,%"+# ))+
#%$ / $+ (/ Men’s Basketball
Page 6
RrEeCcEeNnTt LlOoWw GgAaSs PpRrIiCcEeSs MmAaYy NnOoTt MmEeAaNn Aa BbEeTtTtEeRr EeCcOoNnOoMmYy BbYy GgAaBbRrIiEeLlLlEe MmAaRrTtIiNn )* ( &%(* (
( "" #
For most people, lower gas prices are a great thing. After all, less money spent at the pump means more money in your pocket to buy things that you actually want to spend your money on. “It’s good mentally to know that you can travel places without having to break your pockets for gas,â€? says Laurence Dunn, a Health Science major at Delta College. With Michigan in the top 15 states for lowest gas prices, according to gasbuddy.com, many people ZRXOG WKLQN WKDW WKH H[WUD PRQH\ being saved on gas will give the economy here the boost that it needs. “It might boost the economy a little bit because people will be able to work,â€? says Delta Nursing student Sherri Reinert. “Some people aren’t working because they can’t afford the gas.â€? Associate Professor of Economics at Delta College, Eric “Qâ€? Beckman, isn’t quite as optimistic. “The positives and the negatives kind of offset each other in my mind,â€? says Beckman. With the cost of oil being so ORZ VRPH 8 6 EDVHG UHĂ€QHULHV ZRQ¡W be able to stay open. People from
“In the winter months, what do you do to make it not so long and boring?� LlIiAaMm PpRrEeTtZzEeRr
# " $
“Some friends and I went to Meijer and got hot chocolate and cookies and went home and ZDWFKHG 1HWĂ L[ Âľ AaLlAaNn IiNnGgRrAaMm
) $ -
“I play video games, eat, go to school, do work and writing new rap songs.�
:KDW \RX SD\ DW WKH SXPS PD\ KDYH DQ XQH[SHFWHG HIIHFW RQ WKH HFRQRP\ 'HOWD &ROOHJLDWH -RVHSKLQH 1RUULV
Michigan who used to go work in 1RUWK 'DNRWD RU 7H[DV DW WKHVH UHĂ€Qeries will now be without jobs. That means that the money they brought home, to Michigan, and spent is now not coming into the state economy. In addition, these people being without jobs will put more pressure on the Michigan job market, says Beckman. In addition, the money that the average person is saving at the pump isn’t amounting to all that much. “People overestimate how much gas they actually use,â€? says
Beckman. “For the typical household, they aren’t saving that much.� However, he thinks that the money people are saving, they are spending, which is good news for the state economy. A fear that Beckman has is that with cheaper gas prices, especially in the future, people will buy bigger vehicles and research on smarter ways to fuel vehicles will come to a halt. For people who already have or plan to buy the large trucks and SUVs, Beckman doesn’t have a positive out-
Local farmers sprout urban farming series on campus BbYy GgRrEeGgOoRrYy HhOoRrNnEeRr )* ( &%(* (
As the popularity of urban farming spreads across the country, Delta College is planting its roots in this growing trend. For those interested in achieving a green thumb, Delta is inviting students and the public to sign up for a series of classes which will guide participants through the steps needed to grow their own food. The series is a new addition to Delta’s curriculum of non-credit lifelong learning FODVVHV 7KH VL[ FODVVHV SODQQHG IRU WKLV VHmester include: ‡ Soil Health and Amendments (2/9/15, 3/10/15, or 3/14/15) ‡ Starting Seeds and Companion Plants (2/11/15, 3/12/15, or 3/21/15) ‡ Growing in Small Spaces: Raised Beds, Cold Frames, Hoop Houses (2/16/15, 3/17/15, or 3/28/15) ‡ Backyard Poultry: Raising Chickens (2/18/15 or 3/19/15) ‡ Building Your Own Farm Equipment (2/23/15 or 3/24/15) ‡ Taking Your Goods to Market (2/25/15, 3/26/15, or 3/28/15) To host the classes, Delta has partnered with the Wildroot Food Collective, a group devoted to urban and organic farming in Michigan and the Tri-City area. This semester’s courses will be held on Delta’s main campus, with a focus on applied learning and hands-on lessons. Linda Petee, Delta’s sustainability
( %($ ( coordinator, is responsible for Delta hosting the series and will be an instructor for several of the classes. Petee got the idea after contacting several local farmers and organizations to see if they were interested in working with Delta’s compost program. “These classes will offer help people who don’t have a backyard or room for a garden,â€? said Linda Petee. “We want people to partner up with their community, work with others to make space available, and grow food for other people.â€? Petee says there are plans to continue beyond this semester and when the weather clears up students will have plenty of opportunities to get their hands dirty. “We have plans underway to have students volunteer on the farms and set up internships with Wildroot.â€? The college has invited three presenters from Wildroot Food Collectiv, to host the classes alongside Petee. Each presenter KDV H[SHULHQFH ZLWK ORFDO XUEDQ DQG RUJDQLF farming and works with local community-supported agriculture groups, food banks and restaurants to distribute their product. Fred Monroe graduated from Michigan State with a degree in Horticulture and has spent several years in northern Ohio as a farm manager. After Monroe had his Ă€UVW VRQ KH IHOW LQVSLUHG WR UHWXUQ WR KLV hometown of Alma and started up Monroe Family Organics.
To read the rest of the story turn to page 2
look for gas prices staying down. “It’s unsustainably low, at least that’s my opinion on it. The price of gas, the price of oil is unsustainably low.� According to the United States Energy Information Administration projections, the average price of a gallon of gas in the United States will be $2.41 in Aug. of this year. By Aug. of 2016, the price will be at $2.88 per gallon.
SsCcHhOoLlAaRrSsHhIiPpSs AaVvAaIiLlAaBbLlEe Need help paying for classes for the Fall 2015 and/ or Winter 2016 Semester? Students can get up to $1,000 to help with the cost of their education. Students have to answer two essay questions. Some VFKRODUVKLSV PD\ DVN DQ H[WUD TXHVWLRQ DW WKH GRQRU¡V UHTXHVW 6WXGHQWV GR QRW KDYH WR GHPRQVWUDWH D Ă€QDQFLDO need or have a high GPA to receive a scholarship. The time to apply is now through Feb. 10, 2015. If the deadline is missed, applications will not be considered for a scholarship. To apply, go to Delta’s home page at www.delta.edu and click on the link that says “Apply for Scholarships 1RZ Âľ &RQWDFW WKH )RXQGDWLRQ 2IĂ€FH DW for more information. Written by: Marisa Loranger
AaAaRrOoNn LlIiDdDdEeLlLl ) $ -
“I go to recreation centers and play basketball since I can’t do it outside.� SsAaRrAaHh UuLlLlRrIiCcHh ) $ -
“I do art. I am learning how to paint and make things look more interesting.� TtIiMm PpAaGgEe
%" # $
“I tend to hang out with friends as much as I can, watch movies (like “The Hunger Games�) and shop.� JjUuLlLlIiAaNn KkUuSsEeYy
)) ., ""
“I work a lot, stay in school and I ski.�