Challenge A Publication of Southeast Community College Home of the SCC Storm Athletic Teams

Friday, May 4, 2012Volume XXVI, No. 5 http://www.southeast.edu

TheSCC

The College Calendar

Southeast Community College4771 West Scott RoadBeatrice, NE 68310-7042

U.S. Postage PaidNon-Profit Organization

Permit No. 286Beatrice, NE 68310

Minimum wage.....page 2Machine Tool wins competition...........page 3Storm sports......... page 4HLC to visit............page 5Dozo review...........page 6

Inside

And more!

Dorm construction under way

Photo by Roni PutnamConstruction of the new dorm in Beatrice is in one of its earliest stages, dirt work, but the completed dorm will be ready for students at the beginning of the fall quarter.

Photo Kylie BettenSo what are students in the dorms to do when they aren’t in class or studying? One option is one of the RA activities. Above, Dane Christensen of Lincoln gets ready to take a shot during a recent barbeque and volleyball game on the Beatrice campus. For more about RA activities, please see the story on page 5.

Taking a shot

Continued on page 8

Monday, May 7Blood Drive, LincolnFriday, May 18New student orientation, MilfordThursday, May 24New student orientation, BeatriceMonday, May 28Memorial Day,campus closedTuesday, May 29General registration for summer quarter beginsFriday, June 8Graduations:Milford, 6:30 p.m.Beatrice, 7 p.m.Lincoln, 7:30 p.m.

By Adam Buchli and Stephanie Brownell

BEATRICE - For a while, it has been rumored that South-east Community College at Beatrice would be building a new resident hall. It turns out

that this rumor is true.Construction of the new

resident hall began on Mon-day April 16 by Sampson Construction. The building is estimated to be complete in time for the beginning of the fall quarter at the beginning of October 2012.

The location of the new

dorm will be built just east of Roosevelt Hall and south of the Truman Center, where currently a line of cedar trees are located.

A common question that students were asking is what would be the layout of the new resident hall going to look like?

Campus Director Bob Morgan said that the new dorm would have the same layout out as Washington and Roosevelt halls with the exception of the student union in Washington.

So this would include a kitchen, living room area, two bathrooms and two bedrooms that would house two students in each room.

So would this new resident hall replace Hoover Hall? Morgan replied, “Not right now, because of the current classrooms in Hoover, but in the future, we plan to make Hoover obsolete because of its growing age.”

With the construction of a new resident hall underway, there has not yet been a name picked out, but Morgan stated that the tradition of nam-ing campus buildings after a former president would likely be followed.

The estimated finish date has been picked out for Octo-ber 1, 2012. With this date, the college plans to house stu-dents in the new resident hall for the upcoming fall quarter of 2012. Former SCC student dies

in motorcycle accident

Rhiannon Peak

By Stephanie Brownell

BEATRICE - Former Southeast Community College student athlete, Rhiannon Peak, 20, of Paxton, suffered fatal injuries in a motorcycle accident north of Sutherland on Tuesday, April 24.

During her career at SCC, Peak played both volleyball and basketball for the Storm.

As a freshman, Peak earned Academic All-Region IX hon-

ors. She was also chosen as one of six students to repre-sent SCC on the All-Nebraska PTK Academic Team. Peak was an Academic Transfer major.

A press release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department stated that her father, Vance Peak, 52, was driving the motorcycle when he lost control travelling around a curve, shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24. The motorcycle slid into the ditch, overturned and ejected both passengers.

Rhiannon was air lifted by Midwest Med-Air to Great Plains Regional Medical Center, where she was pro-nounced dead upon arrival. Her father was transported by ambulance to GPRMC with serious injuries, but is in stable condition.

Services were held on Saturday, April 28, at 2 p.m. in the Paxton High School Gym. Rev. Adam Davenport of the Paxton United Methodist Church and Rev. Eldon Davis of Ainsworth officiated the service.

V-Section work progressesBy Drew Worster

LINCOLN - Construction at the Southeast Community College Lincoln campus seems to be on schedule.

The estimated completion for the multi stage project is summer term 2012.

On Aug. 21, the board of directors will hold the ribbon cutting and dedication, “so it needs to be done by then,” said Lincoln Campus Director Jeanette Volker.

Volker also stated that she wants it ready by the start of fall quarter because that is the largest enrollment term.

“We have had beautiful weather, so I anticipate we are going to meet our goal,” Volker added.

With enrollment on the rise, the SCC Lincoln campus needs more room.

Slightly less than one year ago, Cheever Construction, the main contractor, started work on additional classrooms and support/office facilities, a student services/welcome center and additional parking spaces.

The addition will help SCC meet the needs for education-al offerings in applied tech-nology, college transfer and continuing education.

One of the more predomi-nant areas of the new build-ing will be a one-stop shop student services center. This will house the admissions, registration, financial aid and business offices.

Student services have been located in room E1, but space it tight and more space is

Volker updates Student Senate on Lincoln construction

needed. Another big item coming

with the construction is a new welcome center. Currently, visiting students and par-ents have to stand in the hall because there is not enough room in the cafeteria or any-place else.

With the new addition, SCC will have a center to welcome visitors and provide them with information to review.

A new info center and switchboard will be located right inside the main en-trance, and students will be

able to come in and know exactly where they need to go.

Mounted outside of the new student services center will be 12 inverted 46 inch televisions that will have show scrolling messages. Students will be able to see these from outside the main entrance as well.

There will also be a new placement center and class-rooms on the main level. The basement will house addi-tional classrooms and offices for the academic transfer program.

By Joseph Busby

LINCOLN - Construction on campus was the focus of the most recent Lincoln Student Senate meeting on Monday, April 30.

The Southeast Commu-nity College Student Senate meeting began at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, April 30, in the Lin-coln Campus Student Center.

This meeting was not in usual format, featuring Lincoln Campus Director and Student Services Vice Presi-dent Jeanette Volker speaking on the construction occurring on the Lincoln campus.

She went over the details of the new section’s layout, citing that Student Services would be “front-and-center” for easy access. The added room, she added, would be beneficial.

“We’re very thrilled,” she said. “You know how packed they are in student services!”

Volker commented that the layout will be intuitive. “You will know where the front entrance is,” she noted, commenting with a smile that current students and visitors are often confused where to meet advisors and guides for campus tours.

She added that there will be a designated waiting area with “comfy-type furniture.” A new multi-purpose room with dividable sections, compa-rable to the Lincoln campus student center meeting rooms, is included in the plans.

The Family and Consumer Sciences and Business Admin-istration departments will be among the programs expand-ing upon the completion of the expansion. Volker also noted that academic advisors will be found on the lower level of the expansion.

2 Friday, May 4, 2012 SCC Challenge

Viewpoints

By Ann Aipperspach

Many of you attending school dream or plan on moving away from Nebraska. Ap-proximately one third of you will actually leave Nebraska after graduation according to the U.S Census Bureau.

Many graduates have a hard time find-ing a job in their chosen profession or simply yearn to stretch their adventurous wings to explore a different life in a differ-ent state. Whatever the reason that takes you far away from the Cornhusker state, the experience of living in Nebraska will remain long after the U-Haul boxes have been put away.

I moved away from Nebraska two years ago and notice how the experience of grow-ing up as a Cornhusker is embedded in me. You may not notice, but others around you do. For instance, when you make chili and you have to have cinnamon rolls served with it because in most elementary schools in Nebraska it was always served together. It is also very true that people from Ne-braska are pretty friendly and very open to talking to anyone.

When I meet fellow Nebraskans here in the Pacific Northwest, I notice they are some of the nicest people I have meet. I attend the Oregonians for Nebraska games in Portland, and I am amazed when I walk into the watch party and am swallowed up by a sea of red and friendly people. It’s like walking into any bar in Lincoln on a football Saturday except we are over 1600 miles away. It’s surreal to say the least.

I almost always run into someone I know, and we talk about food from Runza, Valentinos and Lazlo’s food and how much we miss them. For the Oregon native bystander, it seems as if we are talking in a foreign language.

Although I miss and love my beloved Nebraska, I fell in love with Oregon upon my first visit here. As a longtime self-de-voted foodie and chef, I absorb the Pacific Northwest’s bounty of fresh fish and fresh vegetables that seem to grow almost year round out here. I like to think I cook Ne-braska comfort food but with a Northwest twist.

When I started job searching out here, I encountered many employers talking about Midwest values, and it’s true. Ne-braskan’s are generally a hardy sort; I’m pretty sure it has something to do with the 20 below wind chill factor or the stifling heat index with the humidity blanket in the summer.

We work hard and don’t let adversity get

A love letter to Nebraska from the Pacific Northwest

in our way. We value friends and family and football. Men are surprised about the amount of football knowledge I possess, but growing up listening to the games and then discussing them the rest of the week, I just absorbed the knowledge like os-mosis. I fondly remember one of the first games I watched as a kid was the Orange Bowl with Turner Gill and Mike Rozier.

Nebraska stays connected with your soul no matter where you move. That’s one of the reasons we have so many alum-ni groups from all over the country. I have traveled all over the United States and have met many former Nebraskans from Cape Cod, Mass., to Las Vegas. In every chance encounter with a fellow Husker, I notice how their face lights up when they recall their time spent in the Cornhusker state.

Next time you have the chance to travel, simply wear your Husker red, and you will be amazed how many fellow Cornhuskers you will meet. Every day, I see something that reminds me of Nebraska.

My new home of Corvallis, Ore., re-minds me of Seward. We have a popula-tion of over 60,000, and when Oregon State is in session, over 20,000 students invade this small northwest city. It still maintains its sense of small town, a know-your-neighbor vibe, but with an organic, healthy lifestyle kind of twist.

I find that many people that have never visited Nebraska have this huge miscon-ception about our state, the stereotype that everyone grows up on a farm in the middle of nowhere surrounded by corn. Between me and you, I don’t think Ste-phen Kings “Children of the Corn” did much to change that image.

Most people are shocked and surprised that Lincoln and Omaha are rather big cities, a lot bigger than most of the cities here in Oregon. I do my best to educate these people and open their minds to our great state.

I am proud to say I was raised in Nebraska. My identity as a Husker will always be a part of me, like the roots of a plant. Although the flower may change with the seasons or get scattered across the country, my roots will always be red and white.

So if you decide on leaving Nebraska, always keep in touch with your Nebraska friends because true friends will ship you Dorothy Lynch, Runzas, and Valentinos, no matter where you live.

Opinion

Staff writers — Ann Aipperspach, Juanita Alonso, Brooke Bassinger, Adam Buchli, Adrienne, Constable, Kyle Garner, Jameca Hannah, Devan Hardy, Jordan Hussey, Paige Kalihoff, Rachel Kapeller, Recia Lahodny, Marissa May, Shelby Nesbitt, Rober Nickels, Aaron Peterson, Ted Pool, Jennifer Roche, Emily Sawyer, Heevy Sindi, Logan Soderling, Rosemary Thomas, Hannah Tyrell, Riley Wonderlich, and Drew Worster.Beatrice bureau chief — Roni PutnamSports editor — Stephanie BrownellLincoln bureau chief — Joseph BusbyMilford bureau chief — Madison NealMilford reporter - Kaylee Reimers Adviser — Joshua Whitney

SCC Board of Governors: Lynn Schluckebier, Chair, Seward; Robert J. Feit, Vice Chair, Pickrell; James J. Garver, Secretary, Lincoln; Kathy Boellstorff, Treasurer, Johnson; Helen E. Griffin, Lincoln; Ed C. Heiden, Sterling; Carl R. Humphrey, Waverly; Ruth M. Johnson, Lincoln; Dale Kruse, Beatrice; Terrence L. Kubicek, Lincoln; Nancy A. Seim, Lincoln; Steve Ottmann, Faculty Representative, Lincoln.Equal Opportunity/NonDiscrimination Policy - It is the policy of Southeast Community College to provide equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in all admission, attendance, and employment matters to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, or other factors prohibited by law or College policy. Inquiries concerning the application of Southeast Community College’s policies on equal opportunity and nondiscrimination should be directed to the Vice President for Access/Equity/Diversity, SCC Area Office, 301 S. 68th Street Place, Lincoln, NE 68510, 402-323-3412, FAX 402-323-3420, or jsoto@southeast.edu.Declaración de política sobre equidad/antidiscriminación - La política publica de Southeast Community College es de proveer equidad, y prohíbe discriminación, en todos asuntos referentes a la admisión, participación, y empleo contra toda persona por motivo de raza, color, religión, sexo, edad, estado civil, origen nacional, etnia, condición de veterano, orientación sexual, inca-pacidad, u otros factores prohibidos por ley o política del Colegio. Preguntas relacionadas a la política sobre equidad/antidiscriminación de Southeast Community College deben dirigirse a: Vice President for Access/Equity/Diversity, SCC Area Office, 301 S 68 Street Place, Lincoln, NE 68510, 402-323-3412, FAX 402-323-3420, o jsoto@southeast.edu.

May 4, 2012 VoluMe XXVI, No. 5

Published twice quarterly by journalism and photography students

at Southeast Community College

www.sccchallenge.com

The SCCChallenge

Continued on page 3

By Robert Nickels

The unemployment rate has been over 8 percent every month for over 3 years, it is difficult for many young people to find work and statistics show that the labor force has actually shrunk as people have given up hope of ever finding a job.

So what is being proposed by some editorialists and legislators? Let’s solve our economic problems by mak-ing a job more expensive for the companies that provide jobs!

That is exactly what will happen if some members of Congress and others who are calling for an increase in the federally-mandated minimum wage get their way. There is a belief among them that employers should have to pay more for labor and that individuals should not have the ability to negotiate a wage with the employer if the skills they have to offer the em-ployer are worth less than the minimum wage.

Calls to raise the federal minimum wage fly in the face of the economic reality our country currently faces. In a slow job market made worse by a weak recovery and uncertainty about the govern-ment’s ability to resolve the debt issue, the desire to make it more expensive to hire workers and expecting that to grow the economy is like trying to grow strawberries in the Sahara.

Despite this, the idea is popular with some lawmak-ers. Some supporters think it should be increased to $9.80 an hour by 2014. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, chairman of the labor committee, favors making the minimum wage $9.80 by 2014. Even Repub-lican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney thinks the mini-mum wage should be adjust-ed to keep up with inflation.

This is not to say that the minimum wage at its current level is making anyone inde-pendently wealthy. Under the federally mandated mini-mum wage of $7.25 an hour,

Minimum wage: good intensions with bad outcomes

Opinion

a fulltime worker earns just $15,080 a year. The federal poverty level for a two-person family is $15,130, or about $50 more than a full time worker making minimum wage takes home in a year.

The hard truth, though, is that not all workers are worth $7.25 an hour; let alone $9.80, to an employer. When the government tells an employer that they have to pay someone who produces $7.25 an hour of productivity $9.80 then that employer will choose to pay their employee the real minimum wage: zero.

That right there is just one example of how a higher minimum wage destroys jobs in this country. Another way that it does that is by mak-ing labor costs even higher, which makes some businesses that were making money lose it and go out of business. It also keeps people from start-ing new businesses because they cannot afford the wages of their new hires. The dirty little secret of minimum wage laws is that those who are hurt by them never realize it, because they could not get a job due to the costs to the employer.

One of the rules of eco-nomics is that when the gov-ernment mandates a mini-mum wage it has the effect of pricing unskilled, particularly young, workers out of the labor market. This kills their ability to acquire the skills and experience needed to find better, and higher paying, jobs later on in life.

According to a National Center for Policy Analysis study, raising the minimum wage by 10 percent reduces the employment of young workers by 1 to 2 percent. That means that thanks to the nearly 40 percent increase in the minimum wage between 2007-09 the government has inadvertently increase youth unemployment by as much as 8 percent. Is it any coincidence that the young now face the most difficult job market in several genera-tions?

If raising the minimum

wage another couple bucks to $9.80 is such a good idea, and would not have a nega-tive impact on hiring, then why not raise it more? How about to $20 an hour, or $100, or whatever amount just sounds right to make people feel better?

Sure, it sounds like raising the minimum wage would boost the economy by putting more money in people’s pock-ets, but that just is not how it works. To offset the rise in labor prices, the business would have to either lay more workers off to stay profitable

or pass the cost on to the con-sumer. Nothing would change the actual real dollar amounts available to purchase with.

Another reality is that less than 20 percent of minimum wage workers are from low income families that would benefit from the raise in the minimum wage. The rest are mostly teenagers from middle-class families. So the government would be in-creasing the burden on busi-nesses with little to no benefit to the workers who actually need it the most.

The best solution would be

to do away with the federally-mandated minimum wage and allow workers to nego-tiate their own wages with employers. This would allow workers to get jobs they oth-erwise would not be able to and give them the knowledge and experience in that line of work to move on to better paying jobs within their field because another truth of eco-nomics is that businesses will pay top dollar for employees who demonstrate they are worth it.

SCC Challenge Friday, May 4, 2012 3NewsMachine Tool Program dominates competition for third straight year

Continued from page 2

minimum wage, cont’d

Those who want to in-crease the minimum wage have good intentions, but they ignore the results of their intentions. Intentions ultimately are irrelevant to the effects of the act. Some-body can push me into the

By Jordan Hussey

Bad news – summer is approaching faster than you expected. With school and work, how in the world will you have time to get that bikini body back you had last summer?

We all know what eating Ramen noodles and college does to you.

It’s time to act quickly! The first and most advisable way to get

that flat tummy would be to work your butt off (not literally).

Fitness coaches Katrina Hodgson and Karena Dawn devised a plan to get you in shape in two weeks.

They have a seven step workout plan that includes seven exercises: the Ballerina

Get in shape for summer,- and fast!

Chop, Kick It, Tummy Tucker, Complete Curl, Skinny Dip, Power Press, Bridge Burner, Reach and Squeeze, and Quickie Cardio Blasts.

Their best advice: stick to cardio. “If you have 18 minutes,” they say, “walk quickly for 2 minutes, and then sprint as fast as you can for 1 minute. Now do it 5 more times.” (For more on this plan go to www.self.com/fitness/workouts.)

So let’s say you’re not one to spend your very little amount of spare time hit-ting the gym. Cosmo magazine featured an article that highlighted nine foods that melt away flab.

Eggs, peanut butter, avocado, sirloin burger, cheese, pickles, green tea, yogurt and quinoa (a crunchy grain) are listed as “super foods that give your metabolism a kick.” You can actually burn fat while you eat!

Still fishing for ideas and running out of time? If you don’t think losing weight is necessary but you’re worried about look-ing like you have a muffin top, there are always swimsuits you can buy (ladies) that will minimize your midsection and make you look like you actually worked your butt off!

Diagonal striped one-piece suits dis-guise your midsection, a folded bottom on a two-piece suit helps to cover up the hips and a black one-piece suit is always extra slimming!

Whatever approach you take, there’s many quick ways to get yourself in shape. Get going. though, summer is almost here.

By Joseph Busby

LINCOLN - The Southeast Community College Student Senate convened for their first spring quarter meeting on April 2, 2012, beginning the first of many sessions meant to serve the students’ needs and wants.

Presiding over the senate is President Nate Smith and Vice President Candy Hem-mer. Other officers include Secretary Alex Prokop, Well-ness Chair Ryan Krueger and Activities Chair Heidi Spier.

The senate meetings focused on many student related issues, including Stu-dent Appreciation Week and other events.

Spier went on to elaborate on Student Appreciation week, taking place from April 16th through April 20th. “Monday the 16th we have wax hands from ten to two,” she began.

These events are part of the Student Appreciation Week at SCC. “We’ll have root beer floats on Wednes-day,” she continued. “Friday

we’ll have a prize wheel,” Spier finished.

Upon its completion, Spier reviewed Student Apprecia-tion Week attendance. She noted that 120 students arrived at the student center to get wax hands event, 530 arrived for the root beer floats and 366 arrived for the prize wheel game.

Fitness and Wellness Coordinator Carrie Heiser spoke on the Student Ap-preciation Week events held by the Wellness Committee. She noted that the pancake breakfast brought in some-where between 450 and 500 students, and the massage day brought 84 students for massages.

Other issues brought up by the senate were administra-tive in nature.

Automotive Technology representative Jacob Moore had requested that another bench be placed outside the east garage door of the auto-motive department.

Representative Levi Bur-rows agreed with the motion, voicing that the current bench

set up has him sitting next to a smoking area. Smith denied the motion, stating that “at this time, we will not spend senate money on benches.”

Moore also noted some frustrations with Automotive Technology graduates in their training.

“Our program isn’t long enough,” he began. “We miss a lot of information.”

He continued, suggesting that the automotive depart-ment classes have to increase

content to keep up with the current technology of auto-mobiles.

“We could really make it a two year program,” he concluded. The current Auto-motive Technology program runs for six quarters. Other representatives agreed with the notion, citing similar concerns.

Smith spoke with Program Chair Ken Jefferson. Jeffer-son would be responsible for speaking to Lincoln Campus Director Jeannette Volker to

make changes to the pro-gram. Smith will keep the senate updated.

Business and senate specific items were discussed throughout the quarter as well.

Smith informed the senate of upcoming senate officer elections. Elections will be held on May 21st during the senate meeting. Those elect-ed will hold office beginning summer quarter and ending at the close of fall quarter.

By Drew Worster LINCOLN - Thirteen

students spent the second weekend of April at Hastings Community College compet-ing in the areas of machine tool, welding and automotive at the annual Skills USA state competition.

The state level competition is where students can go com-pete in the field in which they are going to school for.

“It gives them a chance to see how good they are in their field,” said Dan Zabel, co-chair of the welding depart-ment.

There are many fields of study included in the Skills USA organization, such as culinary arts, cabinet making, criminal justice, crime scene investigation, cosmetology, computer maintenance, com-puter repair, collision repair, motorcycle, small engines, automotive refinishing, au-tomotive parts, machine tool and welding.

At the competitions, stu-dents are given a written test that lasts two to four hours. The next day, they are tested in hands on competitions that can last all day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On the final day, they hold the closing ceremonies and announce award recipients.

There are three place win-ners in every category. The first place winners go to the national competition held in June.

This year, for the third year in a row, students from the SCC Lincoln Machine Tool Program have place first, second and third.

Placing first was Trevor Webster; second place went to Eric Modde; and coming in third place was Ryan Ander-son.

The program also placed two more students in the top ten, Travis Johns with sixth place and Stephen Thompson at tenth place.

Aside from winning at local and national competitions, the program gives students a competitive edge in the job market.

Randy Koch, instructor of machine tool technology, explains that it’s essential for students to stand out when their resume is among the many.

“Skills USA on a resume is one of those ways that students can help themselves stand out,” said Koch.

Skills USA is a club that gives students a chance to compete in their educational field. Currently, about 20 students are involved with the Skills USA program from the

Lincoln Senate had a busy April agenda

path of an oncoming bus, or I can trip, the truth, though, is that it does not make any difference why I went off the sidewalk, because the end re-sult is the same. Raising the minimum wage only puts the economy in front of that exact same bus.

Continued on page 5

4 Friday, May 4, 2012 SCC Challenge

Sports & ActivitiesBy Stephanie Brownell

BEATRICE—As the end of the SCC softball team’s sea-son approaches, it is time for the Region IX Tournament in North Platte.

SCC started out the season slow with a record of 1-8 in early March. The ladies then began to pick up the speed.

On Friday, March 16, SCC hosted McCook Community College. The Storm split the double-header, losing the first 3-11 and winning the second 10-9.

The Storm then suffered two losses as they hosted North Platte on Saturday, March 24, losing 2-8 and 0-7.

On Saturday, March 31,

Storm softball is ready for regional tournamentSCC hosted Kansas State Club and picked up two wins of 10-0 and 16-1.

“We needed these wins to build some confidence,” said head coach Pat Lytle.

On Friday, April 6, the Storm traveled to Columbus to partake in the Central Community College-Colum-bus Invitational.

SCC left the tournament 0-5, but showed a great im-provement on their defense.

On Friday, the Storm faced Iowa Central Community College losing 4-5. They then went on to face Iowa West-ern Community College and lost 0-12. The final game on Friday was against Kirkwood Community College; the

Storm fell short 2-4.Saturday afternoon, SCC

faced Indian Hills Communi-ty College, and lost 3-4. They then faced Ellsworth Commu-nity College, losing 7-9.

Lytle said he was very pleased with the way the Lady Storm responded, especially on the defensive end.

On Saturday, April 14, the Storm traveled to Colby, Kan., for the Colby Community Col-lege Tournament.

SCC faced Barton Commu-nity College, losing 2-3. They then faced Seward Commu-nity College and lost 0-9.

Sunday’s games for the

Storm were cancelled due to the weather.

On Saturday, April 21, SCC traveled to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to face Muscatine Com-munity College. SCC suffered two losses on the day, losing 1-9 and 0-2.

SCC hosted Cloud County Community College on Tues-day, April 24, for a resched-uled double-header due to rain. SCC won the first game 7-6 and lost the second 3-8.

On Saturday, April 28, the Storm traveled to North Platte for a double header. SCC split with North Platte, losing the first game 3-4 and

winning the second 8-0.Sunday, April 29, the Lady

Storm made a trip to McCook for a double header. SCC won the first game 9-2 and then lost the second 6-7.

“The team needs to keep up their good work on de-fense, and keep improving on offense to be successful at Regionals,” added Lytle.

The Lady Storm’s record on the season is now 8-24.

This weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and 6, the Storm will be returning to North Platte for the Region IX Tournament to face North Platte and Central.

Storm baseball heads to Montana for Region IX tournament

By Adam Buchli

Resident advisor activi-ties have given students the chance to socialize and meet new people.

With the temperatures of spring starting to warm up, students will be looking to be active and to have fun. But how?

Through the help of ar-ranging RA activities once a week, students have oppor-tunity to participate in fun, interactive games and social activities.

Resident advisor Jonah Jordening said, “The main purpose of RA activities is to bring students together, so-cialize, have fun, and to give students the opportunity to make new friends.”

Madison Drake, also a cur-rent RA, said, “I think the RA

By Joseph Busby

The Southeast Community College Storm Baseball Team are preparing for the Regional Tournament, beginning Satur-day, May 12.

Baseball Head Coach Ron Cullison said that “This year our goal is to win region-als.” He noted that this won’t be easy, given that the tournament is in Montana.

The regional tournament features Dawson Community College in Glendive, Mont. and Miles Community College in Miles City, Mont. as SCC’s opponents.

The season has had its ups and downs, but the pressure has been on this year.

“We lost some really good hitters,” Cul-lison noted. “We’ve had a lot of injuries,” he continued. “Staying healthy is a pri-mary concern.”

He had concerns about the team’s at-tention to detail and execution early in the season.

“We need to do all the little things and do them well,” he stated. “We have not executed like we should have at times this

season.”On top of that, the baseball team has

played through a tough schedule with some inexperienced players, still adjust-ing from high school to college level ball. “We’re very young…but they don’t back down from competing,” Cullison praised.

He has seen some significant growth from the baseball team this season, citing the maturity process during the “transition of going from high school baseball to col-lege baseball…it’s a much higher speed.”

The tough schedule and injuries have taken their toll on the team. It cites a 14-22-1 record as of April 30. However, Cul-lison noted that his team is maturing and are about to hit their peak potential going into the post-season.

“We’ve continued to get better,” Culli-son reported. “We are peaking at the right time…going into regionals.”

Cullison has seen the maturing pro-cess firsthand and is impressed with the growth.

“I’m proud that we’ve competed as well as we have,” he said.

RA activities provides fun opportunities

activities are great because I can honestly say I have met new people.”

Drake added, “And also for the foreign students that we have here at SCC, it gives them great opportunity to make new friends when they’re so far from home.”

Each Wednesday, there are RA activities hosted, and each week has a different activity and purpose. Some purposes of RA activities include games and educational experiences.

On Wednesday April 25, 2012, the RA activity was a grill out at the sand volleyball area, just north of Hoover Hall. This event included grilled hotdogs, soda, chips and more.

Following the grill out, students played volleyball.

On Wednesday, May 2, the RA activity was a movie night.

Photo Kylie BettenAbove, Adam Buchli of Fairbury and Malinda Harlat of Dorchester play volleyball during an RA event on the Bea-trice campus on Wednesday, April 25.

SCC theatre prepares spring production

By Juanita Alonso

Despite not having a name and only having three people to fill six rolls, the show will go on.

“Friday, June 1, is the tar-get date,” said Deb Freeman, director of this springs the-ater production. The shows will be on campus, one earlier in the day for the students another in the evening for the community.

“We are shooting for an hour and fifteen minutes,” says Freeman.The tickets will be five dollars per adult, but free for Southeast Communi-ty College students who have their student ID with them.

The production does not yet have a name, but it will

feature comedic and dramatic scenes.

There are six rolls in the play, but only three actors. The students are, “Opened to lots of different ideas,” says Freeman. “They can do differ-ent things.”

The students know a lot about technology and acting, also at constructing things and being organized, she said.

“Even though there are only three students, they manage to work together and get things done,” Freeman commented.

Freeman says that anyone who wants to be a part of it can be.

“Open call to whom wants to be in it,” she said.

SCC Challenge Friday, May 4, 2012 5More News

student senate, cont’d

Community service proj-ects for senate members were proposed as well. “We could help at the Day Care Carni-val,” Spier proposed. She stated that the event was to take place on Thursday, May 3 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Spier motioned that the senate take the day care car-nival event as their quarterly community service project. The motion was quickly seconded and passed without objection.

The senate also featured dialogue on the online stu-dent service, Smarthinking. Smarthinking allows SCC students to submit writing to tutors for evaluation us-ing the Essay Center. It also provides up to five free hours of other services provided by Smarthinking.

Tutor Adam Hubrig repre-sented Smarthinking and the Writing Center.

“The service is free to use as a student,” he noted. “It’s found at Smarthinking.com,

Continued from page 3 (with one ‘t’).”“Your user name is ‘SCC,’

hyphen, and your SCC login.” (Example: scc-jd000001) “Your password is ‘southeast’ in all lowercase,” Hubrig commented.

“Students can also submit scholarship apps for review,” he noted. He further com-mented that transfer applica-tions for further education can also be reviewed before final submission.

Smarthinking can be found at http://www.smarthinking.com and is free to use for all SCC students. If a student has problems using Smart-hinking, they are encouraged to contact the Writing Center at 402-437-2627.

Senate meetings take place at 3:30 p.m. in the student center every Monday where classes are in session. Mem-bers gain verified status with a 2.0 Grade Point Average minimum and recommenda-tion from their program advi-sor. Visitors are encouraged to attend.

By Joseph Busby

Southeast Community College was accredited most recently in 2002. The Higher Learning Commission is visiting SCC this October to review a self-study that SCC staff and faculty have been working together on.

“The Higher Learning Commission is responsible for the oversight of institu-tions of higher education in this region,” commented

Higher Learning Commission to visit in OctoberEnglish Chair Carolee Ritter.

She, Registrar Diane Rink and Dean of Construction, Electronics, Communication and Information Technol-ogy Glenn Pasho make up the Tri-Chairs of the Steer-ing Team for the self-study. The self-study was compiled and written up by Resource Development Specialist Judy Shonerd.

“We oversee the seven dif-ferent sub-teams and mak-ing sure things are working

smooth,” Pasho noted. He further noted that

managing the 136 individuals in the self-study was chal-lenging. “It was interesting…getting everyone on the same page as to what the criteria meant,” he spoke with a smile.

“Everything we do…is supposed to revolve around fulfilling the college mission,” Ritter suggested. “The HLC wants to get the human side of the college.”

Ritter noted that the HLC visitors will have an agenda.

“They will want to meet with students, people…and groups,” she said.

She went on to observe that the HLC is not some bureau from the government, but rather peers and staff from other schools. “It’s a

peer review process,” Ritter explained.

The HLC holds significant power in a college. Ritter commented that new pro-grams, classes and online ad-ditions all are run by the HLC before they are approved.

HLC Accreditation affects the students far more directly as well. Pasho emphasized that students should be aware that the process is going to happen and how accredita-tion affects them.

“If we’re not accredited, students can’t get financial aid,” Pasho observed. It would also strip a college of its ability to transfer credits. “It would hurt our academic transfer program.”

Pasho also addressed that the effects of losing these ben-efits also affect the reputation

of the school. He stated that it would be increasingly dif-ficult to recruit new students without the ability to transfer and obtain financial aid.

“We are planning events for summer quarter,” Ritter suggested, to raise awareness of the event. “…so we can inform people in a fun way.” She said that she would not be surprised of the visitors from the HLC would pull a student or instructor aside to ask questions about the school.

The visit takes place this October and students are encouraged to keep their ears open for updates about the visit and SCC’s status.

The self-study newslet-ters can be found at http://www.southeast.edu/discover/aboutSCC

City Mission announces run for the homelessBy Jennifer Roche

Once again, it is time for the People’s City Mission’s Annual Run for the Homeless event.

This year, the 5K run (1 mile walk), will take place on Saturday, June 16, at Lincoln’s Haymarket Park Stadium. The run/walk will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Michelle Orth, volunteer coordinator for the mission, said, “Last year, we had more than 800 runners and walk-ers registered for the event. We are hoping that this year’s numbers will be even bigger.”

Orth added, “We are hop-ing to raise awareness for the programs offered by the Mis-sion and all of the work we

do. The 2011 ‘Run’ raised over $25,000. Hopefully, we will exceed that this year.”

There is no cost to run the race; however, the People’s City Mission in encouraging participants to raise at least $25. Those who raise $25 or more will receive a T-shirt for participation.

Orth said, “It’s a small way to thank those who have helped our programs.”

Donations will be accepted at the event.

Runners and walkers alike are encouraged to take part.

In the past, families with small children have attended and the event has been crafted to encourage families to participate by offering family-friendly activities like

face painting for the kids. Additionally, other run-

ners and walkers have even brought their pets to partici-pate.

In addition to the runners and walkers, Run for the Homeless has also reached the mass media by acquiring sponsorships from local radio and television stations includ-ing KFRX radio and KLKN.

Proceeds from the event go to fund a variety of pro-grams run by the mission for members of the Lincoln community.

Questions regarding the event can be directed to Mi-chelle Orth, or Lisa McClung, the director of community relations for the Mission.

Entertainment6 Friday, May 4, 2012 SCC Challenge

Image retrieved from rottentomatoes.comStarring in “Mirror Mirror” are Julia Roberts, left, as the Evil Queen and Lily Collins, right, as Snow White.

Review

By Emily Sawyer

Here it is, another Snow White film, but this time with the daughter of Phil Collins as the lead, and also leading one of the worst ending credits song and dance routines ever.

While the plot remained similar to the story we all know and love, the modern-ized take on this classic was an epic failure.

The American film insti-tutions have a tendency to release similar movies all the time. Even in the last couple of years we saw “No Strings

“Mirror Mirror” at the mall, is this movie worth seeing at all?Attached” and “Friends with Benefits.” We have seen “A Bug’s Life” and “Antz,” and even older “Dante’s Peak” and “Volcano.” However, this time, compared with “Snow White and the Huntsman,” “Mirror Mirror” didn’t even come close.

Lily Collins, whose act-ing abilities must still be progressing, could only have been chosen based on looks. After all, fair skin and ebony hair are requirements.

And, with a big name like Julia Roberts in the role of the evil queen, the movie is

no longer about Snow White. The movie begins and ends with narrations from Roberts. While we expect excellent act-ing from Roberts, to see her choose this role was surpris-ing.

The movie’s high points include a flirtatious sword fight and fun group of dwarfs, still with no acting abilities and chosen for looks.

Director Tarsem Singh never lets the darkness and evil of the movie get too scary for the childrens’ sake. But who would subject their child to this?

Review

By Rachel Kapeller

It took me a couple months to make it there, but I finally made it to the new sushi restaurant that is the talk of town, Dozo. Dozo is the new sushi bar located in the Haymarket in Lincoln.

Dozo’s opening night was Halloween night of 2011, and since then, it has been welcoming a wide array of customers. The owners are David Shu, Andy Zhao and Weijay Wang. “We haven’t gotten so many college students yet, but overall, we have seen a number of customers every night since opening,” one of the chefs stated.

Their most popular roll is the California Roll or Crunchy California Roll. They are one of the few sushi restaurants that serve crunchy rolls here in Lincoln.

Dozo also features a full bar with any drink. They offer delivery, take out or dine in.

I ordered the crunchy California roll, and it was very reasonably priced and well worth the money. It wasn’t fried, but had an extra crunch that you don’t normally

get with a sushi roll. The servers give you a sheet of paper

with all of the different rolls and the prices listed. To order, you simply fill in the quantity of the roll you want and hand it to the waiter. The service during my dining experience was very delightful. The food was fast, and my water was consistently filled to the top.

Prices for the rolls varied from $4 such as an avocado roll to $14 for the fried rolls. They also offer other meals such as lettuce wraps, steak or chicken ranging from $9 to $18.

The environment is hip and young. Dim lighting with dark features sets the scene. Music is playing in the background, but not so obnoxiously that you can’t even hear the person at your own table.

Dozo can be compared to the other local sushi bars here in Lincoln such as Kinja, Tokyo and Wasabi to name a few. Brittany Singleton, a student here in Lincoln, even went as far as comparing it to the infa-mous Blue Sushi Bar in Omaha.

Dozo is the place to go for sushi in the HaymarketBy Drew Worster

The last day for current students, staff and faculty to submit their work for pub-lication in “Illuminations,” Southeast Community Col-lege’s fine arts magazine is Friday, May 25.

Students who enter their work for submission also have a chance to win cash prizes. The first place prize for top art, top prose and top poetry categories is $50. Second place is $25.

Art would include any sort of drawing, photography or visual reproduction. Prose includes fictions, short stories and essays; poetry speaks for itself.

The “Illuminations” group has recently made the deci-sion to include some multi-media in the next volume, such as music, videos or anything that can be done in a live format.

“Illuminations” editor Kimberly Fangman explained that this is the very first issue where they are inviting those kind of submissions. The idea came after a music instructor at the college requested that they spotlight some students doing something musical in a video.

“We are going to direct people in the book to the “Il-luminations” section of the YouTube page we have here at SCC,” said Fangman.

The planning staff talked about putting a DVD in with the book, but that is currently cost prohibitive.

For anyone interested in submitting his or her work, first find a submission card. These are usually sitting by the magazine, or can be found online at the Hub. Answer the

“Illuminations” submissions deadline fast approaching

questions in an e-mail and send it to Kimberly Fangman at kfangman@southeast.edu along with your work. If e-mail is not an option, place the submission on a CD and leave it in Fangman’s mailbox in room U-4 on the Lincoln campus.

The magazine is designed to give students a way to share their artistic side. It’s not always true that commu-nity colleges have a reputa-tion for excelling in the arts, and that’s not something SCC wants to propagate.

“We want people to know that there’s a lot of good stuff going on here,” said Fang-man.

Volume 13 of “Illumina-tions” is currently available for free at any of the campus LRCs, the Energy Square main office, the continuing education center main office or scattered around the Lin-coln campus.

By Robert Nickels

If it is 9 a.m. on a Friday morning and you are lis-tening to the “Pat and JT” radio show on Q98.5, you are bound to hear questions about relationships, job pros-pects and spirit guides.

The man fielding those questions is “Psychic Andy” Myers, and while he has only been a full-time psychic for a short period of time, he has quickly become one of the most popular psychics in the Omaha area.

“I did not intend to become a professional psychic,” said Myers in a recently-conduct-ed interview. “I have a degree in Social Work from UNO and

Psychic Andy expands minds, businessdid that for many years while I was improving my psychic skills.”

However, he realized for many years that he had psychic abilities and began conducting more and more readings for friends and fam-ily that proved increasingly accurate, which told him it was time to transition into using his abilities to help a greater number of people than he could doing social work.

Myers describes his role as a psychic as providing people with “hope, insight, and a sense of direction in their life.” Services that he provides includes half-hour readings for individuals and

small groups, as well as hav-ing “psychic party” events at various locations in Omaha or even at private homes that will include mini-readings for attendees.

One of the most popular

subjects that those who see Myers is that of personal rela-tionships. This can be a tricky subject because of the influ-ence over a client a psychic can have in this situation.

Continued on page 7

SCC Challenge Friday, May 4, 2012 7Entertainment and News

Review

“Giving my client relation-ship information can and does affect the future,” Myers said. “I am generally careful not to give advice, but rather to simply give information. My client is always free to make their own decisions, and I encourage them to think for themselves.”

Those that have listened to Myers bi-weekly appearances on the “Pat and JT Show” are aware of his willingness to engage those who are skeptical of psychics, while acknowledging that one of the issues with the psychic field are the large numbers of frauds who populate it.

If anyone is seeking a psychic, he recommends looking for someone that has been personally referred or someone who is not just do-ing readings for fun, but who has devoted his or her life to being a psychic.

A real psychic will be upfront with the prices before the reading, Myers said, and not change them during the

Continued on page 7

Psychic Andy, cont’dreading. He also advises that people should never discount their own intuition since if they believe someone is not on the level then they prob-ably aren’t.

With business growing, Myers intends to open an of-fice at 156th and Fort streets in Omaha in the near future with his sister Elizabeth, who is an intuitive healer, to handle his growing clientele.

He also teaches classes at Iowa Western Community College on subjects such as meditation, intuitive develop-ment, past lifetimes and spirit guides and hopes to branch out and start teaching in Lin-coln soon.

In addition, there are also plans for several books, one of which is currently in the editing process.

Those wishing to get a reading from “Psychic Andy” can contact him through is website PsychicAndy.com or catch his appearances at 9 am every other Friday on the “Pat and JT Show” on Q98.5 fm in Omaha.

By Jennifer Roche

Higher education provides students with daily chal-lenges, which enables them to prosper in the fields they chose.

However, for a student with disabilities, these chal-lenges can be overwhelming, especially when students fac-ing these challenges are not able to access the help that they need.

Federal regulations require institutions of higher educa-tion to provide services for students with disabilities.

Programs available for students with disabilities

Under Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, employers and schools are required to make reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.

This law defines qualified individuals as “individuals with disabilities are defined as persons with a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities.”

Under Section 504, a student attending a college or university of their choos-ing qualifies as a “major life activity” and thus qualifies

students to receive appropri-ate accommodations.

When new students are admitted, they are encour-aged to read through the new student orientation materi-als provided for them by the school.

Greg Peters, a career adviser and disability service provider with Southeast Com-munity College, said, “Stu-dents need to advocate for themselves and pay attention during new student orienta-tion in order to learn about

Continued on page 8

By Hannah Tyrell

OMAHA - On a recent Saturday night, I was lucky enough to find myself in Omaha’s Slowdown at a sold out Sleigh Bells concert. Stay-ing true to my obsession, I had a front row view of the electrifying duo and their thunderous performance.

After the release in early 2012 of their latest album, “Reign of Terror,” the experi-mental electronic rock pair has been growing more popu-lar among a wide range of ages. The band now has three official albums and is con-tinuing to write more music.

The band consists of Alexis Krauss (lead vocalist) and Derek E. Miller (guitarist and producer). The pair met in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 2008 and began working together.

Krauss was formally part of a teen pop group RubyBlue and Miller was a member of a hardcore rock band called Poison the Well. Both bring a very interesting element to their current band to say the least.

The combination of the ear-blasting, shredding guitar riffs by Miller and Krauss’s ear-popping, yet upbeat, vocals caught the attention of

Sleigh Bells delivers the goods

M.I.A.’s label N.E.E.T., and they were eventually signed in the Spring of 2010 and released the EP “Sleigh Bells” soon after.

The debut attracted many listeners and resulted in the release of “Treats” in May of 2010 and “Reign of Terror” in February of 2012.

Surprisingly, the duo seemed to reel in listeners of all age groups, and even with the threat of tornados, the venue was well packed with people ready to rock.

Guests were definitely not let down by the eccen-tric vocals and performance of Krauss. She spent just as much time on stage singing and kicking bottles as she did crowd surfing and screaming.

All I can say is, do not judge a book by the cover. The small, coffeehouse feel of the Slowdown in combination with the minimalist stage set up of two guitars, one vocalist and a background of speakers definitely had me expecting something much quieter and simpler.

Without a doubt, I was beyond pleased with the captivating 60 minute set and would recommend everyone to give them a listen.

By Juanita Alonso

Throughout his life, Blake Price has worn Nike and Under Armour brands, not knowing, until last June, that he would be modeling for these great companies.

Price is a first year student at Southeast Community College from Cortland who graduated in 2010 from Nor-ris High School.

After accepting a friend request on Facebook from Silver Model Management, Price became one of their models.

He met with an agent in Kansas City and later traveled to New York where he signed with Silver Model Manage-ment.

“The agent that added me on Facebook was my cousin’s agent” Price said. “I thank him for this great opportuni-ty. Having a family memeber there helps me from getting

Blake combines modelling, school and baseball

home sick.”“They work with lots of

companies like Abercrom-bie and Hollister and tons of magazines like Men’s Health,” said Price.

He will be signing with an agency called Soul this fall.

Price took a year off of modeling and is now attend-ing SCC in Beatrice, where he is pitcher on the baseball team. In high school, he also wrestled and played football.

“I have a very strict diet,” said Price, who said he works out everyday for an hour. “I get bored out of my mind if I don’t workout.”

Price wants to continue his education, and get a Health and Human Performance Degree. Both education and modeling are part of his fu-ture plans.

“It works out perfect; my job and degree have a lot in common,” Price said.

8 Friday, May 4, 2012 SCC Challenge

More News Construction, cont’d

Continued from page 1

Photo by Joseph BusbyAbove, construction on the new V-Section at the Lincoln campus is progressing well.

When asked about the current student services center, Volker replied that the student cafeteria is in need of expansion and remodeling.

“We are going to remodel the cafeteria and the food ser-vice program (in that space),” and she added that the food service program needs the space. “We are just bursting at the seams.”

Volker also told the senate that SCC is thinking ahead for future expansion, noting that the “U” section of the Lincoln campus (the eastern-most wing) can be extended from its current location towards the parking lot into the cur-rently unoccupied green space.

In addition to the Lincoln campus on 8800 O Street, Volker also touched on the fact that SCC had “just

bought the second floor in Energy Square,” a satellite campus located at 1111 O Street in Lincoln, and it is undergoing remodeling.

She added that the soon-to-be-merged Visual Publi-cations and Graphic Design programs will be held in the newly acquisitioned space. Remodeling is slated to be finished in time for the

Graphic Design/Media Arts program’s debut in January 2013.

The current construction is speculated to be finished this summer, but Volker said that classes will not be held there during the summer quarter. The move will commence as the facilities are finished and equipped.

students with disabilities, cont’d

the services provided by the Career Advising Center.”

Patrick O’Neil, another career adviser and disability service provider with SCC, encourages all students to read through the on-line ori-entation material as an entry to determining whether they qualify for assistance while attending classes.

“The New Student Orien-tation material on the SCC website provides student with information about programs the school offers and also provides information on the Career Advising Center and the services we offer,” O’Neil said.

Students are required to provide the Career Advising

Continued on page 8 Center with sufficient docu-mentation to be evaluated by career center advisers to be eligible for services.

“We ask for documentation of the student’s disability,” O’Neil stated. “This docu-mentation can come from any professional the student re-ceives services from, such as Vocational Rehabilitation or medical professionals treating the individual.”

Due to Federal HIPPA laws all students are required to sign a release in order to allow Disability Services to receive their medical records.

“After we have received the student’s records, the MDT (Multi-disability Team) will meet and discuss what options are best for the stu-dent,” said Peters.

“We are required to provide reasonable accom-modations decided upon by the student’s doctors and the MDT. These services can be anything from providing a student with a recorder, so that they can record lectures, or enlisting the assistance of voluntary note-taker to assist students in their classes.”

O’Neil and Peter’s both agree that a student’s suc-cess begins with their own self-advocacy and willingness to seek out assistance made available to them through the school.

For more information about disability services, contact the Career Advising Center on the Lincoln campus located at J-2, phone number (402)437-2620.