11-22-2010

Cook-off raises money for scholarship - Page 5 Club fund-raises for Study Abroad pg. 3 ­­­­

gora A

Comedy TV gets pg. 7 political

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Aug. 26, 2010 November 22, 2010Vol. Vol.55, 55,Issue Issue 41

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How long do you wait?

MCCC students, faculty debate on how long to stay when a teacher is late

right when teachers are late, just like they don’t when students are,” Kidd said.

Dr. Ken Mohney, an MCCC professor of sociology and anthropology, feels that the 15- minute rule is fair.

“I was always told that 15 minutes was an appropriate time to give an instructor. Having said that, I believe that students have a right to expect their instructor to be there ontime, though occasionally it is possible to be delayed a minute,” Mohney said.

Some students, however, feel that 15 minutes is a bit longer than necessary to wait for an instructor.

Paige Longworth and Kaylie Thomas both feel that ten minutes or more is unacceptable, while student Devon Cordts finds ten minutes to be too long to wait.

“It’s ridiculous for a teacher to be more than 10 minutes late. We only have roughly an hour and a half, two days a week, to learn the material and we are paying for not only the class but also the books and the learning experience in general,” Longworth said.

“I think if the teacher is late past 10 minutes it is time to leave, and also they should try to be on time because that is their job,” Thomas said.

“I think they are paid to be there on time. Just like when I go to work. If I’m more than 5 minutes late I get yelled at. I think five

Tyler Eagle

Agora Reporter

The 15 minute rule is an unwritten creed that shapes the lives of college students every day.

However, this rule fails to appear anywhere in MCCC’s college catalog.

There is no policy or regulation that gives a time when a late professor equals a canceled class.

That leaves students with questions: When does an instructor cross over the line from justifiably tardy to rudely late?

When is it acceptable to leave?

Is the “urban myth” just that — a myth?

It would appear that several MCCC students and even some of its faculty adhere to the 15-minute rule.

“I usually wait 15 minutes. But I do not think it’s acceptable for professors to be late, because we are paying them to be here whether we come to class or not,” said Hallie Casper, an MCCC student.

MCCC students Karianne Kidd and Patricia Austin also believe that 15 minutes is a more than fair amount of time for students to wait for their professors when they are late.

“I say if the teacher is 15 to 20 minutes late, then the students should be allowed to leave. If the class isn’t there, it’s the teacher’s fault,” Austin said.

“I think we should wait about 15 minutes. I don’t think it’s

See STUDENTS, Page 3

Student views differ on smoking ban success Darin Curson Agora Reporter

Smoking on campus was prohibited over a year ago, yet MCCC students are still questioning the policy.

On Aug. 1, 2009, MCCC prohibited smoking from campus grounds, still allowing smokers to smoke in the parking lot.

As of Aug. 1, 2010, smoking was prohibited on all campus grounds, as well as in the parking lot.

This raised a lot of concerns from students who are both smokers and nonsmokers.

Marissa Manor, a full-time student at MCCC, doesn’t smoke and likes that the smoking ban was put in effect.

“Personally, I like it, because I don’t like walking to class and walking by people smoking,” Manor said. “I hate the smell.”

Manor also acknowledged the rights of the smokers, and said she hasn’t noticed a huge change on campus.

“In a way I think it’s unfair because we are in a free country,” Manor said. “But, I still notice people smoking outside the library and C building.”

Ted Mueller, a student and a smoker, hasn’t seen any change and finds the ban immoral.

“I pay to go here just like the nonsmokers, but I’m being told where I can and cannot be to smoke,” Mueller says.

“I’ve seen people have a dip in during class and nothing was said,” states Mueller. “But I have to leave to smoke a cigarette?”

Since the complete ban of smoking on campus on Aug. 1, all of the outside ashtrays have been taken away.

“I’ve seen one change since the smoking ban has been in act,” says student Ashleigh Didario. “People aren’t stand-

See SMOKING, Page 3

MCCC tries to help underprepared students Marissa Beste Agora Reporter

“The issue becomes: What do we do, what are we obligated to do, what is there in our mission to do.”

MCCC is looking for a solution for the increasing number of students who are not ready for college courses.

Developmental education courses are refresher or crash courses to get students ready for college level classes, Grace Yackee, Vice President of Instruction, said.

“We’re getting an increasing number of students who are not ready for college-level study,” Yackee said.

Currently, MCCC offers three developmental education courses: English 090, Reading 090, and Math 090.

The COMPASS test at MCCC is designed to reveal if students are ready to register for college classes, or if they need developmental education classes first.

Students can take other college courses with the 090 courses, which is causing controversy among some faculty who believe they should not be able to register for classes until they have passed the 090 course.

Students currently can take the 090 courses regardless of their COMPASS score. One of the issues the college is considering is whether to require a minimum score to test into the developmental courses.

“Of the about 40 percent of our students who test into developmental education classes, the bottom 25 percent of those aren’t ready for developmental ed,” Yackee said. “Their scores are so low, they will not be successful in developmental ed.”

These students need something else first, Yackee said.

Several ideas are being discussed as potential

permanent solutions, but next semester MCCC is hoping to try a temporary fix, according to Vinnie Maltese, dean of the Mathematics/Science division and acting dean of the Humanities/Social Sciences division.

English 090 students would take a writing assessment the first day of class, and the students who could progress well enough in the 15 weeks of the semester would do that, Maltese said.

The students who were unlikely to successfully complete the course in 15 weeks would be put into another class.

“We’d like to get those students in the same class so the class can proceed at a speed where they can benefit as much as possible,” Maltese said.

“We’re trying to make every effort to get the right instructors matched with the right students, so that students can make the maximum amount of progress over the semester.”

A similar system is also being considered for the

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Grace Yackee Vice President of Instruction

Vinnie Maltese Dean of Math/Science Division, acting Dean of Humanities/Social Sciences

Reading 090 class as well.

For Math 090, MCCC is planning a redesign of the whole sequence of math courses, Maltese said.

Coming up with a permanent solution is where the real difficulties lie.

“The issue becomes: What do we do, what are we obligated to do, what is there in our mission to do,” Maltese said. “We can do things temporarily to try to help, but it’s a bigger issue.”

Most colleges have come up with a low-end score that shows students are not ready for the developmental education courses, and then those students are referred to an agency in the community that can help them.

For MCCC, the Learning Bank would be the ideal place, but there are more students with those needs than the Learning Bank can handle, Maltese said.

Vuncia Council, Learning Bank coordinator, thinks that the Learning Bank is an important component to MCCC and its developmental education

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“Of the about 40 percent of our students who test into developmental education classes, the bottom 25 percent of those aren’t ready for developmental ed.”

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program.

“Several of our students have been at that level where they would be in 090 at MCCC, and we work with them until they can get to that place where, when they test again, they’re going into the credit classes and they don’t even go through 090 anymore,” Council said.

“If the Learning Bank is looked at as an extension to the college, then it’s not a failure.”

Council said the reason for the growing number of students who are coming back to college unprepared is that they got laid off from jobs where they did not need a degree.

“Now those jobs don’t exist, and they don’t have the skills to transition into something else,” she said. “So that’s why there’s such a heavy weight on the community colleges. But then in turn, when they go to the community colleges they still aren’t going to be successful if there’s not additional programs put in place to help them be successful.”

“I applaud MCCC for really wanting to grow that piece that has to do with developmental education.”

MCCC’s Developmental Education committee is still in the early stages of working on the transformational changes.

The changes would require solutions to be made for those students who will be affected by any future policies requiring a minimum score to test into developmental education courses.

Solutions could include the Learning Bank network or Lifelong Learning courses to help prepare the underprepared.

For the Spring 2011 semester, MCCC is hoping to offer new Lifelong Learning courses that would help students with English and reading.

“As we look into making this a policy change, we need to have resources in place to help students,” Yackee said.

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2 THE AGORA

Editorial

November 22, 2010

Genetically altered foods create risks I set out on the how-to’s this has been my experiof couponing and refundence and the experience ing to the point where of students I have spoken groceries and household with on campus. goods were practically So the challenge then for nothing, or at times monme was to find ways that ey-makers. we could live more healthIn the process, I learned ily! It HAS been a chalabout GMO foods — those lenge! are highly processed foods Perhaps the easiest, and that utilize genetically most cost effective way to modified seeds. The seeds change your diet is increLorrie Mayzlin are designed in a lab to mentally. Start with someproduce more, grow faster, For the Agora thing small, and then add harvest bigger, etc. to that.

There are MANY problems attribI have found coupons for certified uted to GMO foods — and those prob- organic products, and I didn’t have to lems started spiking shortly after 1995, traipse to Ann Arbor’s Whole Foods to when the FDA approved them for human satisfy this. consumption. The rise of diseases like You can print off coupons for organic diabetes, obesity, cancers and even early- products online (and they are accepted at onset puberty can be directly linked to all stores and doubled at some stores, like GMO foods.

Perrysburg Krogers or Sylvania’s Giant The more I learned about GMO foods Eagle). Learn to love to learn — as you and Monsanto, the company that makes will need to change from the fast food, most of them, the less I liked it, and the quick and easy to made from scratch. more I realized that the coupons we have It sounds formidable, but once you are for “food” are for those products. used to it, it takes up no more time, than Those products are put out by some say, an exercise regime or coupon clipVERY BIG names! I was shocked: ping!

Kraft, Proctor & Gamble, Pillsbury, NesThings that I have done since my last tle, Hershey, just to name a few. writing: I have switched our family from So, on my one month hiatus from writ- store bought milk, sour cream, ice cream ing for the Agora, I went soul searching and butter to Calder Dairy (Carleton, for myself and what I am providing for MI). They deliver once a week to my my family, and what can I teach you, the home (no real extra cost). Their prodAgora reader. ucts are all natural and contain no growth Obviously, to live a healthier life, one hormones. must rid their homes of GMO foods. The My base weekly purchase is: 1/2 galbiggest argument is that items marked lon chocolate milk, one gallon Creamline certified organic are very expensive — milk (this is pasteurized but not homog-

enized and tastes the way it used to taste growing up!), and two pints of whipping cream. My average bill each week is $9 and I am billed monthly.

Now, if you look at my standard order, your first thought is, good grief, that’s a lot of fat! Well, yes and no. You see, when you drink things that are pasteurized but not homogenized, your body processes the milk fat differently. It is the homogenization that makes milk fat bad for you.

I use the whipping cream to make my own butter! The difference in taste is phenomenally different than store bought butter (which is expensive!). If you knew how simple it was to make, I would bet more people would make their own, too (15 minutes in a stand mixer, with only two ingredients — sea salt and whipping cream).

The chocolate milk on my order is just because it’s a treat — I can change this out for a quart of peach drinkable yogurt or a half gallon of their ice cream, but the chocolate milk is thick and delicious.

So, now that I have taken the simple step of changing out my dairy products to natural products, I am at the next crossroads — meat!

Meat is expensive all the way around.

Unless you can find winetags for meats, there are virtually no coupons. So, what you need to do is buy the meat on sale — you can go to www.shoplocal.com and search all of the sales ads in your surrounding area to find the best deal, or you can peruse your Sunday advertising.

I highly recommend using a butcher for your meats — with the best option of buying direct from the cattle rancher.

We are in between two of the best places to buy meat — in Taylor (Telegraph Rd. between Goddard and Northline) is Cattleman’s Meat Market and in Toledo (several locations) is House of Meats.

Produce should be obtained locally, and SEASONALLY!! In other words, tomatoes in the summer time (learn how to can them for other seasons), fruits of the summer, grapes after first hard frost, pears after first hard frost, squash in the fall and winter, potatoes in the fall, etc.

Try to use as much fresh local foods as possible, and remember, it never hurts to ask your farmer if he is using HEIRLOOM seeds or if he is using Monsanto seeds. If he says he is using HEIRLOOM seeds, he is using seeds that are not genetically modified.

A big one for my family (and maybe yours too) is pop ... I gotta have my pop (it’s the 11th commandment). What makes pop so bad? High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). This is also a Genetically Modified product...BAD, BAD, BAD!!

HFCS is not the same as corn syrup that you use to make candies with, it is a byproduct of a byproduct. But I have to have it. I am more addicted to it than I am to coffee!

There is hope, though! Pepsi has come out with Pepsi Throwback (you can find it locally at Sam Stop, on 7th Street in Monroe). Pepsi Throwback is made with 100% REAL SUGAR and no HFCS. It tastes the way it used to taste back in the 1970s. It’s delicious, and while pop is not a “good for you” food, it’s better than it could be with the HFCS in it! Pepsi Throwback comes in 2 liter bottles and 12 pack cans. For the Dew lovers, Sam

Stop also carries the Mountain Dew Throwback.

Stay away from any products listed as diabetic or sugar free — 99.9 percent of them contain artificial sweetener, which has been proven to cause a myriad of problems, including cancer! It’s truly a KILLER. Because I want you, the Agora reader, to digest what I am writing, I am going to end this segment with a link to learn more about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), and a long list of products to both avoid and their alternatives to help you live a healthier life.

The products that you need to avoid at all costs in the United States, that are GMO are: Soybeans and all byproducts (unless it says Certified Organic), beet sugar (cane sugar is fine), papaya (fresh or otherwise), canola, and corn and all byproducts.

Go through your pantries and prepare to be amazed at what contains GMO foods! My biggest shock was “100 percent vegetable oil” — it is 100 percent GMO Soy! We have made the switch to either 100 percent olive oil (which you can get from Randazzo’s Farmer’s Market in Westland — on the corner of Warren and Newburgh Rd., for $4 for a half gallon) or coconut oil (my next installment will discuss this wonder oil and all of it’s uses — it’s truly amazing). Coconut oil can be purchased locally at the herbal store by St. Paul’s in downtown Monroe or online at Amazon.com Links for more information and alternatives to GMO foods: http://www.disabled-world.com/fitness/gm-foods.php.

Violent video games not proven harmful

Photo by Tyler Eagle

Call of Duty: Black Ops, a popular online game for the Playstation 3, X-Box 360 and PC platoforms, is rated M by the ESRB for violent gameplay.

The last time I went in to GameStop I and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth bought Dead Rising. As implied by the Circuit have ruled in their favor. title the main objective of the game is The justices’ reasoning behind their to fight your way through a mall full of decision was that even if psychologizombies to find the source of the outcal or neurological harm would result break. in young people being exposed to these On the front cover of the game, a games, this specific law was not narrow large “M” in the bottom left-hand enough to prevent such damage. corner warns players that the game is Beyond that, research is not demeant only for people 17 years of age finitive on whether violence in video and over. games has any affect whatsoever on the On the back cover, the same “M” is mind’s of children. There are those who Lacy White displayed along with the Entertainment would even go as far as saying video For the Agora Software Ratings Board’s (ESRB) reagames are beneficial to the neurological soning for this rating, which are listed growth of young people, regardless of as: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, their subject matter.

Partial Nudity, and Use of Alcohol.

Christopher J. Ferguson, guest editor of the “ReWhen I approached the checkout counter the ca- view of General Psychology” journal and researcher shier asked to see my identification, which is stan- at Texas A&M International University, wrote, “Redard procedure for a game with a Mature rating. cent research has shown that as video games have Most stores will not allow anyone under the age of become more popular, children in the U.S. and Europe are having fewer behavior problems, are less 17 buy an “M” rated game.

The ESRB goes to great lengths to ensure that the violent, and score better on standardized tests.”

Articles in the same journal, which is published by video games put on the market are accurately rated and described so that gamers and parents alike know the American Psychological Association, state that violent video games are harmless to most children, what they’re purchasing.

So why did the Supreme Court hear a case on Nov. and only have negative affects on kids with pre-ex2 to decide whether violent video games should be isting mental health problems.

When a decision like this looms, other questions sold to minors? arise as well.

Because in 2005 a bill written by California State Is this only the beginning of larger prohibitions?

Sen. Leland Yee banning the sale of such games to How far should governmental media regulation go? anyone under the age of 18 was passed into law.

The only time that any form of freedom of expresRetailers who break the law could be fined up to sion should be hindered by the government is when $1,000 per violation, and manufacturers who fail to mark their games with a 2-inch label proclaiming it is detrimental to the health of others. the game to be only for people 18 and over would Violence in video games has not been proven to also face penalties. be harmful, and regulations for video game sales alThe Entertainment Merchant’s Association ready exist — they are just not governmentally manbrought the law to court and both the District Court dated. Creating a law to change this is unnecessary.

Is the U.S. bringing torture to the world?

Imagine you live in the Middle East.

You are a retired general who served for the Iran Special Forces after having been imprisoned for criticizing Saddam’s regime. U.S. troops are settled throughout your city and they become aware of your former military position.

You fear every day that they may come for you.

One night it happens. From a helicopter, U.S. soldiers storm into your house. Your children are tied up, choking on the cords tied around their necks. One son is punched by a soldier for screaming.

You are then arrested and the following morning initiated into the Iraqi prison of Abu Ghraib, while your six-month pregnant wife is miscarrying your child in a hospital after the chaos of the raid.

This was the reality for Abul Mohn, who spent 11 months of his life in Abu Ghraib. The world saw Mohn’s mistreatment in Abu Ghraib when picrtures leaked, revealing the tactics being used within the facility.

“Lifting the Hood,” a documentary produced

by SBS Dateline, looks at the treatment of Mohn and two other inmates during their stay at the Iraqi detention center.

Abu Ghraib was a prison originally used by Saddam Hussein, but reopened for U.S. military purposes. The U.S. military was using intelligence, rather than force, to combat the terrorists in Iraq.

To obtain that intelligence, it must be extracted from suspects — suspects such as Munadel al-Jumeili.

According to the documentary, the CIA alleged that Jumeili supplied explosives to several terrorist attacks. Jumeili’s daughter argues that the suggestions are lies told by an informant.

Jumeili died five hours after being arMorgan Hofbauer rested and taken to Agora Reporter Abu Ghraib. The autopsy report stated the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the chest, breaking five ribs, paired with asphysiation by a hood on his head and the straining position he was tied in.

In the documentary, Jumeili’s daughter holds a photo of a soldier smiling over her father’s dead corpse, and asks, “Who can do this? Is this a human being? Isn’t he human like him (the soldier)?”

No one has been charged in the apparent homicide. Nine of the guards and soldiers from Abu Ghraib were arrested on unrelated charges after many images of prioner mistreatment were leaked. The most severe sentence was 10 years in prison.

Another prisoner, Haj Ali, was held in Abu Ghraib for three months. During his first four days, Ali said he was deprived of food, sexually assaulted with a rifle, and underwent psychological trauma that was worst of all.

He was interrogated by water boarding and

felt what it was like to have a loaded gun to his head.

A hand injury he received before being arrested was used as an interrogation tactic, Ali said. A guard made him lay on the floor with his hand in front of him. When the soldier brought his boot heavily down on the broken wrist, Ali said he passed out from the pain.

After four months, Ali was hooded, put into a trunk, and droped off in public. He was never told what his charges were.

Now, Ali said he is looking for a surgeon to fix his disfigured hand.

In 2009, President Barrack Obama revealed four Bush-era memos that allowed extended maltreatment to Iraqi prisoners.

These top-secret CIA memos were intended for Guantanamo Bay and other secret detention centers around the world. Some of the treatment includes throwing prisoners into walls, shackling them to the ceiling for hours, water boarding, sleep deprivation for up to 11 days, and placing prisoners in coffin-like boxes with insects.

Is torture becoming a part of the American way? I thought the point of the Middle East war was to bring democracy to the innocent civilians, not to lead a terrorist witch hunt where innocents can be tortured.

Arrests without charges and interrogations with torture are two things that would never be condoned in our country, and certainly shouldn’t be condoned in foreign policy, either. If the U.S. wishes to bring democracy to Iraq, why not start by exemplifying what democracy entails.

The Agora Editorial Policy The Agora is published by the students of Monroe County Community College, 1555 S. Raisinville Rd., Monroe, MI, 48161. The editorial office is located in Room 202 of the Life Sciences Bldg., (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 is a member of the Michigan Community College Press Association, the Michigan Collegiate Press Association, the Michigan Press Association, College Media Advisers, Associated Collegiate Press and the Student Press Law Center.

Story suggestions are welcome. Let us know what you’d like to see in The Agora - it’s your newspaper.

Submissions of stories or photos also are welcome. E-mail them to agora@monroeccc.edu or bring them to our office.

Staff Members Editor Marissa Beste Assistant Editor Tyler Eagle News Editor Morgan Hofbauer Photographer Denise Kukwa

Staff Christina Clark Chase Dowler Darin Curson Susan Biela Jeff Papworth Adviser Dan Shaw

Campus News

November 22, 2010

THE AGORA

3

Club hosts rock concert, 5k race International Studies Club fundraises for trip abroad Morgan Hoffbauer Agora Reporter

The 2011 Study Abroad trip is seven months away, and the International Studies Club is getting prepared.

The club has held two fundraisers, but has received low turnouts.

The first event, a benefit rock concert, was held on Oct. 29 in the La-Z-Boy Center.

Two local bands, the Unknown Legends from Monroe and the Capaul Band from Ida, filled the Meyer Theater with the drum beats and bass of modern rock.

The Unknown Legends consists of Ryan Servis, Evan Close, John Rains, and siblings Brandon, Adam, and Christina Schreiber.

The band blended its original music with covers of Mumford and Sons, Steel Train, and Gogol Bordello, while also blending in nontraditional rock instruments like the trombone, trumpet, and accordion.

Laughter erupted as the band began playing the well-known holiday tune, “Frosty the Snowman,” for one of its final songs, leading into another original.

According to Brandon, the concert went amazing.

“I loved it,” he said. “We’ve always wanted to play a show at the college.”

Christina shared a similar sentiment.

“There wasn’t that many people but it went really good musically, and that’s what counts.”

Christina said working with her brothers is like living out a family dream.

“We’ve always loved music, and doing this is like living out our dream,” she said. “Even though we fight, we al-

Photo by Morgan Hoffbauer “CaPaul” consists of brothers Ben, Chris and Nick CaPaul. Chris (left) and Ben (right) had their family crest displayed while playing at the concert.

ways come back to this. It’s kind of like a bonding thing for us.”

More siblings took the stage after a brief intermission.

The Capaul band consists of three brothers: Nick, Ben, and Chris Capaul.

With their family crest displayed behind them on the Meyer Theater backdrop, the brothers joked that the audience members were part of their family for the night.

“When you’re here, you’re one of us,” Nick said. “You’re a Capaul, sorry.”

In the middle of one of their first songs, both microphones for the twin singers went out.

“You’re so awesome you blew them out,” Joanna Sabo, the instructor of In-

ternational Studies, called out when the song finished.

“Yeah, that happens a lot,” Ben replied.

Once the issue was resolved, the band continued with its punk rock-influenced music, playing both original songs and music from their previous band, the Spaghetti Zombies.

Around 60 people attended the benefit concert. Dr. Sabo said she was disappointed with the attendance.

“I definitely wish we would have seen more MC3 students and staff,” she said.

“We need our students to support each other.”

However, Dr. Sabo said she was very happy to see some older folks in the crowd, as well as the dean of Human-

ities and Health Sciences, Vinnie Maltese.

The second event was the Second Annual MC3 International Studies Abroad Turkey Trot.

On Nov. 13, runners met in front of the Welch Health Education Building to run a 5K race across the MCCC campus.

The overall fastest times in the male and female divisions were by Brandon Van Belle and Jewel Kelly.

The male winners from the various age categories were Tommy Brandys, Brent Leonhardt, Jeremiah Williams, Brandon Newell, Marc Lemle, Richard Stockdale, Andrew Pride, Thomas Kleman, Mike Roberts, and Dennis Scott.

The female winners were Kaitlyn

Leist, Megan Peterman, Megan Drabek, Marcia Halason, Ronnie Rose, Denise Dashner, Diana Chute, Rebecca Mehregan, and Sharon Mullin.

To Dr. Sabo’s disappointment, just under 50 people attended.

Several of the club’s students thought the recent Great Pumpkin Pursuit 5K run recently held on campus may have been part of the cause for the low turnout, Dr. Sabo said.

“We had a good turnout last year,” Dr. Sabo said.

The money raised by both events will go toward student fees for the MCCC 2011 Study Abroad trip to Eastern Europe.

The club will visit Austria, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

The fees for Study Abroad, aside from the trip fee which is due in January, include baggage fees, lunches, and mandatory tipping to tour guides.

“Most students barely come up with the money to come on Study Abroad,” Dr. Sabo said. “Oftentimes, students drop out because they can’t come up with the money, so we do what we can to help those that are struggling.”

For those who missed the concert and the Turkey Trot, the club will be hosting MCCC’s eighth Speech-a-thon on Dec. 2.

From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., students will stand in the library foyer and the Administration Building, reading popular speeches about international issues.

“Speeches that have been published over time by great leaders like Winston Churchill, or John F. Kennedy,” Dr. Sabo said.

The student speakers will be working in non-stop, five-hour shifts.

There are three ways to donate to this event; by pledging for every hour a student continues their speech, pledging a flat rate for the entire day, or by the donation jars that will be set up near the speakers.

The club is also planning to hold a raffle, and will be wrapping gifts on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving at Barnes and Noble in Toledo.

Brandon Schreiber and Evan Close (left) and Ryan Servis (right) are members of the band The Unknown Legends.

Schreiber sings lead vocals and Close performs base.

Servis plays the keyboard, as well as the accordian.

Photos by Denise Kukwa

Students, professors weigh in on tardiness MCCC students plan to start running club Continued from Page 1

minutes is a decent grace period. If they are more than five minutes late, then leave,” Cordts said.

Gary Wilson, art professor, believes that after ten minutes the division’s dean should be contacted.

“The truth of the matter is if a teacher doesn’t show up within 10 minutes, someone should contact the dean of the division and ask where the instructor is,” Wilson said.

Jessica Ervin and Lora Worrell feel that since they‘re paying to be there, then the professor should be there on time.

“I would only wait around for 20 minutes max, and I think it’s very unprofessional for the teachers to be late. It is a waste of my time, especially if I’m paying for everything. I expect them to be on time just like the students have to be,” Worrell said.

“As someone who pays for their education straight out of my pocket with no help from anyone, I say it is not okay for my teacher to show up whenever the hell they feel like it.

That is time I’m paying for, time I should be learning so I don’t have to repeat that class and pay even more,” Ervin said.

MCCC student Arianna Johansen thinks that there is an equilibrium between students and teachers being late.

“I don’t think it’s a big deal when a teacher is occasionally late--sometimes it just can’t be helped. Students are late all the time, after all; we should be equally as understanding for both. If the instructor starts making a habit of it, though, then I think they’re wasting their students’ time and money, and should be reprimanded for their irresponsibility,” Johansen said.

Childhood development professor Tiffany

Wright points out that there are several legitimate reasons for a professor being late.

“Things do happen. Traffic can be an issue. It is typical that professors get calls right before class from students who are going be late or absent --that sometimes holds you up for a couple minutes. Also students come to the office right before class to ask questions,” Wright said.

Student Ben Romero believes that if instructors are going to be late, they need to find a way to tell their students.

“A teacher has just as much of a responsibility to be on time to class as a student, and if a teacher feels like they are going to be exceptionally late to a class, more than 45 minutes, than the teacher should have the decency to find a way to contact the students, to let them know that class is either canceled or at the least that the teacher is sorry for the delay and that they will be there shortly,” Romero said.

Business professor Dr. Patrick Nedry’s opinion mirrors that of Romero’s.

“If I am going to expect students to advise me when they are not going to be in class or be late, and I do, then it seems reasonable to me that they should and could expect the same of me,” Nedry said.

Instructor Melody Carmichael acknowledges that if an instructor comes late, there is still the chance that she might teach material essential to the student’s understanding of class.

“I would say stick it out until you hear from a staff member regarding the whereabouts of the instructor. A good idea is to check with an administrative assistant if you have been waiting more than half an hour. But I wouldn’t leave until you have some answers. Luck would have it that 30 seconds after you leave, the instructor will show up, with information

you will depend on for the next class,” Carmichael said.

Adrianna MacAllister has a similar view, but looks at the opposite side of the issue.

“The worst part about it is though, that even if they come in super late, some students are going to wait and the teacher is going to come in and cram the information down their throats. It isn’t fair to us that they were late and that they are going to try to shove the same amount of teaching at us in an insufficient way,” MacAllister said.

Dr. Grace Yackee, the vice president of instruction, said there is no college policy, but a student shouldn’t leave a class unless it has been officially canceled.

“Sit down and get comfortable. Pull out a book and read a chapter. Do some homework,” Yackee said.

Mohney finds that one thing can attribute to late instructors: the clocks around school.

“Of course, one problem involves the clocks at the school. Every clock, from my computer to the clocks in the hallways seems to be different! I usually start and end classes based on my watch which often differs by a couple of minutes from those clocks posted around campus,” Mohney said.

Mathematics professor James Vallade offers the following advice when it comes to teacher tardiness.

“If I were the student whose professor is late, I would check with the division office to see what the issue is. They should be able to tell you if the professor will be present for class or not. If they are unable to I would say that a half hour would be enough time to wait for either a one, one and a half, or two hour class,” Vallade said.

Lacy White

For the Agora

Students at MCCC are working to get a new club up and running.

“Running is the best way to lose weight and become fit,” says Megan Ashenfelter, an MCCC student attempting to form a running club on campus.

“You don’t need any equipment, other than a pair of athletic shoes, and you can do it anywhere,” she said.

The purpose of the club according to Bryan Dusseau, one of the other students involved, is to organize training sessions, “fun runs”, and competitions with stu-

dents from other schools.

To fulfill the steps to become a club, they are looking for a faculty advisor and more students who would like to join.

Once this is accomplished the prospective members will join together to create a club constitution that will state their official purpose, fundraising tactics, and other issues.

New ideas and opinions regarding the club are greatly encouraged, and anyone who would like to join should contact either Megan Ashenfelter at mashenfelter@my.monroeccc.edu or Bryan Dusseau at bdusseau20757@ my.monroeccc.edu.

Smoking ban questioned Continued from Page 1

ing by designated ashtrays, they’re throwing their butts on the ground now.”

Didario, who is a non-smoker, said she doesn’t see the point in the ban.

“People are going to smoke when and where they want, regardless of signs,” says Didario.

Randy Daniels, vice president of Student and Information Services, thinks the smoking ban is going well so far, but there are a

few places on campus where people try to hide and smoke.

He says the ban is being enforced in a variety of ways, with students, faculty, and staff reminding one another. People who are smoking on campus are currently given a warning.

“If there’s an issue of a repeat offender, security brings them to my office,” he said.

If anyone is acting belligerently to a security guard, Daniels said, the security officers will deal with them.

4

THE AGORA

Campus News

November 22, 2010

Nursing program ok’d for accreditation

By Tyler Eagle Agora Reporter

A group of representatives from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission have decided to recommend that MCCC’s associate nursing program be granted an eight year reaccredidation.

The group, which consisted of faculty members from other community colleges, visited the campus Oct. 19-21 to observe the nursing program and the facilities it uses.

The purpose of the visit was to validate the information that was given to the NLNAC in a self-study report, which was written by MCCC’s nursing division and submitted six weeks earlier.

The report is over 200 pages long and details how the program meets the six standards set forth by the NLNAC. While at the college, the representatives observed theory classes, attended clinical rotations at Mercy Memorial Hospital, and validated the resources available to the stu-

dents, such as the library and the skills lab.

The process also included several interviews with students, faculty members and administrators — from both the college and the hospital.

Dr. Cynthia Roman, the dean of the health sciences division and director of the nursing program, said she was pleased with the recommendation.

“We are recommended for the highest number of years without any conditions,” Roman said.

“We had a very successful visit. We’re very proud of our students, our campus and our program.”

The group from the NLNCA will now write an official report and submit it to the NLNAC Evaluation Review Panel.

The Evaluation Review Panel will then make a recommendation to the NLNAC Board of Commissioners, who have the final say.

“It was a lot of work, but it was worth it,” Roman said.

“It was a lot of work, but it was worth it.”

Dr. Cynthia Roman Health Sciences Division dean

Singing to support the homeless Agora staff

A benefit concert was held Nov. 16 at Meyer Theater to help raise money for Homeless Awareness Week.

The event was sponsored by MCCC’s Student Government. Instead of charging admission, to get into the concert patrons had to donate a blanket.

Lorrie Mayzlin, a Student Government member, chaired the event.

“The concert is meant to help the homeless. It’s a good cause,” Mayzlin said.

The bands that played at the event were Wood Song and Unknown Legend.

The 20th annual Walk for Warmth was held on Sunday Nov. 14th in downtown Monroe, kicking off homeless awareness week.

This voluntary fundraiser raised money to assist county residents with utility emergencies in the winter months, through pledging. Those who wished to contribute to the cause but could not walk could buy raffle tickets.

The walk started and ended at Loranger Square in downtown Monroe, and the route was marked by blue arrows up residential streets and down Monroe Street, then back to the square.

Anyone who participated in the walk received a backsack or hot chocolate mug.

The walk was sponsored by PNC, Westwood Dental, Daly Merritt, Anthony E. Batavitch J.D., American Heating and Cooling, Garst LP = Gas, Michigan Gas Utilities, La-Z-Boy, Fuller Construction and DTE Energy.

(Far left) Wood Song guitarist Bruce Freimark plays and sings at the benefit concert Nov. 16 to raise money for Homeless Awareness Week.

(Left) Steve Pipis, guitartist for Wood Song, plays at the concert.

Photos by Denise Kukwa

Faculty make statement with T-shirts Chase Dowler Agora Reporter

MCCC faculty members are using T-shits to make a statement about the ongoing faculty negotiations.

Some faculty members have been instructing class in their bright red shirts, with text that reads, “MCCC Faculty Values: Our Students, Quality Education, Fair Contract.”

Faculty contracts expired in August, and negotiations for a new contract have been going on since last spring.

Recently, the faculty and administration have decided to bring in the assistance of a state mediator to help sort out the remaining issues.

“We are not happy with the progress,” said Dr. Terri Kovach, MCCC reference librarian and a member of the faculty negotiating team.

Other members of the faculty team include Tracy Rayl and chief negotiator Patrick Nedry.

The college team includes chief negotiator Robert Boonin, an attorney with the Ann Arbor office of Butzel Long who was hired by the college to help with negotiations, as well as Randy Daniels, Molly McCutchan, and Grace Yackee.

Yackee, vice president of Instruction, said the next meeting with the mediator is scheduled for Nov. 23.

“We just have a few items left,” she said.

The Nov. 23 meeting will be the first meeting since Oct. 14.

MCCC staff get one-time bonus Agora Staff

The MCCC Board of Trustees approved a one-time compensation for MCCC support staff, administrators, part-time support staff, and adjunct faculty at its Nov. 15 meeting.

“The MCCC Trustees have publicly expressed their appreciation to employees who have taken pay freezes during the current economic crisis,” MCCC President David Nixon wrote in an email.

The one-time compensation is for current employees who have been employed at the college since Jan. 1, 2010, and will still be employed there by Dec. 1, 2010.

Faculty were not included in the one-time bonus because their pay was not frozen.

They received a 3 percent increase, which was called for in the fourth year of their contract.

They are currently negotiat-

ing a new contract.

Each full-time support staff, employee, and administrator will receive $500.

Each part-time support staff employee who averaged 11 hours or more per week will receive $250.

Part-time support staff employees who average 1-10 hours per week will receive $125.

The one-time compensation will be included in the December payroll.

Adjunct faculty employed during the Winter and Fall 2010 semesters will receive $125 as well. They will receive their payment in December.

All current full-time maintenance employees who have been employed since Jan. 1, 2010 and will still be employed as of Dec. 1, 2010 will receive $500 as well, which will be paid in December.

Mark Naber, math professor at MCCC, teaches class while wearing his faculty-made shirt, which states, “MCCC Faculty Values: Our students, Quality Education, Fair Contract.” The shirts were made as a result of the current faculty negotiations.

Photo by Marissa Beste

November 22, 2010

Campus News

THE AGORA

Cooking for a cause

5

MCCC has Chili & Soup Cook-Off to raise money for Kimberly Reaume Memorial Scholarship Agora Staff

MCCC’s first Chili & Soup Cook-Off raised a total of $1,852.09 for the Kimberly Reaume Memorial Scholarship.

The cook-off, which took place Nov. 18, raised $652.09 from donations placed in plastic containers in front of each chili and soup entry.

Kimberly’s parents donated $1,000, and a family friend donated $200.

Winners for best chili and soup were chosen based on who had the most money in the container in front of their chili or soup.

The winner for the best chili was Mark Kohler; coordinator of Alumni and Resource Development

Beth Kohler’s husband.

Mark’s meaty chili raised $58.51 in donations.

Penny Bodell, administrative assistant to the Vice President of Student and Information Services, won best soup wth her Smashing Pumpkin Soup, which raised $49.50 in donations.

The winners each received a $10 gift card to Panera Bread.

Denice Lewis, administrative assistant to the Director of Learning Resources, sold bread that raised $107 for the scholarship.

“What a great start to this new scholarship in Photo by Marissa Beste memory of Kim,” Tom Ryder, student activities coJulie Billmaier, administrative assistant to the Director of Admissions and Guidance Services, and Dan Hamordinator, wrote in an e-mail. man, MCCC computer programmer, taste the chili at the Chili & Soup Cook-Off Nov. 18.

(Far left) A long table set up in MCCC’s cafeteria is lined with several soups and chilis.

(Left) Mark’s Meat Lover’s Chili was a popular choice at the cook-off.

Photos by Marissa Beste

Cell phone tower may be built at Whitman

Mike LaRoy

For The Agora

Whitman Center director Sandy Kosmyna announced at the Oct. 25 MCCC Board of Trustees meeting that a new cell phone tower may be built at the Whitman Center.

“The college was contacted last spring about the feasibility of development of a cell tower site on our property in Temperance,” said Sue Wetzel, MCCC vice president of Administration.

A cell-phone tower, also known as a “base station,” is a structure that consists of a bevy of antennas and electronic equipment that transmit RF (radiofrequency) waves.

A new towner could make handheld devices easier for students and faculty to use at the Whitman Center.

“We have had one exploratory meeting regarding

“ To be clear, no decision has been made regarding whether or not property will be leased by the college for the purpose of constructing a cell phone tower on the Whitman Center.”

Sue Wetzel Vice President of Administration an option to lease a portion of our property for this purpose,” Wetzel said.

The main benefit for the students and faculty at Whitman Center would be improved efficiency of devices like IPads, PDA’s and cell phones, such

as sending text messages, surfing the internet, and making phone calls.

“It would be a positive impact on [the Whitman Center]. I’m open to the possibility,” Kosmyna said.

Despite all of the positives that a cell phone tower would bring to the Whitman Center, there could be some concerns about potential risks in the future.

“There would be no health risks that would exist, due to the height of the tower,” Kosmyna said.

There are two other cell-phone towers located near the Whitman Center?

“With the other two towers that are around our area, there have been no negative controversies,” Kosmyna said.

There are several things that go into building a cell phone tower. According to steelintheair.com, the average cost of a new cell phone tower is approximately $150,000.

There are four main parts that make up the structure: the tower, the equipment, the antennas, and the utilities.

The four main types of cell phone towers are lattice, monopole, guyed, and stealth towers.

The equipment required to build a new tower mainly consists of transmitters, which are installed in cabinets. The cabinets are placed on concrete pads, or on pre-manufactured equipment shelters (a more common name for this equipment is called “BTS,” or base transmitter station).

There can be anywhere from three to 18 antennas that are intertwined on any cell phone tower, depending on how many subscribers are on the carrier.

“To be clear, no decision has been made regarding whether or not property will be leased by the college for the purpose of constructing a cell phone tower on the Whitman Center property,” Wetzel said.

New criminal justice club to be formed Agora Staff

Fire drills planned Dec. 6-10 State mandated fire drills are to take place on MCCC’s campus from Dec. 6-10.

Fire drills are to take place at the following times: Courtesy photo

Late Night Catechism came to the Meyer Theater Nov. 19.

The comedic play poked fun at the structure of a Catholic grade school, with a Catholic nun called “Sister” performing onstage.

The play reminded the audience of what life was like prior to Vatican II, when Mass was spoken in Latin and meat wasn’t allowed on Fridays.

White it first appeared that Sister is the only performer, audience members soon became part of the play, acting as students.

Late Nite Catechism was written by Maripate Donovan and Vicki Quade.

Monday Dec. 6 - West Tech at 10 a.m. and L building at 5 p.m.

Tuesday Dec. 7 - H building at 11 a.m.

Wednesday Dec. 8 - East Tech at 9 a.m., A building at 10 a.m., and C

building at 11 a.m.

Thursday Dec. 9 - none Friday Dec. 10- La-Z-Boy Center at 11:30 a.m. and Whitman Center at

1 p.m.

Criminal Justice professor Penelope Dunn and her students are forming a Criminal Justice Club for MCCC. According to Dunn, the club is planning to have field trips to police departments, jails, juvenile correctional facilities, courts, and possibly a crime lab.

The club also will have speakers on campus to provide information about specific areas of interest, as well as participate in some community events.

The Criminal Justice Club is planning on having some informational meetings at the beginning of next semester.

The purpose of the club is to increase interest in criminal justice as it pertains to the interests of club members; to facilitate any member with needed assistance in the area of criminal justice, career growth, or job searches; to expand members’ knowledge of the functions and workings of the criminal justice system; and to gain an appreciation for community level criminal justice issues and concerns and participate in activities which promote justice; and to actively contribute to the Criminal Justice Program at MCCC. Anyone interested in joining can contact Penelope Dunn at 734-384-4157 or e-mail her at padunn@monroeccc.edu.

Transfer to Siena Heights on the campus of MCCC and bring your credits with you!

Siena Heights University at Monroe County Community College has been providing bachelor degree completion programs to adult students in Monroe, Michigan since 1990. Some benefits of the program include: • Grounded, online and blended classes available evenings and weekends.

• Personalized advising.

• Transfer friendly policies.

Schedule an appointment today to talk to an advisor about completing your Bachelors Degree in: • Bachelor of Applied Sciences - A career-oriented degree designed for professionals with allied health, technical, or vocational training and experience, and graduates of two-year occupational programs.

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Contact Us Today!

734.384.4133 • monroe@sienaheights.edu or stop by Life Sciences Bldg. • Room L-221

www.sienaheights.edu/mccc

A&E

November 22, 2010

THE AGORA

7

Comedy TV gets political Morgan Hofbauer Staff reporter

There is a new wave of humor entering comedy TV. Recent episodes of popular comedies like South Park and Family Guy have lost a touch of the old toilet humor and progressed into something intelligent and relative to modern politics.

Family Guy’s ninth season recently featured conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh in the episode “Excellence in Broadcasting.”

Taking stabs at the left, but more at the right, the show covers the stereotypical ideas of both ideologies, depicted through Limbaugh and the liberal canine Brian Griffin.

After converting Brian to the conservative way, Limbaugh joins him in a musical number titled, “Republican Town,” which suggests a church to Ronald Reagan and that global warming is simply a snow job by Obama.

“I guess the most frequent criticism I’m getting is that I allowed conservatism to be ‘cartooned,’ but everything in the show is cartooned,” Limbaugh said on his talk show.

“But that ending, folks? I’m running down the street, I morph into an eagle, fly into the sky, into a big American flag? I mean, it doesn’t get any better than that,” he continued. “Conservatism looked pretty good to me.”

Limbaugh was a good sport, even making a few jokes against himself and

the Republican Party.

Hayward, as well as the media coverage with Captain Hindsight for the fame and “The fact that you would give a wom- and government responses to the issue, glory of solving the BP issue. an credit for anything, it means you’re a portrayed through Captain HindWhile the political jokes are increassight. liberal,” Limbaugh tells Brian in the epiing, the creators of Family Guy and sode.

Hindsight is a South Park were far from shy in using superhero who politics in the past.

Of course, the show keeps its tradecan only state mark flashbacks and simple humor, but Family Guy has the safety preoverall it seems to be a brief political cracked jokes cautions that lesson mixed with classic comedy that about immigrashould have someone 15-years-old or 50 would ention, No Child been in place, joy.

Left Behind, rather than ideas the electionAfter a six-month hiatus, South Park on resolving the eering process, returned to Comedy Central, political as issue. censorship by ever, to finish season 14.

The Coon and his the FCC, and The season has taken cracks at medifriends find themBill Clincal marijuana, terrorism, and the BP selves in comoil spill, with legitimate, though petition fairly libertarian, jokes and arguments.

The recent threeepisode trilogy centered around the oil spill.

The first episode, “Coon 2: Hindsight,” brings back Eric Cartman’s alter ego “the Coon.”

This crime-solving raccoon was first introduced in 2009 to mock the newest Batman movie.

The episode mocks the apolPhoto courtesy of Comedy Central ogy videos released

by BP CEO Tony Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the creators of the popular, but controversial, TV show South Park.

ton’s sexcapades.

Seth MacFarlane, the creator of the show, has donated over $50,000 to Democratic committees and elections, including for the 2008 presidential election, in favor of Barack Obama.

“Family Guy tends to be very liberal because it’s written by liberals,” MacFarlane told the Hollywood Reporter.

MacFarlane said bringing a Republican onto the show was an attempt to give some face-time for the other side of politics that Family Guy typically skims over.

As for South Park co-creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, their political ideologies have been debated.

Parker is an admitted registered libertarian, whereas Stone has shied away from revealing his political stance.

“I hate conservatives, but I really f--ing hate liberals,” Stone said in an online forum.

Stone also took part in Michael Moore’s documentary, “Bowling for Columbine.”

Whatever their views are, they haven’t been afraid to portray them through the little town of South Park, including stabs at drug war propagandists, environmental activists, political correctness, and Rob Reiner and the anti-smoking campaign.

New family guy episodes premiere every Sunday at 9 p.m. on FOX. South Park airs on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on Comedy Central.

Public Access nears How-to guide for pedophiles banned end to first season “I agree with freedom of Morgan Hofbauer Staff reporter

Chase Dowler Staff reporter

Monroe’s home-grown comedic sitcom, Public Access, is drawing viewers’ attention.

The next episode to be aired is on November 23 at 9 p.m. on Monroe Public Access TV (MPACT). It will be the sitcom’s fifth episode.

The creator of the show, Patrick Dunn, 22 of Monroe, is ready for the episode to air.

“Episode five is kind of a parody of the many religious programs on public access TV and all the crazy gimmicks they do for attention,” Dunn said.

Public Access has also been getting attention from online users, who view the episodes at facebook.com/publicaccess1

“We had over 300 views just on the pilot episode and that number is always rising,” Dunn said.

Dunn has had several Public Access fans ask about getting the episodes on DVD. “We will be selling a DVD collection of the first season on the Facebook starting in January,” Dunn said.

MPACT invited Dunn to appear as a guest on Lee Markham’s The Lotus Ginkgo show. Markham made a guest appearance on Public Access, playing a liberal commentator.

The Spaghetti Zombies, now known as The Capaul Band, made a guest appearance on Nov. 9.

Dunn has started writing the script for the second season.

But before a second season can be made they need more money.

“It’s all depending on grant money for more shows,” Dunn said.

The first season of Public Access is scheduled to end in the beginning of January.

Photo courtesy of Patrick Dunn

The cast of Public Access while filming their first season

As winter semester draws closer, college students will be looking for cheap textbooks, but recent controversy has caused a few students question which outlets to buy from.

Amazon.com, America’s largest online retailer, recently made news by selling, “The Pedophile’s Guide to Love and Pleasure.”

Written and self-published by Philip R. Greaves II, “The Pedophile’s Guide” is a code of conduct for pedophilic relationships.

One of his guidelines suggests that, while penetration with children is bad, there is no problem with kissing or fondling.

The book is self-dedicated to “those courageous boys and men of past generations who shared love with one another, sometimes with the approval of society, sometimes with only grudging acceptance, and sometimes at the peril of their freedom and even their lives.”

Because it does not include photographs or images, the content is protected by the First Amendment and untouchable to the claims of child pornography.

Greaves, 47, told ABC News that the message of his book has been misunderstood.

“I wrote the book to establish guidelines,” he said, “so that people would behave in a manner that is non-injurious to each other, for one, and, for two, to communicate the fact that these people who are so different in maturation, etc., that when they develop relationships, they use certain principles that regular people, adults, would be well to attend.”

Whatever that means, many people aren’t buying it.

the press, but there’s also the freedom of the buyers.”

Amazon designated a telephone extension to handle the waves of complaints surrounding that single book.

Additionally, the controversial snowball has grown through modern networking, as Facebook groups began popping up to protest, boycott, and condemn Amazon for profiting from the book. “!!!Boycott Amazon.com for Selling How Guide for pedophile,” is one Facebook group that already has gained nearly 16,000 “likes.”

The group’s description argues that freedom of speech goes both ways.

“As much as retailers have the right to free speech, and to protect what they view as the free speech of their authors . . . , as Americans we have a right to boycott a retailer who sells something we view as objectionable and as a means to promote the most heinous of crimes against those who are most vulnerable . . . our children,” the description stated.

Greaves has been cleared for any previous sexual offenses, and said to ABC that he is not trying to encourage pedophiles with his book.

“I’m not saying I want them around children; I’m saying if they’re there, that’s how I want them to behave,” he said.

Amazon defended the product at first.

“Amazon believes it is censorship not to sell certain books simply because we, or oth-

Photo courtesy of MCCC

The chorale performed international music on Oct. 18 for the 2010-11 season’s opening night.

Chorale to host benefit concert for kids Agora staff

MCCC’s Agora Chorale is hosting a benefit concert for “Toys for Tots” at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 14.

The concert will take place at the Meyer Theater. There is no admission charge, but those attending are asked to bring a toy.

Toys will be presented during intermis-

sion to a Marine Corp representative, who will put the toys in boxes near the stage.

The choir is conducted by Catherine Brodie and accompanied by Alyce Sangster.

A variety of carols will be performed, including “Carol of the Bells,” “Fum, Fum, Fum,” “The Star Carol,” and “Behold that Star.”

Laura Brewer MCCC Student

The concert also will feature Carillon, a guest women’s chorale from the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area. Carillon is conducted

by Karen Nevins and accompanied by Alyce Sangster.

Carillon will sing carols as well, including “Christmas Pipes,” “O Tannenbaum,” and “Auld Lang Syne.”

ers, believe their message is objectionable,” an Amazon spokeswoman said.

“Amazon does not support or promote hatred or criminal acts, however, we do support the right of every individual to make their own purchasing decisions,” she continued.

After enough negative media attention, however, the book was banned, reinstated, and then banned again.

Amazon may have thought the censorship monkey was off it’s back, but that was far from the case.

With all of the public attention on Amazon, several other pro-molestation books were discovered, including “Understanding Loved Boys and Boylovers,” “Erotic Innocence: The Culture of Child Molesting,” and “Beyond Hysteria: Boy Erotica on the Internet.”

MCCC student Laura Brewer said she has bought a few of her college books from Amazon, but probably won’t be taking her business there again.

“I think pedophilia is disgusting, so I don’t think it’s a good idea to sell books about it,” she said.

Student Deanna Boberg said she supports the freedom of the press.

“Disgusting or not, it’s still a First Amendment right,” she said. “If you start banning one thing, where does it go from there?”

Brewer took a stance similar to the Facebook group.

“I agree with freedom of the press, but there’s also the freedom of the buyers, the freedom to protest,” she said. “If they think it’s okay to sell it, then they can go ahead and sell it. But if I don’t want to buy it, I don’t have to buy it.”

8

THE AGORA

Sports

November 22, 2010

Volleyball club prepares for tournament Jeff Papworth Agora reporter

The MCCC Volleyball club is preparing for a Dec. 4 tournament that will include teams with ex-college volleyball players.

The date of the tournament is Dec. 4.

The MCCC volleyball club played three games last week in its league.

Every game was close, but the MCCC team failed to win any of them.

Assistant coach Chrystal Caldwell said the MCCC girls are at a disadvantage because they cannot find teams that have players the same age.

“They learned,” Caldwell said, “that sometimes experience can overcome skill.”

Caldwell has learned some things about the team during this season.

“We have a lot of team cohesiveness; the girls get along very well,” she said.

Jessica Dover and Samantha Ballard are two sophomores, in their first year in the MCCC volleyball club.

Ballard said she played well for only her first year in the program, but can play better. She also said she tries to fill the role of motivator on the team.

Dover was surprised by the tough competition they’ve faced and said the team needs to improve overall.

One thing Dover said she needs to work on is passing.

The volleyball club seems to have fixed its communication woes during games.

The team now will be working on being clutch in close games and knowing how to put a team away, Caldwell said.

Agora photos by Jeff Papworth

Left: Assistant coach Chrystal Caldwell assists Samantha Ballard with a few tips.

Right: Ballard bumps the ball up while Rachel Cousino, Amelia Contreras, and Jessica Dober watch.

Below: Caldwell serves the ball to Ballard, Dober, and Cousino.

Michigan State has high hopes for another Final Four Jeff Papworth Agora reporter

Michigan State fans had a sigh of relief in June after Tom Izzo declined an intriguing offer by longtime friend Dan Gilbert to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers.

On Nov. 6, the Spartans added a year onto Izzo’s contract to make him the coach for the Spartans until 2017.

The Spartans have high hopes coming off a Final Four run last season.

Michigan State is ranked No. 2 in the nation and has a pivotal match against the No. 1-ranked Duke Blue Devils at Cameroon Indoor Stadium on Dec. 1 in the ACC/ Big Ten challenge.

Butler dashed the Spartans chances of playing the Blue Devils in the National Championship last season.

“I thought the physical play bothered us - that surprised me,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo told the Associated Press.

That would astound most of the coaches in the Big Ten, because the Spartans have a reputation for being the most physical team in the Big Ten.

The Spartans return five of the seven players with the most minutes in the previous season. The two players lost were Raymar Morgan and Chris Allen.

They also have a total of eight upperclassman on the roster, and they have depth at the point guard position.

Leading scorer Kalin Lucas returned for his senior year. Korie Lucious moved up another level when he took over as starting point guard after Lucas had a seasonending injury in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The only flaw with Lucious seems to be his off-court problems. Izzo suspended him the first two games because Lucious was charged with reckless driving.

To start the season, Michigan State will play in the Maui Invitational. Its toughest tests will be Kentucky and Uconn.

The Spartans’ first game in the tournament will be Nov. 22 against Chaminade.

“We’ve got a lot of good pieces, but we don’t have all of ‘em together yet,” Izzo told freep.com, “That’s gonna take some time, but there were some very encouraging things.”

Douglas, Novak lead Blue Jeff Papworth Agora reporter

Junior guard Stu Douglass will be included in March Madness highlights for years to come because of what happened in Conseco Fieldhouse last season in the Big Ten tournament.

Douglass, who had not shot well all season, made 5 of 8 three-pointers and his last task to finish out a great game against the Ohio State Buckeye’s was to make sure Player of the Year Evan Turner could not get a clean shot off with 2.1 seconds left.

Turner would launch toward the basket as Douglass put a hand in his face, but it was not enough. Douglass, in disbelief, had his arms raised for at least five seconds after the shot went through.

Michigan was ranked in the top 15 at the beginning of the season, yet failed to qualify for an NIT bid.

Michigan basketball coach John Beiein said the OSU game was a “microcosm of the season.”

This year, players will look for Douglass and Zack Novak to be leaders on the team.

“It was very natural thing for Zack from day one,” Michigan coach

John Beilein told DetNews. “For Stu, through just his maturation as a young man, he has acquired an ability to lead.”

This season, many people are saying Michigan is a borderline NIT team because of the loss of DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris, but if Michigan fans can be patient, the basketball team does set up well for the seasons to come.

Michigan has no seniors on its roster.

“This is a very young team, this is probably one of the younger teams I’ve ever coached” Beilein, who has 32 years of head coaching experience, said at a press conference.

Michigan has made positive news in other areas.

The Wolverines have signed four players who have family members who played in the NBA. The players are Tim Hardaway, Jon Horford, Jordan Dumars and Glenn Robinson.

Hardaway and Horford will play right away. Dumars can not play until December, since he transferred from South Florida. Glenn Robinson will join the team in two years.

This season, the Wolverines finally have a physical forward, who can

challenge people around the boards.

In an exhibition game against Saginaw Valley State, Jordan Morgan accounted for 15 rebounds.

The past two years, Michigan has had 6-4 shooting guard Novak as the power forward, because of the lack of big men.

People should not count this team out. John Beilein-led teams have a tendency to overachieve. Nobody was picking Michigan to make it to the tournament in 2008, yet they made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament in Beilein’s second season at the helm.

In his last season at West Virginia, Beilein had lost a core group of players who earned an Elite 8 and Sweet 16 berth. They were picked to finish in the bottom of a 16-team conference, but they ended up being right on the bubble.

They did not get an invite to the NCAA tournament, but they won the NIT Championship.

Michigan will have an excellent chance to show how good they are in the 2010 Legends Classic pre-season tournament, which started Nov. 14 and will end on Nov. 27. Teams in the tournament include Syracuse, Georgia Tech and Texas-El Paso.

MI hunters prepare for firearm season Chase Dowler Agora reporter

Deer hunters in Michigan have until Nov. 30 to harvest whitetails with a firearm.

Many bowhunters were not lucky enough to fill their kill tags in October or early November. But, they can use the fifteen day firearm season to redeem themselves and still put some venison in their freezer.

MCCC student Andrew Miller, 19 of Monroe, was lucky enough to harvest a nice buck during bow season. He got the 8-point on the morning of Oct. 31 in Calhoun County. This was his first buck with a bow.

Miller says he plans to keep hunting during rifle season in hopes of another.

In 2008, deer hunting in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan got a major change. All baiting of deer was permanently banned.

The cause of the ban was a single deer that was found to have chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Kent County.

The era of pouring bags of carrots into the

woods and waiting for deer to stroll into the all-you-can-eat buffet is apparently over.

Violators are subject to penalties from a $50 fine to 90 days in jail.

The type of firearm Michigan deer hunters can use is based on what part of the state they live in. There is an imaginary line drawn across the counties of Muskegon, Kent, Montcalm, and Gratiot. Then the line goes north through Saginaw and Bay Counties. Hunters south of the line have to hunt with shotguns. North of the line, rifles may be used.

The air is getting frigid and the bucks are getting bold while chasing the does. Good luck to all the deer hunters who will be out in the woods this year.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Miller

Andrew Miller, with his bow in hand, sits behind the first buck he caught with a bow.