4-21-2009

MC3

GORA A THE

Copy Editor

Heather Atkinson’s math class was just getting under way when suddenly something didn’t feel right.

Seconds later, she was barely conscious in her seat with enormous chest pain. Her worst nightmare was happening: she was having a heart attack.

“Nobody knew what to do. Everyone started to crowd around, and they called 9-1-1,” Atkinson said.

“I had to wait awhile for the ambulance to get there.”

Students have started to question why MCCC doesn’t have its own medical facilities.

“If we had a nurse’s station, when the EMTs show up, they could already have something done,” she said. “Plus it makes you feel better to know that someone is there to help.”

Later that same day, student Alicsa Koster, diagnosed with epilepsy, started having seizures brought on by the stress of Atkinson’s heart attack. There were, once again, no medical personnel there to help.

“I couldn’t talk during the seizures,” Koster said. “So how are they supposed to know what’s going on?”

Koster’s class called for an ambulance.

“That was all they did; that was all they could do because there is no nursing center on campus.”

MCCC doesn’t have a nursing center on campus because students do not live on campus, according to college officials.

pg. 6

Monroe County Community College

April 21, 2009

Students ask for medical help at MCCC Brandy Werner

BIG READ book review

“It’s not unusual for community colleges,” said Dr. Nixon, president of MCCC. Randy Daniels, the Vice President of Student and Information Services, agreed.

“I talked to my colleagues from 15 other community colleges, and only one had a nursing station, Northwestern Michigan College,” Daniels said. “They had one because they have dorms on campus.”

“If there is an emergency on campus, there are medical AED devices located in all classroom buildings,” Dr. Nixon said. “Also, they can call 9-1-1 for professional medical attention.”

Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) can be found around campus. The instructions on how to use them are found inside the case, which is mounted on the wall and students can follow step-by-step instructions on how to revive someone from a heart attack.

They are normally used in conjunction with CPR. Although most community colleges do not have medical facilities, Heather Atkinson and Alicsa Koster believe this trend must be broken.

“It’s irresponsible not to have one,” Koster said. “This isn’t just a transfer school. Some students go here to receive their entire education.”

“I feel that as big as this college is, they should have one,” Atkinson said.

“Even a little bit of help is better than none at all,” Koster said.

Tigers new season looks hopeful

Vol. 52, Issue 5

pg. 7

Family Fun Night

Photo by Student Caitlyn DeHoust

700 people attended Family Fun Night Friday, April 17. The night was organized by Student Government and chaired by student Kari Fuersteberg. The night was filled with 30 games, face painting, family photos, a bouncy slide and obstacle course, Bobbo the Clown and a respiratory care learning booth. There were 60 volunteers who helped with the constant flow of families. Volunteers Ann and John DeHoust ran the “Driving Range Game,” where the child above is attempting to “drive” the golf ball through a rocking board covered in bumps. “It’s free,” said a mother looking to get her family’s photo taken. “We only paid a dollar to get in and it’s free!” The Student Government only charged one dollar for admissions, concessions were run by an MCCC Club, and everything else was free.

MCCC’s Chandonnet wins student journalist of the year Jennifer Niswender

Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Members of The Agora staff, attended a press conference hosted by the Michigan Community College Press Association (MCCPA), at Michigan State University.

Editor Emily Chandonnet was named Student Journalist of the Year by the Michigan Community College Press Association.

“As I heard my Assistant Editor squeal next to me when my name was called, I knew I wasn’t just imagining that the speaker was talking about me,” Chandonnet said of the award.

“Like usual when I’m nervous or surprised, I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing. It’s the biggest honor and I’m glad all my hard work has paid off,” she said.

Judge Edward W. Wendover, a retired newspaper publisher commented, “Leading a newspaper staff (at a young age) includes the difficult task of keeping everyone on task, on point, during politically-charged times/issues, it’s not easy to keep the staff focused: Emily managed that.”

He also mentioned The Agora’s change to a broadsheet format.

“Converting a paper’s format to grow and promote its impact is an accomplishment few professional journalists ever see, Emily did that,” he said.

“Being Editor has taken a lot of

Emily Chandonnet won the Instructional Journalism Scholarship and was Assistant Editor last year of The Agora, and Editor-in-Chief this year.

Agora Photo by Jennifer Niswender

patience and long hours in front of my computer. Chandonnet said, “My staff has learned that once the stress ball comes out I need a moment to think, but so far there hasn’t been a problem we haven’t been able to solve.”

INSIDE: Editorial...................2 Feature....................3 Feature....................4

“Working for the Agora has been no picnic but I have enjoyed making new friends, having new experiences and preparing for my future in teaching.”

Adviser Dan Shaw also said, “One reason Emily is successful

Campus News.........5 A&E..........................6 Sports......................7 Spotlight..................8

Enriching the students across Southeast Michigan

leading a diverse group of students in the challenging process of creating a newspaper is that she has the respect of every member of the staff. They all know she’s working harder than anyone else.”

Student journalists from 13 community colleges in Michigan competed for the award, which was among several dozen presented at the Press Day. A total of 13 awards were won

by Agora students at the event in a wide range of categories ranging from stories to overall design.

In addition to the Journalist of the Year award, Chandonnet also took second place for a photo essay.

Other staff winners were: Michael Crossman, first place, sports column.

Casey Cheap, second place, feature story; second place, sports coverage; honorable mention, sports column.

Kristin Stepinski, second place, sports column.

Steven Sonoras, second place, personality profile; third place, critical review.

Andrew Thurlow, third place, sports coverage.

The Agora staff won second place for best use of photos and graphics; second place, headline writing; and honorable mention, inside page layout.

MCCC student Jason Palmer holds a photo of his brother, Jacob Zubkoff, who died last November of a heroin overdose.

Agora Photo by Emily Chandonnet

Battling the Big H Heroin has damaged the lives of thousands of Monroe County residents, touching the MCCC community along the way.

Turn to Page 3 of The Agora for a look at how the growth of heroin use in the county is literally killing people, including the brother of an MCCC student.

Agora reporter Susan Banoski provides an in-depth report on the heroin problem in Monroe County and offers advice from local experts on where to go for help if you are addicted to heroin or other drugs or know people who are.

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Saturday: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

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

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Visit our website at: www.monroeccc.edu

2 THE AGORA

Editorial

April 21, 2009

Have Americans lost their hope?

A college student’s perspective on the recession

Mary Rose Takacs Page Designer

Agora photo by Michael Crossman

Cheap books, could it help?

Marcus Akers Copy Team

Here in America, we’re used to enjoying nice things in life because we’re a nation of hard workers. Most of us can truly put a value on a dollar, in time and energy.

So when someone asks us to spend our money, we like to understand what we are getting in trade. If it is worth the trade, we are pleased, and if it is a bargain—we are ecstatic. So why does the pit of one’s stomach feel so heavy when in line at the bookstore every semester?

Books are important. The history of the world is recorded in them, and the keen may gain useful insight regarding future trends if one reads enough of them. They may contain the wealth of poetry or the imaginative universe of possibilities of fiction. Or, they may convey the traditions of logic spanning across cultures and millennia. Perhaps something completely different, which is the beauty of books. Anything worth printing may be found in them.

Such useful things should be read carefully, heavily annotated, and then retained, so that one may draw upon the knowledge contained therein at any time in the future. One can learn a lot in school, but even the brightest student may forget a detail or two. Books are our friends.

Why does the educational establishment perpetuate a system where we bring all of our texts back to them, to offload them after they’ve severely depreciated? Where a student is hesitant to inscribe a note on a page, to treat it as a living text, one’s own wellspring of knowledge?

For they know that it must be returned in pristine condition to ensure they get a larger portion of the cost returned, to apply to the next edition.

Instead of fostering the concept that a student’s texts are meant to comprise an eventual personal library, the intelligentsias callously churn out thousands of redundant, exorbitantly priced and sometimes conflicting texts, requiring numerous revisions, and re-investments.

As it currently stands, a student is expected to shell out a wad of cash every semester that could buy a new computer, but gets far less useful tools for the price. And at the end of the semester, you are returned a pittance, and your book-bag is empty. Hope you fit it all in your head—you can’t afford to forget anything.

I propose that the booksellers offer free digital addendums and revisions to students with registered copies of the original text, and sell them at half their current price. Since the government is printing free money anyways, perhaps a measly one or two billion may be used to subsidize our young people’s textbooks. Talk about an investment that pays dividends, or the future workforce of America.

If one owns a farm, and works hard on it every day, should one buy a truck, or lease it? One should try to buy it, so it may be fully used. The same applies to school texts.

You don’t always get what you paid for

Jeremy Hickey Staff

I am a full-time student here at the community college. I, as many other students do, enjoy playing basketball during my break between classes as it gives me something to do, and helps me stay in shape. After all, I am paying tuition, so I might as well take advantage of it, right?

Then maybe you could understand why it angers me when I go to the gym to play basketball during my two hour break, and once again, the gym is unavailable.

This is my second year at MCCC and so far every semester I have attended, I have been sent back out of the H building in search of something else to do with my spare time on numerous occasions.

The facility consists of two basketball courts going side by side. When needed, there is a

curtain that can be dropped from the ceiling to split the courts in to two separate areas.

In my second semester here at the college, there was a basketball class held in the gymnasium, but unfortunately the class was held during my break. What really angers me about this is the fact that they would only use half of the gym but they would still not let me play on the vacant empty half.

I have also been kicked out of the gym for high school basketball practices a number of times.

I would simply like to get what I am paying for. Using basketballs that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar used in Middle school kind of gets old. Basketballs are not that expensive!

There is a solution to all of this. It would be nice to leave at least half of the gym open at all times for the use of those who are paying to use it. Providing usable basketballs would also be helpful. Have students trade their driver’s license for a basketball, and number each basketball.

Give the license back when the basketball with the correct number is returned.

I would like to see some kind of solution reached in the very near future so that the gym can still be used by the community as well as the students who are paying to use it.

All over the news we hear about the war and the billions of dollars the government gives to fund it.

Every week we read about the new bailout money the government grants to the auto companies, financial investors and bankers.

Not to mention the U.S. finances have been in a recession status.

The word depression - well that won’t be mentioned by the government until it’s done and over with.

However, the word depression is slowly being uttered by American mouths.

A total of 3.6 million jobs have been lost since the beginning of the recession in December 2007, according to the Labor Department.

Due to this, the U.S. atmosphere has been immersed in fear for future finances of the country.

Sorrow, grief and tears have also been displayed in the eyes of many Americans.

The countless murders, which are committed daily, fires burning homes down, and natural disasters taking lives, are shown on the television screen, announced over the radio and pictured on the Internet.

The question of whether the war will end and if loved ones will come home to stay has also weighed heavily on American hearts.

In the midst of it all, we begin to question if we are still as fortunate, blessed and free as we once were.

It is very easy to allow these events and tragedies to steal our hope and joy.

However, despite all that is going on in our country I believe we

are still extremely blessed and fortunate to live in the United States of America.

We have freedoms that other countries dream of having, and for others they may remain only a dream, but we get to live them.

We are free to practice whatever religion we wish without the government dictating when, where and how the religion or faith will be done.

Freedom of speech, press, to peaceably assemble and to petition the government are all freedoms we don’t tend to hold as dear as we once did.

Many countries do not have these freedoms intact with their government.

The U. S. allows for each one of us to have dreams, and the chance to accomplish them.

Most of our dreams, if we fight for them and work hard enough, can and will become tangible to us.

In America, men and women have the chance to go to college, and with dedication can achieve whatever degree they wish to obtain. Unfortunately, for some in other countries, this is but a hope.

They cannot reach far enough to grasp it.

Here both men and women of any race, as long as they’re U. S. citizens, are allowed to enlist and serve in any of the armed forces they desire.

Despite the financial crises some of us are in, we have to remember we still have a considerably higher pay than other countries.

The average hourly minimum wage is 30 cents in Haiti, according to thirdworldtraveler.com.

I know their cost of living is much less than the U.S., but 30 cents an hour, personally I can hardly imagine 30 cents an hour.

That’s incredible. What could we pay for here that would be worth 30 cents? Hardly anything, and yet that is what they live on.

So when we are frustrated at our minimum-wage-paying job, let’s look at what others get paid.

Instead of putting our focus on the amount of money it takes to pay for the war, we need to remember we live in a free country.

One thing many of us forget to do, is when we see a service per-

Agora photo by Mary Rose Takacs

sonnel, we don’t thank them. A heartfelt thank you can go further than we could imagine. So let’s say thank you.

Whether there are murders, fires, earthquakes or other disasters occurring in our country, or in another, we must pull together and help and support one another. It is the one way we will endure and so

will others.

Therefore, by looking at what we have come through as a country, we will see that we will prevail through these times as well.

Let us not lose our hope in this time, but instead let’s allow it to take us back to our roots and remember what a great country we

Unknown opportunities on campus Try to share information with fellow students

Asia Rapai Copy Editor

One way to make use of beneficial experience is to share it with others.

Sharing can also make your life easier.

The educational environment of MCCC should provide equal opportunities to its students to obtain experience. However, some students tend to gain more experience than others.

Maybe some students are lazy or they just don’t care, but they should not be able to blame others for their missed opportunities.

Unfortunately, this does happen.

There are experienced professionals and intelligent students that are not doing all they can to help others learn and grow at MCCC. For most college students, every opportunity is at least considered and most are not avoided, but the victims of opportunity ignorance are missing out.

It hit me when my theater class did not hear about an upcoming play until our last class before the event.

The most troublesome part was that some students in the class, and the instructor, heard about the event weeks in advance, but neglected to inform the entire class.

There were only a few of us in

The Agora Staff Members Editor-in-Chief Design Editor-in-Chief Emily Chandonnet Assistant Editor Jennifer Niswender Adviser Dan Shaw Copy Editor-in-Chief Casey Cheap Design Team Mary Rose Takacs Resa Waldecker Kristin Stepinski Miranda Panik Jennifer Niswender

Copy Assistant Editor Michael Crossman Marketing Team Casey Cheap Asia Rapai Copy Team Asia Rapai Brandy Werner Marcus Akers Staff Jeremy Hickey Susan Banoski Alan McKee

the class that had not heard about the opportunity.

When we were informed about the play though, we jumped on the chance to see it. We were not lazy students, just uninformed.

At the beginning of the semester, in this class, we all seemed to agree to share knowledge of upcoming events, but not everyone could stay true to this.

Even I slacked when I forgot to inform my classmates of a play that was going on at my old high school.

In my class, as in many classes, it is part of the learning experience to see how what we learn applies to real life. We must remember how rewarding these experiences can be.

Students and staff just get so caught up in being busy that they don’t step back to think about what

is important and beneficial to them.

People can forget how important it is to share information and create a network with each other.

Our peers can be good resources.

We all learn about life by sharing with each other.

Try to step back and analyze what is important in life and learning.

This might help us see that not only do we need to slow down and really understand what we are doing, but we also can help each other through things, and make life easier.

MCCC’s mission statement says that the college “provides a variety of higher education opportunities to enrich the lives of the residents of Monroe County.”

The opportunities are there, so do your part. Focus on what is important and try to learn and share information with your fellow students and staff.

The Agora Editorial Policy The Agora is published by the students of Monroe County Community College, 1555 S. Raisinville Rd., Monroe, MI, 48161. The editorial office is located in 202 of the Life Sciences Bldg., (734) 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, the Community College Journalism 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 alsoare welcome. E-mail them to Agora@monroeccc.edu or bring them to ouroffice.

Dan Shaw, Adviser

April 21, 2009

Feature

THE AGORA

3

Battling the Big H Heroin use, on the rise in Monroe, touches the lives of MCCC students Story By:

Susan Banoski

J

Agora photo by Emily Chandonnet

MCCC student Jason Palmer is still recovering from the death of his brother, Jacob Zubkoff, shown in photo. Even with his brother’s health problems and Heroin addiction, Jacob was a normal guy who loved poker and bowling.

ason Palmer is willing to talk about his brother’s battle with heroin because he wants to save other people the pain his family endured.

“He had health problems that he could not deal with and heroin made him feel normal,” Palmer said.

Jacob Zubkoff was just 22 when he died last November of an overdose of heroin.

Palmer said his brother, known as Jake by his family and closest friends, was not happy with his life.

Zubkoff struggled with low self esteem, and he didn’t have the willingness to quit using drugs.

Palmer, an MCCC student who has devoted his life to Christianity, said both the church and the college have helped keep him strong through the ordeal.

Zubkoff tried to get comfort through the use of a prescription drug, Zaboxin, but it made him feel sick, so he continued to shoot up heroin to ease the pain from the medicine and from his life, his brother said.

Palmer said he would like to warn anyone who is confronted with drugs that before they use, they should consider Jacob, who had a whole life ahead of him and now all his lifelong dreams are gone.

He also warned anyone not to cross that line, because they may not be fortunate enough to make it out alive.

Heroin, a drug that is spreading rapidly in the area, has taken the lives of four people in Monroe since April 2007, according to Kathy Stone of Monroe Police Department.

In addition to the deaths, area hospitals and treatment centers see hundreds of patients who have overdosed on heroin.

Help is available “There is help out there if you have the willingness to ask,” said Rodney Mayes of Monroe, a young man who was addicted to heroin.

“My life was filled with so much grief. I was so depressed when I was in active addiction that I was surrounded by the heroin and using it every day.”

“I didn’t care about anything or anyone. I didn’t care about my family to the point that no one trusted me anymore and didn’t want me around,” Mayes said.

Mayes reached out for help and learned how to get it through Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Harbor Light, the Salvation Army’s facility on South Custer Road.

“Harbor Light has a staff of caring people who will help you deal with addictions on a “There is help out one-on-one basis,” Mayes said. there if you have the “Maxine Sutherland, a monitor who has willingness to ask.” helped many clients addicted to drugs, is always there for folks,” he added.

Rodney Mayes Dave McFadden is a medic at Harbor Sober Addict Light who has seen clients with mental disorders who are addicted to drugs but have turned their lives around.

“We are here 24/7 to help with any medical problems the clients may have,” McFadden said.

Mayes adds that “the Harbor Light program has provided him with the tools to get through any situation that is thrown his way, such as deaths, failed relationships and dealing with life on life’s terms.”

“There is no more aloneness, with that awful ache so deep in the heart of every addict that nothing before could ever reach it,” Mayes said. “That ache is gone and need never return. It is a most wonderful blessing to be

relieved of the terrible curse with which I was afflicted.”

Kenneth Rigdon of Monroe is a former heroin addict with over seven years of sobriety.

He has sponsored numerous clients at Harbor Light. He attends AA groups in Monroe and meets with the prisoners at the county jail.

“I came to this program in order to stop drugging. What I received in return was my life,” Rigdon said. “I spend a great deal of “I came to this time passing on what I learned to others who program in order to want and need it badly. Just for today, my thoughts will be on my recovery, and living stop drugging. What life today without the use of drugs.”

I received in return He said it doesn’t take long for addicts to was my life.” begin to see a change.

“Addicts who have recovered are amazed; Kenneth Rigdon before they were half way through the steps Sober Addict - 7 yrs see the change in themselves,” Rigdon said.

“AA and NA can help people in the process of finding answers,” he said.

“The newcomer can get help in AA from people who have some clean time under their belts. We call them old timers,” Rigdon said.

“It helps the struggling addict to have hope when they hear the stories of others who have recovered from their addictions,” he added.

Courts help, too There is help in Monroe if you have the willingness to look for it.

Judge John A. Hohman Jr., of Monroe County’s Juvenile Drug Court, works to help youths in Monroe reduce substance abuse and related delinquent behavior.

He says his program offers a structure of strength-based intensive treatment services.

The goal is to enhance public safety and return productive and responsible citizens to their families, he said.

John A. Hohman The focus of the Juvenile Drug Court is on Monroe County Judge intervening in substance abuse situations and eliminating delinquent behavior.

Some of the tools are frequent reviews by the Juvenile Drug Court Judge, intensive court supervision and the utilization of various recoveries and community-based counseling services.

There are four levels in the Juvenile Drug Court Program. Each level varies upon the needs of the participants. They have progressive incentives and sanctions based on behavior and compliance with the program rules and requirements. Final acceptance into the program is at the discretion of Judge Hohman, who has been cited for his dedication to area youths.

He was honored as the outstanding Judge of 2008 by the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

“They have been sedated for so many years that when you remove the alcohol and drugs, they have no experience in coping with life. That’s why they have severe mood swings.”

Paula Whitman Monroe Psychiatrist

Help for women There is special help for women who are in need.

Paula Whitman, a Monroe psychiatrist, has helped women transition back into a healthy lifestyle. Paula’s House is a recovery home for those in need of a structured environment while learning to live happy, joyous and free from drugs.

“We provide a homelike, safe environment to transition back into society,” Whitman said.

Paula’s House is also known as Women Empowering Women, which has been open since Sept. 11, 2004. The home, which serves homeless women with substance abuse problems, has assisted many women on their road to recovery.

When asked if she thought heroin use is on the rise in Monroe, Paula responded: “Yes, and not only heroin, alcohol and other opiates.”

Whitman said there are mental issues that go along with prolonged drug use. Alcohol is one drug that is known to cause permanent brain damage.

“People who use alcohol and drugs are also emotionally stunted,” Whitman said.

“They have been sedated for so many years that when you remove the alcohol and drugs, they have no experience in coping with life. That’s why they have severe mood swings.”

“That is why addicts end up with the diagnoses of being bipolar,” she added.

“After being clean and sober for a few months, as the addict is learning to live life on life’s terms, the bipolar can go away,” Whitman said.

Crime is also a factor when it comes to drug addiction in Monroe County, according to a Monroe County parole officer.

“Addicts find that they must spend more and more money to meet the needs of their drug addiction,” she said.

This then leads to stealing, prostitution, scams and more crime related events, she added.

“The majority of addicts who are taken to jail are either intoxicated at the time of their arrest or are committing a crime to support their habit,” she said.

Heroin comes from Columbia Nearly all of the heroin available in Monroe County is white in color and comes from Colombia, according to a Monroe drug user who asked that he remain anonymous.

However, the availability of Asian heroin is increasing, he said. Packets of heroin are most often sold in $10 units and bundles of ten hits cost between $75 and $125.

One gram of Colombian heroin typically costs $100-$150.

Most Monroe County heroin users are over the age of 20 and live in the city of Monroe, according to an employee at a Monroe treatment center.

“Heroin is increasingly being used as a substitute for the prescription drug OxyContin.

Quinine is a new heroin additive that is used to increase the heroin rush,” the employee said.

“I’m going for the According to the U.S Drug Enforcement Agen- Big 5-0.” cy (DEA), heroin is available throughout the DeJim Geno troit metropolitan area and southeast Michigan.

Large quantities of heroin are imported from Sober Addict - 35yrs South America, Mexico and Africa, according to DEA statistics. Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin are also available in metropolitan Detroit and surrounding cities like Monroe.

Detroit is a transshipment area to other communities in Michigan and Ohio, as well as a consumption city, according to the DEA. Despite the ready availability of heroin, there is also plenty of help available.

To show still-suffering addicts the AA program really works, AA old timer Jim Geno has been in the program for 35 years.

He recommends always remaining grateful during any situation in life.

“I’m going for the Big 5-0,” said Geno, who is 82 years old.

4 THE AGORA Feature

April 21, 2009

Swimming the calories away An intense workout with low impact

Mary Rose Takacs Designer

Whether you learned to swim in the kiddy pool at the YMCA, at a lake, or in your personal pool, swimming can be used as a workout.

“It’s for all ages, it doesn’t exclude anybody,” Wendy Baldwin, Aquatic Director at Francis Family YMCA in Bedford, said.

Swimming can build endurance, strengthen the lungs, and tone the muscles with low impact, even though the heart beats lower in a water workout verses a land workout.

This is due to the waters ability to cool the body down faster, however the body does get hot and does sweat, Baldwin said.

The goals and reasons for swimming determine the stroke and pace chosen.

Some people start with a 30 minute routine, and eventually work up to a 60 minute hard core, inter-vault workout.

In an inter-vault routine the swimmer may switch between different strokes every 2 laps. For example, doing freestyle and then backstroke, or freestyle and breaststroke.

For a hard core calorie burning routine there are three frequently used strokes.

“The most common stroke is the freestyle - the crawl - your arms are stretched out and you’re stretching your stomach, tightening your abs and kicking your legs,” Baldwim said.

The butterfly is another that can be used.

“The butterfly works your legs, abdomen and arms all at the same time,” Stefanie Thomasma, MCCC student, said.

In the breaststroke the arms are fully extended outward in front of the body and as they slice through the water the body follows making a jumping frog motion. As the arms push through the water the head will lift up out for air.

Nearly 400 calories can be burned, in a 30 minute high intensity breast stroke workout, Page Waehner, writer for exerciseabout. com, stated.

With each muscle in the body working together the heart accelerates causing blood to be quickly pumped throughout the body.

As this happens, the body will burn more calories and fat. Toxins will also be emitted from the body due to the body sweating. Even if the body is in a strenuous workout, a swimmer is less likely to suffer a high-impact injury in swimming.

“It’s joint friendly with regard to the knees and hips,” Tim Whitney, swimmer of 40 years, said.

The water supports the body and gravity does not push against a swimmer, however there is a resistance.

“Water creates 15X more resistance than an out of water workout,” Baldwin said.

This resistance can add to a swimmers endurance and strength gain. Using flippers when swim-

Google images photo

ming can also provide additional resistance and drag when swimming laps, which will help in building endurance, Baldwin said. Taking up an Aqua Jog class can build muscle mass and create a thinner, slimmer look, because it uses the water resistance.

In Aqua Jog, exercises are done with foam weights in the water, and with the body not touching the pool floor, Baldwin said.

Whether swimming laps, pushing hard in a breaststroke or talking an Aqua Jog class, water is a friend to any swimmer.

When swimming long distance, or any time, water is needed. Lots of water, Baldwin said.

The reason for swimming and what routine is used determines the diet to eat. If weight loss is the goal, a diet containing low carbs, a lot of fruit and vegetables and high protein is usually taken in.

If a Triathlon is the destination, a

high carbohydrate diet is preferred.

Carbs are usually burned quickly in strenuous, long distance workout, according to Baldwin.

Similar to other workouts, warming up first is recommended.

“I warm up first because it allows me to conduct my training efforts at an increased level of flexibility.

It is important to have a full range of motion during your training or you can’t get the full benefit,” Whitney said.

Before entering the workout, some start with stroke drills, or sets with two laps, a break, then two laps and a break, before heading into the full stride, Baldwin said.

No matter the swimmer or stroke, swimming can lend the body to greater strength, a slimmer look and with less impact.

“I like it a lot, it’s the ultimate workout, it takes a lot less time for a greater result,” Thomasma said.

Top 5 ways to get a great workout swimming 1. Warmup with kick-board, then pull it between your legs and drag and swim without kicking.

2. Freestyle and IM - alternate them back and forth 3. Stroke 200 meters, IM 200 meters.

4. Breast stroke: 100m slow, 100m moderate, 100m fast; continue three times 5. Swim 200 meters backstroke, 200 meters breast stroke; alternate every two times for 600 meters

Rising optimism in Putting your education to work sinking pessimism Alan McKee Staff

“My generation is resisting being called senior citizens....

Being active is what keeps you alive.”

Mary Bullard Resa Waldecker Designer

With the economy sinking, twenty-somethings everywhere should be concerned that balancing one job is no longer enough to pay the bills.

Look around campus. Older students are flocking for degrees, so that they can start again.

Should twenty-somethings be concerned they will work their entire life?

Erin Geer, MCCC student, is concerned.

“With the rate of inflation and how expensive things are now, I sort of cringe at the thought of future finances. I don’t foresee retirement in my future,” she said.

Sarah Daniels agreed.

“I think the retirement age is getting higher due to the suffering

economy,” she said.

Mary Bullard knows that working her whole life is a new reality.

Students at MCCC know Mary Bullard as a faculty specialist at the Learning Assistance Lab (LAL).

But faculty specialist is only one of the four job titles that Mrs. Bullard juggles daily.

She is also a reference librarian at MCCC, an online instructor, and a Virgil School Media Specialist.

Mrs. Bullard is over the age of fifty.

But Mrs. Bullard is happy to be working.

When she was younger, she visited her dad in a do-nothing-all-day retirement home.

She watched as he wasted his life away at the pool, while his friends began to die.

Eventually, he moved closer to his family.

Mrs. Bullard learned that she does not want to spend her final years like that.

“Being active is what keeps you alive,” she observed.

I was surprised to find the same optimistic attitude in all of the older students I interviewed.

Ruth Fazio is a 47-year-old MCCC student.

I asked her why she went to school, figuring she would site the

economy.

Instead she said she wanted to further her education, so that she will not be stuck at a “pointless job.”

Tina Steffes is 41 years old and agrees with Ruth.

“I’m going back to school to work in a career that inspires me. I know I won’t mind working longer,” she continued.

Her optimism does not end there, “I’ve always wanted to go back to college and get a degree. This is an awesome opportunity for me and I am very grateful,” Steffes said.

Mrs. Bullard sums up this optimistic attitude. She grew up with very stereotypical white haired grandma’s who loved to knit socks.

“My generation is resisting being called senior citizens,” she explained.

Mrs. Bullard believes this is because this generation is very tuned into what is going on.

“This generation knows how to keep up with things,” she said.

This optimism surprised me primarily because I view these older students and mourn that I may not be retired by 60.

The older generation does not want retirement to be the end of their life, but just a part of their life.

Art threatened by budget deficit Miranda Panik Designer

The newly renovated Detroit Institute of the Arts has had a disappointing turnout. Just ten months after a $158 million renovation, the main concern now is how to pay for it.

With the DIA experiencing a $17 million loss last year, it brings the total to over $100 million in losses over the past decade. These losses, along with the cost of the renovation, have left the museum in a hole.

“As much as $750,000 could be cut from the 2009 budget as the DIA intensifies efforts to fix the structural deficit that threatens to drown its future in red ink,” according to the Detroit Free Press.

At first glance, things looked as if they would be okay for the DIA. Its reinvention gained national attention and increased attendance.

However, now that the ritzy galas

for the opening have ended, the financial crisis has stolen the limelight.

Annmarie Erickson has inherited this problem as the newly appointed executive vice president for administration and planning.

Erickson has been quoted in the Free Press saying the financial problem was “urgent” and these losses were “unacceptable.”

The DIA is not in any near danger of collapse, however. The museum has enough money in the pipeline to keep operations going for another five to ten years. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to fix the problem now.

One of the ways the DIA makes money is through admission prices and memberships.

Memberships have more benefits than if you were to merely pay the admission price every time you visited the museum.

Also, if you are someone who

visits frequently, it’s cheaper to get a membership.

An individual membership is $65 a year. The benefits include: free admission to the museum and any special exhibits, previews of exhibits before public opening, a subscription to Your DIA, and 10 percent off at the gift shop, café, Court Coffee Stop, and the DIA’s online store.

“Member’s dues are used to support educational programs, special exhibitions, art publications which capture worldwide attention, conservation of valuable collections, crucial building improvements and many of the daily expenses involved with operating the museum,” the DIA website (www.dia. org) said.

If you would simply just like to visit the DIA once in a while, admission prices are as follows: $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for children.

Looking for a job? Don’t know where to look or locate one?

While many job placement companies charge for services, the Office of Workforce Development provides employment opportunities at no cost to MCCC students, community members and alumni.

From July of 2008 until February of this year, 143 jobs were received and posted by the office of Workforce Development.

Fifty-three of the referrals placed through the office were hired for these positions. To enhance job security, jobs that are acquired through Workforce Development are closed to any further prospects.

Job seekers need to understand current trends in today’s job market, such as how employers want applications.

“Employers want an on-line application,” Barry Kinsey, director of the Workforce Development office, said.

Job seekers can find places that are hiring by heading over to the Student/Administration building on the Main Campus, or in the

hallway of the Whitman Center.

If you can’t seem to find enough time to check out the listings posted on the bulletin boards, students and alumni may log on to www.monroe. edu/ccs/emplom.htm.

To register, pick up applications in the Office of Workforce Development located at the South end of the East corridor in the L Building.

This is where you can offer your skills to employers here in Michigan and also areas of Northwest Ohio.

Here you can set up what is aptly named a “Credential File,” that allows employment seekers to maintain records of updated resumes, recommendations and references, education history and other important info that may assist in catching employer attention.

If you stop into the office, Administration Assistant Heather Kipf will be the first person encountered, just inside the door. Here, she can connect job seekers with sources and applications.

If you want to land one of about 50 employment opportunities aboard campus, “Our on campus student assistance program,” said Heather, is available for students.

If there is any need for help compiling a good working resume, be sure to ask when the next “Resume

workshop” is scheduled. Helpful advice to build effective resumes and choosing good references are just a couple of the services one might want to learn while registering.

Workforce Development brochures (available at the office, and various locations on campus) give brief descriptions of the services that are provided.

For more info, there are several ways to contact the office. By phone: 384-4270, Fax: 384-4190, through the Web previously noted, or seekers can e-mail Workforce Development Director, Barry Kinsey at bkinsey@monroeccc.edu, or Administrative Assistant, Heather Kipf at workforce@monroeccc. edu.

On the back of the Workforce Development flyer is a list of reputable businesses in this region and elsewhere, for which MCCC alumni are currently employed.

In the medical fields, hospitals such as U of M, Mercy Memorial of Monroe, Henry Ford and more are well represented, as are others.

Universities, colleges, manufacturers, insurance agencies and utility providers are more of the many examples in which Workfoce Development has assisted in providing a future for others.

cans have not yet been hit by this new fad, but I see the shark coming at top speed from the Pacific.

This shark is travelling by means of Facebook.

We have not yet had to face this shark because Facebook is relatively new. To be blunt, not many users have died yet. But eventually, the numbers will dwindle.

What happens when someone on Facebook dies?

MCCC student Chelsey McMillan has heard of a deceased teenager that had a Facebook.

“Their Facebook was kept active and friends and family of the deceased wrote condolences,” she said.

McMillian also says, although a funeral home is “more proper,” she does not see anything wrong with a

Facebook Funeral.

Paula McDonald-Lapere, MCCC Student, is not quite sure about technology ruining death.

“The problem is, you are always going to have people that abuse sites like this, but for others it is a place to help mourn, heal and remember,” McDonald-Lapere said.

MCCC student Daigord Vhett opposes Facebook memorials.

“Facebook does not offer real or fair descriptions of the person,” he said.

No matter what the consensus, Facebook is bound to become a graveyard.

Technology has an ability to push people into acceptance. Who knows, maybe ten years from now going to a funeral home will be old-fashioned.

The meaning of a pixilated life Resa Waldecker Designer

Imagine a world where you no longer have to go to the cemetery to pay your respects to the dead—a world where your computer is also a gravesite.

You can buy pixilated flowers that do not need to be watered and never die.

Best of all, you will never have to confront the reality of death.

Through your web cam, attending a funeral is as real to you as the computer game you are playing.

In Japan, this world is already a reality.

According to BBC News, the high price of funerals and the limited space has driven many to buy into virtual funeral space. Ameri-

Google images photo

April 21, 2009

Campus News

THE AGORA

5

Writing fellows represent MCCC at Purdue University Brandy Werner Copy Editor

Above: Writing fellows Resa Waldecker and Tara Adrain hold a sandwich that represents a research paragraph.

Right: The writing fellows use this sandwich to help students with the structure of how to write a research paper.

Agora photos by Resa Waldecker and Brandy Werner

MCCC Writing Fellows are branching out.

On April 2-4, Writing Fellows Misty Braden, Tara Adrian, and Resa Waldecker—along with Tim Dillon, the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Coordinator—represented MCCC at the East Central Writing Centers Association (ECWCA) Conference at Purdue University.

The Regional Conference consisted of participants from Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. It offered numerous sessions designed to further writing centers across the states.

“We attended some interesting sessions,” said Misty Braden. “One of which led us to decide to create our own Writing Center Facebook group.”

“We’re excited about connecting to students in new ways,” Braden added.

Two of the Writing Fellows, Misty Braden and Tara Adrian, presented at the event.

“It was very prestigious,” said Adrian.

Working together, they put on a presentation of numerous ways to reach different learning styles in the Writing Center, i.e. visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.

“We used a few different tools,” said Resa Waldecker. “Our favorite was the martini glass.”

The martini glass, made especially for visual and kinesthetic learners, symbolizes a paper. The top is the introduction (general, wider), the olive is the thesis statement (affecting the flavor of the whole drink), the stem is the narrow, focused body paragraphs, and the base is the conclusion (which the glass needs to stand up).

Waldecker also made a hamburger to represent a paragraph in a research paper.

During the session Adrian and Braden broke the attendees up into groups, each group creating their own tutoring aid.

The Writing Fellows agreed that their session went well.

“It went exactly as we expected,” said Adrian. “Everybody really enjoyed it.”

“Many people expressed an interest in taking our ideas back to their own writing centers,” Braden said.

Even the WAC Coordinator agreed.

“After their presentation, Misty and Tara were complimented by those in the session,” said WAC Coordinator, Tim Dillon. “Several of the participants said it was the best session they attended at the conference.”

What the Writing Center has to offer: • Peer Tutoring • Help with any stage of the Writing Process • Targets all learning styles • Fits easily into your schedule • E-Tutoring at Writing@monroeccc. edu Call The Writing Center to schedule an appointment at (734) 384-4167 or e-mail at http://www.monroeccc.edu/writing

Eighth annual antiques show attracts crowd Alan Mckee Staff

Most of us can relate to Bob Seeger’s ‘Old-time Rock and Roll’ tune when he introduces us to the shelf from which our vinyl collection exists.

Tabbed as “one of the premier shows in the Midwest,” the eighth annual Antiques’ in April Show, held in the Gerald Welch Health Education Building located at the Monroe County Community College Main Campus, was really “happening” Saturday April 4th, and Sunday April 5th.

With free parking available, and a extremely modest $3.00 admission price, this event had to be one of the best bargains in the area.

Sponsored by the college and Sauer Furniture and Antiques of Monroe, Antiques In April is actually much better than visiting a museum.

The nostalgia is incredible as buyers, traders, or the casual browsers from all over, wander from booth to booth in awe of the exhibits on display.

Ralph and Anita Bidlowski came to browse through all the antiques during Sunday’s showing.

“If there’s something that catches our fancy, we’ll buy it” Mr. Bidlowski said.

Anita and her husband have much in common when it comes to antiques.

“I collect everything from silver base crystal to antique telescopes, steam whistles, bells, whistles, the whole shot. No furniture, though!” said Mr. Bidlowski.

“We both have the same interests.” added Mrs. Bidlowski.

Another couple came all the way from Dearborn, making this their first visit. They learned about the Antiques in April Show from the Dearborn Press Guide.

“We’ve been avid antique hunters for a long time.”

“We’ve been to the Monroe County Fairgrounds one, but this is our first time here,” Cynthia Stewart said.

The couple stopped at and estate sale in Trenton before coming to Antiques in April.

A 1964 Gretsch “Country Gentleman” Guitar, and a 1917 Gibson Junior Mandolin were just two of the many featured items. A raffle to win the vintage guitar became a popular attraction.

By browsing around and taking a look at all the items on display, attendees could truly see what their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents …etc. actually had way back when.

It just goes to show that old times aren’t forgotten.

A wide variety of antiques were available at the eighth annual Antiques in April show April 4-5.

Photos courtesy of Mark Spenosa

“Short in Hope” April 24 & 25 7:30 p.m.

Little Theater

Volleyball Players!!!

The volleyball club is looking for more members. If you’re a novice player or an expert feel free to contact the Fitness Center and ask about joining the Volleyball Club.

Fitness Center: 384-4423

Scholarships

College funds running low?

Job not keeping the bank full?

Want to focus on studies instead of taking on more hours?

Check out the college website, you might be eligable for financial help.

The online applications are easy and don’t take any time to fill out.

6 THE AGORA A&E April 21, 2009 BIG READ book gets big review Asia Rapai Copy Editor

“In my younger and more vulnerable years…” I first read The Great Gatsby.

The quoted text starts the first chapter of this year’s Big Read book.

I read it when I was a sophomore in high school, and the book seemed weird to me. I thought that the characters were awful and that the book did not have any relevance to my life.

However, I recently thought about how much I have changed since high school. I then realized how much I have grown and improved since then.

Considering all of the excitement about The Big Read, and how much I have changed since high school, I decided to digest The Great Gatsby a second time.

The second time around was much more rewarding.

Themes of wealth, power and loneliness flow memorably throughout the novel. Images of green money, gold and silver glimmer on its pages.

The many symbols are a substantial part of the novel. This includes the changing weather and varying emotions that run deep throughout.

In this book, the reader travels through a phase of Nick Carraway’s life.

His description of events makes the other characters’ lives become enthralling.

Carraway, the narrator, almost acts as a tour guide taking the reader through the roaring twenties in New York. He helps show the standards and faults of the 1920’s society.

Remaining one of the few honest people, Carraway watches and analyzes as life goes on around him.

The tangible tones of the novel float in and out of the reader’s mind.

Strong images of New York and the Valley of Ashes are formed as if the reader is looking through the very eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg.

The life of the famous, yet mysterious character of Jay Gatsby is pieced together as the reader progresses through the story.

Illusions are exposed as the green light loses its meaning, and relationships break down.

The underlying tone of it leaves the reader with a feeling of shallow pity for most of the characters and an odd appreciation for the story of Gatsby.

With society’s ongoing concerns for money, love, trust and status, The Great Gatsby has become a Great American Novel.

I recommend that you act as Carraway and reserve all judgments, at least until you read this book. Then participate in The Big Read and let The Great Gatsby affect your life.

Maybe you should even read it

Big Read Panel Discussion April 23 La-Z-Boy Center, Atrium 7 p.m.

Hosted by The Agora,

MCCC Student Newspaper Panel Members: Tom Eley - Writer for the World Socialist Web site Timothy Messer Kruse - Ethnic Studies Dept. Chair, BGSU State Sen. Randy Richardville, R-Monroe.

Doug Chafin - Monroe Bank 7 Trust CEO Kristin Stepinski - Agora Staff

“Scott Fitzgerald Looks into Middle Age” Edwin Clark’s 1925 book review of The Great Gatsby.

“A curious book, a mystical, glamorous of today. It takes a deeper cut at life than hitherto has been enjoyed

by Mr. Fitzgerald. He writes well - he always has - for he writes naturally, and his sense of form is becoming perfected.”

“Scott Fitzgerald, Author, Dies at 44” New York Times 1940 Obituary “The best of his books, the critics said, was ‘The Great Gatsby.’

When it was published in 1925 this ironic tale of life on Long Island at a time when gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession (according to the exponents of Mr. Fitzgerald’s school of writers), [i]t received critical acclaim. In it Mr. Fitzgerald was at his best, which was, according to John Chamberlain, his ‘ability to catch... the flavor of a night, a snatch of old song, in a phrase.’”

Poetry night helps students express themselves Dan Ford

Freelance Writer

Empty seats filled the Little Theater for this semester’s Poetry Night.

The winter 2009 version of Poetry Night went off without a hitch, although attendance was low.

Fourteen students attended, compared to over 25 for the Fall 2008 semester.

According to Tim Dillon, the Writing Center Coordinator, the event has drawn over a 100 people in the past.

“When it first started, there were only three or four people attending,” Dillon said.

Empty seats filled the Little Theater for this semester’s Poetry Night.

Braden examined why the turnout was so low.

“We normally get a lot of required students and teachers that normally require, didn’t,” she explained.

“Because it’s a holiday weekend that affected it as well,” Braden added.

MCCC student Sam McNamara gave a different opinion.

“I think that poetry is a dying art due to the limited attention spans of students living in an age of technological advancements and distractions” she said.

Alex Pankiewicz said not enough people talked of the event.

“To be honest, I didn’t hear anyone talk about it, there was no word of mouth except only in the writing center,” he said.

For those who did attend, only four chose to not get involved and instead remained in the audience.

MCCC student Resa Waldecker explains why she attends Poetry Night.

“Because it’s interesting, sometimes people do funny things, like one year, there was a guy with a guitar and he sang a song he made up and it sounded like he was drunk because it was horrible,” Waldecker said.

Waldecker recited the poem, Is My Team Plowing, by A.E. Housman.

She explained her choice.

“It’s very funny, it’s about a dead guy in his grave, asking his friend if

Fat Possum releases album Marcus Akers Copy Editor

On the same imprint as Deltablues/rock champs The Black Keys, Ohio brings another winner to the table in The Heartless Bastards.

The newly redesigned trio’s third album is a soulful blend of American sounds, including folk, garage rock, and alternative.

With soulful, growling vocals, and twangy, eclectic guitarwork, 2009’s The Mountain is a great album.

Fans of early P.J. Harvey will find familiar territory, and there are nuances of the splendid Mellisa

Ethridge and acoustic Nirvana sets.

If you remember an extant Soviet Union, then you are in the target age group of the sound on the disc, which could be described as American folk.

Approachable, but far from wimpy, at least one track from The Mountain will surely be heard in the lineups of the next round of sincere garage acts.

Slide guitar is understatedly well used, and the three piece outfit fills up a sound that is larger than the sum of its parts. A couple of the tracks are primarily folk influenced.

Anybody who wants to hear some

Copy Editor

Halloween night ghouls and campy witchcraft are the inspirations for this ghastly full-length release from Acid Witch. Clearly ominous in pretense, the album plays as an occult horror opera, a bubbling iron cauldron of terrible tales.

Things to remember should one find oneself lost and hallucinating among the dead trees of the realm of the wicked: Avoid the black witch, the rabid were-witch, and the nefarious witchblood cult at all costs.

The lyrics are obscured with the

nether-worldly distortion endemic to metal, but the careful listener may find a wealth of helpful tips to prevent becoming a victim of the occult.

Basically, flee for your life.

More brutal than The Abominable Iron Sloth, and sporting the guitar-gallop sensibilities of Lollipop Lust Kill, Witchtanic Hellucinations won’t collect dust on the shelf of any doom-rock or horrormetal fan. It’s a perfect choice for a Halloween party, or to impress ones living-dead friends.

A grinding, churning upheaval of forbidden lore from the bad side of

Adventureland

Emily Chandonnet Editor-in-Chief

the coven, Witchtanic Hellucinations is a good primer of the doom rock genre for the initiate or experienced fan.

Miranda Panik Page Deigner

Adventureland emerges as a montage of popular films form the 1980’s.

Based on a group of early twentysomething’s that spend their summer working at a Pittsburgh Amusement Park, Adventureland is a laugh-outloud comedy bound to please its audience.

James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg) is a college grad who plans on attending grad school at Columbia University.

He’s forced to apply to any and every job when his wealthy father’s alcohol problem results in him being demoted at work.

Awkward and ever so serious, James emerges from college still a vir-

mellow rock that isn’t corny needs to check out The Mountain.

‘Acid Witch’ inspires horrors Marcus Akers

everything is still okay even though he’s gone,” Waldecker explained.

“So then the dead guy asks if the friend is ok, the friend says, ‘I cheer a dead man’s sweetheart, don’t ask me whose.’ ” The poem was about a man taking his best friends girlfriend, after the best friend had died.

Despite the low turnout, Poetry Night will continue to be held each winter and fall semester. although some leadership roles will change.

Misty Braden has been the Poetry Night coordinator since 2006. She has no plans of continuing on as coordinator next year, when she does not plan on attending MCCC. “I am the only one that does it,” Braden said. “This is my sixth Poetry Night.”

Braden took over the program from former MCCC student Rebecca Kennedy. It was started in 2003, in The Cellar as a daytime activity, and then moved to the Little Theater once popularity grew.

17 Again is one is one to see but not necessary worth spending $10 in movie fair fees. However, it is one of those goofy, got to love movies that can be a purchase to have around for a good laugh.

It isn’t original by any means but it gets its job done, and well. Its quick one liner phrases will keep you laughing and entertained. This is a movie someone could watch over and over again and not get bored. It is there to entertain and give the oh so common message, make the most of the life you have and don’t live in the past.

Zac Efron (High School Musical) playing the 17 year-old Mike O’Donnell embodies the familiar Matthew Perry (Friends) (who plays the adult Mike O’Donnell) character personality to a tee. Perry plays the

role of a 37 year old father and soon to be ex-husband flawlessly. Efron has completely stepped out of the Disney movies and into one with a little more meaning and wider audience.

Sterling Knight (Disney actor) and Michelle Trachtenberg (Ice Princess) play Mike’s kids Maggie and Alex.

Their mother Scarlett is played by Leslie Mann (Knocked Up).

Thomas Lennon (I Love You, Man) plays Ned Gold, the semi comical relief in the movie. Ned’s bizarre character as the nerdy best friend had no relevance to the story line, his main purpose was to be Mike’s father, but was given an unneeded bigger role.

The worst part of the movie was that fact that there wasn’t much closure between Mike and his kids. The point of the movie is saying how we should not regret the people and life

Tara Adrian has been named to replace Braden as the coordinator starting in the fall of 2009. She has been involved with Poetry Night for the past two years.

“I went to one before I joined the Writing Center and I’ve been affiliated ever since,” she said.

Adrian has set goals for when she does take over the program, but she does not plan on remaining the coordinator for long.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be at community college, I plan to transfer soon. I will get what I can done and hopefully that program will benefit,” she explained.

Student Anthony Harrison won the poetry contest for his poem, “Late Nights with Rosy.” He won a shirt and a gift card to the MCCC bookstore.

Sam McNamara, Kelsey Alexan, Asia Rapai, Anthony Harrison, Brandon Allen, Tara Adrian, Misty Braden, Dan Ford, Alex Pankiewicz and Resa Waldecker all recited poetry. gin, which he hopes to change when he meets Em (Kristen Stewart), who he winds up falling for. However, she finds herself caught in a love triangle between James and Mike Connell (Ryan Reynolds), the amusement park handy-man.

James’ budding friendships with his coworkers are fueled by a never ending supply of weed and parties.

As James’ and Em’s relationship begins to grow, she is confronted by her problems at home with her father and new stepmother.

Based in 1987, Adventureland is reminiscent of popular John Hughes films. The only thing bigger than the hair in this movie is the laughs it’s sure to induce.

17 Again

around us and the ending was left wide open for interpretation about Mike and his kids.

17 Again was good but the ending needs a replacement scene.

April 21, 2009

Sports

THE AGORA

Tigers seek redemption day. Armando Galarraga, Justin Verlander, and Jackson will start for Detroit in that series.

Some other bright spots for Detroit have been Ramon Santiago, who had a career-high 5 RBI’s against Seattle Sunday night, and Miguel Cabrera, who is batting .489 through the first 12 games this season.

It shows that a new season is upon us.

It’s no secret last season was supposed to be big. The 2008 Tigers were supposed to be the team to beat. With a payroll that was second only to the New York Yankees and several blockbuster trades, ’08 was Detroit’s year.

And yet, it wasn’t.

Fans believed the Tigers were destined for glory, a chance at the World Series, or a 1,000 run season.

But it was not meant to be.

The Tigers started the season 0-7, and were never able to climb their way out of that hole.

Detroit finished under .500— dead last in the Central division, and a far cry from where they stand today.

Power hitters like Gary Sheffield were rendered worthless early on.

There was even a point when Miguel Cabrera had the strenuous task of carrying the team, and 2007 AL Batting Champion Magglio Ordonez spent part of the season out with an injury.

They never found a good closer

Casey Cheap

Copy Editor-in-Chief

It’s officially spring when Detroit’s favorite sports franchise swings back into action.

The good news for the Detroit Tigers: after twelve games into the regular season, they are a winning team at last.

Detroit is in a tight race for first place in the AL Central, sitting at 7-5 in a tie with the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox. Although Detroit’s good old boys got off to a rocky start in their season opener at Toronto, they have also made great strides since last season. The Tigers went 1-3 in their first series on the road.

But the bats really started to heat up at home, as the Tigers swept the Texas Rangers in a three game series at Comerica Park.

They also split a pair of games with the White Sox, one having been rained out.

The White Sox also handed the Tigers their only home loss.

So going into their latest series on the west coast against the Seattle Mariners, Detroit could not afford to take this series for granted.

Although the Tigers lost the first game in the series (6-3), starting pitcher Edwin Jackson was able to shut out the Mariners in game two (2-0), and Rick Porcello did just as well in game three, beating Seattle (8-2) on Sunday.

The momentum will be good for the Tigers who are looking to roll past the Los Angeles Angels Tues-

Kristin Stepinski Designer

Rick Porcello gave up five hits in seven innings on Sunday. Tigers won 8-2 against the Mariners. detroit.tigers.mlb.com

in ’08. This year, Bobby Seay and Fernando Rodney have been solid relief for pitching “aces” such as Verlander.

Starting pitcher Jeremy Bonderman also spent most of the season sitting out with an injury while

Michael Crossman Assistant Copy Editor

News.com

closers Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya were never quite there either.

But now Tiger fans can rejoice, for it is a new day in Hockeytown—uh, the D. Sitting at 7-5, they’re far from

perfect, but showing signs of redemption for the crushed hopes of fans in ’08.

There have been plenty of ups and downs, but ever so slowly, the Tigers could be on the right track.

The “Answer” has left the building.

And if you ask me, I thought it was about time. Allen Iverson had recently returned from a back injury that left him sidelined.

The all-star guard missed 16 games between February 27 and March 28 after exiting a game at New Orleans with a sore back on February 25.

Can something be the most predictable thing in the world and yet still be surprising? Given AI’s pride and his refusal to accept a supporting role for peanuts this summer, we have seen the last of our starting point guard for the summer, and hopefully for good.

When Iverson was traded in September for Chauncey Billups I knew what Joe Dumars had in mind. Every Detroit fan in their right mind should know why Billups was traded.

Simply, Billups didn’t want to be in Detroit any longer, notice I didn’t say Piston; he wanted to return home and finish his career close to his family. That’s respectable. It also helped he had one year remaining on his expensive contract.

Iverson was only the scraps we had to take to finish the deal, and grant one last request for our former MVP. And Dumars didn’t mind the fact Iverson’s contract is up after the season, providing the Pistons with about $20 million in cap space.

At last finally, the money starts talking.

He turns 34 in June, three weeks before the start of free agency, and clearly won’t be re-signing with the Pistons. Perhaps the only surer thing in Detroit sports is the Lions are going to win more games than last year.

Since returning from his injury, Iverson was well aware of his new status in the Piston rotation. He

was going to be coming off the exciting and under -lighted confines of the bench. What else did he expect when he had the starting role, and he led us to 4-12?

I’m just glad that Curry is man enough to admit whoops, and correct it.

Iverson was told to kick rocks after his audacious comments to the media following the Pistons, Cavaliers matchup early this month.

“How many minutes did I play?

It seemed way, way, way less than that. Eighteen minutes? Come on, man. I can play 18 minutes with my eyes closed and with a 100pound truck on my back. I’m wondering what they rushed me back for. For that?” he said.

Iverson also responded by saying that he would rather retire than accept his new role.

Looks like the old, dusty, whiny, never been a champion point guard just might finally get what he asks for.

Big game brings big money Jeremy Hickey Staff

Michigan State’s appearance in the Final Four Championship game was not only good for the local Spartan fans, but also for the local economy.

It is not just the fact that MSU defeated two number one seeds in a row to make an appearance in the national spot light that’s grabbing people’s attention, or the fact that they ultimately had home court advantage being only 90 miles away from campus, but because Michigan State appearance in the big dance led to the largest attendance in NCAA championship history.

The greatest importance of Spartans making the national title game is how many fans it drew to Ford

Field in this time of need and distress in the Detroit area.

Each year the NCAA determines where the final three games of the tournament will be held. In 2003, NCAA officials selected Detroit to be the host of the 2009 tournament.

“Between the all-star game, Super bowl, and now the NCAA tournament all being held in Detroit, they [city of Detroit] should be decently well-off” said Kevin Rowe, MCCC student.

This is not, however, the first time Detroit has received a “one-weekend stimulus package.” In fact, this is the cities third opportunity of receiving financial assistance from sporting events.

In 2005, Major League Baseball selected Detroit to host the All-star

game, which racked up $52 million of revenue.

In 2006 Detroit received a jaw dropping $270 million in revenue when the Super Bowl was hosted at Ford Field in Detroit.

Revenue from the tournament is predicted to be around $50 million in revenue, similar to what was San Antonio gained last year as a result of their Final four games.

Hotel rooms were booked well in advance to championship weekend.

Roms were going anywhere from $300-$500 each night. Westin Book Cadillac Hotel has anticipated that the total revenue gained from championship weekend will be around the $1 million range, not including the additional $150,000 - $200,000 A Michigan State student waits for the doors to open at Ford Field before from dining, alcoholic beverages the start of the Final Four Game between North Carolina and Michigan and other spending costs.

State.

Andre J. Jackson/Detroit Free Press

Tiger’s April & May Schedule

April 27-29 7:05 p.m.

New York

Home Games:

Red Wings Rant Franzen signs 11-year deal

Iverson kicks rocks

Allen Iverson’s season with the Pistons was a series of ups and downs and ended in a down.

7

April 3 1:05 p.m.

Cleveland

April 1 7:05 p.m.

Cleveland

April 4 7:05 p.m.

Minnesota

April 2 3:40 p.m.

Cleveland

April 5 7:05 p.m.

Minnesota

Red Wings 2008-2009 Playoff Schedule April 2009 Tue Apr 21, 2009 Red Wings Blue Jackets 7:00 PM Thu Apr 23, 2009 Red Wings Blue Jackets 7:00 PM Sat Apr 25, 2009 Blue Jackets Red Wings 7:00 PM Mon Apr 27, 2009 Red Wings Blue Jackets TBD Wed Apr 29, 2009 Blue Jackets Red Wings TBD

With a new contract, the Detroit Red Wings have Johan Franzen locked up until the power forward hits the big 4-0.

Just before the 2009 playoffs were set to begin, Franzen signed an 11-year, $43.5 million deal.

The contract is the second longest in team history. Only Henrik Zetterberg’s 12-year deal signed earlier this year is longer.

“I started my career here. I had some good times here, four good years, playing with great players,” Franzen told the Detroit Free Press. “I really wanted to stay here.”

And stay here he will, for the next decade of his life.

In keeping with team policy, all specifics involving money are kept private. However, Franzen’s deal is expected to be front-end loaded giving the Wings more flexibility towards the back end of his career. This type of contract seems to be popular due to Detroit’s newfound affinity for decade-plus deals.

“I started my career here. I had some good times here, four good years, playing with great players.”

Johan Franzen Red Wings Power Forward Zetterberg’s deal was constructed in the same fashion. Both Franzen and Zetterberg make upwards of $5 million during the first few contracted seasons, with the amount per season decreasing each year. Both players make just $1 million during the final season of their contracts.

Franzen’s contract also includes a “no-trade” clause during the first half of the 11-year deal and a limited trade deal for the final five years.

“Good security for him, now he’s got to continue to evolve his game,” coach Mike Babcock told MLive.com. “You’re not just signing him for what he is, you’re signing him for what you hope he’s going to be.”

The Red Wings have a strict “no negotiating contracts during the playoffs” rule, which will give Holland only a few precious weeks to finish off another career deal for Marian Hossa.

By Franzen signing a contract before the season’s end, it crosses him off the list of potential free agents that could hit the market this summer. It also means that Marian Hossa’s name will definitely be on that list.

General Manager Ken Holland had been working on deals with both Franzen and Hossa. The chips just happened to fall Franzen’s way first.

“I wanted to get one guy signed to a contract that I felt good about, and it turned out it was Johan,” Holland said. “I told Marian and his agent we’ll see what the cap number is. My first priority would be to figure out a way to keep him.”

Hossa lead the Red Wings in goals scored with 40 this season.

Franzen scored 34 goals this season and his 59 points trailed only Pavel Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Hossa.

During last year’s playoffs Franzen scored 13 goals en route to winning the Stanley Cup. He also missed six of those games due to a subdural hematoma injury.

Two games into this post season, Franzen already has a goal and two assists.

8 THE AGORA

Spotlight

April 21, 2009

Baby Lambs: Telltale sign of spring Brandy Werner Copy Editor

Spring in finally here.

There is no better picture of spring than baby lambs frolicking on rolling hills of green grass.

MCCC student Hope Blevins knows this picture very well.

“My sheep just had their babies,” Blevins said. “Spring is here.”

Hope has three new baby lambs to welcome her home from school every day.

She has twins who were born on Feb.10, and a single lamb born on Feb. 28. Their names are Izzy, Josie and Maggie.

For Blevins, spring also means baby turkeys and baby bunnies.

“I’ll have baby bunnies in May,” she said. “And right now I have little turkeys that I’m raising for the fair.”

But her lambs are the epitome of spring.

“I spend way too much time with my sheep,” she said. “They are at their cutest stage right now—from birth to about two months old. I take them outside, play with them and practice for the fair.”

Blevins raises her Suffolk sheep to show them at the Monroe County Fair in a program called 4-H. She auctions off the lambs at the fair. She’s been in 4-H

for ten years.

“I learn something new every year in 4-H,” she said. “I love it when younger 4-Hers come up and ask me for advice; it makes me feel needed.”

Hope currently serves as president of two 4-H clubs, Youth Leadership Board and REAACT. She also is involved in eight different 4-H clubs around Monroe County. Showing sheep is her favorite animal project of 4-H. “I love showing sheep,” Blevins said.

“They each have a different personality. Some are dumb, but some are really smart.”

“You should meet Penelope—I’ve had her for four years. She knows me so well.

If I’m sad, she’ll comfort me. She always comes back when I take her off her lead; she knows where her home is.”

With the changing season comes more work for Blevins. She must start exercising them for the fair soon.

“To exercise them, my boyfriend and I make them run around the pond,” she said.

Travis, her boyfriend, starts running around and the lambs chase after him.

Once he stops, they keep running.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Blevins said.

“Hope’s sheep project is part of her

Want to be a Part of a Rock Band?

If you are interested in showing the world your talent, and you are a good musician, then we are in need of you.

MCCC’s own, Andrew Mutter and Kyle Lockmiller are looking for someone with experience of playing electric lead guitar and are interested in continuing their passion on to higher levels.We already have places to play and many more on the way. So if you are interested please get a hold of: Andrew Mutter @ 734-915-8860 O-pcs_atm@hotmail.com

Questions? Call 384-4186 or email us at agora@monroeccc.edu

Music Symphony Band Concert Monday, April 27 7:30 p.m.

La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater Free

Next meeting: April 21

All meetings: - Open to the public - Every 1st and 3rd Tues.

- Located in the Cellar - From 12:30-1:30 p.m.

MC3 3on3 Basketball Tournament April 25 9 a.m.

Health Education Bldg.

Meyer Agora Chorale Concert Tuesday, April 28 7:30 p.m.

La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater Free

Agora photos by Brandy Werner

Student Event Schedule Government Local BIG READ occasions to attend April 21 Corner

Join Student Government

Need to sell your books, looking for a roommate, or want to teach music lessons but don’t know how to get the word out? Send your Ad to agora@monroecc. or drop it off at room L 202. You can design it or we can. Just give us the info and we will put it in our next issue. Ads for April 16 issue should be sent in by April 6.

in the

life’s goal of becoming a Veterinary Technician,” said Judy See, Monroe County 4H Youth Educator.

“Her love and compassion for animals has helped her have a better understanding of life and has helped her set her goals.”

Want to get involved on campus?

FREE STUDENT ADVERTISING!

Above: MCCC student Hope Blevins squares up her sheep’s feet. 4-H showing competitions are competitive so she has to work with her sheep constantly so in the ring both she and her sheep can remain calm.

Left: Her sheep are more than just livestock but pets as well. She has had Penelope for four years.

Far left: Blevins leads Penelope around the yard, another showing competition test.

Final Freeze Ice Cream Social April 28 11-1 p.m.

Outside A Building April 29 11-1 p.m.

Whitman Center

Book Club Discussion Luna Pier Rasey Memorial Branch Library 6:30 p.m.

multi-media presentation and continues with a walking tour of historic 1920s Monroe.

Facilitated by City of Monroe Planner, Jeffrey Green.

April 23

April 27

April 25

An Afternoon Read R.A. Vivian Branch Library 1 p.m.

Big Read Panel Discussion La-Z-Boy Center, Atrium 7 p.m.

Hosted by The Agora, MCCC Student Newspaper.

Historic Walking Tour of 1920s Monroe – 2 p.m.

Begins at the Community Foundation of Monroe County, 28 S. Macomb St. with a

Book Club Discussion Carleton Branch Library 7:00 p.m.

April 29

Library Book Discussion Dorsch Branch Library 7:00 p.m.

Book Buy Back

Need a roomate?

Main Campus

Whitman Center

Thursday, April 30 8:30 am - 7:00 pm

Thursday, April 30 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Friday, May 1 8:00 am - 3:00 pm Monday, May 4 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Friday, May 1 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Carolyn Morrow, a student at EMU, is looking for a responsible student to share her 2 bedroom apartment in Downtown Monroe. If you are interested, feel free to call her at 231-394-1872, or email her at misscarol5@ hotmail.com