2-11-2010

Page 1

GORA A

Blues Brothers come to MCCC

THE

Monroe County Community College

Feb. 11, 2010

Vol. 54, Issue 1

The Agora now online!

Visit the Agora online at www.mcccagora.com to stay updated on the latest in what college students care about most. Look for these exclusive features on the Web site: • Video interviews • Picture galleries • Breaking news • Blogs • Archives of older editions • Post comments to discuss the news • Participate in surveys and see instant results

www.mcccagora.com

pg. 6

College contemplates smoking ban pg. 7

Enrollment record shattered 5% more students; 9.5% more credit hours this Winter Asia Rapai Staff

Record enrollment has busied MCCC’s campus this Winter semester. The start to the Winter semester differs from the Fall. “There are only about 400 new students in the Winter compared to about 1,300 in the Fall,” Vice President of Student and Information Services Randy Daniels said. Even though there are fewer new students in the Winter semester, college employees are busy providing services for students. The extra work was brought on by

another semester of record-breaking enrollment at MCCC. The final headcount showed there are 4,562 students enrolled for the 2009 Winter semester, Registrar Paul Schmidt said. “The headcount number is up again over last year after a slight dip in 2008,” Schmidt said. More students have been using the services provided by the college to help with the beginning of a new semester. When the Admissions office offered walk-in counseling, a large number of students showed up. Daniels volunteered to council students himself. He said the counselors were swamped, so he stepped in to help. “All offices are busy,” Daniels said. As for student services, there are fewer orientation activities for new students in the Winter semester than in the Fall. “We certainly don’t have as many new students in the Winter,” Daniels said. “There is one student orientation session

in the Winter compared to four or five in the Fall.” The winter weather also affects the types of student activities and events held on campus. “The Winter is more serene,” Daniels said. “It’s more laidback than the Fall.” Despite the growing number of students, cold weather, and the laidback atmosphere of the winter, students should expect the same amount of service from college employees. “We provide affective and personal service for students,” Daniels said. “I think everybody’s done a fantastic job of helping students get where they need to be for this semester.”

Increased enrollment raised revenue from contact hours, page 5

Earthquake in Haiti affects MCCC Brandy Werner Staff

Alex Babycz and Brian Lay traveled to Haiti to help a university set up a computer lab in Oct. 2008. Two years later, that university is a pile of rubble, and their Haitian friends have no place to go. On Jan. 12, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, leaving the country devastated. The quake triggered an international response from people all over the world interested in helping the impoverished country. Lay, manager of Information Systems, and Babycz, assistant professor of Construction Management, were among those at MCCC personally touched by the quake’s effects. “We were concerned for the people we knew there,” Babycz said. “And when we found out that the school had collapsed, we were saddened about that.” “But it wasn’t all lost,” Babycz added. “The computer lab had a year and a half of use, and no one (at the school) was hurt too bad.” The duo had traveled to Haiti with the group, Partners in Progress. While there, the group worked with the University of Fondwa to build them a computer lab. Prior to their visit, the school hadn’t

owned any computers. The group gave the school seven computers with available Internet access. They also installed solar panels on the roof of the university to power the computer lab. “Electricity was sparse,” Lay said. “They only had about two or three hours of electricity a day.” The purpose of their trip was to provide the Haitians in Fondwa with a “microenterprise,” Babycz said. “We wanted to train the Haitians to be able to install and maintain the systems so they could start their own business or share their knowledge,” he said. While there, Babycz taught the university students “basic electricity, wiring, the basics of solar panels and components, and how to maintain batteries,” he said. Lay trained students and faculty on the basics of computer operating systems. “I taught the faculty and staff how to set up and maintain a network,” he said. Babycz and Lay’s story was even featured on WTOL Channel 11 News on Jan. 22. The day of the earthquake, the University of Fondwa collapsed while school was in session. Students and faculty were able to escape the building with only minor injuries.

See Haiti, Page 8

Agora photo by Ashley LeTourneau

MCCC student Phil Costello fills out a Hand for Haiti after his donation. Student Government members such as Jacob McLaughlin, President (left), and Tara Hubbard, Secretary (right), have put time into collecting donations outside the cafeteria.

Learning Bank holds grand opening Ashley Hammer

“It’s about becoming a model, not just for the rest of the state, but for the rest of the country.”

Staff

The Learning Bank opened last week in East Monroe, providing area residents with an opportunity for a second chance. The Learning Bank is designed for students who dropped out of high school or who need extra skills to go on to college. It gives them a chance to get a GED and to prepare for higher education and a better job. The grand opening for the Learning Bank was Friday, Feb. 6, at the Arthur Lesow Community Center. The new school is located next to the center in a former Monroe Bank & Trust branch on East Chester Street. Even though the grand opening was last week, classes were able to open in the fall, using the Arthur Lesow center. Although remodeling of the Learning Bank building was not finished, officials started the classes, allowing as many students as they could fit in. The grand opening featured several heartwarming speeches. The audience got to hear of all the hard work that the

INSIDE: Editorial...................2 A&E..........................3 CampusNews.........4

Vuncia Council Learning Bank Coordinator

Agora photo by Ashley Hammer

The grand opening for the Learning Bank was Friday, Feb. 6, at the Arthur Lesow Community Center. The new school is located next to the center in a former Monroe Bank & Trust branch on East Chester Street.

founders put in to give students a chance at a better life, and then stories of the difficulties the students faced and how thankful they were to have a school to help them. The crowd turned teary as a former

Campus News.........5 Feature....................6 Feature....................7 Sports......................8

Enriching the students across Southeast Michigan

student told her story. She told of how she was so thankful for the opportunity she was given and of how welcome the teachers and staff made her feel. The accommodating scheduling the school offered was a great help, she

said, as well as the hope-filled community that supported her. “It’s about becoming a model, not just for the rest of the state, but for the rest of the country,” said Learning Bank Coordinator Vuncia Council, who spoke at the ceremony. Council got the crowd’s attention, speaking of her goals for the center and the community. She talked of dreams in seeing this country bettering itself, and how the Learning Bank is the start of moving forward. Other speakers included MCCC President David Nixon, State Sen. Randy Richardville and Trustee Linda Lauer.

The ceremony was followed by a procession over to the new building, where snacks including cookies and punch were provided. As it becomes more known, the Learning Bank is continuing to grow. It was filled to its capacity of 40 students before the grand opening even took place. Eight students already have passed half of their required tests this semester, getting closer to gaining their GED. The coordinators do everything in their power to accommodate students, Council said. Working around their schedule, weekly career counseling, and free tuition are just a few of the services offered the students. Partners in the Learning Bank include MCCC, the Arthur Lesow Community Center, the Bedford and Mason School Districts, SEMCA\Michigan Works, Monroe County ISD, City of Monroe, United Way, the Monroe County Library System, Monroe County Opportunities Program, the Salvation Army, Monroe County Opportunity System, City of Hope CDC and Monroe Bank and Trust.

Fitness Center Hours:

Library Hours:

Mon - Thurs: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Mon - Thurs: 8 a.m. - 9:30 Friday: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Writing Center Hours:

Bookstore Hours:

Monday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tues - Thurs: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Mon & Tues: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Wed - Fri: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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