April 17, 2002
Ph oto by Mike Termini, Editor
Click picture to enlarge.
Students protest against Israeli actions. They show their opposition to suicidal attacks and oppression. The protestors walked from FLITE to the Rankin Center.
Students protest Israeli Army actions
By Afzal Memon
Ferris State University
Some FSU students attempted to spread awareness about the Palestine-Israel conflicts and ongoing violence in the region at a rally on April 10.
The rally's theme was "Confiscation of Land + Genocide of its people does not equal democracy." Students from various countries gathered last Wednesday afternoon and walked from FLITE to the Rankin Student Center. Some faculty and church members were also present.
Some student witnesses were surprised by the protest rally. One of the students from India, Max Palakkat exclaimed, "Oh my, they were protesting against Israel." The message was clear, but the protest was unexpected by most.
"We gathered to try and bring the American public's attention to the injustice imposed upon the Palestinians by the Israeli army/government,"Ahmed Abdelmageed, one of the students at the rally, said.
"We do not support suicidal attacks," Abdelmageed said. "The roots of the problem are what ought to be looked at."
According to Abdelmageed, the Palestinians have lost the hope of peace due to ongoing Israeli policy of oppression ever since the initiation of the conflict.
The repression has been inflicted to Palestinians in various manners. Thousands of Palestinians are living in refugee camps and forced to live under the poverty line.
It has been a highly debatable matter for years, and one Humanities professor, Dr. Barry Mehler, refused to comment on the campus demonstration.
"However, in general I don't believe it is helpful to demonize one side in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute," Mehler said. "There is plenty of blame to go around."
"We should be demonstrating against the extremists on both sides who are making progress towards peace so difficult," Mehler added. "To polarize the situation further by demonizing Israel is of no help whatsoever in the pursuit of peace."
The students also distributed information illustrating the present conditions of Palestinians.
According to the statistics, 174 schools have been shut down due to Israeli siege, and thousands of Palestinian children were deprived of education facilities.
Abdelmageed points out these facts as the key factors behind the suicide bombings. "Palestinian children are growing up in refugee camps and are dispossessed of the basic human rights. They see the settlements built upon the land their grandparents owned," Abdelmageed added. "It leads to bitterness and loss of hope in a normal way of life."
"We would like people to understand that Israel's random killing of Palestinians and the demolition of their homes and lands is not justified in any way, shape or form and it is breaching each and every human right of the Palestinians," Abdelmageed added.
One political sciences professor, Donald Roy, seems to have a different opinion on this. "It's ugly and sad," Roy said.
"Ever since the Israeli army pulled out of Lebanon and made major concessions about a Palestinian state dividing Jerusalem and a final agreement, the Palestinian leadership (not the Palestinian people) have seen these moves as signs of weakness and signs of as signs of hope that there will never be a permanent Israeli state. Only after people get exhausted killing each other do the prospects of settlement begin," Roy said.
Abdullah Abu Hussein, a Palestinian student, disagreed. "I am an example of ill-fated Palestinians," Hussein said. "I have no home country to go back to and I have no nationality. I do not support suicide bombing, but I can understand the situations they [Palestinians] are facing."
"What we are seeing and hearing from the international news about what the Israeli government is doing to the Palestinian civilians is terribly sad," Mohammed Al-Otaibi, a student who attended the rally, said.
"If the Israeli regime was fighting terror as it claimed, why did it not appeal to the world to build up international collations just like the United States did before starting the operations in Afghanistan?" Hussein asked.
"It is important that people demonstrate in order to air their views and to enable the rest of us to learn to find a balanced stance," Roy said. "Most of these student demonstrators would not be able to demonstrate in their own countries, without prior government approval and without government investigation."
According to Roy, "The conditions of democracy, one of which is the agreement to resolve matters peacefully, are precisely what we need to focus on and spread throughout the world."
 Photo by Brian Vansteenkiste, Opinions Editor
Click picture to enlarge.
Nepal and Russia were just two of the many countries that had displays in the Rankin Center at last Sunday’s International Fesitval of Cultures.
Crowd shares cultures
By Brian Vansteenkiste
Opinions Editor
Last Sunday, April 14, the Rankin Center’s Dome Room area played host to the 14th annual International Festival of Cultures. The event is always well received and this year’s festival, whose theme was “unity amongst nations,” was no different.
“This festival is awesome” Mircea Dobre, a recent graduate of Ferris’ finance program, said. “It’s the best one I’ve seen yet.”
Dobre wasn’t the only returning graduate to praise the event either. Carolina Puerta-Estevez, a recent graduate from Ferris’ public relations program, drove all the way from South Bend, Indiana for this year’s festival.
“This is one of the best events on campus that Ferris offers,” Puerta-Estevez said. “I’ve been coming since the first one. The festival has been changing locations for years, and every year they’ve been getting more and more demand and attendance. They need to move it to a larger, more accommodating venue.”
The festival did draw large numbers this year. Shoulder to shoulder, crowds of students and local residents alike perused tables containing displays from various countries. Examples of traditional dress, cultural artifacts, games, literature, flags and other items were on hand for the curious to examine.
While not every country had a table, over 39 different nations were represented at this year’s festival.
Besides the tables, some of the ways international students represented their homelands included performing traditional dances, cooking and sharing their indigenous cuisine. The Hispanic Student Organization even had a piñata to close the festivities.
Omicron Delta Kappa was back again this year, selling their Third World crafts, and a raffle was a new addition to this year’s festival, prizes donated by local merchants.
The International Student of the Year Award was awarded to Mamadou Dolo from Mali for his outstanding contributions to FSU’s international community at the festival.
“It’s very important for the [international] students to be able to show us their home countries and have it well received by students,” International Student Advisor Clarissa Garrett said.
According to Garrett, many international students won’t go home for years at a time, and Big Rapids is their new home. Ferris students become their new extended families and positive feedback from their peers is important to international students.
While watching a display of traditional dance, printing management senior Lisa Zelt said, “The dancers look like they’re having a really good time. I wish I could join them, but I don’t know the moves.”
While Zelt may have hesitated, a lot of other students joined in on other dances even though they didn’t know how to perform them. Obviously enjoying themselves, the students dancing got to learn about others by interacting with them, but the dancers weren’t the only ones teaching others about themselves.
Chet Raj Joshi, a biotechnology freshman from Nepal, spent his first International Festival working the Nepalese table. “It’s pretty nice, you can meet a lot of people and eat a lot of nice things. Nepal is very small and everyone gets to learn about our country.”
Yongchu Brecken, a CIS senior from South Korea, also liked having the opportunity to share her history and customs with her peers. “This is my third year and it’s a great opportunity to give knowledge about the other countries, and as an international student, to explore what kinds of food people eat — their customs and cultures.”
Nate Gardner, an American junior in pharmacy, liked learning about other countries. “It was nice to experience just a little bit about these places I know nothing about. Before this I couldn’t have told you a thing about Lebanon.”
One of the people at the festival who could have probably told people more about Lebanon than your average person was Palestinian pharmacy senior Fadi Musleh. Musleh manned Palestine’s table and was on hand to educate visitors about his country, its customs, Islam and the history of Palestine.
“American people are the most open-minded people I’ve ever met,” Musleh said.
“They like to learn.” When asked what one thing he hoped people could take away from the Palestinian table, Musleh replied, “I’d like to show people the positive side of our people and to balance out the negative things that are being portrayed in the media. I’d like to put a human face on people who everyone thinks of as terrorists. We’re portrayed as violent people when that is not true.”
American pre-pharmacy sophomore Loren Collins had the following to say about her second international festival. “I think it’s interesting because the world is a lot different than it was last year. I think it’s cool that everyone comes together and doesn’t care about that stuff. They just want to learn and get to know other cultures.”
“The students look forward to the festival as an opportunity to bring people together and remember that we have a common ground,” Garrett said. “Everyone here is a Ferris student and they’re here to learn, and we can learn from one another.”
 Photo by Mike Termini, Photo Editor
Click picture to enlarge.
Some concerns as to the policies followed by the committee members were raised at last week’s SAPC meeting.
SAPC allocates over $90,000
By Amy McElmurray
Assistant News Editor
Many events are already taking shape for next fall due to the recent allocation of $90,369.54 by the Student Affairs Programming Committee (SAPC). At its April 9 meeting, the 12 voting members allocated funds to five groups.
Each group had five minutes to present its case to the committee, which then discussed each proposal before making motions. Professional golf management freshman Dan Frusciano ran the meeting as the chair of SAPC.
The first motion made was to grant the Homecoming Committee 67 percent of the requested funds. Committee Finance Chair Lisa Zelt gave detailed explanations as to what is in store for Homecoming 2002.
“It will be a whole new level of excitement,” Zelt said. The theme will lead FSU to a “fun, playful and competitive” week of activities to include a lip sync competition, bonfire with a possible battle of the bands, king and queen competition, comedians and a dance.
“We need to support homecoming in some manner,” Minority Affairs representative Raymond Gant said.
There was, however, much discussion as to whether a comedian is what the FSU community wants to see, especially since there hasn’t been a sold-out show in the past.
“I struggle giving that much to [the comedian],” President’s Office representative Elaine Kamptner said.
After much discussion and many questions, the committee voted 10-0 to give 42 percent of the overall budget to the Homecoming Committee.
The second motion from the committee was to allocate 81 percent of the requested funds to the Speaker Series. Public relations junior Candice Fortman explained that the purpose of the lectures are to encourage students to think on a broader basis and to bring in lots of diversity.
“What do FSU students need to know about?” was one reason why the Speaker Series brings in the people it does, according to Fortman.
Although attendance has been low at events this year, SAPC voting members decided to allocate 22 percent of the overall budget to this series.
Another motion was made to give Career Services and the Professional Fraternity Council (PFC) 56 percent of the requested amount to put on the Flex for Success conference this fall.
Attendance at the first ever combined conference between Career Services and Student Activities this winter brought around 500 students together to gain an edge on the professional world.
SAPC members were impressed with the benefits provided to students by the conference and granted six percent of the overall budget to bring another conference to campus.
Entertainment Unlimited (EU) was able to secure 74 percent of the money it requested without much questioning from the committee. EU plans on using the money towards hypnotist Tom DeLuca and other comedians and novelty items in the Rankin Center. Eva Cook, president-elect of EU, and Rachel Theabo, vice president of programming-elect, were able to explain the EU budget and planning process to the committee.
SAPC handed 11 percent of the fall budget to EU to bring eight novelties and five comedians to campus for next fall.
The last motion of the evening was made to grant the Music Industry Management Association (MIMA) the remainder of the $90,000. This amounted to 31 percent of the funds they requested, none of which will pay the personal service fee to the band of their choosing. MIMA made a proposal to put on one large concert in the fall, instead of the 11 a.m. concert series in the Rankin Art Gallery.
The committee, by choosing to leave the MIMA motion to the end, was only able to give MIMA 19 percent of the overall budget.
“Being put off till the end and being given the leftovers is pretty disrespectful to what we are trying to do,” MIMA member Mike Turner said. “We were the second proposal, so it bothered us that we got the last motion. We didn’t get enough to put on a decent show.”
Turner commented that MIMA is still going to try and put on a fall concert, only using corporate sponsors and donations. The group can also request some funds from the Student Activity Fund of Student Government.
According to SAPC Advisor Jana Hurley, allocations that were given last semester totaled $101,110. The January Jams concert received $36,734, Ferris Fest received $31,566, the Speaker Series received $21,700, and the comedy acts were allocated $11,110.
Turner stated that MIMA is disappointed at the $16,820 amount they received since January Jams received twice as much to do an equal show.
There was much discussion during the Hearing of the Public as to the policies followed by SAPC members. Some students and staff were concerned that some lobbying took place before the meeting to try and get groups to join together to put on concerts.
“The meeting went well and there is nothing wrong with the process of allocating funds,” Frusciano said.
The mission of the SAPC committee states, “The purpose of SAPC is to increase, enhance and improve on-campus entertainment options for students and to foster collaboration between students and faculty/staff. Priority will be given to events that reflect the diversity and interests of the students of FSU and that have the potential to impact the campus community as a whole.”
As chair of the committee, Frusciano is working hard to make things run smoothly for the committee. He took over the SAPC chair position this winter after the resignation of Alyssa Fuller, past vice president for student life of student government.
“He has inherited a committee that is still working on its policies and procedures. He has done an excellent job of getting acclimated and attempting to move forward with the committee goals,” Hurley stated.
The committee consists of 10 student seats and five faculty/staff seats. There were three empty seats at this past meeting, and Hurley stated that she is unsure which students will come back to fill their seat for next year.
All SAPC meetings are open to the public, and the committee only allocates once a semester.
Faculty appreciate assessment
Jessica Wortley
Ferris State Torch
“Ferris is an institution that highly values teaching.”
This remark by Laurie Chesly, assistant vice president for academic affairs, was in response to questions regarding the purpose and value of the Student Assessment of Instruction (SAI) surveys.
The SAI’s have become familiar to many students over the last couple of years.
They are given out in the last month of each semester to assess the Ferris faculty’s teaching styles and methods. Each tenured faculty is required to give the SAI in a minimum of two courses each semester; however, they may choose to give the survey out in more if they choose.
“Some opt to use all classes,” Kristen Salomonson, assistant dean of enrollment services, said.
Although non-tenured faculty are not required to give the SAI, many do for further evaluation towards their tenure process.
According to David Nicol, dean of the College of Business, the purpose of the SAI is “for the faculty and their supervisors to have a sense of how the students feel the class and environment fit their learning expectations.”
“It is not used for hiring, firing or pay increases,” Nicol said. “It is used developmentally-how the instructor can be better.”
According to Chesly, the SAI was implemented in 1999 after three years of development. In 1997, a group of faculty and administrators decided that an evaluation was needed of the tenured faculty members, as at the time there was no such assessment. The only time a faculty member’s teaching was evaluated was during the process of getting tenure. After many discussions, revisions and a small test run in 1998-1999, the SAI was adopted.
The SAI features 24 questions regarding classroom work ranging from “the instructor presented material in a clear and understandable manner,” to “the instructor was receptive to student views,” to “overall I rate this instructor as an excellent teacher.”
For each question the students are given the choice of marking “strongly agree,” “agree,” “neutral,” “disagree” or “strongly disagree.”
In addition, there are lines on the back of the survey where students can write their comments regarding what they liked about the course, what changes they would recommend, as well as their own remarks.
Once all the surveys have been given, the forms are sent over to Institutional Research and Testing for compilation and scoring. According to Salomonson, it takes about two to three weeks to get the results of the SAI’s, as there around 20,000 forms to be scored.
Salomonson also noted that number is not the number of people who took the survey, but the number of surveys taken. She said that the same student could take the survey multiple times in different classes.
However, it is important for students to realize that the professors will not receive their individual assessments and written comments until the semester is over and grades have become official. This prevents a student’s comment from being used against him or her.
It was a consensus by faculty and administration that they realize the surveys may be a hassle to some students, but the information received is very valuable to the faculty members. Those interviewed said they value the written comments the most.
“I encourage [students] to take the time to write comments,” Nicol said. “To me, that is more meaningful.”
College of Business faculty member Gayle Lopez agreed. “It’s good to have student input, especially the written comments.”
“I use them to get better,” Bob Eastley, department chair in the College of Technology, said. “I look at the questions and specific areas that I did right or wrong and see if there’s a common theme.”
The faculty also agreed the students need to take the surveys more seriously, as they feel many rush through without really thinking about the questions. They understand that the surveys are repetitive, but they are good assessment tools.
“I hope the students take them seriously, because we do,” Lopez said.
“Students need to invest themselves,” Nicol said. “The surveys have the potential to be very meaningful…[students] need a constructive state of mind.”
Both Nicol and Salomonson explained that many students feel the survey is worthless because once the class is over, the teacher does not affect them anymore. However, they said that the comments would help future students from having a similar bad experience.
“It’s very cyclical,” Salomonson said. “You’ll be able to assist them, and they’ll help too.”
It’s important to add that the SAI’s are also used as encouragement, not just for the negative things. The faculty said they enjoy hearing that the students liked a particular aspect of their class.
As a final note, Chesly said that a task force has been formed during the past year, comprised of faculty and administration, to evaluate the processes and procedures of administering the SAI. The task force went over issues regarding the way the SAI is given to students and how the results are reported and used.
Open forums were held for all faculty and academic administration to give their feedback. The task force also recommended that a review of the SAI itself was needed and that student input was also needed for making changes.
For further information, please call 591-2713 or 591-3801.
Help make Big Rapids a better place
By Laura Chene
News Editor
The 12th annual city-wide cleanup on April 27 allows students to acknowledge Earth Day and also win cash for cleaning up the most litter in Big Rapids.
President of Good Neighbors Association Mary Ryan said that the event has been a success from year to year. “We’ve had community residents participate, and we’ve had students who’ve helped us out.” The clean-up is from 9:00 a.m. through 11:00 am, and participants should meet at the Big Rapids City Hall.
“Last year we put a different twist on it,” Ryan said. It was the first year in which prizes were distributed to those groups or individuals who brought back the most trash.
The same contest will take place again this year. This year four $50 prizes will be distributed to the top four volunteers. Trash must be picked up during the specified time, according to Ryan.
Ryan said there is a noticeable difference in the city’s appearance after the cleanup. “After it’s cleaned up, you can walk through town and see the difference,” Ryan said.
“In the spring it’s always more prevalent because you get all of winter’s debris,” Ryan said. “In the springtime it always seems worse.”
Ryan organized the event with Cindy Plautz, Neighborhood Services coordinator.
The two coordinators gave reasons for the cleanup. “It’s to bring awareness to litter and trash,” Ryan said.
“Just community pride,” Plautz said. “It’s been a good program.”
“Ferris State this year joined us,” Ryan said. Two university offices, the office of Administration and Finance and the office of Student Affairs, donated one of the $50 prizes.
“We get good participation from Ferris students . . . and we really appreciate it,” Plautz said. She expects a good turnout this year since a lot of people have been signing up early, requesting certain areas they wish to cleanup. The number of participants varies each year partly due to the weather. Individuals are not required to sign up beforehand, though.
“In fact, you can just show up on Saturday if you want,” Plautz. People need not to have a vehicle either to collect trash. “A lot of people just walk.”
Anyone interested in ‘adopting’ a certain area should contacting Plautz at 592-4036. The event is sponsored by the city of Big Rapids, the Downtown Business Association, Ferris State University, the Good Neighbors Association and Recycle! Mecosta County.
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T ouch of the blues at Williams
By Matt Cheery
Assistant A&E Editor
If you’re looking for an interesting show that’s one of a kind, then look no further.
Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues, yes - chamber blues - is coming to Ferris tomorrow.
They’ll be performing at Williams Auditorium tomorrow at 8 p.m. They will also feature the drumming styles of Sam Lay.
Now, if any student knows the blues music scene, they would probably know that the usual instruments are a lead guitar, sometimes a back-up guitar, a bass guitar, a set of drums and any other back-up instruments that are needed.
Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues, however, has nothing of the sort.
It’s made up of Siegel, who is a composer, singer, blues harp (harmonica) player and a pianist. He’s the most blues-like player in the orchestra.
Next is Richard Halajian who plays viola. After him comes Mark Agnor, a violin player.
After them comes Kill Kaeding, a cellist. Then comes Jeff Yang, another violinist. And finally, there’s Frank Donaldson, the percussionist.
So right off the bat, you can see that this band isn’t your typical blues band.
In fact, I doubt there’s ever been a band like them. A classical-blues band is definitely a one-of-a-kind thing.
Luckily, however, the Chamber Blues is a good one-of-a-kind thing. As the name suggests, it was started by Siegel, who himself has been in the music industry for over three decades now.
And for most of those three decades, even while he was performing with guitarist Jim Schwall in the great Siegel-Schwall Band, he’s been trying to think up a way of mixing blues and chamber orchestra music.
As he told chamberblues.com, the official website of the Chamber Blues band, what he didn’t do to form this style of music was “by performing Brahms on the blues harmonica or begging a symphony to play Hoochie Coochie Man.”
Siegel also has a great sense of humour, as is shown on his website ,where he attempts to go into the social-political implications of his work and to understand why people put up walls to deny the existence of chamber orchestra and blues music going hand in hand.
His sense of humour is evident while looking through his view of chamber orchestra, and he says right of the bat, “First of all you should know that none of this Chamber Blues thing was my fault. It grabbed me and it won’t let go.”
If you see the band and like what you hear, there is a CD available. It’s from the Alligator label and it’s entitled “Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues.”
Also playing with the Chamber Blues is Lay.
No man of mystery to the blues scene, Lay has had a very good performing career. He’s performed (on drums) with such great blues legends as Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Bob Dylan and Howlin’ Wolf. He’s also been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis, Tenn.
Of course, this also won’t be Lay’s first working time with Siegel.
The two worked together for a Siegel-Schwall CD that was released on the Alligator label.
So if you want to see a legend of the drums and an inventor of the art, be sure that you don’t miss Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues as they perform tomorrow at Williams Auditorium at 8 p.m.
Tickets are available at the Williams Auditorium box office, and you can call them at 591-5600.
Be sure not to miss what should be a great show. In case students have any last doubts about the music, they can just listen to what Siegel thinks about his music as he told Alligator label. “The whole concept of Chamber Blues is not experimental, it’s natural and palatable…it’s neither classical nor blues—it’s just music.”
Singers, dancers and others audition
By Karen Langolf
Ferri State Torch
For weeks now, posters for the third annual Talent Show on May 3 at Ferris State University have been around campus in order to catch the curious onlooker’s attention.
Put on by Minority Student Affairs, with help from Entertainment Unlimited, the talent show is hoped to receive a large amount of talent from which to pool the contestants
As of Friday, April 12, 35 groups have turned in applications. By April 19, around 45 groups are expected to audition.
For the finals, around a third of the auditioned groups should fill a two-hour time slot.
In order to sign up for auditions, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to fill out an application in the Office of Minority Affairs or at the Student Leadership and Activities Information Station (Rankin Concession Stand).
Those people who sign up will then audition on Friday, April 19 in Williams Auditorium in order to see who will be selected for the final round on May 3, also in Williams Auditorium.
There are three cash prizes for this talent competition: first place receives $1,200, second place receives $600 and third place receives $400.
Thinking of signing up?
Well, there are many different categories in which to do so: from vocal music to band music, performing arts like ballet or jazz dancing, to bagpipes and ventriloquism.
In previous years, the talent shows have brought out a variety of interesting talents, from a light display (glow sticks on strings being waved around) to demonstrations on the martial arts.
“I really wanted to showcase the wide variety of talents at Ferris State,” Raymond Gant, chairperson for this event, said.
There was a lack of opportunity for the students to show their talent at Ferris, according to Gant. It was his idea to start the talent shows.
Times for the auditions are uncertain so that they may accommodate as many people as possible.
The actual show on May 3 will start at 7 p.m.
Some of the groups that have already signed up are performing Christian rock music, alternative rock music, jazz music, gospel music, tap dance and solo singing.
Last year’s winning groups were a dance team, an acapella and also the light show.
There is no fee to enter this competition, and Minority Affairs is hoping to get a wide variety of talent as they have in previous years.
Interested in signing up but have some additional questions? Minority Student Affairs office number is 591-2617.
Minority Student Affairs encourages anyone with questions to call their office.
At least one member of each act must be a currently enrolled student or a full-time employee of Ferris State.
Taste matters
By Chris Miller
Editor in Chief
Growing up, my father, who owns over six trillion vinyls and is a musician himself, taught me an important musical lesson: how to enjoy a wide variety of music.
Over the course of my 23 years living on this planet, I have done that, but at the same time, I have developed a weird taste of music that differs from other people.
When it comes to music, I am a very picky person on what I listen to. For instance, I can’t stand a lot of music most people like. Now, before I venture more into this subject, please don’t get offended because everyone has different tastes.
There are four key points to my taste in music:
1) I can’t stand a lot of popular bands.
2) Most groups, I only enjoy a couple of songs.
3) I dislike a lot of the more well-known, over-played and requested songs of all time.
4) I listen to stuff that a lot of people have either never heard of, or they have but just don’t remember who it was by.
For the first, I will use The Doors as an example. I feel that The Doors were one of the worst groups in the history of music. The Doors would not be popular without Jim Morrison, and most of their music was created while he was writing poetry under the heavy influence of drugs.
Some of the crap he sang didn’t make sense. I didn’t totally dislike The Doors because I do like “Roadhouse” and “Riders on the Storm,” but the rest of their music was horrible.
Other groups that are included into this category include ACDC, Lynyrd Skynyrd (the only good thing that came from the Civil War), Steppenwolf, Ted Nugent, heavy hair metal bands and most modern popular groups.
The second category is easy to back up. Most people feel that way about a lot of groups. I like “Rich Girl,” by Hall and Oates, but the rest of their music is terrible.
Some of the worst songs ever written have also been over- played on the radio.
Here is a list of songs that I have never liked: “Hotel California,” by The Eagles; “Light my Fire,” by The Doors; “Freebird,” by Lynyrd Skynyrd; “Low Rider,” by War; “Born to be Wild,” by Steppenwolf; “Cat Scratch Fever,” by Ted Nugent; and many other famous songs.
These were some of the worst recorded/written songs of all time. I have never liked them. The thing about The Eagles is that I love every song by them except “Hotel California.” This is true for a lot of groups as well.
The fourth key factor into my music taste is the most important one. Over the past four years, I have grown a taste for smooth 70s songs.
First of all, except for The Cars, one of the dorkiest bands ever, I hate 80s music with a passion. There are some 80s music that I like, but not the typical 80s stuff (Wang Chung, The Eurythmics, Culture Club, Bananarama, Mr. Mister, Kajagoogoo, Toni Basil, Thomas Dolby, etc. etc.)
There are a couple of songs that I do enjoy from the 80s. My two favorite songs of all time actually come from the 80s: “Drive,” by the Cars and “How Long,” by Ace.
Who has ever heard of groups/musicians like Bob Welch, Ace, Stealer’s Wheel, Paul Davis, Hamilton Joe Frank & Reynolds, Orleans, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Firefall, 10CC, Al Stewart, Climax Blues Band and Seals & Croft?
You have probably heard their songs, but had no idea that what the group/musican’s name was. While you are surfing the Internet check out cdnow. Look up some of these artists and listen to their songs. Bob Welch, my favorite from the cheesy 70s lineup, used to play for Fleetwood Mac before they became popular. His albums, including his biggest “French Kiss,” have him looking like a porn star wearing some crazy retro clothing.
This is what I like: smooth 70s. Most of these songs are really cheesy love songs that get played on adult contemporary radio stations.
Not only do I enjoy the music, the 70s is my favorite time period in history.
There are many times that I live for that time period, even though I wasn’t born until 1978.
However, when I am not listening to the cheesy 70s tunes, I will pop in some of my few favorite mainstream musicians like Kiss, Weezer, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, James Taylor, U2 and a select list of others.
Even though most people reading this don’t care what my tastes are, I just want to let you know when we get into an argument that Bob Welch’s “Sentimental Lady” is better than “Hotel California.”
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Ph oto by Mike Termini, Photo Editor
Click photo to enlarge
Freshman Carrie Shine (#15) fights the sun at second base as she attempts to catch a fly ball hit to her during action against Gannon on Saturday.
Softball diamond heats up for Bulldogs
By Mike Potter
Sports Editor
After two road games and a six-game home stand, including weekend doubleheaders against Gannon and Mercyhurst, the Ferris State University softball team now has an overall record of 12-16, with a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) mark of 6-6.
The Bulldogs began by sweeping the Timberwolves of Northwood University with scores of 3-1 in the opener and 4-3 in the nightcap, both held in Midland, Mich. (4/9).
Paving the way for the Bulldog offense in the opener were freshman Stefanie Keenan and senior Casey Scully with two hits apiece. Also adding a hit was sophomore Nicki Merchant.
Keenan, a native of Alameda, Calif., scored the first run of the game on an error by Northwood’s shortstop during the third inning. The final two runs came in the seventh inning when Merchant scored on an error by the leftfielder, and pinch runner Krista Johnson scored on an error by the catcher after entering the game for sophomore Dana Peuler.
The victory went to junior Amanda Opbroek as she pitched a complete game five-hitter, while only giving up one earned run. Opbroek struck out two and walked five of the 32 batters she faced.
In game two, the bats caught fire as the Timberwolves totaled eight hits and the Bulldogs notched seven during the 10-inning affair.
The Bulldogs had the lead entering the seventh inning with a run by Opbroek on Carrie Shine’s single to right field. Ferris couldn’t respond in the bottom of the seventh to a run by Northwood in the top of the same inning.
That extra run tied the game at one and forced it into an eighth inning where both teams would each add another run, taking it to a ninth inning.
Jennifer Colvin’s fielder’s choice in the bottom of the tenth knocked Navreet Gill home, which won the game for the Bulldogs. Keenan pitched all 10 innings for Ferris while only allowing one earned run.
Another sweep followed soon after, with two wins against another GLIAC rival, Lake Superior State University on April 10.
Ferris defeated the Lakers 2-1 in the first game, with runs by Johnson and Gill. Gill added the first run, which tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, on an error by the catcher. Johnson scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Scully to right field.
Colvin was awarded the victory for her eight pitched innings in which only one unearned run was given up on three hits.
In game two, the Bulldogs walloped the Lakers and ended the game early after scoring in each inning except for the fifth and final.
The Bulldogs won 15-1 with three runs in the first inning, one in the second, five in the third, and six in the fourth, causing the umpires to end the game early. Merchant scored three runs, as did Keenan. Jenny Wenzel, Krista Martelli and Gill each totaled two runs, while Scully, Opbroek and Peuler all added one run each.
Opbroek got her sixth victory after giving up only one earned run on six hits in her five innings of work.
Another sweep came Ferris’ way on Saturday, but this time it resulted in two wins for Gannon University.
In game one, Gannon shut Ferris out by the score of 3-0. The Bulldogs notched only one hit, by Keenan, in their 24 total at-bats.
Opbroek took the loss, moving her record to 6-7 overall, after Ferris gave up all three unearned runs in the extended eighth inning.
Gannon kept the late-game scoring going as the Knights crossed the plate three times in the fourth inning of game two, to take that game 3-1.
Dana Peuler led the Bulldog offense with three hits and one RBI, knocking Opbroek in to score. Melissa Worsley, Opbroek and Keenan all had one hit apiece for the Bulldogs.
Colvin got the loss, dropping her record to 3-6 on the season.
Low scoring was the story in Sunday’s games against Mercyhurst.
The Bulldogs defeated the Lakers 1-0 in game one, but lost game two 2-0.
The lone run in the first game was scored by pinch runner Jessie Wright in the bottom of the seventh, on a hit by Wenzel. Opbroek notched the victory, allowing only three hits and striking out three in her seven innings of work.
Game two went the way of the Lakers as they scored one run in both the second and third innings.
Mercyhurst pitcher Becky Ross pitched a no-hitter and walked only one in the seven-inning contest. Keenan received the loss for Ferris, giving up two earned runs in her six innings of work, taking her to 1-3 on the season.
After a match-up with Saginaw Valley State yesterday (4/16), the Bulldogs face Calvin College tomorrow at 4 p.m. and then travel to South Bend, Ind., for the Great Lakes Region Showdown from April 19-21.
P hoto by Mike Termini, Photo Editor
Click photo to enlarge
No. 6 singles tennis player, Amanda Miller who is 3-7 on the year, is seen here during her 1-6, 1-6 loss to NMU’s Heidi Ehlers.
Tennis fights for GLIAC title without top player
By Adam Gasper
Ferris State Torch
Without the presence of their top player, junior Jan Talian of the Czech Republic, the men’s tennis team has had to face the reality of not being able to match up with GLIAC rival Northwood.
Without Talian playing in this weekend’s GLIAC Conference Championship, head coach Paul Marcum is well aware of the challenge that faces his team.
“Everyone on the team would have to play their best match ever for us to beat Northern this weekend,” Marcum said, who will be leaving the team after this season to eventually become a head teaching professional at the Sports Club of West Bloomfield. “Even with Jan, I believe Northern is still a deeper team than us.”
The team has now set their goals a little lower, but hopes are high that the Bulldogs may have the opportunity to host a regional tournament for the first time ever as well as possibly reaching the NCAA Division II National Championships held in Kansas City, Mo., May 9-12.
“Our season goals are to finish second in both the conference and the region,” Marcum said. The team must finish second in the GLIAC to qualify for regionals.
Marcum says there is a slight chance Talian could return from his wrist injury in time for the regional tournament.
Since falling to Northwood and Western Michigan, dropping their overall record below .500 for the first and only time all season, the Bulldogs (9-4, 7-1 in the GLIAC) have dominated their last six matches despite the loss of their top player.
The team has won a total of 48 of 56 total matches during that streak, and all wins have come against GLIAC rivals.
Lake Superior State traveled to Big Rapids on Friday to take on the red-hot Bulldogs and left with little to smile about. FSU won all nine matches, with Francisco Valencia, Martin Hoch and Matt Cole giving up a total of only two games in the top three singles flights.
Jason Cole, Mark Dichiara and Ian Westermann also won their singles matches.
Talian’s misfortune has turned into an excellent opportunity for Westermann, who has made the most of his time at the six singles spot, going 7-2 since Talian’s injury.
“Ian has stepped into a tough position, has really done a great job, and improved his game imensly,” Marcum said of the walk-on player.
The Cole brothers continued their dominance of the number one doubles spot, winning 8-1.
“When the next rankings come out, the Cole brothers could be ranked in the top 20 nationally,” Marcum said.
To be eligible for All-American honors, a doubles team must be ranked in the top 10 nationally.
Valencia and Dichiara struggled to win an 8-6 decision at two doubles. Hoch and Westermann were on the winning end of an 8-3 decision at three doubles.
Michigan Tech visited the FSU Fitness and Racquet Club on Saturday for an exciting conference matchup.
The Cole brothers won their sixth straight doubles match, as did Hoch and Westermann. Valencia and Dichiara dropped a heartbreaking 9-7 decision at two doubles.
Valencia and Hoch were victorious at one and two singles, respectively. Matt Cole dropped a singles decision for only the fourth time all season.
Cole rolled to victory, while walk-ons Mark Dichiara and Ian Westermann both outlasted the competition in three thrilling set matches.
On the women’s side of the court, the Lady Bulldogs faced off against Northwood for the third time this year. After winning the regular season matchup in the fall, FSU fell to the Wildcats 5-4 in the semi-finals of the GLIAC Tournament. History repeated itself as Ferris dropped a second straight 5-4 decision to Northwood.
Jennifer Garvey took care of Vessie Jeliazkova for the third time this season, dominating the match, 6-1, 6-1.
Garvey is rounding out an illustrious career as a Bulldog, and will be playing in her final home match at 3 p.m. today at the FSU Fitness and Racquet Club. Garvey posts a 21-6 record on the season.
Barbora Jilkova needed three sets to win at the two singles position. Suzanne Batten, Hulda Grin, Elena Blackman and Amanda Miller lost all four of their decisive singles matches.
Garvey and Jilkova won their 26th match of the season at number one doubles. Batten and Grin dropped the two doubles match, while Black and Miller pulled out an exciting 8-6 victory at the third pairs spot.
Bulldogs sign new recruits
By Shannon Vesper
Ferris State Torch
Shannon Vesper
The process of looking for hockey recruits in eight leagues, which include about 80 teams, takes years to spot real talent. This year’s hockey recruitment brought six young men to Ferris State to play college hockey. Three were signed to play defense, while three were signed as forwards.
“I’m real optimistic about the season. Usually at the end of the season I feel I need a break, but now I wish the season would start tomorrow. I feel we will get a break to have a real good team,” coach Bob Daniels said.
Greg Rallo, Tim Vokey and Jamie Dunlap were signed as forwards. These three men have what coach Daniels feels will add to the team.
Rallo, a 6-foot, 185-pound center/right wing from Chicago, Ill., currently plays in the North American Hockey League for the Springfield Junior Blues. This season, Rallo has played in 52 games, recording 69 points by way of 40 goals and 29 assists.
“He’s a pure goal scorer with great offensive talent,” coach Daniels said.
Vokey was recruited from Toronto, Ont. He is playing in the Central Junior Hockey League for the Cornwall Colts. At 5 feet 8 inches and 165 pounds, he is the top scorer in the league and has played in 55 games, totaling 122 points, 51 goals and 71 assists.
“He can score goals, he’s more of a set up player. He’s more of a play-maker type of a center man,” Daniels said.
Dunlap, from Ottawa, Ont., also plays in the Central Junior Hockey League for the Napean Raiders. At 6 feet and 185 pounds, he has played in 50 games, scoring 87 points with 50 goals and 37 assists, he is the second highest scorer in the league.
“He’s an all-around player, goal-scorer and play-maker,” coach Daniels said.
Overall, Daniels feels good about the recruitment of these players.
“I’m as excited about this group of forwards as I have ever been with any class we’ve brought in, in terms of a group of forwards,” coach Daniels said.
With Jason Basile, Chad McIver and Kristian Schroder graduating, Daniels said that the new recruits will have some big shoes to fill.
Finding defensemen for the team was one of the biggest concerns while looking for recruits for the new season. The recruiting began over a year ago.
Daniels feels that with Troy Milam, Simon Mangos and Matt York returning as three premier players, the new defensemen will have a lot to look up to. Although young, the three defensemen, Jeremy Scherlink, Mark Giordano and Andrew Winnik, will help to add strength to the team.
Scherlink is a left defenseman from Waterford, Mich. Playing in the North American Hockey League for the Capital Centre Pride, he has seen action in 49 games. At 6 feet 3 inches, Scherlink has registered 30 points by notching 10 goals and 20 assists.
“He’s more of a defensive defenseman, as well as a defensive specialist,” Daniels said.
Giordano was recruited from Brampton, Ont., while playing at left defense for the Ontario Provincial Junior “A” Hockey League for the Brampton Capitals. In 48 games he has 37 points, 11 goals and 26 assists. He is a physical player at 6 feet 1 inch and 185 pounds.
“He’s kind of an offensive type of defenseman, but he’s also pretty physical,” coach Daniels, said.
Winnik, from Toronto, Ont., defends the Wexford Raiders in the Ontario Provincial Junior “A” Hockey League. In 47 games this year with 41 points, 12 goals and 29 assists, his size of 6 feet 3 inches and 195 pounds will give the defense some size.
“He passes the puck very well. He’s more of a stay-at-home defenseman. Not real flashy, a real big physical kind of defenseman,” Daniels said.
Daniels feels that with the new recruiting class coming in next year, the team should be fun to watch.
“What we’ve added with the overall recruiting class is a very good skating group. The forwards are all very good skaters, with a lot of skill and speed. On the defense, a good mixture of size and strength,” coach Daniels said of the players.
NHL playoffs set
By Mike Potter
Sports Editor
The Red Wings are the definitive favorites to win the Stanley Cup, which is no surprise as they have been for the entire season.
The biggest surprises though have been the New York Islanders and the Chicago Blackhawks, each getting the five-seeds in their separate conferences.
According to NHL.com, the Isles totaled 96 points on the season with a record of 42-28-8-4. Technically, they should be in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings because they have five more points than Carolina, but the NHL places the three division winners in the top three spots for the conference, instead of going strictly by points.
The additions of veteran goaltender (and former Red Wing) Chris Osgood along with centers Michael Peca and Alexei Yashin have created an environment where the younger players in the organization can learn without the pressure to win held squarely on their shoulders.
Osgood started the season at an unbelievable pace and finished with a record of 31-25-6, a .909 save percentage and a 2.53 GAA, while Yashin led the team with 75 points (32 goals + 43 assists = 75 points) and Peca finished in a tie for second on the team with 60 points (25+35 = 60).
All three players were outcasts on their former teams.
Peca sat out the entire season last year over a contract dispute with the Buffalo Sabres, but has come back with a vengeance as he tries to prove his worth.
Yashin did the same thing (contract dispute with Ottawa Senators) in the 1999-2000 season and has improved his team play, which is one reason why his points are down in number this year (88 points with 40 goals last year).
Osgood was cast off after the Wings signed super-goalie Dominik Hasek and felt like they didn’t need him anymore.
The Chicago Blackhawks, also according to NHL.com, finished with 96 points with a final record of 41-27-13-1.
Jocelyn Thibault’s 2.52 GAA and .900 save percentage helped the Hawks stay afloat in times of low offensive production. The rise of Eric Daze (37-32 – 69), Kyle Calder (17-35 – 52) and Michael Nylander (15-45 – 60) have helped the veterans like Tony Amonte and Alexei Zhamnov by drawing more of their opponent’s defenders away from them.
In the Eastern Conference, there are no real favorites. The Philadelphia Flyers were picked by many experts at the start of the season to meet up with Detroit in the Stanley Cup Finals, but the Flyers must play a lot better in the postseason than they did at the end of the regular season.
With only 14 points separating top-seed Boston from eighth seed Montreal, the East is pretty much up for grabs.
The Flyers should make it through to the Finals by beating Toronto in the Eastern Conference Finals, especially with two quality goalies (Roman Cechmanek and Brian Boucher) backing them up.
In the Western Conference, on the other hand, there is a 17-point differential between top-seed Detroit and second-seed Colorado. That makes it a pretty easy job to pick a team to go to the finals. There are some real quality teams in the West, but none are as deep as the Wings.
Colorado could win it, but without Peter Forsberg, the chances are less likely.
They should meet up with Detroit in the Western Conference finals though.
Finally, the Red Wings will make it through to the Finals and sweep the Flyers just like they did in 1997.
Draft-day jitters
By Mike Potter
Sports Editor
Just call me Mel Kiper III. The exciting and never-ending NFL draft is just around the corner (April 20-21) and is loaded with athleticism and leadership. Colleges are losing some of their best ambassadors to the public, with some of them even leaving early.
This year’s draft is chockfull of wide receivers and their counterpart defensive backs. A few franchise players could emerge, but more than likely these players will be drafted and paid millions of dollars for their unproven professional abilities and then jump ship after their contracts expire and head to another team. Loyalty has completely disappeared from the world of professional sports.
Anyway, getting back to the draft, I just want to review by position which players should or could make the biggest splash in their new jobs.
Quarterbacks: Not as deep as in past years, but there is no lack of talent. David Carr of Fresno State is the obvious #1 pick for the new Houston Texans to build their franchise around, or so they say. Carr is a solid athlete who did play in a few big games last season — at Colorado, vs. Oregon State, and at Wisconsin — and displayed every ability he has during the nine-point loss against Michigan State in the Silicon Valley Classic.
Joey Harrington of Oregon is my favorite QB in the draft. He has the experience needed to step right in and immediately start playing and make an impact unlike last year’s #1 Michael Vick. Harrington reminds me of Peyton Manning, with his poise in the pocket and the ability to win even when not at 100 percent. His strength was the only question he faced over his senior season with the Ducks but he proved somewhat that he can throw the deep ball in the win over Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl.
Illinois’ Kurt Kittner is small 5 feet 11 inches but experienced in the pro-style offense.
Rohan Davey of LSU is an all-around athlete. Davey could probably play any position he wanted to in the NFL.
Runningbacks/Fullbacks: Some strong runners along with a few unproven players.
Clinton Portis is one of the best RB’s I have ever seen at the collegiate level. He should be the steal of the draft for whatever team picks him. Although Miami (Fla.) didn’t cut him loose, Portis’ combination of amazing speed and strength made him nearly unstoppable for the Hurricanes.
T.J. Duckett of Michigan State will be the next ‘Bus’ of the NFL. After Jerome Bettis paved the way for giant men wanting to run with the ball, Duckett should fill his shoes nicely as Bettis’ career starts to wind down.
Georgia Southern’s Adrian Peterson and Toledo’s Chester Taylor are the main two unproven backs in this draft. They both had great careers in college, but both Peterson and Taylor went to smaller schools than the rest of the field and therefore played against opponents of a lower quality. Both should make second-or third-strings on the teams they do go to, but with some luck they could move up on the depth charts.
Wide Recievers/Tight Ends: This is definitely the year of the receiver. This many talented pairs of hands have not been seen in a long time.
Donte Stallworth of Tennessee and Pittsburgh’s Antonio Bryant are the best overall prospects this year. They both have the hands and the bodies to endure the hits in the NFL.
Florida’s Jabar Gaffney and Reche Caldwell will be the major flops in the draft — and that’s not just because I despise U of F. Gator receivers have historically always done well under Steve Spurrier’s offensive guidance because they don’t run the ball, but they are usually way too small to play pro ball as are both Gaffney and Caldwell.
Surprisingly, Michigan’s Marquise Walker is low on the draft board after an outstanding season. Florida State’s Javon Walker is another guy who could sneak by and become a starter in the upcoming season.
There are many more players at this position who deserve to be mentioned, but there isn’t enough room for them here.
Linemen: Both the offensive and defensive linemen are led by Hurricanes and Volunteers.
Miami’s Bryant McKinnie and Joaquin Gonzalez lead the offensive line attack. Both players are massive and were nearly impossible to move in college, and the same should be true in the pro’s too.
John Henderson and Will Overstreet are two talented defensive linemen from the University of Tennessee who could prove devastating for opposing offenses.
North Carolina’s Julius Peppers is another pure athlete, but he won’t be completely prepared for what awaits him next year until he has played in a few games.
Linebackers: The most underrated group in the draft.
Larry Foote of Michigan and Josh Thornhill of Michigan State are proven veterans who don’t usually stand out, they just get things done.
Former Seminole Bradley Jennings is one of Bobby Bowden’s top linebackers in recent years — another athlete who he turned into a football player.
Oklahoma’s Rocky Calmus fits into the Stephen Boyd (former Detroit Lion) mold of hard workers. Calmus does anything and everything he needs to do to get his team into the win column.
Defensive Backs: The second most talented group in the draft this year, behind the receiving corps.
Another Sooner, Roy Williams, along with Miami’s Edward Reed are the best in the defensive backfield. As safeties, both can hit hard, tackle well and catch the ball when it heads their way.
Quentin Jammer of Texas and Phillip Buchanon of Miami join Reed and Williams as the best, but at the cornerback position. These two can cover their receiver almost as well as Deion Sanders could, plus they can always catch up to them with their speed if they do miss a coverage.
Chris Hope of Florida State and Keyou Craver of Nebraska could be big surprises as well in the defensive backfield.
Fallen Stars: Players who were good in college but won’t get the chance in the NFL.
Indiana’s Antwaan Randle-El and Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch of Nebraska will not play at all like they did in college. In fact, they are being forced to switch from their normal positions in order to have a chance. It is too bad, too, because they were inspiring to watch in college.
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The mighty Uncle Sam
By Mircea Ioan-Cotosman
Ferris State Torch
About a month ago I filed my taxes. It was a very complicated process indeed—I had one accounting professor and a tax analyst help me out. The forms inquired about everything: how much money, from where, how I got it. How many days I was in the United States, where was I when absent, etc.
I was told “Now you are truly an American, now that you have filed your taxes!” That surprised me a little bit. I had done a number of things that could have contributed to my conversion into an American.
I went to the movies and ate popcorn, I ate at McDonald’s, Burger King and Arby’s, I went shopping at the mall and I even used “plastic” and spent money I did not have (In Romania we say that with “plastic” you spend money you do not have to buy things you do not need to impress people you do not know!).
I did all these things, so I thought I would qualify as an American. The only time I was told that I had become an American was when I paid my taxes. So I got to thinking, why would paying taxes be considered the most American thing one could do.
It dawned on me that the IRS and filing taxes are so symbolic for America because nowhere else in the world is this component of government so sacred. And then I started asking myself if this pays off.
I started to laugh! All I had to do was to look around me: 10,000 students can afford to attend FSU because the state of Michigan pays for 53 percent of their tuition.
Everybody I know is free to travel up and down this country because the government makes the roads. While there are military conflicts all over the world, I feel the safest here because the American military is the strongest in the world and they watch over us within America.
Does it pay off to have an almighty IRS? Yes! Even without the few examples above, the most important consequence of a strong IRS is a strong GOVERNMENT locally, at the state and at the federal level.
And by strong I do not mean big nor large, I mean strong; a small government can be very strong!
Why is it important to have a strong government? It is that strong government that can guarantee PRIVATE PROPERTY!
I have finally understood why America is so successful: Americans are the most hard working people on the planet and by having private property guaranteed, corporate America and millions of small businesses can function and make the American economy the most flexible and the most successful one in the world.
In Romania, unfortunately more than 60 percent of the economy is underground, meaning that they do not pay taxes! The Romanian government is very weak and cannot guarantee anything. Street gangs are better equipped than the police forces.
The government has little money to pay the bureaucrats, which opens a wide door for corruption because the law enforcement is not only poorly equipped, but they’re also low- paid and are glad to be part of the corruption system.
I do not think that corruption has been completely eradicated in America, but there is much less of it and it is usually discovered. Nobody will escape the long arm of the law-sooner or later they’ll be caught!
People are often unhappy with the IRS and complain, but we all can see the benefits of the IRS functioning properly: those monies paid as taxes return to us all, protect our liberties and allow each and every one of us to be independent in our “pursuit of happiness .”
If there is one great lesson I have learned in America and I wish to take home to Romania, it is most definitely the sacred way of collecting taxes. Nobody dares to play with that!
If it were up to me, I would build a statue in every town dedicated to the men and women who work for the IRS and keep America running! Long live the IRS!
The party’s (almost) over
Brian Vansteenkiste
Opinions Editor
I’m 22 years old and this is my fifth year in college. I’ve had the pleasure of being at Ferris for the last four of them.
When I was a freshman at a different university I didn’t know a lot of the upper classmen who were set for immediate graduation. When I came to Ferris, that changed.
I can still remember being at parties and hearing the seniors (some fifth and sixth years) talking about how “this is my last year here.”
I’d hear it in the fall, and as the year progressed I’d see them again at parties, and in the back of my head I knew they wouldn’t be around for much longer.
As spring drew nearer and nearer, a lot of them would reiterate their statements form earlier in the year. Only this time they’d be saying “I only have a couple months/weeks left.”
It was always kind of sobering to hear all this because it reminds you that nothing lasts forever and that yes, someday you’ll be in their shoes telling some other sophomore your woes. The first time you experience this, it’s probably a senior you know only in passing, so it really doesn’t affect you all that much.
As I got older and advanced through the college ranks, the seniors talking about leaving started becoming my good friends and those who were in the class directly above me.
Last year around this time I was kind of tripping out thinking about how I only had a year left. A year, that’s such a short period of time! Looking back, four years seems like a really short period of time.
So here I am, weeks away from walking across a stage and accepting a fake diploma from Sederburg.
Now I’m the buzz-kill talking about leaving this place. I always knew I would be someday.
It’s given me a different perspective to switch roles. In the past, I’d start to think about the reality of being through, and my thoughts would quickly turn to more pleasant subjects.
Now, most of the people I know are gone, the people I see around campus are progressively younger and recent graduates are starting to sound like my older relatives by telling me how the college years are the best ones of your life. You know what? I know they’re right now.
In the past I had my doubts. Not that I doubted the accumulated wisdom of those who came before me and have experienced more, but I didn’t want to believe them.
Why would anyone revel in days from the best part of their life flying by indiscriminately? So the best part of my life is almost over. Cool.
I think the thing I’m going to miss most about college is being able to sleep in and through classes. I don’t foresee too many days starting at noon in my future. I’ll have to indulge in my laziness now while I still can.
So what’s the point of all this sentimental rambling and hogwash? Am I trying to “harsh your mellow” and slap you in the face with a fish called reality? Maybe a little, but I’m also trying to put some things into perspective. Not only for others, but also for myself.
I’ve had a ball here, and I’m going to have a real good time until I’m done. What, don’t you think seniors are going to take advantage of their last chance to go out with people they may never see again?
You’ll never have this lifestyle in the real world, and things will never be like this again. Live it up. This last few weeks here are going to be the best ever.
When I first came to Ferris, things were different. I never knew the Alibi, but it sure wasn’t like this when I started.
Casey’s is gone, the padlock ordinance is in effect, there are party sniffers working against us now too, three people died in two years from drinking (that really hurt the social scene up here)-the list could go on and on. The bottom line is, extracurricular fun has gone downhill around here in the past three years.
The younger classes don’t seem to be coming from as hardy a stock of revelers as the past ones came from, so that isn’t helping things out either.
Maybe people like me are somewhat to blame. But do you really need someone else’s guidance to learn how to have a good time?
In all fairness, there are some “fun” kids out there, but there are also a lot of retards who overdo it, and that’s one of the reasons they normal people can’t go out and have the fun they used to.
I don’t know, whatever. These are all just observations and my opinions. I sound all sad to be graduating, and part of me is. But I’m also stoked to almost be done.
I’ve had my fill and I echo the sentiments of a lot of my peers when I say that I don’t think I could stand another year up here.
College is fun and all, but the best years of your life aren’t perfect. They come with a lot of crap too.
I’ll be happy to leave all that to you, the future of Ferris. Do with it what you will.
Enough already
Mike Domerese
Ferris State Torch
Here we are in the greatest country in the world, and we are once again under the microscope.
As if the events of Sept. 11 weren’t enough, along with Bush’s War on Terrorism, Operation Anaconda and the latest negotiations for peace in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, we have sex scandals.
I’m not talking about a repeat of the whole Clinton-Lewinsky debacle or the Gary Condit missing intern story, this is far, far worse.
Sexual assault in the holiest of holy places, the church, has gripped this country like wildfire.
The fact that something like this can happen in a church just makes me sick to my stomach. It doesn’t matter how much religion you have in your life, if any, or the choice of your personal faith. I’m not the most religious guy in the world, meaning that I’m not an avid churchgoer, but I still make my peace with God in my own way.
The simple point I’m trying to make is that either way, you as a human being know the difference between right and wrong, especially when it comes to children.
The United States Catholic way of life has been put under the microscope in past months.
There have been many Catholic priests who have had charges and allegations made toward them involving sexual misconduct with children across the country.
I can’t tell you exactly where the first case arose, but new ones seem to be popping up all over the place.
Most recently in Fresno, Calif., there were allegations brought against Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, leader of the nation’s largest Roman Catholic archdiocese.
According to CNN, a 51-year-old woman claims she was molested by Mahony while she was a high school student in 1969.
These accusations were brought about after a fight she was in and was knocked out. Supposedly when she came to, the “bottom” portion of her clothing was removed and Mahony was over top of her. The ten thousand dollar question is, how true are these accusations?
According to the Los Angeles Times, the woman has been diagnosed as a paranoid-schizophrenic and is also on medication for depression.
The Times also reported the fact that the state is cutting her disability payments and that she needs cash.
Now, I’m not one to point fingers, but with everything that has been going on in related stories I just find this bitter little pill a little hard to swallow. A paranoid-schizophrenic in need of cash and stories against Catholic priest molesting young boys and other children floating around? You do the math on this one; I think it’s pretty cut and dried.
I don’t know how many of you readers are loyal CNN watchers, local news watchers or newspaper readers, but this type of thing is nothing new.
As I stated above, these types of allegations are nationwide. Recently there have been more types of stories from New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia just to name a few.
According to an interview in the New York Times, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop William Gregory, stated that the Vatican has left these problems in the hands of American Bishops on Saturday, April 13.
Basically, Pope John Paul II and the Vatican are steering clear of this grave, disgusting problem that is rearing its ugly head.
Personally I feel we need the truth, and things need to come out about what has really gone on. Trying to find the truth in such delicate matters as this presents a problem.
Do you take the word of a well- respected citizen and human being (a priest or father), or do you listen to a strung out, overworked, underpaid 40 something who is just looking for a little extra dough to get ahead in her life?
You also have the problems of confession and the fact that it is to be kept confidential, which can sometimes hinder investigations.
I present a task to anyone who is a free-thinking reader of this paper, and this task is very simple.
The task is to not always believe everything you read and/or hear. Granted, there is a sickness in America and pedophiles should be dealt with appropriately.
Questions one also must ask are why all of sudden is there such an outbreak of these accusations, and why are they only in the Catholic Church?
Stay tuned...
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