KALEIDOSCOPEApril 4, 2011 Vol 42 No 12The Student-Run Newspaper of Kishwaukee College, Malta, IL 60150

KC staff member in Japan during earthquakeBy Lexi BaisdenManaging Editor

On March 11, 2011 a major earthquake struck Ja-pan. It was measured as the largest earthquake ever to be recorded in Japan, with an alarming magnitude of 8.9. This earthquake shook Tokyo and the northeastern part of Japan. One of Kish-waukee’s own, Maria Van Hise, was forty miles South of Tokyo on the day of the earthquake. Van Hise is a part of the Secretary-Career Technologies Division here at Kish. She had gone to Japan to visit her daughter, who is married to a man in the Navy. She and her hus-band have lived on base in Japan since July with their three-year-old daughter, and their newborn son. Van Hise came to visit be-cause she had not seen her grandson yet. She was able to enjoy a little bit of the Japanese town and had some lunch. On Friday afternoon, she and her fam-ily were sitting on the couch when the couch started to sway back and forth as if “someone were pushing on it.” Her daughter imme-diately realized that it was an earthquake. However, there is a fair amount of af-tershocks in Japan, so her daughter wasn’t very ner-vous. However, it started to get worse and worse, to the

point where they could hear things crashing in the back bedroom. “I ran down the hall-way because I thought that the TV had fallen off a tall cabinet, and it hadn’t, they just have metal blinds and they were banging with the movement,” said Van Hise. “I told her [her daughter] and the two kids to get into the bathroom. I ran out into the living room, where they have this big screen TV. I stood and I leaned against the wall, and I put my hand around the corner, and I saved the TV from falling over because it was getting ready to fall. The ceiling light was swing-ing over their dinning room table that was practically hit-

ting the ceiling. Glass was falling off of shelves, dresser drawers were opening up, kitchen cabinets were open-ing up, stuff was falling out… Scariest thing I’ve ever been through.” When the earthquake started to slow down, every-one started to evacuate. Ma-ria and her family had to run

down nine flights of stairs because her daughter lives on the top floor of an apart-ment building. Van Hise and her family were standing out by their car when a really big aftershock hit. “You could see the land roll, it was really scary,” said Van Hise. “There was no damage to the building because they are made to withstand earthquakes, but it was still one of the scari-est things I’ve ever been through.” Once the earthquake hit that Friday, she and her family couldn’t get off base again. They started to ration gas because they heard that all the gas stations were out of gas.

“The trains that a lot of the Japanese people use, that I even used to get back and forth to the airport, were shut down or very limited. So once that earthquake hit things got very confined,” said Van Hise. “We couldn’t really go anywhere. There was one day, probably Sun-day, where we couldn’t even

go outside because the air quality was so bad. We had to keep our window shut and we couldn’t turn on any exhaust fans, because they didn’t you to suck in any ra-diation.” Van Hise’s husband did not travel with her to Ja-pan, but whenever she got the chance to talk to him, he wanted her to come home right away. However, getting back was difficult. Van Hise couldn’t get to the airport because the trains weren’t running. The airplanes weren’t going and she had to wait until her time came on Wednesday. “The flight was fine but the flight home was packed. It was one of those jumbo jets and every seat was filled because everyone was evacuating. They were scared and the kids were crying, and the kids were

getting sick behind me. It was quite a day because it’s a long trip. It’s almost 13 hours flying time. We were close to eleven hours flying time back.” When asked how Van Hise felt about being safe where she was, she replied by saying that she is very grateful. “There was a couple bases North of the one that we were on, that was defi-nitely in a little bit of more in the scarier zone. I am very grateful that we were where we were. I was grateful that I was there for my daughter to help her when she was scared, but I am definitely happy to be home. It’s ter-rible what happened to the people up North. I don’t know how they can ever re-pair some of those things but I am very happy to be home on solid ground.”

By Grace MartinStaff Writer

This year, instead of having just one graduation ceremony, Kishwaukee Col-lege will have two gradua-tion ceremonies. This year Kishwau-kee College has seen an increase in the number of students enrolled. Not only does the high enrollment af-fect classes, but it affects graduation. The gradua-tion ceremony reflected the higher enrollment with more students graduating, and a very full gymnasium. “Even Jenkins Audi-torium, which we use for an overflow area, was standing room only,” says Steve Ull-rick, Vice President of Stu-

dent Services. “It wasn’t a safe or enjoyable situation for anyone. We have just outgrown the gym.” Several solutions were considered to relieve the congestion issues. One being to move from the gym here at Kishwaukee to a larger location, like the NIU Convocation Center. This idea wasn’t really popu-lar for two reasons. NIU and Kishwaukee have the same graduation date which would cause conflict. Sec-ondly, having graduation is an opportunity for people to visit campus who might not have any other reason to ever come and see what Kishwaukee College is re-ally like. Another solution considered was giving every

graduate tickets that they could give to their family members. This ticket method would have been effective in reducing the number of at-tendees to the ceremony, but at a cost. Students with large families would have been forced to pick between family members which would not be fair to the families or the students who are gradu-ating, and again makes the ceremony disagreeable for those involved. The solution that was most widely agreed upon was to have two ceremo-nies instead of just one. In the morning AAS and Health Students will have a gradu-ation ceremony, and in the afternoon Associate of Sci-ence and Associate of Arts

students, transfer students, and GED students will have a ceremony. “This is a rough 50/50 split of the graduating students,” says Ullrick. The ceremony will stay exactly the same, right down to the reception afterwards; it will just no longer be the entire graduating class. Having a split ceremony will allow for more seating on the gym floor, because there will be less people in the gym. This will create a safer en-vironment for everyone who comes to the graduation. Splitting up the grad-uates will also allow gradu-ation to stay on campus in Kishwaukee College’s gym-nasium. For some students, graduation may be the only

time that they come on to campus. The same may be true for many parents and family of students who at-tend Kishwaukee College. “We want to keep people coming to our campus and to see our school, but we want to make sure that they have a good experience.” Students who will be graduating this semester have already been alerted to the change, and what cere-mony they will be attending. This is still an experiment and Kishwaukee College administrators are waiting to see how this year goes be-fore making any permanent plans for the future.

KC making plans for two graduation ceremonies

“I was grateful that I was there for my daughter to help her when she was

scared, but I am definitely happy to be home.” - Maria Van Hise

Van Hise, KC staff member, was in Japan during the March 11 earthquake.

Kaleidoscope staff and editorial policy

editorial/opinion2 Kaleidoscope april 4, 2011

Congress shall make no law respect-ing an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peacably as-semble and to petition the Gov-ernment for redress of grievances.--First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

StaffEditor-in-Chief.....Jessi HaishManaging Editor...Lexi BaisdenWeb Editor...Will IrelandCopy Editor...Marissa SkonieFeatures Editor...Audrey Latimer

Staff Writers.....Valentina Andrianop-oulos, Lindsey Clark, Levi Hensley, Grace Martin, Hannah McClure, Melissa Meyer, Jessica Pflipsen,

Adviser.....Melissa Blake

Editorial Policy

Letters to the editor may be dropped off at the Kaleidoscope office or put in the Kaleidoscope mailbox. The Kaleidoscope is published approximately eight times each semester by Kalei-doscope staff. If you wish to submit a letter to the editor, please do so, but unsigned let-ters will not be considered for submission. Anonymity can be

requested by the author and will be granted at the discretion of the editor. All letters may be ed-ited for length, clarity or libelous content. Opinions expressed on the editorial page are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the edito-rial board of the Kaleidoscope or Kishwaukee College as a whole. Stories marked (OMS) were pro-vided by the college’s Office of Marketing Communications.

The Kaleidoscope is a student operated newspaper serving the students of Kishwaukee Col-lege, Malta, Illinois. Opinions in the newspaper do not reflect the views of Kishwaukee Adminis-tration, students or faculty. The Kaleidoscope is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press.

The Haish Handbook: Beware of parking lot madness

Letter from Lexi: The wonders of inner beauty

Send us your letter to the editor...

kscope@kishwaukeecollege.edu

Don’t forget: Live life on your terms and be who you are

Correction: In the March 21 article “Carter deals with late registration issues,” the Kaleidoscope did not mean to imply that Dean Carter is in charge of late registration. Also, in the March 21 corrections, Dr. Jean Kartje was misidentified as ‘he.’ The Kaleidoscope regrets the errors.

By Jessi HaishEditor-In-Chief

I’ve been going to Kishwaukee for two years now and there is something I still can’t get over: the parking lots. As I approach the entrances

on Malta Road, I feel a slight knot in my stomach, knowing what lies ahead. Whether I enter the “A” or “B” lot the situation remains the same. I pull into the lot and chaos ensues. Surprisingly enough, it’s not just because of me. Whether cars are flying around the curve in the “A” lot or pulling out in front of other cars in the “B” lot, I grow fearful. It’s simply dangerous. I can’t even recall how many times I’ve attempted pulling out of a parking space after class only to have to quickly hit

the brakes because one of my fellow Kougars is racing down the aisle, hurriedly looking for somewhere to put their beast to rest. ‘You could have had my space if you had been driving a little slower,’ I can’t help but think. As accident-prone as the situation may seem, it gets even worse when you exit the car and begin traveling on foot. Walking into Kish is much like dodging landmines. A van here, a truck there…Sometimes I feel like I’m in an action movie, like I should be rolling

off car hoods and jumping from roof-of-car to roof-of-car just to get safely inside the building. That isn’t right. If it is snowing, raining or if there’s tornado-like conditions out in the open fields of Malta, and there is a student walking into the building, don’t be afraid to use the brake. Common courtesy shows that walkers are at a disadvantage to the elements, and you in the safe vehicle have it otherwise. Who knows? You might even make a friend. To Kishwaukee, I ask that signs be implemented

or patrol be used more effectively. A little reminder never hurt anyone. But to my fellow students, I ask that you keep your eyes on the road, put the phone down, and perhaps become a little more acquainted with the brake pedal. Your life and mine will thank you.

By Lexi BaisdenManaging Editor

I remember ordering a chocolate cake once. It looked beautiful on the menu and it was just as lovely when it came out. I took a bite and expected heaven, but ended up getting… Well, let’s just say that what I got wasn’t very good. You know what a good chocolate cake is

supposed to taste like, right? It’s sweet, it’s delicious, it melts in your mouth; any sane person can’t have just one bite. But after one bite with this cake, I was done. I was completely convinced that what was sitting before me was anything BUT a cake. Its frosting was hard. The cake itself was dry and could be compared to sawdust. This, my friends, was dirt in disguise. My cake was an imposter. Outer beauty is really something, isn’t it? It can be tricky. We can look at a person, judge them, and become completely enamored by them. On certain occasions, we can

barely keep our eyes from popping out of our heads, let alone grasp our mental functionality. A person can be so breathtakingly beautiful, so unreasonably handsome, that we just stand there drooling like the village idiot. But then once we get to know them, we find out after a closer examination, that this person is inwardly ugly. Isn’t it strange how fast a good-looking person quickly turns hideous after you realize this? Now, I’m not saying that all beautiful people are inwardly ugly. An attractive person can be filled with either hatred or with love. But how will we ever know

unless if we look inside? It may sound like an old cornball thing, but honestly, looks are not what is going to make a relationship last. I don’t care who you are. You can be the most stunning, breathtaking, most beautiful person in the whole world. You can make Edward Cullen look like a leper for all I care. But if I drained you of your soul and left you dry, you would be just another pretty face. In my opinion, it’s the heart and the personality of the person that shines through. I know what a gorgeous person looks like. What gorgeous people look like. They are the

ones that put others before themselves. They are the kindhearted, thoughtful, honest people who accept their own flaws and love themselves despite them. They look for the best in others even when they are not sure if its really there. And what is so wonderful about these people is that they are so sweet and charming and absolutely stunning - and half the time, they may not even even realize it. The next time I’m in the mood for some good chocolate, I think that I’ll pass the cake. Give me a candy bar instead. I want the real, simple taste of beauty.

By Melissa MeyerStaff Writer

As college students, we often think of ourselves as having freedom. We’re “grown up.” We have freedom to pursue our dreams. We choose to go to college because we believe it will bring us closer to something. However, some don’t know what that something is and some don’t know why they’re after it. I know people who believe that when they graduate they’ll get a great job, start a family and finally

be satisfied, as if they will come out of college and life will begin. It seems like we forgot something in our hurry to grow up and start our lives. It is important that we are responsible, honest, wise and realistic about the future. However, it is also important and often forgotten that we are as optimistic as when we were kids and as rebellious as when we were teens. Too often people jump into a big decision because it’s what they think they want only to realize it wasn’t. For many of us, we

need to learn by making mistakes, but sometimes we make mistakes we never should have. Many times we make mistakes not because it’s what we thought we wanted but what we should want. Maybe when we heard society tell us what our goals should be: to always be better, we thought they knew something we didn’t. Truth is, no one else can know what we really want. If we’re going to make mistakes, why not make our own, not someone else’s? Society influences us, but we have to choose

who we are within that society because that goal of satisfaction will never come. Life is not waiting to begin; it’s already happening. If we pursue a goal of being better, we will always want more. Society tells us satisfaction is to be achieved, but it is a feeling we choose. Life cannot be achieved; we are living it. Reading “Great Expectations,” I realized I was just like Pip, who, while growing up, desperately pursued something he couldn’t have because he wasn’t “good enough.” For

so long, I had been aiming toward perfection so much that I forgot what I was chasing after. The goal shouldn’t be about how far we get. It should be living your life the way it makes sense for you. Don’t hurry to grow up; give yourself the freedom to be imperfect, to be you. That’s where life begins.

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news Kaleidoscope 3april 4, 2011

Computer Club offers excitement, learning By Valentina AndrianopoulosStaff Writer The Computer Club is designated to providing an interest in computers and science. While this club allows one to expand on their personal interests, it also provides valuable material for possible majors students could be advancing in. There are currently fifteen active members in the club. They meet on Tuesdays at 10:00 A.M. in room A 270. “Our goal varies year to year,” Scott Armstrong, advisor of the computer club, explains. “ We like to make sure that we can

arrange each event like a good project and walk away knowing how to construct what we’ve learned. Our second objective is to form a sense of community responsibility.” The Computer Club is solely for the students. It allows them to expand on their ideas and share them with other members of the club. They are an open-minded organization that is always looking for new members and more input. “I usually allow them to lead the meetings,” Armstrong continues, “I guide them when needed, but they’ve been doing very well for themselves.

At each meeting they have a set agenda that they write out. We also discuss many new technologies and systems that are popular or expanding.” One of their more recent activities was over winter break. The club got together and held a LAN session from Friday night all the way until Sunday morning. For those who don’t know what LAN is, it stands for Local Area N e t w o r k . It is

basically an online gaming session where everyone gets together and plays for hours on end.

“This kind of even takes a lot of

organization,” Scott says, “I’m very proud that they were able to put this together. It’s good to see that their skills from this

class are

developing.” There is also an upcoming event based on Facebook security. The club is going to talk about this issue and discuss what needs to be done and what they believe is truly secure. The Computer Club has a lot to offer, especially for students with a deep interest in science and technology. It provides opportunity for growth and bonding with students who share the same interests. Remember, there is always room for more students, so take this club into consideration!

Shelter After Disaster In A BoxBy Jessica PflipsenStaff Writer

On March 15 Brian Adams, a local Rotary club member, came to Kishwau-kee College with information on Shelter Box.

Natural disasters are practically unavoidable but Shelter Box, which works through Rotary clubs around the world, helps by bringing shelter and supplies to those affected by those disasters.

In 1999 the Shelter Box project started and ever since has been providing. Each box contains a tent for a family of up to 10 people, a set for children with drawing books, crayons and pens, thermal blankets, insulated ground sheets, water puri-fiers, a basic tool kit con-taining a hammer, axe, saw, trenching shovel, hoe head, pliers and wire cutters, ei-ther a wood burning or multi-fuel stove which can burn anything from diesel to old paint, pans, utensils, bowls,

mugs and water storage containers.

The shelter box site stats that they have helped bring boxes to every continent. Shelter Box has also become the largest project that the Rotary club has

ever created. With the scale of the project, the site also says, about 50% of all do-nations to the Rotary Club go straight to the Shelter Box project.

Because of the earthquake that measured 8.9 and the following tsu-nami in Japan on March 11, Shelter Box started to send its boxes to the areas af-fected most. All local Rotary clubs are collecting dona-tions to fund the supplies for the Shelter Boxes. Brain Ad-ams stated that, “eighty-five percent of the donations go to the product and the ship-ping.” There is a possibility of collection boxes around Kishwaukee College to col-lect donations as well.

Adams pointed out the positives for Shelter box as “a charity run program with a tangible product” and that tangible product helps those in need.

NPR National Public Radio, and CNN have recog-nized Shelter Box and there are interviews with Shelter Box representatives for both news organizations.

To learn more about Shelter Box and to donate, go to the Shelter box web-site shelterboxusa.org or visit your local Rotary Club.

E-Textbooks: The future of learning in college?By Hannah McClureStaff Writer

In today’s world many people choose Kindles, Tabs, and Ipads over paperbound books. Technology has provided us with many different ways to access information and it’s no surprise that colleges’ text books are being offered electronically. CourseSmart is the major supplier of electronic text books for colleges and offers 90% of core college level text books as eTextbooks. They advocate their cyber products as much easier to use as they are accessible from any internet device as well as much less expensive. Coursesmart.com explains that not only are they easier to access and not nearly as expensive, their features make it that much better- instead of using an index all one has to do is type the word or name in question into a search bar to receive all information in the book on said subject. As it seems, there are few disadvantages to eTextbooks. “It saves trees and space in schools,” explained sophomore Kelsey Boyd “but people loose jobs and money.” This spring semester University of Michigan has been provided with eTextbooks for five core classes by CourseSmart. Almost 200 students access the electronic books with a single sign in on cTools, allowing them to also receive their syllabi and assignments all in one place (comparable to Kish’s Blackboard). “As a large, forward-thinking public university, we continue to look for new ways to improve

the learning environment for our faculty and students; we are evaluating the pilot program and will make recommendations regarding campus directions for e-textbooks. We want to help our campus make informed decisions about new technology tools.”, Susan Holler, the Curriculum Integration Coordinator for U of M’s Library told PR Newswire. Although eTextbooks can be accessed from any device with internet, some people are skeptical of not having their trusty paper books. Sophomore Rebekah Guillotte said, “I like books that I can write notes in but if they are much cheaper I can adjust.” It may not be easy to find any real disadvantages to eTextbooks but the skepticism remains. “I’m not a huge fan, but they have their perks. They are easily accessible from any computer so you can’t forget it or misplace it like you could with a textbook,” Sophomore Graison Tjelle said. It is no doubt that CourseSmart has changed the way students will learn forever. Despite those who are not technologically inclined, the electronic option could possibly be in every college around the world in just a few years.

Pictured is Computer Club adviser Scott Arm-strong. Photo by Valen-tina Andrianopoulos.

Photo via http://site14.fourfiveone.com

features4 Kaleidoscope april 4, 2011

Giving Back on a Student’s Budget

Charities that make a huge difference...but won’t break the bank.By Audrey Latimer, Features Editor

It seems like no matter where you turn these days the problems of the world are staring you in the face or screaming in your ears. The United States economy is always there as a constant reminder of just how hard times are for Americans. Not to mention, the rising tension in the Middle East in places like Libya, and of course the horrific state that Japan finds itself in, make the dream of “World Peace” seem more cliché than ever. Stories such as these are enough to make anyone feel small and insignificant in the scheme of things. But, it is in these tough times when people become their strongest and when truly amazing things are accomplished. Looking back on history Americans have never been ones to give up when the going got tough. We go to college to get an education and better our lives in hopes of someday making a difference. We are constantly saying, “When I grow up I want to…” “My dream job is…” We seem to have constant tunnel

vision concerning the future, but the future does indeed start today. There are so many opportunities for you to help out with charities that affect the local community, the environment, animals, and even international problems. Keep reading for ways to get involved for free

-Habitat for Humanity: “Founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat and its homeowner families have built or rehabilitated more than 400,000 houses.” according to the Habitat for Humanity website www.habitat.org. Even if you are not handy with a hammer you can still donate your time and efforts towards this truly amazing organization. Look at the website to find a building location near you!

-Goodwill: This is by far the easiest charity you can be a part of and will really get your spring cleaning into full swing. If you have any gently used clothes, toys, or household items that are just taking up space donate them to Goodwill near you. According to Goodwill.org Last year alone 66 million people donated goods to Goodwill that benefited thousands of American and International Families. Visit their website at www.goodwillni.org or visit their DeKalb location at 1037 S. Annie Glidden Road in DeKalb.

-Chegg.com: We all know that one of the biggest hassles of going to college is buying and selling textbooks, but did you know you could help save the environment next time you buy? Chegg.com plants a tree for every book that you order from them. Plus you get

to pick what country in the world to plant it in.

-The American Red Cross: For a charity that helps out locally as well as internationally, this is one of the biggest forces of good on the planet. No matter if there is a disaster down the street from you or on the other side of the planet The Red Cross is there to help pick up the pieces almost immediately. It is responsible for ½ of the nation’s blood supply as well. Log on to www.redcross.ord to find your local Red Cross or “Volunteer Match” to find opportunities for you to help your community, country, and other nations. College students have the ability to make a difference and help out in these tough times even when we feel like we can’t. It may be something as simple as listening to a friend’s problems or helping out your neighbor in the yard. It is truly the little things that make a huge difference and on a tight budget the little things may be all you can afford for the time being.

Registering for Classes? The Kaleidoscope Makes it Easy!

Tips for making registration for Summer/Fall 2011 Classesas quick and easy as possible.By Lindsey Clark, Staff Writer

You know what they say, “the early bird catches the worm,” and registration for summer and fall classes is no exception. If you want to get the classes you need, get a head start before the rest of the masses do by registering online Wednesday, April 13-- the day classes are officially up for grabs. This is when the gem Kish SOS comes in handy-- by signing into your account, all the sections of classes available can be easily searched and registered for with a few clicks of your mouse. “It’s an easy process,” said Matthew McCoy. “It makes registering a lot less of an ordeal by being able to pick your classes online.” Students can also make payments, keep track of their grade point averages and transcripts and more through Kish SOS. If registering online isn’t quite your thing or you are not able to register online, on Thursday, April 14 students will have the opportunity to register in person as well. Many students highly underestimate the benefits of taking summer classes here at Kish--whether online or coming to class during the summer, those classes can actually play quite the role in how long your stay at Kishwaukee College will be. Whether you are looking to sign up for summer and/or fall classes for 2011, it is always a wise idea to schedule an appointment with a counselor, whose job is to provide guidance and keep you on the right track for graduation. When picking classes, it is always beneficial to pick ones that simultaneously match your interests, meet requirements for graduation and credits that are transferrable to the college you will be transferring to and are geared towards your preferred major. If you need to schedule an appointment with a counselor, call 815.825.2086 at extension 5070.

features Kaleidoscope 5april 4, 2011

Scott Checks in from Ireland

Some (Ironically) Sound Advice: Be Willing to Take On Student DebtBy Dr. Anthony ThomasKC Instructor

Unfortunately, it appears that my call for student comments on theissue of student behavior has gone unanswered. But I am undaunted. One reason that I agreed to write for the Kaleidoscope is my belief that a lot of work needs to be done to improve this College: we need a good ol’ fashioned “attitude readjustment” in the face of the changes we have seen. In this column, however, I’m going to lighten up and change focus. I’mnot here to change the attitudes of the Kish community overnight. I am here to provide a faculty perspective in a student-run newspaper. Instead of expressing my lofty ideals for this campus, today I’m going to give some sound, sensible advice as if I were your personal advisor. Are you ready? Here’s my advice: In pursuing your education, don’t hesitate to take on student debt. Oh yes I did—I went there. I am telling you to take on debt, eventhough many people tell you to avoid debt like the plague. But you need to know that student debt, more than any other kind of debt, is a legitimate

investment in yourself. Of course, it’s something that must be done wisely. But I’m talking about this because I have had many good students come through my office and express their doubts about pursuing an education beyond Kishwaukee. They’re willing to postpone their education or settle for second- and third-tier institutions (and in some instances, that place over in DeKalb is one of them) because of an unwillingness to take on reasonable student debt. For many of you, school might be the only opportunity that you’ll havein the next few years of seeing anything beyond northern Illinois. School is certainly expensive, and I’d be a fool to deny that. But I want you to know—especially if you’re a solid ‘A’ or ‘B’ student here at Kish—that you can and should consider institutions over 100 miles away as you leave Kishwaukee. Here is some advice about taking on student debt wisely. First,finance your education through a variety of sources. It isn’t often that you’ll have your education paid for out of a single source. Think of your education finances as a patchwork of all different kinds of funding. In addition to your personal contributions, have your parents contribute a little, apply for federal aid using the FAFSA form, apply for every scholarship that you qualify for, and take out a loan from the bank to cover the rest.

Second, consider establishing a permanent residence in your new area.For most schools, living and working in their home state for 12 consecutive months qualify you to become a resident of that state. You’ll get a new license plate and driver’s license—and, most importantly, in-state tuition! Third, remember that how you finance your education will change fromyear to year. You might need to take out a large bank loan in your first year, but after establishing residency and applying for new scholarships in your second and third years (and beyond, if necessary) you can cut your costs greatly. Don’t make the mistake of looking at the cost of out-of-state tuition at your favorite school and multiplying it by two or three years—because you’ll get a shocking number ($20,000… $30,000…$50,000…) that isn’t an accurate reflection of what you might actually pay if you’re smart. These are just a few tips that I can give you in this short space. Butabove all things, I want many of you to remember that you can—and should—pursue school wherever it suits you. There’s something good to be said about the adventures you can have at a school far from home. And by ‘adventures’ I mean a high-quality, thought-inspiring education.

Will’s Tech Korner By Will Ireland, Web Editor For those of you who use Google

Chrome, the web browser by Google, version 11 beta was released recently. This new version of Google Chrome brings a few new features and enhancements. The biggest new feature is dictation. This new feature allows someone to speak into a microphone and

have his or her speech turned into text. I tried this out in a variety of environments. I found that it worked well in some situations, but horrible in others. When I tried it in my office with a very noticeable echo, it didn’t work very well. I said, “What is the meaning of life.” It wrote, “Wing Minnesota life.” I had very good results in my bedroom, however, with the furnace roaring in the next room. It was able to correctly dictate simple things like “hello” as well as other, more complex things like “the meaning of life, the universe, and everything is 42.” Another readily apparent change is the new Chrome logo. The new logo is a simple and streamlined design. According to the Google Chrome Blog, “A simpler icon embodies the Chrome spirit — to make the web quicker, lighter, and easier for all.”

A feature that might not be as apparent is “3D CSS.” CSS is a coding language used on web pages to position things on a page. The 3D aspect of CSS is the addition of the ability to make things appear as though they are organized in 3-dimentional space. This allows web developers to build elements that appear to be floating above the web page. It also allows developers to create a “card flip” animation. This animation makes a part of a webpage “flip” over to reveal additional content. For more information and to download the Google Chrome Beta, go to the Google Chrome Beta page, http://bit.ly/x5W6P Please note that if you have Google Chrome (not beta) installed, you will upgrade to the beta version and receive beta updates (as opposed to regular updates).

By Scott ConroIreland Correspondent A large reason for coming to Ireland to study for a semester was to wit-ness the beautiful land-scape of the country first hand. I wanted more than to just see it in Far and Away or P.S. I Love You or Google searches. I wanted to breathe the air and to be part of the landscape—as romanticized as that may be. It was the 22nd of March when it started to feel like spring. The sun was

warm, the birds were chirp-ing and people were out (more than usual). This was a good day to take a short walk along the River Bar-row, which passes through Carlow. There is a path that runs 70 miles along the river, so I knew we could walk for a while. After about a half hour, I turned my friend and men-tioned that it would be great to ride a bike along the river, to make a day out of it. So, I started looking around town for a bike the next day as I was already thinking about getting one for a trip at the end of the semester. I found

a good deal at Harford’s, a local bike shop, and I had one built for me that Friday, ready for a trip the next day. I left town around eight in the morning. It was a cool, crisp morning, but the sun made it comfortable enough and would warm me up well later in the day. It was a perfect day for the beginning of the season. I moved at a good pace, stop-ping here and there to get a picture or to rest for a couple minutes. It shocked me at first to recognize a bridge, and later, a town I had been to on my first field trip.

Along the path, I saw ducks, swans, horses, cattle and sheep (and my mouth was introduced to some Irish in-sects later in the day). The highlight came about a mile before I turned around. It was a train bridge. I went to the middle and climbed on the wall, letting my feet swing high above the water. To my left was a pack of sheep and to my left were horses. The sun was out, and I was enjoy-ing the fantastic, Irish land-scape I had dreamed about for months! I climbed back down to the trail, ate, took

a nap and headed back to Carlow. Getting into town at five in the afternoon after 30 miles of riding on a path, I was exhausted. But I can always sleep away the ex-haustion.

Scott enjoys the Irish coun-tryside on a spring after-noon. Photo by Scott Conro.

arts & entertainment6 Kaleidoscope april 4, 2011

By Melissa MeyerStaff Writer

Beginning in the fall, Nickelodeon will be re-airing episodes of some of its original shows from the ‘90s. “Rugrats,” “Kenan & Kel,” “Pete & Pete,” “The Amanda Bynes Show,” “All That” and “ C l a r i s s a Exp la ins It All” will air on TeenNick d u r i n g an 11p.m. – 1a.m. ( c e n t r a l -time) block called “The ’90s Are All That.” According to Entertainment Weekly, Nickelodeon made the decision to add the shows to its line up due to the interest shown in early Nickelodeon programming on social networking sites. Early in March, rumors spread around the internet that Nickelodeon was set to begin production of new episodes for “Rugrats,” “Angry Beavers,” “Hey

Arnold,” “Doug,” Rocket Power,” and several others. While these rumors proved to be false, it is possible that Nickelodeon may add a block for these shows as well in the future. The recent rise in interest of

“Nicktoons” has been apparent on not only social networking sites but also through media such as Netflix, where many of the shows can be viewed on a computer, Amazon, where DVDs of the shows are available for purchase, and even clothing stores such as Hot Topic and Rue 21 where t-shirts and other merchandise, similar to those from the short-lived

Nickelodeon store in Chicago, can be bought. It may be a long wait until fall for eager Nickelodeon fans, but the future of the network is sure to give fans plenty to enjoy. The series “SpongeBob SquarePants” is

currently set to reach the

200-episode milestone in either 2012 or 2013. It will be

Nickelodeon’s first show to reach

200 episodes – a goal “Rugrats” barely missed at 172 episodes. With the power of the fans, however, there is always a hope that someday those numbers could change, and the original “Nicktoons” could resume production. Until then, fans will be able to enjoy re-runs of old favorites on TeenNick.

Nickelodeon re-airs classic cartoons

By Marissa SkonieCopy Editor

Most Kish students probably don’t know what an Art-o-mat is, let alone that Kish has one of its very own. According to Kish’s art gallery director Michelle Erickson, “Kish is one of very few college campuses in Illinois to host an Art-o-mat machine.” Right outside the library in Kish’s main lobby stands a machine no more than five feet tall. The machine looks much

like the old cigarette dispensers that are now banned. This is because the original Art-o-mat, created by

Clark Whittington in 1997, was actually made out of one of the banned cigarette dispensers. Over four hundred artists provide artwork for the nearly one hundred Art-o-mats in commission. These artists have formed a group formally known as Artists in Cellophane (AIC). Kish’s Art-o-mat was actually unveiled by Clark Whittington himself on April 3, 2006. Kish installed the machine as a sort of fundraiser whose proceeds go to the Michael Bennett Scholarship Fund.

Michael Bennett was an art teacher at Kish for thirty years. If students wish

to make a purchase of one of the original pieces of art, they can purchase a token in the library for five dollars. The token is then put into the machine and the student can choose one of the many artists available for a piece of their artwork. Half of the proceeds go to AIC and the other half to the Michael Bennett Scholarship. Erickson commented, “In addition to providing an opportunity to collect or gift small original artworks, and in our instance help to generate funds for scholarships, the Art-o-mat also provides an opportunity for artists to promote awareness of their artistic styles internationally through the sales of their artwork for vending purposes.” If any student would like to possibly see his or her art in Kish’s or other schools’ Art-o-mats, they can find information on how to do so at www.artomat.org.

Art-O-Mat funds Kish scholarship

By Jessica PflipsenStaff Writer The PTK Banned Book Club meets every two months to discuss a book they have chosen to all read, and on March 30 they met to discuss American Psycho. A small group of PTK members and a few non-PTK members showed up to the meeting in the B102 meeting room. The atmosphere was light and friendly despite the book they chose to discuss. “Everyone is welcome” was a point PTK advisors said like a catch phrase. You don’t have to be in PTK or even have read the book to show up. Everyone is allowed and encouraged to speak and share their opinions. The book American Psycho is also a movie of the same name starring Christian Bale as the main character/psycho killer. Generally they seemed

to collectively like the story, but all agreed the graphic violence in the pages were definitely the reason the book was banned in the first place. They also came to the conclusion that the book was a tough read at first, especially if you aren’t too fond of reading to begin with. They also discussed the possibility that none of the crimes really happened and that it was all in the main character’s head. Not everyone agreed about that point, but they did agree it was possible. But they agreed that the book did keep you thinking long after you finished it. They also compared the movie to the book and said that after reading the book, the movie wasn’t so bad in comparison. Also, the movie had some added humor that the book lacked completely. When they weren’t discussing the content of the book or movie, they brought up the book’s history, how the author was the

same age as thecharacter he wrote about, how the author had to go through two different publishers to even get the book published and then how it was Women’s Rights groups who petitioned that the book be banned because they felt it was a how-to guide to hurting and killing women. They also mentioned how the book was full of satire and irony against the rich and powerful in American businesses. The next book they read and discuss will be The Outsiders. The book discussion will be May 11 at 2 p.m. in B102. Previous books they have covered are The Harry Potter Series, The Giver and Lord of the Flies. For more information about the PTK Book Banned Book Club, look around campus for fliers or contact Laurie Hoecherl or Niki Criswell.

Who banned this Psycho?

By Melissa MeyerStaff Writer

The race is on for Automotive and Diesel Tech programs

It is an exciting time for the Automotive Technology and Diesel Power Te c h n o l o g y programs here at Kish. W i t h the current state of the e c o n o m y , many people are searching for new job opportunities and careers. A c c o r d i n g to Automotive Technology instructor Tim Banasiak and Diesel Power Technology instructor John Boesche, enrollment in the

programs has increased by nearly 50 percent over the past two years. “It’s because of the

economy,” said Banasiak. On top of that, Kish is the only c o m m u n i t y college in the state north of I-80 that offers Diesel Power Technology, which means even more

students come to study here, some driving as far as eighty miles. To accommodate the rising number of

students, the programs have seen some updates. The Automotive Technology Department, for example, began offering night classes this semester for the first time. Up-to-date equipment is also important, however, in giving students what they need to learn effectively. The Diesel Power Technology Department recently got a new lift for semi-trucks that gives students better access to work on them. “The biggest challenge,” said Boesche, “is to stay current with technology.” The recent equipment updates allow students to work on models as current as 2009. It isn’t just the school

that provides equipment; the key tools in the courses actually come from local community members. Local components of engine, electrical and transmission work. “I usually tell people we cover anything from the front bumper to the mud flaps on the back and everything in between,” said Boesche. These students, from those hoping to become mechanics to farmers wanting to learn how to repair their tractors, can pursue a certificate, advanced certificate or an Associate of Applied Sciences degree. They can also get internships through

the programs.Banasiak said, there are tremendous opportunities.”

campus life 7 Kaleidoscopeapril 4, 2011

KC celebrates Asian-American Heritage month

Some students from the Automotive Tech program work on a car engine. Photos by Melissa Meyer.

By Grace MartinStaff Writer

During the month of April, Kishwaukee College will be celebrating Asian-American History Month. Although usually celebrated in May as Asian- American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Kishwaukee College and NIU will instead celebrate throughout April, in order to allow for a full month of festivities. According to Evelina Cichy, Dean of Adult Education and Transition Programs, Asian-American History Month has two goals, “one, to increase awareness of students and staff of Asian culture; two, to just simply celebrate the month with events.” There are many events taking place, both here at Kishwaukee College, and NIU. Not only are there the scheduled events, there will be a history of Asian Culture on display in the Library.

This history will also include the special part Kishwaukee College played in a refugee program for victims of war in Asia in 1977. There will also be a Fortune Cookie Fortune Contest, where Kishwaukee College students will have the opportunity to compete to see who can write the best fortunes. The events planned target many different interest areas, from “Understanding Acupuncture and Relaxing Art of Qi Gong” to “Karaoke! and Food Sale by Intercultural Student Club.” There is almost certainly going to be something to appeal to all students at Kishwaukee College. There are only three events that would cost Kishwaukee students money. They are, “A Day in Chicago’s Chinatown” which costs $15 and reservations need to be made with Sittie Jackson who can be reached at (815) 825-2086, ext. 3380. The second is the Pag-Asa Benefit Concert in the Duke Ellington Ballroom in the

Holmes Student Center, which costs five dollars. The last is “Chinese Stir Fry and Fried Rice with Meg Hon” which costs $38 to cover the cost of food. Asian American History month holds a lot of potential for Kishwaukee College students to have a good time and learn a lot not only about Asian Cultures, but “students can learn about the school and their fellow students,” says Evelina Cichy. “I invite everyone, students and staff to come

enjoy themselves.”

Check out the

Kscope Web site (www.

kishkscope.com) for a complete

calendar of events and activities.

By Levi HensleyStaff Writer

The Veterans’ Club has been started by Kishwaukee. Their president, Gaitino Canzoneri, said the effort to get the club started was “long and tedious.” They needed to first find an academic advisor and start meetings. After they got started, they had to start a charter and a constitution and elect the leaders. The club is working on items to send to soldiers currently in Iraq and Afghanistan. Anything, including snacks and drinks (keeps the soldiers awake on convoys), socks, phone cards, soap, shampoo, etc. are welcomed. During recent meetings, the club has been, “trying to get things in order”, Canzoneri says. They talk about care packages they are sending, selling t-shirts, and getting addresses of students whose family members are deployed. They

are in charge of organizing next year’s Memorial Day. Currently, they are trying to plan a trip to a Navy Base on the Great Lakes for the Fourth of July. The meetings are open to: active duty, reserves, National Guard, Navy, Army, Marines, Coast Guard, and any family members of those who are in duty. The Veteran’s Club is,”here for all veterans and to find ways to assist soldiers and families,” says Canzoneri, and to “build support for all military affiliated students.” Anyone who wants to get involved can go onto the club’s Facebook page or sign up in Chuck Walter’s office (U148).

Diversity Week brings students, faculty togetherBy Valentina AndrianopoulosStaff Writer

March 28 started off the beginning of Diversity Week here at Kishwaukee College. It was a week completely dedicated to the respect and notoriety of multi-cultural people throughout the college and throughout the world. “This program is just to inform students

about diversity on the Kish campus,” explains Allison Von Ende, coordinator of student activities. There were many activities that took place all through the week in order to raise faculty and student awareness of different people around the world. On Monday an art show was held by the Student Organization. A diversity panel discussion was held on Tuesday also. On Wednesday the Assistive

Resources Center held a disability simulation to raise awareness. And, finally, on Thursday a “Babies” documentary was played; lest we forget how important children are. All of these programs were held by the Diversity Committee that held panel discussion and helped fund it. Also, Phi Theta Kappa and the Student Government Association joined in to help run the activities and

guarantee a successful outcome. Allison continues, “ This was a new program, so I’m not sure what I was hoping for. It’s just to let the faculty staff and students know more about campus and the people that they interact with every day. I also hope that through the films that were shown, students can learn more about other cultures.” As the year

progresses, one can only hope that the lessons of this week will stick with the students as a constant reminder that we are all in this together, no matter our age, race, gender, or abilities.

Veterans’ Club sends care packages to soldiers

KOUGAR KORNERapril 4, 20118 Kaleidoscope sports

By Lindsey ClarkStaff Writer In March 2011 basketball player Devin Mack received an honorable mention for the women’s basketball NJCAA All-American team through the Women’s Basketball Association. Though just one of the many awards she has won, this particular award goes through a nomination process and is based on “stats and outstanding players’ performances,” said athletic director and women’s basketball coach Karen Wiley. “She is an intense competitor. She was a constant on the floor at all times.” Mack is now the third in the entire program to have received this prestigious honor, which recognizes basketball players throughout the country during the school year at junior college levels. Mack has been

playing basketball all through her career here at Kishwaukee College and was part of another 20 win season the team achieved this year, additionally earning All-Region Tournament honors, 1st Team All-Region and 1st Team All-Arrowhead Conference Honors, in which the team also won the Arrowhead Conference for the first time in the history of the program. “The award is well-deserved. We never had to wonder if Devin was focused and fired to play a game,” said Wiley. Mack is also known for being a great team player, both on the court and off, with an organic instinct as a forerunner. “Devin enjoys being part of a team, something greater than herself,” Wiley continued to say. “She is a natural leader. She sees what needs to be done and is not afraid to take the lead and get it done.”

Mack Receives Honorable Mention

Photo Courtesy of Karen Wiley

The Kaleidoscope is on the hunt for sports writers! It could be YOU! Sign

up for Journalism 111 this fall

By Grace MartinStaff Writer

Morgan Osness—Sophomore -- #9

What position do you play? I play second and pitch.

How long have you been playing? Over 12 years. I started travel when I was seven, been playing ever since.

What is your favorite thing about softball? Why do you play it? My two older sisters both played. They put me in and I’ve liked it since. Family tradition I guess.

What are you most looking forward to about this season? Conference games, we just split with the two toughest teams, IVCC and Blackhawk, looking forward to playing them again.

Why did you choose Kishwaukee College? It was between Kishwaukee and McHenry County College. I liked the vibe better here.

What are you majoring in? Graphic Design

Do you know where you want to transfer to? I’m going to Western Illinois University next fall.

Softball Spotlight: Morgan Osness