SEE A5
ks boo
Looking for a roommate?
In-season, on budget
Students share their tips
SEE B1
SEE A6
A NATIONAL PACEMAKER AWARD NEWSPAPER
VOL. 28, No. 2 The student publication of Washtenaw Community College
Tuesday, September 10, 2019 www.washtenawvoice.com
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Planned Parenthood takes funding cut after Title X change
VOICE FILE PHOTO
Protestors defend Planned Parenthood and healthcare access in a February, 2017 rally in front of the Planned Parenthood on W. Stadium Blvd. in Ann Arbor.
CLAIRE CONVIS | WASHTENAW VOICE
Last week, Michigan became the first state to ban flavored vaping products.
Whitmer bans flavored vapes by claire convis
Staff Writer
Michigan became the first state to ban flavored nicotine vaping and e-cigarette products last week. The ban follows the reported six cases of lung illness in Michigan currently under investigation by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for a possible
link to e-cigarette and vape usage. An additional 450 people in the United States have reportedly developed similar cases of the lung illness, as of Friday. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued the ban as an emergency rule and said it comes as part of her goal to protect youth. “Companies selling vaping
“I decided I don’t want this to control me… I’ve been off it for awhile now, and I haven’t had any desire to get a new [vaping device] – Gage Lindnerman
products are using candy flavors to hook children on nicotine and misleading claims to promote the belief that these products are safe,” said Whitmer in her official press release on the decision. To prohibit further “misleading claims” made by vaping and e-cigarette companies, the ban also prevents companies from using words such as “safe,” “healthy” or “clear” to advertise and promote their products to the public. Gage Lindnerman is a student at WCC who decided to quit vaping last month. “I personally never got too hooked on it; I never got the cravings, but I did start
to notice some behavioral issues,” said Lindnerman. “I decided I don’t want this to control me… I’ve been off it for awhile now, and I haven’t had any desire to get a new [vaping device] ...I didn’t get anything from it, I was just losing.” Lindnerman said he’s known people who’ve struggled with cigarette addictions their whole lives; while he’s noticed both adults and adolescents using vape products, Lindnerman observed particularly high use by young adults.
see vapes, a2
Michigan residents may be affected by clinic’s withdrawal from federal program by catherine engstrom-hadley
Staff Writer
Michigan’s Planned Parenthood is taking a 20% funding cut, over $4.2 million annually, after severing ties with the federal Title X program. Michigan’s Planned Parenthood currently services 42,000 residents, and 70% of Title X patients. Title X, introduced by President Nixon in 1970 as a part of the greater Public Health Service Act, functions as the only federal grant designed to prioritize lower income families for family planning services. For over 50 years, Michigan’s Planned Parenthood has relied on Title X for 20% of its funding. This past June, the fed-
New program pairs seasoned entrepeneurs with rookies by nicholas ketchum
Deputy Editor
This fall, aspiring entrepreneurs can look forward to a new mentorship program offered by WCC’s Entrepreneurship Center to help plan, start or grow a small business. The Entrepreneurship Center, which describes itself as a “resource hub that supports individuals in developing their entrepreneurial capacity,” launched the program on Sept. 6. The program, called “Entrepreneurs-in-Residence,” aims to provide one-on-one mentoring to anyone seeking advice from successful business owners, according to a press release from the college.
Cheranissa Roach is one of the mentors, specializing in customer discovery and pre-business plan writing.
Anyone may use the program—from students, faculty, or area residents, according to Kristin Gapske, director of the Center. The program is one of of several offered by the Center and is the result of a $6,000 grant from a private foundation, which buoys program funds originating from the Center’s annual budget. Gapske wouldn’t name the foundation, saying it wishes to remain anonymous. The roster of mentors is made up of four individuals, each being a successful local entrepreneur. It includes a brand strategist, a business coach and artist/creative, an operations manager and life coach, and a “serial entrepreneur” who’s launched several successful businesses. “If you’re looking for deeper advice on marketing, we have a marketing expert. If you’re in the pre-business plan writing phase… that means that they’re not ready to write a loan package yet, they’re not even needing a loan necessarily, they’re just more into customer discovery… putting those pieces together,” Gapske said.
see entrepreneur, a2
LILY MERRITT | WASHTENAW VOICE
Members of the Out-Space club at a panel discussion they led earlier this year about being an LGBTQIA+ student at WCC.
Out-Space to host WCC’s first ever gender and sexuality conference Michigan Community College Gender and Sexuality Conference When: Friday, Oct. 18, 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Who: Community college students; faculty, and staff of any community college in Michigan. Allies welcome. Cost: $25 for students, $65 for faculty and staff. More information at www.wccnet.edu/mccgsc
by claire convis
Staff Writer
WCC’s Out-Space student group is set to host the college’s first conference surrounding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual/aromantic (or LGBTQIA+) identities this coming October. “We have been going out to pride events this summer,” said Zach Baker, the Michigan Community College Gender and Sexuality Conference coordinator, who is also involved with Out-Space at WCC. Baker attended Ypsi Pride,
Ann Arbor Pride and Jackson Pride events with members of Out-Space. Baker said that Out-Space was happy to support these events, as well as raise awareness for the conference coming up Oct. 18 and 19. “This is the first time that WCC has hosted anything like this and we are really excited,” said Baker. The conference will span a day and a half, starting Friday night and lasting all day Saturday. It will feature 30-minute breakout sessions led by faculty and 10-minute “Rainbow Talks” led by students.
eral court of appeals allowed the Trump administration to enact a policy on companies that receive Title X funding that prohibits them from mentioning abortion to patients, providing abortion referrals or sharing a space with abortion providers. Currently, 30 providers use Title X funding in Michigan, but Planned Parenthood was the only Title X provider in Washtenaw County. For more than five Michigan counties, including Washtenaw, Planned Parenthood is the only provider of abortion services. For Washtenaw County residents, Planned Parenthood was the only Title X provider.
see title x, a3 There will be creative expression such as collage, poetry and drawing, as well as physical activities including yoga, a nature walk and self-defense. “We are excited to be screening an award-winning documentary called “How to Survive a Plague,” which is about the AIDS crisis,” said Baker. Tom Zimmerman is the director of The Writing Center and adviser for the WCC Poetry Club. A few years ago The WCC Poetry Club and the Out-Space group collaborated for a special project. “We did an anthology called “Paradigm Shift,” which included creative writings by members of the [OutSpace] club,” said Zimmerman. “We believe that WCC is in a place where it could position itself to be a leader in LGBTQIA+ issues at the college level,” Baker said. Zimmerman shared similar hopes. “...This college could be the hub for LGBTQIA+ people who are maybe looking for a safe place where they could get a great education and also a lot of support,” Zimmerman said. “This is a very logical town and college to have that, so a cool conference like this will put us even more on the map, and get the word out.”
see conference, a3