Campus Current November 1st Issue

The Independent Student Newspaper of Anne Arundel Community College November 2016

w w w. t h e c a m p u s c u r r e n t . c o m

Preview Women’s Cross Country wins a fifth straight regional title to advance to nationals, Page 11.

Preview Whistleblower Edward Snowden was a student at AACC, and now he’s on the big screen, Page 6.

Students favor Clinton Campus and county polls show voters will break with tradition and vote for a Democrat for president this year.

James Whitley Reporter AACC students said they will vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton as the next president of the United States.

In an informal poll of 20 students in October, nine told Campus Current they will vote for Clinton; three said they support Republican Donald Trump; and eight said they are undecided.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

AACC sophomore and Clinton supporter Robert

Westbrook said he doesn’t trust Trump because he “resembles a dictator.”

But Trump supporters on campus said they will vote for him because of his economic proposals and emphasis on national security.

Piper Lewis, a junior political science major, said Trump puts national security at the top of the list of issues that he will take care of as president.

The eight undecided student voters said the candidates have not properly addressed the issues.

“None of the candidates share my views,”

Nazem Mahmood, a political science major, said.

Josh Henry, president of the Student Political Association, stressed the importance of registering to vote—and voting.

“It is critical to get people to consider and look into all candidates,” said Henry. “Not only focus on the president, but to be informed and vote for other public offices.”

Like AACC students, Anne Arundel County voters plan to vote for Clinton, according to a survey by the AACC Center for the Study of Local Issues.

In a survey of 533 county residents, 40 percent said they plan to vote for Clinton, while 34 percent chose Trump. The remaining 26 percent of voters will vote for other

candidates, or they are undecided or do not plan to vote.

The last Democratic nominee Anne Arundel County voted for was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

The design phase will begin next year if the funding comes through.

The 2016 Facilities Master Plan includes shortterm projects such as demolishing the swimming pool and the Schwartz building, which officials have said are underutilized.

That will make room for the

Health Science & Biology building, which also was a focal point of the last master plan in 2011.

The building will remedy the shortage of space on campus for science programs and also the lack of labs around campus,

Master plan to change campus layout in 2018 Jesse Johnson Associate Editor

The gazebo in the Quad is possibly on its way out.

Photo by Zach Tennant

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton regins on campus over opponent Donald Trump.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

AACC is preparing for a new Health Science & Biology building and other renovations around campus as the college waits for the state to fund the projects.

Construction could begin as soon as July 2018.

Gen ed requisites under review

Continued on Page 3

Faculty will consider a proposal on Nov. 3 that could make 2 English comp courses the norm.

Cody Colston Editor-In-Chief AACC students will have to take two English composition courses to earn an associate’s degree starting in 2017 if the college adopts a proposal to change the requirements for gener-

al education courses.

Existing rules allow students to enroll in a single comp course—English 121—or to take both English 111 and 112 to fulfill their general education requirements. The new rules would nix the single-course option.

In addition, the proposal calls for a change to the health and wellness requirement. Instead of taking one health general education course to fulfill the requirement, students could instead choose to take relevant classes within their areas of study to meet it.

“Writing and composition is so important for student success, for any program they’re in,” Interim Associate Vice President for Learning and Academic Affairs Dr. Claire Smith said.

“We felt that this would Continued on Page 3

Professor Scott Cooper works on the gen ed proposal.

Photo by Cody Colston

2 | Campus current | 2016 | November

Editorial

Meet the Campus Current Staff Editor-In-Chief

Cody Colston Associate Editor

Jesse Johnson Advertising & Public Relations Manager

Adam Hertz

Graphic Designer and Photo Editor

Britney Pieraldi Digital Editor

Piper Lewis Campus Life Editor

Mary McKiel

Entertainment Editor

Khadean Coombs Club News Editor

Tony Petro Sports Editor

Megan Ladabouche Reporters

Brad Dress Ashley Feeny Gabriella Flores Trevor Gardner Rickey Sain Elizabeth Spearman James Whitley Photographers

Matt Faircloth Judi Handel Zach Tennant Gianella Quintana Social Media

Lauren Hartman Grace Koehne Elizabeth Spearman Adviser

Sharon O’Malley

On campus you’re bound to find your sense of self, personality We all went through high school with people who may have been a little out of the ordinary with their approach to being social. They may have sat at a different lunch table, worn different clothes, shown their love for things that were out of the mainstream; the list can go on. But with those differences comes the separation into cliques. After you move on from high school, the cliques seem to vanish, as does the mentality that being “cool” actually means something.

We at Campus Current believe the years you spend at a college are a testament to finding who you really are. As you walk around our campus, you’ll find people engaging in activities that might be deemed socially awkward, but that doesn’t matter. We take exception to the glances filled with malice and to speaking ill of those who do not conform to your view of the world.

Now that you’re out

of high school and more on your own, maybe you’ve noticed that your social status does not mean anything to anyone but yourself. So you can step out of your social bubble and go shape who you will be for the rest of your life.

Originality is key to impressing the people around you, right? Some people would rather take the easy way out and latch onto others’ ideas and claim them as their own, such as how you present yourself or your speech. Others, however, embrace their originality and individuality. We like that.

If your style is a little off the beaten path, we say: Own it. If you would like to wear a dress with tennis shoes, or socks with sandals, own it. If the way you say a phrase or a joke is funny, own it. Own everything about yourself, even the parts you perceive badly. That’s one of the easiest ways to become a

Current Perspective

Students gather with friends in the Student Union building to play the fantasy-inspired card game, Magic: The Gathering.

Photo by Jesse Johnson well-rounded person.

Own whatever unique characteristic you possess. We absolutely cannot stress this enough. It may look wrong to people who don’t understand your own way of thinking, but it doesn’t take away from who you really are, or who

New voter: ‘It’s my right’ Jessica Lease Guest Columnist

I am 19 years old and a sophomore at AACC. This year’s election will be my first time voting.

I am going to vote because I have the right to vote.

I am a strong believer in using that right because of the amount of people who fought for us to have it.

Many people think that their one vote will not have a great impact and it “doesn’t matter,” but if everyone thought that, then the candidates would only be chosen by the elite.

For the presidential debate, I obviously look at the national issues we have.

I always rate the issues I feel most strongly about and find the candidate who shares my views the most.

If this were not a presidential election year, I would still vote for the local candidates. I think it is just as important because those nominees are the people who affect my daily life.

you’re trying to be in life.

You will encounter those sideways glances in every stage of life from those who only see things from the narrow road they walk. What matters is that you trek through those crossroads as you reach your destinations in life.

Contact Us Campus Current Anne Arundel Community College Humanities 206 101 College Parkway Arnold, MD 21012

Phone: 410-777-2510 410-777-2296

www.thecampuscurrent.com campuscurrent@gmail.com

First Time voter Jessica Lease relaxes in the quad.

Photo by Jesse Johnson Many people forget that the state and local candidates, such as governors, are the ones who create the laws, funding and policies that affect us daily.

I usually follow the candidates online and the debates on TV. It is actually pretty easy to find credible information online. The candidates, both local and national, have campaign websites that I find very informative and helpful.

It is important for oth-

er students to pay attention to the campaign. Doing research and paying attention to the campaign can help them choose the candidate who supports their views.

The media, parents, friends and others can put an opinion in your head of a candidate who does not support your views.

Still, I will vote for the candidate who does support my views.

Lease is a sophomore transfer studies major.

Advertising Adam Hertz 410-777-2803 campuscurrentadverts @gmail.com Twitter @campus_current Facebook Facebook.com/ CampusCurrentPaper Instagram campuscurrentaacc

November | 2016 | campus current | 3

News

Campus gets new look Continued from page 1

according to Melissa Beardmore, vice president for learning resources management. The campus has 18 labs.

The building will boast four floors, a first for any building on campus. Rather than expanding the building and raising construction costs, it is better to build up and avoid displacing a parking lot or creating a need for a parking garage, Beardmore said.

However, the plan sacrifices the tennis courts to make space for parking at the building. The decision to raze the tennis courts stemmed from the lack of

funding to refurbish them.

“We either need to invest in them, or turn them into something else,” Beardmore said.

The Health Science & Biology building will be the first new academic space on the campus since the CALT building opened in 2001.

Beardmore said the Florestano building, which houses the nursing and health science programs, is better suited for offices and classrooms than labs. Math classes and offices from the Johnson building, which the master plan also would remove, will move to Florestano.

The master plan also calls for new student re-

sources, including learning environments where students can socialize and work on assignments.

“They’re technology heavy,” Beardmore said.

“They will be like the spaces in the library where students can plug in, collaborate and do hands-on activities.”

Half of the funding for the 2016 master plan will come from Anne Arundel County, which has approved its share. For the design phase to begin, the state must match the county’s contribution.

The cost of the proposed additions and renovations will be approximately $227 million.

The state requires the

have the most impact on the majority of our students.”

The new requirements would be in place only for incoming students.

The Academic Forum, a group of faculty, administration and staff, will vote on the proposal on Nov. 3.

The English curriculum would undergo fundamental changes if the proposal passes. English 111, 112 and 121 would no longer exist in their current forms.

AACC polls community Tony Petro Club News Editor

Anne Arundel County residents are as concerned about the rising cost of college tuition as they are about the nation’s ability to confront terrorism, an October survey by AACC’s Center for the Study of Local Issues revealed.

In the survey of 553 Anne Arundel County residents, 58 percent said they worry about the price of a college education. The same number ranked terrorism as their biggest worry.

CSLI Director Dr. Dan Nataf said the finding about tuition “has extra importance in the community college world, but coming from this survey I am impressed that college tuition was such a high concern.”

“Looking at the survey, I tend to highlight the rising drug and crime con-

cern,” Nataf said. “Residents feel crime and drugs to be the most important problem in the last couple years.”

Survey respondents ranked runaway development as the most-important problem for the county, followed by the use and sale of illegal drugs; traffic congestions and transportation; and the economy.

Suliman Amarkhal, a freshman engineering student, agreed that crime and drugs are county-wide concerns, but ranked the cost of education as a priority.

“As a student, I have to pay a lot for college,” Suliman said. “Crime doesn’t affect me personally as much, but if that many people in our county feel crime is that big of an issue, then I don’t feel safe if crime is rising.”

Nataf said a question about which bathrooms

college to create a new master plan every 10 years, and to reassess those plans every five years.

“Once this plan is is-

sued, this is our guide for the next five years,” Beardmore said. “We lived the 2011 master plan, and now we’re living this one.”

Forum to vote on gen ed Continued from page 1

Students will have to take two English comp classes if AACC passes a proposal to change gen ed.

Photo by Zach Tennant

The master plan calls for student learning enviroments like this in the coming year.

Photo provided by Melissa Beardmore

transgender people may use in public schools was “very polarizing” in the survey.

Poll participants were split evenly between supporting students’ use of the bathroom that matches the gender that the students identify with.

“The numbers show a real division in the participants’ level of agreement,” Nataf said. “Should the Board of Education treat transgender people based on the gender they identify with and not their birth gender? It’s a wedge issue.”

Another divisive issue involves Gov. Larry Hogan’s decision to require public schools to wait until after Labor Day to open in the fall. Fifty-six percent of participants agreed with starting school after Labor Day, while 15 percent did not.

“I brought this idea into the survey a few years

Between 75 and 80 “English is so importpercent of students already ant,” she said. “You can take two English comp be whatever you need to classes instead of just one, be, but if you can’t articuaccording to Dr. Steve Can- late yourself while writing aday, chair of the English a letter … I’ve seen emails and Comfrom people, m u n i c a - “Writing and composi- where you’re tions De- tion is so important for like, ‘Uhhh.’” partment.

Howstudent success.”

S t u ever, SGA — Claire Smith dent GovPresident ernment AsNick Nadeau objected, saysociation Vice President ing students who qualify for Francheska Salazar said English 121 should be reshe supports the proposed quired to take only a single changes. composition course.

Dr. Dan Nataf surveys Anne Arundel County on local and national issues.

Photo by Britney Pieraldi ago and the results have continued to rise in the ‘completely agree’ category,” Nataf said.

County residents also said they favor building another bridge to the Eastern Shore. In the survey, 44 percent said they want an additional bridge across the Chesapeake Bay, while 15 percent opposed the idea.

“These opinions could be based on the respon-

dents’ feelings toward alleviating traffic on Route 50,” Nataf said. “In Truth, I should have worded this question differently. I wanted to know if participants want a completely new bridge or another span added to the Bay Bridge.”

The Center for the Study of Local Issues conducts a survey of Anne Arundel County residents twice a year, in March and October.

4 | Campus current | 2016 | November

Campus Life

College community comes out Mary McKiel Campus Life Editor

AACC recognized National Coming Out Week with a week-long series of talks on campus.

Talks ranged from topics of sexual health to the need for LGBT allies. A total of 11 talks were planned.

Two events were cancelled.

Dr. Richard Otten, coordinator of the week’s activities, said scheduled presenters

fell ill and activists expected to speak had to tend to other commitments related to the election season.

AACC alumna Patricia Smiley talked about her experience as a transgender lesbian and the impact her transition has had on her relationships with family and friends.

“You have to be living as your identified gender for at least one year,” she told the audience. “You need letters

AACC has celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month for eight years.

Photo provided by Office of Student Engagement

from two therapists, confirming you know what you are doing, and then it’s about $40,000 [for procedures.]”

Gene Kelly, a diversity and social justice consultant, gave two presentations during the week, touching on the need for allies in the LGBT community and how society creates the concept of gender.

“I came out in 1999, but it took me about five or six years to realize that I was

white,” Kelly said, noting that LGBT women and minorities are more prone to jeers and criticism than white males.

“It was very in-depth to have that personal experience,” said a student who attended Kelly’s presentation and asked to remain anonymous. “I do think it definitely helped my class have a better, personal view of someone’s coming-out experience.”

The speakers encouraged students to accept ev-

eryone as equals, and to donate to local organizations that support the LGBT cause.

Brad Dress Reporter

feel welcome and to showcase the talent of local Hispanics like sculptor and painter Sergio Alvarez.

“It’s good to have it [Hispanic Heritage Month] and to disseminate [Hispanic culture] more,” Alvarez said.

Established as a weeklong celebration in 1968 and expanded to encompass 30 days in 1988, His-

panic Heritage Month takes place between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15.

“Personally [my goal], since I’m Hispanic, is that people know we are here,” Rosalies Toledo Ramirez, chair of the Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, said.

AACC has celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month for eight years.

Dr. Gene Kelly speaks at Coming Out Week.

Photo by Mary McKiel

AACC brings together local Hispanic culture AACC celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with more than 10 events all across campus between September and October.

The Hispanic Heritage Month Committee organized the events to engage in Hispanic culture, to make Hispanic students

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 10

ts, duc o r p trade Unique fair gifts e v i t a n food and alter 0 t h an 3 supporting more s. developing countrie

G l i a v b i ng M o l G ark e h a C n l g l t a e for Sm

Big Ch an ge

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Dining Hall Arnold Campus

The Child Development Center at AACC Did You Know?

Anne Arundel County’s premier preschool and child care center is open to all county residents. Our professional staff will nurture your child and provide a rich learning environment.

We Proudly Boast:

• Staff with early education degrees.

• Convenient location on the Arnold campus.

• State-approved core curriculum.

• A nationally accredited program.

• Service to the community since 1977.

Year-round preschool and child care for children 2 to 5 years old, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Full- and part-time schedules are available.

Evening Program Too!

Our evening drop-in program offers care for preregistered children ages 2 to 10 from 5 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, August through May. For information contact LaVette Curtis at lvcurtis@aacc.edu.

410-777-2450 | www.aacc.edu/CDC

Notice of Nondiscrimination: AACC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, Title IX, ADA Title 504 compliant institution. Call Disability Support Services, 410-777-2306 or Maryland Relay 711, 72 hours in advance to request most accommodations. Requests for sign language interpreters, alternative format books or assistive technology require 30 days’ notice. For information on AACC’s compliance and complaints concerning sexual assault, sexual misconduct, discrimination or harassment, contact the federal compliance officer and Title IX coordinator at 410-777-1239, complianceofficer@aacc.edu or Maryland Relay 711.

November | 2016 | campus current | 5

Campus Life

Students flock to drag queens Gabriella Flores Reporter

AACC’s Gay-Straight Alliance hosted Drag-APalooza, the campus’s first drag show, on Oct. 21 at the Kauffman theatre to benefit The Trevor Project.

The Trevor Project is a leading organization in youth suicide prevention.

The project travels around to college campuses in order to spread awareness.

The drag queens performed on stage and interacted with the audience members by dancing and

taking pictures with them.

“This is the first time we’ve ever done a drag show on campus,” Nick Nadeau, SGA president and attendee, said. “To have it the week after Coming Out Week is good at showing that we’re going in the right direction; it shows everybody is more open to different things.”

“Going out to bars, people are hypercritical,” performer Sarabesque said.

“But here, it was welcoming. Everyone felt appreciated.”

“I think that people

A drag queen poses on stage during a performance in Kauffman theater for The Trevor Project.

Photo by Gianella Quintana can feel safe here. I think the drag show let people from different sexual orientations come together to understand each other bet-

ter,” freshman Joe Foughty said. “Understanding other people is necessary for everyone to move forward together rather than continue

to discriminate against one another.”

The show raised an estimated $1,200 and had 120 people attend.

THE DRAG QUEENS SHOW OFF FOR THE CROWD! The performers gather in Kauffman theater and pose with students to raise awareness and money for The Trevor Project.

Photos by Gianella Quintana

6 | Campus current | 2016 | November

Entertainment

Movie traces journey of famous former student Jesse Johnson Associate Editor

Former AACC student Edward Snowden is the subject of filmmaker Oliver Stone’s thrilling new drama, Snowden.

Snowden, who attended AACC for several years starting in 1999, captured headlines in 2013 for being a whistleblower, a person who reveals wrongdoing by the government or another organization to the public.

The film takes place across 2004 to 2013, chronicling the period of Snowden’s life from the time he began working for the U.S. government until he famously exposed the National Security Agency, where he worked as a government contractor, for electronic spying on Americans. Shortly after, he won asylum and currently lives in Russia.

Stone not only captured Snowden’s struggle to understand the government’s true agenda, but also revealed little-known details of his personal life,

including his diagnosis of epilepsy and his discharge from the Army Reserve because of injury.

The film also covered Snowden’s time in Mary-

land after he came home from a work assignment in Tokyo, but it did not mention anything about AACC. When news broke out about Snowden, national media outlets began calling the college for information about his time here.

Assistant Director of Public Relations Laurie Farrell said the college can confirm Snowden attended AACC but because of a federal privacy act, cannot disclose any other information.

Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt perfectly portrayed Snowden’s naive and mysterious nature.

The film also features a large ensemble cast, including actors Nicholas Cage and Scott Eastwood, who is the son of actor Clint Eastwood.

The movie can be pre-ordered on Amazon for delivery when it is available.

Snowden phones home

Campus Current Associate Editor Jesse Johnson talks with Edward Snowden via Skype.

Photo by Cody Colston Whistleblower Edward Snowden said the makers of his namesake movie got most of the details of his story right.

Campus Current Associate Editor Jesse Johnson spoke to Snowden via Skype during a question-and-answer session after the exiled former government contractor delivered a keynote speech at the National College Media Convention in Washington, hosted by Associated Collegiate Press.

Magic show features surprises Khadean Coombs Entertainment Editor

AACC hosted magician Kid Ace on Oct. 19 as a part of Paranormal Week on campus.

Ace, born David Boyd, began his magic act as a child.

“I started off acting when I was 12,” Boyd said.

“My theater teacher showed me my first magic trick. I fell in love with it. I got the magic bug.”

Ace began his campus set with a classic: making live doves disappear, reappear and multiply, while blasting rapper Chris Brown’s “Ayo” as his entrance music.

Following the doves, Ace shook hands with audience members.

Then he shocked the audience with his next trick, which involved a volunteer who chose a paper with the name of a drink on it. When the volunteer put the paper back into Ace’s bag, the magician poured a clear, full bottle of water into an empty wine glass.

However, the water turned into red wine.

Magician Kid Ace wows AACC students with magic tricks and a disappearing act.

Photo courtesy of Kid Ace “When this man turned water into wine, I had to stand up and take a breath,” sophomore Morgan Hawkins said. “He’s Jesus.”

More routine magic

followed, including card tricks and a disappearing act. The most impressive of these tricks was making a dollar bill appear in the center of an uncut orange.

Prior to his final act,

Ace gave an audience member a white board with a fraction written on it.

The magician displayed four books, and had an audience member choose two of them. Then he asked another attendee to narrow it down to one book. The student flipped to a random page and chose a word from it: direction.

Ace asked the audience member with the white board to flip it over and display the fraction, which was “58/2.” At Ace’s request, the student with the book turned to page 58 in a dictionary and looked at the 2nd word: direction. The audience was impressed and shocked.

Sophomore Steve Foster called the show “amazing, fantastic and mind blowing,” while sophomore Mari Polvino described it as “unique.”

Ace has performed for Madonna, Bill Nye the Science Guy and other celebrities. He regularly performs on college campuses all across the country.

He performed at AACC at the invitation of the Campus Activities Board.

Snowden spoke to aspiring journalists about how far the government will go to protect its citizens, but also asked who will protect them from government malfeasance.

Snowden, a former AACC student, smiled when he heard the moderator had selected Johnson to ask the last question of the hour-and-a-half-long session.

“I hope the pizza at the cafeteria has gotten better,” he quipped.

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November | 2016 | campus current | 7

8 | Campus current | 2016 | November

Club News

SGA asks for revisions Tony Petro Club News Editor

The Student Government Association met and approved the Ren Club’s consitution on Oct. 24.

Photo by Zach Tennant

The Nest props up AACC clubs Tony Petro Club News Editor

Student clubs have a new online tool to help them manage their organizations.

The Nest, which the Office of Student Engagement introduced last semester, is one accessible location for all of AACC’s student organizations.

Steve Kreider, program coordinator for the Office of Student Engagement, said The Nest makes running the organizations easier for student leaders and faculty advisers because it centralizes membership information, forms and records for each club.

Kreider said the tool helps club presidents “learn valuable leadership skills.”

The Nest became fully operational at the beginning of the fall semester.

Six new student organizations started up over the last year: The Riverwhips Auto Club, E-Quest, International Student Association, Student Stage Combat Association, Young Life College and the Student Political Association.

“One great thing about The Nest is that any information on any student organization you need is there,” said Joshua Henry, president of the Student Political Association. “A description of SPA, our consti-

The Student Government Association approved a new club’s constitution in October a week after it rejected it because of a policy allowing the group to remove officers who are inactive.

SGA members said the policy the club presented during the first meeting was unclear. Officers of the Renaissance Club for Enlightenment and Personal Growth—or Ren Club—re-

vised the provision to define what an inactive member is.

The new student organization plans to help members set personal goals and teach others how to set and achieve their own objectives.

“We wanted more concrete definitions of inactivity,” SGA Vice President Francheska Salazar said.

“There needs to be no ambiguity so everyone involved in the club knows what they are getting into.”

SGA Non-Traditional Student Liaison Jacob Mur-

The Student Political Association meets every Thursday at 12 p.m. in CRSC 256.

Photo by Britney Pieraldi tution, our board members, and dates for our events and fundraisers are all there.”

Henry founded SPA halfway through the 2016 spring semester. Henry struggled to find students to fill all the board member

positions, but with the upcoming presidential election in November, SPA’s membership has grown to 17.

“Fortunately, at the beginning of this semester we finally filled the position of vice president,” Henry

Campus charity recruits help Grace Koehne Reporter

Members of the AACC chapter of Habitat for Humanity will volunteer during spring break building houses for families in need in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Ten AACC students will be able to make the trip from March 13 to 19. The volunteers must be AACC students in good academic standing.

The cost of the trip is $200, including airfare, transportation, housing, meals and activities.

“A flight to anywhere in the country can easily be more than $200, so I think $200 for the whole

trip is a pretty good deal,” Fabiola Navichoque, an AACC student, said.

phy agreed. “We wanted to make sure nothing was vague,” he said.

Not many clubs have a process for removing officers. SGA President Nick Nadeau said the SGA has not rejected any other constitutions since he has been president.

The Ren Club’s revision defined an inactive member as someone who misses three succesive meetings and is unreachable by the club officers and faculty adviser. The member can then be removed.

Students who attended can register on The Nest at nest.aacc.edu until all

Students gather during the charity trip last year.

Photo courtesy of Office of Student Engagement

spots have been filled.

Students who volunteered last year in a community near Seattle said it changed their lives and made them appreciate what they have.

“The downfall of AACC is that it can be hard to make friends because there isn’t much campus life, but through Habitat for Humanity I’ve met so many people and made great friendships,” said Emily Dreszer, who went on last year’s Habitat trip and is leading this spring’s event.

Students who are unable to make the trip, can donate materials to Habitat ReStore. Locations can be found online at www.habitat.org/restore.

said. “Claire Haas is our new VP and she has done an excellent job.”

Information on other student organizations is on The Nest at nest.aacc.edu, or as Kreider calls it, “The easiest URL to remember.”

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November | 2016 | campus current | 9

News

Novelist draws blood at AACC Brad Dress Reporter

The author of the young adult novel “Of Better Blood” told AACC students in October that labeling the disabled and others is a “dangerous” practice.

Novelist Susan Moger, who spoke on campus as part of the Writers Reading @ AACC program, said the story of a young relative with polio inspired her to write the book.

“Of Better Blood” follows a polio-stricken teenage girl in the 1920s fighting to stop a horrific eugenics movement in New England.

Eugenics is the science of improving the human population through controlled breeding in an effort to make it more likely that newborns will have certain desirable characteristics.

As Moger researched eugenics while writing the book, she discovered that Hitler used it as the basis of his treatment of the Jews during World War II. The 73-year-old, fist-time novelist said eugenics started in the U.S. as a philosophy for promoting reproduction of desirable birth traits.

“I wanted people to be aware of using labels, and the danger of it,” Moger

Passing the GED test is an equivalent to earning a high school diploma.

Photo by Megan Ladabouche

Former AACC faculty member Susan Moger has toured the East Coast since July.

Photo by Mary McKiel said. “I wanted people to see a connection between what happened in the 20s and their own lives right now.”

“Of Better Blood” garnered high reviews and is available in 220 university and public libraries around

the world. The book is available on Amazon Kindle.

Moger plans to write two more novels similar to “Of Better Blood.”

Since July, Moger has toured the East Coast, reading excerpts from her book and explaining the process

Megan Ladabouche Sports Editor

Special Populations Sandra Jones.

Jones said she is proud of the graduates.

College praises grads AACC’s School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development recognized 101 students during the GED Graduation and Student Recognition 2016 ceremony in October.

The General Education Development exam is a group of four tests in English, math, science and social studies.

Students who pass the GED test earn the equivalent to a high school diploma.

Platform guests included Program Manager for Basic Skills Rena Burkowsky, keynote speaker Lynne Edwards and Assistant Dean for Continuing Professional Education and

Officer gets top award Brad Dress Reporter

An AACC public safety officer won the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce Safety Officer of the Year award in September.

The chamber cited Officer Keith Cochran for performance and dedication to the department.

Supervising officers nominated Cochran for the award.

“I felt fortunate enough to be selected to represent all of the officers and staff

on campus,” Cochran said about the award. “I hope to continue my employment in the department, and to continue to provide support.”

The chamber bestows the award annually, and recognizes departments ranging from the Coast Guard to small police departments.

Cochran received a plaque and certificates signed by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the General Assembly, the Anne Arundel County executive and other elected officials.

behind writing it. The Edgewater resident has taught creative writing courses at AACC in the past.

“It was great to be on campus, talking about my book,” Moger said after her presentation. “I really loved the opportunity to be here.”

Cochran has served at the AACC police department since July 2012 and has won other awards.

Cochran worked for the federal government for 12 years before joining AACC’s Police Department.

His former jobs were with intelligence branches and civilian police forces, where he said he enjoyed serving the community and interacting with people in a personal and professional way.

“There are tons of people on this campus that I know day in and day out

Tershia Richardson described how she passed her GED test after dropping out of high school in her last days of 12th “It took a lot of discipline. grade.

It took a lot of commitment “It took a lot and courage.” of disci— Tershia Richardson pline,” she told “We are all very proud an audience of graduates of you and we know you will and family members. “It continue learning whether took a lot of commitment through higher education, and courage.” job skills or training,” Jones With two “babies who said. “And we know that we keep me on my toes,” Richwill be able to continue to ardson said she wanted to celebrate your many future do better. successes as a result.”

In addition to this After congratulating year’s graduating class, the students, Jones invited nearly 2,750 students have three graduates to the stage passed the GED test since to share their stories of suc- July 1998 after attending cess. classes at AACC.

Officer Keith Cochran worked in the federal government for 12 years prior to working at AACC. Photo by Cody Colston are working very hard,” Cochran said. “I feel very fortunate I was able to represent our department. Our department, I believe, is the

one that is worthy of the recognition.”

Cochran, 45, lives in Pasadena, Maryland, with his wife and children.

10 | Campus current | 2016 | November

Sports

Athletes critique state of non-tradtional track Megan Ladabouche James Whitley Sports Editor and Reporter

AACC athletes said in October they want a traditional, all-weather track around the Siegert Field.

AACC’s cross country, soccer and lacrosse athletes told Campus Current they would like the college to replace the mundane, concrete ring around the field with a modern, synthetic Tartan track, which would give runners the support they need to avoid future leg injuries.

“You can definitely feel a difference” when running on a synthetic track versus a concrete one, AACC Women’s Cross Country runner

Sidney Hinkle, a sophomore, said. “I would go to my high school’s track and run there because I prefer it over the community college’s track.”

Materials like polyurethane and rubber in Tartan tracks create the bouncy push-back most runners are accustomed to.

“I can’t really call AACC’s track a track because it’s pretty much pavement, concrete; it really doesn’t have that bounce to it,” Hinkle said.

Director of Athletics Duane Herr said the athletic department will not be adding a track team to the list of sports offered at AACC. Women’s Cross Coun-

Men ready for b-ball season James Whitley Reporter

The AACC Riverhawks Men’s Basketball head coach described last year’s losing season as a learning process.

“I had a lot of freshmen; it was a big learning curve for them,” coach Joe Snowden told Campus Current in October.

Last year’s team included two sophomores and eight freshmen. Snowden said he expects the returning sophomores to step up.

“I have Marcus Dentley, a returning sophomore, who was a regional player [last season] and Larry Stevenson who is a really good

player,” Snowden said. “I have two guys that are willing and ready to step up and have a good season this year.”

Dentley averaged a team high of 19.4 points per game last season, followed

by Stevenson with 12.5.

“As a team, we just want to win more,” Dentley said. “We want to come together as a family, basically just win as much as possible and get closer while doing it. We definitely have more experience this year.

We have more returning players. We’re just trying to give more advice to the new guys.”

One of Snowden’s goals this season is to “play

try coach Jim Griffiths said it would be nice to have a Tartan track but agreed it is not a priority because the school does not have a track team.

“Since we don’t have a track team, it’s hard,” Griffiths said. “[Tartan tracks] are expensive.”

Griffiths also said the existing track does not have a negative effect on his runners. He said they run on concrete all the time.

However, Hinkle said running on a Tartan track is better for the runners when it comes to training.

“A lot of girls on the team said it really doesn’t help their legs; it doesn’t give any kind of bounce back,” Hinkle said.

Student-athletes critiqued the concrete track around Siegert Field.

Photo by Gianella Quintana The concrete track does not cause any injuries for runners but over time it can be hard on their legs, Hinkle added.

AACC Women’s Soc-

The college’s athletic department in October released the AACC Front Row app, a place for students to get live updates about AACC sports.

According to Sports Information Specialist Zachary Malone, the Front Row app connects to the AACC athletics’ website via the Presto network.

Malone said the app is

also capable of connecting to the athletic department’s social media, so the user can view live stats of each home game from the department’s Twitter account.

While Presto created the app, Malone specified which features would be useful for students.

“The app, it’s so user-friendly, it’s so easy to use and it’s pretty sleek looking, so it’s hopefully getting out there,” Malone said.

The app lets students

5K finds home on campus Megan Ladabouche Sports Editor

The men’s baseketball team gets ready for the new season.

Photo by Matt Faircloth hard-nose, hardcore defense, win more games than we did last year” and have fun along the way.

AACC Men’s Basketball ended the 2015-2016 season with five wins and 24 losses.

Riverhawks welcome new app Megan Ladabouche Sports Editor

cer player Alexis McArdle agreed with Hinkle. “It’s causing more shin splints,” she said. “It would better for our team if we had a better track.”

pick their favorite sports [the app] but I didn’t realand receive notifications of ly look into it. I saw it on news and stats updates. the [AACC] athletic website “This generation loves though,” Larry Stevenson, technology,” AACC Men’s a sophomore and player on Soccer head coach Nick the men’s basketball team Cosentisaid. no said. u“The app, it’s so user-friend- dentsS tcan “ A n y time you ly, it’s so easy to use and download incorit’s pretty sleek looking.” the AACC porate F r o n t — Zachary Malone technolRow app ogy; it from the becomes a social thing.” application store on their “I haven’t gotten it cellphone or mobile device.

AACC will host its second road race of the school year on Nov. 23 on the Siegert Field.

The 28th annual Turkey Trot is open to students, faculty and members of the community.

The college was the site for another race in October, the sixth annual Al Cantello Jr. Memorial Run. “Al’s Run” traditionally was on Kent Island. This is the first year the race was at the college.

The annual memorial run honors Cantello, who died in a boating accident on July 18, 2010.

The Al Cantello Jr. Scholarship Fund organizes the memorial run annually, raising money for student-athlete scholarships.

The scholarship fund has rewarded students with more than $75,000.

According to Karen Cantello O’Kane, Cantello’s sister, nearly 150 community members ran in this year’s 5K. To register for the Nov. 23 5K Turkey Trot and One-Mile Jaunt, visit www. aacc.edu/healthfitness/turkeytrot.cfm.

November | 2016 | campus current | 11

Sports

Women’s team looks forward James Whitley Reporter

The Women’s Basketball team prepares for the season ahead.

Photo by Britney Pieraldi lete,” he said. “She is going to rally the troops.”

According to Herr, Makell, along with Wallace,

ur

B ig I dea ?

h t 7

ition W h a t t e ’s p m Co

Megan Ladabouche Sports Editor

Yo

al Big Id u n ea An

AACC Women’s Basketball head coach Lionel Makell said last year’s 5-19 season was a learning experience.

“I thought we had a pretty good season for what we had,” Makell said. “We played Montgomery [College], who is normally the front runner in the conference. We had them up through three and a half quarters. We had six girls [playing in that game] and they ran out of steam. But it is what it is.”

After their first three scrimmages of this semester, Makell said he and the players are optimistic heading into the season.

“They are coming around [with] everyone dealing with their schedule and stuff,” Makell said.

“Getting everyone at practice so we can gel is the biggest thing we come across.”

Makell said he is con-

fident of the team’s veteran leadership.

“My sophomore leaders are Jasmine Wallace and Alexis Evans,” he said. “You can tell who has played college ball before.

Everyone else is brand new to the college game but they are all playing hard, working hard, doing what they’re supposed to.”

Evans, a returning sophomore, averaged 12.4 points per game last season.

Director of Athletics Duane Herr praised the team’s work ethic.

“Character times a hundred,” he said of the team. “They have the most character, and most sportsmanship of any program, always no matter what their situation is,” Herr said. “I think they have potential.

They’re always motivated and always positive.”

Herr also praised Wallace, one of the sophomore team leaders.

“She is mature and a hardworking student ath-

Regional champs run to NY

will keep the team positive.

“Under our head coach ... [they are] always in the proper mindset,” Herr said.

AACC’s Women’s Cross Country won their fifth straight regional championship last weekend.

Five Riverhawks were among the race’s Top 10 finishers, with AACC sophomore Sidney Hinkle as the top Riverhawk in second place. “[We were] a little skeptical,” said head coach Jim Griffiths. “Honestly, I didn’t know if we could win; I didn’t know if we could repeat” the team’s prior successes.

He said winning consecutive regional championships is especially sweet for the runners who won last year.

“They were ecstatic,” Griffiths said.

The team will travel to Fingerlakes Community College of New York on Nov. 12 for the national competition.

You could win $1,000 for your Big Idea!

T

he Big Idea Competition is an opportunity for AACC students to pitch an original business idea that solves a problem or creates a convenience.

• • • •

1st Place: $1,000 2nd Place: $500 3rd Place: $250 fan favorite: $250

Submit your Big Idea pitch video no later than Tuesday, Nov 8, 2016 by 12 p.m.

Big Idea Viewing Party and Awards Ceremony Thursday, Nov 17.

3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Careers Building, Room 200 For more information please visit: http://www.aacc.edu/esi/bigidea.cfm

12 | Campus current | 2016 | November

REGISTRATION RALLY

REGISTER NOW. FEAST LATER. NOV. 15-23 10 A.M.-4 P.M. STUDENT SERVICES CENTER LOBBY AND CAREERS CENTER LOBBY ARNOLD CAMPUS

Register for spring by Nov. 23 so you can focus on final projects and exams!

Meet with an advisor, explore your class options, set your spring schedule and register on time, all in one place!

Let us help you check these off your to-do list:  Academic advising.  Program progress evaluation.  Schedule building.  Get the classes you want at the times you need.

 On-time registration.  Avoid long lines.  First payment by Dec. 12.  Free food, games and prizes!

Register online or in person by Nov. 23 and be entered in the grand prize drawing for a designated parking spot on the Arnold campus for the spring 2017 term!

For information contact Heather McFarland at 410-777-1146 or visit www.aacc.edu/recreg/regrally.cfm.

Notice of Nondiscrimination: AACC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, Title IX, ADA Title 504 compliant institution. Call Disability Support Services, 410-777-2306 or Maryland Relay 711, 72 hours in advance to request most accommodations. Requests for sign language interpreters, alternative format books or assistive technology require 30 days’ notice. For information on AACC’s compliance and complaints concerning sexual assault, sexual misconduct, discrimination or harassment, contact the federal compliance officer and Title IX coordinator at 410-777-1239, complianceofficer@aacc.edu or Maryland Relay 711. 10/16