February - Wingspan

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10 Wingspan Wingspan Co-Editors Hannah Wheeler Will Hebert Editorial Britt Kaiser Managing Editor Jamille Smith Opinion Editor Shannon Leib News Editor Tevin Taylor Campus Writer Josh Apodaca A&E Editor R.J. Coward A&E Writer Molly Steffen A&E Writer Kassidy Linde Features Editor Travis Bohanan Features Writer Cody Tucker Sports Editor Bradley Kubik Sports Writer Mark Schafer Sports Writer Kadie Floud Photography Editor Alicia Madrid Photographer Chris Gorman Advertising Manager Keavy Ferrall Layout Editor Online Courtney Tray Online Editor Shane Williams Online Photo Editor Jessie Witte Campus Editor Christian Ramos Social Media Editor Advisers Rosalind Schliske J. L. O’Brien National Pacemaker Finalist Phone: (307) 778-1304 Fax: (307) 778-1177 wingspan@lccc.wy.edu ©2011 Wingspan (ISSN 1093-2844) is a monthly newspaper for Laramie County Community College and the community, written and edited by journalism students with contributions from other students, college faculty and staff members and community residents. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff, students or faculty of the college. Wingspan is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. It is printed by Cheyenne Newspapers, Inc. Contributions Policy Wingspan welcomes letters provided they are not libelous, profane or otherwise unprintable. Letters should be typed, double-spaced, signed by the author and include a phone number for verification. A digital copy is preferred. Wingspan reserves the right to edit all letters submitted because of available space or the reasons stated above. Contributions made before Feb. 23 may be submitted to: Wingspan Laramie County Community College 1400 East College Drive Cheyenne, Wyo. 82007 Batman took on the likes of villains such as the Joker, the Riddler and the Penguin. Superman’s arch nemesis was Lex Luthor. Spiderman went to great lengths to conquer Venom. At Laramie County Community College, campus security officers face larceny, verbal disturbances, illegal drug possession, property damage, assaults, stalking, underage drinking, violence and slew of other issues. The attribute that ties these superheroes and everyday heroes together is they were put in their appointed positions to protect those around them. LCCC’s protectors face a new, villainous situation because of a recent cut in hours in order to comply with the college’s benefits plan. LCCC’s human resources department recently discovered that some security employees were working more than 20 hours a week and had not been offered benefits. In order to comply with college’s benefit plan, the college has decided to reduce the hours of seven security employees. This significant change prompted Wingspan to ask: Will the reduction of hours affect campus safety LCCC has hired a multifaceted group of individuals to secure the campus. Some of their credentials could write themselves, and the officers are more than capable of securing the campus. The concern is the newly hired security may not hold the same extensive credentials such as graduates from Indiana University and the national FBI Academy, an assistant director of a state agency, a retired state trooper with experience in hostage negotiations, six bachelor degrees and five advanced degrees. The LCCC student body and employees should feel comforted in knowing they are protected by a group of individuals who held previous titles such as colonels in the military, chiefs of police, deputy sheriffs and 20-year Air Force security veterans with more than 100 years of combined service, said Ray Hersman, opinion LCCC security guard. Although campus security officers are often dubbed “glorified mall cops,” at LCCC, their experience proves they are far more skilled, and their heroic dedication to LCCC outshines even their experience. However, the reduction of hours may force some of these talented law enforcements officers to leave their jobs, and the result is a revolving door of hiring less qualified individuals who require more training in handling college situations. The money that could have been spent increasing the qualified security officers’ hours is now being spent on training the new hires. Events on college campuses across the United States demonstrate how campus security is called upon in dangerous situations that require people trained to make selfless decisions quickly. Recently, in Tucson, Pima Community College made headlines when a former student was arrested in connection with the tragic shooting that killed six and wounded 14, including a congresswoman. The shooting occurred after Jared L. Loughner, of Tucson, was suspended from Pima and told he could not return without a psychologist’s letter certifying he posed no danger. Previous to Loughner’s suspension, the college documented his bizarre outbursts and violent Internet fantasies. Instances like the one at Pima illustrate that campus security should not be taken lightly. Students and employees want to know they are protected, and the cut in hours for LCCC security guards could jeopardize that expected blanket of security. Oftentimes we hold on to the misconception that incidents like the Tucson shooting could never happen to us. These types of incidents teach us to evaluate our current situations and figure out ways to enhance them. Wingspan believes LCCC needs to recognize history can repeat itself and we must move in a direction in which the focus is on quality performance of the security staff instead of avoiding policy amendment. The benefits policy for LCCC is currently being rewritten. Although it has been said it is hard to amend a policy that has already been February 14, 2011 wingspan.lccc.wy.edu Editorial ecurity Bureaucratic battle: another foe for campus security “Although campus security officers are often dubbed ‘glorified mall cops,’ at LCCC, their experience proves they are far more skilled, and their herotic dedication to LCCC outshines even their experience.” written, you would think that the proper authorities could look into amending the policy so that it not only addresses the needs of the college but also satisfies the needs of the security guards employed at LCCC. A number of the part-time security guards at LCCC have argued for the choice to waive their benefits in order to work more than the 20 hours they are guaranteed. Wingspan believes the security officers should be provided with the opportunity to do so. LCCC graduates a group of heroes each semester with the likes of nurses, firefighters and emergency medical personnel. Those who put the needs of others before their own needs possess a solid dose of heroism. The LCCC security officers have maintained a level of excellence with the experience they have gained in the career field. This bureaucratic battle is just another foe that LCCC security guards have faced.
February 14, 2011 wingspan.lccc.wy.edu I took my headphones off so I could hear the dog as it circled me. Inclement-looking clouds were forming in the mid-June sky, which was what had compelled me to take a shortcut back to my apartment. I live in proximity to various businesses and services, so I often walk to my destinations. That is how I found myself in this predicament. Dogs have always been one of my greatest fears. I was once mauled as a child, and I think the event left a particularly strong impression in my memory. For as long as I can remember, dogs, especially big ones, have made me nervous. Every so often, I encounter an overly enthusiastic dog of large size. For the most part, these encounters are uneventful, as the dogs usually end up being friendly but curious. This was not one of those encounters. Upon removing my headphones, I could hear snarling. At this point, I was no longer nervous. I was afraid. But fear is a feeling I’m used to. Some call it paranoia, but I simply like to think I have a very healthy awareness of the dangers that exist in the world. My fear of dogs is a close business partner to my fears of heights, rejection and failure. If my nerves were a opinion Wingspan 11 Our fears must not generate immobility co-editor co-editor Will Hebert Hannah Wheeler editor’s commentary editor’s commentary Every person has his or her personal hero. Some find heroes in great men and women of the past. Others look for heroes in the pages of adventure books. Some see heroes in those who are willing to sacrifice their own wants for the benefit of others. And still others find heroes in those they know and love. I find heroes everywhere, but more than anything I want to be a hero, too. Who doesn’t want to be a hero Yet I don’t want to be Supergirl. I just want to inspire one other person to have hope for a better future. I think heroes are made when people make the choice to be brave in the face of change, to take a chance that another person can be trusted, to find the hope and the strength to go on through adversity. I have watched people overcome obstacles and painful times while I wished for the strength to overcome my trials as well. Last December, I watched a friend break down after her mother revealed her cancer had come like a thief in the night to steal their time together. I saw her cry as though her world “Some call it paranoia, but I simply like to think I have a very healthy awareness of the dangers that exist in the world.” company, the four would be executives who control the lesser shareholders and inform them of ways to make me sleep less. While my fear of dogs was the acting president on that summer afternoon, my fear of failure has taken over this month. This is my first issue as editor of Wingspan, and the thought of being overshadowed by the work of my predecessors is looming in my mind. I have a great deal of respect for the editors who came before me and have recently was falling apart, and, the next week, I saw her pick herself up and go forward with her life. She said her mother was a hero, but I think her mother isn’t the only hero in that family. In early January, I watched my sister quietly go on without her husband after he deployed to Afghanistan for a year—she has a 1-year-old daughter. I was there when people from all over realized it is now my responsibility to live up to that legacy. When the idea to apply for editorship first entered my head, it was similar to most of my ideas: It was poorly constructed and half thought through at best. Recently, I have realized what’s in store for me, and I am no longer nervous about the upcoming ordeal. I am afraid. But despite the prominence of my fear, I will not let it render me idle. The dog that had taken a dislike to me the state, friends and family came to say goodbye to my brother-in-law. I watched their daughter, oblivious to her father’s impending departure, squeak her shoes and talk gibberish at the military send-off. And later in January, I watched on TV a husband tell the world his beloved wife would get better. I watched as he cried for the 6-year-old girl who died in the parking lot where his didn’t end up ripping out my jugular. It had jumped over the fence of a nearby house (Big dogs are especially frightening in conjunction with small fences.), and the owner appeared before my impending death would have taken place. And despite some hastily made promises to the universe, I still trudge my way to many destinations. The fear still exists, and I get particularly jumpy when I think I hear a jingling collar, but I don’t let it control me. However, I have changed some things about my escapades. I am now aware of which houses bring greater chances of such a canine encounter and try to avoid those areas. wife was shot. I was amazed at the tragedy that had taken so much from so many, and yet through the death and fear people were still finding hope. I found all these people to be heroes. Although they might not look like heroes with capes and masks and even though they might scoff at the idea, they still inspired me. Webster’s dictionary defines a hero as “any person admired for qualities or achievements and regarded as an ideal or model.” Whoever said a hero must be a lifesaver Who said a hero must have superpowers Although I am afraid to fail at my new position with this publication, I will not let that fear deter me. Just as I adjusted my methods to ensure I don’t get physically mauled, I will adjust and adapt as an editor to ensure I don’t get metaphorically mauled in my new position. There will always be hazards I cannot control, and nobody can avoid failure on all levels. Despite how spiritually crushing they can feel, each failure is a learning experience. Just as I learned where not to walk, I’m quite certain I will learn in the coming months how not to organize a publication and, in the end, become more skilled at the job. Editor aspires to become everyday hero “Aren’t we heroes to ourselves just by getting through life Aren’t we heroes by never giving up hope” Aren’t we heroes to ourselves just by getting through life Aren’t we heroes by never giving up hope After watching these people, who bravely faced cancer, war and violence, who inspired hope in me, I am determined to follow in their footsteps and become a hero, if not by Webster’s definition. I may be only a loving aunt and, someday, a mother; I may be only a loyal friend through rain or shine; I may be only a young woman dreaming of adventures, but if that is all I ever am, I will be satisfied. I will grow up to be a hero, just as I always wanted.
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February - Wingspan

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