The Crier Thursday, November 13,2008 Issue 10 Fall 2008 Your Representation is Constant at CCC By Anthony Popkin The first break has passed and the second half of the semester is well on its way. Your Student Government is still devising plans to help resolve various student issues. Most recently, the Student Association Executive Board met with CCC's Senior Staff to discuss issues of great concern with students. Below are the members that represented both constituents: Student Association Executive Board Connie Winant - Student Association President Kenneth Austin — Student Association Vice President Anthony Popkin — CCC Student Trustee Kathy Kahn — Executive Board Auditing Treasurer Jackie Preston - Executive Board Secretary Julie Gorman — Speaker of the Senate Oribes Reis - Speaker of the House of Representatives Woody Knowles — Student Association Advisor Senior Staff Dr. Bud Amann — President of CCC Andrea Rubin — Vice President & Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. H. Richard Dozier — Vice President 8C Dean of Student Development Tom Carr — Vice President of Administrative Services Deb Stayer-Kelly — Executive Assistant to the President of CCC Joan Ballinger — Executive Director of Workforce Development 8C Community Education Barry Garrison — Executive Director of Information Systems These discussions are important in dialogue between students and senior administration. Below are the issues that were discussed and some of the solutions and ideas that have come between the two groups. Though the entire agenda was not completed due to the amount of discussion that occurred, members of the Executive Board and Senior Staff have agreed to meet again on November 18 to ensure that all issues are discussed. Class Cancellations Starting this semester, the college has implemented a plan of informing students of class cancellations through MyCCC and WebCT. Though this will not apply to class cancellations that are discussed with students and planned, it will apply to unplanned cancellations. With any new program, there can be unexpected hiccups, but with constant communication issues can be resolved in a timely manner. Student Association brought to the attention of the Senior Staff that not all students have computers or access to the Internet at all times of the day and it is important that we find an approach to communicate cancellations to them. One idea proposed included possibly creating phone trees in classes where students would voluntarily give their contact information and could contact each other in cases of cancellation. Earlier Snow & Ice Removal Concern was shown by the Student Association in regards to snow cancellations and timely removal. It was brought up by members that during the past winter, less attention was paid to snow and ice removal on campus and that student falls had occurred. Finally, it was stated that part of the decision of safety falls upon the students and that if they feel that they may be in danger by attending school on a particular day, they must make a decision on whether or not to come. Recycling Centers As part of being a sustainable year and looking towards the future, the issue of placing recycling centers about campus was discussed. It was stated that at this time, there are not enough recycling centers on campus and that the ones that we do have are normally overflowing and not large enough, which is leading to recyclables being thrown away. Student Association was informed that the Green Task Force Committee is looking into purchasing the stations for campus and will likely be testing one in the Nursing Building in the near future. The Nursing Building was chosen as there are fewer exits in the building which may lead more students to see the center and use it. Internet Protocol Since the occurrence of the bomb threat at CCC, the Executive Board has had discussed ideas on possibly finding a way to be more informative to the student body. Recently, it was brought to our attention that the College is looking into purchasing InfomaCast, software compatible with our current phone systems that allow college personnel to send campus-wide or specific messages to phone on all locations. Upon further investigation of this software by the Executive Board, we found that we may possibly be able to address these issues with the same company that offers the InfomaCast IP Complaint System with Clock 8C Microphone. This device could address the problem of clocks being set to different times throughout the campuses as they would all become synchronized and also give a speaker system to be used post-evacuation in case of anyone left behind. Though this system was found to be very expensive, Senior Staff now knows that there is an issue with clocks on campus and will continue to work with the Executive Board to find other solutions. Wheelchair and Handicap Accessibility The Executive Board showed gratitude to the Senior Staff for the two new handicapped parking spaces adding during the summer but explained that some students who have wheelchairs and drive to campus do not have enough space to get in and out as vehicles are parked right next to each other. An idea was discussed to make a couple of the spots available that are already large enough for personnel who drive a wheelchair van, and there is a possibility that courtesy signs may be put up to ask that only students who drive and are in wheelchairs park in designated spots. It was also discussed that some students in wheelchairs may want to have their classes on the first floor, as during emergencies (i.e. fire) being in or higher level room may prevent them from getting out of a building. It was explained that if a student desires a classroom to be moved for such a reason, that they should have Student Disability Services advocate for them. If you have any ideas, questions, concerns, or comments regarding any of the above issues, please come and talk to the members of your Student Association so that we may address them to you and the Senior Staff. Our offices are located in the lower level of the Commons and office hours are posted outside of those offices. The Senior Staff reassured the Executive Board that in inclement weather such as snow, members of the Physical Plant would be dispatched between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. for snow removal and 6:00 a.m. to salt ice dependent on For a full report of last Thurday's SAGA meeting, check out page 3... the severity of the weather. The Senior Staff also explained that if students feel in danger of ice/snow on campus, they inform members of Buildings & Grounds or Public Safety. Thursday, November 13,2008 Page 2 Have We Found Change We Can Believe In? By Anthony Popkin With the landslide victory of the projected electoral votes in favor of President-elect Barack Obama, it is now time to look to him being sworn into office on January 20, 2009. For the past two years, we have witnessed an historical event. On one side we had an African-American presidential nominee and on the other the first female vice presidential nominee, but now is the time to look past all of that. As one, we must now focus our attention on fixing the plethora of issues that have plagued America and hold Obama accountable for the promises of change he has made to our diverse society. Although I voted for Barack Obama, I find myself wondering if what he has stood for was all for show or if he will take the reins of our great nation and lead us to a position where once again we will become a respected and prominent nation. Now is not the time to forget the promises that were given during the two years of vigorous campaigning and I believe that the first step to moving forward is to heal the wounds of all political parties and move forward together. Will change happen immediately? Probably not, but we need to start somewhere. We cannot allow the promises of a better economy, of health care for all, for a call to bring our troops home to fall into the shadows of a campaign that is now over. We must now hold accountable the promises to address social security, energy and the environment and so much more. It will most likely not be easy. The hard times are not yet over for us, but as a unified nation where we hold President-elect Obama and ourselves accountable for the unforeseen future we can move forward. Celebrate this historical moment as the first African-American was elected as President, but don’t forget these promises because you may be overjoyed by victory. Join together and remain optimistic about our future as we hopefully have a bright future ahead of us. Almost Home By Michael Coates The election is over, the people are gradually returning to their terribly depressing lives, an there are still over sixty days until the new administration takes power. For the last two weeks, a hushed air of expectation has fallen over the nation, and our current President, absent so long from the watchful eye of the media, remains at large and unobserved. But not for long. On November 4th, America voted for change - not the kind that’s forced upon us from the top, but the pervasive change of a movement secured by a massive popular mandate. Progressivism is back, with all its attendant difficulties, false starts, and wide-spread individual responsibility for everything. Change is brewing in the republic, and it is and will be our change — just so long as we don’t mess this up. The election cycle (one of the longest in our history) is finally over, and its more than time for all those young and dewy-eyed liberals who flocked to the polls to elect Barack Obama to put up the pretty speeches, lay the campaign rhetoric in mothballs, and start to sharpen the hatchets. Because the revolution is here, and now; it won’t come with fire or force of arms (we've grown too civilized for all that), but it is a revolution nonetheless, and in all likelihood, it will be ongoing for the next four years as America adjusts to the new social and cultural realities of our first Hawaiian president. Perhaps, the next sixty-odd days would be a good time to reflect on what we as Americans have always stood for publicly, and all the ways in which we’ve failed the myth of our golden streets for so long. Perhaps, the next sixty-odd days would be the ideal time to isolate and exorcise all the petty hypocrisies of our republic, if only so that we can stand together as one indivisible nation on January 20th, and walk hand and hand into a new and more honest America. Upcoming Events Thursday, November 13 - Intramurals & Recreation 12:30 - 2:00 p.m., Gym College Roundtable: “The End of Capitalism?: Bailouts and World Views” 12:45 - 1:45 p.m.,Triangle Lounge - Midday Concert CCC Vocal and Instrumental Performing Ensembles 1:00 p.m., R004 Friday, November 14 - My Favorite Lecture Series presents: “The Origins of Modern Terror; How the Irish Invented Our Understanding of Terror and Exported it to the World.” 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., L204 Saturday, November 15 - Cool Kids “Young Spirit Dancers” 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., Main Dining Room, Commons Tuesday, November 18 - Intramurals & Recreation 12:30 - 2:00 p.m., Gym - Film & Food Festival “Chinatown” 6:00 p.m., Palace Theatre in Corning Limite^ug^l^m^e^icketHr^tuden^if^^ Wednesday, November 19 - Blood Drive 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Triangle Lounge Thursday, November 20 - Intramurals & Recreation 12:30 - 2:00 p.m., Gym - Midday Concert Rachelle Brisson Russian Vocal Music 1:00 p.m., R004 - Phi Theta Kappa Satellite Seminar “Archeological Evidence for the Origins of Affluence” 7:30 p.m., Triangle Lounge - Student Association Open Forum “Sustainability” 1:00 - 1:50 p.m.,Triangle Lounge - Men’s Basketball vs. Davis College 6:00 p.m., home Thursday, November 13,2008 Page 3 What’s Happening in Student Government? By Anthony Popkin Each week your Student Association Government Assembly (SAGA) meets to discuss issues and concerns that affect students college-wide. You may be asking, what is SAGA? As any other governing body, it is comprised of several different levels of government in order to keep a form of checks and balances. It consists of the Executive Board, the Student Senate, and the House of Representatives, each of which plays a significant role in allowing communication, between students, staff, faculty, and administration. Below are some of the topics highlighted and discussed during the meeting held on Thursday November 6th: Guest Speaker Diana Cleary, Director of Student Support Services (SSS), and Kathy Gleockner, Academic Counselor, came to SAGA to discuss the role of SSS, how they can help students and how they differ from Student Disability Services (SDS). SSS, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, was established to help students attain their educational goals through various avenues of support. As Diana Cleary stated,"We are here to help students be successful, we want to make students as successful as they want to be.” To be eligible to partake in the services provided by SSS, a student must fit into one or more of the following areas to include, being a first-generation college students (i.e. parents cannot have a 4-year college degree), meeting low-income guidelines set by the federal government, and/or have a documented disability or academic need. Some of the areas SSS can help with include individualized academic advising, personal counseling, career exploration, peer tutoring, adaptive technology, long-term academic planning, and much more. If you are interested in any of the services that are provided and are not sure if you qualify or not, it’s time that you take action now. The SSS office is located in the lower level of the Commons Building around the corner from the Bookstore. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8AM to 4PM. To contact, you can call 962-9459 or 1-800-358-7171, ext. 9459. Senior StaffLuncheon On November 4th, members of the Student Association Executive Board met with the Colleges Senior Staff. This meeting is important as it promotes dialogue between the students and members of the college. Various issues and concerns were discussed and are also in this issue of the Crier titled' Your Representation is Constant at CCC.” Trustee Report As a member of the Regional Board of Trustees, I gave the following report to the Student Association Government Assembly (SAGA): ♦ Advising & Counseling Services is working hard - since August 22,1,516 students have been assessed and retention efforts have been in effect as in the first four weeks of school, 429 students who had not attended classes were called. ♦ Since August 22nd, there have been seven new students added to the college community that have Autism and/or Asperger Syndrome. At this time Kathy Pettet, Director of Student Disability Services, and Dr. Dozier, VP and Dean of Student Development, have been brainstorming and have come up with ideas, one which would create low stimulus environments for students who are at risk for sensory overload. ♦ During the summer, 537 students attended new orientation sessions run by Student Life and I&R sold a total of 217 discount passes from August 25-Sep-tember 25. ♦ The ACE program continues to be highly successful for CCC, as it has experienced a 12% increase. Currently, CCC is now working with 1,800 students in 40 high schools in NY and PA. For those that do not know, ACE is a program that allows high school students to take college level courses in high school and receive college credit for them. ♦ The college now has a log splitter that will be utilized by ceramics students that use the wood kiln. This is highly beneficial as these members will no longer have to swing an ax to cut wood. Athletic Board Meeting Report Each month, the Athletic Board meets consisting of team coaches, faculty, students, and an athlete to discuss athletics as a whole. One issue brought up was that Student Government has had problems filling all of the seats on standing college committees. Student Government members asked that if there were any interested student athletes that would like to serve on any standing campus committees. Board members thought it was a good idea and stated they would send an e-mail to all coaches asking to find interested athletes. Sports teams have also remained quite busy as of late, as the following details: ♦ The volleyball team participated in the Buddy Walk for Down syndrome, raising more than $600. Also, one player (Cory Thornton) was named as MSAC player of the year and four others (Cory Thornton, Makenzie Stage, Becky Dittler, Janelle Heinig) were named to the all MSAC team. ♦ The womans soccer team conducted a free youth soccer clinic for girls ages 10-16 in Sayre, PA, with more than 130 participants. Also, two players (Meghan Derick, Megan DeKay) were named to the all MSAC team. ♦ The men's soccer team also had a free clinic for U12 boy’s soccer team and two players (Mason Otter, Brian Foley) were named to the All MSAC team. ♦ The men's and woman’s basketball season kicked off last week on November 6 th. If you would like to support the teams, look around campus for game schedules. Thursday, November 13,2008 Page 4 Holidazzle Weekend in the Gaffer District By Bradley Lee Contributing writer from Mansfield University Residents of Corning were invited to shop in Coming’s Gaffer District for the annual Holidazzle Shopping Weekend event, which took place Friday, November 7, through Monday November 10. Customers who wanted to participate in the event picked up a Holidazzle brochure from any one of the participating businesses within the Gaffer District or printed one off online at the City of Coming’s website. Thirty-nine businesses located within the' Gaffer District chose to participate in the event this year. Customers visited as many of the participating businesses as they wished. Customers received a stamp on their Holidazzle brochure for visiting a business to indicate that the customer had visited one of the businesses that were participating in Holidazzle. The more businesses customers visited, the higher the chance the customer could win a holiday basket. The Holidazzle Shopping Weekend brochure says that many of the participating businesses were serving a variety of refreshments and also offered specials and/or free gifts with a purchase during the weekend event. Kevin McKeon, supervisor of the Corning Information Center, worked during the Holidazzle Shopping Weekend. “Holidazzle draws people into stores they wouldn’t normally go to,” McKeon said. McKeon thought the turnout was great this year. He believes the Gaffer District does a fantastic job keeping the public’s attention focused on shopping on Market Street, Corning. Ginny Coon owns and operates the children’s store “Imagine That," which is located at 86 West Market Street within the Gaffer District. “We try to participate in every event possible that the Gaffer District offers,” Coon said. “It’s great to shop Market Street during Holidazzle because of all the things they have going on. They have the baskets, refreshments, and sales.” Kelly Halstead, a local resident and shopper said. Hie Crier Staff Editor Student Association Representative Lindsay Woodruff Sasha Wilkins Assistant Editor Advisor Jacquelyn Goebel Paul McNaney Treasurer Reporters Michael Coates Michael Coates Secretary Bradley Lee Caitlin Woodruff Anthony Popkin Interested in joining The Crier? We accept articles, photographs, announcements, or creative writing from students, faculty, and staff! Submissions can be emailed to criernecwspaper@yahoo. com Meetings are held Tuesdays at 12:40 in our office in the lower level of the Commons (feel free to email for directions) You do not necessarily have to attend a meeting to submit articles (We pay $10 per published article and $5 per published photograph)