Tuesday, february 7, 2017

VOLUME 80, ISSUE 3

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017

news

A&E

SPORTS

Opinion

collegiate life

Calley pressed about press

Exclusive album preview

Back-to-back wins for Delta Basketball

Differing on DeVos

Date yourself first

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The lieutenant governor mingles with members of the media.

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Local band Vital Sea tells all Women’s team wins 90-83 in Q & A with the Collegiate’s against St. Clair. Men’s team art expert. wins 101-72.

Collegiate staff offer opposing perspectives on the nomination of Betsy DeVos.

Why break-ups don’t always have to be all bad.

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Delta CHALLENGES stigmas with

‘ the

Vagina Monologues

Jessica Ferhman, center, shares a laugh with D’Asia Brown, left, and McKenzie Kohloff Parr, right, as they sit onstage during a rehearsal for “The Vagina Monologues” at Delta College, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. (Delta Collegiate/Josie Norris)

’

Read on Page 3

Delta College Library shows gratitude to a longtime donor @AllieKeenanDC

Allie Keenan UNIVERSITY CENTER – Larry Hert, a retired Delta College professor, continues to donate hundreds of children’s books to the Delta College Library.

Hert taught English courses dealing with the subject of children’s literature at Delta from 1977 to 2013. He officially retired in 2009 with the promise of returning years later to teach two fall classes along with multiple volunteer positions. He established the Young Author’s Day event that was held biennially at Delta from 1988 until 2006. This event featured many award

winning authors along with local teachers and over 17,000 students from multiple schools.

The books that have been donated

by Hert contain the signatures from the authors that have attended the Young Author’s Day events.

To Colleen Kothbauer, reference librarian and media specialist, these books are important additions to the library.

“Larry Hert has been an avid collector for over 20 years and working with Michigan authors during Young Author’s

The Larry Hert Children’s Literature Collection at the Delta College Library displays multiple children’s books for general use. (Delta Collegiate/Allie Keenan)

Day, he acquired award-winning books in hardcover,” says Kothbauer. “Hardcover picture books are the best books that can be collected through time because paperback books just do not hold up as well.”

Hert’s personal collection of books exceeds 2,000 and consists of many genres, publications and authors.

Hert’s contributions to the Delta College Library have been commemorated as the Larry Hert Children’s Literature Collection.

The collection is broken into two sections: nonfiction and fiction. White compartments are filled with reference books that are unable to be checked out because they are for on-campus use by the students who are enrolled in children’s literature classes at Delta.

Kothbauer explains that by using Hert’s donated books they are “able to increase the collection for students” allowing for the literature classes at Delta to use them because “Delta’s literature classes are required to read a lot of picture books.”

These donated books serve as an essential part of the Delta College Library for educational and recreational purposes.

Hert himself has won awards consisting of the College’s Bergstein Award for Teaching Excellence in Humanities, 1990 and 2000, along with two Innovator of the Year Awards from the League for Innovation in Community College, 1995 and 2004.

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Families spend time viewing the snow sculptures as part of the World Class Double Snow Sculpting Competition at Zhender’s Snowfest in Frankenmuth. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)

Community celebrates Snowfest in a snowless Frankenmuth Jessica sierocki

@DC_JessicaS

FRANKENMUTH – The enticing smells of roasted almonds, hot chocolate and freshly popped popcorn greeted the visitors who lined the streets to celebrate the 26th annual Frankenmuth Snowfest.

People from all over Michigan made a point to stop by the Snowfest every year. To Erin and Mitch McGee, who currently live in the Milwaukee area, the Snowfest holds a much deeper meaning than admiring intricate ice and snow sculptures.

“A few years ago we were visiting the Koffee Haus and the owner told us about the Snowfest. We decided to come and see it because he made it sound super amazing. Last year we actually got engaged here. We plan to make it a tradition to spend our anniversary here,” says Erin McGee. From Jan. 25 to Jan. 29, the Snowfest was in full swing with world class, state of Michigan and high school snow and ice sculpture competitions. Other activities focused on family fun with carousel rides, petting zoos and winter horse carriage rides.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017 / www.deltacollegiate.com

News

Community members learn about modern day slavery @DCPhoebeFries

Phoebe Fries UNIVERSITY CENTER – The Human Trafficking Task Force held a presentation at St. Mary’s of Michigan Education Center on Jan. 24, to educate community members on modern day slavery. The presentation was separated into three stages. A specific topic was discussed by selected speakers for a more in-depth conversation to address the many forms of human trafficking.

According to Melissa Steiner, coordinator for the Underground Railroad task force, there are two types of trafficking. `“Sex trafficking is when a victim is forced or coerced into performing a sexual act. Labor trafficking requires victims to perform tasks

of labor to repay a debt,” Steiner stated during the initial presentation.

The three topics being presented included cyber safety, law enforcement and trauma informed training. The community members had the choice of attending two out of the three presentations.

Tracy Aldrich, a 45 year old Saginaw native, attended both the cyber safety and law enforcement presentations. As a mother of a sixteen year old daughter, Aldrich appreciated the information regarding online safety.

“It really hit home hearing about the possibility of predators specifically seeking out girls such as mine. It makes me, as

a parent, sick to my stomach. I will do everything in my ability to stay educated and informed to prevent dangerous situations from occurring,” says Aldrich.

According to Steiner, 250 people came to the event.

“We were hoping for 200 combined, so when 190 people showed up for the first round of presentations, this morning, we were a bit surprised,” says Steiner.

Steiner thinks the event went well, and has already received positive feedback from attendees.

“Our goal was to have people be more informed and more willing to come forward with information if something doesn’t look or feel right. If someone suspects something, we encourage them to step up and make that phone call to potentially save someone’s life,” says Steiner.

For more information about human trafficking contact local law enforcement offices or the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at (888) 373-7888.

Community celebrates Snowfest in a snowless Frankenmuth

This sculpture took first place in the State of Michigan Snow Sculpture Competition. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)

Continued from Front Page...

The crowd marches while holding up their signs, Jan. 21, 2017 in Washington D.C. (Photo courtesy: Mecca Cobb)

Women’s March begins movement for power, peace and unity

@DCBrynnaHenika

Brynna Henika

O

n Jan. 21, just one day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Americans came together for the Women’s March on Washington.

“I think it stirred a lot of feelings in all of us, and that many people reflected a sense of despair since the election,” says Freeland resident, Kim Winchell.

Carrying an array of homemade signs and fashion accessories, an estimated 650,000 men, women and children, of all ages and races, gathered the streets of Washington D.C. to voice their rights to life and equality.

“It was an amazing thing to be a part of...I’ve never been part of something that big,” says Winchell.

According to Patricia Hopps, of Traverse City, and Michigan’s lead coordinator for the march, out of the thousands who attended, 10,000 were Michiganders.

“It was an across the board repudiation of Trump and his policies...it was a full

blown no, this is not acceptable,” says Winchell.

“The march was inspiring, it was filled with love and peace,” says Hopps.

“[Judd] shared a poem, and it was really moving...it was so real, and it resonated with me the most.” says Mecca Cobb, of Beverly Hills.

“I got to hear Gloria Steinem speak, and that was really amazing,” says Kalie Schnabel, of Kalamazoo. “...reminding us we could create change and support each other.”

Cobb adds that everyone was really civil, and all in attendance shared similar moods and feelings.

Sa ra h A rcher, of Saginaw, shared that there was an immediate familial feeling when she got on the bus, and even standing in the parking lot, fighting against what is going on and reflecting this country.

“It was a very affirming trip for me that I was not alone in the way I felt and the way I thought...we’ve come too far to not make a statement somehow,” says Archer.

“There’s just more than you would expect here and every day is different. There’s been fireworks and there’s always great food and music. It’s definitely been worth it to spend the weekend here,” says Mitch McGee.

On Sunday Jan. 29, students from Oakland Community College, Henry Ford College, Macomb Community College and the University of Akron battled against each other as part of the U.S. National Collegiate Ice Carving Competition.

“Just seeing the college students carving ice sculptures in front of us is a pretty neat experience. You see ice flying all over and they end up making these works of art in such a short time,” says Erin McGee. Local and traveling vendors set up shop to offer warm drinks and tasty food to visitors. Randy Lipman, owner of Mystic Kettle, has been selling gourmet kettle korn at the Snowfest for the past five years.

“We think it’s truly the most amazing winter event. We work events all year long, but there’s just something magical about the Snowfest. It’s nice for local businesses and people all throughout Michigan, not just to those in this area,” says Lipman.

Mystic Kettle is a transitory food business that partnered with Zehnder’s to become a divisional sponsor for the Snowfest.

“I think the festival brings a nice, healthy outing for families. Normally by the end of January, people can spend the day lounging around but the Snowfest allows everyone to get outside and do something fun,” says Lipman.

[ ] “The march was inspiring, it was filled with love and peace.”

- Patricia Hopps

The event consisted of a grand total of 44 speakers. Ashley Judd, Gloria Steinem, and Michael Moore were just a few who shared their messages with the thousands that attended.

The dragon snow sculpture was awarded People’s Choice in the World Class Single Snow Sculpting Competition. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)

Local youth pastor produces film featuring Delta student @DC_JessicaS

Jessica sierocki

Delta sophomore Noah Baldwin in a still shot from the movie “Greater” being filmed at Fralia’s restaurant in Saginaw. (Photo Courtesy: Noah Baldwin)

SAGINAW – Recognizable landmarks in Saginaw will be featured in a new film produced by Ames United Methodist Church Youth Pastor Jesse Karls. Karls has written and produced the religious superhero film entitled “Greater.”

The movie features a main character named Eli Thompson.

From a young age, he has had the supernatural ability to see what goes on in the spiritual realm. His ability to see demons and how they influence those around him make Eli and his family question his sanity.

“With the help of his friends and youth pastor, he realizes he doesn’t have to be afraid. He realizes that God is greater,” says Karls.

Noah Baldwin, sophomore at Delta College, stars in the film as the lead character, Eli Thompson.

“I’ve always wanted to be in a movie but this was something totally new for me. I was nervous but excited at the same time when I heard I got the lead because I was not expecting it,” says Baldwin.

Karls made it a point to include local Saginaw and Midland landmarks in the film.

“I love Saginaw. I think it’s a fantastic place to live life and be real. Saginaw is not perfect, so I wanted to feature it in a positive way. I think people from Saginaw will be proud when they see a positive and loving story representing their city,” says Karls.

Baldwin’s experience was one that he says he will never forget.

“The crew, who consisted of volunteers as well as the

actors, did an awesome job. The cast is made up of amazing people who I got to know really well and am now close friends with most of them. Overall, it was probably the most fun thing I’ve ever done,” says Baldwin.

Karls says the purpose of the film was to bring light to some issues that face young Christians today and show how they can be fixed with friendship and faith.

“God is shown to be the real superhero and we are his sidekicks. This movie has a lot of biblical truths in it and I tried really hard to portray them in a loving way that would show respect to people, even if they don’t agree,” says Karls.

Baldwin explains that he enjoys the film because it connects with people of all ages and religious beliefs.

“To me, the plot means a lot because everyone, whether you’re spiritual or not, has had internal battles and only you can see your own struggles. This movie kind of explains or shows a way for people to triumph over those battles, so to speak,” says Baldwin.

Karls also hopes that “Greater” provides people with more than just entertainment.

“For the non-religious person seeing this movie, I hope they’re not only entertained,but I hope they at least think about what happens during the movie. For the Christian who goes to watch this movie, I would hope that this might be a spiritual kick in the pants,” says Karls.

Movie release dates and screenings have yet to be decided.

To view the full trailer and learn more about the film, visit www.greatersuperhero.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017 / www.deltacollegiate.com

Delta College professor shares London’s mental health history Danielle Will UNIVERSITY – After an academic trip to London, a Delta College professor shares the inspiring history of mental health.

Maureen Donegan, an assistant professor of psychology, traveled with 15 students to explore Bethlehem Royal Hospital and Sigmund Freud’s house in London this past May. They discovered the early, slightly barbaric, days of mental health treatments, and how much the field has grown. In front of a crowd of 40 people, Donegan shares what she and her travel companions learned.

“It seems anyone could have this position as an ‘insane doctor’ at this time because the treatments were very limited,” says Donegan about the medieval treatments she discovered on her travels.

Bethlehem Royal Hospital (pronounced “Bethlem”) started as a hostel for travelers.

Donegan discovered the first evidence of it being used as a hospital was in 1403, but it did not employ a real physician until 1634.

During this time, there were no individual treatments or cures.

“Everyone received the same regiment,” says Donegan. “The understanding of mental illness was not as well developed as it is today.”

Some of the older treatments Donegan discovered were solitary confinement, isolation, bloodletting by leeches, and physical restraint. Donegan says these were all done to “restore balance” to the four humors: blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm. When a patient supposedly had too much of one of these humors, they would be put under one of the treatments until balance was restored.

Donegan and her student travelers also had the opportunity to explore Sigmund

News

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DC_DaniWill Freud’s London house. Freud is well known in mental health history, and has transformed medical practices from the barbaric medieval ways to where they are today. According to Donegan, Freud’s main belief was that when someone with a disorder came to him with no biological explanation, there was an internal conflict.

“Some of them lost the ability to talk, they lost sensation in their hands, but they’ve had no source of injury or infection,” Donegan explains.

Freud tapped into people’s’ minds through having his clients relax and explain what was going on in their heads. Freud heavily relied on people’s’ dreams, believing they were a gateway to the mind.

The studies of Freud grew and expanded, and eventually lead to the mental health practices we have today. Mental asylums are no longer used, and treatments now include medication and psychotherapy with a doctor. Donegan explains that in just Michigan alone, there are still 1,017 psychiatric beds. In America, Donegan says 1 in 4 adults are living with a mental illness.

Sadly, because of poor understanding of these mental illnesses, 60% of prisoners are living with a psychiatric illness.

While mental health practices have grown significantly since the 1400s, there are still ways to go. Illnesses now are brushed off as “phases” and many people are told to “get over it” instead of actually seeking help.

“While we’ve made dramatic progress, there’s definitely still room to grow,” says Samantha Uptmor, a an attendee of Donegan’s crowd. “We need to take away the negative connotation of these mental illnesses, we need to normalize it.”

Delta challenges stigmas with ‘The Vagina Monologues’

Delta Collegiate reporter Phoebe Fries asks Lt. Gov. Brian Calley about his cancelled appearance at Delta College this past fall at the Michigan Press Association Luncheon on Jan. 27, 2017. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)

Lt. Gov. Calley strives for a strong relationship with media at Michigan Press Luncheon @DCPhoebeFries

Phoebe Fries GR AND R APIDS – Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley attended the Governor’s Luncheon hosted by the Michigan Press Association on Jan. 27.

During the luncheon Calley addressed the question regarding the importance of the freedom of the press posed by the Delta Collegiate.

The MPA held its annual conference at the Amway Hotel, in Grand Rapids, on Jan. 26 and 27. The conference included several presentations that extended throughout the two days, as well as a luncheon that welcomed Lt. Gov. Calley. Seven members of the Delta Collegiate staff traveled to Grand Rapids for the conference.

At the luncheon, the Collegiate posed a question to Calley regarding President Trump’s unhealthy relationship with the media and measures the leaders in Michigan plan on taking in order to strengthen ties between the government and local media.

According to Calley the way he deals with the media is to embrace journalists and take the experience head on.

“Well I’m here,” stated Calley in a joking manner.

Calley went on to explain his personal experience and relationship with the media throughout his career. He spoke about a personal story regarding choosing a seat at the chamber when he was a freshman representative.

“There were only a couple seats left in the entire chamber. One of those seats was in the front right hand corner. The reason that seat always went last was because it was positioned right next to the media,” said Calley.

Calley ended by saying, “I sat in the front because I felt like it helped me develop a better relationship with the people.”

The lieutenant governor also spoke about the Governor’s budget and stated that a press release will go out shortly.

Calley also stressed the importance of public education by saying, “I believe public education is one of the cornerstones of America and being able to live a good life.”

Following the luncheon a couple more seminars were held. The conference concluded after the last session at 5 p.m.

The Collegiate was awarded second place for front page design during the awards ceremony. The MPA also awarded Greg Horner, former Collegiate reporter, second place in the news category, as well as Josie Norris, current editor-in-chief, an honorable mention for the sports photos category.

According to James Tarrant, executive director of the MPA, the conference was a success.

“The overall attendance was great, especially for the luncheon with Lt. Gov. Calley. We had a really good turnout and are excited to see an even better turnout next year,” said Tarrant.

Delta College Library shows gratitude to a longtime donor Continued from Front Page...

From left to right: Kostandi Stephenson, co-Directors JodiAnn Stevenson and Chey Davis rehearse “The Vagina Monologues” at Delta College, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. (Delta Collegiate/Josie Norris)

Phoebe Fries

@DCPhoebeFries

UNIVERSITY CENTER – Delta students are embracing their sexuality through a production of “The Vagina Monologues.” The play is geared to educate people on women’s sexuality, health and abuse and eliminate the stigma surrounding the word “vagina.”

Performers of “The Vagina Monologues” hope using the word “vagina” throughout the show will have an impact on audience members.

“The word ‘vagina’ has a negative presence about it. It’s not socially acceptable to say vagina unless you are in a medical office. But it’s a powerful word and it should… make you feel powerful,” says student and performer Jessica Fehrman.

“The Vagina Monologues” is a play written by Eve Ensler. The play consists of several monologues read by a variety of different women. The topics of the monologues touch of matters such as sex, rape, love, menstruation, masturbation and orgasms. Colleges and Universities around the nation perform it to educate the audience about women’s health.

JodiAnn Stevenson, associate professor at Delta, is bringing awareness to women’s health by embracing and organizing the performances of “The Vagina Monologues.”

“If they (students) are survivors they are not alone. Sexual violence against women and girls in a huge local and global problem. It affects many aspects of our daily lives and relationships,” says Stevenson.

Stevenson’s goal is that survivors seek the help that they need.

“I hope that our students are able to have mature, open, clear-headed dialogue about the difference between sex and sexual assault,” says Stevenson.

Delta student Kostandi Stephenson, 18 from Midland, is one of the performers of “The Vagina Monologues.”

Stephenson says, “Professor Stevenson turned me onto this concept, but it’s something I have always been passionate about, especially with what’s currently happening in terms of political and social changes.”

Stephenson sees this is a very prudent time to get involved.

“This is a great way to take all the energy and passion we have, and do something productive with it,” says Stephenson.

According to Stephenson she hopes the play will bring an overall awareness to the choices people make and the way people think about women’s equality.

“I hope that it shows women and people of all genders that they don’t need anyone else to gratify them,” says Stephenson.

Delta will hold two performances of “The Vagina Monologues” on Feb. 14 at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the lecture theater located at Delta’s main campus. For more information contact JodiAnn Stevenson at jodiannstevenson@delta.edu.

“As much as he loves reading and collecting books, it was probably really hard for him to let them go,” says Kothbauer. According to Kothbauer, Hert donated an array of books from toddler level, nonfiction, picture books, novels, and young adult. ”It’s really an amazing collection,” says Kothbauer.

Michele Pratt, library manager of the Delta College Library, explains what Hert’s donations mean to the Delta College Library and what it accomplishes in the long run.

“The donation of books by Larry Hert means that we can add some fantastic titles to our collection to help round it out. It

was extremely nice of Larry to think of the library first when donating his collection.

It ensures that the books live on for future generations to come. Larry has been an integral part of the Delta community, and library, for years,” says Pratt.

Kothbauer explains how it is important for students to come to Delta College’s library rather than go to public libraries because of the difference in materials that a college library offers rather than a local public library.

“Other public libraries are located in small towns. They are not designed to support a collegiate level curriculum.

Students may not be able to find what they

need for their classes while at Delta, it is all in one convenient spot,” says Kothbauer.

Hert contributed many pieces of literature to provide for the needs of students, parents and the general public.

This allows many people to utilize these services throughout their education at Delta.

For more information on the Larry Hert Children’s Literature Collection at the Delta College Library contact Colleen Kothbauer at (989) 686-9874; colleenkothbauer@delta. edu. Hert could not be reached for comment by press time.

For any information on the Delta College Library contact Pratt at (989) 6869822 or michelepratt@delta.edu.

delta collegiate DeltaCollegiate@gmail.com

(989) 686-9337 | Office: A220 | 1961 Delta Road University Center, MI 48710 Josie Norris Editor-in-Chief MaCayla Jablonski Assistant Editor-in-Chief Cameron Kerkau Managing Editor Jessica Sierocki Photo Editor

Phoebe Fries Collegiate Life Editor

Logan Miller Reporter

Will Hackbarth Page Designer

Erik Hopkins Reporter

Brynna Henika Reporter Aubrie Smith Copy Editor J. Max Schofield Videographer/Photographer

Ethan Moore Sports Editor

Drew Moore Photographer

Jack Rechsteiner Arts and Entertainment Editor

Brandi Miller Reporter Adam Przeslak Reporter

Allie Keenan Reporter Gabe French Illustrator Caitlin Wejrowski Page Designer Crystal McMorris Advisor

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017 / www.deltacollegiate.com

Arts

&

Entertainment REVIEW

Split on the new Hollywood film

Jessica Sierocki

T

Wilbur (Nina Groll) is surrounded by the animals as they catch him during an escape attempt during the final dress rehearsal for "Charlotte's Web" at Pit and Balcony in Saginaw on Wednesday, February 1, 2017. (Delta Collegiate/Josie Norris)

REVIEW

‘Charlotte’s Web’ at Pit and Balcony is ‘some’ show @DCJosieNorris

Josie Norris SAGINAW– A good hearted pig, described as “radiant,””terrific” and “humble” by a heroic spider, once said “friendship is one of the most satisfying things in the world.”

This pink hued, four-legged mammal may have described human existence in one sentence.

“Charlotte’s Web” at Pit and Balcony is based on the book by E.B. White and adapted to the stage by Joseph Robinette and directed by Amy Spadafore-Loose.

On the Arable farm, a runt named Wilbur (played by Nina Groll) is born and the compassionate Fern (Samantha Carpenter) saves him from an early death by adopting him as her friend. As young Wilbur grows, it becomes apparent he can’t sleep in the kitchen much longer.

Wilbur moves down the road to the Zuckerman farm where Wilbur befriends the barnyard animals, including a clever spider named Charlotte (Hope Nagy) who saves Wilbur from impending doom in the frying pan with adding words to her web.

The humans are impressed and Wilbur’s life is saved, but Charlotte can't escape the the circle of life herself.

The bright colored and imaginative costumes of the barnyard animals by Janet Beattie were gorgeous and stole the show.

The Goose and the Gander costumes, complete with a feathered over coat, were amazing.

The cast brought the small town and close knit community of barnyard to the stage and uses it to teach a lesson. The

The album art for Vital Sea’s upcoming debut album Swirlwind, out Feb. 17. (Photo Courtesy: David Beuthin)

barnyard animals rally around Wilbur to save him from impending doom, each doing their part to help Charlotte weave adjectives into her web. Rebelling against the system together, the animals of Zuckerman’s farm stood up against injustice, proving that there is power in sticking together. The community in the barnyard is one that humans should strive for.

“Charlotte’s Web” is a great show for the whole family and shouldn’t be missed.

“Charlotte’s Web” at Pit and Balcony runs Feb. 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 5 and 12 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are available online at www. pitandbalconytheatre.com or by calling the Box Office at (989) 754-6587.

hree girls, one man and 24 personalities. “Split” takes on a new type of storyline that leaves me wondering how I should feel about it.

James McAvoy was the star, or should I say stars, of the film acting in the role of the main character Kevin Wendell Crumb.

Crumb is the real person behind the various personalities of Dennis, Hedwig and The Beast, just to name a few.

The personality Dennis abducts Anya Taylor-Joy, who plays Casey, Jessica Sula, who plays Marcia and Haley Lu Richardson, who plays Claire. They are knocked out, taken to a secret, underground hiding place and are locked in a room together until certain circumstances cause them to be separated.

Throughout their failures to escape their prison, the girls are introduced to Crumb’s multiple personalities and learn how to differentiate which one is in charge in Crumb’s mind. Casey takes advantage of her instinct to make all of Crumb’s personalities happy and tries to rescue the girls before The Beast makes his presence known. And on top of that there was a subplot! Who doesn’t love two demented plots in a film, am I right?

McAvoy’s acting was top notch. He took each different character personality seriously and I could even see how he changed with each character. The way he held himself, talked and even just the way he looked at others in the movie was quite impressive to someone like me who cannot claim to have any theatrical talent.

So here’s the major problem I have with the film. How this mental illness is portrayed is not how it works in real life. I don’t know everything about dissociative identity disorder (DID), but know that

Local band Vital Sea to release new music

V

ital Sea is the work and vision of Bay City’s own David Beuthin. Starting as Beuthin’s singer-songwriter project, it has evolved into the local indie rock band Vital Sea. “Swirlwind” is the debut album from Vital Sea and the first release to feature Beuthin playing with a full band behind. Recorded by Beuthin in Bay City and mixed out of Saginaw by Nick Diener at Oneder Studios, “Swirlwind” is a prime example of the art that is being made in the Tri-Cities. It’ll be available on CD, digital download, and cassette February 17, 2017.

Swirlwind leads in with dreamy sustained lead guitar that’s washed over in reverb. After the intro to the first track, “Whirlwind”, starts with earnest vocals and fuzzy guitar tones that are pleasantly familiar, like an old and favorite blanket.

About a minute in, the album really gets into it’s sound with soaring backup vocals coming in and drums kicking off with pulsing rhythms. Start and stop and start dynamics have you wanting dance in your bedroom at parts and has you banging your head to others.

“You’re Gonna Be Fine” is one of the standout tracks. With catchy lyrics, energetic instrumentals, and easily the best outro to a song on the album, “You’re Gonna Be Fine” is an example of all the things that Vital Sea does and does well. Swirlwind has the potential to be a top album contender of the year.

the way it was portrayed in the movie is an extreme exaggeration. I can definitely see where some parts of this film can be considered offensive to those who suffer from this illness, but at the same time I can also understand the other side of it, too.

Hollywood needs to make their impact by taking movie plots to a whole new level, which I can say they did.

I feel like it’s a fair statement to say that not one person with DID can change their physical chemistry so drastically that several bullets aren’t even able to pass through their body. While it may be good from the Hollywood point of view, it wasn’t exactly believable. I think I actually rolled my eyes in the theater and I’m not sorry.

One thing I have to say that I could not stand about the movie is the very end was simply created to set up a sequel. That’s one of the biggest pet peeves of mine. Any movie should be able to have the strength to be considered a stand alone film. As soon as the credits started rolling, I started to wonder if “Split” was a good movie or if it was solely made so Bruce Willis could have his time to shine with a character with DID. All of these technicalities aside, the film was produced very well. I was on the edge of my seat literally the entire time because I had no idea what to expect. Would the girls escape? Could Crumb bring himself back and stop The Beast from tormenting these innocent teenagers?

I can’t claim that it was my favorite, but I’m interested enough to see if Crumb’s personalities come back for Casey and if Bruce Willis will make his appearance again. Hopefully they can do a better job with his movie, even though I highly doubt it.

David Beuthin is the mastermind behind Vital Sea, playing and recording all the instruments heard on the album. (Photo Courtesy: David Beuthin)

@DCJackRech

Jack Rechsteiner

Vital Sea Swirlwind album preview

@DC_JessicaS

A Q&A Session with David Beuthin Who is Vital Sea? David Beuthin. With a recurring cast of live members.

Why did you choose the one man band?

Mostly because I wanted to make sure I was doing the things I wanted to without conflict of interest. And to have complete control of how I want things to be. Not as a power control thing, but just to make the music that's being made is how I want it being made. I've been playing all the instruments since the beginning, so it's never been an issue where the band needed to have more people.

What made you start Vital Sea? Cause I freaking love music. It's always been what I wanted to do. Ever since I started playing drums in second grade, music has always been what I loved. It'd be just me playing drums in basement and I'd set up chairs in front of the drums. I'd put up flyers around the house when family members were over to let them know that David would be playing that basement at 6 and they'd all watch and clap for me and that's when I started thinking I could do this forever.

Why the album name, “Swirlwind”?

The name was kind of funny. I could go into detail for awhile, but the gist of it was the first song is “Whirlwind” and that came from a BARS Ride where my friend Ann's hair was blowing in the hair from the bike ride and I made a comment about her hair

swirling around like a whirlwind. That's The songs move through those feelings. where the line "It's in your hair" came from.

What was the recording process like?

So the song was named “Whirlwind” The writing was weird. it was all over and “Swirlwind” became the album title. the place. Some songs had been completed It's funny and it's cool. The album is also months before and others were written a “swirlwind” of emotions. It's all over the specifically for the album. “Honey, Forever” place personally. It made sense as a first was one of those songs that was written with release to have something really unique the album in mind. and personal.

Then the album had been recorded once What went into the album? and it all got scrapped. After that I decided Each song kind of revolves around a to do it all on my own. More DIY. More situation with of that being in myself. There's control of how I "Ever since I started playing nothing I wrote wanted these songs drums in second grade, music that d i d n' t to turn out. Which has always been what I loved." involve a situation made it a lot easier. involving myself.

I was able to take -David Beuthin I think the most my time on it. A personal song lot of time. The on the record is “You're Gonna Be Fine.” whole recording process went from July to That was when my car broke down and October. To really hone in on each song and I was freaking out and I couldn't relax pay attention to the vocal melodies being and I was with my girlfriend at the time. right and the guitar and the rhythms, all I wrote the song the next day and it was the small details that I wanted to be done just me sitting down and looking back and right. And the tones took forever, but I'm analyzing myself and how I need to sit down really proud of it. Each piece of each song and calm down and relax. Remember that is how I wanted it to be. everything's gonna be fine. Like you're not How was it trying to put it out there as gonna die, you're in the right hands, you're a DIY one man band? with people and people care about you. And It was pretty easy. It actually helped. then the last three tracks were about a past People were really interested that I had girlfriend and how I dealt with the stages of done it all my own. When it went to mixing going through a relationship. Going from with Nick Diener and mastering with Mark pre-relationship, Michalik, they were pleasantly surprised at relationship, and breakup.

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how honed in it was. And after that I was able to get it to people to hear it and they said "this is actually really cool that you did this and you did it all on your own."

And it's on a record label! Was that just as easy or a little more work?

It took me awhile to get responses back. That was probably the hardest part.

Trying to find a label to take the chance on someone who hadn't been successful before and wanted to try and put it out there. I actually just DM'd the owner of Road Soda records and he got back to me almost immediately saying he was going to listen to it. Then a little later he got back to me and said "I reeeeeally dig it. I listened to it like 3 or 4 times. I want to put this out."

When's the official release date?

February 17th, 2017. Then there's the release show the day after. Vital Sea is going to have “Swirlwind” CDs, cassettes, and shirts. Putting the show together was just reaching out to friends I had around here and in the music space. Like the people over at Electric Kitsch. I've done an acoustic show there before and wanted it in this space, this really intimate space. I'm just really lucky to have all these people so supportive of what I'm trying to do.

What're the plans after “Swirlwind” comes out?

Probably lay low for awhile and then just play. Fricking play. Play shows. Until I can't play anymore. Oh and finish high school.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017 / www.deltacollegiate.com

Sports COLLEGIATE COMMENTARY

COLLEGIATE COMMENTARY

ESPN fires tennis analyst for doing his job

Ethan Moore

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week or so ago, the first major tournament of the tennis season happened in Melbourne, Australia.

The return to prominence of Roger Federer was the lead story through most of the tournament, but what got lost in the shuffle was ESPN analyst Doug Adler and comments he made during a match.

During Venus Williams' second round match, Adler made a comment when she moved forward to return a serve that she was “putting on the guerilla charge.” The rest of the match went off without a hitch, but the next morning social media caught wind of Adler’s comments, and believed them to have racial undertones. It’s possible to that Adler could have been implying “gorilla” as

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@EthanMooreDC broadcaster who has been doing his job without issue for 20 plus years be taken down by social justice warriors on social media who have no idea what they are talking about.

Personally, as someone who played tennis in high school I find it ridiculous that someone could take offense to comments like this. Tennis is a very cerebral sport, and I can tell you first hand that warfare terms are very common in practice and when you’re being coached in matches.

ESPN is so afraid of offending these people that they are unwilling to stand up for their own employees. The company has been showing an obvious liberal bias in recent years, and this kind of thing only

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“ESPN is so afraid offending these people that they are unwilling to stand up for their own employees.”

-Ethan Moore

opposed to “guerilla” but Adler defended his comments by saying: “When I’m commentating tennis, we talk in terms of warfare and strategy tactics, and you’ll hear them a lot. I’ve used the term [guerilla] many others times, shoot my past tennis coaches used to throw the term around as well,” says Adler.

Despite a full apology from Adler, and Williams’ herself not caring about the comments, social media made it into a hoopla and Adler was removed from all other broadcasts of the Australian Open going forward, and later fired for his comments.

It is extremely frustrating to see a

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further alienates non-liberal sports fans who have no interest in politics constantly entering the sports world.

I totally understand not wanting to be offensive or tone deaf when you’re commentating, for example when Brent Musburger essentially defended Joe Mixon’s actions when he covered him in the Sugar Bowl. That kind of thing can not happen when you are covering these athletes, but when you are making comments on the actual sport at hand or using various to describe strategy, you should get more leeway than this. These kinds of instances do not solve racism or improve anyone’s live’s, all it does is rob a hard working analyst of his job.

Why Americans love March Madness @DCadamprzeslak

ADAM PRZESLAK

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his time of year American sports fans get their fill of excitement with the Super Bowl, America’s biggest sporting event. However once the NFL season comes to a close there is very little excitement left for the typical sports fan.

The NHL and the NBA requires each team to play 82 games per season so after a while fans get what I like to call “midseason boredom” and this usually occurs around February and March, roughly the middle of each league respectively. Each team establishes their spot in the rankings early on in the season and then cements their spot in the playoffs near the end of the season.

This sets up for a middle of the season ‘drought’ per se with low attendance crowds and low television viewership because the midseason games just don’t seem to mean as much to fans and players.

So unless you’re an absolute basketball or hockey fanatic you, the average sports fan, probably feel like you’ve been left in a ‘dead zone’ of dry sports action.

Then, as if summoned by the trumpet playing of the sports gods, March Madness tips off. The 68 team men’s basketball elimination tournament has tons of games overlapping each other which allows for pretty much nonstop on-the-court action.

The NCAA tournament, as it’s officially known as, is spread through weekends of March and partially April.

67 total games will be played, including the four play-in games, between March 12 and April 3. Workplaces and offices nationwide will most likely see the lowest amount of productivity they’ll see all year as games are played throughout the late morning and afternoon extending into prime time hours as well.

Millions of viewers tune in to watch the country’s best college basketball programs compete. 2015 saw the biggest viewer count in over two decades with an average of 11.3 million total viewers throughout the entire tournament.

The question is: Why do Americans like March Madness so much?

American popular culture is all about excitement and drama. We love the thrilling explosions of an action movie and the bonecrunching hits dished out by NFL players.

(Delta Collegiate/Gabe French)

When the NBA and NHL seasons get kind of dry we look to men’s college basketball to spare us.

But we, as Americans, also love a good storyline and nothing says dramatic storyline like a small university team that’s been labeled the underdogs right out of the gate. Viewers certainly get their fill of drama as they follow underdog teams throughout the tournament that make it farther than experts predicted and defy the seeded position they were given.

Teams like Villanova, Davidson, North Carolina State, and Harvard have shocked the sports world, and most likely ruined bookie’s lives in the process, by excelling as a “Cinderella team.” They started of the tournament as a low seed and managed to excel through or at the very least withstand the heat of a better team or multiple higher seeded teams creating an upset.

The idea of upsets makes each game that much more important. It only takes one bad game to end a season now so every shot counts. Every team gives their all during the tournament because of this and this sets up for some very close games right up until the end. Some games are even determined by the very last shot as an across-the-court buzzer beater drains through the net.

Another thing we Americans love is the

idea of a gamble, we play our lottery tickets and take our chances at casinos. This fits greatly with the March Madness season as it seems everybody from diehard fans to casual observers fills out a bracket. A bracket features every game set to take place in the beginning round and allows you to fill in which teams you expect to make it all the way to championship game. Most people enter a bracket pool at their workplace or form one with their friends, which is made easier with sites like ESPN that keep track of scoring for each bracket.

Some make brackets for fun while others place money on it, illegally or legally. The American Gaming Association estimated that around 9.2 billion dollars were expected to placed on the games and outcomes of the 2016 tournament. The tournament is a sports gambler’s paradise with the combination back-to-back games nearly all day long in the early rounds and possibilities for upsets within the entire tournament.

The tournament provides a little bit for everybody whether you’re seeking a thrilling game to watch at the bar, watching your team in postseason play or just looking to make a quick buck in Vegas. Basketball may play second fiddle to football in most American’s minds but March Madness still makes its way onto nearly everybody’s televisions.

COLLEGIATE COMMENTARY

NFL team relocation: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly @DCadamprzeslak

ADAM PRZESLAK

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Jovon Thomason, Delta Guard, finishes around the rim in a game against St. Clair County Community College. Sat, Jan. 28. (Delta Collegiate/Logan Miller)

Back-to-back wins for Delta basketball teams Logan Miller ST. CLAIR –Delta women’s basketball team won against St. Clair County Community College, 90-83. It was competitive throughout, though the Pioneers consistently directed the tempo and direction of the game. The score never got entirely out of hand on either side.

After one quarter, Delta was up 2420 against St. Clair. They played strong, physical defense, limiting the opponent on offense.

The Pioneers fell behind by two points at the end of two quarters. The halftime score was 39-37, a very close, back-and-forth game in the second quarter.

They finished the game off on a solid run, winning with a margin of seven points.

The final score was 90-83.

“I think we just played together really well and kept our energy up throughout,” said Chelsea Casper, a freshman Pioneer.

Jenna Szostak exploded for 26 points and eight rebounds in one of her best games of the season. Harmony Williams added 21 points and six assists off the bench in a game where five different players scored in double figures for the Lady Pioneers.

“Our defense was really good, we were

communicating very well on the defensive side of the ball,” said Casper.

The Delta women’s Pioneers next play an away game at Wayne County Community College on Feb 8. The game starts at 5:30 PM. Delta’s men’s basketball team played against St. Clair County Community College, winning the game 101-72. They scored quite easily against St. Clair, driving into the paint with great results.

“I think it was our defensive intensity and the energy of our players coming off of the bench,” said Devin Smith, a sophomore forward for the Pioneers.

Jon Swift led all scorers with 19 and six assists. Jovon Thomason had 15 points, and Virgil Walker added 13 points and eight rebounds. It was a complete team effort in a much needed win after back to back tough losses.

“We kept attacking the rim and tormenting them on defense relentlessly,” said Smith.

The Pioneers play next in an away game at Wayne County Community College on Feb 8. The game tips off at 7:30 PM.

he NFL went nearly a decade without a franchise relocating and then things got shook up on the West Coast as Los Angeles welcomed the Rams back to town. Now there are two teams that officially relocated and one team that is contemplating new locations.

I’m the type of guy that’s all for change but in the instance of the Rams, I’ve found a problem. The St Louis Rams left their market for one that is already swamped with teams.

The Rams originally played in Los Angeles until 1995 when they relocated to St Louis, where they played for two decades before returning to LA. While California is the most populous state in the Union, thus meaning it must also be the most populated area of football fans in the country as well, I feel it does not deserve four professional football teams.

California already had the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers. With the addition of the Rams there is now four teams in a single state while other states with less population still have zero teams. States like Nevada, which the Oakland Raiders are now eyeballing as their new home, must go without an NFL team.

I think that California, being the most populated state, does deserve more than one team but I’d say even three is too much. A happy medium would be two teams with the Rams staying in Los Angeles and the 49ers staying in San Francisco. Meaning that the Raiders and the Chargers are booted out of California.

The Raiders have already been talking relocation destinations for some time now as stadium rebuilding issues continual became a problem in Oakland. They actually filed papers on Jan. 19 to finalize a deal that would make them the Las Vegas Raiders

despite some of their funding partners pulling out of the deal a couple weeks later.

I fully support the Raiders endeavours in Nevada. Las Vegas is an untouched gold mine for the world of professional sports.

The big four sports leagues in the US, the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB, don’t seem to want to touch Vegas with a ten foot long pole though. Some cite reasons such as the idea that players would be out partying all hours of the night at casinos and clubs.

To that argument I respond with: Have you ever been to Miami on a hot summer’s night? Miami clubs and party locations are just as hopping as any Vegas club would be and yet the Miami Dolphins don’t seem to

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the past I just find it troubling to have two NFL teams there in the present day.

The Chargers should move to a state or area without an NFL team already such as Oklahoma, Oregon, or possibly even the first Canadian NFL team.

The Chargers did have a justified reason for becoming the second team to relocate to Los Angeles though. They’re origins, predating the NFL-AFL merger, were based in Los Angeles as a member of the AFL in 1960. However, there single season in Los Angeles before moving to San Diego doesn’t put them on the same level as the Rams to say that they have a history in the city. The Rams played in LA for nearly forty seasons and, in my opinion, have rightfully claimed the city as their territory.

The battle for LA has seemingly begun with the major question at hand being: Which team will the city embrace?

The Raiders, who had also previously played in LA for a time, will remain in Oakland for at least another season. They had been the city’s embraced team during the absence of an actual LA team. However, with the Rams having been back for one season already and the Chargers about to play their first in the city, I believe the city will split it’s fandom. I imagine nearly half of the fans remaining loyal to their Raiders traditions and the other half embracing the Rams.

This would make the Chargers move even more pointless and hopefully open up eyes of the team’s owners and management before the building of a permanent stadium in LA. The Chargers served as one of the Raiders key rivals while they were in San Diego and sports feuds don’t just disappear.

So regardless of the location I believe LA Raiders fans will still keep the hate for the Chargers well and alive.

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"The battle for LA has seemingly begun with the major question at hand being: Which team will the city embrace?"

-Adam Przeslak

lose players to the party scene.

Meanwhile, the San Diego Chargers have successfully battled NFL higherups to move to Los Angeles. Finally, Los Angeles has an NFL team again! Oh wait, that already happened last season when the Rams returned to the city of angels.

The Chargers move is necessary for the franchise as they were put in an oddly similar situation to that of the Raiders revolving around new stadium drama. While the move was needed, a move to Los Angeles just seems asinine. Los Angeles fans have become known for their ability to hop on and off of the bandwagon with their local professional sports teams. It seems like fans sporting the purple and gold during the Kobe Bryant Lakers years are now donning Warriors jerseys.

In a city that already had enough trouble supporting it’s own single NFL team in

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017 / www.deltacollegiate.com

Opinion

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

GUEST COLUMN

What are your views on feminism?

Diane Dirk, 31, Saginaw

A voice needed now

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eminism has had a colored history.

From the very start, it was a declaration, quickly becoming a flag of equality for all people to rally behind.

After it gained traction and national attention, the word feminist was almost thrown around as a slur. Now, feminism is back as a proud title for women and men across all generations. We watched as Beyonce strut onstage with “Feminist” in bright lights behind her and stood with Barack Obama when he attended the 2016 United States of Women conference and told the crowd, “I may be a little grayer than I was eight years ago, but this is what a feminist looks like.”

Feminism is one of the most important social movements of our generation, and has become even more relevant with the results of this past election. Regardless of which side of the election you find yourself on, Donald Trump’s presidency has sparked a conversation about women’s rights as well as human rights. In the last year, we’ve already seen huge action take place with the I Stand With Planned Parenthood campaign and the Women’s Marches on Washington. The rhetoric of the past election has insulted and threatened many people - immigrants of all statuses, Muslims and other faiths, people who identify as LGBTQIA, Native persons, African Americans, people from other countries, people with disabilities, survivors of sexual assault and women of all kinds. These communities are hurting and scared and feminism has once again become a flag of equality for all people to rally behind.

Women’s rights are human rights, regardless of a person’s race, ethnicity, religion, immigration status, sexual identity, gender expression, economic status, age, or disability. We cannot say we actually live

“It’s something else now. It had a purpose at one point, but now it’s different.”

(Delta Collegiate/Caitlin Wejrowski)

in an equal society until we have equal human rights for all people and that’s why we still need feminism. Feminism is important because the government should not be able to dictate what women can and can’t do with their bodies. Feminism is important because we are taught how not to get raped, instead of teaching people not to rape. Feminism is important because it’s an intersectional, all-inclusive movement and women are still divided across lines of race, gender expression, and status. Feminism is necessary because it’s 2017 and women are still not making as much money as men for the same jobs. It’s not because women take on less or because they’re having children (in fact with our generation a lot of women are waiting to have children, if they plan on having children at all), and it’s not because women don’t work as much. It’s because the division between men and women is weaved into our institutions and there hasn’t been enough done to remove those divisions.

American needs feminism because it was founded on a dream that anyone can do anything we wanted if we put our minds to it, went to school, and worked our asses off. According to Forbes, those dreams will only get women 76% of what a man with the same dream will get and that’s after a lifetime of dealing with institutionalized sexism.

This is why after the inauguration we saw millions of women and men march in cities across the country and the world in support of feminism. In Washington, D.C. alone there were over one million people who came to march, speak and make their voices heard. And the movement doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. The people of the Women’s March are looking ahead to gather together with friends, family and community to make history.

DeVos shouldn’t get the job

Dakota Doyen, 19, Bay City

“Annoying, unnecessary, and kind of irrelevant.”

Larissa Hart, 20, Bay City

“I would say that like a lot of women who like have maybe been through something, that they’ve gotten hurt or had a really bad experience.”

Jacob Mejia, 18, Saginaw

“Everyone being the same, I guess.”

Kayla Foco, 22, Midland

New student portal coming to Delta

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very day, I hear students express their excitement about being a Delta College student. Learning and working toward your future career certainly keeps you busy. But, please take a minute to read this important news, which I believe will make things a little more convenient for you.

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, Delta College is launching a new public website! It’ll be focused on answering the questions of potential and future students, as well as our community.

What does that mean for our students like you? We will now be able to communicate more effectively with potential students and our community, and with you, because we’ve organized all of the information each group needs in a distinct online space. Yours is a new student portal.

It’s where you’ll register and pay for classes; connect to all your online tools like Student Self-Service, WebAdvisor and eLearning; and get information about policies, read your email and find out what’s going on. It’s your go-to spot for everything you need to be a successful student. Plus, it’s secure, so your information is always protected.

With this change, the way you find information may be a little different. But, you’ll be able to go toportal.delta.edu to find everything you need.

If you run into any problems along the way, let us know. We’ll help you figure it out. You can contact us anytime at info@ delta.edu, or come to one of the info stations we’ve planned: · Thursday, Feb. 16, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Commons Mezzanine · Monday, Feb. 20, 1 - 3 p.m., West Main Hallway · Tuesday, Feb. 21, 3 - 5 p.m., West Main Hallway Look for your new online space on Wednesday, Feb. 15. And, good luck with your winter semester classes. We’re glad you’ve chosen to be a part of Delta College!

PERSPECTIVES Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education

Jessica Sierocki

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“Our own rights.

Equal Rights.”

ow that President Trump is in office, important positions like the Secretary of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator are going to be newly appointed. We as citizens have the fun task of sitting back and watching Trump’s elected nominees being offered these positions of power. I mean, Trump wasn’t a politician and became president so why can’t someone who doesn’t believe in global warming become EPA Administrator, am I right?

But that’s a discussion for another day. So now Betsy DeVos is in the running to become Secretary of Education. Here’s my only question: why? I would trust Betsy DeVos being in charge of children’s education about as much as I would trust a McDonald’s chicken nugget to drive me to school. It’s a ridiculous comparison because it’s a ridiculous situation.

On the one hand, I’m actually surprised that President Trump put a woman in such a powerful position. It’s no secret that women haven't exactly been held him in the highest esteem as of late. To think that Trump wants a woman in a position of powers baffles me, but then I just remember that the DeVos family donated millions to his campaign and I remember how the real world works. It’s all about how much money you have and who you know. And here I thought that petty high school drama was going to be left behind in the adult world.

According to “The New Yorker,” DeVos is a religious conservative who has pushed for years to breach the wall between church and state on education. I’m a Christian and proud of my faith, but I am the first person to be able to say that the United States is not a Christian nation.

The United States is a melting pot of different cultures, languages and religions. Wanting to force a religion into a public school education system is wrong, plain and simple.

If any of this sounds like I have a political chip on my shoulder, good. Some of my past teachers (and may I point out that I went to a public school) have become more or less my friends, and I still keep in contact with them today. If DeVos gets in office, they can ultimately lose their pensions because in 2016, DeVos claimed that gutting public pensions statewide in Michigan would be a number one priority in 2017.

After working tirelessly to ensure that their students get the best learning experience possible, which sometimes means buying classroom supplies with their own money, it infuriates me that this woman wants to take away what hard working people deserve. Not even just teachers, but all state workers may lose everything they’ve worked for their entire life.

When I see these educators who have actually been working in the school system share on Facebook a petition to keep DeVos out of office, doesn’t that send up a bit of a red flag to anyone besides myself?

But really, why would DeVos care when she’s been in a wealthy family her entire life? Does she know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck? Has she ever had to decided if she should get her car fixed or buy groceries instead? I think it’s safe to say that considering she owns most of Grand Rapids, probably not.

As far as I’m concerned, DeVos has no real qualifications to deserve such a powerful position. She’s just part of the one percent, and her only goal is to make more money for herself and her fellow one percent members. She doesn’t care about children in the education system, and she doesn’t care about raising the student loan percentages because she profits off of students. Betsy DeVos needs to stay where she is before the already floundering education system becomes a more serious problem.

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Safe Spaces

Margarita Mosqueda, vice president of Student and Educational Service

Dear Collegiate Editors and Staff: Thank you for your article “Personal counseling offered to Delta students” in the Jan. 24, 2017 issue of Delta Collegiate.

It is valuable information to share with students and important that it be accurate so that students in need can seek out appropriate support services. I would like to offer correction and clarification on some of the information provided about the Delta College Safe Space program. The article states that Safe Space is “located in A003.”

That area is actually the Office of Campus Life and Student Engagement, where students can find the LGBTQ Resource Center along with many other academic and support services, such as the Honors Program, Student Veteran Center, and the Delta Food Pantry. The LGBTQ Resource Center is an open area for students to access reading and resource materials related to LGBTQ issues.

Delta College Safe Space is not any one designated space on campus. The concept of the safe space as it relates to our LGBTQ students is that faculty and staff who complete the Safe Space training can then choose to become representatives.

In doing so, they agree to be a visible ally and advocate for LGBTQ students and their concerns here at Delta College. When students see the Delta College Safe Space logo, it should be directly connected to a single person who has chosen to become a Safe Space Representative, and students can approach that person with their concerns.

While Jonathan Miller notes that there are faculty offices and a list of faculty representatives, the Delta College Safe Space program is well supported by employees from across campus, not solely faculty. There are currently 30 representatives, including employees from Public Safety, Human Resources, Food Services, Financial Aid, Web Development, Counseling and Advising, Support Staff and a range of faculty from across divisions.

Each fall, Liz Ullrich and I hold a training for any employees interested in learning more about LGBTQ issues on our campus and in our community. Not everyone who attends is expected to become a Safe Space Representative, as choosing to do so means taking on an active role in supporting and being a voice for LGBTQ concerns.

Denise Hill Safe Space Coordinator Professor of English Delta College

Defending DeVos

(Delta Collegiate/Caitlin Wejrowski)

J. Maxim Schofield

etsy DeVos has been in the process of becoming the next Secretary of Education. Many have issues on DeVos’ points of views towards education reform. Most that are “for” public schools absolutly hate DeVos because she stands for alternative education systems. Is this such a bad thing? What is she really wanting to get out of this job and why did Trump decide to choose her? And more importantly is she “qualified?”

DeVos may have stated that she was not a supporter of Trump but I believe he was a supporter of DeVos. I personally think he picked her because she stands for something that different than the status quo, just like Trump. Trump isn't one to follow the normal path and I think he saw that in Betsy DeVos. “Qualifications” that she doesn’t have are: she hasn’t been in a public-school system, taught, or ran a public-school origination, this makes her an automatic “nope” for this position. If that were the case, then this article and whole debate would be null and void. Though, I believe those are not required prerequisites for this position, even though she hasn’t taught a class people look over her contributions towards children. The many years of mentoring kids and is chairman to American Federation for Children, a non-profit organization that helps low income families go to a school that offers higher education.

Now, like DeVos, I went to a private parochial school when I was young.

My former school is closed now, due to lack of participating students—ironic, right. DeVos has been in children’s lives ever since it came down to choosing a school for her own kids. She had sent her kids to the school she attended as a kid. Why? Why not? If she had enjoyed going there, why wouldn’t you want your kids to go there as well? She has been a part of ArtPrize, AFC, and other programs that give parents, and children, the opportunity to go to a school of their choice. To me, a very important qualification to the position of Secretary of Education is how they plan to treat children. With the “one size fits all” approach that is the status quo, DeVos plans to challenge it with the ideology of choice. We all know her stance on public schools, but to degrade her views because students get to pick that a more specific education towards their interests or perhaps better safety than the most failing public schools. By showing parents that they don’t have to have their kids attend public schools is what upsets many public-school supporters. The fear those that will leave them to attend schools that offer the students more individuality. Also, because if they leave so does their money, so what do they care more about?

But! There is a but, she isn’t saying that public schools should be eradicated because some of these schools are “unattainable” to lower income families. DeVos is willing to find ways to make it more “attainable.” She has done this already by getting charter schools to compete for federal funding. Charter schools steps in with the promise of offering better education than most public schools by taking a more individual approach towards learning. In fact, the West Michigan Aviation Academy is a school the DeVos family started and is one of the highest ranked schools in Michigan. Allowing charter schools to compete for federal funding it makes it much easier for families to send their kid(s) there now because their taxes are paying for their own to attend that school. Betsy DeVos’ goals are to help students go to a school of their liking but more importantly to a learning environment that strives to be the best. To me, that makes her very qualified to be Secretary of Education, she is thinking of the children and what they have potential for. She is thinking of ways to give the best education to all children. She is willing to hear other ideas and to think before acting on anything.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017 / www.deltacollegiate.com

Collegiate Life

7

Electric Kitsch sparks downtown record shopping What came first, the chicken or the emotional baggage?

AUBRIE SMITH

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n the two seasons of “Sex and the City” that I’ve binged watched since my ex and I broke up, I’ve watched Carrie Bradshaw go through 5 breakups. Now, of course these are fictional characters with fictional emotions and fictional relationships, but I can’t help but think about the writers, the real, tangible people behind these breakups.

Did Candace Bushnell and Michael Patrick King really breakup that casually?

A kiss goodbye, a post-it note and one phone call? And were they really that logical and non emotional about it?

I’m a fighter. I always have been. I would rather sit in a room and yell, and have the outcome positive than abandon everything we’ve built together. But somehow, I never meet people with the same aspects in a relationships. I meet people who say they’re serious about it, committed, and then act surprised when I can’t just casually let them go.

We live in a generation that’s terrified of commitment. People used to get married at 18 and stay together for years. Now, when two people marry young, eyebrows are raised and judgments are made. The difference between now and then is nothing but the allowance and acceptance of divorce. Before, people had no choice but to fight-- to work things out.

A year and a half ago, I went through the worst breakup of my life. I’m not sure if that paralyzed me enough, or if I haven’t really loved anyone since, but now breakups come with a clearer light.

Instead of dwelling in upset emotions, I look at all of the things I gain from the loss.

It’s been a week since my most recent relationship ended, and I am happier than ever. Not necessarily because he’s gone, but because I can see all of reasons that the relationship would never have lasted, and I have regained all of the things that I sacrificed while we were together.

I wake up every morning knowing that I’m single by choice. Yes, I could jump on the next best dating app and find someone to get coffee with tomorrow morning, but I don’t see the point in that because when I do find the next person I see myself dating, I don’t want ex baggage, which it seems like everyone has.

I’m a different breed when it comes to breakups because I have something that most people in this generation lack--self love. I thoroughly enjoy being alone and single, and I can’t say that about a lot of people I know in my age group.

At the college age, it’s becoming increasingly harder to find someone who doesn’t have ex baggage. For some reason, we all have issues letting go because we all suck at being alone. Instead of taking time to get over someone, we jump on Tinder to find someone to help us through the breakup drama. We run to someone else instead of cope with the loss ourselves.

I don’t know that I can say any specific way of grieving is wrong, but this is not the most healthy way.

My advice: Embrace alone time. Don’t jump into the next relationship because not having someone to text is upsetting.

Better yourself, pick up some hobbies, go to the gym, pick up that shift at work. Do things that make you happy by yourself, and you’ll fall into a pattern of being happy always.

Loving yourself is empowering.

Confidence is attractive, confidence is key and love becomes confidence Relationships are stressful. They’re a stress added to school, work and already established friendships. Take a second to look around and soak in the stress-free environment of laying on your couch, watching TV by yourself.

Don’t rush into the next thing because you’re lonely. Date yourself for awhile. I wake up every morning in a good mood because I know that I’m taking care of myself better than anyone else could right now.

Be the most important person in your life. This will get you farther than any relationship could.

Left: Electric Kitsch’s storefront welcomes customers into their shop, found at 917 Washington Avenue in Bay City (Delta Collegiate/Cam Kerkau). Right: Electric Kitsch’s record selection spans four displays that stretch across most of the space in the store. (Delta Collegiate/Jack Rechsteiner)

Cam Kerkau

&

@DCCamKerkau/@DCJackRech

Jack Rechsteiner

BAY CITY – Electric Kitsch is one of the mainstays of downtown Bay City.

A vintage boutique that deals with items that are old or unusual, Electric Kitsch specializes in selling records, clothes, sound equipment, and household items. They also offer guitar and electronic repair from old to new. Located at 917 Washington Avenue, Electric Kitsch has been under the ownership of Jessica McQuarter and Jordan Pries since June 22, 2012.

“I still can’t believe that it’s going to be five years in June. It blows my mind that I’ve been doing it this long. I thought we'd do it for like two years and that would be it,” Pries says.

The store is a modern entrepreneurial success story. Pries was living in Mount Pleasant and attending Central Michigan University when he met McQuarter, who was living in Bay County at the time. Pries was working at B’s Music and he talked constantly about his dream.

He was passionate about music and guitars and he just wanted to be in business for himself, so after they met McQuarter pushed him to follow those dreams saying “Why don’t you just do it? I mean what have you got to lose? Borrow some money and you do it. If you fail you fail, and if not then you’re living your dream.”

Pries and McQuarter wrote the business “We tried out a lot of different things, plan together at the Alice and Jack Wirt but the record thing was popular and took Library in downtown Bay City. McQuarter off so we just expanded on that. You find was a supporter of opening Electric Kitsch out what’s popular, what sells, and you do downtown because she has always loved that,” says McQuarter. the area and at the time there was a surge That personal touch is what sets Electric of new businesses opening like Populace Kitsch apart from many other record stores, Cafe, now known as Harless + Hugh, and or just stores in general, and it’s what makes Chan’s Garden. it such a hot spot. It’s important to Pries “Everyday I feel like this is where I was that Electric Kitsch feels like a place where meant to be, you know? We’re both really people can be friends and make friends. happy to be here and Pries aims to have doing this in Bay Electric Kitsch be "I want to be friendly and City... It feels kinda the very opposite talk to everybody. Get right that we’re here,” of corporate and to know what they dig." says Pries. impersonal stores -Jordan Pries For Electric Kitsch, where you don’t the past five years really know anybody. have been about “I want to be growing and figuring out what works. friendly and talk to everybody. Get to know The store morphed into what it is now what they dig. People that open up, I can gradually. Electric Kitsch carries all the be like ‘Oh, this record came in that you’ll classic records one could ask for as well as dig.’” says Pries. bringing in new pressings every week. They The people coming into Electric Kitsch post on their Facebook page every time they cover a wide demographic, from younger get a new shipment in and it spans every vinyl revivalists to folks stopping in looking genre from indie like The Black Keys to for their old favorite records. A lot of the punk and metal to jazz and soul to rap and customers who come in, walk in with a smile EDM with everything else in between. The on their face and Pries greets them at the used records usually range in price from door by name like old friends. a few dollars up to ten or twenty dollars.

James Colpean, 22, a resident of Saginaw,

[

HUMDINGERS

]

(Delta Collegiate/Gabe French)

A day in the life at Hogwarts: Delta College edition @DC_JessicaS

JESSICA SIEROCKI UNIVERSITY CENTER – The magical world of Harry Potter has come to Delta.

The Hogwarts Club has been in the works since last semester. Two weeks ago they made their debut by leaving the acceptance letters from Hogwarts around the college.

They apologized to the muggles whose letters were lost in the mail, but not to worry because the club is in full force and looking for new members.

The club wasn’t hard to put together explained the co-presidents. The leaders of the Hogwarts club are, Sarah York, 21, from Midland and Sereah Skutt, 17, also from Midland. They went to a Delta College club representative who told them to form a club they needed at least 3 members and an advisor.The co-presidents found their advisor by accident.

“One of my friends had to have a meeting with one of her teachers and in her office there was a golden snitch,” says Skutt.

The co-presidents, along with their friends, are huge fans of Harry Potter and wanted to make a club for all the other Delta students to share their own thoughts and opinions on the novels and movies “I was basically raised off of it because when it first came out my mom was a huge fan of it and then my brother was a huge fan of it so it was kind of a family related thing,” says York.

prefers Electric Kitsch over any other record shop. Since he began frequenting the store in March of last year, his record collection grew from six to 97.

“It’s the selection, it's the people you meet, it’s the people who work here,” says Colpean.

Electric Kitsch recently underwent a hefty remodel and it now features much more record browsing room than it offered before. The walls are lined with sleek, green record holders similar to those found in other music stores, with the exception that Electric Kitsch’s were locally made.

There are also two rows of vinyl to peruse in the middle of the room with clothes and kitschy pieces placed throughout the space in different spots. Even for those without an interest in purchasing vinyl, Electric Kitsch offers a wide and interesting variety of vintage clothes and curious knick knacks.

Electric Kitsch will be hosting a local music show on Feb. 18 featuring Bay City’s very own Vital Sea as well as other acts from around Michigan. They will also be celebrating the annual Record Store Day on April 22.

Electric Kitsch is located at 917 Washington Avenue and open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and closed on Sunday except for special events.

Skutt didn’t have the same upbringing but that didn’t stop her passion.

“My parents were on this whole no witch craft thing so I was just now allowed to read them. I working on number five right now,” says Skutt.

With 10 members in the Hogwarts club and a Harry Potter loving advisor they are now in business. The club had their first meeting this past week.

“The club was originally going to focus on the classes that were available at Hogwarts,” says York.

The club had a change in plans since the muggle world doesn’t off the same opportunities like Hogwarts, “like global studies, charms, and potions but you can’t actually fly or make potions in the muggle world so we're going to muggle it up I guess,” says Skutt.

“So far we’ve made wands and watched the first movie,” says York. The co-presidents have different activities planned for each meeting. They can’t wait to rewatch all of the Harry Potter movies. “Next meeting I’m going to dress up like a muggle who knows all about muggle fashion,” says Skutt.

The members of the club believe that there is a big Harry Potter following at Delta.

“It’s a college age thing, it started when we were little and came with us,” says Skutt.

W

omen have an estimated 450 periods during their lifetime, which is three times as many periods as our ancestors. It’s evident that periods have become a larger part of women’s lives, but do we really know all that we should about our monthly visitor?

Our bodies endure various things during these 28 days and being informed about them gives a better understanding of what is happening within your body during your cycle.

Co-presidents, Sarah York and Sereah Skutt chatting about the next Hogwarts Club meeting.

The club presidents want any and all Harry Potter lovers to join the club. “We’re just kind of there to have fun and make Harry Potter References,” says Skutt.

“Come join the club because it’s full of a bunch of cool people,” says York.

The Hogwarts Club meets every Wednesday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in room S057. There is a Facebook page called Delta’s Hogwarts Club!!! Or you can contact the club presidents via email, sarahyork@delta.edu or sereahskutt@ delta.edu if you have any further questions.

Between the Sheets took the writings of Dr. Lauren Streicher, a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University’s Medical School, and did a breakdown of the days of the menstrual cycle.

You can learn more about what those different days are and what it means for you by reading the article online at www.deltacollegiate.com

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017 / www.deltacollegiate.com