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Grill sells new take-out meals
AACC approves 1st bachelor’s Daniel Salomon Co-Editor
The Board of Trustees approved AACC’s first applied bachelor’s degree at its monthly meeting on Jan. 9. This degree will be the first bachelor’s in interior design in Maryland. In addition, it will be the first bachelor’s degree offered by a community college in the state. “We could either wait and see what happens or we
could be … on the forefront of this,” Director of Architecture and Interior Design Michael Ryan said. But it’s not at the college yet. AACC needs approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission, a board responsible for state policies of public and private colleges, universities and for-profit career schools. “The anticipated timeframe for MHEC to take a look at this is and make a de-
Mary Kane Co-Editor
Director of Architecture Michael Ryan discusses the applied bachelor’s degree. Photo by Daniel Salomon cision is about nine months, so it’s a long process,” President Dawn Lindsay said.
Continued on page 3
‘Fields of interest’ give students more options Alexandra Radovic Co-Editor
Students who are unsure of which subject they want to major in will get some help figuring that out, starting in the fall. Those who might have
chosen transfer studies as their major will instead have the chance to explore a “field of interest” by taking introductory courses in a variety of related subjects. Someone interested in STEM—science, technology, engineering and math—for
instance, could dabble in a number of related courses during freshman year before settling on chemistry, math or another STEM major. Then, when the student chooses any major within that
Sarah Noble
Vice President of Learning Mike Gavin. “So we wanted to have administrative overview of that area,” said Gavin. “We want these students to have an idea of where they are going,” “The new [assistant dean] position is to get students on the right path,” said Public Relations and Marketing Executive Director Dan Baum. Rawhouser, a professor of engineering here since 2010, said she found the position appealing because she
Continued on page 3
The Hawk’s Nest Grill & Deli will sell pre-cooked carry-out dinners for $7.95 starting Jan. 17. The low-sodium meals will not include artificial flavors, according to Hawk’s Nest Manager Richard Buenaventura. Entrees will include chicken and pork, and vegetarian options will also be on
the menu. Rice and vegetables will be among the sidedish choices. Customers must place same-day Dinner Ready orders at the Hawk’s Nest by 10 a.m. They may pick up their meals, which they can reheat at home, between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and by 2 p.m. on Friday. The take-out meals are
Continued on page 3
Business, science and visual arts are among the fields of interest in a new AACC program. Photo by Elizabeth Spearman
Liberal arts adds administrator Co-Editor
Marjorie Rawhouser, the new assistant dean of liberal arts, oversees the fields of interest program. Photo by Raquel Hamner
January 2018
AACC has a new assistant dean of liberal arts, who will oversee the college’s new fields of interest program. Dr. Marjorie Rawhouser, the assistant dean of liberal arts, also will oversee the transfer studies program. A quarter of AACC students are in the transfer studies program, often because they don’t know what they want to major in, said
wants to make a contribution outside of the classroom. “I want to reach more students and make a broader impact,” said Rawhouser. “I really like the contact this job has with fields of interest and transfer studies.” Before coming to AACC, Rawhouser, whose bachelor’s degree is from the U.S. Naval Academy, served in Baghdad as a liaison to the U.N. for a year before she began her teaching career. “Because she is an engineer,” Gavin said, “[Raw-
houser] understands structure.” “That came through in her interviews.”He explained that the new fields of interest program will allow undecided majors to try out courses in several related fields before they decide—without losing college credit once they choose. The fields of interest program organizes existing courses to direct students. “That’s really what we’re trying to do,” he said, “provide structure for something without structure.”
2 | Campus Current | 2018 | January
Editorial
Meet the Staff Co-editors
Michael Garvey Mary Kane Vincent Moreland Sarah Noble Alexandra Radovic Daniel Salomon Raquel Hamner Graphic Designer
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Welcome back; stay positive Editorial Board
It’s that time of year again, Riverhawks. As we put away the lights and decorations of the holiday season, we’re buckling in for another semester. This season of after Christmas but not quite spring can seem to drag on, cold and dreary. But it’s also the beginning of a new year, a new schedule and a new start for all of us. This semester, as you find seats in your new classes, remember to say hello to the people around you. Everyone appreciates a friendly smile and a kind word, especially at the start of something new and uncertain. Not only that, but it’s always helpful to have a friend in class you can get homework from or study with. Some of you are probably here at AACC for your first semester. Others have been here longer. If you already have friends here, reach out and invite people into your cir-
cle. Remember what it was like to be in a new place with new people and no way into the groups you saw around you. If you’re new, check out the bulletin boards around campus and find a club or event to join. AACC has live performances and open-mic nights, student clubs that meet weekly and go on field trips, competitive sports teams to join or root for, a magazine and a newspaper to contribute to, and internship opportunities in every department. Socializing on campus may seem unimportant now, especially if you’re focusing on your classes or if you already have friends outside AACC—but I promise you, it’s worth your time to make friends here. AACC is full of interesting people and caring professors. Not everyone you meet will be a match for your personality, of course, but if you open yourself up to new friends, you are almost guaranteed to find some here.
Getting involved in a team, like Women’s Soccer, is a way to have a happy experience on campus. Photo by Roxanne Ready So Riverhawks, let’s remember to bring some holiday spirit with us into the new year. Offer a smile to the person next to you. Swap emails in class so you can get notes from each other later.
1st class of semester: key to student success Veronica Somers Advertising Manager When my parents told me they wanted me to attend a community college, I wasn’t happy. I was 18 and had just graduated from high school. Going back to school sounded awful. So I didn’t show up for the first day of classes. And during the semester, I made excuses not to go to school. “Oh no, I feel a headache coming on,” I’d tell myself. Or, “It’s raining out, and my car won’t do well in the rain, so maybe I shouldn’t risk it.” I missed a lot of school. Even though I didn’t fail my classes, I also didn’t make any friends. I had no relationships with my professors. My class participation grade went right down the drain. I soon learned I wasn’t getting the most out of my classes. Not only that, I was letting my classmates down. A lot of students think missing the first day of school is OK. The fact is, students who attend the first day of class are more likely to finish and pass their classes than those who skip it.
But that’s not the only reason I changed my ways and started attending every class, every week. I like getting to know my classmates during discussions and activities. I like getting to know my professors so they will offer me guidance throughout the semester. I know life happens, and there will be times when you
will have to miss a class, but don’t let it become a habit. Deciding to miss class because it’s raining outside or because you had a little too much fun at your friend’s house over the weekend is not a good reason to show a lack of responsibility. Veronica Somers is a first-year communications student who is Campus Current’s advertising manager.
If you’re in a club, invite your classmates to join you. And if you’re new here, welcome. Be open to the new experiences, ideas and people at AACC. You won’t be disappointed.
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Communications student Veronica Somers advises her classmates to attend the first day of classes. Photo by Raquel Hamner
January | 2018 | Campus Current | 3
news News
Government funds tree planting at AACC, trails Alexandra Radovic Co-Editor Anne Arundel County is planting 387 trees and 503 shrubs on AACC’s Arnold campus. The Chesapeake Bay Trust, the Department of Public Works and AACC organized the project. College Parkway will get an additional 63 trees, including Sweetbay Magnolias and Eastern Redbuds. Another 150 trees and 200 shrubs will go along the Baltimore and Annapo-
lis Trail and on Broadneck Trail. Owen McEvoy, the county’s public information officer, said the goal of the project is to use government funding in an effective way to restore the environment. “Trees brighten up whatever location they are in, and it will be cool for people who participate in this project to see the trees they planted grow, and know that they helped make it happen,” said Lainy Leitch, a freshman psychology major and nature enthusiast.
‘Fields’ to help choose major Continued from page 1 field of interest, up to 15 introductory credits will apply toward it, according to Vice President of Learning Mike Gavin. The program will “help students save money and time” and promote equity and an “intentionally designed student experience,” Gavin said. “When you first come here, it can be totally overwhelming,” explained Dr. Marjorie Rawhouser, the new assistant dean of liberal arts, who will oversee the fields of interest program. “Some students in transfer studies may be better off in a different major, but just
don’t know what it is yet.” Every existing program at AACC fits into a field of interest. Academic advisers can direct students who don’t choose a major right away into core courses in their field of interest. “It is very exciting,” AACC President Dawn Lindsay told Campus Current. “The goal is to both improve student success in academic life, and help students feel connected and engaged,” Rawhouser said. Colby Blodgett, a thirdyear theater student, called the program “a great idea. When I first started here, I had no clue what I wanted to do, and I felt like I was going in blind. Now, maybe stu-
County Executive Steven Schuh said in a press release that he wants to accelerate tree planting across Anne Arundel County. “Trees add so many benefits to our quality of life, including the appearance of our public spaces and better air quality,” Schuh said. Funding for the project came from the Forest Conservation Act fund. This fund is a collection of fees paid by county developers who cut down trees during construction, and don’t replant. Money
AACC administrators plant a new tree at The Barn. Photo courtesy of Severna Park Voice from the fund goes toward the maintenance of existing forests, the purchasing of wooded property to be preserved, or, in this case, reforestation. “It is always time to act for the environment, and I am very happy to see that my school is supporting this
“perfect for a busy day,” Buenaventura said. “Students who have late classes will have a meal if they do not have time to pick up or make dinner at home.” Students purchasing
their lunch at the Hawk’s Nest during the Winter Session said they plan to buy the pre-cooked dinners. “If I had the chance I would definitively do that,” game developer William Holman, a first-year student, said.
Campus proposes degree
Continued from page 1
Vice President for Learning Mike Gavin discusses a new program called fields of interest. Photo by Mary Kane dents won’t feel that way.” “This sounds like a fantastic program that will benefit so many students,” agreed Aubrey Peacher, a sophomore and early childhood education major.
The program’s creators studied the course structures of other colleges to help develop the appropriate number and grouping of classes for the fields of interest program.
Second-year engineering student Joseph Buckley also said he will buy the dinners. “Being a student who works late, I would very much so buy the take-home meals,” he said. “That would be easier for getting dinner on some of those late nights.”
The Hawk’s Nest started offering a hot food bar in September, and served hot turkey dinners during Thanksgiving week. The success of those menu items gave Buenaventura the idea for the Dinner Ready carry-out meals.
Hawk’s Nest sells to-go meals Continued from page 1
action,” said Emily Bailey, a first-year history student. The project will finish by this spring. “We are excited to make these improvements to the entrance of the college and forested areas of our campus,” AACC President Dawn Lindsay said in a press release.
“It’s not something that’s going to happen quickly.” The state’s 15 other community colleges approve of applied bachelor’s degrees at two-year schools, Vice President for Learning Mike Gavin said. Community College of Baltimore County reportedly also will ask the state to approve at least one applied bachelor’s degree. AACC chose interior design for its first applied bachelor’s degree because its existing program includes an associate’s degree and an advanced certificate. Combined, the program already had the equivalent coursework of a 120-credit curriculum. “It really was not difficult for us to put the curriculum together,” Gavin said. “It’s just we have not been able to call it a bachelor’s degree.” AACC has one of two interior design programs in Maryland accredited by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Tiffany Beninsca, a second-year transfer studies major, said: “I’ve always thought that a bachelor’s at AACC would be a good idea and if it helps people stay in Maryland I think that’d be cool, especially with the cost [of out-of-state tuition.]” “I think it would be really interesting, the first offered in a Maryland community college,” Olorunjawnon Ajayi, a third-year computer engineering student, said.
4 | Campus Current | 2018 | January
campus life
County HS grads want college tuition for free Jennifer Perry Reporter
AACC students said graduates of Anne Arundel County high schools should be able to attend the county’s community college for free. In an informal survey of 20 students across campus, 15 said community college should be free, although some questioned how the county would pay for it. “I think it’s a good idea, honestly, I mean it’s fair,” second-year nursing student Catherine Jackson said. She pointed to Tennessee, Oregon, New York and San Francisco, which waive community college tuition for most residents. Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh is pushing a plan to allow Baltimore public high school graduates to attend Baltimore City Community College for free. Pugh has
estimated the annual cost of the plan to be about $1.5 million. Second-year AACC creative writing student Lydia Ray said she would welcome free tuition here, but she said she would worry about the potential price tag. “I think it’s a great idea, but maybe not [full scholarships],” Ray said. “I think that would take a lot of money from the county. But more scholarships would be great for people [who] need them.” First-year business management major Leann Geisler agreed, predicting that fees and other costs could increase to make up for the lack of tuition. “Like, would the price of books go up?” she asked. “Just like the smaller things, the things that we get here for free, would that change? Would things like [free] tutoring and the Writing Center change?” Still, other students ad-
vocated for free tuition, citing the financial benefit to students. “For a lot of people, [community college] is their only choice,” first-year plant science major Brendan Bill said. “A lot of families around here are pretty low-income, so if you finish [high school] with a decent [grade-point average] and you want to go to college, it makes sense that you should be able to go for free.” He added, “[Scholarships] can be hard to get, and a lot of people just don’t have the family resources,” to pay out of pocket. But not all students said free college is a good idea. Fourth-year environmental science major Will Divert said he was against the idea of subsidizing college unless he saw “a lot of evidence that it [would not] impact taxes. … I am personally a Libertarian and very
Some students say they want free tuition, but others say they fear that would increase textbook prices. Photo by Daniel Salomon much not big government. I am much more ‘pull-yourown-weight.’” First-year business administration major Kristin Kohout questioned whether the quality of education would slip if tuition were free. “If we’re not paying anymore, then who’s not getting
paid?” she asked. “Are teachers not getting paid? Or if taxes go up, then we end up paying anyway.” Kohout offered an alternative to free tuition: Four-year universities, she suggested, should offer scholarships to AACC students who graduate with a 4.0 grade-point average.
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January | 2018 | Campus Current | 5
Campus Life
How to succeed during 2018 spring semester Sarah Sutherland Reporter As the new semester begins, students and counselors on campus have some tips on how to have a successful spring semester. Knowing summer break is near can encourage students to perform better in the spring. “My spring semester[s] [have] always been exponentially better,” Jump Start student Sarah Noble said. “It’s starting to kick in that school is almost over and summer is going to start. ... [It’s] a motivational thing to just get out and do the best that I can in
the time that I have.” AACC counselor Diane H. Passero said students looking forward to graduation and transferring to a four-year college in the spring still need to stay motivated in their last semester. “In [the spring] you still have to maintain a decent GPA in order to transfer or receive your degree,” Passero said. “You can’t fail [classes] or you won’t get credit for them and therefore won’t pass or graduate. … You don’t get to completely give up and drop the ball.” Seasonal changes can also increase student productivity in the spring.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression caused by the changing of the seasons, affects 10 to 20 percent of people. “I’m more motivated to do homework while there’s light out,” Jump Start student Cameron Terrelonge said. “As soon as it gets dark in the winter, I feel the need to sleep. I’m going to feel more motivated [in the spring] to … do my work.” Students who attended AACC in the fall said what they learned then will help make school in the spring easier.
fourth-year early childhood education major. The Department of Public Safety patrols parking lots and offers students evening escorts to and from their cars. Additionally, rules on campus require drivers to yield to pedestrians. The department reported two hit-and-run car accidents early last semester, but neither injured any pedestrians. Blake Myers, a third-year education major, said he notices officers at work in the mornings. “It is cool knowing that they are out there
and stopping traffic,” he said. “It could be a mess if they weren’t there, you know?” First-year business administration student Chiara Carroll, however, said: “Everywhere you go is not necessarily going to be safe. ... Police do the best they can do.” Two of the students in the poll, however, complained that some drivers on campus don’t watch out for pedestrians. “We were walking [through the parking lot] and it was kind of like [the driver was not] really even
tells his or her story in a series of flashbacks. “It started with the title,” Pallaro-Sonneborn said. “The posters [for the competition] were asking about something obscure and edgy. [Suicide] is an interesting and tough topic, and I wanted to do something that portrayed it pretty faithfully.” Pallaro-Sonneborn said he got the idea to have his actors play multiple roles from AACC’s latest play “Neverwhere,” where most of the actors played several parts. From early September until Oct. 20, students submitted original screenplays to The Theatre at AACC for consideration as the college’s
entry into the summer 2018 Capital Fringe Festival. “We were looking for something that can be produced [with AACC’s resources], something that had a cast of four to seven people, [was] edgy and obscure and [was] under 75 minutes,” Sean Urbantke, a theater professor and co-adviser for The Theatre at AACC, said. Urbantke and two other professors, Dr. Garrett Brown and Dr. AnnMarie Saunders, reviewed all six scripts that students submitted. Brown said he will work with Pallaro-Sonneborn in the upcoming weeks to help him make his screenplay the “best version it can be.”
Pedestrians confident in campus parking lots Ryan Sullivan Reporter AACC students said they feel safe walking through AACC parking lots and roads. In an informal poll of 20 students, 18 said they believe the campus public safety officers pay attention to pedestrian safety. “One thing I noticed this semester is crossing [the crosswalk] before the bridge from East to West Campus, [officers] stop traffic so they allow pedestrians to go across,” Julie Deibert, a
According to AACC’s Public Relations and Marketing Department, 12,345 credit-seeking students enrolled at AACC in spring 2017. Photo by Sarah Alonso “Coming in [the fall] as a Jump Start student … I didn’t really know what I was doing yet,” Terrelonge said. “Now I’ve got more of a focus, [so] … I’m going to take it more seriously [in the spring].” Third-year nursing major Hanna Billing and second-year animation student Brendan Orner said the fall semester made them realize they do not like morning
Maryland law says drivers on community college campuses must obey the rules of the road. Photo by Sarah Sutherland paying attention to us in front of them,” Angela Travlos, a second-year digital forensics student, said. Third-year history major Seamus McCarthy reported something similar. “There have been a couple of times where I looked [a driver] in the eye and it’s been like, ‘Who’s going to make it [to the crosswalk] first?’” he said.
First-year digital forensics major Reanne Tippett suggested a way AACC could improve pedestrian safety. “I think there could be more emergency [cones and signs],” she said. “If you’re walking to the Schwartz building, there are, like, none in that area. But then there’s like two right next to each other [in other areas].”
This spring, students enrolled in Applied Theater may volunteer for the play as actors or through a variety of behind-the-scenes roles during filming. Urbantke said he is “proud” to have a student present his original screenplay on a national level. “It’s going to be a lot of work but I have faith in [everyone involved].” Pallaro-Sonneborn said he “cannot wait to see [his work] come to life.” Fringe is a type of theater that is “experimental, edgy and obscure,” according to Urbantke. Pallaro-Sonneborn said he is excited for the opportunity this summer.
Third-year student Jonas Pallaro-Sonneborn says his screenplay makes him feel “very proud” and he can’t wait to show it at the 2018 Capital Fringe Festival in Washington, D.C., this July. Photo by Brandon Hamilton
Student to compete in festival Elizabeth Spearman Reporter AACC’s theater professors chose a student’s screenplay about suicide to present in a national competition this summer. The Theatre at AACC will present third-year creative-writing student Jonas Pallaro-Sonneborn’s original screenplay, “Dragon Hunting Support Group,” in the summer 2018 Capital Fringe Festival in Washington, D.C, this July. “Dragon Hunting Support Group” is about a four-member suicide support group, according to Pallaro-Sonneborn. Throughout the play, each member
classes, so for spring they know to schedule them later. “The benefit with your first semester here versus your second semester is you learn what kind of a student you are,” Passero said. “[You learn] how to adjust your study skills to maintain as optimal performance as you can.” The 2018 spring semester runs from Jan. 17 to May 20.
6 | Campus Current | 2018 | January
Campus Life
Violating campus rules could get you banned Michael Garvey Co-Editor
Violating AACC’s code of student conduct could result in a suspension from the college campus. Sanctions can range from reprimands to interim suspensions. Occasionally, students must make restitution or perform community service on the campus. “Any time a student is suspected of violating college policy regardless of what it is they could be referred to my office,” said Erik Hunter, director of Student Conduct and Special Projects. “Then what my office does is review the incident report, investigate the incident, and then make a determination whether a violation has occurred or not. “I take into account whether there are aggravating or mitigating circumstances. The type of violation. What I’ve typically done with sim-
ilar violations in the past. The impact of the violation on the community ... Things like that. “We try to make sure the sanction is appropriate to the violation and not simply just random.” According to Hunter, the most common reason a student might face suspension is classroom disruption. “We get a lot of referrals from instructors with what they believe is disruptive behavior in their classrooms,” said Hunter. “It could be arguing with the professor, two students arguing, it could be a lot of things, but typically that’s what we get.” Being barred from the college doesn’t always mean that the student will miss out on finishing classes. “We would contact their instructors, and ask their instructors if they would just accept all their work remotely, and ask them if the student could work remote-
ly,” Hunter said. “Usually instructors are pretty OK with that. They can still finish up their classes.” Students who are suspended from campus can appeal to a disciplinary review committee. For non-students found in violation of campus rules the process goes through Vice President Melissa Beardmore, and public safety. “If we feel that it’s serious enough it will go to … Beardmore, and she’ll issue a Persona Non-Grata, PNG, which means you’re not allowed back here,” said Police Chief Sean Kapfhammer. “It’s like a banning notice.” “Our approach is the safety of the college community as a whole,” said Beardmore. “We have multiple interventions and programs in place to ensure that if there is an incident those who need to be aware are made aware. People are put off campus until they are deemed ready
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chance they will be arrested, because there’s a reason we banned them to begin with,” said Kapfhammer. “We think that they pose a safety threat to the campus.”
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January | 2018 | Campus Current | 7
Campus Life
Lindsay makes goals for 2018 Daniel Salomon Co-Editor AACC President Dawn Lindsay’s New Year’s resolutions include taking up yoga and ballroom dancing. On campus, Lindsay’s resolutions include several major efforts. Among them: Applied bachelor’s degree. AACC has proposed to offer its first applied bachelor’s degree. The degree, which the state must approve, will be in interior design, and will be the first at a community college in Maryland. “It’s not a guarantee, it’s a step in the direction,” Lindsay said. “All the community colleges in Maryland are looking at this opportunity through the state. … It fills an unmet need where the current four-year [Maryland] colleges aren’t offering bachelor’s degrees in these highskilled areas.” Fields of interest. Starting in the fall, students who
aren’t sure which field of study they want to pursue at AACC can take a set of courses related to an area they are considering—in sciences or visual arts, for example—before committing to a specific major. “A student doesn’t necessarily have to know exactly what they want to do,” Lindsay said. Completion gap. In addition to focusing on recruiting students to the college, Lindsay and the administrative team have turned their attention to retention and to helping students complete their studies here. Lindsay said the college is studying data to determine the completion rates for students of all races. That information, she said, will help officials decide which programs they need to build to engage those students. Beyond Arnold. Lindsay said the college is looking to offer students who
Students share new priorities Vincent Moreland Co-Editor
President Dawn Lindsay shares some of her New Year’s resolutions. Photo by Judi Handel attend AACC’s remote campuses the ability to complete their associate’s degrees at the Glen Burnie Town Center and Arundel Mills campuses. “What we also want to make sure is that we have everybody working toward the same goal of completion and that opportunities are in place,” Lindsay said.
Like most Americans, AACC students rang in the new year with a list of resolutions to lose weight, be nicer and study harder. In an informal poll on campus in early January, 22 of 32 students said they have at least one New Year’s goal. But 10 said they don’t. “There’s always more than one thing you can work on,” said third-year transfer studies student Anthony Hawkins. “I’m not going to wait until New Year’s to do one thing. I just do it now.” Second-year undecided student Fabio Fuentes said he took his teacher’s advice about New Year’s goals. “My women’s health teacher told me that having a New Year’s resolution sets people up for failure sometimes because they try to accomplish too much and they get overwhelmed by those
accomplishments, so they’re not able to accomplish what they really want, so it’s small changes that sort of make you change,” Fuentes said. Some students said making resolutions helps them improve themselves. Second-year computer science and transfer studies major Hilton Harris said he wants to do what is best for him. “Live for myself,” said Harris, who explained his goal. “Just do things that are better and look out for me. Put myself in the best position and not really worry about what anyone else thinks. Just do what’s best for me.” Some students want to get better grades and raise their GPAs. Second-year engineering student Suliman Amarkhil said he wants to get better grades so he eventually can transfer to a four-year school.
8 | Campus Current | 2018 | January
Campus Life
Police thwart burglary Michael Garvey Co-Editor An AACC public safety officer interrupted a latenight burglary on campus over winter break, leading to an arrest by Anne Arundel County police. While patrolling the college grounds during the midnight shift on Dec. 20, Officer Ashton Thomas spotted a suspicious individual sneaking around campus-owned vehicles at the loading dock of the SUN building. “I was on Ring Road, just happen[ed] to pass the SUN building, and realized that I saw someone coming from someone’s car,” Thomas said. “I notified the other two officers that were
here that I noticed someone who was unfamiliar, and that his face was completely covered. When I went to turn around in my vehicle, he disappeared.” After Thomas continued his search, he located the suspect, 20-year-old Arnold resident Andrew Michael Messineo, in the YMCA of Arnold vestibule that connects the outer pool to the main building. When county police arrived, Messineo fled through the hole he cut in the plastic dome covering the pool, according to police. Another county officer, who was waiting on the other side of the building, caught the suspect. Police said they found a knife and ID on Messineo.
Messineo told police he was looking for somewhere to stay warm because it was cold. During a search of the area, Thomas located a backpack belonging to Messineo containing a rubber mallet, hammer, pry-bar, lock-picking tools and zip-lock bags, according to police. Police said they suspect Messineo of being responsible for a hit-and-run car accident earlier in the day while driving on a suspended license. The court suspended Messineo’s license for failing to report to court after campus police issued a marijuana citation. “This entire department is familiar with him because this gentleman was pulled
over for running a stop sign, and one of the passengers fled out of the car, and then [police] ended up finding marijuana in the car,” said
Thomas. “He had an extensive record.” Messineo has never attended AACC, and is banned from campus, police said.
as the military/veterans student success and retention adviser. One of the services that editors look for is a veterans’ center on campus. “I think [AACC’s vet center] is one of the better resources I’ve seen being a veteran and in the National Guard,” said Benjamin Beares, a second-year homeland security student. For faculty and staff, the school offers a “meet the military learner” course that focuses on the transitional challenges veterans face when they leave the armed services. “If you roll a guy out after a four-year enlistment with two or three deployments, and then drop him back into
college all on their own it’s hard for them to sit down and say, ‘OK, I have to schedule out today through the next 15 weeks,’ and make it work,” said Mike Kulikowski, a veteran and a second-year homeland security major. Still, Beares said he would like to see more dedicated space on the campus where veterans can hang out, and receive help with their educational benefits. “Sometimes we’ll be in here and all the seats will be packed, and stuff like that,” he said. “Sometimes I’m worried that might push people away if they feel like there’s not enough room for them, and as veterans we never want to push our friends away.”
impact … on the next generation,” Barata said. “Imagine the power of a female engineering student talking to a 9 year old, or a 12 year old, [about a career in science], and saying, ‘You can do it, too.’” This semester, the STEM ambassador program held an open house and participated in AACC’s Science Night. In order to become an ambassador, students must be academically driven and have an interest in community service.
STEM Ambassador Nathan Ho talks to kids about STEM. Photo courtesy of Nathan Ho
Military Times names college as vet-friendly Michael Garvey Co-Editor
AACC wins a mention on the Military Times’s list of best colleges for veterans. Photo courtesy of Military Times
The Y is the site of a break-in at the pool. Campus police helped the county arrest the suspect. Photo by Sarah Noble
Military Times this fall named AACC as one of the best two-year colleges for veterans for the second year in a row. The weekly newspaper ranked AACC 23rd among 34 community colleges that made the list, down from 22nd in 2017. Schools across the country fill out a rigorous survey, which editors use to evaluate programs and services that veterans say are important to them. “At Anne Arundel we have probably the best support services compared to the other institutions,” said Harlan Harrell, who serves
STEM program welcomes kids Alexandra Radovic Co-Editor College students are sharing their love of science, technology, engineering and math with kids of all ages through AACC’s STEM Ambassador program. In the fall semester, 13 students served as STEM ambassadors. Nathan Ho, a first-year cybersecurity major, said he will use his time as an ambassador to “spread the excitement of science and technologies to others, and
draw the youth into choosing a STEM career.” According to José Luis Barata, coordinator of STEM at AACC’s School of Science and Technology, the goal of the program is to give STEM students an opportunity for community outreach to benefit their career development. STEM ambassadors receive a stipend of $250 per full term if they attend all meetings and trainings and provide at least four hours of service per month. This includes judging science fairs
at elementary schools, doing science and technology lab demos at high schools, conducting STEM nights at mid-
STEM ambassadors “draw the youth into choosing a STEM career.” —First-year student Nathan Ho dle schools and collaborating with experts in the STEM industry. The STEM service projects have an “immeasurable
January | 2018 | Campus Current | 9
AACC hosts 37th MLK Jr. annual remembrance Mary Kane Co-Editor
Fun and Games
A health and public policy specialist urged an audience at AACC on Jan. 15 to follow Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s guidance to drive hate and racism from society. Quoting the civil rights leader, Dr. Gail C. Christopher, who spoke at the 37th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast, said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.” In a pre-speech interview with Campus Current, Christopher said King “was an inspiration to me even as a child. I grew up during the civil rights era and so we did not have a lot of African-American heroes, so he was particularly important to me.”
She added: “What I have always loved about Dr. King is how he stood for love and how he stood for peace and how he had the courage to take a stand on an unpopular opinion when he stood against the Vietnam war.” Christopher said she has “made my life work focused on” King’s stand on “peace and for the value of human life.” Christopher, a former senior adviser and vice president for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, created and oversaw the organization’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation program, which addresses the historic and contemporary effects of racism. “All of my life I have designed social programs to help bring about social justice and have been privileged to have an influence on major change efforts in the country,” Christopher said.
She said the program was inspired by King’s work and life values. Christopher said her work—and the AACC breakfast—honor King’s legacy and “celebrate our interconnected nature as one human family.” She urged the audience to “get rid of the ideas of suppressing any race or group so those ideas are not reignited in our society.” In the interview, Christopher advised students to “step up and help to define the landscape of this new information era that we are in, making sure that it has integrity, making sure that it is heathy for our democracy. We need you to step up and have values that supersede the immediate opportunity for profit.” Christopher added: “You are the future of our country. You have inherited one of the most challenging times.”
Campus Life
Dr. Gail C. Christopher says students are the future of the country at the 37th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast. Photo courtesy of Maya Turnipseed
Did you know? The creek separating East and West Campus is called “Dividing Creek.” The trail that stretches through the woods on campus and around the Y gym is called the Earl S. Scott Nature Walking Trail. Scott was an AACC cross country coach.
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Looking for answers? Check TheCampusCurrent.com on Jan. 19.
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Michael Garvey, a third-year communications student, plays on the frozen creek with his service dog, Liberty. Reporting and photo by Sarah Noble
10 | Campus Current | 2018 | January
campus life
Winter Session offers classes in just 2 weeks Raquel Hamner Co-Editor Students who took twoweek classes over the Winter Session said they enrolled so they could graduate on time or get ahead in courses that they could not fit into their fall or spring schedules. Still, in an informal poll of 21 Winter Session students, a handful said they had other reasons. Caleb Schaeffer, a second-year student at AACC, is one of two students who said they took winter classes for fun. Schaeffer enrolled in two classes this winter, in ethics and massage therapy. “I need them both for my degrees, but I really like them,” he said.
Schaeffer said he is doubling up as a nursing transfer student and is working on a degree in massage therapy, adding that, to him, classes like these “feel more like play than work.” For Autumn Foster-Fields, a first-year sports management student, winter classes are required for her to play on the basketball team. To play a sport at AACC, she explained, student athletes must retain a high GPA, aside from keeping up with the credits they will need to graduate. “[Coaches] care about your academics just as much as they do your performance,” she said. “If you’re not doing well [academically] you shouldn’t be on the team,
and I understand that.” Other students took classes to prepare them for the work environment. Susan Yuksel, a second-year transfer studies student, took CPR and first aid this winter to become CPR certified because she does a lot of babysitting. “It’s better to know [CPR] just in case,” she said. “Especially around kids.” Health Professor Patricia Kuhlman taught a two-week CPR and first aid class this winter. “The students that sign up for this type of condensed session seem to have organized themselves to accommodate the work load,” she said. “Both [condensed and 15-week] learning situations can be effective.”
What’s in; what’s out? Riverhawks weigh in Sarah Noble Co-Editor
Students agree that 2017 trends will lose popularity. Photos courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
AACC students said Crocs are out for 2018, but jogger pants are a returning trend. In an informal survey of Campus Current editors and Winter Session students in January, nine out of 22 said the colorful, comfortable clogs are out. So are: overly arched eyebrows, extreme contouring, gauge piercings, velvet, Millennial pink and fanny packs. What’s in? VSCO, Vine
2, crop tops, galaxy prints, the color lavender and #metoo. “I like UGGs and I think they should stay, but Crocs have to go,” said Micah Moten, a second-year mechanical engineering student. “[Crocs] have been here for too long.” “I want UGGs to be cool for guys to wear,” said Jump Start student Aidan Siegel. One student said she wants “more political-forward trends.” “I want black to continue to be fashionable for the
off if it’s warm in your classroom. Mays suggested wearing fleece-lined leggings. “Gloves are something I cannot live without when it comes to being cold,” graphic design student Britney Keys said. “If my hands are cold, the rest of me is.” Eat healthy food. A poor diet can leave you prone to colds and flu. Exercise lightly twice a week. Avoid strenuous activities and reduce stress.
Students should wash their hands to prevent the flu. Photo by Raquel Hamner
AACC fights flu season; nurse gives health tips Mary Kane Co-Editor
It’s cold and flu season— but that doesn’t mean you have to get sick. Nurse Beth Mays, who tends to sick students in the Health Center in SUN, says rest, exercise and stress management are key to staying healthy when it’s freezing cold outside. Mays offered these tips to students hoping to prevent winter illnesses:
Wash your hands as often as possible, and always after touching your nose, eyes or mouth, which can spread germs quickly and easily. Avoid people who are already sick. Just being near someone who is sneezing or blowing a nose puts you at risk. Go to the doctor if you don’t feel well. If you’re not sick yet, get a flu shot. Stay warm. Bundle up when you go outside. Dress in layers so you can peel one
CPR is one of many classes that students may take in the Winter Session. Photo by Raquel Hamner
women in charge of #metoo,” first-year history major Kimberly Mae said. According to the online pop-culture blog PopSugar, upcoming movies like “Oceans 8” and “A Wrinkle in Time,” with dominating female roles, will be trendy in 2018. Others said they are excited to say good-bye to 2017’s top trends: “[Fidget spinners] are so annoying,” said first-year nursing student Love Alana. “I can’t stand listening to them in class.”
January | 2018 | Campus Current | 11
Performing Arts Dept. to showcase students Sarah Noble Co-Editor AACC’s Performing Arts Department will present shows featuring dance, theater and opera this spring. “I like that we have performing arts at AACC,” said Rae Supko, a second-year EMT major. “I think it’s a great opportunity for students to express themselves.” Dance Auditions for the May “Spring Migration” performance will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 23, in CADE 103. Judges will evaluate students on technique, performance quality, musicality and uniformity. “[Uniformity] is really important because it isn’t a one-person team,” said Dance Director Lynda Fitzgerald. “It’s a company. We work together as a team.” This spring, the company
will visit the American College Dance Association Conference at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. In March, international choreographer Carol Dilley will guest choreograph a routine for the spring performance. Later this spring, dancers will perform some of those pieces at a local elementary school. “We get the kids up and moving with us, and it is so much fun,” Fitzgerald said. Theater The Theatre at AACC is recruiting students for a production team to work on a student-written play it will perform at the Capital Fringe Festival this summer. The 13th annual festival— which showcases experimental theater—will be in July in Washington, D.C. AACC students will perform student writer Jonas Pallaro-Sonneborn’s play,
“Dragon Hunting Support Group.” The Theatre at AACC will hold auditions in February for performers and is looking for directors, stage managers, and set, costume, lighting, sound and prop designers. This is “an uncommon opportunity for budding theater artists,” said Sean Urbantke, assistant professor of theater for the Performing Arts Department. In addition, theater students will take half-day trips to four-year universities to learn about the performing arts programs at Georgetown University, Catholic University of America, American University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Washington College. Opera Opera AACC is preparing to tour Madrid for a week in March. Singers are already re-
Entertainment
AACC students rehearse a dance for an upcoming performance. Photo by Brandon Hamilton hearsing the numbers that they will perform at several historic churches and theaters there. The opera company will tour art museums during the trip. “I get to sing solos in
another country, and it is my first time leaving the country,” said Will Kuethe, president of the Opera AACC club. Events and shows celebrating the 15th anniversary of the opera company will continue this spring.
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12 | Campus Current | 2018 | January
Sports
Men’s Bball: New year, new mindset for 2018 Vincent Moreland Co-Editor AACC Men’s Basketball is off to a rough start this season. But according to guard Damir Mahmutagic, it’s a “new year, new season” for the Riverhawks. “We’re going through our trials and tribulations right now but we’re still pushing and playing hard,” said Mahmutagic. “We got to trust each and every one of our players in order to look past how the first part of the season went. We need to play as a family.” Second-year guard Miles Dobson said his team is doing “pretty good” and is ready
to continue the season. “We care about the game and we want to win,” said Dobson. “We have to work on small things like rebounding and transition defense. We play together. We stay together. And we play good team defense.” Forward Clint Smith said he believes in a “new year, new mindset” mentality. “We got to start winning ball games,” said Smith. “We can shoot the ball pretty well. We got effort but we got to have effort through all 40 minutes regardless if we win or lose. We got some good players. We can definitely play together. We just have to trust each other
through all 40 minutes.” Despite the record, head coach Joe Snowden said his team is playing with effort. “Because we’re so young, regardless of the record, they’re participating, they’re playing hard,” said Snowden. “Second half, we have to improve on rebounding, better man-to-man defense, and they got to start trusting each other a little bit more. We really have been shooting the ball great. They shoot threes well. They set up each other well. Offensively they’re there as [far as] growth. Defensively not yet.” The Riverhawks have an away game on Jan. 17 and they have nine games left in the regular season.
All home games result in wins for basketball Vincent Moreland Co-Editor
Jordan Graham (center), Cailin Jones (right), and Daja Burnett are practicing for a game. Photo by Brandon Hamilton
Men’s Basketball guard Terry Kenner attempts a free throw against Prince George’s Community College. Photo by Vincent Moreland
AACC Women’s Basketball has a winning record in the first half of the season. Last year, the team record was 6-16. Head coach Lionel Makell said his team is doing all right. “We need to continue to compete,” said Makell. “We need to continue to trust each other. We’re rebounding well and getting the ball up and down the court, playing good man-toman defense, good help defense. I’m very pleased with
that. [We’re] shooting pretty good as a team from the free throw line. We just got to put it all together in one game.” Makell said his players have good chemistry. “They’re a fun group to be around,” Makell said. “Lot of personalities. [They] like to be upbeat and [have] good team bonding and I’m very pleased with that.” Guard/forward Autumn Foster-Fields, who leads the team in scoring with 22.2 points per game, said her team is doing great. “We need to work on certain things,” said Foster-Fields, a first-year sports
management student. “Offense needs to be a little better but our defense is good. We need to come together as one to win more games,” she said. Guard/forward Daja Burnett said the team is doing great so far. “This is one of the [most] winning seasons that they have had so far,” said Burnett. “Our team chemistry is one of the best that I’ve ever been on. We need to work on not rushing. We do well with sharing the ball. My team cares more about others more than themselves.”
January Schedule Women’s Basketball Fri. 5 Sun. 7 Mon. 8 Wed. 10 Wed. 17 Thu. 18 Sat. 20 Wed. 24 Fri. 26 Tue. 30
Prince George's Community College Onondaga Community College Baltimore City Community College at Hagerstown Community College at Chesapeake College ASA College at Garrett College Allegany College of Maryland Harford Community College at CCBC Catonsville
Men’s Basketball 5:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.
Fri. 5 Mon. 8 Wed. 10 Wed. 17 Thu. 18 Sat. 20 Wed. 24 Fri. 26 Tue. 30
Prince George's Community College Baltimore City Community College at Hagerstown Community College at Chesapeake College ASA College at Garrett College Allegany College of Maryland Harford Community College at CCBC Catonsville
For scores and more information go to aaccathletics.com
7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.