According to Karen Strasser, treasurer for the emerging Alliance of Ferris Employees, diversity encompasses more than race, ethnicity, religion or social background. The Alliance of Ferris Employees and the newly revised diversity plan believe that diversity also includes gender and sexual orientation.

The Alliance of Ferris Employees is a group with a current membership of 50 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and allies (LGBTQA) who are current or retired Ferris employees. The group was formed after many years of planning in March of 2008.

The group has a number of initiatives to tackle in the upcoming years. First, the Alliance hopes increase inclusiveness and acceptance at Ferris of LGBTA by sponsoring educational programs. Second, they hope to provide a support group for all Ferris employees who are LGBTA where they can feel comfortable talking with others. Finally, they are dedicated to supporting initiatives that will increase benefits and the quality of life for LGBTA individuals.

The main objective in the immediate future is to see the university extend medical coverage to domestic partners. Ferris is one of only two public universities in Michigan that does not yet have a partner benefit plan in place. Katherine Harris, Alliance president said, "we believe that although Ferris is one of the last two, we should not be the last to implement these extended benefits."

Currently, spouses of Ferris employees are covered by their husband/wife's medical care that the university extends to its employees. However, as same-sex marriage is not legal according to Michigan's constitution these benefits, as they read, are not extendable to domestic partners.

For the Alliance the safety and well-being of the LGBTA community at Ferris is of utmost importance. Strasser said, "I believe that Ferris has made considerable gains in promoting diversity however this is one area that is sometimes overlooked."

"We are here, we just don't say much which has not been for the good of the students or the university as a whole," said Harris. "If we do not speak for ourselves we let a culture that is full of misperceptions, assumptions, and outright propaganda speak for us. We aim to change that."

The first education event hosted by the group will run throughout the month of October. The Alliance has secured a grant to bring to campus an exhibit called "Love Makes a Family". The exhibit will feature a number of portraits and testimonials of same-sex parents and families. During the month they will also be holding group panels and discussions aimed at breaking down prejudices.

Harris believes that the group's goals align with Woodbridge Ferris' objective to provide education "for all of the people all of the time." For more information on the Alliance of Ferris Employees visit their website on the Ferris homepage under quicklinks. n

This past spring, one Ferris student, Kurt Kramer, took it upon himself to launch a new event, Rock for Autism, to bring together campus and community residents alike to raise money for the Autism Society of Michigan (ASM).

Early last semester Kramer, whose nephew is autistic, had the idea to do a fundraiser for the autism organization and worked closely with fellow students Kyle Keel and Paul Castelli to host the event in April.

Several events were held to raise money for the cause, a walkathon at the UREC, a silent auction, and a benefit concert.

Castelli who graduated this past spring says, "The idea [was] to get different people from the campus and the community together to do something great for people that really need our help, love, and support."

At the walkathon, participants could walk for up to three hours, donating $1 for every hour that they walked. The concert, which was held at the Gate, featured four bands, The MEATT, Chain Saw Blood Sample, Poor Boys Relief, and Saraph.

Kramer who also graduated in May from the Marketing program says he is looking to Keel to continue the event next year and is hoping that the event becomes an even larger event.

He also says that his goal for the event was to bring everybody out to have a good time while raising money for a charity as well.

The Rock for Autism event was able to raise over $2,000 for the Autism Society of Michigan, an organization that provides assistance to individuals and families of those with autism spectrum disorder.

According to the ASM web site, autism is a complex developmental disability that usually manifests during the first three years of life and results from a neurological disorder that affects normal functioning of the brain and impacts development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills.

Statistics published by the U.S. Department of Education and other governmental agencies report that autism affects nearly 1 in 150 births and is growing at a rate of 10-17 percent a year. It is also shown that autism is four times more likely in males than in females. n

Student government will give 12,000 free notebooks for the upcoming fall semester.

Provided by All by Students (ABS), the five- subject notebooks, called the shadow notebook will feature a list of student organizations. The notebooks will also show a list of student refundable fees, along with repercussions of the refund and are expected to have about 320 sheets are paper.

ABS is an online organization that provides free school supply for colleges and universities. ABS works closely with the institution and students to design the cover and content of the notebooks to better serve the students. Student government began plans for the notebooks during the 2009spring semester and contacted ABS.

"We think this would be a great way to start the fall semester," said Amber Balmer, student government president during the April 21, 2009 student government meeting. "With the cost of books, a free notebook would lighten the expenses for students."

ABS reserves eight pages at the beginning of each notebook for the school to customize. The pages are generally devoted to campus maps, local restaurant/ business information, and campus contact lists. Each divided also features information from student friendly sponsors, this includes scholarship organizations, non-profit institutions, career guides, educational materials, and company offers for travel and entertainment. Student government is currently working on the design of the notebook covers and arrangement of student organizations. This is the first time student government has given free notebooks and plans to continue their association with ABS to help students with supplies.

Balmer said that the notebooks would likely be given the second week of the fall semester. This is because student government did not want to infringe on campus bookstore sales.

"We didn't want to step on any toes but still wanted to give something to the students" Said Balmer. "Students will likely still need supplies even during the second week."

Although the notebooks are not expected until fall, some students are pleased with student government's fall semester gift.

"It's pretty sweet to get a free notebook," said Chris Davey, applied mathematics major. "Free stuff is great and it's one less thing I don't have to think about."

For more information about ABS notebooks, visit http://absnotebooks.com

One of the best parts of many programs here at Ferris is that there is a required internship, and for some of them, two. These are required as part of the curriculum and are necessary credits in order to graduate.

Not all programs do this, but more and more are starting to. It seems that there are far more positives than there are negatives to making a mandatory internship an integral part of any program. Whether your field is medical, scientific, arts or business related, an internship is beneficial.

Many students decide to fulfill these credits over the summer, which is a great way to keep on a four year track and still obtain a few months of experience out in the real world. There are also positives to taking a semester off and doing a longer and more in-depth one.

Because so many people choose to do a summer program, there are not as many options because positions fill up quicker. In doing one during the school year you are giving yourself a better shot and being hired in a more prestigious internship program.

Whichever route is chosen, the necessity of an internship of any kind is still a necessity.

As the Syracuse University web site states, "These required internships usually have clearly prescribed learning goals, and are arranged, monitored and assessed by the Schools that offer them."

Internships provide valuable experience in the field and prepare students for what is ahead. If an internship is done in the first half of a college career, it can provide guidance or reassurance that the student has chosen the correct field for them. An experience like this will help a student realize if they truly want to work in the field that they are studying.

"Doing an internship helped me relate to some of the things that I learned in classes, and that is basically the main point of it," said Billy Fedolak, an FSU junior in the construction management program.

An internship serves as a great transition from college to the work world. It gives students a taste of what is to be expected. From an employer's standpoint, hiring an intern can be a beneficial experience for their side of the deal as well.

Interns can provide a fresh view and a new angle for a company. It brings in the currently developing minds that are in the process of learning the system that veterans in the field may have forgotten.

The web site of Texas Tech University outlines the benefits of an internship. These include providing a real life experience with a short term commitment, creating opportunities for networking, creating potential for future work with the company, among others.

Any way you look at it, doing an internship while in college can only help. They are overwhelmingly beneficial and can provide opportunities for traveling, new experiences and training in a chosen field.

It is only proper that bachelor programs require an internship alongside with the curriculum. Just as general education requirements provide a well rounded background, an internship provides a step toward the future. I can only hope that more programs and universities require their students to take this essential step in shaping the future of their lives. n

Terminator: Salvation
FEATURING: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, and Anton Yelchin
In Theatres: May 21

In 2018, Skynet (an artificial intelligence organization) has destroyed most of the human race in a nuclear holocaust. Survivors, including John Connor (Bale), are fighting machines that outnumber the human race. On top of the battles, the machines are taking humans hostage and are replicating human tissue. Connor is joined by a soldier by the name of Marcus Wright (Worthington), who claims he's human, even though he is part machine. Connor believes Wright was sent from the future to foil his plan.

As the two get further into the Skynet, they learn more about the organization's plan to destroy the human race.

UP
FEATURING THE VOICE TALENTS OF: Edward Anser, Jordan Nagai, Paul Eiding, and John Ratzenberger
In Theatres: May 29

Pixar's ninth movie features a 78-year-old man named Carl Fredricksen (Anser) who has always dreamed of going to South America. He finally accomplishes this feat by typing thousands of balloons to his home.

However, he's not alone. An enthusiastic 8-year-old wilderness explorer named Russell (Nagai) was on Carl's front porch when the house rose from its foundation and into the air. This stowaway accompanies Carl on his adventures and soon realizes that getting home may be the biggest adventure they encounter.

TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen
FEATURING: Shia Labeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, and John Tuturro
In Theatres: June 29

In the last film they saved the planet. Now they have to save the universe.

In what is estimated to be the biggest movie of the summer, Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) discovers a cube that makes him see ancient symbols. The Decepticons hatch a plan to kidnap him.

Optimus Prime (Weaving) of the Autobots comes back, hoping to seek revenge on Starscream. Starscream brings reinforcements of more Decepticons, and a large battle soon unfolds.

Public Enemies
FEATURING: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum, and Billy Crudup
In Theatres: July 1

In a summer of sci-fi action movies (with an estimated 6 in the top ten hits of the summer), another type of action movie tries to break into the top ten.

"Public Enemies" is based on the true story of John Dillinger (Depp), a gangster in the 1930s who robs banks at top speeds, all while being charismatic and caring to the American public. He becomes a new type of hero as the banks were still frowned upon from the Depression.

As crime rises, the government declares a war on crime with Dillinger and his gang at the forefront. The new FBI's top agent Marvin Pulvis (Bale) is slated to capture Dillinger, the nation's public enemy number one.

BRUNO
FEATURING: Sacha Baron Cohen In Theatres: July 10

The man who brought you "Borat" is back with a homosexual Austrian model/reporter who travels the world in search of style trends and gathers opinions on fashion and pop culture. His name is Bruno.

The movie is done in the same documentary style as Borat, but includes even more antics that the previous Cohen film. The trailer features Bruno crashing a fashion show, adopting an African baby boy (and naming him O.J.), and visiting southerners around a camp fire (and asking which "Sex and the City" character they are most like).

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
FEATURING: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, and Alan Rickman
In Theatres: July 15

The sixth book of the "Harry Potter" series moves to the big screens this summer with a darker feel than its predecessors.

Harry Potter (Radcliffe) stumbles across an old potions book which gives him tips into making his potions perfect, and the trio of Harry, Hermione (Watson), and Ron (Grint) try to figure out who the book's previous owner was, the Half-Blood Prince.

Dumbledore (Gambon) starts giving Harry private lessons, where both try to gather memories of Tom Riddle before he was Voldemort (Fiennes) in hopes of coming up with a way to defeat the Dark Lord.

All the while, Harry has suspicions that his constant enemy Draco Malfoy has been up to something while Voldemort and the Death Eaters continue to wreck havoc wizards and muggles alike.

It seems like far too often students of all ages take the summer off from not only school, but any sort of thinking at all. I find this trap to be very appealing myself, and am trying to fight it at every turn.

With two jobs, a full load of credit hours and multiple extra-curriculars this past semester, I think that a break is well deserved. I feel that the summer should be a time to relax, make a little money and enjoy the warm weather that the Great Lakes region has to offer, but I realize that there is something missing.

It is far too easy to detach myself from everything and let my mind go numb for the next few months. As a journalism student, I especially need to keep my mind and my pen in tip top shape so that I am not playing catch up in the fall to get my groove back in my writing.

This can be gone about in several ways. Last summer for instance I tried my hand at the blogosphere. I wasn't a fiend who updated it multiple times a day, but I did attempt to cover some current events and analyze things critically to keep my mind and my writing at the top of its game.

I realize that not everyone needs to keep their writing in good form as I do, but there are many things that can be done to keep from forgetting any type of work ethic that may have existed during the school year.

Do a crossword puzzle each morning, try out a Sudoku, read the newspaper or play some logic games. Any of these are great exercises for the mind and can be fun at the same time. Also, there is no deadline like there would be for school work.

Another way of keeping yourself busy is an internship. This helps the momentum of your studies branch off in a different way to gain some experience and fill some credit hours.

One of the best ways to relax and learn at the same time is simply reading a book. I prefer the non-fiction reading myself, and I think it is a great way to learn something that interests me and that I can apply to other areas of my life.

There is even a whole mini-genre dedicated to beach reading, so if you're going on vacation or laying out in the sun, pick up something that will be fun to read. I'm not saying you have to pick up War and Peace this summer, just look at the recent bestseller lists and find something that catches your eye. And don't just confine yourself to one subject or area, branch off and try something new.

Regardless of how you prefer to go about it, don't let what you learned all year slip away in the coming months. A college education is an awfully pricey commodity to simply be left alone by not continuing studies beyond the required minimum. n

Summer: one little word that captures the hearts and minds of students around the country every year. Whether you're in elementary school or college, the warm temperatures and nice weather bring on the same desire for summer vacation.

However, as a college student summer travel becomes less plausible living on a college student's budget and in a time of economic disarray.

This limits summer travel to beach parties and bon fires all within a short drive's distance, which can all still be fun, but there is still something to be said about more exotic travels.

This summer may be different however. Orbitz, an online travel web site, recently released its "Top 10 Summer Vacation Destinations" of 2009. The web site's research found, that compared to last year, booking a stay at a hotel may be as much as 40 percent less expensive than last summer.

Orbitz's ‘Top 10' are based on popular travel destinations and average daily rates in area hotels. Vacations in Mexico are cheaper than last summer, with Cancun hotels costing on average 19 percent less and hotels in Riviera Maya 9 percent cheaper.

In the United States, hotels in Las Vegas are roughly 42 percent less and in Hawaii, average daily rates are running about 23percent cheaper than last year. For the rest of the list visit Orbitz Travel Blog.

For other inexpensive summer travel ideas, also consider some of the U.S. National Parks or Michigan State Parks. Summer and the outdoors seemingly go hand-in-hand and a stay in a campground can't get you any closer to the "Great Outdoors."

To find one near you call the National Park Service or visit their web site www.nps.gov or for state parks www.stateparks.com/mi.html .

American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) has also released its 2009 Hot Spots for Summer survey that revealed that the most popular domestic travel destinations for this summer are Orlando and Las Vegas. San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Honolulu, San Diego, Washington, D.C., Chicago and New York City rounded out the rest of the top ten domestic cities.

Internationally, Western European destinations dominated the top ten with London, Rome, and Paris taking the top three spots. Travels to Mexico were revealed popular as well with Cancun and Puerta Vallarta taking fourth and sixth respectively.

Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic took the fifth spot, Barcelona tied with Venice for seventh, and Florence and Amsterdam filled out the rest of the top ten international hot spots.

With both U.S. and international summer destination hot spots becoming more affordable for college students, the only question remains is ‘where will you spend the summer?' n

Welcome to Ferris State University! Population about 13,000, maybe more. Where the snow begins falling in October and continues through April. Where the football seats are empty and the Hockey arena is rocking.

This article is not meant to scare you, but to inform you of how it is to be a student here at Ferris.

The most obnoxious is the network. It's not just a simple plug your computer into the wall, and you're on the Internet. Instead, you must uninstall any virus protection you have, and install Symantec Antivirus and Clean Access Agent.

No one knows the actual purpose of the Clean Access Agent, we just know it is a pain to deal with, and may cause your computer to freeze. It also makes you deal with the incompetent computer people, found in West Building next to Alumni and Prakken Buildings.

Of all my complaints from the last four years, its dealing with the computer people. I just chalk it up to them getting ready for the real world of IT.

Do not plan on snow days. Big Rapids could get hit with five feet of snow and you will still be required to walk or drive to campus and to class. There could be an ice storm covering the entire campus in two inches of ice, and you still have to walk to class.

Be prepared to walk to class in -30 degree weather. And no, not everyone walks around with ski goggles and hats and looks like the kid from "The Christmas Story." Don't listen to the adults who sit in the nice and warm office all day.

You also do not have to run to the bookstore and order all your books to come in the white box. My box of books was incomplete, and I still had to deal with the rush to pick them up.

Great Lakes Book Store across on State Street will take your schedule and pick all the books for you, if you don't want to hunt and scurry.

Not every professor uses the book, so you can wait and see what your professor requires reading and decide from there. Be prepared to spend a couple hundred dollars on books in the beginning of the semester and only receive about $100 back.

Bottom line: shop for books online, way cheaper.

Do not drive to class. There is no parking, which is weird based on the large amount of parking lots everywhere. Somehow, the parking lots shrink when classes begin and you will spend more time driving around the parking lot then you will waiting in line for a coffee.

Take a page out of Ferris Bueller's book, and don't take life so seriously. Have fun and make memories, don't be the one that is always studying. Yes, grades are important, but if you spend all your time doing homework you will have the worst college experience.

Balance a good time and study time. Study when you have to, but play when you can. Work hard, play way harder.

I hope you enjoy your next four years as much as I did, and don't have any crazy moments where you feel like someone lied to you at orientation. n

Tired of the same old routine? Mix it up a bit with some hot summer hits.

Rothbury Festival is located in Rothbury, Mich. and is close for many Ferris students and is the closest music festival to Big Rapids. The Rothbury Festival "is dedicated to throwing a huge party with a purpose. Rothbury is a new American celebration where music and cause join together to stir ideas, to awaken possibilities, and to empower through knowledge, and yeah, to have the time of our lives," as stated at its web site rothburyfestival.com.

The 2009 Rothbury Festival will be from Thursday, July 2 to Sunday, July 5. It's a big campground festival. People bring their RVs or tents and camp for two to four days, listen to a variety of bands, and do many of the other activities that will be set up for the festival.

Tickets are rather expensive, but there are many activities and bands. A two day Saturday and Sunday package is $166, and it includes onsite camping and parking for those two days. RV parking however, requires an additional RV pass, which is $125.

The Rothbury Weekend tickets are $249.50 and include all four days (Thursday through Sunday) of onsite camping and parking. Again RV parking requires the RV pass.

The lineup is rather lengthy, as this is a four-day festival, but here's some to name a few: Bob Dylan and his band, Willie Nelson and family, The Black Crowes, Cold War Kids, Flogging Molly, and more.

To add to your list of festivals this summer would be the Lollapalooza, the Vans Warped Tour.

Lollapalooza 2009 will be held at Grant Park in Chicago from August 7 through the 9.

It was created by Perry Farrell back in 1991, and "it announced that punk, hip-hop, tattooed hard rock and pierced post-punk rock were headed for every mall in America," said Jon Pareles from the New York Times.

The Early Bird three-day pass are sold out, but the advanced three-day passes are $190 per person. The Lolla Lounge VIP passes are $850 each.

The lineup is large, but again here are some bands to name a few: Tool, The Killers, Jane's Addiction, Depeche Mode, Kings of Leon, Beastie Boys, Rise Against, and more.

Lollapalooza will have a variety of DJs again spinning at Perry's, and the Lederhosen's Biergarten will have alcoholic beverages and picnic tables for those who are thirsty and are in need of some relaxation.

The famous Vans Warped Tour will start on June 26 and go until August 23.

It was created back in 1993 by Kevin Lyman when he was working on various skateboard shows. It did only have skate punk bands, but has now expanded to punk rock, metalcore, and post-hardcore bands, said journalist Dennis Shively from punkskamusic.suite101.com.

The tour will be at Comerica Park in Detroit on July 31 and tickets are $33 per person.

The lineup for this festival is again long, much longer than the other two festivals, but here are some to name a few: Shad, Underoath, The A.K.A.'s, Death Punch, Less Than Jake, Madina Lake, and many more.

For more information visit their web sites at rothburyfestival.com, lollapalooza.com, and warpedtour.com. n

When Woodbridge and Helen Gillespie Ferris founded the Big Rapids Industrial School in 1884, they began the first step on a 125 year journey.

The university has set in motion plans to celebrate a century and a quarter of Ferris' place in academia throughout the year.

Beginning the celebration was an initiative by the Ferris Foundation to provide financial assistance to students. The $250,000 scholarship fund, marketed as "Opportunity @ 125" was announced on April 16th and is aimed towards students affected by the downturn in Michigan's economy.

"Student opportunity has always been at the heart of Ferris' mission. We want to emphasize that principle when students who will shape our future are especially vulnerable," said Walz, Ferris Foundation Chair and university trustee.

Other events are likely to be focused around milestones in the University's history and connected to Founders' Day and Homecoming with an emphasis on the people who played a role in making the institution what it is today.

Special activities will include a cancellation stamp specially made by the United States Post Office recognizing 125 years of Ferris' education service, an ice cream social, and a new book highlighting Ferris through the years in photographs and stories never before seen.

The Rankin Center Art Gallery will be hosting a month long exhibition of aerial photographs of the Big Rapids campus through the decades.

"We really want this to be a special event for the students and community to celebrate," said Mary Kay MacIver, chair of the historical task force and responsible for the planning of many of the year long celebration's activities.

25 years ago, for the Centennial, the statue of Woodbridge Ferris currently located near the quad was presented to the university after several donations from alumnus and friends of Ferris after much effort from students and the student government.

The committee charged with planning the celebration along with subcommittees from the various colleges, have been busy for the better part of the year organizing events of various sizes. n

Jake Visser was not selected during the 2009 NFL draft, but he will get his chance to play professional football for the Houston Texans.

After the NFL draft concluded on April 26, Visser was contacted by his agent and told that he had been signed to a free-agent contract with the Houston Texans. He will attend the team's official mini-camp on June 15-June 17. The 23-year-old defensive tackle (DT) from Coopersville, Mich. has received almost every accolade a Division II athlete can receive.

He was the only offensive or defensive lineman chosen as a candidate for the Harlon Hill Award, which is given to the nation's best Division II football player. He was also the second athlete in Ferris State history to win a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Postgraduate Scholarship. Visser was named all-conference for four consecutive years from 2005 to 2008.

In 2007 and 2008, he was named First Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). According to the Bulldogs' athletic website, Visser was a consensus First Team All-American choice by every source covering Division II football. Visser was also named Division II Football Daktronics Super Region Three's "Defensive Player of the Year."

Visser started all 11 games his senior season in 2008, amassing 105 tackles (16 for loss), 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He also blocked four kicks and recorded one interception, which he returned for the lone touchdown of his career. He had three tackles (one for loss) in the Valero Cactus Bowl, which is the Division II All-Star Game on Jan. 9 in Kingsville, Texas.

His junior year stats are just as impressive. He recorded 106 tackles (14.5 for loss), two fumble recoveries, and 5.5 sacks in 2007.

His career numbers rank him among the best defensive tackles in Ferris State football history. His 395 career tackles rank him sixth all-time. Visser is also fourth all-time in sacks, with 27.5 and his seven fumble recoveries are good enough for a tie for first all-time.

The Houston Texans are looking to add depth to their defensive line. They run a 4-3 defensive scheme which involves two defensive linemen and two defensive ends. The Texans have a young group of defensive tackles, including their 2006 first round draft choice Amobi Okoye. The oldest DT they have is Travis Johnson at 27 years of age. During the offseason the Texans acquired only one DT, former Detroit Lion Shaun Cody.

Because of the Texan's need for depth on the defensive line, Visser has a very good chance of making the team. Even though he is only listed at 276 pounds, he has tremendous quickness off the snap. His 40-yard-dash time of 4.96 seconds was tied for 13th among DT draft prospects of the 58 best players at that position, according to a CBS sports NFL draft scouting report.

Visser also brings the experience of a four-year collegiate starter, having started 44 consecutive games from 2005 to 2008. As a team, the Bulldogs finished above .500 for the past three seasons and the defense has been a substantial part of their success. Unfortunately for Visser, he did not play against Division 1 opponents and the level of competition he faced in college is vastly different than that of NFL. Playing against a team such as Grand Valley has helped because they have sent 5 players to the NFL since 2005.

In terms other roles Visser could potentially play for the Texans, his 276 pound frame does not make him a suitable fit for kickoff coverage. Special teams are not ruled out entirely, however. Often, teams use players that do not start on defense for extra point attempts and punt return coverage. It will take time for Visser to increase his weight as well, as the Texans DT's average just over 313 pounds.

Visser received accolades for off-the-field talents as well. He was a First Team Academic All-America selection in 2007 and 2008 by the ESPN The Magazine College Division. He studied secondary education while at Ferris. Visser was given the Jack McAvoy Award in 2008. The award is given to one Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) football player who demonstrates outstanding character and leadership on and off the field, in the classroom and in the community.

A game of sport requiring skill, finesse, and strategy; corn hole is a popular pass time among college students.

Cornhole is named for the bean bags, which are sometimes filled with dried corn kernels, and the hole in the board or box that the bags are meant to be tossed into.

According to the American Cornhole Association, utilizing eight bean bags of opposing colors, two individuals or two teams alternate lobbing the bean filled bags 33 feet onto the opponent's board with the goal of getting it into the six inch diameter hole.

The American Cornhole Association goes into a bit more detail on the finer points of the game, but most of it can be simply broken down into a series of scores, rulings, and generally competitive aspects that can be easily agreed upon before the first toss is made.

Most commonly agreed upon rules are as follows.

The two boards, which can be constructed from the blue prints on playcornhole.org, should be placed 11 yards apart on a flat surface. The bags should be thrown underhand with the goal of getting them to rest on the board, or fall through the hole for points.

Typically, these are guidelines at best that vary with region, but most commonly practiced in Big Rapids are three points for getting a bean bag through the hole, two points for a bean bag that leans over the edge of the hole, and one point for getting the bag on the board. The players alternate one after the other and points cancel. For example if the opposing players both were to get their bean bag through the hole, neither player would be awarded the three points because they cancelled each other's points out.

Each match goes until one team reaches 21, but it must be reached exactly without going over. If the player goes over, he or she returns to their point value prior to that round.

Above all, the game is for fun. It can be competitive, and should be for the right reasons, but with most games not lasting more than 10 or 15 minutes, it's always easy to have a rematch. n

Welcome to Tennis, the sport played in nearly every park with a confusing set of rules. With summer fast approaching sit back and learn the game of Tennis, it's as easy as one, two, three.

In tennis, the well-known winning phrase is "game, set, match." The first person to get to six games, wins a set. Also in order to win the set, a person must win by at least two games. If the final game score is 5-6, the players must go to a seventh game. If at the end of this game, the score becomes 6-6, a tiebreak round ensues. A person must win two sets in order to win the match.

If a person looks at a tennis court they will notice that on the sides there are two sets of lines. The lines that are on the outermost side and cover the length of the net are the doubles lines. The innermost lines mark the singles courts. If one is playing singles, anything outside the innermost lines is out. If one is playing doubles, the outermost line is out. If a person hits the ball out of bounds it is the other person's or team's point.

The other person or team also gets a point if the ball bounces twice on one's side before they can reach it, a person reaches across the net at any point in the game, or if one does what is called a double-fault.

A double-fault occurs when a person misses their serve twice in a row. Every tennis match starts with one person serving on the right side of the court. The person serving must get the ball into the marked box on the opposite side of the court in order for the serve to not be considered a fault. They have two tries, if by the end of the second try they still can't get it in then it is considered a double-fault.

Typically, in a tennis match, the two opponents approach the net. There, one team will spin the racquet and the other person will call either p or d if prince, w or m for a Wilson racquet or for a Head racquet makes the racquet, the person can either say up or down. This is basically equivalent to a coin flip.

Whoever wins then has the choice to say if they want to serve first or not. The losers get to pick which side of the court they wish to play on first.

Every person starts out a game, at love all (love is equivalent to zero.) The first point is called fifteen, then the second point is called thirty.

Oddly enough the third point is called forty. If the person with forty wins another point, they win the game. However, if both players have forty points (really three points), then they have what is called a deuce. In a deuce, a person serves the ball again. If the server wins, it is called add-in, if they lose, it is called add-out. The server then serves the ball yet again, if it is add-out and they win the next point, they win the game. If they lose and it is add-in, then it goes back to deuce and they repeat the serves again. In this way, a person must win by two to win the game.

As intimidating as this might sound, tennis is a relatively easy sport to learn how to play. Now that you know the game of tennis sit back and enjoy the once complicated sport. n

I want to help the environment; I just don't realize it when I do.

I would say I'm a "green" kind of guy. I promote recycling, energy conversation and alternative sources to acquire and produce that energy. I think Michigan is a great place to build wind turbines and use geothermal heating and cooling systems. But, for the life of me, I just can't bring myself to consciously commit to a large scale recycling program or energy effective behavior.

Perhaps it's absent mindedness that keeps me from being more active. According to treehugger.com, I'm part of the 23 percent of Americans who don't regularly recycle. Personally, I was more shocked by the number of Americans who DO.

But, recycling is the third step in that mantra, preceded by reducing and reusing. I make a concerted effort to reduce the amount of energy used in my apartment, but for less than environmentally friendly reasons. I don't like paying large utility bills. So, when I turn the thermostat down, I decide to shiver or sweat to save a few nickels and not a few trees. I used to wonder why my father was so adamant about no one touching the thermostat but him and now I totally get why. I take cold showers to help me wake up in the morning, not because I am conscious of the heat expense of warm water.

I cut down on my water consumption by reusing the same plate and coffee mug a few times throughout the day instead of getting new clean ones from the cupboard. I'm reducing my water usage by reusing the same plate ware, but it's mostly just because in the end, I know it's just another dish I'll have to rinse before I put it in the dishwasher and then unload from the dishwasher. If I limit the number of times I turn on the magical dish cleaning machine, I can save 9-12 gallons of water, states the Environmental Protection Agency.

Heck, I'll admit, I'm just a little lethargic towards active environmentalism. But this passive brand of the same idea doesn't seem to be hurting anyone. I'm motivated by the deposit to take my returnable soda cans back to the store and visiting the Mecosta County Recycling Center on Saturday mornings is a great way to meet women.

The way I see it, I'm not actively hurting the environment. I'm not burning plastics or constantly refilling the bathtub with warm water for my weekly bubble bath indulgence. I'm just not quite as active as I could and should be. Maybe you're in the same boat. One person with the best interests of the environment in mind can make a difference, but a large group of people committed to the idea can make a positive change.n

Downtown Big Rapids and Morley will get a $2 million makeover this summer.

The Vibrant Small Cities grant is a federally funded grant that was approved in October 2007 and will assist in updating the down buildings, streets, and businesses.

Pocket Park, street and electrical improvements on Michigan Avenue are part of the list of Big Rapids renovations. The City also plans to update streetlights to be LEED certified, make improvements business facades, add signs to direct visitors towards downtown, and make a connector to and from downtown Big Rapids to Riverwalk.

However, renovations to the he Artworks building will be the largest project. The city plans to add an arts incubator to the upper floors of the building to provide studio space. City officials also expect to try to match state highway funds, other grants, and match dollars provided by local business owners.

Joe Borgstrom, head of the Community Assistance Team of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority that is administering the grant program, said that Downtowns are the heart and soul of the community. Borgstrom also said that investing in downtown areas creates a better quality of life for all.

The Morley Merchants Association has been active in helping reestablish its downtown as "the place to be." The group organized its Four Seasons Winter Fest, which helps raise money for local students. All proceeds from the festival go towards scholarships for Morley-Stanwood Community Schools students. The highlight of the festival continues to be the polar dip, where participants can gather donations and jump into Morley Pond.

The city hopes that the renovations encourage more city engagement and increase unity among students and residents. Renovations are set to begin in June. For more information about both Big Rapids and Morley renovations visit mecostacountyalliance.com. n

College. The word strikes fear into the hearts of parents and students alike. Although, granted there are a number of high school students who can't wait to spin their tires all on their own.

When I started the college preparation process over a year and a half ago I had no idea what I was doing. I was fortunate enough to have decided on a career early-on and was therefore able to narrow down colleges relatively easily. I started checking out the specs on my top three schools and most importantly where I would get the best education for the cheapest price tag.

After settling on those choices I began filling out applications, getting reference letters and writing scholarship essays. Saving money was of the essence and as I have come to discover, rather important in life.

Finally I received my acceptance letters, decided on Ferris and waited. I visited campus hoping that they would tell me something vital to the upcoming year- no such luck. It seemed like for a majority of the last months as a senior in high school I was stalled in the "going to college process".

It was time for goodbyes to classmates as we all went our separate ways, not really realizing how separate those ways would truly be. It has been a year since I graduated and I've found that I don't really miss all of them and the ones that I wanted to keep in touch with I was able to.

Once I attended orientation things really started rolling. I knew my class schedule, what my program required and when I was to move in. My mom and I rounded out the summer by going shopping for college supplies and when the time came I was ready to move in at school.

As the year progressed I noticed a number of things. First, your friends are the people that you will spend the most time with- so choose them wisely. You want people who are somewhat like you but not too similar. Some of my best friends this past year have been the people I live with in the dorms and the people I sit next to in class. These are the people are going to determine your social and academic calendar.

Second, get out of the dorms whenever you can. I found that the food at the dining centers gets very repetitive after about a semester. My friends and I would just pick a day and go out to dinner at Applebee's, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut or any of the other local dining venues. Also as much as you are used to your typical chain restaurants don't hesitate to try some of the local places downtown and in the surrounding area.

Third, college classes are different than high school. Let's just say that in my high school I was a big fish in a small pond and I knew ALL the teachers personally. I was able to do my homework, do average on the tests and still pull off an A in my classes. Unfortunately this isn't the case in college; you have to test well to get a good grade in most classes. Also I recommend that you make friends with your professors early-on, they are willing to help and are great resources for the upcoming years.

Another pointer as far as buying textbooks is concerned; if you are able to buy used by all means do it. Also I discovered that in one of my classes I never used the $80 textbook that was "required" for the class. First semester I bought all the textbooks that were suggested for my class and ended up spending much more than I needed to. I discovered that a quick email or chat with the professor will help you determine what you will actually use in the class.

Also don't be afraid to buy the older editions of textbooks because most of the content is the same. My chemistry book for example was over $100 for the newest edition but one edition older was only about $50 to $60. The majority of the time the only difference is the numbering of the questions at the end of the chapter.

College your freshman year might be a little rough just because it is such a big transition but personally I love it. I am a responsible student and I get my work done but I enjoy the freedom of being my own boss. However, at the same time I learned it's a good idea to keep your parents informed, just so they don't worry about you too much.

The first time doing anything at college isn't always going to be easy and will take some getting used to; but I hope that you find, like I did, that it's a great opportunity to learn a lot about yourself. You live and learn and at college it is a wonderful combination of both. n

Nothing signifies summer like the beauty of local flowers, the natural goodness of local produce. The Downtown Farmer's Market is a summer tradition in Big Rapids and is located downtown in the parking lot near City Hall. The Market will be set up later this month and will be open downtown every Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This year, shoppers are in for a few special treats.

Special "green" totes are going to be available for purchase. According to Discovermecosta.com, the totes were the idea of Kelly Garner, of Joy Tree Yoga. The washable cotton totes will feature an image of Nisbett Building clock tower in the background and be available for purchase by market goers. The bags should help to reduce the large amount of plastic bags used by market vendors in previous years and serve as a keep sakes that signify the importance of supporting local vendors.

Along with all of the home-baked goodies and fresh farm goods, market shoppers will have the chance to enjoy local watching purveyors working on their crafts. Discovermecosta.com sites that each second Friday of the month will be heritage art days as according to Mark Gifford, director of neighborhood services. Shoppers will be able to look on as local craftspeople hand make their goods right there in the market. Pottery-making, basket weaving, and woodcarving are just a few of the things that shoppers may get to see in the making.

The Downtown Farmer's Market is scheduled to run all summer long. Big Rapids locals and visitors will have the opportunity to get local goods until the market comes to a close in late October. n1

The Big Rapids Riverwalk is laid out in a short 2.6-mile stretch along and over the Muskegon River and features babbling waters, forested nooks, picnic spots, finished benches and a truly natural experience.

The paved and boardwalk pathways that make up the walk are largely handicap accessible and feature access to a wooden gazebo and picnic area, three wooden platforms for fishing or gazing out over the river and four handicap accessible fishing areas.

Along with fishing, tubing and picnicking in or alongside the river, walkers can also admire the large mural on the Maple St. bridge created by Michigan artist Michael Anne Erlewine.

The walk can be accessed through any one of four parks located in Big Rapids which include the White Pine Trail State Park, Northend Riverside Park, Swede Hill Park and Hemlock Park.

Additionally, the walk features an "Access for All" commemorative area located in Hemlock Park. Here, laid out in commemorative walkway stones and on brass plaques, walk goers can see dedications to Big Rapids and Michigan State residents and organizations whos contributions and hard work made the River Walk a reality.

According to the official website, the Big Rapids Riverwalk was a community led project and was funded with help from the Great Lakes Fisheries Trust Fund, The Michigan DNR Trust Fund and the City of Big Rapids. A quarter of the funding, however, came from members of the Big Rapids Community who donated more than $250,000 towards the project.

The Big Rapids Riverwalk is free for all to enjoy. Those who would like information about Riverwalk, including a map of the project can visit the official website at: walkbigrapids.org. n

Whether you come for the animals, the food, or the demolition derby, the Mecosta County Free Fair has a lot to offer.

Beginning in the first week in July, the fair will be located at 540 West Ave. just a short distance north of downtown Big Rapids.

Livestock auctions and animal showings offer visitors a chance to see what Mecosta County has to offer. Fair goers can look forward to seeing huge draft horses, rabbits, chickens, all sorts of cattle as well as graceful show horses. Last summer, the fair even had a youth llama show.

The fair also plays a host to many treats and local grub for fair goers to sink their teeth into, like the daily rotary chicken barbeque.

The fair offers tons of entertainment. A figure eight demolition derby, a speed horse show, and super kicker rodeo are just a few of the attractions on this year' agenda. Most of the headlining events are only $10 for adults $5 for children under the age of 12.

So whether its food, livestock, or entertainment you're after, the Mecosta County Free Fair is the first week in July. For more information you can visit the fair's website at: mecostafreefair.com/midway.htm. n

Beginning June 12, television networks will begin broadcasting exclusively in digital television, or DTV, format. Mandated by law as per the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, the changeover will require everyone who wants to tune in to have a DTV compatible televison.

The DTV switch was originally scheduled for Feb.17, but the deadline was extended to allow consumers more time to adjust to the new system.

According to the National Association of Broadcasters' Web site, dtvanswers.com, there are many reasons for the switch. Analogue, the current broadcasting system, is much less efficient than DTV. A digital signal will allow for clearer picture and sound, better closed captioning for the hearing impaired, and it will free up those parts of the airwaves to make way for future technologies.

How do you know if the switch affects you? Although many newer televisions come with a built-in digital converter, if you use an antenna to watch television and do not subscribe to a cable or satellite service, then you will need to buy a converter box for your tube. It is estimated that at least 19.6 million households receive over-the-air signals exclusively in their home According to the National Association of Broadcasters. These sets run the risk of losing their signals come July 12.

This means that many viewers may find themselves in need of a converter box for their analogue sets. Luckily, the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has issued $40 coupons to help lessen the cost of the converters. There is a limit of two coupons per household however.

For more information on the switchover and tips on how to modify your analogue set, go to dtvanswers.com. n

When my boyfriend and I first started dating, we almost got into an argument about sidewalk placement. We were taking a walk one night when, as we turned the corner, he pressed, "Quick, switch me sides!"

It seemed weird to me at first so I had to ask why. Apparently, the gentleman is always supposed to walk on the street-side of the sidewalk. I was unsure how to feel about this at first. The subtle "I would take a runaway vehicle for you" inference was a little much to handle. So, I decided to take it as a romantic symbolic gesture if for no other reason than peace on conscience; more of a "I will take a mud puddle splash for you" gesture, if you will.

Although this is a dated and stereotyped example, it makes my point; small gestures of kindness, even if they are dated, mean a lot and I still appreciate them when they happen both on my own behalf, and on the behalves of others.

It does not necessarily need to be a sex-specific gesture or one so steeped in stereotype. When someone with a cart full of items at the grocery store lets a shopper with just a few items skip ahead in line, it definitely puts a smile on my face.

It seems odd, especially from what I observe around campus, that recipients of kind acts commonly brush them off entirely, as they are expected, or they may issue a half hearted "thanks."

The next time someone holds a door open for five or six people before entering themselves, try to watch for it and genuinely thank the person. I guarantee it will brighten both of your days.

Something this simple; having the door held open for you, can relieve both physical and mental burdens. When I am scrambling around campus with 35 or more pounds of books in my bag and with a slew of papers or other miscellaneous things clutched in my hands, I honestly breathe a sigh of relief when some kind passerby goes out of their way to open a door for me.

This seeming altruism is not without reward though on behalf of the do-gooders. Small, arbitrary acts of kindness and courtesy make everyone appreciative of their fellow human being, including the person who made the gesture in the first place.

The little things really do matter. Seeing small acts of courtesy in daily life makes the hum-drum of the everyday a little more bearable; reminding me that people will go out of their way to do something kind for someone else. n

As a transfer student from Western Michigan University, learning about Ferris State University and Big Rapids has made a very interesting year for me. I have to admit that I was not a fan of the city or the school in September, but making friends, overcoming challenges, and discovering myself more deeply has made my transfer worthwhile.

While at WMU, I studied Journalism and enjoyed Kalamazoo's party scene. Although I liked WMU's program, the changing atmosphere of the journalism field made me consider adding broadcast and digital media into my major. However, at Western, students were either print or multi-media journalism and I wanted to be both. I had come too far into the program to abruptly change my major, but was well aware that if I didn't learn more about broadcast and emerging technologies, I would be doomed to a life of unemployment.

So, I began to investigate my options and came across FSU's Journalism and Technical Professional Communication program. The program allowed me to continue journalism, incorporated technical writing, and left room for television production and graphic design courses. It also did not hurt to be closer to my hometown Muskegon and to my boyfriend. So, I made the switch and luckily all my credits transferred.

Although it seemed like the logical choice to move, Big Rapids and I were an odd fit at the start. Living here at first felt like I was coming into a conversation that had already started and I did not understand the subject matter. I moved here with no friends or family and felt like a stranger in a new land. Never before had I found it difficult to make friends, but I spent a lot of my time alone longing for friendship.

Becoming involved with the Torch newspaper and the campus orchestra help assuage my boredom and loneliness. It felt good to be around people other than just my boyfriend. Even though I was involved, friendships still came slow and with my 18 credit hour workload, maintaining a friendship was not exactly feasible. So I threw myself into my coursework, hoping that if I didn't have any friends, I would emerge as a genius. Unfortunately, becoming a genius did not happen either. I felt like a friendless loser who was too old to converse with sophomores yet too young to sit around hanging out with my professors.

The silver lining didn't happen until I started writing columns. Writing provided a great way for me to show my personality without directly talking to people. Writing campus news and columns helped me get acquainted with the city of Big Rapids, the Ferris campus, and with myself. People started to recognize me from my column picture and commented about my factual and comical perception of things. It was great that people were reading my work and it helped me loosen up enough to make friends wherever I went.

Not only were friendship difficult, academics were pretty challenging as well. English instructor John Jablonski is known for being a seriously hard teacher to have. But after having his English 380 class during the spring semester, I felt challenged in a good way. Jablonski's course made me want to work harder and really understand the material. And even though I may not come out of this course with flying colors, being in his class has helped my try to raise the bar.

I've also met many classmates that have encouraged me to seek better from myself. Their hard work and tenacity lead me to believe that I had never really been challenged until my move to FSU.

My life as a transfer student reminds me of the Wes Anderson movie, "The Life Aquatic" where the entire crew wears a blue jumpsuit and red beanie and works as a team on Zissou's boat, the Belafonte. Although, the transition was difficult, learning about myself allowed me to open up to friends and new experiences more than I have in years. Even though I am still learning about the city and institution, I finally have my red beanie and jumpsuit. n