March 2025

The award-winning newspaper of Anne Arundel Community College TheCampusCurrent.com

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March 2025

News

Campus Life

Sports

Admin has advice in case ICE comes to campus.

‘Dead Man Walking’ writer talks with opera students.

Women’s basketball team has 43-year-old player.

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Kinesiology student is new SGA president Jose Gonzalez Editor-in-Chief

college’s Leadership Challenge Program, said. “I have a really good feeling. … And A second-year kinesiol- I’m excited to pull from the ogy student is the new Stu- groups that I’m involved in dent Government Associa- and do this with everybody.” tion president.

Dales replaced secMeredith Dales, 41, won ond-year kinesiology stuagainst first-year engineer- dent Jayeim Blake, who reing student Chris Chambers signed in January halfway in the online election, which through his two-semester ended on Feb. 23. term as president. Sever“I’m pretty excited, to tell al other SGA officers reyou the truth,” Dales, who signed over winter break has been involved with the as well, citing academic or

time-management struggles.

Students elected some of their replacements during the election for executive vice president and the vice presidents of finance and outreach.

Dales said she meditates and has good coping skills that will allow her to devote herself to her job as president.

“I almost want to say it’s Continued on Page 3

Bd. of Trustees votes to raise tuition by $5 Jose Gonzalez Editor-in-Chief

AACC’s budget for fiscal year 2026 includes a $5 percredit-hour increase in tuition.

Adobe Stock photo

AACC’s Board of Trustees approved a $145.1 million operating budget on Feb. 25 that includes an increase in tuition of $5 per credit hour starting in the fall.

The fiscal year 2026 budget, which is subject to approval by the Anne Arun-

del County executive and the county council by June 15, is $6 million more than last year’s.

The tuition increase, “really that’s related to what it costs to continue to run the college,” said Vice President for Learning Resources Management Melissa Beardmore, who noted the trustees discussed “needing to have the

that could impact our operations, faculty, staff and students,” Lindsay said in a Jan. 28 email.

During Trump’s first week back in office, he signed multiple executive orders, including one aimed

President Donald Trump’s many executive orders include some that could affect diversity programs on college campuses.

Wikimedia Commons photo

Task force to monitor impact of exec orders Lily Peaper Associate Editor

AACC President Dawn Lindsay has created a task force to monitor the potential impact on the college of President Donald Trump’s many executive orders.

Vice Presidents Melissa

Beardmore and Felicia Patterson are running the Federal Compliance and Regulatory Response Team, which includes members from multiple departments on campus.

“The college must be ready for the possibility of quick, sweeping changes

Second-year kinesiology student Meredith Dales is the new Student Government Association president.

Photo courtesy of Meredith Dales

Continued on Page 3

revenue to fund the college, so the increase in tuition helps to generate revenue.

And, you know, things are costing more.”

The college gets its funding from state and county governments, and from tuition and student fees.

The $5-per-credit-hour Continued on Page 3

2 | Campus Current | 2025 | March

Editorial

Meet the Staff Editor-in-Chief Jose Gonzalez Associate Editor Lily Peaper Features Editor Waleska Cruz Daily Editor Lauren Sheesley Reporters Morgan Brown An Hoang Julissa Mendoza Robles Photographers Claire Lui Nathan Warner Graphic Designers Mattie Peri Kevin Remson Faculty Adviser Sharon O’Malley

Photographers on Page 1, top Adobe Stock Wikimedia Commons Lily Peaper X @campus_current Facebook Facebook.com/ CampusCurrentPaper Instagram @campuscurrentaacc

Contact

CampusCurrent @gmail.com

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Let’s make our voices heard Editorial Board

Throughout this country’s history, college students have been behind some of the most impactful protests.

The May 4, 1970, protest at Kent State University, which left four dead, is the most memorable example of a student-led protest. More recently, students have held Occupy Wall Street protests against economic inequality, Black Lives Matter rallies, and most recently, pro-Palestine gatherings.

While looking into these major events, however, we were shocked to find nothing about AACC students staging protests on or near campus—about anything.

Are we apathetic?

The editorial staff at Campus Current is worried that apathy—showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm or concern—is going to be the main word that describes our generation.

It feels like the days of going out of our way to make our voices heard are behind us. You are more likely to see

Letter from a leader

students post infographics to their Instagram stories than to shout about the problem in person.

We feel that performative activism—activism done to increase one’s social capital—has become the only type of activism people our age actually do. We haven’t been known to disrupt the status quo the way the students of the 1970s did.

We acknowledge that things have changed in our society in the last 50 years that might keep students feeling hesitant to speak out.

Most things we do end up online, and they never go away.

So an opinion you have been vocal about online might influence a manager to pick someone else for a position instead of you.

However, during this unprecedented time in our country’s history, we want to remind students that we do have the power to enact change in the world around us. We need to do something more than pointing out the issues on TikTok, and then going about the rest of our day.

Students can voice their opinions through protests, boycotts and social media posts. Shown, far left, Campus Current Associate Editor Lily Peaper at a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.

Photo by Lily Peaper It doesn’t have to involve a full-blown protest alongside 100 other people, however.

We can look to classic types of protesting, like sitins and walk-outs, to help us show older and younger generations that we are willing to disrupt the norm to bring about change in our society. But more subtle protests can be just as impactful.

For example, we at Campus Current have been protesting by changing where we choose to spend our money.

Some of us canceled our Washington Post subscriptions once owner Jeff Bezos canceled a planned Post editorial endorsing presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Others are boycotting specific companies like Johnson & Johnson, Jimmy John’s and Airbnb if they donated money to candidates we don’t endorse.

Remember, our generation controls the present and the future now more than ever. Let’s start acting like it.

From self-doubt to romance Waleska Cruz Features Editor

I’ve always felt love from family and friends, but I never imagined in a million years I’d experience romantic love.

I used to think I was too ugly or that my personality was too weird for anyone to want to be able to go out with me. In middle and high school, some boys would toy with my feelings to make an ex jealous or because they lost a bet with their friends.

I believed true romance was just a myth, something that only happened in movies and TV shows, and I also developed high standards for guys. I remember watching my favorite rom-com, “10 Things I Hate About You.” In the movie, Cameron has a huge crush on Bianca, and his best chance to spend time with her is by learning French and helping her out with her French class.

Like, isn’t that cute?

When I moved to Maryland from Virginia, I decided not to date anyone and focus instead on my studies. I had my friends and family, which was all I needed.

But everything changed

last semester when my adviser at Campus Current suggested a story about a student starting a new rock band.

The band, unfortunately, never got started. But my first romance did.

I interviewed the guy in charge. I’m not someone who falls for people quickly, so I didn’t catch feelings right away. We exchanged numbers after the interview for any follow-up questions, and there were some. We met in the newsroom to talk more about the story, and that’s when we started to get along.

He kept dropping by the newsroom, and we became friends. On Dec. 13, I developed feelings for him. I know the exact date because I took a silly photo of him, and the photo is time-stamped.

I realized he liked my personality. I was surprised when I felt comfortable being myself with him without feeling embarrassed. Then, at a secret Santa party a week or so later, my friend told me that he had told her and others about his feelings for me.

I called him to let him know I felt the same way.

Campus Current Features Editor Waleska Cruz met her boyfriend, first-year social work student Harry Ledford, when she interviewed him for a story.

Photo by Waleska Cruz For our first date, he took me to see “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” knowing how much I love the Sonic franchise.

We’ve been together for more than two months now.

I am so happy to be with someone who makes me comfortable and embraces the side of myself that I am embarrassed about.

He knows how to make

me smile when I’m down.

And he appreciates my brain-rot humor.

So if you’re doubting you’ll ever find a partner, don’t worry. I didn’t have a serious relationship for 21 years until I met him. You’ll find someone, too. It’ll take time, but as the saying goes, “Good things happen to those who wait.”

Campus Current | 2025 | March | 3

News

SGA has new officers after winter election Continued from Page 1

First-year engineering student Chris Chambers, who ran for SGA president, will serve as vice president of campus activities.

Photo courtesy of Chris Chambers

a superpower. It’s a super skill,” Dales said. “Meditation is a huge part of my ability to regulate my nervous system and to perform academically.”

Dales, who plans to graduate in May, added: “The time is right. It’s in alignment with my, you know, what I’m already trying to achieve. So I feel pretty confident that, of course, we’ll be able to pull this off.”

Chambers will serve as the vice president of cam-

Trustees OK $145m budget for FY 2026 Continued from Page 1

increase, which does not raise student fees, will cost full-time students taking 15 credits each semester $150 a year, according to Beardmore.

That will raise a fulltime, in-county student’s tuition, excluding lab fees, from $4,640 to $4,790 per year.

The increase in the bud-

get will help fund a new dental hygiene academic program and designate $5 million for faculty and staff raises. Much of the balance will cover rising operating costs, Beardmore explained.

Last year, the college raised tuition and fees by $2 per credit hour.

Beardmore said most students prefer having small, annual tuition increases

rather than larger hikes every couple of years.

“We’ve heard from students many times that they prefer annual increases versus going … a couple years and then doing a bigger increase in a particular year,” Beardmore said. “Appropriately, it’s certainly more equitable.”

In addition, Beardmore said an increase in enroll-

the voices being heard.”

Dales, who has a 19-yearold son, added: “Being a voice for him, he just got his high school diploma. He’s got a story of his own. And you know, being a role model for him, it doesn’t ever stop.

So why would I stop?”

Dales earned an associate degree in art from AACC in 2014 and a personal training certificate in 2018.

Dales said her professional goal is to be ”a voice of wellness across economic boundaries. That’s as a professional outside of school."

Tuition will rise by $5 next fall to cover inflationary prices and faculty salaries.

Adobe Stock photo ment will generate almost $2.8 million in additional tuition revenue for the college.

AACC reported that

10,576 students are enrolled in classes this semester, 395 more than last spring, a 3.9% increase.

a holding pattern,” according to Beardmore, who said administrators are not taking any steps to dismantle AACC’s diversity programs while they wait for guidance from the Maryland Office of The Attorney General and the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

“The Dear Colleague letter is vague,” Beardmore said. “So, you know, we think holding and waiting is the best approach for our college community.”

The newly created response team is taking inventory and assessing which departments might be affected on campus.

“Whether inside or outside of the classroom, we’re always making sure that we’re doing things in a way that’s equitable,” Patterson said. “So that will continue

to be our focus.”

The last time Lindsay formed a team like this was during the COVID-19 pandemic, Beardmore said.

Beardmore and Patterson emphasized they will watch and prepare for developments that would affect students.

“We will actively review any potential impacts of the executive orders as they come,” Patterson said. “That helps us to ensure that we’re being compliant, and also that we’re prioritizing student success.”

Beardmore acknowledged the uncertainty of the upcoming months and pledged to keep students informed.

“There is no one-sizefits-all in terms of how executive orders may impact us,” Beardmore said.

College keeps eye on Trump’s many orders Continued from Page 1

It is unclear how President Donald Trump’s executive orders might affect AACC students and programs.

Library of Congress photo

pus activities. Student Kade Diane will become executive vice president; Adrian Perez will serve as vice president of finance; and William Menjivar will be the vice president of outreach.

Dales, who lives in Annapolis, said she wants to be a voice for students as SGA president.

“I’m really hoping that … I can start collaborating [with students] because … taking this role on, I want to be a conduit of many,” Dales said. “This is not about me.

This is about how to support

at disbanding diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives in federally funded spaces.

More recently, on Feb. 14, The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights issued a Dear Colleague letter that suggests colleges that receive federal funding and fail to disband their DEI programs within 14 days of the letter will lose that funding.

AACC and its students receive approximately $18 million a year in federal grants and loans, Beardmore said.

However, Beardmore said, “That letter is not legally binding. I have no reason to believe that the funds that we talked about are going to be pulled back in 14 days.”

Still, the college is “in

4 | Campus Current | 2025 | March

News

Events feature female history Waleska Cruz Features Editor

AACC will celebrate Women’s History Month in March with a dozen events.

Every year representatives from different departments on campus create events for faculty, staff and students to celebrate the month. This year’s theme is “Amplified Moving Forward Together: the Power of Women’s Voices.”

The events range from readings from the works of influential women, to an art installation, to a lesson in haircare, to a speech about women in STEM, among others.

Computer information professor Brittany Lamma said the theme recognizes that “every woman brings a distinct and unique piece to the conversation. … So we wanted to kind of elevate [the national theme: ‘Moving Forward Together’], so

amplified and highlighting those voices. And basically saying that there’s power in women’s voices.”

Sophie Reverdy, an AACC distance learning librarian who co-chaired the planning with Lamma, said it’s important to celebrate women’s accomplishments.

“We continue to celebrate Women’s History Month because unfortunately, women and other groups or classes of people have been excluded from the documentation of history,” Reverdy, who has been in charge of Women’s History Month for seven years, said. “We want to celebrate the achievements that women have done individually and together as a class of people, and the advancements that we’ve made. And we want to make sure that the stories of women aren’t neglected or excluded from all of the different disciplines that we teach at AACC.” This will be Lamma’s first

March Events March 1-30 Exhibit: Highlighting the Diversity of Women’s Voices Truxal Library, 2nd floor

March 3-29 Exhibit: Art of Women Invitational Exhibition Mon-Thurs 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Sat-Sun 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Reception, March 12, noon Pascal Gallery

March 5 Student Panel: Women in Science, Research Experiences 4-5:30 p.m.

HLSB 314 March 7 Now What?: Staying Civically Engaged Outside of Presidential Election Years 10 a.m. to noon HLSB 100 March 8 Celebrating 10 Years of Women’s Empowerment Through

time planning Women’s History Month. She said it’s her passion that women get the representation they deserve.

the Eyes of Our Community 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

CADE, registration required

March 13 Shattering Ceilings: Women Redefining Industries, Breaking Barriers, Leading Change, and Inspiring the Future 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

CADE 219 Boldly Beautiful: Ethnic Hair Care on the Great Plains: a Documentary Screening 12:30-1:30 p.m.

HLSB 356

March 24 Brief Scenes from Paula Vogel’s Play, “How I Learned to Drive” 9:45-10:45 a.m.

HUM 112

March 25 Banned Books Conversations: Attacks on Explorations of Gender Identity 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Virtual

“Women’s voices are important, and because of my own personal experiences in my profession and in

Personal Finance for Women 12:30-1:45 p.m.

Careers 129

Truxal Library’s Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon 2:30-4 p.m.

Library Room 142 March 26 Soapbox Sisters 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

HUM 112

March 27 Community Quilt Workshop 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Location TBA

Women in Science Speaker: Dr. Tanya Tschirhart 3-4:30 p.m.

Hybrid, HLSB 314

March 31 Sister Settings: A Student Installation Inspired by Judy Chicago’s “The Dinner Party” 10 a.m.-noon HLSB 100

my career, it’s always been important to me that we continue to work like this,” Lamma said.

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www.aacc.edu/esi

Campus Current | 2025 | March | 5

News

College offers advice for responding to ICE Lily Peaper Associate Editor

AACC President Dawn Lindsay in February told faculty and staff to call the campus police if they encounter Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, officers on campus.

Echoing similar guidance from Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown,

Lindsay’s email to employees urged those working on campus to neither “resist” or “respond,” but instead “refer” to police, who will contact the college’s attorney to determine the next steps to take.

“It is important to remember that ICE is a federal law enforcement agency subject to federal law and the Constitution of the Unit-

Some students have taken it upon themselves to educate each other about immigrant rights.

Harry Ledford, a firstyear social work student, has been handing out printed cards around campus with wording in English and Spanish for students to use if they come in contact with an ICE official.

Ledford’s father, a

speech writer for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, designed the cards.

“I just want everyone to be safe,” Ledford said.

The Spanish-language side of the card reminds students that they have a right to be silent, a legal principle that guarantees individuals the right to refuse to answer questions from law enforcement or court officials.

What should students do?

ed States,” Lindsay said in the email. “And ICE officials are required to respect and abide by the constitutional rights of all students and employees.”

In turn, she wrote, “All employees should treat ICE officials politely and respectfully.”

President Donald Trump issued an executive order in January that overturned a long-standing practice designating schools, hospitals and churches as “protected” or “sensitive” spaces where federal immigration officers were not allowed to arrest migrants.

Lindsay said the college is not aware of any government plans to send immigration officers to AACC campuses.

AACC has not put out guidelines for students who encounter ICE officers, but Vice President for Learner Support Services Felicia Patterson, in a campus-wide

AACC advises faculty to notify police if immigration officials approach them on campus.

Adobe Stock photo email, encouraged students concerned about the president’s order to contact community organizations, like the American Civil Liberties Union, Casa of Maryland, Immigrant Legal Resource Center and the Anne Arundel County Office of Hispanic and Multicultural Affairs.

Lindsay encouraged faculty and staff to redirect ICE officials to a public space, like a lobby or a foyer. Immi-

gration officers and federal employees should not be allowed in non-public spaces such as private offices or classes in session, the memo said.

Faculty should not offer ICE any information about individual students or employees, Lindsay’s memo said.

AACC’s website includes a page titled, “Immigration Frequently Asked Questions.”

THURSDAY, APRIL 10

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | SUN Hawk’s Nest Room 101 5 - 6 p.m. | Online Sale via Zoom SHOP LOCAL. SHOP ONLINE.

A STUDENT BUSINESS TRADE SHOW Support AACC student entrepreneurs by shopping and learning more about their businesses. Provide important feedback to students who are concept testing to start their businesses.

Scan the QR code to register your business!

ARTISTS | BAKERY AND CATERING | BEAUTY HEALTH AND WELLNESS | TECHNOLOGY CLOTHING | AND MORE!

Visit aacc.edu/esi to learn more. @AACCESI

@aacc_esi

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6 | Campus Current | 2025 | March

Campus Life

Gen Z collects Sonny Angels Waleska Cruz Features Editor

Fun and Games

The latest must-have collectables for trend-setting college students is a tiny figurine with angel wings on its back—the Sonny Angel.

Students are collecting the miniature vinyl dolls, which are sold in blind boxes so buyers can’t choose their favorites—they get what they get.

“I think because it’s cute, it's different every time,” fourth-year hospitality student Rachel Boord said. “It just brings me a little something.”

Third-year entrepreneurship student Cameron Millar agreed.

“It makes me happy, and I think they are cute,” Millar said. “I wish they weren’t so expensive, but I love them, and it makes me happy to have ... joyful little things surrounding me.”

Japanese toy designer

Toru Soeya designed the figures as companions for working women in their 20s.

Released in 2005, the toys’ website describes them as “cute and angelic little boys” who wear various headgear and can be placed anywhere to bring a smile.

The figurines cost approximately $12 a piece.

Fans hunt down specific figures by identifying which series, like fruit, vegetable, birthday or cat life, their favorites belong to. Then they purchase blind boxes, hoping to find the style they were looking for.

“You have to, like, hunt them down to buy one, which just makes it, like, so much more exciting when you find one,” second-year graphic design student Zingray Germershausen, who has three figurines so far, said.

Some collectors focus on a specific series, like sweets or flowers, so they can showcase them in displays.

Some students collect various Sonny Angels series, including the Birthday Gift Bear series.

Photo courtesy of Rachel Boord Marisa Sherman, a counselor at AACC, said people collect items like Sonny Angels for personal and social reasons.

“Sometimes the items speak to a person, and it’s meaningful on an individual level,” Sherman said. “But people also like being part of a popular trend, especially when it’s something they see on social media.”

On TikTok, #sonnyangel has gathered more than 734 million views, showing just

Coffee

With the Current

March 4th, 9:45-11 am on The Quad Illustration by Kevin Remson

how popular these tiny naked collectibles have become.

Some students first heard of Sonny Angels through Instagram and TikTok. “As soon as I saw them on TikTok, it just interested me,” Boord said. “I was just like, ‘I need one,’ and then the addiction just never stopped.

Like, I just love them.”

But, second-year transfer studies student Izzy Martin finds them “creepy.”

“They just got, like, a

weird vibe to it,” Martin added. “It looks a little like a toy that you’d see in a horror movie that kills people. I wouldn’t be able to sleep.”

Millar explains the origin of Sonny Angels to people who find them odd.

“I usually explain why they’re naked; they’re based on cherub angels, and cherub angels wore little hats, and then nothing else,” Millar said. “And then I just tell them that they’re really cute and I think that they're adorable.”

Campus Current | 2025 | March | 7

Campus Life

Students cannot get enough of reality TV Lily Peaper Associate Editor

AACC students love to watch reality television.

Among their favorite shows are “Love Island,” “Too Hot to Handle” and “Jersey Shore.”

“It makes you remember that you’re not the weirdest person out there,” Tamaya White, a second-year visual arts student, said. “That’s reassuring for sure.”

Reality TV has been around since the late 1940s, when “Candid Camera,” created as a radio show, switched to TV and became a viewer favorite.

Fifty years later, “The Real World” followed a group of young adults who lived together in a house, where cameras captured their interactions for a few months.

More recently, AACC students said they can’t get enough of reality shows like

“The Traitors” and “Love Is Blind.”

They’re not alone. A survey by Talker Research found that the average American, age 21 and older, watches reality TV four times a week.

White said she often finds herself watching her favorite reality shows to wind down and relax.

“A lot of the miscommunications I find really funny,” Aaron Reckley, a second-year graphic design student, said. “Because it’s always one person saying something, another person taking it the wrong way, and then suddenly a full-on fight breaks out. And it’s like, ‘All I did was call you pretty.’”

This is the norm for shows like “Too Hot To Handle,” which sits at No. 4 on Nielsen’s Top 10 streamed programs in 2024.

First-year transfer studies student Alena Engel noted she loves watching women on reality TV.

“Women, I love,” Engel said. “I love them because they’re dramatic and they bring [chaos]. ... They’re always like, ‘I need to talk to you about this one girl and tell you what she did,’ blah blah blah. Or ‘The Real Housewives.’ They’re like, ‘Oh my God, that b - - - -.’”

“I think you have to go into it knowing that this is not truly reality,” communications professor Haley Draper said. “There’s still pressure to do certain things and be a certain way for ratings and for money and celebrity status.”

Engel recalled one of the most memorable scandals she witnessed on unscripted TV, during the Kylie Jenner lip-kit era, which played out on “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”

“When, like, Khloe got cheated on with, what’s her name? Jordyn Woods,” Engel added. “Kylie Jenner’s best friend. … That was crazy.”

First-year psychology student Dylan Shriner catches up on episodes of the reality TV show “The Traitors” between classes.

Photo by Lily Peaper The season 16 finale of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” showed this particular drama occurring and amassed the most viewers the show had in three years.

“I’ve seen some, argu-

check out TheCampusCurrent.com

Fun and Games

Looking for answers?

ably, very outrageous relationships between two people that should not be mixing whatsoever. Or ever,” Reckley added. “And ... they’re certainly interesting dynamics. It’s funny to see.”

8 | Campus Current | 2025 | March

Campus Life

Students, law profs offer legal referrals Waleska Cruz Features Editor

Paralegal students are working in a free legal clinic on campus that helps students, faculty and community members sort out their legal problems.

Up to a dozen students volunteer at AACC’s Legal Self-Help Clinic, which is located in Careers 173 and operates on Mondays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Tuesdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“We have a ton of knowledge about all the different legal resources that are out there, everything from legal aid to Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service,” legal stud-

ies professor Lonni Summers, who runs the clinic, said.

The student volunteers help clients find resources in the community and explain the legal process, but they do not give legal advice. Summers, a lawyer, and attorneys who sometimes volunteer at the clinic, do offer advice.

Last semester, the clinic helped more than a dozen clients, Summers said.

Their legal troubles ranged from landlord-tenant disputes to domestic violence, Summers said.

“And then for some people, they may have the resources to hire a private lawyer,” Summers said. “So we’ll refer them to the private bar.

Maybe they need a family law attorney. ... Maybe a professor has some, you know, intellectual property issue, and we can make a referral to that.”

Sometimes, the volunteers make referrals to non-legal organizations.

“Oftentimes, if people have issues like making rent, they may have other issues too, right?” Summer said.

“Maybe they’re food insecure, and we can refer them to AACC’s community pantry, or, if you can’t pay bills, you’re probably having other financial issues, too. So maybe you need credit counseling. … If you don’t know where to go, like, start here, and we’ll help you figure it out.”

For those who need expert advice, the volunteers call in a supervising attorney like Summers.

Paralegal students said the hands-on learning helps prepare them for the future.

Second-year paralegal student Malina Johnston

recalled the advice she got from a lawyer who used to volunteer at the two-yearold clinic.

“He was like, ‘You guys have no idea how lucky you are to be able to interact with clients, and you’ve never even been to law school.’”

Volunteers are available on campus to file taxes for Maryland residents who make less than $67,000 a year.

Twenty-six students and other volunteers participate in the federal Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which started on Feb. 5 and will be available until April 5.

“It seemed very interesting to me, because you get to help out and learn about, like, tax returns,” Ahtziry Garcia-Diaz, a second-year business administration student who is volunteering to prepare taxes, said. “And also, that’s something that I

kind of want to do also in the future. So I thought it was a cool experience to do.”

Mark Loovis, a dual-enrolled high school student and returning volunteer, agreed, adding, “You can ... help people out because people need their taxes filed, and if you’re able to offer that skill … I think people can benefit from it.”

Accounting and personal finance professor Oksana Fisher is the program coordinator for VITA at AACC. “People think that taxes are very complicated, and sometimes they are, but generally the scenarios we see here are, you know, straightforward.” Fisher said. “It just feels good to help people and just take one thing off their

list, clear their taxes.”

According to Fisher, anyone from Maryland can come to AACC to file taxes by appointment, which can be made through vita@aacc. edu.

Maria Ines Giraldo, a retired domestic violence victim advocate, said she found through the Internal Revenue Service website that AACC offers the VITA program and is “grateful.”

“The people that are giving this service, they are so nice,” Giraldo said. “You can see the charisma of the work that they are doing because they are happy.”

The program can serve 50 clients a week. Fisher said the volunteers filed 300 returns last year.

showing their spirit.”

Preis “can’t promise” that adult-sized Snoopy T-shirts or other Peanuts-related items will come to the bookstore because “finding the vendor that gets that [Snoopy] licensing, and then being able to work with them, is really what it comes down to.”

Preis added, “I always like to keep an open mind and a keen eye to look for things that are trendy. Obviously, Snoopy is very trendy

right now so I try to keep … an eye out for those items.”

Students told Campus Current they would love to see Snoopy merch for sale on campus.

“I have tons of Snoopy plushies and shirts,” thirdyear entrepreneurship student Cameron Millar said.

“I’d love to see a Snoopy plush that’s wearing an AACC tee. That’d be so cute.”

Some said Snoopy reminds them of time spent with older relatives.

Tax prep available for campus, community Jose Gonzalez Editor-in-Chief

Students can get free help filing taxes by scheduling an appointment at vita@aacc.edu.

Photo by Jose Gonzalez

Felicia Tiumalu, a first-year transfer studies student, answers a call made to AACC’s legal self-help clinic.

Photo by Waleska Cruz

Bookstore sells Snoopy tees Julissa Mendoza Robles Reporter

Snoopy, the charming beagle Peanuts character debuted by cartoonist Charles Schulz in 1950, is beloved among students because it is iconic and reminds them of their childhood.

Last year, the AACC Bookstore began selling T-shirts for $23.99 that feature an image of Woodstock, along with the college logo and Snoopy’s Joe Cool per-

sona wearing sunglasses to disguise as a college student.

The T-shirt, however, only comes in children’s sizes, so sales are limited.

Customers are “usually kind of sad that they’re not bigger sizes but they buy them for their young kids at home,” Bookstore Operations Manager Sarah Preis said. Still, Preis added, “It’s nice to know that … somewhere we’ve got little future Riverhawks that are supporting our school and

The campus bookstore sells Snoopy T-shirts for children.

Photo by Waleska Cruz

Campus Current | 2025 | March | 9

Campus Life

Students feel impact of COVID 5 years later Jose Gonzalez Editor-in-Chief

Five years after the start of COVID-19, students still feel the effect of the pandemic.

Some AACC students said they have noticed a lingering change in social interactions, their eagerness to take in-person classes, their mental health and their friendships years after the beginning of the pandemic.

“We’re getting back to where we were originally, but there’s still a little bit of a hesitation when it comes to interacting with other people,” Thomas Ayers, a thirdyear kinesiology student, said. “Trying to make sure you keep your distance.”

Daniel Long, a second-year engineering student, agreed, adding, “I definitely think things are more disconnected.”

AACC closed its campus-

es in March 2020 and held classes online only until fall 2021. Most of today’s AACC students were in high school during the lockdown.

At the time, psychology professor Rachelle Tannenbaum recalled, students, parents and others lived in fear of catching the virus, which has killed more than 7 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

“To put it mildly, it was not good for people’s mental health,” Tannenbaum said.

“People were, even if they were not physically getting sick, understandably, they were very scared of COVID.” That was the case for first-year visual arts student John Mancia-Autry, who said he dealt with mental health issues during the lockdown.

Still, Mancia-Autry said, “I think that in the long run, it showed me that I needed help and that I got help and then ended up in a better po-

sition later because of it.”

Tannenbaum said the three semesters of online-only classes changed the way professors teach.

“It did force the college to really reconsider, ‘How do we incorporate online components into some of our courses?’” Tannenbaum said.

“In the long run, there has been some benefit to that.”

For third-year psychology student Austin Coulbourn, the increase in online classes had a positive impact.

“I know there’s some classes with full-on degrees that are strictly online at AACC,” Coulbourn said. “I definitely think there’s been an increase in quality of them and I’ve really enjoyed partaking in my online classes.”

For some, like second-year transfer studies student James Cavanaugh, the pandemic led to closer bonds with friends.

“I made a lot of friends

Five years later, some students notice changes to their social lives, mental health and classes because of the effects of COVID. Shown, former student Marquart Doty.

Campus Current archive through other friends online, like, I made a lot of friends that I didn’t know personally,” Cavanaugh said. “And then became friends with them in real life after.”

For some, like sec-

ond-year transfer studies student Jude Worth, the pandemic didn’t have much of an effect. “I don’t think there was necessarily any hard positive or negative,” Worth said.

10 | Campus Current | 2025 | March

Campus Life

Author of ‘Dead Man’ talks to Opera AACC Lauren Sheesley Daily Editor

The nun who inspired the movie “Dead Man Walking” told AACC students on Feb. 18 that the film and opera versions of her story are bringing awareness about the death penalty to the public.

In a meeting with approximately 75 students, faculty and community members, Sister Helen Prejean, who appeared on Zoom before a live audience in CADE, said the death penalty in the United States is “a secret ritual. We

don’t see it. … The art is the only way we have to bring people close to this reality.”

Prejean appeared with Jake Heggie, the composer of the opera, which AACC Opera will perform on March 13, 15 and 16 in Kauffman Theater. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the first showing of the musical production in San Francisco.

The production tells the story of Prejean’s relationship with a death row inmate as his execution date nears.

“Sister Helen has said one of the things she appreciates

about “Dead Man Walking” is that at the end of the evening [the audience has] … just witnessed an execution and all the emotional things leading up to it,” Heggie said. “And once you experience that, you’re changed forever.”

Music professor Doug Byerly, who will direct the opera, said the event was a rare opportunity for students.

“Our students ... get to talk to a living composer about a project they’re working on,” Byerly, who will direct the opera, said. “That is so rare because typically college stu-

Five creative writing students have given original poems to student sculptors to use as inspiration as they create sculptures.

In turn, the sculptors have given original pieces to the poets to interpret and write poems about.

Creative writing professor Simon Ward calls the swap an ekphrastic project.

Ekphrasis typically refers to writing—often poetry—that describes a work of art in a non-writing medium, like sculpture, painting, music or photography.

“I’m really interested to

Business majors sell rain barrels for $100 Lily Peaper Associate Editor

Business students at AACC have sold $30,000 worth of rain barrels—containers used to collect and store water that drains from rooftops and would otherwise be wasted.

Since 2009, professor Shad Ewart has run a rain barrel business with his small business management students.

“Every single aspect of the business is as if we had started a rain barrel compa-

ny outside of [school],” Ewart said.

AACC’s course catalog describes the class, BPA 120, as a chance to “examine the principles and practices involved in managing a small business.”

Ewart credits his former student Tyler Wells as the inspiration for the hands-on approach to the class.

When Wells asked Ewart what kind of small business the class was going to start, the professor replied that the lessons were only theoretical.

dents are singing Mozart or Beethoven or dead composers. They don’t get a chance to talk and listen to the guy or the woman who wrote it.”

Carolyn Parker, a

non-student singer who will appear in the show, said “just being in the presence of these two people” was her favorite part of the evening.

see how that artist is going to interpret [my poem], to see if they take the things from it that I will … because one of the really interesting things about art that I think is really important is that the intent of the artist is really not that important,” dual-enrolled high school student Tomi Brunton said. “So who knows? The poem’s out of my hands now, and maybe the sculptor will create something totally different that reveals things about [it] that I had never considered.”

Ward and ceramics professor Sara Prigodich chose five sculptors and five poets to create pieces last fall. Over

winter break, the professors sent a picture of one sculpture to each poet to interpret in writing. Likewise, they sent a poem to each sculptor to interpret using ceramic clay.

The poets and sculptors are anonymous; that is, sculptors and poets do not know which of the poets or sculptors will interpret their pieces.

“It’s interesting to see how there are two completely different mediums, writing, and then making three-dimensional work, and how they can both be really interpreted in so many different ways,” Prigodich said.

Poets, sculptors swap art for interpretation Waleska Cruz Features Editor

Sculpting student Dylan Kirkpatrick works on a piece inspired by the poem of another student, whose identity Kirkpatrick does not know.

Photo by Nathan Warner

Sister Helen Prejean, left, and Jake Heggie answered questions from students who attended an event.

Photo by Lily Peaper

“We kind of just talk about starting a business,” Ewart said. “And then he said—which I think is the greatest thing a student ever said to me—“Mr. Ewart, that’s pretty stupid.’ And I said, ‘You know what? That is pretty stupid.’”

Since then, Ewart has taught approximately 250 students the ins and outs of making the rain barrels and selling them for $100 a piece.

By comparison, Amazon sells a standard 55-gallon rain barrel for $140.

Business professor Shad Ewart accepts donations of rainwater barrels for his students to sell.

Photo by Waleska Cruz Rain and runoff collected in rain barrels typically is used to water lawns and gardens.

Ewart said the project is self-supporting. Sales by students have reaped a profit of $12,000 so far.

The college has used some of the profits to raffle off tuition and textbooks for a business class, to buy more barrels and the equipment students need to convert them to rain collectors, and refreshments for events.

Campus Current | 2025 | March | 11

Sports

Women’s bball player plays at 43 years old Lily Peaper Associate Editor

Fourth-year public relations student Jasmine Mauldin returned to the basketball court in October—after a 20-year hiatus.

Mauldin is 43.

Mauldin, a forward for the Riverhawks women’s basketball team, last played on Philadelphia’s YouthBuild Charter School’s men’s team when she was 19.

Mauldin, who wears the jersey No. 25, credits her 17-year-old son for pushing her to get back on the court.

“My son told me, ‘Mom, you always wanted to do it,’” Mauldin said. “And he put me

up to the challenge. … I put in an application to see if I would make it.”

However, she has found this season is going much differently from her previous time spent on the men’s high school team.

“It was a different time,” Mauldin said about being the only female player to ever play on the YouthBuild men’s team. “Basketball was a little different then.”

This season Mauldin has become a “big sis” figure to her teammates, according to Mauldin, who said she appreciates how welcoming all of the young women have been.

“On the court really, just seeing, you know, [Mauldin]

work hard and do what a lot of people can’t do at her age [is inspiring],” Ayannah Gorham, a second-year business student, said. “And then off the court again.”

Holly Wall, a second-year communications student, called Mauldin fun and impressive.

“You see [Mauldin] working hard,” Wall said. “It’s like you don’t have an excuse to not work hard.”

When Mauldin is not at school or on the court, she works as a cosmetologist and barber to the disabled and elderly.

“That’s my passion,” Mauldin said, reflecting on her efforts off the court.

Both of AACC’s basketball teams finished their seasons with more losses than wins.

Men’s basketball began its season with a win at Penn State York in Pennsylvania.

Still, the Riverhawks followed that game with four straight losses.

Likewise, women’s basketball went three months without winning a game until Feb. 3, when the Riverhawks beat Allegany College of Maryland 71-66.

Varsity team turns to club for this season Lily Peaper Associate Editor

AACC’s women’s basketball team switched from varsity to club status for the 2024-2025 season.

Head coach Lionel Makell said some players did not meet the Athletic Department’s requirement for grade-point averages.

“We had to go club just, you know, because of transfers and academics,” Makell said. For club status, “none

of that stuff is factored in.”

“It’s probably the most difficult decision I’ve had since I’ve been here in my 12 years,” Makell said.

A club, compared with a varsity sport, has no post-season playoffs or awards ceremonies, Makell said. The club is still playing against Division II teams, but those games do not count as wins and losses for the other squad.

The players said they hardly noticed a difference.

Mauldin said she is proud of her defensive playing and her ability to push her teammates to do their best.

“Not like your mother figure, but you know, someone that you definitely can look at as that,” Gorham, a forward, said. “You know, someone to talk to and ask [questions].”

Mauldin plans to graduate in May, and said she is unclear where her basketball journey goes from here.

“Considering my age, I won’t know if I’ll be going to another college or even playing,” Mauldin said. “But I will just for fun. I’ll try. It does the body good.”

“It was a rough season this year,” women’s basketball head coach Lionel Makell said. “Just disappointing.”

Makell said the season was rough for multiple reasons, including a switch from varsity status to club basketball and the loss of key players. (See related story below.)

Ayannah Gorham, a second-year business student, said the team faced a lot of challenges because of “not being in the gym for the first half because of remodeling [and] not having a full team because, you know, other

people are playing sports.”

The Jenkins Gymnasium closed last semester because of renovations to the gym that included a new set of bleachers that can seat 600 fans. The gym reopened before the start of the spring semester.

During renovations, both men’s and women’s teams practiced at Severn School and played their games at their opponents’ courts.

Still, the best part of the season was coaching the girls, according to Makell. He added, “all of them are standing out. I mean, they are all unique in their own way.”

Basketball ends with more losses than Ws Jose Gonzalez Editor-in-Chief Lily Peaper Associate Editor

The men’s basketball team finished with a losing season after a strong showing in a season opener against Penn State York.

Photo by Jose Gonzalez

43-year-old forward Jasmine Mauldin said she appreciates her coaches for getting her back on the basketball court.

Photo by Lily Peaper

“Initially I thought competition would have changed,” forward Ayannah Gorham, a second-year business student, said. “But that didn’t change. I think that was my biggest concern.”

Gorham said she didn’t realize that women’s basketball was a club until a month into the season.

“They play their full schedule of the same opponents that they would’ve played had they stayed varsity,” Duane Herr, AACC’s ath-

The Riverhawks women’s basketball team changed its status from varsity to club for academic reasons.

Shown, forward Aichatta Soumaoro.

Photo by Waleska Cruz letic director, said.

Herr said he expects the women’s team to make varsity status again next year.

Forward Holly Wall, a second-year communications student, said she wasn’t fazed by the switch in status.

12 | Campus Current | 2025 | March

Sports

LAX roster doubles to 32 players for season Jose Gonzalez Editor-in-Chief AACC’s men’s lacrosse team will boast 32 players this spring compared with last season’s 14.

Head coach Jeremy Ross said the increase in players will benefit the team, which includes four returners from last season.

“Most problems in lacrosse are solved when you have numbers,” Ross, who has been part of the coaching staff for five years, said.

“You can do a lot more on the

practice field. … You can do a couple more drills than you could with, you know, less players.”

Still, Ross, who has been head coach for three years, said the hardest part will be keeping tabs on the players’ academics.

Ross said the increase in players came from a massive recruitment effort last year.

“We brought a lot of guys on campus during the off season [and] during the season last year,” Ross said.

“We made it a big point to, you know, try to bring in as

many good lacrosse players as possible.”

Men’s lacrosse began the season with two games against the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School and Sussex County Community College in February.

“The goal is to be able to compete for the [National Junior College Athletic Association] Region 20 Tournament and then, you know, do well in the region,” Ross said. “And then get a bid to the [NJCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship] and continue our season throughout

the … tournament.”

Midfielder A.J. Herdt said his main focus is to win a championship title with the team.

“I think we have all the

talent we need,” Herdt, a first-year undecided student, said. “I think we have all the pieces. I think it comes down to whether or not we want it.”

onship. The team finished fifth at the NJCAA Division II Southeast District Championships.

The team will play seven tournaments this season with a roster of 10 players, including four returners.

“Every player we have has just incredible talent,” O’Donnell said. “We have a very strong team. And I think they’re going to be able to overcome anything that’s thrown at them.”

The team practices at the Golf Club at South River and Severna Park Golf Center.

Will Maddox, a first-year math student, predicted the season will go well.

“I think we got some good players,” Maddox said.

“As long as everybody stays consistent, we should be really well.”

Maddox added: “I want to go to the national tournament. … I’d like to win our division.”

Tim Brophy, a second-year transfer studies student, said he’s excited for the season to start.

“I’m glad to see a couple of new guys. … That should be a nice addition,” Brophy, a returning golfer, said. “I’m excited to get going.”

Still, Brophy added: “I think the biggest test is going to be when we go to districts [in] Tennessee.”

Golf games will be played on Mondays and Thursdays.

The season will last until May.

Golf aims to qualify for national tourney Jose Gonzalez Editor-in-Chief

AACC’s men’s golfers say they hope to qualify as a team for nationals. Shown, student golfer Jameson Haynes.

Photo by Jose Gonzalez

Men’s lacrosse starts the spring season with more than double the number of players the team had last year.

Photo by Nathan Warner

AACC men’s golf will begin the spring season on March 17 at Washington College.

Head coach Dave O’Donnell, who has been the men’s golf head coach for four years, said a main focus for the season is to qualify as a team for nationals.

“We had one player individually qualify for nationals [last year], but I’d like to go as a team this year,” O’Donnell said. “That’s our goal.”

Last spring, the Riverhawks won a second Maryland Junior College Athletic Association conference title in a row and the NJCAA Region 20 Division II champi-

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