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March 2018

VOL 48/ISSUE 06 Warm Soda Magazine Music & Art Collaboration

Poetry Slam at

in

Germania Brew Haus Germania Brew Haus

Alton Illinois offers a community for music,

Hosts Poetry Slam, open to public

New

Magazine

art and culture

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ALEX GENT

agent@lc.edu Reid Café played host to the annual African Dance Performance as part of the on-going celebration of Black History Month here at Lewis and Clark Community College on Wednesday, Feb. 7. The audience, which consisted of students, staff, and faculty members as well as community members and children of the Children’s Tribe Montessori Academy, were all treated to a phenomenal performance of traditional African cultural music and dance. Throughout the nearly hour-long performance ears were filled with the thunderous percussion of drums. Many were in attendance, either studying or

Sylvester “Sunshine” Lee beating drums with his performance group, the East St. Louis Community Performance Ensemble. Photo by: Shelby Clayton grabbing a short snack and previewing the affair, before moving through the day. For the past ten years here on campus, and for nearly 40 years around the region, Sylvester “Sunshine” Lee along with participants from the E. St. Louis Community Ensemble have been giving transcendent journeys to Africa through the performance of culturally traditional song and dance. With a mission to teach and give a good understanding of Africa, and at the heed of the inspirational advice of Lee’s mentor, Katherine Dunham, the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center began in 1978 with a couple of caring adults deciding to reach out to teenagers in a neglected housing project.

At 65 years old, Sunshine is nearly the oldest member, as well as the director of the ensemble. He is a celebrated drummer and choreographer who trained under the Queen of Cultural Dance, Katherine Dunham, and studied first hand with master drummers in Africa. Dancer Vicki McKinney has been with the group for eighteen years. “Dancing with the group has been a freeing experience that helps connect me to my culture,” said McKinney, “as well as having a therapeutic effect, bringing me to my happy place.” Through the audience’s ovations and Sunshine’s praises alike, special thanks were given to Student Activities Coordinator, Jared Hennings, for

Public Speaking Workshop with D.C. Cooper Hosted in Reid Library K. HARP

kmharp@lc.edu On the first day of February, in Reid Memorial Library, the Diversity Council and the Speech Department worked together to setup a workshop on public speaking presented by D. C. Cooper. With an offering of candy to the students and faculty that attended, Mr. Cooper started the presentation off on a light note. “I consider each and every one of you to be stars,” said Cooper as he set a bag of starbursts at the front of the room. He then jumped right into the main topic of the afternoon. “This particular course, public speaking, is perhaps one of the most important courses that you will take while you are a college student,” said Cooper, “at the end of this session, you will be greatly appreciative of the importance of public speaking.” D. C. asked the room if anyone was comfortable speaking in public; no one raised their hand. He then turned the question around and asked if anyone wasn’t comfortable talking in front of large groups, causing a majority of the audience to lift their hands. Laughter rippled through the room when D.C. presented the microphone to a few that claimed they had issues speaking in public and asked them the explain why they had difficulties. “It’s just how I naturally am; I’m just naturally afraid of public speaking,” said one audience member sitting towards the front. “I have really bad anxiety-- just being in front of a crowd of people just kind of makes it go up,” said another. “I just mainly get nervous because I’m scared I’m going to mess up and really just wreck it form there,” said a third.

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D.C. Cooper presented a free workshop on public speaking in Reid Memorial Library Feb. 1. The event is among several scheduled in February as part of Black History Month at Lewis and Clark Community College. Photo by: Jennifer Miller

“Experiencing anxiety when speaking,” said Cooper, “can be somewhat natural; a lot of people feel anxiety.” According to Mr. Cooper, people feel as if they’re being judged by those around them. Feeling criticized can lead to people having anxiety. If there are more people in an audience, then there are more people present to criticize and judge. “If you’re talking to someone one on one, there are two eyeballs looking at you--one set of eyeballs, two eyeballs looking at you; but if there are twenty-five people, there are fifty eyeballs looking at you,” said Cooper, “And sometimes people can feel as if they’re being caved in because everyone is looking at them. They don’t want to make a mistake. They get nervous. They experience anxiety.” The feeling of being unprepared can also cause an increase of anxiety, according to D. C. Cooper. If a student did not prepare for a test, they would be nervous to take it. To explain the point better, Mr. Cooper shared a story to the listening audience about an athlete by the name of Russell Wilson. When asked by a reporter if he was nervous, Wilson responded: “I am never nervous when I am prepared.” A famous actor that performed over four thousand renditions of the same play claimed that he developed butterflies every time he got on stage. “It’s natural to get butterflies, but the important part is to get those butterflies to fly in arrangement,” advised Cooper. He explained that butterflies cause a person to get nervous when they hit the inner lining of the stomach. An arranged flight would prevent the nerves. According to D. C. Cooper, butterflies fly in arrangement when a person relaxes.

organizing the event, as well as for his dedication to all the events during Black History Month, and student activities throughout the year. Jared described the event as a continued success. “As always I was very pleased with the turnout of this important event,” said Hennings. Anyone who is interested in learning more about, or getting involved with the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center can visit www.sunshineculturalartscenter.org or contact Sunshine via email at sunshine@ sunshineculturalartscenter.org. Anyone interested in keeping up with events and student activities around campus can stay tuned to the LC website or contact Jared Hennings via email at jhennings@ lc.edu, or by phone at 468-6400.

International Student

Festival: Tour the World without leaving campus ALEX GENT

agent@lc.edu All are invited to attend next month’s International Student Festival here at Lewis and Clark Community College. This year marks the second annual celebration of the event, which helps which helps raise awareness of the various cultural activities and traditions of the many countries represented here on campus. Adrienne Reed-Oliver, Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion here at Lewis and Clark Community College is responsible for the creation of the event. Extending an invitation she said, “We would love for any of the colleges or affiliates of the Madison County area to participate by having a booth, or booths, to represent an international country, and what it offers”. Last year, students from various countries dressed in their traditional clothing, brought in artifacts, wrapped treats for display at their booth, and answered any questions in regard to their country. Attendants will be entertained with world music, dancing, crafts, games, as well as treats and refreshments and can expect for this event to bring awareness to the beauty that the world holds internationally. The International Student Festival will take place on April 4 in the Ahlemeyer Atrium of the Trimpe building on Lewis and Clark Community College campus, 5800 Godfrey Road, Godfrey IL, from 11A.M. to 1P.M. All students and staff are welcome to participate. Please contact Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion Adrienne Reed-Oliver if your club or group would like to represent a country in the exhibit gallery, or for additional information via phone at 618- 468-6030 or via email at ayreed@lc.edu.


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