Graffiti of a AK-47 drawn on a men’s bathroom in Cook Hall displays different symbols that GRCC Campus Police believe to be gang related. Note the tally marks on the barrel. (Photo Courtesy of Campus Police)

Program gives students different opportunities
By Lonnie Allen
Editor-in-Chief

Getting education in an alternative way or volunteering in the community are just some of the opportunities students experience in TRIO.

According to the U.S. Department of Education theTRIO program provides opportunities for academic development, assists students with basic college requirements, and serves to motivate students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education.

TRIO is part of the Student Support Services (SSS) projects also may provide grant aid to current SSS participants. The goal of SSS is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants, and also to help students make the transition from one level of higher education to the next.

On Nov. 19 GRCC students involved in TRIO did a presentation in the Student Center where they displayed the recent trips and internships they participated in over the past summer.

At the presentation Anthony Villanueva current GRCC student and TRIO peer mentor talked about his experience with the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP) he attended Yale University School of Medicine over the past summer.

“I fell in love with New Haven,” Villanueva said. He also spoke about the friends he made at Yale and how he would love to go back there.

Elisa Perez GRCC alumnus and current GVSU student talked about her experiences in Liverpool and how she got to teach about the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade from the British experience. Perez said that the ages of the children she taught ranged from 10-12.

The Scholar Ship a program that is named in that particular way because it was a cruise ship. GRCC alumnus and current GVSU student Luis Ballesteros spent four months on ship and visited 11 countries with other scholars through this program. This program had another student ready to go but it is has been defunded.

“Right now the ship is docked and voyages have been cancelled,” Ballesteros said. “They hope to get funding and maybe even rename the scholarship so more students can have opportunities.”

That evening students from TRIO attended the third annual Connor’s Night at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. Abby Wilson Director of Play Education said, Connor’s Night is an RSVP event where children and families affected by autism attend the museum and get to experience what the museum has to offer.

“We will hold two more of these evenings. They are very popular. We had over 100 families on the waiting list for tonight,” said Wilson.

Wilson explained it was a grandmother of a family that was affected by Autism who had asked the Children’s museum if they could accommodate a night like this.

Aleida Ibarra and David Perea are in their first semester with GRCC’s TRIO program and had a great time volunteering at the museum.

“I am glad I got to do this I got to see the diversity of the kids here and the spectrum of Autism is so huge,” Ibarra said.

The night started with a thirty-minute orientation, where the volunteers learned about Autism and how it affects each child differently. Then they were assigned different roles and started the evening.

“I enjoy the TRIO program,” said Perea. “I really didn’t expect these opportunities, but I am glad I have them.”

"It is incredibly well structured," said Anna Maria Clark, TRIO Program Advisor. “A therapist explained Autism to us before we started.”

“We cannot do this without the volunteers,” Wilson said, “The volunteers are what really make nights like this happen.

(Top/Index)

Dealing with diversity in the classroom
By Sarah Wiltenburg
Collegiate Staff Writer

The average curriculum taught in elementary and middle schools is about European history.

This includes the Romans, Greeks, and other key civilizations in history. The room appeared shocked when hearing this information at the video lecture and peer discussion “Dealing with Diversity in the Classroom” held on Nov. 11 at GRCC’s ATC auditorium.

The lecture was focused on helping soon-to-be teachers. The lecture started with a video by Kenneth J. Doka PhD. The video was all about the importance of encompassing and embracing all cultures in the classroom. The video provided information that said it doesn’t just have to do with class work, but also class décor, introducing cultures, and defining diversity.

Doka defined diversity not just as race but also sexual orientation, political ideals, religion, education, social class, family patters, and gender.

Doka also explained we need to get away from Americanization and look at America as “a salad bowl not a melting pot.”

Then he added “knowing your own culture is a prerequisite for understanding others culture.”

Following the video, the audience was split into groups of three to four to discuss some pre-arranged questions written by Carole Redwine an English professor at GRCC. Once out of the groups, the audience went over these questions as a whole.

One of the prepared questions was “What was your experience with an inclusive curriculum when you were in school?”

Kim Harding, a GRCC Early Education student said, “What I remember is having history class and black history month. I never understood the imbalance.”

The discussion continued with many different viewpoints from students with all different backgrounds. Vicki Cooper, a reading professor at GRCC, was the moderator for this discussion and through the years has taught not only college but K-12 as well.

Cooper said if all your posters were portrayed with all cute little white girls or all cute little black girls, the message is almost subliminal. Her background gave her insight to some questions from the audience.

She also added “I never say I in my classroom. It’s not you and them, ‘its we.’ This is how you create a community in your classroom.”

(Top/Index)

GRCC Presidential Search Continues
By Lonnie Allen
Editor-in-Chief

On November 17 the GRCC Presidential Search Committee began reviewing applicants for a new president of the college.

The last search ended with the GRCC Board Of Trustees deciding to go back out and extend their search. Gary Schenk Board Of Trustees Chairperson said the committee would meet again after the initial application review.

This full session meeting would then select the semi-finalist, Schenk will not comment on how many would be selected. According to Schenk, this semi-finalist process is done privately, and they are currently reviewing approximately 60 applicants.

“At the end of interviews, the finalists will be recommended to the Board of Trustees (BOT) from whom a President will be chosen,” Schenk said, “The names of the finalists will be public, and those interviews will be public.”

Schenk also said that there are two finalists from the last search who have chosen to remain under consideration. They are Dr. Gordon May and Dr. Lawrence Spraggs. This time around the process will remain open to new applicants even though the initial search closed on Nov. 2.

“The candidate would really need spectacular credentials in my estimation to considered,” Schenk said, “but we do not want to leave any stone unturned.”

Schenk repudiated the idea that the BOT was looking for another Juan Olivarez.

“Dr. Olivarez was the right man in the right place for his time.” Schenk said. “This is a different time for GRCC, but we are looking for a visionary.”

Juan Olivarez served as President of GRCC for 9 years. He left the position at the end of his contract period in July of 2008 for a job with the Kalamazoo Foundation.

(Top/Index)

Campus Events for November 26, 2008
Compiled by Collegiate Staff

Diversity Lecture Series: Amy Dickison “Aging in the 21st Century”
November 12, 7 p.m.
The lecture will be held in the Calkins Science, admission is free. Amy Dickison is an author, syndicated columnist (the ‘Ask Amy’ column), and a frequent contributor to NPR.

Amy Dickinson Forum
November 13, 9 a.m.
Students and staff will have a chance to talk to Amy Dickinson at the Calkins Science Center Auditorium.

Being Tobacco Free @ GRCC
November 14, 9:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
A session for faculty, staff and students to explain the new GRCC smoking policy. It will also cover how to approach people ignoring the ban. This will be held in room 420 of the Cook building.

Non-Traditional Opportunities (Workshop)
November 18, 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
This workshop is held in the multipurpose room on the second floor of the Student Center. It will cover crossing gender stereotypes through career choices.

The Ordinary Radicals (Movie and Presentation)
November 18, 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
This film is about a movement within Christianity to do small things with great love, and looking at biblical history as it relates to the current state of American politics. Held in the auditorium of the Applied Technology Center and is sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Effective Note Taking (Workshop)
November 19, 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
This workshop is held in the multipurpose room on the second floor of the Student Center. It will cover different note taking techniques for both lectures and reading.

GRCC International Guitar Series: Marcin Dylla
November 20, 7:30 p.m.
Marcin Dylla is the winner of more than 17 first place prizes in guitar competitions around the world. This acclaimed Polish guitarist performs as part of a North American tour. This event will be held in room 200 of the Music Center, admission is seven dollars for students and $10 for general admission.

Building Healthier Relationships (Workshop)
November 20, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
This workshop will be held in the multipurpose room on the second floor of the Student Center. It will cover techniques to strengthen relationships with your family and friends.

PC Clinic
November 21, 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.
November 22, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
This clinic will be held in room 317 of the Applied Technology Center. Bring your PC to this student ran computer repair clinic.

(Top/Index)

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