Spring 2012, Issue 4
An Appeal to Tolerance
By Yasmin Shariff
Lately I have been hearing that some people think the paper is too “liberal” and not conservative enough. Also I keep hearing that this school is too liberal. It seems quite odd to me. Besides anything else, none of these people who are complaining are actually writing anything. If the paper seems too “left” then write something “right.” From my perspective, this is the most conservative college (or for that matter any school), that I have ever attended. Before moving to upstate Pennsylvania I lived in Chicago and Dal-
las; there were always students and teachers of many different races and sexual orientations. There were regular cultural fairs and speakers. In the past two years I have been at CCC I have heard of several instances where my gay friends have been harassed in the parking lot, and a friend’s car got keyed after he wrote an article that was seen as “too liberal”. I have heard anti-Muslim sentiments from fellow students on several occasions, and we have very few teachers here that are not Caucasian. Recently, I was verbally harassed by a stu-
dent for my comments at the Martin Luther King roundtable when I said that “the legacy of Dr. King is alive and we see it in the Occupy the Dream and Occupy Wall Street protests this past year.” I already knew this was a conservative area - the US representative Tom Reed is a Republican, The mayor of Corning, Rich Negri, is a republican and in the 2008 Presidential elections McCain got more votes than Obama in Steuben County. I did not, however, expect to see so many people who are threatened by opinions
different than their own, yet who refuse to join in the public dialogue in a civilized manner. The newspaper has a handful of progressives who write and every meeting we discuss how we need a conservative writer to step up as well. We have even talked about reprinting an associated press column from a conservative. But the writing in the paper should remain that of students, teachers, and other local people. If someone sees the paper as too “left”, please write something you think is “right.”
Continued on page 3
A Cautionary Tale
By Sebastian Swanton
Some of you may remember that in 2010, a student at Rutgers committed suicide after his roommate filmed him having homosexual intercourse. Now in court, Dharun Ravi cannot be tried for his roommate Clementi’s death, how-
ever, the prosecution seeks a prison sentence on hate-crime grounds, referring to Clementi’s requests to the school for a roommate transfer and complaints about harassment due to his sexuality from his roommate. With CCC planning on build-
ing dorms in the near future, it will be necessary for us to prepare for all of the issues that can come along with housing people.
We will need a larger campus security force, and will need a responsive system by which students can get help with
a variety of problems should they feel they need it. We must take this case and others like it as cautionary tales and use these tragedies as tools to help us protect our students, and our community.
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SPRING 2012, ISSUE 4
Student Spin: Snooki from The Jersey Shore is reportedly pregnant.Your thoughts?
Cassarah Presler: I
hope most of Snooki's fans are more intelligent than she is and use protection if they are having sex or tanning!!
Kris Hall: Now is the time to put into place a government program that requires
Tad Mixon: I
don't see how Snooki being pregnant affects anyone. Why is society so concerned with which celebrities are pregnant or not!?
Sherlynn Daupin: I've watched the Jersey Shore and I've seen her drinking and smoking. I don't really think she'd make a good mom.
Buying Yourself Time?
By Isaac Miles
Since the beginning of mankind, humans have consistently used time as a way of scheduling their lives. In fact, accurate use of time is crucial to a person who wants to lead an organized and productive lifestyle. But, what if time was for sale and did not exist indefinitely? What if people were not guaranteed tomorrow because of the misuse of time they spent today? The 2011 movie In Time, explores this issue. The movie is a cautionary example of why people should organize and use their time
wisely to earn a reliable and decent life. In this movie, when time runs out on a person’s clock, they quickly become deceased. In order for people to survive, they have to buy their time by working a job, pawning off belongings, and sometimes stealing in order to make a living and literally buy themselves time. Time replaces the use of money and becomes the new form of currency.
In the real world, money, or time, can have a huge impact on whether or not a person does well for themselves. Time can also be used as
an weapon to defeat you. As college students and as parents, uncles, aunts, brother, and sisters, creating enough time for everything is a major thing we have to deal with everyday. If there one thing to take away from this movie and the idea it is based upon, it is this: time can and should be used in a rewarding and fulfilling way. Students should be careful not to do things that could hurt their chances at a successful career or life. So, the next time you are given the option to slack off and stray away from your homework and/or home duties, think again. It could be the last opportunity you are given to prove yourself worthy of the future you want for yourself.
SPRING 2012, ISSUE 4
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An Appeal to Tolerance
Cont. from page 1
If it is too political then write something about culture. Though we do have an array of topics each issue, the Crier is a place for individuals of all ideologies to speak up and discuss all sorts of things, in a respectful environment. So please, state your opinion, find the facts to support your stance, and speak your truth to power. Personally, I refuse to be labeled as a Democrat or Republican but I do find it abhorrent how President Obama has been treated by most of the Republican Party. He has been treated with utter disrespect no matter how centrist he becomes. I am starting to feel that some individuals who call themselves Republicans or Conser-
vatives around here are carrying that game over to campus. Before we label ourselves as anything, I suggest we remember that we are all human beings first and be HUMANE. I would also like to ask, since when was being a liberal a bad thing? To me liberal means to be open-minded and tolerant. To embrace humanity and have egalitarian values. In the words of the Nobel Prize winning philosopher and author Bertrand Russell , “The essence of the liberal outlook lies not in the opinions held but in how they are held; instead of being held dogmatically, they are held tentatively and with a consciousness that new evidence may at any moment
lead to their abandonment.” I see the true spirit of egalitarian liberalism being expressed here at the Crier as some of our writers speak on behalf of causes that help the working class and use the mud slung at them to help create a colorful garden of journalistic excellence.
as chosen by Yasmin Sheriff
NINA SIMONE	MAYAANGELOU ZACK DE LA ROCHA	KARL MARX	BOB MARLEY
High Priestess of Soul Poet Laureate	activist rapper	revolutionary thinker prophet of love
GLORIA STEINEM HUNTER S. THOMPSON STEVIE WONDER	JOESTRUMMER	CARL SAGAN
American feminist	gonzo journalist	musical genius Rock's social conscience the ultimate scientist
RUMI	DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING MILES DAVIS	NOAM CHOMSKY	MUHAMMAD A LI
Persian poet	true leader	the Birth of Cool	truth speaker	The Greatest
Who are your picks for the 15 World's Coolest Humans? Send your list to the Crier and you could be in our next issue!
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SPRING 2012, ISSUE 4
The Other Side
By Dale Van Wormer
The Democratic Party - the party of the people. champions of personal liberty, “economic justice,” the common worker, free healthcare and whatever else. Sounds great, does it not? However, they don’t seem to care much about religious freedoms, at least in regards to Christianity. It seems that they have left that one out. Since we had to pass “Obama Care” to find out what was in it, we are only just now beginning to see all the atrocious things it contains; the latest controversy being the contraception debate. Obama’s healthcare plan would require all healthcare plans to provide contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs free of
Photo courtesy of www.politicalhumor.about.com
charge. That means that religious institutions, hospitals, universities, schools, and businesses will be forced to pay for these contraceptives and/or drugs. This brings up an interesting question, however. Since when have contraception ever needed to be a part of a healthcare plan? Unless you are using some designer condoms or something, a normal box usually costs around $12 according to the New York Post. For many religious institutions, particularly the Catholic Church, providing contraception is against its core teachings. Contraception in all its forms is strictly forbidden in Catholicism and this is not a secret - it’s a widely known fact because it is a part of the Church’s principals - they compare it to murder. For Obama or anyone in the current regime to continue to defend the idea that the Church should have to pay for it is completely outrageous, yet Obama’s ideological army continues to do just that. They try to twist and turn this issue saying that the Church is out of line with this belief and so forth. Whether you agree with the Church or not is irrelevant. If you believe in a free society where everyone can practice the religion of their choosing, you cannot support
this mandate. The Church should not be forced to do something that is against their core principals.
Consider this; imagine as a part of her campaign to tell people and their children what to eat, Michelle Obama decides that pork would be a “healthy alternative” to beef and as such, they (the government) wanted to mandate that all hospitals had to provide a pork meal. What if a Muslim hospital was forced to pay for pork meals? There would be much more outrage among the mainstream media and certainly in the Obama camp as well. Apparently Obama has recently said in a statement that religious institutions would in fact not have to provide contraception. However, upon further research, we know now that it is simply a ploy to throw people off his trail. Indeed the Church will still have to pay for it, just indirectly. This is not going away just like the SOPA and PIPA bills that nearly everyone was against are not gone. They simply keep proposing the same evil bills and mandates...just under different names. If the Catholics can’t stand up to Obama then ultimately all religion is subject to be bullied by government.
Hunger Lunch
By Kelsey Johnson
On Wednesday, March 7th, CCC’s Sustainability Committee is hosting a simple beans and rice lunch from 11am to 1pm in the Commons Building at a cost of $3. All proceeds will be donated to the Southern Tier Food Bank.
The purpose of the lunch is to raise awareness of the nutritional value of inexpensive meal options. While for many the question of where their next meal will come from is not something they have
ever had to ask, for many others it is an everyday struggle. According to the Food Bank of Central New York, 23 million Americans rely on emergency food assistance. The Sustainability Committee at CCC is hoping to educate participants of cost-effective, well-balanced recipes that will help sustain their family through hardship.
Tickets can be bought in advance by calling (607) 962-9375 or at the door. Included in price is a raffle ticket for a hand-thrown pottery bowl created by Fred Herbst, Professor of Art. Participants are asked to supply their own bowl and
fork to limit waste, however, some will be provided.
Even if you have never struggled with hunger, this is an excellent opportunity to learn budget friendly meal preparation that may come in handy someday.
SPRING 2012, ISSUE 4
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The Die Hard Liberal:
Fueling Campaigns with Hatred
Recently the GOP primary presidential campaigns have been fueled by nothing but the expression of hatred towards fellow Americans. These attacks took many forms: the attack on Women’s rights by Rick Santorum, the attack on Islam by Newt Gingrich, the justification of denying constitutional rights to American citizens based on sexual orientation by Ron Paul, and the lack of concern about the middle class expressed by Governor Romney. Now it is clear that the campaign is not about the economy or any of the related factors, but rather based on hatred, hatred for fellow Americans. When the GOP needs to make a charge to fire up its base it ramps up the hatred against those who seem threatening. This is a cowardly move by a political party. To create hate in the name of votes is not only wrong but unpatriotic. To turn Americans against fellow Americans creates, not only a disconnect within that party itself, but a dangerous precedent for vitriol and hatred.
When the Obama administration would have rightfully enforced the right for women to seek healthcare from their employers, the conservatives cried “attack on religious liberty!” The constitution does not only denote freedom from religion but the guarantee that religion shall be used to judge human beings. When laws are not based on religion, everyone in this nation is
protected and has their voice heard. If laws, and especially laws about contraception, were based on religion then we would not have a republic based on religious freedom. Furthermore, those same laws should work for every person, including those who don’t subscribe to religion. To do otherwise is antithetical to the concept of freedom of religion. When directed in such a fashion - as a direct attack against women - it is downright sexist. Yet still there is an element in the GOP who think they can mislead us by blaming the problems of society on minorities or women. A pattern of attacking for sake of attacking is clearly evident in this campaign season, such as when Newt Gingrich attacked our President for apologizing to the Afghan people, forgetting to tell the American people how the last man who presided (Bush junior) did the same thing. Well guess what? The Tea party is dead and with it has gone the lies in which they believed. But since all of this anti-minority rhetoric has been released, the attacks on the .6% of our population which is Muslim has increased. Now here there a real claim to a lack of religious liberty when the party of hatred has spewed rhetoric to fuel oppression of other religions. Furthermore, the hatred they fuel is no longer limited to race, sex, or religion - now they loath the poor. Even
though this nation was built on the backs of working immigrants, Mitt Romney says he is not concerned with the plight of the poor. Such a leader will lead us to yet more poverty in this nation. It is the unreasonably unbalanced tax policy, taking more from those who work for their money than those who trade for it, that has destabilized our economy. Anyone who thinks that there are job creators or a small percentage of people who create jobs does not understand the concept of supply and demand and do not grasp how purchasing power parities affect consumption. This very basic lack of information not only destroys their theories but make them absurd. Let them kill each other off for awhile politically, right now, we the 99%, must focus on changing the way that these hate-machines are fueled financially. -Paolo Cremidis
Our policy is, as it has always been, if you have an opinion that you think your fellow students should hear submit it to ccccrier@gmail.com.
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SPRING 2012, ISSUE 4
A Conservative (and yes, Christian’s) Commentary
By Rashelle Herrick
you’re close-minded about close-minded people ... ”
- CCC student to her professor
On Friday February 24, the upstairs corner of the classroom building undoubtedly got quite a bit noisier than usual. I was absent that day, but several classmates (and at least one professor), informed me that a heated argument erupted as the result of an English assignment, and strongly differing views. Tempers rose, lines were drawn, and no one was willing to back down. Instead of having class Monday, the professor sent us to the roundtable about Martin Luther King, Jr. After a quick defuse-the-situation at the beginning of class on Wednesday, it seemed like things settled down, until someone brought up everyone’s favorite kick-ball (dun-dun-dun) liberals and conservatives. A few days before, within my hearing, a girl on the bus asked what the difference was between a liberal and a conservative. Without missing a beat, the guy next to her replied “It’s really simple, a conservative bombs an abortion clinic, a liberal bombs a church”.
Ultimately, we went back to poetry, after consensus was reached that only a few students really knew what it truly meant to
be either conservative or liberal. Notice that I did not say “a Conservative” or “a Liberal”. Stresses and capitalization change quite a bit. Ordinarily I avoid discussion of politics, but this subject has been on my mind quite a bit lately. Several people have said that the Crier is too politically based (and biased), and that may be. Of the students I offered the paper to, some were glad, some skimmed to see if there was anything that interested them before pitching it in the garbage, and some flat out refused it. Each had their own reason, almost all said their decision was politically-involved, and many said that they were tired of the campus-wide mud-slinging.
Perhaps before we go attacking each other, we should get the facts straight on where we stand. The titles “Liberal” and “Conservative” are an evolution of ordinary, basic, everyday words that have now also become labels. Neither definition says anywhere that either group are going to blow things up. As a Christian, I have been insulted many times for my beliefs. The Ten Commandments come up quite often, as well as (believe it or not) the length and color of my hair. Among my circle
of friends at CCC there are Wiccan, Jewish, Atheist, and Agnostic. Each of them has been attacked just as much for their own personal beliefs. I try to live my life by Matthew 22:39, “love your neighbor as yourself”. It’s otherwise known as The Golden Rule: “Do unto others, as you would have them do to you.”
With clubs like Interfaith and the Gay/Straight Alliance (EQUAL), we are taking a step in the right direction towards opening minds and embracing diversity. Bigotry is just as ugly as racism, intolerance, and any other injustice. Before you judge someone on sexual orientation, skin color, or what you “think” they believe/stand for, try asking them first. You may be surprised. When it comes to politics: not everyone is an extremist, and not every opinion comes in black or white. In other words, not every student who calls themselves “conservative” would call themselves “a Conservative”, just like not every student who calls themselves “liberal” would call themselves “a Liberal”. Many of us are somewhere in the middle, and will simply vote for who we believe will do a better job.
Credit Management and Identity Theft Awareness Seminars This Week
Credit card debt can cause a great deal of turmoil in a person’s life. This week CCC will be continuing its tradition of informing its attendants on the dangers and correct handling of credit cards and debt in general. If you have yet to
receive professional instruction on the best methods to retain a good credit rating, it is highly recommend that you attend.
This Thursday at the Elmira Center in room U004 and Friday in the Triangle Lounge, the NYS divi-
sion of consumer protection will discuss these issues and will provide useful information and resources for all who attend.
-Sebastian Swanton, Editor
SPRING 2012, ISSUE 4
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Difficult Dialogues: What is White Privilege?
A Workshop led by Dr. Christine Atkins and Liz Newman Ehman
Thursday, March 15th 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Triangle Lounge, Commons Building Sponsored by the C.C.C. Diversity Council
For more information please contact Dr. Christine E. Atkins at catkins@corning-cc.edu
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SPRING 2012, ISSUE 4
Letter to the Editor:
The Golden Rule
I am appalled with the bickering that is taking place regarding the school paper. Now it’s my turn to make a complaint. I appeal to all students to end the bashing of insightful article writers and help us begin again, with respect. This is a student paper and there are going to be divergent points of view and that’s to be expected. People tend to forget that everyone has the right not to read the pieces of the newspaper that offend them, and more importantly the right to contribute things they would like to read. Granted, everyone is allowed to have an opposing point of view. But come on people, personally bashing someone is totally uncalled for. Let’s be realistic for a second. People are entitled to their opinions,
those you like, and those you don’t. If you want to criticize someone’s ideas, do so without a personal attack attached to it. Being stubborn and rude only brings out the worst in people. Let’s all try to remember that major lesson we all are taught as children. If you have nothing nice to say, do not say anything at all. Yes, that still applies in adulthood. That’s all, folks!
-Isaac Miles
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Submit your Letters to the Editor to: ccccrier@gmail.com
Have an Opinion?
If you know where this is on campus email us at crierprizes@gmail.com! This week’s picture from Zoe Swanton!
Get it out and get paid!
-	$10 per published article
-	$5 per published photo E-mail articles and photos to
Ccccrier@gmail.com
Staff
Sebastian Swanton, Editor-in-Chief Paolo Cremidis, Assistant Editor Yasmin Shariff, Secretary Zoe Swanton, Treasurer Kelsey Johnson, Art Director
Advisors
Christine Atkins, 962-93 10 Marie Hannan-Mandel, 962-9372
Congratulations to Kyle Pryslopski for guessing that our last picture was of the hallway in the commons, where you can find club offices (including The Crier!)