The Year's Top Stories
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December 19, 2011 Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Michigan washtenawvoice.com CAUGHT in the MIDDLE A look backward at the past year, and forward to what’s coming up during the holiday break and Winter semester. In the wake of Virginia Tech college shootings, students weigh in about guns on campus A4 A forest of cheer in the home of a WCC alum A7 JENNIFER GENTNER COURTESY PHOTO HITTING THE SLOPES Downhill fun is not as far away as you might think B2 MCT COURTESY PHOTO MCT COURTESY PHOTO Matt Durr CRIME, CHANGE, CONTROVERSY: THE YEAR’S TOP STORIES Editor In a year that featured secret (and cole jordan turns himself into larry whitworth retires – rose bellanca era begins – criminal) lives, prominent retire- authorities – WCC knew him as After 13 years as president of WCC, On June 14, Dr. Rose Bellanca was ments and the beginning of a new era Cole Jordan, guidance counselor. Larry Whitworth retired from his po- named the fourth president and the at Washtenaw Community College, California authorities knew him as sition in August. Whitworth was the first woman to hold the position at Ronald Stanley Bridgeforth, a wanted third president in school history and WCC. Bellanca came to the college there was rarely a dull moment criminal. In November, Jordan quit was responsible for many changes at from Northwood University’s Florida around campus in 2011. his job at WCC and turned himself the college, including upgrading facili- campus and previously served as pres- And with the new year approach- in to California police in connection ties, building new buildings and help- ident of St. Clair County Community ing, The Voice takes a look back at with assaulting an officer with a dead- ing enrollment reach record highs. College. some of the top news stories of 2011. ly weapon in 1968. Jordan led a secret life for more than 40 years. board members scrutinized for parking structure construc- tuition increase – As state fund- enrollment dips – After years 11 missing time – When students miss tion begins – After years of debate ing decreased and the tax base shrank, of record highs, enrollment at WCC 22 percent worth of classes, they typi- and cutting through the red tape, con- so did WCC’s budget. In turn, trust- dropped for the Fall 2011 semester. cally fail. For members of the WCC struction on the controversial parking ees voted in March to raise tuition by Many factors contributed to the de- Board of Trustees, nothing happens. A structure began and appears to be on 6.25 percent across the board. The cline including the end of “No worker review of attendance figures for mem- schedule. Last January, several facul- raise was met with very little backlash left behind” and other incentives for bers of the board revealed that three ty, staff and students unsuccessfully from students. people looking for work. A decline in members had missed 22 percent of pleaded with trustees one last time in the number of high school graduates meetings or more in a five-year span. hopes of stopping construction. The in the area was also a factor. structure is set to open Jan. 9. IN student center renaming – athletic fields open, close – The board of trustee changes – presidential search – With the Uncovered documents showed that athletic fields adjacent to the Health When former BOT member David impending retirement of Whitworth in 1968 the board of trustees may have and Fitness Center finally opened for Rutledge resigned from his position on the horizon, a Presidential Search intended to name the Student Center use after numerous delays. The $2.2 in January to take his seat in the state Committee was tasked with helping to after slain Civil Rights leader Martin million fields officially opened for use House of Representatives, the board find his replacement. When the first Luther King Jr. The current board was on Sept. 28 — and were closed for the needed to find a replacement. In three finalists were selected, trust- hesitant to act on the findings. But af- season on Sept. 29 because of damage stepped Patrick McLean, the direc- ees did not find any of them suitable ter viewing the documents, students done to the field by rain and overuse. tor of finances for the City of Toledo. for the job and another three final- created a petition and administrators The fields starting seeing some use in ists were selected. Among them, Rose have worked with students on a po- April, but the official opening did not Bellanca. ’ 11 tential solution. occur until September. A2 December 19, 2011 News The Washtenaw Voice Anger management: students hope it doesn’t get any worse Adrian Hedden get upset.” Features Editor Considering the intangible POINT OF VIEW motives behind what students Deep within the campus and faculty viewed as a rash of It depends on of Washtenaw Community verbal altercations on campus, how far it goes. Security can’t stop College, serenity is fragile. Roberts warns that the school’s arguments, no Tyree Walker of Ypsilanti security officers may be unable matter how bad. knows that at times, frustra- to address conflicts that remain Lashawnna tion runs high around campus. verbal, a form that she views as Roberts 24, Ypsilanti, The 21-year-old business man- being just as damaging to the Liberal Arts agement major from Ypsilanti peace as any physical threat. dreads that anxiety’s emic “It depends on how far it roots may only get worse as goes,” Roberts said. “Security eye to eye. the school year proceeds. can’t stop arguments, no mat- John Rinke, director of “It’s all emotion, pure emo- ter how bad.” support services doesn’t tol- tion and stress,” Walker said. Jacques Desrosiers, di- erate aggression in the Career “We can assume it gets worse rector of Campus Safety and Planning and Counseling de- towards the end. Security, maintains that stu- partment either. Often called As the Fall semester wound dent confrontations are with- upon to deal with angry stu- down, student altercations ap- in his sights. While asserting dents, Rinke is aware of the peared to rise, for reasons only that altercations rarely inten- magnitude of reasons a stu- those involved might know. sify to physical confrontation, dent may have for becoming in- But to liberal arts student, Desrosiers sees them as part flamed. He still does not put up Lashawnna Roberts, age 24, of his reality on campus. It is a with it. Rinke primarily blames a large variety of contrasting reality he rarely sees becom- stress. perspectives appears to be the ing an issue for his department. “Everyone responds to leading cause of disagreements. “They happen,” Desrosiers stress differently,” Rinke said. “From time to time, you get said. “It’s the way of life, but “Almost anything can lead to it, conflict around here,” Roberts they seem to happen mostly anything from soup to nuts. It said. It’s caused by the mix of in the parking lot over spaces. depends on who you’re talking personalities; people have a lot They rarely escalate into any- to and their learned behaviors.” of differences.” thing else.” Enacting a zero-tolerance A resident of Ypsilanti, Having to break up argu- policy for unruly behavior in Roberts worries that academ- ments, preventing them from his department, Rinke is more ic stress may create more con- getting worse, Desrosiers is not than willing to deny assistance frontations in an already testy apprehensive of any particular to disrespectful students. and variant student body. moment in the semester, citing “I don’t put up with it,” Rinke “Stress is a big part of it, the sheer size of WCC’s student said. “Students sometimes especially towards the end,” body. come up to the counter and are Roberts said. “A lot of the stu- “There isn’t really a trend very angry. We don’t help them dents here are adults, and they to point to,” Desrosiers said. when they’re overly assertive. I have a lot going on in their “With 12,000 people on cam- tell them ‘I can’t help you’ until lives that could lead them to pus, everyone will never see they calm down.” CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION washtenawvoice.com Winter Welcome Day Phillip Glass & Robert Wilson's Wednesday, January 18, 2012 Einstein on the Beach 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 20, 2012 Student Center Cafeteria 7:00 p.m. Learn about clubs, grab food and Power Center freebies, and meet new friends! Price: Only $20.00! FREE! If you are a department, club, or Much Ado About Nothing agency interested in reserving a Thursday, January 26, 2012 Recruiting table at Welcome Day, visit: 8:00 p.m. http://goo.gl/lnHRD Arthur Miller Theatre, Ann Arbor, MI $5 for students We need YOU! $7 for faculty/staff Join the WCC Service Corps And give back to your community. Healthy http://tinyurl.com/wccgives Club News: Tickets are on sale at the Remember to register your club for Cashier’s Office, 2nd floor of the the Winter 2012 semester. Student Center Building, Participants Registration reserves meeting rooms 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and allows access to club funding! http://tinyurl.com/w12club UPCOMING SPORTS Coed Running Club Intramural Bowling Tuesdays and Thursdays Registration: January 16 – 20, 2012 Starting January 17, 2012 Games: Every Friday, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. February 3 – 24, 2012 We are looking for healthy North Athletic Fields Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Bring your WCC Student ID card and Division: Co-Ed warm running clothes.