Livingston Profile Page 13
Nite of Laughs Page 10
www.TheVoiceofLSCM.com
Inside This Issue
The Lone Star College-Montgomery Student Newspaper
December 2010 Issue
New Buildings Opening in January Madison Biehl
Staff Writer / Secretary
Child Care Not Leaving See Page 2
Alternative Energy See Page 4
Restaurant Review See Page 7
After more than a year construction at Lone Star CollegeMontgomery, the three new academic buildings will be open for classes starting Spring 2011. “After all the construction for the past year, it will be interesting to see the final product,” said student Nick Seifried. Throughout the past few semesters students and faculty have had to deal with construction, noise, and inconveniences due to the construction of the new buildings on campus. Finally, a payoff will be received beginning this Spring. The new buildings on campus consist of an academic classroom building, a health science center, and an arts instructional building. The General Academic Center,Building G, is located closest to the Library, Building F, and will “house a wide
New Teaching Technology for How ‘Bout Them Mavericks New Ways to Give Tests Madison Biehl Stephen F. Austin University. LSCS W /S Montgomery is no stranger to the Keatin Reagan Assistant Editor
First iPad Winner See Page 14
Photo by Shawn Bitgood
Only details away from being finished, the new Music Hall will be ready to open this January. variety of classes, including English, continue to have Science, Nursing, will have all of LSC-Montgomery’s Psychology, Speech, etc,” said and Physical Therapy Assistant music programs and classes. Dean of College Relations, Steve classes among others. And last The LSC-Montgomery campus Scheffler. The new Health Science but not least, the new Music Hall, isn’t the only one expanding either; Center is actually just an extension Building H, which is closest to the of the current B building and will Performing Arts Center, Building D, See New Building on Page 2
Students throughout the Lone Star College System will soon find a new hi-tech addition in many classrooms. At the Nov. 4th meeting of the Lone Star Board of Trustees, the Board voted unanimously to approve the purchase of 85 “student
response systems” more commonly called “clickers.” The proposal approved at the board meeting called for 85 complete sets, each with a receiver and a set of clickers (the exact number of clickers was not provided), ten sets will be distributed to each college See Teaching Tech. on Page 12
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For those of you who don’t know, the Lone Star College-Montgomery flag football team has done pretty well this year. On November 5th, the Mavericks headed to Nacogdoches, Texas, to compete in the National IntramuralRecreational Sports Association Regional Tournament (NIRSA) at
NIRSA tournament either; our school has participated in it every year since 2006. Leading up to this tournament, the LSC-Montgomery team competed in the Semi-Regional Tournament that was held at the Montgomery campus on October 22, 2010. The See Flag Football on Page 5
Page 2, The Voice, December 2010
AROUND CAMPUS
Campus Child Care Facility is Being Relocated Kellie Pearson Staff Writer
Editor-in-Chief Alexandro Jimenez Associate Editor Maria A. Javaid Assistant Editor Keatin Reagan Secretary Madison Biehl Staff Photographers Shawn Bitgood Jill Hinton Staff Writters Kyle Kutter Shane Mends Hailey Mendiola Erica Murphey Kellie Pearson Advisors Jim Fredricks Dr. Tony Fuller Sara Goff Leah Moody Jan Snyder Affirmative Action/EEO College
Despite some rumors heard around campus, the child care facility here at LSC-Montgomery will continue to be available for next semester; however, the facility will no longer be stationed in the same building. The day care has to be relocated due to the construction of the new Sam Houston State University campus, which will be built where the day care is currently positioned. According to the Dean of College Relations, Steve Scheffler, “Ever since it was known that Sam Houston State University would take ownership of the land on which the current child care center sits, the college began looking for ways to continue the service for our students who need it. There were many options that were considered, but the one that has emerged is a relocation of the center to Building A, Room 102, as well as an adjacent storage area that can be renovated with minimal cost.” Scheffler went on to explain that the goal of the college is to relocate the day care without causing any disruptions for students and staff who use it. The renovation will occur during the holiday break from December to early January, and should be ready for use by the beginning of the Spring 2011 semester.
Ginger Smith, who has been the head coordinator of the child care center for the last two years, said that she was very excited the college chose to keep the service, and most parents are excited as well. “I am very much looking forward to the relocation of the center,” Smith said. With pending location to Building A, there is a concern regarding the convenience of picking up and dropping off children. Smith said that the college is still in the process of finding the solution for a drop off location, and although it will not be as convenient as the current location, it will still definitely be useful for parents. Over the five years of operation, enrollment has fluctuated, averaging from 40-50 parents utilizing the service. The child care service is available to be used by LSCMontgomery students, faculty, and staff. There are 46 students that have been using the center this fall. The enrollment is limited to 20 children at any one time. Overall, the child care center on campus has proved to be successful as well as convenient for those that use it. “We have always gotten positive feedback from the parents,” Smith said. “There are still many students who are unaware of the child services available, so maybe now that the center will be in a building directly on campus it will get more exposure and students will use it more.”
The child care center began service in August of 2005 as collaboration between LSC-Montgomery and Interfaith of The Woodlands, and is employed by teachers through the Interfaith Child Development Center. Currently, there are four employees that operate the day care. The day care is a state licensed facility and the employees have both their CPR and first aid certificates. The child care staff, in teamwork with Interfaith, establishes a weekly educational plan revolving around various themes. The center provides a variety of age appropriate activities, toys, books, and movies for children to play with, as well as outdoor play time and homework time for children that are school aged. According to their web page, the LSC-Montgomery Child Care Facility is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to
… New Building continued from front page the Lone Star College System has been in the works, adding another sister campus to the Lone Star family in Conroe on FM 3083. Groundbreaking for the Conroe Center began in January 2010 and the campus will be open for business in Spring 2011 as well. But wait there’s more. The
construction isn’t quite over for LSC-Montgomery yet; the groundbreaking for the new Sam Houston State University (SHSU) building near the University Center has recently begun and is projected to be complete by Fall 2012. A new parking garage is also in the works which is scheduled for completion
by Fall 2011. Adding convenience for SHSU students, the new building will aid in providing some of the same courses as the main campus in Huntsville, just closer to home. LSC-Montgomery is expanding in many ways and only time will tell what the future holds for the Mavericks.
Photo by Alexandro Jimenez
1 p.m. on Friday, and is closed on weekends. The service charges $6.00 per hour for each child. There is a monthly payment plan available, and there is also a sliding fee available for qualifying parents. The child care center offers no refunds or reimbursements for illness, etc. Children have to be between the ages of 18 months to 12 years in order to attend. In order to enroll a child in the campus day care for next semester, contact child care advisor Michelle Shaw at (936) 273-7452. She will go through your class schedule and any financial needs you may have as well as provide you with a pamphlet and a pass to tour the child care center. For general information, you can contact the day care at (936) 261-6100. E-mail us your opinions to: TheVoice@LoneStar.edu
The Voice, December 2010, Page 3
Page 4, The Voice, December 2010
AROUND CAMPUS
Social Networking Sites Prevent Students from Academic Computer Use Erica Murphey Staff Writer
Lone Star College-Montgomery Campus students are conflicted about how much the off task computer use in the school’s ELC and Library affects potential school work time. The Library and ELC computers are supposed to be used for academic purposes alone. However, some students are upset seeing others using them to browse social networking websites such as facebook and are forced to do their research somewhere else.
“I usually bring my laptop, but it is not hooked up to a printer. Therefore if I need to print something, I’m not able to get on a computer to upload my document to send it to the printer. If I don’t use my laptop but need a computer I am forced to go to another building that is still not networked to a printer,” said Matt Harker, 21. Yet others like Lauren Shilling, 19, have not experienced any interference. “I have a home computer. I only use the school computers between classes on occasion to study,” Shilling said.
There is also disagreement about how much people should monitor students using these computers in the ELC and Library and if there should be a filter for websites which are not necessary for studying most of the time. Dusty Woronowicz, Microcomputer Specialist One, says there is currently no filter he knows about for such sites with the exception of test taking on computers. “The only time there is a filter is when there is a lock down on a browser for a testing website such as math,” he said. Woronowicz also notes that
access to sites like facebook may still be allowed for students who want to research it for certain subjects such as Psychology. Those who are inconvenienced by computer misuse want a solution soon. “I believe something should be done,” Harker said, “even if it means adding more computers to the library.” Do you think social networking sites should be blocked in order to restrict academic computer use? E-mail: TheVoice@LoneStar.edu
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Lone Star College Montgomery Goes ‘Green’ With Commercial-Scale Alternative Energy Project Lauren Maddox
Writer, college relationS Algae is slithering its way onto campus at Lone Star College-Montgomery, leaving a ‘green’ handprint on the biotechnology program and forecasting a community-wide change. No, LSC-Montgomery doesn’t have a dirty fountain. Rather, the college has been chosen by the National Algae Association (NAA) to host the first commercial-scale, closed-loop photobioreactor (PBR) in the greater Houston area. This system will convert pond scum into biofuel, ultimately making the campus and possibly the entire community more self-sustainable. “At the community college level, no one else is Texas is doing this sort of project, and on a national level, I know of only two other colleges involved with this type of research,” said Dr. Danny Kainer, professor of biology at LSC-Montgomery and director of the college’s Biotechnology Institute. “The
PBR, which utilizes greenhouse technology to grow hundreds of gallons of algae at a time, will open up opportunities for students in our biotechnology program to do research, complete on-site internships, and develop partnerships within the energy industry.” The PBR was installed on campus this spring, but plans are already underway to install three more PBRs with several design modifications, as well as the harvesting and extracting equipment needed to generate the biofuel. “The PBRs will generate ‘green crude,’ or the algae equivalent of crude oil,” explained Barry Cohen, founder and executive director of the NAA. “Using the green crude and waste vegetable oil collected from the local community, the campus will be able to make biodiesel fuel, which could be used to fuel campus vehicles and equipment.” Under the guidance of Kainer, students in the biotechnology program work directly with the PBRs to grow the algae and monitor
growth rates and pH levels, as well as carbon dioxide and nutrient levels. Their research will benchmark the commercial-scale system and be used in future industrial algal oil projects. “What the students learn from this handson project will be invaluable,” said Ed Baker, a member of the NAA based in San Diego. “You can read about something like this or do it in a test tube, but seldom do students get the opportunity to work on and learn from a commercial-scale project.” The project will also allow the biotechnology program to broaden its scope to include a focus on alternative energy and provide internships for students interested in that field. To that end, the college has added a new general microbiology course (Biology 2421) available in the spring 2011 semester that includes in-depth coverage of algae, including an examination of industrial applications and algal oil research. For more information about the photobioreactors or the Biotechnology
Institute at LSC-Montgomery visit www.LoneStar.edu/biotechnology-dept.
Photo Courtesy of College Relations
Dr. Danny Kainer explains how the new on-campus photobioreactor will convert algae to fuel.
The Voice, December 2010, Page 5
STUDENT LIFE … Flag Football continued from front page Mavericks came out on top when competing against other schools in the area by defeating the University of Houston-Downtown and beating Texas Southern University in the championship game. Winning these games allowed the Mavericks to advance to the regional tournament. Although LSC-Montgomery has never won a regional tournament, the school has been the system champions for the past five years. Unfortunately a win was not in the cards for The Mavericks with two losses against Texas A&M University and The University of Texas-Pan America. However, a win against LSC-Tomball did earn the team a third place finish. First year player and receiver, Derreck Plattenburg said, “we had fun [at the regional tournament]” even though they were not able to advance any further in the
tournament. Plattenburg commented about the games saying in the earlier matches they weren’t able to get it together but by the last game they moved players around in different positions which ultimately lead to the victory against LSC-Tomball. Beginning this semester, Intramural and Recreational Sports Coordinator, Tabitha Yargo, hired a new coach for the flag football team, Marlon Thomas, who is a retired U.S. Marine and current student. Yargo said Thomas “whipped them into shape with his military style training and drills.” The Mavericks have always been able to compete pretty well but “it’s difficult to build a strong team with a new squad each year,” added Yargo, but, “the schools in the community have great athletic programs which produces great athletic ability for us to recruit players for our team.”
Sports Updates Madison Biehl
Staff Writer / Secretary As the Fall 2010 semester winds down, the sports teams do as well, here are the results for all the hard work the Lone Star College Montgomery student athletes have put in this past semester: Men’s Club Basketball ended the season in fourth place. They advanced to the system tournament November 5-7, but were defeated by LSC-Kingwood in the playoffs. Men’s Club Soccer ended in third place in their division, missing advancement to the system tournament by a few points with the point differential
system used to determine a tie-breaker. Women’s Volleyball played well this season. Although they did not make it to their system tournament, it prepared the team for the upcoming Spring Houston Collegiate Sports Club’s season. Recreational Sports participated in the Gulf Coast Intercollegiate Conference (GCIC) Sports Day. We entered a soccer team, that finished third, and our Flag Football team also finished third. The Billiards team won first and second place and Table Tennis took third place. Rounding out the Lone Star College-Montgomery sports updates, the Baseball team ended the season second in the Lone Star Sport Club Conference.
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Page 6, The Voice, December 2010
STUDENT LIFE Family Traditions Create High Tensions at Home
Students Stay Home for the Midterm Elections
Kyle Kutter
Kellie Pearson
Priya Thakker comes from a traditional Indian family, but this 20-year-old college student is anything but traditional. Her skin color and name might be the only give-a-ways of her Indian descent. With parents that choose to hold tight to the Indian customs of arranged marriage and a joint family system, Priya screams her freedom of choice by wearing bright teal eyeshadow, a diamond stud nose piercing, 4-inch black heels and a “not approved” career path.
November 2nd marked the big day that determined the direction our country would turn for the rest of President Obama’s term in office. This year’s midterm election proved to be the biggest news story in the past two years, filling up 57% of the news hole during the week of November 1-7, according to a poll by Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. During this year’s midterm elections, the Republican Party gained 64 seats in the House of Representatives totaling 239 seats versus the Democrats’ 189, which is the highest victory of any single party since 1948 and the highest of any midterm election since 1938. Although it is the norm for the political party controlling the White House to lose seats in midterm elections, according to communication studies and political science professor Michael Trauggot’s analysis in a Michigan Daily news article, this year’s aboveaverage loss was the result of the “decline in youth voting paired with large numbers of older voters who supported Republican candidates due to troubles in the economy”. The Senate, however, continues to be dominated by the Democrats with 53 seats versus the Republican’s 46. Out of the 37 states that held governor elections, there were 12 Democratic, 1 Independent, and 23 Republican governors elected. Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) won his third consecutive term, making him the longest serving governor in Texas history. Overall, the voting turnout was 3% higher than the last midterm elections held in 2006. However, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) stated that there was a 3% decrease of turnout among younger citizens. According to CIRCLE, only 20% of US citizens under the age of 30 voted in the 2010 midterm elections. This is a decline from the 55% that voted in the presidential election in 2008, and the 23% who voted in the 2006 midterm election. Many young college students like Breann Cartwright claim that they didn’t have
Staff Writer
“ To get their
attention I have to take it to the extreme.” - Priya Thakker
After their arranged marriage, Priya’s parents were the first of their family to move from India to America in search for more opportunities. Now, some 20 years later, with several of her uncles and aunts from both sides living within miles of each other, she describes how it feels as if they have moved “part of India” to Spring, Texas. With one uncle on her dad’s side as the primary bread winner for the entire family, typical of the joint family system in India, she finds herself faced with many questions. Does she fall in line with her Indian family’s traditions and in turn receive a free education, vehicle, and other things, or does she live life according to her own practice and sacrifice those gifts? The tensions are heavy in certain areas of her life: money, dating, career and marriage. Her first bank account was supposed to be in her uncle’s name, so he could monitor her spending. Her current boyfriend is not an Indian and to this day has not eaten a meal with her parent’s or family although they have been together for four years. Weekly she has “discussions” with her parents about her choice to pursue a career in cosmetics. Plus, if
Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy of Priya Thakker she does not marry an Indian man the wedding won’t be paid for by her uncle. “They are concerned that this American boy is going to corrupt me,” she states, as she recalls a recent conversation with her parents about her 20-year-old, 5’9”, blonde hair, blueeyed “guy” friend. Divorce is not an option for her Indian family so they hold tight to their Indian traditions. At the age of 15, Priya’s younger sister, Priyanka, is beginning to face these same questions. “I have been my sister’s voice,” she said. Four years younger, Priyanka has seen the battle of love that Priya has had with her parents. Like a modern-day pilgrim, Priya has the choice to leave her home that she loves, but hates, to venture out to the new land where freedoms lie. A sterling silver necklace with the big letters MAC, the cosmetics company she has been working with for two years, hangs from her neck as a proclamation of her choice of the new land. Even in a college classroom where she studies Mass Communications in PR, a career choice her parents and providing uncle does not approve of, she is very vocal about how she feels about her choice. “They want me to do what is safe and not take any chances,” she said. So many of the choices Priya’s parents push onto her just clarify her feeling that her parents’ Indian traditions are so different from a normal American family in the 21st century. Priya summarizes the tension with her parents by saying, “We (she and her parents) have to be able to find a compromise while still being my own person at the same time.”
enough time to vote, while others simply preferred to partake in alternative activities. Student Nathan Culver, for example, said, “I was going to go vote, but my friend called and asked me to go golfing, so I did that instead.” Still others, like Jonathon Bradford, think that “It is dumb to get involved with politics.” However, out of the few young students that did vote, it most definitely can be considered a rewarding experience for them. “It felt so awesome being able to vote,” student Demonte Harrison said. “I just turned 18 in May so this was the first major election I got to take part in. Being stuck between older adults made me feel out of place because they already knew what they were doing while it was a first for me. I advise everyone to vote, not just because of the people you want to win, but for the feeling that you get by helping your country make a decision.” In an online poll conducted by The Voice, out of the 51 students that completed the poll, 32% voted for their first time in the midterm elections while 35% had voted once before and 33% had voted more than once before. 16% voted straight-ticket Democrat, 57% voted straight-ticket Republican, 2% voted straightticket Third Party, and 25% voted depending on the candidate. About half of their votes were determined by research, and the other half were determined by the political party. 33% said their family or friends influenced their vote, while 8% said they just let the coin decide. As stated by Michael Trauggot in a Michigan Daily news article, since midterm elections are concerned with local issues, most young people don’t consider them as significant as presidential elections and national affairs. In addition, while younger generations are going through a transitional period at this point in their lifetime, they are consumed with their own personal agendas. Young people are still in the process of learning the importance of voting in national and local elections as well as developing political activism expertise and their own political opinions.
The Voice, December 2010, Page 7
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
West Coast Flavors Hit the The Woodlands Madison Biehl
Staff Writer / Secretary West coast flavors come to The Woodlands with the inclusion of The Portofino Shopping Center’s newest member, Wahoo’s Fish Taco. When first walking into Wahoo’s, the customer gets an instant feel of California with a plethora of staple items seen frequently on the west coast. With a large shark hanging from the ceiling and skateboards adorning the walls, the restaurant creates a laid back atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. Even though the words fish taco is in the name of the restaurant, Wahoo’s provides plenty of options other than fish that would appeal to anyone. Chicken, steak, shrimp and even tofu, for the vegetarians, are a just a few options. For customers
that aren’t in a taco mood, Wahoo’s has soups, salads and rice bowls filled with a variety of favorites to choose from. The Cajun fish taco and the chicken taco prove to be excellent selections from the menu and could definitely make a customer come back for more. Wahoo’s Cajun beans provide a delicious side dish to any meal. At the price of $6.25, the Two Tacos combo platter is good for a lunch on the go. Appetizers even appear on the menu for customers who want to warm up their stomachs before the entrée or just getting something quick on the go. According to a Wahoo’s customer, “the Baja Rolls are the thing to get when you go there.” The Baja Rolls are priced at $4.39 which is great price for an appetizer that could also serve as a
midday snack. Another plus about Wahoo’s is the service appears to be pretty quick. Whether you are taking an order to go, or dining in to enjoy your food, you won’t have to wait long until you can get your hands on some original beach food.
With the Portofino being the only Wahoo’s restaurant in Texas, besides the location in Austin, the popularity appears to be rising among the locals. So whether you prefer your fish in your taco, your burrito, or not at all, Wahoo’s will be able to satisfy your beach food craving.
Photo by Madison Biehl
Free Beer and Flavor-Filled Brats Every Saturday Afternoon Shane Mends Staff Writer
The sun is shining brightly but the air is finally cool this November afternoon. Carried on the slight northern breeze is the smell of pecan wood smoldering in a smoker. It’s one of those rare days in the Lone Star State when it is comfortable to be outside, and in
true Texas fashion people seem to crawl from the woodwork to congregate around a barbeque pit with beers in hand and music flowing from the background as they swap tales. Today, and every Saturday, the beer is supplied by Southern Star Brewery, located at 1207 N FM 3083 in Conroe. And nothing compliments a great beer more than
the mouthwatering cuisine provided each Saturday by head cook and coowner Steve (Stu) Sumner, Steve’s son Johnathan, and grill master Tony Incaudo of The Outlaw Kookers. The beer tasting and cuisine are offered 1-3 p.m. every Saturday at Southern Star. The menu is simple, consisting of hotdogs, bratwursts, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and smoked hot wings. But these cookery connoisseurs are able to transform this otherwise elementary bar food into something far more delectable. The bratwursts are boiled in Southern Star’s own Bombshell Blonde Ale mixed with The Outlaw Kookers’ own blend of original spices. Boiling the brats in the ale pulls the flavor from the beer into the sausage. No timer is needed to determine when the brats are done boiling because they simply float to the surface of the rolling beer. From
here, these savory pork submarines are tossed onto a searing grill to be “flashed,” sealing in the flavor. A few beers and fresh air has a tendency to put an appetite into high gear, but after you are done dressing up your brat with kraut and the homemade mustard, made fresh each week in Steve’s kitchen, don’t make the mistake of just wolfing down this succulent sausage link. Take a bite and chew slowly. Let your palate experience and appreciate the explosion of flavor. Now take a swig of your choice of the three available ales and two stouts on tap for free. Feel the sunshine on your face and ask yourself if at this moment with first-class food, phenomenal beer and the company of a few good friends, life could possibly be any better. The Outlaw Kookers grill every Saturday at Southern Star Brewery. If for some reason you are unable
to come to them, there are a couple of ways you can still enjoy the flavor this team of gourmet grillers has to offer. All three seasonings, the homemade mustard, and the homemade barbeque sauces, are available for purchase each Saturday at the Southern Star Brewery as well as from The Outlaw Kookers’ website, and will soon be available at Spec’s Liquor Store and HEB. If you would rather sit back and simply enjoy some great tasting food, leaving all the hard work to someone else, The Outlaw Kookers provide catering and chef services at an affordable cost. They specialize in, but are not limited to, seafood boils and Texas style BBQ.A schedule of their products can be found at: www.theoutlawkookers.com. Want a restaurant reviewed, e-mail us at: TheVoice@LoneStar.edu
Page 8, The Voice, December 2010
Photo Courtesy of Ana Marie Colchado
Jeremy Piltzmaker, Derrek Plattenburg, Cody Brosovich and Okwara Uche from flag football.
Photo by Jill Hinton
Tracy Silverman at the Acoustic Cafe.
Photo by Alexandro Jimenez
Dr. Ronald Trowbridge at Student Legal Society event.
Photo by Maria A. Javaid
Robby Wood, Art Proffessor, and advisor for The Clay Club making a vase.
Photo Courtesy of Ana Marie Colchado
Phyllis Greene (Miss Daisy) blowing up ballon animals.
Photo Courtesy of Ana Marie Colchado
Katie Darst from Physical Therapy Association Student Organization.
The Voice, December 2010, Page 9
Photo Courtesy of Ana Marie Colchado
Maricela Tovar from OSL and Lie Sie Oei from 30 Something and Beyond Club.
Photo Courtesy of Ana Marie Colchado
Petting her favorite animal at the petting zoo, Kerstin Alander enjoys the Fall Festival, and names the Jack “Jackie Schwarz�.
Photo Courtesy of Alyssa Oropeza
Harry Potter Club camping out for the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Photo by Dr. Tony Fuller
The Voice staff brainstorming ideas for the next issues and events at the weekly Friday meeting.
Photo Courtesy of Ana Marie Colchado
Jeniffer Wyndham and Adrien Fabian from The Clay Club.
Page 10, The Voice, December 2010
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Hailey Mendiola Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Brittany Salazar
Not a second into the introductory of Comedy Nite, presented by the Office of Student Life and Swirl Magazine, a young man, Mike Hanna appeared on stage. Wearing nothing but his Iron Man undies, and quickly drawing the large audience’s attention toward the stage. These amateur comedians performed as if they’ve been under the spotlight for years, keeping their audience rolling all night. It was a very lively show and was the group’s second annual Comedy Nite, produced by Syed
Hasan and Peter Malek. The young lineup of very comical men included various skits, stand up comedy, and great music. Material performed varied from colorful words to vivid descriptions, creating a very zestful show worth attending. The electrifying entertainers could not only crack effective jokes but also carried out their humorous skits with dynamic acting skills. These charitable comedians also donated every penny of their donations to a school for the deaf. No doubt, many will look forward to next year’s show, and recommend it to students, faculty and family members. After
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all, the show was free but donations were accepted for the chosen charity.
Photo courtesy of Brittany Salazar
Peter Malek, Mike Hanna, and Paul Valiente surprice the croud with their halarious act at the Comedy Nite.
Glam
Winter’s easiest ways to look glamorous Hailey Mendiola, Staff Writer
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The Voice, December 2010, Page 11
ACADEMIA
ALL Recognizes Outstanding Instructor of the Year Dul cimer Musician Nancy Price Honored for Dedicated Teaching Efforts
Lauren Maddox
Writer, college relationS The Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) at Lone Star CollegeMontgomery recently honored Nancy Price with the organization’s 2010 Instructor of the Year award. Price, a certified music practitioner and a recognized instructor of the mountain dulcimer instrument, has been with ALL for more than seven years as both a member and an instructor. “I definitely don’t go around ‘tootin’ my own horn,’ but this is pretty fantastic,” said the silverhaired Price. “It’s a real honor to be recognized; I was flabbergasted when I found out.” Price is the instructor of the Beginning Mountain Dulcimer and Dulcimer II classes. She is a member
of the North Harris County Dulcimer Society and previously, served as music director for the society. “I enjoy helping students at all levels, even those who take the dulcimer right out of the box at the first class,” said Price. “It’s a simple but sophisticated instrument, but I can usually help any student leave the first class with enough to play a recognizable tune.” Price began playing the mountain dulcimer, also known as the Appalachian dulcimer, in 1985, but her interest in music began much earlier. “When I was about 10 years old, I had a great desire to play the guitar because I really wanted an instrument that I could sing along with,” recalled Price. “But the owner of the music store wouldn’t sell me
one because he said, ‘Girls don’t play cowboy guitar.’” Years later, Price told that story to a co-worker, who encouraged her to take guitar lessons at the nearest community college--Lone Star College-North Harris. Price looked into it, but due to her busy schedule, the only music lessons she could manage were dulcimer lessons. Although she had never heard of the dulcimer, Price greatly enjoyed it. She took the same class over and over again until she had mastered the instrument. “When I first started playing and wasn’t that great, everyone wanted me to play for them and sing for them,” said Price. “Now that I can play--and play well--no one really asks me to play for them anymore!” LSC-Montgomer y’s ALL organization offers the dulcimer
Photo Courtesy of Public Relations
Holding her dulcimer, Nancy Price (pictured front right), LSC-Montgomery’s Academy for Lifelong Learning’s Instructor of the Year, is surrounded by current and former dulcimer students.
Photo Courtecy of Public Relations
Nancy Price (center), was recently named the 2010 Instructor of the Year by Lone Star College-Montgomery’s Academy for Lifelong Learning. Judi Bonds (on left), ALL advisory council chairman, and Donna Smith Burns (on right), ALL program coordinator, present Price with her certificate and plaque. classes both in the fall and in the spring. No prerequisites or formal music training are necessary. “Each semester I am amazed because new students keep coming out of the woodwork for the class,” said Price. “It’s just such a delight to teach and see the students light up when they get a little morsel.” Alumni from past dulcimer classes have played at community events including Senior Day for the Montgomery County Fair & Rodeo and during ALL’s Open House events. Price is a native “HoustonHeights Texan,” who currently lives in Porter with her husband. She has four children, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. The ALL program offers older, active adults non-credit classes and social activities for continued intellectual and personal growth.
For a small, annual membership fee, area residents have access to a variety of lectures, workshops, art, and computer classes, as well as trips to local destinations. Classes are taught or facilitated by a variety of individuals who represent a wide range of expertise and life experiences. These include current and former professors, subject matter experts, guest lecturers, and hobbyists. Each of the five colleges within the Lone Star College System offer continuing education for older, active adults through the ALL organization. Course offerings and program events vary with each campus. For more information about LSC-Montgomery’s Academy for Lifelong Learning, call (936) 2737259 or visit www.LoneStar.edu/ all-montgomery.
Page 12, The Voice, December 2010
ACADEMIA … New Teaching Technology continued from page 1 and five to each satellite center. The total cost of the project, which is being carried out by Turning Technologies of Youngstown, Ohio, is estimated to be around $104,000. The clickers allow an instructor to put a multiple choice question up on a screen for students to answer via small remotes that transmit to a receiver mounted at the front of the classroom. This “game-show” format allows a teacher to hold impromptu quizzes to ascertain the progress of the class on the subject at hand, and even to use them to take grades if the clickers are registered to individual students through an online service. The program is sponsored and headed by Donetta Goodall, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Student Success, who spoke highly of the potential of the response systems at the board meeting. “It provides instructors instant feedback on where the class is while enabling students to keep anonymity,” she said, adding “people are naturally afraid of looking foolish in front of peers when answering questions and these remove that.” Many students seemed to be in favor of the system when asked about it. Jarrett Key, a first-year student from Conroe, experienced
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With the new clickers in the classroom, the right answer will be just a click away. the system in high school. “It’s fun to do,” instant feedback it offers. “It sounds like a he said. “You learn a great deal more than good system. It would help with studentwith normal lectures.” Zachary Gladden, a teacher interactions, showing what needs to first-year student from Oak Ridge, agreed be worked on.” with the administration’s preference of the But not everyone is so easily convinced.
“They’re alright, I guess,” said David Risley, a second-year student from The Woodlands who used clickers at his high school. “It’s still better to have written work so you can check your work as you do it, rather than just quickly answer. Plus, it’s just not practical for all classes and takes up lecture time.” The clickers are widely used by other colleges, both two and four-year institutions, and are already in use by faculty at Lone Star System colleges on an individual basis. In a survey of 43 Lone Star College System employees, 40 of whom identified themselves as faculty members, 30 of them reported using clickers at Lone Star College System at some point, and 22 of those reported that they use them currently. The survey also included a section where the faculty member could write what they liked about the response systems. Chief among the responses was the fact that making answering questions fun and private apparently had a lot of appeal to students and made them more attentive. The instructors liked the increased participation and instant feedback n addition to the decreased time spent grading paper assignments.
8 Steps to Cutting the Lone Star College Budget Maria A. Javaid Staff Writer
On Friday November 5th, 2010, Lone Star College-Montgomery held a Chancellor and Vice Chancellor open forum concerning budget cuts. This involved board members, faculty and professors brainstorming ideas to either stop spending, or to minimize current spending. There are eight steps to decrease budget spending, with the last step being a tax increase. The first is to have a hiring chill, which is a delay in hiring any more staff or faculty members. For every one day of delay in hiring, 330,000 dollars will be saved from the budget. In September there were twenty
people delayed to full positions and in October, there was a 39 people delayed. In the 2009-2010 school year there was a 93% approved filled and in the 2010-2011 school year was a 92%; a decrease of a mere 1% may sound minimal, but 1% savings saves the college system 1.2 million dollars. The second step of the budget cut plan is to reduce spending, or have permanent cuts. Having more money saved for a rainy day is the budget’s third step. In this case, we would have a 16% savings, which would equal to 60 days reserve. This means that for 60 days, if the college has no additional money coming in, it would still be able to pay its employees and run for the course of approximately two months.
The fourth step is to delay the cost of living adjustment. Chancellor, Dr. Carpenter does not want to cut jobs, but it may be necessary because there will be an increase in medical expenses, and a higher federal income tax in January, with even the price of sugar going much higher than it is right now. The fifth step is to increase class sizes, something that is definitely not not popular, especially since small classes is one of the main reasons many students attend community colleges; right now Lone Star College is under the average for class size. The sixth step of the budget cut plan is for students to have to pay more for classes-- five dollar per hour increase at least, and the seventh step is to increase grant
funding. The last step is to have an 11.76 cent tax increase, which is a dollar a month extra for taxes. At the meeting, people were trying to brainstorm ideas to help the system with the budget cuts. Possible ideas such as an enrollment cap, saving electrical power by turning on and off the computers, and paying for parking came up. Many more ideas have come up, but there is still speculation for the some. All of the major funding is made up from students, the state, and taxpayers, which is why each should have an opportunity to have their opinions heard. Share your ideas for helping Lone Star balance the budget at: BudgetIdeas@LoneStar.edu.
The Voice, December 2010, Page 13
ACADEMIA
History Professor Dr. Livingston Professor Ketchum Brings Endless Energy to Classes Spreads Love of The Theatre Keatin Reagan aSSiStant editor
picked a battlefield to look over, Pea Ridge in Arkansas.” But Livingston knows that the classroom is the main place where he can impact students, and takes his responsibility very seriously. “I want to go beyond satisfying a requirement for an Associate’s or a transfer.” Livingston said.
Many students think of history classes as boring, stuffy affairs where one has to memorize endless numbers of places, people, and events that happened decades or centuries ago that they think have no bearing on themselves. But one professor at LSC-Montgomery I want students to really challenges that stereotype on a daily basis. get the pageantry and Dr. Craig Livingston is one of the longest-tenured professors at Lone Star-Montgomery, having been here drama of history. I like to tell since the very beginning in 1995. The California native that story, that drama, every was working in Philadelphia, earning his Ph.D. at Temple day.” University and teaching at the Valley Forge Military - Dr. Livingston Academy, when he heard of a new college opening in the pine forests of East Texas. “I wanted to go farther west again, and when I heard He also wants to reinforce equally important practical of Montgomery College (now LSC-Montgomery) via skills. “I want to help students acquire writing skills, the Internet, or at least what was called the Internet techniques and methods that will get them past that panic back then,” Livingston said, laughing, “it seemed like that sets in at some point when writing a long research a perfect fit.” paper.” He doesn’t just do this in his classroom either; Many students no doubt know Livingston’s classroom he is one of the founders and most active members of in building A by the numerous model airplanes hanging the campus writing center, The Write Place. from the ceiling, one of his favorite hobbies. Among the Nor does Livingston use his boundless energies wooden models dangling from his ceiling is a model of on just activities related to his teaching. In addition a World War Two troop glider, and it is a memento of to his model-building, his hobbies include playing the one of the numerous projects and activities he keeps bagpipes, on which he offers free lessons to students, his students involved in. “I like to find excuses to be and participating in Lord Stirling’s Fife and Drum Corps, with students, be it projects, trips, (LSC) Montgomery a Revolutionary War-style pipe and drum band dresses in gives that opportunity. I just love being around my period costume and plays at local events that Livingston students.” Besides the class project for building the helped start. gliders that culminates in Even with all these other a flying contest, he also activities and after fifteen holds movie nights, where years of daily classes, he students watch historical is still going strong, and films while eating period he credits students for cuisine. this irrepressible attitude. But his most well-known “Sometimes I wonder if student activities are his I’m starting to experience class trips, similar to the one that burnout that nearly he took nearly 50 students all professors feel at one on during Spring Break time or another, then I 2009. The group, which walk into class and I’m paid their own way, toured a new man,” Livingston Civil War battlefields in said as he relaxed in his Tennessee and Mississippi office festooned with even on the trip, and Livingston more model airplanes.“ I plans another for this Photo by Alexandro Jimenez owe eternal gratitude to upcoming Spring Semester. Teaching about the Civil War, Dr. Livingston students for that unlimited “I’ve already gone out and engages his students in more energetic ways. energy.”
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Keatin Reagan aSSiStant editor
For one professor at Lone Star College-Montgomery, theatre classes aren’t just required courses. They are an opportunity to expose students to something that is almost becoming a lost art. “I love the theatre. I love Photo by Alexandro Jimenez exposing people to it,” said Ellen Ketchum, Professor of Theatre, “and when you see students, current or former, really ‘get it’ and succeed in theater, that’s just the best feeling in the world.” Ketchum brings more than 27 years of teaching experience to her work at LSC-Montgomery; she has spent most of her adult life in the theatre, and has the accolades to prove it. The Orange County, California native was the executive director of the Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory Theatre and was the director of the prestigious University of Southern California School of Theatre from 1987 to 1993. It was through her work as director at South Coast Repertory Theatre that she came to be at LSC-Montgomery. South Coast Rep did a great deal of work with the Alley Theatre in Houston, where Ketchum “fell in love with the art scene in Houston. When the opportunity came to leave my position in California and Lone Star offered me a job here, I jumped at it.” She is currently in her sixth year of teaching at LSC-Montgomery. But Ketchum is not content to only spread her love of her chosen art in the classroom. She has directed many productions here at LSC-Montgomery, including “Master Class”, for which she won a Director’s Award from the American College Theatre Festival. She also helps out and works with many young actors and newly formed local theatres. “The more these people and these theatres succeed, the more people will be able to go to the theatre,” Ketchum said of her work with local artists. The love of teaching and the arts has rubbed off on her children as well. Her daughter, a former ballerina with nearly 30 years of experience, is the director of dance at the Swiss Conservatory of Dance in Geneva, Switzerland. Her son Paul is a Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Oklahoma. When she’s not busy with her numerous other projects, Ketchum can be found playing with her five dogs or talking to her grandchildren in Switzerland via Skype. For her part, Ketchum loves to help her students succeed more than anything else. “The thing that has been rewarding here,” she said, “is the number of people we’ve managed to get into a field that’s very difficult to get into. People just don’t know how remarkable Houston’s art scene is, and I encourage them to get their feet wet.”
Page 14, The Voice, December 2010
ACADEMIA Experience Theatre in New York City Through Intro to Theatre Class Week-Long Mini-Term Course Offers College Credit and Up-Close Theatre Education
Lauren Maddox
Writer, college relationS For the first time ever, Lone Star CollegeMontgomery’s theatre department is offering a May mini-term class held in New York City! The course, Introduction to Theatre (DRAM 1310), takes place Wednesday, May 18, 2011, through Monday, May 23, 2011 in New York City. With no pre-requisites required, the class is open to everyone; even non-traditional students can enroll for the course through the college’s continuing education department. Members of the class will see four Broadway shows; take part in acting, set design and stage combat clinics with New York Theatre professionals; enjoy a harbor cruise around
Manhattan; complete a guided walking tour of the theatre district; gain admission to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island; and tour NBC Studios and Radio City Music Hall. “It is a great opportunity for students to actually experience several aspects of theatre in the place where it all started—New York City,” said Chase Waites, professor of theatre at LSC-Montgomery. To register, students must enroll is Introduction to Theatre (DRAM 1310). The cost of the trip, which does not include tuition, covers round-trip airfare from Houston to New York City and five nights at The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel. The double occupancy price is $2,275. If a group of four wishes to share a room, the group can
save almost $400. If interested, don’t delay — a deposit of $100 is due by Friday, December 3.
For more information about the May miniterm course held in New York City, contact Chase Waites at Chase@lonestar.edu.
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MyEdu is Now 100% Free The Early Bird Gets…an iPad? Just in Time for Registration! First Winner Announced For LSC-Montgomery Early Registration Contest Courtesy of Angela Saunders For the first time ever, MyEdu, formerly Pick-A-Prof, is now providing all of its services to Lone Star College students for free. Previously, members paid a small amount to access services and with Spring 2011 registration just around the corner, on November 8th, the timing could not be better. “Students use MyEdu during registration to build the best class schedule by comparing professor reviews and grade records from past semesters,” said Chris Chilek, one of the company’s founders. Unlike any other website, MyEdu is the only free resource that provides the official grade records directly from Lone Star College. Students can look up a course, see which professors are teaching it and how many A-Fs they give before registering for classes. In addition to being free, MyEdu has launched fresh new Schedule Planner features. The new “magic”
schedule feature automatically creates schedules based on time of day, professors’ average GPA and rating, so students can adjust their schedule based on work or other activities. The Schedule Planner now seamlessly integrates with Facebook so members can see which classes their friends are taking. This makes it extremely easy for friends to find classes to take together. Learn more at www.myedu.com.
Image Courtesy of MyEdu
Plan your schedule, and even see official grade records.
Lauren Maddox
Writer, college relationS For some LSC-Montgomery students, the greatest perk for early registration is having the best selection of classes for the upcoming semester. But for student Melanie Hodges, the greatest perk for registering early is walking away with a free Apple iPad. Hodges is the first student winner in LSC-Montgomery’s “Turn It In To Win” contest, a challenge requiring students to register before final exams and turn in a copy of their spring schedule to a faculty member in order to be eligible to win one of three iPads. “This is the first thing I’ve won in several years,” said Hodges, a mother of three who is currently completing the prerequisites needed to apply for the nursing program. “It was very unique for my family to see me act so silly—yelling and getting excited— when I found out I won.”
The first drawing was held in the office of student success on Tuesday, November 23, and Hodges received her brand new iPad right before the Thanksgiving holiday, allowing her a long weekend to “break it in.” She plans to use it to record lectures, store class notes, and organize course work. “I had no clue the iPad was advanced as it is,” said Hodges. “I’m most excited to use the e-book feature with my textbooks, so I won’t have to carry around seven or eight big bulky textbooks. They will all be on my slim, lightweight iPad!” In addition to taking courses, Hodges works full-time as a unit technician at St. Luke’s Woodlands Hospital. She has more than 16 years in the medical field, serving in the U.S. Navy and working as both a paramedic and a medical assistant. After completion of the nursing program, Hodges hopes to work as a trauma nurse. The next drawing for the “Turn
Courtesy of Public Relations
It In To Win” contest will be on Friday, December 10, and the final drawing will take place on Friday, December 17. Current students can complete their 2011 spring semester registration at www.LoneStar.edu/ registration and turn in a copy of their schedule to an instructor of their choice. The contest is sponsored by the Extended Learning Center (ELC), the library, and the office of student success.
The Voice, December 2010, Page 15
OPINION
Open Letter to Lone Star College System CFO Dr. Ronald Trowbridge lSc-MontgoMery adjunct engliSh inStructor
In the spirit of your request for “an open discussion” — a good way to handle the matter. Hence, my two cents. On your question of how to “address budget shortfalls in the next and future budget cycle,“ hard data show that student tuition should be raised appreciably, more in line with students paying their fair share for benefits they receive. In 2009-10, 31% of LSCS revenues came from student tuition, 26% from state government (which will be reduced in coming years owing to the state’s projected deficit of $18 to $20 billion), and 41% from
county taxpayers. Hence, 69% of total student costs are subsidized by state and county taxpayers. That percentage is beyond fair; students should pay more user fees from which they benefit. Tuition next semester for a standard 15-hour load will be $822 per semester. That is cheap, relatively or absolutely. Tuition at most four-year colleges generally runs from $3,000 to $4,000 per semester. The College Board reports that the average cost of tuition and fees at two-year colleges this school year is $2,713—over a $1,000 higher than at Lone Star. At universities, introductory courses are generally taught by young, inexperienced teaching assistants; while at Lone Star,
instructors are older and much more experienced. Students at Lone Star are getting excellent teachers at costs too cheap. I told my own students that they are being over subsidized. Not one disagreed, though they didn’t want to hear it. State authorities are putting increased pressure on colleges and universities for subsidizing students who drop out. Even if it seems perverse, raising tuition will aid retention numbers, as it will screen out students who do not really enter college with serious commitment. To the extent down the road that increased enrollment numbers will necessitate the unfunded liabilities of new buildings and accompanying costs, LSCS may
well have to cap enrollment to fit within the present limitation of structures. Faculty salaries should not be cut. For full-time faculty, salaries are quite modest. And for adjuncts, a standard salary of $1814 for a semester course with 24 students violates the spirit of Dickensian child labor laws. Raising tuition appreciably will not be happily received by students and their families. But alternatives will not come from state government, nor from new bonding proposals (taxpayers), nor should it come from the coerced fiat of Trustees mandating property-tax increases to county residents. There is no painless way to remedy pending budget shortfalls.
New Parking Garage is Wonderful Judy Granata
lSc-MontgoMery adMiniStrative aSSiStant We are very unhappy with your coverage of the new parking garage. If the garage is up to 70% capacity, that means almost 700 students, faculty and staff are using it. To only interview a handful of negative people is a misrepresentation of the whole. As far as the statement on the front page concerning the stairway, please note that there are two stairways on opposite ends of the garage as well as two elevators. Regarding the location of the garage in relation to classrooms, once the walkways are opened again after the construction of buildings B and G, the parking garage location will be very convenient to the largest classroom buildings on the campus. I can assure you, even with the blocked walkways, the garage is
less of a walk than the far reaches of the front lots. There is no way to avoid traffic when hundreds of people are leaving any location at the same time. In reality, the wait is only minutes and people need to exercise patience and courtesy to each other to alleviate frustration. We have expanded the west drive’s lanes to help accommodate traffic at peak times. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about the traffic lights. Your article states that we would have to contact TxDot to get the light adjusted. We have and they won’t.
Their concern is traffic flow on 242. I, for one, park in the garage every day. Sometimes I even have to go to the third floor to find a spot. That’s not a problem since I can just take a couple of flights of stairs down or use one of the elevators. The car stays nice and cool. The police presence helps to assure security. And there’s the added bonus of smoking not being allowed in the garage! So please, next time you write about our wonderful parking garage, give a fair representation. Thank you.
Photo by Alexandro Jimenez
Letter From The Editor Alexandro Jimenez editor-in-chief
From our last October 2010 Issue, we have received many compliments from students and faculty, and have been reading all your e-mails coming in. Whether they are compliments or not, it is important to let your voice be heard, we care for your opinions and want to encourage everyone to send them to us. This semester’s newspaper staff has done an outstanding job, and it will be really hard to surpass in the future. But with new construction coming to an end, and finals just around the corner, a new semester awaits. If you are interested in becoming part of The Voice staff, make sure to visit our website at: Join.TheVoiceofLSCM.com
The Voice Needs to Get All Views on CHL Issue Melanie Hail
lSc-MontgoMery radiologic tech. ProfeSSor The Voice Student Newspaper needs to broaden their scope regarding opinions on campus of Concealed Handgun Licensed carriers carrying guns on campus, should the Texas Legislature pass the bill next year. I read the one student’s comment for the legislation, but the remainder of the comments were against the idea. Did it occur to the author that passing such important legislation in this day and time, would also effect faculty and administrators that currently hold a Concealed Handgun License? Benefits to this include having faculty/employees that are housed in various areas of
the campus that could protect a wider area of students and fellow employees, should the unthinkable occur. The on-campus police station is now in the garage and not exactly in the center of the campus and directly near where a possible event may happen. As a professor of almost 13 years, I have upset my share of students in my time, and have been threatened by a handful of them in the past. I do not know how many more examples states will need to pass such important legislation. We always hear of the horrific tragedies at schools, colleges and universities, and the many lives unnecessarily lost. If there is a next time, I would like to hear about the one person that was LEGALLY able to stand up and SAVE lives.
Page 16, The Voice, December 2010