thecurrent the student newspaper of green river community college
february10.2014
www.thegrcurrent.com
issue6 volume48
Valentine’s Day
Make the Perfect Day with the One You Love Page 6
Ian Lobdell | The Current
currentcampus
currenta&e
currentopinion
New Fountain Promotes Blending the Old with the New
SIFF Visits Issaquah High School
Getting an Education for a Better Future
Students getting involved with Independent Films from around the world
A college student’s perspective on The State of the Union Address
New Fountain in front of the Admin Building is hte beginning of a new wave of reconstruction
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Spencer Rock| Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
New Fountain Promotes Blending the old with the new By: Patrick Daly Staff Writer
There is a new fountain located in front of the Administration Building near the East parking lot. The project was started in the middle of December. Green River is trying to make the campus appear more presentable by trimming up the edges without losing the campus’s rich nature elements. The fountain is a combination of these goals as the water side of the fountain uses naturally smoothed rocks while the back side of the fountain uses shaped blocks. It is a fountain with multiple purposes. The reason any of this started was because the drains on the Admin building needed to be changed. The cement drains were outdated and needed to be replaced with plastic ones. The new drains are used for a process called “harvesting.” There is a 1200 gallon tank that the drains collect rain water in. That water is pumped into the fountain to use. The drains collect more than enough water for the fountain and the excess is used for irrigation. The majority of the materials used on the fountain are recycled. The stones and blocks that the fountain is made of were found in the future site of the Student Life Center. The plants that surround the fountain were also recovered from places around campus. The lights that line the fountain are even helpful for the environment as they are LED low-voltage lights. The maintenance staff has recently made large steps forward in this project. In the past three weeks it has gone from a pile of rubble to a fountain. All of the work that has gone into making the fountain and fixing the walkway outside of the Admin building were in-house workers. The only job that needed contractors was replacing the curb and the sidewalk. The original design for the fountain was made by maintenance specialist, Rob Olson. Tom Trindl was responsible for finding the materials. Ed Bloch and Rick Smith did
Ian Lobdell | The Current Frozen newly built fountain infront of administration building
most of the construction work. According to Rob Olson, “The entire campus is trying to emphasize its rustic environment while also refining the groundwork.” The fountain is pointed toward the doors of the Admin building. Most people walking on that pathway will not be able to see it though. However, Green River has ongoing plans for the future layout of the buildings and roads on campus. The fountain will fit in much better once they are all completed. There are plans for more additions to this space in the
future. The area outside the Admin will eventually be turned into a social space with a picnic table and chairs being added. The Admin building was built in 1976 and has not had any landscape restoration in over 25 years. It was chosen to receive this fountain because many important people go in and out of the building so hopefully the new addition will impress them. The fountain also supports the large, wooden art piece that is already outside of the Admin building.
The Future of Safety and the Questions it Poses By: Jesse Torres Staff Writer Two presentations were held on Jan. 28 and 29 to help determine the new head of security at GRCC. The two possible candidates, Jewell E. Lerum III and Brandon Bird, each showed a PowerPoint titled “Crime Prevention and Student Conduct from an Educational Approach.” Jamie Hatelberg who works in disability support services said the recordings of each of these meetings are available to staff and students. Bird presented first on Jan. 29, having started at age 20 at the old Auburn Supermall, then to Seattle, then to Cornish College of the Arts for four and a half years. His presentation included views on crime prevention, as well as personal philosophies on the conduct of students and the com-
Courtesy Photos | GRCC Jewell Jerum
Brandon Bird
munity alike. “It’s important the community has a clear definition of crime prevention,” said Bird. The PowerPoint said the external and internal populations must blend together to form a safe environment and must be structured but fluid, and ready to change if needed. A large part of his presentation was on educating and raising awareness for the community – accountabil-
ity, citizenship, and a holistic, multi-layered approach to crime prevention were all ideas stated. When asked on issues such as the recent robbing of international students, Bird said they must “focus on things that distinguish groups such as international students from the rest of the population that makes them targets, and address it.” Lerum presented on Jan. 29,
and started off by talking about the Seahawks and how they have brought the community closer. “Bringing the community together is very unique,” said Lerum. “We need to be on the same page.” Lerum has a career of 35 years and an extensive training history – Homicide and Sexual Assaults Unit, School Response Program, Drug/Gang Unit, K-9 handler, and Patrol Officer are all positions Lerum has been in. He has also had positions in the Major Crimes Unit, among other things, and has had training concerning WMD’s and terrorism. Lerum’s PowerPoint stated that there are five steps to improve safety – building relationships (both on campus and with local residents), communication (both through media and physical news), education (crime statistics/trends, information sharing, training/drills), responsibility and awareness, and technology
and transportation (increased surveillance, access I.D cards, ride share) were all a part of creating a good community. “If we’re not good witnesses, we’re good victims,” said Lerum. In regards to the recent targeting of international students, Lerum said “we need to educate them to not being victims. It’s a terrible thing we have to do, but essential.” The results will hopefully be available soon, though one or neither candidate may be selected as the search committee wants the right person, and right now are collecting feedback on whether or not additional candidates are needed. The members of the committee are Hatelberg, Ronald Riley, Robert Fitzgerald, Judy Brenden, Seth Grossman, Tim Malroy, Cyndi Rapier, and Liz Becker all of whom are staff members here at Green River.
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International Students Ring in the Lunar New Year With Style By: Aaron Bales Staff Writer International and local students from Green River Community College gathered in the Lindbloom Center on Friday January 31 to celebrate the “Year of the Horse.” Festivities went from 7 p.m. to midnight and included a Kung Fu performance, Lion Dance, presentations from student cultural clubs, gambling tables and a dance party. The main dining hall of the Lindbloom Center was decorated from floor to ceiling with colorful streamers and paper lanterns. Also, the student clubs had set up booths around the room to showcase how their home countries observe the holiday. Many of the guests were dressed in traditional formal wear unique to each country. Impressive martial arts techniques were demonstrated by the Mak Fai Kung Fu Club of Seattle. The club also performed the traditional Lion Dance, accompanied by their own rhythm section. Student clubs also took
to the stage dancing, singing and lip syncing to pop and folk songs from their countries. Among them was a highly coordinated dance from Indonesia with bowls balanced on the palms of the dancers’ hands, and a sassy lip sync to a song from South Korean pop group Girls Generation. After the performances, when everyone was finished eating, the tables were cleared away and the main floor turned into a dance party. The DJ played current pop hits from the East and the West, including many of the viral video sensations of the past couple of years such as PSY’s “Gangnam Style” and “The Harlem Shake,” as well as old-school party songs like DJ Casper’s “Cha Cha Slide.” Students danced until the final countdown to the New Year, culminating in a balloon drop at the stroke of midnight. Wei Peng, an exchange student from China, was encouraged to attend by his friend who was on the event staff. This was his first time participating in Lunar New Year at Green River. According to Peng, the Chinese characters for writing “Year of the Horse”
Owen Richard | The Current
include the word “success.” This could be a successful year for many people. This was also a first for Carly Hooper, a local student with Chinese roots. “The food is great,” Hooper said. She is definitely interested in coming to next year’s celebration. Stephanie Scoby and Tawnya McLavey dressed in ornate silk garments for the occasion on Friday. Though not ethnically connected to the holiday, McLavey identifies with the cultures who celebrate it. “I’ve been a host parent to international students for
the last 15 years,” McLavey said. In the process she has gotten to know their various backgrounds and now participates in this holiday with other people from around the world. According to International Programs Extended Learning Student Ambassador, Gloria Tan, this is the biggest holiday in East and Central Asian cultures. “It’s like Christmas and Thanksgiving put together,” Tan said. The festival lasts 15 days, with different ceremonies for each day, the most significant being the large family gathering on New Year’s Eve.
According to Tan, there are twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac, the horse being the seventh animal in the cycle. But the cycle is also composed of elements as well as the duality of light and darkness. “Last year was the year of the water snake, and it was a slow year. This year is the wood horse, so it will be a fast year, with conflict,” Tan said. It is also a Yang year, meaning a year of light. Perhaps we can look forward to more sunlight and less overcast weather here in the Northwest. Judging by the revelry last Friday, it will definitely be a lively one.
Health Care Shopping Causes Headaches Stundent Plan $506.75 per quarter
20%
co-pay
By: David Price Staff Writer
Considering the recent health care law changes it seems pertinent to discuss how this effects students. Right now there are several plans worth considering for students depending on their situation. Most college students are eligible for Washington Apple adult coverage (Medicaid) as their their grants and scholarships give them an income of less than $12,000 per year. They can also buy expensive insurance if their income is over $12,000 such as student health insurance through GRCC. Unfortunately, this simply isn’t an March option for most students. The costs per quarter and co-pays are too expensive for most students’ budgets to allow. According to the online brochure the student health insurance plan costs $506.75 per quarter and the student has to pay 20 percent in co-pays on almost everything covered by the insurance plan, including overnight stays at the hospital. For out of network services the student has to pay 40 percent of the costs. Most college students would be bankrupted by the co-pays alone. It’s no surprise that many of the students around campus are on their parents plan and don’t know much about healthcare. But many of the students on campus who have signed up through the state’s
Members can expect to pay
of out of network costs.
Deadline for 2014 enrollment: www. wahealthplanfinder .org
360-688-7700
40% 31
website, “Washington Health Plan Finder,” have experienced difficulties in signing up. On the topic of her experience using the website, student Nicky Aden said, “I had to call several times to finally get through to somebody who helped me fill out the online application.” She also likes the health care law changes because she wouldn’t have to pay a premium. The health care law changes are good for people with pre-existing conditions since insurance companies can no longer deny people coverage for their preexisting conditions. Student Ian Hall also said that he ran into glitches on the website. “When I applied by myself versus with the other members of the household, I was able to bypass the glitches.” He was fortunate because many people from their home computers have not been able to get past the glitches to sign up online. Since getting signed up for a new health plan is such a huge hassle a lot of young people have decided it’s not worth it. The healthcare poster on the second floor of the Holman Library says “A young healthy person might not think about health insurance until medical services are needed.” Without health insurance the exorbitant cost of an overnight stay at the hospital can
cripple almost anyone’s finances. You never know what is going to happen in life so it’s definitely important for students of all ages to have health insurance in case something unexpected happens. An agent or healthcare professional who is supposed to be able to help, instead may direct a caller to someone else who can supposedly be of better assistance which often leads to a round trip back to the Washingtonhealthplanfinder website. This process seems like a vicious circle for those who find themselves in a situation where they need to sign up for the new Washington Apple Adult Medicaid Insurance coverage and their attempts at getting health coverage are uneventful, then contacting King County Public Health might be a good option. They have navigator agents who can sign people up right over the phone; this way bypasses dealing with a difficult website that sometimes doesn’t work or the Washingtonhealthplanfinder telephone number that is typically busy. According to kingcounty. gov, the final deadline for 2014 enrollment is March 31, 2014. However, if your income qualifies for Apple Health/Medicaid enrollment is ongoing.
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Laura Gray | A&E Editor ae@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
Concert Calendar A Light, Fun Gaming Adventure Evaluation: Feb. By: Matt Dalos Staff Writer
Mad Caddies
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@ Chop Suey (Doors open at 7 pm $15 in Adv. $18 day of show All ages, bar w/ID) Presented in part by KGRG
2 Chainz
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
“Broken Age” is a game that came out on Jan. 28 and is available to computer players via Steam. I found it to be a funny and cute story that would be good for people of all ages, but it is definitely not a strategic game with skill improvement; think more like an animated story book that you control, but is cool enough to be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a story about two teenage kids, a boy and a girl, who live in different times and different worlds. The Girl learns, on her birthday, that her town is going to offer her up as a sacrifice to this huge evil monster. While being dressed up like a giant cupcake (yeah, it’s a crazy story) she decides to kill the monster instead of being willingly eaten like all the other girls. This leads her on a zany adventure until the end of the first chapter of the game. The Boy on the other hand lives
IIIScarlett, Positive Rising
PushaT, August Alsina
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@ The Showbox Sodo (Doors open at 7 pm $42.50 in Adv. $45 day of show, All ages)
22
The Moondoggies, Mikey and Matty
The Head and The Heart
@The Paramount (Doors open at 7 pm Show at 8 pm starting at $31.25)
New Politics
Man 26 @ Neumos CrystalMagic Ball Reading Room
(Doors open at 8 pm $15 in Adv. All ages)
Not All That Awkward By: Laura Gray A&E Editor “That Awkward Moment” is a cute but predictable film. It is exactly what one would expect upon watching the trailers, a formulaic romantic comedy from the perspective of the guys instead of the girls. This did not make it bad, just unoriginal plotwise. The plot line was your basic rom-com boy meets girl story set in the cliché city of New York. This made the entire film predictable as to what would happen next. However the characters were interesting enough that the fact that the film was unoriginal did not ruin the movie. The storyline follows Jason (Zac Efron) and his two best friends through their adventures and misadventures in finding love. The actors all did a great job with their roles. Zac Efron broke away from his cheesy Disney roots in his portrayal of Jason, who is all about sleeping around and designs book covers for a living. Imogen Poots plays the love interest for Jason. She did a great job as the slightly strange Ellie. Her character was not so much
Evaluation: weird as she just knew who she was and did not really care how other people viewed her. Jason's best friends were portrayed by Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan. Their love interests were played by Mackenzie Davis and Jessica Lucas, respectively. Teller's love interest was especially obvious. If you have any knowledge of romantic comedies, then when she is first seen interacting with the guys, you know she will end up with him. While there were some moments of the awkward style of humor, as is to be expected from the title, but they were not drawn out which kept them funny. My biggest fear going into this film was that it would draw out the awkward humor to the point where it is stupid and annoying rather than funny, as per the usual. Do not go into this film expecting something new and amazing because you will be disappointed. But if you are looking for a fun, fairly generic romantic comedy to see, then this is a fun one.
Dominic Yoxtheimer | The Current
Dominic Yoxtheimer | The Current
Dominic Yoxtheimer | The Current
in a high tech and cool space ship that is supposed to protect him, but it really just ends up boring him as he repeats the same pattern every day like eating the same meals and going on the same safe and approved “rescue missions.” One day he breaks free from this and discovers that the world outside is fraught with war and destruction and takes it upon himself to help those who are helpless and in need. To do this though, he must go against the space ship’s artificial intelligence program that has been taking care of him since he was a child and plays the role of his pseudo-mother. When I first saw the trailers for the game, I was instantly drawn to it, and all that it promised in the trailer was fulfilled in the game. The story was clever and meaningful with a tone of “coming of age.” I laughed a lot at certain scenes; it definitely has its
easy-to-understand jokes as well as its more intellectual chuckles. The game its self was crowd-funded through a Kickstarter campaign that raised money from donations, rather than being funded by a game producer. The people who give money to the artist have suggestions that are heeded by the maker, and the maker, other than the suggestions, does not have to answer to anyone, so he is uninhibited when realizing his vision for the game. I would suggest that you buy “Broken Age” and share it with anyone who wants a fun experience. But do not buy it if you are not looking for a cute and fun game. The game does play in the style of a more mature “Pajama Sam,” “Spy Fox,” or “Put-Put,” but it has its own charm to it. Kids would definitely like it as well as girlfriends who aren’t big gamers. All in all, it was a good game. Dominic Yoxtheimer | The Current
Dominic Yoxtheimer | The Current
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SIFF Visits Issaquah High School By: Michelle Spencer Staff Writer
The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) held the Issaquah International Film Festival from Feb. 1 - 2 at Issaquah High School. SIFF is an organization that brings films from around the world to the Washington community. Their mission is to bring Washington into a more cultured state of mind and to make the passionate art of film more accessible to the general public. While movies sponsored by SIFF are usually screened at the SIFF cinema centers in Seattle, this particular festival was held in Issaquah. SIFF used Issaquah High School as their theater of choice so as to hopefully get the students more involved in the festival’s film selection. The festival included six different movies from around the world from all different genres, and none of the films shown would be considered commercial films in America. Two movies that were shown so as to appeal to younger students were “Kum-
ba,” an animated family-friendly film from South Africa about a zebra born with only half his stripes, and “If You Build It,” an American documentary about high school students from South Carolina rebuilding their community. Four other films that were shown in the two-day period were “Ghost Graduation,” an adventure fantasy story from Spain, “Best Offer,” a thriller-drama from Italy, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” a comedic drama from Taiwan, and last but not least “Populaire,” a romantic comedy from France. “Populaire,” directed by Regis Roinsard, is the story of a young woman in the 1950’s named Rose Pamphyle played by Déborah Françoi. Rose is from a small farm town in France and her father believes her destiny is to marry the local mechanic of their town, but Rose has bigger plans. When she decides to leave her small town life behind, she ends up becoming a secretary to a handsome business man named Louis Echard played by
Photo Courtesy of SIFF Issaquah High School, SIFF’s location for film festival
Romain Duris. Louis finds out while interviewing Rose for the secretary position, that she has a gift for speed type writing. Louis becomes determined to train her and make her the fastest typist in the world. He starts entering her in international speed typing competitions. As Louis and Rose
spend more time together, a love affair between the two develops. With the premiere of “Populaire” being held on Superbowl Sunday, where the Seattle Seahawks went up against the Denver Broncos, very few people attended the premiere which was the last and sure to be the
Off Beat Romance After Valentine’s By: Laura Gray A&E Editor Valentine’s Day is always difficult to plan. There are dinner reservations to make and decisions about the right gift to get and what movie should you see if you do not want to fight the crowds at the theaters for all the new mainstream films. If you are looking for a change as to what to go see then there are a few options besides the latest Hollywood releases. If you wish for something different to see you can head up to Seattle and check out some live shows and alternative films The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) does an annual screening of “Harold and Maude,” on Valentine's Day. If that does not sound appealing, as not everyone is interested in seeing “Harold and Maude,” then, as long as it is okay with your date, you can wait a day or two and avoid much of the Valentine’s Day crowds and visit SIFF on the following Saturday or Sunday for a triple movie screening.
most popular film shown. Although the turnout was minimal, the movie itself seemed to bring high spirits to the crowd. With the film’s quick wit and sweet romance between Francoi and Duris, everyone that attended the movie left with a smile on their face.
Movie Calendar Feb.
12
Feb.
14
Photo Courtesy of SIFF
Once on each day the weekend after Valentine’s Day SIFF is showing a romantic trilogy called “Before Sunrise” directed by Richard Linklater. The trilogy starts with “Before Sunrise” from 1995. Then there is the second one from 2004, “Before Sunset.” The finale is “Before Midnight” from 2013. These films star Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy as the couple Jesse and Celine. In these films
you watch the couple meet for the first time one day while abroad, then in the subsequent films you see the couple for a day in their lives after so long has passed. The time that it took for each film to come out is how long it has been for the couple between the days that we see them. In this way, the audience sees little snippets of Jesse and Celine’s lives every nine years.
RoboCop
Winter’s Tale About Last Night Endless Love
February 15 & 16 @ SIFF Film Center Tickets for the Trilogy: $21 or $15 for SIFF Memebers “Before Sunrise” starts at 4 pm “Before Sunset” starts at 6:15 pm “Before Midnight” starts at 8 pm
Feb.
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Pompeii 3 Days To Kill
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Valentine’s Day With
thecurrent
Good Ideas for a Good Day
Casey Holmberg, 18
Knowing your partner better get something personal like their favorite album or movie.
+1 Years 3 Months
-1 Month 6 Months
Gifts Simple, classical gifts like flowers or chocolate are always very appropriate.
Flowers or chocolates are fine again but buy your partner’s favorite brands or flowers.
Gemstones and precious metals e.g. necklaces, earrings, or rings to show true appreciation.
3 Months
As you become more comfortable invite your partner to your house for a movie and a home meal.
The northwest has some of the best parks, go on a hike date or to stay warm, drive to a bowling alley.
The classic white table cloth dinner at a fancy restaurant never fails for a romantic evening.
3 Months +1 Years
-1 Month 6 Months
Grab a cookbook and to prepare a meal for your partner.
Duncan Stobi, 18 Duncan had been dating his first girlfriend and for their three month anniversary he hand crafted her some gifts and cards, only for her to leave him for another guy. “She was passive aggressive, pretended to care for my issues,” Stobi said. Though now he is more wary of potential romances and credited his lack of dating experience to the whole mess.
Alena, who her friend called “A treasure trove of worst dates.” Alena had been dating a boy she knew for quite a while (they have since broken up) and they went on a double date with some friends to watch Paranormal Activity 4, despite Alena being terrified of ghosts. When Alena’s date couldn’t get out of the car due to the child safety lock Elena made a playful remark which infuriated him. Afterwards her date decided to pettily avenge himself spooking Elena to the point of crying. “I was so embarrassed,” Wright said.
Patrick Piechuro, 17 “She just didn’t talk,”explaining how he tried over and over to spark a conversation on a date he had at a frozen yogurt shop. Though Patrick pointed out that people have said she was a rather shy girl, he felt you should still try to give input in a conversation. Patrick noted to always do a double date for situations like these.
Romance At this early stage simply spending time with each other is amplified by the honeymoon phase.
Casey had gone on a movie date with some other friends. After the movie they went for dinner but their friends left halfway through, leaving them to pick up the bill. Things only got progressively worse, Casey said. Afterwards they went to Casey’s date’s house only for the date’s brother to be caught by his dad with weed. “It was bad,” Casey laughed, saying he just went off at him. Though in the end, Casey tried to make the best of it with his date.
Alena Wright, 17
+1 Years
-1 Month 6 Months
Locations For the first month a good rule of thumb is to go places where you can hold what you can consume, think coffee or frozen yogurt.
Worst Dates
Meeting your partner’s parents and friends is a great way to become more personal and liked by your partner.
As things become more serious, celebrate this special time with a romantic getaway.
Free
Healthy Sexuality 101 health and wellness workshop.
What is safe sex? This session will teach how to make safe decisions with your sexual health.
Presenter: Marci Reichert, Community Educator, Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest
Thursday, February 13, 2014 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM Location: Lindbloom Student Center (LC) -Baker Room
games
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Evan Yu| Games Editor editor@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
DOWN
Crossword
1. Left part of heart, carries blood throughout body except lungs 2. Submerged 3. Island, the only state with two unique words in its name 4. Sport involving swordplay and white uniforms 6. Popular social media website, post a status 8. Mix of rain and snow 9. Where the 2014 Winter Olympics are being held 11. First name of the star of The Hunger Games 14. ______ is the new black 15. Used for smoking weed, tobacco, or other herbal substances 16. Movie about a man who falls in love with an operating system
ACROSS 5. Rapper of hit single, “Thrift Shop,” also is a Seattle Native 7. Humpday 10. The study of reptiles 12. Sings sailors to their doom 13. ____ Bill Vol. 1 17. “Windy” US city 18. _______ + the machine
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3
7 8 2
3 9
1
6 8 6
3
5
3
4 9
2 2
9
8
9
1
4
1 3 6
6 5
Across 5.Macklemore 7.Wednesday 10.Herpatology 12.Sirens 13.Kill 17.Chicago 18.Florence
6 7
Down 1.Aorta 2.Sunken 3.Rhode Island 4.Fencing 6.Facebook 8.Sleet 9.Sochi 11.Jennifer 14.Orange 15.Bong 16.Her
Sudoku
ANSWERS
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lifestyle
KC McIntyre | Lifestyle Editor life@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
Celebrating Couples Day as a Single
What to do on Valentine’s Day being single
By: KC McIntyre Lifestyles Editor
Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and the deadline for finding someone to spend it with is drawing near. For anyone who has decided they are strong, independent and do not need a significant other, or for anyone who has just given up hope on finding someone for this year, there are countless ways to celebrate the day of love without necessarily having to be in love. Hanging out with friends and family is always a good idea. It never does anyone any good to ruminate in loneliness. Being in company is a great reminder that happiness and fun doesn’t have to
come from a significant other. Going for a night out with friends is always a great go-to idea. It can be treated like a date night with a group going out to dinner and a movie. Or it can be a girl’s or guy’s night, fully equipped with chick-flicks, ice cream, Nerf-guns, and video games. Traveling to different towns can be something novel for the whole group. Instead of staying in the Auburn/Kent/Enumclaw area, drive somewhere an hour or more away – Gig Harbor, Everett, Ellensburg, etc. – and enjoy a new city with new activities.
MAN ON THE
STREET
Brendan Bersey
Casey Homlberg
“In 1981...Denver and 49ers, when Denver lost 55-10. ‘Cause my dad is a huge Denver fan and it was the first time I ever saw my dad breakdown. It was so funny, I was such a little kid.”
“As soon as the clock ran out, we all ran outside. Every body jumped into the back of my trunk bed and I got in and we just drove around the neighborhood, hooting and hollaring.”
Taking parents or siblings out for an exciting night can be a great way to show them love and appreciation. Most activities – dinner, movies, bowling, etc. – are going to be extremely crowded. Everywhere will be flocked with not only couples, but other singles and families on Friday Feb. 14, and Saturday and Sunday. To avoid crowds, make it a night in. A good night in is different for everyone. Movies, popcorn, and chocolate are essential for a lowkey night in. There are two types of singles on Valentine’s Day: the cynic and
the lover. day that is best fitting for each inThe cynic is one who only talks dividual. The cynic may not want to be surrounded by hundreds of about what a stupid day it is, that couples for hours, just as a lover there should not be a day that dictates when may not want to Remember: to show love, participate in anand that the day Day It’s only one day. Don’t ti-Valentine’s events. is only a day to waste money. let one day fester bad Sometimes the The lover is the best thing to do feelings. person who though is just rejoices in the treat it like any day of love, spreading the spirit to other day. It is one day out of everyone around them. the year, so don’t allow it to ruin Many people are a little bit self-esteem or self-worth. Also, it’s Valentine’s weekend this year, of the mix of the two types. No matter the combination of the and can be celebrated Friday two, it’s important to enjoy the through Sunday.
Central
What is your favorite Super Bowl memory?
Dominic Yoxtheimer | The Current
Photo illustration depicting loneliness on Valentine’s Day
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february10.2014
Managing Time Made Easy
Tips on how to manage classes, studying, and homework By: Eudrice Gildon Staff Writer
KC McIntyre | The Current
KC McIntyre’s “Hearty Healthy Soup” for the winter weather
HEARTY HEALTHY SOUP By: KC McIntyre Lifestyles Editor
Ingredients:
-1 cup quinoa -2 tbs olive oil -1 cup chopped onion -6 carrots diced -20 oz fresh mushrooms -1 chopped zucchini -4 cloves garlic, minced -8 cups reduced sodium vegie broth -2 cans unsalted diced tomatos -2 tbs tomato paste -1 tbs Worcestershire sauce -1 tsp balsamic vinegar -1½ tsp thyme -¼ ground sage -1 tsp marjoram -1 tsp kosher salt -¼ ground black pepper -6 cups baby spinach -Black pepper (to taste)
Directions:
-Thoroughly rinse the quinoa in a strainer, drain and transfer to a medium pot. Add two cups of water to the pot. Bring the pot to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium low and simmer until water is absorbed about 15 minutes. -While the quinoa is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large pot on medium heat. Add in onion and carrots, sauté for five minutes. -Add mushrooms and zucchini; sauté for five minutes. -Add in garlic; sauté for one minute. -Add broth, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and balsamic vinegar. Stir well. -Add in thyme, sage, marjoram, salt, and black pepper. Stir well. -Bring to low boil. Lower heat and let simmer for 20-25 minutes.
A healthy soup recipe to help warm the body in the cold weather -Once carrots are tender, add in the quinoa from the medium pot into the large pot. Stir in. -Add spinach. -Cook until spinach is no larger raw; about five minutes. -Season with black pepper to taste.
Yield:
Makes about 24 cups. 12 servings. 2 cups each.
Notes:
Quinoa (pronounced keen-wha) is a good source of protein. It is a healthy grain that makes a good substitute for most pastas. Make sure to watch quinoa so it doesn’t stick to the pan or dry out. To keep the quinoa from sticking, lightly coat the pan with olive oil. What is great about this soup is that it works as a good base for adding more ingredients. Other vegetables that would be tasteful to add would be: potatoes, yellow squash, celery, cabbage and kale. As for flavor, the seasoning for this soup is very warm and savory, giving the soup a hearty taste. Do not over-cook the spinach. Make sure to pay close attention and verify that it is cooked completely, but also that it does not cook up too much. This soup does not need to be served with anything else, because it has all the aspects of a meal (vegetables, protein, and grains). But meat can be added to the soup. It would also go great with a salad and bread.
It is common for students to have a tough time managing homework for all their classes. No matter how many classes they are taking, some students do not have a well-prepared schedule that allows time for each and every class and each class’s assignments. There is a significant portion of school that must be worked on outside of class, and that can be difficult to manage. There are some good practices that might help anyone manage their time better and allow them to spend appropriate time studying for each class and doing assignments for each class. These tips are a good place to start. One of the ways to study that can help manage time is to study one class at a time. When working on that one class, only work on one assignment at a time. Multitasking is not more efficient, despite popular belief that it is. There is no point of trying to do every class and every homework assignment at the same time. When trying to do assignments in a batch instead of working on each individual assignment, it will be difficult to finish any single assignment completely because many assignments will be partly done. Put all focus into one assignment at a time, and only once that is done, move onto the next assignment. Also work on one class at a time. Once you finish all the assignments from one class, move on to the next class. Do this until all your classes are done. The way to know which assignments should be done first is knowing the priority of each assignment. If assignment A is due before assignment B, then
assignment A takes priority and should be completed first. Having a small, measured break in between each assignment allows the brain to reset and be more focused for the next assignment. This break should have a time limit. Another way to help manage time for classes is to start up a study group with other students in the class. Starting up a study group with fellow classmates aids in understanding current assignments, and also helps in understand the class subject as a whole. Group study can be an efficient way to complete assignments, as long as everyone is on task. Emeka Odoh, who is a Peer Navigator of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs over at the Lindbloom Student Center, said, “Work at a study table with your own classmates. Also not being afraid to ask questions to your teacher.” Oscar Donis said, “Set time apart from everyone and other things that don’t distract from school. And leave notes all over your house with class notes for an upcoming test.” Another student, Ethan Duy Tran, said, “Use a calendar and schedule certain time to study for each class on a certain day. And reduce certain unworthy activates to get your work done.” Setting aside time is vitally important to learning how to organize and manage time. When time is specifically set aside, it makes it a lot harder to forget about your work or procrastinate. Mark Thomason, who is a history teacher here at GRCC, said this about good ways to manage time to study, “Set a side time every day to study like about two hours a day. Also get a calendar and write down your assignments on it so that you know what is coming up.”
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thestaff
Dominic Yoxtheimer Editor-in-Chief
253-833-9111 x2375 Spencer Rock Managing Editor Ad Manager Campus Editor 253-833-9111 x2376 Lisa Gray Opinion Editor
Laura Gray A&E Editor
Aaron Bales Copy Editor
Evan Yu Games Editor
Ian Lobdell Photography Editor
KC McIntyre Lifstyles Editor
Jesse Maiwald Sports Editor
Staff Writers: Patrick Daly, Aaron Bales, Jesse Maiwald, David Price, Haley Curl Eudrice Gildon, Michelle Spencer, Matt Dalos, Jesse Torres Photographers: Ian Lobdell and Michelle Spencer
Corrections
As much as we like to think we are, journalists are not perfect. Because of this, we welcome our readers to let us know when we make mistakes in our paper. If you find that we’ve spelled someone’s name wrong or stated our facts incorrectly, please contact us at
OEB room 17 (253) 288 3497 editor@thegrcurrent.com Correction:
In the Jan. 27 issue a factual error was made in “Student on College Board of Trustees”, saying that faculty are on the board of trustees when there cannot be faculty on the board. The Current regrets the error.
Getting an education for a better future By: Haley Curl Guest Writer
The State of the Union Address is something that we all hear about, but not all of us know exactly what it is. So, to start with, let’s clarify; the State of the Union Address is a speech given by the current U.S. president in January, which summarizes past progress, current state of the nation, and future plans for furthering that progress. The 2014 State of the Union Address was, as is usual for President Obama, eloquently given. It stated his positions, and seemed to clarify any of the more clouded issues of this past year. He spoke of the government shut down this last October. Though some could view it as a far-off issue, the shutdown took a great toll on GRCC and the ability of our international population to receive their visas. The other main issue which was talked about was the segregation of the upper and lower classes. The wages and the difficulty of minimum wage jobs were mentioned, as well as the higher wages and success of the upper class. Obama stated that “too many Americans are working more than ever just to get by – let alone get ahead. And too many still aren’t working at all.” Now, I realize that the popular opinion is precisely what he has stated. Many look at the minimum wage (which is $9.32 an hour) and think that there is no possibility of working for such low wages and managing to live comfortably. I completely agree. Where I grew up, minimum wage was $7.25 an hour, and driving
to work was barely worth my paycheck. Here is the kicker though: minimum wage is not meant to be a comfortable salary. It is supposed to be an undesirable wage. We go to college so that we can earn more and live comfortably. If minimum wage were comfortable, no one would ever try to educate themselves. There would be no drive for our nation to grow. We should be focusing our time on working hard to earn the money that we believe we deserve. We deserve to live comfortably, but not without earning it. I understand that not all people have the time or the resources it takes to get to college. Money is tough to manage, and it’s very difficult to work a full time job while also going to school. But what people don’t seem to see is that raising the minimum wage requirement will change nothing. Eventually, inflation will undo every benefit that higher wages had originally claimed to give us. I know it is more than difficult, but aren’t we all intelligent human beings? Don’t we live in a country that was founded on the idea of intellectual freedom, and the ability to move up in the world? How is it that we have convinced ourselves that it is the government’s fault when we cannot live comfortably? We pay our taxes, and we lose money every year. Gas prices have rocketed, and come back down. Money will always be difficult to keep hold of. We will never escape that truth. So wouldn’t it make more sense for us to try to make it easier to go to school? If what we want is a job that makes more money, then we should be willing to work for it.
Editorial Policy The Current is a limited public forum for student expression, in which student editors make policy and content decisions. Green River Community College delegates editorial responsibility for the content of the publications. The college acknowledges the dual free purpose of student publications as instructional tools and as vehicles for free inquiry and free expression in the academic community. The views and opinions expressed in The Current do not necessarily reflect those of the college or student body.
Theft Policy A person commits the offense of publication theft when he or she willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over more than three copies of The Current that is distributed on campus (with the intent to prevent other individuals from reading that edition of the publication). A “publication” includes any periodical that is distributed on a complimentary or compensatory basis. In addition to the imposition of other campus disciplinary penalties, a person who violates this provision is responsible for compensating the publication for all reasonable costs incurred, including, where appropriate, the refund of advertising fees.
Letters to the Editor The Current encourages all its readers to be involved and will publish letters. Anonymous letters are not accepted and the editor reserves the right to reject or edit letters on the basis of length, libel, or propriety. All letters become property of The Current. Send letters to thecurrent@greenriver.edu.
Lisa Gray | Opinion Editor opinion@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR I am greatly disappointed by the misleading article published in The Current entitled "Who Makes What?" Like many of my colleagues who were highlighted in bold print, the published numbers are misleading because the author examined only one very unusual year of income. As a full-time instructor from 1980 through June, 2012 I earned an average of $48,508 per year. This average included my salary and additional contracts for teaching on weekends, evenings, and during the summer. In The Current article my income for 2012 was listed as $135,102. This figure of $135,102 included a retirement incentive and thirty-two years of unpaid sick-leave. My salary was not and never has been close to $135,102. The retirement compensation package that I received was chosen by the College as a money saving device and offered
to all senior faculty. Since my retirement, I returned to the College to teach as a part-time instructor. I taught during three quarters of 2013 and my income was $17,458. The Current's intentional decision to publish and highlight the misleading figures of salary plus retirement benefits can only be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to skew the data. The Current did not highlight any of the abysmally low actual salaries that were published. GRCC faculty typically forego high paying jobs in the private sector so that they can help young people to succeed. Any attempt to promote a myth of overpaid teachers is disrespectful to the profession and potentially damaging to our education system. Robert Filson Geology Instructor
LETTER TO THE EDITOR First and foremost I wanted to celebrate a few things I read in the last issue of The Current. The pursuit of public information and public records in the center fold feature reminded me, and I’m sure quite a few readers, of the significance of our tireless public educators and staff and a transparent society. No number diminishes that. Information in the modern age is available everywhere, to the point where it might be considered distracting and confusing to find footing with what’s around us. But it’s fantastic journalism to pause and take notice of things we might take for granted. For example, I was glad to read about the gigantic step forward the college decided to take in regards to involving students on the board of trustees. For years we’ve had
members of student government and this newspaper as student voices in regards to important issues concerning the institution and our community. Adding another direct influence, encouraged me about the progression of our student culture on campus. A student member on the board of trustees can enhance student responsibility and civic ownership in regards to building this school. Together, we can achieve great things. In my time here, I’ve discussed and read about disagreements and frustrations. Sometimes I share those grievances. But there is one clear goal. My classmates and I, we’re here to learn. I hope no one loses sight of that fact. This is OUR College. This is OUR home. Jean-Pierre Garcia Producer | KGRG FM
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Are successfulness and responsibility possible? By: Spencer Rock Managing Editor One of the biggest topics in the media over the last couple weeks has been the big Justin Bieber scandal(s). On January 9 the cops searched his house for any evidence involving $20,000 worth of damage to his neighbor’s house. Then on January 24 he was arrested for drag racing while driving under the influence in California. It wasn’t long ago when Justin Bieber seemed like he was on every teenage girl’s mind and every teenage guy’s shit list, and since then those opinions have grown and now he’s a household name regardless of whether you love him or hate him. Now, it seems like he’s on just about everyone’s shit list, not just teenage boys. However, this isn’t unfamiliar to the people of America who have seen these kinds of activities from various celebrities over the years. From Lindsay Lohan to Chris Brown, there always seems to be a new, young celebrity who’s getting in trouble. Instead of looking at this as an opportunity to bash or change our minds about the person behind the talent,
maybe it’s time to reflect on how our society functions. You give a young kid a dream job and now he has just about everything he ever wanted: money, women, adoring fans, nice cars, you name it. Then you put their personal life out there for everyone to see and then they’re expected to grow into respectable adults. What are they supposed to do when they become an adult when they’ve already had more success than just about anyone in America before they’ve even fully matured? It’s easy to believe that these people are purely the talent and skill they put into a song or onto a TV screen, but they are human just like the rest of us. They just get their lives thrown in everyone’s faces instead of just the people who know them. These types of accomplishments pretty much defy everything that the average person is taught throughout their life. Parents teach children morals and values. Society stresses accomplishments and education. Young celebrities like Justin Bieber give us a glimpse of what happens when some of these things are bypassed for the sake of success. As GRCC students are taking
steps towards having a successful future, they should take note of these stories of irresponsibility. Despite their talents, young women should take note of the “Lindsay Lohans” of the world so that they don’t make the same mistakes. Young men should realize that success is not a get out jail free card no matter how successful and popular they become. There is a difference though because the average person’s life isn’t exploited quite the same way, however success leads to interest which often leads to exposure. As Americans we are taught to aim for success , but what they don’t stress is the extra care that a person must take in order to prevent themselves from becoming another headline or the price they pay when it’s not enough. Artistry and fame are not substitutes for acting out; a lavish lifestyle will not replace poor decision-making, and millions of fans will not prevent deportation. The allegations against Justin Bieber are legitimate and they can happen to anyone who acts that way. Maybe America should reconsider the way we classify success and the price of fame. Is it worth it?
Taking the “Self” out of Self-confidence By: Elena Praggastis Guest Writer Today’s culture does not promote self-confidence, specifically for girls, in terms of self. Most girls accept negative and positive comments from other people more than themselves when building their self-confidence. I log into Instagram and see a picture tagged “#nomakeup”. Some girl is wearing short shorts with apparently no makeup on and showing seemingly natural hair. At her house, this girl is probably posing for about ten minutes taking and retaking the picture which is supposed to reveal her inner confidence and relaxed nature. She is puffing her lips out like a duck, pulling her shirt up to her bra, or standing on her tip toes to show off her calf muscles. It sounds a little contradictory to use so much effort to take a “relaxed” picture. This girl is building her so-called confidence level by making herself look more appealing. This is the pitfall of all self-confidence issues: appearance. Any girl could tell you that if
they are pretty, people call them pretty, or people think they are pretty, then therefore they are pretty, and inherently confident. Every time an outside person gives out a compliment of some sort, it burrows deep into the girly psyche and festers. Whether it is a negative or positive comment, it will mesh with accumulating comments and grow into how a person defines themselves. The girl in the Instagram post is probably walking around school with at least three swipes of mascara, an inch of lip-gloss, and a half ounce of powder make up on her face, hoping nobody sees the tiny zit on her forehead. She walks to class either swinging her hips or staring at her feet. When people see her they think “Whore” or “Prep” or “Nerd”. These comments are revealed in body language as well as actual verbal communication. They eventually affect how she views herself and how much confidence she has in herself. If she would only accept comments from one particular person more, the build-up of other comments festering in
her psyche would be squeezed out in no time. This person is herself - looking in the mirror, reviewing pictures, reciting mantras. If every time a girl saw her reflection she said a positive comment to herself, all the comments from outside people would be completely drowned out and overrun. The word and the concept of self-confidence should be much more related. The word isn’t “people’s-confidence” or “his-confidence” or “her-confidence.” The comments that matter should not come from other outside people. The word is self-confidence, and the comments that matter should come from “self.” The process of posting an Instagram picture, trying to seem relaxed and confident, is in itself an unconfident behavior. If a girl could look in the mirror and say “You are awesome,” every day, she wouldn’t need the satisfaction of showing her defined calf muscles and skin on her tummy and puffy lips on the internet. She should put the “self” back in self-confidence, and then she would be awesome every day.
GO THE DISTANCE. Personal attention, small class sizes, academic programs designed for the 21st century, and a commitment to affordability — it’s how Saint Martin’s University can prepare you for unlimited possibilities. Learn about our seamless transfer process at Green River Community College on Thursday, February 27, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.!
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Basketball Men’s Wed Feb. 12 8pm @Tacoma Sat Feb. 15 5pm vs Grays Harbor Wed Feb. 19 8pm vs Highline Sat Feb. 22 7pm @Centralia Mar. 1-4 NWAACC Championship @ Richland, WA Toyota
Women’s Mon Feb. 10 6pm @ Pierce Wed Feb. 12 6pm @ Tacoma Sat Feb. 15 3pm vs Grays Harbor Wed Feb. 19 6pm vs Highline Sat Feb. 22 5pm @ Centralia
Inside GRCC’s Basketball’s team motto By: Jesse Maiwald Sports Editor
The Green river Gators Basketball team has had quite an impressive start this season so far as they are at a .500 win percentage battling for that third spot in the tournament. The team has a total record of 8-11. but bode a 5-5 record for their league. In the most recent game against the South Puget Sound Clippers the Gators led a routing of 53 to 71. The Gators were dominant under the glass out-rebounding their opponent by almost 30 boards, 29-57 to be exact. Coach Tim Malroy is in his 10th season here at Green River and continues to send athletes to higher levels of basketball. Malroy wants to, “… Inspire the athletes towards mastery and excellence.” Sheer speed and physical dominance is what have made the basketball team so strong especially in the paint. Our first quarter lead came quick and swiftly by fast breaks led mostly by Isaac Winston and
No need for “Hipster” 12th man By: Jesse Maiwald Sports Editor
Now that our beloved Hawks won the Super bowl, fans need to be embracing the hordes of incoming fans on the way instead of pushing them away. Part of getting to call yourself a World Champion means that new fans are going to be coming forward. There is nothing worse for our fanbase than the sour apple fans who don’t like new members of the 12th man coming to join because they haven’t always been rabid Seattle Seahawks fans. Calling new fans “fair weather” fans is not appropriate because a lot of them didn’t even watch football that much from the start, so once they started watching they needed a team to root for. It’s safe to say the longtime new Seahawks hater fans are what we can now refer to as the “hipsters” of Seattle fans, they were rooting for them before it was
Jesse Maiwald| Sports Editor sports@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
the “cool” thing to do. Seattle the night of the superbowl was so surreal with how strangers were acting towards each other. Lights were green, and people were running through the streets shouting Legion Of Boom and highfiving cars as they ran down the street. If I knew anything about the stock market I would have been smart to invest in some Skittles stock, because every gas station was sold out of the little candies with people throwing them in the streets. All of these people were living through the ‘Hawks success this year and it is bringing our city together, and putting us on the map all across the world. As a Longtime Seahawks fan why would you not want to expand your fan base and become a stronger and louder Hawks Nation? The biggest contribution fans can give is shouting loud for all to hear, and new fans help bring those shouts to the games, so people should not be second-guessing if they should be Seattle fans. All fans should love that their city accomplished something great even if everyone hasn’t been here for the whole ride.
Devonte Luckett. Fast breaks are quick scoring opportunities that derive from the team moving the floor well. Chris Hale, number 24, spread the court real well drawing in three 3-pointers in the first half only missing on one, which was a tightly congested shot. Having players like Hale be able to come off the bench
“Inspire the athletes towards mastery and excellence”
-- Tim Malroy
and drop points continues to showcase the depth the coach has made around this team and that the ‘Next Man Up’ are still strong adequate players. One of Malroy’s biggest focus points as a coach is to, “make sure this isn’t the last place they go to school, I want to inspire
these kids so they understand what it means to be successful, I want these kids to understand what it means to be a student athlete.” As far winning games for our school he likes to keep his game plan simple which focuses on getting more possessions. “You can win games if you play strong defense, and offensively you rebound well. By having more possessions you get to take more shots,” Malroy said. Malroy has coached his fair share of D-1 athletes and he believes he has two D-1 capable athletes on the team right now. “My sophomores Isaac and Marcus are both very capable of playing at the next level,” Malroy said. However, having elite athleticism is not all it takes to be a division one athlete these days, you have to have the whole package. Grades, talent, and how efficient of a teammate you are all play into who gets to play at the biggest schools.