THE PHOENIX THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OCTOBER

THE PHOENIX THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE • OCTOBER 1, 2008 ON THE What’s the dumbest thing you’ve heard in class this semester? “More of our imports are coming from overseas.” -Ronald Francis Schulz WINGS Budget Cuts: How will they add up? BY AMBER MITCHELL STAFF WRITER With state revenues down, every Massachusetts college is facing budget cuts. At HCC, $428,674 worth of budget cuts are taking place this year. Bill Fogarty, VP of Finances, said, “We are trying to make the cuts in a way that is going to have the least impact.” Fogarty said that the strategy is to make smaller cuts across the board. “We are cutting out 10% of travel. Some departments were getting increases. Now, they are just getting smaller increases. We will be waiting on some hiring.” This is good news for some students and the visual arts department, who seemed worried the majority of cuts would put the new photo facility, currently being constructed in G Building on hold. When asked about the photo facility, Bob Aller, professor of art and future head of the photo department, said, “I’m hoping it Jeffrey Byrnes “Do you want a quiz today or not? What do you guys want to do?” -Jackie Bathalt “Honestly, does my hair look like Rick James and Michael Jackson had a love child?” -Murillo Barros “I hate it when you’ve got the teacher who repeats themselves ten times and then the jerk in the back puts his hand up and says, “What’s the homework again?” -Elba Diaz “I have a passion for fashion… BUT, you definitely should have seen the girl that said it.” -Seth Barkyoumb “I think some lady was supporting George Bush and that was pretty stupid.” -David Correa “My teacher was saying how she liked the word diarrhea. She told us that she wished it didn’t mean crap because it’s a good word.” -Kristen Hanley “That we were going to start with addition in my math class.” -Cait Coffey “Mental disorders aren’t real.” -Kourtney Kulas doesn’t get cut. It would really be damaging and a setback.” The school wants to be able to offer three additional classes with the help of the new facility. “When it comes to furnishing these things, we sometimes get a little carried away. So, we are trying to stay within the budget.” Bill Fogarty, vice president for administration and finance They would like to add digital photography, standard color photo, and alternative processes. “The biggest selling point and the biggest demand is digital photography,” Frank Cressotti, head of the visual arts department said. Fogarty said the school hasn’t cut any funds from the photo lab. “We haven’t cut that budget,” he said. “We have even looked into fundraising.” The original budget appeared to have been stretched further than intended. “We had an initial budget,” Fogarty said. “When it comes to furnishing these things, we sometimes get a little carried away. So, we are trying to stay within the budget. Get as close as we can.” Cressotti said that he understood the impact of possible cuts for the art department. “The chances are very good, in fact, that we won’t get everything we want,” he said. Still, Fogarty expects the G Building renovations to be completed on time. “The photo facility will be opening on schedule [November] and ready to operate by the spring semester.” Please see Budget Cuts, page 7 You just can’t wait to get on campus, but you have to.... The academic school year is once again in motion and this means that students’ vehicles are also in motion as they fill up the campus parking spaces in virtually every lot on the school grounds. The trouble is the flow of traffic -or the absence of flow- on area roads surrounding HCC. Traffic creates many problems for everyone-the students who are trying to get to class on time, professors who have to get ready for those classes, and even the various college administrators who have a full day ahead of them. “I didn’t have that problem at GCC [Greenfield Community College]. I got so [angry] I thought about going back there to finish school,” said one student. Opinion: Elderly Drivers Page 2 Opinion: Vice Presidents Page 3 Photo Essay: Activity Period, Page 5 Sports: HCC Soccer Page 8 thephoenixpress@gmail.com 2 Commentar y Say No to Question 1 BY HCC STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION We, the Student Government Association of Holyoke Community College, on behalf of the more than 6000 students enrolled at HCC, rise in opposition to Question 1, the effort to repeal the State Income Tax. This ballot measure would mean devastating cuts to community colleges, the most accessible tier of higher education in Massachusetts. Our students range in age from adolescents to senior citizens; they are veterans, small business owners and single mothers who must balance their families, school and often more than one job. Cutting 40 % of the state budget will cause incalculable harm to higher education by cutting jobs of both faculty and staff, as well as many tutoring, mentoring, career and counseling services that are vital to a student’s success. Community colleges are an invaluable gateway for people of all ages and incomes to gain access to the benefits of higher education. Many community college students rely on state financial aid in order to attend college. A 40% cut to available state financial aid will put college out of reach for thousands of students and not just from lower income families. The absence of state financial aid, will force students to either burden themselves with tens of thousands of dollars in private loans or end their dream of a college education. The proponents of this cut say that repealing the state income tax would cut wasteful spending and help invigorate the economy. However, three-quarOpen House Ad 9/15/08 8:57 PM Page 1 ters of state and community college graduates continue to work and live in Massachusetts after graduation. Cutting access to higher education will result in these students seeking opportunities elsewhere and will critically reduce the highly educated workforce that Massachusetts needs to attract new high tech jobs. These jobs require advanced degrees and the absence of an educated workforce will deter new companies from moving to Massachusetts. Cutting funding for education is not a plan for economic growth; it is a plan for economic starvation. Ms. Howell has declined to name what wasteful programs she would cut. A few of the programs funded by income tax dollars are education, healthcare, childcare, police and fire departments and local aid to cities and towns. Obviously, we disagree with Ms. Howell on what a wasteful program is. The members of the Student Government Association of Holyoke Community College are dedicated to the defeat of Question 1 on November 4. This reckless and dangerous effort is supported by misguided and vague arguments at best and deliberately deceptive claims at worst. Our 118,000 fellow students attending community college will save no money if this question passes; they will in fact lose money by surely having to pay an increased sales tax and unprecedented increases in tuition and fees. We urge community college students across Massachusetts to join us in our efforts to keep community college accessible and affordable for everyone. Driving Test: First 16, then 65 BY CORY GARWACKI STAFF WRITER Driving is a skill that takes a great amount of concentration and the ability to react very quickly to any possible road distraction or situation imaginable. This is one of the biggest reasons why elderly drivers should be required to undergo a series of driving tests after they reach sixty-five years of age, with subsequent testing every five years. Lets face it, driving an automobile is a necessity in today’s world, with all that the world demands of us. After all, driving does afford us the opportunity to visit our friends and family across town, or take a trip to the supermarket on the weekend. This past February, there was a news story which made national headlines concerning this very issue of elderly motorists. In Randolph Massachusetts, an elderly eighty-six year old motorist who was leaving the parking lot of an elementary school accidentally ran over an eight year-old girl who happened to be standing close by. The driver and young girl were both physically fine after some time, but the emotional and mental state of both involved will take a much longer time to heal. This accident could have potentially been avoided by making it mandatory for drivers, aged sixty-five and over, to retake their driving test. When Please see Elderly Drivers, page 6 THE PHOENIX STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF Anthony Matos UMass Lowell Welcome, Transfer Students! PHOTO EDITOR Jeffrey Byrnes Open House 2008 Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Paul E. Tsongas Arena, Lowell A special day for prospective students to learn about undergraduate and graduate programs, see the campus and meet the people. For information and directions, go to www.uml.edu/openhouse. University of Massachusetts Lowell 978-934-3931 admissions@uml.edu www.uml.edu/admissions Amber Mitchell Barret Zimmerman Colleen O’Connor Robin Merritt Cory Garwacki Ben Marrone STAFF WRITERS PHOTOGRAPHERS Jeffrey Byrnes Ruben Nieves ADVISER Fred Cooksey CONTACT: Email: thephoenixpress@gmail.com Commentar y And now the VP’s... introducing Joseph Biden and Sarah palin 3 Joe Biden is an interesting pick for Obama in a similar way that Palin was for McCain. Where McCain picked a younger politician to displace his age, Obama picked a Senator almost twenty years his senior as well as a person that’s been in politics significantly longer than himself. Biden himself is a liberal democrat from Delaware with liberal leanings towards the economy- with health care and energy consumption being two major interests of his- and foreign and social policies.- particularly drug policies, terrorism and crime. A supporter of unions, Biden also helps to balance out and alleviate those “elitist” hits on Obama himself. This is probably one of the biggest issue with Biden as it stands though. It’s almost as if he was picked so that everyone that didn’t like Obama before would like him more if his vice was whatever they felt he wasn’t. Biden has more experience, he is older and he supports blue-collar American’s. these have been the strongest arguments against Obama in the past, which just seems to make Biden seem like a front- his politics don’t matter, his past accusations of plagiarism in the ’88 election don’t matter, just that he is what Obama isn’t on the surface. Which is sad really. Obama could have picked a person that drove home the points of Obama’s campaign a little more clearly. Palin has become a buffer to McCain’s positions, but Biden is just a buffer to Obama’s image. BY BEN MARRONE STAFF WRITER Are you searching for that perfect Halloween Costume? Look no further... Army Barracks has everything you need to make it the best! Bring your ideas and creativity our staff will help you with the rest! Stop by and see us today! Sarah Palin (pronounced Pay-lin) is the Republican Vice Presidential candidate for the 2008 election. She is the one that will run this country if (or when!) ‘old man McCain’ kicks the bucket. Her political career to date has included, and been limited to, these positions: city council member for her town of Wasilla Alaska (pop. around 4,000 when she was elected in 1992) for four years. Mayor for six years (of the same town). Failed campaign for lieutenant governor in 2002. In 2006 she became the governor of Alaska, their first female governor and also their youngest ever (she is now 44). The person she ran against in her gubernatorial bid was horribly unpopular and it is understood that it was basically an unopposed victory. She has held that position of governor for less than two years. Here are the positions she has taken on some issues that this writer thinks are important or outstanding: first and foremost is her economic standing. She is nominally Republican, but during her years as mayor she actually increased taxes by alarming numbers. She made government bigger in Alaska! Some of her use of the tax money however was harshly criticized by many Alaskans. She created (relatively) huge debt for her small town of five thousand that had no debt when she took office. She is opposed to stem cell research. Against gay marriage. She is anti-”right to choose” and believes in “abstinence only” and that we should cut government funding of abortion clinics. She says even rape victims should not be able to have abortions. She believes in teaching Creationism alongside Evolution in schools. She is pro-drilling and wants the polar bear off the protected species list so they can drill in its habitat. To Palin’s credit: So much “dirt” has been found on her, partially because she has been put under such close scrutiny by the media (due to her paucity of credentials for the position); she has undergone substantially more media attention than the Democratic V.P. candidate Joe Biden, who most people don’t know the first thing about (unless they read this edition of the Phoenix!). Americans can just about tell you the brand of lipstick Palin wears, but don’t even know what state Biden is from! At first, most people did not know who Palin was, so her approval rating was medium. Then, as people learned a little about her, it shot up tremendously; she was a hot media topic. But recently her ratings have dropped sharply as people have gotten to know who she really is. She has gone from being the most favored (out of Obama, McCain, Biden and herself ) to being the least favored. This cut-throat, do-anything-to-win, popular, attractive, athlete runs for a position of power; she intimidates and backstabs those running against her, and puts on a smiling show for everyone else. We have seen these antics before, but usually we try to confine them to elections for class president in high school, and that is where Palin’s political career should have ended, in high school. Her nickname in high school, by the way: “Sarah Barracuda”, because of her unbridled ambition and predatory ruthlessness. So come November you can decide, but remember this: the primary purpose of the VP is to take over if the president dies in office and McCain (if elected) would set a record for the oldest president ever. The fact that McCain has health issues only adds to the importance of this choice. When it comes to choosing a president, or a VP, it is better to choose one with foreign policy experience (that does not mean being able to see Russia from your house!), that will not meddle in your own life, but will improve it. That means not telling you that when someone rapes you that you have to have the baby, it means that when a country threatens to attack us they should know who the leaders of that country are. Palin is more concerned with telling us how to live our private lives than she is with economics or foreign affairs. BY BARRET ZIMMERMAN STAFF WRITER ArMy BaRrAcKs 1053 D. RiVeRdAlE st. WeSt SpRiNgFiElD, MA 01089 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU In our next issue, we’d like to hear what you think about some of the ideas and opinions in this edition of the Phoenix. We would particularly like to see responses to the following articles: “Budget Cuts: How Will They Really Add up?” - Page 1 “The Question on Everyone’s Mind...” - Page 2 Ideas for On the Wings Send your letters or commentary essays to thephoenixpress@gmail.com or deliver them to Fred Cooksey’s mailbox in DON 370. (413) 733-8300 4 Arts & Entertainment Portugal. TheMan Censored Colors CD Review BY BEN MARRONE STAFF WRITER The album itself is separated into two segments. “Part I: The Colors,” features mellow acoustics and violins, combined with organs and vocals juxtaposed against raucous drums and bass riffs. Following that is the short, but sweet, “(Intermission)” of synth-bass and drums while the band harmonizes over it along with violins and trumpets. “Part II: The Twenty-Five” starts to move more towards jazz trumpet with the mixed percussion and up-swing guitars in “New Orleans.” The second segment’s body is composed of smaller songs that start to run together, and finishes with the requiem “1989.” The only kink to what is a mostly great overall piece of work is that what makes this album so great also drags it down. Each song makes you snap your fingers saying “this reminds me of…” Portugal’s referential style meshes numerous different sounds and genres to great effect, but it’s a double-edged sword that makes you feel like you heard this song before. This does not discount how good the album is as a whole; however. After releasing three albums in a row with only breaks to tour, it’s amazing the band can not only change sound from disc to disc, but to still change sound from track to track is impressive. Every listen through is a new experience that brings new appreciation, which is more than I can say for a lot of progressive attempts. Few bands can change their sound and style as easily and readily as Wasilla, Alaska’s progressive-rock quartet “Portugal. The Man. Censored Colors represents the bands third full-length studio album in as many years, and yet they’re still pushing their sound as far as they can push it. Portugal’s style is heavily influenced by both alternative and progressive rock movements, allowing them to draw together a sound that is both referential on top of being original. This is where Censored Colors really shines. One moment you’re listening to Jason Sechrist on the piano and you think of Three Dog Night’s “One is the Loneliest Number” on “Lay Me Back Down,” the next you hear them tipping their hats to Pink Floyd’s “On the Run” at the end of “New Orleans” and into “Never Pleased.” John Gourley still croons his nonsensical lyrics drawing up sonic references to Radiohead and The Mars Volta. But now, with so many backup vocals, the aesthetic is more like a choir or a gospel singing group. The bands new experimentation with Violins, Cellos, Trumpets and Trombones flows together nicely. From the rising violins at the end of “Colors” to the backwards, high-to-low cellos in the beginning of “Sit Back and Dream,” Portugal is continuing to shift their style from song to song applying different techniques even when utilizing the same instruments. ALL WOMEN OF COLOR! Coffee Time Are you wondering what is next after HCC? Do you want to know more about Mount Holyoke, Smith, and Amherst Colleges? You are invited to Topic: Transfer Possibilities FROST 264 FOR DAY STUDENTS: November 19 and December 10 @ 11 am FOR EVENING STUDENTS: October 8, November 12, and December 10 @ 5pm PLEASE CALL TO LET ME KNOW YOU WILL ATTEND. IRMA MEDINA, PATHWAYS COORDINATOR 552-2857 • imedina@hcc.mass.edu Are you in a band? Want some free publicity? The Phoenix wants to profile local bands. Send us an email: thephoenixpress@gmail.com