AgorAINSIDE

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Nuclear energy advocate lectures on production

port nuclear power wholeheartedly, because it is a clean, safe, and envi-ronmentally friendly technology.”

Dr. Moore dispelled fears of nuclear energy being dangerous. “No one has ever died of a radiation-related acci-dent in the history of the U.S. civil-ian nuclear reactor program,” he said. “The cancer rates are 20% less for nuclear workers than for the general population.”

When asked why nuclear energy is an important subject for younger mem-bers of society to consider, Dr. Moore

t a l k e d about the job oppor-t u n i t i e s the nucle-ar industry provides.

“ I t [nuc lea r t echno l -

ogy] is in a world-wide re-naissance. It is a very safe industry, and provides excellent pay for a highly educated workforce. I think that would be a good industry for a college student to want to be in,” he said.

Greenpeace co-founder and environmental consultant Dr. Patrick Moore spoke

to the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce members and guests in the La-Z-Boy Center on September 11, 2007. Moore spoke about the im-portance of nuclear energy as a way to reduce the amount of carbon diox-ide the United States puts in the air by burning fossil fuels. According to the Energy Information Administration, the United States currently contributes about 6,000 million tons of carbon di-oxide to the atmosphere, mostly from the fossil fuel generation of electrical power. Nuclear power, Dr. Moore in-sists, is a way to dramatically cut car-bon emissions, thereby improving our atmosphere and environment.

“We need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Around 85% of the electricity produced in America comes from fossil fuels and by burning these fuels we are changing the chemistry of the atmosphere,” he said. “Millions of people are affected each year because of air pollution [from these fuels].”.

Meagan Walker, a Monroe County Community College student who at-tended the event, agrees with Dr. Moore. “I liked his presentation. It was quite informative. I like how he used statistics to back up the informa-tion he presented.” she said. “I sup-

Auto Show adds attractions

the building.A carnival will be held in parking

lot 7 on campus from Sept. 21-23. The carnival is being run by the Fam-ily Fun Tyme Amusements company and will be like a typical fair midway. There will be rides, games and food stands of all kinds, selling everything from elephant ears and cotton candy to popcorn and caramel apples. The

public should expect typical fair pric-es for tickets and food. Discounts will be offered for the day of Sept. 21 be-fore 8 p.m.

“This project was formed by the Student Government back in the winter semester in hopes to happen last spring. Their hard work is finally coming together for this semester,” said Student Government Advisor

NeCole Day.New this year to the event is a craft

show that will be held in the Admin-istration Building in room A-173. Booths will contain everything from fabric dolls and framed art work to baby blankets, scrapbooking supplies and rugs

Ryder estimated a crowd of 2,000 to 5,000 people attending the event.

By Jeff Kodysh

Dr. Patrick MooreGreenpeace Interna-

tional co-founder

Security reduces campus fearBy Jeff Kodysh

By Emily Chandonnet

“...There is no escaping the fact that over six billion people wake up on this planet with need for food, material and energy... Energy produc-tion is a core area in which we can improve”

Dr. Patrick MooreGreenpeace International co-founder

The annual Antiques and Autos Show is coming to Monroe County Com-munity College (MCCC)

Sept. 23. “There’s a little something for everybody,” said MCCC events/fitness/activities coordinator Tom Ryder. Along with the Antiques and Autos Show is a carnival and craft show. The event will be open to the public starting at 12 p.m. and will go till 4:30 p.m. Admission is free for the car show and $3 for the antique show.

Anyone is allowed to enter their vehicle of choice for a fee of $5 for early entry, and $10 for entries on the day of the event. The vehicles will be displayed in the parking lots on the main campus. All makes and models will be featured at the show.

“They can enter their 1992 Dodge Caravan if they really want to,” said Ryder. Registered vehicles are to ar-rive between 8:30-11 a.m.

A contest will be held between the entered vehicles. Six trophies will be awarded to the first place winners in six different categories includ-ing, Presidential Choice, Trustee’s Choice, Faculty Choice, Alumni Choice, Students’ Choice and Foun-dation Choice. There will also be a runner-up and third place winner for each category.

The antiques show will take place in the Welch Health Education Build-ing and antiques of all kinds will fill

pagE 7........................ Ernie Harwell speaks to faculty breakfast.

pagE 6........................ Should MCCC expect to see a future hockey team?

pagE 3........................ 3:10 Yuma Movie Review.

pagE 2........................ How Monroe can grow to accommodate youth’s need for enter-tainment.

Agora photo by Jeff Kodysh

MCCC Security Supervisor, Bill Myers, checks the ‘red phones’ that can be used for emergencies on campus.

A sample of classic cars from the 2006 Auto Show. Photo courtsey of Tom Ryder

The shocking tragedy at Virginia Tech took place over five months ago, but the events of the April shootings are still fresh in the minds of Monroe County Community College (MCCC) students. MCCC student Nina Rosen-beck was stunned when she first heard of the horrors that took place at Vir-ginia Tech.

“I could not believe that one shooter could kill so many fellow students in such a short time. I was in shock,” she said. “I think a major part of the problem was that they did not have a proper emergency plan. But I guess if someone really wants to hurt someone else, there is not much you can do to stop them from hurting them.”

Many colleges and universities are now looking for ways to improve security procedures to help prevent similar tragedies on their campuses. MCCC’s Health and Safety commit-tee is making a priority of constantly reviewing its security procedures to

ensure that any campus emergency is dealt with in an efficient manner. Safety is a top concern at the college, according to Joe Verkennes, MCCC director of marketing.

“The personal safety of students, staff, and visitors is of primary impor-tance at MCCC. The college is com-mitted to providing a safe campus.” he said.

According to Verkennes, MCCC has a number of safeguards in place to help maintain security on campus. These safeguards include such mea-sures as foot and car patrols by secu-rity personal, emergency phones in the buildings, and cameras in strategic locations.

A recent change to campus secu-rity involves the Whitman Center. Ac-cording to Sandy Kosmyna, director of Whitman Center, the facility has never had a permanent security guard present, but will now have an evening security guard on its staff. She is glad to have a security guard posted at the Whitman Center.

“I thought a guard was needed here

at the Whitman Center, not because something has or will happen, but because it is a reassuring measure to both the Whitman staff and students,” she said. “Students will now have someone to go to for help if something is wrong, or, for instance, if they feel unsafe walking to their cars.”

MCCC student Carol McCarty said she believes that MCCC’s efforts at maintaining security are working.

“I have always felt safe here. I al-ways see security guards patrolling the campus,” she said. “I think a possible improvement, however, for security here at MCCC would be to allow the guards to carry guns in case something like Virginia Tech happens here … I think that the teachers should explain at the beginning of the semes-ter what to do during an emergency situation.”

Rosenbeck also thinks that we have a safe campus. “I feel secure here. I think it helps that everyone watches out for each other … a group effort is what it really takes to keep anything safe,” she said.

September 18 , 2007Vol. 50, Issue 1M O N R O E C O U N T Y C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E

2 AGORA Editorial September 18, 2007

The Agora is published by the students of Monroe County Com-munity College, 1555 S. Raisin-ville Rd., Monroe, MI, 48161. The editorial office is located in 202 of the Life Sciences Bldg., (734) 384-4186. agora@monroeccc.edu.

Editorial policy: Unsigned edito-rials represent the majority opinion of the Agora staff. Signed columns represent the opinion of the writer. All letters to the editor must include a signature, address and phone number for verification purposes. The Agora reserves the right to edit

for clarity, accuracy, length and li-bel.

The Agora is a student-managed newspaper that supports a free stu-dent press and is a member of the Michigan Community College Press Association, the Michigan Collegiate Press Association, the Michigan Press Association, the Community College Journalism Association, College Media Advis-ers, Associated Collegiate Press and the Student Press Law Center.

Mark Bergmooser, Adviser

The Agora Editorial Policy

Agora photo by Jen Shadle

By Jen Shadle

Whether it’s your first semester or your last, all students have one thing in common: the stress of college. You may be juggling school with full-time jobs, children, or both. You may have taken on too many courses to breathe; you may have taken a Ford buy-out package and decided to return to school. One thing nearly all students can agree on: college is full of stress.

Somewhere in between studying, rearranging schedules, taking tests and meeting deadlines, students may not have a moment to relax and enjoy college. We all have different stress management tools; some study until they are blind, some decide which classes are vital and drop the rest, some drink.

I spoke with Monroe County Com-munity College student Dawn Rote, a mother of three children returning to school after fourteen years. Rote is currently taking on three courses, and working toward her Master’s in nurs-ing with a minor in pain management. When asked how she deals with the rigors of college and being a mother without being overwhelmed, she said: “Organization is the key for me. Mak-ing lists, time management, and al-lowing time for myself to relax along with asking for help when things get overwhelming keep me balanced and

from becoming overstressed.”Dr. Janet Pietrowski had a few tips

for keeping our sanity through the new semester. Pietrowski is an individual therapist and post-doctoral fellow at the University of Toledo (UT) Medi-cal Center, who worked six months at the UT Counseling Center. According to Pietrowski, the most common issue students face when returning to school are, “Stress reduction, time manage-ment, new routines, course schedules, and juggling school with personal commitments.”

Pietrowski offered a few guidelines for staying cool on the road ahead. “The most important things to re-member are time management and setting realistic goals for yourself,” Dr Pietrowski said. “For example, don’t wait to start a project a week before it is due; break it into small steps. Eat-ing, exercise, and rest are critical in reducing your stress. No matter your workload, taking a break can help you refocus and enhance your motivation; there must be a balance.”

By keeping these main points in mind when feeling overwhelmed, and following these tips, we can all reduce stress, leading to a more productive semester.

Under Stress? Just Chill

Big Brothers, Big Sisters rewards volunteersBy Kelsi Kachar

The dictionary defines a volunteer as a person who “performs a service willingly and without pay.” I have been a local volunteer for different associations since I was a young teen, and after reading this definition I wonder if I truly am a volunteer. The definition says that I would perform a service without pay. Sure, I was never paid cash to be a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, but I was rewarded every time I vol-unteered.

Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children with mentors in professional-ly supported one-to-one relationships. I volunteered not only to help out and give back to the community, but be-cause I found this service rewarding and enriching to my character in an assortment of ways. No amount of money could have been enough pay for the smile on my “Little’s” face when he saw me each week, having anticipated our scheduled visit all

week. To know that I was making a difference in this child’s life and acting as a positive role model was enough payback in itself for the few hours of the week I spent with this child. Big Brothers Big Sisters has been sending representatives to high schools throughout the county to en-courage participants. Student Ravin Massingill was a mentor at his high school and states that “being a brother broadened my horizon on what kind of role model I needed to be for not only the community, but myself.”

Volunteering throughout the com-munity, whether it’s with Big Broth-ers Big Sisters or any other organi-zation, is beneficial to a student for more reasons than just your college resume. It builds your character, and if you’re lucky, you’ll understand the type of rewarding experiences that I’m talking about.

Many students have very little volunteering experience, if any at all. Maybe it’s something small like a crop walk required by your high

school National Honor Society, or tutoring an elementary student. This can open many doors, and one should realize that if they have a passion, they should research and see how they can contribute to that. If one loves to read, why not volunteer at your nearest library? Volunteers are needed everywhere, from the hospi-tal to senior citizen homes. For those with less time that still want to give back to the community, volunteering at the soup kitchen is a great opportu-nity to help those in need and to also truly change your outlook on how you live your life.

I can’t stress enough just how im-portant the act of volunteering is. When helping others, you’re helping yourself, and no one has too good of a reason not to give back to the com-munity we live in today. So, before fall escapes us, I challenge you all to give a few hours of your time and a piece of your heart to an organization that needs your help.

Monroe needs dire face liftBy Josh Kraus

Oh humble town of Monroe, what are we ever to do with you? How many more weekends must we be forced to stay home, bored to tears from lack of something better to do?

Oh Monroe, why couldn’t you be more like our neighbors to the south in Toledo, or the happening city of Ann Arbor? You ask us how to make the city better, how to improve it; you ask us how to entertain and keep the youth happy. So here I am speaking loud and clear for the youth of Mon-roe: fix up our town!

When I think of how our fair city could be improved, a number of dif-ferent ideas come to mind. The most obvious improvement would be to increase the number of places people can go to be entertained. Unfortunate-ly Regal Cinemas recently closed, so there goes Monroe’s number one hang out spot. Sure, we still have Denniston Cinemas, but who wants to go there? It smells like dirty feet and baby vomit … and besides, the carpet’s green.

Aside from a lack of decent places to go for movies, Monroe also seems to be missing a decent place to shop. Now I’m sorry if Vitamin World or the Hallmark store are your cup of tea, but would it really kill us to get some decent stores in the mall?

While we are on the subject of enter-tainment, let me just say that it would be nice to go down to St. Mary’s Park once in awhile and actually attend an event that isn’t targeted for the 45-70 years old crowd. Is it really that hard to schedule some events targeted to-wards the young adult crowd? How hard can it be to book even just a semi popular band and let them play some-where downtown?

More importantly, town of Monroe, why does it seem that it takes at least an extra 10 minutes to get anywhere I want to go because of road construc-tion? There has got to be a better way to do this. I suggest scheduling road work on important roads at separate times. That way, maybe you would only have to through a small traffic back up instead one that stretches on for miles.

Now I will give credit where it’s due. City of Monroe, you do a fine job at keeping the downtown clean, and respectable. I also have to say that I rarely go hungry in the city, for there are quite a few decent places to eat. However, in the other areas I have mentioned, our city seriously needs some work. City of Monroe, the youth of our city are talking and asking for change, but it’s up to you to listen and do something about it!

Agora photo by Jen Shadle

Agora photo illistration by Bethany Younglove

September 18, 2007 A&E AGORA 3

New Linkin Park irritates fans

3:10 to Yuma deserves Oscar

Monroe Street Gallery displays art downtown

By Patrick Dunn

Walk the Line director James Man-gold delivers another Oscar frontrun-ner with the intense Western drama 3:10 to Yuma, starring Christian Bale (Batman Begins, American Psycho) and Russell Crowe (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind). Bale portrays Dan Evans, a down-on-his-luck rancher who agrees to escort notorious outlaw Ben Wade (Crowe) to the 3:10 train to Yuma Prison in return for $200 cash. However, Evans must contend not only with the psychopathic Wade but also with his outlaw posse, who have discovered Wade’s whereabouts un-beknownst to Evans. As Wade’s band closes in on the hotel where Evans and Wade are holed up, Evans is forced to

make a final desperate gamble to see Wade to justice.

3:10 sports some truly impressive performances from its two leads, as well as some excellent supporting players. Bale has surely displayed his versatility before in his still-bur-geoning career, but he again takes a unique and convincing turn as the downtrodden Evans. Bale perfectly conveys Evans’s barely contained an-ger and sadness at the loss of his leg in combat, as well as the threat of losing his ranch and his family’s livelihood. However, even this excellent perfor-mance from Bale is easily trumped by Crowe’s darkly seductive Ben Wade. Although a killer and an outlaw, Wade is also very much a suave man of culture; he quotes the Bible, enjoys

sketching his surroundings, and holds to his own twisted moral code. Crowe follows in the footsteps of Anthony Hopkins’s Hannibal Lecter, brilliantly portraying an undeniably dangerous man who nonetheless draws the audi-ence in with his dark charisma.

As mentioned above, 3:10 also fea-tures some fine supporting cast mem-bers. Ben Foster as Wade’s devious right-hand man personifies the true psychotic evil that Wade himself is not. Logan Lerman as Evans’s teen-aged son also gives a fierce and be-lievable performance.

The script is cleverly written, cast-ing both Evans and Wade as broken men who see in each other something they lack. The tension between them is not only well acted but well written.

The mounting catastrophe of the film’s nail-biting final showdown is also brilliantly crafted.

Director James Mangold de-serves high praise for his skill in creating such a tightly paced, in-volving film. Having proved his versatility with films ranging from mob drama Cop Land to romantic comedy Kate and Leopold to, of course, Walk the Line, Mangold again defies genre in 3:10. The film features all the tension of a great Western thriller, but still emphasizes emotional drama over spectacle. The result of all-around brilliant acting, direction, and screenwriting, 3:10 to Yuma is a truly great film that deserves a nod at the 2007 Oscars.

By Josh Kraus

It has been more than four years since Linkin Park (LP) has released an album, but they finally broke the silence with their newest album, Minutes to Mid-night. Many LP fans are wondering how Minutes to Midnight compares to their previous hit, Hybrid Theory that was re-leased in 2000. As a former die-hard fan of LP, the dramatic shift in style has left me teary eyed and disappointed.

First, let me go over a quick back-ground in case you are not familiar with LP’s style and reputation. As a rock band, LP has always easily held its own when compared to other modern rock styles. However, LP really shined with its unique hip-hop centered songs backed up by hard-hitting guitar riffs.

Along with this, LP has always been very lyrically centered. Unlike most modern day bands, LP write their music around their lyrics. They put so much of themselves into the lyrics that it literally became emotionally stressful for some band members to play their songs.

These factors are what made LP such a great band. The way they combined two styles of music, their individuality and their ability to be strong yet emo-tional are just some of the things that made them really stand out, even as a mainstream band. Unfortunately, it feels as if most of these qualities just aren’t present in Minutes to Midnight.

Taking a closer look at the actual songs themselves on this album it is quite evident most material on this al-bum can be dubbed “slow songs.” LP is not particularly known for such mate-rial, and frankly it feels like an area they do not excel in.

The first real song on the album, “Given Up,” is rather unusual. What is that in the beginning? Clapping? Well whatever it is, it feels almost awkward and totally out of place for LP. Later on in the song, evident swearing is heard. This is another first for LP, which also happens to be something they had said they would never do.

Another song that bears mention is “Leave Out All the Rest.” Listening to it I can not help but feel like I have heard it before and that the song sounds like it was ripped straight off a Backstreet Boys album. Along with that the lyrics from this song are just horrible. A line from the song reads: “And when you’re feeling empty, keep me in your memory, leave out all the rest, leave out all the rest.”

Needless to say the lyrics just feel sub par, yet overdramatic.

One of the last songs on the album, “In Between,” seems a bit odd. LP’s front man Mike Shinoda steps away from his rapping reputation for this particular song. Shinoda’s singing feels both out of place and a bit forced throughout the song.

In fairness, there were one or two tracks that I thought were decent. “Bleed It Out” was nice and “What I’ve Done” is okay, even if it is a tad overplayed. “Hands Held High” is decent at best, yet often feels preachy.

I feel like the identity that once was Linkin Park has been lost with the re-lease of Minutes to Midnight. The sound, emotion, originality and overall quality just seem lacking in comparison to past albums, although some casual fans may disagree. Hopefully LP can do more to please both the casual and hardcore fans with their next CD release, maybe even restore that which was once the very essence of Linkin Park: creativity and originality at its best.

By Jen Shadle

With the recently established Monroe Street Gallery, there is a new splash of color added in the once bare windows lining the cor-ner of Monroe and Front Street. Co-owners and local artists Sara-beth Miller and Susan Carr display not just artistic business, but their own reverse paintings, canvas art, ceramics, and hand-painted cloth-ing. The Monroe Street Gallery also provides a place for other local art-ists to share their art. Some of the local artists’ pieces have landed in various downtown windows. For example, some lace the walls of the 129 Lounge, also located on Front Street.

From jewelry to shell art, the shop offers a little taste of everything. Monroe has many talented artists who, until recently, had no where to share their art with the community. While downtown businesses are struggling and new businesses are opening and closing at a fast pace, I had to ask, “Why here?”

Carr explained: “I had to be close enough to Ypsilanti to commute, and something struck me about Monroe. The historical sites and quaintness kept me here. Once I realized there was no place for creating or viewing art, Sarabeth and I decided to open our own.”

The gallery lends a unique new sophistication to downtown Mon-roe as well as an outlet for people to display what they have created. The Monroe Street Gallery is a must-see for art students, as well as anyone

with an eye or appreciation for art.Master potter Darlin Nothnagel,

a local artist and student at Monroe County Community College, will be appearing along with alumni Joan Harris at the gallery for a meet-and-greet opening. Nothnagel will be featuring his pottery exhibit Friday, September 28.

“The gallery gives you exposure in the art world,” said Nothnagel. “It’s hard for students to get their art seen by the community. This is an excellent place for students to show their work.”

Show openings are usually ac-companied by acoustic music, wine and fine food, such as sushi.

Whether ducking your head in to browse, or to see if there is some-thing you simply must bring home, the gallery is a welcoming environ-ment for everyone.

“The excitement of being the place to go for a night out is amaz-ing. Reminiscent of the ‘70s, it’s refreshing to see a revival of art. We have the work of over 70 art-ists; there’s so much for everyone,” Miller said.

If you are an art student or believe you have something to share with the community as opposed to cam-pus alone, the Monroe Street Gal-lery is a great place for your work to be seen and possibly sold. The com-fort of having a gallery in Monroe is a breath of fresh air from the drive to Ann Arbor or Detroit, at the same time giving local artists the floor.

For more information visit www.monroestreetgallery.com

Above: Co-owner of the downtown art gallery, Sarabeth Miller, demonstrates some of her artistic abilities.Below: MCCC student, Darlin Northnagel, exhibited this pottery at the down-town gallery.

Agora photo by Jen Shadle

Photo courtesy of www.monroestreetgallery.com

Photo courtesy of www.310toyumathefilm.com

4 AGORA Feature September 18, 2007

By Bethany Younglove

Food often brings back memories of times past. Sweet potatoes may spark memories of past Thanksgivings or large, glazed hams might evoke thoughts of an Easter dinner. This is true for Monroe County Community College student Kyle Happy, whose favorite food is venison burgers.

“[E]ating my venison reminds me of good times. My first memory [of eating venison burgers] is one year af-ter hunting and processing [my dad’s] deer,” Happy said. “My father made burgers for me and him, and it was just a fun and very happy time.”

Not only did making these burgers give Happy and his father bonding time, it also created a good memory, which he can always remember.

-----------------------------------------Kyle’s Savory Venison Burgers1 lb. venison burger1/2 of an onion, dicedPinch of garlic powderDash of salt¼ to ½ tsp. black pepperPinch of dill

1. Add all seasonings to veni-son burger. Knead it until mixed well.

2. Form into four patties and grill until desired results are achieved.

-----------------------------------------

Recipes do not just come from no-where, they have to have some ori-gin. So, where did the inspiration for these delectable venison burgers come from?

“This interesting recipe actually came from me,” Happy said.

This brings back another memory, one of becoming a chef, of sorts.

“I used to put all the spices my fa-ther had on the burgers I made ... it just happened to be what was listed,” Happy said. “The diced onion came later when I realized that fresh onion is better than onion powder.”

Student shares venison recipe

Dedicated to justiceBy Patrick Dunn

“It’s a risk,” Dan Richardson ad-mits. The 33-year-old husband and father of three made a big decision last year when he took a Ford buy-out package and went back to school for the first time since he graduated high school. “The job was so mo-notonous … [but] there was nowhere else I could go and make $29 an hour … without a college educa-tion,” Richardson said. Enrolling in Monroe County Community College (MCCC) for the winter 2007 semes-ter, Richardson said his decision was a surprise to his friends and family. “[They] were like ‘man, you’re stu-pid,’” Richardson said. “ … But I just couldn’t see myself twenty years from now doing the same thing I was doing at Ford. My wife didn’t work, [she could] stay home with the kids … and now we’re throwing it all up in the air for a possibility of doing something I actually want to do.”

Richardson refers to the criminal justice field, which he has a unique background in. Richardson entered the Coast Guard immediately after graduating high school and became a drug enforcement officer, acting on tips from informants in countries such as Nicaragua, Mexico, and Argentina. Richardson left the Coast Guard in 1995 due to Guard budget cuts and personnel reductions, but says he en-joyed the work immensely. “I loved it. I loved being able to get the drugs off the street,” he said. “I regret leav-ing now, but at the time it was the right move for me.” Richardson’s strong commitment to criminal jus-tice, specifically drug enforcement, is

strongly linked to difficult events in his childhood.

“My father and my stepmother were heavily into drugs,” Richardson said. “ … It tore our family apart … My father chose his drug addiction over his five kids. He had three houses, he worked for Ford Motor Company, he had a real nice life, and he lost every-thing … to drugs.”

Richardson even-tually left home and did not see his father for six years, but felt a need to speak to his father before he left for the Coast Guard. “I went to his door … and he barely rec-ognized me,” Rich-ardson said. “But we got a relationship from that point.” Richardson’s father died one year later.

Richardson now displays a fierce com-mitment to academic excellence as he pur-sues his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. “I want to do everything I can,” Richardson said. “I graduated with a 2.0 [GPA] in high school and I’ve got a 3.5 here at Monroe County so far … I just want to raise my GPA even higher.”

Tom Nordstrom, MCCC professor of

political science and business law, spoke highly of Richardson. “A lot of older students come back to school with a new sense of urgency to do well,” Nordstrom said. “And he’s done well.”

Richardson credited his family for their support of his decision, particu-larly his wife Jennifer, who has taken a full time job to support the family.

“My wife has been phenomenal,” Richardson said. “She is the epito-me of a soul mate … If she hadn’t been on board with this, I wouldn’t have had the choice to come back to school…It’s been a lot of hardship on her part.”

Richardson plans to attend police academy at Schoolcraft College start-ing next fall.

Student Dan Richardson takes notes during his Earth Science class.

Photo illustration by Bethany Younglove

First in a series spotlighting MCCC’s non-traditional students

Agora photo by Patrick Dunn

By Charlene Hunt

Monroe County Community College (MCCC) has been selected to receive a grant of $250,000 for up to five years for the U.S. Department of Education’s (USDOE) Up-ward Bound Program.

MCCC has officially partnered with Mon-roe Public Schools, focusing its energy on Monroe High School. Through this program MCCC will target fifty at-risk high school students who come from socio-economically disadvantaged families and prepare them for a successful college career. These students must come from a low-income family and/or a family in which neither parent holds a de-gree higher than an associate’s degree.

The Upward Bound Program is a part of the federal TRIO programs which include educational opportunity outreach programs designed to support, motivate and educate students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. In 2006 the USDOE granted a total of $266,623,737 to colleges for funding of the Upward Bound program. There were a total of 761 schools accepting the grant that year, according to the USDOE Website.

“This grant will effect generations to come. Once you have parents that go to college it is far more likely for your children to go col-lege,” said Beth Kohler, MCCC coordinator of alumni and resource development.

The program will serve fifty Monroe High School freshman and sophomore students who fit the criteria. These fifty students will work closely with MCCC and Monroe High School to achieve readiness for col-lege through over 100 contact hours of col-lege preparation. This includes academic, career and personal counseling, tutoring, skill instruction, college financial aid and admissions process assistance; supplemen-tal instruction; and more. The program aims to leave these students feeling confident and prepared enough to take their knowledge of universities and colleges across the country.

“The generational impact [of the program] and impact within the school in terms of changing potential negative influences into

potential positive influences is very heart-warming, very exciting,” said Mark Hall, MCCC director of admissions and guidance services.

Anthony Quinn, MCCC director of Up-ward Bound, has been involved with the Up-ward Bound program for about eight years and previously worked at Lourdes College in Toledo, Ohio. Quinn was also a recipient of the grant as part of his high school’s partner-ship with the University of Toledo.

“The program is intense. It’s 24 hours a month for eight months,” Quinn said.

Along with tutoring and numerous other forms of academic assistance, the students attend a mandatory six-week summer school component that is meant to simulate college life. This six-week component takes place at MCCC campus and focuses on English, for-eign language, science and math.

“The foreign language will most likely be Spanish. We also want a computer course too, computers are a big part of college … A lot of times the students will find that when going back to school in the fall that they are ahead of their classmates,” Quinn said.

The agreement states that the program aims to have 80 percent retention on the original fifty students after their first year with Up-ward Bound. There will also be a waiting list for students who are interested in the pro-gram after the first fifty have been selected in case a student drops, moves or is unable to continue.

“We hope to be ready by the end of Octo-ber. By November 1st everything should be going full-throttle,” Quinn said.

Quinn looks forward to planning the three-day summer trip he takes with the kids af-ter every summer component. In the past, teens from Upward Bound have traveled to Florida, New York, Chicago and other states for an all-expense paid trip that the USDOE grant pays for.

“This program really puts the community in community college,” said Hall.

Upward Bound grants second chances

Agora Illustration by Charlene Hunt

Writing CenterMon.-Thurs.: 8a.m.-7p.m.Fri.: 8a.m.-4p.m.Sat.: 9a.m.-1p.m.Phone: (734) 384-4167Fax: (734) 384-4338writing@monroeccc.edu

BookstoreMon. & Tues.: 8a.m.-7p.m.Weds.-Fri.: 8a.m.-4:30p.m.Phone: (734) 384-4140Fax: (734) 384-4222

Learning Assistance LabMon.-Thurs.: 8a.m.-7:30p.m.Fri.: 8a.m.-4:30p.m.Sat.: 9a.m.-1p.m.

Fitness CenterMon.-Thurs.: 9a.m.-8p.m.Fri.: 9a.m.-4p.m.Sat.: 9a.m.-12p.m.ClosedMon. & Weds.:

11a.m.-12p.m.Sundays & Holi-

days

Regional Computer Technology Center (RCTC)

Mon.-Thurs.: 8:15a.m.-10p.m.Fri.: 8a.m.-4:30p.m.Sat.: 8:30a.m.-3p.m.Please Note: RCTC will be closed

October 9th.

Business Learning Lab (BLL) at Whitman Center

Mon.-Thurs.: 8a.m.-10p.m.Fri.: 9a.m.-1p.m.Sat.: ClosedPlease Note: BLL will be closed

October 9th.

LibraryMon.-Thurs.: 8a.m.-9:30p.m.Fri.: 8a.m.-4:30p.m.Sat.: 9a.m.-1:30p.m.

With unemployment high in Mon-roe County and Michigan’s economy suffering a severe blow in every di-rection, this reporter decided to dig around with local businesses to get insight and advice for job hunters.

Job hunting can be stressful for students, whether they are snagging an associate degree, certification, or finally getting that break into the pro-fessional world that no one expected to strike. From starting the applica-tion process to nailing an impromptu interview, there are a few things po-tential employees need to consider if they hope to be successful in their career endeavors.

Firstly, numerous “help” Websites and magazine articles explain that all applications should be filled out with the utmost care. It is also noted that applications are made to be boastful, so if you have something to boast or brag about, do so as eloquently as possible. Simply mark credentials, awards and special recognitions as simply and as neatly as possible.

For more professional jobs, resumes are a necessity. Resumes should in-clude past work experience, educa-

tion, volunteer time, special organi-zations that one belongs to and any awards given. For example, it would be appropriate to write “member of Phi Theta Kappa honors society, MCCC 2005-2007,” but not appro-priate to write “Skateboarding Asso-ciation of Michigan 1999-2007.” Un-less the job being applied for requires physical activity, potential employers are usually not interested in any sport or craft oriented extra curricular ac-tivities.

“I think it’s really important prior to the interview to have a really well presented resume on heavy duty pa-per in a folder with contact numbers that work,” said Renee Petkovich, L.B.S.W., training coordinator for Monroe Community Mental Health. “Don’t fax your resume. The only time you should fax a resume is if it is last minute. If you’re a distance away, send it priority mail.” Petkovich ex-plained that “presentation and priority are important, [applicants should] go that extra mile.”

Representatives from other em-ploying agencies, such as local in-surance companies and real estate agencies, agree with Petkovich that faxed resumes are less impressive and

professional. Individuals are strongly encouraged to use e-mail addresses that reflect appropriateness by avoid-ing usernames like “slapmesilly@hotmail.com” or “yoursweetbaby-cakes@yahoo.com” Any free e-mail provider will work, but avoid juvenile or playful usernames.

“I feel that unless you are … ex-tremely qualified, and feel you can-not leave anything out, your resume should never exceed one page,” State Farm Insurance agent, Kathy Black-Thies, said.

People are also encouraged to list jobs that have been kept for a long time or pertain to the specific field, but refrain from listing a large num-ber of small or insignificant jobs. If someone held numerous jobs during the summer, Barry Kinsey, Director of Workforce Development, explains it is more appropriate to add a blurb such as “From 2005-2006 I worked a various number of jobs while in school.”

For a paraprofessional or profes-sional position, the interviewee should dress in career-oriented attire.

“People can have however many piercings they want, but the person hiring you may get turned off by it.

[Interviewees] are possibly giving themselves a strike right there,” Kin-sey said.

Another crucial tip for interview-ees includes gathering background information on the potential employ-ers. Interviewee’s should be prepared to answer questions like “What do you know about our company?” and “Why do you want to work here?” By knowing about the company, ap-plicants will be able to direct every response in a manner that feeds on the characteristics the company is looking for. Kinsey suggests that applicants prepare a “30 second commercial” of themselves for open ended questions like these.

“After the interview, be sure to send a thank you note immediately. That will set you apart from candidates that interviewed equally,” Black-Thies, said.

“Absolutely send a thank-you note. It’s just proper interviewing etiquette if you’re after a professional posi-tion,” Petkovich said.

“You need to convince your poten-tial employer that if they don’t hire you, they will make their job harder. You have to be confident without be-ing cocky,” Petkovich said.

By Charlene Hunt

Tricks, tips and advice for job seekers

Irish poet Oscar Wilde said, “Fash-ion is a form of ugliness so intoler-able that we have to alter it every six months.”

This still holds true today, as fash-ion designers such as Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and many others still create collections for every spring and fall. As fall is just a hop, skip, and a jump away, many people will take trips to the mall department stores for the latest fall fashions since, as college students, high ticket items are not an

option. But even with a limited bud-get, high fashion and new styles are still accessible.

“I am always looking for new styles things that people may not wear,” said Monroe County Community College (MCCC) student Trevor Robinson. “…More or less I copy a lot, from dif-ferent TV shows to the manikins in clothing store windows. Also, I tend to take ideas from the people I hang-out with and usually build off them or change them up a bit. I’ll take Polos and try to mix them with anything...”

Store windows and celebrities are

not the only ways to come up with an idea for fashion. Many people are their own fashion influence.

MCCC student Melissa Seres said, “I don’t really have a fashion influ-ence. If I see something I like, and it looks good on me, then I buy it. I do look through magazines to see what everyone else is wearing, though.”

“Honestly, I don’t like trends so I try not to follow them,” Robinson said.

According to 2006 graduate Karley Stanton, clothing is not created just to make us look good, it is something

which was created to cover ourselves. This concept is based off of the Bib-lical scripture Proverbs 11:22, which states, “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion,” Discretion in this verse refers to having a regard for the decen-cies of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

“No one really influences the way I dress, except God that is. He calls us not to dress improperly, so I think that my standards and morals play a part in how I dress. But besides that, I just dress in what I think feels and looks good on me,” said Stanton.

Since there are many different fashin influences, and many different tastes, many people have drastically different fashion favorites.

“I love the long sleeve Henleys, be-cause you can pretty much wear them anywhere,” said Seres.

“My favorite fall fashion would have to be sweaters and jeans. I defi-nitely like the layered look, too,” said Stanton.

Like the autumn leaves, all different in shape and color, fashion tastes are just as vibrant and diverse.

Falling leaves bring new season of fashionBy Bethany Younglove

In:

Knits with em-bellishments, such as pins or patches.

Out:

K e e p i n g add-ons, such as brooaches, for evening only.

In:

1920’s style flapper or chapeau

hats.

Out:

Cowboy hats. Fall’s styles are more sophisticated

In: Every once in a while,

the world’s top design-ers give a fashion staple a radical rethink. This is not one of those instances. The latest incarnation of the down vest looks a lot like the one you wore as a kid—proof that some designs only need to be rediscovered, not rein-vented.

Photo courtesy of www.peopleplusconsulting.com

September 18, 2007 Feature AGORA 5

6 AGORA Campus News September 18, 2007

History of film class comes to MCCC The lights dim, the curtains open, and the noise of

the audience slowly fades as an image forms before their very eyes. What is it about a movie that transfixes an audience? Can the economic and social change in soci-ety affect what filmmakers put in their movies? These are the questions Professor Terry Telfer raises in his class, Humanities 255- Film and American Society: 1920 to 1960s.

“We have a smaller class this semester since it is the first time a class like this has been offered… We got the approval after the fall catalog was approved, so we just had flyers up letting students know about the class,” said Telfer. “The nice thing about having a small class is that the people who are taking the class really love movies. They’re not just the students who want to sit in class and watch a movie; they are willing to talk about what made the movie.”

During a typical class, Telfer tells the students things to look for in the film they are watching that day. Journal topics are given out before the movie begins and the stu-dents are asked to make notes on the different aspects of the film. Afterwards, the class devotes time to talk about the things that they saw and the reason for them.

“I hope to get a better understanding of the history of film, and the rise and fall of movies. We all tend to find them so fascinating… why is that?” said student Ben Cornett.

From silent movies to musicals, the class will watch nine different types of movies over the course of the se-mester.

“We are watching a silent film first because they are good to help the student learn about the visual aspect of the film. It forces them to pay attention visually because you have to sit there and really pay attention to what is go-ing on. We’ll also watch a musical, one from around the

Great Depression era when they started becoming popular,” said Telfer. “Then we have the classic movies that set the standard for movies today; such as Citizen Kane, probably the best movie ever made; All that Heaven Allows, which deals with women’s repression; and Red Headed Woman, which set the production code for what can be seen in mov-ies today.”

Telfer said he would like this class to help prove the idea that movies just don’t come out of the blue and to show that moviemakers have adapted to what is going on around them to make a great film, as well as how they set the standards for what can be watched today.

The class will be moving from its current location in C-222, to the Little Theater, and at least one of the movies will be shown in the Meyer Theater.

For winter, the class time will move from Friday after-noon to a different weekday night. The winter segment will cover movies from 1960s to the present.

Monroe County Community College has always served as a symbol of the future for thousands of Monroe County residents and through the years, it has shown that the future itself is only a day away. Noth-ing lasts forever, and that certainly rings true for the tired computers of the Regional Computer Technol-ogy Center, otherwise known as the West Tech writing lab. Now replaced with elegant and modern-looking flat screen computers, the study areas are clean and well organized. The flat screens will not only prvoide sophisticated transformation of the writing lab, but will also be easy on the eyes.

The previous computers used cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors, which are the basic, inexpensive computer screens. They were bulky and took up most of the space on the computer desks. The new Dell 19-inch flat panel monitors redefine the performance of LCD display with an advanced functionality and LCD panel technology. The new screens will maximize viewing experience with a thin bezel and panel that swivels, tilts and pivots to satisfy the most demanding of users. Simple, yet efficient, controls enable the user to customize their needs. With the built in power and cable management feature, the desktops will remain clean and clutter-free.

LCD, or Liquid Crystal Display is the newest trend in computer monitors. LCD monitors offer sleek, space saving designs and as an added benefit, are good for the user. CRT screens direct radiation equal to three electron beams constantly toward the user. Those beams are refreshed every 60-80 seconds, causing strain on the eyes. Not so with the new LCD monitors. They use pixels that alternate between on and off, reducing strain and fatigue on the eyes. Rick

Hubbert, a technician at the recently updated West Tech writing lab stated, “I like the fact that there is more room on the desktops and the students are all happy with the faster systems.”

MCCC has also added free wireless internet through-out the campus. One MCCC student, Sean Howell, is quite pleased with the wireless internet. “It’s really nice to be able to relax in a place like the La-Z-Boy Center and work on the internet,” Howell said.

Wireless internet access allows LANs (Local Area Networks) to be deployed without cabling for client de-vices, typically in spaces such as outdoor areas where cables can not be run.

Students can be seen across campus with laptops and PDAs, surfing the web. Exchange student Seung Jin Kim commented, “It’s great, since I can’t use the Internet at my host family’s house,” as she browsed the Internet comfortably inside the cafeteria. As of March this year, wireless network adapters are built into most modern laptops and PDAs, though for older models the price of wireless cards continues to drop.

By Chrissandra WhilteEagle

On September 12 a meeting was held between certain members of the Monroe County Commu-nity College (MCCC) administration and programs manager for Canlan Ice Sports, Greg Paddison, regarding the possibility of a MCCC hockey team. Paddison met with Randy Daniels, President of Student and Information Services and Mark Hall, Director of Admissions and Guidance Services to see if using the MCCC name for the potential team would be possible.

Paddison approached the college in early August, explaining that potential participants would have to carry nine credit hours at MCCC to qualify for a position on the team. When Paddison began asking questions and research-ing his idea to start a hockey lineup for the college, which would be viewed as a club, he said “the community gave a real positive response.”

Paddison has also stated that MCCC would not be financially re-sponsible for the team.

“Besides [finding] players, the biggest obstacle facing us is transpor-tation. Right now we have 26 games scheduled and 20 are on the road and it is expensive to do,” Paddison said. He is currently looking for ways to get around the transportation bump with-out forcing all of the players to drive separately. “Financially, this is one of the only problems we are having as a team.”

Tryouts for the team were held on September 10, 12 and 14 at the Monroe Multi-Sports complex, where all home games and practices would also be held if Paddison receives the go ahead from MCCC. Paddison also plans to the coach the team.

“The good news is that we had some very strong

talent show up, the kind of players who if given proper sup-

por t could carry this team into national contention very quickly,” Paddison said.

Daniels, who did not participate in the previous discussions regarding the team believes that “If all of the crite-ria for starting a student club are met, there should not be an issue.”

“…I support the development of clubs and activities that will enhance the college experience,” Daniels said.

When there were sports clubs and teams at MCCC in the past, student organizations used a husky as their mascot. Paddison plans to stick with this tradition should his team get off the ground.

Paddison and his appointed mar-keting consultant, Doug Wemple, plan to involve the student body at MCCC in as many ways as possible. Should the team be approved, students could look forward to: Graphic design contests for the team’s new logo, a booster club for people who want to sell tickets, a Website for design stu-dents, merchandise sales for market-ing students, newspaper articles for students in journalism and experience for broadcasters and photographers.

A decision is to be made within the next week regarding MCCC’s approv-al of the team. Hall, who has attended most meetings thus far, explains “the possibility of a team opens the door for a lot of our students to be involved in an academic way.”

“The meeting went very well but the extent of the college’s involve-ment, or attaching its name to the team is yet to be determined,” Hall said.

Students propose campus

hockey team

By Charlene Hunt

By Morgan Sopko

Technology improvement brings campus into new era

Agora photos by Morgan Sopko

Agora photos by Chrissandra WhilteEagle

Student Ben Cornett turns on one of the many projectors that are set-up in classrooms around campus.

Professor Terry Telfer hands out the journal assignment before the classes first film begins.

Seung Jin Kim (above) uses the Wi-Fi in the cateteria between her classes.

Students take advantage of the updated technology in the main campus labs.

Harwell gives motivational speechThe renowned former “voice of the

Detroit Tigers,” Ernie Harwell, graced the halls of Monroe County Commu-nity College (MCCC) on August 28 for the faculty’s welcome back break-fast. Harwell was invited to give a mo-tivational speech to the faculty for the upcoming year.

After introductions of important

faculty and administrators, Harwell was introduced to the stand. As Har-well began talking, he shared his ex-periences of being an announcer for the Tigers and emphasized the impor-tance of the phrase, “it doesn’t matter how you get there as long as you get there.”

Harwell later shared a story that he remembered learning from for-

mer Detroit catcher Rich Roland that explained why teachers have such a fantastic profession. He told Roland’s story of why larger trees were able to withstand storms by saying that, “the roots of one tree reached out and con-nected with the roots of the next and the next and the next, and they formed a network by reaching out to each other and withstanding those storms because they’ve reached out.”

Harwell related this story to the fac-ulty of MCCC by saying: “I know that you folks, in your work, have learned that lesson long ago; that you reach out to the others… And for that you have earned my utmost appreciation.”

Despite his experience with the Ti-gers, Harwell mentioned that he con-siders himself “a failed sports writer.”

“I would rather be a bad original than a bad copy… We all have differ-ent personalities and I think that you should develop your personalities and be true to yourself and see what you are,” Harwell said.

He believes that, “we all have to reach out to other people and that it is just a part of living. Just the joy to do things for people and see what I can do to help, because I think that God put me here to serve. And that part of my service…I look forward to that with joy.”

After his speech Harwell sold and signed CDs of his greatest recordings for $30; MCCC received $10 for ev-ery CD sold.

September 18, 2007 Community News AGORA 7Wi-Fi services accomodate public

By Emily Chandonnet

High school graduates have the opportunity to receive a state funded scholarship which could

be enough to cover tuition costs for an associate degree at Monroe County Community College (MCCC).

Hundreds of high school juniors across the state had the opportunity to take the Michigan Merit Examination (MME) last spring to in attempts to qualify for up to $4,000 in scholarship money.

The MME is the State of Michigan assessment administered to all stu-dents enrolled in the eleventh grade in March of each year. The exam consists of three major components: the ACT college entrance examination, the WorkKeys job skills assessments in reading and mathematics, and Michi-gan assessments in mathematics, sci-ence, social studies, and persuasive

writing. According to Michigan.gov, the combined MME assessment mea-sures student learning in the Michigan high school standards, benchmarks, and core content expectations.

To attain an associate degree, it takes about sixty credit hours, at roughly seventy dollars a credit hour for in county residents, not including other fees. MME covers the price of such tuition from MCCC.

“It’s great on how the money will cover the first two years here if the cost stays about the same. I can get some of my classes towards my ma-jor covered before I transfer to get my full degree,” Angie Palazzolo, MCCC student, said.

To be eligible the student must be a Michigan resident, take the state as-sessment test, and must certify that he or she is eligible for the installment payment. The student has to be en-rolled at an approved post-secondary institution or military service acad-

emy within two years of becoming a high school graduate within the state.

Students who receive the qualify-ing score in each area are eligible to receive up to half of their scholarship money in the first two years of post-education enrollment in increments of one thousand dollars per school year.

Even if a student does poorly on his or her test, there is an opportunity to take a retest. Students are allowed one retest and must pre-register. A test voucher from the students’ high school counselor or principal is required.

“The money will definitely help people out. I would think that with more scholarship money available to people the more will enroll into col-lege,” MCCC student Stefanie Thom-asma said.

For more information visit www.michigan.gov/promise or contact the Office of Scholarships and Grants, toll-free, at 1-888-447-2687.

By Morgan Sopko

Merit exam helps students

By Patrick Dunn

The August 19th closing of Regal Cinemas, Monroe’s only multiplex movie theater, has left area movie-goers with a lot of questions. News of the closing came suddenly in a Monroe Evening News article pub-lished less than a week before Regal rolled its last film. As a nine-screen theater whose only competition was the locally owned three-screen Den-niston Cinemas, the news came as a shock to many Regal patrons who are now wondering why the theater closed and where to go for movies with the Regal out of the picture.

A Regal employee of over a year and a half, who will be referred to as “Jill,” described the closing as she experienced it. “Jill” asked to remain anonymous for this ar-ticle. “The theater closed because they were in debt,” “Jill” said. “ … [This] is surprising for me because the prices were overpriced, and ever since the minimum wage went up, the prices increased.” “Jill” also noted that the August 15 Evening News piece on the closing went to press before the theater’s employees were notified. “A day after the arti-cle came out, there was a staff meet-ing with corporate, basically letting everyone know that they were laid off,” she said. “Jill” said the five theater managers all had advance notice of the closing, and most of them were transferred to the chain’s Walled Lake location. “I’m actu-ally disappointed in the company because of such short notice,” she said. “I believe we all should have been notified way sooner.”

Regal Cinemas representatives could not be reached for comment.

Joe Sterling, owner of the Den-niston Cinema on North Monroe,

said it is currently hard to tell if the Regal closing will improve his busi-ness. “In the fall … the movie busi-ness is pretty slow,” Sterling said, noting that the summer blockbuster season is over and studios haven’t quite started releasing Oscar-con-tender films yet. Sterling said the Denniston’s small size and lack of stadium seating may keep many lo-cal moviegoers away, but a potential increase in revenue could lead to fu-ture improvements or expansion of the theater. “We’ll do our best to be a good exhibitor for Monroe, and we hope the public responds,” Ster-ling said.

MCCC students had varying opinions on the Regal closing, as well as where to go for movies in its absence. “I thought that for the price … [the Regal’s] screens were way too small and it just didn’t compare to other theaters,” said Mike Adams. Christopher Burlew disagreed. “[The Regal] showed re-ally good movies at a decent rate for where it was,” he said. Burlew said he plans to patronize the Denniston, rather than a larger theater such as MJR. “ … I am a big believer in family owned businesses,” he said. Mychal Hilken said he disliked the Denniston, but described it as “our only option now.”

Mall spokesperson Daniel Wiery issued a statement on the future of the Regal facility, which remains unoccupied. “We are currently working with several tenants that have expressed interest in this facil-ity,” said Wiery. “We will continue to aggressively pursue a suitable surrogate that will serve the needs of the Monroe community. We hope to have an announcement re-garding the future of this occupancy before the end of the year.”

Credits roll onRegal Cinemas

By Chrissandra WhiteEagle

With the constant juggle from one class to the next, students often find themselves doing homework and studying during brief settings of un-planned convenience. Many compa-nies in Monroe County have adopted the one thing that is most likely to cater to students: Wireless Internet ac-cess, also known as Wi-Fi. Wireless networks have moved beyond homes and offices. Mobile students and pro-fessionals who demand access to data have spawned the creation of public access “hotspots” that provide wire-less access in locations as diverse as coffee shops, airports, fast food restau-rants and hotels. Monroe has begun to widely embrace Wi-Fi, mostly due to the simplicity of the technology.

The Wi-Fi Alliance, a trade group that owns the trademark to Wi-Fi formed in 1999, was founded to cer-tify interoperability of Wireless Lo-cal Area Network (WLAN) products based on specification. Currently the Wi-Fi Alliance has member compa-nies from around the world, and since it launched the certification program,

the Wi-Fi Alliance has certified more than one thousand products. Today the Wi-Fi logo is recognized everywhere as an emblem of interoperability and consumer confidence in WLAN tech-nology.

There are several places here in Monroe which offers free Wi-Fi ser-vice to accommodate students, where others will require a one time fee in order to access the network. Some lo-cal businesses include the following: Panera Bread, Café Classics, McDon-ald’s, Wendy’s, and Beaner’s Coffee. With most wireless devices, such as laptops and PDAs, an announcement of the free wireless network will ap-pear to notify the user of the access point.

“It’s really a comfortable place to work and study. I love the fact that I can get a great cup of java and hang out with my girlfriends while getting some school work done,” Kiley Bow-ens, MCCC student, says of the down-town favorite Café Classics.

A Few Main street businesses and Downtown Development Authority Board members have argued against the value of wireless Internet access

in the downtown area. The idea was originally pitched over two years ago and has gained nothing but support since. Mayor John R. Iacoangeli even stated, “The service is needed to keep Monroe competitive with other larger communities,” in a 2005 issue of the Monroe Evening News. Today, you will be able to find a wireless connec-tion in almost any part of the down-town area in which a one time fee would provide you with top quality Internet access.

Of course, city wide Wi-Fi public access is not without challenges. Con-cerns over security and the difficulty of establishing a wireless connection sty-mie many users. The lack of roaming agreements forces users to maintain multiple accounts or one-time service charges so they can access the Internet from any public hotspot. These issues represent significant obstacles to a widespread public embrace of Wi-Fi public access networks. Until they are addressed, the full potential of Wi-Fi public access cannot be realized, and ever-present access will remain more of a vision than a reality.

High speed wireless Internet ac-

cess is also being tested at the Monroe branch of Travel Centers of America. The free network would allow resting drivers to use their laptop computers without plugging in.

Sara Jamison, an MCCC student stated “I like being able to get com-fortable and do my homework with-out the stress of a busy campus.”

It does seem that the days of rush-ing to the library to study have disap-peared among the many technological achievements of the previous decades. So if a day comes along in which you desperately need to check your e-mail while waiting for your car’s oil to be changed or your tires rotated, just re-member that with Wi-Fi, you can.

Agora Photo by Chrissandra WhiteEagleMore and more local businesses are installing Wi-Fi to appeal to the student body and to increase sales.

Earnie Harwell signs a CD for Joanne MacDonald. Agora photo by Emily Chandonnet

Agora Photo by Patrick Dunn

September 18, 2007 Spotlight AGORA 8

Erie Orchards’ Annual Cider Festival

Agora Photos by Emily Chandonnet and Bethany Younglove