INDEX Campus News ........................................... 3–6 Collegewide .............................................. 7–8 Entertainment ............................ 10–11, 23–24 Science and Technology .............................. 12 Sports .................................................... 14–16 Features ..................................... 18–20, 22, 28 Opinion ................................................. 25–27 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 14 Www.BROWARD.EDU/OBSERVER APRIL 30, 2007 FEATURES SPORTS SCI-TECH FEATURES Famous BCC Pro and BCC sports New Earth-like Miami Fashion Alumni previews planet found Week PAGE 20 PAGES 14–15 PAGE 12 PAGE 18 SPARED FROM TRAGEDY? ALL CAMPUSES WERE CLOSED WITH THREAT OF ATTACK WORSE THAN “VIRGINIA TECH” PHOTO BY JOHNNY LOUIS/JLNPHOTOGRAPHY.COM Pembroke Pines Police were on the scene to monitor the shut down on Friday morning. BY BUZZ LAMb heard in the background. Ten- Hollywood. The ominous warn- was found referenced Virginia Relations Department, Dr. Lois STAFF WRITER sion was in the air. ing made reference to BCC Tech and exclaimed “if you Bolton, Provost of Central The scramble to close all and the horrific event that oc- thought that was bad, wait ‘til Campus, received a call at 8 It was an eerie sight: South a.m. from the Hollywood Police Campus devoid of any activity. Department. “She was told Entrances and exits were by the police that they had re- closed off with hastily posi- ceived a threat, a general non- tioned barricades. Yellow crime “if you thought that was bad, wait ‘til you see BCC.” specific threat, about BCC,” she scene tape flapped with a stac- said. “She went about her part of cato in the mid-morning breeze, HANDWRITTEN THREAT, REGARDING VIRGINia TEch the communications plan which snaking from one barricade to involved telling the President.” another. Security guards warily of the BCC campuses started curred at Virginia Tech 11 days you see BCC.” Coincidently, when the inci- eyed drivers as they attempted Friday, Apr. 27 at approximately prior. Holcombe was not about All week long students have dent began to unfold, President to enter the campus, only to 10:30 a.m. when BCC President to take any chances. been pouring over notes and Holcombe was in Tallahassee be flagged away as the officers Willis Holcombe issued orders textbooks preparing for their so Thuma was not sure if shouted “the campus is closed!” to evacuate all campuses because What Caused the Commotion? final tests; little did the cam- Bolton contacted Holcombe The red and blue strobe lights on of a handwritten threat, scrawled In an interview on radio sta- pus security officers know they directly or whether she called Pembroke Pines police cruisers on a two foot square pasteboard, tion WIOD, Lt. Bill Bamford of would be tested as well! flashed rapidly and the squawk which was discovered around the Davie Police Department According to Cindy Thuma, ▪ BCC RESPONDS of the police radios could be 6 a.m. at a construction site in said the handwritten threat that who works in the BCC Public CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 APRIL 30, 2007 CENTRAL THE OBSERVER 3 The ballad and M.C. battle of the world’s best poets BY DANIELLA DORCELUS CENTRAL BUREAU CHIEF Poets Kirk Nugent and Bridget Gray astounded the audience through their candid spoken word in an “open mic” event hosted by Asia. The program was sponsored by BCC Central Campus’ Student Life. Nugent moved the audience with his story of pain and per- severance that later brought him success in his career through his poem entitled “Battle Scars.” The lyrics depicted the plight that Nugent endured while try- ing to make it in life. Nugent also depicted his battle with depres- sion through an autobiographical poem. The orator described how he was physically abused and robbed of his self-worth. This led him to commit several attempts at suicide; he had tried to over- dose on sickle-cell medication. PHOTO COURTESY OF THECOLLEGEAGENCY.COM PHOTO COURTESY OF KIRKNUGENT.COM The birth of his baby boy took a Bridget Gray imbues a powerful urban woman in a struggle to find her Kirk Nugent is a cultural icon for many in the black, spoken word world. complete one hundred degree spi- place and respect in a male dominated world. His life journey and his chronicle of it have put him on top. ral in his life. The poet described how it “brought tears” to his eyes. Bridget Gray also captivated spectators through her bold com- positions. Gray astonished the crowd through her mocking portrayal of rappers such as Jay-Z and Dr. Dre in “My Letter to Hip-Hop.” The poem was influenced by her experience as a video girl after witnessing first-hand how cer- tain rappers degrade and sexually exploit women up close and per- sonal. “I’m writing to inform you I’m going to have to end our relation- ship. I know in the beginning I was down to work my hips, but I was tricked. Seduced by your beat. You had me for three min- utes and forty-six seconds I was suspended in time, but when I snapped out of it I had to ask ‘Did I hear what I thought I did in that last rhyme?....I’m trippin’ cause nobody is acting like anything is wrong. After all the anthem for the new millennium was ‘big pimpin’ … She just gave a piece of her self-esteem away, and it aired nine times on MTV today, and all that for little to no pay, but ‘He’s a hustler baby and he told you so, and when he’s through you’re a video ho.” Gray’s other Poem, entitled “I am a Woman” celebrates her feminist side as well as some as- pects of her which may not be so feminine. “i am a woman and i can be compassionate, gentle, loving and sweet … but I can go from zero to b****, in less than 10 seconds. spin your head around so fast you’ll be stunned … see i embrace my all of my masculine and feminine traits. and I accept the fact that there are those that will hate on me because i don’t act like their version of a lady. but i don’t care. yes, i will bring home the bacon, but i’ll have a man fry it up in a pan, because i don’t let gender roles define who i am. i am confident and competitive. i have big feet and walk like i have ba***, but make no mistakes, when i step up to the stage what you hear is my ovaries clang!” 4 THE OBSERVER SOUTH APRIL 30, 2007 BCC mourns Dr. Sloan to step down By Heather DulmAn SOUTH BUREAU CHIEF the massacre at Faculty, staff and clubs came from all different campuses for one reason: to say their good- Virginia Tech byes to Dr. Debbie Sloan, Dean of Student Affairs on South Campus. After 5 years of being dean she is stepping down to work as a counselor. “I’m going back to my roots as a counselor, my true pas- sion…I plan to work another 10 years,” said Sloan. People took time out of their busy schedules to come by South Campus to talk about Sloan. PHOTO BY JOHNNY LOUIS/JLNPHOTOGRAPHY.COM “I would only be here for Dr. Debbie Sloan is a treasured fixture on South Campus. Debbie,” said Hillary Fox from Downtown, in the Financial She will step down June 30, friend to me. She will still be Aide office. Dean Hank Martel, but if they can’t find a replace- right down the hall; we won’t President Willis Holcombe, was ment she said she will stay until lose touch.” there just to name a few, the a replacement is found. Sloan “I will miss being able to im- President was being comical will be replacing Susan Malter, pact large numbers of students, about retiring, saying “it is fun; a faculty /counselor. Malter is miss working as a member of you can always come back.” retiring July1. the campus leadership team, Sloan leaves with mixed “I’m not ready to retire yet. I the collegewide and senior stu- feelings but will enjoy a change really enjoy working as a Dean dent affairs team and supervis- of pace to interact with more and as a member of the cam- ing the student affairs staff on students on a one-on-one basis. pus leadership team. I decided South Campus. I am thankful to Sloan worked about 30 years it was time when Susan Malter Dr. Mont Smith, the previous full-time at BCC on different decided to retire. I felt I needed provost of South Campus, for campuses including North and a change. It is a stressful job. hiring me,” said Sloan. Downtown. Before that, she I think it’s time for someone Sloan also said she is look- worked four years part-time in else to get the opportunity. I’m ing forward to more personal Student Affairs. She was also thankful for the opportunity time with her new husband. She interim dean on North for a year BCC gave me and the chance is getting married in May. and was coordinator of counsel- to lead student affairs on South Effective July 1, Sloan will ing/advising both Downtown Campus.” change her last name back PHOTO BY JOHNNY LOUIS/JLNPHOTOGRAPHY.COM and South. Sloan’s assistant Joyce to Martin, but she said she’ll A student holds a lone candle in reverance to those killed and “I have seen changes not Ruzyla will greatly miss work- make sure everyone knows how wounded in the shooting at Virginia Tech. in students but the technology ing with Sloan.