February 27
Year 45, No. 8
Crusader www.crusadernews.com
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Presorted Standard US Postage PAID Liberal, KS Permit NO.114
Liberal, Kansas
KBOR policies on social media speech questioned
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Dawn Shouse Editor
Pancake Day Preview — Page 8
Courtesy Photo
The Kansas Board of Regents has adopted a new policy that includes language regarding improper use of social media for employees on and off campuses. KBOR adopted the policy in December just as the state’s universities and colleges were going on winter break. According to the KBOR website, the new policy makes it a firing offense for faculty or staff to use social media that would be considered “contrary to the best interests of the university.” The new policy sparked a tremendous amount of backlash from across the state of Kansas and other parts of the country. Faculty members from educational institutions immediately began writing letters and organizing petitions targeting the policy. “The goal of this policy is to provide guidance to all university employees and university administration regarding the use of social media,” stated Fred
Logan, Chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents on the KBOR website. In response to the outcry, the regents have set up a committee to amend the policy to include language regarding improper use of social media on and off campuses. Max McCoy, professor of journalism and mass communications at Emporia State University, has a chair on that committee. “We are having to literally start from scratch and rewrite the entire policy,” McCoy said. “The regents have, in effect, criminalized free speech.” McCoy added, “The policy is so broadly written, so vague and subject to interpretation, that any statement deemed by the chief executive officer as not in the best interests of the university could be grounds for suspension or termination.” McCoy insisted that the policy goes against the U.S. Supreme Court concept of the universities being a marketplace of ideas and nContinued on page 3
Sisters Natalie, Kimberly and Olivia enjoy spending time together and snapping this selfie picture.
Softball starts strong. — Page 4B
Saints claim league title. — Page 2B
Students plan Telolith. — Page 7
Trio of sisters attend Seward Diana Chavira New Media Director Not often do students get to be in college along with their siblings, but the Robinson sisters are an exception. Natalie, Kimberly and Olivia attend Seward County Community College together and they’re more than sisters, they’re best friends. The Robinson sisters share many things in common and enjoy spending time together and getting involved in different activities. Natalie Robinson shared that she and her sisters love to do everything together. “From dancing, to playing soccer, to doing mission work and ministering to people at our church, to eating, shopping, to simply watching movies or drinking coffee together,” Natalie said. “We can make just about anything a good time if we have each other.” Kimberly and Olivia had the same things to say about spending time together. One of the major things that the Robinson sisters do together is dance. “Dancing is something that we’ve done together since we were younger,” said Kimberly Robinson, “because I had my own dance classes that I started back when we lived in Indiana, and all my little sisters ended up being in all my classes, and so I taught them how to dance.” Since then, dancing has been one of the Robinsons’ favorite things to do together. Kathryn Robinson, mom and adjunct instructor at SCCC, suggested the idea that her daughters try-out for the
and is humbled and appreciative for the experience overall. Kimberly also had the opportunity to do a four-month mission trip in Russia and she was also able to dance at schools once again. Olivia and Natalie shared that they were so excited for their sister and proud of her. “I think it’s amazing,” Olivia said, “I definitely admire Kimberly for having the courage and strength to go do that.” The Robinson sisters support each other in everything they do and their relationships and similarities set them apart. “Well first of all, we all look alike,” said Kimberly about her sisters. Their similar appearance is amusing to the sisters because their friends often confuse them. “Everyone gets us confused all the time,” continued Kimberly. “Everyone who comes up to me goes, ‘Oh hey’ and they wave to me – and I’ve never seen them before– and then they’re like, ‘Oh wait.. you’re not Olivia’.” The sisters all think it’s refreshing to be so close to each other and they also shared that their parents always encouraged them to not only be sisters, but to be best friends. They all know that they each have each other’s back and a benefit to being so close is that they help each other spiritually. “I say that what makes us different and unique would first be each of our personal relationships with Jesus Christ,” added Olivia, “and just how we encourage one another in our relationships with the Lord.” nContinued on page 3
Area Technical School gears up for introduction of aptitude test Dawn Shouse Editor
Sexual violence Awareness — Page 2
Pancake Day talent show. The Robinsons hadn’t done something this big in a long time due to Kimberly’s overseas dancing, and their mom thought it would be the perfect opportunity for all of the sisters to try. Kimberly, Natalie and Olivia will be performing in the Pancake Day Talent Show with their two younger sisters, Tabitha and Sophia to “Stand out,” and their dance will have Hip-hop/Tribal Funk choreography. Although it might seem like a lot of work, the Robinson sisters don’t actually practice too often on their dances together. “It just depends,” said Olivia. Natalie also shared that before, they would all practice together up to four times a week, but now it’s down to two or three, depending on what they’re shooting for performance-wise. Although, Kimberly might need less practice than the rest; she’s done plenty of dancing out of the country. At first, Kimberly went overseas to London for a month with Arizona National, and their team would come together and learn choreography to dances. “When we went to London we would just go to different schools or different churches, different events, and perform.” Kimberly described it as a neat experience, as well as a growing experience by seeing how she could use her gift to express herself and share the message of Jesus Christ. “Which is what we went over there to do, is to share the Gospel,” Kimberly said. She also enjoyed the children and the excitement that they showed to meet them
The diesel technology program at SCCC/ATS has implemented a new aptitude test for students. The Bennett Mechanical Aptitude tests are part of the selection process in a large array of jobs such as: aircraft technician, auto mechanic, fire-fighter and military careers. The tests are a mix of questions that students are likely to encounter in their chosen mechanical fields. “It is a test to help us determine how advanced the student is before we place them into a class,” Transportation Tech instructor Ryan Grubbs said. “Basically, it is to better inform us, as instructors, in
order to help the student succeed. We do not want to place a student into a class with others that are far more advanced.” The aptitude tests include questions about mechanical tools and equipment. “We manufactured our own requirements to a broader scope of questions,” Grubbs added. The Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test is used to determine a student’s aptitude for learning mechanical skills in the applied mechanical job. It measures a complex set of abilities. The student’s mechanical knowledge, spatial intelligence and mechanical reasoning are tested and analyzed.
Crusader file photo/ Jakub Stepanovic
ATS Student Jose Trejo during the Extreme Challenge 2013.
Crusader photo/ Makiah Adams
High school juniors watch during Career Day as Food Science and Safety Program Specialist, Chris Guyer, introduces the new program that will be offered at Seward County Community College in the upcoming 2014 fall semester.
Food Science and Safety program new to SCCC/ATS Makiah Adams Crusader staff A new food safety and science program will be offered at Seward County Community College and Area Technical School this coming fall. This program is for students who want to go into the food safety and science field to do their part in contributing to the safety, the quality, processing, product development and the appearance of food. Biology, chemistry, and engineering are used to study food spoilage, food processing, food properties, and foodborne diseases. Career opportunities for graduates of the Food Science and Safety program include Quality Control Technician, Education, Production Supervisor and Health Inspector. Although SCCC/ATS is still waiting for official approval from the Kansas Board of Regents, they should be receiving it within the next month or two, and then will be ready for the program in the fall of this year. There are already people interested in the program who have been emailing and calling Chris Guyer, Food Science and Safety Program Specialist. Guyer was a biology instructor
at SCCC/ATS before applying for the Food Science and safety position. However, before that he had experience in working in the food industry for eight years. “You buy a bag of chips or some yogurt,” Guyer said. “You open it up and you eat it. You don’t have to think about if it’s just right, or safe, someone has already done that for you.” That’s what the Food Safety and Science Program will teach students to do: meet the needs or protecting the quality and safety of foods. They are in search for people who will be dedicated and professional in meeting these needs. An Intro to Food Science class is offered now and will continue to be in upcoming semesters. It will be one of the first courses required in the Food Safety and Science program. This class uses cooking to illustrate the science. Some of the labs they do consist of baking bread to illustrate leavening and caramelizing onions to illustrate browning. They will also be making cheeses and yogurts to illustrate fermentation.