March 2022 Issue

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

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March 2022

News

Campus Life

Sports

AACC offers a free tax prep service to students, community.

AACC celebrates Women's History Month with events.

Men's and women's basketball teams wrap up season.

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Tuition to hike by 2% in fall ’22 semester Dan Elson Editor-in-Chief

The AACC Board of Trustees voted on Feb. 22 to raise tuition by $2 per credit hour starting in the fall.

The plan to raise tuition is a part of AACC’s $125.5 million operating budget, which the trustees also approved. Last year’s budget was $120.2 million.

Budget Committee Chairman James H. Johnson

Jr. said the budget includes salary increases for faculty and technology upgrades on AACC’s three campuses.

Until last year during the pandemic, the college raised tuition by $2 to $4 every year since 2010. From 2004 to 2006, tuition went up by $2 to $3 every year until the recession.

College officials have said they chose to raise tuition incrementally each year as opposed to all at once.

Tuition covers approximately one-third of the college’s operating expenses, according to Vice President for Learning Resource Management Melissa Beardmore. The county and the state fund the rest.

Second-year transfer studies student Luke Lanham said he isn’t happy the college is raising tuition.

“It sucks because you Continued on page 3

Physician assistant program nears end Zack Buster Associate Editor

After this semester, AACC will not offer a physician assistant program.

Shutterstock photo

AACC is discontinuing its physician assistant program after this semester.

Health and Sciences Dean Elizabeth Appel said AACC has partnered with University of Maryland Baltimore to offer a physician as-

sistant program since 1996.

That partnership is ending because new rules for physician assistant programs require all of the schools involved to offer master’s degrees.

AACC, like other community colleges, cannot offer master’s degrees.

The last cohort of phy-

ter, go to www.aahealth.org.

Having vaccine and testing sites on campuses has been “a great asset to [the] campus and the community,” Crow said. “The fact that Anne Arundel Community College is so centrally located, it's helped a lot of people

The Arnold campus has stations for COVID-19 vaccines and tests, while the Arundel Mills and Glen Burnie Town Center campuses have testing sites.

Photo by Zack Buster

AACC offers vaccines on its Arnold campus Dan Elson Editor-in-Chief

Anne Arundel County offers free COVID-19 vaccines and tests on AACC’s Arnold campus.

In addition, the college has testing sites on its Arundel Mills and Glen Burnie Town Center campuses.

The campus has administered more than 77,000 shots to students, faculty, staff and the public since January 2021, according to Arlene Crow, the emergency manager for AACC’s Public Safety and Police Department.

Appointments are preferred but not required for getting the vaccine. To regis-

AACC's Board of Trustees approved a $125.5 million budget for the college for fiscal year 2023.

Shutterstock photo

Continued on page 3

sician assistant students at AACC will graduate in July, Appel said.

As part of the partnership, physician assistant students took 86 credits–of the 116 required–at AACC from professors affiliated with UMB. During the same Continued on page 3

2 | Campus Current | 2022 | March

Editorial

Meet the Staff Editor-in-Chief Dan Elson Associate Editor Zack Buster Graphic Designer Mary Kane Newsroom Manager Kaylah Rashid Photo Editor Frank Fitzgeralde Libom Photographer Graig Bracey Reporters Maggie Brown D'Angelo Williams Laniya Harris Jerryt Haley Cordell Mackall Sydney Klabnik Julia Gunn Dominic Salacki Ava Moore Lilly Roser Faculty Adviser Sharon O'Malley

Photographers on Page 1, top Shutterstock Shutterstock Frank Fitzgeralde Limbom

Twitter @campus_current Facebook Facebook.com/ CampusCurrentPaper Instagram @campuscurrentaacc

Contact 410-777-2296 CampusCurrent @gmail.com

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101 College Parkway Arnold, MD 21012

AACC reaches 60th birthday Editorial Board The 60th anniversary of AACC has come and gone and because of COVID-19, there was no proper celebration.

That doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate six decades of our college’s history and success in our hearts.

Turning 60 is a big deal and something to be proud of.

Students, graduates, faculty and staff should reflect on this moment because it’s not every day that a college gets to celebrate a milestone as big as 60 years.

So let’s show our love for our school with Riverhawk honor and rock the blue and teal with pride and joy all day every day. Let’s show our pride even with little things, like waving at each other and saying “happy 60th” when we pass people on the campus.

AACC opened in September 1961 and offered night classes at Severna Park High School. The journey began with just 270 students, 30 faculty and 48 courses offered. Twelve students were

AACC reached a milestone in 2021: its 60th birthday at a time when COVID-19 prevented in-person celebrations. Shown, the Arnold campus in 1966.

Photo courtesy of Truxal Library awarded associate degrees back in June 1963. Full-time tuition was only $300 in 1967.

Over the years, AACC opened campuses at the Glen Burnie Town Center and Arundel Mills. The college welcomed former President George W. Bush in 2005. The college has had six of its own presidents, including Dr. Dawn Lindsay, who became the sixth in 2012 and still

Letter from an editor

Mental health is top concern Laniya Harris Reporter

Taking time out of your busy day to think and try to understand what you're feeling is important at a time when life seems more stressful than usual for us students.

I know from personal experience how difficult it can be to deal with anxiety and depression while trying to keep up with all of the things that being a student can demand from you.

For going on two years as we have dealt with COVID-19, things have not been easy.

Sometimes, though, taking time to pay attention to my own mental health helps.

For example, I try to take things one step at a time. I stop for moments throughout the day to collect my thoughts or feelings.

Sometimes I take a break and don’t do anything for just a little while.

Taking things one step

at a time is the easiest way for me to stay on top of my depression. Sometimes I feel so down that getting up to go to class feels impossible, but I let myself know that if I can get up to go to the bathroom or if I just walk into the kitchen, then going to class isn’t impossible.

One step at a time.

When I feel overwhelmed, I listen to my favorite song all the way until it ends. That gives me time to collect my thoughts. It helps.

Finally, considering taking a break from school is an option.

In fact, sometimes the best way to make yourself the best student you can be is to take a break from being a student for one semester or longer. That’s what I’ve decided to do.

The most important aspect of being a student is keeping your mental health in good shape.

I hope to see you all next semester.

holds the position.

Most recently, the college opened the 175,000-squarefoot Health and Life Sciences building in August and the Clauson Center in January.

The virus is still out there and affecting everyone’s life, so we can’t throw a wild party, but we can still make new memories that we’ll keep long after graduation.

Let’s make a celebration out of showing gratitude to

all the faculty and staff who have made these 60 years possible. Let’s show gratitude to our classmates and all the former students who have enrolled at AACC since 1961.

Sixty years later, the college still has a big impact on us.

And for the 100th anniversary in 2061, let’s come back to campus, go wild, live it up and party like it’s 2021.

Laniya Harris says taking a break from school can be good for a student's mental health.

Photo by Frank Fitzgeralde Libom

Campus Current | 2022 | March | 3

News

Trustee OKs budget for fiscal year 2023 Continued from page 1

obviously have to pay more money for classes,” Lanham said. “So you have to pay more attention to how many credit hours you’re taking, because it could affect how much you’re paying.”

Third-year landscape architecture student David Phan said he’s not surprised the college is raising tuition.

“There are a lot less students enrolled on campus,” Phan said. “I guess that’s why they are increasing tuition rates.”

First-year physical therapy assistant student Mattigan Philip said she supports a tuition increase if it’s for a good cause.

“I think if it’s for a good reason … money … that we need or to teachers’ salaries, that would be for good reason,” Philip said. “But if it’s for money towards other academics, or I guess sports that don’t apply to me, then it’s not as important to me.”

The trustees also approved a capital budget to pay for construction, repairing and replacing sidewalks,

and renovation of the Dragun and Florestano buildings, which are mostly vacant since faculty and classes moved into the Health and Life Sciences building.

The capital budget proposal is for $258.9 million.

Now that the trustees approved the budget, President Dawn Lindsay will forward the proposal to the Anne Arundel County Executive, who will share it with the County Council. Finally, Gov. Larry Hogan must sign off on the state’s contribution to the college.

College ends program for PA certifications Continued from page 1

AACC's long-time partnership with University of Maryland's physician assistant program is ending.

Shutterstock photo

25-month period, they took their remaining 30 credits at UMB. Students in the program, who qualified for it only after earning their bachelor’s degrees, finished with an AACC certificate and a master’s degree from UMB. Some physician assistant students said the change will not affect their plans.

COVID-19 vaccines, tests available here Continued from page 1

get to us without having to drive out of their way to get to a place that offers the vaccinations.”

The college requires students and employees to show proof of two COVID-19 vaccinations before they can take in-person classes or work on campus. Those who opt out of the vaccine must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test each week.

Vice President for Learning Resources Management Melissa Beardmore said the college does not require booster shots.

“We follow [Centers for Disease Control] guidance,” Beardmore said. “The definition of fully vaccinated right now is two weeks after your appropriate series of

vaccines. … So we're waiting to see what CDC says about boosters going forward.”

Shots are available in Annex A on the Arnold campus on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from noon to 3 p.m.

“Especially now with [more] classes back faceto-face, for us to find a spot where there is enough room for the clinic to operate out of because we've got classes going on almost everywhere,” Crow said. “That's why we put them in Annex A because [it is] currently an unused building.”

AACC hands out and updates vaccination cards.

Appointments are not required for getting a COVID-19 test and results are available online.

COVID-19 tests are offered in Room 135 of the Ar-

Students will pay 2% more for tuition next semester after AACC's Board of Trustees approved the change.

Shutterstock photo

nold Mathematics building on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Monday’s hours are 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday is 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Testing is available at the Arundel Mills campus, Rooms 108 and 109, on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Testing is also available at the Glen Burnie campus, Rooms 211 and 212, on Tuesdays from 11 a.m to 6 p.m.

People experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are allowed in Room 135 for testing on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon.

Unvaccinated students can upload their test results to studentvax@aacc.edu on Wednesdays.

Employees should email employeevax@ aacc.edu.

“I'm kind of indifferent,” first-year student Kim Vuong said. “The facilities might change, but the teachers are still the same.”

She added: “But parking’s going to be worse” at UMB than at AACC. Shant Jarian, also in his first year, agreed.

“I’m kind of indifferent too,” said Jarian, who added that the change was not unexpected. “They did tell us

before that they're starting to transition over to completely UMB.” Cherilyn Hendrix, UMB assistant dean for physician assistant education, said she is sad to see the end of an era.

Hendrix said this semester is “kind of bittersweet” as the final students finish their time at AACC. “This program is very near and dear to my heart."

Students and employees can get COVID-19 vaccines and tests on the Arnold campus.

Shutterstock photo

4 | Campus Current | 2022 | March

News

Professor offers free support for tax forms Maggie Brown Reporter

An accounting professor is offering to fill out tax forms for free for students, faculty and staff this spring.

Mike Gavin, along with some students and other faculty, will do federal and state tax forms for anyone on campus or in the community who earned less than $58,000 in 2021 as part of an IRS-sponsored program called the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

“Taxes are difficult,” said Gavin, who said many clients are “single working people … younger people ... just starting their careers.”

VITA is a federal government program that uses IRS-certified volunteers to review clients’ tax situations and prepare returns.

This is the eighth year AACC will participate in the VITA program. Twenty-eight other organizations in Maryland also are doing free taxes.

People who are interested in using the service can make an in-person or virtual appointment to have their taxes prepared within an hour.

“The goal of the IRS is to help the public that can’t understand the tax system,” Gavin said.

About 20 students and a few staff members help

Gavin with taxes.

“They give up their Saturday mornings to come in here and do this,” Gavin said.

“I’m just so proud [of them].”

“The volunteers do not receive pay or college credit for helping out, ‘’ Gavin said.

“But they gain real-world experience to help further their education and careers.”

“I always wanted to do taxes since high school,” Ann Joby, a student volunteer and business administration student, said. “I’m really into accounting ... since professor Gavin gave me the opportunity to join this program. I [have been] thrilled.”

To make an appointment, email VITA@aacc.edu.

OSE provides passes to nearby attractions Sydney Klabnik Reporter

The Office of Student Engagement offers discounted movie tickets and free passes to Baltimore attractions, like the National Aquarium.

Shutterstock photo

Students can get discounted movie tickets and free passes to the National Aquarium and the Maryland Science Center from the Office of Student Engagement.

“We know college can be expensive,” OSE Director Amberdawn Cheatham said.

“People are working jobs … so if we can discount something, or if we can make it free, we’re always thinking of our students first.”

Students can get their passes and tickets from

Enrollment drops by 11.3% in single year Dan Elson Editor-in-Chief

The number of full-time students enrolled in AACC this semester is down 11.3% compared with last spring.

Over a five-year span, the college lost 2,671 students, according to Vice President for Learning Tanya Millner.

This semester, 7,688 students registered for classes.

As a result of declining enrollment, the college has lost $3 million plus, she said.

Millner said college may

not be a priority for some students.

“The priority may be trying to find a job [and] trying to take care of elderly loved ones or sick loved ones,” Millner said. “So, you know, oftentimes, for many students and their families college falls down on the list of priorities when there’s an emergency.”

Plus, she said, “We have a great deal of increasing competition from our fouryear private institutions and our four-year public insti-

Accounting professor Mike Gavin and his volunteers fill out tax forms for free.

Shutterstock photo

OSE’s office in Room 225 of the Student Union Building on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

OSE has a limited number of passes to the Aquarium and Science Center, so it distributes them on a firstcome, first-serve basis and asks students to return them the day after they pick them up. Weekend passes are available to students who reserve them by Wednesday.

Jeremy Long, a first-year nursing student, said a free pass to the Science Center “would entice me to ... go.”

OSE has discounted mov-

ie tickets for $8 to Bow Tie Cinemas at the Westfield Annapolis mall and $9 to Cinemark Egyptian 24 at Arundel Mills mall and to Regal Waugh Chapel in Gambrills.

Students can buy up to two tickets at a time but are limited to 10 per semester.

Cheatham noted that students must show an AACC ID and proof of enrollment in classes before picking up tickets or passes.

OSE is open to suggestions from students about other passes they would like the college to offer, Cheatham said.

tutions. The student popu- Fewer students are enrolling in community colleges lation is shrinking a bit, so nationwide. we’re fighting for the same Photo by Dan Elson students.”

Enrollment declined by be because students are un- possible,” Millner said. approximately 12% in fall willing to take online classes.

AACC students said they 2021 and 6% in fall 2020.

However, the week be- weren’t surprised over the The decline in enroll- fore the spring semester be- downward trend in commument at community colleges gan, the college cut 100-plus nity college enrollment. is a national trend, accord- face-to-face classes because “A lot of people realize ing to the National Student of underenrollment. In their that they don’t really want to Clearinghouse Research place, AACC added 44 online do school,” first-year transCenter, which said two-year sections. fer studies student Halima enrollment nationwide fell “We’re trying to offer Jama said. “[Instead] they by 14.8% since fall 2019. [in-person classes] to the want to [pursue] small busiLast fall, Millner said a best of our abilities, while nesses and things that they drop in enrollment also could keeping everyone as safe as want to do.”

Campus Current | 2022 | March | 5

News

Some still like online better

Students happy to be back D'Angelo Williams Reporter AACC students who returned to school in January said they are happy to be back on campus but are worried about catching COVID-19.

Most said they prefer to take classes in person and have enjoyed meeting their classmates and teachers for the first time in two years.

“It’s very calm here,” Charles Lovell, a first-year computer science student, said. “I quite like the atmosphere and the environment of working on a campus. It’s a bit more pleasant. And it’s less distractions compared to working at home.”

Campus closed in March 2020 because of the pandemic. Since then, it reopened in fall 2020 with all online classes except a few sections in nursing, health science, culinary and studio arts, which were on campus.

In fall 2021 the college held 16% of classes in-person and 12% in the hybrid format, which means students met on campus occasionally but studied mostly

Zack Buster Associate Editor

Although some students say they're happy to be back in classrooms, more registered for online classes rather than in-person classes this semester.

Photo by Zack Buster online. The rest of the courses were online last semester.

“I do like the experience to come on campus and socialize with all the students,” Raquel Kromer, a physical therapy student, said. “And you know, meet new people.

I like it but also I do like to feel the comfort of being in a home and taking classes online.”

Lovell agreed and said he is eager to join some clubs.

“I’m excited for the next fall semester when they have the game design or developer club back open up again,” Lovell said. “I’m quite keen

to join that as that’s my career plan [to] work for either myself or a big AAA studio working on [video] games.”

Still, he said, the campus feels empty, even though approximately 43% of class sections are face-to-face this semester.

“On one hand … I think it might be a bit nicer if there were more people around campus … more friendly faces around,” Lovell said, but added, “I’m completely fine with restricted capacity for campus as long as it keeps more people healthy.”

Some students said they learn better on campus.

and accessible education.

Named the Clauson Center, this new building for skilled trades, locatedbehind the Careers Center, on the Arnold campus. It opened in January and welcomed its first non-credit trade students.

As residents of Anne Arundel County for many years, Clauson said the couple’s personal contribution to the Center was motivated by the “need for workforce training.”

When AACC revealed that it was looking to build a skilled trades center, Clauson said, the couple wanted to play a critical role in helping this plan come to life.

Ultimately, the certifications and education that skilled trades students will leave the Clauson Center with will be valuable and that is the main goal, Clauson, who has an MBA, said.

Clauson, who has at-

tended AACC for more than 15 years, said she appreciates the opportunities the college offers to its students.

Clauson said the workforce development classes that students take in the Clauson Center will help feed Anne Arundel County employers’ needs for skilled trade workers in the field.

Every trade is a “fabric of our lives,” Clauson said.

Clauson also said, students with an education and experience in the skilled trades can find jobs anywhere around the world.

“These are good jobs," Clauson said. “These are jobs that will sustain families, that will … help people to be able to purchase their own homes and to take care of [them], to marry and to take care of kids. And I think that’s what we need in this country. We don’t necessarily need more hedge fund managers."

Local philanthropists donate to help AACC Lily Roser Reporter

Philanthropist Janet Clauson speaks at an AACC foundation event revealing the Clauson Center.

Clauson and her husband, James, donated $1 million toward its construction.

Photo courtesy of Vollie Melson

Students who chose to take in-person classes this semester said they prefer faceto-face courses over online instruction.

Yet college administrators said because of underenrollment, they cut more than 100 in-person sections a week before those classes started.

In their place, they added 44 online sections. Approximately 43% of classes this semester are either face-to-face or hybrid.

Some students said they can understand why online classes are more popular than in-person.

Bradley Zoellner, a thirdyear transfer studies student, took in-person classes last semester and opted to take online courses this semester.

“I wanted to have a job,” Zoellner said. “I felt that being able to schedule my assignments at any time of day would make it easier to work while also being a student.”

Ryan Arbogast, a second-year transfer studies student, also said he likes

making his own schedule.

“My schedule can flex more,” Arbogast said. “I have class at 8 a.m.? Well, then I can get up at 7:55.”

However, other students said they like coming to on-campus classes.

“I prefer in person,” Thomas Boxall, a first-year general studies student, said.

“I believe that it’s a higher quality of education. You lose a lot of that with online.”

Jenna Legoey, a first-year fine arts student, agreed.

“It’s easier to focus,” Legoey said. “It’s easier to engage with the teacher. I feel like I pay more attention, so I do better on tests rather than online.”

Even though those students said they prefer faceto-face classes, they said they understand why others like online courses.

“I still do see the value of online classes,” Boxall said.

“It gives people the flexibility to not necessarily have to be near the location.”

“For some people, [coming to class on campus] just isn’t doable,” said Arbogast, who commutes an hour to school.

Two Anne Arundel County philanthropists donated $1 million to help AACC build a space for skilled trades classes on the Arnold campus.

James and Janet Clauson of Hanover, Maryland regularly donate money to the college from their personal finances as well as from their charitable organization, the Clauson Family Foundation.

“Whether it is recreational or it is aspirational for someone … who wants to go on to a four-year degree,” Janet Clauson said, “the community college simply provides an incredible resource for students of all ages in [the] community.”

Clauson, a former NASA employee, said the $1 million donation will support the vitality of trade workers

6 | Campus Current | 2022 | March

Campus Life

Thrifters save cash, planet Ava Moore Reporter

Fun and Games

Yasa Mastoi, a firstyear business student, typically buys his sneakers brand-new from a store like Champs. But when he found a pair of unused Polo sneakers at Uptown Cheapskate, a thrift shop in Annapolis, for a mere $25, he changed his shopping habits for good.

“Sometimes the clothes are cheap, and I’m broke,” Mastoi said.

Uptown Cheapskate is one of the handful of thrift shops near campus that offer deals on brands that department stores sell for twice the price—or more. Students who “thrift” agreed the prices at these second-hand shops complement their bank accounts.

According to the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops, or NARTS, more than 25,000 resale, consignment and not-for-

profit shops reside in the U.S. These shops attract consumers of all economic levels, and the age range is “across the board in this industry,” Executive Director Adele Meyer said.

Thrift shopping, or thrifting, is beneficial to its customers because they save money in a sustainable way, Meyer said.

“It’s always better to recycle,” Meyer said.

Because thrifting helps save money, it could also open its consumers’ eyes to regular stores’ high pricing.

“After I had to start buying my own stuff through working,” first-year business student Luis Pena said, “I’m like, ‘Whoa, $60 for a shirt?’”

However, thrifting is not just about saving money.

It’s also about finding oneof-a-kind pieces that shoppers cannot find in full-price stores.

“I’ve found really nice pairs of jeans that are co-

Campus Current reporter Ava Moore, a communications student, says she buys most of her clothes in thrift stores like Uptown Cheapskate in Annapolis, shown.

Photo by Dana Moore incidently Levi’s,” Mikayla Borneman, a second-year English student, said. “I’m like, ‘Whoa, these are so nice and they fit well. Like wait; they’re Levi’s,’ which is kind of like a bonus point.”

A downside to thrifting, Meyer said, is “it may take more time to find what you’re looking for, but it’s a treasure hunt. You have to shop often because you never know what’s going to be in store.”

Gia Gilbert, a first-year

Did you know?

There are pull-up bars behind the Clauson Center

forensics student, has found pros and cons to thrifting, which can make it difficult to find multiple items in a single visit. But it might be good for the environment that shoppers aren’t finding as much so what they buy doesn’t go to waste, she said.

As with any type of shopping, thrifters always have a favorite piece.

Gilbert said her favorite thrift-store find was a $15 Ugg purse that would have cost $200 at a department

store. For Borneman, it’s the vintage Levi’s she finds that are $10, compared with the going price of $200. And for Meyer, it’s a $50 designer red blouse with white polka dots, which would have been $400 new.

When thrifting, luck plays a large role in a bargain-hunters’ finds.

“I don’t really look for brands,” Pena said. “I just kind of go for whatever catches my eye and is my size.”

Campus Current | 2022 | March | 7

Campus Life

Friends start at club events Dominic Salacki Reporter After four semesters of limited in-person interactions with classmates because of the pandemic, AACC students are beginning to make friends on campus as the college transitions into a new sense of normal.

Some students said joining clubs, chatting with classmates and approaching others on campus is helping them find people with common interests.

“It’s definitely much better than it was when everything was all online because now, we’re here in person and it’s so much easier to talk to people and make friends,” Student Government Association President Ben Nussbaumer, a third-year general education student, said.

The college is offering more than 40% of its class sections on campus this semester, and more student

clubs are hosting in-person events than in the fall.

Tommie Parker, a second-year undecided student, said students he has met so far are eager to make friends.

“I’ve noticed that, with COVID and the lockdown, people are very open to making friends easily, but they’re not as open to making that first initial conversation,” Parker said. “I’ve noticed that clubs are the best way to meet people and get connected.”

First-year psychology student Amber Bartlett said she struggled to make friends in high school after moving to Maryland from Georgia for her senior year.

“I didn’t know anybody [at Arundel High School], so I joined a bunch of clubs and that’s where I found my friends,” Bartlett said. “I did photography, so the artsy kids [were in] my group.”

According to Nussbaumer, "Students prefer in-person events.”

Friends Caleb Lewis, left, and Tommie Parker met through a campus club sponsored by their church.

Photo by Dominic Salacki Abigail Billovits-Hayes, SGA’s vice president of public relations, agreed.

“Coming to events definitely helps, at least, to talk to someone even if you only see them for that one event,” Billovits-Hayes, a second-year marketing and advertising student, said. “At least you’re getting out of your house and saying words to people that aren’t your pet or your parents.”

Nussbaumer said if students feel comfortable get-

ting outside of their homes, they should come to campus.

“Being on campus is a really big part of college life … even if you’re not actively making new friends [but still making] small talk [with others],” Nussbaumer said. “I think it’s important for people to get out and socialize.”

Caleb Lewis, a third-year business administration student, said he and Parker met and became friends last year through their church, which sponsors the AACC chapter

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Lewis and Parker agreed that being friendly to others is one way to make friends on campus.

“Speak up to people because if you’re quiet, you can’t just wait for somebody to come over to you and speak,” Lewis said. “Sometimes you have to initiate it.”

He added: “Something my father says is, ‘If you want friends, you have to show yourself friendly.’”

8 | Campus Current | 2022 | March

Campus life

SUN building gets new roof Dan Elson Editor-in-Chief The Student Union building will get a new roof over the next few months.

The college will spend roughly $780,000 to replace the 20-year-old roof, according to Chet Lawrence, a project manager in facilities, planning and construction. “[Roofs] just deteriorate over time,” Lawrence said.

“It’s just like in your house or anything and if you don’t

replace it before it fails, then you’re going to have water getting in so we tend to replace these things.”

He added, “That’s a reasonable price. It’s really based on the square footage and total scope of work. Some brickwork [and] sheet metal around the edges needs to be replaced. [It also] depends on the size of the building.”

During construction, the dining area inside the Student Union will close, but the Hawk’s Nest Grill & Deli will

Nine electric vehicle charging stations are in campus parking lots.

Photo by Frank Fitzgeralde Libom

AACC is replacing the Student Union building's 20-year-old roof this semester.

Photo by Dan Elson remain open, Lawrence said.

AACC has hired a roofing contractor to replace the roof by the end of June.

Parking on Ring Road will close during construction.

Third-year nursing stu-

dent Faith Campbell said a new roof seems like a safety feature.

“So, it’d be [great] to ensure safety of the students and then make sure there’s nothing getting in that

shouldn’t be [in],” Campbell said.

Second-year biology student Tiffany Bixler agreed.

“I don’t have to worry about [the roof] caving in,” Bixler said.

Dan Elson Editor-in-Chief

have electric vehicles, and that’s what we’re here to do, to provide customer support to people for their needs. So we try to do it for all the faculty, staff and students.”

Gregory said the college installed the charging stations about eight to nine years ago.

An average electric vehicle takes up to eight hours to fully charge. Drivers pay $1 per hour to use the charging stations, which only accept credit cards.

Out of one charge, Gregory said, some electric cars can operate for 500 miles.

He said charging an electric car and putting gas in a

vehicle is a similar process.

Instead of pumping gas into the car, the driver plugs it into a charging station.

Gregory said it’s important for drivers to choose electric cars over gas. “[We] absolutely [need to] work away from fossil fuels,” Gregory said. “Just because of the sustainability and also the impact to the environment. We can’t continue with fossil fuels.

There’s going to have to be a transition.”

The college has a subscription with SemaConnect, which owns the stations.

AACC pays $240 a year for each station.

EV drivers can charge cars while in classes Students and employees who drive electric vehicles can charge them at Annex B, the Careers Center and Parking Lot M near the Health and Life Sciences building.

AACC offers nine electric car charging stations on the Arnold campus.

Larry Gregory, director of facilities maintenance and operations, said more electric vehicles are on campus compared to 2020.

“I think it’s good for us,” Gregory said. “It provides service. There are definitely individuals out there that

Coach: Slow, steady keys to get in shape Dan Elson Editor-in-Chief An adjunct health professor said in February the best way to get in shape is to exercise consistently.

Susan Noble, who is also the head coach for women’s cross country, also recommended that beginners start with small, achievable fitness goals.

“It doesn’t really matter so much what you’re doing right away,” Noble said. “It’s showing up. You’re not going to get fit by coming to the gym or doing something

once in a while. You need to start making it a habit. You want to make it feel worse on days that you don’t go than on the days that you do go.”

Even working out for just 10 minutes has benefits, Noble said.

“Commit to coming into the gym for 10 to 15 minutes three times a week,” Noble said. “Start [small]; don’t say, ‘I’m going to come in here five days a week and I’m going to work out for an hour’ because you can’t go from zero to an hour. [Commit] to something small and

manageable.”

Students can work out in the Jenkins Gymnasium Mondays and Wednesdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Second-year business major Gabriel Da Rocha works out twice a week.

He targets the upper body on the first and the lower half the next day.

Noble said the frequency of workouts depends on the individual’s fitness goals.

“It depends what your

First-year psychology student Austin Smith works out in Jenkins Gymnasium.

Photo by Dan Elson goals are for basic cardio fitness,” Noble said. “Just to maintain good mental health and keep your heart healthy … 20 minutes a day of moderate exercise is what is recommended.”

First-year nursing student Savannah Davidson said she runs two to four times a week for four to five miles.

Plus, she said she stretches before she runs.

Noble said it’s also important to work out regularly.

Da Rocha agreed.

“I had to tell myself I paid for this commitment,” Da Rocha said. “It kind of gave me a reason to keep going [to a gym] to make the most of my money.”

Campus Current | 2022 | March | 9

Campus life

Students’ art helps seniors Dominic Salacki Reporter

Seven student artists will build a personalized structure for an Edgewater senior center as part of a new sculpture class.

The Outdoor Public Art course, or ART 292, started Feb. 7 with a meeting between the students and professor Wilfredo Valladares to discuss ideas for a sculpture for the front of the South County Senior Center. This semester’s students will start the project and the fall semester cohort will finish it, said Valladares, who also advises the student Sculpture Club.

“What is important is that students are collaborating in experiential learning,” Valladares said. “That is something that is very important, in terms of learning, because the students are actually implementing techniques and processes in the real field.”

Art students from prior semesters created metal sculptures, which are located on the parking lot side of the Humanities building.

According to Rob Muir, one of a number of “perpetual students” who frequently enroll in art classes, this new course had two components: collaboration among students from concept to installation, and interactions with clients, which helps them learn about the business of selling art.

“If you intend to sell your sculptures to a community, a town or a county, you have to know how to do that,” Muir said. “Who do you talk to?

What information do you need? What information do you give? That type of thing.”

Muir’s classmate and fellow perpetual student Rosalie Dunn proposed this art collaboration between AACC and Anne Arundel County.

Her husband attends classes at the South County Senior Center.

“How about a project that we can all work on, whether we get our hands into it, or we have ideas?” Dunn said.

“Can we somehow anchor this time and space [at the senior center], where we’ve been going through COVID? [A project] that anchors that, and we can do it, but some-

Professor Wilfredo Valladares, shown at his desk in the sculpture studio, is working with students to create a piece for the South County Senior Center.

Photo by Dominic Salacki thing that also includes the individuals' histories.”

According to Dunn, the senior center’s patrons include some World War II veterans.

The sculpture the students create will answer questions like: “What things brought us to this point?”

Dunn said. “And something that also includes an element of hope for the future, that the future will be even better.”

She added: “We could incorporate all this into some kind of sculpture because

Couples love working together on campus Zack Buster Associate Editor

Couples on campus who work together said they love working with their partners.

Married English professors Candice Hill and Tim May work next door to each other in the Humanities building.

“I really like working with Tim because he has great ideas and great energy,” said Hill, who married May in 2017. “It is what made me notice him before we were together.”

May agreed. “[It’s] awesome,” May said. “Candice is just ridiculously good at what we do.

That spark and excitement and manic energy translates to our classes.”

Another couple, English professors Suzanne Spoor and Steve Canaday, said they like helping each other at work.

“Working with my partner is fun because we get to share funny stories during the day,” Spoor said. “We also get to talk about books and teaching ideas, and solve problems together.”

Hill and May also said they like collaborating at work.

“We get to bounce ideas off of each other all the time,” Hill said. “I always have someone to talk through problems or challenges or projects with.”

May agreed, saying he enjoys “tossing ideas back and forth” with her at work.

Two first-year business students, Amanda Spence and Ashton Fulton, said they commute together to school.

Fulton and Spence also run a small business together doing odd-jobs for homeowners.

“We’re like, together 24/7,” Spence said.

They also said they try

to balance all the parts of their lives.

“We’re still learning how to balance it,” Spence said.

“Balancing a full-time job and school work … it’s really hard … talking about it.

Trying to stay on track and be on the same page really helps us a lot.”

Hill and May also said one of the drawbacks of working together is trying to find that work-life balance at home with each other.

“The downside is that we both bring work home and have to try really hard to switch off” from work mode, Hill said.

Spoor said the opposite can happen, too.

“The only drawback is that if we were annoyed with each other at home, we don’t get a break at work,” Spoor said.

May and Hill also said they try to one-up each oth-

there are many ways to contribute, and we have a lot of talent and creativity.”

Dunn said she noticed that the senior center has the space for a sculpture, so she discussed her idea with the facility’s director.

“The director of the senior center said, ‘Fine,’ so then I spoke to [Valladares], and he took off with it, and that's how [this collaboration between AACC and the surrounding county] began,” Dunn said.

Dunn retired from the National Institutes of Health

in 2006 and has been a perpetual student at AACC ever since.

“I love being a perpetual student,” Dunn said. “Perpetual means forever.”

Classmate Elaine Weiner-Reed said working on the project with other student artists is exciting.

“As you get older, people become invisible,” perpetual student Weiner-Reed said. “Beneath the aging masks that we wear, there are vital lives that still matter and should not be ignored.”

Married English professors Candice Hill and Tim May celebrate their anniversary by taking a hike in Maine.

Photo courtesy of Candice Hill er constantly.

“There’s always a competition about how classes go, what we’re teaching, what question we’re thinking about and reading, even how we read things and what we

should read,” May said.

Hill agreed.

“We’re always challenging each other to try new things, read new research, and test out new approaches in the classroom,” Hill said.

10 | Campus Current | 2022 | March

Campus life

Graduating students donate nursing attire Dan Elson Editor-in-Chief

Graduating nursing students can donate their uniforms to incoming classmates to help the next group save money.

Nursing students wear white uniform shirts, blue pants and white leather shoes in their classes and labs.

“It’s so nice to be able to see the students on the other end wanting to take care of those incoming students just by doing that small do-

nation,” nursing professor Denise Lyons said.

Lyons said past nursing students can donate their uniforms by dropping them in a collection bin in Room 270 of the Health and Life Sciences building.

Graduates have been donating their used uniforms, which cost between $17 and $35 per piece, for the last few years, Lyons said.

First-year nursing student Cady Bilyeu said she appreciates the donation system.

“It’s already a really ex-

pensive program,” Bilyeu said. “So adding uniforms to it just adds to the cost and it adds up quickly.”

But first-year nursing student Brianna Shankster said she bought her uniform.

“I don’t mind having a fresh pair,” Shankster said.

“So I wasn’t opposed to buying them.”

Lyons said she reserves the donated uniforms for students who have a financial need.

“It’s not really a free for all,” Lyons said. “I really go through and tell somebody if

they’re in need, financially, for individuals who maybe are single moms, or they’re not getting as much financial aid as possible, that we go

ahead and we let them have these uniforms. So it’s on a selective basis that I try to do this for the students that are in need.”

this year from faculty members in different departments that wanted to organize events,” she said. The result, Reverdy said, is that “I’m looking forward to an opportunity … to see faculty and students and community members that may not typically engage with each other come together in conversation.”

English professor Shelley DeBlasis, Reverdy’s cochair, agreed that March is a month to bring up challenging conversations and get

more educated about and aware of women’s issues.

Because of COVID-19, all of the events will be online except an exhibit in Truxal Library called “Connections, Community and Change.”

Reverdy said she is most excited about a monthlong Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, which will give participants access to Wikipedia training tutorials so they can publish more information about

women’s history on the site.

DeBlasis said she is looking forward to an event called Soapbox Sisters that invites students to read stories by and about women through history.

First-year information systems student Patrick Carroll said he wears a KN95 mask for the most protection and because wearing it does not make his glasses fog up.

But replacing those masks can get expensive, he said.

“Because they’re not the ones you can keep forever,” Caroll said, “you got to buy new ones. You got to throw [them] away like a disposable, but other than that, I think they’re cool."

First-year pre-medical student Naija Parker said she prefers to wear a fabric mask.

“The [disposable] masks are harder to breathe and

[the fabric] is easier to [inhale],” Parker said.

In addition, Parker said, “The cotton mask, it gets stuck on my nose ring."

She said she likes to wear a mask that is washable.

Jenkins said it’s important to wash a fabric mask frequently, especially if students wear the masks in classrooms where they are in close contact with others. “[You can] throw [it] in a washing machine on hot water and [in the] dryer and hand wash it,” Jenkins said.

Still, Jenkins said, ”What’s nice about the KN95 and or the [disposable] mask is you [just] can throw it away.”

First-year nutrition sci-

AACC to host WHM events Lilly Roser Reporter

Anne Arundel Community College will celebrate Women’s History Month in March with virtual events.

Every year, AACC holds events for the campus to celebrate women’s history.

This year’s events will come from departments across campus, according to librarian Sophie Reverdy, cochair of this year’s Women’s History Month observation.

"We had a lot of energy

Comfort determines choice of face mask Cordell Mackall Reporter

AACC students said they choose their face masks based on how comfortable they feel.

Students have three basic masks to choose from: cloth, disposable and KN95.

KN95 masks, which the Centers for Disease Control recommends for indoor use, offer five-layer protection.

Stephanie Jenkins, a Health and Wellness Center nurse, said the KN95 mask is the best one and the cloth mask is the least effective.

Campus officials recommend that students and employees wear the KN95 mask, but do not require it.

Nursing students wear uniforms to class and can donate them to newer classmates when they graduate.

Photo by Dan Elson

Nurse Stephanie Jenkins wears a KN95 mask, the kind that the college recommends.

Photo by Cordell Mackall ence student Merna Shaalan, on the other hand, wears disposable masks.

“I wear makeup sometimes when I’m going out

and [the cotton mask] just [gets] a lot of germs on it,” Shaalan said. “So I feel like it broke my skin out and it never used to break out.”

Campus Current | 2022 | March | 11

Campus Life

Colleges vary their policies Zack Buster Associate Editor

Two of the 16 community colleges in Maryland require COVID-19 vaccines for students and faculty.

College of Southern Maryland and Montgomery College require that all faculty and students be vaccinated in order to attend in-person classes.

To learn more about AACC's COVID-19 policies, visit the website at

www.aacc.edu/riverhawks-reunite/ AACC and Prince George’s Community College require proof of vaccination or a negative test result submitted weekly.

Most of the colleges require students in some health fields to be vaccinated.

Montgomery College

also requires boosters for college employees.

In a memo to employees, Montgomery College Interim President Charlene M. Dukes said employees are required to “get a booster shot as soon as possible.”

However, most community colleges do not require vaccinations to attend inperson classes. These colleges require mask use and encourage vaccinations.

In a letter from the interim president of Frederick Community College on Feb. 7, Thomas H. Powell

strongly advocated for vaccinations but stopped short of requiring them of students and employees.

“I encourage all faculty, staff and students to get vaccinated as soon as possible,” Powell said. “The data appears to be very clear. The best protection against COVID-19 and its variants is the vaccine.”

Of all the colleges that

Montgomery College is one of two Maryland community colleges that require COVID-19 vaccines for all students and faculty.

Photo by Frank Fitzgaralde Libom

encourage vaccinations, some of them are considering making them a requirement. In a student

update, Baltimore City Community College President Debra L. McCurdy said the school is one of them.

“We are reviewing a vaccine requirement for faculty, staff and students,” McCurdy said.

12 | Campus Current | 2022 | March

Sports

Bball squads play tourney

Athletic teams wrap up Dan Elson Editor-in-Chief Jerryt Haley Reporter Even though the Riverhawks basketball teams failed to take home trophies from the NJCAA Region 20 Division III tournament, one coach called them “winners.”

Men’s basketball head coach Joe Snowden said he enjoyed coaching his team this season.

“They’re winners,” he said of the players. “So I have no regrets at all.”

The men’s team finished the regular season with nine wins and 12 losses. The women’s team finished the year with two wins and 17 losses.

“The season was good,” Snowden said. “ We had a lot of freshmen. We only had four sophomores. So yes, I thought it was a good season.”

Second-year transfer studies student Jamar Young, a forward, agreed.

“I think [the] team [did] pretty good this year,’’ Young said. “We all [played] and [learned] together.”

Still Snowden said the team underperformed this year.

“Yes, I would say that we could have had a better record,” Snowden said. “Yes, we underperformed [and] we should’ve had a better record.”

Second-year physical therapy student Michael

Dan Elson Editor-in-Chief

The Riverhawks beat the Westmoreland County Community College Wolfpack 98-55 on Feb. 20.

Photo by Frank Fitzgeralde Libom Cantrell, a guard, agreed. “[I] think [we] slightly underperformed,” Cantrell said. This season was Cantrell’s last.

Snowden said his goal for next year is to get the team motivated.

The women’s basketball team finished the year off with six players on the roster.

Women’s head basket-

Esports team starts season Zack Buster Associate Editor

AACC’s new athletic esports team lost every match so far in its first season, but the players improved with each tournament, according to the coach.

“Yeah, I’m crazy proud of them,” coach Conway Johnson said. “They’ve gone from … total strangers to being able to swing at [teams from fouryear schools] in just a few weeks. That’s incredible.”

Johnson said the gamers, who so far have competed in tournaments playing the video game Rocket League, are making great progress in a

ball coach Lionel Makell said the players gave it their all this season. “[I] love their energy,” Makell said. “Every day, they come to fight regardless of if we are down 10, if we’re down 50, they come to fight and leave everything on the floor. And that’s the character they have, and what they were made of.”

Riverhawks men’s basketball made it to the NJCAA Region 20 Division III championship game in Jenkins Gymnasium in February but lost 80-71 to Prince George’s Community College.

Women’s basketball also played in the tournament, but the team lost its first game Saturday to Butler County Community College, 68-59.

Men's basketball head coach Joe Snowden said his team struggled with rebounds.

“We didn’t get those loose balls,” Snowden said.

“We didn't get those rebounds that we needed. Key rebounds played a part in this game.”

The Riverhawks never led in the game. PGCC’s largest lead of the game was 11 points.

Second-year transfer studies student Jamar Young, a forward, scored 15 points with 5 rebounds and 5 assists. He played 37 minutes.

First-year criminal justice student Kanari Smith, a guard, said the team didn’t come together at the end of the game.

“We just were supposed to bear together and lock in,” Smith said. “We should have come together and had a game plan for defense but PG

came on top unfortunately.”

More than 200 fans attended the game.

The day before, the women’s team lost in the semi-final round.

Women’s head basketball coach Lionel Makell said he is proud of the team’s performance in the playoffs, despite the loss. “[As] long as they give everything they have, that's what's important,” Makell said. “And that's what we've been teaching, character and everything else.”

Second-year transfer studies student Sydney Woodland, a guard, led the team with 19 points. She had 11 rebounds and two assists.

Makell said the team “played as one [and] we moved the ball [throughout the game].”

Woodland said the team played a good game.

“I think we just got overwhelmed a little bit,” Woodland said. “We focused on one player and forgot about the outside shooters, but overall I feel like that we played one of our best games of the season.”

Woodland, who plans to graduate in May, played in her final game for the Riverhawks on Saturday.

“I had a good experience here academically and through athletics,” Woodland said. “And over the season as a whole. I feel like we came a long way.

league full of tough teams.

For its first-ever tournament on Feb. 2, a Riverhawks team of four Rocket League players competed against the University of North America in a 45-minute virtual tournament.

Despite the loss, Johnson AACC esports gamers practice League of Legends to prepare for their upcoming said the team got better with matches. each of the three rounds.

Photo by Frank Fitzgeralde Libom “9-0 in the first game,” Johnson said. “7-0 in the “That’s a big deal,” John- just three hours before the Johnson said, “just being second. … We were able to son said. “We’re talking game, CU canceled. able to reach out and let turn around and make it 2-3 SSL-level players. SSL is …

Johnson said CU prob- people know there's a proin Game 3.” the top 2 to 5% [of players].” ably forfeited because the gram.”

Johnson said the team, The Wednesday after team didn't have enough Reporter Jerryt Haley which only practiced to- that first tournament, the es- players. contributed to this article. gether two times before the ports team was scheduled to “I think the biggest difFor a full esports roundtournament, was up against play one of Catholic Univer- ficulty for us has just been up, visit www.thecampuscurskilled, four-year players. sity’s two teams. However, that word-of-mouth thing,” rent.com.