The Crier;
Thursday, January 24,2008
Issue 16
Spring 2008
1957-2007
Moving Towards a New America: The Dream of Post-Racial Politics
By Michael Coates
Nearly a hundred years ago, President Woodrow Wilson found himself at odds with people he termed “hyphenated Americans"-citizens whose loyalty was divided between national and ethnic nationality. In Wilson’s day, these hyphenated Americans tended to be German and Italian-Americans, whose concern for the well-being of their ancestral homelands often interfered with the President's ability to effectively deal with issues in Europe.
Nearly a century later, we are no less divided by hyphens, nor less threatened by the people who seem to delight in perpetuating these divisions. Certainly, America is, and ought to be, a land of great diversity, as it always has been. The diversity of beliefs, ideas, opinions, and backgrounds has always been a source of great strength in our nation. Unfortunately, it has also often proved a stumbling block to our national progress, dividing us as citizens when the interests
of the republic would be better served through unity.
With the presidential primary in full swing, it can only be expected that shrewd politicians will manipulate these divisions, courting the votes of many minorities separately, and accusing opponents of being insensitive to issues facing the various minority pressure groups throughout the nation. This has always been done in the past - divide and conquer is, after all, the oldest of military aphorisms, and is no less efficacious in a political campaign than in battle.
A nation divided, however, is not a strong one, nor is it a stable one. While lively and enlightened debate is a vital part of a healthy democracy, the tactics of division can only damage our republic, weakening our nation at a time when we can least afford it. We are at war, and we are in the opening phases of a recession - whether the government or the presidential candidates want to admit it or not.
There is no way that we can advance as three hundred million individual men and women - the very idea is ridiculous. To improve our lives, to solve the problems that face us all daily, we must go forward into the future as one nation, or not at all.
With the recent controversy over Senator Clintons remarks about Dr. King stirring up the old battle lines of the Civil Rights issue, it is time that we, the people, said no. No to racial politics, no to meaningless divisions, and no to the clever manipulations of power hungry politicos.
It is time that we stopped talking and started acting, and we, as young people and as students, are in the best position to do just that; we are a generation raised on the idea of universal equality, a generation for whom race, or gender, or religious convictions should be a non-issue.
Story continues on page 2...
Inside:
An Issue of Opinion
Read some of the opinions of our writers on issues regarding politics, lifestyle choices, and just about everything under the sun!
Safety Synopsis
Find out what the Department of Public Safety is up to.
Page 4 Weekly column
Flashback
Take a trip down memory lane with a reprint from a past issue of The Crier.
Page 5 Weekly column
Thursday, January 24,2008
Page 2
Moving Towards a New America
Continued from front page...
We have been spoon-fed acceptance, tolerance, and equality since childhood. For previous generations, and especially those who remember the civil rights movement first-hand, questions of race, gender, or religion were once serious issues. These should not be considerations for us, however, because the generations before us eliminated those issues before most of us were even born. None of us grew up attending a segregated school, or spent our childhoods painfully aware of the inferiority of a gender or religion, because our America, the America of the new millennium, has moved past such petty concerns.
Many of our nations leaders grew up in the dark ages of sexual and racial inequality, and many more were in power while those barbaric and divisive policies were still seen as the proper order of things. It is time that they moved into the present, along with the rest of us, or that they retire, and allow a younger, better informed generation to grasp the reigns of power. America is over two hundred and thirty years old; it is long since time that our nation put away the childish notions of its past and began to act its age.
MID-DAY MEDITATION: listening in silence
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That a woman, an African-American, and a Mormon can run for the presidency as serious candidates is an omen of hope for our glorious republic, but the fact that we still sight these differences at all evinces our persistent stupidity as a nation.
It is January 2008; in a little less than ten months, we will elect a new president who will lead us out of the first decade of a new millennium. It is our duty as Americans, and our privilege as human beings to take part in the democratic process, and to vote for whoever we see fit.
It is my sincere hope that everyone who reads this will vote in November, regardless of whom they choose - that being the only way to maintain democracy in our republic. Vote - but not for a woman, an African-American, or a Mormon. Vote, not for the gender or the race or the creed of your chosen candidate, but for an American who strikes you as a good and able leader.
It’s 2008, America. It’s high time we dropped the hyphens.
Thursday, January 24,2008
Page 3
A New New Year’s Resolution
By Anthony Popkin
As we close out January, many of us made New Year's Resolutions in hope of benefiting ourselves. Some of us may have already failed in our resolution attempts while others continue to keep their resolutions.
In the midst of a month passed in the New Year, maybe it’s time to think more of society as a whole than only of ourselves. Instead of making the same resolutions made last year that have come and gone, let’s try making a difference.
The world is at a strange place in time. Just look at what was happening last year. Turn on the television and think about what you’re watching: death and violence over video game systems, young teenagers
idolizing corporate images such as underachieving Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, or Britney Spears, or our country losing soldiers daily in a war built on lies.
Look at politics. One has got to wonder if we are even voting on a person’s stance on issues concerning the United States or whether the election to come is just who’s got the most money and is the most visible.
It’s time to take a look at reality and do something for ourselves as a whole. Our values are eating away at our country from the inside out; our international image is at an all time low. When will it stop?
Does each of us have to make a major contribution in hope of making some kind of change? No, but instead of
inventing some New Year’s Resolution for ourselves that many of us already gave up on or never started, let’s try something different.
Contribute to a good cause, donate to the Salvation Army, give blood, donate to a food bank or the SPCA (whom is currently hurting for donations), support the troops, car pool, and sit down with your kids for an hour a day. You’ll be amazed with how you feel about yourself, just for doing well for others.
Let’s reconnect with a real value system and quit concerning ourselves only with our own welfare. If we stay on the path we are on right now we’re going to destroy ourselves from the inside out.
Hate is a Strong Word...
By Brittany Valania
Although there haven’t been many yet, over the years of my life I have come to find that I am a generally pessimistic person who has a tendency to get annoyed easily. However, as much as I have a propensity to constantly announce my hatred of all things around me, there are certain things that tick my jigger - if you will — more so than others. I am not offended easily, but even the simplest things tend to catch my attention and irk me in one way or another: raised cracks in sidewalks, glitter, and when people let their children run around with sticky fingers and snotty noses, and I understand that there could very well be things I don’t take into consideration when thinking about how much these things make an awful look come to my face, but when it comes down to it, I don’t care too much. That could very well make me a hypocrite or an awful person, but I guess my apathy applies to a few different aspects of my life.
But the reason why I even chose to write this article is because I hate when people drive five miles per hour below the speed limit, and what I hate most about it is that I always seem to get stuck behind these people when I have somewhere I need to be. I am sorry, but my psychology professor probably doesn’t care about some slowpoke making me late for class. The morning that I decided that all of this would be put on paper, I was stuck behind one of these people for over fifteen minutes; not only that, but I then locked my keys in my car, and in my frantic attempts to convince an inanimate object to open up without being unlocked, I spilled coffee all down the front of myself. Hot coffee, which I hadn’t even gotten to try yet, and I had already paid for it.
Story continues on page 7...
Thursday, January 24,2008
Page 4
Safety Synopsis: Department of Public Safety Campus Beat
All information provided in the Department of Public Safety Campus Beat is provided by Sergrant Michael Von Bevern and the information provided is not altered from its received form.
1/15/08 1:49pm Miscellaneous Complaint
Public Safety Officers responded to the Elmira Center Bookstore for a disturbance. Upon arrival the disturbance had ceased. The subject involved was warned that they are not allowed in the bookstore anymore. Officers cleared with no further incident.
1/15/08 4:10pm 911 Hang Up
Public Safety Officers responded to the College Store for a 911 hang up call. Upon arrival Officers spoke with a student who had accidentally dialed 911 while trying to make an outgoing call. Officers cleared.
1/16/08 5:35pm Personal Safety Alarm
Public Safety Officers responded to R-212 for a Personal Safety Alarm. Upon arrival Officers found the room empty. The area was checked with negative results. Officers cleared.
1/16/08 8:55pm Agency Assist Public Safety Officers responded to a report of a Motor Vehicle Accident on Powderhouse Rd. Officers assisted Steuben County Sheriff's with traffic control until the vehicle was removed.
1/17/08 10:49am Medical Emergency
Public Safety Officers responded to a report of a student feeling faint in the Administration Building. The student was transported to the Health Office and Officers cleared.
1/17/08 11:37am Criminal Complaint
Public Safety Officers received a walk in complaint from a student who had two textbooks taken from her vehicle while it was parked on campus. A report was taken and Officers cleared.
1/17/08 8:10pm Motor Vehicle Accident.
Public Safety Officers responded to a report of a car in the ditch on Spencer Hill Rd. Steuben County Sheriff s arrived on scene and took a report. Public Safety Officers assisted with traffic control until the vehicle could be removed.
1/17/08 8:30pm Agency Assist Public Safety Officers received a report from Steuben County Communication Center that there was a subject at the Gymnasium who had reported an erratic driver on Spencer Hill Rd. Officers spoke with the subject and checked the Campus and surrounding area for the vehicle in question with negative results.
1/18/08 9:30am Agency Assist Public Safety Officers attempted to locate a student for a Steuben County Judge so they could be served with legal documents. The student was unable to be located and Officers cleared.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, January 24th
- Intramurals & Recreation 12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Gymnasium
Saturday, January 26th
- Women’s & Men’s Basketball vs. Jefferson 1:00 8C 3:00 p.m.
Gymnasium
Sunday, January 27th
- Intramurals & Recreation Open Volleyball 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Open Indoor Soccer 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Gymnasium
Monday, January 28th
- Last day to return textbooks with a receipt
Tuesday, January 29th
- Intramurals & Recreation 12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Gymnasium
Wednesday, January 30th
- Incognito with Michael Fosberg 12:00 p.m.
Triangle Lounge
) We want your stories! (
( We pay $10 per published ) \ article and $5 per published / )	photo!	C
/ Send submissions to j ( criernewspaper@yahoo.com)
Thursday, January 24,2008
Page 5
Flashback
In honor of Corning Community College’s 50th Anniversary, we will be featuring one or more reprints each week from past issues of The Crier. This can be a photograph, article, letter, advertisement, factoid - anything that we can dig up in the archives! Articles are chosen each week with the assistance of Cindy Maier in the Library. These materials have not
been edited or otherwise altered from their original form.
Gerald Ford To Visit CCC
By Kevin Burket March 31, 1983
Corning Community College is proud to present former President Gerald R. Ford. He will arrive on April 21 and will give a presentation in the Gymnasium that evening. The following article is a brief profile of President Fords life and accomplishments.
Gerald R. Ford, Jr. was born on July 14,1913 in Omaha, Nebraska. At the age of 2 his parents were divorced and he was taken to Grand Rapids, Michigan by his mother. It was here that he went to high school. Ford’s main interest at South High School was football: He was the star center on a team that won the state championship in his senior year. After graduation, Ford’s football coach arranged a scholarship for him at the University of Michigan. Even though he managed to get maintain a“B” average, he continued for focus most of his energies on football.
In his senior year, he was named Michigan’s Most Valuable Player, and was selected as the All-Conference Center. The Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers both made offers to Ford after graduation but he turned them down so that he could accept a job as assistant football coach at Yale.
After two-and-a-half years of coaching he gained admittance into the Yale Law School and graduated in January 1941.
When World War II broke out, Ford enlisted in the Navy and was eventually assigned in the South Pacific, where
he won commendation from his superiors as a loyal and dependable “team player." He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of lieutenant commander.
In 1948, Ford was chosen as a candidate to oppose the incumbent U.S. Congressman Barney Jonkman. The Republican primary was all-important and Ford campaigned tirelessly, which paid off by his winning the primary by a vote of 23,632 to 14,431 and then easily defeating the Democrats in November. After his first election to Congress, Ford was re-elected by the voters of his district 12 times in a row. In January 1965, on a vote of 73 to 67, Ford was elected as the new House Minority Leader.
Ford served 9 months as the House Minority Leader, during which he gave strong support for escalation of the Vietnam police action, and launched an unsuccessful crusade to impeach liberal Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. It was widely reported in Washington that Ford actually launched the attack on Douglas as a favor to then President Richard M. Nixon. In Congress, Ford proved himself to be one of the President’s most loyal and outspoken supporters.
In October 1973, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned amid charges of accepting illegal payoffs. It was at this time that Nixon nominated Ford to be the new Vice President. On December 6,1973, Ford took the oath of office as Vice President. His first pledge was not to the people but to Nixon himself. “Mr. President, you have my support and loyalty,” he said.
Story continues on next page...
Thursday, January 24,2008
Page 6
Flashback: Gerald Ford To Visit CCC
Continued from page 5...
To prove this he traveled over 100,000 miles and made many speeches defending the Nixon record and Watergate. In one speech Ford was quoted as saying, "A Coalition of groups like the AFL-CIO, Americans for Democratic Action, and other powerful pressure organizations is waging a massive propaganda campaign against the President of the U.S. And make no mistake about it — it is an all-out attack. Their aim is total victory... If they can crush the President and his philosophy, they are convinced they can then dominate the Congress and, through it, the nation.” In the same address Ford also dismissed Watergate as "a tragic but grotesque sideshow."
Unfortunately, all of this did not help Nixon, for on
August 8,1974, with nothing to hope for, he decided at long last to resign the Presidency. On August 9, Ford took the oath of office as President and one month later granter former President Nixon a “full, complete, and absolute pardon" for all crimes that he may have committed as Chief Executive.
Gerald Ford was President during a period of time when most of the country had a very bleak outlook on the presidency as a whole. Ford did much to brighten this outlook, but apparently it was not enough, for he was defeated in 1976 by Jimmy Carter.
There are two facts about Ford that may people are not aware of: 1. He was the only man to ever serve as President who was never reelected in his own right. 2. He has been the only president who had at one time been an Eagle Scout.
Letter to the Editor
I wanted to give a shout out to the Lady Barons basketball team-You all rock! I have been watching you all play since the beginning of the season and now that the season’s almost over, I just want to say that you all should be so proud of yourselves. You may not have won all your games but you played your hearts out. I think that when you play the game you love that your best is always good enough. So hold your heads up high and don’t feel down because you all are awesome. I didn’t watch the girls basketball too much in the past seasons but now I can see that the Lady Barons kick ass!
P.S. The men’s basketball team, for the record, is doing an awesome job too, but I don’t think the ladies get their recognition that often.
Jamie Carter
The Crier Staff
Editor
Lindsay
Woodruff
Assistant Editor
Amanda Morse
Treasurer
Elise Eberhardt
Reporters
Michael Coates
Anthony Popkin Brittany Valania
Advisor
Paul McNaney
Correction:
Some information in the January 17th issue of The Crier regarding the Academic Coordination Team and Student Disability Services was incorrect.
The Academic Coordination Team is now known as Student Support Services, and can be found in Room 148 of the Commons Build-ing. Susan Neal can be contacted by
telephone at (607) 962-9459, or by email at sss@corning-cc.edu.
The contact person for Student Disability Services is Kelley Cousin, and she can be reached by telephone at (607) 962-9292 or by email at kcousin@corning-cc.edu. This office is located in Room 149 of the Commons Building.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Thursday, January 24,2008
Page 7
Hate is a Strong Word...
Continued from page 3...
I hate when people think that they are clever. Despite the fact that most of the people who wore those stupid witty graphic tee shirts stopped doing so around the sixth grade, I still can’t go to the store to look for a decent top without running into them. I recently saw a shirt that said “Blink if you like me,” but that isn’t all - there are tons of them out there. Soon enough there will be a whole nation populated with “cute but psycho" and "50% single” shirts. I am sorry, but I didn’t like these stupid little sayings when they were on bumper stickers, and wearing them around town is just going to make me hate them all the more. The last thing that I need in my life right now is a girl whose clothes are too small telling me that my nonexistent boyfriend thinks she is hot.
Talk of witty sayings leads me to the next thing that I don’t like: awful lyrics. Frankly, I don’t care how much you like your tractor; no one thinks it is sexy, and no I don't want to get drunk with you in the parking lot for Walmart. Contemporary country music is one of the worst offenders of this heinous crime, but I am definitely not saying that other genres are completely innocent, since rap is notorious for talk of“bitchez n hos.” But really, all of this needs to stop.
We all get the point: you have run out of important things to talk about, and that’s OK, but if you don’t know what else to say, don’t say anything. Save the rest of us the agony.
When I was in the ninth grade I went through a phase that I am not too proud of. In this phase, if you had
given me a black tee shirt, and the ugliest looking color of hair dye you could find I would’ve been in heaven
— which back then I would’ve equated to sitting alone for hours writing crappy poetry full of angst that would never be seen by another human eye. But through talking to people I have come to find that a lot of people go through similar if not nearly identical phases in an attempt to find out
- and become comfortable with - who they are. You might not listen to a lot of goth bands, but you may very well go out for the cheerleading team. And really there are two things about this that upset me. The first is this: I don’t care who you are, your sadness is not the most important thing in the world. I am sorry, but I think that the starving kids with AIDS in Africa take priority over you, and if you don't agree, then you have more problems than any composition notebook can cure. The second point is this:
if you dye your hair orange, expect some attention. We all have a right to be who we are, and I completely agree with that, in fact I think that it is fantastic. If who you are is someone with green hair, that is great, to each his own, but if you are walking around town with clothes that make a statement, you are doing just that: making a statement. By saying “down with normality” and what our culture thinks is acceptable, you are questioning people’s views on everything, so if someone looks at you, don’t bitch about it, they are looking at you because — in some sense — you want them to. Let’s put this in perspective, shall we? Say you are walking down the street, and there you see a purple squirrel. You are going to look at it no matter who you are. I am not saying that you should “assimilate,” but I am saying that you need to realize the
effects that your actions have. If you walk around with a "kick me” sign plastered to your back, someone is inevitably going to come along and kick you.
With the presidential election coming up, I am seeing a lot of banners and tee shirts that say “Vote For Change.” While I am glad that people are getting involved in current affairs, I am afraid that all of this “Vote For Change” business is about four years too late. I understood it back in 2004, because everyone was afraid that there would be a president with what looks like a third grade education in charge of some completely terrifying things, but now that George W. Bush can’t be voted back into office (as anything more than two terms isn’t allowed) saying “vote for change” isn’t getting anyone anywhere, and really, saying it is taking up more oxygen than it is worth. Of course we are all going to vote for change; we don't have a choice. Everyone that is running for president right now is showing how much they aren’t like Bush; in fact, they are all talking about how Reagan-like they are. After seeing how against the Bush administration everyone either was, or became, no one wants any part of it. The late “Vote For Change" campaign is redundant and ridiculously time-consuming.
Although I have already outlined a few things that I find displeasing, I have a list in front of me that has tons more on it. And in reviewing all of this, I realize that all of those times people have heard my complaints and have said that I am an angry person could very well have some credibility.
Thursday, January 24,2008
Page 8
Poetry Corner
Distorted Complexion
By Anthony Popkin
A distortion of what is right in this world This life seems to be based on others acceptance Acting as if we must please all of society As so many desire somebody to confide in Seeing it on television and numerous magazines As if looks are more important than having real friends and family Beginning to believe the overly built up hype Making one feel, as the most important thing in this life is sight Get over the fads and desire for a life of emptiness The majority of the ones we look up to are filled with sadness As they live the good life, the life of lost reality I see their true colors, their life filled with tragedy The real secret is that these people have dreams To live normal lives just like you and me Where real passion thrives and true love exists A true life they desire where with others they can coexist So try to remember that you are original There is no reason to be like they want you to be Live a life that will make you happy And you will know what it’s like to live free
Melancholy Triumph
By Lindsay Woodruff
Crystal chandeliers shed magnificent light On all I did wrong and what I did right. This lack of ventilation induces suffocation And these windows are much too bright.
Coughs break the tension,
Yet simultaneously cause frustration. You can’t give me blank paper And not expect me to write.
With the sneezes and scratching And squeaking and crashing, Everything else is impossible to hear.
I couldn’t have held out for one more year.
Wasted Apology
By Lindsay Woodruff
> I’m sorry I’m comfortable on my own \ I’m sorry I don’t really feel.
I I’m sorry I can’t wish death upon you,) I just didn’t think it was real.
I’m sorry that I’m shallow,
But it’s really all I have left.
I’m sorry I’m so guarded,
I really thought it was for the best.
I’m sorry if this is painful, Maybe it was meant to hurt. That’s why I gave up on love, i But some people prefer getting burnt.
I’m sorry if you feel strung along,
I never wanted you to be.
I’m sorry I can’t be more for you, But I can hardly be anything for me.
I’m sorry that I’m lost and confused, I’m sorry my heart has shrunk,
I’m sorry you feel empty inside,
)Maybe one day you’ll have better luck.j
) I’m sorry I’m trying to explain myself, < There’s probably no justification.
I’m sorry I have no empathy left, And I’m sorry for the manipulation.
I’m sorry that I have to say this, And I hope you’re not distraugt -But I’m not really sorry,
 almost forgot.