Rock the Vote rocked the boat
Opinion by Collegiate Editorial Board

This year young people have a greater incentive to vote and work for change than at any other time in decades.

So when the Black Student Union, Student Congress and Campus Activities Board put together a Rock the Vote festival on the commons on Sept. 10 during Welcome Week, no one would have suspected that it would have drawn negative feedback.

That was the case when some faculty members complained about the noise from the live music offered during the festival. Though it came was a surprise since prior announcements were made to inform people across campus about the bands coming to play the commons.

This event was ment to engage students and get them educated about the importance of voting. You would think the faculty would be thrilled. Especially after two failed millages that could have been passed if three percent more students voted.

It is time stop whining about disruption. This is engagement on the student level. Students like music, activities and basically a day exactly the way it turned out.

It’s difficult to engage students with some speech about the importance of voting by somebody twice their age. Students who know what a majority of their peers would like produced this event.

It is understandable that this event was far from quiet, but that meant it was successful. It may have been distracting, but events like this are not a common occurrence at GRCC.

Though the Student Life office took these complaints seriously, a policy of no whiners should have been the stance. Students need to be engaged and aware of what is going on in their government.

Inadequate federal funding has contributed to the cost of skyrocketing college tuition. For the 2003-04 academic years, tuition and fees at four year public universities increased an average of 14.1 percent over the previous year.

At the same time, student grants and loans are being cut back, making college less affordable for everyone except the rich.

A study in 2002 found that 400,000 qualified high school graduates could not afford to attend a four-year college.

Borrowing money loans to pay for college greatly increased during the 1990s. Debts averaged $12,888 in the 1999-2000 academic year for seniors from low-income families attending public four year schools--up 69 percent from 10 years earlier, even after adjusting for inflation.

In the 1975-76 academic year, average Pell Grant awards covered about 48 percent of the tuition, fees, room, and board at a four year public institution. By the 2000-01 academic year, the average grant covered only 25 percent of total costs.

These few examples show how much the government affects our lives and how important it is for us all to be informed and engaged citizens. Young people have an especially strong incentive to set things right so the rest of their lives will not be severely impacted

.This is why events like these need to be supported. It is unfortunate that disruptions happened, but faculty need to lighten up when something like this occurs and be glad that some of us care about making a difference.

Voting is also for young people. Get informed, get involved, and work for change.

Academic policy too much or too little?
Opinion by Lonnie Allen
Editor-in-Chief

When college administrators began discussing a new academic policy, it was easy to become enticed with the idea.

Though some have praised the policy, others have questioned its validity.

The new Academic Standing Policy, which took effect this fall, requires students to meet a minimum cumulative GPA, depending on attempted credit hours. When students fail to meet this GPA, they are placed on academic probation and could face suspension.

I have a few questions and concerns about this, which causes me to wonder if the administrators thought seriously about issues surrounding the new policy.

Is the Academic Standing Policy suitable for this college? Should the college have lumped all the students under this policy without a grandfather clause? Why not make it only effective on incoming, newly enrolled students?

I do not think it is unreasonable to ask a college student to achieve at least a C in their classes. With higher education as an important factor in today’s job market, students must take education seriously.

GRCC does have a high demand for classes from its community. The idea that a student could be here with an undesirable GPA, which could prevent another student from taking that class because it is at capacity, is just wrong.

Any student who is throwing their money down the toilet by not taking college seriously is a reason we should look at reforming our acceptance policy, rather than an academic policy.

My concern is the lack of a grandfather clause with this policy. By lumping the whole student body together, the college is basically moving the goal post on students who have been attending GRCC on its previous requirements.

As a returning student, I would question whether the new policy violates the previous contract the school has with me. I would not be taking this lightly, especially with the amount of time and money invested in my education.

I disagree with allowing a policy implemented after I had already enrolled interfere with my education. Another concern is whether this policy will put pressure on students and the culture here at GRCC, making it an atmosphere where grades are the be all, end all,while learning moves to the end of the line.

Will students waste countless hours asking about grading policies? Will students only seek out professors because of their easy grading policies? What has a college accomplished if this becomes the case, where only grades are important and not the enrichment of learning?

Students need to have a standard, but what and who can blanket a diverse and wide style of learning? Each of us is an individual, and we should be accountable for our learning, especially when we are paying for it.

Becoming booksmart to go green
Opinion by Nicole Hoffman
A&E Editor

In the midst of a society going green, it seems to me that large schools such as GRCC would do their fair share to help out.

While I have purchased a few notebooks from the GRCC bookstore made of acid free, recycled paper, it seems the school would do more than just sell products that are good for the environment. GRCC should do more to become a “green” school.

I have also noticed, more times than not, that my books can’t be bought back because of the new editions being used the next semester. This issue goes hand in hand with the need for the school to become a positive addition to the green movement.

I think the school should come up with a system that would allow students to return books, regardless of a new editions being used or the bookstore being overstocked on the book.

A system like this would save students money, which is something that is important considering the often outrageous cost students pay for books. It will also help the campus to go green.

Then once the school buys the books back, they could recycle them. Not only could students get money back for their books, but their books wouldn’t become a floor mat for cars, or a dust collector on a bookshelf. It would also be a good way to encourage students to help the campus go green.

I think that it would make students happier with the money they put into their school books, and it would also help the school make more money. Students wouldn’t have to go to competitors like Brian’s Books as often.

All in all, I think a reformed system for buying books at GRCC would benefit the school as well as students. It would cut down on people who are unhappy with the way the bookstore works, and the bookstore would have more business. Both the students and school could feel good about where the books go once they are done being used.

There are also other sources that students could use, rather than the GRCC bookstore, that offer to buy back their books as well as recycle them. This would be even more of a reason for GRCC to join in on recycling. They wouldn’t lose students’ business because of them going elsewhere to help do their part in becoming a “green” society.

What students can do to save money
Opinion by Jim Kelly
Guest Columnist

With the school year just beginning, many college students are using credit cards and setting up their own bank accounts for the first time. ING Direct USA, the nation’s largest direct bank, asked its summer interns what they wished their parents had told them as they headed off to college.

Here’s their advice:

START SAVING NOW.Small, day-to-day expenses can really add up. A daily trip to Starbucks for a $3.00 latte totals nearly $1,100 over a year. Trimming down on needless costs frees up lots of money. Stocking it all away in a high-interest savings account allows you to save for something more useful than an overpriced coffee.

MAINTAIN A BUDGET. College is costly. You have to buy books, clothes, and supplies. Create a budget for each semester so you can prepare for future expenses. This will save you the headache of figuring how much money you need for everything, and leave you with extra spending money.

USE A CREDIT CARD ONLY WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. Just because a credit line is available, that doesn’t mean you need to max it out. It can take many years and thousands of dollars to pay off credit-card debt. Spend only the money you have budgeted and use a credit card in emergency situations only.

BUY YOUR TEXTBOOKS from discount Web sites. Textbooks can be very expensive, especially if you buy them from your campus bookstore. Consider purchasing your books from discount Web sites such as Amazon. com or Half.com. It saves you the hassle of waiting in line for books on the first day of class, and saves you a lot of money.

SPLIT YOUR BILLS with your roommates if you live in an apartment. Make a financial plan you can all agree on to pay your bills every month. Split the bills equally among all of you. This way you’re all paying an equal amount, and the plan will keep everyone on a schedule.

IF YOU LIVE OFF CAMPUS, don’t eat out all the time. Buy enough groceries for a week or two so you can make lunch and dinner on your own. It can be a fun way to save money, and you can always split the grocery costs with your roommates.

IF YOU HAVE A JOB at school, take money out of each paycheck and put it in a savings account. You won’t be tempted to spend all of your money, and you will always have some extra spending money for fun or when you really need it.

MAKE SURE you can access your bank account at school. If you can’t, open an account at a local bank or online. At a local bank, you can easily cash and deposit checks and might be able to avoid ATM fees. Similarly, many online banks offer free ATM access at thousands of locations through ATM networks. And online banks generally offer some of the highest interest rates available.

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR MONEY. Keep a log of deposits and purchases, especially from checks and debit cards. Even though your bank may track this electronically, it’s good practice for you to personally manage your funds. Plus, transactions might not go through as soon as you make them. Having a hard copy is always a good idea.

Jim Kelly is Chief Operating Officer of ING Direct, the world’s largest online bank.

Accepting that 'nice guys finish last'
Opinion by Ashley VanderLoon
Collegiate Staff Writer

Every morning, I come to school with a smile on my face and a friendly “hello.”

Sometimes people acknowledge my presence, and others tend to go on their merry way with other goals on their mind than to be respectful in return. It’s okay, and I understand. They don’t need to apologize; I just wanted to break the ice.

I have noticed people are aware of my outgoing persona, and others tend to use it against me. I’ve met people who assume because I’m usually happy, I must have a certain personality disorder. I tell them it’s just the way I am. I keep in mind that it’s their own decision to either like me or not. I would like to make a new friend, but it’s not worth it if I can’t simply be myself.

My positive attitude comes from realizing the hardships of life and wanting to share a little bit of inspiration with the world. There are immense amounts of negativity around us, such as fi ghting, arguing, world wars, and poverty.

I just want to fi nd ways to make up for all the disasters that surround our nation. I feel that a simple kind gesture could make someone’s day.

A single helping hand could be benefi cial down the road. It isn’t my intention to tell you what to do; this is simply what I do because I chose to do it.

I believe a negative attitude only makes matters worse, and people could set their priorities on helping, not hindering. I consider that if our focus on the positive was strong enough, our world could be a completely better place. It isn’t too late to start now and make a few changes here and there.

When I’m positive, I find my creative state of mind is obvious and improved. I’m focused more on my goals and have a better grip on my surroundings. Even though people may find I’m “too nice,” and may confuse that with being naïve, I find it’s the strongest trait of maturity around.

I enjoy respecting others, and I enjoy listening, too. If people cannot see the decency in that, then I’m sorry, but they need to take off the masquerade.

I’m not in a race to the fi nish line; I’m taking life one day at a time. They often say nice people finish last place, and that’s okay with me. They can go ahead because I’m here for the team.

Next time you see me in the hallway, you can decide to have a smile on your face too. It’ll most likely make someone’s day, and I promise it’ll be beneficial down the road to you.

Election ‘08: Everyone is watching
Opinion by Kyle Kiekintveld
Collegiate Staff Writer

Everyone is watching us now. This election we have a chance to change how the world looks at us.

The world sees Americans as dwelling on the negative in the world, past and present, and yet we ignore our own history. How often do we condemn others and ignore the problems within our country?

I will fully admit I do not believe everything John McCain or Barack Obama says. Elections in general just depress me.

Neither candidate has the miracle cure for the economy, the health care industry, or international relations. Their specific policies reflect their efforts to win elections and not actually solve the problems we face.

No political candidate can save us. If Hurricane Katrina has taught us anything, it is that we have to save ourselves. We have to start with our neighbors. We have to start helping each other.

The reason I will be voting for Obama isn’t because he will save us. It isn’t even because I am a die-hard Democrat or agree with him on all the major issues. I will be voting for him because he will show the world that we have really moved on from our checkered past.

We are a country that remembers community. A country that isn’t always about empire or electing the same, old rich white people who have never worked for minimum wage or went without health insurance.

It is about electing someone who is an “everyman.” Someone who was born into a middle class family, with a chance to fail, without an Ivy League education and a six-figure salary guaranteed to him.

Obama isn’t the political savior he is made out to be, and I am sure he is no saint. Yet we shouldn’t vote for him because of how he is painted by the media. We shouldn’t vote for his ‘change’ any more than we should vote for McCain-Palin’s ‘small town values,’ because these are empty words.

We should vote for him because we are truly ready to move on. We are ready to move on from preemptive war, move on from utterly ignoring Africa, and move on from the constant elitism of our foreign policies.

Driven by the love and fear of writing
Opinion by YirssiBergman
Managing Editor

When I sit down to write my hands clam up. My heartbeat quickens, and I feel my body’s temperature rise as sweat pools in not-too-comfortable places

. Fear clings at the edges of my mind, and I begin to feel like a fool, to think that once it’s written people will think me a fool for it.

When I sit down to write I feel an array of emotions, none of them positive—sometimes the fear is so great I even want to cry. If anyone knew exactly how I feel, they would think me masochistic for submitting to this over, and over again.

But for some reason I can’t stay away from it. If you’ve ever heard a calling to do anything, you understand. If you ever had a passion that was impossible to subdue, you will understand, regardless of whether that passion was aimed at a person, a pet, or a cause.

Words are my passion; the myriad of combinations that can be achieved with them is a true source of amusement. I know, around this point you are probably saying “what a dork,” but I’m just being honest.

From the moment I was a child I have felt pulled towards words like a magnet.

I moved to Spain from the Dominican Republic when I was four years old, and in my stepdad’s house I saw a collection of encyclopedias for the first time. I remember, as small as I was, waking earlier than my parents and sitting in the living room, staring at those encyclopedias time, after time, after time.

After that it was a done deal. My parents had to buy me books left and right, the Disney collection, the Choose Your Own Adventure books, the Agatha Christie collection, the Goosebumps collection— books of otherworldly mysteries always caught my attention. Stephen King became a favorite, and don’t let me get started on “Harry Potter” and “Twilight.”

The librarian fell in love with me, and what option did she have? I was there every week grabbing a couple of books.

It was only a matter of time before I realized that being a doctor, lawyer, or any kind of non-artistic job would just be insipid to me.

By sixth grade I began writing little novels that were never finished. In middle school I was part of the school paper, and in high school, I wrote poetry and screenplays.

But I never took it seriously. What no one told me is that fear sometimes accompanies a person when trying to do something that they seriously love.

Now I sit here, in college crafting a future for myself, and choosing to stick with words.

The fear doesn’t leave me.

I’ve learned to fight through it though—when you have a deadline, and at least 10 people waiting for your story, you have no option but to push through. But it’s not only that. I’ve realized that at the age of 40, I don’t want to look back and say, “I could’ve, but I didn’t.”

I’m still terribly afraid of failing, but I’ve decided that if I fail it will be on my own terms. And that’s why I write.

Student Shoutout Online results
Did you feel you had a worthwhile year at GRCC last year?
Yes (77.5%)
No (12.5%)

Click here to vote in our current poll asking if your school year was worth it.

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