October 26, 2004

News

'Undecided' find answers in debate
Benjamin Buettner
Mesa Legend

Photo courtesy of Martina Lee

Kerry and Bush supporters rally hours before the most critical debate preceding Election Day outside of the Memorial Union at Arizona State University. After the debate, supporters had the opportunity to see Bush in the flesh at Bank One Ballpark and Kerry at Tempe Town Lake in a quick post-debate rally.

As the excitement for the Presidential debate loomed large in the valley area, MCC and Brian Dille, political science professor at MCC, decided to try to take advantage. The Navajo Room, here at MCC, was where the debate was aired for not just the surrounding students, but the whole community. Though the Navajo Room was full of Bush/Cheney paraphernalia and backers, Dille insisted the reason for the meeting was to “give the community a way to watch the debate together and have a real discussion,” he explained.
Grade sheets for the debate were handed out so the audience could keep track of who won the debate. Issues were outlined, 13 in all, from foreign policy to health care to help the audience. Overall, the turnout was not what Dille expected saying he “expected about 150 to 200 people,” but there were only 25 to 30 in attendance.

Arizona flunks affordability test
Zahid Arab
Mesa Legend

Graphic by Casey Ferguson Mesa Legend

With slight improvements in divisions of student participation, completion and benefits, a study by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education (NCPPHE) downgrades Arizona to a flunking score in affordability from 2002.
This biennial study entitled “Measuring Up 2004” examines higher education’s affect on the lives of Americans. This report, released Sept. 15, provides policy leaders, educational communities, and the American public with an analysis of current educational systems in each state. “Measuring Up 2004” utilizes five core areas of higher education to gauge performances by awarding a grade based off of the “A” through “F” scale. Through the categories of Preparation, Participation, Affordability, Completion, and Benefits, those organizing the study are able to provide quantitative measures of performance according to the NCPPHE.
Arizona is among one of the 47 states to earn below a “D”, with its disappointing ratings in Preparation, Completion and a failure in Affordability.

Homecoming week shines on campus
Benjamin Buettner
Mesa Legend

John Spillman and Evelyn Chavez are crowned king and queen.

Nearly 1,000 people showed up for Mesa’s homecoming event to see the game played against the Glendale Gauchos, crowning of the homecoming King and Queen, the Pepsi~Cola award, fireworks and an exciting young band, Rated-E. There were, however, plenty of homecoming events before the game and during MCC’s Renaissance week.
Homecoming festivities kicked off Wednesday, Oct. 13, during homecoming week at MCC’s Fall Bash. The band, Herb’N’Life, headlined in the courtyard beside the salsa dancing of the Ballroom Club with their president and the Homecoming King candidate, Marquis Campbell and showcase member and Homecoming Queen candidate, Amber Martinez. When asked why he was running for King, Campbell said, “You might as well stay involved. The more involved you are, the better off you’ll be.”
The eventual Queen, Evelyn Chavez, who is a criminal justice major, was promoting herself during the Fall Bash carrying large signs and giving away beads for votes.

Low crime rate not a factor in officers’ desire for guns
Desiree McDonald and Zahid Arab
Mesa Legend

Being enveloped in everyday concerns such as getting to class on time or the next exam, students may not realize that College Safety is working to provide a safe environment for all who attend Mesa Community College.
Contrary to some speculation, College Safety utilizes two different types of officers. The most known and visible are those on bikes, monitoring campus activity. College Safety also incorporates the use of retired police officers. In the case that College Safety would be allowed to carry firearms, only these officers or newly hired certified officers would have them.
In addition to having necessary qualifications to protect and serve MCC, previous city police officers must annually undergo eight hours of training from the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, a requirement for all police officers statewide.

Kennedy claims Bush ‘hijacking democracy’
Benjamin Buettner
Mesa Legend

Kennedy accused Bush of “hijacking our democracy,” in a recent visit to MCC while promoting his new book titled, “Crimes Against Nature.”

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. visited Mesa Community College, Oct. 8, and talked about his book, “Crimes Against Nature,” and “how George Bush and his corporate pals are plundering the country and hijacking our democracy.”
Kennedy spoke about how Bush has an interest to “enrich his contributors and corporate cronies (longstanding friends)” such as the coal industry and other energy sources that contributed more than $48 million to Bush’s campaign to get elected.
The highly successful chief prosecuting attorney for Hudson Riverkeeper, and senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and president of the Waterkeeper Alliance, spoke of how Bush’s administration has “ripped the heart out of constitutional amendments, such as the Clean Water Act, where he changed the wording in the amendment so that dumping and toxic waste into rivers and streams could be allowed” for the sake of coal producer’s production costs.

MCC homecoming festivities provide outlet for local group
Rated-E entertains crowd at halftime
Brittney Bigler
Mesa Legend

There were many activities and events at MCC’s Homecoming, but one special feature was the performance of “Rated-E”, an up-and-coming band, who performed at the half time show of the Homecoming football game at MCC, Saturday, Oct. 16.
The band has performed all across the country in states like New Mexico, Illinois, Nebraska, Texas, and Arizona.
Three out of the four band members are from Chandler, and all have been performing since childhood. Rated-E has officially been together a year-and-half and going to the top, “were going to ride it till the wheels fall off,” said the group in unison with a determined attitude.
Lawrence McIntosh or “Red” as he is known, is the band’s official manager. He describes the band as different from any other group out there right now that sings, dances and raps.

Students, teachers reap rewards for hard work
Ben Buettner
Mesa Legend

MCC was recognized nationally with the Pepsi~Cola Award for being a top two-year program for overall excellence in athletics in the NJCAA, Oct 16.
Member colleges are allowed to use their top five men’s and women’s sports for scoring in this competition. Larry Christiansen, MCC’s president, and Athletic Director Dan Dunn both recognized the honor at the Alumni Barbecue before the homecoming game as well as recognition at halftime of the game. Pepsi~Cola presented a trophy and a check for $1,000 to MCC’s athletic scholarship fund. The College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Ill., and Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kan., were the only other schools recognized nationally for this award.

Poker latest trend among students
Heather Cutler
Mesa Legend

Students share views on diversity
Dominique Ramirez
Mesa Legend

On Thursday, Sept. 30, MCC hosted “Melting Pot or Mosaic,” its first student-led forum based around ethnic diversity. The forum agenda included a demographic overview of the City of Mesa and Mesa Public Schools, followed by moderated group discussions and ending with each group giving a synopsis of views and solutions at looking beyond race and ethnicity.
Participants were from all backgrounds and cultures. “Look Beyond Race and Ethnicity”, “Build Self Identity First” and “Open All Doors To Everyone” were the major issues covered by student groups. Each question was approached in an objective manner, while students simultaneously learned about each other’s background.

Battle lines drawn for rail, transit prop
Ben Lohmeier
Mesa Legend

The presidential election is only one week away and Arizona voters will not only have to decide on who they want to lead the United States for the next four years, but they must also decide on many of the propositions for the state of Arizona.
In 1985, Maricopa voters decided to increase the sales tax by half a cent for the next twenty years. So, as of right now, the sales tax increase will expire in December of 2005. Proposition 400 is on this year’s ballot to keep the sale tax for another twenty years with all of the money going to freeways around the valley, and eventually, to fund the new light rail system as part of the local public transportation.

ASU programs moving to Phoenix
Nicole Ellis
Mesa Legend

The president of Arizona State University announced a plan earlier this year to expand a campus into downtown Phoenix. Included in this plan are various relocating, renaming, expanding, and development of schools within the university.
Among the colleges moving to the new Capital Center in downtown Phoenix are the College of Nursing, The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the newly renamed School of Community Service and Development, the School of Health Management and Policy, the new University College, and the newly renamed Public College.
Currently, the construction is being designed around the future light rail system. The boundaries of the new campus are to run from First Avenue to Second Street and from Van Buren to Fillmore.
The Phoenix campus is estimated to achieve the anticipated capacity enrollment in 10 years. ASU hopes to have some programs up-and-running in a year or two and all programs operating at the Capital Center by 2010.

Negative ads affect voting habits
Sara Ghaffar
Mesa Legend

Purity, freedom, and old-fashioned values are themes often associated with this country’s constitution, Bill of Rights, and other prolific ideals in United States’ history.
Why, then, does the race for the U.S. presidency involve so much mudslinging?
It is understood, to some extent, that this type of politics is typical if not expected. But some analysts believe the shots both Democratic and Republican campaigns have taken in recent months are as bad as it gets.
Arizona Senator John McCain expressed that sentiment on an appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. “It’s getting pretty ugly. It’s worse than it’s ever been in my lifetime.”
Specifically, the two campaigns have recently reverted from subtler, self-promoting ads to aggressive, destructive spots that fault each side’s opponents on many different issues.