VOLUME 25, ISSUE 4 WWW.BROWARD.EDU/OBSERVER OCT. 4, 2010 Center spread Features Back page Entertainment 50th Anniversary Brain Bowl tryouts Ben Carson Meet the actors Broward College makes it to Are you smarter than a World-class neurosurgeon comes Exclusive interviews with the cast 50 and has much in store college student? to South Campus of ‘It’s Kind of a Funny Story’ PAGE 10-11 PAGE 9 PAGE 20 PAGE 16-17 Drenched and dreary classes in session Tropical Storm Nicole hits Broward COntinued On Page 5 Puddles overflow in the parking lot of South Campus (bottom). Broward College student finds difficulty walking to his car in the South Campus parking lot following his classes that were still in session (right). PHOTOS BY CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT Chancellor Dr. Willis N. Holcombe Retires Former BC President Announces Retirement from Florida College System BY CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT of the support and work done by the BC District Board of CONTRIBUTING WRITER Trustees and the BC Foundation. The BC Foundation serves the college by supporting A name more likely to be heard in Tallahassee nowadays, students, staff and programs like the Endowed Teaching Chancellor Dr. Willis N. Holcombe’s home is Broward Chairs. The funds that were raised for the foundation while College (BC). Before he became Chancellor of the Florida Holcombe was president went from zero in 1974 to 50 College System, Holcombe was President of BC from Jan. million when he left in 2007. 1987 to Feb. 2004 and briefly from Oct. 2006 to May He had a clear agenda when he became Chancellor of the 2007. He has announced his retirement to happen sometime Florida College System in Oct. 2007 to continue the growth in 2011, when the Education Commissioner names a of baccalaureate degrees at the 28 community colleges in the replacement. state. In the past when colleges wanted to propose a new Holcombe has spent his career advocating quality baccalaureate degree, they didn’t have clear guidelines to do education for students. “His career began as a teacher and so. He wanted to create sound policies and help legislature faculty member,” said BC President J. David Armstrong adopt good statutes to govern baccalaureate degrees. Jr. “He had a strong interest making sure the college had In 2010, the State Board of Education adopted these new PHOTO COURTESY OF BROWARD COLLEGE rigorous and high quality academic programs.” sets of policies and state board rules regarding the proposal Chancellor Dr. Willis Holcombe, former president of BC Growth and expansion became a priority during his and approval of baccalaureate degrees. As of Sept. 21, 2010, from Jan. 1987 to Feb. 2004 and briefly from Oct. 2006 to tenure as President of BC. As Broward County’s population 19 colleges offer 121 four-year degrees. These degrees are May 2007 increased by one million, Dr. Holcombe wanted the college mostly offered in nursing, education and applied sciences to able to meet the needs of a rapidly growing community. programs, penetrating the local market and economy. the students and felt it was really important to serve as many “BC went from small to sophisticated, serving not just At BC, the bachelor degree in teacher education started students as we could.” Broward but South Florida and international students as a year and a half ago and has already grown to about 400 Holcombe has made an impression on the students, well,” he said. enrolled students. “That is really going to make a huge faculty and college as a whole. Armstrong stated, “He “He worked very hard to make sure that he and the impact helping our local school district fill tremendous need is genuinely a good and caring person and wants to see college were well connected to our community for example in the area for high school and middle school, math and students, in particular, have the best of what education can working in partnership with hospitals,” said Armstrong. “We science teachers and also special education teachers,” said provide for them and their future.” work very closely with hospitals in our community to make Armstrong. Holcombe has been pioneering for students, teachers and sure we have strong nursing programs.” An issue that emerged while he was Chancellor was the the community for many years and what he has accomplished Holcombe is particularly proud of the BC Endowed economic crisis and how colleges would be able to deal during this time will leave an immense impact for years to Teaching Chairs program. This program rewards outstanding with the new students enrolling at the community college come. His plans after retiring are to spend time with his six professors with a monetary stipend. BC was the first to level. Holcombe said, “We worked hard with colleges in grand kids and he may still do some teaching at the graduate complete it in the country and has been successful because legislation to have support and make sure doors are open for level. OCT. 4, 2010 CAMPUS NEWS PAGE 3 Hands-on Students gain up close look at politics and government BY CLAYTON GUTZMORE BC president’s cabinet, attending SOUTH BUREAU CHIEF committee meetings at the college and traveling to Tallahassee to Politics is often the one subject shadow a state representative. The that everyone knows too little Competitive Edge program has about. With the Obama craze the same qualities as the legislative over and the lack of knowledge internship and can put students on people have of our current running the right path to their future goals. legislators and what they stand for, Former BC student, Fedilia Broward College (BC) has devised Guzman, was one of the few a way to enlighten students about selected for the Competitive Edge the political system by giving them program and feels that working the chance to have a legislative among legislators in any setting internship in the field. can lead to success. “We were The legislative internshipable to shadow these admirable programs offer the opportunity for people and have the experience to students interested in government actually be in the work field, an to get a taste of what work is like experience that you simply can’t get under the legislative branch. This in a classroom. This will either help program was created in the fall of you confirm your career choice or 2001 by former BC President Dr. break it and lead you on to another PHOTO COURTESY OF NORMA GRACIA Willis N. Holcombe and Barbara path,” she said. BC Students Wadley Honorat, Meika Billings, Norma Gracia, Fedilia Guzman and Kevaughn Mitchell meet Pippin, Assistant to the President Guzman’s work alongside Florida House of Representative member, Perry E. Thurston, Jr. at the Capitol building in Tallahassee through Competitive Edge. and Director of Governmental Pippin in the program led to her Relations. decision to practice law and policy “We wanted this to be a making. Requirements meaningful experience for “It’s never too early to get the students and for them to involved in politics,” said Pippin. of the Legislative understand the inner workings of Being cofounder of the legislative Internship the district and legislative office,” internship, Pippin is currently in said Pippin. charge of the program. She believes • GPA of 2.5 At the beginning of every that work ethic, attendance • Letter of semester, students can take a shot and reliability are key factors at being one of the few to intern in to being successful in the field. recommendation the program. Students must submit “Government is a necessary aspect • Must maintain GPA their applications to the Student of our life,” said Pippin. throughout the Life center of their campus. Pippin inspires students who program The requirements include a work closely in her programs • Work at least 12 minimum grade point average whether it is Competitive Edge or (GPA) of a 2.5 and a letter of the legislative internships to feel hours a week in a recommendation. Spots for the the same. legislative office internship “It is so • Write a brief can range important summary of their from semester ‘Make a difference and for students experience to semester. have the desire to make to learn The number about politics For more information accepted the world a better place because we PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIKA COLLANTE because you’re in it’ contact Barbara Pippin at Jessica Neilsen Babapour, student who shadowed Barbara Pippin to learn depends on need to make about the legislative process, debates in the Florida Senate Chamber. how many informed [email protected]. legislators are Barbara Pippin and smart looking for an decisions intern. about exactly The internship may sound who we give the power to speak and challenging, but responsibilities act on behalf of us,” said Guzman. vary and every student receives a Pippin’s passion for government different experience. The students’ started at a young age and it has tasks will all depend on which driven her to the position she holds office they intern in and who their today at BC. She tries to become legislator is. Once accepted, the involved in all things political. requirements of the student are to “Everything we do, the age maintain their GPA, work at least we drive, how long we stay in the 12 hours a week in a legislative classroom or any other aspect of life office and write a brief summary of is effected by a legislative decision, their experience. and we should be concerned about The students are not the only the caliber of people who we put ones who learn from the program. in office to make those decisions,” “An additional benefit of students said Pippin.