Friday, March 29, 2024

Monthly Archives: April 2012

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: Not another blonde: Anna Faris reveals what it was like working on her newest film, “The Dictator”

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By Jon Parton

In the field of acting, it is often said that you have to be smart in order to play dumb. Actress Anna Faris is no exception.

The 35 year-old is well known for playing bubbly, ditzy characters in films like “Scary Movie” and “The House Bunny.” In reality, Faris received a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Washington before she caught her big break in Hollywood.

Faris’s costars in the new movie “The Dictator,” opening in theaters May 16, alongside Sacha Baron Cohen, British comedian known for such films as “Borat” and “Bruno.” Faris said that she was eager to work with the sometimes controversial actor.

“He’s like a crazy genius,” Faris said. “He’s sort of – he’s very intellectual. He’s very thoughtful. You know, he stays in character throughout the whole movie. And he does – he’s reveled in making people uncomfortable. But he’s also – the other side of him is he’s really, really sweet. And he’s kind of a gentleman and a total family man.”

Faris said that Cohen would often improvise during filming, making it a bit of a learning curve for her.

“So it forced you to really stay on your toes, which was hard, but also sort of an exciting challenge for an actor,” Faris said. “I mean, he would, you know, in a scene, like, where he was sort of supposed to be charmed by me, he would suddenly be threatening to kill me, or like, calling me, like, a lesbian hobbit.”

Although she has taken on a variety of roles, Faris said that she finds comedy to be very satisfying.

“I love – I think that it’s made me be able to laugh at myself and a lot easier,” Faris said. “I think I used to take myself very seriously. And I love – there’s, like, the reward, too, of when you sneak into a theater, which I rarely do, because it just scares me so much. But you do – on those rare occasions that you hear other people laughing at your movie, it feels amazing. It’s amazing to give people joy and to be a part of a hugely challenging process as well.”

Faris said that the film pushes the envelope thanks to Cohen’s fearlessness, something for which she might have to prepare her parents when they see the movie.

“I think it’s going to be kind of an event movie,” Faris said. “And I know that there’s going to be scenes that will be talked about. Hopefully, my parents will be, I don’t know, I’ll have to tell them to, like, go to the bathroom in strategic moments.”

When asked about the strangest thing a role required her to do, Faris had to think a moment.

“Oh,” Faris said. “Wow, man, so many. For ‘The Dictator,’ I had to grow out my armpit hair, which was a new experience for me. And I was very naïve about it. And sort of thinking that maybe it would grow in kind of thin and wispy and maybe even kind of cute. And that was not the case. It was dark and thick. And it defined my whole summer. I was like, no tank tops, no swimsuits, couldn’t hail a cab.”

Contact Jon Parton, news editor, at jparton@jccc.edu.

 

“The Dictator” premieres in theaters May 16.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: Chess Club announces five-day tournament

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By Adam Lignell

A chess veteran said he wants as many experienced and new players alike to come to the double-elimination chess tournament, 12-7 p.m. each day April 30 to May 4.

Frank Williams, administrator and founder of the club, arrives before 11 a.m. on weekdays to play anyone in a game of chess.

“I’m set up to play anybody who wants to show up, they don’t even have to be a student,” he said.

The tournament will cost $5 before April 27, and $10 after. The games will take place in the Down Under. No refunds will be given. Players must finish two timed games in the first two days to stay in the tournament.

Club administrators Williams and Gray Sanders will time and announce the ends of games and answer any questions players might have about chess or the tournament.

Students can fill out a form with their name, phone number, college ID number, days they will attend the five-day tournament and if they’ve paid.

Williams said the club hopes that their numbers will increase as this tournament gets underway, and he has advice for players new to the game.

“If you play people who are not as good as you are, they’ll learn, you won’t,” Williams said. “You want to play somebody stronger than you to improve.”

Contact Frank Williams, Chess Club administrator for more information at knarf1938@yahoo.com.

Contact Adam Lignell, staff reporter, at alignell@jccc.edu.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE REVIEW: Take a chance on “The Lucky One”

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By Ben Markley

It’s undisputed that Nicholas Sparks is the champion of the modern chick flick, seeing as watching and crying over “The Notebook” has basically become a rite of passage for many teenage girls. Sure, he’s formulaic, but he makes us feel good (or, in the case of “A Walk to Remember” and “Dear John,” like total crap).

Sparks’ latest film, “The Lucky One,” begins with Logan (Zac Efron), a marine who finds a picture of a woman while on tour, which seems to keep him alive through many near-death situations. When he returns home, he sets out to find the woman in the picture.

What he finds is Beth (Taylor Schilling), a single mother living in the shadow of a nasty divorce from her possessive ex-husband Keith (Jay R. Ferguson). Inevitably, the star-crossed lovers fall for each other, and the conflict ensues.

The real protagonist, despite all the Efron hype, is actually Beth. The primary conflict is that she can’t have a relationship with Logan without risking losing custody of her son Ben (Riley Thomas Stewart) to her ex-husband.

It’s almost a shame because Efron really does give a much better performance than Schilling. Save a few cheesy lines, his portrayal of the strong, silent marine is pleasantly and completely divorced from the pretty boy melodrama of his Disney days, and it’s clear he’s grown up quite a bit since then.

Schilling, though her character is better written, gives a much shakier performance. Some of her most important moments of character development are fumbled by overacting or poor timing. She stays afloat, and the movie holds together, but she’s definitely one of the weaker components.

Arguably one of the best actors is ten-year-old Riley Thomas Stewart, who plays Beth’s son Ben. He takes a character that was supposed to capitalize on cuteness and turn it on its head. The way he delivers what would be otherwise obvious lines makes him more memorable than the romance itself.

The movie as a whole is funny and feel-good. It has everything: cute kid, sassy grandmother (Blythe Danner), good-looking protagonists and it’s swarming with smiley dogs (Beth runs a kennel). It’s not the story to end all stories, but it is entertaining, engaging and even somewhat memorable. ​

All that said, I’m still hesitant to say I really like this movie, mainly because of how it resolves. I won’t reveal how Sparks finds a happy ending through the climax, but I will say that what seems to be a cathartic twist of fate on its face is actually a somewhat dark trick on the part of the author to give us the ending we want. In spite of all its attempts to charm me, the story left me more troubled than touched when the credits started to roll.​

“The Lucky One” is probably not going to be garnering any Oscar nominations, but it’s certainly enjoyable. It might not be worth eight bucks, but it’s worth putting on the short list for future movie nights.

I’ll end this with a disclaimer for any gentleman reading. I’ve read numerous reviews that talk about what a wonderful date movie “The Lucky One” is. Guys – yes, it is a warm, fuzzy romance that will get her feeling snugglier than usual, but understand, Efron’s character in the movie is perfect. Sensitive, good-looking, kid-friendly, good in bed, the whole Edward Cullen works.

If you come out of the movie and your girlfriend plays the  why-can’t-you-be-more-like-that-guy card, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

​Contact Ben Markley, sports editor, at bmarkle2@jccc.edu.

 

“The Lucky One” premieres in theaters tonight. For showtimes near Overland Park, click here.

Organ donation symposium aims to create understanding

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By Adam Lignell

An organ and tissue donation symposium aimed to help create more understanding between doctors, professors, donor families and students, Friday, April 6.

Entitled “Share Life, Share Love,” the event was hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI), and also sponsored by the Gift of Life foundation and the Midwest Transplant Network (MTN).

Diversity Council chair Diane Kappen invited her psychology class to attend, and said she learned far more about the subject of organ donation herself.

“I didn’t have a clue about all the things that go into [organ donation,]” Kappen said. “Our major interest at the beginning were the cultural influences on giving or not.”

Jill Johnson, bookstore clerk whose eleven-year-old son Amir passed away a year ago, spoke during the symposium about why he is a hero.

“I was thankful for the time, and that he’s living on through somebody else,” she said. “His life wasn’t in vain, he’s our hero. Just like a soldier would give their life in a war, my son gave his life for somebody else to have life. To me, that’s a heroic effort.”

MTN helped Johnson’s family during the transplant, and helped them recuperate when it was over.

“They are very compassionate people, they work with you,” Johnson said. “They had more compassion than our doctor did.”

Tony Johnson, Jill’s husband, discussed how medical physicians should care for organ or tissue donors.

“If somebody could’ve saved my son’s life, I would’ve wanted them to be generous so my son could live,” he said. “I was able to help somebody else’s family member be there for everything.”

Tony Johnson also talked about why it’s so important for donor families to be comforted when the process is over.

“You can’t support everybody when you’re hurt,” he said. “Having somebody around to buffer that really helps.”

Harry Wilkins, doctor with MTN, discussed why it’s so important for doctors to use checklists when conducting transplants.

“We’ve talked to societies and groups, and the American Academy of Neurology are pushing these,” Wilkins said. “So I think the way we’re going to do that is through education, and continue pushing.”

Without using checklists or other specific ways of preparing for transplants, doctors can make some major mistakes.

“Since we are moving into an era of evidence based medicine, it’s incumbent upon you [medical practitioners] to use the accepted guidelines,” Wilkins said. “You’ve got to keep up with the latest trends or refer to a specialist who does.”

Wilkins further talked about how knowledge of good sources for organ donation can help people make better decisions.

“There are about five major ones [medical organizations] from neurosurgeons to neurologists,” Wilkins said. “The ones that are sanctioned by the AAN, those are the most credible.”

Carmaletta Williams, head of ODEI and professor of English, explained why the symposium was organized.

“We get this information, and this is too much information for just us,” Williams said. “We need to share it.”

Tony and Jill Johnson should be more recognized, according to Williams.

“To me, they were heroes too,” she said. “They were able to make really wonderful decisions to honor Amir.”

Students and future donors can contact Gift of Life at www.giftdonor.org. The Midwest Transplant Network can be contacted at http://www.mwtn.org/.

Contact Adam Lignell, staff reporter, at alignell@jccc.edu.

Promoting the environment: Earth Days 2012 showcases sustainability on campus

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Illustration by Sara Scherba

By Rachel Luchmun

Farm work, campus tours, lunch and an electric vehicle showcase will be highlights of Earth Days 2012, held on April 23-27.

Earth Days 2012 aims at showcasing the different activities available on campus that promote sustainability.

“The goal is to promote awareness and celebrate the environment,” said Kevin Clark, co-chair, Student Sustainability Committee.

According to Kim Criner, student Sustainability affairs coordinator, the advantage of having a series of Earth Days, as opposed to just one, is to show that sustainability is an ongoing process.

“Sustainability is much more than just ‘I’m an environmentalist’ or ‘I’ll save the planet,’ but there’s lots of different things involved in terms of food systems and waste streams, our transportation infrastructure and all of these things that we all rely on, and sustainability is necessary,” Criner said.

On April 23, the campus farm will hold a farm work day where students can help with the spring planting. Lunch will be provided for participants who RSVP to the event, although everyone is encouraged to show up. Criner said farm work days typically give out a strong sense of community.

“We kind of get dirty and then sit around and get to know each other,” Criner said. “It’s a really nice community thing for campus because you see faculty come out there, students from different disciplines and organizations and they just all come out there and play on a farm, so you really get the sense of community.”

On April 24, sustainability tours, scheduled at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., will showcase on-campus locations such as the campus farm, solar power training facility, composter and more. The departure will be from the COM plaza steps.

On April 25, a recycling and waste audit will be held in the fountain square by the library. Volunteers will sort through trash cans and recycling bins to see whether both are used effectively.

“What we’ll be doing is kind of sorting them to see what ended up in the trash that could have been recycled and what ended up in the recycling bin that does not belong there,” Criner said.

A three-course lunch, cooked by Chef Tim Johnson with ingredients from the campus farm and other local sources, will be held on April 26 in the Regnier Center. Presentations about student sustainability projects on campus will also be held then. Student tickets cost $10 for the event, while faculty and staff tickets cost $15. $3 per ticket will benefit the Student Environmental Alliance (SEA).

“The lunch is a club sponsored event, so [the $3] will go in our account for next semester,” said Melissa Wilson, president, SEA. “We might use it to get the word out about us and get rid of the past perception that we just are an organization that picks up trash.”

On April 27, an electric vehicle showcase will be held in the COM plaza. A bicycle shop will also be offering bicycle repairs. At 12 p.m., the 2008 movie “Wall-E,” along with a shorter movie, “The Story of Stuff,” will be shown.

“[Wall-E is] a great film, but we’re also getting at the meaning behind it, the very real context that we throw things away without realizing that we are going to run out of space to put them,” Criner said.

Volunteers are needed for the farm work day and the recycling and waste audit. For more information, to RSVP to events and to purchase tickets, go to http://blogs.jccc.edu/sustainability/events/earth-days-2012.

Contact Rachel Luchmun, managing editor, at rluchmun@jccc.edu.

Campus calendar

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What: Suzanne Vega and Duncan Sheik

When and Where: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 21 in Yardley Hall

Why You Need to Be There: Acoustic folk artist Suzanne Vega teams up with award-winning composer and producer Duncan Sheik to perform Vega’s music. Cost to attend is $5 this week for students and $45 for guests. Tickets can be purchased through the college box office.

 

What: Ricky Nelson Remembered

When and Where: 7 p.m. Sunday, April 22 in Yardley Hall

Why You Need to Be There: The twin sons of Ricky Nelson will be performing their father’s music accompanied by the Stone Canyon Band. The sons, Mathew and Gunnar Nelson, will be performing “Hello Mary Lou,” “Traveling Man,” “Garden Party” and many more. Tickets range from $30 to $80. Read more about the visit in this article: WEB-EXCLUSIVE: Ricky Nelson’s sons keep his music alive; coming to the college April 22

 

What: Moscow Festival Ballet

When and Where: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 28 in Yardley Hall

Why You Need to Be There: The Moscow Festival Ballet will present a three-act “Sleeping Beauty” ballet choreographed by Marius Petipa. The fairytale will come to life and present the classic story of a sleeping princess who can only be awakened by a kiss from a prince. Tickets are $32 for students and $42 for guests.

 

What: Returning Alumni Music Concert

When and Where: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1 in Yardley Hall

Why You Need to Be There: Students and faculty from the college’s Music Department will be per- forming with fellow department alumni. The JCCC Midnight Blues Jazz Choir, JCCC Midnight Express Jazz Ensemble and the JCCC Concert Band will all be taking part in the concert. The performance is free of charge and open to the public.

 

What: Campus Craze

When and Where: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 2 in the COM Plaza & Fountain Square

Why You Need to Be There: Campus Craze is a campus-wide event housing four-year college/university booths, academic program booths and student clubs and organization booths. There will also be games, activities, music, food and much more. This event is free and open to the public.

 

Compiled by Jessica Mitchell

One man’s waste is another man’s mulch: college to construct new compost building on campus

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By David Hurtado

The college’s Center for Sustainability is planning to build a compost shed to store the waste produced on campus and other equipment used on the college’s farm.

The shed, which will cost approximately $50,000, will be built south of the parking lot that sits behind the Police Academy and Horticulture Science Center. Jay Antle, executive director of sustainability, said most of the cost will be paid for by the federal government.

“The building itself, the composter and the solar panels, 75 percent of those costs are coming from federal dollars from the Department of Energy,” Antle said. “So this will be a very low cost to the actual college itself.”

The compost shed, which is expected to be completed by June, will house an industrial composter, sawdust, woodchips, the compost itself and possibly a compost tea maker in the future. The shed will also be shared with Sustainable Agriculture, who will store their gardening materials and a small tractor.

In an effort to produce a more energy efficient building, Michael Rea, recycling coordinator, said the compost shed is planned to be constructed entirely out of recycled steel. Metal construction has green characteristics such as recyclability and durability that can reduce the amount of materials necessary for the building envelope. The solar panels will be installed by students in the solar program to give them a chance to practice their trade.

Although the thought of composting waste brings to mind images of foul smelling air for some people, Rea said students will not have to worry about smelling the composter’s contents. Unless students were to stick their nose directly into the composter, the smell should not be an issue.

“It is so far away from the campus that no student would really be out there anyways,” Rea said. “The idea with smell is that with the correct formulas when you mix them with the food waste and sawdust you don’t end up with any kind of smell. Honestly, it doesn’t have any more smell than the compacters that are actually sitting right next to the buildings.”

Rea said he was very excited that the college would soon have a compost building. It would give the Center for Sustainability a better touring facility for people who want to see how the composting process works.

“The child center is really excited about being able to bring over the kids to see how compost works,” Rea said. “Right now they take their food inside their classrooms and when they’re done with it they put [the leftovers] into their own bucket and then we take it out for them. So they are really excited to see where their food goes because at this point it just kind of goes away.”

Not everyone on campus is thrilled about the college’s continuing efforts to go green, though. Elisabeth Barnes, student, said she believed that the economic costs should also be considered.

“I think it’s important for them to have green economic choices, but for the college to go completely green, that costs a lot of money that could be used somewhere else,” Barnes said. “Going green is pretty expensive.”

While animals such as raccoons or rats could be attracted to the smells emanating from the industrial composter, Antle said he doubts that there will be problems with animals trying to burrow into the compost shed.

“The compost is pretty well sealed,” Antle said. “We haven’t had any problems out where we’ve had the composter already and that’s more open than the compost shed is going to be. My guess is if some enterprising critter tried to get into the composter, they would rue the day.”

Contact David Hurtado, reporting correspondent, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.

The legal effects of marijuana

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Photo illustration by Michael House. Product shown is not actual marijuana but a legal imitation.

By Jon Parton

According to a recent Gallup poll, 50 percent of Americans believe that marijuana use should be legalized. Although the debate on legalization is ongoing, the laws prohibiting the usage and distribution are very uncompromising.

In the state of Kansas, possession of any amount of marijuana for personal use can result in up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500 for first time offenders. Frank Galbrecht, associate professor, administration of justice, said that possessing a large amount could mean more jail time and increased fines.

“The amount you have affects if it’s a level one felony or a misdemeanor,” Galbrecht said.

Subsequent offenses carry higher penalties, including mandatory jail time and increased fines. Not only is distribution of marijuana considered a felony, Kansas law increases penalties for those found guilty of doing so within 1,000 feet of a school zone, including a mandatory incarceration of at least four years and a maximum fine of $300,000.

Galbrecht said that criminal history is taken into consideration when judges administer punishment.

“Some of the criminal law legislature contains provisions for, if this is a repeat offense,” he said. “If the legislature doesn’t contain that, if you are convicted, when you go to court, judges have the option to look at your criminal history.”

Galbrecht added that criminal history is not looked at during the trial, only during the punishment phase.

“During your trial, that can’t come up,” Galbrecht said. “Doesn’t make a difference if you’ve done it before. One has to be convicted on the merits, facts, and circumstances of that case.”

Kansas also has laws that prohibit the possession of paraphernalia, treating it as a misdemeanor. The harshest penalties occur for those found guilty of cultivating marijuana, a felony that can include 12 to 17 years imprisonment. Larger amounts of marijuana are often tried at the state or federal level in order to levy higher fines and increased jail time.

“Law enforcement might have a big case, they might want to take it to federal court,” Galbrecht said.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) determined marijuana to be dangerous because the agency believes the drug has a high potential for abuse. Kay King, associate professor and chair, Administration of Justice, said that there are good reasons why the DEA considers the drug to be more dangerous than cocaine.

“It’s psychologically addicting, it’s not physically addicting,” King said.

King also said that the common method of consuming marijuana, through the lungs, can lead to health issues.

“The way they ingest it, they hold all the carcinogens in their lungs much longer in the way they smoke it,” King said.

According to campus police Sgt. Gregory Russell, the campus has had relatively few incidents regarding possession or distribution of marijuana.

“There was one incident for possession that led to an arrest last year, but they were not a student,” Russell said.

Russell said that if a student was caught on campus possessing marijuana, that student would immediately be arrested and sent to the Overland Park Police Department for booking.

“Not only would they be arrested, their report would be reported to the school, where they would risk expulsion,” Russell said.

Russell said that the school is currently organizing a campaign to help students fight drug dependence, no matter what the addiction might be. The Council of Addiction and Substance Abuse Issues (CASAI) seeks to address students fighting substance abuse.

“The important part is that we want students to be able to get help if they need it,” Russell said.

Contact Jon Parton, news editor, at jparton@jccc.edu.

 

Related articles:

Yes we cannabis: Kansas City organizations explain legalization movement

Infographic: Highs and lows of marijuana in America

The origins of ’420′

Staff Editorial: Prohibition a failure, yet again

Letter to the editor

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Dear Editor;

I am the President of JCCC’s Council Addressing Substance Abuse Issues (CASAI) here on campus. There was a recent article printed in the Campus Ledger that needs some clarification regarding the job of our “council” and the job of “Alcoholics Anonymous,” or more commonly, A.A. The portion of the article that I am specifically referring to said this:

“The college’s helping hands extended themselves to people struggling with addiction by the arrangement of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings that are now being held on campus. The meetings are held every Friday from 12 to 1 p.m. in RC 185, students and non-students can meet and discuss their addictions. The meetings are oriented towards those who are struggling with addiction whether it be alcohol or drugs/narcotics. … The group does not bias from any other addiction. You do not have to be an alcoholic to join or attend the meetings.”

Since the article went public, I’ve been contacted by the District 10 Chair Member of A.A., and that person put me in contact with a member of A.A. so that together we could write this response. The person I spoke to made it clear that they, “do not speak for A.A., but are a member of A.A. and familiar with A.A.’s singleness of purpose.” The member also added, “A.A. is a recovery program for alcoholics only. Of course, those who have a problem with alcohol and other substances may attend if they have a desire to stop drinking and confine their discussions to problems with alcohol.”

The article referred to meetings that are oriented toward, “addiction whether it be alcohol or drugs/narcotics.” This is a direct violation of A.A.’s purpose. I believe the confusion arose because CASAI’s mission (separate from A.A.) is to offer support, information and guidance to JCCC students, faculty and staff who struggle with substance abuse or addiction. CASAI provides ongoing campus-based education and resources to address these issues that impact our institution and our community. In that regard, CASAI’s purpose is “all-encompassing.” The council will offer any resource we have available to anyone who needs help with any addiction they may suffer from. This is quite different from A.A.’s “singleness of purpose.” The A.A. member I spoke with provided the following regarding A.A.’s singleness of purpose and problems other than alcohol:

Some professionals refer to alcoholism and drug addiction as “substance abuse” or “chemical dependency.” Non-alcoholics are, therefore, sometimes introduced to A.A. and encouraged to attend A.A. meetings. Anyone may attend open A.A. meetings, but only those with a drinking problem may attend closed meetings.

A renowned psychiatrist, who served as a nonalcoholic trustee of the A.A. General Service Board, made the following statement: “Singleness of purpose is essential to the effective treatment of alcoholism. The reason for such exaggerated focus is to overcome denial. The denial associated with alcoholism is cunning, baffling and powerful, and affects the patient, helper, and the community. Unless alcoholism is kept relentlessly in the foreground, other issues will usurp everybody’s attention.”

The primary purpose of A.A. is to carry its message of recovery to the alcoholic seeking help. Almost every alcoholism treatment tries to help the alcoholic maintain sobriety. Regardless of the road we follow, we all head for the same destination, recovery of the alcoholic person. Together, we can do what none of us could accomplish alone. We can serve as a source of personal experience and be an ongoing support system for recovering alcoholics.”

To clarify, and help CASAI better understand Alcoholics Anonymous, I asked the A.A. member to answer this question, “What does A.A. do?” The A.A. member provided the following response:

“1. A.A. members share their experience with anyone seeking help with a drinking problem; they give person-to-person service or “sponsorship” to the alcoholic coming to A.A. from any source.

2. The A.A. program, set forth in our Twelve Steps, offers the alcoholic a way to develop a satisfying life without alcohol.

3. This program is discussed at A.A. group meetings.

a. Open speaker meetings — open to alcoholics and non-alcoholics. (Attendance at an open A.A. meeting is the best way to learn what A.A. is, what it does, and what it does not do.) At speaker meetings, A.A. members “tell their stories.” They describe their experiences with alcohol, how they came to A.A., and how their lives have changed as a result of Alcoholics Anonymous.

b. Open discussion meetings — one member speaks briefly about his or her drinking experience, and then leads a discussion on A.A. recovery or any drinking-related problem anyone brings up. (Closed meetings are for A.A.s or anyone who may have a drinking problem.)

c. Closed discussion meetings — conducted just as open discussions are, but for alcoholics or prospective A.A.s only.”

After being contacted by the District 10 Chair Member of A.A., and after speaking to an A.A. member, I felt the obligation (as President of CASAI) to make sure our college campus and community understood the difference between CASAI’s mission and A.A.’s mission. And in CASAI’s efforts to provide information and support to the alcoholic, Johnson County Community College will continue to hold A.A. meetings every Friday from 12 to 1:00 p.m. in RC 185. The meetings are closed; however, the first Friday of every month serves as an open meeting, and as mentioned above, an open meeting is the best way to learn what A.A. is, what it does, and what it does not do.

Thank you,

Sheryl Hadley

CASAI President

Associate Professor of Economics

Chair—Economics Department

Johnson County Community College

shadley01@jccc.edu

(913) 469-8500 x 4773

Letter to the editor

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This is in regard to the March 22nd issue of the Campus Ledger in which the article entitled Grey Areas: Emergencies and Attendance Policies appeared.

I was simply trying to bring to light issues with the attendance policy and emergencies that students have from time to time such as the one I had. It was not my intent to point fingers or blame anyone for the attendance policy. It was simply meant to state that the attendance policy should be be flexible for those who have extenuating circumstances. I know that instructors do what they are told to do, but just allow them to have the flexibility to help their students when things like this happen. You might be surprised at how much happier students and instructors will be.

-Theresa Campbell

Student

Men’s basketball player Chris Brasher made leader despite injuries

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Chris Brasher, guard for the Cavaliers basketball team, is shown in the gym April 9. Brasher is considered one of the “leaders” of the team, despite facing several injuries. Photo by Tasha Cook

By Adam Lignell

A men’s basketball player has led the Cavaliers for a solid season despite several injuries and obstacles. Chris Brasher described how he became more involved in basketball over time.

“I just really liked it because it was fun to play,” Brasher said. “As I grew up, it got more and more serious.”

Aside from working hard with his team, Brasher pursues other interests as well.

“I just love hanging out with friends,” Brasher said. “Whatever they want to do is fine by me, just some downtime.”

Brasher wasn’t alone in his pursuit to improve himself on the court.

“My uncle used to coach at UMKC,” Brasher said. “Every morning before school I’d get up at 6 a.m. and do workouts, so that was a big help.”

Aside from improving his skills as a team leader and player before he transfers, being a great basketball player isn’t Brasher’s only goal.

“I’m trying to get a 3.0 [GPA] so I can go to Western Kentucky next semester,” Brasher said. “I’m focusing on my grades so I can go there and play there next year.”

Coach Mike Jeffers explained why he thought Brasher was such a big part of this season’s success.

“When we lost Brasher in mid-January, it took us a good three to four weeks to readjust different players in different roles,” Jeffers said. “We got comfortable and confident.”

Jeffers was glad to have Brasher understand the team better this season, even after undergoing ACL injuries the past few years.

“He’s been injured three straight years now,” Jeffers said. “It’s unbelievable what he’s gone through to try to keep playing college basketball.”

According to Jeffers, Brasher certainly fit the role of a leader, which developed over his three years of effort with the team.

“Our best leaders have been players that have been red-shirted because of academics or most of the time by injury,” Jeffers said. “They’ve got a better grasp of what’s going on.”

Brasher’s close friend and teammate Nick Boehler said he was going in a better direction after learning a lot in his first year playing.

“This year was a lot more fun,” Boehler said. “This team felt more like a family, we had really good chemistry.”

On the court, Boehler recalled a couple events that really stuck out during the season.

“It was more memorable beating [KCK] there,” Boehler said. “We knew we needed a big win to propel us and get things started.”

Brasher and Boehler said their team is looking for new managers for next season, and more audience members per game.

Contact Adam Lignell, staff reporter, at alignell@jccc.edu.

Staff Editorial: Prohibition a failure, yet again

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The war against drugs has raged for decades, evolving and adjusting to fit the times. In recent years, however, the voice of the opposition has grown louder than ever and is now being heard clearly.

A Gallup poll from October 2011 showed that 50 percent of Americans (±4%) now want to legalize marijuana, which is a record high (no pun intended). And why shouldn’t they? The potential benefits of legalization – or at least decriminalization – far outweigh the risks.

History shows that prohibition fails and has adverse effects almost every time it is attempted. In the 1920s, the Eighteenth Amendment banned manufacturing, sales and consumption of alcohol. Bootleggers ran rampant and over 50,000 people died of poisoning and overdose, according to an article from the Economic History Association. The homicide rate rose as well.

Now in 2012, the war against marijuana is following the same path, but we believe it should be legalized in the United States for the following reasons.

National security: A “Washington Post” article reports that up to 60 percent of the profits made by drug cartels from Mexico come from marijuana. If it were legalized in the U.S., it would result in an immediate loss of profit for the cartels and, thus, less motivation to do business here.

Economy: In a capitalist society, the market for marijuana could be massive. Growers allowed to compete for quality and lowest price would ensure consumers the best bang for their buck. This could also create thousands of jobs. If the government were to regulate marijuana and tax it as much as alcohol and tobacco are taxed, revenues could add up to anywhere between $40 and $100 billion per year, according to an article in “BusinessWeek.”

Practical use: The U.S. is one of few countries that require individual states to have licenses to grow hemp, a cousin of marijuana which contains a very low quantity of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical which causes marijuana’s euphoric effects. Hemp has a wide variety of uses, ranging from fabric to paper to food to building materials and more. In this era of “going green,” what better way to avoid cutting down trees and become more environmentally friendly than by utilizing an additional plant?

Reforming the prison system: According to a 2007 report by the U.S. Department of Justice, 12.4 percent of federal inmates incarcerated for drug charges are in prison for marijuana-related offenses. This is costing taxpayers over $1 billion per year and focusing legal efforts away from offenders who have committed violent crimes or sold more dangerous drugs.

Medical benefits: An article from the Livestrong Foundation cites many medical benefits of marijuana, including pain relief, decreased nausea, muscle relaxation and increased appetite, which can be a great help to some cancer and AIDS patients. In addition, it benefits patients suffering from glaucoma, psychological conditions, Alzheimer’s disease, insomnia and many other illnesses. However, only 16 states and Washington, D.C. have laws allowing medical use of marijuana.

Relative low risk to society: Opponents of legalization will talk about the dangers associated with marijuana use, then go out and celebrate with cocktails. Alcohol is perfectly legal for those of drinking age, but when users fail to “drink responsibly,” the outcome can be tragic. The chemicals in cigarettes kill thousands of people each year. Marijuana, on the other hand, very rarely causes bar fights, traffic accidents or disease.

Last, but certainly not least, is liberty. We live in a country where the government has no right or responsibility to tell us what we can and cannot consume, or how we should treat our bodies. We the people have the individual right to make those decisions for ourselves, and it is “high time” lawmakers step aside and let us live as we choose.

 

Related articles:

The legal effects of marijuana

Yes we cannabis: Kansas City organizations explain legalization movement

Infographic: Highs and lows of marijuana in America

The origins of ’420′

 

Beyond the big hits: new club geared toward a different kind of movie debuts

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By Jessica Mitchell

The college has a new film club who won’t be showing classics and masterpieces of cinema. The club is oriented toward films gone astray from the social norms and may have topics of questionable merit. This is a cult film club.

“There is already a group on campus called [Cineclub] and they’re more into art films and films that are great cinema – we think of them as an art,” said Matthew Schmeer, associate professor, English, and cult film club adviser. “This is the stuff on the flip side. Maybe it’s trashy or maybe these are films that have dedicated followers and didn’t do well at the box office. They were overlooked yet there is something redeeming in the story, something that draws us in.”

Kary Faria da Cunha, club president, founded the club and approached Schmeer to be the adviser after taking his creative writing course in fall 2011. Both of the men share the knowledge and appreciation for cult and low budget films.

“I have a great deal of knowledge when it comes to movies,” Faria da Cunha said. “Probably over 10,000 hours or more of movie watching experience. […] I like more of the dark, horror and twisted movies and then [Schmeer] is the lighter side – the comedy. It’s a good yin and yang team, I think.”

Faria da Cunha already devised a schedule of movies that will be shown for the rest of the semester. Opening night, on April 11, housed “Brainscan” followed by “The Fly” on April 18. “Brain Damage” will be showing on April 25.

“The third [movie] is called ‘Brain Damage,’ and it’s probably in my top 10 favorite films,” Faria da Cunha said. “It’s about a parasite that latches on to the back of a person’s neck and inserts a liquid that gives a type of euphoria. While under this euphoric state the host lures victims for the parasite and the parasite eats the person’s brains. […] It’s really bizarre.”

The next three films shown after that will be “The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai Across the 8thDimension,” “Big Trouble in Little China” and “Evil Dead II.”

The club does not discriminate against any genre of film. Horror will share equal time with comedy and science fiction. “The Princess Bride” and “Monty Python” may possibly work into the club’s movie schedule, said Faria da Cunha; he wants the club to appeal to everyone and encourages student feedback.

“I think the cult film club will add a lightheartedness to normal movie showings,” said Alyssa Ebling, student. “These movies aren’t supposed to be taken seriously.”

Aside from playing the designated film, every meeting will have popcorn, beverages and a club discussion.

“We kind of want this to be audience participation, where you can talk about the film,” Schmeer said. “Talking to the screen will be encouraged, and they will, of course, talk and discuss the films and what makes the film interesting or great or particularly horrible.”

The club was set up through the continuing education department as to not infringe on the rights of the films. Members will have to call 913-469-2323 and give the operator the CRN number for the club, 21481. The CRN is only good for the first three films. A different one will be provided to members when necessary.

“The club is geared towards the students who want to have a lot of fun, it’s a real casual environment,” Faria da Cunha said. “Entertainment is basically an escape from space and time. Whether you’re looking at Kandinsky or Van Gogh or Gusav Klimt, it’s an escape. That’s basically what we want to do – fall and transport into a world for a couple hours.”

For more information on the club, contact Mathew Schmeer at schmeer@jccc.edu or Kary Faria da Cunha at kfariada@jccc.edu. The club meets at 5 p.m. every Wednesday in the Craig Community Auditorium (GEB 233).

Contact Jessica Mitchell, features editor, at jmitch54@jccc.edu.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: Rolling in a new ride: college’s EMS program teaches students how to handle emergency situations, receives new ambulance

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Photo courtesy Charles Foat/EMS program

By Jon Parton

The college’s Emergency Medical Science program (EMS) will soon have a new teaching tool. That teaching tool happens to be an ambulance.

Ray Wright, director, EMS, said that the new ambulance was recently retired from service and sold to the school by a government agency.

“We were very, very fortunate to get this one,” Wright said. “We had originally budgeted $25,000 for the new ambulance. Because it was government agency to government agency, we got it for $3,000.”

Although EMS already has one ambulance box located in SCI, Wright said that the extra one is needed to keep up with the necessities of the program. Students are trained to load and unload cots, as well as emergency vehicle driving.

“That’s not necessarily red lights and sirens, but it’s more mundane stuff like backing, where most accidents occur,” Wright said. “Just being able to handle that size of a rig because that rig, a lot of them, are on truck chassis.”

The program trains students who want to become Emergency Medical Responders (EMR) or Paramedics/Mobile Intensive Care Technicians (MICT). The EMR program requires about 200 hours of training while the MICT program requires about 2,000 hours of training.

“It’s full-time,” Wright said. “It’s one year, 47 credit hours, starting in January going through to December straight through. It is about 2,000 clock hours long.”

Wright said that an important part of the training involves hands-on experience. Students in the EMS program ride along with local paramedic services as observers before serving in hospital rotations in the summer.

“Learning to manage your adrenaline is a critical part of being a paramedic,” Wright said. “It’s like an actor or an athlete when you’re called to perform. Jitters, butterflies aside, you have to learn to manage that and you have to learn to be able to perform.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the median salary for all EMR workers is about $30,000 a year. That number is higher for MICT workers, whose median salary is about $42,000 a year.

Jay Hall, EMS student, said that the program is challenging.

“I think the information overload is the most difficult part,” Hall said. “But there are a lot of opportunities out there. It’ll be worth it when it’s over.”

EMS student Will Davis agreed with Hall about the difficulty of the training.

“Like our instructors told us, it’s like taking a sip out of the fire hose,” Davis said.

Davis said that although the program requires a lot of time and work out of students, he feels good about participating. Davis noted that EMS instructors Ray Wright and Kim Grubbs were among the first paramedics to be certified in the state of Kansas.

“The best part is the instructors,” Davis said. “They make us work hard to make sure we’re the best.”

Contact Jon Parton, news editor, at jparton@jccc.edu.

Human trafficking and prostitution in Overland Park

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By Jon Parton

Human trafficking and prostitution arrests are on the rise in Johnson County. The increase in arrests is due to the police department’s crackdown on prostitution-related crimes and human trafficking.

The Overland Park Police Department conducted a vice sting in February that resulted in multiple arrests. Most of the suspects involved in that sting resided outside of Overland Park and Johnson County.

According to Gary Mason, public information officer, Overland Park Police, a lot of the arrests made in the past year involve suspects who are not residents of Johnson County. He said that a couple of minors have been arrested in the past as well.

“Most of the ones [arrested] are outside of the city,” Mason said. “I think we do have a large number of people that come through our city and get arrested on those charges; [they] are from out of town.”

The vice unit works with the FBI Innocence Lost Task Force, a group that seeks to address the increase of domestic sex trafficking of children nationwide. One member of the vice unit also serves as a member of the Kansas Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Task Force Advisory Board. Mason said that Overland Park is a tempting target for human traffickers.

“The freeways that run through our city attract a lot of business, good or bad,” Mason said. “And a large number of hotels we have, too.”

Mason said that traffickers are using the internet more and more in order to conduct their business, requiring law enforcement to switch tactics. The police now frequently look at websites in order to curb the practice of prostitution.

“I think social media has definitely changed the dynamics of things,” Mason said. “We use different things, Craigslist one week, and the next time we’ll change it up, post an ad, and try to bring in people to come to us.”

According to Overland Park Police Chief John Douglass, the city sees increased activity of prostitution within hotels and sometimes even apartment communities.

“Currently, the most prevalent types of prostitution in Overland Park are ‘call girls’ who either rent a room and customers come to them, or travel to different locations to meet customers,” Douglass said in a prepared statement.

Mason said that the increase of arrests is due to Douglass’s policy to crack down on prostitution and human trafficking.

“A large part of it is from the chief’s initiatives brought forth to the city and department back in 2010,” Mason said. “That’s why you see such a big jump [in arrests].

Patrick Dobson, professor, History, said that human trafficking, or slavery, has consistently been a part of the world.

“In terms of slavery, in general, it’s probably never ended,” Dobson said. “It just has taken on a different face and a different legal status. And a lot of it is oriented around sex and labor.”

Contact Jon Parton, news editor, at jparton@jccc.edu.

The origins of ‘420’

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420 is linked to marijuana use and April 20 is celebrated as the day to smoke and get high, but its origin is often obscure. Some cite it as a police code for smoking in progress, or the number of chemical compounds in marijuana, but the real story, as far as it can be traced, involves none of those things.

The term was first coined in 1971 by a group of high school students from San Rafael High School, Calif. “Four-twenty” referred to the time at which they would meet up to smoke, namely, 4:20 p.m.

The term is believed to have spread through the band The Grateful Dead, which rehearsed not far from San Rafael High School. As the band went on to play concerts both nationally and internationally, the term spread.

“High Times,” the magazine dedicated to marijuana and psychedelic drugs, started promoting the term through its events such as the World Hemp Expo Extravaganza and the Cannabis Cup, further contributing to its fame.

 

April 20 is linked to marijuana use, but other historical events occurring on that date include:

  • 1836: the Wisconsin territory is created.
  • 1871: the Third Force Act, also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act, is passed.
  • 1889: the birth of Adolf Hitler.
  • 1946: the League of Nations dissolves, giving its powers to the United Nations.
  • 1999: the Columbine High School shooting.

 

Information courtesy Snopes, The Huffington Post and The People History 

Compiled by Rachel Luchmun

 

Related articles:

The legal effects of marijuana

Yes we cannabis: Kansas City organizations explain legalization movement

Infographic: Highs and lows of marijuana in America

Staff Editorial: Prohibition a failure, yet again

Safety first: motorcycle training class aims to get you ready for the road

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Students in the college’s motorcycle training program practice riding safety skills on Saturday, April 14th. The motorcycle training course is offered through the college’s continuing education program for anyone in the community 15 years or older with a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit. Photo by Michael House

By Julius Williams

For the last three years, the college has offered a Department of Transportation (DOT) approved motorcycle training program as a continuing education course. If you’ve thought about getting that two-wheeler on the road, then this is the place to start.

Phil Wegman, program director, Skills Enhancement, said that enrollment has continually increased.

“Here’s what’s happening,” Wegman said. “As the price of gas increases, more and more people are turning to alternative modes of transportation. We have more and more people out on the highways and every rider needs to learn to be a safe as they can be.”

Wegman said that there is always an element of risk for motorcycle riders, so their goal as instructors is to teach people to be safety-minded. The class includes eight hours of classroom instruction and 12 hours of practice on motorcycles provided by the college.

Alex Gould is a student at the college studying sustainable agriculture. He took part in the course this past weekend and said he enjoyed it immensely. As a first time rider, Gould felt that the course gave him the foundation he needed to operate safely on the road.

All of the instructors are certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and take their jobs very seriously. One of those instructors is Greg Pruitt. A seasoned rider and instructor, Pruitt believes that the course is fundamental to keeping yourself safe out on the road.

“I highly recommend it,” he said. “I see a lot of people out here without the experience and you can tell who has gone through the course by the level of their riding ability.”

Not everyone who takes the course passes but students can retake the course if needed. After receiving a passing grade, students can take their diplomas to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get their licenses.

Other benefits include discounts on insurance and equipment. The program is sponsored by several local motorcycle dealerships and equipment retailers.

Wegman said that it’s not unusual to read in the local newspaper on a regular basis about motorcycle accidents, so it’s imperative that riders start off with a solid foundation.

“There’s always an element of risk, drivers don’t always see motorcycles so we have to teach people to be as safety-minded as possible to avoid accidents,” Wegman said.

The motorcycle training course is offered through the college’s continuing education program. You do not have to be a credit student to enroll. It’s available for anyone in the community 15 years or older with a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit.

“It’s a lot of fun and you will learn a lot,” Gould said. “I definitely recommend it and I feel confident that I can go out on the road.”

Contact Julius Williams, staff reporter, at jwilli78@jccc.edu.

Student wins CBYX award; will spend a year abroad in Germany

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Fashion major Joanna Swieton is shown wearing a dress top she made herself. Swieton recently won a scholarship which will enable her to study for one year abroad in Germany. Photo by Tasha Cook

By Mackenzie Clark

Joanna Swieton, fashion design student, is in her third year at the college. Next year she won’t be returning because she received an award that will allow her to work and study for a year in Germany.

The CBYX award comes from the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program, which selects career-oriented students from vocational fields in the U.S. as well as in Germany.

She said that she was “on the fence” at first and couldn’t make up her mind about whether to apply, but with her desire to learn a language fluently, the program became more enticing.

“I went [to Germany] for two weeks over the summer and I kind of fell in love with it,” she said. “And part of it has to do with my family history. My grandpa was from Germany and he was a tailor, so that was the first thing to spark my interest.”

The program will consist of two months of intensive German language school, a semester studying in a German university and an internship, which participants will have to find themselves. Swieton will live either with a host family or in shared living quarters.

Barbara Williams, administrative assistant, International Education, said that Swieton has been very active in the International Club.

“Through the club [Swieton] met some German students last year who were here, and I think that’s what really informed her about the program, as well as peaked her interest in learning the German language,” Williams said.

The college hosts German students from the program every year, and in recent years has sent students to study in Germany. Swieton is the first student from the college outside of the culinary program to receive this award.

Swieton said that missing her family and friends will be difficult, but she plans to stay distracted.

“Skype is a wonderful thing,” she said. “So that will help. And especially just really immersing myself there, because I want to take that opportunity and just enjoy it to its fullest, and just really be able to connect with the people that I meet there. […] Just being completely immersed in the culture and the language is what I’m really excited about.”

Swieton plans to finish her bachelor’s degree in design at Kansas State University and intends to continue pursuing her passions. She said she wants to design ladies’ eveningwear as well as casual clothes that are attractive and comfortable.

“Sort of my dream right now would be just to have a giant design studio, maybe somewhere in downtown Kansas City where I could collaborate with other designers, or just open it up to have other young designers come and be able to have a space to work on projects and sell them, and become established as designers,” she said.

For more information about the CBYX program and other available opportunities, contact Barbara Williams at bwilliam@jccc.edu.

Contact Mackenzie Clark, editor-in-chief, at mclark68@jccc.edu.

Sports briefs, upcoming games

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Pitchers lead baseball team to victory over Neosho

The Cavaliers swept a four-game series victory against Neosho County Community College, with an overall score of 9-5. Sophomore Lee Ridenhour pitched the entire first game with two hits and six strikeouts. In the second game, freshman Gage Jacobs pitched for most of the game with four strikeouts and four hits, followed by sophomore Cameron Fisher who allowed one hit and a strikeout. Freshman Dave Gean struck out two batters and allowed only three hits in the next game, followed by freshman Nick Kolarik, who did not allow a single hit for the remaining 1 2/3 innings. In the final game, freshman Matt Blackham allowed two hits over 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts. The final 1 2/3 innings were pitched by Kolarik who allowed one hit and two strikeouts. The team’s current record is 26-11, with an East Jayhawk Conference record of 18-6.  The game established them as the highest ranked team in the state, 38th in the nation.

 

Sophomore women soccer athletes take next step

With the school year drawing to a close, many sophomore athletes are taking the next step in their careers as student athletes. Three members of the college’s women soccer team signed letters of intent to move on to play soccer at four-year universities in Missouri. Defender Jen French signed with Park University in Parkville; midfielder Marissa Nolan signed with Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph; forward Haley Wagner signed with Lindenwood University in St. Charles.

 

Tennis teams face off with Graceland, Emporia State 

The tennis teams met Graceland University at home on April 9, posting up victories for both the men and women’s teams. The men’s team swept all nine spots while the women’s team won 7-2. Two days later, the teams played Emporia State University in Emporia. The men followed up their past victory with a decisive 8-1 victory while the Lady Cavaliers lost in a close 4-5 match. The teams are preparing to take on the region playoffs in Wichita on April 20-21.

 

Upcoming games

April 20, all day – Track & Field – Mule Relays (Warrensburg, Mo.)

April 21-22, 1 p.m. – Baseball – at Coffeyville (Overland Park, Kan.)

April 23-24, all day – Golf – KJCCC & Region VI Championship (Newton, Kan.)

April 26, 3 p.m. – Tennis – at William Jewel College (Liberty, Mo.)

 

Compiled by Ben Markley

Letter to the editor

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“Jesus Torres”

This is a sad story about a young man that is being deported to Mexico.  There are a few things that are strange about this article.  Why hadn’t this young man of 21  made the effort to become legal?  His parents had completed the requirements and must have told him that he needed to do the same.  Why was he driving around with a Mexican driver’s license?   His comment was that he had been in the United States since the age of six.  Why would he have gone  to the effort of getting the Mexican license?  Was he working?  Had he bothered to get a social security number?  There are far too many people that take advantage of the loop holes in the system to live in the USA without paying their does.  Make the effort to become legal.  It takes more effort to avoid becoming legal that not to.  Be proud of your country……….stop avoiding it.  If you prefer being a Mexican, then move there and stay.  If you want to live  in the USA, make the effort to become an American.  I hear far too many people saying that America is not making an effort to give them everything that they think they deserve.  Get off you butts and make an effort to change things.  Let these people go back to their own countries and see how far that attitude gets them.  Maybe we need to deport more illegals to get the message across.  I feel sorry for this young person but it doesn’t seem to me that he made an effort.  There are many people living in America that have done the right thing and are following the rules.  Please get with the program or go home.

-Donald Lee

 

Police brief

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Report of criminal damage at West Park

Campus police were dispatched to the West Park facility on April 2 in regards to criminal damage. A staff member reported that they discovered a door that had been forced open. After questioning the employees, one of them admitted to leaving their keys inside the building and forcing the door open to retrieve them.

Compiled by Erica Aldridge

Correction

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In Vol. 34, Issue 10 of The Campus Ledger, we reported that the Alcoholics Anonymous group on campus offers support for all addicts. AA tradition actually states that the program is intended for those who have a desire to quit drinking. The Ledger apologizes for the mistake. Those who need help with other addictions should contact the Council Addressing Substance Abuse Issues (CASAI) or Lill Bajich-Bock, counselor.

Softball team tallies another win in successful season

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Softball team players at a recent practice on campus. Photo by Patti Klinge

By Adam Lignell

Despite a few snags early on, the softball team has been taking clear victories in its latest games of the season.

Head coach Aubree Brattin explained why she thinks the team has been improving lately.

“We don’t really worry about what the other teams are doing,” Brattin said. “Win or lose, if we can do the things that control what we do and how we play, we’re successful out on the field.”

After the recent 14-0 and 12-0 wins at Fort Scott Community College, Brattin emphasized where she wants the girls to keep their focus.

“If we would come with the mentality that we brought for Fort Scott to every game in our conference, we would be able to handle the games like we did in Fort Scott,” she said.

With that in mind, Brattin also said she thinks that enjoyment and love for the game play a huge role.

“Just seeing the girls have fun, laughing at practice, enjoying what they’re learning,” she said. “I think it’s important for them to love the game of softball, love what they’re doing and to understand why they’re doing it.”

Even with a few changes with last year’s roster and coaching situation, their new swinging style, defense and positioning allowed the team to play harder.

“I’m a much different coach than [the one who was here last year,]” Brattin said. “For the sophomores, they had to learn my philosophy of coaching.”

A torn ACL didn’t stop outfielder Taylor Allen, who credits the injury with helping make her stronger in this season.

“It’s improved me to always believe in myself, have confidence, a good mindset on and off the field, and to be a leader,” Allen said. “It’s made me who I am, and I have my team to back me up.”

Allen said her goals are both on and off the field.

“I would either pursue softball again here this year or somewhere else,” Allen said. “I’d get a degree, finish out school and keep my head up high.

Allen hasn’t forgotten about the team’s goals, either.

“I think our team is definitely capable of going to nationals and winning it,” Allen said. “I set high standards for our team, and I know we can win this.”

Karla Wooten, mother of third baseman Mataya Wooten explained why she attends every softball game this season.

“They have a good program here,” Wooten said. “It’s important to the girls, they like having the support. You do better whenever you have people watching you that care for the team.”

Contact Adam Lignell, staff reporter, at alignell@jccc.edu.

Yes we cannabis: Kansas City organizations explain legalization movement

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Photo illustration by Michael House. Product shown is not actual marijuana but a legal imitation.

By Ben Markley

Marijuana has been a hot-button issue since the war on drugs began, but with 16 states and Washington, D.C. legalizing medical marijuana, and 12 more (including Kansas and Missouri) pending legislation, the legalization movement seems more potent than ever.

Mark Pedersen, editor-in-chief of the Medical Cannabis Journal, said the effort to legalize marijuana will take more than a signature.

“We have to change the whole dynamic because the way we look at it is wrong,” he said.

Pedersen claimed the most heinous misconception comes from a medical perspective.

“Cannabis is non-toxic,” he said. “I can’t stress that enough. A lot of opponents talk about cannabis as if it is toxic, and too often cannabis advocates play along with that.”

Pedersen stressed that we come into contact with many other substances on a daily basis that are both toxic and legal.

“You get up in the morning, and you have a cup of coffee,” he said. “Guess what? The caffeine in that coffee is toxic.”

Pedersen said cannabis has been effective in treating Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, dementia and cancer, as well as a number of other medical conditions.

“I’ve personally witnessed cannabis kill cancer,” he said. “I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”

As far as Pedersen is concerned, the fight is half-over.

“It’s not a debate anymore because science is already on our side,” he said.

Rob Amerine, Kansas City representative for Sensible Missouri, said that cannabis had been around for ages in many different forms before it was originally banned in the 1930’s.

“Hemp and marijuana were grown by our founding fathers, including Jefferson, Washington, Benjamin Franklin and many others,” he said. “Our original flag, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, they were made of hemp.”

From the colonial times up until the late 1930’s, cannabis and hemp were totally legal substances.

“Some time in the 1930’s, practically every doctor carried marijuana in their little bag for menstrual cramps, headaches and standard operating procedures,” he said.

Pedersen said the reason for banning cannabis had no medical basis. He noted that Harry Anslinger, the man who spearheaded the initial fight against marijuana, was related to William Randolph Hearst, a major player in the paper industry interested in eliminating his primary competition: hemp.

“Hemp is a $200 billion industry in China,” he said. “Imagine if hemp was legal in Missouri, if we only had a fraction of that market.”

Pedersen said the ban was also racially charged, first against immigration from Mexico and later to curb the influence of African American musicians who used the drug during the Jazz Age.

“It was a racial thing basically saying how Mexicans were bringing up drugs that make kids go crazy,” he said. “They made statements that it made black men look at white women. That was everywhere; it was a really popular ad.”

Since then, the governmental stance on marijuana has been harsh.

“Right now it is a Class 1 drug, which is the same as dangerous drugs like crack cocaine and heroin, which is ridiculous,” he said.

Dustin Crews, student, said he preferred that marijuana stay illegal.

“I think it eventually will be made legal, but I really don’t like the smoke,” he said. “I kind of prefer people having to do it in private now. I don’t have to experience it that way.”

Sean Meyer, student, said he thought it was time for a change.

“People say marijuana should be illegal because people abuse it, but you can abuse prescription drugs too, so that doesn’t seem to cut it,” he said.

Amerine said people wanting to get involved with organizations such as Sensible Missouri and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) would be welcomed as petitioners.

“You don’t have to be a resident of Missouri or even a citizen to pass a petition,” he said. “You have to be a registered petitioner and come to a meeting. It doesn’t take long to explain how to do a petition, but we want to make sure it’s done correctly.”

Pedersen said the needs for the movement in general are simple.

“We need bodies, and we need dollars,” he said. “We’re going for a constitutional amendment, and this is our shot.”

To learn more about the organizations mentioned, visit http://www.kcnorml.org, http://www.sensiblemissouri.org and http://www.show-mecannabis.com.

Contact Ben Markley, sports editor, at bmarkle2@jccc.edu.

 

Related articles:

The legal effects of marijuana

Infographic: Highs and lows of marijuana in America

The origins of ’420′

Staff Editorial: Prohibition a failure, yet again

Letter to the editor

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April 15, 2012

Dear Editor:

As members of the Reading Department, we were disappointed that your last issue (4/12/12) contained no mention of news editor Jon Parton’s meeting with Charis Sawyer, our department chair, regarding the attendance policy  discussed in the 3/22/12 article “Gray Areas: Emergencies and Attendance Policy.”  That said, perhaps through this letter we can provide a “teaching moment.”

That article about JCCC’s new attendance policy contained numerous inaccuracies, mainly because information was left out or not made clear.  First, professors who state the new attendance policy in their syllabi must first send students an “intervention letter” by JCCC email.  An “intervention letter” is not the same as “initiating a withdrawal” as your article implied.

An intervention letter is a warning notice to the student, an alert to tell the student that the professor is concerned that the student will not be able to complete the class successfully. (Successful completion is a grade of “C” or better.)  The student then has to attend class immediately and meet with the professor to see how to get his/her grade back on track.  If the professor still doesn’t see or hear anything from the student for another week, then the professor can initiate withdrawal procedures.  The withdrawal form, which includes the division dean’s signature, actually begins the withdrawal procedure when it is sent on to the registrar’s office.

The article failed to mention that the point of the intervention letter is to save the student from a failing grade. The article implied that there was no safety check for the student.  Intervention letters have saved students from being dropped from the course and from failing grades.  Since the Reading Department was instrumental in the creation of the new policy, we know its intention. It was never intended to be a punitive action. Instead, it tells the student that he/she should return or drop the class. Research shows that class attendance directly correlates with grades;  i. e., higher class attendance results in higher grades. Many beginning college students do not realize how hard it is to dig themselves out from under a bad GPA.  A bad GPA can prevent a student from entering the transfer college or the transfer program of choice. In our experience we are seeing too many students worry more about the impact of dropped classes on their financial aid, not realizing that a bad GPA will also impact financial aid as well as future educational possibilities.  As a general rule, an intervention letter from a reading professor also recommends that a student talk to a counselor about problems that impact attendance.

Another problem in the article was that the teacher named by the student had no legal recourse to respond.  Whereas the article contained 7 paragraphs of complaint by the student, only 9 words about that situation were given to the teacher, “…is legally unable to comment on any particular student.”

Federal privacy laws prevent College personnel from discussing specific student complaints and/or student records with anyone but the student. For that reason, it was imperative that the reporter research the College’s policy by talking to the administration regarding the reasons for and intent behind such attendance policies. In this case, that did not happen despite a willingness on our part to do so. While the reporter did contact the Dean to discuss the policy, an offer to meet with the reporter in the following days was declined. While we understand deadlines, stories should not be rushed and research overlooked just to get the story out. As a result, we had an opinion article placed into the “news” section of the paper.

Another inaccuracy in the article was the implication that many administrators must sign a form in order to take a class for pass/fail. Students can take one class per semester for pass/fail by picking up a form at the Success Center and having it signed by a counselor.  The deadline is April 15th for the spring semester or Nov. 15th for the fall semester. Such information is not shared with the professor of that course or the professor’s administrator. Information about the process for pass/fail grades can be found in the Student Handbook available online.

Finally, as faculty in the Reading Department, we want to emphasize that we are in our field because we care about students and believe that we can enhance student success at JCCC.

Sincerely,

Roz Bethke, Professor, Reading

Pat Jonason, Professor Emeritus, Reading

Ann Williams, Adjunct Professor, Reading

Linda Creason, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Reading

Charis Sawyer, Professor, Department Chair, Reading

Lisa Parra, Associate Professor, Reading

Suzanne R. Franklin, Associate Professor, Reading

Dianna Rottinghaus, Associate Professor, Reading

Leanna L. Graham, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Reading

Linda C. Fargus, Adjunct Associate Professor, Reading

Susan Steel, Adjunct Associate Professor, Reading

Taking the state by street: former student of the college aspires to be professional street dancer

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Alex Nonprasit shows off his street dancing moves. Nonprasit is a self-taught street dancer, and even though he doesn’t compete he still enjoys showing off his moves at shows like Multicultural Night. Photo by Hannah Hunsinger

By Rachel Luchmun

Some teenagers want to become firemen, businessmen, lawyers or professional athletes, but a former student from the college decided that professional street dancing was his goal.

Alex Nonprasit, who left the college in August 2011, started dancing in late 2006.

“Back when I was in ninth grade, I saw kids my age in music videos,” Nonprasit said. “I thought that was awesome, I really wanted to do something like that. On the internet, I would see other dancers. At first I would just watch, but gradually I started doing it myself.”

Nonprasit is self-taught, practicing mostly at home. He said he draws his inspiration from different artists, copying their moves from YouTube videos. His favorite dancer is Mr. Wiggles, a street dancer who started his career in the 70s.

“I just copy someone on YouTube and practice it to the music,” he said, “just record myself, judge myself, see if it looks similar. It took a while, I didn’t really tell anyone. It kind of just happened, I would just show [my friends] randomly.”

While his friends were generally supportive, Nonprasit said his family took longer to come around.

“At first, [my family] was not supportive, most parents wouldn’t see it as a good career, there would be arguments here and there, but they just want me to do what I love now,” he said.

Nonprasit performed at Multicultural Night held on March 30 in the Polsky Theater, in an act entitled “Silent Ballerinas, Finally.” He also has limited experience outside of Multicultural Nights.

“I’ve done a fashion show in downtown Kansas City where I was a model but our group, we were all dancers but the audience didn’t know so, once they saw us, they were surprised,” he said. “This was around December 2010.”

Daniel Ferman, president, Invisible Children, became friends with Nonprasit in fall 2009 through their respective involvement with Multicultural Night.

“I met some of the performers, the performers didn’t always come to all the meetings but Alex was one that did, he was always practicing, rehearsing, and he was just a cool kid,” Ferman said. “So we became friends and ever since that year we’ve depended on his support. He’s always down to perform for us or to help out with anything we need.”

Ferman commented on Nonprasit’s creative endeavors, which extend beyond dancing.

“He’s one of those people that always is up to something,” Ferman said. “Every time I see him he’s up to something, whether that is a dance project or making a movie. One thing he does is making short movies that feature his friends. He has that relentless creativity that he’s always using and applying to something.”

Contact Rachel Luchmun, managing editor, at rluchmun@jccc.edu.

Sink your teeth into literature: English department offers vampire literature course

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By Ben Markley

Paul Restivo, adjunct assistant professor of English, had his first encounter with vampire literature at a young age when he read Christopher Pike’s series, “The Last Vampire.”  ​

“It was one of the first books that I really just kind of became infatuated with,” he said. “The story and this idea of never-ending life, of being immortal, and with me growing up Catholic, this idea of eternal life was really sort of fascinating to me.”

He had no way of knowing, however, that decades into the future he would be proposing vampire literature as the focus of the English department’s Special Topics course.

“One of the ‘Twilight’ movies had just come out, and I was just really in tune to the fact that so many reluctant readers were reading ‘Twilight,'” he said. “It just made me think, if I can lure in reluctant readers and get them to talk about literature in a critical, analytical way, I think I’m doing something good.”

The class, offered exclusively fall 2012, will analyze and discuss vampires in literature and film, from Bram Stoker’s classic “Dracula” to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” to modern manifestations such as Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” and the show “True Blood.”

“Really what we’re doing here is defining the genre, defining the elements of vampire literature and film,” Restivo said.

Restivo said vampire literature explores a variety of themes, from romance to religion to HIV. ​

“I think that’s important, to be able to see the connection with the theme and content from very elevated sort of classical literature to the more pop culture stuff, and to see that they do connect,” he said. “You can have critical, meaningful discussions and analysis of very popular texts.”

He said that while vampire literature has been around for ages, recent authors have revitalized it by focusing on a new demographic.

“Charlaine Harris with the ‘True Blood’ series and then Stephenie Meyer with ‘Twilight’ really kind of brought [vampires] to teens,” he said. “When you bring stuff to teens and it explodes, it explodes at a societal and a cultural level.”​​​​

Despite some negative stigma surrounding the young adult “Twilight” series, Restivo said the course would cover Meyer’s books.

“How could you go 16 weeks in a course and not talk about ‘Twilight’ when it has resurrected the genre essentially?” he said. “Whether that is quality literature or brain candy or whatever, you have to talk about it, and I will.”

However students feel about “Twilight,” Restivo said it will not impact where they stand in the course.

“We will not tolerate vampire snobs,” he said. “We will embrace you, but nobody is going to condemn others for not having the obsession of vampire trivia and knowledge that others have.”​

Anna Ladd, student, said the course could be a good segue for those who don’t usually read classic novels.

“I guess you have people going in to talk about ‘Twilight’ and then reading ‘Dracula,'” she said. “That could be cool.”

Rachel Mullenbruch, student, said her main concern was the relevance of the course to a degree.

​”I’m just trying to imagine how a class like that would transfer,” she said. “It just doesn’t seem very practical.”

In the end, Restivo said the goal was to get students reading and thinking.

​”It’s like tricking the students, it really is,” he said. “It’s like hiding vegetables in a really tasty fruit smoothie, because they’re going to be doing stuff every class period that they really like, but every single day they’ll be doing stuff that they tell you they hate like analyzing and synthesizing and researching.”

Contact Ben Markley, sports editor, at bmarkle2@jccc.edu.

News briefs

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Evening with the Stars

The college’s science division will present “Evening with the Stars” on April 28 at 7 p.m. in the Craig Community Auditorium. Thomas Armstrong, a retired professor

of physics from the University of Kansas, will speak about various topics of space exploration. After Armstrong’s speech, the science division will have telescopes set up at the Paul Tebbe Observatory for a group observation of the night sky.

Model United Nations team wins in NYC

The Model United Nations team at the college was awarded a Distinguished Delegation Award and an Outstanding Position Paper Award at the National Model United Nations Conference. The conference was held March 31 – April 5 in New York City.

LGBT panel on campus

A LGBT panel will be held on Wednesday, April 25 in the Craig Auditorium from 12
– 2 p.m. The forum will be open for anyone interested to come in, hear about the panel members’ lives and experiences, and ask questions of anyone who is LGBT. The panel will be hosted by the Queers and Allies club on campus.

Compiled by Erica Aldridge

A gift that never stops thieving

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By David Hurtado

Let’s be honest with ourselves, America, the welfare system has become a shadow of its former self and either needs to kick the bucket or be completely reformed. Its original purpose of helping the needy has been perverted by countless lazy and inconsiderate individuals who have no concept of self-responsibility.

According to the Heritage Foundation, welfare spending could cost the taxpayer at least $10.3 trillion over the next 10 years. In 2008, a total of $714 billion was spent on welfare, but by 2014 that number is projected to rise to $1.032 trillion. Taxpayers cannot afford to care for themselves and millions of other Americans any longer. Helping those who are in need is good and all, but far too many people out there abuse the welfare system.

Do you ever wonder why they have those ‘Do Not Feed the Bears’ signs at national parks? It’s because when humans begin feeding them, the bears become completely dependent on people for sustenance. They lose the ability to fend for themselves and will most likely die when that artificial food source disappears.

When people get dependent on the government to clothe, feed and house them, what happens when the government no longer has the capability to do that? The answer is complete and utter anarchy, fueled by tens of millions of irate Americans who feel the world owes them something special. The closest examples are the Occupy Wall Street protestors who looted stores and set cars on fire when they were told no more handouts on a silver platter.

As Mark Twain once said, “Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.”

You are entitled to nothing in this life except the rights stated in the Constitution and the right to improve your standing in life. The world is a harsh, cold and merciless place that takes hard work and determination to have a decent life. There are billions of humans out there who suffer hardships that you cannot possibly fathom, you are no more special than they.

Not only does welfare remove the ability to provide for yourself, it puts you at the mercy of big brother. Think about it: if your day-to-day survival is in their hands, the federal government could easily start enacting laws turning America into a totalitarian state. If you have a family and children to care for, you probably won’t speak out. After all, you need that federal aid to ensure you all live to see another agonizing day under the glorious Democratic People’s Republic of America.

Our nation is on the brink of ruin; there is no denying that. The thing is though, only one solution can prevent the key from turning, and that is taking personal responsibility instead of relying on others to fix our problem. Many decades ago, Henry Ford, one of America’s greatest industrialists understood that one man cannot provide for the needs of many.

“You will find men who want to be carried on the shoulders of others, who think that the world owes them a living,” Ford said. “They don’t seem to see that we must all lift together and pull together.”

Contact David Hurtado, reporting correspondent, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: Letter to the editor

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After reading your most recent issue I am taken back by a couple of articles.  I do not have a copy with me, so cannot refer to them by name.  The one about the former student being deported is very one-sided.  I would have liked to see the journalist address what the student should have done beforehand to be completely legal (including the licensing of the vehicle in question).

However, the biggest issue I have is that I am over 50 and working on my degree, while maintaining a full 40-hour work week.  There is so much going on at the school that I never know about because I am usually there for just my classes.  The article that addressed lackluster voting turnout for the student senate and campus activities is a prime example.  I do not know about these things unless I see a poster somewhere, and usually do not know what they mean.  And the whole world is turning anti-smoking, so what do I care if the college follows suit.  I smoke, but I follow the posted rules.  Many people do not, and I understand some of them when a teacher gives a 5 minute break in a 3 hour class and it takes that long just to make it one way to your car.

Keep up the good work.

Geo Cochran

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: College to hold annual Dollars for Scholars fundraiser for student scholarships

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By David Hurtado

The college will be holding its annual fundraiser, “Dollars for Scholars,” April 20 at 5 p.m. in the Carlsen Center. It is sponsored by friends, alumni, staff, students and faculty of the college.

Dollars for Scholars will feature a silent auction, games of chance, a raffle, refreshments and a draw down board. Kristin McDaniel, director of events and projects, said attendees can expect to see a good inventory of items to choose from at the silent auction.

“There are items like restaurant gift cards, sports tickets and a lot of unique items from the international students,” McDaniel said. “Sometimes [international students] have very unique items from different countries. The interior design group has items from a lot of home furnishings and businesses that they do internships with.”

The silent auction items are at booths and each booth is manned by a different group of students. What they auction off in the silent auction at their booths provides the money they get for their cause, whether it’s their scholarship or their service learning project. Some of the groups use the money for competition and others for certification testing.

The drawdown board is similar to dodge ball in that it uses elimination to determine a winner. Participants can purchase a $25 ticket for a chance to win, and at the end of the fundraiser the last three ticket holders standing will receive a set amount of money. Ticket holders are eliminated by having their tickets picked out at random.

According to McDaniel, this year only the paramedics are hosting a game of chance.

“The paramedics are going to have a Wii baseball game, but you have to pay if you want to play it,” McDaniel said.

Kelsey Boydston, student, said she thought the Dollars for Scholars fundraiser was a great idea.

“That’s always a good thing, students need all the help they can get nowadays,” Boydston said.

The event has raised $60,000 in the past, but last year the number was down around $40,000, according to McDaniel. Refreshments will include hot dogs, brat and veggie combos for $4.95 each and desserts made by the culinary team. Participants can also reserve a table for $200 that includes 8 bid cards for the silent auction and a stadium basket.

The stadium basket includes bay scallop seviche spoons, beef carpaccio rolls stuffed with truffle sweet onions and assorted cupcakes. Bid cards for the silent auction will cost $10 for participants or $5 for students with photo ID. A cash bar will be available.

Contact David Hurtado, reporting correspondent, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: Ricky Nelson’s sons keep his music alive; coming to the college April 22

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By Adam Lignell

Despite their father’s passing, two sons continue to keep creating their style of music and concerts for fans. Ricky Nelson’s sons, Matt and Gunnar Nelson, will play with the Stone Canyon Band in the Ricky Nelson Remembered concert April 22.

Songwriter Matt Nelson talked about why his group has been continuing this tour.

“People are calling their friends when we’re rolling into town saying, ‘You have to see this,’” he said. “It makes me feel good that what I intend to make somebody feel in the audience is actually getting achieved.”

Relating to their audience, Matt Nelson said his family life changes as much as anyone else’s.

“Most of it has been either displayed on television or reported in newspapers or the Internet,” Matt Nelson said. “Gunnar and I have embraced that.”

With past fans now bringing their own families to enjoy their music, communication is key to an age-varied fan base.

“We play music and have sensibility when we’re communicating with our audience that transcends generations,” Matt Nelson said. “The Nelson story is really the American story, and we’re still writing it.”

Even if the Nelsons are currently focused on their tour, that hasn’t prevented them from preparing future albums and projects.

“We’ve put together an all-star lineup of guys that had country hits,” Nelson said. “Let’s just say that this time next year we plan on having something pretty special.”

Performing Arts General Manager Emily Behrmann said the show’s performance isn’t randomly created by band members with no relation to the Nelsons.

“It’s their family’s tribute to [Ricky Nelson] as a person and musician,” Behrmann said. “It’s a way to give [fans] a bridge between the generations.”

Matt and Gunnar Nelson may be directly continuing their father’s dream, but the Stone Canyon Band is playing a role as well.

“Stone Canyon Band was Ricky Nelson’s band,” Behrmann said. “It’s cool that they’ve played Ricky Nelson’s music and Matthew and Gunnar are able to be a part of that.”

Nelson’s music may have been created over a few generations, but Behrmann said that won’t stop newcomers from arriving.

“It’s been so pervasive in our culture that it has made an impression on me,” Behrmann said. “It’s going to be something that they’re familiar with, feel comfortable with and that they enjoy.”

Regardless of wherever the Nelsons have traveled, artist promoter Melissa Kucirek said that fans have only positive things to say.

“I think the biggest feedback that I’ve noticed is how sincere and classy the show is, and how much they really carry on the Nelson entertainment family tradition.”

No matter what happens when they’re on tour, Kucirek said the Nelsons are able to overcome any problems headed their way.

“It’s like nothing ever happened, they’re completely on and engaged in the show,” Kucirek said. “They always give 150 percent of their time and energy to the audience.”

The Nelsons may have started this tour in order for people to help remember their dad’s work, but it seems there’s more of a message.

“It’s more than a concert, it’s an experience,” Kucirek said. “It’s phenomenal to think these two guys are part of a family that’s been entertaining for more than 100 years in America.”

The concert is at 7 p.m. on April 22 in Yardley Hall. Students can obtain $5 tickets this week and general admission tickets are $30, $40 and $80.

Contact Adam Lignell, staff reporter, at alignell@jccc.edu.

 

For more information from the Performing Arts Series or to purchase tickets to the concert online, click here.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: New Student Senate president talks about vision, goals

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By Rachel Luchmun

The newly elected Student Senate president already knows what she will be focusing on at the start of her term next fall.

Awista Sherzada was elected following elections held on April 3-5. She came ahead of Lara Blomberg, the other candidate for president.

Sherzada, who is currently treasurer of the Student Senate, said her past experience as an officer will help her with her new duties.

“Some of the events that we do are done annually,” she said, “so because I’ve experienced those events before I can consider if I want to do things differently for next year, how I want to do it bigger and better, more awareness on certain things.”

Such events include the Trick-or-Treat for children and the Photos with Santa events that were held during the fall 2011 semester.

“I definitely want to build more awareness on [these events],” Sherzada said. “I want to get the word out there, I want to get more people to come to these events because we all work so hard to make them happen and they’re so fun.”

Other than raising awareness about the events organized by the Student Senate, Sherzada said she also had ideas about the issue of the smoking ban.

“From the town hall meeting we had a couple of months ago, Dr. [Dennis] Day and Dr. [Dana] Grove made it clear that it’s probably not something that’s going to change and they also said why smoking huts are not an option either,” she said. “[The goal would be] to get people to understand it better. This is the first year this has been going on and of course there is controversy and people are angry and asking questions.”

Sherzada, along with other elected officers, will assume their roles within Student Senate in fall 2012. Until then, they will shadow current officers to learn what exactly their roles will consist of.

“I’m really excited [to be president],” Sherzada said. “It didn’t hit me at first, but after people started congratulating me, asking me questions, I was like wow, I’m really going to be the president next year, so exciting.”

Contact Rachel Luchmun, managing editor, at rluchmun@jccc.edu.

 

Related articles:

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: Awista Sherzada named Student Senate President

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: Get to know your Student Senate candidates: Q&A

Staff Editorial: Go vote: a lesson the smoking ban taught us

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: Cell phone bill blues: Information to be a smart user of a smartphone

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By Jon Parton

The rise of the smartphone has also given rise to monthly cell phone bills. In addition to charging for voice minutes and text messaging, cell phone companies also charge for data usage. The cell phone companies are some of the greatest supporters of smartphones because they require a connection to the internet in order to function correctly.

Consumers used to be able to purchase unlimited data packages for a nominal monthly fee. These days, companies can charge up to $80 for data packages. In addition, some cell phone companies that offer unlimited internet access slow down access speeds once customers use a certain amount of data.

This can all be confusing for people who just want to be able to use the features of their smartphones without worrying how much it will cost them at the end of the month. The following breaks down the four major carriers and their costs.

 

AT&T

$2 per megabyte (MB) pay-per-use

$20 a month for 300 MB ($20 per 300 MB after)

$30 a month for 3 gigabytes (GB) ($10 per GB after)

$50 a month for 5 GB ($10 per GB after)

For users with previous unlimited plans, speeds are slowed down after 3 GB of usage.

 

Sprint

$30 per MB pay-per-use

$30 a month for unlimited data

Sprint does not throttle down speeds but reserves the right to cancel service for customers who use an excessive amount.

 

T-Mobile

$1.99 per MB pay-per-use

$10 a month for 200 MB

$20 a month for 2 GB

$30 a month for 5 GB

For users with previous unlimited plans, speeds are slowed down after 2 GB of usage.

 

Verizon

$1.99 per MB pay-per-use

$30 a month for 2 GB ($10 per GB after)

$50 a month for 5 GB ($10 per GB after)

$80 a month for 10 GB ($10 per GB after)

Verizon throttles speed for the top 5 percent heaviest data users, but only when a particular cell tower is congested.

 

Contact Jon Parton, news editor, at jparton@jccc.edu.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: International involvement

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By Jessica Mitchell

The college is a melting pot of different races, ethnicities and heritages. With the campus academically housing over 20,000 students, many of them international, the college has a bevy of different clubs and organizations aiding to their differences.

Some of the clubs that the college has to offer are American Indian Studies Association, Chinese Student Association, Ethiopian Student Organization, International Club, Mixed Ethnicities and Heritage Alliances, Turkish Students Association and many more.

One of the clubs that international and foreign exchange students tend to flock to is the International Club. The club is presented to the students during orientation to provide a stable place for them to meet friends and become part of the campus, said Barbara Williams, administrative assistant, International Education.

“It’s a great way for international students to start getting involved and learn about how to get more involved on campus,” Williams said. “Our leadership teams try to help them feel welcome. Generally a lot of new students come to that first meeting just to see what’s up.”

International Club is not exclusive to only international students. The club also has a number of American students who are interested in other cultures and meeting people of other cultures, or are hoping to study abroad in the future.

“We have a lot of American students who are members of the club,” Williams said. “So, that’s a really nice advantage for the international students coming and it’s also a great way for international students to learn about our culture, to start making connections and making friends.”

Another club geared towards international students is Amigos sin Fronteras, “Friends Without Borders.” “Amigos” is a club aimed toward people of a Spanish-speaking culture whether they are foreign or born and raised in America. “Amigos” meets twice a month and the members participate in activities ranging from music to games to food.

“It’s for all levels of Spanish, even from very beginners through native speakers,” said Lynne Overesch-Maister, foreign language professor. “We always hope native speakers will come. A lot of times they don’t, but we hope they will because we view this as a way for our foreign language students, Spanish students in particular, to be able to practice in an informal setting. Learn slang, expressions, daily student stuff that we don’t have the time to teach in the classroom.”

Another club aiding towards the Spanish-speaking and Latino community is LUNA – Latinos United Now and Always. LUNA was formed by Latino students in hopes of getting their culture out there and known on campus.

“It’s focused on both promoting Latino culture on campus, awareness of Latino culture, as well as raising issues that are affecting Latino students on campus and perhaps international students in general or students from other countries,” said Danny Alexander, English professor and co-adviser to LUNA. “Latino students have always been a mix. A lot of the core members have been people who grew up in Johnson County.”

LUNA has strayed away from focusing on issues and has started focusing more on student needs and cultural awareness. The club has also turned into a tight-knit group, said Alexander.

“I think it’s been a great home,” he said. “When it’s been running most actively, people come just because they want to be around each other. People in LUNA have a lot of fun.”

To find out more information on these clubs and organizations contact Barbara Williams, Lynne Overesch-Maister or Danny Alexander. For more information on other clubs and organizations contact Mindy Kinnaman, manager, Student Life/Leadership Development. The list of all clubs and organizations are on the college’s main website under Center for Student Involvement. [http://www.jccc.edu/student-involvement/index.html]

Contact Jessica Mitchell, features editor, at jmitch54@jccc.edu.

Singing, dancing, contributing: Multicultural Night a success

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Capoeira Club performs the Samba. Photo by Michael House

By Rachel Luchmun

Multicultural Night, held on March 30 in the Polsky Theater, hosted a myriad of acts showcasing the multiplicity of cultures on campus, as well as raising awareness over serious issues. A silent auction was also held.

The acts comprised of songs, dances, poems and a fashion show. Additionally, speakers intimately involved with Invisible Children shared their experiences.

One of the most unusual acts was “Elude For Edibles” by Timothy Hoare, professor of humanities. In this skit, members of the audience came on stage and performed classical pieces of music by eating fruits.

The demonstration by the college’s Capoeira Club was also a high point of the night. Graceful yet powerful with on-stage musical accompaniment, the martial artists impressed the room and showcased their skills.

Aizhan Tazhigulova dances to Kazakh music. Photo by Michael House

Other dances included a Bollywood piece with dancers clad in black and gold; a Samba dance by the Capoeira club; a dance to Kazakh music by Aizhan Tazhigulova; traditional Colombian dance “La Pollera”; and streetdance by Alex Nonprasit.

Music was not forgotten. Sulgi Yoon played piano twice, first accompanying Megan Kness singing “I’ll Stand By You,” and then Helena Salt singing “The Goose’s Dream.” Keyaira Hunter displayed her talents for high notes through two songs, “Work it Out” and “I Put a Spell on You.” Daby Hong performed “Lullaby of Berlin” wearing traditional Korean clothes. A band, the Nepali Boys, brought an element of rock music with electric guitars and drums.

The fashion show included traditional clothes from many countries around the world, including Korea, Japan, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, India and Mexico.

Megan Kness sings “I’ll Stand By You” for Invisible Children with Sulgi Yoon on the piano. Photo by Michael House

Two former members of the college’s Invisible Children club gave speeches to share their experiences. William Payne, founding member and former president of the Invisible Children club on campus, mentioned the controversy surrounding the Kony 2012 campaign, specifically the claims that it seemed to push forward the idea of the “white man’s burden.”

“As a multi-racial American I don’t see it that way,” Payne said. “Invisible Children stretches across boundaries.”

Sara Jawhari was involved with Invisible Children on campus and also interned at the Invisible Children headquarters in San Diego, Calif. She shared her experience as a Muslim in the United States and of her trip to the Gaza Strip to provide food and necessities to civilians.

Tatiana Herrera models a Colombian dress during the fashion show. Photo by Michael House

“I wanted to see how Invisible Children manages to mobilize so many people around one issue and apply it to my country [Palestine],” Jawhari said.

Masters of ceremony Daniel Ferman and Jason Wang Jr. kept the audience entertained between acts, improvising jokes when technical difficulties delayed the next act.

“We did all we could to prepare for the night, although there were some technical difficulties,” said Ferman, who is also the president of the college’s Invisible Children chapter. “We could probably have promoted it more.”

The night closed on a rendition of “Imagine” by Too Late for Satellites, in which all the participants and audience joined in.

Contact Rachel Luchmun, managing editor, at rluchmun@jccc.edu.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: Awista Sherzada named Student Senate President

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Results are in for the Student Senate elections:

 

2012-2013 Student Senate Executive Board

President Awista Sherzada

Vice-President Bruna Iacuzzi

Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim Gul

Treasurer Benjamin Brown

Parliamentarian Neeraj Bang

Congratulations to the winners. Keep an eye on campusledger.com for more updates as they come.

Related articles:

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: Get to know your Student Senate candidates: Q&A

Staff Editorial: Go vote: a lesson the smoking ban taught us

Reaping the nectar: Andy Anderson shares some stories

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Andy Anderson, shown in his office surrounded by his books and mementos, is the dean of English at the college. Photo by Jordan Wegele
Andy Anderson, shown in his office surrounded by his books and mementos, is the dean of English at the college. Photo by Jordan Wegele

By Mackenzie Clark

Andy Anderson, dean of English, never intended to become a teacher.

After growing up in a still-segregated Lawrence, Kan., school was far from Anderson’s mind when he first entered college at the University of Kansas.

“I was much better at protesting than attending class,” he said. “I remember when I finally got my last F, and they told me I was not needed on campus anymore, writing an appeal and I argued that I was sure I could do the work if I went to class, but they decided that I should go somewhere else to prove that.”

Anderson studied at Baker University on a pre-ministerial scholarship, originally intending to become a Methodist minister, but his plans changed.

“[Becoming a teacher] was really not by plan,” he said. “[…] I think I’d always had it, maybe, in the back of my mind, going into something like that. […] I don’t know if it was really a very well thought out decision, so much as it was sort of something I fell into, and it appealed to me.”

Anderson went on to teach English and Latin, first in high schools, then at the college level. He credits his teachers with his eventual decision to teach.

“I think when I was at KU and even when I was at Baker, somewhat, I had faculty that impressed me, that made a difference,” he said, “and it seemed like something I could do. I would be a lousy salesman, I couldn’t market anything, and […] it’s maybe more annoying what I was probably not cut out to do.”

Today, Anderson is still serving as dean of English, although he originally just volunteered to take over the interim position when his predecessor retired.

“It has never been a goal to be in administration,” he said. “This is not what I intended to do with my life, and I still frankly have to say I think I enjoy the classroom more than I enjoy being an administrator. I’m fortunate that I have – I think she must be the best assistant one can have.”

He is referring to Birgit Love, administrative assistant.

“Working with [Anderson] is very rewarding,” Love said. “He is a very capable and engaged administrator whom students, faculty and fellow administrators like and respect and call on for advice. One of his strongest points is his compassion. My responsibility is to support him and our English and Journalism Division faculty in every way I can. Andy is not a micro-manager, which makes my job easier and adds to my job satisfaction.”

Anderson said that mechanics of budgeting, managing resources, and dealing with day-to-day issues that arise take up a lot of his time. In addition, he teaches World Masterpieces (ENGL 250). In his class, he almost always turns back to Homer’s Odyssey.

“Probably everyone would assume my favorite book is ‘The Odyssey,’ by Homer, and I have taught that certainly every semester for about 30 years, twice, three times a year,” he said. “So that’s probably the book I know best, and it is one that I find sort of a perpetual renewal in; there’s always something new there.”

Anderson said that his favorite book is the one he is reading.

Other materials studied in the course include Ovid’s “Metamorphoses,” Dante’s “Inferno,” and William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” He ranges to cover Virgil’s “Aeneid” to the more modern Christopher Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus.”

“Studying with Professor Anderson was one of the most memorable experiences of my college career,” said Clark Neal, student. “His spirited approach to education liberates his students, inspiring intellectual creativity and an ambition to explore the English language as fine art.”

Neal and Joshua Pack, student, both took Anderson’s World Masterpieces course in fall of 2011.

“He is an awesome teacher who really knows what he’s talking about, and he makes classic literature enjoyable and fun, and does a great job of relating it to our lives today,” Pack said.

Anderson rarely brings up fishing in his class, but he loved fishing with his father in Minnesota growing up.

“One learns a lot fishing, I think,” he said. “[…] It was one of those strange experiences that led to lots of interesting conversations, like, ‘You can’t catch a fish if your hook’s not in the water,’ those kinds of profound realizations. […] You learn to look at water, and see the sunlight. You listen a bit differently, I think.”

Anderson has two daughters and a son, all of whom have worked at the Billington Library. He credits his wife, Kathleen, as the reason he holds his current job.

“I don’t exist without her,” he said. “She runs my life. Actually she’s probably why I’m an English teacher, and why I keep up with everything. And in fact, probably, I wouldn’t be here at the college if it weren’t for my wife. In fact, almost assuredly. […] She pretty much saved me and kept me moving.”

After years of studying literature and poetry, Anderson finds a deeper meaning to ponder in places where many people wouldn’t.

“I think probably, actually something my students do know, they may not have really thought about it, is that I find almost everything interesting,” Anderson said. “In fact I had a professor who said that the definition of a dull person was someone who found everything interesting. And there’s some truth to that. I’m sure my students just assume I’m distracted and wandering, because almost anything can raise a significant point, I think.”

Anderson said that rather than try to get through 20 or 25 books in a semester, he’d prefer his students get deep into the assigned reading. He chooses what he considers to be outstanding examples.

“There’s so much to study, and then there’s the immediate realization that isn’t enough time to study it,” he said. “So in World Masterpieces, for example, time keeps going on and great things keep getting written, and you can’t possibly read all of them. I think we’re often tempted to just put together a huge list of books. […] If a student can have the experience of a really good book, you maybe don’t need to cover all of them.”

Contact Mackenzie Clark, editor-in-chief, at mclark68@jccc.edu.

Instinct as old as time itself: humanity’s most primordial sense

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By David Hurtado

For as long as humanity has walked the earth, fear has always been lurking within the recesses of our minds, shadowing us as a species.

Susie Sympson, adjunct professor of psychology, said one of the theories on why people feel fear is that as young children we learn it from our parents.

“It’s one of the basic, natural things people have,” Sympson said. “Behaviorists believe we teach people to fear. According to classical conditioning, the neutral stimulus will lead people who experience a fear generalize that fear to similar things. If you grow up with a parent who has a phobia of storms, you’re either going to grow up fearing storms or as a protector.”

Behaviorism is one of the schools of psychology. Other schools of psychology include structuralism, functionalism and psychoanalysis.

When confronted with a perceived threat, humans either flee with their tail between their legs or they con- front the aggressor head on to protect their existence in what is called a flight or fight response. The flight or fight response was first coined by Walter Bradford Cannon.

Sympson said some fears are more common in humans than others, like arachnids and death. According to psychologists, these are primal fears that our ancestors developed for their survival. Fears like Aeronausiphobia, or a fear of airsickness, are relatively new on the playing field.

“There are some that are much more prevalent with people,” Sympson said. “It’s mainly things like snakes, spiders or other harmful creatures.”

For Rick Easter, student, the big- gest phobia in his life is not falling or needles, but tornadoes.

“I’m kind of scared of tornadoes, I don’t know what phobia that is, but when I think of tornadoes I kind of freak out,” Easter said. “I’ve never actually been in a tornado or seen 
a live one, but it’s just something about tornadoes that freaks me out. I know living in Kansas is kind of the wrong place to live with that phobia, but what can you do?”

And it’s not just toddlers, adolescents and adults that can feel fear creeping up their spine. Although many people assume babies don’t feel fear like heights or falling, Sympson said it is very possible that they do.

“In most instances people don’t think that they can,” Sympson said. “There was an experiment with a Plexiglas table where a baby crawled to the edge of it and stopped. Did the baby know to stop automatically or was it afraid of falling?”

Just as people have different phobias throughout life, so too are the ways in which we react to them. While some people assume societies both past and present have a similar way of coping with phobias, that is not always the case, according to Sympson.

“We live in such an ethnocentric society that we are very arrogant in thinking our way is the only way,” Sympson said. “Some societies are going to be more stoic than others and have a different attitude on how to express fear.”

There are some fears out there though, that do not have a name attached to them. Alex Sanders, student, said his biggest phobia was female drivers.

“It’s probably girls driving, that is one of the scariest things,” Sanders said. “Just being with them on the road, I’ve learned not to trust them when it comes to driving.”

Less common fears in human society include Bolshephobia, a fear of Bolsheviks, Dextrophobia, or a fear of objects on the right side of the body and Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, which is, ironically enough, a fear of long words.

Students who suffer from a phobia and want help in overcoming it are encouraged to contact Susie Sympson, adviser to Active Minds. Active Minds is a club on campus created to help students deal with various disorders pertaining to mental health.

Contact David Hurtado, reporting correspondent, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.

Facebook users beware: corporate big brother is watching

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Illustration by Sara Scherba

 

Illustration by Sara Scherba

By David Hurtado

The right to privacy has been debated 
all throughout American history, from cases such as Olmstead v. United States in 1928 to Roe v. Wade in 1973. In recent years, with the rise of social media, new arguments have emerged questioning whether employers should be able to demand an applicant’s Facebook password.

According to a recent article published by CNN, the American Civil Liberties Union said they have received numerous reports of applicants being asked for their Facebook passwords over the last couple of months.

Vincent Clark, adviser to the College Democrats, said he believes companies had a right to search an applicant’s Facebook profile because it constitutes public information and is legal.

“I don’t think anyone is guaranteed privacy by using a Facebook page,” Clark said. “American businesses have no trouble finding out everything about [applicants]. That’s always been the case, like with background checks.”

Facebook, however, does not take lightly to the misuse of its terms of service involving privacy. Eric Egan, chief privacy officer, wrote on Facebook’s privacy page that the company will not tolerate violations of its users’ privacy and could press for legal action if it occurs.

“As a user, you shouldn’t be forced to share your private information and communications just to get a job,” Egan wrote on the page. “That’s why we’ve made it a violation of Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities to share or solicit a Facebook password. We’ll take action to protect the privacy and security of our users, whether by engaging policymakers or, where appropriate, by initiating legal action, including by shutting down applications that abuse their privileges.”

Jerry Magliano, adviser to the College Republicans, said he believes people should take personal responsibility for what they post on Facebook, especially if they are on the job.

“If a person is accessing Facebook on company property, then they are using that company’s resources,” Magliano said. “That opens you up to your employer having access to that information. It may be unethical, but it’s not a legal violation on your rights.”

Although the debate over whether the right to privacy applies to social media has picked up steam in recent weeks, Clark said it’s not likely Congress will step in anytime soon with a proposed bill. It’s more likely they will let the states decide for themselves.

“I don’t see any indication they are going to get involved,” Clark said. “There are other battles they are fighting over right now.”

Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has ruled on privacy in a couple of landmark cases in the past, such as Griswold v. Connecticut in 1965, Roe v. Wade in 1973 and more recently Pottawatomie v. Earls in 2001.

In Griswold v. Connecticut, the Supreme Court struck down Connecticut’s law concerning the distribution of contraceptives to married people as unconstitutional. The court ruled that married couples had a right to privacy in making decisions regarding their families and procreation.

In Roe v. Wade the court built upon the ruling in Griswold v. Connecticut, declaring that women have a right to have an abortion
if they choose to. It was determined that the state criminal abortion law that Texas had
was unconstitutional because it violated the 14th Amendment’s Due Process Clause, which protects individuals against state actions restricting the right to privacy.

As in the United States Constitution, the Kansas Constitution makes no provision for the right to privacy of an individual. In section 20 of the state constitution, though, it states any rights not mentioned in the state constitution are reserved for the people.

“Kansas legislature has no law relating to the issue of privacy and the practice of some employers asking potential employees to give them their Facebook password,” said Anita Tebbe, chair of legal studies.

Nate Tate, student, said he believes companies have no right to demand an applicant’s Facebook password.

“That’s none of their business,” Tate said. “I mean, I could give them my strongbox with all my information or the rights to my home. It’s essentially the same thing they are asking.”

Contact David Hurtado, reporting correspondent, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.

Letter to the editor

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Dear Editor:

Regarding your article “No changes coming to Brown &Gold…yet” of March 22, the underhanded workings The College are starting to be revealed.

In the interests of an accurate record providing a full picture here is how it has gone down so far.

Brown and Gold was formed some 20 or 30 years ago and was ably run for many years by a board elected from the membership of Johnson County residents who are 55 or older.  Those trusted servants labored honestly and earnestly to ever enhance the image of The College and provide a connection for seniors.

Suddenly and without any previous warning of displeasure, middle level bureaucrats fired the entire elected board.  Students, take note, this would be akin to firing your Student Senate officers.  Or those of any other club on campus.

The college replaced the board elected from the membership with an Advisory Board hand picked by the administration.  Somewhat like replacing officers of, say, the Republican Club with a chosen few of their own.

Now, just a scant month or so before this mass firing, in a private meeting, President Calaway assured the President of Brown and Gold that the college loves the club, everything is “hunky-dory” and finances are not an issue.  Or so she reported at the next meeting.

The dismissed board members felt rather dissed so they fought back and presented their case at a Board of Trustees meeting. After their presentations, President Calaway seized the floor to “explain” his decision.  He claimed this was a “long time in coming” which seemed quite at odds with that very recent meeting with the B&G President.  He mentioned a few other problems, receipts or something, but none that were ever brought to the board’s attention.   His lynchpin reason was a botched Brown and Gold trip to Branson that forced him to act.  A trip that occurred three weeks AFTER the board was fired.  Smell fishy?

The hand-picked advisory board is now ready to jump, waiting only for Calaway’s instruction on “how high.”  It appears the college wants to protect it’s $50 million reserve acount by not only raising tuition every few months, but also by charging seniors for sitting in classroom seats that would otherwise be empty.  Can anything be more free?  Watch carefully now as The College manufactures an expense out of those free seats; scholarships or something.

Ron Platt

Overland Park, Kansas 66210

Letter to the editor

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Mr. Crable,
My name is Jack Van Kirk, and I would like to write a letter to the editor commenting on the editorial in the Campus Ledger, “The pursuit of happiness- for one and all?”

First, let me say that, as a devout Catholic, I do believe that homosexual actions are sinful and immoral. But I speak for the Church when I say this: I do not hate gay people themselves. I do not condone or approve of the violent and harassing crimes committed against gays, or the Westboro Baptist Church’s disgraceful and un-Christian protests. No human being deserves to be told that God hates them (in fact they should be told the opposite, that God loves them more than they love themselves). Loving someone does not mean that you have to approve of what they do.

This is the reason I feel gay “marriage” is wrong and should not be allowed. To truly love somebody means that you will the highest possible good for them. A marriage is not a legal contract, as society thinks it is, but a covenant, a promise of selfless faithfulness to death, in which life is procreated through sexual act between a husband and wife.

A homosexual union, therefore, is not a marriage, because it is physically incapable of procreating. If you know basic biology, a man’s body and a woman’s body complement each other; one does not make sense without the other.

A Catholic writer and speaker once said that the virtue of chastity is “not following a list of rules so you’ll avoid hell. It is wanting heaven for the person you love.” If a gay couple truly loves each other, they will not have sexual relations, because they are doing damage to their bodies and souls (semen has a chemical in it that inhibits the immune system, so that the woman’s body does not see the sperm as an invader and so she can conceive. In same-sex relations, this can put both at higher risk for STD infection).

God does not hate gays. Neither do Christians. Neither do I. We love them because we believe we have God, who fulfills all desires. The message is not “do this or you’ll burn in hell”, but “come see what He has, and be fulfilled.”

Sincerely,
Jack Van Kirk
JCCC student

Golden Girls prepare for national cheer competition

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Members of the Golden Girls dance team practice the morning of March 30. The team qualified for nationals for the second year in a row. Photo by Tasha Cook

By Christopher Khan

The Golden Girls made it to finals at nationals in 2011; this year, they plan to do even better.

The college’s Golden Girls Dance Team, which cheers at home basketball games and campus events, qualified for the National Dance Alliance Collegiate National Championships for the second year in a row.

The competition takes place April 11-13 in Daytona, Fla. The group is in Division III, where they will compete against other community colleges and smaller universities.

“We just had that mindset that we were going no matter what,” said Amy Sellers, head dance coach for the Golden Girls.  “We were going to make it happen.”

Last year, the Golden Girls placed seventh out of seven in finals.

“[Last year] was my first year coaching here, and it was our first year [at Nationals] for all but one of us, and we made it to finals for the first time in [the college’s] history,” Sellers said. “So it was awesome, but this year I have seven returners, and our goal is to just do better.”

Madalyn Meeker, student, is one of those seven returning dancers out of the 12 on the team.

“We had never made it to finals before, but last year we did,” Meeker said. “I’m really looking forward to doing even better this year, because I think we surprised a lot of the other teams last year.”

Mary Graves, student, thought that the national competition last year was a great experience.

“It was amazing,” Graves said.  “Just performing on the beach was an amazing experience.  It’s right on the beach with stages – but the stage gets really, really hot.  There’s a lot more energy performing outside than in an arena.”

Sellers and choreographer Shannon Summers created the routine for 2012 in October with the theme ‘Warrior.

“[The dancers] have this warrior mentality now, and it’s what they fall back on when they have some rough days,” Sellers said. “It’s a little cheesy, but it keeps us motivated.”

According to Sellers, this motivation has been helpful.

“We have really tough competition as a couple of other teams consistently win every year,” Sellers said. “But our team is really strong, and I feel confident that we can do very well. Our goal is to do better, and I have all faith that we can do that.

The work that goes into preparing the Golden Girls for nationals is immense. Since they learned the routine six months ago, the team has been practicing the routine whenever they can – usually for two hours a day after the end of basketball season.

“Just seeing the girls work hard every day, and then work harder than the day before [gives me confidence],” Sellers said. “The dance is only two minutes and 11 seconds long, but when you’re out there doing it, it feels like it’s a 15 minute long dance. It takes a lot of energy and a lot of endurance.

All in all, the Golden Girls say they are excited to be returning to nationals this year.

“I really hope we make finals again,” Graves said. “It’s just a different experience when you’re out there with your whole team competing for something so amazing. It’s way different than just practices and games. It’s a lot more intense.”

Contact Christopher Khan, special to the Ledger, at ckhan3@stumail.jccc.edu.

News briefs

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Dave Helling receives Headline Award

The journalism and media communications department at the college has awarded Dave Helling, reporter and columnist for the Kansas City Star, the 2012 Headline Award. The award is given to local journalists each year who make considerable contributions to local journalism and those who can inspire current journalism students at the college. Helling will receive the award on Thursday, April 26 in the Regnier Center.

Co-founder of Priceline.com to speak at the college

Jeff Hoffman, co-founder of Priceline.com, will be at the college on Wednesday, April 18 for an event titled “Growing Your Business in Today’s Changing World.” Hoffman will be informing listeners about the needs and demands of today’s consumers as well as what it takes to thrive in this economy. The event will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Regnier Center. Student tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Student Information Desk. For more information about this event, keep an eye on http://www.campusledger.com.

Culinary student’s recipe featured in the Kansas City Star

Student Nash Zink’s recipe for coffee roasted beef was featured in the Kansas City Star’s Cooking 101 section on Tuesday, March 28. Zink is a fourth semester student at the college studying in the hospitality management program. Zink’s recipe uses regular or decaffeinated coffee as a dry rub on tri-tip roast. He also adds wilted spinach, glazed carrots and a whiskey cream sauce to accompany the roast. The complete recipe, along with recipes from other students at the college, can be found at http://www.kansascity.com under the Cooking 101 section.

Compiled by Erica Aldridge

Year without a winter

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Illustration by Sara Scherba

By Jessica Mitchell

With spring in full swing and having just wrapped up what some climatologists call the year without a winter, many people are unsure of the repercussions that this record-breaking weather will have on our world and its inhabitants. Many are also pinpointing global warming as a major contributing factor.

The New York Times reported on March 22 that 4,412 record highs were set in a single week this year. Nature and weather’s instability has caused the Midwest to experience a spring-like winter and, so far, a summer-like spring. The unusually warm weather has caused plants, animals and bugs to wake up earlier than normal, which can potentially have negative ramifications if weather were to change and turn cold.

“It hasn’t stayed cold long enough to really discourage things like mosquito development,” said Kim Criner, student Sustainability affairs coordinator. “So, we are probably going to have a much longer mosquito season just because it’s going to be warmer longer. Also, the plants have started to think it’s springtime. If we do get another freeze we can end up setting them back in their bloom cycles and things like that in terms of agriculture and even tree buds.”

While there are many negative outcomes of unseasonable weather, many people have favored our lack of winter and prefer it to the snow and harsh conditions to which we have grown accustomed.

“I can imagine that our warm winter would have some negative outcomes but I’d take 60’s and sunny over black ice and power outages any day,” said Michael Stephens, student. “I think I’ve made my peace with global warming.”

Having just wrapped up such a mild winter, global warming has become a topic of discussion and many people wonder if it is to blame and if we are seeing its effects.

“I am completely convinced that the globe is in fact warming due to anthropogenic causes,” said Jay Antle, history professor and executive director of Sustainability. “Having said that, I think it is very difficult to draw a connection between any single weather event and what’s happening in terms of overall gradual increase in global temperature.”

Even though the warm winter was something we grew accustomed to this year, it was not a landmark or permanent event. We will still have extremely cold winters and we will still wake up to an abundance of snow and ice. This winter was just unseasonable.

“The climate is basically trying to balance itself out,” Criner said. “The norms we have become used to are becoming disrupted due to changes in our atmosphere content by the burning of fossil fuels and things like that. So, we are going to have a really cold winter again. It’s not going to continue to get warmer and warmer. When we talk about global temperatures warming, we’re talking about only a few degrees, but that’s enough to often set things out of usual sync.”

When the term “global warming” is thrown around in conversation, many people draw parallels to a never-ending summer and a desert like existence. However, while us Midwesterners were experiencing the warming part of global warming, our distant neighbors in Europe were experiencing the cooling part of global warming.

“The rules we have been used to for hundreds of years now are increasingly uncertain and so rather than use the term ‘global warming,’ although the globe is warming, ‘climate destabilization’ makes a little more sense,” Antle said. “Extreme events are going to become more common, whether it be drought, flood, warm summer, cold summer, warm winter, cold winter – the unusual will become more usual. That seems to be what’s happening to the global climate.”

Contact Jessica Mitchell, features editor, at jmitch54@jccc.edu.

Staff Editorial: Go vote: a lesson the smoking ban taught us

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Illustration by Elizabeth Spooner

This is an election year. Across the nation, candidates are fighting over who will run for president. More locally, a myriad of other elections are taking place, at the state level and at the college level. It may not seem like much, but all students should care about Student Senate elections.

Some may think that they are not involved on campus enough or not around campus enough to justify taking an interest in Student Senate. Maybe those people think that student senators don’t do anything very important in the grand scheme of things. Maybe those people need to be reminded of the smoking ban.

The smoking ban was an initiative of the Student Senate last year. After carrying out surveys to gauge community reactions to a campus-wide smoking ban, the Student Senate informed the Board of Trustees, who instituted it. As a result, no smoking is allowed on campus unless in cars or in designated smoking huts near the ITC building.

There is outrage about it now: petitions going around, community members finding ways of circumventing the ban, allegations that the ban is not enforced. Too little, too late. Where were all the naysayers when the ban was being discussed? Where were their voices when they could have changed things?

Student Senate matters because, as the smoking ban has shown, its decisions can affect the lives of everyone on campus. That is exactly why you should vote. The same goes for local and national elections. They all have the power to affect your life, so why aren’t you caring?

Voting goes hand in hand with democracy; the more people use their voice in a meaningful manner, the better. In the “Chick-Fil-A: anti-gay?” article in Volume 34, Issue 12 of the Campus Ledger, student Arianna Poland said that she would take her fight to the polls. That is exactly what they are there for: for you to fight for your views in a place where they can actually matter.

Think about it. Only a figurative handful of people have the power to make decisions that can alter a community’s life – be it a college, a town, a city, a state or a country. But those people have to get there somehow – and that “somehow” is you. Your vote, your voice, your endorsement of why they are there. There may be flaws in the electoral system, but your voice still counts, for both small and big elections.

So go vote. Student senate polls will be open today until 11:59 p.m. online and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the second floor of the COM building. If you’ve already missed it, you have a whole lot of other elections where you can make your vote count.

Santorum’s morals turn public policy

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By Jessica Mitchell

Republican presidential contender Rick Santorum’s personal morals and beliefs have crossed the forbidden line into aspiring laws and rules. His views on women’s health, contraception and abortion directly reflect his religious status and now he is trying to force it upon the country.

Santorum’s views go as far as states having the right to ban birth control because of his belief that contraception is dangerous and something to stay away from. Not only should states have the right to ban birth control, but they should also be able to enforce laws against any other form of contraception including educational programs.

“One of the things I will talk about that no president has talked about before is [what] I think [of] the dangers of contraception in this country, the whole sexual libertine idea,” Santorum said in an October ABC News/Yahoo! debate. “Many in the Christian faith have said, ‘Well, that’s OK. Contraception’s OK.’ It’s not OK because it’s a license to do things in the sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be.”

Not only should states have the right to ban birth control, but he believes they should also be able to enforce laws against any other form of contraception including educational programs.

While in the U.S. Senate in 2005, Santorum voted against funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs. He also aspired to end Title X for Planned Parenthood, which would ultimately eradicate access to preventative health care services for millions of women.

Not only does contraception carry a severe negative moral weight with Santorum, it carries a criminal weight. He authorizes a federal ban on abortion that would criminalize and send doctors who perform it to jail.

Even in matters of rape, incest or harmful birth, Santorum affirms that contraception is malicious and a harm to our society. According to whom?

Currently in the Netherlands, abortions are legal and financially provided for. Not only are contraceptives easily accessible, sex education is an acknowledged part of their schools’ curriculum. Against Santorum’s affirmations, their society is in no way malicious or in danger of being harmed. In fact, the Netherlands houses one of the lowest rates of abortion in the world.

With a shockingly high percentage of teenage girls undergoing abortions in the U.S., my first initial action would be to add more education involving planning and uses of contraception; not to eliminate it completely.

Even if Santorum gets his way and states start outlawing contraception, women will continue to have abortions and our country’s abortion rates may even rise. Closing the door to a controversial situation does not abolish it or make it go away. It only intensifies the situation even further.

Not only are Santorum’s personal religious and moral philosophies impeding on his ability to attempt to speak for an entire country, he is failing to understand the implications to his proposed laws.

His personal views on abortion do not need to be forced upon the rest of this country’s population and until he has carried a child and experienced the pain of giving birth, he does not need to be telling women what they can and cannot do with their sexual health. His personal morals should not be allowed to become public policy.

Contact Jessica Mitchell, features editor, at jmitch54@jccc.edu.

Fight dirty: what to do if you are attacked

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By Mackenzie Clark

A report of rape on campus has since been declared unfounded, but the importance of knowledge on how to handle such a situation will always persist.

The original police report, filed Feb. 29, stated that a rape occurred in a GYM locker room. The caller identified himself as the victim’s father, and said that the victim knew the attacker. The incident did not involve students of the college.

Following investigation, the report has been declared unfounded.

“Occasionally, [campus police] will receive a complaint that is determined through investigation to be false or baseless,” said Scott Wargin, campus police officer. “In other words, no crime occurred. If the investigation shows that no offense occurred nor was attempted, procedures dictate that the reported offense must be classified as ‘Unfounded.’”

Dennis Day, vice president, Student Success/Engagement, said there was no evidence that any criminal activity occurred.

“It has been fully investigated by the campus police,” Day said. “All parties have been interviewed and we have a determination that there was no criminal activity that occurred on campus or near campus associated with this event.”

Terry Calaway, college president, said that the college takes every report of a sexual assault very seriously.

“We will investigate all of those reports to the fullest extent we are allowed by law, and if we find there is evidence to support it, we turn it over to the district attorney, who has been a great partner in helping us deal with situations where we do find evidence to support it,” he said. “In this case, I think we found evidence clearly the opposite way.”

Most importantly, in the wake of this event, all students should know how to defend themselves in the event of an attack.

Stephen Taylor, adjunct professor of athletics, said the number one thing he teaches in his self-defense class is how to fall correctly.

“If it’s truly an assault, the objective of the attacker is typically to first of all surprise the victim, take them to the ground, and knock them unconscious, or at least into submission as quickly as possible,” he said. “[…] If you want to put it from a football perspective – the quarterback gets sacked, he’s ok when he hits the ground, but then that head hits the ground, and even with a helmet on he’s not sure what planet he’s on. If you can avoid that head contact with the ground and avoid that concussion, you have a chance to fight back.”

Bear in mind, however, that if you do decide to fight back, it will most likely escalate the situation. Taylor said you must be willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done: biting, eye gouging, throat shots, and joint shots.

Taylor cited the book “Tough Target” by former Chicago police detective J.J. Bittenbinder. Bittenbinder shares the story of a woman who was attacked in the middle of the night and dragged the would-be rapist out of her house by his genitals.

“She had a plan,” Taylor said. “She was willing to do whatever it took, and she succeeded. And whenever I bring that up in this self-defense class, some of the women get a little concerned. They don’t know if they have the mental toughness to do whatever it takes to get the job done, so you always try to caution them that if they’re gonna fight back, they’re probably gonna escalate the situation.”

Taylor also said that no matter what, you do not let your attacker take you to a secondary location. Never get into a car or let an attacker lead you down an ally, even if he or she is armed.

He said that people who are not paying attention to their surroundings are more likely to look like easy targets for criminals. Another way to avoid attack is to use a whistle, scream ‘Fire,’ or do whatever it takes to make noise.

He emphasized the importance of what happens after something like this occurs.

“You cannot blame yourself, and you have to report it, because if you don’t it will eat you up inside,” Taylor said. “I have seen it happen.”

Contact Mackenzie Clark, editor-in-chief, at mclark68@jccc.edu.

 

 

Other resources:

Campus Police Emergency Line: 913-469-8500 ext. 4111; non-emergency, 4112

Campus police website: http://www.jccc.edu/administration/police/index.html

Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA): http://www.mocsa.org/

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN): https://ohl.rainn.org/online.rainn.org/

Police briefs

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Theft from vehicle

A woman contacted campus police regarding a theft on March 19. The victim stated that she parked her car on the northeast side of the Nerman Museum; when she returned her purse was missing from the vehicle. The victim then stated someone found the purse at 106th and Quivira Road with most of the contents inside.

Student attempts to flee scene of smoking violation

On March 19, a campus police officer tried to make contact with a male student smoking on campus before the student tried to flee the scene on foot. The officer followed the student to their vehicle and asked to see a student I.D. The student yelled at the officer and attempted to run away before police caught up with him again. The student finally provided the officer with identification. He was then advised of the smoking policy and allowed to leave.

Criminal damage of property in parking garage

A student’s car was vandalized on March 21 in the Carlsen Center upper east parking garage. The victim stated that he returned to his car to find the driver’s side windshield wiper broken off. The victim then found a note under the passenger side windshield wiper that read “Learn how to drive” along with other explicit messages.

Man caught viewing pornography on school computer

Campus police were dispatched to the Billington Library on March 27 at 8:15 p.m. A staff member stated that they were walking past a computer on the second floor when they observed
a subject viewing pornography. After police arrived, they found that the subject was not a student or faculty of the college. The subject said that since the site was not blocked he thought it was acceptable. The subject was escorted off campus.

Compiled by Erica Aldridge

Changing lives: College program helps educate Johnson County residents

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Cheri Sims, a volunteer and tutor at the college’s Adult Education program, assists Ring Yel in the Literacy department at West Park on Wednesday, March 28. Photo by Michael House

By Jon Parton

Literacy and education can determine how much money a person makes, quality of life and can even be linked to crime rates and incarceration, according to a report by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University.

For 27 years, the Johnson County Adult Education (JCAE) program has been working with Johnson County residents who want to improve their lives.

The program offers adult basic education (ABE), GED test preparation and English as a second language (ESL) courses. The program also offers help for those who would like to make a transition in becoming students at the college.

Susan McCabe, program director, ABE/GED/ESL, is now in her 26th year of working for the program. McCabe said that volunteers greatly help the program meet its goals.

“We have about 160 volunteers,” McCabe said. “We do volunteer orientation on campus about three to four times a year. We always need volunteers.”

McCabe explained that the program receives more than 2,500 students a year, many of them requiring one-on-one instruction.

“We in Johnson County are so incredibly lucky to have such a talented pool of volunteers,” McCabe said. “But there’s always a need for more. There’s just lots of different opportunities.”

McCabe said that she finds the work to be rewarding.

“It’s never doubting that you made a difference in somebody’s life,” McCabe said. “We’re giving students the tools they need to succeed in life.”

Bea Peeke, program coordinator, ABE/GED/ESL, is also in her 26th year of working for the program. Peeke said that the JCAE program assists a wide variety of residents in the community.

“We work with adult basic education,” Peeke said. “Those are students who are literacy students or just wanting to improve in writing, math, or reading. Some of our moms come in because they want to be able to help their children with their homework.”

Peeke said that the majority of her work involves GED test preparation.

“That’s actually given at the main campus, but in the state of Kansas you’re required to pass a practice test before you can go register for the official GED test,” Peeke said.

Peeke said that the program goes above and beyond just preparing students for the GED test.

“Now we’re able to work with them and help them set career goals and set if they want to work on a certificate program,” Peeke said. “We’ve done a lot of work on becoming familiar with the programs at the campus, so we can do a lot of good counseling at the campus level.”

Sherry Sibold, volunteer, is a retiree who has only lived in Johnson County a short time, but said that she knew she wanted to assist others.

“I think we were all created to help,” Sibold said. “Even in retirement, it makes you feel good. It feels good to know that people are appreciative of your help and your time.”

Students interested in volunteering can contact Chris Specht, Johnson County Adult Education volunteer coordinator, at 913-469-3003.

Contact Jon Parton, news editor, at jparton@jccc.edu.

Letter to the editor

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Dear Editor,

My name is Dan Payan and I am a student enrolled in my first semester at JCCC, I am also a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps using the G.I. Bill to fund my education. Before attending college here I was enrolled in classes in Utah at the Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). While attending SLCC I would spend time studying, relaxing, and talking to other Veterans in the Veterans Center (a center for Veterans and their families to use computers, study, relax, and get the information they need to succeed in their education and life) and as I would walk to the Veterans Center and my classes I would pass a memorial acknowledging the service and sacrifice of student Veterans like myself, and nothing made me feel as proud or honored than that memorial. It was a concrete stand with a copper placard thanking student Veterans surrounded by flag poles with each Military branches flag flying high. The problem I have is, now that I attend JCCC I have no place to meet with other Veterans such as myself, I have to ask to speak with an assigned person in order to get military and school related information, I can’t just walk into a room and read a Veterans billboard with Veterans information pamphlets or Veterans friendly resources, and I also have no daily routine of passing a memorial thanking myself and fellow Veteran students for defending America and its Constitution.

I am writing you to ask for your help informing the school, the students, and the community of the things that other schools have applied to help transitioning Veterans and thank them for their selfless sacrifice. I have contacted the Veterans Services Office about this issue and they have informed me that the discussion has come up at the Veterans Club meetings but that is has made no progress. I feel that if this topic has come up amongst the Veterans Club and no resolution has come of it then maybe more people need to be notified of this topic.

By more people I mean students, faculty, and whoever else may read the Campus Ledger, I for one give much credit and interest to the stories I read in it and I’m sure other readers do as well.

JCCC is listed as a military friendly school and I would agree wholeheartedly, but is there any reason it can’t be friendlier. I’m not saying that we need to neglect other students, I am just asking that WE as a school start showing a little more thanks to not only Veterans but Veterans who have fought for freedom and are now fighting alongside civilians for that sacred award know as a “DEGREE.” It’s hard enough to transition from the military to civilian life but to do that and get good grades is an almost impossible task if you don’t have the resources necessary to succeed.

I appreciate your time, and hope that with your help we can inform more people of the selfless dedication that our Veteran students have given to not only better the country but also to better themselves.

Thanks again,

Dan Payan

dpayan@stumail.jccc.edu

P.S. Your article in OP ED section the recent Campus Ledger (Volume 34 Issue 12) “Forgetting to Say Thank You to Those Forsaken By Their Government” was dead on, and has shown me that some people still remember us. Thank you and I look forward to reading more you have to offer.

No place like home: former student facing deportation after living in the US most of his life

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Photo courtesy Ada Luz Gonzalez Franco

By Jon Parton

On June 4, 2011, former student Jesus Torres, 21, was pulled over by Belton police for an alleged traffic violation. Today, he is facing deportation to Mexico due to that traffic stop. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ordered Torres to leave the country by April 13.

Torres said that he was pulled over by police three blocks away from his home.

“I was going home to pick up my brother and take him to Worlds of Fun,” Torres said. “They said that the tags were not a match to the vehicle. Once he checked all the paperwork, saying it must have been a dispatch error or some kind of mistake, he asked for my license. I gave him my Mexican driver’s license and he said it wasn’t valid.”

Torres was brought into the United States when he was six years old. Torres is one of many illegal immigrants brought into the country as children, young people who have been raised most of their lives in the United States.

The issue has become so prevalent, a legislative proposal known as the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act was reintroduced into the U.S. Senate last year.

The DREAM Act aims to provide a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who were raised in the United States. The current bill requires the immigrant to have a high school diploma or GED, not have any felonies, and either be enrolled in college or serve in the military for two years.

Torres, who had no previous run-ins with the law, said he only had two semesters left before earning an associate degree in business administration. Torres works at his father’s mechanic shop in Grandview. Although his parents have since become legal residents and his siblings were born in the United States, Torres has no legal status.

“I’ve got a brother and sister here,” Torres said. “I’ve got my parents here and all my friends from back in elementary school. I’ve got my fiancée here.”

An online petition, signed by more than 1,000 supporters, did not sway immigration officials to offer him an extension. Torres said that living in Mexico will be especially difficult since he doesn’t speak Spanish very well. His only family in Mexico is his grandmother.

Torres said that the situation has been difficult for his fiancée.

“It’s tough on her too,” Torres said. “Since she’s in school right now to finish her nursing program, she can’t really go with me.”

Torres said that it was difficult to explain the situation to his 13-year-old brother and 9-year-old sister.

“It’s affecting them quite a bit,” Torres said. “They don’t even know what’s going on. My little sister is asking me why I have to leave.”

Torres said that he is unsure how he will fit into Mexico since he has lived most of his life in the United States.

“I wasn’t born here but I was raised here,” Torres said. “I was born in Mexico but my culture is not Mexican. This is my culture. This is my home to me. This is what I know.”

Torres went to the college because of Kansas state law that allows illegal immigrants to attend. Pete Belk, program director, Admissions, said that while the college looks at a number of things before admitting a student, legal status is not one of them.

“We can’t, by law, require a social security number but it’s optional,” Belk said. “It is a requirement for financial aid to have a social security number.”

The state of Kansas passed a law in 2004 that allows undocumented students to attend any Kansas public university as long as certain requirements are met.

“Undocumented students we will admit if they live in the state of Kansas or graduated from high school in the state of Kansas,” Belk said. “We can give them in-state tuition per House Bill 2145.”

Belk said that the bill allows undocumented students to attend college as long as they have graduated from a Kansas high school, attended a Kansas high school for three or more years and signed an affidavit that states the student will initiate the process that can lead to legal residency.

“If you choose not to sign that affidavit or you did not graduate from a Kansas high school, we charge you out-of-state tuition,” Belk said.

Although the law does not support a path to citizenship for Torres, he is not without sup- porters. Dorelle Harrison, student, is one such supporter who believes that children who grew up most of their lives in the United States should not be deported.

“It’s not their fault,” Harrison said. “They were too young to understand when it happened.”

Contact Jon Parton, news editor, at jparton@jccc.edu.

Recovering from sub-par season

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Cole Phillips practices his swing for the college’s golf team at Overland Park Golf Park on March 13. Photo by Jordan Wegele

By Ben Markley

For many teams, finishing the fall season in third place would be exceptional, but to the college’s golf team, it means playing catch-up.

“I would’ve liked to have been first or second in the fall,” said head coach Lafayette Norwood. “I think it would’ve put us in
a better position to get some things we wanted to get done. In the spring, we have to come out ahead.”

Sophomore Devin Montague said the team goal was simple.

“From day one, the goal was for a conference championship, so that’s what we’re striving for,” he said. “That’s our expectations and our goals: to win our next two conference tournaments so we can win the next conference championship.

However, clinching a conference championship will be no easy task.

“We got a little bit of a road back to try and win the conference,” Rick Hairgrove, sophomore, said. “We’ve got to win all of our tournaments, and we’ve got to just kind of mentally stay in it and keep pushing each other.”

Despite the team’s upcoming challenges, Norwood is confident his team is capable.

“For me, [the Kansas City Kansas Fall Invitational] was a good indicator I think we’ll be able to get to where I thought we would’ve,” he said.

The team placed second at the tournament, with freshman Mario Funcic placing third individually with a stroke of 146 over 36 holes.

Montague said the team is ready to take first place in the spring season.

“I believe that we work harder than anybody else in the conference,” he said. “We didn’t have the greatest fall, so we’re coming from behind, but we know exactly what we have to do.”

In order to accomplish that goal, Norwood said the team’s improvement would have to come from each individual.

“What we need to do is get consistent output,” Norwood said. “We have five men on the team, and, one through five, we have to have each be more productive and step up to the plate.”

At the same time, Norwood has promoted an atmosphere of team unity.

“That’s what we’ve been preaching: team bond, a family thing,” Hairgrove said. “As the coach likes to say, being together in our goals.”

Montague said this bond brought a unique element to the team.

“People say golf is really individual, but I’m feeling more and more that we’re thinking about the team, which is nice,” Montague said.

The team’s next tournament, the KJCCC 5th Designated, will be Monday, April 16.

Contact Ben Markley, sports editor, at bmarkle2@jccc.edu.

A league of his own: Coach Kent Shelley reflects on 25-season career

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Kent Shelley (right) bats while players practice base running and handling the ball on practice at the college on March 28. Photo by Hannah Hunsinger

By Ben Markley

Head coach Kent Shelley has been coaching baseball at the college longer than any of his players have been alive.

Shelley played collegiate baseball at the University of Kansas and served as a graduate assistant coach for the 1982-1983 season before he graduated. After spending a couple of years in the world of business, he applied for a coaching position at the college as well as Kansas City Kansas Community College and Fort Scott Community College.

“All three offered me jobs and, luckily, I chose Johnson County Community College,” Shelley said. “I signed a lucrative contract for $700 a year. By the end of the year, I think I was making $13,500, but I was working six or seven different jobs.”

In the fall of 1986, legendary Hall-of-Famer coach Sonny Maynard stepped down as head coach of men’s baseball, and Shelley landed the position. In 2007, Shelley scored a spot of his own in the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

“I see hall of fames maybe differently than other people,” he said. “I believe 
hall of fames are not necessarily for the person going in, but
 it’s more of a reflection of your
overall body of work and those 
who’ve made it possible. So it’s really a reflection of those people’s work, and I was just very honored to be the one chosen to represent that entire body of work and those people that have made my job much, much easier.”

Shelley is no stranger to success, having taken his team to championships, including the JUCO World Series in 2008, with 49 of his players going on to the major leagues. His success in the NJCAA reflects just how much he loves junior college baseball.

“I’ve just always been a junior college guy,” he said. “That’s the level where these kids are here for a purpose. They’re here to develop, they’re here to play, they’re here for an opportunity to get their education. Definitely the downside is you only have two years to work with these kids, and that’s tough … two years just isn’t enough to be with them.”

When it comes to the sport itself, Shelley said it was the bonds formed through the sport that made it great.

“[The relationships are] what makes, in 
my opinion, the game of baseball America’s game,” he said. “Some of my greatest friends
 in life developed through the game of baseball. These are lifelong friendships.”

That might explain why, despite being the winningest coach in the college’s history with 719 wins, Shelley counts his players’ development as his greatest success.

“I hope to think that my greatest accomplishment is touching the lives of young people, not only in terms of their development on the baseball diamond, but much more importantly, their development as young men,” he said. “These kids are turning out to be tremendous husbands, but most importantly, these guys that I’ve coached are becoming some of the greatest fathers to walk the face of the earth.”

One of those young men, sophomore first baseman Evan Brummett, said his coach certainly pushes his team but never puts the sport before his players.

“He always says, ‘I may not like you some days, but I’ll always love you,’” Brummett said.

Assistant coach David Canary has been learning from Shelley since the spring of 2001 when he played Cavalier baseball as a freshman.

“He had me when I was 18, 19 years old, so he was a big part of me growing up,” Canary said. “I was eight hours away from home, so he was kind of my dad away from home. I came out here, 22 or 23, coaching, and I thought I knew everything. He kind of threw the reins on me and helped me grow up, not only as a man but also as a coach.”

Reflecting on many years coaching Cavalier baseball, Shelley felt content.

“It’s been a tremendous run,” he said. “I couldn’t think of a better college, a better community to coach in. You’re truly talking to a blessed man.”

Contact Ben Markley, sports editor, at bmarkle2@jccc.edu.

Battle-hardened Beret speaks at the college

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Mark Johnson, a retired Green Beret, signs one of his books at the leadership seminar Thursday, March 29. Photo by Michael House

By David Hurtado

Mark Johnson, a retired Green Beret, spoke at the college Thursday in the Craig Community Auditorium on leadership and how to make a difference in the lives of others.

Johnson began the seminar by talking about what we, as individuals, can accomplish when
we set our minds to it. It does not take anything extraordinary to do what you want in life, only the will to realize it, he said.

“You can accomplish anything you want to in this world, anything at all,” Johnson said. “If you want to be an astronaut, by gosh we have two astronauts who grew up within 100 miles of here. If you want to be a scientist and invent things and win the Nobel Prize for physics like Jack Kilby from Great Bend, Kansas, the path has already been paved. You can do anything you want to in life, anything.”

However, Johnson said we have to make a commitment to ourselves that we can accomplish what we set our minds to. No one else can bring us to our destination; we alone hold the key to our future.

“You are responsible, nobody else is,” Johnson said. “Not me, not your folks, not your good buddies, we are only enablers and facilitators. We help enable your success and facilitate your success, but you ultimately build your own ship. You ultimately decide your own fate.”

Johnson went on to say there are two paths we can take to accomplish what we want in life. There’s the easy path that mostly everyone takes or the hard path that gets us the self-esteem, like Paul Schneider did. Schneider was a captain in the German army during World War I who did not like the way things were going under Hitler.

“When everyone else became lemmings and let him go, [Schneider] stood up and fought him,” Johnson said. “And when they went to his church and put the Nazi symbols up he ripped them down right in front of them, put his Christian symbols back up and said, ‘You’re not going to do that in my town.’ They put him in jail, slapped him around a bit, then brought him back.

The second time the Nazis tried, again, Schneider defied them openly.

“The third time was the charm, the third time that big Nazi propaganda machine led by Herr Joseph Goebbels himself came in,” Johnson said. “For the third time he defied them openly and ripped their symbols down and said, ‘You’re not going to do this in my town,’ and he was sent to Buchenwald where he was executed by lethal injection.”

When it came time for Schneider’s funeral at the church, 4,000 people showed up to honor him. They came even though the Nazis had posted that only deacons, family and members of the church could attend.

“The correct path, that’s the path that Paul Schneider took, when he openly defied Nazi Germany at the expense of his own life because he dared to take the hard right,” Johnson said.

Johnson said though sometimes people
are scared to make the hard decisions in life because we are afraid we might hurt people’s feelings. Even if they do, we have to make them anyways.

Jake Akehurst, manager of Student Activities and Leadership Development, said Johnson has been a part of the Cavalier Development Leadership Program since its inception in fall 2007.

“Over the course of that time frame I’ve come to know him professionally and personally
as a great speaker and motivator,” Akehurst said. “We thought, ‘Let’s open this up to the community, to give them the opportunity to hear him speak and promote the leadership campaign.’ He has a real gift and passion for connecting people.”

The leadership program is open to all students of the college on Thursdays from 12:30-1:45. No formal application is needed to attend, but a minimum 2.0 GPA is required. Topics that students will discuss include how to plan a meeting, public speaking and strength finding to help students gain confidence.

From all his years as a Green Beret and the adventures he has had, Johnson said his most memorable experience was simply when a plan came together.

“The best moments have to be when you plan for extremely dangerous and hazardous missions, that mission goes successfully, you survive it, you walk away and none of your people get hurt, you can’t get any better than that,” he said.

Johnson served for 20 years as a Green
Beret in over 50 nations, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel when he retired in 2000. Johnson has also been awarded the bronze star for his actions during the Gulf War and has received the Parachutist badge from 14 other nations. He has also authored two books, “How to Get Anyone to Follow You Anywhere: Green Beret Secrets to Leadership and Team Building” and “Lessons in Leadership: Straight Talk from a Green Beret.”

Contact David Hurtado, reporting correspondent, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.

Capitalism is democracy

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By Jon Parton

If you want to ask someone how they are doing in China, you would say “Ni hao ma?” Most Americans do not understand the Chinese language. In fact, there is a lot about China most Americans do not understand, language being just one of them. China is well on its way to becoming a democracy within the next 20 years.

The Chinese economy is now the second largest in the world. It finally opened up its trade borders in 1976, largely thanks to the Nixon administration’s efforts to normalize relations with the communist nation. Economic reforms led China to a complete overhaul of its longstanding system.

China’s poverty rate fell from 53 percent in 1981 to just 8 percent in 2001, according to a report by the World Bank. It is now the world’s largest exporter and has an increasing number of middle-class citizens who have benefitted by the nation’s adoption of capitalism. It also features a widening gap in wealth, something with which Americans are all too familiar.

However, China’s growth potential is limited by bureaucratic red tape and corrupt government officials. In order to start a business in China, the potential owner must get clearance by city, province, and national officials. If at any time an official declines to give the OK, there can be no business.

Elections were recently held in the village of Wukan in China’s southern Guangdong province. While villages have voted for local leaders before, this election came about by a 10-day protest and standoff between villagers and police and military officials after an elected official sold much of the village’s land to a real estate developer. It is the first time the authoritarian government has relented to the will of its people rather than suppress them.

It is just the beginning. As the middle class rises, citizens will demand better pay and working conditions. It is already happening in the Foxconn plant, the manufacturer responsible for assembling Apple’s iPads and iPhones. The company announced that it would reduce its grueling work schedule and increase pay for its workers.

The middle class in China can afford to buy cell phones and computers. They are able to bypass Chinese censors and take a critical look at the government that tries so hard to hide the world from them. It will be the middle class that will force the Chinese government to reform.

To truly understand why communism in China is doomed to fail, you need to take a step back and look at what happened to other communist countries. The downfall of the Soviet Union mirrors the situationChinais currently facing. The rise of “perestroika” and democratic reforms led to the overthrow of the Soviet regime.

Last year, former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro stated that communism had failed in Cuba. In 1979, there were a total of 23 communist nations in the world. In 2011, there were only five. China’s current economic might was only made possible by the rise of capitalism. Human history tends to fall into patterns. The patterns are in place for China to become a democracy.

Small changes are often the ones that contribute to greater changes. As one Chinese proverb said, “A tiny spark can start a fire that burns the entire prairie.”

Contact Jon Parton, news editor, at jparton@jccc.edu.

Voting where it counts

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By Jon Parton

With so many national news stories about the presidential election, it can be easy to forget about local elections and their importance to the community. In addition to voting upon locally elected officials, voters often decide on other important issues such as increases in taxes and local initiatives like the light-rail plan.

Although Jasmine Couch, student, plans on voting in the fall election, she admits that none of the local candidates are familiar to her.

“I haven’t heard of any,” Couch said.

In addition to the national presidential election, JohnsonCountyvoters will be deciding upon the candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, 3rd Congressional District. Voters will also choose a number of state races, including state senators, state representatives, and district judges.

Local elections can often have a greater impact on communities than national elections. The candidates chosen for local offices such as city council and mayor can decide upon important issues that directly impact cities and counties.

Local officials govern what contracts can be made, how law enforcement policy is carried out and where road improvements will be done. Zoning laws determine where people can live and where business owners can set up shop.

Student Katie Reintjes said that she doesn’t keep up with political candidates in Kansas.

“I don’t know any of the local politicians,” Reintjes said. “I live in Missouri.”

The smoking ban initiated by the college was first brought up in the Student Senate last year. According to the United States Census Bureau, only 45 percent of all eligible Kansas Nick voters actually voted in 2010.

Across the country, a little more than 16 percent of voters aged 18-to-20 voted in the 2010 elections. Comparatively, almost 59 percent of voters aged 65 and older voted that year.

According to research done by the Center for the Study of the American Electorate atAmericanUniversity, voter turnout among young people is expected to drop sharply in the 2012 election. This is in sharp contrast to the 2008 presidential election, which had the highest turnout of young voters since 1960.

Nick McCoy, student, said he plans to vote on Election Day.

“A lot of people sacrificed their selves and their rights so I could have the right to vote,” McCoy said. “So I feel like it’s my responsibility to vote at least for somebody, even if they’re not going to win.”

McCoy said that while he was familiar with the candidates for the presidential election, he was less informed about local candidates and state races.

“Honestly, local candidates have not had a lot of exposure,” McCoy said. “I wish they had more advertising because I would like to hear what they have to say.”

Contact Jon Parton, news editor, at jparton@jccc.edu.

New issues target younger voters and non-voters

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By Adam Lignell

Youth voting demographic numbers have changed a lot since the 2008 elections, and newer political issues have changed targets.

Younger and older voters may have differing views on why they vote, but almost all relate the action to their future goals.

Jerry Magliano, professor, personal computer applications, gives reason as to why voters ages 18-30 do have a lot of power if they want it.

“Individually, it’s hard to picture yourself as having much of a voice, but collectively [as a demographic] you do have a big voice,” he said.

Although his generation may be safe from changes in Social Security, Magliano stressed that all young people should pay attention to it.

“At your age, the last thing you’re thinking about is retirement, right?” Magliano said. “Trust me, when
you get to that point, it’s going to be an important part of your overall income.”

Related to income, the US economy’s state will greatly affect the current younger generation.

Factors such as high taxation and healthcare benefits will affect any soon-to-be graduates.

“There’s so much uncertainty about those things, that’s one of the reasons businesses aren’t growing and hiring people,” Magliano said.

Student Rodney Preston feels there is a major underlying cause for many of the issues this younger generation faces.

“I also believe that disparity of income is what’s really causing all this,” Preston said. “If we could just give a little bit back, it’d help out a lot.”

Jim Cusser, adjunct assistant professor, Political Science, explained that it’s his duty to vote as a US citizen.

“There’s a connection between education and a higher socioeconomic status in voting,” Cusser said.

People ages 18-30 have ways to best prepare themselves for the polls, too.

“[By] paying attention and getting up to speed on the news, you can familiarize yourself with the issues,” Cusser said.

Cusser also gave insight as to why groups of youth voters may have turned away from the process after 2008.

“Younger voters have been turned off because they felt like they’ve been burned in the 2008 election,” Cusser said. “There’s not as much excitement.”

Although some non-voters may complain about politicians’ decisions, student Gretchen Gilbreath explains why she doesn’t.

“If I really dislike an elected official, I feel the only way I can complain about them is if I voted against them,” Gilbreath said.

That sentiment is shared by Marilyn Gaar, political science and history professor. According to Gaar, students should put key issues first, particularly their education.

“Start thinking about your priorities,” Gaar said. “If it’s your education, you need to invest in your education with your career and how it compensates in mind.”

With the college’s recent tuition increase, Gaar stressed that younger students need to be aware of any bigger economic issues as well, such as Social Security.

“Because you’ve got to pay the bill,” Gaar said. “It’s on your backs, not mine.”

In terms of the way the entire US economy has been affected, however, Gaar has different advice.

“We have to bring ourselves out of this by becoming informed citizens,” she said. “It’s our constitutional role to shape our own future.”

Contact Adam Lignell, staff reporter, at alignell@jccc.edu.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: 15th annual Night at the Nelson coming Friday, April 6

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By Mackenzie Clark

The college will host its 15th annual Night at the Nelson Friday, April 6.

The goal of this event is to help familiarize students, faculty and staff of the college with the art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo. Speakers will present on selected works of art at 6:30, 7:00, and 7:30 p.m.

“All of our speakers are experts in their field,” said Allison Smith, chair, Art History. “[…] They take the research for their presentations seriously and spend a great deal of time preparing.”

All students of humanities, art history, fine arts, photography, interior design, graphic design, architecture and theatre are invited to attend, but Smith requests that students turn in a ticket in order to count attendance and give credit for attendance.

If you are attending, Smith recommends you arrive early in order to get a parking spot and a program. During each of the three time slots, attendees will choose from five speakers.

“An attendee at any one of our presentations will not be disappointed,” Smith said. “Many faculty tell me this is a highlight of their academic year.”

Smith expects about 1,000 attendees from the college.

For a complete list of speakers, see below.

Contact Mackenzie Clark, editor-in-chief, at mclark68@jccc.edu.

 

For directions to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, click here.

 

2012 Speakers:

6:30

 

1. Ritual Cooking Vessel (li-ding)

Professor Marie Dolembo

Nelson-Atkins Building,

Gallery 232

 

2.  Robert Frank, Democratic Convention;

Danny Lyon, Sit-in by SNC Staff and Supporters at Toddle House

Professor Kathleen Mendenhall

Bloch Building, Gallery L10

 

3.  Roxy Paine, Ferment

Professor Mark Cowardin

South Lawn

 

4.  Edgar Degas, Rehearsal of the Ballet

Professor Pamela Hawkins

Nelson-Atkins Building,

Gallery P32

 

5.  John Singer Sargent, Mrs. Cecil Wade

Professor Allison Smith, PhD

Nelson-Atkins Building, Gallery 216

 

7:00

 

6.  Edward Hopper, Light Battery at Gettysburg

Professor Bernard Norcott-Mahany, PhD

Nelson-Atkins Building, Gallery 219

 

7.  Roman Sarcophagi of the Muses

Professor Michael Robertson, PhD

Nelson-Atkins Building, Gallery P4

 

8.  Guanyin of the Southern Sea

Professor Michael Hembree, PhD

Nelson-Atkins Building, Gallery 230

 

9.  Shen Zhou

Professor Brian Hogarth

Nelson-Atkins Building, Gallery 222

 

10.  Tony Cragg, Ferryman and Turbo

Professor Katherine Morse, Education Coordinator, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

Bloch Building, Gallery L5 (South Lawn between Lens 4 & 5)

 

7:30

 

11. Inner Coffin of Meret-it-es

Professor Stacy Davidson

Nelson-Atkins Building, Gallery P1

 

12.  Cassone (Chest)

Professor Rachel Geschwind, PhD

Nelson-Atkins Building, Gallery P11

 

13.  Kano Tan’yu,

Tiger Among Bamboo and

Dragon and Waves

Professor Timothy Hoare, PhD

Nelson-Atkins Building, Gallery 205

 

14.  Gong Xian, Cloudy Peaks

Professor Dennis Arjo, PhD

Nelson-Atkins Building,

Gallery 222

 

15. Richard Estes, Bus Window

Professor Valerie Zell

Bloch Building, Gallery L 3

WEB-EXCLUSIVE: Planet Comicon: Heroes take the city

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By Gabrielle Fitzgerald

Darth Vader, Captain Kirk, and Superman all made appearances in the Overland Park area last weekend.

The city wasn’t in need of heroes, but if it was, they need not look any further than the Overland Park International Trade Center, the location of this year’s Planet Comicon.

Planet Comicon was a two-day long event, March 24 and 25, costing $20 for both days. The Campus Ledger, however, held a ticket giveaway so many of the college’s students had a chance to attend for free.

This year’s convention had a variety of people in attendance, many of whom were from out of state.

Although a costume wasn’t necessary, many people were dressed in role playing attire. If you can think of  a comic book character, that character was most likely in the audience, especially on Saturday for the costume contest. Women dressed as Wonder Woman or Electra came with men who were dressed as Luke Skywalker or Batman.

Both days provided opportunities to meet a variety of famous people. The “Star Wars” saga actors Billy Dee Williams, who played Lando Calrissian, and Jake Lloyd, who played young Anakin Skywalker, made appearances and gave interviews. Also present were actors Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Felix Silla, and Adrienne Wilkinson.

There were over 50 booths selling any and all related items, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, DC, and Doctor Who. There were action figures, Legos, t-shirts, posters, and thousands of comic books at competitive prices sold by vendors who were more than eager to talk about their favorite characters or to help you find the exact comic you were searching for.  There were plenty more booths displaying art and comics by various comic creators, who were willing to draw anything upon request for a fee.

Also making an appearance at the convention was a life-sized Tardis, which is the blue police box used by Doctor Who for teleportation. The Tardis was co-built by a former student Hanna Oliver and is actually available for rent.

Contact Gabrielle Fitzgerald, advertising manager, at gfitzge1@jccc.edu.