should michigan overturn its ban on gay marriage? “I am Catholic, and so I believe that God wants us to, he said, take man and woman to be husband and wife. I still love and still accept the people who may be homosexual, though I do not support it myself.”
Abby Randolph
16, Ann Arbor, liberal arts
“I think gay people should be able to get married. I mean, I believe in free will and I think everyone should be able to do whatever they want.”
VOICE
VOICEBOX CONTINUED A5
Nick Gagalis,
18, Dexter, engineering
A A NATIONAL NATIONAL PACEMAKER PACEMAKER AWARD AWARD NEWSPAPER NEWSPAPER
washtenawvoice.com
THE
March 10, 2014
The student publication of Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, Michigan
Volume 20, Issue 15
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Coming soon:
One page to rule them all
wcc’s website gets an overhaul
A8
A week of sunshine A nationwide celebration of sunshine is just around the corner. Sunshine week, March 16-22, is a national movement aimed at
celebrating and increasing awareness of open government and freedom of information because, as the Sunshine Week website declares, “Open government is good government.”
During this week news media, government officials, schools, nonprofits and individuals celebrate and advocate for “sunshine laws” – open meeting and freedom of information
laws – that make government more transparent. To learn more about how to get more sunshine, visit: http://sunshineweek.rcfp.org.
cries out for sunshine Tuition Watchdog Former U-M pathologist turns to the Web to blow the whistle decision delayed carries on his legacy of contempt for corrupt authority. When the When a British naval doctor was University of asked by the captain of his ship to Michigan showed give him the names of every sailor Smith the door, on the ship with a venereal disease, it handed him a he complied. He had no idea that the hobby on his way captain intended to broadcast the out, something names over the ship’s loudspeaker to keep him busy to discourage the crew from enterin retirement Douglas Smith taining the ports’ local prostitutes. – whistleblowing. When the captain came to him The 60-yearlater for an updated list, the doc- old former pathologist runs a website tor refused. called Washtenaw Watchdogs, pubHe was dismissed from the ship lishing articles about issues, mostly and sent to another with a letter in surrounding U-M, that don’t get the hand from the captain. He assumed attention in the media that they deit said some nasty things about him, serve, he said. so he opened it, read it, ripped it to And his work has spawned Front shreds and returned it to his for- Page headlines throughout the region mer captain. and beyond – with a federal investigaToday, his son, Douglas Smith, tion of the University of Michigan’s By NATALIE WRIGHT Managing Editor
By NATALIE WRIGHT Managing Editor
Due to uncertainty of pending state requirements on tuition, Washtenaw Community College’s CFO Bill Johnson recommended that the Board of Trustees postpone its motion to decide on next year’s tuition rates until its March 25 meeting, Director of Government and Media Relations Jason Morgan said in an email. “By this time, administration should have gained clarity on both the level of state funding and the specific tuition restraint mechanism,” he said. Although the trustees were originally to decide on tuition at their Feb. 25 meeting, Johnson hinted on Feb. 19 that the uncertainty in Lansing was affecting the decision. It is unlikely, Johnson said, that any raise would surpass the state’s 3.2 percent cap. “I will put a caveat in that the legislation is not entirely clear as to how it’s going to calculate that cap,” he said.
athletic department. In the 1970s, there was a huge public push for open government, he said, and this is when sunshine laws – open meeting and freedom of information laws – gained a lot of traction. Since then, there has been a decline in public interest and knowledge in these matters and he blames the media. “I don’t think that people care less,” he said. “I think that people are unaware because as the mainstream news media becomes more corporate, they’re afraid to cover misconduct. “There’s just all kinds of things that are covered up that the local media will never publish,” he said with an incredulous laugh, because they are scared of being sued for defamation, or losing favor with advertisers and corporate sponsors. So, he took responsibility for righting this wrong and decided to start
publishing these stories on his website. And while he is not a trained journalist and has no institutional name behind him, he builds his credibility by linking to as many documents as possible. Washtenaw Watchdogs has forged a small following and Smith is proud to have found that others in the community stand behind his cause. The site gets about 600-700 hits a day, he said, and a lot of readers send him tips so that he is continuously hunting down information for new stories. Smith focuses most of his attention on U-M, which, he said, drove him to his interest in investigative reporting and sunshine laws, but he also reports on the Washtenaw SMITH CONTINUED A6
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“Over 225,000 Michiganders are losing their health insurance thanks to Obamacare.”
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Not so fast college ask for another foia request to release soqs
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Protest proposed bill may make life harder for picketers
when ‘statistics’ lie Terri Lynn Land
Washtenaw loses a fierce ally in Washington After six decades in Congress Dingell to retire to Michigan By JON PRICE
Staff Writer
Congressman Dingell and his former staffer Jason Morgan pose for a picture. Morgan is Director of Government and Media Relations at WCC. JASON MORGAN | COURTESY PHOTO
In 1955, the average American income was approximately $3,500, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president of the United States, a young Elvis Presley made his first television appearance and a then-29-year-old John Dingell won a special election to fill the seat in Congress vacated by the death of his father John Dingell Sr. Fast forward to 2013, nearly six decades and 29 consecutive terms later, the congressman is still in office serving his constituents from Washtenaw to Wayne County. Dingell is a familiar face on Washtenaw Community College’s
campus, where he worked closely with administrators on legislation that affected the state’s educational institutions. In 2012, he was the first person to receive an honorary degree from the college, for being “a champion of higher education and community colleges,” according to the college. Dingell announced his retirement in February, effectively ending his storied career as the longest serving member of Congress in U.S. history. His wife, Deborah, is an early favorite amongst Democrats to fill her husband’s seat in office. She officially launched her congressional campaign on Feb. 28 in Dearborn. “I’m not running to replace John Dingell, I think he is irreplaceable,” Deborah Dingell said. If his wife is elected, she would be the third-consecutive Dingell family member elected to the office in a
period of time that spans more than eight decades. Dingell has worked closely with the administration at WCC, especially in recent years. “He kept probing and trying to find out what else we needed his assistance on,” Diana McKnight-Morton, a college trustee, recently recalled of her last meeting with Dingell. “We just found out last week that he’s retiring, Dingell has been a huge advocate for this college.” In a 2012 visit to the campus, Dingell praised the schools efforts in securing a $2.9 million-grant to revamp its IT program. “Here we are seeing an extraordinary need met,” Dingell said in his visit, “WCC has begun to revamp our whole educational process in this DINGELL CONTINUED A5
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PeoPle come here because they’re lookinG for somethinG. It’s not about packing up the car and going to a different town. For them it’s about discovery. What they find is a challenge—something unexpected—that opens up new frontiers. Go West. Discover. Explore. This is one of America’s great universities. A lot of people who have become successful—skilled, happy, wealthy and influential—started by heading West. Western Michigan University. It’s your turn to Grab the reins.
wmich.edu/GoWest
Shamrock Sweets Join Student Activities for a delicious green treat! Date: March, 17th Time: 12pm-1pm Location: SC Community Room Price: FREE!
Talent Show! Prepared to be amazed by WCC’s talented students! Enjoy sinful tunes of the piano, singing, dancing and much more!
Date: March 20th Location: Towsley Auditorium Time: 6pm-9pm Price: FREE!
Become a Student Activities Support Officer!
Do you want to make a difference in campus life at WCC? Become a Student Activities Support Officer! This is a paid, on-campus position that is designed to kick-start your professional career! Learn resumebuilding skills that include leadership, marketing, event planning, and much more! For more information and to sign-up go to http://tinyurl.com/sdaofficer
Ticket: Beauty and the Beast Friday, March 28 7:30p.m. Fisher Theatre
th
Tickets Coming Soon!
Ticket: Bowling Bash
Only $15 March 13 7p.m.-9p.m. Colonial Lanes Ticket includes bowling, shoe rental, and buffet Dinner!
Purchase tickets at the Cashier’s Office!
Upcoming Sports Opportunities!
**Stop by the WCC Sports Office (SC116) from 9am-5pm Monday-Friday to register for all opportunities or call 734-973-3720. To be eligible to participate, you must be taking at least 3 credits at WCC and have at least a 2.0 gpa. All sports are FREE! Men’s Club Baseball Tryouts th th Tryout Week: Monday through Thursday, March 10 through March 13 th First Meeting: Monday, March 10 4:30pm in TI108 Please bring your WCC Student ID with you. You must pre-register for this tryout in the WCC Sports Office prior to participating. Due to weather, times and locations are being adjusted and will be provided upon registering. Women’s Club Softball First Practices st rd Dates: Monday March 31 and Thursday April 3 Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm Where: WCC Softball Diamond located next to the WCC Health and Fitness Center Please bring your WCC Student ID and your own mitt (if you have one). Please pre-register to join this team in the WCC Sports Office prior to the first practice. Interested in a Competitive Dance Team? We are currently looking for any WCC students that may be interested in being part of a competitive dance team at WCC. If you are interested, please come into the WCC Sports Office in SC116 to let us know! We will be gaging interest with the hope of starting a team in the near future. March Madness Bracket Contest th Stop by WCC Sports (SC116) or email elemm@wccnet.edu between Monday, March 17 and th Wednesday, March 19 for a men’s and women’s NCAA Basketball bracket. Brackets are due by 11am th on March 20 . Winners of each bracket will receive a t-shirt. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please contact the WCC Sports Office by calling 734973-3720 or emailing elemm@wccnet.edu. You can also come into the office and see us in SC 116.
Keep in Touch! Instagram: WCCSDA, Facebook: Washtenaw CC and http://tinyw.cc/sda
News
The Washtenaw Voice
Enrollment declines, flexible courses rise By NATALIE WRIGHT Managing Editor
Enrollment at Washtenaw has increased slightly in the last month and even since the school’s profile date on Feb. 10, but it is still down slightly from this time last year. As of Feb. 26, enrollment was down about 2,500 credit hours and 283 students from the same date last year. This marks about a 2 percent decrease in both areas. However, in Flex Ed, which includes online, blended and weekend courses, enrollment is up by 539
March 10, 2014
A3
One page to rule them all WCC website gets an overhaul
students, which marks a 10.2 percent increase from last year. The school has also seen a major increase in dual enrollments. They are up by 49 percent with 212 more students than last year. The inflation of dual enrollments is due in part to WCC’s outreach to high schools and promotion of dual enrollment, Vice President of Student Services Linda Blakey said. It can also be attributed to new guidelines that the state has set that expanded the number of students who are eligible for dual enrollment, she added.
New agreements offer Washtenaw students four-year degrees By JAMES SAOUD Staff Writer
Graduates who fret about leaving Washtenaw Community College’s campus and atmosphere to continue their education beyond an associate degree may be in luck. They may not have to leave in order to obtain their bachelor’s degree. Washtenaw is opening a university center that will offer students the opportunity to earn four-year college degrees in WCC classrooms. “It’s not a building, it’s just an agreement,” Vice President of Instruction Bill Abernethy said. “Professors from four-year universities will come here to teach some of their courses so you can finish your bachelor’s degree on the premises here rather than have to go to another location.” The original conception of university centers at community colleges stems from campuses that were far from other four-year universities. Though WCC is surrounded by fouryear universities, the idea is to connect with schools that offer good upperdivision courses to some of WCC’s
programs, Abernethy said. “We’re going to start this fall, very slowly. We have an agreement with Ferris State,” Abernethy said. “So they’re going to either come here, the professors, to offer those upper division courses in our classrooms, or if the classes don’t meet enrollment they can offer them online.” WCC’s university center has been in development since the beginning of this academic year and will begin offering classes fall of 2014. Right now, the only university in agreement is Ferris State, but Wayne State may get involved within the next year as well. Programs that will be offered through the agreements are business, engineering and possibly nursing, but according to Abernethy those are all future plans. “What’s important right now is to just get people familiar with the concept. It’s not a building. It’s not Washtenaw offering four-year degrees. It’s just them (four-year universities) coming here.” Abernethy said. “I just think it’s another opportunity for students. “You know, to tell you frankly, I think students like it here.”
BRYAN FREEMAN | COURTESY PHOTO
By NATALIE WRIGHT Managing Editor
The online-experience for Washtenaw students, faculty and staff has gotten a major makeover. A new single-sign-in page called “WCC Gateway” was rolled-out on March 10 and now connects users to the bulk of the information they seek from the school’s website on one page. The page, which Director of Web Services Bryan Freeman likened to a Windows-8-style dashboard, makes it possible for students to log in to their MyWCC, email and Blackboard in one move. It also distills a huge amount of information, presenting it to students in a clean, colorful interface. The interface is made of nine modules: MyWCC, email, Blackboard, notifications, academic dates, campus events, ebill, financial aid and schedule planner. The page is also responsive, meaning it translates well to smaller phone and tablet screens.
Washtenaw to host ‘Free College Day’ WHAT: Free College Day WHEN: March 22, 1-4 p.m. WHO: All are invited MAIN PRESENTATIONS:
Presenters at WCC’s Free College Day on March 22 will include (left to right) Elisabeth Thoburn, Scott Malnar, Karen Vigmostad and David Fitzpatrick JANET HAWKINS | COURTESY PHOTO
By DAVID FITCH Staff Writer
Washtenaw Community College will put on a “Free College Day” Saturday, March 22, inviting members from the community to attend a variety of free presentations ranging from silk painting to one instructor’s recent trip to Mali. Elisabeth Thoburn, a WCC history and humanities instructor, said that she is looking forward to being able to share her experiences during her trip last year to Mali. She plans to share some of the political and personal challenges of the journey, which eventually took her to Timbuktu. “I thought it was a great idea that the college was trying to reach out to the community. After all, we are a community college,” said Thoburn. Presentations will cover a wide variety of topics, including the Great Lakes, auto body detailing, fly-fishing and how “The Wizard of Oz” may have been inspired by the Populist Revolt of the 1890s. For Crystal Harding, a piano instructor, the day is a chance to
showcase her students, whom she is proud of, as they demonstrate the progress that they have made in her classes taught through WCC at Park Ridge Community Center. The primary organizer of the event, Janet Hawkins, said that the day will present an opportunity for people who may not have ever attended college, or may not have attended in a long time, to get a feel for what college is like. “I want people who attend Free College Day to know what I know about Washtenaw, that WCC is a wonderful place to explore new ideas and share those ideas with people,” Hawkins said. The presentations, many of which will take place in the Morris Lawrence Auditorium, will be given by a variety of instructors from WCC including: David Fitzpatrick, a history teacher; Karen Vigmostad, a continuing education instructor and Scott Malnar, an auto body instructor. Registration is required. To register for the event, visit http://tinyurl. com/lawfzsx and for more information, contact freecollegeday@wccnet. edu or call 734-973-3623.
1-1:55 p.m. – “More than a Wicked Witch: The Wizard of Oz and the Populist Revolt” by David Fitzpatrick in Towsley Auditorium 2-2:55 p.m. – “A Journey From WCC to Timbuktu” by Elisabeth Thoborn in Towsley Auditorium 3-4 p.m. – “The Great Lakes Today” by Karen Vigmostad in Towsley Auditorium “Detailing & Personalizing Your Vehicle” by Scott Malnar in the Occupational Education Building, OE 151 COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT DISPLAYS: 1-4 p.m. – Community Enrichment instructors will showcase their classes in the Morris J. Lawrence building atrium. Stations will include piano, art, silk painting, knitting and basketry and fly-fishing. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 734-973-3623 or email freecollegeday@wccnet.edu
Responsive design is becoming more and more important in the world of Web design, and this project gave Washtenaw a chance to dip its toes in the water, Freeman said. “This is really just the beginning of our journey, exploring responsive design,” he said. The overhaul the college’s onlineuser experience has been “on the wishlist for years,” Freeman said. And after major turnover in the department over the last year, “it was just the right time,” he said It was mid-December when they decided to start working on the project, which was a collaborative effort between Web Services, IT and Student Services departments. The bulk of the back-end work was done by the IT department. There is a lot of code, a lot of work that went into the project that the user doesn’t see, said Amin Ladha, Chief Information Officer. “We built everything from scratch,” he said. And to get it done in only three months was impressive, Ladha said.
Calendar TUESDAY, March 11 Student Advisory board meeting will be held from noon-1 p.m. in the SC Community Room. Students can give feedback regarding Student Activities. Fundamentals of Networking will be held in ML 150 from 3-4 p.m. Nationally known author of “The Reluctant Networker” blog, Greg Peters will present on building business connections. RSVP required via Career Connection or by calling 734-677-5155. WEDNESAY, March 12 Spring and summer registration begins for readmitted and enrolled students. THURSDAY, March 13 Spring and summer registration begins for new students. Bowling Bash held at Colonial Lanes from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $15 for WCC students, available at the cashier’s office, SC second floor. TUESDAY, March 18 Spring Career Fair from 1-4 p.m. in the Morris J. Lawrence building.
Freeman agreed and said he was excited to rollout the site sooner than expected. “We’ve just gotten such great feedback on this, we want to get it out to students now,” he said. The feedback came from 11 focus groups that tested the site. Six groups were made up of about 50 students and five groups were made up of about 50 faculty and staff, Freeman said. The overall result was that WCC Gateway was “hands-down better” than the old system, Freeman said. The school will continue to reach out to students for input so that the site can evolve to meet their needs, Freeman said. He sees enhancements happening about three times a year, coinciding with each semester. “I’m very optimistic that it will evolve and get better,” Lahda agreed. Freeman hopes that students will give some good advice for how to make the site better. “We don’t know what we don’t know,” he said. “So we really want to let the users guide us down that path.”
WEDNESDAY, March 19 Fall registration begins for current and readmitted students. THURSDAY, March 20 Fall registration begins for new students. COLLEGE VISITATIONS The Art Institute of Michigan: March 10 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the first floor of the Student Center. Spring Arbor University: March 11 from 11a.m.-2:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Student Center. Oakland University: March 12 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the first floor of the Student Center. Eastern Michigan University: March 12 from 1-5 p.m., March 13 from noon-4 p.m., March 19 from 1-5 p.m. and March 20 from noon-4 p.m. in SC 206. Concordia University: March 13 from 1-4 p.m. on the first floor of the Student Center. Siena Heights University: March 18 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the first floor of the Student Center. Davenport University: March 19 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on the first floor of the Student Center. Madonna University: March 24 from 9-11 a.m. on the second floor of the Student Center.
Security notes
From redacted incident reports provided by Campus racks in class on March 3 at 11:30 p.m. Safety and Security and interThe following day, a WCC student views with Director Jacques found the wallet on the ground at a Desrosiers. BP gas station near Packard Road. Campus Safety and Security has no inLarceny formation as to whether anything was A student using the ceramics lab taken. The incident was reported to the couldn’t find her wallet after leaving Washtenaw County Sherriff’s Office for her backpack hanging on the coat further investigation.
A4
Voices
March 10, 2014
EDITORIAL
Public SOQs or bust: College, newspaper inch closer to a deal
A misunderstanding between Washtenaw Community College and The Voice has led to a delay in the Student Opinion Questionnaire issue. In November, The Voice filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the last five years of SOQs for all instructors. We expected to receive the SOQs in the same format that instructors receive them – a digital results summary, but the college interpreted the request as asking for the physical documents that students filled out. The physical documents only exist for the current school year and would cost $1,050 to copy, the college’s General Counsel, Larry Barkoff, wrote in a letter to The Voice. So The Voice, at Barkoff’s suggestion, filed a second FOIA request for the results data, and we are confident that the school will release it. The challenge moving forward will be gaining access to the student comments that are not included in this data. The comments, Barkoff wrote, would need to be individually examined to see if any FOIA exemptions apply. This would take a great deal of time, and “many thousands of dollars,” Barkoff wrote. The Voice believes that the comments are crucial for students to put the data in perspective, and we’re confident that we can work with the college to find a way to make them public. The Voice has big plans for the SOQs. We want to give WCC students transparency that they’ve never had before regarding the quality of the teaching at the college. It’s time for instructors to own up to the fact that they are in a service industry. Many of them already realize this, but those who have spoken publicly on this issue do not. Yes, some students only care about their grades, but most of us care about how well instructors prepare us for our next step in life. We fear that instructors have lost sight of those students who truly care just because they’ve encountered a few bad apples. Students are not the product of this institution; we are the customers. If it were not for us, instructors would not be here. But we’re also well aware that they – and what they have to share with us – are why we are here. The SOQs will give us a chance to spread the word about the good work that our instructors do. They will give us a chance to recommend the best of the best – those who demonstrate great passion, those who change lives – to other students so that their impact can be as wide as possible. We hope that these great instructors do not ever forget this: We are forever grateful for all that they bring to our classrooms. Over the last few weeks during interviews for unrelated stories, several school employees – administrators, faculty and staff – have told The Voice that everything at WCC revolves around the students and their success. That was hard to swallow, knowing that at the same time the school was denying students some important information that could help them succeed. But soon, we hope we can say unequivocally that the school has taken a true stand for student success and we are proud to have been a part of it.
corrections
In the B1 story titled “Women Celebrate Progress,” the photo of Julie Morrison should have been under the section “What is the biggest breakthrough for women’s rights in your lifetime?”
VOICE A NATIONAL PACEMAKER AWARD NEWSPAPER
THE
The student publication of Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, Michigan
Volume 20, Issue 15
4800 E. Huron River Dr. TI 106 Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (734) 677-5125 thewashtenawvoice@gmail.com 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. EDITOR Maria Rigou drigou@wccnet.edu MANAGING EDITOR Natalie Wright nkwright@wccnet.edu PHOTO EDITOR Kelly Bracha kbracha@wccnet.edu DESIGNERS Brian Auten bgauten@wccnet.edu George O’Donovan godonovan@wccnet.edu ONLINE EDITOR Christina Fleming cfleming@wccnet.edu
VIDEO EDITOR James Saoud jsaoud@wccnet.edu ADVERTISING MANAGER Becky Alliston ealliston@wccnet.edu STAFF WRITERS M. M. Donaldson David Fitch Jon Price EJ Stout Adrianna Velazquez COPY EDITOR Nina Di Mauro ADVISER Keith Gave kgave@wccnet.edu
The Washtenaw Voice
As America ‘evolves,’ Michigan may be next Natalie Wright It’s remarkable how quickly attitudes evolve. Ten years ago, there was a raging debate in this country about whether or not same-sex partners should be afforded the right to get married and enjoy all of the benefits that come along with that. In 1995, only 13 states had laws banning same-sex marriage. By 2004, 44 states had banned not only marriage, but civil unions, 16 actually amending their constitutions with these bans. Among these was Michigan, which passed the amendment with 58.6 percent of the vote. Massachusetts was the only state that married same-sex couples. And for these couples, things got worse before they got better. By 2011, 14 more states added constitutional bans, bringing the total to 30 states.
This means three years ago, a solid majority of the country believed that preventing same-sex marriage was so crucial that citizens must amend their state constitutions – which is not an easy task. O n l y f i v e st a t e s j o i n e d Massachusetts in allowing the marriages. But, in 2012, the landscape of the debate was forever changed when President Obama, thanks to a gentle nudge from Vice President Joe Biden, became the first sitting president to openly support legalizing gay marriage. “My feelings about this are constantly evolving,” Obama said. “For me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.” Today, most states maintain constitutional bans, but the ball is rolling faster than ever before in favor of same-sex marriage. In 2012, four more states made it legal. In 2013, eight more. Today, 17 states and the District of Columbia allow same-sex couples to get married. In Utah, Oklahoma, Virginia and Texas, federal courts have struck down constitutional bans. The rulings are
on hold pending appeals. And Michigan may be next. As of this writing, U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman sits in a federal court in Detroit hearing arguments as to why or why not Michigan’s constitutional ban should be overturned. In our state, 54 percent of the people support gay marriage, according to Michigan State University’s “State of the State Survey,” completed Feb. 10. Charles Ballard, an MSU economics professor who directed the survey, told MSU Today magazine that the last few years have marked a huge evolution in attitudes surrounding samesex marriage. “In Michigan, it appears that the period between 2010 and 2012 was the critical time when public opinion shifted most dramatically in favor of gay marriage,” he said. And the numbers show that this is true across the country. After years of debate, people are finally wising up to the meaning of equality. In similar fashion to the women’s rights and civil rights movements, it took a while to get the ball rolling, but now it’s gaining speed with no signs of stopping. When attitudes evolve, policy evolves. The country evolves. The world evolves.
Hate shall not prevail – if we vote I find myself more anxious than I have ever been in my voting life for November to get here. The things I have read and seen and heard this last year alone have me deeply concerned about how we regard women and individual freedoms. Through all the bad, however, I do By CHRISTINA FLEMING see hope. I am cautiously optimistic Online Editor that hate will not prevail and women, gays, minorities and those from forBlack History Month was a time eign lands who come to America for to reflect on the past and remember a better life will come out to vote and those who overcame hardships and repair the track that has derailed our horror and to honor so many con- elected representatives. tributions to this country. Here in nearby Detroit, a vital court How fitting, then, that the Oscar case is pending challenging Michigan’s for Best Picture went to “Twelve gay marriage ban. A female couple Years a Slave.” wishes to adopt each other’s children, On the same weekend in Arizona, legally uniting their family where love Republican Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed already has. I have faith that the judge a morally repugnant bill that would will do the right thing. have allowed businesses to refuse We have a midterm election in service to anyone based on their November preceded by some imporreligious assertions. tant primaries in August. On the postWelcome to March. Now we are ed candidate listing it appears that in Women’s History Month. What most districts will be uncontested so will happen for us? far. However, there are two Senate
districts with Democratic women ready to challenge the Republican incumbent. One is the 11th District, covering northwestern Wayne County and southwestern Oakland County. The other is the 32nd, consisting of parts of Genessee and Saginaw counties. For the House, there are two Democratic women signed up so far to challenge the Republican incumbents in the 45th District (Independence and Waterford townships) and the 98th District (Midland and surrounding areas). All candidates have until July 7 to register for the August primary and Oct. 6 is the deadline for the November election. Not all the candidates are registered yet, but the current standings give me hope. Never forget the past. Never let these horrors repeat. And don’t assume your future is secure. People tend to get the leadership they deserve. Remember to vote!
Busy slate for WCC’s ‘Year of Energy’ Activities
EMILY THOMPSON The environment, to paraphrase Urban Dictionary’s second definition, is “A place all people say we must look after and yet we don’t.” This sounds rather world-weary to me, but what else would you expect from a dictionary with attitude? The SLTF committee at WCC is working on environmental issues and this year the focus is on Sustainability and Energy. We are running a series of activities, lectures and service projects and we have about eight events left in our series for this academic year. We’ve had great participation in our events so far by people from the community, from WCC, and even whole classes from the departments of Math, Art, Environmental Science, English and Culinary Arts. What cool things might you have missed so far? What about a pair of students celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary at one of our affordable (and delicious!) Sustainable Dinner and a Movie Nights? What about the two students from a Graphic Arts class whose posters advertising our events were published in the local Heritage
newspapers? And what about the student hired by a panelist in the Q-and-A session at our Panel Event on Sustainable Energy? Some Year of Energy activities may be good for your gut, your resume and the environment! What fabulous things remain that you can possibly attend and maybe even negotiate credit or extra credit for? They include:
Wednesday, March 26, 3:30-5 p.m., in OE 123. This event is free. Sustainable Dinner, with WCC Faculty chefs Alice Gannon-Boss and Derek Anders and their students. Vegetarian options by request. The dinner is on Friday, March 28, 5:30 p.m. at Garrett’s. For tickets, go to the cashier’s office starting Friday, March 7 or contact garretts@wccnet. edu. Dinner reservations are required, and there is a per ticket fee for dinner.
Creating an Energy Efficient Home from A to Z: Existing, Remodel, Addition or New, with … And a Movie, “Beyond the Light local architect Michael Klement Switch,” sponsored by Students for (Architectural Resource) and others, Sustainable Food Systems, Friday Thursday, March 6, at 6 p.m. in the March 28, at 7:30 p.m., Towsley Towsley Auditorium. This event is free Auditorium. The movie (but not the and open to the public. dinner) is free and open to the public.
Automotive Talk & Tour: Energy Service project: Help with WCC Efficiency – Making the Most of Garden Project, with WCC counselor your Fuel, with WCC faculty mem- Kimberly Groce, Monday, March 31, at ber Allen Day, Monday March 10, at 3:30 p.m., in LA 374. This event is free. 3:35 p.m. in OE 186 Auto Service Lab. This event is free. Poetry Energy in the Gallery, with WCC faculty members Maryam WCC’s Year of Energy Book Barrie and Tom Zimmerman, Reads (The book is “The End of Thursday, June 11, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Country” and the topic is the Gallery One in the Student Center. Science of Fracking), with WCC This event is free and open to the faculty member Maryam Barrie, public. Thursday, March 20, 3:30-5 p.m. in the Writing Center, LA Room 355. This For more information, contact: event is free and open to the public. Emily Thompson at ethompso@wccnet. edu or Dale Petty at petty@wccnet.edu WCC Geothermal Energy Talk & Tour, with Bill Ghrist, WCC Manager Dr. Emily Thompson is on the facof Energy and Systems Integration, ulty at WCC and is a member of the and Beau Burgen, WCC manager of Sustainability Literacy Task Force Mechanical and Electrical Systems, committee.
News
The Washtenaw Voice
March 10, 2014
Dingell: ‘I’m coming home to Michigan’ WA S H I N G T O N, D .C . – Congressman John D. Dingell (D-Mich.) announced his decision not to run for re-election to the House of Representatives this fall. Excerpts of his remarks, as prepared for delivery in his annual “State of the District” speech to the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber of Commerce are below: Greetings to all guests, those at the head table, distinguished guests, elected officials and friends. What a great thing to be home amongst the people that Deborah and I love and have loved for so many years. This has been our home, full of loving friends and people whose goodness to all of us Dingells means so much. We need to understand how blessed we are to be Americans, the richest, finest, most fortunate people in history. We need to criticize harshly those who do not brag of these facts and rejoice in our blessings. And we need to love our country with great affection and intensity. Anyone doing less does disservice to themselves, the country, and their fellow Americans. Americans must change and they must insist that those who seek office and power do so. When that happens, things will start to turn for the better. We have much to be grateful for, and we owe it to ourselves, to each other, and to our fellow Americans to demand this of those seeking the privilege of power and office to make this change. Too many office holders have rejected this and have refused to carry out their duty to the country, to each other, and to all of us, past, present, and future. Let us love our country. Our system, its blessings, its riches and the good it deserves and that it gives to each of us. This Congress has been a great disappointment to everyone, members, media, citizens, and our country. Little has been done in this Congress, with 57 bills passed into law. . . We narrowly escaped the Great Recession—note those words—I went through the Great Depression. There’s only a couple of letters difference in the two names, but a major difference in the impact on the country. But we saw a lot of hard work, and real bipartisan leadership by the then-outgoing Republican Secretary of Treasury; by Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, and by our then-incoming Secretary of Treasury, working together with President Obama and members of both parties to pass ARRA and TARP, and we may all thank God they did. The economy is coming back. I hope you went to the Auto Show to see the extraordinary American Cars and see your fellow Americans taking pride in what we are doing together, showing the world just what we can do. Let’s be proud of our beloved country—what we have done, and what has been done for us by earlier Americans wiser than we. We have freedoms that are the wonder of the world and a standard of living that is envied by all.
DINGELL FROM A1
country. What we see today is a part of the beginning.” Aside from being a strong proponent for colleges, Dingell has many personal and professional ties to the college as well. Jason Morgan, director of Government and Media Relations at Washtenaw, worked on the congressman’s staff while still attending college at Northern Michigan University. In 2013, Morgan’s political savvy landed him at Washtenaw, where he is charged with establishing relationships with local, state and federal government officials. He attributes his knowledge of politics and public policy to the time he spent working for the congressman.
So to be brief: let us work together. What unites us is far greater than what divides us. No President should have to tell a Congress that if that august body cannot do its task he will do it by executive order. Congress means “a coming together.” Look it up. It’s there in the dictionary. Let us share a few words and thoughts. . .
Congressman John Dingell and Wendy Lawson VP of Advancement sharing a laugh during the 2012 graduation ceremony. Dingell was the first to receive an honorary degree from the college. FILE PHOTO | WASHTENAW VOICE
Much more needs to be done. Our infrastructure is crumbling, our tax laws are a confusing shamble, our election laws are a mess without rhyme or reason, and our people can see elections be stolen from them. A coming together is called for, and we must do it. No one else will do it for us. The Congress must live up to its name. It must be a great coming together of our people. We did temporarily avoid sequestration, as my colleagues and the country found that it was just too nasty for our government not to act. There is so much to be said for our beloved country, and at times we need to bring ourselves back on the path to greatness that the United States shared for centuries. It is my belief that that is precisely what must be done to continue our economic recovery and move our country forward. It was a sign of progress as my colleague Paul Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray worked together on a budget compromise that helped to stave off many of the harmful cuts of the sequester, and returned a bit of certainty to our finances. While this deal was in no way perfect, I found it to be an encouraging step towards returning to regular order and properly and securely funding our nation’s expenses in a fair and timely fashion. For too long, bad politics has allowed this Congress to careen from one manufactured crisis to another, whether it’s a stubbornness to agree on a budget, a necessary raise of our debt ceiling, or any other matter that would restore certainty. . . Our domestic auto industry continues to grow, with some of the best cars in the world being made by some of the best workers right here in Michigan.
“I started working for Mr. Dingell in 2011 as a district representative covering Washtenaw County,” Morgan said, “During this time, I learned more about public policy, leadership and integrity from him than I ever could have in the classroom.” Though Morgan learned many professional lessons from the congressman, he also described Dingell as a genuinely grateful person who cared very much about the people he worked with. “Congressman Dingell’s announcement of his retirement on Monday was a historic and emotional day for me,” Morgan said. “When you join John Dingell’s staff, you become part of his family.”
Trustees to split duties At its Feb. 25 meeting, Washtenaw’s Board of Trustees announced that beginning the week of March 10, it will split into two standing committees: the Curriculum, Personnel and Student Services committee and the Finance, Audit and Facilities committee. The purpose of doing this, Board Chair Anne Williams said, is because
We’re continuing to see record sales numbers, shift additions, production expansions, and countless more evidence of success. We have to look no further than Flat Rock to see a prime example of the recent growths in this industry. This is what happens when our workers and management come together in the name of making a good
by splitting up the issues, trustees can focus on them more closely. There has been no decision yet as to which trustees will sit on which committee, Director of Government and Media Relations, Jason Morgan said. Natalie Wright
today are critical to our future. We have laid the foundation to do it as we have so many times in the past, by putting aside our differences and working together for the common good. I am confident this will happen again. . . There is no greater privilege than a life spent in service, and I know how fortunate I have been to spend my life as a Member of Congress. I have done my best for the people who live here – my neighbors, my friends, those who supported me, and those who didn’t. The fabric of Michigan is the fabric of my life, and it has never frayed. Public service is undervalued in our modern times, and I can understand that when I look at what our Congress has become. But it doesn’t have to be that. I am hopeful that this fever breaks at some point, and Congress goes back to what it should be: the House of the people, standing up for the average man and woman. That’s how I’ve always defined the job, and it’s a damn good definition. I have 10 months more in Congress, and I’m not going to waste a minute. There’s still a lot to be done and a lot I want to do. . . I also want to take advantage of this time to express my thanks and gratitude to the hundreds of people who have served on my staff, working long hours to serve the people of Michigan. I want to express my thanks and gratitude to the many colleagues, past and present, who have worked with me for civil rights and equity for all, cleaner water, for cleaner air, to protect consumers, to expand our nation’s energy supply, and—above all—to make sure that every person in the United States has access to affordable health care. And to my dear friend and wise adviser, whose wisdom, goodness, and caring have made it possible to serve with compassion and skill. Who has done so much to give me strength and comfort in my service and whose wisdom has lighted my way thru the difficult challenges I have faced as I have serve you. I want to express my thanks and gratitude to the lovely Deborah. She has been tireless, devoted, and worked just as hard—if not harder— for this district throughout the years. And of course, I express my thanks and gratitude to the people of Michigan for letting Deborah and I serve them, and for the support and friendship and trust we have experienced in this wonderful job. My friends, that begins with you. Thank you. But for now, let me tell you how much I love you all. We have fought many battles over the years as we tried to do what was right for the families who live here. We’ve been through tough times and have emerged, battered and bruised, but stronger for the fight. Let me close with this: I am not leaving Congress. I am coming home to Michigan. Thank you.
product at an honest wage that the American people can rely on. I’ll continue to fight for our autos every step of the way. We’ve also made progress on a matter near and dear to me: ensuring affordable and fair health care coverage for all. Nationwide, we’ve seen some 3.3 million Americans enroll in health care plans under the Affordable Care Act, with more than 115,000 of those enrollees right here in Michigan. Of course there’s still work to be done to ensure that enrollment numbers continue to increase, but this most recent surge in enrollments is a telling sign that this program will be successful as more people find out about it and select the care they can afford and deserve. You all know that I have made it my life’s work to ensure affordable health care for all, and the progress being made encourages me greatly. Despite the political fighting over this topic, the American people are already benefiting from this law. . . Kids can stay on their parents’ insurance to age 26. No one can be denied coverage due to a preexisting condition. The insurance company can’t cancel your coverage just because you got sick, or while you’re on a gurney making your way into an operating room. No longer are there lifetime caps on coverage. These are real benefits that we’ve never seen before. I fought for inclusion of what is known as the Patients’ Bill of Rights because I believe that we have had too many people die or be left helpless due to want of necessary care. We need a system that works, and the Affordable Care Act is a step in that right direction To read the full text of Congressman Why do I say these things now? Dingell’s speech, visit www.wccnet.edu All of these things we have discussed
Marketing’s new newsletter
Students: check email for survey
Washtenaw Community College’s Marketing and Public Relations Department plans to launch a faculty and staff newsletter in March, according to the department’s executive director, Annessa Carlisle. Carlisle said that the department already distributes a weekly online publication called The Water Cooler, but feels limited by the constraints of the web. “Obviously online there are limitations to the types of stories and how in-depth we can go,” she said. Her department would like to release a new edition “at least once a month,” she said. “It’s a place where we can really highlight the accomplishments, the awards, the accolades, the neat kind of things faculty are doing that you may not know about,” Carlisle said. The publication will be produced by Carlisle and her staff. “We are not going to replace the weekly newsletter,” she said. “The print just gives us another vehicle to communicate those stories with faculty and staff.”
Some Washtenaw Community College students will soon receive an email from Noel-Levitz, a higher-education consulting firm, asking them to complete a satisfaction survey about their college. Students who follow the message’s link will find a 100-question survey that asks them to rate their satisfaction with various areas of the college, as well as a how important these areas are to them. After students have responded, Noel-Levitz will present the college with a report that compares WCC’s averages in each category with the averages of the other schools. The survey will cover the general: “campus culture and climate” and the specific: “how helpful is Career Services,” Director of Institutional Research Roger Mourad said. “We would really like students to take the time to complete it,” Mourad said. “We can see where we are strong and where we are coming up short and follow up to improve things.”
Jon Price
Natalie Wright
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VOICEBOX FROM A1
Voice Box Interviews by James Saoud Staff Writer Photos by Audra Meagher and James Saoud
should michigan overturn its ban on gay marriage? Jessica Wilson 19, Ypsilanti, nursing
“I think it should be legal. People shouldn’t judge people for who they are.”
Qutada Samaha 16, Ann Arbor, undecided (WTMC student)
“I mean, I believe that people should be able to do what they want to do. You know what I’m saying? It’s up to what people believe, you know, some people believe in different gods, different religious bases, and if you practice religious beliefs freely but then it comes to marriage and they can’t marry the people they want to marry that’s not right.” Ben Armes, 21, Ypsilanti, digital video productions
“I’m totally for it, I think that gay marriage should be definitely allowed. I think gay marriage should be allowed because you should be able to marry and love whoever you want to marry and love, that’s just basic human rights.” Joshua Lee 21, Ann Arbor, undecided
“Honestly, I’m very indifferent when it comes to gay marriage. I don’t think it affects my personal life. I don’t believe it affects my goals and my aspirations in life. I honestly believe people have a right to be what they want. I guess as people we’re all just struggling to be happy and everything so I don’t feel like laws can tell people how to be happy and I don’t think the government should tell people what they should and shouldn’t do with their lives even if, I guess, if they feel what they’re doing is right or wrong. It should be up to the person.” Dale Bigler, 17, South Lyon, undecided
“I think it would be good for them to overrule the gay marriage ban. I think discrimination is wrong in general.” Andrea Pung, 19, Brighton, liberal arts transfer
“I don’t think it should matter who you want to be married to if it’s the same sex as you or not, so I think everyone should just be able to do what they want and follow their hearts.”
‘March’ to registration Registration for the Spring/ Summer semester and the upcoming Fall semester will soon begin. Spring/Summer registration will begin on Wednesday, March 12, for returning students and Thursday, March 13, for new students. Fall registration will begin on the following Wednesday, March 19, for returning students and March 20 for new students. For both course periods, students with 45 credit hours or more can start registering at 8 a.m. Those with 30 credit hours or more can begin registering at 11 a.m. Students with 15 hours or more can begin the process at 1 p.m., and those with fewer than 15 hours can begin at 3 p.m. James Saoud
A6
News
March 10, 2014
The Washtenaw Voice
Lawmaker wants stiff penalties for protesters providers some recourse to stop a type of disruptive act.” House Bill 4643 would increase civil fines to $1,000 per day for an indiBy JON PRICE vidual who violates current picketing Staff Writer laws and assign a $10,000 civil fine to the union or organization supporting Proposed legislation could inter- the protest. fere with employees’ abilities to proThe bill was given its third read in test at their job sites. the House last month, which means State Rep. Tom McMillin it will now go to the floor for an of(R-Rochester Hills) said the policy ficial vote. he introduced would “help provide First introduced by McMillin in a stable economy while giving job 2011, it was originally rejected. But
last month he reintroduced the legislation, which the Republican-controlled house will now vote on. Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) said that no one should be surprised by the proposal, noting that a lot of bills introduced in the current house impair civil rights. “Proponents are putting this out there to make labor unions think twice before advancing their agenda through protest,” Irwin said. If the bill were to pass it would assign these same fines for individuals
or unions who “engage in picketing a private residence by any means.” McMillin, widely considered one of the most conservative members in the House, has participated in protests outside abortion clinics. Though the bill may have enough support to get past the House floor, it is unlikely to be upheld by the Democratic-controlled Michigan Senate. This is not the first bill introduced by McMillin that has created static in the Capitol. Of 183 proposals
submitted by the politician, only five were signed into law. Not surprisingly, labor unions were unhappy with the legislation. But many union representatives in the state declined to comment because the bill had since been withdrawn from the floor to be voted on at a later date. One representative spoke candidly, saying that he didn’t see the proposal as serious legislation. Rather, he saw it as a bargaining chip for the GOP to use against labor unions.
AAATA may make WCC more accessible to commuters also voiced worries that the money would be used to promote rail. AAATA strategic planner Michael Benham has repeatedly stated in presentations given around the county that there is no rail in the Five-Year Plan. The AAATA does have interest in rail through assessing the need for, and potential expansion in the 30-Year Plan, which some may have confused with the Five-Year Plan. Regardless, the millage language specifically states, “to improve public bus, van and paratransit services” The opponents, mainly from the City of Ann Arbor, have criticized that they would be paying more taxes and feel that they would be subsidizing the services in Ypsilanti. In an email, Krieg clarified that each municipality would be paying for their own services, not subsidizing others: “The new millage is the same for all three municipalities, but because existing levels of millage are different, AAATA board receives standing ovation after vote to put the millage proposal on the May 6 ballot. M.M. DONALDSON | WASHTENAW VOICE the overall result will be different. The number of bus-service hours each municipality gets will depend on the overall amount they invest, so Ypsilanti By M. M. DONALDSON transportation and fully supports Opponents have been critical of the City and Township will get correStaff Writer the Ann Arbor Area Transportation plan, arguing that the AAATA has no spondingly less hours of service than Authority to levy a 0.7 millage to ex- reason to fulfill the outlined “promises” Ann Arbor. Routes and hours of service Those coming to Washtenaw, a pand TheRide’s services. if the millage was approved. were carefully balanced against the commuter college, whether for work “I pay taxes. Now that I have a job, I According to Ypsilanti Township amount each area is paying, to insure or education, are dependent on reli- need a bus,” Barney said at a Partners AAATA board member Larry Krieg, the that in the final outcome, everybody is able transportation. For Transit meeting. board of directors supervises the deci- paying for what they get, and getting For 2012 graduate Michelle Barney, This is the first time for the Authority sions made by the Authority’s manage- what they pay for.” public transportation allowed her to to put a millage on the ballot for the resi- ment, which would require the AAATA Krieg has ties to WCC and feels attend WCC and now, with her de- dents of the City of Ann Arbor, City of to fulfill the millage commitment. The TheRide expansion will greatly help gree, it gets her to work. After studying Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township. board and management are both strong the community use the services at the Mass and Natural Sciences at the colThe AAATA has detailed extensive supporters of the Five-Year Plan and it college. Formerly teaching computer lege, she found that “employers don’t expansion of hours and creation of new would be unlikely for the authority to science at WCC for 25 years, he obhire if you do not have a car.” routes under their proposed Five-Year change direction. served that if his students’ transporShe is an activist for public Transit Improvement Plan. Those opposed to the millage have tation failed, they were likely to fail
SMITH FROM A1
County Sheriff’s Office. A native of Iowa City, Smith received his medical degree from the University of Iowa and a Ph.D. in experimental pathology from the University of Minnesota. He was the medical director of laboratories at three major medical centers before he came to U-M in 2006. While he was employed at U-M Health Systems as director of the Clinical Histocompatibility Laboratory, Smith headed a similar lab part-time at Baylor University in Texas, where he had previously worked. For this work, U-M owed him about $200,000 in income, he said. Smith told his boss that he would allow the university to keep the money as long as it was put towards his research. But in 2008 when Smith learned his contract would not be renewed, he asked to get the money back because there would no longer be research to fund. He was told that the money belonged to the university now. Smith submitted a faculty grievance and began submitting Freedom of Information Act requests to build a case. Eventually he won and was awarded the money that was owed to him. In the meantime, he said, he found what he viewed as “improprieties”
with how the university reported faculty hours to the government in order to receive grant money. So, he started poking around more, he said, submitting more FOIA requests and discovered several other issues that caused him concern. Since then, he has reported on a number of issues at the university, but the case over the alleged sexual assault of an 18-year-old girl by former U-M football player Brendan Gibbons is where he has made the biggest splash. With the university under investigation by the Department of Education, everyone is pointing to Smith as the beacon that kept light on the case. He had been demanding transparency about the case from the university and the media for years. During a February 2012 regents meeting, Smith gave a picture of the alleged victim to President Mary Sue Coleman and told her, “I want you to frame it and put it by your bedside so that you can apologize to her every night for your failure to protect her.” Smith commented profusely about Gibbons on AnnArbor.com, pushing them to cover the case openly, he said, but all of his comments were deleted, several of which were links to other articles. He was eventually banned from commenting on the site. Paula Gardner, Editor of The Ann
Arbor News, declined to comment as to why Smith was banned. When the Michigan Daily broke the story of Gibbon’s expulsion last year, Smith started getting attention from news outlets across the state. They started linking to the police reports he had published on his website. Some perceive him as a bit of a loudmouth, stirring up trouble. “I’m sure plenty of people wish I would just go away,” he said. But the surprisingly soft-spoken, mild-mannered watchdog has no intention of backing down. Today, Smith is working on several big projects, and he stuttered with excitement as he talked about them. He has a case waiting to be heard by the Michigan Supreme Court in which he is asking to view a videotape that, he says, shows an Ann Arbor police officer stealing money out of a car in Ypsilanti Township. So far, the AAPD has denied the request because the tape is a part of an internal investigation, Smith said. The lower courts and appeals courts have dismissed the case, but he is waiting in hope that the Supreme Court will allow him to appeal. He is also at the beginning of a major battle to amend the state constitution to force U-M and other universities to be more transparent.
“Right now, they basically flaunt the fact that they don’t have to abide by the Open Meetings Act,” he said. When Smith applied both online and in person to make comments at a Jan. 24 special session of the Board of Regents where they approved the election of the school’s new president, he was told by university spokesperson, Rick Fitzgerald, that no public comments were allowed, he said. When asked repeatedly why Smith was not allowed to comment, Kelly Cunningham, a U-M spokesperson would only acknowledge that no public comments were allowed at the meeting, but declined to comment as to why. This is in direct violation of the Open Meetings Act, Smith said, but the courts have given the regents the power to decide what meetings fall under the requirements of the Open Meetings Act. If he had been allowed to speak, he said, he would have commented on the “unprecedented secrecy” surrounding the election of the new president as well as the lack of representation of the faculty, students and community in the decision. The university has abandoned the shared-governance model that it is intended to have as a public institution, he said, and has moved to a
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his classes. He further described how these students would receive a degree or certificate from WCC, but would not be able to take certain jobs because they had no reliable transportation. Many of his students hailed from Ypsilanti Township, where new service routes are proposed. With the extended service and development of new routes, more residents of the three municipalities will have more access not only to WCC’s regular college classes, but to the continuing education and services, along with the workforce development and community enrichment programs offered throughout the area. Barney explained that expanded public transportation service will improve the quality of life for many of her neighbors. Currently the TheRide does not provide service to her highrise apartment complex on Sundays, and those without transportation are unable to attend church. Partners for Transit (P4T) has started recruiting volunteers to help voters understand the millage. It has asked volunteers to help with phone banks, mailings and canvassing. “This is a great way to get to know your community,” Alexis Blizman said. She is the legislative and policy director for the Ecology Center that is a key partner with the P4T campaign. After the AAATA board voted unanimously to place the millage on the May 6 ballot, Barney addressed the members. “I almost had tears in my eyes when the board voted,” she said. “This affects me so personally.”
corporate-structured, top-down governance model where the Board of Regents holds all of the power and the faculty, students and community have little-to-no representation. “We’re trying to make sure that people know what the regents are doing in their name with their money,” he said. The amendment, if it is realized, would give the legislature back the power to enforce the Open Meetings Act as it was intended rather than leaving it up to the universities to decide when they want meetings to be public, he said, by simply changing the phrasing. Currently, the language in Section VIII article 4 reads: “Formal sessions of governing boards of such institutions shall be open to the public.” With Smith’s proposed amendment it would read: “Meetings of governing boards of such institutions and the documents of such institutions shall be open to the public, except as restricted by legislation.” Smith is working to gather support and finalize the language of the amendment before starting a petition to get it on the ballot. If the amendment is approved by voters, does he plan to tear it to shreds and send it to the U-M regents? Probably not, but his father would be proud.
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The Washtenaw Voice • B Section • March 10, 2014
Lies, damned lies and statistics
Michigan politicians, journalists play telephone with ACA stats “About 225,000 Michigan residents — or less than three percent of the state’s nearly 8.7 million insured residents — could be subject to having their policies discontinued ...”
- David Eggert, Associated Press N ov e m b e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 3
even prefaces YouTube videos. Department of Health and Human The Koch Brothers’ ad is similar Services had made changes to accomin message to an ad sponsored by the modate non-compliant insurance Nice, tidy numbers are great for National Republican Congressional policies. “About 225,000 Michigan residents political campaigning and news re- Committee targeting Florida viewers. porting. Explaining those numbers, An analysis of the ad by Politifact.com — or less than 3 percent of the state’s however, is typically not as useful for in the article, “300,000 in Florida lose nearly 8.7 million insured residents — politicians and more challenging and health plans? More to the story than could be subject to having their polithat,” disputes cies discontinued, according to the t h e N R C C state insurance department, which is claims. reviewing Obama’s new proposal. The “The decision comes after The number state insurance commissioner would may be correct have to agree to allow the proposed the faulty launch of a federal and has a re- change to take effect. Insurance comhealth care website in October liable source, panies also are scrambling to figure ... and amid the potential canbut the ad pro- out their next steps.” And from there, the deception pels the loss as cellation of 225,000 policies in starts. adding more Michigan ...” U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) to the rosters of uninsured, stood on the U.S. House floor using the when insurer statistic without divulging the source. N ov e m b e r 2 2 , 2 0 1 3 Florida Blue A Google search of “Dave Camp has confirmed 225,000 lost coverage” provides a it had no intentions of ever doing that. Facebook result that promotes the not as entertaining for reporters. The statistic of “225,000 idea of policy cancellations. But a visit And with so much reporting done in 140-character tweets that cater to Michiganders have lost their health to his Facebook page reveals the post a short-attention-spanned audience, care policies due to Obamacare” is not listed, either because he has hidbecame curious to some, but not den it from all viewers or he deleted it. it is nearly impossible. In-depth analysis and taking the completely discredited as the Either possibility puts transparency into question. time to understand the Peters, a target ramifications of a number of the Koch brothor statistic is not as fash“In Michigan, that’s about ers’ attack ads, is ionable as having a cool running for the handle, a lot of followers 225,000 policyholders.” U.S. Senate seat or a bunch of likes on a post. vacated by retiring This is how numbers beSen. Carl Levin come orphaned from their (D -Mich.). Also true meaning, leaving them N ov e m b e r 2 2 , 2 0 1 3 vying for the seat open to be used deceptively. is Terri Lynn Land, And this is what happened in Michigan, when politicians began Congressional Budget Office and the former Michigan Secretary of State last fall to warn anyone who would lis- Department of Health and Human and former member of the Michigan ten that “225,000 Michiganders have Services were supplying numbers for Republican Committee. Land started using the “225,000” lost their health care policies due to a demand created by politicians and statistic, with no source listed, on her Obamacare.” journalists alike. It has gone viral on the campaign The Kaiser Family Foundation and Twitter and Facebook accounts shortly trail, with several political critics of the U.S. Census were also sources of after Camp’s Facebook post. The National Republican the Affordable Care Act promoting numbers. However, none of the numthis statistic – without attributing it bers generated, nor any basic com- Senatorial Committee also postto any source. And the news media re- putations came close to the 225,000 ed on its Facebook page: “225,000 Michiganders may lose their health peatedly reported this statistic, with a individuals in question. similar absence of attribution. The Associated Press was the insurance because of Obamacare.” And from there, journalists far and The result is a drumbeat to this first to loosely attribute 225,000 number that will accompany the Michigan residents have lost their wide attribute the statistic to Land, or march to the polls for this fall’s health care coverage. But AP news- even worse, to no one. U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg’s (R-Mich.) elections. Already, Americans for man David Eggert did explain that the social media is very careful about P r o s p e r i t y, t h e not using the 225,000 number, but political action he brashly uses the Adrian Daily group funded by “An estimated 225,000 Telegram to promote it in the guise brothers David H. Michiganians received of a news format. and Charles Koch, cancellation notices late Starting with the Facebook post has promoted that is time-stamped Nov. 15, 2013, the number most last year because their Allie Walker, press secretary for Camp, publicly in an ad plans didn’t cover required stated that the 225,000 number came attempting to asessential benefits under from the AP. sociate Michigan’s AP News Editor for Michigan Democratic U.S. Obamacare...” Roger Schneider stated in a phone Rep. Gary Peters call that the news agency never reto the ACA, or ported that people would be losing Obamacare. The ad Ja n u a r y 1 4 , 2 0 1 4 coverage, but were “at risk of losing has run on TV and By M. M. DONALDSON Staff Writer
- Jeff Karoub, 13 ABC
- Robin Erb, Detroit Free Press
-Chad Livengood, The Detroit News
it.” If people were using it in any other way, Schneider said, they were “misinterpreting the number.” According to Josh Fangmeier, health policy analyst for the Center for Healthcare Research and Transformation, preliminary surveys estimated between 450,000-480,000 had individual market coverage, but felt he the estimate was a little high. With survey questions like “Did you buy directly from insurance companies?” Fangmeier thinks a number of people may have selected this option, when, in fact, they were receiving coverage through their employer. Fa n g m e i e r noted that insurers had sent out letters to policy holders who had plans not compliant, 60-90 days before the end of December 2013. He reassured that no one lost coverage, but were given new options. Some insurers were canceling policies as of Jan. 1, 2014, but offered a new policy with 2014 standards. Other insurers offered an early renewal on plans not compliant, modifying the end date to Dec. 30, allowing the start date of Dec. 31, therefore, a loophole to allow individuals to be covered under a non-compliant plan for another year. With a little research, Fangmeier came back with Department of Insurance and Financial Services as the likely purveyor of the 225,000 number. This is the source Eggert refers to in his AP article. DIFS, the state insurance regulator, had data to confirm the number, but not with the intent others were
coverage. Consistent with Fangmeier at CHRT, Buhs said that those who received a cancellation notice for their current non-compliant coverage, were either offered a plan that was ACA compliant or else were offered an option for early renewal – renewal before Jan. 1, 2014, which would allow them to continue their non-compliant coverage into 2014. “If that’s what the AP is reporting, that’s where the number came from,” Buhs explained.
“... plans held by roughly 225,000 Michiganders ... will be cancelled.”
- Jonathan Oosting, MLive.com Ja n u a r y 2 8 , 2 0 1 4
Crain’s Detroit did identify the DFIS as allowing non-compliant coverage into 2014, as long as the policy effective start date was within 2013. Politifact.com, a fact-checking enterprise run by the Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times, rates the way the Republicans uses the Florida statistic in their political ad as “Half True.” With Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) use of the 300,000 statistic, Politifact rated his use of the statistic “Mostly False.” With most Tea Party rhetoric, it is assumed that anything associated with President Obama has to be tainted. Critics use statistics to create factoids in an attempt to give credibility to a manipulated message. The way critics of the ACA used the Michigan’s 225,000 statistic appears to be right out of a political textbook. Reporting on the Florida 300,000 was most“In October, Boonstra ly attributed to was among an estimatFlorida Blue, but ed 225,000 Michigan the information on what would be residents who received replacing the “lost” notices [their] health incoverage, was ususurance ... would be disally buried in the story, if mentioned continued ...” at all. For the 225,000 Michiganders, the Ja n u a r y 2 8 , 2 0 1 4 real issue is how the statement of reporting it as. DIFS spokesman Caleb loss that accompanied the statistic Buhs stressed the 225,000 number is became true, down to the way it was an estimate, as it was compiled from described, when the news media reinsurance companies filing with DIFS ported it, rather than investigating it. to be in the Exchange. Insurance companies self-reported how many of their policyholders had non-compliant
- Marrisa Shultz, The Detroit News
Eleventh Heaven Homebound Brighton boy’s parents hope to give him birthday he’ll never forget “I saw another parent do something like this for their kid; ask people to send cards, and my son always asks By ADRIANNA VELAZQUEZ if there’s mail for him when I get the Staff Writer mail,” Danya said. “He loves getting mail. I thought it would be a good idea Legos and Minecraft are a couple to ask people to send him cards or litof 10-year-old Dominic Tyner’s favor- tle notes.” ite things. Aside from building things Lil D’s medical conditions have physically or virtually, “Lil D,” as he forced him to give up school, baseis known to family and friends, loves ball and social activities because he getting mail. suffers from eosinophilic esophagiThat’s why his mom, Danya Tyner, tis (EE) and complex 1 mitochondrial is asking everyone to take part in Lil disease. As a result, the conditions he’s D’s birthday mission. been dealt have left Lil D homebound.
“He wants to have play dates with his friends, but he gets sick easily so it’s hard,” Danya said. “His friends’ parents really try to make sure they keep in touch, but it’s kind of like out of sight, out of mind. When you don’t see someone every day like you’re used to, you can’t help it.” The diseases Lil D suffers from have not only limited his social interaction with fellow classmates and other kids his age, but have also affected BIRTHDAY BOY CONTINUED B4
Dominic ‘Lil D’ Tyner’s mom is planning a special birthday for her sick son. DANYA TYNER | COURTESY PHOTO
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MARCH A ‘ D’NESS 2014
An advertising campaign of The Washtenaw Voice the next day, March 17, we will have a random drawing to pair our advertisWelcome to the 4th Annual March ing partners with one of the 64 Teams. ‘Ad’ness advertising campaign held in Your team will be listed on our website conjunction with the NCAA’s March later that day, www.washtenawvoice. Madness basketball tournament. Be a com part of our special bracket that pairs As the tournament progresses, the advertisers with the 64 teams in the full bracket will be published in The tournament. The winner of the cham- Voice in three consecutive issues. This pionship gets a full-page ad in the will give advertisers an opportunity award-winning Washtenaw Voice, the to have their business name and concampus newspaper of Washtenaw tact information in front of our nearCommunity College. ly 12,000 students, 2,500 employees Here’s how it works: For just and newspapers picked up from about $25, advertisers secure a berth in the 50 newsstands around campus and bracket. On Selection Sunday, March throughout Washtenaw County. 16, the NCAA fills out its brackets, and Four advertisers will win a chance
at $1,135 worth of advertising space in The Voice. The advertiser whose team wins the national championship gets a free full-page ad valued at $550; the advertiser with the national runner-up gets a free half-page ad valued at $310; and the two advertisers who were paired with the other Final Four teams receive a quarter-page ad valued at $155 each. But in reality, everybody wins since The Voice will promote your company in three consecutive issues in March and April as well as on its award-winning website from March through May. NOTE: Deadline for advertisers: March 14, 2014
“What a great way to drive revenue, engage your advertisers and play on a popular annual sporting event. I love the concept of engaging your advertisers in a project that pays dividends back to them in the form of advertising. It helps to create value in your product.” —Michigan Press Association Judge
Key March ‘Ad’ness Campaign Dates: March 16: Selection Sunday March 17: March ‘Ad’ness placements updated on our website – www. washtenawvoice.com – find your team March 18-19: Round One March 20-23: Rounds Two & Three March 24: March ‘Ad’ness bracket with advertisers, published in The Voice and on the website March 27, 28: Sweet 16 Games March 29, 30: Elite 8 games April 5: Final Four, March Madness
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April 7: Championship Game Who will be the 2014 Champions??
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April 8: March ‘Ad’ness bracket published on the website and winners announced
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April 7: March ‘Ad’ness bracket update published in The Voice (publication is prior to game time)
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April 21: March ‘Ad’ness bracket published in The Voice, with winners For more information, contact Advertising Manager, Becky Alliston, ealliston@wccnet.edu, phone 734.973-3662, or phone Voice adviser Keith Gave, 734.677-5405.
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Mummy dearest: WCC group awaits next Peruvian adventure
abroad with students from WCC’s data,” said Barrett, whose department anthropology program instructor will be gathering dental and skeletal Christopher Barrett. data in the remains. Students interested in adventures “This is actually going to be more He added, “This is a fantastic opporsimilar to those seen in the “Indiana than just a study-abroad trip for us. tunity for students to do some real anJones” films may have found their call- We’re actually going to be collecting thropological research.” ing: in radiology. Fighting Nazis, secret cults, ancient aliens will not be involved, however. Washtenaw Community College radiography instructor James Skufis is preparing for his fifth adventure to Peru with students to study and X-ray the remains of ancient civilizations from June 2-23. The trips with radiography students began in 2000 and were led by Skufis’ colleague Jerry Baker. Skufis has been the leader of these escapades since 2007, and they have taken him and students all over Peru. “What this trip does is it introduces students to using skills they’ve learned in our classrooms,” Skufis said. “It introduces them to forensic imaging.” With this trip, the program is trying something brand new by traveling Radiography students in Peru X-Ray a mummy. JAMES SKUFIS | COURTESY PHOTO By JAMES SAOUD Staff Writer
Former WCC graduate Matt McClelland moves on to feature filmmaking. MATT MCCLELLAND | COURTESY PHOTO
WCC film grad moves on to ‘A Better Life’ By JAMES SAOUD Staff Writer
Washtenaw Community College graduate Matt McClelland, 23, is making dreams come true by helping create a short film, which is now being expanded into a feature length film, titled “A Better Life.” McClelland graduated from WCC’s Digital Video Production department and moved to Orlando, Fla. to take classes at Full Sail University, where he met fellow filmmaker Matthew Lynn, 26. Their film is the story of Lynn’s struggles as a gay man in the South. “It is a story of acceptance, not only by society, but more importantly one’s self,” according to a press release from the two. While the story began as something close to Lynn’s heart, he soon realized “this was a story that wasn’t just my own,” Lynn said. The pair plan on extending their nine-minute short film into a featurelength production. Together, the team has co-written the script and is planning a Kickstarter campaign to get funding for the project. The first step is to release the short for a wider audience to see with a premiere at a photography studio in Orlando on March 13. “We’re hoping with the premiere of
BIRTHDAY BOY FROM B1
his diet. EE has led to strict restrictions on what he can eat. Consuming products containing dairy, oats, gluten, wheat or pork can cause his body to attack his esophagus causing him severe pain that can spread and cause damage to other organs like his heart, brain, liver and other major organs. On the other hand, complex 1 mitochondrial disease prohibits Lil D’s body from producing sufficient energy from the food he consumes. There is no cure for the degenerative disease that can potentially cause death. These conditions make a birthday party for Lil D, who will be turning 11 on March 27, nearly impossible.
our short film with a big event, we will use as a kick-off event for the Kickstarter,” McClelland said While advancing his skills and making crucial connections at Full Sail, McClelland has not forgotten where it all began. “I really want to drive home the point that Washtenaw is where I got my start,” McClelland said. “The teachers and passion of people that work at Washtenaw inspired me. Matt Zacharias (department adviser) really inspired me to go to Full Sail. I owe him a lot and Donna Ryen (Digital Video Production instructor) was great, too. I learned a lot from them.” While the duo of Lynn and McClelland plan to shop their feature around at festivals when it’s done, Lynn has a much deeper reason for creating the film. “Obviously we want it to be successful,” he said. “However, ultimately what it comes down to is I want to hand this to someone in 10 years and say, ‘this is my story.’” The short will be released online with the launch of their Kickstarter fundraiser on March 14. With huge support from the LGBT community and their online campaign, McClelland hopes to help Lynn’s passion project come to life.
LIL D’S BIG DAY WHAT: Birthday wishes for a homebound boy HOW: Make a home-made card WHERE: Two tables in the Student Center WHEN: March 11, 13, 17, 18 and 20, from noon-2 p.m. each day. Cards will be mailed on March 21 WHY: Because it’s a really cool thing to do. NOTE: If you can’t stop by and make a card, mail one to Dominic Tyner, PO Box 1627, Brighton, Mich., 48116.
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Michigan to Manila: WCC grad acts his way to the Philippines Through mentors like Lockard and Fracker, Bianco said that his time at Washtenaw helped develop him creatively for his future life as an actor. “WCC, without putting too much pressure on me, served as a bridge, a nurturing bridge to help me and inspire me to flourish in the arts,” he said. Performing arts instructor Tracy Jaffe has seen this positive effect that the drama program can have on students And while success can mean “making it big,” like one of her students who became a member of Blue Man Group, success can also have another face. “Success can also be that people really tap into themselves and their creative voice and feel more free being in front of people and being more expressive,” she said. “Our students really seem to respond to that. And it’s really a pleasure to be a part of that discovery process with students.” Bianco took on the last name of his grandfather for acting purposes. Bianco, he explained, was his grandfather’s last name before he changed it after emigrating from Italy. Bianco has acted in multiple films including “Sabine,” “Fubar Redux,” in which he voice-acted, and “Hello Forever,” which is in production. He also acts in theater productions including, currently, the inaugural production of the Broadway hopeful “Marco Polo: An Untold Love Story.” He works additionally as a marketing director at Repertory Philippines, a theater company in Manila. Rogelio Saldo Chua, writer, composer and director of “Marco Polo: An Untold Love Story,” said that Bianco has been “great” as the lead in the play, saying that the versatility of his appearance paired with his singing and acting skills made him the man for the job.
David White, Bianco’s father, said that Bianco and Blair-Bianco, along with having a passion and commitment to the entertainment business, bring something else to their field that is difficult to maintain. “They are the kind of people who have a really pure heart,” he said, adding that they are careful in their roles to maintain their marriage through all the challenges of the entertainment industry. Bianco said that he tries to keep two things central: focusing on his wife and focusing on God. For the young acting couple, faith is central to how they act and how they keep their relationship strong, said White. After 3 ½ years of living 13 hours ahead of the town he called home, Bianco said his adventure would be a lot different were it not for his wife. “We’re half way across the world living our dream,” he said, “and we realize that if we weren’t together, guess what? We probably would not be doing this.”
associate degree, will train students to assist in all phases of an operation: pre-op, op, and post-op. Surgical technologists support the operating room team during an operation by anticipating needs and fetching instruments for the surgeon, said Woods-Ramsey, herBy DAVID FITCH self a certified surgical technologist. Staff Writer The first cohort enrolled in the program begins its late-starting courses Two new surgery-oriented pro- on March 10. grams will be among those getting off The Central Sterile Processing prothe ground at Washtenaw Community gram, which is not set to start until College in the near future, and they 2015, will prepare students primarcome from a community’s request for ily to sterilize and process surgical these workers. equipment. The two programs – Certified The programs were brought about Surgical Technology and Central as a result of external listening sesSterile Processing – will aim to fill sions conducted by the college as part needs that have been expressed of President Rose Bellanca’s strategic by local healthcare professionals. plan initiatives, said Woods-Ramsey. Graduates will be able to fill positions “We asked different hospitals and at places like University of Michigan different people who were in the Health System and St. Joseph Mercy healthcare professions what they Hospital, said program developer needed, and this is one of the things Paulette Woods-Ramsey. that they needed,” said Vice President Certified Surgical Technology, an of Instruction Bill Abernethy.
And student interest was surprisingly high for the surgical technology program. “I was hoping for six or seven and I actually have 18 for the first cohort,” said Woods-Ramsey, who will serve as one of the primary instructors. Woods-Ramsey, a Michigan native, was hired after working as the director of the surgical technology program at Herzing University Orlando in Winter Park, Fla. She holds a master’s degree in health service administration and is working on a doctorate degree. Joining her is Denice Giovanoli, also a certified surgical technologist, who was recently hired. She developed surgical technology programs at Herzing University Toledo and also at Brown Mackie College in Findlay, Ohio. Giovanoli said that she is extremely excited to teach in what she said has been a “lifetime dream career.” Washtenaw’s program will be seeking accreditation, which Giovanoli says may come in a year.
By DAVID FITCH Staff Writer
When actor David Bianco moved to the Philippines, he was saying goodbye to his life. But he’s not one to shy away from adventure, he said, and so the former Washtenaw Community College student embarked on a creative journey, one for which WCC helped to prepare him. Bianco, 33, who attended Washtenaw more than 10 years ago, is working as an actor in the Philippines. He acts in musical theater alongside his wife, Jennifer Blair-Bianco, as they play leading roles in a TV musical “The Boston: The Kitchen Musical.” The series, a spinoff of “The Kitchen Musical,” is expected to be aired internationally this June. While at WCC, Bianco took a smattering of classes in the arts, psychology and math. He was also deeply impacted by art instructor John Onye Lockard, whose portraits decorate the campus. Bianco said he was struck by Lockard’s character. “The amazing thing about art, whether it’s painting or it’s television or film, it’s the passion that goes behind it. John didn’t do it for the money, I can tell you that,” Bianco said. “People do it because they actually have a gift, a God-given gift. I believe, as a Christian, all creativity comes from God, and those people who are truly unselfish will share their gift. I think that’s what John did.” Bianco also looked back fondly on his memories of acting at WCC, mentioning his leading role in “Guys and Dolls” under the musical direction of the late Ron Fracker, a man who, Bianco says “touched my life.”
Needs of community inspire two new surgery programs
Paulette Woods-Ramsey is beginning to teach the first cohort of those enrolled in the newly formed Certified Surgical Technology program. KELLY BRACHA | WASHTENAW VOICE
DAVID BLANCO | COURTESY ILLUSTRATION
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March 10, 2014
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION. KELLY BRACHA | WASHTENAW VOICE
Millennials and a misguided sense of entitlement By DAVID FITCH Staff Writer
and MARIA RIGOU Editor
Among the examples were stories of students saying that they were unable to take a test because of a family vacation and informing La Hote that they were unable to attend class because of a birthday party. “Students that feel that it’s OK to get up in the middle of a lecture and get a bottle of Coke or something,” said La Hote, “as if somehow the classroom isn’t any different than a motel lobby.” However, journalism instructor Dave Waskin sees another side of the matter and is hesitant to label what
that when she was young, she was scolded for wanting a backyard pool, whereas recently, her children wanted a cruise. “It’s because I raised them with those expectations … I gave them this. I gave them that. So, it’s natural to want the next thing up,” she said. Conversely, Rush says that things have changed. “It’s very different than it was two or three decades ago. That sense of entitlement just wasn’t there,” said Rush. “When I was in school, I would have never dreamed of coming to class
Whitmore Lake, said that he had not seen entitlement in his classes at Washtenaw. From his view, students were realistic regarding their academic outcomes. Conversely, WCC Student Maya Price, 20, said that she has seen the entitled attitude. “I think we expect more for less … I think we are lazy,” she said, adding, however, that this generation encounters some different challenges than previous generations have. “It takes a lot more to be success-
They are confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and open to change. They are Millenials. Millenials are defined as American teens and 20-somethings who became adults near the beginning of the new millennium, according to the Pew Research Center. Some of the characteristics that describe them have to do with their GI Generation Silent Generation Boomer Generation X Millennials Homelander Greatest Generation Lucky Few lifestyle and values: they are politically liberal; they do not have or practice a religion; they use smartphones and have only a cellphone over a landline. They are on track to become the most educated generation in American history, driven largely by the demand Great Depression Vietnam War Iraq War War on Terror of a modern knowledge-based econoWW1 Cold War WW2 my, but most likely accelerated by the 1929 1946 1964 1984 2004 Woodstock Sept. 11 Recession recent economic debacle that drove 1908 Hiroshima 2013+ Nagasaki Generation Y Generation Z Generation Sub-Generations Generation Jones millions of young people to graduPETER HOCHGRAF | WASHTENAW VOICE ate schools, colleges and community colleges. And they have been accused of a he often sees in the classroom as late, or interrupting class or whining ful than it did before. What we see is about a grade or asking for a paper people who did the bare minimum hands-open “entitlement” attitude “entitlement.” “They might want to put the work in extension.” — went to college and got a job, but that, some say, will get them in trouble. but hey, they’re working 40, 50 hours La Hote, too, sensed a change, but you can’t just get a degree and get a per week at another job,” said Waskin. said that he was unsure as to its extent. job anymore,” she said. “Some people we want it NOW “I think there may be a difference in might not try as hard because it seems “Millennial entitlement” is a con- “Maybe their home environment is cept that people of the generation of- chaotic. Maybe they haven’t been suc- the expectation,” he said. “Somehow like a lost cause.” Price, a pre-engineering student ten operate with the idea that they cessful in school up to this point, so the having your own way, having should be receiving what they want they don’t have a sense of how to pri- these inflated expectations is seen as from Ann Arbor, also said that somethe way they want it, often without oritize their time for school …It can be normal as opposed to being seen as times, in students’ lives, “life happens,” citing her experience of being hit by having to work as others did for the hard to separate all those variables.” aberration.” He said, though, that sometimes Rush said that he sees today’s “heli- a car and missing school as a result. same result. And according to several instruc- students come to a class with a “dis- copter parents” as one probable cause. She says, though, that students can’t “They do everything for their kids. always expect accommodations. tors at Washtenaw Community connect between their goal” and what They don’t want the kids to ever know “When things like that happen, this College, this idea of generation largely it will take to achieve the goal. Waskin also said that, compared failure at all. Never a bad thing said place doesn’t freeze … They can’t just filling WCC classrooms is, at least parto students from other colleges, WCC about them at all, things like that,” he stop class or let someone fall behind. tially, an accurate one. WCC history instructor Ian Rush students seem to be more grateful for said. “It seems like there might be this You have to just keep going.” reported this attitude that he has seen their learning opportunity, a senti- generation of students who have just maybe been a little over-coddled and detrimental? affecting students for five or 10 years. ment echoed by other instructors. over-nurtured, in a way, by their parents.” Instructors say that entitled be“You’ve got this whole generation trending topic Music instructor Michael Naylor, havior hurts students. of students who can’t do wrong. Who While many can pinpoint a shift, though, doesn’t see this as something La Hote cited societal factors as think that they deserve an A or they deserve a ‘good job,’” said Rush. “They uncertainty exists as to whether this that came out of nowhere. He said that perpetuating this occurrence, mentoday’s entitled attitude comes as a tioning this in the context of efforts kind of just expect it, and they get re- is a novel phenomenon. Behavioral science instructor Anne product of long-standing ideas and aimed at raising self-esteem, at times ally upset when they don’t get the A or Garcia also doesn’t see entitlement as values that are magnified through each destructively so. He cited the example they don’t get the ‘good job.’” generation. This generation is simply of Mr. Rodger’s “I like you just the Randy La Hote, WCC econom- strictly a Millennial trait. “I hear older people say, ‘Oh, these the latest one to be accused of the at- way you are” mentality, saying that ics instructor and chair of the Social sometimes “just the way you are” is Sciences department, cited several kids today. They just think everything titude, he said. sometimes counterproductive. examples of student behavior, which should be handed to them.’ I don’t a new world? Math instructor Frank Gerlitz said he sees as detrimental, not only to think it’s any more so than it was when Cole Lobbestael, an 18 year-old me- that students are essentially fighting the classroom, but also the students we were young. It’s just where the line is drawn is different,” said Garcia, adding chanical engineering student from their own good. themselves.
“The faculty members are not trying to be mean and put the students’ feet to the fire… There is no adversarial relationship,” he said. “This is not detrimental to anybody other than the students.” Naylor said that the problem is not just with those being accused of entitlement, but also with their elders and the degree to which they have held Millennials accountable. Naylor says that change will occur “when you guys start calling each other accountable and when you start holding us as adults accountable for holding you to a higher standard,” adding, “Those of you who are aware of this need to speak out.” Naylor said that a willingness to learn from elders is also needed. Because, he said, elders are usually the ones who “understand hard work.” the empowered entitled
One thing Millennials have working for them? Education. According to Pew Research Center, Millennials trump the previous three generations in college enrollment percentages. In 2009, the Center reported, 60 percent of female Millennials and 49 percent of male Millennials had at least “some college.” This is compared with 21 percent of females and 28 percent of males of the Silent generation in 1964. Additionally, Millennials are pioneers in social media usage. Add that to the fact that in 2020, Millennials are predicted to make up 46 percent of the work force, according to The University of North Carolina Kenan-Flanger Business School and the Young Entrepreneurs Council. Millennials have great potential Naylor said, as “the first generation to have access to the entire world.” Regardless of whether they are entitled or not, the Millennials have the eyes of many on them as they create new jobs, fill old shoes and explore the newly, rapidly globalizing economy. Many see the Millennials’ future as a bright one, but in order to harness all they have working for them, Naylor says that they will need one thing. “In order to harness that and do something good and create an entire new world based on that, you still have old-world discipline,” he said. “The kind of discipline it took to build barns back in the old days.”
Transfer friendly. Employer desired. n Future-focused business curriculum n Courses offered evenings, weekends, online, and on campus n Credits for work/life experience and military training n Expert, industry-experienced faculty n Small class sizes
Apply Today! www.northwood.edu 800.622.9000
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The Washtenaw Voice
March 10, 2014
‘12 Years a Slave’ weighed down by ‘Gravity’ WTMC fans growling over Leonardo DiCaprio walking away empty-handed yet again. Just as Lupita Nyong’o stole the Best Actress in a Supporting Role trophy from superstar Jennifer Lawrence. Also, similar to Alfonso Cuaron walking away with a Best Director Academy Award, leaving Steve McQueen, whose JAMES SAOUD film won Best Picture, in an apparent second place in that category. Awards season has come and gone, Happenstances such as these are the and the results are in. As predicted, problems with the Academy Awards: Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity” and Steve What happens when two people deserve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” were the the prize? big winners at the Oscars this year. Let’s say that “Gravity” and “12 Years However, shockingly the over- a Slave” are in fact the two best films praised “American Hustle” walked away produced in 2013, as the Academy has without a single award. proposed. How can these two films be Matthew McConaughey won his compared? How can you chose which well-deserved Best Actor in a Leading is superior to the other? A sci-fi action Role trophy leading to an upheaval of film vs. a historical drama.
Take 10 for a healthy lifest yle
JUST DO IT For more ideas to get the whole family exercising, visit: www.letsmove.gov and www.choosemyplate.gov.
On a technical level, “Gravity” is question: What are the qualifications the clear choice for Best Picture. for Best Picture? However, speaking strictly on arIs it the film most worthy of surtistic merit, “12 Years a Slave” is viving for future generations of film the right choice. lovers to enjoy? Is it the film that With better acting, writing has the most influence on the and more bravado “12 Years a industry? Slave” trumps “Gravity” with Or is it simply the “Best no question. But, the space epic Picture” of the year? has the technical achievements The question will likely nevof editing, special effects, animaer be answered, but it would be tion, cinematography and sound interesting to find out what condesign. tributes to the academy memEach film is a massive achievebers’ individual decisions on what ment for its own reasons, and makes a Best Picture winner. luckily both were recognized. For now, enjoy each of these While “12 Years a Slave” took films for what they are instead home Best Picture, “Gravity” of deciding which is better. After won the most awards of all, you can’t compare the night. “Schindler’s List” to “Star This raises an interesting Wars,” can you? ERIK MORRIS WASHTENAW VOICE
The best exercise will elevate your heart rate for an extended period, but with most people’s hectic schedules, huge health benefits are still gained from 10-minute workouts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends exercising at least 150 minutes a week. Broken down, that could be as little as three M. M. DONALDSON 10-minute workouts throughout the It has to be a clever marketing plan day, just five times during the week. Sometimes the 10-minute opporby franchise gyms to make us believe tunities to get exercise will come from real exercise equals lots of sweat. Having had a gym membership, I the most obvious places. With the price of gas, driving know it can expensive, take time to use, require exercise apparel and a around and around the parking lot strong sense of self-esteem to work to get a spot near the door is wasteout next to the person who looks like ful, especially because it is an opporthey belong on the cover of a sports tunity to get a quick walk. Taking the magazine. If you use these excuses to stairs instead of the elevator is annot exercise, then we’re both familiar other chance to burn a few extra calwith some of the hurdles to staying ories. The first couple of times you may want to take the stairs down, infit. Setting them up, at least. We know we should make healthy stead of up, while you build up your choices with food, such as eating an endurance. Playing outside with the kids, apple instead of a candy bar for a snack, but we need to do the same your own or borrowing some neighthing with exercise. Taking a break borhood kids, provides fun exercise from the tedium of life responsibili- whether it is playing catch, building ties does not always have to be a food a snowman or bouncing on the trambreak when exercise can come in dos- poline. You will be a hero to the small ones if you pull them along as they es as short as 10 minutes.
WCC in stride for first part of RecycleMania
ride in the wagon or sled. Ten minutes of that will not only elevate your heart rate, but reduce stress and build relationships. Teach yourself a few stretches to do while sitting at the computer. Force yourself to get up during TV commercials and refill your glass of water. Going out and dancing is fun, but just acting crazy at home while you listen to your favorite song will get your heart rate up too. None of these activities require special attire, and you do not have to carve out big blocks of time to get exercise in. You will still receive huge health benefits if you can a 10-minute break here and there, throughout your day. Heck, you might even have fun doing it. M. M. Donaldson is a staff writer with The Voice and a Journalism student at WCC. She has a bachelor’s degree in Family and Community Services from Michigan State University and has several years’ experience with nutrition issues affecting infants through older adults. Contact her mmorrisdonaldson@wwcnet.edu.
recognized for arts and academics By DAVID FITCH Staff Writer
Washtenaw Technical Middle College has been recognized by the state as an outstanding academic institution and has also been recognized by the University Musical Society as a 2014 School of the Year. This year, WTMC received two state awards. It was recognized as a “Beating the Odds” for exhibiting remarkable continuity in student achievement. The school lacked an achievement gap, said WTMC Dean Carl Covert, explaining that, in many cases, there is a gap between the highest and lowest performing students, one which essentially didn’t exist at WTMC. The school also received “Reward School” status based on students’ ACT scores, which placed them in the top 99 percent of Michigan students. The University Musical Society at the University of Michigan recognized the school for its art instruction, specifically for the middle college’s “page to stage” efforts, which match up English course readings with U-M performances. Ultimately, the credit for the awards goes to the exceptional teachers and students, Covert said. “I’m just incredibly proud of the teachers and the students because that’s ultimately who does the work around here,” he said, adding that the public view of the school is changing. “What’s happening now is that people aren’t looking at us as an alternative school, but they’re looking at us as an incredibly great place to send their students educationally,” said Covert. WTMC is a charter high school program hosted at Washtenaw Community College.
‘Syria will survive’ WCC students host discussion in Student Center
the land that his ancestors have called home for more than 700 years. “There is a very rich history,” A flag, an artistic interpretation Alzahabi said. “It is the cradle of of the crisis in Syria, made by WCC civilization.” student Ahnas Alzahabi was hung However, violent attacks perpein Washtenaw Community College’s trated by the government have caused KELLY BRACHA | WASHTENAW VOICE Student Center. many including him, to flee the counrecycling as a percentage of total waste On one half, the official flag of the try, he said. And they hit close to home. By DAVID FITCH produced. WCC recycles just more than Syrian government. On the other half “Two-mortar shells actually fell on Staff Writer 41 percent of its total waste output. was the flag of the Syrian opposition my grandma’s house,” Alzahabi said, This is good, but the goal is much leaders. The two flags met and were explaining that the rounds had not Washtenaw Community College is higher for Wilkins, who would like divided by a single black line that rep- fully detonated, and luckily his famdoing well in this year’s RecycleMania to see the school recycling more like resents the struggle of Syrians on ei- ily was spared. competition, Recycling Operations Antioch University Seattle, which ther side of the battle that has torn Other students near the booth had Manager Barry Wilkins said, but the recycles more than 94 percent of its their country apart –“and the sadness similar stories to share with their peers. school can do better. waste. shared by both,” said Alzahabi. Muhammad Said Aljazaeri, 20, The results are in for the competiFor Waste Minimization, a categoThe 21-year-old business student has been in the U.S. for the past eight tion thus far, already three weeks into ry in which WCC has historically per- spent nearly six hours at his booth months. the reported “season.” formed quite well, the college ranked last Tuesday. His goal was simple: to “I had actually started my bacheWCC ranked 55 out of 247 list- four out of 142 other listed schools. inform his peers about the struggle lor’s (degree) in civil engineering, but ed schools in the Grand Champion The competition began Feb. 2 and going on in the country today and ad- it was in a difficult place in Syria where category, which compares schools’ runs until March 29. dress common misconceptions about war was taking place,” Aljazaeri said. By JON PRICE
Staff Writer
“I had a much better chance to study here.” Despite the conflict, they also wanted to let students know that Syrian people are not much different from their counterparts in the United States. “These people live normal lives,” said Omar Alazem, a 17-year-old studying math and science at the college. “People here think it is a thirdworld country.” But chaos and violence have rocked the country. “There were a few people in peaceful protest,” Alazem said, “and the government just cracked down.” Alzahabi agreed. “There are Muslims, Sunnis, Shiite, Jews and Christians,” he said. “We want people to know that Syria will survive. “It’s not the first crisis and it won’t be the last.”
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The Washtenaw Voice
March 10, 2014
sudoku
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COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY IS MAY 17
Are you ready to Graduate? There are things you need to do For more details go to www.wccnet.edu and type “graduation” in the search box. Once you’ve applied, look for important information in the mail.
Fill out Graduation application Buy Cap, Gown, Tassel Announcements Rehearsal
Across 1 “Famous Potatoes” state 6 Speak drunkenly 10 Addition word 14 “__ what?”: “What next?” 15 Adhesive strip 16 Shopper’s memory aid 17 Porky’s girlfriend 19 Impressionist 20 Very __ yours 21 Utter mess 22 Tire inflater 24 Feigns sleep, say 28 Pitt of “Troy” 30 Three-note chord 31 Aboveground trains 32 Per __: for each person, as income 35 Got one’s uniform dirty, perhaps 36 Runs away from military duty 38 Israeli parliament 43 “Exodus” author Leon 45 Haughtily terse 46 “From __ Zinc”: vitamin slogan 49 Skimpy skirts 51 Cut out, as coupons 52 Either of two of the Inspector Clouseau films, with “The” 56 Cooler cubes 57 World book 58 Like a lummox 60 Lamb serving 61 Yipping adoptee 66 Pile 67 Undersized 61-Across 68 Sharp-crested ridge 69 Novelist Ferber 70 Twistable cookie 71 Leavening agent Down 1 AOL, for one 2 Deer girl 3 Devices to stop tiny invading armies
4 Semiannual time-change amount 5 Admit (to) 6 Patronize, as a hotel 7 Spot for a cat, or drink like a cat 8 Wire service initials 9 Coffee order: Abbr. 10 Thinks ahead 11 Enzyme that breaks down fats 12 Handy 13 Plays the banjo, like someone “in the kitchen with Dinah” 18 Unwell 21 Wetter than wet 22 “The Alphabet Song” start 23 “Dies __”: Latin hymn 25 Mos. and mos. 26 Fancy tie fabric 27 “Growing” difficulties 29 Craps cube 33 Spades in a four-spades bridge contract, say 34 Sunlit courtyards 37 Ireland’s __ Féin 39 [error left as is] 40 Soup legume 41 Many a DeMille movie 42 Use a keyboard 44 Command to Rover 46 Tribe for which a helicopter is named 47 Gave 10 percent to the church 48 Borrowed, as a library book 50 Japanese religion 53 Phi Beta __ 54 Put a stop to 55 Settle, as a debt 59 Chaste 61 NHL player, e.g. 62 “__ Father, who art ...” 63 One in Quebec 64 Qt. halves 65 Nonetheless
answers
Ceremony For More Information Contact a Student Records Technician: Mary Singer Nancy Farmer
734-973-3546 734-973-3658
From here to Career
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 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. Send ads to thewashtenawvoice@gmail.com. Note: Deadline for the March 24, 2014 issue is Tuesday, March 18 at 5 p.m. SERVICES 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 734-484.3600 or visit online at: www.cornerhealth.org HELP WANTED SEASONAL PART-TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE: Canton Leisure Services is now hiring for seasonal part-time positions that start in April-June 2014. Positions may include: lifeguards, summer camp counselors and supervisors, therapeutic recreation camp staff, special events coordinators, park laborers, Pheasant Run Golf Course staff, Canton Sports Center staff and more. If you enjoy a fast-paced,
exciting work environment, don’t miss this opportunity to join a great team this summer! Students, here’s your chance to gain valuable work experience in your field of study. Apply today at www.canton-mi.org/ humanresources/jobs.asp. For more information, call 734-394-5260 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 734677-5155, email careers@wccnet. edu, or visit www.wccnet.edu/ careerconnection/.
Entry Level Auto Technicians/ Mechanics. Roush is seeking entry-level automotive technicians/mechanics for multiple positions on our day and afternoon
shifts available in our Allen Park facility. Minimum two years automotive technician experience or equivalent level of schooling. High school diploma or equivalent. Must have own tools with rolling tool box. Receptionist/Legal Assistant. Downtown Ann Arbor law firm is seeking full-time receptionist and legal assistant. Good communication skills and work ethic required. AV Installation Technician. Ann Arbor-based TeL Systems Inc., a leading integrator of professional audio and video systems, is interviewing for an Audio Video Installation Technician. Seeking highly motivated and qualified individual to perform onsite audio and video system integrations. This position is responsible for integrating, installing, rigging and configuring A/V systems for our professional client base. Must perform exceptional customer service. CNC Programmer/Machinist. Produces machined parts by programming,
setting up, and operating a computer nu- these finishes is required. This includes food merical control (CNC) machine; maintaining and dairy finishes. You must also possess quality, safety standards, and company poli- the ability to produce smooth TIG welds cies; maintaining equipment and supplies. that require little or no finishing. Coffee Barista. Must be able to think Administrative Assistant. Entryon your feet while you meet and greet our level, professional office administrator regulars and new guests alike. Full-time, needed for multi-location, growing funeral 30-40 hours/week. Maintain priorities in firm. Home-base will be Howell or Hamburg, managing guest experiences and work- but must be willing to travel to other lospace. Taste all Coffee products and learn cations as needed. Intermediate computer about them actively. knowledge, familiarity with common ofSocial Media and Marketing fice equipment (including typewriters), and Technician. Under the supervision of prior use of a multi-line phone system rethe Community Relations & Marketing quired. Must be flexible, easily adaptable Department manager and direction of the and willing to learn. Ability to perform on associate director of IT and Productions, a deadline a must. Along with attention the communication and marketing tech- to detail, strong written and verbal skills nician is responsible for the development needed. Conservative business attire reand implementation of social media strat- quired. Temp to hire, part-time (20-25 hrs/ egies in pursuit of AADL’s strategic goals week), possibly leading to full-time. M-F, and initiatives and is also responsible for Alternating weekends. the creation of online content for many of Sports Marketing Researcher. AADL’s marketing efforts. This position will Part-time position responsible for analysis also assist in a wide variety of AADL public of corporate sponsorship during sports telerelations and marketing efforts, including vision broadcasts. Primary duties include writing and proofreading written materi- extensive media research with digital trackals and assisting with the planning of AADL ing software. We are looking for approxispecial events. mately 20-32 hours per week availability. Class 2 TIG Welder. Ideal candidate Flexible work schedule. We are especially must be able to read drawings and assem- interested in candidates with afternoon, ble components to print and specification. evening and weekend availability. Degree Familiarity with industry standards for weld preferred, but not required. Motorsports and metal finishes, and ability to produce knowledge a plus!
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BEAUTY LIVES IN DEATH VALLEY Words and photos by Bob Conradi Staff Writer
Death Valley is a land of superlatives. It is the largest national park in the lower 48 states. It has one of the biggest altitude gradients, from the snowy heights of 11,049 foot Telescope Peak down to Bad Water Basin at minus-280 feet below sea level.
It boasts the lowest point in North America and the hottest temperature ever recorded in the world at 134 F. During winter break, Washtenaw Community College photography instructor Terry Abrams took a group of his students to Death Valley, Calif., to practice landscape photography. During the trip he gave lessons on camera technique, composition and local geography.
Clockwise from top: On day one, the students photographed a sunset at Zabriskie Point. Many stone surfaces are polished smooth in Mosaic Canyon. In the the late 1800s, 20-mule teams pulled wagon trains like this one, transporting borax mined in Death Valley to a railroad terminal in Mojave California. A peak is lit by the setting sun near Artist’s Drive. Paricipants in the photo workshop included from left, Elke Clark, Terry Abrams (instructor), Bob Vogel, Bob Conradi, Jack White and Marilyn Citron (not shown). Receding ridges can be seen from Dante’s View at Death Valley National Park. Blowing sand forms artistic patterns in the Mesquite Sand Dunes. The Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America, with an elevation of 282 feet below sea level.
The five WCC students and Abrams explored many different sites within and near the park, including a ghost town, the salt pan at Bad Water Basin, canyons and mountain overlooks. “I feel like nature is presenting us with something special,” Abrams said. He feels that way each time he ventures into this showcase of natural forces.
The Washtenaw Voice
March 10, 2014