Crush Luther Are you ready Orientation literally gives fans to be turkey dumped? feeds the needs what they want Page 5 of students. Page 7 Page 8 & 9 NIAGARATHE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF NIAGARA NEW COLLEGE S FREE September 28, 2007 Vol 38 • Issue 1 Gun scare prompts review By MATT DAY and RYAN KELPIN Staff Writers How safe is Niagara College? Two weeks after a gun scare forced the evacuation of Niag- ara Collegeʼs Welland cam- pus, the question still lingers. Daniel Mook was in court on Sept. 24 and has been released on bail. He will be facing mischief charges in a St. Catharines court on Oct. 19 and charges of car- rying a concealed weapon in a Welland courtroom on Oct. 24. On Sept. 14, the 18-year-old Police Foundations student entered the school around 4 p.m. with an unloaded pellet gun. After the school was locked down and then evacuated, Niagara Region- al Police (NRP) officers appre- hended Mook a little after 5 p.m. Days after the incident stu- dents began questioning whether the situation was handled as well as the college and the NRP said. Josh McCarthy, 21, was at the campus during the scare to pick up a friend after class. McCarthy, who is in the Landscape Horticul- ture Techniques program, said he Daniel Mook, 18, who was arrested on Sept. 14, was granted bail on Sept. 24. He will be facing weapons and mischief charges. had no idea what was happening. Photo by Matt Day “If he actually had a gun and the intention to hurt somebody, it would “Rapid response and teamwork by to help the college in the future. line was pumping, weʼll always been some positive advancement. have been very easy for him.” both the NRP and Niagara Col- “This provided an important have some level of confusion.” “We are currently reviewing Some students feel the whole legeʼs security officers and staff learning eperience, which pointed “Overall, the situation was well our procedures and are instituting situation has been blown out of resulted in a quick, safe ending to to complex challenges our fac- handled, but we know after hear- changes that will enhance our emer- proportion. a potentially dangerous situation.” ulty faces when there is the pos- ing from students and teachers gency response plan and ensure that Colin Lunitz, 19, a Construction Despite some of the studentsʼ sibility of a dangerous situation.” that there was some confusion as we do all that we humanly can to Engineering Technology - Architec- reactions, the administration is tak- Sean Kennedy, vice-presi- to what was actually happening.” ensure the health and safety of our ture student says it was “just a guy ing it as a learning experience. dent of Student Services and “We were very lucky it wasnʼt a staff and students,” said Patterson. with a gun, and nobody got shot.” Dan Patterson, president of Community Relations at Niaga- real gun.” —with files from Two days after the event the col- Niagara College, agrees the occur- ra College, says, “In any situa- Even though the event was a Michael Bright, Monica Keyes lege released a statement stating, rence should be used as a tool tion like that where the adrena- negative occurrence, there has Multi-million dollar anniversary plan By MONICA KEYES with plans for change. More pro- facilities in St. Catharines and wine an intake increase in the number Staff Writer grams and a multi-million dollar and viticulture studies received of students in Practical Nursing, First finding its home in Welland update of the Welland campus are provincial financial investment for as well as a multi-million dol- in 1967, Niagara College cele- just a few of the included plans. an expansion in regional tourism. lar expansion and revitalization th Why ✔ brates its 40 anniversary this year For a third-year running, Niagara This year, Niagara College Presi- project to the Welland campus are ranked No. 1 in student satisfaction dent Dan Patterson said, “My hope just a few of this yearʼs initiatives. in the Key Performance Indicator is that we continue to do the best job “Our most exciting proj- should (KPI) survey. Degrees and certifi- possible at helping students achieve ect this year is the develop- cates were presented to over 2,600 their goals and fulfill their dreams.” ment and implementation of the graduates, including the first grad- The U>Pass, a new Esthetician Welland campus Master Plan,” you vote? uates of the Applied Business in diploma program, the return of said Patterson earlier this month. Hospitality program. The Practical the three-year Photonics Engi- “The Master Plan refers to Pages 2, 3, 12, 13 Nursing program returned with new neering Technology program, Continued on page 2 Page 2, Niagara News, Sept. 28, 2007 Debate turnout refl ects voter apathy By SHANE BUCKINGHAM Grenier said the “climate change Staff Writer crisis” is the most important issue It was a clash of the 19-year vet- and that should be the focus over eran and three rookies as Welland whoʼs MPP. riding provincial candidates faced “If global climate change isnʼt off in a debate Monday in Port foremost on your mind, itʼs like Colborne. playing deck chairs on the Ti- The ideological differences tanic.” between the four parties quickly The debate, sponsored by the became evident to the 30 voters at Port Colborne-Wainfl eet Chamber Humberstone Hall. of Commerce, produced an unex- Both Liberal John Mastroianni pected gesture when Grenier com- and Progressive Conservative Ron mended Kormos on his work as a Bodner stressed the importance of MPP, saying Kormos is “what an the Welland riding being represent- MPP should be.” ed by a member of the government Bodner remarked that before he if the riding is to benefi t. was going to “polish up Peterʼs Veteran New Democrat Peter halo,” he wanted to stress the im- Kormos argued the candidates portance of the role of an MPP in were showing “hubris” by deciding job creation. the election before it was over. “We need to kick-start our local Green Party candidate Mark economy together.” Mastroianni brought up the need for jobs in the riding as well, but Inside … again told the audience about the importance of having an MPP whoʼs part of the government. Editorial .................. 4 “We need to ensure the new Welland riding has an MPP sit- Liberal candidate John Mastroianni and NDP incumbent Peter Kormos share a lighter moment during the Noise ....................... 7 ting at the table, not on the outside all-candidates debate Sept. 24. hopelessly looking in.” Photos by Ryan Kelpin Orientation ......... 8, 9 Kormos responded by saying, and Conservatives have done, is “Iʼve been in government 19 years. not the way to do it. Sports .................... 11 People know me.” When asked about the referen- He reassured the audience of his dum, Mastroianni expressed his Candidates ...... 12, 13 record on fi ghting for working fam- opposition to it and also expressed ilies. He told the audience working a need to reduce government. Kor- New York .............. 16 families need more affordable mos and Bodner disagreed. conditions in Ontario, adding that “Peter and I almost fell off our cutting services, like the Liberals chairs when John said heʼs in favour of less government,” said Bodner. Kormos, whoʼs for electoral re- RON BODNER MARK GRENIER form, said Mastroianniʼs response was a “very Liberal answer.” electoral reform, is “much better” Liberals traditionally are in than what exists now and will take Grenier said, “An MPP is not just favour of bigger government and time to work out. a local responsibility, but should more public services while re- Both Mastroianni and Bodner look out for the provincial interest. maining centre left on the political shared the importance of extending Any thinking that does not include Caitlin Smith the whole province is not worth Student Leader spectrum. Highway 406, with Mastroianni Grenier warned not to “throw the calling the need for the extension your vote.” St. Catharines, ON baby out with the bathwater on this “imperative.” Kormos fi nished off strongly in watershed issue.” “I am prepared to be a broken re- his closing remarks. He said the Mixed Member cord who sings the ʻBuild the 406ʼ “I fi ght like the devil, and Iʼm Proportional system, the proposed song every day,” said Bodner. prepared to keep doing it.” SAC pledges $10 million to project Continued from page 1 more of a campus feel instead of fi nished by fall 2010. buildings plunked down in a barren An estimated $25 to $30 million bring this coupon to your the process of looking at physical landscape.” will be spent, with funding sources local bootlegger to plant and property and trying to By giving the campus a “quad- including college capital accounts, capitalise on it, to create the best rangle” feel, the buildings will corporate sponsors, private indi- learning space possible.” defi ne an outside space, creating viduals and the Student Adminis- Consulting fi rm Marshall, quads of buildings surrounded by trative Council (SAC). Macklin and Monaghan Ltd. was courtyards, walkways and land- SAC has committed $10 million save * hired by the college to look at the scaping. over the next 15 years. campus “fl ow” and provide an as- For Phase II, Gittings wants to “This project is a great partner- sessment of how campus life can create a new hub that will central- ship between Niagara College and be improved. ize the main building. Comparing SAC,” said Hudson. The recommendations include it to a mall, Gittings said he wants “SAC has been involved in all %off any one item replacing the facilities in the Mack- to create an alternative learning discussions to date.” enzie and Black Walnut buildings, space.