Campus News - The Southwester - Southwestern Michigan College

The
January 25, 2011
S uthwester
Serving the Southwestern Michigan College community for more than 30 years
Inside
Southwestern Michigan College
‘State of College’ highlights student
success and key initiatives for 2011
By Dr. David Mathews
SMC President
S
Student Veterans Coordinator Andrew
Churchill writes about an Iraq War
veteran who has been barred from a
campus in Maryland, pending a psychological evaluation, after publishing an
essay on the addiction of war.
Page 8
“How to Succeed in Business without
Really Trying” Feb. 24 through Feb. 27 is
in the theatre of the Dale Lyons Building
on the Dowagiac campus. Showtimes
are 7:30 Thursday, Friday, and Saturday,
with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.
Page 9
outhwestern Michigan College
President Dr. David Mathews
presented the annual “State of
the College” address to the Board of
Trustees during its meeting Jan. 10 on
the Dowagiac campus.
According to President Mathews,
“Student academic success continues
to be the top institutional priority of
Southwestern Michigan College. In
2010, the College achieved its highest rankings yet. The latest National
Community College Benchmarking
Project (NCCBP) report ranked SMC
in the top one percent in the nation for
transfer student success.
“The benchmarking study provides
objective, external confirmation of the
effectiveness of SMC’s approach to
teaching and learning,” explained Dr.
Mathews. “In addition to the success that
our students achieve once they transfer, the Benchmarking data also shows
a truly remarkable fact: SMC’s success
rate for students who enroll in ‘hybrid’
classes that blend face-to-face and online
instruction placed the College in the
100th percentile nationally. In other
words, SMC’s success in hybrid classes is
literally unsurpassed nationally.”
In November of 2010, the College
was evaluated by a team from the Higher
Learning Commission (HLC) as part of
the re-accreditation process. President
Mathews read the following quote from
the team’s report: “All of the HLC visiting team were amazed that everyone on
campus is focused on the same agenda,
goals identified by the institution’s focus
on student success.”
The team evaluated the College in the
areas of Mission and Integrity; Preparing
for the Future; Student Learning
and Effective Teaching; Acquisition/
Discovery/Application of Knowledge;
and Engagement and Service. SMC
received the highest possible marks in all
categories, resulting in a recommendation that the College be re-accredited for
10 years. This is the maximum recommendation that the team could award.
Again reading from the report,
President Mathews cited the team’s jus-
tification for the 10-year reaccredidation
recommendation: “The team believes
that Southwestern Michigan College has
the fiscal and human resources to allow
it to continue its service to Southwestern
Michigan. The commitment to servicing
the area and particularly the individual
communities is obvious and genuine.
“Sound fiduciary decisions, an effective planning process linked to the budget, and the dedication of the employees
to student success have placed the college in an enviable position to continue
to effectively serve the educational need
of the region. The team has confidence
that the college will successfully continue on its current path of success.”
Looking forward to a future with
uncertain state funding for higher education, President Mathews expressed
concern and optimism, saying:
“Currently, $6.4 million of the College’s
$20M annual budget comes from state
funding. This is down $800,000 from
$7.2 million in 2001-2002. Although
we hope that this decline will not conSee ‘State of College’, Page 2
Legends and ghosts:
The legacy of the Beeson family
Webb Miller, acclaimed journalist from
Sumnerville/Pokagon and a Dowagiac
High School graduate, will be featured
in the January/February edition of
“Michigan History” Magazine.
Page 9
“The Witch and the Alchemist” is an
unconventional fairy tale about a little
girl who ages into a witch. Her self-imposed curse is ultimately broken by an
alchemist’s gift — one that he has kept
for her since their childhood.
Page 10
Southwestern Michigan College’s
Teaching and Learning Center (TLC)
has three convenient locations. And the
best part? All services are free!
Page 10
(Editor’s Note: Julia Detrick, an SMC student, wrote a paper for a class taught by
Dr. Scott Topping. The paper deals with the legends connected with the Beeson mansion
and mausoleum in Niles.
Focusing on the historical facts behind the stories that many people have heard,
Julia’s paper covers the fascinating history of the Beeson mansion across the road from
the mausoleum, and the rumors of strange occurrences in and around the old house.
Julia’s story will be presented in three segments with the first appearing in this edition of The Southwester. The second and third parts will appear in the March 1 and
April 5 editions.)
By JULIA DETRICK
Student Writer
Darkness stole quietly and with an
air of finality over the Beeson property,
lulling people and animals alike into an
uneasy and fitful slumber. Moonlight
flooded the elegant yellow brick house,
the porch of which was bordered by four
graceful white columns.
There on the porch stood a slight
young woman. In her hand, she clutched
a lighted candle. A gust of wind swept
across the yard, almost extinguishing the flame and playing in the bare
branches of the massive oak trees before
the house. With eyes red and swollen
with crying, she glanced apprehensively
to the right and left as she pulled the
black shawl closer around her shoulders. Satisfied it was only the wind, she
darted across the narrow strip of lawn,
Julia Detrick, an SMC student, stands in
front of the Beeson family mausoleum
on Bond Street in Niles. Detrick wrote
a paper for an English class on the history and legends that surround the burial
chamber and the home across the street.
across the road, and up to the destination of her nightly pilgrimage.
In the center of a fieldstone wall,
bathed in moonlight, a white mausoleum rose in pale and ghostly dignity. It
was surrounded by immaculately manicured flower gardens, and curving paths.
Arranged tastefully along the paths were
graceful statues which seemed to crouch
in an attitude of inferiority in the presence of the tomb.
The entrance to this otherworldly
place was barred by a wrought iron gate
which even now, Harriet’s icy hands
fumbled to open. As the gate’s ominous creak shattered the night stillness, Harriet stepped hesitantly into the
enclosure, her eyes vague and pleading.
Her feet seemed to carry her unbidden
toward the tomb. Over the low door
was carved the name of her husband’s
grandmother, Judith Ann Lewis. Like
one in a dream, she approached the
door, unlatched it, and entered the cool
interior.
If the interior was cool, it was certainly not dark. On a low table flickered
a candle, identical to the one Harriet
carried, but this one almost burnt out.
See Legends, Page 2
Page 2
The Southwester
Campus News
January 25, 2011
From Page 1
‘State of College’
tinue, the College’s strategy of becoming the College of
first choice through quality, superior student success,
and through student life has, and will continue, to serve
us well. This year, SMC’s fall enrollment increase of 9.8
percent was quadruple the state average for community
colleges. Overall enrollments at SMC are up over 55
percent since 2006.
“Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) will continue to be the operating mode of Southwestern Michigan
College through the coming year,” said President
Mathews. “In addition to always striving to find better,
more efficient, more effective ways to help our students
learn, three noteworthy initiatives that will take place
are: an expansion of the student worker program, a
further expansion of bachelor’s degree opportunities at
the College, and the creation of a Center for Creative
Writing at SMC.
Over the past year, SMC has expanded and professionalized the College’s student worker program. Last
semester, a total of 211 students were employed in 28
different departments on campus.
“We believe that encouraging students to prepare a
resume, giving them the opportunity to interview for a
job on campus, and giving them the ability to be supervised and evaluated by professionals is very beneficial,”
said President Mathews. These opportunities will be
expanded through a grant from First Source Foundation
of $3,300 for the current winter semester. Additionally,
an endowment fund to support student workers is
being established by a local family with a donation of
$48,000.
Currently, SMC offers eight bachelor’s degrees through
partnerships with four-year colleges and universities.
During the coming year, the College will continue to
work to expand bachelor’s degree opportunities at SMC,
both through partnerships with other institutions and by
pursuing degree- granting authority for its own Bachelor
of Science in Nursing program. Legislation authoriz-
ing community colleges to offer this degree passed the
Michigan House of Representatives late last year, but was
not taken up by the Senate before the end of the session.
SMC is working with the new legislature and other state
officials to gain this authorization during 2011.
Also in 2011, SMC will launch its new “Center for
Creative Writing.” According to President Mathews,
“This Center will leverage our exceptional faculty exper-
tise in writing instruction, our on-campus bachelor’s
degree in creative and technical writing partnership
with FSU, our on-campus student housing, the College’s
newspaper and literary magazine, and a renovated
instructional space in the O’Leary Building. This will
allow the College to market what we know to be true:
that SMC is an outstanding choice for students who
wish to pursue a career in writing.”
Over the last 46 years, the Dowagiac campus has grown to include on-campus housing, expanded student
activities and instructional facilities that are high-tech.
From Page 1
Legends
Harriet placed her own candle carefully beside the guttering flame, and fell to her knees beside the tiny casket
in which rested the body of her 11-month-old son.
This was the fifth day since her son’s untimely death.
Never emotionally or physically strong, Harriet was so
overcome with grief at the loss of her first child that she
had taken to slipping out of the house to be near her son,
here in his final resting place.
The year was 1870; the place, Niles Michigan. Almost
every resident of this city has heard the essentials of
this story, one of the most enduring bits of folklore to
grace the history of Niles. Intertwined with the story
of the child in the tomb are rumors that ghosts inhabit
the house across the road from the crypt, owned by the
Beeson family for many years, and that strange figures
are seen flitting between the crypt and the house.
The yellow, brick Greek revival-style house on Bond Street, which was built in 1847, was bought by Strother
McNeil Beeson and is known as the Beeson Mansion.
Though not an irrational woman, Harriet nevertheless
kept a light burning constantly in the tomb. It gave her a
certain security to feel that her baby would not be alone
in the dark that he had always feared. He had never
been in the darkness before. He would never be in the
darkness now.
The story of the Beeson family, one of the most
prominent families in the history of this city, begins
in 1782. According to the “Genealogy of the Beeson
Family in Michigan,” it was at that time that Edward
Beeson sailed from England, bound for Pennsylvania.
Edwards’ descendants lived in that area for a number of
years, until in 1830, when the 23-year-old Jacob Beeson
moved to the Michigan Territory along with two younger brothers, a younger sister and his twice widowed
mother, Judith Ann Lewis.
Judge Orville Coolidge, in his book “A Twentieth
Century History of Berrien County,” records that Strother
McNeil Beeson, a brother of Jacob, moved to this area
two years later. He practiced law in South Bend before
moving to Niles where he “engaged in other pursuits and
accumulated a considerable fortune, consisting mainly
in real estate in Iowa and the city of Chicago,” Judge
Coolidge wrote.
In 1858, Strother moved to Niles and it is presumed
to be at this time that he bought the yellow, brick
Greek revival-style house on Bond Street which William
McOmber had built in 1847 at a reputed cost of $65,000.
McOmber built the house at this location to be in close
proximity to a whiskey distillery located on the creek. It is
said that a whiskey bottle is encased in the cornerstone.
After Strother’s acquisition of the home, he built
the mausoleum across the street. His mother, Judith
Ann Lewis, died in 1869 and became the first person
to be entombed there. The mausoleum itself cost as
much to erect as the Beeson house, with an additional
$10,000 expended on the fieldstone wall surrounding
the tomb. After Lewis’ death, 11 other family members
were interred there. Two family members, Strother’s
brother and Strother’s first wife, were originally buried
elsewhere. Later, the remains were moved to the vault,
and the headstones were placed outside the mausoleum.
Four slots remain empty.
As interesting as the legends themselves, is the changing perspective on them and attitudes toward them. In
view of the fact that legends are passed from generation
to generation orally and most likely embellished with
each retelling, it is not possible to definitively state a
specific date that the myths surrounding the Beeson
properties appeared.
However, it is worth noting that while the fact of the
child in the tomb is mentioned as far back as 1946, it
was never referred to as a legend, much less a ghost
story, until 1961. From that point on, local newspapers
periodically revisited the story, with ever more reports
of paranormal happenings connected with the mansion
and mausoleum.
Coming in March, Part 2: Many versions of the
Beeson legend.
Campus News
January 25, 2011
Everything you’ve
ever wanted to know,
but weren’t sure where to find the
answer or who to ask at SMC
If you are new to the college experience or have been at Southwestern
Michigan College for a semester or
so, there is a helpful little booklet
that all students should have – the
condensed version of the 2010-2011
Student Handbook.
While the much larger and more
detailed Student Handbook can be
accessed through SMC Wired and on
the college’s website, the shorter version can be found in various locations
on the Dowagiac campus and at the
Niles Area Campus. (The condensed
version is located on the bottom of
The Southwester racks.) Students can
also pick up a copy in the Academic
Support office on both campuses.
The small white booklet is an
invaluable reference to many of the
common procedures and services
that students need to know about in
order to be successful. It can also save
you a lot of grief when you are unsure
what is acceptable and unacceptable
behavior in and out of the classroom
or when your tuition bill is due.
“Probably one of the most challenging things about being a student
is that college is such a completely new experience, and there is no
guidance counselor to remind you to
apply for graduation, or to alert you
that the last day to withdraw from a
class is coming up,” said Dr. Mickey
Hay, Dean of Students and Academic
Support. “Luckily, there are some
tools you can use, namely Wired and
the Student Handbook online.”
Wired and the online
Student Handbook
SMC Wired is your portal to all
things SMC! One of the benefits of
being a student at SMC is this portal will pretty much give you all the
resources you need as a student. For
one thing, your SMC e-mail may be
the only way you’ll get important
information, Dr. Hay said.
“We don’t text and we don’t call
– we e-mail…all the time,” Dr. Hay
added. “So you need to check your
SMC e-mail every day.”
Another helpful tool for navigating your academic life is the “Self
Service” and “My Courses” tabs on
Wired. Both allow you to look up
information about classes and registering and to find stuff your instructor has assigned, like your syllabus
and announcements.
“We can’t stress enough to students
that they need to use SMC Wired,”
Dr. Hay said. “If students are not
using Wired, they are cut off from a
lot of SMC.”
This isn’t high school
any longer
This isn’t high school either –
assignments need to be turned in on
time and each student needs to take
responsibility for his or her own learning. Disruptions and a lack of respect
for your instructor or classmates are
not acceptable behavior in college.
“Southwestern Michigan College is
committed to the highest standards
of academic and ethical integrity,”
Dr. Hay said. “All members of our
academic community are encouraged
to promote and value an ethic of
common respect and civility.”
The condensed version of the
Student Handbook is written simply
and in language that is “more bitesize” for students, Dr. Hay said.
“My vision is that we will no longer
need a printed version of the handbook in the future,” Dr. Hay said. “I
would like to take the various sections of the document and turn them
into videos on YouTube, perhaps with
students speaking about the section. What are the four common
issues students potentially
face while at SMC?
Appealing a grade. If you believe
your instructor assigned you a grade
in error, you may appeal the grade.
But you only have 30 days, so don’t
become a slacker about it.
Retaking a class. Anytime you try
to register for a class again, the system will stop you. If you try to take a
class four times, you have to appeal
to an administrative committee for
permission.
Requesting a late withdrawal.
Every semester there is a deadline
for withdrawing from classes. Check
the academic calendar to know when
that is.
Addressing a problem. It’s not
common for students to experience
problems at SMC, but when it happens, we have a procedure for you
to follow. It’s called the Grievance
Procedure.
Finally, the condensed version of
the Student Handbook will help students who are planning on transferring to another college. But don’t
wait until the last minute to consult
the handbook; pick one up today and
find out what you’re missing before
it’s too late!
The Southwester
36 EXCEL
students awarded
over $43,000
for the Winter
Semester
Southwester Staff Report
Thirty-six EXCEL students were awarded
an EXCEL Winter Scholarship. Each recipient
received $1,200 toward their college education
and did an outstanding job on the essay application. Congrats to each and every one of you on a
job well done! Daniel Alden
Stephanie Anderson
Kalee Antisdel
Diatra Baker
Justin Bloomfield
Michael Boyd
Teresa Brautigam
Taelyn Cassiday
Stephanie Conley
Jacqueline Coots
Kristen Curtin
Laurie Double
Amber Fries
Kandace Gebhard
Elizabeth Gokey
Troy Hinds
Nathan Hopkins
Kyle James
Terrance Jamison
Julie Kater
Willie Logan, Jr.
Erica McMillen
Mason McMillen
Christopher Nix
Barbara Shelton
Joseph Shouse
Tara Smith
Ebonie Strickland
Jo Ann Sunday
Charlene Sutfin
Joshua Thomas
Trinity Wallace
Tia Wilson
Rachel Wright
Karen Young
EXCEL will also be awarding Spring
Scholarships to EXCEL participants. If you are
interested in learning more about the EXCEL
program and their services, or seeing if you
qualify to become an EXCEL participant, please
stop in to one of the EXCEL offices and pick up
an application or call Missy Eblin at 782-1274.
Free lecture SMC takes award for ‘best
offered at
musical entry’ in parade
the Museum
@ SMC
Come join us for our monthly lecture at the
Museum at Southwestern Michigan College.
Each lecture highlights a topic of historical
interest both locally and regionally. The first
lecture will be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 2 in the Upton
Room at the museum.
The speaker will be Ruth Andrews, Minority
Coalition member and artist. The title of the
lecture is “Sanctuary and Deliverance.”
The stories of a community serve as our collective memory. Ruth Andrews will tell the
story of the Kentucky Raid, and share how
that story inspired the mural, “Sanctuary and
Deliverance.” She will describe how the mural
was designed, how committee members and
the broader community contributed, and how
the design was transferred to the wall and
painted. She will also discuss the politics of
creating public art.
Page 3
Members of the
Southwestern Michigan
College Symphonic and
Brass bands participated
in
the
Dowagiac
Candlelight Christmas
Parade on Dec. 3. This
year’s parade was one
of the largest in recent
memory, with 111 units
participating and more
than 1,000 spectators
crowding downtown
Dowagiac to see lighted
floats, big rigs, and of
course, Santa Claus.
The SMC float won this
year’s award for “Best
Musical Entry.”
Pictured on the float: Courtney Bennett, Sarah Bopp, Andrew Bussler, Andy Coleman, Mollie
Grabemeyer, Trevor Hough, Derek Kaiser, Ryan Murray, Joanna Pickar, Deanna Philips, Steve
Rietz, Sarah Riggs, Taylor Matejovsky and Sam Whittaker.
Page 4
The Southwester
Campus News
January 25, 2011
Get a 4-year degree in
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Campus News
January 25, 2011
The Southwester
Page 5
Southwestern Michigan College students make
President’s and Dean’s Lists for fall 2010
Southwestern Michigan College has named the following students to the President’s List for the 2010 fall semester. Students honored on the President’s List must
earn a perfect 4.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale while carrying a full load of studies (at least 12 credits). Students honored on the Dean’s List must earn a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale while carrying a full load of studies.
PRESIDENT’S LIST
MICHIGAN
Bangor Robert Booth Berrien Center Stephen Dubs Maureen Ott Alexa Rambo Berrien Springs Sarah Arnold Stephanie Harrington Kimberly Reynolds Boswell David Zapata Buchanan Kaitlyn Bicard
Jeffrey Platt H Leona Rosenthal Cassopolis Heather Ellis Toby Hebron Marilyn Moore Dakota Wimberley Constantine Nicholas Neppach Decatur Sally Goodrich Mark Johnson Dowagiac Bradley Baker Alyssa Cox Brian Darlas Glen Ditz Kandace Gebhard John Hokanson Kyle James Adeline McFadden Dominic Rappelli Dawn Secord Robert Smith Christine Stanton Pamela Ward Tiara Zimmerman Eau Claire Justine Beregsasy Sheila Penrod Kalamazoo Amanda Barber Marcellus Liane Pyper Niles Linda Lawson Jessica Lopez Benjamin Styx Gregory Beaver Ashlee Bielski Rita Bolle Jamie Conroy Julia Detrick Beverly Dykema Matthew Hadsell Jessica Holmes Leslie Hopper Heather Jackson Ashley Knight Richard Krassow Robert Mitchell Katy Morseau Jaron Mosier Joseph Ohlenbusch Matthew Oosterwal David Ottinger Emily Phillips Peter Preston Sarah Riggs Andrew Roden Justin Samuel Colin Schten Sarah Schuur Ashley Smith Tiffany Smith Adam Springsteen Cynthia Stovern Amanda Swartz Danielle Taylor Erika Taylor Jacqueline Tschupp Kaitlyn Tyrakowski Marc Unger Benjamin Wainwright Jared Wesaw Alyson Wheeler Chelsea Whiteoak Ashley Williams Katie Wood Scott Woods Sarah Wright Sherry Younger Toby Yuhas East Jordan Hannah Oliver Eau Claire Laura Tennison Edwardsburg Shawna Davidson Andrea Duncan Amanda Groeneveld Jacob Gunn Samantha Haines Jenelle Huskey Kaleb Klopfenstein Hannah Leist Stacy LeVan Stacie Litty Michelle Maret Nicole Nasco Samantha Read Steven Reitz Corina Savage Ronald Spring Patricia Sullivan JoAnn Sunday Anthony Tibbitts Ronald Weinberg Jessica White Tia Wilson Galien Meagan Carlson Elizabeth Hein Allen Williams Hartford Chadd Arthur Amber Kirby
William Lindley Steven Macmillan Brenda Powers Jones Andrew Churchill Emily Feister Kalamazoo Danielle Bular Cynthia Gustafson Lawrence Kelsey Filip Marcellus Frances Bagley Zachary Gunther Kelsey McKenzie Sara Merrills Korinne New Caleb Reuter Tamey Scoggin Peter Steinkraus Spencer Utter Mattawan David Crawford Mendon Misty Medbery Lexis Peoples New Buffalo Justin Moss Shelby Sexton Niles Keely Allen Stephanie Anderson Mirella Avila Courtney Barney Richard Bolin Emily Calbreath-Frasieur Taylor Cashier Kelly Courtney Andrew Cox Joshua Cramer Delaina Croom Gary Crouch Joshua Curtis Lindsay DeLong Melissa Dickey Tracy Dodge Jenna Dowling Kathryn Dutoi Aubrey Espick Morgan Farmer Brent Fifer Matthew Ftacek Kyle Garlanger Tyler Green Cole Hensel Monica Hessey Larry Hickman Barbara Holycross Desire Ingabire Tara Jacobs Canaan Jones Paula Kendall Amanda Kent James Kinas Amanda Kolberg Edwardsburg Rachel Breden Dan Wilkinson Galien Jacob Prahlow Amy York Hartford Ashley Motuelle Ashley Olson Brooke Olson James Schrader Madeline Smous Troy Treat Nottawa Holli McAlpine Saint Joseph Karen Miller Janel Snipes Sodus Mark Andres Union Aileena Fager Kristina Reese Vandalia John Crothers White Pigeon Debra Odell Kylie Oldenburg INDIANA
Mishawaka Shreyas Shekhar Nappanee Melissa Martin South Bend Shawna Wang
INTERNATIONAL
Gabriela Bastidas Rodriguez Joel Adu Jorge Arevalo
DEAN’S LIST
MICHIGAN
Bangor Andrew Todd Baroda Alison Kerlikowske Battle Creek Kalsee Masters Benton Harbor Tasha Baumeister Max Eberhart Melanie Greer Berrien Center Robert Allen Eric Armstrong Stephanie Bishop Benjamin Brackett Joycelyn Davis Jason Edgar Sarah Harrison Hayley Reneberg Cynthia Salome Jillian Shelton Berrien Springs Desiree Bullock Andrew Coleman Melissa Cook John Crosky Brittani Dillard Benjamin Hausmann Megan Howard Joshua Kruck Ryan Kubsch Ryan Marschke Nathan Springer Jason Stetler Anna Woodhams Scott Woodrick Bridgman Amber Heaton Caroline Pfliger Nicole Pike Chelsea Turner Travis Worden Buchanan David Baltazar Kaitlyn Bicard Rikki Ferrell David Ferris Ashley French Jerrod Hamlin Catherine Haslock Liesel Kent Lisa Ketcham Amanda Lindamood Cora-Lee Mervine Christopher Mondschein Mellisa Place Elisa Pollack Nicole Rutherford Robert Shelton Shata Topash Shelley Unger Cassopolis Elizabeth Beathea William Carr Karen Davidson Vincent Frank Meghan Haas Sara Harwell Alicia Keefe Marvin Maggert Gene McIntosh Michael McNeil Megan Mitchell Joanna Pickar Brett Poorman Latrice Pratt Adriene Rucker Rachel Sexton Michael Townsend Coloma Kayla Corbin Constantine Amber Fries Michael Middleton Harmoney Mortensen Brittany Roberts Decatur Ronald Abshagen Justin Bloomfield Teresa Brautigam Kimberly Jacko Holly Ogden Nicholas Reisterer David Slavings Gary Stoll Sandra Wulff Dowagiac Beverly Allison Kalee Antisdel Anita Beach Shellie Bowlin Tiffany Brooks Andrew Bussler Matt Bussler Preston Collett Megan Corey Elizabeth Corwin Michael Davis Elizabeth Ditz Cody Dorman John File Adam French Laurie Kempisty Michael Kempisty Kenneth King James Lawrence Frank Lemanski Angela Lewis Scott Lindsey Cherie Longden Allycia Mather Sarah McCuddy Melanie Meehan John Morseau Sandra Morseau Christina Mosher Remitha Komaranchath Jason Landstrom Samantha Leonard Cora Lolmaugh Krystal Mathias William McDonald Jarret Mitchell Wade Monica Kyle Muntz Rutendo Nyasvisvo Tamara Pecot Ebony Pierson Alyssa Pingel Sheila Praklet Doritt Prange Courtney Reed Richard Reed Kacy Reeves Katelyn Robbins Bonnie Roberts Malisa Roberts Charles Smith Bridgette Stone Justin Stroud Calvin Thole John Todd Elizabeth VandenHeede Regina VanGilder Matthew Vaughn Heather Walker Jessica Wallace Cody Williams Jonathan Williams Roberta Winn Andrea Wright Paul Zerbe Paw Paw Emily Hill Barbara Payne Ashley Walko Benjamin Wood Portage Dawn Langley Kristen Werner Saint Joseph Craig Bickett Nolan Kahne Jarrod Kempf Livia Mussi Maggie Patnoudes Elizabeth Raye Sawyer Allie Shareghi Sodus Melissa Mauchmar Stevensville Kayla Matheny Muta Mwenya Chelsea Rabbers Three Oaks Daniel Alden Deanna Phillips Stephanie Sexton Three Rivers Tara Smith Union Julia Harman Shirley Hood Kimberly Prikosovich Vandalia Mindy Armstrong Joshua Deubner Kathleen Pena Cortney Ramsey Laura Sherman Vicksburg Grace Ashenfelter Watervliet Katherine Ealy Alex Faultersack Sherry Grooms Tama Lewis White Pigeon Travis Bell Tracy Denney Arica Freshour Kara Freshour Megan Mays Beth Russell INDIANA
Elkhart Elizabeth Allen Jose Alvarez Ashley Fernatt Kevin Kruyer Aimee Ludwig Granger Cathleen Markanich Rebecca Seel Doug Staien La Porte Austin Adams South Bend Coulter Kane Tanner Russell John Skwiercz
ILLINOIS
Arlington Heights Katherine Smoucha INTERNATIONAL
Catherine Kabui Anastasija Kristala James Lidamlendo Altman Mnyuku Ann Mutahi John Muturi Kavita Patel Page 6
The Southwester
Campus News
January 25, 2011
The Southwester
Page 7
Fall art students honored for their work during December show
S
outhwestern Michigan College’s Fine Arts Department
presented merit and scholarship awards to outstanding fine
art students at SMC’s Student Art Show in December. The
show was judged by Shanna Shearer with the Ox-Bow summer art
program in Saugatuck.
A $300 scholarship, the Mina Award, was given to Dominic
Rappelli for his work in drawing. Theresa Morris received the
coveted ‘Pfliger Award’ for her work. Morris received a toaster and
a check for $49.95 from the Pfliger Foundation.
“We give this award to a piece of work that would look nice on
our wall,” said Terry Pfliger, SMC art instructor.
Alex Greco was recognized by her peers for her work in ceramics
and was honored by Sherri Styx, ceramics instructor, and Dr.
David Mathews, president of the college. Greco also received a
scholarship from Kendall School of Art and Design.
The following is the list of students who received merit awards.
Judge’s Merit Awards
Ceramics: Jessamine Belland, Alexandria Greco, Shonna
Keyes, Beth Mengel, and Emily Phillips.
Digital Photography: Rayann Emerson, Justin Etemi,
Olivia McCrevan, Maureen Ott,
Drawing: Aubrey Espick, Amber Kirby, Robert Kraus,
Benjamin Nowacki, Shayne Pompey, Dominic
Rappelli, and Rebecca Seel.
Graphic Design: Mathew Vaughn.
Introduction to Digital Arts & Design: Donna Simmons.
Painting: Theresa Morris and Rebecca Stuck.
Photographic Design: John Black, Anastasija Kristala,
and Catherine Rutter.
Photography: Mathew Majerek,
Page 8
Campus News
The Southwester
January 25, 2011
Iraq War veteran barred from Maryland campus
By ANDREW CHURCHILL
Student Veterans Coordinator
A
n Iraq War Veteran
has been barred
from the campus of
the Community College of
Baltimore County, pending
a psychological evaluation,
after publishing an essay
on the addiction of war.
Andrew
Charles Whittington
Churchill
was discharged from the
Army in August 2008 after receiving
wounds from a roadside bomb in Mosul,
Iraq. The psychological trauma of his
experiences overseas, coupled with the
pain of his injuries, led to a difficult readjustment to civilian life for Whittington.
He says he only began to learn to cope
with his difficulties when he followed
the advice of a doctor and began to write
about his experiences.
Like many veterans, the former
infantryman began attending classes
at a local community college. He did
well, earning all A’s his first semester,
and a sense of purpose was restored
to his life. He took an English class,
and for the first time he began to publicly write about his experiences in the
Army. When he wrote an essay entitled
“War is a Drug,” he received an A, and
with encouragement from his instructor, submitted the piece to the campus
newspaper. It was published on Oct. 26,
2010, and a few days later, Whittington
found himself before a group of highranking school officials, who informed
him that he would not be allowed to
return to campus until he received a
psychological evaluation.
The officials’ primary concern was
safety. Whittington wrote some things
which even I, an infantry sergeant who
performed a mission similar to his while
overseas, found unsettling.
“When I stick my blade through his
stomach…it’s a feeling I cannot explain,
but feels so good to me,” Whittington
wrote in his essay.
He goes on to express his hate for the
“rag heads that hurt our country,” and,
finally, “terrorists will have nowhere to
hide because there are hundreds of thousands of soldiers like me who feel like me
and want their revenge as well.”
What happened in Baltimore brings
several issues to light, and we may one
day find that they have made their way
to our own campus. Every college must
decide what constitutes appropriate
material for class work and publication,
and how to deal with students who may
present a danger to the student body.
Furthermore, an influx of war veterans
utilizing newly granted educational benefits exacerbates the situation as they reintegrate into “normal” society. They are
often a poorly understood group, sometimes even stigmatized by the belief that
all veterans suffer from Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) and might “snap”
at any given moment. Colleges all across
the nation are attempting to provide
improved services for these veterans, but
issues such as this arise every year.
Several veterans who attend SMC have
written about their experiences, and some
of this work has been published in one
form or another. Steve Carlsen wrote
about his experiences in Afghanistan in the
November 2010 issue of The Southwester,
and the fall 2010 dance program featured
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hile it’s not quite the “Who
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same technology in their classroom that
the show’s participants employ when
polling the audience.
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instructors to poll and quiz students as
well as prepare them for exams. Responses
can also be timed.
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SMC steps up
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a piece entitled “Voices,” a collaborative
venture which made use of writings from
Carlsen, Judy Kieffer-Phillips and myself.
Colleges across the nation are places where students come to learn, and
when people with unique experiences
find opportunities to share them, everyone benefits. However, this opportunity
comes with the responsibility to communicate in a manner which fosters education and lifts up our audience. In writing
a self-indulgent essay on his addiction
to killing, Whittington failed to hold
up his end of the bargain, and in doing
so, painted his fellow veterans in a light
which we have been trying to escape ever
since the Vietnam War.
However, very little of the blame for
what happened should be placed on
Whittington. He wrote the essay at the
request of his instructor, and his work
was met with approval. He submitted the
piece for publication, with her encouragement. No one, up to this point, saw
anything wrong with what he had written. It was not until officials within the
school’s administration read his work
that anything happened, and their knee-
[email protected]
CMU, an AA/EO institution, strongly and actively strives to increase diversity within its community (see www.cmich.edu/aaeo).
www.cmich.edu/offcampus 29861h 12/10
S
outhwestern Michigan College is
stepping up its recycling efforts.
In the past, the Green Club had
put tremendous effort into collecting
and recycling paper and cardboard on
the Dowagiac campus. But due to a very
large increase in the volume of recyclables and the number of individuals
participating in the campus recycling
efforts, the club was not able to continue.
Michiana Recycling and Disposal, the
company SMC uses for trash service,
will take the college’s recycling if items
jerk reaction to something they didn’t
understand brought Whittington’s education to a screeching halt.
Perhaps the school’s officials were
right to bar Whittington from campus.
Safety is, of course, of the highest priority, especially in light of the violence
that has occurred at various campuses
around the country. One would expect
some form of reaction to any student
who communicated that he finds pleasure in killing people and wants to do
it again, regardless of whether he is a
veteran or not. But Whittington only did
what was asked of him when he wrote
about his experiences, and again when
he submitted his essay for publication.
He was then punished, without ever having been given the opportunity to defend
himself. This constitutes a betrayal on
the part of the institution, and further
serves to stigmatize both Whittington
and other veterans.
Whittington’s essay may be found
online at http://articles.baltimoresun.
com/2010-11-20/news/bs-md-veteransuspension-20101121_1_iraq-veteranwar-veteran-campus-violence/7
immediate feedback, anonymously,”
said Rebecca Potter, nursing instructor.
“It really is bringing technical aspect of
learning and testing into the classroom
for faculty and it is great for outcomes
assessment and data.”
The devices are a product of Turning
Technologies and are an effective tool that
helps facilitate student learning. Because
they are interactive, students are engaged
in the classroom, said Potter, adding the
interaction provokes open discussions
among students.
Southwestern Michigan College owns
150 “clickers” or audience response devices that can be requested by faculty from
the college’s Information Technology
department.
are sorted, bagged in clear bags, and
marked as recyclable. An easy way to do
this is to keep separate trash bins lined
with clear trash bags marked for paper
and/or non-returnable beverage bottles,
such as water and juice bottles as well as
milk jugs. The cleaning staff will pick up
the recycling bags and place new bags in
your recycling bins.
SMC also has a cardboard dumpster
located near Maintenance. Cardboard
must be flattened and placed in this
dumpster. Bound items, such as
Viewbooks and phone books, cannot be
recycled.
Green Club members will continue
to pick up returnable bottles and cans,
which can be deposited in the tall, green
boxes marked for recyclables that are
located around campus.
Rock climbing club field trip
Members of the SMC
Rock Climbing Club
took a field trip to
Higher Ground, an
indoor climbing facility located in Grand
Rapids. If you are
interested in joining
the club, contact Asali
Kelly at the SAC.
Campus News
January 25, 2011
The Southwester
Page 9
Advocates for All deliver holiday cheer
T
he student club, Advocates for
All, made some holidays a little
brighter for a few students who
needed a little extra help this year!
During the fall semester, the students
worked hard to get donations from students at campus bash, local merchants
and food suppliers for the Veterans Day
Brunch. Their efforts were so successful, the brunch was completely funded
and they had a surplus.
As the funds were donated for the
purpose of assisting student veterans, we
wanted to keep that integrity. Thus, the
idea of holiday baskets for student veterans for the holidays was born. At the
Veterans brunch, student veterans were
asked to self-identify if they felt they
might need a little extra help this holiday. Additionally, students connected
to the club nominated fellow classmates
who also may need some help.
During the first week of holiday
break, shopping carts were filled with
enough goods to make up four boxes to
be distributed to some deserving students. On Dec. 23, student members
and faculty advisor, Christi Young,
delivered four boxes filled with a full
holiday dinner and some additional
staples for the pantry. For good measure, a stop was also made at Hope’s
Door, a local women’s program, with a
donated box of cleaning and personal
supplies.
Kandace Gebhard, a student involved
with the fundraising, shopping and delivering summed the project up nicely.
“It is such an honor to give back to
people who have sacrificed so much for
our community and country,” Gebhard
said. “We all are able to help each other
in some way and it is so important to
remember to look outside of ourselves
and remember to love, accept and help
those around us.”
The entire project was quite fulfilling
and heartwarming.
Webb Miller featured in Michigan History
a front row seat to most of the world’s
major events.
After leaving Dowagiac for a journalist
post in Chicago, Webb Miller went on
to become the premier war correspondent for the United Press, covering the
Pancho Villa insurrection at the Mexico
border, World War I, Gandhi’s push for
Indian independence, the Spanish Civil
War, the Italian invasion of Ethiopia and
the opening salvos of World War II. He
also covered non-military events, such
as royal weddings, Olympics Games and
treaty negotiations. His story is an amazing one, which he detailed in his 1936
autobiography, “I Found No Peace.”
The Museum at SMC acquired a significant collection from the family of Webb
SMC staff write
article on local
war correspondent
W
ebb Miller, acclaimed journalist from Sumnerville/Pokagon
and Dowagiac High School
graduate, will be featured in the January/
February edition of Michigan History
Magazine. Steve Arseneau, director of
the Museum at Southwestern Michigan
College, and Scott Topping, dean of
Academic Studies at Southwestern
Michigan College, penned the article
to highlight a local resident who had
Miller in 2007, which led to increased
research by Arseneau and Topping. The
Museum highlights Miller’s story in its
exhibit, “Small Town, Big World: Locals
Who Made History.” The exhibit includes
press passes, photographs, letters and
personal artifacts that clearly show how
extensive Miller’s experiences truly were.
According to Arseneau, “Scott Topping
has long been intrigued by Miller’s story
and the collection housed at the Museum
led us to dig deeper into his amazing journey as he covered major event after major
event.” The Michigan History article “is
our way of making Miller’s story known
throughout the state of Michigan and
we are pleased that Michigan History is
publishing it.”
‘How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying’
D
on’t miss the winter musical performance of
“How to Succeed in Business without Really
Trying” Feb. 24 through 27 in the theatre of
the Dale Lyons Building on the Dowagiac campus.
Showtimes are 7:30 Thursday, Friday and Saturday,
with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.
Power, ambition, greed ... it’s just another day at the
office. From the authors of “Guys and Dolls” comes one
of the most delightfully irreverent musicals of all time.
A satire of big business and all it holds sacred, the performance of “How to Succeed in Business without Really
Trying” will surely entertain.
Ticket prices are general admission $7; $5 for students and senior citizens; and free for those 18 and
under. Tickets can be purchased from the SMC Box
Office at 800-456-8675, ext. 1280.
Character......................................... Name
J. Pierrepont Finch......................... Spencer White
Rosemary Pilkington...................... Laura Strunk
J.B. Biggley....................................... Shawn Bianchini
Smitty................................................ Courtney Wilkins
Bud Frump....................................... Justin Williams
Miss Jones........................................ Azzaria Gunn
Mr. Twimble/Wally Womper....... Brett Mitchell
Hedy LaRue..................................... Dori Prange
Mr. Bratt........................................... Jacob Richcreek
Miss Krumhotlz............................... Chelsea Whiteoak
Ovington........................................... Brad Ruminer
Gatch.................................................. Daniel Mitchell
Men of the Chorus
Andrew Bussler
Daniel Mitchell
Tanner Russell
Ladies of the Chorus
Ben Thieme
Anthony Tibbitts
Grace Ashenfelter
Cindy Bieber
Megan Corey
Intramural Sports Schedule
All events and sign-ups are in the SAC.
Jan. 26 5 on 5 basketball games.............. 3 p.m.
28 Volleyball Tournament............... 3 p.m.
Feb.
2 5 on 5 basketball games.............. 3 p.m.
3 Snow Bowl.................................... 4 p.m.
7 5 on 5 basketball games.............. 3 p.m.
7-11Ping Pong Tournament
sign-up............................. 6 a.m.-11 p.m.
9 5 on 5 basketball games.............. 3 p.m.
14 5 on 5 basketball games.............. 3 p.m.
14 Ping Pong Tournament.... 6 a.m.-11 p.m.
16 5 on 5 basketball games.............. 3 p.m.
21 5 on 5 basketball playoffs........... 3 p.m.
23 5 on 5 basketball playoffs........... 3 p.m.
Mar.TBA March madness Bracket Contest TBA
Abigail Hansen
Jessica LeAnn Hargett
Deanna Phillips
Sarah Riggs
Museum holds
Valentines for Veterans
Cell phone collection
benefits troops
oin the Museum at SMC staff on Saturday,
Feb. 5, from noon to 3 p.m. in the Museum’s
Upton Room and make a valentine for a veteran! Museum staff and volunteers will host the
second annual Valentines for Veterans program.
The Museum will provide supplies for visitors
to make valentines to send to the VA Hospital in
Battle Creek. Last year, dozens of visitors made valentines, which were greatly appreciated by patients
and residents.
Visit the Museum to make a valentine for your
sweetheart and one (or more) to send to a vet.
Bring a friend! Craft materials will be provided, but
feel free to bring your own!
No reservations are necessary. For any questions,
contact the Museum Educator at 782-1334.
he SMC Community of Veterans, Green
Club and Student Activities are collaborating to collect cell phones for recycling during the Winter 2011 Semester. The program, called
Phones for Soldiers, is operated by a nonprofit
organization, which sells the phones collected,
with the proceeds from each phone going to buy
calling cards for troops overseas. Collection points
will be in place in the Student Activity Center and
elsewhere throughout campus at the start of the
Winter Semester.
J
T
Page 10
Campus News
The Southwester
January 25, 2011
Academic TLC in Teaching & Learning Center
By SUE MELL
SMC Tutor
S
tudents, do you need some extra
help with a class? How about a
little assistance with your writing? Southwestern Michigan College’s
Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) has
three convenient locations, and the best
part, all services are free!
On the Dowagiac campus, the TLC is
located on the first floor of the College
Services Building and inside the Fred
L. Mathews Library. At the Niles Area
Campus, the TLC is located just off the
student commons area.
The TLC provides tutors, writing consultants, learning style assessments and
computer use. These services are free for
all SMC students.
Students can receive tutoring on a
drop-in or on a one-on-one basis. A list
of tutors, their subjects and availability can be found at each TLC site. Dropin services do not require an appointment. However, students are served on a
first-come-basis, so there may be a waiting period. If a student needs one-onone tutoring, this must be coordinated
Southwestern Michigan College’s Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) has three
convenient locations, and the best part, all services are free!
through the class instructor.
Writing assistance is also available
at any of the TLC sites. Students need
to make an appointment with a writing consultant. The appointment takes
about an hour and students must bring
two copies of their paper and a copy
of the assignment with them to the
appointment. The consultant reads the
paper with you and gives suggestions
on how to improve it, i.e. thesis statement, formatting, grammar and punctuation.
Another service similar to the writing
consultant is the learning style assessment. This assessment can last up to
an hour and requires an appointment
made through the TLC. This service
evaluates how a student learns. After
answering a few questions, two online
assessments are taken. Results are discussed and a copy given to the student.
Besides the above three services,
computers are available for the student’s use. Tutors and staff can answer
computer questions and help with program usage. A printer is available in
each TLC with the use of a printer card.
The printer card costs $2 and includes
10 copies. The card can be refilled at
any time for an additional cost.
With all these services available, there
is no need for any student to struggle
with a class. Please stop in at the nearest TLC and check us out for tutoring,
help with writing, computer usage and
finding your best learning style. Tutors
are waiting to help.
The Witch and the Alchemist
(Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two part short story written by Larry
Wilson, an instructor in the college’s Developmental Studies program.
The second part will appear in the March 1 edition of The Southwester.)
By LARRY D. WILSON
SMC Instructor
E
dna could not claim mystical Royal lineage. She was
not an enchanted Princess,
cursed by an evil sorcerer’s spell,
destined to live a life of squalor
until saved by the kiss of a nomadic Prince Charming.
She wasn’t a motherless child,
tormented by a wicked stepmother and equally malevolent
stepsisters. She wasn’t patiently
awaiting the night when her fairy
godmother whispers an incantation that turns a sack of rutabagas
into a sleek golden carriage that
would somehow whisk her away
to the King’s ball where the Crown
Prince and all five of his royal siblings immediately fall madly in
love with her and vow to win her
hand in a jousting match.
Be that as it may, Edna believed
that providence had her scheduled for an eventual, happily-everafter. She was sure that she had
started life as a beautiful baby
princess, somehow cursed to a life
outside the prestige of the palace,
imprisoned by time until a handsome stranger falls in love with
her and shatters the evil hex.
It was obvious to her. Edna
knew she was plain and homely,
but that was how a cursed princess should look. Everyone knew
it. Generational stories and folklore were full of such tales.
She spent hours at her mother’s bedside table staring into the
mirror, trying to find the deeply
hidden images of a beautiful,
but cursed, maiden. She knew it
was only a matter of time until
fate brought whatever magic it
would take to free the beautiful
princess within.
She was plain, at best. Yet,
not thoroughly unappealing at
worst. She knew this, in spite of
her mother and father’s endless
efforts to gin up her self-esteem.
“Oh Edna, you have such a pleasant personality”, they would offer
as she sat gazing into the mirror. Edna was told throughout
her younger years that personality
was a much more powerful trait
than beauty. But she also knew
that Helen didn’t have the personality that launched a thousand
ships and Cleopatra didn’t seduce
Julius Caesar with her ability to
tell jokes.
Regardless of her rationalizations, Edna was not a princess
and was not about to become one.
Her father was a cobbler and her
mother was a scrubwoman. She
had no fairy godmother. She was
just a very plain looking little girl.
It was sad, but it was true.
Day after day, month after
month, and eventually, year after
year, Edna sat at her window
and waited for the one magical
moment that would change her
life, forever.
It never came.
* * *
When Edna was still a young
girl, by anyone’s measurement, a
miller came to their village and
set up his millworks along the
stream that meandered through
the sunset side of town. His young
son, Eugene, was but a year older
than Edna and no more to look
at than she. Eugene was a frail
child, weak-eyed and bespectacled. He was molly coddled by
his mother, and at the opposite
end of the pendulum swing from
being called strapping. His father
longed to raise him in his own
right, teach him to be a miller;
turn wheat into flour, corn into
meal, and oats into granola. But,
fate had blessed the miller with a
child better suited to science and
reading than toting and grinding
sacks of grain.
As children growing up, Edna
and Eugene would often play
together. It wasn’t really playing
by most folks’ standards; Eugene
would sit under a tree, reading
theories on alchemy as Edna
stared into the distance. Eugene
contemplated turning flax into
gold and Edna wondered where
her prince might be. Reading
and staring, dysfunctional playtime activities, but they did them
together…always together.
Each autumn, the villagers
would celebrate the harvest with
a festival and cotillion that would
debut children who had reached
the threshold of maturity. Each
year a new crop of children completed the first stage of the growth
cycle and reached the “Age of
Ripeness”; the moment in time
when children become adults.
The cotillion was a formal affair,
held at the palace, given by the
King and Queen as a gift to their
loyal subjects. Tradition called for
the children of “the Age” to pair
up male and female, and enter the
Grand Hall of the palace through
a grape arbor, heavy with the fruit
of the vine. Through this arbor,
they would transverse the “Age of
Ripeness” and ascend from children into adults. It was a magical
event filled with pomp and circumstance.
It was the responsibility of
each boy to ask a girl to accompany him through the grape
arbor. Dressed in ceremonial
silken robes, they would slowly
enter the vine-covered trellis,
walk hand-in-hand beneath
the fruit-bearing passageway,
and climax with their dramatic
entrance into the Grand Hall as
men and women. Pealing bells,
trumpet blasts, and cheers from
friends and family heralded the
brief but meaningful event.
After this, the party started. It
was, after all, a harvest festival.
Eugene and Edna reached
“the Age” at the same harvest.
Eugene was a year older, but
it was a darker age and custom
held that boys matured slower. On the “Day of Invitation,”
seven days before the cotillion,
Eugene asked Edna to accompany him on the walk beneath
the arbor.
It seemed a logical choice for
Eugene. Edna had been his constant friend through childhood
and now she should accompany
him into adulthood.
Edna turned him down.
This was the most important
event in a young girl’s life and
Edna was saving it for the handsome prince or knight in shinning armor, destined to break
her free from the imagined evil
spell that had been cast over her
presumed hexed life. She was
certain this year’s cotillion was
the moment in time when all
the good magic in the universe
would converge within her. Her
prince would come.
The “Day of Invitation” passed
with no magical knight riding
up on a shimmering stallion. No
prince asked Edna to entwine
hands on the walk beneath the
arbor. This did not worry Edna.
Magic was not confined by the
traditions of mere mortals. At
the right moment, something
was bound to happen and a
golden coach would appear,
silken robes would be instantly woven, birds and butterflies
would sculpt her hair with
baby’s breath and laurel, and
over the horizon a handsome
stranger would appear.
The magic did not happen.
Eugene went to the cotillion,
escorted by a cousin that had
also reached “the Age.” It was
an arrangement created by two
frantic mothers.
Edna stayed home and stared,
through tear reddened eyes, into
her mother’s mirror.
Campus News
January 25, 2011
The
Southwester
www.swmich.edu.southwester
Volume 47, No. 4, Jan. 25, 2011
SMC
Communication
Program
Published for students, faculty,
staff and friends of
Southwestern Michigan College
58900 Cherry Grove Road
Dowagiac, MI 49047
Niles Area Campus:
33890 U.S.12,
Niles, Mich. 49120
Submissions
Students, faculty and staff of Southwestern
Michigan College are encouraged to submit story ideas, articles, reviews, photos
and/or graphic images to The Southwester.
Comments, suggestions and letters to
the editor are also welcome. Opinions
expressed are strictly those of the authors
and do not necessarily reflect those of
the management of The Southwester or
Southwestern Michigan College. Letters
to the editor should be no more than 250
Submissions may be edited at the editor’s discretion. The Southwester uses
Associated Press style, so readers may
notice differences from “regular” English
usage pertaining to abbreviations, punctuation and capitalization. Send editorial
submissions to:
THE SOUTHWESTER
c/o College Services Building
Room 2105,
Southwestern Michigan College
58900 Cherry Grove Road
Dowagiac, MI 49047.
Page 11
Food service options abound at SMC
By CAROLYN HARDMAN
Administrative Assistant, Business Office
B
urger and fries? Panini and a smoothie? How about a hot homemade meal? All of these and more are available as part of the food
service options at SMC.
There are two locations for on-campus dining, the Zollar Café and
the Birdfeeder. With a variety of food options available for purchase,
there is something to fit any appetite, and both locations offer available
seating as well as take-out for your purchases.
The Zollar Café, located in the Student Activity Center, is open
from 7:45 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:45 a.m. – 2
p.m. on Friday, serving gourmet coffee, as well as light breakfast and
lunch options. The café also offers an array of smoothies and panini
sandwiches made to order, as well as pre-made sandwiches, salads,
and snacks. Specialty coffee drinks, including lattes and cappuccinos,
can also made to order.
The Birdfeeder, located in the lower commons of the College
Services Building, is open from 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., with items
from the grill available until 2 p.m. Every day, Mary Rose also
offers a special she makes fresh that day. Recent specials have
included: lemon chicken with mashed potatoes, spaghetti and
meatballs with salad, and buffalo chicken wraps with chips. In
addition, “Mexican Wednesdays” are popular with the lunch
crowd. Pizza, homemade soups and “grab and go” items are also
available for purchase.
However, with 260 students now living on campus, as well as an
overall increase in the daily student and faculty population, SMC
is looking into how to best serve student needs for on-campus food
options. We want your opinions and ideas! E-mail chardman@
swmich.edu with your suggestions.
So, the next time you are hungry for lunch, take a look at the many
options available on the SMC campus. Bon Appétit!
Acting I students learn
firsthand from Judith Ivey
Southwester Staff Report
words in length, signed and include the
author’s address and phone number.
The Southwester
“You need to connect more with your
character,” Judith Ivey told Southwestern
Michigan College Acting I class. “I think
all too often we take your instincts away as
actors. Trust the actor in yourself first.”
Ivey, a Tony-winning Broadway actress
and former Dowagiac resident, worked with
Thom Cooper’s Acting I class during her visit
back to the city. The Dowagiac Dogwood
Fine Arts Festival hosted Ivey’s visit.
Ivey’s father, Dr. Nathan Ivey, was
Southwestern Michigan College’s first president from 1965 to 1968.
The Acting I students developed a character from a monologue they selected and prepared to perform for Ivey. Ivey critiqued each
performance, giving helpful suggestions and
variations on character development.
She was often delighted in what she
saw and heard from the students.
“When you do monologue, you want
the audience to see your strength,”
Ivey said.
In addition to winning two Tonys
as Best Featured Actress in a Play for Judith Ivey (center), laughs at one of the monologues
her role in “Steaming” in 1983 and performed by SMC’s Acting I students last semester.
Ivey, a Tony-winning Broadway actress and former
“Hurley Burley” in 1985, Ivey has Dowagiac resident, is also a Tony award winning actress.
appeared in several movies, including “Brighton Beach Memoirs,”
“The Lonely Guy,” “The Woman in Red,” “Nurse Jackie” and “The Long Hot Summer.”
“The Devil’s Advocate,” “Compromising She also played the character of B.J. Poteet
Positions” and Clint Eastwood’s “Flags of in the final season of the TV comedy show,
Our Fathers.”
“Designing Women.”
Ivey also transitioned to television with
Before visiting Dowagiac, Ivey had just
her roles in “Down Home,” “The Five Mrs. wrapped up “The Glass Menagerie.” She also
Buchanans,” “The Critic,” “Will and Grace,” has directed Broadway productions.
TELEPHONE
(269) 782-1457
FAX
(269) 782-1446
E-MAIL
[email protected].
The Southwester
Editorial Staff
EDITOR
Ann Burch
SMC Board
of Trustees
Dr. Fred L. Mathews, Chairman
Keith McKenzie, Vice Chairman
William White, Secretary
Thomas F. Jerdon, Treasurer
Paul D. File, Trustee
Jan Kairis, Trustee
Beth J. Cripe, Trustee
Spring Break in the Florida Keys – March 5-March 14
Southwester Staff Report
njoy sunny Key West during spring
break, March 5 – March 14.
The class is a PHED 103 Life Fitness
course that is worth two credits and will generally transfer as wellness credits to any college
or university. Pell Grant funds may be used.
Estimated cost of the trip is $795 and does not
include payment for the two credits. The cost
is based on travel expenses and selected activities.
There will be one orientation session on campus before leaving for South Florida. Five mini
lectures will be held in the morning while in
Florida before the class breaks into individual
group activities for the day.
Scuba diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking and
bike touring will be oneday sessions while in
Key West. Additional sessions in these activities
E
are optional. Wilderness day hiking and beach
aerobics will be offered every day. Most activities will be finished by noon or early afternoon,
allowing for plenty of free time. Students who
have passed a previous PHED 103 class may
opt to write a 10-page term paper on any wellness topic rather than attend the lectures.
The class will leave from South Bend Regional
Airport on Saturday, March 5, for Miami. After
landing, the group will have lunch in Coconut
Grove before heading to the lodge in Florida
City. The following day, the class will visit
the Everglades National Park to do the exciting “Gator Gallop” day hike before getting on
Highway 1 to the Florida Keys. The group will
spend the next few days in fabulous in Key
West doing lab work.
On Friday, the group will leave mile marker one and travel back to the sensational
SOBE (South Beach) area of Miami. There
the group will spend two days and fly back
home early Sunday morning. Remember,
what happens in South Florida, stays in South
Florida!
Standard tuition and fees apply for the class,
plus the special activity fees.
All class activities are taught at the beginning
level and additional sessions in all water sports
and biking may be scheduled at a lower rate (no
instruction).
Clean, economical lodging will be secured.
The rates are based on three or four individuals to a room. Southwestern Michigan
College will present all lectures, coordinate
and escort the trip. Additional information
will be provided about fun places to go and
great places for “cheap eats.”
For more information, contact the Extreme
Sports Office, (800) 456-8675, ext. 1209 or
e-mail [email protected].
College President
Dr. David M. Mathews
Southwestern Michigan College
Dance Café – March 2 Noon
is accredited by the Higher Learning
Commission of the North Central
Art Gallery exhibits for
January & February
Association of Colleges and Schools.
The Southwester reserves the right
to refuse any content, photograph or
advertisement for any reason.
Jan. 13 – Feb. 4
Susan Henshaw
“Water” Photography and Pastels
Feb. 14 – March 4
Jan Kimball / Mary Burke
Ceramics / Paintings
Reception: Thursday, Feb. 24, 12:30 p.m.
The Southwester is mailed to all high
school libraries, public libraries around
the region including Indiana and to all
Michigan community colleges.
© Copyright 2011 by
Southwestern Michigan College
Join the SMC dance students at noon for a light and lively menu of
movement with creative projects and works-in-progress. The performance is free.
The Art Gallery is located in Room 108 of the Dale A. Lyons
Building on the Dowagiac campus. Gallery hours are
Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesday and
Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Art receptions
and the gallery are open to students at no cost.
Thomas has a knack for talking to people. He enjoys it. That’s why he wants a career
in public relations. But, he said, his high school record was, well, interesting. He
needed a plan—a smart one. The solution: start at a community college; finish at a top
100 public university. Thomas was able to save some money while getting himself
ready for the highly regarded PR major at Western Michigan University. On top of
that, WMU has one of the most affordable undergraduate programs in Michigan.
“I applied to Western
because I was well
aware of the prestigious
academic milieu as
well as the fact it was
relatively close to my
family…but not too
close.”
– Thomas Schenck
a great reputation, an excellent
Pr program, and a perfect location
made thomas’ choice simple:
western michigan university.
Smart BenefitS for
the WmU tranSfer
StUdent
• 230 academic programs
• the western edge
• transfer scholarships available
• tenzing house – on-campus
transfer student housing
(269) 387-2000 • wmich.edu/transfer