Volume 80, issue 4 tuesday, february 21, 2017

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

VOLUME 80, ISSUE 4

news

A&E

SPORTS

Opinion

collegiate life

V stands for more than Valentine’s

Excellency Music Festival returns

Pioneer round-up

Winter time sadness

Helping students reach their goals

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V-Day educates Delta Students on violence and vaginas.

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Alternative music filled Bay Just one more game for men’s basketball.

City on Feb. 11.

PASONG''S PLATES FAMILY

Seasonal Affective Disorder: reality or exaggeration?

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Delta hosts Small Business Development Center.

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AND TRADITION IN OLD TOWN Tina Saycosie prepares a salad before her restaurant, Pasong’s in Old Town Saginaw, opens for the evening on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017. (Delta Collegiate/Josie Norris)

FOIA reveals new information regarding EMB lawsuits @DCCamKerkau

Cameron kerkau

A

Freedom of Information Act request has revealed the detailed history of the charges brought against James Gleason and the investigations which led to his and Danielle Wright’s termination.

According to various records, Gleason had a history of feuding with another EMB professor, Kimberly Wells. On Feb. 19, 2016 Gleason was hand delivered a formal notice of discipline from Reva Curry, Vice President of Instruction & Learning Services, which states that Gleason had disobeyed a direct order to “work in a collegial and professional manner” with Wells by posting a memo in a student work space which read: “Hey Kim… If you’re reading this, you’re in this office – and you really should not be. Until we get the middle door rekeyed, you’d have unrestricted access to my office – and that would be very inappropriate. So please. Back out now and wait until we get the new key arrangement settled before entering this space again.

Jim.” Gleason was issued a one-day unpaid suspension and was told that further misconduct would “result in additional discipline up to and including discharge.”

Seven days prior to this notice, On Feb. 12, 2016, Wells sent a letter to Karen Randolph, Delta’s Senate president, in which she alleged that Gleason was in violation of senate policies 2.012 Professional Integrity and 1.006 Delta College Code of Ethical Conduct. She requested Gleason and Wright, whom Wells believed to be colluding in order to sabotage her career, be reviewed by Randolph and Delta President Jean Goodnow.

On Feb. 29, 2016, an investigation into Gleason’s alleged violation of senate policies was opened. After a series of interviews with students and faculty, the investigation committee recommended that Gleason be terminated as they had found him to be guilty of slandering Wells’ reputation

with students as well as colleagues across the college. They had also found evidence to support the claim that Gleason and Wright had worked together to bring Wells’ teaching effectiveness and technical skill into question.

The investigative committee also recommended that Wright be deactivated as a Delta adjunct instructor, claiming that she did not agree to meet with the committee. It is unclear whether it was this investigation which Wright sites in her lawsuit, or an earlier one in 2016.

The committee further recommended that Wells and Peruski be informed that their actions in sharing the identities of the students who wrote letters of complaint do not ref lect the professional integrity expected at Delta.

Gleason was given a formal notice of a due process proceeding on his behalf on July 19, 2016. He was charged with “soliciting students to slander a colleague’s name and reputation; violating confidentiality; colluding with an adjunct faculty member to slander a colleague’s name and reputation; intentionally undermining a colleague and the program, including with students and others; continuing to be unwilling to resolve differences with a colleague; giving false testimony in the course of an investigation and insubordination.”

After a meeting between Scott Lewless, director of human resources, Curry and Gleason which took place on Aug. 4, 2016, it was recommended by Curry that Gleason be fired for these charges.

Gle a s on ap p e a le d Cu r r y ’s recommendation on Aug.17, 2016, on the basis that the evidence against him was based on false testimony and an incomplete investigation.

An investigative panel was then formed to gather facts and develop a record to be reviewed by an appeal panel. This appeal panel found two failings in due process.

First, they found nothing in the record

describing unprofessional behavior by Gleason after Feb. 19, when he received a formal notice of discipline from Curry, yet Curry made a recommendation to terminate Gleason’s employment on Aug. 8, 2016.

Secondly, the appeal panel found that the investigative panel did not conduct its investigation fairly since it did not interview Gleason.

On Oct. 17, 2016, the appeal panel stated that “The Record shows that not all charges, especially the most egregious of charges could, could be supported with indisputable evidence,” and it was recommended that “the penalty that Mr. James Gleason be terminated from employment at Delta College be eliminated.”

However, on Oct. 21, 2016 Goodnow emailed Randolph requesting that Wells and Lewless be interviewed before the panel made its final decision, and an addendum was made to the appeal panel’s recommendation on Oct. 28, 2016.

The appeal panel found that the investigation which led to Curry’s recommendation of Gleason’s termination was opened in response to the grievance filed on Feb. 12 by Wells and not in response to Gleason posting a memo to Wells in a student work space. The panel also felt that since Gleason was interviewed at the appeal hearing, and since Wells was interviewed in response to Goodnow’s request, that due process was afforded to Gleason.

The appeal panel then recommended that the president sustain the charges against Gleason and terminate his employment.

New developments on former EMB professor lawsuit

Delta has responded to the two lawsuits pending against it from the former EMB professors.

Continued on Page 2...

Board of Trustees discuss Delta’s Wind Turbine Program Brynna Henika UNIVERSITY CENTER – The Delta Board of Trustees learned the importance of Delta’s Wind Turbine program with a presentation given by Ginny Przygocki.

The presentation discussed the operating, maintaining, troubleshooting and repair preventative maintenance the students would learn throughout their courses, along with samples of the classes students are able to enroll in.

According to Przygocki, there are currently between two to three programs similar to Delta’s in Michigan.

“They do a wind study throughout the whole state, and in the thumb is where they are constant and keep going,” says Przygocki.

@DCBrynnaHenika With their degree, Przygocki adds that the students will be able to work safely from any height, and in confined spaces, along with the ability, from special courses, be able to repair turbine blades from great heights.

Matthew Eyre, associate professor of Alternative Energy/Wind Turbine Technology, has not only helped put together programs, but has also developed relationships with wind farms throughout the state.

Przygocki also states that the program tends to be a second career choice for students, and in Michigan, consists of mostly males.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017 / www.deltacollegiate.com

New developments on former EMB professor lawsuits Continued from Front Page...

Both Gleason and Wright have filed suits through their attorneys at the Mastromarco Law Firm of Saginaw after they were fired from their jobs at Delta for what they claim were improper reasons.

Wright’s suit, filed in November in U.S. District Court in Bay City, contends that she participated in an investigation regarding a complaint against Gleason filed by another EMB Professor, Kimberly Wells.

Wright believes she was fired on July 14, 2016 for speaking in support of Gleason.

In Delta’s response to Wright’s suit, through their attorneys Cummings, McClorey, Davis & ACHO, P.L.C., it claims that the former professor’s activities in that investigation were “never considered in any decision regarding [Wright’s] employment,” and that Delta’s decision to end her employment was “based on

News non-discriminatory, non-retaliatory and legitimate business reasons.”

A settlement conference for Wright’s lawsuit is scheduled for June 28, 2017 to be presided over by Judge Thomas L. Ludington.

Delta also states that Gleason was “legitimately terminated for just cause and for violations of Senate Policy.”

Gleason’s suit, filed in December in Bay County Circuit Court, contends that he was fired in retaliation for his reporting of possible FERPA violations after Dave Peruski, the then dean of teaching and learning, informed Wells that several students wrote letters complaining about her. Gleason states that these students requested anonymity and, despite that, Peruski confirmed their identities to Wells.

The suit says further that Wells shared this information with her husband, a former youth pastor of one of the students, who was then berated by said youth pastor.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, FERPA is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.

Delta contends that it investigated the alleged FERPA violations and has found no such violations. It denies that any student was berated by a pastor for filing a complaint and further denies that Wells retaliated against any student at the college.A settlement conference for Gleason’s lawsuit is scheduled for October 24, 2017 to be presided over by Judge Harry P. Gill.

Delta College begins courses at correctional facility @DCBrynnaHenika

Brynna Henika UNIVERSIT Y CENTER- Delta College holds classes at Freeland Correctional Facility, giving inmates the opportunity to receive an education.

According to Admissions Advisor John Neal, who is also a coordinator of the program, the inspiration for the education plan grew from former President Barack Obama’s grant in June of 2016. Obama’s plan gave 12,000 inmates pell grants toward a two-year or four-year degree, while still incarcerated, from approved universities.

What Neal calls the Prison Pell Experiment, has been in correspondence with Freeland’s facility to give the inmates the opportunity to not only take courses

toward a two year degree, but also to show Delta College as an option postincarceration.

“The biggest hurdle was that before the Obama administration, they were not allowing students who were incarcerated to receive federal aid,” says Neal.

Neal adds with them now allowing them to receive financial assistance, his job is to coordinate the efforts for the students to receive financial aid. Students are using this toward the renting or buying of textbooks for the given courses.

Intro to Business and Business Math are the two courses being held at this time, and are being taught by Associate Professor, Bruce Kemmer. These classes

run concurrently and are held on the same days, Mondays and Wednesdays.

The courses will give the students credits towards a Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management degree.

“Since we’re kind of just starting this thing, we didn’t want to put too many irons in the fire,” says Neal.

Delta College is one of the three schools in the state of Michigan offering classes at correctional facilities.

Neal says that currently the classes at this point are taking place at only at the Freeland Facility, with hopes with the program’s success is that students will complete a Delta degree in the system, and to also expand to more facilities within the area.

Author Lawrence Ross visits SVSU to combat racism on college campuses Jessica sierocki UNIVERSIT Y CENTER– Black History Month kicked off at SVSU with a presentation by author and speaker Lawrence Ross. Ross is the author of “Blackballed: The Black and White Politics of Race on America’s Campuses” as well as an advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement.

“Race is a biological nothing but is a very sociological something. The sociological something is how we deal with each other. I cannot ignore the color of your skin because by doing so, I am stripping away a core part of who you are,” says Ross.

Ross used research that helped him write his book to open the eyes of students and try to show how minorities are still being suppressed by white supremacism, even on college campuses.

“When a racism issue occurs on campus, the university will try to individualize the situation, then they would minimize the totality of the situation, particularly when it comes to being systemic and then they trivialize it by rationalizing it away. For students of color, it dismisses the concerns of minority students,” says Ross.

SVSU senior Adesola Bilesanmi, 22, felt enlightened by what Ross had to share about racism on college campuses and how he connected it to problems she has been facing while attending SVSU. “Ignoring the problem that’s been happening on college campuses isn’t going to fix it. As students who pay tuition, we contribute a large amount of investment into the university so it would be ignorant to exclude us out of the conversation,” says Bilesanmi.

@DC_JessicaS Deborah Huntley, Vice President for Academic Affairs at SVSU, thinks bringing speakers like Ross to campus raises awareness of important issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.

“We are doing our students and our society a disservice if we are not providing opportunities for all people to achieve their potential,” says Huntley.

Huntley is one of many faculty members who attended the event that will take Ross’ words and put them in action.

“As educators we have a responsibility to provide opportunities for all members of our society. When students don’t feel comfortable being at an institution, it’s really important for the institution to understand why so that those issues can be resolved,” says Huntley.

Bilesanmi is looking forward to being a student who works with SVSU faculty to improve diversity and acceptance in and out of the classrooms.

“Even if they make a couple of mistakes along the way, for students to be able to talk about their problems and for administrators to actually enforce changes is good. As long as we’re working together, we’ll see a difference,” says Bilesanmi.

Ross ended the night with inspiring words for the attendees at the event who are trying to make a change for racial acceptance in their school.

“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes when working towards racial justice. Stand up, get your shit together and get out of your comfort zone when it comes to your place in racism. That’s how we can stop this,” says Ross.

The Saginaw school board may be suing the Michigan State Reform Office to ensure that Saginaw High will not close. Feb. 16, 2017 (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)

Community questions possible Saginaw High closure @DCPhoebeFries

Phoebe Fries SAGINAW – Saginaw High School was placed on the 2016 list of underperforming schools in Michigan and is in danger of closing. The School Reform Office stated an additional 37 schools around the state are in danger of closing including Loomis Academy, Bridgeport-Spaulding and Martin G. Atkins Elementary.

According to the report, the schools listed were in the bottom five percent, in terms of achievement, in 2015 and 2016.

The School Reform Office also takes into consideration “unreasonable hardships” for students enrolled. The report also explained alternative options such as changing a redesign plan or naming a CEO in charge of working with the school’s underperformance issues. The School Reform Office will examine geographic locations, academic standards and enrollment capacity during the next 30 to 45 days.

Bryanna Perkins, 18, from Saginaw is a Saginaw High graduate and currently attends classes at Delta’s Ricker Center

says, “They shouldn’t close the school. To me, it seems as if they are trying to close every school on the east side. It wouldn’t be right. Kids should be provided with a school in their immediate area.”

On Wednesday Feb. 15, Saginaw’s School Board granted the Superintendent, Nate McClain, permission to implement legal action if necessary. The action of such as suing the School Reform Office was discussed and agreed upon. In a unanimous vote of 7-0 the School Board supported the motion of authorizing the school take any and all necessary action to eliminate the danger of the school closing.

In addition to the board fighting back against the closure of the school, community members are also protesting and questioning the decision made by the School Reform office.

Rosemary Reeves, lead coordinator at Delta’s Ricker Center and alumni of Saginaw High, stated “I don’t believe the school will shut down. What I’m hearing is

the community is planning to do whatever it takes to keep it open.”

Reeves continued by saying, “I know people in the NAACP and they are also backing the community members and fighting from Saginaw High to keep its doors open.”

In addition to the community of Saginaw, the Michigan Board of Education has asked the School Reform Office to call off the closing of the school.

On Tuesday Feb. 14, the state board of education agreed that no school should be closed down because the definition of “unreasonable hardship” is unclear.

According to the board’s research, closing of schools can damage communities and harm students. The board is asking for more time to research the impact the closure will have on students, especially with special education and transportation needs.

According to the board closing a school can be damaging to the ties community members have to one another.

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 Ethan Moore Sports Editor Lawrence Ross, author of “Blackballed: The Black and White Politics of Race on America’s Campuses” visits Saginaw Valley State University as part of Black History Month events at University Center on Wednesday, Feb. 8 2017. (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)

Jack Rechsteiner Arts and Entertainment Editor Phoebe Fries Collegiate Life Editor

Will Hackbarth Page Designer Brynna Henika Reporter

Logan Miller Reporter Erik Hopkins Reporter

Aubrie Smith Copy Editor

Allie Keenan Reporter

J. Max Schofield Videographer/Photographer

Gabe French Illustrator

Drew Moore Photographer Brandi Miller Reporter Adam Przeslak Reporter

Caitlin Wejrowski Page Designer Crystal McMorris Advisor

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017 / www.deltacollegiate.com

News COLLEGIATE COMMENTARY

V-Day play is a victory for vaginas @DCJosieNorris

Josie Norris UNIVERSITY CENTER— February 14 at Delta College was not just a day for giving cards and candy to Valentines, the “V” in V-Day also stands for vagina and victory both of which are embodied in “The Vagina Monologues.”

“The Vagina Monologues,” written

by Eve Ensler, is a play inspired by a series of interviews with hundreds of women regarding their relationships with their vaginas. The script is composed of monologues based on these women’s stories.

Topics addressed in the monologues include exploration of the female body, orgasms, shaving pubic hair, rape,wearing short skirts “that don’t have anything to do with you” as one actress explains, childbirth and the script ends with a call for a revolution of how we treat women.

The play was described as “raucous, irreverent, naughty and hilarious” by director Chey Davis before the performance and I agree with her. This play’s message is hard to ignore and is more than an hour and half of entertainment. It is food for thought because how many women actually talk about their vaginas? And how closely related society’s ideas of femininity are related to them.

Dressed in shades of purple, pink and red, the cast was a collection of community members, which included many Delta students, staff and faculty. This diversity reflected the collection of voices from the women who were Ensler’s inspiration.

The beautiful thing about the performance was the fact that the entire cast was onstage throughout the whole play. As their castmate delivered their monologue, they sat with rapt attention, supporting each other as they shared the stories of their female experience.

“The Vagina Monologues” was presented as part of Delta College’s V-Week to raise attention and awareness of “the sexual assault against women and girls, to create a call to action, to work together to end this violence,” according to the program.

V-Week was made possible through the Michigan State Police Campus Sexual Assault grant program. “The grant program aims to change the overall culture of sexual assault among the college-age population,” as stated on their website. Delta College was one of twenty-nine applications the program received and the grant allowed the facilitation of V-Week 2017 events at Delta, including “The Vagina Monologues.”

All the events for V-Week were free and open to the public but donations were accepted. 90% of the donations collected went to the Bay Area Women’s Center in Bay City, the Shelterhouse in Midland and the Underground Railroad in Saginaw. The remaining 10% was donated to benefit V-Day to “help end the exploitation of women in the workplace on a global level” as explained in the program.

De’Asia Brown speaks to the audience alongside the cast of “The Vagina Monologues” during a performance at Delta College Feb. 14, 2017.

(Delta Collegiate/Josie Norris)

Lecture hall hosts V-Day roundtable @DCJackRech

JACK RECHSTEINER

Survivor Rising brings together poets and survivors Brynna Henika

D

elta College has had two reported cases of sexual assault, as stated in the crime statistics of the 2016 Delta College annual security report.

However there was a campus-wide survey conducted during the last two years in which over 15 people said they’ve been assaulted at Delta without reporting it. That issue was one of the main topics of the It’s On Us Roundtable.

One of the events featured throughout V-Week, the roundtable was hosted in Delta’s lecture theater by Delta English Professor JodiAnn Stevenson. People made their way into the lecture theatre, turning into an eventual crowd of around 20 people as the roundtable started. Attendees were a mix of Delta staff and students, as well as workers from domestic and sexual violence centers. Allie Martinez is the prevention education coordinator of the Saginaw shelter, Underground Railroad, and was one of the roundtable attendees from outside of Delta.

“How do we get students want to be involved?” asks Martinez, starting off the discussion.

The conversation began with talking about the initiatives that are being taken to get students interested in generating change to the difficulties of fighting against preconceived notions of women’s rights activism. There was a lot of dialogue and involvement from everyone present at the It’s On Us Roundtable.

“It’s really important for future events like this to make it the cool thing to do.

Fighting for women’s rights should be seen as the cool thing to do,” says one of the attendees.

The overarching goal of the It’s On Us Roundtable and V-Week is to end all sexual misconduct, which can happen

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For those passing by the lecture theatre, tables provided informational pamphlets and other resources about domestic violence and sexual assault. (Delta Collegiate/Jack Rechsteiner)

through creating an environment where everyone feels safe and included. According to Martinez, it has been seen that when conversations like this happen, people feel more comfortable to come forward and talk about, and report, instances of being sexually assaulted by perpetrators.

“We don’t want to just do lectures and presentations, we want students to be the ones making the change. That’s where the change actually happens,” says Martinez.

Stevenson discussed that a big obstacle is that colleges want to keep sexual assault cases hidden to preserve their image. As a commuter college though, this isn’t as much of an issue which allows Delta to be tougher on perpetrators of sexual assault.

However this doesn’t come without other things to consider.

“On a campus like ours, with students always coming to Delta and eventually leaving, it’s so important to get faculty and staff members involved too,” says Stevenson.

The discussion became lively on the topic of when we should start having this

conversation with younger generations and the importance of teaching boys and men what is appropriate behavior.

“Talking about safety can begin as early as the infant years. The conversation can begin by telling your kids it’s okay to say no, like when grandma wants to give you a kiss and you don’t want to, that’s okay.

It’s okay to say no,” says Allie Gajsiewicz, the education and prevention facilitator of Midland’s Shelterhouse.

The It’s On Us Roundtable ended with a consensus that understanding sexual assault and what it consists of is a necessary step toward spreading awareness. As attendees left the lecture hall, there were tables set out with informational pamphlets and other resources about domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as abusive relationships and LGBT+ support. Delta has always stayed involved with the shelters in the area and they plan on continuing to work together with two more sexual assault action weeks in April and October.

UNIVERSITY CENTER – The fourth and final day of Delta College’s V Week, closed out the event on Feb. 16 with its Survivor Rising poetry reading.

Survivor Rising gathered not only poets, but survivors, for a night of healing and sharing survival stories. The opening piece was a video of “Blue Blanket,” by Andrea Gibson.

The event’s host, English Professor JodiAnn Stevenson shared her piece “Let There Be Rape Poems,” where she writes of her experience regarding such poems while running a Saginaw poetry slam.

She also spoke about the Brock Turner case from 2015. Turner is a former student of

@DCBrynnaHenika Stanford University, who sexually assaulted an unconscious woman and only spent three months behind bars.

“There’s a lot of work to be done on how young boys are being taught,” says Stevenson.

Robin Devereaux was one of the event’s featured poets, and one of Stevenson’s former students. She shared her pieces on womanhood and survival.

Devereaux, Stevenson and those who made the decision to speak out shared their survival stories of sexual assault.

“It’s really interesting how girls are driven toward the page to get their story out,” says Stevenson.

JodiAnn Stevenson, associate professor of English, shares her personal experiences and poetry with the crowd. Feb. 16, 2017 (Delta Collegiate/Jessica Sierocki)

Empowering film gives background to original ‘Vagina Monologues’ @DC_JessicaS

Jessica sierocki

V

-Week at Delta continued with the featured film “Until the Violence Stops” on Feb. 15. The iconic film was created in 2003 and features clips of the original “Vagina Monologues” from Harlem, New York in 1997, as well as showing how cultures around the world embrace V-Day. “The Vagina Monologues” were created as a way for women of all shapes, sizes and race to come together as a community and face their struggles with sexual abuse together. Eve Ensler is the producer and writer for the original monologue event as well as an active feminist.

JodiAnn Stevenson, associate professor of English, introduced the film to the audience and conducted the informal discussion following the showing.

“Raising awareness of issues that are affecting women is important. I don’t think that we get a lot of information about the problems females are facing. I think there are many more survivors on campus than people think and that there are survivors who aren’t getting the help that they need,” says Stevenson.

Ensler stands alongside other influential woman who tell their tales of survival. Among them are actresses Jane Fonda, Salma Hayek and Rosario Dawson. Their theatrical presentation of issues that are not talked about helped spread the acceptance of V-Day across the world.

Stevenson left the audience with a lesson that embraces the purpose of the “Vagina Monologues.”

“Girls need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and open up because the only way to heal is to face it head on,” says Stevenson.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017 / www.deltacollegiate.com

Arts

&

Entertainment

Patchwork Festival returns for year two JACK RECHSTEINER

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hey say it takes two to tango so Patchwork Art & Music Festival is returning for year two and shaking things up.

Patchwork ’s mission statement is “dedicated to promoting unity in the music and arts scenes in the Great Lakes Bay Region.” Hosted in familiar venues such as The Dow Event Center, Pit and Balcony Theater, and the Historic Masonic Temple, the festival is over a week long and spans across Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and, newly added, Flint.

From May 4 to May 13, Patchwork will be turning the Great Lakes Bay Region into a funhouse of concerts, art exhibitions, film screenings, discussion panels, wellness activities, and popups of every kind. Patchwork Art & Music Festival is a Counter Culture production and even though it only says art and music in the festival name, Counter Culture has always tried to expand the definition of what a

@DCJackRech show can be.

The first wave of bands has recently been announced and Patchwork’s lineup this year is already a diverse one that’s bringing bigger acts to the Tri-Cities. Locally loved bands like Kostka, Cheerleader, Vital Sea, and Brites will play various shows throughout the week leading up to the final festival night. The main show of the festival, it’ll feature nationally touring bands Alex G, Nothing and Sorority Noise.

Passes for the festival are now available for purchase online and are the only way to ensure entry to everything Patchwork offers.

Festival passes are $60 and as the festival gets closer there will also be individual event tickets for sale for those not planning on attending the full festival.

For more event info, lineup announcements, and to purchase tickets, you can find Patchwork on social media as @PatchworkIs or you can visit their site www.PatchworkIs.com.

Midland Museum offers look “Behind the Scenes”

The Saginaw River Marine Historical Society sponsors a water-themed art exhibit at the Alden B. Dow Museum of Science & Art. Saturday, Jan 28, 2017. (Delta Collegiate/Allie Keenan)

ALLIE KEENAN MIDLAND — The Alden B. Dow Museum of Science & Art features handson STEM activities that allow individuals to explore careers in engineering and mathematics.

Kicking off the exhibit's opening on Saturday, Jan. 28, the museum offered a teacher and homeschool event as well as being open to the public.

Assistant Director of Education at the Midland Center for the Arts, Debbie Anderson, tells of some current issues that some students face in school with trying to apply the skills offered in the activities that are on display.

“This exhibit brings so much to the region as whole. The STEM exhibit focuses on algebra which a lot of kids sit in class wondering why they have to find ‘x’,” says Anderson. “It really helps to do that for kids going into a STEM based career.”

Multiple stations featured many skills such as designing a video game, a giant etcha-sketch, a trajectory catapult, designing light shows, sound machines allowing to compose music, magnetic tubes that test speed, designing a roller coaster, designing a skate park and bike machines tracking speed and consistency.

“It’s a multigenerational exhibit allowing kids and parents to work together to accomplish a task,” says Anderson.

Many of these activities are trial and error based which allows individuals to interact multiple time in order for success. By trying again and again, children learn to stick to an activity and try to better their progress.

Debbie Anderson predicted the “Hit the Target” trajectory catapult to be the most favored station out of all of them being offered; although it is the first opening day, patrons seemed to be drawn to this machine. The apparatus allows engagers to use an angle of release and adjust to where the ball needs to be thrown to using math and graphing skills, it is easy to understand the objectives.

Anderson also predicted the “Bike Race” station to be the second most popular mechanism out of all of them being offered.

This device allows up to three people to peddle their chosen bicycle while it tracks their speed and consistency. By graphing the progress of speed, engagers can see the energy being used to peddle.

Lisa Bauder, a grandmother who brought her grandchildren, explains why this event is good for the community and the long run effects of the skills being utilized.

Excellency Music Festival lives up to it’s name

@AllieKeenanDC “The activities use math and balancing skills. It teaches kids different things.

There’s making pictures and designing things. The activities are leaning towards more technological advances for years to come. Society is pushing technological jobs and a lot of these things are teaching them those skills,” says Bauder.

“The STEM field applications are not just engineering. There’s lighting, graphics, art, sport applications and so much more.

These activities are fun but can be used as careers and be applied to life,” says Anderson.

The Behind the Scenes exhibit is recommended for grades three and up, but features building blocks for small children.

Patrons can get a Design Zone Passport that can be taken around to the different stations, get stamped and returned to the front desk for a sticker.

The other side of the exhibit features art collections with a water theme. This includes a series of paintings, photography, boat models and a large row boat. These collections were loaned by generous individuals wanting the public to take in some of the history.

“There’s a lot to see here. It’s good for the kids to experience art that is open to exploration and not be in a museum that you have to be super quiet in,” says Anderson.

The Alden B. Dow Museum of Science & Art encourages patrons to view the museum and all it has to offer. Due to this exhibit being so extensive, the museum has had to extend tour times for visiting school groups.

This allows the museum allowing public groups to take the most optimal amount of time to explore and learn about the many exhibits that are being offered.

The Alden B. Dow Museum of Science & Art is located inside the Midland Center for the Arts at 1801 W. Andrews Street Midland.

Winter museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. They are closed Monday and Tuesday. The Design Zone: Behind the Scenes runs through April 30. Tickets start at $9 for adults, $6 for ages four-14 and free for infants three and under, ABDM Members and ASTC Members. ABDM memberships are $75 for a family of four.

For more information on events at the Midland Center for the Arts call (989) 6318250 or visit http://www.mcfta.org/.

Having made the drive to Bay City from Grand Rapids, post-rock band All Is Well played to begin the festival. (Delta Collegiate/Jack Rechsteiner)

@DCJackRech

JACK RECHSTEINER BAY CITY — Excellency Music Festival “We actually figured it out to be 563 turned two this year and it’s looking to put individual people had tickets for the festival itself, along with the Tri-Cities, on the map. that day… It was definitely an improvement Introduced in 2016, Excellency Music over the first year,” says Troy Weiler.

Festival is staying true to the “excellency” Troy Weiler is the enterprising founder title in it’s sophomore year. The all ages, of the Mid-Michigan concert production all day festival showed Excellency Music’s company that is now Excellency Music. support for the Michigan scene. The event Weiler, 23, studied marketing at Saginaw featured seven bands that call the Tri-Cities Valley State University and wanted to use their home, while the rest of the 25 acts on what he learned there to help the music the lineup hail from the mitten state as well. community in Mid-Michigan grow.

Held in Bay City’s Prime Event Center Since the beginning of the company in on Saturday, February 11th, Excellency the fall of 2015, Weiler has focused on Music Festival started off with local band giving Tri-Cities bands a spotlight. This From The Ground Up taking the stage at noon. With two side-by-side main stages and "All of the music has sounded great various artists performing on a and the transition from band to separate acoustic stage, bands band has been seamless " played throughout the day on into the night.

-Dustin Cobb "Whoever's doing the sound for the show is fantastic. All of the music had sounded great and the transition from band to band has been seamless," says festival attendee year, Excellency Music Festival showcased Dustin Cobb. hometown favorites like Forest Green, The The music kept flowing between bands White Oranges and The 10X. Each local and people kept flowing through the doors band was welcomed onstage by a warm to listen to them until the concert wrapped reception from the crowd. up at 11 p.m. The festival is one of the “That's probably the best feeling for me. biggest productions that Excellency Music Just watching everyone have a good time… puts on every year and the turnout shows And all of the positivity we received during that the Tri-Cities has a lively and active and after the show. Looking around at all of community looking to support music in the people watching Forest Green at the end the area. of the night. I don't think there's a better

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feeling than that,” says Weiler.

The night’s festivities went smoothly, and many people who attended the first Excellency Music Festival talked about how much it had grown. Weiler has plans to continue to grow and his biggest hope for the future of the festival is to have “a true, national headliner.” Some of the improvements that made this year more successful were major equipment upgrades to the acoustic stage, setting up a better area for musicians and their merchandise that was closer to the stage, and having the bands be more involved with the festival which made for a hands-on and cooperative experience.

"It’s great to be back. The festival improved a lot, this year has been 100 times better. Everyone has been so accommodating and friendly. It’s been a wonderful time," says Jess Coleman, vocalist for the Grand Rapids band Amessa.

Fans and musicians travelled from all over Michigan to Bay City for Excellency Music Festival. Everyone Leaves is one of those bands that trekked across the state to play the show. They, along with a few other concert-goers, had never been in Mid-Michigan before and didn’t know what to expect. Aubree Roe, the bassist for Everyone Leaves, didn’t waste any words summing up how they all felt about Bay City and Excellency Music Festival.

"Bay City? More like Bae City," says Roe.

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Delta grows poetry in Night Garden @DCJackRech

JACK RECHSTEINER

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ohn Keats said that the poetry of earth is never dead, and Delta is keeping that poetry alive and well in The Night Garden club.

For those writers and readers looking for a community with the same interests, Delta College has an active poetry club under the name of The Night Garden. The club’s main goal is to cultivate and promote an appreciation for poetry. By engaging in writing workshops as well as poetry-centric outreach activities at Delta College and within the area, The Delta Night Garden brings poets and people together.

This year though, The Night Garden is growing in a different direction. As weekly meetings on campus weren’t working out for most people wanting to participate, club advisor Mark Brown decided to switch to less frequent workshops. Once a month, The Night Garden decides on a day and place to meet in a coffee shop or artistic space in the area. The first hour of the workshop is spent writing and talking which is followed up with an open mic reading for whoever is interested.

The Night Garden is planning different activities that’ll take place over the rest of this school year. April is National Poetry Month and The Night Garden intends to celebrate it this year. There will be a series of readings set up on campus featuring visiting poets along with poetry giveaways. The library will have have a display for student

poets, exhibiting poems from any Delta writer interested in taking part.

“We want there to be a fun, active poetry community on campus. We encourage students to meet up together on their own on campus, attend as many workshops and readings as they can and make art, make art, make art!” says Brown.

Another aspect of The Night Garden is that it works closely with Delta’s literary publication, the Pioneer Post. An outlet for fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and other projects, the Pioneer Post allows students to see their work in print. Thomas Dunn, one of The Night Garden’s members, has had multiple pieces published during his time at Delta and most recently in the 2016 fall edition of the Pioneer Post. The poem “dreaming.” can be found alongside this article.

Whether you are a seasoned poet, someone who just likes to read, or you’ve never been a fan of poetry but would like to be, The Night Garden is always looking for new members. For more information on being a part of The Delta Night Garden, you can reach out to club advisor Mark Brown at markbrown@delta.edu.

Upcoming workshops will be held at Harless + Hugh Coffee in Bay City on March 16 at 6 p.m. and at the Creative 360 in Midland on April 6 also starting at 6 p.m.

dreaming.

By Thomas Dunn

i am thinking of you r.g. a piano teeth smile that played the loveliest harmonies. on days the sun clings to branches like a needy lover. clutching the other’s shirt that rips at the stitching. i am dreaming of you r.g. each time i hear a song whistling through the trees. i wonder if you found an answer to the question your grandson asked you a product of a broken home held together by loose screws, rusty nails, and self-doubt. are you still courting the muse? writing poems for her each night? do you speak of her caked cheeks colored rose pink and white hair? is she still beautiful? i am praying for you r.g., that one day, on an afternoon like this, the wind will bring me back to you.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017 / www.deltacollegiate.com

Sports

Pioneers suffer back to back losses, bounce back at Henry Ford

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COLLEGIATE COMMENTARY

The Pistons mid-season slump

LOGAN MILLER

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Delta's Jonathan Swift led the Pioneers by 19 points in their recent game against Wayne County. (Delta Collegiate/File/Josie Norris).

@EthanMooreDC

ETHAN MOORE

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t’s been an up and down couple of weeks Jovon Thomason led all scoring with 19 this one. McMath felt that the team had for the men’s basketball team, as they points and Jonathan Swift added 13 points open shot opportunities throughout the looked to improve their postseason to go with five rebounds, five assists, and a game, but just could not convert enough prospects. They started with a road game costly eight turnovers. of them when it counted. against Wayne County on February 8, in A few days later the Pioneers travel to "We really need to strive for consistency," what turned out to be thriller down to the Oakland, hoping to get the bad taste of the says McMath. "If we can consistently last second.

Wayne County game out of their mouths, knock down shots from the floor, make The Pioneers gave up a seven point lead unfortunately, Oakland Community free throws, and limit our turnovers then late in the second half in a heartbreaking College was ready for them and shut down we will be a tough team to beat. Until we 63-64 loss. A key turnover start to do that game in and with less than 25 seconds game out, we will continue to "We really need to strive for consistency. If we left gave Wayne County an see inconsistent results." can consistently knock down shots from the opportunity to flip the score With four games left to floor, make free throws, and limit our turnovers late, and Head Coach Carlos play, the Pioneers currently sit then we will be a tough team to beat."

McMath knows that his team sixth in the MCCAA Eastern has to finish strong in games Conference standings, with like this. a game and a half lead over -Carlos McMath “It is always hard to beat a the seventh place Henry Ford team twice and we knew going team. The top seven teams into this game that Wayne was going to put a Delta offense that only shot 30 percent advance to the postseason, so Delta has forth a better effort than they did the first from the field. placed themselves in a position to advance time we played them, for the most part, we The Pioneers made just enough shots to with a couple more wins late in the season. played well," says McMath. "We had the keep themselves in the game, but Oakland Their final home game of the year will ball in our hands with the lead late in the hit 89 percent of their free throws which kept be against Macomb on March 1 in the game and we just didn't finish it off."

Delta from truly being able to comeback in Pioneer Gym.

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Baseball team gears up for the season on spring break Eric Krauss UNIVERSITY CENTER – The Delta Pioneers will be travelling first to Kentucky and then onto Florida this spring break to put their hard work in the offseason to the test. They play some of the toughest competition in the country at their level.

Although these are not teams that the Pioneers would play regularly at the regional level, the games will count on their overall record. “Technically our season starts right in Kentucky,” says Chase Beyersdorf, a returning sophomore pitcher. “So this is how we see where we’re at.”

Last year on spring break they went 8-6, and went on to have an overall record of 3122 in the regular season, while also making a run in the postseason at regionals, but falling short in the quarterfinals.

This year the Pioneers have big plans, now that they have dropped to division three, a historically easier division.

“Historically our goal in Florida has been to work on team chemistry and that’s still a

he Detroit Pistons started the season out strong, like most NBA experts predicted, but unexpectedly fell into a serious mid-season slump. It began with the return of their injured point guard, Reggie Jackson, whose over-dribbling slows down the Piston’s offensive movement and flow.

Whatever the moment, whether it be self lessly swinging the ball around the perimeter, running high pick and rolls, or just simply keeping his head up to find players cutting off-ball down the lane, Jackson sticks the ball up at the top of the key and waits for the floor to open up for himself.

Jackson is a score-first guard, which isn’t unusual in the Steph Curry, guard-centric era of the NBA. Jackson, however, not only makes poor decisions with the ball, but is inefficient when he does anything with it. He accounts for 31.3% of assists while on the court, his lowest percentage in the last three years with the Pistons. Russell Westbrook, although he is undoubtoubly a much better player, assists on 53.5% of his teams points while on the court.

All of the blame can’t be put on Reggie Jackson, though. Jackson is in a war for minutes with Ish Smith, Piston’s speedy playmaker. Smith has circled around the league and played 20 or so games for multiple teams. He always seems to re-energize a team’s players. His hard-charging, passfirst mentality has mixed perfectly with the abundance of wing players in Detroit, such as Marcus Morris, Tobias Harris, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Finding an adequate backup point guard has been a problem for the Pistons’ in the past. Now, the problem is finding a reason not to start the backup point guard, as his play improves Detroit’s plus-minus rating and overall efficiency much more than Jackson does.

Tobias Harris was moved to Detroit at last year's trade deadline, changing the team entirely, though in a different, more longterm manner than Ish Smith. I remember a lot of locals bemoaning the fact that Brandon Jennings was leaving the Pistons, along with Ersan Ilyasova, for just a young player like Tobias in return.

They didn’t understand that Harris was an absolute stud, capable of pulling up off the dribble, spotting up for corner threes, and finishing around the rim. One aspect of Tobias’ game that could and should improve in the future is his ability to create contact around the paint and get to the free throw line.

This year, Harris averages only 2.6 free throws per game, draining .888 percent of

(Caitlin Wejrowski/Illustration)

Updates on Joe Mixon and Doug Adler ETHAN MOORE

goal, but it’s not as important as winning,” says Head Coach Danny Smith. “This year we’re out to go 56-0.”

The competition will set the bar high, just like in the past. Some of these teams include Niagara, St. Cloud, and The Academy of Baseball Canada, which are all ranked.

“This really helps us get ready for the season, we play some of the better teams in the country when we’re down there,” says Tyler Kirkwood, a sophomore pitcher.

While this will be a time to see where they are at overall as a team, this is also a time to learn their weaknesses and capitalize on them.

“I think our pitching needs to come around a little bit quicker,” says Kirkwood, “We pitched really rough down there last year.”

“One of our biggest concerns is probably shortstop,” says Smith. “It’s one area that we need to address, and it will get addressed down in Florida.”

It isn’t only improvements that are being addressed but also some strengths.

“I think we will be hitting; we have a lot of power this year,” says Kirkwood.

The Pioneers have all but one player returning to the starting lineup this season, which can bring many advantages to the fold.

“We are definitely sophomore heavy this year and that’s a good thing,” Beyersdorf says.

“We have a ton of experience back that are sophomores,” says Smith. “They’re battle tested, good experienced players, so that’s definitely a strength.”

Overall this trip will bring the team together and prepare them for a tough regular season. “When we get back north we want a good idea of what our lineup will look like,” adds Smith. “What our pitchers are capable of, what our freshman class can do, and the guys we haven’t seen perform yet.”

them. He’s a great free throw shooter, but he needs to learn how to perform the jerky, disjointed movements that will more easily coax the referees into blowing their whistles.

Harris needs to be a bit more theatrical, a bit more extroverted in his response to uncalled fouls. Despite not shooting very many free throws, however, Harris leads the Pistons’ in points per game, averaging 16.3 points as well as five rebounds per game. Harris is currently the best and most consistent player on the Pistons.

If Drummond were capable of defending at a high-level, he would be the most important player for the Pistons. But as of right now, Drummond sets solid screens, devours defensive rebounds, and attacks the offensive boards. But his hook shots don’t look any less unnatural or forced. He’s an elite rebounder that could be a perennial all-star if he focused 75% of his energy on the defensive end and averaged 2-3 blocks per game.

It can’t be overstated, though, how incredible Drummond is at the various skillsets he brings to the Pistons. A few of these valuable attributes include his knack for team rebounding, hustle stats, and aggressively following his teammates shots. He’s currently the best rebounder in the league. Through sheer body volume, muscle, and athleticism, Drummond is able to take control of the paint like nobody else in the league.

According to NBA.com advanced analytics, Drummond pulls down 37.2% of his teams defensive rebounds while he’s on the floor. Alternatively, he brings down 14.1% of his teams offensive rebounds while in the game.

Drummonds defensive rating, however, isn’t as solid as his coach, Stan Van Gundy, would like it to be. Drummond allows 108 points per 100 possessions while on the floor, not the type of shut-down rim protection that one would expect from a 7”, 280 pound starting center. DeAndre Jordan has a significantly better defensive rating of 103.7.

If the Pistons are going to improve their record, which currently sits at 26-30, they are going to have to find a way to balance the minutes of Jackson and Smith. They have solid, young forwards and an elite rebounder at the center position. It’s just about how they all are able to fit together.

Hopefully, within the last few months of the regular season, one of the Pistons’ young players will separate themselves as the team's go-to player, their main option.

As of right now, it’s not very clear who calls the shots.

Joe Mixon If you recall from a previous issue, Joe Mixon is a former running back at the University of Oklahoma who was convicted of assaulting a female student at a local restaurant. He was found guilty of a misdemeanor, and eventually was forced to redshirt a season, however he was kept on scholarship and went on to play multiple seasons. Since the release of our commentary on it he has declared for NFL draft, though because of the NFL’s policy on student-athletes who were involved in domestic disputes, he will not be allowed to attend the NFL combine later this month, and therefore will be unavailable to the media.

Also, this past week the police video of Mixon’s victim being interviewed was released to the public. The victim explains that she never called Mixon a racial slur like past reports have said, (Mixon too has now

@EthanMooreDC admitted that the victim did not use any sort of slur during the incident.) and The victim’s interview corroborated many of the eyewitness accounts of the night and have been said to be mostly true by Mixon. Only time will tell how the NFL chooses to view Mixon, and whether or not he’ll be selected in the NFL Draft, coming up in April.

Doug Adler On February 15, Doug Adler filed a lawsuit against his old company ESPN for wrongful termination. If you’ll recall from last issue, Adler was terminated after making comments comparing Venus Williams’ tennis match to guerilla warfare.

Adler claims to have suffered “emotional distress” and says he was robbed of other television opportunities because of the backlash that followed.

The Collegiate will continue to report on both of these stories as they continue to progress.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017 / www.deltacollegiate.com

Opinion

(Delta Collegiate/Caitlin Wejrowski)

The EPA needs to stay

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he environment would be better off if humans weren’t here to disturb it. Mother Nature has taken quite a few beatings from humans.

Forests are being decimated for profit and the polar ice caps are melting. It seems like creating a better and safer environment for all species on Earth would be a priority, and if not, you would think that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would continue to do its job of protecting human health, air, water and land.

Well, the EPA is under attack - not because of the work they’re doing but rather the government regulations that hinder business and economic development. It’s funny how politicians have to turn saving the environment to an argument about money. Actually, it’s not funny at all. It’s a scary reality that the EPA may not be operating for the right reasons for much longer.

It’s no secret that President Trump has planned on dismantling the EPA since he started campaigning to become president.

Trump isn’t the first Republican who has wanted it gone. During the 2016 presidential race, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio also wanted to decrease how much authority the EPA could have. So the question is why would they find that a necessity?

Now, President Trump has appointed Scott Pruitt as the new Administrator of the EPA. The Republicans voted unanimously to appoint Pruitt to the position. Shocker.

What bothers us is Pruitt is a man who has no plans to take action to address environmental issues and instead wants to debate about why it’s happening is heading the EPA. The time for discussion is over.

Scientists have proven what effects climate change. Now is the time to fix the problems so the humans and animals can continue to survive on this Earth for a little while longer.

Myron Ebell is a part of Trump’s transition team and is staffing the EPA. He can’t be that bad right? This entire situation can’t get any worse can it? Well, here’s the thing.

According to CNN, Ebell’s organization already had plans for environmental changes, some of which include: defunding studies on carbon emissions from power plants, rewriting the Clean Air Act and

making it more difficult to add animals to the endangered species list.

Ebell claims that instead of having the EPA which is a national organization, Trump wants the responsibilities of the EPA to be transferred to the individual states, which means that thousands of the engineers and scientists who work for the EPA will be out of a job.

Currently multi-million dollar companies have strict safety and health regulations concerning hazardous wastes as well as other factors that can leave harmful effects on the environment as well as the human population. These businesses don’t want the hassle of having to follow such tight regulations that must be met because the organization in charge of overseeing them, the EPA, is a national government organization.

If only there was a businessman with enough power to loosen the reigns of these regulations or, better yet, get rid of them altogether so the multi-million dollar companies can pocket the extra money saved by harming the planet. I mean, if anything, President Trump is a businessman. Am I wrong?

President Trump doesn’t want to get rid of a credible organization because they are failing at the job they’re supposed to do. No, he wants to get rid of the EPA because he is part of the one percent and is looking out for the other members of the one percent.

Does he care about saving animals from extinction? Does he even believe that the ice caps are melting due to global warming? No. President Trump has the power to do something greater. If he instead chose to strengthen the EPA, maybe he’d have more supporters. Maybe people would be able to look at him and recognize him as a compassionate man instead of the greedy man who will be remembered by making his way in the world as a result of “a small loan of a million dollars” from his father.

President Trump will be infamous for a lot of acts as president, especially considering what he’s done in the short time he’s been in office. If he has this country’s citizens concerns at heart and wants to start making a difference that will truly matter, getting rid of the EPA is not the answer. If President Trump succeeds, our future may be bleaker than we have already foreseen.

What kind of self care do you do?

Wendy Harden 42, Saginaw County

“Exercise, I like to walk, that’s probably what I do the most.”

Nathan Gilbert 19, Ubly

“I always prepare myself for the next day; the trip to my car.”

Dominic Wills 29, Saginaw

“I exercise, it keeps your mood positive.”

Shannon Conachan 18, Bay City

“I like to take baths, nap, and I like to workout”

Creating sluts one assumption at a time Aubrie Smith

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@DCAubrieSmith

have been slut shamed for the majority unpainted, and I live in a small apartment of my life. with two other people. You could assume In middle school, I was a very ugly that I don't do well with school because child. Because of this, I had a lot of I procrastinate on my homework and crushes on boys who didn't like me back. because I have a full-time job, a part-time The girls they did like called me a slut. job, and I’m taking 19 credits. You could In high school, I had one serious assume that I'm lonely because I'm single relationship with a boy who was a few for the first time in a year. But you would grades below me. People called me a slut. be wrong. You would be 100% wrong.

I left that boy to be with someone It's 2017, and we're still judging people my own age. Because I left one boy for based on ignorance. I find it amusing that another, people called me a slut. every time this comment is made to me, After that relationship, I didn't date the individual is in a long-term, committed for a year and a half. But, because I went relationship. I hope, for their sake, that on a few casual dates, and often visited nothing ever happens that leads them to parties, people called me a slut. go separate ways. I hope that they never Recently, I've had two semi-serious have to turn to tinder because they can't relationships in a short amount of time, meet someone with the same aspersions and people are still calling me a slut. as them, someone who supports them, The funny thing here is that I don't someone who think I've understands ever been their faults called a slut and agrees by someone “It's 2017, and we're still judging with their who was people based on ignorance.” faiths. I hope also single. t hat t he y I can still never have to think about Aubrie Smith go through t he g i rl the grieving in middle process of losing a best friend, and school, and the two in high school, that learning how to sleep in a bed alone again. said things about me constantly. They People in relationships judge single were always in a relationship. Actually, people the way the rich judge the poor. after just checking Facebook, they still And you know why I will never do are. that? Because I understand that not all When discussing the topic "sleeping opportunities are presented equally. with an ex" with some people, I was Though their assumptions about automatically slut shamed. Even though me were just that, assumptions, I want I write a relationship column for college to point out one other thing: who I'm students that are confused about literally sleeping with is none of anyone's business. anything, never mind that a good friend The next time you make snap of mine has recently started sleeping with judgements about people, stop and think. her ex, and never mind that I was just We have fought so hard to judge things cheated on with a guy who went and slept less, to be open to new emotions, genders, with his ex. No. Because I mentioned the sexualities. Yet, we have not come to terms idea, I must be sleeping with my ex. with "my body, my say" as a whole. If I'm I find that assumptions stick true okay with the decisions I'm making, that's to the classic saying. I mean, really, you my own business. Support it, or stay out could assume a lot of things about me. of it.

You could assume that I'm tight with money because I haven't touched up my roots in a while, my nails are chipped and

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PERSPECTIVES SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER Illustration by Caitlin Wejrowski

Seasonal Affective Disorder makes me SAD

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Brandi Miller

@DCBrandiMiller

The winter blues,” in my opinion, is more than just a saying. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a real issue that people tend to take lightly.

Around this time of year, many people talk about “cabin fever,” yet another term individuals use to discuss about seasonal depression. Throughout the dark winter months people find it hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Day after day it’s freezing cold and you're forced to be bundled up and stuck inside. Everything almost feels like a chore to get out of bed and do daily tasks. But wait, it gets dark after 5 p.m. making it even harder to go out and about.

Seasonal Affective Disorder also known as SAD is characterized as depression related to the seasons. SAD usually occurs during the winter months into spring. For the most part, people don’t realize that the weather can affect their mood, so they brush off their gloomy feelings.

Seasonal Affective Disorder has the same symptoms as depression. For instance oversleeping, overeating and lack of interest could happen. If these things happen to you, maybe SAD is affecting your mood.

In my experience, Seasonal Affective Disorder is a real form of depression.

I think that many people go through SAD without realizing they have it. The terms, “winter blues,” and “cabin fever” are tossed around too often for people to just want warm weather.

After the new year and all the holidays have gone by, I feel a little lost.

Almost like I have nothing to look forward to. I feel tired and trapped because there’s nothing to do when there’s five feet of snow on the ground. Then spring rolls around and I feel excited again. I look forward to the sunshine. SAD affects me every year, I just have to push through it.

I believe that seasonal affective disorder occurs among our society. There are too many people who feel depressed around the winter months for it to be considered coincidence.

Around this time of year, people’s serotonin and melatonin levels may drop. A couple quick cures maybe, light therapy which would help serotonin and eating healthy, and getting the recommended amount for sleep. If you can’t seem to shake feeling depressed visit your doctor or look into seeing a therapist. These are all normal occurrences for SAD but always make sure to take care of yourself and get the help you need.

It’s all in your head Brynna Henika

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@DCBrynnaHenika

uring these winter months, motivation is difficult to find. There are days for sure where I just want to lay in bed and watch Netflix all day, or skip my daily run because it’s too cold outside.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, according to reslife.net, was discovered before 1845, but wasn’t “officially” named what is known as SAD until the early 1980s. The “disorder” has been known to apparently even be self-diagnosable, who knew. Anyways, some of the symptoms include fatigue, hopelessness and social withdrawal, which are pretty similar to the signs of depression.

One thing I have discovered, being the hypochondriac that I am, is that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is something that comes with the gloomy frame of mind winter brings to us, key words being, frame of mind. At first, I was totally on board with that this “illness” was actually a thing, but over the past two years, discovered that this is something that is just in our heads.

If you think about it, many associate winter with actions such as hibernation, food cravings or snuggling on the couch sipping a hot cocoa, easily things that could quickly bring on the symptoms of SAD, like excessive hunger, fatigue and social isolation.

What causes this, according to hcacapitaldivision.com, is simply due to the lack of sunlight during the colder months of the year, usually between December and March.

In 2006, according to telegraph.co.uk, scientists ran a study from a total of 34,294 patients, ranging from 18-99 via phone survey, and a sample of 1,754 participants for more specific symptoms. Throughout the series of tests, there were no related symptoms of depression associated with seasonal measures.

Researchers of the 2006 study also have major doubt with classifying depression with seasonal variation as a legitimate psychiatric disorder. Scientists conducting the research stated that, “being depressed during winter is not evidence that one is depressed because of winter.”

There are easy steps to get back into that summer mood, without the help, expense and waste of a visit to the doctor. For one, exercise. I was never one to go to the gym, or anything fitness in general. Trust me, this works, and it helps you get into shape.

Meditate, picture yourself on that warm beach with the warm sand in between your toes.

Or, if need be, take some Vitamin D or Melatonin, vitamins that will help with the nutrients that the colder months cause you to miss out on.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017 / www.deltacollegiate.com

Collegiate Life Pasong’s plates family and tradition in Old Town JOSIE NORRIS SAGINAW — It’s 4:30 p.m. on a Saturday and the kitchen of Pasong’s in Old Town Saginaw is in a flurry. Owner and cook Tina Saycosie leads a crew of “kitchen warriors,” as she calls them, which includes three generations of the Saycosie family as Bob Marley wails from the speakers as they prepare for a busy evening.

Back in the kitchen, it’s a family effort as matriarch, Pasong Saycosie-King, cuts raw chicken in to pieces while Saycosie flies around the kitchen stirring and tasting dishes while her other daughter Nonnie Saycosie-Blondin takes care of patrons with her own daughter Dejah. Everyone is doing their part to bring Saycosie-King’s food to the guests that will soon fill the dining room.

The dining room is quiet, just waiting for customers to come in and eat. An array of art hangs on the wall, brightly colored paint splashed onto a canvas and framed black and while photographs hang on the wall and illuminated by lights strung from the ceiling, adding a cozy ambiance.

At this Old Town Saginaw eatery, the kitchen pace is frantic, but the food is slow. Pasong’s is described as a “slow food restaurant” as all the dishes are made from scratch and made-to-order. Ingredients are purchased as locally as possible and dishes are made without MSG. “I try to cook the way I want to eat. I just want the first bite to be so soothing and so delicious and (just) rock my world,” says Saycosie.

Saycosie describes her mom’s food, the inspiration for the menu, as simply “good food, man. Make you feel good all the way through. Food that’s good for the soul.”

“It’s all about her food for me. It’s the one thing that satisfies all the senses and that’s really special.”

Family is at the heart of the restaurant as well as the history.

“My mom’s story is epic. Our story is epic,” Saycosie explains.

Saycosie was 4 when her mother Pasong was eight months pregnant with her sister Nonnie and father Somsack escaped from a war torn Laos in 1979 and immigrated to the United States. The family arrived in Saginaw through the Christian Missionary Alliance. Two years later, Somsack passed away.

Pasong opened a small Asian market in honor of her late husband and began cooking for people. In 1985, Pasong opened a restaurant and then moved to the first f loor of the Saginaw County Health Department. In 1997 she relocated to the restaurant’s current location at 114 N. Michigan Avenue in Saginaw.

Pasong retired in 2007 and her daughters Tina Saycosie and Nonnie Saycosie-Blondin

Brett Goodman fluffs rice in the kitchen of Pasong's in Old Town Saginaw before the restaurant opens for the evening on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017.

(Delta Collegiate/Josie Norris)

Left: Angel Rosado Jr. slices mushrooms in the kitchen of Pasong's in Old Town Saginaw before the restaurant opens. Right: Tina Saycosie looks over at Brett Goodman as she stirs a pot of homemade sweet and sour sauce. Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017. (Delta Collegiate/Josie Norris).

continued the family business and continue sharing their mother’s food with people.

Now, Saycosie-Blondin is studying to be a teacher and Saycoie has become the sole owner and cook. As a small business owner, everyday is different and Saycosie is “loving every minute of it.”

Saycosie has a deep respect and for her mother and the hardships the family went through. Her mother’s story is the reason Saycosie continues the family business.

“It feels like a call of duty. It feels like

the right thing,” Saycosie said.

Saycosie grew up in the kitchen of mother’s restaurant and recalls that she sometimes bemoaned why they had a restaurant rather than a bowling alley or a nail salon “like other Asians” Saycosie said with a laugh.

As Saycosie started cooking at the family restaurant, her biggest inspirations for her cooking are her mother and her younger sister Nonnie. Nonnie was the family cook, as their mother would work long hours.

Small Business Development Center aims to help students and community Erik Hopkins

D

elta College has found a way to seminars for specific areas of business. a locally owned business and the how to reach out to the students and the Since their time at Delta, the SBDC transition ownership. It was the knowledge local community to help them has reached a mark of 100 million dollars. we needed.” reach their goals of starting and running a This figure is the amount of money they’ve The knowledge Fahndrich took away business. This help comes in the Great lakes helped people receive and or invest in their from the SBDC was an immense help.

Bay Region Small Business Development companies since they’ve been at Delta.

“I absolutely think small businesses Center (SBDC). The SBDC has been with West Side Decorating is a family-owned need to look into the SBDC. A majority of Delta for 14 years. of businesses aren’t aware Delta began to host the of it, and it’s a wealth of "I absolutely think small businesses need SBDC in hopes of helping out information for little to no the community with business money,” says Fandrich. “I to look into the SBDC. A majority of needs. The center provides often try to tell smaller and businesses aren't aware of it, and it's a services at no cost for people local businesses about it. wealth of information for little to no money." looking to start a business.

People think they need to This is a federally funded and spend a lot of money for help, -Gary Fahndrich locally supported program that but they don’t.” serves Arenac, Bay, Midland and If you’re interested Saginaw counties. in receiving free and The SBDC hosted by Delta confidential business advice offers free counseling, training and business that has been apart of Saginaw from the SBDC, visit H wing to fill out a research services. Some of these services County since 1966. Owner Gary Fahndrich compliance form for their help. They also include business start-ups, small business reached out to Delta’s SBDC after looking have a table of information and pamphlets workshops, business plan development, for help in marketing, website design as well available in H wing for your educational financial management and technology as business transition. purposes. and export strategy. However the services “I was aware of the program and knew I For more information or to contact Delta’s offered based on what that specific client could go to them and get the help I needed,” SBDC, you can visit them in H-wing, call needs for their situation. The SBDC also says Fahndrich. “They helped improve the them at (898) 686-9597, or email them at runs different look of our website, gave insight on being SBDC@delta.edu.

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Her sister’s passion for eating and creating inspire Saycosie.

Popular menu items include Pasong’s Spring Roll, pad thai, pho, egg drop soup, and Thai noodle chicken salad.

The menu has several vegetarian and vegan items. Beyond that, the kitchen can accommodate special diet needs. It’s a special challenge for Saycosie but she loves it.

Saycosie strives for Pasong’s “be a place that people can appreciate the exchange

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@DCJosieNorris of their hard earned money for our hard earned work.”

The location of Pasong’s is special to Saycosie, she grew up hanging out in Old Town Saginaw. Today, Old Town is home to a handful of restaurants and other businesses popping up in the last few years Saycosie has been waiting a long time for the revitalization and is thrilled to be a part of it.

“There’s something about the old part of town. There’s a lot of heart and soul…

This place has it,” Saycosie said.

Human connection and the love of food keep a restaurant like Pasong’s going.

“I know math is like the universal language but food is the connectedness to all of us,” Saycosie said.

Lacy and Brandon Johnson of Bay City are connected by Pasong’s food. The couple came on a Saturday evening with a group of friends to celebrate their recent birthdays.

“It’s one of our favorites spots in town.

They have the best pho in the county,” says Lacy Johnson.

Lacy’s favorite is the pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup made with broth, rice noodles, herbs, and either beef or chicken; but Brandon often goes for the lo mien.

The Johnsons know to come early in the evening for their Pasong’s fix as “wild” later in the night as Brandon explained.

The restaurant holds many memories for Lacy. She was asked to be a bridesmaid and a friend told her that she was pregnant.

“It’s our own little home spot,” she said with a smile.

Customers like the Johnsons gives meaning to Saycosie’s work.

“I’m a part of something (where) I get to see people I wouldn’t normally see all the time. People that I care for and adore that come in once a week or everyday,” Saycosie said.

Going forward, Saycosie has desire to hold regular cooking classes in the near future to share her love of cooking with people. No set plans have been made but classes will be happening “soon” according to Saycosie.

“It’s a whole new year. Great things are coming because they have to,” said Saycosie.

But in the meantime, Saycosie says she just “want(s) to feed you!”

As Saycosie prepares for the long evening of serving people her mother’s recipes she says, “this place here keeps me grounded, as I am a part of this community that has taken my family in so many years ago and supported us. I feel like my work isn’t done and (I haven’t) even come close.”

Pasong’s is located at 114 N. Michigan Avenue in Saginaw and open Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Campus Connection Brynna Henika University president refuses disclosure of student information After his first weeks in the oval office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning immigration and travel for a majority of Muslim countries.

According to college.usatoday.com, Mark Schlissel, president of University of Michigan, released a statement in contrary to Trump’s request. Schlissel says that the university will not share sensitive information, such as immigration status, of its international students attending the institution. The University of Michigan has enrolled students from around the world since the late 1840s, and according to a current enrollment summary, foreign students make up an integral part of the school’s student body with a total of 6,764 students. Schlissel adds that he wants to protect the rights and opportunities for all members of the university from across the world.

Hillsdale College welcomes “Linda” to school museum According to detroitnews.com, Hillsdale College Biology Professor, Anthony Swinehart, led students on a dinosaur dig in South Dakota. The learning experience gave the students much more than what they had expected. During the excavation, the group had unearthed an Edmontosaurus skeleton, which by donation, now resides in the college’s Daniel M. Fisk Museum.

@DCBrynnaHenika This exhibit’s skeleton is only 40 percent real bone. The new wall exhibit, who is nicknamed by Swinehart, “Linda,” was donated by Darla Roberts, who has donated to many institutions in the past. Roberts found Swinehart’s information through a mutual contact, and has soft spot for smaller museums that wouldn’t be able to afford things such as this. Swinehart hopes that with the new edition, it will inspire those to a career of science and the natural world.

Carnegie Mellon University holds high-tech fashion show Carnegie Mellon University, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is known to most as a school of research and technology. According to triblive.com, the university transformed its gymnasium with electronica music, dazzling lights, and models walking down a runway. The reason being, was a student showcase titled “Lunar Gala: Sonder,” which featured videos, performances and high-concept clothing lines. All of the ideas conceived and used for the show were student created and produced works. Catherine Zheng, one of the gala’s executive producers says the event is much more than the average fashion show. Zheng also adds that a lot technology goes into the art of fashion. She also feels that since many of the students are from architectural and engineering backgrounds, and that this a different creative outlet for them, one that Carnegie Mellon doesn’t offer.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017 / www.deltacollegiate.com