Vol. 49, Issue 1
Agora
October 12, 2006
Negotiations stall MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
INSIDE
Opinion, pg 2 • Notice the new look of the Agora? Learn more about the change • One student tries to bring sports back to MCCC
Campus News, pg 3 • Bible study now held in the Cellar • Find out more about the bathroom renovations around campus
Feature, pg 4 •Check out the latest fall fashion • UT and MUO merge. What does it mean for students?
Feature, pg 5 • Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin remembered • 20-year-old Nick Turner runs for district four County Commissioner
A & E, pg 6 • iPod craze expands to other markets •Ben Wallace and Steve Yzerman leave Detroit
In the Mix, pg 7 •Reader’s Voice: What inconvenienc- es have you faced at MCCC this year? • Concerts in our area
Spotlight, pg 8 • Annual “Welcome Picnic” hosted by the MCCC Student Government
District seeks mediation to resolve contract disputes time to help in the negotiation process,” The Monroe County Nixon said. Community College “A mediator (MCCC) Faculty Assois typically the ciation has been working next step in on a contract extension negotiations since August 27, 2006. if either side Negotiations began April feels it’s not 6 in a Mutual Gains promoving fast cess, or interests based enough or if bargaining. The Muyou feel both tual Gains process had sides have exworked for the non-monhausted their etary interests but once ideas.” talks turned to wages Yet accordand benefits, negotiations ing to the moved to the next level chief negoknown as Collective Bartiator for the gaining. faculty Dean Then in an unexpected Kerste, assismove authorized by the tant professor president of the colof mechanical lege, Dr. David Nixon, design techthe district team - led by nology, both chief negotiator Randy teams did not Daniels, vice president of agree to go to student and information mediation. Agora photo by Lisa Ghigliazza. services - requested a “ W e mediator step in, elevating Members of the Monroe County Community College (MCCC) faculty thought we marched into the Administration building, all dressed in red, on Conversa- were still at the talks to the next level. “Both sides have agreed tion Day, which was on September 27. table talking,” to go to a mediator at this Kerste said. Lisa Ghigliazza Copy Editor
“While it wasn’t a complete surprise that they filed for mediation, it was done on their own.” Even though either side can request a mediator without the permission of the other side, “It’s not necessarily good practice,” Kerste said. MCCC is reporting record enrollment this year and a surplus budget. At the September 25th Board of Trustees meeting, Tim Bennett, vice president of business affairs and treasurer, reported expenditures down 3.5 percent from last year while increases were recorded in revenues from tuition, taxes, and state appropriations. The college currently has an excess of $1,430,000 in the 06-07 “fund balance.” Nevertheless, issues of wages and health benefits remain unresolved between the district and faculty. New contracts have been settled this year for the Administration, Maintenance Staff, and Support Staff in which raises of 3 percent each year for 3 years and continued benefits were given. The faculty want a fair and equitable contract without having to make concessions in wages and benefits. So what happens next? According to Daniels and Kerste, no date has been set for meeting with the mediator and talks have been suspended until then.
M-50 left turn law changes
broke the law unintentionally. One of these motorists is Monroe County ComThe Michigan Department of Trans- munity College’s (MCCC) portation (MDOT) recently changed Shirley Wyatt, Student Acthe intersection of M-50 and Rais- tivities Director. inville road by restricting motorists “The whole situation from turning left from Northbound made me really angry,” Raisinville Road. Wyatt said. “Yes, I did Motorists wishing to travel West- break the law but I had not bound M-50 must first make a right done it intentionally.” hand turn and then turn around using Wyatt was traveling what most would call a “Michigan U- home from work at about turn.” This 5 p.m. on is the secThursday ond of two August 3, changes when she made at was pulled this parover by one ticular inof the six potersection. lice officers Agora photo by Tonya Huffman. The first p a t r o l l i n g A car makes an illegal left-hand turn at the intersection of Raisinville Road and M-50. He placed a the intersec- was not ticketed. restriction tion that day. on turning The officer left headasked her of the recent Raisinville/M-50 inter- posted wasn’t doing the job, overhead ing Southif she had just turned section change. signs were installed between the sigbound on left at the intersection “I’ve never had a ticket in my life nal heads, according to Foran. Raisinville and she replied with ever. I think I should have had a warn“I’m glad they put signs up now, but Agora photo by Tonya Huffman. Road. an honest ‘yes,’ not ing,” Wyatt said. I still see two cars turning every mornBoth re- A sign on Raisinville Road that states it realizing what she had Wyatt blames her lack of knowledge ing (and) every evening,” Wyatt said. strictions is illegal to make a left-turn onto M-50. done became illegal on improper signing that would allow Many motorists are still turning left, were done two weeks prior. The motorists to become more aware of even though the new signs have been to improve officer then wrote her a the new change. She offers that maybe posted. While observing the intersecoperations and safety as motorists ticket for an improper turn. if there had been bright orange flags tion for about an hour, roughly twenty pass through the intersection. The fine for motorists who turn im- or flashing lights warning motorists, cars and a local school bus broke the According to Janet Foran, MDOT properly is $115 and 2 points on their the new sign might have been more law by turning left at the intersection. spokesperson, changing unsafe left license. Wyatt fought her ticket at the noticeable. No one was ticketed. turns into Michigan right turns is a magistrate and got her fines reduced Permanent signs are the last thing “There is always a learning curve routine change for the department. to attending a defensive driving class MDOT places up after working on when any traffic change is made,” FoMany motorists were not aware of which cost her $40. To Wyatt’s sur- a change in traffic operations. Once ran said. “In the end it will mean much the new traffic change and therefore prise, the magistrate was also unaware MDOT realized the original sign safer travel for all motorists.” Tonya Huffman Photo Editor