12/02/2010

The social network?

Louisville-bound

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID PITT STATE

Cross country headed to Nationals (pg. 3B)

Older generation joins Facebook (pg. 6)

Change Service Requested

DECEMBER 2, 2010

Volume 95, No. 12

P I T T S B U R G

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S T A T E

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PSU offers degrees for in-demand jobs JEN RAINEY Collegio Reporter

Yuyang Xiao/Collegio

Ashlee Miller, sophomore in biology, does an experiment in the chemistry lab class in HeckertWells Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 30.

It’s no secret that some degrees have better potential than others.

According to the Career Services Department at Pittsburg State University, the top three majors are chemistry, electronics engineering technology and vocational technical education. According to officials in that department, 100 percent of students in these fields have found jobs after graduating. This figure is based only on the number of people who responded to the Employment Data report and therefore is only an estimate.

“These figures were compiled in February 2009 and are based on a three-year average,” said Mindy Cloninger, director of career services. “They are based on graduates who responded to the Employment Data report. All regents’ schools do this.”

Web sites such as CNBC, have also listed electrical engineering among the top 10 college degrees.

They list the average starting salary at around $55,333 per year. Graduates of electrical engineering tend to find jobs as field engineers, application engineers, or technicians. Some also work in hardware and software support for companies that offer

engineering support.

“One of our recent graduates is holding an executive job in a local company and another is doing modeling work for an FAA safety lab,” said Jim Lookadoo, university professor of electrical engineering.

“There’s a lot of math and science theory in what we do.”

Lookadoo says many of the students in their department are international students, and that about a third of the students are local.

“These students are from the surrounding 100-200 mile radius, and have spent two to four years in our

see MAJORS page 3

South Korean students react WHITNEY SAPORITO Managing Editor A North Korean attack on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong on Tuesday, Nov. 23, left two South Korean soldiers dead and tensions high between the two countries.

The attack came in response to annual South Korean military exercises that took place on a disputed border.

Effects of the attack were felt throughout South Korea as citizens protested in the capital city of Seoul.

Concern about the attack was felt on the Pittsburg State University campus as well, as international students from South Korea learned of the conflict at home.

“When I first saw the news, I kind of freaked out and called my mom,” said Yoonkyeng Lee, sophomore in political science.

Lee, who is from Seoul, says she does not believe the conflict will escalate into war.

“Most of the people aren’t taking it serious,” Yoonkyeng Lee said. “I wouldn’t say that we don’t care at all, but we don’t think they will really go into a big war. At least, I hope not.”

Lee says she is concerned because if the situation did lead to war, her brother would have to fight.

Ik Hyun Cho, freshman in marketing, was a member of the South Korean Navy from 2007 to 2009. He says his first concern, when he heard about the conflict, was for the

Sneak peek

Seldom sleeping Students low on rest during finals (pg. 4)

Fisherman Kwak Yong-sun, 50, left, rests with his family members at a makeshift shelter, Wednesday, Dec. 1, in Incheon, South Korea. Kwak left behind everything he owned when he fled Yeonpyeong Island on a fishing boat in panic. soldiers.

“I could feel their parents’ concern,” Cho said. “I just thought about if I were in there. Even though I’m in the U.S. I can recall when I was in military service.”

Cho says he believes North Korea attacked because they are going through a change in leadership from Kim Jong-il to his son Jongun.

“They wanted to show their power,” Cho said.

Michael Kelly, professor and chair of social sciences, said he too believes the attack was related to the leadership change.

“This is probably as much about North Korea as it is about South Korea,” Kelly said. “Seeing if the army will obey the son.”

Kelly said he believes there will be a peaceful resolution.

Hyeon Jun Lee, senior in

construction management, agrees with Kelly that war is not likely.

“We are the same country, but of course we are afraid of this kind of attack,” Hyeon Jun Lee said.

He said he is especially concerned for Seoul because of its close proximity to North Korea.

“There are a lot of people there, so for North Korea it is easier to attack there,” Hyeon Jun Lee said.

Cho says he believes North Korea should apologize to the government and citizens of South Korea.

“I think they need to stop bothering South Korea,” Cho said.

Hyeon Jun Lee says he is not worried about the strength of the South Korean military.

“We are okay because in the United States the military service always supports South Korea,” Hyeon Jun Lee said.

Role reversal Students give their teachers final grades BRENNA CHRISTIAN Collegio Reporter Some hate them. Some love them. Some just don’t care.

Either way, most students will fill out at least a few teacher evaluations before they end their college career.

Teacher evaluations are a surefire sign that the semester is ending. Nearly every class has to fill out bubble sheets and write comments about their teachers’ performances. But how are these evaluations significant to the students?

Brad Yeubanks, senior in recreation administration, hates doing teacher evaluations.

“I feel they are worthless because I think that they never do

anything about it if they get a bad evaluation,” Yeubanks said.

Although he doesn’t like doing the evaluations, Yeubanks says he does think they are important.

“It gives the teachers a feedback on what students thought about them and the class and how to improve,” Yeubanks said.

Typically, teacher evaluations consist of a SPTE sheet, which has about 30 bubble questions about class expectations, teachers and overall satisfaction. Some teachers have an additional sheet for comments that goes with the SPTE bubble sheet.

One of the reasons Yeubanks thinks they are important is that students can offer their thoughts to better inform future students about the class or teacher.

Yeubanks says that when filling out the evaluations, he typically doesn’t get too harsh when grading his teachers.

“I usually give them good scores unless I was really unhappy with the class and teacher and I will give them a bad score,” Yeubanks said.

see ROLE page 3

Winter wonderland Community braves cold at annual parade (pg. 6B)

AP

Gen. Hwang Eui-don, right, the Chief of the General Staff of South Korean Army, patrols with Army soldierS along the fence of the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas in Paju, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 1.

Smoking bans in other schools CAITLIN TAYLOR Collegio Reporter Pittsburg State University’s Student Government Association is poised to strike a blow against on-campus smoking, and have PSU join the more than 440 other campuses nationwide that have banned smoking.

SGA began pushing for a smoke-free campus during its Sept. 23 meeting, when Thomas Gregory, SGA vice president, proposed the idea. Since then, the potential ban has been mentioned at almost every meeting, with SGA most recently offering $100 to the campus organization that collected the most student signatures in a petition drive.

Such campus drives are not unusual.

The campuses at Washington University and Florida University are completely smoke-free, while other colleges, such as the University of Maryland, tried to pass a smoking ban, but failed.

Don Strom, Chief of Police at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., says that the private school has taken an approach to educating people about smoking by developing classes to teach

Aaron Anders/Collegio

Alex Jaegeor, freshman in music and biology, signs the smoking ban petition in the student center on Thursday, Nov. 18 about its harmful effects.

“The ban has been largely effective for people who had concerns about people smoking outside buildings,” said Strom.

“Some people even changed their smoking behavior prior to the ban.”

Currently, there have been no incidents of people refusing to

comply with this ban at Washington University.

Strom says the ban isn’t difficult to enforce. Washington University uses peer influence to enforce the ban throughout campus.

“If you’re walking across campus and see someone smoking, it only takes a friendly reminder and is generally well-received by students,” said Strom.

Strom says there wasn’t a lot of protest when the ban was first implemented in July 2009.

“It’s good, healthy exercise for the community overall,” said Strom.

Florida University uses many of the same enforcement tactics as Washington University, such as peer involvement and peer pressure.

Florida Bridgewater-Alford, manager of the tobacco-free campus committee and public relations strategic plan, says that knowing the history of Florida University for addressing the smoking issue, it was the right path to take to go smoke-free.

The ban was initiated be-

see BANS page 3

More for your dollar Christmas shopping breaks bank (pg. 5)

Last week’s question Are you going to see the new Harry Potter movie?

Remember to check out this week’s question on page 5

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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Shot at redemption

A reason to be thankful JAKE FABER Sports Editor After I headed home for Thanksgiving break last weekend, and sat down for an enormous slice of pumpkin pie, one of my family members asked me a question that I wasn’t entirely ready for. And JAKE it was, “what are you thankful FABER for?” Although I have a lot of things to be thankful for in my Sports own life, the question really Editor got me thinking. What am I thankful for as a Pittsburg State sports fan this month? But after some careful thinking, and about two tubs of Cool Whip, I was able to come up with a few things...

1. Our facilities As Pitt State students and sports fans, we are privileged to have some of the best facilities in Division-II sports, which most students tend to forget. Carnie Smith Stadium is easily home to one of the nicest playing fields in the MIAA, which is surrounded by seating that is large enough to support Pitt’s historic fan base.

This is the reason that, time and time again, Pitt State is chosen to host events like the Shrine Bowl during the summer and the Junior College National Championships. Not only do these events bring publicity to our college, last year, viewers got the chance to watch Auburn’s quarterback Cam Newton, a current Heisman candidate, play inside Carnie Smith’s storied end zones.

On the other side of campus, with 6,500 available seats, John Lance Arena is the fourth-largest indoor facility in the conference. Built back in 1971, John Lance has the oldschool hardwood feel that many of the newer facilities lack, but is new enough that people who aren’t huge sports fans can appreciate the experience when they attend a sporting event.

2. Muff’s retooled roster Not only has the Pitt State men’s basketball team started out the 2010-11 campaign with six straight wins to wrap up its non-conference schedule, but first-year head coach Kevin Muff has brought a whole new attitude to the Gorillas’ locker room. With only two returning starters from Gene Iba’s roster last season, Muff has reportedly instilled a policy of players needing to earn their spot. JaVon McGee, who started a majority of the games last season, came off the bench during the Gorillas’ first home contest this season.

Personally, I like the idea of a new Gorillas team. After a dismal conference record for the Gorillas last year under Iba, and a missed opportunity at the MIAA tournament, the Gorillas needed a change of pace, and Muff has proved himself as the man to do it.

File photo

Quarterback Zac Dickey runs the football for a first down in the beginning of the 2010 football season. The football team will be playing its last game of the season at the Mineral Water bowl at Excelsior Springs, Mo., Saturday, Dec.4, playing against Concordia University-St.Paul.

Beck, Gorillas headed to Mineral Water Bowl MICHAEL ADMIRE Sports Writer In the final regular season game of the 2010 Pittsburg State University football season, the Gorillas suffered a last-second defeat in Arrowhead Stadium. But, according to head coach Tim Beck, this was the first time all year that the team was playing well in all phases at once. Knowing that made the loss even more difficult to grasp for players and coaches.

“It’s definitely frustrating knowing it took until game eleven to realize what we’re capable of,” quarterback Zac Dickey said. “I think the coaches saw it in us all along, and that’s why he pushed us so hard.”

Fortunately for Dickey, the team will have

another shot at redemption this weekend, when they face Concordia St. Paul in the 2010 Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, Mo. Saturday’s contest will not only allow the Gorillas to continue their season, but it extends their practice schedule with a threeweek camp for a team that sits just below .500.

“We were able to take some young kids and mix them in with our older kids,” Beck said during Tuesday’s press conference, “You know, I think it’ll help us down the road.”

Dickey made the switch from wide receiver to quarterback this year and, at times, split playing time with fellow quarterback Jeff Smith. And with three weeks of extra reps, Dickey is optimistic heading into the bowl game, as well as into next season.

4. Women’s Cross Country And no, for those skeptics out there this isn’t just because of the uniforms. The reason that I am thankful for the women’s cross country team is because they are essentially the offensive line of PSU’s athletics. Well, aside from the actual offensive line on the football team, but that’s not the point. This particular team is the victim of a schedule that makes it nearly impossible for anyone aside from avid cross country fans to attend their meets. Even with a tough road schedule, the women were able to earn a conference championship and snatch a regional crown on their way to a trip to the Division-II nationals this weekend. And although I haven’t been able to make it to most of the cross country meets this season, their inspired work effort made it impossible for me not to include them on this list of “Pitt State greats” this season.

But, after one full meal and a few extra notches loosened on my belt, I was able to fully answer the question. I’m simply thankful to be a Gorilla. Our cross country team may be the most successful program this year, our basketball team may be in a transition period, and we might never be the football powerhouse that we once were. But damn, we have some of the best sports traditions in all of college sports.

And that’s something that we can all be thankful for.

see BOWL page 3B

Women’s basketball falls in conference opener

Boxed out

TYLER SMITH Sports Writer

3. Nate Dreiling’s defensive presence Dreiling, a redshirt freshman linebacker on the football team, made an enormous impact in his first year on the field for the Gorillas. If this is the first time that you’ve heard that name this season you should crawl out from inside your dorm room and attend a football game, because you’re missing quite a show. Dreiling ended the final game of his freshman season leading all of Division-II with 144 total tackles, averaging a little over 13 per game. The thing that makes me, as well as many other Pittsburg faithfuls, thankful for a player like Nate Dreiling is the situation that he has stepped into this season. With a new head coach in Tim Beck, and a somewhat disappointing conference record, a player like Dreiling is really the future of Pitt State football.

On the defensive side of the ball, at least. With fellow linebacker Alex Kuhlman graduating at the end of the season, Dreiling has three years to establish himself as a dominant player in Pitt State history.

“Every game, especially being a first-year starter, I felt more comfortable,” Dickey said.

“This is just another chance to learn.”

Losing to longtime rival Northwest Missouri State definitely stung, but Beck says that having one more opportunity to finish on a high note has nothing but positives surrounding it.

“We’re not happy with how the season ended up being 5-6,” Beck said. “But I think there’s some satisfaction coming back with the fact that we know we’re not that far away.”

But even with the players coming back from Thanksgiving break, Beck was surprised with the work ethic that he observed

Photo courtesy UCO

Kylee Baldetti, senior forward, blocks out during the game against the University of Central Oklahoma. The Gorillas lost on the road in Edmond, Okla., 71-56.

The Pitt State women’s basketball team opened up MIAA league play last night when it headed to St. Joseph to face the undefeated Missouri Western Griffons. The Gorillas found themselves unable to keep up with their opponents high scorers Jessica Koch, who dropped 19 points, and Lauren Nolke, who dropped 15. The Gorillas lost 73-52.

Sophomore Drew Roberts was the lone Gorilla to score in double digits, netting 11 points and also dishing it out for an assist and grabbing two rebounds. Larissa Richards added nine points of her own and transfer Kylee Baldetti scored seven and racked up six rebounds. Lauren Brown was a defensive specialist for the Gorillas after snatching 10 rebounds and contributed six points as well.

The Gorillas came out strong at the beginning of the first half, when Baldetti’s first shot from behind the arch was good. The Griffons re-

see OPENER page 3B

Stopped: Gorillas drop first conference game, fall to 4-1 JAKE FABER Sports Editor Wednesday night, head coach Kevin Muff and the Pitt State men’s basketball team took their undefeated record on the road against Missouri Western in the first game of conference play.

However, the Gorillas were unable to keep the streak alive, and lost to the Griffons 94-79, falling to 4-1 on the season.

Chris Ware and Jordan Embers set the pace for the Gorilla offense with 13 points apiece, with Eric Ray and Drake Green following close behind with 12.

Griffon guard Jonathon Phelps and P’Allen Stinnett ended the game leading all scorers

with matching 22-point nights, while the contributing cast of T.J. Johnson and James Harvey dropped 15 points each.

The Gorillas were able to keep pace with the Griffons early, after allowing the home team to jump an early 4-0 lead, but Muff’s squad had to play catch up for a good portion of the first half, as both teams traded baskets throughout the first eight minutes of the game.

Around the 12-minute mark, the Gorillas were able to gain a considerable portion of the lead and were ahead of the Griffons by as much as six points as the first half began to wind down.

see STOPPED page 3B

File photo

The Pittsburg State men’s basketball team huddles during a timeout.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

2

December 2, 2010

GOP threatens to block all legislation WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans threatened Wednesday to block virtually all legislation until expiring tax cuts are extended and a bill is passed to fund the federal government, vastly complicating Democratic attempts to leave their own stamp on the final days of the post-election Congress.

“While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate’s attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike,” all 42 GOP senators wrote in a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. The 42 signatures are more than enough to block action on almost any item he wishes to advance.

The threat does not apply to a new arms control treaty with Russia that is pending, since it would be debated under rules that differ from those that apply to routine legislation. President Barack Obama has made ratification of the pact a top priority.

But it does threaten Democratic attempts to lift the Pentagon’s ban on openly gay members of the military, and a separate item to give legal status to young illegal immigrants who attend college or serve in the military. The tax and spending bills are likely to be the last to pass before Congress adjourns for the year.

In this July 7 file photo, iron workers are seen on a construction site. The work force was more productive in the summer than originally thought, reflecting that the economy produced more goods and services than first estimated.

Photos and stories courtesy of AP

Debt Commission member, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., left , talks with commission co-chairmen Erskine Bowles, center, and former Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday, Dec. 1, before a meeting of the commission.

2 million Americans lose jobless pay

Lawyer: Assange is being persecuted

Extended unemployment benefits for nearly 2 million Americans began to run out Wednesday, cutting off a steady stream of income and guaranteeing a dismal holiday season for people already struggling with bills they cannot pay.

Unless Congress changes its mind, benefits that had been extended up to 99 weeks will end this month.

The average weekly unemployment benefit in the U.S. is $302.90, though it varies widely depending on how states calculate the payment. Because of supplemental state programs and other factors, it’s hard to know for sure who will lose their benefits at any given time.

But the Labor Department estimates that, without a Congress-approved extension, about 2 million people will be cut off by Christmas.

Congressional opponents of extending the benefits beyond this month say fiscal responsibility should come first. Republicans in the House and Senate, along with a handful of conservative Democrats, say they’re open to extending benefits, but not if it means adding to the $13.8 trillion national debt.

LONDON — The lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange charged that his client is being persecuted

by Swedish authorities whose accusations of sex crimes have prompted an Interpol alert for his arrest.

Swedish officials say they issued the international alert because the 39-year-old Australian has not made himself available for a meeting with prosecutors. Assange’s lawyer, Mark Stephens, said that Swedish officials have turned down repeated offers to speak to Assange.

Assange’s secret-spilling group has leaked a series of confidential U.S. intelligence and diplomatic reports this year, including the disclosure earlier this week

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Two congressmen embrace deficit report WASHINGTON — A tough new cost-cutting playbook submitted by the co-chairmen of President Barack Obama’s deficit commission drew critical support from the chairman and senior Republican on the Senate Budget Committee.

But other panelists voiced opposition or serious reservations, underscoring deep divisions on the issue.

At the same time, even critics of the plan depicted the recommendations of the commission’s co-chairmen as a good start on the road to getting the nation’s fiscal house in order.

As the commission convened Wednesday to discuss the call by Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson for raising the Social Security retirement age, slashing spending and increasing the motor fuel tax, Sens.

Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Jeb Gregg, RN.H., said that despite their reservations, they feel the fiscal course of the country requires their support.

In this Oct. 23 file photo, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks during a news conference in London.

“If we can’t make you look good, you must be ugly!”

of hundreds of classified State Department cables. U.S. officials have reacted with outrage, with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton accusing WikiLeaks of acting illegally and promising “aggressive steps to hold responsible those who stole this information.”

Resistance to the commission’s austere deficit-reduction recommendations is certain, not only because of the idea of raising the Social Security retirement age, but also because of proposed cuts to Medicare, curtailment of tax breaks and a doubling of the federal tax on a gallon of gasoline.

U.S. productivity exceeds expectations WASHINGTON — The work force was more productive in the summer than originally thought, reflecting the fact that the U.S. economy produced more goods and services than first estimated.

Despite the revision, the efficiency of U.S. workers is increasing at a much slower pace than last year and economists say that could signal more hiring in the near future.

Productivity grew at an annual rate of 2.3 percent in the July-September quarter, an improvement over an initial estimate of 1.9 percent productivity growth, the Labor Department said. Labor costs fell at an annual rate of 0.1 percent, unchanged from the initial estimate made a month ago.

Productivity measures the amount of output per hour of work. The upward revision follows a higher second estimate for economic growth in the third quarter of 2.5 percent. When the economy produces more goods and services with essentially the same work force, productivity rises.

In 2009, productivity rose 3.5 percent, the biggest advance in six years. Since the start of this year, productivity has averaged a much slower 1.5 percent growth rate.

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pittstatebriefs Winter Blast set for Friday The Student Recreation Center is planning to have games, food, music, and prizes in the south gym of the Student Recreation Center at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3.

Jazz concert to be held Thursday Pittsburg State University's jazz students are planning a concert for 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, at Memorial Auditorium.

The Kansas Music Educators Association’s District II high school honor band will also perform. Admission is free.

Novembeardfest set for Saturday Novembeardfest is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Fat Daddy's at 111 North Pine St. in Pittsburg. Tickets are available in the Communication

Department office in Grubbs Hall room 215 and the KTC dean's office. Money raised goes to Big Brothers Big Sisters. There will be drawings for health and grooming products.

Dec. 8, in the U-Club of the Overman Student Center. For more information, call Ursula Williams at (816) 462-5986 or uwilliams91@yahoo.com.

Toys for charity Frosty Formal drop-off in Grubbs scheduled Monday Family and Consumer Scienses is planning to host the Frosty Formal at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 6. There will be a comedian, live music, speakers, a buffet and a silent auction.

Entry costs $10 for people ages 11 and older. Half-price tickets will be available after 8:30 p.m. for the entertainment portion only. For more information, call Alex Horttor at (785)201-2909 or ahorttor@gus.pittstate.edu.

Talent show slated for Wednesday The Black Student Association is planning to have a talent show at 7 p.m. Wednesday,

Lambda Pi Eta is planning to have a collection box in 201 Grubbs Hall until Dec. 3, to collect new, unwrapped children's gifts. For more information, send an e-mail to whitneysaporito@gmail.com.

Students attend leadership summit PSU students Jonna Fearmonti, junior in communication and SGA public relations director, and Victoria Robinson, senior in English, attended the Midwest Civic Leadership Summit in Minneapolis, Minn., in October.

The two were nominated by David Adams, assistant director

of Campus Activities based on their involvement in campus organizations. The conference was limited to 100 people from the Midwest and the two were among only four students who were selected from Kansas, the other two being from Kansas State University.

After the conference, Robinson started the student leadership group Students Today Leaders Forever and Fearmonti started Active Minds, a group that promotes mental-health awareness.

Dance education

Yu-Shan Huang, senior in marketing, performs a traditional Taiwanese dance on Thursday, Nov. 18, in the Overman Student Center. Her performance is to celebrate International Education Week.

Theater auditions Tues., Wednesday The Pittsburg State University Theater is planning to hold auditions for "The Water's Edge" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, and Wednesday, Dec. 8, in 108 Grubbs Hall. All PSU students are invited to audition.

Information packets are available in 110 Grubbs Hall.

For more information, contact Megan Westhoff at 235-4707 or mwesthof@pittstate.edu.

Yuyang Xiao/ Collegio

Application anxiety: Apps to acquire, apps to avoid The Internet is teeming with gadgets and bits of code that desperately want you to download and use them. Sometimes, the app is as necessary to your computer’s health as it claims, and other times it’s Bart like downloadKlick ing a bomb into Copy-Editor your hard drive.

This week, I’m going to help sort the wheat from the chaff.

First, let’s look at some wheat: MyDefrag (mydefrag.com), formerly known as JKDefrag, is one of the most amazing defragmentation programs I’ve ever seen.

The scripts it runs give you a number of maintenance options that you won’t even know exist, if you’re running the defrag program that comes with Windows.

The Windows defrag program only identifies that my system’s data is fragmented in the most egregious of cases — and it only lets you defragment your hard drive one way. MyDefrag doesn’t just put a program’s data together on one part of the hard drive, it takes the most frequently used programs and puts them on the front of the hard drive, which the computer can access more quickly.

Using this program for regular maintenance results in huge performance increases, and it doesn’t do anything stupid that will harm your system. Best of all, it’s freeware, which is impressive considering that pro-

grams that are half as good cost about $40.

Next up, a bit of chaff. Advanced SystemCare (a download from cnet) formerly known as Advanced WindowsCare, wants very badly to be an all-in-one maintenance app. It scans for spyware, it scans for holes in the registry, it scans for programs you’re running that you might not need — and that’s just the unpaid, shareware version.

I tested the paid version, and I can safely advise you not to waste your money. Its registry cleaner is absolutely dangerous, and left the vista box I used it on with crippling problems such as being unable to take ownership of a file, even on the administrator account.

It also seriously messed with the system’s built-in wireless.

The system ran a bit faster

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after I ran the program, but only because it terminated most of Windows’ services and some background programs — something I can just as easily, and far more safely, do from the task manager. Worse, this comes bundled with the Yahoo! toolbar, which is just plain annoying.

Avoid, avoid, avoid!

Ccleaner (piriform.com/ ccleaner) is mostly a good program. It does a great job of making space on your hard drive, and this feature is completely safe to use, especially just before running MyDefrag.

Unfortunately, it also comes with an automated registry cleaner, which I just can’t recommend.

While it is far less dangerous than other ones I’ve seen, it is still perfectly capable of ruining your OS. The program offers a cursory

warning about this, and suggests that you make a backup before doing it. But I’d say to just avoid that particular feature altogether and just use this for spring cleaning. Registries are too unique, in general, for a script to fix.

AdAware (lavasoft.com) is, if you have the Internet, essential. It scans for a certain type of advertisement: driven spyware, the likes of which can bog down your computer, lead to popup ads on websites that don’t normally have them, and result in godknows-who having access to personal information about you, in the name of more accurately directing their advertising.

This program is adept at finding and destroying these programs for you. It functions exactly like an antivirus program, except it looks for programs that most antivirus programs

don’t care about. Among other things, this means you can’t run AdAware at the same time as your antivirus program.

The antivirus software will almost invariably try to tell you that AdAware is a virus, and aside from making your computer run like molasses the programs will interfere with one another, making both searches less reliable.

Run the program by itself. I ran it on a computer I thought was clean, and it identified several hundred low-threat programs, and then expertly removed them.

The free version is top notch, but I’m not sure the added tech support for the full version would be worth the money.

Read carefully while you’re installing it, though, or you’ll end up with a Google app that you either already have or didn’t want.

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■ ROLE from page 1

■ BANS from page 1

“The instructors will not make any changes anyway,” Yeubanks said. “If teachers get a bad evaluation, I feel the department should give them a heads up, saying that if they get another bad report then changes will be made instead of letting them keep teaching the same way and the same material.”

Yeubanks says that while evaluating his teachers, he looks at how the teacher instructed the class, how boring the class was, and how little he got out of the class.

“I do not judge on whether or not the teacher will know it was me,” Yeubanks said. “I’m a pretty straight-forward guy and I put down on the evaluations what and how I feel.”

Tim Enayati, sophomore in accounting, thinks the evaluations are good for both students and teachers.

“I think that they are important for the students so that they have a voice,” Enayati said. “They also benefit the teachers because it gives them an opportunity to see ways they can improve.”

Despite this, Enayati doesn’t enjoy filling out the teacher evaluations.

“I’m not sure that they make a difference,” Enayati said.

One concern that some students have is confidentiality when filling out teacher evaluations. Because of this, many are not honest on the evaluations.

However, Enayati said he trusts his teachers.

“I have never lied on the evaluations,” Enayati said. “I have faith that they don’t know.”

“I think the teachers should have it brought to their attention and be given an opportunity to improve,” Enayati said.

Robert Ferro, graphics and imaging instructor, has been teaching at PSU for about 15 years. The teacher evaluations are not his favorite part.

“I do think they are important,” Ferro said. “They can bring in valuable information but it is just something we are required to do.”

Ferro said he doesn’t see the results until after the semester is over. Once the evaluations are put in the envelope, Ferro is one of the last people to actually look at them.

“The SPTE checks in at Wichita and they look at different percentages,” Ferro said. “From there, it goes to the department chair where they make copies. I see the copies.”

Ferro said the hand-written evaluations are more important to him than the SPTE bubble sheet.

“I tell the students to make sure and do both sheets,” Ferro said. “There is room for error with the bubble sheet. Students just mark through them. But the comment sheets are what is important.”

Although he doesn’t enjoy the negative feedback, he says it is necessary.

“If there was only good, then that would mean I can’t improve,” Ferro said. “There is a need for both positive and negative reviews. They need to be equal.”

Many believe the negative evaluations have no impact on the teacher, but Ferro says there are definitely repercussions if a teacher gets enough bad evaluations.

“It wouldn’t be a good position to be in, considering the economy,” Ferro said.

cause of concern about the faculty and staff walking through smoke. With the state ban in Florida, it started the conversation of how to protect visitors from secondhand smoke.

In spring 2009, Florida University asked students what they thought about a smoking ban, and in a referendum on their SGA ballot that year, 64 percent of those who voted showed support for the ban.

“What we found in research was that less than 10 percent of the school’s population smoked cigarettes,” said Bridgewater-Alford. “We gave folks a preemptive save, which gave them until the date the ban went into effect to comply and understand the policy.”

Even visitors have to comply with the policy. And Florida University has about 3.5 million visitors every year.

Bridgewater-Alford says that they have police officers specially dedicated to giving tobacco-related tickets, and that they rely on peers and the consequences of disobeying school policy to enforce the ban.

If students consistently violate the policy, they go to judicial affairs to resolve it. Faculty abuse of the policy can be used in their annual evaluation, which can result in fines.

“It’s the hardest habit to break, we knew that going in,” said BridgewaterAlford. “So far, I haven’t heard any negative responses toward the policy.”

Florida University offers counsel-

ing and tobacco cessation services to their students through their health center to help them quit smoking.

Unlike Florida University, the University of Maryland could not justify a smoking ban.

Edward Walters, professor of music at the University of Maryland, who was assigned to the faculty task force to look into a smoking ban, says that they didn’t pass the ban because they believed it would lead to legal problems. Also, many thought the current smoking policy was doing its job.

“We thought it might be more work than it is worth,” said Walters. “Also there haven’t been enough complaints to warrant a ban.”

Instead of pursuing a smoking ban, University of Maryland officials thought they should just enforce the current policy more strictly.

“The issue is still active, but it’s more about enforcing the current policy and working on that further,” said Walters. “We just have a large campus and it makes a no-smoking ban harder to enforce.”

Walters says that smaller campuses may have it easier because it’s not as hard to implement them.

Many colleges have taken their state’s no-smoking policy and turned it into a campus-wide smoking ban.

Yet some colleges have a hard time enforcing the ban or can’t increase their budgets to allow for the hiring of more police officers.

Down with the dorm

Aaron Anders/Collegio

Demolition starts on the vacant married-student housing off of Ford Street on Thursday, Nov. 18.

■ MAJORS from page 1 program,” said Lookadoo. “They seem to be doing fairly well.”

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, registered nurses “constitute the largest healthcare occupation,” and job opportunities are perceived to be “excellent,” with the employment of registered nurses expected to increase “much faster than average.” The handbook offers similar prospects about other parts of the healthcare field; nursing and chemistry degrees are often among the top sought-after degrees.

Some students, such as Rachel Jerome, sophomore in chemistry, seek a degree in this field because they plan to graduate and attend medical school.

“With a chemistry degree there are many options after you graduate,” said Jerome. “You could go to medical school or pharmacy school. You

could also be a medical technologist or a chemist and work in a lab. There are a wide variety of job opportunities with a chemistry degree and many people just don’t realize it.”

Jerome says the faculty and advisers in the chemistry department help students make sure they’re on the right track to graduating and finding jobs in their field.

“My adviser, James McAfee, has been a huge aid to me during my time here at PSU,” said Jerome. “He has planned out my entire undergraduate schedule for me to be on the right track to get into medical school.”

Scroll through many help wanted ads, especially in the four-state area, and one can often find openings for nurses. Kylie Miller, junior in nursing, plans to benefit from these ads when she graduates, but she says the

ease of finding a job isn’t what led her to her chosen career.

“Being a nurse is so much more than finishing college, getting the degree and finding a job,” said Miller.

“Being a nurse is an art in constantly helping others, providing support and learning.”

Millers says she was accepted into nursing school along with 75 other students. During the first semester, the classes are larger and have anywhere from 10 to 75 students per class. However, as the semesters continue, class sizes tend to drop to between 10 and 35 students. The nursing program is set up on a two year (four semesters) plan during the junior and senior year. Each semester students take part in a variety of clinicals.

“As a nursing major we have class

time, which in the first semester is approximately 16 hours with about seven extra clinical hours. So time commitment is important, but so is sleep,” said Miller.

According to CNBC, other degrees that tend to be in high demand include accounting, mechanical engineering, computer science, business administration and management, economics and finance, information sciences and systems, marketing and marketing management, computer engineering and management information systems and business data processing. Lookadoo encourages students to major in whatever field interests them no matter what the salary or number of jobs there are.

“Don’t spend your life in an area you don’t really enjoy,” said Lookadoo.

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3B

December 2, 2010

Louisville-bound women’s cross country heads to nationals TYLER SMITH Sports Writer

narrowly defeated during their conference campaign, came in third with 130 points.

Butler led the team again with a career-best performance, finishing third overall. She closed out the six-kilometer race in 22 minutes and 25.24 seconds. Senior Brittney Graff once again came through in the clutch, placing ninth overall by finishing closely behind Butler with a time of 22 minutes and 45.96 seconds. Senior Caitlin Laskowski was also able to place close behind in 11th place, with a time of 22 minutes and 50.67 seconds.

And with Pitt State’s regional win, the Gorillas are ready for the tough task that a national-level race will bring.

On the younger end of the roster, sophomore Mellisa Peden earned a time of 23 minutes and 21.18 seconds, finishing 20th, while fellow sophomore Kaley Temaat finished closely behind in 23rd.

Abilene Christian’s sophomore standout Anais Belledant came away with the overall victory with a time of 22 minutes and 14.43 seconds, while Anja Puc, a junior from NebraskaOmaha, placed second with a time of 22 minutes and 23.16 seconds.

After finishing its most memorable race of the season, the Pitt State women’s cross country team is headed to the Division-II national championships in Louisville, Ky. Starting their journey toward being crowned the best in the nation, the Gorillas lived up to their No. 1 conference ranking and dominated this season’s MIAA championships.

With six runners placing in the Top 15, the Gorillas were able to snag their first conference title since the 2003 campaign. PSU ended the meet with a total team score of 44, which was 55 points better than second-place rival Missouri Southern.

After capping off the impressive conference season, the team made its way to the South Central regional championships. Senior Jennifer Butler led the team to a meet-best 66 total points. Once again, the Gorillas finished well ahead of their competition with Midwestern Missouri, which earned 108 points, being the closest squad. MIAA rival Missouri Southern, whom the Gorillas

■ BOWL from page 1B in their next practice.

“I was really concerned about how practice would go on Sunday night with that many days off,” Beck said. “And we had a really good practice Sunday evening. Kids looked faster, they were very attentive.”

With the Concordia St. Paul Bears coming from an unfamiliar conference, little is known about the 8-3 team since this is the first game between the two schools. Beck complimented the Bears’ athletic quarterback and their unique 3-4 defense, where they bring several stunts and blitzes from the linebacker position.

Concordia St. Paul will also give the Gorillas a different look on all fronts of special teams. These aspects from a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference team will give the Gorillas something they aren’t used to. “They’re really not like anyone in our conference,” Beck said. “But what they are is sound, and you can tell they’re very disciplined.”

Inviting a 5-6 team to the Mineral Water Bowl may have sparked some

debate, and Beck knows that the long-standing tradition that Pitt State brings to the table played a part in the additional game.

“I don’t think there’s any question that the city of Pittsburg and (PSU’s) tradition in football had the most to do with us getting the bid,” Beck said Tuesday.

When news came that the Gorillas would extend their season, redshirt freshman linebacker Nate Dreiling didn’t care about why they were invited, but was interested in what they were invited to, admitting that he had never heard of the Mineral Water Bowl.

“No, I hadn’t even heard of the town either that it’s in,” Dreiling said. “But it doesn’t matter where we’re playing as long as we’re playing.”

The town might be small, the name of the Mineral Water Bowl may not be too catchy, and the opponent may be new, but Dreiling doesn’t mind all that.

“It’s better to be practicing than at home doing nothing,” Dreiling said.

File photo

Members of PSU’s women’s cross country team line up in anticipation of the starting gun.

■ OPENER from page 1B sponded with two free throws by Jessica Koch to cut the lead to one.

It was a close game up until the 14-minute mark of the first half when the Griffons slowly built up a 15-point lead as the half winded down.

But Larissa Richards was able to respond with a couple of quick layups to close out the first frame, letting the Griffons head to the locker room at halftime with an 11-point edge.

The Gorillas looked to rebound in the second half after the rough first period, but the Griffons came out with the first points when Jessica Koch knocked down an easy free throw to make the score 36-25 in favor of the home team. The Gorillas came back with a bucket of their own when Amanda Orloske laid it

■ STOPPED from page 1B

off the backboard to cut the lead back to 10.

Around the 12-minute mark, the Griffons turned up the heat and it proved to be the beginning of the end for the visiting Gorillas. After that point, the red-hot Griffons never had their lead cut below 17, and Nolke scored a trio of three pointers and a layup to help the Griffons bury the Gorillas.

Turnovers were a consistent problem for both teams after Pitt State ended the game by racking up 19 points, with Western not far behind with 15. The Gorillas were 6-22 from threepoint land, and 6-13 from the free throw line.

The Gorillas return this weekend for their home stand against Truman State, with tip-off set for 1:30 p.m.

With their backs up against the wall, the Griffons rebounded to tie the game with 5:46 seconds left in the frame, and slowly built upon that lead heading into halftime, leaving the Gorillas unable to respond.

Chris Ware was able to get his own rebound to lay it in and JaVon McGee knocked down a jump shot to send the Gorillas to the locker room with a manageable nine-point deficit.

At the half Ware was leading the Gorillas in points with 11, three of which came from the free-throw line, with starting guard Eric Ray following close behind with seven. Although he came off of the bench once again, McGee wasn’t far behind on the stat sheet with five points of his own and two rebounds.

Statistically, Phelps was a pleasant surprise coming off of the bench for the Griffons, as he led all scorers with 12 points at the halfway mark. The Griffons’ senior guard Stinnett was level with Phelps, contributing 12

points as well, and grabbing three boards.

After coming out the half, the Gorillas did their best to play catch-up, slowly chipping away at the Western lead until Eric Ray knocked down a jump shot to cut the deficit to two points right before the first media timeout of the half. Muff decided to change his lineup, going with the hot-handed Jordan Embers, and sending out McGee to get it done on the inside.

That was really the turning point for the Griffons, as they wouldn’t surrender the lead for the rest of the second half, leading by almost 14 points throughout the remainder of the game.

The Gorillas ended 15 points behind, and were handed their first loss of the conference season, slowing the momentum that they had built so far.

The Gorillas return home this Saturday against the Truman State Bulldogs, with tip-off set for 3:30 p.m. immediately following the women’s contest.

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To sleep, perchance to... Z z Z z BRENNA CHRISTIAN Collegio Reporter Between final projects, papers and tests students are starting to stress. As the semester draws to an end, many students can easily take advantage of a simple but necessary pleasure: sleep.

Although seven to eight hours are needed to feel refreshed and energized, many students rely on fives hours or fewer each night.

Cody Cherry, undecided freshman, says he stays up until three or four in the morning doing homework. This, he says, usually results in only four hours of sleep a night.

“When I am under stress, especially now, I don’t sleep at all,” Cherry said. “With all the homework and lack of sleep, I get pissed off and grumpy very easy.”

Cherry, who is taking 14 credit hours this semester, says he loves to sleep, but that his busy life doesn’t allow him much time.

“I don’t have any time during the day to do homework,” Cherry said. “I work like 25 hours a week, so I have to do my homework at night.”

Cherry says that because he stays up so late doing homework, he often sleeps in and misses class.

“When I am able to make it, I am so tired that sometimes I don’t pay attention,” Cherry said.

“I will fall asleep in class, but the teachers usually don’t say anything.”

But Cherry isn’t the only student who carves spare time from his sleep. John Young, junior in

communication, says he typically gets five hours of sleep a night.

“Sometimes I stay up late depending on the projects,” Young said. “But I think it’s more a combination of homework and life that keeps me awake.”

Young, who has trouble falling asleep because he is a “thinker,” says he doesn’t need the recommended eight hours a night.

“I need about six,” Young said. “Anything less is not good for me. When I get a good sleep, I am happier, rested and focused.”

This semester, Young is taking 16 credit hours, a schedule that he says can take its toll on him.

“By 12:15, I am in physical science and sleepy,” Young said.

“It’s hard to stay awake. By four, I am hungry and tired. That is a bad time.”

Although he only gets a few hours of sleep a night, Young still understands its importance.

“I can focus,” Young said. “I feel replenished, energized and I have a sense of well being.”

Sleep is one of the most vital things human beings need. According to the American Psychological Association website, irritability, moodiness and a lack of social restraint are some of the first signs that people experience when they don’t get enough sleep.

According to the APA website, “If a sleep-deprived person doesn’t sleep after the initial signs, the person may then start to experience apathy, slowed speech and flattened emotional responses, impaired memory and an inability to be novel or

Jodi Heflin/Collegio

Whitney Conerly, communication student, studies for managerial accounting in Grubbs Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 30. multitask.”

The site also says that a person who isn’t sleeping enough can fall into micro sleeps that last five to ten seconds.

“That causes a lapse in attention and they begin to nod off while doing an activity like driving or reading,” the website states. “Eventually they will experience (...) hallucinations, the beginning of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.”

Olivia Towner, sophomore in

Heartfelt humor

business management, says she sleeps six hours a night on average. Like many students, Towner says a lack of sleep sometimes affects her schooling.

“Instead of doing homework, I sleep,” Towner said.

However, Towner does try and avoid staying up to late too do her homework.

“I try and get it all done after school,” Towner said. “But the stress about finals keeps me up studying, and sometimes I fall

Yuyang Xiao/Collegio

exercise regularly, avoid drinking and smoking before bed, and try to minimize excessive light, temperatures and sounds.

“Stress is the number one cause of short-term sleeping difficulties,” the website states.

“However, if short-term sleep problems such as insomnia aren’t managed properly from the beginning, they can persist long after the original stress has passed.”

Juggling homework and huggies New campus club caters to students with children JEN RAINEY Collegio Reporter

Comedian Arvin Mitchell performs his comedy in the Overman Student Center on Tuesday, Nov. 30.

asleep in class.”

One of the common side effects to sleep deprivation is moodiness. Towner says she gets angry much easier when she hasn’t had enough sleep.

“Instead of being pissed off, I am more alert and I find it easier to concentrate on tasks,” Towner said.

According to the APA website those wishing to fix a disrupted sleep pattern should keep a regular sleep/wake schedule,

With the recession taking place, more parents have been returning to college to expand their educations and obtain their degrees. But until recently, there hasn’t been a club that caters to parents who are also students. The Parents for Self Improvement organization was founded

by Tom Goff, graduate in biology.

“I filled out the necessary paperwork, found a staff member willing to be the adviser, and set out on recruitment,” said

Goff.

Parents, who are also students, have a variety of issues to deal with beyond simply attending classes. They often must find babysitters for their children during classes.

Their social lives vary from traditional students, as well. Instead of attending the latest party, some parents prefer to get together for coffee or dinner with likeminded individuals. Parents are often concerned more with their children’s lives than their own, and can relate better to other parents than to their younger, more traditional peers. It’s for all of these reasons that Goff decided to establish the Parents for Self Improvement club.

“I wanted a group of similar students who could understand each other’s situation, which is parenthood,” said Goff. “We hope to build horizontal relationships and offer horizontal services to each other, be it co-tutoring, babysitting for date nights, friendship, group outings, or community events.”

The club was founded on Oct. 25, and

officers were elected. Officers for the club include Goff as president, Sam Styve as vice president, Bryer Styve as treasurer, and Ashley Goff as secretary. Officers are to be elected each March, and are to take office in April. The club is open to any student or local resident who is also a parent. As with any club at PSU, the number of non-student members cannot exceed 20 percent of the club’s total membership.

The club is keeping busy with upcoming events for both this semester and next semester.

“We are currently doing a 50/50 pot,” said Goff. “It’s $1 per chance with a guaranteed minimum win of $100. The drawing is December 9, and the winner will be contacted by phone on December 10.”

Goff says the club is planning a chili feed in February, where they plan to sell chili for $2 a bowl, along with sour cream and hot chocolate for additional prices.

They will also be detailing cars in March as a fundraiser. The next and final meeting of the semester will take place at 7 p.m. in Grubbs Hall, room 102, Thursday, Dec. 9.

Where have all the banana trees gone?

CAITLIN TAYLOR Collegio Reporter

Tiffany Moore/Collegio

On Tuesday, Dec. 1, landscaping supervisor Jack Reed prunes one of the many banana trees removed from campus and relocated to the campus greenhouse for the winter.

The banana trees, among other tropical plants, usually disappear into Pittsburg State University’s greenhouse right after homecoming.

Larry Miller, grounds maintenance supervisor, says that after homecoming, and before the weather turns bad is when all the tropical plants and the cuts from the annual plants are removed.

Annual plants, like geraniums, usually survive only one blooming year.

They then have cuttings taken out of them, or else they die and are replaced after winter.

Tropical plants like banana trees can’t survive the winter, so before the weather gets too cold, the landscape staff removes them and places them in the greenhouse.

Bananas originated in Malaysia, around 2000 BC, and were first cited in Buddhist texts in 600 BC. Not

until 1876 did Americans ever taste a banana.

Some of the banana trees on campus are large enough to produce bananas the size of a finger, but aren’t edible.

Miller says the banana tree is part of the lily family, and is more like a bulb plant than a real tree, despite its size.

But these types of plants cannot survive winter unless they are in a protected location and heavily mulched with a material like straw.

“That doesn’t look very attractive to have a bunch of bails of straw lying around,” said Miller. “They would just look very out of place in the landscape over an extended period of time.”

There is another version of the banana tree that Miller is thinking about buying. It is called a hardy banana tree, and while it only grows to about 6 feet tall, it can survive winter. Hardy banana trees have a reddish tint, but still look like regular banana trees.

The banana trees currently on

campus grow to about 15 feet, and have a pale green look to them. But they are removed with all the tropical plants before winter.

Not all plants disappear during winter. Once the tropical plants are removed, the maintenance staff replaces them with tulip bulbs.

“We leave the annuals to let frost and Mother Nature take care of them,” said Miller. “Then we discard them into the compost pile, but we take cuttings of some of the plants to keep in the greenhouse.”

The greenhouse is tended during the winter seasons, and many plants suffer shock from replanting. Even the banana trees, which, when replanted, brown and droop in the greenhouse.

But easily saved, the banana tree grows by division and can be split off from the mother plant and replanted.

The banana trees have been on campus for about 15 years now, and they are planted behind Russ Hall, and

also surround the Gorilla statues across campus.

“We mainly got them because of their name,” said Miller.

The week when all the plants are being rotated throughout the greenhouse and the grounds is called Rush Week.

The majority of the maintenance staff is involved in some phase of tilling, tending, or removing plants.

“It’s sort of a quick sequence of events,” said Miller. “You have to do one, then the other, before the weather turns bad, even when other events and activities are going on that we have to attend to.”

Rush Week usually falls in mid to late October, when University groundskeepers remove the cuttings and tropical plants, then replace them with tulips. The next Rush Week is in April, the tulips will be removed when they are done blossoming, and all of the annuals and tropical plants will be brought back to the campus grounds.

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December 2, 2010

Sister: Missouri shooter distraught over breakup BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) — The man police say burst into a Missouri duplex apartment and killed three people before fatally shooting himself was distraught over his breakup with one of the victims, the man’s sister said Wednesday.

Police said 25-year-old Nathan Fortner broke into the home Tuesday and killed his former girlfriend, 19-year-old Danielle Bement, along with Bement’s mother, Christine Snider, 37, and Snider’s live-in boyfriend, Derek Nash, 32. Snider and Nash lived in the duplex, and Bement had been staying there. Two boys at the home were unharmed.

Fortner’s sister, Angie Fortner, said Nathan Fortner was unemployed, bipolar and overcome with despair over the breakup with Bement. The couple’s 18-month-old son was found unhurt Tuesday in the same sport utility vehicle as his fatally injured mother.

Angie Fortner said her brother left three Post-it notes at her house.

“We will never get back together and it hurts so bad I just can’t take that,” read one. “I know you all are going to be very mad at me but I just can’t take it anymore,” read another.

In the third note, Fortner expressed his innocence in a pending rape case against him.

Angie Fortner said her family wanted to express their sorrow to relatives of the victims. Her brother, she said, “was a good person. He loved his kid. He would do anything for his kid. I don’t know what happened.”

She said Fortner was on medication for bipolar disorder, but had stopped taking the medicine. “We didn’t discover that until yesterday,” she said.

The killings left people shaken in Bonne Terre, a former mining community of 7,000 residents that sits about 55 miles southwest of St. Louis.

Bonne Terre Police Chief Doug Calvert said officers were still investigating the motive.

AP

A body is removed from a duplex where a shooting took place earlier in the day, Tuesday, Nov. 30, in Bonne Terre, Mo. Authorities say two children were found unharmed after a gunman killed three people before shooting himself near an apartment complex in eastern Missouri.

“I have no idea what was in his mind,” Calvert said. “Somebody who could commit a crime this horrible, I could only speculate.”

Police first received a call Tuesday morning that a man was trying to break down the door at the duplex on a quiet and secluded cul de sac. Calvert responded. As soon as he arrived, he received a

chilling call from his dispatcher.

“They said, ‘shots fired, chief, shots fired,’” Calvert recalled. “Then I saw the male subject running away.”

Other officers arrived and confronted Fortner about 500 feet away as he ran toward a wooded area not far from North County High School.

Fortner turned the handgun on himself. He died instantly.

Back at the duplex, Calvert found Nash dead in the doorway and Snider dead in a bedroom. A 3-year-old boy was in the house but not physically harmed.

Police soon found Bement in the SUV with her son, where she had apparently been trying to protect the boy. She was alive but died at a hospital a short time later.

The body of the 20-year-old woman was found just outside a home near Bismarck in Washington County. St. Francois County Coroner Jim Coplin said it appeared her death was connected to the others. Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Al Nothum said state investigators weren’t yet willing to make that connection, and were still investigating.

The woman was reported missing Monday night.

Her name was not released.

Fortner’s Facebook page lists him as engaged to Danielle Bement. He posted this message on his Facebook wall at 4:57 a.m. Tuesday, just hours before the shooting: “Just trust n god n u will go a long way and never trust no one I love u cameron.”

Police in another neighboring town, Farmington, believe Fortner stole a handgun from a residence there. Calvert said it apparently was the one used in the shootings.

Fortner was scheduled to go to trial in April on a 2008 rape charge. He was free on $150,000 bond.

It was the latest of several criminal charges against him, according to Missouri’s online court reporting system.

He was arrested in July 2003 and charged with burglary, property damage and tampering with a motor vehicle. He pleaded guilty in 2004 and received five years of probation.

In 2006, Fortner pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and disturbing the peace. He was again placed on probation.

Ill. Senate approves civil unions for gay couples SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gay rights advocates celebrated Wednesday as the Illinois Legislature voted to legalize civil unions, although some wondered whether the measure that the governor is expected to sign will make it easier or harder to someday win approval of same-sex marriage.

The state Senate approved the legislation 32-24, sending it to Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. It passed despite complaints from some senators that civil unions threaten the sanctity of marriage or increase the cost of doing business in Illinois.

After Quinn signs the measure, gay and lesbian couples will be able to get official recognition from the state and gain many of the rights that accompany marriage‚ the power to decide medical treatment for an ailing partner, for instance.

Illinois law will continue to limit marriage to one man and woman, and the federal government won’t recognize the civil unions at all.

Five states already allow civil unions or their equivalent, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Five other states and Washington, D.C., let gay couples marry outright.

Some supporters of civil unions in Illinois hope they’ll be a step toward full marriage.

“The ultimate goal is not to be separate but equal,” said Jacob Meister, president of The Civil Rights Agenda, a gay rights organization. Meister says civil unions are a necessary compromise because they will provide important protections for gay couples.

But even advocates acknowledge it’s possible that by accepting civil unions now, they may be delaying movement toward being able to marry.

The compromise could weaken any arguments that gay people are being treated unfairly by not being allowed to marry.

Courtney Reid, 48, of Chicago says she and her partner of 12 years have decided they won’t pursue a civil union, preferring to wait until same-sex marriage is recognized by federal law and homosexual couples get all the tax benefits and other rights available to heterosexual couples.

“It’s a stand on principle for us,” Reid said.

Supporters presented the civil unions legislation as a matter of basic fairness for all Illinois residents. With civil unions, state law will treat gay and lesbian couples as if they were married. They would inherit property when a partner dies, for instance.

“It’s time for us to look history in the eye and not flinch,” said Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg, D-Evanston.

Opponents argue that it moves Illinois closer to legalizing same-sex marriages. They said civil unions are basically marriage by another name and that they could give the courts a reason to step in and order Illinois to allow full marriage to everyone.

Some senators also criticized the time being spent on civil unions at a time when the state faces a massive budget crisis.

“Here we are, forced to debate an issue that may be political payback to a small but very politically powerful special interest group,” said Sen. Chris Lauzen, R-Aurora. He called gay sexual activities dangerous and questioned whether the state has a role in regulating relationships that don’t produce children.

The Illinois Family Institute accused legislators of failing to examine the legislation clearly.

“Proponents engaged in embarrassing and maudlin displays of sentimentality intended to emotionally manipulate rather than intellectually persuade their colleagues,” said executive director David E. Smith.

AP

Illinois State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Pekin, left, and State Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, celebrate the passage of landmark legislation requiring Illinois to recognize same-sex unions Wednesday, Dec. 1, in Springfield, Ill.

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December 2, 2010

5

Editorials and columns do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Collegio as a whole.

Ad & Business Manager Amy Spigarelli Bowyer 235-4816 Editor in Chief Madison Dennis 235-4901 Managing Editor Whitney Saporito 235-4815 Adviser Gerard Attoun 235-4809 Copy Editor Bartholomew Klick 235-4900 Design Manager Lauren White 235-4843 Photo Editor Aaron Anders 235-4900

AP

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree stands lit during the 78th annual lighting ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 30, in New York.

Sports Editor Jake Faber 235-4821

S

Reporters Ashley Bailey Sarah Poland Brenna Christian Tyler Smith Alex Mott Michael Admire Caitlin Taylor Jen Rainey 235-4821

It was easier when we were younger, and we could craft with glittery Popsiclesticks and pipe cleaners, wrap it in tinfoil and present it to our parents with love.

Those sketchy holiday ornaments have adorned Christmas trees for years, and have proved to be some of the most cherished and enduring gifts ever given.

Now, it’s not so easy. Now, crafts just don’t cover it.

Somewhere along the Madison line, it became tacky to turn a can of baby Dennis food into a snowglobe.

Editor-in-Chief Instead, a measure of thought is expected.

However, it’s not the thought that college students often have difficulty with.

It’s the cost.

For some, a Christmas shopping list goes beyond parents and partners, reaching a broader, more overwhelming scale.

Suddenly, step parents, roommates, best friends, work buddies, siblings and professors you want to brown-nose make

the list significantly longer and the wallets significantly lighter.

In addition, charities, toy drives, and food pantries are inescapable at this point in the year, and only an ultimate Scrooge can completely abstain from holiday donations.

It’s up to us to come up with the gifts we need for the people in our lives, without putting our credit scores in danger.

The first, most obvious choice is food.

It’s a nearly universal pleaser, and fairly easy on the pocketbook.

People are nearly always happy with mass amounts of their favorite indulgence.

However, holiday dieters foil this gift.

Also, a college student’s cooking arsenal of a toaster and a microwave may not be sufficient to pull this off.

If you lack skills in the kitchen, follow Paula Deen’s advice and add liberal amounts of butter and sugar to most

assistance in people’s lives. Devote a recipes. It never disappoints. couple of Saturdays to cleaning out a Another strategy is to hone in on basement or teach a technology-challenged people’s interests. This one requires relative the basics of Windows. more brainpower than anything. If your This approach requires little in the way Grandma is a whiz with baked goods, find of cash, but time a ‘Kiss the and thought are Cook’ apron, imperative. There’s print off some t’s up to us to come up with no end to the hours recipes, and of joy you can give wrap it all the gifts we need for the people to your cat-loving together. in our lives, without putting our Aunt Beulah once If your credit scores in danger.” you demystify uncle works YouTube and long hours, introduce her to get a coffee “funny kitten videos.” mug and a couple different bags of beans.

Steer clear of gift cards — there is no The goal is to emphasize the fact that disguising the exact dollar amount spent you took time to find something that they on these gifts, and a seven-dollar gift card would appreciate, rather than how much to McDonald’s doesn’t go far, even on the money you spent. dollar menu. But, if you happen to receive If all else fails, invest some time learning how to top your gifts with origami a seven-dollar gift card to McDonald’s, don’t be too hasty to judge. wrapping paper and hope they are the type Once your holiday bills are paid, the to re-gift wrappings. gift of a cheeseburger may start to seem a A good way to utilize your energy is bit more appetizing. to volunteer to take on a project or offer

“I

Collegio Online readers write back In response to “SGA continues smoking-ban push” 11/18/10 I’m not addicted... I could quit anytime... really... Maybe you should think about the nonsmokers that have to walk through your smoke on the way in a building because you don’t have the respect to not smoke outside a door! posted 11/28/10 @ 9:46 PM CST Okay, fine. I have a problem with people chewing gum and leaving it on the ground for other people to step in and get it stuck on their shoes.

So, SGA, what are you guys gonna do about that problem? Take away gum on campus? I think

SGA is taking this thing a bit too far. SGA has said they’ve researched other colleges that promote a smoking ban, but I wonder how many of these colleges are private or religious? Has SGA or anyone really thought about the amount of current or prospective students that will take their enrollment elsewhere if the smoking ban is passed? I can’t speak for every smoker, but HEADS UP SGA!!! IF YOU PASS THE SMOKING BAN, I’ll STILL BE A SMOKER... so if you’re trying to get people to downright quit, you’re just wasting your time. My advice to SGA members: stop this stupid idea of a smoking ban and spend your time and energy on something else! posted 11/29/10 @ 6:29 PM CST

Do you have money problems during the holidays?

Remember to visit psucollegio.com to cast your vote.

Photographers Andrew Dodson Yuyang Xiao Shalin Patel Jodi Heflin Hunter Peterson 235-4843 Designers Brittany Frazier Rachel Murdock Zach Waggoner 235-4843 Ad Representatives Hilary Erbert Suzy Jecha Leah Mackey Mollie Thompson 235-4937 Web Editor Amber Youngers 235-4843 Circulation Manager Jeremy Elsworth 235-4843

To submit a guest column, letter or story idea, contact the Collegio: e-mail psucollegio@gmail.com phone 235-4901 address 210 Whitesitt Hall Letters and guest column submissions must be typed, double spaced and include the writer’s name, signature, address and phone number. Please limit letters to 300 words or less. Please limit guest columns to 600 words or less. Letters become the property of the Collegio and may be published in the newspaper’s online edition.

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thisweek’squestion “Sure, I’m impressed.

They’ve always been a good team, but they haven’t done as good as they’ve done in the past.”

Colten Defreese, freshman in French

Are you impressed that the Pitt State football team is playing in the Mineral Water Bowl and will you go to the game?

“I’ll probably go, but they’re like five and six, so it’s not that impressive. The MIAA is really good, though.”

Ian Robinson, freshman in education

“I would go if I didn’t already have an event that weekend. Even though we didn’t have the best season, we get this opportunity to show we’re better than our record shows.”

Adam Brown, junior in education

“I think it’s cool. I’m very impressed. I’m considering going.”

Molly Burr, sophomore in psychology

“I am planning on going, just because.

I play volleyball, so I don’t get to go to any games. I think it’s nice they get the opportunity.”

“I’m on the football team. The Mineral Water Bowl gives us a chance to show what we’ve been building up to. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a great game.”

Cassie Wilson, senior in biology

Eric Brantley, freshman in construction management

The Kansas Press Association The Kansas Associated Collegiate Press

Write!

The Collegio wants to read your letters and guest columns!

contact: psucollegio@gmail.com

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December 2, 2010

Student voices smoking ban concerns WHITNEY SAPORITO Managing Editor Alana White, senior in political science, voiced her concern about the smoking ban initiative during student opinion time at the Student To hear a recording of the Government AsSGA meeting, log onto sociation meeting www.psucollegio.com Wednesday night.

“I’m not for smoking, nor am I against smoking. In fact, I don’t feel I have the position to dictate anybody’s health choices,” White said. “I think we should be very cautious when dealing with other people’s civil liberties, especially if it means ostracizing a group of people based on their own choice.”

White expressed concern about the $100 reward offered to the student group who collected the most smoking ban petition signatures at the Great American Smokeout on Nov. 17.

Thomas Gregory, vice president, distanced SGA from the event.

“Just to clear up some inaccuracies, the Great American Smokeout was actually put on by Gorillas in Your Midst,” Gregory said. “That was not a SGA sponsored event at all.”

However, at the Nov. 11 SGA meeting, public relations director Jonna Fearmonti said that SGA was working with Gorillas in Your Midst on the event.

“We’re going to do the Great American Smokeout which is in collaboration with Gorillas in Your Midst,” Fearmonti said at the Nov. 11 meeting.

Senator Austin Osborn said the petitions gathered at the event were only meant to gauge student opinion.

“The petitions that were signed at the Great American Smokeout, while it was useful to see the cause they have nothing to do with the actual smoking ban,” Osborn said. “Those students that signed the petition it wasn’t like they put their vote toward the smoking ban.”

Thomas Gregory, vice president of the Student Government Association, adjourns the last meeting of the year on Wednesday, Dec. 1.

Gregory said polling stations will be set up next semester to gather more student opinion on the smoking ban initiative.

White said she feels smokers are an unrepresented group.

Eric Jones, treasurer, said he is a smoker and a member of the smoking ban committee.

“I just wanted to let it be known smokers are not an unrepresented minority, I smoke over a pack a day,” Jones said. “I’m not trying to impose on anyone’s civil liberties.”

Carson Felt, campus affairs director, offered support for White’s message.

“If it means anything, I agree with what you’re saying,” Felt said.

Senator Lara Ismert expressed concern over White’s letter to the editor that ran in the Nov. 18 edition of the Collegio.

Photos by Aaron Anders

Alana White, senior in political science, tells Student Government Association members during student opinion time how she feels the smoking ban takes away from students’ rights.

“In regards to the letter that was sent to the Collegio the other day, where the misinformation was sent out there, I just want all of us to take initiative when you hear those kinds of things being said,” Ismert said, referring to SGA’s involvement with the Great American Smokeout and the $100 reward.

“Those kinds of things that are being said about SGA that are untruthful. I’ve heard them a lot . Can you just make sure that you correct that? Because otherwise the rumors just get spread around.”

In other news, Gregory and Brandon Mills, president, will be meeting with Lynette Olson, provost and vice president for academic affairs, tomorrow to discuss a new dead week policy.

Rhaysa Velazquez, academic affairs director, said

the new policy would not go into effect until Fall 2011.

“What we’re looking at is doing Pitt preparation instead of dead week, because right now dead week isn’t really working because it’s so ambiguous,” Velazquez said. “Instead of it being all week, it’s basically going to be Thursday and Friday.”

Velazquez said on the Thursday and Friday of dead week professors would not be able to assign anything, hold tests, or present any new material.

She said those days would be “strict studying time.”

After adjourning the meeting, SGA members met briefly “off the record” to discuss upcoming party plans.

This was the last SGA meeting of the semester.

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One cold treat

December 2, 2010

Jodi Heflin/Collegio

Labette Bank float during the Christmas Parade on Monday, Nov. 29.

Aaron Anders/Collegio

Christmas floats go by downtown Pittsburg during the annual Christmas parade on Monday, Nov. 29.

Thom Watts, KKOW DJ, riding during the Christmas parade in downtown Pittsburg on Monday, Nov. 29.

Jodi Heflin/Collegio

Jodi Heflin/Collegio

Christmas Parade in downtown Pittsburg on Monday, Nov. 29, features floats showing the sharing spirit of the season.

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Whitney Saporito, Managing Editor You have one new friend request...

From your mom.

Requests like these are becoming common for college students as family members, professors and even employers find their way to Facebook. The new wave of older Facebook users has left many college students more aware of what they are posting online.

After receiving a friend request from mom, some college students scramble for a way to hide damaging photos or posts. To do this, some delete the posts and photos while others adjust their privacy settings so that mom can’t see.

Some students even go so far as to ignore family members’ friend requests.

No matter which approach they take, most students agree that the older generation’s Facebook presence has made them think twice about what they share with the Facebook world.

“I think about what I’m posting,” said Michelle Quist, junior in psychology. “What I’m posting hasn’t changed, I’m just aware that my family are there.”

Marie Pettie, sophomore in psychology and counseling, says that she too avoids posting anything she wouldn’t want her family to see.

Pettie, who is Facebook friends with her grandmother, says she thinks it’s funny to see what family members will

post.

“Just a few days ago I saw that my grandma was yelling at my cousin on Facebook because they posted something inappropriate,” Pettie said.

Pettie and Quist agree: They don’t mind seeing their family members on Facebook.

“I’m open to it because I don’t live near my family, so I find them on Facebook and now I can keep up with what they’re doing,” Pettie said.

John Kuefler, junior in computer science, says he has no problem with family members, such as his dad, being on Facebook.

“I think it’s a great thing because social networking is a big means of communication these days,” Kuefler said. “I think it’s a great thing for the older generation to embrace.”

Although Kuefler finds the new Facebook users a positive addition, that doesn’t mean he’s accepting their friend requests.

“I’m not friends with my dad on Facebook because, ya know, just in case there was anything I didn’t want him to see,” Kuefler said.

As members of their parents’ and grandparents’ generations join Facebook, college students have noticed that many of those new members need some extra help catching on to the social

networking site.

Don Judd, associate professor in English, says there are still some things on Facebook he is unsure how to do.

“I’ve probably been on Facebook at least a year,” Judd said. “I’m not certain but I think I know how to post on my wall. I don’t know how to upload photos.”

Judd says he believes the reasons many of the new users struggle with Facebook is they lack the motivation, or are not as familiar with computers as the younger Facebook users.

Although for Judd, neither is the case.

“I think I can figure that stuff out if I had to,” Judd said. “But I’m not motivated partly because my wife does it for me.”

While many college students have had to offer help to their new Facebook friends, not every parent or professor is Facebook-challenged.

Christian Harris, freshman in business management, says it was his mom who introduced him to Facebook. Now that he’s a member, he has mixed feelings about being Facebook friends with his parents.

“I think it’s great that they have it, but sometimes it can be a hassle,” Harris said. “They can see stuff that you might not want them to see.”

Harry Potter and the mostly good review BARTHOLOMEW KLICK Copy Editor I was happy to see that the film rendition of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1” is not following in the book’s footsteps. The book was long, drawn out, and felt rushed. The movie brings back memorable characters that the book didn’t, and plays with the plot points to dramatic and ultimately pleasing effect.

I object, a bit, to how the actors, especially Emma Watson (Hermione), dealt with the Latin-esque incantations for spells in combat. The spells in Harry Potter have always gone wrong when they’re pronounced incorrectly, and this was in the back of my mind whenever anyone shouted a spell 700 percent faster than they normally would. I know, I know, they’re combat scenes, but it was distracting and I think a lot of my fellow Potterheads will agree.

Aside from this quibble, however, the film was amazing.

The opening scene is tearwrenching. Watching Emma Watson eradicate the memories of her parents is powerful and sets up the quasi-important plot point that the good guys are capable of doing this to the bad guys (The film folk correctly assumed that a fair number of the audience hadn’t read the books, which is nice.)

This establishing scene sets the hyper-serious mood of the film, which works very well for a classic good vs. evil plot, and makes what was originally a children’s book more accessible to adults, without alienating a younger audience.

I particularly liked how the movie dealt with the fable of the Deathly Hollows, rather than merely having a character narrate it, or having it performed live-action (and thus provide spoilers!). The fable scene was done in a gorgeous Tim Burton-style animation.

I’m not sure how I felt about the way the film version drew on Nazi images once Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) had

control of the Ministry of Magic. Don’t get me wrong; they were excellent scenes, and the disguised-Potter-and-friends actors did an excellent job of looking uncomfortable in their bodies, but I’m not sure it was entirely appropriate to make the persecution of mudbloods and muggles into an allusion to the Holocaust. At the same time, I realize it’s hard to have a stock fantasy villain without somehow connecting pure evil to Hitler and, honestly, if nigh-omnipotent wizards started hating us normal folk, the situation would probably be similar.

I would also normally have been critical of the choice to have all the death-eaters (AKA, bad guys) dress in black, because, you know, villains don’t really walk around in easy-to-spot black cloaks. But it worked well with the film’s strong artistic sensibility, so despite being a cliché, it looked good.

I am also instantly prejudiced against cliffhangers,

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1,” 2010

especially after the disaster of “The Last Airbender,” but the film stops at the end of a few good plot points, and sets us up nicely for the final battle.

And, honestly, I don’t think the world will be right anymore when there isn’t a new Harry Potter film looming toward us in the distance.

All in all, this is one of the better Harry Potter films, and a well-done fantasy movie on its own.