Students and staff watch as the new president of the United States is inaugurated. (Photo by Lonnie Allen/Collegiate)

GRCC student is greatly missed
News Analysis
By Sarah Wiltenburg
Collegiate Staff Writer

Sept. 29, GRCC student Jeremy Zimmer was murdered.

That morning someone came into his family’s home in Wright Township and shot his mother, his younger brother Tyler, and him, and also beat his girlfriend, MSU student Katherine Brown, to death.

The person or persons attempted to cover up the murders by setting the house on fire.

Though Jeremy’s life was cut short, the life he led was full of family, friends, and nothing but love.

Kyle Daniel Kelting was one of Zimmer’s best friends, and is a former GRCC student who now attends GVSU.

During an email interview, Kelting wrote, “Jeremy was the best friend a man could ask for. I miss meeting up with him at the Raider Grille and eating lunch every time he had class and I was working up at the payroll office. It was always fun to cut a class or two and go out with the kid (Zimmer) to a good lunch or dinner. He was a lot of people's 'best friend.'

"I guess you could say he was just an all around great guy. He was all about friends, family, school, and working to pay off his classes. He will be dearly missed by many people. Such a bad thing never should have happened to such a great person."

Jeremy’s older brother Charlie Zimmer wasn’t available for questions, but Charlie’s long-time girlfriend, Allison Lozon was. When asked about Jeremy’s life, Lozon wrote in an email, “Jeremy worked at Pavers Plus; he liked to lift weights, play horseshoes, and hang out with friends. Jeremy and Katherine were together for seven months and were very happy together. They loved each other very much.”

There is one suspect in this quadruple homicide, Troy Brake. Brake is a former neighbor of the Zimmer’s. Lozon said, “Troy Brake is being charged with open murder. I sat in on the second hearing and it told how everyone died and where they were in the home. We haven't gotten very far in the trial yet, he is pleading not guilty but for everything that happened in the first preliminary trial it seems that his stories are not adding up. His girlfriend changed her story quite a few times, and his alibi didn't work out. He claimed that he was with a friend from high school, and when the friend was on the stand, he said that he had not talked to Troy since April.”

The love that friends and family had and still have for Jeremy, his mother Sharm, his brother Tyler, and his girlfriend Katherine Brown is seen all over the internet, especially on Facebook. There is one group titled “RIP Jeremy, Tyler, Sharm, and Katherine” and was created by Kelting. There are 135 wall posts made by some of the 910 members, telling stories of each of the four and how they’ve touched their lives.

The stories start out and continue with fond and happy memories.

Facebook also has another group “Memorial Fund for the Zimmer Family” created by Matt Schwartz who attended Coopersville High School with the Zimmer. Then there is one titled “Memorial Fund for Katherine Brown” which was created by Elizabeth Jean, who was one of Brown’s close friends. These again have many stories of family and friends of these four.

GRCC has lost a friend, a part of the GRCC family, and a great student. Jeremy had a 3.6 GPA and still remained a friend to so many while working and going to school.

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Economic downturn bad for students
By Marcus J. Reynolds
Collegiate Staff Writer

Students are sacrificing sleep and time to socialize, along with compounding loans to obtain a degree, with hopes their efforts will guarantee a job once they graduate.

Michigan is hurting economically students are concerned that it won’t be easy to find employment once they meet their goal of higher education.

“It’s not that easy to go out and get a job anymore, I want to find an entry level teaching job in the Arts,” said Dave Loper, GRCC student.

“I think there will be jobs but I think it will be extremely competitive because there aren’t many jobs out there,” said Bonnie Peterson, GRCC office assistant and business major.

The recent economic downturn, globalization, and the shift from the industrial age to the informational age have shrunken the U.S. job market.

“Employers are using less employees and more robots which means there aren’t going to be as many openings for students, unless they have the higher level skills in math, science, and computers,” said Paul Phifer, twenty-five year career counselor and Director of Career Services at GRCC.

Outsourcing is another factor for less jobs and more competition in the job market.

“The economy is in turmoil every time you turn on the television there’s a job being outsourced,” said Carla Johnson GRCC student and criminal justice major.

Johnson lost her job due to outsourcing and is currently in school through the No Worker Left Behind Program.

“When the economy takes a downturn the population goes back to be educated or for a career change. You have to dream again,” said Howard Shaken, GRCC Registrar.

This is important because projections show that 80% of the top 50 fastest-growing jobs require education beyond high school as quoted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The 50 Best Careers Guide list the hottest occupations with the highest growth and high annual earnings. The top five are airline pilots, chemical engineers, computer software engineers and sales engineers. These jobs earnings ranged between $80,000-$130,000. All of these jobs have a need for a high aptitude in math, science and computer science.

Students in any career curriculum can do certain things to prepare themselves for the job market.

“Students need to be more savvy, keener and willing to sell themselves to employers. Career development is important, you are responsible for yourself,” said Phifer.

Phifer suggested that students continually be going to school to stay abreast and reeducate themselves to stay current.

“We are already in the midst of retooling and restructing,” said Phifer

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NPR correspondent speaks about MLK
By Mieke Stoub
Collegiate Staff Writer

The Ford Field House was a bustle of activity on the night of the 23 annual Dr. Martin Luther King, jr. Inherit the Dream Celebration. This year’s theme was Uniting the Past with the Present.

Before the event started, the band was warming up and a young woman was singing quietly to her baby. The band was playing Motown beats.

Melissa Morris, along with her eight-month-old, was one of the first to arrive. Her fiancé, Jermain Crawford, sings with MLK Choir and has been for the last three years.

Then the lights dimmed and Eva Aguirre Cooper came out to lead the celebration as the Mistress of Ceremonies.

“Tonight is a celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King,” Aguirre said.

After a brief introduction Cooper welcomed one of the event’s sponsors, President of Eastern Floral & Gifts Bing Goei. Goei lead the invocation with a reference to the night’s event as well as the historical inauguration of Barak Obama.

“On this eve of what will be a defining moment in the history of the United States of America, we have gathered to honor the life and the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” Goei said. “Tomorrow, President elect Barack Obama assuming the Presidency will partially fulfill Dr. King’s statements.”

After the MLK essay contest winner and the scholarships were awarded, the Vice President of Human Resources at Spectrum Health, another sponsor of the nights’ event, introduced Juan Williams.

Williams, the keynote speaker of the evening, who is a political correspondent for NPR as well as an author, also brought up the significance of the nights’ event and the newly elected president.

“In a way, Barack Obama’s election is a fulfillment of Martin Luther King’s dream,” he said. “Dr King stood for judging people on the content of character, not the color of their skin.”

However, Williams said that Dr. King might be challenged by Barack Obama if her were alive today. He discussed what might happen if King were alive today and what his views of current African American culture.

“Engage with me, for a moment, in an act of imagination,” Williams said. “I want you to imagine that the back doors open and in walks an elderly man. 80 years old… he doesn’t understand that we’re having a celebration to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”

Williams explains that he believes that were King alive today, he would be outraged that the poverty rates are higher than they were forty years ago.

“How can we have a 12 percent poverty level when you’ve told me so much has changed,” said Williams as the claimed Dr. King. Then Williams gives the image of this Dr. King watching television, seeing how the African American culture is represented.

“What should come up on the screen as the TV turns on, but the number one cable show in America today: Flavor of Love,” said Williams. “They’ve got this guys with a clownish hat, this huge clock around his neck, grill on his teeth, and he’s talking all this kind of profanity… and for some reason these women are competing for this fools attention.”

Williams continues to paint a grim picture of America today by telling a story of Bill Cosby. Back in 2004, Williams said, Bill Cosby had raised controversy when he spoke about the poverty level.

“Oh.Well, did he tell any lies?” asked the fictional Dr. King. Williams concludes this “act of imagination” by telling the audience that Dr. King’s spirit still lives on in all of us.

“If you are going to celebrate Dr. King,” said Williams, “start by looking within and you will find heart, and a mind, and hands that remind you of an 80 year-old man who’s willing to take on risk and sacrifice in order to create change. That is the greatest tribute that we can all offer as we celebrate Dr. King in 2009.”

After Williams left the podium, a skit was performed to represent the significance of voting rights and the MLK Choir sang songs rejoicing the power of freedom.

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Millions watch as history is made
By David Lightman
MCT Wire

As he addressed the nation on Tuesday for the first time as president, Barack Obama looked out over a National Mall where millions listened in a setting that was both electric and serene.

Electric because looking west from the tall white platform in front of the Capitol dome, Obama saw an unbroken mass of humanity stretching the mile and a half down to the Washington Monument, and beyond. He and first lady Michelle Obama waved to the crowd and watched thousands wave back with their little American flags, creating a blinding red white and blue ocean accented by the bright, piercing sun.

There was also an unusual serenity to the day, because so many had waited so long to see the inauguration of an African-American as president. As Obama said in his inaugural address, a man "whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath."

The sense of calm had other roots: People knew that Tuesday could be a line of historic demarcation. New presidents taking office in times of grave crisis get special opportunities to rally and reinvigorate their troubled countries.

And so, despite the biting cold and the swarms of people around every downtown subway stop, sandwich shop and security checkpoint, Washington had a feeling far different than any in memory. People were friendly, positive and, since this was, after all, a celebration, giddy.

Doug Jennings, a state legislator from Bennettsville, S.C., had the word "hope" shaved into his short, graying hair on Monday.

"It kind of symbolizes what Obama is all about," Jennings said. "And I don't have enough hair for more than one word."

The day began with temperatures under 20 degrees. Lines formed in dark suburban parking lots as early as 3:30 a.m. People stretched for blocks outside Maryland's New Carrollton subway station, which opened half an hour later; once they got downtown, nearly 5,000 people waited for security clearance near the Labor Department in northwest Washington.

They were America, 2009, impossible to easily characterize. They were young and old, black and white. Some were dressed in their finest, while most were bundled up in parkas or heavy coats.

They kept coming. By 9 a.m. still three hours before the swaring in, alerts went out that the Mall was full east of the Washington Monument, and that people still working their way downtown should work their way farther west. Along city streets, suddenly ubiquitous vendors sold Obama belt buckles, calenders, magnets, laptops, and cold weather gear.

The biggest seller: Something etched with Jan. 20. "People want to buy stuff with today's date because it is a historic day," said vendor Joe Oglesvy of Baltimore.

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Campus Events for January 28, 2009
Compiled by Kyle A. Kiekintveld
Collegiate Staff Writer

Beyond the Wall Poster Sale
Jan. 29, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Buy posters in Winchester Alley, in G2 of the Main Building. This student fund raiser is sponsored by the Native American Student Organization (NASO).

Career Direction Workshop
Jan. 29, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
This workshop will be held in the Main Building, room 112. The workshop will offer advice, direction and resources to manage a career path.

Annual Giants Awards and Banquet 2009
Jan. 31, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Held in the Ford Fieldhouse, the annual Giants Awards celebrate community leadership and involvement from African Americans and the descendants of African Americans.

Staying Informed About Financial Aid (Workshop)
Feb. 4, 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Held in room 336 of the Student Center, this workshop explains different types of financial aid and scholarships available to GRCC students. It also explains how to avoid suspension of Financial Aid.

In Remembrance Of...(Presentation and Forum)
Feb. 5, 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
A community forum and discussion on violence and gang involvement, to be held in the Applied Technology Center auditorum room 168.

Music Audition Workshop
Feb. 7, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
This workshop offers early auditions for Music Majors. The cost is $5 if you Preregistration and $10 Walk in. For more information including location call Yelena Wells 292-3141.

Hip Hop, Youth & Politics w/ Davey D
Feb. 10, 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Davey D. is a Hip Hop historian, deejay, journalist, community activist, and public speaker. This lecture will be held in the ATC building auditorium, room 168.

Valentine Sale!
Feb. 11, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Held in the Student Center along the bookstore, this fund raiser is sponsored by the BSU. Valentines Day balloons, baskets, flowers, stuffed animals and candy are available for purchase.

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