Faculty Feature: Mike Nevins

Mike Nevins, a full-time faculty member, mathematics instructor, the Faculty Council President and the Math Center Director, has a constant energy in everything that he does, from encouraging students to do math to working on projects with faculty members.

“I don’t know what I like about math. I just love it, that’s it,” said Nevins. “I like puzzle solving, I like puzzles that I know have a solution and aren’t easy and I love Sudoku, or big ugly puzzles like with a thousand puzzle pieces – a problem solving thing.” 

As a math instructor, Mike Nevins works hard to help
students have a positive attitude and stay motivated. 

Having a bachelor degree from Western Washington University in Mathematics, and masters from Eastern Washington University in Mathematics Education, Nevins finds teaching math a challenge.

“The first challenge is the students’ perception as math students, where mostly people, whether consciously or unconsciously, don’t believe that they can do math,” said Nevins. “So that is my biggest struggle; to convince someone that they can.”

Nevins added that the next struggle is to keep students motivated. He teaches students that even if they fail the first time, they should stay motivated and keep working because it eventually pays off.

Not only is Nevins passionate about teaching math and working as the Faculty Council President, but he also finds joy in his family and always puts them first. In his downtime, he goes to soccer games with his wife, and does many outdoor activities like disc golf, hiking, and camping. 

"Never stop learning, continually

 improving, learning and trying new

 things. That's what's important."

Q&A:

Q: What’s your hobby?

A: My biggest hobby is playing disc golf. Actually, I’m building a disc course. I like it, it’s easier and free. During the winter, I love skiing, and in summer, I love hiking and camping. Besides that I also play others sports such as ping-pong, Basketball, Football, Softball, and Pool.

I am huge soccer fan; my wife and I have had season tickets for the Sounders for a few years. Every Saturday and Sunday morning I watch the soccer game at home.

Q: What’s your favorite soccer team?

A: Sounders and Manchester United

Q: What’s your favorite TV Show?

A: Arrested Development, I like it a lot, and obviously Sport center on ESPN.

Q: What’s your favorite book?

A: Moonwalking with Einstein.

Q: What’s your favorite band?

A: Radiohead and Pink Floyd

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: Probably teaching here, and trying to deal with growing kids and family life. It’s just in the same place with one or two more kids. For me, family has to come first, people always say either you work to live or you live to work, and I work to live.

I do this and I love this and family is always my first thought. That’s the beautiful thing of working as a teacher, you can put your family first, but at other careers you can’t. I get free time, I make enough money and I can hang out with my family a lot. Family is number one.

Q: What’s your motto of your life?

A: My personal motto is a quote by Charles Dubois: “The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.”


A day in life of Mike Nevins: 

“I drive really fast by an hour to commute from Bellingham to the office. Then there’s answering the emails until I get a lot of work for my position as the Faculty Council President and Math Learning Center. After that, I continue to teach my classes. In the afternoon, I’m usually busy working for advising students or improving curriculum and lots of meetings, then I go home.”

Story by Ratna Wahyuningsih

Obama Statue In Jakarta Causes Controversy

“Pulang Kampung nih (I am back to my hometown).”

That was the first sentence of President Barack Obama’s speech when he visited Jakarta, Indonesia, after so many years.

President Barack Obama has a good connection and memory with Indonesia, especially Jakarta (the capital city), the place where he spent his childhood for four years in the city in 1967. He started his new life with his mother and his step-dad Lolo Soetoro, an Indonesian man.

The city of central Jakarta announced the statue of little Obama, which was initiated by Jakarta-based Friends of Obama Foundation, in 2009.

According to the Jakarta Post, the statue stands two meters tall. One of its sides is adorned with an adapted quote by former U.S. first lady Eleanor Roosevelt: “The future belongs to those who believe in the power of their dreams”

“This statue is designed to inspired Indonesia’s children, to tell them they can be anyone they want to be,” said Ron Mullers, chairman of the Jakarta-based Friends of Obama Foundation, which raised the money for the statute, to the Post.

The controversy has been raised about the establishment of the statue. Some people said the statue should not be placed in public area. They suggest it’s more appropriate to build a local hero at the park in Jakarta.This controversy led to the court after several people filed a class-action lawsuit to the against the Jakarta governor, the Central Jakarta mayor and the Jakarta Parks and Cemeteries Agency.

To avoid the controversy, in February 2010, the Foundation removed the statue to Menteng Park to the state elementary school SDN 01 Menteng, where Obama was once the student.

Although the statue had caused controversy, not all Indonesian people know about it. EvCC Students from Indonesia Abizar Furqoni and Alvin Haryanto, who lived in the border of Jakarta, said both of them never heard anything about the statue.

Markay Omar, EvCC student who lived in Jakarta, said he wasn’t aware with the statue until the Clipper told him about it. He said he knows that President Obama spent his childhood in Jakarta, Indonesia, but he doesn’t know anything about it. However, he thinks to build Obama’s statue in the park in Jakarta is not a good way.

International students at EvCC Saravine Naitingale, Markay Omar,
Alvin Haryanto, and Abizar Furqoni weigh in on the controversy
of the Obama statue located in Jakarta.

“He was not our (Indonesian) president,” he said, “I don’t think it’s appropriate to have his statue in Jakarta.”

Saravine Naitingale, an EvCC running start student, said she knows about the statue because it is located in Menteng Park, an elite neighborhood in Jakarta, which is behind her high school.

“The statue is quite famous around the park,” she said. “And people often go to see the statue or just hang out in the park.”

Naitingale said it is good for Indonesia to have some reward for the President Obama, but she thinks it’s not necessary to have the statue in public space, like Menteng Park. She pointed out the security reason, because sometimes there are vandalism activities in the park.

“I think it will be great if they place the statue in museum,” she said. “I would like to recommend them to move it to safer place.”

See this collection of pictures of the Obama statue.

Story by Ali Salmande

Top Five EvCC Campus Sculptures: Their History and Meaning

Today the Clipper brings you descriptions of five of EvCC's campus art pieces that bring beauty and uniqueness to the campus.

“They add a lot to the beauty of the campus; sculptures and art pieces. I feel glad, just to look and feel the campus.” said Vice President of College Services Pat Sisneros about the campus art.

Many students and staff enjoy the campus art because of its significance and history.

“It makes our campus beautiful and meaningful art definitely has significance.” said Indu Bedi, Student Ambassador at EvCC. 

“One of my degrees is in art so I really enjoy that how it beautifies the campus. I like that there is lot of unique type of arts; it’s not all the same looking. It gives you a lot of different way to look at,” said Brittany Padgett, Program Support Supervisor.

“Actually I really like the physical pieces around the school, they bring a lot to the college itself and shows the creativity of the people both who teach here and student themselves. I really like all the pieces and I was very surprised when I came here first and saw them,” said student Shalaana Beane.  

These art pieces have great history and remarkable meanings.

 

1. The Feather Star

The Feather Star is the inspiration of Everett Community College Logo, which can be seen on everything associated with EvCC. The Feather Star was designed by Ali Boudin and was first installed in the library in 1978. In the 1987 fire, Feather Star survived and it was re-installed outside of the Parks building. Now, the Feather Star has become a symbol of renewal and rebirth for the college.

2. Firefighter's Plaza

This bronze sculpture, designed by Larry Anderson, was built in the memory of Gary Parks who gave his life fighting the February 16, 1987 fire which destroyed the EvCC library and student center and to all firefighters who risk their lives to protect others, according to the EvCC website. The EvCC foundation, Everett Firefighter’s Women’s Auxiliary and Everett Firefighters played a vital role in building this sculpture.

3. The Universal Totem

The Universal Totem was a gift to the EvCC students from the United Native American Council and the Circle Friends.

Artist Alex Paul Sr. and the Paul family, a well-known Local Native American and multi-generational carving family who live in the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community near LaConner, WA designed this totem pole facing east to honor the new day’s sunrise and the spirits that live in the east.

According to the EvCC website, this symbolism was "extremely relevant to the EvCC and its educational goals; a thunderbird eagle – welcome, vision and unity; a wolf – teachers and strength; a baby wolf – student leaders, a baby frog – students and curiosity; a butterfly – rebirth in two life stages, education and graduation; and the four directions – universal learning and healing for all people."

This totem pole was dedicated on November 30, 1992 to the memory of Isabelle Paul, the Lady of the Drum.

4. Everett Arbor

This place is quite famous among EvCC students especially couples. You can easily find couples having silent discussion under this Arboretum.

This place was designed and created by Anna Valentina Murch as a vertical garden symbolizing a place to meet and hang out. Another reason to create this garden was also to evoke the memory of the original atrium, which was destroyed in the fire in 1987.

Everett Arbour was commissioned in 1988 by the Washington State Arts commissioned in 1988 by the Washington State Arts Commission with EvCC and the EvCC foundation.

 

5. The Day the Wall Came Down

The beauty of the library doubles with this bronze sculpture which was designed by Veryl Goodnight. 

“I believe that the sculpture was originally made in honor of the wild horses that used to live in some eastern Washington part so it has a connection through the local history of the region. I think that makes this art piece much more interesting. It’s nice to have it in the library because we are a repository of knowledge and we are a centralized meeting place of the students, staff and faculty at Everett Community College,” said librarian Heather Sheppard.

Story by Sumit Karn

Spring Play Brings 16th Century Paris to EvCC

Student actors are donning their wigs and petticoats for this year's spring play "The School for Husbands," written by French playwright Molière and directed by EvCC's acting instructor Beth Peterson.

"The School for Husbands" is a satirical comedy set in France during the 1600s. The play was first performed in Paris in 1661 with great success. It will be performed at EvCC this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The story is comical, with plotlines following sisters, suitors, unrequited love, and a rather flirtatious King Louis. The set is minimal, but the costumes will take theatergoers back to Paris in the 16th Century, and the actors have been working hard on their period mannerisms and French accents.

Molière, whose real name was Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, was an actor and a playwright, and is known to be a great master of comedy. He performed in front of the King at the Louvre in 1658 and had much success. "The School for Husbands" was the first full-length play Molière wrote, and was later followed by the play "The School for Wives."

EvCC's production of "The School for Husbands" is open to the public by donation, and will be performed in Baker 120.


Story by Lily Haight

Family Night Carnival and Drive In Movie a Huge Success

At one of the carnival games kids put on
 inflatable gloves and smashed down blocks
a la Wreck It Ralph.

EvCC went retro with the second annual drive in movie and family carnival held Friday the 24th. The event was open to everyone and the local community really showed up taking part in the carnival and the movie. The parking lot was full by 7:30, two hours before the start of the movie "Wreck It Ralph."

The event was family oriented, so that students could have
a fun Friday evening with their kids or younger siblings. 

Cars lined up in the parking lot near GWH and PSU
at 9:30 to watch "Wreck It Ralph."

Those who arrived early took part in the family carnival held in between Parks Student Union and Gray Wolf, enjoying fun games for kids such as the toilet paper toss, a game being run by a man in a large chicken costume, a game where you had to build a tower of bricks and then smash it with inflateable fists just like Ralph, from "Wreck It Ralph." The United States Army was also there with an inflatable football toss. At each game children would win candy and other fun prizes.

There were also activities more geared for younger kids, such as coloring pages and fishing for candy. Also offered was a little photo area where you could dress up and take pictures with your family. The families participating enjoyed the carnival and the movie.

Those helping run the games also liked being a part of the event. Event atendee First Class Sergeant Douglas B. Cooper said it was a great idea, and good for the community.

There was also free hot dogs, popcorn and drinks offered to those attending. It's is safe to say that the event was a smashing success.

Story by Kyle Millet

Faculty Feature: Ellen Felsenthal

Ellen Felsenthal's passion for photography and
animals shows in her choice of office decor:
photography books and a cute stuffed goat. 

Photography instructor Ellen Felsenthal’s life is full of activity. From teaching full time to running an animal rescue to taking professional photos, she does what she loves and what she’s passionate about.

After getting three bachelor’s degrees in theater, studio art, and art history from the University of Texas, in Austin, Felsenthal moved to Washington to get her master’s degree in photography at the University of Washington. She teaches six different photography classes here at EvCC and does her own professional photography.

“I like the how tangible a photographic image is,” said Felsenthal. “As a photographer I can make an image that gives other people a view of the way I see the world. I can frame it up or get close or change the focus in a way that shares what I see. I like the realness of it.”

Some of Felsenthal’s photography will be featured in the Russell Day Gallery next October. She says her style of taking pictures is fairly straight and that she’s a “straight shooter”.” She takes photographs for shows, to sell online, and does commissioned pet portraits. She also uses many of her photographs as demonstrations for her classes.

“It’s fun to take something that I’m passionate about and share it in a way that helps other people grow their passion,” said Felsenthal about teaching photography. “I love the academic environment. I love being surrounded by people who are thinking and constantly growing.”

Felsenthal is also the director of New Moon Farm, which is a non-profit animal rescue organization. She started the farm in 1998, after Felsenthal had been working as a zoo keeper and a vet tech simultaneously. Her first rescue was a goat that was going to be euthanized at the Woodland Park Zoo, but she could not stop at rescuing just one.

“One day I looked into my backyard and was like, ‘there’s way too many animals here. Either I need to start adopting them out and finding them homes, or I need to stop taking them in,’ so in ‘99 I kind of founded the farm, gave it a name,” said Feslenthal.

"It feels really good to think back and 

go, 'Wow, we saved 1,200 lives.' 

Even if they are goat lives."

Currently at the six acre New Moon Farm, Felsenthal has four cats, three dogs, three sheep, 44 goats, two donkeys, and two horses. All of them are rescue animals. Since the start of the organization, they have saved about 1,200 animals. Right now Felsenthal is busy organizing the farm’s big fundraiser called the "Goatalympics” which will happen on July 6th at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds.

“I just try to live my whole life in as non-destructive of a way as I can. I try to tread softly,” said Felsenthal. “There’s a lot of lessons to learn from animals about patience and living in the moment and all that kinda hippie stuff that actually makes sense. I guess ‘do no harm,’ that’s sort of my hope. To live in the world in a way that doesn’t cause any suffering to any other creature. “

Q&A:

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Vegan ice cream.

Q: Are you a vegan?

A: Yes. I do not believe we as humans have the right to use animals as a food source. Not health reasons at all, all emotional.

Q: Do you like animals?

A: Obsessively.

Q: What’s your favorite music group?

A: The National.

Q: What’s your favorite outdoor activity?

A: Horseback riding.

Q: What is your favorite class to teach?

A: I like teaching the very beginning Photo 110 class because of the variety of students that take it and it’s kind of fun to get people started in photography. But I also love teaching the thesis class which is the very end class before students graduate because it kind of puts together all the pieces of what they’ve done in the program and it's amazing to see how much people grow in two years. So I guess my favorites are the very first one and the very last one.

Q: What is one thing you want to do before you die?

A: One thing that I want to do that I’m going to do this summer is go on a horse trek across Mongolia. That’s been on my list and I’m gonna check it off this summer. It’s a three week horseback trek to see the nomadic reindeer herders near Siberia.

Q: What is your favorite color?

A: Green.

A day in the life of Ellen:

“I typically wake up, do two hours worth of chores in the morning. Take a shower come to work, spend a full day here teaching and doing all my other teacher stuff and then I go home and do two or three more hours of chores and then I get online and answer all the emails and phone calls and update the Facebook page and check the website and then it's time for bed."

Story by Lily Haight

Health and Wellness... And Manicures

Free manicures and health advice were given at the quarterly Health and Wellness Fair held today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Jackson Center.

Cosmetology student Rose Brown gives fair
attendee Hollis Gordon a manicure. 

Students and staff attending the even could get their blood pressure taken, get a free manicure and eyebrow wax, and explore the different presentations about being healthy.

The event was coordinated by Student Programs Board Health and Wellness Coordinator Colton Colwell and included students from the nursing department, the cosmetology school, and a few local organizations.

Each display was very hands on, with games and activities for students to help them learn new ways to be healthy.

In a display about energy drinks, students got to guess which kind of energy drink had the most caffeine, and then find out the engative affects of energy drinks. Another display, dramatically called "Dry or Die" informed students the importance of drying your hands with papertowels instead of a hand dryer after washing. Hand dryers, according to the nursing students, cause bacteria left in the water to be blown everywhere.

Micaela Parker and Angelina Hill at their "How Sweet Are Your
Sweets?" display on natural sugar versus sugar substitutes. 

In another display, nursing students Micaela Parker and Angelina Hill gave the low down on sugar substitutes, saying that while sugar substitutes can be good, it is better to go with all natural sweeteners instead of manmade substitutes.

There were many more displays about food, hydration, and excersice, and even one about the healthfullness of having pets. After visiting each booth, students could get a manicure or an eyebrow wax courtesy of the cosmetology students.

The student turnout was large and Colwell, the event coordinator, said that he was very pleased with how the fair went.

Story by Lily Haight

Weekly Sports Roundup, Issue Five

A whole week has gone by since the last Clipper sports issue so here’s another one, rife with stories about loss, because we cannot have nice things in the Pacific Northwest.

Losing even trickled down to the red-hot Trojan baseball team, who lost both games in the Northern Regional Tournament last weekend in their own backyard, Everett Memorial Stadium.

The Trojans were barely defeated in the first game by the Skagit Valley College Cardinals by a score of 6-5 on Friday night, despite SVC’s coach being ejected early in the game on a disputed call at first base.

On a dreary Saturday afternoon, the Trojans faced off against the Bellevue Bulldogs in a “losers” bracket of the double-elimination style tournament. Everett lost by a score of 8-5.

But they are not out of the big boy tournament happening this week in Longview WA. The Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Baseball Championship places Everett against the Treasure Valley Chukars, which is some kind of mutant partridge, this Thursday.

In the NBA, we still don’t have a basketball team, so who cares? Well if we were awarded the Sonics, we would have had one hell of a person in the front office. In the NBA playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs knocked off the Memphis Grizzlies 89-93 last night. The Indiana Pacers, who sent the New York Knicks packing a couple of days ago, play against the Miami Heat tonight.

The quest for Lord Stanley’s cup continues, as the Boston Bruins look to take the New York Rangers out of the hunt with a sweep on Thursday. The Bruins are three games up on the Rangers. The San Jose Sharks evened their series against the LA Kings last night, winning 2-1 and tying the series at two games apiece.

The Chicago Blackhawks are leading their series against the Detroit Redwings 2-1, same with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are leading by the same number against the Ottawa Senators.

In MLB news, the Mariners are still garbage. At one point they were in second place after taking two out of three games against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, but have lost the last five games in a row, including a four game sweep by the Cleveland Indians.

The frustrations rose even more last night, where the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim California West Coast USA destroyed the Mariners by a score of 12-0, which prompted this response from Mariners starting pitcher Aaron Harang.

Enjoy your long weekend, sports fans. If the baseball gods are kind, I’ll have good news about the Trojans for you next Wednesday.

Story by Henry Yarsinske

Treasure Hunt Tomorrow at Phi Theta Kappa's Yard Sale

Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” tells us one man's trash could be another man's come-up, but besides shopping in a thrift store, going to a yard sale is also another way to search for treasure from others people’s used goods.

Phi Theta Kappa is going to present their very first yard sale event on Thursday, May 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gray Wolf Courtyard. Donations and proceeds from this event will go to Phi Theta Kappa’s fund raising revenue.

Carrie Wyatt, Phi Theta Kappa Chapter Advisor, said the yard sale allows people the to get rid of items that may be taking up space in their homes while providing others the chance to purchase these same items at an inexpensive price.

Students, faculty and staff are all welcomed to donate. Wyatt said already donated items include children's clothes; dishes and glassware; shoes; children's books and cook books; tablecloths and so on.

If you are puzzling over how to get rid of your unwanted items at home, you can donate them to the yard sale by bringing them in the Information Center in Parks or at Wyatt’s office in Olympus 224. You can also drop off items that you want to donate outside of Gray Wolf Building on Thursday during the event.

Wyatt said items that are not sold will either be saved for another fundraising event next year, or will be donated to a local charitable organization. She hopes there will be nothing left at the end of the day to store or transport.

“I think this on campus yard sale is pretty cool, you can see stuff from other students that you might like,” said Phi Theta Kappa Chapter’s Finance Officer Katy Wong. “We have prepared the yard sale for about two months and we actually started this idea before spring quarter.”

Wong said the chapter is inspired by yard sales in the neighborhood so they tried to organize an on-campus yard sale. She said the chapter hopes to interact more with students through this event.

“We do a lot of different volunteer work for the community,” said Wong. “We are hoping that this event can let students know more about Phi Theta Kappa, because a lot of people notice there’s an honor society that exists, but they have no idea where to find us.”

For more information about the yard sale, contact Carrie Wyatt at 425-388-9588 or cwyatt@everettcc.edu.

Story by Sapphire Chan

Passport to Culture: Around the World in Four Hours

Everything is possible.

Traveling around the world in four hours was this years theme of Passport to Culture, an annual cultural event sponsored by Anthropology Club held on Tuesday, in Jackson Center.

“Passport to Culture is a celebration of the international groups who study at EvCC, providing an opportunity for them to broadcast their cultures,” said Elke Dinter, who teaches America in the World and was one of the coordinators for the event.

Saravine Naitingale, an EvCC running start student 

from Indonesia, wear traditional clothing 

from Central Kalimantan to represent her country.

Within four hours, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. EvCC students were challenged to complete their passport paper by collecting stamps from different countries and clubs to win prizes, meanwhile they were entertained by a performance from a local musician.


“It’s a celebration of internationality at EvCC and it’s participated by around 20 countries this year,” Dinter said. “The event started slowly at the beginning but then it turned out really good. People came, had fun, and the musicians were excellent.”

Dinter added that year to year Passport to Culture events always invite a cultural musician to celebrate the event. This year, there were two groups, one played Indian music and the second group played Afro-Peru music, which told the story of slaves that were trapped in Peru.

Tim Williams, of Anthropology Club, explained to a student
about the club activities. Anthropology Club has sponsored
Passport to Culture for six years now.

Tim Williams, Public Relation Officer of Anthropology Club, said he has been involved with Passport to Culture for three years, and this year Anthropology Club sponsored the event.

“Our motto is experiencing cultures together, that’s why we sponsored this event,” Williams said. “What we like about Passport to Culture is that there’s a door prize, people come together and have fun and get to know about their culture.”

According to Williams, Passport to Culture is also an event where EvCC clubs join together and talk about what’s happening around the world. It is a good place to promote their clubs to be recognized on campus.

“This is a very great event, I see many students come happy and also they really want to know what’s going on on campus so I think that’s great, it’s really bringing us together at school,” Williams said. “We should have more events like this that bring the school together. And we get to know each other.”

Mieshkah Fortuin, an International student from
 South Africa, shows the poster she made to
show students more about South Africa.

“It’s a very interesting event and it’s very special to me because when I heard about it, I just wanted to get involved and participate, that’s why I came and wear thede traditional clothes from Central Kalimantan,” said Saravine Naitingale, a Running Start student from Jakarta, Indonesia.

Naitingale added that she learned about German and Russian cultures and she just learned that EvCC has a project in Costa Rica for the summer. In her opinion, Passport to culture is a very good event that gathers almost all the nationalities of EvCC students.

Mieshkah Fortuin, an accounting student from South Africa, said her reason to participate at Passport to Culture is to represent her country and to reduce the stigma about South Africa so that more people will choose South Africa as their next destination.

“I think this event is very insightful where you can learn because there are varieties of country displaying their culture,” Fortuin said. “It’s interesting to know about different cultures, shocking sometimes but very interesting to learn on any good knowledge.”



Story by Ratna Wahyuningsih

Summer and Beyond: What Students Are Waiting For

As the end of spring quarter draws closer, with summer looming on the horizon, many students are showing obvious signs of excitement. They can be seen tapping their fingers and staring at the clock, just waiting for the last few interminable weeks to pass. 

Though the weather isn’t presently showing it, summer is on its way. But the majority of EvCC students are not far from home; it is, after all, community college. So what do community college students do over the summer, and what happens after?

Students like Karli Hesselman are making plans. “I have to take a couple classes,” she says. But she isn’t letting the prospect of summer classes get her down. “My friends have a summer house in the Wenatchee area so I’ll probably be going there most weekends” says Hesselman. After summer, she plans to transfer to Western.

Kristi Orozco, student and mother, says she will be “taking the baby places...Wild Waves, the zoo,” and says that she also might go to San Francisco this summer. She plans to continue taking classes next year.

Running Start student Andi Gibson is planning to go to Hawaii this summer after she graduates from high school, and also look for a job. “Hopefully I’ll be able to get a job at a bakery or restaurant since that’s the field I want in!” says Gibson. She plans to go to Skagit or Edmonds to join the culinary program once she finishes her degree at EvCC.

But not all students are planning on going places this summer. Some are sticking around for work or more classes.

Analea Thielke is going to continue working at an insurance agency and continue going to school here at EvCC. Brandon Crawford, who has been at EvCC for two quarters, plans to continue doing normal activities—hanging out with friends, baking, and relaxing. Like Gibson, Crawford is planning to transfer to join a culinary program.

These are just a few of our many students here at EvCC, but everyone has different plans and ideas for their summer activities and what they will do next. Whether you plan to relax, work, go to school, or travel, let this get you through the next few weeks: SUMMER IS COMING. Hold on; once you make it through finals, the world is yours.

Story by Kelsey Salsgiver

Humanities Lecture Finds Enlightenment From Death

Death.

It’s inevitable. Yet we live in a culture that pins and injects toxins into our faces so we can look further from it. Every moment we are closer to death; time is our true killer.

“We moderns have banished death from our daily lives,” said Charles Fischer, who presented today's Humanities Lecture on Enlightenment and Tragedy. “Death can teach us how to live,” he added.

“As a middle-aged man I think about death a lot.” said Fischer, who recently almost got into a car accident that would’ve killed him. It made him wonder why he felt so unprepared for death. He and his wife happened to be on their way to go for a run, what Fischer called his anti-death routine.

“Death used to be present every day,” Fischer said, who was 34 years old the first time he saw a corpse.

On a more trivial note, Fischer addressed his balding head and said, “My own hair was a great loss. In 7th, 8th, and 9th grade I was voted best hair.”

Momento mori inspired student art that hangs in Whitehorse Hall.

Nowadays we have more distractions from death and on top of that, we live much longer than we used to. Fischer discussed how historic writers like Hamlet and Shakespeare were more focused on the theme of death than today’s writers. We’re raised on romantic comedies and cartoons, not tragedies.

“Are there any serious contemporary writers that remind us of our mortality?” asked Fischer.

“Hamlet is about human fragility, weakness,” said Fischer. Hamlet called suicide the ultimate philosophical question. You don’t see that in a modern soap opera.

Memento mori is an artistic symbol that is a reminder of immorality, a form of art that acts as a mirror for us to see our true nature. A skull is a commonly used symbol.

Most people likely experience fear, disgust, and sadness thinking about death.

“We’re all brothers and sisters in death, that’s where the equality is going to be,” said Fischer.

If you ponder death long enough, perhaps you can accept it and live in love rather than fear. What would life be without the contrast of death, anyway? What would death be without the contrast of life?

If you’re always fully alive, you’ll always be ready to die.

Story by Mikayla Henke

Clipper Music Blog Track 4

A blog of what students and staff at EvCC are listening to this week:

1. Candace Yost:
Chris Rene– "Trouble"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT12rUWMBKY
"I love that song!"

2. Teresa Weldon:
Macklemore– "Thriftshop"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK8mJJJvaes
"Part of it is because they played it at the dance last Friday and part of it is because of the TV commercial. Also my daughter listens to it all the time."

3. Christina Cooper:
Rihanna– "Pour It Up"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_pbbavq-n0
"I'm a Rihanna girl."

4. Brittany Padgett
Icona Pop- "I Love It" feat. Charli XCX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxxajLWwzqY
"It's really catchy!"

5. Irina Siliverstova
Lune and Swedish House Mafia– "Leave The World Behind"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqXja497ZQo
"It has a lot of symbolism because Swedish House Mafia, they just broke up and they got back together to write one more song."

6. Hannah Lovett:
Florence + The Machine– "Over The Love"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSPOCVjla_4
Marina and the Diamonds– "Primadonna"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj5L9SYhoSE
"They're just more upbeat, different then regular pop music."

7. Vivien Tran:
Cher Lloyd– "With Ur Love" ft. Mike Posner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axpO86pGHAM
"I'm obsessed with the dresses and right now I'm looking for a prom dress."

8. Holden Banh:
Girls Generation– "I Got A Boy"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq7ftOZBy0E
"It's a really catchy tune."


9. Stephen Barkholz:
Petra– "Secret Weapon"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zAobPBJEqg
"I grew up in my childhood with this music."


Story by Lily Haight

Faculty Feature: Jeff Fennel

An instructor of biology, anatomy and physiology, and environmental science, Jeff Fennel has many hobbies, but finds that what he loves the most is learning.

“Every class I teach, I’m always learning something new. I like helping students learn new material and I enjoy it,” said Fennel.

Jeff Fennel loves doing anything outdoors, including
hiking, backpacking, canoeing, and bike riding. 

After serving four years active duty in the U.S. Air Force, Fennel got his master’s degree in Fish and Wildlife from Montana State University. He says that he always knew he would end up teaching, and that he loves it. Each class he teaches serves a different population of students, which Fennel says makes it interesting. From teaching the non science majors in Environmental Science to teaching nursing students in biology, he tries to find ways to push each group of students to their full potential.

Fennel also finds enjoyment in his subject of wildlife and biology. An active outdoorsman he is often bike riding, hiking, canoeing, or backpacking. While in graduate school he spent most of his time researching prairie dogs in Montana.

“My research was on prairie dogs over in Eastern Montana. They were dying from the bubonic plague and I was doing these studies to see how fast the plague went through before they recovered. I loved it. It was great out on the field. I lived in a little trailer in the prairie for a whole summer,” said Fennel. “I just like how nature works, I like learning about animals and plants and how it all works together. I like being outside.”

"Teaching was something I always 

thought I would do when I was older. And I

 just kind of fell into it... And I love it." 

Fennel’s hobbies do not stop at wildlife research. He has a side business as a photographer for weddings and other special occasions, enjoys baking, working out, and spending time with his two daughters. He is also constantly reading books to learn new things.

“I love to learn new things and I think that’s where my passion lies,” said Fennel. “That’s what I love most about my students are the ones that are open to learning these new ideas, not necessarily just trying to get the grade or memorize the list, but are actually absorbing the knowledge and understanding and comprehending it.”

Q&A:

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Probably chocolate.

Q: Favorite outdoor activity?

A: I like hiking. I do a lot of hiking in the Cascades, Montana, Alaska, Wyoming. Anywhere in the mountains.

Q: Favorite TV show?

A: The Following, and Arrested Development, they’re coming out again. I actually don’t have a TV, it’s all on Hulu.

Q:What’s your favorite band or music group?

A: I like the blues. My daughters love Taylor Swift, so I get that a lot.

Q: What would you do in the world to make a change?

A: Well I think teaching helps, environmental science and basic classes just to get students aware of what’s out there.

Q: Whats your favorite class?

A: I like them all for different reasons. They’re all fun to teach.

Q: What is one thing you’d really like to do before you die?

A: I’d like to canoe on the Missouri river where Lewis and Clark floated. Or bike ride through Alaska.

A day in the life of Jeff:

"A typical day this quarter, it changes by quarter, this quarter I’ve got three classes, so I get up early, I drop the kids off at my girlfriends’, she takes them to school and then I come in for morning class, afternoon class, I have a break in the afternoon. Get the kids after school, their mother picks them up. I try to work out two or three times a week at the pool."

Story by Lily Haight

How Millenial Are You?



Take this quiz to find out!

 



 The Millennial Generation, also known as Generation Y, is the demographic category following Generation X. Millennials are generally born during the early 1980s to the early 2000s.


Three millenial students, Patricia Rivera, Cody Cao, and
 Sarah Canete hang out together in Parks Student Union.



While being labeled as lazy, entitled, and narcissistic, some people  think millennials are just being optimistic, confident, and able to adapt to changes in the technological world quickly.

If you are a teen or around 20 something years old, chances are you belong to the millennial family. However, age is not the only factor that determines whether you are a millennial or not, your attitude and habits play a role as well. Finish the following 15 questions and find out how millennial you actually are!
 

The Quiz:
Keep track of how many you think are true for you and then calculate how much of a millennial you are at the end.

1. True or False: You know what “YOLO,” “totes,” and “cray” mean and you have used them so many times that you are already sick of them.


2. True or False: You make several visits a day to the social network site you use most often and sometimes not even notice that you are doing it.

3. True or False: You have over hundreds and even thousands Facebook friends but in fact you don’t know half of them in person.

4. True or False: You have posted more than one video of yourself online, or you have your own video channel on YouTube.

5. True or False: You have at least one tattoo and you voted for Barack Obama instead of John McCain in the 2008 presidential election.

6. True or False: You have texted while you are driving and you think you have managed to do both very nicely.

7. True or False: You think you might have Phantom Vibration Syndrome. (You feel your phone ringing or buzzing away in your pocket, but when in fact you have no calls or texts.)

8. True or False: You check your phone right away once you have got a text message even though you are in a middle of something (such as in class or during a meeting), because you can’t stand ignoring your phone.

9. True or False: You have received or sent more than 15 text messages in the past 24 hours.

10. True or False: You exercise almost everyday. In fact, you have just got some kind of vigorous exercise, such as jogging, biking or working out at a gym, in the past 24 hours.

11. True or False: You think having a successful marriage and being a good parent are more important than having fame and fortune in lives.

12. True or False: You think you currently have enough money. Even though if you don’t, you believe that you will eventually meet your long-term financial goals.

13. True or False: You think you are more upbeat about the state of the nation than people you know that are older than you.

14. True or False: You cant sleep without placing your cell phone on or right next to your bed.

15. True or False: You love lists and you will read anything that starts with “Top 10.”


Results:

0 – 5 True: You probably wonder what exactly is millennial….

Your habits show that it doesn’t seem like you are a typical millennial. Some people migt called you so called “rookie” millennial, maybe you have some of these habits just because other people are doing it as well.

6 – 10 True: You are pretty familiar with millennial’s lifestyle.

Your habits tell you that the faces of the changing technological world are gradually changing your lifestyle as well. With these influences they have brought to your habits, it seems like it is very likely for you to become part the millennial family.


11 -15 True: You are a hardcore millennial!

Your habits show that you are a truly typical millennial, or some people call it the “me me me” generation. Your have a tendency to be confident, self-expressive, upbeat and open to change. You are so used to the environment packed with technology that sometimes you don’t even notice they are taking a big part of your life.

Story by Sapphire Chan

Pakistan Enters Into New Era of Democracy After Elections

Despite the threats of suicide attacks to the lives of common men in many parts of the country, determination and strong resolve took people to the polling stations in Pakistan to use their fundamental democratic right last Saturday for the Pakistan general elections.

The pre-polling bomb attacks in different parts of the country had already claimed at least 11 people and left scores wounded, however as Election Day dawned at the nation of 200 million, many Pakistani people viewed it as a token of prosperity and a guarantor of a continuous democratic system for at least five years to come.

The polling took place on National Assembly seats as well as Provincial Assembly seats which form the parliamentary (bicameral) system of government in Pakistan.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), confirmed that the voters’ turnout was close to 60%, substantially more than the previous instances.

During the last five years, Pakistan testified political and judicial turmoil at its pinnacle, corruption cases against government representatives, an energy and gas crisis, instable security situation, suicide attacks on armed forces, attacks on minorities, religious and ethnic violence, up-and-down relations with the West.

Reports of rigging in various areas of Sindh and Punjab states did emerge, nonetheless the nation effectively saw through the landmark transition of democratic government from one political force to another. It is of the most significance for a country where half of their 66-year history of independence remained marred with military dictatorship.

By the night of the historic day, it had become clear that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was heading to claim the clear majority in lower house and was poised to form government in center, meeting the condition of two-third majority in the house.

Out of 341 seats in center, PML-N secured 128; the outgoing coalition government of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) bagged 31 and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) won 18. ECP is also poised to hold re-polling in a few constituencies where voting was reportedly rigged.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) translated as Pakistan Justice Movement has been the highlight of the recent electioneering. Led by a cricketer-turned-politician, Imran Khan, PTI has been a recent discovery on the horizon of politics in Pakistan though it first set out on its political journey 17 years ago. Thus far, it appears as the third majority force in center with 28 seats in hand and might opt to sit in opposition. The Chairman has ruled out coalition with either majority party.

Mian Mohammed Nawaz Sharif, the Chairman of PML-N, who also served in the prime minister spot twice in the past, is pleased with sweeping victory of his party, but there are many issues that need to be addressed straight away.

President Barak Obama called PML-N chief Sharif and termed his victory as valiant.

PML-N is now offering olive branch to other winning parties to form a coalition. Many independent candidates have already joined hands with them.

Would-be-Prime Minister, Sharif, has on his manifesto the improved ties with neighboring India. The Indian premier Manmohan Singh recently swapped greetings with Sharif, sensing his position insight.

Two of the biggest challenges facing the Sharif government will be maintaining ties with the international community and providing rights to the underserved province of Baluchistan where the people have a sense of discrimination and deprivation.

Check out the New York Times' collection of Tweets from the Pakistan general elections.

Story by Adnan Ali