Sept 3, 2014

Culinary students visit Italy/Page 6 Board raises tuition $3 per contact hour

Sept. 3, 2014 Vol. 60, Issue 1

Freshman advice column - uncensored

Page 7

Page 4

MCCC asks voters for millage

By Mariah Tevepaugh Agora staff

It would generate about $5 million for the college.

The millage proposal will help students in a variety of ways, according to Joe Verkennes, director of Marketing Communications.

It will help to maintain current programs, explore new programs, improve student services, update tech services and facilities and help keep tuition low, he said.

It’s expensive to operate programs already offered at MCCC, such as the culinary and nursing programs, Verkennes said. But with the millage,

w

One reason MCCC needs a new millage, according to college officials, is to slow the trend of rising tuition.

For the first time in 34 years, voters will have the opportunity to vote on a millage proposal for MCCC in the November 2014 election.

“We haven’t had a millage since 1980,” President Kojo Quartey said.

“We’ve been around for 50 years, we have buildings that are crumbling — East Tech, West Tech — we have a boiler plant that has a life expectancy of 20 years that has been operating at 35 years,” Quartey said.

The millage also is needed to maintain the quality of existing programs

and add new ones in high-demand fields, Quartey said.

It also will help to keep tuition affordable, after a half-dozen years of increases, he said.

After several years of discussion, fueled by tighter and tighter budgets, the subject moved to the front burner a year ago when Quartey was hired.

He began a discussion that ended in August when the Board of Trustees approved a 1 mill proposal for the November election.

The college millage is currently at 2.1794. The 1 mill increase would cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $4 a month.

See Millage, Page 2

Kojo at one year

MCCC President Kojo Quartey cuts the college’s 50th Anniversary cake during the June celebration on campus. It was one of many events where Quartey represented the college during his first year at MCCC. For photos of the 50th Anniversary celebration, go to Page 3.

Students, staff mention energy, enthusiam

By Mariah Tevepaugh Agora staff

Endless energy seems to be the highlight of Dr. Kojo Quartey’s first year as MCCC president.

Faculty, staff and students say that it’s because of his enthusiasm that he was able to accomplish as much as he did.

“I think he transitioned well; when you have a work ethic like his you’re going to be able to ramp up pretty quickly,” said Joe Verkennes, director of Marketing and Communications.

“It’s a lot to take on, but the Board of Trustees obviously saw from his background that he had the ability to do that.”

Quartey has taken on several projects since he began one year ago. They include starting a television show, making the college more aware of global concerns by hosting panel discussions on current affairs, launching an Ambassador Club, updating MCCC’s strategic plan, starting classes at Monroe High School and asking voters for a new millage.

According to Verkennes, Quartey has helped MCCC by making the college more involved in the community and by being available.

“I think he’s great, he’s 24/7 and he’s all about promoting the college everywhere he goes,” Verkennes said. “And that’s really the life of a college president, that’s the expectation and he definitely fulfills that role.”

However, Quartey has faced some challenges along the way.

He said among the hardest decisions he encountered were the lack of filling staff positions due to the budget, asking for a millage, and negotiations with faculty on a new contract.

As a former teacher, Quartey said he could em-

we have been very successful at that,” he said.

Quartey said he wants to build relationships with local businesses so employers know that MCCC is an option to retrain their employees to keep up with today’s technology.

However, Quartey isn’t all work and no play. He not only spends time with students in the classrooms but also in the cellar, hanging out.

“I interact with students very much on a regular basis, visiting classrooms, interacting with them in the classrooms and interacting with them in the cellar,” he said. “I visit the cellar; I shoot pool with them,

“It’s the constant and consistent interaction on campus as well as in the community to build better relations among all constituencies, and I think we have been very successful at that.”

MCCC President Kojo Quartey pathize with the faculty regarding their contract.

“That was probably the most difficult to walk into, and it resonated with me because I could understand where they were coming from.”

However, since the contract was resolved late last year, Quartey said the relationship between himself and faculty has improved.

“I think it’s blossomed. I have a great relationship with faculty,” he said.

Quartey’s list of priorities for this coming year includes focusing more on involvement with students, fundraising, corporate visits, and being more engaged in current issues and with businesses in the community.

“It’s the constant and consistent interaction on campus as well as in the community to build better relations among all constituencies, and I think

See Quartey, Page 2

Cellar closed for construction until mid-semester

By Stevie Pipis

Agora staff

Photo by Stevie Pipis

The Cellar, usually filled with students hanging out, is closed for construction this fall as crews repair water damage. The Life Science Building roof also is being repaired.

Inside:

Fall semester is beginning with The Cellar closed for repairs.

Along with the roof of the L Building, the Cellar is undergoing repairs needed after water damage earlier in the year.

The DRV Company will be working 10-hour days, four days a week to complete the projects, using Fridays as make-up days if necessary.

The Cellar is mostly known as a space for students to hang out between classes, but it’s also home to Student Government.

Tyler Rahe and Rick Ramlow, of the contracting crew for the Cellar, were tearing up the flooring in the Student Government room the week before Fall Semester started.

“We’ve been doing construction all week,” Rahe said, with country

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music playing in the background.

“We hope to have this all torn up by the end of the week,” he said.

According to Rahe, the Cellar will be receiving new floors, carpeting, and painting.

He said that before they put in the new flooring, workers will be trenching water damage for about three weeks. Then putting in the new flooring and carpeting will take about three weeks.

After the flooring and carpeting are done, the painting will start.

Rahe said he was unsure how long that would take them to complete.

During the renovations to The Cellar, the Student Government has moved its offices room to the E Building.

Repairs to the Life Science Building will mostly affect the second floor and roof, according to an e-mail from Jack Burns, MCCC director of Campus Plan-

ning & Facilities.

However, there may be work in other parts of the building at times, Burns said.

Some entrances and exits may sometimes be closed because of the construction, he said.

Burns’ e-mail stated that the construction should end somewhere around the end of October or early November, but that it could be delayed.

Burns requested that the contractor and the crew members use the back of Lot 3 for parking. This will allow the parking spots closer to the building to remain open for students and faculty.

In the e-mail, Burns said the contractors will try to stay out of the way of students and faculty as much as possible.

There will be extra noise on campus, so students and faculty should be expecting that, he said.

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New gen-eds expected Fall ’15 Shelby Spencer Agora staff

MCCC is moving foward with changes in the courses needed for graduation.

College faculty have been working for a half-dozen years to rewrite the general education requirements students have to meet to graduate.

A glitche discovered last winter threatened to derail the process, but a compromise seems to have saved the day.

Early in the process, faculty decided to base the requirements on “competencies,” instead of the course-based system that has been used.

Basing the requirements on competencies allows the college to more definitely define what qualities and skills an MCCC graduate should possess.

In the past, students were responsible for five courses totaling 16 credit hours. That system is still in place for current students.

The entire faculty worked on creating the new model, which was based on nine competencies and 27 credit hours.

If the new system had been approved, students would have had a wider variety of classes to choose from to meet the requirements, but more total credit hours.

The change was going smoothly with three competencies being rolled out each semester, until a glitch was found last winter.

Twenty-seven general credits would be too heavy of a course load for programs such as respiratory therapy and nursing.

These degrees are highly specialized and do not have the available slots for more general education courses.

The nursing program has recently gone through its own curriculum revision and includes 43 credits, not including general education courses.

“The nursing accreditation body has a lot of requirements for what our nursing program should

“There is more than one way to skin the cat. But we are going to have to pick a way.”

Bill McCloskey Learning Assessment Committee Chair look like, and 27 general education credits, in addition to the program requirements, would not be possible,” said Nicole Garner, assistant professor of nursing.

For students in most transfer areas, the difference in course load would have been almost unnoticeable.

Most competencies that students would have been required to meet are in courses that they would have already been taking for their degree, said Bill McCloskey, chairmen of the MCCC Learning Assesment Committee.

Geology professor Lisa Scarpelli, who is chair of the Faculty Council, agreed that the course

load won’t be much different than the current system.

When the glitch was discovered, a volunteer task force was created to try to find a solution that would work for everyone.

There were several options for dealing with the situation, McCloskey said.

The college could lower the number of competencies, or even give nursing and respiratory therapy students a pass, he said.

“There is more than one way to skin the cat,” he said, “But we are going to have to pick a way.”

The task force decided to mold the new competency system

off the new Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA), which is replacing the MACRO agreement.

The change reduced the number of competencies from 9 to 6.

The competencies will be in English, math, natural science, humanities, social science, and computers.

The classes taken under this new system will be very similar to the classes required under the current system.

The competencies will make it easier for the college to assess whether or not students are proficient in class material.

“We want to be able to assess if students are actually getting material, and we had no way to measure that before,” Scarpelli said.

For the last two years, while the new system was phased in, professors have begun assessing student learning in the courses that will be the new general education satisfiers.

Professors have a rubric for

each student in their class; the rubrics are guidelines to define how proficient each student is in each specific subject.

While these rubrics have nothing to do with the student’s final grade, they help professors to identify areas of struggle among students.

Scarpelli thinks that this is beneficial to both students and professors.

“If we can assess better, we know where the deficiencies are and we can teach better,” she said.

The competencies and rubrics are being re-evaluating this fall with hopes of assessing at least some of them in winter of 2015.

“As long as we have in our degrees and courses opportunities for students to learn how to do things, we’ve done our job,” said McCloskey.

If all goes well, the six new graduation requirements will be included in the catalog that is printed this winter for use beginning in the fall of 2015.

Millage would raise $5 million (Continued from Page 1)

the college would be able to maintain and expand such programs.

MCCC would also be able to maintain student services, like internships, tutoring and mentoring — services that need to expand but are not capable of expanding due to funding.

Verkennes said that MCCC would like to also explore new programs, such as a Physical Therapist Assistant program or a Dental Assistant program.

There are other areas that have been struggling, such as MCCC’s disability services and student services programs.

“We have a lot more students using our Learning Assistance Lab and our disability services than we’ve had before, but we haven’t been able to expand our staffing and the services that we offer,” Verkennes said.

“We’ve had to meet the requirements by law, which then takes away resources from other areas of student services.”

Renovations and technology advancement also are lagging behind.

“There is $10 million in facilities maintenance and renovations that need to be done that have been deferred,” Verkennes said.

Verkennes also said more than

half of the computers used at MCCC are more than six years old. Without the millage, the technology gap will just increase.

“Computer technology will continue to lag behind for the requirements for today’s jobs and then critical areas of physical plant will begin to fail and won’t be able to be addressed, likely without the college borrowing money,” he said.

Another area of concern is tuition, Verkennes said. Without the millage, tuition likely will continue to increase.

“The college is going to become less affordable for students, the tuition increases

TUITION: Up, up and away!

Students struggle to keep up with increases Mariah Tevepaugh Tuition Increase

Photo by Mariah Tevepaugh

A presentation on Africa during Black History Month was part of a series of cultural events launched by Kojo Quartey during his first year as MCCC president.

Quartey’s day: Meetings, meetings (Continued from Page 1)

I play ping-pong with them.”

Quartey also plays soccer with students and community members on a weekly basis. So far, the reaction from students and faculty is positive.

“He did try to make connections,” MCCC student Benjamin Bowling said. “He was engaging and gave everyone equal respect and attention in regards to asking and answering questions.”

William Bacarella, president of the Board of Trustees, agrees that Quartey has spent a lot of time getting to know not only students,

but faculty and staff as well.

“I think he has done a credible job of trying to meet all of the college employees, to get close to the students, to make himself available to any of our constituents,” he said. “He goes to a lot of meetings.”

Quartey explained what a day in his life entails. It mainly consists of e-mails, reading, meetings and driving.

He said that the first thing he does every day is check his emails. He then sends out any personal e-mails to employees, like ‘happy birthday’ messages.

The Agora

Co-Editors: Shelby Spencer Mariah Tevepaugh Adviser: Dan Shaw Staff Jake Adams Jeff Brown Stevie Pipis Julia Wells Makailyn Ellison Julia Grzywinski Mika Kotanova Eugene Kutz Dakota Sherrick Jaclyn Young Darryl White 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.

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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 .

He also does daily readings and attends meetings — both on and off-campus.

He said he likes to stay socially active by blogging and interacting on facebook.

“I wake up in the morning and I can’t wait to get here, and I mean that sincerely. It’s from one to the next to the next,” he said.

“Some of those meetings are in Lansing, sometimes in Detroit or Toledo, so you’re zipping from meeting to meeting to meeting.

I’ve put a lot of miles on my vehicle since I’ve been here and it’s a good thing.”

MCCC has raised tuition by $3 per billable contact hour for the 2014-15 school year.

Last school year, students were paying $92 per billable contact hour, which has increased to $95.

The increase for out-of-county and out-of-state students was $5 per credit hour.

Suzanne Wetzel, vice president of Administration, said several factors are considered when figuring out what the cost of tuition should be.

“We look at enrollment projections,” she said. “We look at some trending, in terms of graduation, the economy and what’s happening in the economy.”

Wetzel said that enrollment for 2014-15 school year was projected to decline by 5%, which inturn leads to a decline in revenue.

There are other factors like property taxes and state appropriations, which have been on the decline, also reducing college revenue.

When property taxes decline, revenue declines and then tuition has to be increased, Wetzel said.

Jamie Deleeuw, the Coordinator of Institutional Research, Evaluation and Assessment, has created a model designed to predict enrollment based on past enrollment.

“So largely that is what I use; I use past enrollment to predict future enrollment,” Wetzel said.

Increasing tuition is necessary, Wetzel said, to maintain the college’s quality of instruction.

MCCC is still a cheaper alternative than most other community colleges in Michigan, she said.

“A couple years ago, at least, when I looked at other Michigan community colleges, we were cheaper than 75 percent of them,” Deleeuw said.

However, as tuition increases, students are finding it harder to keep up.

“I guess if it was necessary, that’s okay, but I feel there might be better ways to have made some money for the budget other than putting that cost on the stu-

dents,” said MCCC student Benjamin Bowling.

“I get financial aid and that helps a lot, so I don’t think that really affects me attending college.”

“I’m 100 percent positive I have friends who either can’t attend completely or they couldn’t take as many classes as they would like due to the increased cost,” he added.

Other students noted that it’s not only tuition that is getting expensive, but other factors, like textbooks, as well.

“It’s frustrating because not only does tuition go up but books get more expensive every year, too,” said MCCC student Julia Wehner.

“College just keeps getting more expensive in general and harder to pay without taking out a loan,” she said.

“But MCCC is still the least expensive option around and they have the program I want for my associates, so that’s why I continue to attend.”

Professors excited for new classes Julia Wells Agora staff

The start of a new school year means the start of a new course load.

Registering for classes can be difficult when you’re not sure what to take. Fortunately, MCCC strives for success for its students by expanding departments with topical and relevant courses.(reword) New classes are offered each year and this fall is no exception.

New to the English department is Intro to Jacobean and Elizabethan Drama.

The class, taught by Professor William McCloskey, is somewhat of an advanced course for students who have taken Intro to Shakespeare.

Students get the chance to study some of Shakespeare’s less popular works, including Titus Adronicus, Twelfth Night, and Measure for Measure.

“I am really excited about this course because it will not only give students a chance to read some different Shakespeare plays,

it will also put these plays in a literary context with earlier and later dramatists,” said McCloskey.

“If you like to read plays that ‘made a difference in literature’, this is the course for you.”

The Engineering Technology Division is offering several new courses in the fall. The classes are scheduled in the new Career Technology Center, which was built in an effort to expand the division.

“Our courses in the Tech building are directly related to highdemand, high-wage, high-skill occupations,” said Cameron Albring, administrative assistant to the dean of Industrial Technology.

The division plans to roll out a new Automotive Services program with its first class being offered this fall.

The program is a result of the growing demand for jobs in this field as well as the wages of positions, Albring said. Automotive Repair and Maintenance positions, for example, have an annual mean wage of $35,930, according to BLS.gov.

The class, Introduction to Auto-

motive Services, will cover shop procedures and safety requirements.

Major automotive systems, accessing service and vehicle information, and state and federal certification requirements are all discussed as well.

The IT division will also offer Introduction to Non-Destructive Testing. The course introduces students to the basic concepts of inspection methods in the NDT field.

New opportunities also are being offered in the Biology department. Environmental Science has been taught in the past at MCCC, but has expanded thanks to a new lab that will feature hands-on experiments.

The class is taught by Biology professor Tracy Rayl, and it discusses major environmental issues, including climate change, resource management and depletion, and pollution.

“Everything in nature is connected,” Rayl said. “Everything we do in our daily lives is influencing the world around us and

this Environmental Science class helps us realize that.”

The class also features new experiments, where students examine local toxicity in the community, study predator/prey relationships, and record local population data.

“Everyone has experiences they can bring to the classroom,” Rayl said “That makes for a really nice learning environment.”

The new Michigan Transfer Agreement will soon begin to require two science classes and one lab; Environmental Science will now satisfy those requirements.

“I really believe every student at the college should take Environmental Science,” Rayl said.

Full descriptions and dates & times of classes can be found in each semester’s class catalog.

Catalogs are distributed throughout the campus and can also be found online at www.monroeccc.edu.

For more information on how to register for classes, speak with a counselor in the Administrative building.

September 3, 2014

Campus News

Celebrating 50 years

mcccagora.com • The Agora

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Monroe County Community College celebrated its 50th anniversary with music, food and fireworks this past June.

Former students participated in an Alumni All-Class Reunion, which featured a free lunch for the first 500 alumni, as well as art showcases, cooking exhibitions and programs showing current college classes.

President Dr. Kojo Quartey spoke at the event and honored former and current students, faculty and staff.

The party featured live performances by the rock band The Verve Pipe, the group Madison Avenue, Chelsea’s Ben Daniels Band led by award winner Jeff Daniels and the season eight winner of American Idol, Kris Allen.

Allen performed his radio single, “Live like we’re Dying” and signed autographs after the concert.

The event concluded with a firework show at dusk.

Features

September 3, 2014

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Fall semester headcount decline 4514

2008

4,624

2009

4,723

2010

4,400

2011

3,997

2012

3,760

3,422

2013

2014

Enrollment continues to slide Photo by Shelby Spencer

The Registrar Office is not as bustling as in the past, with enrollment declining consistantly for several years.

Another nine percent drop in student headcount matches national Julia Wells Agora Staff

Enrollment for Fall Semester 2014 has continued a four-year downward trend.

Numbers provided by registrar Tracy Vogt show that student headcount is down from 3,760 in the fall of 2013 to 3,422 in 2014. That’s a nine percent decline in enrollment.

Fewer students also means a decline in credit hours, from 32,906 last fall to 29,401, an 11 percent decrease, Vogt said.

“They’re not good – I guess we’re following the national trend,” said Randy Daniels, vice president of Student Information and Services.

“We’re not an anomaly by any stretch of imagination,” he said.

Community college enrollment around the state is down anywhere from 1 percent to 17 percent.

Daniels also said that enrollment tends to cycle with the economy. When the economy is bad, enrollment is up, but when the economy gets better, enrollment begins to decline.

Changes in financial aid procedures are another possible explanation for the low numbers,

he said.

MCCC President Kojo Quartey and a college task force have been working to implement aggressive recruiting techniques.

In addition, MCCC began offering classes at Monroe High School this fall. The numbers of high school students taking classes through dual enrollment continues to increase, Daniels said.

“I think they’ll continue to help; they helped last year,” he said.

Daniels said the college has been reaching out to former students with emails and flyers in the mail, hoping to encourage them to return.

“This summer, Joe Verkennes (MCCC marketing director), has done a very aggressive marketing campaign,” Daniels said.

According to Daniels, former students who are not returning are one of the biggest hits in enrollment numbers.

“My theory is that they’re working,” he said.

“They’re working more hours and taking fewer classes.”

Current, former, and prospective students have differing opinions on what would encourage them to enroll at MCCC.

Former student Kayla Vore wished that MCCC would have created a sports program when she attended.

“I don’t go to MCCC anymore, but I think they would have more people interested in going if they had a sports program and played other community colleges,” Vore said.

“I would have loved to continue playing soccer there,” she said.

The idea of adding a sports program has been a hot button topic for students and faculty for years. Board of Trustees members Linda Lauer and Jim Devries both mentioned bringing sports to the college in their election campaigns.

Other areas in steep decline included students over the age of 21, which saw a 12 percent drop.

Enrollment numbers have been steadily declining in recent years and it’s anyone’s guess as to what they’ll do next.

“My hunch would be that we’re going to level out as we try some new things, maybe create some new programs if the millage passes,” Daniels said.

MCCC announced this summer that it is proposing a new millage that would bring in mon-

ey for the college through an increase in county property taxes.

For current students, space on campus is definitely an issue. Student Joshua Martinez thinks a parking garage would attract new students.

“Think about it, our campus gets filled during certain hours. A multi-leveled garage would eliminate that problem,” Martinez said.

“Plus if there was a parking fee for the garage, the college could recycle that money throughout the college.”

Monroe High School graduate Jason Clark admits that it’s mostly his own motivation that prevented him from attending college.

“I slacked off and skimmed through high school without thinking of the future,” Clark said.

Clark did say that there is something MCCC could have done to make a difference to kids like him.

“Maybe get their presence known better.” he said.

A full enrollment report is expected to be released once registration closes.

Minimum wage, how high is too high?

Some are excited while others are anxious about new minimum wage.

“I think it’s a bad idea overall, because my minimum wage job pays for everything I need right now,” Tristen Wilhelm MCCC Freshman

Shelby Spencer Agora Staff

Michigan’s minimum wage increased this week to $8.15, and eventually will rise to $9.25, but not everyone is thrilled.

Tristen Wilhelm, who is a freshman at the college, thinks the increase could lead to inflation.

“I think it’s a bad idea overall, because my minimum wage job pays for everything I need right now,” she said.

Working for $7.40 an hour at McDonald’s, she pays her phone bill, car insurance, gas, and still has spending money.

Wilhelm doesn’t think a minimum wage job is typically the sole income for a family.

She couldn’t deny that a raise would be nice, but she thinks that the cost will outweigh the benefits.

She says that a $10.10 raise — as proposed by a Michigan ballot initiative — would cause the prices of consumer products to rise.

The minimum wage issue wasn’t

Photo by Shelby Spencer

Tristen Wilhelm, who works at McDonald’s, opposes the minimum wage increase.

originally on Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s agenda.

According to a Mlive.com reporter Melissa Anders, Republican lawmakers felt the wage increase was necessary to stop the petition drive to put a $10.10 increase on the ballot in November.

Snyder signed the law in May that will gradually increase the wage to $9.25.

“I commend my partners in the legislature for finding common ground on a bill that will help Michigan workers and protect our state’s growing economy,” Snyder said.

The new minimum wage will be a 25 percent increase from the current $7.40.

There also may be increases based on the cost of living starting in 2018.

Earlier this year in his State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama asked Congress to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10, and promised all federal workers this amount. If this federal wage increase passes, all states would have to follow suit.

Obama also asked for an increase to the federal minimum wage in his 2013 address, however, the federal minimum has been at $7.25 since 2009.

In a poll taken by Denno Research of 600 people, 60.5 percent were in favor of the minimum wage increase, 30.5 percent opposed it, and 4 percent were undecided.

Michael Reich, director of the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, is in favor of the wage increase. His research is based in San Francisco, where there is a higher mini-

mum wage in the city than in the state of California.

“Our studies show that the impact of these laws on workers’ wages (and access to health care) is strong and positive and that none of the dire predictions of employment loss have come to pass,” Reich told the New York Times.

According to his research, higher wages increase standards, and in turn reduce employee turnover, which saves businesses money.

There also will be a price increase along with the wage increase, Reich says, but it will be most noticeable in restaurants where an 18 cents per dollar increase can be expected. Increases in other businesses such as retail will be unnoticed, mostly because retail pays their employees more than restaurants, Reich says.

Wendy Block, of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, disagrees.

“If Michigan increases the cost of entry-level workers, lower-skilled workers will see less job opportunities because employers will be forced to hire higher-skilled job applicants to fill multiple roles or cut jobs to absorb the cost associated with the increase,” Block told the Battle Creek Enquirer.

The Michigan Restaurant Association, and the National Federation of Independent Business claim that the increase could cause layoffs and closings, but Snyder says that the increase is economically sound.

The BBQ is Back Mika Kotanova Agora Staff

The MCCC Student Government will once again be hosting a Welcome Back BBQ for students and faculty.

Students can stop by the courtyard east of the La-Z-Boy Center from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

The event will include free food, music, and games. Students will also get the chance to meet faculty.

In case it rains, the Welcome Back BBQ will be relocated to the Dining Room in the A Building.

Student Government provides an opportunity for students to have their voices heard around campus.

This year the election of officers will take place later than usual. Tom Ryder, Student Government adviser, would like members to get to know each other a bit more before voting.

If you are interested in joining Student Government, there will be an informational meeting at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, in Room A-173a in the A Building.

A&E

September 3, 2014

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The voice of Aladdin’s Iago will be visiting the Meyer Theater. While he was the voice of a Disney character his stand-up show is not recommended for children.

Meyer Theater sets the stage

By Jaclyn Young Agora Staff

From hard rockers to country fans, everyone can find a concert at the Meyer Theater this fall and winter.

Fall Concert Series

Starting off the fall concert list is Jim Brickman, who is celebrating 20 years of music making by performing The Platinum Tour. He will be at MCCC at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17. Admission is $27 for reserved seating and $37 for VIP seating.

The Community Symphonic Band and the Agora Chorale will be performing their first concert of the season at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20.

Admission is free.

The Highwaymen Live: A Tribute, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22. Admission is $27 for reserved seating and $37 for VIP

The Meyer Theater will be filled with the sounds of “Dark Side of the Moon” this January.

seating. This performance will showcase songs from impersonators of The Highwaymen: Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson.

A performance by Davina and The Vagabonds will be at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 6. Admission is $15 for reserved seating and $25 for VIP seating. This blues band will perform songs inspired by famous jazz musicians from Aretha Franklin to Fats Domino.

MCCC’s Prelude Chorus will perform at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8. The Agora Chorale will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, and the Symphony Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15.

Winter Concert Series

In January, the Classic Albums Live – Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” concert is being performed at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24.

Admission is $27 for reserved seating and $37 for VIP seating. This concert will feature the entirety of “Dark Side of the Moon” exactly

A tribute to Highwaymen Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson is scheduled in November.

New net neutrality laws Jake Adams Agora Staff

So what is Net Neutrality, and what does it mean for you?

Net Neutrality, loosely defined, is the word for when all internet traffic is treated equally.

This is what we currently have.

The internet is not defined as a public utility by the FCC. This means that the standardization and regulation that apply to water, electricity, and telephone service do not apply to the internet.

After browsing the internet and visiting a website, that traffic is processed with the same priority as everyone else, regardless of the details of your internet plan.

The FCC, earlier this year, was required to rewrite rules and regulations regarded to the internet traffic and data processing.

This revision is focused on rules from 2010, but the update contains wording that internet providers could exploit, creating internet “fast lanes.”

This means that, for example, if YouTube were to pay for such a “fast lane,” their website would load more quickly than a company’s who did not pay for the same thing.

“What’s wrong with this, and why should I care?” you might ask. The answer is simple.

If companies are allowed to pay for “fast lanes,” then websites not owned by big business would run slower.

The problem lies in the fact that the internet was built by individuals.

When YouTube was first started, it was designed and supervised by only a few individuals. They had no prior capital or ability to invest large amounts of money into “fast lanes” so the data could be loaded more quickly.

If the FCC’s new laws were in place back then, we may never have seen Twitter, Instagram, or even Facebook become the powerhouses they are today.

Other problems lie with the possible introduction of the FCC’s new laws.

The websites we, as college students use for research, such as JSTOR, may choose not to pay for fast lanes, with the speed they load slowing down immensely. This means more

how Pink Floyd recorded it, along with additional Pink Floyd songs.

On Friday, Feb. 6, The Marshall Tucker Band will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $33 for reserved seating and $43 for VIP seating. This band performs songs in the country and rock genres.

The Symphonic Band and the Agora Chorale will be performing the ‘Collage’ concert on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 2:30 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. Admissions are $5 for reserved seating and the concert will feature local community talent as well as the band and chorale.

The 28th Annual Black History Month Blues Series concert will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28. This event is free. It caps a whole month dedicated to the blues.

On Tuesday, March 17, at 7 p.m. Gilbert Gottfried will be at MCCC. He is best known for his role as the parrot Iago in Disney’s “Alladdin”.

Reserved seating is $22 and VIP seating is $32.

time spent on that final research paper.

Another possibility, although likely not the first of many issues, is that fast lanes may extend past large companies who have the money to invest. They may eventually reach to a household level, which you pay extra to get a faster access to websites or services.

Imagine an internet in which you not only pay for base service, but all of your favorite websites run slower than usual - unless you pay them for a fast lane.

So why does the FCC think something like

this is a good idea?

Essentially, creating internet fast lanes gives the large internet providers (looking at you, Comcast) a way to make more money from companies who have popular websites.

An early form of internet fast lanes can be seen in recent Netflix issues.

Netflix had so much internet traffic, that it was slowing down service providers’ infrastructures. The largest companies felt that Netflix should pay them more money, so they could update their infrastructure to handle the huge amount of data being processed.

Netflix refused to pay these companies extra money, and this is essentially how the issue of Net Neutrality came into being.

After extended pressure from these companies, and Netflix’s streaming service being slowed to a crawl, they decided to give in and pay these companies.

Netflix now pays four major service providers in the US money so that their traffic can be processed at the same speed as every other website.

These new laws would also create an unfair and biased internet, in which powerhouse companies such as AT&T and Comcast could pick “winners” and “losers,” for developing internet companies, undermining the freemarket economy our country was built on.

But why would it matter if AT&T could have a choice in who succeeds and who fails?

Here’s an example. Say AT&T had a new service, which analyzed your music tastes and suggested new music for you to check out.

If an individual designed a website or application with the same idea, yet performed miles ahead of AT&T’s, AT&T could slow their internet traffic down, grind the new company’s web traffic to a halt, effectively ending their competition.

This basically gives these large service providers a huge amount of power, and makes the “American Dream” just that - a dream.

So what can we do to stop these companies from exploiting the FCC’s new regulations?

The first thing is to let the FCC know your opinion by leaving comments on their website.

The next thing is to contact your local representatives. Congressmen and women are there to represent your interests. Let them know and make your opinion heard on this matter.

It is important to keep in mind that this situation is changing rapidly. Although the regulation can be exploited, it has yet to be passed into law.

It is important to note, however, that most of the large internet providers support fast lanes, and are actively lobbying for their implementation.

Jim Brickman will kick off the fall concert season.

Local talent showcased Shelby Spencer Agora Staff

MCCC student Evin Daniels and his band Outside will be playing a tape release show on Friday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m.

This show is a promotion for a tape they are releasing called H.O.M.E.S. Each song on the tape is named after one of the Great Lakes.

“Instead of making CD’s, we put the album on cassette tapes.

It sounds weird, but it’s a novelty thing that is becoming popular in the underground scene,” Daniels said.

Members of Outside are: Cody Harris, Bass/Vocals; Sean Casey, Guitar/Vocals; and Evin Daniels, Drums/Vocals.

The show will be at 14023 Laplaisance Rd, Monroe, at Jack & the Bear Studios.

The cost is $5 and will include four bands.

The bands performing are; Outside (alt. rock/Indie band) Breaking Wheel (hardcore) Lemix J. Buckley (math rock) Rebound (hardcore).

All of these bands are from Michigan.

“Students should come out because this show offers a varied lineup of genres that I guarantee everyone will love. Four bands for the price of $5 someplace local is a great deal in my opinion,” Daniels said.

Photo courtesy of Evin Daniels

Outside playing a show at Ottawa Tavern in Toledo, OH

Features

September 3, 2014

mcccagora.com • The Agora

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Photo courtesy of Kevin Thomas

View of Montepulciano from the Salcheto winery., which MCCC students toured during their Study Abroad trip to Italy.

Italy molds culinary minds Katie Mullin Agora staff

Imagine walking through one of Italy’s vineyards and tasting its finest wines.

This is one of the many memories Kim Cousino had when she went on a 10-day “Taste of Italy” tour this past May. It was the trip of a lifetime for Cousino when she and her husband joined with 17 culinary arts students from Monroe County Community College. Journalism professor Dan Shaw and Culinary Arts professor Chef Kevin Thomas led the trip.

“I would like to live there,” Cousino said.

Students learned about the country’s cuisine and culture.

Throughout the world, Italy is known for its many wines. It is the choice of drink at the dinner table and often used in Italian cooking.

Students learned about how wine is made and stored when they toured the Vino de Banca — the wine bank in Bra, Italy.

Professor Dan Shaw said the vault features wines from every region in the country.

After the touring the site, the group sampled some of its finest selections. Italy’s legal drinking age is 18.

While visiting the Salcheto winery at Montepulciano, Theresa Howell tried a rare wine called snow wine. Hence the name, the grapes are plucked frozen in the wintertime.

“It has a nice, mellow taste.

The after effects were almost like butter,” the culinary arts graduate said.

Students not only tried different kinds of wines, but they also received a tour and a taste of how pasta is made.

In a restaurant in Bologna, a 77year old cook named “Louisa,” folded ravioli and cut linguini--thin spaghetti. Watching “Louisa” rolling out the dough to make

Photos courtesy of Kevin Thomas

Student Dan Bryant shows off some of the appetizers served at the Parma ham factory outside Parma, Italy.

the linguini impressed Cousino.

“She picks it up, drops it, and it becomes her nest,” Cousino said.

Pasta is a staple in the Italian “pranzo.” Served in midday, it is presented in several courses.

However, according to Professor Dan Shaw, the best part comes before the meal.

“Italians are really good at hors de oeuvres,” he said.

Among his favorite appetizers is a piece of bread topped with prosciutto—a dry-cured ham served in paper-thin slices.

Chef Kevin Thomas said most of the food they ate was fresh and locally prepared.

In Italy, food comes with a philosophy. Italian Carlo Petrini founded the Slow Food Movement. He believed that food should be grown on small-scale farms, not processed in factories.

When you eat these foods, they should be enjoyed in every bite, he said.

“Our country needs to get back to that,” Thomas said.

Students toured a slow food farm in the hilly and green Piedmont region.

While there, Howell said she learned about raising cattle and making cheese.

The farm tour ended with a luncheon in one of their restaurants.

They dined on veal with red wine sauce and had malted chocolate cake with a liquid chocolate center for dessert.

“That afternoon was just so sur- Above students get a tour of the Salcheto winery in Montepulciano, Italy. real,” the Flat-Rock resident said.

The time for tasting fresh wines and foods are over. Now, Chef Thomas wants to see the Slow Food Movement come to Monroe by promoting local farms and incorporating their produce into the culinary arts classes.

Returning home, Cousino tries to find a balance in her work and home life.

After observing the Italians’ easygoing lifestyle, she wants to take one day and one bite at a time.

Shaw said Italy’s relaxed pace of life has had an influence on him, too, as he is learning how to slow down and appreciate his food.

“I have learned how to be a happier person,” he said.

Photos courtesy of Kevin Thomas

Photos courtesy of Kevin Thomas

Above students await to taste the fine-wine made at the Salchetto winery.

Former student rises above POP QUIZ Julia Grzywinski Agora staff

Monroe County Community College may seem like a small stepping stone to students, but it makes available valuable opportunities for them.

No one knows more about these opportunities than Jenna Olson.

Olson is a 2014 grad of MCCC who recently spent nine weeks at the University of Georgia Athens working as a member of the Research Experience for Undergrads program.

She was one of nine students that were selected nationwide.

While in Georgia, Olson researched, worked in labs, and applied the tools she learned at MCCC to her assigned tasks.

While Olson was a student at MCCC, she was a Supplemental Instruction leader and a biology lab assistant.

She said that the science courses offered here helped her learn what it means, and what it takes to be a scientist.

“Monroe County Community College really helped prepare me for the real world,” she said.

Besides the courses offered, Olson gives credit for her successes to her professors and instructors, especially Dr. Maris Fonseca, the associate professor of biology here at MCCC. She says Dr. Fonseca went above and beyond to lay a solid foundation for her, to help her

“Monroe County What are you looking forward to most Community College this semester? really helped prepare me for the real world,” “All the student activites and events.”

Olson said.

Jenna Olson MCCC graduate

MCCC makes available numerous tutoring positions, chances to lead student study discussions through Supplemental Instruction, openings to assist in science labs, and more.

These chances may seem small to students now, just as they did to Olson while she was a student, however, she now sees these “small jobs” as much more.

“Even though I didn’t think it was, it was all of the little things (like my S.I. job) that were stepping stones that led me to getting accepted to UGA,” she said.

Monroe County Community College gives students the chance to network with faculty members Photo courtesey of Jenna Olson and other organizations to help MCCC graduate, Jenna Olson, at her internship at the University of Geor- them be successful, which is the biggest piece of advice Olson has gia Athens. to offer other students.

The recent accomplishments of through the application process, “Talk to people in the field that and to help prepare her for her re- Olson speak volumes about the you want to go. Network. You sponsibilities at the University of opportunities MCCC has to offer never know who could help you to all students.

Georgia Athens. get your dream job, an internship, The college gives students the or your ticket in,” Olson said.

“Dr. Maris Fonseca was definitely my biggest everything,” chance to put their knowledge to work in real life situations. said Olson.

Melissa Boisevenue MCCC Student

“Just hanging out with friends I didn’t get to see over the summer.”

Brent Borcsani MCCC student

“I’m looking forward to hopefully getting good grades.”

Devon Marsee MCCC student

“Meeting new people, girls, woo!”

Bill Gill MCCC student

A&E

September 3, 2014

mcccagora.com • The Agora

Freshman advice uncensored Darryl White Agora Staff

Your first year at community college can be tough. Since I’ve largely forgotten mine, I assume it was totally traumatic or maybe even completely benign.

Either way, I’ve compiled some useful information to guide you through it.

My objective is to provide you with the tools to have a successful first year by obtaining good study habits while maintaining an active social life. This can be tricky, but fret not my brighteyed friends.

You are in good hands. Hands that are soft and mold to your form like foam couch cushions; here to gently support you with aluminum reserve and the light scent of Febreze.

First, I will go over a few tips for choosing classes.

Some might say to challenge yourself by taking the hardest classes, regardless of what grade you may receive, as it’s about learning and not jumping through hoops.

This is half of the truth, but the other half of it is that part of life is jumping through hoops. If your main objective is getting a career and having a future, then you’re better off finding a balance.

If you can barely count, then you’ll probably want to skip taking anything besides the easiest math courses required.

Or you could challenge yourself — that’s cool too Einstein.

Keep in mind that English classes are a lot of writing, so schedule those with classes that won’t require an eternity of staring at Microsoft Word and cursing the godlessness of the MLA format.

This would be a good time to take some electives in a subject that interests you, because this is where you’ll learn the most.

Because, although a chunk of your experience will be similar to High School, in that you’ll be temporarily regurgitating facts to satisfy someone who is bored with their job, there are

also instructors who share their array of knowledge in creative ways.

These teachers are easiest to find in subjects that you’re already drawn to, and this combination makes the information easier to use and remember.

I can’t recall how a computer or the United States government works, but I’ve learned and remembered a lot about art, graphic design and media.

Finding these instructors can be hard, so scout them out first by asking around.

You can also drop a class early in a semester with a refund and no penalty, if you get bad vibes from an instructor.

This is important because there are some instructors who would make better cops than teachers.

They aren’t there when you need them, and their sole purpose is to punish you for failing to comply within the arbitrary structures that they’ve imposed on you.

My last tip for choosing classes is time. Timing is everything, so never take a class that starts before noon — it’s just not worth it.

Now that you have a schedule, let’s work on your study habits and then we’ll get to the fun part, being awesome socially.

My first and only good English teacher at college said something along the lines of, “get your work done at least two days before it’s due.”

This seems like a gem of advice and is probably better than putting the majority of your workload off until the last two weeks and turning into a mad person who stays awake for absurd periods of time.

Redbull tastes horrible, so if you find yourself stuck in an end-of-semester

The first thing you’ll want to do is find the biggest, meanest looking person around and smash their head in with a lunchtray… Wait, that’s an old prison trope and those trays are plastic now.

What I meant to say is hang-out with the old men or keep to yourself, but I think those are more realistic survival tips for the pen that were relayed to me by an ex-con.

But I suppose it could apply here as well.

Still, you’re better off forgetting those unless you decide to give up your education for a life of crime and you probably shouldn’t — unless you’re really good at crime.

To make friends, you should be interesting. If you can’t be interesting, then be mysterious. If you can’t be interesting or mysterious, then be rich or good-looking.

Illistration by Darryl White When conversing with a new friend, try to avoid niche topics.

Unless rush, you should opt for coffee instead. they’re wearing a Stone Cold Steve Black. No sugar, no creamer.

While the library has fewer kittens Austin shirt, they probably don’t want and naked people than the internet, you to talk to you about wrestling, especialshould still check it out. There are a lot ly if that person is me or if they have ovaries. of useful resources to be found there.

With that segue into reproduction, Unfortunately, your chances of findI have another tip for you. We are all ing President Obama dancing atop a largely the same, regardless of gender spinning pizza are going to be slim. I’m or sexual orientation, so this informaas bummed as you are. tion is universal and can be applied by Keep your books in the bathroom. anyone.

This is pretty self-explanatory and I You’re probably too dumb to use it have too much decorum to delve into the crass, so if you can’t figure it out and your outfits ugly, but give it a shot anyway and you might not screw it up then try it out. You’ll get it eventually. too badly.

Now that you’re drinking coffee, If you’re a lady who’s suddenly feelhanging out in the library bathroom and calibrating your vibe radar, you’re prob- ing turned on, then stop by the Agora office and I’ll let you buy me dinner if ably ready to get social. you’re not too poor and I’ll explain why

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— or you could keep reading, This predatory tactic is a trend popular with internet pick-up artists called “negging,” and it’s pretty simple. By constantly belittling a person and chipping away at their self-worth, they will want to please you. Even better, they will hold the smallest compliment in high esteem no matter how backhanded it may be.

Light occasional teasing is an innocent and normal part of flirting, so be sure to avoid that by going into overkill and making criticism the bulk of your interactions.

You’ll know it’s working when they look like they might cry, and you should feel good about yourself because sociopathic mental manipulation shows great character, and it’s probably how your grandparents met.

The final chapter of this collegiate self-help novel is going to address an elephant in the room largely left untouched by other guides for freshmen — partying.

It’s 2000 and whatever, so skip the hangovers and decrease your chances of being beaten up or date raped and get a medical card. Or better yet, abstain from intoxication.

Should you choose to drink, as you are possibly wont to do — remember that it’s not a contest. It’s better to be considered a lightweight than to be known as the person who wets themselves or made an anti-Semitic rant that’d make Mel Gibson blush.

Another thing to remember is that regardless of your intoxicant of choice — go slow. Once it’s in your system, it’s harder to take it back out than it is to imbibe a little bit more.

Whichever of these “high” roads you choose, be responsible and don’t infringe on anyone else’s safety or ability to have a good time.

If you find this article helpful, you’ll be happy to know that I eagerly accept gifts of gratuity — including but not limited to — cold hard cash, manicure scissors that look like birds, and autographed Golden Girls posters.

Fall’s best sellers, collections, and legends Jeff Brown

Jeff Brown

Not even a year into the PlayStation 4’s life, Sony has already sold 10 million consoles, which makes it the fasting selling console in history at this point.

“It’s clear that the socially connected experience that lies at the heart of the ps4 has resonated with gamers everywhere,” said Jim Ryan President and CEO of and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe at Sony’s Gamescom Press briefing. “And just to be clear, that means 10 million ps4s sold through to consumers.”

Along with these amazing sales figures, Sony has an awesome lineup for this fall.

Unfortunately, most of Sony’s first party or third party exclusive titles are not coming this holiday, leaving only Little Big Planet 3 and Drive Club slated for this year’s AAA exclusive titles.

Little Big Planet 3 is technically the fifth title of the franchise and aims to change the game with a few new elements of gameplay.

Little Big Planet 3 will feature three new playable characters who will help Sac Boy explore the world, each with a unique way to play.

Drive Club is a team-based racing game that allows players to earn rewards not only based on their own performance, but the performance of their club mates.

“For a long time racing games were intimidating, they required that you go it alone and win every race. And for a lot of people that made racing hard to enjoy. In Drive Club we want to break down that wall to make it easy for everyone who loves racing to hit the road and have fun,” said Paul Rustchynsky, game director at Evolution Studios.

Drive Club will also include a dynamic weather system that will affect the way your car handles.

What Sony lacks in first party exclusives this fall, it more than makes up for it with a plethora of exclusive content coming from third party developers.

Kick starting the overwhelmingly large fall game lineup is Bungie’s long-awaited Destiny.

Destiny will be released on both PlayStation and Xbox consoles but will include exclusive content and features for Sony’s consoles.

Consumers who purchase Destiny on either the PS3 or PS4 will receive an exclusive multiplayer map, strike mission, armor sets and ships that will not be available on other platforms until an undetermined future date.

Sony is also releasing a Destiny System bundle which will come with the game and an awesome white PS4.

Far Cry 4 will also be releasing this fall and if you purchase it for the PS4 you get 10 keys to invite 10 friends to play a two-hour preview of the open world co-op gameplay.

This is an exclusive offer for PS4 customers only.

These are just two of the many examples of third-party games that will be receiving exclusive content on the PS4 along with Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor.

Overall it’s a big year for the PS4 and with its third-party support, consumers can rest assured that they will continue to get the most out of their new consoles.

A few weeks ago, Gamescom and Microsoft came prepared with tons of announcements, demos and an excellent lineup for this fall.

Releasing on the Xbox One are Assassins Creed Unity, Grand Theft Auto V, FIFA 15, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Call of Duty Advanced Warfare and many more.

However all of these games will also be releasing on Sony’s PlayStation 4.

On the other hand, Microsoft has a handful of great looking exclusives coming to the platform this fall, including Sunset Overdrive, Forza Horizon 2, Ori and the Blind Forest, and Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

By far the biggest exclusive of the games listed above is the Master Chief Collection.

It will include Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 3 and Halo 4 all up-resed to 1080p 60 frames per second and for the first time, it will include Halo 2 Anniversary, which is rebuilt from the ground up for the Xbox One. Halo: MCC will boast over 100 multiplayer maps and every map will be playable on their original in-game engine, which is a pretty big deal for die-hard Halo fans.

Releasing alongside Halo: MCC is the Halo Channel, which will allow players to watch original content, live updates to Halo News and social media along with allowing players to watch their favorite professional halo players live stream.

But that’s not all.

Everyone that purchases Halo: MCC will get access to the Halo Nightfall live action TV series and access to the Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer Beta test, which starts Dec. 27th.

“The Master Chief Collection is a nostalgic tribute to its past but also introduces new ways to play Halo on Xbox One,” said Bonnie Ross, studio head of 343 Industries.

Only two weeks before Halo: MCCC, the outrageously fun and action packed Sunset Overdrive comes out.

“Sunset Overdrive represents everything Insomniac has become known for over the past 20 years,” said Ted Price, founder and CEO of Insomniac Games. “Sunset Overdrive is the franchise we were meant to make.”

Sunset Overdrive is a humorous look at a post “awesomepocolyptise” world after a soda company turns the majority of the population into mutant zombies.

Sunset Overdrive will also be bundled together with a very cool looking white Xbox One console.

“Rounding up this amazing roster of games this holiday are games from ID@Xbox” said Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, in the Microsoft Gamescom press briefing.

These ID@Xbox games include many games that are already out on PC like Smite or Goat Simulator to exclusives like Cuphead or Inside which is developed by Playdead, the creators of the Xbox Arcade original and fan favorite indie title Limbo, and many more.

Also it was no surprise to learn that Call of Duty Advanced Warfare will be releasing all of its downloadable content first on Xbox Platforms.

Microsoft will also be releasing a limited edition Call of Duty Advanced Warfare Xbox One bundle that includes the game, a 1TB hard drive and a custom paint job.

Agora Staff

Agora Staff

Jeff Brown Agora Staff

After two years, Nintendo still struggles to sell the Wii U. The video game giant wants to change that in its new lineup.

Nintendo has very little coming out this fall, but the combination of Super Smash Brothers and Hyrule Warriors might just give Nintendo the boost they need to sell more units.

If you are fan of dynasty warriors and a fan of the legend of Zelda, you’ll love Hyrule Warriors.

The game plays similar to what you’ve come to know in the Dynasty Warrior’s franchise. There are a lot of on-screen enemies, outrageously over-the-top combos, but instead of playing as a general from the Chinese epic, “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” you play as one of over a dozen confirmed characters from the Legend of Zelda series.

Along with the Legendary Hero Himself, people will also be able to take control of Princess Zelda, Impa, Demon King Ganon and many more.

Hyrule Warriors will support two player co-op but instead of classic split screen, one player will play on the television screen and the other will play on the Wii U touch pad.

Possibly the most exciting game of the year is Super Smash Brothers.

Super Smash Brothers is the fourth instalment of the franchise and is coming out first on the 3DS and later on the Wii U. Just recently the full roster was leaked and most of the characters from the previous instalments will return, along with a handful of new ones like the dog from the NES classic Duck Hunt.

Nintendo is also releasing an add on to the Wii U that will allow players of Super Smash Brothers to use their old GameCube controllers, which is essential while playing this competitive fighter.

With these two games and a few smaller and largely unimportant games, Nintendo is hoping to keep the momentum that they have gained from this summer’s release of Mario Kart 8 and sell some more Wii U’s.

September 3, 2014

A&E

mcccagora.com • The Agora

What to watch on Netflix

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By Julia Wells Agora staff

Whether laying in bed on a lazy Sunday or having an at-home movie date, streaming subscription service Netflix can be daunting to sift through. Too often, viewers spend more time looking for something to watch, flicking through thousands of titles, than they spend actually watching the program they pick. So let us do the work for you and check out these hidden gems of Netflix.

Kid

, there is one in all of us There are plenty of titles to help walk you down nostalgia lane. With the last Netflix update, several different Pokemon titles became available to stream. Get your Pokeballs out because Pokemon:Indigo League and Pokemon:Black & White are now available. Sticking with cartoons, other classics available include Scooby-Doo: Mystery Inc. and The Rugrats in Paris.

Science

lovers, learn about what lies beneath the surfaces of the ocean in the educational series Blue Planet. Where else would you learn that the killer whales tongue weighs the same as an elephant?! While there are only eight episodes, this visually-spectacular series is a wealth of knowledge. Cosmos: A Spacetime Oddessey is a revival of Carl Sagan’s famous series. Let new host Neil Degrasse Tyson take you on a virtual tour through space and narrate cartoon history lessons.

Mindless

action is what you will find in Machete Kills. Danny Trejo stars in this hilariously cheesy, action romp as an ex-federal agent who is hired by the president (a

hilarious Charlie Sheen) personally to save the United States. With cameos from a not-so-Modern-Family-friendly Sofia Vergara and a surprise Lady Gaga, you will be entertained to say the least.

Comedy

club dates can be enjoyed from your own house;. Netflix features a slew of standup specials from infamous comed ians to up-and-comers. Comedy masterminds George Carlin and Louis C.K. both have several specials available. If you’re more a fan of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, the booze-swiggin,’ foul-mouthed Ron White has a couple specials available as well. While he has gained notoriety in the comedy world, you may not have heard of Bill Burr. Check out his specials Let It Go and You People Are All The Same, available to stream now. series are great for those weekends spent at home. The CW network’s Arrow is a relatively new superhero TV show, based on the DC Comics character, Green Arrow. Two seasons are available to stream right now and recommended for fans of Batman who are looking to explore other characters in the DC universe. If quirky comedies are more your style, be sure to check out Portlandia, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, or The IT Crowd all available to stream and all adorably odd enough to keep watching.

Bingewatch

Louis CK is great to watch on Netflix if you’re feeling down or need a good laugh.

What are your next steps?

You can finish your 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 • Criminal Justice • Multidisciplinary Studies • Professional Communication • Psychology • RN to BSN

CONTACT US TODAY!

Phone: (734) 384-4133 Email: monroe@sienaheights.edu Web: www.sienaheights.edu/mccc Stop by our office located in L-221

www.sienaheights.edu