4-25-2005

VOLUME 47 ISSUE 7

AGORA MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

April 25, 2005

Bomb threatens campus Jared Hawkins Reporter

A

bomb threat was called in on the evening of Tuesday, March 29 on MCCC’s East Tech building.

Switchboard operator, Sandy Johnson took the call.

“I received the call at approximately 6:10 PM,” Johnson said. “[I thought] we have to take this seriously. I alerted security and the

evening administrator who contacted the police.”

Four officers from the Monroe County Sheriff ’s Department were sent immediately to the scene according to Sgt. Goodnough of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and commanding officer of the incident.

“Once the police got there, it was their show,” MCCC security officer, Gary Thompkins, said. According to

Thompkins, several officers and two canine units trained in finding explosives were sent.

“When the police came, they evacuated both East and West Tech buildings and brought bomb-sniffing dogs,” Vice President of Business Affairs, Tim Bennett, said. “An MCCC maintenance man, Dave Moran, assisted the officers in their search.

Thankfully, it was a hoax and nothing was found.”

According to Bennett, none of the other buildings were evacuated because it wasn’t deemed necessary.

“I talked to the deputy and he said that when they get threats in the city, they don’t empty the whole block, so based on this, I tried to make the most intelligent decision.”

“The police were able to trace the call and get finger prints from the [pay phone] that the call was placed,” Bennett said.

“These threats need to be taken seriously whether they are false or an actual threat,” Trooper Borello of the Michigan State Police said. “[Trooper Brown] and I obtained fingerprints from the phone used and sent them to the Michigan State Police forensics lab in Lansing to see if they matched any of the prints on file.

At this time, I am not allowed

see “Bomb,” page 7

MCCC encourages diversity Shawna Farley Amanda Lundy Reporters ‘

Agora photo by Sarah Max

John Burkhardt was a student speaker at the Diversity Fair on April 12.

MCCC held a Diversity Fair on April 12 which included a disability obstacle course, keynote speaker, and a panel of minorities who discussed different cultures, ethnic backgrounds, religions, age groups, genders, sexual orientations, physical disabilities, and the challenges each face.

“Our main goal is to create awareness of the different kinds of diversity,” Molly McCutchan, MCCC director of human resources, said.

There were six panel speakers and each represented a minority and spoke about life through their eyes.

“There are a lot of stereotypes in Monroe but if we break down those stereotypes we will see we are all the same,” Tina Campbell, MCCC student

representing African Americans, said.

Mikal Featchurs, keynote speaker and local pastor, announced a dream “that Monroe County Community College may have a full time African American Teacher.”

MCCC student Arwada Nichols found Featchurs informative, but said she could not take it to heart.

“I have a problem with the blonde joke he told; it is not appropriate, he did not make a point or come back to it.

Diversity is respecting everyone and embracing differences,” Nichols said.

Featchurs talked about the connotations between the word black and the word white. “Why is angel food white and devil food black?” he asked. He used analogies to show a difference, but also described similarities.

“You have crazy folk and we have crazy folk. [Difference is

see “Fair,” page 7

Reception honors academic excellence Kelly Smock Copy Editor tudents and faculty at MCCC were honored Wednesday, April 13 at the 2005 annual Honors Reception.

“Students meet certain requirements such as Dean’s List, President’s Academic Achievement Award. Others are nominated by faculty, staff and administration,” Randall Daniels, Director of Admissions, said.

S

Inside:

Members of the faculty, staff and administration introduced each club at MCCC and gave a synopsis of their year. They also introduced the recipients of each award and read a biography of their accomplishments.

“The President’s academic achievement award received an engraved silver plate,” Daniels said. These students have received a 4.0 for four semesters at MCCC. Presidents Academic Achievement Award recipients

Opinion 2

included Jeff Ausmus, Francesca Church, Joshua Deisler, Stephen Ferrer, Heather Griswold, Pennie Iott, Deborah Litwinski, Chantelle Mozingo, Katie O’Rouke and Stephanie Wilson.

Faculty Association Outstanding Student Award is nominated by faculty members.

They are considered because of their academic achievement and their involvement in the

Campus News 3

Missing your favorite show? TiVo proves to be the VCR of the next generation. (5)

Hocus Pocus Read about the real deal of modern day witches. (5)

One last hurrah Editor-in-Chief says her final goodbye. (2)

community. Joshua Deisler, sophomore, was the recipient of the award.

“I just slipped my application under the door, not even expecting that I would win,” Deisler said.

You don’t want to just not come just in case you are the one who received the award.”

Deisler just submitted a paper on Amish schools to the

see “Honor,” page 7

Feature 4 & 5

Tarrant to retire Amanda Lundy Copy Editor

R

obert Tarrant, professor at Monroe County Community College (MCCC), found his niche in life.

The carefully created boxes in the library, crafted by Professor Tarrant, demonstrate the meticulous care that he puts into his work.

The path which ultimately led Tarrant to MCCC actually began at Ford Motor Company.

There he spent a year teaching adjunct at the University of Minnesota, and a consecutive year teaching adjunct at Henry Ford Community College.

In 1967 he decided it was time for something new. When interviewing for a teaching position at MCCC, Tarrant thought it would be just another pit stop along his career; however, the past 38 years proved him wrong.

“When I began here, the Life Sciences, Health building, and La-Z-boy Center were all in the process of being planned or built. I was stepping over

see “Tarrant,” page 7

A&E 6

Looking for some tunes to celebrate summer?

Two reporters help with a list of thier favorites.

(6)

2

Agora

Opinion

April 25, 2005

Reverse discrimination affects today’s society Jackie Pacheco Assistant Editor I am not racist.

I’m not a bigot. I’m not chauvinistic and by no means am I prejudiced.

I believe in equal rights for everybody despite race. That includes white people who, within the past couple years, have taken the brunt of racial abuse.

Barbara Grutter applied to the University of Michigan’s Law School in 2001. She had a LSAT score of 161 and carried a 3.81 grade point average. She also carried the burden of being labeled “Caucasian American,” and for that, she was not accepted. Students with her credentials had a dismal admissions rate of 8.6%. However, black applicants with the exact same

academic credentials had an acceptance rate of 100%.

100%. In my life, there’s not a 100% chance that I’ll get a paycheck on time every week.

I don’t have a 100% chance of getting the classes I want or even a 100% chance that I’ll make something of myself.

Most things in life rarely have a 100% chance of success, but the odds will naturally be in somebody’s favor when they’re given automatic admission to a prestigious school based on race. These students are already on their way, being given a fighting chance that many white students are denied.

So to me, this seems a little unreasonable that 100% of all black students that apply to the U of M Law School will get accepted. Reasoning behind this theory is that students will

benefit from mixed classrooms and interacting with students of another race. Well, my belief is that qualifications should take precedence over race. Period.

Regulations like the acceptance policy for U of M have people of every color in a metaphorical tug-of-war. Black people seem to believe that we, as white people, owe them for injustices done to their ancestors who were slaves. Well personally, I’m embarrassed by what our American ancestors did to encourage and condone slavery. It was cruel, inhumane and showed a total lack of concern for human life. But most importantly, it was over 100 years ago. Welcome to the 21st century.

The black students that surround me in the halls never had to deal with racial discrimination

Schiavo’s story close to home

Agora reporter shares experience with own daughter Danny Carmack Page Editor

Justice died the day Terri Schiavo passed away.

I thought in this country we feed the hungry, protect the innocent, and care for the sick.

Obviously, that belief has gone by the wayside and replaced with televised cruelty that makes world news.

My child, Cassandra, Cassie for short, suffers from brain damage caused by spinal meningitis, cerebral palsy, four major strokes, multiple mini strokes, massive seizures, mild seizures, and multiple little seizures. It left her, as an infant, without the ability to talk, walk, and control of her motor functions, meaning it was difficult for her to swallow food, just like Terri Schiavo.

Doctors told me when she was born and diagnosed that she wouldn’t make it another night. My wife and I heard this for a month every day and every night.

Terri was only into her seventh year of brain damage.

My daughter is in her eleventh year with brain damage.

Walking has taken some eleven years of teaching,

schooling, and daily medications to keep her focused and calm, she grabs hold of the closest thing to her enabling her to pull herself up.

She never gives up.

A feeding tube was never a thought in my or my wife’s mind. Cassie eats like a horse now. She has breakfast, a snack at school, lunch at school, a snack at home, and then we all sit together for dinner and take turns feeding her every night. Sometimes we can’t feed her fast enough and she grabs for the spoon and tries to feed herself.

Over the past eleven years, Cassie has had multiple surgeries at different hospitals.

Shriner’s hospital in Tampa, Florida was the place of her first surgery. She had a procedure on her legs to straighten them out. They had to cut cartilage in her ankles, inner thighs and back of her kneecap.

The surgery was nerveracking for my wife and I. It was the first time our daughter was under anesthesia for a long period of time and in surgery for over four hours.

The surgeons at Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann

Arbor, Michigan have conducted surgery on her eyes for our last couple of visits.

Her eyes are beginning to roll into the back of her head because the tendons holding her eyes straight are tightening and pulling them back. Her last surgery was just like the first, nerve racking on everybody.

With each surgery comes the fear of losing my daughter, even if she is a strong fighter.

The day my daughter dies will be one of the darkest days of my life.

I know it will devastate my whole family, and we will mourn for years.

I personally feel a connection with the parents of Terri Schiavo. If my daughter was married and her husband didn’t want to care for her anymore, no matter what age I would be, I’d bring her back home to stay.

All Terri Schiavo needed was a loving family and husband to come together to support her, teach her, care for her and love her.

What she didn’t need was a seven year long court battle to choose her time to die.

The Agora Editorial Policy The Agora is published by the students of Monroe County Community College, 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, Michigan, 48161. The editorial office is located in 202 of the Life Science Building, (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 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.

Mark Bergmooser, Adviser

to the intensity that their grandparents did. Busses are no longer segregated; drinking fountains and schools are accessible for all. As young adults, it’s been this way all our lives.

Don’t feed me lines about “racial equality” and how the “white man” tries to keep blacks down.

And to you black students that are pleased with using your skin color to get the upper hand on white students: quit feeding off of the injustices done to your ancestors and expecting hand-

outs whenever available. How can you walk across the stage on graduation day, knowing that you were only accepted into the U of M Law School because you were black, and therefore received priority over white people?

I am not racist.

I’m not a bigot. I’m not chauvinistic and by no means am I prejudiced.

But I am looking forward to the day when we can all actually be considered equal.

Editor signs off Taryn Kapp Editor-in-Chief For my two years at Monroe County Community College, the Agora has been my life. As anti-social as that may sound, those of you who have even walked past our whole-in-the-wall room know that “anti-social” could not be further from the truth. And with only days left in the semester, the month of April has been full of “lasts.”

This is the last article I will ever write for this newspaper.

The last brainstorming session I will ever hold. The last story

people that surround me aren’t just reporters and copy editors, they’re family. The pictures that cover our walls prove that one.

When I think of our trips to Dallas and Nashville, and our class parties…well, let’s just say when it comes to eating and having fun, our group is a force to be reckoned with. I never expected to become so close to a group of people, and it’s hard to imagine not seeing them every day.

It saddens me to know this chapter in my life is ending and things are changing. People have been telling me that

photo courtesy of Taryn Kapp

Kelly Massa, Taryn Kapp, Veronica Terry, and Crystal Pierce pose together in Dallas, TX on an Agora trip.

I will ever assign. The last page I will ever layout. The last deadline I will ever set.

The last night I will ever spend here at the college proofing the paper until 11:30 at night (yes, I’ve stayed here that late).

The last issue I will ever produce.

While a lot of that doesn’t sound like fun, I’ve loved every minute of it. And even when I hated it, I loved hating it.

When you possess such a passion for something as I do for journalism, you learn to stick through the good AND bad times. And there have been plenty of bad times.

Sometimes I marvel at the fact that I haven’t tossed a computer out the window, or pulled all my hair out.

However, there are things I will undoubtedly miss. The

change is a good thing. But what they really mean is that something I didn’t want to happen has happened, and now I have to deal with it. I guess my way of dealing with it is taking 400 words to say goodbye. Only a journalist can pull that one off.

Experiencing the Agora was the best thing that could’ve happened.

I know there are a bunch of people I should be thanking, but they know who they are. They helped me become who I am today, and they helped me learn that everything can be a story.

The details are what make it great.

For every student here, MCCC is a story.

The entire Agora experience has been my details.

Agora 3 Campus News Survivors hang abuse out to dry April 25, 2005

Shawna Farley Amanda Lundy Reporters The Clothesline Project is a display where survivors can break the silence, tell their account of abuse, and know they are not alone. The Action Coalition for Toledo Women coordinates the Toledo Clothesline project.

On April 11 and 12 the Whitman Center displayed 75 shirts with sizes fitting children to adult. The shirts represented survivors and, others showed the birth and death date remembering a loved one who did not survive. One shirt was from a military woman who was gang raped when she was in the service.

By Tuesday over 300 students had viewed the display.

Among them were the students of Mari Broman adjunct faculty member.

Broman recently invited speakers into her classroom to talk about what abuse is and how to seek help. When the Clothesline Project came she allowed her students time to view it.

“In some way it will affect all of us, just by what statistics say. We will be touched by abuse and now you have the resources to help others or yourself,” Browman said in her sociology class discussion.

She explained how the shirts were a chance to educate, document and raise society’s awareness of abuse by giving survivors a way to bare witness and heal.

The display was brought to Whitman by the Director of the Whitman Center, Sandy Kosmyna.

“Every year I am involved in a program called ‘Take Back the Night’ at the University of Toledo. I felt compelled to share

the Clothesline Project with MCCC, it’s a powerful display, and you have to see it,” Kosmyna said.

She plans on bringing it back in October. Anyone interested in creating an outreach program at MCCC can contact Sandy Kosmyna at the Whitman Center.

Students who are survivors, or who have lost someone to abuse are invited to make a shirt.

For legal reasons, all shirts must not have the full name of the perpetrator.

The project was started in 1990 in Massachusetts and

Metzger chosen Grand Marshall Kelyn Dillon Copy Editor He enjoys traveling, singing in a barbershop quartet, and most of all teaching.

“I’ve looked forward to teaching [now] I’m looking forward to retiring,” Dan Metzger, professor of Industrial Technology, said.

Metzger was nominated and selected by his peers to serve as the Grand Marshall at this year ’s commencement ceremonies.

“It’s usually a good-bye present,” Metzger said.

When he began teaching in 1967, he was only 23 years old.

Most of his students at the time were straight out of high school.

Now, the average age of his students is 31. He is one of the four remaining original faculty

members here at MCCC. He still remembers when instead of computerized machinery, vacuum tubes were used.

He plans to travel, but not just for the sake of traveling.

“I’ve been to Ireland, France, England, and Germany,” Metzger said.

“Europe is fascinating [and] the English are warm and friendly people.”

He plans to travel to Costa Rica to visit his son who runs a business school.

The Grand Marshall usually sits on the platform facing the students and watches the excited graduates receive their praise. There is no speech given. Commencement is April 29. Robert Tarrant, professor of Accounting and General Business, will serve as the faculty Marshall.

To make a Donation or for more information contact

ACT-Women c/o People Called Women 3153 W. Central Ave., Toledo OH 43606

White represents women who died because of violence.

Yellow or beige represents battered or assaulted women.

Red, pink and orange are for survivors of rape and sexual assault.

Blue and green t-shirts represent survivors of incese and sexual abuse.

Purple or lavender represents women attacked because of their sexual orientation.

Black is for women attacked for political reasons.

Assessment tests added to MCCC academic center Reporter

Agora photo by Sarah Max

hang it out for all to see. It was and is a way of airing society’s dirty laundry.”

“Although, the shirts represented women,” said Mari Broman, “Know abuse is genderless, men also have survived or been victims to abuse.”

Each shirt color represents a type of abuse...

Heather Prusaitis

Professor of Industrial Technology Dan Metzger has been newly elected as Grand Marshall at the commencement ceremonies this year. Metzger has been a teacher at MCCC since 1967.

brought to Toledo in 1994. The idea to hang shirts came from women’s history.

“Doing the laundry has always been considered women’s work, and in the days of close-knit neighborhoods, women often exchanged information over backyard fences while hanging their clothes out to dry,” Carol A. Chichetto of East Dennis, Mass., Chairperson of the Clothesline Project’s steering committee, said.

“The concept was simple.

Let each woman tell her own story in her own unique way, and

May students can relate to when they took assessment tests that helped them decide what career they would be best at in Jr. High School.

There are now revised tests that students can take at any time in their academic career at http://online.cpp.com. The tests take approximately fifteen to twenty minutes to take. The results are sent right to Joyce Haver, Career Counselor.

The tests that can be taken are the Strong Interest Inventory test, and the MBTI Step I, Form M test. MBTI stands for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

The Strong Interest Inventory test asks what kinds of classes

the student enjoys and what courses the students excels in.

It also asks what kind of things the student enjoys doing, from work situations to hobbies.

Any student may take the tests. According to Haver, they are an excellent way to help with career decisions. Whenever someone wishes to take the test, Haver will hand out information concerning the tests.

When a student goes to this CPP site, the web page will be titled SkillsOne. A Login, Password and User ID are required to enter the site. The Login should be careertest05, and the password would be mcccstudent. After completing the inventory, a User ID will be given. A student will receive a different ID every time they test.

Jobs such as Journalist, Management Consultant, Medical Assistant, or even Computer Operations are just some on the list that is sorted by the statements made on the tests.

First, the careers most often selected by those most similar to personality type are selected.

Then, a profile is made if the student is an extravert or introvert, judging as opposed to perceiving, etc.

An Occupational Theme is supplied, or Artistic, Social, Realist, etc. From those themes, there are categories of skills, interests, hobbies, and attributes condensed from the tests. Then more detailed jobs such as Paralegal, English Teacher, Newspaper Journalist, etc. are suggested.

Tuition rates to climb in 2005 Dave Herndon Page Editor

Tuition rates at MCCC have always been low. For the 2003 academic year students with in county residency were charged only $54 per credit hour. For the 2004 school year the rates actually dropped by $2 per credit to $52 a credit.

Rates for the 2005 academic year have increased to $62 per credit hour. Though up $10 from this year, the tuition pales in comparison to that of other local schools. At the University of Toledo, Monroe County residents pay $5,836 per academic year. Students that

attend the University of Michigan pay $7,298 per year.

Tuition rates at other area colleges lie mostly in the same general scale. MCCC’s rates for a full year are $1,368.

“We do are best to keep tuition rates as low as possible and still be able to give our students a first rate education,” said Randy Daniels director of admissions at MCCC. “We actually encourage our students from Monroe County to attend MCCC for a couple of years before entering our school.

They are able to keep their rates a lot lower than we are,” said Mark Schroeder, an admissions counselor at the University of

Toledo. “Even with the raised tuition the rates there are still much better than anywhere else.”

The tuition rates at MCCC for out of county and out of state residents are $102 and $112 respectively. There is also a $25 per semester registration fee.

Students that wish to take courses online will need to pay an additional $40 online registration fee per class.

Students that are registering for the fall 2005 semester will need to make their payments by Tuesday August 16. If a student registers on or after that day fees are due at the time of registration.

4

Feature

Agora

April 25, 2005

Talkin’ with Charlie Agora reporter gets up close, personal Jeff Berry Reporter Long-haired country boy Charlie Daniels has been recording music since the late 50’s, but he’s been singing his signature country-fried southern rock since the early ‘70s. He has been called an outlaw because of his politically-incorrect attitude and his rough boy image.

With his fourth religious album, Songs from Longleaf Pines (a gospel and bluegrass collection), just released, Charlie Daniels is back out on tour, sawing on his fiddle and playing it hot. Charlie Daniels granted The Agora a phone interview March 18 to promote his new album.

Jeff Berry: You’ve been pretty busy lately. You have a lot of dates coming up.

Charlie Daniels: Oh yeah, we always do. We’re a pretty hard working band.

JB: How is it today, compared to 1975, touring on the road?

CD: Well, it’s a lot easier. A lot more of the interstate system is finished. The roads are better, the equipment is better, the buses we travel on are much more comfortable with a lot more convenient and the technology, as far as sound and instrumentation is concerned, has improved a lot too. So, it’s a lot...

I wouldn’t say easier, but it’s a

CD: If they want to hear some good music, some kickin’-type of music, they should come. We don’t do rap. We don’t do heavy metal, but we do just about everything else. It just depends on your taste in music, whether you should come or not.

JB: What type of response have you had of the religious music from the younger generation and how has your audience switched over the years?

CD: I have had nothing but positive so far, from anybody. And of course, it’s still not out. The jury’s still out on what the record’s going to do.

Photo courtesy of Bob Oliver Agora journalist Jeff Berry, pictured right, seen with country legend Charlie We’ve got to wait Daniels. Berry had an extensive interview with Daniels over the phone on and see how it’s March 18, 2005. The picture was taken on March 22, just four days after the perceived by the interview took place. public, but so far, the an outlaw-type image to a more gospel album is coming out the critical press and the industry religious-themed?

22nd of this month. It’s just people who have heard it are CD: It’s not a switch. It’s just another facet of me and my very high on it. So, we’ll see what happens. another facet of me. I didn’t give music. myself that outlaw image, that JB: Well, being a college student JB: What is the biggest obstacle was done by other people. I’m and a fan of yours, I talked to a that you’ve had to overcome? a shady bear, really, when you lot of students on campus that get down to it. I’m not a two- know the name Charlie Daniels, fisted, bar-brawling, fighting sort but might not really know the of man. Never have been. But music as well. Why should any I can see where that you kind of student attend a Charlie Daniels get that impression by listening show?

little more convenient than it was in ‘55.

JB: In ‘94 you released your first religious album entitled The Door and other religious albums followed. Why the switch from

to some of our music. But I’m a Christian and I had wanted to do Christian albums for a long time. I just never really got the chance to. We’re releasing our fourth record — the bluegrass/

IRS taxes

Research tips for students Veronica Terry Page Editor It’s crunch time and time management can be a hassle, especially with the process of writing a research paper.

Want some tips of how to begin and get through without losing your mind?

Brainstorm. Do you have a specific topic the instructor wants you to write about? Can you choose your own? What are you passionate about? Can you approach this topic from a different direction than anyone else?

Outline. What do you want to touch on in your intro? Can you create a working thesis (a statement that tells what you will be talking about throughout your paper)? What’syour three to five main points, depending on the size of the paper and the topic?

CD: It’s not one big obstacle; it’s a whole bunch of little obstacles. Finding the right style—finding the right musical style that fits your way of doing things, [A way] that fits your persona. Following yourself and being honest to yourself. And trying to make people have faith in you, that you can get the job done; record companies, booking agencies; it’s a lot of small obstacles, basically. Usually, any one big problem is a whole bunch of little problems.

JB: How do you stay true to your old fans and, maybe when this record comes out, some of the newer fans?

CD: I don’t look at things that way. If you go back and listen to 40 some albums that we’ve done you’ll find a tremendous variety of music on those albums. I don’t claim allegiance to any one kind of music. I do all different kinds of stuff. It’s not a matter of alienating fans, or whatever, it’s just a matter of hey this is what we do, this is what we are, this is what we’ve always done. So, people don’t know what we’re going to do. I don’t even know what we’re going to do.

Buy some index cards. You’ll need them.

Research! Look at more than you need to and write down the essential information from each book or website on an index card, even if you just scanned it.

Start reading your research.

Record good quotes, ideas, your feelings about the research, the quality of the source, etc. on the individual cards.

Separate the cards into themes. If you have six cards dealing directly with feeding pets, you’ve got a paragraph on feeding pets.

Organize your research with your own thoughts. Only 40 to 60 percent of the paper should be researched material. The other 40 to 60 percent is you.

Be sure that only 20 percent of that 40 to 60 percent of research is direct quotes. This

become about one or two a page. Use other techniques, like paraphrasing and summarizing.

Begin writing. If you’ve done everything correctly, you should have a little stack of index cards of each paragraph in your paper.

These will lead you in the right direction and keep you flowing well.

Visit a Writing Fellow. Even the best writers need someone to bounce ideas off of once in a while. Sitting with a peer specifically trained to help people like you will not only help you see what can be fixed in your paper, but will also to correct problems for future papers.

Revise, revise, revise!

Revision is never complete.

There’s always something you could reword, remove, or rewrite. No first draft is perfect.

Sometimes, you need to let go of what you love and try again.

Matt Pruitt Copy Editor The IRS has stated last week that it has interest in taxing items sold on the popular internet flea market, eBay. The tax law does not state what can be taxed and what can not, therefore making eBay an open and vulnerable target. However, it’s not sitting well with most of the 135 million people registered on the Web site.

“It’s ridiculous. Something we’ve already paid taxes on, we now have to pay taxes on again?” Travis Lauffle, eBay user, said. “I think that the IRS should stay far away from eBay and just let it continue as it was.”

Although the IRS has not released an official statement on the situation yet, some eBay users have not a doubt

in their mind that the taxes will occur.

“Of course they’ll want to tax eBay items. Wherever there’s money involved, the IRS is sure to follow,” Ken Blackbern, eBay user, said.

According to an eBay survey held last year, approximately 430,000 U.S. sellers make a big percentage of their revenue from selling on eBay. But if the taxes do go into effect, the items sold can be claimed as part of a business tax, therefore having money deducted.

“I like the idea of the business tax, but I’d rather give that up and have the nohassle benefit of eBay,” Travis Lauffle said.

An official statement is expected from IRS and eBay in the coming months. Until then, enjoy bidding on that tax-free, classic antique car on eBay.

Agora 5 Feature Tom McDevitt plays Carnegie Hall

April 25,2005

Amanda Lundy Reporter For Tom McDevitt, Monroe County Community College (MCCC) student, the dream of a performance on the world renowned stage, Carnegie Hall, has become a reality.

The euphonium, a brass instrument which resembles a small tuba, has been a way of life for McDevitt since he was in fifth grade. Being a professional performer has been his dream for about as long.

With nerves wracked with anticipation, McDevitt recorded

Carnegie Hall’s stage is set for McDevitt.

Courtesy Photo

his audition tape, “Carnival of Venice.”

McDevitt has earned a seat among a select 75 member band chosen to perform at Carnegie Hall; the Eighth Annual National Wind Ensemble conducted by H. Robert Reynolds. Only two to three euphonium positions were offered to the entire nation.

“I’m nervous, but honored and excited. It’s intimidating to work with such a prestigious conductor,” McDevitt said. In a previous year of school, McDevitt was informed that he had little talent and should give

up his dreams. McDevitt started performing in his local school band program. Then his musical resume expanded to include playing in the Belleville Community band, the “Kickin’ Brass Quintet”, founding the Carleton Chamber Winds, one year in the music program at Eastern Michigan University, and now he participates in the MCCC band.

“Music is the only true universal language. It’s a breath of fresh air from the garbage that is pumped into children’s minds,” McDevitt said.

MCCC path:Fine Arts Monroe woman Erica Brewer Page Editor Shakespeare. Burbage.

Dickinson. Picasso. As a playwright, actor, author, or artist, each one has at least one thing in common, the love of the arts. At Monroe County Community College, fine arts are welcomed with open arms.

Monroe offers a wide variety of art fundamental classes. A few of these classes include: Ceramics, Painting and Drawing. There are Art History classes, like Prehistoric to Gothic or Renaissance to Baroque.

“We give a good foundation and introduction of art. We give student technical skills, history and content of art. We prepare students so they can transfer after the two year program,” Ted Vassar, Assistant Professor of Art, said.

Agora photo by Erica Brewer

Tiffany Benash paints in her art class.

Students Dan Bruce and Angel Ellison gave a tour of the ceramics room located in the East Technology building. It was filled with sculptures, pots, vases…whatever you can imagine is in this room.

Monroe offers an Art Instructional Scholarship which was awarded to student

Chantelle Mozingo. She was just awarded the Presidential Scholarship at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. This is a four year, $40,000.00 award. Mozingo plans to use two years of it toward her Masters Degree.

Monroe has many opportunities to learn, experience, and excel at Fine Arts.

Student Tiffany Benash has been drawing since she was six years old.

“It is expressing yourself. I love to make the mind come alive. I am very visual and I like to express how I appreciate life.

I believe I got my skills from my family. I have taken a ceramics class and a painting class during middle school. It always takes practice, each time you develop and express yourself more,” Benash said.

TiVo replaces dishes Sarah Queen Reporter School, jobs, children, exercise, homework. With the list of activities on the average college student’s day plan, television watching does not always make its way to the top of the list.

“With all the stuff I have to do with school and work, I am never home to watch the O.C. so I am constantly taping it,” Mallory Alexin, student, said.

Taping one’s favorite TV show may be a thing of the past now that the word TiVo is spreading across the nation.

TiVo is a digital recording device that records television programming onto a hard drive rather than a VHS tape or DVD. (No more unlabeled mystery tapes lying around the house.)

The TiVo plus Humax recorder allows for DVD

recording, but is more expensive than the standard system.

“It’s the best thing you could ever buy,” Kristen Martin, Best Buy employee, said.

TiVo allows the customer to make a list of key words to record and the system will automatically save by actor, movie, or television show. A season pass allows for the recording of all episodes in a series, without reruns.

Also, with the TiVo system, a dream for people who just cannot sit still has come true.

The customer will be able to pause and rewind live television!

With the invention of TiVo, Satellite companies such as Dish network are trying to combat by including DVD recording devices on their systems.

“We offer DVD-R recording to our new customers, as well as a system upgrade to our old ones,” Suzanne at Dish Network, said.

Here’s the catch: with TiVo, the customer must buy a recordable hard drive (available in 40, 80, or 140 hour memory) ranging in price between $200$500, plus pay a monthly fee of $12.95.

Warranties add to the expense, but they will ensure a working product for about four years.

A DVD recorder ranges in the same price category, but the only additional cost is the discs themselves.

“You can only get about two hours of programming on one disc, but for someone who only wants to record a couple shows, it’s the right way to go,” Kristen, said.

Depending on how many hours of television you are dying without, TiVo may be the invention that could feed your need for entertainment without forcing you to calm down your busy lifestyle.

finds consolation in Wiccan belief Shawna Farley Reporter

Marie Strang, a Monroe County Community College student, mother, wife, pagan and witch; she isn’t green and doesn’t have a giant wart on her nose, but she does enjoy the moonlight.

“Pagan is a general term for nature-based, experiential spirituality. Not all Pagans are witches. I use the term ‘Witch’ in the sense of a Wise Woman, a shaman, a healer,” Strang said.

Strang feels what she calls “The Divine” comes from within. She doesn’t go to a church. Instead, she worships in her home, in her heart, near a tree, lake or garden.

“I feel a spiritual connection through nature, by using different meditations and shamanistic techniques, like trance journeying, and tools like Tarot cards to be more perceptive and intuitive,” she said.

Strang doesn’t smoke or do drugs. She believes this can damage her body, mind, and spirit. It could inhibit her perception and selfimprovement.

Such vices would impair her spiritual connection.

Instead she drums and chants.

She believes in reincarnation and a place called Summerland which is an ancient Celtic belief that when a spirit dies it goes to the Otherworld, it becomes young again, then re-incarnates back into this world.

She doesn’t fear Satan or hell because she doesn’t believe such a person or place exists.

“People who claim to worship Satan are hyperfocused on their own negativity,” she said. The label

of Satanist is a prejudiced presumption that she deals with.

“It’s mudslinging,” she said.

Strang attended a religious private school as a child, but she never felt as if she belonged.

“I disliked the misogyny of the Church because I believe that men and women are equal.

The Church’s intolerance for other religions also turned me off. When I was six, I was out in the woods and felt a connection with nature; I went home and told my mother that I didn’t need to go to church because the woods were my church.”

Strang came forward to talk openly about her beliefs in hopes that she could set some stereotypes straight. She doesn’t believe in sacrificing virgins, babies, or animals. She does feel at home in her kitchen and using herbs. She doesn’t hex people because she considers it unethical, and believes if people have a problem with each other they need to learn to speak their minds. She has her own holidays she celebrates but they are called by different names. Her Ostara is around Easter. Her religion’s Yule came before there ever was a Christmas.

Pagan holy days follow the cycles of nature. A full moon, winter and summer harvest, solstices, and equinoxes are a reason to celebrate.

“Don’t be duped into believing stereotypes and propaganda. Be tolerant and open- minded, talk to people of minority faiths. Ask them what it means to them and why they like it. Don’t be threatened by other people’s beliefs. Realize that our faith means as much to us as yours does to you.

Freedom of religion includes all religions, even the ones you may not agree with,” she said.

6

A&E

Agora

April 25, 2005

Summer songs spark top ten list Jeff Berry Jared Hawkins Reporters 1. School’s Out (Alice Cooper) - obvious 2. California Girls (by David Lee Roth)- Originally done by the Beach Boys, former Van Halen front man David Lee Roth takes the song to new heights. The only thing better than this song on the radio on a warm summer day is seeing the video where Roth prances around on the beach in his stupid white uniform, dancing like the typical I-don’t-know-whatI’m-doing, middle-aged white-guy. The girls in the video aren’t bad either.

3. Born On the Bayou – Creedence Clearwater Revival: Who doesn’t love a little CCR in the dead heat of

the summer? Fools! That’s who! Anyway, the words “Fourth of July” within the song and the writers’ bias towards the band make this a must for the countdown. Down on the Corner and Lookin’ out My Backdoor were also considered.

4. Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams: Everyone has to admit that the summer after their senior year of high school was the best of their lives’. What takes you back to those times better than this song? While the year was more than likely different, the feeling is the same. How could we not put this song on the countdown?

5. Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett: This song was met with some opposition from my partner in rock (Jared). But, seriously, this has to be on the

list when it comes to summer songs. This is a major “chill” song, a song that I would want playing on a warm summer day when I’m sitting in the sun with a margarita while working on my tan. This took some negotiating to get this on

the list, but here it is at number five, Jared. Ha! 6. Sunshine of Your Love – Cream: All that can be said of this song is classic. If it’s hot out, and you’re like me and have no working air conditioning, there are very few songs that are better than this one to help make your drive

bearable. Crank the radio, roll down the windows and let Eric, Ginger, and that other guy spread the Sunshine.

7. Fool in the Rain – Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin is a must for any rock countdown, and it does rain in the summer, so obviously, this song is the best choice…*cough* we just couldn’t think of a summerrelated song. Sorry. But you have to admit, any song that uses a whistle as often and as loudly as a high school baseball coach is a good song. Oh, that’s how it relates to summer…baseball coaches use whistles!

8. Ice Cream Man - Van Halen: This song is filled with sexual innuendoes, but it makes me want an ice cream.

There’s nothing like ice cream

and Van Halen to cool you off or make you feel cool on a hot summer day.

9. Summer Song - Joe Satriani: The only instrumental on the list. This song just rocks, that’s all I can say. If you are a guitar player and do not know this song, you need to burn your guitar and never pick another one up again.

10. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd: I was supposed to be writing about Steve Miller’s Rockin’ Me, but how could we leave this song off the list? Five words: Best Road Trip Song Ever. Even if you’re going north, this song somehow works. So, sorry Jeff, but I just had to change it.

Columnist names final movie picks VHS: Veronica’s Hollywood Scoop Veronica Terry Page Editor As this semester, my career at MCCC, and, oddly enough, my job at the video store come to a close, I feel a growing desire to help my fellow students.

Having held the same lowpaying job for three years at a huge video store on Toledo’s east side, my pickiness in movies has become sickening. Bad rentals make me cringe. If one more person rents White Chicks, I may explode.

It is for this reason I’ve gathered a list of good and bad movies to leave the students with.

The good ones are good and recommendable. The bad ones... avoid like the plague. Enjoy!

Drama Good: The 2001 Oscar nominated Quills, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Geoffrey Rush, and Michael Caine. Rush stars as the sexually obsessed Marquis de Sade, locked in an asylum because of his explicit books. This movie has everything and the acting is fabulous.

Bad: The 2003 story of John Holmes, played by Val Kilmer and also starring Kate Bosworth.

Let’s just say there’s a reason they stuck the X-rated documentary WADD in as the bonus disc.

Comedy Good: In 2004, an obscure director released on of the best homages to early horror movies ever. The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra is hilarious on purpose, unlike those old time films. There is no way to explain this movie and do it justice. Just watch it. I promise you’ll laugh your pants off.

Bad: One of the worst spoofs/ homages in history is Not Another Teen Movie. Do yourselves a favor and get that memory surgically removed.

Electroshock should do the trick.

Nosferatu. While it is not scary, it is definitely creepy.

Bad: On the same token, vampire movies are not very good. The best example— Queen of the Damned. If it is

photo courtesy of scifimovies.com

A scene from “The Fifth Element.”

Horror Good: As a huge fan of the vampire legend, I chose to recommend Shadow of the Vampire starring John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe.

It details the myth of the making of the classis

necessary for you to know the story, please read the books.

Sci-Fi Good: Maybe it’s my love of Bruce Willis, but the movie The Fifth Element is awesome. I could watch it million times and never get bored. If you’re into

futurist comedy and action, this is the film for you.

Bad: Why are all futurist space movies the same, with only those few exceptions? If Lawrence Fishburne couldn’t save the world without Keanu’s help in the Matrix, do they actually expect me to believe he could have done it alone in Event Horizon? One word... terrible.

Action Good: Christian Bale is not only a hottie, he is an awesome actor. Check out Equilibrium for a 1984 type story some sweet gun-slingin’.

Bad: A movie about an alien virus could sound cool, but in The Andromeda Strain, this plot translates into watching people ride tricked-out elevator— all the time. It was so boring, I wanted to sleep forever.

Hope my list helps all you movie fans out there.

Remember, film is art, and if you don’t feel like you’ve gone to the museum, then turn the stupid thing off.

Music downloads: where do they stand now?

Gary Knox Reporter To download or not to download, that is the question.

“I think it is wrong to download a whole CD because then you’re stealing the artist work and they can’t make a profit,” Josh Piippo, Monroe County Community College student, said “I usually only download a few songs and then go buy the

CD. I believe downloading music for your own personal use is fine if it is within the constraints of the law,” James Rains, University of Missouri student, said.

According to the U.S Digital Millennium Act of 1998, copying copyrighted music except for your own personal use is illegal. The penalties for downloading unauthorized music can be very severe,

including $250,000 in fines or up to three years in prison.

Repeat offenders can be imprisoned for up to six years.

With all the strict laws and penalties involving downloading music, it is a wonder why there has been such a rise in the popularity of MP3 players, CD burners, and other devices that allow you to easily download music to your computer. One reason could be because there

are ways to download music for the law abiding citizen in all of us.

Itunes.com is a website that requires you to pay as you download. In 2004, over 150 million songs were downloaded from this site alone.

Another legal and free way to download music is from the site purevolume.com. This site allows you to download music from bands that are just starting

out and would like to get some feed back out about their music.

“I go to pure volume so I can hear a new band. The best thing about it is that it’s free,” Nick Turner, Spring Arbor University student, said.

Whether you like rock, rap, country or even polka, there are a plethora of ways to get your favorite music while still obeying the law.

In the Mix

April 25, 2005 from “Fair,� page 1 a combination of where we are, what we are, and when we are.

To young people today coughin’ and burpin’ is hip hop, but I am old school,� Featchurs said.

Lee Yoas, an MCCC student, represented age and being a non-traditional student. “Age has nothing to do with education. The day you stop learning is the day they put you in a box,� Yoas said.

from “Bomb,� page 1

to discuss whether or not we have suspects in this case.�

The punishment for calling in a phony bomb threat is very severe. Those convicted may serve up to 20 years in prison, according to Sgt. Goodnough.

According to Bennett this is not the first time this has happened at MCCC. “About 10 years we had a public forum at the college for the stone quarry to be relocated, and some people opposed to the idea called in a bomb threat,�

Bennett said. “We always take these opportunities to learn from them,� Bennett said, “and each

from “Tarrant,� page 1 building materials as I came to pick out my office,� Tarrant said.

As the years continued and campus grew, MCCC became his professional home. “It’s impossible to describe the importance of going through life looking forward to going to work. Anytime you find that, that’s the place to stay,� Tarrant said.

Tarrant took roughly 7,939 students under his wing during his years teaching in the business realm of education. “I enjoy working with students. As a general rule, I find them to be very nice people.

“Being a minority has helped me to embrace other minorities,�

Khadija Ahmed, assistant professor of mathematics, said.

Representing Muslim Americans-post 9/11, she talked about reaching out to others.

Stephen Eddins, from the Triangle Foundation, represented sexual orientation. “It’s a discouraging time right now. We have an invisible minority. Our difference isn’t as noticeable and some people feel time something like this happens, the more we realize we have a lot to learn. Currently, we are working on an emergency response system where we can dial every phone on campus at once if an incident like this occurs. We are also trying to figure out a way to use the fire alarm system for other emergencies.�

In addition, checklists for what to do if a bomb threat is received were circulated to all faculty members. This checklist is intended to gather information that may aid police in an investigation, including time and location the caller says that bomb will explode, voice of the caller, and the length of the call.

I’m still impressed by their aspirations and goals.� “He’s a nice guy, especially if you talk to him after class. He seems to really like students, and he really enjoys accounting,�

Alicia Foshag, a student from one of Tarrant’s classes, said.

For those aspiring to the teaching profession, Tarrant shares these words of advice, “Don’t let your standards down; keep them as high as possible.� “Teaching can be very rewarding psychologically.

Don’t go into it for the money, you really have to love the thing.�

As he rounds off his last semester at MCCC, Tarrant plans to travel with his wife.

!CCELERATED $EGREE 0ROGRAMS #ONCORDIA 5NIVERSITY S DEGREE PROGRAMS ALLOW YOU TO SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATE EARNING YOUR DEGREE INTO REAL LIFE WITHOUT COMPROMISING A QUALITY EDUCATION

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we have a choice about being gay, like some choose a tattoo or pepperoni on a pizza, but it’s not a choice,� Eddins said.

John Burkart, an MCCC student, represented disability. “People may say how hard it must be for me, but I am on an equal intellectual level at college.

We all have our obstacles to overcome. It’s about attitude... all a person needs to do is accept their God given cross,� Burkart said.

In an attempt to address a gap between those who are different from the majority, the year old diversity committee has held several events. The presentation had students talking about difference in the halls as they looked at tables filled with information about diversity and minorities. There were pamphlets about being overweight, height challenged

from “Honor,� page 1 Michigan Scholars Competition.

He is a member of the Writing Fellows, and a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader.

For the past seven years Deisler has been a counselor at a summer camp. “My real calling is to write books,� Deisler said. “I prayed for God’s leading and the kids gave me ideas. In June I’ll begin working on my manuscript.�

Deisler is transferring to Indian Westland, a Christian College in Indiana where he was born. “I owe everything to Jesus Christ I want to communicate his message through my stories,� said Deisler.

The award show concluded with the announcement of Mark Bergmooser as the recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Award.

The award is nominated by current students and staff at MCCC. The nominees are then

and other issues. Students had a chance to sign a poster and explain what they felt the word diversity meant to them. There were bright green stickers on shirts of students that said, “Celebration of Diversity.� “We want to provide a welcome, open, and comfortable working and learning environment,� McCutchan said. “There needs to be more awareness and a deeper understanding that it takes all sorts of people to make a campus. We are all one, we’re all the same. We need to talk to each other and get to know one another,� Donna Render, a member of the Diversity committee, said.

Most agreed it was great to see MCCC stepping forward to embrace diversity and they hoped there would be more presentations in the near future. reviewed by a committee. They receive a plaque and a $1500 dollar stipend.

Bergmooser started in 1996 and became a full time faculty member in 1999. “[I enjoy] the students, the classroom and establishing the relationships,� said Bergmooser. “Communicating with them in an environment where I am doing what I want to anyway. There are truly great people here.�

Bergmooser almost didn’t attend the ceremony. “I was planning on leaving early; I knew everyone would understand since we are expecting the baby.�

The Honors Reception is a student function for which Daniels is responsible for organizing. “Lauren Pillarelli [Administrative Assistant] is the one who really pulls it all together,� said Daniels. “It is a celebration of academic accomplishment for several.�

Agora

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Laura Hoffer

“Lilacs. I love that smell. It’s a childhood thing.�

Brandon Mullins

“Does barbecue count?

Definitely barbecued hotdogs.�

Adam Roberts and Rachael Desloover

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8

Agora

Spotlight

April 25, 2005

The Welch Health Education Building got a peek into the past on April 3.

Agora photos by Sarah Max