a g u y a C THE
Collegian
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www.cayugacollegian.com
Vol. 57 Issue 14
February 25, 2009
Smoke-free Campus?
The CCC Board of Trustees is considering a campus-wide smoking ban By Jerald Smith, Staff Writer Are you thinking of quitting smoking? The leadership of Cayuga Community College’s campuses is considering it. The CCC Board of Trustees is reportedly holding meetings to discuss the possibility of smoke-free campuses. As of now they are still planning as to how and when the new no smoking policy would be implemented. The current rule is that there is to be no smoking within 35 feet of a county building. The current talk indicates the ban on smoking anywhere on campus could come as early as June 2009. The recent ban on smoking beneath the overhang outside of the business office was met with strong disapproval from the smoking students of the campus. Although two ashtrays have
been placed on either side of the sidewalk outside the overhang 35 feet from the door, students are still smoking under the overhang to stay out of inclement weather. New “NO SMOKING” signs were posted outside in the overhang area last week after the original signs banning smoking were ripped down. Students, faculty and staff wishing to weigh in on the campus-wide no smoking ban can express their opinions to The Collegian via email at Collegian@cayuga-cc.edu. Please keep your comments to 300 words or less and put your name with your submission. Requests to have your name withheld will be honored. The Collegian will try to print as many responses as possible in future issues.
“Change” coming to Fair Use Provision of Copyright Law? Still No Clues in CCC Student’s Murder By Fred Bieling, Staff Writer
Even if you’re not familiar with appropriation art or you don’t have a clue who the artist Shepard Fairey is, chances are you’ve seen the iconic “Hope” poster featuring Barack Obama that Fairey created during the 2008 Presidential election. Lawyers at the Associated Press have seen the work and recently attempted negotiating a settlement with Fairey for what they deemed as copyright infringement. Fairey admittedly used as a “visual reference” a photograph of President Obama taken by Mannie Garcia, a freelance photographer for the A.P., at a 2006 National Press Club dinner. Mr. Garcia told News Photographer magazine earlier this month that contrary to the Associated Press’ claims, under his contract he holds the copyright to the image because they never requested a written waiver releasing the copyright to them. That may or may not be something for the court to consider as Mr. Fairey has launched preemptive suit which claims that regardless of who owns the copyright, his work was a “stunning, abstracted and idealized visual image that creates powerful new meaning and conveys a radically different message that has no analogue in the original photograph,” thereby falling under fair use provisions of copyright law. Much as a Hip Hop artist samples sounds, an appropriation artist references visual images in the creation of a new work. The Copyright Act of 1976 states that the determination
By Kevin Cool, Staff Writer
of whether a work of art is protected under fair use provisions depends on four principles, “the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit, educational purposes, the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole, and the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.” Views of the story varied around CCC’s campus. Cayuga Community College student Valerie Smith put it bluntly, “I really think he should have obtained permission, you should always try to obtain permission.” “It’s a slippery slope,” says Nancy Kramer, an Art Professor at CCC. “If someone has the means and the skill to appropriate these kinds of images, it puts them at some risk.” “Technology can get you in trouble, but at the same time I wouldn’t want to minimize the value of it, because it allows artists to do what they couldn’t before,” she said. Kramer’s colleague in the Art Department, Professor Tom Casella, weighed in, “There is a case for fair use. Personally, I think when creating an image you may profit from through the publicity it generates or otherwise, it should be completely your own.” Casella continued, “Legally, however, he is in a grey area and it’s possible he could win.”
Is your club planning an event? Tell The Cayuga Collegian your news! Please contact Natasha King, Editor-in-chief at natasha_king.8907@yahoo.com or collegian@cayuga-cc.edu
Syracuse Police say there are still few clues in the investigation of the December murder of 37-year-old, CCC student, Matthew Leonard, of Fulton. Leonard was found shot and slumped over the wheel of his pick-up truck after the vehicle slammed into a several parked cars in the 200 block of Allen Street near Lexington Avenue in Syracuse on December 13, 2008. Police say the victim was not carrying any identification. Shell casings and auto glass, police believe are linked to the murder, were found nearby along East Fayette Street.
“Right now we don’t have any real clues on who did this,” Syracuse Police spokesman Sgt. Tom Connellan said in a statement. He says the investigation indicates the shooting happened near East Fayette Street and then the truck traveled down Allen Street hitting two parked cars before slamming into a third. Syracuse Police are asking anyone with information to call the police at 442-5222. Leonard was reportedly a recent student at Cayuga Community College at the Fulton Campus.
New CCC SGO Regime Goes to Work By Sandra Bushnell, Staff Writer
On Friday February 13th, CCC’s Student Government Organization, (SGO) held its bi-monthly meeting in the B.I.C. (Business and Industry Center). Taking the realm, new president Kim Patch. In a unanimous vote, David Calkins received the position of SGO vice president. Patch welcomed Calkins and stated: “He is a hard worker and will be a great addition to the group.” In other business before the SGO, the 2009 Leadership retreat was moved from the usual month of October to November. Norman Lee, a student development counselor, said that he would like to use this time for SGO to make plans and express their goals for the upcoming year. Many of the school trips are coming up very quickly and spots are filling up fast. The Washington D.C. trip has less than 10 openings left so sign up soon if you are interested. A ski trip to Bristol Mountain is scheduled for February 28th if the weather permits. The cost to join this trip is only $20. April 22nd is Earth Day and the SGO will be selling “Go Green” shirts for around $8. If any clubs have ideas of what to do or how to raise awareness, contact members on the SGO board. Other events discussed: R.A.T. guild is holding a Russian Roulette Karaoke night on
March 2nd from 6-10 at Auburn Public Theater. Judo Club is having a “self-defense” clinic for Unity House and Wells College and would like to have a demonstration at the Fulton Campus. Early Childhood Club will be attending the NYSAEYC conference from April 30th through May 2nd in Brooklyn, New York. They will also be holding an Early Childhood Club luncheon at noon on May 8th at the Springside Inn. On Saturday April 25th, SGO will be holding what they are calling “Cayuga Palooza.” The event features bands playing for charity at the Auburn Theater. The cost to attend is $20 per person. The charity of choice is the Child Advocacy Center for Sexually, Emotionally, or Physically Abused Children. This center is a work-in-progress and makes things easier on the child by only having them give their testimony once. It will be on camera so that the child does not have to “relive” the experience over and over again. A reminder from the SGO goes out to all club treasurers: the board needs copies of all forms and they need to be filled out properly. This includes deposits, check requests, and transfers. The SGO is in charge of setting budgets and needs all paperwork in order to keep their books up-to-date. If any club would like to know what their budget balance currently is please see SGO Treasurer Alaric Robin.