Photo Illustration By Eric Gray/Collegiate
McCain and Palin at the GRCC Ford Fieldhouse on Sept. 17. At least 500 GRCC students and staff attended this event.

Presidential candidate comes to GRCC
By Rebekah Young
Opinion Editor

Filling Ford Fieldhouse’s 3,500 capacity, West Michigan students and voters filed in to attend the McCain-Palin Straight Talk Town Hall Meeting on Sept. 17.

During the 70-minute event, Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin took the stage in a town hall format to allow West Michigan voters to ask questions of the GOP ticket’s agenda.

“Town hall is a chance not only for you to hear from us, but for us to hear from you,” Sen. McCain, 72 said. “It’s the essence of a democracy.”

According to MI Representative Pete Hoekstra, who gave the opening statements, young people showed up in full force for the free event. All available tickets were given away in 20 minutes.

“The other candidate is said to have the youth vote, but look at this,” Hoekstra said while surveying the crowd. “I’m impressed. What a great cross-section of people we have.”

GRCC students were also present, many with serious concerns and expectations of their Republican
nominees.

“I’m looking forward to the fact that we’ll actually be able to ask our questions and get them answered directly from him,” Ryan Nousen, third year GRCC student, said while waiting for McCain’s arrival. “My main concern is drilling—whether they’re going to do it and where. I also want to hear how they’re going to fix the economy.”

“It’s not everyday they come here, so I’m taking the opportunity to see them,” Liana Bleeker, first year GRCC student, said. “I know people keep bashing McCain about not discussing the economy, so hopefully he’ll bring it up.”

Geoffrey Poinder, first year GRCC student, said, “As a Christian, I want to see Senator John McCain stand up for our values and beliefs. I want to hear him sanctify marriage between a man and a woman. To see a presidential candidate in person is really exciting, especially for Grand Rapids as a smaller city and being able to host the event here.”

Earlier in the evening, Anne Schmidt, a senior from Hope College, gave a speech to get the crowed going and to speak about the youth vote.

“The Democrats think they have young people in their pocket,” Schmidt said. “We young people know only John McCain and Palin can give us what we want.” Schmidt cited cooperation in Washington,
accountability and results as three main goals young people want from their next president and
vice president.

McCain and Palin addressed the crowd before opening the floor for their first joint town hall meeting.

“It’s going to be a hard fought contest here in Michigan,” Palin, 44, said. “We’re going to put government back on the side of the people. This election is going to come down to who you trust, and who has set an example.”

“These tough times require a tough team, we’ll put our country first,” McCain said. “Change is coming, and it’s coming on Jan. the 20th.”

When the question and answer part of the evening began, the candidates were asked to address issues such as Radical Islamic Extremism, Social Security, equality for women, earmarking, debt, the economy, and healthcare.

Palin focused on the topic of energy independence, calling the issue “her baby,” and said, “Energy independence is security and prosperity for this great nation.”

Palin was at the center of many questions, which probed into her past experience and also sought her response to recent criticism she’s received.

A single mother in the crowd asked Palin what she thought of critics that said she can’t be a mother and the vice president, to which Palin responded, “Well, let’s prove them wrong.

“I was pregnant when I was the governor, and they asked how are you going to be their governor and have a baby in office?’’ she elaborated. “And I said, ‘The same way that every other governor has brought up a family, had a baby in office.’ Granted they were men, maybe that was the difference. But we’re going to be able to do it.’’

McCain and Palin tag-teamed, offering support for each other. They referred to each other as ‘mavericks’ when recanting past accomplishments as elected leaders. An enthusiastic crowd cheered them on.

After Palin was asked about her perceived lack of experience, McCain cited her work negotiating a $40 billion pipeline in AK, and the fact that she’s commander of the Alaskan National Guard.

“She has an obvious knowledge of energy needs,” McCain said. “She understands national challenges.”

Talking about Michigan, McCain said Michigan’s unemployment rate had reached nine percent and noted that he will “not raise anyone’s taxes; it is the worst thing you can do at a time like this.”

“There is strength in Michigan. Detroit will be a leader,” McCain said. “New technology can create millions of new jobs. America’s best days are ahead of us.”

Palin said in this election, “our opponents have been going on about fighting for you, but there is really only one man who has fought for you, and that is Senator John McCain.”

Harry Lew, Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship advisor, said he attended the town hall meeting in order to learn about where the candidates stand.

He is still undecided about whom to vote for in the Nov. 4 elections, but says he “was impressed by McCain and Palin’s willingness to subject themselves to those kind of questions from the audience.”

He’d also seen Barack Obama and John Edwards in person, “but they gave speeches. I would have liked to see them take questions.”

Lew said he was still unsure of where his vote would go, and though he didn’t learn anything new, he got a feel of McCain and Palin’s personalities. He explained the impression they left was a positive one.

Lew said to make his decision he needed to learn more about the candidate’s positions.

Yirssi Bergman and Casey Brink contributed to this article.

Students protest McCain/Palin appearance
By Dana Finkler
Sports Editor

Lyon Street served as a proverbial Mason-Dixon line separatingprotestors and McCain-Palin supporters.

The first of the protestors was GRCC student Thomas Nolf, standing next to the student center and proudly displaying a sign that read, “Bush/McCain: More of the same.”

Nolf was looking to exercise his constitutional rights, as it seemed to be a theme of the day with the First Amendment Free Food Festival being on Constitution Day.

“I love it”, Nolf said. “It’s what our first amendment gives us the right to do, I’m gonna do it.”

Nolf stuck around as the protestors began gathering in numbers around 4:00 p.m.

“No McCain, We need change!” was the early battle cry of many protestors. A variety of protestors lined the sidewalk, ranging from high school and college students, to adults whoeven protested back in the 1960’s.

Also amongst the protestors were activist groups, such as the local group Activate Grand Rapids SDS, who gathered at the corner of Division and Fulton St. at Monument Park to voice their opinion.

“McCain supports war funding, not human needs,” Luci Parsons said. She is an Activate GR member.

Their message was to stop funding war and start funding human needs such as: education, heath care, food, and housing foreclosures. The group has been gathering for 3 years and is a part of the chapter of Students for a Democratic Society.

The group eventually moved from Monument Park and began marching through the Bostwick Commons led by a sign that read “Stop Funding War.” The group blended in with the other protestors and caught the attention of some of the local media.

Among the protestors stood a bearded man named Rich Young, who held a sign promoting Cynthia McKinney of the Green Party.

“ I’m promoting the Green Party to let people know there is an alternative,” Young said. “There is more than just an Republican or Democratic party that have solutions to this economic crisis.”

Young strongly believes other parties should be included to participate in the debates and thinks it
undermines American democracy. He has been active with the Green Party for eight years.

The Grand Rapids Police Department and the GRCC Campus Police reported no arrests or citations. The only acts of hostility were from a few Republican supporters throwing pennies at the Democratic supporters.

Tobacco-free policy to be implemented in November
By Rebekah Young
Opinion Editor

The air will be clearer this fall at GRCC when the campus-wide “Smoke Free For Me” program begins.

On Nov. 20, students and staff who smoke will be asked to comply with GRCC’s newly established tobacco-free policy, which will prohibit the use of tobacco anywhere on campus, including parking lots and ramps.

“As a former smoker, there was a point in my life when I was not interested in quitting, and I didn’t like being told I should,” said Melinda Graham, Student Congress member, who acted as a student representative on the policy’s committee. “Today I want others to experience the great feeling of facing a challenge like that and making it through.”

Cynthia Springer, Executive Director of Organizational Development, led the policy’s committee and said going tobacco free is key to GRCC’s mission as an educational institution.

“Our leadership in this area enables us to educate our students, staff and community about the benefits of quitting smoking and will deliver learning opportunities that help our students, faculty and staff take control of their health,” Springer said.

According to Tina Hoxie, Dean of Student Affairs, the policy, which is part of GRCC’s Be Healthy, Be Fit
wellness initiative, is meant to encourage a positive environment of awareness.

“We’ve looked at different statistics,” Hoxie said. “Hospitals in our area have gone smoke-free and have
seen great results. It’s an investment in our students and employees.”

The GRCC Tobacco Free web site reports that a smokefree environment removes the risk of chronic exposure to second-hand smoke, and it supports smokers who are trying to quit.

“GRCC is a great school and is ahead of the curve on many things,” Graham said. “This is just one more
thing where GRCC is setting a great example. I hope it inspires more people to stop smoking.”

Graham said other reasons behind the policy include environmental concerns and to make the campus cleaner.

Springer said the tobacco free program is responsive to long-term health care issues and the cost of maintaining clean campus facilities for students and staff.

The “Smoke Free For Me” program, accompanying the new policy, will include cessation services, promotional activities and education. Literature about the benefits of going smoke-free and promotional posters will also be used as communication tools.

“Our hope is in the future, as we include information about becoming smoke-free, it will become well-known and people will be prepared to accommodate it,” said Kathy Keating, Executive Director of Labor Relations, who served on the policy enforcement team.

GRCC’s existing policy bans smoking within 10 ft of entrances in compliance with the City of Grand Rapids Clean Indoor Act ordinance.

“By changing the policy to a tobacco-free environment, it might be easier to enforce,”
said Hoxie. “There’s no debate over how many feet away you are.”

The policy’s enforcement committee expects participation and cooperation from the students and staff in order to preserve the program.

“We won’t be out looking to catch people smoking, but we will ask students to put out their cigarettes and respect the policy,” said Hoxie. “It will be a college-wide effort. Everyone will respect the policy for the benefit of everyone.”

Faculty involved in the committee behind the policy have researched and worked on the program for over a year, surveying students and studying the efforts of other colleges.

During the committee’s research, Springer said few enforcement incidents were reported involving sanctions.

However, sanctions following the college’s Student Code of Conduct will be included as a final level of enforcement for students who demonstrate a disregard for the tobacco free campus policy.

The launching of the new policy coincides with the American Cancer Society (ACS) “Great American Smokeout Day,” which encourages smokers to smoke less or quit for the entire day. The ACS’ goal for the event is to challenge smokers and raise their awareness of how to quit for good.

“It encourages people to take a day off, which provides a great opportunity to motivate staff and students
interested in quitting smoking on the day we roll out our Tobacco Free Campus,” said Springer. “I believe the day is a great way for smokers and nonsmokers to come together on Nov. 20.”

News Briefs for October 1, 2008
by Collegiate Staff

GRCC launches “Collegiate Readership Program”
GRCC has partnered with USA Today to launch the new “Collegiate Readership Program,” which brings newspapers to students and staff for free. The program promotes the readership of newspapers, and it currently offers copies of USA Today and The Grand Rapids Press. According to Paulo Teles, Raider Card Manager, students can access the newspapers by swiping their Raider cards, but it will not record any information or deduct funds from the cards.

“Media, Politics and Washington: An Evening with Ray Suarez”
Ray Suarez, Senior Correspondent for PBS’s News Hour with Jim Lehrer and author of “The Holy Vote: The Politics of Faith in America,” will be speaking on Oct. 8 at 7pm at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain NE. Suarez will bring his more than 25 years of experience and expertise in the journalism to the event, which is part of the Diversity Lecture Series XIII. The event is free and open to the public. There is a small fee for oncampus parking. A book signing will follow the lecture. For information, please call (616) 234-3390.

Administration adjusts prerequisite courses
Each academic department analyzes the current success rate of its courses to determine if prerequisites would benefit the program or if the curriculum needs adjustment said Laurie Chesley, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences. The changes are put in place by the beginning of the fall semester. The decision to modify prerequisite courses is a process that occurs every year.

Campus Police Report for October 1, 2008
Compiled by Shanda Boorst and Ryan Lenau
Collegiate Staff Writers

Children Found 8-06-08
Two children were found near the Library Resource Center looking for their parents. The children were left in a car with the windows rolled up and the car shut off. The children left the vehicle and began looking for their parents. Police located the parents in the library. Child Protective Services was contacted.

Trapped in elevator 8-28-08
A man called campus police claiming to be trapped in a Ford Field House elevator located at the pool level. When an officer arrived, he explained to the man in the elevator that he was already on the 1st floor, and if he wished to get to the main level he had to press G rather than 1. Elevator service did analyze the elevator to determine nothing was wrong with the elevator.

Intoxication 9-2-08
An intoxicated woman was found at the corner of Ransom and Lyon shouting profanities at passersby. Police breathalyzer tests determined her blood alcohol level was .28. The woman later told police that
she was three months pregnant and had been drinking for the past three days. Also had a warrant out for arrest for failure to appear.

Man stuck in Elevator 9-2-08
Lyon Street parking rap on level seven. The man was assisted by the Elevator service as well as the Grand Rapids Community College Police.

Suspected paraphernalia 9-4-08
A small white bag was found floating in the toilet in the men’s bathroom on the 2nd floor of the Music
Building. A small white pill and six individual matches were found on a ledge near the toilet. Thesubstance in the baggy appeared to be, and smelled like, tobacco according to Police.

Car Hit 9-8-08
A man rear ended a woman in the Bostwick parking ramp. When the woman asked the man if he had hit her car, he began crying and admitting that he had indeed hit her vehicle.

Larceny 9-8-08
A man left his textbook unsupervised in the ATC computer lab. The man walked away from his belongings for approximately 30 minutes when he returned to his table he noticed his textbook had been stolen.

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