Agora Zine - October 24, 2022

By Megan Kane Agora Editor

Hello everyone!

My name is Megan Kane and I am the editor of the Agora.

Instead of the typical newspaper, the Agora will now be printing zines.

This is the Agora’s second zine. In this issue, we included information on the upcoming Nov. 8 election.

In this edition you will find information on how to register to vote, where and how to vote, and important deadlines. Profiles of candidates running for MCCC’s Board of Trustees are also included in this zine.

As an 18-year-old, I want to stress to everyone of voting age to register and vote. Your vote matters!

There will be two more themed zines this semester. Look for our next zines on these dates:

Nov. 7

Dec. 12

If you have any suggestions for future zines, story ideas, or content for any of our platforms, please contact me at agora@monroeccc.edu.

Editors

Megan Kane

Lexi Greenwood

Ella Foshag

Staff

Michael Moser

Tyler Pennington

Will Johnson

Adviser

Matthew Bird-Meyer

Editorial Policy

The Agora is published by the students of Monroe County Community College, 1555 S. Raisinville Road, Monroe, MI, 48161. The editorial office is located in Room 213 of the Campbell Academic Center, (734) 384-4288, agora@monroeccc.edu.

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

Story suggestions are welcome. Let us know what you would like to see in The Agora - it’s your newspaper. Email submissions to agora@monroeccc.edu.

Student works on Election Day

By Ella Foshag Agora Staff

Ashtyn Ansel is a student at MCCC who assists on election days working the polls.

Ansel obtained this position through a family friend and many of her relatives held the same position in the past at a similar age. She started in August 2022 with her sister and mother, working the primary election.

“We are the people who hand out ballots, check IDs, put information into the computer and make sure the process runs smoothly,” Ansel said, “We got there at 6

a.m.

and did not leave until 9 p.m., so it was a very long day. By that point I was slap happy and enjoyed it.”

Ansel said that working the polls is a great way to learn how the voting system works, and gave the example of general elections versus primary ones.

“I learned many things like not being able to vote cross ticket for primary elections,” Ansel said.

Amidst the other workers, Ansel said that she was the only one her age working the polls, and will be working them for the general election on November 8.

Ashtyn Ansel

There are opportunties to become a poll worker, starting as young as 16 years old. These are paid positions, with training provided beforehand. Scan the QR code for more details of how to apply.

How to Register to Vote

For new voters, registering to vote may seem intimidating and complicated. In reality, registration is a relatively easy process and there are several ways to do it. Michigan offers online voter registration, or you can register by mail by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to your local clerk. You can also register to vote in person if you prefer. You can register to vote online and by mail up to 15 days prior to Election Day. Within two weeks of Election Day, you must register to vote in person at your local clerk’s office.

Scanning this QR code will take you to a link where you can register to vote in Michigan online.

Registration Deadline Dates

In-person at local election office on Election Day: Nov. 8 by 8 p.m.

Online: Oct. 24

By mail (postmarked by): Oct. 24

Absentee (submit by): Nov. 4 at 5 p.m.

Request ballot (received by): Nov. 4 by 5 p.m.

Return ballot by mail (received by): Nov. 8 by 8 p.m.

Return ballot in person: Nov. 8 by 8 p.m.

Where to Vote in Monroe

The city is divided into seven precincts. If you have already registered to vote in the City of Monroe, you may determine your precinct and polling location by checking your Voter ID card, or by visiting the Michigan Voter Information Center.

Precinct #1

Woodcraft Square

800 W Seventh St

Precinct #2

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

201 S Monroe St

Precinct #3S

Lillian Navarre Library

1135 E Second St

Precinct #3N

Grace Lutheran Church

630 N Monroe St

Precinct #4

Grace Lutheran Church

630 N Monroe St

Precinct #5

Y.M.C.A.

1111 W Elm Ave

Precinct #6

First Baptist Church

1602 N Custer

What to bring to Vote

You will be asked to show current photo ID to vote in Michigan. Some acceptable forms of ID include:

-Michigan driver’s license or state ID card current (non-expired) driver’s license or personal ID card issued by another state

-Federal or state government-issued photo ID

-US passport

-Military ID card with a photo

-Student ID with a photo from a high school or an accredited institution of higher education

-Tribal ID card with a photo

Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, you can vote like any other voter by signing an affidavit. You can get a state identification card at your local Secretary of State branch office for $10.

Candidates for Board of Trustees

Elected by Monroe County voters, the Board of Trustees is the governing body of MCCC’s College Board. Trustee responsibilities include: Approving the organization’s mission, strategic goals, and objectives. Establishing policies related to membership, programs, and services.

William T. Bruck and Steven Hill are leaving two openings on the board, with their terms both expiring. There are seven candidates running for those positions. These profiles give an insight to the candidates running.

DISCLAIMER: This is a non-partisan position. The colors of the pages in this zine do not reflect political parties in any way.

Born in Pennsylvania, moved to Michigan for college, and teaches at Wayne State. Went to Adrian College, Central Michigan University, Boston University, and Medical College of Ohio.

Bruce Diven

He is a physical therapist, owns own medical practice in Trenton, MI. He has not served in an elected postion before. Wants college to focus more on tech degrees two year degrees, and getting more high school kids into college.

MCCC alumnus, has taken a chemistry and physics course, and is currently taking a Mechanical Drawing and CAD course.

Running for this position as he has a long history of working in academics, and has been on the Wayne State admissions committee.

Has lived in Monroe, MI his whole life.

Wants to improve the college experience and education of our community.

Wants to increase enrollment and the class selection at the Whitman campus.

Market MCCC to Lucas County as an affordable higher education option. This is what he believes is the way to increase enrollment at Whitman.

Gary Kiebler

Wants to improve employee relations at the college.

Part of his campaign slogan is: employees are any organization’s most valuable asset.

He is running as a public servant to give back to the community. With MCCC being the only higher education institution in the county, he wants to ensure it will be a great place for future generations.

Retired from Amerigas Propane.

Him and his whole family have attended MCCC. Has two associate degrees: Automotive Technology and Mid-Managemenet. Also has a Bachelor of Business Admnistration from Siena Heights.

* Grew up in Broken Arrow, OK, now lives in Monroe. * Would ultimately like to see more targeted programming for specific industry related shortages and to anticipate these shortages instead of reacting to them.

* Has been involved at MCCC since 2004. She was a student at MCCC and took classes through Siena Heights at the MCCC campus. Part of her master’s degree was done at MCCC through Siena Heights.

Vice chair of alumni association board of directors.

In 2010, started working for Siena Heights University on MCCC’s Campus. Has an associate of science from MCCC and a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Arts and Leadership. Has never served in an elected position before. Currently executive director in an assistive living and memory care building Canton MI.

Julie Edwards

From Jacksonville, NC.

Wants to be the eyes and ears, to see what the community needs in order to implement solutions. As a way to give back to the community after he has survived cancer. Won the 2005 Michigan Entrepreneur of the Year award. Owned a photography studio and several automotive businesses. Serves as the executive director of Ribbons of Monroe, a nonprofit organization he founded to provide services and guidance to cancer patients and their families.

Served two terms as school board president at St. Anthony’s Catholic School. He is the founder of New Bedford Academy, Monroe County’s first charter school, and served two years on the Michigan Department of Education’s Special Education Advisory Committee.

From Ida, MI.

Wants to help boost enrollment in specialty programs like nursing, due to her knowledge of staffing shortages. Director of Nursing of Intermediate Care at Monroe Promedica Hospital.

Is currently working on a nursing pilot program bringing LPN’s back into the acute care setting.

MCCC gave her a Presidential Scholarship and she went on to earn her Associate of Science. Then, she attended Wayne State University and earned a bachelor’s in pre-med psychology. After finishing at Wayne State, she returned to MCCC to get her associate’s degree in nursing. She feels she owes her career to MCCC.

Nicole Goodman

Michael LaHote

Candice Ferrell

Originally from Long Island, but has been in Michigan for 16 years.

She wants to serve to the best of her ability.

Wants to see the school be a safe environment, focusing on the students achieving their academic goals.

Ferrell was asked to run by a couple of the current trustees. She wants to try something new, and give it her all if elected.

She is a homeschool mom and her oldest currently attends MCCC. Ferrell was able to see first hand how the school handled Covid-19.

Has a Criminal Justice Degree from Suffolk County Community College. Currently serving her second term as precinct delegate, and is on the Monroe County Executive Board where she serves as treasurer.

Grew up in Dearborn but has lived in Monroe County since 1999.

He said he wants to help start an apprenticeship program at MCCC. He said he knows college is not always the right fit for a lot of people. He personally did a five year apprenticeship program during which he earned college credit at Owens Community College.

After many conversations with Kojo Quartey and Peter Coomar about starting an apprenticeship program, he felt getting involved and running for trustee was the best way to get started. Matthews said he is passionate about community service.

Jason Matthews

He started Cultivate Community, an outreach project that focuses on members of the community helping one another out. He said he also brought back the Labor Day parade after 50 years and won the Everyday Hero Award in Monroe.

He is a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 8, and works at Fermi II as a union electrician.

Ballot Issues

Proposal 1-Voters for Transparency and Term Limits

This proposal is a state constitutional amendment to reduce term length for lawmakers from 14 years to 12, but it will let them serve the entirety in one chamber (Currently lawmakers are allowed to serve up to six years in the House and up to 8 in the Senate). The amendment would allow them to serve their complete term in one place.

According to the ballot, it also requires the governor, the state attorney, lawmakers, and the secretary of state to disclose specific financial information. This information includes: assets, liabilities, income sources, future employment agreements, gifts, travel reimbursements and positions held in organizations except religious, social, and political organizations.

Proposal 2-Promote the Vote 2022

-Give early voters 9 days of in person voting

-Allow voters to verify identity with photo ID or a signed statement

-Require military and overseas ballots to be counted if postmarked by election day

-Recognize the right to vote without harassment

-Allow voters a single application for absentee voting in all elections

-Require the state to fund absentee drop boxes and postage for absentee ballots and applications

-Allow disclosed donations to fund elections

-Require canvas boards to certify election results based only on official records of votes

-Establish that only elected officials are allowed to conduct post election audits

Proposal 3-Reproductive Freedom for All

According to the ballot, this constitutional amendment will:

• Establish new individual right to reproductive freedom, including the right to make and carry out all decisions about pregnancy, such as prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion, miscarriage management, and infertility

• Allow the state to regulate abortion after fetal viability, but not prohibit if medically needed to protect a patient’s life or physical or mental health

• Forbid state discrimination in enforcement of this right; prohibit prosecution of an individual, or a person helping a pregnant individual, for exercising rights established by this amendment

• Invalidate state laws conflicting with this amendment

Gretchen Whitmer

Garlin D. Gilchrist II

Mary Buzuma

Brian Ellison

Kevin Hogan

Destiny Clayton

Tudor M. Dixon

Shane Hernandez

Donna Brandenburg

Mellissa Carone

Daryl M. Simpson

Doug Dern

Jocelyn Benson

Kristina Elaine Karamo

Christine C. Schwartz Larry James Hutchinson Jr.

Dana Nessel

Matthew DePerno

Joseph W. McHugh Jr.

Gerald T. Van Sickle

Bart Goldberg

Tim Walberg

Norman M. Peterson

Ezra Scott

Katybeth Davis

Joseph Bellino Jr.