Copy editing by Catherine

Simons

Check our next issue for a “Pay for print” update.

On newstands November 4.

Volume 52, No. 4 October 14, 2010

Times Ticker

Crisis or misrepresentation of the truth?

by Sarah (Rah) TannerTimes Managing Editor

As an institute of higher education, MATC teaches the importance of proper and accurate journalism, as well as many other valued professions that are a staple of the Milwaukee area.

A few weeks ago, on September 22, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (MJS) printed an article reading “MATC fiscal crisis looms.” The opening sentence echoed this feeling, claiming MATC “is heading for a financial crisis.”

MJS followed up with another article on Sept. 23 and a final one on Sept. 26. The first of the two raised questions about problematic faculty salaries, and the second drew attention to several specific members of MATC’s faculty, who have the highest paid salaries.

The original report from which MJS derived its findings, came from the Public Policy Forum (PPF), a third party government watchdog group. This report was published Sept. 2010. This group’s report is the third in an ongoing series of local government fiscal evaluations. The analysis on MATC was conducted on a five-year timeframe, between 2005 and 2009.

The report mentions that, in light of the economic downturn, Wisconsin residents have been turning to community and technical colleges for additional education, to become more employable. About three fourths of MATC graduates take jobs in the Milwaukee area.

Wisconsin has a greater portion of “middle-level jobs” (higher than a high school

diploma, and lower than a 4-yr degree) than the rest of the nation. According to a report put out by the WTCS (Wisconsin Technical College System), in Oct 2009, these jobs constituted about 54% of current jobs in Wisconsin.

Both this report and the PPF report mention that technical colleges are the premier provider of the education and training needed to obtain such jobs.

MATC President Michael Burke described community and technical college funding sources as a “three-legged stool,” where

you have state aid, tuition and property tax in equal portions, so they could weather things like changes in the economy or affordability.

Unfortunately, one of MATC’s problems is that state aid has decreased significantly, from 33% to 14%, since the mid 80’s. Part of this is due to meetings that Senator Alberta Darling had with employees of MATC, during the 90’s.

Senator Darling stressed that the college should raise property taxes instead of seeking increased state aid. However, since the decline in the economy

and housing market, property taxes are now also decreasing. Since tuition is dictated by the state and not MATC, the college, unfortunately, must rely more and more on property taxes as a source of revenue.

Interestingly enough, in the past decade, Darling has been criticizing MATC’s increase in tax levy, and has been focusing on faculty salaries as the source of that problem, rather than addressing the original issue of decreased state aid.

NIck Patrinos/Times

This is the first of the three articles that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published about MATC’s fiscal “crisis”.

MATC is looking out for you.by Wayne MillerTimes Staff Reporter

MATC has started implementing Lockdown Procedures at every campus to educate and inform students on what to do in serious situations. Beginning in late September, each location had help from their local Police Departments in making their respective schools safer for students. Due to other institutions having problems, (such as an armed man in their school), MATC Public Safety are doing what they feel is necessary to avoid such conflicts.

At the downtown location, Specialist S. Olszewski gave reasons why these procedures are necessary. The purpose is so individuals (both students as well as faculty), know what to do when a situation really happens. Public Safety wants people to know enough to avoid getting hurt in a dangerous situation and have prepared for many months through workshops.

Currently, MATC is only mandated to do the Lockdown once per year but, due to the steady influx of students coming and going, they hope to do it once per semester. The problem with this amount of individuals coming and going is: the lack of knowledge students not taking these drills seriously.

Members of the faculty were informed of the proper procedures for these drills via e-mail. The faculty was instructed to secure their rooms by shutting off the lights and locking the doors. Although there were many good things that occurred (most rooms following the aforementioned procedures), there were some faculty that either weren’t aware what to do or possibly weren’t properly educated on what needed to be done. These situations can be taken care of through better education.

Many students may have seen the informational signs posted around (in the downtown location, it is located across from the Academic Center in the Main Building). Other postings are on the electronic message board as well as on the website for matc.edu (public safety).

The postings will change when there is Fire prevention

awareness in October. Public Safety will also be performing drills for this as well. Another drill scheduled to occur is for Severe Weather (tornado, hurricane, etc).

Public Safety does have help though. There are members of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which help by volunteering to assist Public Safety.

Members of CERT have 20 hours of training (that includes what happens in a worst-case scenario). During the drills, CERT members are utilized to assist as “floor captains” and act as leaders. Outside of the CERTs, students may volunteer as well.

Nick Patrinos/Times

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers plan how procedures will be implemented in the MATC Public Safety offices, just prior to lockdown.

FISCAL Page 3

Wine & DineStudents show

off their Culinary, Hospitality skills

Page 7

Quiz Times Test your

Halloween knowledge for

prizesPage 2

Fright FestStudents enjoy

Six Flags Page 12

HappyHalloween

The Student Legal Clinic and the Community Insurance Information Center are hosting a Community Resource and Insurance Fair at South Campus and at the Downtown Campus. This fair is part of MONEY SMART WEEK which is sponsored every year by the Federal Reserve and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.

Students can attend the fair to learn about money issues and ask questions about insurance, especially the new mandatory auto insurance law.

In addition, the participating agencies may have opportunities for internships and volunteering or, for students who have been awarded work/study money, to find a placement agency.

DOOR PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED!

The event will be held on October 18th from 10am to 1:30pm at the following locations:

SOUTH CAMPUS

IN THE LOWER LEVEL ATRIUM

DOWNTOWN CAMPUS,

IN THE ‘S’ BUILDING ATRIUM, 2ND FLOOR.

Some of the participating agencies are Community Advocates Housing Department, Badgercare Social Services, Habitat for Humanity, Select Milwaukee (a homebuying and foreclosure assistance agency), the Community Insurance Information Center, Consumer Credit Counseling and the Student Employment Office.

There will also be private insurance agents who will only offer information on auto, home, and life insurance.

Join us to learn some valuable information and maybe win a prize.

Student Legal Clinic

MONEY SMART WEEK

Q: What are good employee traits and soft skills? Why are they important when seeking a job? - Sheritta Kimble, Human Services program student

A: These are great questions that affect everyone seeking work as well as keeping a job and fitting into a work environment with many other people. Traits employers seek in prospective employees include:

Top soft skills and qualities employers look for in prospective employees include: communication skills (verbal and written); honesty/integrity; interpersonal skills (relating well to others); motivation/initiative; and a strong work ethic. To learn more about these traits and skills, visit the MATC Library or your public library and go to the career section. There are many books, DVDs, VHS tapes and other materials describing how important good employee traits are in the employer’s eye.

Although these lists seem obvious, people do forget how important these traits are, especially when they have been on the job awhile. Keeping in mind that meeting deadlines, doing the job you are hired to do, and ensuring others are able to complete their work because they can depend on you are traits employers expect in their employees and they are traits that will help you keep your job.

Also, working in teams ensures a good working relationship between all workers and is key to having an organization run smoothly and move forward in its mission. Remember, you may not like someone, but while you are on the job and being paid, you are expected to act professionally and help the company meet its goals. Arguing and fighting will cost you a position, regardless of the circumstances, because it costs time and money – things that are indispensible in business.

The next MATC Job Fair will be heldat the Milwaukee Campus, Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Contact Jenny McGilligan in room S203 at the Milwaukee Campus, or at 297-6302 for the latest list of employers scheduled to be at the fair.

For information about employment-related topics, contact:Joanne Johnson-Clauser, M.S., GCDF, Employment Development Specialist• Telephone: (414) 297-7765• E-Mail: johnsojv@matc.edu • Office: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Room S203 at the Milwaukee Campus

Leaders

Being Self-Confident

Having a Positive Attitude

Taking Directions

Willingness to Work

Accepting Responsibility

Likeability

Team Spirit

Dependability

Confidentiality

Being Trustworthy

Good Team Workers

Being Flexible

Respecting Leadership

Being Clean & Organized

Willingness to Learn New Things

Following Rules & Guidelines

Occupational/Hands-on Skills

Quiz Times!by Sarah (Rah) TannerTimes Managing Editor

Welcome to the brand new, ongoing article, called Quiz Times! Every month your MATC Times Newspaper will put out a 10-question questionnaire, relating to upcoming holidays, national events, or current cultural celebrations. This month’s Quiz Times will cover Halloween. So put on your thinking caps and get ready to send in your answers for a 2GB portable flash drive!

Who is the author of Frankenstein and when was the book published?

Who has portrayed Count Dracula, in film, the most times and what is that number?

Who is known for creating the

first Jack-o-Lanterns and what were they made from?

What was the most popular costume in 2004?

Who were the first people to celebrate Halloween on October 31st and why did they do it?

In what 1946 film did Tootie Smith go Trick or Treating?

Why are the colors orange and black used as the colors of Halloween?

The popular game “Bobbing for Apples” is thought to have originated from where?

According to Halloween superstition, what should you do if you want to see a witch?

Halloween originated as a pagan festival known as what?

Rules and FAQ:- To submit your answers please send an email, with the answers, to matcquiztimes@gmail.com. In the subject header type which campus you are primarily located on, followed by “Quiz Times 1” (ex: “Downtown Quiz Times 1”)

- You MUST submit your answers by October 21st to qualify.

- On October 22nd we will compile all the applicants and draw 3 names from a hat, for each individual campus.

We will contact only the winners on October 22nd. If you do not receive an email by the 22nd, please do not contact us. It means you were not one of the winners.

10/19 Blood/Bone Marrow Donor Drive 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Rooms 107 and 117

10/20 Coffee House 12:00 p.m., West Campus Cafeteria

10/16 District: Fall Craft Fair 10/18 Financial Seminar 10/20 Oak Creek: Coffee Break Library

10/22 Reserve pumpkin Oak Creek

10/25 Mequon:Pumpkin Carving

10/25 Pick up pumpkin Oak Creek

10/25 Pumpkin judging Oak Creek

10/29 Halloween Dance 10/31 Halloween

11/9 American Indian Heritage Event 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Room 117

11/11 Veteran’s Day Lecture 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Room 117

Calendar of Upcoming Events

*Dates/Times are Current as of Date/Time of Submission

Burke also mentions that MATC has had a healthy Aa1 bond rating, a measurement of MATC’s fiscal health, for many years now and that colleges on the verge of collapse are not receiving those types of bond ratings.

“The report did not come as a surprise to me,” says Burke. “We make decisions everyday about fixed costs, our escalating costs, and how we trim costs.” He also indicated that certain programs, like the possible “Pay for Print” program, were one of the many initiatives that the college is looking to for cost cutting alternatives.

“A lot of the low-hanging fruit, the easy choices, have been taken up already,” says Burke, indicating that while it may be more difficult to reach the harder choices, it is not impossible.

Burke also felt that while the comparison between MATC and the UW system may seem easy because the data is readily available, the actuality of it is much more complex because you are focusing on job duties, assignments, loads, etc.

Michael Rosen, instructor and local 212 union president, also echoed this statement with extra detail on how the Journal Sentinel reported this data but then failed to mention that most of UW’s professors are grossly underpaid.

On top of that information, UW’s faculty is only required to teach two full courses a semester whereas MATC’s faculty is required to teach 5 full courses a semester.

Besides the larger teaching load, instructors must do all the teaching, grading, and other coursework themselves whereas UW and other university professors have teaching assistants to help them with their work load.

“We don’t hire inexperienced people,” says Rosen, in response to the questions raised about the college’s higher paid faculty. In regards to the tool and dye maker, one of the higher paid professors that the Sentinel cornered, Rosen said, “someone who has an apprenticeship and a Journeyman Card is highly skilled and trained. It means you’ve served four years of on-the-job training as well as in-class education.

Tool and dye making is a very in demand occupation. Are you telling me that you’d rather have a PhD, who doesn’t have a Journeyman Card, teaching tool and dye making over someone who has the specific training in that field?”

Both Burke and Rosen agreed that Senator Glen Grothman’s comment, quoted in the Sentinel’s Sept 26th issue, about the faculty member teaching GED qualifications was inaccurate. Burke feels very strongly about the GED program and values the work the program provides because students who were not unemployable without a high school degree are now able to

“go to work, go to college, and be successful because of MATC.”

Rosen also mentioned that the GED program is devoted to educating the least advantaged in our community who are disproportionately working class students, students of color, and ‘English as a second language’ learners.

Rosen also feels that the idea suggests racial and class bias when you imply that the edu-cators who work in fields such as the GED program should be paid less than others. “Educational institutions nationwide use education and experience, not the income, class, race, or future profession of its students to determine salary schedules,” he states. “It’s insulting to professional educators and it should be insulting to students and anybody who values education.”

Many of the other instructors that MJS highlighted have actually been at MATC for many years, some for more than thirty. As a result, they receive higher pay due to their many years of experience.

The Sentinel’s article does not explain why these individuals are paid so well, instead it implies that the pay is unjustified because of what degree they currently hold or where they were employed prior to coming to MATC.

“Grothman and Darling don’t realize there are some things you cannot buy at Walmart. A quality education is one,” finished Rosen, who further commented on the whole subject with, “rather than attacking teachers, attacking their integrity, attacking their professionalism, [and] attacking their commitment to their students, they should invest in technical colleges.”

An interesting inconsistency in the PPF’s report, that MJS did not cover, was that it mentioned

MATC as being listed first, among 84 other large public two-year technical and community colleges, in expenditures per FTE (full-time equivalent student).

This data was reported through IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), a system of interrelated surveys conducted annually by the U.S. Department’s National Center for Education Statistics.

However, data found in WTCS shows that throughout the past decade, 2000-2009, MATC was only listed first once in expenditures per FTE. For the remaining years, MATC fell in the middle of the pack.

When asked about this Rob Henken, president of the Public Policy Forum, said that they did not use WTCS data for the comparison because they wanted consistent number sets for both the WTCS and national peer comparisons.

Using WTCS figures would have caused them to have inconsistent numbers for MATC operating costs while using IPEDS allowed them to use the same data for both sets of comparisons.

Other sources, however, including a report from Robert W. Baird & Co., who has been a financial analyst of MATC for about two decades, states that the time in which MATC was high on the expenditures per FTE charts is likely due to the fact that retroactive payments were made to MATC salaries that year.

The report by Baird & Co. was also published in Sept 2010 and it concluded that they “expect that continued strong fiscal oversight, increasing enrollment trends and sound reserves will enable the district to maintain satisfactory

financial operations.”When Burke and Rosen were

asked if there was anything they felt the public was misinformed about that they would like to contest, they both agreed on the headline of the Sept 22nd Journal Sentinel article.

“I think using ‘crisis language’ detracts from the kind of work we’ve been doing as an

institution, from the board level down,” said Burke.

Rosen commented farther on the subject saying that the headline was irresponsible journalism, sensationalism and that the term ‘crisis’ was not even in the report that started these discussions.

“[The report] even says that the college is well managed, particularly compared to other areas of local government. These headlines project the idea that there is a scandal at MATC, when there is none…If there’s any scandal it’s that the headlines

that are being developed by MJS misrepresent the truth,” declared Rosen.

Henken also stated “the [PPF] report clearly indicates that MATC is well-positioned to address its growing fiscal challenges in light of its well-funded reserves and well-maintained infrastructure.”

“We have every reason to

believe the college can manage its way through its challenges, though that will require some difficult decisions and should be accompanied by the establishment of clear and measurable performance metrics so that the impacts of budgetary decisions can be properly evaluated,” said Henken.

While the PPF report projected challenging financial issues, it also mentioned they would only become a major problem if the current issues remained constant which, according to Burke and Rosen, do not remain constant.

So even though the local newspapers claim MATC is headed for financial crisis, students, faculty, and other members of the community need not fear.

The college and its board are well prepared to face these challenges head-on and push through them.

Find the full report by the Public Policy Forum at: http://www.publicpolicyforum.org/

Find the report by the Wisconsin Technical College System at:

h t t p : / / w w w. w t c s y s t e m .edu/news/releases/forgotten_middle_skills.htm

For a copy of the report by Robert W. Baird & Co. call the president’s office at MATC: (414) 297-6320

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Report highlights fiscal concerns; Journal Sentinel reports the sky is falling

Fiscal From 1

“I think using ‘crisis language’ detracts from the kind of work we’ve been doing as an institution, from the board level down,”

-Michael Burke, MATC President

“…rather than attacking teachers, attacking their integrity, attacking their professionalism, [and] attacking their commitment to their students, they should invest in technical colleges.”

- Michael Rosen, Local 212 President

Student Government plugs Coffee House

Satisfying the senses

Cardona shares his vision for West

by Alexander PedersonWest Campus Reporter

On September 22 during the lunch hour, Ikarus Down, a local band, entertained students in the cafeteria at West Campus. Two of the band’s five members performed as part of the Student Government’s Coffee House series.

Jonathan Ferrer, vocalist and guitarist, and Ryan Gardiner, guitarist, offered twelve songs in acoustic styling for any student or faculty member who wished to stop in for this event and listen. Student Government supplied coffee and popcorn for the audience, and placed floating candles around the room for ambience.

This Coffee House event was part of a series that Student Government will be hosting throughout the school year. Travis Lilach, West Campus

Student Government President, classified these events as part of the “giving back to the students” event series.

Upcoming Coffee House events at West Campus are currently scheduled for October 20 and November 17 from 12 p.m.-1 p.m.

Ikarus Down is a local band currently based in Milwaukee. They will be having an album release at the Whiskey Bar on 788 North Jackson Street, Milwaukee, on November 12th, 2010 from 8 p.m. until midnight with “I’m Not a Pilot.” More information about their group can be found at www.myspace.com/iknowikarusdown.

The Student Government is currently seeking musical acts to perform at future Coffee House events. If interested, please see Jerry O’Sullivan, Head of Student Life at West Campus, in Room 133. Jonathan Ferrer (l) and Ryan Gardiner(r) of Ikarus Down perform for West Campus students.

Voces & Cuendas De Mexico performing live at West Campus for Hispanic Heritage Day Celebration.

Dr. Pablo Cardona working hard to help improve the campus.

by Anna M. ZancanaroWest Campus Editor

A Meditation Hour will be held on October 25, in Room 117 at West Campus from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. to give students and faculty an opportunity to unwind. This event will be recurring on a monthly basis and all will be sponsored by Student Government.

The Meditation Hour, originally instituted for the time period surrounding final exams, was expanded to be a monthly event. The hour gives students a chance to replenish themselves and relax after dealing with the many pressures that students today have, including those associated with jobs, family and schoolwork.

Yoga mats and bottled water are supplied, and relaxation music and hypnosis tapes are played through speakers in the room, which is dimly lit with candles. Jerry O’Sullivan, Head of Student Life, describes the experience as “a time to be introspective and recharge [your] batteries.”

Scott Dennis, Vice President of Student Government stresses that the Meditation Hour “can be whatever the students need it to be” due to the personal nature of it.

Travis Lilach, President of Student Government describes it as “a chance for students to calm down,” and considers it a “great opportunity to give back to the students” for the Student Government.

In the future, Student Government will be instituting other exercises in personal awareness, such as Tai Chi, and suggestions for future Meditation Hours are welcome.

The cost of attending is free and signing up in advance is not necessary at this time. Although once demand is greater, a sign-up will be required. Both faculty and staff are encouraged to participate.

Please see Travis Lilach or Scott Dennis for additional information.

Mediation Hour: A time for

students to relax

by Anna Zancanaro, West Campus Editor

Dr. Pablo Cardona, Vice President of West Campus, comes to work each day with the goal of enriching students’ lives.

Cardona describes himself as being from “Puerto Rico via the Bronx”, and says his experiences living in the two places gave him the drive to obtain a higher education. As a first generation college graduate in his family, he believes in education and reminds students how valuable it is, because of all the things a person can obtain and lose in life. “Someone can’t take away your education,” He says.

The father of three and husband of thirty-two years came to Wisconsin for college. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology, a Master’s degree in educational psychology with a specialization in school psychology, and a Ph.D in psychology. He was a licensed psychologist up until 5 years ago.

Cardona was looking for a change 25 years ago while working as a school psychologist for Milwaukee Public Schools, and decided to come to MATC to work with students in career planning. He has since worked at all four campuses and held 9 different positions, including

counselor and Director of Admissions. He says he enjoys working at West Campus and finds it to be a good urban campus with an ideal amount of students and co-workers whom he likes.

Some of his current duties as Campus Vice President include helping with educational plans such as goals and expansions, working with the deans to implement possible changes, making sure that the school itself is taken care of and in good working order, as well as providing proper services to students, and doing public relations with the community and their organizations. Cardona is currently Chairman of the Legislative Committee in West Allis.

For leisure time these days, the self-described soccer dad and current “empty nester” travels around the country visiting his children in Boulder, CO, Chicago, IL, and Washington D.C. He is proud of his children’s educational accomplishments; two hold Masters degrees and the other holds a law degree.

He would like to see the graduation rate go up at MATC, and hopes to procure additional funding and resources to provide to students in the future.

Cardona reminds students that the key to success in school is keeping confidence, and knowing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

by Alexander PedersonWest Campus Reporter

The Student Government hosted a Hispanic Heritage Celebration on September 23 at West Campus that included live music, dance demonstrations and instruction. There also was a tasting of various ethnic foods.

Their goal was to broaden students’ understanding of the Hispanic culture by exposing them to its various aspects.

Voces & Cuendas De Mexico, a local mariachi band, entertained students in the cafeteria with their musical performance. Band members J. Alberto Cardenas, Jesus Cabrera, Cruz Gonzalez and Sergio Alvarado filled the room with many familiar songs of Mexico.

Students who attended stated that they enjoyed the music, and for some, it was a new experience. Student Debbie Lor said that she had “never seen a mariachi band before.”

Following Voces & Cuendas De Mexico were dance lessons provided by Pamela Landin and Daniel Schyler of Fred Astaire Milwaukee Dance Studio. Students were first shown steps to the Samba, Tango and Salsa dancing. Then after the demonstration they were given the opportunity to actually try the dances out with the help of

the instructors. At least a dozen people took part in the dancing, filling up the central area of the cafeteria.

At the same time as the activities in the cafeteria were commencing, representatives of Student Government were serving Hispanic foods supplied by local restaurants to students in Room 117. Doug Meyer of the Student Government was responsible for the procurement and serving of the food at the tasting.

Some of the available dishes for sampling were: pork and chicken tamales, Puerto Rican rice, churros, sweet bread, chips, salsa, guacamole, and Relleno

de Papa, a potato ball dish that was unknown to many student attendees. Kaylee Nelson, one of the students who tried it for the first time at the celebration, commented, “It was delicious. I can’t lie.”

All food and decorations at Hispanic Heritage Day were supplied by and can be found at El Rey, El Farol and Lopez Bakery. For more information about Voces & Cuendas De Mexico, please visit their website at h t t p : / / t r i o a l m a l a t i n a . c o m . Information about the Fred Astaire Dance Studio and dance lessons can be found at www.fredastairemilwaukee.com/.

Kailey Miljus/Times

anna M. Zancanaro/Times

alexander Pederson/Times

HOW TO REACH THE TIMESA student publication written and printed bi-

weekly at Milwaukee Area Technical College, Room S220 of the Student Services Building, 700 W. State St., Milwaukee, WI 53233-1443; Editor’s Phone: 414-297-6250; Newsroom Fax: 414-297-7925; E-Mail: thetimes@matc.edu.

Faculty adviser: Bob Hanson 414-297-7824. Advertising infomation 414-297-8243.

EDITORIAL POLICYThe Times is dedicated to freedom of the press

and encourages all viewpoints of issues to be sub-mitted for publication. We hope to be a fair and bal-anced publication. Unsigned editorials represent majority Times Editorial Board opinion.

Signed opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or the administra-tion of the college.

LETTERS TO THE EDITORReaders may submit letters via mail, fax or

e-mail, and must contain the author’s name and telephone number for verification.

Mass-distributed letters will not be considered for publication.

The Editorial Board reserves the right of refusal and to edit any submission for length and clarity.

College NewspaperHall of FameMay 15, 1989

e-mail us:matctimes@gmail.com

Times Online:www.matctimes.com

October 14, 2010Volume 52, Issue 4 Milwaukee Area Technical College

700 West State Street Milwaukee, WI 53233

Established by Milwaukee Institute

of TechnologyStudent Council,

March 1960

Editor-in-ChiefEditorial Board Chair

Sarah Aguadomatctimes@gmail.com

414-297-6250

Editorial BoardManaging Editor

Sarah (Rah) Tanner

Feature EditorMatt McMorrow

Photography EditorJim Tavernese

Scene EditorDori Klitzka

West Campus EditorAnna Zancanaro

Graphic DesignersNoel TannerEva Sanchez

StaffersJustin Allen

Teresa Rae ButlerWayne MillerKailey Miljus

Serina MorelandLeanne Parshalle

Nick PatrinosAlexander Pederson

Stacey TaylorNicole WatsonVickee Yang

ContributorsJoanne Johnson-Clauser

Mary O’LearyDuane Rodriguez

Faculty AdviserBob Hanson

Honors13-time winnerACP National

Pacemaker AwardInducted into

College NewspaperHall of FameMay 15, 1989

MemberAssociated

Collegiate Press,Community College

Journalism Association,Student Press

Law Center

PrinterMATC Printing Services

Department

Instructors are worth every cent

by Sarah (Rah) TannerTimes Managing Editor

After all the data, reports, and my own research, from the article on page one, I was still “on-the-fence” about a few things.

Why the Public Policy Forum (PPF) couldn’t include something about how the IPEDS data they used was different than the WTCS data is one of them.

After reading the PPF report, all 66 pages, I saw that both IPEDS and WTCS were used. So it wasn’t all just IPEDS.

Using data from another conflicting source just to make your numbers look good sounds like ‘cherry-picking,’ but Henken did stress that MATC supplied the data. Still, I feel that if the PPF was truly un-bias then they would have included both sources and made a note about the confliction.

To be honest, though, the real problem here isn’t whether or not the PPF used inconsistent data. Well, it is a small problem but the mass public doesn’t read that. They read the paper and that’s the real problem.

I still think the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (MJS), as an organization devoted to reporting the news, should have just reported the data. Putting out this crazy headline saying MATC is headed for impending financial doom is ridiculous.

The whole point of reporting the news is just that. Not reporting opinion or misleading articles/headlines that might skew your readers to your line of thought. That’s just yellow journalism, at that point.

The readers need to be allowed to form their own opinions from just the straight, hard facts.

On top of this I think it was completely uncalled for to pick at the highest paid faculty at MATC. Why was that necessary? The PPF report didn’t even bring that into the equation!

The PPF does mention that faculty salaries might be a problem, but they didn’t go “Hey everyone! This person who’s

teaching the GED program makes tons of money and you should get angry about it even though you know nothing about what their job entails!”

Originally, because I didn’t know enough about the programs that MJS highlighted, I was unsure if the high salaries were justified. Then I realized that line of thought was what MJS wanted to grab and get a reaction out of.

Most of their readers are outside viewers and wouldn’t know the internal workings of MATC. So of course they would be thinking “Oh, why should that GED instructor get paid more?!”

So I decided to do some digging. As mentioned in my article, most of the instructors highlighted have been at the college for 30+ years.

I also found that most of them have honed their teaching and craft over their years of teaching, and thus have improved their teaching methods.

I have also been a very firm believer that teachers really should be one of the highest paid professions in the world.

Why? Because how do you think you got where you are? Someone taught you the knowledge that you use now.Doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers, bankers, or any other “high-paying job” would not be where they are if they didn’t learn that knowledge from somewhere.

I decided to ask other students how they felt, and I got some interesting responses.

In the Student Senate office I spoke to two Senate Representatives, Brian Galecki and Sandra Richardson.

Galecki felt that the Sentinel’s reaction to MATC’s faculty salaries was “not justifiable” because he feels he gets a quality education at the college.

Richardson also agreed, saying, “They [the teachers] put their time in and they put in their years. It’s always the outside looking in but you never really know what they did to get there.”

She also mentioned that you “can’t put a value on education” and that the college’s instructors are “worth that and then some.”

Two students of the Liberal Arts and Science program, Nicole Rochelle and Ahnna Zigler, had a different view. They both agreed that just because a teacher has a higher degree or many years of experience should not justify higher pay.

“All teachers jobs are important,” stated Rochelle. Zigler finished the thought with, “It should be based on how many students are passing their class. If the teacher isn’t doing a good job, and their students aren’t learning,

they shouldn’t be paid well.”Sandra Weeks, a student in

the GED program, and Mathew Czekay, a student in the Criminal Justice program, both agreed that their instructors are doing quality work and therefore the pay is justified. Weeks also mentioned that Senator Glen Grothman’s comment about her program was incorrect and that the program was not “scandalous”.

“My teacher, Mr. McGhee, has been doing everything to help me,” she said.

So now I’ve changed my opinion a bit. I still agree teachers should be one of the highest paid, but only the good ones. It makes sense now, since I have also had poor instructors, that you should only be paid the best money if you’re doing your job and doing it well.

In regards to the subject,

however, I feel MATC’s instructors are well qualified and do an amazing job. Therefore, there should be no reason why they shouldn’t make the pay they do.

The faculty of any school are not the ones who should fund it. MATC’s instructors were kind enough last year to voluntarily give up their salary bonuses, to help with college budget, but they shouldn’t be expected to do that.

In the end, the real problem is how MJS took the original data, slapped on misleading headlines, and outright attacked individual instructors when the original report did none of that.

I personally think MJS staff could benefit from a journalism course here at our college. Maybe they’ll learn a thing or two about how yellow journalism is not the way to report the news.

APPENDIX B-3 MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGETeachers’ Salary Schedule —Class and Step Rates for 2008-2009 (August, 2008)

CLASS0 1 2 3 4 5

STEP0 48,198 50,572 52,944 55,316 57,689 60,0621 50,572 52,944 55,316 57,689 60,062 62,4332 52,944 55,316 57,689 60,062 62,433 64,8073 55,316 57,689 60,062 62,433 64,807 67,1804 57,689 60,062 62,433 64,807 67,180 69,5515 60,062 62,433 64,807 67,180 69,551 71,9256 62,433 64,807 67,180 69,551 71,925 74,2977 64,807 67,180 69,551 71,925 74,297 76,6698 67,180 69,551 71,925 74,297 76,669 79,0429 69,551 71,925 74,297 76,669 79,042 81,415

10 71,925 74,297 76,669 79,042 81,415 83,78711 74,297 76,669 79,042 81,415 83,787 86,16012 76,669 79,042 81,415 83,787 86,160 88,53313 79,042 81,415 83,787 86,160 88,533 90,90414 81,415 83,787 86,160 88,533 90,904 93,278

1. An earned Ph.D. or Ed.D. in the appropriate field entitles theteacher to $1,258 above Class V after he/she has qualified for Class V,for the 2008-2009 school year. This will increase every year thereafterbased on the yearly percent salary increase for faculty and staff.

2. Teachers will receive their pay biweekly in twenty (20) equalinstallments for the school year. However, they may elect to makearrangements to receive twenty-five (25) checks (credit union option)throughout the entire year, or they may elect MATC’s twenty-six mpay-check option.

Source: LOCAL 212This graph shows how the base pay is roughly calculated for faculty at MATC. ‘Step’ is number of years in the field and ‘class’ is current degree held.

Contact us:E-mail: matctimes@gmail.com

Address:700 W State St # M100Milwaukee, WI 53233-1419Room S220

In personStop by our office in S220, at the downtown campus

Have an opinion?

The Roots Eric Clapton

Even though he’s been in prison for the last seven months, Lil’ Wayne has kept a pretty strong presence in the public eye. Recording a trove of material before being sent to prison for possession of a weapon, along comes I Am Not A Human Being (Cash Money).

It’s being released in a couple different configurations. This review is based on the 10 track digital version; on Oct 12th a 13 track version will be released on CD.

Wayne has a deep, rabid, dedicated following that can’t wait for any Lil Wayne material to hit the market and rightfully so. He’s still one of the few hip-hop artists who has been unique and original in a genre that’s constantly changing.

Originally meant to be an e.p., the set was released on Lil Wayne’s birthday September 27th. At times he’s still relying too much on AutoTune, it’s a tight, little concise release that’s a damn good welcome for hip-hop fans.

Standouts include the title track “I Am Not A Human Being” as well as “Hold Up,” “I’m Single,” and the ballad “With You.”

So until Lil Wayne gets out of Rikers Island next month and starts work on his highly anticipated Tha Carter IV, the sequel to the best selling album of 2008, I Am Not A Human Being will adequately hold you over.

Neil Young has been following the beat of a different drummer from the very first day he burst on the national scene. His latest, Le Noise (Reprise) continues this trend.

On the paltry eight selections here, Young is captured in the studio accompanied simply by whatever guitar he has hung around his bloated ego… err, I mean neck. Working with producer Daniel Lanois, who’s been better, the idea here is simply to catch Young in a closer more personal setting than what working with a band has to offer.

Hey Neil, ya wanna get that personal and skip the band? Release it as a book of poetry instead, that way we can skip you. I must admit that I enjoy Young’s solo performances but the problem here is that it’s more than just acoustic guitar; it’s also electric guitar with buzz, fuzz and static which becomes a distraction to the material.

It’s great on “Peaceful Valley, Boulevard” and “Love

and War” but nowhere else. Then it’s like he’s defeating his own purpose.

That being said for his fans, this will fit nicely along side all his other CD’s, otherwise, it’s very much an okay record, not even interesting. Well written songs include the above mentioned as well as “Walk With Me.”

Anyone who’s read this column over the years understands that we think The Roots is one of this countries underrated wonders. Originating from Philadelphia, they were the first hip-hop band that opted to play real instruments instead of relying simply on samples and turntable scratching.

Their albums Game Theory and Phrenology are essential. Their latest, hot on the heels of this summers awesome How I Got Over, is the John Legend collaboration Wake Up (Columbia).

A very simply idea, crooner Legend hooks up with a tight, smokin’ live band and knocks out 10 r&b socially conscious classics. These ‘70 era songs written by the likes of Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye and Donnie Hathaway, along with a fittingly Legend original, are very timely in the wake of what’s happening around us today.

The band can blow and they cruise here at 100mph. I can take Legend in doses but here, he fits into a group concept as opposed to his usual stand alone style. Produced by Roots drummer Amir ‘Questlove’ Thompson, he perfectly merges both 70’s r&b sentiments with hip-hop excitement.

Standouts include first single “Hard Times” as

well as “Wake Up Everybody,” “Wholy Holy” and my favorite “I Can’t Write Left Handed.” Wake Up is a damn good and more importantly, a timely album.

Egads! This is a major disappointment. I have no problem with geezers being successful in the marketplace. I’m all for old guys releasing CD’s, selling out concerts and lunch boxes. Then again, with releases like Eric Clapton’s Clapton (Reprise) I can see where people would want to see old guys retire.

The success of his multi-platinum release Unplugged gave Clapton the ability to record and release records he deems worthy - regardless if they’re aimless, pointless and unemotional. Who’s gonna question the guy that sold 10 million copies and won 6 Grammys for that album alone?

What makes this so frustrating is that Clapton still has his chops, that white boy can play the guitar like a black man. The problem here is that it’s all over the map, which in most cases, it’s what you’d want from a tried and true artist. Instead it’s just rambling, it’s just very listless.

Produced by Doyle Bramhall II (a killer guitarist himself), he should’ve known better than to cater to what Clapton wants and instead get him focused and motivated.

There’s not much here worth getting into with the exception of “Can’t Hold Out Much Longer” with a killer Kim Wilson harp solo and “Run Back To Your Side” with Bramhall and Derek Trucks joining Clapton on guitar, otherwise stay away.

Out with the old in with the new

COMPACTREPLAY

DUANE RODRIGUEZ

by Sarah (Rah) TannerTimes Managing Editor

On October 2nd and 3rd I had the pleasure to attend the second annual “Wine & Dine Wisconsin 2010.” The event was a total success and MATC, as one of the main exhibitors, was there to help make it happen. Students from the culinary, baking, meeting and event management and hotel hospitality management were all attending and meeting other professionals in their fields.

Having never attended one of these events before I was almost overwhelmed. However, I was also incredibly impressed with how well all of our students presented themselves and their areas of expertise.

Besides sampling and drinking there were demonstrations all around the arena, where various groups showed hungry onlookers how to prepare various dishes.

While they were very busy, I did have the chance to catch a few students on break and ask them how they felt about their thoughts on the event.

All of them agreed that the experience was very rewarding, because they had the chance to try all the different cuisines from chefs who have been in the business for many years.

The college does require a

certain amount of volunteer hours, for each student to complete. Several had actually already completed their hours, from last year, but agreed to volunteer again because they enjoyed it so much.

“There’s not many programs at MATC where you can really see our students in their element,” says Rich Bussalacci, Associate Dean of the Hospitality, who also managed most of the MATC groups at the event. “[Here] people can see our students in that element and see what it is that we’re training them to do. The students also get great experience.”

Also at the event was Catherine Mayhew, a student at MATC who will be graduating this December. She is already currently working with Maxie’s Southern Comfort and Blue’s. On top of that she is also one of the 16 candidates for the AFC Student Chef of the Year contest.

There was another MATC graduate, Jason Tofte, from 2003, who was working as a chef at Eddie Martini’s.

It was nice to see these students, who found work in their fields and are enjoying it. Examples like that are things that current students can really look to for hope after graduation.

Students give top service

Nick Patrinos/Times

Nick Patrinos/Times

Nick Patrinos/Times

Noel Tanner/Times Noel Tanner/Times

Noel Tanner/Times

Noel Tanner/Times

Students Cedric Wallace, Domion Washington, Krystal Hollins, Teng Xiong, Melanie Stenshaug, and Paul Yorada, listen to Chef John Reiss providing instructions for the “Wine & Dine” Saturday segment.

(L-R) Twilla Wheeler, Chris Liu, Educational Assistant, and Cedric Wallace take time out for a photo.

(L-R) Students Anthony Scardino and James Landowskidisplay their enthusiasm making stuffed “Potstickers.”

Hospitality student Nina Crawford shows her perfection and organizatiional skills at the wine glass tables.

(L-R) Tyran McGee, James Landowski, and Chris Liu, Educational Assistant, “strut their stuff” to the audience at the MATC Food Preparation booth during an early Sunday afternoon segment.

Culinary student Catherine Mayhew is already employed at two restaurants. Mayhew will be graduating in Fall of 2010.

John Van Himbergen and Jesse Mesick make sure everyone’s sweet tooth is satisfied with fresh pastries and desserts.

by Serina MorelandTimes Staff Reporter

A name like Vice President of Finance or Chief Financial Officer holds big responsibilities.

There’s budget development, budget management and financial recording.

The CFO is also responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of the building, understanding state laws construction, and renovation projects.

This job was taken over by Dr. James Williams after Mike Sargent retired. Amongst understanding the state laws, Williams has to understand and know the statues, as well as being adept at finances and managing funding efforts.

He has to know the property taxes and resources that come with purchasing and printing.

Williams also manages the bookstore, food services and catering, college revenue, and auditing.

While providing a stewardship responsibility to taxpayers and making sure the college is solvent, he also finds ways to benefit students in the long run.

Dr. Williams hopes to take a look at utilizing technology with the hopes of moving towards reducing our carbon footprint and going to a paperless college, which he believes would be a great opportunity for MATC

students and faculty.With such responsibilities and

heavy workloads, one wonders how anyone could cope with job related stress, but Dr. Williams has an easy solution.

He walks whenever he can: whether it is from home, to work, or to meetings.

Williams also takes time out to play golf on the weekends, describing it as, “clearing the clouds.”

His advice to students new and old would be to become proficient in budgeting money.

Learning how to budget, even if the student themselves have no bills to pay and are staying at home with their parents, can save anyone problems in the long run.

New CFO taking strides to fill Sargent’s shoes

Sue Ruggles photo

by Justin AllenTimes Staff Reporter

The Wisconsin Race for Governor: Barrett vs. Walker come November 2nd, Wisconsin voters will have the opportunity to select a new governor. The race is between Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker (R).

Whether the issue is health care, the economy, or social issues, these two candidates have very different ideas for Wisconsin. This is all the more reason to not vote solely on party affiliation, but on the substance of the candidate’s plans. The majority of our readers are concerned about rising tuition costs, job availability, and these issues are addressed by both campaigns.

Truthfully, neither candidate seems to be that committed to reforming student loans. Even after the recent passing of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, an act that invests over 400 million dollars in Pell Grants for Wisconsin alone, we students still need more help.

The Barrett campaign states that “To get Wisconsin working again, we must make a commitment to our community colleges, technical schools, and four-year universities.” The Walker campaign believes that “Course offerings at our universities and technical colleges should be aligned with industry clusters and credits between schools must be easily transferable.”

When candidates are vague, we as voters, need to research the past voting records of candidates to get some kind of idea as to how they handle certain issues. For example, Scott Walker opposed the 2009-11 state budget which protected Wisconsin students from

tuition increases at UW colleges, as well as providing additional support for low income students at all institutions.

Walker also opposed increasing the funding of the technical college system in a separate vote. Votes like these are important, but the plans in their entirety can be equally important.

There are certain “hot button” issues that always create a great amount of controversy. These are important issues in our society, and a candidate’s stance on these issues is another aspect to examine. As far as the abortion debate, Scott Walker is quoted on his website saying “I believe government has no higher purpose than protecting its citizens, particularly those that cannot fight for themselves like the unborn and elderly.”

Walker went on to say “I am 100% pro-life and believe in protecting life from conception to natural death. As governor, I will protect the sanctity of all human life.” According to Mayor Barrett’s campaign, “Throughout Tom’s career, he has worked to protect a right to choose and women’s access to reproductive health care.” When it comes to gay marriage, Scott Walker is firmly against it, seeking to protect the sanctity of marriage. Mayor Barrett has flip-flopped on this issue. He has voted against gay marriage, for the same reason Walker opposes it, and he also has stated that he respects the rights of homosexuals.

So, as mentioned earlier, when in question, you must examine past voting records. One last issue, ever-growing in America is the legalization of marijuana. Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel polled the candidates on their stances. Tom Barrett answered, “There are already too many illegal drugs impacting people’s lives and public safety. Any legislation would have to be written extremely tightly, and before making any decisions I would consult with doctors and health professionals about the medical benefits to patients.”

Scott Walker responded, “No. Federal law still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 narcotic and I believe state law should reflect this as well.” On this issue, Barrett seems open to examining the possibility of medicinal marijuana, while Walker is firm in keeping the potential medicine illegal.

The issue of healthcare reform is important to nearly every American. It is common knowledge that the current system of healthcare in the United States is broken. So what do they candidates intend to do about the crisis in Wisconsin? Scott Walker’s plan for the healthcare system is “We must make quality, affordable healthcare available to hardworking families through market-based solutions like competition, transparency, and tax incentives- not Canadian style programs that put bureaucrats in charge of personal healthcare decisions.”

Walker’s campaign went on to say that “One of County Executive Walker’s first acts as governor will be to repeal the recently passed healthcare bill.” The Barrett campaign stated that “by working together and bringing all players to the table, Tom believes Wisconsin can maintain our commitment to providing quality healthcare to working and middle class families, while controlling costs to businesses and families.

With success like BadgerCare and BadgerCare Plus, Wisconsin has long been a leader in the effort to provide health insurance coverage to those that don’t qualify for Medicaid.” Mayor Barrett has also come out in support of the recently passed healthcare bill.

The race is currently extremely close. There is nothing certain about which candidate will win come November 2nd.

However, one thing is certain: if you do not take the time to vote, you have no right to complain about how the government is performing.

Voting is one of America’s most valuable rights, and to not exercise this right, you take for granted the freedom we as Americans have. It does not matter who you vote for, just vote. Vote for someone who you believe in, someone you trust.

The Wisconsin race for Governor: Barrett vs. Walker

“To get Wisconsin working again, we must make a commitment to our community colleges, technical schools...”

-Tom Barrett

“We must make quality, affordable healthcare available to hardworking families...”

-Scott Walker

Opps!In our last edition Erwin Wuehr’s

name was misspelled. The Times apologizes to Erwin.

Brittaney Stierwalt Julisa PerezTana Solomon

by Stacey TaylorTimes Staff Reporter

The TIMES newspaper asked a few students at the Downtown campus about their views on the spring break date change.

The original date of April 25-April 29 has been switched to Friday April 15 thru Thursday April 21. Most students I interviewed weren’t aware of the date change, until I had brought it to their attention.

Brittaney Stierwalt, a Liberal Arts major said, “It will not affect

me…I’m not in favor because it will affect a majority of people.”

Another student interviewed was Tana Solomon, a Nursing major. She stated, “I don’t know how I feel about it; depends on my kid’s schedule, as far as my family is concerned.” I asked her, “Are you in favor of the switch?”

She replied, “I don’t think it really matters; I think we are still going to have a break anyway and that the dates seem shorter.”

Julisa Perez whose major is Culinary Arts, gave her opinion on the date change, “I always

schedule my priorities around what ever it is I have to do and that I’m ok with the change.”

Then Julisa wanted to know; “why are they changing it?” MATC traditionally has scheduled its

spring recess to coincide with Milwaukee Public Schools and help parents with their schedules.

by Sarah (Rah) TannerTimes Managing Editor

In a meeting on September 30th Liz Ziner, WISPIRG Campus Organizer, stated “You’re not one of those mythical, apathetic college students that doesn’t care about anything. College students care…and we’re going to prove it!”

This marked WISPIRG’s first kickoff meeting for their New Voters Project, a plan designed to register and turn out as many MATC students to the polls as possible for the WI state governor, US State Senator, and various local offices.

The decisions from all of these offices can affect tuition, grants, and many other related departments that concerns any student.

WISPIRG is a nonpartisan, student directed, public interest advocacy organization.

Their focus is to work on the local, state and national level to stand up for special interests and protect the public.

On top of the New Voters Project, they plan on also launching campaigns to fight hunger, homelessness, outrageous textbook prices, and other issues that matter to students.

The first issue WISPIRG raised was the new healthcare laws that went into effect on Sept 23.

Also speaking at the meeting were Drew Mealey, New Voters Project Campaign Coordinator, Tyrone Gandy, Student Senator and officer of WISPIRG, and Claudia Jankowski, a student at MATC who is working with WISPIRG under an internship.

“We’re not here to try to tell you who to vote for. We’re just making you aware of the fact that you need to make your

voice heard,” says Gandy. “There are some legislators across this country who believe that students just aren’t worth their time…because they feel that we don’t vote.”

WISPIRG is also very interested in hearing from students about issues they want WISPIRG to put their manpower and resources behind. “The more people we have, the more people we can reach,” mentions Ziner.

She went on to point out that in 2008, the New Voter’s Project was able to register 12,000 students to vote in the state of WI alone, and make an additional 10,000 “get out the vote” contacts, to make sure that those students made it to the polls on Election Day.

Gandy also commented, “You didn’t come here to get an education to be dictated to. You came here to get an education so you can stand on your own two feet, take up your place in your community, and be a leader and not a follower.”

WISPIRG is currently located in the Student Senate Office, in the main building (M324) on the downtown campus. Students wishing to register to vote can do so, in person, at City Hall before November 2. You can also register on Election Day, provided you bring a proof of address and WI drivers license or Social Security Card.

If you’re interested in working with WISPIRG, there are plenty opportunities, including internships and many other volunteer activities. To find out more about these opportunities, visit www.wispirgstudents.org/milwaukee-tech or email Liz Ziner at liz@wispirgstudents.org.See you at the polls!

Campus voices: your views on spring break date change

‘College students care…and we’re going to prove it!’

by Bridget CareyMcClatchy Newspapers(MCT)

Walking the fine line between our work persona and personal life is something many of us do daily on Facebook.

But teachers can’t do that as easily with students on Facebook. Friending a student has the potential to create sticky situations, and teachers need to be extremely strict with privacy settings.

It’s an uncomfortable situation that teachers increasingly face. If a student wants to “friend” a teacher on Facebook, should they accept? On one hand, it’s another way to communicate, but it has the potential to get some professionals into inappropriate situations.

The easy solution for teachers: Just say no.John Ristow, spokesman for Broward (Fla.)

Teachers Union, said social networking dos and don’ts have become an increasingly larger part of the new teacher orientation workshop over the years. Because teachers are government employees, the union stresses for teachers to keep everything on Facebook tasteful, keep it viewable to friends-only and don’t friend students.

“How is a 13-year-old a friend? It’s your personal site, and you’re letting them into your world,” Ristow said. “It would be like inviting your students over to your house as friends, and that’s not appropriate.”

Young teachers, who have grown up using

Facebook, might not see an issue. After all, are you really “friends” with all those users you connected with? No, because we treat Facebook as a new-age communication tool.

But I’ve spoken to teachers who witnessed situations in which friending as a mentor took a wrong turn.

Hormonal teens can post inappropriate personal content online. How does a teacher deal with that? And what if that inappropriate behavior is targeted at the teacher because that teen has a crush?

Students don’t call up their teachers in the middle of the night, but “poking” a teacher, sending late-night messages and liking personal posts makes the relationship less professional.

Rejecting a friend request can cause awkward or hurt feelings, so teachers should make their friending policy clear to all students and parents and teachers should offer a preferred way to connect online.

It’s a tactic other professionals use when they don’t want to allow business acquaintances into their Facebook lives.

Some teachers avoid possible drama by sticking to e-mail or using a Google group to engage with students.

But a few teachers have found that Facebook can work as long as they connect with students in a Facebook group, and never as personal friends. That, to me, sounds like the right solution.

Poked: Teachers, students not a good equation

on Facebook

WISPRIG Office

NIck Patrinos/TimesNIck Patrinos/Times NIck Patrinos/Times

by Vickee YangTimes Staff Reporter

Quitting was not an option for the Stormers girls soccer team as they played their fourth game against Joliet Junior College. With exactly eleven players out on the field, the girls had to play both forty-five minute halves without any substitutes. The amount of effort and hustle the Stormers had truly defined what it means to have team spirit.

Nothing was going to stop these girls from playing their best, not even a shoe coming off. On her way to the goal, one of the Stormers’ shoes flew off her foot, but that didn’t stop her. She continued with the game as if she didn’t even notice. Another player, Samantha Pagenkopf, didn’t want to come off the field even though she has asthma and was having trouble gasping for air during the game.

After tons of defense, offense, and running, Danielle Lucci scored a goal thirty one minutes into the second half for the Stormers. The girls, however, lost the game 1-7.

It’s clear that these girls are dedicated hard workers. “They have so much positivity and they

know they have to continue to work hard,” says head coach, Dick Smurlo. Even though they have lost all their games so far, Smurlo believes they are going to get better, progress further, and bond more as a team.

Smurlo has been coaching club soccer for twenty years; this will be his first year coaching a college team. He believes this is more than a sport for these young women. Being a part of a team is a learning experience. He says that playing soccer or being a part of any group will build your confidence and give you something to be proud of. His players want to be at practice, they want to show up and support each other.

With only a few more games left, the Stormers women’s soccer season will be coming to an end pretty soon. They may not have come up with many victories this year, but these girls have made MATC history. They are the first group of ladies to play soccer for the College and they are sure the game is going to continue for a long time. A new group of athletes have emerged, and hopefully many more will follow in their footsteps and join the team next season.

Making sports history

Soccer Calendar

Gino Fabian/Times

Tough Day for Women Stormers - #5 Samantha Pagenkopf blocks point attempt by DuPage Chaparrals. Stormers lost 8-0.

Womens Soccer ScheduleSat. Oct. 23 Region IV Tournament Quarter Finals TBA TBA Wed. Oct. 27 Region IV Tournament Semi Finals TBA TBASat. Oct. 30 Region IV Tournament

Championship TBA TBA Nov. 5-6 District Play-off TBA TBA Nov. 13-14 NJCAA National Tournament TBA TBA

Mens Soccer ScheduleFri. Oct. 15Kankakee Community CollegeHome4:00pm

Wed. Oct. 20Region IV Tournament Quarter FinalsHigher SeedTBA

Sat. Oct. 23Region IV Tournament Semi FinalsHigher SeedTBA

Wed. Oct 27Region IV Tournament ChampionshipHigher SeedTBA

Nov. 13-14NJCAA National Tournament New York, NYTBA

All home games are played at the MATC Soccer Field, 6th and College Ave, Oak Creek All dates and times are subject to change.

fright Fest

On October 2nd students enjoyed Six Flags Fright Fest, ticket prices included bus rides to and from Great Amercia.

Photos by Rebecca Lechmaier & Evan Truex