10-5-2004

VOLUME 47 ISSUE 1

AGORA MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

October 5, 2004

Campus security to change Kelli Massa Assistant Editor

C

ampus security at Monroe County Community College (MCCC) will change in November of this year.

During budget discussions over the summer the President’s Cabinet, MCCC President, David Nixon, and the three Vice Presidents, Lonnie Brunswick, Grace Yackee, and Timothy

Bennet, decided to begin planning for a change in security.

MCCC has contracted with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department to have deputies on campus since classes began in 1967. Approximately $170,000 is paid every year to the sheriffs department through this contract.

This security consists of the two sheriff’s deputies who patrol the campus throughout the day.

Instead of officers reporting to another agency (sheriff’s

Remembering9/11...

department), MCCC plans to hire security employees who

will include a head part time security supervisor, a staff of at

“ ”

Our students are here to get their education; they’re not out here looking for trouble. And we’re not a prison.

Dr. David Nixon, President, regarding the loss of arrest power of the new security

will report directly to college personnel. These employees

least three part time security guards, a security vehicle, GPS

Editor-in-Chief

P

photo courtesy of Jenna Koch

Dean Kerste, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Design Technology, participated in the third annual “Memorial Tower Climb” on September 11, held by the Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Department. Participants climbed on stairmasters to reach 110 stories to remember the service men and women who died while working to rescue people after the attacks on the World Trade Center.

Opinion 2

Alaskan adventure One writer tells of her experiences as an Alaskan missionary, educating children about the Bible and Christianity. (5)

Campus News 3

Broke and hungry?

Find out how to score good food on a college student budget. (6)

see “Security,” page 7

Deans transfer to new positions Taryn Kapp

Inside:

location devices inside cellular phones for all security guards, and a new camera system patrolling the parking lots. The estimated cost for the new staff alone is around $60,000 with additional costs for cameras and other security devices.

Lonnie Brunswick, Vice President of Student Affairs, was assigned to lead this project in late July 2004. According to

atrick Nedry, former dean of Industrial Technology; Bill McCloskey, dean of Humanities and Social Science and David Reiman, Director of Learning Resources have all resigned from their administrative positions and returned to faculty.

Nedry has been teaching business classes since the start of the fall semester, McCloskey will begin in the winter and Reiman will wait until fall of 2005.

McCloskey and Reiman have returned to faculty because teaching is something they both love. Both insist the one-year contracts had nothing to do with their transfers. They were issued in April of this year, when three year contracts are the norm. The deans are responsible for classroom budgets, student complaints, and program support.

“Before that even occurred, I relayed to Nixon my interest in moving back to faculty. I just did not set a time. It might have been at the end of this year. I was going to transfer back to faculty regardless, even if I would’ve been give a 20 year extension.

It appears that the two events are causal, but they are not causal,” McCloskey said.

Feature 4 & 5

Short and (un)sweet The familiar cafeteria menu gets the axe. (2) Just the artifacts A rchaeology is soon to be offered in the Humanities division, taught by new faculty member Ken Mohney. (3)

“I was given a longer contract, since I’m not an academic dean. I enjoy teaching and am looking forward to it next year,” said Reiman.

Nedry, on the other hand, said the one-year contracts played a key role in his transfer to faculty status.

“I quite likely would have stayed an administrator. This [transferring to faculty] was something I could do, and it seemed like it was more stability than not know what was going to happen at the end of the year,” he said.

The decisions were made shortly after the deans were given one-year contracts, and they were possible because of a stipulation in their contracts that reads all administrators have the option to resign from their position to become fulltime faculty members. The resignation has to be put in a full semester ahead of time.

“It’s my interpretation that the college is obligated to create a position for them if there is not a vacant spot as long as it’s courses we offer. We can’t start a whole new area,” David Waggoner, Chief Union Negotiator, said.

see “Deans,” page 7

A&E 6 Find out what’s going on in the new LaZ-Boy Center for the 20042005 school year.

(3)

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Agora

Opinion

October 5, 2004

New cafeteria service chops menu Veronica Terry Reporter Suffice it to say this is the first semester of my fourth year here at Monroe Country Community College (MCCC.) The lack of degree, however, is not the matter.

In the years I’ve been going here, I’ve experienced changes. I went from a mere high school student, taking a few classes, to a hardworking freshman, to a lazy whateverI-am-now. But along with my ever-transforming title, our cafeteria has kept up with its looks, and now with its menu.

According to Ti m Bennett, Vice President of B u s i n e s s A ff a i r s a n d Treasurer, “The college is still contracting with the same company as in the last few years: Compass Group, USA, Inc. But now we are being served by their Eurest division.”

I remember last semester, our group would go to lunch and we’d stare at the long list of menu items, trying to decide which one our bellies hungered for that particular day. There were choices, and the food definitely kicked high school’s butt.

What an incredible shock my popcorn chicken? Where walking into the were our seasoned cafeteria the first fries? Why does day of school. I my cheeseburger glanced up at the only have a cold board where the slice of cheese and long list once was. a too-white piece But, alas, it was of lettuce? empty. I had hit a The cafeteria, time warp and was once although offering less again waiting in the high school o f t h e i t e m s f r o m l a s t cafeteria’s line.

A typed sheet of paper told me my options: the special, (varies by day, but I think it may have been meatloaf that day,) a cheeseburger, some chicken strips, and some other items that just blurred through the tears welling in my eyes. Where was

Media sways public opinion other candidate so it can be plastered all over teleAssistant Editor visions and radios, thus You don’t need a swinging stressing the opponent’s watch or swirling colors to be inadequacies and incapability of running a county. brainwashed.

Why? Apparently, all you need is Because the public is the media.

With the recent and much unquestioning. Point bepublicized presidential election, ing, the media plays a voters are blindly reaching out drastic part in many photo courtesy of CNN.com for some sort of assistance with people’s lives. This presi- Senator John Ker r y delivers a casting their votes. Their only dential election is driving speech on the campaign trail. knowledge of the presidential this point home. Take the Swift to believe something just becandidates is what the media big- Boat Campaign, for example. cause it’s published and there’s wigs feed them through televi- For those who don’t know, this no way to know what’s true,” was a direct hit against Senator Eason said. sions, radios or newspapers.

This year’s election is look- Kerry that claims he didn’t do The Daily Show host Jon ing like a mudslinging match in anything worthy of earning the Stewart is an idea example of the media. No longer are Pres. medals he received. All it took media’s influences. Almost evGeorge Bush and Sen. John was a few commercials and the ery episode he airs a string of Kerry emphasizing their own threat of publishing a book, and clippings, cut and edited just assets. They’ve hired numer- Senator Kerry looks like a liar. right, to make anybody seem like Who wouldn’t believe the an incompetent moron. An obous people to dig up dirt on the ads? People trust the news vious favorite target of his is to be honest. However, the President Bush. With slogans public will never know for like, “Vote for George Bush so sure if Senator Kerry is he can finish the work he never truthful. began,” Stewart has the power Psychology teacher to influence viewers’ beliefs on Patti Eason reasons that the somebody as powerful as the media is in the business of President of the United States. selling— even if their news That’s how the media works. is always negative or par- It’s hard to differentiate betial. tween who’s honest and who’s “People need to think a trying to destroy somebody else. little more critically about Maybe parents are actually the news sources, not just right when they say, “You can’t photo courtesy of CNN.com President George Bush speaks at the swallow what they say believe everything you see on Rebublican National Convention. whole. Some are too quick TV.”

Teens generate mediocre turnout at voting booths

by Heather Wilson Heather Wilson Reporter

Jackie Pacheco

The Agora Editorial Policy The Agora is published by the students of Monroe County Community College, 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, Michigan, 48161. The editorial office is located in 202 of the Life Science Building, (734) 384-4186, agora@monroeccc.edu.

Editorial Policy: Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the Agora staff. Signed columns represent the opinion of the writer. All letters-to-the-editor must include a signature, address, and phone number for verification purposes. The Agora reserves the right to edit for clarity, accuracy, length, and libel.

The Agora is a student-managed newspaper that supports a free student press and a member of the Michigan Community College Press Association, the Michigan Collegiate Press Association, the Michigan Press Association, the Community College Journalism Association, College Media Advisers, Associated Collegiate Press, and the Student Press Law Center.

Mark Bergmooser, Adviser

semester, will be trying out some new options. These include daily specials, like grill items, as well as a baked potato bar, according to Anna Dolinski, Compass Group’s director. And all of items that have been nixed from last year will be offered as specials through this year.

Voting is all around us. This year alone we have already had many voting opportunities, but who actually voted? College students don’t have the turn out at the polls that they should.

This year in Monroe County there are 105,537 voters registered as of July 6, 2004.

Only forty-nine percent of them showed up to vote this August, according to michigan.gov.

“Younger voters (18-25) represent a ‘power block’ in American politics,” Patrick Miller, a part-time professor of political science, said.

I agree. There are so many people complaining about politics and no one tries to do anything about it. If 49 percent showed up to the polls this past August, do you realize how many of them were 18-25? Very little percentage.

“Most voters are in the age range of the mid to late thirty’s and higher,” according to American Government; Policy and Politics by Neal Tannahill.

If all of the college age students actually were registered to vote and voted, there could be some major changes.

Every time there is an election, I hear the sound of excuses. I can’t go vote, I have school and work, or I am just too busy. It only takes a few minutes to vote. It is not like it takes and eternity. Voting is very important. It is what decides who will be running our country in all aspects of political world.

Instead of complaining, do something about it. If you are not registered, get registered.

There are voting registration forms available in the Admissions office. This year, I will be in line at the poles in November. The question is, will you?

K

ell’s

omments

“...blood on the stage.”

Kelli Massa Assistant Editor “Leave a pint of blood on the stage,” my friend Tim said.

I hate the idea of failing. If I don’t think I’ll get the outcome I want, then maybe I shouldn’t even try.

For example, my fear of commitment. I refuse to get involved with anyone because it won’t work.

Call it defensive, but why be in a relationship of any kind if I could get hurt in the long run?

I like to think of it as playing it safe. So, for the rest of my life maybe I should have a play it safe plan so I never risk getting hurt.

Part one: Must cut off all human contact. I must distance myself from anyone who may cause me pain, or lead me to failure.

Part two: Live in a house without electricity, gas, water, glass and sharp objects, so I won’t get hurt.

Basically, I would need to be alone in a padded room.

Hold on, since I have no human contact, I wouldn’t know if there was a flash flood, tornado or hurricane. So much for playing it safe if I’m going to die anyway.

These plans may cause problems in my desire for success.

I think Tim was saying even if you don’t succede at least put yourself out there and leave your mark.

Life is our stage. We are the writers, directors, and actors, and how we live is up to us.

Honestly, a pint of blood won’t kill you.

October 5, 2004

Campus News

Agora

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u MCCC digs Mohney L a - Z - B o y for new spring class Center Events Susan Rhodes Page Editor Kenneth Mohney was hired by the Humanities and Social Science division at Monroe County Community College (MCCC) to teach the Archeology class that will be offered spring 2005 semester.

“This is my first full time teaching position,” Mohney said.

After earning his Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh, Mohney taught Archaeology at the main campus as well as at Pittsburgh’s Greensburg.

Agora Photo by Susan Rhodes

Ken Mohney plans to teach Archeology in the Spring.

Presently, Mohney is teaching Anthropology and Sociology at MCCC and preparing for the Archaeology class.

“I plan on doing a lot of field research. The class

will be going to local sites to dig for arrowheads, spearheads, and flint.”

The first week in October Mohney’s wife, Maureen, and their nine month old son, Brendan ,will call Toledo their home. Mohney has been commuting between Monroe and Pittsburgh since the beginning of fall semester.

“I like the people here.

G a r y Wi l s o n ( M C C C a r t teacher) offering me to stay at his house for the past m o n t h ; i t ’s t h e d i ff e r e n c e between a four-year university and a community college,” Mohney said.

Mohney’s office is located in the Life Science building room L219.

Textbook cost increases Terri McConnaughey Copy Editor With textbook prices rising and changes in text, students wonder how they will fit the price increase into their college budget.

Students cite the addition of a CD- ROM, study guide and color photographs in the book as the reason prices have increased.

“The textbook companies are adding bells and whistles that students don’t need—it’s making the cost of education unaffordable,” Amy Connolly, a student at Portland State University said, in an article for USA TODAY. Mark Nabor, Professor of Mathematics, has observed text changes at the rate of

about one or two books a year.

“The content is the same, but delivery is different,” he said.

Nabor likes to change to a new text, “To stay current and keep the course fresh.”

Although, he admitted the new additions, such as CDROMs, are not often used in his classes.

“I think they have to change to stay updated,” Elizabeth Fedorowicz, a Monroe County Community College, (MCCC), student, said.

Bob Pettit, associate professor of biological science, explained that when publishers change editions, professors are forced to use the new ones since the old texts will be unavailable for

purchase. He also related that textbooks, over time, have increased in price at the same inflation rate as most other goods and services.

Another student surveyed said he refused to buy the new Composition I textbook. He believed the old edition had the same information, and he could still keep current in class with it.

There are several online sites where students can inquire about new and used textbooks sold at a cheaper rate. Some of them includeBarnes and Noble and E-Bay.

Drop policy changes final Andrea Poteet Jenny Creekmore Reporters Monroe County Community College’s ( MCCC) Withdrawal, or “W” policy has been altered beginning in the fall 2004 semester.

F o r m e r l y, t h e p o l i c y allowed students to withdraw from a class up until the semester ended with special permission from the instructor. The new policy strictly prohibits withdrawal from a class after the twelfth week.

Students must now go through the registrar instead of the instructor.

“The old policy was inconsistent and allowed students who understood how the ‘system’ works an advantage over those who did not,” Tim Dillon, MCCC Wr i t i n g Across the Curriculum Coordinator, who voted for the new policy, said.

“I think that it is a good idea because now there is no chance of discrimination.

It’s not ‘the one who tells the biggest tale gets it,’” John Holladay, MCCC Professor of Humanities and Academic

Review committee member, said. “ The new policy is easier for students to understood and has clearly defined parameters for dropping a class,” Dillon said.

Students seem to agree with the new policy as well.

“If I take a class, I’m not going to drop it,” Ron Fabbri, MCCC student said.

“By the twelfth week you should know whether you are doing okay or not” he said.

“It would be easier to go to a professor rather than g o i n g t o t h e r e g i s t r a r ’s office,” Erin Langton, MCCC student, said.

Photo Courtesy of www.students.edu

Feature College students venture to camp 4

Agora

Jenny Creekmore Page Editor

October 5, 2004

starts. The students receive a $22.50 a day stipend.

According to Sammy Spann, director of Camp Adventure, students must have a 2.25 grade point average, have to have a love for children, and be open

Before going to their military sites, students must participate in nine weeks of training. Training consists of four hours a day one night a week. Students are taught games, crafts, and songs.

Speakers lecture about child

Camp Adventure Youth Services is a student-run organization that blends theory and practice in the delivery of programs and services to children and youth.

C a m p Adventure (CA) sends c o l l e g e students to military bases, US Embassies, as well as some British military sites.

According to R a n d y Edwards, Photos Courtesy Don Ferguson University of Don Ferguson, Camp Adventure counselor, has fun with kids on U.S. T o l e d o militar y base in Ger many. student and lead recruiter and trainer, college students work with military students at a day camp.

CA substitutes for 12 college credit hours. Students go to military sites in Europe, Asia, and the United States for 8-11 weeks during the summer.

Counselors go one month after school lets out and come back one or two weeks before it

minded and willing to travel to join.

Students who want to join also must be enrolled in college.

Don Ferguson is a Monroe County Community College student who recently got back from Rheinahalen Joint Head Quarters in Germany.

“Students get one of their top three choices where to go,” he said.

a week and get the evenings and weekends off.

“I worked 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. All of our nights and weekends were free and we could do what we wanted,” Ferguson said.

challenge you let’s you know whether or not you want to work with them,” Edwards said.

The first interviewing session starts November 20. Students need to call and make an appointment to join. Spann’s

“”

Camp Adventure is definitely a resume builder and an opportunity to see the rest of the world Sammy Spann, director of Camp Adventure

Students do get time to explore. “I went white-waterrafting, to a soccer game, and to a mud festival,” Edwards explained.

The children are the most important aspect in Camp Adventure.

“The kids were good. […]

Some kids were challenges, but working with a group of kids that

office number is (419) 530-5268 and e-mail sspann@UTNet.UToledo.Edu “Camp Adventure sends 950 students a year to site.

It includes 120 sites in over 25 different countries. CA is definitely a resume builder and an opportunity to see the rest of the world,” Spann said.

abuse, behavior management and programming. The students are also taught Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation and basic water rescue.

“Training gives you an idea of how it will be at camp,” Edwards said.

Students are housed from military barracks to hotels.

Work hours vary from each site. The students work five days

Student liberated at MCCC VISA: Everywhere you want to be Susan Rhodes Page Editor

Heather Wilson What makes Bryan Burhart such a special student?

Burhart has been a student at Monroe County Community College (MCCC) for five years. He is one of a handful of special needs students attending MCCC. Burhart was born with cerebral palsy, a life-long disability that is a physical hardship, not a mental handicap.

“I went to Manor Elementary and I was in a special-ed class. I was mainstreamed for music, science and social studies,” Burhart said.

The term ‘mainstreaming’ means that a student with a disability such as Burhart’s attends a regular school rather than a school for special needs students Agora photo by Susan Rhodes Brian Burhart and Angela Mehki work on homework only.

U s i n g a p o i n t e r a t t a c h e d t o a in the LAL. headpiece, Burhart communicates through w a n t e d t o s a y. T h e e n t i r e c l a s s w a s h i s s p e c i a l i z e d k e y b o a r d c a l l e d “ T h e s t u n n e d , ” A n g e l a M e h k i , B u r h a r t ’s Liberator.” This device not only types out caregiver, s a i d . what he wants to communicate, but it also “The friends I’ve made and the friendly speaks for him. people are the best,” Burhart said. “ I n B r y a n ’s s p e e c h c l a s s , h e g a v e Burhart is 27 years old, has a 3.5 GPA and a 9 t o 1 0 m i n u t e i n t r o d u c t i o n s p e e c h will earn his degree in Business Commerce u s i n g h i s L i b e r a t o r. T h e n i g h t b e f o r e a f t e r h e p a s s e s h i s l a s t t w o c l a s s e s — t h e s p e e c h h e t y p e d i n everything h e business math and business management.

Reporter Most high school students have either met or at least seen a foreign exchange student. This fall Monroe County Community College (MCCC) has three foreign exchange students.

The first step to becoming an exchange student is to find a sponsor family to live with who will assume responsibility of the student.

“Finding a sponsor family is one of the biggest hurdles to go over for a foreign exchange student,” Randy Daniels director of admissions and guidance said.

After a form is filled out and notarized by the sponsor family, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered . TOEFL tests the students English speaking ability.

The student must score 550 or better to apply to MCCC. If the student is coming from an English speaking country he

or she does not have to take the test.

“This can be very time consuming” Daniels continued.

“It is similar to the ACT. Testing is only certain times of the year.”

The next step is to submit transcripts from any previous colleges and high school. After the college receives their transcripts, Mr. Daniels sends the information into a program called Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

The SEVIS program files the information and sends it to the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcements (ICE). ICE then sends the student his or her visa and schedules an appointment to transfer to the college.

After the all the steps are completed, the student must come to the college to take the Assessment of Skills for Successful Entry and Transfer Test (ASSET). Then the student is officially a Monroe County Community College student.

Feature

October 5, 2004

Agora

5

Athabascan Indian tribe welcomes Michigan missionaries to Alaska Kelyn Dillon Reporter For the past seven summers, a group from Trinity Lutheran Church and other local Lutheran churches such as Holy Ghost

Brett Weipert and Marissa Joe hanging out at a hot dog roast.

had the opportunity to travel to Alaska to be missionaries in Tetlin.

Tetlin is a small Athabascan Indian village with a population of around 120 in the interior of

Alaska about 100 miles west of the Canadian border.

At first glance, the people in the Alaskan village seemed, by the typical middle-class standards of Monroe County, to be poor.

However, beneath the surface, they were wealthier in character than anybody could have imagined.

Their houses were small and dirty, many of the children wore the same clothes two or three days in a row, and the houses in the village did not Agora photo by Kelyn Dillon have running in Tetlin, Alaska, toilets.

But all that aside, most of the villagers enjoyed satellite television, the internet, and many of the other latest gadgets.

A typical day in Tetlin began at eight in the morning in

members brought guitars and sang s o n g s with the children.

Each person on the team had a specific Agora photo by Kelyn Dillon duty for Members of the Alaska VBS team in Beluga Point, the week. outside of Anchorage.

Because preparation for the day with the half of the VBS team were children. teenagers, their job was to The activities during play with the children and Vacation Bible School for the keep them focused on the children were based on Christianity and specifically geared for their age group, which was typically between ages five and 13.

In these activities, basic Bible stories were emphasized— such as the Great Flood, Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and his crucifixion years later.

This past summer, a few of the VBS team members Danny Carmack put on a puppet show each Reporter d a y. A c o u p l e o f t e a m Hurricanes pound Florida!

Although it sounds like it belongs in a sports magazine, it is really happening.

Hurricanes still hammer panhandle

High school students play dual role at MCCC Jackie Pacheco Assitant Editor Every Tuesday, Jefferson High School student Russ VanWasshenova begins his day at high school, then drives to MCCC for a three hour long class.

VanWasshenova, like approximately 200 other students, is dual enrolled and has been a student at MCCC for the past two years while attending Jefferson High School.

Last year, he enrolled in a political science class and a psychology class. Currently, he’s enrolled in English Composition I, a course he needs for his future career in nursing.

“I like it because I’m taking free classes. I love getting away from the immaturity of high school, plus I’m taking classes I need for my major,” VanWasshenova said.

There are several benefits to dual enrollment, according to Director of Admissions Randy Daniels.

“Students can earn college credits while still being in high school, and, if the student qualifies, their college will be paid for. The credits they earn can be transferred to the college they attend [after high school],” Daniels said.

Daniels plays a major part in the selection process for students attempting to dual enroll.

Students must first take and pass the section in the MEAP test that corresponds to the class they will be taking.

For example, if a student wanted to take an English Composition class, he or she would have needed to pass the English section on the MEAP test.

After that part is completed, the student would have to pass either the ACT test, or the Compass test provided by the college. Then Daniels receives the students’ applications and has the final decision on who to admit based on academic performances and test scores.

Those selected can take classes at MCCC free of costs.

stories because their attentions spans were short.

After time with the children was done, members of the ministry team went out in the village to mingle with the residents. It was a holistic process, and the team tried to include as much of the village as possible in their ministry.

T h e Athabascan tribe enjoyed the company of the missionaries from Michigan and the time spent in Tetlin, Alaska was worthwhile.

Also, the student would have to have taken every class in that field at their high school.

“Technically, the law says a student can take a course in a subject that they’ve exhausted at their high school,” Daniels said.

“If they wanted to take a psychology class here at the college, they need to have completed all the psychology classes that their high school had to offer.”

Chemistry teacher David Waggoner believes the high school students that have taken his chemistry class are capable of being there.

“This is college level chemistry, not high school. But from what I’ve observed, these high school students have done very well in my class,” he said.

High school students can also participate in concurrent enrollment. In this process, a student does not need to pass the section on the MEAP test.

However, they would be charged for the classes they take at MCCC.

husband’s relatives are there also,” MCCC student Billiejo Dye said. “ I t ’s k i n d o f w e i r d knowing that this is the first time ever this many hurricanes have hit, but knowing that Ivan is suppose to be one of the strongest, I do hope all of my family find shelter and soon decide to move away.”

The American Red Cross is a vital part of the relief efforts in F l o r i d a .

Whether it is the donations of blood Photo courtesy of Associated Press needed or the of An aerial shot of the floods caused by the r e s c u i n g lives, the Florida hurricanes.

American Red Families in Michigan are in a C r o s s i s e s s e n t i a l t o situation with their homes, h u r r i c a n e v i c t i m s . T h e and their relatives are in A m e r i c a n R e d C r o s s h a s danger. Families and friends used many of its resources to are only a phone call away help the victims of hurricanes but even that might not work. C h a r l e y a n d F r a n c e s . “ M a n y o f m y f a m i l y Emergency relief funds are members are in Florida, my expected to reach over 63 sister her husband and her million dollars.

“My family has seemed to four kids, along with my make it out alright, they all younger sister and brother. I also have two aunts and went to hotels and their uncles there, my grandmother t h i n g s s e e m e d t o h a v e survived.”

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A&E

Agora

October 5, 2004

Bug bomb kills Cronenberg’s fly

VHS: Veronica’s Hollywood Scoop Veronica Terry Maleana Holland, age 5, rides a pony at Erie Orchards.

Agora photo by Terri McConnaughey

F e s t i v e f a l l f u n at Erie Orchards, Cider Mills Terri McConnaughey Copy Editor Erie Orchards and Cider Mill had something for everyone, and many more festivals are planned. Each weekend until the end of October, the Orchards will host a different event.

Steve Elzinga and his wife Nancy have owned the business for 27 years. Elzinga grew up in the orchard business.

His greatgrandparents owned a 350 acre apple orchard in northern Michigan for 100 years.

Smells engulf visitors at these festivals. Whether it was scent of fresh hot doughnuts and cider, the tempting aroma of the roasted chicken dinner, or the fresh kettle corn, everyone’s nose was enchanted.

The chicken dinner was recommended and was well worth the cost at $5.50. It included half a chicken, a baked potato, coleslaw and a roll. Employees Colleen Smith, Donna Lepiarz and Jan

Aken served up the food with a smile.

“We serve about 300 chicken dinners each day at the, [two day], festivals,” Smith said.

“About 360 dozen doughnuts are prepared for each weekend,” Val Mitchell, an employee said.

“I strive to have the best and most friendly employees who are really committed to give good service,” Elzinga said.

Entertainment for adults was provided by Bob Worst, who played a wide variety of music for the crowd. Dancing was encouraged for all ages.

Pony rides were available to children for a small fee.

“Once you get moving, they are all smiles,” Jennifer Holland, a Monroe County Community College student, said. She comes out every weekend to work the pony rides and brings her daughter, Maleanda, 5.

Children and adults can v i s i t d e e r, g o a t s , a n d rabbits, enjoy a corn maze, and go on hayride.

“I believe that farming as we do it, is becoming a rate item; you can come here and still see a working orchard and sense, in a small w a y, t h e w o n d e r s o f nature,” Elzinga said.

Erie Orchards and Cider Mill are located at 1235 Erie Road in Erie Michigan.

There is a two dollar parking fee.

They also provide group tours. For more information, call 734-848-4518, or visit the website: www.erieorchards.com.

Fall group tour dates

October 9 and 10 Harvest Festival

October 23 and 24 Pumpkin Extravaganza

October 30 and 31 Cider Making

Page Editor

Sometimes I’ll go to the video store with the intention of finding the movie with the worst box art, cheesiest tagline, and dumbest still frames on the back.

On this particular eve, this was the furthest thing from my mind. In a rare mood to watch a good science fiction movie, I decided to rent David Cronenberg’s 1986 remake of the 1958 Kurt Neumann classic, The Fly, starring Bflick superstars Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum.

After about 20 minutes, I realized that this was a movie for a night I wanted to watch something horrible.

The opening sequence of the film alone angered and frustrated me. Goldblum’s character, Seth Brundle, is a scientist at some ritzy science fair where he meets Davis’ character, Veronica Quaife.

Almost immediately he somehow convinces Quaife to come with him to his apartment to see his invention that will “change the world.”

This invention is a set of “telepods” which basically look like two beehives that teleport an object from one pod to the other. Simple

enough, but, as we learn later, the computer doesn’t “understand flesh,” therefore it cannot teleport living things.

Anyway, after some pretty humorous sex scenes, an exploding baboon, and a lot of bad perms, Brundle finally teleports himself—and an uninvited housefly—from pod to pod. The computer is confused and splices the two organisms’ DNA, creating—dum dum dum— “Brundlefly.” (I preferred the terms “mansect” and “flan,” as created by the friends I watched it with.)

The transformation from man to fly is a slow, painful process for both Brundle and the audience.

One by one his body parts fall off, taking away the only thing the movie had going for it—funny sex scenes. His skin looks cancerous, almost like a leper.

Suddenly the movie takes a swift turn from being boring and slow, to being grotesque and nauseating. The everpredictable plot twist is the final straw. Never before had I wanted to turn a movie off so badly.

Brundlefly becomes a fly…kind of. He has no wings and strangely enough, looks like ET on drugs. It ends depressingly, making it difficult for the audience to find the proper descriptive words.

Movie buff and video store manager Joe Maunz commented: “The grossness of the end makes you totally forget how drawn out and long the rest of it is.

It was not Cronenberg’s best movie.”

The final verdict— please, find a can of bug spray. This movie bit.

Help! I can’t afford dinner Andrea Poteet Copy Editor To the average college student, holding on to money is a problem. But the twopounds-above-organ-failure look is out of style, so starvation is not an option.

Fortunately, for the fiscally challenged, easy and

inexpensive meals are just a grocery store away.

One option is the standard frozen TV dinner.

At Meijer, Lean Cuisine brands were around $1.99, while Farmer Jack had them for $1.60. Michelina’s dinners were $1 at Meijer and $1.50 at Farmer Jack.

A Meijer brand meal cost a $1.79, while a Banquet

meal at Farmer Jack brand meal went for $1.

Another easy and inexpensive choice is pasta with sauce. Meijer brand pasta was a mere 85 cents, while the Farmer Jack alternative, A m e r i c a ’s Choice, was 97 cents for spaghetti.

The America’s Choice egg noodles were only 99 cents.

Muellers noodles were 49 cents at Meijer and on-sale at Farmer Jack for 99 cents.

A 14 ounce bottle of Ragu pasta sauce sold for $1.99 at Meijer and $1.69 at Farmer Jack. Meijer pasta sauce was $1.99 for flavored and $1.69 for the unflavored variety. At Farmer Jack, America’s Choice pasta was 97 cents and a 16 ounce

bottle of Master Choice sauce sold for 99 cents.

So remember, a lack of cash does not have to mean an empty stomach.

Through comparison shopping, old standbys become much more affordable.

In the Mix

October 5, 2004 from “Security,” page 1 Brunswick, one pro to the new security is the college will have more control over security. With the current contract the college does not assign rounds or hours.

This is done through the sheriff’s department since they’re employees of the department. “[In the new plan] when people go on vacation we can adjust their hours, we can adjust their schedules so we can still have coverage, whereas with the current system when a deputy goes on vacation we’re sort of without one body during that week,” Brunswick said.

Although the security staff will be larger, security guards will not have the same power

from “Deans,” page 1 Earlier this year, there was a proposal to change this option.

However, Grace Yackee, Vice President of Instruction, withdrew it from the board agenda out of concerns from the administrators. She felt it needed to be further discussed in administrative meetings.

The fact that only the six academic deans were given one-year contracts raised many concerns.

“It was professed to be looking at the entire organization. How is it that if you’re going to be looking at the entire organization, how can you pick out the six academic deans

the current deputies have. They will be unable to read people their rights and arrest.

“Our students are here to get their education; they’re not out here looking for trouble. And we’re not a prison,” Nixon said.

Ticketing may be a possibility.

MCCC will have to discuss ticketing procedures with Monroe Township before they will have this power.

Nixon and Brunswick said even though a student can’t be arrested and possibly not ticketed with the system, the college can take other measures for students who continually don’t follow policies.

This could include expulsion.

Deputy Bill Myers, who currently patrols the campus, is

most concerned about the response time it will take for a police car to get to campus if something serious happens.

“You want them here now, with us being on campus we’re here now,” he said.

Brunswick assures students the new part time security supervisor will be someone who has past law enforcement experience. Myers, who applied for the position and was accepted, said this would be a good move.

“What I would like to see is campus security that is actually helping students with parking, helping them to locate spots,” he said.

According to Brunswick, a survey was sent to twenty-eight

Michigan Community Colleges asking about each campus’ security method.

Fourteen of the twenty-five who responded hire their own employees to patrol which coincides with the system for MCCC. “This plan is not unique to Monroe,” he added.

If the new security plan is not effective Brunswick has thought of a “Plan B.” The second plan would be a security firm hired by MCCC, but there are no plans to have another contract with the sheriff ’s department.

“I seriously hope that nothing will transpire that would make this a bad move,” Myers said.

who would be coming into the part of the organization that had the newest VP?,” Nedry said.

Since Yackee’s title is Vice President of Instruction, she can only speak to the instructional side, which is where the deans report directly to her.

“I was a new VP coming in, and it gave me the freedom and opportunity to assess the area without any constraint, whereas those in the other areas have been there for a long time and new information influencing the way they structured was less likely as it was for me as a new person,” she said.

One year contracts for administrators are not uncommon. Twelve community

colleges in Michigan have them, four use a combination depending on administrative level, and one doesn’t use a contract at all.

After Yackee’s analysis of the instructional area, she will be making a recommendation to the Board in February influencing the issuing of contracts in April. She wants two year contracts issued to bring the current deans into three year contracts.

“I will be proposing when it comes time to do that. Based on my conversations with faculty, staff, looking at way programs are organized here, I spent months just kind of keeping my ears and eyes open. There is no doubt I support the dean structure here,” she said.

Yackee insisted the proposal is not an effect of the dean resignation.

“I was very disappointed to see the deans resign. I wish they could have stayed through the entire analysis process,” she said.

The open search is underway for a new dean in the Humanities and Social Science division.

Applications are going to be reviewed in October, and the spot will be filled for winter 2005. Paul Knollman is currently the interim dean for the Industrial Technology division.

Yackee does not anticipate a search for the position until the early winter, but that is subject to change.

Agora

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RVeader’s oice What are your main issues for this election?

Tenner y Hic ks ennery Hicks

healthcare reform, social security reform, tax cuts, abortion: pro-choice “I think John Kerry is doing a pitiful job of expressing his platform.”

Don Mande ville Mandeville

When you are ready to take the next step, we are ready for you.

800.GO-TO-EMU EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY www.emich.edu/admissions

economy, accountability, president who follows constitution “We have the choice between a man who volunteered by dropping out of the military, who volunteered for service in Vietnam, and volunteered for the most dangerous assignments. [Then we have a man] who not only joined the National Guard to dodge the draft but also dodged National Guard service.”

Misty Braden

health care, war, gay marriage “It’s the same old choice between a bombing monkey and a man with no personality. We choose the monkey because it shrieks.”

Agora 8

Spotlight

October 5, 2004

On September 26, MCCC hosted its 18th annual Auto Show. It included 427 classic cars, which were spread over the main campus.

Agora photos by Heather Wilson