Erie Square Gazette

A public forum by and for the students of St. Clair County Community College

The

Volume 63.7

December

12
2013

Brendan Buffa Sports Editor

Dead air

The holidays may take a stressful turn for the worse with the new program cuts at St. Clair County Community College. Students majoring in communications will notice that broadcasting and journalism are not in the fall 2013 program catalog. Although, dont fret just yet, the

The discontinuation of the communications program

change may not be as bad as initially assumed. In September of 2011, the process started to see the sustainability and viability of the programs, said Denise McNeil, vice president on academic services. Specifically, the communications programs were labeled as a program identified for improvement in 2011. A number that targeted the proTHE GREAT GATSBY>>>>>>>pg PET OF THE ISSUE>>>>>>>>pg gram, according to McNeil, was the limited amount of graduating students in the field of communications. According to the Fall 2013 campus update given by the college president, an 8 year study revealed that an average of 22% of students enrolled yearly were in the communications program. Over the past 5 years, only 12 students graduated in journalism, ART HOP>>>>>>>>>>>>pg FROZEN REVIEW>>>>>>>pg

IN THIS ISSUE:

and 9 in broadcasting. We dont have a lot of students graduating in those programs. The big question at hand is whether the students currently enrolled in the program will be able to receive a degree. In a weird way they are grand fathered out, says instructor of philosophy and english, Jim Soto, No new students can come in, but Continued on page 2 MIDDLE COLLEGE>>>>>>>pg COMICS>>>>>>>>>>>> pg 20

WSGR FUNDING>>>>>>>pg

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Editor-in-Chief

Erick Fredendall
Production Editor/Designer Zack Penzien Copy Editor Emily Mainguy Spider-Managing Editor Nick Wedyke Webmistress Rebecca Kelly Photo Editor Liz Whittemore Sports Editor Brendan Buffa Adviser John Lusk ESG Contact Info: Email: eriesquaregazette@gmail.com Address: 323 Erie St Port Huron MI 48060 Editors Note: All views expressed in editorials and columns contained within the ESG are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ESG or any of its advertisers. We welcome feedback!

Calendar
Dec. 15 Music: Holiday Bells and SC4 Choir McMorran Theatre 4-6p.m. Dec. 12 SC4 Board of Trustees Meeting SC4 Symphonic Band and SC4 Jazz Band M-Tech Building -4:30p.m. Tickets $7 Adults, Free for students with Skippers OneCard, Free for k-12 when Dec. 12 Short Play: (1965) St. accompanied by an adult. Stephens Demolished to Make way for New Library - 12p.m.-12:30p.m. Dec. 16 Get up! Stand up! Open Mic College Center Atrium Stand-Up Lynchs Irish Tavern 10p.m. A short play exploring SC4s history. Dec. 12- Concert: Jimmy Blues Trio (Thursday Noon and Night Concert Series) Fine Arts Theatre Admission $5 Noon and 7 p.m. Lunch with performers $10 Reservations Required Dec. 20 Gasoline Gypsy Old Town Hall Winery and Lexington Brewing Company 6-9p.m. 5475 Main St, Lexington Dec. 20 - Open Mic Studio 1219 - 6-7:30p.m. - Free

Campus

Jan. 23 Concert: International Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet (Noon and Night Concert Series) SC4 Fine Arts Theatre Noon and 7p.m. Lunch with performers $10 Reservations Required. Jan. 24-25 - Chilly Fest Downtown Port Huron For more on this event, porthuronrec.com/chillyfest/

Jan. 24 - Opening Reception for The Best of the Best - Studio 1219 - 6-8p.m. Open to the public

Dec. 18 Gay-Straight Alliance Bake Sale College Center Atrium 10a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 24 through Jan. 1- College closed Jan. 2 - College reopens Dec. 19 Gay-Straight Alliance Bake Sale College Center Atrium 10a.m.-2 p.m.

Sports

Community
Dec. 9 Concert: International Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet (Noon and Night Concert Series) SC4 Fine Arts Theatre Noon and 7p.m. Lunch with performers $10 Reservations Required.

Dec. 21 Concert: This is Christmas Port Huron High Performing Arts Center 6:30p.m. Dec. 23 Get up! Stand up! Open Mic Stand-Up Lynchs Irish Tavern 10p.m Dec. 31 New Years Eve Party Military Street Music Caf 9:30p.m. Tickets $10

Dec. 21 Behind the Scenes Tour: Building the 1913 Exhibit 1 p.m. Port Huron Museum Free with Museum Admission, $7 Adults, $5 Senior Citizens and Students Registration Requested.

Mens Basketball Dec 13 Lake Michigan College(7p.m.) Dec 19 Lakeland CC (8 p.m.) Jan 4 Alpena CC* (7:30 p.m.) Jan 8 Wayne County CCD* (7:30 p.m.) Jan 11 Oakland CC* (3 p.m.) Jan 15 Mott CC* (7:30 p.m.) Jan 18 Delta College* (3 p.m.) Jan 20 Schoolcraft College*(7:30p.m.) Jan 22 Henry Ford CC* (7:30 p.m.) Jan 25 Macomb CC* (3 p.m.) Jan 29 Kirtland CC* (7:30 p.m.) Womens Basketball Dec 14 Grand Rapids CC ( 4 p.m.) Dec 19 Lakeland College (6 p.m.) Jan 4 Alpena CC* (5:30 p.m.) Jan 8 Wayne County CCD* (5:30 p.m.) Jan 11 Oakland CC* (1 p.m.) Jan 15 Mott CC* (5:30 p.m.) Jan 18 Delta College* (1 p.m.) Jan 20 Schoolcraft College*(5:30p.m.) Jan 22 Henry Ford CC* (5:30 p.m.) Jan 25 Macomb CC* (1 p.m.) Jan 29 Kirtland CC* (5:30 p.m.) (bold denotes home games) *denotes MCCAA Eastern Conference game

Find us at esgonline.org @esgonline

Dec. 9 Get up! Stand up! Open Mic Stand-Up - Lynchs Irish Tavern 10p.m. Dec. 13 Karen Newman Concert with Feature Performance by SC4 President McMorran Theatre 7:30 p.m. - 9:30p.m. Tickets $32.05 Benefits SC4 Friends of the Arts.

Jan. 8 SC4 Alumni Hockey Team vs. Port Huron High and Port Huron Northern Alumni 7p.m.-9p.m. McMorran Place Arena - Admission $5 suggested donation per game. Jan. 17 - Open Mic Studio 1219 - 6-7:30p.m. - Free

facebook.com/ESGonline youtube.com/user/ eriesquaregazette

Jan. 18Feb. 27 SC4 Spiral Gallery: Art for All Studio 1219 SC4 Alumnus Jason Stier will present this exploration through life and art.

2 Dead air: continued from front page

was the limited amount of graduating students in the field of communications. According to the Fall 2013 campus update given by the college president, an 8 year study revealed that an average of 22% of students enrolled yearly were in the communications program. Over the past 5 years, only 12 students graduated in journalism, and 9 in broadcasting. We dont have a lot of students graduating in those programs. The big question at hand is whether the students currently enrolled in the program will be able to receive a degree. In a weird way they are grand fathered out, says instructor of philosophy and english, Jim Soto, No new students can come in,

The holidays may take a stressful turn for the worse with the new program cuts at St. Clair County Community College. Students majoring in communications will notice that broadcasting and journalism are not in the fall 2013 program catalog. Although, dont fret just yet, the change may not be as bad as initially assumed. In September of 2011, the process started to see the sustainability and viability of the programs, said Denise McNeil, vice president on academic services. Specifically, the communications programs were labeled as a program identified for improvement in 2011. A number that targeted the program, according to McNeil,

but those involved in the program currently will be able to finish. As the catalog changes for the next year, no new students will be allowed to come in. Rest assured students, SC4 graciously offers a safety net for those at risk. We will be working with students and we are trying to be proactive, McNeil reiterated, We will make sure students graduate and we will come through on our end of the deal. The final issue encountered with the discontinuation of the communications programs is the future of the college radio station, 91.3 WSGR, and the college news publication, The Erie Square Gazette. John Lusk, the adviser of The Erie

Square Gazette reassures students that the classes will still be offered; yet the budget will be something of slight concern. We will be monitoring the budget, and make sure that we still see what we see now - and that is funding for those classes. McNeil confirms the contrary, No funding cuts. No, not at all. The discontinuation of the program still doesnt fly right with the program director of 91.3 WSGR, Vaux Adams. Around 22% of students that come to this school are for communications. Thats a pretty big chunk, said Adams, If they are going to save the classes, good, but we will transfer out in the end. Although thoroughly upset, Adams says that the school is still justified

Mal Lynch Sophomore - Nursing The amount of people that go for broadcasting is a big number, so yeah, I think itll affect the school enrollment number.

Dayna Spaulding Sophomore Business With the limited amount of people graduating, yeah, the school is justified in cutting the program. Its not the only program bringing people in, and you dont hear about a lot of people majoring in broadcasting.

Celena Comerio Sophomore Business I think it will deter people from coming here and they will have to travel for the program they are looking for. If any of my programs got cut, Id be upset, so I can sympathize.

Vaux Adams Sophomore Communications Everyone is literally pissed off, even though those currently enrolled can finish, they are mad about it. We are passionate about it and this is what we want to do with our life.

Hannah Hunter Freshman Communications Do they have a replacement? They still shouldnt cut it, thats something they should offer - especially being a community college.