the current

the currentthe student voice of Metropolitan Community College - Kansas Citywww.longviewcurrent.org MCCKC-Longview, Lee’s Summit, Missouri November 2010LV volleyball keeps ahead of the packLakers have each others’ backs.Rayyan Umrani/The CurrentWith just under a week remaining inthe regular volleyball season, the Laker’shave “set” themselves up for a longpostseason run. Kat Partridge is first inthe nation in assists, and Mel Church is47th in kills. The team has gained nationalrecognition with their 20-8 recordas well, ranked 35th currently.Regionals are November 5th and 6that East Central Community College inUnion, Missouri.~Josh O’HoraRayyan Umrani/The CurrentLakers talk strategy.Ali Cavanaugh surveys the opposition.Rayyan Umrani/The Currentwww.longviewcurrent.orgLV parking lot Cclosed for repairLongview’s parking lot C closedbeginning Wednesday, Oct. 27 forextensive repairs.According to Facilities ServicesSuperintendent Steve Greife, twolight pole bases will be replaced, andcurb and asphalt work must be completedbefore winter. The work isexpected to take about three weeks,weather permitting.Lot C lies between the Rec Centerparking lot and the Campus Center.CAC GalleryNew exhibit,“The Tie ThatBinds:A Glimpseinto Haiti.”Rayyan UmraniThe Current

2 the currentNovember 2010current@mcckc.edu

November 2010the current 3campusNew club at LongviewCultures, Inc.by Antoinette BradleyClubs and organizations are essential to college lifeand can enhance your leadership skills. While somestudents choose to join the club’s and organizationsthat have already established a name for themselves,some students choose to form a club that is geared towardsspreading unity and fairness.Cultures Incorporated is just such a club. SusanLong is the president. Rej’lyn Mack is vice president,and Cynthia Gonzalez is the club’s secretary. The club’sadvisor is Longview counselor Wendy Firven-Smith.The club’s mission statement declares: “A studentbasedorganization focuses on the cultural, social, andacademic needs of students. Open to all students regardlessof race, creed, color, religious affiliation orsexual orientation. Cultures Incorporated is a new upand coming club that provides a forum for open discussionsto build better understanding of cultural experiences.Our hope is to encourage our members andstudents to challenge the norm.”Long said that it’s necessary to have a club of thissignificance.“Collectively we felt that a club that included diver-sity needed to exist on campus. This idea sparked aftera leadership event sponsored by Campus Life andLeadership, featuring a presentation about diversity.So after that presentation, we said, ‘Why not?’”Even though an organization for African Americansdoesn’t exist on campus, the members wanted toorganize a club that doesn’t exclude anyone from joining.Mack said that the club is an excellent additionon campus because other people from other culturescan express their concerns about the discriminationthey had experienced in the past. Even though AfricanAmericans have dealt with a lot of discrimination andmistreatment, too, it’s better to go global to share theexperiences. Mack, who is a graduate of Park University,said that attending Park helped her better understandwhat other cultures go through on a day-to-daybasis.“Discrimination is not based in one culture, but inall cultures,” she said.Long’s time at MCC-Longview is coming to anend, so she wanted to create a foundation for the clubthat the next students who join can carry on, “so thatit’s relevant to the student population,” said Long.Lit Fest continues to growby Antoinette BradleyThe Third Annual Literary Festival was held atMCC-Longview in the Mel Aytes Education Center inNovember. The festival was full of workshops, roundtablediscussions, open mic and of course, networking.It provided a foundation for people to start the processof showcasing their creative side through writing andillustrating.Longview English instructor Susan Satterfieldcoördinated the event. The idea originated after attendinga similar festival on the plaza a couple of yearsago, she said, and after the Plaza wasn’t hosting theevent any longer, Satterfield saw a need for a literaryfestival on campus.The Literary Festival is good not only for the students,but is significant for teachers to see what studentsare interested in.Writers appearing at the Festival included Ann Ingalls,the author of “The Little Piano Girl.” Ingalls saidthat the festival is excellent because people attendingcan learn the value of critique groups, the publishingprocess, how to write a query letter, which is a letterintroducing your work, and the importance of writingone. Besides writing novels, Ingalls also writes for theKansas City Star and writes poetry for children.Barbara Stuber, whose début novel is “CrossingThe Tracks,” got involved in the Literary Festival becauseSatterfield saw her photo in the Kansas City Star.She also devotes her time at the Nelson Atkins Museumgiving tours and writes for the Cricket Magazine,which is a children’s magazine. When Stuber writes shedoesn’t write for any particular age group, she said. “Ifthe story is really good, it should resonate to all people,”said Stuber.Laura Manivong is another author who made herfirst appearance at the Literary Festival. She is the authorof “Escaping The Tiger,” which is about her husband’sfamily escaping from Laos. Manivong says herinspiration for writing is the “stuff that I feel needssharing, thoughts in my head and in my heart.” Shealso said that she has gotten great feedback on hersee LIT FEST on 11www.longviewcurrent.orgDisney offersinternships toMCC studentsby Jason WelchThe Longview Student Employment group hosteda presentation by Disney for their internship programon October 14. After the presentation an opportunityfor a phone interview with a Disney associate wasavailable to students who were interested in the program.If selected to the internship program, students willbe given the choice of Disney World in Florida, or Disneylandin California. The interested student wouldthen choose a five- or seven-month stay. The internshipis paid and coupled with six credit hours for workexperience.“Sometimes students have so much fun downthere, they don’t come back,” said Linda Anderson,Longview’s Student Employment Services coordinator.Free entrance to the park, employee discounts, andmeeting people from all around the world makes this apopular internship. MCC also requires a 2.0 GPA andenrollment in the current semester at the time of presentationand interview. MCC offers online and substitutioncourses to interns in Florida and Californiaso that they maintain the full-time status.Students who are interested in the Disney internshipprogram can view the online presentation at disneycollegeprogram.com,or attend the next presentation,in January 2011.Free HIV/STD testing atLV on Nov. 10by Louis KemnerTwice a semester, the Kansas City Health Departmentcomes to MCC-Longview to volunteer their HIVand STD testing services for any students who wishthem. The service is also free.The second testing event for this semester will beon Nov. 10, 2010. Students can undergo blood or urinetests and are guaranteed confidentiality about theirtest results. The Health Department has provided thisservice at Longview for three years as an outgrowth ofa condom awareness event on campus, according toCampus Life and Leadership Coordinator KimberlyProsak.

4 the currentNovember 2010current@mcckc.edu

November 2010the current 5Coffee House DayPhi Theta Kappableeds for a causeby Louis KemnerPhi Theta Kappa’s Blood Drive forfall 2010 took place on October 11.The Community Blood Center regularlyvisits Longview to set up its blooddrives, and a different campus organizationhosts the drive in each semester. Falldrives are hosted by Phi Theta Kappa, anacademic organization that emphasizesleadership and community work.“We’re dedicated to the responsibilityof having the Blood Drive and helpingthe community,” said Student ServicesTechnician Margaret Berter, who servesas Phi Theta Kappa co-advisor.Being a leader involves helping others,said Kappa Tau chapter presidentArt ExtravaganzaCathy Baker. The Blood Drive is one ofmany ways that Phi Theta Kappa doescommunity work, and the organizationalso plans to host a United Way driveand Harvesters event. According to KappaTau vice-president Robert Gaines,Phi Theta Kappa strives to impress studentsthat they can reach out and takean active role in helping the community.Phi Theta Kappa has enjoyed a longstandingpartnership with the CommunityBlood Center, and frequently competeswith the Student Government’sBlood Drives to see whose drive resultsin more blood donated. Hosting thedrives helps increase student awarenessof being able to donate blood and helpthe local community.Jason Welch/The CurrentLongview’s favorite singer/songwriter Jayson Kayne returned to Coffee House Dayin October.Staff host charity craft saleLongview staffteams up withAlders GateMethodist for acharity craft sale.Jason WelchThe Currentwww.longviewcurrent.orgJason Welch/The CurrentStudent Steven Harris and his son checked out the show.The Longview Alumni hosted their annual Art Extravaganza in October. Theart entered into the competition varied from students, alumni, and some staff of allthe MCC colleges. The different types of art entered were oil, watercolor, sculpture,and glass art. All proceeds from donations and art sold go towards MCC’s EndowmentFund.

6 the currentNovember 2010Longview Drama presentsA Flea in Her EarAntoinette Bradley/The CurrentLongview’s dinner theater, Backstage at Bobette’s, staged “A Flea in her Ear” inOctober.current@mcckc.edu

November 2010the current 7opinionCallie V. HansonQue será, seráChange is intolerable sometimes – just completely disrespectful,uninterested in your input, comes out of nowhere, out to get you,isn’t it? I heard somewhere that to live is to change, so I’m learning toaccept it, but you can’t make me like it.Dad announced his engagement last week. It’s great news really, he found a wonderful womanwho he will be very happy with. I’m happy for him, really. I am no longer on the hook for changinghis diapers when he’s too old and feeble to take care of himself. Welcome to the family, Lady! ;) Heblurted out the news to me in a phone conversation about a birthday present for my nephew; he wastoo excited to announce it cleverly. Experiencing your parents in new relationships can be tricky. Ithink I handled it quite well. I showed interest in the details of the proposal, expressed excitementin my voice, and said, “Congratulations,” as deserved. Then I hung up the phone and cried. Why?Why so sad? It’s that pesky change again, creeping up on me like my sneaky cat, who slips into thebathroom when no one is looking and pees in the bathtub. Rude, right?For the past 12 years of my life, my dad has been a great friend and companion. My parentsdivorced about that long ago, and he has had his ups and downs, but through it all he has remainedloyal to his daughters and given life and limb to see that we are happy. On my wedding day, hegrieved, intense grief brought on by the impending end of something special that was unique tothat time in our lives. In the eight years since then, he has relished his role as a grandfather, built ashire in the north woods where our scattered family can feel at home on our vacations, and made ita monthly commitment to camp out in my guest room for as long as his break from work will allow.We have grown comfortable in this pattern; we rely on it. We enjoy ourselves immensely, and he hassucceeded in bringing happiness where he resides in our lives. Along comes Olivia (not his fiancé –her name is Sue. Olivia is my sneaky cat who pees in the tub out of spite.)Isn’t it strange how comfortable we get in our lifestyle, when we know it is bound to change? Ifmy fear were in charge of me, I would be the kind of person who moves into their dream home andnever unpacks the boxes because there are stairs, and when I’m old, I’ll have to move again. Instead,I tend to over-nest, to over personalize. I tend to project all of my contentment into eternity, thinkinglife is about accumulating positives. You add pleasures: a better home, lovely children, a better job,and you discard pains: the crappy apartment with carpet on the bathroom floor, the old job thatworked you too much and paid you too little. Then at the end, you live in a utopia of your owncreation, and you die peacefully in your sleep, and pass it down to your unsuspecting children whohave to find a way to include the pleasures and discard the pains (usually in the form of bickering,liquidation and a Salvation Army pick up). Makes total sense. I think that is what change should be;this sneaky change looks more like compromise to me. Seems more like to live is to compromise.I like to think I’m maturing as I get older, and in that spirit, I sucked up my tears and reasonedthrough my sadness. I’m not sad because he is moving on, I am sad because I put all my eggs in mycurrent basket. I feel loss when I picture a Lady at his stove, messing with our traditions, sitting inmy spot on his sofa, and managing his financial generosity. I am losing what I have. Then I thoughtabout what will be: I can stay at my 80-year-old grandmother’s house when I visit the Shire instead,it could be the best 10 years of our relationship before she passes. I won’t have to clean up my dad’sbachelor pad anymore when I visit. I don’t have to worry that he lost a heroic rumble with a bearin his woods when I don’t hear from him for a week. I won’t have to worry that his generosity isdepleting his retirement, that he isn’t eating well, that he is lonely when he leaves us. That’s yearsadded to my life right there! And sure, right now I’m out of positives and the scale is still tippingtowards tears, but I know that we will find our way.Change is not a compromise from perfect now to less than perfect later. It’s just one less thanperfect season shifting to another less than perfect season, which is actually quite a relief. Everyoneknows the grass is always greener on the other side, and mowing today will just make you have tomow tomorrow (or at least that’s what my husband says when mowing day comes along, althoughnow that I think about it, I’m not seeing the sense). The point is, compromise is healthy and evenenjoyable at times. Hopefully, part of growing up also means learning how to extend the seasonsthat feel the most fulfilling and how to get through and find our way out of the seasons that try usand leave us scarred.Most of us will probably die in one of the less desirable seasons of our life, maybe very ill, awayfrom our beloved homes, maybe before it seems to be our time, maybe upon exiting the showerbefore we are properly robed. But it’s the scars and the best memories that make up our utopia inthe end. If we make it to the rocking chair, orating to our loved ones the stories of our lives, it’s thechanges that will define us, not the constancy. So thank you Lady, for loving my dad, for mixing it up,and for pushing me into another peak or valley. Here’s me hoping it’s a good one.www.longviewcurrent.orgthe currentthe student voice of Metropolitan Community College - Kansas CityLongview Campus Cetner 243500 SW Longview RoadLee’s Summit, Missouri 64081816.604.2308current@mcckc.edu www.longviewcurrent.orgEditorsAntoinette BradleyRachel MadearisPhotographerRayyan UmraniAdviserPat SparksReportersJason WelchApril RaglandDani PostNicole PalmerJosh O’HoraTimothy LongLouis KemnerReader CommentsNote: If you have a lengthy letter for The Current, wemust have an electronic copy. If you need to protectyour anonymity, please paste the letter into theComments field at longviewcurrent.org.More on ParkingRe: “Is there enough parking at Longview?”(September 2010). We know there is a problem, andhas been for at least 2-3 years. While I agree thatparking is not a very reasonable excuse and thata student should plan ahead for scarce parking,sometimes that is the case; maybe more than youwould think. I myself have either skipped a class,or been late because of the lack of parking. On oneside you say that “well you should have left yourhouse a little earlier, right?” Well yes but is it also thesame level of ridiculousness that a school offeringeducation to students trying to better their livesdoes not have enough parking to accommodatethese students they are accepting ? The point being,we have recognized a problem and that it causessafety issues, health issues, and attendance issues.What can we do about it, though? That is what I’mnot hearing. The faculty lot(s) are a little generous,I agree, but some of the other proposed ideas arejust outrageous. A shuttle from the back lot by theRec Center is impractical, so is the idea of removingthe tiers from the existing parking lots. If we doeither of those, that’s making the problem worse; wedon’t need a construction area in our already overcrowdedparking lots. A parking garage may makesense for UCM, but not Longview. It’s not practical tofor a college to pay for a 4-story parking garage. We,as students and willing faculty, need to take action.There are obviously sufficient resources and spaceon campus to improve the parking. I am proposinga one-day event where all the people who regularlypark on the streets or in the apartment complex tofeel free to park in the grass behind the white fencesthat surround Longview. This will most certainlypiss off the cross country team, but you can’t makeeveryone happy when you’re trying to get somethingsee COMMENTS on 11

8 the currentNovember 2010entertainment‘Conviction’ actors will turn headsby Timothy Long“Conviction” can be seen in different ways, from abrother’s legal conviction of murder, to a sister’s convictionthat her brother is innocent. Hilary Swank andSam Rockwell tug at heartstrings with Oscar-worthyperformances, and the well-written screenplay succeedsas an “incredible true story.”In 1980, the town of Ayer, Massachusetts finds itselfin the midst of a brutal murder. A woman namedKatharina Brow is found in her home with more than30 stab wounds. Kenneth “Muddy” Waters (Rockwell),a small-time troublemaker, is the usual suspect formany small crimes in the city, but this time is different.Kenneth is convicted swiftly of first degree murder andarmed robbery with circumstantial evidence, and hissister Betty Ann(Swank) takes it upon herself to fightfor her brother, sacrificing her life for him, in an attemptto free Kenny from his life sentence.A waitress and high-school dropout, she puts herlife on hold to get a law degree, starting with a GED.Betty Ann’s conviction, dedication, and undying loyaltyto Kenneth, no matter the circumstances, place astrain on her marriage and the relationship with hertwo children. Swank, two-time Academy Award win-‘Paranormal Activity 2’ out-frightens its predecessorby Louis KemnerThe domestic horror roars back to theaters in“Paranormal Activity 2,” a prequel to the 2009 flick“Paranormal Activity” (written and directed by OrenPeli).“PA2”captures all the atmospheric horror of thefirst film, and manages to tie in the first movie’s plotwhile providing an utterly terrifying hour and a halfof film.The first movie starred the young California coupleMicah (Micah Sloat) and Katie (Katie Featherston),who had to endure repeated haunting in theirsuburban home. Like the first movie, “ParanormalActivity 2” is presented entirely in the form of footagetaken by the family’s camera and security cams, afilmmaking technique that “PA2” masterfully executesner for Best Actress, is no stranger to playing a truestoryrole. From “Freedom Writers” to “Amelia,” Swankhas portrayed real people with resounding success.Sam Rockwell(“Green Mile”), is superb as Kenneth.This role escalates Rockwell to a new level, as he captivateswith his effective show of emotion. Over threedifferent time lines-–childhood, the time of the murderand conviction, and years later as Betty Ann worksto make the horror utterly convincing. Theaudience watches grainy night-vision feedsof doors slamming themselves open andshut, the family dog being attacked by theinvisible marauder, and even the toddlergetting dragged out of his crib by the unseenbeast.The acting is absolutely convincing andemotional, adding credibility to the wholefilm. This movie stars the neighbors of theoriginal couple, with a full family includinga toddler named Hunter, who has a significantrole in the movie, despite his age.The movie begins with the family memberstrying out their new camcorder duringan outdoor party, and when they goback inside they find their house trashed,making a break-in seem likely. The family goes onto install a number of monitor cameras throughoutthe house to prevent further break-ins, but they’reup against something entirely different from whatthey expect. A demonic presence has established itself,and during the nighttime hours of the next fewweeks, there are mysterious thumps throughout thehouse, doors slam closed on their own, and peopleand the family dog are dragged around by an invisibleforce that’s hell-bent on tormenting them constantly.The family members are terrified, but theycurrent@mcckc.eduMCT Campusto save her brother–-Rockwelland Swank create a palpablebrother and sister relationship.Supporting actor MinnieDriver, invisibly quietafter her Oscar-nominatedrole in “Good Will Hunting”in 1997, plays spectacularlyalongside Swank,displaying a charismatic attitudein the role.While there is melodramaticwriting at times,screenwriter Pamela Gray,along with the direction ofTony Goldwyn (“The LastKiss”), is effective in showing of Kenneth as a fun-loving,well-liked person.It is with the emotional gripping story, with rivetingperformances by the main cast that assure Convictionwill more than make back its $12.5 million budget andturn heads among Oscar voters for Sam Rockwell andHilary Swank.MCT Campusare helpless to identify or stop the culprit.The ending of the original “Paranormal Activity”left some questions lingering, but all of those questionsand more are answered in “PA2”.The teenage daughter, Ali (Molly Ephraim), andher friend believe that the culprit is a demon that desiresthe child Hunter as repayment for a deal that oneof Ali’s ancestors had made with the demon. Despitethat knowledge, the haunts intensify, and by the end,“Paranormal Activity 2”’s events tie in directly withthe first film. It’s a horror film not to be missed.

November 2010the current 9‘Hereafter’ will spark conversationby Timothy LongEver wanted to feel and see what it islike to be in a disaster? If so, “Hereafter”is the movie to see. The ClintEastwood-directed movieabout death and the mysteriesthat surround it further cementsthe legend Eastwoodhas forged among moviegoersfor decades. The engaging story,written by Peter Morgan, isgripping as it displays the chaosthat everyday life can be.From the start, after the signatureEastwood short credits, all theway through the last scene, “Hereafter”makes filmgoers gasp at its unexpectedness.As San Francisco native George(Matt Damon) tries to live a normallife for the first time since childhood,seemingly unconnected events makeeach character think about death andthe issues that surround it. George liveswith the everyday tension between hisability to communicate with those whohave passed and his desire to get awayfrom what’s perhaps his destiny. Frustratedwith his special ability and thedrama that comeswith it, George triesdesperately to convincehis brother (JayMohr) that “It ruinsmy chance I have at anormal life. I feel likea freak.”MCT CampusHe seeks normalcyby listeningto Charles Dickens’novels on tape and by learning to becomean Italian chef, but he can’t escapethe moral question: Is having this abilitya curse, or a blessing that can help others?Is it our job to help others or do wehave a right to ourselves? Damon, bestknown for the Bourne Trilogy, shows hisability to play a role outside of a spy film,much as he achieved in “Invictus,” oppositeMorgan Freeman.The opening scene gives a glimpseinto bedlam. Instead of seeing anotherperson go through something, viewersactually go through it as well, emotionsand all. Not many movies recently havebeen able to achieve this feat. Not manyfilms accurately illustrate catastrophicevents that surrounded us, like the devastationof the earthquake in Haiti orHurricane Katrina.The pace of “Hereafter” screams classicEastwood, with slowness building upto climactic scenes. Sound effects help tocapture the essence of the drama unfoldingalong with a masterly soundtrack,strategically placed to not overwhelmthe scenes, but rather supplement them.The visual effects of the film are muchcrisper and higher-caliber than any ofEastwood’s previous films. With thelook of the expensive graphics of blockbuster2012, the scenes look real, ratherthan displaying obvious studio effects.This is amazing, considering the tight$40 million budget. The sound and visualeffects allow “Hereafter” to invokeheart-wrenching feelings in each scene.The cinematography includes openshots, allowing for a look at the background.This open, wider feel showslandscape in the background to set thetone. The color and setting of the film,including architecture, help to give thefilm a realistic atmosphere.“Hereafter” invokes mind-swirlingthoughts, from the doubt that deathdeals to survivors, leaving them withmany unanswered questions, to watchinga loved one die or having a neardeathexperience ourselves, each ofthese situations make us think of lifein a more sacred light. Most of all, thefilm shows us that the fear of death hasa way of making us re-evaluate prioritiesin life.Subtitles in the first half of the filmthat a bit of getting used to, but “Hereafter”is a film of few flaws. It’s a successfrom its acting to its sound and visualeffects, to its top-notch cinematography.“Hereafter” will spark conversations thatmany feel afraid or weird to talk about,making it an insightful film for all to see.www.longviewcurrent.org

10 the currentNovember 2010Karaoke is a great stress-relieverby Dani PostBruno Mars hits the big time with ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans’by Timothy LongA vibrant 25-year-old Hawaiian nativeis stealing the hearts of women allaround the world with romantic lyrics,a sweet voice and his smooth attitude.Bruno Mars escalates to the forefront ofpop music as a solo artist with the releaseof his debut album “Doo-Wops &Hooligans.”Mars found the top of music chartsby collaborating with Travis McCoy in“Billionaire” and B.o.B. in “Nothin’ onYou.” He’s now decisively moved to hisown digs, but he still invites a few friendsto the share in the party that is his debutalbum. As hinted by the album title,Mars invites a new generation to explore1950s style doo-wop, reggae, and R&Bby introducing his version (every songNeed a change of pace, a break fromthe norm, want to shine like a star?Thursday nights at The Office Bar andGrill in Gladstone is the place to be.Kelli Hiatt tends bar by trade, and inher free time she loves sing her favoritecountry songs. On this October nightshe sang, “Walk” by Lorrie Morgan. Shegot up on stage like a pro and laid downthe lyrics as if they flowed through herveins. As Hiatt wrapped up the tune, thecrowd went wild, clapping and whoopingand hollering as if she were Morganherself. Hiatt said she has been singingsince she was a schoolgirl. In high schoolshe took number one in her state choirperformance. She has been singing karaokefor about four years now and findsThe Office her favorite place to perform.“Karaoke is a stress reliever and it’sjust fun,” Hiatt said.Cliff Stotler, another regular at karaokenight, also plays harmonica and iscurrently obtaining his M.A. in psychologyand his B.A. in juvenile justice atPark University.“I have been coming to karaoke herfor about two years now and love to getup on stage and throw down some oldschool Hip Hop,” he said. His favoritesong to sing is “Sabotage” by the BeastieBoys. Hip Hop, Hippity Hop Uh-HipHop Hippity Hop. Look out, Beasties,you may have some competition.Bo Anderson is the karaoke DJ forThe Office. He’s been singing karaokeis written in part by Bruno Mars) for allto hear.The first solo single, “Just the WayYou Are” is the peak of the album. Thesingle topped the charts by drawing inlisteners with heart-warming lyrics, pianobackground and bumping beat. Thetrack shows the amazing vocal rangeof Mars, which exceeds most male artist’sin the industry. Bruno Mars bringslovers together singing, “Her eyes, hereyes make the stars look like they’re notshining/ Her lips, her lips, I’d kiss themall day if she’d let me.” Filled with thesememorable lyrics, the timelessness of“Just The Way You Are” makes it a balladfor our generation, comparing to thelikes of Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars.”In “Grenade” Mars remarks that hewill go to the ends of the earth for thefor 20 years.“I enjoyed it so much I decided to becomethe Karaoke DJ,” he said. For thepast 17 years, Bo has been doing karaokeand DJ gigs all over Kansas City. Hewon $1,000 in a karaoke contest singing“Minnie the Moocher” in his early days.His all-time favorite song to sing is “Justa Gigolo.” Bo loves to sing and enjoysall extremes of music. He currently has88,000 songs on file and has sung 2 to 3thousand of them over the years. Bo alsodoes a charity event for the mentally disabledadults every 3 to 4 months.“I just love socializing, singing andhaving fun with the crowd,” he said.Kevin Montgomery is a graduateof MCC who earned his B.A. in music.With that in mind, he comes to The Of-one he loves. This track pulls off a MichaelJackson tone and attitude, andanyone who has fought and failed in arelationship will feel Mars’ heart andemotions throughout this song and tothe end of the album.“Our First Time” is an R&B/reggaecross that melts the hearts of lovers likeJ. Holiday’s “Bed.” “The Lazy Song” explainshow many of us feel when we haveworked ourselves to the bone and needa mental day off from the world. Marsdraws us into his story with an amazingvoice in a new type of style among today’sartists. “Marry You” proves BrunoMars is capable of taking a genre of musicthat many young people may thinkis antiquated and make it appealing bytaking doo-wop to the next level.“Talking to the Moon,” molded withfice on karaoke night for other reasons.Although Montgomery does not participatein the singing, he enjoys makingfun of his friends who try.“I have been watching Bo’s shows foreight years. I love Bo’s shows. This is theperfect place to socialize and hang outwith my friends,” Montgomery said.Everyone is nervous the first coupleof times they get up on stage, singers say.After a few songs go by, though, the environmentbecomes an extended family.Karaoke accepts all kinds of peopleand genres of music. It is a way to escapethe humdrum of day-to-day living andget out there and show off.The Office is at 6825 N. Oak Trafficway.piano and organ overtones, carries thevoice of Mars to another level, giving evidenceto his emotions. “Runaway Baby”carries a fast-paced catchy rap tone tokeep listeners moving. “Count on Me”suggests what it is like to be a friend ofBruno Mars, as a “Lean on Me”-typesong that should bring friends together.“Liquor Store Blues” featuring DamianMarley to “The Other Side” featuringCee Lo Green and B.o.B. each evokelisteners to try the other side of musicaway from mainstream for a bit and enjoy.“Doo-Wops & Hooligans” keeps uswanting more, as it takes a bold stepaway from mainstream pop.LIT FEST from 3novel, and the readers say “I appreciateAmerica so much more after reading thebook. Manivong also works at Fox 4 inthe Creative Service Department as Senior-Writer.The Literary Festival gets great supportfrom the campus and the community.With the diverse group of writersthat attend and the activities, anticipationfor next year’s event is higher thanever before.Satterfield attributed the success ofthe festival to major support from MCC-Longview President Fred Grogan. Shealso collaborated with creative writinginstructor Terri Lowry, Directorof Teaching and Learning SupportLinda Nelson, Humanities DivisionChair Diana Grahn, English instructorJan Rog, and Jill Ladas andMike Ekey of the marketing team.CHIEFS from 12divisional rivals the Oakland Raidersand the Denver Broncos. If theChiefs can continue to show thesame consistency on offense asthey have on defense—and with theirremaining opponents combined recordssitting a meager 31-39—Kansas Citycould be AFC West Champions for thecurrent@mcckc.edufirst time since 2003.

November 2010Tee off at Fred Arbanas Golfby Josh O’HoraEveryone drives by it on their way to theMCC-Longview Campus, but few noticethat a pristine golf courselies directly adjacent toLongview’s Rec Center.Since opening in 1986,the Jackson County Parks &Recreation’s Fred ArbanasGolf Course has grown dramaticallyand now featuresa 9-hole, par-3 course topair with an 18-hole championshipcourse.Fred Arbanas offerscompetitive greens fees,which run $25 to walk 18holes or $39 to play it with a cart. After a $1.4the current 11million green renovation, which transformedthe greens into two-tiered beauties, the price isreasonable.If you played one of the 36,000-38,000rounds that Fred Arbanasaverages annually, thenyou know that playingalongside Longview Lakeand avoiding potholebunkers is a privilege. Teetimes start at 6 a.m. in thesummer and 7:33 a.m. inspring and summer seasons,and they fill up fast.Josh O’Hora/The Current If time is an issue, FredFred Arbanas Golf lies across Longview Arbanas offers a beautifulRd. from the Rec Center.driving range. It costs $5for a small bucket of ballsand $8 for a large bucket.COMMENTS from 7from a bureaucracy. We will obviously have tothink about traffic control and organization toour “lot” (I propose something very similar tothe existing set up). But by doing this we areshowing Longview that there (1) is enough spaceto alter the parking (2) the approximate numberof spaces needed to be added. (3) That this planis agreed upon by the students, practical, and thatattendance among other things will be improved.www.longviewcurrent.org

12 the currentNovember 2010sportsFour years of MW women’s soccerby Dani PostThe Maple Woods Women’s soccerteam won the game October 29 againsttheir rival team Blue River at BinghamElementary School in Independence,Mo. The team has had an exceptionalyear. All 16 players have shed blood,sweat and tears in 2010 to achieve secondseed in the season so far.Tara Chavez, one of two sets oftwins on the team, said, “The team hasreally bonded this year,” and is excitedto play out the rest of the season.Mallory Craig has been on the teamfor two years and said she’s been playingsoccer since she was four years old.“The season has been good and I amsuper excited to play the remaininggames in the season,” Craig said.Shelby Frisby describes this year’steam as “tight, with no drama,” and isready and excited to play this season’sremaining games.Timo Kibune has been head coachfor the team’s four years. Kayla Kelloggdescribed him as “driven.”“He drives us to be better players,”Kellog said.“He is persistent in his coaching andMW and BR men also played Oct. 29.has a good vision for the team,”goalie Maggie Seibert said.Kibune described this year’steam as “enterprising, pumped up,and bonded.”“I teach them that the way theycarry themselves off the field helpsthem on the field,” he added. “Ionly have two years with them, andI believe that what they learn fromme they will take with them anduse it to their advantage when theymove on from Maple Woods.”Chiefs keep on rollingby Josh O’HoraMany Chiefs fans are surprised to see the young KansasCity team with such an impressive first half of the NFL season.After losses to last year’s AFC Championship-winningIndianapolis Colts and the on-the-rise Houston Texans, theChiefs rebounded and kept their surprise season going withtwo consecutive home wins versus the Jaguars and Bills.What’s been the biggest shock to most fans has been theimmediate impact of several Kansas City rookies. Most notableare Dexter McCluster, Javier Arenas, Eric Berry and TonyMoeaki, each of whom has had his name called by Chiefs announcersover the first four games.McCluster is an explosive offensive weapon, a return manwho’s working his way into the Chiefs offense. After scaringthe San Diego Chargers with his lightning-quick moves, Arenashas made an impact as a third defensive back. Guardingthree Pro Bowl tight ends to start the season isn’t an easy task,especially as a rookie safety, but Eric Berry didn’t mind. AntonioGates, Vernon Davis and Dallas Clark were all relativelyquiet and Berry looks like he’s picking things up quickly afterbeing thrown into the fire. Tony Moeaki may have the mostrecognition for his play so far by being named the Rookie ofthe Week in Week 2 for his athletic touchdown catch againstthe Cleveland Browns. Moeaki came up big again against theBills in overtime, with two big catches to get into field-goalrange.Causes for concern and doubt also put a damper on KansasCity’s parade. The Chiefs’ five wins have come over teamswith a combined record of 11-27, and they lost the two gamesagainst potential playoff teams. In the second half against theTexans, the Chiefs revisited their 2009 campaign by showingtheir poor tackling and blowing the game.The Chiefs have responded by blowing the Jaguars out 42-20 and they showed some resilience by beating the Bills onthe final play in overtime.Analysts praise the Chiefs’ defense for their success. Theyhave stifled the run and slowed the pass down relatively wellin comparison to years past, aside from the second half in thegame against the Texans. Todd Haley preaches that his goal isto get better every single day so that they can become a goodfootball team, and they have shown improvement this season.The Chiefs will go on the road the next two weeks to playsee CHIEFS ON 10current@mcckc.eduDani Post/The CurrentDani Post/The CurrentMW Monarchs took the BR Trailblazers onOct. 29.calendarNOVEMBERFriday 5 and Saturday 6Volleyball RegionalsWednesday 10• 12:30 HIV/STD Testing, LongviewBU Ed Center• 2 Education Day, Maple WoodsThursday 11Veterans DayTuesday 23Pie Day, Longview CC CafeWednesday 24Thanksgiving Holiday begins at 4 p.m.DECEMBERFriday 10Winter Shindig, Longview CC CafeSaturday 11Last day of classesMonday 13 – Saturday 18Final ExamsFriday 24 – Friday 31College offices closedRun for it!by Josh O’HoraBelieve it or not, some people enjoyrunning. Some love it. Some need it.Inspired by the University of NorthernIowa, Longview will be offering a HalfMarathon/Marathon training class inthe spring for students to take for 2 credits.The class will be a Saturday morningclass and will take place from 9 AM to11 AM. The training is approximately14 weeks and will be taught by JohnO’Connell and Jim McGraw, who will betraining with the runners. Once trainingis complete, students will participatein either the 13.1 mile Half Marathon orthe 26.2 full Lincoln Marathon on May1. This class is listed in the Longviewspring 2011 booklet as both PHED 198and GUID 199B. The class will tackle thephysical training and mental preparationnecessary to complete the distance.If you have any questions you can contactJohn O’Connell at 604-2440 or JimMcGraw at 604-2313.