2-12-2007

Agora

The Vol. 49, Issue 5

February 12, 2007

MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

INSIDE

Opinion, 2 & 3 Looking for the perfect way to express your feelings to that special someone?

One Agora reporter gives some Valentine’s Day tips Learn about houseplants and how to care for them

Campus News, 4 & 5 MCCC restaurant to have a blast from the past

Plan on transferring in the fall? Find out how to be prepared.

“We Care” telethon to be held at Meyer Theater

Feature, 6 & 7

Have you heard about V-Day? Find out more on page 6 MCCC student appeared on Wheel of Fortune and won big bucks

Entertainment, 8 & 9

The Big Read event featuring Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Do you know who rates the movies?

This Film is Not Yet Rated exposes MPAA

In the Mix, 10 Reader’s voice

Upcoming concerts, lunch ‘n learns, club information, and more

Spotlight, 11 & 12 YFU students

Detroit Tigers visit campus

Head Start brings changes, concerns Charlene Hunt Reporter

For over twenty years the college has provided child care services for student-parents of Monroe County Community College (MCCC) through the institution’s private day care center, Kiddie Campus. Opinions are mixed between the students, community members and parents in the area regarding the merge between Kiddie Campus and Head Start.

“The goal of the Head Start program is to give children from economically disadvantaged families the opportunity to participate in a free comprehensive preschool program that will help them to acquire the skills needed to be successful as they go through school and life,” Sandra Hall, director of Head Start, said.

Head Start Academy, the name of the combined childcare center, is said to run like a “nicely oiled machine,” to some and a “complete disaster” to others. Numerous parents are voicing their concern with a lack of available slots for MCCC student-parents, the sudden changes occurring at the facility and the lack of communication between companies. The center previously served about 34 children at any given time and will continue to keep that number as of now, but with 15 slots reserved for children who are non-Head Start students.

Michelle Baumann, MCCC student-parent who has been using the facility since 2005, had a lot to say on the topic.

“It really did not benefit the students at large. Very few, unfortunately, had the opportunity to qualify because they already had their Head Start students and so few slots were left,” she said.

The exact number of students turned away from the center this term due to placement shortage is unknown.

There are five students in the nursing programs (LPN/RN) that were denied a slot in the center and over ten more that are questionable.

“As of the first week of operation, the registrar said that all students who wanted slots were served,” Joe Verkennes, Director of Marketing and spokesperson on behalf of the MCCC institution, said. “Previously, slots had never filled up and it costs.”

With student record enrollment for the fourth consecutive winter semester, the chance of slots filling to the maximum at the childcare center was a large possibility. In the future if this were to become an even larger problem, Verkennes responded that “If we

Agora photo by Charlene Hunt

Children gather at Head Start, formerly Kiddie Campus, at MCCC.

need to look into ways to expand [the center], we will. I’m not sure how, but we will.”

MCCC is following the actions of Lansing Community College (LCC), where there are three childhood classrooms and each classroom partnered with a different agency, including Head Start. LCC has a student enrollment of over 19,000 and each center is organized and separated from the others for maximum quality of care.

Student-parents currently pay $3.50 an hour for care, including the time their child(ren) sit in on Head Start’s preschool classes. Many preschools throughout Monroe County charge fees range from $100-300 every two weeks for preschool education. Interactions Child Care Center in Monroe currently charges $155 weekly or $38 daily for preschool, prices that closely

match other providers in the area.

“I got a letter from Head Start saying the price went down, but then it went back up to $3.50 an hour,” Baumenn said.

A meeting held on January 28th discussed many aspects of the childcare center, including prices. “[We] may bring prices down to $2.50 an hour.

It’s a possibility,” Verkennes said.

Income-based eligibility has become a worry to some of the parents that utilize the center. Slot availability has been cut in half since last year and accessibility appeared to be based on immediate financial need rather than student-focused need.

“Some of the paperwork they [the parents] filled out in the beginning was confusing. It asked a lot of income-based questions and may have

“It really did not benefit the students at large.

Very few, unfortunately, had the opportunity to qualify because they already had their Head Start students and so few slots were left.”

Michelle Baumann MCCC Student

given the wrong impression. Slots for [the child care center] are given out on a first come, first serve basis - just like in the past,” Diana Cramer, coordinator of the childcare center and liaison between MCCC and Head Start, said.

Another MCCC student-parent explains that the merge was spontaneous and poorly organized, causing distress in the quality of life for many children and their families.

“In fact, immediately after the children eat lunch, which is around noon, they are brought to the dance room, which is not designed for children. It has no toys, no bathroom and is completely out of the norm for them until the Head Start program is finished using the daycare center at 3:30 in the afternoon,” Beth Grider, MCCC student-parent, said. Grider wrote a letter to the Board of Trustees that was read on January 22 regarding the issue.

Another anonymous student-parent that exercises the facility at MCCC voiced that they believed the room was “unfit for children” and “not the environment they signed up for.”

Verkennes had no knowledge of the use of an additional room or separation between the children.

See “Head Start,” page 10

Faculty agreement tentative, Nixon’s contract renewed Lisa Ghigliazza Copy Editor

After nearly a year of contract negotiations, an agreement for a new faculty contract was reached on January 16, 2007. During negotiations with a mediator, both the district and Monroe County Community College Faculty Association (MCCCFA) teams reached a tentative agreement. The next step is to have the contract approved by the Monroe County Community College (MCCC) Board of Trustees and the MCCCFA membership. On January 23, 2007, MCCCFA members ratified the agreement.

“The Board of Trustees has been notified that the MCCCFA members have voted to ratify the agreement on a new contract. Now it is up to the Trustees to consider the tentative agreement,” Roger Spalding, MCCCFA president, said.

The Board of Trustees will not call

a special meeting to vote on the contract, instead choosing to wait until the next regular board meeting which is scheduled for February 26, 2007.

Both chief negotiators, Randy Daniels for the district team and Dean Kerste for MCCCFA team, have agreed not to release information about the new contract until approval from both MCCCFA and the Board.

Meanwhile, Dr. David Nixon’s contract, which was not due to expire until July 31, 2007, was renewed at the January 22, 2007 Board of Trustees meeting. While the issue of renewing Dr. Nixon’s contract was not on the agenda for the meeting, it was brought up after the Board reconvened from closed sessions. The meeting went into closed sessions at 8:45pm to discuss the status of collective bargaining between the District and MCCCFA and reconvened approximately an hour later. Under the section, “Board

Member and Committee Reports,” Thomas Waldecker reported that Chair Marjorie Kreps had asked him to work with William Bacarella, Jr. and William Braunlich to coordinate a review of President Nixon’s contract for renewal purposes, prior to February 1, 2007. Mr. Waldecker moved and was supported by Mr. Braunlich, to extend Dr. Nixon’s contract for an additional three years with renewal salary increases for each year of two percent of the base salary. The Board unanimously approved the renewal of Dr. Nixon’s contract.

The president’s current base salary is $136,895.83. In addition, the president will receive $5,000.00 annually contributed to an additional retirement plan selected by Dr. Nixon.

Dr. Nixon’s contract also states he will receive an annual expense account of $3,000.00 to be used at his discretion; a Social Membership at

the Monroe Golf and Country Club at the cost of $950.00 annually; a vehicle, fully paid for by the college, for his personal and professional use and all expenses of maintaining and operating the vehicle paid by the college; twenty-five paid vacation days; reimbursement for all travel expenses while conducting college business; and health, life, dental, long-term disability, and travel insurances; retirement plan, and sick leave.

“Because the President’s contract does not automatically renew, it was necessary for the Board to act before February 1,” Mr. Braunlich said.

He also suggested the Board now review more thoroughly the merit clause, comparative compensation data, and salary differential between leadership ranks. Board members agreed to review recommendations for contract revisions in conjunction with the President’s annual evaluation.

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Opinion

AGORA

February 12, 2007

Global warming taking toll on Earth Patrick Dunn Reporter

On August 13, 2005, a 3,000-yearold ice shelf melted and broke away from the coast of Canada’s Ellesmere Island in less than an hour. The Ayles Ice Shelf, which is nine miles long, was one of six shelves left in Canada, following a disturbing pattern as 90 percent of Canada’s ice shelves have melted away over the past century. In late December 2006, scientists attributed the Ayles breakup to the rising temperatures caused by global warming.

The Ayles breakup is only the latest sign of the dramatic threat global warming poses to our planet and our way of life. It’s not just hotter summers and warmer winters. These subtle and gradual climate changes add up to serious consequences, from crop failures to abnormally severe weather events. Ironically, global warming

and its consequences can be traced to human behavior—specifically, our use (and overuse) of fossil fuels like gasoline, coal, and natural gas.

The evidence is well-documented and widespread. Yet, the human race still hasn’t taken the swift and decisive action necessary to reverse the effects of global warming. We have only furthered the problem with our continued usage of fossil fuel. America is especially guilty of this negligence; we have refused to follow the rest of the global community in signing the Kyoto Protocol. And, until recently, many of our government leaders have refused to even acknowledge the existence of global warming. With new evidence of global warming appearing daily, what will it take for us to own up to our mistakes and do something to avoid disaster?

Last year it seemed Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth could be the

wake-up call to our society and our government. The film was critically acclaimed with Gore receiving praise for his warm, likeable, layman’s treatment of the subject. However, Gore is still best known as a Democratic politician, and his bitterness over losing the 2000 Presidential election made its way into the film. It spoiled his image as a selfless, apolitical crusader for climate change awareness.

Furthermore, the “warm, likeable” image seems too strange for the usual charisma-challenged Gore to draw in the average person.

An interesting follow-up on Gore’s concept has come recently from rock superstars Green Day, who have created a series of videos in collaboration with the National Resource Defense Council. The brief videos feature the band explaining global warming issues and what viewers can do about it, complete with a soundtrack pulled

have to be a sappy romance movie; it could be an action packed thriller.

Just decide on an evening and watch the movie. Spending quality time with loved ones is a great way to spend an evening.

Eight: A stuffed animal is always nice to receive. Like a soft teddy bear, loveable puppy, or a cute kitty.

When you give someone a stuffed animal you can lighten up someone’s day.

Seven: Giving a card. Now, I not just talking about going to a store and picking out the best card you can find. Anyone can do that. Instead of buying a card, why don’t you make one this year? This shows the person you are giving the card to just how much they mean to you.

Six: A text message. Not just the same old text message, but something which builds the other person up and will allow them to see they are special to you.

Five: One word: chocolate. Chocolate is good-- no,-- make that great-any time of the year. When a person

receives it in a heart-shaped box, it makes the chocolate taste even sweeter than before.

Four: A hug. This is an act which makes people feel important, and guess what? It’s free. This random act of goodness shows people they are special and it doesn’t cost a penny.

Three: Flowers. Flowers make everyone smile. They remind people of past memories and they also help make new ones.

Two: Jewelry is a nice gift to receive. Instead of buying the jewelry, what if you made the necklace or bracelet? Most people (parents especially) would rather know you worked hard on their gift instead of just buying the first thing you see at the mall.

One: A love letter. I am not talking about any normal love letter. I am talking about a letter where the other person expresses that they love you so much they are willing to die for you.

In fact, at the end of this letter there is even a White Knight riding in to save you. Isn’t this the ultimate letter you could receive? It’s called the Bible. This Valentine’s Day don’t forget about the act of love that was done for you.

from their hit album American Idiot.

With their huge popularity among youth, perhaps Green Day might succeed where Gore did not.

Humanity must eventually receive its wake-up call to the threat of global warming, whether it comes in the form

of a celebrity campaign, w e a t h e r crisis, or an economic disaster. We can’t escape or ignore the consequences of the environmental crisis we’ve created…but how much longer will it take before we wake up and rise to the challenge of setting things right?

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 202 of the Life Sciences Bldg., (734) 3844186. 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, the Community College Journalism Association, College Media Advisers, Associated Collegiate Press and the Student Press Law Center.

Mark Bergmooser, Adviser

Ten ways to say “I love you” Kristin Booth Copy Editor

When most people think of Valentine’s Day, they immediately think of their significant other. But isn’t Valentine’s Day a day that allows us to express our love and friendship to family and friends as well? It is important for you to spend time with your “true love” but giving little gifts to the people who mean the most to you is also nice. Here is a list of ten ways to show someone, whether it is a boyfriend, girlfriend, parent, sibling, or grandparent, that you love them.

Ten: A phone call. I am not just talking about the regular, “Hey, how are you doing?” phone call. I am talking about telling your friend or family member how much they really mean to you. Face it, we all like having affirmation spoken about us and what better way than to express it to the person(s) you care about than on Heart Day? Nine: Watching a movie. It doesn’t

Crowded classrooms need attention Gary Knox Reporter

According to Monroe County Community College’s (MCCC) official web site, a record 4,268 students have enrolled for the winter semester. This number is a 6.1 percent increase from the previous enrollment record of 4,023 students set during last year’s fall semester. While there are definite advantages to the record enrollment, such as the surplus of students attending MCCC, a potential problem presents itself: crowded classrooms.

MCCC students are offered a more intimate learning environment, a luxury unavailable to students who roam the halls of a much larger university.

With the amount of students growing at a record rate, however, this intimate learning environment could be in jeopardy.

“In a smaller class it can be easier to learn because the teacher is able to give more attention to students. In a bigger class it is easier to get lost in the crowd,” Brian Vandale, MCCC student said.

While a waiting list policy, put in place to avoid overcrowding, system has been implemented, some

Photo by Nick Vanderpool

Dr. Sabo’s political science class which contains roughtly 30 students during one class period.

classrooms do not have the adequate amount of space to hold a certain number of students. For example, the room where The Agora student newspaper is produced is not big enough to comfortably hold the 20 students on staff. Students are not exactly elbow-to-elbow with each other, but problems can arise when there are not enough computers for the amount of students in class.

As a disabled student, a crowded

classroom means difficulty getting around. MCCC has done an admirable job making sure its institution remains accessible to the disabled.

Proof can be found by observing the automatic doors available when entering most MCCC buildings and the new ADA compliant bathrooms. To maintain a stellar record of accessibility for the disabled, and the same intimate learning environment for all MCCC students, overcrowding is an issue which must be dealt with.

Agora photo courtesy of USAtoday.com

Kiefer Sutherland plays Jack Bauer on “24.”

stereotypes © Josh Kraus Page Editor

This season of the hit show 24 could not be any more exciting and actionpacked.

With the threat of a nuclear weapon being unleashed in Los Angeles and Jack Bauer being released from China, only to then be handed over to terrorists as a bartering tool, season six is beginning to look like a great year for 24.

One of the things about 24 which has always made an impression on me is how realistic some of the situations seem, especially considering the times in which we are living . However, does 24 take it too far?

In most episodes of 24, there is always some major threat that seems to jeopardize the very existence of the United States. Luckily for us, there is the one-man-army, Bauer. His goals in life are simple. Shoot first, then shoot some more, shoot yet again, then finally “interrogate” (if you can even call it that) the suspect, and gain the needed knowledge to stop the threat.

In this season of 24, multiple nuclear bombs going off across the United States is the major threat. In 24-like fashion, the terrorist responsible for these attacks is (you guessed it) Muslim.. This seems to be a continuing theme of the bad guys on 24.

Interestingly enough, in the show, several government agencies are alerted of the possible nuclear threat, and in order to root out terrorists, they begin a door-to-door search. In the resulting search, an Arab male is arrested and

the audience automatically presumes he is with the terrorists.

But, to our surprise, we later find out he is not the one working with terrorists, but it is actually his son. This is where it gets controversial, folks. The son is shown to be no older than 20 years of age. This seemingly small detail really hit home for me. Generally speaking, I always assumed terrorists were middle-aged men. Never did I once think that I could be going to college with a terrorist or unknowingly befriend one.

Perhaps this is how the supposed stereotypes of 24 can in fact be hurtful. Ask yourself this: how many times have you felt uncomfortable amongst a crowd of people, simply because their skin was a different color than yours?

Is it possible that through the influence of modern media, we mistakenly begin to pass judgment against someone simply because the color of their skin? Or by what name they call God? This is a problem shows like 24 seem to encourage at times. Although the writers of 24 most likely never meant to actually offend or make people of different ethnicities look bad, it certainly does not help. And as tense as times are already, TV stereotypes are one of the last things we need.

Don’t let TV influence your opinions about other people. Get to know people before you pass judgment on them and draw your own conclusions instead of just listening to somebody else’s.

February 12, 2007

Opinion

AGORA

Houseplant help

3

Be in the grow at MCCC

Jeffrey Kodysh Reporter

Houseplants. When one thinks of houseplants they think of their grandma’s little plant in the window that she fusses over for hours and hours. Boring, right? Actually, houseplants can be a fun thing to have in your house.

Houseplants don’t have to be dainty flowers, but can be almost any plant that grows in the world. Ever wanted a really fresh orange? Well, try growing your own orange tree right in your own house. Do you have flies in your house? Grow a carnivorous Venus Fly Trap to get those flies out. Just be sure not to grow an Audrey Junior plant or you will risk being eaten alive (if you have ever watched Little Shop of Horrors, the 1960’s cult classic movie, you will know what I am taking about). Today I would like to share my top five tips for caring for your indoor plant.

1. Watering- Watering is a very crucial item to indoor plant care. Not enough water and you end up with a shriveled brown stick. Yet, with too much water you can end up with Lake Erie in your house. It is important to water your plants when the top few inches of the soil are dry. This will help prevent the all too common mistake of over watering. A good test for determining if it is time to water is take a pencil and stick the pointed end into the soil, then pull the pencil out of the soil. If the end of the pencil comes out clean with no soil, it is time to give your house plants a drink. With watering, it is best to take the plant and place it in the kitchen sink (or bathtub if it is too big) and give it a generous drink

of water. This will help to flush excess salts out of the soil and into the drain, away from the delicate plant roots.

2. Light- Sunlight is the energy with which plants make their food and is vital to having healthy houseplants.

The amount of sunlight needed will depend on the type of houseplant being grown. For instance, cacti, native to desert areas with intense sunlight, need full sunlight in the house to be healthy. A window that faces south would be the best exposure for this

type of plant. On the other hand, Philodendrons like a moderate amount of light, so an east facing window would be best for this rainforest native.

3. Humidity- During the winter here in the upper Midwest, the air in our houses can become very dry.

In some cases, the air in our houses

can become even dryer than the air in the Sahara desert. This dry air is hard on most houseplants (cacti and succulents being the exception) so it is imperative that proper humidity is provided. For most plants a humidifier will provide enough humidity to keep your indoor plants happy. In case you do not have a humidifier, you can always use an oversize drain tray with pebbles and water to set your plants on. The evaporation from the tray will provide enough humidity to keep your

plants green and growing.

4. Fertilizer- Fertilizers are one of the trickiest subjects to address in growing houseplants. It is extremely easy to kill a plant by giving it too much fertilizer, essentially loving it to death.

On the other hand, fertilizer is vital to your plants because the fertilizer pro-

vides important nutrients. My advice is to use a balanced fertilizer product with an NPK ratio of 15-15-15. For example, take Miracle Grow, and apply it at half of the recommended rate every two to four weeks. Another possibility is to use organic fertilizers like seaweed extract. Seaweed extract will provide the three main nutrients nitrogen, potash, and potassium while also providing important micronutrients like boron and iodine.

5. Disease and Insects-Most likely, no mater how hard we try, our houseplants will probably be subject to a disease or insect infestation. Aphids, brown spot, and powdery mildew will infest even the best gardener’s plants.

The best thing to do when your plant is sick is do a little research into your problem. Knowledge of your plant’s problem will allow you address the problem in a safe and satisfactory manner. Some good sources of information are horticulture books at your local library, the internet, and the Michigan State University or Ohio State University Extension Services.

One note of caution: If after researching your specific problem and it is determined that a pesticide spray is needed always follow the labels instructions. Some pesticides can be extremely toxic.

I hope these tips will allow your houseplant to be a winner in your house. Good luck and good growing.

If you have any questions in this you would like to be answered in future issues of this horticulture column, please feel free to contact me, Jeffrey Kodysh, at 419-726-0507 or dakotanogo@yahoo.com

Bush mishandles Iraqi War, troops

Brian Ready

Assistant Editor

Planning retirement early Troy White Reporter

Who’s ready to retire? I sure am, but I’m going to take a guess that you think I am crazy talking about retirement.

Planning your retirement starts now- not when you begin your career, or when you get into your 40s and 50s. IRA is an individual retirement account which provides a tax free or tax deferred way of saving for your retirement. It is like a separate savings account but you don’t touch it until you are 59 ½ years old.

It is prime time to begin saving for your retirement as a college student.

The earlier in life you start, the more interest you will receive and the more money you get. Saving in a retirement account is encouraged because your contributions compound over time, resulting in higher earnings than what you would normally earn in a savings account.

The government allows up to $4,000 a year in tax deductible contributions to an IRA. This means whatever you contribute to your IRA (up to $4,000),

you can deduct from your yearly income, thus reducing your tax liability on April 15.

The government allows tax deduction now, but you can’t withdraw from your retirement fund until you are 59 ½. If you were to withdraw money before this age, you would be charged a 10 percent premature distribution penalty tax. There are, however, a couple exceptions to this rule. Money can be withdrawn without penalty if it is used to purchase a house or for approved higher education costs. This provides a great investment tool with flexibility for important purchases.

Be sure to check with your local bank or investment office since some institutions do charge fees. Remember, most banks offer IRAs at no charge. Just look at the chart above to see how your investments can grow.

The younger you start, the more money you can make. Think about retirement now.

Featured Above: Hypothetical example provided by Fidelity Investment.

George Bush’s approval rating in recent months has dropped to an alltime low and much of this has to do with his handling of the Iraqi War. Unfortunately for Bush, his most recent plan to send more troops to Iraq will do nothing but disappoint the American people even more.

Bush declared in his address to the nation on January 24 that he planned on increasing American forces by more than 20,000, the vast majority of which will be sent to Baghdad.

“Our troops will have a well-defined mission: to help Iraqis clear and secure neighborhoods, to help them protect the local population, and to help ensure that the Iraqi forces left behind are capable of providing the security that Baghdad needs,” Bush said during his State of the Union Address.

Bush also stated Iraqi troops will take the lead into Baghdad, with American soldiers providing backup.

It is expected that additional troops will be sent to Iraq in phases, with the first deployments beginning by the end of January.

Now the question remains, is the president making a smart move, or one that will further damage his legacy? Bush supporters and Bush himself, will argue that two reasons for being unsuccessful in securing Baghdad are too few Iraqi and American troops to secure the neighborhoods in Iraq. While those who oppose Bush’s plan to send more troops to Iraq, like myself, will argue the war America is

fighting is not winnable and it is time to pull our troops from Iraq.

Should winning the war come at the expense of an estimated 3,000 American men and women who have died during the war, according to Aljazeera.net? Should it come at the expense of physical and mental problems, which some of those who have survived the war will have to deal with in the upcoming years? Or perhaps the 200,000 Iraqi men, women, and children who have died since the start of the war? What Bush has failed to do in his handling (or mishandling) of this war is declare what exactly he views as a win.

Bush’s problems with this war started from the day he refused to listen to the advice given from the United Nations and nearly all of our allies worldwide, which told him this was a senseless war to fight. He continues today to not believe the advice given to him by retired generals, people in the Republican Party, and a third of the country which opposes the war. He is attempting to make up for the mistakes he made in the past by sending even more troops over in a last-ditch effort to save his good name from a flawed plan.

Ultimately, Bush may eventually realize his mistakes in his handling of the war and admit his error. Thankfully, for the American public, he will no longer be in office when he comes to this conclusion and will be unable to send even more troops over to help soothe the damage that has already occurred in Iraq.

With this ring and my frustration, I thee wed Tonya Huffman Photo Editor

Weddings are beautiful, elegant, and most often, the most amazing events one can attend. Yet, on the other hand, the most frustrating, crazy, costly event one can possibly plan. Too bad I’m in the “let’s plan that crazy thing called a wedding” boat.

Yes, I love him. In fact, he is probably the greatest thing to ever happen in my life, but that doesn’t change the wedding planning frustrations. His family is wonderful, they love me just like I was one of their own, yet there are so many of them. And once you start planning an event like a wedding, you no longer see people as themselves, but they suddenly become dollar signs. Too many people, ironically, equal too much money, and when you’re a starving college student that equals in affordability.

I just wish the wedding would plan itself, yet that is virtually impossible.

Not only is there a dress, which is beautiful by the way, but there’s shoes and jewelry to go with it. Just recently, it seems as if they have stopped making white shoes or somehow they have mutated into silver ones. Too bad silver doesn’t match the dress; I might call this a minor road block.

The search for the perfect shoe continues.

Then there’s the other attire, no, not that kind. I’m referring to the wedding party’s tuxedos and dresses. After the fiancé and I are hounded day in and day out to make sure all of the members of our wedding have been fitted, they lose the information. As if life wasn’t difficult enough working, attending college, and trying to tie up the latter planning of a wedding, this makes for a bit of icing on the cake.

Oh gosh, I hope when the girls’ dresses come in they are the right color.

While I’m on the “attire phase”, there is also the weight issue. Of course losing weight is always on the top of the list when a girl is about to get married, yet it seems as if the moment I say ok this is the day I will eat less and work out something goes horribly wrong: chocolate. It just so happens to be really great tasting and once I see it I eat it, kind of like the “seefood diet”.

The biggest problem I’ve recently ran into is people. Everyone has an opinion on how much this will cost or how that should be done. Guess what people? This just so happens to be my wedding, sorry if that sounds cruel, but it is the truth. It’s not that I don’t value opinions, but puh-lease don’t expect everything to suit your fancy.

All-in-all the whole wedding makes me want to scream and every once in awhile I let out one or two. Love is a wonderful thing, yet wedding planning is not. Do I take this man to be my lawfully wedded husband? “I do”.

Do I take on the next four months of ultra frustrating wedding event planning? I wish I could say “I don’t”.

4

AGORA

Campus News

February 12, 2007

Culinary Students to unveil “Retro Diner” to customers

Brian Ready

Assistant Editor

The Culinary Arts students will run their restaurant, Cuisine 1300, with a 1950’s atmosphere from February 19 through February 23. The “Retro Diner” week will have the appeal of a 1950’s restaurant through decorations, music, food, and clothing attire the waitresses and chefs will be wearing.

“I think it is a great idea,” Beth Ickes, a first year culinary arts student, said.

“You say ‘50s diner,’ and everyone thinks of root beer floats, hamburgers, poodle skirts, and juke boxes. It’s a piece of American history. So having a week of serving classic American food is a great way to remind everyone of that history.”

The students in the second year of the Culinary Arts program have organized and put together the “Retro Diner” week, with the help of chefs, and class instructors, Kevin Thomas and Vicki LaValle.

First-year students will prep the food all morning, while the secondyear students will be responsible for

waiting on and serving the customers, as well as preparing the food to order, for this special week. This is the first year the Culinary Arts program has sponsored such a week.

“We have a really good class this year and we wanted to try something creative, something a little different,” Thomas, instructor of culinary skills, said.

The “Retro Diner” will serve to customers with reservations only. The event will take place at 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of that week and there will be an allotment of 30 people per seating. The diner will serve hamburgers, milkshakes, fries, and blue plate special meals. Waitresses will be wearing poodle skirts and chefs in the kitchen will be wearing paper diner hats to enhance the feel of “Retro Diner” week.

“I think it’s good to bring back the 1950’s and to bring the students together,” Brad Gakenheimer, Monroe County Community College Student, said The “Retro Diner” week, however,

is not the only event that the Culinary Arts program is overseeing this semester. The program will also begin serving buffets, starting on Fridays in March, which will be open to the public.

While in the program, the first and second-year students meet for nearly three hours every weekday, except on Tuesday.

The students also take part in various field trips throughout the year, including recent trips to the Plymouth Ice Festival and to Whole Foods in Ann Arbor.

Those in the program also learn information about a variety of different foods. The classes touch on healthy cooking, the science of sandwich making, ice carving, breakfast cookery and beverages, and salads.

Within the next few weeks, the students in the program will also learn about baking, pastries, working with chocolate, and cake decorating.

“All of this [activities] gives us students plenty of experience of what we’ll be doing after our time in the program is done,” Ickes said.

Agora photo by Brian Ready

Culinary students practice making ice sculptures in the courtyard of the Audrey Warrick Administration building.

“We Care” telethon has new home Courtney Sisung Copy Editor

North American Auto Show 2007 Agora photo by Tonya Huffman

Many new cars, trucks, and multipurpose vehicles were introduced at this years North American Auto show held in Detroit at Cobo Hall as tradition has it. Pictured above is Ford Motor Comany’s prototype called the Airstream.

The St. Michael’s We Care 21 Telethon will be held Saturday, February 24 at Monroe County Community College (MCCC) in the La-Z-Boy Center. The telethon will be a 24hour event starting at noon and ending at midnight.

St. Michael’s We Care, founded in 1983 by Greg Dushane, is a non-denominational organization that raises money for local Monroe residents with life threatening illnesses. It offers monetary assistance to families whose insurance does not cover some of the cost of having a surgery, such as travel and medicine. The telethon is the major fundraiser for the St. Michael’s We Care Corporation.

Brian Welch, head of production for the telethon, along with the other volunteer Board of Directors, have been planning this event for months.

“The theme for this year’s event is ‘Changes for the Better,’” Welch said. “Our goal this year is to raise $70,000.”

The Board of Directors has turned to Monroe residents for help with the event and has received a good response. Vendors from all over Monroe, including Mary Kay, Creative Memories, Tastefully Simple, and many more, will be present at the event, with most of their profits being

donated to the telethon.

Jane Foraker, head of the We Care food committee, has also received a great amount of help from the community.

“Restaurants and stores all over Monroe County have donated food for the event,” Foraker said. “We have everything from spaghetti to chicken, hot dogs to pizza, and cookies to drinks. Almost everywhere I have gone, people have donated food or given money to get food. The food will be free to any volunteer who works for four hours or more.”

The event is open and free to the public. There will be refreshments and performances to entertain the audience. Some of the performers include Peg Harris’ Dance School, County School of Dance, the Sweet Adeline’s, and Monroe County Community College’s choir, the Agora Chorale. Welch will be performing the song “Friends”

by Michael W. Smith, which is the theme song for the event.

“Anyone who wants to perform at the event for 15 to 20 minutes is welcome to contact me,” Welch said. He can be reached at (734) 497-8990.

Bronco McKart will also make an appearance. He will be auctioning an autographed pair of boxing shorts to raise money for the event.

Anyone looking to volunteer should contact Jennifer Volpi, head of the We

Care volunteer committee at (734) 231-6015.

“All the volunteers we can get, the better,” Volpi said. “We can never have enough volunteers. Even if you just show up the day of the event, we’ll have things for you to do.”

This is the first year the We Care Telethon will be held at the Monroe County Community College.

“We are really excited to have the event at Monroe County Community College,” Welch said. “I think it will really get the community involved as well as the students at the school. “ The students are also excited to have the telethon here. John Miller, student government president, had this to say: “I think it’s [the telethon] a great thing. I mean, any sort of charity organization is, but this is what Monroe needs. Just something to help people and help Monroe develop as a community. It’s not a surprise the college is hosting it. The college is always thinking of ways to get more involved with the community.”

The telethon will be televised throughout the day on Saturday, February 24. Fox Toledo news will cover the event from 5 to 7 p.m. The show will be on air all day on MPACT, channel 18 (Charter), and MPACT, channel 21 (Comcast). Anyone who wants to donate money may show up at the event or call (734) 243-2700.

Nixon, others develop Diversity Committee Ashley Braden Editor In Chief

Three years ago, a Diversity Committee was formed at Monroe County Community College (MCCC).

With the initial idea of the committee inspired by a local resident concerned with the lack of diversity on campus, Dr. David Nixon, president of MCCC, Molly McCutchan, director of human resources, and three community members began developing the diversity initiative – an on-going program designed to create a welcoming, accepting environment to all while preparing students to continue their educations and careers in our di-

verse world.

To further the growth of the program, MCCC hired C R Smith & Associates in the fall of 2005 to carry out a campus climate survey.

Throughout the eight-month process, numerous opinions from faculty, staff, and students were considered and analyzed to develop an assessment of the college’s diversity needs.

The committee also met with several focus groups to gather ideas. According to C R Smith & Associates’ executive summary, the survey was to establish “the role that a diversity initiative could play in facilitating and enabling accomplishment of the school’s mission, its goals, and ob-

jectives” and “what existing issues or factors (e.g., attitudes, procedures, processes, etc.) were present that would facilitate or inhibit a successful diversity initiative.”

Eventually, the study determined that MCCC has many strengths, but also lacks in several areas; specifically in having and promoting diversity of all kinds.

Upon receiving the survey’s results, MCCC worked closely with C R Smith & Associates ’ Clarence Smith to continue the diversity initiative’s progress. Through several meetings, the initiative was conclusively broken up into three phases: assessment, implementation, and evaluation.

The assessment phase, consisting of several committee meetings and the climate survey, was recently completed. Currently, MCCC is transitioning to the “implementation phase” where the information previously gathered will be turned into action.

In the implementation phase, which will take place over the next couple of years, administration staff, and eventually students will undergo diversity training, a process that, according to Smith, prepares everyone to work and grow in a diverse environment.

“Diversity training will focus on developing skills [such as] team-building, communication abilities, and conflict resolution,” Smith said.

In addition to diversity training, the implementation phase will have several other focal points. “[Another] part of the implementation phase is putting together a student and staff recruitment and retention plan in terms of diversity,” McCutchan said. “We are [also] looking at ways [that] we can contract with diverse vendors.”

The committee will soon be branching off into two sub-committees, internal and external, with hopes to make more decisions regarding the implementation phase of the diversity initiative.

“It is moving,” McCutchan said.

“Slowly, but surely.”

Campus News 5 American League Champions February 12, 2007

AGORA

Detroit Tigers visit local elementary students at MCCC

Agora photo by Lisa Ghigliazza

Agora photo by Tonya Huffman

Children from local schools travel to MCCC to experience the Detroit Tigers first hand. Many showed their support by holding up towlks from the 2006 World Series.

Paws, the Detroit Tigers mascot also showed up to get the kids ready for the Tiger’s players arrival. For more TIgers event photos see page 12.

Gary Knox Reporter

On January 18, 2007, the American League Champion Detroit Tigers roared into Monroe County Community College (MCCC.) Approximately 1,000 students from kindergarten to eighth grade were given the chance to see their favorite Tiger players.

The event, which was held in the Welch Health Education Building, was part of the 2007 Winter Caravan.

“My favorite part was seeing all the players and getting souvenirs,” Jeremiah Poore, South Monroe Townsite student, said.

Tiger’s public address announcer and Monroe resident Bobb Vergiels, emceed the event.

He, along with the Detroit Tiger’s mascot Paws, encouraged the crowd to welcome their American League Champs to MCCC. Pandemonium ensued when the Ti-

gers finally arrived.

A few lucky students were selected to interview their favorite Tiger player. During this time, starting pitcher Kenny Rogers spoke about what it was like being a major leaguer.

“The hardest thing about being a major league player is dealing with disappointment. Overcoming that disappointment just takes a lot of hard work,” Rogers said.

Rogers knows all to well what hard

work can accomplish. During last season’s playoff run, Rogers posted a perfect 3-0 record, including a dazzling pitching performance against the heavily favored New York Yankees.

Former Yankee, and newest Detroit Tiger Gary Sheffield was asked about being in a new city and on a new team.

“When I first got off the plane in Detroit I thought it was really cold, but the fans gave me a warm welcome and I am just glad to be a Detroit Ti-

ger,” Sheffield said.

The feeling is mutual for the team Sheffield now calls his own. The addition of Sheffield provides needed power in the Tiger’s lineup, a luxury that last year’s team did not have.

With core players like Craig Monroe, Jeremy Bonderman, and Brandon Inge, all receiving contract extensions, and the acquisition of Sheffield, the Tigers seemed poised for a return to the World Series in 2007.

Students seek ways to transfer Nick Vanderpool Page Editor

Winter semester has just begun, but students planning to transfer to a four year university might have more to do before the semester ends than they may think.

While transferring may be a matter of timeliness, some common misconceptions and missteps might make things more difficult.

Finding a satisfactory college, a place to live, and making sure all of the credits acquired will transfer to the new college opens up a world of pos-

sibilities and problems.

“Knowing where to go in certain situations is one of the hardest parts.

It’s comforting to know where to go and who to speak to,” Jill Sermon, the regional manager of Eastern Michigan University, said.

Sermon explained some students might go to the wrong people for some information, go by a friend’s word, or wing it on their own.

Another common pitfall for students is not communicating with the college they plan on transferring to.

“This can cause many problems if a

student assumes the college has a program they intend to enter. Likewise, some students assume that every class will transfer,” Cheryl Kehrer, a counselor at Monroe County Community College (MCCC), said Steve Mapes and Jill Denko, both counselors at MCCC, added some courses might be transferable but not applicable to the program a student might be going into.

A student might take Math for Elementary Teachers and later decide to major in something different.

When the student transfers they

might find the class still meets the MACRAO agreement (an agreement held between MCCC and four-year institutions in Michigan), but it is no longer applicable to the program.

MACRAO may cause other problems as well. “MACRAO is a program only in Michigan.

Students planning to transfer out of state will be unable to use MACRAO as a guideline.

Likewise, not all schools in Michigan follow MACRAO,” Mapes said.

“A good first person to talk to about

transferring is the transfer admission coordinator of the receiving college,” Denko said.

The transfer admission coordinator has good general info and will be able to guide students to the right people during the transfer process.

“A student with plans to transfer in the fall to EMU should have the application process started during winter semester,” Sermon said.

Waiting to talk to the right people, send in the application, or sign up for classes can cause a lot of unnecessary and avoidable problems.

MCCC Re-accreditation Update: Defining the Areas of Greatest Opportunity Dr. David Nixon MCCC President

In the last issue of the Agora, I reported that Monroe County Community College’s Higher Learning Commission Re-accreditation Steering Committee utilized data mined from every employee at MCCC to identify six initial areas of greatest opportunity at MCCC. Each area was assigned a subcommittee charged with formally defining the area.

The areas include: Effective Communication Employee Partnerships Visioning/Planning Budget Employee Training Decision-making Due to space limitations, I will provide you with the definitions of two of these areas – Effective Communication and Visioning/Planning – in this issue of the Agora and definitions of the remaining areas in subsequent is-

sues.

Effective Communication: Communication needs to occur effectively up, down and across the organization through open, nurturing discussion that encourages new ideas. Communication plays a vital role in ensuring that all of the college’s stakeholders have a shared understanding of the college’s educational goals for students, as well as processes that guide MCCC in setting direction, making decisions, seeking future opportunities, and building and sustaining a

learning environment.

Visioning and Planning: With input from internal and external stakeholders, an evaluation of the MCCC mission statement should be conducted and necessary revisions made, a vision statement defining the future direction for the college should be created and the MCCC planning process should be modified and replaced by a data-driven strategic plan.

Again, I encourage you to e-mail me your comments at dnixon@monroeccc.edu, or just stop by my office.

6

Feature

AGORA

February 12, 2007

Vaginas for peace Marjorie Haliburda Copy Editor

Before the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, there were vaginas—the greatest wonders of the world, the passageways from womb to birth.

But unlike their wondrous counterparts, vaginas were never honored or celebrated. Instead, they were battered, bruised and labeled a social taboo.

Until now. Until V-Day. V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls, fights to break the silence and release the constraints placed around female sexuality. V-Day serves as a catalyst, promoting creative events to increase awareness and raise money for sexual assault and domestic abuse victims.

What began in 1998 as an outgrowth of Eve Ensler’s play, The Vagina Monologues, is now a vision of female sexual freedom and safety.

Ensler, a feminist activist and playwright, interviewed hundreds of women about their vaginas. They candidly shared stories of incest, rape, domestic abuse, and genital mutilation, as well as stories of sex, anger, relationships, and the absurdity of thong underwear.

The Vagina Monologues retells the experiences of these women through several soliloquies, all served with emotion and a side of humor.

After performing the piece around the world and witnessing the consequences of violence against women first hand, Ensler knew serious action needed to be taken. It was then that she and a group of women in New York founded the charity that would reach 81 countries and raise over 35 million dollars in just eight years: VDay.

V-Day’s efforts include the HBO documentary Until The Violence Stops, Karama, a program to support ending violence towards women in the Middle East, community briefings with Amnesty International on the missing and murdered women of Juárez, Mexico, the December 2002 V-Day delegation trip to Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Jordan, the Afghan Women’s Summit, the Stop Rape Contest, and the Indian Country Project.

V-Day’s most well-known effort, however, is its College Campaign.

Benefit productions of The Vagina Monologues, organized by students and performed on their campuses around V-Day, which is celebrated from Valentine’s Day until International Women’s Day (March 8). Ten percent of all proceeds go to V-Day, while the other 90 percent are donated to local organizations working to end violence against women and girls.

For those interested in seeing a College Campaign production of The Vagina Monologues, several universities in Michigan will be holding performances throughout February and March. Eastern Michigan University (EMU) is one of them, holding three benefit performances which will take place February 15-17 at 8 p.m. in the Student Center Auditorium. This year’s theme will be “Vaginas for Peace” in honor of the large number of women and girls who are raped during wartime. General admission is $10 at the door, but because tickets will sell out fast, they can also be purchased at the Quirk Box Office, Convocation Center or Student Center Box Office.

Proceeds will go to FirstStep, a sexual assault and violence shelter based in Plymouth.

Jessica Klein, organizer and producer of The Vagina Monologues at

Agora photo by Tonya Huffman

Chocolate vaginas may be purchased at The Vagina Monologues show. Proceeds will go to charity.

EMU, feels that students should attend the production because it’s a fun, eye-opening experience, and most importantly, all the proceeds go to antiviolence organizations.

“It’s the only production I’ve seen that can make you laugh, cry and get pissed off at the same time,” Klein said.

Kimberly Sancrant, a student at Monroe County Community College (MCCC), will be attending the performance this month at EMU. “I’ve heard good remarks about the play and it’s for a good cause,” Sancrant said.

However, women are not the only ones interested in seeing The Vagina

Monologues. Stephen Uhl, a student at MCCC, does not have plans to see the performance this month but is very interested in seeing it in the future.

“I would like to see it for the name mostly… to see what it’s all about,” Uhl said.

Tonya Huffman

The marker placed out front gives a brief review of the burial site and historic members buried there. One of these members includes a War of 1812 veteran named Ezra Younglove.

While the college was being built, Ron Campbell, President of MCCC at the time, said the first ideas were to level out the land when building. But, once the bids came in they decided it was too expensive to bring in dirt and another option was decided upon.

“When [the contractors] were put in the roadway, while bulldozing they uncovered rough box pinewood that extended outside the cemetery limits,” Campbell said, “If we would have had

the fill brought in, we never would have found them.”

It is unknown the actual dimensions of the burial grounds, but it is believed that once the area became too crowded they began burring others outside the cemetery limits.

It is unknown if there are other bodies buried throughout other portions of the old “County Farm”.

“We could start an urban legend,” Devries said, when asked about possible ghost sightings. As far as actual ghosts, no one is for sure, but the college does have its own historic gravesite.

Dead men on college campus Photo Editor

Oh, Canada

Troy White Reporter

Going over the border to Canada for the night just got a little more expensive.

Starting January 8, 2007, Americans must now have a passport to travel to Canada, Mexico, Central and South Africa, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by air or sea, if they plan on reentering the United States.

There is still time to obtain a passport if traveling to Canada or Mexico by land, because the law is not going into effect until January 1, 2008.

19-year- old MCCC student Steve Uhl said, “I didn’t know the exact date when the passports went into effect but I knew it was coming up. I think the whole idea is stupid.”

These new rules were put in place by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Act of 2004.

Getting a U.S. passport is not that difficult. The local post office pro-

vides passport applications, or one can be printed from the Internet. Needed along with the application is proof of citizenship and proof of identity. In other words, a certified birth certificate and a driver’s license. A couple of mug shots are also required. The final step is taking all four of these things in person to any U.S. Post Office.

Passports come with a cost. For anyone under the age of 16, it will be $82, but for over 16, it is going to cost $97. These passports will then be mailed out and will take between six and eight weeks to be delivered.

For the people who are over 19 but still under 21 and want to legally drink alcohol, this stands as a problem. Emily Jacobs, MCCC student, said, “We shouldn’t have to buy a passport. Why change it now? I go to college. I don’t have $100 to spend on a passport.”

See "Vaginas,” page 10

Ghosts and supernatural spirits are sometimes thought to lurk around gravesites. This could be happening at Monroe County Community College (MCCC), yet no one has testified to it.

Why would there possibly be ghosts parading around campus?

Potter’s Field is a term derived from biblical terms in regard to a burial site housing those who were unable to afford the proper burial services.

MCCC has a burial ground labeled Potter’s Field at the front of campus almost directly in the middle of the college entrances.

These fields do not have grave markers. The land now known as MCCC campus used to be called the “County Poor Farm,” where the indigents would live and work.

The “County Poor Farm” also included the land currently known as Monroe County ISD, the fairgrounds, and Fairview. The “County Poor Farm” was opened in 1878, because at this time there were no programs put in place to help care for the county’s indigents.

“In 1964 [...], the county board [...] decided to deed at least a significant portion of the land to build a community college,” Dr. James Devries, professor of history, said.

The Monroe Township granted the south 150 acres of land owned by the county to the community college as a gift Devries was part of the group that placed the historical marker up front, marking the location of the otherwise unmarked graveyard. A memorial ceremony was held during the placement of the marker.

Agora photo by Tonya Huffman

A marker was placed at the gravesite to remember those who were buried there.

Feature

February 12, 2007

AGORA

7

Etiquette: 1910 VS. 2007 Bethany Younglove Page Editor

Over the course of the nearly 100 years since the “Manners and Social Customs” section of the book Mother’s Remedies by Mrs. Elizabeth Johnstone was written, manners and etiquette have evolved (or deteriorated, depending on the way it is looked at).

Anna Goins, a student at Monroe County Community College (MCCC), said, “I don’t think that [manners] have deteriorated at all. I think that the way we speak in general is a lot different than it was many years ago. I think there are still well mannered people, it is just a different setting.”

According to the book, “The social code, which we call etiquette, is no senseless formula. It has a meaning and a purpose. It is the expression of good manners, and good manners have been rightly called the minor morals. This is true in the sense that they are the expression of the innate kindness and good will that sum up what we call good breeding. As to its importance, Sir Walter Scott once said that a man might, with more impunity, be guilty of an actual breach of good

morals than appear ignorant of the points of etiquette.”

According to “Etiquette From The Past,” a webpage devoted to old etiquette, “It is very rude to ask direct questions, such as ‘Where are you going?’ ‘What have you got in that package?’ In fact, do not show curiosity about other people’s affairs. Do not look over another’s shoulder when they are reading, nor read their letters, even if they are left carelessly lying around.” How many curious, nosey children today breach this protocol of yesteryear?

“No lady ever flirts on the street, or allows a stranger to make her acquaintance.” This rule of etiquette is one which seems to have been much overlooked in the nearly 100 years since it was written. Many women don’t seem to mind flirting with random men (or even perhaps women) on the street in this day and age. Cheryl Johnston, assistant professor of English and reading at MCCC, said, “[flirting with someone on the street] would have been considered forward” when she was younger.

The book also states, “Fidgeting in your seat, or moving about restlessly;

drumming upon the table with your fingers; whispering confidentially with your neighbor; emphasizing your remarks by flourishing your fork, to the risk of your neighbor’s eyes; […] standing up and reaching across the table in place of requesting that what you want be passed to you. All these acts of ill-breeding or thoughtlessness we have seen perpetrated by those who should know better.” Many of these simple etiquettes are disregarded today.

According to “The Gentleman’s Page,” a website devoted to guidance for the 19th century American man, some table manners were: • Do not put your elbows on the table, or sit too far back, or lounge.

(Although some families today try to instill this into their children’s minds, it is not an etiquette that is readily practiced.)

• Never tilt back your chair while at the table, or at any other time.

the ospreys, an endangered type of fish-eating raptor.

Fishing is another activity offered at the park.

“The walleye fishing on Lake Erie is excellent all year-round,” John Benjamin, a fisher at the park, said. “My only wish is that we would have some more cold weather so that the ice would freeze a little more solid.”

Sterling offers a variety of fish species for the sportsman such as walleye, yellow perch, small mouth bass, and muskellunge. A valid Michigan fishing license is required to fish in the park.

Sterling State Park also offers exercise to its visitors. About seven miles of paved trails are available for hiking,

biking, and exploration. The trails are accessible for every one, from beginners to the advanced.

“I just love coming [to Sterling] and biking. It is just a great way to get off the couch and work on my new year’s resolution,” Ashley Cooper, a bicyclist at the park, said.

On February 17, Sterling State Park is hosting the Monroe County/ Lake Erie Muskrat Run. The Muskrat run is a 5K race for advanced runners which will also include “Muskrat Mile” for beginners.

Sterling State Park is located on State Park Road in Monroe. For more information about recreation opportunities or the Muskrat Run, call the park office at (734)-289-2715.

William C. Sterling State Park offers recreation opportunities

Jeffrey Kodysh Reporter

Michigan has a vast variety of landscapes located throughout the state. Great lakes, primeval forests, and desert-like sand dunes are just some of the landforms which can be found in the wolverine state. Monroe County has a sample of these landforms in William C. Sterling State Park, consisting of around 1100 acres of marsh, lagoons, beach, and woods which offer recreation possibilities for the outdoor enthusiast. Although it is winter in Michigan and cold outside, this should not rule out a visit to the only state park on Lake Erie. Cross country skiing, ice fishing, hiking, and bird watching are just some of the activities which are available during the winter at the park.

According to Sterling State Park Ranger, Tom Wolfe, one of the best things to do in the winter is bird watching. Sterling is located along one of the Midwest’s busiest flyways for migratory birds, with species such as mallards, teal, and other waterfowl stopping by on their way to and from winter nesting grounds. Visitors have a chance to see the national bird, and the bald eagle, which is often present in the park.

“At the far end of the park, towards the campground, we have bald eagles that fly in and out during the winter,” Wolfe said.

Also of interest to bird watchers are

Photo by Jeffrey Kodysh

Lake Erie shoreline at William C. Sterling State Park

Copy Editor

At least one Monroe County Community College (MCCC) student will be able to afford textbooks for next semester.

Education expenses are a top priority for Shannon Barrons, an MCCC student from Rockwood, who recently won $59,800 on the game show Wheel of Fortune.

“A big chunk of it is for school,” Barrons said of her winnings. Barrons is currently a graphic arts student at MCCC, but is considering transferring to the University of Michigan eventually, now that she has extra money to invest.

A lifelong fan of Wheel of Fortune, Barrons first became interested in joining the show in 2005. While surfing the Internet, she found a contestant application form on the Wheel of Fortune Web site and submitted one for herself and for her husband. “[It was] on a whim,” Barrons said. “I didn’t expect anything would come of it.” She was wrong.

In June 2005, her husband was selected for an audition in Detroit. Unable to attend, Barrons took his place and was selected to appear on the show, which was taped on December 8. When it was over, Barrons had won the game, claiming thousands of dollars. However, she has to wait before receiving the money. It will not be awarded to her until 120 days after

the show’s air date, which was January 16.

In the meantime, Barrons is enjoying the temporary fame her victory has earned. She has become a local celebrity, with people sometimes recognizing her on the street. More importantly, the experience has brought forward old high school friends and distant relatives whom she had not heard from in a while.

When the money does arrive, after taking care of school, Barrons plans to pay off some bills and maybe take a nice vacation. She urges other students to not discount the possibility of landing on a game show themselves.

“They might be the next contestant,” she said.

food. They don’t like the way it tastes, it needs a bit of a certain spice, it needs less spice…)

• Do not break your bread into the soup, nor mix with gravy. It is bad taste to mix food on the plate.

(For those of us who do not care that the turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy,

See “Etiquette,” page 10

CIS students find software Sarah Straub Page Editor

MCCC student on Wheel of Fortune

Christopher Slat

(“You might fall over and crack your head open,” as many people have heard, and it is a saying mothers and grandmothers still tell children today.)

• Never indicate that you notice anything unpleasant in the food.

(Definitely not practiced today.

Many times, not only children, but adults as well, complain about their

It is no mystery that going to college can be a drain on a wallet. Tuition and books alone can cost over a thousand dollars for full-time students. However, being a computer geek can also devastate a wallet that is already as thin as it can get. Software and programs are constantly being upgraded so fast that it is sometimes nearly impossible to keep up with it all. There is help, to some extent.

If students have problems with Microsoft software or the operating system your computer uses, Monroe County Community College (MCCC) will soon be part of a program that may be able to help them. This program, called the MSDN Academic Alliance will offer Computer Information Systems (CIS) students access to free Microsoft operating systems (OS) and software. It is defined by Microsoft as, “A complete, inexpensive solution to keep academic labs, faculty, and students on the leading edge of technology.”

Why only CIS students? It is just one of the many rules that Microsoft has implemented into the program.

On the MSDN site, it clearly states, “The only students who would have the right to install the program software on their personal computers are those who are taking at least one credit class in the member department.” To do otherwise would likely break the contract between Microsoft and our school.

Though it would be nice to involve every student on campus in this program, it would likely be detrimen-

tal to Microsoft’s business to do so.

However, students who feel left-out by this program should keep in mind that the program benefits our school as a whole. By becoming a member in this program, MCCC can keep all of our labs up to date on Microsoft software. Every student who uses a lab computer will reap the benefits of this program.

Some students were asked how they felt about this program. Paul Labert, a network specialist student, said, “As OS evolve, free upgrades would be helpful to stay current, for homework, etc.” Nicole Tomblin, an architecture student, said she feels that the program would be more beneficial to MCCC than herself.

Regardless of how some people feel about the program, it could be a great thing for a number of students.

For example, Windows XP Pro, at the time this story was printed, would cost around $199 for the upgrade version, and $299 for the full version. However, it is already out-of-date software.

The new OS for Windows, Vista, will cost around $259 for the upgrade version of Vista Ultimate, and $399 for the full version.

Whichever way a person handles this, OS can accumulate quite a bill.

By being able to eliminate at least the expense of the OS, a CIS student can then have the money to spend on other much-needed computer software, which is expensive as is.

The details of how this software will be distributed to students are still being worked out and will be finalized in the future. Any students interested in participating in this program should speak with their CIS instructors.

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AGORA

A&E This article cannot be rated

February 12, 2007

Documentary uncovers facts about movie-grading system

Agora photo by Tonya Huffman

Sex, violence, gore, nudity, and swear words.

Maybe we’ll get to see that in an upcoming movie.

Maybe.

This Film is Not Yet Rated, a documentary directed by Academy Award-nominated Kirby Dick, investigates the inner-workings of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) while shining light on an issue that, unless directly experienced, is often overlooked: censorship.

The MPAA is an organization which, according to its website, “serve[s] as the voice and advocate of the American motion picture, home video and television industries […].” It rates movies, based on certain criteria, by stamping them with a letter to symbolize their suitability for young children. A “G” rating is considered appropriate for all audiences, while a “PG” rated movie, as stated on the MPAA website, “clearly needs to be examined by parents before they let their children attend.” A “PG-13” rating dubs a movie improper for kids under the age of 13 and “R” movies are restricted to young adults aged 17 or older, unless accompanied by a guardian.

The “NC-17” rating, though, seems to create the most controversy. It prevents anyone under the age of 17 from being admitted into the theatre.

Who, though, makes up the MPAA and what qualifications are necessary to rate movies for the organization? Why do we even pay attention

to the MPAA rating system? And is the MPAA censoring the film industry? That’s what This Film is Not Yet Rated explores.

The MPAA, who, to supposedly protect them from outside influence, keeps its members anonymous, says “parents rate the movies.” The website plainly states “the Board uses the same criteria as any parent making a judgment. Theme, language, violence, nudity, sex and drug use are among content areas considered in the decision-making process.” I have to ask, though, did the MPAA, in order to make a fair judgment on movies, conduct a survey regarding questionable issues with every parent in the U.S.?

Highly unlikely. In fact, there are no special requirements in order to become an MPAA rater. The members simply “must have a shared parenthood experience, must be possessed of an intelligent maturity, and most of all, have the capacity to put themselves in the role of most American parents […].” Who are most American parents, though? In a country of varying cultures, socio-economic statuses, sexual orientations, and ways-of-life, “normal” is indefinable.

The MPAA, however, seemed to find a basis for its own definition of “normal.” This Film is Not Yet Rated exposes that the majority of MPAA members are middle-aged, wealthy, Republican citizens with grown children, most of whom are not even living at home anymore. If the MPAA is ‘parents rating the movies,’ then why isn’t the Board comprised of a diverse crowd of adults with young children?

It would make the ratings more credible, practical, and well-rounded.

Unfortunately, though, the MPAA ratings are not well-rounded. In fact, the members’ conservative viewpoints on homosexuality and sex are unquestionably imposed upon the ratings. For example, when the 1999 true-story-drama Boys Don’t Cry was

submitted to the MPAA, it came back slapped with an “NC-17” rating. It wasn’t because of the violent murder scene, but because of the gay sex act between two people who, in the film, truly cared for and loved one another.

In This Film is Not Yet Rated, Kimberly Peirce, director of Boys Don’t Cry, said the MPAA, who only discusses rating reasons with the movie’s submitter, told her the film’s female pleasure lasted “too long” and was inappropriate. Peirce was informed that in order to receive an “R” rating, she would have to edit the sexual content of her film. However, American Pie, which was also released in 1999, features various sexual acts performed by heterosexual couples and was immediately given an “R” rating. In fact, American Pie’s trailer showed actor Jason Biggs masturbating with an apple pie; a preview which was viewed in households, some with young children I’m sure, across the country. Decisions like these made by the MPAA leave me questioning their intentions. Viewing an on-screen murder, it seems, would leave more of a “damaging” effect than seeing nothing more than a woman’s breast in a sex scene between partners. Since when is a criminal act more acceptable than

Sign the petition!

Help filmmakers urge the MPAA to change the ratings system and guidelines.

To sign the petition or get more information, visit: www3.ifctv.com/thisfilm/ about.php

love? Furthermore, I wonder why it is easier for movies with heterosexual relationships than it is for homosexual relationships to receive a decent rating. The MPAA claims they’re just “rating for the parents,” and not censoring movies. Bull.

Did you know most movie theatre chains will not show “NC-17” rated movies? So if a filmmaker receives an “NC-17” rating, he or she must edit certain material to appease the MPAA members and bump the rating up to an “R” or stick with the “NC-17” rating and risk losing wide marketing, distribution, and ultimately, an audience to view his or her movie. According to This Film is Not Yet Rated, if a director decides to forgo a rating from the MPAA entirely, there will be even less to no marketing and distribution. Basically, filmmakers who make movies that are given “NC-17” ratings must choose between cuts in their art or cuts in their sales and audience. That’s censorship any way it’s sliced.

Censorship, to most, is the banning or deleting of information. Although the MPAA is not doing either of those, it is creating several obstacles to which filmmakers must either concede or conquer. The MPAA is slithering around the proverbial “red tape” of the First Amendment and labeling its work as “advising.” The MPAA is only “advising” filmmakers to either comply with its ridiculous (and not to mention, unfair) requests or suffer loss in revenue, audience, and art. The MPAA may not be censoring films in a direct, dictionary-defined manner, but it is having a profound effect on what Americans view in theatres and where they view it.

After seeing This Film is Not Yet Rated, I have reconsidered my opinion of the MPAA. Now that I am aware of who is rating movies and how it is

See "Article", page 10

Alternative music to shine at this year’s Grammy awards show Patrick Dunn Reporter

February is here, the nominees are in, and it’s time to award the music industry’s top honors. That’s right…it’s Grammy time! Of particular interest among the 2007 nominees are those in the “Best Alternative Music Album” category.

First up is the Arctic Monkeys’ breakthrough debut album “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.” The British band sports the furious intensity of classic punk with over two-thirds of the tracks

clocking in at less than three minutes.

However, the band goes beyond basic three-chord arrangements to create a set of catchy tunes that stay with you.

Alex Turner’s snarling vocal style is a perfect match to the album’s sarcastic, cynical lyrics. “Whatever People Say I Am…” is a fantastic debut from a promising band.

Nominee #2 is the Flaming Lips’ “At War With the Mystics,” which features songs fading into each other and vocals often mixed into the background of lush sonic collage. Outside of these more freewheeling sonic experiments, the album also features

more straightforward and extremely catchy cuts such as “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song,” “Free Radicals,” and “It Overtakes Me.” Although occasionally a little too much on the spacey side, “Mystics” is overall a breathtakingly beautiful musical trip.

Next up is “Show Your Bones,” the second album from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The album features raw rock with tinges of blues and punk, occasionally reminiscent of the experimental minimalist sound of the White Stripes.

Lead singer Karen O’s vocals are

assertive, but they are lacking in charisma and soul. In addition to this, almost uniformly oblique lyrics make “Show Your Bones” more than a bit hollow at its core. The opening track, “Gold Lion,” is the album’s one standout cut.

The final nominee is Thom Yorke’s solo debut, “The Eraser.” The Radiohead frontman takes an electronic approach on this release, relying heavily on spacey instrumental loops and techno beats.

Yorke’s breathy, whimpering vocal style, which works well when backed

by Radiohead, is not so well-suited to

“The Eraser”’s electronica.

Although not without its haunting vocal lines, the album’s sound is too cold and detached to merit repeat listening.

And the winner is…? Of these nominees, the top contender is the Arctic Monkeys’ “Whatever People Say I Am…” simply for its uniformly excellent punk-rock innovation.

With a debut like this, we can surely expect even greater things to come from these talented English rockers.

But that’s just an opinion…come February 11, we’ll see who goes home with the Grammy.

scription of a fairy tale about a girl who escapes from a mythical kingdom into the real world. Her father, who awaits her return as a human, sets up a series of portals to allow her entry back into the kingdom.

The film then jumps forward as the heroine, a young girl named Ofelia, travels to a Spanish army base with her pregnant mother to stay with her wicked stepfather, Captain Vidal.

The daydreaming Ofelia escapes the tyranny of Captain Vidal by entering an eerie stone labyrinth located conveniently outside of the base. Even-

tually, she makes her way down into a large pit where a trickster of a faun awaits her, guarding a portal.

The myth described in the beginning of the film becomes reality when the faun believes Ofelia is the king’s daughter. He prepares Ofelia for her passage through the portal by giving her three tasks she must complete.

The girl obeys the faun without question, and for the next portion of the film, we see her battle a giant frog and a child-eating monster as a distracting side plot ensues, in which a group of rebels struggle to defeat the

vile Captain Vidal.

The film begins to fall apart slowly and proceeds with countless displays of brutal violence, the reason for the film’s R rating and the movie’s main appeal—which are as shocking as they are unnecessary.

For instance, a nameless, purposeless character has his leg amputated with graphic detail. The character does not return after that, rendering the scene useless.

Several other minor characters go through major changes as needless drama unfolds over the next hour, and

Ofelia struggles to complete the faun’s assignments amidst the confusion.

This lack of focus creates a thick line between the real world brutality of the Spanish civil war and the fantasy of Ofelia’s magical quest.

The film tries to merge the two worlds with the common theme of mindless subservience versus independent thought, but it is unsuccessful in achieving its ultimate goal: making the audience believe in Ofelia’s fantasy.

The result is unsuitable for children and not convincing enough for adults.

Pan’s Labyrinth falls short of fairytale

Steve Sonoras Copy Editor

Pan’s Labyrinth is the most critically acclaimed movie of the year, and it is using its merits to leap out of art house cinemas and reach bigger audiences in multiplexes across the country. The film, however, is not deserving of critical praise or success in the mainstream. Guillermo Del Toro’s fantasy epic is by no means a bad film, but it lacks the consistency of a great picture.

Pan’s Labyrinth opens with the de-

A&E

February 12, 2007

AGORA

“Big Read” underway

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literacy program comes to Monroe

Kristin Booth Copy Editor

Monroe County Community College (MCCC) is joining forces with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to encourage students and communities throughout the United States to read more. Sue Wetzel, executive director of the Foundation at MCCC and director of institutional advancement, is a chairperson for the Big Read and is excited about the upcoming events which are to take place at the college and throughout Monroe County.

“I ran the idea [the Big Read] by Dr. Nixon and he said it was a great one. We [Wetzel and Beth Kohler, cochairperson] brainstormed and called an informational meeting to present the grant and learn what everyone in the community wanted to do with it,” Wetzel said.

MCCC then applied for the Big Read program grant. If a community is able to generate enough support and is able to provide a sufficient plan for the reading project, then the NEA may select that community for a $17,000 grant. MCCC was chosen as a recipient for the Big Read grant.

“We put together the grant application and are one of only 72 communities throughout the United States to receive the funds,” Wetzel said.

Since Monroe County has learned of its fund approval by the NEA, the community has donated approximately $27,000 in cash, space, and resources into the project. The community partners in this project are: Monroe County Library System, Monroe County Intermediate School District,

Arthur Lesow Community Center, Monroe Evening News, Meadow Montessori School, Community Foundation of Monroe County, The Foundation at MCCC, The Book Nook, Downtown Monroe Businesses, Monroe Public Access Cable Television, Monroe County Historical Museum, the City of Monroe, and the County of Monroe.

“As educational leaders in this community, this program fits that role.

Not only for our students, but for the community as a whole,” Wetzel said.

The Big Read Monroe Kick-Off is set to begin at 2:00 p.m. in Loranger Square on March 18.

There will be proclamations read, event materials distributed, dramatic readings, music, book distributions, and book exchanges available at this event.

There will also be a Book Lover’s Trivial Pursuit Contest, which begins at 3:00 p.m. at Café Classics in Monroe, among many other events.

“The role of the program is to revitalize the importance of literature in the community,” Wetzel said.

The Big Read came about after a recent survey, given by the NEA, found less than half of the American population reads. The percentage of U.S. adults reading has declined by seven

percent over the past ten years.

Literacy reading in young age groups has had the most severe decline over the past decade.

Ann Orwin, professor of English, has been meeting with area schools to encourage participation in the Big Read.

“I met with the county public school curriculum directors and some of the junior high and high school principals to share the information about the Big Read and to encourage them to involve their students in the project,” Orwin said.

The Big Read makes its reading selection by choosing titles they believe will be successful and will appeal to a diverse audience throughout America.

Monroe County’s selected book for the year 2007 is Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

“More people will read, we hope, than are currently reading the classics....and we will be involved as community members, not as students, or citizens, or faculty, or council members, just people who want to talk about something we have in common...Farenheit 451,” Orwin said. Cheryl Johnston, professor of English and children’s literature, was drawn immediately to this program and is planning to use the material for

“We put together the grant application and are one of only 72 communities throughout the United States to recieve the funds.”

Sue Wetzel Executive Director of the Foundation and Director of Institutional Advancement

different classes throughout the winter semester.

“I am planning to incorporate the novel and plan to use the materials provided by the NEA for my Reading 090 class this semester. I think I may also include a book or movie review for my English 151 students,” Johnston said.

MCCC student, Casey Wilkins, heard about the program in her humanities class.

“I think it [the Big Read] is a good idea. I don’t know how well the discussions are going to work out, especially with how busy everyone is.

I know I won’t be able to go. I would like to participate in the program though,” Wilkins said.

Wilkins also said she heard about a possible blog on the Big Read and said this would be easier for her to participate in.

“I would [be able] to take part in the blog because of the convenience it would offer and I think it is a good idea,” Wilkins said.

Johnston also feels this will open endless opportunities for MCCC. “This is a wonderful opportunity for MCCC to take the lead in promoting literacy in Monroe County. We are a ‘community’ college and it will be exciting for our students to be involved in a project which goes beyond our school environment and connects us with readers of all ages and from all walks of life.

There are going to be many events throughout the month for our students to participate in and to interact with fellow readers,” Johnston said.

For anyone interested in learning more information about the Big Read, go to www.monroeccc.edu/bigread or www.NEAbigread.org.

Black Like Me historical, powerful Marjorie Haliburda Copy Editor

His effigy, painted half white and half black, was burned in the street.

He was mauled with threats of castration. And he was berated by his community, even his closest friends.

Sadly, his only crime was committed against racial injustice. He wanted to kill it off piece by piece—the hate, the lies, the oppression.

John Howard Griffin, a middleaged, established white journalist, was deeply committed to erasing the color line in the segregated South, but as a white man, he knew writing about the black experience wasn’t enough. He wanted to live it. So in 1959, that is exactly what he did.

Griffin was born white, educated white, and married white, but after a dermatological regimen of exposure to ultraviolet light, oral medication, and skin dyes, his ascribed status, education and wife were taken from him.

He was someone else. He was black.

For ten months, Griffin walked more than a mile in the black man’s skin. He traveled through the segregated states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia and recorded his experiences in a journal, which is now a 10-million-copy international bestseller: Black Like Me. From the “hate stare” to threats of being killed, what Griffin encountered was shocking. He witnessed first hand the struggles of the oppressed—the black race—and although his black coloring could be easily removed, his spirit was forever stained.

Black Like Me is not only Griffin’s story, but a story of history; a testament to the struggles African Americans faced before and even after The Civil Rights Act of 1964. Griffin exposed the prejudices of America and brought them center stage, and he influenced the attitudes of millions.

John Howard Griffin was a revolutionist, and in honor of Black History Month, his eye-witness account of

humanity at its worst deserves recognition—a must-read for people of our shared race, the human race. Black

Like Me is beyond powerful and the material presented cannot be learned or found elsewhere.

REVIEW

Of Montreal Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?

Steve Sonoras Copy Editor

Of Montreal, the musical brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Kevin Barnes, has been slowly gaining a large following on the indie rock circuit since its debut in 1997. The band’s new album, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? is sure to give it the final push into musical stardom.

Fauna’s 12 tracks, each capable of being a massive hit, take marketable radio-friendly pop to extremes that only the enigmatic Barnes could imagine. After ten years of creating quirky pop records, Barnes has finally perfected the art of contorting a three-minute tune into a sprawling aural landscape, as is evident on his new record.

Tracks like “Cato as a Pun” and “Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse” are populated with a dizzying number of instruments, riffs, and musical styles that will leave even the most fanatical listener in awe.

Cato starts off as a fuzzy Motown ballad, but when Barnes has your ears in a comfortable niche the track disintegrates into spacious psychedelic jazz. “Heimdalsgate,” Hissing Fauna’s first single, begins with a startling thunder-like bass drone, transcends into a keyboard-driven dirge, changes pace for a cheesy synth-pop riff, and then makes its final transformation with a verse loaded with unusual minor chords. Other highlights, such as “Faberge Falls for Shuggie” and “Labyrinthian Pomp,” are equally strange because of their reliance on influences from techno, funk, and Berlin-era David Bowie albums.

The most bizarre track on the album is the 12-minute Kraut-rock monster “The Past is a Grotesque Animal.”

The song is also one of the most unique songs in Of Montreal’s catalogue because it strays from the sunny optimism of nearly all of their other songs. “The Past...” sticks out mainly because of its shockingly honest lyrical approach.

While the motif of story-song lyrics dominated Of Montreal’s early repertoire, Barnes uses Hissing Fauna’s centerpiece to express a horrifyingly honest look back at a past relationship. He conjures eerie synthesizers, rolling bass lines, a screeching violin, and a sinister guitar riff to weave through his tortured vocals. The daring track comes as a surprise on an album from a band that is on the verge of making a tremendous commercial breakthrough. When fans expected the emerging Of Montreal to sell out on their latest release, they crafted pop gems that mix the catchiness of Top 40 radio with the avant-garde and heartfelt lyrical depth. The immaculately crafted Hissing Fauna will have no problem attracting a broad audience with its oddly attractive melodies and its vast range of musical styles. Of Montreal has finally secured its place as the next big thing.

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In the Mix

AGORA

From “Head Start,” page 1

From “Vaginas,” page 6

From “Etiquette,” page 7

“It isn’t segregated in any way. It would be repetitious for the kids to sit through the same lesson twice.

The kids seemed to have adopted the [dance] room as their own, just like the old center. They get excited about going down there. […] There have been blinds for weeks [to keep it dark] and on special occasions we bring a television down for them to watch a movie,” Cramer said. “They are adapting.”

One of the benefits of the merge includes experience and lab time for students studying to go into nursing, psychology, health and Early Childhood Development (EDC). The contract between Head Start and MCCC allows students in the EDC field to gain experience by working in Head Start centers throughout Monroe County.

The contract also mentions a waive of rental fee on behalf of Head Start.

“If early childhood students utilize the classroom as a lab classroom the rent may be waived,” Hall said.

Currently, there are 78 students enrolled in the major and almost 200 enrolled in various ECD courses.

Head Start legislation suggests that by 2011, teachers will be required to have a bachelor’s degree. Verkennes added that in the future, students who plan a bachelor’s degree in EDC could benefit from a possible partnership with Eastern Michigan University and Siena Heights University, two institutions that offer courses on MCCC campus.

At this time no such partnership is planned.

Newly hired instructor of the EDC program and coordinator for the student external services, Tiffany Wright, also aims to hold a community-based meeting to answer all of the concerns the parents of Head Start Academy may have. Wright has worked closely with Head Start for years.

“I believe holding a meeting would be a good way of addressing concerns openly so all people receive the same information. […] I want students to know that I am not supporting administration because I think it best for me as a new employee, but I am supporting the collaboration because I think it is best for children and the students of Monroe County Community College,” Wright said. “I just want to encourage everyone to look beyond the immediate present. Soon, we will see Head Start/childcare program as one seamless entity where all children […] are receiving the best care and education possible.”

But unlike Sancrant and Uhl, not everyone is so excited about the performance. Terry Telfer, professor of English at MCCC, saw The Vagina Monologues on DVD when his wife brought it home and was a little disappointed in the context.

“It was almost stand-up comedy,” Telfer said.

Telfer is right: The Vagina Monologues can seem quite comedic at times, but Katherine Dilworth, a performer in this year’s production at EMU, feels there are benefits to mixing comedy with serious issues.

The Vagina Monologues are both humorous and serious because they deal with sex… which can be very serious or just out right funny. By mixing comedy with serious subjects, the monologues are able to send a message without sounding peachy and giving the audience a break to laugh,” Dilworth said.

Klein, who feels strongly about VDay and The Vagina Monologues, believes that they bring a sense of togetherness among women.

“It’s about finding one commonality—and that is that they are women.

It’s about bringing those commonalities together,” Klein said.

All biological women share the same gender, as Klein pointed out, they do not share an equal attitude toward speaking openly about lesbianism, masturbation and sexuality in general. Though the word “vagina” is now written freely and said with comfort, The Vagina Monologues is still attacked for religious, political and social reasons, especially

by Catholic universities and social conservatives.“We are talking about issues that society has told women to keep their mouths shut about for years, and that scares a lot of people,” Dilworth said in response to the criticisms of social conservatives.

Despite all of the resistance, V-Day and The Vagina Monologues continue to receive the support of men, women, liberals and conservatives across the globe who have joined Ensler in her mission to promote a non-violent, safe environment for women and girls.

Eve Ensler has made a commitment to devote the rest of her life to ending violence against women. What she believes is simple, yet so provocative: a woman’s empowerment is connected to her sexuality and her vagina tells the story of her life.

V-Day: Victory, Valentine, Vagina.

For more information on V-Day and performances of The Vagina Monologues, visit www.vday.org.

stuffing and corn are all mixed together on Thanksgiving Day.) • Never allow butter, soup or other food to remain on your whiskers.

• Never, when serving others, overload the plate nor force upon them delicacies which they decline.

(Definitely not practiced today.

How many times has the phrase, “Remember all the poor, starving kids in Africa,” been said to one who cannot finish their food due to the fact that there was too much put on their plate in the first place?)

• Never make a great display when removing hair, insects or other disagreeable things from your food.

Place them quietly under the edge of your plate.

(It is embarrassing to the hostess if it is called out that a bug has been found in the soup. Once in a while this will be practiced today.)

When tempted to reach across the table and grab the salt because it would be faster than asking for it, keep this saying by Mrs. Elizabeth Johnstone’s in mind: “Remember that good manners are made up of petty sacrifices gracefully made.”

Blue Jean Fridays

MCCC staff donates $3-$5 at switchboard to raise money for various charities and wear jeans on the following Fridays:

Feb 23: American Heart Association March 23: Women’s Shelter (in Monroe) April 27: Monroe Human Society May 24: Relay for Life June 21: Arthur Leslow Center July 26: Heartbeat for Monroe Aug. 23: Autism Society of Michigan Sept. 28: Food for the Poor Oct. 26: United Way Nov. 16: Terri McConnaughey Scholarship Dec. 14: Philadelphia House

From “Article,” page 1 done, I recognize that I have nothing in common with the members of the MPAA. I cannot relate to their views, values, or ethics. They do not appreciate art or regard the power of it. Intellectually, emotionally, and morally the MPAA and I are worlds apart; why would I take their ratings seriously?

This Film is Not Yet Rated uncovered some of the unfortunate truths of the entertainment industry. It is an eyeopening documentary that encourages individuals to take action against censorship of art. The film, which happens to be “unrated,” is informative and revealing, while still maintaining a witty and entertaining demeanor.

While I will not pull a MPAA and “advise” anyone to watch the movie, I can honestly say it is one of the most intriguing films to ever have graced my DVD player. To this art and first amendment-loving girl, This Film is Not Yet Rated is worth the time and money given to watch it.

Sex, violence, gore, nudity, and swear words. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

V-Day: If you or a loved one is in need of help, abuse shelters and counseling services are available in our area.

• Caring Alternatives Inc. Counseling Services – (734) 242-8711 • Family Counseling and Shelter Services – (734) 242-7233 • Family Counseling and Shelter Services of Monroe County – (734) 241-0180 • Season of Hope Counseling Center – (734) 241-1000 • Silent Tears 24hour Rape Crisis Line

– (734) 243-6410

February 12, 2007

Agora photo by Charlene Hunt

Children at Head Start with Joe Verkennes, director of marketing

Campus Clubs Student Government: Meetings February 20 and March 6, 12:30 p.m., in the Cabinet Conference Room in the A Building. All meetings are open to the public. Contact NeCole Day, nday@monroeccc.edu or 384-4107, for more information.

Respiratory Therapy Students’ Organization: The organization will be sponsoring a booth about the dangers of smoking for the college’s Family Fun Night in March. Contact Bonnie Boggs, bboggs@monroeccc.edu or 384-4268, for more information.

Broadcasting Club: Meeting February 18, 7:00 p.m., at Pizza Hut on Telegraph Rd. to recruit new members. Contact Milward Beaudry, mbeaudry@ monroeccc.edu or 265-3549, for more information.

Math and Science Society (M.A.S.S.): Next meeting February 13, 12:30 p.m., in L-111. BGSU Planetarium visit March 2, open to all MCCC students.

Contact Jeffrey Kodysh, jeffrey.kodysh@gmail.com or (419) 902-5138, for more information.

Upcoming Lunch ‘n Learns Women’s Health - Feb. 15 Chiropractic Health - Mar. 15 Massage Therapy - Tenative for April Alcohol/Drug Use - May

February 12, 2007

Spotlight

AGORA

11

Youth for Understanding students from across the globe

Seungjin “Sue” Kim Korea Sue likes America and thinks it’s “way different than Korea.”

She thought we were a fairly liberal country compared to Korea and before she came here when she was in high school, she thought we ate a lot of meat and pizza. However, when she returned here for college, she knew the stereotypes weren’t completely true. In fact, she thought American college students partied all the time. Her favorite ice cream flavors are dark chocolate and chocolate covered cherry from Dairy Queen. She enjoys playing tennis, going to the movies, and hanging out with friends.

Eunjung “Anna” Kim Korea She said she had been in America last year, so she found it familiar this returning year. When I asked her about stereotypes of Americas in Korea, she said we are portrayed correctly in Korea.

She found that some are fat and she compared it to the idea of being fat in Korea. “Fat in Korea is like this,” she holds her hands out to show me. It is what we would consider to be a little overweight.

She went on to say, “here, fat is like this!” and held her hands far out in front of her. She likes any ice cream with caramel and she enjoys hanging out with friends and skiing.

Jolien van Middelaar Netherlands

Stephan Goss Switzerland

Jolien likes America, but admits it was hard at first and she was in culture shock. She thought all Americans are conservative and discovered that she was not entirely correct. She enjoys Ben and Jerry’s New York Fudge and Lemon Italian ice cream. She likes going to the movies, watching sports, and traveling. She especially enjoys soccer.

Stephan replied he likes America, “good, really, good.” Before he arrived, he thought we were fat and that we don’t like the environment. His favorite ice cream flavor is mango and he enjoys weight-lifting and hunting. He especially likes bow hunting and was the Swiss Champion.

Elsa Derrez France She enjoys America and aspires to become a New Yorker some day. The stereotype for Americans in France is much the same as everywhere else-we are fat, stupid, lazy, conservative, and hate the environment.

She came here and found that most fit that profile, with some exceptions. Her favorite flavors are strawberry and chocolate ice cream and she enjoys hanging out with friends, writing, poetry, listening to music, and drawing.

Agora photos & info gatherered by Sarah Wills

Dmitriy“Dima” Zelinskiy Kazahstan Dima really likes America.

In fact, he will have stayed here a total of two years before he returns home. Before he came here, he had heard the stereotypes typically associated with the U.S. (Big, fat, lazy, stupid, conservative) but he said he didn’t believe in them. He said he found that the “people and culture are different, but traditions are similar. I’m still working on it.” His favorite flavor is vanilla and he likes to surf the net and play computer games.

He liked to mountain bike at his home, but we have no mountains here for that.

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AGORA

Spotlight

Date