TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2018
VOLUME 82, ISSUE 6
Excellency Music’s 100th show brings Drake Bell to Saginaw
NEWS PG 2-6 Delta Humanities Department recognizes top scholars
COLLEGIATE LIFE PG 7-10 Adjunct professor helps keep EM program alive
A&E PG 11-13 Creating culture in the Tri-Cities
SPORTS PG 15-16 Taking things one pitch at a time
OPINION PG 17-19
Read on page 13 Musician and actor Drake Bell performs new songs as well as classic hits at his concert at Counter Culture. Saginaw, Mich. March 19, 2018. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)
Perspectives: Is water wet?
NEWS
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Delta Humanities Department recognizes top scholars CARTER HOUTMAN SAGINAW – The Delta College Humanities Department held the first Humanities Learning Center Awards Ceremony to recognize the top scholars in the area. They awarded six different people, all in different areas of excellence: • • • • •
Outstanding Humanities Organization Award – Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Humanities Educator of the Year – Yvette Kalinowski, Nina Knight Humanities Distinguished Scholar – Kimberly Wells Digital Humanities Scholar – Christina Szilagyi Emerging Humanities Scholar – Benjamin Barrett
Amy French, director of the Humanities Learning Center, was the presenter for the evening. According to French, the winners were chosen by the humanities board and had to meet very specific criteria to win. Delta student Benjamin Barrett was the winner for the Emerging Humanities Scholar Award. He created a YouTube
The Humanities Learning Center Award Ceremony took place at Anderson Enrichment Center to acknowledge the work and dedication the winners have for keeping the humanities alive. March 18, 2018. Saginaw, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)
documentary on Edith Baillie, an influential woman from the Saginaw area and was the first director at the Saginaw Center. Barrett filmed in numerous locations and interviewed people from both the First Ward Community Center and the Castle Museum. When accepting his award, Barrett thanked French “for providing guidance for conducting the project,”
Tom Trombley from the Castle Museum “for the interview and being a huge help because there was not much to go off ” and Michelle McGregor from the First Ward Community Center “for giving me all the tools I needed and allowing me to film there and interview people and was just really helpful.” Jean Goodnow, president of Delta College, was present at the ceremony and appeared proud of the award winners. “It feels wonderful to have staff and a former student recognized for their hard work, but I would also like to recognize Amy French too, because she has done such a tremendous job organizing all of this, and really demonstrated a great deal of leadership,” says Goodnow. “She is so passionate in this area, I think it’s very obvious that she inspires her students, but she also takes the time and effort to appreciate others as well. I’m very pleased to be here today and see the wonderful Nina Knight received the tied award Humanities Educator of the turnout as well.” Year. March 18, 2018. Saginaw, Mich. To learn more about the Humanities (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki) and Learning Center at Delta College, contact Amy French at amyfrench@delta. edu
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NEWS
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Center Avenue greenly adorned for St. Patrick’s Day HALEY NAGEL, JOE THORNTON BAY CITY – Center Avenue was alive with crowds of Irish spirit on Sunday, March 18. Bay City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade offered the perfect excuse to gather with friends, be outside and eat and drink while decked out in green. The streets of downtown Bay City were teeming to the brim with ecstatic viewers joining together for the celebration. This year’s parade marshall Jack Frost, Bay City attorney, led a train with confidence. The procession wielded a booming cannon atop, piercing the ears of attendees and demanding attention. Preceding Frost was a lengthy line of Bay City and Frankenlust Township firetrucks and police vehicles, complete with flashers and sirens. As many reveled in the celebration it was apparent how important this parade has become to Bay City citizens. With natives flocking annually, this parade is a significant piece of Bay City tradition. Notre Dame alum and long time Bay City denizen Paul McGee recounted his favorite memory from the multiple years he’s attended.. “I couldn’t tell you how long I’ve been coming to this parade. Whenever I return I see people I haven’t seen in years and this year is no different. I’ll never forget when I was a boy and I came here in
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the sixties when the University of Notre Dame band performed in this very parade,” explains McGee. Among the many floats, most of the displays were advertisements for local businesses and political leaders. However, entertainment lies in the effort, so most people didn’t mind. In fact, when asked which float was believed to have the most effort put into creation and execution, Lauren Hill of Freeland expressed her content with the Frankenmuth Credit Union float. “That huge purple pig, It totally stands out. I give them mad props for pulling it themselves too,” says Hill. Another favorite was the All Saints Central display. It was a rather large container of cheering children, decorated with a tall rainbow balloon overhead. There were also several floats holding kings and queens of high school homecoming courts and pageants, including the infamous Montrose Blueberry Queen. Among the 125 entries, some floats were constructed with greater effort than others. “The Bay City Southeast baseball is one that I saw and was kind of disappointed. All it was was a truck with a logo on the side.”
How do you think the new Saginaw campus will benefit Saginaw?
Bay City hosts its 64th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade along Center Avenue. March 18, 2018. Bay City, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Jaylie Dice)
Construction begins for new Delta College Saginaw center
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Makenzy Drielick, 22, Chesaning “I think it will help out a lot for students that are looking to go to school and make something out of themselves.”
Gary Palach, 21, Saginaw “Adding another campus will definitely help with class size; keeping it small.”
Shelby Lisik, 20, Hemlock “I’d rather go there than the Ricker Center.”
The Board of Trustees broke the ground of Delta’s newest satellite campus located in Saginaw. March 26, 2018. Saginaw, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Kelly Winters)
TO READ THE ARTICLE VISIT WWW.DELTACOLLEGIATE.COM
NEWS
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Beyond #MeToo: Personal and public responsibility CARTER HOUTMAN #MeToo has been a popular movement to help sexual harassment and assault victims come forward and tell their stories. On Tuesday, Delta took this movement and brought it down to a practical level for college students, and how each of us should respond to situations both on campus and in our workplaces that fall into the category of sexual misconduct. The panelists consisted of three experts: Kevin Kelly, attorney at the Mastromarco Firm in Saginaw; Elizabeth Peters, attorney and partner of the Masud Labor Law Group in Saginaw; and Amanda Lorencz, therapist with the Sexual Assault Center, Child and Family Services of Saginaw. The three panelists gave expert opinion and testimony from their lines of work and mediated a thoughtful discussion between the students in three fictional
situations, where groups of up to six students discussed and answered questions about the situation and how the people in it should respond. Lisa Lawrason, professor of political science, began the panel discussion with the definition of the two main types of politics that are most seen in the United States. The first type being expert politics, which is “where elites or so-called ‘experts’ present what is best to solve society’s ills, and the experts are presented as more qualified to improve the conditions of society.” Lawrason noted the second kind of politics that we see in the United States: adversarial politics. “This is where we line up supporters for our position, organize Democrat and Republican clubs on campus, hold debate and in most cases talk past each other,” says
Lawrason. “The goal is not to come to a solution but to win the argument.” Neither of these two types of politics help to solve any of the issues and usually polarize the issue and make things worse. “Neither one recognizes that role of ordinary citizens is to solve issues facing society, and both of those kind of politics usually get us farther away from a solution than closer to one” says Lawrason. That is why Delta chose to use a third kind of politics: deliberative dialogue. “This recognizes the fact that ordinary people have the creativity, experience and interest in community problems to bring real value to the discussion,” Lawrason says. This kind of open-forum discussion was optimal for Delta’s campus. A set of panelists led the discussion, with students
# MeToo Panelists discuss sexual harassment at Delta College. March. 20, 2018. University Center, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Carter Houtman)
and faculty taking part to solve the problems and share ideas. Two Delta students who attended the event, Jackie Hendrickson and Adriana Young, both gave interesting perspectives to the questions. Hendrickson thought that what stood out the most to her to take away from the event was: “There should be a more defined system of what should be done
for each scenario.” Young thought that what stood out the most was: “The variety of differing opinions of what is and isn’t sexual harassment.” With a topic so complex and polarizing, Delta has taken the correct steps to help students navigate situations of sexual misconduct and has insight to issues that affect men and women every day.
Court dismisses lawsuit against Delta by former EMB professor AUBRIE SMITH
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BAY CITY – On Feb. 22, Bay County Circuit Judge Harry P. Gill dismissed a lawsuit filed by former Electronic Media and Broadcasting Professor James Gleason against Delta College for wrongful termination. The courts found Delta College’s termination to be lawful. According to a Freedom of Information Act request the Delta Collegiate received in February of 2017, Gleason had a history of feuding with Kimberly Wells, another EMB professor. After several documented instances, a formal notice of discipline and an investigation, Gleason was terminated. The suit, filed in December of 2016 in Bay County Circuit Court, contends that his termination was in retaliation to his reporting of possible FERPA violations after Dave Peruski, then dean of teaching and learning, told Wells that students wrote letters in complaint of her teaching. The plaintiff stated that Delta’s Grievance Committee retaliated against him for filing his FERPA complaint, and he failed to receive due process from Delta College. According to the U.S. Department of Education, FERPA is a federal law protecting the privacy of student
education records. Delta contends that it investigated the alleged FERPA violations and found no violation. Through the investigation of the lawsuit, the court found that there was no evidence in record that the Ad Hoc committee retaliated against the plaintiff because he filed a FERPA complaint. It was also found that the college’s due process panels did not retaliate against the plaintiff. The case was dismissed with prejudice and cannot be brought back into the court for retrial. Jean Goodnow, president of Delta College, assures that the Delta College has fair policies in place to avoid unlawful termination. “Delta College has two separate Senate policies in place related to termination of employees. The process was followed by two separate internal review groups, which led to the action taken. The recent outcome of the court case assures us that our policies are fair and have been deemed consistent with the law, related to these types of issues,” says Goodnow. We have reached out to Gleason and his attorney for a comment through voicemails, but have not heard back for comment.
NEWS
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The local war on human trafficking JENNIFER TORRES As Commander of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division for the Michigan State Police, Captain Mike Krumm’s job is overseeing all the officers who work at weigh stations, stopping commercial vehicles and enforcing the commercial motor vehicle laws. When Krumm heard about the Truckers Against Trafficking, he made sure Michigan became one of the top states in the nation to support awareness on human trafficking. Krumm’s promise has been influential sharing his success with five other states. “I am not sure if the crime itself is growing, but more awareness in the law enforcement… [is] what we are trying to do… we are trying to raise awareness through education and information campaign,” Krumm said. Krumm believes that the numbers are going up in tips because of the awareness to human trafficking. Krumm says that Michigan is second in the nation to adopt
the Iowa model. The Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement Model is an effective strategy Truckers Against Trafficking uses in order to help raise awareness in human trafficking and save lives. Our mistaken ideas of human trafficking do not stop with the public, but officers also had special training in human trafficking. “People know it exists but they don’t understand it… I thought girls wanted money or to help their drug habits, and what I thought of as criminal behavior,” says Lansing Michigan State Police Trooper North. “[This is] not at all what it is. The training changed my perspective.” On the Bay Area Women’s Center website, individuals most vulnerable are the poor, those in search of a better life, runaways, undocumented immigrants and the LGBTQ community. The site also informs people where human trafficking can occur. Places common to trafficking are restaurants, hair salons, child care, elder care, hotels, factories
and farms. Heidi Helgren is with the Midland County Task Force and says that we may be supporting those businesses and not even know it. “We don’t see it, so there is no connection,” Helgren said. “If you go to get your nails done and the manager appears to yell in the victim’s native tongue, [you] may think it is a family business, so it is OK. It is very hard to distinguish.” Human trafficking is a widely misunderstood crime that just recently started getting attention in Michigan within the last few years. Other misconceptions are the ways predators pick their victims. Normally, instead of kidnapping victims, predators groom them. Anyone can be a victim to sex trafficking, however Krumm said 11- to 14-year-olds in the U.S. are usual targets. There are several ways predators befriend or coerce people into either sex or labor trafficking. For example,
predators show love and affection to those with low self-esteem or predators know the person has a drug addiction and can manipulate them into trafficking by becoming their dealer. Predators can be strangers, acquaintances you met at school or family members you trust. Many people hear about statistics in Michigan, for instance, that we are number two in the nation for human trafficking; this is not true. Because there is no funding for local call-in centers to keep track of these numbers, it is not clear what Michigan’s ranking is, according Krumm. Tri-City Michigan State Police Trooper Smith says there are plenty of groups in the area who are trained in human trafficking and ready to help. They include the Underground Railroads in Saginaw, the Bay Area Women’s Center in Bay City, local law enforcement agencies and hospitals. “All three counties have phenomenal task forces of
nonprofits, victim advocates and then also law enforcement that are… working on education about human trafficking,” Smith said. “The more we can tell the general public or train the general public what to look for the more cases and tips we will get.”
Human Trafficking by the Numbers Number of victims globally 20 million Estimated profits globally $150 billion/year Nationally reported cases (last 8 years) 31,600 and growing For more information on human trafficking, go to polarisproject.org. If you suspect human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-866-373-7888.
Delta College gets gun threats JACK RECHSTEINER UNIVERSITY CENTER – Delta College Public and with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safety sent out an emergency alert of the drawing regarding this implied threat. Neither agency has because of a concerning drawing located inside of reported evidence of any specific threat against the E-wing men’s restroom on Wednesday, March Delta College. Delta College Public Safety will 21. The drawing depicted an image of a handgun increase police patrols in response to this implied with numbers, letters or threat and has requested symbols written beneath it. other local law enforcement Some perceived this writing agencies, including the Bay to be the date March 22 County Sheriff Department Anyone with any (3/22/18.) and Michigan State Police, Following the event, information regarding to assist with additional security was increased at patrols. In cooperation with this incident or any Delta College’s main campus. the Michigan Intelligence Delta College classes and Center and threat should contact Operations activities continued as the FBI, Delta College will Delta College Public continue to monitor for any scheduled. On Monday, March 26, against Delta College. Safety immediately at threats Delta College issued another Delta College Public Safety 989-686-9113. security warning about will pursue all reasonable another image of a handgun means to identify the person in a bathroom stall with or persons responsible the apparent date March 26 for these incidents and (3/26/18) directly beneath. will pursue all legal Delta College Public Safety is investigating this remedies including criminal charges against the incident as a potential copycat of the incident that perpetrator(s). occurred on March 21, 2018. Anyone with any information regarding this Delta College Public Safety has consulted with incident or any threat should contact Delta College the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center Public Safety immediately at 989-686-9113.
This image was found on one of the men’s bathroom stalls on March 22, 2018. (Photo Courtesy: Public Safety)
“ Luke Zimmerman, 21, Midland “I don’t know if it’s the best way to address the situation. I feel like it’s going to cause more issues than it’s going to solve.”
LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL WALKOUTS Nationwide walkout halted after lockdown for Do you think the high school walkouts local school will make an impact on gun reform laws?
Grace Kozska, 19, Harbor Beach “I think so; it shows that [people] care and that they’ll help.”
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Taylor Propp, 19, Saginaw “It’s more like a peaceful protest. I don’t see how a few people walking out could progress gun control. It just seems like a really weird situation.”
RYAN BAUER
HEMLOCK – A nationwide protest was set to hit schools across the country March 14 to encourage the government to create stricter gun laws. Students at Hemlock High were planning on joining the cause until the school was put into lockdown Wednesday morning. The school had a routine drug search scheduled for that morning, and the hounds took to the hallways while the students were in class. “We knew the police dogs were there,” says Chris Kaufmann, a senior at Hemlock High School. “We heard the dogs bark, and teachers announced we would be in lockdown.” When schools are in lockdown, students are not allowed to leave their classrooms
without adult permission and supervision. The lockdown deterred the plans of those students wanting to participate in the walkout to a screeching halt. “There was talk around the school about the protest, and there were quite a few students planning on participating,” says Kaufmann. “Most teachers were pushing the ‘walkup’ movement instead.” The “walkup” movement spread across the nation urging kids to stay inside classrooms and walk up to student who normally sit alone or appear to spend the majority of their time alone. Though Hemlock students were unable to participate, students all over the United
States did. Students stood outside their schools for 17 minutes, representing the 17 lives that were lost in the Florida massacre that took place in February. But not all students agreed with the walkout. Students had the option to stay inside their schools if they wished. While students were not forced to participate, there were select school districts that punished their students for walking out. There are talks of another protest that will take place later in the school year. “These kids want everyone to know they have a voice,” says Kaufmann. “I hope the government will hear it.”
Students walked out at Midland Dow High School FINN BILODEAU MIDLAND – Students at Midland Dow High School joined a nation of students for their school walkout March 14. The event was spurred on by a recent school shooting where seventeen students were killed in early February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Florida. Students planned the event without the administration’s involvement. “They [teachers] are not allowed to show support for the political reasons but they do show support for the loss of life at that school,” says Dow student Kelly Livingston. While anyone who wished to participate was able, the school did not force students to participate in the political statement. “The school district provided an in house option for kids to make a commitment to Margery Stolmen Douglas by walking down to the gymnasium and writing letters instead of walking outside in protest,” says Cory Thompson, an English teacher at Dow High. Thompson says that the students in the gym writing letters will be marked absent but will still get a chance to make up their
work while the kids that go outside in protest we were directed to mark them unexcused absence. “It would be up to the individual teachers whether or not they would allow the kids to make up their work,” says Thompson. Students who participated in the walkout didn’t appear too upset with being marked absent. “It is perfectly okay. They can’t support the political differences that we’re trying to protest right now, but they can say that we won’t stop you,” says Livingston. Some students are simply showing solidarity for the lives lost, but others want gun laws changed and schools made safer. “There needs to be more control over the ability of people with known mental illnesses to purchase any sort of weapon,” says Athena Syed. “There needs to be strict laws over what types of guns can be purchased, because there is a difference between a weapon of mass murder and a weapon of protection.” Sandy Clark, a grandmother to three students who live in Midland, would like
to see some sort of gun reform on the government’s behalf. “I don’t believe assault rifles should be sold in stores, they just belong in the military. I mean, I’m totally for hunting, I’m just not for the assault rifle,” says Clark.
“I believe that watching these kids take the initiative to be ardent supporters of something that will ensure or help to ensure safety in our schools is outstanding.” Andrew Frye According to the legal document given to teachers before the walkout occured, teachers are not allowed to participate in the planning of the walkout. “Because this is a student generated movement we were not supposed to meet with kids during the planning time,” says Thompson. Teachers are not allowed to preach
their viewpoint in class either and they were given legal advice from lawyers representing the school district. “Our directive from above is really based on what kind of legal representation we would get in our school if something were to happen or if a teacher violated the code of not persuading a captive audience. I may have feelings about the gun legislation but I cannot persuade them to my opinion because they are a captive audience.” Says Thompson. While teachers can’t legally preach their views on gun legislation during class periods, some are still proud of the student body and what it means for the next generation of Americans. Andrew Frye, an English teacher and advisor for the National Honor Society at Dow High, is one teacher who was proud of his students interest in safety and unity. “I believe that watching these kids take the initiative to be ardent supporters of something that will ensure or help to ensure safety in our schools is outstanding,” says Frye. “I support their decision in that.”
COLLEGIATE LIFE
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Tobin tackles new dual enrollment position JESSICA SIEROCKI
Patrick Tobin was hired as Delta’s first Director of Dual Enrollment in February. March 22, 2018. University Center, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)
Delta College welcomed Patrick Tobin into the faculty Feb. 12 as the new director of dual enrollment. This is a new position for the college, making Tobin the first
director to work directly with dualenrolled students and high schools in the area. “We have over 1,000 students not dualenrolled. We’re trying to create a central point of contact where we can listen to all of the students and answer whatever questions they may have. We want to make sure that our students are taken care of properly,” says Tobin. To start off his education pathway, Tobin was looking for a smaller, more comfortable atmosphere than his family of Michigan State University alumni. Delta College was his solution. “Delta College is sort of the place that I found myself academically. The courses were rigorous but it’s not an extremely large campus, so for me that was an advantage. I had some really good instructors and advisors along the way,” says Tobin. After earning an associate degree from Delta, Tobin transferred to Central
Michigan University, earning a bachelor’s in Secondary Education. While teaching, Tobin earned his master’s in Education Leadership from Saginaw Valley State University. His experience stems from his different positions within the K-12 educational system. Tobin worked as a teacher, middle school athletic and activities director, a building administrator and director of student services and facilities of his school district to name a few. “About 5 or 6 years ago I saw postsecondary education as a potential career option for me,” says Tobin. “I think this position is a good transition for me from working in K-12 to postsecondary because I’m working with both sides.” Tobin also works with professionals at local high schools to make sure that dualenrolled students are on the proper track for their program. “It’s important that students work with their school district and their
counselors. The schools do have to sign off on students coming to college for dual enrollment, and that’s an important part of the process.” says Tobin. “Dual enrollment has grown over the past 5 to 8 years. There’s quite a bit of research that shows the positive effects of dual enrollment. These students do better in high school, they graduate from high school and they tend to do better in college,” says Tobin. “It helps put them on a track to be successful in life.” Tobin is very excited for his new position and is looking forward to helping Delta students achieve their goals. “My favorite part is that I know what we’re doing is going to be good for students,” says Tobin. “Being able to do good things for students is what anyone working here should be about.” For more information about dual enrollment services or for any questions, Tobin can be contacted at patricktobin@ delta.edu or 989-686-9673.
International humanities class volunteers abroad for spring break HALEY NAGEL
Delta students studied abroad in Sámara, Costa Rica. They volunteered at Sámara Pacific school repainting playground equipment with personal touches and built shelving units for teachers. (Photo Courtesy: Crystal Starkey).
The week of spring break was nothing short of productive for the 14 students who studied abroad in Sámara, Costa Rica. One week of working and playing hard resulted in new friendships and unified cultural experiences while earning honors credit in international humanities and civic engagement. The first half of the days in Sámara were spent volunteering at a small, locally privatized school. With a lack of funding from the government, the students and instructors of Sámara appreciated the volunteers’ hard work in completing several renovation projects. The student volunteers painted an eclectic range of artwork on the plain walls inside the school, repainted playground equipment with personal touches and built shelving units for teachers. After completing the day’s work, the students were
free to explore the village. With so many options for activities, it was difficult to become bored. Most students took advantage of the ocean being five minutes away and headed to the beach to cool off after work. Downtime activities included surfing, snorkeling, hiking, shopping and horseback riding. Nightlife was an undoubtable trip highlight. Sámara’s fiestas shouldn’t be underestimated. Among the few nightlife establishments, Flying Taco and Arriba were spots where students were found most frequently. Live music from Arriba filled the streets at night, inviting all who sought a good time. Linda Petee, Sustainability and Risk Management Coordinator, was one of three faculty to chaperone the trip. She feels the impact of study abroad is essential to the academic experience. “The intersection of the environment, people and the economy, and international travel link our students with Student from Sámara Pacific saying goodbye to Lena Young as Delta students opportunities for greater understanding of a sustainable depart on the last day of volunteering. (Photo Courtesy: Crystal Starkey). society,” says Petee.
Haley Nagel, Lena Young, Abbie Loubert and Jocelyn Garza pose for a silly photo with Sámara Pacific students. (Photo Courtesy: Crystal Starkey).
For these 14 students, the option to study or volunteer abroad largely enhanced their college experience. Wanting to spread the word about travel opportunities and get students inspired, students will be presenting their endeavors from 10-3 p.m. during global awareness week March 26 and 27. For more information from students who went on the trip, and find out what it’s really like to study abroad while attending Delta. On Monday, March 26 the two locations students will be are the Commons Mezzanine and the hallway near the K-wing. On Tuesday, March 27 students will be at three locations: East main hallway, West main hallway, and the hallway near K-wing and the elevator.
COLLEGIATE LIFE
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Adjunct professor helps keep EM program alive MICHAEL PIWOWARSKI
Five ways to get ready for summer AUBRIE SMITH
Whether it feels like summer or not, summer is coming! And, because you didn’t get that new summer body you were hoping for, now you need to prepare yourself. Bathing suits and summer clothes aren’t cheap, but here are a few tips and tricks to prepare for summer on the cheap:
The swimsuit: Don’t count out Amazon Amazon has a lot of cheaper selections that are really cute! Make sure there’s a refund policy, check your body to the measurements and get that bathing suit at an affordable cost. The even bigger perk: Everyone else will count Amazon out before even looking, and you’ll be the only one on the beach in your cute suit!
The hair: Buddy up with a student Once the air turns warmer, individuals everywhere flock to brighten up their locks. Don’t let high-end salons fool you out of your money. Head to a beauty student, save some money and get gorgeous hair for the season.
The cash: In with the old, but out with it too? Local places (like Plato’s Closet) will buy your old clothes. Grab together a bag and leave with the cash. Rumor has it that some places even give you more dough if you’re OK with in-store credit. Don’t discredit these types of thrift stores! Just because someone didn’t like last year’s sweater anymore, doesn’t mean you won’t look great in it!
The events: Plan ahead Pre-planning your summer can be a bit of a drag – people love adventure, right? However, tickets for events are usually cheaper when they’re first released (or even cheaper if you can catch a presale). Grab some friends and have a planning party to make sure you experience the most fun with the least amount of money.
The community: Get your tan while making a difference Getting involved can be tough on a student’s schedule. Take advantage of some of your free time by volunteering for the community. Get an easy tan, a great resume-booster and gain a great friend or two while boosting your community and keeping yourself busy.
Mario Caballero, adjunct professor in the Electronic Media department at Delta College, teaching his Audio Production class. March 21, 2018. University Center, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Michael Piwowarski)
UNIVERSITY CENTER – Mario Caballero, adjunct content.” The broadcasting field has experienced dramatic professor in the Electronic Media department, has changes over time, with the rise of Internet been teaching many different media production streaming and the increased popularity of digital classes at Delta since 2016. Electronic Media media platforms. is a program of study that Delta College offers Caballero, however, says that broadcasting will for students who want to pursue the fields of “continue to evolve,” stressing the fact that there is multimedia production and broadcasting. still a major need for content producers in today’s Caballero had previously worked for Colorado media market. State University as a student media advisor and a “It still has substantial journalism professor. audiences, and those “I went to Aims “Be looking for the potential will shift some, perhaps, Community College and to get good internships, to get but [...] there will still got my associate degree, apprenticeships and to get started in be lots of opportunities and then transferred for students to produce to Colorado State the business,” content,” says Caballero. University to finish up “What platforms they my bachelor’s, and in Mario Caballero will be on will continue the process of doing to change. It’s kind of that, they were starting a campus TV operation,” says Caballero. “I had [prior] unclear what it will be like.” For students who are studying electronic media radio and television experience, so I was able to stay there and help them start the campus TV operation.” at Delta and are looking to finish their program and Caballero retired from Colorado State and moved get a job in the media field, Caballero points out that it’s just as important to have work experience as it is to Michigan in 2016. This happened to be the same to complete an academic degree. year that Delta College had an opening for a new “Be looking for the potential to get good instructor in the department. Media Production 1, Audio Production and Studio Production 1 are some internships, to get apprenticeships and to get started of the classes that Caballero has taught at Delta, and in the business,” says Caballero. “It’s important to build a portfolio to demonstrate what skillsets you will continue teaching in future semesters. have.” “I think it’s a great environment,” says Caballero. “I think that the EMB students really work hard and get a very good experience learning how to produce
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Re-assessing the story of Lucrezia Borgia with Dr. Laura Dull HALEY NAGEL UNIVERSITY CENTER – In honor of the Women’s History Month theme “saints and sinners,” Laura Dull, professor of history, shed light on common myths associated with Lucrezia Borgia Monday, March 19. Dull dove into detail about the person Borgia really was as part of the Humanities and Learning Center brown bag series. “She was really just a good, Italian, humanist, governing and religious person,” said Dull. Dull’s main source of information came from a biography on Lucrezia Borgia written by Sarah Bradford that Dull used to cover the events of Lucrezia’s life from age 10 until death.. She discussed current powerful women in the public eye who are often criticized for their actions, much like Lucrezia. Dull believes it to be important that we expose binarys in women’s history because often times it was not the women themselves who reported events and retold their stories. “It was the men who wrote the events that we remember. Men who interpreted the stories often did so in a hostile way, given the time period of the Renaissance,” explains Dull. Elites who wrote about this time period, the Italian Renaissance, weren’t fond of the Borgia family, which reflected poorly on Lucrezia. “She was seen as a sexually and politically voracious woman,” Dull explains. Images of Lucrezia aren’t plentiful; people learned about her through the primary source of her letters.
She wrote hundreds of humanistic letters to lovers, family, acquaintances and strangers. Her claim to fame stemmed from the association with her father Pope Alexander VI and brother Cesare. A popular myth suggests Lucrezia had incestual relationship with both family memebers at different times.
“It was the men who wrote the events that we remember. Men who interpreted the stories often did so in a hostile way, given the time period of the Renaissance,” -Laura Dull
The rumor started when her first husband Giovanni Sforza accused her father of wanting Lucrezia for himself after he insisted they end the marriage because it was no longer beneficial to his political agenda. Referring to Showtime’s take on the incest myth, Dull admits: “It’s very Game of Thrones.” Lucrecia’s father ruined her second marriage by having her husband killed, so she defied him and fled town, leaving her son behind.
Students construct wood furnishings in Mike Finelli’s Cabinet Making and Millwork class. March. 20, 2018. University Center, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Jaylie Dice)
Her third marriage with Alfonso d’Este was essentially a business partnership, and resulted in seven children. Dull explains her successful role as a mother to all of her children except for her first born, whom was left in Rome. She cared deeply for all of her children and mourned a long time after first child died at 17 years old. Elaborating on what Lucrecia should have been remembered for, Dull emphasises her beauty, intelligence and power. Referencing the movie “The Courtier,” Dull creates a visual for the audience commenting that Lucrezia definitely fit the description of the female courtier. Lucrezia was highly educated. She had her own library when it was uncommon for someone of the time to own a single book. “She read and spoke multiple languages,” states Dull. Given the contraction of syphilis from her last husband, Lucrezia had several miscarriages. She passed away shortly after giving birth to her last daughter. Whether or not her death was related to the disease is undetermined. The next brown bag session will feature Amy French, director of the Humanities Learning Center, as she talks about Italy’s top sites, Italian culture and travel tips. The free event will take place Monday, April 9 from noon to 1 p.m. in room N007. For future ideas on brown bag sessions, or if you are interested in presenting a topic, contact socialsciences@delta.edu.
COLLEGIATE LIFE
10
“
What do you think about taking away foreign language classes in high school?
Ryan Jankowiski, 24, Bay City “What if you get lost and your phone doesn’t work in another country, whose most-spoken language isn’t English? You’re gonna need to know the type of language these people speak, or at least how to communicate with them.”
”
Michaela Facundo, 18, Saginaw “I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s very important to know [foreign languages]. You might want to go into it in college, and after college, [people] at different jobs like bilingual people.”
Royale Hampton, 26, Bay City “I think that’s shutting them out from culture diversity.”
Claire Brownlee, 20, Saginaw “I don’t think they should remove it, because it’s good for students to have an experience with a different culture.”
What happens when schools stop teaching foreign languages? KELLEN MACGREGOR No matter how hard one tries, foreign language is inescapable. From items on menus that are nearly impossible to pronounce, to aiding visitors who may not speak your native tongue, learning foreign languages and cultures has forever been – and will continue to be – a crucial aspect of education, considering the globalized, interconnected world in which we live currently. As of a 2011 study conducted by the United States Census Bureau, roughly 21 percent of Americans speak another language besides English. Though the United States of America has no official language, the overwhelming majority of citizens speak English. Nonetheless, various languages are spoken countrywide by non-Anglophones, ranging from Bengali to Dutch. In an attempt to promote bilingualism within the TriCities, Ann De Corte, French instructor, and her students have continued to conduct French lessons for elementary school students. “Over the past 5 years, the intensity of my students teaching French has been evolving in a very positive way,” says De Corte. “By that, I mean that it’s more student led, the games are more organized and efficient and the relationship we build with the
kids is closer when we can teach the same class in one school year.” In November of 2017, De Corte’s students taught a French class to fifth-graders at McAlearSawden Elementary for the fourth time. On March 16, the group returned greeted by eager schoolchildren, ready to learn. Unbeknown to the instructors, however, these students haven’t had a French class in 2 years. “Foreign languages have been moved to secondary education in order to fulfill requirements prior to graduation,” says Michael Connors, principal of McAlear-Sawden. “There was, however, a need for more educators, though there were not enough candidates to hire.” Brian Johnson, director of curriculum of Bay City Public Schools, was unavailable for comment. With foreign language education delayed until middle school across Bay City Public Schools, many wonder how students will be prepared beforehand. Currently, a requirement to graduate within the district consists of two credits of a foreign language. There are numerous benefits to learning another language, and these are especially true when the learners are young. According to studies conducted
by Cornell Language Acquisition Lab, bilingual youngsters are less prone to distractions from external stimuli. Another study by Frontiers Academy, a trilingual elementary school in Anaheim, CA., shows that once children reach ages 8 to 10, their abilities to learn foreign languages lessen.
We as a community are doing no favors to our youngsters by depriving them of essential education at the prime age for learning foreign languages.
So, does this mean children older than 8 can no longer learn foreign languages? Not exactly. The younger the child, the more absorbent the brain. In other words, exposing foreign languages to children as early as possible can increase their capacity to comprehend a language’s syntax, grammar, orthography and other aspects, eventually leading to fluency. We as a community are doing no favors to our youngsters by depriving them of essential
education at the prime age for learning foreign languages; in fact, we are also putting them at a disadvantage economically. Take French, for instance. Though 47 million people report to speak the Romance language fluently in the U.S. (primarily in Maine and Louisiana), French is one of the two languages spoken on every continent, along with English. French is also an official language of Canada, the European Union, the United Nations and the Red Cross, which render French an international language. According to a report by the New American Economy, the number of employers seeking bilingual candidates has increased by 16 percent between 2010 and 2015. As the planet becomes more globalized, many states, including Michigan, have begun to introduce seals of biliteracy to recognize graduates who “exhibit language proficiency in English and at least one additional world language.” These awards appear on diplomas and transcripts so future employers or universities are aware of their candidate’s bilingualism. Let’s say that every child in the Tri-Cities is taught French, beginning in preschool until 12th grade. By the end of high school, virtually every student
would be fluent, assuming classes are conducted once daily and retained. These high-school graduates would already be one step ahead of monolingual college graduates, especially those who intend to go into business or politics. Besides French, there are many languages spoken at international levels that require more speakers; Mandarin, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian are emerging as languages that threaten English’s status as a lingua franca. By reinstating this particular pedagogy at the elementary level, the next generation will enter this globalized world economy with more ease, more employment opportunities and more knowledge of the world around them. “As adviser of Delta College’s French Club, I value this community service even more since the district has removed world language from the elementary level,” says De Corte. “Before the removal, the kids could enjoy 45 minutes of French per week, which is nearly enough but still better than nothing at all. My heart melted when a 10-year-old asked me at the end of our lesson how to say ‘sad’ in French.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Creating culture in the Tri-Cities RYAN REICHARD
Culture is defined as “the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.” When you think of people who create this culture, this “manifestation of human intellectual achievement,” often times the Tri-Cities area does not come to mind. The truth is the Tri-Cities are booming with innovators who are helping to shape culture in our area through various different means. Take Valerie Allen as an example. Allen is the curator at Studio 23 in Bay City and has long been a driving force in the world of art for the community. Allen helps to push art in the Tri-Cities area by hosting various events at the studio in hopes of bringing awareness to those who are creating works of art. “One of the great collaborations is called 50 artists exhibit. It was entries from artists in our region and then 50 were picked to be in the exhibit,” says Allen. “As a result, we were able to encompass their bios and images via social media and so it brought a lot of notice to artist
working in the area.” Creating works of art is not the only driving force of culture in the Tri-Cities area. Jordan Pries, owner of a local record store in Bay City called the Electric Kitsch, helps support the expansion of culture through music.
“Our mission statement is to have art that is accessible and relevant to all in the Great Lakes Bay region and to introduce our region to the state,” -Valerie Allen Pries, whose idols growing up played on stages in front of big crowds, wants to bring that shared experience to others in the area through various events. “We had a jazz show for a Hell’s Half Mile showcase last September. I believe that only two audience members had ever seen these particular musicians
play prior to this event,” says Pries. “This was totally new for the other 20 people or so attending.” However, bringing culture to the Tri-Cities area does have its own set of hardships according to Pries. “I believe it is rather difficult to maintain this in the TriCities,” says Pries. “When a city has seen many of the same people staying, and not a lot of people moving in, it is extremely difficult to create a diverse place.” Despite the difficulty of trying to expand culture in the area, Pries still feels the arts are important. “It is imperative that we have the arts, that we have diverse music and people in Bay City,” said Pries. While the Tri-Cities may not seem like the preeminent place of culture creation, there is still plenty of local businesses who are helping to grow culture in this area. You just have to open your eyes to see the art that’s all around you.
Electric Kitsch helps bring culture to Bay City by selling different genres of records, old and new. March 22, 2018. Bay City, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Jaylie Dice)
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Festival pays tribute to Tri-Cities literary luminary JACK RECHSTEINER
Theodore Roethke is the only Pulitzer Prize-winning poet to come out of Michigan, a Saginaw native who is considered by some as one of the most important American poets of the 20th century. That’s why the Theodore Roethke Poetry and Arts Festival takes place across the Tri-Cities every 3 years to celebrate the life and legacy of Roethke. The festival is a 5-day-long affair which took place this year from March 23 to 28. Part of the festival was the TED Roethke Talk held at the Creative 360 on Sat., March 24. A crowd of nearly 20 people were in attendance for the event, which was an evening of conversation and insights into the life of Roethke. The night was divided into two sections. The first part of the night delved into the past of Roethke and how Saginaw shaped him as a writer with Mike Kolleth, the vice president of the Friends of Roethke Foundation, offering a history of the poet along with a collection of Roethke’s personal books and manuscripts. Kolleth told the story of Roethke with
some help from the audience participation by having them read quotes from Roethke at different points in the poet’s life. Kolleth started with Roethke’s childhood home on Gratiot Road in Saginaw, which is now preserved as the Theodore Roethke Home Museum. “This childhood home and its 125-acre greenhouse did much to inform Roethke’s views surrounding subjects like life, death and rebirth,” says Kolleth. The talk centered around artifacts such as the first poetry books that Roethke read as well as different books that impacted him through the years, including inscriptions Roethke left in his own books to people who encouraged him such as Robert Hillyer and Robert Lowell. Kolleth also took time during his talk to explore Roethke’s relations with other writers and literary figures of the era such as Edith Sitwell. “Sylvia Plath’s editors actually rejected her first poetry book because they said it was too derivative of Roethke. In their words, her poems owed too great of a debt to Roethke’s work,” says Kolleth.
Roethke graduated from Arthur Hill High School and went on to the University of Michigan to study law. It was during his time there that Robert Frost did a reading at the university that Roethke attended. It was shortly after that encounter with Frost that Roethke left law school to study poetry at Harvard. One of the books displayed at the talk was the copy of Frost’s poetry book which he had signed for Roethke. Kolleth went on to talk about Roethke as a poet and the lasting legacy that he’s left before transitioning into a discussions on the experiences Roethke had growing up in Michigan while he was finding himself. “‘Lost Son and Other Poems’ is one of the most influential poetry books of the 20th century, and roughly 90 percent of the poems in it center around Saginaw and Roethke’s time in Michigan,” says Kolleth. The TED Talk of the evening returned to Roethke’s childhood home with Jeff Vande Zande, a Delta English professor, reading from his book “American Poet.”
AS SEEN AROUND CAMPUS
Students practice dance routines in Peggy Barber’s DMS Sonography Occupational Wellness class. March. 20, 2018. University Center, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/Jaylie Dice)
Vande Zande wrote his novel with the Roethke House at the center of the story and playing an important part in the plot and setting of “American Poet.” “A festival like this shows that there are people in the area who write and care about writing. It brings together likeminded people and shows that there is support and a community out there for writers and artists,” says Vande Zande. Kolleth and Vande Zande discussed between them their views on the differences between poetry of the 20th and 21st centuries and the effects that Roethke has had on the current landscape of the poetry world. “Roethke has left this legacy of influence about how he examined the world that is impacting a new generation of writers, like Douglas Kearney who is reading at this year’s Roethke Festival. Kearny has a completely different style to Roethke, but a similar view on poetry and using it to examine the relationships between people,” says Bria Rivet, festival attendee and member of the SVSU writing group.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Excellency Music’s 100th show brings Drake Bell to Saginaw AUBRIE SMITH The Counter Culture crowd packed tightly to the stage as the openers for Drake Bell performed. The nearly soldout show brought fans from all over Michigan, buzzing in anticipation for the former “Drake & Josh” star to make his appearance. “You see all of these people coming together for a show like this, and this is a huge person to come to Saginaw – it’s cool,” says Ken Mochrie, Excellency Music staff member. Jodi Butler, Delta College student and Excellency Music staff member, expressed excitement for the concert. She also explained the bond the organization brings to the Tri-City music scene: “It’s a family,” says Butler. “It brings a group of people [together] who love the same kind of music, or who want to see what’s local.” Troy Weiler, owner of Excellency Music, agreed with Butler: “It brings the community together, which is really cool,” says Weiler. Weiler also expressed his excitement of booking other potential high-profile artists. “This one is turning out pretty well already, so I think bringing bigger bands to the area in the future is a possibility,” says Weiler. Mark Duhaime, member of local band Forest Green, opened for Bell as a solo artist. Along with his nervousness, he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity: “It was really cool. It was an opportunity that you feel like you don’t deserve, so to be able to actually pursue it is a really awesome experience,” says Duhame. A little after 9 p.m. Bell took the stage, singing new arrangements from his latest EP “Honest.” His guitar skills and vocals impressed the crowd, as people cheered with each held note. His final song, “Found a Way,” had fans yelling each lyric with excitement as the Nickelodeon nostalgia kicked in. “I loved [the event]. It was awesome,” says Jordan Mulligan, Delta student and concertgoer. Besides Drake Bell, Mulligan says she was impressed with the second opener, former contestant from The Voice: “Joe Kirk, the opener, was awesome!” The one thing all attendees agreed on is that the event would not have been possible without Counter Culture and Excellency Music. “Excellency 100 percent betters the Tri-City area because they bring music that brings the community together. The music scene is a bond that brings people together,” says Duhame.’’ For more information about upcoming Excellency Music events, visit Excellency Music’s Facebook page.
TO VIEW OUR VIDEO OF THE CONCERT, VISIT WWW. DELTACOLLEGIATE.COM
Musician and actor Drake Bell performs new songs as well as classic hits at his concert at Counter Culture. Saginaw, Mich. March 19, 2018. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)
The performing Justin Kirk of Tryon takes the stage as the opening act of the Drake Bell concert at Counter Culture. Saginaw, Mich. March 19, 2018. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)
Artist Joe Kirk performs at Counter Culture as one of the opening acts at the Drake Bell concert. Saginaw, Mich. March 19, 2018. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)
STAFF
14
DELTA COLLEGIATE STAFF Aubrie Smith
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MEET THE STAFF
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Robynn Verhaeghe is a page designer for the Collegiate, born in Essexville. This is her first year at Delta. She plans to obtain her associates then transfer to Michigan State University to major in graphic design.
LaBrandon Randle is a page designer for the Delta Collegiate. He is currently pursuing an Associates in Graphic Design. He enjoys long walks on the beach, videogames, fishing, running, golf, long boarding and painting. Science rules!
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OPINION
15
Russian diplomats expelled from the US, Europe
Countries expelling diplomats totaling 137 diplomats worldwide
CARTER HOUTMAN On Monday, news broke that in a small town in England, Russian spies poisoned an ex-spy and his daughter with a deadly, military grade nerve agent. In the wake of the poison attack, the United States and other nations who ally with the United Kingdom all have decided to dispel Russian diplomats from the countries. The White House released an official statement on the issue stating: “President Trump had ordered the expulsions to made the United States safer by reducing Russia’s ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations that threaten America’s national security.” This is definitely the most
diplomatic, and well thought out move the US could have in this situation. The United Kingdom has been a major ally of the United States for over 100 years, and therefore the United States has the responsibility to act upon national security threats to not only ourselves, but also our allies. President Trump has given the order to expel 60 diplomats from Russia. This move is monumental, considering the United Kingdom expelled less than half of that (23 diplomats) and the attack actually happened on their soil. The United States is solidifying its stance against Russia and the way they conduct themselves in a way
that hasn’t been seen since the Cold War, and for that we are once again being seen by the world as a country that no longer will take any crap from other countries when it comes to national security of our country or our allies.
• US: 60 • The United Kingdom: 23 • EU countries: France (4); Germany (4); Poland (4); Czech Republic (3); Lithuania (3); Denmark (2); Netherlands (2); Italy (2); Spain (2); Estonia (1); Croatia (1); Finland (1); Hungary (1); Latvia (1); Romania (1); Sweden (1) • Ukraine: 13 • Canada: 4, plus the rejection of 3 further applications from Russia • Albania: 2 • Norway: 1 • Macedonia: 1
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:
If schools are mandated to be gun free zones, violence and danger are given an open invitation to enter. Almost all school shootings are in gun free zones. Cowards will only go where there isno deterrent!
Dear Mr. President, the majority of, if not all, schools are gun-free zones in America right now. I understand the statement of gun-free zones inviting violence and danger to school campuses, but they have been deemed gun-free zones to, well, keep guns off the campus. The posted signs have obviously not been a big enough deterrent to keep crazies from shooting up schools, but that doesn’t mean we should start posting people with military-grade weapons in front of every school in America because that, indeed, will resemble a prison.
Students in America already have a hard enough time finding enjoyment in our bogus system of the importance of standardized tests being the be-all-end-all of education. Putting them under prisonlike conditions will not benefit anyone.
THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE HAS, AFTER A 14 MONTH LONG IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION, FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF COLLUSION OR COORDINATION BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA TO INFLUENCE THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
SO MANY CAPITALS. ALL THE SHOUTING. NOTICE THIS TWEET BECAUSE IT’S ABOUT ME AND SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OF THE OTHER NONSENSE I BABBLE ABOUT. According to the New York Times, the House Intelligence Committee Republicans found that in their investigation of Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, there was no collusion with Russia. So, the Republicans conducted an investigation on
a Republican president, and Trump seems ecstatic that they didn’t find anything. Shocker. Do I believe there was no collusion? Umm… unless we want to get into a seriously heated discussion, no comment.
Today the House took major steps toward securing our schools by passing the STOP School Violence Act. We must put the safety of America’s children FIRST by improving training and law enforcement better tools. A tragedy like Parkland can’t happen ever again!
Oh my gosh, mark your calendars, folks, because this is the day that I say that I actually appreciate a tweet that Donald has sent into the Twittersphere. Yes, there needs to be reform on the government’s behalf. But, (there always is one when it comes to Trump, isn’t there?) I would like to know exactly what this plan is and how exactly it will benefit the safety of students nationwide, especially when a lot of Republicans are calling for putting armed guards in public schools. If you want to know my opinion about that, please revisit
my opinion about the first tweet above.
Continuing to monitor the heartbreaking bridge collapse at FIU - so tragic. Many brave First Responders rushed in to save lives. Thank you for your courage. Praying this evening for all who are affected.
The Florida International University pedestrian bridge collapsed Thursday, March 15 and claimed the lives of at least six victims. It was a nice gesture for Trump to make a public statement about this tragedy as he and past presidents tend to do. However, as per usual, I have a slight issue with this statement. “Praying this evening for all who are affected.” Yes, I’m religious and very proud of my faith, but even I know that prayers can only get people so far. Real action needs to be taken, which is why I give props to Trump for thanking the first responders who aided in the collapse. They were there and they did something. I’m looking forward to seeing if Trump will be
making an appearance in Florida for this event. Not holding my breath, though.
Spent very little time with Andrew McCabe, but he never took notes when he was with me. I don’t believe he made memos except to help his own agenda, probably at a later date. Same with lying James Comey. Can we call them Fake Memos?
I’m not even going to acknowledge Andrew McCabe because all I saw in this tweet was what I’m sure will be the next new hashtag to grace Trump’s Twitter: Fake Memos. Oh my gosh, just when will the “fake” everything end? 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
16
PERSPECTIVES Water is indeed wet, you heathens AUBRIE SMITH So, while I have been living an active life, busy with my education, employment and other important things, there has apparently been a dispute that boggles my intellectual mind to the fullest: Is water wet? After losing many a brain cell while researching both sides of the argument, my opinion has yet to shift even a hair beyond the fact that water is, undoubtedly, soaking wet. There are several points to back my claim, but let’s start with the most obvious: You are not arguing about the wetness of H2O, you’re arguing about the English language and adjectives versus nouns. Almost every dictionary website I’ve come across in my in-depth research of this ridiculous argument has brought me to both the adjective definition of wet (covered or saturated with water or another liquid) and the noun version of the word (the liquid that makes something wet.) The adult in me would like to sit both parties down and justify both sides of the argument with
English parts of speech, because the truth is that both sides of the argument have justifications within the specific parts of speech that they’re referencing, but where’s the fun in that? So, I’ll bring science into it too – just for funsies. We learn at an early age that water consists of multiple H2O molecules. These molecules, in almost all non-laboratory settings, are covered, saturated and surrounded (see adjective definition of “wet”) by other H2O molecules. The argument that water is not wet consists of the idea that something can only be described (adjective) as wet when a liquid touches it, e.g., wet clothes, wet counter. However, because H2O molecules are surrounding other H2O molecules, water is, in fact, wet – because science. Water is surrounded by water, making the water wet. This is also the reason that we do not feel wet when we swim, being fully saturated by water. Though we do not feel the “wetness” of the water when we are fully submerged, we consider
ourselves wet, therefore we have to consider the water molecules inside the water itself, as those too are wet and surrounded by water. If you would like to argue with me about molecular patterns and their breakage as a counter argument, come at me, bro. Until then, I guess I’ll succumb to my generation and “enjoy the meme,” as they say.
What did our readers have to say?
The Collegiate took to Facebook and Twitter to see how our readers reacted to whether or not water is wet. Here are the results: Twitter 86 Votes Obviously
50% Absolutely not
50%
Facebook 162 Votes Obviously
52% Absolutely not
48%
WATER IS NOT WET JOE THORNTON The word “wet” is defined by Merriam-Webster as something “consisting of, containing, covered with or soaked with liquid (such as water).” The next time you reach to take a drink from a cold, refreshing water bottle, look inside. The water you are drinking cannot consist of water, rather it consists of the elements hydrogen and oxygen. The water inside the container is not covered or saturated with water, it is simply water. The bottle, however, is wet on the inside due to the water that it is in contact with, but the water itself is not wet. If you are looking at water in
an ocean, the water is neither covered nor saturated with water. Covering would mean putting water on top of the ocean, and that would be impossible. If I covered someone with an umbrella, I could take the umbrella away when I choose. If I put water on top of the ocean, I can’t uncover the water from the ocean, and thus it can’t be covered. The water simply combines to become part of the larger body. To say something is saturated means to make it wet. If I pour water on water, it doesn’t become wet. It once again just adds to the ocean. This means that water is unable to adhere to the definition
of wet and therefore is not wet; this alone should be the end of discussion and end the argument, but if this isn’t proof enough, just keep reading. Water itself is not wet but is instead a tool used to make other objects wet. An accurate analogy comes from a blowtorch flame. The flame can be used to burn whatever you wield it to, but the flame itself is not burnt. Instead, the object that the flame comes in contact with becomes burnt, and the same follows for water being a tool to make things wet. Additionally, wet is an adjective directly meant to describe something in its solid state of matter. While we know
that at any given point there is a certain amount of moisture in the air, especially on a humid day, that doesn’t make the air wet. Humidity is the amount of water vapor that is present in the air, and that water vapor itself is not wet, for it is in a gaseous state. Any object that is a gas or a liquid cannot be considered wet, and as a result water is not wet. The only state in which water could be considered wet would be as a solid: ice. For example, as someone pours ice into a drink, the ice would become wet because it is now saturated with the liquid, but the liquid itself is not wet. Furthermore, for something
to be wet, it must also be able to become dry. Water cannot be dried. If you spill something on the floor, the floor is now wet, and you can use a towel to make the floor dry, but the water is not wet. This argument doesn’t mean that the water is dry just because it isn’t wet, it means that liquids and gases are not subject to the adjectives dry and wet. Taking all of this into consideration, I hold no doubt in my mind that water is not wet. Water is simply water.
OPINION
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Presidents and affairs: What’s the big deal? The newest scandal in the Trump administration is the discovery of Donald Trump paying off pornographic film star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair. According to the New York Times, Trump paid Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet when their affair ended shortly after his son Barron, now 11 years old, was born. This is hardly the first female-related issue to come knocking on Trump’s doorstep, but it is also not the first time that a United States president has had a personal affair made public. There have been many married presidents who have been caught up in affairs that have been revealed in public while in office. We can throw the examples back all the way to the 1800s when Thomas Jefferson fathered five children with his slave Sally Hemings. Some of the more recent scandals in the past decades include John F. Kennedy who was romantically involved with moviestar Marilyn Monroe among other less notable White House staff, and Bill Clinton who was involved with 21-year-old Monica Lewinsky. These are just the few examples of what
could be countless affairs, told or untold. Now, Trump’s alleged affair with Daniels did not take place while he was president of the United States, but does that make it less of a problem? The real question here is, what exactly is the big deal about a married president having an affair? The past presidents listed above seemed able to run the country and continue their presidential duties while these scandals occurred, so Trump should be able to as well, right? But here’s what was broken because of their affairs: trust. Not only between their immediate families but also with the American people. Infidelity is in its own category of wrongdoing. When one person is legally committed to another through marriage, it’s despicable and hurtful to break that trust. If someone wishes to sleep with more than one person at a time, all the more power to them. But if that’s what someone wants, why commit yourself to someone completely? Affairs can only end with hurt feelings, anger and disappointments for all involved. Now, every president inaugurated into
Understanding your partner’s fetish AUBRIE SMITH You meet an attractive human, you get to know them, fall into a blissful honeymoon stage, form an intense intimate connection and begin a relationship. Months down the road, things begin to fizzle faster than expected. Sure, you had to get out of the perfect phase sooner or later, right? But surely this diminished too quickly. That’s when you learn that your partner has a foot fetish, and their attempt to conceal it has flattened your sex life. What do you do? You’re emotionally compatible, you’re obsessed with the passion between the two of you and you feel that “once in a lifetime” connection. You’re posed with two options: break up or break into the life of fetishes. Kind, innocent soul, use this time to come out of your shell a bit – educate yourself. Use your internet abilities to understand the fetish, the boundaries and other possible outlets that may come with
it.
Set your own boundaries. Your partner will appreciate your willingness to learn and invest in their interests, knowing that they don’t match your own. If you communicate your boundaries with them early on, but let them know you’re willing to compromise and learn. Don’t shut them out before you try. Fetishes are a lot more common than people assume. According to a survey done by the Bustle, 75 percent of people have some sort of fetish, with the most common being BDSM, or some form of it. Inform yourself and open up to the possibility of sex in a different light than you’re used to. The worst case is that you’re not into it and things don’t work out – but at least you tried.
Illustration by David Taylor
It’s not secret that Trump has been accused of colluding with Russia. Whether or not if that’s true, there will always be a “what if ” creeping around in the back of everyone’s mind. There are obviously secrets of our country that regular citizens are not and will never be privy to for good reason, but what else could the president be hiding that we have a right to know about? We here at the Collegiate really just want America to be represented by a leader whom we can trust and who will have the country’s best interests in mind. We as voters and concerned citizens shouldn’t have to tolerate leaders who cannot be trusted. Whether Trump falls under that definition is another discussion, but trust is something that the American people shouldn’t have to compromise.
the position is privy to every American secret – the good, bad and scary. If a man (since there have only been male presidents thus far) can hide something like being unfaithful to his wife from millions of Americans, what else are they capable of hiding?
SATIRE REVIEW
Deltoid named official muscle of Delta College
KELLEN MACGREGOR UNIVERSITY CENTER – “Ladies and gentlemen,” began Delta College President Jean Goodnow, speaking to a lecture hall replete with students and faculty alike. “I present to you… The world’s very first muscle sponsored by a college, the deltoid.” Beholden to shoulder support, the deltoid is named after the Greek uppercase letter delta. Applause, gasps and screams filled the auditorium immediately preceding President Goodnow’s landmark announcement. Biology majors rejoiced as this groundbreaking partnership between the iconic, triangular muscle and Delta College was confirmed. “I never thought I would live to see the day that my own college would form a collab with my favorite muscle,” says Regina Hyde, second-year occupational therapy major. Never in the history of academia has a part of the human anatomy been officially sponsored by an educational institution.
This historic declaration marks a watershed in the history of human anatomy and scientific advancement. “The deltoid perfectly represents the qualities that the ideal [Delta] Pioneer possesses,” says President Goodnow, during a press conference following the announcement. “Resourcefulness, integrity and vigor, which collectively form the triangularity of triumph.” In celebration of the sinewy union, the Red Brix Cafe has revamped its menu, serving deltoid-related options such as roasted cow’s deltoid, triangle-shaped pastries and quesadillas. “You know, if there’s anything I wish the cafeteria would serve, it’s always been roasted cow’s deltoid,” says Henrietta Vergal, sixth-year general studies major.
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Taking things one pitch at a time
SPORTS
JOE THORNTON
Delta College baseball finished fifth on a national scale in their division last year. Beginning their season ranked ninth in the nation, there are high expectations to look forward to, yet this is an entirely different team. Being a community college, the baseball team suffers from the same turnover that all sports teams and extracurriculars at Delta College. Unfortunately, head baseball coach Danny Smith thinks that his team has been especially hard this season. Q: What have you found out about your team this offseason? What have you done differently? A: We’ve found out this team is very inexperienced. We usually have sophomores that come back and can step into roles using experience from the previous year. Essentially throwing high schoolers to the wolves. To combat that, we have focused on real basics. How to get on base, how to take a pitch, how to create offense, throw first pitch strikes. We aren’t taking anything for granted. Q: What have you tried to do, recovering from the player turnover? A: Last year we went to world series, finished fifth in the country. While that was a great journey, it meant that our season didn’t really end until June. From a recruiting perspective, whoever we recruited by January of last year is really all that we had because we missed a
The Delta College baseball team practiced their batting and catching skills on March 22, 2018 at the baseball field in Harvey Randall Wickes Park. Saginaw, MI. (Delta Collegiate/Michael Piwowarski)
majority of the high school season. We knew there wouldn’t be a great amount of experience coming back. Even the sophomores who have come back didn’t get a ton of playing time, so to adjust we have scaled back and tried to make everything very vanilla. Fortunately, we have been able to get carried a little bit by our pitching this season, our pitching is phenomenal. Our pitchers have done a great job of keeping us in the game. Without having these great pitchers we would be struggling to win any game and they are the reason we are sitting at .500.
A: Eleven pitchers on staff, nine active, using a five-man rotation. Early in the season especially, games end up getting delayed due to weather, and to make those games up you end up having weeks where you’re playing eight games over four days. In those times you have to have players that are willing to step up and have pitchers that even though they weren’t usually a starter, they’re going to have to be a starter today. In past seasons we’ve carried around 14 pitchers, but this season we’re just short.
Q: How many pitchers are there in rotation?
A: The weather was definitely an advantage, but other than that the tough competition we went up against. Since
Q: Was the spring trip a good move?
we were so successful last season and our preseason ranking was high, we were matched up against some of the best teams in the country. Even though we’re inexperienced, we were able to play against some of the best teams in our division, and it was a reality check. As coaches, we are going to exercise patience. We have told our staff that we are going to take plays eight seconds at a time. We’re going to take things one day at a time instead of the seasons past where we have always shot for the thirty win mark. One of only two schools in the conference that have won 30 games and made it to the postseason for the past five years in a row. This year, it will be a struggle. Instead of getting ahead of ourselves, we need to look eight seconds at a time. Q: What phrase best defines Delta College Baseball? A: Nine guys named Joe. Been our moniker since we started the program in 2012, we want our guys to show up every day and forget about the name on the back of their shirt and just be a regular joe. If it means doing something that you aren’t accustomed to, to help the team, so be it. You leave your pride at the door before you step out onto the diamond. Our guys buy into that and know what it takes. Not a ton of depth. More experience.
The Delta College baseball team practiced their batting and catching skills on March 22, 2018 at the baseball field in Harvey Randall Wickes Park. Saginaw, MI. (Delta Collegiate/Michael Piwowarski)
SPORTS
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What to do with your busted bracket JOE THORNTON As March Madness began this year, no one could have guessed how “mad” it would truly be. The tournament began and the upsets occurred almost immediately, the most notably being that first seed Virginia lost to sixteenth seed UMBC. This was the first time in March Madness history that a sixteenth seed has managed to beat a first seed making the overall record 135-1. Congrats Virginia for ruining the shutout. The saddest part? It wasn’t even close, with a final score of 74-54. Loyola Chicago just keeps on dancing. It seems they’re direct recipients of divine intervention making their way to the Elite Eight and winning their three games by a total of four points. They’ve made themselves into a Cinderella story that many people can root for, even if they are absolutely destroying your bracket. At this point in the tourney
there is no way can your bracket is perfect and statistics show it is almost certainly in shambles. It’s okay. You’re not alone. The piece of paper that you spent hours on once signified your pride, but now is a mockery of everything you stand for. Don’t worry, it’s still good for something.
a tradition of good luck and offers the possibility of bracket reincarnation. Turn it into a paper basketball: Although the team you chose to go all the way couldn’t make the shot, you can offer some redemption by crumpling up that single sheet and draining it into a tall black trash bag.
Here are some ways you can make the most of your busted bracket:
Get a new one: This year especially no one is alone with their busted brackets, which makes it even more acceptable to print out a new one. After such a chaotic Sweet 16, you’re definitely entitled to make some new picks. Be wary though, the shame is twice as great if you reprint and fail again. It’s double or nothing if you go this route.
Burn it: Ah, yes. The revered tradition of setting fire to failure and sending the paper scraps to the wind. This is a quick and convenient decision, and although somewhat dangerous offers quick resolve so no one sees your embarrassing picks. Arguably the most freeing form of bracket therapy. Recycle it: For those who are more eco friendly, which
Illustration by David Taylor
everyone should be, go ahead and slap that bracket into the recycling bin. It might be hard to sleep knowing that it’s just lying around in that colored
tote, mocking you until it leaves your home, but this way it can eventually go toward building your bracket for next year that will be much better. This is
Delta College men’s basketball earns fourth in national championship JOE THORNTON
The Delta College Pioneers faced off with the Mott Community College Bears Feb 14, 2018. University Center, Mich. (Delta Collegiate/File/Jaylie Dice)
The Pioneers returned home from the NJCAA Division II National Championship, but Head Coach Carlos McMath and his players didn’t come back empty-handed. While they were deemed a “Cinderella story” after their first couple of wins against the higher-seeded South Suburban and eventually Arkansas State Mid-South, this was no fairytale for those who have been watching the Pioneers all season long. The Pioneers brought national recognition to Delta, earning fourth place overall in the tournament and exceeding the expectations of the 11th-seed-ranking when the tourney began. The Delta College men’s basketball team was able to make a deep run in the tournament before losing to Pima, as Pima eventually went on to lose to Triton. Although the team aspired to bring home first place, Coach McMath prides himself on how far this team has come and how they have grown throughout the season. For those who have watched closely, it is apparent that this 2017-18 basketball
team has become more than just a team, but a brotherhood. While the overall record this season has been impressive, the most commendable quality of McMath and his staff is how well they have brought together these freshmen players in such a short time frame. Martel Handley earned all-tournament honors for his performance, adding to his already long list of accolades that he’s been awarded this year.
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