Volume 83 • Issue #5
October 23, 2018
DELTACOLLEGIATE STUDENT RUN SINCE ‘61
ELECTING THE BEST POLITICAL SONGS > P.8
FIRST TIME VOTER? EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW > P.4 - P.5
WHY YOUR PROFESSORS CAN'T PAY THEIR BILLS > P.6 - P.7
OUR VIEW > P.13
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NEWS
www.deltacollegiate.com
OCTOBER 23 , 2018
STEM Festival inspires curiosity in children and adults Franklin Thornton • Copy Editor
UNIVERSITY CENTER — If you were one of the lucky few Delta students who were at the college on Friday, Oct. 13, you might have noticed a disproportionate amount of children. These weren’t the usual children of some Delta students you sometimes see roaming the halls, however; these were students invited to Delta College’s annual STEM Festival from all around the tri-city area. STEM (for those unfamiliar) is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and the festival certainly lived up to its name. In the halls, gym and outside there were a variety of demonstrations and activities related to each field, including many classics such as creating slime, running across oobleck (cornstarch and water; look it up, it’s pretty cool), and, of course, the famous elephant toothpaste reaction. “My favorite activity is this elephant toothpaste because it’s very visual and [...] very appealing to the students,” says Delta Chemistry Professor Bernadette Harkness, Chemistry Club advisor and one of the many volunteers who helped put together the event. It’s not always about chemical reactions, though. “[It’s] always fun to see the reactions of other
people,” relays Harkness. While extremely fun for those attending (both visitors and demonstrators), there is also a practical aspect to the event. “[The important part of events like these] for the college? Community outreach. [...] Connecting with the community, connecting with industry, with Dow, connecting with Michigan Tech. It’s good relations from a lot of different perspectives,” says Tim Klingler, his tornado demonstration in the background. An extremely interesting and exciting event for many, the STEM festival is a great way to pique interest and curiosity in scientific matters. Be sure to look out for the next annual STEM festival coming sometime in 2019!
SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE STEM FESTIVAL AT WWW.DELTACOLLEGIATE.COM Jaylie Dice • Photo Editor
A STEM Festival attendee experiences the thrill of being surrounded by a huge hula-hoop bubble at Delta College. Oct. 13, 2018
Jaylie Dice • Photo Editor
STEM Festival attendees learn about rapid temperature changes through the process of freezing Fall flowers with liquid nitrogen. Smashing the frozen solid flowers into bits is something that normally would not be possible. University Center, Oct. 13, 2018.
NEWS
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OCTOBER 23, 2018
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Young voters ready to rock the midterms
‘It’s an American right’ Mikayla Rigda • Collegiate Correspondent
BIRCH RUN — Alicia Babcock, 20, of Birch Run, says she will always vote, no matter what’s on the ballot. “It is an American right to do so, and if I have the right to vote, I will do as I please,” she said. Babcock plans on voting this year for Debbie Stabenow for U.S. Senate. “I think she’s a great candidate and she makes really valid points,” she explained. Babcock said it is a good idea to find
information on the ballot for your county before voting for someone or something “just because.”
In two weeks, Americans vote in the midterm elections. Historically, college-aged students don’t show up for polls — especially when it’s not a presidential election. But a new poll from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement shows that nearly a third of young people aged 18-24 say they are “extremely likely” to vote. Here are some of the faces behind the youth wave.
‘It’s being withheld from us’ Velencia Mejia • Collegiate Correspondent
BAY CITY — 20-year-old Taylor Brissette took her final steps into adulthood this October. She has finally registered to vote. “I was going to register when I was 18,” stated Brissette.“ I just never really got around to it.” The intro. of Proposal 181, covers the legalization of marijuana in the state of Michigan, pushed Brissette to register. She is not a smoker herself, but has family members who do, currently with a medical card. Brissette recently lost her uncle, whom she was very close with. He took the initiative of educating her of the
benefits of cannabis at a very young age. “I mean you don’t have to just smoke it, which I feel like is everyone's problem with it — having to smell it,” she elaborated. “There’s oils, edibles... lots of different ways to get its benefits [...]"
‘I want to see change’
‘I just forgot to register’
‘Come out and vote all blue’
Kenzie Pomaville • Collegiate Correspondent
Alexandria Wilber • Collegiate Correspondent
Bailey Chrivia • Collegiate Correspondent
BAY CITY—As the midterm elections get closer, more and more people have registered to vote. One of these people is conservative Jon Born, 19, who registered earlier this year. “I want to make an impact on what I want to see change,” Born said, explaining why he registered. Born believes that each voice matters, and that it is imperative to vote. “Everyone should be given a voice for what they believe
KOCHVILLE — Saginaw Valley student Rayanne Scarmeas, 19, is one of the many young college students who is fired up about the upcoming election; yet she is not registered to vote. “I think it’s incredibly important to vote, I just forgot to register,” Scarmeas states. “Due to a busy schedule between work and college, it completely slipped my mind.” Although she cannot vote, she is informed and plans on voting next time.
in,” Born relays. Born also said that he will vote at every opportunity given to him, so he can help be a part of the change.
“Go vote for me!” Scarmeas smiles, “Every vote counts!”
SAGINAW — Shaiyan Mudry, 20, from Hale. is studying to become a Dental Hygienist at Delta College. She turned 18 in 2016 and the first election she could vote in was the 2016 presidential election. “I didn’t vote in that election,” Mudry said. “I didn’t think that my vote would matter, but now, as the years have progressed, I really wish that I would’ve.” Mudry is planning on voting all Democrat in
the November 6 election. “I want my generation to come out and vote all blue,” she said. “We need a change soon, and I hope that WE, as a country, can make that happen.”
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COLLEGIATE LIFE
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OCTOBER 23 , 2018
A Letter from the Senator’s Desk Emma Scheibert • Student Senator
Dear students, Emma Scheibert here — full-time student and full-time campaign staff member for Annette Glenn, a candidate for the 98th district House of Representatives seat. Also, I’m one of your student senators this year! I’m writing this column to keep you, the student body, up to date with what’s happening in the student government, shed light on the goals we have for this year and provide some insight I gained from preparing for the upcoming midterm elections. Kaitlyn Stymiest, Patrick McCray and I are excited to serve as your senators this year. One primary goal of ours is student body outreach. Our priority is to be a voice for student’s concerns, needs and viewpoints in the Delta College Senate. We want to bring innovative ideas to the table that will change our college community for the better. To do this, we’ve got to hear from you! To better collaborate with students, we’ve created a new event — “Sundaes with the Senators!” Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 12
p.m. to 2 p.m. for an ice cream social. We will be located in the Commons area with pen and paper in hand — ready for good conversation. We also encourage you to like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/studentsenators/ and reach out to us by email at studentsenators@delta.edu. Here is the lowdown on this upcoming election (now less than a month away) — campaigns need help. We need people to knock on doors, do phone banking, put up yard signs and do so much more. Whether you need to put in hours for a civic engagement project, learn more about a political party or candidate or you’re just ready to put your views and beliefs into action, it’s time to reach out to campaign teams and step into the arena. I encourage everyone to explore prospective candidates, and find candidates’ websites to contact them and get involved. Young people are on the frontlines in the battle for the fate of our state and nation. Another critical point to put forward before Nov. 6 (Election Day) — college students must avoid groupthink. Research issues and politicians, and be skeptical of the things you hear or see in the media.
Find the truth of what you stand for before letting someone else tell you what to believe or how to vote. Go Pioneers! — Emma Scheibert
Delta College Student Senator, Emma Scheibert, with candidate and boss, Annette Glenn.
What to expect on your first time voting Joe Thornton • Editor-in-Chief
It’s your first time voting, and you’re a little nervous. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I’ve worked at voting sites, and I’ve seen people make mistakes while voting, regardless of how many times they’ve done it in the past. The great thing about mistakes when voting (which many people may not know) is that you can fix them! Hopefully, you’ve taken the proper steps to become a registered voter and you’re all fired up about the election. Whether you think change needs to happen, or you’re happy with the current state of things, the only way to have an effect is to vote. The best thing about voting is that you only have to register once, as long as you have voted regularly after registering for the first time. If you haven’t already registered to vote, unfortunately, you won’t be able to vote in the Nov. 6 election. However, don’t let that discourage you! You can register to vote at any point to make sure that you don’t miss out on the next election in 2020. If you are already registered to vote, the next step is to become educated on what will be on the ballot, know beforehand what you want to vote for and know where you will be voting. If you have a voter registration card, it should list the address of your voting precinct. Your voting precinct is where
you will go on Nov. 6 to vote in person! Precinct locations for voting change regularly, so make sure you check online to see the most updated precincts. Don’t be surprised or disgruntled if you get to your precinct and they say it isn’t your precinct anymore. If this happens, the election worker should tell you where your new precinct is. Don’t give up and drive home! Instead, hop in your car and drive to your new precinct. When you get to your precinct they will ask for your driver’s license. If you’re registered to vote, you can vote without your license, but it does make the process a little more time consuming. So — if you can — bring your license. If you aren’t registered and you try to vote without your license, it won’t work; so, don’t waste your time. The upcoming election on Nov. 6 is a general election, which means that you can vote for whomever you want, regardless of their political affiliation (this is called voting split-ticket). With the way our election is set up, your ballot is going to look different depending on where you live. This is because your ballot contains only the candidates that will potentially represent the area you live in. Although the makeup of most of your ballot is going to vary depending on where you live, some positions will have the same candidates statewide, regardless of your location. Most of these positions are positions that would represent the entire state of
Michigan, not just one part of the state. This can be seen under the state, state board, US senator and judicial sections of the ballot (see sample ballot). Many of the other candidates for the state and the city will depend on where you live and where you vote, so it is important to become knowledgeable about those candidates beforehand. The more local the position is, the more they will be able to help you and affect your everyday life, so make sure you do your due diligence and become an informed voter! However, a popular misconception is that you have to know everything to vote. You don’t! In fact, if you want to go vote and there is only one politician you like, you can vote only for them. You don’t have to vote for everything, you can vote for whatever you are informed about or whatever you want to cast a vote for. If you make a mistake on your ballot where you vote twice for the same position or something like that, you can just get a new ballot! Aside from the candidates, there are three substantial proposals on the ballot this election. The first would legalize marijuana on a state level for all people over 21. If this proposal were passed it would change several current violations for marijuana possession from crimes to civil infractions and allow the purchase, possession and consumption of marijuana. There would be a 10-ounce limit for marijuana kept at residences. The second proposal is targeted toward
gerrymandering, which is the process of drawing boundaries of voting zones in order to sway the vote count of a given region in one party’s favor. If this proposal were passed, it would establish a neutral committee of citizens to draw the district boundaries for voting. This would mean no party is able to draw the voting districts in their favor. The third proposal would authorize automatic voter registration. This means that, if this proposal were passed, people would automatically become registered to vote when applying for a state-issued ID (unless they declined). It would also authorize Election Day voter registration. Finally it would introduce no-reason absentee voting. This is an idea that allows voters to receive an “absentee ballot,” which would let them vote before Election Day by mail; no reason required. To summarize, in essence this proposal makes voter registration, and voting in general, less of a hassle and more accessible, so more people can successfully utilize their right to vote. Hopefully you’re feeling more confident about voting now! To find the specific sample ballot for your county, head to Michigan’s Secretary of State website or feel free to practice on our sample ballot in the next page. Now that you know what’s on the ballot, the last step is to get out there on Nov. 6 and vote!
COLLEGIATE LIFE
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OCTOBER 23, 2018
SAMPLE BALLOT
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*Ballot for city of Saginaw, Precinct 1
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OCTOBER 23 , 2018
Adjunct faculty struggle to make a living Joe Thornton • Editor-in-Chief
If you were to work full time for minimum wage The McDonald’s workers of higher at a business like education. The rent-a-cops of academia. McDonald’s, The penniless professors of Delta College. Burger King These are some of the phrases that or somewhere adjunct instructors at Delta use to similar, your describe themselves. For those to which annual salary the term is unknown, adjunct faculty would be $19,240 are professors meant to be employed before taxes part time. In many instances, however, — more than this is not the case. At Delta College, the adjuncts numerous adjuncts work full-time hours that teach you but are paid the adjunct wage, which is at Delta. much lower than that of their full-time Many of these coworkers — 55 percent lower to be exact. adjuncts took out According to the latest data from Delta student loans to College’s website, adjunct instructors pursue a career make $667 per credit hour taught. As in academia. of fall 2018, the lowest paying fullNow, with most time position at Delta College (with a holding advanced bachelor’s degree) earns $44,452 per degrees, they are year, with multiple opportunities for a overeducated raise. For an adjunct instructor to make and underpaid. that much, they’d have to teach 66 credit To fill the hours in a year — which is impossible. void created More realistically, the maximum by such a low amount of credits an adjunct instructor compensation, could teach at Delta is 14 per semester, many adjuncts giving them a salary of approximately are forced to work multiple part-time $9,000 per semester. With this rigorous jobs just to make ends meet. Former workload, a full-time adjunct instructor long-time adjunct Karen Horwath loved would be making roughly $18,000 a year. teaching at Delta College, but was left To put things into perspective, the with little choice other than to leave her minimum wage in Michigan is $9.25. position as WRIT Center Coordinator. “I always tried to supplement my part-time wages by teaching SVSU classes for a little extra money. Even that wasn’t a livable wage, so I did freelance editing on the side. When I still wasn’t making enough for my family, I began working at a local school as a piano accompanist for choirs, and at area churches as a music liturgist. It was challenging to balance it all,“ conveyed Horwath. As a result of her adjunct status, she also was not given many of the benefits that full-time faculty receive, such as medical leave and health care. After waiting many years for a full-time position at Delta, Michael Piwowarski • News Editor
Delta College faculty starting salary Fall 2018-2019
Amee Schmidt, adjunct professor in English, teaches at her Reading 097 class Monday, Oct. 15, 2018.
she couldn’t wait any longer and accepted a full-time job that offered these benefits. “When I was recruited a week before the semester started for a grades 7-12 public school teaching position, I really had to consider the option. Ultimately, they offered a full-time salary, health care package and a retirement package. I didn't want to leave Delta, but this seemed like the only choice,” Horwath explained. This is a situation that is all too common for adjunct faculty. Many of these professors are awaiting the day they receive a full-time position. Potentially, a day that could never come. The irony of this situation is that many adjuncts pursued a career in academia because they believed a full-time position to eventually be guaranteed. In accordance to this thinking, English adjunct Vince Locke states that part of the reason he chose this profession was the high availability of full-time professor jobs. “Back when I started teaching, one of the things that persuaded me was that there were going to be all of these jobs available. [...] And that didn’t happen,” Locke lamented. “Instead, they were replacing those full-timers with two or more adjuncts. So, I’d like to see that promise fulfilled. You work as an adjunct for a few years, you get that experience, and then you’re able to move into a full-time position.” The problem is that the world of
academia, Delta College included, has a surplus of adjunct faculty and a shortage of full-time positions to offer them, especially in the English division. Amee Schmidt, an adjunct faculty member currently in her third year with the English department, has been optimistically awaiting an opportunity to become a full-time faculty member. Schmidt, like many others, has been affected by this highly competitive labor market before, and has witnessed its negative effects firsthand. “Recently, there was an opening for a one-year, renewable, full-time contract in the English department. Personally, the application process wasn’t super difficult. It was just like any other job. But the problem wasn’t that — it was that there are few opportunities for full-time positions. Even a position for a one-year contract gets hundreds of applicants, which means most people don’t get an interview even though they are qualified,” Schmidt explained. One of the many applicants for full-time positions like these is Heather Kanicki, also from the English department. Kanicki has been an adjunct for 13 years, 12 of those with Delta College, and has become very familiar with the emotionally grueling application process — and the disappointment that regularly follows suit.
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OCTOBER 23, 2018
because school is not in session” explained Locke. “I’ve been an adjunct for 13 years and applied for Adjunct Kimberly Stahl of the Communications more full-time positions than I can count. I’ve never even division has had to deal with similar had a callback. Not [even] a letter. Whenever I go and difficult decisions during the summer. ask the reason why, I’m usually told either I’ve been an “I’ve never had a summer class at Delta. In adjunct too long or that I’m not marketable. Yet, when that time, I’m off for eight weeks and I need to I receive my feedback forms, it’s usually A+’s across the decide whether I [want to] get another job or board. I haven’t had a bad feedback form in years and not. I decided this summer not to work because, my students are constantly asking why I’m not full time, if I did, I wouldn’t have been qualified for and it’s difficult to try and explain,” sighed Kanicki. government-assisted health care,” explains Stahl. Being an adjunct faculty member becomes more While adjuncts are forced to make decisions in their than a job or career at some point. For Schmidt, and self-interest, Delta College administration must do the others, it becomes a label, and eventually manifests into same. Vice President of Instruction/Learning Dr. Reva a mentality of uncertainty that is hard to overcome. This Curry says that Delta’s goal has always been to maintain is the case for full-time English Instructor David Winter. a certain ratio of adjuncts to full-time faculty. Right Winter has prevailed through the adversity of being an now that ratio is 315 (62 percent) adjunct instructors to adjunct by earning a full-time position, but is 192 (38 percent) full-time instructors. still uncertain about what the future holds. The reason why adjuncts outnumber “Currently, I am technically full time. I full-time instructors seems obvious: was able to get hired on a one-year contract why pay for something at a higher as an instructor in the English department, price when you can get it cheaper? but before that I was an adjunct for about Another aspect of this situation “I’ve been an two years. Ever since I’ve worked at Delta, that makes it all the more painful adjunct for 13 I’ve also worked at SVSU as an adjunct for adjuncts vying for a fullyears and applied [...] and even now, having the one-year, time position is that full-time job for more fullrenewable position, I still work at SVSU; openings at Delta are outsourced. time positions because even now, my position isn’t Kanicki hopes administration will set in stone. There is still a large degree hear the voices of adjunct faculty than I can count. of uncertainty,” explained Winter. about this issue in particular. I’ve never even Adjuncts aren’t provided the same “Please stop overlooking us and had a callback.” stability that full-time faculty are, and this hiring outside Delta College, [looking] stability is sometimes overlooked by their for new full-timers when we have full-time counterparts. Full-time faculty a wonderful supply of adjuncts know that there will be classes for them who have been here for years, who to teach, while adjuncts don’t have that already know our policies [and] our same guarantee; this often results in tough procedures and who already teach the situations, especially in the summer. “This classes that we offer,” begs Kanicki. summer, one class that I was assigned to teach was The most difficult part about the situation taken from me and given to a full-time faculty member. with adjunct faculty is that everybody knows [...] I really needed that income, so that really hurt me. it is a problem, but nobody has a concrete When I’m not working in the summer, I don’t have solution. When asking adjuncts what they think income, and I can’t receive unemployment benefits is a potential solution, answers varied. However, because Delta classifies the summer as a ‘School Denial common factors among potential solutions were Period,’ which is a period when you’re unemployed higher pay and/or more full-time positions.
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Michael Piwowarski • News Editor
Vince Locke, adjunct instructor in Delta College's English division, teaches at his ENG111 class in room S-035 Thursday, Oct. 18. However, the implementation of these solutions is much more complicated than its simplicity would seem to dictate. A position can’t be created out of thin air; someone being given a full-time position means that multiple adjunct jobs would have to be cut. The other solution, giving adjuncts a raise, would mean having to financially cut corners elsewhere. As with any complicated problem, if there were a simple solution, it would already be solved. Until that solution comes however, adjunct faculty will continue to be underpaid — anxiously awaiting a full-time opening, hoping to win the respects of their academic peers, earning the salary of a minimum-wage laborer.
How Delta adjunct pay ranks against other colleges
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
www.deltacollegiate.com
OCTOBER 23 , 2018
Electing the best political songs Ryan Reichard • Reporter
Politics is an everlasting battle with constant clashing over opinions and beliefs. Capturing everything from war to inequality to social injustices, music has been there through the tough times, elucidating the turmoil along the way. With election day right around the corner, I decided to compile a list of the best political songs, in no special order. 1. “Alright” — Kendrick Lamar From his 2015 masterpiece-of-an-album “To Pimp a Butterfly,” “Alright” has been an anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement. The song is autobiographical, and details the struggles of being a black male living in the streets of Compton. The song stands as an anthem for rising in the face of adversity, especially against discrimination. A timely testament to an inexcusable problem, “Alright” proves why Lamar is one of the best hip-hop artists around. 2. “Imagine” — John Lennon Arguably one of the best and most controversial songs ever to be written, Lennon’s “Imagine” stands as an iconic call to peace. Speaking against conflict, racial boundaries and other social injustices, Lennon instead says that we should “live as one,” and live in peace. In a modern world riddled with conflict, “Imagine” holds up, painting an ideal world Lennon believed we should strive for. 3. “Fortunate Son” — Creedence Clearwater Revival Released at one of the most turbulent times in American history (the height of the Vietnam War), “Fortunate Son” tells a story about inequality within our social structure. The poor were being sent overseas, essentially to die, while the rich were able to escape based on their wealth and power. Fogerty gives an amazing vocal performance with a strong message.
4. “Big Yellow Taxi” — Joni Mitchell With the oil industry seeing a rebirth under current administration, and several environmental regulation rollbacks, “Big Yellow Taxi” is a song many need to hear. With a blunt message of human’s blatant disrespect and destruction toward nature, the song is quick to criticize our carelessness with perhaps one of the most memorable lines in music — “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” While many are probably familiar with the remake by Counting Crows and Vanessa Carlton, the original stands strong as an ode to awareness of environmental issues. 5. “The Pill” — Loretta Lynn A country music song that is a paean to birth control, “The Pill” was originally banned from several radio stations based on its topic — progression of female reproductive rights. Lynn revels in the production of birth control for women and the freedom it brings. Perhaps still controversial today due to the subject matter, this
song stands as a dedication to the freedom “the pill” can bring and emphasizes that women should have the right to use birth control.
• Illustration by Maia Wiederhold
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OCTOBER 23, 2018
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Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum brings “The Spirit of Detroit” to SVSU Ryan Reichard • Reporter
UNIVERSITY CENTER — The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum at Saginaw Valley State University is hosting the exhibit “Motor City Icon: The Spirit of Detroit” from Oct. 5 to Jan. 19. The exhibit features artwork from various artists in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the era-defining sculpture. Inside the museum, the display is divided into four sections: historical documents and photographs, objects shown next to the “The Spirit of Detroit” (and, of course, “The Spirit of Detroit” itself), an area with a shortanimated film and an area with contemporary artwork. Marshall M. Fredericks was commissioned in 1955 to build the statue. Fredericks’ task was to create a statue that represents hope, progress and the spirit of man himself. In the statue’s left hand, there is a spherical object with rays of light. This object is said to represent divinity. In the other hand of the statue, there is a family. The family represents the relationships that humans share. Interestingly enough “The Spirit of Detroit” was originally cast in bronze in Norway. The statue was finished in 1958, and was sent from Norway to Detroit. The work was originally unnamed; however, the citizens took it upon themselves to name the statue. Naming it “The Spirit of Detroit,” the citizens thought that the statue well represented the city’s beliefs. Throughout its history “The Spirit of Detroit” has been an everlasting symbol of hope to the city. The statue has been there through some of the worst times in the city’s history: it stood as a beacon for
Jaylie Dice • Photo Editor
The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum currently has “The Spirit of Detroit” on display at Saginaw Valley State University in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the sculpture. This oil artwork titled “Third Man” was painted by Robert Sestak. University Center, Oct. 13, 2018.
hope during the race riots; it stood strong when the automakers economy slumped. Day in and day out it has been the light in the darkest times. According to Ed Fraga, a contemporary artist whose piece is featured in the exhibit, there is a story behind “The Spirit of Detroit” stating that it based off of the biblical quote, “Therefore, having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.” So inspiring was the quote that Fraga also based his work off of it. His piece features veils over the photographs of people. Fraga did this to represent the part of the quote pertaining to the veil over the face. “I used part of his [Marshall Fredericks’] [work] [...] to draw [inspiration] from; [to learn]what his intention was, [...] [to] honor what he did and [to] honor the spirits of the people that came beforehand,” says Fraga. Jaylie Dice • Photo Editor For artist Susan Goethel Campbell, “The The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Spirit of Detroit” is more than a sculpture, Museum has “The Spirit of Detroit” on display and is a symbol of community and support. from Oct. 5 to Jan. 19 at Saginaw Valley “‘The Spirit of Detroit’ to me is a lot about community and how artists support one another,” informs Campbell. State University. This exhibit was created Campbell’s sentiment was echoed by other artists, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the such as Jeanne Bieri, whose piece displays an army sculpture by the same name. Oct. 13, 2018. blanket piece from World War II, in addition to buttons
and other objects found in the streets of Detroit. “People talk when they see the army blanket,” says Bieri. “I met a man the other day who was a marine, and he talked to me about the army blankets; how scratchy they were [...] [but also] how important they were.” While the city of Detroit itself has a poor reputation, Bieri believes that “The Spirit of Detroit” transcends that reputation and offers a much more optimistic take on the city. “What does ‘The Spirit of Detroit’ exemplify? That the spirit of Detroit and everything that is involved in Detroit [...] is this kind of [continual] reawakening [...] .” Detroit is a city full of hope and culture, which is showing itself in the artists that live there. “It’s always been a pretty rich place for arts and culture,” says Campbell “Artists here support themselves, support each other and care about each other’s wellbeing. You don’t always see that in other cities.” Saginaw is not Detroit; but, you can get a sense of Detroit’s community and spirit up until Jan. 9 when “The Spirit of Detroit” leaves the SVSU campus.
10 SPORTS
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OCTOBER 23 , 2018
Delta College golf team shows drive Joe Thornton • Editor-in-Chief
Imagine waking up on a brisk Friday morning, bright and early. Imagine further that it’s for something you don’t get paid for or graded on. For members of the Delta College golf team, no imagination is necessary; this is an experience they know all too well. As members of a Division III team, there is no reward for this determination. No scholarships are given to them and no special endorsements are bestowed. Instead, they are fueled only by their love of the game. So, on this Friday morning, while many students are sleeping in, the dedicated members of this golf team are teeing off and trying to better their performance. In his fourth year with the team, Head Coach Kyle Middleton is proud of all the hard work this team has put in during the offseason, and is excited to see how it shows
throughout the season. “Over the summer, they really put time in perfecting not only their swings, but their mental game as well. In our last three matches alone, we finished third, second and second. We’ve really
Cooper Benson practices his swing at Maple Leaf Golf Course, Linwood, Oct. 5, 2018.
improved as a team, and we hope to continue to do that for the rest of the fall,” says Middleton. Freshman Jeffery “J.J.” Gross believes that the success of the team can also be attributed to the competitive spirit and camaraderie that he and his teammates share. “We have a great group of guys on this team. It helps since we’re all very competitive, so we want to not only beat other teams, but [also] push ourselves to improve personal scores. Along the way, we’ve been able to develop pretty good friendships and grow together as a team,” explained Gross. Cooper Benson, also a freshman, corroborates this idea of building relations within the team. “Golf is a sport where we gotta travel quite a ways and spend a lot of time together out, so [...] we’ve made some really good friends and some good connections, that’s for sure,” remarks Benson. Although people usually associate golf with nicer weather, this is a team that doesn’t let Mother Nature hold them back. “I think the majority of the team is really young, and a lot of us are freshmen, so I think we bring some ambition to the team that helps us against others,” states Gross. As a Delta College team, standards have been set fairly high. Within the last two years, three different Delta College sports teams have competed in national tournaments. The players on this team believe that they are capable of competing on such a level, and believe that they have
much potential in their talented participants. “That shows in our scores; it reflects each of them individually, as well as our team score,” says Middleton. Freshman Scott Sura acknowledges that this team is very talented, and that it isn’t like others from the past. “We’re not just a random team. No one knows about us, so it’d be nice to have people know about the golf team. Whenever I say I’m on the golf team, everyone’s like, ‘There’s a golf team here?’ We’re actually pretty good, but no one knows that,” explained Sura. But still, they’re not well known on campus for their success. “When I took over as head coach, there wasn’t much exposure of the team,” says Middleton. “I had a couple guys in the team that joined and didn’t even know there was a golf team at Delta, so that’s what I kind of tried to do — [...] develop it [and] get more players on the team.” Hopefully, this season is going to be the one that changes that. As the wind blew and the weather chilled on a 50-degree-Fahrenheit morning, Middleton remarked that every member of his team was in attendance. This determination is what he believes will lead to future success and, eventually, a championship. “It doesn’t really stop. Even though the weather isn’t the greatest, we still work out through the winter and hope to advance the nationals in the spring,” says Middleton. For those interested in learning more about the Delta College golf team, visit www. deltapioneers.com/sports or contact coach Kyle Middleton at kylemiddleton@delta.edu.
Delta College women’s soccer seeking glory Joe Thornton • Editor-in-Chief
After a dominant regular season by the Delta College women’s soccer team, the team has been able to cap things off with postseason success! In the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) XII Division III championship game on Saturday, Oct. 20, the Lady Pioneers were able to obtain a 2-0 win against Schoolcraft College. This win makes them the NJCAA XII Division III champion for the second year in a row. Although Schoolcraft has been stark competition for the Lady Pioneers all year, Delta was able to persevere, continuing to pursue greatness in their near-perfect season. However, this win means the girls aren’t done yet. They are now preparing for their quest to a national championship, competing this weekend for a national playoff berth.Congratulations to the players and coaches on being crowned Region XII champions, and best of luck moving forward!
Jaylie Dice • Photo Editor
Hunter Kukla steals the ball from opposing team member, Sydney Acosta. University Center, Oct. 3, 2018
SPORTS
www.deltacollegiate.com
OCTOBER 23, 2018
11
For whom the Bell tolls Joe Thornton • Editor-in-Chief
For those who follow the NFL, you know all about Le’Veon Bell and the drama he’s left in his wake. If you drafted him in fantasy, I send condolences your way for the wasted pick. For those who know nothing about him, Bell is one of the elite running backs of the NFL. If you were to call him the most talented player in the league, you’d be able to justify it pretty easily. Bell has produced gargantuan numbers since entering the league as a rookie. The thing about Bell’s talents is that, like many dual-threat running backs entering the league, he doesn’t just run the ball. He is a receiver who lines up in the backfield, able to not only run the ball, but also catch passes. What’s happening with Bell is that, since he is a multifaceted talent, he wants to be paid as such. He doesn’t just want to be paid as the league’s best running back; he also wants to be paid as one of the best receivers in the league, putting a huge cherry on top of his already massive best-running-back salary. Maybe he could get that gigantic pay day if he were with another team, but we’re talking about the Steelers. They’ve already got numerous superstars trying to get their lion’s share of the pot. Antonio Brown, namely, is one of the highest paid wide receivers in the NFL. There simply isn’t enough money to go around.
This was a hot story during the offseason, but it heated up further when no long-term deal for Bell was signed entering the season. Therefore, Bell was forced to play on the franchise tag (a special form of contract), which resulted in a salary of around $14.5 million. That’s a lot of cheddar; but apparently not enough to satisfy Bell. His issue with all the offers that the Steelers have put on the table is that they don’t guarantee enough money. They are offering gargantuan contracts, but Bell wants to hedge his bets. The problem is, he himself isn’t a safe bet. Since Bell was drafted, the Steelers have played 90 games. Bell has only been part of 66 for miscellaneous reasons, including two suspensions, multiple injuries and the games he has missed by holding out this year. In layman’s terms, he has missed the equivalent of an entire NFL season (and more). Yet he thinks he deserves to be the highest-paid running back of all time? It’s pretty risky to guarantee money for someone that you don’t know is going to stay out of trouble and stay healthy. The worst part is — he takes no responsibility for those actions. He doesn’t even acknowledge how many games he has missed. But Bell still feels it necessary to fight a fight no NFL player asked him to. To me, this action simply seems like a front for his greed. As a result, things have gotten pretty nasty. Entering week 6 of the NFL, Bell has yet to arrive to the Steelers’ training facility or games. As part of the franchise tag
agreement, Bell doesn’t have to show up or report to the team’s facility until week 11. This means every passing week, Bell is taking a bold stand. He’s come to understand that he won’t be given a long-term deal (or at least one that lives up to his standards) with the Steelers. Instead, he has chosen to preserve his body and not risk injury. He doesn’t practice or play with the team, and every week he holds out, he loses an $855,529 game check (the third highest payment among running backs this season). It’s an unprecedented situation. Is he doing the right thing by minimizing the risk of injury in a contract year? I really don’t think so. Personally, it seems the only person who is losing out significantly from this boycott is Bell himself. The way I see it, he has dug himself into a hole that is too deep to get out, and his pride is getting in the way of making money and playing football. To make things worse, Bell is making this protest alone. It isn’t like there is a running back union that is sitting out together, trying to get paid as both a receiver and an elite running back. How about you just keep producing, stay healthy, stay out of trouble and get paid big as a result of your success? Get off the couch, Bell — your team needs you and your wallet wants those game checks.
How Golden State is ruining the NBA Joe Thornton • Editor-in-Chief
Dear Adam Silver, How could you let it get this bad? I don’t get it. It has to be written somewhere in your job description that you can’t allow an NBA team to get this overpowered. At the end of the season, teams receive their draft order inversely related to their performance throughout the season. The whole point to structuring leagues this way is to ensure the same team isn’t able to win each and every year. Championships shouldn’t be so easily accessible. But if you’re the Golden State Warriors, you know all about how accessible they actually are. Of course, it isn’t enough to have four star players in your starting lineup. That’s too few! I mean, who is going to cover that pesky fifth opponent on the court?! An only above-average NBA player? No… that simply won’t do. As this happens, Silver, you sit by, twiddling your thumbs, watching the Bay Area basketball team create a real-life version of the Monstars from “Space Jam.” There weren’t many people who had a problem with superteams when this all started. After all, how much trouble could be caused by a single superteam? Professional sports are meant to be entertainment; isn’t it entertaining to have a team that can shoot from anywhere, score any amount of points and set records for wins? I’ll admit it — I liked the idea when it began. Maybe for a couple of years after, even. But once Kevin Durant came to the Warriors, that was when the NBA was ruined. But Demarcus “Boogie” Cousins too… is there a word for “past ruined”? Players are throwing their hands up in the air saying, “Well, I can’t beat ‘em. May as well join ‘em.” And you see no problem with this? I guess not… I mean, you’re still getting your big paychecks. Who wants to see an aging LeBron go against a full team of all-stars for the millionth time in a row? I’ll answer it for you — literally nobody. No one likes to watch a movie when they know what the ending will be.
Spoiler alert: Golden State makes it to the finals. No reason to watch anymore! No reason to put on the façade that anyone else has a chance. I’ll keep my eyes on the NFL, where Roger Goodell can at least keep the illusion of fairness in his league. I’m prayin’ for ya, Pistons. Sincerely, A Frustrated Fan. • Illustration by Maia Wiederhold
12 OPINION
www.deltacollegiate.com
OCTOBER 23 , 2018
Why recreational marijuana should be legalized
Devil's Advocate against the Devil's Lettuce
Zach Parfeniuk • Reporter
Maia Wiederhold • Illustrator
What's on the Michigan statewide ballot this year? Ganja. Proposal 1, if passed, will legalize recreational marijuana across Michigan for the use of people who are at least 21 years old. Due to the recent focus on Medicare, social security, immigration and taxes, marijuana seems to have taken a back seat in political discussion; this makes the proposal no less important. If you need convincing as to why to vote for the proposal, look at the facts. Marijuana just is not as harmful as some critics report it to be. There are many different effects of a high on the human body; one of the most obvious effects being disruption in the activity the hippocampus, the brain's short-term memory center. Some point to this as being a health risk of marijuana, but a 2013 study done by Northwestern University shows that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana) only continues to affect the hippocampus after the high if the users are heavy drug abusers (the subjects in question smoking marijuana daily). As a matter of fact, the effects of marijuana on the brain have been used positively in some cases. THC riles up the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls appetite. In a 2011 study done by the University of Alberta, findings showed that this effect of marijuana benefits cancer patients who have an impaired sense of appetite and smell; stimulating the hypothalamus meant stimulating the patient’s appetite, making it easier for them to stay
at a healthy weight. Marijuana has also been noted to help with other diseases, such as: Alzheimer's Disease, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Crohn's Disease and several others by helping to ease physical pain, decreasing anxiety and other methods. In addition, it helps the economy and government. Social and fiscal institutions have much to gain from legalizing recreational marijuana. It opens up a new type of business, and the tax stimulates government programs. To look at the economic benefit of legalized recreational marijuana, look no further than Colorado. This year alone, from January to September, Colorado collected over $200 million from marijuana taxes, licenses and fee revenue. Michigan has an even greater population than Colorado( 9.962 million in 2017 compared to 5.607 million in Colorado the same year). Finally, by legalizing marijuana, people would see less and less of a need to buy marijuana from drug dealers if it's available from a government supported institution. Continuing to criminalize the drug bloats our prison system. According to an FBI report in September of this year, in 2017 there were 659,700 arrests for simply owning (not growing or selling) marijuana. We are wasting our time and money trying to track down marijuana usage, when there are
real epidemics going on inside the country. If people are using marijuana irresponsibly, such as driving under the influence, they deserve to be held accountable by a court of law for that crime. However, simply possessing the drug should not land you a spot in prison; American jails already contain almost a quarter of the world's prison population.
This is not to say that marijuana's myriad of benefits comes without its cons. The chemicals such as the aforementioned THC can impair short-term memory for an extended period of time if marijuana is smoked consistently on a daily basis. However, I find that this mostly falls to the responsibility of the user. Why should the entire state be denied the use of cannabis simply because of the potential for that drug to cause harm? Drunk driving causes numerous deaths every day, but is the solution to ban alcohol? We can't fight extreme actions with extreme measures. Michigan should join states such as Colorado and Washington in promoting a progressive message for drug reform.
Weed. Mary Jane. Pot. Dro. Loud. Ganja. The list goes on and on. We’ve all heard of (and most of us have even come across) what is considered “the most widely used illegal drug in the United States” (according to Rehabs.com) — marijuana.
of time, memory, hunger and coordination. It also has long-term effects on the brain that causes users to have “impaired thinking and interferes with a person’s ability to learn and perform complicated tasks,” according to drugabuse.gov. More marijuana usage would decrease the overall state of our country. The drug also causes users to take more risks than they would than if they were sober, which ultimately leads to more stupid injuries, crimes, and actions. By making the usage and selling of marijuana legal, the government is almost encouraging the use of it. While marijuana is still used and sold despite being illegal, there would definitely be a large increase in users if it was more easily accessible.
Now I know most of you reading this are probably considering voting Drugs ruin people’s yes for Proposal 18-1, but think lives, and more people of the consequences. would become dependent Marijuana is on the drug, which is highly considered a addictive, and continue to Schedule I drug, waste money on it. W meaning it is illegal ith the increased use because it has of marijuana in your potential for high community, there is abuse. Possessing, a greater chance that selling, and using children will be exposed marijuana can to it at a young age or get you up to a have access to it, causing year in jail and them to become addicted and a $1,000 fine if it affecting their is your first offense. • Illustration by Maia Wiederhold brains’ functions After a third offense, having before they have even the smallest amount time to fully mature. This will affect of the drug on you can land you them not only in school but also in a felony with up to three years in the workforce as they grow up. jail. According to aclu.org, over 8.2 If marijuana was decriminalized, million arrests have been made due users would have easier access to the to marijuana charges from 2001 to drug, meaning more people would 2010. Within the state of Michigan, be out there in the world walking thousands of men and women have around and operating vehicles while served time (and some still are) high. Drug-impaired driving, which for charges related to marijuana. is just as bad if not worse than drunk With such a stigma against those driving, would most definitely who use it and sell it, it’s not a surprise increase, making our streets even that there is such a controversy over less safe than they already are. whether or not it should be made ttOverall, there are more legal. I, for one, think the current negatives to the use of marijuana laws are perfectly reasonable and than there are positives, and it’s have been put in place for a reason. clear to see why it was made illegal Marijuana contains the chemical in the first place. Keeping the drug tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, laws that are in place now will which is carried to the brain almost help keep the use of marijuana immediately when the drug is down more than if it was legal. smoked. THC affects your sense
OPINION
www.deltacollegiate.com
OCTOBER 23, 2018
Don’t complain if you don’t vote — Our View —
“I don’t vote. It doesn’t change anything.” If you’re anything like us, you’ve heard this excuse a million times. You have friends who will talk about how flawed democracy is — all in attempts to justify why they themselves don’t vote. The problem lies in the overwhelming amount of young people who don’t go out to the polls, or even register to vote. Nowadays, people who are coming of age don’t see the point and, thus, decline the opportunity to participate in our democracy. When people feel like their voice isn’t heard, they stop talking altogether. They let those who are already speaking to shout over them and keep them quiet. Right now, those shouting are the Baby Boomer generation. The Baby Boomers are disproportionately representing the United States on every voting day, coming out to the polls in full force and making decisions that
benefit them at the cost of others. Regardless of how little it feels like your voice is making an impact, it is essential for everyone to vote, no matter their age. In this country, voting is seen as one of the greatest privileges to grace mankind, especially in a democracy. Well… once upon a time it was considered a privilege. Now, it is a right. And one that we often take for granted and choose not to exercise. Voting is the only way to have a say in your government, and the only opportunity you have to govern yourself. If you refuse to vote, you’re essentially signing away one of your most valuable individual liberties. Why complain about the state of our nation when you aren’t doing anything to change it? One of the best ways to make a difference is by casting your ballot on voting day. Everybody’s vote counts, and everybody’s voice matters — unless you don’t vote. In that case, your voice doesn’t matter, so don’t waste it complaining.
• Illustration by Maia Wiederhold
13
SATIRE: Call to ban halloween costumes Michael Piwowarski • News Editor
UNIVERSITY CENTER — Ah, yes… Halloween. A time for kids to venture off into the world in search of candy. A time for the mutilation of pumpkins to turn them into jack-o’-lanterns. And, of course, a time for people of all ages to dress in the costume of their choice. In disagreement with this time-honored tradition, a group of Delta College students and faculty is organizing a protest on campus, calling for the banning of Halloween costumes. They have named their group Pioneers Against Obnoxious Costumes (PAOC). Bob Obvious, political science major and PAOC member, recalls how, last Halloween, he was scared out of his pants by someone dressed as a dinosaur. “I’m sitting down in the cafeteria, doing my calculus homework, and, right behind me, one of my classmates comes up wearing this green T-Rex-asaurus [sic] costume,” recalls Obvious. “I literally freaked out. People think Trump costumes are scary? Imagine a giant T-Rex walking around campus giving people that... stare!” O’Reilly Stickhead, associate professor in mathematics, is leading the protest group, and has reportedly threatened to give his students an F if they come to his class dressed for Halloween. He claims that it is too distracting. “I’m gonna be making my students complete 100 algebra equations in class on Halloween day,” says Stickhead. “You can’t do that [and] admire someone’s Spiderman costume at the same time!” Jed Sillyist, communications major, isn’t necessarily against Halloween costumes, but is
joining in the PAOC protest to raise awareness about creepy clown costumes. “Think of the children!” says Sillyist. “Some students are parents; they might come to campus with their kids. We don’t want them to have nightmares of [...] campus clowns!” The protest is scheduled to happen one week before Halloween. O’Reilly Stickhead mentioned to the Collegiate that the protest will include a costume burning outside the main campus. Stickhead and his group hope, through this protest, to convince the Delta College Board of Trustees to pass a motion banning Halloween costumes from the main campus and all learning centers. No one on the board can be reached at this time, despite multiple attempts to receive comments. In protest of this protest, a group of Delta students have arisen, calling themselves the “Clown Guild.” This new group seeks to “defend Halloween silliness,” and encourages students everywhere to come to campus Halloween day dressed in their favorite costumes. Sylvester Spungehead, Clown Guild president and arts major, was wearing a giant shark costume when we talked to him this week. He and a few other members of the group were standing in the west lower commons area. While Spungehead was holding up a sign saying “Stand Up for Silliness,” Sam Oblivious donned his Pennywise costume and held up a “Clowns Have Rights Too!” sign. To Oblivious’ left, “Smelly” Pete was wearing — yep — a dinosaur costume. “Children aren’t afraid of us,” says Pete. “They laugh when I do my
dinosaur dance. Some Pioneers are getting too politically correct, sheesh.” The Clown Guild also wants to emphasize the point that costumes aren’t just for Halloween. “I [absolutely] have to wear this costume when the voter registration table is set up!” says Spungehead. “Those PAOC bozos think I shouldn’t wear my shark costume to attract the attention of passers-by, do they have a better idea?” The Clown Guild has scheduled their “Costume March” to take place on Halloween Day. Club members (as well as non-club members) are welcome to participate and encouraged to wear a costume “that they are proud of.” Spungehead says that they already have 66 registered participants, and that they are looking for donations of clown costumes to give to anyone who wants to march but can’t get a costume. “We’re gonna be marching from the nurse program [sic] wing, through the Red Brix, then from there to the library, outside through the main entrance; we’re gonna go everywhere and spread some Halloween cheer,” states Spungehead. “I’m going,” says Sue Sassy, graphic design major. “My brother and sister are going too. I haven’t decided what costume I’m wearing yet, but I think my brother will be dressed as Alice Cooper.” As it turns out, Pioneers Against Obnoxious Costumes were not aware of the Clown Guild’s existence until we talked to O’Reilly Stickhead again for further comments. “Sylvester’s their president!? He’s in my algebra class! What a jerk. I’m gonna punish him by making him do 200 extra equations on Halloween, then give him an F regardless of what his answers are,” says Stickhead.
14
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