3 03 2015 cayuga collegian vol 61 issue 13

CCC PRESIDENT TO HOST CAMPUS-WIDE MEETING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH

Collegian cayugacollegian@gmail.com

CAYUGABRIEFS

Don’t miss the Magic with Ran’D Shine!

The magician will perform on both campuses in March!

In the time that it takes for you to read these words, Ran’D has already figured out which card you will pick from a deck a week ago. His engaging illusions and sleight of hand has amazed audiences in over 15 countries. Ran’D is the best of both worlds; he’s funny and magical. Are you ready to get your mind blown?

Ran’D Shine is scheduled to perform on the Auburn campus on Monday, March 16th in the Student Cafe. This amazing magician will also appear on the Fulton Campus on Wednesday, March 18th.

The club, Divergent Nation, will now be meeting Mondays at 11 AM in the black Box Theater.

Vol. 61 Issue 13

March 3, 2015

CCC—Translation: Cuomo, Cash & Crisis

By Kelsey McLean, Co- editor-in-chief If you thought the future was finally looking up for CCC, you might want to hold your breath — t h e r e ’s a good chance t h i n g s might get a whole lot worse before they get b e t t e r.

President DeCinque is planning to hold a campus-wide meeting this Wednesday on the school’s future plans... including, most importantly, Governor Cuomo’s controversial proposals for SUNY’s community colleges and how it might affect CCC. If you haven’t heard about it, you should, because it paints a bleak future for CCC as we know it.

Decrying community college as a waste of time and a drain on both the students’ and the state’s finances, Cuomo has pushed a proposal to slash funding for all community colleges until they reach a level of ‘acceptable’ requirements, based on graduation and job placement rates... and not counting for transfers, of course. This proposal will be especially damning to CCC, with an estimated cut in 300,000 dollars of base aid, a substantial hit to Cayuga’s already thin budget,

especially when the administration was asking for a 250,000 dollar increase in aid.

“I feel like this is a classic case of politicians misunderstanding what community colleges are for,” Said DeCinque in an interview. “We offer opportunities to those who’d have none otherwise. We want to help our students, we want them to succeed, but we can’t help them without any support.”

The chances of the proposal surviving through Albany are slim, with Cuomo’s statements offending much more than a few community colleges, but it’s still best to prepare for the worst.

There is some good news, however, even in as bleak a time as this.

DeCinque plans to move the Energy Performance Contract forward into motion. If passed, the school will finally have the ability to request a renovation to the heating and air conditioning -- a system that

hasn’t been touched since 1959!

As Decinque said himself, it’s remarkable the pipes are still intact at all.

Another proposal in the works is the Sexual Assault Policy, perhaps one of the few pushes by the Governor that everyone can agree on. This new policy plans to deal with sexual assault and harassment in a much more consistent and strict matter, in light of the epidemic of rampant sexual assault on campus.

It may seem disheartening to have CCC’s future be thrown into such uncertain disarray after its incredible success, bouncing back from the brink of a seemingly bottomless debt, but if one thing is certain... it’s that we’ve dealt with far, far worse. If we can crawl back from the edge of near bankruptcy, we can crawl back from this.

No one’s been given a vote of no confidence, at least. Not yet.

Hopefully, not ever.

Centro Proposes Service Cuts

By Caleb Slater, Co-editor-in-chief It was on January 29th when Frank Kobliski, the executive director of the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (CNYRTA) gave his testimony before the Senate Finance Committee and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. Kobliski stated that “The CNYRTA has managed to keep its annual budget increase to an average of 2.2%” over the past six years.”

In order to do so, the company has had to make many budget cuts in staff and services, in addition they rose the cost to ride the bus. In order to sustain funds, Centro is proposing MORE cuts.

These cuts were discussed in a press release released February 10th. Some of the proposed changes for the Auburn area include: The removal of the night bus (service CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER OF CAYUGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

OPINIONS Here’s how I see it!

Caleb Slater

Stop Centro from stopping US In order to cut spending, Centro has recently given some proposals that have sparked an uproar with the residents of Central New York. In Auburn specifically, Centro plans to: remove all routes after 7 P.M., remove all routes from Syracuse to Auburn on Sundays, remove the weekly & 30 Day unlimited ride passes and the completely remove of the Route 5 Lake & Owasco service.

This is unacceptable! The section entitled TO OUR CUSTOMERS in Centro’s Annual Report 2013-2014 states, “We are working hard to ensure public transportation keeps up with the world around us and it’s ever changing demands. The changes are coming quickly and we are ready to meet the needs and desires of our customers.”

Although change is necessary, by imposing these restrictions Centro will fail to, “meet the needs and desires” of their customers. In addition Centro will not be meeting the criteria of their mission statement, which is to provide services, “which are safe, convenient, reliable and environmentally responsible with a goal of maximizing the taxpayers’ return on investment.”

Removing the night bus is a service inconvenience, considering Auburn is an area where, according to the US Census Bureau, over 50% of its citizens are employed, and of that working class, more than 10% commute to and from work, by means other than driving themselves.

Restricting travel from Auburn to Syracuse is a severe inconvenience to the student body, because Cayuga Community College does not offer oncampus housing and thus many students rely on that service to return to Auburn for class on Monday.

The executive director of the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (CNYRTA), Frank Kobliski has made a note of how detrimental these changes will be saying, “A serious impact on the economic life on Central New York and the disenfranchisement of many citizens.” but does he truly understand where his customers are coming from?

Does Frank, being the highest paid executive director of any transportation authority in all of Upstate NY, truly understand what it’s like to rely on public transportation?

Frank mentions, “A serious impact on the economic life on Central New York,”

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but does he truly understand how this will negatively impact the drivers at Centro? Drivers who, in addition to the almost two million dollar cut in employee benefits and payroll taxes the company implemented in the 2014 fiscal year, are aware that these proposals will cause a cut in available hours to work, which means yet another cut in pay. Drivers who, are disappointed by these recent changes, are unable to express their concerns because they fear being fired.

I am NOT some outsider looking in, I am the son of a bus driver! My mother worked in the Public Transportation Industry for more than 25 years and I can’t tell you how many times my mother expressed how little importance the company ranks a driver’s morale. If a driver complained, they would be fired almost instantly, because just as easily as a driver can be fired, they can be replaced.

I’m here to say Centro does NOT truly understand the impact their proposals will have on the citizens of Central New York. I’m also here to say, it is our job to do something about it.

I, being a representative of the Cayuga Collegian and thus the voice of CCC students, have the job to get people talking, but words without action mean nothing! Now we need the student body, the campus faculty, and the STUDENT GOVERNMENT to get involved!

Start calling Centro (1-315-442-3333), post on their Facebook page, send them a letter, and send your local Congressmen a letter. FLOOD THEIR PHONES with messages!!! And most importantly, attend those hearings on March 11th and March 16th!

Change is necessary, but so is negotiation. For example, many of you are probably not aware of the fact that Centro wanted to limit the bus passes CCC students receive to only be valid during school hours. Do you know why that proposal was rejected?

It was rejected because passionate students expressed their thoughts to Centro’s Board Of Trustees. The same can be said here, but saying and doing are two different things. WE NEED ACTION!

—Caleb Slater

POLITICS

Brinksmanship or Bipartisanship By by Kevin Shutter, staff writer

Bipartisanship in our nation’s capital has been nearly nonexistent in the last 6 years. We have heard the word echoing from Washington D.C and reverberating from state capitals across the fruited plain almost daily. Rarely has it been put into action in favor of the American people.

We have recently seen a break from this purist positioning with the Republican backed Keystone XL Pipeline. 28 Democrats in the House and 9 in the Senate recently voted in favor of the bill. President Obama however used his veto pen for only the third time in his presidency striking down this recent burst of bipartisanship.

Bipartisanship isn’t stuck in Congress. According to a Huffington Post poll 56% of Americans polled were in favor of the pipeline. 83% of Republicans, 53% of Independents and even 40% of Democrats polled were all in favor of the implementation of the Keystone XL Pipeline bill.

The numbers at the surface may be surprising yet when one is to delve deeper into this topic they become quite clear. There has been a debate on the exact number of jobs that will be created by the pipeline. However there is no debate on the fact that it will create jobs. High paying ones at that. Job creation alone is not the reason to build the pipeline. The best reason to pick up the shovels and begin the build is two-fold and plays into both parties

wheelhouses. A pipeline is much better for the environment than the carbon polluting railways that are the current mode of travel for the oil. The recent disastrous rail crashes alone show some of the dangers of the current system.

There is also the fact that with the construction of the pipeline we take another step towards energy independence. We will no longer have to worry about the money we spend on Middle Eastern oil getting into the hands of those who are bent on our destruction.

The Republicans control both houses of Congress, so they still hold the power to bring this bill back from the recent veto pen defeat. They don’t have enough of a majority or enough pals across the aisle to come up with the 2/3 vote needed to override the presidential veto. So it will have to be a different approach if they have any desire to actually get the bill passed.Those in the leadership have hinted that Keystone riders will most likely be attached to must pass spending bills. Much like they have used the passage of Homeland Security funding to undo unlawful presidential executive orders.

This isn’t a new tactic to either party. The question isn’t whether or not it will work. The real question is if the Republicans and their likeminded colleagues will stay the course that the poll numbers seem to validate or capitulate to the veto.

Brinksmanship or bipartisanship, only time will tell.

FULTON CAMPUS! The Collegian wants to know what is going on up there!

Be a Fulton Correspondent or just email us your news at Cayugacollegian@gmail.com

KELSEY MCLEAN - CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CALEB SLATER - CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DUSTIN ALBINO - SPORTS EDITOR SHAQUELLA S. NEWBY - STAFF WRITER DUNCAN MERRITT - STAFF WRITER KEVIN SHUTTER - STAFF WRITER MARY G. MERRITT - FACULTY ADVISOR WANT TO JOIN THE COLLEGIAN STAFF? EMAIL US TO SET UP AN INTERVIEW.

Really?

Ah! So those must be CANDY cigarettes students and staff have in their mouths!

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Calling all creative writers! FCC votes in favor The CCC Creative Writing Club is accepting submissions for their first literary magazine.

By Kelsey McLean, Co- editor-in-chief Have a creative streak? Or maybe just a writing streak? Maybe you don’t see yourself as a ‘professional’ writer, writing just for fun-- or maybe just because you can-- but you still want to share your work anyway? Well, now’s your chance! The CCC Creative Writing Club is accepting submissions for their very first upcoming literary magazine!

Both students and faculty, from Auburn and Fulton, are welcome to submit their work. Poetry and prose are both welcomed, though no more than 2 to 3 pages. No doorstoppers, please.

Perhaps you don’t fancy yourself as a writer, however. Do you see yourself as more of an artist? Worry not-photography and artwork is gladly accepted, too! So long as it can be

printed-- and isn’t too lewd-- anything is acceptable.

If you’re interested in submitting, you can personally submit them to either Professor Montgomery, in Auburn, or Professor Bower, in Fulton. If you’re not a fan of personal submissions, or just don’t have the time, submissions by email are also acceptable. Send your submissions to either Casey Pinder (hippypoet4@ gmail.com) or Leander Tupper (ljtupper@gmail.com). Make sure to include your name, number, and email with your submissions... unless you’re alright with getting no credit for your work, that is.

The deadline is March 31st, so don’t drag your feet about it! This magazine has been a long, long, *long* work in the making, so let’s make it a good one!

of Net Neutrality

By Caleb Slater, Co-editor-in-chief

In a 2-3 decision, the Federal Communication Commission voted to regulate the Internet as a public utility, last Thursday. This ruling is good for consumers, as it removed the “pay to play”

business model, which means cable providers cannot charger more for faster Internet.

Cable providers are not happy about the recent decision as opponents feel net neutrality will, open the doors to regulatory meddling and deter investment and ultimately harm consumers.

CCC holds March open house

By Caleb Slater, Co-editor-in-chief

CCC office of admissions plans on holding an open house at each of their campuses this month. The purpose of these mid-semester open houses are to highlight Cayuga’s academic programs & degrees, as well as inform students and parents about the wide array of clubs, activities and services that CCC has to offer. Perhaps one of the most significant issues that will be addressed at the open house will be financing options.

Part of CCC’s goal as an educational institution is to allow students to reach their educational goals with less long-term debt.

Fulton will be holding their open house on Saturday March 14th, from 10:00 until noon, whereas Auburn will be holding an open house on Saturday March 21st, from 10:00 until noon.

To RSVP, or find out about volunteering go to Cayuga-CC.edu/ openhouse

Centro Proposes Service Cuts CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

would end at 7 P.M.), the complete annihilation of the Route 5 Lake & Owasco service, the elimination of weekly and 30-day unlimited day passes and to top it all off, Centro wants to diminish ALL bus routes connecting Auburn to Syracuse on Sundays.

In response to these proposed changes, the Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs at Cayuga Community College, Jeffrey Rosenthal said, “I’m concerned about the impact that Centro’s decision will have on the college community, particularly on our Lattimore Hall students who rely on Centro to commute to and from the campus.”

Rosenthal also mentioned the impact that canceling the night bus will have on students interested in enrolling in night classes offered at CCC. “It may drive students away, or to our online courses. I’m concerned about students who take our evening classes.”

Many local Auburnians, such as fellow CCC student, Thomas Hundley, have shared their disappointment with Centro over Social Media

sources, such as Facebook. In response to the recent decision Hundley posted, “I think it’s dishonest and despicable. They’re not thinking about the college students who have night classes, they’re not thinking about the working class who rely on public transportation to commute to and from work and they’re not thinking about the elderly who need public transportation, and who are incapable of driving themselves.”

Surprisingly enough, Hundley did receive a response from the company, but the response was generic and did not address any of his concerns.

Centro will be holding multiple public hearings during the month of March. The big one will be held at the Syracuse OnCenter (800 South State Street) on March 11th, from 4:00-7:00 P.M., following an informational session from 2:004:00 P.M.. The Auburn hearing will be held at Memorial City Hall in the 1st floor Council Chambers (24 South Street) from 4:00-7:00 P.M. on Monday, March 16th. Attending these hearings are the best way to express your thoughts before the changes take effect May 11,2015.

SERVING THE STUDENTS OF CAYUGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS!

PAGE THREE

World Premiere at CCC March 5th CCC’s Harlequin Productions presents their Spring play in the Bisgrove Theater on the Auburn Campus March 5-7 Harlequin Productions of Cayuga Community College is proud to present the World Premiere production of playwright Nina Mansfield’s Losing Our Heads: The Guillotine Play, March 5-7 and then again March 12-14. All performances are at 8Pm in the Irene A. Bisgrove Community Theatre

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at the College. Admission is $7 for General and $2 for students and will be available at the door. Suggested audiences ages are middle school and above.

When approached for permission to produce her new work, playwright Mansfield’s enthusiastic response included “I actually had a dream last night that the play was getting produced... so my suspicions that I am psychic have once again been confirmed. I am really excited to see how you stage it!”

She and her husband will be coming to Auburn for the March 13th performance.

Losing Our Heads: The Guillotine Play is a comedy that intersperses absurdist scenes about the bizarre history of the guillotine with the post-beheading loves, lives and struggles of historical figures who now exist in a very contemporary version of the afterlife. Just how do you keep your head on after it’s been cut off by a guillotine?

Does Numbing Neck Foam really help or is it just an addicting drug? Is it De LaSalle or De Sade? Will Marie Antoinette be able to have her cake and eat it too? These questions and more will be addressed during this very funny evening looking at what could be a tragic topic!

Harlequin Productions showcases the theatrical talents of Cayuga Community College’s students and this show continues that practice. The ensemble cast of Losing Our Heads features the talents of Auburn’s own: Ryan Baldwin, Jeremy Gregory and Will Mosier. Southern Cayuga also has a strong presence in the cast represented by Lexi Tucker, Meg Owren and Schyler Delamarter. Nikki Baker-Lanning of Fulton and Corwin Caster from Red Creek make sure that Northern Cayuga makes its presence knowns. Ed Gould and Donovan Stanfield bring their hometown of Syracuse to Auburn.

The student tech Crew features Molly Sharples, Auburn; Erica Barcomb Utica; Angela Bringley, Rochester; and Malcolm Huey North Syracuse.

Bob Frame, multiple award-winning director again shares his skills and knowledge with the students.

Working with Frame to execute this vision of a cartooned afterlife include: Scenery- Robert John Andrusko; Lighting- Brad McLean; Costumes- Tiffany Howard; PropsTeri Gadsby and Mark Romig creating the video and sound. All of these creative designers have worked professionally in their field and bring a wealth of talent to share with the students- a great opportunity.

Campus Activity Fair Faces

featuring the photography of Norman Lee

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