2-25-2011

Oscar preview, movie reviews - Page 6

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Whitman Center hosts blues, rock pg. 7 exhibit

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Aug. 26,25, 2010 Issue7 1 February 2011 Vol. Vol. 55, 55, Issue

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MCCC welcomes new faculty member pg. 4

Is MCCC haunted?

College staff witnesses strange activity on campus Christina Clark Agora Reporter

If you have ever been in the halls of the L building and felt like someone was watching you, don’t be so quick to shrug that feeling off.

MCCC was built behind an old cemetery, and supernatural experiences have been reported.

The hill in front of the college between Raisinville road and the La-Z-Boy center parking lot is a cemetery known as the Potter’s Field, according to Chris Kull of the Monroe County Historical Society.

In the 1800s, the Fairview Society, then known as the county poor farm, owned most of the land around where the college is now built.

During this time period, if someone died and could not afford a funeral, they would be buried in the Potter’s Field.

Today, a Historical Society marker marks the grave of an unknown number of people.

The only name on the marker is Ezra Younglove, a War of 1812 veteran.

Other campuses may have their ghost stories, but not many of them can say they have their own mass grave in front of their school.

Is it possible that since MCCC is so close to so many graves, that some of the dead are walking among the students and faculty, just out of eyeshot?

According to MCCC maintenance worker Dale Parker, it is

Photos by Christina Clark

Top photo: A ghost image was photoshopped into a stairway in the L building in the area where a ghost was believed to have been. Above: The Potter’s Field Historical Society Marker sits in the field in front of the school.

not only possible, it’s happening.

When Parker worked midnights during Winter semester

2010, he encountered several things in the L building that he said could be attributed to paranormal activity.

“We eat dinner at 2 o’clock in the morning. I heard someone whistle at me. We [my partner and I] didn’t think anything of

it, we sat there.

“About two minutes later, it happened; it got longer and louder. He and I walked out in the hallway, walked the whole first floor, didn’t find anyone.

“Two people can’t be wrong.

We know what we heard,” he said.

Parker also witnessed the elevator going up and down when no one was inside of it.

He saw heavy handicapped doors being opened after they had been locked, and heard footsteps following behind him when he was completely alone.

This all occurred while he was cleaning the L building, and all in the early morning hours.

He’s heard other employees talk about the spirit in the L building possibly belonging to a Native American.

The activity, however, doesn’t seem to be contained in just the L building.

Terry Peterson, another maintenance worker, said that while she was working midnights cleaning the East Tech building, she felt someone grab her shoulder.

These ghosts seem to be able to manifest themselves, too.

Parker was mopping the kitchen and cafeteria in the A building when he got a strange sensation that someone was watching him.

“The closer I got to the main hallway, I got a cold sensation.

I got little goose bumps and I looked around. There was a young woman walking down the main hallway. She was dressed like an office employee would dress, real professional,” he said.

“I actually dropped the mop and tried to follow her. I walked down toward the cafeteria; she cut right across the cafeteria. I ran after her and she was gone.”

For the eleven years Peterson has worked here, she said she has been playfully teased about her supernatural experiences.

Maybe she is the one who should be doing the teasing?

Tracy Vogt takes over as registrar James Dluzen Agora Repoter

Tracy Vogt has accepted the position of registrar at MCCC. Vogt was one of four people interviewed to fill the position left vacant by the retirement of Paul Schmidt last June.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity, I’ve been looking for a change,” Vogt said. “I’m looking forward to working

with other departments that I don’t normally get to work with.”

Vogt graduated from Mason High School and attended MCCC. She got her bachelor’s degree from Sienna Heights and master’s from University of Phoenix.

Vogt began her career at MCCC as a student assistant in 1994.

She was promoted to Administrative Assistant for the Director of Financial

Aid in 1997. In 2002, she was promoted to the position of Director of Financial Aid. “I’m excited to further my career in an institute I love,” she said.

“I was professionally ready for a career change.”

Vogt said she is glad she got the opportunity to advance, and she can’t wait to learn her new job.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity. I’ve been looking for a change.”

Tracy Vogt MCCC’s new registrar

MCCC security requesting firearms Matthew Mullins Agora Reporter

MCCC’s security officers are asking to be given the right to use firearms.

Some students would support the change.

“I would feel more protected,” Travis Roberts, MCCC student said. “I don’t see the need, but I’ve never really thought about it.”

The idea is still being loosely passed around by college officials.

“I really don’t have any other infor-

Inside:

mation other than I have been asked to investigate the possibility of arming our security force, said Randy Daniels, vice president of Student and Information Services.

All of MCCC’s security guards are expolice officers.

“Campus Security provides a safe and secure campus environment for students, staff, faculty, and visitors,” is how the MCCC Web site describes their role.

In 2007, the Virginia Tech massacre put fear in the hearts of many college

Opinion................................2 World News.............................3 Campus News..................4,5,7 A&E........................................6 Sports...................................8

students, when an armed man killed 33 students and college employees.

Colleges and universities across the country began reassessing their security after the Virginia Tech shootings.

“I think it would be good to have armed guards, it could discourage from having anything like that happen here,” said Chris Perria, a lab coordinator in the L building.

MCCC is not the only Michigan school questioning whether or not to arm its campus security.

Other schools, such as Jackson Community College, also are looking at the issue.

Last year, Jackson reported 39 burglaries and 13 larcenies, according to Cindy Allen, Jackson Community College’s spokeswoman.

MCCC’s crime rate is drastically lower, with only a handful of minor crimes, mostly break-ins of cars and lockers.

But in March of 2010, a thief made off with $8,000 worth of merchandise from the MCCC book store.

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Testing score cut-off proposed Matthew Mullins Agora Reporter

MCCC students are not making the cut, according to the college’s Developmental Education Committee.

College officials are proposing a bottom cutoff on compass test scores before students will be allowed into developmental courses.

Students who fall below the cutoff would be encouraged to enroll at the Monroe County Learning Bank or other remedial courses.

“We are trying to anticipate what we could do with the folks that are below the cutoff score,” John Joy, dean of Corporate and Community Services, said.

Although the Developmental Education Committee has made the recommendation, it’s unclear when it will take effect.

“There are real concerns trying to implement this by fall,” said Jill Denko, assistant professor of Student Services.

College officials are looking at a variety of options for students who don’t score high enough on the compass tests to qualify for the 090 writing or reading courses.

A different plan, which does not involve a cutoff score, is being considered for 090 developmental math courses.

Most students aren’t aware of the proposal, but some aren’t happy about it.

“I don’t get why they are doing this, it makes no sense to me,” said James Johnson, an MCCC student.

College officials are hoping for a Michigan adult learning grant to help pay for some of the remedial courses.

“We haven’t worked at the costing for what this is going to cost per class,” Joy said.

The Developmental Educational Committee voted 5-1 to accept the cutoff plan, along with remedial services being made available, effective starting Fall semester.

The policy must be reviewed by other committees and approved by the administration before it is final.

Students who score below the cutoff will be able to go through an appeal process, like any other studentrelated issue.

School officials also are pursuing limits on the number of times a student can retake a class.

Last year, about 700 students repeated classes, according to state of Michigan auditors.

Under the proposal discussed by the Developmental Education Committee, students will be unable to retake a course more than three times.

“If they fail at it three times, I don’t think they are going to get it a fourth time,” Jon Kapus, an MCCC student, said. “But that might not be fair.”

There also was discussion of an appeal process for the three retakes rule.

Both the cutoff and the retaking classes issues will be discussed by the Academic Review Committee Tuesday, March 29, at 12:30 p.m. in A-173. The meeting is open to everyone.

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2 THE AGORA

Editorial

Feb. 25, 2011

Not all women should reproduce

MTV shows “Teen Mom” and “16 and Pregnant” have been under constant fire for being mindless shows that misrepresent pregnancy.

They have been called bad influences, horrible and have also been put under the branch of television that is known as idiotic reality television.

I would like to point out there is a show regarding pregnancy and motherhood out there that eclipses any claim of idiocy hurled against the popular MTV shows.

“I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant,” a show on Discovery Health that follows women (women, not teenage girls) who, before the actual birth of their children, had no clue that they were with child, is the jewel in the Tyler Eagle crown of idiotic realAgora Reporter ity television.

Now, hearing the title and the premise of the show, one might think that this show follows women from the backwater swamps of Kentucky or maybe even circus people.

Instead, when tuning in to this wonderful series, the viewer might be shocked to find that the show follows normal women.

Not just normal women, but college educated women. Women who have professions in the medical field. Women who have had children. Women who, despite having a functioning brain and common sense, didn’t know they were pregnant.

The best part of the entire series is when they name off the symptoms they had prior to actually knowing.

Did most of them gain weight: yes (oddly only in the stomach.)

Did any of the women ever feel a kicking sensation in the stomach: yes (but they just felt like normal stomach cramps!).

Did they have morning sickness during any period of their unknown pregnancy: yes (but they swear they thought it was food poisoning...for three months).

Photo courtesy of MTV

Kat is one of the four new teen moms on MTV’s show “Teen Mom 2.” The girls throughout the series have received criticism for their teen pregnancies.

Seriously, the mothers of Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant are getting flak for being irresponsible but these women go unscathed?

Conservative viewers are calling for their children to be taken away, commenting on how they set a bad example. I would rather see a teenager raise a baby than someone who can go nine months without realizing that her womb is occupied.

I think anyone who can go nine months without realizing they’re pregnant belongs on a most wanted list generated by Child Protective Services. If they

can pass a psych evaluation and prove that their I.Q. has hit the double-digits, then they keep their baby.

“I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant,” shouldn’t be on air. It might be interesting at first, like watching someone attempt to pull a push-door for five minutes, but all it does is prove that there are morons in the world and they walk among us (and go on to reproduce too).

“Teen Mom” and “16 and Pregnant” actually do something. They give honest portrayals of teen motherhood.

Instead of criticizing them, I think we need to stop and think about what these shows provide the world. Studies have shown that this show has helped to decrease teen pregnancy, something that in itself is amazing.

If schools stopped using abstinence-only education (because when has God ever really kept someone’s pants on) and started hammering in a mix of contraceptives and those two shows, I guarantee you teen pregnancy would hit an all-time low.

Senators walking out in Wisconsin, Indiana need to get back to work The state of Wisconsin is just like the rest of the country: broke. If the Wisconsin Democratic state senators have anything to do with it, it’s going to stay that way.

Scott Walker, recently elected state governor, has proposed a “Budget Repair” bill that is meant to help decrease the state’s debt.

According to the Southern California Public Radio, the bill would “eliminate state employee’s collective bargaining power and require public workers to pay more for their health insurance and pensions.”

Obviously, the public workers who are affected by the bill are outraged that they have to pay more money. But is the little extra money they have to pay worth getting the state out of it’s $3.6 billion deficit?

Wisconsin Democratic senators don’t think so. In fact, they didn’t even show up to work on the day

Christina Clark Agora Reporter

the bill was supposed to be voted on.

Wisconsin’s state constitution requires 20 members of the Senate to be present and to vote on budget bills. The Republican senators outnumber the Democratic senators 19 to 14.

With the 20-member law in place, and none of the 14 Democrats showing up to vote, the 19 Republicans and the bill have to

wait until the democrats return to work.

The majority of Wisconsinites voted these people into the Senate with good faith that as senators they would do what is right for the state, but in not showing to vote, they abandoned the thousands of public workers and millions of taxpayers they represent, and spit on the democratic process.

State law enforcement has been ordered to round up any and all of the absentee voters, but it seems that many of them have left the state.

And what’s worse is that the Wisconsin walk-out seems to have sparked a new trend among other state‘s senates. Thirty-eight of Indiana’s 40 house Democrats walked out in order to delay action on three bills that would diminish collective bargaining.

These are the people who are running our country; petty people who run away instead of dealing

“These are the people who are running our country; petty people who run away instead of dealing with the problems they face.” with the problems they face.

If they didn’t like the bill they could have voted against it, or forbid we look past the political party differences and go with what is best for the people.

Maybe the bill is best and maybe it isn’t; but the bottom line is these people need to stop acting like children throwing tantrums, and get back to work.

Where’s the dislike button?

The Agora Editorial Policy

Though fun at first, social networking sites have long since become a breeding ground for narcissism, drama, and the popular trend of the digital antiresume.

For months I cruised through Facebook’s attractive honeymoon phase, chatting with friends and dabbling on Farmville.

Now every time I read through the news feed of my whopping 115 friends, I feel like I’m witnessing a graphic train crash – disturbing, provocative, and eyecatching.

The egotism was the first red flag.

With a question like “what’s on your mind?” prompting every status update, maybe it’s no wonder why posts are becoming more in-

trospective. In 2009 Facebook is like Facebook added the an anti-resume. question, instead of Resumes include the former “so-andyour highest so is…” formula. achievements and the precise things No longer do you’d want an you see simple employer to read. statements of However, a Facewhat a person is book profile page up to; now you sit is much easier to front seat to your access and can friends’ fleeting shed more light thoughts, includMorgan Hofbauer on a persons’ ething how great that Agora Reporter ics and decision shower felt and skills. how drunk your niece was Saturday night.

CareerBuilder discovered that People will so willingly post 45 percent of employers use their dirty laundry for the inter- Facebook and Twitter to research net to see. Sure privacy settings job candidates. are available, but after all of your If you couldn’t say it in front of friends and all of your friends’ an employer, should you really be friends take a look, is it really that posting it online? private?

Then, of course, there are the annoying Facebook fights.

Facebook originally seemed like a safe haven from the Myspace drama. It was geared toward college students and adults, not just the high school crowd.

However, all good things must end. Now, just as many adults start drama through status comments as young kids do.

Countless times I’ve seen jealous accusations and friend fights play out through status comments. The only thing more stupid than spreading your own dirty laundry is spreading other peoples’.

Although Facebook is an excellent social networking tool, I think it’s slowly falling into the internet grave of websites past. Now Myspace won’t be so lonely.

The Agora is published by the students of Monroe County Community College, 1555 S. Raisinville Rd., Monroe, MI, 48161. The editorial office is located in Room 202 of the Life Sciences Bldg., (734) 384-4186, agora@monroeccc.edu.

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

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

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

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

Staff Members Editor Marissa Beste Assistant Editor Tyler Eagle News Editor Morgan Hofbauer Adviser Dan Shaw

Staff Nicole Bolster Mariah Bruce Christina Clark James Dluzen Matthew Mullins Jeff Papworth Joe Prestia Kayla Tubbs Whitney Patterson

World News

February 25, 2011

THE AGORA

3

Middle East riots explode

Egyptian revolution calls for fast global decisions on aid, further protests hood rejected it, calling it insufficient.

“The promises made by the king when he fired his cabinet seem to have bought him some time,” stated an article from the New York Times. “But many question whether the promises will be fulfilled, and whether such steps will in any case be enough to calm the rising tide of frustration.”

Nonetheless, citizens have organized protests. On Feb. 18, one demonstration turned violent as supporters of the king clashed with opponents.

Other factors like unemployment, the continued autocracy, rising prices, and the Arab unrest have kept protests going.

The U.S. remains as an ally to Jordan and to Abdullah II. Obama called the king last weekend to reassure him of U.S. support and to advice him toward reform.

The U.S. contributes $363 million in annual aid to Jordan. Last month the administration increased that amount by an additional $100 million, targeted toward the country’s poor.

Morgan Hofbauer Agora Reporter

The hopeful cry of democracy pierced across the Egyptian sand on Feb. 11, sending a dust storm that has shaken the corrupt and rallied the suppressed.

Large changes are now destined for many countries, and large decisions must be made by their leaders.

In Yemen, Iran, Bahrain, and Libya, the successful protests have sparked inspiration. Meanwhile, the U.S. and others must decide how much assistance to offer.

As more dictators are ousted, the newly rioting countries are gaining momentum quickly. The Egyptian military’s sixmonth plan means the countries deciding on aid and assistance need to make swift decisions.

Egypt The current state of Egypt is rocky, but resolving.

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak abandoned his 30-year reign after the 18 days of protest. In his place, he left all power in the hands of the military.

Since then, military officers have taken steps toward a democratic transition by dissolving the feeble Parliament, calling for elections in six months, and convening a panel of jurists to revise the currently suspended Constitution.

The state of emergency law, which has been in place for 30 years and allowed detentions without charges or trial and limited public freedom, will also be dissolved within six months according to the Egyptian military.

Egyptian authorities arrested the country’s former information minister and the chairman of state TV and radio on Feb. 24. The two men are suspected of corruption.

On Feb. 21, Egyptian legal officials in Alexandra arrested three police officers who allegedly fired live bullets at demonstrators on Jan. 28.

Demonstrators crowded into Tahrir square once again on Feb. 18, only this time in celebration of their accomplishment.

On Feb. 16 and 17, hundreds of Egyptian employees went on strike, including at the Cairo airport and along the Suez Canal.

Some analysts worry about religious groups like the Muslim Brotherhood taking a strict roll in the post-Mubarak era.

The Muslim Brotherhood has announced intentions to create a political party once democracy is established.

Although Muslims account for 90 percent of Egypt’s population, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy discovered, by survey, that only 15 percent of those polled said they strongly or somewhat approve of the Muslim Brotherhood.

“I think that the Muslim Brotherhood is not anything to be afraid of,” former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said during an event in Texas. “They will be subsumed in the overwhelming demonstration of desire for freedom and democracy.”

The U.S. The U.S. currently contributes roughly $1.5 billion annually to Egypt, $1.3 billion in military aid, which U.S. legislators are reexamining. Besides the political discourse overseas, economic discourse on our turf may call for a break on foreign military assistance.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned the House Armed Services Committee that any abrupt decision regarding foreign aid and assistance would be foolhardy.

Several political analysts agreed, saying that maintaining assistance could promote the change to democracy.

The Obama Administration has remained in support of democracy in Egypt, despite the peaceful relationship between the U.S. and Mubarak’s regime.

Before the protests broke out in January, Obama met with Mubarak three times over 18 months to encourage transformations in the interest of the Egyptian people, including ending the emergency law and lifting press censorship.

The day before Mubarak’s ousting, Obama released a statement asking Egyptian authorities “to spell out in clear and unambiguous language the step-bystep process that will lead to democracy and the representative government that

Iran

Photo by Ramy Raooff

Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt was filled with protestors of the Mubarak regime from Jan. 25 until the president announced his resignation on Feb. 11. On Feb. 18, demonstrators crowded in the square again to celebrate the successful revolution.

the Egyptian people seek.”

Since Mubarak has resigned, the Obama Administration announced concern about whether Egypt’s military will stick with democracy. The long standing emergency law has yet to be lifted and many civilian officials from Mubarak’s government remain in power.

The U.S. Treasury told American Banks to monitor transactions that relate to Mubarak and his government. Assets of some senior officials have been frozen, at the request of Egypt.

Libya Demonstrators estimated at several hundred to several thousand stormed Libya’s second largest city, Benghazi, on Feb. 16, demanding the release of a human rights advocate. The crowd, armed with gasoline bombs and rocks, protested outside a government office before marching to the city’s central square.

In Zentan, hundreds took to the streets, setting fire to security headquarters and a police station.

The North African country has been under the firm ruling of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi since he seized control in 1969.

“He has built his rule on a cult of personality and a network of family and tribal alliances supported by largess from Libya’s oil revenues,” stated an article from the New York Times.

El-Qaddafi’s son and possible successor, Seif Al-Islam, spoke of dismantling the Socialist and authoritarian legacy of his father before the protests began.

He proposed things like tax-free investment zones, a tax haven for foreigners, the abolition of visa requirements and the development of luxury hotels, the New York Times reported.

Besides his father’s dictatorship, the 30 percent unemployment rate is furthering demonstrators’ agitation with el-Qaddafi.

On Feb. 17, Libya saw its own Day of Rage. According to Human Rights Watch, thousands of protestors met in Benghazi, Tripoli, and at least three other locations. The government responded to the protests, resulting in 24 people dead by gunfire.

On Feb. 19 the internet was shut down and the death toll reached 84 according to Human Rights Watch.

The following day, security forces fired at a funeral procession and the death toll rose to 173. Several people in the city’s hospital, however, argue that 200 had been killed on Feb. 19 alone, with 800 wounded Qaddafi issued helicopters and warplanes to besiege the country’s capital on Feb. 21.

On Feb. 22 he released the colonel released a statement, blaming the protests on hallucinagons, brainwashing, and the naive desire of youths to imitate Egypt and Tunisia.

Obama “strongly condemned” the government’s violent response to demonstrators.

On Thursday, supporters of Qaddafi struck back against his protesting opponents.

Bahrain The unrest between Sunni Muslim king Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa and the 70 percent Shiite Muslim majority of Bahrain spilled over on Feb. 16 as thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Pearl Square.

The following day, hundreds of heavily armed riot police officers rushed Pearl Square, firing shotguns, tear gas and concussion grenades at the sleeping protesters. Five were killed and at least 200 were wounded.

On Feb. 18, the Bahrain military opened fire on the protesters from road and helicopters. They continued fire as ambulances entered the scene, according to the New York Times. Thousands gathered outside the hospital, chanting “death to Khalifa.”

Thousands of Shiite demonstrators returned to Pearl Square Feb. 19 after security forces vacated. The protesters had rejected a negotiation call from Khalifa.

More than a hundred thousand protesters joined the demonstration on Pearl Square on Feb. 22. It was the largest protest the country has seen. Security forces did not confront the situation.

The following day, the king released 308 political prisoners and visited Saudi Arabia to discuss the unrest.

Bahrain has been a strategic ally to the U.S. The U.S. provided around $20 million in 2010 to the country, in addition to hosting a large military base on Bahraini soil. However, U.S. officials including Obama are encouraging the democratic movement and are asking Khalifa to show restraint on the peaceful protesters.

A senior U.S. official familiar with government reporting and analysis on Bahrain told Reuters that the protesters may not accomplish an overthrow like the Egyptians and Tunisians.

“U.S. national security and intelligence agencies expect Bahrain’s government to ride out the unrest and that security forces will eventually succeed in containing the protests,” the Reuters article stated.

Raed Aman, one demonstrator that escaped Friday night, told the New York Times a different story however.

“We are not going to stop and we are not scared at any time,” Aman said. “If anybody in my family dies, I will have more power. Even if I lose my life, I will be there every time.”

Yemen Economic unrest and an arguably corrupt regime have led Yemen citizens into the Arab protests. Thousands began demonstrations in January.

On Feb. 2, President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced that he would not be running for reelection after his term ends in 2013, nor would his eldest son run for presidency.

On Feb. 23, thousands of demonstrators flooded into a square in the nation’s capital. At least seven members of the country’s parliament have submitted resignations to protest the government’s violent response.

Saleh has instructed security forces to protect the demonstrators and discontinue violence between supporters and opponents.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Saleh in January and encouraged him to open a new dialogue with the opposition in an attempt to stabilize the country.

Protests and daily clashes continue in their third week, as supporters and protesters of Saleh come at each other with fists, rocks and sticks.

The U.S. took notice of Yemen in 2000 because of Al Qaeda activity. After Sept.

11, the country joined a counterterrorism partnership with the U.S. The activity of Al Qaeda may raise questions if the Yemen protests strongly persist and the authoritarian regime topples, as well as the amount of arms held in the country. With a population of roughly 20 million, Yemen is said to have at least 20 million guns.

Protests broke out in Iran on Feb. 14 in support of the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. Hundreds of riot police officers were deployed into major Iranian cities including Tehran where they clashed physically with the protesters and fired tear gas.

The supporters and opponents of the authorities clashed again on Feb. 16, when a college student was killed.

The government said he was shot by a government opponent, while opponents claim the man was beat to death by plain clothed security officers because he joined the anti-government movement.

On Feb. 18, thousands of government supporters gathered in Tehran for a prayer sermon rally and government authorities appeared to have backed off calls to execute two opposition leaders who staged the riots Feb. 14, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Iranian president issued a televised address condemning Libyan King Qaddafi’s violent response to demonstrators.

The U.S. has continued its strict eye on Iran, which has been in place because of the country’s secretive nuclear program.

In June 2010 the Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions on Iran after the country backed away from an interim solution and furthered the nuclear program. In January 2011, Hillary Rodham Clinton said the sanctions succeeded in slowing the program.

The Wikileaks episode in November 2010 created further confusion about the relationship between the U.S. and Iran.

Iraq Tunisia Iraqi demonstrators have also clashed with police forces while protesting corruption in provincial leadership, low job prospects, and the current state of government services like electricity.

On Feb. 16 in the Iraqi city of Kut, security forces fired on demonstrators protesting the provincial governor. The protest continued to Feb. 17.

The demonstrators decorated a donkey with a sign reading “governor,” and hit it with their shoes, according to the Associated Press.

The following day, private security guards in Sulaimaniya fired at demonstrators who attacked a Kurdish political party headquarters. Meanwhile in Basra, about 600 Iraqis gathered to protest the governor. The Associated Press reported that the protest was largely peaceful.

Obama has declared a troop withdrawal by December 2011, but one congressman said Thursday that the politically acceptable size of a remaining force at that time could be 20,000.

Jordan As the country went through its worst economic crisis in years, the Tunisian protests fueled citizens in Jordan to do the same. In an attempt to calm the streets of Jordan, King Abdullah II dismissed his cabinet and prime minister on Feb. 1.

Some in Jordan said to be relieved, but the political arm of the Muslim Brother-

Trouble was boiling in Tunisia with the deadly combination of a corrupt, repressive government, a struggling economy, growing unemployment and public resentment.

On Jan. 14, authoritarian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali left the country after a sudden explosion of street protests

by Tunisians.

On Feb. 21, the head of a Tunisian government commission on political reform warned that the country risked falling into anarchy.

During the demonstrations, government figures calculated 78 protesters who were killed and 94 who were injured.

Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi abandoned his plan of acquiring presidency the day after Ali’s departure. Instead, he created an interim government, which included members of the opposition, to serve until elections could be held mid-year.

On Friday, small groups of protesters gathered outside government ministries to demand the resignation of the caretaker government and the release of family members.

In the following weeks, police fled from their barracks in fear of retribution.

The caretaker government set up military checkpoints at several ports to halt migrants, who are traveling to Italy with the weakened authority.

Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said Europe should be concerned whether terrorist suspects could be using the situation to enter Italy.

4 THE AGORA Campus News MCCC welcomes new professor

February 25, 2011

Clifton Brown plans to build energy program Joe Prestia

Agora Reporter

Next fall, MCCC plans to add classes that focus on the growing industry of alternative energies.

New professor Clifton Brown has been recruited to lead the way.

“The solar industry is exploding,” Brown said.

Brown holds both a bachelor’s degree in electronics and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University.

After college, he was employed as a civilian contractor for the military, doing “security-related stuff,” for the National Command Control networks.

Later, Brown went on to work on all types of projects, including a stint as a developer for the DNA gene scanners used for the Human Genome Project.

“The companies I have been involved in have always been doing the weird, oddball, bleeding-edge

stuff. Not the cutting-edge, the bleeding-edge,” Brown said.

He also holds a patent for a humidity sensor that is used along with other technologies to predict weather conditions that are conducive to fungi and other organisms that threaten farmers’ crops.

For the last two years, Brown has been instructing classes at Lansing Community College that are similar to the alternative energy courses he plans to set up for the 2011 fall semester at MCCC. “I bring the hands-on, this is how you do it, this is how you break it, this is how you fix it approach that a lot of academics don’t have,” Brown said.

“I make smoke in the classroom.”

First, Brown plans to start introductory courses on alternative energy systems, solar power, and wind power.

He then plans to phase in classes that are more specific to areas such as hydroelectric energy, hydrogen/biofuels, energy management, and possibly residential energy efficiency.

Brown said he hopes to bring these classes together into an associates degree that may be dubbed, “Energy Management.”

He also said he will be talking with area universities to ensure that his classes will transfer to four-year degree programs in respective areas of study.

He noted that these classes also count toward industry certifications and apprenticeships, and would also be useful to business owners, home owners, and tradesmen looking to improve their employability.

According to Brown, there are an increasing number of jobs, not only in the construction and maintenance of alternative technologies, but in their sales and inspection.

He said there may be a huge increase in these types of jobs right here in Michigan due to the Great Lakes’ wind and water energy resources.

Brown then explained that jobs in the alternative energy field are growing rapidly due to the government’s pressure on companies to become “greener” and because of the continuing increases in the cost of energy.

“Energy makes the world go round,” Brown said.

For more information, you can contact Clifton Brown at cwbrown@monroeccc.edu.

Photo courtesy of Clifton Brown

Clifton Brown, the new MCCC professor, poses with his dog, Neptune. Brown will be adding classes to MCCC’s curriculum regarding alternative energy.

Canadian official lobbies for bridge Morgan Hofbauer Agora Reporter

In the debate whether to add a fourth international crossing between Detroit and Canada, one Canadian official offers his full support.

Canadian consul General Roy Norton discussed his support of the bridge with U.S. Rep. John Dingell, who is also in support, during a visit to Monroe earlier this month.

The Detroit River International Crossing project would improve traffic flow between U.S. and Canadian interstates and highways, unlike the nearby Ambassador Bridge, which deposits traffic onto the city streets of Windsor.

Besides opening trade routes, the bridge project is expected to create 10,000 jobs during its construction and support another 25,000 jobs afterward.

In addition, Canada has pledged to cover Michigan’s $550 million share of bridge construction, to be repaid by toll revenue.

The project was proposed in 2005 and received approval from the Michigan House, but reached a standstill in the state Senate in 2010. Current Gov. Rick Snyder, however, revived interest in the bridge proposal during his State of the State address on Jan. 19.

The Canadian government concluded its approval of the bridge in 2009.

“This is a bridge that the state of Michigan gets for no money down, no borrowing, no liability,” Norton said. “It gets shared ownership, shared control with the government of Canada, and, after approximately 40 or 45 years, a revenue stream of 40, 50, or 60 million dollars a year for Michigan alone.”

If that doesn’t sound like a much-needed opportunity for Michigan, Gov. Snyder announced that the money would also improve Michigan’s bumpy roads.

The federal government typically pays 80 percent of highway and road construction costs, provided that the state puts up the final 20 percent. That can be paid in either dollars or transportation infrastructure investments.

Snyder arranged that the $550 million from Canada toward the construction of the bridge would count as Michigan’s match to receive at least $2 billion in federal highway funds.

“We’re very impressed by the creativity that the governor has demonstrated and the good will of the secretary of transportation and folks in Washington toward this proposal,” Dr. Norton said. “It may actually be decisive in the end in terms of persuading

Agora photo by Morgan Hofbauer

U.S. Rep. John Dingell and Candian Consul General Roy Norton are both in support of the Detroit River International Crossing, a proposed bridge several miles from the current Ambassador Bridge.

To see a video of Consul General Roy Norton, visit the Agora Web site at www.mcccagora.com Michigan legislators that this is a very good thing for the entire state.”

If the bridge is not built, Michigan would have to find money elsewhere in the struggling budget to match those federal funds.

“If that happens, unfortunately the bridge would probably go elsewhere like Buffalo or some other place,” Dingell said. “All of the business and jobs and opportunities that would be associated with it would not come to our people in Michigan or to our friends in Ontario.”

Canada isn’t willing to front the $550 million as just a charitable donation – it has a stake in the commerce that would be created by the bridge.

Norton said that without easing the trade routes between Ontario and Detroit – two major areas of industry – there is legitimate reason to believe that firms, owned by the U.S., Canada, Japan, or others, could take their business to other areas.

“This has become Canada’s number one national infrastructure priority,” Norton said.

Canada already has begun contracts for the $2 billion worth of road construction needed to connect the new bridge to Highway 401 in Ontario.

The other international crossings in the area are the Detroit-Windsor tunnel for passenger cars, the overburdened Port Huron Blue Water Bridge, and the 80-year-old Ambassador Bridge that lies two miles from the proposed site.

Nearly 10,000 trucks a day cross the Ambassador Bridge alone.

“When they get to the Canadian side, they go through 17 traffic lights on a major Windsor street before they get to freeway, and there’s no way to bring freeway to the foot of the Ambassador Bridge,” Norton said.

“Imagine 10,000 trucks a day on Monroe Street in downtown Monroe.”

Hospitals, the University of Windsor, retail and residential areas line the streets following the Ambassador Bridge exit.

Norton said it is critical that a new crossing be developed for international truck traffic to avoid the congestion at the Ambassador Bridge, and to acquire standard security screening that meets post9/11 standards.

Norton also addressed the project’s impact on the Ambassador Bridge, and whether the two would be

in competition.

“We regard the bridge as complimentary, not competitive,” he said. “Studies show that there is enough traffic for both. Particularly given that truck traffic is expected to triple over the next 30 years and car traffic to double.”

However, the owner of the Ambassador Bridge, Matty Moroun, still doesn’t want competition. Instead, he wants to build a second bridge two miles from the Ambassador span.

With some help from his immediate family and employees, Moroun donated nearly $600,000 to Michigan election campaigns last fall.

Norton said he hopes that will not affect legislators’ decisions about the Detroit River International Crossing.

“We think legislators will do the right thing in the end,” he said. “We think, notwithstanding who it is they might have received campaign contributions from, legislators will see that they really have no choice if they’re going to act in the interests of the people of Michigan but to vote for this.”

If the state legislators deny the bill again, the consul general said the next step would be to discuss the issue with the U.S. president and Congress.

“If it comes to it, there may be no choice but to go that route. That’s how important this is to Canada,” Norton said.

Rep. Dingell said he thinks Snyder’s endorsement will prove helpful in approving the needed authorization.

“I think this is something that needs to be addressed and quickly solved,” he said. “If we don’t get busy and do something, we’ll find this traffic is all going to be going across to Buffalo and that part of Canada. I don’t think that’s something that this part of the country wants to transpire.”

Norton visited Monroe Feb. 1 to attend a reception welcoming Scott Bentley, the new superintendent of River Raisin Battlefield National Park. Before the reception, Dr. Norton gave a speech to the Monroe Rotary Club, toured Monroe, and met with Dingell.

Dingell said besides the bridge, they discussed the River Raisin Battlefield National Park, The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, and other matters of shared concern.

“It was a very friendly discussion,” Dingell said.

“The offer of the Canadians on this bridge appears to be a very generous one and very much in the interest of the people of Michigan,” he said. “I hope that they will scrutinize it most carefully and sympathetically.”

MCCC Criminal Justice Club holds its first meeting Whitney Patterson Agora Reporter

The MCCC Criminal Justice Club met for the first time on Jan. 26.

Penny Dunn, MCCC assistant professor of Criminal Justice and advisor of the club, introduced the club’s purpose, who could attend the meetings, and what could be expected in future meetings.

The club was created by Dunn who wanted to expand the Criminal Justice program for MCCC. “As a college, we sort of neglected looking at some other careers in the criminal justice such as probation, parole, lawyers, prosecutors, and correctional officers,” Dunn said.

“So what I decided to look into is expanding our criminal justice program and incorporating more career oriented classes and opportunities,” she added.

The club is open to all students, faculty, and alumni. Being a criminal justice major is not necessary to attend the meet-

“What I decided to look into is expanding our criminal justice program and incorporating more career oriented classes and opportunities.”

Penny Dunn Assistant professor of Criminal Justice ings.

The club also discussed guest speakers. Two of the guest speakers that will be coming are a Michigan Department of Corrections supervisor and an agent from the FBI. Judy Laberde, the Michigan Department of Corrections supervisor for Probation/Parole, spoke on Feb. 23 about careers in the community corrections area.

Agora photo by Whitney Patterson

Assistant professor of Criminal Justice Penny Dunn, second from right, poses with members of the MCCC Criminal Justice Club.

Campus News

February 25, 2011

THE AGORA

5

It’s time to think about transferring Kayla Tubbs

Agora Reporter

Some students at MCCC plan on transferring to a university in the fall of 2011.

As the story usually goes, though, students are procrastinating to the last minute.

Mark Hall director of Admissions and Guidance Services at MCCC, explains that it is in the students’ best interest to start the transferring process as soon as they know where they might want to go to school.

He also said that researching the potential universities is essential in choosing which school is right for a student.

“I would encourage visiting each school at least once,” Hall said, “It’s a big decision to make for a young adult.”

According to Hall, every college has different enrollment deadlines. But as the saying goes with most things: The early bird gets the worm.

“Of course, it’s never too late to apply,” Hall said.

“It’s just like registering for classes here: Apply early and schedule classes at the earliest deadline possible so you can get the best class times available. Apply for housing ASAP also to obviously get the best dorm.”

There are other steps that are important to follow for transferring. Hall said that first, students should not only do a scan on the basics of the university, but should also thoroughly research the specific major and/or program they are interested in.

Secondly, once students have found their major, they should find and follow the program’s transfer guide.

Almost every school has a transfer guide that will help students pick the

photo by Kayla Tubbs

Director of Admissions and Guidance Mark Hall advises MCCC student Brittani Peterson on what classes to take and where they transfer.

right classes and check to make sure their current classes at MCCC are accepted at the university.

A number of transfer guides for various universities are provided on MCCC’s website.

The third step a student should take is

while researching their major at a college or university, they should note whether the program is selective or limited. Physical therapy and nursing, for example, are selective programs and require stricter qualifications to be accepted into.

The fourth step is to apply to the col-

lege and for financial aid. Scholarships are everywhere. The best thing a student can do to find these scholarships is to talk to one of the university’s financial aid advisors.

The same rule applies to scholarships as to all the other steps — apply early

and apply often. The more scholarships students apply for, the greater the chance of receiving one.

Once a student has received that letter in the mail that says they have been accepted, the last step is to apply for housing.

Being one of the first to sign up for your favorite dorm is crucial because the rooms go fast. If students want the pick of the litter, they must apply as soon as possible.

Hall emphasized that the time to start applying is now. If a student hasn’t started applying to their school of choice, they should start soon.

Almost all information about a university can be found through the school’s Web site.

Phone numbers to admissions and financial aid offices are usually listed on the Web site as well, so don’t be shy to call for help.

The counselors at MCCC are also always there to help any student who has questions.

For students interested in transferring to the University of Toledo, on April 8 there will be a bus that will take MCCC students to the campus for a guided tour and questions.

The bus will pick up students on the main campus in front of the A building and also at the Whitman Center at 8 a.m. and will return to MCCC at noon.

A second trip will be made at noon and will return again at 4 p.m.

This tour is free to any student interested in UT. Students can go at either time, or they can choose to stay the whole day and explore the campus themselves.

Woolly mammoth to walk the Earth, again Whitney Patterson Agora Reporter

A Japanese scientist plans to have cloned a woolly mammoth in about four to five years.

This will not be the first time that someone has tried to clone a woolly mammoth. Scientists tried to clone the prehistoric animal back in the 1990’s, but failed because the tissue sample had been frozen for over 5,000 years and was too degraded.

In 2008, Dr. Teruhiko Wakayama created a technique where a mammal can be cloned from soft tissue that has been frozen for long periods of time.

Using this method, Wakayama successfully cloned a mouse from cells that were frozen for 16 years.

Professor Akani Iritani of Kyoto University, along with a Russian mammoth researcher

and two U.S. African elephant experts, is planning on using this technique to clone the mammoth using a sample from a preserved mammoth carcass in a Russian laboratory.

To clone the mammoth, Iritani is going to extract the nuclei from the tissue sample and inject them into the egg cells of a female African elephant to make an embryo with mammoth DNA. After the embryo has the mammoth DNA, the U.S. African elephant experts will then implant the embryo into an African elephant. Then, they will wait and hope that a healthy baby mammoth is born.

While doing this, Iritani will have to stay to a close schedule and he will only have a little over two years to unfreeze the DNA, fertilize the egg, and implant it in the elephant.

Photo courtesy of Edupics

Online courses offer Briefly: freedom, responsibility Three authors presenting Christina Clark Agora Reporter

The internet isn’t just for Facebook and email. It is also a tool used to get an education without visiting a college campus.

Eleven years ago, MCCC started using Blackboard — the software program used by the Electronic Learning Department of the college — as part of the Michigan virtual learning collaboration.

The E-Learning Department allows students to take classes at MCCC without coming to a weekly class. This allows the college to educate students from other cities, states, and even countries.

According to Jeff Peters, the coordinator of E-learning and Instructional Support, there are three ways to interact with blackboard: Face to face interaction with teachers who also post on blackboard; blended classes that mainly meet on blackboard but meet on campus from time to time; and completely online classes.

The number of students who took online credit courses increased from Fall 2009 to Fall 2010 but decreased during the Winter semesters from 1,202 in 2010 to 1,109 in 2011.

The number of face-to-face with some blackboard interaction increased during both the Fall and Winter semesters from 2,144 in Fall 2009 to 2,386 in Fall 2010 and 2,124 Winter 2010 to 2,401 in Winter 2011.

The college offers 70 online classes during the Winter and Fall semesters. Students can obtain one degree — the nursing degree-— completely online.

Almost three quarters of students interact with Blackboard in some way, Peters said, and many students find these classes helpful.

“I took some of my classes online, because the classes I needed were not offered at the times I could be on campus, and most of the

classes were at the Monroe campus and I live close to the Whitman center,” MCCC student Heather Waldo said.

“I have two kids, one is 18 months and the other is almost 6, and only has half day kindergarten. I am a stay-at-home mom right now, so it was more convenient to do online classes.”

Even though it is more convenient not to trudge outside in Michigan winter to get to your classes, student Danielle Laura, who currently lives in Tennessee, said that it is much more difficult to take online courses than on campus.

“Convenience is a popular benefit of online courses, but along with that convenience comes a lot more responsibilities, and I think that the added responsibilities extremely outweigh the benefits of not having to travel to class,” Laura said.

“It’s much harder to act as my own professor, classmate, and study partner; and I find myself working harder because I don’t have a teacher or a classmate in front of me to help me.”

But it’s not all bad, Laura said. Even though the work was tedious, she said she felt that she better understood the material in the online classes because she had to put so much effort into it.

There are definite benefits to taking online classes, Waldo said.

“I would only recommend to people to take online courses if they are dedicated, she said, “They do come with a lot more work than most courses you would take on campus. But if a person does have the drive and willpower to learn on their own, then these courses would be a breeze for them.”

Students can register for online classes the same way they would register for on-campus courses, through Webpal or talking with a counselor.

at Whitman Center

“Remarkable Women”, a presentation given by authors Linda Tempe Baker, James Marshall, and Joyce Jane, will be delivered Tuesday, Mar. 22, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Room 8 at the Whitman Center.

Discussion will focus on the authors’ work on, “In Search of Our Past: Women of Northwest Ohio,” and the research techniques that were used.

Women to be discussed include the author of the Nancy Drew series, Millie Benson, Rusty’s Jazz Café owner, Rusty Monroe, and the Native American activist Joyce “Snowfeather” Mahaney.

“Avoid Being A Victim” will be presented on Wednesday, April 6, from 6-7:30 p.m. in Room 8.

The workshop will focus on self defense techniques that can be used when attacked or mugged.

The workshop will be presented by University of Toledo Police Captain Julie Rightnowar and Officer Jill Goldberg.

New scholarship endowed Monroe’s Education Plus Credit Union has created the Education Plus Credit Union Scholarship at MCCC. EPCU donated $20,000 to support the new scholarship.

The scholarship will begin being awarded in Fall 2012 to an MCCC student transferring to a college to pursue a degree in education.

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must have a 2.8 GPA, be a member of EPCU and be a full-time student. Financial need may also be considered.

The scholarship could be used for tuition, books and fees.

Energy panels operational DTE’s solar panel project on MCCC’s campus began generating power on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

Work on the $3 million solar panel project, part of DTE’s SolarCurrents program, began on Nov. 15.

“American Idol” contestant to perform at La-Z-Boy Center Vocal artist Crystal Bowersox, the runner-up from last season’s “American Idol” and Toledo-native, will perform at the La-Z-Boy Center’s Meyer Theater on Saturday, April 2, at 7:30 p.m.

Bowersox’s performance is part of her tour to support her debut album, “Farmer’s Daughter.”

“Farmer’s Daughter” is based on Bowersox’s personal experiences with love and experiencing a dark childhood while growing up.

Monroe vocal artist Kevin Daniels will perform as Bowersox’s opening act.

Tickets are sold out for this event.

Poverty simulation comes to MCCC in March A Poverty Simulation Workshop will be held Monday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the La-Z-Boy Center The workshop will focus on how people at the poverty level live and will simulate how different members of a family experiencing poverty function.

The event will be sponsored by Voices for Action (V4A) – Region 8 Poverty Reduction and MCOP. Those interested in attending must register, as seating is limited. Contact Kim Ruiz at (734) 457-0630 or e-mail to kruiz@monroecountyop.org by March 4 if interested.

6 THE AGORA A&E Hollywood prepares for Oscars

February 25, 2011

Mariah Bruce Agora Reporter

Hollywood is gearing up for one of the biggest nights of awards season as the 71st Annual Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, draw nearer.

Almost every year, there is one breakout film that is expected to go home with multiple awards, and this year is no exception: “The King’s Speech,” starring Colin Firth, has 12 nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.

The historical film follows Prince Albert (played by Firth) and the obstacles he faces overcoming his stutter. The film has already won several awards including seven BAFTA awards and a Golden Globe for Best Actor.

Another film that has received a lot of praise is “True Grit,” which has 10 Oscar nominations. The film is the second adaptation of the novel of the same name by Charles Portis. The film chronicles young Mattie Ross (played by Hailee Steinfeld) and her attempts to find the man responsible for her father’s murder. She enlists Rooster Cogburn

(Jeff Bridges) and Texas Ranger Laboeuf (Matt Damon) for the manhunt, and they reluctantly let her come along. “True Grit” has already received recognition from the British Academy, winning the BAFTA for Cinematography.

“Inception” and “The Social Network” have also received a lot of praise, both securing eight Oscar nominations apiece.

“Inception” is a science-fiction movie exploring the world of dreams. It follows Dom Cobb, played by (Leonardo DiCaprio,) and his team whose jobs are extracting from and inserting into peoples’ minds ideas, through dreams. The cast also includes Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tom Hardy, among others.

“Inception” won several BAFTA awards, including Special Visual Effects.

“The Social Network” is the true story of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and the lawsuits surrounding the creation of the website. The film also stars Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin and Armie Hammer as Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.

“The Social Network” won several BAFTA awards, including Best

Director (David Fincher) and Adapted Screenplay. It also won several Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture (Drama), Best Director, and Best Original Score.

The Oscars have a long history dating back to the first ceremony in 1929. The event was small, with only 250 guests. There were no surprises that night, as the recipients of the awards had been announced 3 months previously.

The next year, the Academy changed this by waiting until the night of the ceremony to announce the winners, but giving a list of winners to newspapers ahead of time. This method changed when, in 1940, the Los Angeles Times published the names of the winners in their evening edition.

Since 1941, the secretive, sealedenvelope method was used and is still in use to this day.

The Awards were publicly broadcast on the radio starting in 1930 and began being televised in 1953.

This year, the Oscars are airing Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC. James Franco and Anne Hathaway will host them. photos courtesy of Academy of Motion Pictures/Arts

February brings unfavorable films to screen

Morgan Hofbauer Agora Reporter

February is the month to avoid the movie theaters.

Filled with box office failures, February was far from the date hotspot that Valentine’s Day typically creates.

The Unknown Predictable, boring and forgetful – Liam Neeson, try as he might, cannot lift “The Unknown” past a cheap thriller with a bad twist.

The plot follows Dr. Martin Harris (Neeson) after waking up from a car accident. His wife no longer remembers him and a new man has assumed his identity. Harris is ignored by authorities, hunted by assassins, and nearly driven insane by the events un-

folding around him.

The brilliant actor was undoubtedly weighed down. His performance in the 2007 hit “Taken” was reminiscent but smothered. Supporting actors January Jones, Aidan Quinn, and Diane Kruger faded into the background even more than Neeson.

One plus side to the film is being able to figure out the plot twist before it’s revealed, like in “Shutter Island.” Makes you feel smart.

I Am Number Four With a tagline like, “Three are dead. He is number four,” how good can the film be, right?

Maybe D.J. Caruso, director of “Eagle Eye” and “Disturbia,” meant number four in plot line, following “Smallville,” “Twilight,” and “Jumper.” Unfortunately for Caruso, the first three did it better.

John Smith, an extraordinary superhuman on the run, hides out in a small Ohio town where he encounters his first love, new abilities, and a destiny.

He must hide his true identity and pass as a typical student to elude a deadly enemy.

Without even the decency to direct a remake, Caruso simply took pieces from a million other movies and repackaged them to attract a middle and high school crowd.

The visual effects may be enticing at times, but everything else falls hard: acting, plot line, teen angst, title, etc.

Just Go With It Despite having lead actors like Adam Sandler and Jennifer Anniston, “Just Go With It” makes you want to do the very opposite.

“The Roommate” lacks plot

A&E Briefs

Agora Reporter

Comedian to perform

Tyler Eagle

“The Roommate” follows a college freshman who begins what seems to be a normal friendship with her dorm roommate.

The friendship quickly becomes unstable as the roommate becomes obsessed with the protagonist, becoming jealous of her relationships with new college friends, a possible new boyfriend and her pre-college best friend.

“Roommate” has a predictable plot that has been done more than once. Reminiscent of “Single White Female” with a pinch of “Obsessed”, it fails to bring anything new to the screen. Instead of venturing out into new territory, “Roommate” screen like a dozen

movies mashed together.

Although labeled as a horror/ thriller film, there is very little material that is actually scary and almost no material that could be considered thrilling.

The only thing remotely scary about the movie is that it might run longer than advertised. The film opens with a typical cliché college party and only progresses to being predictable from there. The dialogue is full of clichés and innuendos that become redundant as the movie goes on. One-liners that were meant to be funny, and fail to be, only prove to be irritating.

The ending isn’t anything that hasn’t been done. Lacking action, the ending is full of standing around and talking. The only thing really cringe-worthy is the octaves that the female leads’ voices hit when attempting to act hysterical.

I would recommend “The Roommate” to anyone looking for a movie to just sit and watch without thinking.

Comedian Kevin McPeek will perform at the La-Z-Boy Center Friday, March 4.

McPeek is a native of Monroe and has been featured on comedy programs on HBO and Comedy Central.

McPeek’s performance has been billed as his farewell performance. He will be taking time off to focus on his health.

“I am taking some time away from stand-up to work on my personal life. I have been a recovering alcoholic for 18 years,” McPeek said.

“It is time to get ‘healthy’. Whether it be my physical health, spiritual or a combination of both.”

McPeek’s opening act will be Cleveland-native comedian Jennifer Shenberger.

The event will start at 7:30 p.m. and tickets will cost $12. Tickets

Sandler plays a plastic surgeon attempting to win over a much younger school teacher. In order to cover up a careless lie, Sandler has his assistant pretend to be his soon-to-be ex-wife. A Hawaiian vacation and more lies complicate the plot line.

This chemistry-lacking, humor-free romantic comedy made a depressing $18.2 million.

The acting was the biggest letdown. Sandler plays the child-like role he plays in most films, only his age makes it less funny. Anniston’s typical charm is nowhere to be seen. Secondary characters played by Nicole Kidman and Nick Swardson are left with no possibility to shine.

The other unfavorable box office flops of February: Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son The Eagle No Strings Attached

can be purchased at the Cashier’s office or online. Tickets purchased online will be charged an additional $3 service fee. If available, tickets can be bought at the door.

La-Z-Boy Center to host events The Big Gig!, the 24th annual Black History Month Blues Concert, will take place Saturday, Feb. 26. The event will close out the annual Blues Concert Series.

Artists to perform include The Holmes Brothers, The Ebony Hillbillies and Reverend Robert B. Jones.

Cost of attendance is free, with general admission seating until Meyer Theatre is full. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

The Symphony Band will perform in a free general admission concert Monday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m.

The Agora Chorale will perform in a free general admission concert Tuesday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m.

Theaterwork USA’s musical revue, “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie & Other Stories,” will take place Thursday, March 17. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in Meyer Theater.

General admission will be $5.

Tickets can be purchased at the MCCC Ticket office, number: (734) 384-4272, purchased online or at the door. A $3 service charge will be added to tickets purchased online.

Event cancelled The War of 1812 Military Show and Auction set to take place Saturday, March 12, and Sunday, March 13, in the Welch Health Education Building has been cancelled.

February 25, 2010

Campus News

THE AGORA

From blues to rock

7

Whitman Center hosts rock exhibit Chris Stadtfeld Agora Reporter

Long after the lights fall dark and the guitars go in their cases, the spirit of rock’n’roll remains.

Now, that spirit is coming to life at the Whitman Center for all to see.

Every year, the MCCC Foundation grants Whitman director Sandy Kosmyna $600 to erect monthly, themed displays.

February’s exhibit is entitled “From Blues to Rock” and includes a “History of Rock” section that goes all the way back to 1877.

The exhibit includes a contribution from musical history instructor Photos by Joe Prestia Kim Goss.

Goss, who is scheduled to speak on the topic on Feb. 23, loaned part The Whitman Center’s “From Blues to Rock” exhibit can be seen through Feb. 28, and includes a “History of Rock” section. of his personal collection of autographed rock albums to the Whitman Center for use in the exhibit.

Jimi Hendrix, Queen, Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin and Johnny Cash rock and roll experience.

“Sandy mentioned it to me a year ago that they did these different are a handful of the legends representing the rock universe in the Whit“Like all good music, it brings you enjoyment,” Goss said. topics each month - that they’d like to do one on rock’n’roll music,” man exhibit.

“I like the way our presenter, Kim Goss, will not only lecture, but Goss said.

Complimenting the timeline of album covers are mentions of still- will play music throughout the presentation. I’m excited about that,” “I grew up listening to classic rock and still love it.” famous titles like Presley’s “Hound Dog.” Kosmyna said.

The albums in the display cabinet include signatures from the likes “I am excited,” Goss said, regarding his upcoming presentation.

Goss said he will bring several guitars and use them to show his auof Ian Anderson, Dicky Vetts of the Allman Brothers, and Steve Howe “My goal is to let people see the profound influence the blues have dience some examples of blues and rock characteristics. of Yes. They can be seen on display through Feb. 28. had on rock.”

The exhibit itself is set to give way to the March theme of Women’s “Most of our speakers are people from other colleges or people with Helping Goss is another part of the exhibit: a standing, multi-part History Month, but for now, the Whitman Center is concentrated on expertise,” Kosmyna said. poster which includes the “History of Rock” timeline. blues and rock.

“It gives [students] an opportunity to learn about something that Adding to the various dimensions of the rock experience, as depicted “It’s great to see the number of people who turn out for some of our may not be talked about in the classroom.” by the Whitman-hosted exhibit, is the scene of a man busting through events,” Kosmyna said.

The exhibit also includes a long line of chronologically organized saloon doors on that poster-like display.

“That’s why we will continue to do it here, because we’ve had good album covers by legendary personalities and bands. Exhibit viewers From the unassembled peanut butter and jelly sandwich Jefferson response from the community and students and staff.” can see the gentle cursives, psychedelic prints, unexpected pictures, Airplane album cover to the very patriotic Beach Boys artwork, the and strange landscapes that can be expected of hippie-era artwork. silent part of the exhibit offers a view of all dimensions available in the

Blues Series events entertain Monroe Miles Lark

For The Agora

The Monroe County Library System has presented four of the six acts for the Black History Month Blues Series.

This Saturday at 7 p.m. is the Big Gig, the crown jewel in the series. The event is free.

The Big Gig usually closes out the series, but this year the snow had different plans. The first scheduled show, Arthur Migliazza, was postponed because of the Feb. 1 snowstorm to March 1.

Ben Wiley Payton & Rev. Robert B. Jones

The Dorsch Memorial Library hosted Ben Wiley Payton and Rev. Robert B. Jones on Feb. 8. Jones has been a part of the Black History Month Program since the beginning.

Payton grew up in 1948 in Coila, Mississippi, playing guitar since he was in second grade.

“When I was growing up, music was all around me, my uncle played guitar

and my grandma played piano.”

At 16 he moved to Chicago where he encountered a new type of blues. He joined his first “proper” band with a man he looked up to, James Wheeler.

In 1970 he was asked by friend and fellow musician Randy Weston to play a 10-month stint in a blues and jazz club in Tangiers, Morocco.

“Man I loved playing in Tangiers. The feeling was so different than playing in Chicago. Chicago was more like a dance party; people didn’t come to see you, they came to dance.”

In 1976 he was asked to fill in for legendary guitar player Hubert Sumlin in Howlin’ Wolfs band.

The next year, he left the music industry, got married and returned to Mississippi.

“Disco happened, there was no money to make, a club could either pay a band a few hundred dollars or the club could pay a DJ a third of the same amount, and the DJ could play more, a lot more. It was a no brainier, plus the people didn’t want to see us anyway.”

In 2003 he returned to his folk blues gigs. He said it was calmer and he received audience attention in ways he hadn’t gotten in years.

Read Your Vegetables,” Henderson performed an impression of President Obama for the introduction.

All band members were jumping up and down, interacting with the crowd. At one point Seley asked the crowd “do you On Feb. 15, Bluesapalooza was held have homework? Wouldn’t it be great at MCCC’s Meyer Theater. The concert, if you were paid for doing your homehosting Mr. Seley and The Troublemak- work?” The whole crowd yelled.

More than once, Seley went into the ers, was aimed for kids.

The group consists of Mr. Seley on crowd to find back up singers and dancacoustic and electric guitar and lead ers.

Before Seley left the stage he asked vocals, Richard Johnson on drums and backup vocals, Sidi Henderson on bass one kid from each class to come up for and backup vocals and Paula Messner on an autograph and a free copy of “Cupcakeasourus.” lead guitar and backup vocals.

Later that night the theater gave way The band played two shows, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The to an intimate show with up and coming Meyer Theater filled with kindergarten- folk musicians ers, and first, second and third graders The Starlight 6 consists of Seth Berfrom local schools. nard, May Erlewine and Josh and Rachel The show began with the title song Davis, all playing guitar and alternating from the band’s latest album, “Cup- lead vocals. Josh also plays piano. The cakeasaurus.” That began an hour and a rhythm section consisted of Dominic Johns Davis on bass and Mike Shimmin half of rock ‘n’ roll heaven for kids.

For the song “Eat Your Books and on Drums. Both sang backup vocals.

There is little relations between the

Bluesapalooza

three Davis’s in the group and only two of them are really named Davis. Rachel and Dominic are married and Dominic took Rachel’s last name. Josh has no blood relation to Rachel. Even though Josh said they have tried to play on it in the past “We used to tell people that me and Rachel are brother and sister, but we’re bad liars…so we dropped it.”

On some songs all six would play, on others only a few would play, and sometimes they would pick up a fiddle, slide guitar or a banjo.

Seth and May performed three duets.

They spoke about an Ethiopian tour they’d gone on for the cause Run For Ethiopia, which intends to spread Ethiopian culture and build schools.

The band’s second set was more focused on the group playing together rather than showcasing individual talent.

At the end of the set, a special guest was called out of the audience and joined the group on stage. Peter “Madcat” Ruth of Madcat, Kane and Maxwell Street, finished the show with his harmonica.

Detroit essential to black history Morgan Hofbauer Agora Reporter

Although most African American movements were born in the South, there is one city here in Michigan that remains crucially important to black history.

From the Underground Railroad to the Civil Rights movement, Detroit has played a large part in African American history.

The Motor City was remembered nationwide during the NFL Super Bowl, when Chrysler’s nearly $9 million, 2-minute ad was released.

Rap artist and Detroit local Eminem cruised along the worn streets of Detroit in the new Chrysler 200, to his Oscar-winning hit “Lose Yourself.”

The narrator’s words gave a goose bump affect.

“I got a question for you. What does this city know about luxury?

What does a town that’s been to hell and back know about the finer things in life? I’ll tell ya; more than most. You see, it’s the hottest fires that make the hardest steel.”

Eminem says only eleven words in the commercial, but they are hard-hitting. “This is the motor city, and this is what we do.” The final message read across the screen Imported from Detroit. “[The commercial] was good,” MCCC student Corey Shagena said.

“It showed the rest of the country how strong Detroit is getting.”

The world was forced to recognize Detroit’s importance.

Danielle McGuire, an author and professor of modern African American history at Wayne State University, said that while she’s done most of her research in the South, she acknowledges Detroit as a crucial location in African American history.

“Detroit is like the Mecca of African American history, so in that essence it’s just an incredible place to study African American history,” she said. “It shouldn’t go unnoticed.”

McGuire pointed out that Martin Luther King, Jr. held a march in Detroit before the March on Washington, which was larger than the latter. Also, Rosa Parks settled in Detroit after the Montgomery bus riots.

A screenshot of the Chrysler 200 commerical in Detroit featuring rapper Eminem. The commercial sheds a positive light on Detroit, the Motor City.

“She lived in Detroit longer than she lived in Alabama,” McGuire said.

Before the Civil Rights movement, the nearly 310-year-old city served as an important stop along the Underground Railroad, because of the easy access into Canada.

Edmund Laclair, a history professor at MCCC who teaches the History of Michigan, said while there weren’t many prominent African Americans in this area, there were some prominent cases.

“There were three major lines of the Underground Railroad and one of them came up through Marshall, Mich.,” Laclair said.

Adam Crosswhite, a freed black slave, came up through and settled in Marshall. When slave capturers arrived to kidnap him, a group of citizens surrounded his house and beat up the capturers, Laclair said.

“Then when the sheriff showed up to break up the fracas, the slave catchers were charged with trespassing and carrying a concealed weapon. While they were being arrested [the group] snuck Crosswhite into

Canada,” Laclair said.

Laura Smith Haviland was an important figure in the Underground Railroad who lived closer to Monroe County. Working out of Adrian, Haviland’s family farm was the first Underground Railroad establishment in Michigan.

Haviland escorted slaves to Canada, as well as travel to the South to escort them northward.

A statue of Haviland stands in front of the Adrian city hall, which reads, “A tribute to a life consecrated to the betterment of humanity.”

Laclair has done research on the Ku Klux Klan, as well as the Black Legion, which broke away from the Klan in the 1920’s and became active in the 1930’s. Although they were primarily an anti-labor organization, they did murder an African American named Silas Coleman.

“The reason they killed him is that some of the officers of the Black Legion just wanted to know what if felt like to kill a black man,” Laclair said. “And so they took him out to an abandoned field, they chased him through the field, shot him to death and left him in a ditch.”

There were about 5,000 Black Legion members in Monroe County and 20-30,000 in Wayne County, according to Laclair.

Detroit became a center point for African Americans in the early 1900’s. From 1916 to 1917, black migration into Detroit averaged at 1,000 people a month, according to People’sWorld.org. By the early 1920’s, 45 percent of black men in Detroit worked at Ford.

As the Chrysler 200 commercial said, Detroit is now largely unnoticed.

“That’s who we are. That’s our story. Now, it’s probably not the one you’ve been reading about in the papers, the one being written by folks that have never even been here and don’t know what we’re capable of,” the narrator said. “[Detroit] could use improvement, but what city couldn’t?” MCCC student Raven Payne said.

With the African American community serving such a crucial part in the Motor City, as well as the automobile industry, it isn’t a wonder that Chrysler would choose the Detroit streets to sell the Chrysler 200.

8

THE AGORA

Sports

February 25, 2011

Volleyball team loses to Lawrence Tech Jeff Papworth Agora Reporter

photo by Jeff Papworth

Amber Huber and Leigh Toeppe.

The MCCC volleyball club had high hopes after jumping out to a 3-0 lead against Lawrence Tech, who they had already beaten twice in pool play.

However, it went downhill from there. In the first set Lawrence Tech grabbed a six-point lead to make it 12-6.

MCCC clawed back, but still lost 25-23.

The second set was more lopsided. The players started showing their frustration when Lawrence Tech jumped on MCCC early to make it 10-6.

After Lawrence Tech took a 17-9 lead, MCCC players, such as Amelia Contreras, tried to rally the troops and MCCC went on a 5-1 run to close the gap to 18-14.

That was not enough. They lost the set 25-16 to Lawrence Tech, who would win the silver bracket.

“It was just silly mental errors that brought us down that game,” MCCC volleyball player Candace Salliote said.

“We missed serves, we sped passes, and they could not come together as far as vocal communication with the entire team,” MCCC volleyball coach Scott Barbe said.

In pool play, MCCC finished with a record of 3-3.

That earned them a six-seed and a first round bye in the ten-team tournament.

“We played Lawrence Tech in pool play, and we beat them in two games and we were really aggressive to the ball and we were at a high communication level,” Barbe said.

Barbe said the wins versus Lawrence Tech were impressive because they plan on joining the NAIA athletic league next season.

While most of the MCCC volleyball players are photo by Jeff Papworth returning next season, Salliote said it may have Rachel Cousino and Amelia Contreras use a spike maneuver against Lawrence Tech during a recent tournabeen her last tournament. ment, played at MCCC. Most of the players and coaches have agreed throughout the season that Salliote is the leader of winning the Silver Medal bracket.

To see a highlight video of the MCCC Volleythe team.

“I think that they’ve accomplished a lot as far as evball team playing Lawrence Tech, check out our She said there was no sadness from it being her ery single one of them increasing their level of play. sports page on www.mcccagora.com last tournment, since there were no regrets.

We’ve taken girls who’ve never played the game be“We’ve come a long way, since we started, so I’m fore and turned them into volleyball players,” Barbe pretty confident we did a good job,” Salliote said. said. in the collegiate sport they’re participating in.

Barbe pointed to first-year player Amelia ContreWhile the MCCC volleyball club is done with tourHis goal is to have 12 people on his roster with a ras as the most valuable player for MCCC for the naments for this season they still have league games good amount of experience in the coming seasons. day. to finish it out.

Having extra numbers could have benefited MCCC “She was the most consistent player today,” “We hope to finish strong,” Barbe also said, “Hopein the tournament, because of Jessica Dover was inBarbe said. jured, which meant the roster was down to seven play- fully we’ll have a winning end to the season.”

Barbe said it’s unusual to have so many players on ers.

Look for Jeff Papworth’s Twitter page at a college team who don’t have too much experience http://twitter.com/JeffPapworth Barbe is still optimistic after having aspirations of

Professor wants to create running club

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Kayla Tubbs

Agora Reporter

MCCC professor Josh Scully has wondered why the college does not have a track or cross country team and is determined to create one.

Scully, a chemistry professor at MCCC, originally had spotted a flyer on campus to encourage students who were interested in running to contact Bryan Dusseau, a student at MCCC. Scully emailed Dusseau about starting the club and wanted to get involved immediately.

Dusseau’s idea for the club was focused towards getting new people introduced to the world of running.

“Almost like a support group for runners, going to local races and such,” Scully said.

Scully had a different idea for the club.

“I’m more competitive with starting a team to compete against other schools,” he said.

Scully would like to start a cross country and a track and field team.

He has coached both types of teams at the private college prep school Greenhills, in Ann Arbor.

With having the background and success in running, his competitive nature has pumped him up for the possible new program.

Scully has researched other schools and found that most community colleges in Southern Michigan have cross country teams.

Scully said there is a national

“The club would have no qualifications and no limit to how many members.

You just have to want to run.”

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Josh Skully Adjunct professor of Chemistry championship in South Carolina for community college crosscountry teams and he would like to be a part of it.

“The club would have no qualifications and no limit to how many members,” Scully said, “You just have to want to run.”

The cross country team would compete against other community college teams at about six to eight meets per year.

“It could be year-round. It should be offered that way, but both teams probably wouldn’t compete all year,” Scully said.

The two teams would be split up seasonally according to Scully.

Cross country would compete in the fall, and track and field would compete in the winter and spring.

Though Scully and Dusseau are struggling, the club is slowly but surely making its name official.

“Part of the problem right now is to get people together to actually start the club,” Scully said.

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Right now the club has about a dozen students interested.

Rachel Baron, a student at MCCC, has been trying to get this type of club going herself for a couple years. It wasn’t until now that anyone has shown any interest.

Scully explained that he cannot begin coaching until the paperwork processes are completed, and they can’t be completed without the support of students.

“Since it’s a club it has to be initiated by students,” Scully said, “My primary role would be as advisor.”

To advertise the club, Scully has created a Facebook page for it. Currently there are a little more than twelve members.

Scully hopes for more members to join so the club can start the paperwork and bring a new sport to this school.

If you are interested in the club, contact Professor Scully through his email at jscully02@yahoo. com.

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