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October 2011have to collect a fine layer of dust, orthe new season of a favorite TV showmay have to go unwatched.“I have virtually no social life.” Fullington-Eglisaid. “I get in a TV showhere and there when I need a break,or a video game when I’m caught up,but mostly, it’s nose to the grindstone.It sucks when you’d rather be hangingwith your friends, but it’ll be worth itin the end.”Speak with Financial Aid beforedropping. This is a must for anyonereceiving aid that is considering droppinga course. New federal law requiresstricter monitoring of students’ academicprogress, and dropping a coursecan seriously affect your aid.“Never drop without first speakingto Financial Aid.” Woods said. “You canlose your aid for this semester, next semester,and you’ll owe it back.”Students are required to successfullycomplete 67 percent of the coursesthey enroll in per aid year, according toSamantha Johnson, Student FinancialAid Advisor at Blue River.“You might not get nicked if youdrop a class first semester,” Johnsonsaid, “but do it again, and it might comeup that you didn’t hit hours.”A 2.0 cumulative grade-point averageis also required to maintain aid.Earlier is better. The deadline todrop a course and receive even a partialrefund is within the first few weeksof each semester. After that, no refundis given for dropped courses except inextreme circumstances.When a course is dropped after 25percent of the term has passed; a W isplaced on the student’s transcript. Thisis not calculated into grade-point average,but an excessive amount of W’s canbe a negative to admissions boards orscholarship and grant committees.A student can also withdraw froma class without academic assessmentbefore 60 percent of the term has beencompleted. This semester’s deadline fordropping without assessment is Nov. 3.CHIEFS from 9did a good job at stopping the Colts,forcing them to punt. The Chiefs drivestarted on their seven yard and startedoff with good running. Dwayne Bowecaught a fantastic touchdown pass hissecond of the day. With the score now24-21 Colts the Chiefs were knockingon the door.Then with 5:21 left to go in thefourth quarter the Chiefs had to calla timeout because the play clock wasnot set correctly. Regardless of thetime issue the Chiefs had the timeoutlost. Next play Cassel threw a gorgeoustouchdown pass to Steve Breaston givingthe Chiefs a 28-24 lead, their firstlead of the day.The Colts later went for it on afourth down and six and could notcomplete the pass due to Kansas City’sdefense. Then on a critical third andone situation Matt Cassel jumped overthe Colts defensive line for the firstdown. The play was reviewed by thebooth, but stood. Kansas City kneeledthe ball twice and won 28-24.The Chiefs were down 17-0 and puttogether a tremendous comeback. Thewin puts the Chiefs at 2-3 and it seemsthe Kansas City Chiefs get better everysingle game. This is something Chiefsfans were unsure of after a 0-3 start.Now Kansas City has something tolook forward to.With a bye week next week, KansasCity then plays the Oakland Raidersin Oakland for week 7 and then theSan Diego Chargers in Kansas City onMonday Night football for week 8. Ifthe Chiefs can win both or at least oneof the two division games, look out.SMOKE from 1electronic cigarettes are forbidden onschool grounds. Artificial cigarettes, apopular device for people who are tryingto kick the habit, are also banned.Smokers either retreat to their vehicles,where it is still OK to smoke,or blatantly puff away in less crowdedareas. Students like Thomas who don’thave time to walk to their car usuallyend up lighting one up on the LiberalArts porch instead.Are these “hidden areas” being patrolledby MCC police? If so, whatis the punishment for getting caughtsmoking?“First-time offenders are given acourteous warning, but it’s a $25 finefor every subsequent offense,” saidMCC Longview Police Capt. ChuckMcMullin. “Some people just simplysay, ‘Write me the $25 ticket,’ and we do— although I don’t know of any cigarettethat is worth $25.”Longview’s baseball team, playingin a sport in which chewing tobaccois a time-honored tradition, has beenfeeling the effects of the ban.“It’s made practices more intense,”coach Clint Culbertson said. Culbertsonsaid he knows that it’s against thepolicy for players to chew tobacco onthe field, but he’s sure they still do itanyway.While the policy doesn’t affect studentswho smoke in their cars, McMullinsaid that students have to actuallythe current 11be inside their cars to smoke. He recalleda group of students who, whenthey were about to get caught smokingin the parking lot, ran to their buddy’struck and hopped in the bed. They stillgot fined anyway.Although many students are findingit harder to get their nicotine fix, Mc-Mullin says the ban isn’t as contentiousas some believe it to be.“Everyone is pretty cooperative,” hesaid. “This isn’t anything different thanhospitals, restaurants, or local businessesthat forbid smoking. People arehealth-conscious everywhere.”Many in the community appreciatethe ban.“Smoking makes me sick, becauseI have asthma,” student Morgan Salisburysaid. “It was hard to breathe whenI walked by smoking areas. Plus, it’s justhealthier.”ART FAIR from 6of Kansas is what gave her “the fever”for it. She started their work in San Diegoand moved back to this area eightyears ago. “(I) love the designing, useof color and the immediacy of it,” JulieBoyd said.Young aspiring artists got to bea part of the festival, too. Lee’s SummitR-7 students between grades 7-12were able to have their artwork judgedand displayed. Students showed severalkinds of artwork, from self-portraitsand abstract art.Fascination Drive held the musicalportion of the festival. Father-anddaughterteam Shanice and MauriceHayes performed a flawless repertoirefrom the 1940s to the popular soundsof today. The duo had CDs availablefor purchase.Other musicians performed on themain stage, including drummer ScottDevouton, the Duende bellydancers,and The Somebodies. Melissa Hile ofthe Lee’s Summit Symphony played“King Williams March” on her cello inthe south end of the art exhibits. Onthe north end, Cynthia Hancock playedthe violin, while Joe Carignan-Garciajoined her with his guitar tango.The festival offered a unique wayto educate patrons about the historyof Longview Farms through a guidedhayride with retired MCC-LongviewEnglish instructor Michael Raynor, amember of the New Longview Foundation.The hayride toured the new housingedition of Longview, the mansion,the Pergola, and the historic horse barnthat’s been converted to an elementaryschool.The event was presented by SaintLuke’s Hospital East and the businesseswww.longviewcurrent.orgof New Longview.CARAMEL FROM 8“I would rather have Coke Clear.They should have an option if they areputting 2 and 4 (MI) in it,” said studentMichael Howe. Pepsi used to have acaramel color free drink called CrystalPepsi, which was on the market for oneyear in 1992.The State of California has alreadyconcluded 4-MI as a carcinogen andhave been going through regulatoryproceedings that may require cancerwarninglabels on food and non-foodproducts. California determined anythingabout 16 micrograms a day posea significant risk to consumers.The CSPI admits that the cancerrisk is small, but they still believe that if2- and 4- MI caused the cancer in ratsand mice, there is still a risk in humans.There have not been any human studiesand many people believe that the warningwas an unnecessary scare tactic.Student Robert Stokes read aboutthe study and agreed that the study wascontroversial. He said, “The results, tome, were exaggerated to get public effect.Doctors were graduates not M.D.sThere is no reason for concern becausethe research was performed with thelowest regulations.”Currently, there are no results tothe petition that was filed against theFDA but the CSPI still hopes that peopleare still aware of the potential risks.MONARCHS from 9defensive struggles. In a 5-4 victory atSt. Charles Community College, Loganwas pleased with the five goals, but farfrom happy with the four his defensesurrendered.Since then, the defense has solidified.Maple Woods lost to nationallyranked Cloud County 1-0 and thenmade Connolly’s first half goal stand upagainst Blue River.“The lads are definitely getting better,”Connolly said. “We have a similartype of style really. It’s been easy for meto play with them.”Maple Woods’ women’s squad is offto a winning start, improving to 4-3 afterbeating Iowa Central 4-0 last Saturday.Ciara Howerton, a freshman midfielder,leads the Monarchs with sevengoals and three assists.“We have a good group of girls,” saidMaple Woods women’s coach Timo Kibune,who only has two returning playersfrom last year’s team. “We are mostlyfreshmen. We attack very well andplay good defense.”