April 24, 2014

Students weigh in on the gay marriage ban

Movie filmed in Monroe hits theaters

Page 6

Page 8

April 24, 2014 Vol. 59, Issue 4

Illustration by Darryl White

‘Doc’ takes a permanent Holladay

By Julia Wells Agora Staff

Photo by Julia Wells

Holladay is in the midst of packing up his office, while teaching his last year.

MCCC student arrested for robberies

John Holladay sits in his office , half full of boxes, preparing to leave the job he has held for 46 years.

Holladay announced his retirement from MCCC earlier this year. He began in 1968, just four years after the college was created.

He has worked under five different college presidents and has taught thousands of students.

“I’ve had about 15,000 students, so when I see students on the street I hope they don’t take offense if I don’t remember their names,” he said.

Some students, however, he did get close with.

“The ones you get to know outside of class are the ones you remember the most and get to make a personal connection with,” Holladay said.

A Michigan resident, Holladay went to Marine City High School near Port Huron.

He attended Eastern Michigan University and received a bachelor’s degree before completing his master’s and doctorate at the University of Michigan.

He began teaching the fourth grade in his senior year of college and loved it; he initially planned on being an elementary teacher.

But then he took a required philosophy class and fell in love with the subject. He ended up pursuing a major in literature and minor in philosophy, although he did not predict what would happen.

He learned about an opening at MCCC when the department chair called him about a position teaching English. In what Holladay calls, “probably one of the most unique interviews ever,” he got the job.

“I was 22 at the time. He wanted to know if I’d ever played paddleball and I had my interview on the paddleball court at U of M,”

Holladay said.

He was 23 when he started working at MCCC and has been a full-time faculty member ever since. Many people know him by the nickname, “Doc” Holladay.

Early in his career, Holladay recruited his best students who showed an interest in film and started a group called the Cinema Guild.

The Guild showed about six films a year to the campus. The original films shown were in 16 millimeter format and were expensive to rent. After eight years, films began to come out on VHS videotapes.

Holladay is also known for creating MCCC’s Writing Fellow program after hearing about a similar program starting at Brown University.

“I always tried to catch on and learn the new things that were coming,” he said. “You don’t have to be an Ivy League school to do that; our students are as good as anybody’s.”

Continued on page 2

Students, faculty honored

By Jacob Woods Agora Staff

An MCCC student who was wanted for multiple robberies was arrested last week after six weeks on the run from authorities.

David C. Nadeau, 46, who was enrolled at MCCC for winter semester, was suspected of being responsible for four robberies between March 5 and April 7.

Three of the robberies were committed at area banks and the other was at a Shell gas station on North Monroe street.

Nadeau, who spent five years in jail in the mid-1990s on theft and forgery charges, had been sought by multiple local police forces, the FBI and the U.S. Marshalls.

Nadeau was considered armed and dangerous, after being suspected of robbing the Shell gas station on March 5, and the Monroe Bank & Trust branch on North Monroe Street on March 21.

Sgt. Robert C. Watson, of the U.S. Marshals, said he was concerned that Nadeau would not go quietly, because he was rumored to have said he had “nothing to lose,” facing life in prison.

After already being sought by local and federal police following the first two robberies, Nadeau also was suspected in a third armed robbery and second bank robbery.

PNC Bank on Telegraph David C.Nadeau in The Brownstown was held up on Last attended MCCC: March 31. Police said they beFeb. 18 lieved all three robberies were MB&T robbery: committed by Nadeau.

March 5 Then one week later, on April Shell robbery: 7, the Chase Bank branch on AlMarch 21 len Road in Brownstown was PNC robbery: robbed. A suspect, believed by police to be Nadeau, was seen March 31 wearing similar clothes as seen in Chase robbery: the surveillance video at the PNC April 7 and Chase robberies.

Car chase & arrest: Then on April 16, a black Jeep April 16 SUV that matched the description of a vehicle used in the robberies was spotted at the intersection of West Road and Telegraph in Brownstown by Sgt. Jeff Watson of the Brownstown Township Police Department.

“After he made a turn, I got a good look and saw that he matched the suspect’s description,” Sgt. Watson said.

After running the car’s plate and confirming it was owned by Nadeau, Sgt. Watson followed the suspect as he entered I-75 N. “The chase lasted from Telegraph and West till Southfield-and-8 Mile by Woodward, which is about 25 miles from Brownstown,” Sgt. Watson said.

The chase, which reached speeds of 85 mph, was finally brought to a stop when State Police troopers initiated a tactical maneuver that caused Nadeau to spin out and crash, Sgt. Watson said.

Nadeau may have been scoping out another bank or planning another robbery, Sgt. Watson said.

“That’s my belief,” he said. “Based on the facts, with a couple of banks in the area, he could have been planning another robbery.”

Sgt. Watson said Nadeau is being held by federal authorities and will be tried on federal bank robbery charges.

Inside:

Photo by Reggie Allen

Melanie Jacobs-Davis accepts the Faculty Association’s Outstanding Student of the Year award, presented by professor Wendy Wysocki.

Jacobs-Davis, Hilliker win big at Honor’s night

By Mariah Tevepaugh Agora Staff

Over 50 students were awarded for academic accomplishments at the MCCC Honor’s Reception.

Faculty members from several different departments gave students awards from their respective subjects on April 23 at the Meyer Theater.

The Faculty Association Outstanding Student Award was presented to Melanie Jacobs-Davis.

Jacobs-Davis plans on staying on campus but earning her Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Siena Heights.

She has spent her time at the college being involved in the Ambassador Club and being a reporter for The Agora.

“This year I was nominated for the Outstanding Student Award and I have to say, I was floored,” Jacobs-Davis said.

Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award was awarded to Professor Daniel Stewart, who was in class at the time of the ceremony.

Professor William Hilliker was honored with the Outstanding Faculty Award. Hilliker has been an instructor in the Computer Information Systems field for the past 7seven years.

He is involved with the MCCC Faculty Council and the Executive Board. Hilliker was also responsible for finalizing the transfer agreement between MCCC and Eastern Michigan University.

“I’m kind of in shock,” he said. “I didn’t expect to win, and it was an honor just to be nominated.”

MCCC’s first president, Dr. Ronald Campbell made an appearance to give the Dr. Ronald Campbell Student Government Award to Michelle McDevitt.

Campbell has given this award away for the past 28 years since he retired in 1985.

According to him, the ceremony has made

Photo by Reggie Allen

CIS professor William Hilliker accepts the Outstanding Faculty of the Year award from Grace Yackee, Vice President of Instruction, after being nominated by students and chosen by a comittee.

“I’m kind of in shock. I didn’t expect to win, and it was an honor just to be nominated.”

William Hilliker Outstanding Faculty of the Year some changes over the years since his tenure as President.

“During the course of time, things are going to evolve; you can see the changes in education and

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philosophy,” he said.

All of the clubs and organizations at MCCC were given an honorable mention: The Agora staff, the Ambassador Club, Archaeological Society of MCCC, the Ballroom Dance Club, Criminal Justice Club, Culinary club, GSA club, International Studies club, Lambda Alpha Nu, the Math and Science Society, MCCC Gaming Association, Military Veterans United, Psychology Interest Group, Freshman Respiratory Therapy Student club, Sophomore Respiratory Therapy Student club, Student Nurses Association, and Student Government.

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Longest-standing professor to retire Continued from page 1

He started The MCCC Writing Fellow program in 1989 and ran it for three years before giving it up to teach full time again. In 1994, Timothy Dillon, a former student of Holladay’s, took over the program.

“I think it was around 1970 he was my comp 2 instructor,” Dillon said.

“He had the vision to recognize we needed a writing center when no one else did. John certainly helped me a great deal when I first started. It’s modeled after what he did, It’s based on a solid foundation he made.”

“See you on the golf course,” Dillon said of Holladay’s retirement.

Other projects Holladay is credited with starting include the Images literary magazine and teaching the first online course at MCCC. “I was curious about that, having grown up in a time when the only computers that existed filled entire rooms,” Holladay said.

He sat in on an online class and then took one to see what it was like. In 2000, he started teaching online classes and has continued to teach several each year.

Holladay also served as chairman of the Academic Review Committee for over 20 years. The committee meets with students who have flunked out of their classes for any reason and are seeking to be allowed back in school.

“The difficulty was that so many of them just weren’t motivated. They just walked away and they got the bad grades,” Holladay said.

Before the committee decided that the most times a student could take a class was three, many students took a class over and over again until they passed, which cost the state money.

Holladay still keeps in contact with some of the students he allowed back into school, including one girl who had dropped out of high school. After flunk-

Photo courtesy of John Holladay

Professor John Holladay, center, sits with his Writing Fellow staff in 1991, two years after he launched the program.

ing out of MCCC once, Holladay allowed her to return. She got straight A’s and moved on to Eastern Michigan University and is now a successful elementary school teacher.

“Motivation is 99 percent of it,” Holladay said.

“If they’re really motivated they can do just about anything, and if they’re not it doesn’t seem to matter what you do, but a lot of them have to go through that process before they can really get motivated.”

Holladay said he has come across many students who he thinks could have gone anywhere, even Ivy league schools, but have come to MCCC due to financial or family circumstances.

“Every year the faculty association gives out an award to the outstanding student, but we probably have quite a few that deserve it,” he said.

His own children all went to the University of Michigan, as he did. He proudly spoke of his son and two daughters and all of their accomplishments. His son is a

computer programmer and his youngest daughter, who got a 35 on her ACT, has a degree in biology and is pursuing another in physical therapy.

Holladay is leaving to spend more time with his family and his wife who taught for 30 years in Ida. “We went to the prom as freshmen in high school. We dated all through high school and all through college,” Holladay said.

The couple has been together for 55 years.

Holladay has often talked to students who were dating and considering marriage about what makes his marriage work, which he believes isn’t work at all.

“A lot of people said you have to work to be married, and I never found that to be true,” he said.

“I really believe that is because each person thinks that they got the better deal.

You’re marrying this person because you’re not good enough for them and vice versa. Each person thinks he’s the lucky one, so you make it work.”

About his time at MCCC, Holladay said he had no regrets.

“If you do the same thing over and over again, you can get burned out pretty quickly, I’ve been lucky I’ve taught over 12 different classes. I think that’s probably a reason I didn’t retire ten years sooner, there was always something new I wanted to learn.”

He left nothing to be desired in his career at MCCC. He said he got to do everything he wanted to do, including teaching guitar and film.

He also is not worried about leaving the college as he believes it will continue to thrive.

“I think the college is in a great spot right now. I think the president is a very inspirational person,” Holladay said.

“I think the future is bright for Monroe Community College. I think they’re more than capable of keeping things going; I’m not at all concerned,” he said.

MCCC, however, will miss him. He was a friend and mentor to many faculty members.

Art professor Ted Vassar started two years after Holladay and will be the longest-standing faculty member once Holladay leaves.

“He was really the backbone of the English department back there,” Vassar said.

Lori Jo Couch is another former student who is now a colleague in the English department.

“I was a student of Dr. Holladay’s, and I can say from first-hand experience, his commitment to his students, high standards, and exemplary conduct make him one of the finest professors I have ever known. As a student and as his colleague, I have been inspired by John,” Couch said.

Fellow English professor Cheryl Johnston also spoke of Holladay’s inspirational value.

“I am greatly impressed by his absolute dedication to the art of teaching and his strong work ethic,” Johnston said.

“Dr. Holladay’s commitment to MCCC is absolute. He has inspired and encouraged many of his students to pursue English degrees,” she said.

As for his future after MCCC, he plans to do volunteer work with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, which he helped establish nearly 40 years ago. He also plans to read.

“All kinds of wonderful books I haven’t had time, because when you’re reading papers for 15,000 students, there’s a few books you miss along the way,” he said.

In 1968, there was a shortage of teachers, causing them to often move from job to job. Now, he suspects that applicants for his position will be in the hundreds, even with little advertising of the position.

Holladay recalled a time when he first showed the MCCC campus to his father.

“My dad said ‘this is a nice place to start.’ Boy, I wonder what he would think now,” Holladay said with a laugh.

“It’s a good place to finish, too.”

Students discuss immigration issues with panel

By Mariah Tevepaugh Agora Staff

Imagine leaving school and noticing two missed calls. Your first reaction is you’re late for dinner or need to pick up some milk.

But if you’re an immigrant, fear might be your first reaction – fear that the call could lead to deportation, that you’re being sent back home. A home you’ve never lived in, in a country you’ve never seen.

The possibility of coming home to one fewer family member concerns many immigrants. That was the subject of a panel discussion hosted by The Agora on April 1, as part of the One Book, One Community program.

“There is a sense of urgency to stop dividing families,” panelist Sergio Martinez said. “Kids are being psychologically affected by seeing their parents being arrested and taken away.”

The panel discussion focused on family issues, inspired by Reyna Grande and her book, “The Distance Between Us.” The panel consisted of Sergio Martinez, who emigrated from Mexico and manages a restaurant in the Detroit suburbs, Diego Bonesatti, director of Legal Services for Michigan United, and Major Troy Goodnough, director of Jail Operations for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Each panelist gave his perspective on U.S. immigration policies, and offered opinions on the past, present and future of immigration.

“There are all sorts of battlefields and forms of debate about it, that’s why it’s been so difficult of a topic to cover,” Bonesatti said.

Goodnough’s main concern was keeping our country safe and the borders patrolled.

“It’s the one terrorist that slips in that brings us back to 9-11,” Goodnough said. “So we do have to take an aggressive approach to securing the border.”

Regardless of your ethnicity, if you break the law,

“There is a sense of urgency to stop dividing families.”

Sergio Martinez Mexican immigrant and restaurant manager there should be consequences, he said.

“If somebody violates the laws of this country, I think they should be held accountable for them, and holding them accountable is incarceration,” he said.

However, the others panelists pointed out that this also keeps us closed off from other countries, ignoring the fact that immigrants once helped our country grow strong.

“It’s in the DNA of the USA,” Bonesatti said.

Since the founding of the nation, immigration has been both an engine of growth and there has been resentment of immigrants, he said.

“One of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, was complaining about the Germans.”

Martinez agreed that diversity in America is what makes this country so powerful.

“You can’t define American as purple hair and green eyes; there’s so many levels of diversity in this country,” he said.

One example would be the variety of restaurants the U.S. has; as a society we embrace other cultures and incorporate them into our own.

“If you want to eat out you have all types of restaurants you can chose because we accept the culture and everything that comes with the diversity of the country.

“It makes us stronger because we’re more accepting - we grow as a people, we expand our minds,” he said. “The culture that people bring to this country is what makes us an amazing country that you can’t find anywhere else.”

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Martinez, who was brought to this country age 5, referred to himself as a dreamer. Growing up, he dealt with loss of family and challenges of not being able to do what other kids his age could do.

“We have dreams, we have aspirations, we want to be entrepreneurs, and all of those opportunities are blocked from us due to these laws not being updated,” he said.

According to Martinez, our immigration policies have remained the same for the past 20 years.

Panel members agreed that two of the problems are not enough visas available to meet the demand, and the length of time it takes to be considered legal.

“I can leave here today and go to a local gun shop and I can buy a hand gun and in two hours have the ability to purchase that hand gun, but yet we can’t let

somebody come into this country,” Goodnough said.

“It takes 7-10 years. The system is flawed; there’s got to be a better way.”

With such a lengthy process to become a legal citizen, families can become divided in the meantime.

If a father were to be deported, the mother would have to pick up the slack — which isn’t always easy with kids at home, Martinez said.

Goodnough agreed that there is an urgency to make changes to our outdated immigration laws.

“Amnesty is not the answer, but giving them an opportunity to become legal citizens in this country would make it better for everybody. We can learn from our ancestors as we can learn from these folks from different cultures,” he said.

Student Government stays busy this year

The Agora Editorial Policy

Editor: Julia Wells

Photo by Reggie Allen Panel members from left Diego Bonesatti, Sergio Martinez, and Troy Goodnoughanswer questions form the audience.

By Shelby Spencer Agora Staff

Staff Jacob Adams Reggie Allen Ray Bell Jeffrey Brown Melanie Jacobs-Davis Stephen Pipis Lauren Robinson Shelby Spencer Mariah Tevepaugh Darryl White Jacob Woods

From the back-to-school BBQ to the upcoming black light party, Student Government members are proud of this year’s accomplishments.

They began with the Ms. Monroe County Scholarship Pageant concessions and they will wrap up the year with Bowling in Strikes, Spares, and Scholarships, totaling 47 events.

“Over the last few years, Student Government has ramped up the number of projects and activities that they are doing. It’s always amazing to me when we put together the list of events and activities each year that we’ve done,” Student Government advisor Tom Ryder said.

Student Government did have some struggles this year, including the cancelation of the Sweetheart’s Ball because of insufficient time due to snow days, said Treasurer Blaine Hubbert.

They took that opportunity and turned it into a new event­­— a black light party being held on Saturday, April 26, at 8 p.m. in the cellar of the A Building.

When it comes to the number of events, Ryder said it’s not important.

“I tell my student government at the beginning of the year, I would rather do fewer events of better quality than more events and not do them well,” he said.

“It’s not about quantity; if we’re going to do something, let’s do it right and let’s do it well.”

“We are all stuck here, let’s make it a fun place to be while we are here,” Tom Ryder Student Government Advisor Hubbert agrees that is exactly what Student Government did this year.

“Our biggest achievement was being able to follow such a great year of events, even with setbacks, and still have the best events we could possibly have,” he said.

President Joshua Zarza also said that this year has been a successful one, even with some setbacks.

At the beginning of the year, Zarza set out to see the ratification of the Student Government constitution and also to have The Cellar open from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. The new constitution is in its final phases of ratification, however, progress with The Cellar is a different story.

“Last year, the student government unanimously signed a letter that I wrote asking for open hours. The compromise was that The Cellar would be open starting at 11a.m. However, this year, that has not been the case. Often The Cellar is not open until 1 when an attendant can

be present,” Zarza said.

Members said this year was full of positive experiences.

“I have had great experiences and met some of my best friends through Student Government, and now have some awesome stories about painting rocks, making a baby elephant and scavenger hunts,” said Vice President Michelle McDevitt.

“I had a great time all the time; even if we’re working in the pouring rain, it’s nice to look over and see your group working right there with you,” Zarza said.

Ryder said he is looking for students who are willing to go above and beyond to help the college with whatever they ask.

“We are all stuck here, let’s make it a fun place to be while we are here,” he said.

Ryder is planning on changing the time that Student Government does elections next year.

Next year, Ryder plans to have a few meetings with team-building activities so members can get to know each other before the elections.

Ryder recommends that anyone looking to get involved in next year’s Student Government attend the informational meetings. After that, all anyone has to do is write a letter of intent to Ryder.

“If you like being involved in planning fun events for people to go to, like to raise awareness for issues, or you are just looking for a way to fill time and meet new people, Student Government is a great place to do that,” McDevitt said.

Campus News

April 24, 2014

mcccagora.com • The Agora

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Another step in the right direction Melanie Jacobs-Davis wins Outstanding Student Award

By Shelby Spencer Agora Staff

Melanie Jacobs-Davis credits her successful MCCC career to incredible professors and inspiration from her son.

At the 2014 MCCC Honors Reception, Jacobs-Davis was named the Outstanding Student for the 2013-2014 year.

Nominated by faculty and surrounded by family and friends, winning the award nearly brought her to tears.

While enrolled at MCCC, Jacobs-Davis maintained a 4.0 GPA and was involved in multiple extra-curricular activities, including The Agora and the Ambassador Club.

She also started an emotional abuse campaign with fellow student Katie Mullin.

She is known around campus as a reporter for The Agora, where she enjoyed taking on the most challenging stories.

For winning, Jacobs- Davis received a $250 cash prize and a certificate.

Jacobs-Davis says that she came to

this campus as a lost person and MCCC helped her find her way.

“This institution has played a key role for my success as a student,” she said.

She would like to thank professors Dan Shaw, Gary Wilson, Terry Telfer, and Mark Hall for becoming mentors to her.

“They’ve gone above and beyond to help me work through my circumstances and to make me the best student I could be,” Jacobs-Davis said. “I believe in angels, and these are a few that God sent to get me here.”

She plans on staying on MCCC’s campus to earn her bachelor’s degree from Siena Heights, with a major in Communication.

Jacobs-Davis came from a difficult background that included addiction and abuse among many other unfortunate circumstances.

She wants her difficult past to help her change people’s lives.

“I chose to turn my life around in advocacy work to try and help as many people as I can,” she said, “so the abuse and experiences that I have had will not have been in vain.”

She says that if she can help even one person with her story then all of her suffering was worth it.

Her future is looking bright and is full of exciting unknowns.

“The sky is the limit,” Jacobs-Davis said.

For her success she credits the college for helping her on her way.

“I love MCCC, I don’t even want to leave,” she said.

“I love MCCC, I don’t even want to leave” Melanie Jacobs-Davis Outstanding Student

Agora photo by Reggie Allen

Above, professor Wendy Wysocki presents the Outstanding Student Award to Melanie Jacobs-Davis. Left, they share a hug.

Art professor named outstanding adjunct

By Jake Woods Agora staff

Agora photo by Reggie Allen

Computer Information Systems professor William Hilliker won the Outstanding Faculty of the Year award at the 2014 Honors Reception.

Countless faculty hours pay off William Hilliker wins Outstanding Faculty award Stevie Pipis Agora staff

William Hilliker, a Computer Information Systems professor, was given the Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award during the Honors Night ceremony Wednesday night.

“I’m kind of in shock. I didn’t expect to win, and it was an honor just to be nominated,” he said after the ceremony.

Hilliker noted that there are many qualified people nominated for the award every year, adding that he doesn’t think anyone really expects to win.

Grace Yackee, MCCC Vice President of Instruction, presented the award and introduced Hilliker, as well as discussing some of his qualifications and accomplishments at MCCC. Hilliker has been teaching at MCCC for seven years. During his time here, he has developed a business relationship with Eastern that allows students to easily

Agora photo by Reggie Allen

Professor Hilliker was all smiles as he received the award. transfer their credits in the CIS Before coming to MCCC, he field. taught at Baker College for five

years and at Wayne State University for two-and-a-half years.

Hilliker currently has master’s degrees in Management from Wayne State and Science from Detroit Mercy. He is also working on getting his doctorate from Eastern.

Over the seven years he has spent at MCCC, he has taught 15 different classes in the CIS field, as well as classes in other fields.

He also started the Information Assurance and Safety program at MCCC. Hilliker is an active member of the MCCC Faculty Council as well as the Faculty Association Executive Board.

During his free time, he is highly involved in the community, Yackee said.

Some of the volunteer events he spends time with are the Relay For Life, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan, and the Cub Scouts.

Hilliker owns and operates his own business in Monroe.

During his free time, he likes to camp, fish and spend time with his family.

He is also a strong supporter of the Michigan Brewers Guild.

“I’d like to thank my family for allowing me to work all those crazy hours.”

William Hilliker Computer Information Systems Professor The Guild works to ensure a market for Michigan Brewed Beers by having festivals and promoting awareness about Michigan Brewed products.

“I’d like to thank my family for allowing me to work all of these crazy hours,” he said during the ceremony.

Hilliker also thanked his students, as well as the campus community for creating a home for the students, and for hopefully making their lives better.

He said that he always enjoys Honors Night at the College.

“It’s always nice to see the students recognized,” he said.

The Outstanding Adjunct Faculty award was given to Art professor Daniel Stewart at MCCC’s Honors Reception Wednesday night.

Stewart, who has been teaching at Monroe Community for 23 years, was unable to accept the award as he was teaching a class.

He was among 26 adjunct faculty members who were nominated for the award by students. The final decision was made by a committee of college employees.

The award was presented by Dr. Grace Yackee, Vice President of Instruction at MCCC. Even though Stewart was unable to attend, Yackee spoke about the reasons he was chosen.

“Daniel Stewart is an outstanding teacher and a wonderful person to be around,” Yackee said.

While Stewart teaches many art classes at MCCC, including art appreciation and 2D art, he also currently teaches at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

His former teaching jobs include the universities of Eastern Michigan, Wayne State, and Toledo.

“It only makes sense that Daniel cannot accept this award because he is teaching,” Yackee went on to say as she listed Stewarts many achievements.

While graduating from Ohio State University in 1986, Stewart received a bachelor’s degree of Fine Art, Drawing, and Painting and also a minor in film.

Then in 1991, Stewart graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a master’s degree of Fine Art & Painting, and was also named to the National Dean’s List that same year.

Stewart also manages to paint on the side and has his work in local galleries as well as in the permanent collections of the University of Toledo, Eastern Michigan University and Monroe County Community College.

“Daniel Stewart is an oustanding teacher and a wonderful person to be around.”

Grace Yackee Vice President of Instruction

Features

April 24 2014

mcccagora.com • The Agora

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GSA garners Student Program Award By: Jefferey Brown Agora Staff

The Gay Straight Alliance was honored with the Outstanding Student Program of the Year Award for the Diversity Mural erected earlier this year.

“It was nice seeing the college community coming together to support one cause,” said Theresa Munroe, Co-chair of the GSA. The GSA held a contest for the mural, which was placed in the Administration Building.

In the contest, there were 27 entries for the project’s design, and the finalist’s selection proved to be competitive.

“Everyone had their opportunity to put their mark on the mural,” said Penny Bodell, who is the advisor of the GSA. A winner was chosen and the 21’ by 5’ mural was built during the 2013 fall semester.

“We worked really hard on the diversity mural

“It was nice seeing the college community coming together to support one cause” Theresa Munroe Co-Chair GSA and finally erected it. I’m glad we got recognized for it,” said Co-chair Jesiqua Hutchison.

The GSA’s event schedule is filling up fast with at least one signature event for each semester.

In the future, GSA members said they want to focus on current events and community awareness.

“This is a big accomplishment for us,” said Treasurer of the GSA Ian Leach. “We take pride in big events.”

Photo by Reggie Allen

The Gay-Straight Alliannce won the Student Program Award at Wednesday night’s Honors Reception.

Honors night celebrates deserving students

By Jacob Adams Agora Staff

At the Monroe County Community College’s Honor’s Night, many awards were given for outstanding achievement and success.

The Dr. Ronald Campbell Student Government Award, presented by Dr. Campbell himself, was won by Michelle McDevitt.

The President’s Academic Achievement Award winners were Bailey Buchbinder, Katherine Gerweck, Aaron Kipfmiller, Daniel Skrobowski, Yanfei Clawson, Wendy Hakeos, Linda Paetz, David Stritt, Kara Danner, Wayland Isham, Hailee Rensi, and Tanner Trombley.

The Outstanding Humanities Student Award winner was Katherine Gerweck.

The Outstanding Social Science Award winner was Logan Jacobs.

The Outstanding Freshman Chemistry Award winner was Emily Emahiser.

The Outstanding Organic Chemistry Award winner was David Stritt.

The Outstanding Mathematics Student Award winner was Tanner Trombley.

The Outstanding Journalism Award winners were Katie Mullin and Julia Wells.

Excellence in Journalism; Reggie Allen, Jeffrey Brown, Melanie Jacobs-Davis, William Miko, Stevie Pipis, Shelby Spencer, Mariah Tevepaugh.

The Outstanding Nursing Student Award winners were Winter Cohort - Erica Rist, and Fall Cohort - Adrienne Onan.

The Business Student of the Year Award - Accounting went to Kenneth Stritt.

Business Student of the Year Award Administrative Professional; Dawnette Kuderik and Tanya Wagenhauser.

Business Student of the Year Award Computer Information Systems; Brian Messano.

Business Student of the Year Award Business Management; Sarah Briggs.

The Outstanding Business Management Scholars were Sarah Briggs, Katherine DesAutels, Zach Hoover, Rhonda Carradine, April Duffey, Ian Cicero, and Molly Garverick.

The International Studies Club Officer Service Awards went to Tesia Feller, Jesiqua Hutchison, and Logan Jacobs.

The George Rhodes Writing Fellow of the Year Award went to Aaron Kipfmiller.

Photo by Reggie Allen

Top Left: Jennifer Kaseman accepts the award for Outstanding Respitory Therapy Student from professor Bonnie Boggs.

Bottom Left: Aaron Kipfmiller returns to the stage to accept the George Rhodes Writing Fellow Award from professor Timothy Dillon.

Right: Members of the Gay Straight Alliance club stand on stage to accept the award for Outstanding Student Program of the Year for thier diversity mural. The award was presented by student government president Josh Zarza.

Photo by Reggie Allen

Nursing Program Coordinator Lori Biggs, and Outstanding Nursing Student winner, Erica Rist, give each other a hug.

Campus News

April 24, 2014

mcccagora.com • The Agora

|5

Environmental Science to get lab

By Stevie Pipis

Agora Staff

Fall 2014 will be the first semester where the Environmental Science course will have a lab.

The class has been offered without a lab for the last 15 years at MCCC. “Environmental Science is ecology, plus the human factor,” said Tracy Rayl, Biology teacher at MCCC. The class looks at how we impact the environment, she said.

MCCC is the first school where Rayl has taught Environmental Science without a lab. Before teaching here, she was an adjunct teacher at Oakland Community College for five years.

Rayl assessed her Biology 151 and 154, Introduction to Biology and Environmental Science, classes side by side for the past two years. Biology 151 has a lab, and 154 did not have a lab.

According to her assessment, the students in Biology 151 were understanding scientific inquiry and critical thinking through the scientific method better than the students in 154.

Rayl presented her assessment to the administration and they agreed with her assessment.

According to Maltese, the value of adding a lab to the class will be worth the cost and extra hours.

The administration also looked at the hours needed to run the lab.

“It is tough when you have a small college with a small staff,” Maltese said.

“The administration won’t do something just because of cost.”

Maltese thinks the lab will be a good thing for the students, and thinks the class would have had a lab at some point in the future.

“There is a greater emphasis on environmental issues right now,” Maltese said.

“The great thing about a lab is you do the science,” Maltese said.

He thinks the reaction among students will be mixed. He said the students

Photo by Stevie Pipis

Biology professor Tracy Rayl, tends to the plants in the campus Greenhouse which will host experiments for her Environmental Science class.

who like having a lab will be excited, while those who do not like labs will not be. He mentioned that the class will also be offered at the Whitman Center.

Maltese said that this will have no impact on the changing general education requirements, and that everything is in line with the proposition,

Current Affairs series featured Ukraine talk

By Jacob Adams Agora Staff

MCCC kicked off a new discussion series on current affairs last month with the first discussion entitled “Between Empires: Ukraine in Crisis.”

The new series is based on educating the public on current events in our community, country, and world.

“This college is the center of intellectual excellence in our community,” said President Kojo Quartey. “We want to extend that to everyone in the community.”

“The discussions will be announced on a rolling basis,” he said. “We want to discuss things which are more politi-

cally based.”

Quartey went on to explain that when something is being covered by the media, the school will find experts on the subject and create a discussion to educate the community.

The previous discussion on Ukraine was presented by Dean of Humanities, Paul Hedeen, and student Olga Nichols, who is a Ukrainian native.

The discussion covered the history of Ukraine, the current situation there, and why it matters to the rest of the world.

Seating was estimated at around 75 people, making the discussion filled to capacity with standing room available only.

Briefly

Nursing Program earns Accreditation MCCC’s nursing program has been given continued accreditation with the removal of a warning status.

The program was given the warning status in 2011 during its last comprehensive review by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. During a visit by a team from ACEN last October, the college learned that the warning status probably would be removed.

“We had a great ACEN visit last fall and as much as we expected this, I am elated to get the official word,” college President Kojo Quartey said. “Please join me in congratulating Dean Kim Lindquist and the members of the Nursing Department for this achievement.”

The next scheduled evaluation visit by the ACEN is set for the fall of 2021.

March for Babies set for April

and will meet all the requirements.

Rayl has the lab syllabus completed.

The experiments will look at community and population data, demography, soils, water quality, toxicity, pollution, the agricultural industry, predator/ prey relationships, stream ecology, and various other environmental issues.

the lab, and exposure to field work.

“I love teaching the lectures, but the laboratory experience is just that period of time to work with the students on a different level, and I just really enjoy that,” Rayl said.

Fourth Career Opportunity Expo held

By Melanie Jacobs-Davis Agora Staff

MCCC held its fourth annual Career Opportunity Expo on Friday, April 11, 2014.

With 82 employers on-hand, approximately 270 job-seekers showed up for the event, held at the Welch Health Education building.

This year’s event was sponsored by MCCC Student Government, MCCC’s The Foundation, Eastern Michigan University, Siena Heights University, Michigan Works! Monroe (SEMCA), and South Central Michigan Works!; and it is the biggest one MCCC has seen yet.

“It’s getting bigger every year,” said Director of Workforce Development, Barry Kinsey.

“We exceeded our goal of exhibitors.”

While employers met with prospects, there’s sometimes a need for them to go online and fill out appropriate paperwork for a position.

A mobile computer lab was provided by South Central Michigan Works! as an on-site utility for job-seekers to get online and do just that,

drinks before and after the walk.

Business Competition seeks ideas

MCCC is accepting business ideas for its first Business Idea Competition. The deadline for entry is May 6.

The finalists will give their final oral presentation on May 20 in the La-Z-Boy Center from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Finalists will be selected from online entries and given 120 seconds to pitch their idea to a panel of judges. The first place winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship and $500 cash. Second place will receive a $500 scholarship and $250 cash.

Third place will receive a $500 scholarship and $100 cash.

The competition will be divided into two categories – one for high school students and the other for MCCC students/alumni and residents of Monroe County. In order to compete in the high school category, the entrant must be a high school student in Monroe County. The class of 2014 is eligible to enter into this category.

The website for entry into the competition is www.monroeccc.edu/businesspitch.

MCCC is encouraging students and employees to attend the March for Babies walk on April 27.

The March will be held at Sterling State Park and is sponsored by the March of Dimes The walk will be three miles of paved trail through the park. Pets on leashes will be welcome.

Walkers are encouraged to form teams of any size. Teams should be registered by visitng www. marchforbabies.org There is no registration fee, and all donations are welcome. Teams will collect money to donate to local programs that help expecting mothers have a full-term pregnancy.

Registration for the event will start at 11 a.m. and will be followed by an opening ceremony at 11:40 a.m. The walk begins at noon. There will also be games, entertainment, and free pizza and

Rayl hopes to have a field trip to the Monroe Waste Water Treatment Plant to show the students how the local water is cared for.

Another part of the lab will be looking at the stream ecology on campus.

Rayl thinks that students will better understand critical thinking through

Criminal Justice Club to host Scavenger Hunt

MCCC Criminal Justice Club is hosting a Scavanger Hunt April 26 from 4:30 until 8:30.

Registration for the scavenger hunt will start at 4 p.m. in room C228. To register, students need a photo ID and must sign a waiver. Entrants should bring a digital camera.

The cost is $10 per person, and teams can have a minimum of two people and a maximum of five people. There will be cash prizes.

The event is open for any club or person to join.

said Kinsey.

The already successful event was graced

by U.S. Congressman Tim Walberg, who dropped in this year to pay the college a visit and MCCC President, Dr. Kojo Quartey who was also spotted talking with prospects and employers.

“It was cool,” said Kinsey. “It was an honor to have both him, and Congressman Walberg there.”

With the economy and unemployment numbers seeing better days, the Career Opportunity Expo is a reminder that MCCC is working for its community, said Quartey. It’s an opportunity for both, employers and job-seekers to come together and find themselves a perfect fit, he added. He made it a point to walk around and visit each and every booth and to interact with all of the potential employers, he said.

“I wanted to get a feel for what the opportunities were and how we can further partner with them,” he added.

He has future plans to visit with some of the firms he spoke with at the expo in order to expand the relationship between the college and potential employers, said Dr. Quartey.

The transition from K-12 through college, to industry should be seamless, he said.

The Office of Workforce Development is there every day as a resource for students and residents of the county, said Kinsey.

“We work with people on a daily basis,” he said. “To help them with their resumes and search for jobs.”

If you are interested in what the Office of Workforce Development can offer you, contact Barry Kinsey at (734) 384-4124.

President makes progress Graduates invited to “Allon 50-50-50 Class Reunion” MCCC President Kojo Quartey has accomplished the first of his 50-50-50 goals for MCCC’s 50th Anniversary. He has visited 50 classes at MCCC. In honor of the half-century anniversary, Quartey made a list of goals that he wanted to complete before the 50th Anniversary celebration in June.

Some of the goals included visiting 50 college classes, 50 high school classes, and donating $50 a day to the college.

Literary Magazine available online, in book store “Images 2014” is now available to read online.

There will be a limited number of physical copies available.

“Images 2014” is this year’s edition of MCCC’s literary and fine arts magazine. The magazine features work from currently enrolled students.

The magazine is available as a flipbook online at http://issuu.com/monroeccc/docs/mccc_images_28.

In honor of MCCC’s 50th anniversary, the college is planning an all-day “All-Class Reunion” festival on June 21.

The reunion is open to all graduates of MCCC, regardless of the year of graduation. There will be free entertainment throughout the day.

MCCC helps needy families for Easter,

MCCC accomplished their goal of donating Easter Baskets to 50 children and Easter dinners to their families.

The college received a list of 54 children from 30 families in economic hardship. The baskets were filled with toys, bubbles, crayons, coloring books, chalk, candy, and cookies.

The families were also given an Easter dinner which was composed of ham, au graten potatoes, green beans, apple sauce, cornbread mix, and brownie mix. The dinners were placed and delivered in an MCCC red grocery bag.

Joy announces retirement

John Joy, MCCC’s Dean of Corporate and Community Services, has announced his retirement at the end of May. Joy has worked at the college for 30 years.

He was hired in 1984 as facilitator for the Small Business Assistance Center. In 1996, he was promoted to director of Continuing Education and Community Services.

Joy also worked in several other fields, including employment services, room reservations, evening and weekend administration, as well as campus and community events.

The college will honor Joy, as well as other retiring members of staff, during a reception to be held in May.

Features

April 24 2014

mcccagora.com • The Agora

|6

Lack of GM-free foods concerns some Jacob Adams

“It’s disappointing, I would eat in the cafeteria if they offered anything organic. That’s the biggest reason I don’t eat there. “

Agora staff

Kosch, the company who runs MCCC’s cafeteria, does not offer any foods which are GM free.

They meet all standards set by the FDA, but some are concerned with their lack of organic food.

Genetically Modified Organisms are at the center of a modern day debate on food. GMO’s are foods which have genetically modified parts. If a potato has been genetically modified in any way, it becomes a GMO. The biggest problem stems from general unawareness. Without a labeling policy, it’s hard to be aware of the issue. William Miko, a Sienna Heights student, sums up the problem.

“I think it’s sad,” he said. “They are encouraging the consumption of GMO’s without even giving customers the option of eating organic.”

GMO’s are a big concern among health advocates, because there has been little done in the way of research to know whether they are safe or not. There have been

Celina Dusseau MCCC student

Photo taken by Jacob Adams

Grade A Cafe has GMO in every product they sell, but is still FDA approved.

no major studies on the long term effects of digesting geneticallymodified foods which means that we don’t actually know whether

these foods are safe to digest.

Most people are surprised to learn that the majority of what they eat has been genetically mod-

ified. Even the meats we eat, such as steak or chicken, often contain secondary GMO’s because of the feed the animals ate – which are

genetically modified.

“It’s disappointing,” said Celina Dusseau, a student at the college. “I would eat in the cafeteria if they offered anything organic.

That’s the biggest reason I don’t eat there.”

The alternative to GM food is organic food. To be certified USDA organic the food must meet three main criteria: pesticide free, herbicide free, and be free of any genetic modification. For those concerned with abstaining from GMO’s, organic food is the only alternative.

Kosch, the company who runs MCCC’s cafeteria, does not offer any foods which are GM free.

They meet all standards set by the FDA, but some are concerned with their lack of organic food.

Other students are aware of the

issue, but say it’s not their concern.

Nick Headon, a student at MCCC, says he could care less about the organic vs. GM food debate. “If the FDA says it’s safe, that’s all that matters to me.”

Jason Hilliard, Vice President of Operations for Kosch, says there hasn’t been a demand for organic food.

“I’ve never had anyone ask me about it,” he said. “There aren’t a lot of customers demanding it.”

Hilliard provided some insight into the situation by saying it has much more to do with lack of demand than the cost of carrying organic food products.

“It’s definitely on our radar,” he said. “If the demand were there, we would carry it.”

Students support same-sex marriage Mariah Tevepaugh Agora staff

MCCC students apparently are more accepting of gays and lesbians being able to marry than the State of Michigan.

A federal judge on March 21 struck down the ban on lesbians and gays being allowed to marry in the state of Michigan, and samesex couples ran to the courts to become legal.

However, a few hours later the state issued a stay on the judge’s order until an appeal is heard. That put a stop to any further marriages and put into question the marriages that had been performed.

“If I want to marry who I want, why is that so bad?” asked MCCC student James Quick.

Many students at MCCC are outraged by the stay on any further progress of gays being allowed to marry in the state of Michigan. MCCC Student Government member Mandi Davis said she blames Gov. Rick Snyder.

“I’m highly furious at Snyder; we had it until he put this ban on it that I think is highly unconstitutional,” she said. “If straights are allowed to marry — we’re just like a straight person, except we love the same sex.”

To most, the appeal is a minor setback. The fact that some samesex couples were allowed to wed was a huge advancement for the LGBT community.

Currently, the appeal is on hold so same-sex couples are not allowed to marry, but those who have already wed are considered legal in the state of Michigan.

According to MCCC Political Science professor Joanna Sabo, it could go either way, but one possible outcome could be the Supreme Court waiting for more states to go

“I think we should love every single person no matter what — everyone needs a little bit of love and kindness.”

Devin Mataya

MCCC student

through this same process to legalize gay marriage.

Once enough appeals are made, the Supreme Court could group the cases together and make a final ruling, she said.

“All the Supreme Court can do is look at the Constitution. If they believe that it says something that protects the right to marry someone of the same sex, the Supreme Court will prohibit states from disallowing same-sex marriage,” she said.

“If the Court does not find anything in the Constitution that they believe defines marriage rights, they will leave the issue to be decided state by state, and states can do what they want.”

Gay-Straight Alliance Co-chair Jesiqua Hutchison says that this would be beneficial to her friends who are in a same-sex relationship, in more ways than just being considered legally married.

“There are a lot of different things effecting married but not legal couples,” she said.

“There’s filing taxes, insurance, being able to legally take the last name or adopting children.”

She explained that it’s harder for a single person to legally adopt a child, especially if they are homosexual. Many agencies would look at a homosexual relationship

Illustration by Daryl White

as more unstable than a married couple.

Jarrod Saum, a current MCCC student, said that his uncle was greatly affected by not being con-

sidered legally married.

After 10 years in a relationship, his partner decided to leave — leaving him with all the bills to

pay.

According to Jarrod, this put his uncle back financially about 20 years.

Because he wasn’t considered to be in a legal marriage, his uncle could not sue his ex.

“There was no legal finality of it,” he said.

Although many students aren’t aware of all the issues, they don’t mind that homosexual marriage could soon be a possibility.

“It’s like everybody in our generation is very liberal now a days and we’re raised around it, so it’s not a real shocker,” Saum said.

Even when the question of religion was brought up, student Devin Mataya disagreed with the association Christians have with being against any homosexual relationship.

“I think we should love every single person no matter what — everyone needs a little bit of love and kindness,” she said.

“I’d add something about my faith too. but as soon as people learn that you are a Christian they write you off as a hypocritical gayhater, so I’ll just leave it at that.”

The only real concern some students have is with public displays of affection. According to student Emily Piedmonte, it’s not limited to homosexual couples.

“You can love who you want, but I just don’t want to see,” she said.

April was Diversity Month at MCCC. There were several panel discussions and other events focused on being an ally for diversity.

“I believe that as a nation, our strength is in our diversity,” MCCC President Kojo Quartey said at one of the events.

“The reason that we’re the greatest nation in the world is because of our diversity.”

#PotholeProblems

It’s pothole galore in Monroe, but not enough money to fill them Stevie Pipis Agora staff

Agora photo

Lack of funding and a harsh winter have put the roads into poor condition, said Bruce Stammer Jr., Chairman of the Monroe County Road Commission.

The lack of funding has caused the Road Commission to go from 120 workers to 72 workers.

The Road Commission gets its funding from the state through Act 51.

Other sources of funding are the gas and diesel taxes, and scrapping any metal that they can find.

“The longer we wait to fix the roads, the more it will cost,” Stammer said.

The commission is waiting for the state to work out an agreement for more money for road projects.

“We needed $1.2 billion extra a year to try to bring up 80 percent of the road system into the good to fair category,” Stammer said.

“Because nothing has happened over the past four years to fix that, to address that, they now put that cost at over $2 billion a year.

Those four years of waiting and no solution coming from Lansing has now cost the taxpayers an extra billion dollars a year,” he said.

One way that townships have been getting money for their roads is through millages, according to Stammer.

Bedford has considered a millage, and Whiteford has a millage. Whiteford just paved its last gravel road.

According to Stammer, a countywide millage would help the road commission; however, with townships considering local millages, he feels that a county ide millage would not happen.

Monroe County Road Commission has been using chip and seal maintenance because it is one of the cheapest ways to maintain a road.

Chip and seal is a combination of asphalt and fine aggregate.

The road commission decides which potholes to fill in first, based on what they see driving around, Stammer said.

They go to locations where people call in to report potholes.

One of the reasons there are half-filled potholes in the county is because there was still snow and ice in them when they were first filled, he said.

Stammer said he think the pothole emulsion would work better

if the potholes were drained first.

Starting in the summer, Monroe County Road Commission will have its first pothole killer.

A pothole killer is a machine on the back of the truck that sprays emulsion into the pothole.

The biggest added benefit of this will be that all of the water and loose gravel will be sprayed out, so the emulsion will last for several years, according to Stammer.

The tires are large, so that only one is needed to drive over a pothole. This prevents a ridge from forming in the pothole.

Monroe County went through $1 million in salt this winter. Monroe started with 25,000 tons of salt, and only has 2,500 tons left.

Stammer said that they have been getting complaints called in, and e-mailed. He said that most people understand the lack of funding, but there are some people who accuse them of doing a lousy job.

Don Hirst is a Monroe County resident who lives on S. Raisenville Road south of campus. There is a large pothole in front of his house. In early March, the pothole was 8 inches deep and 4 feet wide.

Hirst said that the Road Commission came out in March and put cold patch into the pothole,

but because of the rain it did not hold.

He hears people hit the pothole all through the night. During the day, he can see people hit it and watch the cars bounce up and down.

He also said he once saw a golf cart bounce out of someone’s truck after hitting the pothole.

The pothole has claimed five hubcaps, and a girl from MCCC blew out a tire.

Hirst said that he will often see someone pull over a few feet after passing the hole.

Brent Borcsani, a student at MCCC, said that the road he takes to his job is covered with potholes from ditch to ditch.

“It’s like a BMX jump,” he said.

He said that he thinks the road commission could be doing a better job maintaining the roads, but has not heard of anyone losing a tire yet.

Daniel Kowalczyk, another student at MCCC, said that he has a small car, with small tires.

“They mess up my car pretty bad when I hit one,” he said.

Kowalczyk said that he does a pretty good job avoiding the potholes in town.

Editorial

April 24, 2014

mcccagora.com • The Agora

Drug test required for welfare efits to recipients with medical marijuana cards or valid prescription drugs.

This means the bill will have to be sent back to the House of Representatives for approval.

After the amendments, this means 31,400 people could potentially be affected by this law.

M o s t students ques-

By Jeffrey Brown Agora Staff

Most MCCC students seem to agree with drug testing welfare recipients.

The Senate passed a bill that will require suspicion-based drug tests for people collecting welfare in select counties in Michigan.

Testing will be done if the Department of Human Services has a suspicion that the welfare recipient is using illegal drugs.

If the test is refused by the recipient or they test positive for illegal substances, they would no longer be eligible to receive their benefits.

“I don’t see a problem with it,” said student Eric Ackerman. “It’s a small price to pay to stay off drugs if you can’t afford basic needs.”

A few students don’t agree with the bill.

“Some people do have problems with addiction. Do we expect people to just lay down and die?” asked student James Quick.

The Senate had opposing views on the bill.

“The vote you’re about to take isn’t against the poor of this state, it’s for the children,” Republican Sen. Rick Jones said to the Detroit Free Press.

The bill was passed by a 25-11 vote, Republicans supporting the bill and Democrats opposing.

“The companies we give tax breaks to are not required to be drug tested. We give out tax credits to schools, students and police and fire, and now the only ones subject to drug screening are the poorest of the poor,” Democrat Sen. Vincent Gregory told the Free Press.

The bill set aside $500,000 to fund the drug testing.

The Senate made some amendments to the bill, allowing the protection of benefits for children of parents who have tested positive for illegal substances, as well as protection of ben-

tioned by The Agora said they think it’s unfair to not require welfare recipients to have drug tests.

“If you can be subject to drug tests to be employed, then you should be subject to them for receiving money that you don’t earn,” student Eric Alexius said.

Dawnette Kuderik agrees.

“I think that’s the way it should be,” she said. “If I’m taking drug tests to

keep my job and I pay taxes, my tax money should not go to their drug habits but rather their family and household needs.”

Some students are more worried about the financial burden welfare recipients that do illegal drugs are putting on the state.

“This reduces the amount of money the government is spending on people who only need it to support their addiction,” said student Anna Wickenheiser.

The

Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency projects that implementing the law statewide could save between $370,000 and $3.7 million, depending on how many people are no longer able to collect their welfare due to the law.

The bill passed the Senate on March 20, and will go back to the House when it returns from spring recess in late April.

Retarded is not an adjective

By Shelby Spencer Agora Staff

As a society, we have become desensitized to words and images that should affect us. We act without thinking, speak without knowing, and create harmful habits simply because we aren’t inclined to care about how our words effect other people.

We are all guilty of this and maybe we don’t realize it unless uncomfortable situations are thrust upon us, but I challenge everyone who is reading this to think before you speak.

It’s such an old concept, so simple, but so powerful. If we would only take that extra fraction of time to contemplate the consequences of our words before we say them, maybe this world

could take one more step toward peace.

I am going to focus on one word that has really been getting to me lately, — that word is “retarded.” It didn’t get you detentions in high school or get your mouth washed out with soap when you were a kid, however it is being used in a way that is more obscene than any four letter word that I can think of.

I don’t think that people use the term retarded on purpose to offend people with disabilities, but regardless if it is intentional or not, it is still hurtful and disrespectful.

Imagine someone is in line at the movie theatre and they get to the teller, who tells them that the show they were waiting for has sold out and their instant response is, “That’s retarded.”

Is it? Is it retarded that the movie is sold out? Does the theatre have some kind of mental handicap because they didn’t have enough seats for you?

The answer to all of those questions is obviously no, so why do we label a negative circumstance as being retarded?

Bad luck, maybe. Unfortunate, definitely. But neither of these is a synonym for retarded.

If I were describing a mentally handicapped person I may say that they are unique, strong, and beautiful, so why does the word retarded have to carry such a negative connotation.

Some may say that it doesn’t have negative attachments and to those I ask

this, would you go up to your friend and tell her that her cute scarf looked retarded as a compliment?

No, she would probably take this as an insult, because that is the kind of meaning that our society has attached to the word.

People with mental disabilities may be different then you, but they are certainly not less, so let’s stop demeaning the word retarded.

Different is good, different is beautiful, and different is needed.

Next time you hear someone use the word retarded as an insult or with a negative connotation, challenge them.

Ask them to explain what makes that situation retarded.

|7

Tips for how to relax this summer

Well, folks. This is my last advice column of this academic year.

I know, you’re all in tears, torn to pieces about the end of this fantastic journey. But do not fret, as I will be back next fall to share advice with you all.

Seeing as we are near the end of a wonderful winter semester, perhaps we should cover tips on how to enjoy your summer break.

Most of you will be enjoying the sun and the warmth away from the confines of your home, maybe on a beach somewhere or traveling across the country.

My advice for you who are doing this is be aware of your surroundings. The world has become a dangerous place, filled with people trying to scam and harm you.

For those taking classes during the Ray Bell spring and summer Agora Staff semesters, good for you. These classes are a great way to get caught up on your way to a successful educational career.

I have taken classes in the spring and summer, and while my brain was rushed through vast amounts of information in a short amount of time, I have thoroughly enjoyed going through that experience.

My advice for those taking classes in the spring and summer is to try to absorb what you can. There is a lot of information and it may overload you faster than you think. These classes are available for you to succeed, so take them and enjoy.

For those staying home or working after the semester is over, I would try to enjoy the time off as much as you can. You worked hard during the school year, and you are allowed to take a break.

You should try to find something to do. Boredom has led to many stupid decisions and often lapses in judgment. Try to find something to take up the excess free time you may have, be it video games, chores, hanging out with friend, or something else worthwhile.

I wish you all a fantastic break, hoping to hear from you in the future.

Plan ahead to the next years of your academic careers. A well-laid course through life is better than frolicking about, not knowing the dangers that lay ahead.

Until next year, people!

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS! Transfer your associate degree from Monroe County Community College to Siena Heights University and complete your bachelor degree in

CRIMINAL JUSTICE! Seating is limited for this executive cohort starting Fall of 2014.

CONTACT US TODAY! Phone: (734) 384-4133 Email: monroe@sienaheights.edu Web: www.sienaheights.edu/mccc Stop by our office located in the Life Science Building, Room 221

A&E

April 24 , 2014

mcccagora.com • The Agora

|8

Small town big screen

Monroe making an appearence as new movie ‘Jinn’ hits theaters

By Reggie Allen Agora Staff

Detroit based production company Exxodus Pictures is bringing big time action and suspense right into our backyard with the new movie, “Jinn.”

This action thriller directed by Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad was shot in locations around Michigan and specifically right here In Monroe. Watching this film you will notice a 600 horse power Supercharged V8 firebreather Camaro bolting around the streets of downtown Monroe.

Pretty awesome, right? It gets better.

An exciting supernatural fight scene takes place right in front of the IHM building on Elm Street. It gives that location a whole new portrayal, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. This is my favorite and arguably the best scene in the entire film.

Benjamin Dresser, the producer behind Exodus Pictures, made it clear that shooting in Monroe had its benefits.

“Monroe has a unique look — a lot of beautiful locations and classic architecture” Jinn is a supernatural thriller that features main characters Shawn (Dominic Rains) and his wife, Jasmine (Serinda

Swan).

As the two settle into a comfortable life, Shawn begins to encounter a haunting vibe, leading him to a secret that changes his whole life.

He learns about a supernatural being that has cursed his family for many generations and is now after him.

This mystic being is called the Jinn.

The film described the Jinn as a third race of beings that have lived on this planet since before mankind existed.

After learning more of his past, he joins forces with a guardian-like figure, Gabriel (Ray Park), a pastor, Father Westhoff (William Atherton), and his long lost cousin, who all give him guidance on his journey to take down this evil being.

As Shawn struggles with the Jinn, the film kept me on the edge of my seat.

Whether it was an action-packed scene or an eerie horror scene, there was never a dull moment in this movie.

Not only was Jinn full of suspense, it did a great job of captivating the emotional story of Shawn and his wife, Jasmine. I won’t ruin the movie, but let’s just say there is an unexpected twist at the end that really completes the story.

Seeing all of this suspense and action in Monroe was an eye-opener to the actual potential in this city. Although some attach a negative reputation to Monroe, this town is actually thriving in many areas.

Well-known films such as MOOZ-lum and “Jimmy P,” staring Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro, were shot right here in Monroe.

MCCC student Abby Buick pointed out that the future of films in this state is unclear.

“Michigan had some cool films shot here when there was still the tax incentive, which I think was an excellent move. Now that that’s gone, there hasn’t been much,” she said.

Director Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad seems to be conscious of the bad rap Michigan has gotten lately.

I think more films shot here will continue to strengthen the film industry in Michigan.

After viewing this film, it was exciting to know that such a good story was filmed five minutes from my house.

I think this was a great film all around and I am looking forward to future productions involving this town.

Director Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad, center, directs a scene from the movie, “Jinn,” in downtown Monroe, near the corner of Monroe and First streets.

Photo courtesy: Exxodus Pictures

MCCC ‘Tunes at Noon’ ............................................................ showcases young talent ............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................

By Jake Woods Agora Staff

JD Eicher, singer-songwriter from Youngstown, Ohio, performed in the MCCC cafeteria for a “noon concert” hosted by Student Government.

Eicher, who has been on the road since 2009 with his band, The Goodnights, came to MCCC on a Monday morning to perform a number of songs from covers to his own material from his first three albums.

Eicher and The Goodnights had recently released their third album, Into Place. He told the students watching him perform that it was in fact the last piece to a trilogy that included his first two albums.

As an artist, JD Eicher has been compared to the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, The Killers and Coldplay.

With his band, The Goodnights, he has received regional acclaim from numerous magazines and had one of his songs used in a trailer for the movie, “Departure Date.”

Eicher and his band seem to be slowly catching on across the country as they have opened for the likes of Rod Stewart, Coldplay and Bryan Adams.

Eicher, who plays at numerous festivals and schools while simultaneously touring, was making his second appearance at MCCC and

Photo by Reggie Allen

JD Eicher performs in the MCCC cafeteria.

had only good things to say about the college and students.

“I love it here,” said Eicher.

“Not a lot of schools I play at like this have a nice stage for my performances.”

Students who came into the cafeteria as different classes let out

throughout the show, listened to some good music as Eicher was taking requests from the crowd.

“I really like performing at MCCC, I’m currently on my way to the East Coast and I had an off day so I was able to come and play for everyone,” Eicher said.

Wolf Of Wall Street: R for ‘raunchy’

By Melanie Jacobs Agora Staff

When has a film gone too far?

When one of the opening scenes is of a man blowing cocaine into parts of a woman I dare not describe.

The Wolf of Wall Street, directed

by Martin Scorsese, is definitely a movie you don’t want to take your mother with you to watch.

It’s a film based on a true story of a young, new Wall Street broker, Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), who bursts on to the scene in the late 80’s and finds a way to make millions ripping people off on penny stocks and IPO’s.

Jordan Belfort is a natural born salesman, and as I like to say – could sell a ketchup popsicle to

a man in white gloves. He’s got a young wife and a tiny apartment in New York, with big plans to hit the big time.

Once he secures his broker’s license, he begins working on Wall Street, where he meets his mentor, Mark Hanna (Matthew McConaughey).

Hanna teaches Belfort the fundamentals of success in the business; cocaine to keep you in good spirits and talking, sex to relax you, and Quaaludes to put you to sleep - or get you one hell of a high.

With his new found wisdom, Belfort rounds up a team of morons and grooms them into his perfectly pitched money-making machines.

He gives them a script to follow and turns them over to the phones to sell his garbage to unsuspecting customers.

With his mastery of persuasion and Hanna’s advice, he and his group of idiots take off on an epic journey of a lifetime. Sex, drugs and rock n’ roll definitely takes precedence in the film, even over the undeniable greed for more money.

Belfort makes more money than he can spend, and before you know it, the feds are hot on his trail; money trail, that is.

The Wolf of Wall Street is welldeserving of its R rating with the constant barrage of sex and drugs.

It’s definitely not for the faint of heart and is bound to leave you with your jaw hanging.

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