Watch the video at HSO hosts

Raider Smarts thecollegiatelive.com fashion show Page 14

C
April 21, 2010
The
ollegiate
Vol. 54, No. 12

Grand Rapids Community College

thecollegiatelive.com

GRCC Student files fake report

By Brittany Zender
Collegiate Staff Writer
A GRCC Student confessed
to the Kent County Sheriff’s De-
partment that the unarmed rob-
bery and assault she had report-
Composite
drawing
ed last semester was fake. 
In October, an 18 year old
of “suspect.”
pregnant GRCC student reported
that she was assaulted at approximately 1:20 p.m.
on Oct. 29.
“She claimed she was punched and robbed on
her way to class in the Bostwick parking ramp, and
since she was 27 weeks pregnant, an ambulance
transported her to St. Mary’s hospital shortly after
her call to 911,” said Campus Police Lieutenant Har-
old Woolworth.
“The Kent County Sheriffs Department has had
her under private investigations for another false
report she later filed with them,” Woolworth said.
She claimed a male was trying to harass and take
her baby from her after she pulled her car over near
8 mile and Alpine.”
Officer Nowak of the GRCC Police, said the stu-
dent admitted to the Kent County Sherriffs Depart-
ment that not only was the report false, but so was
the assault she reported at GRCC. Woolworth felt
See CC, Page 3

Earth Day Series

GRCC to have
first wind-farm
safety program
By Christina Kim
Editor-in-Chief
GRCC will become the first
U.S. training center for a globally
recognized wind-farm safety
program.
Working with Rockford
Construction Company’s partner
in Spain, Rockford Berge’, GRCC
will offer training sessions to
those new to the field in July
2010.
“Our wind safety technology
program will be the only globally
recognized wind safety training
by almost all of the major original
equipment manufacturers,” said
Director of Continuing Education
and Professional Development
Julie Parks.
According to Parks, through
Rockford Berge’s relationship
in Spain, GRCC met Ynfiniti
Engineering (YES) and Safety
Technology of Wales.
Yes and Safety Technology
have authorized GRCC to
become the first United States
training center for their YES/
Safety Technology (YST) safety
certification program for the
wind energy industry.
“This safety training—along
with additional wind technician
training can lead to jobs for
GRCC students all over the U.S.
and even globally,” Parks said.
See GRCC, Page 3

CC Student Congress
looks at green options
By Stephanie Sicard
Opinion Editor
Student Congress
proposing a resolution to help
is
control the dependency upon
water bottles at GRCC.
“This is a resolution to
support a change in the drinking
fountains and eliminate the need
for bottled water on campus,”
said Jeremy Christensen, GRCC
Student Congress President. Bill Foltz, Executive Pastry Chef at
The proposed plan is not to L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in New
ban bottled water on campus,
but to promote the use of
World Pastry Orleans, puts the finishing touches on a
sculpture made entirely of sugar during Le
students bringing their own
reusable bottles and filling them
Cup at GRCC Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie (World
Pastry Cup) U.S. Team Tryouts hosted at
at stations around campus. The GRCC on Saturday, April 17.
drinking fountains would be Foltz was selected to join the team and
equipped with a water filtration will compete in Lyon, France.
See Student, Page 2

Opinion A&E Sports

6 An editor explores
her years at GRCC
8 Maryann Lesert talks
about her new book
16
Softball team turns
season around

INSIDE: News 1-4 Opinion 5-6 A&E 7-11 Diversions 12-13 Sports 14-16 Next Issue: Fall 2010
2 News April 21, 2010

Campus Police
Reports
High school News in the

students plan Campus theft has

gone down

Injury
3/25
A student slipped and injured her tailbone on
the second floor of the student center.
for next year According to the first
quarter larceny statistics
taken by Lieutenant Harold
Woolworth of the GRCC
By Ashley Eerdmans “My primary reason for
Campus Police, the number
Collegiate Staff Writer choosing GRCC was because
it was cheap,” Purdun said. of larcenies from Jan. 1 to
Drunken man
March 31 has dropped 21
3/26 and Stephanie Sicard “I’ve heard that there is a really
An intoxicated man was leaning against a Opinion Editor friendly environment there, percent compared to last
GRCC building on his way home from a bar. He and that it is really easy to get year.
refused help and continued walking. With the school year drawing around. Also, I’m not playing “I believe the drop in
to a close, high school seniors soccer there because I wanted to larcenies can be attributed
face the decision of where to go do other things.” to the arrests that were
Stolen phone next. Former Hastings High School made around the first of
03/26 In a comparison between two student Andrea Eaton made the the year, along with the
A student left his belongings in a locker with- different high schools, Hastings decision two years ago to attend
implementation of security
out locking it. His cell phone was stolen. No High School and Creston High GRCC after graduation.
“I don’t go to GRCC anymore, cameras and officers
suspects. School, some students are patrolling,” Woolworth
choosing GRCC while others are but I chose to go because it was
cheaper than other colleges,” said.
going for a different option.
Missing wallet Billy Diaz, a senior at Creston Eaton said.
As for Christian Dorma, a -Brit Zender
3/29 High School will be attending
A student left her wallet in a bathroom stall. the University of Michigan in senior at Creston High School,
When she returned, it was missing. No sus- the fall of 2010. GRCC is a summer option.
pects. “I’m thinking of probably “I’m going to Michigan State Parking meters now
this fall,” Dorma said. “I’ll be
getting into medicine,” Diaz
going to GRCC in the summer
paid by cell phone
said. “I want to figure out the
Car radio stolen programs I can get into that time. I’m going to take a public
Park Mobile Services is
3/29 will let me get into medicine, speaking course and either a
writing class or English.” now available to students
A stereo was stolen from a student’s car. No but to be a researcher and not a who use the parking
suspects physician.” New students are choosing
GRCC each day for many different meters instead of the school
Hastings High School seniors
like Ashley Purdun and Luke reasons. Money, location, and parking ramp.
Hit and run Hubbell have something more convenience are all playing roles This service allows
3/30 in common than just their high in the decision-making. students to add time to a
A student’s car was hit resulting in a rear dent school. Both students will be parking meter with their
and blue paint marks. No suspects. attending GRCC.
C stephanieOpinion@yahoo.com cell phone.
An e-mail interview
with Sara Engel, Marketing
Stolen Book Manager for Park Mobile
3/30 Services, provided more
A student’s book was stolen from on top of the information.
sink while she was in the restroom. No sus-
According to Engel,
pects.
Park Mobile Services
launched their Pay by
Suspicious photographer Phone parking services in
3/31 Grand Rapids on Nov. 2,
A freelance photographer was taking photos 2009.
off the catwalk over Ransom St. He was not a Engel also said that for
student and was told to register with Student 35 cents per call, the user
Affairs when on campus. can add more money to the
Stephanie Sicard/Collegiate
meters by using their credit
Creston senior Christian Dorma works on homework while her
card number.
Theft From Vehicle teacher David Lyons answers questions. Dorma will be taking
classes this summer at GRCC. Drivers can sign up
4/05
Sunglasses, a GPS and a window mount for by calling the toll free
the GPS were stolen from a student’s car. No number 1-877-PARK-714 or
Suspects. Corrections visit the web site at www.
Parkmobileapp.com.

Theft With your help we will report errors of fact in this space -Allen Wegener
4/07 every issue. If you notice an error, please call 616-234-4157 and
Sunglasses and a Raider card were stolen from ask for an editor, visit us online at www.thecollegiatelive.com or
a student’s bag when she stepped out of the e-mail us at grcc_collegiate@yahoo.com The Collegiate
classroom. No suspects.
named best
Michigan

Student congress hopes to

C
Community College
newspaper

reduce waste on campus GRCC’s independent

student newspaper The
Collegiate was named the
Check out our website:

Continued from page 1 An additional 30 colleges and universities, one best community college
thecollegiatelive.com

of which is Grand Valley State University, have newspaper in Michigan by

system to purify the tap water. created campaigns to reduce the use of bottled the Michigan Community
Nicholas Wikar, GRCC Student Congress Vice water on campus. College Press Association
President said, “We’d like to get GRCC to pass out “This isn’t a ban on bottled water on campus,” (MCCPA).
reusable water bottles instead of T-shirts at campus said Wikar. “We just want to encourage change,
events.” Editors and staff writers
and help students become aware of the waste.” won various individual
The Board of Trustees will vote on the resolution, If the resolution passes, Student Congress
currently titled the Bottled Water Resolution, on awards as well during the
hopes reduce GRCC’s dependency on bottled water
April 22. sales, and therefore reduce to the amount of plastic MCCPA Conference on
According to Student Congress, seven other sent to landfills. April 17.
universities and colleges throughout the United
-Christina Kim
C
States have banned the sell of bottled water on their
StephanieOpinion@yahoo.com
campuses.
April 21, 2010
CC Student to
be prosecuted
Continued from page 1
the report was suspicious from the be-
ginning.
“We questioned the validity of
the report from the start,” Woolworth
said. “Her descriptions of what hap-
pened just didn’t add up, but we had
to treat it as though it was a crime and
took the assault very seriously.
“We even asked the Detective Bu-
reau department of the GRPD to make
a composite drawling of the suspect
according to what she described. The
fictitious suspect was a black male
with a tear drop tattoo on his left
cheek.   “I had security drive me a few
“A lot of agencies were involved,
including the GRPD that made the
composite drawling and led us in two
photo line ups with her, the Michigan
State Police’s crime lab where DNA
testing was done, and Kent County
where vehicle testing and private in-
vestigations took place.”
The case was closed last week on
April 14. Nowak said the case was a
large waste of resources.
“All this did was raise peoples
concerns and wasted a lot of time and
money that we will be seeking full
restitution for,” Nowak said. “This
doesn’t just affect GRCC. For someone
to report something that didn’t occur
upsets us as well as the entire com-
munity.”
Woolworth said the student is be-
ing prosecuted for the false report.
“We are in the process of having
a prosecutor issue a warrant for the
false report,” Woolworth said. “Any-
one that reports a false crime will
more than likely end up with a felony,
and for this particular one that’s what
News 3
Editors Wanted
Wanted: Collegiate Editors for fall
Paid positions (for school year):
Editor-in-chief: $4,000
Sports: $2,000
she will be charged with. Arts & Entertainment: $2,000
“We have had a few incidenc- Opinion: $2,000
es like this happen in the past that 
we’ve prosecuted for. But it’s been a
News: $2,000
long time.” Photo: $2,000
One student and Nurse Technician Web: $2,000
for Spectrum Health, Chris Schaub,
Business Manager: 20% of ads sold
took extra caution after hearing of the
incident.
“I was really nervous to walk to
Editors are required to have taken, or are taking, JR 251
my car after I heard about the un- and JR 252.
armed robbery,” Schaub said. “We For more info, or if JR 251 is full, contact Dr. Scott
got emails from Spectrum within a
few days of the assault advising us McNabb at smcnabb@grcc.edu
to never walk alone at night, and en-
couraged us to use the buddy system
because of GRCC’s latest incidents.  
times. Whether or not the assault hap-
pened, it’s still dangerous to walk by
yourself. I’ll continue to be cautious.” 
Mike Vargo, head of the GRCC
psychology department, had a theory
as to why someone might create a
false report.
“Generally, some people who
make false accusations are in disbelief
of reality,” Vargo said. “They develop
almost a fantasy that’s delusional, and
it’s often linked with their need for at-
tention.”
Woolworth said he was happy the
assault didn’t occur. 
 “GRCC is a pretty safe campus for
being in a downtown city, and the of-
ficers and I work very hard to keep it
that way,” Woolworth said.
The student is currently taking
online classes, and it’s up to the Dean
of Student Services to decide whether
or not the false accuser will be al-
lowed to attend GRCC anymore.  
C grcc_collegiate@yahoo.com

GRCC has new program

Continued from page 1
“According to the Department of
Labor’s ONET information, positions
for wind technicians, wind farm
operators, and sales people of wind
parts are growing at a rate of over 20
percent a year.”
According to Parks, the initial
80 hour training program includes
modules such as working at heights,
climbing, rescue, fire safety, confined
spaces, rescue at heights, first aid and
several other components.
The maximum number of students
per training session will most likely
be 20-22 people. According to Parks,
there is an application process that
will be finalized later in the semester.
“The safety training is applicable
to other fields, such as electrical grid
workers and other occupations that
work at heights,” Parks said. “This is
a good training for people who later
in life might want to run a company
that sells wind parts, insurance to
wind farms, run the business end of
renewable energy. It is a good basic
foundation for students.”
C ChrisDKimEIC@yahoo.com

Campus Events
Student Congress Meeting
April 22 - May 7
April April Spring Sustainability Series April Commencement

22 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
23 1 p.m.
30 8:45 a.m.

Student Congress will have its last meeting of the
semester. It is open to all students. Located in the
Multi-Purpose Room on the second floor of the
Student Community Center.
April Free Parking
Student work performance entitled “Celebration of
Earth & Sky” featuring “A Quilt of Words.” Located
in the Meijer Theater at the Grand Rapids Public
Museum.
April Day Exams
Commencement rehearsal starts at 8:45 a.m. at the
Ford Fieldhouse. A reception will start at 5:30 p.m.
at the Raider Grille. Graduation Line-up begins at
7:30 p.m. in the Bostwick Commons .
May Locker Refunds

22
Students can receive free parking on
Earth Day by carpooling. Pull a ticket from the
parking ramps and sign it.
26-29
Check with your professor or instructor
as to when your exams are scheduled. It would be
bad if you missed it.
7 All locks must be returned to student
life by Friday, May 7 to get your $10 refund. That’s
like returning 100 pop cans.
4 News April 21, 2010
April 21, 2010
Safety on campus remains
important despite false claims
On the front page of
this issue, the “Student
reports fake assault”
article reports that the
GRCC student who
claimed in Oct. that she
was punched and then
robbed in the Lyon St.
parking ramp was lying
to police.
The assault never
occurred, but the
precautionary measures
that GRCC and students
are taking should
continue regardless.
One person crying
wolf does not change
the fact that there is
crime on campus and it’s
important to be aware of
one’s safety.
The installation of
more security cameras,
one measure taken
because of the “assault”
that occurred has helped
with crime on campus.
When students were
surveyed earlier this
school year about safety
in the parking ramps,
the addition of security
cameras was the biggest
demand.
According to
larceny statistics taken
by Campus Police
Lieutenant Harold
Woolworth, the number
Editorial
of larcenies from Jan. 1
to March 31 has dropped
21 percent compared to
last year.
“I believe the drop
in larcenies can be
attributed to the arrests
that were made around
the first of the year, along
with the implementation
of security cameras
and officers patrolling,”
Woolworth said.
Now, at the end of
the school year, is not
the time to disregard
students’ safety. Instead
this should be a time
when we look ahead to
the next year of classes
and the incoming new
students.
These new students
may be unfamiliar with
the surroundings of
Opinion
downtown Grand Rapids
and their campus should
be a safe haven.
By increasing the
measures taken on
campus, GRCC can
assure that every student
is as safe as possible and
in no way fearing their
walk to a parked car on
campus.
It’s sad that the
woman who made the
false claim has gotten
the attention she was
obviously seeking, and
it is aggravating that
resources were wasted
to find the fictitious
suspect.
However it’s
important that the police
patrols remain.
Although it is wrong
to make up a story about
an assault and send
police after a criminal
who doesn’t exist, this
one instance may have
been the key to getting
GRCC safety up to par.
With campus police and
parking lot attendants
on the look out for
suspicious figures, the
parking ramps have
and will remain safe for
students.
Dietary police, beware
By MCT Campus
Sugar is sugar is sugar.
That’s what many dietitians
said for years when asked
about the difference
between the sugars naturally
contained in fruit juice and
those added to, say, soda.
New research at Princeton
University, however,
undercuts the familiar adage,
showing that high-fructose
corn syrup, a common
ingredient in processed
foods because it’s cheaper
and extends shelf life, has a
remarkable ability to fatten
rats.
Even when rats
were given much lower
concentrations of the
commercial sweetener than
are found in soda, while
other rats were given higher
concentrations of table sugar,
the corn-syrup rats gained
more weight. Not only
that, but they developed a
dangerous condition known
in humans as metabolic
syndrome, which is marked
by abnormal weight gain,
increases in triglyceride
levels and more fat deposits
around the belly. Even rats
fed a high-fat diet don’t
consistently gain weight,
psychology professor Bart
Hoebel said.
And who got it right in
the whole low-carb, low-fat
debate? Another study, out of
Stanford University, suggests
that both sides did to some
extent. Low-carb diets work
best for some people based
on their genetic makeup,
5
or another as a way of
trimming society’s collective
waistline and staving off
certain diseases.
That’s something New
York City school officials
should keep in mind with
their new regulations
limiting bake sales on
campus. Homemade goods,
even if they’re as wholesome
as spinach pies, are banned,
while certain Pop Tarts, the
ones that contain whole
wheat, are allowed. The
goal is admirable: limiting
the junk food that children
consume. The question is
whether school officials
know which kind of food is
more reprehensible. The Pop
Tarts contain high-fructose
corn syrup, an ingredient
seldom used by home cooks.
New York deserves a
healthy round of applause
for being concerned about
how dietary habits affect
well-being; it led the nation
in requiring restaurant
menus to include calorie
information. Research finds
that customers do cut down
on their calorie intake once
they have those sometimes
hefty numbers in hand. But
when it comes to regulating
consumers’ intake, rather
than informing their choices,
the chances of moving the
nation’s habits in the wrong
direction are heavy, indeed.
It’s wise to remember that
what we “know” today might
well be disproved tomorrow.

Time to freshen up the nation’s while low-fat diets are more The Bottom Line:
effective for others. Instead of following the
As the United States latest fad diet that claims

outdated food safety regulations tries to find its way out of

By MCT Campus
Here’s something to
think about next time you’re
at the dinner table: Most
update the FDA’s authority,
allow it to dictate “best
practices” for processing and
preparing food and mandate
more frequent inspections.
The Food Safety
In about 36 percent
of cases in which serious
problems were found, the
FDA didn’t conduct follow-
up inspections to ensure
that the violations had been
the growing trend toward
obesity that threatens the
nation’s health, studies
like these sound a warning
to be careful about well-
intentioned laws that seek
to limit one ingredient
to help you lose 20 pounds
in two days, take a breath
and research which habits
are best for your genetic
makeup. Chances are, you’ll
stay healthy and happy.
C grcc_collegiate@yahoo.com

U.S. food-processing plants

haven’t been inspected in at
least five years.
That unappetizing tidbit
comes from a new report
by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration’s inspector
general. It documents an
outdated and ineffective
federal food safety program
with too few inspectors, too
skimpy legal authority and
too little funding.
The FDA doesn’t even
have enough inspectors to
visit U.S. processing plants.
Nor does it have the
authority to order a recall
when tainted food comes
to light. It can’t even track
dangerous food from the
plant where it was processed
to the stores where it was
sold.
Surprised? You shouldn’t
be. The last time U.S. food
safety laws were updated
was in 1938, when penicillin
was a “wonder drug” and
radar was secret, cutting-
edge military technology.
As soon as this week, the
Senate could take up a new
food-safety bill that would
Enhancement Act was
approved by the House last
summer. It would require
a food-tracking system
so that when inspectors
discover problems at a
food-processing plant, they
quickly can trace where
tainted products were
shipped.
Despite a near-constant
stream of high-profile food
recalls that have included
e. coli-laced cookie dough,
peanut butter spiked with
salmonella and tainted
spinach, cilantro, tomatoes
and bean sprouts, all sold to
unsuspecting U.S. consumers
in recent years.
The inspector general’s
report, released last week,
details a system in urgent
need of attention. Staffing for
FDA food safety programs
fell by 18 percent between
2003 and 2007, even as
the number of U.S. food-
processing plants climbed to
51,229. The number of FDA
inspectors has increased, but
it remains below the level in
2003.
corrected.
Some 76 million
Americans contract a food- The Collegiate
borne illness every year. Associated Collegiate Press National Pacemaker Award Finalist
Most cases are mild, but 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2008
about 325,000 people are
hospitalized and about 5,000 Editor in Chief
die each year from those Christina Kim Writing and Production Staff:
illnesses.
One obvious problem News Editor Aaron Barber, Ashley Eerdmans, Douglas Hal-
that will remain is the Dave Westra beisen, Abbey Palmer, Michele Smith,
disjointed nature of Allen Wegener, Brittany Zender
oversight, which now is Opinion Editor
shared by the FDA and
Stephanie Sicard
the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. It makes sense Contents of the editorials reflect the opinions
to centralize authority for A&E Editor of the respective writers and not necessarily those
food safety and to adequately Jackie Prins of the entire staff, students, or GRCC.
fund it. But over the years, Advertisements reflect the view of the ad-
vertiser, not necessarily those of the college,
the FDA has been starved of Photo Editor students, or staff.
resources. Ryan Tyrell Advertisements in the Collegiate do not
imply an endorsement by the paper.
The Bottom Line:
Copy Editor
Tim Nellett
Americans can see the
results in headlines about 143 Bostwick Ave
recalls of tainted food. Web Editor Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Unfortunately, you can’t see Theo Davis
some of the problems on
your dinner plate until it’s grcc_collegiate@yahoo.com
Advisor
too late. Phone: 234-4157
Scott McNabb,
C grcc_collegiate@yahoo.com
Ph.D.
Fax: 234-4158
6 Opinion
Letters
to the
editors
An open forum
The Collegiate is very
interested in your opin-
ions, so send your letters
in. The basic premise of
journalism centers on the
long-standing tradition of
providing an open forum
and a free press. Please
write to the Collegiate with
your opinion.
You can drop off your
letters in room 339 Main
building, or you can e-mail
them to
grcc_collegiate@yahoo.
com
Please include your name
and phone number for
proper verification.
Letters are subject to edit-
ing for spelling, grammar,
and length.
Looking back at one student’s years at GRCC
Another school year
draws to a close, and each
student faces the question of
what happens next.
For this editor, this
will be my final semester at
GRCC.
How strange it will seem
to not roam the halls of the
Cook and Main buildings,
or fight other students for a
spot in the Bostwick Parking
Ramp.
In writing a story for
What are your plans for fall 2010?
David
Burkholder
“I’m going to be
here in the fall.”
A whiff of change in pot vote
By Dick Polman
MCT Campus
The voters of trend-
setting California may well
decide this November to
legalize marijuana, there’s
a ballot referendum, and
56 percent of Californians
are in favor. No doubt this
would be great news for
the munchie industry, the
bootleggers of Grateful Dead
music, and the millions
of stoners who have long
yearned for an era of reefer
gladness.
Seriously, this is a story
about how desperate times
require desperate measures.
Legalization advocates have
long contended that it’s
nuts to keep criminalizing
otherwise law-abiding
citizens while wasting
$8 billion a year in law
enforcement costs. That
argument has never worked.
But the new argument,
cleverly synced to the
recession mind-set, may well
herald a new chapter in the
history of pot prohibition.
It’s simple, really: State
governments awash in red
ink can solve some of their
revenue woes by legalizing
marijuana for adults and
slapping it with a sin tax.
So much of the
marijuana debate used to
this issue about high school
seniors attending GRCC in
the fall, I had the chance to
speak to a class of seniors
at Creston High School, my
alma mater. I emphasized
the importance of attending
college and not waiting.
In my case I left high
school having no clue what
I wanted to do, but knowing
college was an important
step. GRCC was crucial in
starting me off on the right
Isaac
Tyson
“I’m coming
back here to
GRCC.”
be about morality; now it’s
mostly about economics
and practicality, which
is why New Hampshire,
Massachusetts and Rhode
Island are also floating
measures to legalize and
tax; why similar voter
referendums are in the works
in Washington state and
Oregon; why 14 states have
legalized medical marijuana,
and why even Pennsylvania,
hardly a pace setting state,
is weighing the sanction of
medical pot, complete with 6
percent sales tax.
But California is the
likeliest lab for a massive
toke tax, given its dire
financial straits and the fact
that marijuana is the state’s
top cash crop, racking up
an estimated $14 billion in
annual sales, twice as much
as the No. 2 agricultural
commodity, milk and cream.
State tax collectors say that
pot could put $1.4 billion
a year into the depleted
California coffers, which
helps explain why 56 percent
of Californians like the
legalization option, and find
it preferable to the ongoing
layoffs of teachers and other
public servants.
Actually, I doubt most
stoners see themselves as
sinners - what’s immoral
about seeing “Avatar three
path. No matter which major
you choose, almost every one
will require you to take the
same basics classes and by
getting those out of the way
you will be one step closer
to a degree. Then when you
chose a major, the classes
remaining will fly by.
After nine years of
attending classes at GRCC,
on and off again, I feel
prepared and confident as
I move forward to study
Rebecca
Carpenter
“I will be staying “I will be here
here.” next semester.”
times, or strip-mining a tray
of brownies, or punctuating
the conversation with lines
like, “I’m sorry, what was
I just talking about?” - but
most would probably be
willing to pay a “sin tax” in
exchange for the opportunity
to imbibe, hassle-free, with
no fear that they might join
the 765,000 Americans who
were reportedly busted last
year for possession.
Even the reformers of ‘77
said it was “naive” to believe
that Americans would ever
buy legalization. Today’s
generation is more shrewd;
the word “legalization”
doesn’t even appear in the
California ballot proposal.
The proponents, including
a retired Superior Court
judge who got fed up with
handling pot cases, are
calling it the “Regulate,
Control and Tax Cannabis
Act.”
Frankly, California
and other cash-strapped
states don’t have a whole
lot of sin-tax options.
Cigarettes and booze are
already taxed to the max,
and, as Philadelphia is
discovering, any attempts
to slap special levies on
sugared water are fiercely
resisted by soda companies
that fear any curbs on their
freedom to rot kids’ teeth. By
at Grand Valley State
University.
I have made endearing
friends with students and
faculty alike and will always
look back at my time here at
GRCC with fondness.
The Bottom Line: StephanieSicard
In the words of a great
man, you stay classy GRCC.
StephanieOpinion@yahoo.com
Rodney Katie
Ambrose Oneil
“I am
transferring to
the downtown
Ferris campus.”
April 21, 2010
contrast, stoners crave the
respectability of being taxed;
the fiercest tax opponents
are probably the Mexican
drug cartels, which would
lose market share just as the
mob lost out on liquor when
Prohibition ended in ‘33.
Granted, nobody quite
knows whether or how the
California pot plan would fly
in practice. Pot use would
still be illegal under federal
law, the director of the
National Drug Control Policy
has said that “legalization
is not in the president’s
vocabulary,” and the U.S.
Constitution decrees that
federal law trumps state
law. On the other hand, the
Obama team has stated that
it has no interest in hassling
the medical-marijuana states.
The big question is how
such a sin tax would be
structured. Would all sellers
be licensed? Would it be a
point-of-sale excise tax on
top of the sales tax?
The Bottom Line:
Legalizing marijuana
is no longer a matter
of morality, it’s about
economics. Eventually a
presidential candidate will
be saying exactly that from
behind a podium.
C
grcc_collegiate@yahoo.com
C
Student Soapbox
Alex
Hokk
“I am going to
Central
Michigan.”
April 21, 2010
Opinion 7
8 A&E April 21, 2010

Jacqueline Prins/Collegiate
In February 2009 GRCC English Professor, Maryann Lesert published her first novel, “Base Ten.” When she began writing the novel, she was
finishing her masters degree from Spaulding University in Louisville, KY.

GRCC Professor looks ahead

“
after publishing first novel
By Jacqueline Prins

”
A&E Editor was driven to write this

&A
story because as a reader
There is always this picture

A
she wasn’t finding many
fter publishing her works that dealt with
first novel over a year painted of motherhood, like the struggle women face
ago, GRCC professor between trying to raise a
Maryann Lesert’s next either you can do motherhood family and have a career.
idea is even greener.
On April 23, Lesert will
well or you can do a career well. “There is always
this picture painted of
With Maryann
be organizing GRCC’s Spring motherhood, like either Lesert
Maryann Lesert you can do motherhood
GRCC Professor and Author JP: When did you begin
well or you can do a career
writing “Base Ten?”
well, which is really
hokey and old I know, but ML: The summer of 2001.
Sustainability Series it is still true,” Lesert said. “Even though you are somebody’s That’s when I started my
“Visioning the Change: parent, you don’t just automatically change. That is Jillian’s journal of character ideas.
Celebration of Earth and Sky” struggle.” I kept the journal and I
at the Grand Rapids Public Before writing this novel, Lesert published a number of originally thought this
Museum. screenplays; including “Natural Causes” which was a finalist character was going to be
The event will include a for the 2001 Princess Grace Foundation’s National Playwright’s a mathematician that was
performance of student work Fellowship award. running away from death.
featuring “A Quilt of Words” “Writing a novel is drastically different from play writing Overtime, I realized she was
going to be an astronomer.
spoken-word event, live because when you write plays, it is all character driven,” Lesert
music, and visual art created said. “With writing a novel, I had to be really disconnected I started hearing this
to promote sustainability, and from everything about reality. I had to just be quiet and listen character who saw a lot
create community, Lesert said. and think and feel my way through it. I had to be very still.” of numbers. I imagined it
Her students will be providing While she was completing “Base Ten” she also received her first as a story, where this
Courtesy of Maryann Lesert written material for the event. Masters of Fine Arts from Spaulding University in Louisville. character was running
Lesert said she has always had She said this gave her the deadlines she needed to make this away from death… But not
a love for the environment. story possible. literal death, the death of
“Base Ten” “I have always loved the “Deadlines are so very important,” Lesert said. “Most of possibility. On the Michigan
cover Great Lakes,” Lesert said. the active writing occurs in your mind. By the time you get lakeshore is where I kept
Lesert’s first novel, “Base your hands to the keyboard, most of the story is already done seeing this story evolve.
Ten” is about a woman who inside your head.”
is both an astronomer and
a mother. Lesert said she C AEwithJackieP@yahoo.com See Q&A, page 11
April 21, 2010
9 A&E
HSO students rock the runway
By Brittany Zender
Collegiate Staff Writer
C
ardigans, capri
leggings, lace, and
bright colors were the
theme of last weeks
fashion show “Wardrobe
2010,” put on by the Hispanic
Student Organization (HSO.)  Ryan Tyrell/Collegiate
“Wardrobe 2010” featured
local clothing stores from One
Girls Treasure consignment
shop, the eco-friendly
Clothing Matters, Deb, and
local designer Hejoo Park.
Mexican food was offered by
El Granjero, and DJ Brandon
Hill was laying down the
tracks as the models strutted
down the catwalk.
The first part of the show
featured the store Clothing
Matters, located on Division.
Their simple, earth tone
pieces were fluid like and
elegant. The slogan of the
store is to “feel good in and
about what you are wearing,”
referring to their organic
materials from bamboo to
soy.
The second clothing
line shown was One Girls
Treasure, located on the
corner of Lyon and Division.
“Shopping here is a great
way to keep up on the latest
trends and save money,”
said Francisco Ramirez, Co-
advisor of HSO. “Just because
they’re a consignment shop
doesn’t mean the clothes
aren’t in style.”
They showcased
various colors and styles
including long skirts and
brightly colored detailed
tops for more Bohemian and
Brazillian looks. Everyone
GRCC works: Ask Mallory Patterson
By Tim Nellett
Copy Editor
“R un! Run!” She yells
and then bolts, hoping
to catch the elevator door
before it closes. Just in time.
Mallory Patterson was
running late. Again.
It’s 9:30 a.m. and her
class has already started
by the time she reaches
the classroom. Patterson
sits down and immediately
unleashes an assortment
of school supplies; zip-lock
bags filled with different
color pens, a black binder
organized by tabs for each
class, and two notebooks.
“I’m going to take up half
the table, just to warn you,”
Patterson laughs.
Mallory Patterson is a
GRCC student, and like many
she has more stuff to do than
time to do it in. According
to her, GRCC has been a big
help.
“Where I was 3 years ago
is a distant reality from where
I am at today,” Patterson said.
“It’s been a total turn-around
for me and I am so grateful.”
Patterson is very focused
and interested in the subject,
SanJuana Garcia, GRCC
student flaunts an evening
dress from Deb at the HSO
fashion show.
in attendance received a 25
percent-off coupon on their
next purchase.
Deb’s shops, displayed
numerous pieces from the
casual and playful “oops I did
it again” skirts and jeans, to
elegant homecoming, prom
and wedding dresses.
An interesting part of the
show was when local designer
Heejoo Park presented her
three fitted mini dresses.
Hejoo Park is a female
designer from Korea, where
she went to fashion school.
“After I moved to the U.S.
one year ago I started my
own line,” Park said. “Most
of them are high end dresses.
I’ve been involved in the
fashion industry since I was
17 years old and hope to have
my own boutique one day.”
“Heejoo Park” only sells
her home made designs
online.
“In the second half of the
show we tried to incorporated
the 1970’s and 80’s retro
styles that have evolved into
today’s fashion with our own
clothes,” said Wanda Ferrer,
Co-Advisor of HSO. “Aveda
did the girls makeup and hair
be it microeconomics or
biology. The 24 year old social
sciences student, mother of
one, and peer mentor for
TRIO student support services
(SSS) has a lot on her plate,
but it seems she has mastered
the art of juggling two jobs, a
child, school and some lofty
goals.
“Well, my other goals
include implementing
volunteering as a requirement
for high school graduation,
creating a program to offer
important life training skills to
under-privileged youth, and
perhaps eventually owning
my own business and hiring
non-violent first offenders of
the law,” Patterson said.
The class is
extraordinarily quiet. She
attempts to hide the noise of
unwrapping her snack bar
behind her second notebook,
which is perched on her lap.
She giggles and whispers,
“This is my breakfast.” The
class drags on.
After a moment of quiet
chewing, she takes a sip from
her GRCC water bottle, puts a
blue pen back into her GRCC
zip-lock bag, and closes a
GRCC notebook. You would
and incorporated the different
themes of the decades.
We were inspired by other
fashion shows and motivated
by our community’s interest
in them. It’s a good idea
because it promotes local
businesses and gives back to
our community.” ­­­
GRCC Student Shin Young
Kim enjoyed the variety.
“I liked how the show
had so many different models
and styles,” Kim said. “It’s
cool how people are so into
the fashion industry.”
Izabel Bedoya, GRCC
student and Wardrobe 2010
coordinator said, “‘Wardrobe
2010’ was the first show we’ve
ever done, and had a lot of
fun putting it all together.”
“This gave our fashion
merchandise majors a hands
on experience,” Ferrer said.
The co-advisor said the
event was a team effort.
“It’s a joint effort to put
on something like this,”
Ferrer said. “About 25 of our
HSO members participated
in the set up, production and
various other elements of
Wardrobe 2010.
There were 10 local
students of all different shapes
and sizes, who modeled the
local fashions,”
Bedoya said the proceeds
go toward the HSO’s trip to
Cedar Point this May.
“This was a trial run,”
said Anna Perez, President of
the HSO. “We advertised on
Facebook and put posters up Ryan Tyrell/Collegiate
around campus.
We didn’t have as many Laudys Vasques, a student at East Kentwood High School
modeled an elegant mini-dress by local designer Heejoo
people come as we had hoped
but next year will be bigger Park. “Wardrobe 2010” was put on by the HSO in the
Raider Grille on April 15.
and better in every way.”
not describe Ms. Patterson as
lacking spirit for the school
that helped turn her life
around.
Patterson’s struggle has
been ongoing. Her father left
when she was a child. Her
brother Adam was born with
cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis,
and hydrocephalus.
“He was unable to
walk or talk, but could
communicate his needs, very
effectively in my eyes, despite
his conditions,” Patterson
said. “He lived to be nearly
13, and after a virus turned
Aziza Slater-Sandovall/Collegiate
into pneumonia we brought
him home to die.” Mallory Patterson tutors a student while working at TRIO
student support services.
Patterson dropped out
of school at the age of 15 graduated from high school household, taking care of her
for personal reasons. She and enrolled at GRCC. That mother and brother.
eventually worked second same year the Patterson “All the financial and
and third shift at a gas station family suffered another domestic responsibility fell
while attending a school for tragedy. on me and I am still the head
alternative education. “In August 2006 my mom of household three years
When asked about her had an aneurysm and I had later,” Patterson said.
organization skills, Patterson to put off starting college Class breaks, finally,
feels it’s a requirement in until the winter,” Patterson and we head back to student
order to keep everything on said. “She survived, had 3 employment services to eat
an even keel. subsequent surgeries to repair lunch. Patterson chats with a
“I have so much going damaged blood vessels, and co-worker before indulging in
on in my life that I have to slowly but surely recovered.” one of subway’s burritos.
be organized or I’d go crazy,” Her mother’s aneurysm Originally, Patterson was
Patterson said. resulted in Patterson
In 2006 Patterson becoming the head of the See Patterson, page 11
10 A&E April 21, 2010
April 21, 2010
A&E 11
Q&A
With Maryann Lesert
Gallery
from the

Continued from page 8 do that many things simultaneously that well. “An American
JP: How did you come up with the idea for “Base Ten?” JP: Any similarities between your husband and Jack? Daughter”
ML: I had produced a few plays, and always knew that I ML: Not really. I think I must have done that on purpose. The Jewish Theatre of
wanted to write long fiction, especially book length work, I wanted to deal purely with fiction. Grand Rapids will present
but I knew it was going to take a lot of immersion, some “An American Daughter” by
concentrated, concrete quiet time. Right then in my life, JP: Why did you decide to enroll in the masters program Wendy Wasserstein about
I really didn’t have that. I was working full time, and at this time? a woman nominated for US
have two children. At the time they were school-age. Surgeon General. The play
ML: I was just trying to find a way back to writing. will take place this Thursday,
I wanted to express what it was like to know what you Saturday and Sunday from
need to do to be you but not be able to get to it. In I could barely tolerate doing anything arts-oriented like 8-10 p.m. at the Spectrum
some ways it sounds corny, but I wanted to express how go see a play or read a book because I couldn’t stand that Theater. Students can
painful that can be. I wasn’t writing myself. purchase tickets for $5 with a
valid student ID.
I think that is why I enrolled in the masters program, so JP: How long have you taught at GRCC?
I could focus my energy there, and realize that I didn’t
have to be everywhere else all the time. ML: Four years. This is my third year as a full-time Student Composers
employee.
I think I was pining for my writing just as much as my Concert
main character was pining for her stars. We are very JP: Why did you decide to teach at GRCC?
much alike that way, though we have drastically different The students of Dr. Carol
knowledge. ML: Teaching has always been really central to what I VanRandwyk will perform
do. Part of it was it was time to settle down and stop their own work. This concert
JP: How much of yourself do you see in your main traveling. We decided we would definitely stay in this is free and open to the public.
character? area. I love the Great Lakes. It will be held on April 23
from 7:30-9:30 p.m. It will
ML: The struggle to do what you need to do that she has. Even I, long ago, had taken a French class here during be located in room 200 of the
There is always this picture painted of motherhood, like my undergraduate studies. I like the environment here. Music Building.
either you can do motherhood well, or you can do a career In some degree, a four-year university is much more
well, which is really hokey and old I know, but it is still sequestered, and that can be good, but I just like the mix
true. here. Mother’s Day
Even though you are somebody’s parent, you don’t just When people have one foot in school, one foot in life, it Mother’s day is on May 9
automatically change. That is Jillian’s struggle. You can’t makes an interesting mix in the classroom. this year, but you probably
“forgot,” didn’t you? You
better go out and get her a

Patterson: One busy student

flower, a card and maybe
some chocolate. And don’t get
the cheap stuff. This event is
located at your mom’s house.
some new opportunities, so I switched,” Patterson said. That’s right, your mom.
Continued from page 9 Our next destination was work at the TRIO room in
going to be a business major, due to marketability, until the back of the counseling offices. A mentee arrives to see
her encounter with a boy who ran errands at the gas Patterson. Elton John
station. This boy, Daniel, changed Mallory Patterson’s life. “Here at TRIO, we do it all,” Patterson said. “We help
“Daniel and I worked at the shell gas station, and he our mentees with homework, minor tutoring, finding Sir Elton Hercules John, born
was about 12 when I met him,” Patterson said. “When I stuff on campus, providing transfer sources and editing Reginald Kenneth Dwight,
met him he didn’t work there, just did odd jobs for us like scholarships. Or if they just need someone to talk to.” will perform at the Van Andel
helping in the cooler, and filling the pop machine with ice. This semester she has approximately 75 mentees to Arena on April 24. Ticket
He’s 17 now.” take care of. prices range from $39- $139.
According to Patterson, Daniel worked hard to purchase She intends to earn a bachelor’s in social work with What is that extra $100 for?
himself a method of transportation, but complications at a major in sociology from Grand Valley State University. To pay for all of those colored
home turned Daniel to a life of juvenile delinquency. Though she expects to face more hardships in the sunglasses he wears. Just
“There wasn’t a system of support for him,” Patterson future, Patterson is determined to keep pushing on, for kidding. The concert starts at
said. “He just wanted to live a normal life but he couldn’t. herself and her family. Through social work, she plans 8 p.m.
That’s when I decided to try to do social work for a living. to use the skills learned here to ease the hardships others
I was under the impression there wasn’t any future may face, in hopes of making a difference.
in social work, but the workshop opened my eyes up to

Student Shoutout

What are your summer plans?

Erik Prusko John Sebastian Kathryn Kalman Paul Bengel Malcolm Wells Kristen Doody

“I’m going to take “Just more “I’m going to do “I’ll be training for “Taking summer “Just working.”
a few summer college.” some baby sit- football.” classes.”
classes and get ting.”
ready to transfer.”
12 Diversions April 21, 2010

Horoscopes

io
orp
Aquarius
ius
Sc
t t a r
i
Libra Sag Capricorn Pisces
Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Oct. 23-Nov.21 Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Feb. 19-March 20
Everything’s She works hard for Congratulations on It’s always a good Go swimming! It’s time to find your
better when you can the money. surviving another time for nap time. You’re an Aquarius! summer fling!
dance! school year!
Taurus

Gemini

Virgo
s
rie

Cancer Leo
A

March 21-April 19 April 20-May 20 May 21-June 20 June 21-July 22 July 23-Aug. 22 Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Get out your swim Grab the bull by the Your future is so Go find a Leo, and See Cancer. Cook yourself
trunks and your horns next week. bright, you’ve got to complain about something good
flippy floppies. wear shades! your horoscope. tonight.

Solutions
Puzzles on page 13
Courtesy MCT Campus

Look for the Sudoko puzzle

online at
www.thecollegiatelive.com!
April 21, 2010
Courtesy MCT Campus
Looking for the latest
American Gothic cartoon?
See it online at www.
thecollegiatelive.com!
Courtesy Ryan Barnes
Diversions
Across
1 Rum cakes
6 Greek god of love
10 Quite a long time
14 Got up
15 Light fog
16 Knight’s lady
17 With 59-Across, warm welcome for
an old friend
19 Big bore
20 Calligraphers’ supplies
21 Mr. T’s TV gang
22 Othello’s false friend
23 Wheels connector
25 Kentucky Fried piece
27 Warm welcome for an old friend
32 Levels in the ring
33 Make, as money
34 Urgent call at sea
36 “__ a man with seven wives”
Down
1 “__ Ha’i”: “South Pacific” song
2 Elvis’s middle name
3 Library volume
4 Makes daunting demands (of)
5 Do some quilting
6 Hams it up
7 __ of passage
8 Fed. workplace regulator
9 Goblets and such
10 Tacking on
11 Event for unloading junk
12 Online periodical, briefly
13 Lily with bell-shaped flowers
18 Angel’s topper
24 Big tee sizes
26 Quaint lodging
27 Veronica of “Hill Street Blues”
28 Ama zing to behold
29 Common coffee break hr.
13
Puzzles
37 Tubular pasta
39 Sail support
40 Exerciser’s unit
41 Saintly glow
42 Flower associated with Holland
43 Warm welcome for an old friend
47 Welcome word on a bill
48 Fontanne’s stage partner
49 Make a backup of
51 Loathing
54 Took a bus, say
58 Hertz competitor
59 See 17-Across
61 One of Columbus’s ships
62 Moniker
63 Puppeteer Bil
64 Uptight
65 Iditarod racer
66 “Golden Boy” dramatist Clifford
Answers on page 12
30 Made tracks
31 “__ Radio” (O’Donnell talk show)
32 White wine apéritif
35 Gas additive brand
37 Belittling remarks
38 Verdi aria “__ tu”
39 3-Down not to be missed
41 Form 1040 calc.
42 Whole bunch
44 Reject
45 Sidestepped
46 Feeling no pain
49 Vaudeville dancer’s prop
50 Roman poet banished by Augustus
52 Retro phone feature
53 “By the power vested __ ...”
55 Boo-boo, in totspeak
56 Dust and grime
57 Comes to a close
60 Debt-heavy corp. takeover
14 Sports April 21, 2010

PressBox
from the Rose looks
Mens Baseball
for payback
Continued from page 16
April 22 scores, it’s hard.”
Vs. Lansing CC
Luol Deng exited for 14 seconds midway through the fourth
Belknap Park
quarter after banging knees with James, who took advantage by
2 p.m.
drawing Johnson into a bad foul on a turnaround jumper and
sinking two free throws.
April 24 This came during a stretch where the Cavaliers scored on 10 of
Vs. Kalamazoo Valley CC 11 possessions, including a huge 3-pointer from Jamario Moon and
Belknap Park a stepback 3-pointer by James over Joakim Noah with 4 minutes, 21
1 p.m. seconds left.
Moon sank four of five 3-pointers, including all three in the
April 29 fourth, for 12 big reserve points.
Vs. Jackson CC Noah led the Bulls with a monster game of 25 points and 13
Belknap Park rebounds, while Rose added 23 points and eight assists and Deng
2 p.m. had 20 points.
To be fair, James scored on everyone, Johnson, Noah, Kirk
Hinrich, Deng. It was one of those nights.
May 1 “If they keep hitting shots like that the whole
Vs. St. Clair County CC series, we got no chance,” Deng said. “Those
Belknap Park are shots you want him to take. And he was still Dave Westra/Collegiate
1 p.m. hitting them unbelievably.” GRCC freshman golfer Cody Britton warms up
The Bulls accomplished most of their for the GRCC invitational on April 12.
pregame goals. They limited their turnovers,
finishing with four; they increased their second-
Womens Softball LeBron
James
chance points, tallying 21 to the Cavaliers’ seven,
and they battled more evenly on the boards after
getting killed in that category during game 1.
Golf team has
hope for season
April 24 They also got a boost from their bench, with
Vs. Kalamazoo Valley CC Flip Murray scoring eight of his 14 points in the second quarter to
Belknap Park prop up a struggling Hinrich.
1 p.m. But in end, all they could do was point to game 3 on April 22 at
the United Center. Continued from page 1
April 25 “I don’t want to just give LeBron all this credit,” Noah said. alternates and worked our way up,” Branch said.
Vs. Lake Michigan College “Yeah, he played an unbelievable game. But we have to play them “We’re one and three on the team.”
Belknap Park again.” Branch is also hoping to make it to the national
1 p.m. Astute fans will remember the Bulls won all five post-season tournament.
meetings over the Cavaliers from 1988 to 1994. Now that No. 23 has “We’re just not playing the way we know we
April 27 switched sides, keeping that trend could prove difficult. can so we’re going to turn it around hopefully by
Vs. Kellogg CC “My confidence isn’t going anywhere,” Rose said. “If anything, regionals so we can make the national tournament,”
Belknap Park it’s making me want to play even harder to beat them. At the United Branch said.
3 p.m. Center, it’s going to be time to ball.” Branch said that he wants to be on the team
again next year.
May 6
Vs. Muskegon CC C DaveWNews@yahoo.com

Belknap Park
3 p.m.
Editors Wanted
Mens Golf
Wanted: Collegiate
April 23
Glen Oaks Invitational
Editors for fall
Island Hills
Centreville, MI

Paid positions (for school year):

April 26
Cereal City Shooutout Editor-in-chief: $4,000
Battle Creek Country Club Sports: $2,000
Battle Creek, MI Arts & Entertainment: $2,000
Opinion: $2,000
April 30 News: $2,000
Western Conference Invitational
Bedford Valley Photo: $2,000
Battle Creek, MI Web: $2,000
Business Manager: 20% of ads sold

Editors are required to have

Mens Tennis taken, or are taking, JR 251 and
JR 252.
April 23
Vs. Anderson University
Marion, IN For more info, or if JR 251 is
3 p.m.
full, contact Dr. Scott McNabb at
April 24 smcnabb@grcc.edu
Vs. Indiana Wesleyan

C
Marion, IN
9 a.m.

AquaMidnite Rocks!
April 21, 2010
Sports 15
 Sports Collegiate
The
April 21, 2010
Raider Smarts Watch the video at
Vol. 54 No.12

thecollegiatelive.com
Grand Rapids Community College

Mens golf
team fails
to live
up to last
year
By Dave Westra
News Editor

The GRCC golf team isn’t

playing to their full potential,
according to sophomore Jackson
Davison.
“We haven’t showed all of
our potential,” Davison said.
“Last year we dominated, so this
is a bit different.”
Head Coach Bruce
VandenBeldt said that the
Victoria Fanning/Collegiate weather has been a major factor
GRCC freshman Lindsey Paas slides into home plate, beating Glen Oaks Community College catcher Kylan Hagel- in the team’s performance.
gans during the April 17 double-header. GRCC won both games, 9-1 and 11-3, and is on a 5-game winning streak. “At Furniture City, we played
in a downpour all day and at
Pilgrim’s Run, we played in a

Softball team turns

snowstorm,” VandenBeldt said.
“So being that it’s early in the
season and with the weather
conditions that they’ve been in
with the amount of practice, I’m

around losing streak

By Dave Westra
News Editor
Softball
Team The GRCC softball team beat
Stats Glen Oaks CC on April 17 during
a double-header conference game
at Belknap Park in Grand Rapids.
Conference
Both games finished after five
Standings:
innings due to the eight–lead run
mercy rule, with the first game
7 - 11
ending 9-1 and the second 11-3.
The win comes as the fourth
Ranked 6 of 9
straight win for the softball team
after an eight-game loosing
Overall
streak, according to team
Standings:
statistician Ben Brown.
“We hit a slump for a while;
17 - 18
we ended an eight game loosing
streak,” Brown said. “Our
Ranked 5 of 9
pitching wasn’t there and our
hitting wasn’t there. The last
three games we’ve come back
and hit the ball like we know we
can.”
Head Coach Paula Maloley
said that the season has had its
ups and downs
“When we haven’t played so
well; we haven’t been playing to
our ability,” Maloley said.
Maloley attributes the slump
to the weaker and slower pitching
of other teams.
“We’ve been having a hard
time adjusting to poorer pitching,
slower pitching,” Maloley said.
“We’ve been trained to hit faster
pitching, and the pitching hasn’t
been fast. Some pitchers almost
have an arc on the ball. It’s that
slow.”
But Maloley has a strategy in
place to help her team adjust.
“We’re going to have two
machines on the field, one fast
ball, one slow, and they’ll be at
the plate and they won’t know
which one they’re going to get,”
Maloley said. “So, they actually
have to wait for that pitch.”
According to Center Fielder
Keri Austhof, the game Saturday
marked the start of the second
half of the season.
“We’re starting the second
round of games, so we hope to
do better than we did the first
time,” Austhof said. “If we want
to make it to regionals, we need
to be top five and we want to be
one of them, unlike last year.”
The softball team has three
weeks left in their regular season.
C DaveWNews@yahoo.com
pleased but looking for some
more consistency.”
VandenBeldt remains
optimistic for the team, ranked
third in the country last year, due
to the results of the trip the team
made to Alabama.
“It was a great trip for us,”
VandenBeldt said. “We finished
thirteenth. Which probably
doesn’t sound so good but we
finished last year at fifteenth and
ended up ranked third in the
country. We go down there with
out any practice. So it’s always a
good learning experience and the
kids get to know each other.”
VandenBelt still sees the
team making it to nationals.
“We’ve just got to get our
averages down a little bit and
we should be fine,” VandenBeldt
said. “Our whole goal is to get to
the nationals.”
According to VandenBeldt,
the freshmen have been showing
a lot of promise.
“We’ve had a freshman from
Roscommon, Garrett Branch,
who has won two tournaments

Bulls can’t stop LeBron James

Sports Commentary by K.C. Johnson
C
spend their two off days having nightmares
thecollegiatelive.com
for us already this year by
shooting 71, one under par on
each of them,” VandenBeldt said.
“We’re excited for him. Anytime
you get a freshman come in and

MCT Campus
In one spectacular flight, LeBron James
welcomed James Johnson to the NBA playoffs and
reminded all of this very important distinction:
It’s the Cavaliers’ turn to have No. 23.
The Bulls-Cavaliers playoff history is a rich
one, filled with the Bulls’ No. 23, Michael Jordan,
terrorizing everyone from Craig Ehlo to Gerald
Wilkins.
But following the Cavaliers’ 112-102 victory
April 19 at Quicken Loans Arena, the Bulls can
about James and their 0-2 deficit in these Eastern win a couple of tournaments it is
Conference quarterfinals. Check always exciting to see, and the
James first posterized Johnson with a us out three freshmen that we have are
ridiculous first-quarter dunk and then scored online! all making a big contribution to
15 of his 40 points during a dazzling shooting our team.”
performance in the fourth quarter, allowing the Exclusive Branch and freshman Cody
Cavaliers to pull away from a gritty Bulls effort. photos, Britton said that there is a lot of
“That’s why he’s the best player in the NBA,” sudoku competition amongst the team.
Bulls guard Derrick Rose said. “When he’s holding puzzles, “We started out the year as
the ball all the way to the shot clock ends and still and
comics
See Rose, Page 14 See Golf, Page 14

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