Official Student Media of Valencia Community College NEWS > 2 OPINION > 5 FEATURES > 7 SPORTS > 10 APRIL 14, 2010 1

September 22, 2010 VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 2 VALENCIAVOICE.COM

Official Student Media of Valencia Community College Military men accused of murder

By Craig Whitlock charging documents, rogue mem- they were under attack, tossing a gations against American soldiers The Washington Post bers of a platoon from the 5th Stryk- grenade on the ground. Then oth- since the U.S. invasion in 2001. er Combat Brigade, 2nd Infantry ers opened fire. Members of the platoon have been JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Division, hatched the idea. Then, According to charging docu- charged with dismembering and Wash. - The U.S. soldiers floated a one day last winter, a solitary Af- ments, the unprovoked, fatal at- photographing corpses, as well as plan as simple as it was savage: to ghan man approached them in the tack on Jan. 15 was the start of hoarding a skull and other human randomly target and kill an Afghan village of La Mohammed Kalay. a months-long shooting spree bones. civilian, and to get away with it. The “kill team” activated the plan. against Afghan civilians that re- Don Purlinson / Valencia Community College For weeks, according to Army One soldier created a ruse that sulted in some of the grisliest alle- Continued on page 4 Patricia Smith performing her brand of poetry. Poet recites at VCC

By Shannon Scheidell [email protected]

”Poetry has the power to move us from a place inside our heads, to a safer place,” Patricia Smith said Thursday, Sept. 16 while performing in the Student Lounge of the Winter Park Campus. Smith is the author of Blood Dazzler, her fifth book and most recently published book of poetry. Last week, she stood in front of a group of more than 80 students, all eyes glued on her, as she read a few of her pieces. Some of them were straight from her book, others were recited from beneath closed eyelids.

Army photos, c/o The Washington Post Continued on page 8 Corp. Jeremy Morlock, left, of Wasilla allegedly took part in three murders of Afghan civilians perpetrated by five members of the Army’s 5th Stryker Combat Brigade. September 22, 2010 Official Student Media of Valencia Community College NEWS > 2 OPINION > 5 FEATURES > 7 SPORTS > 10 2 Economy comes around Research committee declares normalcy

By Kevin G. Hall The fact that the bureau needed almost 15 McClatchy Newspapers months since the recession’s official end to de- clare that it was over speaks to the economic With little fanfare, the National Bureau of Eco- challenge the United States faces. The bureau’s nomic Research declared Monday that the so- Business Cycle Dating Committee waited to called Great Recession is over, determining that make a final decision until key government data the U.S. economy hit bottom in June 2009 and be- revisions had occurred to gauge what had been gan a long, sluggish rebound. the gross domestic product _ the broadest mea- “In determining that a trough occurred in June sure of the production of goods and services _ 2009, the committee did not conclude that eco- and gross domestic income. nomic conditions since that month have been The committee noted that while growth and in- favorable or that the economy has returned to come were up from last year’s lows they were well operating at normal capacity,” the bureau said below the peaks of 2007. in a statement Monday. “Rather, the committee Recessions often are described as two con- determined only that the recession ended and a secutive quarters of economic contraction, but recovery began in that month.” they’re more a period of falling economic activ- Get down to The bureau officially dates recessions, and con- ity across the economy and lasting more than cluded that this one was the longest on record, a few months. The bureau’s researchers evalu- save for the Great Depression. The so-called Great ate data on income, employment and industrial business with Recession lasted 18 months, two months longer production, as well as sales. than the recessions of 1973-75 and 1981-82. In what could provide some cover to the For many Americans, it still feels like reces- Obama administration, struggling with the Columbia College. sion. The unemployment rate has been stuck perception that it hasn’t done enough to boost around 9.6 percent for months, almost 15 mil- employment, the committee members noted lion Americans are without work and dozens that the bottom in hiring usually comes many “Columbia College’s price was right, schedule more are working two jobs or are in jobs that months after a bottom in contraction. was perfect and location was convenient. pay less than their previous ones. After the 2001-03 recession, employment bot- Columbia College had everything I was “I think this (statement) will forever cement tomed 21 months later, and employment hit its looking for and more.” economists as being out of touch. This is cold com- low six months after the end of the latest reces- Marie Linda Celestin ‘06 fort for someone who is still unemployed, and it’s sion, the bureau said. Bachelor’s degree in business administration more a matter of getting the accounting right for The bureau, headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., economic history,” said economist Douglas Holtz- also said that economic activity could remain be- Eakin, a former director of the Congressional Bud- low normal for some time after a recession. On campus. Online. Or both. get Office and the president of the American Ac- tion Forum, a center-right policy research group. — MCT Campus Toll free: (877) 999-9876 • www.ccis.edu/realpeople 2600 Technology Dr. • Orlando, FL NEWS September 22, 2010 3 VCC recruits voters

By Sabrina Alvarez elections in November. [email protected] If you didn’t register to vote during the voter’s driveon Thursday, don’t worry, public libraries all Many students today do not realize the im- around Orlando, have voter registration applications portance of registering to vote. Jeanette Cruz, a available to the public. All you have to do is print, sign worker from the Orange County supervisor of and send the applications through the mail. elections, promoted a voters’ registration effort “It only takes two minutes to register, it is as easy as at Valencia Community College’s West Campus, buying lunch at McDonalds,” said Cruz. directed toward students. Wislande Petit, a student, said she thinks she can “We should allow ourselves to be heard,” said make a difference by just registering. “It’s impor- Cruz. “Why not take the opportunity to vote, since tant to know what candidates are going to represent it is our right?” you,” Petit said when The Voice interviewed her. The booth was located in front of the Student Hurry up and register to vote. The deadline is Services Building, hosted by Cruz who encour- October 4, and voters can also register online at: aged students to register to vote for the state www.ocfelections.com.

Russell Griner, Valencia Voice Wislande Petit registers to vote at one of the many stands that were set up around Valencia, enticing students to register. Official Student Media of Valencia Community College NEWS > 2 OPINION > 5 FEATURES > 7 SPORTS > 10 September 22, 2010 4 U.S. soldiers can’t cover up hunting civilians for sport in Afghanistan

Continued from page 1 nade exploded, prompting other soldiers to open fire on the villager as well, killing him. The subsequent investigation has raised accusa- In statements to investigators, the soldiers in- tions about whether the military ignored warnings volved have given conflicting details. In one state- that the out-of-control soldiers were committing ment that his attorney has subsequently tried to atrocities. The father of one soldier said he repeat- suppress, Morlock said that Gibbs had given him edly tried to alert the Army after his son told him the grenade and that others were also aware of the about the first killing, only to be rebuffed. ruse beforehand. But Holmes and his attorney said Two more slayings would follow. Military docu- he was in the dark and opened fire only because ments allege that five members of the unit staged Morlock ordered him to do so. a total of three murders in Kandahar province be- “He was unwittingly used as the cover story,” tween January and May. Seven other soldiers have said Daniel Conway, a civilian defense attorney for been charged with crimes related to the case, in- Holmes. “He was in the wrong place at the wrong cluding hashish use, attempts to impede the inves- time.” tigation and a retaliatory gang assault on a private Morlock, Holmes and Gibbs have each been who blew the whistle. charged with murder in the shooting. Attorneys The accused soldiers, through attorneys and fam- for Morlock and Gibbs did not return phone calls ily members, deny wrongdoing. But the case has seeking comment. already been marked by a cycle of accusations and On Feb. 14, Christopher Winfield, a former Ma- counter-accusations among the defendants as they rine from Cape Coral, Fla., logged onto his Face- seek to pin the blame on each other, according to book account to chat with his son, Adam, a 3rd documents and interviews. Platoon soldier who was up late in Afghanistan. The Army has scheduled pre-trial hearings in the Spec. Adam Winfield confided that he’d had a run- case this fall at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, home Family photo, c/o Washington Post in with Gibbs, his squad leader. He also typed a U.S. soldier Adam Winfield, center, with parents Emma and Christopher Winfield. of the Stryker brigade. (The unit was renamed the mysterious note saying that some people get away 2nd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, when with murder. it returned from Afghanistan in July.) Military of- Calvin Gibbs, 25, of Billings, Mont. security for a meeting between Army officers and When his father pressed him to explain, Adam ficials say privately that they worry the hearings Gibbs, whom some defendants have described tribal elders in the village of La Mohammed Kalay. replied, “did you not understand what i just told will draw further attention to the case, with photos as the ringleader, confided to his new mates that According to charging documents, an Afghan you.” He then referred to the slaying of the Afghan and other evidence prompting anger among the it had been easy for him to get away with “stuff” named Gul Mudin began walking toward the sol- villager the month before, adding that other pla- Afghan civilians whose support is critical to the when he served in Iraq in 2004, according to the diers. As he approached, Cpl. Jeremy Morlock, toon members had threatened him because he did fight against the Taliban. statements. It was his second tour in Afghanistan, 22, of Wasilla, Alaska, threw the grenade on the not approve. In addition, he said, they were brag- According to statements given to investigators, having served there from January 2006 until May ground, records show, to create the illusion that the ging about how they wanted to find another victim. members of the unit - 3rd Platoon, Bravo Com- 2007. soldiers were under attack. “I was just shocked,” Christopher Winfield pany, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment - began The first opportunity presented itself Jan. 15 in Pfc. Andrew Holmes, a 19-year-old from Boise, said in a phone interview. “He was scared for talking about forming a “kill team” in December, the Maiwand district of Kandahar province. Mem- Idaho, saw the grenade and fired his weapon at shortly after receiving a new member, Staff Sgt. bers of the 3rd Platoon were providing perimeter Mudin, according to charging documents. The gre- Continued on next page Official Student Media of Valencia Community College NEWS > 2 OPINION > 5 FEATURES > 7 SPORTS > 11 September 22, 2010 5 Three soldiers charged with murder Volunteers raise ‘healthy’ money for charity his life at that point.” Morlock and Spec. Michael Wagnon of Las Vegas By Victor Ocasio Justiss Wilder, organizer and grill the Susan G. Komen Foundation The father told his son that he would contact the with murder. [email protected] master of the cookout, detailed the and the Seabird Sanctuary. Army to intervene and investigate. It was a Sun- An attorney for Wagnon, who was on his second work that this West Campus based “We were able to raise a lot of day, but he didn’t wait. He called the Army inspec- tour in Afghanistan and also served in Iraq, did Members of the community ser- community organization does. money for the sanctuary, which tor general’s 24-hour hotline and left a voice mail. not return a call seeking comment. vice group, Valencia Volunteers “Valencia Volunteers are inde- goes to clean up efforts in the Gulf He called the office of Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., More mayhem followed in March, when Gibbs, have begun their annual Healthy pendently run from campus to to help birds affected by the oil and left another message. He called a sergeant at Wagnon and three other soldiers - Staff Sgt. Robert Grill Outs, which started Tuesday. campus, but at our location here on spill,” said Wilder. “Breast cancer Lewis-McChord who told him to call the Army’s Stevens, Sgt. Darren Jones and Pfc. Ashton Moore The volunteers are accepting do- West Campus, the group currently awareness and fundraising is also criminal investigations division. He left another - opened fire on three Afghan men, according to nations in exchange for grilled tur- has over 500 members logged in one of our biggest projects that we message there. charging documents. The documents do not pro- key dogs, chips and drinks. our database,” said Wilder. do every year, and always raise a Finally, he said, he called the Fort Lewis com- vide basic details, such as a precise date for the All of the donations received Being a member of the volunteer lot of funds for.” mand center and spoke for 12 minutes to a ser- shooting, the identities of the victims or whether from the grill outs, dated Septem- group offers students many op- During October, the group will geant on duty. He said the sergeant agreed that it they were wounded. ber 14, 16, 28 and 30 will be given portunities to accumulate commu- be sponsering a number of events, sounded as if Adam was in potential danger but Winfield’s attorney, Eric Montalvo, said his to both the American Heart Asso- nity service hours, while helping including Pinktober Day on Sept. that, unless he was willing to report it to his su- client was ordered to shoot but fired high and ciation and the Pakistan Flood Re- various charitable organizations 28 and the “Making Strides Walk,” periors in Afghanistan, there was little the Army missed. He and Winfield’s parents say they can’t lief Fund. around the world. This includes this Wednesday. could do. understand why the Army has charged their son, “He just kind of blew it off,” Christopher Win- given that his father tried to warn officials about field said. “I was sitting there with my jaw on the the platoon. ground.” After word leaked that one soldier had spoken Winfield said he doesn’t recall the name of the to military police, several platoon members retali- sergeant he spoke with. Billing records that he ated, records show. They confronted the informant kept confirm that he called Army officials; he also and beat him severely - punching, kicking and kept copies of transcripts of Facebook chats with choking the soldier, then dragging him across the this son. He said he specifically told the sergeant ground. As a last warning, the documents state, of his son’s warning that more murders were in Gibbs menacingly waved finger bones he had col- the works. lected from Afghan corpses. Army investigators have since taken a sworn However, the informant talked to the MPs again statement from Christopher Winfield, as well as and told them what he had heard about the slay- copies of his phone and Internet records. ings, according to court documents. Eight days after Winfield tried to warn the Army, Some members of his unit, he said in a state- according to charging documents, members of the ment, “when they are out at a village, wander off 3rd Platoon murdered someone else. and kill someone and every time they say the same On Feb. 22, Marach Agha, an Afghan civilian, thing, about a guy throwing a grenade, but there was killed by rifle fire near Forward Operating is never proof.” Base Ramrod in Kandahar province, where the 3rd This time, the Army acted quickly and made ar-

Platoon was stationed. The Army has released few rests. Shannon Scheidell, Valencia Voice details about the slaying but has charged Gibbs, — WP Bloomberg Valencia Volunteers hand out snacks and sodas at the healthy grill-out in the west campus courtyard. Official Student Media of Valencia Community College NEWS > 2 OPINION > 5 FEATURES > 7 SPORTS > 10 September 22, 2010 6

OUR VOICE Official Student Media of Valencia Community College Video games are a part of your world Newsroom | 407-582-5040 Advisor | 407-582-1170 Do you have a cell phone? How about What’s misunderstood is that the major- For comments or general inquiries a Facebook page? How about, what you ity of games created are aimed at an adult, email us at: think of when you hear the name, Mario? or teen audience. Believe it or not, all of these things are Many people simply don’t understand [email protected] synonymous with gaming. games, don’t like games, and will never Video games have quickly grown to a play games. Those people are still direct level of immersion in our society unlike influences on the industry. Editor in Chief | Nikki Namdar any other entertainment medium. In fact, Even without children, or friends to [email protected] it is the largest entertainment industry in purchase games for, non-gamers are the world, both costing the most to pro- constantly being surveyed, marketed to- Managing Editor | Collin Dever duce, making the most profit, and em- wards, and brought into the gaming in- [email protected] ploying more workers than the music and dustry. movie industries. Everyday, more and more people are News | Kenny Wagner Everyone plays video games, whether it playing games and becoming gamers [email protected] be ‘Bejeweled’ on your cell phone, ‘Farm- themselves. ville’ on Facebook, or playing Wii Sports c/o MCT Campus So with such a huge monetary invest- Opinion | Jon Terbeche on an actual video game console. Even ment and such a large number of consum- [email protected] your mother has probably played games. The fans will always be there to sup- aware of how important gaming would ers following them, why are video games Last week marked the release of one of port their favorite hobby, eagerly await- be to their market, Apple has innovated so popular? What makes them so special? Features | Jenn Stripling the industry’s most anticipated and high- ing announcement of the next big thing. on the distribution and form of what we What makes them so appealing? est praised games, ‘Halo: Reach.’ What’s more interesting are those people think of as conventional games. Webster defines a game as an activity [email protected] The original ‘Halo: Combat Evolved’ who delve only slightly into the world of Titles like ‘Peggle,’ ‘Scrabble,’ ‘Sudoku,’ engaged in for diversion or amusement. changed the landscape of gaming forever. gaming. ‘Tetris,’ and ‘Plants vs. Zombies’ are all In other words, the entire point of games Sports | Russell Griner It was the first first-person shooter (FPS) Do they return, or become gamers prime examples of these new types of is to simply have fun and get your mind [email protected] on a console to ever reach mass appeal, themselves? games; cheap and easy to purchase with off things. Everyone can relate to that as- forever expanding the populrity of con- This group of people who don’t even quick, bite-sized experiences. pect and would surely have a vested in- Sales | Alex Barrett sole gaming. realize they play games are known as ca- Just because games are readily avail- terest in achieving such ends. [email protected] Because of it, the FPS genre has flour- sual gamers. The phenomenon of casual able in almost every piece of technology Some of the greatest aspects of games ished and grown, making games like ‘Call gamers has only recently come to the fore- that we use on an everyday basis, doesn’t are those that relate to the human expe- Photo Editor | Collin Dever of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’ able to be the front of the industry’s attention. mean that people are necessarily playing rience. A desire to socialize, meet new [email protected] most popular entertainment launch ever, This is due to the runaway success of any though. people, play with friends, compete to see selling enough copies to earn well over $1 the Nintendo Wii and its family-friendly, In many respects, gaming is still a very who’s best, test one’s skills, and again, billion within a few months of its launch. easy games, as well as things like ‘Farm- niche, underground medium. have fun The release of ‘Halo: Reach,’ which is ville’ and ‘Mafia Wars.’ Gaming is also often under criticism For those who play games, they know For advertising information contact the final Halo game by development stu- Another key influence to the immersion for being harmful, or a waste of time for what’s so special. For those who don’t, it’s Alex Barrett at dio Bungie, marks a full-circle of gaming of games in everyday life is the iPhone children. Many games, however, enforce only a matter of time until they do. [email protected] culture and growth. and other Apple products. Perhaps un- thought, creativity, and problem-solving. So, play any good games lately? NEWS > 2 OPINION > 5 FEATURES > 7 SPORTS > 10 September 22, 2010 Official Student Media of Valencia Community College 7 Official Student Media of Valencia Community College POLL What are your opinions of video games

By James Austin [email protected] and the video game industry as a whole? This weekend I threw the Super Bowl win- ning touchdown. This weekend I saved a prin- cess from a dragon. This weekend I outran a hoard of zombies and stopped an evil master- mind from destroying the world and I did all of this without leaving the comfort and safety of my couch. This weekend, I played video games. Video games are interactive escapes that let players experience things they could never do in reality. They provide us with new worlds to explore and challenges to overcome, and they allow us to be who we never thought we could be. It gets more advanced every They are overrated. They cost I don’t play, but my husband does. I don’t have time to play. I think They also help in more practical ways too, year. They have more features and too much and too much time is You can relax when you’re stressed and kids spend too much time on them. able to increase creative thinking, reflexes, and get more popular. It keeps kids out put into them. get your mind off of things. Children problem solving skills. of trouble. can have fun playing them. — Kevin Walsh According to a study conducted by the Uni- — Anthony Whitlow — Joseph Flowers — Yeliantte Melendez versity of Rochester, gamers will consistently reach accurate decisions faster than non-gam- ers. The researchers theorize that this is because the repetition and structure of certain games ac- tually works to ‘train’ the brain to make snappy decisions. In other words when a gamer and a non-gamer are both presented with a zombie shambling towards them, the gamer thinks ‘shoot’ faster then the non-gamer. With the success of titles like ‘Modern Warfare 2,’ it’s plain to see that video games are quickly overtaking the status of movies and television as a means of escape from the real world. Weiss Taylor Photos by Paige Branson; Reporting Video games are rapidly becoming more successful and more profitable. Which is a I play them. I just don’t have I don’t play. It’s a waste of time and I have a nine year old, so, I don’t It’s knowledge, but its a waste good thing, because how else would Mario time to play that often. I have money. After you play it a few times, like them. People should only play of time. Kids shouldn’t play all save the princess? nothing against them, just not the disk always gets scratched. an hour a day. My son wants to play the time. enough time to play. all day, which gets him in trouble. — Reshma Tiwari — Roosevelt Desravines — Carla Motta —Phuc Huynh FEATURES September 22, 2010 Official Student Media of Valencia Community College 8 Official Student Media of Valencia Community College ROLLINS WAS NOT Dirty Heads re-issues ONLY AN OPTION, ‘Any Port in a Storm’ IT WAS THE BEST Reggae band heads to the top of charts CHOICE.

Not just because By Haley Howell of anthem worthy songs for in a Storm (Special Edition),” [email protected] any fun-loving beach kid. the band partnered with Rollins offers The Dirty Heads’ biggest Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails, an affordable The Dirty Heads’ album, radio hit, “Lay Me Down,” Korn), percussionist Alex Acu- education, but “Any Port in a Storm,” pro- slowly, but surely, rose to the na, Slash, M. Shadows, reg- Discover what a Rollins education can do duced by Steve Fox and Stan top of the charts and inspired gae radio host Native Wayne, because the challenge for you at one of our B.A. information sessions: Frazier, was re-released this many to buy the 23-track spe- the legendary Tippa Ire of the year and has extended be- cial edition album. dancehall genre, and most no- is immediate, the Wednesday, September 22, 6:00 p.m. yond a single genre to unite tably, Rome Ramierz of Sub- inspiration to do well Bieberbach/Reed Conference Room, Cornell Campus Center and excite alternative rock, lime with Rome. is plentiful, and the Tuesday, November 9, 6:00 p.m. hip-hop and rap fans. Ramirez collaborated with Galloway Room, Mills Memorial Hall Their influences range from The Dirty Heads in writing tools to succeed are a Sublime feel, throughout, to and performing their big- Thursday, December 2, 6:00 p.m. always available. Galloway Room, Mills Memorial Hall the mellow melody of 311. The gest hit yet, “Lay Me Down,” guitar riffs that could lead into a backwards romance told JON ARGUELLO ’11 Learn about financial aid, scholarships, any Jimi Hendrix cover and through an upbeat ballad. transferring credits and more. even mid-song Beastie Boys The only uniting feature of style raps populate this album. the tracks is that they seem to Rollins Evening Programs at the Hamilton Holt School The band, hailing from Or- c/o www.myspace.com/DirtyHeads follow the timeline of an all- ange County, Calif., consists of nighter, starting with night- Bachelor’s Degrees: • Humanities five members, including two It can be listened to from time party songs, moving to • Computer Science • International Affairs vocalists, Jared Watson and start to finish with no lapse in “Insomnia” in the near mid- • Economics • Music Dustin Bushnell, Jon Olazabal fun, happy infusions of hip- dle, followed by a fast paced • English • Organizational Behavior (percussionist), Matt Ochoa hop, acoustic rock and beach wake up track, “Easy.” • Environmental and Growth • Organizational Communication (drummer), and David Foral. inspired reggae. Then the album begins Management Studies Watson and Bushnell grew “Lay Me Down” is currently rounding out, with songs like, • Psychology up as friends in sunny Califor- ranked No. 4 on Billboard’s “I Got No Time,” and, “Chel- RSVP: rollins.edu/holt or 407-646-2232 nia, living the SoCal life of par- Rock songs, and peaked at No. sea,” that reflect the sort of tying, surfing and laid-back 1 on both charts. slow, drawn out, fogginess beach days; this album is full In the making of “Any Port that follows in the day after a

Celebrating 50 years of educating working adults! Official Student Media of Valencia Community College NEWS > 2 OPINION > 5 FEATURES > 7 SPORTS > 10 September 22, 2010 9 Official Student Media of Valencia Community College Katrina victims Poet gets personal Continued from page 1

Freshman Jillian Harris, said “If I closed my honored in poem eyes, I could’ve seen the faces of the people she was reading about. It’s like she was channeling another person through her voice.” Patricia Smith’s ‘34’ moves students During Smith’s performance of the poem, “34,” her voice fluctuated while she re-enacted By Veronica Figueroa by seeing how people respond to 34 personalities that she remembers from her [email protected] them,” she said. time in Louisiana, after hurricane Katrina hit. The audience grasped onto her She said she felt compelled to connect with Valencia Community College’s every word. these individuals, who were struggling so vis- ibly, without food to fill their children’s bellies eighth Vision and Voices event At the end of each reading, and no beds to rest their heads in. took place on the Winter Park there was silence while the stu- ”She’s really ballsy and cool,” Harris said. “She Campus, with a packed house. dents digested the words and shows no fear.” The program launched in 2002 for those few seconds, the only Student Dylan Morley asked Smith about as a way for students to enjoy the sound was the whirring of the Don Purlinson Valencia Community College how she goes about the writing process. She “I love watching bad movies,” admitted Vision and Voices poet Patricia Smith. works of songwriters, poets and soda machines. shared some insight into her life, as a teen, as artists from around the world. Smith exuded charismatic en- well as what it takes to inspire her now. This year’s poetry reading was ergy, which helped the students Movies on television, such as Clash of the Ti- performed by award winning connect with her. “I love watching bad movies,” ally captured everyone and ex- tans, have provided beginning ideas for some author and poet, Patricia Smith. She closed her eyes and it was she admitted, and went on to tell pressed the emotional toll caused of her poems. She wrote a poem about how Smith has won numerous as if she had sub merged herself that her poem, “Medusa,” was by Hurricane Katrina, which is Medusa came to be the way she is, as a direct awards for her writing and has into the pages she had written, inspired by the movie, “Clash of entitled, “34,” and it is found in result, of watching late-night TV. performed in such places as, The taking the audience with her. the Titans.” her fifth book, “Blood Dazzler,” “I record snippets of the conversations of Poets Stage in Stockholm, Sweden Smith is clearly a veteran poet, “Medusa was turned into stone released in 2008. people I encounter and I keep a small recorder and the Aran Islands International but surprisingly down to earth. by Athena,” she said, “because The poem is centered around under my pillow, just in case,” Smith said. Poetry and Prose Festival. She jumped right into her poem, she was with the wrong man.” the 34 senior citizens that were In between poems, she’d ask how the audi- Smith has toured in Germany, “Building Nicole’s Mama,” This received a few giggles out left behind during the hurricane ence was doing and would shift her weight from Austria and Holland and has which is dedicated to the sixth of the females in the crowd. and died in a senior home. one foot to the next, in visible anticipation. also appeared as a guest poet grade class of Lillie C. Evans In the poem, Medusa is con- She captured the different “I judge my poems by the way the audience for the series, “Def Poetry Jam,” School in Miami. veying that she couldn’t help persona of each character and reacts and by the looks on their faces,” she said. which aired on the Home Box She explained that she has defiling Athena’s temple by brought them to life in front of There was a question and answer part to the event, as well as time for book signing, last Office (HBO). been starting every poetry read- sleeping with Poseidon: “It’s not everyone. Thursday. She currently teaches literature and Before reading each poem, ing with that poem for ten years every day a gal gets to sample “I want people to pick this poetry at City University of New York. Smith shared anecdotes of her life now because it reminds her of a god, you know that. Why are up in a few years and remem- with the audience, which lead her the power that words have to you being so rough on me?” ber that Katrina happened,” she to write them. “I judge my poems move people from place to place. Her final poem, however, re- said. September 22, 2010 Official Student Media of Valencia Community College NEWS > 2 OPINION > 5 FEATURES > 7 SPORTS > 10 10 Official Student Media of Valencia Community College ‘Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep’ Weezer weezes out new album

By Paige Preston delivers new material to audience [email protected]

Weezer’s recent album is a glimmer of By Jon Terbeche events of the first ‘King- This comes as no coin- with new characters, new hope that things will turn out for the best, de- jterbeche@valenciavoice. dom Hearts.’ You play as cidence, as Square Enix voice actors join the fray, spite accepting the horrible reality that it will com one of three newly intro- did an excellent job over- and they did not disap- be an inevitable disaster. duced characters, Terra, hauling the controls to the point. The voice work is Fortunately, Weezer’s newest album, “Hur- It’s been a while since Aqua and Ventus, a trio PSP. The shoulder buttons the best in the series, with ley,” released on Sept. 14 by Epitaph Records, the last major installment closely resembling that of control the camera and legends like Mark Hamill has proven that there’s a good reason to keep in the Kingdom Hearts Riku, Kairi and Sora. lock-on feature, while and Leonard Nimoy per- the hope alive. franchise was released. While the formula may the d-pad cycles through forming impeccably. The band has yet to go back to its musical

Since the release of ‘King- not have changed, the commands. This makes The biggest feature in roots, planted in fan favorites such as “Pinker- c/o Spin.com dom Hearts 2,’ a PS2 re- execution and gameplay the flow of battle seem- the game is the inclusion ton” and the “Blue Album,” but “Hurley” rep- make of the handheld, certainly have, for the bet- less.The soundtrack is also of multi-player modes. resents a small promise that Weezer’s future satisfying, sound. The harmonious chorus, ‘Chain of Memories,’ and ter. Battles are quick and top-notch. All of the music For the first time in the releases may reflect the band’s original sound. “Hang on till I see you again/ I'm going to be a DS title, ‘358/2 Days’ are fierce, perhaps the best in and sounds fit the mood series, fans can fight head- Upon first glance at the album’s cover art, more than a friend/You know that this isn't the only things to show. the entire franchise. of the story perfectly. Also, to-head with their friends. i t might be easy for longtime fans to quickly the end so hang on,” is one that could prompt It’s already been five Not only that, but other want to reject the album as another nonsensi- many sing-a-longs from fans. years since the new gener- fun mini-games are in- cal, hyperactive, overtly pop production from Due to the lineup of tracks, it seems as if ation consoles have been cluded, like the board front man, Rivers Cuomo. The cover depicts a Cuomo is playing a joke on listeners by fol- out, and a new, full-scale game mode, making this large portrait of actor Jorge Garcia, famous for lowing up “Where’s My Sex,” undoubtedly ‘Kingdom Hearts’ game installment a pretty large his character Hurley on the popular TV show one of Weezer’s worst songs in recent years, has been largely sought package of game-play “Lost.” Cuomo did offer some explanation with two of the best. after. modes. on the decision."We just wanted to use that “Hurley” will surpass the expectations of Instead fans are present- For fans of the series, picture of Jorge Garcia's face on the cover. It's many who have come to expect the worst of ed with another side story ‘Kingdom Hearts: Birth such an amazing album cover, and we didn't Weezer, as a result of less than satisfactory title on the PSP, ‘Kingdom by Sleep’ tells an interest- want to have any other words on it, so we just releases such as “Make Believe” and “Radi- Hearts: Birth by Sleep.’ ing back story, with new figured everyone was going to call it Hurley, tude.” Even though ‘Birth by characters, new modes, so that's what we call it,” said Cuomo. There are tracks present on the album that Sleep’ is a portable title, and new fun to be had. In every release since “Pinkerton,” Cuomo may raise new hope for Weezer’s future, what it is not a mere bite-sized The fact that all of this is has tried to hide away the raw emotion that has come to an unlikely return to the sound adventure, but instead done on the PSP is quite leaked into lyrics and reverberated through that made them the powerhouse they are to- one of the most polished, the achievement, but begs speakers of listeners, during the band’s virgin day. entertaining, and varied the question, “What could years.Every now and then, a gem of a song However, this does not entitle “Hurley” to games in the saga. the developers do on one will crawl through the confusion, leading fans overall stellar reviews. All in all, the effort is a “Birth by Sleep” takes of the more powerful con- to nod their heads instead of scratching them. fun step in the right direction for Weezer. place ten years before the c/o Square-Enix soles?” “Hang On” follows up with a simple, but SPORTS September 22, 2010 Official Student Media of Valencia Community College 11 Bye, bye, baseball UCF ADMISSION DECISIONS MADE ON THE SPOT Washington Nationals reliever returns to school Valencia East It’s fast. It’s simple. Decision Days are open to high school Valencia West FRI SEP graduates working toward an associate degree with 45 WED SEP By Adam Kilgore or more earned credit hours. If you’re accepted to UCF, The Washington Post 24 you’ll know right then and there—no waiting, no worries. 29 The Washington Nations’ season will end 10am—2pm 10am—2pm on the first Sunday on October, and Drew Sto- Building 5, Room 511/112 Building 11, Room 106 ren’s college life will restart. As his teammates scatter for the offseason, Storen will hitch a ride straight from Citi Field to JFK Airport in Valencia East Valencia West time to board Virgin America Flight 29 at 7 p.m., one way to San Francisco. TUE OCT FRI OCT Storen will drive from the San Francisco air- port to his apartment on the campus of Stan- 12 8 ford University - his roommate has already Richard A. Lipski, The Washington Post / MCT Campus 10am—2pm 10am—2pm picked up his key for him. By Monday morn- After the season, Washington Nationals reliever Drew Building 5, Room 511/112 Building 11, Room 106 ing, less than 24 hours after the final out of the Storen will resume his work toward a degree at Stan- season - which he may very well record him- ford University, balancing education with baseball. self - Storen will settle into his seat for Physics Valencia Osceola Valencia West 41. be great. I really enjoy the Bay Area. I really Storen is returning to college to pursue an enjoy being in school. A lot of my best friends TUE OCT P l e a s e b r i n g : WED OCT achievement uncommon among major league from college are there. Why not go back and baseball players: a degree from a four-year chip away at my education? Completed application, transcripts and a $30 application fee university. “Playing baseball is like playing with house 19 20 (check or money order only) He left school after his sophomore season to money, almost. If it works out and I don’t 10am—2pm 10am—2pm enter last year’s draft and still has six quarters have to work a day in my life, that’s great. If Building 1, Atrium 407.582.5500 Building 11, Room 106 separating him from his diploma in product not, then I fall back on a Stanford education.” regionalcampuses.ucf.edu design. Storen will tackle one of them while Storen has felt sure, since he started receiv- cherishing the college experience not as a stu- ing significant recruiting attention in high dent-athlete, but just a student. school and chose Stanford, that he would “I’ve grown up a lot in the past year,” Storen eventually graduate. Everyone in his family said Tuesday, sitting in the Turner Field dug- owns a diploma; his sister is at Johns Hopkins out in Atlanta. “I feel like I’m going back to medical school. Storen’s life, his family jokes, high school or something - kind of go back to has become centered on “The Plan.” that different attitude. It’ll be fun. It’s going to -MCT Campus 1007RGC607-9/10 Official Student Media of Valencia Community College NEWS > 2 OPINION > 5 FEATURES > 7 SPORTS > 11 September 22, 2010 12 Ex-NFL tight end now sees bright future in UFL

By Neil Tredray “It’s the opportunity to continue ship,” Wiggins said. “To me, in order Contributing writer doing what it is that I do, and that’s to be successful you have to win a playing professional football,” Wig- championship.” Jermaine Wiggins entered profes- gins said. “It’s a way to keep my ca- Wiggins is enthusiastic about the sional football when the New York reer going and have the opportunity opportunity the UFL has given him Jets took a chance on him as an un- to make a living. The NFL only has and other players. drafted free agent 11 years ago and so many jobs and the UFL is giving “The one thing I really want to get signed him to their practice squad. guys the opportunity to continue out there is that the UFL is a great It was the beginning of a long NFL their careers, whether on the field, as opportunity for guys to create a ca- career for Wiggins, during which a coach or working in the front of- reer,” he said. “Look at the UFL and he caught a Vinny Testaverde pass fice.” say ‘Hey, I’m fortunate enough to be for a touchdown as part of the Jets’ After signing with the Tuskers, in the UFL. Let me try to build a ca- Monday Night Football comeback Wiggins had only an abbreviated reer here.’ If you’re blessed enough dubbed the “Miracle at the Meadow- time in training camp to get famil- to get that opportunity [to play in lands,” won a Super Bowl ring with iar with the offense. Luckily, he had the NFL], that’s great but the main the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI, some help from a former teammate. focus is building that career with the and played against the Patriots with “When I was in Minnesota I UFL.” the Panthers two years later in Super worked with [quarterback] Brooks Tuskers Head Coach Jay Gruden Bowl XXXVIII. [Bollinger],” Wiggins said. “I had a understands what it means to the Wiggins left Carolina and spent good relationship with him there. veterans in the UFL. “I think one, three years with the Vikings before He’s smart, he’s a competitor, and he they love to play the game and two, signing with the Jaguars in March of knows the game of football. He was they feel like they have a lot more 2007. He suffered a concussion dur- able to come in and make the transi- football left in them despite people ing a preseason game in August that tion very smooth. He didn’t miss a telling them they don’t,” Gruden same year and was released. In short, beat, he just got into it.” said. “Jermaine proved he has a lot by almost any definition, Wiggins That chemistry and experience more football left in him. has had a successful and impressive helped lead the Tuskers to an unde- For his part, Wiggins sees the op- NFL career. feated regular season and a chance portunity long-term. “I’m trying to That success leads one to ask an ob- for Wiggins to play in a third cham- build a fan base where fans will look vious question. Why would a play- pionship game. An overtime loss to at like ‘Hey we’re going to get to er who achieved the highest honor the Las Vegas Locos was not what know these guys who will play for of his sport sign with an unproven Wiggins and the team had envi- our teams for four, five, six years,’” league, which Wiggins did after be- sioned, though. Wiggins said. “I’m a sports fan my- ing drafted by the Florida Tuskers in “We played well last year but we self. I’m a die-hard Red Sox and Celt- Jim Prisching, Chicago Tribune Jermaine Wiggins enjoyed a successful eight-year career in the NFL, and signed with the Florida the UFL’s Premiere Season Draft in obviously didn’t attain our goal, ics fan and it’s good to see some con- Tuskers UFL team last season after taking two years off from football. 2009? which was winning a champion- sistency with your players.” Official Student Media of Valencia Community College NEWS > 2 OPINION > 5 FEATURES > 7 SPORTS > 10 September 22, 2010 13

Week 3 The real McCoy (Picks are winners, they do Alex Barrett Kenny Wagner Russell Griner not take odds into account.) Last Week: 12-3 9-6 10-5 By Alex Barrett ture back, after Westbrook was relased from Phila- [email protected] delphia, in an offense that has been led to this point TEN @ NYG by ex-convict Michael Vick. LeSean McCoy hasn’t taken long to show the McCoy tallied 120 yards and three touchdowns CIN @ CAR world why the Eagles drafted him two years ago in on 16 carries on Sunday; averaging 7.5 yards a carry his sophomore year. McCoy played sporadically last while catching four passes as well. PIT @ TB season, only starting four games for the injured in- Next up for McCoy, the ever-struggling Jackson- cumbent, Brian Westbrook, he racked up 637 yards ville Jaguars, who have proved so far to be the team BUF @ NE in split time, and caught 40 passes as well. everyone thought they would be; a scrimmage game McCoy has surged in his opportunities as the fea- on everyone’s schedule. CLE @ BAL

SF @ KC

DAL @ HOU

DET @ MIN

ATL @ NO

WAS @ STL

PHI @ JAC

IND @ DEN

OAK @ ARZ

SD @ SEA

Yong Kim / Philadelphia Daily News, MCT Campus MONDAY NIGHT GB @ CHI