Video by JCAV Executive Producer, Heather Foley; Reporter Anthony Graham, and Editor Brandon Giraldo. Voice over by Campus Ledger Managing Editor, Cade Webb.
Monthly Archives: August 2015
Man sentenced for taking pictures of women in bathroom
A Johnson County Court judge sentenced 39-year-old Saysavat Noy Bounyadeth of Lenexa to 34 months in prison, stemming from an invasion of privacy charge last April. Bounyadeth was found photographing unsuspecting women on a second-floor OCB bathroom at the college on April 27. A woman had noticed Bounyadeth filming her in the bathroom, and chased him down until police could apprehend the individual.
Details from April’s incident: Man arrested for recording women in college bathroom
Bounyadeth is a registered sex offender, and was found guilty of three felony counts of invasion of privacy. Bounyadeth recived sentences for all three charges: 17 months on one count, 9 and 8 on the other two counts. Bounyadeth was not a student or member of faculty at the time of the offense.
This is not Bounyadeth’s first sexually motivated crime. Last March, Bounyadeth was released from prison after a few months in prison. Bounyadeth’s time in prison came from a violation of a probation agreement in which he was supposed to attend sex offender treatment. In the incident, Bounyadeth broke into an Olathe woman’s home and stole personal items, including underwear and lingerie.
Sporting KC star makes appearance at the college
by Cade Webb
Managing Editor
cwebb26@jccc.edu
The college put together a fun-filled afternoon for students and Sporting KC fans on Wednesday. Seth Sinovic, defender for Sporting KC
and 2014 SKC Defensive Player of the year, was available for photos and autographs with students.
The event was born from a recent partnership between Sporting KC and the college, and took place on the Regnier Center south lawn, and featured Bubble Soccer and music for the students.
About the partnership between the college and Sporting KC: What you missed over the summer
“I thought it was pretty cool. Bubble soccer is something I’ve never done for myself, but it looked fun. There was some pretty physical play out there,” Sinovic said.
Bubble Soccer involves two teams with four players each, and players are put into a large plastic “bubble” that protects them, but also makes for some pretty devastating hits on opposing players.
“Coach probably wouldn’t approve of me playing bubble soccer, but it was definitely entertaining to watch,” Sinovic said.
The college announced the event yesterday on their Facebook page, and despite this short notice, a large number of students, faculty and fans attended the event, with appearances from the men’s soccer team and the Golden Girls.
“It was really fun. I didn’t know that this was happening but I saw the signs on the ground and I ended up here. I’m glad I found it,” student Daniel Thomas said.
This was not Sinovic’s first time at the college, however. Sinovic is a Kansas City native, growing up in Leawood. Sinovic was very complimentary of the college, and was impressed with the turnout.
“It’s a great campus. It’s a great community college, and obviously putting on great activities like this gets everybody interacting together, and that’s pretty cool,” Sinovic said.
ECAV Radio’s Sam Kombrink’s interview with Seth Sinovic
Contributions by: E.J. Wood, Photo Correspondent; Heather Foley, Executive Producer; Seth Elliot, Reporter and Camera; Caleb Wayne, Camera; T.J. Kimbrough-French, Editor; Caleb Wayne, Graphics; JCAV-TV; Brandon Parnes, ECAV Radio
Adjusting to American education
By J.T. Buchheit
News Editor
jbuchhei@jccc.edu
The beginning of a school year is difficult for everyone to adapt to, but for most, the adjustment is likely nothing compared to the challenge students from other countries face when coming to school in the U.S.
“The ‘culture shock’ is always the number-one issue that we see for students’ first terms in college,” said coordinator of International and Immigrant Student Services Iping Lee. “Also, the U.S. classroom [can cause struggles]. In the U.S. classrooms, the professor likes to ask questions, and the professor is also expecting that the student can be more active and answer the questions. But some international students, because of their cultural backgrounds, may not fit in the U.S. classroom culture because they are shy, and maybe because of the language barrier problem. So sometimes, misunderstanding and miscommunication can cause them problems in adjusting to campus life.”
Even though international students can struggle when they arrive, the college has many ways of helping them grow more comfortable on campus.
“We do have a new-student orientation for students from overseas,” said Lee. “This orientation will help them to adjust to campus life for the first semester. During the orientation, they will read the campus resource information provided by the JCCC staff, like the student information desk, the counseling service, the writing center, and student clubs … During the orientation, we also have a student from International Club in order to make a presentation and invite new students to join the International Club.”
Lee also stressed that students from overseas need to look into multiple colleges before deciding on one, and that they should also consider why they want to seek an education in the U.S.
“Before they apply, they really need to know about the campus and the JCCC campus resources,” said Lee. “They need to realize why they choose JCCC as their school, and what their purpose is to go the United States to study, and what degree and program they would like to pursue from the college. They have a very useful online resource provided by the government called ‘Study in the U.S.’ It is a website that contains all the U.S. colleges’ campus resource information and admission requirement information. So before students come to the U.S., they can go online to look up U.S. college information that is going to help them make the right decision.”
One new student, Rubens Davanso from Brazil, has enjoyed his brief stay at the college and is grateful for his opportunity.
“It’s a really good college. For people that don’t come from here, we just think that it’s a dream,” said Davanso. “You know, to come to America and study at a big college like this. I’m really glad that I’m here.”
Davanso is aware of the challenges that he will face as a new international student, but he feels fully up to the task and hopes students and teachers will understand any difficulties he might have.
“People should understand that sometimes the language is difficult, and some things that you study are just hard. But I think if you just focus, you can do it.”
For more information regarding international and immigrant students, visit COM 306 or their website.
Cavs flex muscles in opening tournament
by James Howey
Sports Editor
jhowey@jccc.edu
The college’s volleyball squad began the season with a showcase of dominance on offense and defense. The Cavs went 4-0 on the weekend in the JCCC Tournament and swept all their matches 3-0, not losing a set all weekend. Head Coach Jennifer Ei was not surprised by the team’s success, having seen what this team is capable of during the preseason.
“It’s a very talented group. They’ve been working very hard in two-a-days,” Ei said. “I think they were ready to prove and show all the hard work they have been doing.”
Ei was happy with the team’s aggressiveness over the weekend, and said the team’s scrappy defense made a difference.
“I liked the way we really scrambled and played defense,” Ei said. “We just played with a nice confidence.”
Sophomore Michelle Tennant was also expecting this type of effort out of the Cavs.
“I’ve seen it in preseason. We just flow really well together,” Tennant said. “We have great servers, defense, setters, hitters, and it all comes together.”
Next up, the Cavs open Conference play at home against Coffeyville tomorrow at 5:30 p.m.
Ei said that Coffeyville is always a very scrappy team.
“We are going to have to play disciplined and very aggressive to win,” Ei said.
College art professor has gallery displayed at East Crossroads district
by Cade Webb
Managing Editor
cwebb26@jccc.edu
Professor Sam Davis has only been teaching ceramics at the college for two years, but students now have an opportunity to get to know Davis outside of the classroom and learn a little bit about his work and the different stories behind it. Davis currently has his work displayed at the Plenum Space gallery in the East Crossroads District in Kansas City.
From the first Friday of August until the 29th of the month, Davis’ artwork will be on display, and students are invited to come learn about his work. Davis has only been living in Kansas City for about three years, and the way his art was put on display in this current gallery is quite interesting.
“When I moved here, I met the curator of the gallery when she overheard me talking in the Nelson-Atkins museum. We struck up a conversation from there and she gave me the opportunity to show my work,” Davis said.
Davis certainly isn’t new to having his work displayed for the public to see, but hopes that viewers come into his work with an open mind, and that they will also observe the art objectively.
“Anytime you show a new body of work, there’s always an element of nervousness when you wonder how the work will be perceived, if people like the work and if they understand the work… It’s always exciting and always a rush,” Davis said.
Davis has a way of helping the viewer become open-minded, and it comes through heavily in some of his work. Some of his pieces may be abstract and need to be thought out by the viewer, while other pieces are simply stunning to look at.
“I make work about beauty and mystery, about collection and humor. What I try to do is use humor in the work to disarm the viewer so that they will put their guard down and understand the sincere intentions of my work,” Davis said.
Davis received his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Tennessee, and then went to Clemson University to receive his master’s degree. The type of work that Davis was accustomed to doing changed, however, in a residency.
“I was trained as a functional potter, working mainly on the pottery wheel. I was doing this at the University of Tennessee for my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and then at Clemson for my master’s degree. I also had the opportunity to do a residency in Taiwan during my last year at Clemson, and [living there] really started to affect my work. When I came back, my work had shifted from pottery to sculpture,” Davis said.
Davis isn’t just a talented artist, though. He is also a very popular teacher at the college, and loves his job. Davis has some advice and words of wisdom to students who might be hesitant on taking classes in the art department.
“Here at JCCC, we have a great art department with great teachers. All of the teachers are working artists who have their work being displayed. That way, you’re not only being taught by our teachers, but also active artists in the community,” Davis said.
Davis’ gallery at the Plenum Space lasts until the 29th of August, but students have a variety of opportunities to view his work.
“I have a gallery coming up at the Epsten Gallery at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park. I also have a website with all of my upcoming shows and new pieces of mine.”
You can check out pieces of Professor Sam Davis’ work and learn about upcoming shows of his at www.samueldavisart.com. To view Davis’ work at the Plenum Space, contact Ami Ayars and Jessie Kelley at plenumspacekc@gmail.com.
The college hosts police academy graduation
by Andrew Reichmeier
Staff Reporter
areichme@jccc.edu
The Johnson County Regional Police Academy graduated its 115th class Thursday. The ceremony, held in the college’s Yardley Hall, was the culmination of a 16-week process for 11 recruits.
Ken Sissom, director of the Johnson County Regional Police Academy, was the M.C. for the event.
“I thought it went really well,” Sissom said. “Yardley Hall is such a wonderful venue.”
The first speaker Sissom introduced was Paul Bender, one of the 11 members of Class 115, who delivered a speech to his classmates.
“It was great. I’m so happy and so honored to have so many people here to support us. That’s a really good feeling in this line of work,” Bender said of the ceremony.
In addition to being class speaker, Bender also won the Rick Staples Marksmanship Award.
“It’s important for me to bring the award back to my department. I’m pretty proud about that,” Bender said.
The 11 graduates from Class 115 are now officers at their respective departments, including Lenexa, Olathe, Overland Park, Prairie Village and Johnson County Park Police.
The guest speaker at the ceremony was U.S. Marshal Ronald Miller. Throughout the presentation, Miller highlighted recent riots that have taken place throughout the United States.
“It’s not a great time to be in law enforcement,” Miller said. “What are you going to do with the time you have to make this profession better?”
Photography by Lance Martin, Photo Editor
VIDEO: Students share what they wish they knew as freshmen
by T.J. Kimbrough-French
Reporter/Editor, JCAV-TV
tkimbrou@jccc.edu
Is hindsight always 20/20? We caught up with returning students to ask them, “What advice would you give yourself as an incoming freshman?”
Contributions by Heather Foley, Executive Producer, Brandon Giraldo, Camera, Caleb Wayne, Graphics, JCAV-TV and Josh Morrow, Station Manager, ECAV Radio.
Ledger’s first print issue of the semester coming Sept. 3
Staff Reports
The first print issue of The Campus Ledger for fall 2015 will hit newsstands on Thursday, Sept. 3.
The print edition, which will take a heavier focus on feature and human-interest stories, will be released on the first Thursday of every month. Campusledger.com will continue to offer new content daily.
Issue #1 will include a profile of newly elected Board of Trustees member Nancy Ingram; a precede to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival; a glimpse at a day in the life of a culinary student; and a photo gallery detailing campus life in the first two weeks of the semester.
New to the print edition will be a regular feature in which members of the campus community will be asked to submit their own photos of life around campus, and The Ledger‘s readers may submit captions for the image via the publication’s social media sites. Readers will vote on their favorite caption, and both the photographer and the caption writer will receive a prize, such as movie passes or Cav gift cards.
Beginning this semester, The Ledger will no longer run its regular crossword puzzle in the print edition.
Follow The Ledger on Facebook and Twitter for more information about issue #1 before its release.
Cav Kickoff a Success for Students and Faculty
By Cade Webb
Managing Editor
cwebb26@jccc.edu
Wednesday marked an annual event for students at the college. Cav Kickoff is the college’s way of welcoming students back into the new school year. Booths with representatives from clubs and organizations were in attendance, inflatable obstacle courses were set up, and free food was offered at nearly every turn.
Admissions representatives from various colleges were also at Cav Kickoff to answer any questions that students may have about transferring. Cav Kickoff benefits both parties, as it gives students a quick, face-to-face interaction with an admissions representative, and it allows universities to get their name out there, and even introduce the idea of attending their university, which may not have been thought of before.
“We want to welcome anyone to our university…and we welcome their other college credits and want to make sure there’s always someone they can talk to and meet with to help them through that process,” said Kate Migliazzo, Admissions Representative for the University of Missouri.
In addition to universities being represented today, over 40 clubs and organizations at the college were on site, according to Mindy Kinnaman in an interview yesterday.
“I think it’s really cool to see a lot of people here – your friends, people in classes, seeing all the schools that came out here to set up booths and all the clubs” student Abby Goulding said.
Cav Kickoff is something that students look forward to at the beginning of each fall semester. The event is a way for students to ease their way into the first week of classes, and also enjoy a fun afternoon with friends.
“I’m excited. It’s pretty busy. There’s a lot of people, a good buzz, good atmosphere, and a lot of energy,” student Josiah Klas said.
Overall, it seems that Cav Kickoff was a great success for both students and employees of the college.
“We had a lot of activities for everyone, and it was great to see the new students getting involved. I saw many new students joining clubs and having fun and enjoying time with their friends,” said Jose Pineda Lugo, Student Activities Ambassador.
Staff Reporters Andrew Reichmeier and Shawn Simpson contributed to this report.
Cavs Pursuing Greatness for 2015
By James Howey
Photo by James Howey.
The college’s volleyball team comes into this season with a lot of new faces, but the squad’s expectations are as high as ever. The team is filled with talent across the board. The Cavs return four players from last year in Abby Goulding, Becca Henderson, Bizzy Chhilcoat and Michelle Tennant.
“So far they have done a great job,” head coach Jennifer Ei said. “They tend to lead in different ways, but they cover all types of the leadership so we really think it’s a solid leadership.”
The Cavaliers bring in three transfers from other schools to boost their firepower. Jordan Morrison played at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Talented freshman Tori Kerr transferred from Fort Hays State University, and Anna Bell was on the 2013 squad and helped lead the Cavs to a District title and a third-place finish at nationals.
“They bring experience, maturity, and they are just more knowledgeable of the flow of the game,” Coach Ei said.
As usual, the Cavaliers’ schedule is filled with plenty of tough teams, including six tournaments.
“It’s nice to get that tough competition because it is a true test of what we need to do and what we need to improve on,” coach Ei said. “A lot of the teams we’ve scheduled this year had to do with seeing them at nationals or potentially seeing them at nationals this year.”
The Cavs have developed great chemistry during the preseason and it is showing on the court.
“They are good teammates to each other and like each other,” coach Ei said. “You don’t always get that with 14 girls.”
Coming from another school, Morrison is having a great time as a Cavalier and is aiming to embrace her leadership position on the team.
“It’s been a really positive experience, and this is probably one of the best teams I’ve ever played on,” Morrison said. “I hope to provide my experience and the things I’ve learned from seeing bad leadership and good leadership.”
The Cavs held a scrimmage against Ottawa University on Monday, in which the team won 3-2.
The Cavaliers officially open the season on Friday the 21st in the JCCC tournament against MCC-Longview at 4 p.m. As in past seasons, look for the Cavs to be in national contention.
“Collectively as a team, they are going to be really fun to watch.” Ei said.
Contact James Howey jhowey@jccc.edu
Cav Kickoff set for Wednesday
By Cade Webb
As the new semester gets started, the college is offering a fun-filled afternoon for students to help ease into the new school year. Cav Kickoff, which is hosted every year at the beginning of the fall semester, is an afternoon featuring fun events, free food, a meet-and-greet with various clubs and organizations on campus and the potential for students to win prizes.
“Cav Kickoff is the college’s way of welcoming students back … Cav Kickoff offers exposure to clubs and organizations and the myriad of activities that make up this campus,” said Pam Vassar, Assistant Dean of Student Life.
Vassar also said it’s a way for students to learn about clubs that might not have existed.
“We see an increase in student activity and also student awareness. We have offices like the police department out there mingling with students. It is great exposure for students on this campus,” Vassar said.
Cav Kickoff not only benefits students, but also the clubs and organizations offered on campus. Mindy Kinnaman, Manager of Student Life and Development, says that students can expect to see about 40-45 clubs represented at Cav Kickoff.
“Any opportunity for clubs and organizations to put their names out there to students is going to see an increase, whether it’s putting a table in the commons or participating in Cav Kickoff, or participating in clubs and organizations day. The more visibility you have, the more recognition you get between students saying ‘Oh, that sounds like something I’d like to do,’ ” Kinnaman said.
In addition to the clubs and organizations being represented, giveaways of all sorts will be available, and there will be inflatables for students to challenge their friends.
Cav Kickoff will be hosted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow in the fountain square plaza. Follow our Twitter page for updates throughout the event.
Students return to campus for fall 2015 semester
by Pete Schulte
Editor-in-Chief
pschult6@jccc.edu
JCAV video content filmed and edited by: Seth Elliott, Anthony Graham, and Brandon Giraldo
Students filled classrooms, caught up with old friends and spent time hunting down elusive parking spots as the fall 2015 semester officially got underway.
Festivities began with free coffee, snacks and the opportunity to meet President Joe Sopcich and other staff members at the “Cup of Joe with Joe” event located at the COM Plaza. This event, and an additional welcome desk set up inside the Carlsen Center, will remain in place until Aug. 18 to introduce students to the campus and help answer questions.
Chrissy Swafford and Sam Christiensen, students, are attending the college for the first semester shared that their first day experiences have been positive.
“It’s pretty good … I got lost this morning, couldn’t find my car. So a police officer helped me!,” Swafford laughed.
“Staff have been very helpful. Classes [are] fairly easy to find, simple layout. Nice campus,” Christiensen said.
Another student, Michael Jolly, offered a reminder to students searching for parking.
“I kind of just overlook people and you know, [you] can’t really do a little demolition derby in the parking lot, so you try to find those spots way before everyone else,” Jolly said.
Fall enrollment numbers were also released by the college yesterday. Enrollment dipped 4.4%, with 14,848 students currently enrolled. While overall numbers are down, online enrollment did rise by approximately 4.6%.
Cav Kickoff, another piece of the college’s welcome week, takes place on Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and gives students the opportunity to get to know the college they recently enrolled in. With free food, music and information booths spanning a variety of clubs and organizations, the event allows students to explore the possibilities that the college has to offer.
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and keep an eye on our website for additional Cav Kickoff coverage on Wednesday.
Returning students offer advice to entering Cavaliers:
Simon Tekeste: “Take advantage of the JCCC experience. It’s very affordable, but you can have the college classes. You might not feel like there’s that much campus life, but you can save a lot of money and it’s a great way to start out.”
Emily Smith: “Just be yourself and be a little more determined on doing your schoolwork. Be yourself and you’ll meet a lot of cool people that way. Stay chill and don’t be too scared!”
Nigel Baselle: “Have fun more and enjoy meeting people. Meet more people and be social.”
Additional contribution by Shawn Simpson, Staff Reporter
Ballroom Blitz: Student shines in dance competition
by Andrew Reichmeier
Staff Reporter
Whether it was the Waltz or Foxtrot, student Kendra Michaels stayed alert and on her toes at the Heart of America DanceSport Championship on Aug. 12 — and her placement gave her plenty of reason to leap for joy.
Related: Student finds passion in ballroom
The competition took place at the Westin Crown Center hotel downtown, concluding Saturday, Aug. 15. Michaels and her dance partner, Johnny Francoviglia, participated in all pro-am closed bronze American smooth events. They had a banner day, earning three second-place finishes, six third-place finishes, and second place in the scholarship round, which came with a cash prize. The accomplishment, Michaels noted, is even more notable considering she was the second youngest dancer in her division.
Michaels stayed loose in the early rounds with an open-minded approach.
“My number-one goal here is to have fun and enjoy my dances and dance my best,” she said. “If I win, that’s wonderful. If I don’t, [I will take pride in knowing] I did my best.”
Francoviglia and Michaels worked hard leading up to event, and their long hours of preparation paid off.
“We would normally have two hours a week of practice, choreographing sequences [for dances such as the] tango and foxtrot,” Francoviglia said.
Mark Walters, an organizer for the Heart of America DanceSport Championship, referred to this event as the “grand finale” of a group of 10 competitions called the Dancer’s Cup tour.
The competition has been in Kansas City for 42 years now, and this won’t be the last.
“[The Heart of America DanceSport Championship] has turned out to be the perfect event for a student like Michaels who is new to the ballroom dance scene,” Francoviglia said. “It’s welcoming. It’s friendly.”
For more information on the competition, including this year’s scores, visit http://www.hoadancesport.com.
Photography by Lance Martin, Photo Editor.
Last week’s Heart of America DanceSport Championships featured an abundance of dance styles:
Samba
- Developed in Brazil
- Gained popularity in the U.S. in the 1920s thanks to the Broadway play “Street Carnival.”
- Lively dance that progresses counterclockwise across the ballroom floor
West Coast Swing
- Born a decade after the Samba
- Beat patterns can vary. Often possesses the qualities of other dances, giving a large amount of versatility.
Hustle
- One of the most popular dances of the 1970s.
- Designed to show glamor and power. Music consists of funk and disco tunes, which also trended in the 1970s.
Merengue
- Spread across the Dominican Republic during Raul Trujillo’s regime.
- Slow, relaxed dance.
- Nightclub styles and Ballroom styles can cause variation in the dance.
Salsa
- Originated in Cuba and Puerto Rico.
- Is currently one of the most popular dances in the U.S. Is also gaining popularity in Europe.
- Can be danced with anyone due to the lack of choreographed steps.
Nightclub Two-Step
- Created in 1965
- Simple, romantic dance. Usually played with a soft rock rhythm.
Argentine Tango
- Developed in Buenos Aires throughout the 20th century.
- Very improvisational dance that establishes a deep connection between performers.
- Uses a variety of musical genres and has many variations.
The following websites were utilized as resources in this article:
- Heart of America Dancesport Championships
- Dance with Debbie
- West Coast Swing and Hustle
- Heritage Institute
- Salsa Latina
Contribution by J.T. Buchheit, News Editor.
Student finds passion in ballroom
by James Howey
Sports Editor
jhowey@jccc.edu
After moving from Warrensburg, Mo., last semester to attend the college, Kendra Michaels, student, felt that something was missing.
“I was a music major, so I had a lot of opportunity for expression and when I moved home, I lost that,” Michaels said. “The only time I was able to express anything artistic was in the shower when I was singing.”
Michaels then started taking ballroom dance lessons at the Overland Park Ballroom and Social Club in June, and things took off from there.
“It was more entertainment at first, but then it became something that I wanted to be good at,” Michaels said. “I want to dance as long as my legs will work.”
For Michaels, dancing is a newfound passion that gives her freedom to express herself and get away from the stresses of the day.
“When I put on my dance shoes and I’m in a lesson, dancing is the only thing on my mind,” Michaels said. “I don’t have to worry about when my bills are due, studying for that test I have, or work.”
When the lessons first began, Michaels was doing great. When the time came for the next challenge, she found herself with some nerves.
“When I first started I was doing very well, but when it really started getting more involved in timing I still grasp it quickly,” Michaels said. “The first time I danced with someone that wasn’t my teacher, I was terrified.”
Related: Ballroom Blitz: Student shines in dance competition
Of course, Michaels has received a lot of help from her dance partner, Johnny Francoviglia, with learning and perfecting the steps. Francoviglia’s professional partner, Kayla Sloan, helps her with what to wear, her hair, makeup and her overall look. Michaels has a clinic Sunday with Mazen Hamza and Izabella Jundzill, who are one of the top-ranked couple in the world in the style in which she competes.
“I would definitely say that I look up to them, and I can’t wait to see them dance in person,” Michaels said.
Michaels said much of her love and passion for dance comes from her parents, Karen and Francis Michaels.
“My parents are older and I was raised believing in an older time, when going out dancing and having a legitimate dance card was a thing,” Michaels said.
Michaels plans on staying with ballroom dancing and not making the jump to classical dance.
“I’m going to stick to ballroom dancing,” Michaels said. “I love watching classical dance where you can have solo numbers, but they are not for me.”
Despite many opinions of the demise of ballroom dancing, Michaels said she believes ballroom dancing still has a bright future.
“There are so many things about it that people don’t think of that are just reasons why it shouldn’t be dying,” Michaels said. ““Ballroom is not dead. It’s a respectable thing to do.”
What you missed over the summer
College Chef headed to Budapest
Student Matt Phillips achieved something nobody in the 46-year history of the college has ever done. Phillips, a culinary student, won the National Chaine Des Rôtisseurs young chef competition in Las Vegas, and is now headed to Hungary to participate in the international competition held in Budapest.
Phillips was given the task of preparing a three-course meal from ingredients in a mystery basket that was given to each contestant. Phillips emerged as the victor in this competition in early September of 2014.
“He worked cleaner and more organized [than the others],” said his coach, Felix Sturmer. “That’s why he won the last one and the same reason he can win this one.”
In addition to winning the young chef competition, Phillips was also on the JCCC culinary team last summer, which won the American Culinary Federation Student Team National Championship.
“He’s a very unique person,” said Sturmer. “He’s very talented. He has great cooking skills, so the doors are open for him to do whatever he wants to do.”
Keep an eye on our September 3rd print issue for an upcoming article on Phillips and his cooking exploits.
Cavalier First Baseman drafted by Cleveland Indians
NJCAA All-American and former Johnson County Community College slugger Anthony Miller was drafted by the Cleveland Indians. Miller was selected in the 18th round, with the 544th pick. The 2015 Major League Baseball draft was held June 8th-10th, and Miller had his name called on the final day of the draft.
Miller was a six time Jayhawk Conference Player of the Week and received the NJCAA National Player of the Week twice over his career at the college.
Miller’s season was one for the history books. Hitting a team-best .443, 26 home runs and 79 RBI’s, Miller found himself ranked 12th in batting average across junior colleges nationally. Miller is the all-time record holder for home runs over his career with 39 home runs and also holds the school record for runs scored with 132.
From the archives: Cavalier Star Watch: Anthony Miller
Miller had originally signed on with New Mexico State University to play baseball, but when drafted, elected to give his shot at the big leagues. Miller is currently with the Indians rookie squad in the Arizona league, and is batting .227 with three home runs, all within the last 10 games.
College Introduces Carillon Bell System
When you’re walking around campus this fall, you might notice that something a little different. New to the college is a carillon system. The bell-like sound will play every hour and half-hour, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Every hour, the bells will ring out in numbers, based on what time it is. At the half-hour mark, a series of eight tones will ring out across campus.
If you’ve been to JCCC before, you might recognize the bells. It’s been three years since the college has had a carillon system, and when the previous system broke down, other projects were of more importance in the budget.
A real carillon system utilizes a series of bronze bells which are attached to a keyboard-like set of hammers. The carillon system at the college, however, is electronic. The new system is located in a closet on the top floor of the Commons building.
College Partners with Sporting KC in Marketing Campaign
In an effort to build on community engagement, the college has teamed up with Sporting Kansas City in a marketing campaign.
A marketing tent decorated with college logos will be highlighting a variety of student programs over the coming months. The campaign, located in the Sprint plaza at Sporting Park, kicked off in June with Cosmetology students coloring hair and giving temporary SKC and JCCC tattoos to fans.
Judi Reilly,
Advertising Coordinator, says that the marketing initiative is designed to take college programs to the community and demonstrate what the college has to offer.
“It’s all about the engagement and the experience that really resonated with us,” Reilly said. “Taking the JCCC experience to SKC was a great opportunity.”
The college will showcase four additional programs over the coming month, starting with the Animation Department during the Aug. 15 match against Vancouver’s Whitecaps FC, with following events on Sept. 27, Oct. 21 and Oct. 25.
Look for coverage of the event in our Oct. 1 issue.
Contributions to this article from Cade Webb, Pete Schulte, and J.T. Buchheit
Engaging students in success
by J.T. Buchheit
News Editor
jbuchhei@jccc.edu
The Student Success and Engagement Center is devoted to helping students in whatever ways they can. Dr. Randy Weber, the vice president of the department, is an integral part in accomplishing this goal.
Weber has been in his current position at the college for six months, but he has a history in education and was aware of the college’s reputation.
“I worked in Kansas at another institution for 10 years, left, and went to Colorado and worked there for about three years, so I was very aware of Johnson County Community College and the goals it had for its students and their success,” Weber said. “So when this position opened up, I knew it had a lot of opportunities to support students and their goals, so I wanted to pursue it to meet my personal goals,” Weber continued.
The Student Success and Engagement Center has multiple programs to aid students, such as the Veteran Services, International Immigrant Student Services and the Hiersteiner Child Development Center. Every program is designed to aid students in any troubles they might have.
Related story: Department geared towards student success
“A lot of what we do deals with the support for students that occur outside the classroom,” Weber said. “We range from students who have interest in their application, and we have a recruitment and admissions team that works on getting students to apply. Our branch, primarily from the service side, has what we call Student Success and Learner Engagement. The Success side has admissions and recruitment, records, financial aid, testing services for students… the Learner Engagement side is where our faculty counselors are, who handle academic advising and other academic issues. Access services, for students who have an identified disability, are in there as well. Intercollegiate athletics, as well as the child development center also report through the branch.
The Learner Engagement section of the department also helps students participate in activities around campus, like Student Senate, E-Cav Radio and the Golden Girls Dance Team.
“Our performance aptitude shows that students who are engaged in their campus experience are going to be more successful in college… We have a lot of clubs and activities that students can participate in, and I strongly encourage students to visit our Clubs & Organizations department on the third floor in the Commons to find out more about ways to get involved in specific clubs,” Weber said.
Although the Student Success and Education department has worked very well in helping students with any problems they might face, as well as getting them more involved with clubs and organizations around campus, Weber believes the department can always strive to improve.
“What we’re spending a lot of time on right now is working to make a clear pathway for students to succeed. Over time, we’ve accumulated a lot of great opportunities for students to succeed, but now we’re looking at students who are having a difficult time determining which opportunity or support is best for them and their situation,” Weber said. “So what we’re working on right now is aligning effective strategies for intended students and making sure that clear and concise communication is in place for them.”
Ledger to live-tweet meetings of Board of Trustees
Staff reports
Editors from The Campus Ledger will live-tweet this evening’s Board of Trustees meeting, which will take place at 5 p.m. in the Hugh Speer Board Room, GEB 137. The Ledger covers each month’s BOT meeting on social media.
The August board packet is available here. Board members are expected to approve the college’s $134 million operating budget for 2015-16.
Follow The Ledger on Twitter for tonight’s meeting and for exclusive content throughout the semester. The Ledger will profile new BOT member Nancy Ingram this week as well.
Movie review: “The Gift” that, surprisingly, keeps on giving
by Pete Schulte
Editor-in-Chief
pschult6@jccc.edu
“The Gift” may very well be Joel Edgerton’s (“The Great Gatsby,” “Exodus: Gods and Kings”) feature film directorial debut, but once the credits roll, you’ll wonder how he hasn’t been at it for years. “The Gift” proves to be an astonishing psychological thriller that keeps the audience guessing until the very end… and then some.
Our story begins as many thrillers do: a young, successful couple moves across the country due to initially untold reasons into a beautiful house with a phenomenal view. Our couple Simon (Jason Bateman of “Horrible Bosses,” “Hancock”) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall of “Transcendence,” “The Prestige”) display slight on-screen tension, implying that everything in the life they left behind may not be completely rosy, but a fresh start moving from Chicago and returning near Simon’s hometown in California may be just what the couple needs.
While on a shopping trip to fill their new home, our couple runs into someone from Simon’s past: enter Gordo (Edgerton). From the uneasy look on Gordo’s face when Simon touches his shoulder, it’s evident that the two aren’t really friends, but are they enemies? What unfolds following this chance meeting has a faint, but modern day echo of “Fatal Attraction.”
Edgerton does a fantastic job of never making Gordo’s intentions quite clear. Unsure of motive, and unsure of what he’s trying to accomplish is the key strength to his role and character. He manages to gives you chills, yet make you feel empathetic towards him at the same time.
Hall gives a convincing performance as well, playing the kind, caring and welcoming Robyn to Bateman’s charismatic, aggressive and success-at-any-cost character. Her body language on screen tells a much bigger story as the film unfolds.
This performance from Bateman, however, who often finds himself in comical roles, is edgy, serious, brilliant and the highlight of the film. The road Bateman travels throughout the film is winding and while slow, is an incredibly interesting journey to watch. His actions and motives throughout the film keep viewers on their toes from start to finish.
While not perfect in every way, “The Gift” remains one of the most engrossing films I’ve seen of 2015. It poses numerous moral questions and paints a real picture on how life events can truly shape a person, regardless of how many years have passed. While a bit of a slow burn, the film never felt like it was failing to progress or dragging its feet. The crescendo to the final moments eventually builds rapidly and the puzzle never truly comes to completion until after you’ve walked out of the theater to draw your own conclusion.
Photo Gallery: Art Sculptures on Campus
A selection of artwork sculptures on display spanning 32 years in various locations on the campus.
Photos by Scout Bales-Woods, Staff Photographer
Movie Review: “Fantastic Four” is a fantastic fail
by James Howey
Sports Editor
jhowey@jccc.edu
2/5 Stars
The long anticipated reboot of the “Fantastic Four” franchise hit theaters last week. The film hopes to revive the Marvel foursome that had been riding the bench since Tim Story’s 2007 “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.” With other Marvel films thriving in recent years, “Chronicle” director Josh Trank helms the directing seat for the film aiming to bring the franchise back from the dead and build on Marvel’s smashing superhero success.
Unfortunately, this film is a major downgrade compared to many masterworks that Marvel has put forth in recent years. Miles Teller of the “Divergent” series plays the role of Reed Richards, but unfortunately doesn’t keep much of his wit and charm that has worked for him in past roles. One of the best actors in the business, Michael B. Jordan, does a decent job at times as Johnny Storm, but he is ultimately wasted in a role that could have been his breakout role into mainstream films. Kate Mara is rather dull as Susan Storm. Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm suffers from poor character development, a common theme throughout the film. Reg E. Cathey stands out the most in his role as Dr. Franklin Storm.
The one critical component to any superhero movie, however, is a good villain, and this is where “Fantastic Four” fails the most. Toby Kebbell never comes across as believable as Victor von Doom, causing the transition to Dr. Doom to leave the foul taste of undercooked villain in moviegoer’s mouths.
The back story in the beginning of the film is bland, and the climax proves itself to be uneventful. The film might not have deserved the meager 9 percent review it received on Rotten Tomatoes, but overall is a huge misstep compared to other superhero films in recent memory. Flame off.
Department geared toward student success
By J.T. Buchheit
News Editor
jbuchhei@jccc.edu
The Student Success and Engagement department oversees many departments here at the college. Listed are some important departments that the college offers to students. These departments are helpful to students, and may be helpful to you as the semester begins next week.
Hiersteiner Child Development Center
The Hiersteiner Child Development Center, or HCDC, is a building on campus for children aged one through six of students, employees or anyone in the community. It provides childcare services for the children of parents at work or school, offering early education and preschool services in the morning and afternoon. The classes are small, with a teacher/child ratio of 1:10.
International and Immigrant Services
The International and Immigrant Services program is located in COM 306. It helps these students, staff and community members with issues relating to visas, passports and other things relating to one’s immigration status, as well as adjusting to culture within the U.S. and the community. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the rest of the school week.
Military veterans on campus can use this service, located in COM 305, in order to ask questions and access community resources, services and educational benefits. This area possesses its own student lounge with amenities such as a refrigerator, microwaves and a 55-inch television.
“This office serves a student population that needs additional assistance making the transition from military service to the college environment,” said Veteran Services Coordinator Kena Zumalt. “Probably one of the biggest things [to help students adapt to college] is the peer-to-peer relationship that we’re able to offer, especially with the lounge as a part of our services office. Whenever you’re a military member, the camaraderie is a big component, so when you get plunked down at a school, you can feel isolated.”
The Student Lounge is an area located in COM 322 where students can relax and unwind playing video games, table tennis, foosball and an assortment of board games and card games. It also hosts tournaments to win prizes, as well as parties such as the Cosplay Halloween Contest and the Spring Luau.
“The lounge is a place students can hang out and make friends and play video games,” said Student Life Coordinator Leila Jacobs. “It’s basically a place where students can stay on campus instead of going home. [The lounge] usually has 40 or 50 people every day, but when we have parties, we get a lot more.”
For more information regarding the Student Success and Engagement Department, contact Randy Weber, Vice President of Student Success and Engagement at RandyWeber@jccc.edu
Managing Editor Cade Webb contributed to this report.
Campus Ledger to emphasize on social media
By Cade Webb
Managing Editor
cwebb26@jccc.edu
Social media is a large part of people’s lives, especially in this generation. In a study by the Pew Research Center, 92 percent of teens with a smartphone classify as going online “almost daily.” In a world where we spend our days liking, tweeting, following, sharing, and discovering what’s trending, the time has come for The Campus Ledger to make social media a priority for the upcoming fall and spring semesters.
Social media in journalism is a great way for a publication to reach an audience in a personal, less formal way. It also allows readers to pose questions, share articles and communicate with a publication in a way that would have been nearly impossible before its emergence in journalism. Social media creates a virtual two-way street between the author and the reader, which allows The Ledger to become a more personal publication.
The Ledger has already begun its transition into a primarily online news outlet, and with that, our social media pages will become more active and more reader-friendly.Following The Ledger on Twitter and liking us on Facebook not only keeps our readers engaged in campus news, but also gives readers a chance to win prizes in photo contests and caption contests. The Ledger also puts a spotlight on students and programs readers may have never known about previously, all of which will be shared on Twitter and Facebook.
See something on campus that strikes you as funny, cool, interesting, or just plain weird? Snap a photo and tag @CampusLedger on Twitter with #JCCCLIFE, follow our Twitter page and be entered for your chance to win various prizes. The best post of the week will be selected.
The fall semester is just days away, and our staff at The Ledger is thrilled to be giving students a new way to get their #JCCC news. The Ledger’s Facebook and Twitter pages can be found at http://www.facebook.com/campusledger and https://twitter.com/campusledger.
Volleyball team works around new gym roof
By Andrew Reichmeier
Staff Reporter
areichme@jccc.edu
The JCCC Gymnasium is getting a face lift, but the new roof puts a spike in the Lady Cavs’ practice schedule. Women’s head volleyball coach, Jennifer Ei, and student athlete, Michelle Tennant, shared their thoughts on how the new roof is affecting the team.
The Lady Cavs are forced to practice in the auxiliary gymnasium as the new roof goes on the main gym.
“We would love to be on the hardwood [in the main gym],” Ei explained. “But they’re a very adjustable team, so they’ve done a really good job.”
The floor in the main gym is hardwood, while the auxiliary floor is a tile surface. The change of playing surfaces could be an issue, but Tennant downplayed the adjustment.
“It’s not really that big [of an adjustment],” Tennant said. “[The tile surface] gets slippery more often, but it’s not too much of a difference.”
The timetable as to when the new roof will be completed is unclear. The Lady Cavs host a tournament starting Friday, August 21st; Coach Ei hopes the main gymnasium will be ready.
“We were going to have it where we had one court [in the main gym] and three courts [in the auxiliary gym] but with the roof we’re not quite sure whether it will be finished or not. If that’s the case, they will move the whole tournament [to the auxiliary gym].”
Photo gallery: The art of the equine
A selection of works from Spring Hill artist and JCCC student Katie Dallam are currently on display on the third floor of the Commons Building. Stay tuned to Campusledger.com for more on Dallam and campus artwork throughout this semester. Photos by Lance Martin / Photo Editor
Passersby offer their response to the theme of horses in Dallam’s art.
Bookstore offers free iPod with tech purchase
By Zachary Verstraete
Features Editor
zverstrae@jccc.edu
The JCCC Bookstore is now stuck with an excess of iPods left over from the previous semester — and that surplus means savings for the shopper. An exclusive deal at the bookstore gives customers the opportunity for a free iPod with an electronic purchase.
“We’re running a promotion right now where anyone who spends $599 or more on technology products gets an iPod,” bookstore employee Ashawnte Thompson, said of the Apple promotion. “We are almost out of them, so the promotion won’t last long,” Thompson went on to explain.
JCAV Video — Bookstore offers special deal on electronics:
The JCCC Bookstore is no longer carrying Apple products in the electronics section. In the past, the school has been an authorized Apple dealer.
“JCCC did not to renew their contract with Apple this semester and has decided to go with alternative technology products,” Thompson said.
It may come as a shock to some students who are expecting to buy an Apple product in the school’s bookstore. Students who want Apple products will have to turn to alternative brands like Windows or Samsung if they want to buy from the bookstore.
“I came in looking for an Apple laptop, but I am here to buy a new Beats laptop today,” Victoria Rattanavong, student, said about not finding Apple products. “It doesn’t affect me much.”
Employees at the bookstore are listening to students’ demands and feel like going in an alternative direction is the correct decision.
“Whatever it is that the student demands, we will try to get it for them.” Thompson explained.
The bookstore is located on the first floor of the Student Center. The bookstore is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, and closed on the weekends for the summer. You can reach a sales representative for by calling (913)469-3822 or by visiting the bookstore’s website.