Volume 84 • Issue #2
January 22, 2019
TRI CITY HOTSPOT: LIVE OAK PLANTS TREE IN NEW BAY CITY FACILITY > P.2
DELTA FACULTY VOTES TO UNIONIZE > P.6
LADY PIONEERS GAIN TRACTION > P.11
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COLLEGIATE LIFE
www.deltacollegiate.com
January 22, 2019
TRI-CITY HOTSPOT
Live Oak Coffeehouse debuts new Bay City location Zach Parfeniuk • Reporter
BAY CITY — During the freezing purgatories that are Michigan winters, a good cup of coffee becomes a way of life for college students and adults. Finding a company or local business to host that cup o’ joe is part of the journey. Inviting Bay City residents to take a sip of caffeinated warmth, Live Oak Coffeehouse hosted their new location’s soft opening in uptown Bay City on Friday, Jan. 11, and Saturday, Jan. 12. The soft opening was a hit. People lined up inside the entrance, many of whom had purchased tickets online beforehand, as smiling employees brewed up lattés, mochas, espressos, cappuccinos and more for the attendees. “One of the things that is symbolic about the name Live Oak is because a live oak tree [...] is strong and offers rest and refreshment, [with] limbs [that] come down to the ground [that symbolize] approachability,” says employee Reneé Deckrow. With warm and comforting scenery, Live Oak strives to truly be a part of the livelihoods of the community. Deckrow detailed the ambitions of the company when it comes to a welcoming attitude. “We really desire to offer excellence in both our food and the ambience
of the coffeehouse,” says Deckrow. “We’ll be doing trivia nights [and] we have different types of talks like for mental health awareness.” One of the more well-known community events that Live Oak hosts is known as their “Coffee Blitz.” “Every Wednesday, we go out and we surprise people with coffee around the city,” Deckrow stated. “We plan to do that here too in Bay City. A lot of times we ask for nominations from the community, like ‘Who you think deserves a coffee blitz this month?’” So far, Live Oak has had a successful opening in Bay City. As Deckrow described, the new coffeehouse hosted a trivia night earlier in December, met with warm reception. The company looks forward to being a part of the uptown Bay City area. Located at 5 East Main Street, they openly invite anyone who seeks a new, comfortable environment. “We’re excited to meet new people and are looking forward to offer hospitality to anyone who wants to come out,” says Deckrow. Photos of the soft opening are available online at www.deltacollegiate.org
Zach Parfeniuk • Reporter
The entrance to Live Oak in uptown Bay City advertises the soft opening to public passersby. Jan. 11, 2019, Bay City.
Zach Parfeniuk • Reporter
Customers take shelter from the cold and are served a variety of coffee and snacks at Live Oak's soft opening. Jan. 11, 2019, Bay City.
COLLEGIATE LIFE
www.deltacollegiate.com
January 22, 2019
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Applications for Delta College Foundation scholarships remain open; some tips for success Zach Parfeniuk • Reporter
As the winter semester begins, it’s easy for students to get caught up in the start of their new schedules and lose track of time when it comes to scholarships for the next year of classes. There’s only so much time to apply, but Delta College Foundation scholarship applications remain open until Feb. 7. Scholarship applications can be stressful. The importance they have within our education makes it prone to inducing anxiety. And what tends to stress students out about scholarships can be summed up in two words: essay questions. There’s always the sense that what you wrote is never good enough. Coordinator of scholarships and special events at Delta, Mary Harding, detailed what students need to watch for when writing the short essays. “Be thorough and thoughtful in your answer,” Harding detailed. “They will be rated on content, grammar and punctuation.” Harding told that the essay section of the application doesn’t have to be stressful, and that questions can be answered flexibly in a healthy time frame. “You could break it down and do one question one
day, [then] one question another day. It's not that complicated of a process… It shouldn't take forever.” Students should make time to proofread. You should read through answers yourself, and ask a relative, friend or anyone who’s good at writing to check through your work. English professor Denise Hill takes additional steps to help students prepare for scholarships. She, along with other Delta professors, assigns students essay questions for scholarships as a part of the curriculum, so students get the time to critically analyze their applications. “I try to find real world applications for student writing, showing them how what we do in the classroom can be applied directly to their academic work in other areas, to their personal life and to their future careers,” Hill said. Hill pointed out that this practice aids students whether they apply for a scholarship or not, and whether they get awarded or not. The experience gained helps those that might’ve fallen short one year to learn and win scholarships in the next. “Of course, the money helps every student who gets a scholarship,” Hill explained. “The writing practice helps… reading the application is helpful
practice; even being rejected, though hard, is helpful in that students can't get discouraged from applying again. The scholarships are available every year.” Applying for scholarships is naturally intimidating. However, that intimidation only snowballs as the deadline approaches, and as Hill pointed out, students shouldn’t be discouraged by fear of rejection. Harding tells that a majority of applicants do end up getting scholarships. “Usually there are between 800 and 1,000 applicants per year [for the Delta College Foundation scholarship], but 50 to 60 percent of students do get a scholarship, so more people get one than don’t,” Harding said. “You’re not going to get one if you don’t try.” Students looking to apply for scholarships can do so by going to delta.academicworks.com. On said page will be a list of applicable scholarships, clicking on them will give information about prerequisites that need to be met before applying, and will also give access to the application. Again, all applications are due by Feb. 7, so don’t wait to apply. Take an hour or two out of your day, sit down at a computer or with your laptop and put yourself out there for opportunity.
Get your Sticky Paw(s) on homemade donuts Michael Piwowarski • News Editor
MIDLAND — Do you fancy a fresh cup of coffee and a donut in the morning? Or perhaps a new place to check out for breakfast or lunch? Sticky Paw Donuts and Diner, located at 3124 Jefferson Avenue in Midland next to the Circle, opened its doors last December and offers a variety of freshly made donuts, as well as a full diner menu. “We do everything from scratch here [including the donuts],” says Amber Wendt, who co-owns Sticky Paw along with her husband Jacob. The Wendts have been in the restaurant business for more than 20 years. Starting when they were just teenagers, they have owned four restaurants in the past, with Sticky Paw being their fourth and current. Good To Go: Specialty Takeout, the Wendts’ last venture, started as a food truck and expanded into a brick and mortar business specializing as a takeout lunch destination. The Wendts sold the restaurant to Mike Horvath and Kara Bingham in February 2018, and later moved on to opening a new donut shop in Midland. “My husband has lots of different concepts and different ideas,” says Wendt. “[...] We were thinking, ‘What does Midland need?,’ and we realized that there hasn’t been a donut shop here in town since
Hamilton [Pastries] closed, so we decided that it would be our next venture.” Sticky Paw offers a traditional selection of donuts, including yeast-raised donuts, cinnamon rolls and apple fritters, which are available Tuesday through Sunday. Starting January 7, the restaurant also offers a full menu for breakfast and lunch. “We have breakfast options, we have lunch sandwiches, we make house soups, [we have a] kids’ menu and we have a donut sundae for dessert,” says Wendt. Although Midland has other destinations that offer breakfast and lunch, as well as coffee and donuts, Wendt states that what makes Sticky Paw stand out from the rest is its emphasis on making everything from scratch. “You have your chain restaurants such as Big Boy that offer breakfast. [...] There are a couple different places that offer donuts but none of them are from scratch. I think just the fact that everything is made [...] in-house has a lot of specialty to it and a lot of love added to it,” says Wendt. Whether you want to run in and grab a coffee and donut for on the go, or enjoy a sit-down meal with friends and family, Sticky Paw opens at 7 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday and at 9 a.m. on Monday, and is open until 3 p.m. every day. For more information, be sure to follow them on Facebook.
Michael Piwowarski • News Editor
Marilyn Hoover pours coffee for guests having breakfast at Sticky Paw Donuts & Diner in Midland. Jan. 7, 2019.
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COLLEGIATE LIFE
www.deltacollegiate.com
January 22, 2019
‘Super Blood Wolf Moon’ enthralls Delta students Joe Thornton • Editor-in-Chief
UNIVERSITY CENTER — On the night of Sunday, Jan. 20, a crowd of enthusiastic sky viewers congregated in Delta College’s Boulder Walkway, gazing through telescopes and using the naked eye to view the moon during a total lunar eclipse. This phenomenon occurs roughly every two years, and community members and Delta students weren’t going to miss out on the opportunity to view this. This lunar eclipse, labelled by the media as the “Super Blood Wolf Moon,” is a title that Astronomy professor Kevin Dehne laughs at in passing. “It’s called a total lunar eclipse. Don’t let them trick you,” chuckled Dehne. Dehne and Aurelian Balan are two of the three advisers for the Delta College Astronomy Club. Although temperatures were below freezing (holding constant at -5 degrees Fahrenheit for most of the night) observers stayed until midnight to witness the total lunar eclipse in its entirety. Upon the eclipse reaching totality, Dehne and Balan gave somewhat of an astronomy crash course, pointing out constellations and other astronomical landmarks for those who were new to stargazing. When looking out at the crowd that gathered in Boulder Walkway, Balan couldn’t help but hold a smile on his face. “We have at least 50 students here, some of them here for astronomy class, some just because they want to be, but they all want to see what’s going on in the night sky, and that’s exciting,” remarked Balan. Balan enjoys to see students developing a passion for
Kelly Winters • Multimedia Reporter
Delta students take shelter from the cold while waiting for the total lunar eclipse. Jan. 20, 2019, University Center. the science that he holds so dear, and fondly reflected on the moments astronomy has given him in his life. “Delta has darker skies than most schools [...] which makes for better viewing. My favorite memories here are seeing galaxies, star clusters and nebulae with people I care about and students I care about,” Balan recounted. In addition to the numerous students in attendance, Delta College President Jean Goodnow toughed the elements to embark on the celestial journey. The financial contributions made by Goodnow and
Delta’s College board of trustees, will contribute to the new Delta College observatory that is being built on the west side of Delta’s campus. Balan is excited for what this observatory will bring to students and those in the Delta College community who enjoy astronomy. t“I think this observatory will be a great way to give our students a better view of the heavens and just give us [better] facilities for viewing the skies,” Balan stated.
Delta College admissions adviser John Neal receives 2019 Spirit of MLK award Zach Parfeniuk • Reporter
SAGINAW — More than 80 years since Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on Jan. 15, 1929, his dreams, vision, work and accomplishments for and of racial equality are still honoured and fought for by millions all across the world. In the Tri-city area this truth remains evident, as the Saginaw Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in partnership with Delta’s Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) hosted the annual Spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. unity luncheon on Monday, Jan. 21. Attendees from everyday people to elected representatives sat down in the Red Room of the event center for the annual “Unity Luncheon.” Notable speakers included Delta College President Dr. Jean Goodnow and congressman Dan Kildee. Soon after, individual awards
were handed out, one such being the Delta College Spirit of MLK award. Admissions adviser John Neal was the recipient of this years award. A measure of great accomplishment, staff members nominate others based on the criteria of choosing someone who exemplifies the self-titled spirit of Dr. King through their work for the community whether inside or outside of Delta College. The Black Faculty and Staff Association then selects a recipient out of those nominated by the staff. When Neal learned he had received the award, he found himself overwhelmed. “I was very surprised,” Neil exclaimed, “I also felt as if I did not deserve the award. When I think of Dr. Martin Luther King, I think of someone who led from the front. I’m humbled by the experience, but to have my name mentioned in the same breath as Dr. Martin Luther King,
when he did so much for all people… it just seems like huge shoes to fill, so I feel like I don’t deserve the award.” However, Neil was chosen by the BFSA for good reason. Neil not only works in the admissions office, helping students sort out their financial plans and future at Delta, but works at several other positions including the Men at Delta mentoring program. One of the jobs that Neil is most proud of is the Second Chance Prison Pell program, an initiative that allows inmates to receive federal funding for college degrees. “Delta is engaged in a partnership with Saginaw Correctional Facility where we have approximately 39 to 40 students,” Neal explained. “Professors from Delta go into the prison facility to teach. My job is the admissions arm of it. I take care of admitting students, testing students and also making sure that they receive
financial aid so they can have the funding to finish out the degree. Delta, Mott and Jackson are the only three community colleges in the state of Michigan that are doing this.” Neil also found that the message behind this years Spirit of MLK event is particularly impactful, feeling that Dr. King’s message remains immensely impactful to people all over the country. “There are so many people who are forgotten,” Neil said, “We pass by them everyday and we think that everything is ok, because they may not look a certain way. Those of us who have an opportunity or been blessed with certain things — I think we’re obligated. I think we have those things for a reason. I think that reason is to give back in some way to somebody who doesn’t have it.”
NEWS
www.deltacollegiate.com
January 22, 2019
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Tri-counties continue fight against opioid epidemic Michael Piwowarski • News Editor
UNIVERSITY CENTER — At their monthly meeting Thursday, Jan. 10 held at Delta College, Families Against Narcotics (FAN) reflected on efforts made during the previous year to combat the opioid epidemic in Saginaw, Bay City and Midland counties. Lori Ziolkowski, vice president of FAN’s Great Lakes Bay Region chapter, announced that Delta College public safety has joined the Hope Not Handcuffs program, which exists to help people struggling with addiction to get treatment. Delta is the second community college in the state, after Macomb Community College, to join. In addition, Saginaw Valley State University public safety is also now on board with the program, becoming the first university in the nation to have police-assisted recovery. Barry Schmidt, coordinator of the Bay County Prevention Network (BCPN), Amy Murawski, substance use disorder coordinator of Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority (SCCMHA) and Kathryn Tate, community integration leader of the Legacy Center for Community Success (LCCS) in Midland, spoke at the meeting and offered updates on what their respective organizations have done to assist in responding to the opioid crisis. BCPN’s mission is “to engage, advocate, inform and increase awareness for behavioral health issues through education, prevention and recovery,” as stated on their website. As Schmidt said during the presentation, activities undertaken by BCPN in order to increase awareness include a door hanger campaign, community education, community narcan training and presentations of the locally produced 2017 documentary “Stigmatic: Our Opioid Crisis.” Amy Murawski, who has participated in free narcan training after the FAN meetings, discussed the SCCMHA, which exists to take care of individuals with disabilities, mental illness and drug addiction. Services offered by SCCMHA for people with substance abuse disorders include outpatient treatment, methadone treatment, recovery supports and more. Kathryn Tate shared a summary of LCCS’ efforts to counteract the opioid epidemic in Midland County. In 2018, they have undertaken such projects as high school opioid education and community naloxone training.
The Legacy Center partnered with teachers and athletic directors at several Midland County high schools — including Bullock Creek, Coleman, Dow, Meridian and Midland — for opioid education, and have reached 1,825 students.Seven percent of those students reported that they know someone who misuses opioids. “Most of our high school students are not using opioids, but we know that something’s happening shortly after high school [so] we wanted to make sure kids know what was going on and where they could run into problems, [...] what they needed to watch out for and what they needed to know about this epidemic,” Tate stated at the presentation. FAN’s Great Lakes Bay Region chapter meets at Delta College on the second Thursday of every month. For more information about Hope Not Handcuffs, including an online form for signing up to become a volunteer or get help with treatment, visit familiesagainstnarcotics.org/hopenothandcuffs. Families Against Narcotics Great Lakes Bay Region can also be followed on Facebook.
MIchael Piwowarski • News Editor
Barry Schmidt, coordinator of the Bay County Prevention Network (BCPN), speaks at the Jan. 10, 2019 Families Against Narcotics meeting at Delta College. University Center.
Newly elected Delta College trustees begin their term Joe Thornton • Editor-in-Chief
Michael Piwowarski • News Editor
Marcia Thomas being sworn in to the Delta College board of trustees at the Jan. 8, 2019 meeting. The board welcomed three new members that evening. University Center.
UNIVERSITY CENTER — In the 2018 Midterm Elections, thousands of voters took to the polls to choose who was going to best represent their wants and needs in office. By the times those polls closed and ballots were tallied, two new trustees were elected to the Delta College board of trustees, with another member being elected to continue his term. While the election hype has died down for many, this wasn’t the case for the many community members who came to the January Delta College board of trustees meeting to publicly congratulate the new
trustees. With this being the first meeting of the year, the newly elected trustees Marcia Thomas and Stacey Gannon were sworn in. Long-time trustee Michael Rowley was similarly elected for another term. Both new members received overwhelming support, with community organizations such as Delta Sigma Theta from Saginaw giving their endorsement of Thomas publicly while Gannon received praise from her fellow trustees. For those looking to know more about the board of trustees, including information about the new trustees, go to www.delta.edu/board-of-trustees/.
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NEWS
www.deltacollegiate.com
January 22, 2019
RETAIL ROUNDUP
Sears has a near-death experience Michael Piwowarski • News Editor
A historic American retail name is going to stick around, at least for the time being. On Wednesday, Jan. 16, it was reported that Edward Lampert, chairman and former CEO of the bankrupt Sears Holdings Inc., won a bankruptcy auction with a $5.2 billion bid made through his hedge fund, ESL Investments Inc. In layman’s terms, this means that around 400 Sears stores and 50,000 jobs will be saved. The bankruptcy auction was held Monday, Jan. 14 to decide the fate of Sears and Kmart, the two retail chains owned by Sears Holdings. The last remaining Sears in the Tri-Cities, located at the Fashion Square Mall in Saginaw, has not announced any plans to close its doors; however, MLive reported in Sept. 2018 that the Sears Auto Center will be demolished to make way for a new Texas Roadhouse
location. A Kmart store located at 1820 S. Saginaw Rd in Midland also remains open. Lampert had previously submitted a $4.4 billion bid to buy the company and keep 425 Sears stores open. Other bidders intended to liquidate all of the bankrupt company’s assets, meaning that every last Sears and Kmart store would close. His initial bid was rejected by Sears Holdings, thus making liquidation inevitable until Lampert submitted a lastminute revised bid, valued at $5 billion. This requires ESL to submit a $120 million deposit, but it serves as Lampert’s last ditch effort to save Sears. CNBC reported on that date that discussions between Sears and ESL went from 11 p.m. Tuesday to 2 a.m. Wednesday to work out a solution, which ended up with Lampert sweetening the deal by adding $150 million to his bid and
taking on more liabilities. It is unclear how much longer Sears will last; to begin with, as stated by Reuters in their Jan. 16 report, Lampert’s deal (which has yet to be finalized, with a hearing likely to be scheduled this week) can still fall through if it isn’t approved by a U.S. bankruptcy judge. Furthermore, Lampert’s bid aims to keep a select number of “profitable” locations in business, although Sears as a whole hasn’t turned up a yearly profit since 2010. Thousands of Sears and Kmart locations have already closed over the past decade, resulting in an ample amount of vacant retail spaces across the country. Several other former locations in the Tri-City area remain vacant, including the Sears at the Midland Mall which closed in 2016. With this in mind, it is important to take the idea that Sears is saved with a grain of salt.
Faculty unionization to take effect Michael Piwowarski • News Editor
UNIVERSITY CENTER — Delta College faculty voted earlier this month to form a union, joining the Michigan Education Association (MEA), a union for “teachers, education support professionals and higher-education employees” (from the MEA website). Jean Goodnow, president of Delta, announced in a statement Jan. 4 that the proposal to unionize was brought to a vote for all faculty members in an election that was supervised by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC). Out of a total of 170 ballots that were cast by faculty members, 145 voted in favor of unionizing, while 24 voted against the proposal and one ballot was returned without a vote. Karen Randolph, English professor at Delta, was among those who voted yes. “I feel it [is] time for us to have some foundation [when] bargaining,” says Randolph.
“We were losing some of our work rules, and this isn’t really about benefits or salary [...], it’s about us preserving our shared governance system and making sure that we are on a level playing field with the administration when we negotiate.” The shared governance system means that everyone — faculty, board and administrators — has a shared responsibility in decision making when it comes to academics, budgeting and other school operations. “We’re hoping to [re]gain some [...] faculty power [...] and we’re hoping to have a better, more respectful relationship with administration because we are recognized by the MEA as a bargaining union,” states Randolph. Delta College and the MEA are expected to begin negotiations over the next few weeks for an agreement that will govern all fulltime faculty. Until that agreement is reached, current terms and conditions — including wages and benefits — will remain the same.
You can sign up for emergency notifications by using your mobile phone, text DELTAMG to 888777 Dec. 1 through Dec. 31, 2018 Dec. 1, 2018 Delta College Public Safety responded to a call to assist another agency investigate a vehicle that had crashed and rolled over on Mackinaw Road at the Mackinaw Dr. entrance to Delta College. The driver of the vehicle was trapped in the vehicle. The investigation indicated that the driver may have been intoxicated. The driver was transported for medical treatment and the Operating While Intoxicated incident was investigated by the Bay County Sheriff Department. December 12, 2018 Delta College Public Safety received a complaint from a student that a person or persons unknown had dumped what appeared to be a cup of chewed tobacco on her vehicle while it was parked at Main Campus. There was no suspect information and the victim reported that she had not had any conflicts she believed may have been related to this incident. Delta College Public Safety responded to three traffic crashes in the parking lot and one roadway accident involving an injury. Delta College Public Safety also responded to two medical and injury reports.
Jan. 1 through Jan. 15, 2019 Delta College Public Safety responded to one traffic crash in the parking lot, one car/deer accident and one roadway accident. Delta College Public Safety also responded to one medical report.
SPORTS
www.deltacollegiate.com
January 22, 2019
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The Lady Pioneers “play for C” Steele Wynne • Reporter
UNIVERSITY CENTER — The Delta Women’s Basketball team played with purpose Saturday, Jan. 12, commemorating the late wife of assistant coach Sean Williams and securing their victory over the Wayne County Wild Cats with a final score of 85-76, Pioneers. As the Lady Pioneers stepped onto the court to warm up, they wielded an elevated sense of impetus, sporting new warm up shirts that read “play for C” as a tribute to coach Williams’ wife, Casaundra. Not only did they play for assistant coach Williams and his wife, the ladies also played for each other, redefining what it means to be a team. “I tried to do something different this game as the team captain, as you see on our new warm up [shirts] they say ‘play for C,’” remarked No. 4 sophomore, Marisa Morton. “I told all the girls to find out who they wanted to play for, so that we had meaning for ourselves and for our team”. The Delta Ladies carried this momentum into their game on Wednesday, Jan. 16, where they also prevailed victoriously, this time conquering the Henry Ford Hawks; finishing the game with a final score of 85-38, Pioneers. Although the girls amassed such a large 30-point lead at the half, they did not get complacent, and went on to win the game by nearly 50 points. A game in which everyone scored. Head coach Shonda Long praises her team for their
I told all the girls to find out who they wanted to play for, so that we had meaning for ourselves and for our team. - Marissa Morton
durability and aggressiveness. “We pushed the ball,” says head coach Shonda Long. “We’ve been drilling that into the girls’ heads the last few weeks. On a miss or a make, we have to push the ball up the floor. We can get transition points on a missed shot from the other team, or on a made shot. That’s what got us going offensively — getting the ball up [the court] quick, because we’re going to have three point shooters open, or we’ll swing through and get layups.“ Given what head coach Long calls a new incentive, the Pioneers fought through and through, in honor of “C”. These wins placed the Lady pioneers and a conference win/loss of 2-3. In addition to an irrefutable drive, the Lady Pioneers were aided in their triumph by packed bleachers, holding many fanatic fans, cheering and passionately hollering. If you would like to show your support, follow the Delta Ladies online, or come out to University Center and watch a game.
Michael Piwowarski • News Editor
Carlee Hutchison stands ready to defend the ball from the opposing team, Wayne County. Jan. 12, 2019, University Center.
D e l t a W o m e n 's
Basketball Schedule Delta vs. Alpena
De l ta v s . Mott
Wednesday Jan. 23, 2019
Wednesday Jan. 30, 2019
4 - 7 p m
5 :30- 7 :30p m
Delta Pioneer Gymnasium
Mott Community College
Delta vs. Oakland Delta vs. Macomb Michael Piwowarski • News Editor
Katie Engelhardt, No. 3, runs past the opposing team’s defense as the Lady PIoneers attempt to score at the Delta College women’s basketball home game. Jan. 16, 2019, University Center.
Saturday Jan. 26, 2019
Saturday Feb. 2, 2019
1 - 3 p m
1 - 3 p m
Oakland Community College
Macomb Community College
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SPORTS
www.deltacollegiate.com
January 22, 2019
Delta College men’s basketball attempts to stay on track Joe Thornton • Editor-in-Chief
UNIVERSITY CENTER — “I don’t know if they know what they want, or what they need,” sighed Carlos McMath, head coach for the Delta College men’s basketball team. After losing four of their last five games, the Pioneers are searching for answers wherever they can find them, but coming up short. Many of these games have been within reach for Delta, but have slipped away in the final moments. The source of difficulty for this team likely comes from the injuries of many of their players. Following injuries to many of the team’s key players, notably Jackarus Smith and Chaz Woods, the team has had to procure new talent to fill in, coming in the form of Delta golf team members Cooper Benson and Bryce Howard. Getting these players up to speed and having them contribute to fill in for those that are injured will be essential for the Pioneers to get back on track. There is a much different tone in the locker room now than what was there two weeks ago. At that time, they only had one loss, which came in a tight game losing 73-75. Now, the team is forced to take a look in the mirror at their mistakes and identify how they can right this ship before it is too late. Freshman guard Goliath Mitchell believes in his team and their potential, but knows that there are improvements that have to be made if this team
wants to live up to their goals. “Our team wants wins, but we should [really] want to work harder. When there is a lazy mindset you have to work harder to change that, and the wins will come with working harder,” Goliath stated passionately. Coach McMath continues to express the importance of this team’s motto, E.P.I.C., which stands for “every play is crucial”, and how this team will play their best basketball once they live by that motto. “I think at times, we take plays off. Once we get into that E.P.I.C. mindset of playing as hard has we can, we’ll be alright.” This team is an example of how quickly tides can turn in the sports world. Earlier this month, there was talk of national championships by everyone on this team, but after recent struggles, doubt is beginning to creep in. The next games for this team will be definitive. Will they rise above the adversity they currently face, or endure mediocrity? The Pioneers currently sit at 14 in the most recent NJCAA Division II national rankings for men’s basketball. With a current record of 10-4, the win percentage for the team is 71.4%. For those interested in finding out more information about the men’s basketball team, including their game schedule, check out www.deltapioneers.com/ sports or follow @DCJoeThornton on Twitter for live updates on home games.
Delta Men's
Basketball Schedule Delta vs. Alpena
De l t a v s . M o t t
Wednesday Jan. 23, 2019
Wednesday Jan. 30, 2019
7 : 3 0 - 9 : 3 0 p m Delta
7 :30- 9 p m
Pioneer Gymnasium
Mott Community College
Delta vs. Oakland Delta vs. Macomb Saturday Jan. 26, 2019
Saturday Feb. 2, 2019
3 - 5 p m
3 - 5 p m
Oakland Community College
Macomb Community College
Michael Piwowarski• News Editor
Trey Newsham, No. 1, launches the ball towards the basket as he attempts to score against the opposing team at the Delta College men’s basketball game. Jan. 16, 2019, University Center.
FRUSTRATED FAN
Can we give some love to the big guys? Joe Thornton • Editor-in-Chief
Dear NFL fans, As the Super Bowl draws closer, we’re all fixated on the big names in football and how they’ll perform in the postseason. Mahomes, Gurley, Brady and so many more. What do all these stars have in common? Well, they’re largely on offense, and largely play a “skill position” as they’re commonly referred to. As fans, we seldom take the time to realize something the obvious; we aren’t giving enough love to the big guys. The linemen — the men holding down the trenches — are never put in the spotlight. The most prevalent example of this comes from fans who are passionately debating who the offensive rookie of the year should be this year. “It should be Baker!” cry the Browns
fans, or “Saquon is the best choice!” claim the Giants fans Objectively, it should be Offensive Guard Quenton Nelson with the Colts. I mean, seriously; in his first year in the NFL, he has managed All-Pro honors!. No matter who you’re siding with, though, you’re not gonna debate as passionately when it comes to the best lineman in the NFL. So, with this playoff season, just take some extra time to appreciate the big guys up front. Instead of shouting drunkenly with excitement for Patrick Mahomes, I want to hear some cheers and high fives going around for his AllPro Right Tackle Mitchell Schwartz, holding down the line with his impeccable blocks. Truly yours, A Frustrated Fan
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
www.deltacollegiate.com
January 22, 2019
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Michelle Obama’s book hits home for millions of readers Zach Parfeniuk • Reporter
If you’re like me, finding a good book can be excruciating. There’s so many options — new and old — and there’s only so much time in one’s schedule. Luckily, over the holidays I gained a lot of free time to sit back, relax and indulge in my passion for literature. There were several quality works I read but one I was excited to finish was Michelle Obama’s new bestseller, “Becoming”. “Becoming” is a memoir telling of Obama’s journey through life, from childhood to the present. From growing up in Chicago to serving as America’s first lady, Obama discusses the “universal challenge of squaring who you are with where you come from and where you want to go.” by recounting her experiences. The book has remained on Amazon’s best-seller list since it came out Nov. 13 and sold around 725,000 copies in the United States and Canada during its first day. Recently, the former first
lady made headlines with book tours across the world. Debuting with an interview by Oprah Winfrey and traveling from Detroit, Michigan to Dallas, Texas to Paris, Obama’s book has remained immensely popular throughout the month of December. The book is divided into three sections, “Becoming Me”, “Becoming Us”, and “Becoming More”. In that simple classification, the message of the book makes itself known. Obama’s memoir is not simply a way to engrave her name on history — it’s an inspirational work made to be a message to young people all over world, an inspiration for those very people to find their own role models and voice in the world through reading about her own experiences with those subjects. The one word that shines above the rest when describing this book is “authentic.” Even when Obama discusses the current Trump administration and the Republican party’s lambasting of her husband, it always feels genuine and never an advertisement for her own career in
politics or a political message. A lot of the book’s portions on her life in the White House focus, rather, on the causes that she herself championed (decreasing childhood obesity, advocating for healthier school food, putting a stop to bullying, etc.). If you’re looking for a book to pick up and read, “Becoming” is an inspirational story from Michelle Obama, and, while I was reading it, I found myself connecting to the book’s central themes of finding your own self within the world you’re living in — a relatable idea for any college Lindsay Lang • Illustrator
R. Kelly has a lot to answer for Ryan Reichard • Reporter
Beginning on Jan. 3 and lasting until Jan. 6, the Lifetime Network aired a mini-series on the victims of R&B mogul R. Kelly. This series featured testimonies from victims of the singer, in addition to family members affected and former wife Andrea Kelly. After watching this mini-series and diving deeper into the controversies surrounding R. Kelly’s life, I am appalled that this man is still walking free. The justice system has let this country down if this man was allowed to remain unpenalized for these horrible crimes for so long. R. Kelly has had more than one case brought against him for child pornography (among other charges), yet he has been able to walk away. When charges were brought against him in 2003 after a video leaked of him urinating on an underage girl, he was able to drag out the case until 2008. By that time the victim had aged and refused to testify in open court. She denied that it was her on the tape and so did the majority of her family. However, there were rumors that R. Kelly paid off the family. That would not be surprising considering the amount of cases brought
against him and all of the times that he has settled out of court. This is a prime example of how money suddenly increases freedom in the worst possible way, allowing those that have it to systematically ignore the laws that are meant to maintain order in the U.S. Using money to manipulate people into rescinding accounts of sexual abuse contributes to the sickness of this man. He knows that he can control his victims through this money, so he uses it as leverage to get what he wants. Kelly did not hide his crimes either. He laid them all out for the public to hear across the nation’s radio stations. One of the prime examples of this is the song “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number” by Aaliyah, whom Kelly was having a relationship with while she was underage. Kelly wrote the song, which describes a relationship between a young female and an older male. To add fuel to the fire Kelly recently released a 19-minute song called on “I Admit.” In this song Kelly discusses the accusations while saying “I admit” after all of them. Essentially, he is admitting to the crimes and nobody is doing anything about it. If Bobby Shmurda can release a song called “Hot Boyz” that details his past crimes and gets him sent to prison, why can R. Kelly do the same and
receive similar judgment? This is a prime example of the justice system failing the people — the continued count of victims is on the hands of those who run the system and are willing to turn a blind eye in the face of a stack of Benjamins. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Kelly brainwashed his victims through a series of beatings and manipulation (according to the mini-series). To control his victims more, he allegedly isolated them from their families. That is a classic sign of abuse. Isolation allows the abuser to stop the victims from getting the resources they need, such as reaching out to family members for help. In addition, his victims had to ask him to use the bathroom and to eat. We are a nation that prides ourselves on freedom. These women weren’t free. As this happened, Kelly was supported by his millions of fans. We claim to love our freedom, but we only love it when it is convenient to us, not caring about the freedom of others. In the wake of huge movements such as the #MeToo movement, we are still allowing predators to walk free. There have been strides, such as the removal of Harvey Weinstein, but there is still progress to be made. Kelly is a prime example of the progress still needing to be made. Despite recent
reports of the singer running a sex cult, he is still receiving support from radio stations across America. This support is one of the most egregious aspects of this whole debacle. He received an increase in streams. I repeat — in light of this controversy, people have streamed a molester’s music more, allowing for more money to go to the accused. This is not the support we should be giving. Our job should be to support the victims — not the accused. The fact that our society still stands by the accused instead of the victims when it comes to crimes like this is sickening. Our loyalties (and royalties) should lie with the truth — not the lies someone surrounds themselves with to rationalize their actions. In contrast, famous singers such as Lady Gaga (who has now removed her 2013 song “Do What You Want” which featured R. Kelly from streaming platforms) and John Legend have spoken out against the singer, condemning Kelly’s actions. While R. Kelly remains a free man, it is up to us, the public, to keep the momentum going and support the victims. We must also assist any attempts to bring this man’s darkness to the light. It’s time to join together — together we can #MuteRKelly.
10 ARTS & ENTERNTAINMENT
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January 22, 2019
MISSED MELODIES Dwellings - 'Snake Charmer' Zach Parfeniuk • Reporter
There’s a very good reason why this song and the album it appears on, “Lavender Town,” are underrated. Dwellings is a brand new group entirely. So, though their following is growing, every song online sits at less than 100,000 views. Consisting of Isaac Wilson on vocals and guitar, Anthony Pacheco on guitar, Erik Tilja (also) on guitar and Thomas Reilly on drums, Dwellings current lineup debuted on the post-hardcore scene in 2018 with the aforementioned album “Lavender Town.” There’s a slew of great songs on the track list but I’ve chosen to focus on “Snake Charmer,” as it’s how I was introduced to the band. “Snake Charmer” describes a toxic relationship between two people that subtly snaps as the song starts. Whether a friendship or something more, the singer is sick of the attitude the other person promotes, describing them as a “snake charmer who can’t play a tune.” Their hypnosis failed and the singer revels in the hypnotist’s discomfort as the spell breaks. Fast-paced, energetic drums and guitars dominate and define the song. It’s a rollercoaster of rock that doesn’t really let up, so if you’re, like me, a fan of songs that keep your adrenaline high, this is your type of music. Isaac Wilson’s vocal style sits on a fine line between rough drones and smooth flow, making his voice ride along with the instrumentals incredibly well — an especially impressive feat when Isaac is not just the singer but also one of the guitarists. The song is a blend between typical rock elements you would see from more classic emo or rock bands, like Three Days Grace, and elements of the heavy metal genre, like that you would see from a band like Metallica. As a posthardcore band, its style draws parallels to bands such as Dance Gavin Dance, Pierce the Veil and Sleeping with Sirens. “Snake Charmer” (and Dwellings in general) were one of the surprising finds I got with music last year. I’m hooked, and I wholeheartedly recommend them; I look forward to seeing what they put out in the future.
Anderson East 'Cabinet Door' Ryan Reichard • Reporter
Arguably an artist whose personal life has overshadowed his work (mainly due to his former relationship with country star Miranda Lambert), Anderson East has been bubbling under both the country and folk music scenes for quite some
time. Despite releasing two criticallyacclaimed and solid albums, East has not received the radio play that would bring him to mainstream audiences. However, this has not stopped him from releasing quality music. “Cabinet Door” is one such case. A somber piano soul ballad, “Cabinet Door” displays a more mature side to East than in previous releases. “Cabinet Door” features little more than piano in terms of instrumentation, as it tells the story of a man who is forced to face life after the death of his wife. With every stroke of his lyrical paintbrush, the heartbreaking picture becomes ever clearer. East reminisces on simple details such as missing holding hands in church, hanging up her dresses, packing up her belongings in a suitcase, unable to work the coffee pot without her and finally finishes his work on a cabinet door. East’s weighted, smoky vocal performance creates a soulfulness that is highlighted by the minimalist production, but later gets backed up by a church choir conveying a message of loss that will leave you in tears. An overlooked gem that deserved so much more, “Cabinet Door” will stand as one of the most criminally overlooked songs released in this decade.
Kansas - 'Rhythm in the Spirit' Michael Piwowarski • News Editor
Some 40-plus years after “Carry On Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind” dominated the radio airwaves, the Topekabased progressive rock band Kansas is mostly just known for those two songs, and not their massive back catalog of prog rock masterpieces which takes heavy inspiration from Yes, Genesis and the like. Despite the public forsaking them, Kansas still tours today, and even makes new music. With original singer Steve Walsh gone and Ronnie Platt taking his place, the current lineup has been, thus far, more lively than the band has been in decades. “Rhythm in the Spirit,” one of the tracks from their latest album “The Prelude Implicit” (2016), is an epic power punch with heavy guitar riffs, equally heavy drums, Platt’s powerful lead vocals and the iconic violin part provided by David Ragsdale that gives it that unique Kansas sound. The official music video was uploaded to YouTube two years ago and has gotten fewer than 200,000 views, which is a shame because a lot of people are missing out on a great rock track. Not only is “Rhythm in the Spirit” (and its supporting album) more than worth a listen for Kansas fans, it’s a textbook example of a great new rock song from a 70’s band that is still plugging away.
Ryan Reichard • Reporter
Wishing for snow? Then look s(no)w more
Beginning on Jan. 23 and running until Jan. 28, Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth is hosting their annual Snowfest. Enjoy the large sculptures created from snow and bask in the beauty of the detailed ice carvings. Snowfest contains entertainment for the entire family. Featured events will be a fireworks display, a petting zoo, children’s activities and much more. The best part — admission is free. So, come out and celebrate 28 years of snowy fun with your whole family.
Clown around with the family
Daily from Jan. 25 to Jan. 27, the Dow Event Center in Saginaw is hosting The Shrine Circus. Having begun more than 76 years ago, The Shrine Circus is devoted to entertaining audiences across the country with their incredible and daring acts. Admission is $16 to $20 depending on your choice of seats. Their displays will surely have you on the edge of said seat.
"Chill" this weekend?
On Jan. 26, Midland City Forest is hosting the Midland Midwinter Chill. This event features activities for all ages, including cardboard sled races and an ice carving demonstration. To warm you up after a day outside there will also be s’mores by the fire. With admission being free, this is a fun, cost-effective way to spend a day. This event runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Rou-lette Fate Decide
On Jan. 27 at the State Theatre in Bay City, enjoy some rocking tunes as the biggest bands from the Great Lakes Bay music scene come together to take part in this exciting event. To benefit D Street Entertainment, musicians will be taking part in band roulette. Bands will be randomly chosen and paired with a song to perform on the spot. Beginning at 5 p.m., admission is $10 at the door.
Dow serves up a Tennis classic
Although not technically on the weekend, running from Jan. 28. To Feb. 3, the Greater Midland Tennis Center is hosting the annual Dow Tennis Classic. This event is Michigan’s only professional tennis event and is perfect for all of you sports lovers. The Dow Tennis Classic showcases talent from all across the globe during this week-long women’s professional tournament. Accompanied with the actionpacked tennis matches is gourmet food, drinks, music and other events. Ticket prices vary, so be sure to consult the pricing before attending.
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January 22, 2019
Future’s 'The Wizrd' casts disappointing spell Ryan Reichard • Reporter
It’s indisputable that Future has risen to rap star status after his debut album “Pluto” in 2012. Since then, he has been able to forge himself a string of rather impressive chart achievements, including having 77 Hot 100 entries (which landed him in the top 10 of most entries among any artist). Several of his singles have been certified gold and higher, establishing him as a power player in the rap game. So, when it was announced that Future would be releasing his first album in two years there was a considerable amount of hype around the upcoming project. But, does Future’s “Future Hndrxx Presents: The Wizrd” cast a charming spell or does it fizzle out? I’ll start off by saying this — I’m not a Future fan. His flows have never been very distinguishable and he coats his husky voice in so much autotune that it can become practically inaudible at times. Additionally, with the egregious amounts of autotune placed on his voice, Future’s rhymes do not hit with their intended purpose. Without the
autotune, his natural voice might have been able to pronounce and emphasize the bars he was attempting to rhyme. He carries this same autotune that I feel waters down his lyrics into “The Wizrd” and, as if the copious amounts of auto tune weren’t enough, Future’s flows prove to be exceedingly lazy across the album. While Future has always presented a more lackadaisical flow across his albums, “The Wizrd” takes this flow and makes it even lazier than before. This is especially apparent on the track “Unicorn Purp,” which features fellow rappers Young Thug and Gunna. In contrast to Future, their flows match the beat while both rappers serve up some decent charisma as they spit their bars. Their guest verses outshine Future and almost make the song tolerable to listen to. Future is considered to be one of the founders of mumble rap, and it is apparent he doesn’t care about the label across “The Wizrd” with barely coherent flows and muted rhymes that accentuate his mumble rapper status. Future’s biggest fault as a rapper remains that even though his songs mostly sound the same on this album he was not able to flow across the beats properly.
Despite Future’s flows being a major offense across “The Wizrd,” there are plenty more. The production is arguably the worst offense, with the album features standard musical elements that have plagued Future’s recent albums for years, including: skipping trap beats (“F&N”), fuzzy synthesizers (“Faceshot”), clapping beats (“Tricks On Me”) and autotuned instrumentals (“Tricks On Me”). None of the instrumentals set “The Wizrd” apart from most other rap albums that have been released in the past couple of years. Yet, this formulaic production is surprising, considering there is over a dozen producers listed on the credits for this album. With so many producers one would think that there would be at least one unique aspect of the production. Instead, we get an extremely static album, with there being no way of telling which part you are listening to. From beginning to end, “The Wizrd” sounds as if it was one long song that was played on a continuous loop just to torture the listener with its bland mediocrity. Falling in the same vein as the production of “The Wizrd,” the over-adozen writing credits on this album fail to save it from having the same boring,
braggadocious rap style that is plugging up valuable space on the airwaves today. On “Never Stop,” Future raps about his affluent lifestyle with the lines “I got so rich, nothing matters to me / I'm livin' my second life, it's so amazin'.” This is not new territory, Future has been rapping about his money for years. This theme is prominent on nearly every song on the album, contributing to the overall boringness of his latest project. As if nearly every song bragging about his rich lifestyle wasn’t bad enough there are also several references to Future being able to steal your girl, because he’s just that rich. This is exemplified on the track “Promise U That” where Future raps “Cartier diamonds, my mascot/ Tell your main he your ex now.” As if the rap genre needed more “steal your girl” songs. Overall, “The Wizrd” does not contain any magic. Instead, it contains only lazy flows, formulaic production and overtly misogynistic lyrics. This is one of the worst albums so far this year (which, granted, has only just started). “The Wizrd” is a solid one star out of five, and definitely not a recommendation. Only time will tell if Future can come back from this.
Keep your skin clear despite the stress of a new semester Maia Wiederhold • Illustrator
It’s no secret that along with a new semester comes new classes, a new schedule and unavoidable levels of stress. Trying to balance homework, studying and extracurriculars definitely takes a toll on our student minds, and is put on display to others through our skin, increasing the stress. Even those with the most impeccable skin can have difficulties controlling pesky pimples with a million to-do items on their mind. When you’re stressed, your body produces more of a specific hormone called cortisol, which works with your brain to control your mood, motivation and fear, according to WebMD’s article on cortisol. When too much of this hormone is in your body, it can cause unexpected breakouts. Here are a few tips to help you fight the dismay of unwanted blemishes! 1. Take “Me” Days. Even though it can be difficult to find time in your busy schedule, find time for yourself! Take that one shift off, cancel dinner with your friends, and relax for a few minutes, hours or even a couple of days. Make sure you listen to your body and give yourself a moment to enjoy yourself without thinking about that exam next week. 2. Face Mask Mondays. Whenever I see face masks on sale, I always stock up. You can get nice ones from Walmart, Target and even
the Dollar Store. Freeman is a great affordable brand that offers scrubs, peel-off masks, sheet masks… the options are endless! Experiment and find what works best for you depending on your skin type. Face masks are great because they refresh your skin and only take about 10 minutes of your day. 3. Try a fresh face. I love makeup as much as the next beauty queen, but sometimes you have to take a break. Wearing foundation too frequently can clog your pores and make breakouts worse, especially when stressed. Make sure you are letting your skin breathe; I promise that you are still beautiful without it! Sometimes, seeing a connect-the-dots game on your forehead tempts you even more than usual to cake on the concealer, but resisting the urge will help more than it hurts. If you do decide to wear face makeup, be sure you use a good cleanser before bed. My favorite is NYX’s Stripped Off Cleansing Milk. 4. Watch your diet. College students have trouble finding time, even when it means filling their bellies. This means we sometimes neglect taking care of our bodies and establish poor eating habits. I know as much as the next guy that after a long day of classes or work, sliding through McDonald’s for a large fry and a Big Mac would REALLY hit the spot, but we must resist! Foods that have a high glycemic index, such as white bread, potatoes and doughnuts, have a direct correlation with
the amount of oils the skin produces; high amounts of oils means the pores get plugged easier. A good way to avoid this is to prepare your meals! Cook healthy foods in bulk when you have free time. Then, when you’re hungry you can just pop them in the microwave to save your skin and save your time! 5. Work out. The best way to avoid stress breakouts is to avoid the stress, am I right? Well, sadly, as a college student, that can be next to impossible. Instead, you can find a way to release that stress. Most people find exercising as a good solution to this. Experiment with what you like and go at it! You might enjoy running, yoga, lifting weights or some other work out that you haven’t tried yet. There’s a workout for everyone. Just make sure that after your workouts you clean your skin thoroughly to get all the sweat out of your pores. 6. Keep your skin hydrated. It is super easy to get dehydrated, and even easier when you’re stressed. When your mind is on how to make it to the Financial Aid office before it closes AND make it to your professor’s office hours before he leaves when you have to be to work in 30 minutes, the thought of stopping at a water fountain to take a quick swig simply doesn’t cross your mind. Water cleanses your system and keeps your skin hydrated and healthy. As a college student,
the easiest way to stay hydrated is by investing in a reusable water bottle! They can be expensive, but your skin will thank you for keeping it moisturized, your wallet will thank you for not constantly purchasing plastic water bottles, and the Earth will thank you for reusing! When you carry a water bottle with you to work or class, it’s a constant reminder that you need to keep drinking to keep that skin sparkling and clear.
Maia Weiderhold • Illustrator
12 OPINION
www.deltacollegiate.com
January 22, 2019
Abortion is the wrong choice Kelly Winters • Multimedia Reporter
The fight against abortion is something generally thought of as an act against feminism because they think having the option of abortion as empowering, and people think, “Her body, her choice.” Yet it’s important to note that when considering birth vs. abortion, it’s not just the woman’s body that is affected — it’s the body of the fetus as well. Many women see the anti-abortion movement as an act that is against feminist beliefs. A common argument is that women should have the right to choose what is done to their bodies. Sure, this is the case when it comes to receiving a haircut or getting their nails done. However, when it involves a life, I find it a rather selfish to choose your own life over your child’s. An abortion is generally considered safe, even when carried out as late as the second trimester (according to the UCLA Health site on second trimester abortions). Safe for the mother. However, it baffles me that something can be thought of as “safe,” even in passing, when
one of the parties involved is anticipated to be killed as a result — the unborn fetus. Those who disagree with my statement above may claim that, “You can’t kill something that isn’t living!” I believe that life starts at conception. Even if this isn't widely accepted, I think we can all agree that at the very least, conception is potential for human life. We live in a society that is continuously looking for the potential of life on other planets. Yet we are able to turn a blind eye to all of the potential wasted right here on the grounds of our home planet, Earth! However, it is hard to turn a blind eye to the potential when it stares you back in the face. Famous gynecologist Dr. Levatino, who used to perform late-pregnancy abortions, gives chilling accounts of the procedure he had to go through. You can find them recounted in court hearings on YouTube, though I strongly suggest not to for the squeamish or faint of heart. Many who are in favor of abortion being an available choice for pregnant women argue “A fetus can't survive on its own. It is fully dependent on its
mother's body, unlike born human beings” (stated by Bustle article “How To Argue Pro Choice”). Yes, it is a fact that a fetus must stay connected to his or her mother to stay alive, but a newborn is in no way independent. It still requires constant attention for every basic need required for life. Being surrounded by a placenta should not be the deciding factor when it comes to what makes killing a baby illegal. At the end of the day, a woman may see a pregnancy as an inconvenience. Yes — it’s inconvenient. Sometimes, I find it inconvenient when my brother needs my help and I have no time on my hands. However, this
inconvenience doesn’t negate all the great times I have with him. And it certainly doesn’t make me want to turn to murder. Ending someone’s life shouldn’t be a decision made out of convenience.
Maia Wiederhold • Illustrator
OUR VIEW
Diversity is good for the government This month, our country saw members of the 116th Congress sworn into office, and as the most diverse body of Congress in our nation’s history, it is a historical moment. For the first time ever, we have more than 100 female representatives, as well as the youngest woman ever elected (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez).
Maia Wiederhold • Illustrator
The first Native American, Muslim, refugee and atheist representatives also took the oath of office. Because of this, Congress now more closely resembles the population of the American people than ever before. In a country where low voter turnout tends to disproportionately elect members of the good old boys’ club, we will now see what happens when people with a more diverse collection of backgrounds and beliefs come together in Congress. These representatives will debate and set the laws of our country, they will dictate how government money is spent, decide how much the public will pay in taxes, and have the authority to declare war. These decisions should be reflective of the values that the American
people consider important. When members of Congress are all the same, with the similar religious beliefs or socioeconomic backgrounds, all American citizens are not being represented in the government. In these instances it is possible to pass laws in which only a certain percent of the population is being considered, and those who are not in that group end up living under laws that do not reflect the reality of their lives. We are a country made of diverse people, and our government should reflect that back to us like a mirror. When a group of citizens lacks representation, it can be the equivalent of denying them the right to directly communicate their needs to the government. If their position cannot be expressed, it cannot be considered during debates on the floor of Congress. This begs the question of how can the government work to fulfill the needs of its people if it is not fully aware of its people’s needs? Our country grants certain undeniable civil rights to its citizens, but if those citizens do not have a
representative voicing their needs in Congress, can it be accurately claimed that their rights and interests are always taken into consideration? With new members coming in possessing a wider variety of backgrounds and ethnicities than ever before, Congress will now have additional opportunities to discuss conflicting ideas in a way that more closely represents how Americans really feel about important issues. When presented with ideas unlike our own, we have the chance to expand our understanding of compassion to include people who have different needs. Entertaining new ideas, even if they conflict with the existing system, makes innovation possible. If we only listen to our own opinions repeated back to us there is no challenge of the status quo, no improvement, no progress. We will only become greater, when we challenge ourselves to become better. Let’s hope Congress uses this opportunity to listen to each other and make room for positive change.
www.deltacollegiate.com January 22, 2019
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FUN
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January 22, 2019
SATIRE
Horoscopes for Jan. 22, 2019 Michael Piwowarski • News Editor
Aquarius (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) The stars predict that every Aquarius has an exciting life in store for them. You will certainly feel that excitement when you get a charley horse while driving across the Mackinac Bridge this summer. Pisces (Feb. 19 to March 20) You have a habit of waiting until the last minute for everything. Remember that three-page essay you were assigned at the beginning of your Spanish class, which is supposed to be completely written in Spanish? Go to eLearning and look at the due date in the dropbox. Now look at the clock. This is it! This IS the last minute! Aries (March 21 to April 19) Your reaction will be priceless when you sacrifice the last dollar bill in your wallet for a bag of chips that got stuck in the vending machine. Taurus (April 20 to May 20) So far you’ve been pretty good at keeping your New Year’s resolution about getting fit and healthy, which means you’ll have to spend a lot of money on smaller size clothes once you lose all that weight. You can save some of that money by throwing all your wool sweaters in the wash.
Gemini (May 21 to June 20) Know the old proverb “dance like nobody’s watching?” Do not — under ANY circumstance — dance like nobody’s watching. What other people see, cannot be unseen. Just… don’t.
Libra (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) You aspire for greatness and stand on the shoulders of giants in pursuit of your career in computer science — until you realize that your role model leads the software company responsible for Internet Explorer.
Cancer (June 21 to July 22) Hey! Ever dream of becoming a cherry farmer? Wish granted! That cherry pit you swallowed will soon produce Traverse City cherries right out of your stomach. You’re gonna be rich!
Scorpio (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) The stars say you can expect to have a lot of panic attacks this semester because you just can’t cut the habit of drinking way too much coffee.
Leo (July 23 to Aug. 22) A string of bad luck will enter your life unless you avoid mistaking your girlfriend’s cat for a pillow. Virgo (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) The weather may be cold and horrid outside, but you will still find a brisk walk outside to be quite refreshing and healthy. Admire all the sights and sounds, inhale and exhale the fresh air; you’ll have plenty of time to do so when your tongue freezes to an icy lamp post.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) You made a big mistake loaning so many of your books to those friends that you know are never going to give them back. I bet the library is gonna be after you soon with pretty hefty overdue charges. Capricorn (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) You don’t have much going on in your life right now. You can fill that void in your life by learning some magic card tricks. You’d probably be better at it than poker, judging from that time you got kicked out of a casino.
JANUARY & FEBUARY EVENTS Wednesday, January 23 Zehnder’s Snowfest kick off 8 a.m. @ 730 S Main St, Frankenmuth Friday, Jan. 25 Free PC Repair Clinic 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. @ Room K110 Saturday, Jan. 26 Free Ice Skating 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. @ Nickless Family Community Pavilion at Wenoah Park in Bay City
Sunday, Jan. 27 Band Roulette 2019 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. @ the State Theatre in Bay City Tickets $10
Friday, Feb. 1 Discover the Northern Light 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. @ Delta College Planetarium Tickets: $3
Wednesday, Jan. 30 Snacks with Senators 12 p.m. near Red Brix Cafe and 5 p.m. at Founders Hall
Saturday, Feb. 2 Pink Floyd: The Dark SIde of the Moon (planetarium show 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. @ Delta College Planetarium Tickets: $7 for adults, $5 for students, seniors, active millitary
Thursday, Jan. 31 Inspire Your Heart with Art Day 11 a.m. @ lower west student lounge
Sunday, Feb. 3 Super Bowl LIII Tune in on CBS (WNEM TV-5) Kick-off 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4 14th Annual Student Show 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. @ SVSU University Art Gallery Tuesday, Feb 5 Delta College Board of Trustees meeting 7 p.m. @ board room (Room B-151)
GREAT LAKES BAY
MEET A FERRIS ADVISOR TODAY. Whether you have 9 credits or 90 credits, it’s the perfect time to make your transfer plan.
FERRIS.EDU/GREATLAKESBAY
Ferris State University is an equal opportunity institution. For information on the University’s Policy on Non-Discrimination, visit ferris.edu/non-discrimination.
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COLLEGIATE MISSION STATEMENT
The Delta Collegiate’s mission is to provide a voice to the Delta College campus and community through assertive, factual and transparent reporting. A moral imperative to our mission is to ensure the prompt reporting of facts and events as they become available to our staff. Additionally, we pride ourselves on the passion, personality and professionalism our staff possess within their coverage. Our outlet aims to entertain and inform those who indulge themselves with our content while offering unique perspectives as a student-run news organization.
Transfer more of your credits!
COLLEGIATE STAFF Joe Thornton Michael Piwowarski Robynn Verhaeghe Rebbeca Roberts Michael Pieper Franklin Thornton Amanda Miller Kelly Winters Ryan Reichard Zach Parfeniuk Maddison Godi Steele Wynne Maia Wiederhold Lindsay Lang Crystal McMorris Kimberly Wells
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We pride ourselves on being one of the most transfer-friendly universities around. We accept up to 90 transfer credits, including both classroom and some work experience credits. We have programs that can help you earn your bachelor’s degree in as little as one year. And we offer transfer scholarships up to $6,000!
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Contact us today about earning your degree in business, technology or health!
Since 1961, the Delta Collegiate has been written and produced by Delta students for students without any input or oversight by administration. The paper does not represent the views of Delta College, its faculty, staff or administration. Stories are selected by the student staff members to bring reliable information and entertainment to our readers.
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