Overland Park welcomes competitors from across the country

March 13, 2014

JCCC will host the tournament for two more years

By Jessica Skaggs

For the first time in 10 years, JCCC is hosting the NJCAA division II women’s basketball tournament.

In 2004, JCCC agreed to host it because the school that had been contracted, decided to back out.

“When we did it for the one year, we did it kind of just as a quick fix,” said tournament coordinator Pam Vassar (assistant dean of Student Life). “We got really positive comments on how the tournament was handled and on the facilities. We have a great campus so we got a lot of positive feedback and when they started looking for another place to host it, we were an obvious one for them to come back to.”

For the last three years, the tournament has been held at Indiana Central.

“We’ve had a desire host it for many years and it became available,” tournament coordinator Carl Heinrich (assistant dean of Athletics) said. “They kind of like to move it around, just change the venue as much as possible. Illinois Central did a great job, and was ready to give it up, and they’ll probably come back after we host it and rebid it.”

Another benefit to having the tournament in Overland Park is the close proximity to KCI, as other schools didn’t have any easily accessible airports.

“It’s kind of the best of both worlds locating in such a place that if you need to drive, then you’re right in the center of the country if you’re coming from the East Coast or the West Coast,” said Vassar. “If you choose to fly you have an airport that brings you right here.”

Hosting a tournament of this size will cost the college, but will also generate revenue for the Overland Park economy.

“To run a tournament like this is probably going to be $25,000 at least,” Heinrich said. “You get some of that back, [but] it’s hard to put dollars and cents together. It’ll boost the local economy, […] just in hotels it’s probably going to be close to $200,000 for the city and the community. And then you throw the food on top of that, and everything else that they would spend. So I think it’s realistic to say probably a quarter of a million dollar impact on the community for a week.”

Justin Stine, director of the Overland Park Sports Alliance for the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, is excited for future event opportunities that could come as a result of the tournament.

“This sporting event has potential for creating additional opportunities for Overland Park to host future regional and national events through NJCAA, as well as other sports organizations,” Stine said. “By showing that our city can successfully host an event of this caliber will attract the attention of other organizers around the country who may not be familiar with what Overland Park can offer.”

After months of preparation and communicating with teams and coaches across the country, Heinrich and Vassar are looking forward to not only showcase JCCC, but to also showcase the athletic ability of junior college athletes for the next two years.

“What we’re looking for is to put together a really great event for these student athletes because they deserve it,” Vassar said. “They deserve a really quality event. And we want them to have it.”

Contact Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, at jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

March Madness comes to Johnson County

March 13, 2014

By James Howey

The top junior college women’s basketball teams will descend upon Johnson County and JCCC for the Division II Women’s National Tournament, starting on March 18. Many great players and coaches will be on display and the tournament will be the ultimate challenge for the team that comes out on top.

The Highland Community College Scotties enter this tournament as the number two seed with a 30-2 record on the season and have defeated very tough competition from the JCCC Cavaliers to get to nationals.

The Scotties don’t feature one standout player but they do have a well-balanced team all around and have turned Highland into a basketball powerhouse.

“We have been blessed with some outstanding young ladies who were willing to work; that may seem simple but it is really the basis of our program,” Highland coach BJ Smith said. “We have had very willing kids that would work as hard as it took to change the culture here at Highland.”

Another large favorite coming to Overland Park is the North Iowa Area Community College Trojans who are the number one seed in the tournament and has a record of 31-2 on the season. The Trojans have the second leading scorer in the tournament, sophomore Chelsey Jacox, who averages 22.7 points per game. Coach Keli Terrell has helped turn the program completely around in her three years as head coach going from 12-19 to a top seed in nationals.

“We set some lofty team goals but this team understood it would be a process and if they bought in, those goals were attainable,” Terrell said.

A strong sophomore class has been another reason for the turnaround.

“We came into this season with 10 returners and they weren’t satisfied with how our season ended last year,” Terrell said. “They set an immediate example for the freshman in the classroom and on the court.”

According to Terrell, the depth the Trojans possess is vital for their chances in the tournament.

“We believe the depth, along with the experience of this team is something that will help us make a run in the tournament,” Terrell said. “We may have not been around for 20 years, but this team fought battles to get here.”

The Chesapeake College Skipjacks are bringing freshmen guard Ashley Pegram who averages 23.5 points per game which is the most of any player in the tournament.

Last year’s defending champion, The Louisburg College Hurricanes, are back to defend their crown under first year head coach Shay Hayes.

“I have a great group of players who have worked hard since August,” Hayes said. “We hit some bumps in the road along the way, but we persevered.”

Another successful program returning to nationals is the Monroe College Mustangs. With four years under head coach James Robinson Jr., the school has had a stellar record of 103-18 and looks to continue the success of the program in this tournament.

“We feel that one of the keys to our success this season was trusting in the benefits of holding each player accountable for their own growth and development on and off the court, especially in the classroom,” Robinson said. “Each player realizes that they have to be a positive movement by themselves so that we can be a force when we are together.”

Expect this tournament to be highly competitive on all levels, with great teams vying for the coveted national championship title.

“There will only be one team happy at the end of any national tournament,” Smith said. “You have to stay healthy, make the plays you are supposed to make and stay focused on your goal amidst all the distractions.”

Contact James Howey, sports editor, at jhowey@jccc.edu.

A reporter researches click-baiting — the results will blow your mind!

March 13, 2014

Or, probably not. The point is, click-baiting works.

By Christina Lieffring

The hype and hyperbole of click-baiting was once relegated to spam, tabloids and dubious advertisements. Then entertainment websites such as Upworthy and Buzzfeed discovered that promising to “blow your mind,” “make your jaw drop” and generally stupefy generated clicks that turned into shares on social media turned into revenue. Now sensationalist headlines are creeping onto the websites of legitimate news sources. Or so the story goes.

Maureen Fitzpatrick, who teaches Writing for Interactive Media, said when she first saw these articles in her Facebook feed, “I never clicked on it because I assumed it was the kind of junk you get on the right-hand column […] But then they were populating more people’s [newsfeeds] and none of them were screaming about getting viruses.”

She grew to trust and click on these links because her friends kept posting them.

But, Fitzpatrick explains, the relationship between social media and click-baiting goes deeper when you take into account Search Engine Optimization (SEO), the tactics websites use to gain a higher ranking on Google, Bing and other search engines. According to Fitzpatrick, your website’s rank in a search engine is partly calculated by how many people click on and share your link. Thanks to social media, this information is easily monitored, giving companies a concrete method for tracking what works. They aren’t formulaic by accident or due to laziness; it’s because they created and use a formula to game the system.

Twitter feeds, Facebook pages and Tumblr blogs are all devoted to mocking click-baiting. HuffPo Spoilers pokes fun at baiting Huffington Post headlines by revealing the surprise. Downworthy is an app made for Chrome that mocks Upworthy’s formula by changing phrases such as “blow your mind” into “might perhaps mildly entertain you for a moment.” And when CNN tweeted, “14-year-old girl stabbed her sister 40 times, police say. The reason why will shock you,” they came under fire from several other news outlets.

Patrick Lafferty, an interactive media professor, admits the links are “annoying” but doesn’t see anything wrong with news outlets adopting these methods, nor does he see it as anything new.

“When you had the paper boy standing on the street corner in major metropolitan areas saying ‘Extra! Extra! Read all about it!’ What is read all about it?” he said.

Emily Alley of the Journalism department agreed.

“You go back to 1900s ‘yellow journalism,’ I feel like it speaks more to human nature than the advertising industry. People want to be entertained. They don’t want to have to look for the story, they want to be slapped with the story.”

Lafferty said the strong reaction from journalists toward news sources using link-bait is due to their “romantic” ideals about their profession.

“They are thinking, ‘We should be writing our stories for the greater good.’ And when you say, ‘I’m writing this in such a way so that people will click on a link so we can get an extra two cents in revenue from the ads side when we get that much more traffic,’ [they are thinking] ‘Hey, we’re supposed to be above the fray.’”

Journalists may also be upset because these headlines seemingly blur the lines between entertainment and hard news according to Alley. While Upworthy is informative, their audience visits the site mainly for entertainment.

“[When readers see Upworthy headlines at a legitimate news website], people might be upset because they might see that as a violation of their audience,” Alley said. “If people want to see the news, they don’t want to see a distraction that’s just for entertainment value.”

Fitzpatrick, Lafferty and Alley agreed that the value of the content is one reason they don’t take issue with the tactic. If you’re baiting audiences into consuming valuable information for the greater good, the methods are forgivable, and according to Fitzpatrick, the methods will change when SEO changes. Future headlines may not use the same tactics, but they will have the same goal.

“Human beings are incredibly creative when they are highly motivated,” Fitzpatrick said.

Consumers strongly react to Upworthy-esque headlines because they can tell they are being marketed to, Fitzpatrick, Lafferty and Alley said. It’s a strange conundrum: click-baiting is formulaic, obvious marketing in a marketing-saturated society with savvy consumers who are aware when they are being marketed to. But we still click it.

Lafferty explained how you catch a raccoon.

“You drill a hole in a log, you put a piece of shiny metal down at the bottom and you nail a nail in at an angle so that just enough of the tip sticks into the hole. The raccoon, being the inquisitive creature that it is, will come along, see the shiny metal, stick its hand in the hole to get the metal and it can’t pull it’s hand out because it gets jabbed by the nail. But no matter what that raccoon will not let go of that shiny piece of metal. Because it loves the shiny.”

So do we.

Contact Christina Lieffring, staff reporter, at clieffri@jccc.edu.

St. Patrick’s Day and the Irish in America

March 13, 2014

The Irish potato famine is often credited for the wave of Irish immigrants to the U.S. in the 1840s, but the Irish had been coming to the Americas as early as colonial times. From the 1840s to the 1860s, the Irish constituted one third of all immigrants. According to the Census Bureau, today over 34 million Americans claim Irish heritage. That is more than seven times the population of Ireland and makes Irish heritage the second most frequently claimed ancestry in the United States.

St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland was traditionally a minor religious holiday to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland, but when the holiday was exported to the U.S., with its substantial Irish population, it became a show of Irish identity and solidarity.

And the traditions created in America – parades, packed pubs and green as far as the eye can see – have been adopted back in Ireland. The festivities translate into big bucks with spring tourism and Guinness sales. On average, Guinness sells 5.5 million pints worldwide per day and on St. Patrick’s it more than doubles to 13 million. Just another example of the luck of the Irish.

Sources – news.nationalgeographic. com and loc.gov

Compiled by Christina Lieffring, staff reporter, clieffri@jccc.edu.

App touts safety awareness

March 13, 2014

Circle of Six provides instant assistance

By Jessica Skaggs

Student Ambassador Elysia Chao got off work and headed to her car parked by Clock East on Feb. 26. On her way, a black Chrysler pulled up along beside her. A man rolled the windows down and began talking with Chao.

“He seemed lost, saying, ‘Hey, do you happen to know how to get to the Student Center building?’ and thinking he was just lost I stepped a little bit closer so he could hear me,” she said. “I gave him instructions, pointing toward the Carlsen Center and College Boulevard direction saying that it was closer and easier to find that way.”

But the conversation didn’t end there.

“He then said that he wasn’t familiar with the area and asked if I could just show him, pointing to the passenger seat next to him,” she said.

It was then when Chao began to put more distance between herself and the car, inching farther from the road.

“My gut was telling me to get away and stop talking to him, “ she said. “I came up with an excuse and said I really had to go, and that my car was just a little further, pointing in the general direction of Quivira, though really my car was in the parking lot to the right and further away.”

However, the man remained persistent in his attempt to lure her into his car.

“He then asked me if I wanted a ride to my car,” she said. “At this point I just ignored him like I didn’t hear him. As I was walking though, I saw that he was still following me alongside the road while staring at me. It went on until I was almost out of the grass and near the curb when he randomly said that he liked my boots. I glanced at him but didn’t respond. I knew it was rude and felt kind of bad but I had to draw the line somewhere, I felt uncomfortable and was ready to just go into the culinary building to get away at that point.”

The man eventually drove away, opposite in the direction of the Student Center, waving and grinning at her excitedly.

Just a couple days prior, a Lawrence-based advocacy group, Jana’s Campaign, spoke at the college to raise awareness of preventive measures students can take to stop violence, specifically against women.

Students were given resources outlining steps they could take to protect themselves against such violence, including information on the Circle of Six app.

The app is simple in its design, allowing easy and quick usage for users who may feel at risk. Crime prevention officer Dan Robles said he likes the app because it offers assurance to those who feel alone and in potential danger.

“When you’re out there, sometimes you can feel like you’re alone or by yourself and what this does is it kind of gives a support that’s not really [physically] there,” Robles said. “So when you’re out moving about, at the touch of fingertips you can push a button and have six people become involved.”

Police escorts to vehicles are offered at all times of the day to anyone on campus who requests them. Usually about 10 escorts are requested and given a week.

“The idea was the same as such as the circle of six,” Robles said. “You just punch the number in and if you want an escort, day or night it doesn’t matter when it is, you feel funny or there is a guy sitting out in vehicle, go back in the building, call us, we’ll do the escort and at the same time we’ll go ahead and check on the other person and see what’s up and why the person is hanging out.”

Following the incident with Chao, the officers assured her that there would be more surveillance in the area where it took place. The campus police continue to promote the idea of campus safety, whether it be with escorts or with informational brochures on various crimes to be aware of, including theft and stalking.

“The campus is pretty darn safe when you look at it,” Robles said. “When you look at your personal safety and you’re moving about campus, you can move around pretty safely for the most part day or night, because you have our presence day or night […] and we have the emergency phones and we keep trying to push and promote this idea of campus safety and personal safety.”

Despite the incident, Chao said she feels safe on campus.

“I generally feel pretty safe, some areas more so than others […] of course it’s uncomfortable walking alone outside at night though,” she said. “After this incident, I advise people not to walk out to a farther away parking lot by themselves, especially at night. The buddy system, keeping a cell phone in hand, having the campus police or 911 on speed dial, notifying someone that you’re leaving, and being aware of your surroundings is really important.”

Contact Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, at jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

College welcomes new executive vice president

March 13, 2014

Barbara Larson brings years of outside experience

By Stephen Cook

With the welcoming of Barbara Larson, the college has now filled a previously-empty position in the administration. Larson comes from Tampa, Fla. to serve as Executive Vice President Finance and Administrative Services.

Her first day was Feb. 24; she oversees business services, campus services, financial services, information services, the college police department, insurance and risk management and the box office.

Prior to serving as vice president for administration and chief financial officer at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Larson worked at other institutions such as Lansing (Mich.) Community College, State University of New York at Delhi and and Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Mich.

After working at Hillsborough for eight years, a five campus community college, Larson discovered the job opening here at the college.

“JCCC has a national and even international reputation as a quality institution committed to its students,” Larson said. “When I saw this position for the executive vice president it was both a career progression, but, I think more importantly, I was excited about the potential to join JCCC, and so things fell into place and I feel very, very fortunate and very happy to be here.”

Larson has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University, a master’s in public policy and administration from the University of Wisconsin and an education doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

She lives with her husband, Tom, and their two dogs. Outside of the college, Larson enjoys travel, food and sports.

Initially, Larson has noted some differences between JCCC and Hillsborough. For example, Florida community colleges do not receive local property taxes. Also, in Florida, trustees were appointed by the governor, instead of public elections. She thinks the board members’ strong tie into the community is especially key when they run for office.

President Joe Sopcich, who was involved in the process of hiring Larson, ultimately made the recommendation to the board about hiring her for the job.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Larson has joined our management team,” Sopcich said. “She brings outstanding experience from her time in Lansing, Michigan and Tampa, Florida. We look forward to her input in areas across our campus and we know the outcomes will be fantastic.”

As a self-described “very visual learner” who enjoys listening more than talking, Larson said she is looking forward to getting more involved in the college.

“I have some meetings lined up in the next month to meet with every dean and have them show me their programs,” she said. “I get excited about what we’re doing, […] and even though my full-time job is not in the classroom, I like to remind myself everyday of why we’re here and students come here because of terrific faculty and opportunities to learn.”

Going forward Larson will be working to ensure the college is attentive and makes the best decisions in regards to spending limited resources.

Larson describes her position as “very much a support role” and seeks to bring in her outside experience in to better the institution and make processes more effective.

However, despite challenges presented by higher education’s transitions, Larson said she has walked into a “stellar institution”.

“I’m very impressed with the caliber of the people that I meet, with the students that I have met thus far,” she said. “There’s an energy here, there’s a pride that is palpable and that’s very exciting.”

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

JCCC 2 the MAX foresees fewer sessions being offered

March 13, 2014

Student workshop at college undergoes changes due to budget cuts

By Valerie Velikaya

JCCC 2 the MAX was initiated in an effort to engage students with one another as well as faculty members through their participation in workshops, presentations and events. However, in part of a budget proposal that will raise funds to $3.7 million, the fate of the program has since been determined.

Sessions began in 2009, considerably increasing from ten workshops per semester to 100. Presentations have varied, ranging from academic enhancement tips to providing valuable life lessons, spreading cultural awareness to offering advice on career development. Since its inception, the program, operated by director Mary Jean Billingsley and coordinator Ann Fielder, has encouraged student involvement, enabling the development of a sense of community within the college among its participants.

The college has made the decision to decentralize the programming, keeping some of the well-known sessions, eliminating others while ultimately saving expenditures.

“What’s going to happen is we’re trying to divide JCCC 2 the MAX programs into different categories,” said Dennis Day, vice president of Student Success and Engagement. “One of which is academic support […] things that are directly related to an academic program or support of a study or learning strategies, that kind of thing. We’re hoping that the academic support area will want to keep those going. Those other types of programs that are of special interest or casual interest or just kind of cool to hear about will be picked up by the student life program, and they’ll incorporate it in with their other programs and activities.”

Various programs will be picked up with each leader of an individual program who are responsible for keeping sessions running and attentive to the public.

Anna Page, hospitality manager and coordinator for Project Strength, a program intended to spread awareness of healthy eating habits and nutrition, relied on JCCC 2 the MAX to help get her program across to the general network.

“To bring [Project Strength] on campus, it was a lot easier for me to contact Ann [Fielder] with JCCC 2 the MAX and say, ‘Is this something we can do?’ You know, and so they found a room, and did the coordination and all of that kind of stuff,” Page said. “It was easier to do things because there was already a vehicle in place that I could just plug into rather than having to do everything myself.”

These informative programs come at a price, contributing to about 30 percent of the college’s current operation. Extinguishing certain departments will keep tuition costs at a reasonable rate and budgets balanced.

As changes are made, Day hopes that each program will find its own place within the community, and though it’s unfortunate that JCCC 2 the MAX will experience reductions, the decision will fundamentally benefit the college.

The existing programs are expected to target a broader audience who will show interest in the field being addressed instead of getting across to the general public.

“Sometimes it gets muddled into all the other things that are out there too,” said Day.

Day has received mixed feedback about the cuts.

“There are some areas that really enjoyed and supported the programs and had people present in it, and there’s others that, quite frankly, didn’t participate at a very high level,” he said. “Over time that could have changed and over time it still might change. There still might be some programs that are enhanced.”

However, there are going to be some programs that will certainly not be replicated, according to Day.

“I will say that this has been a really good idea and very well received and very well implemented by the folks that had been involved,” he said. “We’ll miss part of it, and I would hope in the future when we get into a better situation, we can add more to it.”

Editor’s note: JCCC 2 the MAX coordinator Ann Fielder was unavailable for comment and director Mary Jean Billingsley referred the Ledger to Dennis Day.

Contact Valerie Velikaya, news editor, at vvelikay@jccc.edu.

Police Briefs

March 13, 2014

Report of a missing student

Police were given notice of a missing student on Thursday, Feb. 27. The police were told that the student lived in Lawrence, took the K-10 express bus to and from school and was last seen in the food court. A second resident at the house informed the police that the student hadn’t arrived at his designated time.

The same occupant of the house called the K-10 express, questioning whether the person had rode the bus that day, and in turn, the bus company released information that a person resembling the missing student had been spotted, though the identification was not positive.

Police searched the campus as Food Service was directed to determine if the student had used his debit card to make any purchases. Both tasks achieved no results. Eventually, while campus police continued to search the college, the secondary resident contacted the police to say that the victim had taken a later bus but had finally arrived to his destination.

Briefs compiled by Valerie Velikaya, news editor, vvelikay@jccc.edu.

News Briefs

March 13, 2014

Get tested at no expense

Free and confidential HIV and syphilis tests will be offered in COM102 on Thursday, March 27 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on behalf of JCCC Pride and the Healthy Living Projects. Testing will be done on a walk-in basis and results will be available within 20 minutes. Counseling will be present to provide more information about HIV.

More than 200 to attend

naturalization ceremony

The college has been elected to host a naturalization ceremony for the second year in a row, naturalizing over 200 people of various backgrounds, countries and cultures. The public has been invited to participate in the commemoration.

The 90-minute ceremony will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon in Yardley Hall, located on the first floor of the Carlsen Center, on Friday, March 28 and will include a speech made by Dr. Jerry Cook, chair of the JCCC board of trustees.

A day in the life of a Crime Prevention Officer

March 12, 2014

By David Hurtado

Editor’s note: Officer Dan Robles let features editor, David Hurtado, shadow him on Feb. 20. Beginning at 8 a.m. and finishing around 2 p.m., Hurtado learned what it is like to work as the college’s Crime Prevention Officer.

Duties and responsibilities: As the college’s Crime Prevention Officer, Robles is responsible for promoting crime prevention awareness around campus. Unlike other members of the Campus Police, these duties do not involve patrolling the college in a squad car.

Working on safety brochures with Gay Hintz, attending public outreach programs related to crime prevention and walking the campus to look for ways to improve security and safety are a few of the daily tasks Robles might have on his plate. Each day presents new issues and situations that he must consider and make a decision about.

“You never really know what may happen and that can make the day more interesting,” Robles said.

Robles also teaches on cultural awareness at the Police Academy four times a year for new cadets from local police departments. His classes put emphasis on how each person is different, overcoming language barriers and dealing with diversity.

Keeping students informed: An essential part of Robles’ job involves interacting with the college through presentations and face to face communication. Once a month, Robles is invited to the Hiersteiner Child Development Center to read a story to some of children there.

“I enjoy the interaction and response I receive from the kids,” he said. “I have read to children for many years and it’s fun to hear the different responses.”

In addition to entertaining the kids, Robles also makes story time into a learning experience by explaining what police do. He shows them some of the equipment he carries, while fielding various questions both relating to law enforcement duties and not.

“I want them to be comfortable and know they can trust the police and not be afraid to approach and talk to a police officer,” he said. “If they are lost or afraid they may feel more comfortable talking to the police if they have met them before.”

While many of the presentations Robles attends are sponsored by the college, occasionally he and a couple of other officers will meet with individual classrooms. For example, on Feb.20, Robles, Officer Hersey and Chief Russell met with Professor Christine Buta’s class to discuss what to do in the event of an active shooter on campus.

One of the scenarios involved swarming and subduing Officer Hersey and removing his Nerf Gun as he entered the classroom. Students were invited to throw foam tennis balls at Hersey while attempting to immobilize him. In other scenarios, students attempted to scatter and make for the exit before Hersey reached the door.

Robles said the goal is to not be like Rambo during these situations, but to make yourself a difficult target when confronted with a violent intruder. He said there are no guarantees in an emergency situation, but fighting back can greatly raise the chances of survival.

“You can get shot and still survive.” Robles said. “If you’re going to be a number, be one who got shot in the leg or an arm and not one in the morgue.”

At the end of the day: Once everything is said and done with, a typical day for Robles usually ends at 3 p.m. Occasionally, Robles will be required to stay later than he usually does because of a change in schedule. This can be anything from providing security for Board of Trustee meetings to handling incidents on campus.

Throughout the course of a day, he interacts with many different students and staff members at the college. Robles said what he enjoys most about working at the college is meeting new people and educating them about crime prevention. He said about 95 percent of police work is communicating with other people.

“That’s probably the most important thing when you’re talking to people,” Robles said. “If when you first meet me and I automatically have this wall that’s put up, we won’t get along good. If I have more of an open relationship with you, more of a one-on-one communication, you can come on in and we can talk freely and it’s no big deal. That’s what means a lot to me.”

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

Eating and shopping in Kansas City (continued)

March 12, 2014

More places to eat and shop in Kansas City:

Zona Rosa
zonarosa.com
8640 N. Dixson Avenue
Kansas City, Missouri 64153
(816) 587-8180
“The Zona Rosa —Kansas City’s premier outdoor shopping, dining and nightlife district has something for everyone. Here you’ll find Forever 21, Gap, Baby Gap and Gap Maternity, DSW and Ann Taylor Loft just to name a few. Zona Rosa also got a great array of restaurants and bars like O’doud’s, Tomfooleries, Bravo Italian Cucina, and Abuelo’s which are great for a post day-of-shopping feast.”-zonarosa.com
HOURS:
Mon – Sat: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sun: Noon – 6 p.m.
Individual store hours may vary

The Better Cheddar
thebettercheddar.com
Country Club Plaza
604 W. 48th Street (between Pennsylvania and Jefferson)
Kansas City, MO 64112
(816) 561-8204
“Since 1983, The Better Cheddar has been offering its wide selection of cheese and other gourmet delicacies to customers from all over the Midwest. […] With one of the largest collections of artisanal American cheeses in the country, we are a strong supporter of the many old and new American producers.” -thebettercheddar.com
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sat: 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sun: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Blue Room
club.americanjazzmuseum.org
1616 E 18th St, American Jazz Museum, Kansas City, MO
(816) 474-2929
“Named after the famed 1930s Street Hotel club in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, the Blue Room simultaneously honors the past and showcases the present names in jazz. Come down, bring your instrument and sit in at the weekly Blue Monday Jam – or just take in the sounds of one of Kansas City’s best jam sessions. At the Blue Room, upcoming bands, seasoned veterans of the local jazz scene, national talent and internationally renowned jazz artists share the spotlight.” -club.americanjazzmuseum.org
Wed and Thu: 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Fri: 5 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Sat: 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Local Pig
thelocalpig.com
2618 Guinotte Ave, Kansas City, MO 64120
(816) 200-1639
“Local Pig provides the people of Kansas City with a wide selection of steaks, roast, chops, sausages, burgers, and charchuterie.” -thelocalpig.com
Open daily: 10:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Power and Light District
powerandlightdistrict.com
1100 Walnut St, Kansas City, MO 64106
(816) 842-1045
“Offering over a half a million square feet The Kansas City Power and Light District is the midwest’s premier entertainment epicenter. With more than 50 unique and captivating shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, the district offers something new for everyone.” -powerandlightdistrict.com

Bonito Michoacan
bonitomichoacankck.com
1229 East Santa Fe
Olathe, KS 66061
(913) 768-0003
A Mexican restaurant and meat market that hosts an annual Cinco De Mayo Charro Parade and Festival.

For more places to eat and shop, go to visitkc.com and visitoverlandpark.com.

Info compiled by Brianna Bogdan, design assistant.

Basketball: Lady Cavs come up short of nationals

March 10, 2014

By James Howey

It’s rare for a team to finish the regular season being the number two ranked team in the nation and not even make it to nationals; unfortunately, that is the case for the women’s basketball team.

With a bid to the Women’s National Tournament on the line, the lady Cavaliers played the number four ranked Highland Scotties last Saturday in Wichita for the third time this season, losing by two points.

The first two meetings were highly contested games resulting in both teams winning on one another’s home court. This time, however, the Cavaliers found themselves on the short end of the most important game against their conference rival by a score of 54-52.

The Cavaliers will have to now watch the national tournament be played on their own home court without playing in it.

“We’re obviously just beyond disappointed in how things went down Saturday,” Cavaliers coach Ben Conrad said. “We played more than well enough to win but just didn’t take advantage of the opportunities we had.”

One aspect the ladies struggled mightily at on Saturday was shooting from the free throw line.

“Going 10-27 from the foul line is just hard to believe.” Conrad said.

Despite the loss, the Cavs did have a very successful season with many accolades. Conrad was named coach of the year in the conference. Juanita Robinson, Kariel Hutt, Nieka Wheeler, Sameia Kendall and Timeka O’Neal made first team all-conference and Robinson was named the conference’s most valuable player.

“We had a great year and no single game at the end of the year changes that,” Conrad said. “Winning the league, going 30-2, those are things the kids can be really proud of.”

Contact James Howey, sports editor, at jhowey@jccc.edu.

PHOTOS: 2014 Fashion Show

March 2, 2014

Students showcased their work at the college’s annual fashion show in the Polsky Theatre on Feb. 28. A portion of the proceeds helped benefit fashion merchandising and design scholarships offered through the college.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the days and weeks leading up to the event, check out this article: http://blogs.jccc.edu/campusledger/2014/02/27/runway-ready/

Photos by Mike Abell, photo editor

SPORTS COLUMN: Held to a higher standard

February 27, 2014

Comparing NBA players to NFL players

By James Howey

The NFL is obviously the most popular sport in America by far. The Super Bowl was the most watched television program ever and was a complete blowout and the gambling/ fantasy football aspects of the sport continue to grow every year. One way this has been shown the past 10 years is how much more venom and vitriol other athletes in leagues like the NBA and the MLB get even when the NFL has had more arrests than either of those leagues in recent years.

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was recently arrested for hitting his fiancé unconscious in a Las Vegas casino; and even with security video showing Rice dragging her out of an elevator, not too much has come out of it in the news. I’ve heard some people say, “Well, let’s not judge him in the court of public opinion.” Anyone with half a brain knows sports fans or we, the media, have absolutely no issue with judging someone in court of public opinion. Could you imagine if an NBA player like Carmelo Anthony or Dwight Howard had been seen dragging their fiancé out of an elevator? The media would be at DEFCON 1.

Look at how much Kobe Bryant’s rape case in 2003 has affected his image. Bryant is often looked at as selfish, a ball hog and is one of the most disliked athletes in sports. Meanwhile, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has had two similar situations involving young women who both accused Roethlisberger of rape, and one of which resulted in a six game suspension. Roethlisberger’s popularity has really not taken much of a hit and these situations are not brought up as the brunt of jokes, as opposed to Bryant’s case which is commonly a joke used on Family Guy or late night talk shows.

Alex Rodriguez is arguably the most disliked athlete in sports. Rodriguez is a liar and narcissistic, but he didn’t hit a woman, he isn’t a drug dealer or a murder. You walk into any sports bar in America and ask a guy about Rodriguez and you will be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t completely hate Rodriguez.

Now this begs the question: why do NFL players seem to get a pass in the public? One reason is how brilliantly the NFL is marketed — and I do mean brilliantly. The NFL has taken advantage of how popular fantasy football is with the Red Zone channel on DIRECTV that shows every scoring play live and whenever a team is in the red zone. The NFL recently launched a lingerie line. Why? The biggest problem facing the NFL is getting young kids to play despite the rampant safety issues with concussions. So you target young women, ages 18-30, who wear lingerie and who will eventually decide whether they want their sons to play football.

The way football is watched and the way football players look on the field is another reason. We watch football games from a much farther viewing point than baseball or basketball. We don’t see as much of them as we see with basketball or baseball players. We see mostly the team logo and uniform which is what we associate with football instead of individual players, which we mostly associate with basketball and baseball. We don’t see the tattoos that most athletes have and we aren’t close enough to hear them curse.

Think about how football players look on the field; they really look more like robots than people. We oftentimes just think of football players as cold-blooded killing machines and when one of them gets in trouble it’s looked as no big deal. Opposed to basketball and baseball players, where we see them close up as humans with all their flaws — on and off the field.

Contact James Howey, sports editor, at jhowey@jccc.edu.

SOFTBALL: Cavs look to continue tradition of success

February 27, 2014

By James Howey

The softball team begins a season with only four returning players from last year. Even with the lack of experience, the bar is still set high.

“What we expect out of our program every year and definitely something we are expecting this year is to get to the national tournament,” Head coach Audree Brattin said. “We are a very young but very talented team, very capable of doing it.”

Coach Brattin looks for the ladies to have a team capable of winning with different ways throughout the season.

“We don’t really have many standout players,” coach Brattin said. “We do have a group that’s going to play together on the field as a team and to me that’s more important than all the talent in the world.”

One of the squad’s returning players is pitcher Zoe Price who led the team in ERA (earned run average) with 2.98 and had a record of 20-7.

“I expect us to do really well and beat some of the teams we had trouble with last year,” Price said. “Our defense is strong, our offense is strong and we all gel really well on the field as a team.”

Consistency is key for the girls to maintain success throughout the season.

“I get the kids and they’re working hard for two or three hours at practice and some days they’re just feeling lazy and not willing to put in as hard of work as they did the day before,” Coach Brattin said. “Finding the consistency of getting our top play every single day that we step on to the field is the key.”

The Cavaliers went 3-2 at last weekend’s Cowtown Classic in Fort Worth, Texas and will face Coffeyville Community College at home March 4. According to coach Brattin, the ladies can expect stiff competition from the teams they will face in the tough Kansas Jayhawk Community College conference.

“They’ll learn pretty quickly that we see the best out of every team that we face because we’re one of the best teams in the nation,” she said. “Everybody that we face wants to beat us.”

Contact James Howey, sports editor, at jhowey@jccc.edu.

BASEBALL: Cavs move forward with great expectations

February 27, 2014

By James Howey

The baseball team has started the season with an 8-2 record and look to continue that success with the squad heading into conference play with big expectations for the season.

“We have the bar set high like we have each and every year,” Baseball coach Kent Shelley said. “We expect to compete for the conference championship and hopefully get ourselves in an opportunity to advance to the region six championship in Wichita.”

However, this year the Cavaliers face inexperience as 23 freshmen are on the team.

“We have a lot of freshmen but we have a good group of sophomores,” sophomore pitcher Austin Schnurbusch said. “That will pull us all together and keep us a family and win some ball games.”

“We’re excited with our potential,” Coach Shelley said. “It all revolves around gaining the experience and how quickly we can grow up.”

The Cavs offensive skills were on full display the first 10 games of the season. The squad scored over seven runs per game so far through the season.

“I think we swing it very well from top to bottom,” Coach Shelley said. “Just a little mix of everything we got very good team speed and all those areas are very solid, very balanced.”

Pitching is another strength of the team with Schnurbusch leading the way with a 1.93 ERA through two games pitched.

“We really like our front line pitching,” Coach Shelley said. “I think we got depth on our mound that maybe we haven’t had quite as much in years past.”

Both coach and player accept nothing but hard work and success from the Cavaliers throughout the season.

“Just busting it on the field at practice and just doing everything at hundred percent and just keeping everyone accountable for everything,” Schnurbusch said.

“Just continued hard work and getting better each and every day,” Coach Shelley said. “We expect all that to happen.”

Contact James Howey, sports editor, at jhowey@jccc.edu.

Sports Calendar

February 27, 2014

Baseball

1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 at Allen Community College

1 p.m. Saturday, March 1 v. Allen Community College

3 p.m. Tuesday, March 4 v. Rockhurst University Overland Park

1 p.m. Thursday, March 6 at Fort Scott Community College

1 p.m. Saturday, March 8 v. Fort Scott Community College

3 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 v. Rockhurst University

Softball

Noon and 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 4 v. Coffeyville Community College

1 and 3 p.m. Saturday, March 8 v. Labette Community College

1 and 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 at Fort Scott Community College

Sports Briefs

February 27, 2014

Men’s Basketball

Men’s basketball has rebounded strong late in the season. The squad is 3-1 in the last four games, including a dominating win over Hesston College 80-62 with Pat Jones scoring 33 points in the game which led the team to a win. Jones also scored 24 points in the team’s narrow road win at Kansas City Kansas Community College 63-61. The Cavs are 10-19 this season.

Women’s Basketball

The Lady Cavs earned a huge road victory over rival Highland Community College on Feb. 19. The ladies won in overtime 65-61, avenging their only loss of the season and handing Highland their second loss of the season. The Cavs’ Kelsey Barrett scored a team high 21 points in the victory. The win moved the Cavaliers into a tie in conference and region standings with Highland. The lady Cavs are 28-1 this season.

College to cut tennis and golf programs for 2014-2015

February 27, 2014

By James Howey

Sports can sometimes seem untouchable, often serving as a getaway from the problems students may face in everyday life. The recent news about the cutting of the college’s golf and tennis programs for the 2014-15 academic year was another harsh reminder that sports, just like any other program at the college, can fall victim to budget cuts.

“Probably one of my low-lights of things I’ve had to do in this position is cutting the programs of two great hall of fame coaches,” said the college’s athletic director Carl Heinrich.

This year’s cuts will save around $200,000, according to Heinrich. It’s not the first time the college’s sports department has had to cut for money.

“We cut two hundred thousand last year not many people know about that,” Heinrich said. “We’ve cut close to half a million in the last two years.”

The recent decrease in enrollment at the college is the main cause for the cuts, he said.

“Last year we tried to survive without eliminating any programs and it came down this year when we had an enrollment that was down six percent in the fall and eight percent in the spring,” Heinrich said. “Our projected enrollment for this year was a two percent in increase for both semesters; so you’re looking at a difference of an eighteen percent budget in enrollment.”

The tennis and golf programs have seen great success under their respective head coaches. Glen Moser has been at the helm of the college’s tennis program for 35 years and under his coaching the program amassed 24 region team championships, 33 top ten, 11 top five team finishes at the national tournament and 30 all-American performers.

Lafayette Norwood has been the head golf coach at the college for 21 years and has led the program to much success and accolades such as 16 top 20 finishes in NJCAA, two top ten team finishes three KJCAA titles, three conference medalists, one professional tour player and three all Americans with fourth and sixth place finishes in the nation.

“We have been considered one of the top 10 junior college golf programs in the nation,” Norwood said. “We have had two players to win the national putting contest and one player winning the nation’s long drive contest.”

When reflecting on his time as golf coach at the college coach, Norwood looks back with pride of the success of the golf program and players.

“The young men that come through our program become successful individuals and those with the golfing skills went as far as possible,” coach Norwood said. “Johnson County on the National scene is known to compete with the best.”

Moser agrees the college’s golf program has helped to advance student athletes.

“I feel that we have given many student-athletes locally and from all over the world, the opportunity to develop their tennis skills as well as to mature in the classroom so that they could obtain good scholarships at the four year level,” Moser said. “It has been wonderful watching and assisting these young in reaching their goals and dreams.”

The cutting of the tennis program is not lost on the thoughts of some local high school coaches like Shawnee Mission East tennis head coach Sue Chipman.

“Our local high school athletes will be affected because the Johnson County Community College tennis program has usually included some of the area’s best players,” Chipman said. “Not having that option available will mean that some of those players may not continue playing at the college level.”

The cuts will not just affect the college, but also the community, Chipman explained.

“Continuing the tennis program at JCCC could very well have greater influence on our area’s health than we realize,” she said.

If the enrollment at the college continues to trim down students may see even more cuts to programs at the college.

“You know if enrollment doesn’t grow we’re going to have to probably look at some more cuts,” Heinrich said. “It’s a tough thing.”

Contact James Howey, sports editor, at jhowey@jccc.edu.

Letter to the Editor

February 27, 2014

Dear Editor,

I am writing in reference to an article published in the February 13 volume, “Addressing the elephant in the college”.

First, the story subtitle implied tension between administration and adjunct faculty. I would never have characterized that there was “hostile interplay” precisely between these two groups. Let me share why.

•A survey was done in October, 2012 on our adjunct faculty; 628 to be precise.

•We had 350 respondents and we found that 91% of adjunct faculty indicated they were “Satisfied” or “Very Satisfied” teaching at JCCC.

While I have heard some heart-wrenching stories from some adjuncts, our data show that only 9% of adjuncts were less than satisfied with their positions at JCCC. This should not diminish the fact that “some” adjuncts have not had very positive experiences. As adjunct professors, we continue to try to build a more collaborative workplace

Second, as an adjunct advocate, I have always tried to build relationships across campus with individuals in administrative roles, but not at the expense of building relationships with my fellow faculty (adjuncts and FT alike). I think relationship building was overshadowed by the author’s misperception that interactions among part-time faculty and administration is hostile.

Finally, I want to share that there are many, many supportive faculty and staff here at JCCC. Yes, I am an adjunct advocate and there are issues to consider but people have looked out for me, and my children, which is a debt I can never repay.

Irene Schmidt, M.A., Adjunct Professor of Spanish, Faculty Senate Secretary

COLUMN: Mid-semester musing

February 27, 2014

Make the most of the last weeks

By Stephen Cook

Here we are, almost in March; the weeks have simply flown by. It’s amazing for me to think that we only have four issues left this semester. These four issues will also be my last as editor-in-chief.

As we approach the halfway mark of the semester, take some time to think back on this academic school year. Are you heading in the direction you want to be? Are you staying on track with your goals? What about those New Year’s resolutions?

My time at the college has gone by in a flash — it’s hard to believe that I’ve been editor-in-chief for almost a year. It’s been great, and I plan on making the remaining weeks something to remember. And you should as well.

This school has many ways you can get involved, especially in areas that tie to your area of study. There are thousands of other students you haven’t met. Your professors are also willing to help, talk and give advice about professional career fields.

Don’t just sit by and use the age-old excuse that you are attending a community college and there’s nothing to do.

Life is all about what you make it. If you want to get involved and have a great time, that is your choice. If you don’t, then that’s up to you as well.

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

COLUMN: Man’s moral responsibility

February 27, 2014

Action, not outrage will protect animals from abuse

By David Hurtado

If you spent a day with me, I feel like I could convince you humans are the same now as they were 2000 years ago.

On Feb. 19 a Kansas man fed an 8-month-old puppy bleach and metal shavings, causing it to suffer severe chemical burns. A few days later on Feb. 23, a cat was shot full of BB pellets in Northern Virginia—mostly in his head. Unfortunately, the individuals responsible for these acts will more than likely not receive the retribution they deserve.

According to the Humane Society, animal cruelty charges in Kansas are prosecuted as a misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $1000 and up to six months in prison. More often than not, prosecutors don’t seem to regard animal abuse as an important enough crime to bother with. And when they do, even if it’s prosecuted and a conviction gained, the punishment amounts to little more than a slap on the wrist.

If these people are willing to maliciously harm defenseless animals, you can be certain they would have no problem doing the same or worse to humans. This is how these sociopaths start out. First it’s dog and cats, then they move on to larger game like people. Imagine what kind of atrocities someone like this might hold in store for a small child who can’t even begin to defend themselves.

It’s sick behavior. A human, at the very least, is able to reason and come to the conclusion that they are being abused because the person is sadistic. Animals are, essentially, not capable of that level of understanding. Dogs will trust humans with absolutely no reason to do so. They can’t conceive of ever being harmed for no justifiable reason. To have that trust blatantly ruined by some barbaric neanderthal, which often leaves a dog permanently broken, is beyond cruel.

Laws punishing and preventing animal abuse and neglect need to be much stronger than they currently are. As they are, the consequences are tantamount to threatening a hardened gang of Bloods and Crips thugs with harsh consequences administered by the hand of Barney the Dinosaur. Changes must be made.

Similar to sex offenders, animal abusers should be required to register in a national database so they can never own another animal. Additionally, animal abuse needs to become a felony level crime with considerable more time spent behind bars, a much higher fine and required psychiatric evaluation for the persons involved. Humans are only capable of behaving in a civilized manner when they know their actions will hold consequences.

It’s easy to turn a blind eye when taking action isn’t convenient. They’re smaller than us, they don’t speak our language and they defecate all over the place; essentially, they aren’t human. These excuses do not suffice. As sentient beings, we have a moral responsibility to protect those who cannot stand up for themselves, whether they are human or not.

You don’t have to love animals to know the difference between right and wrong.

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

Meet the ECAV DJ: Maureen Chung

February 27, 2014

Major/Area of study: Graphic design

Position: Disc jockey

Show: “The Motion”, weekdays at 6 p.m.

Can you describe your ECAV show?

My show focuses around positive alternative, so you get the indie side of worship music you don’t normally hear on your local humdrum radio. I’m going to start recording interviews with people talking about what God’s been doing in their life, and worship jam sessions with instruments in the sound booth.

What has been your favorite part about working with ECAV Radio?

It’s definitely all about the people, and loving what you do. I love putting together segments of music that people have probably never heard before, and might even find themselves enjoying.

Who is your favorite musician?

Right now, it’s Jon Foreman. But due to this weather I’ve been listening to a lot of Tame Impala too.

What is your dream job? Why?

A Google doodler. Those people are pretty cool. They get paid to make the homepage doodles. How cool is that?

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

I feel like Dave Grohl would be pretty awesome to jam with.

What is one fact most people don’t know about you?

I like poetry? I guess? I don’t think there are very many things about me that people don’t know already; I like being open.

Visit ECAVradio.com

InFocus: Audio Artistry — Darrik Getz

February 27, 2014

Students showcase their musical projects

By Jessica Skaggs

Student Darrik Getz is a local recording artist who claims to be “different” than other artists in the Kansas City area.

“My music is very heavily influenced by 80s and 90s R&B and pop,” he said. “It’s very different than most local artists. There’s not really anybody out there right now in Kansas City that’s doing their own production, writing and recording and everything the way that I am right now. I feel like a lot of people are singer-songwriter, guitar that kind of thing, so that kind of makes it hard to find a venue to play in and things like that.”

Music has been a part of Getz’s life ever since the earliest years of his childhood.

“I’ve always loved music, even when I was little I used to dance around and sing in my bedroom and goofy little kids stuff,” Getz said. “But I didn’t start actually working on music and writing music until my sophomore year of high school. My friend and I would write music in his basement, and he had his own personal home studio and we would sit down there for hours and hours and just write cheesy, stupid horrible songs.”

Getz however believes that’s the best place to begin.

“That’s where you have to start,” he said. “You just have to get in there and do it.”

After graduating from high school, Getz came to the college to take classes in the recording arts program. It was here where he learned to do his own production and recording, a freedom he enjoys.

“It’s nice, because you don’t have anyone else to rely on,” Getz said. “You don’t even have to worry about people stealing your music, you don’t have to worry about anything.”

Getz mainly plays the piano, and claims to draw his inspiration from artists such as Jamie Jackson.

“I love, I really like music that makes me want to dance,” Getz said. “And so I mean she [Jackson] definitely has that going […] I think that just her as an artist and as a person is very inspirational. She’s got a very, very good work ethic and she’s not afraid to push the boundaries and to try something new, and she’s not afraid to offend people.”

For Getz, music is his way to balance the stress in his life and clear his conscience.

“When I sit down to write a song I’m not thinking, ’oh man this song is going to make me millions,’” he said. “I’m creating the type of music that I want to listen to, and I don’t really ever stop to think about what other people want to do. It’s all just kind of personal and whatever I am going through. So if someone ends up liking it and it ends up going somewhere then that’s great but to me it’s kind of a selfish thing.”

Although he does not currently perform anywhere, he hopes to start performing with the completion of his first album, expected to be released by the end of July. Getz is looking forward to creating his fan-base and getting his name out to those who will appreciate his music and style.

“The struggle right now is really finding venues that are going to take to my music and people who are going to want to listen to it,” he said. “ It’s very upbeat and very dancy, but there isn’t in Kansas City a huge market for it, so I’m going to have to build a fan base and build it myself, because there’s just not anything out there pre-existing out there with it.”

However, once Getz starts performing, fame and fortune is not the end goal.

“I’m not very preoccupied with fame,” he said. “My main concern is just being able to do what I love and do it as a living. If I find fame or fortune or whatever from that, then that’s great. But just as long as I can support myself and be happy doing what I love, that’s all I really care about.”

Article by Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

InFocus: Audio Artistry — Lowkeezy

February 27, 2014

Students showcase their musical projects

By Jessica Skaggs

Phil ‘Lowkeezy’ Jones, student, is a DJ for ECAV Radio, as well as a local underground hip-hop artist who has performed in several places throughout the United States, including Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.

“Music in general has always been in me and it’s just something that I’ve always done,” he said. “When you’re going through something you don’t really have to hold it inside, you can just write it down and make art out of it.”

Lowkeezy has gained popularity not only in the United States, but throughout the world as he has sold CDs in Italy, Germany and Japan. Although he has had quite a bit of success, he said he had his first experience of fame was while performing in Salt Lake City.

“I had a song that was called “Ball Out, Ball Out” and I performed it and before, everybody was just kind of sitting down and then all of sudden before we knew it, 30 people were on stage with us,” Jones said. “Security started having to put people off the stage and girls were trying to grab my microphone and it just got crazy. I almost fell off stage because there were so many people.”

With the success Lowkeezy has already reached, he is satisfied with where his music career is at for now.

“To a certain extent I feel like I already have kind of made it big,” he said. “So I am content right now, and I really don’t know if I want a record deal just because when you’re independent you have so much more say-so and you keep all the money when you get shows. You don’t really have to worry about anybody else and no middle man. It would have to be a nice amount of money for me to go mainstream because I like being underground.”

Although hip-hop is Lowkeezy’s main genre, he also identifies and gets his inspiration from other music genres, including soft 80s rock.

“I grew up on Michael Jackson,” he said. “He was just so artistic and such a weird person, but when he came on stage that was like the only time he was comfortable, and it was like he found himself by getting lost in his music.”

The underground culture is Lowkeezy’s main audience, as he feels there is more value given to local artists.

“[The underground culture] is cool,” he said.”It’s like they respect you more because they see you out riding and hustling trying to get your music heard, so a lot of people respect that. There’s a variety of people that just listen to underground music because they feel it’s not watered down and mainstreamed.”

Lowkeezy’s next peformance is April 17 at the Granada. His music can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Article by Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

InFocus: Audio Artistry — Vela

February 27, 2014

Students showcase their musical projects

By Jessica Skaggs

Local musicians Jonas Birkel (guitar and vocals) and Sean Cedillo (drums) perform in their band called, Vela, which the two started in 2010 while in high school. Prior to being in their own band, they played together in their high school jazz band.

“I really liked how Sean played because it was different than the other drummers, very fluid and melodic,” Birkel, student, said. “Sophomore year I was looking for a new project and he had nothing to do so we started jamming and we came across liking a lot of different styles — Latin, Rock and such. So we started trying to get a band together, brought in people and started making songs and making those songs a really nice piece of crafted work.”

They got their start performing in a club called Intentions, playing every week for about a year. However, since the club was bought out, they’ve become a two-man show and have been able to perform throughout the Kansas City area and elsewhere across the Midwest.

“We’ve just stripped it down to a two-piece,” he said. “There isn’t anyone else in the band because we like that raw sound. There’s just something about that, that we’re attracted to, it’s just right there on the table […] and we don’t have any help from computers or technology.”

For Birkel, he hopes Vela is never on iTunes, as they strive to make their albums complete pieces of work.

“We don’t ever want to be on iTunes because I don’t think it’s worth it,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with it, but I want people to buy our music in a body of work, not just individual songs.”

The inspiration for their art comes from various places, whether it be different music styles, the riff of a guitar to everyday experiences.

“I just like writing, and I think that has a lot to do with it […] being connected to art and sound and the stories behind it,” Birkel said. “Past relationships are another inspiration, although I’m not going to pull a Taylor Swift or anything anytime soon, but I mean just relationships and experiences can and do inspire.”

The main focus behind Vela is to remain unique, avoid the mainstream tendencies of local budding artists and to remain true to their style.

“If we get 15 people to a show and they like our music and they’re enthusiastic then that’s cool,” he said. “I’d rather have that than 30 people who are indifferent. I’d rather have people involved in our music than just playing to the masses.”

Vela’s next performance is on March 6 at Barleycorn’s in Wichita.

Listen to Vela: reverbnation.com/vela1

Article by Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

InFocus: Audio Artistry — The Monarchs

February 27, 2014

Students showcase their musical projects

By Jessica Skaggs

The Monarchs is a local band that got their start about two and a half years ago performing one show a week at various locations around town. Now, with two albums released and a third one on the way, they perform every six weeks at places including Jackpot and Bottleneck.

“One of the shows that we had at the Bottleneck, it was May 4, 2013 and it was a Saturday night and it was a last minute show and we didn’t think that many people would show up,” bassist and student Nathaniel Greene said. “But like 200 people came out and we like to do a couple covers, like three covers a show, and during one of the covers at the show, we performed ‘By the Way’ by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the whole crowd was singing along.”

It was that show Greene considered to be one of the best performances so far.

“I mean I wish it was one of our songs,” he said, “but I’ll take anything I can get.”

In addition to Greene, Matt Wargin (drums) and Garrett Murdock (guitar) make up The Monarchs.

Although listed as a rock band, Greene likes to think of themselves as something more.

“My inspiration comes from, well I like to read Asian philosophy, and when I’m reading that’s where most of my writing comes from,” he said. “Musically though, [I’m inspired] all the time. I mean I’m inspired by things all around me. Just like someone tapping the counter can even inspire me, like the beat or something. And reviewers have said that if Led Zepplin, Radiohead and Madonna had a baby, that would be us.”

Their plans for the future are optimistic, as they have already gained the attention of 550 likes on Facebook, and bring out a crowd of about 100 to each show through word of mouth and handing out free copies of their CDs.

“We want to change the world with our music,” Greene said. “I think that music, well, Mozart has the quote that music has a higher power than anything written or said. Just playing one note brings a person memories, it takes them somewhere. And if one note can do that, then imagine what a song can do. “

The one thing Greene wants people to know about The Monarchs is that they have deep influences.

“There’s more to it than meets the eye,” he said. “I think it’s important to know that we have been doing this for three years and that we’re all three songwriters.”

The Monarchs second album, “Shadows of Our Time” was released last week, while their first album can be found on iTunes.

Article by Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

Runway Ready

February 27, 2014

Students prepare for annual fashion show at the college

By Christina Lieffring

When the models sashay down the runway at the JCCC Fashion Show, it will be the culmination of the Fashion Merchandising and Design (FMD) faculty and students’ efforts for over six months. All FMD students must participate in at least one fashion show before completing the program, though some do more.

“Last year I was asked to participate and I had one month to prepare,” said design student Jamye Thompson, who is participating again in this year’s show. “This year I had a lot more time and had learned a lot more skills.”

The students must develop a concept and from that concept create and build a line of at least three ensembles. Both department chair Joan McCrillis- Lafferty and associate professor Joy Rhodes emphasized that while the faculty check-in and provide guidance, the concepts and work are all the students’.

In line with the “Timeless” theme, 15 outfits from the 20s, 40s and 60s will be modeled from the Fashion Collection, five from each decade. The Fashion Collection is an on-campus collection of over 3,000 pieces of vintage clothing.

The collection is “a huge asset and resource” for the design students, according to adjunct associate professor, Susan Peter.

“It’s one thing to see pictures and read books, but you can’t see how something is made from a book,” she said.

The Collection has pieces from the 1880s to 1990s, including designer pieces.

Also featured will be a line of children’s clothing that will be donated to the charity, “Dresses for Africa”. Two of the models are McCrillis-Lafferty’s granddaughters.

The student designers chose the theme “Timeless” for the overall show, according to McCrillis-Lafferty, “because fashion is timeless.”

“We’re always going back and drawing inspiration and revising,” McCrillis-Lafferty said.

“Timeless” is also intentionally broad because the student’s lines are “all totally different.”

Developing a line from an original concept is a new challenge for these designers. It is unlike their day-to-day classwork.

“You don’t have a pattern that you’re following,” said design student Liz Ronning. “You have to make your own design.”

This leads to unforeseen problems and application of the skills they learn in their classes in new contexts.

“I have learned so many things,” said design student Maria Mata. “Everything I learned, I’m doing it now. It can also be fun to have no idea what you’re doing.”

Design student Joe Walker was inspired by Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune”,

“I was surprised by how much I was inspired by a song,” he said.

Ronning’s design concept is “The Muppets,” which the students all agreed they were looking forward to seeing.

Another challenge for the students is working with models, who are volunteers usually recruited from the student body.

“They’re not like a set pattern or a mannequin. Their dimensions are different,” said Walker.

Mata sees her models “as a canvas.”

Thompson was a model in high school until she “wanted to learn more about what goes on behind the camera.”

She loves working with models, partly because some of them are her friends. It is “very satisfying” when, after altering a piece over and over, she gets the clothing to fit just right.

The college started its fashion design program in 2000. Before then, the fashion show featured clothing from retail stores as part of the fashion merchandising program. McCrillis-Lafferty and Rhodes feel the experience is invaluable for those wanting to go into the industry.

“It’s a huge lesson in time management. You have a hard deadline. Everything has to be ready to go on the runway,” said McCrillis-Lafferty.

While some students were confident, Ronning said she could have used seven months. Some first year FMD students anticipate the time crunch after watching their peers.

“I have students that are starting right now for next year, thinking of next year,” said Rhodes. “Because, you know, it’s a lot of work.”

In spite of the time and stress, McCrillis-Lafferty believes the experience gives FMD students an advantage in continuing their education or in the workplace.

“It gives them a portfolio piece and videotape of their clothes on a runway they can show to prospective employers,” she said. “Because they are literally putting their work on the runway, they take more pride in the work than they would in the classroom. The quality increases. They raise the bar of excellence.”

The college’s fashion show, “Timeless,” is this Friday, Feb. 28 at noon and 7 p.m. in the Polsky Theatre. Tickets for JCCC students, faculty and staff are $5, advanced general admission are $8 and door tickets are $10. Contact the box office at 913-469-4445.

After the show on Feb. 28, visit CampusLedger.com for photos from the event.

Contact Christina Lieffring, staff reporter, at clieffri@jccc.edu.

Professor Profiles

February 27, 2014

By Mike Abell

Every instructor creates a unique learning environment that correlates with their personality, with each instructor having taken a different road to get where they are today. It isn’t uncommon for students at the college to form friendships with their instructors by the end of the semester. Sheryl Hadley, William Stockton and Daniel Murtaugh are some of the instructors that are known to create an endearing experience in the classroom here at the college.

Sheryl Hadley, economics professor, has been a full time employee at the college for 10 years. As a child, Hadley grew up on military bases all around the country and attended nine different schools during her K-12 education. Hadley’s number one hobby is traveling; she will be traveling Europe in May.

Last semester, Hadley even took a five credit hour class herself. Hadley hopes that all of her students will succeed in her class with a new outlook on economics.

“There could be nothing going on and I still love coming in here everyday and I still love seeing student’s faces,” Hadley said. “I still try to understand the problems and issues that they have.”

William Stockton teaches history of Western Civilizations I and II, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Middle Ages and religions of the East. Stockton loves to travel and said he continually returns to Turkey, living abroad at one point. He originally was majoring in philosophy but ended up becoming a historian. After working at the college, Stockton’s view on teaching has changed.

“I think my whole vision of teaching was sort of professor-centered when I started and then over the years it just kind of disappeared, or at least I hope,” Stockton said. “I really enjoy the students I have as people, as well as students. That has been a big change for me.”

Dan Murtaugh is an energetic instructor who loves to engage his students through a good lecture. He teaches Western Civilizations I and II. Murtaugh is someone who loves to read, adding that reading has helped him overcome many obstacles in his life. He ended up majoring in literature after studying law for a little over five years. Murtaugh said students enjoy having him because of how excitable he is.

“The full idea of lecturing has kind of been given a black eye because I think if you know how to do it well then you can really involve the students, and I tend to live what I teach in some ways because I love it so much and I can create images out my description of them,” Murtaugh said.

Contact Mike Abell, photo editor, at mabell@jccc.edu.

A shift in sales

February 27, 2014

A look at the place of malls and shopping in society

By Stephen Cook

In an age where digital technology is prevalent, the world of retail is also constantly changing. Shopping culture first saw enclosed malls become popular decades ago, then free-standing department stores and open, “lifestyle centers” such as The Legends and Town Center Plaza have begun to sprout up.

Now, with Macy’s having announced the closure of their 216,000 square foot Metcalf South Mall location, the fate of that mall is a left a question amongst the community — will it fall to the same fate as others in the area have? Or will it be revitalized into a new, re-purposed complex?

Donna Duffey, professor and department chair, entrepreneurship, worked at Macy’s stores in the area for 16 years before coming to the college. She worked in various capacities, ranging from assistant buyer to store manager.

Duffey said one area of notable change in the world of retail is related to the tenant mix within shopping center environments. Open, outdoor, lifestyle centers in the metro area have also been drawing business away from local malls. To a degree, Duffey believes this is because of a change in what people are are now looking for.

In some ways, Duffey said lifestyle centers are more convenient; you can park right outside the store you are going to, granted you will have to have your coat on. The “streetscape” or environment of the complex is another element, and food and entertainment venues are also incorporated into the experience. However, lifestyle centers are also impacted by online shopping.

“Is there a growth in online? Absolutely yes,” she said. “It is a result of significant technology changes and improvements that have been able to transition some of those people that were not interested in just shopping off of a drawing or a photograph [in a catalog], because so much of the technology can make things come alive for them today.”

If retailers also have significant online presences, then they can try and keep their market share by having different formats to reach customers, Duffey said.

“I don’t think brick and mortar retailers are going away,” Duffey said. “I think the opportunities are [in] retailers having multiple formats of communicating with their customer, reaching their customer.”

Ian Cook, student, shops both in person and online, although he usually likes going to a store to see an item in person. Also, shopping in a store allows you to discover other products.

“I think there’s just kind of something still in the search of going into a place and seeing something that you weren’t expecting or you might not have run across if you were just shopping online for that exact one thing,” Cook said.

Although variations may exist, Duffey said practices such as shopping are “very traditional in our society” and will continue to be carried out by the public.

“I know as a child, [to go shopping] was a dress-up occasion, it was an event,” Duffey said. “As a child you were told to be on proper behavior, proper manners and there were certainly lessons that were taught from a parenting perspective in looking at products and thinking about that product’s value to your needs and your ability to purchase something.”

Duffey thinks, as a society, we will continue to use different formats of purchasing that work for our lifestyle, with methods varying based on time availability or the type of product that is being searched for.

Makenzie Mullin, student, said she does most of her shopping in-person, but also uses sites online.

“I do a lot of online shopping, but it’s one place, Forever21.com,” Mullin said. “That’s just because it’s easy and quick […]; but I’d rather go shopping for some, so I can try it on because everyone has a different body type.”

Duffey believes a lot of the retailers who have online presences have done a particulary good job of working to reduce barriers commonly seen by customers when shopping online. Improvements in shipping time, ease of returns, ability to preview the product and communicating with a salesperson online, are some of the ways online shopping seeks to match the experience of face-to-face interaction. Creating customer loyalty across both online and brick and mortar platforms is a topic businesses have to address.

Ultimately, Duffey said the success and survival of a retailer is based upon whether or not they can adapt to the changing demands.

“If you’re that brick and mortar, but you don’t have an online presence, you’re essentially becoming a service provider for your competitors,” she said.

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

Features Calendar

February 27, 2014

JCCC FASHION SHOW

Noon and 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 in the Polsky Theater

Have a love for fashion? The fashion merchandising and design program are hosting their annual runway fashion show featuring creations of students and models depicting trends from past decades.

Cost: $5 for students, $8 for the public and $10 at the door.

DANÚ

8 p.m. Saturday, March 8 in Yardley Hall

Why You Need to Be There: One of the leading traditional Irish ensembles, Danú, will be performing at the college just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. The band has performed around the globe for decades and won numerous awards.

Cost: $30, $40, $80

TURTLE ISLAND QUARTET

7 p.m. Sunday, March 9 in the Polsky Theater

Why you need to be there: Inspired by the works of John Coltrane and Jimi Hendrix, Turtle Island Quartet blends jazz and classical chamber music together within their menagerie of songs.

Cost: $25, $27, $30

ACADEMIC MUSIC CONCERT

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 in the Polsky Theater

Why you need to be there: Conducted by professor of music Terri Teal, the students and faculty of the music and theater department will be performing a concert featuring love songs. Highlights will include Beatles love songs in celebration of their first appearance in the United States.

Cost: Free

Compiled by David Hurtado, features editor, dhurtado@

Tweet your troubles away

February 27, 2014

@JCCCProbs: acknowledging the college’s oddities since 2012

By Valerie Velikaya

What began as a joke between two female sophomores has escalated into a popular venue for students to vent their frustrations about the college while providing the resources to create a better learning environment on campus.

The Twitter account @JCCCProbs was established in September 2012, gradually attracting the attention of students and faculty. The “parody” account, owned by two anonymous students, currently has 1,812 followers that bring to light some of the more perplexing aspects of the college.

The idea originated from friends who would re-tweet their universities’ problem accounts, expressed one of the account holders.

“I wondered why [the college] didn’t have one. I would see people do the weirdest things and I knew I couldn’t be the only one with stories to tell,” the creator said.

Such stories range from roaming the campus on stilts or being ever-so-cavalier about parking your vehicle (literally) against another. Behavior such as these will qualify you for a tweet – and a re-tweet.

“[The account] is a place for students to tell crazy things they have heard and send in pictures of people who suck at parking, leave their hair in the bathroom, juggling blades, etc.,” the creator said.

However, the Twitter account isn’t exclusively used for laughs. Software utilized by the college and other institutions alike pick up on keywords like #JCCC. This helps determine any potential threats lurking around campus.

“Our strategy is if we can get information before anything ever happens, that’s the best defense to anything,” said Dennis Day, vice president of Student Success and Engagement.

For example, “There was a slick spot on the sidewalks during the snow,” said Julie Haas, associate vice president, marketing communications. “We can respond, ‘thanks for letting us know,’ and give facilities a heads up that there’s a spot that needs a little extra treatment.”

Thanks to Twitter, the college has also successfully dealt with stalking cases, threats being made toward the college and other suspicious activities.

“I’d like to think that if there is an actual emergency on campus my account will come in handy,” said the account holder. “Many people do not have the text alerts and do not follow @JCCCTweet. @JCCCProbs would be able to spread the word fast.”

Aside from these sporadic occurrences, the account is strictly all in good fun.

Besides convincing the college to put a Chipotle in the café, the creator hopes that the account will “continue to grow and stay funny.”

“The students here are hilarious and the Fountain Crew usually puts on quite a show,” said the account holder.

Student Cheyenne McGinnis thinks the Twitter account is entertaining.

“I think it’s funny. You get up there and see how people react to stuff. I think it’s kind of intriguing to see what everybody says,” she said.

The account continues to climb in popularity, informing individuals of the strange, the comical and the downright bizarre facets of the campus.

“I had no idea it would be so successful,” said the account holder, “and I have to thank the students and staff who follow and continue to tweet to me.”

You can visit the @JCCCProbs page at twitter.com/JCCCProbs.

Contact Valerie Velikaya, news editor, at vvelikay@jccc.edu.

Police Briefs

February 27, 2014

Restroom vandalism

Campus police were dispatched to the first floor of the LIB men’s restroom on Feb. 13 in response to property vandalism. Upon arriving to the scene, police observed the message “Beware, Be, Beware the Blood Madness” and a crown drawn in reddish-pink paint on the inside right-hand wall of the handicap stall. The damage was photographed and housekeeping was made aware of the matter.

Viewing of pornography in the library

Police received information on Feb. 20 about an individual viewing pornography on a library computer. Upon arriving to the Billington Library Building and speaking with a witness, police encountered the subject who at the time was playing a videogame. When asked if he was a college student, the individual replied that he wasn’t, and after the police had instructed him to shut down the game, a pornographic video was seen playing in the background. The officer then asked the subject to leave the library for questioning in the lobby. It was then the officer had asked the subject for identification to which he stated he didn’t have, adding that he was a local high school student. Campus police attempted to contact the juvenile’s father but to no avail. After being advised that it was a violation to view lewd content on a college computer, the subject was released and instructed to exit the campus.

Compiled by Valerie Velikaya, news editor, vvelikay@jccc.edu.

Illustrations by Alyssa Jolitz.

News Briefs

February 27, 2014

College’s Facebook application shuts down

A Facebook app that enabled students to communicate with each other was disabled on Wednesday, Feb. 12. According to Mindy Kinnaman, manager of student life and leadership development, it was a cost-cutting issue that was a result of the recent $3.7 million chopped from the budget.

“We felt that the funds being spent could be better allocated to directly serve a larger group of students than the application currently reaches,” Kinnaman said in a post.

In order to communicate with others across campus, students are encouraged to visit the college’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JCCC411.

End in sight for ANGEL

It is has been determined the Angel Learning Management System will be discontinued for community members on Sunday, June 1. Students taking summer courses will be able to access Desire2Learn, which will sequentially replace the Angel production server.

Any questions about D2L can be answered through contacting the Educational Technology Center in LIB 375 during business hours. To schedule an appointment, call 913-469-3842.

Apply for a full-ride scholarship to study abroad

Meet with Barbara Williams at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28 in COM 319 for instructions on receiving a full-ride scholarship to China. Students must have their student ID as well as check-in and check-out with the student engagement ambassadors in COM 311.

Compiled by Valerie Velikaya, news editor, vvelikay@jccc.edu.

Educational Affairs removes Reading Readiness requirement

February 27, 2014

An updated look at the reading co-requisite

By Jessica Skaggs

Last semester, the college decided to go forward with the previous administration’s reading initiative known as the “Reading Readiness requirement” effective for the current semester. In doing so, there was campus-wide reaction, as normal procedures for course changes was not followed. Such course changes are expected and required to go through the faculty-driven group Educational Affairs.

“What happened [as a result] was last semester in Ed Affairs, the decision was made to invite individual programs and departments to decide for themselves whether they wanted the requirement on their courses,” Dennis Arjo, Educational Affairs member and professor/Chair of Philosophy and Religion, said. “That happened and in January the results of that process were sort of collected and that’s when number one the implementation problem for the spring enrollment became very, very clear, and the results of the faculty and departments and programs deciding for themselves ended up with a very uneven distribution of the requirement.”

In the weeks to follow that meeting, questions and concerns regarding the challenges students would face in the upcoming enrollment periods, as well as the decisions of faculty groups continued. On Feb. 12, Educational Affairs met again, where discussion of the reading initiative occurred. It became obvious that classes which were expected to have a lot of reading had the requirement, while other classes that were also expected to have a lot of reading did not.

“That just kind of made things even more questionable,” Arjo said. “And so we discussed whether or not we should proceed with a policy that was causing a problem with enrollment, inconveniencing large amount of students and seemed to be very inconsistent. That’s when we started talking about maybe at this point we should raise the white flag and realize this is not working.”

However, raising the white flag would not be the perfect solution, as there were some specified courses that particular departments requested the requirement to be included.

“We had to be careful about how to proceed because we had colleagues who had done exactly what Ed Affairs had told them to do, and we had to keep focused on this is what students need but we also had to balance that with well we’ve had faculty who said, ‘this is what I need for my classes for my own students,'” Beth Edmonds, Educational Affairs member and math professor, said.

The decision made at the past meeting was done after all the options were looked at, according to Edmonds.

The options included the complete dismantling of the initiative, including the courses in which faculty had requested the requirement to be included, the dismantling of the requirement for all courses except those who had requested the requirement, or to leave the requirement as it was. However, the vice president of Educational Affairs Andy Anderson had additional recommendations which would be pursued in concurrence with whatever motion Educational Affairs made.

“Behind each of these options was Andy Anderson’s view of then we’re going to form this committee to really study what was going on, and what was best for the whole group of students and faculty as well. So that was really where it was like do this, with this committee etc.,” Edmonds said. “So then once those three options were laid out and we had some conversation, that was about two hours and finally someone said okay we have to do something. [So we voted to] remove the Reading Readiness requirement except for the 12 courses that faculty specifically said that they wanted it for, with the understanding that there will be more study to come.”

The college will continue to identify students who need additional assistance in reading through Compass assessing, of which Anderson’s committee will continue to look into further and seeks to improve. For those students whose compass score is below 80 in reading, they will be asked to see a counselor with what is known as a “SC” or see counselor hold. From there, counselors will encourage and advise students to get take additional reading courses, as well as fill out a new form known as the “Johnson County Community College Reading Plan.” Students will sign the form, acknowledging their test scores indicate that extra reading courses are recommended for their success.

“It’s a counseling tool that we will use when working with students whose Compass scores reflect that they need additional reading skill development,” Gloria Rosso, counselor said. “This will help the student make informed choices regarding the options presented to him or her. The student’s decision regarding his or her choices will also be reflected on the form.

The form will also include contacts to available resources for students who need additional assistance. Counselors will be able to discuss each resource with the students and help them decide which would be the best option for them to pursue.

“This will give us a chance to really review some data to see how students do who chose not to take the reading class as opposed to those students who go ahead and do take the reading class, so we can gather some data that will help us in evaluating the decisions,” Anderson said. “So in terms of the Reading Readiness issue, its morphed, changed into another issue that’s really going to be based on advising students to make good choices and so that is where that has come to rest and I think Ed Affairs and the faculty feel pretty good with where it ended up.”

Going forward Anderson believes a better solution can be met.

“In some ways the Reading Readiness as it unfolded, really grew out of an effort to try and direct as best we could the students who needed the additional help as was indicated by scores, but we basically developed a policy to try and help three or 400 students probably a semester, but it became perhaps an obstacle to the 15,000,” Anderson said. “What we really need is to take a more global approach and come up with the best strategy for giving students good advice on what they should be taking and developing a set of prerequisites if we need them, and wherever we need. However we approach it, we need a way that facilitates the whole population of students to enroll in their programs and to be advised as effectively as possible and then whatever strategies we take around reading, around developmental reading, developmental writing, developmental math, should not be obstacles to everyone. It poses interesting challenges but I think we can get there.”

Contact Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, at jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

Enrollment at college declines five percent

February 20, 2014

By Stephen Cook

The college’s enrollment has seen a 5 percent decline this semester compared to the spring 2013 semester, according to numbers provided by MargE Shelley, assistant dean, Enrollment Management.

Shelley said the 20th day official numbers are key when comparing enrollment for a semester. Those numbers should then be compared to the semester a year prior, in order for proper analysis. These numbers are finalized once the 20th day of classes has taken place; this semester, that day was Feb. 12.

The data for the 20th day of classes (spring 2013 and spring 2014) can be seen below:

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Compiled by Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

Willie Mays Aikens visits college

February 18, 2014

Former Royals player gives inspiring speech to students

By James Howey

Willy Mays(1) - Copy — *Photo by Mike Abell.*

Former Kansas City Royals Major League Baseball player Willie Mays Aikens gave an inspiring speech to the college Tuesday. The speech given by Aikens was about the many struggles he went through in his life. Aikens is 18 years sober after being a cocaine addict and alcoholic for much of his life.

“With the kind of life that I’ve lived so far and being able to overcome trials and tribulations of my life, a college campus is a perfect place to try to give people hope and inspire them,” Aikens said. “Our destiny in life depends on the choices we make and I just want the young people here to know to get their education and watch yourself.”

One of the main messages that Aikens wants people to take away from his speech Tuesday is about the spiritual life.

“I’ve experienced the spiritual life for about 18 years and most people in this world don’t take time out to experience a spiritual life,” Aikens said. “I truly believe with a spiritual life it can help us make the right choice in our life.”

Sports played a major role in Aiken’s life, in high school Aikens played baseball, football and basketball.

“Sports gave me confidence and made me think I was a worthwhile person,” Aikens said.

His high school baseball coach Willie McNeil was a father figure to Aikens as he grew up with no father, an alcoholic step dad, and a street mom.

“I had a chance to see the devastating effects of drugs and alcohol with my parents and this guy took me under his wings,” Aikens said. “He told me I had something special as a ball player and because of him I truly believe I went on to have success and become a major league baseball player.”

Aikens closed the speech with statement about his book “Willie Mays Aikens: Safe at home”.

“My book is about a lot of good, a lot of bad, and a lot of ugly.”

Be sure to pick up issue 11 of the Campus Ledger on Feb. 27 for more about Willie Mays Aikens’ visit.

Contact James Howey, sports editor, at jhowey@jccc.edu.

Virginia Krebs, college’s first employee, dies

February 17, 2014

By Stephen Cook

*Image courtesy of Amos Family Funeral Home*

Virginia Krebs, the college’s first employee and first trustee emeritus, died Feb. 8 at the age of 94.

Krebs served on the college’s Board of Trustees from 1985 to 2008, having been elected for six consecutive terms. She was later named the college’s first trustee emeritus, after resigning from the board in October 2008.

“Mrs. Krebs dedicated her life to the education of children and adults throughout Johnson County,” Joe Sopcich, college president, said in an email sent out earlier today. “She truly was a leader in making JCCC one of the best community colleges in the United States. Our community is forever indebted to her and her family for all they’ve done to improve the quality of life in this county.”

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at noon, Saturday, March 8 in the college’s Polsky Theatre. Memorial contributions may be made to the JCCC Foundation.

Obituary

“Virginia Krebs, distinguished public servant, Johnson County Community College’s first employee and first trustee emeritus, passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on February 8, 2014.

“Mrs. Krebs dedicated her life to the education of children and adults throughout Johnson County,” said Joe Sopcich, JCCC president. “She truly was a leader in making JCCC one of the best community colleges in the United States. Our community is forever indebted to her and her family for all they’ve done to improve the quality of life in this county.”

Krebs was a member of the JCCC board of trustees from 1985 to 2008. She was elected to the board for six consecutive terms, the last in April 2005. When she resigned from the board in October 2008, she was named the college’s first trustee emeritus. As a college trustee, she served as clerk, treasurer, vice chairman and chairman.

Born Virginia Olive Witmer on August 2, 1919 in Denver Colorado, Virginia graduated from the University of Denver in 1940 and married Albert Krebs in 1942. They moved to Johnson County Kansas, and had four sons: Fred (1946), Jim (1949), Jeff (1961), and Bill (1963). Virginia, a wonderful mother and spouse, was active supporter of the many and varied interests of her family.

Krebs spent a lifetime contributing to the community and to Johnson County Community College. She began on a small scale, as she helped establish the Crestview-Merriam PTA and served as its first president. Later, she served as the president of the Hocker Grove Junior High PTA, president of the Shawnee Mission North High School PTA Council and president of the Shawnee Mission Area PTA Council. Her articulate and forceful support of public education in Johnson County earned her statewide recognition, and she was named program chairman for the Kansas State PTA.

In this position, she was able to help lead the movement for a number of key bond issues that began to establish the county’s public school infrastructure. This leadership role also gave her a broad perspective on the key issue of school consolidation, which loomed large in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and she was appointed to state task forces responsible for revision of the state school code and the consolidation of area school districts. From this, the Shawnee Mission Unified School District was formed.

In 1963, following her PTA involvement, Krebs was appointed by the board of county commissioners to a task force charged with studying the feasibility of building a community college in Johnson County. She worked for three years on this task force, which organized the creation of the community college taxing district and put the issue to the voters. This proposal was approved two-to-one by Johnson County voters in 1967.

When the first board of trustees’ election was held that year for the new Johnson County Community College, a total of 137 candidates ran for the six board positions. Krebs was urged by many in the community to run, but chose instead to become the college’s first employee, the assistant to the first board of trustees. She kept the official board records, was instrumental in helping the original board establish the philosophy and mission of the college, and helped the board hire the first college president. She and her late husband, Al, also helped the college find and occupy its first buildings in Merriam.

In 1969, Krebs was hired as the first director of community services at JCCC and figured prominently in the development of what became one of the largest and most successful continuing education programs in the Midwest. She helped identify needs and mobilize cooperation to create special women’s programs, special programs for senior county residents, a county-wide group to support the arts, a world affairs discussion program and family-oriented events, both educational and entertaining and was instrumental in establishing the college’s many cooperative agreements with community organizations that enable it to serve a range of educational and cultural needs. She continued to develop the college’s community services until she retired in 1984.

As a college trustee, Krebs received the American Association of Community College’s regional trustee award in 1993 and the Regional Leadership Award from the National Council on Community Services and Continuing Education, Region VII, in 1996. She was also recognized by the American Association of Women in Community Colleges, which conferred on her its prestigious Woman of the Year Award. In 2004, she was named to the Mid-America Education Hall of Fame at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Krebs did not confine her community service to the college. She was widely recognized and respected in Johnson County, where she served as a volunteer for and on the boards of many different community organizations.

In 1988, she helped win public support for the purchase of the old Merriam School to use as a community center. The school was completely renovated and is now a heavily used public building. As a member of the Merriam Community Center Foundation, she sought to raise private funds to enhance the center’s ability to serve the community. In 1988, she was named the Merriam Citizen of the Year for her work on behalf of education and community services in that city she lived. She was also active in the Merriam Christian Science Church.

Krebs was also active in the establishment of the first Shepherd’s Center in Johnson County and served on the executive committee of the county’s Eldernet Coalition, a 150-member group formed to study the needs of the county’s elderly. She served on the Task Force on Programs and Services for an Aging Student Population and on the board of the Johnson County Area Vocational Technical School. In 1993, she was selected as one of eight Women of Distinction by the Santa Fe Council of Girl Scouts. In 2002 the Visitors Center on the first floor of the Carlsen Center was renamed the Virginia Krebs Community Room in honor of her. Representative Dennis Moore (D-KS) provided Virginia a wonderful Congressional Record tribute in November 2008.

Virginia is preceded in death by her siblings Robert and Mary of Denver Colorado, husband Albert, and her eldest son Fred, a history professor at JCCC for more than 40 years, predeceased her in December 2012. She is survived by her sons Jim and his wife Debbie, Jeff, and Bill and his wife Cindy. Virginia has four grandchildren, Kandi, Fred’s Daughter; Allison, Jim’s Daughter; and Kaitlyn and Emily, Bill’s daughters. Virginia leaves one great-grandchild, Aaryn, Kandi’s daughter. There are many nieces and nephews living coast to coast and friends from the community, JCCC, Christian Science, The Atriums, and Brighton Gardens.”

http://www.amosfamily.com/2014/02/virginia-krebs/

Compiled by Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, scook35@jccc.edu.

Sports Calendar

February 13, 2014

Women’s Basketball

2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 v. Hesston College

5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Highland Community College

2 p.m. Saturday, Feb., 22 v. Fort Scott Community College

5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 v. Brown Mackie College

Men’s Basketball

4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 v. Hesston College

7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Highland Community College

4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 v. Fort Scott Community College

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 v. Brown Mackie College

Men’s Basketball

February 13, 2014

By James Howey

The Cavaliers have had a rough season so far. The team went 1-3 the last four games with the lone victory coming on the road against Fort Scott Community College 61-53, which was a conference win that improved the squad to 2-1 in conference this season. One big bright spot for the Cavs in the last four games is the play of sophomore Preston Oaks. Oaks averaged 21.2 points in the four game stretch which led the team. Oaks has averaged 19 points though the season which is second on the team. The Cavaliers are 7-18 and will play at home at 4 p.m. against Hesston College.

Compiled by James Howey, sports editor, jhowey@jccc.edu.

Lady Cavs look to continue success

February 13, 2014

By James Howey

The college’s women’s basketball team has had an impressive season on the court. The ladies started the season 21-0, winning all those games by an average margin of 38 points and were ranked number one in the nation for a period of time. Sophomore Sameia Kendall contributes their success to a very simple approach.

The team’s key to success is “just taking it one day at a time and getting better every day,” according to Kendall.

Her play has been a vital part of the lady Cavs’ success. Kendall is averaging 12.4 points a game and has 51 steals on the season, both lead the team. The Cavs did lose a thrilling game at home against Highland Community College 71-68. The loss knocked Cavaliers from their number one rank. Despite the minor setback Kendall and the Cavaliers still have all their goals in front of them if they stick to their principles.

“We just need to follow our concept, take it one day at a time and hopefully the outcome will turn out to be the best,” Kendall said.

The squad is currently 24-1, ranked number five in the nation, and will play Hesston College at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 at home. The Cavs will also look to avenge their only defeat of the season when they play at the second-ranked Highland Scotties at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

Contact James Howey, sports editor at jhowey@jccc.edu.

Why America still loves the Olympics

February 13, 2014

By James Howey

Last Thursday night NBC kicked off its winter Olympic coverage in Sochi, Russia with the best Thursday night prime time rating since the opening of the NFL regular season. Despite the lack of knowledge of many of the athletes and events, every four years the winter Olympics seems to captivate the American public.

Many aspects of the Olympics hit home with audiences in the United States. Americans love the underdog and the Olympics is always filled with many stories of the young woman or man who has worked through adversity to be on that gigantic, international stage to represent the United States. We love to lavish over young, up-and-coming star athletes, and no event is a better example of this than women’s figure skating.

I’ve always said that when the Winter Olympics come around the three most popular American athletes are Peyton Manning, LeBron James, and whoever is the best women’s figure skater. 18-year-old skater Gracie Gold lived up to the hype surrounding her when she helped the U.S. skating team earn a bronze medal. Gold scored the second highest individual score behind fifteen year old Russian star Julia Lipnitskaia. American Ashley Wagner also helped the figure skating team with her solid performance. Wagner and Gold are slated to have their own individual events and are both looking to bring home medals to the U.S.

The Olympics also bring an opportunity for American auditions to have a united patriotic rooting interest in the games. For most of the sports year fans usually have their own specific team to root for, but with the Olympics, fans have a chance to root for their country.

The Olympics can bring about historic moments in sports lore. Just about every American knows about the 1980 Olympic Hockey match between the U.S. and Russia. Also known as “The Miracle on Ice”, it is one of the most monumental and enduring American sports moments ever to come from Olympic hockey, even though hockey is not a very popular sport in America.

So with all the controversy that surrounds this year’s hockey games in Sochi, including the recent human rights issues, people should not be shocked that plenty of people will tune in to watch the great sporting spectacle that is the Olympics.

Contact James Howey, sports editor, at jhowey@jccc.edu.

The Pros and Cons of Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2014

Heartache by the dollar

By David Hurtado

Roses are wilting, violets are dead, false conceptions of love fill our heads.

Yep, it’s that special time of year when rose growers and chocolate manufactures are encouraging you to demonstrate the extent of your affection in dead vegetation and fat-saturated sugar products. So, in the spirit of the holiday, happy shallow interpretation of romance day.

You probably wouldn’t know it, from some of the things I said above, but I don’t hate Valentine’s Day. Even though I’m about as successful with women as Chandler Bing or that one time in the third grade most of the class didn’t make me a valentine, I don’t see Cupid as one of Satan’s little minions.

Valentine’s Day is great for the economy because it’s convinced people if they don’t spend the week’s paycheck on their significant other, then their relationship is as hollow and empty as the void between stars. Sure, it’s nice you can buy your weight in cheap candy the next day, but it doesn’t stop the 14th of February from being an overrated holiday.

There are 364 other perfectly good days to smell the love in the air. Where exactly in the “handbook for relationships” does it state this one, insignificant day must be treated like the Second Coming of Christ? I understand women love romance, but this made-up holiday isn’t the only day to express your love. Showing your affection should be done on a daily basis, even it’s just small gestures like a flower or a short love note.

W h e n Roger Hodgson penned the song “Give a Little Bit,” he wasn’t talking about money or expensive jewelry. But that’s what Valentine’s Day is all about now, isn’t it? We expect things. And if our better halves don’t come through, the letdown doesn’t feel just like any letdown; it feels like Thor smashing Mjölnir right into the heartstrings. There’s nothing wrong with exchanging overpriced gifts, but it’s not a true measure of how much you love one another.

Relationships are already complex enough as it is without making them into little games of Russian Roulette. Maybe that’s why Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular days for couples to call it quits. If it’s not your first year celebrating this pseudo holiday together, you’re pressured to surpass last year’s festivities. And depending on how much of a bang your relationship started off with, it might just be easier to break up with both wallet and sanity intact.

At this point in my tirade, I bet you’re expecting the whole “sucks to be single” argument right about now. I might be single, but I’m not going to hold a pity party for one. And neither should you.

The world would have us believe being single on Valentine’s Day is something to be ashamed of. It isn’t. Being single only sucks when you perpetuate the delusion of defining yourself by your relationships. I know because I’ve been there. Don’t give in to the voices calling you ugly and worthless; you are more beautiful than you think.

If you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day, go right ahead. Just remember it’s a day like any other.

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

The Pros and Cons of Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2014

Fall in love with Valentine’s Day

By Jessica Skaggs

Conversation hearts. Chocolates. 50 different shades of red. Over-sized teddy bears and pajama grams. While these are all the general ideas that come to mind every Feb. 14. the day really is much more. Although there are some who say Valentine’s Day is a waste of time and money, I beg to differ.

Sure, the over-the-top stuffed animals are weird. The chocolates and candies that destroy even the most sincere month or so resolutions are a bit much. But to me, Valentine’s day just isn’t about all those material things.

Yes, I know. The history of this day rests in the legacy of St. Valentine. And that’s great. But it’s not what makes this day so lovely. At least, I don’t commemorate the day because of him.

Rather it’s a day that has been transformed and dedicated to the celebration of acts of love. Gestures that go beyond the day to day interactions in meaningful relationships. And while acts of love ideally should be shown every day, Valentine’s day provides an opportunity to make it something even sweeter than normal.

If you’re in a relationship, then take advantage of the opportunity Valentine’s day offers. Do something significant for the other in your life. Although the media and commercials will convince you the only way to make the special someone in your life feel significant is to break the bank, that simply is not the case. Sure expensive stuff is nice. But it’s just material. What makes whatever it is you get your certain someone special, is the thought put behind it. And certainly not the price tag.

And may I suggest that if the price tag is all your romantic partner is interested in, that you rid yourself of the nightmare waiting to happen and find someone who can appreciate the sentiment of thought behind gifts as opposed to the monetary value.

The day will be what you make it to be. So if you’re not in a romantic relationship, take a break from your pity party of one watching hours on end of the Walking Dead or Gossip Girl and take some advice from Serena Van der Woodson. Get a manicure and eat macaroons with your best friend. If that’s not your thing, do something as simple and special for a family member or close friend as buying them coffee. Not only will it make them feel good, but you as well.

Contact Jessica Skaggs, Managing editor, at jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

The not so sad stage of singleness

February 13, 2014

By Stephen Cook

With Valentine’s day nearly here, it is that time of year where lines are clearly drawn in the sand: single or taken.

Now, I’ll get it out of the way: I’m single, but I don’t consider that a curse. This isn’t an anti-relationship column, it’s actually quite the opposite.

Relationships aren’t only formed by taking someone to dinner, meeting someone at the club or connecting with someone through an online service.

Hopefully, they’re formed well before you ever ask that someone out.

As contrary to modern thought as it may seem, it is incredibly important you get to know a person very well before you begin dating. Take a moment to think about it — if you get to know someone as a friend, you get to learn about them in a very honest way. They aren’t trying to impress you and you shouldn’t be trying to impress them. You are both mutually friends — companions, not romantic partners.

You may spend time with them in a group or alone. You will see them at their best and at their worst. You will see how they interact with others. You will see how they talk about others. You will see what is most important to them and what they really believe. If it is a sincere, true friendship, this will all be natural interaction.

Most people consider this being in the “friend-zone”, and that sounds about right. But, it is talked about as if it is a bad thing. That thought couldn’t be further from the truth. After all, you’re supposed to marry your best friend, right?

I would happily take a solid friendship over a one-night stand anytime.

Throughout high school I didn’t date because I knew I wasn’t going to get married anytime soon. I had friends who were girls, but I didn’t “date”. And those friendships didn’t turn into a romantic relationship — and that is perfectly fine.

Why do people date in the first place? It should be a way of finding your soulmate; the person who you will spend the rest of your life with. It shouldn’t be about cheap thrills and shallow pleasure.

Dating and courting should be full of shared respect and care for one another; it is about love and serving your significant other.

And if you’re single, don’t worry — life isn’t all about being in a relationship. You are worth just as much as an individual if you’re not “with someone”. In fact, you can use your time flying solo to your advantage. For starters, not to sound like a downer, but you don’t have to worry about the time and money investment in a boyfriend/girlfriend. As a young person, you can use this time to work ahead and prepare for the approaching years.

Often, people hop from one person to the next, not pausing for a second to think about their motives or future plans.

Wait for the right person to come along; in the meantime just be yourself and treat others with respect. In the end you’ll have saved yourself — and others — plenty of heartache.

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, scook35@jcc.edu.

Opinion: Substance abuse is nothing to celebrate

February 13, 2014

Celebrity deaths expose the severity of society’s problems

Whitney Houston. Chris Kelly. Lisa Robin Kelly. Cory Monteith. Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Every single one of these celebrities died of substance abuse. Be it alcohol or drugs, the fatality of these substances is overlooked nearly every single day of the year, except of course when an icon is their victim.

With the recent death of Hoffman, there are several key issues that resurface, including the incredible attention paid to the celebrities who are nearly built up to fail, the ignorance of how severe substance abuse is as well as the public’s lack of priority to change those perceptions for the now and future generations.

Celebrities have an enormous amount of pressure placed upon them. And the pressure sometimes lends itself to poor decision making. Those decisions have severe consequences, in which some are able to avoid for the short-term. Eventually however, the penalties of those choices catch up to them.

The endless hype that encompasses the day to day life of a celebrity can most likely only be described as overwhelming. The public humiliation of every flaw or mistake broadcasted and painted on every tweet and magazine cover of publications like US weekly only begs for these human beings to fall and fall hard so the world can see. People such as Lindsay Lohan, Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus are just some of the few stars who have brought in monumental profits for those documenting their every move and mistake.

What’s even more unfortunate is these stars become the poster children of the misfortunes of fame. With their unlimited access to substances that offer brief escapes from their nightmarish realities, they become trapped in their own addictions. And when they pass away, the sympathies that should have been shown as they were falling, suddenly become the biggest priority of their so-called fans.

In addition to the enormous attention paid to those who are built up to fall is the little attention paid to those who don’t have fame or fortune attached to their names. Yet these people suffer the same tragically painful spiral into addiction and abuse. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “drug-related deaths have more than doubled since 1980”, and “one in four deaths is attributable to alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use.”

There is outcry when a celebrity dies too early. Demands for the capture of the drug-dealer who sold the fatal dose are heard throughout the world. But, aside from the friends and family members of your neighbor down the street who dies of substance abuse, there is silence.

Drug abuse clearly is a severe and growing problem. And the only way it will ever change is if the public owns up to its contribution to the problem and makes a decision to end it. Education on the facts of substance abuse and a renewed sense of individual responsibility to prevent children and teenagers from buying into the intoxicated lifestyles of their role-models could help in reducing the number of drug-related deaths.

Let Hoffman’s passing serve not only as a somber reminder to how ruthless the issue of substance abuse truly is, but also as a new and sincere dedication to see drug-related deaths as a rarity for the generation to come.

Meet the ECAV DJ: Sam Tady

February 13, 2014

Major/Area of study: Videography and Film

Position: DJ

Show: “Sounds of Cinema”, weekdays at 5 p.m.

What is your job at ECAV radio?

I put together a weekly talk and music show. On our show my brother and I review soundtracks from various different shows and films.

What is your favorite part about working with ECAV Radio?

I love being able to do a job that I never get tired of and that gives me a chance to continue working in the SNC. The people are great, the job’s great, what more could you ask for?

Who is your favorite musician?

Michael Bublé all the way my friend. That jazzy suave kind of sound he’s got keeps me “Feelin’ Good.”

What is your dream job? Why?

One day I hope to have a full-fledged film production company along with my brother, Andrew Tady. Having a self-employed family business doing what I love most, filmmaking and producing films would be a dream come true to me.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

I’d have to go with Grandfather Tady. I never got a chance to meet him, he passed away before I was born.

What is one fact most people don’t know about you?

I own a pair of cufflinks with my name engraved on them I got as a gift for Christmas one year, and I wear them whenever I put on a tuxedo.

Visit ECAVradio.com

Winter Whiteout

February 13, 2014

Animating the inanimate

February 13, 2014

Animation professor recounts industry experiences

By David Hurtado

Two neat rows of brightly lit screens line the carpeted floors of the classroom, under the watchful gaze of students busy on assignments. Movie posters for The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and other Blockbusters can be found pinned along the walls of RC 311.

The Animation and Game Development Room is where Shawn Barnett, one of the adjunct professors in the animation department on campus, holds his Visual Effects and Compositing class every Tuesday and Thursday. Barnett, who has worked behind the scenes on many major motion pictures, began teaching at the college during the fall 2013 semester. Animation has always fascinated Barnett, but he never considered making a career out of it until he was working as a manager in a graphic design department.

“I was ready for change; something more creative compared to graphic design,” Barnett said. “Ever since movies like Jurassic Park and the big video game boom, with PlayStation and Xbox, it just became really interesting to me.”

Prior to teaching at the college, Barnett worked on virtual reality combat simulations for military applications after graduating from the Art Institute of San Diego with a Bachelor’s in Media Arts. From there, through networks, connections and being in California, he ran across a small studio that was starting up called Legend 3-D and went to work as a Compositing Supervisor. While he was there, Barnett worked on Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon, Smurfs, Green Hornet and other feature films.

Barnett said his work schedule usually consisted of days over 15 hours, seven days a week, “with no end in sight.” Beginning at seven in the morning, he would start laying everything out and getting shots scheduled for the day. Barnett would also review shots from the night before and then return notes to the visual effects compositors under his supervision.

“Michael Bay came down once or twice for that,” he said. “You don’t get to see too many famous people when you’re doing it because it’s more like after the fact. Then I’d go back, repeat the whole thing and I’d probably go home at one, two or three in the morning; sometimes not at all.”

By the time Barnett began working on The Amazing Spiderman, he decided it was time to take a break from what he was doing and reevaluate his priorities. He said his daughter was about two or three years old at the time and began to notice he wasn’t around as much.

“I was getting a little burnt out too, because it’s a lot of work; people need to know what they’re getting into when they do it,” he said. “All my family is here; I’m originally from here. So I just decided to move back this way and see what’s up.”

Jeff Wheaton, former student, took Barnett’s class last semester. Wheaton said he felt the course really helped him to understand the workflow for professional animation projects and how 3-D animation work can be applied to live action film effects.

“The projects in Professor Barnett’s class were focused on testing us on technical concepts,” Wheaton said. “They were really open-ended and allowed for a very high degree of creative freedom.”

Jeff Byers, associate professor and chair, Animation, said due to their busy schedules, he doesn’t get to see much of his colleague during the week. During department meetings, he said Barnett and himself will eat lunch together and discuss the industry.

“I would say he’s friendly, polite and easy going,” Byers said. “When you first meet him he seems serious about his profession, but then he opens up pretty quickly.”

Currently, in addition to his job at the college, Barnett works for Hearst Television and runs his own company called 2iiZ.

“For me to go back to another film studio at this point, it would have to be a really big offer,” he said. “I’m pretty happy where I’m at, at the moment. I teach here, obviously not to pay the bills, because I don’t really need it. I do it because I just like sharing the knowledge and experience I’ve had.”

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

No flu for you!

February 13, 2014

Comatose Cavs take to the halls

February 13, 2014

Despite recent trend of thefts, police say nappers aren’t victims

By Jessica Skaggs

While walking down the hallways of the college there are walls cluttered with posters advertising events held on campus, artifacts and artwork showcased for the world to see and then there are the handful of people peppered throughout who are catching some zs.

In light of recent thefts, the campus police department doesn’t associate students sleeping in the college hallways with the increase in stolen items. However crime prevention officer Dan Robles said thefts on campus have been primarily crimes of “opportunity.”

“Laptops, cell phones, purses, wallets and other items of value are often left unattended or unsecure by students,” Robles said. “The thief typically looks for this type of opportunity to steal and can do so when items are left unattended even if it’s for just a minute or two. It just takes seconds to grab an item of value that is left lying on a table or in a hallway or classroom.”

Sleeping in the hallways might not have any correlation with the influx of thefts, but may have a correlation with the college’s perception to those visiting the campus for the first time.

“[When giving tours to prospective students] we just make light of the situation,” said Student Ambassador

Marcela deCarvalho. “We definitely do not encourage the future students to sleep during classes, but we say that if they are tired and have a long break between classes, they are more than welcomed to sleep in an appropriate place on campus.”

Student Paige Prouse considers the common occurrence of sleeping in the hallways to be odd.

“I try not to [sleep there] just ‘cause it’s weird,” she said. “I’ve never understood why people sleep in the hallways. There are far quieter places to sleep.”

She suggests students sleep where there is less of a chance of being disrupted.

“The library is quieter and there’s fewer people who are going to walk by and take photos of you for the JCCC confessions site on Twitter,” Prouse said. “Honestly what we need is a room for sleeping.”

Student Eric Girton, however, thinks sleeping in the hallways to be the standard of college students.

“I think it’s normal,” he said. “I mean I would assume that’s why they have the benches the way that they do. Students just usually lay right here, put their head on their backpack, grab a five – ten minutes before class. I mean I’ve been a student for a long time and every college I’ve ever gone to, students always lay in the hallway.”

Although it is up to the individual to sleep on campus or not, it’s important to keep in mind the college is a public place, and the risk of items being taken only increases if the thief knows his/her victim is unaware.

The best way to avoid items being stolen while on campus is to just not nap between classes.

”My opinion [on sleeping in the hallway] is don’t,” Prouse said. “It’s weird.”

Contact Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, at jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

10 Facts about Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2014

Police Briefs

February 13, 2014

Suspicious individual under the influence

Shortly after 11 a.m. on Jan. 29, police responded to a man at the Carlsen Center was reported to have been acting strange, using profane language and asking where the adult detox was. The individual was found on a JO bus and then told officers he had been drinking earlier in the day, had numerous past arrests for drinking and was trying to find the Johnson County Adult Detox. Police, after detecting a strong odor, hearing his slurred speech and seeing his glazed-over eyes, transported him to the adult detox in Shawnee, KS.

Disorderly conduct and law enforcement battery

Police were dispatched to the third floor of the Regnier Center around 11 a.m. on Feb. 6 to find an individual described as disruptive and possibly intoxicated. After making contact with the individual, the subject fled, screaming and refused to stop. While officers tried to restrain him, the subject pushed them away and attempted to again run away. When officers tried to place handcuffs on them, he broke free and struck an officer in the mouth with his right hand, causing an abrasion and minor bleeding.

After being placed in handcuffs, the subject continued to resist and exclaim profanities and abusive remarks as he was guided to the campus police department.

He was issued a “No Trespass” letter and continued to be uncooperative while in custody. The subject was transported to the Johnson County Adult Detention Center, having been placed under arrest for battery on a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice.

Theft of wallet at basketball game

A theft of a wallet was reported around 2:45 p.m. on Feb. 8 at the women’s basketball game. The victim, who was scoring the game, looked back to check on her coat and wallet and found that her wallet was missing. An area search for the wallet was unsuccessful.

Compiled by Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, scook35@jccc.edu.

News Briefs

February 13, 2014

Valentine’s Dance cancelled

The dance, originally scheduled for 8 to 11 p.m. in COM 155 and 156 this Friday, Feb. 14 has been cancelled. The event was going to take place in COM 155 and 156. Individuals who have already purchased tickets to the dance can return them to the Student Welcome Desk in SC 106 in exchange for an AMC Gold Pass (good for a free movie at a local AMC theatre).

Contact Keith Davenport with questions or concerns at (913) 469-3433 or kdavenp8@jccc.edu.

Board of Trustees to convene for February meeting

The college’s Board of Trustees will gather for their regular monthly meeting at 5 p.m. on Feb. 20. The meeting will take place in the Hugh Speer Board Room, which is located in GEB 137. The packet will be published online (http:// www.jccc.edu/trustees/board-packets. html) in the days prior to the meeting. Be sure to follow @CampusLedger on Twitter for a live-tweet of the meeting.

International Dinner to be held on March 28

The college’s eighth annual International Dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday March 28 in RC 101. The dinner, which has a theme of “A Taste of India” is a fundraiser benefitting international students through scholarships.

The four-course meal will feature live music and will be prepared by Marc McCann, executive chef at the college, and international students will host and serve the meal.

Tickets are available for $30 per person, $50 for two or $200 for a table of eight. For more information, contact Patricia Donaldson at pdonaldson@ jccc.edu or call (913) 469-3835.

Compiled by Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, scook35@jccc.edu.

In the KNOW

February 13, 2014

New campaign at the college seeks to raise sexual assault awareness

By David Hurtado

The college’s Student Services and Success department launched a new initiative in January to raise awareness for sexual violence and promote the importance of staying safe in a relationship.

The KNOW initiative seeks to educate and inform students about saying ‘no’ to a potentially harmful situation and give them the proper vocabulary to communicate with their partners. The initiative, which will run throughout the year, will feature posters in restrooms and classrooms with tear-off cards detailing different resources available to students.

Paul Kyle, Dean of Student Services and Success and Title IX coordinator, said the initiative was launched in part by the SaVE Act and the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, which was reauthorized by Congress in 2013. The legislation calls for higher education institutions to provide information regarding bullying, rape and relationship violence as well as taking measures to prevent it.

“A couple of things led to that, “Kyle said. “Primarily, [it] was legislation that was clarified over two years ago in Title IX. That launched a series of improvements that schools should do as far as their policies, procedures, programming and education relating to sexual assault, domestic violence and relationship violence.”

According to Title IX, which is a portion of the Education Amendments of 1972, sexual harassment in education includes verbal, visual or physical sexual behavior which significantly interferes with a student’s access to educational opportunities.

Kyle said the college has been steadily implementing changes over the past two years, adding that March is the deadline for making sure all procedures and policies are in place. He said most of the implementations are already in place, making KNOW the final initiative cementing everything together.

Upcoming events sponsored by KNOW include ‘Think Before You Drink,’ ‘Safe Spring Break’ and ‘Clothesline Project & Denim Day.’ Posters can be found around campus detailing additional information and other events.

Pam Vassar, Associate Dean of Student Life and Deputy Title IX coordinator, said one of the most important things students can do to prevent sexual assault is taking action when they see something happening.

“We’re also doing an emphasis on bystander training,” Vassar said. “When you see something happening, you intervene; as opposed to watching it happen, not intervening and letting something worse occur.”

Dan Robles, crime prevention officer, Campus Police, said when a student files a sexual harassment claim, a report is immediately filed, followed by an investigation by an in-house detective. Depending on the circumstances of the report, counseling services, SAFEHOME or MOCSA can be made available to the student. Robles said all officers are trained to act as first responders for these types of instances and are required to have 40 hours of training a year for handling sexual assault.

“If we need the assistance of Overland Park [detectives], we can go ahead and call Overland Park,” Robles said. “We have an understanding and support from the Overland Park Police Department.”

Robles added sexual assault or harassment cases on campus are more infrequent than they are frequent. He said with the college being a two year university rather than a four year and that having a “nomadic population” who aren’t on campus all the time helps in that category. The most common crime on campus, according to Robles, is theft.

“The population might be a little bit different, than if you go to KU, K-State or MU; they have more of that college age grad,” he said. “We have a huge mix; you can be in a class with a 20-year-old and then there could be a 45-year-old right next to that student. We have a large age range and I think that has a lot to do with it.”

The most recent reports of sexual assault on campus included the “booty bandit” and a one-time incident two months ago near CLB. Robles said the CLB incident is still under investigation by a detective.

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

Addressing the elephant in the college: Many believe adjunct professors are receiving the short end of the stick

February 11, 2014

By Valerie Velikaya

As the college continues to barrel its way through a financial slump, certain members of the faculty are determined to have their voices heard around campus.

Although adjunct professors make up a majority of the institution, many instructors appear in the form of a mirage. Office hours are sparse as many part-time instructors leave after class to travel 20 miles or so to teach at another college. Some are retirees, dedicating their free time to the sheer enjoyment of advancing the minds of their pupils, whereas others have full-time careers on the side and others are in search for full-time careers.

In spite of working aggressively to provide a better learning environment for students, adjunct professors are met with meager compensations.

Vincent Clark, professor/chair of history and political science and Faculty Senate president, said, “They’re paid depending on the amount of time they’ve spent here and the degree they have […] so if they have a PhD rather than an MA, they’re paid a little more.”

Once an instructor has taught 11 semesters, they’re considered to have reached “top scale.” This moderately increases the pay rate, usually with the exemption of any benefits.

Irene Schmidt, adjunct professor of foreign language and secretary of Faculty Senate, said, “I don’t even qualify for KPERS, the State of Kansas Retirement System. A part-time regular staff person is KPERS eligible.”

These limitations contribute in the growing tensions between the upper administration and part-time faculty members. On the other hand, the hostile interplay between the two groups also relay in many other issues.

“I think one of the things that’s happened is during the past semester, the administration and the [Board of Trustees] said they needed to cut over $3 million out of the salary and benefits line […] nobody really knew how that was going to happen. Many people were afraid that they might lose their jobs as a result of that,” Clark said. “I think there was a lot of unhappiness and anxiety over that.”

Based on evaluations made by other colleagues, Schmidt believes the full-time faculty members play a part in spreading the negative energy at the college.

“Some adjuncts would even argue that we’re in this situation precisely because of the full-time faculty […] sometimes they feel the most ostracized by their own full-time colleagues,” said Schmidt, who’s been teaching at the college for 15 years. She adds that, if anything, the administration treats adjuncts “in a more collegial, more professional, [and] more respectful way than full-time faculty.”

Adjunct professors, however, are not planning to surrender anytime soon. Organizations such as New Faculty Majority (NFM) are gaining momentum across the nation, specifically along the east coast. On its website, NFM states that its mission is “dedicated to improving the quality of higher education by advancing professional equity and securing academic freedom for all adjunct and contingent faculty.”

A lot of their goals have been making headway across the nation. Colorado has recently proposed a bill to increase salaries and provide benefits to their adjuncts.

“There has been a huge movement nationwide to bring more attention to that […] try to get across to students, and trying to get across to parents of college students – whoever is paying for the college,” said Schmidt. “Where is that money coming from [and] where is that money going? What’s it paying for and do we go down that path of […] it affect[ing] your perceptions of quality?”

Schmidt said whenever Campus Equity Week, a national campaign, comes around within the next couple years or so, her senate and the college’s faculty members will “all rally together so that we can put [the college] on their national website,” which ranges from colleges to universities and two-year to four-year, public and private institutions.

The lack of training given to adjunct professors may consequent in them being just as oblivious to the college as new community members on campus, which could warp the students’ perception of the quality of their instructors. Schmidt wishes to bring this to light.

“Adjuncts might be just as qualified, just as experienced, […] the quality is there, but let’s also consider that some of our adjuncts, […] they are all over, and so if students want to try to have an office time with the instructor, that’s going to be hard,” said Schmidt.

Andy Anderson, interim vice president for academic affairs, served as the dean of English, enabling him to gain insight on both sides of the issue.

“It’s eye-opening in a sense,” said Anderson. “I mean you see things from a much different perspective.”

Anderson stated that, in terms of authority, most discussions oversimplify complex relationships. The challenge for both the faculty and administration is to “see the relationship in almost a conversational dimension.”

Despite possessing the power to create new goals and set the direction for the college, Anderson hasn’t forgotten the hardships pertaining to a part-time faculty role. Once an adjunct himself for nine years, Anderson instructed at two community colleges at once, making the trek from here to Longview. Based on personal experience, Anderson continues to sympathize with adjunct professors, attempting to work with the system in order to see if they can get paid for mandatory training or committee work.

“[The role of the adjunct is] probably the most difficult issue facing community colleges,” said Anderson. “The role and the rights and so on of the contingent faculty is just a huge issue, and it’s one, frankly, that I’d seen very little change in the 40 years that I’ve been in education.”

It’s simply a financial reality, expressed Anderson.

“To pay full-time salary and benefits, you would have to raise the budget of the college, and that would be an increase in taxes,” he said.

Without benefits, adjuncts will continue to struggle if they’re not provided with healthcare in some way.

Some of the upper administration is trying to work with faculty members to ensure they’re provided with some compensation for their work. When the constitution was written on the Faculty Senate, there were requests made to get some sort of compensation. Nonetheless, most expected to get a flat fee for serving on the senate.

“Andy Anderson I credit with pulling through and making good on that […] to find money to help all five of our part-time senators […] be compensated for their time served on the senate,” said Schmidt. “We’re just happy. We’re thankful that he was able to recognize that’s an important task and an important role and should be met with some compensation.”

“At this college, there are a number of ways the administration actually solicits faculty opinion, […] there’s a Faculty Senate [which] debates all sorts of issues and says whatever it wants. [Sopcich] usually comes to that, […] he supports having a Faculty Senate,” said Clark. “The current president has gone out of his way to provide opportunities to hear from faculty members.”

In fact, there are a number of similar groups at the college that welcome their opinions, and there are numerous paths a faculty member can take in order to work with the system. Clark believes in shared governance, which would allow both faculty members and the administration to receive equal power.

“The administration should exist as a way to facilitate the teaching and learning at the college,” said Clark.

With budget cuts, turnovers and influxes in tuition and taxpayer costs, it’s difficult to see a change happen in the near future for the adjuncts at the institution. If benefits were to be instated for adjuncts, programs might get cut and the financial road would only get more tumultuous, Anderson said.

“It would be desirable, I would think, if one could have all full-time faculty – if you could have all the programs you wanted […] but it costs more than the money that’s available,” said Anderson. “I don’t see it changing anytime soon and that’s a reality.”

Contact Valerie Velikaya, staff reporter, at vvelikay@jccc.edu.

KNOW – initiative against sexual harassment

February 11, 2014

By David Hurtado

Do you think sexual harassment is a problem on campus?

Gabe Metz

“It could be. I haven’t heard of any or seen anything.”

Steven Clark

“No, I don’t think so. I haven’t heard of any incidents from the JCCC Police Department. Not saying there’s not; a lot of people don’t record sexual harassment because they don’t want to make a big ordeal about it.”

Allison Schweiker

“It’s not just a problem on campus, it’s a problem everywhere. I haven’t personally experienced any issues with it on campus, but ever since the booty bandit, as people are calling him, I’m a little more paranoid. I don’t like how narrow some hallways are and staircases. It’s an issue.”

Yesenia Ramirez

“I don’t think it is. Well, not to me personally. I haven’t seen anything, so no.”

Akambi Laniyonou

“I’m a freshman student here, so I don’t really know much about that. I don’t think so.”

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

Sports Calendar

January 30, 2014

Men’s Basketball

4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 at Fort Scott Community college

7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Brown Mackie College

4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 v. State Fair Community College

7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 at Kansas City Community College

4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 v. Hesston College

Women’s Basketball

2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 at Fort Scott Community college

5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Brown Mackie College

2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 v. State Fair Community College

5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 at Kansas City Community College

2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 v. Hesston College

Sports Briefs

January 30, 2014

Women’s Basketball

The Lady Cavs have had a stellar season thus far. The ladies are 21-0 with all of those victories coming by double-digits. The squad is giving up a conference best 45 points per game on the defensive side. The girls boast an impressive four players who average double-digit points this season, with Sameia Kendall, Timeka O’Neal, Nieka Wheeler, and Juanita Robinson. The team is currently ranked number one in the NJCAA Div. II National Poll. The Lady Cavs will play State Fair Community College at home on Feb. 8

Men’s Basketball

After the men’s basketball squad started the second half the season with five straight losses, they have rebounded with two straight double-digit victories to improve to 6-15 on the season. The Cavs prevailed over Kansas City Kansas Community College at home in a defensive struggle 59-49 and an 89-73 overtime victory on the road over Hesston College. The Cavs will face off against State Fair Community College at home on Feb. 8 at 4 p.m.

This year’s problems, last year’s solutions

January 30, 2014

Comparing the President’s State of the Union Addresses

By Jessica Skaggs

“So, together, we have cleared away the rubble of crisis, and we can say with renewed confidence that the State of our Union is stronger.”

This was said by President Obama in last year’s State of the Union address. But the American people seem to lack the same enthusiasm as the president this year.

In the last State of the Union speech, the president made several promises and proposals. And as expected with any administration, some were kept while others were not. Congress will be blamed for those broken promises, and a new performance of zeal will be birthed. However, whether or not the country will buy into this zeal is uncertain.

Last year the president painted a picture of economic recovery. Gone were the years of a “grueling recession” and the “true engine of America’s economic growth” would be reignited. But according to survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 45 percent rated the economic conditions as “only fair” while a mere 16 percent labeled it as excellent or good.

In addition to the dismal outlook of the economic recovery, the administration continues to participate in major clean-up efforts as the rollout of the president’s signature healthcare law proved to be disastrous, especially considering how during the last address the president spoke so highly of the decreased health care costs the Affordable Healthcare Act would provide. According to the Pew Research Center, 54 percent of Americans disapprove of the health care reform law, and 48 percent said the law would only worsen the nation’s health care condition.

Tuesday evening we learned nothing new. The president reaffirmed the promises made in 2013. Sweeping government actions and executive orders to close the income gap and improve the economy. The same problems and so-called solutions. However a recent Rasmussen report found that although 69 percent of Americans think income inequality is a problem, 59 percent believe less government involvement would aid in closing the income gap.

“[…] I believe this can be a breakthrough year for America. After five years of grit and determined effort, the United States is better-positioned for the 21st century than any other nation on Earth.”

Although Tuesday night President Obama ardently declared this year as a year of “breakthrough,” the American people will need new solutions to last year’s problems before coming anywhere close to rallying behind him.

If the Obama administration fails to keep the majority of its promises in the upcoming year while still observing the role of Congress, the approval ratings will only continue to slip. As of now 51 percent of voters disapprove of the president’s job performance, according to a recent Rasmussen report.

The American people are waiting for a leader to step up to the podium. One who will demonstrate significant effort to work with a bipartisan Congress and cease to make promises that simply cannot be kept; a leader who refuses to participate in the partisan blame game both sides in Congress are guilty of and who will listen to the voices of all Americans.

Maybe then the 2015 State of the Union address will sound a bit differently.

Contact Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

Sixteen-week semester sprint

January 30, 2014

Readying for months traveled at light speed

By Stephen Cook

We l c o m e back, Cavs!

The spring semester is here and it’s bound to go even faster than the fall — there’s no time to waste.

First off, many of you may have received a reader survey in your email. I would like to thank each and every individual that took the time to respond and share your thoughts — we received over 500 responses.

One of the themes I noticed from the survey responses was a call for us to be open to suggestions from students.

We are always open to hearing your ideas; in fact, we want to hear your ideas, whether it be for an interesting feature about a student, a fun feature piece about campus or a news tip for an investigative story. All you have to do is shoot me an email (scook35@jccc.edu).

As this semester goes forward, I want us to be the best we’ve ever been. Believe me, I have read each comment — good and bad — and have taken them to heart.

I’ll be the first to admit that we are in no way flawless; and that’s sort of a blessing in disguise. It means that there is always motivation and reason for us to continue to improve our collective work.

Ultimately everything we do is for our readers: we aim to keep you informed, aware and entertained. So, in return, we want to know what you’d like to read about.

This is your campus and this is your newspaper.

As my final semester at the college begins, I look forward to what the future holds. Time will fly, so we must make the most of it while we can.

For one, I can say I’m extremely excited to spend the next few months working away on the Ledger — I hope you’re excited to read it.

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

Staff Editorial: Reflecting on the reductions

January 30, 2014

The Ledger considers how the budget reduction process was handled

In a time when funding is uncertain and enrollment is on the decline, appropriate measures have to be taken.

Last Friday, President Sopcich announced a plan of action that would result in over $3.8 million of reductions to the college’s budget. Compared to the FY 2013-14 budget, that is roughly 2.8 percent. This may not sound too significant, but in reality, it is a huge step in the right direction.

In order to ensure a successful, flourishing future for the college, it is important we assess what that means. Right now, it is crucial we cut back on spending and create a safety net in case the economy or funding falls flat.

Although it is unfortunate when any organization has to cut back instead of expand, we would like to concede that this round was handled very well.

In the weeks and months leading up to this announcement there was certainly an environment of fear and uncertainty amongst staff and faculty at the college. Personnel were unsure of what the future held for them.

It was announced that the most of the positions which were eliminated were already vacant. Of the 53 positions removed, nine of those were professor positions. Ultimately, a lot of pain was avoided just by using common sense — this is what we like.

Here at the Ledger, we are student journalists, student journalists. That means we take classes, pay tuition and participate in activities just like everyone else. And that is why this is so important.

Our job is to hold those in power accountable through the power of media and reporting; and here, in a college setting, we are very directly affected by the administration’s decisions.

As we move through this semester and into next year, we can only hope decisions continue to be made with thought and respect to those at the college. After all, it is in the best interest of the students that these decisions should be made.

Meet the ECAV DJ: Bill Butts

January 30, 2014

Major/Area of study: Theater and journalism

Position: Station manager

Show: “Unscripted”, weekdays at 1 p.m.

What is your job at ECAV Radio?

I am currently the station manager at ECAV radio. I lead a great team of professional DJs in JCCC’s own Internet radio station broadcasting great music and talk shows from 9am to 7pm.

What has been your favorite part about working with ECAV Radio?

Getting to do what I love while working with a bunch of people with similar mindsets.

Who is your favorite musician?

Frank Sinatra

What is your dream job? Why?

Hollywood actor because I love acting in theater and film.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

I would want to meet Hitler, so I could punch him in the jaw. Just kidding; I would want to meet Abe Lincoln.

What is one fact most people don’t know about you?

I love karaoke.

Coping with seasonal depression

January 30, 2014

How to avoid the winter blues

By Valerie Velikaya

The holidays are officially over, but despite being greeted by the hopeful beginnings of a brand new year, many students continue to battle with the remains of the season.

For the most part, winter is perceived as a time to cuddle up with a good book, hibernate beneath a bundle of blankets while “trying” to stick to that aching list of resolutions.

People tolerate these frigid, bitter days (some may even enjoy it); however, for others, it’s an endless cycle of despondency – similar to a seasonal flu that plagues them once a year. Those afflicted with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) often believe the only cure is to endure it until it gradually meets its own demise.

Mary Jean Billingsley, coordinator of the college’s mental health task force, believes seasonal depression is at its worst from December to March.

“It can manifest itself by presenting depression where people are having difficulty engaging and interacting with people in a healthy way,” said Billingsley. “We just want to hunker down and go into a cave.”

Detachment occurs for a number of reasons, whether due to a lack of sunlight or not enough rest. Billingsley recommends getting both.

“Our bodies need that vitamin D-3 from the sun,” said Billingsley. “Sleep is effective as well. [When students] are not getting an adequate amount of sleep … it’s hard to function in a way that’s productive.”

Nevertheless, some students may recall an unfortunate experience pertaining to the winter months.

“I know for some people it’s been more like if something bad has happened to them during that specific time in the past,” said Kyle Clark, student, “and they’re kind of like, ‘I remember this.’ It’s not too fun to be in this particular season.”

Students are encouraged to speak to any of the counselors if they’re feeling melancholy.

“What’s great about our campus is the counselors we have available in the counseling center,” said Billingsley.

If deemed necessary, a college counselor has the ability to refer students to Saint Luke’s Health System where they can get up to five free counseling sessions.

If a student wants to take a more “active” approach, Active Minds is an organization on campus designed to create dialogue and awareness of mental health issues specifically among students.

Susie Sympson, adjunct associate professor of psychology, is the adviser for Active Minds, whose motto is, ‘not everybody has mental illness, but everybody has mental health.’

It began as a way to “make [depression] easier for people to talk about so it wouldn’t be so stigmatized,” said Sympson.

Active Minds is in its 11th year and has received a five-star certification since it began. The organization takes part in the planning and cosponsoring of activities along with other groups.

“Our whole goal is to start the conversation about mental health,” said Sympson.

Active Minds isn’t a therapy group but an advocacy group. This includes advocating for resources as well as spreading awareness of the prevalence of mental health issues across the community.

Though it’s not a support group, it can be supporting to be a part of something like that.

“In fact, if you go on the national website,” said Sympson, “you’ll see postings of people who credit Active Minds for saving their lives.”

There are several ways to cope with seasonal depression, and it’s best to take immediate action while it’s still under control, otherwise it may continue to escalate, making it seem insurmountable to conquer in the future.

Active Minds meets every Wednesday at noon in CC 212. For more information on Active Minds, visit activeminds.org or contact Susie Sympson (ext. 6425 or ssympson@jccc.edu). To schedule an appointment with a counselor, call 913-469-3809.

Contact Valerie Velikaya, staff reporter, at vvelikay@jccc.edu.

InFocus: Life LinkedIn

January 30, 2014

A look at professional social networking

By Jessica Skaggs

In the modern era of technology and tweets, social networking has become an important trend of society. However, the once limited personal day-to-day life networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter have a growing contender that offers a more professional experience.

LinkedIn is a social networking site for professionals. And since its launch in 2003 it has grown to over 259 million users worldwide.

While considered by some as just the “Facebook for old people,” college program director Keith Krieger sees it differently.

“LinkedIn is what Facebook is after it graduates from college,” Krieger said. “So it’s just another social network but the orientation is around professions and building networks. Where Facebook is obviously building a personal network, LinkedIn gives you the business network. […] It’s the Facebook for working people.”

As a professional networking site, LinkedIn offers users, both employers and job-seekers, opportunities to get connected as well as highlight skills and experience.

LeAnn Cunningham, employment relations and internship coordinator at the college, believes there are several ways students can use LinkedIn to enhance their professional pursuits.

“They can use it in career development as well as in job search,” Cunningham said. “It’s a great teaching tool. In a way it’s sort of a mini-vocational biography that you’re looking at. [Students] can research different positions, and see what people who have that same job title are doing. Or if they’re trying to create their profile, it’s good to look at other people’s examples.”

The topic of LinkedIn arose when the career development center advisory committee met in the fall. On this committee are 29 members, most of which are employers from the Kansas City area.

“At our last meeting,” Cunningham said, “one of the employers stated that LinkedIn is becoming even more important to them than resumes. And in a way when you look at this, it is an online resume in some ways. It’s sort of a combination of a portfolio in way and a resume. And there’s the ability to get all that information out there and you’re controlling the marketing on what you put in your profile.”

Ryan Jones, adjunct associate professor of Graphic Design, is one professor that makes students create a LinkedIn account as a part of his courses, as its importance continues to increase in the business world.

“Part of the reason for the class is to prepare people to go out in to the job field and give them all the tools they need to find the job they want, do interviews, create their resume, portfolios things like this,” Jones said. “So it’s our job to make sure they’re aware of all the tools that are being used most commonly by recruiters and people that are hiring and things like that. Recruiters are using [LinkedIn] to go find people right now. It spans all sorts of industries but its really good in that it’s basically an interactive version of your resume so people can see your experience right there.”

Student senator Joe Beeso uses LinkedIn not only to network professionally with businesses, but also to connect with other students.

“LinkedIn has helped me in several different ways,” Beeso said. “First of all, it can help you get jobs, but the thing that it’s most important for is networking. Every college student should have a LinkedIn because if you’re trying to get a job […] usually the first thing they’re going to ask you is ‘Do you have a LinkedIn?’ Other ways it’s helped me is collaborating with other students, so I get to know other business students, other students who are in graphic design, marketing students and that helps me because those are going to be my future colleagues.”

Another feature Beeso enjoys is the ability to make possible connections by following different professional groups.

“You can follow people just like on social media sites, but it’s all professional,” Beeso said. “You’re following Richard Branson or CEOs like Arne Swanson, who’s the CEO of Marriot Hotels, and you get advice and articles just like you would find on Facebook except they’re professionally focused and you can reply to them and connect with them. It’s very facilitated to helping you learn while you’re in college.”

For students looking to get started or improve their LinkedIn profiles, resource packets are available in the career center.

“All of this information is very good for students both in terms of the educational components LinkedIn offers when it comes to career development and when it comes to job search,” Cunningham said. “But also how to act professionally. I’m happy to meet with students who need to work on this, and if I get several students from this article that need to do it then I’ll probably come up with a couple of workshops and try to get in as many as possible that way.”

Contact Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, at jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

Pastry shop attracts community members on and off campus

January 30, 2014

By Valerie Velikaya

Pastries and other delectable treats made fresh by students from the Pastry and Baking Certificate Program are being sold at the college much to the delight of customers across the metro.

The shop received rave reviews when it opened its doors in 2004. Ten years later, it continues to thrive, attracting the attention of students, faculty members and community members outside of the college.

“It is very successful,” said Doug Flick, professor of hospitality management and former pastry chef at the Ritz Carlton.

Flick, as well as Ona Ashley, the hospitality management director, both agree that the shop’s growing popularity derives from its quality ingredients.

“It has to do with the quality of the product,” said Ashley, “and the fact that it is students putting it on.”

The Pastry and Baking Certificate Program is a selective program, and students are interviewed prior to becoming a part of Flick’s team.

“We want to make sure that this is what they want to do with their life,” said Ashley.

Last fall, the pastries were sold in the GEB building. Since then, the shop has made its transition over to the newly built Hospitality Culinary Academy building, located south of the Regnier Center parking garage. Inside it’s spacious, containing seven kitchens for students to work at under the supervision of faculty. Its size makes it easy to spot, benefiting those who are strangers to the college or to the pastry shop.

“I love it,” said Flick of the new building. “Everybody enjoys it.”

Despite opening at 3 p.m. every Friday, the afternoon rush begins 15 minutes early as customers line up to fulfill their sweet tooth. Newcomers, overwhelmed by all the options, can either be assisted by the young chefs themselves or by returning patrons.

One familiar face at the college, Jim Pettitt, associate professor of psychology, is a self-proclaimed “loyal” customer.

“I come here every two to three weeks,” said Pettitt. “I enjoy the chocolate indulgence cookies and the key lime tarts.”

The menu changes from week to week, but it never fails to provide mouth-watering indulgences to satisfy all palates. From éclairs to cronuts and challahs to pretzels, the chefs-in-training work at a rapid pace, yet are meticulous in their craft. Although the program itself isn’t a piece of cake, students are highly passionate when it comes to their work.

“A lot of the students go on to do great things locally and nationally,” said Flick, and as the semester progresses, it “goes from a timid atmosphere to a more confident one.”

It’s their determination that overshadows the difficulties of the job, which includes coming up with new ideas for different products on the menu.

“It’s a lot of work but I’m not going to say it isn’t fun,” said Ashley. “We like what we’re doing and [the students] are doing something they’re passionate about.”

The prices for items vary; with costs ranging from 50 cents to $12 for an entire pie. The sale’s success keeps the program busy as well the pastry shop open.

“The proceeds go directly back into the Pastry and Baking Program,” said Ashley. “It’s a self-funding program. If they don’t sell then they don’t have the funds to continue to sell.”

The shop opens every Friday from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., or until they’re sold out. It closes in May but will open once classes are back in session in the fall.

For more information, visit the Hospitality Culinary Academy building or contact Doug Flick (dflick@jccc.edu or ext. 3613). To find various items on the menu, visit: jccc.edu/hospitality-culinary/pastry-products.html

Contact Valerie Velikaya, staff reporter, at vvelikay@jccc.edu.

Features Calendar

January 30, 2014

The Wizard of Oz

8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1 in Yardley Hall

Ballet Memphis, a regional Tennessee based dance company, will be performing an enactment of “The Wizard of Oz.” Ticket prices are half-off for attendees under 18.

Cost: $32, $40.

The Ugly Duckling and the Tortoise and the Hare

9:45 a.m. and 12 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 in Yardley Hall

Combining electroluminescent wire and cutting edge technology, Lightwire Theater and Corbin Visual Arts and Dance re-create Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling” and Aesop’s “The Tortoise and the Hare” on the big stage.

Cost: $5.

Rain – A Tribute to the Beatles

8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 in Yardley Hall

Rain, a Beatles tribute band, will be performing long time classics of the Beatles such as “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Let It Be,” and other hits.

Cost: $45, $60.

The Graduate

Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2 and 8 p.m. in the Polsky Theater

A novel written by Charles Webb, the Graduate tells the story of a college graduate who finds himself without direction during the changing social and sexual values of the 60s. L.A. Theater Works, a Los Angeles based radio theater, will be present two performances with discussion afterwards.

Cost: $30.

Engaging through answering

January 30, 2014

Student Ambassadors begin fielding all college phone calls

By Stephen Cook

Callers will now hear a different voice when they contact the college, the voice of a student.

Monday, Jan. 27 marked the first day only students were answering the phones. Prior to the transition that began Nov. 18, two to three operators in the Carlsen Center police department would field all of these phone calls. This meant that the operators had to answer both emergency and general college inquiries simultaneously.

Now, a staff of 12 ambassadors take turns throughout the week answering an average of around 400 to 500 phone calls a day at two operator stations, working 8 to 6 on Monday through Thursday and 8 to 5 on Fridays. Four of the ambassadors were recently hired to help with these duties as well as other responsibilities at the Student Welcome Desk.

Keith Davenport, manager of Student Activities and Leadership Development, said the college made the decision as a step to be more engaging when talking over the phone.

“The college as a whole has been seeing that when students engage other students, it’s much more effective than if a staff person engages a student,” Davenport said. “Students are much more responsive to talking to another student than they are to somebody who is 5, 10, 15, 40 years older than they are.”

Since the students don’t have to worry about police matters while answering general inquiries, Davenport said they will be able to offer better customer service to callers.

Bonnie Hensley, who has served as an operator in the Carlsen Center for the police department for 16 years, said they likewise will be able to focus on improved customer service for emergency and non-emergency calls.

“I’m glad they finally did it,” Hensley said. “There have been absolutely zero complaints on the phone calls because I think they’re getting answered faster and better, so that is a huge, huge plus and the stress level’s gone way down.”

Hensley also helped train Davenport so he could guide the student ambassadors through the transition.

Student ambassador Samantha Skinner said she enjoys her job and doesn’t mind the new duty of answering calls. However, talking on the phone versus in person creates new challenges.

“I get a lot of people calling and then hanging up and then I get really self conscious because I’m like oh they didn’t want to talk to me,” Skinner said. “There’s a lot of cases where you can’t understand the person; they’re mumbling or something.”

Another way the college is working to improve efficiency is through the installation of an automated operator. Through voice-recognition technology, callers can now say the name of the individual or department and the system will automatically collect them. Davenport said they are waiting for the data to see how the new automation affects calls sent through to an operator, since you can only compare to a year before.

Although students were a little apprehensive at first, Davenport said once they start doing it everyone really likes it. There is an aspect of problem solving as operators have to connect callers with the right person on campus.

“The students are already doing a lot of that at the student welcome desk here in the first floor,” Davenport said. “So it’s kind of just taking the same idea and putting it on the phone.”

He said they are also working on some different methods to provide feedback for the call center, such as an online ticketing system.

After the transition, the number of Carlsen Center operators remains the same, although scheduled hours may vary.

Davenport believes it is a great move by the college for callers to hear a student’s voice when they speak with an operator.

“I’m really excited about the impact it’s had and how well the students have caught on,” he said. “They’ve caught on very quickly.”

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

An inside look at Desire2Learn

January 30, 2014

By Jessica Skaggs

This semester marks the first opportunity for students and faculty to use the college’s new learning management system, Desire2Learn (D2L).

“We are really excited about D2L and the new features it includes,” Distance Learning Director Ed Lovitt said. “We think students and staff will really benefit from it.”

One of the benefits includes a Google widget located on the right side of the D2L homepage. Once students link their student e-mail to the widget, they’ll be able to access their e-mail messages with ease.

Another benefit built-in to the site is the ability to track the users’ progress for each class. Once a class has been selected, students can have access to a calendar, content of the course, discussion posts, dropbox, quizzes, categorized grades, the user progress feature and a class list.

An additional advantage with D2L is the ability to register a mobile device to receive class notifications via SMS. Students can register their phone number on the site and choose what notifications they want to receive, including grade updates, quiz reminders, and any news items sent out by the professor.

Although there are similarities to ANGEL, the several enhancements within D2L encourage more communication between professors and classmates.

For more information and guidance with D2L, check out the student video tutorials located at the top right of the D2L homepage.

Contact Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, at jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

Enrollment continues to fall

January 30, 2014

Less students creates challenges for departments, programs

By Stephen Cook

As a new semester begins, there are a number of faces that won’t be seen again in the classroom. Enrollment is on the decline and credit hours and students are both less than in the fall.

On Monday, Jan. 27 a total of 15,815 students were enrolled at the college with a total count of 135,988 credit hours, according to MargE Shelley, Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management.

However, Shelley emphasized day-to-day and moment-to-moment comparisons do not mean much. To be accurate, numbers must be compared to the year before. Also, comparing numbers on the 20th day, after students have finalized enrollment, late start classes have begun and college now classes have begun, gives a better idea of where things stand. The official numbers from the 20th day will be available on Feb. 11, Shelley said.

The 20th day numbers from the spring of 2013 were 17,837 students and 144,303 credit hours. In the fall of 2013, there were more than 16,000 students enrolled.

Csilla Duneczky, Dean, Sciences and Math, has seen her department cut classes as not enough students are enrolling in various sections.

“We weren’t really expecting it to be this low,” Duneczky said, “We did see it low in the fall, and there have been some changes in math with some prerequisites and things like that, so we did schedule a few less sections than we normally do, but even so it’s lower than we were expecting.”

Andy Anderson, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chief Administrative Officer, explained that a lot of unknown factors play into the enrollment numbers as well as deciding on how many classes should be offered.

“Scheduling is partly science and partly an art, if you will,” Anderson said. “Trying to anticipate how many sections I need [of a class] from semester to semester is difficult.”

Among the classes that remain, Duneczky offered an optimistic outlook.

“We’re seeing a lot of classes that have openings; they used to be full,” Duneczky said. “It’s kind of nice in one way: students get a lot more personal attention; so you do have a small class, but it can also be a little awkward if you don’t have enough people.”

When sections get cancelled due to low enrollment, she said they call the student and try to work with them to see what other classes they could take. However, this can be difficult due to conflicts and restrictions within a student’s personal schedule.

This also means that, for example, one adjunct faculty member won’t be working at the college this semester, Duneczky said.

Also, the college hasn’t been replacing faculty unless essential. Anderson said compared to two years ago, the college is down 18-20 full-time faculty. Adjuncts are on the decline as well.

Now, Anderson believes it is important to consider what the college should be to the community.

“I don’t know that we’ve ever answered it in kind of a clear, philosophical way, as to what is the right size for this college. We’ve always just sort of grown as the demand increased,” Anderson said. “We got bigger and that’s tied in part to trying to be the center of the community and providing whatever the community needed.”

For programs offered by the college, the shrinking numbers becomes an issue of sustainability, Anderson said. Community colleges are being forced to decide what they can be most effectively.

“There’s always been this sense that we should be sort of as big as the community, as many people as want to come should be able to come,” Anderson said. “When our enrollment was peaking we were being forced to almost question, ‘How big can we be?’ I think now with the kind of declining numbers, the question is, ‘How big do we need to be to provide the services that we feel are important to provide?’”

These decisions are going to directly affect what is offered at the college in the future, he explained.

“As a school gets smaller you’re forced to make some choices,” Anderson said. “You get into questions — can we be everything to everybody? If you don’t have enough students, the answer is absolutely not.”

Be sure to pick up the next issue of the Campus Ledger and visit CampusLedger.com for updated statistics as information becomes available.

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

College kicks off student concert series

January 30, 2014

By David Hurtado

Rock and roll melodies echoed off the walls of the cafeteria on Jan. 22, signaling the first performance of the college’s new Student Concert Series.

The series is an initiative of Student Activities featuring the talents of student musicians performing live throughout the spring semester. Performances will be held every other Wednesday at noon in COM 155. The next concert will be held on Feb. 5. Every concert is free of charge.

Keith Davenport, manager of Student Activities and Leadership Development, said a couple of different considerations steered the decision-making towards creating the event. He said Student Activities used to sponsor movie showings every week, but cancelled them in favor of allocating those funds elsewhere.

“We found that although we had relatively good attendance for those, a lot of the attendance for those events were from community members,” Davenport said. “All of our events are funded by the Student Activities Fee that each student pays along with their tuition. It’s important for us to use that money to go back and engage students. While we like engaging community members, we want to be using the Student Activities Fee to provide activities for students.”

Davenport said auditions for the Concert Series will be held each week on Fridays at 2 p.m. in COM 309 B. Students interested in participating are encouraged to contact Mpho Kekana or Samantha Skinner at the Student Activities Desk or call (913) 469-3807 to sign up for an audition.

Mpho Kekana, student ambassador, said once students have completed their audition, they will be notified within a week whether or not they have secured a spot for performing. Kekana also said for the time being, each music group will perform once a semester.

“Currently there will only be one act per semester from each music group,” Kekana said. “Depending on the response from student musicians, some acts have the possibility of coming back more than once. Individuals of a band can each perform their own solo act.”

The first concert of the semester was performed by Vela, a band founded in 2010 by student Jonas Birkel and Sean Cedillo. Birkel, who has been involved in music for about 16 years, said his favorite part about performing at concerts is meeting people who are interested in music.

“I really like getting people involved in music. I like talking with people before and after the show, shaking hands and getting connected,” Birkel said. “You meet a lot of interesting people, you really do.”

Birkel said the only concerns he had regarding the student concerts is the area in which the bands play. He said with the way the music reverberates off the walls, it distorts the songs and sounds much louder than it normally would.

Samantha Skinner, student ambassador, said Student Activities does not plan to move the concerts to another location, such as the Polsky Theater.

She said there are not as many students milling about in the area where the Polsky is, and people could feel like it’s a separate event from the Student Concert Series.

“If it’s in a theater and the doors are shut, people aren’t going to walk in and want to view it,” Skinner said. “They’re going to think it’s something they have to be a part of beforehand. We’re going to keep it where it is, where students are always circulating.”

Like at a professional concert, students will be allowed to promote themselves by selling merchandise.

However, Davenport said the college has to collect state sales taxes for each purchase, creating additional record keeping and accounting work. He said it might be easier to just give it away rather than sell it.

“I’m excited about the potential of it because it gives students an opportunity to perform,” Davenport said. “We’re paying students to perform at a real concert; legitimate contract and everything. It’s a good experience for them and it’s also a great experience for students to see their friends, hang out and have live music on a regular basis.”

Be sure to pick up issue 10 on Feb. 13 to read profiles about student bands performing this semester.

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

Sopcich announces 2014 budget reductions

January 30, 2014

By Stephen Cook

President Joe Sopcich has announced the changes that will take place at the college in an effort to reduce the budget. A number of vacant positions have been eliminated, with a savings of almost $3.1 million. Changes and reductions in college programming and services will amount to a savings of $772,503.

A number of teaching positions will not be filled, as well as administrative. Vice President and Executive Director are two functions that have been eliminated from the President’s Branch.

Additionally, the King’s Cove location will be closed and programs such as JCCC to the MAX and Performing Arts will undergo change. The museum store in the Nerman will be closed and the general fund support of athletics will be reduced by $157,838.

In his Jan. 24 email to faculty and staff, Sopcich explained there are three levels to the budget actions for the upcoming fiscal year. Level One is reducing staffing, Level Two is assessing and making changes to programs and areas around campus and Level Three will be ongoing as areas are continued to be reviewed throughout the spring semester. As of now, “there are no immediate budget savings accounted for in Level Three.”

The total reductions from Level One and Two amount to a total of $3,856,121. The college’s FY 2013-14 budget is $137,701,764.

“Originally, our goal was to cut at least $3 million in salaries and benefits from the college’s budget next year. However, as we gave our five-year budget projections another look, we felt our original projections were too optimistic,” Sopcich said in his email message. “For example, revenues this year will be down as a result of the decline in enrollment, and we are no longer assured that we will be able to see an increase in state aid next year. Our projections calling for annual increases in enrollment and state aid were overly optimistic and unrealistic. Therefore, to keep the college sustainable for the future, it is in our best interest to eliminate a little more than $3 million this year and continue to review our programs and processes each year to make sure we are functioning as efficiently as possible.”

Be sure to visit CampusLedger. com for more updates over the coming weeks.

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

Police Briefs

January 30, 2014

Missing money

Police arrived at the men’s locker room at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 15 to be informed by an individual that his currency was nowhere to be found. The victim had returned to the locker to find it standing open with the lock missing. Police searched the area for possible witnesses, but were met with negative results. The case remains open.

Open locker, stolen lock

At around 9:45 a.m. on Jan. 17, a student returned to the men’s locker room to find his locker open, with his belongings still inside. Nothing was found to be missing, other than the lock which had previously secured the unit. Police checked all of the trash cans in the area for the lock, but nothing was to be found. The case remains open.

Catalytic crime

An individual reported the catalytic converter had been stolen from his vehicle on Jan. 24. The victim had returned to his vehicle around noon after giving a presentation for Ryan Lawn to find the converter had been cut away from the vehicle’s exhaust. When he parked the car around 9 a.m. he said he did not observe anything unusual in the area. An area canvass presented negative results. The case remains open.

Compiled by Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, scook35@jccc.edu.

Infographic by Courtney Holliday, production designer, chollid3@jccc.edu

News Briefs

January 30, 2014

Fall 2013 honor roll announced

The college released the fall 2013 honor roll last Friday; students can view the lists by visiting jccc.edu/press_releases/2014/gen-fall-2013-student-honor-roll.html.

Gravel parking area removed

The previously-gravel parking area by the east campus entrance has been permanently closed. The lot, which was a temporary space for vehicles during the construction of the Hospitality and Culinary Academy, has been covered in dirt and will soon be reseeded for grass.

Student activities and information adds second desk location in Carlsen Center

The new student welcome desk, located near the college box office in the Carlsen Center, will allow students to get directions, ask questions, print schedules and more. Student IDs and ticket sales will not be offered at that location.

The new location was created to help engage students who may not visit the other side of campus where the original desk is located.

Academic Excellence Challenge team to compete in national tournament

The college’s Academic Excellence

Challenge team won the National Academic Quiz Tournaments Sectional Qualifier on Jan. 25 for the third year in a row. The team is currently ranked 15th in the nation.

Coached by Mindy Kinnaman, team members include Kurt Partridge, Brandon Hattesohl, Haley Bonebrake, Daniel Crist, Trevor Crookston, Cody Hattesohl, Matthew Kelley, Jared Mullis, Rhiannon Pearson, Elliot Rogers and Ali Zinati.

The team will travel to Atlanta to compete in the national championship Feb. 28 – March 1.

Compiled by Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, scook35@jccc.edu.

Sports column: A match made in football heaven

January 30, 2014

By James Howey

As a football fanatic, you can’t ask for a more tantalizing and intriguing matchup than the one in Super Bowl XLVIII. The Denver Broncos are the number one offense and the Seattle Seahawks are the number one defense.

The Broncos scored a record-breaking 606 points throughout the regular season. Denver is the only team in the history of the National Football League to boast five different offensive players to score at least ten touchdowns. The Seahawks are the first defense since the 1985 Chicago Bears to be number one in yards, passing yards, scoring, and turnovers for a defense.

The majority of American audiences were introduced to the leader of the Seahawks’ defense, cornerback Richard Sherman, following Seattle’s victory in the NFC Championship game over the San Francisco 49ers. Sherman, who made the play to win the game for Seattle, was interviewed by Fox’s Erin Andrews. During the brief “interview” Sherman did not shy away from his emotions.

“Well I’m the best corner in the game,” Sherman said. “When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that’s the result you’re going to get.”

Since Sherman’s emotional rant, he has faced much criticism from the public. Words like thug, classless and cocky have been associated with Sherman.

While what Sherman did was very emotional and arguably inappropriate, the word thug could not be the farthest thing from what Sherman actually is. Not only is Sherman a Stanford educated man and with a Master’s Degree, he accomplished all this after growing up in crime and gang ridden Compton, California.

Sherman is an emotional guy who plays an emotional game and he made a crucial play against Michael Crabtree at the end of the NFC Championship. Sherman and Crabtree have both had “beef” with each other for some time. We should not be surprised Sherman reacted the way he did with a microphone and a camera in front his face mere minutes after he made the biggest play of the game in the biggest game of his life.

Many athletes have and will do much worse things than Sherman did after that game. Sherman’s massive chip on his shoulder not only makes a great player, it also makes him a perfect face for a team and a city like Seattle that feels overlooked by the general public.

Speaking of someone with a chip on their shoulder, no one has ever had a bigger chip than the man Seattle’s defense will face Sunday, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. In the 2013 season, Manning has thrown 55 touchdown passes and he has thrown for 5,477 yards, both being single season records.

Manning will play in his third Super Bowl with his second team and is likely to win a record fifth MVP award. Manning has accomplished all this after four neck surgeries in 2011 that nearly ended his legendary career. Many people, including his former team, the Indianapolis Colts, doubted Manning would ever be close to his old self.

Amazingly, Manning has never looked better than he did this year. But at times in rehab, Manning doubted that he could ever come back from his surgeries; he often struggled to grip and throw a football ten yards.

When you reflect on what Manning has been through the last couple of years, it’s hard to imagine how many, if any, NFL players in history would have been willing to come back from an injury like Manning’s. If Manning wins Sunday, he will be the first NFL quarterback to lead two different teams to a Super Bowl win, which in many people’s eyes will make him the greatest quarterback of all time.

The one drastic difference this Super Bowl has and will be remembered for is the fact that it will be the first Super Bowl played in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a cold-weather stadium. To me and many other people, this is just a ludicrous idea to put the Super Bowl in this type of venue.

Not only could the potential for wind or snow heavily affect the game, the weather could present even bigger problems for traveling that weekend before and after the game. Despite the potential problems, barring a devastating storm the week of the game, the Super Bowl festivities should still be great and the game may be one of the best ever.

This game is truly strength versus strength. The potential for bad weather would certainly look like an advantage to Seattle. Denver has an underrated running attack coupled with maybe the best passing attack in league history and a defense that has been playing great the past month. Manning right now just looks like a player who simply will not be denied. I’ll take Manning and Denver in a classic game; Denver 24, Seattle 20.

Contact James Howey, sports editor, at jhowey@jccc.edu.

Q&A: Local professional shares thoughts about LinkedIn

January 30, 2014

Q&A with Larry Askew II
(General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Executive Vice President at Sizewise Rentals, LLC in Kansas City, Mo.)

How has LinkedIn changed the application process?

“LinkedIn has changed the application process by making it more competitive because the applicants can search for members with similar attributes in the same geographic area.”

As a professional, why do you use LinkedIn?

“As a professional I use LinkedIn to keep in contact with contemporaries in my field. It’s difficult to have social and professional relationships while maintaining a home and work life.”

Why do you think LinkedIn is an important resource students should familiarize themselves with?

“Students should use LinkedIn and get used to updating their profiles because it’s essentially a dynamic resume that communicates with people even when they can’t.”

What should be included in someone’s LinkedIn profile if they are seeking a job?

“An applicant should include in their profile their true accomplishments, interests, education regardless of their intentions. If you base your profile on the job you’re applying for you’ll be changing it with every application.”

Is there anything else you would like to add in summary to your statements about LinkedIn and the application process?

“LinkedIn can be a fantastic conduit to a career and to subsequent advancements. An applicant should keep their profile updated and truthful.”

Compiled by Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, jskaggs4@jccc.edu.

Sopcich announces staff, program reductions

January 24, 2014

By Stephen Cook

President Joe Sopcich announced earlier today the changes that will take place at the college in an effort to reduce the budget. A number of vacant positions have been eliminated, with a savings of almost $3.1 million. Changes in college programming and services will amount to a savings of $772,503.

A number of teaching positions will not be filled, as well as administrative. Vice President and Executive Director are two functions that have been eliminated from the President’s Branch.

Additionally, the King’s Cove location will be closed and programs such as JCCC to the MAX and Performing Arts will undergo change. The museum store in the Nerman will be closed and the the general fund support of athletics will be reduced by $157,838.

In his email to faculty and staff, Sopcich explained that there are three levels to the budget actions for the upcoming fiscal year. Level one is reducing staffing, level two is assessing and making changes to programs and areas around campus and level three will continue to review areas throughout the spring semester. As of now, “there are no immediate budget savings accounted for in Level Three.”

The total reductions from level one and two amount to a total of $3,856,121. The college’s FY 2013-14 budget is $137,701,764.

Be sure to pick up issue 9 on Jan. 30 and visit CampusLedger.com for more updates over the coming weeks.

Contact Stephen Cook, editor-in-chief, at scook35@jccc.edu.

Yearly Archives: 2014