University Discusses Winter Cost Solutions

By Noah Essenmacher

While some colleges in Michigan have lengthened their winter break period to mitigate energy costs, SVSU says it’s looking at other options to soften the financial blow of high cost months.

“We do know roughly what it saves per day if we were shut down. It depends on what month you’re in,” Hocquard said. “It is surprising. [January] is like $20,000 per day. In December it is more like $15,000 per day. It sounds like a lot of money but when you look at tens of millions of dollars for a budget and business needs of the University, people expect people to be here when they call for admissions or whatever. So we haven’t really extended it as other schools have. [The potential for savings] is the same as a lot of other places. We have just have not made that decision yet. We’ve looked at it, but there are a lot of other factors involved besides just that money.”

Hocquard said that specific future projects offer better alternatives than scheduling adjustments. These projects include a sub metering system for individual buildings and a possible aqua thermal heating and cooling system for the Health and Human Services Building.

“One of the projects we are talking about to save energy is to put sub metering into buildings, so at least we will know how much energy is going into say Living Center North versus Living Center South. Right now we don’t really know that and to get down to the utilities like water and that sort of thing so we can become closer to identifying groups. Then we can have [efficient energy usage] contests between buildings or whatever so there may be some possibilities like that in the future.”

“We are considering a pretty creative venture with the new Health and Human Services Building. We’re talking about putting in an aqua thermal heating and cooling [system] for that building. That would use water-to-water heat pumps and the ponds out front … In the summertime the costs are close whether we can do it that way or with the electric chiller, but it is less expensive. But in the wintertime we can heat the water instead of a regular gas boiler and heat it for almost half the energy. It is electric instead of gas, so it saves quite a bit of energy. It is getting there and hopefully we’ll have it.”

Hocquard encourages students and faculty to share their own creative solutions to the energy issue.

“I don’t know if there are ideas that people could give to us but we are willing to work with them. I think that student organizations are the best avenue for [reaching students.] I’ve heard that some schools have contests for ideas.”

SVSU takes measures each year to encourage appropriate use of energy resources on campus.

“We gear up for the obvious things,” Hocquard said. “We try to talk to people about lowering the thermostats in their areas. In various years in the past we have put out fliers keep your thermostats down in the winter and things like that. The RAs are supposed to be involved … they are looking after the buildings, including [identifying] what is broken or doesn’t work or if they see something that is very cold or very hot they will let us know sometimes.”

Hocquard noted some of the behaviors that add to the energy costs of the campus.

“In the smaller buildings and here in the housing, the students had control of their spaces, and over the years people were turning the heat up all day and opening up a window, things like that, or they would go off even in the summertime…they would turn the air conditioning down a long ways and just leave. That had some problems to it too. We have tried to adjust the thermostats in the housing area. We put in adjustable thermostats that can only be adjusted to a certain range.

“Personal responsibility is the only way to solve it,” Hocquard said. “Turn out the lights when you don’t need them, screw in the fluorescents instead of the regular incandescents, and just not opening the window when it is too cold out, and keep wearing that sweater when you can.”

College Dems, Republicans Begin Post-Election Activities

By Michael Westendorf

After working hard on the election earlier this month, both the College Republicans and the College Democrats have elections of their own coming up. The two groups are slated to elect new officers, and the process can become quite competitive, says College Republicans Treasurer Tara Robishaw.

When the Vanguard sought confirmation from the senior officers of the groups in regards to their intentions for either running for their current position or for running for president, only one person would elaborate.

“I have no plans right now to run but if someone happens to nominate me for a position I would gladly run and do my best in the position,” says Melanie Ellison, the newly-appointed recruiting director for the College Republicans. The group just amended their constitution to have officer elections each semester to encourage more participation.

The College Democrats recently stopped the practice of charging incoming members a fee to join.

“We just felt that we do enough work for the campaigns to earn a membership card,” says Justin Alexander, secretary of the group.

In contrast, the College Republicans say they are pleased with the general direction of their group.

“The Youth Counts trips really helped develop some of the new members, including myself, and have really brought some of us close. I think we are doing great things and have some great plans for the group,” says Ellison.

The College Republicans plan on spending the rest of the year helping out the community with various public service projects, such as volunteering at local soup kitchens.

The group, along with the College Dems, also plan on a public debate, similar one held last year, where each organization will field representatives to debate political issues.

The College Democrats have a Casablanca film-themed party coming up, although details have not yet been released. They are also planning a dinner fundraiser and an inauguration event. On Wednesday, the group will have a ‘movie night’. After the formal organization meeting, the group will get together to watch a political film and have popcorn.

Two SVSU professors, John Kaczynski and Stewart French, are helping the College Democrats set up post boxes at the University. According to Alexander, once SVSU has 30 post boxes, the University can have a polling location.

Program Board's Long-Awaited Event Draws Capacity Crowd In Rhea Miller

By Emily McGuire

With advertisements filling windows and bulletin boards across campus as early as September, Program Board’s heavily advertised event, I Heart Female Orgasm, finally took place last Wednesday in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall.

Dorian Solot, a breast cancer survivor, and Marshall Miller are a married couple, graduates from Brown University, who reach out to educate students on sex, relationship issues and the details in between…all the details in between. With their sense of humor and playfulness of the topic over 700 SVSU students were able to interact with and listen to Miller and Solot talk about safe sex, what is and is not considered “normal” and dismissed some of the popular rumors of sex.

Shane Williamson, president of SVSU’s Program Board, was intrigued when he witnessed “Female Orgasm” being advertised at Michigan Tech. After watching the presentation himself Williamson thought SVSU just might need something like this.

“After I saw it, I thought SVSU could use something like this, I thought it’d bring spiciness to the programs here that SVSU offers,” Williamson said. “I talked to the Program Board and they thought it was pretty scandalous, but we got everyone who needed to be on board to go with it.”

Williamson said the topic of sex isn’t as taboo as it used to be.

“[There are] a lot of misconceptions about sex and its important for students [to be educated]. This presentation is kind of a way to break barriers between men and women on the issue of sex. It’s normally always been a male-dominated subject and was always seen as taboo and a dirty subject, but it’s not.”

Sex education isn’t the only idea that Williamson wanted students to bring away from this program.

“I want students to know that they can bring most any program to campus. If they join an organization, and there are so many here at SVSU to choose from, and work hard you can really do anything.”

Nor is it the only intention of Solot and Miller. Having done over 400 presentations around the country at colleges, universities, businesses, churches, and conferences, the duo’s goal is to educate but to help their viewers stay healthy and have fun.

The event, which was the focal point of Program Board’s fall event schedule, came with a $3,500 price tag, accounting the lecturer’s themselves, as well as advertising materials and merchandise provided by the group.

“When working on bringing the program, the base price for the lecture itself is $3,500,” Williamson said. “It included some free shirts and signs to give away, a publicity package to help us advertise and other little tips to help us get people to the program. We decided not to do any other additional programs with them because we were not sure how well this one was going to go over with the students. There were other options to get their other programs at discounted prices or special rates.”

In fact, the program went over well with students.

"I think for as much as they put into the program it turned out pretty well,” freshman Noah Ross said. “I mean I saw advertisements early on in the semester and thought it'd be huge and when I showed up I was surprised to see how many students came."

Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, agreed, but thought the event should have lasted longer.

"I actually thought that since I saw posters and stuff almost at the beginning of the semester it would be a lot longer, I think the program only lasted about an hour or so but it was still pretty informational; my roommates and I liked it."

When asked if Program Board was planning a similar event in the near future, Williamson said, “No, no more female orgasm presentations. We don’t want to be known as the sex group or anything like that. The [Program Board] has been busy this semester, putting on quite a few programs. With a turnout of over 700 students…wow, that was great. [The board] is just focusing on wrapping things up this semester, we’re taking a little break but we are coming back next semester with a lot of really interesting programs too.”

Vanguard Vision: Creating Problems To Solve Becoming Common Practice

A scary trend – SVSU isn’t perfect, and it’s unfair to expect it to be. But it becomes increasingly difficult to satisfy a population who remains relatively quiet about their needs and problems. What this has created is a culture where certain groups create problems to solve, and the solutions do little to serve anyone but the people who created them. The burden rests on us all to walk our problems down to the people who can help and it’s their job to walk to us to seek our concern.

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Our university has seen a lot of changes in the past decade. New buildings, a more entrenched presence in the community and a perpetually growing student population. The latter, at least in regards to student activity, complaints and need assessment, presents an important task for student leaders and their respective organizations on campus. The more people here, the more difficult it is to gauge what their needs are and how to address them without disenfranchising a disproportionate number of the campus population.

Such is the task of any government or body of a few charged with the responsibility of helping a potentially voiceless many.

That voiceless many is never easy to reach. They tend to hide in their dorms and let their complaints dissolve into vapor after all-too-brief conversations with their fellow socially apathetics.

There’s no easy way to get through this kind of person. Surveys go unfilled, questionnaires go unanswered, meetings go unattended.

The result of this culture of passionate disinterest seems to be those few participants in the system meant to help their unmotivated population create problems to solve that cost us all in the end.

This is an dangerous double-edged sword. And it’s one we at SVSU have been playing with for a long time.

In the last few years, rules have been instituted, initiatives undertaken by student leaders that seem to solve a pressing issue, but because there are so many here who remain silent, the question of who made these issues pressing becomes an extremely relevant one.

A terrific example of this is the eternally debated smoking policy enacted last winter. It’s a policy that at one point was deemed unenforceable by the administration, only to be enacted because the few saw it as a potential personal and political victory that points to their ability to get things done if they want to.

But was this really an issue that demanded action? I think the answer can be found in the students and staff who, nearly a year later, still smoke in front of buildings and are not reprimanded for it.

Who’s to blame for this? All of us. The unconscious many for doing little-to-nothing to bring their issues to the students who can help them, and the acting few for not taking enough initiative to pound the pavement and force out of those who flood the Courtyard every day in between walking to class.

“Tried” should not be a word in a government’s vocabulary. Neither should the phrase “personal victory.” Reaching people trying not to be reached is a savage undertaking with no end. But it’s the awful task of any governing body. And it begins with action.

Duncan: Time To Move Forward: Sex Education Should No Longer Be Denied To Students

By Courtney Duncan

“I Heart Female Orgasm” was a common phrase around campus this week in light of the program that filled the Malcolm Field Theatre Tuesday night. Surprisingly, there was not too much controversy over the name or the program itself; this would not have been the case in a typical American high school.

The couple, Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller, who travel around the nation presenting programs similar to the one at SVSU, spoke on the topic of sexual education. They questioned what driver’s training would be like if it was taught like sexual education; that is, if student drivers were told that driving could harm them, so they should stay away from it because it was bad. Theoretically in this situation, students would never receive hands-on training to drive; they would never learn how to operate the car or what to do if there was an accident. Thankfully, driver’s education is not taught in this format, but sexual education is. Sexual education has a tendency to be taught as if students do not actually need to know anything about the subject. If students are told that sex is bad, why do they need to know how to put on a condom or how to access birth control? I’m not going to go as far as Solot and Miller did by saying that students should be taught about the pleasures of sex, because I think that mentality is excessive, but I will say that sex needs further discussion in most schools.

By age 18, 6 in 10 women and 5 in 10 men admit that they have had sexual intercourse. Nine million new sexually transmitted infections are found in teens. Each year, there are 750,000 teenage pregnancies; one-fourth of these end in abortion. Luckily, there has been a decline in teen pregnancy, and 86% of the reason for the decline is attributed to the expanded knowledge about contraceptives, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

Although teenage pregnancy has declined, students are still too far behind when it comes to knowledge about sex itself and topics related to sex. 1 in 5 teenagers receives abstinence only education, and only 62% of females and 72% of males have received education about contraceptives prior to having sexual intercourse. There has also been a recent trend in abstinence only education in sexual education programs.

While abstinence is a great lesson, it is not practical. Even with increased abstinence only teaching, there are still three-quarters of a million teenage pregnancies, and over 50% of the teenage population is having sex regardless of the fact that they are taught it is “bad,” “wrong,” or “immoral.”

A staggering finding is that despite the known consequences of educating students without providing them with information in all subject areas of sex, teachers are increasingly teaching less about everything but abstinence. In my own health and sexual education class, we spent more time learning about the parts of the eye and the ear than we did discussing sex. In the past ten years, 1 in 4 teachers relay the abstinence only message, while 20 years ago this number was only 1 in 50. It is time for the government to start enforcing that sexual education is taught on its own and not as a part of a health class where it can be avoided for all but a few class periods. It is time that no child should be allowed to be exempt from enrolling in sexual education classes. It is time that the issues of contraception, childbirth, sexually transmitted infections, and abortion are addressed, and not pushed to the wayside.

Once again, it is time to move forward as a society. Teenagers have been having sex for as long as it has been physically possible for their bodies to do so; in other words—forever. It is time to get out from under the shield of oblivion and be responsible. Contrary to the beliefs of many, it is possible to teach about sex without encouraging it. Most parents talk to their children about alcohol and how many have a “good time” by using alcohol, but they also talk about the damaging effects it can have on one’s body, so why not educate teens about sex—all parts of it. Do not simply hand kids condoms and let them run with it; educate them. Teach teens about the consequences of sex, and tell them your opinions on sex, but then let them decide for themselves, because they will anyway.

Johnson: Conditions Of 1968 Enhance Impact Of 2008 Election, Pt. 1

By Jim Johnson
Guest Columnist

There are few, if any, advantages that come with aging … the "wisdom" of age is from my perspective more than offset by the physical aches and pains that escaped my earlier years and now become a part of my daily life. Last week, however, the benefit of living my 57 years became so very meaningful.

At 10:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, I sat on the set of a television affiliate providing commentary on election results. All major networks concomitantly declared Senator Barack Obama the president-elect of the United States. The television monitors before me switched to the scene at Chicago's Grant Park. Well over 100,000 people cheered and cried as Obama and his family walked out on the stage to greet the nation he would soon lead.

At that instant, as the gravitas of the moment became apparent, I was struck by the irony: Grant Park in 2008 compared to Grant Park in 1968. The divisive issues which afflicted this nation precisely four decades earlier were remarkably similar to the very issues which face us now.

1968 was a year of national discontent, populated with a most unpopular war, assassinations, economic strife and racial division. 2008 contained many of the same issues, but now standing before the world was a newly elected black man: Erudite, Harvard-educated, telegenic and emblematic of one single word – "hope."

I was so thankful to have lived long enough to see our progress and evolution toward race fulfilled.

1968 was an ominous year filled with prescient events consistent with tragic recent years and a premonition of things to come. The nation still reeled from the assassination of John Kennedy in 1963 and the 1965 shooting of Malcolm X. In April 1968, Martin Luther King was slain. In the weeks which followed, cities burned and racial divisiveness consumed our life.

Like 2008, it was a presidential election year. But, the hopes for a rebirth of Camelot ended on a Los Angeles hotel kitchen floor with the assassination of Democratic presidential candidate Bobby Kennedy. The Democratic National Convention was marred by the riots in Grant Park.

The war in Vietnam spun out of control with the year dominated by the Tet Offensive. In a single week ending Feb. 18, 1968, 543 U.S. personnel were killed and over 2,500 injured. A new wave of 48,000 draftees was ordered by the Pentagon.

Half a world away disproportionate numbers of black soldiers died to preserve a still-segregated environment back home. Minorities had a more than equal opportunity to die for a country that provided them with a less than equal life.

1968 was so similar in many ways to the world we find now in 2008. That similarity seemed to end, however, on that crisp Tuesday evening a week ago...

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Jim Johnson is a lecturer of political science. Read part two of his faculty op-ed next week.

Ricker: PETA's Ben and Jerry's Suggestion Only In Theory

By Whitney Ricker

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) recently sent the founders of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream a letter suggesting they substitute human breast milk for the cow’s milk in their dairy products. The letter suggests breast milk has more health benefits for people than cow’s milk. And, in true PETA style, it explained how using human breast milk would reduce the unethical treatment of cows in the process of harvesting their milk.

PETA learned of this idea from a Swiss restaurant owner who decided to use human breast milk, instead of cow’s milk, in 75 percent of the dairy foods on the menu. The breast milk was provided by donors who were paid for their services.

In a somewhat effective attempt to win over the general public instead of just animal-lovers, PETA provided information which explains how consuming human breast milk is better for people than cow’s milk. “Dairy products have been linked to juvenile diabetes, allergies, constipation, obesity, and prostate and ovarian cancer,” stated the letter. In addition, the letter referenced the well-known children’s doctor, Dr. Benjamin Spock, who suggested that children who consume cow’s milk stand a higher risk of acquiring “anemia, allergies, and juvenile diabetes and in the long term…obesity and heart disease – America’s number one cause of death.”

Of course, PETA was not stingy in providing reasons that this idea is advantageous to animals. The process of harvesting cow’s milk is not an ethical one. Cows are “forcefully impregnated” constantly to ensure maximum milk production. Once they have served their purpose and are no longer useful, they are butchered. Also, the veal industry relies on the dairy industry. When male calves are born, they are sold to veal farms because they cannot produce milk. At the veal farms, they “endure 14 to 17 weeks of torment” until they are butchered.

While the cows’ case is effectively made and should pull at the heartstrings of many, this suggested substitution is still questionable. The whole process seems a bit bizarre. Just imagine mothers, who either choose not to breastfeed or do, and are just depriving their children of their breast milk to make some money, sitting down to a breast pump in a factory surrounded by other mothers giving ‘donations.’ Maybe the process would become as common as donating blood or getting your hair done, and the mothers would sit around making idle conversation. Maybe not.

If this idea were to take hold, first, a rate would have to be determined for the reimbursement of the women. This rate might be based on how much milk they donate. Or perhaps on how nutritious their milk is, depending on the quality of their diet and physical activity. Maybe mothers of a certain age produce better quality milk than others; this would all have to be considered.

Next, the facility where the ‘donations’ would take place would need to be prepared. This could either entail large public rooms where the mothers are hooked up to the pumps, which wouldn’t be much different than the set-up of dairy farms, or individual rooms where the mothers who aren’t comfortable with ‘donating’ in public may go.

Unfortunately, mothers in need of money might deprive their children of milk, and in turn, nutrition, so malnutrition, instead of obesity, becomes a problem. Or, mothers who don’t really think the plan through might start having children just to make money off their breast milk, and we end up with more children without caring parents. This idea seems to produce more problems than solutions.

And yes, everyone cares about their children’s health, but will this plan make that much of a difference? The kids will still be shoveling down Snickers bars and Doritos; is there a substitute for the fat and carbohydrates in junk food, as well?

While most people are concerned about the well-being of animals and their own health, it doesn’t seem that this plan provides enough advantages to actually be employed. The cows, however, might disagree.

Spikers Fail To Gain GLIAC Title After Falling To Top-Seeded Grand Valley State

By Anthony Fontana

SVSU's volleyball team had high hopes entering the GLIAC tournament. They didn't disappoint, as they advanced all the way to the championship match against host Grand Valley State University before dropping the match, 3-1.

First up for the Cards was number two seed Michigan Tech. The Cards were at a disadvantage to start the game because the match was played at Michigan Tech in front of a packed gym. This had no effect on the Cards as they defeated the Huskies 3-0. They won by scores of 25-13, 25-18, and 25-23.

The Cards jumped out to an early lead in the first game that they would never relinquish. Senior outside hitter Sarah Redoute led the attack with
13 kills, eight digs, two blocks and an ace. Senior defensive specialist Carmen Schacher led the Cardinal defense with 20 digs and an ace in the opening match of the tournament.

Next up for the Cardinals was Northern Michigan University, whom the Cardinals already had defeated twice this season. The Cards made quick work of the Wildcats as they won in straight sets by scores of 25-19,
25-22 and 25-19.

Junior setter Kait Harris contributed with 24 assists and 11 digs. Redoute led the offense with 13 kills and
11 digs. Schacher led the Cardinal defense with 20 digs. With the win, the Cards advanced to the championship match of the GLIAC tournament for the first time in school history where rival Grand Valley awaited.

The Cardinals dug themselves into an early hole as they dropped the first two games of the match by scores of
20-25 and 18-25. SVSU managed to claw back into the match by winning the next game by the score of 25-15. That was as close as the Cards would get to the Lakers. They would fall in the next set by the score of 14-25, ending the Cards championship aspirations.

The first set was a back-and-forth battle that was close throughout. With the score tied at 16, the Lakers scored the next five points to take over momentum and win the first set.

The Lakers were able to carry the momentum they gained into the second match. Their lead hit a peak of nine points before they closed out the Cards.

Leading 17-14 in the third set, the Cards scored five straight points to secure the set.

The Cards led the fourth set early on before the Lakers scored five straight points in the middle of the set to win the championship.

Redshirt freshman middle hitter Annie Buxton led the Cardinals in the championship match with 12 kills. Redoute contributed offensively with seven kills. She also helped out on defense with 11 digs. Harris led the Cardinals with 28 assists. She also had four kills to go along with 13 digs.

Men's And Women's Soccer Teams Both Advance To The GLIAC Finals This Year

By Anthony Fontana

Both the Cardinals men’s and women’s soccer teams experienced an up and down season in the fall. Both teams had a chance at redemption when each advanced all the way to the championship match of the GLIAC tournament.

Neither team was fully able to complete the upset as the men’s team lost to Findlay by the final score of 4-2, while the women’s team dropped a 2-0 decision to Grand Valley State.

The men were at a disadvantage to start the game, as they were with out two of their top players. Senior forward Brent Walker received his fifth yellow card of the season in the semifinal match against Ashland, meaning he would have to sit out the championship game. Senior defender Daniel Wragg received two yellow cards in the Ashland game, which also knocked him out of the championship game.

In the championship game, the men dug themselves into an early 2-0 deficit. Junior defender Brock Humphries cut the deficit in half at the 28:59 mark, although Findlay would answer back a few minutes later to take a commanding 3-1 lead into the half. The teams traded goals in the second half to complete the scoring. After the game, Walker talked about how proud he was of his team.

“We had to battle through a lot of ups and downs this season. Making it to the GLIAC finals was amazing considering we didn’t even think that we were going to make the tournament. It just shows the potential the guys had.” Walker said.

Walker was especially upset at the fact that he was unable to help his team out in the biggest game of the year.

“It was a really big disappointment. I have played here for four years and put a lot into it. Not being able to play was very tough. I wanted to win so badly but it’s a part of the sport so it’s just something that I have to accept.

The women were unable to generate any offense when they faced off against the number one ranked Lakers. The Lakers led 1-0 going into halftime and would later add another goal in the second half to complete the scoring. The Cards only managed to get off three shots for the game. Even though her team lost, senior midfielder Stephanie Roy was still proud of the way her team played in the championship match.

“After a season full of ups and downs, there was never any doubt in my mind that we would make it to the finals and have one last chance to make the playoffs. I was extremely proud of the team. It’s a long season and it says a lot of about the character of the team to give it everything they have all the way to the finals.” Roy said.

Freshman goalkeeper Anne Bershbach was able to stop six of the eight shots she faced, although her offense wasn’t able to provide any support against the tough Laker defense.

“Grand Valley is a great team.” Roy said. “They didn’t become the number one team in the nation for no reason. We knew coming into the game that we would have to take advantage of every opportunity because they would be few and far between. Everyone worked as hard as they could for the full 90 minutes and that’s all we can ask for.”

With the losses, the women’s record dropped to 10-9 overall for the season. The men’s record fell to 8-10-2 for the season.

Women's Team Roughed Up In Season Opening Loss To Quincy

By Anthony Fontana

The women’s Cardinal basketball team opened the regular season portion of their schedule in Quincy, Illinois over the weekend. They didn’t get the results they were looking for as they dropped the first game of the two game tournament by the final score of 102-64 to host Quincy University.

The Cardinals, who are playing under new head coach Shannon Baugh, had no answer for the hot shooting of Quincy, who set a new school record in three-pointers made in a single game with 12. The Cards spotted Quincy an eight-point lead to start the game that only got bigger, thanks in part to Quincy hitting seven three pointers in the first ten minutes of the game. Quincy held the Cards to a dismal 29-percent shooting in the first half as they jumped out to a 48-27 weekend.

The second half was much of the same for the Cards, as they struggled defensively to stop Quincy from making shots. Offensively, the Cards continued to struggle to get anything going, finishing the game shooting 35-percent. Quincy managed to outscore the Cards in the second half by a margin of 54-37. Junior forward Kelsey Mausolf paced the Cardinals offensively with a double double, 17 points and 11 rebounds. She also sank nine out of the ten free throws she attempted. Quincy finished the game shooting a red hot 50-percent from the floor.

Senior guard Tricia Everett contributed with eight points, while also managing to dish out seven assists. Sophomore guard Kelley Wesp was the only other Cardinal besides Mausolf to score in double digits, as she finished with 12 points. Wesp was two for two from beyond the arc.

The Cardinals play their second game of the season on Sunday against Missouri State in the consolation game of the tournament.

Memorable Poets Reflect On Memorable Poetry

By Luke Deming

Saginaw is often known for its athletes and entertainers, but SVSU President Eric Gilbertson pointed out there is something else the city is known for - poetry.

The 11th triennial Theodore Roethke Memorial Poetry Prize was awarded to Robert Pinsky last Tuesday. The $3,000 prize is given every three years to an American poet’s individual book of poems This year’s prize covers work published in 2005, 2006, or 2007. The award is in honor of the great Saginaw poet, Theodore Roethke. At the time of his death in 1963, Roethke had won more awards than any other American poet.

Notable actor Richard Fitzpatrick, who has appeared in Good Will Hunting, Sixteen Blocks, and the TV show The X Files, mentioned his thankfulness for Roethke’s ability to write about the rich experiences of a fifteen-year-old boy.

“Roethke showed me the way back to the believing boy in my skin,” Fitzpatrick said.

Pinsky, who is known for his political poetry, won the award with his book of poetry Gulf Music. Pinsky is a former U.S. Poet Laureate, created the Favorite Poem Project, and has appeared regularly on PBS and The Colbert Report.

Pinsky, Fitzpatrick, and poetry prize judge Lloyd Schwartz talked about Roethke and read some of his pieces such as Roethke’s 1953 Pulitzer Prize winner “The Waking.” Pinsky also read a few poems from Gulf Music.

Professor of English, Basil Clark, was pleased to see great poetry presented.

“Its very reassuring to see people come together this way and enjoy the evening together,” Clark said. “[It was special] to hear people of this stature read and share their experiences of Roethke.”

Education junior Skyler Loomis enjoyed the event too. He said, “I thought the whole thing was really enjoyable. I really liked hearing Robert Pinsky talk about his poetry.”

The award was special this year because it is part of last week’s festival that celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Roethke’s birth and also because this year’s three judges were the same judges that awarded the first ever Roethke prize in 1968.

While Pinsky has had tremendous success as a poet, he can’t remember when he wanted to write professionally.

“There was never really [a moment] when I said ‘now I want to be a professional writer.’ It was the only thing I felt good at.“

While many critics have stated that the days of great American poets are over and claiming the younger generation is unable to produce a great writer, Pinsky holds a different opinion of the belief.

“That’s baloney. They have been saying that for hundreds of years. When Longfellow and Whittier got old and died they said, ‘well the great generation of American poets is over.’ And then they said the same thing when T.S. Eliot and Wallace Stevens died. That kind of thing just goes on forever, it’s not significant.”

In his acceptance speech, Pinsky talked about his multiple interpretations of the line “I learn by going where I have to go” from Roethke’s most famous piece “The Waking.”

“[At first] I thought it as a description of living without meddling, without a lot of reflection, or attention, or planning, or guidance counselors or hiring consultants or goals. Just live by experience rather than anticipation,” Pinsky said.

He explained how he felt stupid when his second interpretation revealed that the poem was about coming to terms with death. But his third interpretation revealed to him that the poem was about one’s legacy being carried on, just like Roethke’s still is today.

“We don’t only go into morality… we don’t only go into whatever nothingness or after life we think about…We [also] go into memory.”

Small Stage, Big Performance

By Luke Deming

The SVSU theatre department overcame a smaller stage to deliver big results in Sideman.

The show stars Tyler Frank, Caleb Knutson, Jenn Wilk, Amanda Mueller, Chad Baker, Mat Easterwood, and Anthony Roberts and focuses on Gene (played by Knutson), a jazz musician, that tries to earn a stable income by playing the trumpet with his three band mates, but fails to hit it big. Gene’s inability to provide for his family puts stress on his mentally ill wife Terry (played by Wilk) and his son Clifford (played by Frank). Clifford does his best to try and save his family from falling apart. Clifford also guides the audience through this memory play.

Most theatre shows, except for summer shows, take place in the large Malcolm Theatre, but due to a scheduling conflict director Janet Rubin chose to move the show into the 85-seat Black Box.

“We moved our season dates. When we did that there was already something booked in there and so we couldn’t get in. So we moved the show in here,” Rubin said.

Rubin and the actors had to make adjustments such as taking out one of the three seating units, but the adjustments were well worth it.

“In the beginning it was really like trying to put a big production in a small, small space,” Rubin said. “But now that we’re in here it was like a happy accident because I don’t think it would have worked nearly as well in the big stage.”

The smaller theatre did make designing the set difficult for technical designer Jerry Dennis.

“On this particular show [the size of the stage] did hurt a little bit. It would have been a lot easier to do on the main stage,” Dennis said.

In order to accommodate for the stage, Dennis had to rebuild the set multiple times.

“You are actually looking at the third incarnation of the set,” Dennis said. “It is sort of a compromised set, but it seems to be working so far.”

The stage wasn’t the only obstacle the show had to overcome. The second show of the fall usually takes place at the start of December, but The Sideman started in mid-November. While this took away almost two weeks of practice, Rubin is happy about its benefits.

“Everybody was pushed right at the end of the semester. Students were trying to finish exams, students who were coming to see the shows were worried about writing their papers, getting their assignments done,” Rubin said. “We thought there really has got to be a better way. So we made the change.”

Theatre junior Caleb Knutson said that he and the cast had to be more detailed and focus on their expressions with the close audience. He supported Rubin’s statement that this show really allows acting talent to emerge.

“Janet said at the beginning that this was an actor’s show,” Knutson said.

Drama and humor were prevalent throughout, but keeping the two balanced was a tough task. Balancing acting seriously while saying comedic lines was difficult.

“Taking it serious on the emotional level while you still have those funny lines. You hear the audience laughing and you are trying to stay in the scene,” said Theatre and Graphic Design senior Jenn Wilk. ”It is a serious matter, but it is written in a way where it’s somewhat light hearted.”

This show stands out with brilliant acting, comedic relief, and a great set. But Theatre senior Danielle Schoeny said there also is an important theme present.

“I really liked Clifford’s closing monologue where he was like they didn’t play for fame, they didn’t play to be rich, they just played for each other and I think that is really cool because it shows the bond that they had,” Schoeny said. “It reminds me that in life it’s about your closest friends.”

A Watchful Eye

By Hillary Darling

Flashing lights illuminate rain drops into blue streaks over an SVSU campus police cruiser. Night Officer Chad Lackowski was in the driver’s seat. A 19-year-old sat in the back, facing a minor in possession charge. 

“I’m so disappointed in myself,” the minor said, “my whole family is going to be disappointed…This is not the kid I am. Yeah, I’m a college kid and I drank some beer. Yeah I’m underage. I know that. But I mean, I never try and cross the line and tonight I really messed up.”

“How much have you had to drink?” Lackowski asked. “Be honest with me.”

“Two, three beers and a shot of Burnett’s, sir. Cherry Burnett’s.”

The Nov. 6 Pierce Road stop resulted in two minor in possession of alcohol (MIP) tickets, one of the more common weekend write-ups for the campus police. But Lackowski, a 2005 SVSU graduate, says there isn’t a typical day in police work, which is one of the aspects that drew him to the job.

Chief of Police Ronald Trepkowski said the officers take an interest in the students. 

“The biggest thing,” Lackowski said after writing the two MIPs, “[is] I don’t want them doing it again, and I want them to realize that what they’ve done is wrong…They have to have some type of consequence for their actions.”

The minor’s car had rolled through a stop sign around midnight. Lackow-ski flipped on his lights, but instead of pulling over to the side of the road, the car pulled into the entrance of Campus Village.

Lackowski ran the plate numbers in the Mobile Data Terminal (MDT), a computer resting about armrest level, before approaching the vehicle. He talked with the driver and returned to his cruiser, a Chevy Impala. The driver did not have his license with him. Lackowski punched his information in the computer and found the driver’s record was clean.

Lackowski returned to the driver, asking him to get out of the car. The officer’s pen-sized light illuminated the driver’s face as the driver’s eyes followed the light back and forth. 

Lackowski took a device out of the police car and gave the driver what would be the first of three breathalyzers.

“He did all of my sobriety tests really well,” Lackowski explained later. Lackowski said if he hadn’t smelled the alcohol on the driver, he wouldn’t have had much reason to believe he was intoxicated.

Lackowski escorted the driver to the back of the police car and took his information.

The driver said he had only driven about a mile and thought he was able to get himself home. The driver blew a .080 blood alcohol content. His passenger blew over twice as

high.

“Well, here’s what I’m going to do for you,” Lackowski explained. “You’re going to get an MIP today.” 

From the backseat there came, “Is there anything I can do? Anything?”

“You can take this to court …” the officer began.

“Seriously, it could have been 100 percent a lot worse,” replied the voice.

“Well, I understand 100 percent that it could have been a lot worse,” Lackowski said. “You could have rolled through that stop sign and hit someone. You could have hit someone while you were driving impaired, OK?”

“Yeah … I kicked back and drank a few beers and I know I shouldn’t have drove, but there is no one else who could have done a better job.”

“You couldn’t have stayed there?” the officer questioned.

Well, I mean I could have, but…”

“Listen to the situation I’m in OK?

You drive down the road, get in an accident, kill someone, and I let you go.”

“Well, yeah. But that would never happen though.”

A second campus officer, Luke Huss, assisted Lackowski and parked the minor’s car, taking the keys until morning. Huss, after receiving permission, searched the car and found two full beer cans under the passenger seat.

The stop was Lackowski’s third since about 10 p.m. These situations included giving warnings for failure to stop at a stop sign and for illegal window tint.

When not on call, Lackowski patrols within the campus, making traffic stops or conducting property checks.

“I usually look for someone to blow the stop sign. Bad,” he said. “For me, other factors are [their] driving record. Are they nice? Are they not real happy? For me and a lot of officers, attitude will get you a long way.”

Trepkowski said the University officers write about one ticket for every four stops. MIPs are common calls during the night shifts, he said, and the biggest challenge on campus is theft.

SVSU has had a police department since about 1977 according to Trepkowski. The chief’s work with the campus police since 1979 and connection with the University had him describing himself as someone who “bleeds Cardinal red.”

“[Students are] liable to see our officers all about the campus simply because we take an active interest in the campus,” Trepkowski said, “… and that makes the connection, too. I’m not just a police officer out here [wanting] to enforce the law and that’s it. I think we want to make a connection to the community and make sure we know that we are a part of our community."

Farming In The Inner City

By Anne Hasenberg

SVSU is bridging with the Saginaw community to dust off the current economic plight with a new approach to the problem of urban areas having limited access to healthy foods. 

On Nov. 5, the newly formed Saginaw Urban Food Initiative (SUFI) began installing non-soil-based indoor hydroponics farming systems in the basements of Saginaw’s Houghton-Jones Resource Center and Good Neighbors Mission.

Low-income inner-city residents have a problem accessing healthy food. Despite the high density of fast food restaurants and convenience stores, many inner cities have developed food deserts where access to healthy food, such as fresh produce, is limited. 

National level research indicates that factors such as these have led to lower consumption of fruits and vegetables by low-income populations. Currently in the state of Michigan, 12.2 percent of people are classified as being food insecure or lacking reliable and consistent access to healthy food.

This problem grabbed the attention SVSU Assistant Professor of sociology Brian Thomas. Thomas has partnered with Chris Schilling, SVSU’s Charles J. Strosacker Endowed Chair, and Edward C. Meisel, an instructor of chemistry at SVSU, to work with members of the Green Cardinal Initiative and SUFI on jumpstarting the hydroponics project.

Thomas said the problem is the rising fuel and food prices that are a burden on the Saginaw community members. 

“[Our] project is untested but shows potential to help the surrounding community have access to fresh and healthy food all year long,” Thomas said. 

The two low-cost hydroponics systems were developed by SVSU using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping, lumber, a pump and some hardware. Each unit has 48 holes and is capable of producing up to 48 plants at a time, producing averages up to about 100 plants per site.

Each of the hydroponics units would eliminate the problems of seasonality, soil quality, contamination and fragmented land. The food grown will feed people in the Good Neighbors Mission and Houghton-Jones Resource Center who do not have the resources to purchase food.

The use of low-cost hydroponics systems and soil-less gardening to produce fresh vegetables tests will occur throughout the winter season. A workshop is planned to follow in May 2009. 

Funding for the hydroponics project is provided through grants from The Saginaw Community Foundation, SVSU and members of the community centers associated with SUFI. 

SUFI is a collaborative effort between representatives from the city of Saginaw, the Mustard Seed House, the Good Neighbors Mission, SVSU and the Houghton Jones Resource Center.

The project, which is still in its early planning stages, will help urban areas sustain affordable, healthy food through winter.

“It’s important that students get involved with the project, because if this works, we’re going to train people to implement this in the county,” Thomas said.

Students wishing to participate in the Green Cardinals Initiative can e-mail Thomas at bjthoma1@svsu.edu or visit www.svsu.edu/greencard.

Tutors Apply Writing Skills To Aiding Hospice Patients

By Hope Bishop

While many students realize the benefits good writing skills provide in the classroom, they may not realize the impact such skills could have when combined with community service. 

In the winter 2008 semester, sophomore Jamie Wendorf and junior Chelsea Smith, a pair of SVSU Writing Center mentors, took their skills to local hospice sites through the Living through Literacy program. 

The students displayed interest in participating after Saginaw’s Southern Care Hospice contacted Writing Center Director Diane Boehm in search of volunteers. 

The program allows volunteers the chance to visit hospice centers and work with patients on writing projects. 

 “I joined because it sounded rewarding and I knew I could grow from it,” Smith said. 

“I got involved because I had been trying to find a volunteer organization to work with, Wendorf said. “When I heard about Living through Literacy, it just clicked. It was the first time I had the opportunity to work with the elderly, but I have loved it since.”

Jeanne Butzin, the volunteer coordinator for Southern Care “Hearts of Hospice” Volunteers said, “Living through Literacy is a wonderful opportunity to be a blessing to someone in their final days...It leaves [families] with a lasting treasure and gives a chance for the next generation to get to know someone they may not have otherwise, with the written heirlooms.”

Volunteers write obituaries, autobiographies, short stories, and make scrapbooks for patients. 

Opportunities also exist for volunteers who do not wish to participate in writing intensive activities. They may read to patients, go on walks with them or assist the hospice centers with administrative duties.  

“I have helped write short stories, an autobiography and am currently working on a scrapbook,” Smith said. “I also play the piano for residents in the lounge.”

Wendorf made a scrapbook for a patient and was able to collaborate with his wife during the process.

Smith recognizes the wide-reaching value of Living through Literacy. 

“It is very beneficial for the patients, their families and the volunteers,” she said. “It lets the patients know that people still care about them and increases their self-worth.

“Also, it gives them a chance to reminisce. Their families are able to gain a sense of closure and create a strong support system. The written heirlooms provide a way for memories to live
on and are really something they cherish.”

Smith and Wendorf’s goal is to turn the program into a Registered Student Organization for the winter 2009 semester. They are applying for a Foundation Grant from the University and have contacted nursing, psychological, English, and social work professors to let them know about the program. 

They hope to involve more students and have had four nursing students recently join.

“Working with the elderly has changed my perspective and helped me see that there is more to the world than going to college,” Wendorf said. 

“I’ve grown so much emotionally, even academically,” Smith said. “It’s a great opportunity to build relationships. You really learn about priorities and what really is the most important thing in life.”

Brazilian Jui-jitsu Enthusiasts Hit The Mats

By Carolyne Payne

A unique breed of athletes established themselves as a Registered Student Organization this fall with the emergence of the SVSU’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu (SVBJJ) club. 

Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a form of fighting that focuses on joint locks and chokes over punches and kicks, was founded when Japanese judo expert Mitsuyo Maeda visited Brazil among other countries in 1914. The art was developed and adapted further until it became what it is today. 

On SVSU’s campus, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu club is a student-run, student-taught group that grows with every meeting and is advised by Jason Swackhamer. Members teach other members to create a collective learning experience for everyone.

The club began this fall when communications and digital and media design graduate student Ryan Foldie, who has practiced jiu-jitsu on and off since he was young, noticed dance mats were available to students in the Ryder Center and decided to start a group for interested students.

Every Thursday night at 9:30 p.m., a growing group of about 20 people meets in the Dance Studio (Ryder 249) to meet new people, work out, de-stress and learn new techniques. Each meeting kicks off with warm-ups and stretches, followed by technique and positions, reviewing of the former week’s techniques and moves, and the group grapples or “free-spars.” 

 The group is diverse, consisting of beginners who showed up after expressing interest to other wrestlers and athletes who compete in mixed martial arts tournaments. 

Foldie is excited about field trips and outings to jiu-jitsu seminars and watching Ultimate Fighting Championship. 

Freshman criminal justice major Spencer Davenport had no formal experience with martial arts and is glad he started attending the SVBJJ meetings. 

“It’s good to know how to defend yourself, especially as a police officer,” he said. Davenport said the club is also “a great way to meet new people and get a good workout that is safe because there is no imminent threat of death.”

Undecided freshman Jimmy Woodrow, who has had extensive martial arts experience, enjoys the club for the variety of social interaction and different style of fighting it provides. Woodrow takes Hakko-ryu, ju-jutsu, and kickboxing classes at Martial Arts Connection on Bay Road in addition to Brazilian jiu-jitsu at SVSU. 

“I found out about the class from a flier and I’m glad I came. I’m going to stick around,” Woodrow said.

Another of the more experienced club members is marketing junior Steve Lagace. Lagace competes in mixed martial arts tournaments and encourages anyone to check out Brazilian jiu-jitsu because it’s “a great way to blow off steam, meet new people and learn about different fighting styles.” He enjoys being able to teach and learn techniques and feels there is nothing else like this club at SVSU. 

There is no cost for students to join SVBJJ. Students interested in finding out more about the club can contact Foldie at rfoldie@gmail.com. 

English Degree Holders Explore Degree Paths

By Stacy Wilson

Many college students wonder where they will end up after graduation and what they can do with the majors they pursue. 

For some students, choosing a major is difficult when post-graduation careers are not one-size-fits-all. Students studying within the field of English can often encounter this problem. 

SVSU’s Bachelor of Art and Behavioral Sciences degree in English offers students three possible areas of concentration: English literature, creative writing and professional and technical writing (PTW). An English education major also is available from the College of Education.

Helen Raica-Klotz, an English professor at SVSU, explains what English students often intend on doing once they obtain their major. “Students can be writers, teachers, go into human resources, marketing, and non-profit writing jobs,” Raica-Klotz said. 

Recent SVSU alumni Jason Wolverton and Kelly Stewart are making career strides after obtaining undergraduate degrees with majors in English.

Wolverton graduated from SVSU in the spring of 2007. He majored in creative writing and worked at SVSU’s Writing Center and for the Valley Vanguard. 

Currently, Wolverton is a marketing director for Commercial Software Inc. in Midland. 

“We do many things, including Web page and software design, and we also operate a number of real estate and rental Web sites in the Tri-Cities,” Wolverton said, who also is an overseer for Midlandsports.com. 

It wasn’t until Wolverton discovered the Writing Center and the Vanguard that he found his niche. 

“My work at the Vanguard and at the Writing Center not only taught me a great deal, but also allowed me to make vital contacts that are useful in the real world,” he said. Raica-Klotz served as his Writing Center coordinator and helped him get his current job. 

One thing Wolverton wishes someone would have told him was to get involved in other activities. 

“If getting a good job is your number one priority, you need to get involved in other activities,” he said. 

SVSU helped Wolverton learn to think critically and “outside the box.” 

“Both of these things I do day-in and day-out at my job,” he said. 

Technology also plays a role in
his work ethic now, because, according to Wolverton, it is important to write well and communicate one’s message, whether it is in an e-mail, blog or letter. 

Stewart concentrated on PTW at SVSU. She moved on to law school after graduation, hoping that it would help her. 

“It’s only my first term, so it’s hard to say how helpful my writing degree will be in law school, but I’ve heard that an English degree gives you a good foundation,” she said. 

Before law school, Stewart worked as a grant writer at a fund consulting firm in Bay City. Her experience at SVSU is similar to Wolverton’s, as she also worked at the Writing Center. 

“My classes at SVSU and my experience as a tutor in the Writing Center gave me a good working knowledge of writing and editing principals, and the rest I learned on the job from my co-workers,” she said. 

Both Stewart and Wolverton managed to get to where they wanted to be with the help of their classes and advisers.