Faculty strike averted
FFA to vote on new contract.

By Jessica Wortley
Ferris State Torch

Ferris Faculty Association members will be voting in the next few weeks on the ratification of a new contract after reaching a tentative agreement with administrators on Sun., Aug. 25.

With the agreement, a potential faculty strike was averted and students returning for the fall semester were able to start classes as usual last Monday.

The Ferris Faculty Association (FFA) and the Ferris administration did not reach an agreement until Sunday at 5 p.m., less than 24 hours before classes were to begin.

Students on campus were notified by their Resident Advisors late Sunday night that classes would be starting as planned.

Although some students were looking to have an extra day of summer vacation, most were happy that an agreement had been reached.

"I was glad to start classes because if I don't get on a normal schedule right away it throws me off," Mary Cairns, a junior in hospitality management said. "Getting started gets me on the right track and keeps me organized."

After four months of negotiations, and the threat of a strike, the two bargaining teams reached a tentative settlement with the following highlights, according to a press release issued by Ferris' Communications and Media Relations department: a contract for four academic years, expiring in June 2006; a significant "supplemental market adjustment" package for senior faculty; increases in the amounts awarded to faculty for promotion and merit recognition; health care increases of four percent each year in the University's share of MESSA health insurance; granting tenure to academic administrators upon approval by the Board of Trustees; enhanced flexibility in the employment of temporary and adjunct faculty; approval of academic calendar dates for the length of the agreement.

President William Sederburg is very pleased with the agreements and believes the contract is fair and balanced.

"Both sides had to give a little and make reasonable compromises," he said. "It is a victory for both the school and the faculty union."

Sederburg played a key role in the negotiations process.

A five-person steering committee was created to represent the administration side and a chief negotiator was hired, with whom the President met regularly.

The faculty side was composed of various faculty members, led by FFA President Mike Ryan, and also included a representative from the Michigan Education Association.

In a press release, Ryan said, "the agreement accomplishes the basic goals sought by the FFA. While it is not everything we desired, it is a good contract that recognizes the value of the faculty."

David Pilgrim, a sociology professor, said he was pleased to see the contract negotiated.

"We are worthy of our wages-fair wages," he stated, saying that he would have gone on strike to achieve the FFA's goals but was glad that he didn't have to go out.

Different faculty groups from the different colleges had varying opinions of the FFA. Some falculty were against going on strike, however, everyone was relieved to hear that the strike had been averted.

This was especially good news to those who had been through the previous faculty strike in 1997.

"It would have created a division on campus that would have taken years to heal," said Caroline Stern, an English professor. "I hated the thought of striking and was relieved not to go."

With the faculty contract almost finalized, negotiations can now begin on the contract for Ferris' clerical and technical employees. The old contract expired over the summer but bargaining was put on hold to focus on the FFA contract.

In addition, according to a press release issued by Ferris' Communications and Media Relations department, the Michigan Employment Relations Commission ruled on Aug. 29 "that the Kendall Faculty Association and the Ferris Faculty Association should remain distinct and separate bargaining units."

"This decision allows Kendall to continue its mission on a quite independent basis, with significant self-determination and autonomy," Sederburg said. The decision also means that negotiations can begin on the Kendall contract.

Although the few weeks leading up to the start of fall semester were a bit confusing and hectic for faculty, administration and students, Sederburg wants to let the campus know he was pleased everyone "kept their cool" during the process, especially the students.

"I appreciated the students' calmness … I thought everyone treated the issues appropriately," he said. "I was very proud of our students."

Speaker tells us to write our own scripts
D'Angelo brings vision to campus through First Wednesday talk.

By Amy McElmurray
Assistant News Editor

"Anything is Possible"
D'Angelo utilized many props during his presentation.
Photo By Alicia LaFrance
Assistnt Photo Editor

"A wake-up call," according to Michael Lock, a junior in music industry management, is what students received Wednesday, Aug. 28 from Anthony D'Angelo, the Collegiate EmPowerment Coach.

"You're here to get something so much deeper than the rules," D'Angelo told the crowd of over 600 students. "What do you want to give back to the world? What is your vision?"

During the interactive presentation, students were asked to write down 25 goals for their lifetime, and then seal the envelope and turn it in. The goals will be sent to students later in the year to remind them what they are capable of achieving.

D'Angelo was brought to the FSU campus as part of the Speaker Series put on by Student Activities.

The Speaker Series was created to help FSU students increase their awareness of global issues - issues that most students wouldn't deal with if not presented with the opportunity to think about them.

D'Angelo stressed that most students only receive a degree at college, not an education. He challenged the crowd to attend at least three of the speakers on campus this semester as a way to expand their horizons and get an education.

"Most people die when they are 27, but aren't buried until they are 77," D'Angelo pointed out. He urged the crowd to take their education higher and deeper so they wouldn't die at 27 because they stopped chasing their passion.

"This is a great time to reinvent your life," he said. "Do something you wouldn't have done before. You never fail, you always produce results."

He told the story of how Martin Luther King Jr. scored poorly on a verbal section of a test, but then went on to give the "I Have a Dream" speech because he had a vision. MLK Jr. wasn't afraid to take a risk or fail, and students should not be afraid either.

"Write the script to your life," D'Angelo stated. "You are a core thread in the fabric of this campus; FSU is the stage of your life for the next so many years. Make sure you write the script."

The student reaction to D'Angelo was overwhelmingly positive, with many students waiting around afterwards to meet him.

"He was interesting, more motivated and more fun than any other speakers I've been to," pre-optometry freshman Ashley Taylor said.

"It made me think more about my life and what I'm doing," Kathryn Richardson, a freshman in visual design and web media, said.

After the presentation, two students remained in their seats thinking about their lifetime goals.

"I've never thought about it this much," April Wuchte, a freshman in TV and digital media production, said.

"I got a taste of this at the end of high school," Lock said. "He completely reinforced and expanded this into the college atmosphere."

Lock also made a very good point about college and attending speakers on campus. "You have to decide to be here, no one can make you go," he said.

Lock has noticed that if a professor forces you to go to an event and you don't really want to be there, then you're not going to get anything out of it. So the best bet is to go with an open mind and see what you can learn about yourself from the speaker.

As D'Angelo stressed, you need to get more than a degree at college - get an education.

FSU remembers September 11
Memorial ceremony planned.

By Abby Bearman
News Editor

Many people can vividly remember where they were and what they were doing on Sept. 11, 2001.

For the majority of Americans, this was a day that will be impossible to forget, which may be for the best.

FSU is doing its part in remembering the events of that day with a campus-wide service.

The Office of Minority Affairs will be hosting a Reflection and Unity Gathering at noon on Sept. 11 in the Quad.

According to Minority Affairs Director Raymond Gant, the program will be a two-part memorial service, honoring FSU students, faculty, alumni and emeriti who have passed away, as well as remembering those who lost their lives on Sept. 11.

In previous years, the FSU community has made a point to honor its deceased members; additionally, there was a memorial service last year for the victims of 9/11 a couple of days after the event.

This year's offering is a marriage of both concepts.

Everyone from the FSU and Big Rapids communities is encouraged to attend. There will be several representatives from the local fire, police and sheriff departments, as well as a few city dignitaries.

Gant will preside as the master of ceremonies and there will be several speakers from among the leadership on campus.

Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Dan Burcham will provide the opening comments.

Additional speakers will include Student Government President Kaci Baars, Alpha Omega President DeWan Wallace and Ferris Faculty Association President Mike Ryan.

Many of the RSOs on campus will be present as well.

The service will consist of not only the speakers, but some poetry readings, soloists and several selections from the FSU Gospel Choir.

The ceremony will conclude with the unified ringing of the bells in the Carillon Tower along with the church bells in the city of Big Rapids.

So if you are not in class at noon, stop by the Quad and take part in a special event that will serve as a powerful reminder, not only of the occurrences of Sept. 11, but also of the unity that is present on this campus.

FLITE caters to Students
Library added new programs.

By Abby Bearman
News Editor

Many students will never see the inside of a library, much less spend any amount of time in one. FSU's FLITE is looking to change that.

Over the summer, the staff worked very hard to implement many new programs, such as an extensive online tutorial, new databases and faster delivery of articles through interlibrary loan.

PILOT, or Project Information Literacy Online Tutorial, focuses on teaching students where to go to find the answers they need. Based on a program created by the University of Texas at Austin, students use a series of games, quizzes and examples to get through the program.

All of it is customizable to relate to each of the colleges within Ferris.

One of the main points of PILOT is to educate students on Internet searches. According to Joe Webber, Assistant Dean of the Library, "Students are pretty good at finding things on the web, but there is so much out there. They don't realize how broad the Internet is."

This program will be used in all FSUS classes, and can be accessed at home, which is recommended due to the many sound effects. PILOT's web address is http://libun1.ferris.edu.

FLITE also added four new databases over the summer to further help students' research needs. The benefits of these databases are that they contain information that is not accessible through an Internet search engine such as Google or Yahoo, and that the information comes from reputable sources.

FSU spends approximately $150,000 annually on these databases in order to provide valid, reliable information to the student body.

Additionally, the library has added a list of new books which will be updated monthly. The list, which will be posted on the website, will catalog the books in call number order and according to each major discipline. FLITE receives between 5,000 and 6,000 new books every year.

Another upgrade is the faster delivery of articles requested through interlibrary loan.

Now, when FLITE receives the articles from other libraries, they can email them to the individual instead of mailing them, which reduces the waiting period by several days.

Finally, as of Sept. 23, FLITE will launch its new chat reference service. Similar to popular instant messaging programs such as AOL and MSN, faculty and students will have the option of using online chat to ask questions of FLITE librarians.

The trial run during the fall semester will look to give greater convenience and utility in receiving help locating and using library resources.

FLITE will now be open at 7:30 a.m. on weekdays for those students who need to get an early start or print off a paper before their 8 a.m. class.

With all of the new programs and upgrades, stopping by FLITE more frequently will certainly prove worthwhile.

Showing off some skin
Arrays of crimes have been reported since the beginning of classes.

By Chris Miller
Editor in Chief

Butts up!

On Aug. 26 at 7 p.m., the FSU Department of Public Safety (DPS) was called over to Pickell Circle to investigate an indecent exposure incident. A group of male students standing outside were challenging another student to expose himself. The student was confronted by officers for exposing his rear. The case has been handed over to Judicial Services.

It's her fault

Officers responded to a fight taking place in Lot 4 between a boyfriend and girlfriend on Aug. 25 at 2:47 a.m. After investigation, officers arrested the female student for domestic assault and a Minor in Possession (MIP) citation.

Good Samaritans

An FSU employee found five $100 bills on Aug. 23. The employee turned the money into DPS. Later, the owner of the cash was identified, and the money was returned.

On Aug. 25 at 3 a.m, DPS found a money bag previously reported missing. The amount of money in the bag was $450. The money was returned to the female student who reported the missing bag earlier.

Sleeping on State Street

A male student was found lying down on State Street on Aug. 25 at 2:20 a.m. The student was extremely intoxicated. After transported to Mecosta County General Hospital, officers performed a check-up on the student. The male student recovered fully.

Other intoxicated students

An MIP citation was issued to a male student on Aug. 24 at 12:45 a.m. The student was carrying a bag full of beer when officers stopped him in Lot 37. The incident has been passed over to Judicial Services.

Two more students were cited with MIPs on Aug. 24 at 12:17 a.m. Both cases have been handed over to Judicial Services for further review.

Parents gone wild

Some parents act like their kids, especially on Aug. 21 at 4:45 p.m. near Cramer Circle. Two parents got into an argument over a parking spot. The parents were helping their kids move into Cramer Hall. One parent decided to drive his vehicle towards another with intent to harm. There was no one hurt in the incident, and the case has been turned over to the prosecutor's office.

Stolen goods

Several items were stolen from a room in Cramer Hall on Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. A Playstation and some games were taken. There are no suspects currently, and DPS continues with the investigation.

No "Jibbity Java" at new coffee shop in town
Java Jack's opens with great optimism.

By Mary Gurnee
Ferris State Torch

"Cream or sugar?"
Java Jack's owner Jack Prescott sits quitely behind his counter waiting for customers to order some coffee. The new Java Jack is located on Maple Street.
Photo Provided By Jack Prescott

The East Side Cafe has a new neighbor. Java Jack's, located on Maple Street and across the bridge, opened its doors on Aug. 19 to the people of Big Rapids and Ferris students alike. The coffee shop is quickly gaining popularity.

"More and more people walk in every day," Jack Prescott, owner of Java Jack's, said. Prescott is originally from Ludington, Michigan. "I worked in insurance for 28 years, and then I decided I needed a change."

Prescott and close friend Anne Currie agreed that FSU students play a big role with area businesses. The two decided to give something back to Ferris State University.

Prescott is keeping an open mind when it comes to how he should run his business. "I'm open to suggestions," Prescott said.

There have been several discussions about what features, aside from coffee, Java Jack's would offer. One discussion may allow anyone who can sing or play an instrument to come in and perform for patrons.

Other discussions may also include allowing local artists to display artwork on the walls of the shop with the possibility of selling their pieces to the public.

"There will be a logo contest," Prescott said.

Participants should stop in and ask for details about the contest. The winning logo will be put up on the Java Jack's store front. Prescott is looking for anything that is in good taste and will reflect the atmosphere of the coffee shop.

As customers walk in to the coffee shop, either from the front entrance or the back, they get a sense of relaxation. There are couches that customers can lounge on and sip their drink.

As you walk beyond the couches there are little clusters of tables that allow customers to play card games, checkers or chess.

Scanning the room, customers will find a CD player with a small collection of CD's. Feel free to bring in tunes, as long as it will be respectful to other patrons in the shop.

Along the back wall there is a bar set up. The bar that is being used is the same bar that was once in the Eagles Club. The Eagles Club was where Java Jack's is today.

The bar is the area where orders are placed and picked up.

Prescott works very hard to serve the best food and drinks possible. Only the best products are used.

"If I don't like it, then I won't sell it," Prescott said.

Coffee isn't the only item for sale on the Java Jack's menu. "I have things for people who don't drink coffee," Prescott said.

Such things are hot chocolate, tea, soda and several other beverages. Java Jack's also offers ice cream, bagels, cookies and muffins, which are baked fresh daily.

"Their ice cream is to die for," Liz Lee, senior in music industry management, said.

Java Jack's hours are still in the making. Currently, the shop is open until about 9 p.m. Prescott is considering staying open to midnight to accommodate to students' needs.

Prescott said, "If people are here, then I'll stay open."

Customers can arrive at Java Jack's by heading north on State Street. When you reach Maple Street, take a right. After the turn, continue on Maple Street over the bridge. Java Jack's is there on the right at 708 Maple Street.

Parking for the coffee shop is in the back. Pull into the gas station and there is a little parking lot. Rest assured there is a back entrance to the coffee shop, so that customers don't have to walk around the building.

"Heavy Metal" show at FSU
Jim Breuer expected to take FSU by storm.

By Mary Gurnee
Ferris State Torch

"Goatboy" comes to FSU
JIm Breuer, pictured above, is famous for many of his impressions on Saturday Night Live.

Headlining this year's Homecoming celebration, Entertainment Unlimited and Student Leadership and Activities are bringing comedian Jim Breuer to Ferris State University as part of his "Heavy Metal" Comedy Tour.

Breuer's new routines should make his performance one like no other.

D.L. Hughley was at FSU last year and his performance was enjoyed by many students and staff.

Hughley's career took off when HBO recognized his talent and gave him his own HBO special. Yet, the question at hand is, "Will Jim Breuer be just as good as Hughley?"

"Breuer is absolutely hilarious. I can't wait to see him live," Matt Turner, a senior in music industry management, said.

From his hometown in Valley Stream, Long Island, Breuer started his career doing sketches for parties and small clubs. With the support of his wife of about nine years, Breuer has slowly but surely worked his way through the comedy circuits.

Adding to his fame, Breuer has made many television appearances and played some movie roles.

He spent four years as a cast member on Saturday Night Live (SNL) in the late nineties.

Breuer popularized characters such as the half-man, half-goat named "Goat Boy" during his time on the show.

While Breuer was on the show, he became good friends with Tracy Morgan who also has a role on SNL.

Other characters on SNL that you may recognize Breuer from, are Sean (Mary Kathrine Gallager's crush), and he also does an impersonation of Jack Nicholson

Breuer also was known for his impersonation of actor Joe Pesci (Lethal Weapon, Goodfellas). While in the spotlight, Breuer also played a burned-out, pot-smoking music store clerk in the movie "Half Baked," which was released in 1998.

Breuer's most recent movies are "Crooked Lines" and "One-Eyed King." Both movies premiered last year.

Breuer's performance is expected to start at 8 p.m. at Williams Auditorium on Oct. 11.

The show will be $5 for FSU students with their valid student identification cards and $20 for the public and students without valid identification.

What to expect from A&E
It's going to be an exciting year for this section.

By Mike Mumah
A&E Editor

Welcome to the all-new, all-different, but entirely the same Arts and Entertainment section of the Ferris State Torch. As newly reinstated editor for this section, it is my plan to inform you, the reader, of events happening on campus and in the surrounding areas.

In the coming year, we'll let you know what's new to the theatres and to the video store. We'll feature films that we think you'll want to see. We'll warn you of the ones we think you won't. We'll watch the DVDs. We'll do the research.

Like music? We'll cover that too. We'll let you know what's hitting stores. We'll let you know who's suing Eminem. We'll review CDs. We'll even cover local and regional bands.

We'll highlight artists, and let you know where to find art and what to expect. We'll go to the cafes, the restaurants, the bowling alleys and the bars. We'll get out there and let you know what's out there and what to do there.

We'll even cover books, when we can. We'll let you know what Danielle Steele and Tom Clancy are up to. We'll let you know when Stephen King plans to finish the Dark Tower series. We'll get on the Internet, let you know what we find. We'll even let you know what's up with Spiderman's clone.

I have a lot of information to disperse amongst the populace, and several resources from which to draw. However, there will be some things that we won't hear about.

That's where you, Dear Reader, come in. If there's an event or activity that you think the Torch should feature, let us know. If you think you have an interesting hobby or know someone worth writing about, let us know.

If you do something weird enough that you think people would want to read about it, let us know.

We're not going to write about your house's upcoming kegger, so don't bother trying.

It's going to be an interesting year. We know how hard school is, we're students too.

We take the same classes, and we pretend to study just as much as you do. We understand that books and classes do not make a student whole. We'll be here for you.

We'll let you know that when you need a break, there'll be something there for you. After all, we're the Torch, and we care.

Zydeco music filled the quad...
A plethora of students, faculty, staff and area citizens showed up for Bulldogs on the Bayou.

By Mary Gurnee
Ferris State Torch

"CATCH ME"
A kid enjoys an air-filled game during last weeek's BAYOU in the quad.
Photo By Dan Gellasch
Photo Editor

This year's Bulldogs on the Bayou was held on Thursday, Aug. 29 in the Quad from 4-9 p.m.

For the past week the weather was looking questionable for the festivities. Good fortune was in the favor of FSU and the weather was warm and sunny.

Good weather for a day at a festival.

As participants walked up they could hear the Cajun sounds of the violin, guitars and drums. If participants felt ambitious, there was room to do some dancing.

There were also two long tables full of an assortment of food.

This food was free for all students with valid identification cards, as well as faculty and staff. The assortment consisted of potato salad, coleslaw, hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans and much more.

There was also the option of trying alligator.

To many, the idea was enough to turn them away. The brave people who did try the alligator described it as tasting similar to chicken. Refreshments were also provided. Students, faculty and staff had their choice of Coke products.

As far as activities go, there was plenty for participants to do. Entertainment Unlimited (EU) supplied the blow-up obstacle course, slide and tug-of-war.

In the obstacle course, each person was paired up, then raced over and under obstacles to reach the end. In the tug-of-war, each person was paired with another person. Each person was tied to the same rope and had to make it to a wall fighting against the other person.

There were also many booths set up by organizations from around campus. These booths were there to inform students of what FSU has to offer.

For the new students it is very important for them to have a chance to talk to the people who are involved in the organizations on campus.

Many of these groups were handing out free goodies for anyone who stopped at their table. Each booth had something different to give. EU was giving away an assortment of candy.

The student recreation center (U-REC) had entry forms for a give-away. The winners of the give-away received something from the basement of the U-REC.

Booths were even handing out things that students wouldn't normally see at other festivals. The health center was handing out lifesaver mints as well as pill containers so that a student has something to carry their Tylenol around in. The counseling center was handing out condoms.

EU also provided a pixie stick maker. Each person was given a tube to put the sugar in. They had to place it in the flavor or their choice and fill it. Their choices consisted of sour watermelon, apple, cherry and peach. A tube could have any combination the person wanted.

There was a chance for a person to be Steve Irwin, the "Crocadile Hunter," or a banjo player.

There were fantasy photos being taken. A participant could do this by putting their head through a hole of an air-brushed picture and then having someone take a picture of them. Instantly they became the person of their dreams.

If anyone was unable to make it to the Bulldogs on the Bayou, there is another event that is coming up. Bulldog Bonanza takes place on Sept. 12.

On Cue is gone
Sam Goody replaced On Cue over the summer on Perry Street.

By James Lear
Ferris State Torch

As students return to Big Rapids for the fall, many may find a favorite retailer missing, instead replaced by something very similar. Where On Cue Music once was, a Sam Goody now stands. Why?

Simply answered: corporate business. On Cue Music is owned by the Music Land Group, which is owned by Best Buy, the home appliance giant. Best Buy also owns several other subsidiaries, like Suncoast Video, Media Play and Sam Goody.

"The name change won't affect the prices," said Jennifer Mitchell, an employee at Sam Goody. "You can still find all your favorite music and movies."

The switch in name is due to consolidation by the parent companies in order to maximize the profit, by decreasing the supply. Big Rapids is not the only city to affected by this change. Midland and the Detroit metropolitan areas have also replaced On Cue with Sam Goody.

The corporation is hoping to draw in business with the Sam Goody name, but at the same time not lose customers familiar with On Cue.

Technology: for good and for bad
Advancements have caused many changes for good and for bad.

By Karen Langolf
Ferris State Torch

With the fall semester upon me, I find myself once again worrying about the hellacious task of paying my bills while at school. As this is tossed about in my head, I analyze all of the possibilities I can think of to make money.

I could work for this place. I could deliver this. I could sell this. I could sue someone or I could win the lottery.

Unfortunately, this is how our society works. We still believe in starting at the bottom to get to the top, which is unattainable. If we knew what the people at the top knew, then they'd be out of a job, and that's not going happen.

If a multimillionaire was to walk up to us and tell us that we could be in their shoes in five years, as long as we changed our ideas and did what they told us to do, we would all laugh them out of the country.

We would then go home and continue following the ideas instilled in us by our parents, teachers, and friends, most of whom are a long way away from being as successful as the multimillionaire. This behavior is especially prevalent in the Midwest.

From an early age we are taught by our parents, teachers, and friends that we are to get good grades in school, graduate, go to a prestigious university, get a degree, go to work, and then we will make the big bucks. All of these people mean well, but look where these ideas are coming from.

Your teachers make an average of around $41,000 a year. The U.S. median household income on the last census was a little over $40,000 a year, and your friends made an average of $100 last year.

What if Tiger Woods held a basketball camp? Would you go? Of course not! Now if it was golf, then that would be a different story. Tiger is an expert and has all the right ideas and methods to be successful at golf.

The same goes for our financial future. Why do we follow our friends, parents, and teachers when they give us the wrong information?

They are not as successful as the millionaires who try to help us financially. They are the experts at making money and have all the right ideas and methods to be successful financially.

These people are all trying to live and be successful using yesterday's methods.

The idea that getting good grades, going to college, and working your way up from the bottom is the only way to be successful was true back in the industrial age, just after the Great Depression.

This is no longer working for most people. We are no longer in the industrial age - we are in the information age.

In this age, those who have access to the most valuable information which has the least penetration and spreads it the quickest will be the most successful. It is just a matter of plugging in to the information at the right time and spreading it effectively.

Now, as we all sit back and think about our previous college experience or the stories we have heard, we all see the same thing.

We see broke college students with five maxed credit cards, bills two months behind, and they all drive cars at the ends of the spectrum, an '87 Ford Escort held together with duct tape or a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire paid for by Mom and Dad.

This is not to mention all the broke college students who, for some reason or other, can seem to scrape up just enough money for those drunken Thursday nights or those who mooch the alcohol off of their friends. Where do we work?

The Recreation Center, The Rock, up town at some fast food joint, or at the local Quick Stop? This can't possibly provide for all of our debt or nights of fun!

Don't get me wrong, we do come up with some great ideas such as flooding the internet looking for those free sample web pages, rolling our own cigarettes, wearing our clothes multiple times to save on detergent, bringing just a few toiletries so we can scam on our suitemate's, and proving to the Styrofoam industry that their products can be used more than 50 times.

Yes, these money-saving ideas are genius, but the rest lack in efficiency.

We eventually receive our degree and do one of two things:

The majority of us get a job in our field, which will eventually lead to us getting laid off or the company will run out of money and go out of business.

Or, we get a low paying job which has nothing to do with our degree, and we go nowhere for the rest of our lives.

I am all for college and a degree, or else I would not be here.

But we need to go differently about achieving the success we desire so we can gain more success for these efforts.

As fresh, smart college students still at the beginning of the information age, we need to grasp the advantage and take on different ideas.

We have to be willing to change. By opening ourselves to a new way of thinking, we will come to avenues that will end with more success than those traveled by using the industrial age thought pattern.

We cannot be successful from yesterday's ideas.

Modern music: love it or leave it
Just because you're "hip" to the flavor of the minute doesn't make you cool.

By Matt Cherry
Opinions Editor

The other day I stopped by the local Taco Bell for some delicious toxic enjoyment, and what do you think I found in the car next to mine? Well, I'll tell you. It was something that I see way too much these days.

It was some piece-of-crap car with a white guy inside of it with his hat turned around and the bass blaring.

Riddle me this: why does it seem to be that every piece of music you hear on the road now is just blaring bass? What about lyrics? What about anything other than that "blum bloom" sound that seems to have infested nearly every car on campus?

If my car started making that sound, I'd take it to the shop.

Personally, I would much rather hear some good-ol' Eric Clapton or Bob Dylan to any of this Eminem stuff that's so popular today.

I mean, how can the sounds of nuclear explosions be called "music"? Sure, in their days even Beethoven and Mozart were rebels, but they composed pieces of music that have been around for centuries. Can you honestly say that Eminem's music will live forever?

I, for one, certainly hope not.

And granted, Clapton or Dylan probably won't be around forever, but at least that was music with a meaning. Whether it was talking about the long hard life on the road, or speaking out against 'Nam, that was music with a purpose.

If you know of one actually good message in any Eminem song, let me know, because I honestly don't think you'll find one.

I don't mean to pick on Eminem exclusively; I just hate his music more than others. You could put just about anyone's name there instead. Especially the names of bands like Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and their ilk, male and female.

Again, I know that people said similar stuff about protest-era music, but again, that music had a message. It conveyed feeling. And if you even think about trying to tell me that there's some deep meaning to a song that 30-year-old men are singing while gyrating their bodies to 13-year- old girls, come on.

I mean, if someone tried to do that on the street, they'd get arrested for either indecent exposure or child molestation!

It all comes back to meaning. And when music today has a meaning, I'll shut up. Until that day comes back again, I'll be that "old" and cranky 21-year-old white guy without the bass blaring.

To attack or not, that is the dilemma
With the ever present threat of Iraq, America must declare its position.

By Mircea-Ioan Cotosman
Ferris State Torch

The hottest topic of the moment is whether the U.S. will attack Iraq or not. It is a hot topic for the Republicans, but not for the Democrats

They prefer to sit on the side and pretend this is not an issue, and say that they are concerned with the state of the economy.

That's rather convenient. Why should the Democrats take the responsibility of being a part of such an important decision that will impact world history forever? Well it's simple: their political analysts are telling them that this decision might cost some votes, depending on the outcome.

So it's only the media and the Republicans that are involved in what tends to become a national debate. The media is confused. They are used to a President who went in the direction that the polls said to go; if the polls changed the next day, the direction of the Administration changed the same way.

The media is used to non-stop breaking news from the White House, day and night, any day of the week. It sure kept their ratings up. The media is used to information leaks that spiced up the news.

Not under the current President! Now it's all about regular press conferences, no leaks. One more difference: President Bush does not create policy just to fit the polls. He knows that the polls will show one thing today, and a different general opinion the next day. Sometimes a leader needs to show the direction, and as a great leader, be capable of rallying support for that action.

The media's part in the debate is more or less constructive as they are not missing a chance to point out differences of opinions within the Republican Party, as if they were some sort of an abnormality. Democracy allows for many voices to be heard.

It still remains to be seen what the President will decide what is in the best interest of those who elected him and trusted him with the Presidency. He might attack, or he might not.

From a strictly technical procedural perspective, he is clear to act, both under the declaration of a national emergency on Aug. 2, 1990, since the issue has not been resolved at the time and under the new regulations put in place since the start of the War on Terror, and this is a matter regarding a terrorist state.

However, the President's people will go up the Hill this coming week to discuss the matter with the Congress. Both sides of the isle will have an opportunity to say what they think.

Then there is the issue of the allies; especially the ones in the Middle East. If the American allies in that part of the world are committed to democracy, then they should give support to this Administration to free all the Iraqis from the dictatorship of Mr. Hussein.

Then there are the European allies. In the UK, Prime Minister Tony Blair knows where the danger lies and is ready to act along with the U.S. France is not quite sure, but will probably do it in the end. So will the other countries in Europe.

Europe has been burned really badly in the past, when in the mid 1930's they stood by and watched as Mr. Hitler was arming Germany.

The price was quite high; they did not nip it in the bud, so they got themselves into WWII.

Sure, the times have changed, but it is always good to look back and think about the lessons history has stored in the collective memory for us.

In any case, a good reminder about why we are even talking about this is coming up soon: the one-year anniversary of September 11.

It will be a good chance for all of us, individually and as a community, to reflect on past historical events, and the most recent ones as well.

Pains of no money trees
matter the background, students are still hard pressed for scholarships.

By Karen Langolf
Ferris State Torch

During high school, applying for college scholarships was a pretty big thing. How else could most kids afford to pay for their "higher" education? Through work at minimum wage jobs like fast food? Not likely.

Still, no one ever would have considered not being able to get college funding if they tried hard enough to get it. The usual scenario was to spend an hour a day at finding scholarships either online, through books or talking to different local businesses.

The problem is, when I graduated, so did about 325 other people in my class as well, not to mention the other two schools just in the area.

The competition for local scholarships was so high that it was almost impossible to get anything, unless you have a special consideration.

By special consideration, I mean any minority. Some sort of sport-ability, valedictorian, single-parent household, low-income household, specific religion, ethnic minority; it is more likely that these people would be the ones to get the scholarship money.

That was just high school. College is not any better.

In high school, there were people willing to help me find scholarships through any possible means: books, online, various colleges, locally. You name it, they provided it.

In college, I have to do my own research for free money. All the financial aid people could give me was a listing of scholarship search engines on the Internet.

Even if I get free money, it is not always likely that it will still be there two to three years down the line.

If the grades slip or something happens to the economy and the sponsor withdraws, I'm out of luck.

Changing schools will eliminate any high school scholarships from the equation.

A student at CMU is transferring over to Wayne after this fall and she is losing her Valedictorian scholarship because of it.

CMU offers this as an incentive to get higher GPA students into their school to make themselves look better.

I'd say it's rotten luck that such things happen to good students, especially when they've earned their marks. Just because she has a year of college in her doesn't mean that her valedictorian label from high school isn't good.

There are plenty of scholarships that ask for the grades, activities and so forth from high school, even if you are a college senior.

Why the heck shouldn't these students still be considered for valedictorian scholarships? It doesn't really make any sense to me.

Another reason I believe this to be bogus is because this girl fit the minority status under a few conditions: she was in a single-parent, low-income household and she was a valedictorian at her high school.

I guess even minorities can have problems with scholarship money.

Students are in debt left and right in order to pay for their college funding. Someone once told me that they wished they could have paid for a better high school education and then go to college for free if their credentials were good enough.

I doubt this would ever be accepted, simply because if families had to pay to put their children through education four years sooner, then the time frame for saving would be shorter.

Plus, there are thousands, if not millions, more kids who attend high school than college.

If this did happen, the number of students in high school would drop and then the number of college students would also drop.

Less education overall means less economic efficiency. Besides, students would still be competing for scholarships (high school ones).

Last year, the MEAP testing scholarship really saved me some money for my college education.

That is gone this year but I guess I should be thankful I got to use mine. In the future, there might not be any added incentives to the MEAP testing.

Because of the state government's inability to predict the annual budget, future students are likely to lose this opportunity in order to divert this educational money into the health insurance for older citizens.

I guess it depends on who is elected into the state senate for Michigan.

This means even more competition for scholarships. It's too bad our state government cannot plan the budget better.

Students might actually get a break for once and see that mythological money tree growing in the backyard.