SOQs Rate our professors
Winter registration is approaching fast, and this year Washtenaw students will have more information about instructors at their fingertips than ever before. By the start of registration, on Nov. 12, our new website with five years’ worth of student opinion questionnaires will be live. It may be sooner, so keep an eye on washtenawvoice.com in preceding days. Since last November, The Voice has been
VOL. 21, NO. 6 The student publication of Washtenaw Community College
working to make these SOQs public because we believe students have a right to all the information they can use to spend their tuition dollars wisely. It took four months to get the college to release the SOQs, and almost another eight months to organize the data and build a website, but now we’re ready. We hope you are too.
“We should know who are good teachers. So, if that’s how they measure them, we should know, too.” –stephanie gary-adams, 24, ann arbor, arts management
Natalie Wright, Editor
A NATIONAL PACEMAKER AWARD NEWSPAPER
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014 www.washtenawvoice.com
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN
Community deeply invested in WCC trustee election
NOV. 4, 2014 midterm vOTER GUIDE WCC BOARD OF TRUSTEES A5 trustee endorsements A4 GOVERNOR .................... A3 U.S. SenAToR ................... A3 U.S. REP. dist. 7 .............. A3
WCC board of trustee candidates at the recent forum sponsored by the WCC Political Science Club. From left, Alex Milshteyn, David DeVarti, Tony Derezinski, Eric Borregard, Christina Fleming and Ruth Hatcher. Candidates William Campbell and Mark Freeman were not in attendance. EJ STOUT | WASHTENAW VOICE
by NATALIE WRIGHT
administration, many have faulted the current trustees for not intervening sooner and more Editor forcefully. Despite the importance of this election to In nearly fourteen years at Washtenaw Community College, Julia Gleich has never been Washtenaw County taxpayers, the student body asked her opinion on a trustee election. But this seems, as a whole, pretty unaware of the election and all that is riding on it. year is different, she said. Six of the trustee candidates recently gathGleich, a part-time employee of the college’s production center and a sporadic student, has ered on campus to participate in a forum sponreceived inquiries from “every direction” about sored by the WCC Political Science Club. The which of the eight trustee candidates would best event, which was the first ever of its kind, according to the club’s adviser Donna Wasserman, serve the college. From other WCC employees, to community was meant to give students the opportunity to members and friends, many have reached out ask the candidates questions and hear what their to Gleich to get her insider’s perspective on this plans are if elected to the board. But the trustees spoke to a nearly empty room race. And other college employees have told her the evening of Oct. 22. they’ve fielded similar questions, she said. Members of the political science club and The community interest in this election is media were joined by only six other attendees. unprecedented. While the club’s president Steve Kwasny, 27, The three seats up for grabs on the WCC board of trustees are more hotly contested than and Wasserman, said they were disappointed in any election in the college’s 50-year history. by the small turnout, both said that they see the And, many have said, there is more riding on club holding events like this in the future and hope that they can do more to engage students. this election than ever before. Two of the candidates acknowledged the With an ever-present and seemingly expanding schism between the college’s faculty, staff and empty room, though their reactions were very
different. Ruth Hatcher was optimistic and encouraging. “I know there aren’t very many people here, but I think this is the first forum you’ve held, and it will grow,” she said. “And I hope that you stick with it because I think it’s very important for, especially a community college, to have people who are involved in elections and community issues.” Eric Borregard didn’t hide his pessimism. “We all know it doesn’t really matter who gets elected to the board. Do you really think it’s going to change anything?” Borregard said, suggesting that voters choose him, or vote for nobody. “That’s what half the registered voters in the state of Michigan are going to do anyway,” he said. “As you can see by this room, there’s nobody here. And of the people who do vote, 28 percent of them do not flip over the ballot and vote for the non-partisan side anyway. It’s that stupid, corrupt and rigged.” But if the inquiries Gleich and other WCC employees have received mean anything, it’s that the community believes a lot is riding on this race, and more voters may flip the ballot over this year to vote for the non-partisan election.
U.S. REP. dist. 12 ............ A3 STATE SENATor dist. 18 ... A3 State SENATor dist. 22 ... A3 STATE REp. dist. 52 ......... A6 STATE REp. dist. 53 ......... A6 STATE REp. dist. 54 ......... A6 STATE REp. dist. 55 ......... A6 board of education ...... A6 Ann Arbor Mayor .......... A6 ypsilanti mayor ............. A6 SECRETARY Of state ........ A6 proposals ...................... A4 full endorsement list ... A4
“Ever since economists revealed how much universities contribute to economic growth, politicians have paid close attention to higher education.” – Derek Bok, 25th president of Harvard University
“What we ought to be doing is positioning higher education for the future, we ought to be recognizing that change is inevitable.” – state rep. david rutledge former wcc trustee
“To ensure that education leads to goodpaying jobs, Michigan needs to expand career and technical education by better integrating high school and postsecondary education and job training programs.”
“We can’t just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition; we’ll run out of money. States also need to do their part, by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets. And colleges and universities have to do their part by working to keep costs down.”
– michigan gubernatorial candidate
“Community colleges provide higher education where people live, helping to build strong ladders of opportunity that allow people to secure a foothold in the middle class.” – u.s. secretary of labor tom perez
“Our system doesn’t work the way it should. We spend a lot of money, but we’re not seeing the outcome, the student growth that we should get. The issue is not the teachers, though. It’s the system.”
– president barack obama
mark schauer
– michigan gov. rick snyder
Higher education issues key in midterm election by M. M. DONALDSON
educational issues. When focusing on education, Snyder and Schauer spent most of their time arguing the Michigan residents overwhelmingly agree $1 billion dollar cut that Schauer alleges Snyder that improving college affordability is key took from K-12 education. for elected officials to address, according to The topic of college affordability, though, is a recent extensive survey by The Center for not being discussed in a diverse way, according to Michigan. Hailey Zureich, outreach coordinator for Center Through community conversation through- for Michigan. The conversations usually end up out the state and phone polls, the non profit, non discussing loan forgiveness. partisan “think-and-do tank” collects and ana“They’ve (candidates) been presented with lyzes policy data relevant to the state. the information, and they’re talking about it The recent survey identified the rising cost more,” Zureich said. The Center for Michigan of college tuition as one of four major “citizen’s is planning to hold future community converagenda” issues. sations, giving Michigan residents a chance to The only debate between the gubernatorial propose more concrete options for college afcandidates Gov. Rick Snyder and Mark Schauer, fordability to elected officials. held on the campus of Wayne State University From voters to candidates, lack of funding for on Oct. 12, opened with questions pertaining to roads and schools have been the most common Staff Writer
issues discussed, League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area co-president Nancy Schewe said. She has seen the trend of elected officials frustrated to do their best to meet needs with shrinking funds. “Their hands are tied,” Schewe said. The state legislature has tied up funds, and the local jurisdictions are suffering because they cannot do their jobs and are unable to raise taxes. However, both Snyder and U.S. Rep. Gary Peters (D-Mich) have taken recent notable actions on higher education. In 2012, Snyder signed the Expanded Dual Enrollment bill into law that allows high school students to complete up to one year of community college classes. The law removed the minimum of junior year status and allowed students in their first and second high school academic year to be dual-enrolled. It also contained
provisions to include home-schooled students. Elected officials looking at the high cost of college tuition are also considering the mechanisms of how it is financed. Peters submitted an amendment to the Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act. The accepted amendment requires that students receive an explanation of how delinquency or default of student loans will impact their future. The bill passed the House in July 2014 and is waiting for Senate and presidential approval. The LWV’s main concern is to encourage people to vote, Schewe said. For anyone concerned with keeping higher education affordable, the trend of younger voters not showing up for midterm elections has to change. She referred to the LWV yard sign imploring: “Vote! It’s our future.”
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The Washtenaw Voice
November 3, 2014
ANN ARBOR
Come Join the Concordia Family! • Growing Undergraduate Population • New Science Labs • Renovated Residence Halls • Updated Student Union • Upgraded Kreft Center for the Fine Arts • Three Schools to Choose from: • HAAB School of Business Administration • School of Arts and Sciences • School of Education
WCC Talent Show th
Thursday, November 6 , 2014 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ML Towsley Auditorium Who’s got talent? WCC does! Prepare to be amazed at these cool talents ranging from singing and dancing, to playing the electric guitar and the ukulele! You won’t want to miss this!
Veteran’s Day Celebration th
Tuesday, November 11 , 2014 nd 2 p.m. 2 Floor SC Join us as we write messages to our Veterans and honor them for their courageous service to our nation! Have you served in the Armed Forces? We’d like to display a picture of you. Email picture to rbarsch@wccnet.edu
Breast-Feeding Matters! Thursday, November 20 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ML 150
th
Human milk provides a healthy start that lasts a lifetime. This workshop is for any healthcare student or person who is curious about this amazing process. This event is run by Theresa Dubiel, MSN, RN and her students and is free and open to the public. Sign up by November 17 and get a light lunch! Sign up here (limit 50): http://tinyurl.com/WCCBreastfeedingMatters For further questions, contact: ethompso@wccnet.edu
Lunch with the President The winners of this contest will enjoy a FREE lunch with WCC’s President, Dr. Rose Bellanca! Lunches will take place at various times throughout the semester. Sign-up today! http://tinyurl.com/wcclunchcontest
COMING SOON:
“Wicked” Tickets & Piston’s Tickets! Sign up for Hub Alerts to receive ticket-sales date notifications. Sign-up today! http://tinyw.cc/sda
WCC Sports
Join us for Intramural Sports! You must pre-register through the Sports office in SC 116 during the registration dates. Requirements: 2.0 cumulative GPA, be registered in at least three credits at WCC. This is a great opportunity for students, as well as employees to participate in a sport without the time commitment that Club Sports require.
Staff can participate too – we would love to see staff teams participating! Intramural Dodgeball: Sunday’s beginning October 26th through December 7th from
.edu 734.995.7505 4090 GEDDES RD. ANN ARBOR 48105
Explore our campus, advisors, programs, faculty and more.
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. @ the WCC Health and Fitness Center. Registration begins October 2nd through October 26th.
There will be other opportunities in the future, so please stop into the WCC Sports Office to fill out an interest card for more information on our sports programs! Questions or concerns? Contact our office at (734) 973-3720 or mflucas@wccnet.edu
Explore Eastern. October 18 and Nov 1.
VOTERS GUIDE
The Washtenaw Voice
Education at center of gubernatorial race
Education has been one of the most divisive issues in this year’s gubernatorial race between the incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and the challenging Democratic candidate Mark Schauer. “It is true that Rick cut $1 billion from public schools,” Schauer said in the only gubernatorial debate in October. “He cut $300 per pupil. That hurts our kids. Students are in more crowded classrooms; teachers don’t have the materials they need; basic programs have been eliminated.” Snyder has ardently denied this. “The year before I became governor, the state budget for K-12 was $10.6 billion. That is a number that doesn’t change. The budget I just signed into law was $11.7 billion,” Snyder said at the debate. “So, the budget I signed is more than $1 billion higher than the year before I took office.” While the candidates can’t seem to agree on the past, their plans for the future of Michigan’s educational system are very similar, and community colleges are an important piece for both.
Mark Schauer “I believe that education is the best investment we can make to be competitive in the global economy,” Schauer told The Voice. And he has a three-part plan
to get this done. “First of all, we need to provide more funding for higher education, including community colleges,” he said. “Second, I want to provide more need-based financial aid to help lower-income students, and that’s also where community colleges play a really important role. “Third, we need to help students refinance their student loan debt.” Community colleges are also in a unique position, Schauer said, to link students with employers. “That’s why states support community colleges,” he said. “We need to invest more in training students for advanced technologies and skilled trades. “I think manufacturing, if we make the right choices, can continue to be the base of the Michigan economy.” In the manufacturing sector, he said, it is equally important to continue to invest in the automotive industry – with things like Washtenaw’s proposed Center for Advanced Transportation – and to look at investing in alternative energy, including solar and wind power. “Community colleges have a very important role to play in training workers in the skilled trades,” he said. “We can be training workers in infrastructure maintenance (for these industries).”
State Senator District 18 Includes Washtenaw County
Terry Linden The Republican candidate, Terry Linden, referred to himself as the “sacrificial lamb” for the Republican Party on the ballot due to this being a highly Democratic district. He did not expand on his views on higher education policy and no information about him can be found online.
Rebekah Warren
Rick Snyder Snyder also believes that investing in the skilled trades is one of the most crucial priorities for Michigan’s higher education system. “First of all, we need to be more innovative in what we do, what we work on,” Snyder said in the debate. “The other thing that is critically important is career-tech education,” Snyder said. “That’s a No. 1 priority for me in a second term, really creating those middle-class job opportunities through greater training and reestablishing career-tech ed as an equal track to the university track. “We’re already doing some with our community colleges, but it can be much better.” However, Snyder does not believe that skilled trades are the answer for all Michigan students, he has said. “Our education system must position our children to compete globally in a knowledgebased economy,” his website says. “To prepare and train the next generation of workers, Michigan needs a capable, nimble and innovative work force that can adapt to the needs of the emerging knowledge-based economy and compete with any nation.” Snyder has also put a heavy focus on dual enrollment, hoping to get more students to earn college credit in high school and fasttrack them through their college careers while saving money. –Natalie Wright
State Senator District 22 Includes Livingston, Shiawassee and southern Ingham counties
Joe Hune The incumbent Republican candidate State Sen. Joe Hune, of Hamburg Township, is running for re-election. Before his time in the Senate, Hune served six years as state representative for the 47th district (Livingston County). He was the youngest-serving member of the Michigan Legislature when he was first elected in 2002, at the age of 22. He has been in office since January 2011 and is chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Insurance and Redistricting committees, and also serves on the Health Policy and Regulatory Reform committees. Hune could not be reached for interview after multiple calls and emails. According to Hune’s website, he is fighting to make sure funding for education is spent directly in the classroom, and also to give more power to parents in their children’s education.
November 3, 2014
U.S. Senator Terri Lynn Land Republican candidate Terri Lynn Land served as Secretary of State for Michigan from 2003-2010. If elected to the U.S. Senate, Land proposes developing more trade agreements and working with other states to obtain skilled workers. As top priorities to improve Michigan’s economy, Land lists job training in the skilled trades, such as welding, machining and manufacturing on her website. She would also support federal student aid being expanded to include vocational schools and professional training programs, she said. During her two terms, Michigan residents gained access to enhanced state ID cards, eliminating the need for other identity or citizenship documents to return to the United States from several countries, including Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean. Land also oversaw moving more Secretary of State services online, in the face of budget cuts and office closures. She did not respond to multiple phone calls and emails requesting an interview and her website contains no information about her views on education. - James Saoud and M.M. Donaldson
Gary Peters U.S. Rep. Peters (D-Mich) was elected to the House o f R e p r e s e n t a t i ve s i n 2008 and is the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He has worked on the Small Business Jobs Act, encouraging investment in private enterprise, and on creating the Small Business Lending Fund and the State Small Business Credit Initiative. “I’m running for U.S. Senate because we need to make sure Michigan is a place where if you work hard and play by the rules, you can have a fair shot and pursue your dreams,” Peters said in a press release, “Whether that means starting your own business or furthering the next step in your education.” His focus on education has been with investment in STEM programs and early education, and financial counseling for students who take loans for higher education. Peters also fought against measures that would cut funding of community colleges, according to a press release. “I am very concerned with the amount of debt students have coming out of college,” Peters said in a press release. “That’s why I introduced the FAIR Student Credit Act of 2013, which will allow graduates who were forced to default after taking private loans to improve their credit report by making a series of on-time, monthly payments.”
7th
12th
Includes Eaton, Calhoun, Branch, Jackson, Hillsdale, Lenawee and western Washtenaw counties
Includes southeast Oakland and southern Macomb counties
Congressional Congressional District District Pam Byrnes Democratic candidate Pam Byrnes, a lawyer and businesswoman, was the director of Washtenaw County Friend of the Court, where she helped women who were part of abusive relationships. If elected, Byrnes has plans to support the education system and help students prepare for jobs. “What’s happening is students, after they graduate, are stuck with huge loan debts,” Byrnes said. “It is really out of sight what students are paying.” Byrnes said she would support legislation currently pending in the Senate that would allow students to refinance their loans. She believes that community colleges offer a lot of opportunities for people of all ages to improve skill or enter a new career field. “I’ve always been a very strong advocate for community colleges because it’s a very strong resource for residents,” Byrnes said, adding that community colleges are able to adjust to the needs of the community and businesses more quickly than a four-year institute, in terms of implementing new programs. “I support the entire education process; we need to make that a priority,” Byrnes said. “From preschool through post-secondary, education should be the number one priority.”
Democratic incumbent State Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) is running for re-election. Warren is a long-time Ann Arbor resident serving her first term. She was first elected to the State House of Representatives in 2006, where she represented the 53rd District for four years. Before her time in the legislature, Warren was an executive director of a statewide women’s healthcare non profit for seven years. She also serves as the Democratic vicechair of the Senate Committee on Health Policy, where she will continue to work on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Warren is one of the sponsors on a package of bills called the Michigan 2020 plan that will give Michigan high school graduates who plan to go to an in-state college grants from the state to cover tuition. She believes there needs to be more done to support institutions of higher learning from the state. “It’s about actually giving our students the direct support, not loans, the direct support they need to pay for their college.” Warren said. She recognizes that some students will always have financial barriers and stressed the importance of finding ways to help families with their portion of the fees as well. Warren has also worked on legislation about the fairness of textbook prices. She noted the difference in how textbook companies treat K-12 textbooks as opposed to college textbooks and wants to promote changing that.
Democratic candidate Shari Pollesch is a longtime Livingston County resident with a history of community service who has been practicing law for about 25 years. She served as a member on a coalition for implementation of the Affordable Care Act and chaired the health care reform initiative of the Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network. Pollesch says she is a big supporter of preschool through college education and wants to work to see funding restored for higher education. “We’re not funding any of it to match what we claim is our priority, and we need to put our money where our mouths are,” Pollesch said. She would also support allowing students to refinance student debt at a zero percent interest rate. “There’s a societal benefit to making education opportunities available to our students without saddling them with huge financial debt burdens.” Pollesch said.
U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R - Tecumseh) served in the Michigan House of Representatives 57th District from 1983-1999 and Michigan’s District 7 in the U.S House of Representative from 2007-2009 and 2011 and 2014. To stimulate the Michigan economy, Walberg proposes exporting more goods, tax reduction, Obamacare repeal, U.S.-sourced energy expansion and focus on workforce training to encourage businesses to create more jobs. As member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, Walberg has supported the Student Success Act, decentralizing from federal authority and allowing states and local institutions to create their own standards, and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which gives community colleges more influence over training and education. “My colleagues and I on the Workforce and Training Sub-committee are looking at how to simplify and strengthen aid programs,” Walberg said. “It’s obvious that more needs to be done for students and families to make the best decision possible about their education.” Walberg introduced the Helping Families Save for Education Act, which would allow families to make contributions up to $10,000 per year to the Coverdell education savings accounts.
- Sofia Lynch
- Sofia Lynch
- James Saoud and M.M. Donaldson
Shari Pollesch
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Tim Walberg
Terry Bowman Terry Bowman is a production worker at the Ford Rawsonville plant in Ypsilanti. As a member of the UAW, Bowman has been an advocate and educator for fellow union members all around the United States regarding the importance of the Right to Work Act. According to his campaign website, some major focuses of his campaign are energy, national debt, health care, jobs and the economy. “We have an innate desire to build, to create, and to provide our citizens with good paying jobs,” Bowman says on his website. “We need to shape that theme by providing the best environment for job providers.” Bowman’s website had nothing pertaining to the education system or higher education and he did not respond to multiple emails and phone calls requesting an interview.
Debbie Dingell As a member of the National Democratic Committee, Debbie Dingell has been involved with various political campaigns over the years. She also serves as president of D2 Strategies and is the chair of the Board of Governors at Wayne State University. Dingell, like many other candidates, believes that students are paying too much for an education. And that’s putting Michigan behind the curve. “One of the things that concerns me the most is affordability of college for everybody,” Dingell said. Dingell voted against recent tuition hikes at Wayne State University, according to her website, “because the cost of a college education has risen much too fast.” Dingell also notes that she supports Senator Elizabeth Warren’s plan to give students the opportunity to refinance their student loans for lower interest rates. “I will work to reduce student loan rates, including efforts to allow people with older student loans to refinance them at today’s rates, increase funding for our schools and expand opportunities for job retraining,” her website says. Throughout her service to the community, she has put an emphasis on creating jobs and economic growth, which begins with the education system. However, Dingell believes in recent years Michigan’s education system has fallen behind. “We have disinvested as a state,” Dingell said. “I remember when Michigan was known for having one of the top university systems in the country. “People respected us, admired us, the way people think about the University of Michigan is how people thought about every school in the state. We need to get ourselves back to that. How do we do that?” - James Saoud and Taylor Robinson
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VOTERS GUIDE
November 3, 2014
The Washtenaw Voice
For WCC board of trustees, change is critical The Voice endorses three who will set new course for the college
The Washtenaw Voice has unparalleled insight into this campus. In a herd of mostly unaware students, we unabashedly fight to bring the issues that affect them to light. And today Washtenaw’s problems are numerous and extensive. It cannot be stressed enough how important the Nov. 4 trustee election is for the future of this college. Choosing whom to endorse was not a difficult decision. Three candidates – Ruth Hatcher, Christina Fleming and David DeVarti – easily separated themselves from the pack by proving that they are in this race for more than just personal gain. These candidates have demonstrated a clear understanding of the most critical issues the college is facing, and an ability to find solutions. In conversations with and about the candidates, we have come to trust that all three of these people are sincere and have the best interests of the students and the college at heart.
when those around her don’t care enough to bother. After two years of sharing a “foxhole” with Fleming, (as we like to call our newsroom), we’ve watched her argue passionately about local politics and women’s rights, but it has always been from the perspective of a voter, an activist. Fleming never showed an From left, Ruth Hatcher, Christina Fleming and David DeVarti. interest in pursuing politics beadvice to her faculty mentees. yond the ballot box until our newspaper started Everyone who worked with Hatcher says the to cover the trustee election. We watched the same things about her: She is wise. She is so car- idea blossom from a quip (“Hey, one of us should ing and compassionate. She loves this college. run!”) to a full-blown campaign. Despite her clear commitment to the WCC Months later, we can say definitively, as the faculty, and her desire to champion their cause, people who know Fleming better than anyone on she has been slow to accuse the WCC trustees this campus – she is in this for the best reasons. and administration of wrongdoing. She is con- She is not in this for her own gain, as we suspect stantly saying that she wants to hear both sides many of the candidates are. She is in this to do Ruth Hatcher of the story before she rushes to judgment. her part for the betterment of the college that Hatcher is the obvious choice for anyone who Hatcher is calm and thoughtful – important has given her so much. has paid close attention to this race. Of all the qualities when you’re fighting for change. While she doesn’t have the political or policycandidates, she knows WCC better than anyone. She has also been through a conflict similar making experience that other candidates do, we see She worked at the college for more than 30 years, to the one now present at the college, and the that as a huge benefit. She thinks outside the box. as an English instructor and in various levels of ensuing remediation, decades ago, as a WCC Her plan to force transparency on the board administration. English instructor. by personally reaching out to the WCC commuAfter spending the majority of her working Between Hatcher’s immense institutional nity through social media is brilliant. And it’s an life at the college, it is clear that she truly cares knowledge and her thoughtful demeanor, she is, idea only she would think of. about the future of the institution and the impact perhaps, better positioned than anyone to help Her experience in technology and social meshe will have on WCC and its students. solve WCC’s problems. dia gives her an understanding of how to relate Even in the last few years of retirement, to young students in a way that no other board Hatcher has kept a close eye as communicaChristina Fleming member or candidate can. She has the ability and tion and trust devolved at the college. She has Fleming has a fierce sense of right and wrong. the willingness to engage students, which is desstuck around, watching and listening, and giving She assumes responsibility for making things right perately needed in the leadership of this college.
Why don’t we get our vote? E J STOUT estout@wccnet.edu
Twenty-four proposals won’t make it onto the Nov. 4 general election ballot, which is a staggering number compared to the past few elections. Trends in ballot measures have increased over the past four elections. Only four measures were proposed in 2008, compared with 24 in 2012 and 27 this year. So why aren’t the majority of these proposals offered up for popular opinion? Where has our voice gone? Of the 15 introduced by legislators, only one got enough votes in the House and Senate to pass. That bill became Proposal 1 on the Aug. 5 ballot, and phases out the Personal Property Tax on industrial and commercial properties by 2023. Of the nine additional proposed ballot measures, six did not submit enough signatures by deadlines, and the final three – minimum wage, abortion insurance and wolf-hunting – have already been passed into law in one way or another.
Fair Game
On Aug. 27, the Natural Resources Commission became solely responsible for defining game species and establishing hunting seasons when an initiative was approved directly by state Legislature. Voters no longer get to decide the fate of wolf hunting. The initiative was delivered as what is known as an indirect initiated state statue. This rare process allows supporters to collect signatures and send their proposal directly to state Legislature. Elected officials can then decide whether to approve the initiative immediately or put it on the ballot for popular vote. This time, it passed.
This law now renders both wolf proposals on the ballot this year to be purely symbolic – neither result will have any practical effect on wolf-hunting laws. The public’s opinion on this matter was rendered inconsequential through strategic backdoor legislative efforts. But is that such a bad thing? Wolf-hunting laws have been on a two-year process of approvals, veto referendums and legislative overrides. First, the Legislature passed Public Act 520, which established wolf-hunting season in three zones of the Upper Peninsula. Proposal 1 was formed to overturn that law. Next, it passed Public Act 21, which gave the NRC full control of state hunt designations, no longer requiring any legislative action – including the possibility for public veto referendums. Bye-bye to Prop 1 and PA 520. Now, Proposal 2 looks to overturn Public Act 21. Another moot vote as the NRC has been granted explicit rights through the most recent National Resources Commission Initiative. The law features some strategic loopholes that prevent virtually all risk of it being overturned, much to the dismay of groups such as Keep Wolves Protected and the Humane Society of the United States. In a statement following his signing of Public Act 21 into law, Gov. Rick Snyder explained, “This action helps ensure sound scientific and biological principles guide decisions about management of game in Michigan.” Maybe our elected officials have assessed the state’s decaying economy and lost faith in voters, local governments and special interest groups to find solutions. Can we blame them? We got ourselves into this mess, and, as the saying goes, this is why we can’t have nice things. Although the regulation of wolf populations seems low priority for the state, the process serves as example of the need for hard legislative action that doesn’t bend to popular, often uninformed, opinion.
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 734-6775405 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.
Volume 21, No. 6 4800 E. Huron River Dr. TI 106 Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (734) 677-5125 thewashtenawvoice@gmail.com
Recent Michigan Ballot Measures
VOICE MIDTERM election ENDORSEMENTS
ON & OFF BALLOT 2008
ON
2010
2012
David DeVarti
Board members, candidates and administrators love to talk about students and what is best for them in a way that’s reminiscent of old men in Washington talking about women’s reproductive rights. DeVarti stands out in this mix by constantly referencing times he has talked with students. When talking about his priorities, DeVarti naturally brings up conversations he’s had with his classmates at WCC and how student opinions influence his opinions. As a student, he has an ear to the ground that brings him invaluable insight to what is best for “student success” – everyone’s favorite catch phrase. He has shown a deep understanding of what needs to change on this campus, and a clear plan for how to make that happen. DeVarti is unapologetic in his arguments and refuses to tip-toe around issues like so many do. He has been upfront in saying that the current trustees are to blame for WCC’s problems, and that he would not hesitate to fire those responsible for the devolving relationships across the college. He has also openly disapproved of Washtenaw’s bloated administration – an issue others have stayed away from. His commitment to do more than meet the “bare minimum” of Sunshine Laws – The Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act – should speak very loudly to all of us who want to see the public’s business conducted in public. We have dealt first hand, on a daily basis, with the lack of transparency at this college, and knowing that someone on the board will champion maximum transparency is a dream come true – when it should be an assumption.
2014
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So many topics must be taken into account when choosing whom to endorse or vote into a public office. The Voice reported primarily on educational plans and policies, issues that directly affect our readers. So our editorial board chose to also endorse candidates based on those issues.
18
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BEN ELLSWORTH
THREE PROPOSALS YOU DoN’T GET TO COMMENT ON:
Governor – Rick Snyder (R)
Minimum Wage
The initiative would have raised the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour over the next three years, including increases for tip workers. The proposal was denied from the ballot due to too many duplicate signatures, however, the proposal would have been moot anyway. The Legislature recently passed a new law that increases minimum wage to $9.25 per hour by 2018.
U.S. Senator – Gary Peters (D) 7th Congressional District – Pam Byrnes (D) 12th Congressional District – Debbie Dingell (D) State Senator District 18 – Rebekah Warren (D)
Abortion Insurance
Neither private nor public insurance companies are permitted to cover abortions without prior supplemental policies, except in cases of danger to the mother’s life. The initiative was approved by legislature on Dec. 11, 2013.
State Senator District 22 – Shari Pollesch (D) State Rep. District 52 – Gretchen Driskell (D) State Rep. District 53 – Jeff Irwin (D)
Fracking
This signature-based citizen initiative would have prohibited use of horizontal hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as “fracking.” The Committee to Ban Fracking in Michigan decided to postpone the initiative until 2016, as it similarly did for its 2012 measure, in an effort to focus on community awareness.
State Rep. District 54 – David Rutledge (D) State Rep. District 55 – Adam Zemke (D)
EDITOR
Natalie Wright
nkwright@wccnet.edu
MANAGING EDITOR NEWS, FEATURES AND VIDEO
James Saoud
jsaoud@wccnet.edu
MANAGING EDITOR CREATIVE
EJ Stout
emjstout@gmail.com
ONLINE EDITOR
Christina Fleming
cfleming@wccnet.edu
STAFF WRITERS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
M. M. Donaldson Sofia Lynch Paulette Parker Vivian Zago
mmorrisdonaldson@wccnet.edu slynch@wccnet.edu pstanford@wccnet.edu vpereira@wccnet.edu
Erik Morris Ben Ellsworth
delocuro@gmail.com benjellsworth@gmail.com
COPY EDITOR
Nina Di Mauro
CONTRIBUTORS
Erin Fedeson Charlie Hackenbruch Brynn Raupagh Taylor Robinson Lydia Rudolph Brandon Smith
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Becky Alliston
ealliston@wccnet.edu
ADVISER
Keith Gave
kgave@wccnet.edu
VOTERS GUIDE
A5
Eight vie for WCC board
The Washtenaw Voice
November 3, 2014
by natalie wright and james saoud
Eric Borregard
Eric Borregard, of Dexter, is both cynical about how much this trustee election can change anything, and optimistic that, if elected, he can start a revolution. “It’s the same pathetic charade every two years,” Borregard said of the election, “everyone making the same pathetic promises, just so they can put, ‘college board member’ on their resume. “So vote for me, because if I’m elected, all I’m going to do is support a revolt, a student slowdown strike for free tuition.” Students and parents have been financially driven to this “slowdown strike,” he said, because education is not affordable. “Michigan has steadily disinvested in public education for 30 years,” he said, “and 72 percent of WCC students had to take out student loans.” “They’ve just stopped taking as many classes. The vast majority never graduate, slowing down the general economy.” Affordability is Borregard’s top priority, he said. “I would stop running the college as a business based on market-growth model and stress sustainability, and advocate for free tuition for all students. Borregard added that he doesn’t believe the board should intervene in the conflict between WCC’s faculty, staff and administration. “I would do nothing. Democracy is messy. Democracy works best when it’s messy,” he said. “Welcome aboard, faculty.” However, he added, he’d like to see an end to the expanded bureaucracy in higher education and administration, and see a return to a faculty-based democratic system. His message for students is one of revolution: He would like to see students create an “occupystyle” movement. “My goal is to occupy the WCC board and occupy with you,” he said. “My election comes with a big message for the whole system.” Borregard, who also owns a multimedia company, has said that he thinks WCC should be training students for work in the hemp industry. “Why shouldn’t WCC students have the same economic opportunities as our founding fathers?” he asked. “Marijuana is the smell of freedom.”
Christina Fleming
For the last two years, Christina Fleming, 38, has been the online editor of The Washtenaw Voice, and a student at WCC studying Web development. She also has 17 years of work experience in technology and experience teaching adult education. In her time at The Voice, Fleming has learned a lot about the college, she said. She has had unique exposure to both the problems at WCC, as well as the benefits the college brings to the community. And, Fleming said, she wants to show other students and community members how they can impact the college. “I wanted to get involved because I wanted to show people how they could get involved, too,” she said. If elected to the board, Fleming plans to use her experience with social media to engage students and the community in the business of the board. This is the best way to make young voices heard, she said. She also plans to spend time after board meetings to engage people one on one. “I just want to be open by any means possible,” she said. Fleming said the most important thing for the trustees to focus on right now is restoring cooperation, trust and transparency. In her time at the college, Fleming has seen and heard many ideas about how to do this, she said, and she thinks the best was the faculty’s suggestion to bring in a mediator. “I think it’s a good idea to have a third party come in, someone who doesn’t have an axe to grind,” she said, adding that in her time at The Voice, she has learned that there are often more than two sides to a story. “And somewhere in the middle of all that is the truth,” she said. “At the heart of it, there’s a severe communication issue.” As the mother of an autistic 7-year-old, Fleming has developed a strong will to fight for the needs of others, she said. “Nobody will fight harder for students and student needs than me,” she said. “You will find that I will have a tireless dedication, and I will be an ally to the WCC community at large.”
William Campbell
Former Washtenaw Community College physics instructor William Campbell is running for the board of trustees for a second time, after losing to current trustees Pam Horizsny and Stephen Gill in 2010. Campbell is the owner of a company, which he founded, that does thermographic imaging. He also works in the field of energy conservation. A 25-year resident of Ann Arbor, Campbell believes trustees, you have two responsibilities, and current board members only care about one of them. “You have two jobs – education and money,” he said, “and they’re only watching the money.” Campbell also wants to correct the relationship the board has with the college’s president, Rose Bellanca, which he thinks is backward right now. “They have the relationship skewed, and they also have, as incumbents, incredible power to maintain the status quo and run things however they want,” Campbell said. “The president works for the board,” Campbell said. “They don’t work for her. The board works for the people.” According to a voter’s guide presented by the League of Women Voters, Campbell’s goals if elected are: to get input from administrators, teachers, students and the community; to help the board expand its oversight in a more transparent and open manner; and to oversee and improve the quality of the education. Campbell told the LWV that he needs to know more detail about the faculty/administration conflict before he can comment on how to fix it. “I’ve read and heard a lot from the teachers’ perspective, but I don’t know the full story,” he said. “I would urge the board to explore methods and standards for timely communication that allow the teachers and administrators to accomplish the educational mission as a team.” “I have been a student and a teacher at WCC, a parent and a tutor to students at WCC,” Campbell told the LWV. “I care about what happens, and I’ve been involved in one way or another over the past 15 years.” He also maintains the key of his 2010 platform – that the college needs to find a better way to evaluate instructors.
Mark Freeman
Mark Freeman has served on the Washtenaw Community College board of trustees for six years, and has served as board secretary since 2011. Freeman is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and has attended classes at WCC while serving on the board. He also runs a small delivery business, according to the trustees’ website. Freeman made a name for himself after two years on the board, by publicly criticizing the decision of his fellow trustees and administrators to spend more than $4,000 on a single dinner at their annual spring retreat. “I don’t think it’s justified. I didn’t go. I didn’t go because I assumed it was being paid by individuals,” Freeman said. “I went home, and I didn’t get a room either.” While others defended the dinner, saying it was a miniscule part of the college’s budget, Freeman disagreed. “Compare it to a student’s education. You could almost get an associate’s with that money. That money could have changed someone’s life.” The faculty union’s leadership has praised Freeman for being the only trustee who has heard and publically acknowledged some value in their concerns, which was a factor in its choosing to endorse Freeman in this election. In the board meeting following the faculty’s vote of no confidence against WCC President Rose Bellanca, Freeman said that the trustees could learn something from the faculty’s complaints, an opinion that stood out among other trustees who called the vote “uncivilized.” “Mr. Freeman is the only current member of the BOT who has shown any public concern for the issues that faculty have been raising and who had not publicly denigrated those concerns,” the endorsement said. The announcement also noted that Freeman had encouraged them to reach to him personally, as well as other board members. During an interview with the faculty union, Freeman said that he would prefer to capitalize on the college’s internal resources and expertise whenever possible, rather than outsource to pricey consultants, a move that has brought criticism to the college in recent years.
Tony Derezinski
Tony Derezinski, 72, has served as a state senator, a member of the education committee, a member of the Ann Arbor City Council and a regent at Eastern Michigan University for 13 years. He has also worked as an attorney, specializing in education and is a former professor of law at the University of Michigan. “I want to serve on the Washtenaw Community College board because I have a deep appreciation of its importance here in our community,” Derezinski said, “and also because it’s at a critical point, where collaboration and civility must be enhanced internally.” If elected, Derezinski wants to work for better relationships and articulation agreements with universities and high schools. “The main thing, though, is focus on the students,” he said. “Their success and access has to be the prior frame of reference for the board.” Derezinski thinks that with his experience, he can help find solutions to WCC’s problems. “It’s sometimes very important for someone with experience in education to come in with fresh eyes to look at this institution,” he said. “I think I can really make a contribution with fresh ideas, and new ideas, from experience.” He believes WCC should bring in a mediator. “Everybody can see the problems,” he said. It’s the solutions that are difficult, he added. Derezinski also mentioned that he dealt with problems like WCC’s at both EMU and U-M. He said he wants to do “something affirmative, by getting lessons in it from other universities, from other colleges, from other community colleges and implementing them here in an affirmative way to make a great institution even better,” he said. “Because with good collaboration, we can do it.” WCC needs more than transparency, he said. “Transparency is almost a passive term,” he said, adding that the Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act “set the minimum,” but the college should be doing everything it can to open dialogue and active participation as much as possible. “We have to focus, not on the bad, but on the future,” he said. “I think my experiences at other institutions can be very helpful.”
Ruth Hatcher
Ruth Hatcher has been a part of the WCC community for a long time. She taught English at the college for more than 30 years, serving in many roles during that time, including interim vice president of instruction, dean of Humanities and president of the faculty union. Since she retired from WCC in 2011, she has been planning to run for the board of trustees, and the recent controversies surrounding the college pushed her to do it now, she said. She wants to support quality education and promote transparency, she said. “I’m curious as to what the current board is thinking a lot of the time,” she added. As a board member, her first priority would be to “keep the doors open” she said. “You have to keep the money coming in and you have to keep the money going out in a responsible way,” she said, pointing out that the public should be able to get answers to financial matters without a Freedom of Information Act request. “That’s a disgrace,” she said, of the college’s FOIA policy. “When I was faculty, I could walk up to the VP of Finance and get a fairly decent, perhaps honest, answer.” She has watched closely, as the faculty and administration have become increasingly fractured. But she’s been through this before, she said, as a faculty member. At that time, the college hired a mediator who set up a string of committees, she said, but the system collapsed under it’s own weight. “But the good that came out of that was that it worked out a collaborative model that worked for a long time,” she said, until the problem cropped up again in recent years. The first step, though, is to get both sides to communicate. They’re not talking to each other, she said, or at least, not talking the same language. “I think there’s magic at WCC,” Hatcher said, adding that when she was a teacher, Washtenaw was the envy of faculty across the state. “Everybody would envy the relationship we had with the administration, and that can come back,” she said. “That’s what keeps this place vibrant and active.”
David DeVarti
David DeVarti, 62, is a lifelong Ann Arbor resident and has been actively involved in the community since high school, he said. He works in property management and re-development and has served on the Ann Arbor City Council and the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority. He is also a WCC student, taking art classes over the last several years. Like his father, when DeVarti wanted to return to the classroom later in life, he chose WCC. His son was a WCC student, too, he said. The college helped him get his academics in shape after high school so that he could move on to Eastern Michigan University. “So I see the tremendous positive affect that the opportunities supported here at WCC have for students throughout the community,” he said. “The community college has many stakeholders, and the board of trustees has to be open to all of the stakeholders … but the top priority is students.” He said that if elected to the board he would focus on what is important to students, things like low tuition, childcare and jobs. A part of focusing on what’s best for students is listening to the faculty and staff of the college, he said. “We need to involve the faculty and staff, and we need to involve the students through all levels of strategic planning and decision making at the college.” As a trustee, DeVarti said, he would work to address and solve the conflict between the faculty and staff and administration. “I have to fault the current board for letting the situation devolve to the point that it has,” he said. First, the college needs to be more transparent, by doing more than the “bare minimum” to follow Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act laws, he said. “We shouldn’t have to FOIA information. It should be made available.” “The administration needs to be open and accessible; it can’t shut people out,” he said. “This is a public institution. Fifty percent of the budget comes from county taxpayers. “We have an obligation to be open and transparent.”
Alex Milshteyn
Alex Milshteyn grew up at WCC, he said. In the late 1990s, he was in one of the first classes at Washtenaw Technical Middle College, a charter school hosted on WCC’s campus. He was a student of WTMC and WCC for three years. “Being a WTMC student, you spend a lot of time on campus,” he said. He graduated from WTMC and WCC in 2001, with an associate degree in Web design. He obtained his real estate license during his last year at WCC, he said, and began selling real estate while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Eastern Michigan University. Milshteyn, 31, has served on the board of directors for WTMC for eight years, and is a member of the Michigan Association of Realtors and chairperson on the Ann Arbor zoning board of appeals. Milshteyn said that, if elected, his first priority will be to keep tuition low. “The biggest reason I’m running is because I believe in affordable education,” Milshteyn said, “and WCC is affordable education. “Enrollment has not been super stable over the past five years. We need to make sure that our community college here is affordable.” This can be done without cutting a lot, he said. “We need to start looking at other options to bring in revenue to the college,” he said, mentioning his approval of the recently proposed $19 million Center for Advanced Transportation. Working with local businesses to provide training to their employees, is an important focus for the college, he said. In the short term, though, Milshteyn said, he has different priorities. “We need to resolve the conflict that’s happening,” Milshteyn said. “One way or another, the conflict between the faculty, staff and the administration needs to be resolved.” The best way to do this, he said, is to hire a professional mediator – which will be his first course of action if he’s elected, he said. A mediator can bring an outsider's perspective, he said, and force the parties to communicate.
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VOTERS GUIDE
November 3, 2014
State rep. District 52
Includes most of Washtenaw County
gretchen driskell S t a t e R e p. D r i s k e l l (D-Saline) is a Democrat running to keep her seat in the 52nd District. Living in Saline since 1988, Driskell became an active member of the community, acting as a community volunteer and fundraiser. She also involved herself with various community groups to enact a long-term plan for Saline schools. “First of all, we need to go back to fully investing in education. Since 2011, Michigan schools have lost $3 billion as a result of budget cuts and tax giveaways to big corporations,” Driskell said. “Our future rests in giving our children the best education possible.” Her work contributed to Saline being recognized for its excellent quality of life as a Top 100 Small City nationally three times in the last decade. She has also co-sponsored legislation that would combat the wage gap between men and women in Michigan, and other legislation that would lend transparency to the Michigan Campaign Finance Act.
john clifford hochstetler
State Rep. District 54
State rep. District 53 jeff irwin
john j. spisak
John Hochstetler describes himself on his website as a conservative republican running for Michigan House of Representatives District 52. He has lived in Washtenaw County for 50 years, according to his website, and was a member of the Manchester School Board for four years. Hochstetler has been farming for his entire life and runs a family farm with his wife of 36 years. He is a member of Slow Food USA, the Organic Crop Improvement Association and American Pastured Poultry Producers, according to his website. Hochstetler, a resident of Lyndon Township, believes in putting more power in the hands of local officials Hochstetler believes there is too much regulation and that the taxes are too high, according to his website, and he thinks that school boards should have more control, and that discipline should be back in the hands of teachers.
According to his website, John J. Spisak has had it with the “get-nothing-done legislators” in Ann Arbor. The Republican candidate has a focus on not just improving the city’s infrastructure, but improving the city’s human infrastructure. Which begins with education. “In the long run, higher education needs to get its costs under control,” Spisak said on his website. “Too much money is spent at our universities on things other than teachers and teaching.” To help combat the problems, Spisak sees in higher education, he wants to institute a K-16 education in Michigan so that students can have more college and post-high school training. “This would not only significantly improve the lives of Michigan’s citizens, it also would put the state on a solid, long-term financial footing,” his website said.
- Vivian Zago
- James Saoud
Though State Rep. David Rutledge (D-Ypsilanti) is finishing up his second term as state representative, he wants to come back for more. Rutledge has served on the Washtenaw Community College board of trustees and the Ann Arbor Community Foundation. He is the former president of Alpha Environmental Services Inc. Rutledge is very passionate about higher education and believes there are plenty of things he can do to help improve it in Michigan. “In higher education, one of the things we should be doing, particularly as policymakers, is trying to reimagine is how community colleges can deliver value to students and the community,” Rutledge said. “How do you maintain a robust academic program while also creating an inviting training environment? “We have to continue to look for ways of creating an environment where both can exist side by side.” Rutledge also said he believes all higher education institutions need to continuously focus on student success, which means keeping up with modern technology. He noted that this meant not being afraid to continue thinking of new and innovative ways to teach students. “It’s easy for higher ed, community colleges included, to get stuck in doing the same thing that we’ve always done, like we’ve always done it, when things around us are changing.” Rutledge said. If elected, Rutledge would like to push for all higher education institutions to be consistently reviewed for their student service process, to make sure things like registration and financial aid are all “student friendly.”
Bryan Kelly is an independent candidate for mayor in Ann Arbor who decided to run “because I wanted some independent, whackjob, crazy, interesting, unique-storytype, no-name to appear from out of the woodwork and step up and start saying provocative things,” Kelly said. As mayor, Kelly wants to seek to attract the right kind of talent to the city, and not just young professionals. “The way to see economic explosion in this town begins by being friendly with our zoning – an antiquated and ultimately very stifling practice and represents the first denial for the creation of business around the town,” Kelly said.
State Rep. Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor) is serving his first term in the state Legislature, before which he worked as an engineer in the aerospace, defense and automotive fields. Zemke has worked closely with Washtenaw, including his work with WCC staff to find funds for GED testing, which resulted in the relief of testing fees statewide. He is also helping WCC acquire state funds for the recently proposed Center for Advanced Manufacturing. However, Zemke’s work has been mainly in the K-12 realm. He’s worked on professional development initiatives for educators and grant funding for the Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) education programs. He also believes that elected officials need to do “whatever we can” to reduce financial burdens on college students, he said. “It is beneficial to all Americans when young people can afford to buy homes or buy cars,” he said, “because the economic benefits from that are multifold, and it supports our economy.”
Leonard O. Burk
Ed Moore is the Republican candidate running against Rutledge. Very little information was available for Moore, and he did not respond to interview requests through multiple phone calls and emails. - James Saoud
- Sofia Lynch
Ed Moore
intensely debated issue with candidates Maria Carl (R) and Gregory Scott Stempfle (L), who do not support the use of the standards. Candidate Maria Carl (R) Jonathan Tade Williams (R) does not Jonathan Tade commit to opposing the Common Williams (R) Core as standards, but does promote Pamela Pugh Smith (D) local district control and decisions on Casandra E. Ulbrich (D) educational standards over federal Gregory Scott and state. Stempfle (L) Carl proposes development of a John Adams (U) parent advisory board to direct curKaren Adams (U) riculum content and assessment meaSherry A Wells (G) sures. Williams also describes his Nikki Mattson (N) education platform as “parent driven” which would empower parent decisions for each local district. Pamela Pugh Smith (D). Ulbrich, the board’s current vice Of the nine candidates vying for president, specifies that the Common two open seats, five contenders repCore is not a curriculum but a guide resent third parties. for setting academic goals. Voters will see 10 candidates listed Ulbrich favors supporting teach- on the ballot, but Kimberly Moore ers, while Smith places focus on the withdrew from the race too late for her students, with consideration of dis- name to be removed from the ballot. advantaged youth. The Common Core has been an – M.M. Donaldson
State Board of Education candidates:
In the long term, Taylor doesn’t want just this small postage stamp of economic area concentrated in downtown. “What I’d like to see is to foster economic development in our neighborhoods,” Kelly said. “In my opinion, government’s goal is not create jobs, but it’s our goal get out of the way if our practices are stifling jobs, and zoning represents this first denial.”
Adam Zemke
The Republican Leonard Burk is a former WCC student and a Vietnam veteran. He advocates leveling the educational playing field. “I don’t believe that certain people should have higher rights than others would,” Burk said. If elected, he would pay close attention to the people he represented and try to take a common-sense approach to anything he would put his signature on in Lansing, he said. “I would study whatever is presented to me, of course, and try to make wise decisions. But I would not necessarily try to go on a campaign to flood the colleges,” Burk said. “I mean … it’s a taxpayers’ expense.” Burk is against anyone experimenting with, what he considers, the American Dream, he said, and he would like to make sure all the subsequent generations get to experience it.
Mayor of Ann Arbor Bryan Kelly
Includes Ann Arbor, Pittsfield, York and Augusta townships
David Rutledge
State board of education Michigan voters have nine candidates to select from for the State Board of Education in this midterm election. The two candidates elected for an eight-year term will be involved in appointing a new Michigan school superintendent and making recommendations on critical issues surrounding Common Core State Standards, charter schools and funding. The board is responsible for supervising public education, adult education and instructional programs in state institutions, but not higher education institutions that award baccalaureate degrees. Charter schools have come under scrutiny following a recent investigation by the Detroit Free Press, and there is an on-going discussion about how to make the schools more transparent and accountable. The Michigan Education Association is backing two candidates who are proponents of the Common Core, Casandra E. Ulbrich (D) and
State Rep. District 55
Includes Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township
Includes Ann Arbor
Democratic State Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), who is currently running for reelection, has some issues with the current state of higher education. And he wants to solve them. According to Irwin, the biggest issues in higher education right now are linked at the hip. State funding is the first, which Irwin believes leads to students paying too much for an education. “Young folks are having to take on a mountain of debt to get an education,” Irwin said. “We really need to get back to a point where someone who is smart and hard-working can get an education.” If elected, Irwin said he would fight for state funding so that students can have more opportunities when it comes to higher education. He noted that Gov. Rick Snyder cut state funding to educational institutions by 15 percent, the largest cut Irwin has seen in his life. “He’s not interested in making sure some of the opportunities that he had are available to everyone else,” Irwin said about Snyder.
The Washtenaw Voice
than 25 years. Taylor said if elected he’ll remain focused on protecting and improving quality of life in Ann Arbor, and has a plan for attracting and keeping talented young professionals in Ann Arbor. “I want Ann Arbor to thrive in the coming years,” Taylor said. “That’s why I am absolutely committed to an Ann Arbor that welcomes and retains the young: young professionals, young workers, young families.” Christopher He holds four degrees from U-M in Taylor English, vocal performance, American history and law. While in law school, A t t o r n e y he served as editor-in-chief of the Christopher Taylor Michigan Law Review. He is a lawis the Democratic yer with the Hooper Hathaway firm, candidate for may- where he represents local companies or of Ann Arbor. with an emphasis on corporate and He moved to the city to attend the intellectual property law. University of Michigan when he was 18 and has lived in the city for more – Vivian Zago
secretary of state GODFREY DILLARD Democrat Godfrey Dillard has big plans if he is elected, especially reducing fees for obtaining a driver’s license. “Removing the high cost of getting a license is just one way we can train more people to be safe drivers,” Dillard said. He would also like to implement multi-year license plate registration. Structural barriers need to be overcome to get young people to vote, Dillard said. In general, he’d like to make the overall election process easier for all voters, he said, with more early voting, mail-in registration and fewer restrictions for absentee voting. – Taylor Robinson
ruth johnson Republican Ruth Johnson, elected in 2010 as the 42nd Secretary of State, is running this term for reelection. Johnson created ExpressSOS. com, a website that lets citizens complete popular transactions online. “Making things better, easier, and faster has been the No. 1 goal,” Johnson told the Detroit Free Press. She also designed the Secure and Fair Elections package, her website says, which ensures only those eligible get a vote, and allows people to “follow the money” spent on election campaigns. Johnson also worked to get more people to be organ donors and added one million donors in her first two years, according to her website.
Mayor of Ypsilanti Amanda Maria Edmonds Democratic candidate Amanda Maria Edmonds has lived in Michigan since 1990. She earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment, according to her website. She serves as chair of the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority, for two years as vice chair. One of the issues important to Edmonds involves economic development through growth of the local economy, her website says. She aims to be a positive ambassador
for the city, attracting new residents, businesses and visitors. She is proud to have studied at an urban public school district, according to her website, and she used that experience to address the issue of retaining students fleeing for private schools .
Steven James Taylor Steven James Taylor is the Republican candidate running against Edmonds. Very little information was available for Taylor, and he did not respond to interview requests through multiple phone calls and emails. – Vivian Zago
The Washtenaw Voice
November 3, 2014
A7
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A8
NEWS
November 3, 2014
The Washtenaw Voice
WCC shows its ‘colors’ with annual luncheon by JAMES SAOUD
Managing Editor
The annual Michigan ACE Women of Color Collaborative Luncheon will be held in the Morris Lawrence building at Washtenaw Community College on Friday, Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year, the luncheon will feature a panel of female leaders from a spectrum of different organizations, including Jan Baker, CEO of Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan and Tiffany Ford, president and CEO of the University of Michigan Credit Union. “The purpose is for there to be a group of women who are mentoring other women,” said Kimberly Hurns, interim dean of business and computer technology, who helped select the members of the panel. "It's for all women, but mostly deals with issues of diversity and things of that nature." This is the first year that the luncheon is being held at WCC. Previously, it was held at Oakland University. “It should be a really nice event,” Hurns said. “Our goal was to have a diverse panel of women
and diverse group of women from an age standpoint, as well. “It really highlights the fact that the college is a player across the state in higher education, and there are a lot of women on campus who, with events like this, can help them think about what they want to do on a longer term for their careers.”
WHAT: MI ACE Women of Color Collaborative Luncheon
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 14, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. WHERE: ML building HOW MUCH: $60 FOR MORE INFORMATION: Register online at http://store.wccnet.edu/wccstore
BEN ELLSWORTH | WASHTENAW VOICE
Competence is knowing when to make a change for the better.
TRANSFER STUDENT OPEN HOUSE This is your chance to: Discuss your transfer credits with an academic advisor Learn more about athletic scholarship opportunities, and meet our athletic director, coaches and players Speak with an admissions representative regarding the admissions process
Thursday, November 13, 2014 • 5:00-7:30 p.m. Madame Cadillac Building, Marygrove College
Transfer
Transform
Explore latest developments in your field with faculty and staff Meet with a financial aid advisor to discuss your transfer needs
We look forward to seeing you!
For more information, go to: marygrove.edu/transfer2014 or call (313) 927-1240
8425 W. MCNICHOLS ROAD • DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48221-2599
Come to our Fall Open House on Saturday, November 8. Talk to our faculty of professional artists, communicators and entrepreneurs, and meet our talented students. Bring a copy of your current college transcript so that our transfer specialists can let you know how your credits may transfer.
colum.edu/openhouse
Photo Credit: Jacob Boll
Got the midnight munchies? Explore WCC's mysterious monoliths B3
Head to B4
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B Section
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November 3, 2014
A head start for aspiring nurses by PAULETTE PARKER
Staff Writer
Jody Jendon stands behind the pink Harley-Davidson he built for his wife, Stacey, who lost her battle with breast cancer four years ago. She was 35. PAULETTE PARKER | WASHTENAW VOICE
Infectious disease protocol. Patient transport. Vital signs. These terms are not part of a typical high school student’s vocabulary. But for a group of students at Ypsilanti Community High School, these subjects are part of a normal school day. Completing the prerequisites for a competitive nursing program can mean the difference between admission and a setback. Ypsilanti High, in conjunction with Washtenaw Community College, is giving future health care workers, as young as 16 years old, the head start they need to pursue their careers, with its Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. Beginning this fall, students can take this one-semester course, gaining the nursing skills necessary to take the Michigan state clinical and knowledge tests for certification. “It’s all skills that are defined by the CNA curriculum,” said Linda Blakey, vice president of student and academic services at WCC. See CNA, Page B5
See STRIDES, Page B4
Veterans Day, NoV. 11
Reluctant hero
Vietnam-era vet made unconventional choices to avoid war by BRYNN RAUPAGH
Contributor
For a young man in his situation, there were few options. He “Two years of service, it doesn’t have tried joining the Michigan State to be combat, such as the Peace Corps, Police, but didn’t weigh enough would be invaluable for young people for his 6-foot frame. The Army had no issue with that, though. to get outside themselves and see At the time, draftees served something of the world.” a two-year stint, and most of them spent 13 months or so in - Vietnam-era Navy veteran Richard Heberlein Vietnam – at least those lucky enough to come home. To enVietnam,” he said. But Heberlein wanted no part list in one of the other services required of that. Like much of the country in those days, a four-year commitment. he did not support the war, believing “it is wrong “It seemed to me to make more sense to force my political beliefs on other people. The to volunteer for service in either the Navy prospect of going to Vietnam, which really meant or the Air Force, which, with a little bit kill or be killed didn’t appeal to me.” of manipulation, I could stay away from “I was pretty sure that at the moment when Vietnam,” Heberlein said. So, because I was getting ready to shoot someone, I would the Navy only sent medics to Vietnam, hesitate long enough about taking someone’s life that I would lose my own life.” See HEBERLEIN, Page B2
Navy radioman Richard Heberlein, recently promoted from 12-hour shifts in the kitchen, was among a sickly crew in the USS Preserver being tossed about in mountainous 30-40 foot waves and battered the ship while crossing the Atlantic. The vessel lost a drive shaft in the midst of the voyage, knocking out two of its four engines. The Navy required every ship to report via teletype every 24 hours, but ill and inexperienced radio operators weren’t able to file reports. Even the captain was sick. As bad as things were on that trip in 1970, though, it still beat romping through the jungles carrying an M-16 in Vietnam, like most everyone else who was drafted in the late 1960s, like Heberlein would have been if he hadn’t enlisted in the Navy. And being sick was no excuse. “You have to work, even if you are sick,” said Heberlein, who decided to try another form of communication in an attempt to end eight or nine days with no communication. Using a skill he learned at a Naval school for radiomen, Heberlein tried Morse code. “We haven’t sunk,” he keyed. “We are alive.” “I sent out the message, but the reply was super-fast,” Heberlein said, recalling how he asked the operator who responded to slow down three times before he managed to understand the reply. Most Morse operators at the time could send 60-70 words a minute, Heberlein said, adding that he could manage barely half that. But in the end, it worked, and his captain was pleased. Finally, after a series of choices all designed to keep him out of Southeast Asia wound up getting him busted in rank and confined to long hours of KP (kitchen patrol) duty, his improbable military career was finally on track. Heberlein was a part-time student at Alma College with poor grades, and he was about to lose his college deferment, when his draft board caught up with him in 1967. “At that time, everybody that was be- Radioman Richard Heberlein receives his Petty Officer 3rd Class from Capt. Terrance Cowan on board ing drafted into the Army was to be sent to the USS Preserver ARS9 in 1970. RICHARD HEBERLEIN | COURTESY PHOTO
State Rep. Zemke helps lift barriers on GED testing by SOFIA LYNCH
Staff Writer
The General Education Development test has recently come to be owned by a company, Pearson VUE. As a result, Washtenaw Community College is no longer able to absorb the cost for students testing as it did before. Bonnie Truhn, the college’s Adult Transitions manager, wanted to see something done about it, so she brought it to the attention of State Rep. Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor). “Logically, for me, I wanted to reach out to educating our legislators on what was going on with the GED, and the whole idea of the cost being $150 dollars for students,” Truhn said. “I want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to earn this credential and the cost is, obviously, is prohibitive.” Not only that, but the test can only be paid for by credit card, another possible barrier, she said. Truhn said Zemke sat down with her to hear her out on the issue for an hour and a half, and then took matters into his own hands. “This was about removing barriers for people to be able to get the encouragement to pursue more forms of higher education,” Zemke said. “Now I’m definitely a firm believer that each person should be the one responsible for pulling themselves up, but it should be our responsibility as citizens to help make that playing field equal.” Zemke started a work group that included Jason Morgan, WCC’s director of Government Relations, Mike Hansen, president of the Michigan Community College Association and Truhn. The four worked together closely for the following weeks crafting the language and criteria for a piece of legislation and making sure that the legislation truly did what it was intended to do – benefit the community college students. Initially, Zemke was just looking for funds for WCC students. However, as he talked to other legislators in Lansing, they decided to expand it to all community colleges. And then from those conversations, other legislators decided to extend it to anyone taking the GED test in the state, according to Morgan. So the amount of funding went from the originally proposed $30,000 to the $500,000 it passed with in June. To receive the proposed benefit of no outof-pocket fees, students must either complete a GED prep program – the program at WCC fulfills that requirement – or they have to commit to enrolling in an institution of higher education See GED, Page B5
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Veterans Day, Nov. 11 FLIPSIDE
November 3, 2014
The Washtenaw Voice
The voice of America’s veterans
Dale Throneberry, WCC communications instructor, poses with the Huey he flew during the Vietnam War in 1969, left, and in 2013 at the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show in Ypsilanti. DALE THONEBERRY | COURTESY PHOTO, KELLY BRACHA | WASHTENAW VOICE
by LYDIA RUDOLPH
training at Ft. Polk. He then went to Louisiana for Army Aviation Training at Fort Wolters, Texas and Fort Rucker, Alabama. Almost 11 years ago, on Nov. 15, 2003, Dale He completed his tour in Vietnam as a piThroneberry and Bob Gould created the Veterans lot with the 195th Assault Helicopter Co. from Radio, giving veterans all around the world a way December 1968 to December 1969. After his tour, to connect, communicate and share their stories. he returned to the Army Aviation School at Fort Throneberry, a Washtenaw Community Rucker and completed his commitment as an inCollege communications instructor, is the un- structor pilot until his discharge in May of 1971. named commander of Veterans Radio. He was Gould, was born and grew up in Northwest born and grew up on the shores of New Jersey. Detroit. After graduating from Redford High Entering the service in 1967, he completed basic school, he joined the after. He completed his Contributor
basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was then sent to Kansas for Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Riley. Gould became a forward observer for a mortar platoon. He completed Basic Airborne Training in July 1962 and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division. This is also where he completed his two-year enlistment as a medic in the 326 Medical Battalion. Years later, after readjusting to the civilian lifestyle of an insurance salesman, an idea rose in Throneberry's mind after talking to veteran
WCC leads vets to success by SOFIA LYNCH
Staff Writer
This fall, Washtenaw Community College began offering a “Success for Vets” course called “Student Success: In and Beyond the Classroom.” This course was made possible by the largest corporate gift WCC has ever received, given by the Masco Corporation Foundation. Masco gave the college $250,000 and specified $100,000 of it to go to the betterment of the Veterans Center, which in turn funded the creation of this course. The class is only available to veterans, and is offered to them at no cost. Unlike the normal one-instructor setting, this class is co-taught by Christina Buzas, student adviser; Bonnie Arnett, academic and career skills and reading instructor; and David Wildfong, student advisor for Career Services. It offers vets a skills class based on their specific needs. With three instructors working in different areas of expertise, the class has the whole spectrum of skills veterans need to succeed in their
educational paths – like time management and proper note-taking – and also stresses the importance of selfcare and career planning. Wildfong said that having three instructors worked well for a pilot program because they could all bounce ideas off of each other. He also stressed that because the students all have very similar backgrounds and shared experiences the course is conducive to great discussions. This course helps veterans the specialized care they need, and is one of several resources WCC offers. Located on the second floor of the Student Center, is a safe haven for veterans. It is staffed with two Veterans Affairs representatives – Brittany Powers from VA Health Care and Reginald Rogers from the Veterans Benefits Administration – and a certifying official, Mary Singer. The adviser position was recently vacated, but the position has been offered and the Veterans Center will be back to full staff soon, according to Evan Montague, associate vice president of Recruitment and Student
HEBERLEIN, From B1 and because sailors had cooler uniforms, he joined the Navy. Because he was third in line for his physical in Detroit and there were four vacancies at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, he chose to go west to avoid a winter at the training facility near Chicago. In boot camp, he was given a series of tests that suggested he would be a good radioman, which required him to learn Morse code. To be closer to his family back East, however, Heberlein volunteered for submarine school in New London, Connecticut, where candidates are carefully screened and submitted to psychological testing. “They don’t want any psychopaths,” said Heberlein. “There were lots of probing questions about war and combat.” One question they asked: “If you were ordered to fire a nuclear missile on your home town, would you do it?” Heberlein said, “No,” an indication that he wouldn’t blindly follow orders. The school decided he was not good candidate. In fact, one officer who reviewed his test questioned whether Heberlein was a good candidate for any military service. He suggested Heberlein apply for conscientious objector status, which would allow him to refuse military service based on his conscience and/or religion. This was a difficult process, especially from
Enrollment. The center is a “one stop shop” for veteran needs, Montague said. “Most veterans leave the military and they’re not sure what they can actually do as far as benefits, so what this office offers to veterans, is an opportunity to obtain that information,” Rogers said. Students with parents or guardians who have served in the military can also find assistance there in understanding the benefits their parents’ service provides them. The center is also designed to be somewhere veterans can get away, with an open door to all the information vets need, and to a support system. Some veteran students have expressed interest in starting a student organization again at WCC, according to Montague, which he hopes will start up when the new adviser arrives. “I’m going to help support getting a vibrant student organization going again,” he said, “to provide another vehicle for our veterans and military students to feel connected to each other and the campus.”
within the military, but he decided to try it. The Secretary of the Navy denied his application. And his commanding officer at the naval base said, “Suck it up and be a good sailor.” Heberlein was demoted to seaman and lost his radioman’s RICHARD HEBERLEIN security clearance. Despite this setback, his captain recognized Heberlein’s skills and work ethic and reinstated him as a radioman before leaving for Europe. In the summer of 1969, he was assigned to the Preserver ARS8, where he was stuck in the kitchen for three months before that big storm. But his Mediterranean tour aboard that ship was fairly undemanding as war raged half a world away. The Preserver retrieved a downed jet fighter off the coast of Greece and towed a ship that had lost power. “The rest of the cruise was fairly uneventful,” Heberlein said. “I saw a lot of Europe.” Looking at a map, Heberlein pointed out ports the ship visited: Malta; Palermo and Messina, Sicily; Corfu, Greece; Naples and Livorno, Italy with side trips to Pisa and Florence. Nice, France and Malaga, Spain were also inviting stops. The Preserver returned to the United States at
Max Walters, of Manchester. “I had talked to a former insurance claimer of mine (Walters), and he had been a World War II veteran and asked me to come out to his garage, and he says, ‘Dale, I know you were in the service, so I wanted to show you something,’” Throneberry said. “So I go out there and there’s this huge 101st Airborne flag and a bunch of other things all over the place. “Four hours later, we came out, and he had told me his whole history. His wife said, ‘he’s never told anybody those stories, not even me.’ So I thought about that; someone should tell these stories. This is what started the fire in Throneberry’s heart. He then spoke with his insurance partner, at the time, he did not know Gould had even served in the army. Being a veteran himself, Gould was eager to help make this dream into a reality. The Veterans Radio is devoted to the men and women who have served and are still serving this country, giving them a chance to share how serving has changed their lives. “The simple way we put it, is that these are ordinary people who have done extraordinary things,” Throneberry said. Veterans Radio broadcasts live every Sunday from 5-6 p.m., WAAM AM-1600. The broadcast runs for an hour, and it is full of unique, interesting and relevant stories. On a recent Sunday, Jerome Preisler, author of 30 books, including the New York Times bestselling series “Tom Clancy’s Power Play,” was interviewed on his book, “First to Jump.” It tells the stories of World War II’s special operations commandos who relied on their stealth, expert proficiency and matchless courage to set the stage for airborne drops and glider landings throughout Europe. Other guests have included legendary test pilot Chuck Yeager; Daniel Ellsberg of Pentagon Papers fame; Major Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk, navigator of the Enola Gay when it dropped the first atomic bomb; Secretary of State John Kerry and many more. As you’re reading, Veterans Radio is pursuing a story of a man who is trying to make it possible for every veteran to get a service dog. Veterans Radio shares the raw, unedited and sometimes shocking shocking stories of veterans because – as Throneberry and Gould believe passionately – their voices deserve to be heard.
WCC Student Activities thanks those who served by SOFIA LYNCH
academic services, and a “Wall of Honor.” Barsch plans to have this wall As Veteran’s Day nears, covered with pictures of men and Wa s h t e n a w C o m m u n i t y women in uniform. College’s Student Activities She asks that anyone who prepares for its annual salute to would like to share pictures of a those who served their country. time in service on this this wall – On Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 2 whether it be their own or from p.m., the celebration to honor someone they know – to email the school’s student veterans her these photos. will be held on the second floor Attendees will also be invited of the Student Center. Anyone to leave notes of appreciation to and everyone is welcome. the veterans. Prior to that event, there “I know that any kind of military will be a lunch for Veterans only, action is controversial, but I hope along with the WCC staff and people can separate their feelings administrators, according to on government involvement from Rachel Barsch, the events co- the people who serve our country,” ordinator for student activities. Barsch said. At the public event, there Veterans can contact Barsch by will be cake, some words of ap- email at rbarsch@wccnet.edu to preciation from Linda Blakey, reserve a spot at the lunch. Space vice president of student and is limited. Staff Writer
the end of 1970 and spent the next few months tow- didn’t do it, they would not receive any governing barges from Norfolk, Virginia to New Orleans. ment services, like Social Security. I don’t think Heberlein was honorably discharged in sum- two years is too much to ask.” mer 1971, returning to his wife, Lynn, whom he had met in college and married between radioman school and submarine school. They raised two daughters in Ann Arbor, where Heberlein owned and operated an auto repair shop. Now 69, he looks back on his military experience as a kind of compulsory service every American should experience. “Since that time, I’ve thought some form of mandatory service would be a great thing to do. Two years of service, it doesn’t have to be combat, such as the Peace Corps, would be invaluable for young people to get outside themselves and see something of the world. “It doesn’t have to be man- Heberlein at boot camp in San Diego in January 1968. RICHARD HEBERLEIN | COURTESY dated, but if they PHOTO
The Washtenaw Voice
FLIPSIDE
November 3, 2014
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Stone treasures carved into WCC
Geology instructor provides college with lasting legacy by ERIN FEDESON
friend in the psychology department, Thomas spoke with Five stone features clustered at the Crane Damon Flowers, vice Liberal Arts and Science building scratch the president of facilities, surface of a story about the man responsible and told him he wantfor their presence. ed it “right in front of David Thomas, of Canton, a part-time geology my building, so I can instructor at Washtenaw Community College, see it when I walk in.” started the work in the 1990s, and the result is The move took the five features seen today. two hours, with a At the time, Thomas was a full-time instrucbulldozer pushing tor as well as the head of the WCC’s Geology and two excavators Department. Twice a year, he took his geolopulling, to move the gy class to a gravel pit north of the area where boulder about 100 there was a pillow lava rock, a rare type of basalt. yards, 3 feet at a time. Thomas offered an “automatic A” to anyone who S o m et i m e i n could get the rock from the gravel pit to campus. 2003-04, Thomas assisted in the building In 1995, Thomas received a call from a stuof a stone rendition dent who told him to look outside. Thomas saw The ‘Mastadon Theater’ with stone seating stands empty while a ginko tree, described of Michigan’s Lower the pillow lava rock sitting beneath the bridge by geology instructor Thomas as a ‘living fossil,’ stands to the right. ERIN FEDESON | Peninsula on the LA’s between the LA building and the Student Center. WASHTENAW VOICE west end. Thomas He told the student, “You got an A.” The pillow lava rock moved locations in the for the Gunder Myran building encountered a said WCC students collected most of the stones. Three exceptions were a celestite, a yellow fall of 1999 into the Zen Garden, located between Fossiliferous Limestone erratic boulder. The the LA building and the Family Education build- crew drilled more than 30 holes into the boul- sulfur (sulfur and calcite) and a copper, which ing. For this project, Thomas collaborated with der’s surface before the dirt was cleared away to had been donated from Edith Croake, an English instructor at the time. the late art instructor, Fred Horowitz. reveal its massive size. The Michigan stonework was “a lovely and arIn the summer of 2000, the construction crew Upon learning about the boulder from his tistic way to show science,” said David Wooten, a biology instructor from Ann Arbor. Sometime after 2004, Thomas simultaneously took on two more stone projects: an outdoor classroom and dinosaur footprints. He drew inspiration for the outdoor classroom while teaching summer classes in Traverse City. Thomas would take his students outside where there was a wooded area with benches. “I thought, ‘That’s a great idea, but why use benches? Why don’t we use something else, why don’t we use rocks?’” Thomas said. WCC president at the time, Larry Whitworth, was having the grounds redone. Thomas approached Whitworth and asked if he would build the outdoor classroom while they had the equipment on hand. Whitworth did what he asked. In addition to creating three tiers of stone boulders for seating, they built a stone podium. The podium consisted of a slate top and a small slate pencil/book holder. Thomas gave the outdoor classroom the nickname, “Mastodon Theater,” because he Construction workers savored their victory of unearthing the Fossilforiuc Limestone buried on the construction site had worked in mastodon excavations and had of the future GM building on Aug. 25, 2000. DAVID THOMAS | COURTESY PHOTO been responsible for making the mastodon Contributor
Family’s legacy written in stone by ERIN FEDESON
Croake Mineral Collection,” in the Crane Liberal Arts and Science building on the east end that faces the Student Center. Postcards, trinkets and knick-knacks are typiSuzanne Albach of Plymouth, a geology and cal family vacation souvenirs. One family chose to environmental science instructor and head of
Contributor
The Morris/Croake Mineral Collection on the first floor of the LA building houses just one-third of retired WCC English instructor Edith Croake’s family mineral collection. SOFIA LYNCH | WASHTENAW VOICE
find and collect rocks and minerals instead, and Washtenaw Community College is better for it. Mineral and rock hunting was a normal activity for Edith Croake, a retired WCC English instructor. One of the places her family searched for rocks and minerals was in the foothills near the Rocky Mountains National Park. Not until she was older did Croake discover that mineral and rock collecting was a rather unusual vacation pastime. However, the legacy of her childhood memories has a home in a display case titled, “Morris/
the Geology and Environmental Science departments, said she sends her students to the display to look at the minerals because they are beautiful examples and things that are typically not seen when walking around. “The display case was the heart of my father’s fine mineral collection,” Croake said. Her father, Vernor Morris, was in charge of finding the locations where they would look for rocks and minerals. While the display features Morris’s minerals,
a plaque reveals it to be a tribute to Croake’s family. The plaque tells the history of Croake’s family and displays a picture of her twin brother, Frank Vernor Morris. Croake said her family joked that her brother and her father were prospecting for rocks and minerals. It was their father who inspired Croake’s twin to become a geologist. Morris lived his ideal by teaching geology at Goebic Community College in Ironwood, a town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He was a science teacher and petroleum geologist in Oklahoma and Texas, according to the plaque. Croake said her brother had planned to open a rock and mineral store after he retired from teaching. Their parents stored boxes of rocks for him in the garage in preparation for this dream. However, he died in 1996. This event left Croake and her parents with boxes of rocks that lost their initial purpose. “She contacted me and said, ‘Dave, I don’t know what to do with all this stuff,’” David Thomas, a geology instructor at WCC, said. Croake told Thomas her parents wanted to donate the rocks and minerals. There were 65 book boxes in that first donation. It was possible because Thomas arrived with his students in a WCC van to take the rocks to the campus. “Edie donated a lot of good materials to us,” Thomas said. Years later, after the passing of her parents, Croake had 20 book boxes shipped from her parents to her house because, as she explained, “I couldn’t bear to throw the collection away.” It was not until around 2010 that she unpacked the boxes and made a second donation of rocks and minerals to WCC. Croake said Thomas came over with several teachers to appraise the rocks and chose the best ones to be put in a display case in the LA building on the east end,
fossil the Michigan state fossil in 2002. Suzanne Albach, a geology and environmental science instructor and the head of the department, said she sends students out to Mastodon Theater with the challenge to identify the rocks that make up the seating. Simultaneously, Thomas took advantage of the cement paths being made to include dinosaur footprints. He had taught a dinosaur class, in which he would take the students out to measure the footprints to determine at what kind of pace the dinosaur had been moving. “It was impressive Dave Thomas had the forethought of putting in the dinosaur footprints,” Wooten said. These tracks included a Theropod, a meateater identified by its three toes, and a planteater, identified by its back leg and the small imprint of its forelegs. The trick was, the two tracks crossed paths, and only one walked away. Thomas’ goal was to make his students think about how this occurrence was possible. “I consider a geologist, myself for example ... as a geological private eye,” Thomas said, “and I have some clues to work with, but I don’t have any witnesses.”
Just inside the entrance of the LA building, a stone rendition of Michigan contains 135 rock samples collected almost entirely by WCC students. ERIN FEDESON | WASHTENAW VOICE
opposite of his Michigan stone work. Biology instructor David Wooten had helped in the design of the display case as well as a part of the process of selecting the stones for the display case. He said only one third of the collection is displayed. “She knew it like that,” Wooten said, snapping his fingers together. He explained while they unloaded the boxes, Croake remembered each stone. She talked about what happened on each individual rock collecting trip, its location, who found it and how it was extracted by either her family or a family member. Wooten described listening to her as “a magical experience.” Croake said Minerals 140 and 135 were found in Joplin, Missouri. The sulfur, Mineral 114, was found near Monroe. Then Mineral 121, the iridescent fluorite, was found at the Auglaris mine in Ohio. Prior to the donations, Croake’s father donated rocks and minerals from his collection to the University of Michigan and to Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. He said he wanted to foster education from his hobby before he had a reason for giving the rocks and minerals away. “The display case is a more meaningful and enduring contribution to education than they expected to have, but they would be so pleased,” Croake said. “There’s lot of family history there,” Albach said, explaining that the family’s great love is visible to thousands of people because of the display case. She added she had students come up to her, asking, “Where can I find them,” after seeing the minerals in the display case. Wooten said he has seen students, visitors and staff stand in front of the display, especially when the lights are on. He said it was fantastic that the college has “a history of research, field work and hands-on life experiences.” The donations not used in the display case can be found in storage of the Geology department and three are in Thomas’ Michigan stone work: a celestite, a yellow sulfur (sulfur and calcite) and a copper.
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November 3, 2014
The Washtenaw Voice
FLIPSIDE
The Washtenaw Voice
November 3, 2014
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When you’re in the mood for a Quickie stomachs at 3 a.m. that’s calling for something other than the beer and cheap liquor cocktail brewing inside them, they don’t have to settle for drive-thru McDonald’s, they want a Quickie. On the inside, Quickie Burger An iconic mascot marks Quickie Burger Bar and Grill in downtown Ann Arbor. SOFIA LYNCH | WASHTENAW VOICE is drenched in by SOFIA LYNCH The fun-loving logo, a beer-mug school spirit. The iconic maize and Staff Writer wielding woman riding a burger, is blue cover every wall and the front a beacon for Ann Arbor’s late night is lined with $1 bills signed mainly Located between the University of crowd, smiling down as if to say “Give by the different divisions of campus Michigan campus and student housing, me your drunk, your tired, your hun- Greek life. Quickie Burger Bar and Grill stands gry masses.” According to the man behind the as a symbol of what life around South When the broods of students counter, on any given weekend night, State Street is like. around Ann Arbor get a rumble in their the small first level of the restaurant
would be stuffed shoulder to shoulder – sometimes with a line out the door. But on a Wednesday at midnight, it is a ghost town in comparison. Other than a few people lining the counter on the window and the employees, the restaurant is peacefully empty. Not visible from the street view through the windows, there is a stairway that leads to additional seating in the basement. The walls of which hold beer poster on beer poster – a reasonable theme considering that it celebrates what sets Quickie Burger apart: the booze! Not only does this burger joint sell beer, it sells wine, cocktails, and it has a Jägermeister dispenser. And the alcohol selection isn’t the only diverse thing about the menu. Quickie Burger offers a wider variety than one would expect – including breakfast,
vegetarian and dessert options. These burgers may be an important part about what this college town is about, but they are not necessarily the best bang for a student’s buck. For about $9 you can get yourself a “minor burger” – the single patty burger, a fry and a water cup big enough for a Barbie doll. That said, the restaurant still proudly boasts that its burger is voted the best in AA on the front window. However, it is not uncommon to hear that people come here for the fries. And, if you tried a batch, you couldn’t blame them – every fry so delectably salty it feels sinful. So when it’s late, students can satisfy their rumbling stomachs with a “quickie” downtown.
American Coney – taste of late-night Detroit by PAULETTE PARKER
Staff Writer
Karen Fogarty, left, serves a wide range of clientele during her graveyard shifts at The Fleetwood Diner in downtown Ann Arbor. EJ STOUT | WASHTENAW VOICE
Fleetwood – not just for hippies on hash by EJ STOUT
Managing Editor
Four patrons sat down shortly after midnight donning gear plastered with the iconic Old English “D.” Their slurred speech suggested they couldn’t distinguish one word from the next, but their accuracy and efficiency in ordering indicated they’ve been here many times before. “Hippie Hash. Over easy. Wheat bread.” A separate couple cowered in the corner – one with headphones plugged into his laptop, the other with her nose deep in a book. They didn’t last long in the distracting chaos surrounding them. At the corner of Ashley and Liberty streets in downtown Ann Arbor sits “the hippest little diner in the hippest Midwest town,”
but there’s much more to the iconic Fleetwood Diner than its charming tagline. “Some nights you get dinner and a show,” Karen Fogarty explained, as she poured fresh coffee for guests just walking in. Stickers cover the metallic walls of the trailer-style monument, less advertisements, more personal declarations of interest and passion. Conversations overlap within the cramped space, covering topics from the appropriate use of ethnic terms to one group’s “totally epic J.” The various posses found at the Fleetwood are strikingly distinguishable, yet the boundaries between them are fluid and friendly. New allies are formed at the classic ’50s-style barstools. Though they are soon forgotten, these fleeting friendships typify the atmosphere at Ann Arbor’s unrivaled 24-hour dive. At the Fleetwood, midnight quickly
turns into 4 a.m. Fogarty has been taking orders and deciphering slurs at the restaurant for more than three decades. She was only 16 when she began washing dishes at the diner. Now 48, Fogarty has seen the place change hands four times. Despite changes in ownership, the fan-favorite Original Hippie Hash has stood the test of time. The famous breakfast dish layers grilled tomatoes, green peppers, onions, broccoli and mushrooms over a bed of homemade hash browns and is topped off with feta cheese and a side of eggs. Three to four days per week, Fogarty covers the graveyard shift from 11 p.m.7 a.m., catering to the night owls of Ann Arbor. She is the only server on duty. Fogarty described the joint as “self-run” and expects guests to police themselves. Patrons catch on quickly. If someone sits down and immediately makes a mess of the table, she does
not hesitate to put them in their place. “I set boundaries, then we’re all good,” she said. Although Fogarty reports that her take-home pay is just $1 per hour, she said that she consistently receives an average of 33 percent tips. “I don’t work for free,” she said, adding that customers rarely turn into regulars if they don’t tip well. Despite her no-nonsense attitude, Fogarty is quick with a smile and describes her late-night clientele as “beautiful party people.” Tyler Kent, 21, works the flattop grill – a position that puts him directly in view of customers while he prepares their food. “The whole thing is kind of a show,” Kent explained. “You can see everybody and everything that’s going on.” Kent followed his sister and brother-in-law to Ann Arbor and landed his first job at the diner at age 18. He believes that locals appreciate Fleetwood
for its laid-back atmosphere. “Unless you’re being a danger to yourself or others, nobody cares.” Cabs line up at the nearest corner, prepared to collect guests as they stumble out while homeless panhandlers take advantage of the rare latenight opportunity. Arina Kartasheva, 18, a former Washtenaw Community College occupational studies and graphic design student, frequents the diner after other establishments have closed their doors. “I think Fleetwood is the only place I’ve been to after 2 a.m.,” she admitted. The food isn’t what draws her in, though. The atmosphere is most important, Kartasheva said. “It’s pretty accepting of drunks. I also like how it’s a ’50s diner, but at the same time alternative.” But perhaps the most heartfelt testament of all comes from Fleetwood’s new next-door neighbor, the famously and shamelessly unforgiving Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger. A sign in Blimpy’s window reads: “You want upscale? Go to the Fleetwood.”
Zacks – where more than just fries are awesome by LYDIA RUDOLPH
Contributor
Shrieks of laughter, loud yelling and the clanking of silverware compete for attention at Zacks of Plymouth. Along with the buzz of conversations is a feeling of excitement, at 2 a.m. on a weekend morning, like something big is about to happen. Here is a restaurant where familiar faces are greeted like family and new faces are greeted more enthusiastically. “It’s excellent. I come here almost every week. Normally get the eggs,” Kevin McGuinn, 44, of Bellville, said. As the night progresses, so does the rowdiness. The ding that accompanies the entrance of a customer becomes more
STRIDES, From B1 the walk, which it has since 2012. “The American Cancer Society has hosted its Relay for Life event on our campus for several years, since at least 2009,” said Rachel Barsch, manager of Student Development and Activities at WCC. “Because the ACS has enjoyed this venue so much, they decided to ask if we could accommodate the Making Strides walk as well.” A sea of pink, donned by survivors, loved ones and supporters, brightens up the drab October morning. The cold, cutting wind is no match for the positivity emanating from the women, men and children supporting those who are fighting and remembering those who lost the fight. Under the Survivor’s tent, pink warriors are offered goodie bags and massages. Their smiles radiate as they take pictures in the photo booth, decorated with props. Crowns. Masquerade masks. Ribbons that proclaim “Survivor” drape across their bodies. Beauty queens. They wear stickers that showcase how many years they have been
and more frequent, at times almost constant. Groups of teenagers stumble in every 10 minutes, most of whom clearly have been imbibing in beverages they’re not legally old enough to consume. They bring with them a gust of fresh air and fresh laughter. Adults pull up, too, hopping out of their cars like the youngsters who preceded them. The night is young, and the best is still to come. But for most, a stop at Zacks makes it a special night out. “If I go to Plymouth, I go to Zacks,” said Simon Bank, 22, of Livonia. “It’s great. Love the 24-hour service. The awesome fries are as good as their name.” Awesome fries are commonly widely known and universally popular. Basically its five pounds on a plate: fries are loaded with three
different types of cheese, bacon and ranch. And always served with a smile. Busy servers rush in and out of the kitchen carrying armloads of food. “I enjoy the service,” said Dean Underwood, 18, of Canton. “There’s no judgment.” Late nights often bring in some interesting characters, as well. “One time, this drunk guy came in, and I mean super drunk,” said Alexis Weatherly, a 20-year-old waitress from Canton. “He couldn’t figure out how to open the door. He was talking about how he had just peed in our side parking lot; I don’t know how he even got his pants back on. “He started crying hysterically after about an hour and continued for, like, two more. Finally, my coworker just drove him home. This
was at 4:30 in the morning. The things we see and deal with are crazy.” As the morning sun started showing its first signs of life, the diner began to empty. Most seemed to be leaving in happier spirits than when they arrived, if that was possible. Some had a look of disappointment, but only because a great night out was coming to a close. A few diners appeared to have a far-off look in their eyes. Maybe they were reflecting on a successful night. Perhaps they were realizing that soon they have to return Nursing student Cala Evans, 19, of Ann Arbor, enjoys to the real world – at least a late night bowl of chili at Zacks of Plymouth. LYDIA until tomorrow night. RUDOLPH | WASHTENAW VOICE
brandish signs covered with family photos. One team is especially sizable and boisterous. Their black shirts with pink lettering reads, “Team Meechy 2014.” They walk for Michelle. Her personality is as full as her smile. Her elation is contagious as she celebrates her triumphs over breast cancer. She is a twoMichelle Meechy, a two-time breast cancer survivor, had a team of supporters at the recent Making Strides time survivor. Against Breast Cancer walk on Saturday, Oct. 18 at WCC. PAULETTE PARKER | WASHTENAW VOICE “I was a twosurvivors. before the walk. With hesitancy, the year survivor, but then it came back, Badges of honor. group starts small. It swells quickly. so now it’s been one year,” she said. Latin music fills the air. FastDancing. Clapping. Laughing. Mary Harabedian, a 13-year surmoving. Pulsating. The ground pal- Tutus and feather boas sway and fly. vivor from Britton, cuts the pink ribpitates with the rhythmic sounds. Walkers begin to gather in clusters bon to kick off the event. As the crowd A Zumba instructor dances pas- at the starting line. They wear team begins to flow past the starting line, sionately across the stage. She en- shirts to honor who they are walking so does a steady, cool rain from the courages the crowd to come warm up for: mothers, sisters, wives, aunts. Some gray clouds.
Walkers are not deterred. Most have fought harder battles than a fall shower. Noses redden, fingers and toes stiffen, but they continue on. The course extends along the parameter of the back parking lot of WCC. ACS volunteers greet participants at checkpoints along the way. They cheer and scream, offering encouragement. Walkers delight in this, and return the optimism. Some share embraces, high-fives. High-spirited conversation ripples along the course as the walkers complete two laps. Holding hands. Pushing strollers. Some jog and finish quickly, others at a slower pace. There’s no rush. Faces of accomplishment and satisfaction cross the finish line. Teams take last-minute pictures and say their goodbyes as they head off to thaw. Some make plans to head to lunch. Others stay behind to bask in the sense of unity and achievement that comes from being around those whose stories are different from theirs, yet similar. As the tents and tables are packed away, the sun peeks through the clouds. So ends an inspirational morning that hopefully brings a cure one step closer.
Prominently located on the corner of Griswold and Lafayette, a sprawling red, white and blue mural hovers over passersby. A starspangled awning invites customers into American Coney Island’s modest entryway, welcoming them to a taste of pure Detroit. It is bright. Of stark contrast from the obscurity of the aging night outside. No host. You pick where you perch. The black-and-white-checkered floor leads to simple plastic tables and tolerably cushioned wrought-iron chairs. The body conforms to their rigid framework. The table is meagerly adorned. A menu in a plastic holder. Napkins. Ketchup, salt and pepper. The necessities. The surface slightly tacky. Residue from the last patron’s
Pepsi or beer. An ornate dressing of sports memorabilia – schedules, banners and flags – drapes the walls. Photographs of old Detroit fill a corner. Its glory days. The robust aroma of onions and frying oil is engrossing. It dances alluringly through the air. The indistinguishable rumble of individual conversations vibrates the room. Clanking dishes. Scraping forks. Sliding chairs. Four male servers whisk around the room in paths evocative of a game of PacMan. Maneuvering from table to table, they are servers, cashiers and bus boys. Almost taxing to observe. They alone are handling the growing crowd, which is burgeoning as 2 a.m. approaches. Steve Mixter, 25, approaches the table. Tall and lean. Soft spoken. Clad in black pants and shirt, a paper hat tops his head. An off-white apron hugs
his waist, sullied with the tales of his shift. His face is stoic, his mannerisms gentle. While slow to speak, he is eager to accommodate, offering to go next door to get a Coke if preferred over Pepsi. He takes the order. No need for a pad, recording it in his memory. The food arrives expeditiously. Two Coneys, with chili, onions and mustard. A Stroh’s beer upon recommendation. “It’s our best seller,” Mixter attests. The bun is steamed to spongey perfection. The hot dog gives a snap upon biting. All the ingredients, flavors, merge in splendid harmony. A boisterous man sits by the window. He appears disheveled. The creases in his brown face are evidence of his years. His clothes are tattered, his shoes wellworn. An empty bottle of Canadian LTD whiskey rests at his feet.
He picks up the ketchup bottle, squeezing a tomato stream directly into his mouth. He puts the bottle down, picks it back up and squeezes again. He attempts a joke with a passing woman; she does not acknowledge his advances. Reaching under the table, he pulls out White Owl cigars and the remains of a two-liter Faygo Moon Mist. He mumbles to himself. His behavior is peculiar but not bothersome. It is beguiling. At 2:15 a.m., the crowd multiplies. The clubs and bars have closed; people are hungry. The door opens frequently now, filling the room with crisp night air. At times, bone chilling. The rigid iron chairs are filled. Suddenly, there is an upsurge of noise. Everyone is in competition to speak the loudest to satisfy their desire to be heard. Women stagger in, pained by too many drinks and too-tall heels. They appear to be walking on glass. They
wince. Their discomfort is added to by the steady rain falling outside. Wet hair clings to shoulders. Dresses rise and fall in inappropriate places. Men make conversation with groups of women, women with groups of men. They compare stories of the nights they’ve just had. A woman outside smacks into the door before realizing it reads PULL not PUSH. A mixture of shrugs and chuckles. It is rowdy, but all in fun. No one is causing trouble. Laughing. Yelling. The devouring of food like last meals. Soon, the hurting ladies and the flirting men will be in their beds. The serving, bussing cashiers will clock out from their shifts. A new day will bring another chance to get a taste of Detroit.
an empty stomach. The average price ranges from $6-$8, rather appealing to the wallet of a college student. group of girlfriends with rosy cheeks No servers. No bussers. Just the and rain-matted hair laugh, reminisc- workers behind the glass divider, moving about the events of the evening. A ing quickly in an “assembly-line” forfew guys stand in line, proudly donned mation. They toss warm tortillas to one in maize and blue, talking about the another while the others ask the cusfootball game coming up later in the tomers what they’d like. The options day at the Big House. seem endless, meeting any possible The closer students get to the front want or need for savory meals. Another of the line, the more the eyes wander customer waiting in line leans up against to the menu above the counter. The a supportive railing as if it was meant options are made simple: “choose it,” just for him, keeping his alcohol-influ“build it,” “add it.” enced body from falling over. First, they decide whether they’d After receiving food and retrieving like a burrito, taco, quesadilla, bowl or an ice-cold beverage, some take their salad, a variety of choices to appease nourishments to go while others take
a seat, eager to unwrap their tasty – and substantial – treats. A burrito in hand feels like a five-pound dumbbell. With every bite, onions, tomatoes and sour cream spill out of either end. A student reaches for his napkin. Printed on the front, “You probably won’t need this, but you should take one just in queso.” He wipes his smiling mouth, laughing to himself, thankful he took the napkin’s advice. A meal from here is not for the faint-hearted. Generous portions may induce a Mexican food coma, guaranteeing a full stomach and an uninterrupted night’s sleep.
Pancheros – in a Mexi-coma By TAYLOR ROBINSON
the building, and the students have arrived. One Pancheros Mexican Grill cusSouth University in downtown tomer said to another as they waited Ann Arbor is flooded with hungry col- in line, lege students during the early hours “It’s 2 a.m., what’d you expect?” said of a Saturday morning. Hordes of one Pancheros Mexican Grill customyoung bodies pour out of the nearby er to another as they waited in line. bars, eyes and stomachs searching for Yep, this is rush-hour for late-night that perfect meal to satisfy the aching diners in any college town. rumbles. Feet splash through puddles. Patrons converse with smiles, Hoods held tightly overhead protect- knowing soon enough they’ll be ining them from the rain. They stumble dulging in some tasty Mexican food. onward. To the left of the line, a quiet couA beam of golden light shines above ple enjoys their meals. To the right, a Staff Writer
QUICKIE BURGER BAR AND GRILL WHERE: 800 S. State St., Ann Arbor WHEN: Sunday–Monday: 11 a.m.–midnight Tuesday–Wednesday: 11–3 a.m. Thursday–Saturday: 11–4 a.m.
PANCHEROS MEXICAN GRILL WHERE: WHEN:
THE FLEETWOOD DINER WHERE: WHEN:
300 S. Ashley St., Ann Arbor 24 hours, 7 days per week
CNA, From B1 The course consists of three components: lecture, lab and clinicals. Students start in the lecture portion, where they learn about disease protocol and different techniques. “After the lecture, you have to pass a certain number of tests,” Blakey said. Upon completing the lecture portion, students move on to labs. They learn and demonstrate skills such as handwashing, bathing patients and properly moving them to and from their beds. The lab component, like the other parts of the course, is taught by WCC faculty with equipment provided by WCC. Ypsilanti High senior Brenda Bouru, 17, is enrolled in the program, with hopes to become a nurse anesthetist. “We just started our labs, and I learn hands-on,” Bouru said. “It’s more fun for me, and I have more interest in that.” Once students demonstrate that they have acquired the necessary skills in lab, they begin clinicals, working in a nursing facility. “For right now, I believe clinicals are going to be across the street at the Heartland facility,” Blakey said. “But
1208 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor Monday–Wednesday: 11 a.m.–3 a.m. Thursday–Saturday: 11 a.m.–4 a.m. Sunday: 11 a.m.–2 a.m.
ZACKS OF PLYMOUTH WHERE: WHEN:
that could vary depending on the class.” Students attend training Monday through Friday from 8-10:15 a.m. Attendance is very important. “The state requires that if you have not been in attendance 100 hours, you don’t pass,” Blakey said. “It doesn’t matter if you know the material; you have to be in those hours.” In the development of the course, an extra 30-40 hours have been built in to allow for school activities and absences. However, if not in attendance, students will miss material. “I’ve missed a couple of days because I got injured, and I kind of fell behind,” Bouru said. “But after I got caught up, I was okay.” Students must also keep up with their other coursework and maintain a 2.0 GPA. Ypsilanti High senior Tiaira Smith, 17, is taking the course with her future educational goals in mind. “I just applied to Henry Ford College for the pre-nursing program,” Smith said. “CNA is the prerequisite for that, and I’m doing it for free and doing it now, so it will save me a lot of time and money.” This benefit extends to those
AMERICAN CONEY ISLAND
9468 S. Main St., Plymouth 24 hours, 7 days per week
planning to attend WCC. “You have to have CNA certification to apply to get on our nursing waitlist,” Blakey said. “So it gives them an advantage, instead of waiting until graduating and then taking it.” While the program has its advantages, it also has its challenges. “Certainly, the challenge is going to be maturity level,” Blakey said. Before enrollment, students must fill out an application and provide recommendation letters. “They have to get a recommendation from a teacher, a recommendation from a counselor. The teacher has to indicate how their attendance has been and their attitude and everything in class,” Blakey said. Once students pass the class they have a two-year window to take the certification test, and then they must be working within a year, or their certification expires. Even if students choose not to further their nursing education, being certified leaves them career-ready. “Our hope would be that all of the students that take the class, pass and sit for certification,” Blakey said.
WHERE: WHEN:
114 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit 24 hours, 7 days per week
ABE’S CONEY ISLAND WHERE: WHEN:
402 Michigan 17, Ypsilanti 24 hours, 7 days per week
TITLE ILLUSTRATION BY ERIK MORRIS | WASHTENAW VOICE
GED, From B1 following completion of their GED test. These two criteria had to be part of the bill to make it passable and to ensure these benefits wouldn’t be put to waste. “Generally, when we go to Lansing, we ask legislators, ‘Here’s a particular funding piece that we’re looking at’ or ‘Here’s a bill we want passed,’ and we sort of advocate for it,” Morgan said. “But coming up with creative solutions on their own is not something we traditionally expect legislators to do. “We just think it’s important to recognize when someone does something really amazing. From the conversation we had with him, he came up with the idea and said, ‘Let me find a way to do this.’ It’s incredibly rare that, particularly someone in the minority in the legislature, would be able to get something like this passed.” Although there were many blockades along the way, the
Democratic minority standing in the legislature did not affect the acquirement of the necessary funding. “I had a subcommittee in appropriations for community colleges that had a majority of Republicans, and I got 100 percent support for the initial amendment to the community college appropriations bill, how it was originally presented,” Zemke said. “We had huge bipartisan support throughout the entire process, but especially in that subcommittee. That’s where we got the most scrutiny about this whole idea, and we got it through.” The funding passed last June, but won’t be effective until June 2015. “It was a lot of work, but it was worth it,” Zemke said. Truhn said this effort from Zemke really reminded her of the benefits of communicating with our local representatives. “Adam was really helpful in getting the legislation passed,” she said, “and we’re looking forward to being able to continue to help people get to that next step having earned that credential.”
B6
FLIPSIDE
November 3, 2014
The Washtenaw Voice
Reacting to overreaction: Blaming the messenger
Construction fumes force evacuation of BE classroom by ERIN FEDESON
piping system to repair the ceiling. Insulation was part of the process, which the construction crew started spraying onto the building that An unidentifiable odor that caused what some morning at about 9 a.m. students described a burning sensation in their Elizabeth Alliston, 68, taking classes from throats and eyes forced a change of classroom Ferris State University through a WCC program, in the Business and Education building, where said she could smell it from outside the classconstruction was being done. room. According to Alliston, Davies searched Accounting students in BE 182 on Monday, first for a fan to air out the room and then Oct. 20, at 11 a.m., entered the classroom and searched for another classroom. She received stayed for about 15 minutes before changing assistance from a clerical worker in the buildrooms because of the smell. ing who moved the class to BE 110. Alliston said “Something was off, but I couldn’t put my fin- she went home with a headache. ger on it,” accounting student Zachary Willox, Flowers said the spray-on insulation 20, of Milan, said. had a substance that can result in irritation. Tammie Merideth, 51, a business student Construction workers took precautions by wearfrom Ypsilanti, described the smell as a strong ing goggles and particle masks. chemical. However, Flowers cautioned, the VOC in “If you smell something you can’t identi- the spray-on insulation was not a hazard. He fy, then it can’t be healthy,” Merideth said. described the insulation’s smell being similar She added her classmates and her instructor, to the smell given off from new carpeting or a Julianne Davies, were uncomfortable with freshly painted wall. the smell. “It’s an unusual case,” Flowers said, explainDamon Flowers, Washtenaw Community ing that the usual procedure would be to air out College’s vice president of facilities, said the the space 24-48 hours before the building is ocsmell came from the spray-on insulation used cupied. Monday was not the best day to start the in the construction project outside the building insulation, he acknowledged. near all of its entrances. As a result, the college will change the time A construction crew had been working on the construction crew performs such work on the building for five days, repairing the overhang- building, Flowers said. Crews will also shut down ing second floor of the BE building. Beneath the air ventilation system during the constructhe second floor was a piping system, which tion time to prevent a repeat of the incident, was deteriorating the ceiling over the first floor and future projects will use products with low walkway, Flowers said. They were removing the or no VOCs. Contributor
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The same thing has happened so many times in the past. Hell, the same thing has happened quite a bit this year. Media outlets like USA Today and CNN reported on a missing plane from Malaysia, JA MES SAOUD jsaoud@wccnet.edu until ISIS came along. And just as we became familiar, even comfortable with seeing ISIS in the news, Ebola took the terrorist group I’m nauseated, my blood is boiling, and I’ve out of the picture. got cold sweats. And it’s because of the Ebola Ebola is an ugly disease, and I am sympathetic virus. to the individuals and the families that it has afBut fear not, America, I don’t have the disease fected. But educate yourself, America. nor do foresee myself getting it. You shouldn’t I can’t say I’ve ever enjoyed certain fear-moneither, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be gering media outlets, but the level of stupidity afraid. and ignorance being shoved down our throats When the virus first made its way into the is offensive. United States a few weeks ago, I could’ve been A nurse who was treating a patient with the quoted saying “America is the safest place to be deadly disease also contracted the deadly disease. during an Ebola outbreak.” The media explodes. I was wrong. “How could this happen?” Media outlets and politicians have made it “Why did this happen?” very clear that they want you to be sick, that they “Who is to blame?” want you to be afraid, and they want you to feel These are some of the things that flooded our like you’re helpless. television after the “outbreak” in Dallas. America thrives on fear. And there is nothMeanwhile, just in time for an election, the ing more dangerous than that, not even Ebola. politicians swoop down from their watchtowIn the past few weeks, the fear of catching ers to save us. the deadly virus has spread in a way that many To comfort us. people believed the disease itself would. To win our votes. And as the number of terrified Americans America doesn’t just thrive on fear, it surwent up, so did the ratings. So the news kept on vives on it. reporting, feeding us fear. And while I may not be afraid, I’m beginning And we ate it up. to feel sick.
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LOW COST VACCINE/WELLNESS CLINICS with Dr. John Hermann Dog Vaccine Combo: DHLPP, CV, BDT $43 Feline Combo: RCP, FELV $32 RABIES 1 Yr. $14 RABIES 3 Yr. $16 Heartworm Test $19 Saline Tractor Supply 111 Sage Court November 2nd, 10am - 12pm
The Pet Spa 5260 Willis Road November 10th, 5:30 - 7pm
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Ann Arbor Tractor Supply 7251 Jackson Road October 22nd, 3 - 7pm November 26th, 3 - 7pm The Pet Resort October 26th, 3 - 5pm November 19th, 4 - 6pm
Call (313) 686-5701 or check out www.mobilevetclinic.biz for additional locations and times.
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The Washtenaw Voice
November 3, 2014
ACROSS
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1 Spill the beans 5 Hindu deity 9 Spore-producing plants 14 Subtle emanation 15 Put out 16 How food is often sauteed 17 Sheepish smile 18 2001 Redford/Gandolfini film, with “The” 20 Rap session? 22 Aunts in la familia 23 Cut down 24 Part of Q.E.D. 26 Letters on a Soviet uniform 28 1990 Connery/Pfeiffer spy film 34 Charged particle 35 Unable or unwilling to hear 36 Barcelona’s nacion 38 Frame of mind 40 “The Twilight Zone” creator Serling 42 Sought damages 43 Mercedes-Benz model series 46 More than a few 49 Dr. who has co-produced many Eminem tracks 50 2003 Eddie Murphy film, with “The” 53 __ weevil 54 PayPal parent company 55 Pan Am rival 58 Garden nuisance 60 Saw eye to eye 64 Nostalgic films for family gatherings ... and what 18-, 28- and 50-Across are? 67 Wrist-to-elbow bone 68 Kitchen attraction 69 Brush fire op 70 Garden area 71 Varnish ingredient 72 Fiddle-playing emperor 73 Postage-paid encl.
1 Airport carousel riders 2 Fish attractor 3 Solo for a diva 4W elcome sign hung over a street, e.g. 5 Prisoner’s goal 6 Doc bloc 7 Waterfall phenomenon 8 1971 prison riot site 9 Debacles 10 USN rank 11 Senator for whom an IRA is named 12 River of Egypt 13 Did in, as a dragon 19 Secret supply 21 Gunk 25 R ussian ruler until 1917 27 Litter yippers 28 Iconic news magazine 29 Liquor, in slang 30 First name on a 1945 bomber 31 P oker player’s “Too rich for my blood” 32 Riyadh resident 33 Ano starter 37 Port in Yemen 39 Apply crudely 41 Stephen King’s “Under the __” 44 Frosty, notably 45 Canonized fifth-cen. pope 47 Cajun condiment 48 Unexpected obstacle 51 Gridiron quota 52 IHOP array 55 “__ she blows!” 56 Had on 57 “ Famous” cookie maker 59 Seedy joint 61 First lady of scat, familiarly 62 Grandson of Adam 63 Dinner and a movie, say 65 B rit. record label 66 Musician’s asset
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THeE HUMANS GAVE ME A TAG FOR MY COLLAR! I THINK THEY’RE GOING TO KEEP ME!
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S E RV I C ES 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.
H E L P WA N TE D CERTIFIED AUTO TECHNICIANS: Speedy Auto Service and Novi Firestone are accepting applications. Competitive pay, medical/dental benefits and 401K. Immediate openings available. Apply online at: www.speedyautoservice.com. DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF: Seeking caring compassionate individuals for all shifts to provide services for adults with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses in their own homes in the Ann Arbor/Dexter area. Services include, but are not limited to, passing medications, providing personal care, socializing, transporting, cooking, and cleaning. Must be available to work weekends and holidays, have a valid Michigan driver’s license, reliable transportation and pass a criminal history check. No experience required. This is an excellent opportunity to learn new skills and make a major difference in someone’s life. Phone Lindsay at 734-485-1722 weekdays from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., or FAX resume
to 734-485-4230. Below is a sample of recent employment want ads which have been posted with WCC Career Services. Students are invited to read these ads and to contact Career Services to find out how to apply for the openings. Career Services is located in ML 104. For more information, phone 734-677-5155, email careers@wccnet.edu, or visit www.wccnet.edu/ careerconnection/. AFTER SCHOOL ASSISTANT: Part-time M-F, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. or 3-5 p.m. (must be able to work one of these shifts every day M-F). Assistant will provide care and guidance for preschool and/or school age children. Assistants provide various recreational/ educational activities for students, including games, arts and crafts, baking, sports, and nature walks. Light cleaning and maintenance of the program areas is expected. AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR TECHNICIAN: Seeking full- or part-time auto repair technicians. Job responsibilities include automotive diagnostics and repair. Areas of repair include engine, fuel, exhaust, steering, suspension, brakes, heating/ cooling, electrical, tires, and wheels. Specific employee responsibilities will depend on level of skill and training. DIRECT CARE WORKER: 24/7 supported living home for adults with developmental disabilities. Direct-care staff assist home members with daily living skills such as personal care, cooking, cleaning, medical care as needed (passing medications and following physician orders as needed), community outings and activities. Follow individual plans of service and behavior guidelines for each individual home member. Training provided. LAW OFFICE ASSISTANT: Well-established employment and civil rights law firm located in downtown Ann Arbor seeks a law office assistant
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. primarily to support one of the principal attorneys in a fast-paced litigation practice. Attention to detail and ability to multitask are required. Great organizational, communication, and “people” skills are a must. Candidate must be able to work with minimal guidance to prioritize and handle multiple concurrent tasks. Previous legal experience is helpful, but not essential. MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST: Conduct industry research to assess trends and identify potential changes in secular growth rates. Conduct company fundamental research within specified sector, primarily within technology sector. Source data and conduct in-depth data analyses using quantitative and qualitative research methods. PARALEGAL-EMPLOYMENT LAW: Wellestablished employment and civil rights law firm located in downtown Ann Arbor seeks experienced Paralegal familiar with civil litigation in both state and federal courts. Position requires experience with e-filing and court filing, drafting legal pleadings, discovery requests and responses, calendaring dates and deadlines, interviewing witnesses, and general administrative duties. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, attention to detail, great organizational skills and ability to work independently are a must. This is a full-time position with benefits. TEACHER/INSTRUCTOR: Part-time position and could be 3-5 days per week with approximately a two-hour time frame each day. We work throughout Washtenaw County. Current locations available are Ann Arbor, Dexter, Chelsea, Manchester and Stockbridge. Must enjoy working with elementaryaged children. Must: Have experience and enjoy working with children ages 5-11; Be able to manage a class of 16 kids with enthusiasm and positive praise; Have reliable transportation and proof of
DON’T YOU MEAN THE NSA?
auto insurance. Be able to transport materials to each job, and keep them safe while in your possession. Be on time and an excellent work ethic. Have great organizational skills. Enjoy math and science concepts. All materials and lesson plans will be provided to you. PAYROLL DATA ENTRY CLERK: Qualified candidates for the Data Entry Payroll Clerk position will have at least one year of experience in written and oral communication, use of office machines including calculators, use of computer including manual data input and reading and evaluating of output on screen and printout. Must be proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word, type 50-60 words per minute, proficient with collecting, calculating and entering data accurately, resolving discrepancies, answering employee questions and requests, and maintaining the confidential nature of payroll information and operations. Must also be able to prepare, compile and sort documents for data entry. Be able to enter data from various source documents into the computer system for storage, processing and data management purposes, keep records of activities and tasks, comply with data integrity and security policies. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Seeking professional individuals with excellent customer-service skills to provide administrative support to premier companies within Washtenaw and Monroe Counties. Many positions are full-time, long-term, offer competitive pay and may lead to direct hire. Administrative assistants are responsible for a wide range of duties, including, but not limited to: Using a variety of software programs such as Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and/or Access); scheduling meetings, creating agendas, and taking meeting minutes; preparing written correspondence such as email, letters, memos, etc.; making travel arrangements such as booking flights and hotels, arranging meals and transportation, and maintaining travel schedules; assisting with the coordination and preparation of presentations; developing and maintaining policies, procedures, and manuals; and providing any other administrative support as needed to teams, departments, managers and other staff. COMPUTER BUILD/PREP: Seeking person to help
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with the assembly of computers for resale. We integrate a variety of computers for business clients that we ship around the country. This work is cyclical, and we need someone to come in to help us when we are busy. The work includes installing components such as power supplies, hard drives and system boards into a chassis. A mechanical aptitude and the ability to lift up to 50 pounds is necessary. GOOGLE ADWORDS CUSTOMER SERVICE: Are you great with people? Do you love solving problems? Are you passionate about technology and want to work with one of the leaders in the field? Are you ready to start or continue your career with a renowned global company? The Customer Support Specialists will receive inbound customer service calls and guide customers through account management, technical troubleshooting and resolutions to problems. INPATIENT UNIT CLERK (PART-TIME): Want a career in the medical field where you can apply your exceptional customer service skills? We have opportunities available as Inpatient Unit Clerks for a local hospital in Ann Arbor. These are part-time, temp-to-hire positions paying $10/hour. Interested candidates must have six months of recent customer service experience, be highly reliable, and have open availability to work multiple shifts, on holidays, and on weekends. CONCRETE MASON LABORER: Seeking a concrete mason laborer to work for our client in Ann Arbor. This is a full-time, long-term temporary position paying $12-$13 per hour. Interested candidates must be hard-working, reliable, attentive and able to perform physically demanding working. Prepping worksite by breaking up and removing any old concrete. Setting concrete forms, ensuring they are properly constructed and have the correct depth and pitch. Spreading, leveling and smoothing concrete using a rake, shovel, trowel, screed, and/or float. Monitoring weather conditions to ensure curing of the concrete throughout the entire process. Assisting in finishing work by applying hardening/sealing compounds to cure, waterproof, and/or restore surface.
B8
November 3, 2014
FLIPSIDE
The Washtenaw Voice
Getting the band back together
From bandmates to the classroom, WCC instructor, student share long musical history because it’s like giving back to God for what he’s blessed me with musically,” said Gary, 46, who earned a master’s degree in musical education from Louisville University before marrying and moving to Detroit. Outside of the church, when one of them had a gig, he would call up the other to join. After spending two memorable years together, Lawrence relocated to another church. But they stayed in touch. “ We’ve always had a mutual respect for each other’s talent,” Lawrence said. “LaShawn is humble, but he really is one of the best piano players around.” Gary remained at Oak Grove until 2008, when his wife was called to ministry in Chicago. Since Gary found himself John E. Lawrence performs with the Power Band at Empowerment Church on in a new location, Friday, Oct. 3. TAYLOR ROBINSON | WASHTENAW VOICE this was the perfect by TAYLOR ROBINSON time for him to immerse himself in his muContributor sic career. He started producing music for national commercials for Toyota, Ford and The 56-minute, one-way commute from Happy’s Pizza. Eventually, he started his own Rochester Hills doesn’t stop LaShawn Gary company, LNC Music Inc. from attending music classes four days a week When Gary and his family returned to at Washtenaw Community College. The reunion Michigan, settling in Oakland County, he dewith his mentor/professor, John E. Lawrence, cided he wanted to recertify his teaching creis worth the trip. dentials, so he began exploring educational The two first met more than a decade ago at opportunities. It began with a phone call to Oak Grove’s Episcopal Church in Detroit. Gary Lawrence at the beginning of this semester. The was the director and minister of music, playing two discussed the wide range of music classes piano for the church band. Lawrence played offered at WCC, and Gary knew immediately guitar. They spent long hours together during he had no better option. the week preparing the music for the following “The college is on the cutting edge for offerSunday service. ing courses for aspiring musicians,” Gary said. “I get great fulfillment out of doing that So despite the hour-long commute, Gary and
Lawrence were reunited. This time in the classLawrence and Gary share a common interroom as teacher and student. est in jazz, gospel and R&B music. They also On Gary’s first day in Lawrence’s “Self- continue to share their musical passion within Management for the Working Artist” class, the church. Gary introduced himself to the other students. Gary returned to Oak Grove and is again Lawrence wanted them to know who they were the church’s director and minister of music. sitting next to, and told them to look to Gary for Lawrence is leader of the band at Empowerment guidance. Early in the Church in Southfield. semester, Gary saw On Oct. 3, John E. evidence of the value Lawrence and the Power of the class. Not only Band put on its first concan he apply these cert of the Jazz Series skills to his recertiat Empowerment, and What: John E. Lawrence and the fication, he said, but when Lawrence needPower Band Christmas Concert also toward his busied a keyboardist at the Where: 24350 Southfield Road, ness and release of his last minute, he didn’t Southfield first CD, planned for hesitate to ask Gary for When: Dec. 19, 7 p.m. January. assistance. Lawrence’s expeOn the Fox 2 News How much: Free rience in CD producTV report that aired a For more information: http://www. tion will be invaluable, day prior, Lawrence and myfoxdetroit.com/story/26686981/ Gary said, adding how Gary were finally reunitempowerment-jazz-series-withgrateful he is that their ed on stage, where the john-e-lawrence-the-power-band; lives have intersected band performed before http://www.LaShawnGary.com again. Both have had a a packed audience. lifelong love affair with And the circle that music; both of Gary’s parents were singers, and began at that church 13 years ago was now some of his family members were involved with complete – because it intersected in classMotown, he said. room at WCC.
See the band
LaShawn Gary smiles as he proudly plays the grand piano located in the Morris Lawrence Auditorium. TAYLOR ROBINSON | WASHTENAW VOICE
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