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VOL. 22, NO. 8 The student publication of Washtenaw Community College

A NATIONAL PACEMAKER AWARD NEWSPAPER

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2015 www.washtenawvoice.com

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN

International students blend cultures at Thanksgiving table

3 THINGS YOU MISSED AT THE NOV. 17 BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING by TAYLOR ROBINSON

Editor

and MADI TORTORA Staff Writer

1. APPROVAL OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR MORRIS LAWRENCE BUILDING CHILLER REPLACEMENT PROJECT

The International Student Association hosted a Thanksgiving dinner at Garrett’s restaurant on campus. GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE

by COURTNEY DITTO

first ever ISA Thanksgiving. Starting out with the basics, turkey and stuffing were served as what Streur defined When the sugar highs of Halloween have as the “base” for the meal. Some students subsided and bellies are grumbling for some- even included some American favorites such thing more substantial than a mini Twix bar, as pumpkin pie. The spread was quickly comThanksgiving stands as a haven for those plemented with a number of international ready for a plate of home-cooked food and a foods, such as tamales, Middle Eastern salad, table filled with loved ones. pot stickers, and bagela – a traditional Iraqi This yea r, Wa shtenaw Communit y dish composed mostly of bread and vegetables. College’s International Student Association Although food is considered one of the put their own spin on what is primarily known main components of Thanksgiving celebraas an American holiday by integrating dishes tions, ISA President Marko Delic, 20, from from the countries of international students Montenegro, integrated the theme of being in their version of Thanksgiving dinner. thankful. Brought together by the ISA with the help “Even though it’s American, giving thanks of the Dean of Diversity and Inclusion Arnett is universal. Being thankful for what we have Chisholm and Garrett’s – the student-run in our lives brings us all together as a comrestaurant – savory smells filled the room as munity,” Delic stated. a variety of dishes were laid out for the full In addition to the culinary festivities was restaurant of hungry guests. A total of 100 a birthday celebration, where 24-year-old ISA tickets were given out for ISA’s potluck-style member Victor Plase, from Togo, was gifted Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 19 – 100 being with a pie to the face, provided by his fellow the cutoff to regulate the number of attendees, ISA classmates. Laughter filled the room as according to ISA advisor Devin Streur. The Plase posed for selfies with pie filling clingroom filled quickly with ISA members, friends, ing to his cheeks before the post-feast party family, and faculty. Then Streur began the began. Contributor

The night rolled on with students dancing to an array of music, also joined by Chisholm and Streur. Chisholm lead a conga line and danced amongst students and guests. Through all of the hard work put into planning and executing this event, both Streur and Chisholm attributed the night outcome to the ISA students. Chisholm states it was the students’ posts to social media that pushed for the size of the event. “They were really the ones who pulled it all together. They are ultimately why we are here in the first place,” Chisholm said. Streur shared the same sentiment, saying the students worked as a community and a family. Even in the midst of dancing and singing, the ISA members pulled together to help clean up before continuing their activities. Nada Alareqi, a 22-year-old from Yemen, stated the importance of the event, in her eyes, was to bring people together – an important aspect she felt was achieved. “We’re like one big family. So many of us don’t have family here and sometimes feel so alone but here, we’re all here for each other,” Alareqi said. “I love everyone here like family.”

WCC trustees discuss possibility of armed campus officers by TAYLOR ROBINSON

Editor

As part of one of Washtenaw Community College President Rose Bellanca’s six main initiatives for the school year, campus safety and security has been brought to the forefront. In light of an increase in violent acts across the United States – particularly among school campuses – more and more institutions are reevaluating their school’s safety. At the board’s retreat on Nov. 17, the trustees along with many members of the administration, gathered for more than two hours to discuss options for WCC and the possibility of enhancing the college’s campus safety and security. In addition, administrators delineated the role of WCC’s Care Team and counselors, and the Crisis Management Team. Board Chair Richard Landau summarized the meeting’s purpose as “simply to get a sense from this board where they are leaning.” “Our goal is to be very proactive,” Bellanca said in her opening remarks. “We have teams in place…college-wide that work to identify potential threats and manage crises.” Damon Flowers, vice president of facilities, grounds and campus safety, summarized the current responsibilities of security personnel. They patrol the entire campus by bike, foot, or vehicle, as well as, attend to medical needs, disruptions on campus, enforce policies and more. They are responsible for monitoring more than 2,000 doors, 1,000 devices and 210 cameras. The overall budget for the operation is $1.5 million including a contract with Ann Arbor Township – which utilizes a Police Service Unit – set to expire Dec. 31 of this year. According to Flowers’ “anecdotal information,” the calculated average amount of time the unit is visible around campus or near the area is about four to six hours a week at an annual cost of $165,000 which also includes fire

“Seven of our size peers in the state, with 10,000 students and above, feel that it’s very appropriate and doable for them to have their own police department. So, why are we different from them if they are our peers and they operate their own police department? ”

TRUSTEE DILIP DAS

“I think we have highly trained people here in Washtenaw County and I personally have a lot of confidence in Sheriff Clayton... Although I have to say, if I put on my green eyeshade, I’m somewhat attracted to the the private sector model, simply because it’s an order of magnitude cheaper.”

The Washtenaw Community College Board of Trustees held one of their annual retreats on Nov. 17, but first they underwent their monthly board meeting where they voted on three action items. The first of which was approving a construction contract with Fontanesi and Kann Company Inc. of Ferndale, Michigan. The Office of Facilities Management first brought the discussion to the board at the Oct. 27 meeting. The background of the proposal includes the necessary replacement of two 25-year-old chillers. According to the agenda for action item one, “Additionally, the chillers are at the end of their useful life, are inefficient given current technology, and should be replaced.” The contract was approved for $100,255, contingent upon the college administration obtaining a satisfactory contract with the firm.

2. THE BOARD APPROVES PHASE TWO OF THE CC STEP GRANT CAPITAL EQUIPMENT PURCHASES The Auto Body Repair Department along with the Welding and Fabrication Department are one step closer to replacing and upgrading their equipment. With the board’s approval of contracts for the purchase of capital equipment related to the CC STEP Grant to not exceed a combined total of $1,002,588, the team is still on track for having the items delivered on schedule, near the Spring/Summer semester. With needing time to install the equipment, the department will be able to utilize it by Fall 2016. According to Brandon Tucker, dean of advanced technology and public service careers, the pieces of equipment are attached to either curriculum that has been developed or curriculum that has been redeveloped due to industry demands and needs.

3. NEW CONTRACT FOR CATERING OPTION

The board of trustees made the decision to extend the contract they’ve had with Fabulous Foods as a catering option.Vice President and Chief Financial Officer William Johnson explained the process that came with the contract extension. The current contract with Fabulous Foods began in June 2010 and was set to expire May 31, 2015. However, due to the Iron Workers and UA activities during the summer months, the contract was extended until Dec. 31. The college developed a Request for Proposal to identify the necessary requirements for the catering operation, according to the board’s agenda. A RFP review committee was formed to assess all vendors that had interest in fulfilling the catering position and make the final decision. The committee was represented by many of the key user groups, including the Iron Workers, faculty and staff, deans, and more. The committee essentially rated the different options and gave them “scores” that resulted in approximately two “finalists.” The chosen finalists were brought before the committee for further review. The new contract will commence Jan. 1, 2016 and the contract also includes a provision for a possible five-year extension at the college’s option, according to the agenda.

CHAIR RICHARD LANDAU

and Emergency Medical Technician responses. A recent meeting, called by Bellanca, with Ann Arbor Sheriff Jerry Clayton and Ann Arbor Township Supervisor Mike Moran allowed the opportunity to discuss the long-standing relationship (nearly 15 years) with this type of security. Discussions led to the first of three options presented to the board. The first option, also favorably expressed by Bellanca, would be the suggestion to work through a contract directly

with the Sheriff ’s Office of Washtenaw County and implement a School Resource Officer model. “We would be working with a very welltrained, student-focused, armed, what we like to call peace officer, who would understand our college mission, get to know the campus, get to know the students and the culture,” Bellanca said. “They would be just steps away in case there was a rare but a real case of a violent incident See RETREAT, Page A3

The board of trustees approved a construction contract to replace the chillers in the Morris Lawrence Building. GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE

Nov. 30, 2015

The Washtenaw Voice

NEWS

The Washtenaw Voice

RETREAT, From A1 happening and they would be familiar with our staff and our community.” Some of the considerations about this model are that it’s effective in high schools, it limits the college’s risks and liabilities due to being contracted with the Sheriff ’s Office, and WCC personnel would have input on the selection process, according to the administration. During Flowers’ presentation, he added the estimated cost of such a model would be about $700,000, also depending on the number of SRO’s in place. The estimated timeline for this to be operational would tentatively be July 2016. The second option presented by Larry Barkoff, the college’s general counsel, focused on WCC implementing its own police force either under the Community College Act (Public Act 331) or Public Act 330. Under Public Act 331, the officers on campus would be “MCOLES certified Police Academy graduates,” meaning they meet all standards of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. They would have completed written and physical tests and would be very highly trained. According to Barkoff, their jurisdiction would be the campus and all property leased and owned by the college within the state. Instating this model would also include access to law enforcement databases and history of warrants. He reports

that risks and liabilities are increased for administration and the board by having its own police department. If wanting to pursue a PA 331 force, it would require two public hearings. PA 330 would be the next level between what is already in place at WCC and PA 331. Barkoff states the requirements are fairly minimal, including passing a three-week course. These officers can also be armed as long they individually qualify to purchase or possess a gun. The third option discussed would focus on contracting with an outside firm to provide a police force. Although the risks and liabilities are lessened by working with firm, according to the summary of options, it would also limit the college’s ability to hire or build strong relationships with personnel. The firm would probably provide officers falling under PA 330, the lesser trained officers. Not only did the administration reach out to peer Michigan community colleges, but surveys of WCC students, faculty and staff were also conducted. The surveys, issued by WCC’s Institutional Research Department and developed by Bellanca, went out to all 1700 employees of the college, along with approximately 1600 out of 12,211 students on Nov. 4. According to Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Planning and Accreditation Julie Morrison, students were drawn from having logged into the Campus Connect system since August

Nov. 30, 2015

and according to the survey results sheet, the students have also been involved in a club or organization. The brief survey included the following questions: How important is safety and security at WCC to you while on campus? How safe do you generally feel while you are on WCC’s campus? Currently, WCC employs its own unarmed Campus Security force providing regular patrols on campus. Would you SECRETARY CHRISTINA FLEMING support moving toward enhancing the WCC Campus Security force with a limited number of armed police officers? The third question also included an openended answer. “The response for faculty and staff was 24 percent, which may not sound good but for a survey it is a really good response rate especially for one that wasn’t up for that long,” Morrison said. “The student response rate was eight percent, TRUSTEE RUTH HATCHER which also doesn’t sound good but we’ll take it because a lot of WCC students don’t check didn’t answer,” Hatcher said. their WCC email, it’s still a good “So, I’m not persuaded in any representation.” particular direction one way While Bellanca may be in or the other from the survey.” agreement by commenting in Trustee Stephen Gill shared her opening remarks “…Overall, Hatcher’s sentiments by saying our campus community sup- that because of the response ports moving toward having rate, the numbers don’t mean more of an armed presence on that much. campus,” some of the board “There’s a lot of errors in members found grounds of these numbers,” Gill said. “But, disagreement in response to the quality of the open-ended rethe survey results. sponses and your analysis of that, “You would think the peo- this says that this is how some of ple who did answer are people the people feel on campus and who are more concerned about that’s important to look at.” the issue than the people who After a couple hours of

“I think in terms of timeline, it makes the

SRO option the most attractive. It gives us the opportunity to kind of get our feet wet in understanding how these people could integrate into campus...I share everybody else’s concerns about diversity and special needs training for these officers.”

“I would hope that whoever we are asking to do this...are very well paid. I want them to be very happy people...also, I’m very concerned about their training. I’m not talking about their gun training, I’m talking about their training with people... if I don’t have much control over their training, then I’m a little concerned.”

discussions, the board concluded by deciding to try and bring a representative from the Sheriff ’s Office and a proposal with regard to negotiating a contract to the Dec. 8 meeting. Vice Chair Diana McKnightMorton addressed the concern that above all, the decision needs to be made carefully – especially because officers would be interacting with students, special needs and diversity. With 15 years of experience working in the Sheriff ’s Department, she says she’s seen both the nice and not nice sides of officers.

Information from incident reports provided to The Voice by Campus Safety and Security Director Jacques Desrosiers

DRUG/NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS On Nov. 17, a student was found with a drug-laced food item in her possession, which she shared with a friend. The incident occurred at 1:30 p.m. in the parking structure.

LARCENY On Nov. 9, a purse was left unattended in the Morris Lawrence building from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. When the individual returned to their purse, $100 was discovered missing but the purse remained.

General Safety Guidelines: • • • •

Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings Avoid isolated areas Try to avoid walking alone at night. Walk with friends when possible Call Campus Safety (734) 973-3411 or 3411 from one of college house phone for an escort if needed • Notify Campus Safety immediately of suspicious or criminal activity • If an emergency arises – a serious health issue, a crime, or any situation in which you feel endangered, contact Campus Safety. There are phones located in all buildings across campus, as well as in several key areas outside

If walking alone: • Keep your mind on your surroundings who’s in front of you and who’s behind you; Don’t get distracted • Walk purposefully, stand tall, and make eye contact with people around you • TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, leave • Walk purposefully, stand tall, and make eye contact with people around you If you have a question or concern for Campus Safety & Security, please call 734-973-3411 (or extension 3411, if on campus) or email us at campussafety@wccnet.edu

“I don’t want everybody to be up in arms about why they are acting this way because that’s the way they are trained,” McKnight-Morton said. “They are trained to be aggressive. They are not coming here to be nice, and fuzzy, and warm. So, I think the main thing we have to look at, whoever we get outside of what we have now, we’ve got to be careful. We’ve got to make sure that these people are going to be able to transition into our life, this campus life, faculty, students, everybody.”

IN BRIEF

SECURITY NOTES Nov. 12 – Nov. 19

BLOOD DRIVE On Monday, Dec. 14, WCC students, staff, faculty and the surrounding community can give blood at the WCC blood drive – held from 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m. in ML 101. Sign up at: www.redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code WCC13.

NEO NUTCRACKER On Friday Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 12, WCC hosts it 3rd Neo Nutcracker dance performance in Towsley Auditorium at 7 p.m. Choreographed by WCC alumna Christine Sampier, the Neo Nutcracker presents a unique and contemporary adaptation of the classic ballet, “The Nutcracker.” The performance is open to the public with no reserved seating and donations will be accepted as well.

PISTONS GAME Tickets are available for a WCC trip to see the Detroit Pistons take on the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 12. The $35 ticket includes admission for the $90 value seats in section 120 B, transportation via Fox Sports Fan Bus and a voucher for a large soda and nachos. Tickets are available at the Cashier’s Office, 2nd floor of the Student Center Building.

WCC EMPLOYEE CHEERS HOLIDAY LUNCHEON On Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. President Bellanca and the CHEERS Committee cordially invite WCC employees to attend the CHEERS Holiday Luncheon in the Morris Lawrence building. Employee ID is required. The menu includes many classic thanksgiving dinner items and more. Attendees are eligible for fabulous door prizes. CHEERS 50/50 raffle tickets may be purchased from any CHEERS member for $1.00 each. Winners must present their stub to collect.

HEALTH CARE CAREER FAIR On Dec. 8, WCC hosts a health care career fair in the Morris Lawrence building. From 1- 4 p.m, those interested in a career in health care will be able to connect to employers that are hiring including: Eisenhower Center, Encore Rehabilitation Services, Entech Medical Staffing, Glacier Hills Senior Living Community, Medical Diagnostic Services, Inc., St. Joseph Mercy Health System, and Superior Woods. Participants are encouraged to dress professionally and bring multiple copies of their resume.

-Soﬁa Lynch

VOICES

Nov. 30, 2015

The Washtenaw Voice

EDITORIAL

WHAT DO YOU CALL A WCC STUDENT? WORTHY OF A PHOTO When someone first goes to the website of Washtenaw Community College, web surfers are greeted by smiling, polished faces looking back at them. As students at WCC, the first thought that comes to mind is, “Are those really supposed to be our fellow students?” A simple Google image reverse search will answer that question – it really isn’t. Google pulls up pages upon pages of websites also showcasing those same smiling, supposed students. For many prospective students, their college’s website is the first thing they know of their future school – why not present them with the faces of their fellow campus inhabitants? Eastern Michigan University actually employed a marketing tactic in their campaign, TRUEMU, which addresses this question. According to EMU’s website, the fourth phase of the TRUEMU

marketing campaign in 2014 features 100 faculty researchers on light-post banners throughout Ypsilanti and EMU’s campus, as well as on 24 billboards along major Metro Detroit highways. “The first campaign phase was introduced in Aug. 2011, featuring current TRUEMU students in TV, radio, billboard, print and online ads. The second phase, launched in Sept. 2012, spotlighted 20 all-star faculty members on light-post banners and area highway billboards. The third phase, which began in Sept. 2013, highlighted 100 alumni for their individual achievements on light-post banners and area highway billboards,” according to EMU’s website. With the small distance between our campus and theirs, following in the footsteps of our neighbors would not be a bad idea. There is a possibility that WCC’s own marketing campaign,

“What do you call a WCC student? Employed,” utilizes photos of actual WCC students. However, since that campaign was first launched, the Marketing Department has seen an entirely new staff come through, according to members of the department, so we can’t entirely say for sure. With WCC having a wellknown, high-quality photography program and a successful student and alumni body to pick from, it seems as though the conditions are just right for there to be a campaign launched to showcase the actual WCC student success stories while also advertising the college itself. There could be an interdepartmental collaboration between the Marketing Department and the Digital Media Arts Department. If this idea was implemented, it could be treated like an assignment for photography and digital

Weighing in on the movement at Mizzou MADI TORTORA

madisontortora3@gmail.com

The tension at the University of Missouri has been at an all-time high recently. System President Tim Wolfe tendered his resignation with help from the push of many students who believed that Wolfe failed to address the very eminent race issue that is rampant on the Mizzou campus. These incidents, paired with the blatant diversity issues among the faculty, caused an uproar from both students and staff. On Sept. 12, the student body President Payton Head was called racial slurs from a car window whilst walking on campus. According to the Columbia Missourian, Head said it was the first time he experienced what he called “in your face” racism. On the night of Oct. 5, a historic black student group at Mizzou, called the Legion of Black Collegians, was rehearsing for a homecoming parade, and was interrupted by an obviously intoxicated white male, who proceeded to use racial slurs. He exclaimed an offensive phrase when the group told him to exit the area they were practicing in. On Oct. 24, it was reported to the police that a swastika had been crafted out of human excrement in a dorm bathroom on campus. So, with all of these events taking place truly within a little over a month, it is obvious that race is an issue that must

be dealt with, especially within a university environment. However, with many critics surfacing with the claim that many of these students and activists are driven by lies and are being oversensitive to a problem that “doesn’t exist,”it seems as though people are trying to turn a blind eye to the existing racial tension, more often than not, on college campuses. Social media also plays a large part in racially-charged incidents on college campuses, but, if used correctly, can also aid in helping end them. Living in the digital age, young people are more often than not on their phones using some form of social media. Yik Yak is a very popular app among college students because it allows people to post anonymously to the people in their area or at their college. In the midst of all of the racial tension at Mizzou, several “Yaks” were posted by Head to display the racist inclinations some of the student body possess. They consisted of death threats from multiple students who were suggesting they would be waiting in the parking lots to “shoot every black person they see.” The two white males responsible for these tweets were arrested, but not before they allegedly harassed several black students on campus who took to Twitter to tell their stories. However, some students used social media to change the conversation on race at the school. An activist group from Mizzou called Concerned Student 1950 became the reason for several anti-hate hashtags on Twitter many students used and appreciated. This group was formed to fight back against the

racial hostility that seems to be so evident on Mizzou’s c a m p u s. T h e h a s h t a g s #WeStandWithMizzou and #ConcernedStudent1950 spread like wildfire on Twitter, where both black and white students expressed their appreciation for the group and wanted to show their frustration towards the racial bias that has been oh-so-evident on Mizzou’s campus. Students from universities across the country showed their support for the group and the several protests going on at the school by claiming on several different social media outlets that they stand with Mizzou and their campaign against racial injustice on college campuses. When times are hard, students should be able to find comfort in each other, and with the racial bias that comes with a lot of college campuses, many students are stripped of that opportunity. The unity between students that should come with college has been lost behind all of the racially-charged incidents on campuses across the United States. These incidents, which continue to grow more and more common, really send us back in time. This feeling of “one step forward, two steps back” needs to be in the past because moving forward is truly the only option for a progressive society like this one. As Martin Luther King Jr. said so well, “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality...I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”

Reverse image search results of the home page photo on WCC website. WASHTENAW VOICE

IT TAKES TIME M.M. DONALDSON

mmorrisdonaldson@wccnet.edu

Just ask anyone, and they will say their life is busy. Too busy to finish that project, too busy to exercise, too busy to go to college or too busy to write that novel. And while you are too busy not doing the things you only dream of, time seemingly fastforwards you five, 10 and even 20 years later. And what you end up with is a closet full of out-of-style clothes that don’t fit anyway, a collection of chipped tchotchkes and a bunch of Pokémon videos on VHS. Five years ago, middle age hung heavy on me, weighing me down and atrophying my brain. Also, five years ago, I would not have imagined that I would be able to distance myself from more than 30 pounds after running four half-marathons (Hey, that equals two full- marathons, right?) and have earned another academic degree. Both of those things took a lot of time. A lot. It is very easy to say that I have reached these two goals, but I know the truth. It took much patience, hard work and

persistence. A month after I started a quest to run in a mere 5k, I fell off the treadmill – while walking. Running consisted of 20-second spurts between 10-minute recovery walks. My gym outfits were not cute and the gym membership felt like a frivolous budget item. At that time, the thought of a half-marathon in my future would have freaked me out. The best I could do is make myself go workout every day. Just like I will make myself go today. I would rather binge-watch Netflix with a bag of Cheetos, but I really, really do want to be healthy and spend big bucks on running shoes instead of prescriptions to keep me alive. The semester I started an associate in journalism, I was terrified of talking to strangers. Each class, those mean voices in my head kept asking, “Who did I think I was fooling, sitting in classes with twentysomethings and younger who were young enough to be my children?” The encouragement I received from the journalism instructors and The Voice adviser allowed me to grow confidence in so many areas of my life. For the past two and a half years, I have been so fortunate to write this column and the comments from readers have been so encouraging. Writing this last Healthy Voice allows

me to reflect how I’ve grown healthier, both mentally and physically. So, on those bitter cold nights I would drive in nasty road conditions to make it to class that would end at 9 p.m. after working all day at my job. One class assignment, one test or one article at a time is all I let myself worry about. While attending Washtenaw Community College I have met so many hard-working and truly busy people. Too often I see these students working hard to get a better job so they can be a better parent and support their family. These are important things, but I ask, are there things that you can do for yourself too? Be a little selfish, don’t always make sacrifices for others but sometimes for yourself. The healthier you are and the happier you are, the more you will be able to do for others. With patience, hard work and persistence, you can do it. M. M. Donaldson is a contributor with The Voice and a journalism student at WCC. She has a bachelor of science in family and community services from Michigan State University, and has several years’ experience with nutrition issues affecting infants through older adults. Follow M.M. Donaldson on Facebook.

TO OUR READERS We hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving break. You may notice this edition is lacking a B section, due to Thanksgiving and the timing of our publication schedule. Other stories and editorial corrections may be available on our web edition, www.washtenawvoice.com.

Volume 22, No. 8 The Washtenaw Voice is produced fortnightly by students of Washtenaw Community College and the views expressed herein will not imply endorsement or approval by the faculty, administration or Board of Trustees of WCC. Student publications are important in establishing and maintaining an atmosphere of free and responsible discussion and in bringing matters of concern and importance to the attention of the campus community. Editorial responsibility for The Voice lies with the students, who will strive for balance, fairness and integrity in their coverage of issues and events while employing the best habits and practices of free inquiry and expression. The Washtenaw Voice does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any of the information or content in advertisements contained in the newspaper or its website, www. washtenawvoice.com, nor the quality of any products, information or other materials displayed or obtained as a result of an advertisement or any other information or offer in or in connection with the services or products advertised. The Voice welcomes letters to the editor from its readers and will make every effort to publish them. We reserve the right to edit letters for space considerations, and ask that writers limit their comments to no more than 400 words. All letters must include a name and contact information, such as an email address or phone number, so the letters can be veriﬁed before they are printed. The Voice is committed to correcting all errors that appear in the newspaper and on its website, just as it is committed to the kind of careful journalism that will minimize the number of errors printed. To report an error of fact that should be corrected, phone 734-677-5405 or email thewashtenawvoice@gmail.com. A copy of each edition of The Washtenaw Voice is free to everyone. Additional copies are available at The Voice newsroom, TI 106, for 25 cents each.

video production students. The former could take the selected student’s headshot, and the latter could record them discussing their own successes. Design students could then create the actual banners that would be used. So not only would it tap the talents of these students and allow them to feel they’re contributing to their school, they can also feel like they are contributing to their own education along the way. It would also insource the cost of advertising by using student’s class time to create it. A WCC-centric campaign would not only highlight students, but it would stand testament to the institutional quality WCC offers. As the college newspaper, we try our best to display the successes of our student body, but what better way to give them the spotlight they deserve than to use their stories to advertise the school that gave them their start?

EDITOR ............................................................ Taylor Robinson

taelrobinson@wccnet.edu

MANAGING EDITOR ............................... Soﬁa Lynch

snlynch@wccnet.edu

4800 E. Huron River Drive TI 106 Ann Arbor, Mich. 48105 734-677-5125

PHOTO EDITOR .......................................... Gray Bancroft

gwbancroft@wccnet.edu

ONLINE EDITOR ........................................ Colleen Mulder-Seward

cmulderseward@wccnet.edu

thewashtenawvoice@gmail.com

CARTOONIST .............................................. Sanaa Naeem

sanaeem@wccnet.edu

STAFF WRITERS ......................................... Madi Tortora

madisontortora3@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTORS ....................................... Courtney Ditto

courtneyditto@gmail.com

washtenawvoice.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS ............................ Rachel Johnston Greg Powell

rdjohnston@wccnet.edu gmpowell@wccnet.edu

Taylor Mabelitini

tmabelitini@wccnet.edu

Ivan Flores

medianoxmus@gmail.com

Colin MacDougall

cmacdougall@wccnet.edu

ADVERTISING MANAGER .................... Becky Alliston

ealliston@wccnet.edu

ADVISER .......................................................... Judy McGovern

jumcgovern@wccnet.edu

NEWS

The Washtenaw Voice

Nov. 30, 2015

WCC BUILDS ITS WAY Stressed about school? TO A GREENER CAMPUS by COLIN MACDOUGALL

Contributor

When students walk the halls, study for an exam, or quickly print an essay five minutes before class starts, it may not come to mind what goes into making sure a campus operates at full capacity. At Washtenaw Community College, there is a lot going on to keep these buildings maintained and under control, but also green-friendly. In recent years, WCC Board of Trustees made a provision that all major campus construction and renovations be LEED certified. Richard Landau, the chairman of the board noted, “All our recent construction projects focus on sustainability and trying to make every building as energy efficient as possible.” LEED or “Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design” is a globally recognized symbol of excellence in green building, explains Leticia McCadden, the media relations manager of the United States Green Building Council. “It ensures electricity cost savings, lower carbon emissions and healthier environments for the places… LEED’s global sustainability agenda is designed to achieve high performance in key areas of human and environmental health, acting on the triple bottom line – putting people, planet and profit first,” McCadden said. About half of WCC’s buildings – including the Occupational Education Building, the Technical and Industrial Building, the Health and Fitness Center, and the first floor of the Student Center – are already LEED certified,

according to Bill Ghrist, the energy and systems integration manager. Ghrist described some of the different fixtures that make these buildings greener. The OE building is LEED certified and has two different types of green roofs: a vegetative roof and a white reflective roof. The white roof reflects the sunlight to help keep building temperatures low in the summer. “When you have black roof in the summertime, the roof tends to have more absorption of heat and your increasing the need to cool that building,” Ghrist said. Recently, the SC building’s roof was replaced with a white reflective roof, and the Campus Safety and Security also has a vegetative roof. “Sometimes called a green roof or living roof, they are becoming very popular because they do two things. They help with the cooling...and it helps to mitigate the stormwater runoff,” Ghrist said of the vegetative roofs. Ghrist noted that the TI building had gone through a major renovation in the recent past to become more greenfriendly. After the renovation, the building now employs such things as waterless urinals, dual-function flush options for toilets which conserve water, and motion detection systems. The motion detectors track how many people are in a building at a certain time to control the lighting and regulation of HVAC airflow. The detectors also turn off or on if people are in hallways, classrooms or restrooms. In the BE building, the paper towel rolls were replaced

by Dyson Airblade hand dryers. Ghrist had worked on a study in conjunction with a business class to compile statistical data to compare waste consumption of the paper towels vs. the electricity output of the dryers. “We looked at a year’s worth of consumption of cases of (paper towel).Then we looked at the kilowatt hours of consumption and the initial cost of Dyson dryers… I’m pretty sure it was a slam dunk. There wasn’t any question; we’ve got to do this,” Ghrist says.“Now myself and the building services manager are working together to make a new plan to bring more of these Dyson hand dryers.” Another energy fixture saving the school money is the lighting. With LED lighting being used in the parking lots, it saves around twothirds of the overall energy cost. The bulbs last nearly 30,000 hours. Ghrist has been monitoring WCC’s electricity consumption by building and sometimes by sections of buildings. He compares the consumption in regards to other buildings, but also the consumption throughout the past several years. “As a campus, little by little we have a very slow decline of electricity consumption in spite of the fact that we’ve been adding more buildings,” Ghrist noted. Many of these fixtures go unnoticed walking around campus – but with the environmental design in mind, the campus will try to continue doing its part in conserving energy for a greener tomorrow.

Students study for tests and finals in the math and science resource room and tutoring center located in GM 203. GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE

by TAYLOR MABELITINI

Contributor

With mere weeks left in the semester and final papers, projects, and tests looming, students are pressing stressed-out noses to the grindstone. While some may turn to CliffsNotes and Wikipedia in a frenzied panic, there’s also an often overlooked resource available: Learning Support Services. Although it’s ordinarily on the first floor of the Crane Liberal Arts and Science building on campus, through the Fall 2015 school semester it can be found in Room 108 of the Student Center. Offered are accommodations for students with both physical and other disabilities, academic advising, and one-on-one tutoring, as well as in small groups. So students, ease your minds and put down your pencils. Here’s what Learning Support Services can do for you:

Tutoring • Available to all students enrolled in credit classes • Primarily focused on WCC core and occupational courses • 15-30 minute individual sessions • Provided on a walk-in basis Types of tutoring: • Computer Tutoring (Gunder Myran 2nd floor Computer Commons, M-TH 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) • General Studies Tutoring (Gunder Myran 2nd floor Computer Commons, M-TH 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) • Math and Science Tutoring (Gunder Myran Room 201, M-TH 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., F 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Study Groups • Accounting (Business Education 274, Tuesdays and Thursdays 4 p.m to 5:50 p.m.) • Chemistry 140 (Crane Liberal Arts 329, Thursdays 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) • Nursing (Technical and Industrial 247, Fridays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.) • Photography (Gunder Myran 022, Mondays 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Disability Support * • Academic accommodations for “substantial limitations” (hearing, speech, vision, orthopedic, and emotional impairment, traumatic brain injury, ADD/ADHD, specific learning disabilities, etc.) • Academic advising and counseling • Providing for the use of assistive technology * Documentation is required for those seeking disability support

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Nov. 30, 2015

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CLASSIFIEDS Send ads to wcc.voice.advertising@gmail.com or ealliston@wccnet.edu Note: Deadline for the Dec. 14 issue is Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 5 p.m.

S E R V I CE S VOLUNTEER TUTORS: Washtenaw Literacy needs volunteers to tutor adults in basic reading, writing, math and English as a Second Language. Help change lives – one word at a time! Contact info@washtenawliteracy.org or call 734-879-1320. NEED HEALTH CARE? Are you between the ages of 12–22? Contact the Corner Health Center at 734-4843600 or visit online at http://www.cornerhealth.org.

HELP WANTED HORSE FARM HELP: Seeking cheerful worker with outdoor skills to muck horse stalls (4/5 horses) and paddocks, fix fence, help clean garage, yard and house, and be the one who can get the mower started. Must be strong, handy, on time, reliable, flexible and animal-friendly. Will work with your schedule. 6-8 hours/week during winter and 10hours/week in spring/summer. $11/ hour to start. Merit raises. Northeast AA. Send resume: riverbendfarm@comcast. net. More info at 734-904-3106. WAIT STAFF: Michigan Catering is looking for student wait staff who

are able to interact with guests, work as a team and manage time efficiently – all with a positive attitude. Shifts can be anytime between the hours of 5 a.m. and 3 a.m., depending on your availability. The starting pay is $3.40 per hour plus tips. Tips are automatically paid by the event sponsor and average $6-$7 per hour, making the typical rate about $9.40-$10.40 per hour. Apply online at http://www.jobs.studentlife. umich.edu, send an email to: workforus@ umich.edu, or at 734-615-6759. DINING STAFF: Michigan Dining is looking for students who enjoy working with people and want to be a part of a team. Flexible schedule, promotional opportunities and a fun social environment. Starting wage: $9 per hour with a free meal with a three-hour shift. Also, free AATA bus transportation is available. To apply, visit http://www.jobs.studentlife.umich.edu, send an email to: workforus@umich.edu, or call 734-615-6759. GET SOME BURRITOS is looking to hire cashiers and cooks who are enthusiastic and passionate about delivering high customer satisfaction. The cashier’s responsibility is to process sales quickly and be efficient. The cook will be responsible for maintaining the highest level of

STUDENTS and WCC EMPLOYEES Classified ads in The Voice are free. LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS Looking for help? Post your free help wanted ads in The Voice.

food quality. The cashiers and cooks must follow all health and safety regulations as well as communicate and work well with co-workers and management team. Come fill out an application at: 707 Packard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104.

Below is a sample of recent employment want ads which have been posted with WCC Career Services. Students are invited to read these ads and to contact Career Services to find out how to apply for the openings. Career Services is located in ML 104. For more information, phone 734-677-5155, email careers@ wccnet.edu or visit http://www. wccnet.edu/careerconnection/. FRONT DESK AGENT. As part of the Front Office team, this individual is required to: demonstrate good computer skills; accurately handle cash and charges; stand for long periods of time; present a friendly, outgoing, energetic and guest service oriented demeanor.; welcoming and serving guests in a courteous, efficient and friendly manner, both face-to-face and on the phone. This individual is required to: demonstrate good computer skills; accurately handle cash and charges; stand for long periods

of time; present a friendly, outgoing, energetic and guest service oriented demeanor. Hotel experience a plus. CERTIFIED RN. Caring Partners Home Health is looking for a full-time Registered Nurse (RN). Our Certified Home Health Nurses, provide in-home assessments, nursing care, medication administration, wound care and disease management. We are looking for nurses with a passion to connect with our clients and provide compassionate quality care. Caring Partners Home Health delivers a comprehensive team-oriented approach to patient care. Our focus is to provide exceptional care for clients in a pleasant work environment. ASSISTANT TEACHER. Developing lesson plans. Meeting the individual’s needs of the children. Parent communication. Participation in staff and training meetings. Designing an appropriate room arrangement to support the goals and developmental level of the children in the classroom. Interacting with the children to support play, exploration, and learning. Presenting expectations that are appropriate to the child’s age and developmental level. Planning and implementing activities that develop self-esteem and social skills. Communicating appropriately and professionally with parents and fellow staff. HUMAN RESOURCE WINTER INTERNSHIP. Interns at Quicken Loans and our Family of Companies gain priceless, hands-on experience. Here, they learn how it feels to be in the workplace, participate in events around the city of Detroit and become a valuable member of our team. Learn and grow in a human resources internship in one of the following areas: Recruiting,

Team relations, Compensation, Benefits, Payroll, Training, Administration. MARKETING / CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. The marketing / content development intern will be going through various different ways to market and promote our products and services. They will be using this list of social networks to include but not be limited to the following: Craig’s List, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, developing jobs on sites like E-Lance, ODesk, using Angie’sList, and other Social Network Media. They will come up with a Marketing Plan and a Plan of Action to follow up with the marketing plan. They will periodically check against the outcome of the Plan of Action. They will work with the graphic artists and come up with very interesting sales copy, blogs, and related web content. They will conduct demographic and target market research, then identify target markets and how to reach those markets. They will be doing means testing and re-evaluating of the Plan of Action at each stage of the marketing plan. SERVERS, HOSTS AND COOKS. Applebee’s is currently hiring for multiple positions at their Carpenter Road location. CONTROLS ENGINEER. Permanent position for an Electrical Engineer to design Control systems. Prepares preliminary engineering drawings, Bills of Materials, software programs as directed by a Senior Controls Engineer. Develops the required CAD drawings using in a timely manner. Develops Preliminary Bills of Materials. Configures PLC and Computer hardware in accordance with established company standards. Performs the design of PLC programs and Operator Interface graphics and

the associated databases. Assists in system start-ups when required. AUTOMOTIVE TRANSMISSION TECHNICIAN. Dick Scott Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in is currently seeking an experienced Automotive Transmission Technician. This position is responsible for performing vehicle repairs as assigned in accordance with dealer and factory standards. Responsibilities include: Performs all work as outlined on repair order with efficiency and accuracy. Diagnose and perform needed repairs. Communicate with Parts Manager to obtain needed parts. Examine vehicle to determine if additional safety or service work is required. Advise Manager if additional work is needed. Document all work performed as soon as job is completed.

CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT. Responsibilities of the CNA include providing individualized nursing care and attention to assigned residents which encourages each resident’s ability to maintain or attain the highest practical physical, mental and psychosocial wellbeing. Duties are performed under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). Also responsible for providing a friendly, clean, quiet and safe environment for residents, families, visitors and staff. Must possess a special interest in, and a positive attitude about working with residents in a team based environment. Our ideal candidate must deliver exceptional customer service to both residents and families. The ability to read, write, speak and understand English is necessary.

NEWS

The Washtenaw Voice

Nov. 30, 2015

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LIFE

Nov. 30, 2015

The Washtenaw Voice

One man’s trash is another man’s extra credit by IVAN FLORES

Contributor

On a cool and cloudy Tuesday afternoon, David Wooten’s field biology class took to the woods encloseing Washtenaw Community College’s campus to pick up litter throughout its natural areas. “They had no idea what they were walking into,” Wooten explained of his students. “On the syllabus, it says ‘ecology and conservation.’ I gave them trash bags, gloves, and they got one hour to go anywhere in the natural areas on campus and collect as much trash as possible.” The students were divided into four groups: the Gophers, the Decomposers, the Mighty Mighty Ecotones and the Phragmites. The students were awarded points on their final

exams based on the weight of the waste their teams collected. At the end of their waste wars, the class congregated behind the Crane Liberal Arts and Science Building to weigh the trash they collected over the course of an hour. There were numerous filled bags, a lot of scrap metal, and most conspicuously, an old lawnmower. This event has been happening for seven years. Up until then, the most any class had collected was 179 pounds of trash. This year, Wooten’s class gathered close to 350 pounds. Dan Curtis, a recycling technician, showed up with a pickup truck to take the trash to the recycling center. “We try to keep as much stuff out of the waste stream as possible, and reuse it,” Curtis said. Almost nothing goes to waste.

Barry Wilkins is the recycling operations manager at WCC and his department is responsible for waste management around campus. With very few exceptions, they will take anything and recycle it – even bottles half-full with liquid and cigarette butts in them. Dirty, he said, is not an issue when it comes to recycling. “This material is a revenue generator for the college,” Wilkins said. “We average about $30,000 to $40,000 a year.” The students ended class by going to the recycling center and helping sort the materials they collected. A couple of them were quite excited about the lawn mower. As interesting a find as that was, the lawnmower couldn’t compete with the porcelain toilet Wooten’s students dragged out of the woods the first year.

Cleaning up the woods, from left Sadie Keene, 18, a biology student of Ypsilanti and Kolten Savey, 18, a criminal justice student of Chelsea, look to make a positive impact on the environment. GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE

David Wooten’s field biology class gains extra credit for gathering trash from the natural areas around campus.

After collecting litter around campus, it was brought to the recycling center where Barry Wilkins, recycling operations manager, explained the importance of recycling. GRAY BANCROFT |

GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE

WASHTENAW VOICE

Hair color couture TAYLOR MABELITINI tmabelitini@wccnet.edu

When it comes to fashion, it’s easy to believe that the most important piece of your look is your clothing. However, from color to cut to updo, hair and the way it’s done says a lot about a person. So, what happens when one dons hair colors more typically found in a rainbow? Between all-over color, to balayage streaks and dip dyes, vibrant color is running rampant on the heads of students at Washtenaw Community College. The Voice spoke to two students who have taken the color plunge – and love their hair even more for it.

Hannah Evans, 20, Brighton, social work What made you want to dye your hair? “Before this, I had purple and pink hair and I don’t know, I kind of wanted to change it up a little bit. I noticed a lot of my friends were dyeing their hair purple and I was like, ‘You know, maybe I should go ahead of the trend again.’

What have been some reactions? “Generally, it’s been very positive. People will comment on it a lot, say it’s really cool. A lot of elderly people will stop me and ask me about it. I do notice I get stared at sometimes, which I should’ve thought of when dyeing my hair green. A lot of people ask me how I got the courage to do it and it’s not a courage thing...this is part of the way of expressing myself and it’s not hard to do because I love myself, and I’m beautiful with whatever hair color I have.”

Gina Cianfarani, 23, Wyandotte, liberal arts transfer What made you want to dye your hair? “Red’s my favorite color, it’s just faded. With the change of the season, I just wanted something new.”

What have been some reactions? “My job, I work in retail, and they don’t really have a policy on dress code, so I’ve been able to dye my hair whatever I want and I do. Last winter I had it half pink and half purple, and people were kind of weird about it at my work, but since they didn’t have a dress code about it, no one really said anything to me. So I continued doing whatever I wanted, I guess.”

The Empty Bowls event incorporated many different departments at WCC, with all proceeds going to Growing Hope and WCC’s food pantry. GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE

2nd annual Empty Bowls event by TAYLOR ROBINSON

Editor

For a second year in a row, the Empty Bowls event helped raise more than $2,000 for locals struggling with hunger. Beginning originally more than 20 years ago, Empty Bowls has made its mark across the United States, raising awareness and even helping those who may struggle

across WCC’s campus. The ceramics and culinary departments, along with life sciences, partnered again to not only showcase the talents of students when it comes to cooking and ceramics, but also to help educate WCC students about the national and world hunger crises. Students, faculty and staff donated to the cause

by purchasing a ceramic bowl for $20 which was made personally by a WCC student. The purchase also included a meal of soup and bread from Garrett’s, with the meal being prepared by their very own culinary students. All proceeds went toward supporting WCC’s food pantry along with local non-profit organization Growing Hope.

111 bowls

SOLD

$2250

RAISED including

$30

-indonations Financial Services staff members, Azie Pirooz and Ann Kennedy, stop by the EmptyBowls event. GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE