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Hows your bracket doing?
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Monroe County Community College
March 31, 2009
Vol. 52, Issue 4
Pg. 7 Ways to get the heart pumping and your body feeling good
Pg. 3
Learning Bank ready to go in former bank
Fermi III’s Impact on MCCC
Casey Cheap
Copy Editor-in-Chief
MCCC Nuclear Engineering Technology student Sean Howell works on a project at Fermi II.
Nuclear degree planned Photo Courtesy of Sean Howell
Brandy Werner Copy Editor
MCCC has a stake in a possible third Fermi nuclear power plant in Monroe. Detroit Edison is considering building a third Fermi, and it already has applied for permission from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). A year ago, MCCC launched a nuclear technology program with the help of Detroit Edison (DTE). “DTE is the prime mover behind this project,” said Parmeshwar (Peter) Coomar, Dean of Industrial Technology at MCCC. The associate degree program is a three-fold partnership with Lakeland Community College, MCCC, and DTE. Lakeland is the degree-granting institution now, but MCCC hopes to add a degree soon. “We plan to be able to award an MCCC degree in nuclear engineering technology in about a year,” Coomar said. “Our goal
is to expand the current nuclear technology program in the near future with specialized areas so that our graduates are able to serve in all areas of the nuclear industry.” DTE was able to offer the industrial technology students internships at the Fermi plant over the summer. “Ten students completed internships last summer, and some of them are ready to graduate,” Coomar said. Some students remained employed by DTE. “I interned with DTE over the past summer in the mechanical engineering group,” MCCC nuclear technology student, Sean Howell, said. “I am currently still part-time employed through a contractor while I go to school.” If DTE decides to build a Fermi III, it could mean numerous jobs for the nuclear technology graduates. “[A third Fermi] will help with the creation of good paying jobs
like nuclear technicians, reactor operators, etc,” Coomar said. “Jobs that are high paying and cannot be shipped overseas.” The proposal of a third nuclear plant, however, is not without opposition. “We don’t need a third one,” said Michael Keegan, a member of Don’t Waste Michigan. “It’s our money — they are putting the financial burden on the public.” Some environmental groups in Monroe County recently have filed contentions with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), asking it to reject DTE’s plans for a third plant. Among the concerns is storage of the spent nuclear fuel. “There is no solution to what to do with nuclear waste,” Keegan said. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving. They put it in a container, the container breaks down, and so they put a container around a container and so on. It never stops.” Currently, DTE stores its spent
fuel in a large pool, resembling an Olympic-sized swimming pool, within the plant. The United States also is considering a nuclear storage facility inside Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The NRC hosted a Public Scoping Meeting in the La-ZBoy Center on campus in January to give citizens a chance to voice their opinion on the matter. Michael Keegan was amongst those who spoke. “The greatest cost of Fermi III will be opportunity cost,” he said. “It won’t allow money to be invested in renewable resources.” Whether or not a third Fermi will be built remains unknown. What is known, however, is that no matter what the decision is, it will affect MCCC. “We are involved in just about every industry in Monroe County. We live and work side by side with people in this community,” said Molly Luempert-Coy, the regional manager at DTE. “We will try to do what’s best for them.”
The “Learning Bank” in Monroe’s Orchard East neighborhood will soon become a reality. The collaborators of this project first announced the Monroe Bank & Trust (MB&T) branch on East First Street could soon become a branch for future MCCC students back in December. On March 12, the new MCCC branch became reality when Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced a $300,000 grant under the No Worker Left Behind Fund for Adult Education in Monroe County. “The collaborating partners learned it was funded in January,” said MCCC President David Nixon. “They’ve since reduced their request, and they decided on a budget that worked.” The collaborators for the Learning Bank include MCCC, The Arthur Lesow Community Center, the Bedford and Mason School Districts, the Monroe County Library System, Monroe County Opportunities Program, the Salvation Army and MB&T. The budget for the Learning Bank includes $172,000 from the state of Michigan’s No Worker Left Behind Program, $31,000 for equipment such as computers and printers and $6,700 for marketing and brochures. The new facility is set to open June 1. MB&T still owns the building and is very “pumped and generous about it” according to Nixon. The goal of the new office is to increase the number of adults enrolled in postsecondary education by giving them the skills they need in order to participate in No Worker Left Behind Programs. “This funding will help Michigan citizens upgrade their education skills to be successful in a global economy where employers are demanding more specialized skills and knowledge,” said Gov. Granholm in a press release issued by MCCC. Nixon expanded on what Granholm said. “The goal is to bring adults into college career programs,” he said. “To make them college ready. It
will be up to the individual.” The new office will also be used for those looking to get GED counseling or prepare themselves for college classes with the adjacent computer lab. The Arthur Lesow Community Center is stepping up to support the Learning Bank’s initiatives. The community center, the Navarre Library Branch and the former MB&T building are all within one city block. “We’re donating our computer lab for 20 hours a week,” said Willie Hall, president of the Board of the Arthur Lesow Community Center. “We’re looking forward to it, it will be a big part of the community as far as job opportunities.” The community center also has decided to donate 20 hours of staff time per week. Those hours can be used for janitorial work or however the “Learning Bank” sees fit. “Because it is within walking distance, we don’t want a computer lab with the door shut,” said Hall. The program has drawn support from people all over the community. “We have 14 computers to help people with job searches, G.E.D.’s, and ACT practice,” said Kellie Vining of the Navarre Library Branch. “I’m happy about it, I have 12 volunteers right now,” said Hall. “I have people from the jail, people doing community service, people just cleaning, painting and everything.” But before the new branch opens, MCCC needs to find staff members to run the program. “We need a full-time project director,” said Nixon. “The first thing to do is advertise for a director, then the next five or so are tutors.” Monroe was only one of the 10 regional partnerships funded out of 33 submitted statewide. Some of the others include the Oakland Adult Learning Initiative and the Washtenaw Region Adult Education Collaborative. The grant period runs through September 30, 2010. “This is a community center we want people to use, it’s their community center and we hope people use it until its busting out at the seams,” said Hall.
MCCC Dean contract not renewed Michael Crossman Assistant Copy Editor
Dr. Bruce Way, dean of MCCC’s Humanities Division, recently suffered a heart attack and announced the same week his contract would not be renewed. According to the Board of Trustees minutes for its Feb. 23 meeting, Dr. Way’s already probationary contract was not renewed. In other words he won’t be back next Fall. Dr. Grace Yackee, vice president of instruction, explained the process on employee contracts, both faculty and administrative. “There is a yearly probationary period for the first three years,” Yackee said. “After successful completion, the contract can be renewed. There is the option for a fourth year of
probationary status as well. The Board of Trustees ultimately makes the decision on contract renewal after recommendations from the vice president and the president,” she said. According to the Feb. 23 Board of Trustee minutes, Dr. Way was the only faculty member or administrator listed under non-renewal of his contract. There was no mention of his recent heart attack. He has not been at work since Feb. 16. Dr. Yackee declined to comment on any personnel issues, but stressed the fact that Dr. Way’s contract was not terminated; it just was not renewed. But to Terry Telfer, MCCC English professor, this all came as a surprise. “I was most upset by the administration’s handling of Dr. Way’s
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dismissal. Neither I nor anyone I spoke to within the division was approached regarding our work relationship with Dr. Way,” he said. “A human being’s employment was terminated,” he said. “I am disheartened by the current dismissal of Dr. Bruce Way,” Cheryl Johnston, Assistant professor of English and Reading, said. “I was very surprised when I heard. He was a very good boss and I always felt that the division was extremely productive. I was shocked there was no input from the faculty on this decision,” she said. Dr. Yackee said she could not comment on this specific case, but did offer comment on her use of faculty feedback. “I receive faculty input on many things. The faculty input is very im-
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Enriching the students across Southeast Michigan
portant in all of my decisions,” she said. “I maintain an open-door policy at all times for anyone who wishes to speak with me,” she said. Vinnie Maltese, Dean of Science/ Mathematics division, was not surprised by the non-renewal. “I wasn’t surprised because he was on his fourth-year of probationary contract,” he said. Mr. Maltese stressed how inappropriate he thought it was for faculty to question their superior’s judgment concerning contract renewals. “The input is acceptable with the hiring process, but after that it is between the superior and the faculty member,” he said. Dr. Way, who is recuperating at home, did not respond for comment.
The ‘Learning Bank’ located on East First St. will soon become MCCC’s new branch office. Agora photo by Casey Cheap
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