consumption by approximately 75 percent. They last 10 years.

Mattie Roig-Watnik, former associate vice president for career and technical education at Broward College, has been named t he new Dea n of Academic Affairs at Miami Dade College North Campus as of Jan. 4. Roig-Watnik is well known for her work ROIG-WATNIK outside of the domain of education. In fact, she published a memoir of her younger years titled Life as I See It. Responsibilities of an academic dean are to oversee the overall development, maintenance and management of academic operations, student support services and facility utilization at the assigned campus. Roig-Watnik is replacing Dean Harry Hoffman who has been transferred to West Campus to serve as interim director of academic programs.

—Gregory Castillo

—Mark Overton

—Roudy Mauricin

Got News? If you have a news tip, contact us and let us know. Please include your name and contact information.

Corrections Due to an editorial error, David Tulloch's name was misspelled in The Reporter's Jan. 17 issue article: "Reaching out to Community: Service Learning."

College In Process Of Replacing Aging Exit Signs

MDC Is Awarded Grant To Expand Business Program Cit i Foundat ion and Miami Dade College have expanded their Small Business Education Program. Through a grant awarded by Citi Foundation, MDC has provided three small business seminars at Wolfson Campus for minority business owners since 2007. This year, North Campus, West Campus, the Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center and InterAmerican Campus will hold three workshops on Wednesdays March 9, 16 and 23 from 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Spanish classes will be given at IAC. The College has added two additional seminars for ‘potential’

business ow ners. The start-up seminars include presenters from the Small Business Administration and others who will explain small business training and progress and a “Going Green” event open to the public on April 20 from 9 a.m. to noon at North Campus. “Our program is multi-purpose in providing the small business owner with basic tools to manage his or her business. We also help improve economic conditions in this community so everyone wins,” said Josie Lorenzo, the manager of the Small Business Education Program at North Campus. —Ralph Tur For more information, contact Josie Lorenzo T (305) 237-8164

Wolfson Campus Offers Community Arts Classes The Prometeo Theatre at Wolfson Campus is once again opening its doors to aspiring actors, singers and dancers. During the spring term, the theater is offering community art classes for children, teens and adults. Classes include acting, singing techniques, dance, voice and diction and on-camera acting. The Prometeo Theatre, which dedicates itself to maintaining Hispanic culture alive through theater, offers classes in Spanish only. Classes began Jan. 24 and will continue throughout the term. Fees range from $140-$240. —Kirsten Rincon For more information, contact: Joann Yarrow T (305) 237-3441 B jyarrow@mdc.edu

For more information, contact: Jessica Alvarez B womenmovingforward@ hotmail.com

Classes Preparing the Actor, $140 Wednesdays, Jan. 26 –April 17, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. —————————————————— Singing Techniques, $140 Mondays, Jan. 24 - April 11, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. —————————————————— Dance, $140 Tuesdays, Jan. 25 - April 12, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. —————————————————— Voice and Diction, $140 Thursdays, Jan. 29 – April 16, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. —————————————————— Acting for the Camera, $240 Saturdays, Jan. 29 - April 16, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. —————————————————— Theatre, Dance and Singing for Children (ages 7-12), $240 Saturday, Jan. 29 - April 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. —————————————————— SOURCE: JOANN YARROW, DIRECTOR OF PROMETEO

Three MDC Students Awarded $2,500 Scholarship T he Fr a nc i s c o Fou nd at ion Scholarship recipients were announced on Jan. 11 at a ceremony at Wolfson Campus. Each st udent w i l l receive a $2,500 scholarship. The foundation as well as the scholarship are named after Rogelio Gonzalez Corzo, a Cuban revolutionist who was executed by Fidel Castrol’s government in 1961. In honor of his love for education and innovative thinking, the foundation awards students who they believe exemplify his spirit and goals. Every year, the Francisco Foundation awards students from Miami Dade College with a scholarship on the basis of academic leadership, contributions to the community and cultural pride. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must submit a copy of their most recent transcripts, an updated resume, two letters of recommendation and a 1,100 word essay explaining what freedom and democracy means to them.

VISIT US ONLINE: WWW.MDC.EDU/THEREPORTER

“When I came here, I learned a lot of things,” said Rodriguez, who arrived in the United States in 2008. “In Cuba we were never taught what a free media was or even whether or not what we were being taught was true...what I want is to spread knowledge.”

—Jose Prado

Winners Melissa Larrocha, 19, a journalism and mass communications major at InterAmerican Campus —————————————————— Chabeli Rodriguez, 21, an environmental science major at Wolfson Campus —————————————————— Heriberto Rodriguez-Gallo, 18, a mechanical engineering major at North Campus. —————————————————— SOURCE: AMAURY ZURIARRAIN, ASSISTANT TO COLLEGE PRESIDENT

THE REPORTER

JAN. 31, 2011

BRIEFING

4 AKEEM BRUNSON / THE REPORTER

1 AKEEM BRUNSON / THE REPORTER

5 AKEEM BRUNSON / THE REPORTER

6 MARK PULASKI / THE REPORTER

Photobriefing 2

Standing Ground: Students from the Basic Law Enforcement class #275 march from building 7 to graduation ceremony grounds at Miami Dade College North Campus. All students from this year's class graduated, according to Monica Cumberland.

Words Of Wisdom: Former Miami Herald reporter, Arnold Markowitz, speaks to Miami Dade College students at Wolfson Campus as part of the Journalism Speaker Series. He replaced Michael Putney for the event. Putney was unable to attend becasue he covered the funeral procession of the two Miami-Dade cops that were gunned down.

The Thin Blue Line: Thousands gathered at the American Airlines Arena to honor fallen Miami-Dade Police Department officers Amanda Haworth and Roger Castillo. The funeral procession tied up traffic in the downtown area for most of the day.

On March: Guided by patrol officers, the North Campus Basic Law Enforcement program graduates students a day after two officers were killed on duty.

Unveiling: MDC teams up with Sculpt Miami and unveils a new sculpture, La Vittoria di Samotracia by Maria Cristina Carlini, at Wolfson Campus.

Film Fest: Miami International Film Festival Director Jaie Laplante and College President Eduardo Padr贸n unveiled the poster for the 2011 festival during a special ceremony on Jan. 19 at the Gusman Theater. The MIFF is in its 28th year and will feature more than 100 movies from around the world.

MARK PULASKI / THE REPORTER

3 MARK PULASKI / THE REPORTER

VISIT US ONLINE: WWW.MDC.EDU/THEREPORTER

11620 - Miami Dade College :5952_Ad

1/13/11

4:15 PM

Page 1

Create YOUR FUTURE A career in health care is waiting for you at BARRY UNIVERSITY • The BS in Clinical Biology Completion program will give you the bachelor’s degree you need for career advancement in the allied health professions From AS to BS while you continue to work Evening and weekend classes No internship required

www.barry.edu/alliedhealth 305-899-3240 800-756-6000, ext. 3240

We also offer undergraduate and graduate programs in Histotechnology, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Cardiovascular Perfusion, and Laboratory Management Main Campus: 11300 NE Second Avenue • Miami Shores, Florida 33161-6695 • 800-695-2279

THE REPORTER

JAN. 31, 2011

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

// NEWS Monique O. Madan, Editor-in-Chief

(305) 237-1253

NEWS

Runkel Heads To Homestead //

monique.madan001@mymdc.net

Wolfson Campus' Gita Runkle makes Homestead Campus her new home as the chairperson of two departments. By Julie McConnell julie.mcconnell001@mymdc.net

GREGORY CASTILLO/ THE REPORTER

Future In Franks: Andy Lister, 22 (Left) and his brother Casey Lister, 19 are looking to keep the tradition of Arbetter Hot Dogs rolling. The brothers hope to one day expand and further develop the Arbetter name. ODD JOBS SERIES

Kendall Campus Brothers See Future In Hot Dogs FROM ARBETTER, FRONT

Their mother, Jill Arbetter, is co-owner with the boys’ uncle David. Andy and Casey, who do everything at the restaurant—from cooking, to cleaning to serving the food—hopes to one day inherit the family business. Despite the ever-growing popularity of the Arbetter name, Casey, 19, and Andy, 22, both students at the Kendall Campus, are actively trying to advance their education. The brothers—self-proclaimed comedians—give off an easy-going vibe. And who can blame them? The siblings appear to have a bright future on their hands. Working at the restaurant since he was 15, Andy started off just like any other employee. “My uncle was running it at the time,” Lister said.“I started off making french fries and worked my way up to hot dogs.” Andy hopes to get his business degree in the future; he believes

that earning his degree can only help the Arbetter brand grow, but admits that running such a popular place can put school on the back burner at times. Talks of expansion and making the business bigger and better is common between the two, but the boys’ goal is clear: Keep the place going strong. To do so, keeping that family atmosphere is important, they say. Reminders of that mentality are plentiful at Arbetter’s. According to a sign in the restaurant, if you declare your love for former Boston Celtics legendary forward Larry Bird at Arbetter, your first drink refill is on the house. “My grandfather was from Boston,” Andy said. “I like [the Celtics], but personally, I’m a die-hard Miami Heat fan.” Arbetter Hot Dogs 8747 S.W. 40th St. Miami, Fla. 33165 T (305) 207-0555

CAMPUS CRIME

Computers Stolen At Wolfson Campus FROM COMPUTER THEFTS, FRONT

It’s believed that a white, fourdoor vehicle was involved, according to police reports. However, no one has been apprehended and police have no suspects, said Officer Kenia Reyes, a spokeswoman for the City of Miami Police Department. Most recently, three Mac Pro computers, two Macintosh computers

and one Apple monitor were stolen from the Media Relations Department in two separate incidents on Dec. 2 and Dec. 22. “Our room was not ransacked; there wasn’t a disturbance. You can tell they knew what they were doing,” Mendieta said. “Everything is still under investigation.” The College is taking precautions to prevent another break-in. Chang-

Gita Runkle has been named the new chairperson of the School of Business and School of Computer and Engineering Technologies at Homestead Campus. Runkle began working at Miami Dade College in 2008 as a Student Support Manager as part of a biotechnology grant, a program used for the understanding of cells to solve modern-day problems and create products. In 2009, she became interim director of the grant. In July 2010, Runkle was promoted to interim chair of the business department at Wolfson Campus. “The electrical power technology program is the only program of its kind here,” Runkle said. “It connects with jobs at FPL that are predominately at Turkey Point. So, a lot of students who go through the program have the opportunity to potentially work at FPL as well.” Runkle has a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies, mostly focusing on photography and film from the University of California, Berkeley; she has a master’s degree in higher education from New York University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California. Born in Mumbai, India, Runkle moved to New York City when she

COURTESY OF GITA RUNKLE

Multitasking: Gita Runkle is the new chairperson of the School of Business and School of Computer and Engineering Technologies at Homestead Campus. was one. She has lived in a number of other places including Haiti, Egypt and France. Runkle has also worked for several corporate marketing departments, such as Royal Caribbean International and Procter and Gamble. Guillermina Damas, department chair of the natural sciences, health and wellness department at Wolfson Campus, worked closely with Runkle on executing the goals of the biotechnology grant. She has taken note of Runkle’s work ethic. “I think she’s great. She’s very polite, very hard-working, accurate, very caring about the students,” Damas said.

GREGORY CASTILLO/ THE REPORTER

Variety: Arbetter Hot Dogs' menu allows customers to custom-build a frankfurter to their liking, with options like hot relish, chili, mustard and kraut.

ALEXIS NOGUES/ THE REPORTER

More Room: Lot 16 will add 200 parking spaces to Kendall Campus' strained 5,000-parking space infrastructure.

New Parking At Kendall By Melissa Adan melissa.adan001@mymdc.net

es include re-keying doors, limiting campus access, increasing patrols and installing additional alarms and surveillance equipment. “The Campus is assertively investigating these incidents and collaborating with the Miami Police Department, while also implementing heightened security measures to help prevent future thefts,” Mendieta said. College officials are asking the Wolfson community to be on high alert. “Anyone entering any area of the College [should be] immediately greeted,” Mendieta said. “Any suspicious individuals or activities are [to be] immediately reported to the public safety office.”

VISIT US ONLINE: WWW.MDC.EDU/THEREPORTER

Students at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus now have 200 additional parking spots to choose from thanks to a new lot located between the softball field and lot seven. The additional spots were created in response to complaints from students that the campus did not have enough parking spaces, according to Kendall Campus Dean of Administration Gloria Baez. There are approx imately 16 park ing lots campus-w ide and about 5,000 parking spaces. “The school definitely needed more parking spaces. During peak times of 9 – 11 a.m., students are unable to find a spot and end up getting late to class, consequently

missing part of the lesson,” said MDC student Brett Brito. Lot 16 has been in use since Jan. 10; it allows access to students using the gym and attending classes in 7000 and 9000 buildings. Lighting is scheduled to be added to Lot 16 at the end of February. “I think [the new parking lot] is great because it will take out the congestion from the west side of campus and evens it out to the east,” said Student Government Association President, Luisa Santos. The campus has also started to repave lot four, located alongside the track, to eliminate issues with the rocky terrain, and refill potholes. “This is a good first step toward completely alleviating our parking issue,” Santos said.

DISCOVER EDUCATION FOR THE

careers of tomorrow National Open House – February 12, 2011

Miramar Campus 2100 SW 145th Ave | Miramar Saturday, February 12th 10:30 am To register, call 888-460-9559 or visit DeVry.edu/southflorida Follow @DeVryUniv on and join the conversation at #DeVryNOH

DeVry NOH Ad - Campus Media • 10” w x 16”h • 4–color • DUE: 12-3-2010-v1 PUB ID: 296, Miami Dade College, Falcon Times

THE REPORTER

JAN. 31, 2011

NEWS

TAG TAG TAG TAG

Falcon Times Alumni Shine At Workshop MDC newspaper alumni Laura C. Morel and Sergio N. Candido participate in The New York Times Student Journalism. By Monica Suarez monica.suarez006@mymdc.net

GREGORY CASTILLO/ THE REPORTER

Expert Witness: Forensic Psychologist and Miami Dade College professor Suzanne Mignone, has worked on over 500 cases for more than 10 years.

Kendall Professor Brings Courtroom To Classroom FROM MIGNONE FRONT

“To me, it is like a jigsaw puzzle. You have all of these different pieces that must look like the photo on the box,” Mignone said. “I get a piece from interviews and observations, a piece from the documents the attorneys give me and a piece from the history the family tell me and try to fit them all together.” Mignone wasn’t always planning to pursue a career in the forensic psychology field. However, she knew she wanted to pursue a doctorate degree in psychology and she didn’t want to do full-time

“To me, it is like a jigsaw puzzle. You have all of these different pieces that must look like the photo on the box” —Suzanne Mignone

therapy. So Mignone researched the profession. She’s been hooked ever since. “I called my parents and told them ‘mom, dad, I know what I’m doing.’ When they asked me what I was going to do, I said I was going to jail. There was silence on the other end of the phone,” Mignone said. Her students at MDC say they apprec iate t he ex per t ise she brings. Mignone, who earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Central Florida and her doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University in forensic psychology, blends in the cases she works with every day to the lessons being taught in class. She brings the courtroom to the classroom. “That is a very good quality that she brings to the table,” said Ipsan Gonzalez, 26, a psychology major from Kendall Campus. “[Professor Mignone] goes out of her way to make us present projects, conduct interviews and do research. We are not just learning from someone who knows the material, but rather from someone who can give us real-world experience.”

Former Miami Dade College journalism students and Falcon Times alumni, Laura C. Morel and Sergio N. Candido, were among 23 students from universities all across the country chosen to participate in The New York Times Student Journalism Institute. The program was held in Miami this year at Florida International University’s Biscayne Bay Campus from Jan. 2-16. The program offered instruction in all areas of journalism including reporting, copy editing, video production, web production, layout and photography. The students produced a newspaper during the rigorous two-week program, which included 15- hour work days for many. Content was also featured on the program’s website. “I was treated as a reporter. I did a main project story of 1,100 words on technology and how it benefits disabled people which took a week to complete,” said Morel, who served as editor-in-chief of The Falcon Times during the 200809 school year. “I also worked on five other stories, covered breaking news, and learned Final Cut Pro.” Candido, who served as the multimedia editor for The Falcon Times during the 2009-10 school year, wrote four stories, including one about how more students are trying to find gay friendly universi-

ties, which was featured on The New York Times website. “At the Institute I found an inner strength I never thought I had,” Candido said. “It taught me to keep a cool head despite tight deadlines and I found I could push myself into working a crazy number of hours, sometimes getting six hours of sleep in two days.” Candido, 22, who has interned at Telemundo, is a junior studying multimedia journalism at Florida Atlantic University. He is currently a staff writer for the University Press, FAU’s student newspaper. While at MDC he won awards for in-depth reporting and news writing from the Florida Community College Press Association. Morel, 21, is a senior at Emerson College studying print and multimedia journalism. She won three awards from the FCCPA including a first-place award for best news story in 2008. She has interned at The Boston Globe’s website Boston.com and on The Miami Herald’s metro desk. Morel is scheduled to intern at The Dallas Morning News this summer. “The place was like an actual newsroom, it was very intense, but I liked it,” Morel said while discussing her experience at the The New York Times Student Journalism Institute. “ It showed me how much I can push myself.” ----------------------Mark Overton contributed to this report.

Laura C. Morel, 21, is a senior at Emerson College studying print and multimedia journalism. She has interned at The Boston Globe’s website Boston. com and on The Miami Herald’s metro desk.

Sergio N. Candido, 22, is a junior studying multimedia journalism at Florida Atlantic University. He has interned at Telemundo, and is currently a staff writer for the University Press, FAU’s student newspaper.

SCHOLARPRO.COM

New Website Simplifies Scholarships MDC Alumna Diane Melville is developing a website designed to make the scholarship search process more efficient. By Mark Pulaski mark.pulaski001@mymdc.net Tired of the hassle that goes with applying for scholarships, former Miami Dade College student, Diane Melville, figured there must be an easier way to pair students with college funding. After nearly five years of research, the result was her creation: ScholarPro. The goal of the search engine is to give students the ability to find and apply for scholarships without all the headaches of doing it the oldfashioned way. “I've always run into students that say ‘scholarships are too hard to find’ or ‘I don't have time to apply for scholarships.’ With ScholarPro, we make it simple for students to

win the aid that they need for college,” said Melville via e-mail. Melville began researching the idea of a common application for scholarships and couldn’t find anything close to what she was looking for. Frustrated, she decided to take matters into her own hands. “I started calling scholarship providers and saying ‘Hey. In case you didn’t know, applying for scholarships is not easy. Want to help me make it easier?” Melville said. She continued those calls for about five years until she had a better understanding on how to fix the problem. ScholarPro has not officially launched yet; it’s still undergoing beta testing. In March 2011, students will have the ability to navigate the scholarship process from

start to finish with the push of a button. The criteria for scholarships vary greatly; everything from race, grade point average and extracurricular activities, to quirkier things such as being left-handed or having the ability to skateboard well. Some scholarships are complex and require students to provide transcripts, letters of recommendation and written essays. ScholarPro aims to simplify the process by having applicants answer a simple 15-question form, and then use one common application to apply to as many scholarships as they want. “We break it down so that students don't have to worry about which application requires which document,” said Melville. Melville credits her experiences at MDC for providing her with the encouragement needed to take on such a venture. “I can say, without a doubt, that

VISIT US ONLINE: WWW.MDC.EDU/THEREPORTER

the support of the faculty, staff and students at Miami Dade helped me to really take the leap and start this company,” Melville said. “Starting a company can be incredibly difficult without the right support.” One of her biggest supporters is E. Carter Burrus, former director of The Honors College at North Campus. Burrus said that Melville has a knack for finding scholarships— noting that she racked up more than $100,000 worth of funds in her time at MDC. “She was relentless; very focused. And now she’s turned that focus into ScholarPro,” Burrus said. Once the search engine is fully operational, she said, there is no reason students should have trouble getting the money they need for school. “I would venture to say that there is a scholarship out there for everyone,” Melville said.

APPETIZING.

THE REPORTER

JAN. 31, 2011

From Sea To See Into The Deep Watch an animated underwater journey into the deep featuring Bob Wallace's photography.

NEWS

Bob Wallace, 78, is a general subjects adjunct instructor at the School of Criminal Justice at Miami Dade Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s North Campus, travels the world in search of endangered wildlife species and marine life. Wallace aims to discover the unknown with intention of sharing with students at the College. All photos documented are original by Wallace and have appeared in the The Saturday Evening Post, National Geographic, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, Skin Diver, Sport Diver, Rolling Stone, The Miami Herald and The Palm Beach Times. Wallace has taught courses such as marine science, environmental science, marine zoology, biochemistry, defensive tactics, private security, finger printing and nutrition at several WALLACE MDC campuses.

SEA LEVEL

25 ft

3 9

50 ft 75 ft

100 ft Monster Sea Worm, 2010: This Polychaetes is a class of annelid worms; there are more than 10,000 species described in this class. This 2-3 cm specimen was photographed during a night dive in the Gulf Stream. 2

125 ft 150 ft

Vacancy, 1982: A common octopus photographed among coral reefs in Bimini. 3

5 2

175 ft

200 ft 225 ft

Stunning Image, 2009: A soft coral photographed during a night dive off the coast of Durbin, South Africa. 5

250 ft 8

300 ft 6

350 ft

Night Beacon, 2008: A bioluminescent tube sponge, photographed during a night dive in an undersea canyon off the coast of Honduras. 4

Deep Sea Anemone, 2010: There a thousand known species of sea anemones living in shallow waters and the deep. This photograph was taken during a submersible dive in the Caribbean sea. 1

400 ft

Sea Gardens, 2009: The Christmas Tree Worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) is a tube-dwelling worm with twin spirals of plumes used for respiration and to capture prey. 9

SOURCES: BOB WALLACE, LISA POVEDANO/ UNDERSEA HUNTER GROUP PHOTOGRAPHY: BOB WALLACE DESIGN: LAZARO GAMIO SPECIAL THANKS: MONIQUE O. MADAN

Jewel of the Sea, 2009: Basket Stars are a group of brittle stars, of which there are some 1,500 species living today, they are usually found in very deep waters. 6

Deep Sea Anemone, 2010: There a thousand known species of sea anemones living in shallow waters and the deep. This photograph was taken during a submersible dive in the Caribbean sea. 8

Star Ship, 2007: A Spanish shawl nudibranch, (Flabellina iodinea), photographed near the Great Barrier Reef at night. 7

VISIT US ONLINE: WWW.MDC.EDU/THEREPORTER

10 Satellite, 2009: This sea cucumber, is actually an invertebrate and a carnivore. When threatened, some are capable of discharging sticky threads to ensnare their enemies.

MAKE AN IMPACT. At Palm Beach Atlantic University, you’ll be surrounded by caring and engaging professors who want to do all they can to prepare you to make an impact on the world.

Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, FL

561- 803-2100 • www.pba.edu

Undergraduate, Graduate and Professional Degree Programs.

• 50+ programs of study (education, business, fine arts, media, ministry, nursing, pharmacy, the sciences) • AA degree accepted but not required for admission • Affordable with options for financial aid and scholarships • Christ-centered campus community Visit us and find out (within 48 hours) how soon you can receive your bachelor’s degree!

THE REPORTER

JAN. 31, 2011

A&E THE RITE: FILM REVIEW

A&E

Mark Pulaski, A&E Editor

(305) 237-1254 //

New Exorcism Movie Fails To Get It Right Anthony Hopkins provides a pristine performance as a possessed priest in new exorcism flick.

mark.pulaski001@mymdc.net

By Mark Pulaski mark.pulaski001@mymdc.net

COURTESY OF RELATIVITY MEDIA

Buzzkill: Although action-packed, Seth Rogen and Joy Chou lack the camaraderie necessary to make the film fly. THE GREEN HORNET: FILM REVIEW

Green Hornet Lacks Sting The latest reincarnation of The Green Hornet strays too far from its roots.

By J.C. Urbina juancarlos.urbina001@mymdc.net The Green Hornet is the latest addition to Holly wood’s collection of superhero movie remakes. T he mo v ie, w h ic h ge t s it s roots from a 1936 radio program, ch ron icles t he advent u res of two masked vigilantes who use martial arts, cool gadgets and technologically advanced cars to “protect the law by breaking it.” T he t it u la r cha racter—Br it t Reid a.k.a. The Green Hornet—is portrayed by Canadian comedian

Seth Rogen (who also co-wrote the screenplay) while his partner Kato is played by Taiwanese musician Jay Chou. As a whole, The Green Hornet is terrible. One of the most damaging aspects to the film is the casting of Rogen, who acts nothing like the classic hero. His character is extremely unlikeable due to his lack of empathy, courtesy, class, drive and intelligence. The Green Hornet that you see in t he f ilm is nowhere near as heroic as previous incarnations of the character. Rogen’s role in The Green Hornet is no different than the sex-driven idiots he plays in other movies. In fact, the only character whose personality traits remain nearly untouched is The Green Hornet’s partner, Kato. The special effects and gadgetry are top-notch, yet slightly over-the-top, even for the superhero genre. The character and plot developments are hollow and unsympathetic. The manner in which

the two main characters decide to fight crime is similar to a conversation bet ween t wo drunkards or marijuana-users who just go with the spur of the moment. Because of their childish relationship, the crime-fighting duo cannot be taken seriously. The Green Hornet casts wellknown actors like Cameron Diaz and Edward James Olmos into completely useless roles; the only moment of the movie that may truly entertain the viewers is a hilarious cameo appearance by James Franco as a mob boss. Green Hor net fa ns a nd general mov iegoers w ill be disappointed; especially after paying $14 to watch a movie whose 3D feature is pointless and boring.

The Rite, directed by Mikael Håfström, is the latest in a long list of “inspired by a true event” exorcism movies. The film follows a young man, Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue), as he decides to leave his family business and join a seminary school. However, it becomes apparent that his heart isn’t into it; he’s just running away from his problems. Shortly before he was scheduled to take his vows he attempts to withdraw from the school, but is convinced by the headmaster to give it one final shot by joining a special program in Rome—a school for exorcists. The film features great cinematography. The scenes are shot in a very artistic manner with the backdrop of Roman architecture lending to the visual grandeur. Anthony Hopkins steals the show as Father Lucas Trevant. He plays the eccentric holy man very well, delivering witty humor throughout the film's dark overtones. In one eerie scene, the possessed priest channels his inner Hannibal, delivering a bone-chilling Lechter-like stare that sets the tone for the horror to come. Despite Hopkins’ performance, the downfall of the movie is the acting of O’Donoghue. He plays a

character who is forced into his situation, but it almost seems as if he was forced into acting for this role. He never looks as scared as he should, even as a possessed Italian girl speaks to him in a deep, demonic voice—in perfect English—reciting things that are impossible for her to know. This was some seriously demented stuff, and he looked as if he was reacting to the sight of a bug. In fact, that girl—Rosaria (Marta Gastini)—who might as well have been credited as “possessed girl number one” displayed better acting than O’Donohugue. A nice surprise was that this wasn’t just another horror flick that relies solely on shock scenes—an unexpected jump from off camera, usually accompanied with a loud sound. There were some, of course, but the movie did a decent job of creating actual fear and suspense. In addition, t he ending felt rushed. Kovak goes the whole movie maintaining his skepticism, when suddenly—with almost no explanation—he changes his mind. The End. It was felt like they were running out of film and just said “OK, wrap it up.” Aside from bad supporting cast, slightly cheesy special affects used on the possessed and an in-movie ad for McDonalds, it was a decent film. The Rite didn’t really go wrong, but it could have been much better.

2.5 out of 5

The Rite—Colin O'Donoghue, Anthony Hopkins and Ciarán Hinds —2 hours 7 min—Rated PG-13

1.5 out of 5

The Green Hornet—Starring Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Cameron Diaz —2 hour 0 min—Rated PG-13

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS./NEW LINE CINEMA

Bone-Chilling: Anthony Hopkins delivers a Lechter-like performance in The Rite. However, slow storyline and bad supporting acting drag film down.

Upcoming Events Feb. 1: Arab-American Author James Zogby To Visit

Visiting Author: James Zogby will visit Wolfson Campus to discuss his new book, Arab Voices: What They Are Saying to Us and Why It Matters.

James Zogby—Arab-American analyst, activist and author—will be visiting MDC on Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. at Wolfson Campus Auditorium, 300 N.E. Second Ave., Room 1206. Zogby—founder and president of the Arab American Institute— has recent ly released his new book, Arab Voices: What They Are Saying to Us and Why It Matters, and will host a seminar in reference to his recent research with MDC students. After the forum, his book will be available for sale and an autograph session will be

held. Zogby’s new release is a product of research done from 2009-2010 v ia polls conducted in various Arab nations. The primar y discussion concerns Middle-Eastern people’s views on themselves and the stereot ypes western cultures cast upon them. The event is free and open to the public. —Jessica Medina For more information, contact the Florida Center for the Literary Arts T (305) 237-3940

VISIT US ONLINE: WWW.MDC.EDU/THEREPORTER

Feb. 3–Apr. 9: The Birth of Coffee A photographic documentary titled The Birth of Coffee will be featured at the Wolfson Campus’ Centre Gallery—300 N.E. Second Ave., Room 1365, from Feb. 3 through April 9. The exhibitions creators—photographer Daniel Lorenzetti and author Linda Rice Lorenzetti—will have a meet-and-greet session and book signing at the gallery on Feb. 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. Daniel Lorenzetti has written and photographed for more than 20 magazines and newspapers including The New York Times and The Miami Herald. Linda Rice Lorenzetti’s

previous work includes authoring the book Introduction to the Internet. The Birth of Coffee focuses on the farm workers worldwide whose lives depend on the growth and production of coffee. The main content of the book is 100 black and white, fine-art photographs, which feature a technique—developed especially for this project—that has applied a tint to the photographs which utilizes coffee as a medium. —Vanessa Martinas For more information, contact Art Gallery System T (305) 237-7700

SPORTS

JAN. 31, 2011

THE REPORTER

LADY SHARKS BASKETBALL

Lady Shark Rises Above Adversity Lady Shark sophomore center Smiljana Cuk's finds comfort and a new home at Miami Dade College after her father passes away. Emerson is one of the premier colleges in the country for communication and the arts. We invite you to learn more about the academic, social, and career opportunities available here.

Transfer Open House Friday, February 18

RSVP at emerson.edu/transferOH

Transfer Information Sessions/ Campus Tours February 7 March 8

emerson.edu/visit

Miami Dade College is a Next Step Emerson partner. Miami Dade graduates are eligible to be considered for a half-tuition Next Step Emerson Scholarship. Fall Admission Deadline: March 15 Find more information at emerson.edu/admission or call 617-824-8600.

By Saeli Gutierrez saeli.gutierrez001@mymdc.net People react in different ways to a loss. Smiljana Cuk, has tried to make the most of difficult times. Cuk’s father—Zdravko Cuk— passed away from heart failure just before the Serbian native left her country and committed to play college basketball at Miami Dade College last year. “I am sad because he didn't finish [what he started,]" said Cuk, a sophomore center for the Lady Sharks. "He gave me strength to keep going.” Her devotion to her father has not been in vain. Cuk made the dean’s list, with a 3.89 grade point average, this past semester, according to Head Coach Susan Summons. “My dad was my ideal example, the most genius person I’ve ever met,” Cuk said. “My father was always telling me, don't waste your time watching television or with games, [its] better [to] read something." Cuk has also found success on the basketball court. She is currently ranked 11th in rebounding in the Florida Community Colleges Activities Association with 7.4 average per game. “[Smiljana’s] father passed before she was scheduled to arrive here at MDC and still after the funeral,

GREGORY CASTILLO/ THE REPORTER

Serbian Superstar: (Middle, blue jersey) Forward/center Smiljana Cuk sets a screen for a teammate during a practice on Jan. 26. The Lady Sharks face Broward College in an FCCAA Southern Conference Showdown, at Broward, on Feb 2.

“Basketball helped me develop physically and psychologically” —Smiljana Cuk

[she] came a long way to fulfill her dreams,” Summons said. Basketball has always been her safety net. Cuk has played the sport for 14 years.

VISIT US ONLINE: WWW.MDC.EDU/THEREPORTER

“Basketball helped me develop physically and psychologically,” Cuk said. In the United States, her teammates have supported her. In the process, they have also learned from her. “[Smiljana] has taught me more about myself,” said sophomore guard Melanie Ducott. Cuk is excited about the next chapter in her life. She hopes basketball will be a part of it. “We never know what can happen in the future,” Cuk said. “Just take the most of what you can, in what life brings to you.”

THE REPORTER

JAN. 31, 2011

SPORTS MEN'S BASKETBALL

// SPORTS Hector Gonzalez, Sports Editor

(305) 237-1254 //

Munford Leads The Way Forward

hector.gonzalez012@mymdc.net

Sharks guard Xavier Munford has become the first option for a surging Miami Dade College team. By Jessica Ferralls jessica.feralls001@mymdc.net Freshmen guard Xavier Munford has been setting the tone for Miami Dade College men’s basketball team lately. Born and raised in Hillside, New Jersey, Munford, who played high school basketball at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, N.J., has made an instant impact on the men's basketball team (15-7 and 3-2 in the Southern Conference.) Munford has played in 17 games this year, averaging 16 points a game. He also has 30 steals, and 43 assists. Those statistics rank him 12th in the Florida Community Colleges Activities Association in steals and individual scoring. His teamates have taken notice of Munford’s quick start. Head Coach Matt Eisele said the team is working hard at running the offense through Munford. “I think the team has bought into Xavier being the first option,” Eisele

TAG TAG TAG TAG TAG

GREGORY CASTILLO/ THE REPORTER

Back In Blue: (From Left) Derek Law, Christopher Morales, Jorge Saez and Jharel Cotton are the four core returning sophomores that the MDC Sharks Baseball team will look to in carrying the season into May. The Sharks open the regular season against Central Florida Community College on Feb. 4 at Kendall Campus. MDC BASEBALL

New Start, New Faces Miami Dade College's baseball team hopes to take the trophy home after they finished in second place last season. Four returning players plan to lead the team to baseball championship. By Hector Gonzalez hector.gonzalez012@mymdc.net They were one win away from reaching nationals last year. Now the Miami Dade College men’s baseball team is ready to continue where they left off last year as they move toward the 2011 season. First year Head Coach Danny Price said he is concentrating on building his team into a cohesive team. “It’s very important that our players understand that,” Price said. “All you can do is prepare your players and ask them to do their jobs, which is play hard and execute.” The Sharks finished with an overall 38-13 record and 14-9 in Southern Conference play for the 2010 season. They settled for being named state runner-up after losing to State College of Florida, Manatee-

Sarasota, 8-1, in the championship game. Only four players from that team are returning: sophomore pitcher, Jharel le Andre Cotton; sophomore pitcher, Derek Law; sophomore catcher, Jorge Saez and sophomore outfielder Christopher Morales. Cotton, who posted a 2.77 earned run average last year, will have to continue progressing for the team

Gearing Up See exclusive interviews with key players returning from last year's season.

Scoreboard

to be successful. He has been working on increasing his arm strength and mental focus. Key players lost were: first baseman David Vidal, who finished with 14 home runs and 61 RBI; center fielder, Jose Rodriguez and pitcher, Daniel Hernandez (9-0 record, 1.37 ERA). Both Hernandez and Rodriguez are now playing minor league baseball in the Kansas City Royals organization. Two new players from the 23 full roster are: freshmen second baseman Andre Nelo and freshmen shortstop Jorge Vega Rosado. According to Saez, having new faces on the team has been a learning experience. It has been, he says, a learning experience from "going from a walk last year" to becoming one of the team’s leaders. “I enjoy playing college baseball and my new position as one of the leaders,” Saez said. “This year there is a lot more responsibility; we have confidence in each other.”

Schedule

Women's Basketball ————————————————————

Men's Basketball ————————————————————

Women's Basketball ————————————————————

01/12 Broward College, 79-56 Win 01/14 @ Hillsborough Community College, 82-50 Win 01/15-02/02 FCCAA Southern Conference Games vs St. Petersburg College @ St. Petersburg, Fl, 76-88 lost vs Brevard Community College, 64-59 win

01/15-02/02 FCCAA Southern Conference Games vs Broward College @ Davie, Fl, 68-65 won vs Indian River State College, 84-65 won vs Palm Beach State College @ Lake Worth, Fl, 54-69 lost vs Brevard Community College, 84-85 lost vs Indian River State College @ Fort Pierce, Fl, 61-59 win

01/15-02/19 FCCAA Souther Conference Games vs. Indian River State College @ Fort Pierce, Fla. vs. Broward College @ Davie, Fla. vs. St. Petersburg College @ St. Petersburg, Fla. vs. Palm Beach State College vs. Brevard Community College @ Melbourne, Fla. vs. Indian River State College @ Fort Pierce, Fla.

MDC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: 7-12, as of 01/28/2011 2-1 in Southern Conference Scores are current up to date of production

MDC MEN'S BASKETBALL: 15-7, as of 01/28/2011 3-2 in Southern Conference Scores are current up to date of production

Men's Basketball ———————————————————— 01/15-02/02 FCCAA Souther Conference Games vs Broward College vs Palm Beach State College

said. “ I think the other kids work really hard to try to get him open on offense. The point guards do a really good job of getting him the ball.” For Munford being a leader is natural. His idol is former National Basketball Association guard and perennial All-Star, Allen Iverson. “Every time he came on TV , I always ran to watch him play,” Munford said. “He always had a lot of heart and held his own. He was a smaller player, so he would always go against taller defenders. He never backed down.” Iverson’s style of play has rubbed off on Munford. His scrappy style and scoring touch are paying great dividends. “He’s a great shooter and can also finish well around the rim. We have been expecting big things from him since day one, so it doesn’t really come as a surprise to see him having so much success,” said sophomore guard Maurice Kemp Jr. “I think he has to potential to be one of the best guards to come out of Miami Dade [College].”

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Major League Player Returns To His Roots Baseball team to be trained by Orlando Palmeiro, a former MDC player and 13-year-veteran of the Major Leagues. By Hector Gonzalez hector.gonzalez012@mymdc.net Before Orlando Palmeiro spent 13 seasons as an outfielder in the Major Leagues, he was a baseball player at Miami Dade College. Palmeiro, 41, is back on his old stomping grounds, as a volunteer assistant coach for the MDC baseball team. “He breaks down the game and relates to the players really well,” said MDC Head Coach Danny Price. “The guy has a pretty good idea [of] what he is talking about.” Palmeiro is teaching MDC baseball players what to do in specific game situations, and serving as a mentor. “It’s a great feeling, knowing that he has played at the highest level and that we can learn from him,” said freshmen utility/infielder Micheal Fernland, 18. “He’s been there and has the knowledge.” Born in Hoboken, N.J., Palmeiro attended MDC from 1988 to 1989. He graduated with an Associate's in Arts degree in general education before transferring to the University of Miami in 1990. According to the Houston Astros media guide, Palmeiro had 34 RBI and batted .351 in 42 games as a freshmen at MDC. He was named to the All-State team during his sophomore season. Palmeiro was recently inducted into the 2010 Alumni Hall of Fame, an honor given by the college to past alumni who have had successful careers after graduating. In 1991, Palmeiro was drafted by the California Angels in the 33rd round. He made his Major League Baseball debut in 1995 and won a

VISIT US ONLINE: WWW.MDC.EDU/THEREPORTER

GREGORY CASTILLO/ THE REPORTER

From MLB To MDC: Orlando Palmeiro volunteers as assistant coach for the MDC baseball team.

World Series Championship in 2002 with the Anaheim Angels. His professional career also included stints with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Houston Astros. Palmeiro said he is happy to be back near his "roots,” after a journey through professional baseball. “It’s a love and passion for the game that has gotten me back here,” Palmeiro said. The MDC baseball players said they are benefiting from Palmeiro’s experience. Sophomore outfielder Andrew Rodriguez, a 19-year-old criminal justice major, said that Palmeiro has been teaching him the mental approach to the game along with batting techniques. “He loves to help any kid that asks him questions with the mental, physical and offense/defense part of the game,” Rodriguez said.

CHANGE YOUR THINKING

FORUM

JAN. 31, 2011

THE REPORTER

CONCEALED FIREARMS ON CAMPUS

Locked, Loaded and Learning www. myunion.edu

Degree Completion Programs Designed for Adults Low residency (small classes, online, or hybrid) Accelerated (earn 8 credits in 8 weeks) Financial aid for those who qualify UNDERGRADUATE Bachelor of Science with majors in: Business Management (HR, MIS, Marketing) Criminal Justice Management Elementary Education Exceptional Student Education Secondary Education Social Work

www.myunion.edu 800.486.7141 or 305.653.7141 AdmissionsMiami@myunion.edu 16853 NE 2nd Avenue, North Miami Beach, FL 33162 Non-profit, private, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (ncahlc.org)

A case for allowing concealed weapons on campus, to ensure proper self-defense.

By Mark Pulaski mark.pulaski001@mymdc.net Imagine that you’re sitting in math class, when suddenly gunfire erupts in the hallway. What will you do? Hide behind a wall of textbooks?Rely on public safety, armed with their whistles, flashlights and key rings? Or, maybe call the police? Seems like a good idea until you consider that when seconds matter, the police are only minutes away. If I had my way, I would be one of the few who could actually do something about the situation. My solution is simple: I want to be able to carry a concealed weapon on campus. I know what some of you are thinking: “This guy is crazy. People will be pulling out their guns and shooting each other for the last parking space or opening fire on professors because of a bad grade.” I recently had a conversation with a classmate who said, "If everyone has guns, as soon as someone gets mad, they'll shoot somebody," to which I replied, “when you get mad, do you pull out your pen and stab the person in the face?” Assuming that these laws will encourage people to pull out their guns at every argument implies a flaw in the individual—not the law. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating for ammo to be sold in the

Ask Andrea ASK ANDREA IS AN ADVICE COLUMN RUN BY ANDREA ORELLANA, FORUM EDITOR FOR THE REPORTER. TO SUBMIT A QUESTION, SEND A 250-WORD EMAIL TO ANDREA.ORELLANA001@MYMDC. NET. PLEASE INCLUDE FULL NAMES FOR PUBLISHING. ALL CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO EDITING FOR CLARITY.

Mailbox LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: All submissions should be 300 words or less and must be typed. Writers must include their full name, contact number, campus, student number, and e-mail address. Faculty and staff should include the title, department, and extension. All letters are subject to editing for purposes of brevity and clarity. Letters can be sent via e-mail to MDC. THEREPORTER@GMAIL.COM, with the subject “letter to the editor.”

LAZARO GAMIO / THE REPORTER

bookstore or anything. I just think that people who are already licensed to carry practically everywhere else— including malls, movie theaters and banks—should be able to defend themselves while they attend class. Let’s face it people, criminals do not care about the law. They don’t sit at home and think, “if only it was legal to bring a gun on campus, then I could shoot as many people as I want.” They are criminals; by their very nature they do not follow the rules. It would be very easy for someone to bring a gun onto campus. There is no way to control that; college campuses are too big and too open. Since colleges have no reasonable means to prevent these tragedies, they shouldn’t restrict our right to protect ourselves. I’m not the only one who feels this way. There exists an advocacy group called Students for Concealed Carry on Campus and there is currently

a proposed bill—Senate Bill 234— which would make carrying a weapon on campus a reality. According to The Miami Herald there are already 780,000 licensed to carry firearms in Florida. Statistics show that those legally armed are rarely involved in criminal activity. In order to be licensed to carry in the first place you must undergo an FBI background check, take a safety class and demonstrate the ability to safely fire a weapon. Allowing these people to carry on campus may just prevent another college massacre like the one that occurred at Virginia Tech in 2007, where 32 innocent people lost their lives. The odds may be slim for someone to actually need to use their gun on campus. That being said, the odds of a car crash are relatively slim as well, but I still wear my seat belt—just in case. If the shots ever ring out in the hallway, would you rather grab your notebook or your Glock?

Granddaughter Crisis

parents, my other son, etc, are really anxious to see her, especially since she is turning three this year, and my son is not around to see her. -Laura P. Dear Laura, Accord i ng to Flor ida adoption law, your former daughterin-law’s husband may adopt the child before she turns 18 as long as the mother consents. I recommend you seek help from a lawyer; there’s more than a few of those that would be glad to speak to you on the matter, what I will tell you is this: be prepared for a lengthy— and perhaps costly—battle. -Andrea

Dear Andrea, I am a grandmother, 59 years old, and an MDC student. In 2009 my older son was killed and he left a daughter behind, who will be 3 years old in December. The mother has refused to let my son's family be part of our granddaughter's life. I have two questions: Does she have a right to have her present husband adopt her [daughter], or does the law ask that she wait until the baby is 18 years old? The second question is, do you know of any avenues that I can seek to be able to see my granddaughter? My ex-husband, his

Vol. 1, Issue 6 Jan. 17, 2011 "Thinking Of Kicking The Habit: Possible College-wide Smoking Ban"

Hi, my name is Michelle and I was wondering, will the college executive committee be considering those students who are disabled and need to smoke to calm their stress and depression? I am a disabled student and I suf-

VISIT US ONLINE: WWW.MDC.EDU/THEREPORTER

Miami Dade 3x8.indd 1

11/9/10 2:18 PM

fer from stress and depression, the only way to release my stress would be to smoke in a designated smoking area between classes. If the ban were to happen, I would have to drop out, there is no other way for me to go. I weigh 250 pounds and I can't stand for long periods of time. There would be no where for me to sit. I feel that if they want to partially ban it, I would happily smoke in designated areas. -Michelle Van Der Biest , Student, Wolfson Campus

THE REPORTER

JAN. 31, 2011

FORUM

// FORUM Andrea Orellana, Forum Editor //

(305) 237-7657//

andrea.orellana001@mymdc.net

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Undercelebrated And Overrated influential in the progress of the civil reformation. Ever heard of Carter G. Woodson? Woodson, along with a group of other intellectuals, created the Journal of Negro History in 1916, which documented and archived black achievements. He wanted to expand the information on a national level. Woodson along with his colleagues eventually created what we know today as Black History Month. Before writing this column I had no idea who Woodson was. Why? I don't know, but during this month, especially, we need to recognize the many contributions every single African Americans have made to the American social landscape.

Influential Achievements Now Overlooked

By Akeem Brunson akeem.brunson001@mymdc.net As modern day Americans, we have lost awareness of the original purpose behind Black History Month. Conceived in 1926, Black History Month was originally known as “Negro History Week.” African Americans from all across the country celebrated the accomplishments other African Americans made since the end of the Civil War. But where is that enthusiasm now? It’s true that the conflicts we face do not compare to those experienced at the turn of the 19th century, but Black History Month today has not reached Americans the way it was originally intended to. It’s not due to the lack of information easily attained but the lack of drive or even motivation to find out more about the culture and history of African Americans. We’ve become accustomed to the more popular African Americans in history. The overuse of these individuals has overshadowed our perceptions of others who were just as

The Celebrating Of Hyphen-Americans

By Andrea Orellana andrea.orellana001@mymdc.net Not unlike Jason Bourne, America is having an identity crisis. We don’t know who we are as individuals unless our titles as citizens are modified to include our heritage. No American is simply an American and every important piece of paperwork we fill out is proof of that.

Vox Populi

MANUEL PALOU / THE REPORTER

From the moment we enter second grade and begin the systematic torture that is FCAT testing, we are subjected to a subliminal awareness of race. Bubble A if you’re “white”, B if you’re “Hispanic-American”, C if you’re “African-American”, etc; God forbid your parents are interracial (or worse, muggles) or you’ll have to resort to bubbling in the embarrassing “other” option (because, let’s face it, who wants to be an otherAmerican?) The problem is that the political correctness of it all is a hindrance to the progress of racial integration; when all we can do is emphasize our differences, what person in their right mind would equate them to equality? In case the reminder to dust off your African mask replicas and Dashikis didn’t already tip you off, the month of February is the official Black History Month. With that said, one question arises: why does the need exist to classify and isolate any one fraction of our people? In the same way that October fails in its purpose of promoting union

among the races as Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month does little but disrupt the belief in the ideals for which Dr. King himself strove for: unification. Will gender and age become a part of the nomenclature at some point? Will this country’s older black men become “middle-aged-maleAfrican-Americans;” will typical American children born to Asian parents become known as “AsianAmerican-toddlers”; and will white women all around the country become accustomed to choosing the “young-female-European-Americans” response on their SAT bubble sheets (where, to the relief of all women, “young” is used loosely)? As if trying to emulate the seemingly cumbersome system used for classifying dog breeds, our strange societal thirst for specificity seems like a never-ending journey on the quest for semantics which can only get worse if not corrected. Why the hell are we still trying, as if with the determination of a thirsty, client-less drug dealer in the middle of a desert, to sell the illusion of race to generation after generation of our youth? Race is no more a legitimate concept than is the idea that Edward Cullen is a real person or that Jedi is an actual religion. Despite the hundred million thousand essays middle school kids have written on America’s greatest treasure, its “melting pot” diversity, aren’t we all just Americans at the end of the day? Dedicating an entire month to “celebrating” a culture our young nation has harmed is not only asinine, but a haphazard approach that reads:“here, stop complaining, you have your own month.” It’s a cheap way out; and it’s only harming the perceptions we hold of our equals; making us believe lines and separations exist where they do not: something we must never allow. Plus, I’m pretty sure the United States is bound to run out of months at some point.

Students answer the question: "Do you believe the original intention of 'Black History Month' has the same significance today?"—By Reporter Staff

The Reporter is the free biweekly student newspaper at Miami Dade College. All content is produced by MDC students. The opinions in this newspaper do not necessarily represent those of the administration, faculty, or the student body.

Editorial Board Monique O. Madan Editor-in-Chief Alexandra de Armas North Campus Bureau Chief Gregory Castillo Kendall Campus Bureau Chief Lazaro Gamio Interim Wolfson Campus Bureau Chief Monica Suarez Briefing Editor Mark Pulaski A&E Editor Hector Gonzalez Sports Editor Andrea Orellana Forum Editor Anna Carabeo Multimedia Editor

Art Department Lazaro Gamio Art Director Akeem Brunson Multimedia Producer Manuel Palou Deputy Art Director

Issue Staff Maloha Acevedo, Melissa Adan, Jessica Ferralls, Saeli Gutierrez, Vanessa Martinas, Roudy Mauricin, Julie McConnell, Jessica Medina, Mark Overton, Jose Prado, Kirsten Rincon, Rafael Tur, J.C. Urbina,

Advertising Gregory Torrales gregoryj.torrales001@mymdc.net (786) 237-8414

Letters to the Editor The Reporter welcomes letters to the editor. All submissions should be 300 words or less and must be typed. Writers must include their full name, contact number, campus, student number, and e-mail address. Faculty and staff should include the title, department, and extension. All letters are subject to editing for purposes of brevity and clarity. Letters can be sent via e-mail to mdc.thereporter@gmail.com, with the subject “letter to the editor.”

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

“I believe so because every time we think about it we think back to the whole civil rights movement and how where we are today is because of everyone having more rights, and look, we even have a president who is African American. If anything we’ve came a long way, we have a Black president.”

“Yes and no, because sometimes I feel now that Black History Month today is more for show. Why I say yes- it has the same intentions because our generation was not born in the 1920’s so we really didn't get the chance to experience what happened.”

Diego Hemos, 19, civil enginering

Aline Jean, 19, physician assistant

“I don’t believe it does [because] before Black History Month was created with the intentions of increasing empowerment, awareness, pride and heritage. Now, it’s more of just trying to keep people to remember it.” Donny Major, 23, Criminal justice administration

“It’s changed a little. People used to not get along. Now Blacks and Whites hang out and interact together. Before we were split, blacks on one table, whites on the other. We still have to celebrate it.” Kristy Mendoza, 19, nursing

Bureaus North Campus Bureau 11380 NW 27th Ave. Room 4209 Miami, FL 33167 (305) 237-1254 Kendall Campus Bureau 11011 SW 104th St. Room M239 Miami, FL 33176 (305) 237-2157 Wolfson Campus Bureau 300 NE Second Ave. Suite 1610 Miami, FL 33132 (305) 237-3368

Manolo Barco Media Adviser mbarco@mdc.edu (305) 237-1255 (305) 237-2323 (305) 237-3477

NEWS TIPS? Let us know at: mdc.thereporter@gmail.com (305) 237-1253

VISIT US ONLINE: WWW.MDC.EDU/THEREPORTER

11621-Miami Dade College:11311 - Broward College Observer Gen Ad

1/13/11

4:18 PM

Page 1

Create YOUR FUTURE Find yourself at BARRY UNIVERSITY • The second-largest private, Catholic university in the Southeast • More than 100 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs • Main campus in Miami Shores

www.barry.edu/MDC

Arts and Sciences • Business • Education • Health Sciences • Human Performance and Leisure Sciences • Law • Podiatric Medicine • Public Administration • Social Work Main Campus: 11300 NE Second Avenue • Miami Shores, Florida 33161-6695 • 800-695-2279