May 2011 Issue

Student Profile Page 13

Rodeo Team Page10

www.TheVoiceofLSCM.com

The Lone Star College-Montgomery Student Newspaper

May 2011 Issue

Students win Distinguished Delegation Award at NMUN Conference Erica Murphey and Kellie Pearson

Staff Writer, editor-in-Chief

Campus Renovations See Page 2

Women’s High Tea See Page 8

Every spring, the National Model United Nations NY conference, the largest collegiate model UN program in the world, brings together more than 5,000 college student delegates from over 300 colleges and universities located on all sides of the globe travel to to address a broad range of global issues through work in over twenty select committees.

For the past several years, LSCM, LSC-Kingwood and LSC-Tomball, have partnered together to form a student delegation to participate in this conference, which is held in two hotel venues in mid-town Manhattan over a period of five days, with final plenary sessions held in the General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters.

This year’s conference took place April 17-23. Three LSCM students, Kerstin Alander, Kelley Brown,

and Will Oatis, along with eight other students from Kingwood and Tomball were selected to represent Nicaragua, serving on seven mock UN committees, including the Commission on the Status of Women, World Intellectual Property Organization, Organization of American States, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. The LSC Nicaragua student delegation received “Distinguished Delegation” award for the second year in a row based on “their effective use of rules of procedure, professional conduct in remaining in character, and participation in committee during the 2011 NMUN, NY conference,” according to Charles Kennedy, LSCM political science professor who also serves as the advisor for the delegation.

LSCM student delegates are selected through an open, competitive application process in the fall that includes submission of a 2-4 page

courtesy of Kerstin Alexander LEFT TO RIGHT: Charles Kennedy, Kerstin Alander, Will Oatis, and Kelley Brown

essay addressing the relevance of today’s United Nations, faculty letters of recommendation, and a required minimum 3.0 GPA. Selected delegates commit to five months of preparation researching the UN and their assigned country leading up to their week long participation in the

actual conference. After participating in the conference, students share their experience with colleagues through serving on an NMUN discussion panel at the International Education See NMUN on Page 2

LSCM police warn of Students raise money textbook theft on campus to assist in Japan relief Student Life Pictures See Page 10

Professor Awards See Page 16

Kellie Pearson editor-in-Chief

According to LSCM Police Captain Steve Phillips, textbook theft has been a common occurrence on campus although there is no statistical data with the number of textbooks stolen this year. Since not every incident is reported to the police, it is impossible for them to track stolen textbooks in an efficient manner.

Currently, the campus police are investigating two incidents involving textbook theft that occurred February 2 and 10 around 10:45am.

According to the police reports,

both events happened inside the campus bookstore when the person of interest stole two back packs from the drop off area while their owners were shopping in the store.

All together, five textbooks in addition to two back packs and a lap top computer were stolen. The thefts were discovered when the owners returned to the bag drop off area to pick up their backpacks and they were missing. Both occurrences were caught on the bookstore’s surveillance cameras.

See textbook theft on Page 4

Jake Buscami

Contributing Writer Lone Star College Montgomery students have been pushing to raise $1,000 to assist relief efforts in Japan as the island nation continues to struggle to recover from a devastating tsunami and earthquake.

On Tuesday April 26, the Habitat for Humanity club at LSCMontgomery held a fund-raiser event outside Building A, in the Commons.

The club plans to raise $1,000 to send to Japan International, said Veronica Campbell, volunteer/event coordinator.

“We wanted a realistic goal,” she said. The club had raised $718 for that Tuesday but that was not counting the previous week’s earnings. All of the money that has been raised by Habitat will be sent to Japan International to ensure that the money goes exactly where it needs to go.

“We are happy with what we have raised so far and are almost positive we have reached our goal,” Campbell said. Many different organizations have pitched in and helped donate See Japan on Page 4

Page 2, The Voice, May 2011

AROUND CAMPUS

New campus renovations will continue throughout the fall Editor-in-Chief Kellie Pearson Associate Editors Maria Javaid Keatin Reagan Online Editor Ashleigh Bloomis Secretary Beth Eytcheson Sales Representative Jorge Garcia Staff Photographer Shawn Bitgood Staff Writers Violeta Ayer Andrew Payne Advisors Jim Fredricks Dr. Tony Fuller Sara Goff Leah Moody Jan Snyder Affirmative Action/EEO College

Kellie Pearson Editor-in-Chief

Returning back to school next fall, LSCM students will notice a variety of changes around campus due to multiple renovations being done this summer.

“We are excited about the renovations, which will only enhance what the three new buildings have added to our growing campus. Many of the renovations are the direct result of the visioning sessions that were held in the fall of 2009, at which many students told us what was needed in terms of new space,” said Dean of College Relations, Steve Scheffler.

“From a food standpoint”, said Scheffler, “all three of Luby’s coffee bars will be operational in the fall.”

Scheffler says only the coffee bar in Building G will be open during the summer.

The renovation of room A229 into a Student Organizations office suite will provide a meeting and resource area for student organizations to utilize.

“Currently, many student organizations have to use multiple locations for smaller meetings, depending on availability. This should help to solve that problem,” Scheffler said.

Some minor renovations in the

Commons area near the bookstore will also augment student space.

For students who make use of the Wellness Center in Building A, former classroom A116 will be converted into additional exercise space.

Just off the lobby area in Building C will be a new Welcome Center.

“The new Welcome Center will be an inviting place for prospective students to learn more about how to get started in college,” said Scheffler.

In Building B, classroom B209 will be converted into a chemistry lab, while B106 and B111 will be renovated to enhance the radiologic technology program.

The former choir/band room on the second floor of the Building D will be fully converted into a Black Box Theatre for smaller dramatic performances.

Construction on the Sam Houston State University center, located south of Building G, will continue throughout the 2011-12 academic year.

According to Scheffler, “when it is completed, not only will the garage help with our parking situation, but the center itself will be a great opportunity for LSCM students to continue their studies at the bachelor’s and master’s level close to home.”

by Kellie Pearson Construction on the new SHSU center and parking garage, located south of Building G, will continue through out the 2011-12 school year.

… NMUN conference continued from front page serving on an NMUN discussion panel at the International Education conference held at LSC-Cy-Faire, and through Honors Day presentations conducted the last day of spring term finals.

“Through LSCM’s participation in NMUN, our students have gained invaluable first hand experience in diplomacy and the essential need for cooperation and compromise within a diverse global community in order to tackle the challenges faced by this generation of humanity and facebook.com/thevoiceoflscm

generations to come,” said Kennedy.

Kerstin Alander’s favorite part was when she got to make a speech in the UN General Assembly Hall in front of all member delegations in the General Plenary Meeting. This year was Alander’s second year in a row to attend the conference.

“Over the past two years I have learned an incredible amount of information about the UN itself.

Unfortunately, Texas seems to just skim it in textbooks or, even worse, paints it in a bad light. The UN is a

crucial development of our world and contribution of peace,” says Alander.

“Being inside the Great Hall physically, and realizing how many powerful speeches and historic resolutions have been made in that room over the last six decades was a humbling and majestic experience,” said Kelley Brown. “It is my sincerest hope that students in the LSCS system who are as passionate and dedicated as I am to continue to have the opportunity of a lifetime...I speak two languages fluently, and I

have traveled the world. But nothing could have prepared me for the intensely difficult yet awesomely rewarding experience of the NMUN conference.”

This year was LSCM’s sixth year to attend the conference, and the trip is funded by LSCS. Interested applicants may go to http://www. policiguy.net/home for the fall 2011 student delegation application.

Send us your opinions to TheVoice@LoneStar.edu

The Voice, May 2011, Page 3

Page 4, The Voice, May 2011

AROUND CAMPUS

“Nothing is Sacred” Warns Lone Star System Treasurer Keatin Reagan

Associate Editor As an impending state-wide budget crisis looms, the Lone Star College System is looking at a wide range of options to close the gap, including hiking tuition, cutting operating expenses and increasing the costs of professional programs, according to a college district official.

System Treasurer John Robertson told The Voice that the current proposed state budgets, one in the State House that will be voted on by the end of April and one in the Senate, both entail cuts in higher education that at the local level would take away between $8 and $9 million dollars in funding from the 2009 fiscal year budget for the system (Lone Star’s budgets are biennial).

Even this significant cut is only the tip of a proverbial iceberg: since 2008, when the last budget was put together, the system added around 18,000 new students, according to Robertson. These students are simply not being funded at all by the new funding program; the cuts are on a budget for a much smaller student body. According to Robertson’s calculations, the actual budget “gap” is closer to $56 million dollars per year for two years, close to half of the system’s normal operations budget.

“Nothing is sacred,” Robertson said early on when discussing potential cuts in spending, going on to clarify that education programs are

the very last items to even be considered for cuts. He did say, however, that the technology budget, which has seen a considerable increase recently, enjoyed no such protection and is instead being looked at very carefully.

Robertson also stressed that the system knew these money issues were coming and has been preparing for them for some time. “We were not surprised,” Robertson said while outlining the process that has been going on in Austin since the middle of last year at the height of the financial crisis. “We knew this storm was coming.”

With such a formidable number to overcome, Robertson described the steps that could be taken to cut costs and attempt to close the gap. The first answer, and the one that Robertson seemed to harbor the most reservations about, was to hike tuition at the Lone Star System campuses. One proposal that has already been put in place for next school year is a $2 hike in tuition per credit hour.

While this is a seemingly a small price to pay ($12 for a student taking three classes totaling 6 hours, for example), it is not the only fee increase that is being proposed. One that has already been accepted is an increase in the cost of professional programs like nursing (by how much Robertson did not want to speculate on), along with a $20 “facilities fee” per student that would help pay for janitorial and other services whose funding is being otherwise reduced.

When asked about any proposed increases in property taxes, another primary source of funding for all LSCS campuses, he was even less hopeful than when discussing tuition increases, as the tax rate in Montgomery County, by way of example, has been raised a fraction of a penny this year while the average property value has actually decreased, meaning that less money is available from this source than normal. It’s a pattern common throughout the area as local governments refuse to raise taxes in rough economic times.

Robertson seemed much more comfortable discussing other options, most notably cuts in spending on “unnecessary” items, such as reduced travel for system administrators and the cancellation of various meetings and banquets system employees attend annually. Other “small” measures that in Robertson’s opinion add up to significant savings include a reduction of printing in system offices, an increase in telecommunications (i.e. conference calls and webcam conversations) to reduce the need for travel, and the various “green” programs in place at most campuses, such as replacing paper towel dispensers with electric hand dryers and putting dark tint on windows to reduce climate control costs.

Personnel costs are also being reduced through a hiring “chill,” not “freeze” as Robertson is quick to point out; new employees and faculty are hired only after careful deliberation and

...textbook theft

. . . Ja p a n

continued from front page

continued from front page

“While surveying the footage of the suspect, it was determined that it was the same suspect involved in the theft on the previous Thursday around the same time frame,” wrote Officer Nance.

Later that day, the alleged thief attempted to resell the stolen books to In and Out Textbooks located across the street from LSCM. For preventative measures, the campus book store has relocated their book bag drop off to a more visible area with better supervision of their security cameras and book store employees.

Sandy Chance, owner of In and Out Textbooks, advises students to write their names or some sort of

symbol inside their books so that they have a way to identify them in the case that they are stolen and attempted to be resold to In and Out Textbooks. The book store has the right to refuse service to any one that they consider suspicious of textbook theft.

Captain Phillips advises that “students should always be aware of their surroundings and never walk away from books, backpacks, cell phones, or any other items that someone else might view as valuable.

It only takes a matter of seconds for someone to walk up and take items that are left unsecured.”

funds such as: HEB-Sawdust, Sam’s Shenandoah, the Wal-Marts on 242 and Sawdust, Kroger-389 on Woodlands Parkwayand Lemons Auctioneers. Other student organizations and clubs at LSCM also volunteered such as the student Veterans Association, Psychology club, Harry Potter club, Anime club, Rodeo club and many more.

This will be the last event for the semester because many students and volunteers are very busy with finals coming up, Campbell said, “but we may have another event to help with the cause very soon in the near future.”

only to replace a departed staffer; there are no new positions being created for the foreseeable future. Having to reconcile this aim with an administration program to hire more full-time faculty members to replace part-time adjuncts at certain campuses has been far from easy, says Robertson.

In addition to serving as system treasurer, Robertson is also a member of the district’s Budget Ideas Committee, an administration committee that reviews budget reduction ideas from students, faculty, and other employees.

The committee has received hundreds of ideas, and according to Robertson officials are implementing close to 50 of them in some form. Despite this impressive output, Robertson encouraged those with more budget ideas to by all means submit them to his office.

Robertson was very critical, however, of members of the Texas Legislature. He was less than kind. “What these guys need to realize is that education, higher education, is the economic stimulus they are looking for. We’re always the first to get cut, and to me that’s crazy.” Shaking his head, he closed with an indictment of some legislators: “These people are big on talk when it comes to education, but in the end not big on funding, and we suffer for it.”

Have an opinion you want to share?

Email us at TheVoice@LoneStar.edu

by Shawn Bitgood Students from various clubs at LSCM join together in efforts to raise money to help Japan recover from the recent tsunami disaster.

The Voice, May 2011, Page 5

AROUND CAMPUS

Local Keatin Reagan

Associate Editor Law enforcement training has come a long way since Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable Constable Gene DeForest was simply given a gun in his first police job and told “don’t get killed.”

The Montgomery County Constable, up for re-election next year, visited Lone Star Montgomery on April 14 in a presentation sponsored by the Student Legal Society. Constable DeForest spoke about his background, some of his more notable experiences, and some of what he called “common misconceptions” about law enforcement officers.

An 18-year veteran of the Conroe Police Department and the Precinct

Constable

II Constable for the last 10 years, the New York native spoke of his humble beginnings. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, DeForest eventually ended up living in a tent next to a gas station in Aransas Pass, Texas, in the early ‘70s.

By hard work and self-education, DeForest eventually worked his way up from an oilfield worker to police officer to constable. His first job in law enforcement, with the Aransas Pass Police Department, showed the vast difference between police training at the time and today: DeForest was simply handed a gun and a badge and told “don’t get killed.”

The most important part of DeForest’s speech, according to him, was addressing common concerns of law officers when dealing with the public. DeForest emphasized that

Visits

being polite and compliant when pulled over by an officer is the best approach, and to not make any sudden movements.

“You could be the nicest person in the world,” Constable DeForest explained, “but they don’t know you.

They know nothing about you, and that makes them cautious.”

Addressing his own experience with traffic stops, DeForest provided answers to common “questions” motorists would ask him: “Yes, there is other work I’d rather be doing.

No, I don’t particularly enjoy this.”

It was one of several times during the evening that the constable was able to get a laugh out of a crowd of potential future lawyers.

Part of Constable DeForest’s presentation was a detailed overview on what exactly a constable does

and the history of the occupation from its origins in England to the very first constables in Texas hired

by Stephen F. Austin. While they are law enforcement officers like sheriff’s deputies and police officers, constables and their deputies are, according to DeForest, primarily concerned with civil processes, and are under the authority of the justices of the peace for their precincts. This means that constables mainly provide bailiffs for courtrooms and serve legal papers issued by the court.

DeForest used the example of a constable removing a tenant who has not paid rent and whose landlord has brought the case to the court, obtaining a writ of possession. While this sort of activity is their main focus, DeForest went on to say that his office actually has more extensive

LSCM

powers than most other forms of law enforcement, with the ability to arrest sheriffs and even the state governor, something that even the famous Texas Rangers cannot do, as DeForest pointed out with some pride.

Constable DeForest closed the evening by answering questions from the audience, most notably a question concerning red-light cameras, recently removed in Houston after being voted down and a hot-button issue in Montgomery County.

While he acknowledged that the cameras can be inconvenient, even admitting that he had been ticketed by one, the constable was fully in favor of the cameras, claiming that they save lives and prevent accidents.

He finished his presentation with a heartfelt word of tribute to the armed forces.

Trashcans in doors will be replaced by key cards soon Jake Buscemi

Contributing writer For the 2011 spring semester, students in the two new academic buildings on campus, Building G and B, have faced an unusual sight entering class each day: trash cans are used to prop open the doors of virtually every classroom.

It is not an attempt to promote recycling, but rather has become an irritant in particular to professors at the LSCM campus. Instead of key cards, professors use trash cans to ensure access to their rooms.

Professors were supposed to be handed out key cards for the locking mechanisms on their classroom doors at the beginning of the semester, but some things were delayed and the cards were never issued to them.

Steve Scheffler, Dean of College Relations, said that “the new card reader system is a system-wide initiative that is separate from our new buildings. The timing of the card reader implementation did not dovetail with the opening of our new

buildings—which are the first of many new buildings to come online throughout LSCS.” Many professors have become frustrated with the issue for the simple fact that if someone shuts the door behind them from the previously scheduled class, they have no access to their room, thus the need for trash cans to prop them open.

Many new, state-of-the-art instructional tools have been implemented in the new buildings but they are not functioning properly due to the fact that they are brand new and many professors simply don’t know how to use them yet.

But a solution is on its way.

Scheffler says that “the plan is to have the upgraded door access control system operational in both the old and new buildings within two weeks.”

As for whether professors will get their key cards in a timely fashion he added that “the system will be operationally ready; however, this does not mean the campus faculty/ staff will have their cards to open the doors within the two-week period.”

by Kellie Pearson Trashcans are temporarily being used to keep rooms unlocked in buildings B and G until professors are issued their key cards to access their classrooms.

Scheffler said that the process will most likely take six weeks to implement, provided that the cards arrive on time and no major problems occur with the programming aspect of the system.

“System wide, we are moving to a “one-card” scenario, which is current technology and will provide capability in the future.”

Currently, 2,800 cards have been ordered for the entire faculty and staff of the LSC-Montgomery campus.

This will be enough to provide each employee with a new card that needs one to access any room they have security clearance for regardless of whether it is in the old or new buildings. The contractor that is upgrading the card access system will assist with the transition and programming initially.

Scheffler declined to say who was responsible for distributing the cards in the first part of the semester. But while it has been an inconvenience for the semester, everything should be running properly by the beginning of the summer semester if not earlier.

Page 6, The Voice, May 2011

AROUND CAMPUS

Gun rights expert offers update on conceal carry on campus Kellie Pearson Editor-in-Chief

A well-known gun-rights advocate told a packed crowd at an April 14 discussion at Lone Star College-Montgomery that a proposed law to permit concealed weapons on Texas campuses still has a chance to pass, despite the emotions it raises.

The discussion, sponsored by the LSCM Second Amendment Club, took place April 14 in the college’s Teaching Theater. It featured nationally recognized Constitutional lawyer, Charles Cotton from Houston. He is a board member of the National Rifle Association as well as former executive director of the Texas State Rifle Association.

Cotton wrote the first concealed handgun license bill in I980, and has edited pieces of legislation on guns since 1985. In addition to that, he founded the TexasCHLforum.com in 2004. Before he began his career as a lawyer in 1985, he was a policeman in Friendswood for 15 years. Needless to say, he knows a lot about guns. He professed his three favorite things other than God and his family were shooting, flying, and talking to people.

Cotton travelled to LSCM to answer questions and inform students about the ongoing legislative process involving the concealed carry on campus bill.

“It is a very emotional topic, and is going to take time,” Cotton said. “It is more of a matter of educating the public.”

Cotton said that senators and representatives generally are supportive of the bill but fear the reactions of their constituents. Texas residents believe in gun rights, but a vast majority of the state’s population are members of neither

the National Rifle Association nor Brady’s campaign against guns - they are in the middle.

“People don’t harbor feelings against guns, but they react when they think about guns being on college campuses,” Cotton said.

Texas legislators have been working on the bill since 2007, and an interim campus study on campus carry was carried out in 2008. The bill passed the Senate in the 2009 session but died in the House of Representatives because Democrats put pressure on voter ID, nearly shutting down the legislative process and killing numerous bills, including concealed carry on campus.

The problem the bill faces in the current session is receiving a two-thirds majority from the Senate to bring it to the floor, since the Senate does not use a calendar system. A twothirds majority calls for the support of 21 senators in the 31-member chamber. There were 22 votes up until mid-April when Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville and Sen. Mario Gallegos, D-Houston withdrew their support.

Time is running out, as the 2011 session ends in July. According to Cotton, if the battle for redistricting gets out of the House or Senate and carry on campus has not been brought up yet, the chances it will get brought to the floor will drop dramatically.

“It is not guaranteed to pass, but campus carry is not dead either. It should pass, but that does not mean that it will,” Cotton said.

“Don’t believe that because everything doesn’t go as you planned it that everything is lost. A high-profile bill has never passed in the first session, it takes time.”

Cotton stated that he has gotten a number of questions regarding why there are so many versions of the bill. There are six different

versions of campus carry including three general versions and one that involves faculty, advisors, and professors. He stated that the number of versions of bills does not water down the support and the reason there are so many is so that legislators can amend them.

In other gun-related legislation, Cotton and his supporters have also created an employer parking lot bill prohibiting employers from having policies that require employees with concealed weapons permits to leave their weapons locked in their vehicles.

Students asked a variety of questions over the bill after Cotton concluded his presentation.

One student asked how important calls and emails from supporters are in passing a bill. Cotton replied that it is very helpful and encouraged students to fax a letter and make a phone call once a day, especially to senators Lucio and Gallegos. Emails, however, do not usually get checked and are not paid attention to since there are so many.

There were also concerns that bystanders could get caught in the cross fire between a shooter and a student with a concealed weapon permit. Cotton said that it was possible, but not likely, and “Even if one student does get killed accidentally, the death toll would still be lower than the other option, which would be students just sitting around and getting killed.”

Cotton also proclaimed that the main thing that gets lost in all the debate is the benefit of added protections for students against assaults that occur every day either on and off campus.

That additional protection against day-to-day criminal threats is the main benefit of the legislation, he said.

Business and Economics Professor James Zipperer, one of the two advisors of the Second

courtesy of TexasCHLforum.com Charles Cotton

Amendment Club, said that the event was well-received and he was satisfied with the turnout. “I think the best point that he made was that there are over 460,000 concealed handgun licensees in the state of Texas that carry safely and commit less crimes than the rest of society, and it is foolish to think that carrying on campus would change statistics.”

LSCM student Saul Cortez, 22, actually attended for extra credit in a class but admitted that he was glad he decided to go. “I thought it was very interesting and informative. I definitely know a lot more about the legislation process of conceal carry on campus now than I did before,” he said.

If you would like to find out more about the Second Amendment Club and the events it sponsors, contact the club’s student leader Kaitlyn Beauregard at kaitykatb@yahoo. com, or advisors Richard Hunting (Richard.

Hunting@LoneStar.edu) and James Zipperer (James.F.Zipperer@LoneStar.edu). The club’s meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month in Building F, room 313 at 2:30 p.m.

www.TheVoiceofLSCM.com/about/updates

by Tonya Britton Nationally recognized Constitutional lawyer Charles Cotton visits the campus to update students on the conceal carry on campus legislation.

The Voice, May 2011, Page 7

AROUND CAMPUS

LSCS announces more buying options in book voucher program Kellie Pearson Editor-in-Chief

Lone Star College System has finally resolved a glitch in a computer system that had been keeping students from using financial aid book vouchers anywhere other than the campus book store.

LSCS has been working on the issue since earlier this semester, when it began switching to a new computer system designed to provide additional services to students and employees --including a way to electronically process book vouchers. The goal was to create a way to electronically process book vouchers and enable students to have their textbook financial aid wired to their personal bank accounts. They would then be free to purchase books from a retailer of their own choice.

But during the conversion to the new system, students were temporarily excluded from purchasing their textbooks with financial aid from bookstores other than the campus book store. Assistant Vice Chancellor Laura Morris stated in an article published by The Courier last December that it was only to last a couple of months until the ERP system conversion was complete.

As a solution to the transitory problem, a paper form was created for students to allow them to use their financial aid to purchase textbooks elsewhere. The contract stated: “As a student, I understand that I am not under any obligation to purchase textbooks from Follett Bookstore as Lone Star College System’s affiliated bookstore; and that textbooks may be available from off campus bookstores and/or online retailers”. According to The

Voice’s online poll, out of the 50 students that responded, 80% stated that they were not aware of this form.

Not until recently has the glitch in the computer system been resolved. The delay, according to LSCS Executive Director of Communications Jed Young, initially involved the conversion of the new system.

“The new ERP system is now able to handle book voucher requests and processing without any difficulty. At the same time, a formal process for LSCS student book voucher requests is still in the works to determine the most equitable way to handle book vouchers,” Young said.

The college is still working to create a way for students to notify the college of their preference where they want to purchase their books. They will still probably have to end up using some sort of paper form according to Young. The

goal is to have the formal process in place by the start of summer classes.

In addition, LSCS is also currently working on plans to make students more aware of their textbook purchasing options for the future.

“LSCS will be publishing notices, both hard copy and electronic, to notify students of their options. The notices will point out that students are not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from a LSC-affiliated bookstore and that the same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer,” Young said.

These notices will be available to students no later than a week before fall or spring semesters, during the first week of summer school, and to prospective students who may be attending an orientation conducted by LSCS.

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Page 8, The Voice, May 2011

STUDENT LIFE

Healthier U Event Raises $24,000 for Scholarships Lauren Maddox

LSCM College Relations After 14 years, the heart of Lone Star College-Montgomery’s “Healthier U Wellness Expo & Job Fair” is still beating strong, having raised $24,000 for student scholarships this month at the annual event.

“We’re grateful for our 50 sponsors and the many participants who, in spite of the economy, were able to make this year’s event a huge success,” said Mary Rush, division operations manager and Healthier U coordinator. “Because of their support, many students in healthrelated and other programs will have the opportunity to continue their education.”

Healthier U took place April 6-8.

Forty-five non-profit and for-profit businesses and organizations were on display at the wellness expo, showing interactive demonstrations and providing health-related information. There were also 12 employers searching for candidates at the job fair.

In addition to the wellness expo and job fair, the event included a heart-healthy chili cook-off and sweets bake-off, a multimedia sale, a silent auction, a golf tournament

and, for the first time, a blood drive, sponsored by the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, where 50 people donated blood.

Healthier U is an annual LSCMontgomery event focused on raising scholarship funds that benefit students primarily in the college’s nursing, medical radiologic technology, physical therapist assistant, fire science technology, and emergency medical services programs.

The proceeds generated this year will allow the organization to begin a fourth $1,000 endowed scholarship that will be awarded to students in perpetuity. This is in addition to the approximately 25 to 35 $500 scholarships awarded by the organization each year and the three previously funded endowed scholarships of $1,000.

“Healthier U is a team effort, supported by faculty, staff, and the community,” said Rush. “Even the students are a huge part of this scholarship fundraiser. This year alone, more than 145 volunteered to help at the event.”

For more information about the Healthier U or to see pictures from the event, please visit www.LoneStar. edu/HealthierU .

courtesy of College Relations Thanks to the many business sponsors and support from the community, Lone Star College-Montgomery’s annual “Healthier U” event raised $24,000 for scholarships for students in health-related programs on campus.

LSCM theater performs Lend Me a Tenor Beth Eytcheson Staff Writer

On a mild spring evening the curtain rose on the Mainstage Theatre in the Performing Arts Center as operatic notes drifted through the air. Maggie, played by vivacious Jenny Hardy was lost in the music and could not be interrupted as she waited for the arrival of Tito Morelli in Lend Me a Tenor. The pace quickened upon the arrival of ne’er do well Max, played by Tanner Bench and his cantankerous boss Saunders played by Joey Hancock.

The precise comedic timing is pulled off brilliantly by the cast as the script

lifted off the pages and engrossed theatre goers.

Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me a Tenor is a fast-paced farce where international opera singer Tito Morelli played by Scott Shettig, arrives late for his engagement at Saunders opera house in Cleveland. After an argument with his wife Maria, played by fiery Makael Dennison who storms out, Tito seeks to drown his sorrows with a little vino and a few tranquilizers which Max also slips to him in hopes that he relaxes prior to his big engagement.

After a brief nap, Max wakes to find Tito presumably dead from an overdose. Chaos ensues as Saunders and Max try to cover the blight on the opera house as Maggie, Joey George-

Hancock’s brilliantly played bellhop, Julia, the opera house manager brought to full life by Crystal Stampes and Diana the red-headed temptress and Tito Morelli’s potential costar for the opera house engagement played

by Sydney Bertrand all vie for a brief moment with the international and possibly dead leading man.

The September 1934 evening is brought to full grandeur in late April 2011 by this close knit and well-rehearsed troop. There is little doubt that the cast enjoys one another’s company. Many of them have confirmed their fall enrollment and continued involvement with the 2011-2012 season which is tentatively slated to put on Dr.

Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Private Eyes, and Xanadu. The next production, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is holding auditions open to the community on May 24th at 4:00pm, Mainstage Theatre.

Be sure to prepare 16 bars of upbeat Broadway music, bring sheet music, wear comfortable clothing and be ready to learn a short, simple dance combination. The next time the curtain goes up, the next review may be about you.

courtesy of Denise Meyers “Lend Me a Tenor’s Max, played by Tanner Bench and Saunders, played by Joey Hancock (left to right).”

The Voice, April 2011, Page 9

STUDENT LIFE

Acoustic Cafe brings great Become an LSCM sounds by great people student ambassador Ashleigh Bloomis Staff Writer

Lunch was hopping in Building A on April 12 with the music of James Everett and Jason Ramsey. Both musicians performed their original pieces for the students of LSCM. The Voice attended and spoke with the artists.

James Everett, who enjoys performing alternative rock, was the opening act. Everett started playing the guitar at age 13 when a friend of Everret’s picked up the guitar and Everett decided it looked fun.

When asked, “Why did you decide to perform for the Acoustic Cafe?” he responded with, “Ana [Marie Colchado] asked one of my friends if he knew anyone who played guitar while I was sitting right next to him with my guitar. He [friend] said ‘What about him?’ and that’s why I am playing today.”

Everett writes about many things and one song that was a tear jerker for some was a song called “She said yes.”

When asked the meaning of the song, he said, “It’s about Columbine, when a girl [Cassie Bernall] was shot and then said yes to believing in God.” All the way from Austin, Jason Ramsey awed the audience with his unique beats and rhythms. He was very funny and his music was very upbeat and really showed his humorous personality. The Voice interviewed Ramsey on his musical

experience, and what he likes to play.

What made you decide to perform for Acoustic Cafe?

I like to perform for colleges and get kids reactions of my music What is your favorite type of music to play?

Acoustic, Pop, R&B, Soul.

Do you play any other instruments other than guitar?

I just started playing piano and I hope to soon write songs on it as well as keep up my guitar playing.

If you could duet with anyone, who would it be? Why? Norah Jones because we have a similar style and I think we could mesh well. Also she’s cute.

Where do you plan for your music to take you?

I hope someday to make this [singing and songwriting] my full time career, I am almost there. Also it would be nice if I could be a songwriter for people, just to get my stuff out there.

Have you ever considered auditioning for American Idol or a show like it?

American Idol? No. I think American Idol is for those people who are all about getting famous. I think America’s Got Talent is better suited for me. (He likes to keep it real.)

Can you briefly explain your music- making process?

First, I get the chords then I add the lyrics. Actually, I write songs in my sleep, like in my dreams. I hear

the songs in my sleep then when I wake up I remember them and start playing them. That may be weird but that is how it happens.

Can you explain a meaning of one of your songs?

“Those Jeans” is a song about when I was in college it was really fashionable to wear cut up jeans, and girls would always wear those skin tight jeans and that’s how the song came about.

Do you think the topics of your songs will change over time?

They have. I started out writing about women, but now I am writing more songs about life. I am working on another album and a Christmas CD. It would also be really cool if I could do a Live CD with a bunch of cover songs.

What do you mostly write songs about?

Women. More recently though (like I said) life.

Who are your biggest influences for your music?

Oh man, I would have to say Harry Connick Jr, and Ari Hest.

Ramsey and Everett were a great treat for the students at LSCM. Students who are interested in participating in the selection of artists can contact Ana Marie Colchado in the Office of Student Life. The review of potential performers for next year’s series starts in the early summer.

courtesy of Kerstin Alander LSCM’s curresnt student ambassadors for the 21010-11 school year. Left to Right: Stephine Otto, Bill Edwards, Anastasiya Ovchinnikova, Kerstin Alander, Matthew Williams, and Rebecca Barber.

The student ambassadors organization is dedicated to promoting all aspects of LSCM and the Lone Star College System among future, current, and past students and the community, to serve as a liaison between LSCM and prospective students. The organization aids, assists, and supports LSCM and the LSCS at public functions, community events, and campus and district-wide events.

Benefits include a $300 scholarship per active semester, opportunity to become Student of the Week, experience in public speaking, leadership experience, photo opportunities, and recognition on college applications and resume.

By working as a student ambassador you don’t just get a scholarship. You get the opportunity to grow and develop as a student leader. It is an extremely rewarding organization that will benefit all aspects of your experience with Lone Star. We work events ranging from as crazy as Buzzfest to as prestigious as the Lone Star Gala.”

- Kerstin Alander, StudentAmbassador President Eligibility: Must be a student of good standing (2.5 GPA or higher) and must be available for the mandatory bi-weekly Friday meeting at 2:00.

by Ashleigh Bloomis James Ramsey sings one of his original songs, “Those jeans,” at this month’s Acoustic Cafe.

How to Apply: go to http://www.lonestar.edu/ambassadors-Montgomery.htm and fill out the application which includes writing a short paper and providing 3 letters of recommendation, preferably from LSC faculty. Applicants then go through an interview process.

Applications can be sent Denise Meyers, Building D, Office 107 or denise.meyers@LoneStar.edu. Applications are due September 19th. Email questions to KNAlander@gmail.com

Page 10, The Voice, May 2011

courtesy of College Relations Thanks to the many business sponsors and support from the community, Lone Star College-Montgomery’s annual “Healthier U” event raised $24,000 for scholarships for students in health-related programs on campus.

courtesy of Denise Meyers LSCM student Cystal Stampes playing Julia in theater’s production of Lend Me a Tenor.

courtesy of James Zipperer First year LSCM student Lauren Sparks , a barrell racer on LSCM’s Rodeo Team, competed and qualified for the National Championship that will be held in Wyoming this July.

The Voice, May 2011, Page 11

by Alex Jimenez At the kick off of the new edition of SWIRL magazine, Editor Nathan Bitgood reads his piece titled Personality after congratulating Mallory Sherman for making the cover artwork that she titled Titans.

courtesy of Julie Alber Psi Beta, LSCM’s Psychology Club, were the top contributers to the Friendship Center pet food drive sponsored by Julie Alber. They were awarded a certificate and pizza party. Altogether, 1,177lbs of pet food were collected and given to senior citizens.

by Ruby Garza The newest club of LSCM, Meditators Unite Under Dharma, meet weekly to meditate and focus positive eneergy back into their lives.

Page 12, The Voice, May 2011

STUDENT LIFE

Look at him now: student overcomes past and looks to bright future Kellie Pearson Editor-in-Chief

If you ever pass by Jonathon Bradford walking around campus, you are bound to see him with an IPod jamming out and dancing to his favorite songs, high-fiving his many friends walking by and calling out “What’s up, pimpin’?”, or cracking a joke and making someone laugh.

His love for life and people has always been a part of who he is, but one would never think that this class clown has once gone through and suffered the unimaginable.

Jonathon, or JB as most people call him, grew up in the Dugan area of Conroe with his four older brothers and sister as his mother struggled to provide for her six children, dealing with her husband as a crack-cocaine addict. She worked as a taxi driver, driving her own car around to transport people to and from places they needed to go. JB’s mother often took him and his sister with her to various places, which JB recalls as one of his favorite memories of his childhood.

“I was a big Momma’s boy,” he

says. He absolutely loved spending time with her, and always got upset when he had to stay at home with his older siblings while she had to run errands without him.

JB’s mom got him involved in sports as early as first grade when he first started playing football and baseball. In third grade, he began playing basketball. He attributes all his athletic ability to his mom.

“I like to think of it as when I am out there on the field or the court, I am playing for her,” he says.

On November 24, 2002, exactly a week after Thanksgiving, 10-yearold JB experienced a tragedy that few children his age have ever gone through. He had to witness the heart attack and death of his best friend, his hero, his life protector and provider.

That night was the night his mom died.

JB felt helpless, hopeless, and like “someone ripped his entire world away from him.” He was scared to go to sleep that night, “because death is forever,” he says. He woke up the next morning and ran into the kitchen, where he always found his mom cooking breakfast for him

and his siblings; when she wasn’t there, he sat down on the floor and wept for hours. Her funeral was held that weekend, and the entire day JB described as “feeling cold inside, with a cold presence around him.”

Returning to school the following week, he was welcomed back with apologetic notes from all his classmates. As he sat down at his desk and read them, he began to cry in front of everyone. JB describes that moment as being harder than the actual day of his mother’s death.

“That moment was when I had to face the reality of it,” he says.

That following year he became especially close with his sixth grade teacher; Mrs. Rachel Payne. What once began as someone to talk about football with turned into a companion that took him to all Montgomery High School’s football games as they both watched their brothers play. Rachel’s husband Jason was also JB’s baseball coach that year, up until ninth grade.

During those years, JB lived with his grandma along with his brothers and sister. They were pretty hard up, as he recalls having to get his clothes

courtesy of Jonathon Bradford

from places such as YMCA and the Salvation Army. His relationship with Mr. and Mrs. Payne continued to grow close. He would go over to their house and visit them, attend trips with them, and even spend weekends with them. The summer after his eighth grade year, he moved in with Rachel and Jason and they became his legal guardians.

“I tip my hat off to them,” JB says.

“They took in a 10-year-old kid they knew nothing about and raised him as their own child because they felt that God wanted them to.”

Today, JB goes to school and works as a cashier at Kroger in addition to helping babysit his three younger sisters and brother also adopted by

Rachel and Jason. He is majoring in education so that he can one day become a special education teacher and a high school football coach.

Transferring to Sam Houston State University in the fall, he will play as safety and receiver on their football team.

The ultimate driving force and motivation in JB’s life is his past.

He has learned to never take life for granted and wants his kids to grow up being able to have what he didn’t.

Living with the hope of knowing that he will one day be reunited with his mom in heaven, he strives to live a life that she would be proud of.

Christian students begin new tradition on campus David Bracewell

Contributing Writer Christian students of Lone Star CollegeMontgomery have begun meeting at noon every Monday in the “Free Speech Zone” outside of Building A, seeking fellowship.

This group, led by 22-year-old student and local resident Jon Beadle, began mid January, and has already seen a dramatic increase in only a few weeks. What started as about five students in a Bible study environment has grown to approximately 25 by mid-February.

Regarding the dramatic increase, Jon said, “I have no idea [what led to the increase], but

credit it to prayer and faith.” Beadle and others affectionately call this gathering “The 12.” The name, they say, has no special significance; they named it that because the meetings take place at 12 p.m. They do appreciate the irony though.

Jon has decided to not make this a club, and he has specific reasons why.

“Everyone in college has an intrinsic desire to be a part of something, but Christianity is not a club, it’s a lifestyle. I understand the intent to gain official status so a group can reserve rooms...” The college leaders do not appear to be against this, to which he says “The college administrators are good people and great leaders... I can imagine that there are other

things on their mind.”

Jon also feels that he can make a bigger difference by meeting outside, “It’s just the most convenient place to meet at noon, and it’s also very accessible to anyone walking by who wants to engage with us.” He would rather be engaged by people of all backgrounds and beliefs in the open, than meeting in “some reserved room that nobody knows about.”

For Jon, this was not a spur of the moment idea, and when asked as to his reasons behind starting this in the first place he said, “I had been praying and felt that this was the right thing to do first for Jesus, and then for these students.”Former LSC-Montgomery student

Karli Reich, 23, attends the meetings regularly, despite already graduating from college. She loves how the group helps to break the Monday stigma, offering a great start to the week. As far as the goal for the group, she said, “Our main mission... is to help people know the grace, hope, and peace that accompanies God’s unfailing love.” She agrees with Beadle regarding the importance of meeting outside, and invites everyone regardless of religious affiliation. It is clear though that they are motivated by a higher purpose, as Karli said, “We’re ready for lives to be changed, and for people to find joy in Jesus Christ.”

STUDENT LIFE

The Voice, May 2011, Page 13

Psi Beta takes top honor Beth Eytcheson Staff Writer

by Beth Eytcheson Pictured from left to right: Treasurer Liz Conlin, Vice President Angela Tallant, President Kelsey Richardson, Secretary Matthew Williams, and Chapter Delegate Katie Sanborn.

Psi Beta, the National Honor Society of Psychology for Community and Junior Colleges, had an award winning semester. As Student Organization of the Year, Psi Beta has brought William Mitchell who performed a Hypnosis Stage Show, Dr. Rowland Miller of Sam Houston State University who discussed “Picking A Partner: Advice from the

“Love Doctor.”, were winners of the Friendship Center’s Pet Food Drive, and an integral part of the Crawphish Festival in association with The Woodlands Children’s Museum.

The Spring 2011 Installation of new members and officers for Psi Beta was held on Wednesday, April 27. Vice President of Instruction, Dr. Ann Kirch, was the keynote speaker who discussed how she learned leadership skills from her cats. Nine new members were installed and they

were: Liz Conlin, Beth Eytcheson, Dan Goodrum, Tina Hughes, Eleana Mosley, Jennifer Piper, Staci Prall, Jo Rogers, and Matthew Williams.

New officers were also elected for the Fall 2011 semester and they will be: President Kelsey Richardson, Vice President Angela Tallant, Secretary Matthew Williams, Treasurer Liz Conlin, and Chapter Delegate Katie Sanborn. Advisors for Psi Beta are Dr. Michael Green and Dr. Karen Buckman.

LSCM student wins pageant and dreams big Kellie Pearson Editor-in-Chief

“Any stage I’m on, I own it,” says Krisita Robinson, first year LSCM student and recent graduate of College Park High School. Thanks to Kristia, LSCM can now boast of having a beauty pageant winner parading around campus.

Kristia won First Runner Up in The Woodlands Scholarship Pageant held on April 3.

Although this is her fourth year to compete in beauty pageants, it is her first year in Texas.

Kristia moved to The Woodlands two years ago from Chicago, Illinois, where she lived for a year and fell in love with city life. Florida, however, is where she feels most at home since that is where she was born and raised and spent the majority of her life.

She enjoys beauty pageants because she loves being challenged.

“Beauty pageants are not only a confidence booster to help me realize how beautiful I am, but also make me use my brain and get involved with my community,” says Kristia.

Being crowned Little Miss Lake Vista in 2004 in St. Petersburg, Florida is what she considers her favorite pageant memory because it helped her prove to herself that she can win anything with perseverance.

Aside from pageants, another hobby of hers is dancing, particularly

the styles of hip hop and modern.

Since she was 6, Kristia has been dancing in various studios, and in 2008 she participated in Adlai Stevenson High School’s dance team in Illinois.

“Dancing sets my spirits free,” she says.

Kristia dreams about trying out to become a Houston Rocket’s Power Dancer or a member of a college dance team in the near future.

Shopping, music, and reading are a few other things she takes pleasure in.

“I’m all into the fashion artsy stuff!” she says.

In fact, she is so into it all that she plans to make a career out of it.

Kristia is majoring in chemistry to one day create her own line of organic make up for men and women.

On the school side of things, college algebra is her favorite class she is taking this semester because “math is something that [she] grasps easily.”

This year she has been a member of the LSCM leadership club and plans on getting involved as a student ambassador next fall.

“I would love to give back to the world in any future leadership roles I participate in,” she says.

To relax from the craziness and chaos of college, she likes to sit in her hot tub, drink hot tea, and listen to her music. Some of her favorites among her diverse taste in music are Alicia Keys, Rihanna, John Meyer,

and Drake.

“I also enjoy listening to hip hop violinists,” Kristia says.

Spending time with her friends and family is also important to her.

Currently, Kristia lives with both of her parents and her little brother.

The relationship Kristia has with her parents is a very close one.

“They are supportive of anything I do,” she says.

Her two heroes in life are her Aunt Patricia Robinson and national celebrity Tyra Banks.

“My aunt was always independent and lived her life how she wanted to up until she recently passed away on December 31, 2010. Tyra Banks inspires me because I want to someday have my own TV show working with models just like her.”

The best life advice Kristia has received is to “do what makes you happy, but be smart in what you do and how you do it. Don’t settle for less, settle for success.”

Taking a glimpse into Kristia’s life, one can see this advice evident in her goal-driven and determined personality. Living for herself, her family, and future family, she realizes that you can’t look on the negative side of things in life or you will never be happy.

“Make the best of what you are blessed with,” she says.

courtesy of Kristia Robinson

Page 14, The Voice, May 2011

ACADEMIA

Tree planted in honor of ALL’s 10th anniversary Steve Scheffler

LSCM College Relations Generations of students to come will enjoy the beauty and shade of a new 12-foot magnolia tree, which was ceremoniously planted recently at Lone Star College-Montgomery in recognition of the Academy for Lifelong Learning’s (ALL) 10th anniversary. The Woodlands Development Company generously donated the tree.

Current ALL chairman Helen Bostock, along with several other past ALL chairs and current members, gathered to recognize the many accomplishments that the organization has experienced since its founding more than a decade

ago—and to look forward at things to come.

“The magnolia tree symbolizes the beauty of lifelong learning that the active, older adults in ALL bring to the campus,” said Bostock. “For more than 10 years, the active senior community in Montgomery County and beyond has supported ALL by volunteering their time and talents with others. It’s comforting to know that future ALL students—as well as traditional college students at LSCMontgomery—will be able to enjoy this tree.”

ALL is a membership organization filled with lectures, seminars, and discussions geared toward the 50plus retired or semi-retired individual interested in remaining “plugged

in” to the academic, learning environment. The classes are informal and informational and cover a variety of topics such as art, computer technology, personal growth, languages, history, travel and more.

A small annual membership fee of $35 allows members to take academy courses free of charge or at a minimal rate. The annual membership lasts from September 1 to August 31.

For more information about ALL or to view the schedule of classes, contact LSC-Montgomery’s continuing education department at (936) 273-7446 or visit www.

LoneStar.edu/all-montgomery.

courtesy of College Relations Helen Bostock, chair of the Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) at Lone Star CollegeMontgomery, shovels dirt with Tim Welbes, co-president of The Woodlands Development Company, during the planting of a magnolia tree in honor of ALL’s 10th anniversary. Past chairs and ALL members look on during the ceremony, which was generously underwritten by The Woodlands Development Company.

Hospital, college partner to address critical nursing shortage Steve Scheffler

LSCM College Relations

courtesy of College Relations Officials from Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital recently presented a check to the Lone Star College-Montgomery nursing program in order to fund a faculty position.

The new position will allow the college’s nursing program to continue to expand, meeting the critical need for nurses in the area. Pictured (l. to r.) are Dr. Austin A. Lane, president of LSC-Montgomery; Victoria King, chief nursing officer at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands; Manijeh Azhang Scott, director of the LSC-Montgomery nursing program; and Ron Dewlen, academic dean at LSC-Montgomery. Officials from Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital recently presented a check to the Lone Star College-Montgomery nursing program in order to fund a faculty position. The new position will allow the college’s nursing program to continue to expand, meeting the critical need for nurses in the area. Pictured (l. to r.) are Dr. Austin A. Lane, president of LSC-Montgomery; Victoria King, chief nursing officer at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands; Manijeh Azhang Scott, director of the LSC-Montgomery nursing program; and Ron Dewlen, academic dean at LSC-Montgomery.

Hospital, College Partner to Address Critical Nursing Shortage Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital Funds Nursing Faculty Position at Lone Star CollegeMontgomery.

Recognizing the critical need for qualified nurses and building on a strong educational partnership, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital recently pledged to support Lone Star College-Montgomery with a dedicated salary for an additional nursing faculty member.

This is the third year that the hospital has made this annual contribution to the college, totaling more than $160,000 over the past three years. Its generosity has allowed the college to continue to expand its nursing program, offering more and more students the opportunity to enter the nursing field.

“We are grateful for Memorial Hermann The Woodlands’ investment in our nursing program and our nursing students,” said Dr. Austin A. Lane, president of LSC-Montgomery. “Our program demands intense faculty interaction

with our students, and an additional instructor will allow the opportunity for LSC-Montgomery to generate more qualified applicants to serve their community in the nursing profession.”

According to Victoria King, chief nursing officer at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, the hospital actively employs many from LSC-Montgomery’s nursing program as professional student nurses who are then often hired full time after completion of their nursing curriculum.

LSC-Montgomery offers several nursing programs, including the basic associate degree nursing (ADN) track, licensed vocational nursing (LVN), and a transition to professional nursing track for those LVNs and paramedics desiring to pursue the ADN track. The college also offers a certified nurse assistant (CNA) program.

With the recent contribution from Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, the college has expanded its nursing program by almost 10 percent, adding 10 students for the current 2010-11 academic year—and each year thereafter.

According to Manijeh Azhang

Scott, director of the LSCMontgomery nursing program, the hospital’s contribution couldn’t come at a better time, considering the ongoing nursing shortage—both locally and nationally.

“The need for highly qualified nurses in Montgomery County and the surrounding area has only increased over time,” said Azhang Scott. “Our students are highly sought after once they complete their program and pass the Board of Nursing’s certification/registration exam.”

Nationally, the shortage of registered nurses could reach as high as 500,000 by 2025 according to a report released in March 2008 by Dr. Peter Buerhaus of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Dr. Douglas Staiger of Dartmouth University, and Dr. David Auerbach of the Congressional Budget Office.

The report found that the demand for RNs is expected to grow by 2-3 percent each year.

For more information about LSCMontgomery’s nursing program, visit www.LoneStar.edu/nursing-deptmontgomery; or call (936) 2737030 and ask about the dates of the upcoming information sessions.

The Voice, May 2011, Page 15

ACADEMIA

Professors Honored With Faculty Excellence Awards Lauren Maddox

LSCM College Relations Lone Star College-Montgomery and the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) recently named professors Dr. Karen Buckman, Jared Cootz, Dr. Danny Kainer, and James Zipperer as Faculty Excellence Award recipients for the 2010-2011 academic year.

“We are very proud of our topnotch faculty who work diligently to support and encourage the aspirations of our students,” said Dr. Austin A. Lane, president of LSCMontgomery. “Each of these faculty members have creative and effective methods of teaching that resonate with the students.”

Each year, NISOD formally recognizes the best in higher education with the Faculty Excellence Awards chosen from nominations received from member schools.

“Receiving this award is humbling, especially given the quality of the faculty cohorts that surround me,” said James Zipperer, professor of economics and international business. “LSC-Montgomery is an innovative place to work, as faculty members are given the latitude to create, produce, and add value to the student life on campus.”

Zipperer, who has been teaching at the college for 14 years, is involved with the campus’ award-winning 2nd Amendment Academy, a student organization devoted to promoting 2nd Amendment rights in the state

legislature. He is also a founding advisor of the Student Veterans Association and a co-founding advisor of the Lone Star College Rodeo Team, the only intercollegiate sports team in the Lone Star College System.

He holds a master of business administration degree from Sam Houston State University, with additional emphasis in economics, finance, and business.

“The teaching approach I incorporate is simple: every student is important,” said Zipperer. “I endeavor to afford support to every student, volunteering for tutoring services and implementing an opendoor policy in my office.”

Also honored with a Faculty Excellence Award is Dr. Danny Kainer, professor of biology at LSC-Montgomery and director of the college’s Biotechnology Institute. Kainer holds a doctorate in cell biology from the Texas Tech University Health Science Center and a master’s degree in microbiology from Texas Tech University.

Most recently, Kainer has been involved with an on-campus algaederived biofuel research project in collaboration with the National Algae Association, bringing innovative research and new curricula and training for students interested in the newly emerging algae biofuel industry.

“When I began teaching at the college in 2003, I was instantly impressed with what the biotechnology program had going

on,” said Kainer. “I had no idea that students could receive such topquality training on a community college level. Today, close to eight years later, it’s an honor to have this privilege to work with students daily to change the face of their future and ours too.”

Another recipient, Jared Cootz, professor of sociology, was thrilled to be selected for this award; however, according to him, “nothing is more exciting than seeing a student master a difficult concept.”

“Simply put, I enjoy teaching,” said Cootz. “ I get pleasure from helping our students learn.”

Cootz, who teaches both psychology and sociology courses, has a teaching approach that focuses on creating an effective learning environment by using humor, reducing anxiety, using repetition, and focusing on application.

“I especially enjoy teaching the introductory Principles of Sociology (SOCI 1301) course, where I can creatively produce an overview of sociology, an area that touches all aspects of daily life,” said Cootz. “I have even referenced the television drama “LOST” to focus on group dynamics or how societies are formed.”

Cootz is currently a doctoral candidate at Texas A & M in educational administration human resource development. He holds a master’s degree in sociology and psychology from Our Lady of the Lake University.

Finally, Dr. Karen Buckman,

professor of psychology at LSCMontgomery, said it was quite an honor to be selected as a Faculty Excellence Award recipient.

Buckman, who has been with the college for more than 10 years, works diligently as a chair for the behavioral sciences division, serves as a liaison for the Foundations of Excellence initiative, and is a part of the behavioral sciences division’s professional development committee.

In addition, she is an advisor for the college’s Psychology Club and chapter of Psi Beta, the national honor society for psychology students.

“It is a joy to come and teach, because at LSC-Montgomery, we have such great students and a positive atmosphere,” said Buckman.

“I try to make my courses educational and engaging, sharing with students that psychology is all around us. I also try to enjoy life, so I encourage humor in my classroom.”

Buckman holds a doctorate degree from Texas A & M University and a master’s degree in counseling from Central Missouri University.

NISOD, housed at the University of Texas at Austin, is a worldwide consortium dedicated to the professional development of faculty, administrators, and staff and to the continued improvement of teaching and learning with the ultimate goal of student success. More than 600 community colleges around the world are NISOD members.

courtesy of College Relations Dr. Karen Buckman

courtesy of College Relations Jared Cootz

courtesy of College Relations Danny Kainer

courtesy of College Relations James Zipperer

Page 16, The Voice, May 2011

ACADEMIA

Four college staff members receive National Excellence Award Lauren Maddox

LSCM College Relations

courtesy of College Relations Judy Granata

courtesy of College Relations Denise Meyers

courtesy of College Relations John Saccente

courtesy of College Relations Suzie Solomon

Lone Star College-Montgomery and the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) recently honored Judy Granata, Denise Meyers, John Saccente, and Suzie Solomon with the 2010-2011 Staff Excellence Award, an annual award recognizing the best in higher education.

“Each and every staff member at LSC-Montgomery has a role that is integral to the success of the college, but more importantly, fundamental for the success of our students,” said Dr. Austin A. Lane, president of LSC-Montgomery. “We’re proud to recognize these individuals for their determination and leadership.”

Much like the Faculty Excellence Awards presented to four deserving LSC-Montgomery professors, these four staff recipients were selected from nominations received from the college.

“While I don’t normally like accolades or a lot of attention, it is nice to be recognized and to know that others actually notice that I try to do a good job,” said Judy Granata, administrative assistant for the vice president of administration services.

“I feel very honored and grateful.”

Granata has been with LSCMontgomery for two years and with the Lone Star College System for 10 years. She has chaired the silent auction for the college’s annual Healthier U Wellness Expo, as well as the annual holiday Giving Tree committee for the college’s Professional Support Staff Association. According to her, the opportunity and challenge of learning new things is one great aspect of working at a college.

“We have a lot of hard-working, dedicated people here, and I feel like we are one big family trying to work together,” Granata said. “We get an up close look at the students and that always reminds us of why we are here and what our mission really is.”

Denise Meyers has been with the college for two years, serving as the program coordinator for theatre and fine arts. Her roles include supporting and marketing theatre and music productions, as well as the Mary Matteson-Parrish Art Gallery.

“What fun it is to work with the students and the various arts,” said Meyers. “I enjoy my role, so it was such an honor—and a nice surprise—to be selected for this award.”

Meyers also serves as an advisor for the Student Ambassadors and as a member of the culture committee for Foundations of Excellence, a group dedicated to academic excellence and transforming the way the college provides quality services for first-year students.

Another recipient, John Saccente, works as an instructional specialist in the developmental math lab, managing implementation, enrollment, and technology support for the online math course system. He has served at LSCMontgomery since 2004.

While thankful for being selected for the Staff Excellence Award, Saccente said his greatest honor comes from knowing he has improved a student’s

learning experience.

“The most satisfying part of my job is being told by students how much I have helped them and how grateful they are,” he said. “I’ve even had students recognize me when I’m out and about and randomly thank me for helping them with a certain math course.”

Also honored was Suzie Solomon, a specialist III in charge of the library circulation area.

“It’s a privilege to be selected, although I was surprised as there are so many others who deserve this as much or perhaps more than I do,” said Solomon. “It’s rewarding to know that my colleagues appreciate what I do and understand what strengths I bring to the campus.”

Solomon worked at Lone Star College-CyFair before transferring to LSC-Montgomery three years ago.

She serves on several community organizations and campus committees,

including as co-chair for the learning dimension committee for Foundations of Excellence.

“Working here has allowed me to grow intellectually, use my interpersonal skills to assist others, and use my cultural upbringing to provide excellent customer service,” she said. “I want to thank all the people who have allowed me to receive this prestigious award, and I hope that I can continue to be a role model for others to follow.”

NISOD, housed at the University of Texas at Austin, is a worldwide consortium dedicated to the professional development of faculty, administrators, and staff and to the continued improvement of teaching and learning with the ultimate goal of student success. More than 600 community colleges around the world are NISOD members.

The Voice, May 2011, Page 17

ACADEMIA

Professor published in academic journal Lauren Maddox

LSCM College Relations The accolades for Lone Star CollegeMontgomery’s professors continue to grow, most recently with news that Dr. Paullett Golden, professor of English at LSCMontgomery, was selected to have an academic article published in the spring 2011 edition of Praxis: A Writing Center Journal.

“It’s a true honor to see my work recognized in the issue of this journal, which concentrates on raising the profile of writing centers across the nation,” said Golden.

Golden’s article entitled, “Writing in Context: Redefining the Writing Center as the Multidisciplinary Hub for Writing in the New Millennium,” focuses on creating a writing center that is, in her words, the “hub for professional discourse, and a place that celebrates the different written conventions of each discipline.”

“For this to happen, instructors across each college or university should have an invested interest in the writing center,” said Golden.

“The key to this is to train the tutors at the center to understand writing within each field of study so they can offer assistance in multiple disciplines, such as with a biology lab report or an annotated bibliography for an economics class.”

Golden’s article explained that, aside from the few truly multidisciplinary centers in the nation, many writing centers have a reputation for only offering help on traditional English papers. But by training writing center tutors in multiple fields, Golden sees an opportunity for writing centers to ‘raise the bar’ and become something supported and used by many disciplines.

Golden began her passion for writing centers during her college education when she served as a tutor in her college’s multidisciplinary writing center and received rigorous writing-

To the Class of 2011: Congratulations!

We are proud to have been part of your LSCM college experience.

Best of luck in your future endeavors.

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in-the-disciplines training. She then went on to focusing on writing center theory in her doctoral studies.

“I had the opportunity to serve as a writing center assistant/interim director during my education and offer the students a true definition of a writing center—an understanding of crosscurriculum writing disciplines, styles, and expectations,” said Golden.

After beginning her college education in 1998 as a student at LSC-Montgomery, Golden eventually completed a doctorate degree in composition and rhetoric from Texas A & M Commerce and a master of arts degree in English from Sam Houston State University.

She has been at LSC-Montgomery as a full time professor for almost seven years.

Praxis: A Writing Center Journal is an electronic publication sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin’s undergraduate writing center. A copy of Golden’s article can be found online at projects.uwc.utexas.edu/praxis.

courtesy of College Relations In her recently published academic article, Dr. Paullett Golden, professor of English at Lone Star CollegeMontgomery, focuses on college-level writing centers that celebrate the growing need for multi-discipline writing styles.

Page 18, The Voice, May 2011

OPINION

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Letter from the Editor Kellie Pearson

Editorin-Chief

Reflecting over the past year and realizing how fast it has flown by bewilders me beyond belief. It is so crazy to think that my first year of college is coming to an end, and another summer is right around the corner. This moment of my life has been full of twists and turns for sure, and I have probably learned more in one year than in all the other years of my life combined. As a student of LSCM I have gained invaluable experience both in and out of the classroom, made memories that I will never forget, and have had the privilege of getting to know some of the most fascinating and

inspirtaional people I have ever met.

It has truly been a joy and honor being Editor of such a fine staff this semester. The Voice has had a very successful school year, placing as a finalist for Student Organization of the Year in addition to having fall semester’s Editor-in-Chief Alexandro Jimenez winning Student Leader of the Year. Of course, none of it would be possible without the support and guidance from our awesome advisors.

I hope that you enjoy our last edition of the semester and remind you to send us all your comments, opinions, and questions to TheVoice@LoneStar.edu. If you are interested in writing, photography, layout design, or market advertising, and would like to be a part of The Voice next year, be sure to check out Join.TheVoiceofLSCM.com and fill out our fall 2011 officer application included in this issue, located to the left.

My accomplishments as an ESL student Violeta Ayer

Staff Writer

Effort and support have driven my development as a writer in English. I met my husband in Peru and we fell in love and communicated just by using a dictionary. When I moved from Peru to America eight years ago, my English level was so low that I could not even answer phone calls at home.

A month ago when I saw my first article published in The Voice, my memories went back to my English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at Austin Community College (ACC) when I struggled to write even a complete idea in English.

I remember my first writing class at ACC and how I hated it when I saw all the red scratches on my corrected paper. The discouragement made me

cry.

So, I ran for help to a YouTube video to listen Rafael, a Spanish singer, tell me, “There is nothing impossible for the perseverant fighter . . . little by little . . . day by day. . . ” Then, I took a deep breath and continued.

This happened several times and I would say that learning a new language is learning to deal with frustration and to never give up.

Today, day by day I continue to improve, but still it is so slow that it seems unnoticed.

Thus, I did not realize my accomplishments until I saw my name in the newspaper article. I had to touch it like the Apostle Thomas who needed to touch the wounds of the resurrected Jesus in order to believe.

Holding the newspaper in my hand, I recognized that it was true: I have grown! But this is the result of a united effort by my ESL professors, and especially my every day professor, my husband Andy, whose constant efforts gave a cultivating touch to

bring forth this fruit.

The successes of my English accomplishments began when I moved from ESL classes at ACC to credit classes at Lone Star College Montgomery in 2009. In my English assessment test, to my surprise, I scored very high. In my English1301 class, the teacher encouraged me by saying, “Congratulations, not one mistake.”

In addition, the next semester, a letter invited me to be part of the National English honor society, Sigma Kappa Delta. Not only that, this year the society selected me to be its vice president.

When I thought that was the ultimate recognition, the society selected me as one of its “Student Leaders of the Year.” I received a certificate at LSCM’s annual Student Leadership Award Ceremony on April 28.

Those accomplishments would not be possible without the support of the Write Place at LSCM. I would like to mention a few people who work there. Instructor Charles Colson, who

is a key support for the ESL student, teaches us to say more with fewer words in a more American style.

He also guides us to organize and express our ideas by asking Socratic questions, such as “How can you say this in a different way? Think about your audience; is this important information for them?”

Similarly, the Write Place coordinator Cliff Jones, who always attends to the student’s needs, provides a friendly atmosphere to make it easy to stay there for hours. He readily stops doing his administrative chores to help us when tutors are busy and makes sure that all the students receive tutoring. He always made us feel that the students would find support at the Write Place.

Of course, the tireless peer tutor Patrick Lostracco, who is ready to share his knowledge of grammar, computer and even statistics, makes us feel that it is okay not to have the perfect paper. He often says, “This is good, you only need to fix a few mistakes”.

Also, Professor Nathan Zingleman

teaches us the approach to support our thesis with relevant information.

“This is an example of how to be organized and not necessarily how to be a good parent,” he told me, teaching me to pay attention to the big picture that I convey in my paper.

Likewise, The Voice advisor, Sara Goff, challenges students to further their abilities, pushing them to accomplish even more. She helps us to build our dream to be better than we thought possible.

Finally, this is the last semester of my time at LSCM and I could not find a better way to thank the Write Place by giving them public recognition for having walked beside me, helping to finish the first stage of my college education. They made a big difference in my life and in the lives of many other ESL students.

For any future accomplishments I achieve, the Write Place at LSCM will always hold a special thought of gratitude from me.

Have a story you want to share?

Email us at TheVoice@LoneStar.edu

The Voice, May 2011, Page 19

OPINION

Russo’s New York Pizzeria: A Hidden Gem Maria Javaid

Associate Editor

Going to Russo’s New York Pizzeria, I was not anticipating great food, just pizza. I was in for a surprise. Not easily visible from the road across LSCM, and tucked into a strip center, this place can easily be overlooked to the naked eye. For the few, however, who can locate Russo’s, it is a hidden gem.

Right across the street from the college, it is an easy access to a fabulous lunch, and definitely a musttry for the locals. The ambiance of the restaurant is very positive and friendly environment with a great wait staff. The staff was helpful and accommodating to the needs of the

courtesy of Maria Javaid

customers, with recommendations for the meal, and a choice of drinks.

The restaurant feels like a totally different place from lunch time to dinner time, but one thing is for sure-neither timings disappoint.

Besides the service being one of the best I have seen, the place was very clean, and had an amazing atmosphere.

LSCM students ignore National Day of Silence Ashleigh Bloomis Staff Writer

On April 15, the National Day of Silence (NDS), hundreds of thousands of students nationwide took a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) name-calling, bullying, and harassment in their schools. I do not think it should matter if you are against gay marriage or for gay marriage; they are people too. NDS is not a gay marriage activist day, it is meant to bring attention to people that are getting hurt and even killed for who they are. Some homosexuals are afraid to be who they are because they are so scared of being hurt. There

are many LGBT people who try to appear heterosexual not just to avoid being hurt, but also to protect the people they love. No one should have to walk on eggshells their whole lives just because of who they are.

Only a few LSCM students participated in the National Day of Silence. I was one of them. I am straight. I do not believe that a person’s sexual orientation will make them a better or a worse person. I am from Colorado, a very liberal state. When I moved to Texas, I was afraid to voice my real opinion when I talked to people. I believe strongly that more people should participate in things like the National Day of Silence because people are people, and it should not matter who they choose to love. I have a bumper sticker on my car, it says “Support Gay Marriage: everyone deserves the right to be miserable.” Even if you don’t agree with homosexuality, we can all agree that bullying is wrong.

atmosphere.

The tables were neatly set, with great decor, and an urban-Italian vibe.

The specials of the day are written on an easy to read board near the front of the restaurant, with a table not too far, embellished with slices of cakes and delights sure to satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth.

Taking a seat, it is well noted that

the atmosphere is sure to be a definite mood lifter. I had started out with the Mediterranean salad which had great artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes and a tangy balsamic dressing on the side, along with fresh baked bread that came with it. With an array of specialty pizza, and with me being veggie fanatic, I opted for the “heart healthy veggie” pizza. This pizza promised fresh spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, basil, mozzarella, garlic sauce, the ever so famous extra virgin olive oil and once again, lovely artichoke hearts. The wait for the brick oven pizza was not long, but it also was not too short. I say this with a light heart because the pizza itself has a “wow” factor that not many can accomplish, and had me quickly forgetting and forgiving about the wait I had to endure. The pizza slices are huge, and very satisfying. It was even better than I had imagined it, with vegetables galore, an amazing olive oil and garlic sauce mixture

and a smell that made my mouth water. It had a great crispy crust, and a wonderful marriage of sauce with cheese. To talk while eating this slice of pizza would have been a crime, as to divert attention anywhere but to the pizza was out of the question.

It may seem a bit redundant to have a slice of cake after such a big slice of pizza pie, but the cake had been calling my name all the while of eating pizza, and it would have been a shame to just call it quits after dinner without desert. One slice of cake, I had a decadent devil’s food cake, is more than enough for two people with some left to take home.

Along with homemade canoli’s and tiramisu, the devil’s food cake was literally the icing on the cake after this dinner.

Want a restaurent to be reviewed?

Email us at TheVoice@LoneStar.edu

America just got its credit card taken away; now what?

Andrew Payne

Staff Writer

There is an old curse that reads, “May you live in interesting times”.

Let me be the first to tell you that we are profoundly cursed. I mean big time. Like Caesar on the ides of March, opened Pharaoh’s tomb cursed. In October of this year, the federal government will adopt a new budget plan which will determine how much and where the government spends its money. No big deal; it happens every year, right? Well, yes, but not like this.

For arguably the first time since the inception of entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, the government is addressing the enormous problem of the unsustainable burden these programs represent to our economy.

The importance of this unprecedented debate over the restructuring of the way we handle our finances cannot be overstated. We are going to have to look at the way we spend every dollar of U.S. capital and that means we are going to be declaring to ourselves and the world what we value as a people.

The saying, “where your treasure is, there your heart is also” is going to take on a very real meaning for our society.

For a generation, America has kept taxes low while spending has risen steadily higher, and we have made up the difference by borrowing. Now, however, it appears that our number is up, as the absurd condition of our national debt will soon prevent us from borrowing a dime (or yen, euro, etc). With our ability to borrow gone, we must fix these problems internally and that means we have to face some hard truths.

Those truths are that we are spending too much and making too little. That means two things for LSCM students: higher taxes and less entitlement programs. Decades of vote-hungry politics has driven us

to a point that requires immediate action. But lest we be too quick to blame the politicians, let’s look at who gladly took all the free money they threw at us and gave them all those votes; us. Any budget plan that has even a slight chance of getting us on the right track absolutely must propose three things: increasing taxes across the board, cutting spending across the board (but not NASA because spaceships rule), and a failsafe to ensure that we rehash the issue immediately if the first plan does not work as intended, which is almost always the case.

So when these very unpopular and very uncomfortable budget proposals start rolling out over the summer, remember three things: first, if a budget proposal doesn’t include increasing taxes and significantly cutting spending, don’t support it or vote for anyone who does. Second, we dug ourselves into this pit through decades of complacency and footing the bill. It is time to pay up and we must deal with it. Third, ask not what the Fed can give to you, ask what you can do to help balance our budget!

Page 20, The Voice, May 2011