Agora - October 26, 2020

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MCCC millage renewal draws nearer Jerry Meade

Agora Assistant Editor

Volunteers from the college went door-todoor in 2016 to gain support for a maintenance and improvement millage.

This year, the pandemic changed that.

Instead, President Kojo Quartey visited various business, governmental, civic and political leaders to ask for their support.

In 2016, voters approved an 85-cent maintenance and improvement millage. The college is asking voters to renew that millage Nov. 3.

Funds from that millage helped improve campus, such as renovating the Founders Hall and the L Building.

“That Student Success Center in the Founders Hall is the most significant project that we’ve worked on for the millage funds,” Quartey said.

If approved, this millage would raise $5.47 million for the college in 2021.

This renewal would not increase the amount of taxes being levied by the college, meaning taxes wouldn’t be increased from the continuing millage.

Quartey said the importance of the renewal is evident from what has already been accomplished with the funds so far.

“For me, in 2016, I knew what the millage could do,” Quartey said. “Now in 2020, I see what a millage can do.”

As for renovations planned in Phase 2, Quartey said two of the projects that would best help the community are the addition of the HVAC thermal system in the college’s Whitman Center Bedford campus, and the expansion of the Health Education Building.

“You think about the pandemic and who do we need now more than ever? Individuals in the field of health,” Quartey said.

With the help of some college staff, Quartey has gone to businesses in the county passing out flyers to support the millage.

Quartey named one particular MCCC student, Cameron Albring, and certain staff

Serving Monroe County since 1968

Photo by Jerry Meade

Yard signs in support of MCCC’s zero-increase millage can be found across Monroe County.

members who have helped in these endeavors: Cajetan D’Cunha, grant writer/coordinator; Peter Coomar, Dean of Applied Science & Engineering Technology; Valerie Culler, director of Financial Aid; Linda Torbet, director of Human Resources; Penny Dorcey, executive assistant to the president and Board of Trustees; and Joe Verkennes, director of Marketing and Communications.

“He’s done an enormous job with our Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts,” Quartey said about Verkennes.

With this year’s circumstances, the support efforts have differed from back in 2016, being more reliant on social media outreach, Quartey said.

Before the 2016 vote to originally approve the millage, Quartey said flyers were handed to every household in the area.

“There was no corner of this county that I hadn’t walked during then, from Milan all the way down to the very corners of Erie and Bedford,” Quartey said. “And I had a handful

of students that were helping, using maps to hand out materials.”

This year, Quartey has also attended and asked for support at various township and council meetings in the county.

He said the Democratic and Republican parties, county commissioners, City of Monroe and Monroe Charter Township support the millage renewal.

Michael Bosanac, Monroe County Commissioner advisor, said the support was unanimous when Quartey mentioned Phase 2 at a commissioners meeting this month.

“Our board supported it from the standpoint of recognizing the value of education in our community that it trained and educated the skilled work force that is essential for economic development,” Bosanac said. “That’s what employers are going to look for.”

He also mentioned the various ways supporting this millage would help people reach greater career opportunities with upgraded technology at the college.

Oct. 26, 2020

“For our citizens to be able to take advantage of the community college and the value added by educational institutions, I think it’s a no-brainer for us to work together,” Bosanac said.

Bedford Township Supervisor, Paul Pirrone said a the Board of Trustees did not make a decision to support the millage at a township meeting where Quartey spoke.

“We don’t vote on millages as a board. It’s just not something our board does. I don’t think any government board does that,” Pirrone said. “Now I’m not saying the board doesn’t support it because I do. I’ve publicly said that I support the millage, but I can’t speak for the rest of the board.”

Quartey said support efforts have been positive, aside from one instance in Dundee where a member confronted Quartey about him saying he would not return to ask for support.

“I remember my exact words were, ‘I didn’t expect to,’” Quartey said.

He said the decision to renew the millage was only made within the last year, when the progress on campus was analyzed, and Quartey said the MCCC campus and Whitman Center could not sufficiently be upgraded in a 5-year period. At least a 10-year period was needed to complete all planned projects.

“It is not my expectation at this time to be asking for more money in five years, but who knows what the future holds,” he said.

Quartey said a number of attendees at these council meetings had family members or themselves who had attended MCCC in the past.

“If there’s to be an increase of economic growth or economic opportunity, it’s going to be because of education,” Quartey said.

“Who’s going to provide that? We are.”

Information about each project completed in Phase 1 of the initial Maintenance and Replacement Millage can be found at: www. monroeccc.edu/millage-updates.

Vol. 68, Issue 3

2 • Features

Oct. 26, 2020

Agora/mcccagora.com

Student Success new VP’s focus

Noah Black Agora Editor

MCCC is making changes to ensure a larger focus on student success.

With these changes, Scott Behrens has been hired as MCCC’s new vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Success.

Behrens replaces former VP Randy Daniels who retired Feb. 28 after 25 years at MCCC Behrens holds over 25 years of experience in the education field, receiving his bachelor’s degree from McDaniel College in Maryland before attaining his Master of Education degree at University of Arizona and his Ph.D. at the University of Florida.

Officially starting work at MCCC Oct. 19, Behrens has already begun working toward aiding students in their path to success.

“I was looking for something that is the right fit for my expertise, which is really growing enrollment and student success,” Behrens said. “I put student success first and that’s what I’ve always been about.”

Quartey renamed the position from VP of

The Agora Editors

Noah Black

Jerry Meade

Adviser

Matthew Bird-Meyer

Staff

Cole Younglove Kaylena Watson Lauren Werlinger

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 C8 of the Campbell Building, (734) 384-4186, agora@monroeccc.edu.

Submissions: The Agora encourages submissions by anyone in the college community, including freelance articles, opinion columns, or letters to the editor. All submissions must include a name, 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. It is a member of the Michigan Community College Press Association, the Michigan Press Association, College Media Association, Associated Collegiate Press and the Student Press Law Center.

Story suggestions are welcome. Let us know what you would like to see in the Agora - it’s your newspaper. Email submissions to agora@monroeccc.edu.

Student and Information Services to VP of Enrollment Management and Student Success, and the duties were reworked from the previous position title of vice president of Student and Information Services.

“If it had been the other position, I may never have applied,” Behrens said. “It’s because of the changes that he made to the position and the title that really drove that job description, and therefore my interest.”

Quartey said that there were two rounds of candidate searches to fill the position.

“In the second round, Scott immediately rose to the top,” Quartey said. “A couple of words I remember about Scott when talking to his references were passion and compassion, and I appreciated that, that he was concerned about student success.”

Behrens said he is most looking forward to helping MCCC’s students become more successful in everything they do.

“Number one is truly helping students to better their lives through education and therefore help the community, as well, to become a stronger community, a community that is appealing to businesses,” he said.

Aside from the main campus community, Behrens has also quickly familiarized himself with the different programs and services on campus.

“That’s how I spent my first days here, just meeting everybody that I can and talking to them and asking them how can I, my office, help to serve the students better?” he said.

Behrens said he wants to learn more about particular groups on campus as well, such as Student Government and other clubs in order to engage more with students.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the offices at MCCC are aware of the stress students are facing, Behrens said.

“We need to be ever more acutely aware that students have so much tugging at them right now,” he said. “I think one of the difficulties we have is that engagement piece.

Obviously, when people are online and remote, we need to be making sure that we also take the time to really ask the question: ‘Hey, how’s everything going in life?’”

With the recent relocation of the Student Success Center to the Founders Hall, Behrens said he wants to encourage more proactive support for students, getting students help before they need help and assisting them understanding the support process.

He said one way he wishes to be more engaging is to contact students directly.

“I think part of it will be my own process-

Photo by Noah Black

Scott Behrens, new vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Services said he plans to dedicate his new position at MCCC to ensuring student and community success.

es to truly engage students and send emails myself welcoming students to the college,” Behrens said. “One of the first things I did, and I know the other vice presidents here have done, I asked for a cell phone. I want people to feel free to engage me personally, tell me how things are going. I want to make sure that they’re aware in real time of those opportunities.”

Behrens said he wants to end the discouraging cliché college students often hear at orientations, “Look to your left and right, one of those people will not be here when you graduate. I want to change that saying. I want to change it to, ‘Look to your left, look to your right. Get to know these people. We’re all in this together and we’re going to work

Join the Agora!

The Agora is created by MCCC students.

That means all students!

Come join us if you are interested in: • News writing • Opinion writing • Illustration/Cartooning • Review writing • Photography

For more information, contact Noah Black, editor, at nblack@my.monroeccc.edu

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Oct. 26, 2020

Campus News • 3

C Building renovations begin planning Lauren Werlinger Agora Staff

Renovations of the C Building are currently in the planning stages.

The planning process began in spring of this year.

Jack Burns, director of Campus Planning and Facilities, said the goal is for the construction plans to be finished by the end of this year.

The actual construction is projected to begin in late March or early April 2021 and will last roughly nine months.

As with previous construction projects, a committee meets regularly to plan and discuss all aspects of the renovation.

Brian Lay, manager of Information Systems, said project discussions are currently focusing on improving room placement, classroom sizes and the flow of the floor plan.

Along with the improvements, Kevin Cooper, dean of Science and Mathematics and Interim dean of Humanities and Social Science, said the committee has been taking student and faculty needs into consideration as they discuss what should be added to the C Building.

Cooper said dealing with space limitations has been a challenging part of the planning process. To be able to include all the new and updated areas, one classroom had to be eliminated in the preliminary plans.

Also, in the construction drafts, some offices may not be able to have windows if the new spaces are to be included.

Even in the planning phase, the pandemic affected how the committee was able to meet.

A lot of discussions had to be held remotely.

“I think it’s difficult to have candid discussions on a big project such as this by receiving feedback by email or Brightspace or having virtual meetings,” Cooper said. “Sometimes folks are more reserved, I think, when in such a format. With that said, the feedback I have been given and passed along has been helpful and has lent itself to good discussion.”

Originally, $5 million was allocated for the updates to the C Building.

However, the planning committee realized an additional $4 million would be necessary in order to complete the project. Because of this increase in cost, the stages of construction were broken into two phases.

The initiation of phase two depends on the passing of the millage renewal. If the millage passes, construction will begin on both phases at the same time.

Phase one will include creating a hallway

along the southern side of the first floor, which will allow students and faculty to better access the elevator. A single service bathroom will also be added to the first floor and second floor.

The second floor will receive several renovations, including updates to faculty offices, the repurposing of the old Learning Assistance Lab space and reorganizing where classrooms and offices are located.

Classrooms and offices had to be rearranged because of the addition of a new space for the Agora student newspaper, a gallery area for students to display their artwork, a new space for the Writing Center and a commons area.

Alongside the changes, all the spaces will receive new furniture, fresh coats of paint and updated audiovisual equipment.

“It’ll bring that building out of the 60s and into the modern era,” Burns said.

Phase two will focus on updating the library and the basement.

“Instead of just rows and rows of books, it’s going to be more electronic resources,” Burns said. “They want to create more of a casual Barnes and Noble or Panera feel to it.”

To contribute to creating a casual environment, a coffee shop will be added to the first floor of the C building. The committee is also considering adding an outdoor space that will work in conjunction with the library.

The classrooms in the basement will receive updates like the classrooms on the second floor. Asbestos will be removed as well.

When both phases are complete, the C Building will be fully up to code, Burns said.

During construction, the classrooms, the library and faculty offices will not be available for use.

It is likely that temporary classrooms and offices will be set up in the La-Z-Boy Center and the A Building, though exactly how and where replacement classrooms and offices will be held is still being discussed, Burns said.

He said there is also the question of whether faculty should try to recreate the library elsewhere so students will still have access to all the non-electronic resources.

There are three stages to the development Photo by Lauren Werlinger of construction plans, Burns said.

The Campbell Learning Resources Center, C Building, will be the newest building on the MCCC The first is determining what is needed in campus to receive new interior renovations. Renovations are currently in the planning phase, the building and what new ideas should be with construction estimated to begin Spring 2021. explored.

In the third and final stage, physical prints Once the construction plans are finalized, The second stage, which is the stage the committee is currently in, is design develop- of the designs will be produced, including the architects will present the design ideas to ment, which turns those ideas into physical details about materials, electronics and me- students, faculty and community members. spaces. chanics.

4 • Campus News

Oct. 26, 2020

Agora/mcccagora.com

Makerspace PPE donations aid community Cole Younglove Agora Staff

MCCC has produced and is donating hundreds of personal protection equipment products around the community.

Michael Reaume, ASET technician/Perkins technical specialist, who is in charge of PPE production, said production was at its highest in the spring and summer.

“The main reason for this is that PPE was largely ‘unobtainium’ back in April through June,” Reaume said. “As of right now, all of our current requests for shields here on campus have been fulfilled.”

At its current rate, the Makerspace can produce approximately 14 face shields every two days said Reaume.

In MCCC’s Makerspace, production of personal protection equipment, PPE, is completed using plastic filaments, 3D printers and a CNC laser.

While the majority of production consists

of face shields, the PPE also includes handsfree door openers and face mask adjusters.

Since March, over 350 face shields have been produced, and distributed across campus and donated to over 30 organizations and businesses throughout the community.

The primary recipients of face shields are dental practices and other medical institutions.

In addition to the equipment produced, isolation gowns, scrub caps, shoe covers and other PPE items have been purchased and donated, Reaume said.

The production of PPE has cost approximately $2,500 so far, said Parmeshwar Coomar, dean of Applied Science & Engineering Technology.

Despite the cost, the project has been entirely voluntary.

“There was no additional monetary incentive to do it,” Reaume said. “We just had the equipment to help out and wanted to see what we could do with it to make a difference.”

PPE Production and Donation Figures

Total Internal Requests (As of July 30): 100 shields Total Delivered: 65 shields Total Due for Fall Semester: 35 shields

Total External Donations (March 31 to July 30): 280 shields Businesses/Organizations Served: -Dentistry for Children (Riverview, Mich.)

-Dr. Roger Baker DDS (Toledo, Ohio) -Dundee Dental (Dundee, Mich.)

-JSP Dental (Trenton, Mich.)

-Yentz Family Dentistry (Monroe, Mich.)

-Tower Dental Care (Toledo, Ohio) -Teeth by Health (Weston, Ohio) -University of Michigan Dental School (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

-Secor Dental Associates (Lambetville, Mich.)

-Virginia Carner Dunn DDS (Oregon, Ohio) -Mark A. Eby DDS, PC (Monroe, Mich.)

-Jeremy Dull DDS, PC (Monroe, Mich.)

-John C. Bacarella DDS, PC (Monroe, Mich.)

-Globe Dental Lab (Monroe, Mich.)

-Shelly Schnoor Family Dentistry (Lam- bertville, Mich.)

-George J. Spader DDS, PC (Temper-

ance, Mich.)

-McMullin Dental Care (Monroe, Mich.)

-Protect Frontline Heroes: PPE Supplies Metro Detroit (Dearborn, Mich.)

-America House (30 Southeast, Mich.)

-Martha T. Berry Medical Center (Mt. Clemens, Mich.)

-Glacier Hills Skilled Rehab (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

-Marycrest Manor Skilled Rehab (Livo- nia, Mich.)

-Lakes Pediatric Dentistry (Commerce Township, Mich.)

-The Medical Team Agency: Home Health (Birmingham, Mich.)

-Home Health Team Hazel Park (Hazel Park, Mich.)

-Regency at Bluff’s Park (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

-Energize Rehab Team: Father Murray A. Villa Center (Center Line, Mich.)

-Monroe County Opportunity Program (Monroe, Mich.)

-Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (Mon- roe, Mich.)

-Oak of Righteousness (Monroe, Mich.)

-Saint Mary’s Hospital (Livonia, Mich,) -River Raisin Veterinary Clinic (Monroe, Mich.)

-ProMedica Hospital (Toledo, Ohio)

Photos by Michael Reaume

Michael Reaume, ASET technician and Perkins technical specialist, shows off one of the new face masks being made as part of the Makerspace PPE donations.

Monroe High school instructor Kyle Reed holds boxes packed with PPE products ready to be donated.

Agora/mcccagora.com

Campus News • 5

Oct. 26, 2020

Professor encourages internship applicants Jerry Meade

Agora Assistant Editor

There are a number of scholarship and internship opportunities open to students this year.

Edmund La Clair, assistant professor of history, talked about some in particular that he promotes to students.

The National Battlefield Park contacted La Clair in August to ask if some students might be interested in a scholarship opportunity working with the park and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi tribe.

The NHBP is a group of Native Americans who, when forced to leave their homeland by the Southeastern shoreline of Lake Michigan in what became known as the Trail of Death in 1838, escaped and returned to their homeland. Because of this, the NHBP was not federally

recognized until 1995, with numbers of the tribe growing since.

This scholarship would have students work with the NHBP to develop exhibit panels about Nottawaseppi history, wild rice restoration, their multi-generational struggle for federal recognition and other topics.

Each student will earn a $2,000 scholarship to MCCC and be paid a stipend of $2,000 over the project period, a total of $4,000.

This internship came from the Native American Heritage Fund that was donated in 2019.

The NAHF partners with the River Raisin National Battlefield Park, the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma, the Wyandot of Anderdon Nation and the Turtle Island Dream Keepers.

The partnership was

launched to educate students on Native American history.

“I had no luck finding many people until I sent out the campus-wide notice,” La Clair said about reaching out to applicants.

La Clair said the interns will be expected to collect oral history and talk to elders about wild rice restoration.

The goal of internships like these is to improve educational programs and knowledge of Native American history and particularly that of tribes that lived in Michigan.

“We actually have a plethora of opportunities,” La Clair said.

The Pfc. Dennis J. Miller Jr. Memorial Scholarship and John Dingell Endowment Fund are scholarships La Clair hopes more students will apply for.

The Dennis Miller scholarship is offered every year.

The money will cover tuition for a class. Students could use that as an opportunity to do an internship with any of the local public history programs, such as the County Museum, Dun Deal Mill and Monroe National Park Service, La Clair said.

La Clair said he encourages students to apply for these scholarships when they are availalble each year.

“I bet if you’re the only one that applies I would pick you,” La Clair said. “I don’t like that situation. I’d rather have a competition, and I’d rather have it go to, you know, a variety of students not just the one I happen to know is majoring in history.”

The Dingell Endowment Fund was established by late congressman John Dingell, who was a former park ranger and had connections with various park services.

“This scholarship will allow a variety of internships either with the National Parks service or with the Sterling State Park,” La Clair said.

“The goal is to try to move student internships back and forth between those two institutions that John Dingell had such an effect on.”

Oftentimes, scholarships like these aren’t granted to students because of the lack of applicants.

“There’s scholarship money that just sits there with no one to take it,” La Clair said.

“I’m always willing to help a student who’s interested in any history organization, set that up as a pure internship or internship in which they

could get credit at the college through their tuition.”

If more students are interested in programs like these, La Clair plans to make a college course centered on internships with the battlefield part for specific projects.

“If anyone’s interested in trying to do an internship with the battlefield let me know and I can see what we can arrange for summer as well,” he said. “It might be a class you take through the college without a scholarship behind it, but hey, it’s still an internship with the National Park Service.

MCCC students can apply for scholarships at: https:// monroeccc.academicworks.

File Photo Photo by Jerry Meade

The River Raisin National Battlefield Park, located on Elm Avenue, is a historical site for the January 1813 battles in the War of 1812. The park has partnered with MCCC for a internship scholarship opportunity that will teach about the history of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi.

History professor Edmund La Clair said there are a number of scholarship and internship opportunities with the National Park that students can apply for. He also plans to design a college course focusing on internships.

6 • Campus News

Oct. 26, 2020

Agora/mcccagora.com

MCCC’s Market Twenty 4 Seven reopens Jerry Meade

Agora Assistant Editor

A large selection of food snacks and beverages are available on campus once again.

Market Twenty 4 Seven is the micro market area in the Student Services and Administration Building outside of the cafeteria where staff and students can browse and purchase various food and refreshments.

Originally opened at the start of the Winter 2020 Semester, the Market Twenty 4 Seven service was shuttered when the MCCC campus closed in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The market officially reopened on Oct. 12.

Kelly Heinzerling, director of Auxiliary Services and Purchasing said she worked with the market’s supplier, Continental Vending Inc., to determine when products would be able to be distributed again.

Plans to re-open were eventual,yet the idea of bringing it back at as early as this month wasn’t considered until the need for it was realized, Heinzerling said.

The main deciding factor to reopen was the number of Middle College students that would be on campus because they make up the majority of shoppers.

Heinzerling said once it was understood how many classes and students would be on campus and how great the need would be the decision was made.

“We determined the numbers were good enough that it made sense to bring it back,” Heinzerling said.

Due to the limited number of customers compared to its first opening in January, products have been limited, she said.

One of the five coolers is not being used and the snack wall has less amount of product then what was orignally available when the market first opened.

“The products we have now were based on what students were purchasing at that time of it first being open and incorporated also items with longer shelf life because of the limited

Photo by Jerry Meade

The newly reopened Market Twenty 4 Seven is stocked with food and drinks that were in high-demand before the MCCC campus closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

students,” Heinzerling said.

Due to the short period of time when the market was first opened, Heinzerling said estimations are still being made on what products need to be restocked and to what extent.

“I’m super excited to see it open,” Heinzerling said. “It was sad seeing it dark.”

She said students were visibly interested in the Market when preparations were first being made.

“Even when they (Continental) were in on Friday restocking for the Monday reopening, students were already coming in the market just excited about having that space back open and available,” Heinzerling said.

Phil Borawski, a full-time information systems support technician for the college, said he would have to bring a lunch and water bottle from home in the summer due to most vending options being closed. Borawski said he now takes advantage of the market being open.

“It’s got a pretty decent selection now, I mean, just for a quick snack,” Borawski said. “It would be nice if they had, you know, more meal options as opposed to just junk food.”

Various restrictions are present in the area to encourage social distancing and prevent contamination.

There is an entrance only sign from the hall doorway and an exit only sign next to the doors leading into the cafeteria.

One scanning and purchasing kiosk is closed and some microwaves have been turned around in an effort to avoid shoppers standing too close to each other, Heinzerling said.

The fingerprint scanners at the kiosk have also been covered up.

“We did that even before closing because it’s one place where very specific contamination can happen.” Heinzerling said.

Hand sanitizer and wipes are available in three different areas to help wipe down the screens and handles.

Outside the market, there are a number of stocked vending machines throughout the MCCC campus.

These vending machines can be found in the Health Education Building, Career Technology Center Labs, Founders Hall, A Building and La-Z-Boy Center.

The Life Science Building will not, however, have stocked vending machines due to the number of construction projects going on in there, Heinzerling said.

There are vending machines that house Pepsi products as well as various snacks provided by Continental.

“We ensure that for the buildings that were really going to be heavily used that we do have Pepsi and snacks in those locations,” Heinzerling said.

Both snack and drink machines have data collected from purchases to ensure products remain stocked from each delivery, she said.

“I think that given our current circumstances, anything we can do that offers a positive statement to students and staff and faculty is just what we should be doing,” Heinzerling said..

Late-start courses begin at MCCC for Fall Noah Black Agora Editor

The Fall Semester may have already begun at MCCC, but some students are just now enrolling in and starting classes.

MCCC’s late-start 8-week courses began Oct. 19 and will run until Dec. 14.

Ryan Rafko, director of Admissions and Guidance Services said in an email the planning process was a campuswide project, requiring the Financial Aid, Marketing and Communications, and Admissions and Guidance Services offices to work in collaboration with Financial Services and the each academic division.

The offices began planning the late-start

course program in late August prior to the start of the Fall Semester, Rafko said.

“This was done in response to an unusual number of full class sections for popular online classes this Fall Semester due to increased demand created by COVID-19,” Rafko said.

The areas of study offered for the Fall latestart courses include criminal justice, English, math and humanities.

“The decision was made to offer a group of core General Education satisfying courses across required competency areas,” Rafko said. “This was done in an attempt to open classes that will satisfy a graduation requirement for the college and allow students some choice on what they may choose to enroll in.”

In order to enroll in the late-start Fall Semester courses, students still needed a 20202021 FASFA on file with MCCC. Valerie Culler, director of Financial Aid, said as long as students have financial aid available in their account still, they can apply for late-start courses.

This applies to student scholarships as well.

If scholarship funds are left over in a student’s financial aid record, they can be used for latestart courses, Culler said.

Culler said students unsure if their financial aid is applicable should reach out to the Financial Aid office.

Along with late-start courses for the Fall Semester, possible late-start Winter courses

are being planned as well.

“The plan is to offer late-start classes for the Winter Semester,” Rafko said. “Our Winter Schedule is due to be released at the end of the month and the thought is that the late-start classes will be included in this schedule.”

Rafko said Winter Semester registration begins the week of Nov. 2.

Students can register for both normal and late-start Winter Semester courses online via MyWebPAL at mywebpal.monroeccc.edu/ Student/courses.

Questions for both returning and new students can be directed to the Office of Admissions and Guidance at (734) 384-4104 or admissions@monroeccc.edu.

Agora/mcccagora.com

Campus News • 7

Oct. 26, 2020

TRAILS to support MCMC mental health Cole Younglove Agora Staff

TRAILS to Wellness is coming to the Monroe County Intermediate School District to help Middle College students support their mental health.

TRAILS is an acronym for “Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students.”

TRAILS communication specialist, Ollila Meredith, said TRAILS was created by the University of Michigan’s Department of Psychiatry to equip schools with the resources to provide and sustain evidence-based mental health support to their students.

The program was initially created in 2013 to address a call for help from Ann Arbor area schools.

“The schools had contacted the Depression Center at the University of Michigan and said they felt like they were drowning,” Meredith said, “Their students were demonstrating a level of mental health need – both in frequency and severity – that staff did not feel equipped to handle.”

According to the TRAILS website, nearly 50 percent of adolescents suffer from mental

illness but only 20 percent receive effective treatment.

Now, TRAILS has trained 236 professionals across 370 schools in Michigan, including public schools across Monroe County such as the Monroe County Middle College.

“Even before we knew this pandemic was coming and we’d be shut down. This is already something we had planned on doing,” Robert Kreuger, principal of Monroe County Middle College, said.

To fulfill the need for mental health support, TRAILS trains school staff with TRAILS coaches, mental health providers specially trained in Cognitive Behavioral Theory and mindfulness.

“TRAILS pull from the most current research when developing or recommending outside resources and review/revision of materials is ongoing,” Meredith said in an email.

TRAILS offers a variety of programs, including TRAILS SEL and TRAILS CBT. TRAILS SEL, or Social and Emotional Learning, provides 20 short lessons for teachers to provide for their students. These lessons available in four bands from kindergarten to 12th grade.

These lessons include talking points, stu-

dent activities and more to help instructors support their student’s mental wellbeing.

TRAILS CBT on the other hand, offers a one day professional training regimen for mental health staff on Cognitive Behavioral Theory and mindfulness.

After being trained in Cognitive Behavioral Theory, TRAILS pairs school staff with coaches for 15 weeks to help them retain these clinical strategies to use independently after training.

“It is well documented that brief professional development workshops do not lead to sustained improvements in clinical knowledge or behavior, therefore the TRAILS approach provides schools with training as well

as resources and extensive implementation support,” Meredith said.

Because TRAILS implementation into the MCMC has only recently begun, the demand for training is unclear.

“The demand might be huge, and we might have to run multiple sessions, the demand might be almost nothing and we might have to try to pull teeth,” Krueger said.

Since COVID-19 has pushed most schools into an online format, TRAILS has created online resources to help a wider audience.

These online resources can be found on the TRAILS website at www.trailstowellness. org/materials/resources/covid-19-resources.

A silent moderating struggle behind the screen Cole Younglove Agora Staff

It was Oct. 16 at 5:30 p.m. when I sat in front of my laptop.

In 30 minutes MCCC would be hosting a Q&A forum for some community candidate positions over Zoom. Meanwhile, the rest of the moderator team and I would be working through Teams.

It had been months since I had last touched a video conferencing app.

Was everything working correctly?

Was my camera on? How silly did I look in a headset as I listened to the forum?

As 6:00 p.m. rolled around I had to push these worries to the side and enter the calls.

During this Q&A, I would be moderating any questions the viewers had. These questions would be sent directly to me, and I would relay these questions to Dan Wood, assistant professor of Criminal Justice, so that we could formulate

them into single questions for the candidates.

This was my first time moderating any online event, let alone one of local political significance. I took some deep breaths and prepared my screen as MCCC President, Kojo Quartey, finished his opening and the Q&A began.

The forum began without a hitch.

Technical difficulties were minimal, and the sudden rush of questions I had expected were absent.

Perhaps I had overreacted, I took that as a good sign.

For the first half of the forums I scrawled into a notebook, keeping an open ear for the main points of every candidate on every subject.

Not only did this help pass the time, questions didn’t appear until nearly an hour in, but it would also give me a good impression of who I could expect on November’s ballot. I planned to look up all these candidates later and educate myself further on the topics they had dis-

Illustration by Kadia Allen

cussed.

However, my note taking was cut short when the in the Zoom chat a new message appeared; my first question.

I dropped the notebook and dragged my mouse over the viewers’ query.

Ctrl C, Ctrl V. The question was sent privately to Wood in an instant. I was told we would hold onto this until we had gathered more, but my eagerness had spiked.

My single-monitor device was

still cluttered with text boxes, word documents, and video calls. But I felt like a great stone guardian, placed to answer the calls of the public and relay them to those beyond.

This feeling didn’t last long.

After one question came another. Then another. And another still.

Overall there were few but each viewer was asking something different, to totally different candidates.

I tried organizing them as they were sent to Wood. The Zoom chat looked like a mess with all my personal messages clogging up the questions, but it worked for now.

The questions continued to pile into the chat. A slow drip, drip, drip of questions that weathered away my façade as a mediator.

I worried I had bitten off more than I could chew. Should I have agreed to this? What if I miss a bunch of questions? Not only would I be letting MCCC down but the en-

tire viewing community.

Some of the viewers began to argue in the Zoom chat. No name calling or direct rudeness, but now I had to observe this phenomenon on top of the questions.

Taking notes on the candidates was out of the picture by now.

There’s no way I’d remember what most of them had said beyond my first question.

As my panic began to build, I heard a silver lining: The Q&A forum was ending.

I was in relief. I had made it through as a moderator. Looking back the event wasn’t as chaotic as it felt in the moment. Had I come in with more moderator experience, or at least taught myself how to conduct it, I may have had less of an internal panic.

Next time, I should really test my wax wings before flying headfirst into the sun.

8 • Campus News

Oct. 26, 2020

Campus News • 9

Agora/mcccagora.com

REMEMBERING PAST AGORA ADVISER DAN SHAW A kind, generous leader

To say that Dan Shaw played an important role in my college career would be an understatement.

My first year of college was stressful and intimidating, but when I walked into Dan’s Mass Media classroom, I was met with kindness and sincerity.

His gentle style of teaching and obvious love of the subject made his lectures unlike any other I’ve ever been in.

He gave his students the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom as well.

We had the chance to create a commercial at the local TV studio, one of the most memorable and enjoyable assignments during my time at MCCC. I also had the privilege to go on the 2017 Study Abroad trip to Greece and Italy under Dan. Even though I didn’t take his class on the trip, I learned so much from him. He was also so generous.

One day while in Florence, he

led a small group of us to a garden he had read about online. He told us there would be a discount for students but when we arrived it turned out the discount was no longer available.

Dan paid for all of our tickets with his own money so we wouldn’t have to. He also bought us all lemonade afterwards.

When I dropped my camera into the Grand Canal in Venice, losing my all photos, Dan made a disk for me after retuning home with photos he had taken so I wouldn’t be without pictures.

But my favorite memory involving Dan, perhaps even one of my favorite memories thus far in my life, happened about a week into the Italy trip.

It was our first night in Rome and I went with Dan and three others to an outdoor pizza restaurant.

After a long day of hectic crowds and traveling it felt so good to finally sit down, and the weather was perfect.

Dan looked at us and said, “Do you ever just look around you at a particular moment and think, can life get any better than this?”

That comment really made me think, because the moment before I had been feeling exhausted,

drained, a little homesick and a bit overwhelmed.

His comment made me realize how special moments like that can be.

Even when life may seem crazy, it’s so important to take notice of the beauty of the here and now.

Dan reminded me of that idea that evening, and I’ve kept it close to me ever since.

In a world as crazy and toxic as this one, it doesn’t seem right to lose one of those rare people who it seemed truly made it a better place.

While I know my own experience with Professor Shaw is unique in some ways, his genuine care for his students and fellow colleague members is something that I know many others will remember for the rest of their lives.

I know I’ll never forget.

-Samantha Bartley

Former Student

A mentor and nurturer I had just arrived home that fateful evening when my cellphone rang.

It was Ray Kisonas, the editor of the Monroe News. He gave me the shocking news that Dan had collapsed while playing basketball and could not be revived.

I was silent for several moments and frankly, I did not know what to say.

The next day I called a meeting of all the MCCC faculty to inform them.

I simply felt that it would be inappropriate to put such tragic news about one of our family members on email, having had a similar negative experience in my past.

Dan Shaw was a good man.

That statement seems trite, but I do not make it lightly. Dan was indeed a good man in every sense of the expression.

To say I am saddened and surprised by Dan’s totally unexpected

passing would be an understatement of immense proportions.

You see, I have sat in my office on several occasions with Dan to talk about some of our international travels and experiences. We talked about the different world cultures and much more.

Dan was one of those guys who understood the nuances of culture and respected and appreciated people of all backgrounds and cultures. He was indeed an international scholar and gentleman.

I remember when I first came to MCCC, Dan’s class was one of the first classes I visited.

Dan invited me to do a “press conference” with his students. I very much appreciated the opportunity to speak and interact with the students.

From that point, Dan would intermittently invite me to speak to his students.

Dan was also the one who put our political forums together; he and his students worked tirelessly to bring the forums to fruition.

Dan also reported from the MPACT studios during every election and had his students very much involved with that process.

Dan was not only a teacher, he was a mentor and nurturer to his students. Because of that they won numerous awards. He cared about each and every one of them deeply and personally and was consistently trying to make them the best they can be.

After he passed, two of his students called to commiserate with me – James P. Quick and Melanie Davis. They both told me in no uncertain terms that Dan had made them what they are today— good writers and critical thinkers A scholar, a gentleman, and a nurturer, Dan has left a lasting legacy that will live on at MCCC for many generations to come.

I personally am grateful and honored to have known him. May his soul rest in everlasting peace.

-Kojo Quartey MCCC President

Warm and welcoming

Dan Shaw, former MCCC professor of journalism and Agora adviser, died unexpectedly during a basketball game Sept. 28.

Shaw was 68 years old.

President Kojo Quartey called an all-campus meeting Sept. 29 to break the news to faculty and staff.

Shaw was the faculty adviser to the Agora from 2008-2019, impacting the lives of many students who fondly remember his passion for journalism and integrity.

Quartey said he first bonded with Shaw over their discussions of world travels. He also worked with Shaw during past elections to host candidate meetings.

Along with his work on the Agora and as a journalism professor, Shaw was involved with MCCC’s Study Abroad program.

“He offered students an opportunity to expand their world view, experience new perspectives and build confidence in themselves,” said Wendy Wysocki, professor of business and economics. “Students have told me they liked traveling with Dan. He was always eager to guide them on the next learning adventure.”

Shaw was also known for his love of basketball.

“This guy was a phenomenal basketball player,” Quartey said. “A few staff members would play twoon-two basketball games. I remember saying ‘Man, he’s the smallest and the oldest, but he’s the best.’”

Shaw was a large part of the community both during and after his time at MCCC. “He died doing what he loved,” Quartey said. “He will be missed and we are still mourning.”

Before his retirement Dan Shaw established a journalism scholarship fund with The Foundation at MCCC named the Dan Shaw Memorial Journalism Fund.

Donations to the memorial fund in memory of Dan can be made at www.monroeccc.edu/foundation/ danshaw.

Former students, colleagues and friends hoping to submit their memories and experiences with Dan Shaw, please email your writing to agora@monroeccc.edu.

With author consent, we will publish these memories and words on our page dedicated to Dan Shaw, www.mcccagora.com/dan-shaw.

I first met Dan when I was the adviser to the Agora and he worked at the Monroe Evening News.

We connected in an effort to give the students some taste of local journalism. He was warm and welcoming to both my students and me.

When he applied for the position of journalism instructor, I served on the search committee and became a big supporter of him, knowing he could take the Agora further than I could.

Dan always kept an eye on the future of media and never let his passion dwindle.

I believe that is what made him such an effective adviser and why he connected to the students.

As a colleague, he stepped up in so many ways. He easily could have focused solely the paper, yet he became involved in nearly every facet of the college. He was a member and chair of various committees.

When he retired, I knew we would never find another like him.

I will miss him!

-Mark Bergmooser

Communications Professor

A journalist at heart I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Dan Shaw, who in addition to serving as the faculty adviser and editor of this great campus newspaper from 20082019, was also a community staple at the Monroe Evening News for several years, and brought a fount of knowledge and experience to the Agora when he moved to MCCC. Dan was one of the single most influential instructors during my time at MCCC. I was blessed and fortunate enough to be amongst his first

group of students when he arrived at campus.

Always a tireless proponent of his craft, Dan was first and foremost a journalist at heart and truly a fitting veteran who was always in his element as our instructor.

During his tenure, he took the newspaper to the next level by entirely reformatting the layout, building a cohesive team of students, launching a digital format and focusing on the continuity of the newspaper with forward-thinking staff recruitment.

In addition to the early days, Dan was also an incredible mentor to so many students during his 11 years as editor.

Not only are we better writers for having known him but he also took great pains to help secure funding for students when it came to the annual staff trip to New York, and always held an annual Agora alumni get-together at his home each summer.

He will be missed remarkably and by a wider audience than one can possibly know.

-Casey Cheap

Former Agora staff

An adviser and friend

Dan was more than an adviser and professor, he was an inspiration and role model.

But most of all, he was a friend.

I came to know Dan during the summer of 2018. I inquired about careers in communications and was directed to him.

I entered the meeting with a booked Fall Semester planned and some general ideas. I left with a whole new schedule and an invitation to join the Agora, our campus newspaper and media outlet.

If Dan hadn’t been a journalist, I bet he would have made a great car salesman.

I never knew what the Agora was and yet after just one short meeting I had found myself a part of it.

Over the next two semesters, I found out quickly what journalism really was and thanks to his mentorship and guidance, I learned how to be good at it.

Without Dan, I would have taken classes aimlessly, had no resume and fewer friends.

We always talked about sports, mostly college basketball.

My favorite memory is during the Agora trip to NYC when Dan and I stopped at a sports pub in Brooklyn to watch the Michigan State Spartans take on University of Michigan. We jabbed each other jokingly over who would win, him a Michigan fan while I prefer MSU.

When the Spartans won, I made sure to give him my sarcastic comment and smirk before heading back to the hotel.

We talked fantasy baseball on the way back and even took some advice on who to draft.

I will never know how the last two years of my life would have gone if I never had that meeting.

Honestly, I don’t care what they could have been. I would have never met Dan and would have missed out on knowing one of the best people to enter my life.

Dan, thank you for everything.

-Todd Salisbury

Agora Editor (2019-2020)

10 • Opinion

Oct. 26, 2020

Agora/mcccagora.com

How I learned to cut the cable cord and embrace YouTube Jerry Meade

Agora Assistant Editor

I don’t watch any TV shows on a regular basis.

That might be expected if I’m busy during the semester, but it’s been the case for well over a year now.

Not long ago, I had shows I looked forward to watching every weekday night when a new episode released. Even a night that I wasn’t able to watch a new episode, I would record and catch up as soon as the weekend hit.

What changed this practice?

Well, YouTube ultimately consumed my interest.

YouTube’s nothing new. Starting in 2005, it’s been the No. 1 video-sharing site for a reason, and everyone recognizes the platform.

Yet, not everyone has become as reliant on it for quality content as I have.

Sure, I could catch up on episodes through various streaming services, but that can be a chore even with a series I greatly enjoy. Keeping up with shows seemed to be too daunting of a task for me.

I find YouTube to be a channel of media unlike any other, with the amount of control one has to watch a specific topic being nearly endless.

Sure, cable television has hundreds of channels to choose from. But oftentimes, even after scrolling through all channel selections aimlessly, there still seems to be nothing on.

That problem doesn’t exist on YouTube.

On YouTube, there is always something to watch, whether it’s being searched for or recommended by the site’s algorithm.

I find the engagement aspect of YouTube to be a vital part of its charm as well.

Oftentimes, content creators will engage with their subscribers, make a connection between the viewer and the video. The same can’t really be said with TV. There’s a fourth wall of viewer interaction that just can’t be crossed.

I also feel the length of videos that can be found on YouTube also factor into its accessibility.

Prime-time shows often take 30 minutes to an hour each episode, with a number of commercials throughout.

Even without having the YouTube Premium service that blocks ads, watching YouTube videos with an advertisement or two throughout is much easier to sit through than what’s on television.

Now I understand not everyone is as anti-television series as I am. Yet I believe one thing has to be acknowledged.

Cable TV is no longer needed for decent content accessibility.

Say there’s a show airing that one still wants to watch. Odds are, there are multiple ways to stream it online.

The awe of how many channels are included in a cable package is no longer relevant in today’s day in age.

What matters is the extent of content that is available, with the plethora of media on YouTube and other streaming services being unmatched. The fact that streaming services are cheaper than cable is an added bonus.

I would encourage people to really dive into the content YouTube has to offer.

Even if there are a number of shows that you have a desire

Briefs Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Pumpkin Carving and Costume Contest MCCC Student Government will host a virtual Halloween costume and pumpkin

to keep up with, consider switching from cable to streaming instead.

You’d be surprised at how much money you save and new media you discover.

entry and full student name and home address.

Faces must be visible in photos for submissions to be accepted.

Participants can win one of three Amazon gift cards: $20 for third place, $30 for second place and $50 for first place.

Prizes will be mailed to the address included with submission.

A survey will be shared by Student Government the first week of November where students can vote on their favorite entries.

Submissions should be sent to Tom Ryder at tryder@monroeccc.edu

Student Government sponsors Halloween activities: MCCC Student Government is sponsoring “A Spooktackular Scavenger Hunt” scheduled for 6-8p.m. Oct. 30.

Participants will have the chance to win one of three Amazon gift cards: $10 for third place, $30 for second place and $50 for first place.

The event will be held via Zoom and is available to all students.

Students can join at the Zoom URL: zoom. us/j/93231118738.

Rules will be explained before the event starts.

Illustration by Jerry Meade

Makerspace staff hosts virtual workshop carving contest the week of Oct. 26.

Contest entries will be accepted from Oct. 26-30.

Submissions should be a photo of the costume or pumpkin, a brief description of the

The MCCC Makerspace is hosting a free virtual workshop from 3-3:45p.m. Oct. 29.

Titled “Make and Innovate,” the workshop will feature guest speaker David Ollila to discuss what it takes to develop products.

Attendees will also learn how the Makerspace can help develop ideas and prototypes.

The workshop can be found at the Zoom URL: zoom.us/j/91831559160.

For more information, contact Mike Reaume at (734) 384-4176 or at mreaume@monroeccc.edu

Psychology professor hosts implicit bias presentation Melissa Grey, professor of psychology, is scheduled to deliver a virtual presentation on how to reduce bias harm in relationships.

The event is set for 7p.m. Oct. 28.

This is the first of a four part “Intercultural Understanding” series sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Detroit and Monroe, the Monroe Area Coalition for Racial Equality, Equity, and Diversity, the District 6400 “Rainbow Connection” Peace and Conflict Resolution Initiative and The Wayne State Center for Peace and Conflict Studies.

To register and receive a Zoom meeting ID, contact Andrea Ritter at andrea.ritter@ wayne.edu

Agora/mcccagora.com

Opinion • 11

Oct. 26, 2020

Editor’s Column

Cryptid Corner: The Dark Watchers

Noah Black Agora Editor

There are animals which lurk in the shadows.

There are people who lurk in the shadows.

But what can be done when the shadows are the ones who lurk around us?

Hidden among the forestry of hilltops and rocky shores, the Dark Watchers loom over humanity, casting their judging eyes upon passersby.

The Dark Watchers are entities unlike no other.

These tall figures cloaked in shadow have never been reported to be seen up close, always keeping their distance from whomever they have directed their attention to.

The Watchers are reported to be seen primarily in the Californian region of Big Sur, home to the Santa Lucia Mountains.

Because of their elusive nature, descriptions of these figures are muddy at best, but there are three things each witness can agree on.

The Dark Watchers are tall, humanoid figures draped in a cloak or trench coat who wear large widebrimmed hats, are completely enveloped in shadow to leave any distinguishing features veiled and sometimes are seen holding a staff or walking stick.

The Watchers are seen in the hours of twilight as the sun begins to peer over the mountains.

But there is one last attribute that reports agree upon.

What the Watchers want is unsure.

Do they even want something?

Reports of the Dark Watchers are said to be traced back to early paintings and stories from the Chumash people of Central California.

Despite these claims, there is little information to corroborate them other than tales of the nunašīš, shapeshifting beings of bad

luck, detailed in Chumash stories collected by ethnologist John Peabody Harrington.

The first documented reports of the Dark Watchers date back to early Spanish colonization of California.

Known to Spanish settlers as Los Vigilantes Oscuros, the figures were thought to be supernatural watchmen who were present to benevolently oversee the progress of the Spanish settlements.

Los Vigilantes Oscuros became figures of legend passed down through generations of the Spanish inhabitants of California, with the tales being told to Americans as the country expanded westward.

The legend of the Dark Watchers eventually faded into the background as California became the site of the Mexican-American War for annexation of California.

It wouldn’t be until 1937 when American poet Robinson Jeffers wrote his poem “Such Counsels You Gave to Me” that the Watchers would return to the eye of the Californian public.

Jeffers wrote, “He thought it might be one of the watchers, / Who are often seen in this length of coast-range, forms that look human / To human eyes, but are certainly not human. / They come from behind ridges and watch.”

A year later, another notable Californian poet, John Steinbeck, would mention figures similar to the Dark Watchers in his piece “Flight.”

However, while the Dark Watchers are sighted primarily in Big Sur, there are reports of similar figures appearing in other mountain regions of the world.

Scotland’s Am Fear Liath Mòr of Ben MacDhui or the Grey Man of Ben MacDhui is a humanoid figure said to inhabit the summit of the mountain Ben MacDhui.

Unlike the Dark Watchers, though, descriptions of the Grey Man vary greatly.

Illustration by Damon Beard and Noah Black

Some witnesses describe the Grey Man to more closely something along the lines of the Yeti or Bigfoot, while others give descriptions of a clothed humanoid similar to the California Watchers.

Other sightings of similar figures have appeared in the Alps, the Andes and Australia’s Great Dividing Range.

The Dark Watchers also harken back to legends and myths about Shadow People, mysterious beings that lurk in the corners of our vision, always just barely out of sight.

While similar though, Shadow People are often attributed to phenomena more commonly experi-

enced within a house, primarily during sleep paralysis.

During a bout of sleep paralysis, a person’s body stays asleep while their brain is semi-conscious and their eyes are open. This bizarre experience causes the brain to panic and create hallucinations and illusions, often of otherworldly beings looming over the paralyzed sleeper.

One particular shadow person that has been reported in multiple sleep paralysis cases is the “Hat Man,” a tall, looming figure who wears a large hat, often accompanied by some sort of robe or trench coat, not unlike the Dark Watchers.

There are two prominent theo-

ries that would point toward some sort of explanation for the presence of these mysterious Watchers, both of them based upon the regional topography of areas where the Watchers are sighted.

A Brocken specter or mountain specter is an amplified version of a shadow cast on nearby clouds or fog when the sun is opposite the cloud.

This amplified shadow appears to have elongated, gigantic proportions and is often projected a substantial distance away from the shadow’s origins.

As the Dark Watchers are often seen near twilight, when the sun could be positioned behind witnesses while morning fog rolls in, it is more than possible the Watchers are nothing more than the shadows of the witnesses being projected upon the mountaintops.

The other theory relies on similar grounds of optical illusions, but on a more psychological level.

Infrasound is a low-frequency sound below the audible range of 20 Hz and can have physical and psychological effects on nearby humans.

Paranoia, anxiety, insomnia and panic are common symptoms in people who have been exposed to an infrasound.

If a person is close enough to the origin point, infrasound can even cause the eyes to vibrate and create visual hallucinations.

Interestingly enough, infrasound is most commonly reported to be caused by nearby ocean waves or wind passing through mountain ranges, two elements of the environments the Dark Watchers and their kin are often spotted by.

Whether supernatural or phenomenological, the Watchers live on in very real stories that have been passed down for generations.

Humans have always been paranoid of being watched, even by each other. Perhaps the Dark Watchers are what initially instilled that fear in ancient man.

12 • Entertainment

Oct. 26, 2020

Agora/mcccagora.com

Final season of ‘Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts’ marches to the beat of its own drum Lauren Werlinger Agora Staff

In “Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts,” music truly does make the world go ‘round. The musical numbers both further the plot and add both emotional depth and comedy.

The third and final season of Netflix’s “Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts” premiered Oct. 12.

The season, like the two seasons preceding it, has 10 episodes. The show is an animated series produced by DreamWorks Animation Television.

The show takes place in an inexplicably music-based post-apocalyptic world where, centuries ago, a mysterious event caused the animals on the surface world to mutate.

Pigs grew four eyes and three pairs of legs, dragonflies grew to the size of horses and rabbits towered over buildings.

These animals, referred to by the characters as “mutes,” short for “mutants,” drove most humans to burrow into the Earth, afraid of what new power these animals might hold.

Oh, and did I mention lots of these new animals could talk?

The surface world became a dangerous, volatile place ruled by anarchy. Each species of animal gifted with sentience and speech divided into their own factions, refusing to associate with one another unless they were fighting over territory or food.

In the first season, title character Kipo is forced to escape her underground city because it was attacked. As she roams the surface world looking for her father, she meets Wolf, a hardened surface dweller and fellow human.

Wolf tries to teach her the ways of the surface: Fight first, ask questions later. Trust no one. Especially not mutes. Kipo firmly rejects these notions.

Even in the face of hostility, Kipo has an innate ability to see the humanity in everyone, even in the giant talking snakes who threaten to kill her and her new friends.

She does this by identifying the one thing she and these talking animals have in common: music. Instead of fearing the mutes, Kipo befriends them.

Later in the first season, Kipo meets a human named Benson and his immortal insect companion, Dave.

As Kipo travels across the surface with her new friends in search of her father, they discover a sinister plot related to the attempted kidnappings of humans from the burrows.

The second season explores this plot point further as Kipo, Wolf, Benson and Dave directly face the mute responsible for the kidnappings.

The third season introduces a new threat: Dr. Emilia.

Dr. Emelia, a human scientist from the same burrow as Kipo, believes humans and mutes cannot live in harmony. She despises mutes and believes they should be “cured,” or turned back into normal animals.

However, these animals are sentient. They are people threatened by Dr. Emelia as she aims to take away their autonomy so humans may once again rule the surface.

Kipo and friends directly oppose Dr. Emelia.

In their travels in season one, they were able to experience the beautiful and unique cultures of the different types of mutes, everything from the Umlaut Snäkes, who love hard rock, to the Timbercats, who prefer folksy banjo music. They believe these cultures are worth protecting, especially since these mutant animals are now their friends.

Season three follows Kipo as she tries to recruit humans and mutes to her “Human Mute Ultimate Friendship Alliance” in an effort to defeat Dr. Emelia.

“Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts” is a visually stunning show.

It utilizes the medium of animation to its full capacity with breathtaking environments and dynamic character designs. Each scene explodes with color and detail.

Despite being set in a post-apoc-

alyptic world, the environments are not all metal and grime.

Instead, what were once sprawling, prominent cities have been taken over by nature. Not only does this environment allow the post-apocalyptic genre to be more accessible to younger audiences, but it also creates a unique setting for the characters to interact with.

The soundtrack includes catchy hip-hop beats that perfectly complement the colorful, energetic animation style. Plus, in almost every episode, a new song is sung by Kipo, Wolf, Benson, Dave and their mute pals. The songs, often silly and fun, serve as a break from the tension.

The character designs use contradictory shape language to communicate appearances are deceiving.

For example, Wolf is aggressive

and tough, but all the shapes comprising her character design are rounded and soft. This works well to characterize Wolf. She is a young girl, so people might mistake her to be shy or gentle. But when Wolf perceives a threat, it is clear she is competent and well-versed.

In addition to maintaining its unique style, season three improves upon previous seasons in terms of plot and pacing.

As opposed to the second season, which contained filler episodes, each episode of season three is relevant and clearly contributes to the major plot.

Within each episode, there are still self-contained conflicts, like worrying about asking a crush to a dance, struggling to forgive people who have hurt you, and not

knowing who you can trust. These themes ground the characters and make them more relatable.

The pacing of the third season is well-balanced. It creates just enough tension to keep viewers interested and wanting more, but the season doesn’t move too quickly and takes its time to flesh out the conflict and characters.

One aspect of the show that stands out is the message it conveys.

Despite being a show primarily intended for younger audiences, “Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts” does not shy away from difficult discussions about morality.

First and foremost, “Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts” argues empathy is just as powerful as brute force.

Before Kipo went to the surface, humans and mutes were at war with each other, each believing the other to be dangerous and hateful.

Instead of judging the mutes, Kipo observed them with curiosity and understanding. In the end, it is not brute force that heals the rift between humans and mutes.

It is kindness, compassion and a willingness to see the world from the other person’s point of view.

The villains in the show are always those who refuse to look at the world from any perspective that isn’t their own. This is the ideology Dr. Emelia holds.

In a moment of frustration in season three episode four, Kipo laments, “Why does she hate me so much?”

Her father, Lio, responds, “It’s not you she hates, Kipo. It’s the future you represent.”

And what future does Kipo represent?

She represents a future where people do not make assumptions about others based on stereotypes, a future where people solve problems with empathy and compromise rather than force. Kipo represents a future that might be unfamiliar and difficult, at first.

But just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s not worth fighting for.

13 • Arts & Entertainment

Oct. 26, 2020

Agora/mcccagora.com

Agora Spooky Selections for Halloween

By Cole Younglove, Noah Black, Lauren Werlinger and Jerry Meade Agora Staff

Alien In space, no one can hear you scream. In front of your TV, however, is a different story.

Directed by Ridley Scott, “Alien” follows a starship freighter on its trip back to Earth, when its crew is suddenly awoken by a mysterious signal from a passing planet.

the Alien draws near, silently slinking down the dark corridors, attracted by the noise.

It’s as if the movie doesn’t want you watching the characters but watching around every corner for them like your calls and warnings can be heard.

You know it must be lurking behind the boiler, or in the vent over as someone squeezes through. You may even call out to warn the helpless crewmates as they wander to their deaths.

But through your TV, just like space, no one can hear you scream.

In the Mouth of Madness The human mind is a fragile, pitiful thing.

This idea is certainly a driving force in John Carpenter’s 1994 film, “In the Mouth of Madness.”

The crew, featuring main character Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) descends onto the planet to investigate, but what they bring back will haunt them for the rest of their journey.

The freighter, where the movie takes place, is a masterwork of atmospheric terror. Lighting is sparse, corners are dark and the pipes that line the walls of every corridor drip and hiss at every turn. Ripley’s cat, Jonesy, also roams the spaceship in fear, hissing in surprise at nearby crewmates.

The structure of the ship provides a sense of false security, making it the perfect hunting ground for the alien.

One look at the Xenomorph alien tells you everything you need to know about it.

The creature’s eyeless face, slim figure, jet black skin and its twisted armor forces you to watch the corner of every scene.

The Alien can hide in every dark room, blend in with every jumble of pipes and wires, and slip through every vent.

For the viewer and the crew members who think themselves bold enough to face the creature, will find that its defenses are as horrifying as the alien itself.

As Ash (Ian Holm) said, “The perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility.”

All the while, you can’t help but wonder if

Inspired by the likes of authors such as H.P. Lovecraft, “In the Mouth of Madness” follows John Trent (Sam Niell), an insurance investigator tasked with investigating a claim by a publishing house in regards to horror novelist Sutter Cane’s (Jürgen Prochnow) disappearance.

In his investigation, Trent finds that Cane’s books have been driving readers to madness, becoming cult-like and violent in their appreciation of Cane’s books.

Trent also finds that the once fictional locations and people within the novels have appeared in the real world, leading to bizarre supernatural occurrences and monster sightings.

While all this sounds disturbing enough, Trent soon discovers that he is a character wrapped up in the middle of the plot Cane wrote about in his newest novel “In the Mouth of Madness.”

Trent tries to fight against his predetermined destiny and actions in an attempt to break free

from the story and return to his “normal” life while stopping the cult of Cane from growing.

As Cane’s influence continues to spread, Trent finds himself helpless to fight against the growing appeal.

What’s even worse, the book is being adapted into a movie.

Over the Garden Wall If you’re the type of person who doesn’t really like horror movies but still wants to get into the Halloween spirit, “Over the Garden Wall” is just the movie for you.

Well, technically, it’s not a movie. It’s a 10-episode miniseries, but the runtime is about two hours, so you could easily watch it in one sitting.

“Over the Garden Wall” follows high-schooler Wirt and his younger brother Greg as they navigate a mysterious forest, trying to find their way back home on Halloween night.

The lands Wirt and Greg travel through are whimsical and strange, and they meet a whole host of friends and foes on the way.

The animation style is reminiscent of old cartoons, steeping the story in nostalgia.

The environments they find themselves in are beautifully rendered in autumn golds, greens and yellows.

The musical numbers vary in tone and style, but each time they wonderfully complement the events of the scene.

My favorite aspect of the show, however, is the characters.

Despite having a relatively brief runtime, we meet several people who live in the woods, chock full of distinctive traits and individual character arcs that subvert expectations.

“Over the Garden Wall” provides a haunting, melancholy watching experience perfect

for a cozy fall night.

Monster House Even with my childhood being depraved of most classic Halloween flicks, one I did watch is still vivid in my memory.

“Monster House,” released in 2006, is a very bizarre kids’ film that really hasn’t had something come close to its strangeness since its debut.

The movie centers around a house in a normal suburban neighborhood that is supposedly possessed.

Coupled with the angry old man living there who takes any item thrown over his fence, the house is a force that most neighbors know shouldn’t be reckoned with.

It isn’t until three kids stumble inside this monster house when they see what’s in store for them.

Characters in the movie aren’t too unique, but it is instead the visuals that always sparked my interest growing up. The 3D animation looks claymation-like, giving the setting a very creepy vibe.

Spoilers: The big reveal is that the house was actually being possessed by the old man’s dead wife who fell to her death when the house was being built, infusing her soul to the building.

Because of the possession, the house would distort to look somewhat like a face, which terrified me as a kid.

The implications that many residents who stepped foot on the property were eaten by the house made it even more menacing.

Its unique story and eerie visuals make “Monster House” a no brainer to watch around Halloween. With a PG rating, it’s got just the amount of frights any age can enjoy.

14 • Arts & Entertainment

Oct. 26, 2020

Agora/mcccagora.com

‘Crash Bandicoot’ returns in full force Noah Black Agora Editor

Time heals all wounds.

Even wounds dealt to the reputation of a 2 1/2 decade old platformer series.

“Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time” launched Oct. 2 for PS4 and Xbox One. “Crash 4” was developed by Toys for Bob, and published by series owner Activision.

While not the fourth installment in the series, “Crash 4” ignores the poor legacy the series saw after its jump to the PlayStation 2 with games like “The Wrath of Cortex” and “Crash of the Titans,” starting the series off fresh as a direct sequel to “Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped.”

While story is not the driving factor of the series, “Crash 4” picks up where “Warped” left off, with villains Dr. Neo Cortex, N. Tropy and Uka Uka stranded in the Jurassic period and Crash Bandicoot, his sister Coco and Aku Aku relaxing on their island home.

With the use of Uka Uka’s magic, the villains free themselves from their time-locked prison and begin to wreak havoc across time and space.

This incites our heroes to get back into action and stop Dr. Cortex and N. Tropy once again.

The story is conveyed through cutscenes animated by Toys for Bob’s excellent animation team, giving characters bouncy, fluid animations for perfect comedic timing.

The platforming gameplay sees few changes from the way the game controls in the recent remaster collection of the original PlayStation games.

The base gameplay still consists of running through a linear level, platforming, defeating enemies, collecting gems and breaking as many boxes as you can find while avoiding the Nitro and TNT crates.

Platforming is tight and responsive, requiring quick reflexes and precision movement in order to work your way through a level.

One major improvement has been made to the platforming mechanics in terms of player accessibility.

In past games and the remasters, depth perception had always been an issue during 3D platforming segments.

In order to eliminate this problem, Toys for Bob implemented a targeting reticle that appears whenever a character jumps into the air, highlighting the area on the ground or platform where the character is going to land.

Aside from this addition, Crash and Coco’s move-sets keep the same moves of spin at-

tacks, sliding, crouching, double-jumping and crouch jumping.

To make up for the lack of additions to the Bandicoot move-sets, four new Quantum Mask characters are added to give Crash and Coco new mechanics.

The cowardly Lani-Loli allows the duo to shift between two different versions of reality to solve platforming puzzles and find boxes.

Akano is a silent, tough mask who grants the Bandicoots the ability to extend their spin attack and levitate using the spins.

The wise Kapuna-Wa slows down time to allow for platforming in otherwise accessible areas and Ika-Ika flips gravity on its head, allowing Crash and Coco to walk on the ceiling.

The masks are used sparingly throughout the game, giving players just enough time to become accustomed to them before having to use all four in the final level for a well-crafted challenge.

While Crash and Coco’s move are relatively the same, three new playable characters are added to the fray.

Tawna, Crash’s girlfriend and damsel-in-distress from the first game, appears as an alternate dimension version of herself who comes equipped with a grappling hook.

Tawna’s moves are similar to the Bandicoot siblings, but the grappling hook takes the place of the slide move. The grappling hook can be used to attack enemies from a distance, break frustrating-to-find distant boxes and grapple to faraway places.

Dr. Cortex is certainly the most frustrating new character as he has no double jump or spin attack equivalent.

Rather, he has a blaster that fires a ray to transform enemies into two different types of platforms, regular platforms or bouncy platforms. While these bouncy platforms can take the place of double-jumping, it is essentially useless when you can only create them in areas where enemies are placed.

Cortex also has a dash attack, allowing him to cover larger gaps. But the dash is linear and takes away control from the player until the dash is over, making platforming difficult when dashing is incorporated.

Dingodile, the retired half-dingo, half-crocodile villain, also sees his time in the playable spotlight. He has a basic spin attack like other characters, but also comes equipped with a vacuum-gun able to suck in nearby crates to shoot back at enemies and allow Dingodile to hover for a short period of time.

The vacuum-gun creates interesting challenges when trying to break all the boxes in a level, often requiring players to fire boxes

at others placed in the distance, otherwise unreachable.

Unfortunately, these playable characters each only get one solo-level to play through.

The only other levels to play through are the “alternate timeline” versions of levels where you play as the three new characters for half of the level before switching back to Crash or Coco to play through a more challenging version of a level you have already played.

While the concept is interesting, seeing how Tawna, Cortex and Dingodile travel through time to help the Bandicoots on their adventure, it would have been nice to have more fully-fleshed-out levels with the trio.

Time trials see a return as well, with players racing to beat developer times and earn Time Trial Relics.

Alongside Time Trial Relics, the new N.Sane Relics are introduced. N.Sane Relics can only be earned when a player has beat a level while breaking every single box without dying a single time. While the optional challenge is appreciated, it eliminates the purpose collectible gems served in the original trilogy.

With the addition of N.Sane Relics, the gem collecting mechanic has been reworked.

Rather than a single gem or two for each level, there are six gems that need to be collected per level. Three gems are earned for collecting different amounts of wumpa fruit from broken boxes, one is for breaking all the boxes in a level, one for not dying more than three times, and one for finding a secret gem hidden somewhere in the level.

Again, the challenge is appreciated, but with the life-limit and box collecting gems, players might as well try and earn the N.Sane Relic while working on these gems.

Gems also serve a new purpose of unlocking skins to equip for Crash and Coco, along with unlocking the “True Ending” as they did in the original trilogy.

Additionally, there are another six gems per level to be found in the N. Verted versions of stages. The gem requirements are the same but the N. Verted stages take place in a mirrored version or the level, with some sort of visual filter applied.

Some of these visual filters are kind of interesting, such as the comic book filter to add “Boom” and “Pow” sound effects to every broken box or attacked enemy.

However, other filters are an eyesore that do nothing more than to hinder the player experience and make beating a level more irritating.

Yet another unnecessarily collectible that is added are the “Flashback Tapes,” granting access to bonus levels once collected. But the only way to collect these tapes in a level is to reach the tape’s location in a level without dying.

Thankfully, while the extra collectibles are sometimes frustrating to collect and unnecessary, they are not required to complete the game, and will only be a nuisance for completionists.

“Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time” is a true return to form for the franchise. It makes improvements on the original formula while keeping things similar enough to keep it familiar for fans.

Perhaps, now that both Crash and Spyro belong to Activision and Toys for Bob have proved themselves capable with both series, we can see a true “Spyro 4” or proper crossover games between the two franchises as well.

Agora/mcccagora.com

Oct. 26, 2020

Arts & Entertainment • 15

‘Kirby Fighters 2’ suddenly appears on Switch Jerry Meade

Agora Assistant Editor

Nintendo released a Kirby game seemingly out of nowhere.

“Kirby Fighters 2” came out on the Nintendo Switch eShop on Sept. 23.

There were no announcements of the game before its release, aside from a leaked product listing made on the Nintendo eShop the previous day.

With a game having no build-up, it might be expected to seem rushed or lesser quality than typical Kirby series games.

This definitely was not the case.

The “Kirby Fighters” series first started as a mini-game for “Kirby Triple Deluxe” on the 3DS in 2014.

“Kirby Fighters Deluxe” was released a year later as a standalone title for the 3DS yet didn’t add much compared to the original.

With “Kirby Fighters 2” now being on a home console, efforts were definitely made to create a game that delivered in gameplay, content and overall fun.

It’s a basic team fighting game with 17 Kirby copy abilities and five separate characters to play as.

Each Kirby copy ability has a unique move-set based on each trait.

All are returning abilities from previous Kirby games, with the exception of the all-new wrestler ability. Wrestler Kirby has moves that mostly center on grabs and suplexes.

The controls are very reminiscent of “Super Smash Bros.,” but with less diverse button mapping that makes it easy for anyone to pick up and play.

The main matches consist of four players, with two on each team. To defeat the opposing team members, one must attack them until their life meter runs out.

Various healing and damage items can be used to make the matches interesting.

The buddy star blaster in particular needs to be collected by both teammates which, when collected, can shoot a laser beam at an opposing players.

One mechanic can really give either side a real “second life” in battle if pulled off correctly.

If one member of a team is defeated, they turn into a flying

ghost who still has the ability to hit the opposing team.

If a hit is landed, that ghost revives with stamina, giving them another chance at victory. This can potentially change the tide of matches and doesn’t secure a victory until both members on a team are defeated.

“Kirby Fighters 2” also features a story mode centered on series villains King Dedede and Meta Knight who challenge Kirby to a fight atop a tower.

Kirby must traverse up the tower and fight different enemies on each floor to reach the duo at the top.

In between floors, the user has the option to choose between three different types of items such as attack increases and health recoveries.

Choosing the right items for the challenge becomes vital, with each floor getting consecutively difficult.

Strategizing what items will best aid in the journey is a very unique dynamic that isn’t often seen in fighting games Outside of the story mode, this game is best played with others through online or local co-op.

In both single and multiplayer there is a plethora of unlockables to collect ranging from characters and stages to quirky Kirby outfits.

In terms of other fighting games out there, it’s incomparable to the scope of “Smash Bros.” Yet, with all the ways to play and areas to unlock, the game is definitely worth the $20 price tag.

Steve digs into ‘Super Smash Bros.’

Jerry Meade

Agora Assistant Editor

One of the most bizarrely conceived gaming crossovers has now become a reality.

“Minecraft’s” default player character, Steve, officially joined the roster of Nintendo’s “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” on Oct. 14.

With “Minecraft” being the current best-selling video game of all time, it’s no surprise that players have wanted the character included for many years.

Getting permission from other game publishers to use their game’s assets, however, can be difficult.

“Minecraft” is developed by Mojang and owned by Microsoft, while “Super Smash Bros.” is a Nintendo property.

When Banjo-Kazooie, characters once previously owned by Nintendo but bought by Microsoft in 2002, was announced to join the roster, a collaboration with Microsoft was proved possible.

Yet with a limited number of fighters left in “Ultimate’s” second new fighter DLC pack and many gamers speculating more-likely Nintendo staples, Steve didn’t seem possible.

Plus, he would be such an out-of-place fighter, coming from a game where the possibilities are literally endless.

How could you narrow down his abilities to one simple move-set? How could such a blocky art-style fit into the

game? How could Steve ever be in “Smash Bros?”

Well, Nintendo did it.

On Oct. 1, to everyone’s sheer amazement, Steve was revealed in a Nintendo Direct livestream in all his blocky glory.

Thanks to “Smash Bros.” lead designer Masahiro Sakurai recording in-depth 45-minute video of Steve’s move-set, fans were able to get a sneak peek. On Oct. 3, fans were able to see how he would behave in-game.

Now that he is released, players can finally control one of the most widely sought after characters in the biggest crossover game to date.

Just moving Steve in the four analog directions shows how true he was designed to be accurate to his source game, with the model not having bendable elbows or knees.

Several basic attacks use various elements that really capture the charm of Minecraft.

The down tilt attack plants fire in front of Steve, the up smash attack plants a magma block overhead and the lava bucket that disperses lava on each side below are all moves that possess that charm.

Yet it’s the mining and crafting mechanics where Steve’s move-set really becomes unique.

His main special move is mining the floor below him or the wall beside him.

Going back to your mining table that appeared at the start

of a match will let you craft a new weapon or upgrade a new weapon to a better material that range from wood to diamond.

Steve’s sword, axe and pickaxe are used for a number of shortrange attacks but are all prone to break eventually.

The material you mined can also be used to craft bricks to aid in your victory pursuit.

The extent “Ultimate’s” developers went to in order to make Steve as fun, diverse and quirky as he is in his original game really goes to show no challenger is too difficult to be put in the game.

Now that Steve is present, who knows what other characters Nintendo has in store to reveal, finishing off its fighter pass for “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.”

16 • Back Page

Oct. 26, 2020

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