DELTACOLLEGIATE
Volume 86 • Issue 11
Graduates share their memories of Delta Pg. 3
STUDENT RUN SINCE '61
April 27, 2020
Gardening season is nearly upon us Pg. 5 Illustration by Lindsay Lang
2 NEWS
www.deltacollegiate.org
April 27, 2020
Mail-in voting is the answer to pushing back elections Bill Badour Reporter @BadourBilly
BAY CITY – During the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been several state presidential primary and local elections pushed back to help prevent the spread of the virus. Michigan’s local elections, though, rmain in May. Thanks to recent pushes to expand voting by mail for the 2020 presidential elections, there is hope to see mail-in voting made more commonplace. On March 23, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced that absentee voter ballot applications will be mailed to all voters to participate in the May 5 election. In 2018, Michigan voters passed multiple initiatives that expanded access to voting. The initiatives included automatically becoming registered to vote when renewing a driver’s license, the ability to register to vote and vote on the same day, obtaining an absentee ballot without giving a reason, and being able to cast a straight-ticket vote for all candidates of a particular party.
Wisconsin held their presidential primary and other statewide elections on April 7. Due to the lack of polling workers, only five of the 180 polling precincts in Milwaukee were open. Lines to vote could be over two hours long. Michigan wants to avoid a similar situation. Kimberly Klein, professor of political science at Delta College, shared her thoughts about mailin voting with the Collegiate. “Outside of the obvious public health concerns, if a traditional election was held, states that do vote-by-mail see a higher voter turnout,” says Klein. An argument that is commonly used against mail-in voting is the potential for fraud. “It seems like there is a potential for [fraud] as there’s always the unknown after you mail your ballot, but we’re trusting states that have been using this and say that there is little to no evidence of fraud,” says Klein. “There has also been pushback from Republicans, saying that this is a way to circumvent the voter ID laws.” According to the Election Administration and Voting Survey, in 2018, more than 31 million Americans cast their ballots by
Illustration by Lindsay Lang mail. That’s about 25.8 percent of election participants. The New York Times published an op-ed that examined this fraud claim. According to the article, states that use vote-by-mail have encountered “essentially zero fraud.” Oregon has sent out more than 100 million mail-in ballots since 2000 and has documented only about a dozen cases of proven fraud. The numbers from Oregon amount to 0.0000001% of all ballots cast being fraudulent. One voting rights study by 11 universities across the country concluded that from 2000 to 2012, there were only 491 cases of absentee ballot fraud and 400 cases of voter registration fraud. Richard L. Hasen, election law professor,
claims over that time period, “literally billions of ballots were cast.” So, Americans are more likely to be struck by lightning than to commit mail-in voting fraud. In order to conduct a vote-by-mail system, though, an effective and timely postal service is required. The United States Postal Service may be forced to cease operations by fall, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, since during the middle of March, mail volume has possibly decreased by as much as 30%. “The USPS has been in trouble for a long time, but I hope that more funding will go there in the long run,” says Klein. “In past elections, many people that have had mail-in ballots have dropped them off instead of mail them.”
Michigan flattens the curve, officials warn against early reopening Bill Badour • Reporter @BadourBilly BAY CITY – On Monday, April 13, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the state is starting to flatten the curve, especially in the southeast. Michigan chief medical officer Joneigh Khaldun, however, cautioned that “different areas of the state may be different in how many cases they’re seeing, and how fast that growth is. Easing up on social distancing measures too early would be devastating. More people will die and our hospitals will be overwhelmed.” Dr. Howard Markel of the University of Michigan Center for the History of Medicine echoed that easing up on social distancing too soon would give a chance for the coronavirus to come back into broad circulation. “In every pandemic, there’s a tug of war,”
states Markel. “On one end, there are the economic and business interests, and on the other end is the public’s health. We know from history that when citizens become
restless and protest to their leaders about lifting these sanctions too early, another rise in cases invariably occurs. In some places, it was worse than the first peak.” This second peak in cases notoriously happened during the Spanish Flu of 1918, a pandemic with more than 50 million deaths. Despite this warning, some voices on the right – including President Donald Trump – have thrown their support behind opening the country and economy as soon as Friday, May 1. Phase one of reopening the country consists of reopening restaurants, movie theaters, sporting venues, places of worship and gyms, as long as they adhere to strict social distancing guidelines. During this phase, schools will remain closed as well as high risk individuals being advised to stay home. Exact dates to lift stay-at-home orders and reopening the economy will be determined by the state’s governor.
COLLEGIATE LIFE 3
www.deltacollegiate.org
April 27, 2020
Michael Piwowarski • News Director
Left: Michael Piwowarski, 21, associates in arts graduate candidate and news director for the Delta Collegiate.
Delta College graduates reflect on their educational journey Patrick Sochacki Reporter @SochackiPatrick
UNIVERSITY CENTER – “You have all traveled many different paths to reach this momentous event in your life. Few of those paths have been straight, and it would have been far easier to just give up. But you didn’t,“ says Delta College president Jean Goodnow on the 2020 graduating class. Commencements for the 2020 graduating class at Delta College have been postponed until, at least, the stay-at-home order issued by Governor Gretchen Whitmer is over. The Delta Collegiate reached out to graduate candidates for their reflections about their experience at Delta. Andrew Smith is a residential construction major graduating from Delta this year. He intends to pursue his builder’s license and work his way “up the proverbial ladder” after he graduates. “My education through Delta I couldn't get anywhere else,” says
Smith. “With the guidance from my professors and the work I put in these past two years, I really feel like I earned my degree. The experiences I'm taking with me I will never forget.” The highlight for Smith was traveling to Las Vegas for the International Builders Show, thanks to Delta’s student chapter of the Home Builders Association of Saginaw. “The group that went got to learn so much and make real connections with businesses around the world,” says Smith. Graduate candidate Michael Piwowarski, a broadcast major, has worked at the Delta Collegiate for three years where he wore various hats: reporter, news editor, editorin-chief and now, news director. “To say I’ve learned a lot from my Delta experience is an understatement,” says Piwowarski. “Coming from a homeschooled background, I’ve been able to open my eyes to the outside world more than I’ve been able to before.” Piwowarski recommends getting involved in clubs, organizations and internships
to become better prepared for the real-world and to network with other people in the field. “I’ve been in the thick of it, covering issues in the Tri City area, meeting important people, getting to know others who are veterans in the field, learning more about how governing bodies operate,” says Piwowarski. Piwowarski will transfer to Central Michigan University to continue broadcast journalism. Bill Badour, graduating this year with an associates degree in science, will transfer to University of Michigan to pursue a degree in applied statistics with plans to earn his master’s. Badour admitted to feeling pessimistic about missing out on the college experience and receiving a less valuable education at a community college. However, his fears were quickly put to rest. “I felt that I received very personalized instruction as the class sizes were always small and the tutoring center was practically always open,” says Badour. “I understood that I was receiving a high quality education for a
Right: President Jean Goodnow shares one of her favorite Eleanor Roosevelt quotes with graduates: “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Photo taken April 26, 2019.
relatively small amount of money.” Badour also talked about the highlight of his experience at Delta – his time at the Delta Collegiate. “Not only did I find a place where I felt incredibly welcomed, but also a sense of belonging,” says Badour. “[...] I never enjoyed writing until I began to report. I understand that this opportunity may not have been available at other learning institutions.” President Goodnow made note of our unfortunate circumstances, while reassuring us we are still in her thoughts. “Missing commencement is a disappointment not only for you, but for the family and friends that supported you through this journey,” says Goodnow. “And quite honestly, it leaves me sad as well. As a college president, greeting each student, shaking your hand and congratulating you face-to-face at commencement, is the absolute highlight of my year. And though I can’t be with you in person, please know I’m thinking of you, and on behalf of the entire Delta faculty, staff and administration, congratulations on your graduation!”
4 COLLEGIATE LIFE
www.deltacollegiate.org
APRIL 27, 2020
Virginia Przygocki looks back on 40+ years at Delta Michael Piwowarski News Director @DCMichaelFP UNIVERSITY CENTER – A long-time Delta College employee – who helped organize their dental hygiene program – is riding off into the sunset. Virginia Przygocki, who currently serves as Dean of Career Education and Learning Partnerships, previously wore other hats during her 41 years of employment. Upon earning a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from the University of Michigan, Przygocki began clinical practice in Saginaw in 1976. She learned that Delta had a dental hygiene program in the works. Her passion for teaching led her to apply for a faculty position in the new program. “All my lifelong mentors were in educational careers, most teaching in public school systems and a few at the university level,” says Przygocki. “Teaching and facilitating learning has always been part of my life.” She was an adjunct and later assumed positions of assistant professor and discipline coordinator for the dental hygiene program. She then became Delta’s Health and Wellness division chair, before assuming her current Dean of Career Education position. “I have worked with students and employees helping them achieve success, or comforting [and] encouraging
them when success momentarily escapes them,” says Przygocki. In February, Przygocki was one of three Delta staff members to receive a prestigious community college award recognizing exceptional teaching and leadership. The 2019 League Excellence Award was given to Przygocki, chemistry professor Dave Baker, and associate professor of computer numerical control Terry Morse. Przygocki was also nominated for the Delta College Willie E. Thompson Outstanding A/P Service Award by executive director of institutional advancement Pam Clark for her “outstanding service to the College community.” Przygocki says her work philosophy revolves around service, and that she did not start her career to achieve a deanship. Each advancement she would make to new positions within Delta was because someone was needed to fill the role. “Through encouragement from my mentors and colleagues, I would apply knowing I could serve our students and the College by taking on a position’s responsibilities,” says Przygocki. “Each new position provided an opportunity to grow and learn, which is important when you are serving a community. Every student or employee should be valued and served in order to succeed in your work.” As she bids farewell to Delta College, Virginia Przygocki is one of Delta’s longest serving staff
Photo courtesy of Delta College.
members. In 2019, she was recognized along with Linda Petee, Dana Jo Denney and Linda Plackowski-Witucki for 40 years of service. Petee retired later that year. Now, she plans on
the “typical” activities undertaken by those who enter retirement. “Definitely spending more time with my husband; we hope to travel to national parks, finish projects, spend
more time at our cottage in Ontario and our cabin in the Upper Peninsula, and of course, see our family more,” says Przygocki.
SCIENCE & HEALTH 5
www.deltacollegiate.org
APRIL 27, 2020
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Start growing plants, for your health Rebecca Roberts Photo Editor @DC_rrv UNIVERSITY CENTER – During this era of social distancing, it can get pretty lonely, even with all of the newly implemented online resources. Focusing your energy on another being is a healthy distraction. Plants love being talked to positively – a good outlet for your lingering desire to talk out loud to anyone or anything, other than yourself. I asked Delta student Rachael Bender, a self-proclaimed plant mom (@motherofplants_mi on Instagram), what plants are easy for beginners to care for and the benefits those plants offer back to their caretakers. “Good beginner plants are spider plants,” says Bender. “They’re very forgiving; just about anybody could keep them alive. [...] You just have to make sure you don’t over or underwater them.” Peace lilies are another great
beginner’s plant, but can be detrimental for those with allergies since they flower and carry pollen. Bender recommends researching what care works best for your plants. She warned against overwatering plants because, oftentimes, letting your plant sit in soaked soil can cause root rot and bacterial growth. “Either drill a hole in the container or you can put pebbles in the bottom of the container and set a nursery pot on top of that, just to make sure there’s never water sitting on the roots,” Bender suggests. Bender strongly believes in the healing power of plants. “All of them are good for you because they clean the air, but they also help with my anxiety, [obsessive compulsive disorder] and depression, and all of the things because I get a little centered around them,” says Bender. Most importantly, plants can detoxify some of our mental clutter. Practicing mindfulness by being attentive to your
plants is an effective way to improve mental health. Kitchen window sills make great incubators for herbs such as lavender, which can soothe anxiety, depression and insomnia. Another useful plant is aloe vera, which can be used to heal burns. Maggie Zimmerman, laboratory coordinator of Delta College’s greenhouse, thinks students would benefit from growing plants for nourishment, such as spinach and lettuce which carry necessary nutrients. Zimmerman is excited about the hydroponics system in the greenhouse, which recycles water to feed the growing plants. “You don’t have to use soil in order to grow plants – you can use water and then you just add your nutrients,” says Zimmerman. “Hydroponics is becoming a really big thing, especially like in apartments. [...] If you can’t have a garden, you can build a smaller one.” With hydroponics, you can grow plants in even tiny living spaces
and you don’t need expensive materials to get started. If you’re new to gardening, there are guides to help you get started. Send us pictures of your flora friends @DeltaCollegiate! Photo courtesy of Maggie Zimmerman 1. Maggie Zimmerman is the biology lab manager and takes pride in the maintenance of the greenhouse and the hydroponics system. Zimmerman also coordinates community outreach programs and is working on possibly re-doing a section of the greenhouse in order to offer a bee-keeping class. Rebecca Roberts • Photo Editor 2. Aloe vera growing in the Delta College greenhouse is used to treat burns. Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. 3&4. Mesmerizing textures and colors exude their vibrance in the Delta College greenhouse. Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.
Roll Call
Written and illustrated by Linday Lang
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COLLEGIATE STAFF Patrick Sochacki Crystal Gwidala Michael Pieper Michael Piwowarski Rebecca Roberts Haeley Huggard RJ Murphy Kelvin Butler Billy Badour Jordan Green Sadie Shepherd Bishop Limon Lindsay Lang Crystal McMorris Kimberly Wells
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Creative Director News Director Photo Editor Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Page Designer Page Designer Illustrator Advisor Broadcast Advisor
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@SochackiPatrick @CrystalGwizdala @DCMichaelPieper @DCMichaelFP @DC_rrv @HaeleyHuggard @rjmurphwords @KelvinButler19 @BadourBilly @Jordan_Green6 @DCSadieShepherd
Student Services are here for YOU! Rachel Kozuch Technologist & Student Success Advisor So many questions! We know you have them about your classes for upcoming semesters. The Student Services staff wants to remind you that they are here to help you. While the staff are working from home, you can contact them using your Delta email and even set up a virtual, one-on-one appointment with your Student Success advisor from the counseling/advising office. Delta staff are also available from admissions, financial aid, registrar’s office and more! You can find the best contact information and more resources at https:// www.delta.edu/coronavirus/student-resources.html.
Photo courtesy of Counseling & Advising