NATHAN CLARK THE WASHTENAW VOICE Washtenaw Community College officially opened its Veterans Center, an office for student veterans to seek guidance or information on VA benefits, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Nov. 12. The opening of the office marks a huge step in WCC’s continuing effort to support veterans. Dignitaries cutting the ribbon, starting left: Trustee Stephen Gill, State Rep. David Rutledge, D-Ypsilanti, Board of Trustees Chair Pamela Horiszny, Jason Morgan representing U.S. Rep. Dingell, D-Dearborn, WCC President Rose Bellanca and Vice President of Student and Academic Services Linda Blakey. November 19, 2012 washtenaw community college, ann arbor, michigan washtenawvoice.com Former WCC student turns class assignment into children's book KELLY BRACHA THE WASHTENAW VOICE CHARLES MANLEY THE WASHTENAW VOICE What’s in a student profile? Author and former WCC student Jody Lamb holds a copy of her book, ‘Easter Ann Peters' Operation Cool.' Numbers tell the story as college analyzes itself–and starts to worry By Matt Durr in a classroom at Washtenaw Staff Writer Community College. By Kelly Bracha Courtney Sommerfeld, Enrollment “We need to figure out what the After graduating from Michigan Staff Writer Services coordinator, Pamela Mason, approval rating is for minorities Aspiring Whitmore Lake author State University with a degree in lead Enrollment Services tech and coming in to WCC’s different Jody Lamb had become so used to journalism, Lamb went into public What makes up the student body Lily Novel, secretary to the dean of departments,” McKnight-Morton rejection that when her dreams relations. But as her career grew and at Washtenaw Community College? Admissions and Student Life. said. “As for students, it’s a matter of finally came true, she thought it she was successful at her job, Lamb Each year, WCC officials aggregate “We have a format for doing letting them know the opportunity was still just a dream. said she still wasn’t happy with the and compile statistics and numbers the data poll and updating all the is there.” After submitting her novel to way her life was turning out. to answer that essential question. charts and graphs,” Blakey said. Minorities make up 30.5 percent of 30 different publishing companies, “I was so depressed, and I felt that Administrators hope to paint a “All information is pulled from the students at WCC this semester, with Lamb believed her story would I was alone in my struggles with not picture of how their students are student information system. It takes 18 percent of students registering never go to print. But when Royal feeling satisfied in my life,” Lamb progressing, what areas of study are only a couple of weeks to pull the fall as African Americans, a two percent Oak-based Scribe Publishing said. increasing or declining in enrollment semester data.” increase from five years ago, in the decided to go with Lamb’s story, Eventually she went back and and what ethnicities, educational After gathering the data, WCC fall semester of 2007. WCC’s student the ambitious author could not looked at the journals and stories backgrounds and demographics can take a closer look at enrollment body is also five percent Hispanic and believe it. she wrote as a kid before coming WCC draws enrollment from. rates compared to last year and even four percent Asian. “The email came in at 3:30 in the to a stark realization about herself. The Annual Student Profile five years prior to the current fall “This data gets the conversation morning and my dog happened to “I thought that I would be so and the Fall 2012 Student Profile semester. started,” Blakey said. “And there’s a wake me up at 6 a.m. and I read the disappointed in the grown-up were presented to WCC’s Board of In terms of diversity, WCC shows lot of work to be done.” email and I was disoriented and version of myself, the only thing I Trustees at the Oct. 23 meeting. a wide variety of ethnicities and age The Voice gathered a selection I couldn’t register what she was could think to do to make myself feel The data was collected by Linda groups attending the college, but of the statistics presented in saying,” Lamb said. “I went back better again was to write creatively,” Blakey, vice president of Student trustee Diana McKnight-Morton both profiles and created a visual to bed and woke up an hour later Lamb said. and Academic Services, Kathy wishes to expand diversity even presentation to give a brief summary and thought ‘that was such a nice With that in mind, Lamb Currie, director of Student Records, further. of who attends the college. dream, what a lovely dream.’” registered for a creative writing Eventually the fog wore off class at Washtenaw in the Winter and Lamb realized what she was semester of 2009. Growing up, being told. It was the culmination Lamb always enjoyed writing and 10-year mandate begins to curb smoking of three years’ work that started was looking to recapture the feeling BOOKSHELVES By Maria Rigou campus – and students like Stuart Washtenaw County ordinance CONTINUED A6 Contributor are still thumbing their noses, and stating that smoking should be flicking their butts, at it. done “a reasonable distance from any In a few months, Washtenaw Since February 2003, WCC entrances, windows and ventilation WCC trustees keep seats Community College will be has been following a no-smoking systems.” celebrating 10 years as a “smoke-free” policy that was backed by a In 2003, then-President Larry By Adrian Hedden the balloting. Whitworth said the college “will be Editor a smoke-free campus after you leave Other winners in the Nov. 6 the parking lot.” Washtenaw County residents general election: But things have changed. cast their ballots on Tuesday Two years later, the Board of to re-elect Diana McKnight- President and Vice President: Trustees decided that, to protect Morton and Richard Landau to Barrack Obama, Joe Biden the students’ health, the no-smoking two six-year terms on Washtenaw policy was to be extended to the Community College’s Board of US Senate: Debbie Stabenow parking area as well. Trustees. Officially, as of January 2006, The county held elections to fill U.S. House of Representatives students were not allowed to smoke two seats on the board and for the District 12: John Dingell near buildings or in their cars and continuation of Patrick McLean’s District 7: Tim Walberg were asked to leave campus to smoke. partial, two-year term. McLean At least that’s the college’s policy ran unopposed. Michigan State Representatives: on paper. The other two incumbents District 52: Gretchen Driskell were challenged by former WCC District 53: Jeff Irwin instructor William Hazen Figg, District 54: David Rutledge SMOKING who finished a distant third in MIKE ADSIT THE WASHTENAW VOICE District 55: Adam Zemke CONTINUED A6 A2 November 19, 2012 News The Washtenaw Voice White as Snow, Red as Blood: Snow Handel’s Messiah White story Sun, Dec 22 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 6 at 7:00pm Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor Quirk Auditorium, EMU Cost: $10 Only $8 for students! The Grammy Award-winning UMS Once upon a time, in a faraway land... Choral Union launches the holiday there was a beautiful princess with skin season with its signature work. Join as white as snow, hair black as night, us for this very special Messiah as lips red as blood, and a heart pure as we celebrate the centenary of Hill gold. Her name was Snow White. As Auditorium. good as Snow White was, her step mother Evilum was equally as bad. Envious and vengeful, Evilum plans to bring an end to Snow White. But we all U of M Credit Union Presents: know now this story must end: with a Budget! Are You Kidding? "happily ever after..." I TRANSFERRED Tues., Oct. 9 from 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. in the SC Community Finals Fuel – Up Room. Get tips on controlling your Tues., Dec. 11 & Wed., Dec. 12 SEAMLESSLY. spending while still enjoying life. 11:00am – 1:00pm Students can stop by SC Community Free! Light refreshments provided. st I AM TRUEMU. Room (1 floor of SC) and pick up a snack to energize themselves for BRANDON JOHNSON • COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRANSFER STUDENT their finals! Transfer Scholarships/Financial Aid Available • 200+ Academic Programs • wcc2emu.emich.edu Coming Soon: Disney’s Lion King EMU advisers are available Wednesday from 1-5 p.m. and Detroit Opera House Thursdays from 12-4 p.m. in WCC Counseling Center Stay tuned for more information! Had fun at event? #WCCSDAROCKS Hash Tag it! Purchase tickets at the Cashier’s Office, 2nd floor SCB, M-F, 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Women’s Club Basketball UPCOMING SPORTS Tryouts Tues., Oct. 30, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Men’s Club Basketball Tryouts & Sun, Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Tues. – Thur.: Oct. 23 - 25 WCC Health and Fitness Center 9:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Must bring WCC ID with you! WCC Health and Fitness Center Team will practice on Sundays (6:30- Must bring WCC ID card with you! 8:00 p.m.) and Tuesdays (9:30-11:00 Team will practice on Tuesdays and p.m.) with games on Thursdays (7:00 Wednesdays (9:30-11:00 p.m.) and play p.m. or later). Pre-register at SC 116. games on Mondays. Pre-register at SC 116. Intramural Pool Registration Intramural Arm Wrestling October 22-29 Registration: SC 116 Tournament dates: Nov.