The award-winning newspaper of Anne Arundel Community College TheCampusCurrent.com
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@Campus_Current September 2023
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The AACC Board of Trustees swears in a new student member.
An African Student Association and improv club will start in the fall.
All divisional sports at AACC are now Division II.
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AACC adds religious spaces Lifelong
Web Exclusive
Izzy Chase Co-Editor
The college adopted a policy in July for students who wish to reschedule assignment deadlines or miss class to observe religious holidays or practice their faith. School officials expanded an existing religious accommodation policy to include a plan for designating prayer
rooms on all campuses. Cole Popov, a second-year journalism student, said he looks forward to what officials are calling the “serenity spaces,” because, he said, “some people don’t really have a space to really practice.” The updated policy offers students guidelines to follow when they face religious conflicts with their academic assignments. This
you know, as we see fit, in a way that’s appropriate and ethical.” She added: “We’re not trying to force beliefs on students. That’s what academia is not about. Academia is about exposing students to the variety of philosophies, beliefs, religions, values, norms, cultures that exist. We expose you; that’s it.” Ellianna Shields, a sec-
Payton Thompson Co-Editor
A high school junior who takes courses at AACC became the youngest-ever editor-in-chief of the college’s independent student
newspaper in August. Tomi Brunton, 16, a home-schooled student, served as associate editor last semester after joining Campus Current as a reporter in fall 2022. “Campus Current has
However, home-schooled and private school students pay their own AACC tuition, which the college discounted by 50% until this summer, when it cut the price break to 25%. “The law is explicit about
Maryland legislation requires dual-enrolled homeschooled students like Avery Gunn, who started taking college classes last year, to pay 25% more tuition this fall than last spring. Photo courtesy of Avery Gunn
AACC will welcome students with a back-to-school block party on Monday, Aug. 28. The event will take place on the Quad from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The block party will feature a free taco bar, free produce from Hungry Harvest and an activity to make stuffed animals.
Students can meet Student Government Association officers and staff from several student services offices. The organizations will have giveaways for students. All week, students can win prizes by posting photos of their pets wearing AACC gear. Post to studentengagment@aacc.edu or DM or tag @aacc_ose on Instagram.
New Campus Current Editor-in-Chief Tomi Brunton is the youngest student ever to hold the position. Photo by Payton Thompson
Home-schooled and private high school students taking classes at AACC started paying 25% more tuition than last year this summer. Traditionally, all dual-enrolled high school students
received a 50% tuition discount. A 2021 law required Anne Arundel County Public Schools to use state funds to pay 75% of their students’ AACC tuition, while the college discounts the other 25%. This means public school students can now take college classes for free.
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In our monthly Campus Current “Web Exclusive,” Co-Editor Andrea Bridgett talks to students about the meaningful friendships they made on campus during their time at AACC. Read the full story at www.thecampuscurrent. com
Youngest-ever editor to lead student news
Home-schoolers now pay 25% more tuition Tomi Brunton Co-Editor
friends
complies with a new Maryland law. Nicole Williams, chair of the Human Services department, said faculty have raised concerns about students filing for accommodations. “This is where we do feel like it does violate our academic freedoms,” Williams, the former president of The Faculty Organization, said. “We have the right to, of course, teach the curriculum,
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become such an important part of my life,” Brunton said. “I think that as editor-in-chief, I will be able to give back to it in such a great way, and I think I’ll get Continued on Page 3