Board of Trustees selects David Lindstrom

November 17, 2012

Updated 4:53 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, 2012

This is the video of all five candidate interviews. David Lindstrom, the selected candidate, begins at 17:56. Lindstrom will join the Board for their next regular monthly meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13 in the Polsky Theatre.

Following five candidate interviews and three votes, the Board of Trustees selected David Lindstrom to fill the vacancy left by Don Weiss in a special meeting this morning.

The first vote narrowed the five selected candidates, Michael Lally, Lindstrom, Brent McCune, Michael Sharpe and Doug Wood, down to Lally, Lindstrom and McCune. The second vote yielded Lally and Lindstrom and the third decided between the two.

Lindstrom attended Boston University in Mass. and, according to his online biography, played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1978 to 1986. He currently serves as the District 3 Johnson County Commissioner.

Lindstrom’s term expires June 30, 2015.

Issue 8 of The Campus Ledger, coming Thursday, Dec. 6, will contain a profile on Lindstrom with further information.

Compiled by Mackenzie Clark, mclark68@jccc.edu

Campus Alert issued yesterday was for Merriam shooter

November 16, 2012

The college issued an alert at 9:35 a.m. yesterday asking anyone who had seen a blue 2011 Ford Fiesta, Ill. license plate P649041, to contact Campus Police or the Overland Park Police Department. The alert was later canceled when the vehicle was recovered.

Sergeant Randy Garcia with Campus Police confirmed this alert was in regards to 58-year-old Merriam resident Robert J. Pruitt, who shot and killed his brother Todd Pruitt yesterday morning in a parking lot near Johnson Drive and Metcalf Road.

Garcia said the man had previously been on campus as a visitor, but not as a student. The alert was put out as a precautionary measure.

Many witnesses were present at the scene of the shooting. Robert Pruitt later shot himself. More information is available from The Kansas City Star here.

Compiled by Mackenzie Clark, mclark68@jccc.edu

Update: Board of Trustees narrows candidates

November 15, 2012

Updated 1:33 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16

During a special meeting Thursday, Nov. 15 the Board of Trustees narrowed candidates for the vacant position from 25 applicants to five to be interviewed.

Those selected include Michael Sharpe, Douglas Wood, Michael Lally, David Lindstrom and Brent McCune. These applicants will be interviewed at an additional special meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 in the Hugh Speer Board Room (GEB 137).

The vacant position came about when the Board approved the resignation of Don Weiss at their October monthly meeting.

Prior to roll call votes for each candidate, some of the trustees disclosed prior knowledge or contact with them. Trustees Greg Musil, Stephanie Sharp, and Jerry Cook all cited prior relations with McCune and Lally. All three trustees voted in favor of both candidates.

Cook also mentioned and voted in favor of Lindstrom. Musil mentioned candidate Radd Way, who did not make the cut. None of the trustees abstained from any of the votes.

The interviews Saturday will follow a previously scheduled Board retreat, beginning at 8 a.m.

Ledger staff will live-tweet these meetings. Follow @CampusLedger on Twitter for updates as they occur.

Compiled by Mackenzie Clark, mclark68@jccc.edu

Black Friday becoming a little grey +JCAV Video

November 15, 2012

By Mac Moore

The lines will likely be wrapping around the entrance of local retailers the day after Thanksgiving. Black Friday remains a big shopping day for the holiday season despite the fact the savings are not always as big as advertised.

According to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal, sales on Black Friday are rarely the best of the year. Teaming up with a retail strategies company called Decide, Inc., they conducted a study using the daily price points of every major retailer in the last six years.

The report indicates many items had better sales in September and October. Some items had price jumps upwards of 50 percent by the time Black Friday rolled around, as was the case with Ugg Boots.

The internet can be blamed for much of the shift in price points over the holiday season. The ability to purchase items from the click of a mouse has pushed the market to the web. According to Forbes, the record for single-day online spending was set on Cyber Monday in 2011.

Cyber Monday is the Monday after Black Friday when customers receive online deals to drive web business. The convenience meets savings as 70 percent of Black Friday deals are also available online, according to Dealnews.com.

Despite the alternatives given by internet shopping, people continue to wait in line during the early morning and late night hours for these sales. To figure out why, it is necessary to look at the social nature of people. Rosalee Dallman, associate professor, Sociology, views the Black Friday phenomenon as being a kind of community-building activity.

“In some respects these situations are a way of creating a temporary sense of community,” Dallman said. “Since our society is somewhat lacking in this area, any opportunity to feel connected to others is sought out by people, especially during the holiday season. Shopping itself could help us feel a part of the Christmas season in a real and tangible way.”

This is not to say that retailers do not have tremendous deals during Black Friday. Some of the doorbuster deals actually are the best of the year. Last year, Best Buy offered a Sharp 42” HDTV for under $200.

South Lawrence Walmart manager Brandon Barrett said items like these are held in small inventory used as bait to get customers in the doors. The plan is to attract customers who then buy lesser deals that will make the retailer profit.

“It’s just strategy,” Barrett said. “We can’t sell large quantities of these huge deals; we would lose money. We aren’t in the business of losing money. Our job is to manage the losses on deals that get the customers in the door.”

Editor’s note: In the interest of full disclosure, Mac Moore was once employed at the South Lawrence Walmart.

Contact Mac Moore, sports editor, at mmoore82@jccc.edu.

Shooting to the top: Men’s basketball optimistic for upcoming season

November 15, 2012

DeZamacona-Basketball2O — Cavaliers guard JaRon Rollins is shown during a Nov. 6 match against Wentworth Military Academy. The Cavs won the game 56-42. Photo by Daniel De Zamacona

By Mac Moore

The talk of wins and losses dominate the discussion of most sports. Basketball is a sport that allows a team to be judged by that standard, while also letting stats show there is a texture to the substance.

The men’s basketball team participated in nail-biters last season. 12 games were decided by five points or less. The team averaged 70.4 points a game offensively. Defensively they allowed 70.5 points a game. This led to a 16-20 season that was much stronger than the losing record would indicate.

The team has many new faces, but the remaining players know how close the hard work helped them become last season.

“We would like to improve that record and we expect to,” returning starter Christian Hildebrandt said. “We know it going to take a lot of hard work to do so.”

Early season play has been positive in outcome. The team won their first two games of the season. The victories were by an average of 12.5 points, but the team doesn’t expect such margins throughout the season.

“The schedule is so tough,” Mike Jeffers, head coach, said. “We are going to have some bumps along the way, but it will make us better.”

Jeffers is not so worried about records. Early season victories are far less important to the team’s outlook than simply setting the standard of improving daily. The coaches and the players know early success does not mean they are where they need to be.

“We have yet to put a whole game together,” Hildebrandt said. “I think it’s mostly because we are young. I think the biggest challenge for this team will be realizing what we can and can’t do at certain points in the game.”

Once they put together a whole game the team hopes it will translate to strong league play. The chances are high if Hildebrandt can keep performing like he did in the season opener. His stat line read 28 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.

“I hope we can expect some more six trey performances,” Hildebrandt said.

Contact Mac Moore, sports editor, at mmoore82@jccc.edu

For upcoming games, see the sports calendar here.

InFocus: Hard times come no more

November 15, 2012

Photo and design by Morgan Daigneault

Click for full image.

Put a little swing in your step +JCAV Video

November 15, 2012

DeZamacona-SwingClub — Members of Swing Club are shown during a practice session Tuesday, Nov. 6 in the Craig Community Auditorium (GEB 233). The club helps all levels of dancers learn new moves and techniques. Photo by Daniel De Zamacona

By David Hurtado

Students passing by the Craig Community Auditorium on Tuesday afternoons may occasionally hear lively music emanating from the room. This is not “Gangnam Style” at work; this is Swing Club.

Delaney Herman, club president, said she formed the club because she wanted to share her love for dance with other people. She initially got interested in dance through a foreign exchange student who complained of a lack of night clubs.

“I’ve been dancing swing for eight years now and it’s been a huge part of my life,” Herman said. “It’s kind of become who I am and I wanted to share that with other people. I found a sponsor who wanted to help me out and I found a space. The rest is history.”

The club focuses mostly on West Coast Swing (WCS), which evolved from the early ‘20s Lindy Hop dance. WCS is a partner dance characterized by being very musical and adopting many nuances from other forms of dance.

Aside from getting down on the dance floor, each meeting also devotes time to teaching newer members the basics of Swing. No one is required to stay for entire meetings.

“We have a two-hour block of time where we have space reserved,” Herman said. “The first hour or so is a lesson where we teach basic stuff: turns, patterns, dips; whatever we decide to work on for that day. Then the last hour of the club, we just play music. We encourage people to dance with someone else, practice the moves that we learned and have a blast.”

The club also makes a point to frequent many local dance venues including Madrigal Martini Bar, Retro, Drum Room and Louis & Company Ballroom Studio.

Ducky Seils, student and member, said he joined at the urging of his brother. Seils said he started out dancing Swing, but now works on shuffling and Tecktonik dance also.

“I initially joined because my brother was in it and he told me I should join when I came to [the college],” Seils said. “[…] It was pretty fun. I liked it and I came on my own after that.”

Andy Anderson, club adviser and dean of English, said the club welcomes students of all skill levels and can provide instruction if students are not the most skilled dancers.

“[Members] are really good about helping new people learn basic steps,” he said. “They start with beginners. If anyone who goes for the first time doesn’t know anything about dancing, someone will show them the first step and get them started. It’s open to all levels. Their goal is just sort of to promote and encourage people to enjoy dance […] You could go and in an hour, you would be dancing.”

For more information about Swing Club, contact Andy Anderson at aanders@jccc.edu or Delaney Herman at delaneyherman@rocketmail.com.

Contact David Hurtado, features editor, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.

InFocus: Make your studying work for you

November 15, 2012

Information courtesy the Academic Achievement Center, OCB 304 (ext. 4589)
Compiled by Gabrielle Fitzgerald, gfitzge1@jccc.edu
Photos, illustration and design by Morgan Daigneault, mdaignea@jccc.edu

Click for full image

Tributes honor veterans through music

November 15, 2012

Kenzi-Man1O — Ed Smith, research project coordinator for the Center for American Indian Studies, performs “Soldier Boy” following Stinson’s performance in a tribute for Veterans Week 2012.

Click for larger images. Photos by Mackenzie Clark

A crowd gathers as Ron Stinson, professor, Music, plays “Taps” on the hill of the COM plaza Monday, Nov. 12.

Other events of the week included a luncheon honoring veterans Monday, Nov. 12 in the Regnier Center. The college also hosted a panel of veterans discussing their experiences on Tuesday, Nov. 13. The Video Production department screened their documentary, “The Heart of a Warrior,” on Wednesday, Nov. 14 in the Polsky Theatre.

Hole in the wall review: Rosedale Barbecue worth the drive

November 15, 2012

Daniels-HOOOOLE — A small sampling of the food offered at Rosedale Barbecue includes a variety of meats, bread, cole slaw and baked beans. Rosedale is located at 600 Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, Kan. Photo by Kelly Daniels

By Jon Parton

Any time a politician or celebrity visits Kansas City, it seems like they go to a barbecue joint. Unfortunately for them, they usually limit themselves to Arthur Bryant’s, Gates or more recently Oklahoma Joe’s. None of those places are bad, but there is so much more to Kansas City barbecue.

Rosedale Barbecue, located at 600 Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, Kan., is as much a local tradition as it is a hole in the wall.

The neighborhood around Rosedale is a mixture of commercial and industrial, a reminder of Kansas City’s early days as a cattle town. The restaurant itself wasn’t much to look at.

The walls were decorated with an array of old newspaper clippings and other memorabilia. A couple of TVs hung on opposite ends of the restaurant, tuned into ESPN. There was no pretentious atmosphere to be found, just a simple place where you could get a meal.

My dining companion and I arrived just after the lunch hour. Only one waitress was working behind the bar, but she was quick and happy to take our order. In addition to our food, we ordered the standard Coke and Diet Coke.

“We have RC Cola and Diet Rite. Is that OK?” she asked.

RC? Diet Rite? Did we accidentally travel back in time? Could they not afford to stock Coke or Pepsi products? Rather than give myself an aneurysm thinking about it, I took my bottle of Diet Rite and shut the hell up.

I ordered the three slider plate: a combination of fries with beef, ham, and pulled pork slider sandwiches. My dining companion ordered the burnt ends with a side of corn nuggets. Between the two of us, our meals cost less than $20.

The first thing I noticed about the sliders was the size of them. Sliders are supposed to be small sandwiches that can be eaten in 2 or 3 bites. These monstrosities were piled high with meat and really could be compared to half sandwiches. The beef was the weakest of the trio, but still pretty decent. The meat was tender but rather flavorless.

On the other hand, the ham was a work of art. Good ham has a salty taste that doesn’t overwhelm the flavor of the meat. This, my friends, was good ham.
The pulled pork was my favorite of the bunch. You could tell it was smoked just right because it required very little effort to pull the meat apart.

An important aspect of any barbecue place is the sauce. Some places throw together water and tomatoes and call it good. A lot of places tend to make their sauces overly sweet. Rather than an actual sauce, they make meat frosting.

That isn’t the case at Rosedale. Their sauce has a peppery kick to it while still maintaining the appropriate thickness of a sauce.

The fries were OK, but nothing special. They were crisp, crinkle-cut potatoes made better by dipping them in barbecue sauce. I then managed to sneak a couple of bites of the corn nuggets. My new goal in life is to learn how to make corn nuggets. Imagine deep fried creamed corn surrounded by crispy batter. The gods of high cholesterol smiled upon us that day.

As Kansas City residents, we are very fortunate to have a wide variety of barbecue restaurants. I recommend giving Rosedale a try. It doesn’t look like much from the inside, but you’ll be too happy to care.

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

New policy limits animals in campus buildings

November 15, 2012

Scherba_DogsonCampus_IllustrationONLINE — Illustration by Sara Scherba

By Mackenzie Clark

College administrators are drafting a new policy which may break animal lovers’ hearts.

If the Board of Trustees approves a policy currently in the works, animals outside of those used for service or school-related reasons will not be allowed in campus buildings.

“We have had a few calls of dogs being brought on campus and in the classroom, in the hallways,” said Larry Dixon, deputy chief, Campus Police. “So our legal counsel developed a policy with cooperation from us.”

The policy stems from concern for safety of those on campus.

“With an animal, you never know,” Dixon said. “When they’re in a classroom or when they’re even walking down the hallway, you never know what an animal might do and we have to look out for the safety of all students, staff and personnel.”

Dennis Day, vice president, Student Success and Engagement, cited an incident when a dog brought to campus for “no real purpose” became angry and Campus Police needed to intervene. However, there was no policy in place stating animals were not allowed.

“The officers said, ‘Look, we don’t have anything to back us up when we tell people that they need to take their animals off campus because there’s no real policy or procedure,’” Day said. “[…] It kind of evolved from there that we should have a policy that allows certain animals on campus to provide service to their owners if they are truly a service animal.”

The policy in its current draft defines service animals as “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability” and complies with standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. It also allows animals used for “authorized research projects or experiments” or as “part of an academic program.”

The policy does stipulate, however, that animals that are properly vaccinated, under control and attended by their owners are allowed on campus grounds. Owners are held responsible for any necessary “clean-up.”

Dixon said if a situation with any animal were to become a threat to the campus community, Campus Police would call the Overland Park Police Department’s Animal Control unit.

Tanya Wilson, general counsel, said the policy is scheduled for review by subcommittees of the Board of Trustees in December or January and will likely go to the full Board for approval in January or February.

The full text of the policy draft in its current form is here.

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

Police briefs – Nov. 15, 2012

November 15, 2012

Counterfeit jive at the Vibe

Campus Police were called to the Vibe coffee bar regarding a counterfeit bill on Oct. 30. A Vibe employee reported that a white female allegedly attempted to use a counterfeit bill for a purchase. The employee stated the female handed over a $1 bill that had been altered to look like a $10 bill. Police determined that both ends of the bill were cut off and the ends of a $10 bill were taped on. The female later contacted Campus Police, stating that she found the bill in the laundry. Campus Police contacted the U.S. Secret Service and turned over the investigation to them.

No pay for the Chick-Fil-A

A Food Court staff member contacted an officer on patrol to report a theft on Oct. 31. The employee stated that she witnessed a suspect conceal two Chick-Fil-A sandwiches in his front pocket. The officer located the suspect and stopped him for questioning. The suspect stated he had taken some items from Chick-Fil-A and handed them over to the officer. The suspect was then placed under arrest and escorted to the police department.

Gas passed in the Science building

Campus Police were dispatched to the Science building upon a report of an odor of gas on Nov. 7. Upon arriving, the officer was told the gas odor originated in SCI 213. The officer discovered the odor was leaking from one of the gas valves located at a work station. A Housekeeping worker secured the handle, causing the odor to stop.

Compiled by Jon Parton, jparton@jccc.edu

News briefs – Nov. 15, 2012

November 15, 2012

Kansas Autism Conference coming to the college

The college and KU’s Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART) are co-sponsoring Beyond the Diagnosis: Autism Across the Lifespan Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 in the Capitol Federal Conference Center located in the Regnier Center. The annual conference is designed for caregivers, educators and affected families. Sessions will be conducted by KU researchers and regional experts from several different fields.

Upcoming road closures

The west College Boulevard entrance will be closed for maintenance beginning today, Nov. 15, and scheduled to reopen Sunday, Nov. 25. The maintenance will not affect the warehouse entrance drives. East Frontage Road, east of the construction site for the Hospitality and Culinary building, will be closed for crosswalk repairs starting Monday, Nov. 19 and also scheduled to reopen Nov. 25.

Board of Trustees to select new member

The Board of Trustees plans to select a replacement for Don Weiss, who resigned last month, at a special meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 in the Hugh Speer Board Room (GEB 137). The Board will interview final candidates at that meeting, which follows a previously scheduled retreat beginning at 8 a.m.

The Board will also meet today at 3:30 p.m. to review candidates and narrow the list. Following at 5 p.m. is the regular monthly meeting.

The Ledger will live-tweet developments as they become available. Follow @CampusLedger for up-to-the-minute information. Full coverage of the selected applicant will follow online as well as in Issue 8, coming Thursday, Dec. 6.

Compiled by Jon Parton, jparton@jccc.edu, and Mackenzie Clark, mclark68@jccc.edu

Sports briefs – Nov. 15, 2012

November 15, 2012

Women’s basketball

The Lady Cavs open up the season with four straight blowout wins. This marks the program’s 26th straight regular season victory. The team slipped a little in the second half of their game against Southwestern on Nov. 10, being outscored 25-21 while still winning the game 68-34. The drop in second half play is not a trend for the team as they have, on average, scored twice as much as their opponents after halftime for the season.

Men’s basketball

The Cavaliers started the season with two double digit wins before falling to Hutchinson 96-57 on Nov. 10. The game was a great test for the Cavs as HCC was ranked 13th in the NJCAA Division I Men’s preseason poll. Coach Mike Jeffers pointed to the fact that the team needs to get more consistent on the offensive end of the floor.

Cross Country

This year’s NJCAA Cross Country Nationals were held Nov. 10 at Rend Lake College in Ina, Il. Men’s CC finished 22nd. Kidus Bekele finished a team best, 40th, with a time of 27:26 minutes. Women’s finished 12th. Jessica Thomas finished 64th with a time of 20:28. Both teams finished up their season with the NJCAA Half Marathon Championship on Nov. 17 in Levelland, Texas.

Compiled by Mac Moore, mmoore82@jccc.edu

Sports Calendar – Nov. 15, 2012

November 15, 2012

Compiled by Jon Parton, jparton@jccc.edu

Sports Column: The Chiefs owe my therapists money

November 15, 2012

By Mac Moore

Much of this column was penned before the Chiefs decided to gain the lead for the first time this season on Monday Night Football against the Steelers. I do not feel it changes the gist of my argument. Sorry if a lead for 22 minutes does not impress me.

Matt Cassel is not the reason the Chiefs are ranked last in the latest ESPN power rankings. The Chiefs have many problems that cannot be solely blamed on the eighth-year quarterback.

This is in no way a defense of Cassel as a starter in the NFL. The Chiefs are bad; so is Cassel.

The 2010 season showed promise. The Chiefs used the ball control offense and latched on the back of superstar running back Jamaal Charles. The rushing attack outran their opponents by over 800 yards on the season, according to ESPN.com.

This strategy allowed them to dominate inferior opponents, yet when their opponents had any offensive firepower, the passing game could not keep up. Pro-Football-Reference.com indicates the Chiefs eclipsed 200 passing yards only once during the six losses and lost by an average of two touchdowns. These blowout losses were ignored because we made the playoffs.

The 2011 season unveiled everything that the previous season masked. With offensive coordinator Charlie Weis trying to fight back into the college coaching ranks, the Chiefs settled with Bill Muir. Muir attempted to duplicate the success of Weis but Cassel regressed as he couldn’t stand up behind a shoddy O-line.

It didn’t take long for Matt Cassel to suffer a season-ending injury, leaving the team with absolutely no viable quarterback. Next they had no head coach as General Manager Scott Pioli decided the woes of this QB-less team should be lumped on Todd Haley. Defensive Coordinator Romeo Crennel was named Interim Head Coach. The team still narrowly missed the playoffs.

So this season left fans with hope and promise. Crennel was heralded as the choice for head coach after nearly stealing a playoff spot. Muir retired, leaving the OC position to be filled by Crennel’s old Browns OC Brian Daboll.

Pioli stepped up and signed marquee-free agents such as offensive tackle Eric Winston. Many sports analysts considered this offseason to be solid for the Chiefs. Using the perfect vision that hindsight rewards, we know the results have instead been dismal.

For some the answer still eludes them. What could be the problem? The answer is simple. Matt Cassel is a backup.

Pioli’s hubris has caused him to believe he can win with any QB as long as he installs the Patriots Way he learned in New England. Heck, the Patriots have played in four Super Bowls and won three of them with a sixth-round QB. Pioli legitimately believes any QB can do that. That sixth-round QB was Tom “freakin’” Brady.

Pioli has hedged all his bets on Matt Cassel and his belief that the system is what made Tom Brady become one of the greatest QBs of all time. So we have spent the entire Pioli regime without a single pro-level prospect at the QB position, fearing Matt Cassel would look over his shoulder. For the system to work, Pioli couldn’t have that.

The prudent follow-up would be why are we so bad this year if we were not this bad the last two years with Cassel? The answer is that the only thing holding us back those seasons was the lack of a QB.

Now the Chiefs have a head coach who should have stayed the defensive coordinator. The offensive coordinator is a pass happy play-caller who has no idea what to do with this QB crew. The team has lost the window of opportunity on a QB who never started a college football game.

This team is missing stability and excitement. The team has quit playing for this coach because they no longer think they can win for him, this quarterback or this front office. Pioli is praying to high heaven that the owner Clark Hunt gives him one more chance to pick a QB and a head coach. In the NFL, he might not even get a second chance.

Contact Mac Moore, sports editor, at mmoore82@jccc.edu.

Backpage comic: Super college fun times

November 15, 2012

Illustration by Morgan Daigneault

Click for full image.

Recreating the magic: Lady Cavs attempt to duplicate record season

November 15, 2012

By Mac Moore

Rebuilding can be tough for any program. Women’s basketball coach Ben Conrad understands that rebuilding comes with the territory of coaching at a two-year college. He knows sometimes that means replacing multiple All-Americans.

Last year’s team went 32-3 and undefeated in the Jayhawk League. With All-Americans Briana Kulas and Mary Pat Specht moving on, the team will be led by youth and players who need to learn how to play together in this system.

“It’s always a challenge to a degree at this level but this year we are more inexperienced than normal,” Conrad said, “but with every game we play, we’ll improve and by Christmas it really won’t matter.”

Conrad is the coach to listen to when it comes to reloading a basketball squad at a two-year school. His team has spent 41 straight weeks in the top 10 of the NJCAA polls, dating back to before the start of the 2009 season. Conrad owns a .776 winning percentage at the NJCAA level with over 113 wins in four years at the college.

The loss of two All-Americans would normally create an early season rough patch for a basketball squad, but the Lady Cavaliers won their first two games of the season by an average of 61.5 points. Players credit Conrad for the team’s strong early season play despite only retaining two players that had significant minutes last season.

“It’s coaching and recruiting,” Kathleen Brisbane, returning sophomore, said. “The level of play is based a lot on the quality of players. Coach doesn’t look for girls that play basketball, you know, he gets basketball players.”

Great recruiting helps keep a team strong from season to season, but leadership and maturity are necessary as the team tries to develop. Brisbane and fellow returning sophomore Kelsey Knox said they feel it is their job to lead by example to show the younger players how to play at that level.

“I feel like I have to be the one that leads the team,” Knox said. “Not necessarily in terms of points or anything, but [Brisbane and I] are the ones that have been here. We understand how we must progress over the season.”

With the large roster revamping from a record-setting season, most programs would expect a drop off the following year. Conrad is not running a regular program.

“It’s possible to match last year,” Brisbane said. “We are going to work to the standard set last year, so yeah, it’s a possibility.”

Contact Mac Moore, sports editor, at mmoore82@jccc.edu.

For upcoming games, see the sports calendar.

Column: We’ll be your watchdogs

November 15, 2012

By Mackenzie Clark

In the past semester, a daunting number of changes have occurred, and are occurring, on this campus. Honestly, I’m still a bit shaken and don’t know what to make of it all.

If you haven’t kept up, many faculty and staff have announced plans for retirement, including three in very influential positions: Terry Calaway, college president; Marilyn Rhinehart, executive vice president, Academic Affairs; and Ruth Randall, dean, Curriculum and Academic Quality.
The Board of Trustees approved the resignation of Don Weiss at their meeting Oct. 18. As early as this weekend, we should know who the trustees are selecting to fill this elected office.

The selected candidate and his or her fellow Board members will be charged with the large task of selecting the college’s next president. On top of all of this, the results of the Nov. 6 elections will have their impact.

I don’t think people truly understand yet what this means to everyone who has any involvement with this college, and bear in mind this group is not limited to students, faculty and staff. It extends to the pockets of every taxpayer in this county.

It feels to me almost as if a hurricane is brewing at this college. The time is just right for the perfect storm and, as all of us are handed these challenges, I feel I owe all of The Ledger’s readers a promise:

This staff and I will do everything in our power to keep you informed of what is happening with this administration in a fair, balanced manner. We will strive to seek out any developments that may affect you.

We will hold those in power accountable for their actions, and we will hold to the same standards we always have, if not higher, in our pursuit of these topics. We will advocate freedom of public information and when you need a reliable source, I vow The Campus Ledger reporters will be your watchdogs.

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

Column: Less machinery, more humanity

November 15, 2012

By David Hurtado

Americans love to think they are a forward thinking society, less hateful and bigoted than people 60 years ago.

Folks, I’ve got news for you: that’s a big ol’ sack of it. Modern man can claim to be civilized all he wants, but we are little more than cavemen dressed in suits.

Does anyone remember the 68-year-old bus monitor who suffered verbal abuse at the hands of a group of young teenagers? Or the Michigan teen who contemplated suicide because of punks at her high school who elected her to the homecoming court as a joke? Absolutely disgusting.

From Kindergarten through the fourth grade, I was verbally and emotionally bullied because I was different. I lost all confidence in myself as person, became an outcast and sometimes cried myself to sleep. By the time second grade started, I had only made one friend who, like me, was different. I didn’t understand at the time why no one wanted to be my friend.

That aside, bullying isn’t the only issue I see in our so-called post-racial, progressive society. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, there were reports of rape and widespread looting. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, locals have reported people posing as FEMA workers, price gouging and thieves looting from neighbors who lost nearly everything. And please, don’t take a leak down my back and tell me it’s raining.

I never heard of these sorts of things happening when Japan was struck by a tsunami during 2011. You want to know why? Because they are a respectful and kind people, even in the worst of crises. And folks, a lot of it has to do with the way they raise their kids.

You see, in Japan, children are taught early on to have respect for their elders, the law and each other. Here, kids are raised to have an entitlement mentality, think themselves above the law, disrespect their parents, et cetera.

What’s happened to the children of America? I’ll tell you. We don’t have enough real parents raising their children to treat others with love, kindness and respect. It also doesn’t help that disciplining children is considered politically incorrect.

If you haven’t guessed what I’m hinting at already, let me point it out for you: Americans need to have more love and compassion for one another. Sept. 11, 2001 was one of our nation’s darkest moments, but it was also our brightest. Conservatives and liberals, blacks and whites, gays and straights all rallied together beneath the American flag. For the first time since the Cold War, we stood united together against those who would dare harm our fellow Americans.

Perhaps the best way to summarize what I’m asking you all is a quote spoken by Charlie Chaplin in his film, “The Great Dictator:”

“We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.”

Have more love for each other, because in the coming years, each other is all we’ll have.

Contact David Hurtado, features editor, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.

Column: Pets as presents

November 15, 2012

Scherba_IllustrationIssue4_ONLINE — Illustration by Sara Scherba

By Morgan Daigneault

As holiday music begins to blare prematurely from malls and department stores, gift-giving may already be on the minds of the consuming masses.

Black Friday sales will entice shoppers in droves to purchase disgusting amounts of electronics, clothes, and nearly anything else a credit card swipe can buy. But toys, housewares, and dubiously-useful Skymall-esque gadgetry aren’t the only items up for grabs; some may want to add a new pet to their home, or gift a pet to a friend or loved one. While bringing an animal into your life can be a tremendous joy under the right circumstances, it is not a decision to be made with misinformed haste.

A good starting point is to evaluate whether a pet is really the right decision, especially during the hectic winter months. Infused with a generous spirit, it is easy to put reality on the back burner when confronted with a wide-eyed, adorable ball of fuzz. New pets require a ton of work and patience, and will continue to demand this effort from you for the remainder of their lives.

Dogs need house training, obedience training, food, toys, veterinary care, and plenty of attention. Cats may be considered “easy mode,” but their needs should not be underestimated either, especially when it comes to litter box maintenance and furniture scratching.

If you’re truly up for the challenge of pet ownership, the research shouldn’t stop there. Change in living situation, for instance, is one of the oft-given excuses for surrendering (or worse, abandoning) a pet. Most rented housing will have restrictions on pets along with a hefty deposit and monthly fee. Roommates and family members could have allergies, so testing beforehand can prevent unneeded heartbreak later.

Dogs and cats come in a variety of breeds, each with their own traits, sizes, special needs and health issues. If you and your fiancee are living in an apartment, for instance, it would be ill-advised to bring home a Great Dane or St. Bernard. Plenty of resources are available for free online to help you find the best fit for your family.

After a thorough amount of research, if you still feel ready for a new pet, all that’s left is the question of where to find one. While contacting a breeder or dropping in at the nearest pet store might seem like convenient options, please consider the tragic and widespread problem of animal overpopulation. A common misconception is that the only way to find a purebred is through a breeder or pet store.

However, many breed-specific rescue organizations exist all across the country, and have puppies and kittens as well as more mature pets. Even local animal shelters will often have purebred animals rescued from hoarding situations or given up by their previous owners. Of course, purebreds aren’t your only option – in fact, mixed breeds can look very unique, have less breed-specific health problems and will love and adore you every bit as much.

If you need more guidance, seek out animal shelters and foster networks. The employees and volunteers care tremendously about the animals and are more than happy to help you make the right decision. Some great organizations in the area include Great Plains SPCA (greatplainsspca.org/), Wayside Waifs (waysidewaifs.org), and LL Dog Rescue (lldogrescue.org). Petfinder.com and
Adoptapet.com are also fantastic resources with searchable profiles of adoptable pets from shelters in your area.

As the holidays close in, don’t let the excitement of the season override your judgment as it concerns the fate of a living creature. If you and your loved ones have swapped visions of sugar plums for puppies and candy canes for kittens, proceed with enthusiasm, but include a heap of caution and knowledge.

Contact Morgan Daigneault, production designer, at mdaignea@jccc.edu.

Staff Editorial: The temporary insanity of the holidays

November 15, 2012

The holiday season is once again upon us. No matter what holiday tradition you practice, everyone can relate to the stresses of the holiday season. Food has to be cooked, family has to be gathered, travel plans have to be made and everyone has to rearrange their schedules so we can theoretically be happy during the coldest part of the year.

Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we create so much stress when our goal is to reduce stress and enjoy time with family and friends? Like most things, the insanity surrounding the holidays is temporary. Best of all, it can be avoided. The traditions we keep are only worth holding onto if they are feasible.

If it takes all day to cook a turkey, ask yourself if that’s something worth doing. Although turkey is certainly a tradition for the Thanksgiving holiday, it doesn’t mean we have to continue it. The same goes for any holiday that involves gift giving, such as Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanza. Everyone likes to receive presents, but do we really need to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars in order to celebrate?

The temporary insanity surrounding the holidays has to go. We’re stressing ourselves out simply because tradition tells us we have to. Start a new tradition this year; one that not only celebrates a holiday but also truly represents a joyous occasion. Instead of forcing Grandma to stay in the kitchen, grab some Chinese takeout and let her spend extra time with the grandkids.

Instead of buying presents or impersonal gifts, have everyone buy a plane ticket to Maui and get away from the Kansas winter for a few days. If that isn’t affordable, have everyone get together and help serve meals at one of the local homeless shelters. Serving those who are less fortunate helps to remind us how lucky we are.

Rather than view the holidays as a checklist of components, make them truly personal. Leave behind the traditions that are too troublesome or create undue burden. The holidays are not a time for people to feel sorry for themselves; it offers us a chance to celebrate what is best in life: family, friends and an appreciation of the values that make us who we are.

Guest column by Miguel Morales: Creating change at the college

November 15, 2012

Do you want someone who will challenge JCCC’s rising tuition? Do you want someone who will explain in plain English what JCCC is doing with your money? Do you want to have a say in who will be the college’s next president?

Well, Cavaliers, this week JCCC’s Board of Trustees will name a replacement for a board member who recently resigned. This is our opportunity to create change.

Why should I care? It doesn’t affect me.

Does not having enough classrooms affect you? Does not being able to find a parking space affect you? How about tuition increases? New course offerings? Trustees are the ones who decide these things and they often do it without student input.

What can I do?

Tell the trustees we want one of our own named to the board. We want someone who walks the halls of JCCC every day. We want someone who knows what it means to scrape together money for tuition and books. We want someone we know and, more importantly, who knows us.

My name is Miguel Morales and I want to be your trustee.

When I was 10 years-old, I worked as a migrant farmworker. I never thought I’d graduate high school much less go to college. But since finding JCCC, I have served as a JCCC Diversity Fellow. I work with diverse populations on and off campus. I co-founded the student club, Latinos United Now and Always (LUNA). I served as the vice-president of GLBTSU (now known as Queers and Allies). I served in several positions on The Campus Ledger including Editor-in-Chief. I am the student journalist who broke the story about JCCC President Charles Carlsen’s alleged sexual harassment of a female employee. That investigation led to Carlsen’s abrupt retirement, the hiring of interim and permanent presidents. It also led to the departure of a well-known trustee implicated in the harassment cover-up.

I’ve twice served as a candidate for the Board of Trustees and was endorsed by The Kansas City Star.

“Miguel M. Morales, of Olathe, is a former student who won national awards for his work as a writer and editor for The Ledger, the student newspaper. Morales campaigned for greater transparency from the college’s board and administration. Those values would suit him well as a trustee … As the son of a migrant farm worker, he would be a valuable voice for first-generation and minority students.”

What would you do as trustee?

I will regularly meet with campus clubs and student leaders. I want to make sure your voice is represented on the board. Students, not donors, must remain the focus of the board’s decisions.

I will protect your First Amendment rights of freedom of speech, religion, press, the right to assemble, and to petition.

You deserve a president who will be the first to apologize and the last to take credit. I will push to make sure the board hires a servant leader as your next president.

If you want to affect change at JCCC, please visit http://www.change.org/petitions/jccc-board-of-trustees-we-want-a-voice

Thank you,

Miguel M. Morales
JCCC student employee

Campus calendar – Nov. 15, 2012

November 15, 2012

Whale of a problem: Obesity rates in America continue to soar + JCAV video

November 1, 2012

StephenTafoya-Obesity — Photo courtesy Stephen Tafoya, JCAV videographer

By David Hurtado

If Americans stick to their eating and exercise habits, obesity rates in the United States could swell to new heights in the coming decades.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 35.7 percent of adults are obese and 16.9 percent of children ages 2 through 19 are obese. By 2030, the number of obese adults is expected to rise to 42 percent. In 2011, the obesity rate in Kansas sat at 29.6 percent.

Karen LaMartina, director, Nursing, said she believed this was partly due to the amounts of exercise Americans received. LaMartina also said low-income families are more likely to be at risk for obesity.

“I think what we’ve seen in our nation is just a real increase in caloric intake and a decrease in activity levels,” LaMartina said, “so the pair of those things together has really led to increased obesity.”

The cost of treating additional obese Americans for diabetes, heart disease and other medical conditions is projected to reach nearly $550 billion over the next two decades, according to the CDC.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat that compares height and weight. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy, between 25 and 29.9 overweight and above 30, obese.

In order to combat the surge of obese Americans, some states have taken matters into their own hands. In early September, the New York Board of Health approved Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal to ban sugary drinks above 16 ounces. In 2007, California began enforcing nutritional standards in schools to limit the amount of fat, sugar and calories from vending machine snacks.

LaMartina said she thought efforts like these were a good place to start curbing obesity.

“I know around here in some of our area high schools, they’ve eliminated high sugar beverages as options in the school cafeterias,” she said. “I think they’ve also tried to eliminate some of the real high calorie foods in favor of subways and salad bars. I think those are good efforts.”

At the college, students can choose between five different restaurants in the Food Court to take their meals. Some options include pizza, sushi, tacos and a salad bar.

Nancy Whedon, supervisor, Dining Services, said Dining Services provides gluten-free crackers, veggie burgers, sugar-free pies and grilled chicken sandwiches as healthier alternatives. However, she said it can be a challenge to earn profits from healthy options.

“The problem is when we try to make more healthy and veggie options, they don’t sell,” Whedon said. “Maybe 10 to 20 sell, and/or no one buys them. People are addicted to good tasting fried foods and sweets and breads. It is too ingrained in their minds and stomachs.”

Healthy alternatives provided by the Food Court are not just extended to foods. Students can find drinks besides pop on the menu as well.

“Drinks are one area we have covered,” Whedon said. “We offer juice in a bottle, Life Water, water, Sobe juices and milk. Then, in even our pop machines, we offer Gatorade, Sobe and sugar free cranberry grapefruit juice. […] But if we stopped all the popular foods, and turned the Food Court into a Hidden Valley Ranch commercial, like on TV with only fresh veggies available and healthy food bars and low-fat, sugar-free, no carb, no gluten foods, we could not make it.”

LaMartina said she believes Food Services offers enough variety to allow people make healthy decisions.

“While we have lots of options for foods that are not so healthy, I do think our food service has plenty of choices that are healthy such as the large salad bar.”

Erin Dilley, student, said she keeps in shape by exercising at the college’s fitness center, running, walking her dog and participating in her brother’s indoor soccer games. Dilley also said she has a certain regimen she runs through while exercising at the college.

“First I do the circuit,” Dilley said. “It’s 20 minutes of a different machine that you’re working on. And then I do cardio on a tread mill and then I do about 25-ish minutes of weights. Then I do a cool down and about 20 minutes of ab workout.”

Contact David Hurtado, features editor, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.

Man on the street: What movie are you excited to see this winter and why?

November 1, 2012

JCAV video coming soon!

Click for full image.

Spooky soirée

November 1, 2012

DeZamacona-Halloween2 — Students Ducky Stiles (left) and Nick Zielsdorf play with lights during the Halloween Dance on Oct. 26. in the Student Center.

Students dressed up in their best costumes to attend the annual Halloween dance at the college Friday, Oct. 26.

Photos by Daniel De Zamacona

Click for larger images:

Student Kameron Marsh puts on a light show with lighted gloves.

Slenderman made an appearance at the dance.

InFocus: Dean of Curriculum and Academic Quality retires after 24 years

November 1, 2012

DeZamacona-ProfileOnline — Ruth Randall, dean, Curriculum and Academic Quality, reflects on her time at the college in an office with awards lining the walls. Photo by Daniel De Zamacona

By Jon Parton

Ruth Randall, dean, Curriculum and Academic Quality, is all smiles. After more than two decades of serving at the school, Randall announced that she will retire in December.

Randall started in 1988, the same year the college built the Industrial Technical Center. She is responsible for a number of programs at the school, including Cosmetology and the Honors Program. Moreover, she oversees curriculum management and helps recommend which classes get cut and which ones stay, or possibly alter.

“Say a business wants to start a new degree or certificate; they may call me in and ask me about the state level approvals,” Randall said.

In order to do her job, Randall said it requires quite a bit of research.

“I have to stay up-to-date with U.S. Department of Education as well as Federal Perkins, which is a federal funding program, as well as the Kansas Board of Regents, new regulations, rules, all of that,” Randall said.

Throughout the entire process, Randall acts as a liaison for the school in order to help speed things along. She is also responsible for the college’s program reviews. All programs are reviewed every five years and are assessed on a number of factors.

“Data is pulled from our Institutional Research department, as well as they answer some questions that were developed by a committee many years ago,” Randall said. “They’re sort of assessed on cost-per-credit hour and student retention. If it’s a career program, students’ placement into those careers. ‘Are there still jobs?’ And so all that information is brought forward to make decisions about funding.”

Randall explained that she served as the Honors Program director before taking on the role of dean, which is why the program is now under her purview.

“It just seemed a natural fit because I knew about it,” Randall said. “And so, you know, the person who takes my place may or may not have that position under them. I don’t know.”

The Cosmetology department also falls under her list of responsibilities.

“That was because several years ago when I was still the Honors Program director, they needed someone to fill in for the director position over there,” Randall said. “I have a cosmetology background. I worked my way through my undergraduate degree after I went to cosmetology school. So they said, ‘Oh, you know, Ruth knows something about cosmetology.’’

Randall said this year has given her time to reflect on her career at the college and what it means for her retirement.

“I thought, and my husband has asked me this too, ‘If you stayed as a faculty member, do you think you would be retiring right now?’” Randall said. “And I had to say, I had to really think about that and I think probably, maybe not because with any higher position comes more responsibility and more headaches and you take it home. So it’s a 24-hour job.”

Randall said that some of her proudest accomplishments involve the success of students.

“I don’t think that a lot of these students had ever considered going to anything but a state university,” Randall said. “They were thinking locally. There’s nothing wrong with it. I don’t want to say that there is, but it’s really wonderful when students can open those doors and look beyond what’s right in front of them and say, ‘You know, I could go to Harvard or Yale or Brown University.’ I had students actually accepted at Dartmouth, Northwestern, Yale, Harvard. In fact, Dartmouth, it was the first ever community college student they’d ever accepted.”

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

InFocus: College president announces his retirement

November 1, 2012

Compiled by Mackenzie Clark, mclark68@jccc.edu

Design by Morgan Daigneault

Photo by Mackenzie Gripe

Click for full image.

Hole in the wall review: Haru’s Steak and Sushi

November 1, 2012

Cook-HOLE — A view of the interior of Haru’s Steak and Sushi restaurant in Olathe, Oct. 30. The dining area incorporates a lot of Japanese design. Photo by Tasha Cook

By Jon Parton

It’s challenging to find decent sushi around this area. Let’s face it; it’s tough to get fresh fish in Kansas. The nearest ocean to us is the Pacific and it’s roughly 1,400 miles away.

Haru’s Steak and Sushi, located at 15202 W. 119th Street in Olathe, rises to the challenge with a decent array of sushi, sashimi and hibachi grill offerings.

My dining companions and I arrived during the middle of the lunch hour when it seemed the restaurant was at its busiest. The smell of chicken and steak sizzling on the hibachi permeated the air. The noise of the crowd was a little off-putting, but most of it was centered around the grills.

We were seated at the sushi bar by our courteous hostess, away from the bustle and noise. The interior favored a minimalist approach that featured Japanese artwork mixed with modern design. After much debate, we agreed to share a communal plate of various sushi rolls. Our waitress kept on top of our drink orders and managed to answer our questions even though she appeared to be serving four to five other tables.

Within a short amount of time, our order arrived. The mark of any good sushi chef is the appearance of the food produced. Spread out before us was a vibrant array of colors and hues that looked too good to eat. It was then I realized why the interior seemed so plain. The artwork isn’t found on the walls, it’s found on the plates.

The Olathe roll featured an interesting mix of super white tuna, jalapeño and asparagus with mango. The crunchy texture paired well with the sweet and hot flavors of the roll. Less impressive was the Haru’s roll, a combination of shrimp, crab and cream cheese. The sauce was good but it tasted too much like a California Roll for my liking.

The shrimp tempura roll was a decent offering until I got my hands on the Green Bay roll. This delight combined shrimp tempura with apple, cream cheese and kiwi. The sweetness of the fruit contrasted beautifully with the crispiness of the tempura breading.

Someone in the group ordered the barbecue eel roll. I never liked the idea of even trying eel. Then again, I never liked the idea of eating octopus, but now calamari is one of my favorite types of seafood.

With much hesitation, and the questioning of my manhood by my fellow diners, I ate the damn thing. I was surprised not only that I could keep it down, but I wanted more after trying it. Eel has a fishy flavor to it but with a very meaty texture. It doesn’t flake as easily as tuna does.

Haru’s is little more expensive than some places, but the size of the portions makes up for it. If you’re looking for decent sushi in Johnson County, make sure you don’t skip over this hole in the wall: Haru’s Steak and Sushi.

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

Backpage comic: The political debate

November 1, 2012

Scherba_BackPagesubmissionOnline — Illustration by Sara Scherba

Illustration by Sara Scherba

Click for full image.

Quick guide for voters

November 1, 2012

By Jon Parton

Design by Morgan Daigneault

Click for full image.

From frame to frame: New animation club geared toward promotional work debuts

November 1, 2012

Galena Neiderhiser - illustration — Illustration by Galena Neiderhiser, member, Animators in Motion

By David Hurtado

In addition to more than 70 other clubs and organizations, the college may soon be adding a new animation club, Animators in Motion, to the mix.

The club awaits confirmation from Student Senate. Evan Schiwetz, president, said he founded the club because he wanted student animators to get a feel for how the real world worked.

“I really want to get more of a professional feel for how it’s going to work,” Schiwetz said. “I want to see how it would feel if it was real; not just critiques for students, but I want to know critiques from actual viewers. I think that would really help in growth for students and really help when you want to get your foot in the door.”

Currently the club meets based on members’ availability. Some meetings will take place outside the college where members can take texture pictures, or photos of textures such as brick or grass that can be laid over 3-D animations, to form ideas. Other meetings will occur at the college to work on rigging, which is applying a framework that can be animated to a model, and character-modeling, or adding physical attributes to a model.

Schiwetz said the club will primarily focus on doing freelance work and promotional work for the school and professional companies. He also said United Way, a non-profit organization, has expressed interest in the club doing promotional work for them.

“Our first project is to promote the animation program here at JuCo,” Schiwetz said.

The club deals mostly in computer animation, but would like to broaden their horizons to include other types of animation. Schiwetz expressed interest in mixing live action into their animations.

“I think we want to deal in everything,” he said. “We’re mainly 2-D and 3-D, but I think Claymation would be a great thing to get our hands onto. I want to get film and theatre if the theatre students want to help us out.”

Mike Worley, student and member, said he joined the club because he enjoys making objects move and drawing cartoons and comics. Worley has worked as a cartoonist for Marvel Comics, King Features and Archie Comics.

“I’m not a gamer, I can barely make Tetris work,” Worley said. “But I can draw and that was my emphasis. When I do comic book work, there’s a lot of that same type of emphasis where you make something act, where the characters interact with one another. You establish mood, motion, lighting, all of those things. Even if it’s just on a single comic book page, to be able to put it on something that actually will move, that puts a whole new dynamic to it.”

The club uses the software programs Maya and Toonboom.

For more information about Animators in Motion, contact Jeffery Byers, adviser, at jbyers3@jccc.edu or Evan Schiwetz at eschiwet@jccc.stumail.edu.

Contact David Hurtado, features editor, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.

Sports calendar – Nov. 1, 2012

November 1, 2012

Column: Vote from the heart… and the brain

November 1, 2012

By Mackenzie Clark

I consider myself a patriot. I feel I am incredibly lucky to have been born in America and I wouldn’t trade this gift for the world.

With this gift comes responsibility. I feel those of us at the college and in this country who are eligible to vote have an obligation to become informed and voice their opinions.

By the time you pick up this issue, it may be too late to change your mind if you’ve already skipped the polls. If not, perhaps I can persuade you.

Obviously the past four years have not gone as well as some thought they would. Our government – on the sides of both political parties – has failed us.

This election coming up Tuesday may be the single most important one in our lifetimes, whether you’re reading this as a student fresh out of high school or if you’re a member of the Brown & Gold Club.

I’m certainly not endorsing one presidential candidate over another (remember, there are more than just Obama and Romney, even if they don’t stand a chance of actually winning), but something has to change.

Jobless numbers continue to fluctuate, usually growing. You could walk up to any random student in the hall and they would probably have a story to tell about how hard these economic times and this insane political climate has been for them.

We are all hurting. You are not alone, and neither am I.

Please, my fellow students; my respected faculty and administators: get informed about the issues and vote for the candidates you believe are going to do the most good for our country.

It’s not too late to learn what they stand for and what they intend to do. I can almost guarantee any candidate for any office has a website; all you need to do is a quick Google search and you can probably find any information you wish.

However, if you refuse to do so, please take a cue from Tasha Cook’s column above and stay home on election day. Also, as Cook said, those of us who don’t miss a single election do not want to hear the complaints of those who don’t.

If you think your vote doesn’t count, you’re wrong. Every vote counts to someone.

I implore you, readers: please take even just 15 minutes to read up on the candidates – local and national – and take the time to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6. And please, vote for what you truly believe is right.

This country will be great again one day, but it’s in our own hands.

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

Sports briefs – Nov. 1, 2012

November 1, 2012

Sports Column: At least I’ve got United

November 1, 2012

By James Russell

My father-in-law is in from out of the country this week. Having lived his entire life between England and Europe, American football is not something he’s been exposed to regularly. It’s an alien game to most people on the other side of the pond – a distant game that makes little sense despite its similarities to rugby.

But approximately three years ago he and I agreed upon what seemed a decent trade. I agreed to adopt and support his hometown football club, Manchester United, and in turn he likewise adopted both my beloved Jayhawks and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Man, did he get the short end of the clichéd stick on that one.

He has remained as faithful as could possibly be expected from someone living in a country with a seven hour time difference and little-to-no coverage of the sport. He has consistently attempted to learn its rules and nuances and whenever during football season he happens to be in the States, he watches the games with me.

He has faithfully worn the KU jacket and Chiefs hat I gave him long ago to countries the world over. That Jayhawk and Arrowhead have silently evangelized Luxembourg, Germany, France, England, Belgium and even South Africa.

Poor guy.

Sorry, Dad. I inherited through our deal a team that is arguably the best to have ever played the game of soccer (football, I know – but it gets confusing to differentiate in a column like this), and in return you have been gifted two football teams that are – currently, at least – an outright embarrassment to this great American game.

Our showing against the Raiders on Oct. 28 was just one more echoing thud of what I am becoming more and more convinced is yet another damned nail in an unexpected coffin.

No one has any idea what is wrong.

No one.

And therein, perhaps, is the answer. What is wrong with this team is that we still don’t know what’s wrong with this team.

We are 1-6 in the NFL, and are the laughingstock of the entire league. We’re a joke.

Our fans are in mid-mutiny. An injury to our starting quarterback was recently met with cheers. A ridiculous and media-hungry banner was flown over the Mecca of Chiefs Kingdom, Arrowhead Stadium, calling for firings and benchings.

My opinion of these “fans” aside, I believe this is Crennel’s fault.

He has no idea what is going on, nor does he seem to have the slightest clue how to fix it. There is no fire within this teddy bear of a man. He is proving, week after week, that he does not have the ability to be the general we need in an head coach: he can’t make these guys care.

After the loss to the Raiders, Crennel spoke to the media about the lack of any true running game for an entire four quarters (by the way – guess who our leading rusher was in that game? Matt Cassel. Wow): “You also have to be cognizant of where the game is, and what’s happening in the game, which may allow you to run the ball more. When you’re ahead, you can run it more … but when you’re behind, you try to throw it to get chunks of yards,” he said.

Romeo, Romeo… how can you say what we can do when we’re ahead? We haven’t had the lead in regulation a single time in seven games. Can I repeat that, Mr. Crennel? In seven games, in 28 quarters of professional play, the team you claim to coach has not once had even a single point more than their opponent.

Things could still turn around. I really am the eternal optimist. But if it does it won’t be because of Crennel. It will be despite him.

In the meantime I need to catch up on Man United’s latest exploits. Despite not playing at their best this season they have managed to remain only one point behind Chelsea for first place in the Premier League.

Thanks for that, Dad. At least I have one team that doesn’t manage to rip my screaming, flailing soul from my body with each game they play. At least I have United.

Contact James Russell, sports columnist, at jrusse5@jccc.edu.

Column: Obscenity and decency – it can be easy to confuse one for the other

November 1, 2012

By Jon Parton

Are we living in the 1950s? I think some Kansans still are.

Earlier this year the American Family Association of Kansas and Missouri (AFA) led a petition drive to have a bronze sculpture removed from the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, claiming it violated Kansas obscenity laws. The sculpture, entitled “Accept or Reject,” depicts a headless woman with an exposed chest aiming a camera at herself.

Overland Park officials refused to remove the statue, leading the American Family Association to pursue the matter in court. After a lengthy legal battle, the issue has finally been decided. Did I say lengthy? It took a grand jury less than a day to determine the sculpture did not violate any laws.

According to a written statement made by the jury: “We sat for one day and viewed the photographs of the statue. We reviewed the Kansas law and found that the sculpture in question did not meet the legal definition of obscenity.”

So the city wasted time and taxpayer money in order to prove something reasonable people already know. The human body is not obscene. What is obscene is an organization like the AFA trying to attach personal connotation to artwork. The AFA claimed the sculpture promoted “sexting” and was inappropriate for children. The woman is depicted holding a digital camera, not a cell phone, and is aimed at where her head would be.

You should question yourself, not the artwork, if you can’t view the human form without embarrassment or shame. For those who question the location of the artwork, have you ever heard of the Country Club Plaza? Nude sculptures have been a part of the Kansas City public landscape for more than 50 years. How many children have been traumatized by the beautiful fountains?

The concept of decency is rooted in what is ideally best for humanity. What decency is there in attacking the freedom of expression? It is inherently indecent to force the rest of society to conform to easily offended sensibilities and a narrow view of the world.

Before 9/11, Afghanistan’s Taliban government destroyed most of the ancient Buddhist statues in that country, some of which were centuries old. That artwork will never again be seen except in photographs. More importantly, what is the difference between what the Taliban did and what the AFA tried to do? Both sought to remove artwork deemed offensive for religious reasons. Why not burn a few books while we’re at it?

As Americans, we should try to err on the side of freedom. The First Amendment carries with it a lot of benefits. By limiting that freedom, we only do harm to ourselves. That, my friends, is true obscenity.

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

Column: Go vote! …if you know what you’re voting for

November 1, 2012

By Tasha Cook

Amidst all the talk of voting and elections and officials and presidents and binders, I have honestly done nothing but gotten lost in the shuffle of all this hoopla (except the binders – curiosity drove me to Google that one).

I have nothing against politics, corruption aside; I just have no real interest in them and therefore don’t know a lot about them. I’ll admit that. With that being said, I am most likely not going to vote this year.

Everyone, everywhere, seems to be pushing everyone else to vote, regardless of any circumstances or education. Go vote, make yourself heard, voice your opinion, or don’t complain in the years to come about who is in office or their decisions. It’s not that I’m against voting, or that I refuse, or that I literally don’t care that much.

I do care. I care enough not to vote, because I know I don’t know enough about politics to make a truly educated decision on who I’m voting for. Of course this year, I feel like we’re voting for the lesser of two evils, so that doesn’t help my decision.

But honestly, most of my opinion even in that matter is probably based off of hearsay and outside influences. I haven’t personally researched either Romney or Obama to find out the raw truth. If I did I might like them even less, or I might surprise myself.

Not to mention all of the other voting you’re required to do, locally and nationally, just to vote for the presidential race. If I don’t know enough about the presidential candidates, how will I know enough about any of those other much less talked about positions?

This is all aside from the fact I believe my own personal vote doesn’t count that much (between the millions voting and the supposed corruption with the voting system), so I’m not too worried about being one person amongst the masses to not stand in line on Nov. 7.

I’m not discouraging anyone from voting. I’m only saying that perhaps those who are not as educated in the realm of politics, such as myself, should think twice before making their opinion heard.

Then again, who am I to say? Everyone has the right to vote, and I think that’s completely fair. I just know that as confused and nonplussed as politics and elections make me, I don’t feel too bad refraining from throwing my uneducated guess into the mix.

Contact Tasha Cook, photo editor, at tcook15@jccc.edu.

Guest column by Jack Van Kirk: Wingnuts on both sides of the aisle

November 1, 2012

David [Hurtado],

My name is Jack Van Kirk, and I’m writing this to express my disgust at the ideological mind-prisons and false dichotomies in American politics these days. I’m sick and tired of the wingnuts on both sides of the aisle. That’s why I appaud Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the head of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, for inviting both Obama and Romney to the Al Smith Banquet and giving a closing blessing at both parties’ national conventions (and I say that as a devout Catholic and a registered Republican). The Catholic Church and the Democratic platform stand in opposition, but at least the cardinal was at least willing to associate with those whom he disagrees politically.

As Rick Warren put it, ” our culture has accepted two huge lies. One is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear them or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they say or do. Both are false; you don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.” The problem today is that we all have our convictions, but we won’t even talk to people who don’t share them. We label them bigots, gays, Bible-bangers, godless commies, corporate big-wigs, whatever. If we meet someone who disagrees, we don’t ask them politely why they disagree. Instead, we rage-quit and go back to our blogs, or turn on Bill Maher or Rush Limbaugh to further convince ourselves that the other guys are a bunch of morons (admit it, we all struggle with this).

I’m almost tempted to say stay out of politics altogether until people decide to grow up and be civil. But, alas, I can’t, because civil discourse begins with us. We as college students, regardless of your political, economic, or religious background, need to stop using emotionally-charged rhetoric and come to at least understand each other.

God bless,

-Jack Van Kirk

JCCC Student

Guest column by Alex Abramovitz: Who is John Galt?

November 1, 2012

To Whom It May Concern:

“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for men of good conscience to remain silent.” These brilliant words from President Thomas Jefferson hold just as true today as they did many years ago. Mr. Jefferson was not hinting at our first amendment right to the freedom of speech, press, assembly, and protest, but rather something much deeper and far more intimate: our privilege to vote, and not only that, but our privilege to an EDUCATED vote.

In recent years, due to a lack of “Give a Damn”, the American populace has based their voting decisions on what letter follows a candidate’s name. In many states voter turnout is significantly lower for Primary Elections and non-partisan municipal elections. This is an alarming fact that shouldn’t be!

Our country provides us with a privilege that many others throughout this world do not receive: WE CAN VOTE! In many other nations, the constituency does not get to speak their minds, share their ideas, or have a say in how their government does business, but here in the land of milk and honey we do. You see, voting is not a right, for rights are handed down from our creator—NOT from government! Right’s cannot be taken away, but privileges can be, as necessary as some are to providing for the general well-being of our society, as defined in the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States, along with the Bill of Rights.

My privilege to vote is something of personal intimacy, that is truly only between me and my God; something that I may express from time-to-time, but that vote is still mine. I am truly blessed to live in a nation that allows me that freedom—that allows you that freedom, as well.

As sacred as my vote is to me, I take great pride and responsibility in casting my vote. I research each candidate and issue thoroughly, boldly questioning our elected officials, seeking answers, and finally making my decision after carefully weighing all options. Much like an Eagle Scout, I am highly prepared when I enter the polling booth on Election Day.

I gained this rare virtue the summer before my senior year of high school. Before I could register to vote in the 2006 November Election, my father sat me down and told me that before I could register he wanted me to prove that I knew who and what I was voting for—I provided him with no less than three good qualities and three not-so-good qualities about each candidate and issue. This seems to me to be as much common sense as looking both ways before crossing the street, yet some still choose to just run across a busy highway and wonder why they got ramrodded by a semi!

I will not tell you who I am voting for on November 6, nor will I tell you who you should and should not vote for, but I will challenge you with the same challenge my father gave me in July 2006: Research each candidate and ballot issue thoroughly, weigh all options, consequences—both good and bad, and try to find at least three positive qualities about each candidate and three negative qualities about each candidate; listen to the policies proposed, and find where you are on the political spectrum; it is your duty and responsibility to yourself, your fellow countrymen, and to future generations to make an educated vote; what happens today, politically, will affect the younger and future generations more than it will those who are older.

Remember, it is the wise man who constantly seeks the answers in life, searching for truth and tranquility; it is the fool who thinks he has the answers.

Who is John Galt?

-Alex Abramovitz

President Emeritus

JCCC College Republicans

Student Senator (2007-08)

JCCC Student Senate

aabramo3@stumail.jccc.edu

News briefs – Nov. 1, 2012

November 1, 2012

Trustee Weiss resigns from board

The Board of Trustees approved the resignation of Don Weiss at their meeting Oct. 18. Read more online about the replacement process at http://www.CampusLedger.com.

Overland Park Arboretum statue declared ‘art’

A Johnson County grand jury comprised of 15 members determined the controversial statue at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens does not meet the legal definition of obscenity.

The statue in question, entitled “Accept or Reject,” depicts a headless, bare-chested woman aiming a camera at herself. Critics claimed the statue was inappropriate and should be moved, but city officials did not oblige.

“I, and the City Council, and many in this local community, appreciate a jury of our peers reviewng the city’s International Sculpture Garden and concluding that the ‘Accept or Reject’ sculpture meets our community standards and is a form of expression when it comes to art,” said Mayor Carl Gerlach in a press release issued by the city.

Read a column on this topic by Jon Parton, managing editor, here.

Theatre department to present musical

The Music and Theatre departments will bring to the college “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” written by Rupert Holmes.

This musical number will depend on the audience determining if Edwin Drood was murdered, and if so, whodunit.

Chris McCoy, adjunct assistant professor, Music, directs and choreographs the play. Musical direction is provided by Ron Stinson, professor, Music.

Shows will occur at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 9, 10, 16 and 17 and at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Nov. 10, 11, 17 and 18. All performances are free and open to the public in the Polsky Theatre.

Important date for students approaching

Thursday, Nov. 15 will be the last day students may drop a class and receive a “W” for withdrawal on their transcripts. It is also the last day students be able to request the pass/fail grade option for a full semester course.

Compiled by Mackenzie Clark, mclark68@jccc.edu

Monthly Archives: November 2012