r e p a p u by s i h T to yo D t S h I g W u bro ts from 4 A n e e g a d P stu editorial,
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A NATIONAL PACEMAKER AWARD NEWSPAPER VOL. 21, NO. 4
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014
The student publication of Washtenaw Community College
www.washtenawvoice.com
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN
WCC CFO reports $4.7 mil surplus What should the college do with that money? “Whatever would be the best in the long run. Even if it’s a big expense, but it would last for a long time, you wouldn’t have to ANNEMARIE keep repairing it. JOHNSON, 20, ANN I know they had ARBOR, UNDECIDED the mold [issue]. Maybe they could investigate to see other buildings and what they can do to prevent it in the future.”
see video at
washtenawvoice.com
See Page A5 for more student thoughts by NATALIE WRIGHT
Editor NATALIE WRIGHT | WASHTENAW VOICE
The sun was shining bright last Wednesday, but Roger Ault, an 85-year-old emeritus student at Washtenaw Community College was wielding an open umbrella. “I was impressed by a photograph I found on the Internet,” Ault said referring to a snapshot of riots in Hong Kong. “Students were holding their umbrellas in front of them, while the police officers sprayed pepper spray at them.” Ault, who admits he wasn’t a huge political activist in his younger days, decided he needed to stand in support of the students in Hong Kong.
With only an umbrella and a sign around his neck, Ault, on their umbrellas and signs to fellow students to start a a Korean War Navy veteran, who has been attending WCC conversation. since 1998, is hoping to make a difference, and to challenge He hopes WCC students can take up more significant students at WCC. activism than their university neighbors. He’s calling it the “Umbrella Challenge,” and “The University (of Michigan) students have congregated was inspired by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in a protest shouting ‘fire Brandon, fire Brandon’,” Ault said, that took the world by storm over the summer. “well, there are more important things going on and supThe challenge, according to a press release written by Ault, porting the students in Hong Kong is an important thing.” is “to put on the paper hat, the signs and carry an open umbrella” around campus. Ault also asked for students to pass - James Saoud and Natalie Wright
Basking in pride
WCC administrators list college’s many services to community Trustee Richard Landau was grateful that this presentation gave the trustees, faculty and staff present at the meeting a chance to reflect Once a year, Washtenaw Community College on the great work Washtenaw is doing, he said. is given an opportunity to tout its successes to “I think we get jaded by all of the things that all the state through the Strategic Values Template, of us in this room have accomplished,” Landau a list of all the ways the college benefits the com- said. “Everyone has a piece of this wonderful munity, in hopes of receiving maximum funding. institution that is WCC.” It’s a monumental task, and a long list. This is the third year the college has filled Administrators recently presented the doc- out the template, said Julie Morrison, executive ument to the college’s board of trustees. The director of institutional effectiveness, planning document, once approved by the trustees, will and accreditation. And last year, it helped the be sent to the state, which will use it to deter- college earn the highest percentage increase in mine a portion of the state appropriations WCC will receive. See STRATEGIC VALUES, Page A3
Washtenaw Community College Chief Financial Officer Bill Johnson reported a $4.7 million surplus for fiscal year 2013-14 to the board of trustees at its Sept. 23 meeting. The college’s revenue was right on budget, he said, and expenditures were down. The college depends on three main sources of revenue, Johnson said: state aid, property taxes and tuition. While revenue from property taxes was down more than expected, an increase in state aid and a plateau of enrollment declines helped to balance the loss, he said. “Tuition is a really good story,” Johnson said, explaining that a year ago, under the direction of WCC President Rose Bellanca, “we put a real full-court press to understand the areas of opportunities both for student See SURPLUS, Page A5
by NATALIE WRIGHT
Editor
Group promotes creation of Washtenaw County ID card by M. M. DONALDSON
Staff Writer Julie Morrison, executive director of institutional effectiveness, planning and accreditation, outlined the successes of the Strategic Values Template to the board of trustees at their meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 23. EJ STOUT | WASHTENAW VOICE
How Rose blossomed
WCC’s president shares how she defied the odds and got her start just that. “The business school was on, like, the second floor of a bank. It was four rooms. I mean, I Rose Bellanca never planned to be the presi- thought, ‘This is not what I want,’” Bellanca said. dent of a college. She never even thought she’d So the disillusioned young woman set up a be able to go to one. meeting with the owner of the business school, “When I was in 11th grade, I didn’t do well on told him she still had dreams of being a teachmy SAT,” the Washtenaw Community College er and asked, looking for any kind of guidance, president said. “I was at a Catholic school, and what qualifications the teachers at the school the nun had a meeting with my mom and with needed to be hired. me and told us I wasn’t college material.” “You need a teaching certificate,” he told her. Bellanca, an aspiring teacher at the time, was “Well, how do you get one of those?” she asked crushed. The Catholic school she was attending him. pulled her from her college prep courses and “You need to go to college.” told her it’d be best if she looked at going to a “Well, forget it,” Bellanca thought. “I’m not small business school rather than pursuing a college material.” four-year college program. And after finishing high school, Bellanca did See BELLANCA, Page A5 by JAMES SAOUD
Managing Editor
WCC | COURTESY PHOTO
U-M football protests,
who cares? – A4 –
Some trustee candidates disappoint – A4 –
around the world in 18 years – B1 –
A new form of pictured identification may be available to Washtenaw County residents starting in 2015. The Washtenaw ID Task Force has been advocating for a county ID to be available to residents, particularly those who do not have any form of government-issued identification card to verify who they are. The Washtenaw County board of commissioners will vote on this measure during their Nov. 19 meeting. Washtenaw ID Task Force members feel that it is a human right to have a pictured ID to identify who they are. Without a pictured ID, they say, some Washtenaw County residents are unable to obtain a library card or pick up prescriptions from the pharmacy. In a promotional video, a man spoke of his fear of having an accident and no one knowing who he is without identification. The identification has the potential to be used to prove identity for Washtenaw Community College students, stated Keta Cown, Washtenaw ID Task Force member and chief executive officer of Synod Community Services. Those who would benefit most would be those marginalized within the community, she said, and the identification could be used for emergency contacts and medical See WASHTENAW ID, Page A4
Successful designer shares career secrets – B6 –