04/22/2015

Yackee referees battle over general education requirements April 22, 2015 Vol. 61, Issue 4

Graduates discuss their experience and their plans Page 4

MCCC revives Automotive Service program

Page 7

Page 8

Sisters of lost women stick together Jaclyn Young Agora staff

To some, Jennifer Nisewender and Kassandra Bruck seem to have the same pain with eerily similar circumstances.

Both women have lost a sister, but that is where the similarities end.

Jennifer Niswender is the sister of Julia Niswender, an EMU student who was found dead from asphyxiation in the bathtub of her apartment in Ypsilanti on Dec 11, 2012.

It took months for the Ypsilanti police department to declare the incident a homicide.

Both Julia and Jennifer Niswender attended MCCC. Kassandra Bruck is the sister of Chelsea Bruck.

Chelsea has been missing since she left a Halloween party on Post Road in Newport last fall.

Police have been searching for any sign of her since the party in the early hours of the morning on Oct. 26.

The police have a sketch of an unnamed man who was believed to be with Chelsea

Photo given by Jennifer Niswender

From left to right, Chelsea Bruck, Julia Niswender, Kassie Bruck (now Rinne) and Jennifer Niswender.

before she vanished.

Chelsea Bruck was enrolled at MCCC, but there are no records of her completing a class.

Niswender says that Kassandra Bruck supported her when Julia passed, and now Niswender helps support Bruck.

“Of course, when this all happened I

wanted to be right there by her side, just like she was for me,” Niswender said.

Regardless of the spread of rumors, Niswender said that she does not think that there is any connection between her sister’s case, and Chelsea Bruck.

“I don’t think that there’s any connection whatsoever, and I know people are out there saying that, ‘well maybe there was a connection.’ These people trying to be their own detective, they need to quit spreading rumors and let the investigators do their job,” Niswender said.

Two people have been arrested for giving false tips to the police in the Chelsea Bruck case.

“People don’t realize that you can get in trouble for false tips and making up stories,” Niswender said.

Legal action can be taken against you if you give false tips to the police, she said.

Lying to a police officer is a high misdemeanor in Michigan, and can result in the person being imprisoned for up to two years.

“It’s important that if you know something to tell somebody, be smart about it,

“It’s been almost two and a half years, and we’re not going to give up.”

Jennifer Niswender Sister of Julia Niswender

and don’t make up lies,” Niswender said.

The Bruck family made similar statements in a press conference on April 8 outside their headquarters in Newport.

“If you see the police, whether it’s our case or somebody else’s, please remember to be respectful,” Chelsea’s mother, Leanna Bruck stated. “They need their space, and they need to do their jobs.”

Some rumors have started about Niswender’s stepfather, who is a person of interest in the Julia Niswender case, having something to do with Chelsea Bruck.

Niswender doesn’t think her stepfather had anything to do with the Chelsea Bruck or Julia Niswender cases.

See Friends, Page 2

Pi’d

M.A.S.S. fundraiser included pie throwing and lots of laughs

Photos by Shelby Spencer

Political Science professor Joanna Sabo took advantage of the chance to throw a pie in the face off English professor Bill McCloskey.

Pies were thrown in support of MCCC’s Math and Science Society club.

They called the event, held on 4-14, pi day +1. The club raised $220 from the fundraiser.

For full story see page 2.

Tuition, tech fees raised 7%

Returning home

Student vets struggle to adjust to civilian life Agora staff

Mariah Tevepaugh Agora Staff

Tuition for the 2015 fall semester has been increased 7 percent.

“Voters voted against the millage, one consequence is to raise tuition,” President Kojo Quartey said.

The MCCC Board of Trustees, at its April 7 meeting, raised tuition for a Monroe County resident from $95 to $102.

Tuition for a non-resident student was raised from $163 to $177. For outof-state students, it was raised from $181 to $197.

Vice President Suzanne Wetzel said that between state aid, county tax and tuition, only tuition could be controlled.

“We cut everything that we could cut,” she said.

MCCC student Ian Leach thinks this isn’t to punish students, but to maintain the school’s standards.

“I think we are increasing tuition to keep the status quo, not to increase services. That’s not to say we have a bad education here, but I think this was more of a necessity for the community college rather than a luxury increase,” he said.

See Tuition, Page 2 Continued from Page 1.

When student veteran Justin VanVolkenburg returned to civilian life, he had to take it slow.

He served seven years in the Army with three Veterans put their lives on hold to fight for our country, but they aren’t always welcomed back deployments to Iraq. with open arms.

He was able to move back in with his parents Student veterans can struggle when returning and found a job at the Monroe Target store before to civilian life and figuring out what their place it closed. in it was.

VanVolkenburg decided it was time to leave the Army and start the rest MCCC has a group life. on campus to help vet“You get a sense that it of“Ihisput erans get through the my life on hold struggles of returning, doesn’t matter what you did, for seven years. I wanted but the transition is still get married and have no one really cares, they are to a terrifying one. kids and I couldn’t do that to a family,” he said. in their own world.”

“You’re all on your own and it’s hard to adU.S. Marine veteran Bobby Cullen Eric Honomichl said that just,” student veteran Student veteran after returning from four Bobby Cullen said. years of active duty it took Cullen served 4½ a whole year to get back years active duty in the U.S. Army, with one deinto the swing of life. ployment to Afghanistan.

“It was weird, I lounged around and didn’t do He said he had several struggles adjusting to anything, and that made it worse,” he said. normal life and that it takes a lot of time.

Coming home after being in the military can “All the sudden, it’s over and you have to learn be like arriving on a different planet for veterans. to be a civilian again,” Cullen said, “People didn’t understand my vocabulary and “It’s like learning how to walk again. You’re actions,” VanVolkenburg said. kind of confused.”

“It’s a different world, a different language,” Cullen’s daughter was born shortly after he returned from the military and he was faced with Cullen said. taking care of a family while trying to figure life What used to be normal can now be agitating, out. and it can feel like no one understands.

“I didn’t even know what to do for a month. I sat there thinking, ‘I need a job, I need money; See Student Veterans, Page 2 what am I going to do?’ ” he said.

Shelby Spencer

Photo by Shelby Spencer

Student veteran Bobby Cullen enjoys a day with his wife, Jessica Cullen, and daughter, Ravenna. Both have helped him adjust to civilian life.

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The Agora

Campus News

April 22, 2015

You just got served ... a pie!

M.A.S.S. raised money for an upcoming trip by holding a pi-plus-one event using pies

Shelby Spencer Agora staff

Professor Bill McCloskey and six other volunteers took pies to the face to raise money for M.A.S.S. The club raised $220 and threw a total of 12 pies at the willing victims.

They called the event “Pi Plus One Day” 3.14 +1 = 4.14 The actual Pi day in March was on a Saturday and was during Spring Break, so the club decided to push the event to April 14.

The Math and Science Society took donations to throw pies in the faces of volunteers.

Each volunteer had a bucket

with their name printed on it and club members wheeled around a cart to collect donations.

“The students did everything,” said Chemistry professor Lori Bean, adviser of M.A.S.S. For every $20 in a volunteer’s bucket, one pie was thrown.

Any person who made a $20 donation got to throw the pie themselves.

Political Science professor Joanna Sabo took advantage of that opportunity to throw a pie in the face of colleague Bill McCloskey.

McCloskey and Math professor Kathy Shepard tied for most pied; both had three pies thrown at them.

M.A.S.S. is using the money earned to help finance a trip in mid-August to Mammoth Caves in Kentucky.

Other volunteers for the fundraiser included Lisa Reaume, Jamie Deleeuw, Rob Krueger, Eric Swank, and Jim Vallade Event organizers said they want to thank all the volunteers and the custodial staff for their help.

M.A.S.S. is now selling Little Caesar’s Pizza Kits to help fund their upcoming trip.

Bean said the club is fantastic this year and that they dedicate a lot of time.

“They are a very, very active group,” she said.

Photo by Shelby Spencer

Professor McCloskey got served a pie in the face for the Pi Plus One day event

Student veterans find their way around a civilian world Continued from Page 1.

“When you’re back and trying to transition and you have relationship issues and your friends don’t understand you, you feel alone, very alone sometimes,” Cullen said.

According to a VA study, 22 veterans commit suicide every day.

“People think they understand, but they haven’t walked in your shoes,” Cullen said.

VanVolkenburg is the work study assistant for the Student Veterans Organization on campus. He said one of the main reasons for the group is to show veterans that they aren’t alone.

He described the support vets get from other vets as being much different than what they get from civilians.

He said that a civilian might say that there is something wrong with you and leave it alone, but a fellow vet is going to say, ‘There is something wrong with you and we are going to get through this together.’

“You help him because he is your brother,” Vanvolkenburg said.

“You don’t know what would happen if he was left alone, you don’t want him to be another statistic.”

Experience and time in the military has changed these young men forever.

They have seen things they can’t un-see, lived things they don’t want to recount, and lost brothers that they will remember forever.

“When you know more than just their name and face, that’s when it gets really hard,” Justin VanVolkenburg Student Veteran VanVolkenburg said that he lost two friends from one IED, one of them his roommate.

“When you know more than just their name and face, that’s when it gets really hard,” he said.

Cullen said when he came home, others saw a different person.

“They portray me as kind of a grumpy person; they don’t understand what I’ve been through. You can’t explain that to someone,” he said.

“I don’t really have friends anymore.”

Cullen owes a lot of his success in adjusting to his 22-month-old daughter, Ravenna.

“If I didn’t have my daughter, I’d probably be alone by myself in a cave, not worried about anything,” he said.

“It’s different having to take care of someone.”

For a lot of veterans, a sense of paranoia is embedded in their lives and can be impossible to shake off.

After returning from service, lots of veterans struggle with loud noises, crowds, and even driving.

Friends stay hopeful in family loss

VanVolkenburg likes to call this a heightened sense of awareness.

“When I walk into a room, I am analyzing everything,” he said.

“What’s in a person’s hands? How do they act?

How do they dress? How many people are here?

Why are they here? Where are the exits?”

He said this state of mind is something that he doesn’t think will ever go away.

“We want to let it go, enjoy life, have peace, but trouble can occur at any time,” VanVolkenburg said.

Honomichl drove trucks in the Marine Corps, and when he returned home driving was a challenge.

He would swerve his car to avoid a paper bag in the road, because in his mind that could have been an IED. He said he also can’t go to concerts or anywhere really crowded because the noises and people are too much for him to keep track of safely in his mind.

Cullen said that loud noises still agitate him.

VanVolkenburg said he can’t watch certain movies or play certain video games.

“They have made games like Call of Duty so realistic that the sounds alone can make you feel like you’re in war,” he said.

There is very little help given to someone leaving the military.

Vanvolkenburg said that they tell you to find your local VFW hall and to get with the VA and that’s it.

“When you leave, they just help you get out of the Army. Once you’re out, they don’t worry about you,” Cullen said.

Vets don’t even get their own belongings back right away.

“They ship all your stuff back to you; it takes two months. You have to go pick up your vehicle. It’s financially straining,” Cullen said.

VanVolkenburg said that it’s important to really prepare yourself before you leave.

“Plan your exit strategy. You aren’t going to be in the military forever, and when it comes time for people to get out, they are older, broken, have issues,” he said.

When veterans do make it back, their homecoming isn’t always what they expected.

Cullen said that he was never one to feel sorry for himself. He didn’t do it for the glory, but when he got home there were times when he felt under-appreciated.

“You get a sense that it doesn’t matter what you did, no one really cares, they are in their own world,” he said.

Despite the struggle of adjusting, these men who sacrificed for our country don’t regret their service.

“I always wanted to serve my country. It gave me a sense of maturity. I learned a lot from my experiences. I wouldn’t be who I am today without it,” Cullen said.

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Continued from Page 1.

Niswender said that she had to delete her Facebook for a short while because of comments made to her about supporting her dad.

She said that she even received death threats because she supports her dad 100 percent.

“There was this one comment, ‘Oh, maybe he had something to do with the Nevaeh case, too,’ ” She said.

Niswender also said that she wants people to know about and keep talking about her sister’s case, because someone may know something.

“It’s been almost two and a half years, and we’re not going to give up,” Niswender said.

The Brucks also have said they will not give up in their search for Chelsea.

Despite some tips being only rumors, one tip did lead to the finding of what is thought to be a piece of Chelsea’s costume.

Niswender said that the police think it is part of Chelsea’s costume, but they are running DNA tests to be sure, and the DNA tests haven’t come back yet.

“This new evidence that they have, a little bit of hope; it’s some-

The Agora Co-Editors: Shelby Spencer Mariah Tevepaugh Adviser: Dan Shaw Staff Jake Adams Jeff Brown Stevie Pipis Julia Wells Makailyn Ellison Julia Grzywinski Mika Kotanova Evan Kutz Mitch Perkins Dakota Sherrick Jaclyn Young Josh Cappuccilli 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 Room 202 of the Life Sciences Bldg., (734) 384-4186, agora@ monroeccc.edu.

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

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

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

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Tuition raised to keep quality classes Continued from Page 1.

Although board members seemed to agree that the raise would not be enough, there was concern that too much of a raise could hurt enrollment.

“If we raise tuition too high, then students won’t come,” said board member Mary K. Thayer.

MCCC student Scott Pitcher said he doesn’t think he would be able to continue to attend due to the increase.

“I’m lucky enough to have my GI Bill to bear the brunt of paying for my college, but I also realize that if I did not have it I would be screwed,” he said.

“With the prices as high as they are, there would be no way in hell that I could afford to take as many classes as I need to get my degree in a year. It just wouldn’t be feasible.”

“I just checked my webpal, for all of the classes I have registered for in 2015 — winter, spring, summer, and fall — I will end up paying the college $5,571 by the end of this year.

“That is for 43 total credit hours, which I realize is much more than most people knock out in a year, but it is still a ridiculous price to pay simply for a piece of paper that is going to let you get a job.”

The technology fee also was raised from $12 to $20.

For Pitcher, the $8 raise was worth it.

“Twenty dollars is a small amount that people should be able to afford or swing into their college budget,” he said.

“Twenty dollars is as simple as not going out with friends one night and putting that money into your tuition and it allows us to have computers in every classroom, the smart projectors where we can use computers, papers, really anything and throw it up on the board in great detail for the whole classes to see.”

Board of Trustees member Bill Braunlich proposed investigating whether the Whitman campus should be closed.

He suggested comparing historical and projected data, such as tuition and expenses, to

identify the profit-loss ratio.

Both Leach and Pitcher agreed that shutting down the Whitman campus would only hurt enrollment for MCCC. “Renting the space out, for the community or other colleges, and utilizing it for specific programs, nursing or maybe even respiratory therapy, seems more ideal than closing,” Leach said.

“I really believe closing it would inhibit students from going.”

Pitcher said having the Whitman campus available has helped a friend in the past.

“I have seen them being told they need to take both speech and earth science in the same semester to stay on track but each class is only offered once and at the same time on the same days, making it impossible to take both and stay on track,” he said.

“With the Whitman center open it increases the number of classes available to allow students to do what they need to in order to get their degree.”

Campus News

April 22, 2015

mcccagora.com • The Agora

|3

A crowd lined up to get books autographed.

Author Tracie McMillan signs a student’s copy.

Photos by Shelby Spencer

Author Tracie McMillan took time after her speech to sign books and talk with members of the community.

McMillan discusses her book with a community member.

Author spends day on campus discussing food Mitch Perkins Agora Staff

Tracie McMillan spent three years gathering evidence for her book, The American Way of Eating.

McMillan vividly described the accounts of her journey of going undercover in three separate jobs across the country to gain insight into the production and sale of food in America.

She worked as an undercover journalist on farms in California, in the grocery department of a Michigan WalMart, and in a New York Applebee’s.

McMillan spent the day on MCCC’s campus on Wednesday, April 15.

She met with students in the afternoon, and concluded her day with a presentation in the Meyer Theater.

McMillan could have taken the easy route and gone to California as a journalist and asked questions to try and get a story, but instead

wanted to use her own personal experiences to help convey the message she was trying to get out.

“If I do my job well, I ask questions and then use experiences to answer them,” McMillan said.

McMillan said her two main reasons for writing her book were to have a conversation about the food process, and to get in the mind of someone trying to eat at the bottom of the food chain.

After her speech, McMillan spoke tongue-in-cheek about a potential solution to the national problem of access by the poor to quality food.

“The most brilliant thing in the world would just be if there was a national produce coupon for everybody. And that was just universal; everybody got it; it wasn’t about being poor or not and you could just use it to buy American produce,” McMillan said.

McMillan understands that changing food habits is not easy.

“Changing food habits is dif-

ficult and everyone who has ever tried to go on a diet knows this,” she said.

And even with strong will power to change our diets and make the decision to eat nutritious foods, the food industry does not make it easy to make the change.

The problem most Americans face in the grocery store is to buy the food they know is healthy, over the processed food that they already eat.

The decision is made much easier when the processed and unhealthy foods are less expensive.

“The solution is making healthy, good quality food way more affordable and accessible. The only reason crappy food is affordable and accessible is because we’ve moved mountains to make it that way,” McMillan said.

McMillan said she understands that some of the crappy food is really tasty and having it on occasion is alright.

“Doritos are awesome,” she

Photo by Mitch Perkins

McMillan talks about the research that went into her book.

said.

McMillan spoke about CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) programs where an investment is made to a produce farmer at the start of the growing season and in return the investor receives fresh produce for a certain period

of time.

McMillan has participated in CSA’s before and does encourage them. But she also understands why people may tend to shy away from these programs.

One of her colleagues, Will Allen, who is an urban farmer from

Milwaukee, has conversed with McMillan about CSA’s.

Tracie spoke about some of Allen’s thoughts on the subject.

“On what planet is it appropriate for people to pay for something they may or may not get and that is a huge ask for low income people,” McMillan said.

The process of changing how Americans eat and the way they view foods is an ongoing struggle that will take time. Many people will not understand the importance of good nutrition until it is staring them right in the face.

But McMillan’s words have been read across the nation and she hopes that the impact she has made can help start a healthy eating revolution.

“What I’m really wondering is, if it’s not about the food we eat, but the life we live,” McMillan said.

(Henna Frank also contributed to this story)

Local experts participate in healthy eats panel Julia Grzywinski Agora Staff

The Agora sponsored a panel discussion April 8 entitled “Think Globally Eat Locally.”

Experts from areas of farming, agriculture, healthcare, and greenhouses discussed issues addressed in the One Book, One Community Selection, “The American Way of Eating.”

One of the panel members was Maurine Sharpe, a registered nurse and owner of Health Matter Herbs and More, a health food store in downtown Monroe. She is also an active member with the Monroe Farmer’s Market.

Another was Karlene Goetz, co-operator of Goetz Greenhouse, a family farm on the western edge of Monroe County.

“Eating local is a good thing, and it’s all a matter of changing our habits,” said Goetz when asked about her general thoughts on the topic.

Also present on the panel were Orlando Thorpe, CEO of Building Urban Gardens in Detroit, and Richard Andres, owner of

Photo by Julia Grzywinski

The panel fielded questions from the moderators and the audience.

Tantre Farms, a certified organic farm in Washtenaw County.

Andres also is active in developing the Washtenaw Food Hub, an effort to create

a sustainable regional food system.

The discussion centered on topics such as how to eat organic, how to overcome challenges of healthy eating, the global

impact of the food movement, and how to get younger generations more involved in agricultural policies and farming.

The biggest excuse and issue about eating locally grown and/or organic food comes from the price, panel members said.

Typically, this type of food is far more expensive than imported produce found in chain grocery stores.

“Hunger is not a rich or poor thing, or a black or white thing. It’s a human thing,” Thorpe said.

“We are faced with the issue and decision on whether we buy the processed cheap produce that is imported from other countries, or to buy the more expensive local food from our farmer’s markets,” Sharpe said.

Panel members discussed solutions to the intimidating prices.

The simplest solution to the growing prices? Home gardening.

Panel members Goetz and Sharpe talked about help made available by the MSU Extension office.

“The key to starting your own garden is to start small. Don’t make it too big, just make it doable,” Andres said.

Another issue that comes with healthy food, is not knowing what to do with it.

“A lot of people look at kale and wonder what the heck they’re supposed to do with it,” Sharpe said. “We need to find ways to introduce simple preparation for healthier foods.”

The issue of gaining access to cheaper, healthy, fresh, and organic food is an issue that all panel members agreed is something that young people need to get involved with.

“Young people can profoundly change lives. They have the chance to discover a new model for farming and to break new ground,” Andres said.

Thorpe said the key to making a change in the system is to get people talking.

“We have to start a conversation. It has to start with the youth, and reach the elderly, the people in charge, the policy makers. Conversation is key in this movement.”

Detroit artist, farmer launches 2015 community read Dakota Sherrick Agora Staff

MCCC hosted the first event of the 2015 “One Book, One Community” series Wednesday, March 25.

The kickoff event was a chance for local businesses to show off what they have to offer, as well as for community members to offer useful advice on how to be self sufficient.

There was also a table selling cookbooks created by the “One Detroit urban farmer and artist Kate Daughdrill Book, One Community” commitspeaks at the kickoff event. tee and offering free samples of

several recipes from the book.

MCCC’s wine making program, due to a failure to acquire an alcohol license, was offering free samples of grape juice.

The book chosen by the One Book program this year was “The American Way of Eating” by Tracie McMillan. The book explores America’s system for growing, processing and selling food. McMillan describes her experiences working undercover on farms, in a Walmart produce section and an Applebee’s restaurant.

The speaker at the kickoff event

was Kate Daughdrill, an artist and urban farmer in Detroit. She spoke about her role in helping to build sustainable eating practices, such as community gardens, in her neighborhood in Detroit.

“Most of it revolves around my farm, Burnside Farm,” Daughdrill said.

“There we have a community garden, we do weekly meals, to build connections among neighbors, and I make sculptures and art Photos by Dakota Sherrick pieces that come out of the materials and the life of the farm.”

Books donated by the community were given away for donations.

4 | mcccagora.com • Campus News Graduates talk about what the future holds The Agora

April 22, 2015

up, and could get there without the distractions of high school.

Kayla instead spent her time on the S���������� tudent Ambassador Club, the International Studies Club, and as a Writing Fellow.

Kayla thanked MCCC counselors Jill Danko and Cheryl Kehrer.

“The community college has done everything for Kayla Corne MCCC student me that I could have dreamed,” she said.

“Some people say things about community college, but my community college was amazing,”she Evan Kutz said.

Agora Staff Kayla’s professors have provided the help she needed, she said, and she expects her connection with them to remain.

“Down the road if I need help to transition further, Nineteen-year-old Kayla Corne is graduating with an associate’s degree in applied science and a high I know I can come back to my roots and get that help school diploma as a student with Monroe County that I need,” she said.

Middle College.

“For students who are just starting or getting ready to start the next chapter in their life, you can do it,”

“I can jump right in, get my degree, and move on again,”

Alyshia Uthoff MCCC student

Kayla Corne

Kayla began her freshmen year of high school in 2010, but rather than attend Ida High School, where most of her peers would be, she took classes on MCCC’s main campus.

In the second semester of her sophomore year, Kayla officially dual enrolled with the college.

Attending the main campus for all of her classes helped her prepare for the real challenge of higher education in a way most Monroe county high schools don’t, she said.

“It set me up to be successful in college. We were pushed, but in the right way. I turned our homework in early if I could. I asked questions.”

Her friends from middle college held each other accountable and sharpened each other as better students, with friendly competition and constructive criticism.

She said she felt confident to ask her professors questions, and wasn’t afraid to ask them to explain something clearer when needed.

Kayla received a full ride scholarship to the University of Toledo and is going into speech language pathology.

“I have always wanted to help children with disabilities and this was an avenue that would allow me to do that in a one-on-one setting.”

She will transfer as a junior, and won’t have to take any prerequisites once she arrives at UT— just two years of career related courses.

“I can jump right in, get my degree, and move on again,” she said.

Kayla said she isn’t upset about missing out on the “high school experience.”

She put all of her effort into her academics instead of band or drama.

Although she said she has nothing against these programs, she knew where she wanted to end

“Don’t mess around taking one or two classes here and there every semester. Tough it out, go full time,” Evnin Daniels MCCC student

Evin Daniels Evin Daniels is deciding between UT and Eastern Michigan University. He is graduating with an associate’s degree in Business Management, but is planning to get his bachelor’s in Education.

Evin can see himself working in Monroe or Toledo, but really wants to move to a city somewhere near Philadelphia.

Evin said MCCC seems like a more legitimate community college. However, he never sought much help from the college’s faculty or services, finding it entirely possible to get by on his own strengths.

He said he enjoyed professor Richard Hoover’s teaching and is currently in a course with Business professor David Reiman.

“Professor Reiman is a really cool dude,” he said.

In the end, Evin spent five years to get his two year degree. His advice to students is: “Don’t mess around taking one or two classes here and there every semester. Tough it out, go full time,” he said.

Alyshia Uthoff Alyshia Uthoff is grateful for MCCC’s help preparing to become a university student.

“I am honestly so blessed and thankful that the college has allowed and accepted dual enrollment students to challenge themselves for a higher education,” she said.

She will be going to school for Fisheries and Wildlife Management, and is prepared to work anywhere in the country for state, or federal, wildlife agencies doing biology field research.

However, she would love to work in Michigan’s UP. “This college has opened doors for me to help my future,” she said.

Alyshia, who is graduating with her associate’s degree of applied science before her high school diploma, feels grateful and blessed to be this far along at her age.

“For students who are just starting or getting ready to start the next chapter in their life, you can do it,” she said.

Alyshia is transferring to Northern Michigan University, and she gives MCCC credit for giving her the opportunity.

“I wasn’t accepted because of my GPA nor my ACT score, it was because I took classes here at MCCC,” she said.

She suggested students take any opportunity they can get and if they are having issues, talk to your professor.

Communication is a major need in college and will help make your experience better, she said.

Alyshia believes that taking the initiative with your plans is key.

“You have to take ownership of your education and strive for it,” she said.

Graduation set for May 1 in Health Building MCCC’s graduating class of 2015 will send their caps flying in the Health Building on Friday, May 1, at 7 p.m.

Through April 21, 182 students have signed up to participate in the ceremony.

“I’m going to miss them all,” Registrar Tracy Vogt said.

Lana Shryock, retiring professor of computer information systems, will serve as the honorary grand marshal.

Best-selling author and founder of J.D. Hunter Associates, James C. Hunter, will address the graduating class about “Leadership and Choices.”

English professor Carrie Nartker, class of 1996 graduate, will be honored as the alumnus of the year and also will address the graduating class.

Board member Jim DeVries attends a local church with Hunter and coordinated a conversation with the speaker and President Kojo Quartey.

Hunter was invited by Quartey to present a leadership workshop to the administration. Unable to pay Hunter’s fees, the college decided to partner

with the speaker to create a scholarship, Quartey said.

“When I realized I could get him for free, I asked him to address the graduating class,” Quartey joked.

Hunter is a renowned leadership expert who assists organizations in many parts of the world in grasping and implementing the principles of servant leadership. Hunter has authored two internationally bestselling books that have sold well over 4.5 million copies worldwide.

Historically, there have been two student speakers at every graduation ceremony. An occupational student and a transfer student have addressed the graduating class.

The tradition ended last year with the 50th anniversary graduation ceremony. Paul W. Smith, a Detroit radio personality and Ronald Campbell, the college’s first president, addressed the graduating class.

The decision to omit student speakers at this year’s ceremony continues the new trend.

MCCC struggles to support athletics on campus Mitch Perkins Agora Staff

Agora File Photo

Heather Hyden spikes over two defenders in a 2013 game.

MCCC’s long history of athletic programs seems to have come to a screeching halt.

Throughout MCCC’s 51 years of academic excellence there have almost always been athletic programs made available to its students. But now due to a lack of funding and interest there are no collegiate sports offered to students.

In the past MCCC had offered cross country, basketball, golf, and volleyball as collegiate sports that would travel playing other small universities and junior colleges.

The only sports left on campus are the club volleyball team, who plays in a league at the Arthur Lesow Community Center in downtown Monroe and the intramural basketball league that plays once a week in the health building.

Karen Turner is the advisor for the volleyball club who enrolled them in the league but the team members decided that a coach was not necessary.

“Even though they are adults I think they need a coach to set things up, keep them organized, and feel more committed. I guess

the commitment wasn’t there,” Turner said.

The team struggled this year in finding players to join the club as well as struggling on the court, failing to win a single game.

Kim Henry, an MCCC student, was a member of the volleyball club for the first time this year.

She joined to play with a few of her friends on the team and tried to make the best of her time on the court.

“We made it fun even though we weren’t very good,” Henry said.

The intramural basketball league held each semester has no shortage of basketball players that come out each week to play in a competitive league.

Many of the students are former high school players who did not receive any scholarships to play at the next level.

Some of the more competitive players have shown interest in the college sponsoring a collegiate team and competing against other colleges.

Michael Malak, a member of the league, made a suggestion as to how they might show the administration the push that there is for a collegiate program at MCCC.

Photo by Mitch Perkins

Mychal Liparato pulls up for a jumper over A.J. Carpenter in a game earlier this semester.

“I believe that we could do a petition around campus and see how many signatures we could receive,” Malak said. “If you get the right coach there, starting the team wouldn’t be very difficult.”

Karen Turner is also the advisor for the basketball league and knows how strongly some of these players feel about the sport.

“A lot of these guys are pretty

passionate about it, and a lot of them talk about trying next year to play somewhere else,” Turner said.

Unfortunately if there is just an intramural league the level of competition does not adequately prepare them to play at the next level.

With a lack of funding for these teams as well as a lack of interest in the volleyball club the athletic state of MCCC is in peril.

Students unsure what classes they need Jacob Adams Agora staff

Some students have recently expressed frustration about taking classes that don’t count towards their degree.

“Last fall I talked with a counselor about what class I needed to take to go towards my math requirement,” said Marina Aguilera, a MCCC student.

“I went in two weeks ago to apply for graduation. The counselor I met with didn’t think the math class I took would count,” she said.

“Later they said it wouldn’t count, but the catalog says it does.”

Fortunately for Aguilera, it does apply to an associates of science degreeat MCCC. Many students have a simi-

lar story to share, or they know someone who has taken classes that weren’t counting towards their degree.

What most students don’t realize, is that they have a faculty advisor assigned to them, whom they can meet with about these very issues.

But students are mostly unaware of who their advisors are, and some don’t know they have one at all.

“I didn’t know I had an advisor assigned to me until recently,” said Sierra Poppenhager, an MCCC student.

“If I knew who it was, I would definitely see them.”

The current system requires newly enrolled students to have mandatory advisement. After that, however, students have only their

“Our approach now is reactive. We want to become more proactive, to better guide students along their way.”

Randy Daniels Vice President of Student and Information Services assigned professor as an advisor.

This information can be found online in students’ WebPal accounts.

“It’s kind of hidden, like deep in your account, who your advisor is,” student Sarah Dusseau said.

There are five advisors who work in the administrative office that any new or current student can make an appointment with.

But with over 3,000 currently enrolled students, students not

knowing they have an individually assigned professor as their advisor, five people seems like far too few to manage.

“I feel like a burden going to the advisors in administration.

Everyone goes there,” said Poppenhager.

Randy Daniels, Vice President of Student and Information Services at MCCC, said the school is aware of the issue.

“Our approach now is reactive.

We want to become more proactive, to better guide students along their way.”

Daniels was referring to a recent draft which was sent to staff and faculty for increasing enrollment and student retention, the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan.

Part of the draft mentions restructuring the advisement system.

“We don’t want students to take classes they don’t need,” Daniels said.

Student Nikki Hickman almost experienced this first hand.

“I was told that I could take an online class as a substitute for an on-campus class. Later, the professor told me it didn’t count,” she said.

“Luckily, I dropped the class before it was too late to get a refund.”

The issue is undeniable, but there are many steps in the process.

“The situation is very complex,” Daniels said.

“A caveat to students’ success may be students ‘self-advising.’

If your goal is to get a degree, we want to help you do that.”

While there are no confirmed changes to be made to the school’s advisement policy, Daniels said it is under review.

“Right now it’s a draft, and we are taking input from faculty.

Anything is possible.”

Feature

April 22, 2015

mcccagora.com • The Agora

|5

Nartker named Alumnus of the Year Julia Grzywinski Agora staff

Photo by Agora staff

English professor Carrie Nartker graduated from MCCC in 1996.

Becoming a professor was never quite the plan for Carrie Nartker.

After earning an associate’s degree from MCCC in 1996, Nartker received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of Toledo.

It was during her time in the master’s program that she discovered her love of teaching.

After deciding nearly eight years ago to return to the institution where she began her college career, the professor of English will be receiving this year’s Alumnus of the Year Award.

Nartker gives credit for her return to MCCC to her experience here as a student.

“I absolutely loved my time here. I had great professors, it was rigorous, and it was everything that people said a community college wouldn’t be,” she said.

While attending MCCC, Nartker was a Presidential Scholarship recipient. She also participated in the Writing Fellow program and served as an supplamental Instruction leader.

“Just being a part of the feel here was great. So I wanted to come back here and do for other students what my professors have done for me,” Nartker said.

“She really deserves it, she does a lot for her students and for this college.”

Shelly Workman MCCC student Although giving back to MCCC students eventually became her goal, Nartker hadn’t planned to become a professor.

“I kind of fell into it,” she said.

She explained that people would always ask “what do you do with a bachelor’s degree in English?” So she earned her master’s degree, and that’s when she found her love of teaching.

“I was accepted into the MA program where you teach, and it was just something that once I started doing it, I just knew, ‘Oh my gosh, this is great. This is what I want to do.’ ” Even though teaching was not always an interest of Nartker’s, gender studies has been a longtime interest.

While earning her doctorate, Nartker’s cognate was in gender studies.

“I’ve always been interested in gender studies,” Nartker said.

She attributes much of her inter-

est to her mother.

“I’ve experienced discrimination as a female. It’s just been something where I was raised in a household where I had a mom who is very strong and would tell me I could do whatever I want, despite what anyone may have told me about being female. So I had a good role model in her.”

The Alumnus of the Year Award was established in 1996, and is given annually to an MCCC alumnus who has made recognizable contributions to his or her career, the college, and the community.

The award is based on four criteria: community leadership, service to the college community, honors and awards received, and distinction in the nominee’s field.

The Board of Trustees motion naming Nartker the award recipient stated: “She possesses a tireless work ethic, is highly dedicated to both her profession and the community, and is a woman of great character and integrity who exemplifies the best of Monroe County Community College.”

Shelly Workman, a current student of Nartker’s, thinks the nomination comes as no surprise.

“She really deserves it; she does a lot for her students and for this college.”

Briefs

MCCC Dance ensemble performance

Student Government pairs with Humane Society

The MCCC Inside Out Dance Ensemble put on performances April 18 and 19 on the Meyer Theater Stage.

The eighteen member ensemble was under the direction of Kelley Lajiness.

The performance, titled “Away We Go” took audience members on a journey to Broadway and beyond.

Guest performances included Michelle Milman of Campaneros de Flamenco, Sudha Chandra Sekhar of Hindu Temple Rhythms, and Japanese Interpreter Miho Simmons.

Student Government will be working in coordination with the Monroe Humane Society for a “Pet Adoption/Stress Reduction” event Thursday, April 23.

The event will be held to gather donations for the society, which is currently in need of pet, cleaning, and office supplies, along with tools and miscellaneous items such as duct tape, tarps, and pre-paid gas cards.

The event will take place outside of the A Building from noon to 3 p.m.

Student art exhibition planned for library The MCCC art department will be putting student works on display.

The event will begin on April 24 with an open reception from 5-7p.m in the Library, and the exhibit will be displayed through May 1.

MASS to sponsor Earth Day presentation To honor the 45th anniversary of Earth Day, the Math and Science Society will sponsor a presentation given by John Hartig, manager of the Detroit River International Wildlife.

Hartig is the Michigan Green leader and a trained limnologist with over thirty years of experience. He also worked as an adjunct professor at

Besides working as a professor at MCCC, Nartker does what she can to give back to the college community.

She has been a co-chair of the One Book, One Community organization for five years, and tries to attend any student club activities that she can.

“She’s brilliant,” said former student Eric Alexius.

“She lays her cards right out on the table for you. It’s clear to me that she’s passionate about her students, her subject matter, and that she’s passionate about teaching them,” Alexius said.

Nartker says her favorite thing about being a professor is her students.

“Seeing them get it, those are the moments that I love,” she said.

“I do think students who finish my classes by the end will see that, intimidating or not, I do genuinely care about them and their progress. It’s going to be tough, but I really do care,” she said.

Nartker will receive her award at this year’s Honors Night on Thursday, April 29.

“I’m really proud. This place has meant so much to me. This college has been a huge part of my life, and to be recognized … it’s just really humbling,” Nartker said.

Honor’s Night

More than 1,200 people attended the 14th annual Antiques in April Show and Sale over the weekend of April 11-12. There were 55 booths selling everything from vinyl records to magazines, jewelry, and furniture.

Wayne State University teaching environmental management and sustainable development.

The talk will be structured around the history of trash management, innovative partnerships bringing about new restoration efforts, and conservation.

The event will be held on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. in Room L201 of the Life Science Building.

Religious freedom panel scheduled for April 28 MCCC will hold a panel discussion entitled, “Religious Freedom or Discrimination?”

The discussion, part of Celebrate Diversity Month, will be held in the dining room of the A

Building from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28.

The panelists will discuss topics such as the recent laws passed in Indiana. MCCC President Kojo Quartey will be the moderator.

Respiratory students compete at conference The MCCC Respiratory Therapy students competed at the MSRC conference on April 15 and took second place.

The first-year student team went up against a second year team at the conference in Grand Rapids.

MCCC will host its annual honors program in the Meyer Theater Wednesday, April 29.

The program will begin at 6:30 PM and will honor students who have been actively involved in student organizations and those who have excelled academically. This is also a time to recognize the professors who be receiving the 2015 outstanding faculty awards.

The outstanding student of the year will be announced during the program. The finalists for this award include Eric Alexius, Kaylee Angerer, Kayla Corne, Marisa Gilliam, Julia Grzywinski, and Alec Hill.

Professor Bill McCloskey is the representative of the Monroe County Community College Faculty Association and helps make the final decision.

“It doesn’t matter whether they’re a student that has come back after many years or whether it’s a traditional 18 or 19 year old. That really doesn’t matter,” McCloskey said. “We are looking for that well-rounded student who is also a member of the community.”

Retiring respiratory therapist breathes new chapter Mika Kotanova Agora staff

When Bonnie Boggs first attended college, she wanted to be a history teacher.

Then she changed her mind and went on to study to be a music education teacher.

But she realized she wasn’t that good of a musician, and decided the healthcare industry was the way to go.

“One of my sorority sisters told me about a new health career that had opened up called “inhalation therapy,” she said.

“I looked into it and enrolled in the associate degree program.”

Boggs received an associate degree in Respiratory Therapy in 1972 from Lexington Technical Institute, now part of the University of Kentucky Community College program.

In 1977, she received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky, with an allied health education major.

Boggs started her career at the University of Michigan Medical Center. After a year, she was promoted to supervisor and eventually into clinical instruction, where she was in charge of supervising all respiratory students and the lectures to medical students, interns, residents, and nurses.

When a tax millage passed in November of 1980, MCCC moved forward and added two occupational programs, Respiratory Therapy and Culinary Arts.

By then, Boggs had moved

to Monroe County and had two young children and was working part time at Mercy Memorial Hospital (now Promedica Monroe Regional Hospital).

She was interviewed and offered the position at MCCC. “It was a completely blank slate, with a need to initiate accreditation procedures and documentation, create the curriculum, locate hospital agencies that would accept us, create clinical contracts, purchase equipment, hire a faculty member to work with me, prepare lectures and lab experiences, develop recruiting materials, and select the first class of students,” Boggs said.

She began her MCCC career in February of 1981 and her first students entered the following fall semester.

“I remember having trouble sleeping for days before the first day of class; waking up, having trouble getting back to sleep, all because I was worried that I wouldn’t do a good job in the classroom,” she said.

The stakes were high and Boggs wanted to offer the very best Respiratory Therapy education possible.

“The best part of my job is working with students. I have the privilege of being at the beginning of over 500 individuals who have selected this wonderful field of respiratory care,” she said.

Boggs has had the chance to see them go through a very rigorous program and come out at the end

Three other professors retiring this semester

“The best part of my job is working with students. I have the privilege of being at the beginning of over 500 individuals who have selected this wonderful field of respiratory care.”

Makailyn Ellison Agora staff

Bonnie Boggs Retiring director of Respiratory Therapy ready to pass their board exams.

“When I do clinic visits checking on our students, I get a chance to also catch up with a number of our graduates who are in practice.,” she said.

“It is very rewarding to see how successful our graduates are and the impact this program has had on all of the hospitals in our geographic area from Detroit, Ann Arbor and Toledo.”

At the March Board of Trustees meeting, Boggs’ retirement as director of Respiratory Therapy was made official.

“I am slowing down and wanting to have more free time to pursue family and other activities,” she said.

With time off, Boggs is hoping to continue to volunteer with student clubs and dissection programs in schools. She will also

work on the CPR project to provide CPR to our health care students.

“In addition, I’ll be doing a lot more of my genealogy hobby, maybe some gardening and other fun activities,” she said.

She added that she hopes to visit her southern cousins during the cold and wintery months, and her family in Lexington, KY on a frequent basis.

In the future, Boggs hopes the Respiratory Therapy program expands, moving toward the transition to a bachelor’s degree in the field.

“I would absolutely love to see Michigan community colleges be allowed to award bachelor’s degrees for allied health programs.

The curriculum in our field is very difficult to keep within a reasonable credit hour limit and still

Three other long-time professors have decided to retire from Monroe County Community College.

Cheryl and Don Kehrer and Lana Shryock were honored by the MCCC Board of Trustees recently for their service to the college. All three declined to be interviewed by The Agora.

Shryock has been a professor of Computer Information Systems for 22 years.

She was active in bringing new programs and curriculum to the CIS department, including nine new programs and 16 new courses, according to the board resolution.

She has been a member of a variety of committees, including the HLC Self-Study team, and was chair of the Curriculum Committee for the last year. She also was involved with organizing and leading prepare respiratory therapists for their important work.”

Boggs is going to miss the staff and students at MCCC. “It has been my life’s privilege to be part of this process where ordinary people do extraordinary

several advisory boards.

Cheryl Kehrer has been a counselor for 29 years.

She has served as the college’s liaison to the Monroe County High School Counselor’s Association, and has been responsible for creating professional connections with the K-12 districts, according to the board resolution.

She also has been involved with various associations at MCCC, including Phi Theta Kappa, and has been active in recruiting students from area high schools.

Donald Kehrer has been a professor of Automotive Engineering Technology at MCCC for 37 years.

The board resolution noted that he has been a member in the Society of Automotive Engineering and has been active in securing resources for the automotive program, including donated equipment, grants and business support. things for themselves and their families,” she said.

“It is one of the important things that contribute to greatness in our society and it feels good to have played a part of it for Monroe County citizens.”

6 | mcccagora.com •

The Agora

Campus News

April 22, 2015

Health building filled with color for family fun night

By Mika Kotanova Agora staff

Family Fun Night has come a long way since the first one held in the dining hall over 25 years ago.

When Tom Ryder took over as Student Government adviser in 2008, he moved it into the Gerald Welch Health Education Building.

“I moved Family Fun Night to the gym to give us more room and to allow for the giant inflatables” Ryder said Family Fun Night is an inexpensive night out for the family sponsored by Student Government. The $1 admission includes games, magic shows, playing on the inflatable slides, and face painting.

Friday, April 17, families lined up outside the gym doors waiting for the event to kick off.

Sara Swiney and Heaven Wuest, co-chairs of the event for Student Government, started planning Family Fun Night in early March.

The night is one of MCCC’s biggest events and brings in over 700 children from around the county and eighty volunteers.

“I love how our volunteers are giving it their all,” Swiney said. “The community is coming together for a great evening for our youth.”

Swiney’s daughter, Jocelyn, was one of the children having a great time.

When asked how many prizes she won so far, Jocelyn replied “lots and lots!”

Her favorite prize was a fish toy won playing shuffleboard.

The night included magic shows every hour by Ken Dumm.

Children were amazed when he turned a white shoestring into a blue string.

Dumm has been entertaining families since the age of 10. Besides magic shows, he also performs at comedy clubs.

Respiratory Therapy students had an educational booth for children to put on gloves and touch a cow heart and pig lungs. The lungs were hooked up to a ventilator and children watched the lungs breathe.

MCCC Alumni handed out free balloons for children to tie around their wrists.

The Gay Straight Alliance club sponsored face painting. Children had the choice of having their face painted as Spiderman, Batman, a kitty, and more.

One highlight of the evening for everyone was a group of three people dressed up as Disney characters.

They posed for pictures with children throughout the night.

Madeline Schmidt dressed up as Tinkerbell, Hope Cornprobst was Snowwhite, and Bree Elwartoski was Belle.

The trio have been friends since second grade and it was their first time dressing up as disney characters.

“Disney is our thing,” Schmidt said.

Photos by Mika Kotanova Top: The gym was filled with families for this year’s family fun night.

Bottom left: Disney characters greeted guests at the entrance to family fun night.

Bottom Right: Student government member Sara Swiney was co-chair of the family fun night event. Her daughter Jocelyn enjoyed face painting and all of her prizes.

What are your next steps?

You can finish your bachelor’s degree on the MCCC Campus!

Siena Heights University has a degree completion center right here on campus!

Undergraduate classes available in: • Accounting • Bachelor of Applied Science • Business Administration • Criminal Justice • Multidisciplinary Studies • Professional Communication • Psychology • RN to BSN

CONTACT US TODAY!

Phone: (734) 384-4133 Email: monroe@sienaheights.edu Web: www.sienaheights.edu/mccc Stop by our office located in L-221

www.sienaheights.edu

Campus News

April 22, 2015

mcccagora.com • The Agora

|7

Auto Program springs back to life

By Dakota Sherrick Agora Staff

Photo by Dakota Sherrick

Ross Oskui will be the director of the reinstated Auto Service program this fall.

MCCC solar and beyond Stevie Pipis Agora staff

MCCC students installed solar panels on campus for use in the Renewable Energy program.

Alex Babycz, MCCC professor of Construction Management Technology, coordinated the process.

All of the parts were sourced from U.S. companies, Babycz said. Patriot Solar, a Michigan renewable energy company, donated the racks used for the installation.

It took about a year and a half to get all of the parts, Babycz said.

“This gives the students hands on experience for design work and following through,” he said.

“Students get a hands-on experience, and an opportunity to get ready for employment in a fast growing field,” said Parmeshwar Coomar, Dean of the Applied Science & Engineering Technology Division.

Beginning this fall, MCCC will be reinstating its Auto Service program. The program was discontinued in 1996.

The director of the new program, Ross Oskui, said that the program is an attempt to address the growing demand for auto technicians.

“I have more jobs than I anticipate students. I’m getting calls every day. ‘Do you have any service techs, do you have any service techs?’ I haven’t even started the program yet,” Ross said, followed by a short laugh.

“I’m getting calls from as far away as Lansing. They’re saying ‘we’re dying for auto-techs.’”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for auto service techs and mechanics are expected to grow nine percent over the next ten years. That’s an estimated 60,400 new jobs.

The median pay for an auto

“I have more jobs than I anticipate students.

I’m getting calls every day, ‘Do you have any service techs?’”

Ross Oskui Auto Service Program director technician and mechanic in 2012 was ranged from $31,090$47,240, depending on the employer, with government positions paying the most.

The new program will be located in the Career Technology Center, and will share a garage with the current auto engineering program.

The two programs differ in that the engineering program focuses more on the design and testing of vehicles, where the auto service program will focus more on inspecting and repairing vehicles.

Oskui, the director of the new program, said that he first started working at his family’s auto shop.

“I started out working in the family business, I grew it to four auto repair shops, I owned four auto repair shops,” Ross said.

From there he went on to teach at Baker College.

“I left Baker College to go work as an engineer at Chrysler, and from Chrysler I came here.”

Ross cites the opportunity to build the program “from the ground up” as his reason for leaving Chrysler.

The former program was taught

by Jack Roush, founder of the Roush family of automotive companies.

Photo by Stevie Pipis

According to Babycz the solar panels will give students a chance to do field work, design and sales.

Babycz said installation companies are looking for employees.

The panels will give students a chance to do field work, design, and sales.

Professional electricians are coming into classes to learn how to advance in their field, he said.

The students are able to monitor the energy output of the panels by checking energy meters in the classroom.

The solar panels are wired into the building’s electrical system, which means a small portion of energy is provided to the college by the new solar panels.

According to Babycz, the installation is worth about $6,000. The current retail cost for a panel is $3 per watt installed.

The new energy panels produce about 2,100 watts of electricity, while the panels owned by DTE on the east edge of campus put out 500,000 watts.

DTE only allows students near their panels with supervision because of the high voltage, Babycz said.

The new installation is safer for students, with a much lower risk for electrocution.

The panels on the new installation and the DTE panels use the same technology.

“There are fewer of them and they are wired differently,” Babycz said.

The cost of solar equipment is coming down, Babycz said, but it still is hard to compete with coalpowered electrical generation.

“Most community colleges have similar programs,” Babycz said.

Babycz compared the new panels to a chemistry lab.

“This gives the students something tangible. They can see the results, learn potentials, calculate values,

and can check performance,” he said.

“The goal is to add to it, maybe next year double the size,” he said.

A new wind turbine is being installed, and Babycz said he wanted to have it up and running by the end of the semester.

“The alternative energy program is getting more popular,” Babycz said.

In the most recent Introduction to Renewable Energy course, there were 15 students.

There were two or three per class when the program first started.

“The field is booming. Michigan is slow because of the weather, but the need is not going anywhere,” Coomar said.

This semester’s attendance was the most MCCC has seen at SolidWorks Usergroup meetings.

Photo by Shelby Spencer

MCCC student Mike Reaume demonstrates a program during the event.

SolidWorks group fills CTC

Winter semester SolidWorks had over 100 attendees MCCC recently held the biggest SolidWorks Usergroup ever.

Most SolidWorks usergroups have between 30-40 people, but the usergroup held at MCCC had over 110 in attendance.

“I think it’s because we really push it here,” Dean Kirste, SolidWorks professor, said.

This is the college’s second year holding these usergroup meetings, with one during each semester.

The usergroups are an opportunity for students to meet with designers and businesses using the software in the field.

They also are an opportunity for companies using the software to get together and talk about what is and isn’t working for them in the industry.

Richard Doyle, who oversees all 253 SolidWorks Usergroups around the country, flew into Monroe from Austin, Texas, for the event.

Photos by Shelby Spencer

Student Chris Racklyeft displayed his Halo suit. The suit took him about six months to build and is made entirely of card stock.

8 | mcccagora.com •

Feature

The Agora

April 22, 2015

VP Yackee at center of Gen Ed battle

Curriculum vote overturned to keep Math 151 as satisfier course

MCCC Vice President of Instruction Grace Yackee (left) honors retiring administrative assistance Nancy Adams at a reception late last year.

By Julia Wells Agora staff

Vice President of Instruction Grace Yackee has been playing referee for years as MCCC struggled to perfect its General Education requirements.

Yackee has both angered and pleased faculty in the process of finalizing GenEd courses.

“I am more concerned that people respect me than like me,” Yackee said. “I rarely worry about pleasing people.”

What a graduate from MCCC should know by the time they leave here is the conversation that has kept faculty and administrators busy.

Since around 1990, MCCC has been trying to perfect its Gen-Ed to be up-topar with two year colleges nationwide.

“At some point, as vice president of instruction, I have to step in,” Yackee said.

Mathematics has been the most argued area of Gen-Ed — specifically which courses the college should require its graduates to pass.

Disagreements centered on Math 151, which is Intermediate Algebra. It’s also equivalent to the course required to graduate from high school in Michigan.

Beginning next fall, it will be the minimum requirement to graduate from MCCC. “I try to gather as much information as possible; I try not to make quick decisions,” Yackee said. “And most importantly, what’s in the best interest of the student.”

Diana Billau, an art student currently in the Math 154 course, believes that she will not need this math when she’s an art teacher.

“It depends on what field you’re going into,” Billau said.

Billau also thinks the college should not be the one to decide which level of math she needs to take.

“I think it should be up to the student,” she said.

Math 092, beginning algebra, was the previous Gen-Ed satisfier. Occupational divisions argued that their students shouldn’t need an extra course to graduate if it did not apply to their job training.

“It’s the occupational areas that are most impacted by adding courses, so most of them voted against adding these courses,” Business professor Patrick Nedry said.

The college also decided students must complete a laboratory science course.

Higher minimum requirements could potentially add up to more lab fees and tuition than students had to pay in the past to graduate.

“You’ve got more here, more there,” Nedry said.

“I think it will impact enrollment in a negative way, if somebody’s got to spend three more semesters here to pick up the math requirements.”

Students will still have the option to test out of Math 090, 092, and 151 if they score high enough on their Compass test.

Nedry represents the Business Division on the Curriculum Committee and is concerned with how these crucial decisions are being made.

“There have been recent decisions that have been overturned by the vice president and that’s what moving Gen-Ed along,” Nedry said.

“Certainly I don’t think that’s the way people would want it to be, but it’s going to get done whether or not it’s done right.”

After several years of discussion, a Gen-Ed plan was de-

Grace Yackee presents the Outstanding Faculty of the Year award to William Hilliker last April.

Agora file photo

Agora file photo

veloped that had nine competencies, or benchmarks, that a students would have to fulfill to graduate.

That equaled around 27 credit hours, which turned out to be too many for some programs. A task force researched the issue, including what other two-year colleges were doing, and reduced the competencies to six. This gave students more room in their schedules for electives.

Years of deliberations came to a head with a 5-4 vote by the Curriculum Committee last December.

Although the vote was over the language used in Gen Ed objectives, it in effect turned down Math 151 as one of two courses that meet the Gen-Ed math requirement.

Business Math 101 was the other course, which remains a satisfier.

That’s when Yackee intervened, overturning the vote and making Math 151 a Gen-Ed satisfier.

It was an uncommon move for her, Yackee said.

“There are very few recommendations that come out of the committee that I don’t support, but this was one of them,” she said.

Yackee was concerned if she did not put an end to it, they would not have reached a solution for another 25 years.

“I didn’t see an end in sight,” Yackee said.

“It’s the occupational areas that are most impacted by adding courses, so most of them voted against adding these courses.”

Pat Nedry Business professor “It’s not an easy decision, I take it seriously when I don’t accept a recommendation by a committee.”

Yackee said she has only declined to accept three committee recommendations in her 11 years at the college.

Had the issue been defeated by a unanimous vote, she said she would have looked at it differently.

She also said she thought the reasons for the “no” votes were not really about the learning objectives.

“General education is about what ap-

“I have to very clearly reflect the faculty position on things and sometimes it looks very obvious and sometimes it does not.”

Grace Yackee Vice President of Instruction plies to all students, regardless if they’re completing a two-year degree, going right into work, or to a four-year institution,” Yackee said.

“General education is always controversial,” she added.

Yackee reviewed the meeting minutes and concluded that some of the faculty divisions were not as clear on their position as they appeared to be.

“I still feel overall that the faculty supported my decision,” Yackee said.

Since Math 151 is equivalent to what high schools in Michigan require of their students to graduate, MCCC is below what college experts recommend. However, professor of mathematics James Vallade is okay with the new course requirement.

“For the time being, I think Math 151 is satisfactory,” Vallade said.

He also said that while the minimum requirement certainly could go higher, the college has alternate needs to consider, such as the occupational divisions.

Vallade added that if students are more interested in learning one trade, a technical institute might better suit them.

“A college degree carries more weight,” Vallade said. “We can’t just say we want the best of both; we wouldn’t be serving our students if we did that.”

Vinnie Maltese, dean of the Mathematics Division, said he agrees 100 percent with her decision.

“Dr. Yackee is the chief academic officer of the college and as such is the guardian of the academic integrity of the institution. I see that as the most important of her many duties as vice president of instruction,” Maltese said.

“It takes a person with very strong leadership skills to take this type of action.”

Unsurprisingly, when Yackee sided with the transfer faculty, the opposing side took issue. Yackee’s decision was appealed to President Kojo Quartey.

Professor Nedry said he wanted it to be known that the decision made by the

Curriculum Committee — a faculty committee — was overturned by the administration.

At most colleges, decisions regarding curriculum are made by the faculty.

“There was a genuine difference of opinion,” Nedry said. “It needs to be accurately characterized that it is not entirely faculty driven.”

Despite facing some disgruntled faculty, Yackee believes she is good at seperating the business and the personal in her position. Though she admits that false perceptions bother her, she doesn’t really care if people do not like her.

“I do not lose very much sleep over it,” she said.

Yackee’s “business first” work ethic has not gone unnoticed, including by English professor Bill McCloskey.

“I think she is what you would call a ‘hands off’ administrator,” McCloskey said.

“We don’t see her a lot.”

“I know she has a lot of irons in the fire but I would like to see her more associate with faculty on an individual basis.”

Bill McCloskey English professor McCloskey would like her to interact more with the faculty on more than just a professional level.

“I know she has a lot of irons in the fire, but I would like to see her more associate with faculty on an individual basis,” McCloskey said.

“You can’t lose connections with faculty when she’s in charge of the faculty.”

McCloskey believes that a more personal connection between faculty and administrator would strengthen their working relationship.

“Just sit down and say ‘how’s your family?’” McCloskey said.

“That kind of relationship building would help during the rough times.”

McCloskey said his personal experience working with Yackee has been good, but he added he couldn’t say whether or not she adequately represents the faculty.

“I’m the voice of the faculty,” Yackee said. “I have to very clearly reflect the faculty position on things and sometimes it looks very obvious and sometimes it does not.”

McCloskey also serves as co-chair of the Learning Assessment Committee, which has played an integral role in coming up with Gen-Ed qualifications.

“Did everybody get what they want?

No. Was everybody on both sides right?

No,” McCloskey said. “But everyone had their voice heard.”

Apparently some people felt they weren’t heard, because they appealed Yackee’s decision to the president.

“I knew what he would do,” Yackee said. “I wasn’t surprised.”

Quartey is adamant in saying that the outcome was not decided by administrators, but by the faculty.

“I don’t care what anyone says, there are no decisions here that were made by administrators,” Quartey said.

“As I reviewed it, I then decided to support the decision of those who worked hard to come up with the learning objectives.”

He believes that an MCCC graduate, no matter their major, should meet certain requirements including teamworking, critical thinking, computer & verbal skills, and numeracy, just to name a few.

“There are those who will push the envelope,” Quartey said of the more vocal faculty members.

“Do we always disagree respectfully?

I’m not sure it happens all the time.”

Yackee is the sole representative of the academic faculty on the president’s cabinet, which advises Quartey.

“At the end of the day, the president decides on how we’re going to move forward on a lot of initiatives. So you can have all the conversations and make all the presentations you want,” Yackee said. “But the president ultimately decides a lot of things.”

Yackee had nothing but good things to say about working with Quartey, who is in his second year at MCCC. Quartey shares the mutual respect.

“She understands academics,” Quartey said.

“Perhaps the faculty is not so enamored with her because she doesn’t always agree with them.”

Though some wondered whether she would enter the presidential search two years ago, Yackee does not have presidential aspirations at this time.

“I like being in the trenches,” Yackee said. “I still have a lot of energy in the academic area; I like working with the faculty.”

Yackee did not always see herself as a vice president. She was a full-time faculty member before she turned her interest toward administration and leadership, specifically at community colleges.

She noticed that when she taught sociology at universities, she used the exact same course material as community colleges use. But one was significantly more expensive for students.

“I appreciate the community college mission,” Yackee said.

Yackee grew up in Toledo and still lives there. She is an alumna of the University of Toledo, where she received both her master’s and doctor’s degrees.

She was living in Perrysburg when someone called her about the MCCC position; she sent her resume in on a whim.

“It was a unique experience for a community college,” Yackee said of touring MCCC for the first time.

“This community college really made a difference and the community told you that.”

Despite her heavy day-to-day workload, Yackee does her best to keep everything in her life balanced.

“Dr. Yackee is the chief academic officer of the college and as such is the guardian of the academic integrity of the institution.

I see that as the most important of her many duties as vice president of instruction.”

Vinnie Maltese Dean, Math/Science Division “Balance equals balance,” she said. “I was a workaholic before children and I was not any more effective. It’s about knowing what your priorities are.”

She said she does not see herself as being any different than any other employee here, despite her leadership role.

“There are so many people who have multiple demands on their life,” Yackee said. “We have a lot of hard working people here, who have families and other responsibilities and they get their work done.”

The new Gen-Ed requirements will be applied in Fall of 2015. The new rules only apply to incoming students; returning students can use requirements from any catalog of any semester they’ve attended, for up to 10 years.

“I have some real work to do to get faculty on the same page,” Yackee said, admitting she’s “very concerned” about the issues they disagree on.

“The reality is we need to move ahead in general education and get it resolved.”