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VOL. 22, NO. 5 The student publication of Washtenaw Community College

A NATIONAL PACEMAKER AWARD NEWSPAPER

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2015 www.washtenawvoice.com

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN

INDIE MOVIE TAPS TALENT OF WCC STUDENTS AND FACULTY BY MADI TORTORA

Contributor

AND SOFIA LYNCH Managing Editor

When Nicholas Rombes, an instructor at the University of Detroit, was a child, he always had a fascination with film. A production company out of Columbus, Ohio - Two Dollar Radio - helped Rombes to realize his dream by commissioning his screenplay. Because he is the husband of a Washtenaw Community College math instructor, Lisa Rombes, students and faculty members of WCC got to experience that dream with him. Nicholas had worked with Two Dollar Radio previously, on his novel “The Absolution of Roberto Acestes Laing.” For

Milly Sanders and Jeff Wood costar in the movie “The Removals” by Nicholas Rombes. COURTESY | NICHOLAS ROMBES

“The Removals,” his first movie with the production company, he was given a very tight deadline for turning around the screenplay. “He (the publisher) said, ‘You know, we need to make a decision on the film to make, if you could get the script in three weeks, you could be in the running.’ And that was really helpful to me to have a deadline. It was crazy but all the stuff that I had been doodling and thinking about had a reason – to put it all together,” Nicholas said. “So that’s when everything kind of coalesced. We really began thinking like okay, if we are really gonna shoot a movie for $20,000...how would the script actually look? And that’s when everything really came together, when I had the budget and I had three weeks.” That deadline resulted in Nicholas’ first movie: a lo-fi sci-fi short film called “The Removals.” Lo-fi sci-fi stands for low fidelity science fiction, which is described as a sci-fi genre that focuses more on big ideas rather than big budgets and fancy effects. The title of the movie refers to one of the main groups of characters who figured out that they can remove something that happened in the past, and replace it with something different if they reenact the scene,

From UCC to WCC: Showing support for fellow community college BY COLIN MACDOUGALL Contributor Recently, the nation was shocked by yet another violent mass shooting. This time, the victims of the attack were students and faculty of Umpqua Community College. On Oct. 1 at 10:38 a.m. in Roseburg, Oregon, a shooter entered Snyder Hall. In a matter of 10 minutes, he murdered eight students and one assistant professor, and injured nine others before taking his own life after a gunfight with the police.

The FBI identified 160 active shooter incidents that occurred in the United States between 2000 and 2013. As the sad news about the fellow community college fell upon the people at Washtenaw Community College, the following Monday and Tuesday students and faculty took a moment of silence in class for the lives lost in the tragedy. Student Activities had

See MOVIE, Page A3

See UMPQUA, Page A3

FRACKING STIRS DEBATE IN MICHIGAN BY COLIN MACDOUGALL

FRACKING

Contributor

AND TAYLOR ROBINSON Editor

For Michigan, from its Great Lakes’ shorelines to the inland lakes that speckle the lower peninsula, freshwater is one of its most valuable resources. Some believe that the process of hydraulic oil fracking is detrimental to the environment, and to the freshwater more specifically; the state has recently been facing a battle about whether or not this is true. The concern has even reached the campus of Washtenaw Community College. This year, on May 22, the Committee to Ban Fracking in Michigan launched a ballot initiative. The committee is not a non-profit organization but a political campaign – meaning it’s a Ballot Question Committee registered with the state of Michigan Bureau of Elections. This grassroots movement is commonly called “Let’s Ban Fracking.” The legislative ballot initiative hopes to collect 252,523 valid signatures by Nov. 11, 2015. If it were to pass, the law would change state statute and ban horizontal fracking and frack wastes. The law would also remove some of the wording in the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. Hannah Degutis, 22, a WCC fire science major from Ann Arbor, and a “Fractivist,” collects signatures for this petition. She explains that fracking is “the chemical process in which they drill into the shale level of the crust. They use many tons of water for it to be necessary to move around elements under the crust. Then, they add a chemical mixture to pull the oil from that level of the crust.” The debatable aspect

the process of injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks, boreholes, etc., so as to force open existing cracks and extract oil or gas.

GROUNDWATER

WATER SAND CHEMICALS

SEAL LAYER

SHALE

TAYLOR MABELITINI | WASHTENAW VOICE

concerns the chemicals used throughout the process. Siena Heights University assistant biology professor Thomas Wassmer, Ph.D. further explains that hydrofracking takes water, under high pressure, down into a well and uses it to break up sedimentary rock which serves as a reserve for gas oil. “It involves quite a large amount of water that is pumped down with a not very healthy cocktail of chemicals that are used to help with the job,” Wassmer said. “The biggest issue is that it uses a lot of chemicals that are pumped into the ground and they they are staying there.” In agreement is 22-year-old WCC creative writing major Tyler Wettig from Caseville. He took up arms with Degutis

as a fellow “Fractivist,” encouraging people to sign the petition. He describes fracking as “pure evil.” However, not everyone shares the same opinion when it comes to the dangers of this process. Beth Everage, policy director for Consumer Energy Alliance out of Texas, explains that that this method has been around for at least 60 years and that it’s not a new process or new technology. “We’ve been coexisting with fracking for quite a long time,” Everage said. She says that as consumers of energy, people need to realize the benefits from energy sources and that educating themselves on the issue is beneficial. When first inquiring about the fracking process, Everage says she was told that

fracking fluids are primarily water, proprietaries of water and surfactant – or a “fancy way of saying soap.” “You can look that up,” Everage said. “I know that there are other chemicals involved and you can’t make a blanket statement because not every company uses the same mixture.” Not only does this opposition believe that the chemicals are misrepresented, but a Michigan region Consumer Alliance colleague, Executive Director Chris Ventura, provides benefits of the process. “There’s a number of benefits ranging from jobs...(to) the direct benefits for anyone, who uses fuel for any reason, whether it’s for home heating or flipping on a light switch,” Ventura said.

He says that according to state regulations, fracking is not harmful to the environment or anything else. He added that numerous studies support that claim, including one recently conducted by the University of Michigan. Everage commented that as consumers of energy, she likes to have models that support extracting oil domestically. “In this unstable foreign situation that we are dealing with, globally, we need to make sure that we have safe, secure energy sources at home,” Everage said. “We want to be independent and not dependent on these foreign sources. We want to produce this and create jobs locally.” As November approaches and “Fractivists” continue to collect signatures in hopes of

banning fracking in the state of Michigan, the debate trickles on. Degutis explained that some Michiganders are not the only ones concerned with their state’s fracking regulations. New York has recently banned hydraulic oil fracturing and states like Ohio and Pennsylvania have not banned it, but have taken steps to ban the waste from being stored in their communities, according to Degutis. “Whatever side of the issue you sit on, if you are pro oil and gas or against oil and gas, you can’t deny that you are consumers of energy, and simply the fact that we utilize products that are outcomes of energy production and exploration, every day of our lives,” Everage said.

Oct. 19, 2015

The Washtenaw Voice

NEWS

The Washtenaw Voice

Oct 5-0ct 14 Information from incident reports provided to The Voice by Campus Safety and Security Director Jacques Desrosiers

ASSAULT There was an altercation between two males, that started verbally and ended physically, outside of the Student Center on Oct. 5 at noon. Security was not informed of the level of the personal involvement of those involved.

CAMPUS SAFETY TIPS In Case of Fire • • • • •

Learn the location of emergency exits Activate the fire alarm if you detect fire in a building Always exit the building in the event of a fire alarm Exit by the nearest stairway. Do NOT use elevators Call Campus Safety and Security (3411) from one of the college house phones to notify emergency personnel • If close by, press the red button on one of the red emergency phones to be directly connected to Campus Safety and Security • Smoke is toxic. If the only way out is through smoke, stay low, below the smoke • If trapped, call 911 and tell them where you are. Seal doors with rags or clothing and try to signal from a window

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

according to Nicholas. “Their initial goal was very utopian: that they wanted to kind of take out the bad parts of history... and sort of replace what really happened, almost like you’re recording over a tape. They started good, but like every utopian, there’s a dark side,” Nicholas said. “Some of them are starting to use this for a bad purpose and then these two people- who are the removers, that’s what they call the people – decide to kind of break away.” There are cones throughout the movie that Lisa explained as the communication nodes for the removers. These prop cones were planned to be made of cardboard, but the team realized they wouldn’t last through all the scene changes or rainy days. Lisa had the idea to enlist the help of the WCC Welding Department to alleviate their prop dilemma. She called the Welding Department head, Glenn Kay II, to see what they could do. Full-time welding faculty member, Brad Clink, took on the cone project because it worked well as a class assignment for his shape cutting class. Clink’s students created a program that would cut out the flat cone shape which would then be rolled up. “They did a lot of trig on those things,” Clink said. Not only did their contributions of making the cones earn them a prop credit, but it also gave the class a real world example of the importance of their curriculum. “Sometimes class material just gets tedious, like where do we use this in real life? It’s good to be like here is a real life situation; when you guys are finished with

this piece, it is going to be used,” Clink said. “They were definitely much more attuned to that, like, ‘Oh man if we mess this up, our names are on this.’” The impromptu prop creation would be one of many change of plans for “The Removals” production – from spontaneous additions of scenes to accommodate a nearby parade, to a changing of scene locations causing a WCC faculty member to fill a role that could have possibly gone unfilled. Most of the movie was shot in Columbus, but Nicholas had his heart set on one of the final scenes being in a hotel in Ann Arbor. The actress originally cast for the scene couldn’t travel to the new location, so they had to adapt quickly. Lisa’s co-worker, Kristin Good, dean of mathematics, science and engineering technology, seemed to be the perfect fit. “She (Lisa) sent me an email one day and said she had an opportunity for me. She said, ‘There’s a part in the movie that we need someone for and Nick thinks you would be perfect for it,’” Good said. “So, they sent me the script and what not and I said ‘OK, I’ll do it. Why not?’” Lisa Rombes explained that for the most part, when casting for indie movies, “You have to pull together people out of nowhere.” The Rombes’ daughter even had a small part, and Lisa almost had a role in the film as a shopper in a thrift store, but her scene ended up on the chopping block. “But in another scene, there’s a polaroid of me that falls on the ground, so I’m literally on the floor,” Lisa said. The whole cast wasn’t completely spontaneously assembled, however. The main characters of the film, Kathryn and Casey, were played by professional

UMPQUA, From A1

SECURITY NOTES

MOVIE, From A1

Oct. 19, 2015

actors Milly Sanders and Andrew Sensenig respectively. The production experienced several delays – like the pregnancy of the original main actress and director switches – and ended up taking three years from the initial screenplay deadline. “You know there were times when we thought, ‘Oh is this actually going to happen?’” Lisa said. “And then once the plane tickets were bought for the professionals, it was like, ‘Okay, guess we’re doing this.’” The film has since been finished and has been entered into Sundance Film Festival. Lisa explained the process of entering film festivals to be like college applications. For Nicholas, like his original screenplay deadline, entering his film in a festival made him put pressure on his standards. “Knowing that it wasn’t just going to sit around, that it was going to actually be seen by people, it’s a motivating factor,” Nicholas said. “When you write a book or a novel, it’s very private unless someone emails you, but most of the people who read it, you don’t really know what they thought. For the movie, the experience of having an audience of people watching it is a lot different. There’s higher stakes.” Above all, this film buff just wanted to give back to the movie world what it had given him. “When I was younger, I just got sucked into the world… I almost felt like I knew or I identified more with the characters in film than almost in real life sometimes, and then as I got older, I wondered, “How does that happen, like how is that possible?” Nicholas said. “I started thinking about if I could pull that off. I think that was the initial thing, to try and give it back, like give a gift.”

sympathy cards and a banner available for students to sign in the Student Center later in the week. Coordinator of Student Activities Rachel Barsch shared her thoughts about the recent unfortunate event: “We want to show we stand with them in solidarity,” Barsch said. “We are hoping that it sends them some level of comfort… there are cards that students can sign as well, if the banner gets full of students or (if students) have a longer thoughtful message, they can fill out sympathy cards and we are going to send that along with the banner.” Barsch added that if students are feeling distressed about this recent event or anything else, they can pick up information from the response team at WCC, which includes on- and off-campus resources. “We are also asking students if they are interested in watching a shooter safety presentation that the Washtenaw County Sheriff ’s Office would give…. If they don’t want to be a part of the presentation, they can go to the WCC website and watch a couple of videos Campus Safety put on that gives tips on what to do in those situations,” Barsch said. Vice President of Student & Academic Services Linda Blakey offered where students can find information about these types of emergency situations and the security measures taken if some sort of event were to happen, such as a shooter entering WCC. “On our Campus Safety and Security website, we have different (emergency) procedures but also specific information on active shooters,” Blakey said. “There is a link that has information on the ALICE Training (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate). We will offer the training later this month or the beginning of November.” On the website under “Active Shooter” there is a video where Community Director of the Washtenaw Sheriff ’s Department Derrick Jackson gives an overview of the ALICE approach to an active shooter. Jackson explains how the police chiefs in Washtenaw County joined together to devise a plan

Santiago Castillo, a 22-year-old who works for the WCC sports office, writes sentiments to be sent to UCC. SOFIA LYNCH | WASHTENAW VOICE

and approach for an active shooter situation. They got together and made this three part plan around policy, training and community engagement,” Jackson said. “ALICE is a unified training... making sure that it was something that utilized all the infrastructure and technology that are already in schools and businesses.” “ALICE is not a step-by-step. You don’t go through the ‘A’ in ALICE, the ‘L’ in ALICE. It’s about providing you with options and training you with options to respond in a situation like this. It takes into account those natural human behaviors that we have,” Jackson explained. He added, “(ALICE) is researched-based, based on all the other shootings that we’ve seen in the past. It’s been legally reviewed and vetted. It’s really about staying alive until the police arrive.” According to Jackson, in an active shooter incident, two to three people will be killed every minute from the start of the incident until it ends. And 86 percent of the active shooter cases in the country are ended by force. “Calling 911 and getting law enforcement on their way (to the scene) is what is most important because it’s all about closing that gap of time,” Jackson said. Faculty and staff have accessible resources if a situation were to occur and the technology of WCC plays a role in how to react to these situations. Faculty also attended the most recent ALICE training provided.

Blakey explained that in addition to having key fob platforms on the outside of classrooms, they are on the inside of the door as well. The platforms are in all instruction rooms and science labs, according to Blakey, whereas previously, instructors had to exit the classroom to lock it down. She said that as a school, a commitment has been made to ensure that these key fob platforms are in place and Campus Security, from their panel, has the option to lockdown a certain building or the entire campus all at once. “The security at this campus is much more secure here than others,” Blakey said. If an active shooter were to enter the campus, the situation would create a county-wide response, according to Blakey. “No single jurisdiction would respond, but (it would be) a community response,” Blakey said. “All the cities and townships such as Ann Arbor, Pittsfield, Ypsilanti, and Washtenaw County Sheriff’s would all be responding. They basically have a county-wide SWAT team that trains all together.” Blakey also referred to the “Report a Concern” form on the school’s website under “Services.” “If students see something say something. So whether it be your view of someone in your classroom or the hallway... if you have concerns about someone you can use the ‘Report a Concern’ and that gets reviewed,” Blakey noted.

Sarah Raby, a 25-year-old journalism student, sends her condolences to the UCC students and community. SOFIA LYNCH | WASHTENAW VOICE

VOICES

Oct. 19, 2015

Mental illness: it’s time to talk

EDITORIAL

There’s more to fear than ghosts and ghouls While Halloween is a time for haunted houses, costume parties and candy-induced stomach aches, for college campuses it’s also a time to be keenly aware of your surroundings. For college-age students, Halloween is the weekend to flock to university campuses for parties and masquerades. With masked and costumed partygoers taking to the streets to get to the cross-campus bash of their choosing, this spooky holiday sets the stage for many real-life scares. At a 2014 Halloween party in Monroe County, Michigan, approximately 30 miles from Ann Arbor, 22-year-old Chelsea Bruck left the party and never came back. Hundreds of search parties, flyers and phone calls later, and still there were no answers. Then six months later, on April 24, 2015, her body was discovered in a field in Monroe County. Evidence concluded that it was a homicide, according to police. Although this isn’t the case for every Halloween party, tragedies like this can and do happen. Everyone was told as a child to be alert on Halloween night, but who will remind college students? Your mother’s

warning to always watch your drink can only go so far. It’s not uncommon for young adults to feel indestructible – still possessing the “but that could never happen to me,” mantra that keeps away the fears of the ugly in the world. Although this message may seem grim, with college students already having growing concerns of mass shootings and rape culture on campuses across the nation, it’s important to keep safety in the forefront while still having a good time. According to a 2010 article on www.crimeinamerica. net, “University and college campuses around the United States have experienced an increase in riots and disturbances by large crowds of college-aged participants” on Halloween in particular. One study of college students concluded that Halloween is one of the three heaviest drinking days of the year, according to the Journal of American College Health. With 19 percent of college students between the ages of 18 and 24 meeting the criteria for an alcohol use disorder, it is no mystery that alcohol has a large presence on college campuses – and the increasing temptations to drink on holidays. With this said, while we wouldn’t

The Washtenaw Voice

suggest that students have to stay sober to stay safe, simply know your limits. Just like a car accident, it takes two to cause a calamity. So, just because you’re not incoherent, doesn’t mean that those around you aren’t hazardously intoxicated. Just because you have good intentions, doesn’t mean that everyone in the room shares them. No one should place blame on those who are taken advantage of under the influence, but there is blame to be given to those who do the advantagetaking. Each year an estimated 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking, and an estimated 599,000 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol. On Halloween weekend specifically, 44 percent of national fatal crashes involved a driver or motorcyclist with a BAC of 0.08 or higher according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. So, while celebrating this Halloween season, remember to have fun, but also keep in mind what lurks in the dark goes beyond the classic demons or ghouls. The things that college students are at risk for aren’t usually behind the movie screen, but rather behind the wheel or behind closed doors.

SOFIA LYNCH

snlynch@wccnet.edu

Last Saturday, Oct. 10, social and news media outlets buzzed with talk of World Mental Health Day. For one day a year, mental illness gets to step beyond its stigma. In this day and age, the understanding of mental illness has come far from where it once was, but people still stigmatize those who suffer from these diseases and often believe they have a choice in their condition. Considering that mental illness is an issue reserved for hushed voices, the number of people that mental illness actually afflicts would surprise some people. According to a fact sheet from the National Alliance on Mental Illness , one in four adults − approximately 61.5 million Americans − experiences mental illness in a given year. The common social perception seems to be that those who suffer from mental disorders are weak or they’re not putting “the full effort in” to be happy. According to a New York Times article which cited various surveys and studies, fewer than half of Americans consider depression to be a health problem, and more than two in five say it is a sign of personal weakness. This displays the major disparity in the way that people around the world view mental illness in comparison to physical illness. If

PLAY PAGE | CROSSWORDS CORRECTION

Ow. We’ve been puzzle-challenged recently and readers have let us know about mismatched content. Our apologies to the crossword and Sudoku aficionados. We think we have figured out and sorted out the problem. Five-letter word for expression of regret: S-o-r-r-y.

someone was born with or develops a physical illness, society is quick to support or revere them. When someone suffers from a mental illness, society likes to turn a blind eye. No one would ever tell someone they should just try harder to feel better about their punctured lung, yet someone who suffers from depression is probably told to just “look on the bright side” anytime they voice their pains. According to an article by the American Psychological Association. Thomas R. Insel, MD, the director of the National Institute of Mental Health, mental illnesses are no different from any other chronic or physical illness. He says all chronic diseases have behavioral components as well as biological components. “The only difference here is that the organ of interest is the brain instead of the heart or pancreas. But the same basic principles apply,” Insel said. Insel’s words illustrate the fact that mental illness doesn’t differ much from physical illness in its biological origination. Mental illness doesn’t usually manifest in outstandingly physical or visible symptoms, which causes many people to question the presence of it in their friends and family. But you can’t just believe what you see. The suffering for those with mental illnesses emanates from the part of the body that controls the function of all the others. So not only does the suffering originate imperceptibly, but it also hinders the operation of the most essential body parts. Having an afflicted motherboard organ goes beyond just having bad thoughts or moods – despite the common

perception being that there’s nothing more to it. Mental disorders hinder the everyday functioning of those that possess them; the effects of which ripple out across their lives. In the DSM-IV, the handbook by which psychiatrists classify and diagnose diseases, every disorder has a clause that reads, “The *symptoms specific to the disorder* cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.” Which means, above all, what is necessary for a person to be given a diagnosis of a mental disorder, is tangible distress in important areas of living their everyday life. The language of this points the blame of this distress at the disease, not the person – which is how society at large should view this issue. No one would blame someone for having a heart attack, so how can people point fingers at those who are crippled mentally by their disorders? Although society may not be prepared to view these two types of illnesses on the same plane, it is time that mental illness gets its share of understanding. A complete change of perspective in society is not easily achieved; it takes one person at a time changing their perspective on mental illness, to change how the world views it at large. As anonymous once said, “No single raindrop considers itself responsible for a flood,” so be the first drop to fall. Have empathy for those who suffer from mental illness and attempt to treat them as you would someone with a physical ailment and maybe one day the tides on mental illness could turn.

TOO MUCH SCREEN TIME, NOT ENOUGH FACE TIME TAYLOR ROBINSON

taelrobinson@wccnet.edu

Two kids and two adults. The mom tears out the earbuds from her son’s head. She says, “Tell the server what you want to eat.” Heads down, eyes glued to a screen and fingers flying a mile a minute – is technology starting to get in the way of face-toface interactions at the dinner table? Not only seen in restaurants, the ever-increasing amount of technology has started to take the driver’s seat as opposed to looking someone in the eye and holding a conversation. Although the world is evolving, and being at least familiar with technology is both unavoidable and necessary, where does one draw the line? People text while driving, tweet in class, and let everyone know

where they are at any given moment on Facebook. I can picture it now: “Dinner with the fam #boring.” Be there. Be present. Be engaged. For some families, sitting down together for even one meal is near impossible between school schedules, work, sports and any other extracurricular activities. Although some families may still be able to eat a meal together, are people really together when engaged with their cellphones rather than the person sitting across from them? Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, and same goes for technology. There’s movies foreshadowing a future of “robots” taking care of everything and essentially making humans and human interactions obsolete – and the idea doesn’t seem too far-fetched. There’s already machines that calculate simple math for employees when giving change, self-checkout lanes that for the consumer might seem like a quicker trip to the local grocery store, but for the actual cashier, that’s one less reason

to give them a job. We’re surrounded by an endless market with “the next best thing” and if you don’t keep up, then you’re outdated and behind. And although some may not realize it, this begins to affect us in what we think are in smaller ways. Everything has to be cheaper, better, faster, easier, etc. And this has even made its way into restaurants. I would think for most, going out to eat, either with family, friends or just to treat yourself, should be leisurely. What’s the rush? Restaurants are beginning to implement a device placed on each table where guests can swipe their credit cards. Although it’s understandable that it may help with credit card fraud – taking the responsibility off of the business if it’s a stolen card and taking the responsibility off of the guest if the server “skims” their card – if that’s what their end goal is, then why not just stop there? Some of these devices will offer the option of ordering your beverage, appetizer and

dessert in addition to the guest being able to cash themselves out. Instead of interacting with the server, guests will be able to do most of it on their own. For some of these devices, a number of games are available for purchase and the amount charged will be added to the bill. So, now you have a family who already

Volume 22, No. 5 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.

probably brought their cellphones and other electronics, and now each table will get a hand-held device that encourages them to be less socially engaged and instead, stare at a screen. There needs to be moderation. It’s hopeful that society will realize that it’s not a good

look to evolve into a species that constantly has its head down, and thumbs always poised to send a text message. But that’s up to us. So, set aside the cellphone, turn off the television. Instead, sit around the table and indulge in some much needed, old school, face-to-face conversation.

COURTESY | TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

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

taelrobinson@wccnet.edu

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

snlynch@wccnet.edu

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

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

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

cmulderseward@wccnet.edu

thewashtenawvoice@gmail.com

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

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

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washtenawvoice.com @washtenawvoice TheWashtenawVoice @washtenawvoice

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

rdjohnston@wccnet.edu gmpowell@wccnet.edu

Ryan Preston

ryguy1396@gmail.com

Taylor Mabelitini

tmabelitini@wccnet.edu

Madi Tortora

madisontortora3@gmail.com

Ivan Flores

medianoxmus@gmail.com

Esiean Parent

eparent@wccnet.edu

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

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

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VOICES

The Washtenaw Voice

Oct. 19, 2015

Man’s best friend should not eat man’s diet M.M. DONALDSON

mmorrisdonaldson@wccnet.edu

The four-legg ed furry friends have gone from companions to stand-ins for humans. Dressing Fido in sweaters and Halloween costumes, carting lap dogs in baby strollers, spending big bucks on Fifi to get her fur fluffed and monograming pillows with the pooches’ names are just a few ways of anthropomorphizing dogs. Along with giving dogs human characteristics, pet owners are creating another behavior that may be considered less outrageous, but is a health hazard. Dogs should not eat people food. “They are not little people,” Hospital Administrator Ann Wortinger at the Animal Cancer and Imaging Center in Canton said. Canine nutrition and human nutrition are specific to the species and should not be used interchangeably. Having written a textbook and countless articles on veterinary nutrition, Wortinger estimates that the growing percentage of overweight and obese dogs

is similar to what humans are experiencing. The diet related diseases humans suffer from, such as heart disease, diabetes and skin diseases are affecting man’s best friend also. With nearly 75 percent of Americans considered overweight or obese, according to the National Institute of Health

from the table. She said dogs are also getting less exercise and less mental stimulation, which sometimes can lead to overeating. “Treats should never be more than 10 percent of the diet,” Wortinger said. The other 90 percent should be giving the dog the nutrients it needs. Dog food or treats in cute ASPCA TOP shapes or fun colors may be satisfying for humans, but dogs, FOODS DOGS who are willing to eat many an SHOULDN’T EAT unidentifiable object, are color blind. Avocado As Wortinger is concerned Bread dough with canine weight problems, she also finds that human fad Chocolate diets make their way into caAlcohol nine diets. Grain-free diets, Hops corn-free diets, gluten-free diets or raw-food diets, she said Grapes and raisins are unnecessary and do not Macadamia nuts provide canine nutrition that Moldy foods is complete and balanced. Onions and garlic Wortinger said she seeks out canine food companies that do Xlitol (non-caloric original research, feeding trisweetener) als and support nutrition education for those who work in Wortinger has theories as to the veterinary field. She recwhy the veterinary profession ommends finding pet food that is seeing more diet related fulfills the nutrient needs of issues. protein, fat, vitamins, miner“We feed dogs with a bot- als, water and carbohydrates. tomless bowl,” Wortinger said. In addition to eating too Being omnivores, eating much, there are a number of both plants and animals, dogs human food items that are danfind kibble and table scraps gerous for dogs to eat. very palatable and in endless The American Society for supply. Pet owners tend to use the Prevention of Cruelty to food as a way of showing love Animals, which is also home by giving extra kibble or scraps to the Animal Poison Control

Center, lists items that need to be kept away from clever canines. Chocolate is perhaps the most commonly known toxin, but onions and garlic can do more than give bad breath. Alcoholic beverages and the ingredients in other forms, such as grapes or hops, can also be dangerous to a dog’s health. The list includes several other items with death being the worst case scenario for the pooch. In the quest to have healthy dog treat options, two teens from Morenci started Bow Wow K9 Tasty Treats business. The treats are sold at Ann Arborarea farmers markets even though it is 60 miles from their home near the Ohio state line. Bridgett Cox, mother of Dakota Moulton, 13, and Felica Cram, 15, stated it was a homeschool project started in Oct. 2014 and by the end of May the next spring, they were licensed

to start selling 90 different flavored treats. Moulton and Cram wanted to have snacks for their five huskies that did not have chemicals with names they cannot pronounce and have opted to use fresh ingredients, whether it is vegetables, fruit, eggs or meat. Cram points at a bin of boneshaped treats, that she calls Apple Jacks, as her favorite flavor. The very dense biscuit has a faint apple flavor but without the cloying sugar. “Tastes just like the cereal,” Cram said. Moulton and Cram don’t have a problem taste-testing all of their flavors. Cox said there are stricter rules to produce dog food than human food. Dog food or treats cannot be covered under Michigan’s current Cottage Food Law, but must be laboratory tested before gaining a license through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

purpose do such policies really serve? How do firearm restrictions affect campus safety? It has been repeatedly made apparent over the last few decades that those, like HarperMercer, who are willing to break laws prohibiting murprescient to discuss the pros der, have absolutely no regard and cons or firearm restrictions for the laws or policies which on college campuses. regulate firearms. One thing that might be Some may dislike the imemphasized in this case is that plication of this realization; Umpqua Community College however, it seems beyond dishas a policy in place to regulate pute that restrictive campus the possession of firearms on firearm policies primarily afcampus. Here’s the language fect law-abiding students and of the policy: “Possession, use citizens, not criminals. To the or threatened use of firearms… extent that such policies make on campus property, except as it harder for students to legitiexpressly authorized by law or mately carry firearms on camcollege regulations, is prohib- pus, they interfere with their ited.” After last Thursday (Oct. ability to defend themselves, 1), this begs the questions: What and are therefore detrimental

to campus safety. Of course, “good guys with guns” can’t always stop a masskiller in his or her tracks. In fact, many have pointed out that there were multiple armed students at Umpqua at the time of the shooting, yet they were unable to prevent the tragedy. However, this doesn’t mean that armed citizens never stop crimes such as this. A quick Google search will immediately refute that claim. So, while armed citizens can’t prevent every single crime, it is at least reasonable to posit that the likelihood of a successful massacre diminishes the more armed people there are in the vicinity of the crime. For this reason, schools should encourage open and concealed carry on campus, not discourage,

restrict, or prohibit it. are entitled to by right – a means It is wishful thinking to be- of self-defense. lieve that gun bans of any sort can actually prevent violent Will Porter, South Lyon crime. Violent crime is itself already illegal! If the passage of new laws could alter reality in The Voice welcomes such a way, the problem would letters to the editor from have been solved long ago. its readers and will make Mental illness and the huevery effort to publish man capacity for wickedness them. We reserve the are left completely untouched right to edit letters for by restrictive gun laws and space considerations, and policies, while those citizens ask that writers limit their who could be in a position to comments to no more prevent violent crime and save than 400 words. All letlives are prohibited from doing ters must include a name so. Let’s stop fantasizing. Guns and contact information, are but tools in the hands of such as an email address those who use them and unor phone number, so the til the phenomenon of violent letters can be verified becrime can be excised and eradfore they are printed. icated from human behavior, people will need – and indeed

LETTERS FROM READERS

Is it time to rethink campus gun restrictions? The gun control debate has once again been set ablaze after Chris Harper-Mercer, 26, left nine dead and seven injured, during last Thursday’s (Oct. 1) school shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. As is expected, pundits from both sides of the debate have weighed in, each taking the episode as an object lesson in the follies of American gun policy, whether that be a lack of restrictions or an over-abundance of them. In light of the recent tragedy, it is

SANAA NAEEM | WASHTENAW VOICE

For the Bow Wow K9 Tasty Treats, sales were immediate and have not slowed down according to Cox. Moulton offers a gingerbread boy cut-out treat for tasting, the Gingiebarks flavor popular with him and his huskies. Remembering that canines and humans have different nutritional needs, Gingiebarks and Apple Jacks are best left for the dogs. M. M. Donaldson is a contributor with The Voice and a journalism student at WCC. She has a bachelor of science in family and community services from Michigan State University, and has several years’ experience with nutrition issues affecting infants through older adults. Follow M.M. Donaldson on Facebook.

You know you’re from Michigan when… interviews and photos by Courtney Ditto, CONTRIBUTOR

“You walk outside wearing shorts and a T-shirt in April when it’s 40 degrees.” Bobby Fletcher, 19, Whitmore Lake, business

“When you drive 90 down the highway, and when you can point out where you live using your hand.”

“When you come home to your brother cleaning guns on the kitchen table, or seeing a deer in your yard.” Sarah Shut, 17, Adrian, nursing

“When your heat and AC are both on in the same day.” Hannah Hutton, 18, Ann Arbor, liberal arts

Noah Campbell, 19, South Lyon, biology

“When it’s the norm to live next door to a lake.” Kara Sorek, 18, Pickney, general studies

“When you’re always stuck in traffic and you’re used to getting the finger from people while in traffic.” Dasha Mathis, 19, Detroit, digital media arts GREG POWELL | WASHTENAW VOICE

NEWS

Oct. 19, 2015

The Washtenaw Voice

Transfer Fair encourages students to continue education BY RYAN PRESTON

Contributor

Mark Ducker, director of Ypsi 24 addresses the crowd before the films begin. GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE

WCC hosts fourth annual Ypsi 24 Film Shootout Awards BY COURTNEY DITTO

Contributor

A flashlight or lit candle, 24 hours, a statue in a park and “That is not what I had in mind.” These were the requirements given to contestants participating in the fourth annual Ypsi 24 Film Shootout to include in their short films. They were each given a maximum of 24 hours to write, film, shoot and edit short films for the chance at winning $1,000 and the famous Ypsi Trophy. 50 teams from all over Southeast Michigan participated, 40 submitted, but only 24 were publicly screened at the Oct. 9 award ceremony held in Washtenaw Community College’s Morris Lawrence building. During his speech, Director of Ypsi 24 Mark Ducker shared a quote from Woody Allen, stating, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” Ducker said he uses this quote to prove that just by turning in a final product that had to be put together in a matter of one day, these aspiring producers had already succeeded, stating, “it forces you to bring that together.” A variety of genres were displayed throughout the

screening from comedy to horror. The emotions flowing through the packed auditorium were mixed, but the audience roared with applause after every short film. Dan Kier, video production instructor at WCC, stated that this year’s turnout was larger than any other in the past, and speculated that at least a third of the audience were his students. Kier, who left his teaching position at the University of Michigan 15 years ago to start the video production program at WCC, said he was very nervous but excited upon starting the show. “We have a lot of projects being shown tonight, many from WCC students,” Kier said. “The most nerve-wracking part is that they’ve already chosen the winners. Mark Ducker is walking around here with the envelope in his coat pocket like the Academy Awards.” Although the talent showcased at the ceremony was insurmountable, in the end, only a few could win. First place and $1,000 winners were U-M students Nicholas Williams and Riley Hanson with their short film, “Habitable Zone.” Williams and Hanson stated

that their favorite experience was filming and then being able to “hang back” and watch it all come together. One of WCC’s own video production students, Cam Houston, 21, from Ypsilanti was a double winner, not only receiving an honorable mention, but also by overtaking the Audience Award by 14 percent of the votes. Houston walked out with the Ypsi Trophy and $550 for his short film, “To a Future.” Houston said that the hardest part of the experience was shooting in rainy, damp weather and finding a location, but then goes on to say the best part was turning in his final product. “Turning in the film, we were biting nails, turning it in at the last minute. We were racing through alleyways to get it in,” Houston said. “Getting there and turning it in, giving the flash drive up and thinking ‘Okay, now it’s out of our hands,’ that was very rewarding.” As the crowd emptied the auditorium, Houston danced on the stage in celebration, beaming from his win. “We came here, focused on first place, but I think this is better,” Houston said. “I am so happy.”

Washtenaw Community College’s October Transfer Fair took over the Student Center to inform students about the possibility of transferring to a four-year university. The second floor was abuzz with excited students talking to counselors and recruiters from their favorite schools. Thanks to the Michigan Transfer Agreement, which outlines what students need to transfer in Michigan, students now have a streamlined process for transferring around the state and can focus on picking a school that suits their needs rather than which ones accept their credits. Schools from all across the state set up booths on the second floor and waved their banners high for students to see. Recruiters sat with grinning faces, ready to answer any and all questions students have about their schools. The sheer number of schools was impressive with around 30 plus schools in attendance,

featured colleges ranging from the Fashion Institute for Design and Merchandising to more technical schools like Michigan Tech. Smaller schools such as Concordia or Spring Arbor had the typical one-booth, tworepresentative set up, while some larger schools such as the University of Michigan had several booths depending on what specific program or college within the university one wants to attend, each with experts ready to answer any questions. “With around 600 pre-education students attending Washtenaw, it’s important to keep students informed about their options… Michigan is a natural local option,” said Katie Duaka, a recruiter for U-M School of Education. Washtenaw also had a booth set up for general information for any students looking for basic information about the MTA or what to consider when choosing a school to transfer to. Some of the busiest booths were Michigan State, U-M and Eastern Michigan University which boast some of the

highest transfer rates from WCC. Eastern and U-M along with other colleges in the area, also have articulation agreements with WCC to make transferring easier. U-M also has a specific counselor that visits WCC every week to make information about transferring widely available. “Eastern is right down the street, and lots of kids at Washtenaw live in Ypsi, so it makes sense to transfer,” said Emily Green, a recruiter from Eastern. The fair itself lasted from the morning until early evening with students coming and going throughout the school day, keeping the counselors busy. “It’s about preparedness. My goal is to help students be prepared for the future and be prepared for life,” said WCC student services counselor Rhonda Gilmore. Even if Transfer Fair is over, schools are always stopping by campus to get students interested in their college. If anyone missed the transfer fair, the school calendar has a list of schools and their upcoming visits.

Marci Haengel, a 19-year-old aviation student from Ann Arbor, gains valuable information about transferring from Douglas Potter, a manager of specialized recruiting at Eastern Michigan University. GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE

What do you call a WCC automotive graduate? Employed BY IVAN FLORES

Contributor

The days are long, but the work is always different. This is what Mike McGraw, 23-yearold graduate from Washtenaw Community College’s collision repair program, says about his job at Campbell Collision in Brighton, Michigan. “It varies day by day. Every accident is different. I never get bored… (But) your body can’t do it forever. I’d like to open up my own shop someday,” McGraw said. Because of WCC’s elite automotive body repair department,

with an emphasis on producing entry-level collision and custom fabrication technicians, it further assured McGraw of the possibility of finding employment after graduation while he pursued his degree. WCC’s program is one of only two programs certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation in Michigan. WCC’s automotive program features state of the art equipment and four full-time and two part-time instructors with knowledge of the latest technology and procedures in the industry. For the people

who pursue this path, collision repair technicians are in particularly high demand because of an aging workforce, and advances in technology and manufacturing have created a deficit of skilled workers. According to the United States Department of Labor, the job market for automotive repair is expected to grow 13 percent by 2022. McGraw echoes the need for employers in this field. Although two other alumni were employed after completing their schooling at WCC, the demand is still rather high. “A lot of guys are in their 50s

Mike McGraw, a 23-year-old WCC alumnus now works at Campbell Collision in Brighton after graduating from WCC. MADI TORTORA | WASHTENAW VOICE

and 60s, and retiring,” McGraw said. “There aren’t enough people to replace them.” Collision technicians specialize in repairs after accidents occur. According to Scott Malnar, department chair of the Autobody Repair Department, there are four major areas of collision repair: refinishing, non-structural, electrical/mechanical and structural. He explains that structural repairs are the most complicated and involve heavier equipment and the expertise to fix damaged car frames. Electrical/ mechanical technicians work

on things like engines, suspensions and the increasingly sophisticated electronic systems in cars. Non-structural technicians deal with relatively minor damage, such as dents and refinishers, and are responsible for the cosmetic aspects of vehicles. To become a collision repair technician in Michigan, one must pass the Michigan certification test for collision, have at least two years of experience, and become certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Washtenaw prepares individuals to meet these

Campbell Collision in Brighton has been serving the people of Michigan since 1969. MADI TORTORA | WASHTENAW VOICE

requirements through obtaining certificates. The most basic, auto body repair focuses on non-structural repair and prepares students for entry level positions. The Collision Repair and Refinishing Technician certificate curriculum follows NATEF and ASE standards for all four major areas of collision repair. NATEF and ASE assure that individuals are trained with knowledge of the latest advances in technology. For example, the 2015 Ford F-150 contains an extensive amount of high-strength aluminum in its frame, which requires different techniques for repair from the traditionally used steel. The change in materials is part of an effort to improve fuel economy, and the technology will presumably be used in other vehicles in the future. “There have been other aluminum vehicles, like Audi, some of their cars are all made of aluminum…(but) now that the F-150 is made of aluminum, that’s a game changer for collision technicians. The Ford truck (is) the number one selling truck in the world,” Malnar said. Donna Campbell, co-owner of Campbell Collision encourages students who are looking for work, school credits and experience to apply. They look for educated employees with a solid understanding of automotive mechanics – all obtainable through WCC’s top-notch auto body repair program.

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major in auto body repair and is one of most noticeably vocal members of the club. “I don’t know what I’m doing and I did that,” said McNamara, the cosplay artist, as she referred to pictures of an intricate Thor cosplay that she brought up from her Facebook page. “I have a slide show!” yells McNamara. “This is the first installment of ‘I Don’t Know What They Were Thinking, happens to be discussing How Did This Even Happen?’” at the time whether it’s One of the featured comic Harper discussing the books was a textbook for conlatest comics or PSAs tingency management, by a l i k e Supergirl in seatbelts. Michigan publisher, put into At the back of the room, comic book format with heSarah Wilcox, 20, liberal arts roes like Captain Con Man and thing,” Harper said. major of Brighton and a friend Behavior Girl. Another more All around the room during are playing Yu-Gi-Oh! through- startling one was “Die Another the meeting, there is quite a lot out the progression of Day,” which featured a going on at once. the meeting. zombie Princess Harper, who calls himself Diana and “The fanboy of all fanboys,” was disreads from what he calls “the conBible,” or Comicbookresources. tincom. The website is a well-organized archive of everything comic book. Harper says that he knows some of the website’s contributors are from this area ued and that he bumps into one of b e them on a regular basis. cause Josh Grey, 22, who is pursuthe British ing a culinary arts degree and A l t h o u g h royal family comlives in Ypsilanti, acts as the the games are intense, plained. “Jay Leno designated tech guy for most of Wilcox keeps winning. and Spider-Man: One the meeting. He assists Harper Another member, Ashley Night Only,” was anby looking up whatever the class McNamara, 24, is pursuing a other humorous comic

The Washtenaw Voice

HEE TH TT MEET B U L C K O CO MIC BO

BY ESIBAN PARENT

Contributor

Strong characters are the most important part of any comic book – strong, well-developed characters that capture the imagination and make normal heroes “super.” Room 159 of the Liberal Arts building at Washtenaw Community College was a delightful chaos of such characters. Club leader and communications major Dominick Harper, 25, of Ypsilanti, commands some of the most devoted students of the comic book culture and has only one rule. “You must read one thing. You must read at least one

“We are like a family.”

want to see your ad here?

Josh Gray, a 22-year-old, culinary arts student from Ypsilanti and club president Dominick Harper, a 25-year-old communications student also from Ypsilanti fill the club members in on what’s happening in the world of comic books. GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE

book that made its way into the slide show. Harper says that the club has days where they go through reading recommendations but they are not always just exclusively about comic books. They also talk about good manga, which is Japanese comics and anime. Another hot topic is “Who would win?” discussions such as Wolverine versus the Hulk and Superman versus Ben 10. The winners of each of these fights respectively being the Hulk and Ben 10, due to his ability to mimic alien DNA. “Aye!” yells Harper, “First of all, what do you (all) like about this club?” Answers

come flooding back from the people and Harper summarized their responses: “We are like a family.”

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Domain of the Dead FLIPSIDE Vol. 21, No. 15 — May 18, 2015

In the “House of Nightmares” the 3-D effect makes the haunt more terrifying. GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE

BY TAYLOR MABELITINI and MADI TORTORA Contributors

PONTIAC – Situated near the heart of Pontiac, MI, sits a haunt that more than lives up to its name. The Realm of Darkness, in its 45 rooms and 22,000 square feet, is rumored to actually be, in fact, haunted. Denise Seiss, the haunt’s owner, purchased two trunks

and an aged red lamp at an estate sale early on in the haunt’s history, which now reside inside of Realm. Both, according to Seiss, contain paranormal energy. “There’s a lot of things in Realm. The building isn’t haunted, but I’ve got documentation of people,” Seiss said, speaking of the spirits that allegedly roam Realm’s halls. Even without the real-life

Gary “Bubbles” Hale has been working haunts for 9 years and enjoys scaring people. GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE

hauntings, Realm has brought plenty of terror to the table since opening officially in 2001, getting its namesake from a haunt in St. Louis that Seiss bought props from, “The Darkness.” “The Realm,” tacked onto the beginning of the haunt’s name, is of Seiss’ own invention. Each room inside the haunt has its own theme — handpicked and designed by Seiss herself — ranging from an asylum to a butcher shop to a torture room. One room in particular, christened “The Doll Room,” took Seiss two weeks to perfectly put together. This attention to detail is what makes the Realm of Darkness so unique – one will never see the same haunted house twice, because every fall the design changes. Realm has two different components to the haunt, and one of them – entitled the “House of Nightmares” – is completely in 3-D, which took five days to paint. Haunt participants don cardboard glasses before they enter the 3-D segment, and are met by neon paint splatters, glowing eyes, and cracked floors, all painted to give the illusion that they may actually fall through the ground. “Realm is very, very detailed, very decorated. Everybody has a different style, but I love detail.” Seiss said.

Despite gruesome decor and ghostly music, no haunt would be complete without the things that go bump in the night: Realm’s actors. For one of them, however, it’s more unhinged than that. Jay Swendris, known simply in character as “The Hatter,” has coined a signature Joker-like laugh, which can be heard, disturbingly, throughout the entirety of Realm. Swendris has had plenty of time to perfect his craft, performing in haunted houses on and off for the last 20 years. He had one reason for it: an immense love for acting. “We put a lot of heart into our characters, I’ll tell you that. We put a lot of heart,” said Swendris of himself and the other actors at the haunt. In addition to the past two decades of haunting, Swendris has also been involved in eight independent films. Because of all of the acting opportunities he’s been involved in, he is used to spending hours trying to get everything just right. Swendris can usually be found near the front of the haunt acting as a “ringleader” of sorts, chanting madly at those who dare to enter. Standing eerily beside him, one can find the lovely, and very dead, Gina Dailide. Her character, described as being based on the role of “the victim,” is often attacked by a murderous

clown whose weapon of choice is a chainsaw. Dailide had always been involved in theater throughout school, so when she saw the ad for the job on Craigslist six years ago, she jumped on it. “I’ve always been into it (horror). When I was little, my brother built haunted houses for Halloween in our garage,”

Dailide said. “I’ve always loved haunted houses (and) I love horror movies.” Gary Hale, however, is someone you’d least expect to find walking the halls of a haunt. Hale is an electrical apprentice and a part of the Army National Guard, but by night, he goes by See HAUNTED, Page B2

The owner of the Realm of Darkness, Denise Seiss, hand picks all of the creepy props to create a horrifying experience. GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE

THE PSYC HOLOGY OF S CARY

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What keeps fans of horror movies coming back for more? BY COURTNEY DITTO

Contributor

There is nothing quite like the unique experience of watching a horror movie: clinging to the seats in suspense, jumping at every unknown sound and cringing at the sight of gore. Although these movies leave viewers terrified, loyal horror fans continue to line up around the theater for the newest scary flick. Over the years, producers have amped up horror compared to earlier films. Gone are the days of Nosferatu’s shadow as he lurks up the stairs, or the Hershey’s syrup blood bath as Janet Leigh is stabbed in the shower in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho.” Now, viewers have the pleasure of fearing the slightest movement of an inanimate object after watching “Paranormal Activity,” or anxiously waiting to see what ghastly things Ryan Murphy

has up his sleeve for the next season of “American Horror Story.” These thrillers have gone from trying to make the audience jump, to now playing on psychological aspects of everyday life. What is it about horror that leaves fans begging for the next “Saw” film, or yelling at the screen when the clumsy actor runs up the stairs? Twentyyear-old psychology major Katie Wilson from Dexter had an idea: “I think we can’t help it. Even though people hate being ‘that person’ who gets a little too happy to be scared, it’s a fun thing to do when you’re out with your friends at the movies, holding on to one another when something scary happens, and then laughing at yourself for being so freaked out,” Wilson said. The psychological fear that comes from these chillers is almost as high as the excitement

emanated from fans, and that is largely due to the shift in horror in itself. Rather than blood, guts and gore, viewers are now witnessing exorcisms, demon possessions, and fundamental plays on the deepest fears of childhood. Although it may seem odd to be a horror fan, it leaves a question for how a fondness for the frightening develops. Is it something one picks up throughout life, or is it biology? Humanities Department Chair Allison Fournier believes it’s a little bit of both. “I think that most of the time, it’s all social. We’re not born with attitudes or preferences, we learn them. If you’re raised with something that is perceived as normal, then that’s normal and it will carry with you as an adult,” Fournier said. Psychology teacher Cassandra George-Sturges mirrored this statement, stating

“It all comes down to what you’re exposed to. It’s a taught trait, a lot of people are scared of things such as spiders and snakes but it all comes down to that exposure.” Despite the petrifying feelings of dread and anxiety that comes with watching any horror movie, it’s watching gory deaths on screen that gives audiences the rush they look for, and provides producers with the key to successful horror movies. “It’s an adrenaline rush, something about it makes us feel alive,” George-Sturges said. This “rush” sensation is exactly what has kept fans devoted to horror over the years and is something they expect from thrillers. Thriller is a word commonly associated with horror movies because it provides a sense of danger and excitement, similar to the rush one gets from riding a roller coaster. George-Sturges agreed,

stating “It’s about drive. I love roller coasters and haunted houses, and if I don’t come out at the end scared out of my mind and ready to change my ways, I’m disappointed.” In spite of the adrenaline rush that comes from horror movies, a large majority of people stay as far away from horror as possible, refusing to even glance at any scary clown or listen to the eerie music that comes from a movie trailer promotion. This plays back to exposure to fear and horror starting as children. “Some people cannot handle as much as others because they weren’t exposed to horror as much. Again, it’s because the attitude to fear that is learned,” Fournier said.

“I know so many people who cannot handle any kind of horror movie because it just terrifies them, and they don’t feel comfortable with that feeling,” Wilson said. “Many of the things that are exploited in horror movies are true deep fears that people actually have, and those movies or haunted houses are too real for them.”

FLIPSIDE

Oct. 19, 2015

What creeps you out the most and why? interviews and photos by courtney ditto, contributor

“Zombie babies, like what you see in movies or something. They creep me out, just crawling around and stuff, and just, no.” Zachary Chambers, 16, South Lyon, dual enrollment

The Washtenaw Voice

COURTESY | TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

“Realistic-looking zombies creep me out because it makes the possibility of a zombie apocalypse seem real as if it could actually happen. It’s scary.” Lobba Khan, 20, Ann Arbor, math and natural sciences

“Demons, because they’re scary as heck. They’re evil and just super spooky.”

“Silverﬁsh, they’re really gross. We had a house infested with them once and it was terrifying.”

Finn Felesky, 14, Chelsea, WTMC

Delia Felesky, 17, Chelsea, WTMC

“Feet. I really, really don’t like feet. I don’t like the way they look or anything about them, they’re so weird.”

May Sukar, 14, Ann Arbor, WTMC

Zoe Brown, 17, South Lyon, general studies

HAUNTED, From B1 simply “Bubbles” while in character, for the fake blood bubbles that spurt from his mouth. He found work in horror acting almost by chance nine years ago, on a lead from a friend. “I went, and they had me mess around for one night, just to figure out if I liked it or not and if I was any good. I climbed on some stuff that I wasn’t supposed to, but for some reason it worked, so they liked me,” Hale said. Bubbles is Hale’s own brainchild, and his muse during his nights at the haunt. Perhaps the most unnerving element to the character is his Mickey Mouse-esque speaking voice,

which Hale refuses to break out of when behind Realm’s doors. “I wrote up a biography on my character and how he became who he is, and then all I did was every time I was gonna act, I just looked at my script and remembered how my character was born,” Hale said. “Now, whenever I have my mask on, I’m just the character.” But characters couldn’t be anything without their faces, after all – something Ann Grimmett knows well. Grimmett is the makeup artist for all the actors in the haunt, save for a few, who Grimmett says she has slowly been converting with her airbrushed magic.

“Haunted houses freak me out. I went through one once and nearly died, it’s terrifying. It freaked me out because of the zombies and everything else. I deﬁnitely need a partner with me.”

Magic itself may be what made Realm a reality. Back in 1976, Seiss designed her first haunted house from basic curtains and rope, in three empty classrooms, to raise money for a special education field trip. In the course of one weekend, Seiss managed to raise $700 – enough to cover costs for all of students – and has been in the haunting business every Halloween since. Since that time, the haunt has grown every year, and continues to bring in fearseekers every Halloween season with its thrills, chills, and ultimately, the passion it holds for all things truly terrifying.

When heading through the “House of Nightmares,” the creep hiding in this room tells haunt-goers to never touch another man’s organ. GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE

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The Washtenaw Voice

Oct. 19, 2015

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across 1 5 10 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 23 24 25 29 31 32 33 34 35 36

Rifle filler Campus bigwigs Ending for brides, chamber or milk Teller of fibs Humanlike machine of sci-fi Edit menu option Presidency’s last days, e.g. ‘90s TV title toon teen Attaches with string Prefix with deed or lead Quaint lodging Six-pack muscles Pre-cable reception aid Stop for a moment Abolish Leading the field Three: Pref. Rapper Kim PC key near Ctrl Anonymous writer, maybe, and a hint to the devotee hidden in 17-, 25-, 50- and 60-Across 41 Kit : candy bar 42 “Bossypants” memoirist Tina 43 “ you ready?” 44 Fire-setting crime 47 Boxing count 48 Gets a glimpse of 50 Commentator dissecting chips

and putts 53 Bro or sis 54 Expected landing hr. 55 Wobbly walker 56 Green film on bronze 58 Clear liquors 60 Usual sitcom length (including ads) 63 First chip in a pot 64 “In other words ... “ 65 Cabinet dept. concerned with nukes 66 Leaning Tower city 67 Stadium levels 68 buco: veal dish

down 1 Brewpub fixture 2 Typically 18-inch-long baseball collectibles 3 Double-checked 4 Gold medals, to Spaniards 5 Pipe clog dissolver 6 Scads of centuries 7 Prez on a penny 8 Painter Rockwell 9 A red wine one is hard to get out 10 Stick-in-the11 Consecrate using oil

12 13 18 22 26 27 28 30 34 35

“Beats me” Steal a pup Links warning Vodka order, familiarly Memorial column, for short Pita filling Catch in a sting Bored with Permit “Trainwreck” actress/screenwriter Schumer 37 Attacked on foot 38 Reject as false 39 Causes of disappearing beaches 40 Entourages 44 Issue in May-December romances 45 Spiral pasta 46 Slopes 47 Japanese floor mat 48 Laurel of Laurel and Hardy 49 “Handmade fresh all day” pizza chain 51 Like three Cy Young games 52 Bridge measures 57 “The Cosby Show” son 59 Baltic or Aegean 61 Sara whom “nobody doesn’t like” 62 At a distance

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CLASSIFIEDS Send ads to thewashtenawvoice@gmail.com or ealliston@wccnet.edu Note: Deadline for the Nov. 2 issue is Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 5 p.m.

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

H E L P WA NTE D ANN ARBOR CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAW FIRM LOCATED near Briarwood Mall is seeking a full-time Receptionist. Ideal candidate is friendly and organized. Position will include light secretarial work. No prior experience necessary. Please contact Robert at 734-726-0225 or send a resume to robert@annarborslawyer.com to apply. GET SOME BURRITOS is looking to hire cashiers and cooks who are

enthusiastic and passionate about delivering high customer satisfaction. The cashier’s responsibility is to process sales quickly and be efficient. The cook will be responsible for maintaining the highest level of food quality. The cashiers and cooks must follow all health and safety regulations as well as communicate and work well with co-workers and management team. Come fill out an application at: 707 Packard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104. WAIT STAFF: Michigan Catering is looking for student wait staff who are able to interact with guests, work as a team and manage time efficiently – all with a positive attitude. Shifts can be anytime between the hours of 5 a.m. and 3 a.m., depending on your availability. The starting pay is $3.40 per hour plus tips. Tips are automatically paid by the event sponsor and average $6-$7 per hour, making the typical rate about $9.40-$10.40 per hour. Apply online at http://www.jobs.studentlife.umich.edu, send an email to: workforus@umich.edu, or at 734-615-6759. DINING STAFF: Michigan Dining is

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.

looking for students who enjoy working with people and want to be a part of a team. Flexible schedule, promotional opportunities and a fun social environment. Starting wage: $9 per hour with a free meal with a three-hour shift. Also, free AATA bus transportation is available. To apply, visit http://www.jobs.studentlife.umich.edu, send an email to: workforus@umich.edu, or call 734-615-6759.

Below is a sample of recent employment want ads which have been posted with WCC Career Services. Students are invited to read these ads and to contact Career Services to find out how to apply for the openings. Career Services is located in ML 104. For more information, phone 734-6775155, email careers@wccnet. edu or visit http://www.wccnet. edu/careerconnection/. TEACHER’S ASSISTANT, LEAD TEACHER. Care for children, play outside, and maintain a clean and safe learning

environment. Candidate must be flexible and able to work in diverse and challenging environment (get messy, get wet, interacting with children during sensory activities). Prepare snacks. Training provided to plan activities and curriculum. Indoor and outdoor activities. ACCOUNT SALES MANAGER. The Account Sales Manager (ASM) maintains and expands relationships with strategically important healthcare facilities and medical professionals. The ASM represents the entire range of company products to assigned markets, while leading the account planning cycle and ensuring assigned market’s needs. ACCOUNTANT (PART-TIME). Zingerman’s Service Network (ZSN) is hiring an Accountant to support our Cornman Farms Events business located in Dexter, MI. In addition, the work performed may span businesses operating in a production and/or services environment. We are seeking applicants who are interested in full-time (minimum 30 hours/week) employment. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FALL INTERNSHIP. Interns gain priceless, hands-on experience. Here, they learn how it feels to be in the workplace, participate in events around the city of Detroit and become a valuable member of our team. Work with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Organize meetings. Manage calendars. Coordinate events, etc.

AMERICORPS NCCC TEAM LEADER. We’re looking for experienced leaders…this could be you. The Team Leader coordinates the activities of 10-12 Members in service projects that generally last 6-8 weeks on community outreach projects in the areas of natural and other disasters, environment, energy conservation, infrastructure improvement and urban and rural development. AUTOBODY TECHNICIAN. Busy Collision Repair Center in Ann Arbor has an opening for a Full-Time Auto Body Tech and Full-Time Auto Body Helper . Benefits. AUTOMOTIVE SPECIFICATIONS RESEARCHER. Under the direction of the Specifications Research Area Manager, the position will primarily carry out activities specific to researching all aspects of vehicle research (pricing, specifications, options and option ordering logic) using their specific software. The candidate will identify, interpret, and record data on specific vehicles consistently while maintaining the highest standards for accuracy. BAKER. We are looking for high energy, friendly, and passionate people who like being part of a team absolutely dedicated to taking care of our guests: cashiers, bakers, food prep, sandwich makers, utility, shift supervisors. CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANCE. Provide health care tasks, personal hygiene services and other related support services essential to the client’s health. Observes,

records and reports all changes to supervisor. Traveling to client’s home. DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE. The Development Associate assists the Development Director with implementing the agency’s Development and Communications Plans by supporting all fundraising activities, including: donor communications, fundraising events and appeals, public relations and marketing, website updates, and various print and electronic communications. DOMINO’S TECHNICAL HELP DESK REPRESENTATIVE. Provide effective, live support for Domino’s Pulse operators. Diagnose and resolve routine problems via remote means. Includes proprietary software, as well as, hardware and peripheral equipment. Follow up with customers to ensure calls are resolved and closed promptly. Provide support in a friendly and coaching manner. Identify trends in issues and communicate to the PulseCare Team Leads. Enter all calls received in Call Tracking system. Provide support to co-workers to ensure effective sharing of best practices. ESTIMATOR/CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER. Cost Estimates. Calculate project costs. Maintain cost data base. Job site visitations. Project scheduling. Communicate with customers/suppliers/subcontractors on a daily basis

Oct. 19, 2015

FLIPSIDE

The Washtenaw Voice

FA LL TI ME FESTIVITI ES

THR EE CEDA RS FA RM Three Cedars Farm offers all the fun fall activities that one could want in one place. Though best known for their cider mill, there is much more in store for attendees of Three Cedars. Next to the entrance into the expansive farm, there is a “Upick pumpkin patch,” with the gourds ranging in sizes and prices. The main red barn houses the old-timey general store which offers old-fashioned candy, as well as country and fall decor. For the kids, and animal lovers of all ages, there is a free “Barn Yard Play Land” with live barnyard animals and feed available in coin-operated machines. There are hayrides, as well as a 7-acre corn maze both available for $5 and for people of all ages. There are also bonfire sites for rent. For $8 per person, attendees purchase a hayride, a trip through the corn maze and admittance to their rental group’s bonfire site. Site renters must have a minimum group of 30 – or at least pay the full group fee due to the cost of firewood. Those interested in booking a bonfire site can call 248-909-3200. This family-owned business is open late, and brings together everything Michiganders love about fall in a one-stop shop. -Sofia Lynch

Nestled between Ypsilanti and Milan, familyowned and oriented, Wasem is an all-natural, quiet fruit farm with friendly employees and friendly faces.With rows and rows of trees, people can pick apples right from the branches. The farm also offers plums, pumpkins and gourds, varying in shape and size. Before even getting out of the car, the scent of homemade doughnuts wafts out of the front doors, enticing guests to come inside and buy one of every kind. They can choose from blueberry, apple, pumpkin, and plain, accompanied by a variety of frostings. At the front door, a map is provided directing apple-pickers to their favorite kinds ranging from Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, to Jonathan apples and more. Prices start at $15 for a half-bushel bag, allowing for more than enough apples to bake some fresh apple crisp or pie. Guests can also top off their visit by purchasing some of the farm’s knick knacks and freshly brewed apple cider. -Taylor Robinson

WHAT: Wasem Fruit Farm WHERE: 6580 Judd Rd., Milan WHEN: Open daily 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Limited hours after Nov. 1

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WHAT: Three Cedars Farms WHERE: 7897 Six Mile Road, Northville WHEN: Sun-Thurs 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Fri-Sat 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

WASEM FRUIT FA RM

A PPLE CHA R LI E'S SOUTH HU RON ORCHA R DS Fall has come around again in Michigan, and is more beautiful than ever, the leaves rich with colors of red and orange, the weather is just perfect for apple picking and pumpkin carving. The famous Apple Charlie’s is in full swing, and offering more great attractions than usual. This family-run cider mill offers a wide variety of activities, from apple picking to pony rides. Families that come out to this orchard are known regulars and have been coming for years to enjoy the Apple Charlie’s maze during the day and for the brave ones, a haunted house at night. Apple Charlie’s is open to the public every day of the week, and even has indoor activities for the rainy days, such as drinking warm cider with ice cream and doughnuts. -Courtney Ditto

WHAT: Apple Charlie’s South Huron Orchards WHERE: 38035 S. Huron Road, New Boston WHEN: Open daily 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

WI A R D'S ORCHA R DS & COUNTRY FA I R Allen Wilson, known colloquially as “Al,” to his coworkers, looks over the 100 acres that make up Wiard’s Apple Orchards as he speaks. Wilson has been the Operations Manager at Wiard’s for the past 28 years and oversees all of its happenings, from the Country Fair that runs during the day, to the onsite haunted attraction, Night Terrors, in the evening. The business moved to its current location in 2006, and to this day, Wiard’s attracts patrons of all kinds, from sorority groups to colleagues to families, with nearly two dozen daytime activities, including a corn maze, hayrides, petting zoo, and a Learning Barn, designed specifically for school tours. Wiard’s six different haunts — the Haunted Mindshaft, Haunted Barn, Asylum, Alien Caged Clowns, Splattertown, and Haunted Hayride — collectively make up their Night Terrors, which markets itself as “Michigan’s Only Thrills and Chills Park.” The grounds of Wiard’s are covered by eight acres of pumpkins and approximately 4200

apple trees. Patrons can go through and pick apples for themselves, making it one of the only orchards left that allow for such things, according to Wilson. The Country Fair is $15.50 allday admission fee, making it, as Wilson says, considerably cost-effective. Wiard’s also features the high point of apple orchards’ existences everywhere: cider and doughnuts. The Country Store is open during both Wiard’s Country Fair and Night Terrors, making the fall staples available to customers no matter when they come to visit. “Make it a tradition to come to Wiard’s, to share the fall with us,” Wilson said. “It’s a place that people come to make memories.” -Taylor Mabelitini

WHAT: Wiard’s Orchards WHERE: 5565 Merritt Road, Ypsilanti WHEN: Closed Monday Open Tues-Sun 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.