Students enjoy Welcome Week 2008.

Rock The Vote rocks Welcome Week
By Jessica Freeney
Collegiate Staff Writer

September 10th. Students gathered for change at Wednesday’s Rock the Vote. GRCC’s Campus Activities Board, the GRCC Black Student Union, and the GRCC Student Congress aimed to put on a rocking event.

Students rocked out at Bostwick Commons to La Familia and The Envy League, while sipping on free Vault and Caribou Coffee, and enjoying complimentary Cold Stone and Qdoba.

Government leaders, including the Mayor of Grand Rapids George Heartwell, spoke to inspire students. State Representative Michael Saks stated, “No matter what party you support, it is important for you to get out and vote.”

“I was excited to see that student congress and local politicians got involved,” Daniel Crawford, a first year student at GRCC said, “I only wish that more parties could have been represented so that students could make a well informed decision.”

A “Voter Simulation Booth” offered first time student voters a look at what it will be like to vote on Election Day. Extra incentive was offered to those who signed up to be apart of the demonstration, participants received a free parking pass as well as a text message reminding them to vote on Election Day.

“Rock The Vote couldn’t have gone better,” said Garret Imhof, a member of the GRCC’s Campus Activities Board,” I think this event shows just how important one student’s vote can be.”

Feedback however wasn’t all positive as some facility felt the noise disrupted classes.

“The complaints for noise is pretty equal to the outpouring of support.” Student Congress President Sarah Wiltenburg stated, “We had 110 people register to vote.”

Booths lining the Commons were filled with both parties encouraging students to vote. Among them USA TODAY had a booth to tell students about how they can get there free copies of the newspaper in the Student Community Center. This can help keep students informed. Stickers, pens, t-shirts, and even a cowbell were among the other trinkets being given away.

Putting a price on your rights
By Nicole Hoffman
A&E Editor

You may have heard the saying there’s no such thing as a free lunch. GRCC students learned that there is.

In honor of Constitution Day, student Lonnie Allen along with the help of the Student Activities Board, Student Congress as well as the Collegiate, put on the first, First Amendment Free Food Event.

The event took place on September 17 in the Bostwick Commons. The event started at noon, but students were lined up at 11:30, waiting to be able to enter the Kingdom of the Socialist States of the Peoples Republic of Grand Rapids.

To get in to the Kingdom and receive free food and drink, students had to temporarily sign away their first amendment rights. Once they signed it away, they received a passport that allowed them into the gated area.

Passports included the First Amendment as well as some background information about it. Passports explained how the event was working and brought attention to students that they were “in another country- one without a First Amendment.”

Several volunteers acted as guards who mandated what could and couldn’t be done inside the Kingdom. Although there were guards GRCC and Ferris student Greg Jackson acted as the Dictator. Jackson was there to facilitate the guards and what went on inside the Kingdom.

Allen said, “He was there to show them what it was really like to live in a place without their First Amendment Rights. If he heard things being said about the way things were run, he broke it up. If too many people grouped together, he broke it up.”

As an actor in the event Jackson said, “I believe it to be a great event, one that can teach students in a sort of a real world case study.”

He went on to say, “It will make students more aware of what the actual first amendment is. Furthermore it will let students become more conscience of what these rights evoke, and more importantly what can happen when they (rights) are taken away.”

Volunteers acted out scenes to show what would be done if the Amendment didn’t exist. Student Krystle Duthil demonstrated that. When she entered the Kingdom dressed as a Muslim and brought out her prayer mat and started praying, guards carried her out despite her struggle.

Duthil said, “I believe those students who came to learn did learn. I’d like to think it caused someone to want to educate themselves about the freedoms we have here.”

Another student actor was later escorted out of the Kingdom for reading the Holy Bible. She was told that she wasn’t allowed to pray or even read scripture.

All of the students involved thought this was a really good way to show students how life would be without the First Amendment. Jackson said, “Anything that can broaden our minds to the true nature of being an American or especially coming to America as a exchange student will be instilled within us that freedom it not something to take lightly specially if you are without them.”

Organizations are sill compiling the results but commented that the event was a success with over 300 students, faculty and staff waiving their First Amendment rights.

Behind The Big Bang
By Sam R. King
Collegiate Staff Writer

The October 16th unprecedented event at Spectrum Theatre is being described by GRCC’s Campus Activities Board Secretary, Terry Hardaway, as “the biggest premier in GRCC event history.”

It’s not The Big Bang referencing the theory of the origin of the universe, but the one Hardaway calls, “a talent show like no other.”

While other local talent shows are offering trophies to the winners, this one is offering “big-bucks payouts” to GRCC students who are deemed top talent, Hardaway said.

The event takes place at 6pm and promises its audience singing, dancing, impressions, stand up comedy, and even card tricks from student contestants. The audience can also anticipate prizes to be doled out in the aisles by the AT&T prize patrol. Prizes are being kept secret until the event (much like the identities of local celebrity appearances), but when asked of their value, Hardaway replied “it’s not cheap stuff.”

The uniqueness of the event truly lies in what it does for the community and the students. “People will see that GRCC is not only a place to learn, but a place to find out who you are as a person,” Hardaway said. “A first time performer might discover that they want to take their talent further, perhaps become a local star.”

Steve VanWagoner, Vice President of Marketing for Celebration Cinema (a sponsor of the event), is looking forward to the show as well, commenting, “They have always done a fantastic job [with past events]. We enjoy our partnership with GRCC.”

The Campus Activities Board, WSNX, and Celebration Cinema invite anyone to attend on the big night. Raider Card holders will get in free and to all others the cost of admission will be only one dollar.

Eagle eye director speaks with students
By Nicole Hoffman
A&E Editor

Director DJ Caruso of “Eagle Eye” granted GRCC an interview, for an inside look at the movie. Several schools were given the opportunity to talk to a few of the cast members of the new movie.

Caruso talked about many different aspects as well as what it was like to work with the cast.

All of the schools were sent movie notes that explained all the aspects of the movie as well as interviews with each of the cast members. Steven Spielberg also included some quotes in the notes.

In the production notes producer Alex Kurtzman said, “Steven always wanted people to walk out of the theater and turn off their cell phones and BlackBerrys, because they were so scared- much in the way audiences feared swimming in the ocean after they saw Spielberg’s summer blockbuster “Jaws” in 1975."

” When asked if he thought they attained that goal Caruso said, “I think you will really question everything you do.” He went on to say, “Next time you make transaction you will think twice and make you fear technology.”

Caruso elaborated on what it was like to work with Spielberg. He met him back in 1997 when they worked together on a show. Speilberg kept up on Carusos career and called him for Disturbia

. He went on to work with him for Transformers and then work with him for Eagle Eye. Not only did he work with Spielberg again, but it gave him a chance to work once again with Shia LaBeouf.

He talked about working with Michael Chiklis, not only on “Eagle Eye” but also on an episode of “The Shield”. He explained how great it was working with Chiklis again.

LaBeouf stated in the notes that Caruso really cares about the audience really connecting with the characters in the movies. Caruso said, “Its very important to me that I tap into that emotionality.”

He talked about how the movie is our love for technology letting “Big Brother” in. Students went on to ask more about that. It relates back to the question of scaring people into turning off their cell phones in fear of being kept track of.

Caruso talked about his style of filming as well. He likes to do more old style film scenes. Having cool car crash scenes and being able to finally do scenes like that in his own movies.

Eagle Eye came out September 26. Make sure to go check it out.

Book review: Web of Conspiracy
By Jacqueline Prins
Web Design Editor

In this exiting look at real life whodunits, James Broderick and Darren W. Miller, explore some of the most controversial conspiracy theories in history.

From UFO sightings in Roswell, New Mexico, to the devastating events of 9/11, Web of Conspiracy looks at the truth many conspiracy theorists claim, the government is not telling you.

Front to back, this book is jam-packed with a hodgepodge of facts and websites. Broderick and Miller present unbiased information on all sides of different conspiracy theories. However, they will still admit that some theories seem more likely than others.

“The Shakespeare theory is plausible based on the evidence.” Miller said. “Princess Di has a lot of unanswered questions.”

One of the theories Miller enjoyed researching was the contentious explanation of 9/11.

“It’s controversial, it happened recently and it is still fresh in people’s minds.” Miller said.

This is the second book the authors have written together. While researching Consider the Source, their first book, they realized there was so much information about conspiracy theories available on the
web said Miller.

Each theory is discussed in 15 pages or less leaving the reader with a number of unanswered questions. This is where the worldwide web comes in. For further research, a variety of websites exploring different sides of each theory are suggested.

“When r esearching conspiracy theories at home,” Miller says “the Internet is a great tool.”

“Be cautious and have an open mind.” Miller said. “Look at the evidence, and weigh it.”

While some of the theories seem tedious, and take patience to get through, others will have the pages melting like butter between your fingers. This is the essential guide for researchers, conspiracy theorists, and anyone who just plain likes to question the “official explanation”.

Are You Watching The Watchmen?
By Ryan Lenau
Collegiate Staff Writer

With news of the pending release of “The Watchmen” feature film, interest in the 1986 graphic novel has spiked.

“The Watchmen” was completely different then anything I had been exposed to before,” said Craig Folsom. Folsom is the Store Manager of Grand Lan gaming center and comic shop. “It laid the groundwork for the comic book industry as a whole,” Folsom went on to say, “Watchmen” is puberty for comic books, it matured the industry.”

“I’m impressed at how much the trailer increased the awareness of it,” said Folsom.“The Watchmen” was one of the first comic books to treat super heroes as not very good people.”

Without “The Watchmen”, modern day super heroes would still be stuck in the kid like scenarios of pure good, versus pure evil.

“The best way toexperience it wouldbe to read it,” said Folsom. “People will read it because there is no confusion as to where it will start and stop.”

GRCC secretary writes book
By Christina Kim
Assistant Sports Editor

GRCC English Department Secretary, Gail Brown, wrote and self-published her book Where are the footnotes? A guide for the Non-traditional Female College Student.

The book was made available this August. “This book is for women who did not go straight to college after high school,” Brown said. “It can help them figure out what they want to do and how to do it.”

Brown, a former GRCC student, has been working on this book for four years, using her own experiences and those of women she has known as her inspiration.

“I was 50 when I went back to school,” She said. “I was scared; I didn’t know what to do, what to expect.” Brown said she went to multiple bookstores looking for a guide on how to navigate college. She was unable to find anything specifically for female students returning to school, especially older women.

“There was nothing for us,” she said. “We have all these other responsibilities that books for traditional students don’t address.”

She has tried to fix this by publishing her own book through Morris Publishing.

Brown wrote in her book, “It will help those who lack the information and skills needed to integrate existing responsibilities with college.”

She said that her co-workers and women in the English department encouraged her to write a book to help others with the same problems she encountered.

Brown believes that the changing market is making it even harder to find gainful work without a college degree.

“We didn’t have to go to college in my era,” she said. “Then the market changed. Those days are gone.”

The book is meant to be interactive, with organizational tools. It advises students on the process of becoming a college student, from picking the right school, to organizing one’s time. Brown’s website also offers resources for the non-traditional student.

"The book is a tool box,” she said. “It contains what you will need to navigate your way through school.”

More information and Brown’s book are available through www.wherearethefootnotes.com.

The Additives
By Zach Burger
Collegiate Staff Writer

Straight out of Chicago, Illinois, The Additives will take you by surprise with their catchy riffs and bellowing bass vocals. Full of simplistic rhythms and infectious melodies, it’s quite easy to have this four piece stuck in your head for days.

Their songs speak in a way that many artists today can’t seem to tackle. The song “Joe Delaney” off their 2008 EP “Back In Bridgeport” tells about the life of Sheila’s, the piano players grandfather. It explains his life and his accomplishments, portraying an image of a respectable, honest man. “Stare Out Old Man” the first track on the EP, gives a Beatles feel with a slight hint of Johnny Cash, held down by front man, Joe Ryan.

The five song EP was constructed inside a spare room in their apartment, making it creatively low-fi. Accompanied by an accordion and harmonica, the four piece has a unique quality to their music. As they secure a local crowd, the band has also been making attempts to tour, gaining a larger audience with every venture.

The Additives bring their own sound to the table, while staying within the confines of an alternative country feel. With gravelly bass vocals and catchy riffs, their music is sure to appeal to a vast audience.

Open Mic Nite Begins
By Lonnie Allen
Editor-in-Chief

Rappers, singers, and spoken word artist opened the first of seven Open Mic nights.

The evening’s turn out was a little light said Sara Hill GRCC’s Early College Enrollment Director and Black Student Union (BSU) advisor.

Hill expects bigger turnouts as the year progresses with the promotions and advertising. “This is our signature event.” Hill Said.

Emcees’ Brandon Mc- Call and Nick Rucker kept the crowd entertained with their antics. McCall GRCC student and BSU President along with Public Relations major Rucker said they were here to have a good time and make sure everyone else who came out was having a good time. In between acts the encouragement to get out to vote and be registered went along with the theme so far this year at GRCC.

“I know we have Republicans, Independents, Democrats and even a Nader fan here tonight,” McCall said, “Get out and vote this year.”

Adrian Jordan GRCC student was one of the six acts performing this night. Jordan said that he first performed this rap at his Detroit high school talent show.

The winner for this Open MC night was GRCC student “Cheddar Cheez” Chaz Rodriguez. Rodriguez won $50 as he accepted his win he thanked everyone who came out and thanked BSU for the night.

BSU uses events like this to raise money for their general operating fund Hill said. The $50 first prize isn’t the only reason competitors come out to BSU’s Open Mic Night. “They come to support, they come to perform, and to have a good time.” Said McCall.

Even though the winner had a great piece, Hill got up on stage and performed a piece that was powerful said GRCC culinary student Cameron “Blunt” Bunce.

“I was surprised to see her go up there,” Bunce said, “it was deep very strong words.”

As the event wrapped up the performers and the winner came up on stage and perform together and take turns at the mic.

A&E Briefs for October 1, 2008
Compiled by Nicole Hoffman
A&E Edtior

GRCC Alumni Fred S e b u l s k e d i r e c t s the show “Well” for the Actor’s Theatre.
Performancs of the show will be Oct. 2 -Oct 4, at Spectrum Theatre at 8 pm.

T h i s P r o v i d e n c e perfroms at The Orbit Room on Oct. 10 with Relient K.

Band Trivium and All That Remains will be at the Orbit Room Oct. 11. Tickets are $17.50 in advance or $20 the day of the show.

Nov. 1 the Orbit Room will feature 20 local bands of the punk and alternative genres. Tickets will be $12. Doors open at 11 am.

The Big Bang talent show put on by the Campus Activities Board will be on Oct. 3 at 6 pm.

Theory of A Deadman will be playing at the Intersection on Oct. 10.

Band New Found Glory will be performing on Oct. 20 at the Intersection.

Tuesday night swing dancing in Rosa Parks Circle. Gap commercials inspired founder and Calvin College student Steven Zaagman to initiate the swing dancing night. It will continue throughout the winter in Monroe community Church. Student Danielle Hendersons says, “Its a great way to exercise, have fun with friends and see a community come together in an interesting way.”

Speak Out! Have something to say? Sound off to The Collegiate at grcc_collegiate@yahoo.com for your tips or views on the current news, sports, arts & entertainment and opinion.

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Current Edition:
Oct. 1, 2008

Next Edition:
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