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June 8, 2012 Vol. 56, Issue 10

Graduation Pg. 4-5

College struggles to balance budget Child care threatened

Tuition raised $7 per hour

Taylor Pinson

Agora Staff

Agora staff

MCCC is considering reducing or cutting the child care services it offers to students. Officials tasked with balancing the 2012-2013 budget face a gap between revenue and expenses. The most recent revenue projection for 2012-2013 was $26.8 million. The initial budget request was $28 million. Rising costs, three years of shrinking property tax revenue, and six consecutive semesters of declining enrollment are taking their toll on MCCC’s finances. Even after several years of wage freezes, deferred maintenance costs, tuition increases and cuts to smaller programs such as MCCC’s former radio station, additional cuts are likely for the upcoming 2012-2013 budget. One potential program that could face cuts is MCCC’s child care services. “The savings will be dependent on the final decision made regarding the operation of the Child Care Center,” said Vice President of Administration Sue Wetzel. “If MCCC were to discontinue operating the Child Care Center as an auxiliary service of the college, the savings would be approximately $80,000 per year,” she said. Child Care Center Coordinator Diana Cramer declined to comment. Randy Daniels, MCCC’s Vice President of Student and Information Services was examining the situation and is expected to present his recommendation at the June 25 Board of Trustees meeting.

Photo by Mandi Davis On a recent afternoon, children begin to wake up from their nap in the Child Care Services facility in the Health building.

Trustees may close Whitman during Spring and Summer By Taylor Pinson Agora staff

The Whitman Center could be closed for spring and summer semesters starting next year. The possibility of closing the center was addressed at a special meeting held by MCCC’s Board of Trustees on May 21 to discuss cuts for next year’s budget. “I’ve been here since 1990, and this is probably the worst scenario I’ve ever seen,” said MCCC Board of Trustees member Mary

Kay Thayer. Sandy Kosyma, Director of the Whitman Center, declined to comment on the proposed closure. MCCC faces a gap between revenue and expenses with its 2012-2013 budget. As of May 21, MCCC’s projected revenue for 2012-2013 was about $26.8 million, more than $1 million less than initial budget requests for the upcoming year. “The original general fund budget requests totaled over $28 million, not including the requests for new and/or upgraded positions,”

said Vice President of Administration Sue Wetzel. Declining enrollment and property taxes have been two major sources of MCCC’s revenue challenges. Income generated from property taxes has been declining for at least three years, and MCCC has had six consecutive semesters of declining enrollment. An additional 3 percent decline is expected for Fall 2012. “The budget is tight. It’s very tight,” Wetzel said. Spring and summer enroll-

ment at the Whitman Center has been declining for two years, with this year’s spring semester setting a five-year low of 93 students. Closing the center during the spring and summer semesters would save MCCC an estimated $25,000 a month, according to officials. Dr. Grace Yackee, MCCC’s Vice President of Instruction, issued a statement on the closure: “A thorough review of the current budget in relation to enrollment and activities taking place during the Spring and Summer

Photo by Mandi Davis

The Career Technology Center is currently under construction between the Life Science building and the Health building.

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Semesters at Whitman, coupled with the fact that students will continue to have access to classes and services otherwise offered at Whitman in Monroe during those semesters, led the budget preparation team to conclude it is a fiscally sound and responsible decision to close the Whitman Center during the spring and summer semesters starting spring 2013.” The proposal to close the center for two months will be formally presented at the June 25 meeting of MCCC’s Board of Trustees as part of the 2012-2013 budget.

Construction brings walls to CTC center Agora Staff

Inside:

MCCC’s Board of Trustees approved a $7 tuition rate increase at its April meeting for students who live in Monroe County. Beginning Fall semester, students will pay $84 per contact hour, compared to the $77 this school year. Larger tuition increases were approved for students from outside Monroe County. Michigan residents who live outside of Monroe County will pay $144, up from $132. Out-of-state students will pay $160, up from of $147. The student technology fee also was increased, from $6 to $10 per billable contact hour. With a full course load of 30 credit hours, the average in-district student will pay about $330 more a year. That will increase MCCC tuition to about $2,880 per year for a typical student, which also includes the $30 registration fee assessed per semester.

The walls and roof of the new Career Technology Center at MCCC  are expected to be up by July 1. The formal groundbreaking for the new $17 million building was held Friday, May 4. Paul W. Smith, a Monroe native and morning anchor for Detroit’s WJR-AM radio station  was the master of ceremonies for the groundbreaking.  Smith also hosted a special edition of his morning news and talk show live from the college.  The groundbreaking took place in front of the  site of the  60,000-square foot facility, which will be between the L and H buildings on campus. The Career Technology Center is designed to  provide  stateof-the-art classrooms and lab space  for tech  programs  aimed at helping students  secure highgrowth, high-demand and highpaying jobs, MCCC President Dr. David Nixon said. Others speakers included  U.S. Rep. John D.  Dingell  (D-Dearborn),  state Sen.  Randy  Rich-

Bookstore Hours: Mon: 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tues - Thurs: 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fri: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

LAL/Writing Center:

Mon: 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tues - Thurs: 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fri: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Serving Monroe County Community College since 1968

ardville (R-Monroe), state Rep. Dale Zorn (R-Ida), MCCC Board Chairman William J. Bacarella Jr., and Michael R. Meyer, chairman of The Foundation at MCCC and a college trustee.  The new center will allow several existing programs now housed in the East and West Technology buildings to be updated. Included are nuclear engineering, welding, construction, computer-aided drafting and manufacturing, electronics, mechanical engineering and automation, quality assurance, and automotive engineering and service with an emphasis on hybrid and battery technology.  The center also is designed to enhance the development of programs in renewable energies such as wind, solar and fuel cell technology, and sustainable and green technologies. The state of Michigan will finance half the cost of construction.  The college has committed to fund the other half through existing funds and a capital campaign.

Library Hours:

Mon, Tues, Thurs: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Wed: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fri: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

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campus news

June 8, 2012

mcccagora.com • The Agora

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Upward Bound receives MCCC meets goal for Gabriel 5-year, $250,000 grant Nicki Kostrzewa Agora Staff

The MCCC Upward Bound recently received a $250,000 grant to continue providing programs at the college. President Lyndon Johnson started his War on Poverty program back in 1964. This in turn produced the Economic Opportunity Act, which established the Upward Bound Program. Upward Bound helps students preparare for entrance to college. High school students from lowincome families or families where neither parent holds a bachelor degree are eligible. Upward Bound’s ultimate goal is to increase the number of those students who complete high school and go on to institutions of higher education. There are 951 Upward Bound programs in the United States.

MCCC has participated since 2007. The college has to reapply for grant money every 5 years. The grant gives Upward Bound the ability to serve 50 students. It covers the cost of high school teachers and college professors, who will instruct the students during their time here at MCCC. “There is no cost to be in the program, just a student’s time, effort and willingness to go to college,” said Anthony Quinn, Director of Upward Bound at MCCC. Quinn has participated in MCCC’s Upward Bound program for five years, and he previously worked with Lourdes University’s program for seven-and-a-half years. He also spent two years with the Upward Bound program at the University of Toledo. Quinn himself is a alumnus of

the Upward Bound program at UT. Students are usually selected during their freshman or sophomore year in high school. The students then may participate in the program until the summer following their high school graduation. During that time, students are enrolled in two college classes. “It is a group effort which involves UB Staff, parents, teachers, and students all working together to ensure the student’s success,” Quinn said. Some of the workshops that are provided to students in the program include: Tutorial Services, Admissions workshops, and Financial Aid workshops. The workshops are intended to give students a head start in the college world.

photo courtesy of Student Government

Alyssa, Ian and Gabriel with their staggering tab amount.

Members of student government helped to raise one million tabs for the Ronald McDonald House in just seven months. Alyssa Adams and Ian Sullivan headed the Committee to collect pop tabs to donate in the name of Gabriel Jordan to the Ronald McDonald House. Gabriel had surgery when she was only six days old to correct a congenital heart defect. She is doing well a year later. As a way to show their appreciation, her family and many others set a goal to colllect one million tabs to help support the mission of the house. The goal was met in seven short months; with only three of those months being a nationwide call. The college alone collected around 28 pounds of tabs (45,000 total)! At this pace, they’re well on their way to their ultimate goal of five million tabs.

Bowling for scholarships

Benefit raises over $4,800 for students Eric Black Agora Staff

Photo by Eric Black

Jordan Miller (above) sets his eyes on the pins while he’s in his backswing.

Student scholarships were the cause for celebration recently at Nortel Lanes. The venue hosted the seventh annual Strikes, Spares & Scholarships  on May 18, which raises money for scholarships for students who are����������������  ��������������� planning to attend MCCC. Also part of the festivities, a raffle was held, with first prize of a Kindle Fire going to Matt Traylor, who was a participant in the event. Second Prize, which was a Dell Latitude 2120 Netbook, went to Zachary Bruck, a student assistant at MCCC. However, some were just looking to have some fun for a good cause. “My favorite part is that we get to bowl for charity,” said Jordan Miller, a second-year participant. Over 35 teams and 131 people signed up to bowl. Over $4,800 was raised by the entire event, which event organizer Connie Zarb called a success. “The event was more successful than it had been in recent years, which is great,” Zarb exclaimed. “What also stuck out to me this year was the amazing support from the MCCC staff; so many of them came out and participated.”

MCCC offering Fun(damentals) Camps for Kids Eric Black Agora Staff

It’s summer time, which means that MCCC is hosting its annual FUNdamentals Summer Camps. The 15 camps, which are held at the Main Campus as well as the Whitman Center (the Welding and Golf Camps are off campus), range from $69-$89. Also, for the third year in a row, thanks to a grant, the Welding Camp will be free of charge.

The staff consists of returned employees, family of employees and volunteers. The camps are a great way for kids to learn important life lessons and skills such as cooking, photography and firearm safety along with many other programs they have to offer, said Tina Pillarelli, the camps organizer. “It’s a chance for us to build relationships with kids and give them a good memory of MCCC,” she said. The camps can also provide an opportunity for kids to experience something

Briefly:

MCCC nears decision on food service provider A decision on a new food service company for MCCC is expected during the second week of June. Seven companies applied to replace the Frog Leg Inn Bistro as the college’s food service. The Frog Leg Inn announced in March that it is leaving MCCC to concentrate on providing food and catering for the Monroe Golf and Country Club. The new company will handle both the A building cafeteria and catering for events around campus. It will take over at the beginning of fall semester 2012. The Frog Leg Inn Bistro’s last day was Thursday, June 7. It will continue to provide some catering services over the summer.

“It’s a chance for us to build relationships with kids and give them a good memory of MCCC.” Tina Pillarelli Lifelong learning they had not been able to do before. “We actually had a kid from MCCC graduate with a degree in theater who had went to the theater camp once before. You just never know what might spark some-

Two new foreign students

Monroe County Community College is expecting two new foreign exchange students fall semester. One is a 17-year-old female student from China, and the other is a 19-year-old male student from The Netherlands. They will join two exchange students already at MCCC who will be returning in the fall, one from Korea and one from China. The new students will be arriving in late August and are each staying until classes end next May. The college is searching for host families for both of them. Anyone interested in hosting a student for part of the 2012/2013 school year can contact Megan McCaffery-Bezeau, MCCC’s Youth for Understanding coordinator, at 734 384 4258 or mmccaffery-bezeau@monroeccc. edu

Sue McKee wins award

The March-April winner of the Enriching Lives Performance Award was Sue McKee, of Data Processing. “ She always responds quickly to our re-

one’s interests,” Pillarelli said. Typically, camps last an average of four days. Ages range from 6 to 18, depending on the camp. Whether it’s your 8-year-old who loves

quests and is always willing to help,” is how she was described in her nomination for the award. “Sue is patient and takes the time to explain things to make sure we understand. She has helped develop many reports for our office, which in turn, helps us service our customers more effectively,” the nomination continued. The award is given every other month by the MCCC Institutional Staff Development Advisory Committee.

Spirit rock up for approval

MCCC may soon have a spirit rock. Student government members Alyssa Adams, Lezlee Downing and Mandi Davis met with the Campus Development Committee on April 24 to propose a spirit rock for the MCCC campus. The committee approved the rock for placement on campus, and will take the recommendation to the MCCC Cabinet for final approval. Once approved, student government will work with the Maintenance Department to find a location for the rock.

to paint, a teenager who’s interested in welding, or a kid who’s just looking for something interesting to do with his summer, the camps can provide something for everyone, Pillarelli said. Don’t wait too long to register; the first camp’s (Cooking) registration deadline was June 4, with others starting all throughout the summer. Some of the other camps starting in the month of June are aspiring artists, firearm safety, theater, golf, magic, electronics, and artists by the sea camps.

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 Room 202 of the Life Sciences Bldg., (734) 384-4186, agora@ monroeccc.edu. Editorial policy: Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of The Agora staff. Signed columns represent the opinion of the writer. All letters to the editor must include a signature, address and phone number for verification purposes. The Agora reserves the right to edit for clarity, accuracy, length and libel. The Agora is a student-managed newspaper that supports a free student press and is a member of the Michigan Community College Press Association, the Michigan Collegiate Press Association, the Michigan Press Association, College Media Advisers, Associated Collegiate Press and the Student Press Law Center. Story suggestions are welcome. Let us know what you’d like to see in The Agora - it’s your newspaper. E-mail submissions: agora@monroeccc.edu .

Staff Members Editor Nicki Kostrzewa Adviser Dan Shaw

Ted Boss Mandi Davis Robin Lawson Taylor Pinson Eric Black

features

June 8, 2012

mcccagora.com • The Agora

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Lame excuses for: Not studying

hbor’s g i e n My e it! dog at

Missing class Not passing tests

I was abd u by an aliected n!

Not doing homework

Iw behi as stuc nd a k train ! By Robin Lawson Agora staff

W

e’ve all used them. Lame excuses for not studying, or not doing homework. Female students tend to think up several and select the one most suitable, even practicing before delivering the final speech. If tears are necessary to pull it off, no problem. Not quite the same with male students (at least with most). Males tend to use the first excuse that comes to mind, or the one suggested by a friend, no matter if it fits or not. Perhaps acting lessons could come in handy. A recent study from St. John’s University showed that males are slightly more likely to use a lame excuse for not succeeding in college, but not by much — 75 percent of male students to 70 percent of females. Both came up with similar excuses, while females used the “I was sick” excuse twice as much as males. After talking with a variety of students at MCCC, here are some lame excuses that were common:

Not studying · I got a migraine and my head hurt so

bad I couldn’t even see. · My friend drove me home. I left my book in her car and couldn’t get it back until now. · I wasn’t here when the assignment was given out and nobody told me what it was. · My roommate was noisy and I couldn’t study.

Not passing tests · I don’t think I understood the material.

· I made a mistake and studied the

wrong chapter. · Family emergency – couldn’t concentrate at test time. · You (teacher) didn’t give us enough time to finish.

Not getting homework done · My computer crashed and I couldn’t use another one. · I did do it, but I left it in my room; I can bring it tomorrow.

· It was here a moment ago; I must have lost it. · I had a 24-hour flu and was violently sick; I just got better on my way to class. Missing class · A family relative died. · I had a fight with my boy/girlfriend and he/she wouldn’t drive me to class. · I studied all night and overslept; I woke up too late to come. · I got mixed up and didn’t realize until too late that I was in the wrong class.

E

xcuses are what we present to convince someone else why we failed at something, but aren’t we also really trying to convince ourselves? Ever hear the phrase “Be true to yourself?” What it means is to be your own best friend. Help yourself to succeed. Stop sabotaging your own efforts! Okay, we’ve admitted the excuses, now let’s identify the real reasons behind them.

it.

What actually happened? Own up to

The real reason you didn’t study was because there was a great beach movie on the tube. You thought you’d get home in time to get your homework done if you went out with friends for only an hour or two — which turned into five. If you went to bed instead of singing karaoke until two a.m., you could have gotten up in time to get to class. So, decide which path you want to be on. Do you want to play around, go out every night, be first in line at concerts?... you get the picture. Or is what you want more than anything else ... a diploma? Pick one. How long can you walk with one foot on each path? Sooner or later, the path widens and you have to choose. As in the rest of life, sometimes not choosing early enough has the same consequences as not choosing the right path at all. Now that we’ve figured out what actu-

They call it ‘meading’

Add any fruit to the honey and you get a different flavor of mead. The combinations are endless, from tradtional flavors like apple and raspberry, to more exotic like orange or pumpkin. You can also add spices for a variety of spiced meads. The goal is to retain the honey aroma and taste, while complimenting it with other flavors.

Combine honey, water, yeast and a little time, and you have honey wine also called mead By Ted Boss Agora staff

Many people are interested in creating their own alcoholic beverages from beer and wine – all the way to mead. I spoke with a student who did not want to be named who told me,” This is so much fun. I mean really, to be able to make your own alcohol and share it with friends is really priceless.” So I thought, being a fledgling brewer myself, why not get the knowledge out there and let everyone know just how easy it is to take on this hobby. I will endeavor to introduce you to a growing interest among hobbyists. It’s called meading – the act of creating a honey wine. Mead-making predates written history and was embarked upon by Europeans, Chinese and Africans. To be involved with such an ancient art form is very fulfilling. I am going to try to chauffeur you through the mead-making experience, so you might enjoy like I do. First and most important, you need to be of legal

age to make alcohol. Now let’s talk about how beginners can start making mead. Here’s what you are going to need to get going: 3 lbs honey 1 empty one-gallon glass bottle 1 packet brewing yeast 1 rubber stopper and airlock

1) The first thing you need to do is sterilize your gallon jug. Do this by washing it out several times with hot water. The easy way of making sure the jug is sterilized before making mead is to pour a little bit of clear alcohol, such as gin or vodka, in the jug and swirl and shake it so that the alcohol coats all parts of the inside. Then rinse the jug with water. 2) Pour the three pounds of honey into the jug. Make sure they honey is warm so it will easily pour into your jug, then add warm water until it is oneand-a-half inches from the top.

ally happened (you didn’t really believe that excuse, did you?), this is when you must ask the question, “Why?” Why did I do that in the first place? I had a goal when I enrolled in college. I knew what I wanted to do in life. Ask yourself if any of these questions apply: · Am I just giving myself an excuse because I’m afraid I’ll fail anyway? · Am I a procrastinator? · Do I need to get organized? · Do I want to succeed bad enough to sacrifice my personal life and comfort? · Do I need to grow up? If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, take control of your destiny. Stop making excuses. Put one foot in front of the other and walk down the pathway called “success.” Check out a book on getting organized, or on better study habits. Form a study group with friends who actually do study. And ask yourself one final question: Will I be happy tomorrow with the decisions I make today?

3) Add one-quarter teaspoon of yeast to onequarter cup of warm water. Note that warm does not mean bath water temperature! Lukewarm may be a better description. If your water is too hot, it will kill the yeast and your mead will be unable to ferment. Lightly stir yeast and wait five minutes. 4) After five minutes, add the water/yeast solution to the honey and water solution. Now put in the rubber stopper with the airlock in it so when the solution ferments the bottle doesn’t explode. After three weeks you will see some sludge in the bottom of the jug that looks like mud. As the yeast feeds on the honey it multiples – this is just more yeast and waste products. Transfer your mead into another jug, making sure that as little sediment as possible gets into the other jug. This is called reracking. 6) If you have the time, wait at least 6 months before tasting your mead. If you can wait a year to taste the mead, that’s even better. Mead takes a little bit of time to mellow out after being made. When it is “young,” it has a harsh taste to it that

lessens with age. It is very important to let the mead age so that it mellows and it no longer has the in-your face kind of bite to it. If you do not wait long enough, it can taste a bit like burnt rubber. 7) After waiting it out, give the mead a try. It is good cold, but it’s also good warm. Hopefully, you’ve had a wonderful experience making mead, especially if you are a beginner brewing your own. This recipe is really easy and lends itself to the learning process of mead making. You can try making mead following this recipe and adding some fruit or fruit concentrate to get new and wonderful flavored meads. I personally enjoy the sweeter meads, but it can be brewed as sweet, semi-sweet, semi-dry or dry classifications. Fruit flavors, and even different types of honey, can really change the flavor of the mead that you make. I have to say that my favorite flavor that I have brewed has been Elderberry, but there are many more in the works. So good luck and happy brewing to you all.

Graduation 2012

June 8, 2012

mcccagora.com • The Agora

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2012 class celebrates commencement Taylor Pinson Agora Staff

MCCC celebrated its 45th annual commencement Friday evening, April 27. The words of MCCC’s 2012 alumnus of the year, Alan Barron, echoed through the Welch building’s gymnasium as he addressed a gathered crowd of around 1,400 people – with countless more watching via a live television broadcast by Monroe Public Access Cable Television. “We are here tonight at this graduation commencement to honor and celebrate your achievements, your hard work, your determination, and your success,” Barron said. “Today, the hard part begins: your new future.” The 2012 graduating class included 561 students. Two were selected to speak; Rhonda Haener from MCCC’s Occupational Program, and Damien Weaver from the Transfer Program. “I grew up in the town of Newport, where the men went to work at the auto plant or on the farm and most of the women stayed home with the children,” said Haener, a married mother of four. “That is the way I was brought up. I always dreamed of getting married, having children, and being a stay-athome mom. I had no desire to attend college.” Haener went on to talk about her Aunt Bev, who encouraged her to do more and get a degree from MCCC before her death to breast cancer in 1985. “Maybe she thought I had what it took to succeed in college,” Haener said. Haener chose to pursue her dream of starting a family instead. It was years later before she would enroll at MCCC. “I wanted to be able to help my husband with finances and enable him to retire from working a swing shift,” Haener said. “I also knew it was time to set new goals and obtain a degree.”

Haener talked about the difficulties of balancing school with family and went on to thank her family, fellow students, the MCCC faculty, and MCCC’s Vice President of Student and Information Services Randy Daniels, for helping accomplish her new goal and earn a degree. “I have really enjoyed taking classes and working towards this degree,” Haener said. The second student speaker was introduced by Lisa Scarpelli, assistant professor of geosciences, who presented him with rock hammer as a gift. Weaver, from Ottawa Lake, worked as a supplemental instructor for Scarpelli and intends to transfer to Northern Michigan University in Marquette. “The thought of attending graduation had never even crossed my mind,” Weaver said. Weaver talked about his last year of high school and the overwhelming sense of bewilderment about what to do next. “While everyone around me knew what they wanted to do, filling out applications and getting on with their lives, I was trying to figure out what to do for the rest of my life,” he said. To Weaver’s surprise, his high school nominated him for MCCC Board of Trustees scholarship, which covers two years of school. “I did not know I had been awarded the scholarship until close to my graduation. It looked like fate had decided for me,” he said. Weaver was interested in becoming a geologist, and his time spent at MCCC cemented his decision. “I want to thank the faculty and administration for providing all of us with an excellent education that will open doors to our future,” Weaver said. “I’m sure all of you are wondering how your life will unfold; I know I am.”

Top Left: A student shares her excitement silently by putting “Two down, four to go!” on her cap. Left: MCCC’s 2012 Alumnus of the year, Alan Barron, spoke to the graduates and their families about the wonderful achievements the class has made. Bottom left hand corner: Rhonda Haener was the student chosen to speak from MCCC’s Occupational Program. Below: Students stand patiently waiting to be seated before the ceremony. Top Right: MCCC President David Nixon congratulates students on their success. Far Right: Damien Weaver was chosen to speak to the class of 2012 representing MCCC’s Transfer Program. Right: MCCC’s Agora Chorale provided musical entertainment at the ceremony. Bottom Right: Graduates listen intently as they spend their last few minutes as students of MCCC. Photos by Mandi Davis

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“I wanted to be able to help my husband with finances and enable him to retire from working a swing shift. I also knew it was time to set new goals and obtain a degree.” Rhonda Haener

Occupational Program speaker

Graduation 2012 mcccagora.com • The Agora

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“I want to thank the faculty and administration for providing all of us with an excellent education that will open doors to our future.” Damien Weaver Transfer Program speaker

June 8, 2012

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June 8, 2012

arts and entertainment

mcccagora.com • The Agora

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E3 surprises gamers Nicki Kostrzewa Agora Staff

For all those wonderful video game fanatics out there, let me talk a little bit about the Electronic Entertainment Expo — aka E3! For those of you who are not completely aware of what E3 is, it’s a video game expo. This is where Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo bring out all their new products that we will see in the next year or two. For example, Nintendo plans on releasing the new Wii U. The Wii U is a handheld tablet that gives one many different options and observances when it comes to playing certain games. Not to mention, if mom and dad want the TV, let them have it! The kids can keep playing the game, for the screen goes from being the controller, to being a semiportable gaming device. There is also the Wonderbook by Sony. It brings your favorite stories and games to life, and lets you interact with them! Not to mention, you can give the stories any ending you want. And to think, those are only the devices that have been featured at E3! But oh, no, my friends, there is more. Now we get to talk about games! Everyone knows about the new Halo 4, which is due to be released sometime in

the pending year. Then there is the prequel to the God of War series. How amazing does that look?! Yes, they kept some characteristics of the enemies from the first few games. However, each new enemy brings on a new list of levels and a new boss battle. DarksidersII, which is going to be released in August, also looks amazing! Now you get to experience a whole other horseman: Death! Not to mention, compared to his brother, War, Death is way more agile. All of which means that he will bring a new breed of character characteristics, making things more fun and edgy. Something that seemed to blindside those who enjoy the E3 program was the announcement of Gears of War: Judgment. From my understanding of the game, you take on a whole new character, which in itself is a brand-new adventure. And something else that everyone should have heard by now is the game Last of Us. It is a very post-apocalyptic game that brings about a new way of play. You are more resourceful, and no matter what you as the player decide to do, your sidekick is sure to follow and actually help you survive. Sounds like another wonderful year to be a gamer.

Cooper impresses fans Nicki Kostrzewa Agora Staff

Recently it has been brought to my attention that there have been a lot of people going out and buying the Sly Cooper Collection for PS3. Not only was I a fan of playing these games, but I am still a fan of these games. The Sly Cooper Collection has all three games on one disk. Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, (game one) is where sly goes out to recollect his families prized book. However, he must go through all five of the evil masterminds that took his family and his legacy away from him. The second game, Sly 2: Band of Thieves is where he goes to find the parts of the final boss from the first one, only to insure that he would not rise again. It is at this point in the series where you must face all five members of a small gang, some of them you even have to battle twice. Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves puts you out in the action right from the get-go. The point of this game is to get Sly’s family

treasure back from the evil mastermind Dr. M. This game really opens up and lets you play as different characters from previous games and has some surprise twists here and there. And what makes this whole collection better, you may ask?! Sucker Punch, the company that came up with these marvelous games, will not be putting out the fourth game. However, Sanzaru Games is coming out with a fourth one called Sly 4: Thieves in Time. The fourth game’s basic storyline is that the pages of Thievius Raccoonus are disappearing. So the gang gets reassembled to go recruit Sly’s ancestors so they can save the book and their clan’s good name. I have loved these games from the time I bought them till now. Now and then you can see me playing these games, and to be totally honest, I can’t wait for the fourth one to come out. All and all, this series of games deserves a 10 out of 10. They are just that great.

Did you know…

You can finish you bachelor’s degree on the MCCC Campus! Siena Heights University has a degree completion center right here on campus! Undergraduate classes available in: • Accounting • Bachelor of Applied Science • Business Administration • Multidisciplinary Studies • Professional Communications • Psychology

a n e i S Graduate classes available in Leadership. Contact Siena today at (734) 384-4133 or stop by our office in L-221.