March 13, 2018

TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2018

VOLUME 82, ISSUE 5

Performance diner improves working conditions after lawsuit

NEWS PG 2-4

Local AfricanAmerican heroes tell their stories

COLLEGIATE LIFE PG 5-7

Rechsteiner places at state level in writing competition

A&E

PG 10-12

This is Art: Accountability in the art and music scene

OPINION PG 13-15

Men’s basketball crowned district champions

SPORTS PG 16-17

Read on page 11 A server at Ellen’s Stardust Diner performs a musical number while patrons watch with awe. March 8, 2018. New York, NY. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)

Our View - Leave politics out of school shootings

NEWS

2

Bay City Town Center hosts first annual Family Winter Fun Fest MICHAEL PIWOWARSKI BAY CITY – Saturday, Feb. 24, the Bay City Town Center offered family fun for children of all ages with the first annual Family Winter Fun Fest.

A bounce house, a meet-andgreet with movie characters and a “Mom 2 Mom Sale” were among many activities for families that day.

Barbara Behmlander, general manager of the Bay City Town Center, says that the turnout for the event was “incredible,” with “between 45 and 50 vendors” that were set up throughout the mall on that day.

“There was very little duplication, there was something different all the way through the Town Center and in general it was well received,” says Behmlander.

Amber Rolla of Bay City brought her kids to the Fun Fest and “had a lot of fun.”

“It brings people from the community out and gets people into the mall. This mall has been

Movie characters walk through the mall during a meet-and-greet with kids at the Bay City Town Center, during the first annual Family Winter Fun Fest. Feb. 24, 2018. Bay City, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Michael Piwowarski)

kind of slowing down quite a bit, so things like this are really good for this area,” says Rolla, who adds that she would “definitely” go again next year.

The event featured live performances at the mall’s center stage, including the Joel Tacey Show and “If I Were A Star: New

Songs for Kids & Their Families” with Robin Devereaux.

Among the vendors present on site were the Dow Bay Area Family YMCA, PNC Bank and the Boys and Girls Club of the Great Lakes Bay Region.

“I think it’s important to just get our name out there; get

people understanding that we have these types of things that are available to the community for them to participate in,” says Emily Jackson of the YMCA. “It’s so important to get the family out in the community, so they can spend some quality time building relationships,” says Sheila Pichla, prevention coordinator of the Boys and Girls Club.

Children and families also received free grab-bags from the Bay City Town Center, free popcorn from the Bay City 10 GDX movie theater and free pizza from BJay’s Pizza & Coneys.

“You might as well have lots of fun with your family while you can,” says Bethany Taylor, a vendor for the Mom 2 Mom Sale.

“Free events, cheap stuff, a good way to get out and about, not just sit around on the couch.”

Formerly known as the Bay City Mall, the shopping center changed its name in 2017 as

an effort to adapt to changing shopping trends. The Sears and Target located at the mall both closed in 2015, and the food court was removed in favor of a Petsmart, which held its grand opening this year.

The former Sears building is currently occupied by two different retailers, Younker’s and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet.

Although the shopping center has been showing such signs of decline over the years, manager Barbara Behmlander remains optimistic about its future.

“Both [Younkers and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet] have been great retailers to add to Bay City,” says Behmlander. “We’ve got some great activity going on right now.

I’m looking forward to some additional announcements later in the year.”

The Bay City Town Center has other upcoming events, including the March Arts and Crafts Show on Friday, March 23.

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NEWS

3

Local African-American heroes tell their stories

2nd Annual Mardi Grass Massacre Roller Derby

JOE THORNTON SAGINAW – The Delta College Ricker Center was abundant with energy and excitement as members of the community streamed in for the Living Inspirations event. This program, taking place on Monday, Feb. 19, was held as part of Delta’s celebration and recognition of Black History Month.

Attendees were able to sit and learn while hearing the stories of many successful African Americans with deep roots in the city of Saginaw. The event gave the opportunity to learn from a renowned pastor, retired NFL football player and many more.

• LaMarr Woodley – Retired NFL player and owner of Area 56 Productions and LaMarr Woodley Foundation • Kujuanna Ray – Owner of “U Me Paint” • Pastor Marvin T. Smith – Pastor of Mt. Olive Institutional Church and Author • Dr. Reva Curry - Vice President of Instruction and Learning Services • Mr. Prince Robertson – Author, Motivational

Speaker and Community Activist • Mrs. Leola Wilson – President of NAACP – Saginaw County Chapter • Dr. Jack Nash – First black dentist in Saginaw Pastor Dr. Marvin T. Smith explained that he thinks of his life in three pieces and used a stool as a metaphor to display this. His wooden stool had only three legs, each painted a different color to represent different chapters of his life: red, gray and white.

“The first leg is red, representing the time of my life that I spent in the military. I have always viewed that stage of my life as a wake-up call, hence the red-colored leg. This was an alarming experience for me, leading white men who were old enough to be my father as the only black officer out of 300 leaders in the brigade,” explained Smith.

After disclosing the unique experience of an African American in a changing America, Smith continued to explain the remaining chapters of his life.

“Next comes the gray part of my life. This was a time that lacked certainty, and I didn’t entirely know what I wanted to do. I was actively pursuing a degree to become a better manager at my current company, but I never felt like my talents were being used entirely,” states Smith.

Following the determination that was required to get through the red and gray, Smith concluded with the final and current chapter of his life.

“The final chapter of my life that I’m going through now is the white leg of the stool. This was when I knew I heard the call from God to serve in his name. Some things in life are impossible to avoid, and this was definitely one of those things,” says Smith.

Pastor Smith is just one tale of excellence that has deep roots in Saginaw. These living inspirations serve as an example to all Saginaw locals, especially younger children in need of role models.

Read about it online at wwww.deltacollegiate.com

Skaters from all over the state compete in the 2nd annual Mardi Gras Massacre roller derby. Feb. 24, 2018. Midland, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/ Jaylie Dice)

Michigan Record Club Facebook group reaches one-thousand member milestone MICHAEL PIWOWARSKI MIDLAND – In an age of digital music and online streaming, vinyl records have regained a strong following over the past decade. In Michigan, there exists a community for vinyl enthusiasts to come and discuss their record collections and favorite music.

Michigan Record Club, a Facebook group started by Bill Young, recently reached a membership of 1,000.

Formerly known as RecordClub MidMichigan, Young started the club in the early 2010s, when the vinyl revival was starting to take off.

“I kept thinking to myself, you know, I love my music, how can I share that love of music with other people? Facebook was kind of new back then, and I thought, boy, this is a perfect avenue to share the love of records,” says Young.

An avid record collector himself, Young says that he currently has three stereos in his house and, as of the last time he took count, 2,240 record albums in his collection.

“I’ve been in love with music ever since I was a little kid,” says Young. “I had three

older sisters who had music, so I was exposed to a lot of music at a very early age, including Elvis.”

Young cites that one of his reasons for collecting records is because of nostalgia.

“When I was young – I was born in 1958 – all we had were records and AM radio, so if you wanted to listen to good music, you had to buy vinyl records,” says Young.

Young did not initially expect the club to gain such a strong following.

“I thought that [the group was] just gonna be kind of an avenue to communicate with the people I already knew,” says Young. “I didn’t realize that I would come to know over a thousand other people in this state.”

Having been diagnosed with cancer a few months back and undergoing various treatments, Young currently maintains the club alongside three other administrators, Raymond Pounds, John Bellsmith and Steve Trumbull, and hopes to see the Michigan Record Club continue to grow in the future.

“The biggest reason [that people join]

is pride. Members are proud of their collection and they want to share that pride. Members check the club to see what is happening locally in the vinyl record scene,” says Young.

Members of the club usually discuss their favorite albums and musicians. The club also co-sponsors the semiannual Bay City Record Convention and hosts swap meets where members can get together to socialize and trade records.

Steve Trumbull, whom Bill Young recently made an administrator of the group, says his own record collection now sits at more than 1,300 records, which he has collected “in a very short period of time” since joining the group.

“Interestingly, I joined because I was looking to sell off some of my collection. Bill Young came over and bought some of my records, and through talking with him, I ended up getting interested in vinyl again.

I have made great friendships with members of this club,” says Trumbull.

To celebrate the 1,000-member

milestone, Bill Young hosted a giveaway for club members to enter for a chance to win a turntable and some record albums.

The drawing occured on Sunday, March 4.

“If you are a record collector, then this club is for you,” says Young. “I never would have dreamed that 1,000 people would join.”

The Michigan Record Club is a public Facebook group and is open to anyone from the state who wants to become a member.

Illustration by David Taylor

4

Indoor triathlon to be held at Delta

NEWS

JESSICA SIEROCKI Grab your swimsuits and get your water bottles handy. Delta College is hosting its annual indoor triathlon Sunday, March 25. The event starts at 8 a.m. and will be held in Delta’s Fitness and Recreation area.

“It teaches people how to live a happy and healthy lifestyle,” says Erica Reymore, a Delta student who is helping organize the event.

Community members as well as students are welcome to participate in this event. The cost for students is $15 and $30 for community members through Sunday, March 18. After March 18 there is an additional $5 late registration fee. The costs include participation in the event, Delta gear and food after the completion of the event.

“It’s a great community event and brings students with common interests together in a fun way,” says Rice.

The triathlon benefits more than just the health of the participating athletes with the sign-up fees going toward a good cause.

“The proceeds are going to help the Delta College students by going toward emergency funds for the students,” says Caroline Rice, a fitness health student.

The rundown for the event schedule is as follows: • • • • •

20 minutes in the pool 10 minute transition in the locker room 20 minutes on stationary bike 5 minute transition to get to treadmill 20 minutes on treadmill

own pace. Most other triathlons you’re worried about keeping time, but this event is more relaxed. You can swim a lap in the pool and take a 5-minute break if you need to,” says Reymore.

Reymore says that an event like this is great for people who have never participated in a triathlon as well as seasoned athletes.

“It doesn’t matter what age you are or what level your ability is.

I think everyone should give it a chance and come out and give it a chance. It’s a good experience,” says Reymore.

For more information and to get the registration form, contact Carla Murphy at carlamurphy@ delta.edu or or 989-686-9588.

Participants will be required to bring their own swimsuits.

“The good thing about an indoor triathlon is you go at your

When Sunday, March 25 at 8:00 a.m.

Where Delta College Fitness and Recreation Center Cost $15 for students $30 through March 18 After March 18, there’s an additional sign-up $5 fee

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UNIVERSITY CENTER – The great lakes bay job fair is being held Mar. 20 in the pioneer gymnasium. Martin Finney, a Career Advisor at Delta is currently working with local businesses to help coordinate the event.

“This is actually the biggest one we’ve had,” Finney stated. “Normally we have about 75-80 [employers], and we’re already pushing 100 and we’re still a week out.”

Surrounding businesses will have the opportunity to network with students, looking for employees from entry levels to graduates.

Some employers expecting to attend include Buffalo Wild Wings, the United States Army, Aflac and Fabiano Brothers, along with 96 other companies.

“They are here specifically to hire people,” says Finney. “They’re literally here trying to find people, and the biggest complaint we get from employers is we don’t have enough job seekers for them.”

Those interested are encouraged to “dress to impress” and come with resumes in hand. If job seekers need assistance preparing for interviews or sprucing up their resume they can set up an appointment with career services before the event.

“It’s gonna be everything, from good summer jobs like speedways and mcdonalds of the world to health, manufacturing, law enforcement you name it. They are basically doing a mini interview right in front of them. They should have resumes and everything in place,” says Finney.

For tips pertaining to job seekers, or a full list of employers, visit the Great Lakes Bay Job Fair page on delta’s website at www.delta.edu/greatlakesbayjobfairw.

NEWS

5

Families Against Narcotics returns to Delta to promote Hope Not Handcuffs

Exploring works of science fiction with Dr. Ray Lacina

MICHAEL PIWOWARSKI

HALEY NAGEL

Kelley Nahas, administrative coordinator for Families Against Narcotics, speaks at the public forum/Q&A session during FAN’s monthly meeting at Delta College. March 8, 2018. University Center, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/ Michael Piwowarski)

UNIVERSITY CENTER – During the midsemester break, Families Against Narcotics held its monthly meeting for March at Delta College, promoting an initiative to help with addiction.

Hope Not Handcuffs seeks to bring together law enforcement and community organizations to make help more easily available for people suffering from addictions to opioids, heroin and alcohol.

On March 8 at 6 p.m., the Executive Board of the Great Lakes Bay Region FAN chapter held its meeting – before a public forum at 7 p.m. – to discuss the start of Hope Not Handcuffs for its chapter.

Vice President Lori Ziolkowski, who is an assistant professor of management at Delta College, says that things have been “moving very quickly” since the start of the Great Lakes chapter.

Judge Linda Davis, the president and founder of FAN, was at the board meeting to discuss how Hope Not Handcuffs got its start, having experienced the issue of drug addiction in her own family.

“Because it’s addiction they continue to use and are very reluctant to reach out for help,” said Judge Davis.

Hope Not Handcuffs seeks to provide that help, using volunteers, called angels, who are on call and help addicts receive proper treatment. Addicts can seek help either by going to a participating police department or by filling an online form. Many of the volunteers, Judge Davis said, are recovering addicts themselves.

Judge Davis stressed that, although Hope Not Handcuffs is not perfect, “it’s a step, and every step puts pressure on the next step to do something right.”

Although Hope Not Handcuffs is not currently active in the Great Lakes Bay Region FAN chapter, Lori Ziolkowski says that it will likely start this spring.

In other counties where FAN operates, Hope Not Handcuffs has been very successful, with 982 participants since the program’s start on Feb. 1, 2017, and 33 police departments have joined the program to date.

Ziolkowski, along with other people from FAN headquarters who were present that night – Kelley Nahas, Erin Whitkopf and Lisa Cattaneo-Boska – hosted a public forum and Q&A session following the board meeting, discussing the recruitment and training of angels for Hope Not Handcuffs.

Anyone who is interested in becoming an angel can visit FAN’s Hope Not Handcuffs website at http://www.familiesagainstnarcotics.org/ hopenothandcuffs and fill out their online sign-up form. There is also an online assessment form for addicts to fill out in order to get in contact with an angel.

Great Lakes Bay Region FAN hosts regular meetings at Delta College on the second Thursday of every month.

Wednesday Feb. 21, Dr. Ray Lacina shared his journey with Delta as a primarily science fiction writer, as well as how to get inspiration to begin writing science fiction and fantasy novels. Dr. Lacina is a talented author and English professor at Delta. He has written two science fiction novels: “Visle War”, “Crossings,” one Indie novel called “Khepera at the Dawn” and one middle grade novel which is currently being send to agents.

For those in the audience who know little about science fiction, Dr. Lacina first gave a brief history of the genre. He then explored the subgenres within science fiction that are speculative fiction, hard syfy, soft syfy, fairy stories, fantasy, sorcery, urban, historical and horror. Lacina used references from Stephen King novels to explain the horror subgenre.

“Where do superheros fall in the different subgenres?” asked Ryan Petersen--Associate Professor and Political Scientist.

Initially, Dr. Lacina cringed at this question because there are such differing opinions of authors. Answering to his best ability, he stated, “In a way, it’s its own thing. It varies from superhero to superhero and depends on the source.”

He then explains a theory about a place in the mind called the “leaf-mould” where ideas emerge from: “All the stuff that you’ve encountered in your life sits in your brain, rots away and then produces stuff later,” said Lacina.

Lacina shared several of his favorite syfy books and personal inspirations: “The Talisman” by Stephen King, “The Stand” by Stephen King, and “War of the Worlds” by H.G Wells.

“Would you say most of your inspiration came from personal experiences in your novels?” a student asked.

“Yes,” said Lacina. “But also everyday activities, like running and listening to music when the body is disconnected from the mind.”

Delta professor Ray Lacina gives a presentation on science fiction and fantasy for Delta students and community members. (Photo Courtesy: Ray Lacina)

Providing advice for writers, he gives propositions on how to expand on three premises: what if, so what and the who. He then describes what it really takes to get your work published as a new writer: “It does take some investment. Publishers want to see a mailing list, a social media presence, essentially demand for your work, which is why it can be hard to get out there.”

He also mentions Wattpad. com several times, which is a great website source for writers who want to get started and start networking.

For more information about Dr. Ray Lacina, his books, and writing resources, please visit RayLacina.com.

Next month’s brown bag event will be Dutiful Daughter: Reassessing the story of Lucretia Botticelli. It will explore the topic of women in history in celebration of Women’s History Month. Laura Dull, Social Sciences division chair, will be speaking at the event on Mar.19 from 12 to 1 p.m.

6

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Accountability in the art and music scene JACK RECHSTEINER

Lately there has been a lot of talk in the media and among people about calling out others for unacceptable behavior and keeping abusers out of spaces that should be safe, especially spaces involved with art, music, film and general expression.

There seems to be a unanimous consensus that this a healthy and progressive step for communities to be taking. There are very few people who have been speaking out against removing abusers from these kinds of spaces, and usually the people who speak out against this are either abusers themselves or speaking from places with a lot of privilege.

As we, as a society, continue to hold people accountable for their actions, the next thing we need to start asking ourselves is, what should we be expecting from people after they’ve been called out?

Recently local music festival, Bled Fest, announced that Malcolm London would be joining their lineup of musicians for this year. It was quickly brought to the attention of festival organizers that London was an alleged sexual abuser, and many people did not feel comfortable with him performing at Bled Fest. Bled Fest

retracted the announcement to take the time to read up on the situation that had happened a few years prior.

London had been called out by his community shortly after he committed the alleged assault and was given a mandatory hiatus from community projects he had been involved in, as well as beginning a 15-month, survivorled restorative justice program, which can be read about in full detail at transformharm.tumblr.com.

The organizers of Bled Fest posted publicly that they found themselves at a crossroad. On the one hand, they could take one direction and say that they believe in the power of survivor-focused accountability and community-led restorative programs. Or they could take another direction and take the stance that anyone who has assaulted someone is not welcome as part of their festival, because it would undermine the safe space that Bled Fest prides itself upon. At first Bled Fest took the position that if people are willing to do the work and take accountability for their actions, then they can be rehabilitated for the better. Most importantly, though, they acknowledge that not everyone would agree with the decision and that their statement did not mean the end of the conversation.

After continuing the discussion with the community in the Michigan art and music scene, many people made it clear that they may agree with the idea of restorative justice, they still thought it was the wrong choice to allow a self-admitted abuser to take the stage at an event so focused on providing a safe space for all people. Even if an abuser has taken accountability for their actions and made efforts to transform their behavior, their actions have harmed people in a way that is long-lasting and

often permanent.

It’s possible that in cases like these there may be instances where we can forgive an abuser’s past, but we still need to draw a line in the sand to make sure people understand that there are consequences for these kinds of actions. The problem isn’t with London being a rehabilitated assaulter, but more of a problem with what he represents and how assaulters and abuse apologists may feel empowered by seeing a previous perpetrator continue to occupy a space that is supposed to be safe.

Ultimately, I don’t think that there is just one simple answer to such a complex and pervasive problem. Abuse and assault are different from each instance to the next, and it can be harmful to overgeneralize an entire issue.

We have a lot of learning and growing to do surrounding this issue to learn how, as a society, we can deal with abusers in a way that is progressive and healthy for our communities as a whole. I do believe, though, that we can make better, more informed decisions about accountability if we raise awareness and create dialog about the subject.

Illustrated by David Taylor

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

It feels good to be king

7

JACK RECHSTEINER

Illustrated by David Taylor

“Black Panther” is the best superhero movie I have seen in a long time.

I know that’s a pretty big claim to make. Marvel Studios has become known over the past few years for putting out movies that are nothing short of excellent.

Starting with “Iron Man,” one of the movies that launched the superhero cinema craze, the Marvel film universe covers more well-known heroes like Captain America and the Avengers to reboots of characters that became lesser known over time, like Ant-Man or Doctor Strange. With their latest movie “Black Panther,” Marvel Studios has outdone themselves and shown that they still have the vision to keep superhero movies exciting and relevant.

“Black Panther” focuses on the story of T’Challa

who is to become king of Wakanda, a secret and technologically advanced African nation, after the tragic death of his father in a terrorist attack on the United Nations. From the moment T’Challa is challenged to combat to show that he is the rightful heir to the crown to the movie’s action climax, T’Challa is put to the test both physically and ethically throughout the course of events that take place in “Black Panther.”

“Black Panther” is a groundbreaking and historymaking movie on two levels: What this movie means socially and as a milestone for black achievement as well as its success as a work of popular art that has been breaking box office records.

To realize what “Black Panther” represents I challenge you to think of a major blockbuster film that has a person of color as its star protagonist, along with a supporting cast that is mainly people of color, that was made by a director who was a person of color working with writers, musicians and artists who were all people of color. That level of representation has so far been unprecedented when it comes to major cinema.

This amount of representation makes it so much more meaningful when “Black Panther” performs as one of the smartest, well-executed and most successful superhero movie to be made. The film deals with real-life social issues with characters directly addressing injustices, like the over-policing and mass incarceration of racial minorities, as well as problems like refugee crises, institutionalized racism and post-colonial exploitation.

The way the characters discuss these issues is more than a hashtag grab for social media attention, the characters have nuanced views on the topics, and many of their motivations are rooted in the reality of these problems which intersect real world battles with the grander battles between superheroes.

One of the first things you’ll notice about “Black Panther” is how proudly it celebrates black and African

cultures which it builds its stylistic identity around.

“Black Panther” seems to know its historical significance in the struggle for black self-determination and leans effortlessly into it, with great payoffs. These social themes are dealt with smartly, and the movie doesn’t fail into the trap of becoming a stiff lecture in a superhero costume. Instead it weaves that celebration of culture into the characters, the costumes and the world that “Black Panther” takes place in. It feels effortless, and the only reason that comes across as so radical is because there have been very few other major films to break the Anglocentrism that pervades much of society still.

[ ] “The style of the movie speaks to its incredible roster of people who worked on the film.”

-Jack Rechsteiner

Ultimately, “Black Panther”’s largest success comes from a very simple thing: The movie is fun, and it’s a blast to watch. The film creates this visually fascinating world that allows some of Marvel Studios most engaging and likeable characters to-date to take the viewer on a well-written whirlwind of an adventure that would appeal to almost anyone. This is why the social context and the representation of the movie is so effective. “Black Panther” is a superhero movie that delivers in every way necessary to be an enjoyable watch, while still telling an important story and breaking down barriers all at the same time.

AS SEEN AROUND CAMPUS

Art major students learn wheel throwing techniques while forming clay on their pottery wheels in Ceramics II class. Feb. 22, 2018. University Center, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Jaylie Dice)

Walkout planned for Bay City Central LOGAN KRAUSE BAY CITY – Thoughts and prayers are not cutting it at a local high school. Students at Bay City Central plan to partake in a national school walkout.

Senior Chase Derocher, a vocal proponent of the demonstration on social media, shared his views.

“High school students aren’t just kids.

We have voices too,” says Derocher. “No one gets to hear [our voices] because we are not of voting age.”

Derocher is not alone in this thought.

He’s one of thousands of kids who are not yet of voting age but have opinions on political topics.

In an informal Twitter poll, 19 of 20 respondents felt that “a ban on certain guns, and more in-depth background checks across the board” would be a good thing.

Craig Windt, a history teacher at Bay

City Central High School, gave his take on the issues.

“It’s weighing on their minds,” Windt says on the topic of school safety. “Talk about the demonstrations themselves have been limited.”

This is not the first protest to be organized in the wake of a mass school shooting, but to both Derocher and Windt, something distinguishes this.

“This movement is different because it involves the safety of children, not just high schoolers, but college, middle school, and elementary students as well,” says Derocher.

“The young generation, who has grown up in the shadow of Columbine is fed up with adult ‘leaders’ not even taking simple measures to address an obvious issue,” says Windt.

In recent days, some actions have

“How do you think the government should react to the increase in school shootings?”

Allie Bedore, 19, Zilwaukee “I think that’s a very controversial topic because a lot of people feel that teachers should be allowed to have guns. I myself am going to be a teacher, and as a teacher I would like to be safe, so I think that they should be able to be armed in classrooms.”

Mahommed Aomarzoogi, 29, Saudi Arabia “They have to abandon guns because it would make people feel safer.”

Sienna Miller, 22, Linwood “We should teach not only the students but also the faculty to be able to protect each other more. I’m not really sure how, but we should definitely try to come up with some type of solution to prevent these type of things from happening more often.”

Isiah Birchmeyer, 19, Saginaw “I’m for gun reform, so I think they should make stricter policies toward being able to get a gun.”

been taken. Companies are cutting ties with the NRA, including Delta Airlines and Hertz. Politicians are reevaluating long held stances and a sizable chunk of the population, specifically, kids, are becoming more engaged.

“Politicians are actually listening and seem a bit afraid,” Windt said of this recent trend, which includes the new hashtag #neveragain.

Windt, as a history teacher, drew some comparisons between the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and the current movements.

“It took northerners seeing school children in Birmingham being killed in the Sixteenth Street Baptist church bombing, and student protesters being attacked by the police and police dogs to realize that change was needed,” says Windt.

Through the decades, technology and the way information is distributed has changed, but the emotions elicited by these tragedies has remained constant.

“Seeing students being continually in danger of being killed at school and seeing strong students from Florida stand up, much like the kids in Birmingham did, has people’s attention,” says Windt. “I feel we’re on the road to change.”

Students in some school districts across the country have been threatened with punishment for partaking in any political demonstration, but according to Windt, that may not be the case for Bay City Public Schools.

“Our administration has actually been in open conversation with students and is trying to be as supportive as it can,” says Windt.

Did You Know: The deadliest US school massacre in history happened in Michigan 91 years ago MICHAEL PIWOWARSKI Within the past decade, the United States has experienced several deadly school massacres, including the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in 2012 and, more recently, the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in February of 2018.

Although these events come close, the deadliest school massacre in US history happened in 1927 in Bath Township, Michigan.

On May 18, 1927, a school board treasurer named Andrew Kehoe detonated explosives planted in the north wing of Bath Consolidated School. Two teachers and 36 students were killed in the incident.

When rescuers arrived at the scene, Kehoe also arrived in a truck filled with explosives. He detonated those explosives with a rifle, killing himself and several bystanders, including the school superintendent. Several others were injured.

Hundreds of pounds of dynamite were reportedly detonated in the Bath School building, with an additional 500 pounds

discovered inside the building that were not set off. Apparently, Kehoe had originally intended to destroy the whole building.

While the incident happened 91 years ago, a few survivors are still here to tell the story.

In a 2017 article marking the 90th anniversary of the Bath School massacre, Judy Putnam of the Lansing State Journal states that it is not certain how many survivors currently remain.

However, as of 2017, two of the school’s students from when the massacre happened are still alive – both more than 100 years old – and currently live in Lansing. Another known survivor lives on Drummond Island.

Rachael Greco, another writer for the Lansing State Journal, specifically interviewed the oldest surviving student: Irene Dunham, 109. Greco writes that Dunham stayed home from school on the day of the massacre because of a sore throat, which may have saved her life.

Terror at school: The new normal HALEY GRAY

Students from Bay City Western High School discuss the Florida school shooting in the school’s student-run store. (Photo Courtesy: Haley Gray)

The Florida High School shooting has led to sparks of debate between legislatures, parents and anyone with a social media account. Leading the social media storm of conversations are American teens, seemingly the ones to be most affected by the recent shootings.

Students from Bay City Western High School have joined the conversation.

Sitting around a corner booth at La Pizza in Auburn, a regular hangout for Western students, tension was high as students shared their own opinions on the Florida shooting.

Kameron Brozewski, 16, a junior at Western, said gun restrictions are needed.

“No 18-year-old should have access to an AR-15,” he said, referring to the semiautomatic rifle used in the Florida massacre.

Sitting across the table from Brozewski, Sydnee Young, 16, echoed Brozewski’s call for more gun laws on 18- to 20-year-olds, bringing up the topic of teachers carrying guns, saying that she

Deputy who shot teacher at Western High School awaits sentencing AUBRIE SMITH AUBURN – As social discussion increases on arming instructors for safety purposes, local courts are faced with sentencing of an armed officer who accidentally shot a teacher in the neck.

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, Adam Brown, a resource officer stationed at Western High School and Middle School in Auburn, fired a gun inside the school and struck a teacher in the neck, records show.

Brown had been attempting to use a force machine to test the trigger pull of his handgun, Bay County court records indicate. The bullet passed through two pieces of drywall and entered a classroom, striking teacher Brenda Amthor in the neck, records indicate.

According to an MLive article, Brown

did not initially confess that he had fired his weapon, and the school was placed on lockdown as a result. Brown also later admitted that he tried to destroy evidence afterwards.

Brown appeared before Bay County Circuit Judge Harry P. Gill for sentencing on May 22, 2017 after accepting a plea deal that April. The plea deal also stipulated that he would receive a delayed sentencing for one year, records show.

Though sentencing was delayed until April 23, 2018, Brown was also ordered to serve 30 days in jail. After his release, he is set to be on probation until sentencing.

If all resultant terms are met, Brown will face two misdemeanors instead of a fouryear felony.

“would feel safer” if her teachers were allowed to carry.

Students don’t trust the mental health of teachers any more than they do of their classmates. Carah Bannister, 17, said, “It’s not about the guns themselves, it’s how we regulate the people who get them.”

Jonathan Scanlan, 17, recommends a focus on mental health.

“With stress, school and the mental strain put on us, some people can’t find a better way out,” said Scanlan. “We need to put more concentration on mental health, which would reduce these events from happening.”

Standing around the counter at Western’s student-run store, students were in the midst of cleaning candy wrappers off the floor, getting prepared for the next wave of customers on lunch to come through, talking among themselves, sharing strong opinions of deeper mental health checks and age restrictions for gun purchases.

Raymond Barber, 17, said, “No one at the age of 18 should

be allowed to own a gun, because there are 18-year-olds in high school, everywhere, who aren’t ready for that responsibility mentally.”

Some students felt that there was always someone at Western they could go to to talk about their own personal issues, but beyond that with one hall monitor and one police officer on duty students didn’t hold a lot of faith in the protection provided by the school.

“Lockdowns are a joke.”

Barber said, “Some teachers have PVC pipes they put in door handles to stop people from opening the doors, but beyond that no one takes them seriously.”

One would assume this lack of prevention from the school would lead to fear among students, but for the majority this is just their daily life. To practice school shooting safety drills, being afraid of their classmates, not having faith in teachers or administration have become the new normal.

“Would you feel safe if instructors carried guns?”

Chey Davis, Faculty, Lansing “Absolutely not. I think that conversation doesn’t take into account and bias really really can come out when people are under stress and being a person of color I think that’d be very dangerous for me, so no thanks.”

Kayla Dew, 19, Chesaning “No, because I’d be a bit scared that it could just go off or anyone can get into it.”

Danielle VanFleteren, 22, Chesaning “I think it should be optional for them. I wouldn’t want an instructor that feels uncomfortable with a gun because then they’re not going to use it properly unless they feel comfortable using it.”

NATIONAL COLLEGE REVIEW

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ provides smiles and sniffles to viewers

JOE THORNTON

The Delta Collegiate staff members took second place in the Iron Reporter contest at the National College Media Convention. March 9, 2018. New York City, NY. (Photo Courtesy: Crystal McMorris)

Delta Collegiate takes on New York AUBRIE SMITH Wednesday, Mar. 7, the Delta Collegiate boarded a flight to New York, New York, heading to the National College Media Conference. Over 150 colleges flew into attend informational panels, tour major news outlets and participating in a critique of their newspaper.

“The College Media Association conference is the largest gathering of college journalists and advisers in the world, and it’s so exciting to be part of it,” said Crystal McMorris, Collegiate adviser and associate professor of English. “The media tours, the learning sessions, the speakers and the contests create a learning experience that is second to none.”

Amongst media-based seminars and a tour of Patch headquarters, three collegiate members competed in an Iron Reporter competition, placing second out of 17 schools.

“The Iron Reporter competition was amazing,” says Jessica Serocki, co-editorin-chief. ”We had the opportunity to compete against students reporters that attended community colleges as well as four year universities. Earning second place was a great validation that we have a strong team here at Delta. I feel like we represented our school in the best way we

could,” says Sierocki.

McMorris agreed, stating the excitement for our team. “For the Collegiate to place second among the contestants is amazing! I am so proud of the hustle and creativity the team showed in creating a compelling multimedia news package in a big city on a tight deadline,” says McMorris.

Other Collegiate members took value in the informational panels, conducted by other student reporters and media professionals.

“Going to the conference was an experience that helped to enhance my scope of news writing,” says Joseph Thornton, Collegiate reporter. “I was able to learn skills that I’d be able to utilize as I aspire to step into more of a leadership role next year [at the Collegiate].”

Thornton expressed his angst for a hopeful return next year.

“Attending the conference was beneficial in an abundance of ways, but there were so many sessions I couldn’t see them all. Going back another year would be just beneficial for my success as a leader and a writing inside room A220,” says Thornton.

“You will be found.”

Within the first two songs, it was evident that both the message and melodies of Broadway show “Dear Evan Hansen” would force me on a path of self discovery. The musical shines a spotlight on a socially awkward high school teenager, Evan Hansen, who feels unnoticed and unimportant. Conflict soon arises on an internal and external level as Evan finds himself tangled in a web of lies while attempting to ease the burden of a grieving family.

My decision to attend this musical stemmed from my familiarity with the production. Having heard a significant majority of the soundtrack, I still found myself unable to grasp the complexity of the plot. This production differs from other musicals such as “Hamilton” and “Les Misérables”, seeing as there is a significant amount of dialogue that isn’t captured by the soundtrack throughout “Dear Evan Hansen”. With this being a less accessible production, released only three years ago in 2015, I knew the best way to find answers to my questions was to buy a ticket.

The Tony award-winning musical was presented in the Music Box Theatre on Broadway and to my pleasant surprise toted an almost all-original cast with only one member missing. Unfortunately, the missing piece of the puzzle was Tony award-winning actor Ben Platt, who has been critically acclaimed for his role as Evan Hansen.

When walking to my seat in the mezzanine, the environment in the theater was electric. Everyone in the audience was excited for the spectacle they would soon behold. Before I knew it, the show was beginning and the actors magically took to the stage. It began in an impressive fashion with the song “Anybody Have A Map”, featuring the voices of both Rachel Bay Jones, playing Heidi Hansen, and Jennifer Laura Thompson, playing Cynthia Murphy. The voices were an amazing compliment to one another and the song displayed the confusion and

frustration of both mothers, a recurring theme throughout the story.

With Platt departing his aprized role as Evan Hansen, actor Taylor Trensch now filled his shoes and displayed his performative skills in authoritative fashion. Trensch performed amazingly and successfully filled the demanding role Platt left behind for the most part. It was apparent that no one would be able to sing some of the more vocally demanding songs such as “Waving Through a Window” as well as Platt originally did, but in all other songs I could have closed my eyes and believed it was Platt himself.

The show continued without a hitch and left me in a state of emotion that was unprecedented. I can shamelessly say I cried nonstop from the second song to the final curtain, and with the production boasting a running time of nearly two and a half hours, that is an impressive amount of tearshed.

The best part of this show is its relevance to a general audience. This is a musical that anybody can enjoy, ranging from the most seasoned Broadway viewers to someone attending their very first production. Everyone has gone through troubles in high school and experiences instances in their life where you feel alone.

This production puts a spotlight on those moments giving them not only a face but a soundtrack as well.

After seeing this musical on Broadway, I am actively pushing people to listen to this soundtrack and ensuring that everyone I know adds a Broadway show to their bucket list. Even if it can’t be “Dear Evan Hansen”, any production of this professional caliber is a mesmerizing and defining experience. Attending this show is easily one of the best decisions I have made and something that I will never live to regret. For anyone looking to become more emotionally aware while listening to a beautiful tenor voice, this is easily the musical for you.

MEDIA CONVENTION Performance diner improves working conditions after lawsuit AUBRIE SMITH

Ellen’s Stardust Diner is home to waiters and waitresses that sing and dance for their customers while they enjoy their meals. March 8, 2018. New York, NY. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)

NEW YORK CITY – Ellen’s Stardust Diner erupts with applause every few minutes as servers hit their impressive notes and serenade customers with musical numbers. The establishment, located at 1650 Broadway, provides a platform for aspiring performers to spotlight their talent. Last year alone, the diner lost 17 employees to Broadway productions.

Behind the curtain, employees of the diner have been fighting for better employment conditions. After the formation of an employee union and a lawsuit in fall of 2016, the atmosphere at the Stardust Diner is beginning to brighten.

“I can’t speak highly enough about being in a union, having that kind of safety and having so many people fighting for you,” says Stardust employee Matt Patterson.

According to the servers, several employees were fired after attempting to unionize last year, one of them being

Patterson.

“The Stardust Family United is the reason I’m working here today. I was fired along with 32 other employees, some of them working here for over 10 years,” says Patterson. “We took them to court, we won, and without that, I would not have a job. I wouldn’t be able to provide for my family.”

According to an article in The Nation, the employees’ suffering increased after a change in management in 2016.

Employee complaints included verbal abuse, health and safety violations, illegal workers’ compensation denials, arbitrary firings and theft.

Once the staff unionized, their working conditions began to improve. One major safety concern was their banquette, a center platform for their performances. The newly restored piece took place of a once-lopsided platform that caused several servers to fall and injure themselves.

The atmosphere at the establishment now appears

fun, friendly and engaging as servers join in group numbers and interact in audience participation. The performers sing and dance to musical classics, new-age pop music and rock anthems while customers enjoy their meals.

Scott Barbarino, artistic director for 17 years, is optimistic about his staff ’s future.

“This establishment brings an amazing opportunity for the staff to be able to survive in New York City long enough to follow their dreams and be discovered,” says Barbarino. “This particular place is very nurturing of our staff ’s talent, and everyone is supportive of each other and their goals.”

When asked about unionization, Barbarino set out to clarify rumours.

“We are not unionized,” says Barbarino. “We had a group of people here who were not happy with conditions and wanted to see some changes. We worked with them to make those changes take place.”

Barbarino stresses the importance of communication in the entertainment industry.

Without conversation, improvements would not have been made.

“We had to listen to each other. We have a good work environment now, better than it’s ever been,” says Barbarino.

Alexis Ebers, former secretary of Stardust Family United and server at the diner, says the staff has been happy with the changes.

“We’re pleased with the settlement that we were able to make with the diner. Of course there are still things that need to be worked on, including the betterment of the relationship between servers, the managers and the owners,” says Ebers.

Patterson agrees that there are improvements that still need to be made.

“We’re fighting for legal pay for the back of house and we’re still fighting for the 17 people who were fired who have not

returned to the diner,” says Patterson.

“The fight’s not over. We’re still here, and there are a lot of things we want to make better,” says Ebers.

The server also explained the difficulties of the initial start-up, expressing her gratitude to the Industrial Workers of the World.

“They were the only place that got back to us. They really taught us how to mobilize ourselves, and it was empowering,” says Ebers.

Ebers encourages any other New York employees looking to form a union to contact the IWW or the Stardust diner.

“For people who want to unionize in the area, reach out to us. We’d love to expand our reach to other restaurants,” says Ebers.

For those employees in New York City that have thought of unionizing like the Stardust, Patterson has a piece of advice: “Fight for what you believe is right.”

Server Alexis Ebers basks in the round of applause after finishing her performance. March 8, 2018. New York, NY. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)

TO VIEW THE VIDEO PRODUCED BY KEVIN LAZZARO, GO TO WWW.DELTACOLLEIATE.COM

12 COLLEGIATE Rechsteiner places at state level in writing competition

LIFE

JESSICA SIEROCKI MUSKEGON – Delta student Jack Rechsteiner placed at the state level in Michigan’s Liberal Arts Network for Development writing competition. Rechsteiner was awarded at a conference Friday, Feb. 22 at the Shoreline Inn in Muskegon.

Rechsteiner’s winning short essay “excerpts of things” previously placed first in the local competition before being sent to compete against other college students throughout the state.

All community colleges across Michigan are invited to participate in the LAND contests. On average, 12 colleges in the state of Michigan submit to the competition, and they enter their top two placing contestants. Typically 24 students compete in the state-level category every year.

Rechsteiner says that this win is validation of his writing capabilities.

“It gives me a drive to

continue writing and submitting my work for publication,” says Rechsteiner.

Rechsteiner started taking his writing seriously at the beginning of his high school career.

“I didn’t really think of pursuing writing until my interest in music grew into a love of writing and poetry. I knew that I would never make any money in it but, much to my parents dismay, I fell in love with this romantic idea of the starving artist and wanting to be like all these writers from the Lost Generation and the Beats, like Steinbeck and Jack Kerouac,” says Rechsteiner.

“I started to make the transition from reading a lot to writing a lot when I aspired to be an author, like these other great authors, and started realizing the kind of socially impactful art you could make as a writer,” says Rechsteiner.

His love for writing made

Rechsteiner a natural fit working as a writer for the Delta Collegiate. Rechsteiner started as a reporter in 2017 and currently holds the position of Managing Editor.

“I don’t think I could ever live without writing. It comes as naturally to me as eating or living. I have a deep love of words and the ways that we use words to build ourselves and tell each other stories,” says Rechsteiner.

Upon leaving from Delta, Rechsteiner plans to attend Michigan State University to study linguistics. Even though it’s not his major, Rechsteiner knows that writing will always be a part of his future.

“Being a writer is just something that’s part of my identity. I’m going to continue writing and I’m working on putting together a poetry chapbook, ‘How to Read,’ for publication,” says Rechsteiner.

AS SEEN AROUND CAMPUS

Delta student Jack Rechsteiner was awarded for this short essay “excerpt of things” at the LAND Conference in Muskegon Feb. 22. (Photo Courtesy: Jack Rechsteiner)

MARCH PLANETARIUM SHOWS “Chasing the Ghost Particle” Every Thursday in March 7-8 p.m.

“The Secrets of Gravity” Every Saturday in March 2-3 p.m.

“Stars” Every Saturday in March 3:30-4:30 p.m.

“Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon” Every Saturday in March 7-8 p.m.

SPECIAL EVENTS: Discover the Northern Lights Friday, March 23 7-8 p.m. $3 a person

Ticket Prices: Adults: $7 Seniors, kids, Delta students, military: $5 Art major students create collages by cutting and sticking various pieces of paper together in their 2D Design class. Feb. 22, 2018. University Center, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Jaylie Dice)

For more information or questions, please call 989-667-2260 or visit www.delta.edu/planetarium

COLLEGIATE LIFE Five weird ways to make money today

“What is your favorite St. Patrick’s Day event?”

Robert Burdick, 20, Midland “My favorite St. Patrick’s Day event is when you go out with friends, and it doesn’t have to be like drinking, but you just have fun, you go to town to your favorite restaurant and just enjoy each other’s time and such.”

Alysa Gum, 26, Ludington “I like green beer. A lot of the local bars will have it.”

Scott May, 23, Detroit “Probably the St. Patrick’s Day Parade down in Detroit. That’s probably my coolest event. I know a lot of people like bar hopping, but that’s not really my thing.”

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the city

13

AUBRIE SMITH Sell your insides Local institutions will pay you for your plasma! All it takes is an hour of your time and it’s a substance that your body will naturally replenish. You could walk out $100 richer.

Dog walk In the midst of this winter, many a folk are worried about their fur babies. Ask a friend if they’d give you some cash to walk their pup a few days a week.

You’ll be making some money and doing them a huge favor.

Babysit

Every parent needs a break from time to time. Let someone know you’d be more than willing to take their child off their hands for a night or two. Earn some cash and maybe get a bigger position out of it. Care.com is a great way to break into the babysitting industry.

Be a companion

folks’ home, showing someone around a new town or visiting coffee shops for casual chats.

Meet new people and get paid!

Tutor Even if you’re not the best student, there are always gradeschool kids looking for help with stuff that comes easy to you. Sign up to be a tutor, help some kids and cash that check.

RentAFriend.com is a companion rental site. You can sign up to be a rentable friend, making $10 per hour doing activities like visiting an old

AS SEEN AROUND CAMPUS

JESSICA SIEROCKI If you’re looking to go “green” for this St. Patrick’s Day, look no further than downtown Bay City. For years, Bay City has held several special events to rally the community together for a day of Irish-themed festivities.

Here are some events being featured on the weekend of March 17.

64th Annual Bay City St. Patrick’s Day Parade When: Sunday, March 18 Where: Along Center Ave. Time: 2 p.m.

45th Annual Bay Area Runners Club St. Patrick’s Day Races Fitness Expo When: Saturday, March 17 Where: Dow Bay Area Family YMCA Time: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Leprechaun Races ( ¼ Mile - 1/2/ Mile - 1 Mile) When: Saturday, March 17 Where: 301 Center Ave. Time: 2 p.m.

Price: $7 8K Run When: Sunday, March 18 Where: 301 Center Ave. Time: 9:30 a.m.

Price: $25 5K Run When: Sunday, March 18 Where: Time: 11:30 a.m.

Price: $25 5K Walk When: Sunday, March 18 Where: 301 Center Ave. Time: 11:35 a.m.

Price: $25 Registration forms can be found at www.baycitystpatsraces.com

Students work with partners in analyzing and finding solutions within their Chemical Process Operator class for Dow Chemical. Feb. 22, 2018. University Center, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Jaylie Dice)

SPORTS

14

March Madness excitement may jump from court to courtroom ADAM PRZESLAK

Ever since 1939, Americans have become increasingly more moonstruck over a tournament that pits the highest ranked college basketball teams in the country against each other. The long college basketball regular season finally comes to an exciting close in March as the various conferences partake in their annual tournaments.

Once the conference champions have been crowned they are then awarded an entry into the bigger national tournament that’s become known simply as March Madness.

Then comes the nationally broadcasted revelation of the 68 teams that will partake in the tournament known as selection sunday. Now that selection sunday has commenced and the matchups have been announced we begin approaching the few weeks during the year that productivity in schools and workplaces is lowest. Fans, gamblers and celebrities begin to fill out their brackets in an attempt to correctly guess each matchup’s victor and are part of the sweeping wave of March Madness that demands American sports fans’ attention spans for nearly a month.

March Madness is such a popular phenomena in our country that recent studies have even suggested that more men get vasectomies in the time approaching the tournament than any other time of the year. A 2016 study done by healthcare research company Athena Health revealed that during the first week of March forty one percent more men had vasectomies procedures performed.

However, this year’s tournament may be overcast by the series of scandals that have taken center stage in the college basketball universe recently. In February, both Yahoo! Sports and ESPN broke major stories regarding an FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball.

Yahoo’s report named numerous current players that they claim to be under investigation for taking money or bribes in exchange for them choosing to play at certain universities.

The Yahoo list of names includes past and present players from some of the nation’s top basketball programs such as Michigan State, Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, Texas and Seton Hall. ESPN then followed up with

claims that sources informed them that FBI wiretaps had picked up conversations involving Arizona basketball coach Sean Miller talking about paying 100,000 dollars to solidify that star freshman player Deandre Ayton would play for the Arizona Wildcats.

Various aspects of these reports seem to have enough backing to imply that these accusations are properly founded. However, without a direct word from the FBI on the matter it seems that these developing news stories will continue to be the talk of the tournament throughout March Madness.

Illustrated by David Taylor

What went on at the Winter Olympics? Tigers baseball back in action JOE THORNTON

With the 2018 Winter Olympics in the books, the world has been taken by a storm of emotion. Since the beginning of the opening ceremonies, this international spectacle of sports was a whirlwind of excitement, sorrow and anticipation for audiences across the world.

Although the Olympics offer a chance to represent one’s home country through sport, they are plentiful with social and political significance.

North and South Korea united to compete as Korea. The magnitude of this temporary union was one that was felt internationally. Many of the viewers who tuned in were well aware of the impact this union could have, but what does it really mean? The scene of both countries marching underneath the same flag was one that invoked powerful emotion, but I was left questioning the legitimacy of this temporary merger.

Are we all supposed to believe this is some utopia where we forget about all the wrongs that North Korea has put South Korea through?

And what is the deal with curling?

All of a sudden there is a Russian curler doping and the United States is winning gold medals for this sport. To be honest, I had no clue what curling was, and overnight the nation went crazy. My Twitter feed was overflowing with brooms and aggressive ice sweeping, but where did all of this come from? Do we, as a nation, only care about sports when we finally do well in them?

Speaking of doing well in sports, congrats to the U.S. women’s ice hockey tea.! Finally knocking down Canada and

spreading the metaphorical bald eagle’s wings for all of America to soar upon. We should all take a minute, or even longer, to appreciate all the women athletes who brought home medals for the men who couldn’t hold their own. With the United States Olympic team amassing 21 medals total, 12 can be credited to female competitors.

Even among all the greatness coming from the female athletes from the United States, 17-year-old skier Chloe Kim captivated the youth on a large scale with her relatability. Her social media presence is endearing to say the least, tweeting her perspective of her athletic success combined with her life as a teenage girl in America.

The competitors that Michigan is proud to claim include snowboarder Kyle Mack, hockey player Megan Keller and the dancing Shib Sibs. Mack, raised in West Bloomfield is bringing a silver medal back to the mitten. The ice dancing siblings of Maia and Alex Shibutani were able to surmount the odds and win a bronze medal. Additionally, Mack from Farmington Hills was part of the ice hockey team that upset Canada, bringing home the gold.

Overall, these Winter Olympics have been one for the ages. All of us will be able to look back at this Olympic ceremony and even though we won’t be able to fully understand the historical implications for years to come, we can agree that it has been an entertaining competition. We’ll see if the bar can be set higher when 2022 comes around. Good luck, Beijing.

RYAN BAUER

Illustrated by David Taylor

The Detroit Tigers recently began their spring training festivities, and Tigers fans are ready to watch some baseball. Fans are excited but nervous to see what will come of this year’s Tiger team. The team made some very interesting acquisitions during the offseason, including firing their manager and trading away some key players.

The Tigers are beginning a rebuild under new manager Ron Gardenhire.

Gardenhire was officially named manager on Oct. 20 of last year about a month after previous manager Brad Ausmus was fired. Ausmus managed the Tigers for three seasons, but was unable to live up to owners’ expectations.

“It has been rough watching the last couple years,” says Tigers fan Kiley Reno. “[The Tigers] have had a lot of talent but

never seem to make the push they need.”

Reno has been a Tigers fan since she was little. She remembers going to games with her family and instantly falling in love with the game.

Even though the team is losing key players and getting new ones, there are some fans that are excited for the upcoming season including long-time fan Jeri Dennison, 77.

“The Tigers have been decent the last couple seasons, but they weren’t able to push themselves over the hump, and they were paying their players to much money,” Dennison. “I like seeing the organization doing things that will eventually help the team, cause I like to see the Tigers win, and that hasn’t been happening enough.”

Even with a rebuild in the works, the Tigers never fail to draw a crowd of fans ready for the ballpark experience. Jordin Niemic, a mother of a 6-year-old son, is excited to take him to his first ballgame.

“I went to my first game when I was about his age, and he loves watching the games on TV,” says Niemic. “I am so excited to see how much fun he has at the stadium.

His favorite player is Miguel Cabrera, he can’t wait to get a chance to see him in person.”

It may not be the most successful season for the Tigers this year, and some important players may be missing from the lineup. There are still some players in the clubhouse able to draw in the fans year after year, including Miguel Cabrera.

A new manager and new players may just be what the Tigers need to put themselves back into contention.

SPORTS

Men’s basketball crowned district champions JOE THORNTON

Sophomore Martel Handley scores at the game versus Macomb Community College.

Feb. 26, 2018. University Center, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)

The Delta College men’s basketball team has been a topic of discussion since it took to the court in October, but the players are not done yet. Coming into the 2018 NJCAA Division II District 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament the Delta Pioneers held the fourth seed, but this seeding had no effect on their performance. Being a team that’s dreamed of a championship since its first practice, the Pioneers were able to accomplish that goal this weekend.

Delta’s basketball players progressed through the tournament, knocking off their competition at every step of the way. Coach McMath and his players were seen as underdogs in this tourney, especially when matched against the first seed Henry Ford in the quarterfinals.

Regardless, the Pioneers were able to step up to the plate, as they have all season, winning with a final score of 75-63. This win meant that the Pioneers would have to face Schoolcraft in the finals, a team that swept Delta in the regular season and was responsible for two of their six regular season losses.

When the spotlight was on the

Pioneers, they managed to put it all together for the win. Toppling Schoolcraft with a final score of 77-63, the Pioneers earned the honors of NJCAA Division II District 10 champions. This is an astounding feat for the Delta team and especially Coach McMath, coming from only 12 wins last season and now becoming champions.

The students, faculty and staff at Delta aren’t the only ones impressed with McMath. Due to McMath’s impressive performance as head coach, he was named the NJCAA District 10 Coach of the Year. McMath wasn’t the only one who stood out at the tournament, as players Cedric Moten and Torandis Mack were named to the All-Tournament team for their respective positions. These two remarkable players weren’t the only ones that succeeded in impressing the viewers, as Martel Handley was named MVP for the NJCAA District 10 championship due to his outstanding performance.

Now the Pioneers stand alone at the top of their district and have distinguished themselves from all other NJCAA

15 basketball teams. With this win, they now have national competition to look forward to as the NJCAA Division II National Tournament quickly approaches, starting on Mar. 20. The last time the Pioneers won their district was in 1989, and it’s worth noting that the 1989 team went on to win the national championship for NJCAA Division II basketball.

The Pioneers have to maintain their hunger for success, as they prepare for the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, spanning from Mar. 20 to 24. The Pioneers are already in the Sweet 16, meaning if they are able to win their next four games they will be crowned the national champions. This season’s Pioneers have shown that they are different than teams from the past with their monumental success earlier in the season. Coach McMath and his team look to continue playing their best basketball as they move through March, aspiring for national recognition for the Delta College basketball program.

Lady Pioneers basketball season comes to end JOE THORNTON The 2017-2018 Delta College women’s basketball team has played their final game. The Lady Pioneers, who faced multiple trials throughout their season, were unable to overcome adversity in the end. This team started with the odds against them as they adjusted to a new head coach and retained few returning players. This season was a downgrade from last season when the Lady Pioneers went 20-11, but a decrease in performance is expected when transitioning to a new coaching staff.

Head Coach Shonda Long held high expectations for herself and her players as they entered the postseason. After falling short in the regular season, they firmly believed that the pieces had come together at the right time. Players were stepping up as the playoffs came nearer and everything seemed to be falling into place.

The Lady Pioneers were tasked with the challenge of matching up against the St. Clair Community College Skippers, a team that Delta was well familiar with.

The Lady Pioneers split their matchups with the Skippers, losing one and winning the other. Even though the Lady Pioneers were able to pull out a win in the most recent contest, they fell short when the season was on the line, losing with a score of 63-52. This defeat marks the end of the inaugural season for Head Coach Long.

The final record amounted to 9-14

overall and a record of 7-7 in their conference. Looking back, it is easy to see how things could have gone differently for the Delta women’s basketball team. Of the 14 losses that the Lady Pioneers accrued, seven were lost by 10 or fewer points, the most important being their final game against St. Clair. If Long and her players were able to turn these losses into wins, the season could have been entirely different.

Though this season didn’t go as well as it could have, there is a great amount of hope moving forward for the Delta College women’s basketball program.

Coach Long will retain most of her roster, with 10 out of 15 current players being freshmen. This gives Long the opportunity to further develop these players and prepare them for their next season.

Freshman Marisa Morton will likely be the centerpiece moving forward, a point guard averaging almost 16 points a game.

Morton showcased her talents as a shooter throughout the entirety of the 2017-2018 campaign and is able to hone her skills further heading into her second year.

Although the season didn’t go according to plan, congratulations to Coach Long and all coaches, players and other supporters that contributed to the 2017-2018 Delta College women’s The Lady Pioneers faced the Macomb Community College Monarchs Feb. 26, 2018. University basketball season.

Center, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Jaylie Dice)

OPINION

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Leave politics out of school shootings A recent school shooting in Parkland, Fla., has sparked a plethora of debates around the country regarding guns, school shootings and their prevention.

The Parkland school shooting, which took place on Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, resulted in 17 students and school staff members losing their lives at the hands of a 19-year-old gunman.

This marks the eighth time a school shooting has occurred in our country in 2018, according to CNN, who defined a school shooting as a shooting in which one or more people were shot, excluding the shooter, that happened on school property. Now, CNN admits that they did not disqualify any shootings from that number that may have involved gang violence, domestic violence or accidental discharges. Regardless, eight school

shootings are eight too many.

Conservatives and liberals from all over America have taken to Twitter, Facebook and even their local branches of government to discuss what they believe should be done to prevent school shootings. Two major ideologies always tend to surface in these conversations, with one being that the answer is simply more guns. Gun advocates claim that school shooters would be less likely to, well, shoot up schools if teachers were packing protection. While some on the other side of the political spectrum claim the answer lies within more gun control and regulations, especially regarding “assault weapons.”

However, nearly every conversation on the topic passes over a key question: Why is it that school shootings are predominantly perpetrated by boys and

young men? The question could even be rephrased to emphasize gun violence in general. Why are males apter to pick up a gun with malevolence? Our society manipulates the ways in which adolescent males are allowed to express themselves, and within these de facto, distorted societal rules, there is a gray area concerning male self-expression.

We live in a time period where the empowerment of women that resulted from the women’s rights revolution is still heavily present, and yet nothing of this nature has happened for men. The role of women in modern society is ever-changing and without boundary, while a man’s role remains strict to the same structure it has had for nearly the past century. This has left many young men to bottle frustrations and emotions inside themselves while simultaneously

deteriorating away their mental health and stability. Without releases and with repression, these young men are left frustrated, unheard and emotionally driven.

We, the collective staff of the Collegiate, think this is a matter of which partisan politics should be left out. Despite our differing political views, we can all agree that a fear of getting shot by an unknown assailant – who may or may not be a peer – can affect a student’s ability to learn. Neither inserting more guns into the situation nor eliminating the sale of certain guns will completely eradicate the threat of school shootings.

they happen. The police were called on Cruz when he did something wrong. No one can call the police and have them take anything seriously without an actual incident.

people investigating you and other groups concerned with the security of the citizens of the United States.

I celebrated 44 out of the 45 presidents this past President’s Day. Guess which one

JESSICA SIEROCKI Why is the president of our nation tweeting constantly? Who knows, but what he tweets can be very interesting, to say the least. Here are some highlight tweets that I’ve noticed in the past few weeks that have stood out to me:

So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior.

Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!

Everyone has heard of the tragic shooting in Parkland, Fla., where 17 victims lost their lives to the mass shooter Nikolas Cruz. As reports have shown, Cruz had a streak of violence in and outside of school, with local police being called to his residence three times before the shooting. In other words, Cruz was already reported to local authorities.

In no way am I defending the heinous act that Cruz committed, but Trump saying, “Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!” is not possible without cause. You can’t report a person to the authorities for them having mental health issues. A person can only report instances or events when

Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter.

This is not acceptable. They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign - there is no collusion. Get back to the basics and make us all proud!

Continuing on that thought, the FBI would not be involved in local cases like the ones Cruz was before the shooting.

Another interesting trend of this tweet that I noticed was that Trump is literally taking an event like the shooting in Florida and using it to create attention for himself and his own issues. What kind of person does that?

President Trump, during tragedies like a school shooting where innocent kids and faculty members are being murdered is not the time to make a statement about your alleged collusion with Russia.

Mass shootings cannot be predicted, and I’m fairly certain that the FBI is large enough to have a separate group of

Whether we are Republican or Democrat, we must now focus on strengthening Background Checks!

This tweet symbolizes the first time that I can actually side with something Trump said. Now is a time to forget the differences between parties in order to help protect people in America, and strengthening background checks is a fabulous way to lessen tragic events like mass shootings.

I’m all for protecting the Second Amendment but believe that there needs to be some sort of legislation addressing the issues we have around availability of guns. Gun control is not taking away the guns from citizens who have a clean background and follow the rules and regulations of owning and obtaining weapons. These citizens won’t have to worry about an increase on background checks because they’ll still be able to obtain the guns they want. Strengthening background checks is just an easier way to make it more difficult for people with bad intentions to own a firearm.

Have a great, but very reflective President’s Day!

just happened to slip my mind?

This, boys and girls, is called deflection.

If Trump’s followers start associating

Obama was President up to, and beyond, the 2016 Election.

So why didn’t he do something about Russian meddling?

Obama with the Russian meddling, that takes the heat of of Trump and the accusations of his alleged collision with the Russians. You have to give a couple points to him. Donald will do absolutely anything to get bad publicity off his back. But, newsflash: Once you become president, you have no privacy and your secrets always have ways of revealing themselves.

Did you like what I wrote? Do you have a topic that you want me to cover? Have a complaint you want to share? Feel free to email deltacollegiate@gmail.com with any comments or concerns.

OPINION COLLEGIATE PERSPECTIVES Gun control: More or less?

AUBRIE SMITH

CARTER HOUTMAN Do we have enough already?

Organizations like the National Rifle Association claim that, by and large, we do. Some of the smaller, more specific issues that have situated themselves within gun control, like background checks, teachers being armed and armed security officers at the schools, are polarizing.

Personally, I tend to fall on the conservative side of the argument. I have not been shown any definitive proof that fewer guns mean fewer shootings, and more gun-free zones do not mean safer common areas. Take Chicago, for example. According to the Chicago Tribune, in 2017 there were 3,564 shooting victims within the city limits.

This is the same city that has some of the strictest gun laws in the country.

In all honesty, yes, background checks are good.

Waiting periods are good. Bans on guns are not. The work of R. J. Rummel, a political science professor at the University of Hawaii, documents 169,202,000 people who were killed during the 20th century by governments practicing democide, defined as politically motivated genocide, mass murder or other purposeful killing.

According to Rummel’s scholarly research, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics killed 61,911,000. Maoist China killed 35,236,000. The Nazis killed 20,946,000. Other smaller totalitarian dictatorships killed the rest. These numbers do not include casualties of war. All of these countries were turned into gun-free zones before the killing began. During World War II, Adolf Hitler even said, “To conquer a nation, first disarm its citizens.” Wasn’t this kind of

tyrannical government behavior exactly what the Second Amendment of the Constitution was written for?

Simply put, gun-free zones and an unarmed populace lead to more murders. In the 21st century, it is imperative that we have a public who is well trained and easily defended, either by themselves or by others in the same vicinity, should the time come.

Gun control: Not just numbers FINN BILODEAU Gun control is a hot topic in the United States right now.

Personally, I think we need to truly enforce the laws we already have while still moving towards a tighter policy on gun ownership.

I often hear the argument, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun”. However, fighting fire with fire is simply not working. The facts and data don’t back the idea up.

According to PEW Research Center, more than 37 percent of Americans own guns with a total of 270 to 310 million guns available in the United States.

The United States Census Bureau states there are roughly 327 million people in the U.S. as of March 2018. With a steady rise in gun ownership we could be close to having a gun available for every single man, woman and

child in America.

These facts beg the question; with all these “good” armed civilians why did we still have a total of over 15,000 gun deaths and the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history all in 2017? The theory that flooding the civilian population with firearms will decrease the number of gun deaths simply is not accurate.

America needs to re-evaluate its idea of gun safety. In order to keep gun violence to a minimum we need to get guns out of the hands of potentially volatile people. This means strictly enforcing background checks with over the counter sales along with private sales.

While performing background checks at businesses such as sporting good stores is enforced by federal law, in many states private sales of firearms

17

require no background check at all. Leaving the possibility for those with felonies and mental illness to easily obtain guns.

Aside from leaving the responsibility of performing background checks in the hands of private citizens the United States could follow Canada’s footsteps in using the Law Enforcement as a proxy in private sales as a way to keep firearms out of the wrong hands.

Combating violence with violence isn’t answering America’s problems. A new way of addressing crime needs to be sought out. Whatever steps America takes next in preserving the people’s right to the pursuit of happiness it won’t be found in more guns, rather a safer way of handling gun ownership.

Spring is coming, and I’ll be honest; I don’t want to shave my legs.

It’s not like I let myself go too bad. I’m pale enough to get away with my fuzz most of the time, but as I enter the dating scene in springtime, the pressure to shave daily is greater than ever.

There was a movement a year or two ago for women to go all-natural with their armpits, is this still around? Can I start one for legs? I’ll bring the brownies to our monthly meetings.

But, serious question, will this take me out of the dating game? How many perspective guys will I meet that are deterred from my prickly legs?

It’s 2k18, do I have to shave my legs?

And really, it’s 2018, is this really still an issue?

I want to be able to walk the beach with my stubble in peace.

Is that too much to ask, or will that take me out of the dating pool forever?

Most of the guys I’ve met seem indifferent to their significant other’s leg hair, but does this rule still apply when you’re first meeting?

You’re supposed to put your best foot forward when you re-enter the dating scene, but is that false advertising? Wouldn’t I be better off putting my real self out there, right off the bat?

Is this why I’m still single?

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A COLLEGIATE PERSPECTIVES PIECE? DO YOU HAVE A HOT TOPIC THAT YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT? LET US KNOW AT DELTACOLLEGIATE@ GMAIL.COM

STAFF

18

TO READ MORE STORIES FROM OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS OF DELTA COLLEGE, VISIT WWW.DELTACOLLEGIATE.COM

Meet the Staff

DELTA COLLEGIATE STAFF AUBRIE SMITH

DAVID TAYLOR

Page Designer davidtaylor2@delta.edu

Reporter mathewbilodeau@delta.edu

JESSICA SIEROCKI

MICHAEL PIWOWARSKI

KEVIN LAZZARRO

Co-Editor-in-Chief jessicasierocki2@delta.edu

JACK RECHSTEINER Managing Editor jacobrechsteiner @delta.edu

ADAM PRZESLAK

Sports Editor adamprzeslak@delta.edu

KELLEN MacGREGOR

Page & Copy Editor kellenmacgregor@delta.edu

CODY WIEDENBEIN

Page Designer codywiedenbein@delta.edu

FINN BILODEAU

FINN BILODEAU

Co-Editor-in-Chief aubriesmith@delta.edu

Videographer kevinlazzarro@delta.edu

Photojournalist michaelpiwowarski@delta. edu

MICHAEL PIEPER

Videographer michaelpierper@delta.edu

JAYLIE DICE

Photographer jayliedice@delta.edu

reporter

Finn Bilodeau is a reporter for the Collegiate. He aspires to be a professor of English literature. Currently Finn is completing gen-eds, working two jobs and having fun in between. His favorite hobbies include fly fishing, mountain biking and traveling.

CRYSTAL McMORRIS

CARTER HOUTMAN

Advisor crystalmcmorris@delta.edu

JOE THORNTON

Reporter josephthornton@delta.edu

reporter

HALEY NAGEL

Reporter haleynagel@delta.edu

Carter Houtman is a reporter for the Delta Collegiate. This is his first semester working for the newspaper, filling in as the token conservative voice. He is planning to transfer to Hillsdale College in the fall to study political science with a focus in international relations and a minor in journalism.

In his spare time, he enjoys binge-watching “Friends” and spending a small fortune at Starbucks.

CARTER HOURMAN

Reporter carterhoutman@delta.edu

COLLEGIATE DISCLAIMER 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.

For any comments about specific articles or to voice other concerns, please contact us at deltacollegiate@gmail.com.

Want to read stories on the go?

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CONTACT US deltacollegiate@gmail.com

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STUDENT FEATURE

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Delta College takes on #MeToo MICHAELA GARCIA Sexual harassment is defined as a form of discrimination that includes unwelcome behavior that is directed at someone because of that person’s sex or gender.

Delta College has made it a point to address the subject, stop it to the best of their ability and encourage people to speak out about their #MeToo experience.

The #MeToo movement, started by feminist and actress Alyssa Milano, was brought to the media as a way to empower and encourage women to reveal their experiences with sexual assault. After a tweet from Milano stating, “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted, write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet,” millions of people responded to the message, creating a “safe space” for women and men to vent about their own experiences with sexual harassment.

Though we have seen this

movement at a large scale, we rarely ever sit back and focus on the area that we live in and how it has impacted someone you may be sitting next to right now.

Equity Officer at Delta Loyce Brown states that the #MeToo movement has made little impact to Delta College in general.

“Our community is so small, it makes it hard for people to feel comfortable coming out with their stories” says Brown.

“People are afraid that their entire stories could be broadcast to everyone. Only two people have come to me, saying that the #MeToo Movement has urged them to report their story.”

Delta is trying to create a more open space for its students and faculty with their upcoming events.

Tuesday, March 20 at 2 p.m., the Delta Political Forum Series hosts “#MeToo: Personal and Public Responsibility” in the

Red Brix Café. This public event is for those who would like to learn more about the #MeToo Movement and how to help prevent sexual harassment or assault in your life.

The discussion will be led by a group of panelists who are well

form of conversation will keep the audience active with what the dialog is about and let them voice their own opinion on what needs to be done about #MeToo. “The goal of the forum is to try to bring awareness, but also to reduce the number of victims,” says Barbara Handley-Miller, a communications professor and discussion panelist who is chairing the event.

“The #MeToo Movement empowers women and men to talk about what has happened to them. The awareness it has, helps bring a dialog about how necessary it is to reduce this, and how it’s necessary to name it, so that we can look at how to reduce it. As a panel we are going to discuss what you can do to go beyond ‘Me Too’ in shaping personal and public responsibility,” shares HandleyMiller The panelists will provide mock scenarios on the subject,

[ ] “The goal of the forum is to try to bring awareness, but also to reduce the number of victims.”

– Barbara Handley-Miller

trained on the subject. Students and members of the community who attend the forum will get the chance to have a roundtable discussion on their own thoughts and opinions on the topic, and the panelists will act as guides throughout the discussion. This

showing you what you should and should not do if you face sexual harassment in either your workplace, or school institution.

They will also be discussing the role of social media with the issue, and asking what the audience thinks about what should be taken down because of harassment, but also where we should draw the line and consider the First Amendment.

Besides the forum, students have their own beliefs on how Delta handles the awareness of sexual assault.

Delta College student Lindsay Alarie feels that Delta does a great job addressing sexual assault as a real topic.

“The posters around the school are eye-catching and definitely do a good job at informing us students about the topic. I wish that this topic was easier to talk about, than just disregarding,” says Alarie

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