The Valley Vanguard (Vol. 44 No. 16)

VALLEYTHEVANGUARD Saginaw Valley State University’s student newspaper since 1967Monday, January 16, 2012 Vol. 44 No. 16

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Students should think twice the next time they want to open a window on campus.

If they don’t, they could add to the $9,500 already spent per day on energy usage.

Bob Tutsock, director of environmental health and safety at SVSU, said that opening windows when rooms are too warm or too cold is one of the worst things students can do in terms of cost.

“It’s like dollar bills going out the windows in the breeze,” he said.

As expensive as heating can be, Tutsock said that people might be surprised to learn that more money is spent on lighting than on heating and cooling combined.

Each year, the University spends $3.5 million year on energy.

Sixty-one percent of that comes from electricity use on campus.

As high as that number is, Tutsock said that SVSU’s cost of utilities per square foot is significantly lower than other universities in the state.

SVSU has had the lowest cost in the state since 2006.Tutsock added that SVSU has consistently been below the average cost of utilities across the nation as well.

There are a number of ways in which the University aims for energy efficiency.

Mike Andrzejewski, energy management specialist and foreman for campus facilities, said that equipment around campus is constantly updated to be as cost efficient as possible.

“There’s not a single piece of equipment here from when I started 28 years ago,” he said. “We’re on the cutting edge.”

Tutsock said the University also negotiates lower rates from utility companies, which helps keep costs low.

In terms of energy efficiency, campus facilities uses an energy management system that takes the outdoor temperature and makes adjustments in campus buildings accordingly.

The system, controlled from a computer in a room in South Campus Complex A, sets the temperature in unoccupied buildings to 60 degrees and shuts off large equipment at night.

Andrzejewski, who works with the energy management system every week, said adjustments can easily be made.

For example, when an event is booked through the University Conference and Events Center, he modifies the heating schedule to ensure that rooms are brought up to proper temperature.

The system also controls the aquathermal heating and cooling system for heating the Health and Human Services building.

Andrzejewski said processes like these help keep energy costs low.

“Almost continuously since I’ve been here, we’re looking for ways to save costs,” he said.

Tutsock said the system, which extracts heat from water

Looking toward the future, members of Student Association make plans for the winter semester, including replacing four representatives. Four Student Association (SA)representatives resigned as of Monday, Jan. 9, including parliamentarian Jennora Walker, ombudsman Jasmine Charlton, and representatives Mary Justice and Devon Perdue.

Walker resigned due to her acceptance into the National Guard Air Force. She says she will miss being involved at SVSU.

“I am going to miss the connection between the students and the administration,” Walker said.

Walker said that she hoped Student Association would continue to reach out to students as she has done while chair of the committee for legislative and external affairs

She also hoped they would reach out to international students.

“Remember,” Walker said, “you stand for the students, and that’s it.”

Charlton resigned as ombudsman because of personal issues and said she hopes that SA groups together to further support the student body.

“This isn’t a goodbye,” Charlton said.

“Instead of affecting the

student body, I resigned,” Charlton said after the meeting.

SA board members had drawn up charges that she was not performing her duties as ombudsman, but her resignation nullified them.

A mass email was sent to students on Wednesday, Jan. 11 about SA chair and representative position openings.

Ted Goodman, SA president, admitted in his opening speech that they, as students and as student government representatives, are still growing as individuals.

“I will be the first one to raise my hand and admit that I’m not perfect,” Goodman said. “Honestly, I am just an average college student who wants to make a difference.”

Jeremy Jones, an SA representative who served as the parliamentarian for the meeting, thanked Charlton for her work as ombudsman.

“She served the students to the best of her ability,” Jones said.

Goodman also spoke about team work, and said he wanted the association to be able to work together.

“It’s important to realize that, in an organization such as ours, people are going to disagree with one another,” Goodman said.

“We have had different experiences and views on life,” he said,” so it

They said that it didn’t matter that their feet hurt.

Professor of sociology Elson Boles led a group of 13 students across the heartland of Japan last spring.

“We flew into Osaka first, and from there we traveled to lots of different places, like Hiroshima, Matsuyama, Kurashiki, Okayama and Kyoto,” said Josh Guerrero, elementary education graduate.

Guerrero said that one of the first things he noticed was the hard-working, well-mannered and disciplined behavior of the Japanese.

“They were all extremely polite,” he said. “I never encountered a single rude person the entire trip.”

Most faculty-led study abroad trips have one stationary place to rest and relax, but Boles and his students spent their three weeks in Japan traveling on foot, bicycle, bus and train from city to city.

“Traveling from city to

city was an experience in itself,” said Jason Schmidt, secondary education junior. “We traveled on just about everything from bikes, to boats, to the bullet trains.

Schmidt said that the bullet trains were the best part about traveling around in Japan.

“You got to see the big cities as you traveled through them and you also got to see the countryside as you traveled from city to city.”

The life of Martin Luther King Jr. reminded others of the importance of audacity last Wednesday.

More than 900 guests attended a celebration of King’s life that had been planned since July.

“Any opportunity to get together and talk about diversity is beneficial to everyone that attends,” said Sarah Levasseur, social work junior.

Mamie Thorns, special assistant to the president for diversity programs and co-chair of the committee, said she was was thankful support given for the celebration’s tenth year at SVSU.

A committee of more than 30 members helped organize the event, which was sponsored by SVSU, Delta College, Northwood University and local businesses.

“We have a few national holidays to reflect. It’s not another day off of work,” said SVSU president Eric Gilbertson.

“It’s occasions like this that remind us of who we are.”

The celebration was opened with a musical performance from Valley Voices, a student choir from SVSU.

15 high school seniors from the Great Lakes Bay Region who demonstrated concepts

See Sa, a2

See abroad, a2

Student Association turnover

Culture shock on returning home

by brandy abrahamvanguard campus editor

by adam Haenleinvanguard staff Writer

by Tyler bradleyvanguard staff Writer

See mlk, a2

by Toni bogervanguard editor-in-chief

Price of keeping warm

See energy, a2

Malveaux has a dream; MLK remembered

Courtesy of Josh GuerreroFrom left: michael Hercliff, Tony dier, Tyler gershaw, lauren deVooght, olivia Foote, elizabeth Harris, Hussein al-momen, Patrick Ford, Josh guerrero, Virginia lee, Jason Schmidt, Tsune kawakita.

Vanguard Photo | Jess EllisonJulianne Malveaux was this year’s keynote speaker for the tenth annual MLK celebration held at SVSU. During her speech on Wednesday, Jan. 11, she said that racism still exists. Malveaux is the president of Bennett College for Women, an economist, author and commentator.

The Valley Vanguard is proud to celebrate martin luther king Jr. day

The Valley Vanguard 125 Curtiss Hall campuseditorsBrandy aBraham and joshua j. roesner e-mails [email protected] and [email protected] office (989) 964-4482

News coverage continued from page 1

Page A2| Monday, January 16, 2012 | valleyvanguardonline.com | The Valley Vanguard

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is important to know we don’t have to agree with each other so instead we can focus on positive and constructive solutions to help the students.”

Goodman stressed to the representatives that they are dealing with student concerns.

“None of the business we conduct here or in the office has national security implications,” Goodman

said, “and I say that because I feel like some of us tend to be a little too aggressive towards each other.”

Justin Kokkinis, SA representative, said the association needs to take steps toward honesty in order to work better as an organized group.

“We are an organization,” Kokkinis said, “and if we are to be one we need to share with each other.”

Megan Potts, the campus events committee chair, announced planned

events for the winter semester include winterfest and winter formal.

SA made plans to attend the Student Association of Michigan Conference, which will be at Grand Valley State University.

Allocations Director Tatum Goldufsky said her committee would focus on the allocation guidelines this semester.

“We are focusing on policies and making sure they are updated,” she said.

similar to those of MLK’s were awarded scholarships.

Following recognition for their scholarships, a video featured students reading excepts from MLK’s 1968 speech “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution.”

Malveaux is the president of Bennett College for Women, an economist, author and commentator.

Thorns said that she would like Malveaux to return to the University for classroom visits and group discussions.

“She has a lot to offer and share,” Thorns said.

Malveaux has appeared on shows from several TV stations including CNN, BET, PBS, ABC and Fox News.

Malveaux discussed in her speech that racism still exists today, but in different ways.

“It’s not about can you ride in the front or back of a bus anymore,” Malveaux said. “But can you own a bus company? Can you zone it?”

Unemployment rates were covered in the media as decreasing over the last few months.

She pointed out that the unemployment rate for blacks still grew during that period.

Malveaux said that not enough media attention has been given to this.

Malveaux reminded guests that nothing changes until persons like MLK speak out.

She encouraged and supported movements such as the Occupy Wall Street movement.

“If he were alive today, I bet Martin Luther King would be out there with them,” she said.

She said more people need to stand up for their beliefs and to “claim their seat at the table.”

“We’re asleep through this great revolution,” Malveaux said.

Malveaux spoke about how MLK did not mind calling out powers and believed in audacity.

She encouraged others to fight for freedoms today, not someday.

“We don’t ask students to turn in papers someday,” joked Malveaux.

“Make each day an opportunity to overcome.”

Next year’s MLK Celebration will take place Jan. 9, 2013.

Police briefs are written according to reports from University Police. These indicate preliminary descriptions of events and not necessarily actual incidents.

Roommate Dispute• At 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, officers met with three female residents from the First Year Suites because of on-going disputes. One of the roommates lost $90 in cash and believes that a roommate took it. A roommate also wrote threatening messages on the bathroom mirror. The case is still under investigation.

Traffic Accident• At 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, a vehicle t-boned another while making a left on the corner of College and University Drive. Minor damages were done to both vehicles. • At 4:50 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, a vehicle was rear-ended while waiting in line at Collins and College Dr. The collision caused another car to be rear-ended. Moderate damages were done to the vehicle. • At 7:55 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, campus police assisted Saginaw Township Police in arresting a male student from Living Center North for a warrant. The male student stole from his fellow employees.• At 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, a female employee hit a deer on Davis and College Drive. Moderate damage was done to the vehicle. Officers had to shoot the deer.

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Boles spoke fluent Japanese throughout the journey, but this was the first time he guided a group of students around Japan.

“It made the experience a little more exciting and challenging. It was hectic at times, mostly because of small logistical issues like making up for lost time, moving fast and always trying to be on the go,” Guerrero said, “but Dr. Boles, or ‘Sensai’ as some of us like to call him, did an amazing job getting us from place to place.”

According to Guerrero, each of the cities that the group explored had a sociological significance.

“In Hiroshima, we went to the Peace Museum, where we saw the hypocenter and the last building that’s still standing since the atomic bomb was dropped on the city,” Guerrero said.

The group also spent time exploring historical hotspots around Japan, such as Murayama castle, emperor and shogun museums in Kyoto and the

historical city of Kurashiki.“In Okayama, we

visited a good friend of Sensai. She had a home in the countryside and we all got to stay at her home for dinner. It was great seeing the inside of an authentic Japanese home,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero said most of the group enjoyed the variety of different food.

“One thing I really liked was that all the different dishes we tried used fresh ingredients and were prepared right in front of you,” Guerrero said.

“The Japanese eat much better,” Schmidt said. “Much more attention is paid to all aspects of eating, from cultivation in the fields, to freshness at stores, to display at restaurants, to actual physical enjoyment of the food.”

Guerrero said he enjoyed traveling to a kindergarten school in Okayama, where the group helped the students with their lessons and played with them during recess.

“That was a very nice thing for me to experience, especially being an elementary education major. It was great to

compare the similarities and differences between the cultures of American and Japanese schools,” Guerrero said.

He said that the biggest thing that he brought back to the states was reverse culture shock.

“There are very distinct differences between the styles of living,” Guerrero said. “Not to say that one is better than the other. Surprisingly, it was just very easy for me to adjust to the Japanese lifestyle and much harder to readjust to our own culture here at home.”

Schmidt encouraged anyone thinking about studying abroad to go through with it.

“I would tell them not to think about it, just sign up and go, you won’t regret it,” she said. “It is an experience of a lifetime and I can’t wait until I’m able to go on another study abroad trip.”

Guerrero added, “When you go, you may not understand everything about the culture, but you have to remember that you are a guest in the country that you’re visiting. Always be open to other ideas and lifestyles.”

AbRoADcontinued from A1

in the ponds year-round, has shown a “significant decrease” in energy usage in the building and preliminary energy numbers are favorable.

For older buildings on campus such as Wickes Hall, Brown Hall and First Year Suites, Tutsock said that the constant update of equipment and putting them onto the campus-wide energy loop has helped keep costs down.

As helpful as this work is, Tutsock

said that students changing some of their behaviors can help keep costs low.

He also recommends turning power strips off when electronics are not in use.

He also said that students should report faulty equipment if an area is too hot or too cold.

“If there’s a problem, call over to Campus Facilities and report it,” he said. “Don’t just open up a window. Keep windows closed.”

Andrezejewski said that students being mindful of their own usage will help as well.

“Treat this place the same as you would at home,” he said.

newsbriefs

HPV Awareness • There will be an HPV Awareness event from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, in the Malcolm Field Theatre in Curtiss Hall. There will be a Q&A session, and Peer Health Education will providing information about Latex League. There will also be other informational tables, games, a raffle and prizes. Contact Kimberly LaPan at [email protected] for more information.

Coffee House Series • The Coffee House Series, sponsored by Program Board, will hold an open forum from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17. Participants can perform acoustics, choir, comedy and poetry. To sign up, contact Tony Cianciolo at [email protected] for more information.

Commuter Grab and Go bags• Commuter Board, a part of Student Life, will be providing goodie bags for commuters from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17. at the Zahnow Library 1st floor entrance. Students must show Cardinal Commuter Value Card. Students may also sign up for the card on Tuesday, or anytime, at the Student Life Center information desk. For more information, contact Eltaro Hooper at [email protected].

blood Drive• There will be a Red Cross blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, in the Student Life Center. The Red Cross suggests that students drink plenty of water and eat a healthy meal before donating.

400 Calorie Dinner• From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18 in the Student Center Rotunda, Campus Recreation and Dining Services will provide free samples and recipes for students looking to cook healthy meals. For more information, contact Aaron Mowen at [email protected].

RSo Fair• There will be a Student Life RSO Fair from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, in the Student Life Center and Rotunda. All students are welcome to come and see SVSU’s registered student organizations. For questions contact Trish Gohm at [email protected].

M.L.K Day of Service• From 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, Student Life will have its first volunteer event at the Old Town Soup Kitchen in Saginaw and Saginaw YMCA. Transportation will not be provided. To sign up for the event, stop by the Student Life Center by 4:30 p.m. Jan. 18. For questions, contact Katrina Phillips at [email protected].

Last Day to Withdraw • The last day to withdraw with a 75 percent refund is 4:30 p.m. Friday. Jan. 20. For more information, see Cardinal Direct. Cardinal Direct is open from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday for scheduled registration.

EnERGycontinued from A1

Vanguard Photo | Jess Ellison

Valley Voices, SVSU’s gospel choir RSO, performs during the MLK Celebration, held in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall last Wednesday.

Vanguard Photo I Lisa Coffell

As part of the ceremony at the MLK Celebration, awards were handed out to area high school students who demonstrated a commitment to the ideals King stood for.

News and events from on and around campus

The Valley Vanguard | valleyvanguardonline.com | Monday, January 16, 2012 | Page A3

courTyardThe

The Valley Vanguard 125 Curtiss Hall campuseditorsBrandy aBraham and joshua j. roesner e-mails [email protected] and [email protected] office (989) 964-4482

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Degree only one piece of employment puzzle

Flying outside the mainstream religions? This RSO is for you

Full schedule defines Gilbertson’s days

Undergraduates may have a difficult time finding jobs after graduation, but University associates think otherwise.

“The job market for education is different then what most may expect,” said Samuel Tilmon, assistant director of career services. “The patterns that I have been noticing are different than those portrayed in the media.”

According to Tilmon, there are still some jobs available. Even in the uncertain periods, with unknown budgets and the hiring freeze, there are still some schools hiring teachers.

“The types of jobs that come available the most in this field are for teachers in core subjects such as math, science and English,” Tilmon said.

“For students who are beginning to enter the job market, I would advise them to start thinking about endorsements,” said Jonathan Gould, assistant professor of teacher education.

Endorsements such as social studies, special education and teaching English as a second language (ESL) allow education graduates to teach other subjects and can open doors when it comes to finding employment.

“There have been many education

graduates who could not find a job in the state, so they relocate to other states that are in demand for teachers,” Tilmon said. “Also, many who cannot find jobs in education have found employment in other fields.”

“Nursing has traditionally had many jobs available to new graduates,” said Karen Brown-Fackler, associate professor of nursing. “The last few years, with the economy being bad, many older employees were afraid to retire and hospitals were not filling full-time vacancies.”

However, nearly three-quarters of the December 2011 nursing graduates were already employed full time at graduation, according to Brown-Fackler.

When asked if nursing students should pursue graduate degrees after receiving their bachelor’s, Brown-Fackler said that it depends on the discipline.

“In nursing, a graduate degree is not necessary for employment,” she said. “However, if a student wants to teach, go into management or become a specialist, that student should go on for a graduate degree.”

“Certainly starting your graduate program is not going to hurt you when it comes to finding a job,” Gould said of education majors.

For students looking to make themselves more marketable after graduation, professor of English Elizabeth

Rich offered some suggestions. “I would recommend focusing on

an industry where students would like to work and to start gaining experience, even if it is unpaid, so they can prepare themselves to present their best skills to future employers,” she said.

Some of these preparations Rich discussed are things such as writing a blog, talking to and networking with people working in their field and working or volunteering in ways that will build the skill base for after graduation.

Brown-Fackler suggested that students do more than just take classes and get a degree. She recommends volunteering, especially at places in their profession, and keep working to show they are good employees.

She said they should also dress and present themselves professionally.

“When you find a job, your first year is simply survival,” said Gould. “By the next few years, you start to see the big picture. The fifth year is when everything comes together and you begin to understand the big picture.”

Until that time comes, Gould urged prospective education students to not treat the College of Education like a checklist.

“When you’re in pre-service positions, like fieldwork and student teaching, create opportunities for yourself by networking and going above and beyond,” Gould said.

Be grateful, says SVSU president Eric Gilbertson

“I look at this job as an extra privilege and I never want to lose sight of that,” he said.

With no day the same, a number of is-sues ensure that his schedule is constantly changing.

Most of the emails he checks daily ex-

press staff and student concerns, extend invitations and report on national news updates in education.

“I am always working, whether it is on a financial matter or working with an ar-chitect on the design of a facility,” he said.

Most years he teaches political science 390, a class on judicial law, and a weekend course for the Gerstacker Fellowship.

“I enjoy teaching those courses be-cause I’m a lawyer and I enjoy thinking-about the complexities of different mat-ters,” Gilbertson said.

He added that due to the array of sub-jects that affect his job, he finds it difficult to stay up to date on all the new happen-ings.

“There are many conferences a year and many that I cannot find time to go, but I always make room for one conference a year,” he said.

Gilbertson is involved with every-thing from scholarships to meeting with political leaders.

“The variety of people and issues that I deal with represent the many opportuni-ties that I am given to meet those people,” he said.

Last Tuesday, he had lunch with a professor from Beijing who is teaching a course this semester.

Gilbertson said that even though a president’s job is difficult with all the deli-cacies that surround the position, he does not have to do it alone.

“I have committed vice presidents, as-sistants and staff to help me do the heavy lifting so I am never doing things alone,” he said.

Also squeezed into his schedule is time for recreation. He enjoys “…playing tennis twice a week and walking during the winter. During the fall, I golf and bike to maintain shape.”

Gilbertson also says that his philoso-phy in life can’t fit onto a bumper sticker or into a campaign slogan.

“My number one philosophy is control your emotions and make analytical deci-sions,” he said.

When asked about how he became president of SVSU, he said, “It was luck.”

After being approached by a consult-ing firm, he became interested in coming to the University which, he said, was a uni-versity with a lot of promise.

“I was part of building something spe-cial, which increasingly proves that exact case.”

Every day he finds time to walk around campus, watching faculty, staff and students doing what they do.

“It’s a good-feel moment,” he said. “I care deeply about what we do here.”

By Adam Haenlein vanguard sTaff wriTer

By Blake Allen vanguard sTaff wriTer


Gilbertson, who has served as the president of SVSU since 1989, addresses those gathered at last Wednesday’s Martin Luther King Jr. rememberance celebration.

Religion may be an uncomfortable topic for many stu-dents, but for some, it’s the driving force.

Liberated Cardinals is a registered student organization aimed at supporting those who do not follow the major reli-gions represented at the University.

The group welcomes anyone to their meetings, although membership is mainly represented by those identified as athe-ist, agnostic, Buddhist or belief in deities.

The secular organization meets once a week to discuss atheist news, personal experiences, principles of logic and reasoning and fallacious arguments.

The meetings stimulate interfaith dialogue to create more understanding among religions.

“It’s cool to hear other people’s viewpoints,” said music education sophomore Stephen Poleni. “You get to have non-biased discussions.”

The group brings up controversial topics to stimulate dis-cussion, but it is not necessarily politically related.

In previous meetings, the members exchanged thoughts on a bill that would change Georgia license plates so that the phrase “In God We Trust” would replace “The United States of America.”

The group also discussed the importance of Christian traditions in nonreligious households, such as Christmas and Easter.

In watching political videos, the group’s members dis-cussed politicians use of “God” in their speeches and if it gives them more power, in both voice and presence.

Another topic members discussed involved cosmological arguments about creationism and attributes of deities.

According to Liberated Cardinal’s president David Ryan, their topics make it easier to empathize with others and cre-ates less hatred toward other religions on both sides.

“It’s been wildly successful,” Ryan said. “I was expecting a lot more negative feedback.”

The organization members said they plan to help re-solve myths associated with uncommon religions and beliefs through programming and meetings.

Guest speakers may also be brought to the University as the group grows in support.

The group’s founders, before its creation in the fall of 2010, hoped to support one another. Then they thought about the campus community.

“Since 20 percent of Americans don’t necessarily believe in God, we believed there should be a group to represent them,” Ryan said.

The group is committing itself to philanthropy projects to raise money for secular organizations.

No plans have been set on any projects, but it will be an option that the organization will examine.

When new members attend, they can announce their per-sonal beliefs, what they don’t believe in and why they hold those beliefs to be true.

“If you come to the meetings, it’s preferred if you bring an open mind,” Poleni said. “No one is there to tell you that you’re wrong.”

Meetings are tentatively at 5 p.m. every Thursday. Ryan said his ultimate goal is for the group to host open

debates in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall.

By Tyler Bradleyvanguard sTaff wriTer

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opinion

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This week, we covered the change in Student Association membership after the resignations

of four representatives. While this is not unusual for us to cover, we were particularly incensed about the treatment of one resignation: that of Jasmine Charlton.

In terms of her resignation, we feel that it was anything but voluntary. We feel that she was given an ultimatum based on her personal issues. The way in which she was treated by her fellow members is disappointing and angering.

Members who brought up charges of her not fulfilling her ombudsman duties were in every right to hold a fellow member accountable for her job. Mistakes happen. It is the way in which members deal with these mistakes that counts, not the mistakes themselves.

We feel that this philosophy was not used at all during Charlton’s resignation. We seriously question the execution of how the charges against her were filed. Lines were crossed and decency was thrown away in the name of kicking Charlton out of her position.

We wonder if the members who filed these charges ever considered the option of meeting with Charlton in a face-to-face session before publically declaring her incapable of fulfilling

her duties partly because of health issues. This would have been a more appropriate method of action.

Charlton, who has admitted that she has personal health issues, has every right to receive the treatment she needs in order to be a healthy person. However, the way in which certain members of the association used her issues against her is deplorable and troubling.

Personal issues are personal. They are not meant to be thrown about in emails and in a public meeting. This is the decent thing to do. The person with the issues, should she feel it is appropriate to talk about, is the only one who really understands the consequences of her situation, not others. We understand that representatives take their jobs seriously, but nothing condones the way in which some members threw Charlton’s problems in her face.

We question the character of these representatives, who are supposed to be

representing the body. It doesn’t matter if this drama originated from within the association or from outside influences because, regardless, it’s a problem.

While they might have had the best of intentions in mind (and that is us giving them a major benefit of the doubt), we wonder if they are more interested in the drama surrounding the association than in us, the students they are supposed to represent.

If that’s the case, then what is the point of having a Student Association? They can’t solve our problems if they can’t solve their own.

The recent events have made SA appear to be anything but a group. We want to see an association that works as a team, not as a student body that works to destroy the character of its members. We want an association in which its members support each other.

This week, we leave members of the association with the same advice we give to toddlers: play nice.

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While campuses around the country observe

Martin Luther King Jr. Day honoring the civil rights leader’s dream for racial harmony and equality, Duke University embroils in a racial controversy.

At the center of the debate is an unpublished report authored by Duke University professors Peter Arcidiaconoy and Ken Spenner and graduate student Esteban Aucejoz entitled “What Happens After Enrollment? An Analysis of the Time Path of Racial Differences in GPA and Major Choice.”

The grade point average gap between Duke’s black and white students decreases by half during their progress through college. The most significant factor, these researchers say: black students switching to easier majors.

The six-month-old report recently gained national attention after its inclusion in a brief handed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is considering a lawsuit against affirmative action policies for undergraduate admissions at the University of Texas. Perhaps in the court and in the media, the document will ultimately receive the kind of scrutiny it deserves. Arcidiaconoy, Spenner and Aucejoz say “natural science, engineering, and economics courses are more difficult, associated with higher study times, and have harsher grading standards; all of which translate into students with weaker academic backgrounds being less likely to choose these majors.”

The report indicates Duke University’s black students started out expressing more initial interest than its white

students when it came to majoring in natural sciences, engineering and economics. In the end, however, 54 percent of black men and 51 percent of black women who expressed this interest changed their majors to humanities or social sciences other than economics. In contrast, data shows that 33 percent of white women and 8 percent of white men made a similar change in major.

Members of the Duke community are reasonably upset at the suggestion that Duke’s black undergraduates are lowering their expectations or taking the easy way out because they are not as prepared academically for certain subjects as their white classmates. Some are calling the data into question, and others question whether the data support the researchers’ conclusions.

Really, there is nothing wrong with switching to a different major if it’s for the right reasons: changes in personal interest, professional interests and graduate study or work opportunities.

Individuals have to understand that their preferences for humanities and social sciences can sometimes have some long-term consequences, however, when it comes to earning potential and unemployment rates. The choice is one’s own and that has the facts necessary to make the informed decision.

When individuals switch majors not because of preference but because they are not academically prepared, then we have a problem.

Either students require better preparation for the majors that inspire them or they need a more realistic set of expectations for what some difficult majors require.

Students from Duke’s Black Students Association want Duke University to make an intervention based on report findings. The group responded to the lack of response they perceived from the university since June 2011 when the report was authored. The group sent an email to the state NAACP saying that the faculty did not adequately express “a genuine concern for proactively furthering the well-being of the black community.”

If the report is valid, is there anything Duke University can do about any students who are not prepared academically for certain majors before coming to the institution? In order to be proactive, change needs to happen in primary and secondary education where college prep takes place. Public schools should be able to reasonably prepare students for any college major they choose.

One major problem I hear from students of all backgrounds is that when they are in high school, counselors tell them they can take the classes they want to take. Of course, many enroll in less than challenging courses. All along, teachers tell them they can go on to college where they can study to be any kind of professional person. Students graduate and find that the courses they chose to take in high school in no way prepared them for the core curriculum of their college majors.

The Duke University study is understandably controversial for its racial implications, but it hardly stands as an indictment of that institution. Rather the report should lead us to further question how we prepare all students interested in rigorous studies before they come to college.

The issue - Four students resigned from their positions in Student Association last week.

Our position - The ways in which members of SA behaved concerning the resignation of Jasmine Charlton is deplorable and troubling.

Race: a major reason behind majors?

Student Association should learn how to act more like a group, less like a clique

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Editorial Cartoon Rashad Baiyasi is a physics and chemistry junior and the Vanguard’s cartoonist. Reach him at [email protected].

The Valley Vanguard 125 Curtiss Hall [email protected] editor-in-chiefToni Boger office (989) 964-4482 e-mail [email protected]


opinion

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On rainy or snowy days when there is nothing to do outside besides

get wet and possibly get sick, you may wish that you had more to accomplish inside. Surely there is always something that needs to be studied, or homework that needs to be completed, but how about something fun?

Musical instruments could be the thing to make the rainy days a little more exciting.

I have been playing guitar for more than eight years now. During this time, I have learned more songs than I can count on both hands and I have made friends just by sharing the same hobby.

When you learn how to play an instrument, you always have something to do. You can either learn new songs, new techniques, play older songs that you have already mastered or you can teach others.

The reason I first picked up my guitar was when I was given one for Christmas. Whether you were given one for Christmas or if you just have one sitting around collecting dust, it would make for a good New Year’s resolution to learn how to play guitar, or any instrument, for that matter.

A lot of people assume that musical talent is something you are born with. That might be somewhat because we cannot all be the next John Lennon, but by learning an instrument, you can make yourself a lot better. Different instruments can help you in different ways.

If you are an angry person, you might want to take up drums so that you can pound out your anger without hurting anybody. Playing the guitar can help make your blues go away. Any if not all instruments can help you jam the night away when you are feeling good about things.

It may seem cheesy, but there is another way that musical styling can be implemented into your life to create a positive lifestyle. If you are a parent, giving your kids a musical instrument could possibly decrease the likelihood that they

would be on the streets doing things that they have been instructed not to do. Instead, they would be inside pounding on some drums or strumming their guitar.

You can make a lot of friends just because the two of you share a similar past time. Some of my best friends are people I would not have had the pleasure to meet had I not been a guitar player.

For instance, if you are jamming alone outside sometime and somebody else who plays an instrument comes by, this can spark a conversation and the two of you could become good friends.

Another way would be if you were looking to buy a new instrument and somebody on campus was selling one. The two of you could make the exchange and become friends (unless the instrument is broken, in which case music would be the cause of a feud, but that would not be as much fun).

So if you are sitting inside right now, looking outside at the snow falling, longing for something to do aside from hitting the books, I think you have found your cue.

Pick up a guitar, some drum sticks or a kazoo, and maybe you will find yourself a different calling that is not nearly as complicated as bookwork and a lot more fun.

Then, perhaps the next time you are sitting inside with the snow or pouring rain outside, you will be able to be glad that you found such an interesting hobby.

S he packed a gun for one reason and one reason alone.

Once you got on the railroad, you didn’t get off.

She couldn’t risk them being found out.

She couldn’t allow one scared fool to ruin her chance at freedom.

She went down into the rebellious South over and over again, a black Moses, working to set her people free, but she didn’t trust all of her people.

That’s why she carried the gun.“We’re all in this together,” we

say, but what does that actually mean?I read those words and just

meditated on them, and then thought, what category did I fit into?

That’s the mantra of black America. Light, dark, brown to almost white, bound by shared sacrifice and suffering in victory and defeat, bound by racism and the solidarity that comes with being in “the fold” together.

And we’re still holding Harriet Tubman’s gun to the heads of every African-American who dares to step out of line.

The “sell-out,” the “turncoat,” the “Tom”—these all describe the fool who dares to threaten the majority who holds that gun, who can fire at any given time.

Sometimes it’s a misfire. Sometimes the aim is lethal.

It can even lead to banishment.Some might not think much of it,

but the black community is small and banishment is painful for those who feel they should belong, those who feel they are misunderstood and those who believe there was a misfire.

Most African-Americans do not understand the struggles of what happened to their ancestors.

Today’s most controversial public policy questions concerning race in the United States come from the debate of affirmative action and racial quotas to financial demands for reparations.

These ultimately derive from the fact that those who founded this country did not abolish the institution of slavery as part of their project to establish a nation dedicated to the cause of liberty.

It wasn’t long ago that blacks

were unable to attend school alongside their white counterparts.

It wasn’t long ago that bathrooms were separated between “colored,” people and white people.

It wasn’t long ago that riots were held in the street to fight for equal rights, yet many have forgotten this.

The reasons why we weren’t allowed such things at the time were due to weak excuses and logic, but our generation seems to prove those reasons to be true.

We are more focused as a unit on making it rich in the rap game, focusing on our three-point shot rather than hitting the books.

We are seen in the hallways of the University, raising our voices to the point of yelling, clapping our hands in tune with the beat just to make a point to the person right beside you.

We are seen wearing clothes much too big to be the actual size and stature of any decent human being’s body in an attempt to show off one’s “street cred.”

It’s disrespectful in the way that we spit on the graves of those who came before us as if their struggle and their sacrifices while our slogan becomes that of Lil Wayne and his “purple drank.”

It’s more than that, though. Generation X African-Americans seem to have the “crab mentality,” saying that if I don’t have it, then you can’t, either.

This generation feeds on that behavior and operates on it. It’s breaking away from this behavior that causes one to be shot with the smoking gun.

Is this really all just for our want to be successful? What it should be called is mercenary behavior. I say mercenary because that implies a

deliberate, volitional act. Many so-called “coons” (a

derogatory term used in decades past) as well as “Toms” or “sellouts” are thought to be simply ignorant of themselves, their history and the impact of what they do.

It’s believed that when you’re are educated, then you change. You “do better, when you know better.”

However, when you deliberately do things that cast yourself or your people in terrible light, it’s thought that you’re “selling out.” This is especially true before the majority who definitely has no true understanding of your background and culture do so in the name of the almighty dollar, trying to justify it through ratings, “harmless right,” “it’s what the public wants,” etc.

However, to be cast in a terrible light is already accomplished through the simple act of those who point the finger.

I ask, what did people say of Martin Luther King Jr. when he became an educated man looked up to by many in his time?

He was a genius. He was revolutionary.

I ask, what did people say of Malcolm X who went forth with the thought, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste?”

He was strong, He was independent.

That was the thought of the time interpreted by the struggles that they faced.

The problem that our generation faces is that we have no issue to unite on without it being laughable, such as the “Free Weezy” movement.

We need to be one cohesive unit. We need to support each other and not tear each other down.

We need education and we need to think outside of a rap song.

We need to think more of what our existence has to offer and work toward fulfilling our potential.

Vanguard Staff Writer | Opinion

Words of advice on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Reasons why to play an instrument

Joey Oliver is a CJ freshman and a Vanguard Staff Writer. Reach him at [email protected]

Blake Allen is an international studies sophomore and a Vanguard Staff Writer. Reach him at [email protected]

Vanguard Staff Writer | Opinion

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Monday, January 23 2012 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Alumni Lounge Curtiss Hall

Questions, concerns and suggestions about SVSU will be welcome

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a e&

Hidden artistic talent of staff and faculty is showcased in the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum this month.

“I think this was a really wonderful idea for an exhibit,” said Rich Burns, museum dupli-cator and operator. “It really lets you see the talent of the person behind the desk that you see ev-ery day.”

Last Wednesday, Jan. 11, the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum held a reception for the new exhibit that features only staff and faculty art work.

Burns himself has three air-brushed T-shirts on exhibit, all featuring designs that he created. He has been drawing and air-brushing for 26 years.

More than 113 people attend-ed the opening reception, 28 art-ists submitted work and 58 pieces are on exhibit.

The exhibit includes oil paintings, acrylics, photography, quilts, weavings, sculptures, po-etry, stain glass, t-shirts, skate-boards, a guitar and other mixed media.

Although shorter than usual, the museum staff said that this exhibit is no less important than regular-length exhibits.

“Because we were between time slots for exhibitions, we de-cided to highlight artistic pieces created by the staff of SVSU,” said Andrea Ondish, curator of educa-tion.

According to Ondish, the museum always hoped to show-case art pieces from staff and fac-ulty, but there was never an ap-propriate time between incoming exhibition artists.

“When the opportunity was available, we decided it would be a great chance to showcase talent here on campus,” Ondish said.

However, once the emails went out to all employees, the museum was surprised by how shy many people were reacting to the news.

“We knew there were lots of talented people here on campus, but the response from the com-munity was initially pretty slow,” said Geoffrey Haney, registrar. “But once people started to bring their artwork in, it was great to see all the hidden talent.”

Ondish agreed.“Since the artworks started

to come in, we have had really nice responses from staff express-ing their creativity,” Ondish said. “That’s what this show is all about: showcasing talent here on campus.”

Adam Baudoux, university photographer and graphic de-

signer, has two pieces of photog-raphy on exhibit. One is a pan-oramic shot of Red Rock Canyon in Nevada. The other is from Wells Beach, Maine, and was cho-sen for a contest in National Geo-graphic.

“I think this exhibit is a great chance to see creativity outside of the office,” Baudoux said. “It’s nice to see that I work with such talented people.”

Some of the other pieces in the exhibit include a number of acrylic pieces by Mike Mosher,

professor of art, communication and multimedia and oil paint-ings by Jill Allardyce, assistant director of creative services and Janna Kern, assistant director of academic advising.

Tim Inman, director of cre-ative services, created two of the larger pieces in the exhibit.

The first is a panoramic pho-tograph of a crowd at Wickes Me-morial Stadium during a game. The second is a piece of graphic design, including a timeline that traces the first 50 years of SVSU’s history.

“This piece was a team ef-fort,” Inman said while address-ing the timeline. “The factual information for the chart was re-searched by many staff members, and it took about a week to create the whole thing.”

According to Inman, the timeline was originally created as a two-page sprawl in a gradua-tion commencement program.

“We thought that if we came up with something like this for parents and friends to look at and reflect on during the commence-ment ceremony, it would make the program more significant and valuable for those graduating,” Inman said.

One of the pieces that exhib-ited praise and curiosity from at-tendants was an acrylic painting by Craig Snook, assistant director of creative services. The painting is called, “Chai Tea or Tai Chi?” and has several tea bag wrappers hanging off of it.

Another piece that garnered some attention was a classical gui-tar that was created from scratch by Gerald Stevens, groundskee-per and assistant foreman.

“He was originally going to bring in a bonsai plant, but be-cause of the season, he said that he could show us a guitar that he made instead. It’s pretty incred-ible,” Haney said.

The exhibit will last through Friday, Jan. 27.

“[This exhibit] lets you see the talent of the person behind the desk that you see every day.”

Rich BuRns

MuseuM duplicatoR opeRatoR

By Adam Haenleinvanguard staff writer

Artistic faculty flair, expression surfaces in exhibit

Vanguard photo |Sean DudleyAn acrylic painting by Craig Snook, assistant director of creative services, hangs in the Marshall M. Fredericks Museum. Entitled, “Chai Tea or Tai Chi?” the painting will be on display until Friday, Jan. 27.

Remembering Last Year Return the puzzles to the Vanguard office, 125 Curtiss Hall, by 6 p.m. Friday with your name, email and phone number. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for this week’s prize.

Across1. seasonal drink from starbucks, starts with a carvable Halloween gourd2. judges pitches from behind the pitcher3. Ctrl + Alt +5. Frozen water6. Scottish actor, played in Law Abiding Citizen, Gerard13. Red delicious, granny smith, fruit14. Suspended his presidential campaign, Herman15. To build or put together a building16. The first number, to be number _______

18. Music theater located in Clarkston19. Usually wears blue or pink wigs, singer, married to russel brand20. What so say when meditating21. New kids toy that uses lights and string, cars, tinkerbell, as seen on tv23. Kansas State abbreviation 24. Shortened name for joseph25. Small mythic creature resembling a demon, annoys people27. Second level of a wedding cake, stacking cakes28. Place to take out money outside of a

bank29. Opposite of women, another name for a few guys30. Abbreviation for company supplying tractors33. Word that means of or like wood35. Rectangle form of identification carried at all times, drivers license 37. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?41. Dodge truck, the logo is this animal

Down1. SVSU Red _________2. To go below or _______neath4. Won the super bowl in 20115. Apple’s new handheld product, all touch screen6. Unit of data that is eight binary digits long7. To bring into the presidency, to vote for8. Architectural Energy Construction abbreviation9. Movie with Leonardo Dicaprio, deals with dreams10. ______ man, that ain’t me11. Consumer Price Index12. L’Oreal hairspray, worlds finest hairspray16. Twins that played in full house, now are in the fashion world, Mary-Kate & Ashley17. Online and red box movies, widely used on x-box18. To destroy or disrupt the natural state of19. Famous Led Zeppelin song, like the type of clothing fibers that are hard to wash in sweaters20. Boards that are used to talk with the dead, game board21. What you look at before eating at a restaurant, folded pamphlet

with a lists of all the food22. Stalling word, everyone uses this between talking especially during speeches24. Person who made up Apple company and died in 2011, Steve26. Abbreviation for Texas Tech27. used at thee end of a word to describe an action 31. Shortened name for Carolina32. Died earlier in the year from drug overdose, singer, last name with wine34. Name of the panda from Kung-Fu Panda35. Stock market launch, or the first sale of stock to the public from a private company36. To cover with short poking strokes, to clean a wound gently 38. First name of actress that played Hermoine40. Another name for a stone like a diamond, cut rock or mineral42. Name for the tv show for Nation Geographic, Nat _______

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CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST WEEK’S WINNER: KELLIE BADALAMENTI

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A&EEditor Molly young officE(989) 964-4482 E-mAil [email protected]

Movie lovers soon can in-dulge themselves by attending the first showing in a series of movies set to benefit the Bay City Good Samaritan Rescue Mission in Bay City.

At 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, attendees will contribute a non-perishable item as an admission fee to see the second Cars movie at the State Theatre in Bay City.

Munching on popcorn and staving off the mid-winter blahs, these locals will have helped others while helping themselves.

The series will continue every other Sunday until April 15, with a break on the last Sun-day of March.

The movies were chosen for their family friendliness.

Executive Director Mike Bacigalupo said he figures chil-dren enjoy these modern-day classics that much more on the

big screen, as opposed to the living room television set.

The cause for concern of this unconventional food drive is that the Great Lakes Bay area food pantries are struggling to keep up with the needs of their clients.

It is not that people aren’t giving as much as they used to, Bacigalupo said. The deficits of the local food pantries can better be attributed to the pro-longed downturn of the state and nation’s economy.

Because of the need of these food pantries, any nonperishable items are being accepted, including food, toi-letries, etc.

Although this is not the first time the Bay City State Theatre has offered a donation-based admission for a movie, it is the first time the theater has offered a movie series like this. Each movie will benefit the same pantry.

The pantry’s website states through the mission statement that the Good Samaritan Res-cue Ministries of Mid-Michigan is to reach out to the homeless and provide shelter and care through community support.

The Good Samaritan Res-cue Mission is linked with the Rescue Ministries of Mid-Mich-igan, which has been around for more than 100 years.

The Good Samaritan di-vision itself was established

in 2005. The current director, Dan Streeter, is the son of Ken Streeter, who used to run the mission.

According to the website, most people enter the mission in need of shelter. There is a family shelter and a men’s shel-ter which that combined pro-vides nearly 100 beds, meals and help for those who would otherwise go without.

Other events are held to support the mission, such as Hockey for the Homeless on Sunday, Feb. 11. There was also a short film and gaming com-petition on Jan. 14 and 15, host-ed by ONENERDNATION. There was a $5 admission and cash prizes awarded for the competitors. This event was co-sponsored by the Bay City Noon Optimist Club.

For more information on the Good Samaritan Rescue Mission, visit its website at res-cuesaginaw.org/contact.htm or call (989) 752-6051.

For more information on the State Theatre of Bay City and other showtimes, visit its website at rescuesaginaw.org/contact.htm.

Sometimes when direct-ing a series involving music, you have to duet mostly by yourself.

A senior project being de-veloped this semester is a web series entitled “Sheet Music: A Ballad of Promiscuity” by theater and PTW senior Jessica Rockwell.

“Having a web series will take things to a whole other level. The theater department is starting to branch out,” Rockwell said.

She will film, edit and di-rect the two episodes she is creating for her senior project.

The idea came to her in an RPW class last year after a friend challenged her to write a script.

After coming up with sev-eral ideas for the project, Rock-well decided to produce two episodes.

Rockwell believes that having a web series instead of a live production will draw in more attention from the cam-pus community.

Previously, theater seniors have used acting, directing and choreography as senior projects.

Producing a film or web series has been done in Univer-sity history, but isn’t as com-mon as staged productions.

The series, aimed at col-lege students, revolves around a group of adult friends that are mostly involved in the mu-sic industry, but they also have strong sex lives.

“It is not anything too se-rious. It’ll make you laugh,” Rockwell said. “It’ll make you think of things that happened in your own life.”

One character, Rebecca, is a singer who takes any gig opportunity she has and tends to be accident prone with her boyfriend, Brady.

Brady is a talent scout whose sexual life gets more interesting in the pilot episode, titled “One Night Stanza.”

Naomi, who is a musical composer and is sexually de-vious, gives advice to her two friends, Rebecca and Paige.

The character Paige, who enjoys singing, recently be-came single as Naomi begins attempting to set her up on dates.

Rockwell has developed twelve episode summaries. She plans continuing writing and filming the series.

No scenes are shot in nu-

dity. “I believe things can be

done artfully and tastefully,” Rockwell said.

Auditions will be done as cold reads, but she welcomes everyone to pick up a script from C184 beforehand.

Auditions are from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19 in the Dance Studio in C181.

Rockwell will film in Sagi-naw beginning in February.

“Most people want to shoot in big towns like Chica-go,” Rockwell said.

“Often times, people don’t pay attention to what Saginaw has to offer.”

Rockwell has interest in shooting the series by the bars on Hamilton Street, but must work with businesses to avoid customer disturbances and other issues.

Each episode will run be-tween 10 and 15 minutes and she hopes to premiere it the week before exams.

She plans to release her senior project for viewing on YouTube.

One of her goals is to pre-miere the series during a Val-ley Nights movie screening and give out copies of the first two episodes on DVD.

Cardinal Radio is a small organization with big plans.

It is a student-run internet radio station located in Curtiss 234.

The station is a service only available at SVSU, although members are working to make it worldwide. It can be found at www.svsuworldwide.com.

Cardinal Radio’s slogan is “We Have a Radio Station?” because many students and staff are unaware of its existence.

Members are working double-time to change that.

A second public relations director has been appointed to its e-board to help the radio station get its name out there.

Members sell T-shirts and pass out buttons on campus.

Newly created business cards are being passed out, which members hope will lead to an increase in listeners.

“Just doing the business cards alone is a big step for us,” said Michele Yambrick, communications senior and public relations director.

From 7 p.m. until midnight Friday, Feb. 17, Cardinal Radio is hosting a free concert in the Thompson Student Activities Room as another way to get noticed. Campus and semi-local bands will perform.

Since there is no advertising base, the organization’s main moneymaker is its mobile DJ-ing service. Other RSOs can request music.

Last semester they provided music at events such as Marketplace at Doan’s 90’s day and PHE’s relaxation night.

Tony Cianciolo, secondary education major and president, said that the organization is

always seeking new members. Students pursuing any

major are able to join as long as they have an interest in radio.

“You don’t have to be going into radio to join radio,” Cianciolo said.

Current members’ majors range from mechanical engineering to creative writing.

New members are required to complete a simple training that includes watching a PowerPoint presentation and learning how to use the equipment.

Upon completion they are given a one- to two-hour time slot to be a DJ on the station.

DJs have the freedom to choose what they wish to do during their airtime.

There is a segment on the station that deals with relationship issues and another that plays music from video games.

Aaron Zaremski, creative writing sophomore and vice president, said Cardinal Radio provides students a chance to express themselves.

“Just as long as you have an idea for a show and you want to put it out there, you’re more than welcome to do it,” Zaremski said.

Zaremski has had a passion for music and was happy to find out that a radio station existed on campus. He feels that he has really grown as a person through Cardinal Radio.

“It politely forces you out of your shell,” he said.

Cianciolo said the members of Cardinal Radio are like a big family. He met some of his closest friends through the organization.

“Some of us are loud. Some of us are quiet,” Cianciolo said. “We are a group of random people and we all get along.”

By Tyler Bradleyvanguard staff writer

By Andrea McBridevanguard staff writer

By Michelle Tellevanguard staff writer

‘Promiscuous’ student series to hit web mid-April

Campus radio recruits members, seeks recognition

artbriefs

ShowtimesAll shows begin at 2 p.m.• Cars 2 - Jan. 29 2 p.m.• The Incredibles - Feb. 12 2 p.m.• Toy Story - Feb. 26• Toy Story 2 - Mar. 11• Toy Story 3 - Apr. 1• Up - Apr. 15

2010 mission services stats• Individuals served: 748• Average daily occu-pancy: 50• Average daily meals served: 118• Lodgings provided: 18,409• Meals served: 43.035• Volunteer hours: 13,000

Theater Production• Starting at 7:30 p.m. Wednes-day, Feb. 22, members of the theater department will perform their rendition of “Agamemnon,” a violent ancient Greek tragedy in the Malcolm Field Theatre. The production will repeat each night at 7:30 p.m. through Saturday, Feb. 25 and again at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26. Tickets are $7 for students and seniors, $10 general admis-sion. For more information, contact the box office at (989) 964-4261.

Arts from the Heart• At 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum, the fifth annual Arts from the Heart will take place. There will be music by the Robert Lee Review, a silent auction, food, drinks and interactive games for adults. Visit midmicm.org for more information and tickets. Ages 21 and up. $45 per ticket or two for $80.

Vanguard photo |Sean Dudley

Jessica Rockwell, director, PTW and theater senior, will hold auditions for her series, “Sheet Music: a ballad of promiscuity,” from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19 in C181. She is looking for three women and two men to star.

State Theatre to benefit homeless

CREATIVE NONFICTIONPOETRY

FLASH FICTION

SHORT FICTION

BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY/ARTWORKCOLOR PHOTOGRAPHY/ARTWORK

Submission Deadline For Cardinal Sins Is ApproachingDEADLINE: JANUARY 30 at 11:00p.m. $100 Prize for Winner in Each CategoryPoetry Slam (Open Mic. And Judged Portions)January 28th, 2012 7p.m.Magic Bean Cafe5789 State StreetSaginaw, Michigan

Visit svsu.edu/cardinalsins for more information and submission guidelinesSubmit your work to [email protected]

Courtesy |ruthlessflilms.com

The State Theatre, located at 913 Washington in Bay City, will host a series of films to benefit the Good Samaritan Rescue Mission.

The Valley Vanguard valleyvanguardonline.com125 Curtiss Hall [email protected] editor Justin Brouckaert office (989) 964-2629 e-mail [email protected]


sports

The Lady Cardinals kept it close against the No. 17 team in the country Saturday, but the Michigan Tech Huskies pulled away in the second half to win 59-42.

SVSU was within 10 points with less than two minutes remaining, but was not able to mount a comeback in what was a back-and-forth game until the final minutes.

“I thought we really competed pretty well,” said first-year head coach Jamie Pewinski. “(Michigan Tech) showed their experience. They know what it takes to finish a game like that.”

The loss was the Lady Cardinals’ fifth in a row; they now have lost nine of their last ten and sit at 3-12 overall, 1-7 in the GLIAC. With the win, the Huskies improve to 11-3 overall and 6-2 in the GLIAC.

The Lady Cardinals shot 33 percent from the field, 30 percent from behind the arc, committed nine turnovers and were out-rebounded 47-27.

Michigan Tech scored the first eight points of the game before junior guard Aysha Boston answered with two 3-pointers. SVSU brought the game within two points, 10-8, before battling with the Huskies for the remainder of the half.

The Lady Cardinals went into halftime trailing the Huskies 27-20.

After the break, SVSU made two jump shots before Michigan Tech senior guard Krista Kasuboski heated up from behind the arc.

Within a three minute span, Kasuboski made four 3-pointers to put the Huskies ahead 39-26.

“When you’re a good shooter and you’re put on a good team, it only takes one, and that’s the stretch that really got away from us,” Pewinski said.

As in previous matchups this season, the Lady Cardinals were not able to recover from this deficit. While SVSU did fight back to be within eight points of the Huskies, 41-33, the team fell short due to its inability to rebound the ball down the stretch.

This inability to rebound allowed the Huskies many second, third and fourth chances on the offensive end.

“As a team who’s playing defense, it kind of becomes demoralizing; it’s kind of a dagger,” Pewinski said. “I thought we fought through some of that; I thought we didn’t quit on those possessions, but it’s not a recipe for winning by any means, especially when you’re only shooting 32 percent.”

As the Lady Cardinals have consistently held their

opponents to under 59 points, defense isn’t necessarily the problem. Instead, it’s the teams struggle to put more than 48 points on the board.

“It’s hard to hold a team to under 48 (points); it’s just not going to happen,” Pewinski said. “We need to find a way to knock down open shots and make layups.”

One player who has been knocking down shots for the Lady Cardinals is freshman forward Samantha Zirzow. In this matchup, Zirzow led the Lady Cardinals with 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks.

“She’s from a great high school program, she’s won a lot of games and she doesn’t like losing,” Pewinski said of the freshman from Goodrich. “She doesn’t like the taste in her mouth of losing and she wants to get rid of it.”

In order for the Lady Cardinals to get rid of the taste of losing, they will have to put in the time to improve their offensive game.

“We’re not going to make any excuses, we’ve got to work harder, get in the gym and shoot when we’re tired.”

The Lady Cardinals will be back in action Thursday, Jan. 19, when they travel to Ohio to face Ashland University, the leader of the GLIAC South division. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.


Freshman forward Samantha Zirzow makes a shot in Saturday’s loss to Michigan Tech.

sportsbriefs

Lady Cardinals drop fifth straightBy Lisa Coffellvanguard staff writer

Men’s BasketBall

For the second time in the last three games, the Cardinals have knocked off a top GLIAC team.

SVSU beat the Michigan Tech Huskies by a score of 77-71 Saturday night for its third win in a row and the second in the last three that has come against the leader of the GLIAC North divison.

The victory comes on the heels of last week’s wins over Ferris State, then the GLIAC North leader, and Northern Michigan. SVSU now sits at 7-7 overall and 4-4 in the GLIAC; Michigan Tech falls to 8-7 overall and 6-2 in the GLIAC, losing the lead in the North division.

Offensively, SVSU used a balanced attack to beat Michigan Tech, the GLIAC leader in 3-point field goal percentage. Four Cardinals were in double figures in scoring, and the team shot 45 percent from the field.

“We’re not a one-man show,” said fifth-year head coach Frankie Smith. “That’s a balance we’re fortunate to have.”

Senior guard Greg Foster led the Cardinals in scoring with 17 points, adding eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. Chris Webb totaled 15 points, while senior forward Eli Redman and sophomore forward Mike Schaaf came off the bench to add 14 points and 10 points, respectively.

SVSU’s team effort was enough to overcome the performance of Michigan Tech’s junior forward Ali Haidar, who led all scorers with 36 points and seven rebounds.

“Haidar is so good,” Smith said. “I don’t know what you really can do with him but try to make him catch (the ball) out as far as he did, but even at that he still had some face-up jumpers.”

The 6-foot-7-inch post player scored nine of the Huskies’ first 12 points as Michigan Tech jumped out to a 16-8 lead midway through the

first half. The Cardinals fought back into the game, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Michigan Tech put SVSU behind 32-35 at halftime.

“We had decided when he got their first nine points that we didn’t really want to trap,” Smith said. “We thought it wouldn’t be good, and it wasn’t: They hit back-to-back 3-pointers.

“I jumped the guys at halftime and I wrote on the board, ‘Haidar is great,’ and then I put down, “They’re making shots and we’re not,’ and I just walked out.”

Rather than trap or double team Haidar, Smith decided to stick to man coverage, charging his big men with the task of stopping him.

“At halftime I just challenged Mike Schaaf and (junior forward) Jay Thames and said, ‘Look, he might kick your butts and my butt, but he’s going to have to beat us one-on-one.”

Haidar scored 23 points in the second half, but SVSU controlled the boards when he

did miss, allowing only four offensive rebounds to Michigan Tech in the game.

“If he gets 50 or 60, he gets 50 or 60; but what we don’t want to do is give up offensive rebounds when he does miss,” Smith said. “His 36 is nice, but they lost. (Schaaf and Thames) were my MVPs of the game just because of their defensive efforts.”

The Cardinals started the second half shooting the ball well and quickly regained the lead after back-to-back three pointers by Schaaf and junior guard Michael Fugate, who played 18 minutes in his return from a tailbone injury.

A pair of jumpers by Foster and Schaaf put the Cardinals up 48-41 with 11 minutes remaining, and the Cardinals didn’t relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game.

As a team, SVSU shot 52 percent from the field in the second half, knocking down seven 3-pointers down the stretch to finish the win.

After averaging only 52 points per game in their last

four losses, the Cardinals are scoring an average of 74 points in their three-game winning streak. SVSU has yet to win a game in which they score fewer than 67 points in a game this season.

The Cardinals have averaged 48 percent shooting from the field in the streak after shooting only 33 percent in their previous four losses.

SVSU will host a non-conference game against Central State on Tuesday and then begin an Ohio road trip by traveling to face Ashland on Thursday and Lake Erie on Saturday.

Neither Ashland nor Lake Erie has a winning record in the GLIAC, but Smith said that he doesn’t plan to overlook either team.

“People will probably be tricked and look at both of their records and think that we’ll win those games automatically, but that’s not a given,” Smith said. “(The GLIAC) is a ridiculously tough league, especially on the road.”

Offense delivers in win streakBy Justin Brouckaertvanguard sports editor

Vanguard Photo I Jess Ellison

Senior guard Greg Foster dribbles up the court in Saturday’s win over Michigan Tech. Foster played all 40 minutes of the game and led SVSU with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

WoMen’s BasketBall

Men’s Basketball•Tuesday vs. Central State,7 p.m., University Center•Thursday @ Ashland,7:30 p.m., Ashland, OH•Saturday @ Lake Erie,3 p.m., Lake Erie, OH

Women’s Basketball•Thursday @ Ashland,5:30 p.m., Ashland, OH•Saturday @ Lake Erie,

1 p.m., Lake Erie, OH

Track & Field•Friday @ SVSU Indoor Classic,TBA, University Center

Bowling•Saturday @ Blue & Gold

Open, TBA, South Bend, Ind.

Hockey•Friday vs. Adrian College,7 p.m., Saginaw Bay Ice Arena

Vanguard Photo I Jess Ellison

Junior guard Michael Fugate goes up for a layup against a Michigan Tech defender. Fugate returned from a tailbone injury to contribute six points in his first game back for SVSU.

The Valley Vanguard valleyvanguardonline.com125 Curtiss Hall [email protected]

sports editor Justin Brouckaert office (989) 964-2629 e-mail [email protected]


sports

The SVSU volleyball team is continuing its success even in the offseason, but this time, members are putting their energies into the community.

The Lady Cardinals held a free volleyball clinic Saturday as a part of the SVSU Department of Athletics’ community youth day program.

The clinic was in conjunction with the men’s and women’s basketball games and was open to all girls and boys in kindergarten through eighth grade in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

The clinic was free to all children, who received coaching from student-athletes and members of the SVSU coaching staff, as well as free admission into the basketball games.

The next youth clinic will be put on by the SVSU soccer team Saturday, Jan. 28, in conjunction with the basketball game against Ohio Dominican.

Student-athletes give back at community youth volleyball clinicBy Justin Brouckaertvanguard sports editor

track & Field

Three more SVSU athletes have potentially qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Minnesota this March.

Junior multi-event athlete Tyler Grob, senior half-miler Alycia Wright and sophomore high jumper Frank Sanders all qualified provisionally for Nationals this weekend. They join senior miler Ashley Meyer, who also qualified provisionally in the mile last month.

Track & field athletes must run a certain time or achieve a certain standard governed by the NCAA to qualify for the national meet at the end of the indoor season. There are two standards: A provisional qualifying time, which will qualify an athlete for the meet depending on how many reach the standard, and an automatic qualifier.

Wright qualified in the 800-meter run by winning the race at the SVSU “Doug Hansen Open” on Friday with a time of 2:15.89. She said that this fall’s successful cross-country season, in which the Lady Cardinals qualified for Nationals for the first time in school history, prepared her to do well in the indoor track season.

“I did expect to hit the time,” Wright said. “After the successful cross-country season I expected to be in much better shape then I was last year at this time; also, after the times from the last track season I have much more experience than I did last year.”

Sanders also hit his provisional mark at the home meet by clearing a height of 2.04 meters, also good enough for a first-place finish. Sanders finished third at the GLIAC Indoor Championships as a freshman last year.

Grob hit his provisional mark by scoring 4,724 points in the heptathlon at the Bob Eubanks Open, hosted by Grand Valley State. Grob finished second in the event. He achieved All-American status with a fifth-place finish in the heptathlon at last year’s NCAA Indoor National Championships.

Although Grob traveled to Allendale to achieve his qualifying time, Wright and Sanders did so at a smaller home meet, one of five that SVSU will host this indoor season. Wright said that despite the meets having less competition, they prepare

the team for the bigger meets they will compete in later in the season.

“These early smaller meets get the anxiety and nerves out of the way so that when the bigger meets arrive we can perform with confidence,” Wright said.

Grob, a two-time All-American, will need to score approximately 400 more points in order to hit the automatic qualifying standard of 5,153.

Wright, who finished ninth in the 800-meter run at outdoor nationals this season, will need to cut five seconds off her time to run under the automatic standard of 2:10.83.

Sanders will need to clear 2.14 meters to receive the automatic bid.

All three athletes will be in action again next Friday at the SVSU Indoor Classic.

Three athletes punch tickets to NCAAsBy Justin Brouckaertvanguard sports editor

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Vanguard Photos I Jess Ellison

Members of the SVSU volleyball team work with children in kindergarten though eighth grade from the Great Lakes Bay Region during Saturday’s free youth volleyball clinic.

Courtesy | A

thletic Media Relations

Vanguard file photos

Frank Sanders

Alycia Wright

Tyler Grob

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advertisingmanagerDaviD Solce office (989) 964-4248 e-mail [email protected] fax (989) 964-2030 [email protected]


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From The Student Life CenterFor information regarding Student Life’s Winter schedule of events please visit www.svsu.edu/studentlife. Here you will find detailed information regarding date, time, location, and a brief description for event. While navigating the Student Life pages please feel free to read about other events hosted by Leadership, Volunteer Services, Red Pride, Commuter Programs, Valley Nights, Alternative Breaks and or Program Board. It’s a GREAT day to be a CARDINAL !!

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Senior guard Greg Foster receives an award for his 4,000 career point.


Above: Sophomore guard Kayla Womack runs up the court. Below: Junior center Grace Herzog takes a shot.