9-16-2008

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PG. 6

Southeast Asia study abroad trip..............pg 5 Extreme Makeover Home Edition comes to Toledo, OH...............................pg 4

Fall TV starts back up with a great line-up....pg 7

GORA A THE

Monroe County Community College

September 16, 2008

Obama

Vol. 51, Issue 1

2008 Election info begins

McCain

to spread nation wide

Miranda Panik Staff

Photo courtesy of MCCC Student MaryGrace Cuccia

Barack Obama visited Monroe County for a Labor Day rally at a Monroe union hall. He talked about the need to pull together to respond to hurricanes in the gulf region.

Now that Barack Obama and John McCain have accepted the Democratic and Republican nomination for president, the race for the White House is moving full speed ahead.

With Election Day right around the corner, people are getting educated and making their decision on whom to vote for.

Susan Banoski, a student at MCCC, decided to vote for Obama.

“First of all, he’s a Christian. You can tell by his face that he is a confident, content and happy man. His wife is a good mom, and you can’t fake that. He’s probably been through some hard times, and he’ll know how to get us out. And he can’t be bought.”

Kathy Wallace, also an MCCC student, had a differing opinion.

“I’m voting for McCain, simply because he has a woman running with him for Vice President.”

Katie Grochowicz was still on the fence about who to vote for, or whether she would vote at all.

“I don’t know much about either candidate. From what I’ve seen on television, Obama seems to want to work specifically for the middle class. McCain seems like he wants to save money and work more for each person as an individual.”

For those who are still on the fence about whom to vote for, here’s information on important topics such as the War in Iraq and healthcare.

The following information was found on www.BarackObama.com and www.

JohnMcCain.com, Obama and McCain’s official campaigning websites.

Obama has been quoted saying, “Fighting a war without end will not force the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future. And fighting in a war without end will not make the American people safer.”

(Fayetteville, North Carolina, March 19, 2008) If Obama succeeds in becoming commander-in-chief, he plans to end the war, and bring the troops home.

On the other hand, McCain wants to keep troops in the Middle East. Iraq is capable of governing itself, with a competent, trained security force put into place.

Both McCain and Obama agree that there needs to be a change in the health care offered in the United States. 47 million people living in this country are going without health insurance.

McCain wants to make health insurance portable; to travel with you from job to job, in case you retire early, or if you take a few years off to raise a family. Also, he wants to put control back into the patient’s hands by offering more competition and selection between providers.

For families that cannot afford insurance, a tax credit (basically cash) will be provided in the sum of $2,500 for individuals or $5,000 for families to pay for health care. They will have the option of choosing a provider and the money will be sent to the one chosen. This way, everyone provided to treatment.

Like McCain, Obama also wants to make coverage portable, so you don’t lose insurance if you change jobs. Medicaid and SCHIP will be extended so that more people are eligible and they can be as effective as possible. He wants to make it mandatory for every child to be covered by insurance by extending the number of options available to them. This also means allowing young adults to stay on their parent’s plans until reaching the age of 25.

No American will be turned away from insurance companies because of illness or pre-existing conditions, and an extensive benefits package similar to the one offered to members of congress will be made available to all citizens.

Voting in this year’s election is crucial in a country that is ready for change. It’s important for each and every citizen to educate themselves and participate in the voting process.

To learn more about each candidate and make your choice, you can visit their websites and read their platforms BarackObama.com and JohnMcCain.com

Photo courtesy of AP photo

John McCain visited Monroe County on Aug. 5.

He toured the Fermi II nuclear plant and talked about the need to end our dependence on foreign sources of energy.

MCCC launches student notification system Kristin Stepinski Staff

AlertNow is the new MCCC notification system for students and faculty.

The system works as an efficient way to notify students and faculty of school closings due to inclement weather as well as other campus emergencies.

Randy Daniels, Vice President of Student and Information Systems, is the person behind the plan when it comes to AlertNow. The link to sign-up is http://www. monroeccc.edu/alertnow/ and can also be found on the home page of the college’s website, simply enter your information and select ‘submit’.

Primarily the system will be used for school closings, however, should there ever be a situation where the safety of students and faculty members are a concern, Daniels will not

hesitate to send an alert. and plans, Daniels and MCCC select“We are not going to inundate you ed a version specifically to be used for emergencies only. This means with junk,” Daniels assured.

Saf-T-Net launched their newest that students should have absolutely and most innovative product, which no worries about their cell phones or e-mail addresses being flooded with they named Alertvarious anNow, a notificanouncements tion system creatabout school ed specifically for events or reschools to use as minders of ima more convenient portant dates. form of commu“ Vi r g i n i a nication with stuTech caused the dents and faculty. world, not just Saf-T-Net curcolleges and rently sends over universities, to five million mesRandy Daniels change the way sages each month Vice President of Student and we act,” Danin support of adInformation Systems iels said. ministrators from “AlertNow 49 states in the was created U.S. with the AlertNow system.

While the Saf-T-Net Company of- because it was the combination of fers several different types of contracts need and necessity based on Virginia Tech,” Daniels added.

“AlertNow was created because it was the combination of need and necessity based on Virginia Tech.”

INSIDE:

Feature...........4&5 Sports...................6 Editorial...............2 A&E......................7 Campus News.....3 Spotlight..............8 Enriching students across Southeast Michigan

The communication tool also has a convenience factor that will be useful in less severe situations. As mentioned before, school closings will likely end up being the major purpose for notifications.

As of last check, approximately 700 MCCC students had signed up for AlertNow. The number jumps to around 1,000 if you include faculty members.

“Most colleges only get about 40 percent of students enrolled,” said Daniels. “We’re hoping to beat the average.”

Students would be hard pressed to find an excuse not to sign up. Registering is easy and there are virtually no costs to the student or faculty member. Standard text messaging rates from your cell phone provider apply to those who list a cell number, other than that the service is completely free to anyone affiliated with MCCC.

AlertNow Test September 18 @ 2 p.m.

If you signed up for the AlertNow messaging system you will be receiving either a test text, email or phone call. This alert is not real and only a test so don’t be alarmed.

Fitness Center Hours:

Library Hours:

Mon - Thurs: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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

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

Friday: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Writing Center Hours:

Book Store Hours:

Monday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Tues - Thurs: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Mon & Tues: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Wed - Fri: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Visit our website at: www.monroeccc.edu

2 THE AGORA

Editorial

September 16, 2008

Golden Gate suicide film worth showing Great clouds of fog often roll over the city of San Francisco and its surroundings, obscuring the city and its astonishing suspension bridges from the view across the bay.

“The Bridge,” Eric Steel’s very fine documentary feature debut, opens with a fastmotion shot of the fog as it slowly recedes to reveal the Golden Gate Bridge.

For a moment, it seems Steel could have made a whole movie just about the beauty and mystery of this magnificent architecture so frequently hidden from view, the perfect marriage of man-made engineering and natural wonder, too often tucked away by conspiracy of geography and weather.

What follows are a series of shots overflowing with life, of people biking and walking across the bridge or sailing underneath. And then, unexpectedly, a middleaged man hops over the railing and plunges to his death.

It is so sudden and unexpected, this suicide in the middle of so much activity, that it is impossible to prepare oneself, as a viewer, for the shock of seeing it.

“The Bridge” is being condemned by

Michael Crossman Agora Staff

some as tragedy tourism and even called “an abomination” by critics. But it is by far the most revealing, nonjudgmental, and purely naked presentation of San Francisco’s biggest dirty little secret.

District spokespersons in San Francisco as well as family members of victims of suicide across the nation are attempting to quiet the roars of appreciation for the film.

I say, what about the Constitutional rights we have been given, via our Bill of Rights, which gives Steel the exact freedoms he needs to deliver this shocking message.

But to its credit, “The Bridge” doesn’t linger on the mythology of its subject. It’s much more concerned with human stories than with finding the answers to the question of why people choose the Golden Gate.

Steel could have easily made a film about the Golden Gate Bridge phenomenon —

whatever it is that makes 20-odd people kill themselves at the Golden Gates per year.

Instead, he has made a much more difficult, human, and powerful film focusing on a few people in severe distress and the people they left behind.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young adults ages 15-24, only beneath automobile accidents or homicide.

There are those who criticize Steel for his creativity. I choose to appreciate the message he is intending to send. When schools show films on foreign civilizations and their unique culture, there is little to no debate on the extremities they portray. When was the last time in Anthropology that you heard a complaint about what you were watching, besides on the choice of music?

There is limited mention of the victims’ names. But those who were revealed, their families also were filmed on the emotional struggles they face from the loss of their loved one. I just do not understand why we are still residing in a country that spends more time trying to decrease the already fine line we have to our Constitutional rights.

The Zodiac

Eric Steel’s documentary feature, “The Bridge,” has been opposed by some family members of victims of suicide.

Police examine the crime scene where Cheri Jo Bates was found.

Possible suspects probably were not victims of the infamous serial killer The Zodiac has been credited with killing five people and injuring two.

People have discussed whether or not the Zodiac — the name given a serial killer in the 1960s — has killed more people or has been involved in other criminal activity.

Four cases have been singled out for debate.

I must voice my opinion that the Zodiac was not involved in any of them.

The first case is that of a young couple, Robert Domingos and Linda Edwards. The two were found shot to death in a remote shack off of a beach in Santa Barbara County, CA. Domingos was shot eleven times while Edwards was shot only nine times. First of all, the Zodiac was always more determined to kill his female victims.

Not to mention that the culprit who killed Domingos and Edwards tried to set on fire the shack where the victims were placed. Zodiac never tried to cover up his murders.

Plus, Zodiac liked the limelight, so why wouldn’t he have claimed responsibility for the murders?

The second case is that Kathleen Johns, who claimed that the Zodiac

Cassie Kane Agora Staff

killer abducted her and her baby from a highway and tried to kill them. The police report does not mention Johns being threatened in any way — just that she was “suspicious.”

A wheel on her car fell off and a stranger offered to give her a lift to a service station. No advances were made to her, and when she bailed out of the man’s vehicle, he just simply closed the door and drove off.

How could this be Zodiac? Well, it’s not. Zodiac tried to take respon-

The Zodiac murdered two teenagers at this location on Dec. 20, 1968.

Here’s a look at why John McCain really chose Sarah Palin Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will go into the books as the first female Republican nominee for vice president.

Last week, when John McCain announced her as his vice presidential candidate, he really riled the Democrats.

Like the majority of Americans, I was waiting for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to be cho-

Andrew Thurlow Agora Staff

sen as McCain’s running mate.

Both are pro-life, in favor of free trade and lower taxes.

So then why did McCain choose Palin?

Here is my list of 10 reasons:

10. Hillary was already supporting Obama.

9. Gov. Palin is 3 years younger than Obama, which in turn will

help balance out and deflect criticism that McCain is too old.

8. Her strong conservative views will help energize the Republican skeptics of McCain.

7. Sympathy votes (pregnant 17-year-old daughter; 5-month-old

child with Down syndrome; son recently deployed in Iraq.)

6. To piss Obama off for not choosing Hillary as his running mate.

5.

She knows how to campaign successfully, defeating both a former Democratic governor and the incumbent Republican governor of Alaska.

4.

out.

Mitt Romney’s a Mormon and there’s a new testament of LDS

3. She’s in touch with the working class, white value system and a prominent member of the NRA.

2. She’s bait for the liberal media and a Washington outsider.

1. She’s a woman and they typically vote in higher percentages

than men.

sibility for it, but he did not provide the usual non-public information that he included in his other letters.

Zodiac most likely would not risk committing a murder in his own vehicle; he was too smart for that.

A young girl named Donna Lass was abducted after arriving home from work. A postcard was sent to the San Francisco Chronicle, supposedly from Zodiac, which pointed towards Lass as a victim.

The postcard was not postmarked the same as the other letters, so it probably was a fake. The handwriting also did not match the other letters. And, lest we forget, Zodiac was not an abductor; he killed people where he found them.

The last case in which Zodiac could have been involved was that of Cheri Jo Bates. She was found murdered outside Riverside City College in Riverside, Calif.

She had been stabbed multiple times with a short-bladed knife.

Several letters were sent to the local police department, newspaper, and to the victim’s father. One of the letters was a confession letter, in which the killer expressed his hatred toward women, his self-conjured power, and his need to kill.

Zodiac never mentioned Bates in

The Zodiac, shown here in a 1969 wanted poster, has claimed to have as many as 37 victims.

any of his letters until 1971, when newspapers started running stories about the murder’s possible connection to Zodiac.

Zodiac had tried to take credit for other murders he had read about in

the paper, like that of a San Francisco policeman, but Zodiac could not give any concrete evidence to prove Bates was killed by him.

Besides, Riverside PD already had someone as a suspect, and it

was not the Zodiac killer.

Zodiac killed five people and sent shivers down the spine of the West Coast. But he was not connected to these murders.

Related story, Page 5

The Agora: Still Greek to the staff So, what does “Agora” mean anyway, and why is it the name of our newspaper?

That was one of the first questions I was asked in my new role as adviser to The Agora, the student newspaper at Monroe County Community College.

Several phone calls later, I was headed toward the library to find the archives, which have editions of The Agora back to its birth in 1968.

Guess what? It was a mystery, then, too.

The first editor, Dennis Reno, raised the question himself in a column in the first edition, on Feb. 22, 1968.

“Agora is Greek in origin and is defined as a meeting place or newscorner,” Reed noted. “Why the

Dan Shaw

Agora Adviser majority of the staff unanimously voted in this name is also Greek to me.”

The ink was hardly dry on the first edition and he was hoping to change the name.

“If you have similar feelings on this subject, there is something you can do. Write a letter to this editor expressing your views; suggestions for a possible name are welcome.”

Editor Reed apparently failed to make any headway toward changing the name.

The Agora will be 40 years old next February — and it’s still Greek to the staff why their newspaper is named after a meeting place in

The Agora Staff Members Editor-in-Chief Emily Chandonnet Assistant Editor Jennifer Niswender

Adviser Dan Shaw

Staff Michael Crossman Casey Cheap Cassie Kane Miranda Panik Steven Sonoras Kristin Stepinski Andrew Thurlow

Athens.

This year’s staff, headed by sophomore Emily Chandonnet, is talented, experienced and ready to meet the newspaper reading needs of the Monroe County Community College community.

The staff is a little smaller than usual, with just nine members. But six of them return from last year, when The Agora won more awards and placed higher in the Michigan Community College Press Association competition than ever before.

Students who want to write for The Agora can contact Emily or me.

It’s too late to register for the three-credit workshop, but submitting an occasional story this semester would be a great way to prepare for joining the staff for the

winter semester.

I’m replacing Mark Bergmooser, who has advised The Agora for 12 years. Mark did an incredible job helping build The Agora into a quality college newspaper.

The college is new to me, but I’m an old hand at making newspapers.

I’ve been a journalist for more than 30 years, most recently at The Monroe Evening News.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s the New York Times or the Agora, though. The goal is the same. Figure out what your readers are looking for, and give it to them.

If you have suggestions for future editions, don’t hesitate to let us know. You can reach me at deshaw@monroeccc.edu, or Emily at ekchandonnet@hotmail.com.

The Agora Editorial Policy The Agora is published by the students of Monroe County Community College, 1555 S. Raisinville Rd., Monroe, MI, 48161. The editorial office is located in 202 of the Life Sciences Bldg., (734) 384-4186. agora@monroeccc.edu.

Editorial policy: Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of The Agora staff. Signed columns represent the opinion of the writer. All letters to the edi-

tor 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 studentmanaged newspaper that supports a free student press and is a member of the Michigan Community College Press Association, the Michigan Collegiate Press Association, the Michigan Press Association, the Com-

munity College Journalism Association, College Media Advisers, Associated Collegiate Press and the Student Press Law Center.

Story suggestions are welcome. Let us know what you’d like to see in The Agora - it’s your newspaper. Submissions of stories or photos alsoare welcome. E-mail them to Agora@monroeccc. edu or bring them to ouroffice.

Dan Shaw, Adviser

September 16, 2008

Campus News

THE AGORA

3

Study Abroad’s Asia trip registration imperative Michael Crossman Staff

The MCCC study abroad program is now taking applicants for the trip to the Southeastern region of Asia in 2009. The program is headed by Dr. Joanna Sabo, political science professor at MCCC. The countries include Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.

Registration for this trip can be completed on the web at www.eftours.com (tour number 427956).

Registration needs to be done before Oct. 30, 2008. The total will rise substantially if the deadline is not met; some financial aid may be available.

“On this trip you will be able to learn so much more about a topic or culture than you would in a classroom,” Dr. Sabo said.

“You can earn six transferable credits along the way, and it makes a great resume builder,” she said.

The courses being offered are Introduction to Comparative Politics (Social Science credit), and Art 180 Drawing I (Humanities Credit).

“I went on the trip to Europe and it was the most amazing experience I have ever been a part of,” said Central Michigan University stu-

dent Jason Schreiber.

“Being able to spend the time learning another culture, instead of just reading about it made none of the trip seem like school,” he said.

“I also made a lot of great friends along the way, so it turned out to be worth the money.”

The qualifications for going on this trip are: • MCCC or guest student • Passing GPA (higher than 1.8) • Two letters of recommendations from professors • A complete criminal background check with no drug or alcohol offenses.

• Must pay all balances by February 1, 2009 The trip costs approximately $4,508 if the student is under the age of 23, and if you are older than 23 it is an extra $450.

This all includes complete travel (airfare and hotel), meals, and tuition, as well as course and registration fees.

Any questions or concerns should be directed to Dr. Sabo by email jsabo@mccc.edu or by phone at 384-4297.

VIETNAM

THAILAND

CAMBODIA

Agora graphic by Emily Chandonnet

MCCC host annual Auto and Antique Show Casey Cheap Staff

The annual Antiques and Autos Show will be held Sunday, September 28, on the main campus, according to a press release at monroeccc. edu obtained by The Agora.

The Auto Show, now in it’s 22nd edition, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. Cars will start lining up in the courtyard in front of the campus by the pond and extend north. It is open to any year, make and model of car.

Tom Ryder, MCCC events and fitness activities coordinator, said any vehicle students “think is cool” is eligible to be in the show.

“It’s about bringing it (the cars) out, talking engines, and having a great day with the family,” Ryder said. “Three to four hundred cars are expected to turn out.”

And this year, most of the judging has been done away with to limit controversy between stock and modified cars.

This year’s judging is based on the people’s choice. Judging will also include special choice votes by the college president, trustees, faculty, students and foundation.

The price is $5 for anyone wanting to enter a car. They will receive a mini-plaque for the Auto Show, and two free tickets to the Antique Show.

The Auto Show will include a Swap Meet. The Swap Meet is for anything that has to do with cars, mechanical or not.

Entertainment will be provided by the Madison Avenue Band, a 1960’s and 70’s era band out of Toledo.

There will be a minimal charge

for food and beverages. It is an alcohol-free event. Food will include hot dogs and hamburgers provided by the Frog Leg Inn. The Antique Show will be set up in the Welch Health Education Building, and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $3.

“It’s not about making money, we’re just trying to recoup some of our costs,” Ryder said.

Also free to the public on campus that day is the Craft Show. The Craft Show will be held in Administration Building A from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be hayrides and children’s activities at the Craft Show.

Hayrides cost 50 cents.

There are still openings available for anyone wanting to submit work in the Craft Show or enter a car in the Auto Show.

Agora photo by Casey Cheap

Community embraces complex Nearly 150,000 people have attended events at Monroe County Community College’s La-Z-Boy Center – a state-of-the-art performance venue and corporate training facility that includes the 575-seat Meyer Theater – since it opened in October 2004.

“We are pleased with the community’s use of the $12 million facility,” said John Joy, dean of the Division of Corporate Community Services, which oversees the La-ZBoy Center. “We are also pleased it’s holding up so well and is still as nice as the day it opened.”

In nearly four years of operation, 2,103 events with permits have been held at the facility by the college and community at large with total attendance of 142,908. These figures include events through July 2008.

“When the college trustees voted to authorize the project, we had been convinced by the community that there was a need for an instructional center for business training and performing arts,” said Marjorie A. Kreps, chair of the Board of Trustees.

“These figures, plus the number of positive comments I get out in the community, certainly substantiate those needs.”

In addition to the Meyer Theater, the La-Z-Boy Center houses the offices of the Division of Corporate and Community Services, a rehearsal hall, dressing and makeup rooms, a scene shop, six multiuse training rooms and a computer classroom.

The complex provides learning opportunities for students and is flexible enough to respond to three different needs – cultural arts pro-

Joe Verkennes

Director of Marketing gramming, customized training for business and industry and unparalleled space for community activities and conferences.

The construction of the facility was funded by the state of Michigan, college reserves and a capital campaign.

Since the first year of operation, yearly attendance at the La-Z-Boy Center has more than doubled. Attendance totaled 22,172 in 20042005; during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2008, attendance was 47,114.

Attendance was 31,554 in 20052006 and 40,811 in 2006-2007.

The number of events held at the La-Z-Boy Center has also sharply increased since the opening year.

In 2004-2005, 272 events were held at the facility. Last year, that figure was 659, an increase of 150 percent. During 2005-2006, 507 events were held at the La-Z-Boy Center, followed by 635 events in 2006-2007.

These figures take into consideration events with permits, but do not include the thousands of students who use the facility as part of their instruction each year through credit classes, non-credit lifelong learning classes, and business and industry training. When all credit and non-credit enrollment is combined, the college serves more than 8,000 students annually.

“All of us at MCCC are grateful for having such a facility on our campus,” said President Dr. David

E. Nixon. “Every time we have an event, visitors come to campus who have never been here before.

“Students, faculty and the staff of MCCC have a great feeling about a learning environment that includes such an outstanding facility like the La-Z-Boy Center and Meyer Theater. It’s obvious by these numbers the community feels good about it as well.”

Since the opening of the La-ZBoy Center, performers from all genres of the entertainment community have taken the stage at the Meyer Theater. From comedic to musical to theatrical performances, the facility has offered something for everyone.

A number of national acts have performed at the facility, including Jeff Daniels, the late Richard Jeni, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, The Marcels, Livingston Taylor, Heywood Banks, Steven Wright and more.

This year’s lineup of MCCCsponsored season events was recently released. It includes a number of marquee acts scheduled to appear at the La-Z-Boy Center, such as The Monkees’ Lead Singer Micky Dolenz, Jimmie “J.J.” Walker and Three Men and a Tenor.

A special fall attraction at the La-Z-Boy Center this season will be the celebration of The Foundation at Monroe County Community College’s’ 10th anniversary, which will feature a performance by Monroe native Dale Gonyea on November 22 at 7:30 p.m.

The full slate of MCCC-sponsored performances for 2007-2008, as well as ticket information, is available on the MCCC Web site at www.monroeccc.edu/theater.

4 THE AGORA

Feature

September 16, 2008

Domestics turnaround needs turnaround Casey Cheap Staff

Once the world standard of manufacturing, the Detroit three—General Motors, Ford and Chrysler—have hit one of the lowest points in history.

With fuel prices hovering just below or at $4 per gallon, it is easy to see why.

Because the Detroit three have long relied on trucks and SUVs as their profitable bread-and-butter, consumers have limited options when looking at fuel-friendly vehicles.

Buyers of new vehicles in the U.S. have tended to avoid truck-heavy lineups and have been found straying into foreign showrooms—mainly Japanese.

GM announced it would shut down three truck plants this summer, including one in Pontiac. To make matters worse, the company has also been struggling to meet demands for

smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles.

“Trucks and large SUVs are selling really bad,” Don Kehrer, Automotive Engineering Instructor at MCCC, said. “GM was way over capacity.”

Investor’s confidence in the General have slumped. Sales are down to just 27 percent of market share, GM stock hit a 50-year low, and the company recorded a $15.5 billion loss in the second quarter this year.

Ford and Chrysler have similar problems. Ford has long relied on the F-Series for a good fraction of sales. Chrysler had to cut production of several models just to stay out of bankruptcy.

In today’s automotive crisis, restructuring plans seem to come out of the motor city on a weekly basis. Little can be done about the uncertainty in the market, but there are a few things the Detroit three must do in order to ensure they will stay afloat.

For example, GM is stepping up its

effort to bring E85-powered vehicles to market. But at a time when hybrids are most fashionable, E-85 looks like a dud to some.

“I don’t know how long they will go with that [E85],” Kehrer said.

“But I know biodiesle is more productive.”

The key weapon may be a vehicle like the Chevrolet Volt.

The Volt is a very ambitious project aimed at taking sales away from the hybrid segment dominated by Toyota. Although it is not a traditional hybrid, the Volt is considered an extended-range electric vehicle. This means the Volt uses an electric motor to power the vehicle at all times, unlike a hybrid.

It would be the first realistic electric car sold in the U.S. The Volt would be ready by late 2010, depending on how testing goes with the lithium-ion batteries used to power the car.

Not to be outdone by their cross-

town rival, execs at Ford announced last month they would have certain truck plants re-tooled for small car production.

In a surprising move, Ford announced they would invest $75 million into the Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne. When work is finished, the factory will produce Ford’s Global Ccar, the Ford Focus.

Also announced was the Cuautitlan Assembly Plant, which currently builds the Ford F-Series, will build the re-born 2010 Ford Fiesta. Louisville Assembly will also build the Ford Focus.

The folks at Chrysler have scaled-back production of larger vehicles, which will hurt the release of the new Dodge Ram.

Most shocking is a potential Chrysler sale of the Dodge Viper sports-car business. Chrysler has hired a firm to review its Viper asset, and could soon announce a third-party buyer.

Fire safety tips to apply to every long, short term home Cassandra Kane Staff

Fires can damage, injure, and even kill. So taking precautions in case of a fire is no laughing matter, says the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association). Residential fires can be deadly, and that includes wherever you call home.

Fires are a problem in the United States. The NFPA states that last year a fire department responded to a fire every twenty seconds, and every seventy-nine seconds a residential structure was on fire. Of course residential structures include apartments, houses, mobile homes, and even dorms.

College students need to be aware of the precautions needed to be taken in case of a fire.

“In 2002-2005, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 3,300 structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities,

and barracks. These fires caused an annual average of 7 civilian deaths, 46 civilian fire injuries, and $25 million in direct property damage,” according to the NFPA. David Nuss, a manager at Safety Enterprises Inc, gives some advice on preparing for a fire in your home.

“The first line of defense for anyone in their home is smoke detectors and alarms.

Secondly, I recommend a fire barrier. It is a non-toxic spray that can be put in front of the fireplace, by electrical units, and even on mattresses. The barrier stops a fire from spreading and even helps to put a fire out.

Thirdly, a fire extinguisher. There are different types, but I think a halon extinguisher is the best choice. It comes in a canister, like typical extinguishers, but it does something different. It takes the oxygen out of the air instantly, and can put a fire out with-

out the hassle. You need to have some kind of emergency plan as well.”

An emergency plan could include a place to meet outside in case of a fire, or a preferred and alternate route of exit from the home.

Also, an important thing to know is what the leading causes of residential fires are. Monroe County Fire Chief Bill Bert reported that residential fires are usually caused by overloaded electrical units and kitchenware.

“Leaving the stove on while away from home, using extension cords for more than two items that need to be plugged in, and leaving the furnace running when you are home are some of the ways fires in the home can be started,” said Bert.

Those are just some of the ways residential fires can be started. It is important to know the facts and be prepared for a house fire. For more information log on to NFPA.com.

EMU eases transfer process Steve Sonoras Staff

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Turnquist

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition takes over Toledo neighborhood Jennifer Niswender Assistant Editor

This year ABC’s Emmy Awardwinning reality TV show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” came to Toledo, Ohio on Sunday, September 7. The show will be featuring Toledo’s lucky family and will be the 128th home rebuilt on the show. The show’s theme is Hearts & Hands for Heros.

A Toledo firefighter Aaron Frisch, wife Jackie and their eleven children was the family that was chosen for the project. On Sunday was the famous “door knock” that notified the family that they were picked.

The family was then whisked off to Disney World. With the help of Buckeye Real Estate Group, Northwest Ohio’s most successful builders, and hundreds of volunteers take less than a week to tear down their house and replace it with a new one.

Jackie Frisch, an ordained min-

ister, adopted five boys from an orphanage after visiting poverty stricken Haiti on a mission trip. The Frisch family continued to adopt three more children from Toledo’s inner city.

Now a family of 13, with three biological children of their own, was living in a cramped one-story ranch home without air conditioning, windows, and doors that needed repaired.

Unfortunately, Jackie’s health kept the family from being able to do repairs. She was diagnosed with a soft tissue disease called EhrlersDanlos Syndrome which caused her to have a series of strokes and left half her body paralyzed.

On Tuesday, September 9, the demolition began around 9 a.m., and then construction began at approximately noon. On Sunday, September 14, the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” bus moved, revealing the exterior of the home to the family for the first time.

Throughout the week people were more than welcome to donate to a campaign called, “Hope for Haiti.” Which collected school supplies, clothes, shoes, hygiene products, and much for the people in Haiti that were hit by the devastating storms. The American Red Cross was also taking blood donations also.

“It’s really cool to have something like this come to our community to help a family in need,” said MCCC student Martin Rios when asked about the event.

“With it close to home I think it’s a good thing for us and shows us even more what we can do for others,” also said MCCC student Mara Calabrese about the event.

The new season of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” starts September 28. The Toledo episode will be shown sometime in November. The show airs at 8 p.m. Sundays on WTVG, Channel 13.

Even though the Fall semester at MCCC has just begun, it is already time for students planning on transferring to a university in the winter to prepare for the big transition. Thankfully, for current MCCC students set to move to Eastern Michigan University (EMU) in January 2009, the process is now easier than ever before.

“We try to provide a smooth transition for transfer students,” Jill Sermon, regional manager of EMU’s office at MCCC, said.

EMU’s current application process takes the stress out of the entire procedure. Students can apply online, by mail, or in-person at either EMU’s main campus or their office at MCCC. The application, which costs $30 by mail and $20 online, is simple and quick to fill out. The form requires basic information such as the applicant’s address, ethnicity, proof of citizenship, and educational background.

EMU admits incoming freshman on the basis of the applicant’s high school or college GPA, academic and personal honors, and for high school students applying to EMU, ACT/SAT scores and high school curriculum.

Minimum requirements for incom-

ing freshman include 12 transferable credits and at least a 2.0 GPA. To make the process even simpler, EMU offers the “Transfer in a Day” program, a quick one-day program that allows one to be admitted to EMU, receive academic advising, and course registration, all within the span of a few hours. A similar program is featured on campus at MCCC through the EMU office in room L112. Students can make appointments at the office to meet with counselors from EMU, who venture to MCCC regularly to aid future students.

“We can assist with the admissions process as well as provide academic advising services,” Sermon said. “The advisor can also register students. We can be a liaison for student academic services as well as the financial aid office.”

The simplicity of the “Transfer in a Day” program is not lost to EMU’s MCCC office, either.

“We try to follow a one-stop shop model so students have more time to focus on their studies.”

In addition, EMU offers transfer services to ease the process of transferring credits from Michigan community colleges. EMU’s transfer services include transfer equivalency information, tabulation of credit, available programs of study, courses

needed to satisfy general education requirements, applicability of transfer work to general education requirements or specific programs, as well as general admission policies and procedures. EMU is also part of the MACRAO agreement among Michigan community colleges and fouryear universities, which guarantees classes that meet certain criteria will transfer completely.

Checklist for Winter Transfers

 Make sure you have at least 12 transferable credits and a minimum 2.0 GPA  Fill out and submit college application  Submit official college transcript (make sure to get MACRAO stamp)  Check transfer equivalencies  Meet with university counselor to schedule classes and receive academic advising

Feature THE AGORA 5 Conventions empower parties September 16, 2008

Casey Cheap Staff

College students are more relevant than ever in this year’s presidential election.

For those entering college, it will be a first-time voting experience.

With anticipated voter turnout in record numbers, no demographic will be overlooked, especially in a close election.

Every four years, those votes are pledged for with both the Republicans and Democrats holding their conventions in summer a few months before the election.

The Conventions are a gathering place for party leaders and supporters. The party typically hands the nomination to the most qualified candidate. Regardless the candidate, they typically give an acceptance speech at the convention.

This year, the Democratic National Convention was held in Denver, August 25-28. On the first day of the Convention, Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean called the convention to order, and sorted out the Michigan and Florida delegates’ controversy.

Both the Republicans and Democrats penalized the two states— Michigan’s 156 and Florida’s 210 delegate votes—because they vio-

lated party rules and held primaries too early in the year. Each delegate only got a half vote.

Barack Obama was officially elected as the Democratic Party’s nominee when 4,400 delegates cast their votes.

Over the week, speeches were made by top Democrats in one giant political ad for Obama. Among those notable were Obama’s wife, Michelle, and a “no way, no how, no McCain” speech by Hillary Clinton.

Just before the week of the Convention, Obama picked Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate, much to the disgust of Hillary supporters. During her speech she let the nation and her party know she was backing Obama, and called on her supporters to do so.

The most important moment, however, was the speech Obama made the last night of the Convention, accepting the nomination for president.

“After hearing him speak, there is no doubt I am voting for Obama,” Ashley Stevens, student, said.

Not to be outdone by the Democrats, Republicans gathered in St. Paul for the Republican Convention, held September 1-4.

Because of Hurricane Gustav,

the first day of the Convention was subdued out of respect for those in New Orleans affected by the storm.

“I truly believe in McCain and Palin,” Lauren Anderson, student, said. “Not only are they both extraordinary people, they are both reform minded and present realistic solutions to our nation’s biggest problems.”

The Republican base was energized after speeches by both former New York mayor and presidential contender Rudy Giuliani, and John McCain’s Vice Presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

On Thursday night, McCain gave his speech accepting the nomination as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate.

During this year’s campaign, the generalization has been Obama is a better speaker, but some who were unsure before were swayed by McCain’s speech.

“Well McCain, from what I’ve heard, seems a little more practical,” Michael Buckenmeyer, student, said. “Also his choice [for] VP was a good one. The women who would vote for Hillary because she is a woman will now vote for McCain because his running mate is a woman.”

Hurricanes continue to rip through southern U.S. Jennifer Niswender Assistant Editor

Photo courtesy of www.zodiackiller.com

The corner of Washington and Cherry Street is where Paul Stine was killed by the Zodiac.

Zodiac: 40 years unsolved Cassandra Kane Staff

At approximately 12:40 a.m., on the morning of July 5, 1969, the police department in Vallejo, CA received a strange call. “I want to report a double murder. If you will go one mile east on Columbus Parkway to the public park you will find the kids in a brown car. They were shot with a 9 millimeter luger.

I also killed those kids last year.”

The man who called would later be known as the Zodiac killer.

It has been forty years since the Zodiac took his first victims in 1968. There have been suspects, theories and suspected motives for the murders, but Zodiac has yet to be identified.

Zodiac’s first victims were David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen on December 20, 1968. They were found on the ground near their car along Lake Herman Road in Vallejo, CA. The next attack took place in Vallejo as well. This time the

victims were found in the parking lot of Blue Rock Springs Park. The victims were Darlene Ferrin and Michael Mageau who were both shot multiple times. Mageau miraculously survived. He was never able to identify the killer because he was never shown a line-up of pictures. It was after these murders that letters and ciphers from Zodiac started coming into the San Fransisco Chronicle, Examiner, and Times-Herald.

On September 27, 1969 Zodiac struck again. This time he attacked a young couple at Lake Berryessa near Napa, CA. Cecilia Shepard and Bryan Hartnell were assaulted with a long knife. Shepard was stabbed ten times and was found dead at the scene. Hartnell was stabbed six times in the back and survived.

Paul Stine was the Zodiac’s last definite victim. He was a cab driver who was hailed by the Zodiac in the city. Zodiac shot Stine at point blank range on the corner of Washington and Cherry Streets in the

In the past three years more than a hand full of hurricanes and tropical storms have torn through the southeast part of the United States and other countries such as Cuba, Haiti, and the Bahamas. But no one will ever forget the most intense and deadliest one yet, Hurricane Katrina.

Even though Hurricane Katrina made landfall at the end of August in 2005, people are still recouping from the horrible damage done and lives that were lost. Katrina was responsible for taking the lives of over 1,800 people and causing over $80 billion in damage.

Now with the summer coming to an end it looks like hurricane season has begun once again. Four major tropical storms have formed and if not already made landfall in the Gulf Coast.

On September 1 and 2 Hurricane Gustav crashed into the shorelines of Louisiana only days before the storm hit millions of people were urged to evacuate the coastal line to shelters and farther north. It was

Constitution. Section 111(b) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 further directs that “During those years when September 17 occurs on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, programming must be held during either the preceding or following week.”

While Constitution Day program content is left up to each individual school, and the U.S Department of Education has no plans to “monitor institutional compliance” with the mandate, there is some apprehension regarding this “new precedent for Congressional involvement in curricular activities.” In his May 2007 article, Constitution Day, Bradford P. Wilson quotes “Becky Timmons, director of government relations at the American Council on Education, ‘Our members find it very intrusive. . . . They are concerned about the precedent it holds for Congress telling them what to teach.’” Current law prohibits federal control of education including the establishment of national standards in curriculum for colleges and universities.

Despite the controversies, Constitution Day is a day of celebration; a time to reflect upon the freedoms

troops to North Carolina, residents prepare for the massive amount of rain. Many residents evacuated and booked hotels inland. Although Hanna does not look like Katrina or Gustav, there is yet another that looks to be more threatening.

Hurricane Ike is roaring through the Atlantic and appears to be a category 4 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center calls Hurricane Ike an “extremely dangerous” storm, with 135 mph sustained winds and the potential to produce 12-20 inches of rain. Ike is the fifth major hurricane to form in the Atlantic this year and is predicted to follow the same path Gustav and Katrina took.

Last but least, Hurricane Josephine in the far Atlantic but continues to weaken and looks to be no threat to land.

With so many hurricanes the damage is just a never ending thing.

So this next month just keep in mind all the people that aren’t as fortunate as you and I. Make donations or even send supplies to the people in the South. Even a little bit can make a difference.

suburbs of San Francisco. After his death, Zodiac included pieces of Paul Stine’s bloody shirt in his letters to the newspapers. Gerald and Mary-Jo Windels, two Monroe residents shared their connection to the Zodiac murders.

“My cousin lived in Santa Barbara County [CA] so she was near the Zodiac murders. I remember her calling me after Paul Stine’s murder. She was in the city for a few days visiting with her brother.

She was really scared,” said MaryJo Windels.

“The Zodiac murders were so random, and I think that’s why people were shocked,” said Gerald Windels. “My wife’s cousin had actually met detective Toschi, one of the people in charge of the Stine case while she was in the city one day.”

Officer Matt Merideth of the Vallejo Police Department would not give a comment on the Zodiac case. It appears the murders are still Waters rush by a STOP sign showing how high the waters got during Hurricane Katrina. being investigated.

Photo courtesy of googleimages.com

MCCC celebrates history with Constitution Day “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union...do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” On September 17, 1787, thirty-nine members of the U.S. Constitutional Convention changed the course of history by signing the Constitution.

In 2004, U.S. Senator Robert Byrd (D-W.V.) introduced a rider to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 [Pub. L. 108-447], requiring all publicly funded schools to provide instruction on the Constitution for students served by the institution. Congress approved the rider in December 2004, and “On May 24, 2005, the U.S. Department of Education released a Notice of Implementation, announcing that all educational institutions receiving federal funding must provide an educational program pertaining to the United States Constitution on September 17 of each year.”

In her May 2005 article, Constitution Day Rule Announced by the U.S. Department of Education, Shelley Rodgers reports that “By law, Constitution Day is to be held every year on September 17” to commemorate the signing of the

very hard to find a shelter that actually had room. Most shelters were full and had rationed food.

More than 814,000 people in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi were without power and air conditioning.

Many gas stations could not pump gas because of the power outage. Cellular and internet service was also very hard to get.

President Bush declared a major disaster exists in Louisiana and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by Gustav even though not as much damage was done as everyone expected.

On Wednesday, September 3, Mayor Ray Nagin gave the ok to evacuees that they could now return home.

But is it too soon to be having residents returning home? With three other major storms in the Atlantic and Hurricane Hanna leading that way, is it really safe to return home already? Hanna made landfall Saturday, September 6, on the coastal line of North and South Carolina. As the National Guard sends

we enjoy as citizens of the United States of America thanks to careful planning and vision of our forefathers so many years ago. Constitution Day is a day of learning. Take a moment to educate yourself about your rights and responsibilities as a U.S. Citizen. A quick search of the Internet reveals hundreds of Constitution Day resources, activities, and archives.

This year, Monroe County Community College is celebrating Constitution Day with a contest. Test your Constitution IQ by looking at the 10 questions below, recording your answers, and then submitting your signed results to the Humanities office in room C-201 or to the Agora room in L-202 by noon, Friday, September 19. All entries with 10 correct answers will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to the Frog Leg Inn Bistro.

Hint: All the answers are easily found by running a simple search on the Internet. You may also find your political science text helpful.

Penny Dorcey-Naber Humanities/Social Sciences Assistant

Constitution Day IQ Test Turn in by Septemeber 19, 2008 to room L-202 to qualify for contest.

1.

Under the original Constitution, senators were elected by ____________________.

2.

The essays anonymously written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay in support of the new constitution were collectively known as __________________________.

3.

In what year did the first ten amendments become part of the Constitution?

4.

Name the 1819 Supreme Court case (it has a link to higher education) that decided a corporate charter was a legal contract.

5.

A person must be at least ___________ years old to be elected president.

6.

Freedom of the press, at least from congressional legislation, is guaranteed by which amendment?

7.

Which amendment specifically repeals an earlier one?

8.

How many signers of the Constitution eventually served as president?

9.

What was the first state to ratify the Constitution?

10.

The XXVII Amendment was ratified in 1992. When was it first proposed?

_________________________________ _______________________________ Name Phone Number

6 THE AGORA

Sports

September 16, 2008

Football fans pumped up for season Michael Crossman Staff

“I’m so glad it’s finally here, I have been waiting for this for months,” Ben Schreiber, MCCC student said.

Schreiber is referring to the start of the college football season. The season began on September 2nd, and has been booming eyes since. The season lasts until the last week of November with a total of 12 games on every team’s schedule.

“College is entirely different from the professional level because the players don’t get paid, and they’re playing with the pride of an entire University, along with its alumni present,” he said.

Psychologists have long suspected that many die-hard fans are lonely, alienated people searching for self-esteem by identifying with a sports team. But a study at the University of Kansas suggests just the opposite.

Sports fans suffer fewer bouts of depression and alienation than do people who are uninterested in sports.

One theory traces the roots of

fan psychology to a primitive time when human beings lived in small tribes, and warriors fighting to protect tribes were true genetic representatives of their people, psychologists say.

Some researchers have found that fervent fans become so obsessed with their teams that they experience hormonal surges and other physiological changes while watching games, much as the athletes do.

The self-esteem of some male and female fans also rise and fall with a game’s outcome, which affects their optimism from everything to getting a date or winning at their own hobbies.

“When I watch the college games versus the pros, it just seems to me that the player’s are playing for more than just a touchdown, or money,” said Julie Stilles, MCCC student.

“It’s like their lives are on the line each time they come out of the huddle. The crowds never stop screaming, and it’s wall to wall pandemonium from start to end. I’ll never lose interest in the game,” she said.

Robert Cialdini, a professor of psychology at Arizona State,

pioneered research on fans in the 1970’s.

He began by documenting that college sports fans share the desire to belong to a group or a society. A need once fulfilled mostly by religious and political organizations, and that may explain why some fans remain loyal despite the repeated failure of their teams.

His later research showed that sports fans tend to claim credit for a team’s success, saying ‘’we won’’ to describe a victory, but tend to distance themselves from a team’s failure, saying ‘’they lost’’ when describing a defeat.

MCCC student, Steven Hughes, was explaining his thoughts on the topic when he suddenly began to yell with more emphasis about his team.

“Every time I’m watching Michigan play, it just seems like I’m the coach because I’m constantly yelling from my couch as to what they should or should not do,” he said.

“My girlfriend is always telling me how childish I am for claiming Photo courtesy of organicexposurephotoblogspot.com it’s “my” team, when I don’t even play for them. I just tell her you’ll When Appalachian State beat U of M in their season opener last year the students celebrated by tearing down the school’s field goal post and carried it a mile around the school. never get it,” he said.

College football begins Michigan football teams have high hopes for this season. Michigna State University holds a winning record of 2-1 and University of Michigan is 1-2.

Michigan State vs.

Florida Atlantic

Photo courtesy of Mandie Minard

MCCC Volleyball Club enters second year, seeking girls Kristin Stepinski Staff

A new club is being added to the mix at MCCC this year. Girls Volleyball is now an official club sport as of the 2008-09 season.

MCCC students Mandie Minard and Beth Terrasi had the idea to put together a club at the beginning of last year. Both girls decided to put the plans in motion in order to be ready for this season.

The team is split in half to create a maroon team and a white team, each captained by Minard and MCCC student Cassie Kane. Practices began on September 8th and the team is hoping to participate in three or four tournaments throughout the 08-09 season, tentatively

planned to run from November to April.

Practices are once a week, every Monday from 9-10:30pm in the Health Sciences building and they are always looking for more girls to join.

“All I ask is that girls who wish to join are determined to play and have some kind of experience,” Mandie Minard, MCCC student, said.

The MCCC team has also joined a Women’s league consisting of about ten teams, all of whom play out of the Arthur Lesow Community Center in Monroe. Games within the league are scheduled for Wednesday nights anywhere from 6-9:30pm.

Minard is hoping to spark a trend with other students at MCCC. She hopes that others might decide to create clubs of their own.

“We’ve been trying to encourage the men to join a league because a lot of them want to join our team, but we took a bid with a women’s league,” she said.

With more students having the initiative of Minard and Terrasi, the list of clubs offered at MCCC could rapidly expand.

The fall welcome barbeque will take place on September 23, 2008.

At the barbeque there will be a table setup for anyone interested in joining the team to stop by and speak with some of the current members.

Low on Gas $$ In the coming issues of The Agora we are going to test you, the student, with our very own version of “Where’s Waldo”. Each issue with consist of five items to find throughout the paper. Your job is to find them and report back to us. If you are right we will put your name in a drawing. At the end of the semester one lucky student will win a:

$100 GAS CARD We will advertise what you should look, so look out for future issues and happy hunting !

After a tremendous 17-0 victory Saturday at Spartan Stadium, Javon Ringer can rest easy this week, after rushing for 57 yards more than the entire Florida Atlantic offense.

The weather was certainly a factor for both teams, with two fumbles apiece heading into the fourth quarter. But the strong winds and heavy rain didn’t hinder the unstoppable Javon Ringer, who rushed for 282 yards and two touchdowns in MSU’s (2-1) first shutout since 1999 against Northwestern.

Ringer gave State a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter on a 21-yard run. In the third quarter, Ringer’s running allowed Brett Swenson to hit a 22 yard field

goal to give MSU a 10-0 lead. Ringer’s second touchdown, early in the fourth, put the Spartans ahead 17-0.

After two games he leads the country in rushing with 9 touchdowns.

FAU (1-2) quarterback Rusty Smith struggled the entire game, completing only three out of 18 passes for 143 yards.

“I thought I threw four spirals all game. I would say 98 percent of the balls that weren’t completed were my fault,” said Smith.

It was the first shutout for Michigan State since 1999 beating Northwestern 34-0 and the first in Spartan Stadium since 1996.

Notre Dame vs.

Michigan As the result of the rainy weather, Notre Dame (2-0) quickly grabbed a 21-0 lead after two Michigan (1-2) fumbles early in the 1st quarter, provided the momentum to carry them to victory over the Wolverines, by score of 37-17.

It started when Michigan quarterback Steven Threet threw a lateral to Brandon Minor, who dropped it allowing the Irish to recover at the 11-yard line leading to the first of two touchdown runs by Robert Hughes.

After the kickoff, Michael Shaw fumbled the return and Mike Anello recovered for the Irish. Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen than threw a 10-yard pass to Duval Kamara for a 14-0 lead.

Irish Coach Charlie Weis was knocked over on the sideline by a Michigan player during a punt return and spent the rest of the game on crutches with his left leg wrapped after he decided to celebrate a little too early in the 1st quarter.

Toward the end of the quarter, Michigan ran a fake punt but ended up turning the ball over on downs and Notre Dame capitalized with a 48-yard touchdown

pass to Golden Tate to take a commanding 21-0 lead.

The Wolverines finally scored later in the 1st after Sam McGuffie’s excellent running skills turned a quick pass from Threet into a 40-yard touchdown.

McGuffie later set-up K.C. Lopata’s 23-yard field goal to cut the lead to 21-10.

But the Irish answered back with a 60 yard pass to Tate, who broke four tackles before being taken down at the 25-yard line. Hughes then scored on a 1-yard run to make it 28-10.

By halftime, Kevin Grady had scored a 7-yard run touchdown to cut the lead to 28-17.

“The Wolverines moved the ball better than they did in their first two games, they just didn’t hold on to it, and with a total of six turnovers, I’m just thankful for no interceptions,” said MCCC student Kirk Olson.

“I blame it all on the weather.”

Steven Threet was 16-of-23 passing for 175 yards and a touchdown. Sam McGuffie ran for 131 yards on 25 carries and had four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.

In Other football News...

Iowa 17, Iowa State 5: Iowa still hasn’t settled on a quarterback, but the Hawkeyes have discovered a winning formula: defense and a healthy dose of Shonn Greene. Both were crucial when the Hawkeyes took the Cy-Hawk Trophy back from Iowa State on Saturday. Greene ran for 120 yards and a touchdown, Andy Brodell returned a fourth-quarter punt 81 yards for a score and Iowa beat rival Iowa State 17-5 on a wet and windy field, picking up its third straight home win over the Cyclones.

Illinois 20, Louisiana 17: Daniel Dufrene had a career-high 126 yards rushing and Matt Eller’s late field goal helped No. 24 Illinois hold off LouisianaLafayette for a 20-17 win Saturday. Dufrene rushed 19 times and caught a touchdown pass for Illinois (21), which took a 20-10 lead on Eller’s 27-yard kick with 1:40 left.

Minnesota 35, Montana State 23: Eric Decker had nine catches for 157 yards and a touchdown to lead Minnesota to a 35-23 victory over Montana State on Saturday. It took a while for the sluggish Gophers (3-0) to get going, but once Adam Weber started getting the ball to Decker, the Bobcats (1-2) didn’t have an answer.

Northwestern 33, Southern Illinois 7:

Tyrell Sutton ran for 101 yards and three touchdowns, leading Northwestern to a 33-7 victory over Southern Illinois on Saturday. Sutton had 17 carries, scoring on runs of 44 yards in the second quarter, 2 yards in the third and 15 in the fourth. The Wildcats (3-0) scored 27 unanswered points in a game that was played in a steady rain that closed down a highway north of the city and flooded streets near Ryan Field.

Penn State 55, Syracuse 13: A day after celebrating its glorious past, Syracuse went right back to reminding fans of its dismal present. With former stars in town for the premiere of a movie celebrating Ernie Davis, No. 17 Penn State renewed the rivalry between the schools with an old-fashioned beating, gaining nearly 400 yards in the first half on the way to a 55-13 win.

Oregon 32, Purdue 26: LaGarrette Blount ran 3 yards for a touchdown in the second overtime to give No. 16 Oregon a come-from-behind 32-26 win over Purdue on Saturday. Oregon (3-0) trailed 20-3 early in the second quarter, but tied the game late in the third, and Purdue’s Chris Summers missed a 44yard field goal as time expired in regulation.

September 16, 2008

A&E

THE AGORA

7

Eno, Byrne try ‘Everything’ on reunion disc

Steve Sonoras Staff

“This groove is out of fashion.

These beats are 20 years old,” Talking Heads front-man David Byrne croons on “Strange Overtones,” the sunny new single from his latest collaboration with Brian Eno. And he couldn’t be more correct—the song does sound slightly out-of-date in an endearing way. This is no surprise, though, since Eno and Byrne hadn’t previously worked together since they developed the art of “sampling” 30 years ago with their My Life in the Bush of Ghosts album.

The result of their latest collaboration is not a natural follow-up to its cutting edge predecessor, but it is an in-

teresting pop record nevertheless.

Both Eno and Byrne have had varied and massively influential careers, and the two can be linked by fewer than six degrees. Eno spent some time with veteran art rockers Roxy Music in the early 70’s before embarking on a pioneering solo career and going on to become a famed multimedia artist and mega-producer, cutting records with Devo, U2, and most recently Coldplay.

David Bryne has served as a sort of apprentice to Eno. His best records with Talking Heads were produced

by Eno, and he later went on to develop a successful solo career as both a musician, Oscar-winning composer, and—you guessed it—a multimedia artist.

One would expect a reunion between these two artistic titans to pave new paths of innovation. Instead, the fruit of their latest endeavor simply sounds like a couple of old friends having fun with the technology they pioneered years before.

According to the duo’s website (www.everythingthathappens.com) their new disc was crafted with the two creators working on separate ends of the globe, sending tracks to each other via email. Eno played most of the music and Byrne wrote lyrics and sang the tunes. The production methods were risky, but if anything can be said of Everything…, it has a surprisingly warm, cohesive sound.

One would imagine upon first listening to the album that the duo worked

very closely and deliberately together in a studio.

Aside from the production, the songs themselves are of scattered genres and quality. There are hints of country, new age, electro, pop, and the slippery funk that made David Byrne a household name in the early 1980’s.

Nearly every song is enjoyable in its own right, but there are really only a couple of standouts (“Strange Overtones” and “Wanted for Life” spring to mind).

Everything That Happens merely stands in the shadows of its creators past efforts, but it is a fun listen regardless. Thankfully, it is streaming for free on the album’s website, so you can give it a listen before shelling out any cash on it.

Kelly creates classics for continuing generations Gene Kelly

Aug. 1912 - Feb. 1996 Emmy and Academy award winnging actor

Cassandra Kane Staff

Old Movie Review: Singin’ in the Rain (1952) Singin’ in the Rain is one of the most memorable and popular musicals ever produced. The movie is set at a time when the silver screen introduced the talkies.

Don Lockwood, played by Gene Kelly (Les Girls, An American in Paris), is a big silent movie star caught up in a cooked-up romance with his leading lady Lena Lamont for publicity. Unfortunately, Lena proves to have a voice that could ruin the talkies.

Don and his friend Cosmo Brown, played by Donald O’Connor (Cry For Happy, Francis the Talking Mule), come up with an idea to dub Lena’s voice with that of their friend’s, Kathy Seldon played by Debbie Reynolds (Susan Slept Here, The Mating Game). But can Lockwood keep himself from falling in

love with the lovely Seldon?

Director Stanley Donen brings you one of the greatest musicals of all time. There’s music, dancing, romance, and plenty of joking around.

Singin’ in the Rain includes some of the most beloved music of the time and still puts a hop in your step. Some of these musical numbers include “Gotta Dance,” “Good Mornin’,” “Make Them Laugh,” “You Were Meant For Me,” and of course, “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Where there’s music, there has to be dancing. O’Connor, Reynolds and Kelly team up to bring you some of the most exciting choreography ever seen on the silver screen--not to mention the surprise appearance of Cyd Charisse (Harvey Girls, Ziegfeld Follies) in the Broadway Rhythm sequence. Charisse and Kelly fog up the camera lens as they dance to two great musical scores.

Gene Kelly has been credited with creating the choreography himself.

Tapping, singing, and making you

laugh is what these three stars do best and they really show it during this movie.

Of course, one cannot watch this movie without remarking on Gene Kelly’s title dance, which is the one dance most people remember him for. Will Friedwald, a music critic of the time, had this to say about Kelly’s performance: “It’s not only the four most rapturous minutes in the history of cinema, but everything that dance should be – a glorious affirmation of everything that it means to be alive.”

Singin’ in the Rain has always been, and always will be, one of those great American musicals that captures the hearts of more and more people the longer it stays popular.

Whether you like comedy, romance, or you just like watching these wonderful stars dance, Singin’ in the Rain is sure to take you away to a time when the silver screen was the only screen.

Fall TV returns

Cassandra Kane Staff

Timeless, versatile, captivating, and effortless are just some of the words used to describe Gene Kelly. He was truly one of the greatest performers to ever dance his way into our hearts.

Gene was born in Pittsburg, PA on August 23, 1912 into a middle-class Irish family. His mother sent Gene and his four siblings to dance lessons at an early age, but it wasn’t until Gene entered into high school that he started to enjoy it. Kelly once said, “At age 14, I discovered girls. At that time, dancing was the only way you could put your arm around the girl.

Dancing was courtship. Only later did I discover that you dance joy. You dance love. You dance dreams.”

It wasn’t until 1940 when David Selznick from MGM Studios noticed him in the Broadway production of Pal Joey that Kelly entered Hollywood. Gene’s first film was For Me and My Gal with Judy Garland in 1942.

In 1944 Gene starred in Cover Girl with Rita Hayworth, and established himself as a star. The alter-ego sequence, in which Kelly dances with his a superimposed image of himself made audiences everywhere notice him.

He brought the musicals back to the silver screen with his unique dancing ability, his soft singing voice and his ability to choreograph. Frank Sinatra even accredited him for being talented and patient enough with him during their making of Take Me out to the Ball Game, where in a short six weeks Gene taught him how to dance.

Kelly was also patriotic. He served in the Navy from 1945 to May of 1946 as a lieutenant.

In the early 1950’s he and his long-time friend and director Stanley Donen, made two films that are still popular today: An American in Paris and Singin’ in the Rain. Both films are still well-known.

Kelly did not enter Hollywood as a

young-and-upcoming star, but as middle-aged hoofer with big ideas. His career, due to hardships and greedy executives, did not last long. His last big film was Les Girls in 1957.

In 1973, his second wife died from leukemia leaving him to care for his three children by himself. Gene refused any work that would take him far from Beverly Hills, showing his dedication to his family. He completed a lot of behind the scenes work later in life, but very few appearances were made.

Kelly received 9 cinematic awards including an Emmy and an Academy Award, and he was nominated for 9 more. Sadly, in February of 1996, Kelly died after a series of strokes.

Gene Kelly’s last cinematic words were spoken at the end of That’s Entertainment III. “The song has ended, but the melody lingers on.” That is the way it will always be with Gene Kelly. He is no longer with us, but he is still in our hearts.

After last year’s re-run filled season, due to the writer’s strike, the TV lineup for fall is finally picking up speed once again. Fan favorites are returning this year along with plenty of new dramas and comedies to add to the mix.

‘SMALLVILLE’

‘LAW & ORDER: SVU’

‘GREY’S ANATOMY’

‘HOUSE’

The CW network’s most watched show returns Thursday, September 18th at 8pm. In last season’s finale, Clark Kent went back to Krypton to contest the evil Brainiac. He managed to win the battle and send baby Kal-El to Earth, however, Lana still appeared to be left in her comatose state while Kara was suffering from symptoms of her own.

Returning regular Allison Mack will continue her role as Clark’s longtime best friend Chloe while Justice League member Green Arrow, played by Justin Hartley, will also join the cast as a series regular.

This season Clark joins Lois as a reporter for the Daily Planet and Doomsday makes his first appearance in Smallville.

Former regulars Kristin Kreuk and Michael Rosenbaum, Lana Lang and Lex Luthor respectively, will not be returning this season on a weekly basis but could turn up in select episodes during the year.

Law & Order: SVU is back after last season’s eventful finale. Season ten of the drama returns on Tuesday, September 23rd in the show’s regular 10pm time slot.

The end of season nine saw the cast say goodbye to Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak (Diane Neal), due to her being suspended in the finale, and season regular, Detective Chester Lake (Adam Beach). Newcomer Michaela McManus will replace Neal as A.D.A. Kim Greyleck.

As for Benson and Stabler, executive producer Neal Baer promises that the two partners will find themselves in quite the situation early on. Baer says “you won’t believe your eyes.”

The medical drama begins season five on Thursday, September 25th on ABC with a two-hour premiere. This season promises to be full of surprises after Erica and Callie took their relationship to the next level in the finale. Meredith and Derek are officially together again but their relationship has been anything but easy and more complications are sure to arise. Also, the beloved (and deceased) Denny Duquette returns in some form.

Izzie, George, Cristina, Lexie, Alex, and the rest of the gang are all back for what is sure to be a season full of the usual bizarre medical cases and plenty of the dramatic goodness that Grey’s has become known for.

The head injury that House sustained from the bus accident left him with the feeling that another accident victim needed his help. Turns out the person that needed him was none other than Amber, Wilson’s girlfriend.

Amber’s death left Wilson reeling and he blames House. Their relationship will in turn suffer some serious problems this season. How that will ultimately affect the characters is to be determined.

Meanwhile Thirteen (who happens to still remain nameless) has to struggle with the discovery that she has Huntington’s disease.

The show’s fifth season begins on Tuesday, September 16th at 9pm on Fox.

8 THE AGORA

Spotlight

September 16, 2008

MCCC’s Season’s Event List

MCCC has announced its lineup of Season Events for 2008-09, which includes comedic, musical and theatrical performances, as well as cultural and community events. This year is sure to have something for everyone. Most of the events will take place at the La-ZBoy Center, Meyer Theater, the college’s state-of-the-art, 575-seat performing arts venue. Below is the complete lineup: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 3 - 5

Sunday, September 28

MCCC’s 22nd Auto Show, which is open to any make, model and year, will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout the grounds of the Main Campus, complete with music by the Madison Avenue Band and a Swap Meet. In addition, there will be hay rides, children’s activities and a craft show. Admission is free.

The Antique Show, where visitors will find every conceivable type of “blast-from-the-past” merchandise imaginable, will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Welch Health Education Building.

Admission is $3.

A free Craft Show will be held in the Warrick Student Services/Administration Building from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Doubt: A Parable; Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.; La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater; $15 reserved seating.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 3 - 5

Doubt: A Parable; Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.; La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater; $15 reserved seating.

Monday, October 20

Band and Chorale Concert; 7:30 p.m.; La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater; free admission.

Saturday, October 25

The Monkee’ Lead Singer Micky Dolenz; 7:30 p.m.; La-Z-Boy, Center Meyer Theater; $25 for reserved seating, $30 for VIP seating, which includes balcony seating, munchies and cash bar.

Dream

Saturday, Nov. 22

Purchase tickets at online at www.monroeccc. edu/theater, by phone at (734) 384 - 4272, or in person at the MCCC Cashier’s Office in A building.

Tuesday, December 2

lub C How to start a

Current C L U B S

Students interested in starting a club on MCCC’s campus should contact the Student Activities Coordinator NeCole Day located in the Admissions Office of the Student Services/Administration Building on MCCC’s main campus, or by calling (734) 384-4107.

Math and Science Society (MASS) Open to students with interests in astronomy, biology, chemistry, ecology/enviromnemtal science, mathematics, physics and general science, contact Tracy Rayl (734) 384-4213. Visit their web site at www.monroeccc.edu/mass/.

Student Nurse Association (SNA) Open to all students who have been accepted into the Nursing Program, contact Bonnie Welniak (734) 384-4248 Respiratory Therapy Student’s Organiztation Open to all students who have been accepted to the Respiratory Therapy Program, contact Bonnie Boggs (734) 384-4268.

Vist their website at www.monroeccc.edu/health_sciences/rtclub/index.htm.

OASIS OASIS Christian Fellowship and Bible Study Group. Oasis Christian Fellowship is an approved student-run organization at Monroe County Community College. Oasis is not affiliated with any church or denomination. The purpose of Oasis is to provide a means for students to study the Bible, to share their beliefs, and to share their ideas with others in the group, contact Brenda Kraus at (734) 242-7300, extension 5772. Visit their web site at www.monroeccc.edu/oasis/.

College/Community Agora Chorale Student/Community Musical Ensemble, contact John Tyner (734) 2411793.

Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Open to students of all majors. SAE team designs, fabricates, and races a formula style race car. Check out their website at www.monroeccc.edu/formulasae/, or contact Don Kehrer (734) 384-4117.

Phi Theta Kappa - Tau Omichron Chapter International Honor Society, contact Cheryl Kehrer (734) 384-4106.

College/Community Symphony Band Student/Community Instrumental Band, contact Mark Felder (734) 2895555.

Friday, January 30

Jimmie “J.J.” Walker ; 7:30 p.m.; La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater; $15 for reserved seating, $25 for VIP seating, which includes balcony seating, munchies and cash bar.

Saturday, February 7

22nd Annual Black History Month Blues Series Concert; 7 p.m.; La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater; free admission. Full details on the 2009 Blues Series will be announced on October.

C Agora Chorale Concert with Special Guest Amazin’ Blue; 7:30 p.m.; La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater; free admission.

!

97.5 WYDM

Open to all students interested in producing television programs about the students, staff, and events here on campus.

Contact Milward Beaudry 734-243-4079.

Friday, December 12

Comic Musician Dale Gonyea; Three Men and a Tenor; 7:30 7:30 p.m.; La-Z-Boy Center, p.m.; La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Meyer Theater; $30 for reserved Theater; $17 for reserved seatseating. The Foundation at Moning, $25 for VIP seating, which roe County Community College includes balcony seating, munchwill celebrate its 10th anniveries and cash bar. sary with a special performance Monday, December 15

by Monroe native and EmmySymphony Band Concert; 7:30 winning comic-musician Dale p.m.; La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Gonyea, who has been hailed by Theater; free admission. the Los Angeles Times as “heir to the piano-comedy throne.”

For more information on available scholarships and financial aid, please contact the MCCC Financial Aid Office at (734) 384-4135. If you are interested in information about funding a scholarship, contact The Foundation at MCCC at (734) 384-4206.

Sunday, February 22

Band and Chorale ‘Collage’ Concert; 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (two performances); La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater; free admission.

Saturday, March 7

A Tribute to Bette Midler featuring Kathy Thompson; 7:30 p.m.; La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater; $20 for reserved seating, $30 for VIP seating, which includes balcony seating, munchies and cash bar.

Thursday, March 12

Remembering the Raisin – Perspectives on the War of 1812; Hors d’oeuvre reception at 6:30 p.m. with a lecture at 7:30 p.m.; La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater; Reception tickets are $25, but the lecture is free and open to the public. Tickets for the reception go on sale about one month before the event.

Friday, March 20

Magician/Comedian James Michael; 7:30 p.m.; La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater; $15 for reserved seating. Comedy, magic, dance, juggling, acrobatics – you name it, and James Michael does it.

Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5

Antiques in April; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Welch Health Education Building; $3 admission.

Monday, April 27

Symphony Band Concert; 7:30 p.m.; La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater; free admission.

Tuesday, April 28

Agora Chorale Concert; 7:30 p.m.; La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater; free admission.

ongratulations Mary Fraser Nursing Scholarship

MCCC has awarded Mary Fraser Nursing Scholarship to Janee Benner. The $1,000 scholarship is to be used for tuition, books and fees.

Benner, a 1992 graduate of Monroe High School, is the vice president of the MCCC Student Nursing Association and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society. She and her husband, Brian, reside in Monroe and have two children, Dalton and Branee.

For more information on available scholarships and financial aid, please contact the MCCC Financial Aid Office at (734) 384-4135. If you are interested in information about funding a scholarship, contact The Foundation at MCCC at (734) 384-4206.

Baumann Nursing Scholarship

MCCC has awarded the first Baumann Nursing Scholarship to Misty DeMay of Monroe. The $1,000 scholarship is to be used for tuition, books, fees and child care costs at the MCCC child care center.

The Baumann Nursing Scholarship was established this year by Michelle Baumann and Marvin Baumann.

DeMay, a 1995 graduate of Monroe High School, is a member of the MCCC Student Nursing Association and member of the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society. She was named to the National Dean’s list in 2005-06 and 2006-07. She and her husband, Andrew, have two children: Jacob, 3, and Logan, 2.

For more information on available scholarships and financial aid, please contact the MCCC Financial Aid Office at (734) 384-4135. If you are interested in information about funding a scholarship, contact The Foundation at MCCC at (734) 384-4206.

Monroe Exchange Club Scholarship

MCCC has awarded the Monroe Exchange Club Scholarship to Monroe residents Ashley Cowell and Brooke Nagel. The $1250 scholarship is designated for tuition, books, fees and supplies.

Cowell, the daughter of Gerald and Mary Cowell, is a 2008 graduate of Monroe High School and earned the Driving Forces Award all four years. She has been a volunteer for the Humane Society of Monroe County and the Lutheran Home of Monroe. In addition, she has been a classroom volunteer working with special needs children. She plans to pursue a career as a medical office coordinator.

Nagel, the daughter of Charles and Karol Nagel, is also a 2008 graduate of Monroe High School. She was a member of the Soroptimist Club and the high school’s English and Spanish clubs. Nagel intends to major in liberal arts.

FREE STUDENT ADVERTISING COMING SOON!

Need to sell your books, looking for a roommate, or want to teach music lessons but don’t know how to get the word out? Send your Ad to agora@monroeccc.edu. You can design it or we can, just give us the info and we will put it in our 12 page October issue.

Questions? Call 384-4186 or email us at agora@monroeccc.edu All information was complied by Emily Chandonnet and Steven Sonoras from the MCCC website at

www.monroeccc.edu