Saginaw Valley State University’s student newspaper since 1967Monday, March 26, 2012 Vol. 44 No. 23

news tips/press releases vanguard@svsu.edu newsroom (989) 964-4482 advertising (989) 964-4248 visit us online at valleyvanguardonline.com

VALLEYTHEVANGUARD

GarbologyAlmost 99 percent of what

we buy gets thrown away.On Thursday, March

22, sociology students took part in the fourth event in the weeklong “Go Green” series.

The “Garbology” event was led by Brian Thomas, assistant professor of sociology.

“The purpose of the event is to examine trash habits on campus,” Thomas said. “Hopefully, we can encourage more students to recycle their garbage instead of throwing it away.”

The student participants were from Thomas’ global cultures and introduction to sociology classes.

According to Ann Coburn-Collins, director of the office of adjunct faculty, students were divided into two teams. The first team retrieved garbage from the dumpsters outside Living Center North while the second team sorted through the trash looking for paper, plastic, glass and aluminum cans.

“The whole point of these activities is to make the students more mindful,” Coburn-Collins said. “We want to help make them smarter consumers and better advocates for the earth.”

After the trash was sorted,

the groups went through recycling bins to see what should and shouldn’t belong there.

This is the fourth time this event has been held, and Thomas wants to make sure that it continues until the school starts seeing an improvement in the amount of waste recycled.

“For me, this event is interesting for two reasons,” Thomas said. “First, every year the majority of garbage that we go through could be recycled. And, secondly, all of this unnecessary waste ends up costing the school money, so it would be beneficial for students to improve their habits.”

RecycledFashion Show

Fashion has never been so biodegradable.

On Tuesday, March 20, the Resident Housing Association (RHA) kicked off the second event in their weeklong “Go Green” series. This event was called the “Recycling Fashion Show.”

The event was more than a fashion show, but instead was a challenge for participants to create clothing out of recyclable materials.

“I feel like there was so much creativity here tonight,” said Mary Zimmerman, medical laboratory sciences freshman. “It was all very imaginative.”

According to the rules, every group of three had one hour to create an outfit out of recyclable materials. One person from each team volunteered to be the model while the others were responsible for gathering materials.

As soon as the event began,

there was a quick rush for newspaper and trash bags as the groups started to create their dresses.

After an hour, the five groups that participated met outside the Student Life Center and showcased their work by walking down a runway.

Stephanie Morris, Spanish and theatre freshman, said this was her favorite part of the evening.

“I loved watching the girls walk down the runway,” Morris said. “I can’t believe how well their dresses turned out.”

The winning group created a wedding dress made from newspapers, paperclips, trash bags, toilet paper and other recyclable items.

“This was a great way to express a very important message,” Zimmerman said. “Recycling can be easy and fun.”

As the academic world continues into the 21st century, some educators are starting to realize the advantages and disadvantages of using social media in the classroom.

Professional and technical writing sophomore Aubrey Banning said she sees quite a bit of technology and media used in classes taught by Beth Jorgensen, professor of rhetoric and professional writing.

“It’s easy to use, and I think it will be an increasing trend in education,” Banning said. “Sites like YouTube provide almost limitless digital archive space that make programs like ‘PBS’ and ‘The Daily Show’ are pretty close to timeless, and that really matters when you’re using media as a teaching tool.”

Jorgensen said she uses social media outlets such as YouTube and Facebook in many of her classes.

“I like using YouTube,” Jorgensen said. “I often run across videos that perfectly sum up something that I want to make a point about.”

She also takes advantage of VSpace and its discussion space to give her students a place to talk to each other about class and their assignments.

“A major advantage of using new technologies and social media in the classroom is that they’re great conversation starters,” Jorgensen said. “By the time we get into the main topic of discussion, we’ve gotten rid of that typical dead space at the beginning of class.”

Jorgensen also said social networking sites such as Facebook, if used correctly, could be used as personalized teaching tools.

“When I see my students accomplishing things, Facebook gives me an opportunity to compliment them on their hard work,” Jorgensen said. “It gives them a venue for talking about their classes and helps stimulate ideas for my own.”

On the research side, professor of English Geoffrey Carter is looking at what it means to share and encourage students to create their own materials and media online.

“I don’t necessarily include the creation of social media in all of my classes,” Carter said. “But I’ve definitely started introducing the idea in my upper-division classes.”

Carter has written several articles on the topic, including a piece called, “Tubing the Future,” which explores the vision of a culture inspired by online video sharing.

A video he made with Scott Merrow, a student from his journalism class, received national attention. It was called, “The Chora of the Twin Towers.” For their efforts, Carter and Merrow were invited to speak at the ten-year anniversary of 9/11 in New York City.

“There’s a lot of things to still be skeptical about when it comes to social media,” Carter said. “But it’s a vast archive of information and creativity that scholars are only beginning to engage with.”

For example, Carter pointed out that video media is slowly starting to be recognized at conferences such as MLA.

By Adam Haenleinvanguard staff Writer

YouTube becomes teaching tool By Adam Haenlein &

Brandy Abraham

The Profes-sional Journal-istic Practices Committee of SVSU has ap-pointed a new editor-in-chief of the Valley Van-guard for the fall 2012 and winter 2013 semesters.

J u s t i n Brouckaert, a creative writing and English literature senior, will as-sume duties starting with the Van-guard’s lone summer issue.

Brouckaert has worked for the publication for two years, serving as a staff writer and most recently as the sports editor.

“Justin’s willingness to go the extra mile as a writer, editor and mentor has transformed the sports section into one of the stron-gest parts of the paper,” said Toni Boger, current editor-in-chief. “We are incredibly lucky to have him, and I look forward to seeing the great things he will do.”

Brouckaert credited the expe-rience he gained managing the sec-tion during a busy fall season for preparing him to take over.

“I stepped into the role of sports editor during an exiting year for SVSU athletics,” Brouck-aert said. “I’m looking forward to applying what I’ve learned to the paper as a whole.”

Brouckaert has worked as a tutor in the SVSU writing center for three years. He is a member of Cardinal Ink and Sigma Tau Delta.

First published in 1967, the Vanguard publishes weekly dur-ing the fall and winter semesters. The newspaper maintains an on-line presence at valleyvanguar-donline.com and on Facebook.

The recent streak of warm weather is bringing seniors’ thoughts to May graduation.

To help students prepare for graduation, SVSU held its semi-annual Graduation Fair.

The fair, held at the SVSU Barnes and Noble, takes place six weeks before every com-mencement ceremony.

Students were on hand to “take care of their gradua-tion needs at once,” said Chris Pawloski, bookstore manager.

“They get their cap and gown, graduation announce-ments and can order their class ring,” he said.

Gina Moorman, college territory manager of Jostens Rings, was on hand to aid stu-

dents in purchasing class rings. Jostens Rings is the maker

of the official Saginaw Valley class rings. Because students get a discount on the rings, Moorman said the event was “very busy.”

Students attending the graduation fair were able to meet with a director from Alumni Association to set up ways to keep in touch with Sag-inaw Valley post-graduation.

They also had the oppor-tunity to meet with the con-tinuing education program, which offers post-graduation classes for certifications.

Because not all graduates come, Pawloski said the SVSU bookstore gave students an in-centive to attend.

“We probably see half of the students, so through our graduation fair, we give a 20

percent off coupons to stu-dents who pick up their cap and gown,” he said.

With the coupon, students can purchase merchandise for graduation, such as hoods for master’s gowns or graduation announcement photo frames.

Devin Flournoy, commu-nication senior, said the fair reminded him of how close graduation day is.

“I feel elated. It’s amaz-ing,” he said about graduat-ing. “I’m very tired (of school) and ready to get down to the nitty-gritty and get it going.”

His first interview for a post-graduation job will take place next week in Chicago for a marketing position.

Flournoy said he is posi-tive about finding a career away from home.

He said it’s a “myth” that

it’s hard to find jobs after grad-uation.

“I hear it all the time. People aren’t trying,” he said. “I feel there are a percentage of jobs being taken away, but they’re not putting in the effort to find a job.”

Flournoy said he has hope in finding a career because of his “major being so broad.” He said he plans to obtain a career away from home.

“I won’t be here,” he said. “It’s not going to hap-pen. I’m young and I have no children. There’s no point to limit myself.”

Jessi Jankoska interna-tional studies senior, also is set to graduate this spring.

Having just bought a home and set to marry her fi-ancé in June, Jankoska has no intention of leaving the Sagi-naw area.

“I definitely want to stay in the area, in a business set-ting like Dow Corning or Dow Chemical,” she said.

Jankoska said she’s had a few interviews, but nothing is the “ideal position.”

Jankoska’s fiancé, Will Griffin, will graduate with a degree in general business and has a job lined up with CPI En-gineering in Midland.

Jankoska said she has an-ticipated graduation day for a long time.

“Growing up, you nev-er feel this day will actually come,” she said. “Now that it’s here, I’m excited but nervous at the same time.”

The bachelor’s ceremony takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 5, in the Ryder Center arena.

The master’s commence-ment ceremony takes place at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5 at the Cardinal Gym.

Brouckaert appointed Vanguard editor-in-chief for 2012-13 academic year

Graduates suit up to head out

See GREEN, A2

Green campus hits the bins

Vanguard photo | Katelyn Davis

Devin Flournoy, communication senior, picks up his cap and gown from the campus Barnes and Noble bookstore during last week’s graduation fair.

By Katelyn Davisvanguard staff Writer

Last week’s “Go Green” series gave students a chance to make newsprint dresses and dumpster dive in order to promote campus recycling.

JustinBrouckaert

Vanguard photo | Sean Dudley

Last week, sociology students from Brian Thomas’s classes participated in “Garbology,” the fourth event in the “Go Green” series.

Vanguard photo | Sean Dudley

Last Tuesday, students used recycled materials to create dresses for the “Recycled Fashion Show” as the second series event.

See MEDiA, A2

information about this week’s planned protest of Trayvon Martin’s death can be found in our news briefs on A2.

The Valley Vanguard 125 Curtiss Hall campuseditorsBrandy aBraham and joshua j. roesner e-mails BmaBraha@svsu.edu and jjroesne@svsu.edu office (989) 964-4482

News coverage continued from page 1

Page A2| Monday, March 26, 2012 | valleyvanguardonline.com | The Valley Vanguard

svsu.edu/vanguard valleyvanguardonline.com

valleyvanguardonline.com

aboutussince 1967, The valley vanguard has provided coverage of campus and communiTy happenings To sTudenTs, faculTy, sTaff and communiTy residenTs free of charge. an online ediTion of The paper is availaBle aT valleyvanguardonline.com and is updaTed weekly during The fall and winTer.

publishingThe vanguard is puBlished By The sTudenTs of saginaw valley sTaTe universiTy weekly in The fall and winTer semesTers, wiTh one issue puBlished in The summer. our office is locaTed in curTiss 125 on The campus of svsu, aT 7400 Bay road, universiTy cenTer, mi 48710.

advertisingall adverTising inquiries should Be direcTed To david solce aT dlsolce@svsu.edu or (989) 964-4248.

professionalstaffvanguard@svsu.edu

(989) 964-4248 nickWigfield, Business manager

davidsolce,adverTising manager

The Valley Vanguard

editorialstaffvanguard@svsu.edu

(989) 964-4482

toniboger, ediTor-in-chief

Joshhartley,design ediTor

brandyabraham,campus ediTor

Joshuaroesner,campus ediTor

courtenaypoWell, copy ediTor

Justinbrouckaert,sporTs ediTor

mollyyoung, a&e ediTor

Jessieellison,phoTo ediTor

chrisoliver, weB ediTor

correctionsandadditionsif you see an error, please leT us know as soon as possiBle By conTacT-ing ediTor-in-chief Toni Boger aT (989) 964-4482 or vanguard@svsu.edu. in addiTion To prinTing a correcTion in our prinT ediTion, The online version of The sTory will reflecT The correcTion.

newsbriefs

Hoodie March at SVSU

At 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, there will be a march to protest of the recent death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The event will start in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall. A walk is planned at 6 p.m. from Curtiss Hall to 7-Eleven on Bay Road. Participants are asked to wear a SVSU hoodie or a black hoodie. Students looking for more information can visit the Facebook page for the event or contact Student Life.

Holocaust Awareness

The Law Club is sponsoring a Roman Holocaust Awareness presentation and fundraiser on Tuesday, March 27, starting at 4:30 p.m. in the Thompson Student Activities Room. The money will be donated toward creating a memorial for victims of the Holocaust who lived in Rome. There will be a brief informational presentation, and paper flags will be sold for $1. The flags will have the name of a donor on them and be featured as a temporary monument for the victims. For more information contact Marissa

Geyer, mageyer@svsu.edu, Nicole Berwick, naberwic@svsu.edu, or Law Club adviser Julie Keil, jakeil@svsu.edu.

Healthy U Wellness Fair

The annual Healthy U Wellness Fair will take place on Wednesday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Cardinal Gym. Vendors and representatives from local businesses and university offices will be on hand with free samples, coupons, and information about how to live a healthier lifestyle. There will be prizes raffled off, including two Wii game consoles.

Child Abuse Awareness

At 7 p.m. Thursday, March 29, guest speaker Lauren Furneaux will be in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall for an event titled “Justice for Lily.” The event will feature Furneaux discussing her daughter Lily’s death as the result of child abuse suffered while in the custody of Lily’s stepmother. The event is free and open to the public. The Student Social Work Organization of SVSU is sponsoring the event.

Resume Workshop

At 1 p.m. Friday, March 30, in Wickes 270, Career Services is sponsoring a resume workshop.

policebriefs

Police briefs are written according to reports from University Police. These indicate preliminary descriptions of events and not necessarily actual incidents.

Trespassing• At 9:50 a.m. Thursday, March 15, an officer

made a routine traffic stop on campus after a male made a stop sign violation. When the officer approached the vehicle, the driver was a male, nonstudent who they have been trying to find because he has a housing violation. The male was given a nontrespass letter and received a ticket.

• At 7:15 p.m. Thursday, March 15, officers received an email from a female student saying that she saw two females in Living Center South that are not allowed on campus. Officers reviewed tapes and saw the two females enter the building and leave. The case was turned over to Student Conduct.

Minor in Posession• At 4:56 a.m. Saturday, March 17, central dis-

patch contacted police that an ambulance was on its way for a female student. The 19-year-old female student overdosed on alcohol and needed to be hospitalized. She received a minor in possession.

• At 1 a.m. Sunday, March 18, a resident as-sistant from the University Village flagged down an officer because of a possible minor in possession party. When officers made contact with the students, two received minor in possessions and five students will be handled internally.

• At 2:02 a.m. Sunday, March 18, a resi-dent assistant from the University Village contacted police because they had received loud-noise complaints in the University Village. When officers arrived they found alcohol in the room. Eight students were in attendance and the case was turned over to Housing.

• At 2:37 a.m. Sunday, March 18, a resi-dent assistant from the University Village contacted police for noise violations in an apartment. When officers arrived there were eight students in attendance and the case was turned over to Housing.

Harassment• Between Wednesday, March 14, and Tues-

day , March 20, a female student received 150 text messages and voice mails from her ex-boyfriend. Officers made contact and told him to stop.

Traffic Accdident• At 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, two

students were driving in D-lot and struck each other. Minor damages were done to both vehicles.

Suspicious Situation• At 12 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, ITS reported

to police that they found an eavesdropping device on an on-campus computer. The case is under investigation.

Assault• On Saturday, March 17, a female non-

student was visiting her boyfriend in Living Center Southwest. The male student’s ex-girlfriend found out and assaulted the female by punching and pulling her hair. The case is still under investigation because it hap-pened Saturday and the female, nonstudent reported it Tuesday.

Larceny• At 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 21, a female

student from Living Center North left her watch on the bathroom counter at 10 a.m. and when she returned at 4 p.m. it was gone. The case is under investigation.

Green ConferenceSustainability is the keyword in the

future of waste reduction.On Friday, March 23, lecturers dis-

cussed the future of recycling in the final event of the weeklong “Go Green” series.

Fine arts sophomore Sean Dudley directed the event. Dudley also was re-sponsible for coordinating every event.

Throughout the lectures, prizes were awarded to students through trivia questions regarding the environment and being eco-friendly.

Guest lecturer Ursina Kohler is an employee of Dow Chemical Co.’s corpo-rate sustainability department.

Kohler said Dow’s major goal for ensuring a sustainable future is to focus on the three major aspects of sustainabil-ity: planet, profit and people. It’s never a good idea to focus primarily on one piece of the puzzle.

“There’s more than green to sustain-ability,” Kohler said. “Like any company, we’d like to make profits, but we want to do so responsibly. We do everything with the future in mind.”

Kohler also went on to say that there are five world challenges or “mega trends” that continue to threaten sustain-ability: health and nutrition, transporta-tion and infrastructure, energy, climate change and water.

“As a company, we want to always focus on these things,” Kohler said. “However, it starts with you guys. Stu-dents have enthusiasm that a lot of other people seem to have lost. You should try to influence others to live sustainably and recycle.”

Getting WastedFor one group of volunteers, recy-

cling isn’t just important, but necessary to ensure sustainable living.

Last Monday, March 19, Alterna-tive Breaks hosted the first event in the weeklong “Go Green” series. The goal of this series was to raise awareness for

recycling and waste reduction. This particular event was called

“Getting Wasted,” and offered guests freshly made fruit drinks and a presenta-tion on the benefits of recycling.

Kelly Borse, nursing junior, said that the event was inspired by an alternative breaks trip to Paris, Va., where volun-teers helped farm and learned about liv-ing sustainably on the Liberty Hall Live-stock Rescue.

“It was an amazing experience,” Borse said. “It was during that week that we decided that we wanted to help educate others about how to recycle and why it makes such a big difference.”

The presenters centered their sta-tistics on the typical life of a college student and the amount of average waste that gets thrown away instead of recycled.

For example, the presenters said that pizza boxes make up 41 percent of solid waste. Recycling this card-board could save up to nine cubic yards of landfill space.

Indoor Snowball Fight

Last Wednesday, more than 20 students participated in the “Indoor Snowball Fight,” which was the third event of the weeklong “Go Green” series.

Some of the main participants were from Alternative Breaks. The host, graphic design junior Sean Dudley, at-tended the 2012 spring break three weeks ago.

He said that the Historical Preser-vation and Sustainability Spring Break inspired him to hold the series.

The snowballs were made from re-cycled paper. The crumpled paper, re-trieved from campus recycled bins, also contained green facts.

“The students are utilizing the re-cycle bins across campus,” said Bethan Thrun, nursing freshman, “and I’m so glad to see that.”

Before the real snowball fight, there were two practice runs, where the two

groups consisting of ten people each started out on their own side and then collided.

This event was hosted by South East Community Council.

“I think it is great to spread aware-ness and I think this will get people in-volved,” said Renee Kucher, SE Com-munity Council member and business sophomore.

The teams used tables and people as forts and shields. Team two won two out of three rounds and was declared the winner.

Seven of the original participants played in the final round, which was an all-out-war where Ross Reaume, nurs-ing freshman was the last participant standing.

Vanguard photo | Sean Dudley

Last Wednesday, South East Community Council hosted the third event in the “Go Green” series. Over 20 students attended the “Indoor Snowball Fight,” where participants threw recycled paper for prizes.

Vanguard photo | Sean Dudley

During the “Indoor Snowball Fight,” students split up into two teams where they used recycled paper as snowballs and tables and people as shields.

GoinG GReencontinued from A1

Vanguard photo | Sean Dudley

Chris Petrat, left, nursing sophmore, and Arik Gottleber, right, art senior. The ”Getting Wasted” green event hoped to bring awareness to campus recycling through presentations and at this event: fruit drinks.

However, some educators, including Jorgensen, also believe people should be careful how invested they become in social media.

“It has to do with your own comfort level,” Jorgensen said. “Even then, I have some concerns

about students getting too involved in media. It sometimes conflicts negatively with your studies, causes insomnia, promotes less outdoor activity and generally keeps us all way too busy for our own good.”

Jorgensen has been teaching for 20 years, and in that time she said that she has seen a drastic change in the way that students communicate with each other. Today, she said that everyone seems to be passing each other by, staring into screens.

“There is a balance,” Jorgensen said. “Don’t be too quick to embrace everything online, because not all social media is necessarily good stuff.”

“We’re looking at the underbelly of participatory culture,” Carter said. “We don’t have any naïve hopes of a perfect future, because there are going to be difficulties. Not all writing is put to good use, so we shouldn’t expect the same for social media.”

MediAcontinued from A1

News and events from on and around campus

The Valley Vanguard | valleyvanguardonline.com | Monday, March 26, 2012 | Page A3

courtyardthe

The Valley Vanguard 125 Curtiss Hall campuseditorsBrandy aBraham and joshua j. roesner e-mails BmaBraha@svsu.edu and jjroesne@svsu.edu office (989) 964-4482

svsu.edu/vanguard valleyvanguardonline.com

SA plans annual rally for higher education next Friday in Lansing

Academic advising clarifies role for students

Members of SVSU’s Student As-sociation (SA) will attend a two-day event to address such matters as high tuition costs and state funding to pub-lic universities this week.

The Lansing Blitz event takes place Thursday and Friday at the state capital. It is put together by the Stu-dent Association of Michigan, combin-ing student associations from each of Michigan’s 15 public universities. The universities meet to rally to support higher education.

“It is an annual event established to bring to light issues that matter to college students,” said Ted Goodman, SA president.

Goodman said attending the event is a “way of letting Lansing know that we want our concerns heard.”

Representatives from the student governments attend structured lob-bying meetings with state legislators Thursday, said Joshua Fleming, SA parliamentarian.

The purpose is to petition promote increased financial resources.

“The SVSU Student Association will be sending a delegation to attend these meetings and lobby for increased funding for the higher education base budget,” Fleming said.

The delegation will consist of Goodman, Fleming and representa-tives Dylan Kosaski, Kaitlin Foran and Doug Boehm.

“The purpose of the trip is to per-suade Michigan’s legislators to make

higher education a higher priority and to effectively lobby selected state legislators to achieve this goal,” Flem-ing said.

Funding for higher education in Michigan has been declining steadily.

“We took our biggest hit last year with a 15 percent cut,” Fleming said. SVSU’s SA goal is to receive an in-crease in funding for higher education for years to come.

Students are to meet with state Reps. Joel Johnson, Charles Brunner, Kevin Cotter, Stacy Erwin-Oakes and state Sens. John Moolenaar and Roger Kahn.

Friday, the rally is held on the state Capitol lawn where students from Michigan universities request an increase in their funding for higher education appropriations and financial aid for students.

“Any and all students from SVSU are invited to attend this rally,” Flem-ing said.

Students interested in joining SA to attend the rally can sign up in the Student Association office during busi-ness hours at Doan 103. A $5 refund-able deposit is required at the time of registration.

Free transportation is provided to and from Lansing and students will be given a free “Securing MI Future” T-shirt to wear at the rally.

The bus to the Lansing Blitz leaves from Curtiss Hall at 9 a.m. and returns to SVSU at 4 p.m.

By Katelyn Davisvanguard staff Writer

The Academic Advising Center (AAC) is looking to change common mispercep-tions about its services.

At the President’s Fo-rum in February, Student Association brought forward concerns from nearly 140 students who were unhappy with what they said was a lack of information on the advising center’s part. The majority of concerns involved the center not having infor-mation on specific degree programs.

According to Daniel Strasz, director of academic advising, students should turn to their academic de-partments instead of the AAC when they need detailed in-formation about their major.

“If you’re getting into the nitty gritty of your major, you really need to work with your department on those kinds of things,” he said.

He said students should talk with department chairs or faculty advisers if they need information about in-ternships and certain class of-ferings, especially if students are upperclassmen.

Craig Aimar, assistant vice president of enrollment

management, said the AAC helps students learn basic skills, such as learning about general education classes, picking a major and navigat-ing Cardinal Direct.

With more than 70 aca-demic programs offered, Aimar said it’s difficult for the five advisers in the of-fice to know specifics for all 70 programs in addition to teaching basic skills.

“When we talk about student success, we want them to engage with their fac-ulty and start working with them,” he said. “Our advisers are very knowledgeable, but to a certain extent.”

He added the advisers do their best to know the lat-est requirements for degree programs by regularly meet-ing with departments.

Aimar said the responses from the Student Associa-tion surprised him because it contradicted information gathered by the AAC from student visits.

Since January, students are required to swipe their IDs each time they enter and exit the office. Aimar said it allows the center to col-lect real-time data based on responses from 100 percent of students who come to the center.

Results from the anony-

mous survey show a high rate of student satisfaction. 93 percent and 94 percent of students rate the quality and helpfulness of advising as good to excellent.

“I’ll take that any day of the week,” Aimar said.

More than 60 percent of students who come to the center are freshmen and sophomores, which Aimar said is “rightfully so” with the types of services offered.

However, he said the center will help any student

who walks in and it will not turn anyone away. He point-ed to visits from a handful of graduate students who have visited the center since Janu-ary, even though the center is

meant to advise undergradu-ate students.

After the President’s Fo-rum in February, President Eric Gilbertson had concerns about registration and set up a task force of nearly a dozen members from different de-partments on campus.

Strasz said two things became apparent as the task force worked together. If students had a problem with billing, blame was usually placed on Financial Aid. If students had a problem with degree audits or registration, the AAC was often blamed.

He said this was interest-ing to discover because “none of those things have anything to do with us.”

“We’re looking at all dif-ferent systems to see how we can really make improve-ments on things,” he said.

As a result of the task force, Aimar said “students’ voices were heard” and a Course Request Form will be offered for fall registration.

If a class is closed, filled or not offered, students will have the opportunity to go to a website and request it.

If a high demand is seen for a specific class, the dean of the respective college may decide to open a new section for that class.

Aimar said there are cer-

tain limitations with the form. Students are unable to give preferential times or days, and requesting classes that require a lab might be more difficult to offer because there is a certain number of labs on campus.

Strasz said the center will also continue working on programs implemented last year to ease the registration process.

Certain days in the weeks leading up to regis-tration will be dedicated to advising students in certain class standings. Strasz said this strategy is successful in managing traffic flow to the center.

The center will also continue mobile advising in dorms, the peer advisers pro-gram and emailing students specific information about registration eligibility.

Aimar said the combi-nation of these programs is meant to help students be as successful as possible during their time at the University.

“With our communica-tions and our strategies, I think we’re moving in the right direction,” he said.

By Toni Bogervanguard editor-in-chief

Religion and politics may lead to unwelcome debates at family gatherings, but for the college Dem-ocrats and college Republicans, it’s business as usual.

The college Republicans and the college Democrats gathered in the Ott auditorium on Wednesday, March 21, to debate right to work, tax reform and healthcare.

Republican debaters at the event included Sean Hammond, bi-ology senior; Kyle Harris, political science junior; and Lauren Delzeith, political science junior.

Joshua Roesner, public admin-istration senior; Jacob Hilliker, po-litical science senior; and Hailey Kimball, political science junior rep-resented the college Democrats. The debate was moderated by political science instructor Eric Welsby.

Lucas VanAtta, political science senior, was at the debate. He said he thought both sides did a good job expressing their views.

“I was impressed with both sides of the arguments,” he said. “They had similar concerns on the same issues, but differing views on how to solve them.”

VanAtta was looking forward to the topic of tax reform because of its importance to the public.

“I was most interested in the topic of tax reform because these re-forms have the most immediate im-pact on citizens,” he said.

SVSU alum and former college Republican Jess Averill was in atten-dance. Averill had assisted in plan-ning the debate while a student.

“I was looking forward to the right to work just because in Michi-gan right now it’s so knowledge-able,” she said.

This debate was different from debates in the past. Averill recog-nized the differences right away.

“Last year we had actual legisla-tors come in,” she said. “We had the questions come from the audience.”

The format of the debate was also different.

“This year it was a little bit dif-ferent how we had several topics instead of question after question,” Averill said.

VanAtta said he likes political debates because of the opportunity for spectators to learn.

“These kinds of debates are very productive because they bring dif-ferent viewpoints directly to the au-dience and they encourage different ways of thinking,” he said.

Although none of her opinions were altered due to the debate, Aver-ill’s eyes were opened at some of what the debaters brought up.

“I know I heard some things that I hadn’t heard before,” she said. “Do any of my views change? No, but I do think that both sides did a commendable effort.”

Overall, VanAtta and Averill said they thought the debate was in-teresting and brought its own style.

“I enjoyed the debate and I felt like it broke from the usual rheto-ric we are so used to hearing in the media,” VanAtta said. “It addressed issues that are relevant in not only national politics, but local politics as well.”

Averill said she liked how the

debaters were able to do their duties while still maintaining a sociable and sometimes humorous perspec-tive.

She said she was proud of how well the students handled them-selves.

“They studied the issues great,” she said. “I think it’s one of the suc-cesses we have in the SVSU political science department that everybody can get close to each other regardless of their party and that you can work together, but then you can come to one of these things and argue with each other.”

Dems, GOP put policy over partisanshipBy Joey Olivervanguard staff Writer

Vanguard Photo | Tyler Bradley

Political science junior and college Republican Kyle Harris, left, and political science senior and college Democrat Jacob Hilliker discuss U.S. tax policy and reform during last Wednesday’s “great debate.”

“We’re looking at all different systems to see how we can really make improvements on things.”

Daniel StraSz

Director of acaDemic aDviSing

The Valley Vanguard 125 Curtiss Hall vanguard@svsu.edu editor-in-chiefToni Boger office (989) 964-4482 e-mail acBoger@svsu.edu

Page A4| Monday, March 26, 2012 | valleyvanguardonline.com | The Valley Vanguard

opinion

valleyvanguardonline.com

This week, we looked at the use of social media in college classrooms and the potential advantages and disadvantages

that come with its use.Speaking as frequent users of

social media sites such as Facebook, we know the major advantages and disadvantages that come with its use. But we do know one thing is absolutely sure: social media is here is stay, and it isn’t going anywhere.

When we look at the advantages and disadvantages of social media sites, we recognize the benefits outweighing the negatives. Facebook can lead to major distractions and, to the most extreme users, fewer hours of sleep per night.

But why shouldn’t professors embrace social media sites? Facebook can be a great tool connecting students in a classroom, even if it takes awhile to get there. We’ll get to the Facebook group or page created for a study group, even if it takes some time. After all, status updates and friends’ walls can’t check themselves.

One of the most beneficial sites we see in the classroom is YouTube. We feel like this is something that almost needs to be included in classes. For one thing, there is a much larger collection of video clips on the site than in any

nearby library. Quality can be an issue, but just having so much available at your fingertips indicates the potential power as a teaching tool.

By allowing students to use social media in the classroom, we feel it can do a lot in keeping students engaged. Professors have to find the best ways to connect with students in order to make the most out of encouraging learning. By connecting on the students’ level, it has the potential to boost morale and interest more than a PowerPoint presentation or a paper handout ever could.

This isn’t to say that the skepticism with using social media isn’t warranted. We realize everything out there isn’t necessarily good. Everyone knows, or at least has been told by their professor, that Wikipedia should never be used as a legitimate source because of how easy it is to have inaccurate

information. The same goes for social media sites.

The use of YouTube is also helpful in the classroom, but for some videos, the time it takes to weed through videos that don’t apply can also breed skepticism. But, as our professors have proven multiple times, useful and educational videos are on the site, even if it takes a while to get to them.

While we don’t see professors embracing sites such as Pinterest or Reddit in the classroom, Facebook and YouTube have evolved in enough of a way that they can have major benefits. As students, it’s hard for us to recognize the disadvantages of these sites because we use them so much.

We see major potential in the use of social media in college classrooms, especially in the next few years. We hope professors will be willing to embrace these changes. There will always be reasons not to, but we hope they find a way to incorporate some aspects of it in their classes.

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we do noT puBLish open LeTTers, news reLeases, puBLic posTings or noTices of any kind.

The Vanguard Vision | vanguard@svsu.edu

After work Thursday night, I drove into Saginaw with

my friend and colleague Ron Brown, an English instructor at Delta College.

It was, as Ron put it, a special night for folks in our racket.

We pulled up to the Theodore Roethke Home Museum at 1805 Gratiot just before 7:30, and people waiting for the festivities to begin gathered on the wide front porch and in the first two rooms of the house.

Though I have read the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and driven by his family home once, this occasion was my first visit to the property.

As I stepped through the door, the cool in the night air was replaced by the warmth of a house full of local friends, glasses of wine, cheerful laughs and conversation.

There was a lighthearted mood of celebration in the air. I exchanged greetings with a few SVSU faculty members and made my way to the dining room.

There, professor of English at Delta College and local author Jeff Vande Zande stood beside a table bearing copies of “American Poet: A Novel” which, he had just learned, earned him the The Stuart D. and Vernice M. Gross Award for Literature.

Vande Zande is also the author of two other novels, “Landscape with Fragmented Figures” and “Into the Desperate Country.”

I produced three wrinkled fives from my pocket and gladly traded them for a fresh

copy of “American Poet.” I had a few minutes to talk

about the novel with Vande Zande while he signed his name on the inside title page.

Before long, guests were called to their seats for the reading to begin.

All the chairs were filled. Some sat on the carpeted staircase, and others stood at ease near the fireplace.

Vande Zande talked about his protagonist, a young graduate with a degree in poetry by the name of Denver Hoptner.

When Denver’s applications for graduate school go unanswered, he finds himself unemployed and living in Saginaw with his father.

In the course of the story, Denver finds a special connection to the Roethke House as well as to the Saginaw residents and others who intend to preserve it.

The idea for the novel, Vande Zande said, occurred to him one day as he passed by the Theodore Roethke Home Museum while taking his children to school.

He said he looked up at the house and imagined a young man sitting on the rooftop with a bullhorn in his hand.

It was an unusual, random image.

Vande Zande said he didn’t know why the man was on the roof, and he had to write the novel to find the answer.

Vande Zande’s comment made me consider the countless others who pass by 1805 Gratiot daily without giving it such a look or even a second thought.

They may not recognize they’ve come so close to

something beautiful, historical or unique.

The same can be said of any number of beautiful and special places or things around us.

Too often, perhaps, we walk about with our heads wrapped up in everything going on in our personal or professional lives.

It’s easy to get caught up in the daily struggles and neglect to take the time to appreciate a passing moment or indulge the imagination.

Some of us have our gazes fixed on text messages wherever we go.

Others have grown accustomed to staring at the ground to avoid eye contact or turning up the volume in headphones to ignore the passersby.

We can be very good at blocking out the world around us when we want to.

For all our fixation, isolation and insulation, we can forget to look around, to appreciate beauty surrounding us and to make social connections with people around us.

Our tunnel vision makes us no happier, and yet it becomes a habit, a daily routine.

While not all of us are destined to become novelists or poets, we should try to see more of the world the way they do — with heads held up to the beauty all around for those but willing to look, engage and imagine.

The issue - Social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube are slowly making their way into college classrooms.

Our position - Social media isn’t going anywhere. There are always disadvantages in its uses, but professors should embrace the benefits for their classes.

Taking a hint from poets about beauty

Social media sites here to stay, so whynot put them to use in the classroom?

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Columnist | Noah Essenmacher

Noah Essenmacheris the Vanguard weekly columnist. Reach him at ntessenm@svsu.edu.

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Editorial Cartoon Rashad Baiyasi is a physics and chemistry junior and the Vanguard’s cartoonist. Reach him at ribaiyas@svsu.edu.

The Valley Vanguard 125 Curtiss Hall vanguard@svsu.edu editor-in-chiefToni Boger office (989) 964-4482 e-mail acBoger@svsu.edu

The Valley Vanguard | valleyvanguardonline.com | Monday, March 26, 2012 | Page A5

opinion

valleyvanguardonline.com

One can hardly glance at the news these days without hearing about the “Castle Doctrine,” also known as

the “Stand Your Ground Act.”Last month in Sanford, Fla.,

Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, was shot in the chest by 28-year-old George Zimmerman while walking home after purchasing snacks. Zimmerman has not been charged with a crime.

Upon seeing Martin, Zimmerman called 911 and reported a suspicious teenager. Zimmerman pursued a fleeing Martin and was told to stop the chase by a 911 operator. He chose to take the law into his own hands instead. Neighbors who heard the gunshot reported Martin screaming for help moments before the gun was fired.

Adopted in 2005, the “Stand Your Ground” law enables citizens to use deadly force in the face of a threat without first attempting to retreat. Under its ruling, anyone who feels threatened is justified to shoot first and ask questions later.

Since the law was enacted, “justifiable homicide” rates have nearly tripled in Florida.

Several states have adopted similar policies, but Martin’s murder has lawmakers questioning the law and considering its repeal.

While Zimmerman may have a hard time justifying his actions in a trial, the law that allowed his release in the first place should be repealed.

The law not only promotes legal murder for those who do not initiate conflicts, but it encourages vigilantism in the streets of Florida. Those with a concealed weapons permit are simply asked to provide proof that they acted in self-defense and nothing more.

A threatening look or insult can be used as a justifiable reason in court for homicide as long as the offender can prove they felt their life was threatened.

This law encourages overreaction. If someone wishes to clear the streets of crime or is part of a neighborhood watch, the slightest sign of a weapon or threatening object can be used as justification to “clean up their streets.”

A teenager with a baseball bat becomes a threat in the eyes of the overly paranoid. In Zimmerman’s case, a child wearing a hooded sweatshirt and with snacks in hand is enough of a threat to justify murder in hopes of protecting a neighborhood.

So what was the “Stand Your Ground” law meant to protect? In cases of breaking and entering, this law offers a proactive response in defense of one’s home. When someone pulls a weapon with the intent of murder, this law allows them to react in their own best interest as opposed to fleeing with their back to a loaded gun.

But the positive benefits this law offers are far outweighed by the negative.

As Martin’s parents seek to bring Zimmerman to justice, their case brings a new light upon the “Stand Your Ground” law.

Perhaps the law that currently defends men such as Zimmerman will no longer be used to defend another “justifiable” homicide.

After 16 years of formal schooling, I have less than six weeks left before I receive my bachelor’s

degree and will walk out of O’Neill Arena and into the “real world.”

Fortunately, job prospects seem to have improved in the last few years, giving me hope that I will be able to land a job that will allow me to put my degree program (public administration) to good use.

However, I will more than likely be putting any long-term career searching on hold until after the November elections. After having seen the results of the 2010 elections, there is much that remains to be done in terms of working to reverse and modify legislation that has been coming out of Lansing as of late.

Our state needs long-term reforms, but not the kind that slashes public education spending and gives taxpayer dollars to unregulated for-profit schools.

We need tax reform that updates the beer and wine tax and gas taxes so that they are tied to inflation rather than a flat amount.

We need to lower the sales tax and expand it to include services. If we can find money to pay for business tax cuts, surely we can find money to make sure our roads aren’t crumbling beneath our cars and trucks.

Instead of taking care of our neighborhoods who have been laid off, we have cut the length of benefits for unemployment and temporary cash assistance. I understand when money is tight for residents, it is also tight for the state government.

The problem is when we elect legislators who believe government is an enemy to be defeated rather than as a vehicle to serve the people.

We have a government that cannot serve our needs. Worst of all, we have people who have lost faith in our leaders, who refuse to trust their judgment solely because they happen to be either Democrats or Republicans.

It has been my experience that

far too many individuals blindly vote based solely on party affiliation, ignoring candidates who actually share their values and have policy plans that reflect their worldviews.

It is out of this brew that we are staring at a future devoid of true compromise, empty of leaders who are actively working to unite, rather than divide the populace.

The quest for party purity is a fool’s errand. Failing to look at your opponent’s argument leads to incomplete solutions.

Abraham Lincoln surrounded himself with Cabinet members who had contrasting views, which author Doris Kearns Goodwin chronicled in her book “Team of Rivals.”

Unfortunately, few leaders employ this tactic, surrounding themselves either consciously or subconsciously with those of the same mindset.

The worst examples of gridlock were seen during last year’s federal budget debate. Judging by the proposals for this year’s budget that have been released by both parties, neither side is showing any indication of wanting to actually pass a budget, as opposed to adhering solely to sticking with their worldview and angling for whatever slight advantage they can muster at the polls.

It is impossible to solve the deficit through cuts or tax increases alone, as it would cripple our economy. While it is understandable to want to erase the deficit in a single budgetary year,

it would be much better for our long-term stability if it was done over a ten-year span, with incremental cuts and increases in tax revenue so as to allow the economy to adjust to the money being taken out.

What we have to decide for ourselves as a nation is what our idea of “fairness” is, and if there is any place for it in our budgetary discussions.

For example, is it fair or just to cut services to persons on welfare so that businesses can have their taxes cut?

Or, is it better for us to lay off teachers and police and firefighters so that oil companies can receive billions in subsidies?

If not for the influence that billionaires and big business had in elections, these questions would not even exist.

However, as with most decisions being made in our current age, they are hotly debated due to legislators who owe their re-election to the millions they receive in direct and indirect contributions from societal giants.

I’m not one to subscribe to conspiracy theories, but the extent to which a relative few individuals and groups have been able to manipulate our democracy is disturbing.

It is up to us to take charge of our government again through making our voices heard.

Whether we exercise our right to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6, will determine whether we are able to be served by men and women who truly understand the problems facing our nation and are willing to work together for the betterment of all citizens, or if we will be stuck with elected officials who listen and respond only to those who can afford to line their pockets.

Vanguard Campus Editor | Opinion

Martin shooting highlights law State, federal issues must be resolved through cooperation

Joshua Roesner is a public administration senior and a Vanguard Campus Editor. Reach him at jjroesne@svsu.edu.

Gerhardt Schuette is an English and history sophomore and Vanguard Staff Writer. Reach him at gjschuet@svsu.edu

Vanguard Staff Writer | Opinion

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Religious CounselingChristian counseling/Life coaching - Relationships, stress, addiction, more. Call Larry Hoard B.A. 989-842-3982. christianlifecoaching.net.

op-edIf you are a faculty member wishing to write your opinion in The Valley Vanguard, please contact Editor-in-Chief Toni Boger at vanguard@svsu.edu

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STAFF WRITERS

If you are interested this position, please email vanguard@svsu.edu

The Valley Vanguard valleyvanguardonline.com125 Curtiss Hall vanguard@svsu.edu A&EEditor Molly young officE(989) 964-4482 E-mAil Mryoung1@svsu.edu

Page A6| Monday, March 26, 2012 | valleyvanguardonline.com | The Valley Vanguard

a e&

Before proceeding any fur-ther, it should be stated that those who prefer clean, whole-some rap music should take a pass on The OF Tape Vol. 2 and the band Odd Future as a whole.

However, those who don’t mind profanity in their music or consider themselves fans of Eminem’s earlier work may just enjoy the music Odd Fu-ture has to offer.

Odd Future is an indie rap

group led by Tyler, The Cre-ator and contains eleven other members with aliases such as Domo Genesis, Hodgy Beats and Earl Sweatshirt.

Though the group has been around since 2007, they have stayed largely under-ground.

For those who have never heard of the rap collective, Odd Future, they may be mis-led by the cover of the band’s latest album, “The OF Tape Vol. 2.”

Although the cover dis-plays donuts with pink frost-ing topped with sprinkles, pa-trons will be glad to hear that Odd Future’s new rap album is consistent in offering plenty of the angry, dark, and twisted lyrics that the group started out with. Tracks like “Real B----“ and “NY (Ned Flanders)” make up a good portion of the album and offer the traditional sound that made Odd Future work so well in the under-ground scene.

However, listeners will be impressed by the range of the material presented on this album. Alongside the afore-mentioned tracks, songs like The Internet’s “Ya Know” and Frank Ocean’s “White” offer an entirely different type of music.

“Ya Know” is presented as the album’s only dance track, while “White” adds a

song about Ocean’s first love that could remind a listener of Stevie Wonder’s classic hits. While one might think that this would detract from the al-bum, the skill with which these genre-breaking tracks are per-formed make them a nice pal-ette-cleansing treat amid the heavier tracks on Odd Future’s newest album.

Like any album, “The OF Tape Vol. 2” has its share of hits as well. The song “Forest Green,” a solo rap by member Mike G, shines as the album’s potential radio song. Its beat is composed of odd mixture of synth and snare beats that will have even the most passive lis-tener nodding their head along to the beat. One of the album’s only tracks with a solid chorus, minor editing could make this the first Odd Future radio sin-gle. Other tracks, such as, “Rel-la,” and “NY (Ned Flanders)” offer the same quality as group collective tracks.

In general, the album sports unusual lyrics that will have you laughing, sick and unusual beats that will have you nodding along and a truly impressive mixture of rappers that have yet to grace the ra-dio. This album represents the newest peak of these young artists’ career. If you’re a fan of Odd Future or this sounds like your kind of music, I’d recom-mend “The OF Tape Vol. 2.”

Gerhardt Schuette is an English and History sophomore and a Vanguard Staff Writer. Reach him at gjschuet@svsu.edu

The of Tape vol. 2

Group Name: odd fuTureexplicT: YesruNTime: 63 Minutes release daTe: March 20

Courtesy | Esquire

Underground rap CD offers continuity with a twist

The plant is growing and so is publicity.

Students will perform “Little Shop of Horrors” in mid-April.

The production offers a completely different topic than this semester’s previous plays, such as “Agamem-non” and “Incorruptible.”

One of the longest-run-ning Off-Broadway musicals, this production is about an R&B-singing carnivore who promises a flower shop for-tune and fame in exchange for feeding the plant human blood.

The theater department puts on one musical per year, generally in the summer-time.

“I’ve wanted to do this one for a long time,” theater professor Ric Roberts said.

Roberts is directing and choreographing the show and is the musical director, as well.

He said he hopes that as the department continues to grow, students will fill some of these positions.

Howard Ashman and Alan Menken created the film version of “Little Shop of Horrors.” They also con-tributed their works to Dis-

ney films, such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

The play originally called for eight roles to be filled, but Roberts casted 18 parts to expand the produc-tion.

The cast includes Zach Bauer (Seymour), Lexee Lon-gwell (Audrey) and Blake Mazur (Mushnik).

Seymour is a traditional nerd character who appears very intelligent, but secretly isn’t very smart.

Audrey is a sweet girl in a bad situation with her abu-sive boyfriend. She eventu-ally reveals that she has feel-ings for Seymour.

Mushnik owns the floral store and adopts Seymour to continue the family business.

Seymour stumbles upon a plant, voiced by David Ryan, which brings commu-nity attention to the finan-cially struggling store, and names it “Audrey II.”

The theater department purchased Audrey II from the company that supplies plants for the Broadway shows.

Soon, Seymour discov-ers the plant is carnivorous and begins to give it what it wants in hopes of more suc-cess.

Those familiar with the movie will experience sev-

eral new twists in this rendi-tion.

Any student can audi-tion for a role in a produc-tion, although preference is usually given to theater majors when talents in audi-tions are equal.

“It helps create more the-ater majors,” Roberts said.

Many members of this cast have been active in sev-eral productions on campus. However, some cast mem-bers are in their first produc-tion and are not theater ma-jors.

The production based off the 1950s sci-fi film is rated PG-13 as some mate-rial may be inappropriate for children.

Tickets are $15 for gen-eral admission and $10 for senior citizens (ages 60+) and students.

Ticket prices were in-creased due to purchasing rights to the music.

Five performances are lined up for guests daily in the Malcolm Field Theatre. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 11 through Saturday, April 15. A matinee performance will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 15.

For more information or to order tickets, contact the Box Office at 989-964-4261.

By Tyler Bradleyvanguard staff writer

Theater prepares for its spring show

Courtesy | Almapac.org

The Valley Vanguard valleyvanguardonline.com125 Curtiss Hall vanguard@svsu.edu

The Valley Vanguard | valleyvanguardonline.com | Monday, March 26, 2012 | Page A7

a e&

A&EEditor Molly young officE(989) 964-4482 E-mAil Mryoung1@svsu.edu

artbriefsArt Gallery• The University Art Gallery is currently featuring Mary Gaynier in “Scherenschnitte: Cut Paper Design.” For more information visit the Art Gallery’s website, svsu.edu/artgallery. Free.

Auditions• From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, March 26, auditions will be held for the spring/summer production, “The Duck Variation” in the Move-ment Analysis Lab in the Health and Human Services building. Free.

Spanish Movie Night• At 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, in B109, the MFL group will show a Spanish Civil War film, “La lengua de las mariposas.” The film will be subtitled in English. For more information, email brdearbu@svsu.edu.

Karaoke Night• At 9 p.m. Thursday, March 29, in student life centers one and two, Residential Life will host a karaoke night. Free.

“Encore!” Spring Spectacular a hit

Vanguard photo | Tyler BradleyCara Mazzoline sings a ‘90s pop song in the encore performance of the Spring Spectacular.

Vanguard photo | Jess EllisonAmanda Fegan, occupational therapy sophomore, dances a routine to Coldplay’s “Fix You.”

Vanguard photo | Jess EllisonWendy Todd, nursing sophomore, and Tori Ritz play a Pat Benatar cover, “Heartbreaker.”

Many students would like a ‘top 40’ musical art-ist to visit campus, but one group delivered a similar ex-perience without the hassle and cost.

Encore, a registered stu-dent organization, performed popular musical hits Friday and Saturday in the Malcolm Field Theatre for its Spring Spectacular program.

Encore combines chore-ography, instrumental and vocal talent to perform musi-cal hits popular in time peri-ods as far back as the 1970s.

The group was formed with influence of shows such as “American Idol” and “Glee.” Students who were involved with performing in high school came together because they wanted to con-tinue their involvements.

“I love that we’re people from all over performing songs we all grew up to,” said Steven Gould, account-ing senior and president of Encore.

The group’s introduc-tion performance was a cho-reographed performance of 1980s “Rhythm Nation,” by Janet Jackson, and was simi-lar to her music video.

A group of males rocked out like a classic metal band to Night Ranger’s “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” with Gould as lead singer.

Wendy Todd, nursing sophomore, sang a rendition of contemporary song “Tay-lor the Latte Boy,” which is about a barista at Starbucks popularized by actress Kris-tin Chenoweth.

Some of the males per-formed a large mashup, singing lines of choruses from songs such as Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” Be-yoncé’s “If I were a Boy” and Aqua’s “Barbie Girl,” to the tune of a four-chord melody.

Another mashup fol-lowed, comparing Lady Ga-ga’s “Born This Way,” to Ma-donna’s “Express Yourself.”

Members were dressed in Madonna-like attire, imi-tating the music video.

“It was the perfect mash-up because the songs almost sound the same, and Gaga and Madonna like to go head on,” Kamry Crooks, criminal justice sophomore, said.

Other songs included Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie,” Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” Def Leppard’s “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak,” Adele’s “Someone Like You,” Cold-play’s “Fix You” and even a strictly dance number, “Irish Dance of Love.”

Students featured in a performance attended week-ly, one-hour practices for the song they were to perform.

Merry Jo Brandimore, Encore’s adviser and Dean of Students, joined the group for a short tap dance number.

Brandimore became ad-viser to the group after pre-viously being involved in an organization similar to Encore.

“We love having her,” Gould said. “She’s liter-ally the foundation of our group.”

The performance came to a close after a surprise en-core performance of a 1990s pop song.

The group performs once each semester.

There are 20 members in Encore. Two members, Gould and Todd, are gradu-ating at the end of the semes-ter.

After graduation, Gould hopes the organization will recruit and expand more.

“We hope for people to hear a song on the radio and that it would make people think ‘How would Encore do this?’” Gould said.

By Tyler Bradleyvanguard staff writer

The Valley Vanguard valleyvanguardonline.com125 Curtiss Hall vanguard@svsu.edusports editor Justin Brouckaert office (989) 964-2629 e-mail JJBrouck@svsu.edu

Page A8| Monday, March 26, 2012 | valleyvanguardonline.com | The Valley Vanguard

sports

After spending its spring break in Florida, the Cardinals are optimistic about their sea-son.

“We played a tough

schedule,” said head coach Walt Head. “Some schools went down and played soft schedules, and come back 8-2 or 9-10.

“We didn’t do nearly as well, but we lost all those dif-ficult ballgames.”

After playing 11 games

marked with strong pitching and weak hitting, the Cards returned from Florida with a 3-8 record.

“We seemed a little un-focused, and we came off re-ally slow,” senior outfielder Kyle O’Boyle said. “We did see some bright spots at the

end, and it’s a positive that we lost close games and didn’t get blown out of the water.”

One bright spot was the pitching lineup. With 15 players prepared to pitch, the Cards will have plenty of depth from the mound this season.

“Starting pitching did well and a select few in our batting order did really well,” said junior catcher Chet La-Fave.

While a select few in the batting order did well, the ma-jority of the batters struggled at the plate.

“I don’t know what it was, and I can’t put my finger on it,” Head said. “The young-er kids did alright, but the people we really depend on, the older kids, were kind of up and down, up and down.”

Regardless of the hitters’ performance, the tough pitch-ing faced in Florida will help to prepare the team for strong pitchers on many GLIAC teams.

“We saw a ton of good pitching, so that’s going to help us out since it’s going to carry over into our confer-ence,” O’Boyle said.

The Cards ended their time in Florida by winning two of their last three match-ups, and the team plans to take this momentum and car-ry it over into its season.

“A lot of players took their Florida trip as spring training, so they’re going to build off it as the GLIAC (play) starts,” said LaFave. “Hopefully they put their pieces together and once the whole team comes together and we start play-ing really well, there’s no tell-ing how good we can be from here on out.”

Since the team has re-turned from Florida, they have won four games in a row, all against Hillsdale last weekend. They have contin-ued to work on improving in specific ways to prepare for the season.

“This week we’ve really been focusing on moving run-ners since we kind of strug-gled in the first half of Florida in scoring runs,” said LaFave. “We’ve really been working on hit and runs, advancing runners, and then when we do have a great opportunity to score a lot of runs, really get-ting focused, making a good swing and getting some runs in.”

The pitchers are prepar-ing by throwing every day, staying healthy and condi-tioning.

“We’re throwing bullpen, spot locations, running, mak-ing sure we’re staying healthy, conditioning, and preparing ourselves to be ready to pitch when our number is called,” senior left-handed pitcher An-drew Doyle said.

The Cards started confer-ence play this past weekend when they faced Hillsdale University on Saturday and Sunday.

Going into this matchup, Coach Head knew this was a team that the Cards should beat.

“We went down there last year and started the game in 28 degree weather,” said Head. “We ended up winning those two games, but we lost the first two on Saturday.”

The team won its first two games on Saturday by scores of 5-0 and 4-3 Saturday and followed those wins up with two more, 6-5 and 3-2 on Sun-day afternoon.

“To do well this year we need to beat who we want to beat,” Head said.

The Cards will return to action Saturday, March 31 when they host Findlay. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

By Lisa Coffellvanguard staff Writer

Small team looks to build on young talent

Cards respond to tough spring schedule

Vanguard Photo I Jess Ellison

Junior catcher Chet LaFave attempts to check his swing during an at bat in Sunday’s win over Hillsdale. LeFave went 4-9 with five RBIs this weekend.

Vanguard Photo I Jess Ellison

Senior pitcher Colin Coulter pitched eight innings and allowed only two runs in Sunday afternoon’s 3-2 win over Hillsdale. Coulter had six strikeouts.

Vanguard Photo I Jess Ellison

Head coach Walt Head makes a mound visit in Sunday’s win over Hillsdale. Head’s team now stands at 7-8 after opening conference play this weekend.

By Adam Haenleinvanguard staff Writer

The Cardinals have started the year off with a win, and they’re planning for an exciting season.

SVSU managed to secure a win for its first game of the season, beating the University of Michigan-Flint last Friday by a score of 13 to 5.

“So far, the season has gone very well,” said head lacrosse coach and SVSU professor Jason Kahler. “This Saturday we’re playing our sec-ond game against Siena Heights, and we’re pretty pumped for it.”

Among the changes for this year’s team is the change from the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associa-tion to the National College Lacrosse League. The

Cardinals will play in the Midwest North Division.According to Kahler, this is good news for the

Cardinals because it gives the team a chance to step over into a new conference that has a strong orga-nizational structure and could help the team reach a playoff position this year -- something that it has been working up to in past seasons.

“It’s been great to see the progression of our team over the years,” Kahler said. “I think we have a lot of talent and it’s just a matter of harnessing that talent and putting it to use.”

“I think we look great this year,” midfielder Mike Berehula said. “This is the most organized and focused we’ve looked in a while. All we can do is stay focused and take it one game at a time.”

Among the challenges the team will face this year is balancing athletics and school.

“What’s hard is the fact that, at the end of the day, we’re still students,” Berehula said. “Lacrosse isn’t a varsity sport, so we have to work around our classes and other things.”

This year, the team has only 18 players on the roster, something that Kahler and the Cardinals see as an obstacle.

“I think our main challenge this year will be a numbers game,” Kahler said. “Battles of attrition and such.”

However, Kahler remains excited and hopeful, saying that despite the fact that the team is small, they have several new players and talented return-ing ones.

“We definitely have a lot of talent working in our favor,” Zabawski said. “Our biggest challenge will be the times when we have to play multiple

games on the same day, which isn’t the easiest thing to do with such a small team.”

Midfielder Cameron Oswalt added that with such a small team they have to be extra careful to avoid serious injuries.

“It’s going to be tough, but I’m glad that we’re in a new league,” Oswalt said. “Now we have a real chance for the title.”

Despite the challenges the team has face, Kahler said that the team acts as worthy ambassadors for SVSU.

“These are some of the best guys on campus,” Kahler said. “They’re outstanding citizens, and when they put on a red jersey, it’s great to see the school represented so nicely.”

BaseBall

Men’s lacrosse

The Valley Vanguard valleyvanguardonline.com125 Curtiss Hall vanguard@svsu.edu

sports editor Justin Brouckaert office (989) 964-2629 e-mail JJBrouck@svsu.edu

The Valley Vanguard | valleyvanguardonline.com | Monday, March 26, 2012 | Page A9

sports

Coming to one of the most decorated programs in the country can be an intimi-dating experience for incom-ing bowlers.

“Especially knowing the players coming out of Sagi-naw, I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Aaron Lorincz, a first-year bowler at SVSU. “I expected the best.”

As it turns out, Lorincz has had no problems fitting in.

Lorincz finished his first season at SVSU with a team-high average of 213.87, good enough to rank him No. 7 in the nation.

His average differential, a statistic calculated by deter-mining how much a player’s average compares to the field average at each tournament, was good enough to place him fifth in the country.

“This was kind of like my freshman year,” Lorincz said. “Being top five in the coun-try in my first year is quite an honor.”

Lorincz’s performance this year has been good enough to generate talk of a possible All-American se-lection. Head coach Daniel Dorion, who is on the voting

panel for All-Americans, said that winners will not be an-nounced until the banquet on April 18th.

“Many factors are taken into consideration when vot-ing, such as field strength and lane patterns, so not always will the voters follow exactly the order that you will see the players in (the rankings),” Dorion said.

Academically a sopho-more, Lorincz bowled for one year at Schoolcraft Commu-nity College in Livonia three years ago before coming to SVSU.

“We only bowled a few tournaments, so in my mind it didn’t really count,” said Lorincz, who competed in 17 tournaments with the team this year. “This is my first year bowling college realistically.”

Dorion said that he sees big differences between Aar-on’s performance at the com-munity college level and his game now.

“The interesting part about Aaron is that three years back he completed for Schoolcraft and was only able to average 174,” Dorion said. “To average 213 for this sea-son speaks for itself.”

Lorincz decided to pur-sue collegiate bowling at SVSU after seeing the suc-cess of former Cardinals such

as Dan McClelland and Bill O’Neill on the pro tour.

“I decided that I wanted to bowl in college, and with Saginaw being very well known in bowling, it seemed like the right move,” Lorincz said.

Lorincz’s year of individ-ual success has come in a rare down year for SVSU, as the Cardinals missed out on the national tournament for only the fourth time in the last 23 years.

“It was very unfortunate that we didn’t make nation-als,” Lorincz said. “It was kind of a bummer, and I know a lot of our team still isn’t over

it.”To rebuild and make it

back to nationals next year, SVSU will have to do so amid rule changes regarding roster sizes put forth by the sport’s governing body.

This year, the maximum roster size dropped from 45 to 35. Next year, the cap will be 25.

The team has gone from 30 bowlers last year to 28 this season, but Lorincz thinks the new rules will have pros as well as cons for SVSU, one of the only teams in the country with enough roster members to be affected by the change.

“I’m hoping that it will create a lot of competition,”

Lorincz said. “This year we had 42 people try out, and if we have anywhere close to that number next year, it mean’s we’re cutting 17 play-ers.

“On the bright side, once the season gets into play, we’ll have more time to work with the people that are on the team and to focus our efforts more.”

Until then, Lorincz plans to use this summer to compete in individual in tournaments and leagues as well as putting in additional work to improve his game.

“Over the summer, I’m hoping to implement a work-

out plan, even starting now,” he said. “I’ll probably be working with a coach or two.”

One of the main things Lorincz said he will work on over the summer is improving his “rev rate,” the number of revolutions that he puts on the ball with each spin.

“I’m definitely one of the lowest on the team,” he said. “I’d probably be considered a ‘stroker’ or ‘power stroker.’”

Lorincz said that he hopes to follow in the paths of Cardi-nal greats such as McClelland and O’Neill, but his most im-mediate goals are more team oriented.

“It’s not about who fin-ishes top five individually,” Lorincz said. “It’s about who finished top in the nation team-wise and what teams are the powerhouses.”

In order to help take the team back to nationals, Lorincz said that he will have to step up both as a bowler and as a team leader.

“I’m more of passive per-sonality, but I think that this year showed that I need to step up a lot more,” he said. “I’m constantly learning along with the rest of the guys, try-ing to do anything possible to make this team better.”

What started out as a team for men without a varsity program is growing into an inclusive co-ed team that prides itself on member participation – but with a competitive edge.

SVSU’s co-ed club tennis team was formed four years ago and had only male members until this year.

“They started a guy’s team because they don’t have a varsity team here,” captain Chris Berger said. “Then we got information from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) that they had a co-ed league, so we joined that this year.”

The team now consists of five female athletes and nine male athletes that compete regularly in matches and tournaments both indoors and outdoors. Nearing the end of its season, the team has competed in eight matches and two tournaments, both in Wisconsin.

SVSU placed second in the bronze division at regionals this year, competing against teams in and around Michigan, including the University of

Michigan and Michigan State University.

Berger said the team usually takes six members to the bigger tournaments. Members compete in men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and a mixed doubles match.

“The mixed doubles match really matters because every single game counts for scoring,” Berger said. “They really push for the co-ed doubles and try to get everyone involved.”

Getting everyone involved is one of the priorities of the team, which uses the smaller matches throughout the season to give everyone playing time.

“Pretty much everyone gets to play because we only take 15 people,” Berger said. “For regionals, we did tryouts. We were there to win, whereas in the other matches, we’re there to play and have fun, which is kind of the general consensus of all the teams.”

Although the team stresses participation, the level of competition among members of the team varies with the player.

“We kind of let the players determine what they want to do,” Berger said.

“I’m a really competitive person, so I like to work as hard as I can to be the best I can and try to push my other teammates,” said sophomore Nick Peters. “I know it’s not varsity. It’s kind of in between with me.”

Sophomore Zuri Alexander said that she plans to use the experience she’s gained playing for the club team to try out for the women’s varsity team in the fall.

“I think it’s great practice for me so that next year I’ll hopefully be able to play on the varsity team,” she said. “There are a lot of good teams that come out to play.”

Both players said that they played tennis in high school and wanted to continue competing when they came to SVSU.

“I started playing tennis my freshman year of high school,” Peters said. “My friend got me into it and I ended up loving it, taking lessons all four years. I knew I wanted to play in college if I could at all.

“Just to be able to play competitively still, I love that.”

Alexander said that playing for the team has been an important part of her development as a player.

“I started playing during my junior year of high school, and I was awful,” she said. “I practiced a lot, and I’ve been playing a lot these last couple of years. We get to travel a lot, and it’s just been a good experience.”

Berger said that the main way the team is able to afford travel fees is through dues paid by its members.

“We only did $50 per person for the whole year, which is really cheap compared to what most schools do,”

he said. “Next year it will probably go up a little bit, just because we want to do more. We want to travel.”

In addition to the competitive benefits of being able to travel and tournaments, Peters said that being able to

take long trips with the team has created a bond between teammates and competitors throughout the region.

“I’ve met a lot of cool people on this team, people I can see me being friends with for a long time,” he said.

Club team values participation, competition

Sophomore dominates in debut seasonBy Justin Brouckaertvanguard sports editor

By Justin Brouckaertvanguard sports editor

Aaron Lorincz

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Softball•Saturday vs. Northwood,1 p.m., University Center•Sunday vs. Northwood,Noon, University Center

Baseball•Saturday vs. Findlay,1 p.m., Univesity Center•Sunday vs. FindlayNoon, University Center

Golf•Saturday @ NCAA Regional #2,TBA, Cherry Blossom Golf and Country Club•Saturday @ NCAA Regional #2,TBA, Cherry Blossom Golf and Country Club

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sportsbriefs

co-ed cluB Tennis

Player Profile

Photo Courtesy of Chris Berger

Members of the SVSU club tennis team at the 2011 Badger Classic, from left, back: Zuri Alexander, Luke Privette, Kazunobu Tani, Jake Morse, Lindy Coon, Chris Berger, Amy Kennedy. Front: Shawn Wagner, Nick Peters, Tyler Zatkoff

Vanguard Photo I Justin Brouckaert

Sophomore Nick Peters returns a serve during practice.

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